Home Smoggy Home

Home sweet home. Preston and I are safe and sound back in humid, smoggy, and congested Los Angeles. And my Maddie is snuggling me so closely on the couch that every time I have to use the backspace key on my computer, I have to lift her ear out of the way. We are happy to be home, even if it is on the outskirts of Los Angeles (thank goodness it is the outskirts).

The flights back home were long. But then again, what flights don't feel long when you are crammed into a sardine box? I'm short and petite, and I still feel like I have no room. I have no idea how tall people can manage it.

Security at Dublin Airport was intense. The first round of security was pretty simple, but as soon as we arrived at USA Pre-Clearance, it was a whole other story. After the initial "Irish" security (where they didn't even have us take our shoes off) we came to the more intense and faster paced security. Then we had to go up to these kiosks that

scanned our passport, asked us questions about our stay, and took our picture.

Preston made a silly face for his picture, not realizing that it would be printed and given to the security. Still cleared all security checks smoothly. I'm glad our major security checks were in Dublin so that we could arrive extra early and have it out of sight, out of mind.

The first flight to Boston was alright. Just over six hours to Boston and we achieved a lot on Animal Crossing and in my Harry Potter coloring book. Even when the lady reclined her chair with great force into my skull.

The second flight was tougher. We sat in rows of three people instead of two. We were in the first row where we couldn't keep our bags with us whenever the seatbelt signs were lit up. It made for a very boring flight full of hunger, dehydration, and squished arms (I was in the middle seat). For some reason, this flight was SO dry. It hurt my nose to breathe and my mouth felt like sandpaper. At least Preston and I were lucky enough to sit next to each other, since seat assignment was done at the gate.

My dad and Maddie picked us up from the airport. Maddie perked her ears up when she saw me and heard me go, "Maddieeeeeee!" but being the lady that she is, she greeted us calmly. She only really got happy when we arrived at our house and she realized she was going to be spending the night with us. Maddie had some pep in her step as she made her way to the front door just after 10pm (aka 6am Ireland time).

Today we are taking it easy. We slept in and picked up free Chipotle with coupons that came in the mail. A grocery run needs to be made since the house was cleared of all perishables two weeks ago before our departure.

One day to relax and then it's back to the daily grind of subbing.

We'll be subbing middle school all week. I will be daydreaming of Ireland all day in my mind because I know that the kids couldn't care less about a trip a substitute teacher took over Spring Break.

Instead, during my down time, I will be prepping one final entry that summarizes the trip: favorite activities, best accommodations and food, expenses, and the big grand total for the trip. I always want to hear how much other people spend on their trips, what they found helpful, what they hated, or what they wish they had done.

I'm happy to be back. I've missed my bed, I've missed my shower, I've missed Maddie, and I've missed driving on the right side of the road.

Now that I'm back in Socal, I might finally get some use out of my rain jacket that I bought in Ireland. Because it's going to rain in Whittier but be sunny in Dublin.