Back east

Mom
Jane, me and Al

Kurt

Dani and me

J and me

NACACers + Tony

Gabriel and Mommy

After 7 months away from "home" (i.e. DC and Carlisle), I returned...for a visit. The trip there was a nice 5hr one way which leant to a really cramped seat where I could pretty much just do reading and sleeping. First stop was DC to visit with my beloved NACACers, it was so good to see all of you and I've missed you all so much, can't wait to see you again. I also got to see Tamar, Rachel and Jason and Dwight and those visits were fantastic as well. I only spent 1.5days there so it's pretty crazy that I saw that many people in that little time and next visit will be at least 3 days in DC. I was also battling jetlag, which in my mind, I thought that I'd only experience from the west going to the east. My little jetsetter Tamar though told me it's only traveling east which indeed was supported by 2 days of complete drain in the beginning of my trip and then feeling just fine on my way back west. I've posted a photo of some of the NACACers when I left since I pretty much forgot about my camera till the end of my trip and also Jason and Tamar. Gotta get Rachel and Dwight photos next time.

The next stop was Carlisle to see Mom. We had mini xmas and I waited days and days for the box I sent from west to home with presents. It arrived in the nick of time a few hours before I left with some little things from Port Townsend. We hiked and make beef strogonoff, a few movies and a hot fudge/peanut butter sundae from Friendly's topped things off...literally :) Wonderful visits with the Krebs (been using the light box Jane) and Kurt (loved the pottery).

On to the Kocherts to visit with Allie & Co! The life of a mother with two kids...phew...Al, that's hard work and you're doing great. Leah is a little chatterbox and entertains herself with play while Gabriel is probably one of the chillest babies I've experienced, a little nugget, or big one I should say for his age. We got a few inches of snow and did some relaxing and I just did my best to try and fit in with the daily schedule. The next time I see the kids I'm sure much will have changed, even within a few months.

On to Aunt Helga's. We went for pedicures and then watched movies. Of course Aunt Helga pampered me, as she always does, with yummy food and then we had a long drive to the airport.

I didn't get much work done at all, so I'm now back in rainy Washington paying for it by working 8+ hours of data entry but I'll catch up in a week and get back into a groove. I've got all kinds of items to take care of in the next few weeks and I hope to plan some little trips to Seattle, a hike in the Olympics and my swimming meet in less than a week. I'm going to buckle down and start jogging again and make a list of things to do in the near future as well. It was great to see everyone from home and it was hard to come back after seeing the life I'd left behind. It felt as if I'd just been on a long vacation from the east. I don't miss PA or DC at all even though it was very comfortable, it's the people that miss back east. I came back feeling sad knowing that none of you would be waiting to greet me in PT and it'd be another 3+ months before I see you again. At least technology helps with that nostalgia these days and plane tickets aren't too bad.