Back in the U.S.

So the trip to Frankfurt to check into the hotel went well. My suitcases were heavier than I thought I could handle, but it worked out just fine in the end. When I checked into the hotel behind a score of tourists from the USA and Asia who spoke marginal English and no German, the lady behind the counter looked like she could die of relief when I spoke German with her. "Can I get your name for the room?" she asked.

"Linden," I replied.

"Oh, a German name." she winked.

Left the hotel the next morning at 5am and made the mistake of taking a taxi to the airport to save my sanity (goodbye 34 euro). I would have missed my flight due to the long security lines if it hadn't been for one airport employee who escorted me right to the front of the line and forced the woman at the counter to check me in. Then, my suitcase weighed over 35 kilo, but the counter lady didn't say anything. No one made one peep about me carrying on my guitar the entire time, either. Either they raised the weight limit on baggage or this was my very, very lucky day.

I landed yesterday evening after what is quite possibly the longest flight I think I've ever experienced. It was like slowly dying at 40,000 feet for 11 hours. I only watched one movie, "Syriana" which I had seen before but not in English, so I thought maybe if I watched it again in my native language it might make more sense .... yeah, it didn't. The rest of the movies sucked so I didn't even bother.

Got home, and the family had invited our good family friends Meg & Scott over for a welcome-home bbq. So that was awesome. I also discovered that Heineken is definitely a good beer that will satisfy my beer needs while in this country, which is a huge relief. Oh and I showed everyone my totally awesome trick that I learned in Germany, whereby I can open a beer bottle using nothing but ... another beer bottle! It's life-changing, seriously, ask me so show you sometime and be amazed.

I made it until about 9:30pm and then I was pretty much comatose (since I'd been up since 4am the previous day and hadn't slept on the plane). After sleeping for what seemed like a century I woke up and thought it most be at least 10am. Came downstairs and no, it's 6:30 am. And I am totally rested. Gotta love that Stateside jetlag.

Anyway so here I am, back in the States. I keep forgetting I still have to write a paper (ugh). I also need to go and get a new cell phone today (holy crap, it's SUNDAY and I can actually go and DO SOMETHING because the stores are open!!) and get my hair cut.

So that's it. Back in the States. It seems like such a non-event now. If I could sum it up in one word it would just be: Meh. No biggie. I'm just glad the trip is over and that I'm back in Starbucks-land. (Seriously, I really am glad. That is one of the first things on my list today).

And it's so nice and coooooooool here in Seattle. Such a typical Seattle day. Scattered clouds and maybe low 70s. Lovin' it after that heat wave.

P.S. I put a load of laundry in about 20 minutes ago and just now remembered that...oh yeah...IT'S DONE WASHING! It doesn't take 2 hours or a stupid laundry coin anymore! I never bought the argument that German washers are better because they wash things horizontally and for way longer than is necessary. I'll concede that the front-loading style probably gets the soap/water around better, but I'm sorry, it does NOT take 2 frickin hours to clean a garmet. I'll take my 20-minute American-style wash cycle any day. Oh man, it was SO satisfying to put things in a DRYER again. Mmmmmm laundry.