I am so glad it’s the weekend. I have been so exhausted all week, and I could really use a couple of days where I don’t have to pretend like I’m awake or interested in work. I had a blast in California last weekend. It was so fun and relaxing…and then I took a red eye back to New York. Having taken two red eyes in the last few weeks, I can while that while they’re great in that I got more time in California, they wipe me out for the whole week. This last flight was the worst. I was sitting on an aisle, and the man next to me was so odd – before the plane had even pushed back from the gate he’d put on a surgical mouth cover and an eye mask. Weird! But at least he slept the whole time, which is more than I can say for me. The movie was “Raising Helen,” so I thought if I made myself as comfortable as possible and watched a bit of the movie, I would fall asleep. Except I never got comfortable. I NEVER fell asleep. By the time my plane landed I felt like I was going to barf I was so tired. Then I had to wait for my super shuttle, which took AN HOUR to arrive, and then we had to fight traffic into the city. By the time I got home I barely had enough time to shower and get dressed, let alone take that power nap I really needed. I thought that I would sleep like a baby that night, but it was one of those things where I was so tired I couldn’t sleep. Vicious. I am looking forward to being able to sleep this weekend.

Like I said, my time in So Cal was great. My parents picked me up at the airport and we went to a yummy Mexican dinner. Mike drove out to their house after work, and he gobbled down the take-out we’d picked up for him while we watched the “Best of Triumph” DVD I’d given to my dad for his birthday. On Saturday morning my parents left for the day, and Mike and I got ready for a little party we were having. I’d invited over the whole crew for a BBQ/Pool party at my parents’ house, so we had to get all the food and beverages ready. It was so much fun having everyone over. The weather was PERFECT, great for swimming or lazing around, and we had two TVs going for maximum sports coverage. We were all hoping Oregon State could pull off the upset of LSU, but their kicker…oh, their kicker. USC has had some special teams problems in recent years, so I could feel their pain. I think that everyone had as much fun at the party as I did, especially since it lasted long into the night. The later it got, the sillier we got. Lots of fun!

On Sunday Mike, Woodsy, Leslie, and I hung out some more at my parents’ house. It was another gorgeous day, and we took full advantage of the still-warm pool and leftover food and drinks. Once we’d stuffed ourselves full of hot dogs, hamburgers, macaroni salad, and delicious beer, we floated belly-up in the pool for hours. After Woodsy and Leslie left, Mike and I cleaned up the house and napped until my parents got home. Once they’d arrived we went out for a yummy dinner, then fell asleep at 9 pm! We were tired, okay? Two days of drinking will do that to you! Not that it ended there…on Monday my parents invited over their friends and some of their kids, and my bro and cousin came out. It was a regular party weekend. I felt some responsibility to help unburden my parents of all the left over alcohol, so I did my part on Monday. PoorMike, he had to drive me to the airport so he couldn’t help as much as he wanted to. On our way to LAX we stopped by Tara and George’s house for another BBQ, and then it was finally time for me to bid Cali goodbye. I was sad, since I am not scheduled to be back until Christmas time.

I have a TON of people coming to visit me in the next few months, so that will help make the time fly. Next weekend my friends Jen and Bonnie are coming for a warm-up. Then I’m in Maui for the first week of October. My mom is here Oct. 22-25, Tara & George the 28-31, Mike Nov. 6-8, my mom and her friend Nov. 11-16, and Brianne & Derek the 18th through 21st. My mom and her friend will be my last house guests (Brianne & Derek are staying in a hotel), since my apartment lease is up at the end of November. My aunt and uncle will be here in December, too. Busy, busy! I love it, though. I am so lucky that I have so many people who want to come visit me…and take advantage of my free aero bed…hee. I’m happy to have everyone! I love opportunities to show off the city and do touristy things.