This little elf guy in the picture is having the time of his life. It’s 2004. He’s in Alaska, and he just rode up a steep hill through a forest in a golf cart. On more than one occasion, he thought he was going to fall down the mountain on his head, but the trees were very beautiful and this view awaited him at the top. He’s having a great trip.

Tomorrow I’m going on a trip and, well, I really struggled to find a picture since all I intended to write was that I’m going on a trip tomorrow, and I have to get up very early in the morning. I should say very early in the morning for me. Wake up times are all relative, and I’m sure that I will be getting up quite late compared to many people out there. It's a quick day trip for business (not to Alaska), and I won't be riding in any golf carts.

In general, I’m quite lousy at looking after myself, so early morning plane rides are one of the few times I actually succeed in planning ahead. It’s before 8 PM, and the coffee pot is programmed which never, ever happens although it would make so much sense if it did. Hair is washed. Toenails are painted (which is just silly since I’m wearing tennis shoes). Tomorrow’s outfit is laid out. Boarding passes are printed. I'm ready to curl up all cozy and relaxed on the couch for the evening.

I feel like any little edge I can give myself on these early days might help. I so wish that I could do this sort of thing all the time instead of rushing around like a loony. It feels good to be able to relax – I've got to start doing this more often.