-7 The last time I took a vacation for two whole weeks was… I don't remember when. What I do remember is feeling like I needed a week to get relaxed, then the second week I actually relaxed. It was wonderful.

Starting on Monday I'll be on vacation for two weeks. Not a staycation (we did that last year). We are actually getting on a plane and flying away. The big difference between this two weeker and the last one? Way back then I was working for 'the man', today I'm my own boss. Last time I was stressed out because I felt trapped. Now I'm stressed out because there aren't enough hours in the day to write, blog, converse with my peeps (I mean, my blogosphere community), give seminars and see my clients.

If you love your job is it really necessary to go on vacation? Yes, I think so. Can you cheat and bring work along? No, I don't think so.

It will be a test to see if I can live for two weeks without my laptop, without an Internet connection, without going into my blog account and checking for comments (please comment!) and the stats too many times a day. (Hold on while I take a look…) Can I not Tweet or update my Facebook status for that long? Since I can update from my phone, will I be able to resist? I don't know, I think so, I hope so, I'd like to try. Geez, it's like going on the South Beach diet or something!

Here's the plan. For the next two weeks there will be new posts that I will set up to be published on a handy dandy timer. While away I might do some reading, hiking in the mountains and, OK, some writing – the old fashioned way, with paper and pencil. I will vacate the old brain, commune with nature and my family. Why am I doing this? I think it's good for me, for everyone I care about and I try to not just give good advice but to take it, too. That's the best I can do. Right now I'm too wound up to make better sense of it.

I need a vacation. Hope you all get one too.