Adios, IKEA, Sunset, Sunrise

After being sent off with a tear-jerking PowerPoint, and a commission to go forth and continue our good work to inspire and instruct the most at-risk students in the nation, the conference ended. Beers' words of affirmation were welcome. We tend to harp on each other as professionals about what else needs to be done, and the "next best thing" often eats us alive. I need to remember that lesson when interacting with my colleagues next year.

So, despite grandiose plans to hit the road on a big road trip adventure, I am heading north. End of the school year exhaustion, combined with long and busy conference days, have caused me to just want to sit on the patio and read. However, this sad state did not stop me from taking a Texas-sized shopping spree.

On the way home, I hit the Prime Outlet shopping area in San Marcos. This place recently ranked third as the "Best Place to Shop" on ABC's "The View." Draw you own conclusions on that one. It is an amazing proliferation of merchandise, representing just about every brand name known to man. However, I had to save my strength, for just 56 miles down the road was Mount Olympus. The Mother Ship. IKEA.

A virginal IKEA shopper, I marched right in and ignored "the arrows". Big mistake. The arrows take you all around the store in a very organized manner, sort of like that little boat in "It's a Small World" at Disney World. Follow the arrows and you'll see the world of IKEA. Always one to do things my way, I just grabbed a cart and took off--after an hour I humbly backtracked. Their carts are worth the price of admission, as they can spin on a dime, some sort of counter-balance thing that we haven't figured out yet in the US manufacturing world. I almost took out two older women, as I ran around the first corner in breathless anticipation, without realizing the damage that could be done with such rash movement. Apparently, Swedes are much less spastic than I.

Whitney is moving into her first unfurnished apartment and has a list of cute tables and accessories for perusal. Here is our favorite. It is only $19.99. Of course, it was out of stock, as was the bed she liked, the coffee table she liked, and the kitchen table she liked. We (via conference call on cell) did choose a few things that will "cuteify" her new digs. Perhaps a road trip to Chicago is in order later this summer. I enjoyed the whole shopping experience (they are so shrewd as to include a well needed cafeteria half way through the arrows) and will probably never be the same as a result of this experience.


Then, it was on to the highway. The drive really could not be more mindless. Two highways, and I am home. This allows for many extra-curricular driving events. Among other things, there was a beautiful Texas sunset to enjoy.
The camera has been a good toy for me. Nothing like rolling down the window at 75MPH and shooting away. Classes are in order for this summer. The picture does not do the scene justice.

Rather than waste time and money in a hotel, I drove all night and hauled it into St. Louis at 7:30 this morning, after a thirteen hour trek. I really should be a trucker at some point in my life. I love it when they flash their lights at me after I pass them. It makes me feel as though they view me as a kindred spirit. I did want to share the bug encrusted windshield at some point, and the sunrise in Missouri over Highway 44 provided that opportunity.

It was nice to pull on to Halcyon Drive with my sweet Jim and our favorite dog in the window watching for me. Home sweet home.