Secluded in West "By God" Virginia....all alone, with 20 of my friends and family

Ahhhhh, we are here! In the mountains, all getting here within about 90 minutes of each other! We checked into our house, called Hemlock Lodge late into the evening and all staked out our bedrooms. There are 6 bedrooms so who was going where was quite the task to take on. All I know was that I was NOT going to have a lower level bedroom because I was going to keep my windows open at night. I did that last year and the black bear decided he or she was going to come into my bathroom and it was NOT going to happen again.

The house is large and laid out like there are actually two houses, one without wifi and one with. Guess which one is the most popular? YES!! And phone service?? Do not even try unless you are standing in the corner of the bedroom and on your head in the mean time. The day after our arrival, the dryer stopped drying with heat and the real estate company we rented from are not pleased with us (as Victoria, my sister) calls on a daily basis for a solution but until then, we take the wet clothes to my sister Lori's house for the drying. She is sick of us~ and we are sick of no dryer! Stupid.

I look forward to the 60 degree weather in the mountains while Tennessee is sweltering in 100 + temps, it gives me something to laugh about and brag about to my friends back home.

We have had great time so far, and it is always challenging with this many folks in the house.....sort of like herding cattle and moving from point A to point B. Dinner time is a sight to see and it resembles a dining hall for the masses. ( I know how Jesus felt at times) Food has been awesome, having spaghetti and meatballs, taco soup, meatloaf, bratwurst and burgers and soups. Ice cream by the cartons full and I truly consider this an eat fest and it is not the low calorie kind. Needless to say, detox will be the first thing on the agenda when we arrive home and I don't mean in the alcohol department (although...that won't hurt either) Has anyone every heard of Wild Turkey American Honey? I have become well acquainted during this trip and the little honey bees who worked so hard should be hurting and worn out by the time we leave.

Vacation...stress free getaway. Who ever said that is a freakin' liar. :-)