By Staff
It has been quite a while since I was on vacation, more than a year to be exact.
So when Monday morning rolls around I will be found sleeping in and trying to relax.
The problem is, that will last about as long as a New York minute.
I am not one for lying around doing nothing for a week. I will be bored with my vacation exactly an hour after I wake up.
Perhaps it is the fact that I don't go anywhere on my vacation. Since my wife and I can never seem to sync up our weeks, I usually have nothing special planned.
My daughter will be off at Vacation Bible School and I will be left to my own devices.
Monday I will be recuperating from Sunday's trip to Michigan International Speedway where I will have taken in the Citizens Bank 400.
Once I have gotten a little rest on Monday morning, it will be time to find something to do.
I'm sure my wife will be glad to leave me a list of things to do.
By this time of year I usually have a week's vacation already under my belt.
With my daughter at school during that week, I have the entire house to myself.
That won't be the case this time around. My first week off is around the time I happen to take my second week of vacation this year, so she will be about when not at church.
It will be a constant battle for the computer I am sure when she is in the house.
She wants to use it constantly and I want to use it to see what is going on around the world.
I will particularly want to keep track of how our athletes are doing in Sports Fest, which gets under way on Sunday with the opening ceremonies.
Last year was the first time I was actually involved with the coverage of Sports Fest.
Like I said, usually I am on my second week of vacation at this time of the summer.
It was fun to go down there and watch our kids playing those kids from across the border.
I got to see some outstanding competition in a variety of sports.
I may make my way down to Mishawaka, Ind. at some point during the week to take in a game or two – probably when the championship games are being played.
Other than that, my plans are extremely flexible.
I know that when I get back there will be plenty of things to keep me busy.
For those who might not know this year, I will be taking over the reigns of the Niles Daily Star sports department.
Erika Pickles has moved into the reporter's position here at the paper.
I will be directing our freelancers in coverage of Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan sports. At the same time, I will continue to cover sports for the Dowagiac Daily News, Cassopolis Vigilant and Edwardsburg Argus.
Beginning the week of June 25, feel free to contact me with suggestions, concerns and tips.
I will be glad to talk to you. I have been with the newspaper for more than two decades, so I know plenty about the local sports scene.
But not being in Niles all the time, there is much I need to learn.
With your help, I know we can get the stories you want to see in the Niles Daily Star.