We're on vacation, leaving behind hot, humid Texas and heading for the mountains.

Because of gas prices we are taking our smaller sedan rather than the van. It gets significantly better gas mileage, however it also gives us significantly less leg room. Because my daughter is only 5'2" tall and does not have a full drivers license yet, she is permanently in the back seat. Because my husband had back and knee problems, he will always ride in the front. My son and I will have to take turns in the crowded back seat.

When I am riding, I read or sleep. When I am driving I do isometric exercises. I isolate a muscle group in my lower body and tense then relax it for five minutes. Then I let my lower body rest and work a muscle group in my upper body. My family says I must look silly to people in other cars, especially when I am doing things like shoulder shrugs as I drive. I don't care if I look silly, because the exercises make me feel good. They work out the kinks that I feel when I am squashed in the back seat. I suspect they improve my circulation, protecting me from problems like airline passengers on long trips are prone to.

We checked into a motel in Amarillo and went to eat at the Country Barn. There was grilled chicken salad for the As; my son got a barbeque plate; but I got the best meal of all. On the salad menu was "Prime Rib Salad". It was a big bowl of romaine, lettuce, spinach, red cabbage and carrots. On top were thin slices of perfectly cooked prime rib. I had my own bottle of extra virgin olive oil to use as a dressing. It was incredibly delicious.