It is a rare thing for my wrists to actually hurt after I've driven long distances.  Today, they're sore from the death grip I had on our family dog sled handle (steering wheel) for the last two days.

But alas, the 14 hour ride across the January tundra of snow and ice of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland is over.  Most importantly, the family is safe and the only lasting scar I will have is from the ketchup stain in the middle of my shirt from the double cheeseburger on the dollar menu at McDonald's just west of Cumberland, MD I tried to mow on while listening to Matthew West while zipping down the slush flume most people call I-68....

It's funny how the house always has the weird "unlived-in" smell whenever you return from a trip.  The grandfather clock pendulums needs a rewind.  The fridge needs to be restocked.  Nala (our 8 year-old golden retriever) needs to be picked up from our dear friends who watched her while we were gone.

Everything is the same.  Yet somethings different.  The wooded lot next door has been fully excavated and cleared while we were gone.  It looks like we're about to enjoy 3 - 5 months of pounding and vibrating .... Right outside my bedroom window.

Tomorrow will be the sad day that the Christmas decorations come down.

Back to work tomorrow.  My next class in my graduate program starts a week from Monday.

The kids start back to school this coming Monday.

Mush.  Mush.