Behold, I have returned!  Had a REALLY great time while I was gone.    And I've decided that I really like flying Southwest.

I got to LA early on Sunday and then my sister and I took a short hike in a nearby canyon.  Monday we drove out to Hermosa beach, and although it was too cold to swim, it was just perfect for hanging out outside and sitting on the sand with ice cream and smoothies.  Tuesday we went shopping and saw "Duplicity", which I thought was pretty good.  We went out to a fantastic pancake place for breakfast on Wednesday, where my sister informed me that Pete Wentz was sitting at the next table over.  I didn't recognize him.  (Sorry, Pete.)

I flew to Tucson on Wednesday afternoon to see my friend and her new hubby.  (This is one of the girls that I grew up with, and I was a bridesmaid in their wedding last September.)  We had a cookout and hangout time with some of their friends.  Thursday they took me driving up on Mt. Lemmon, which was AWESOME.  I'd never seen saguaro cacti before, and they were everywhere.  WAY cool.  Those things were huge, and it blew my mind that it can take up to 75 years before they start growing arms.  Some of those cacti had to be a couple hundred years old at least, which was wild.  My friend took me out to lunch for a (very) early birthday on Friday.  Today they took me out for breakfast where I had yet another fantastic pancake,  and then I flew home.

And now I'm cleaning the debris I left behind and relaxing on my last furkid-free night.  I'm meeting the fam tomorrow morning to pick up my pooch.  And then it's back to the mines on Monday.

So I had a VERY full week, but I feel very relaxed and I had a FANTASTIC time.    Between all the plane rides and down time, I managed to plow my way through James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, finally finished Return of the King, and I bought a copy of Captain Blood while I was shopping with my sister, which I've been wanting to read again for a long time.  I finished it on the plane ride home today and enjoyed it just as much the second time through. I definitely recommend it! Very exciting, lots of suspense, and a great love story.    Plus, you know...pirates!