I'm backity back! I'm sorry I've been out of touch for a while. I didn't really have internet access the last few days of my trip and, while I hoped to have time to get caught up while sitting at the airport in Tel Aviv, that plan was foiled when I got held up for hours at security, who confiscated my laptop AC adapter for "special screening" and then escorted me to my gate so I wouldn't miss my flight. They'd also unpacked my bags and separated out my souvs to pack in a separate box for some reason. Luckily, one of the nice, cute guys working behind the security counter very sweetly packed everything up, carefully wrapping my items in bubble wrap. Once that ordeal was over, I was SO GLAD to get on the plane. However...

It turned out the flight home was on a ghetto plane that was falling apart on the inside. No individual movie player that I was so looking forward to. In fact, the audio system didn't work for half the plane. Once settled in and airborne on my full flight, I discovered that the recline function in my seat was completely broken. I notified an attendant who leaned over the guy sitting in the aisle to remove the recline button with a key and then proceeded to wrestle around with my seat, trying to get it to budge. It didn't work. So then I started to cry envisioning sitting in the upright position, exhausted, the entire 12 hours of the flight to New York. I was at my limit. To cope, I popped a melatonin and worked on creating a cushiony "area" between my seat and the window using multiple pillows, my jacket, and the blanket. With that in place I was able to sleep for a good part of the flight, waking up frequently to change to a more comfortable position.

Then, at JFK, I ended up in a terminal with no wireless, so I couldn't get on the computer to figure out my transportation home from the airport in Seattle (my cellies were dead) or anything else. So, I ended up on a Shuttle Express with the chattiest driver ever, and I was never so glad to get home in my freakin life. Sheesh.

I had a really fun weekend hanging out with Mols and Trav, though. I'm just experiencing major jet lag. Around 4pm I start to crash pretty hard, and I slept a ton on Sunday. I'm hoping to get back to normal soon.

AND, I got everything sorted with bank account, credit cards, and my driver's license. I actually like my new driver's license pic much more, so that's one good thing that came out of the Tel Aviv Hostel Theft Debacle.

I have so much more to tell you about Israel, and I want to post some pics. I'll work on that over the next week, but for now, it's time to get ready for bed. And, I guess, watch the Hills so I can talk about it with my sis and Monice. Not to mention get my fill of eye rolling.