Uh-murr-kuh.

I've been back in the States for a while and I finally have the time to blog again. The past week and a half has been filled with some stress and a few tears, but mostly fun and loveliness.

I got home to NC on the 16th. The flight was long and less-than-comfortable, but it was a billion times more bomby than sleeping on top of an air conditioning vent in the windowsill in an airport. But I had done that in Rome the day before, so . . .

Anyway, every time I went to sleep and woke back up on the plane, I got more and more excited because it meant I was closer to home. When I stepped foot in the Detroit airport I nearly cried because I WAS IN AMERICA. I hadn't been in this country since eight weeks before, and I missed it! Customs was easy as pie, and I had enough time to change (I saved out an outfit the entire trip so that I could have clean clothes to go home in) and call my parents. The flight from Detroit to Charlotte was an hour and a half or so -- just enough time to read another play in my Oscar Wilde book. And then, there it was. North Carolina. The most beautiful place I'd seen in the two months since I'd left.

It was great to be at home with my family. One of my favorite times was when I was talking with mama about something Bryan said on his facebook status. He reported that kissing actually helps allergies, as one of the chemicals released is a natural histamine blocker. Daddy was sitting there and said, "I want some of that!" so mama put on her "just watch me, I'm about to do something clever" face and kind of frolicked over to Daddy and smooched him on the lips. Daddy looked up at Mama with wide eyes, kind of confused at what was going on. Turns out he was being silly and commenting on a commercial that was showing for smokeless cigarettes, which, by the way, sounds like the dumbest invention ever. Besides real cigarettes. He didn't seem to mind that she had misunderstood him, though. My parents are cute.

Friday came and Kelsey and I left to come back to BYU. I was sick (I had allergies at home, but for whatever reason I still had a cold when I left) and it was pretty miserable, but I got some hot chocolate in Phoenix that helped my throat. And then, there it was. Utah. The most . . . brown and dry place I'd seen in the two months since I'd left.

On Saturday I went with Jaz and Brandon (who are now engaged! Yippee!) to St. George for Cameron and Rachel's wedding luncheon where I caught my fourth bouquet in a year and a half. I'm beginning to suspect the stories aren't true.

Anyway, Kelk and I stayed with Bradalie until Monday and then I "moved in" to my new place. Really that just means that I took my carry-on suitcase and bookbag that I've lived out of for the past two and a half months and put those in the apartment and slept on the couches for the past few nights because my bedding and all of my other possessions are still being stored. . . . I'm looking forward to getting my stuff back when Naomi gets back in town.

Yesterday we moved Kelsey into her place in Helaman Halls. It kind of blows my mind that she's a college student now because I don't even feel old enough to be a college student. But here she is, and here I am. I'm so excited to spend time with her this year.

So even though I'm kind of dying every day from how dry it is here (it's worse than I remember!), it is good to be back and getting ready for school. I am excited to have a real schedule again.

And my new home? Well, I'll take pictures once we've gotten everything settled in and decorated, but it's awesome. Kind of a little bit HUGE. And beautiful. With tons of kitchen space. And (as of this morning) hot water. . . . Let's just say that my first two showers in my apartment were a tad chilly. Said showers were also sans shower curtain, but my time in Europe prepared me for that pretty well.

Debra is moving in today and Maddie is coming tonight, and we still have yet to meet mystery girl, but I know it will be great! I love my class schedule, work schedule, my coworkers who dunked me in Utah lake yesterday, my home, and at least two of my roommates, so I am really looking forward to this year -- my last year of college.

(!!!)

P.S. My birthday is coming up. I want a hammock, fishing rod and tackle. And a canoe for sitting space in my living room as inspired by our office riparian outing yesterday.