Please forgive me for being a bit giddy from lack of sleep, but I just want to say that despite my inability to read clearly I am so happy to be sitting in front of my computer in my own home luxuriously going through the posts here while everyone (including the cat, whom welcomed us back with her traditional night long serenade) sleeps.

Since I never specifically posted about our trip (I think I am more superstitious than I admit) I should explain that we just arrived home yesterday from a 3.5 week trip to Rome, New York and Boca Raton, Florida. Except for the first (wonderfully fun) weekend in Rome it was a family intense vacation (my mother, father, sister, three SILs, two BILs, other SIL's new partner and her daughter, two nieces, new baby grand niece, five nephews, and two aunts and two uncles were AMONG the family we spent quality time with to give you the idea). I would have loved to ask if there was anyone around for a meet up, but there was just no time to spare.

Despite that I managed to sneak in a few trips to the city to see old and dear friends and a bit of shopping around the edges of things. I will post pictures of that stuff when I get my act together but will mention my haul includes the Murad bomber from NAS and the SE Okala pumps Angie has posted about. For now, I am just happy to say there is no place like home!