I forgot the hardest part of coming back from trips, especially trips to see family... and of course, this past trip I saw lots of family, and not just that, but lots of family that I don't get to see nearly often enough. The hardest part isn't the time change, or going back to work (although that is quite a challenge), but rather being alone... all the family that was just there all together is now at least 1000 miles away.

One thing I did get to do on the trip was make myself a todo list. Not a typical todo list that's written at the micro level, but something that's more of a macro level. When you're far removed from your normal daily routines (and on another continent doesn't hurt), thats the best time to be able to get a big picture view of your own life. Now, I'm not going to share that list with... well, anyone. In fact, sometimes I even hesitate to look at it myself (partly because I realize how absolutely horrid my handwriting has become thanks to typing everything and everything else). However, I have already fulfilled one of the things on the list. Easiest just to show you. This also happens to coincide with my economic stimulus package:

As an aside... you'd think people would give bush some credit for essentially handing out free money, yet again. I believe this is the 2nd major tax break that we've gotten since he's been in office. I would have thought people would be singing his praises... I guess people just don't like free money. (note: i neither particularly like nor dislike bush as a president)