Vacation from “vacation”

Our first 2 1/2 weeks back in the US have basically been a blur. We’ve done a lot of driving – our families live about 2 hours apart, in the same state, but different time zones (thank you, Indiana!). And we’ve done some serious work on stimulating the economy – purchasing a new car, a fancy camera, and a laptop.

(As an aside, I feel the need to gush about how much I love Apple. It’s not often I can leave a store having spent the LARGE amount of money we just spent and still feel good about myself, my purchase, and my experience. They just know how to do things right. The hassle-free experience continues even once you get home, from the packaging (you mean it’s not necessary to package in bulky styrofoam?!) to the fact that you can just plug in the machine and you’re ready to go. Ahh.)

This past weekend we had a vacation within our “vacation” as we traveled to Portland (OR) to visit friends and see all the things that have changed since we left 5 years ago. There are definitely areas of the city that have been developed, but the general Portland vibe feels the same. And I have missed it terribly. We’ve lived in so many different places, but Portland is the only one where I’ve felt like I really fit. The trip was too short, but it was nice to relax and move at our own pace. And, of course, catch up with friends. And the weather was even nice. A great trip.

But now back to our regularly scheduled “vacation.” (I guess I should explain that I’m using the quotes because although Shawn is off work and we’re supposed to be enjoying being back in the US, we have so many things we have to get done, and so many people that we’re supposed to see, that any sort of relaxation has been in short supply since we got back. So not really a vacation at all.) We pick up Laika this weekend from what we have been calling Puppy Boot Camp. Hopefully she will be perfectly trained, therefore making our lives much easier. Right.