The view outside of my office.

The view outside of my office. I am SO, SO happy to be home. Those mountains bring me joy.

Yesterday morning. You can even see the fire.

Right now.

Today was my first day working from home.

Today was my first day working from home.

The cats behaved.

The room is bright and warm (just how I like it).

There's a handsome husbang available to have lunch with.

My setup is lovely and pretty comfortable.

I have the bathroom to myself.

Everything I need and want is right near me.

Overall, no complaints about working from home, although I did have a headache that I couldn't shake.

I think this will be pretty great.

I think being away was harder on me than I realized.

I think being away was harder on me than I realized. I feel so antsy, like it's almost time to leave again because most of my visits home were about a week long. I had a nightmare last night that I was called away for another few months. Logically I know that won't happen, but I'm having a hard time settling.

Maybe once I start back working next week it'll start to feel real that I'm home for good. I sure hope so.

My adventures in Cincinnati are over.

My adventures in Cincinnati are over.

I spent 2.5 days packing and deep-cleaning the apartment, and 2.5 days driving home. I made it home Sunday and have been settling in and spending time with my family ever since.

I don't know how I managed to do it, but I Tetris'd all of this stuff lined up behind the couch (except for the cats, obviously) into the Hyundai Sonata and drove it home. I didn't think I had much stuff left in the apartment. Turns out that I'm not a great estimater. 😂

It's bittersweet missing all of the friends I made, but this is where I need to be. ❤️

It's been a busy day.

It's been a busy day.

I decided after I slept so bad from the baby crying last night that I was taking Kelsey's room. (She's already gone home). So I spent the day moving stuff and going through stuff. I took about half of everything I have left here and put it in my car.

Now I have my stuff condensed down to the few things I have in the kitchen and bathroom, plus the few things I have here in my new bedroom. My old bedroom is totally empty and the living room is, as well. I'm going to deep clean them both so that'll be one less thing I have to do when they give me the ok to head home. I am so ready.

Oof.

Oof. A baby just moved in above my bedroom. They wake me up at night when they cry.

The situation here keeps getting better and better. 🙁

I love my job so, so much, but...

I love my job so, so much, but I just don't understand how thinking all day wears me out like it does. I come home after work EXHAUSTED. My brain must be weak. 😂😂😂

First day back in the office...

First day back in the office (instead of working from the apartment) and I can't even shower. Stinky water has backed up in my tub and the whole apartment smells bad.

I just want to go home. 🙁

Who has thunderstorms this early in the morning?

Who has thunderstorms this early in the morning?

Apparently, Cincinnati.

Rude.

I'm sorry that I haven't responded...

I'm sorry that I haven't responded to comments on my last post. I will get there. It's really been a struggle being sad and away from my family. To say that I've been DISTRAUGHT is an understatement.

I feel the love and the reminders of good things, though. Last night I was sent pictures of a former foster pup and it brought me so much joy. And this morning I had a couple of much-needed belly laughs thanks to some goofy posts.

I'll be ok. My family will, too. It'll just take time.

I'm super sad to announce the passing of Shaun's kitty, Bastian.

I'm super sad to announce the passing of Shaun's kitty, Bastian.

Bastian was a stray that ended up at Shaun's house many years ago. Of course, my sweet husbang took him in. In Bastian's eyes, Shaun could do no wrong. Bastian always wanted to be held - but only by Shaun; he would come and stand on his back feet and stretch up tall to ask to be held. It was so precious to watch.

Shaun held him until he passed. I got a video call of a stunned faced-Shaun, still holding Bastian like a baby. He broke down crying while trying to let me know what had happened. He thinks it was a stroke of some sort or acute kidney failure or something. I will spare you all the details.

I'm really sad. Bastian has been a part of my life for as long as he was part of Shaun's - though he made it clear who he preferred. The bond between those two was special and wonderful to see. My heart breaks at the loss of our boy and also for Shaun; I'm stuck here in Cincinnati and am not home to comfort him. Neither of us saw this coming and there was no way for me to be there. I feel lost and sad, and I'd really like to go home.

The basketball court is empty.

The basketball court is empty. Sure beats skating in the parking lot!

I made it back to Cincinnati.

I made it back to Cincinnati. I left late on the 1st, but I'm glad I had some extra time. It was foggy for a fair bit of the time I drove that day. The 2nd was pretty good (although foggy, as well) until the storms hit. And once the rain started coming down, it didn't let up. I made it to a hotel and went directly to bed - at 6:30 pm. 😂😂😂 Rain driving stresses me out and I was getting a headache.

Thankfully I woke up fresh today, had a giant hotel breakfast, and then finished my trip. I texted a few people that I arrived safely. Shaun was video calling 2 seconds after I stepped out of the car. 😂 I need to go catch up with work on Slack, as well as settle in and prepare for whatever tomorrow brings. I'm hungry and exhausted and stinky. 

I hope you all have a lovely night. Here's a picture of some fog in Kansas. You can barely tell that there's a sign ahead. There's also a car with lights on, but the taillights are not visible with as thick as the fog was.

Observations:

A lot of trees in Kansas reach towards one direction.

Missouri is the land of abundant roadkill.