I am still as broke as can be, but that does not stop me from planning my yearly vaction

Last year, it was Albuquerque, this year was supposed to be Iceland... but since I was laid off for four months, my finances are only now starting to recover. 

Iceland, even with it's current economic crisis might just be a little on the expensive side... airfare (that I can not use my Skymiles for), hotel (that I can not use my hotel points or get free meals at... you get the picture.) 

So, I have settled on a driving tour of the western United States.  At first, I was considering a cross country drive and flying home, but scratch that, I'm thinking about doing a circular type tour. 

The starting point will either be Denver or Salt Lake City, Up to the Grand Tetons (which I have longed to see) across Montana and Idaho and into Washington State (with so many sights that I want to see that I'll probably stay there a few days) down into Oregon, and continuing on with the obligatory stop in my most favorite favorite city in the world, San Fransisco (where I'm having trouble deciding what to do afterward... go up to Yosemite (which I adore) or drive down to Santa Barbara (but really only to gorge on Danish pastry in Solvang). 

I could care less about LA, so I would coast on by on my way to Las Vegas... which I care even less for, but only as a means of getting into Arizona and possibly back to Albuquerque... and perhaps finally see hot air ballons.

I love the west and I really don't know why I don't already live there...

Speaking of travel, I'm off to Boston for my daughter's graduation, basically doing the fly in/fly-out thing.  This time tomorrow I'll be sitting under the hot sun and listening to a line of neverending commence speakers... one of which just happens to be Ken Burns (I know, right!  I love him)