We are home. And while we are glad to be home, I wish we had had more time on our trip for funtime stuff. Like, we only got one day in Milwaukee with awesome Allison, though for that small time period she managed to show us and tell us a lot about that town. I liked it very much indeed. Photos will come soon.

We did so much driving — all the way around Lake Michigan, a complete circle including stretching up into the U.P. to Houghton. Fourteen hundred miles. To Portland and back, it would have been, from SF.

But it was so much fun. Brian is the best travel partner ever. EVER! Though we kind of made a huge mistake in having our only CD be “Journey’s Greatest Hits.” Or did we? Time will tell. Who’s cryin now?

(I have determined that Steve Perry was a bigger diva than Beyonce, but people just didn’t notice it as much back then. But it’s so obvious that he would have been happy as a Broadway star, belting his face off every night for the adoring masses.)

I of course totally freaked myself out on the plane ride home because I hate to fly and need psychological help. Wah. But I made it through it, with the help of clutching Brian’s hand and trying to make him laugh throughout the entire flight.

We finally got home last night and the cats were ECSTATIC. Running around, meowing, clinging, following, rolling on the floor, etc. They love both me and Brian, so we both got our share of attention. They also had to sleep right up next to us in the bed all night. Poor babies.

Then again, they acted out a bit during the ten days we were gone, too. Understandably. Someone chewed on my plants and then ralphed the leaves back up onto a couple different carpets (Simon). Someone dragged about five dried roses all over the apartment (Sasha). They make great cat toys, apparently. The landlady fed the cats but didnt do much about the litterbox, so that was like, solid pee clay when we got back. I may have to just get a new box. Bleah.

Tonight I am going to do a bunch of cleaning and unpacking.

On the drive to O’Hare from Milwaukee, Brian and I discussed moving to Chicago. It has afforable housing (and is just cheaper overall, but then what place isn’t cheaper than SF, except Manhattan?), plenty of pals close by, it has a waterfront — which I require as a west coast native, and Brian’s family is only five hours away. We are giving this serious thought.

Oh and I know the first thing people will say is WHAT ABOUT THE WINTERS??? To which I say, it’s all in the attitude, man. Millions of people live in Canada by choice, ya know. Get a big parka.