Appreciating Home

I’m home!

After a very uneventful (the plane even left on time!) trip home I arrived back in Orlando this morning. Oddly enough, flying didn’t even bother me this time. I usually (internally) flip out before a flight and today it was seriously no big deal. Maybe I’m turning a corner? Or maybe it’s because I couldn’t wait to get home and see these crazies…

I won’t bore you to tears with details of my trip — but I will tell you that I was there for training (that yes, I actually got a lot out of) and I killed a cockroach. Like, 100% smashed that motherf*cker. You could say it was a highlight of the trip {I hate cockroaches more than almost any other insect – in the hierarchy, wasps/bees are #1}.

I was trying to think of any other business trip (or any trip in general) that I’ve been on where I traveled by myself — and none come to mind. While a coworker joined me for the training (thankfully!), she lives in the area and I was on my own in the evenings.  I quickly realized that traveling by yourself is fun for about 5 hours and then it’s just super lame. Or maybe I’m just codependent?

Thankfully, because of the delay on Sunday, the first night I was there I just passed out. As for Monday night, well, I was excited to go shopping! I don’t remember the last time I REALLY went shopping by myself. Sure, I’ll pop into stores every now and then and look around – but I’m usually on a time crunch or I’m usually with one/both of the store destroyers. Do you KNOW how much fun hiding in expensive clothes is?  My kids can tell you (for some reason they never hide in the sales racks). So basically, on Monday I went shopping.

I ALMOST bought this dress. Now I wish I had. And yes, I am wondering why I am posting this picture or why I even took it.

I lucked out at LOFT, I struck at about 15 other places. Woomp woomp.

Then, I ate dinner at California Pizza Kitchen (it was that or the food court) — where, in a half empty restaurant, the hostess put me at a table between 2 families with young kids. Do I have MOM written all over my face or what?? I didn’t mind, really. If anything it just made me miss my kids — and also wonder why there were at the mall on a Monday night at 8pm. Not to judge, but my kids were in BED. Maybe I’m the crazy one though.

Then last night, I had good intentions (after the workout I totally didn’t want to do, but I forced myself to do because I posted about it) to grab a burger and a few glasses of wine — but then some kind of weird rain storm hit (it just poured buckets for HOURS) and it all went down hill.

I waited forever to leave (and also, ate a cookie), and when I realized it wasn’t going to let up, I made for a run for it. I looked like a drown rat at dinner. Instead of the burger, I opted for a Ruby Tuesday salad (those croutons are just hard to resist!) and one glass of wine. Lame-ola. Now I kinda wish I had opted to go see a movie or something!

Thankfully, I am back tonight. With, flowers, shrimp tacos, happy kids, and a new appreciation for home.

There is just nowhere I’d rather be.

Have you traveled by yourself? Would you? (and where would you go?)