I'm heading to see MCL this weekend; it's a trip that we knew would happen sometime this month but we weren't sure when until today. Why? My mom My mom has been interested in getting a new car for a while and she's been looking for one that she wanted, something that won't cost too much to own but will let her haul stuff like dirt and plants for her yard. She finally found one and so off we go. What that means for you is that the Tour is going to be rather brief because I still have to pack. Sorry 'bout that, but that's life...what can you do

Okay, for the folks who are new to the Tour de Blog, here's the story. I wanted a way to share with my friends and family blogs and blog entries that I had found interesting (or funny, inspiring, whatever) with my friends and family. So I began writing lists every Friday a short introduction to the entry and a link. And, surprisingly to me at least, folks seem to enjoy it - so I do it every week.

Now, on with the show:

• If you have not yet read Belinda's wonderful entry about being an advocate for her family's health care or her husband Alex's equally eloquent entry about the same subject from his perspective, then get to it. It is without a doubt a must read, and I don't say that often. I do have to wonder what conversation at the family dinner is like in the Ninja Poodles household when you have two such articulate people in the same family. I'm betting there are rhyming couplets being tossed around left and right.
• WHW tells about what's been going on in his life for the last week and about his "bizarro magnetism" (his words, not mine).
• Chris and the kids had an interesting time at the county fair (once you read that entry, this follow up probably won't surprise you).
• Soon-to-be-Dr.-Cara is home and has plenty to say about what happened while she was gone.
• T proves that she's not only a FABulous teacher, she's also a MTV video fanatic.
• BGOAB debates whether to mow or ride, and relates his weekend plans.
• John over at Stank is rarely effusively positive about anything (that doesn't involve the Steelers, that is), so when he speaks glowingly about the new Google Toolbar you should probably listen.
• Sue's been spreading her wings at Blogger too, and this week she wrote about her trip to the cemetery. Back on her original space, she wrote a really great entry about what it means to really listen to people. Well done, Sue. I can barely keep up with answering comments on two blogs this week and here you are writing a bunch of great things on two spaces.
• This week Mocha got back from her trips of the past two weeks and got debriefed on what happened back home.
• Loofa wrote a very nice entry on whether blog friendships are real. I read a BlogHer article on the same subject not long ago and thought, "Hmmmm...I should write about that." Oh well. *grin* Yet another thing to add to my "to blog" list.
• I read two articles that I though folks might be interested in. For Aynde and Jordan there's an article on a new Bollywood film. And for those of us who grew up watching and loving the Muppets, there's an article on a new puppet project by Jim Henson's son.