My Summer Vacation Plans – Sleeping Past 3 and Ignoring the News

I’m taking a vacation soon and my plans are simple – I'm not going to do what I normally do and, instead, will enjoy the fact that I live in Vacationland.  

What Do You Normally Do?

I realize that’s the definition of vacation but, for me, it goes a little deeper. Every day, I get out of bed at 3:15 to go to work and write about ‘bad people.’ Or rather, I write about people who do bad things. My home computer is filled with mugshots and photos of crash scenes. My bookmarks are all news sites and law enforcement Facebook pages. I mean, seriously, I look through my download folder in my personal computer and it goes like this: dog; husband; accused murderer; kids; more dogs; fatal crash site; drug dealer. It’s kind of a surreal way to spend your life.  

Is There a Strategy to Your Plans?

So, when people ask me what my plans are for vacation, the answer is simple. I plan to do nothing.  

• I will not write about murder 
• I will not write about drug deals 
• I won’t study the details of fatal vehicle crashes 
• I will not get up at 3:15 unless we’re getting ready to go on a day trip 

Instead: 

• I will go fishing 
• I will paint my bedroom 
• I will sleep later than the sunrise 
• I will try to ignore news reports and law enforcement Facebook pages 

One small concession...I will take time, on the first day, to clean the news-related photos out of my laptop.

Do You Really Think It Will Go That Way?

It’s a simple formula for a successful, relaxing vacation. Will it come true? Time will tell. I’m going to give it my best shot and at least spend time with my husband, Jim, and my dog, Toby. Hopefully with a fishing pole and no laptop in sight.