Obsession

What started out as a harmless way to exercise my brain has turned into an obsession. I originally planned on submitting one entry per day to the Intrepid Travel Company, thinking that at least one of entries would win.
As the days ticked by, I observed that each day they seemed to have a particular destination in mind. So, I thought, if I resubmitted each of old entries everyday, I'd stand a greater chance at winning. Still no luck, yet. Shock and awe was not increaing my chances, as of yet.

Since there are a few locations that haven't been given away yet (i.e. Cycling the Loire Valley and a Barge trip throught England), I thought I should focus my mind on those places. Here are a few of the submissions:

Cycling the Loire Valley, tour taken slow
Invited to wedding there
Thought you should know.

The crux of this submission is that I have friends getting married. May not help. Dunno.

Cycling Loire Valley
Chateaus galore
May never want to leave or say, "Au Revoir"

(Very tempted to use the word 'whore,' but I resisted. As the month goes on, I may break down.)

Cycling through the Valley of the Loire
Life takes on color
Not just blanc et noir

(I just liked this one. It's visual.)

Sipping good wine, Nipping at Brie,
Cycling Loire Valley, Skipping with glee.

(what do they call those? Gerunds?)

A Haiku
Winning a free trip
Requires the use of some Zen
Project: Loire Valley

(Yes, I need to try all forms of expression. A heavy alliteration entry won yesterday. Damn them!)

Fragrant heather on the hills sway gently, As I float peacefully, down the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.

(This is my sucky entry. Entries like this one are winning. No kidding.)

Over Hill, Over Dale
Not to Grandmother's house, oh no!
Riding a barge, an anglophile

(Again, it's lame. But lame is winning.)

With a hey nonny nonny
The canals a-cruising I go
Nonny No Nonny no

(Borrowing from the English Madrigal tradition)

It was a lover and his lass
Amongst the hills and dales they pass.

(again more madrigals)

God save the queen and all that jive
Rocking on a barge and feeling alive!

(I thought the use of the word 'jive' would appeal to the baby boomer generation. Seems like a rock song lyric. It's a little...in your face to da man. Forgive me. I was watching American Idol.)

I dream of England
And I make a quick Haiku
A Barge carries me

(I like the structure of Haiku. Plus I thought I should be obvious about it.)

Here are a few others I just threw in just in case:

Yugoslavia may not exist, it's called something new.
Throw in the hamhocks, we've got stew.

(At least I didn't use the word eschew)

Holy Gnocchi,Batman! La Dolce Vita's in Italy and the sweet life's for me!

(Need I remind you that someone gave "why not?" as a reason to win a trip to Italy?)

A vacation of precision with more surprises than a Swiss army knife. Switzerland!

(My husband, Shannon, fashioned this one after reading the winning submissions.)

I have some money to stash
Get me to Switzerland...Fast!!

(As if!)

Switzerland! You can't be neutral about it!

(seems like a good advertisement)

Traveling to Switzerland
I must be delusional
With an oportunity like this
How can I be neu-tr-al

(I know you know Switzerland is a neutral country. Let's hope they know.)

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
In Switzerland I'd sing
Yo-del-lay-hee-hoo!!

(This one was my daughter, Molly's. She has real promise.)

The first week of the contest is over and I have submitted 27 entries. Borderline embarassing. But more embarrassing is that I haven't won yet. I will persevere. Till next time.