On a lighter noter...

I read my last entry and realized I left it on such a gloom and doom note. There are a lot of positive things at home and being back on the dirt roads makes you slow down and enjoy the moment- something I struggle with in Portland where there are so many things to do and so many choices to make.

Here are a few other things I learned while at home:

· I drove my dad’s truck. It is an F350 extended cab, dually back monster with a stubborn 2^nd gear and big ol’ stick shifter (think big rig). I’m a pro.

· The radio stations in Guys Mills, PA consist of country, country, classic rock and country.

· There is nothing good on TV and a whole lot of the same crap on multiple channels.

· On a similar note people actually believe they can carve abs in bed. Seriously people…

· I played 8 games of pool in 2 days with a 65 year old man and only won once. I need to practice more billiards.

· Avatar was surprisingly good considering sci fi normally makes me cringe

· I miss my bikes.

· I actually enjoy bird watching. As long as the birds come to me. That happens when you bribe them with food and the rest of the ground is covered with a foot of snow.

· Miss Kitty also enjoys bird watching. Maybe a little too much.

· My dog Maverick will never ever EVER tire from playing with his red ball. He’s obsessed. BUT if he does tire from fetching it the game turns more into keep away and I’m the victim.

· My parents are extremely resourceful. I am so grateful for how many life skills they have taught me including more traditional ones involving craftsmanship and creative problem solving.

· I love my grandma. I love her so much. She is goofy and can make jokes about any awkward situation we seem to find ourselves in. I hope as I grow old I continue to find the humor in life.

· My parents are computer-challenged. Maybe my mom more than my dad, but it showed me where I get it from. They act like there are more important things in the world. Weird.

· I love my parents cooking. Another life skill I am grateful for. I love vegetables.

· Running in 15 degree weather (that’s without the wind chill and around 1pm for max sun) gets really old really fast. I have a whole new level of respect for northern winter runners. That’s dedication.

· Finding the proper base layer combination is hard when you are out of practice.

· I don’t miss the east coast. I specifically don’t miss the dry, brutal cold. I DO miss my family. A lot. I feel like I usually come for 5 days and it’s never long enough. Now I’ve been here for 30 and it still seems too short. Does that ever go away?

Returning home to the house you grew up in for a month can make you feel like a kid again real quick. It is an overnight transformation. I’m not sure if that is good or bad, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say good…87.6% of the time.