Not hardly.

We're just road weary after a trip that began 11 days ago and now has us laying over in Winston-Salem, N.C. -- home of my mother and birthplace of me.

Ace and I passed on the two parties that were taking place here at the Quality Inn and nodded off not long after 10 p.m.

Today, we went over to Arbor Acres, the retirement community in which my mother lives -- and Ace was excited to be someplace familiar after so many days in strange places.

He was, as usual, a hit there, receiving enough affection to last him through the last leg to Baltimore, a trip we'll make Thursday.

Until then, we'll be hanging out at Arbor Acres, where the newest piece of recreational equipment arrived last month -- and therein lies a story.

My mother reads the Baltimore Sun online and just over two weeks ago she came across this story by Laura Barnhardt on how the Nintendo Wii is becoming popular in retirement communities.

She printed it out and gave it to the recreation director at Arbor Acres, noting that, if Arbor Acres got a Wii, she, being a still-active journalist -- contributing to a seniors-oriented publication put out by the Winston-Salem Journal -- could write a story about it. (She doesn't care much for video games, but she does like a good story.)

Now Arbor Acres has a Wii, though it's not hooked up yet. They'll be putting a TV at the end of the hall, where the founder's portrait now hangs (he's going to another wall) and the games will begin.

Speaking of recreation, Ace needs some, so we're headed to the park, though I might have to shave first. I haven't since the trip began, and it's coming in very white. Between it, and my weariness, and not quite being ready for 2008, I must be looking older than the vibrant 54 that I am.

My mother was introducing me to one of the newer residents at Arbor Acres today and he mistook me for a new arrival.

"Welcome aboard," he said.

Laugh if you must, but now that Arbor Acres has free Wii, it's not that far-fetched an idea anymore.