Last week, Spouse and I took a long-awaited, much-anticipated vacation aboard the Carnival Elation. One could say we were elated to board the latest cruise ship sailing out of the ever-so-convenient Port of Mobile.

Swaying palm trees, balmy sea breezes and those amazing turquoise waters, the vibrant colors of the tropical flowers and the shop fronts visited on a lovely mega-ship with all the comforts of home. Actually, more of the comforts than most of us enjoy each day, having a bevy of folks entertaining us as well as cooking, cleaning and turning down our beds for us each night with luscious chocolates on the pillows.

And those towel animals? What creative people can do with fabric and little pieces of blue paper never ceases to amaze me.  It was fun, and relaxing, and there’s no one I’d rather run off with on my big 5-0 than Spouse.

Inevitably, we all have to return to reality. I am back at work and there’s plenty to look forward to.

Trick-or-treat and harvest season is almost upon us. October has so far meant blessedly cooler weather-hooray!-and it also means October Fest in not one, but two Butler County communities.

First up we’ll be traveling down to Georgiana where Sherri Brackin and the Hank Fan Club will usher in their second October Fest celebration. They are expanding things this year with a mini-carnival with fun fair rides kicking off next to the Hank Williams Pavilion at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 14. Just a buck to enter and all rides are $1 that evening-a bargain, folks. The fun continues on Friday night and all day Saturday, with festival food, arts and crafts, karaoke (I can only hope the local songbirds are better than some of our fellow cruise passengers), live gospel, bluegrass and country tunes, Saturday’s classic car show and much more.

Show some love for McKenzie the following Saturday, October 23, when they hold their October Fest from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. More live music, arts and crafts, holiday gifts and good eats prepared by the McKenzie VFD.

And the final weekend in the month brings such a wealth of goodies-concerts, Old Time Farm Days, a car show, thrills and chills at the Haunted Firehouse-well, I almost feel like I need another vacation just thinking about it.

Angie’s back-and she’ll be seeing you around and about Butler County.