We landed with a thump

I is back, in the flesh. It only took 32 hours to get here from Kalispell, MT. I am not amused by Northwest airlines or the air traffic control system in Minneapolis. Not amused at all. However, the last 6 days have more than made up for it. In order to prevent waxing poetic, let me break it down into a short list:

Baldies: Three - Gus, Trav, and the eagle near Many Glacier

Greatest accomplishment: Getting an Aussie to say "Subaru Outback"

Addictions started: Coffee, because tea is hard to get at 6 am

Number of moose spotted: One (Teresa's chocolate mousse dessert)

Wildlife seen by non-wildlife photographers: Mountain goats, snakes, golden eagles, grizzly bears, black bears, one urinating coyote and 3 grey deer

Coolest new invention: The devbobo Speed Pano

Place where Montanans wish they lived: Compton, Los Angeles

Given the hell that was traveling there and back, I have come to the realization that Maryland isn't all that bad. I may hate the weather, the traffic jams, the inability of the drivers to handle rainfall or (god forbid) snowfall, and it might be the least aesthetic place in the universe. But I know what to expect, I know the subtle nuances of daily life here so well that I do have the right to bitch about it. In a way it is beautiful, and yesterday I was never happier to see the grey, sprawling, pre-fab corporate mess that was Columbia and Linthicum when our plane finally touched down at BWI.

Home sweet home.

In my absence I managed to finagle one little accomplishment. I suppose the secret to success is to do things on the fly before you leave for a week and not have time to get uptight about it. ;)

I am so grateful for being able to have a chance to meet some new acquaintances and to better know faces I've met before. I really do keep thinking I am going to see them come around the corner because I've grown used to having these folks around. Already it's been at least 48 hours since I've heard Andy yell, "SCHMOOOO-tography!" and I don't know when I'm finally going to break down into detoxifying chills and sweats.