Literally, I'm still right here in Central PA. But instead of going to work in a newsroom among journalists every day like I have for the past decade, I drive to school.

And it's really different.

Different, I expected. But I honestly feel like I've been plunked down in a foreign country from when I wake up each day until I get home in the afternoon. I don't understand this environment where time is structured minute by minute and a question or careless comment can be dangerous.

I don't know the language, the geography or the people. Their traditions and routines are unfamiliar. I'm focused on basic daily survival these days. No mental or physical energy for anything else. And I haven't even met the kids yet.

I'm so amazed at what a different world this is that I've begun to take notes on all the crazy things that strike me. I won't be able to write about all of them here because of my new role, but hopefully I'll have the energy to share some of this new adventure.

Monday, classes start.

Will I survive? Stay tuned....

But I have good reasons.

Reason No. 1 is that I am embarking upon a new adventure.

Reason No. 2 is that I came down with some mysterious seven-day summer illness (what's up with getting sick in August?)

Here's a story about it from Smithsonian magazine. If you're down in D.C., stop in and check out the York link.

The amount of money people spend on their pets has been growing for years. Many hotels and attractions have become pet friendly.

Now, this story about a couple who have started an airline just for pets.

What do you think of that?

Those who go on the trip will get a chance to cross the Arctic Circle and dip their toes in the Arctic Ocean. The trip includes Anchorage and Denali National Park.

For details, call Sharon Stutts at Mountain View Travel, 444-3131.

A demonstration "green" campsite will be set up at state parks across the Commonwealth this summer as a weekend program for visitors. It features a tent and sleeping bag made from recycled materials, a fuel-efficient cook stove, an LED flashlight, solar charger and reusable batteries, reusable cook set, solar camp shower, non-toxic bug repellant, bear-proof food container, clothesline and reusable marshmallow sticks.

Here's the schedule:
July 17 to 20 -- Cowans Gap State Park (yay!) in Fulton County.
July 24 to 27 -- Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County
July 30 to Aug. 3 -- Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County
Aug. 7 to 10 -- Parker Dam State Park, Clearfield County
Aug. 14 to 17 -- Worlds End State Park, Sullivan County
Aug. 21 to 24 -- Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County.

And a few tips for green camping:
*Dispose of trash properly or take it with you when you leave.
*Recycle aluminum cans. Burning them in a campfire will release chemicals that pollute the air.
*Avoid dumping soapy water on plants because the soap could kill them.
*Use biodegradable camp suds for dishes and personal hygiene.
*Use reusable water bottles and dishes.
*Look for an already-established campsite, more than 200 feet from a water source. Stay off plants as much as possible.

The couple took a five-day cruise from June 29 to July 4 on the Carnival Destiny (pictured) with their children to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. They also visited Grand Turks and Nassau.

Their travel tip: If you need shade you best take the first tender over, as the shade trees are taken fast.

How sad that it takes thousands of hits on YouTube to get corporate bigwigs to pay attention to a situation that should have been taken care of way before the thousandth phone call.

What's your worst baggage handling experience?

I always look forward to trips on foreign airlines because the food is actually edible. Compared to what they serve on U.S. airlines, it seems practically gourmet.

What's the best/worst airline food you've had? (If you've gotten any at all)

Just look at these gems that will take place right here in Pennsylvania this fall -- highlighted in a recent press release from the state tourism department.

Pocono Garlic Festival, Sept. 5 and 6 at Shawnee Ski Area. In addition to live musical entertainment and garlic-themed crafts, you can try culinary delights such as roasted garlic ice cream or garlic funnel cakes. Wow.

The following weekend, head to Stahlstown for the 101st Flax Scutching Festival, said to be the second-oldest continuous flax scutching festival in the world. (I imagine there's a lot of competition for that honor.) Apparently, flax scutching is the art of making linen from the flax plant.

And then there's always the
Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival in Uniontown, Sept. 19.

It sails from Baltimore and stops at Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos), Half Moon Cay (Bahamas) and Freeport (Bahamas). Proceeds benefit Family-Child Resources' programs in York County.

For details about the trip, or to reserve your space, call 244-6410.

We here at the York Daily Record like to stay on top of what Koons is up to and have a little fun in the process. That's why we created our own Koons-ish masterpiece.

Now, I'm reading a New York Times article about a solo exhibition Koons is doing in London, and I come across this line, describing a piece in the show: "An inflatable lobster was perched precariously on a wastepaper basket..."

Sounds awfully familiar to me. See it here and compare for yourself. (click to the fourth slide)

All I can say is that if it sells for anywhere near what "Hanging Heart" did, we deserve a cut.

Talk about a beautiful sunset.

All the boaters were out, sitting in the middle of the river. I took my niece on a carousel for the first time in her life, and she loved it. Then we had ice cream and watched fireworks.

A great evening.

How did you celebrate?

So I was pretty surprised when the vegetable seedlings I planted in May exploded in the small raised-box garden I inherited in the backyard of my house. I had lettuce like crazy -- more than I could ever eat in salads and BLTs. I picked and picked and still, there was more. I gave it away and brought it to dinner with friends.

Now that the lettuce has waned, I discovered the tiny buds on my sprawling cucumber plant have turned into large cucumbers seemingly overnight. And my green peppers are more than knee-high.

Even the Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter is working, albeit on the second try. (First time, I forgot to water it for a few days and the seedlings shriveled up, so I had to replace them.)

This is my first venture into vegetables, and, so far, I'm pretty pleased at how difficult they are to kill. I also did a pot of herbs, but the cilantro and dill are already done. I still have basil and oregano, but I'm not sure how to dry it.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the same success with the flower pots on my balcony. They started off well -- and each pot is still half flowering -- but they don't look as nice as I expected.

Maybe I'd better stick to veggies.