There's No Place Like Home

We got back from Maine around 11:30 this morning. We were all anxious to get going so we left pretty early. A week away really makes you appreciate everything you were away from. I missed the familiarity. Maine may still be a part of New England, but the smell and feel of the ocean and beach can make you forget that. I felt further away than we really were. I fell asleep for a while on the drive back, but once I began recognizing the scenery I rolled down my window and just smelled the air. It smelled fresh. Not like the salty ocean. Not like the exhaust fumes on the highway. But like trees and farms and, well, home.

It feels good to be back, even if I don't feel so good myself. Can you say sunburn? Yesterday I stupidly thought I could go without the sunscreen for a little while. I'd had it on the rest of the week, but with just those few hours without it I basically doomed myself to what I can honestly call my most painful and awkward sunburn ever. I was sitting in a chair and the tops of my thighs got burnt. So now every time I move my legs it hurts. It hurts even more when I stand. I got up this morning and fell back onto the bed! That'll teach me, won't it? Lesson learned. Never go without at least some sunscreen at the beach!

I'm exhausted. It's a combination of too much sun and too little sleep. I feel like a zombie while typing this. It turns out the wifi at our motel didn't work, though. So I have been dying to catch up with all the blogs I read. While I was in the middle of replying to a post what should happen? The power goes out! For about four hours. It gave me time to play with the dog and cats a bit and to read more of the latest book I'm reading. Would you believe I'd never read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes before? Once I started reading them I found it hard to put my Kindle down.

What I need right now is a shower, some more time to poke at the cats and dog (I really missed them) and for my head to hit the pillow. I'll write more soon. I've got a lot to blog about!