Facebook vs. the blog

I think that Facebook is having a profound impact on my little blogosphere. Neither I nor my friends post nearly as often as we did before we all got onto (and into) facebook. That's 100% okay, because I still get to see what's going on in their lives, along with lots of my other friends--much more often, too--but I miss the wit and wisdom that everyone shared on blogspot, and xanga, and everywhere else.

I, of course, have also been hindered by travel and about thismuch access to the internet since I left San Diego on January 19th. I normally bring the lappy with me when I come to J-ville, but this time, since I know I was going to have a dog in the truck on the return trip, I decided to forego the computeration on this particular homecoming. Which was unfortunate, as I stayed in hotels with free internet for three nights the first week. I also didn't take much time to computerate when I was in homes where there were computers... I was much too busy playing and hanging out with the folks whom I hadn't seen in such a long time.

So here, for those who are interested, is a brief (sort if) travelog.

My first stop, on the 19th of January, was Nellis AFB, which is in--or maybe near--Las Vegas, Nevada, and the home of one of my oldest friends. Alex and I have known each other since high school; I met his wife Xandria when they were in college and I was in training in NC, and I'm the unofficial aunt ("Auntie Lea") to their two little boys (who are so amazingly not all that little anymore): Anthony and Vincent. It was a good time. Xan absolutely melted my heart when she told me, a day or two after I had left, that Anthony was asking for his "Auntie Wee-wa". Seriously, how much cuter could you get?

I left Vegas at 8:00 or so on Tuesday morning, and arrived in Pueblo, CO, to spend the night with my little brother at around 12:30 AM. I listened to President Obama take the oath of office whiel I was driving in Zion National Park in Utah, and tried to listen to coverage throughout the day, whenever I had decent reception of an NPR station. I wish I'd thought about AM radio then. Oh, well. The visit with my brother went well--I didn't go to sleep until about 3:00 or so that morning; we talked from the time I showed up until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.

I left there before 11:00 the next day, and made it to Kansas City, MO that night. The only thing good about Kansas was the sunset--and I wasn't really watching the sunset, since I was driving east--I was watching the night roll in like a summer storm. It was beautiful.

Thursday I drove to Indianapolis, with a stop in St. Louis to see the Gateway Arch. I didn't think I'd be too impressed, but somehow, whenever I have low expectations, I am pleasantly surprised by the experience. The same thing happened on my first-ever cross-country trip: my dad has this thing for dams, and wanted to see the Hoover one. I agreed, knowing how interested he was, but expected to be bored. It was the coolest thing we saw one that journey. Anyway, the Arch is impressively huge, the view from the top is amazing, and the Museum of Western Expansion beneath the park there is wonderful. Plus, I got to stand on a frozen pond, something I'd never done before. Now I want to go ice skating "au natural". No, I don't mean naked ice skating.

After Indianapolis, I drove to Cleveland by way of Columbus, OH, because I wanted to see the Ohio State campus. I wanted to go there at one point, so I thought I would check it out--since I was somewhat in the neighborhood. It was pretty. I could see myself going to school there. But it was cold, so I didn't stop.

Saturday morning I met Becca and her family at her little cousin's first birthday party. I met Bec's family the first time at her wedding, and loved them immediately. It was really great to see most of them again. I spent Saturday night with Becca and her mom and sister, whom I love absolutely, and Bec and I went sledding. That was seriously the most fun I've had in such a long time. I'm so jealous of all of you who grew up getting to go sledding every year.

Sunday I drove down to Richmond, KY, to visit my former pastor and his kids--and my friends--Jonathan and Mary Alice. We had a blast chatting about work and school and boys and life... Mary Alice and I stayed up waayyy too late gabbing. But it was such a good time. MA, if you ever want to come hang out in Cali, there'll be a couch waiting for you!

My next stop was my midpoint break: I stayed two days with my aunt and uncle in Franklin, Tennessee. (It's near Nashville.) Those two days were fabulous. Deanna and Ward really are two of my favorite people in the world, and I had such a blast hanging out with them. Plus, I got to do a drive-by with my cousin Erin's kids, who are adorable; chat with Erin on the phone (and score an open invite to Belgrade); and reintroduce myself to, and hang out with, my cousin Kim (Erin's sister) and her husband John. You know, since the last time I saw Kim and Erin I was in high school. And I told Kim she should send her three boys out to visit me in San Diego for a week. I think she thought I wasn't serious. Aunt Deanna drove me around downtown Nashville, too, and I saw the old Oprey house, the Parthenon replica, and a dozen other Nashville landmarks. And they cooked for me. I told them I'd apply to Vanderbilt if they'd let me live with them, and they were like, "bring it!" I might take them up on it, too--for grad school.

Anyway, it was sleeting on Wednesday morning when I left, and I had to drive from Nashville to Manassas, VA--right outside DC--to spend the night with my dad's dad. I hadn't seen him since I was in high school, either, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. He was super sweet, though, and we spent a few hours that night and about an hour the next morning chatting about anything and everything. I left wishing I'd had more time to spend with him.

On Thursday I walked around Washington, something I hadn't done since I was a little kid. I walked the mall, checked out the White House, and drove past the Capitol before I ended up in the National Gallery. I spent three hours there, loving it, when I realized that if I walked another step I was going to collapse, and that if I didn't leave Washington soon, I wasn't going to make it to Virginia Beach until midnight.

As it was, I got to Shannon's house at 10:00 that night, tired out of my mind, and since she was ready for bed, too, we talked for only a little while before I apparently started snoring. (I still claim that that only happens when I'm exceptionally tired.) We didn't have too much time to chat in the morning, either, since she had to leave for work, but I'm supposed to go up there again on my way back to San Diego, so we will hopefully have the opportunity to catch up.

Next up was the lovely, pastoral town of Jacksonville, NC, where I some of my friends are stationed. I caught up with a couple of guys that I was in training with four years ago, but a couple of others were not on location, unfortunately. I spent the night with my senior drill instructor from boot camp, which is always a good time. She's so much fun. And I got to meet up with my old friend Tim, whose intelligence and insight still amaze me. Plus, I got to help him set up his new keyboard.

On Saturday, the 31st, I made it down to Statesboro, GA, to spend the last night of the outbound voyage with my dad's mom and brother. I was dead on my feet by then, but they fed me and entertained me for a couple of hours before I headed off to pass out.

Then finally, finally I was in Florida, and I made it in time for church on Sunday morning, where it was so great to see everyone, and my parents' Superbowl party on Sunday night, where the food--and the friends--did not stop.

Thanks so much to everyone who let me borrow a bed, or a couch, or a floor. (Just kidding. I didn't sleep on any floors.) I appreciate all the hospitality and the well-wishes. You guys are awesome, and I know you're as glad as I am--well, maybe not quite--that I made it home safely.