Hello out there!

Wow, it feels like it has been forever, doesn't it?

I can explain my absence in two bullets.

1. I was on vacation for a week, cruising the beautiful, albeit sometimes sketchy, Western Caribbean with some of my bestest friends.
2. This post, by Matt Cheuvront of Life without Pants.

There have been a couple weddings during my absence, so I want to congratulate Brown Girl, Rachel and Christin on their nuptials! I can't wait to see more pictures and hear more about your special day and honeymoon! 

My vacation was excellent. It was one of those "bucket list" trips -- even though I didn't intend it to be -- where I crossed off quite a few things on my bucket list. I will be collecting pictures this upcoming weekend, and as soon as I have sorted through them, I will share.

Vacation and travel always makes me put things back into perspective. I get a new zest for life, and I re-prioritize. It never lasts, but I guess that just means I need to travel more often! :-) This blog is certainly a priority, as is reading all of your blogs, but I have had some other things higher on the list.

Work has been crazy busy. I feel like I'm putting in twice as many hours as I actually am, but I guess that means I'm being productive? I like being busy at work; it makes me feel useful and accomplished.

I've also put a new priority on sleep. I'm trying to form healthy sleep habits getting eight hours a night, winding down before bed, not pushing back bedtime to squeeze in one more thing, etc. I've also been focused on my goal to read more, so I've been trying to make more time to read daily. Plus there is the cooking, spending time with Jed, catching up on TV... not all more important than blogging, but certainly what I've been up to.

Finally, I'm really unplugging, as Matt writes in his post. Besides work, I've been avoiding my laptop. I haven't really checked Facebook. I've only logged on to Facebook once since I returned from vaca. I gave up catching up on my Reader and marked most of the items as read... without reading them (highly unlike me). I love being present online, but I don't want that to come at the expense of being present in real life.

So, don't panic if you don't see me around all the time. I'm here. Chances are I'm reading your blog. I'll post when I have something to post, and I hope you'll stick around to read it. 

Keep in touch, and know I am doing my best to do the same!