Home Visit

I went to Chicago this weekend, which was quite an ambitious endeavor for me--10 hours of flying in four days for someone who hates to fly, timing my trip in order to miss minimal amounts of work, etc. It was also the first time I've been home since December, and the resulting multiple stresses and life changes that ensued after that time.

It was good to be home. Saturday was a fairly nice day, sunny and in the upper 50's, so Leo & I went for a bike ride to his office--the new building his business now inhabits in Franklin Park. He bought the place in summer/fall of 2009 and they moved from the house to the building in November. I haven't seen it since before he finished the purchase, and it really looks good! It looks like a real office & warehouse. It's cool to see.

After that, we spent the afternoon planting seeds and sprouts in the garden. Leo is going all-out this year! He had a landscaper come to completely de-weed and sod the front and back yards, and the back yard is now completely cleared out for the garden. It is Leo's dream to have a lush garden full of homegrown food that he can pick and eat anytime he wants a snack! Based on last year's success, without much planning at all, this year should be good too. It was nice to be outside and digging around. I'm also hoping that we'll have some significant growth and veggies by late June (when I come back). We'll see...

Sunday was cold! It reminded me of why I hate this time of year in Chicago. Having to bundle up in April just plain SUCKS. I saw some massage clients while I was in town, and one of them made a comment that sounded like it had been passed on from others in the area--that he was grateful that the 85-degree day they had, last week, was not the start of summer, because it would suck to have no spring. I can't believe people actually would think that a Chicago summer would start in April and then not let up until August or September!! Seriously. That is like my fantasy, but it would never, ever happen.

Enough about the weather.

I did well on the planes, although the bumpiness of the turbulence really freaked me out. I realized that I must force myself to go into self-hypnosis for at least the first-half of the flight, if I am to feel pleasant in any way. I really freaked myself out on the flight to Chicago.

Part of that was because I had a run-in with TSA at LAX that was very upsetting. Basically, I pack all of my food (except for eggs & veggies, of course) for travel so that I don't starve or have to shop the second I arrive in town. So, this means canned fish, canned fruit, fruit spread, etc. Well, they took away my canned fruit, then took me aside to a cubicle to search through my suitcase (underwear, maxi pads and all) and took away my $5 bottle of unopened fruit spread, and as they were continuing to search, I started crying. It was so embarrassing and frustrating. I had put so much planning into deciding what food to bring with me and how to pack it, that I just didn't realize they would throw it right in the trash. I told one bitch, through my tears, that I had a special diet and had to pack my own food, and she had the nerve to ask me, "Is this a medical condition or is it because you're on a diet to lose weight or something?" So, I had to resort to explaining that I had an undiagnosed medical condition, actually food allergies, etc., etc.

I am so fucking SICK and TIRED of dealing with this stupid way of eating!! Okay, maybe not, because it does make me feel good. BUT. But, I am definitely sick and tired of explaining it to people ALL THE FUCKING TIME!!

Anyway, so that contributed to being ramped up on the plane.

But I did it, and I think the key is to fly often to get used to it.

My plan, at the moment, is to come home once every two months. The next times, it will be for much longer than a weekend. This month, I could only manage a month with my work schedule. In June, the weather will be nicer and I'm going to propose my thesis, so I will be home for 10-14 days or so. And I'm thinking about doing a road trip for either August or October's trip =). Who knows, I may do the weekend thing more often, but we'll see.

Leo, I presume, will come to California on the off-months, so that we get to visit at least once a month while I am here.

It was good to be home. It felt cozy and comfortable. It was really great to see Lib, the other cat, and to gather some things that I left behind that I desired/needed. Most of all, it was nice to be in a place where I knew I had a history and a life. Out here, everything feels kind of unstable and new. However, being in my 30's, that instability is not as exciting as it was in my 20's. It feels good to have a solid place to call home.

I'm not sure what the future holds, but I'm OK with that. I know I'm doing good things out here, but it's not my final destination, either. So, having the chance to reconnect and feel rooted again was nice. I'm sure I'll be bouncing around between locations, even psychically, for a while.