NOLA -> Houston -> Denver -> Delta

Woke up at 2:30 am to get to my flight in time. Flights were smooth and relatively painless, except the leg from Houston to Denver, during which I had been banking on a significant nap to hold me over for the estimated 4.5 hour (turned 6 hour) drive from Denver to Delta. Instead I spent the ENTIRE flight entertaining an exuberant and talkative 5 year old who was apparently fascinated with every small detail about me. We had lengthy discussions about who my favorite princess was, we spent upwards of 45 minutes tying a string on her pants, she spent a good deal of time making my hair prettier by braiding and twisting (and unintentionally teasing) my hair, and watching care bears. I introduced her to the concept of freckles, which her chocolate colored skin hadn't introduced her to before. Her parents got some good rest, though.

Tonight was absolutely great. We had a great time at the first night of Kelly's reunion, which was a bar-b-q at Confluence park. After the sun had gone down we all headed to a bar for some pool and shuffleboard.
It sure is strange being back here again. It's an odd combination of feeling like it just hasn't changed and it will always be home, and I just really don't fit in here. I'm conspicuously not "local". No matter where I go I'm conspicuously not local. It figures. All I wanna do is blend.

As I type this, I have been awake and going like mad for 25 hours.