Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

Past destinations in the last few years on Chrismas day have been: Maui, Hawaii (we rented a plane) --- Lima Peru (Fanciest Hotel in Peru) --- Haloong Bay Vietnam (on a boat, kayak, etc) --- Panama City Panama (Trump Hotel) --- Granada, Nicaragua (the shores of Lake Nicaragua) This year we spent Christmas in an exotic place,--Home. We have traveled mostly on Christmas day since there are good prices and we enjoy it. But we always have a quiet time whereever we are. At home this year a shot of the backyard and some Tennessee stacking boulders for a small retaining wall I am building this winter, 3788 pounds. The rock yard guy commented on the Christmas gift.

Happiness is a new heating pad of my very own.

Angie and I went to Savannah GA for her Birthday. First time staying in a Hotel since the pandemic started. There have been changes, but if you think restaurants are creepy wait until you are in a hotel. We had a great time. At an advertised 4 hours each way. It was mostly a road trip. Atlanta folks make their trips to the coast. It's a bit like folks from SoCal going to Las Vegas. But there are several equidistant "coasts" for the lost city of Atlanta. It was a good ride and a great honor to let my brother's car speak. We had several people comment about the car at stops and thumbs-up on the highway. The Cayman S is really sweet when you decide that the folks hanging around at 80 or 90 need a bit of a show. The strokey flat-six pulls strong, smooth and quite swiftly from 100 MPH. Coming from this guy taking Asian minivans up over 120 MPH in Germany, the Cayman is a great car for the autobahn, no doubt. The mid-engine and chassis design totally decouples the drivetr