The USA is BIG.

Flying from Sitka to Florida is a big ordeal. A flight to Seattle (via Ketchikan), a night layover. A day of flying across a continent to Florida, being amazed by the massiveness that is suburban sprawl and American civilization.

In Florida it was so warm and muggy, 85F on Saturday. I was very amused that I didn't need to use my down jacket on my layover in Seattle, but I did need to use it in the hotel room air conditioning. Ahhh, the south. The conference was at a hotel on Disney property, so we got to see Epcot and fireworks the last night I was there, which was fun. Walk around outside without a jacket, that was fun, too :)

My conference experience was affirming. I got to reconnect with all the fantastic people (Kelly, Tali, and Elena, you are wonderful and I miss you...) and the interesting work that I did at the CAAN (Clinically Applied Affective Neuroscience) lab at Stanford. It felt like a coming out party for our lab's baby, (the project on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder.) Much intellectual fanfare, it was great.

On my way back to Sitka, I got to spending a day at home, with my family, which was wonderful. It was "cold" in Houston, a clear 55 F day, perfect for a bike ride on the bayou trail, and a cat nap on the couch with my sister Anne (and our dog Chico, but don't tell my Dad he was on the couch!) with sun streaming through the window. Also had an early Christmas at REI. Nothing like the combination of living simply and Alaskan weather to get you excited about buying socks! :) I love my family so, so much, and eating three meals with them, and giving them real hugs was the true highlight of the trip. Gotta make those hugs last until May, when I come home for Mother's Day!