I feel like a peep exchange student, now returning to my home country. It's hard to describe how I feel now or what changed for me. I was so scared of screwing up my 'imaginary' friendship, but I'm glad that didn't stop me from going and meeting (e:PMT) in person. Thanks for taking me into your household, guys! I had a great time with you. I especially loved seeing (e:Mathew)'s beautiful animal collages in person. And now I know (e:Terry)'s culinary concoctions really do taste as good as they look. Strangely enough, being in same time zone with (e:Paul) is not all that different. I still went to bed and woke up three hours earlier than he did. Probably the most telling moment of the visit was when (e:Paul) looked to see if I was online when I was sitting 3 feet from him in the same room. I don't know what that means, but it's probably a good thing I'm back here now.

It was great hanging out at the Mansion and getting to meet (e:Flacidness), (e:Lilho), (e:DrClorine) and (e:Rachel). And I finally had the perfect excuse to visit (e:J3sse)! I looked up just how long it's been since he abandoned me and it turns out he left SF on December 10th 2002. That's exactly two years to the day before estripwest was "born." Is that weird or what?

I wish I could have had a little more time there, but after 18 days as a roaming nomad, it's good to be home. Strangely sad though.

It's all gone but something lingers on
a place i used to call home

p.s. - even though it was really nice being on a pedestal before (not to mention a serious novelty for me) I would have to say that was a big reason for making the trip. I liked it up there, but it freaked me out sometimes. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to take too much of a nosedive off it.

The last of the family[inlink]twisted,114[/inlink]shipped out this morning. Erik & Alisha caught a 5:40am flight (ouch!) from Newark to Charlotte to Atlanta. Dad & Jean took off in the Jetta for South Carolina. My brother and sister-in-law are at work and the kids are in school. Suddenly it's very, very quiet. So I'm playing the CD I made my nephews for their last birthday. Forgot I had put Adam Sandler's "Red Hooded Sweatshirt" on there!

It's been quite the family odyssey. I've slept in 7 different "beds" (I use the term loosely) since I got to the East coast Dec. 20th, and tonight I get upgraded from the air mattress in my brother's home office to my nephew's bed now that everyone else has vacated. I've slept great everywhere, although it was pretty cosy the one night I shared a room with three nephews and my one niece. She got crowded out during the night so we jammed in together on the trundle bed.



Luckily I had my boxer shorts with the glow-in-the-dark stars, suitable for slumber parties.

Some amazing shellfish (and lobster, not pictured) with my friend (and ex-boss), Leslie.

In front of the tree at rockefeller center (pic from my cellphone)

I heard the devastating news on the radio at my Dad's house. For the record, I don't own, and have never owned, a beach house. Although I've rented one with friends. Also not rich, but working on it.