Going home!

This was written yesterday, 11/17:

I'm at the Paris airport super early waiting for my flight home. I survived the longest trip away from Anna yet! Seven nights away and Paul says she misses me pretty badly. We'll see about that. A few weeks ago when I went to Indiana for 2 nights she was hot and cold when I came home. I probably won't make it home in time for her bedtime yet but I'll see her when she wakes up. Her Paris souvenirs include French versions of Goodnight Moon and Sleeping Beauty, a new hairbrush, a kid's Paris bowl, and a fun toothbrush holder.

Paris is a neat city with lots of great history. I'm glad I got to go with the work buddies, which was fun and overall less expensive for me! But as cool as it was, it's not a place I'm in a rush to get back to...hard to explain but it's not a place I'd choose to spend my money on returning just as a vacation. People were super friendly, the city is surprisingly clean, and the costs aren't too outrageous. Given its 2,300 or so years of history (300 BC!!), it sure has paid its dues in blood to be what it is today. Frankly, my uncultured, American-ized mind could only compare it to Epcot :) or NYC in terms of its grandure. Is that bad???!! Ha!

I must say my french improved over the days and I even had the confidence to ask questions in french. At first I realized I didn't understand the answer :) but even that improved.

Having an out-of-sync biological clock meant I didn't even know when I was hungry and I could even stay out later because sleep and eat physiology was all over the place. But honestly I'm looking fwd to the regulation again. I guess it's a part of my control freak factor.

There was no treadmill near me (nor was there time and energy) so while I got plenty of walking miles, the running group might be painful when I get home!

I've been blogging and Twittering from my blackberry, which is a loaner from work for this trip. I never even used my laptop while there except to review some data I could talk through with Chiaki Mukai (JAXA astronaut and lead scientist). On the job front, I can't even believe how lucky I am to have this job. And the timing is unbelievable. There are lots more good things to come and I'll get to be in the thick of it! SWEET!

Is Thanksgiving next week? Here we go...