Winter Blues

It's Christmas Eve which means I have been home for 14 days. I knew it would take some time to adjust being home but wasn't prepared for how challenging it would actually be. The flight home was a journey as usual but hard to complain when you land right side up and walk off the plane. For the first time, I ventured upstairs on a 747 and was not disappointed. The cubbies next to the window seats alone are worth it. In addition, there are only 20 fellow passengers to share the lavatories and attention of the crew and best of all, no children. (Sorry, I realize we were all kids but there is nothing worse than being on a 15 hour flight with crying babies and/or obnoxious children who refuse to sleep.) Unfortunately, the trip was an extremely bumpy one and the seatbelt sign was on 70 percent of the flight. I did get to enjoy several movies - Inception, Eat Pray Love, Charlie St Cloud and Salt - along with several episodes of Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. Food was nothing special. We land on time, the line for immigration was fairly short and customs was a breeze. All in all it was a smooth trip (if you don't count the turbulence). I arrived in Reno with the kids and my sister waiting for me. All the mixed feelings of being home disappear for awhile as I am rushed by two very enthusiastic kids with arms outstretched. There is nothing quite like it! This time all bags arrived without delay and we were on our way to Taco John's. My company Christmas party was Friday and I debated for about 30 seconds about whether or not I wanted to stop by but 20 hours of travel doesn't translate into something I want to wear at an office party. 


After Jeni and the kids left, I just stood in the middle of my living room finding it hard to believe that I was home.


Flash forward... it is now New Year's Eve. Did you forget that I have ADHD?? And you wonder why there aren't more blogs...

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

Now I sit in my parent's living room looking at the hard frost outside and can't get excited about going back to Reno. I'm not one for making New Year's Resolutions and don't buy into the hype of celebrating a new year by getting drunk. I'll be in bed and asleep when the new year rolls around. But I am looking forward to see what 2011 has in store for me. I turned down moving to Australia for a year or more so there is no looking back. I will spend February in Australia to turn over the project reigns to someone new. Whatever happens, I want it to be a year of no regrets. 

Homeward Bound

Soon 'home' will no longer be an abstract word. It will be my reality, at least for awhile. As I was packing last night I tried to wrap my mind around not being in Australia. The past six months have been a whirlwind. It started slow but once the momentum picked up it was a blur and before I knew it, it was over. Funny thing though is I'm not sure I'm ready to leave. Like everything in life there are upsides and downsides in everything we do. On the upside, going home means seeing family and friends, sleeping in my bed, being able to shower without flooding the bathroom (don't get me started on the showers outside the US), my normal 'diet,' Directv and um... that's all I got. On the downside, I'm leaving Australia and all it has to offer. I was never bored. I could walk out my door, jump on a tram and explore. 


Now comes the real dilemma. Do I stay or do I go? I will be back in 2011. Whether it is to train someone to take over or if I chose, I can stay up to two more years. It's a tempting offer  but a lot to consider. This is one of those times a crystal ball would really come in handy. So with some trepidation I pack up my apartment and return to my real 'home.'