-Full Version:
Well, since I've been home, I haven't really had the time to write until now.
My plane touched down in STL at 11:03 pm Saturday night...19 minutes early. As soon as we were on the ground, I called my best friend, who was supposed to come pick me up at the airport...only to find out that she hadn't even left her house yet because she couldn't find her car keys.
To make a long story short [as if I ever do that], I was stuck at the airport until 8 am the next morning when her boyfriend got off work and came to pick me up. I'm just thankful that Anheuser Busch is only about 20 minutes from the airport. I could have taken a cab to a hotel, but I'd lost my I.D. while I was in Arizona...so I couldn't have gotten a room.
After a lovely trip where the only thing that went wrong was the loss of my I.D., my old luck had returned threefold.
Let me just say now that an airport is no place to spend the night. It's big and boring and full of security people...and the occasional drunk guy asking for change. The only thing open in there was the Great American Bagel Bakery and, while I do have to say that they make a great bagel, that wasn't enough to entertain me for 9 sleepless hours. I was exhausted from staying out all night with Nyssa the night before and this certainly didn't help.
And it was cold. Not bitter winter type of cold...but enough that I noticed it after the heat that I'd been in all week. I didn't have a jacket or anything. I'd only brought tank tops and stuff with me. I froze my nipples off all damn night...inside and outside the airport.
I was nearly out of cigarettes and I was down to one match [they don't allow lighters on the plane]. The one bright spot in that night was the shuttle driver who, seeing my predicament, hopped out of his van and handed me a full pack of smokes and a lighter. He was an ANGEL. Bless that man, because without him, I would have been in REAL trouble.
When I finally started heading for home, the heavens decided to open up and accost me with a deluge of rain. All of that sun in Arizona...and this is what I come home to.
It all just cinched the deal.
I've been househunting and I have my friends in Arizona helping me out in that department. Screw this place. I want sun. I want warmth. I want a change. I've always hated the midwest, but I've always just stayed here because it was home. But, no matter how comforting it is, familiarity eventually breeds boredom. And I'm beyond bored.
The only hurdle to overcome is my 12 year old daughter. She doesn't want to leave her best friend behind...and I can understand that sentiment as, if I do this, I'll be leaving behind my best friend of 15 years. But it's time to do something. It's time to make a change.
I don't know what's going to happen. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. And, if you happen to live in the Phoenix/Mesa area, be on the lookout for a 4 bedroom house in a decent area at a reasonable price. Because I'm on a budget.
Anyway, back to the daily grind.
-Condensed version [for Masokyst]:
You know most of the airport story because you spent a fair amount of that time on the phone with me, sir. Thanks again for that. I know you don't like sitting on the phone for hours at a time.
I'm looking for a house down there so I can take this job. If you see anything, let me know.
The shorty doesn't want to move...but she's 12. She'll have to deal with it.
You're my favorite asshole ever.
Here's a kitty:
♥
