Almost time for some mouse ears

The anticipation builds as June 4 crawls closer. It has been, to date, 13 and a half months since I started as publisher of the Phillips County News and since that time I have had a grand total of zero days vacation and only twice have I had two back-to-back days off from work.

Now don't get me wrong, I love this job and almost every aspect of it. But almost 400 days of anything without a break is more than any mortal can withstand and as much as I enjoy being skipper of this ship, it is high time I had a "three hour tour" and gotten away from it all.

While I am gone, my right-hand at the PCN, one Pierre Bibbs (see his lovely mug left, kitty corner to my ramblings) will sport the captain's hat and Deb Solberg and Sarah Osmundson will help keep this boat above water in my absence.

The three of them -- and former deck mate Vikki Truelove -- make this weekly newspaper possible and I know, without a doubt, that their week here without me will be a successful one. They have all been trained for this upcoming departure and with a little assistance from you, dear readers, the PCN that hits newsstands and mailboxes on June 10 will be just as good or better than the last 62 editions of your community newspaper (and by your assistance, dear readers, I refer to hitting the Monday deadline, sending emails rather than faxes etc...)

As for my vacation, well, the fam and I are headed to sunshine and smog filled Orange County, CA, to visit with the "leader of the club, that's made for you and me...

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!"

My father is celebrating his second retirement from the U.S. Navy (this time from the public sector) and to mark the finale of a 43-year career, he is putting the Hebert Clan up in the Disneyland Hotel for a spell. This trip will include a stop at Walter Knott's berry farm, countless trips to In-N-Out Burger (double-double, animal style) and plenty of lounging around the pool.

I will miss Phillips County and I will miss putting out the paper that week (but not so much that I will cancel the vacation.) When I return, my skin will be the color of a grande caramel macchiota, my brain will be re-charged and I will hit the ground running.

As I take my first ever vacation from my post on Central Ave., I would like to thank each one of you -- and all of our sponsors -- who have made me feel welcome in my new community and who have bared with me as I learn the ropes (and name spellings) of an entirely new job and location. You've made me feel like I belong here and I look forward to getting back to work on June 11 (the next three weeks, however, feel free to talk me off the ledge if you see me standing on it.)

Thanks for reading and aloha.