bienvenidos a los estados unidos

this is my official "welcome back" post. to myself, yes. can't i welcome myself back to someplace?

in actuality, i've been home since 1am sunday morning. our internet server has been down, however, so i've been forced to go without for a few days. i have survived, though.

the trip home was great. i love international flights, and it turns out that my ears don't bother me a bit on the international flights... only on the in-states flights. hmm. could be a sign. not too shabby, since i'll be taking a whole heck of a lot of international flights in the next year. (read: home to nicaragua, nicaragua to home, home to mexico, mexico to argentina, argentina to spain, somewhere in europe to home, home to india, india to home. good grief. somebody stop me!) shopping overseas was great, might i make the slightest mention of that. i ate more gelato and pizza in a week than pizza and ice cream in my whole lifetime (and don't regret it a BIT!), i survived the constant stare-downs from the italians, i survived a day of the flu during my homestay, there were no thefts at all during the trip, and even during the last week i was still finding different ways for toilets to be flushed. oh, europe. you're so funny.

so, this jetlag stuff. it comes and goes. is that normal?

andy, scott, emily, and tracy... i have little regalos (presents) for each of you. come get 'em, eh! jody, i got you a little somethin' somethin', too. (don't you feel especial! btw... i can't wait to hear about your month w/ the project!)

went to see footloose at starlight tonight w/ grandma, since mom is indefinitely too busy to think about anything but school and church. the show was the best i've seen at starlight. didn't hurt that the movie's soundtrack is one of my favorites, either... it was so nice to be back in the area (swope park). however, memories of last summer came to me, when i went to every show with a certain special somebody (ok, three special somebody's, but only one of them male). this hit me most afterward. maybe if memories of he and i were bad, then emotionally i would be better during these times. but they're all... perfect. is that even possible?, i've thought. but really. hmmm. (thinking.) i'm good. i am. i know he's doing well. and i'm doing well. and that's what matters, i think. no hard feelings, no sadness, just "ok"ness. everything's ok! yep!

so... looks like it's time for leisha to get some sleep. it'll be a hard day of work tomorrow. yes, working in the kitchen qualifies as a hard day (or week) of work. have you seen my family's kitchen? yeah, that's what i thought.

although i loved my month abroad, and can't wait to do it again, i am glad to be back. a little change is always good, i think. more reflections to come at some point and time...

nighty night!