It's been awhile but I'm back...

I had really wanted to be good this time back and keep up with the whole blog thing. Honest. It’s such a great way to get my thoughts out and let people know what is happening with me. But forces beyond my control conspire to stop me. First there is the who Christmas and New Years black hole. I don’ t know where the time goes but it definitely does. Then there is the whole “Joy’s home, we want to spend all our possible time with her.” Not that I mind because I love my family and I love spending time with then. I have a hard time carving out any time for me. Then there is there is the fact that our internet connection has died so if I want to get online I either have to hit the library or my sister’s place. Which wouldn’t be bad except that means I have to leave the house. Something that I avoid if at all possible. Though everyone says I will acclimatize I haven’t yet. I’m sorry 36º is pretty stinking cold. I will admit that I do like that better then the 9º we had last week. And it’s not even that but I can’t seem to regulate my body temperature. I’m either freezing my tushie off or sweating inside because of all the layers I wear. It takes me 20 mins just to get ready to go outside. I feel like the little brother on The Christmas Story. “I can’t put my arms down!!!” Luckily for me I have such a loving family who leaves the temp in the house around 75 for me.

It’s a little hard for me to believe that I have already been here for a month. Though I have it on good authority that there are those who can definitely believe it. It’s been really nice to just be. Not to have to do much just be. Some days I don’t even get out of my pj’s. It’s wonderful. I won’t have to worry about having problems with jet lag when I get back. My family are of bunch of night owls. Must nights (or should I say mornings) I going to bed around 2 or 3.

It all started on the 18th of December. I flew out from Honolulu at 5:55pm. And though it was a overnight flight I couldn't sleep as it always seems to be the case with me. I don't’ know why. I always try but to no avail. I flew from Honolulu to Minneapolis. The flight was uneventful but long. I was ready to stand up and walk around by the time it was over. From Minneapolis I was flying to Detroit. I got to that flight with no problem. I was feeling pretty good. We started to taxi out when the Captain came on. He said he had some bad news. Detroit shut all but one runway due to the weather. But we might still be able to get out there. So we waited in the plane for a hour when we got the ok. But by that time the plane needed to be deiced and that took another hour. After we landed in Detroit we waited in the plane for 45min to get to a gate. Needless to say I didn't make my next flight. Actually my flight was canceled as were alot of other flights. And so began my 10 hour lay over in Detroit. Yea! What fun! What sublime joy! (Read heavy sarcasm) I was put on stand by on a flight leaving at 5:00. I grabbed some food then was able to pull 2 chairs together and take a nap for about a hour. That felt great. I felt bad though because my parents were already at the airport to pick me up by this point. Sorry guys!

5:00 rolled around and I was sitting at the gate counting noses. We had way to many people to try to get on the plane. I still held out hope. But in the end there was 12 of us left. I went up to the counter and was able to actually get a ticket on the last flight out. Everyone else was put on stand by. Yea God! If I hadn’t got on that flight the next flight out was 9:45...pm the next day. The flight was to leave at 7:30 we left at 9:00. This is why I don’t like to travel in the wintertime. We all piled in glad to be finally going where we were suppose to be going. All this for a 24min flight. 24 stinking minutes. Oh well I was glad to be finally there. Back in warm and balmy Ohio! Oh happy day!

Due to the the fact that I was 10 hours late I, of course, didn’t have any luggage to meet me. Now that really stunk. I needed as much warm clothes as I possibly get. The more layers the better. I don’t go out without at least 2 layers on. I know, I know, I’m a wimp but at least I’m a warm wimp. I find myself attracted to all things warm and fuzzy ...socks, scarves, hats ...mmmmm. Anyways like I said I no luggage, no layers. I wasn’t too worried though. Last time I went home they ‘temporarily misplaced’ my luggage. I got it in a couple days. But that was in Hawaii and I had more clothes there. I had nothing here. It looked like it was wash and wear for me. Thankfully on Sunday morning 10 minutes before we needed to be at church my suitcases came. I was so happy to see them. It would have really stunk if they got permanently misplaced.