There are times I look at you differently

Home again. Vacation is great, but there is nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed and sitting on your own couch at night for some family TV time. It really feels like I’ve been gone for a month – but it’s only been about 16 days. Even so, during that time my family and I racked up the type of statistics that Amanda and I would share after a tour. We were on a total of 4 flights, stayed in 6 hotels and one cruise ship, put about 600 miles on a rental car, and even narrowly avoided death. (the first junker van that showed up to take us from our home to the airport was NOT the executive car that was ordered. We were going to be late if we waited for another car and had no choice but to get in the van. The man who drove us seemed to have trouble staying in one lane – I couldn’t decide if he was falling asleep at the wheel or drunk. Needless to say, we were thankful we made it to LAX!) It was quite a trip, so getting home, unpacking and staying that way is feeling good. Our vacation took us to Florida for 5 days – we went to Disney World, Universal Islands of Adventure and even the Everglades for an air boat ride. Then we flew on to Puerto Rico and stayed a couple nights before and after taking a cruise to the Southern Caribbean. (St. Martin, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbados) We arrived home yesterday afternoon to 72 degree weather, sun, and a wildfire just to the south of our city. (we’re not in danger here!)

I can honestly say that I didn’t listen to a single Duran Duran song for the entire trip, although there were moments when I thought about the band. I was on Antigua – I mean – who doesn’t think of the band there?? There were a lot of moments when I thought about the work I needed to do when I got home, but I continually pushed them from my mind, knowing that it would all still be here when I got back. (and it is!) For the most part, this vacation was a very much needed break for my entire family, and I’m glad we took the time – it gave all of us a time to reconnect as a family without a lot of outside influences, and that was wonderful.

I know so many of us groan when the band is on hiatus, wanting them to hurry and do an album or go on another tour, but all of us need to recharge from time to time. It just isn’t healthy to keep going and going like Energizer Bunnies without ever stopping. Having those breaks keep us refreshed – even if we can’t take huge trips – sometimes just taking a breather helps to keep things in perspective. I certainly needed some new perspective, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. Sometimes taking a step back helps us take a larger step forward.

We have big planning to do in the next few months. Durandemonium is coming! One small thing I need YOUR help in accomplishing for the convention is a slideshow. Our theme for the convention is “The Music Between Us” – and in keeping with that theme I would like to compile a slideshow of pictures of you and other Duranies from over the years. I don’t need pictures of you and the band members – just you with your friends from shows, concerts or other Duranie get togethers. I will use them to put together a slideshow (and you do not need to be coming to the convention in order to participate – once the convention is over I will upload the video to YouTube for everyone to see) to be shown on Saturday night at the banquet. Everyone is welcome to send in as many photos as they wish, understanding that not all of them may end up being included (I cannot have the slideshow be a 30 minute mini-film for instance – my committee would be after me!), and the final decision of what photos are included lies with me. The photos need to be sent to our Daily Duranie gmail and please use “SLIDESHOW PICTURES” as the title.

That does it for me today – I hope all of you have a wonderful Tuesday as I tackle Mt. Laundry.  Cheers!

-R