To continue my verbal spewing this evening, it is time to talk about travel. Everyone likes travel! yaaay! wheee!
The Bad News: I have no plans for an other side of the world, gone for a month by myself sort of extravaganza in 2009.
The Good News: Working for a company that encourages you to take time off (unlike my previous employer who “strongly suggested” we only take time off in the slow time, and only with their approval) means I will be making a couple of smaller, gone for a week types of trips this year.
So far I’ve got Denver coming up at the end of the month, which is mostly a visit with a friend and partially adding to my short list of NHL arenas I’ve seen a live game in. The only thing planned for sure is the Flames / Avalanche game on the Monday night, and other than that it is pretty wide open. wrestling badgers? rolling snowballs down Pike’s Peak? nothing is out of the question!
The other trip I’ve already got booked is Montreal in March. The return to the promised land, and this time I will get to see my beloved Canadiens do battle with those vile Maple Leafs from the lower bowl. not quite close enough to spit on them, but I’m hoping I can yell loud enough to make Toskala cry. 
Yes, both trips center around hockey, but with a full week in Montreal and 3 days to do other stuff in Denver I do plan on seeing more than a hockey game. For example, in Montreal I’m going to go see 4 hockey games! Toronto, Tampa, Atlanta and Buffalo to end off the week. There will still be plenty of time for visits to Schwartz’s Deli and Fairmont Bagels, and if I have my way that is all we will do on our days off.. walk from one to the other
These two trips will leave me with a depleted pile of vacation time, but I’m hoping I might be able to swing a large outdoor concert or something and still have some to carry forward for next year (and still do the traditional May long start and birthday ending to the camping season).
2010 will see the return of off the continent travel, but I don’t have anything solid in my mind yet as to where that will be.