Where I have been and where I am going

Getting back into the swing of things here a world away from home again is a little bit rough but, this is where I am supposed to be so it would be silly not to make the best of it. The internet was down (noon yesterday to eight o'clock this morning) making that longing I had to talk to Heather and the fam a little less bearable but, I am thankful that it is back and hope very much that I am able to make up for the missed time this next weekend.

Another fun thing happen the night that I got back. About 11:00 that night I was skyping and heard a thunk and the lights went out. I wandered into the kitchen to check the breakers and found that the little power meter said that we had no credit. In Lusaka, you buy power ahead of time and have so many credits to use and when those credits are gone you get to take a cold shower in the morning, haha. Just Africa reminding me where I am. Oh well, we got the code and have a new stash of laptop charging, fan running, water heater-ness.

Heather did a great job of summing up the fabulous Christmas break but, I will try to add my details here and there.

1) After a forever plane flight, I finally touched down in Houston and made it through customs with no problem. Apparently I have a trustworthy face because I never have any issue going through security, maybe I just look American enough.

2) Got to the airport and remember seeing my brother first and then the rest of the lovely faces of my fam, Jennah mom and dad.

3) Into the civic with brother to his new house, which is awesome!

4) Night there and mom picks me up to head to Huntsville

5) Hop in my car and head to Dallas to see Uncle Bill for a while before heading to see Miss Willow

6) With the help of Uncle Bill's GPS I find my way to Heather's folks and make the introductions

7) Her brothers are flippin' awesome! Her dad plays fantasy football and her mom is pretty much my kindred spirit. They are amazing... oh ya, I like Heather too :)

8) I spend time with the Cummins's ans I head back home for Christmas. Have I mentioned that I really really dig this, Heather?

9) Spend a beautiful Christmas day with mom, dad, Jennah, brother and Brandon. Got a violin! Will see if I can make any sense of it.

10) Headed back to see my gal in Arlington and hang with her fam for the evening, played monopoly and made a huge mistake.

11) Off to Lufkin to see Kristen and Josh (making up one of the greatest four player teams ever) Shot trap and a let the 'ol Dan Wesson breath a bit

12) Next it is Huntsville for Heather to meet my folks, I was honestly a little worried, but, everything turned out just as grand as I could have hoped.

13) To Houston to see my Brother and Jennah. They are pretty much the best ever! Stayed up way too late watching movies.

14) Then to Kacy and Justin's for a couple of nights dancing and ringing in the new year.

15) Lunch with Brother, Jennah and the above party and off to Austin to meet with Heather's cousin, wife and munchkin, Zach. Thoroughly enjoyed dinner with them and headed off to Alyssa's

16) Met Alyssa for real and talked to her folks for quite a while about Africa and the situation here. Her dad is from Africa

17) Then to the Ponder's to meet two of the greatest people ever. Josh introduced me to Bucky Balls and I can never go back. They were absolutely the only people that I am ok with losing Mexican Train so terribly to... I mean I really ate it hard.

18) We made for College Station after the night with the Ponder's and met up with Ebone Capone and his super wife Holly for dinner at Fuego!

19) Then to Kristen's apartment to see she and Aaron for a bit before we headed back to Huntsville for me to begin packing for the trip back.

20) Heather helped me pack and the next morning we were IAH bound and I had to do one of the hardest things in my life, say goodbye to my wonderful girl and my mazinf family.

21) I made it back exhausted and tried to catch with Kahler.

22) The internet has been opposed to my presents and shows it's disapproval through failing to connect.

23) I miss you all so much and can't wait to touch down more permanently.

I really do miss you all... Tomorrow starts my first full week back and I will try to get on top of the mound of email that await me. Kahler held down the fort and now we have to tackle 2011. We can do it but, we both have our eyes pretty well set on July for the time being.

It could not be more obvious that I miss you all but, I thought I would say it again anyway just to make sure. All is a little dreary, we will get there. Uncle Bill thank you for your leadership advice, I will be looking heavily at the maps to see what my options for a thesis are, more specifically. You don't know how much I appreciate your input.

Mom, I love you

Brother and Jennah, I love you

Dear Heather, I can't even begin to expain how much I miss you

Kristen, you are fantastic, you better stay in touch

Josh, you know where you stand jobin

Kahler and Katy, I would straight up leave if you were not here

Ebone and Holly, thanks for being so awesome

To all of those that housed me during my rounds, I thank you sincerely.

I will see you all again soon. Until then, I will keep you up to speed as best I can. Have a phenomenal week and make some killer memories