Seeking: One Pair Ruby Slippers.

I am sitting in my office filled with the same feeling I remember from countless Christmas Eve nights in my childhood. For the last three days my morning americano has sat, untouched, on my desk, I have all the energy I can take at the moment.

In two more sleeps or one more days - whichever youthful counting method you prefer, I leave for the Red River Gorge with my good friend Katie. This is the fourth year of this spring pilgrimage, second with Katie.

A few things are true about this trip every year.

1) Climbing in 60 degree sunshine feels like magic after a long winter

2) 17 hour drives are really short on the way there

3) People from New England are always going to give you a weird head tilt and awkward grimace when you say you are going to Kentucky for vacation

I have one more major project to wrap up before I head out, final grant reviews with a fondation client and the I am free. Tonight the anticipation of sunshine, sandstone and Slade are making wish for a pair of ruby slippers.