Getting back from vacation is always hard. Especially when it is leaving people you love so dearly and returning back to reality. It was great to get back to my boys but a week in Utah left me feeling even more homesick. It is like giving up Coca Cola. You don't miss that cool refreshing taste in your mouth if you haven't had it for awhile but all it takes is one can and you are hooked again.

I return to work tomorrow for a four day stretch. The news is calling for another famous New Jersey snow dump on Friday night through Saturday morning so maybe I will be staying in Medford this weekend. This snow is crazy! We usually get like one or two snow falls a year and it just keeps coming this winter. I can't wait for Spring.

I witnessed an act of human behavior at it's worse today. I was sitting in the Walmart parking lot with Jaxson finishing our lunch before grocery shopping and a brown mercury came speeding into the parking lot. The lady pulled into the spot across from us and hit right into the back of the car in front of her. I watched her get out of her car, grab a cart, and go into Walmart like nothing had happened. I got out and looked and she had caused damage to the car she hit. I did the only right thing and left a note on the car with the ladies license plate number and the make of her car. I HATE when I come out of a store and see scratches on my car from people hitting their doors into it or hitting it with shopping carts.

And to end my post I must document my experience flying home. I noticed in the SLC airport a guy taking pictures of all the planes from the window inside. I thought it was a little odd. I boarded my flight and was less than thrilled to discover that I was sitting across from the guy on the plane. I noticed right away that he had a book and several religious items in his lap but I decided not to let my imagination get away with me and started minding my own business. About 60 minutes towards the end of the flight he got up and went into the bathroom. He was gone for a LONG time. He was in the bathroom for so long that people were lining up down the aisle of the plane. When he finally came out I noticed right away that he had something square under his shirt. He was VERY thin and his shirt was tight. He sat down and started chanting from his book and he had some religious symbol in his hand that he was kissing. My nursing assessment skills kicked in and I noticed that he was sweating profusely and his knuckles were white from being clenched. I began to get VERY nervous. I am paranoid as it is but I started freaking out thinking that my plane was going to blow up. I tried to tell myself that maybe he was just practicing his religious beliefs which I can respect but when he started chanting out loud and sweating I thought, "Oh crap! Why is he so nervous. Why is he praying? Does he know something I don't?" I put my headphones on and tried to tell myself that I was just being silly until the guy behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, "This guy next to you is making me very nervous. He is not acting right. Would you mind switching me seats so I can sit closer? Just in case?" I was FREAKING out at this point. I switched seats with him for the rest of the flight and nothing happened obviously but it was terrifying. It made me more aware of how much things have changed since 9-11and the fear that still lives from that day not just for me but for others when they board a plane. I did reflect for a time on how frightening it must have been for those people aboard those planes. I couldn't help but feel so helpless. It made me aware of how much power over so many lives one person can possess in a situation like that.