Holiday Season is a go, and the countdowns are on...

18 days give or take 1 or 2 and i'll be home in Murrieta with the family.

30 days til the end of one of the toughest years I have had ever is over, and a new optimistic one begins.

33 days and i'll be on a cruise line to Mexico for 7 days.

Now to recap one of the best Thanksgivings I've had. I was not able to go just due to the shear distance and time, and the fact that I will be home so long at Christmas (around 3 weeks). However I lucked out and got one of the next best families to be in the area. Miss. Torie Dye and the "stunning" (more on the word of the day later) Dye family came up to her Aunt and Uncle's home for the holiday.

First crazy thing happens is that I had yet to ask the address or exact location of their home. Once she was in town and called to have me come over, I find out that she is close by, I told her to walk outside and yell my name.... I could hear her... turns out, Aunt and Uncle live directly behind the house I am living in!! What are the chances... small small world.

It was absolutely wonderful to spend time with them all, just hanging out in a homey environment, plenty of laughter, wine, talking about politics, communities, outlooks on life, everything. And of course just to be around Torie again. I always forget how much fun we have and how similar the two of us look at life. Its nice to have that friend around that just gets it, and you get them.

Went up to Lady Bird Johnson and Fern Canyon to show them some big trees and fern covered walls.. very relaxing just to be around family and not worry about work, money, the day of the week... any of that... very much what I needed.

Took Torie out to Lost Coast Brewery and DT Arcata on Friday night, and I had an absolute blast running around with her, some things will never change. Went to my old house where a dance party was going on. So much fun and with such fun laid back people.

Had to say good bye come Saturday morning, but it was a wonderful few days, sooo much of what I needed, and sooo thankful for a wonderful friend and family to take me in and just give me so much love for a few days when I was so far away from my family.... definetly felt at home.