Okay, so I was trying to be cutsie and thought I would put "Stardate : 12345" but then I thought, hey, maybe I should look up stardate. Does it exist or did they make it up each day on the show. Why am I not surprised that it is in fact a calculation - well that is if you use "The Next Generation" standard format. Are you kidding me?? If you want to calculate future dates and learn the history of the *stardate* calculation, please see: http://trekguide.com/Stardates.htm#Today
Sorry, that was a big digression, but whether I'm on the Starship Enterprise, in The Twilight Zone or just in La La Land, it sure feels weird to be in Austin. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure its just me. Some questions I have pondered: Was I really in China for the last 7 months? Did Will's favorite vegetarian restaurant "Mother's" really burn down because some homeless dude was cooking a steak out back? Did I really say "Yeah, we're headed back *home* to China on Thursday?"
It was one thing to "visit" my parents, sister, nieces, but just being back in Austin and not going back to our SCHOOL BUS yellow house sure makes me sad. And who forgot to tell me about "The Domain"? We have had a great time seeing lots of friends and NEW BABIES!! Who knew there was something in the water in Austin, at least it is better than mercury or lead. We have visited some of our favorite restaurants - El Chiles, Z'Tejas, CM Cafe, Ararats and I even stopped by work to see some of the gang. How priceless is it to watch everyone around you working their butts off and still have time to ask how you are doing and "Hey, say something in Chinese..." My reply is: Well, you know its tough living in a foreign country. I can't really work and I have a maid come 3x a week for $50/month and my best chinese line is telling her to go buy me groceries and fold my underwear.
Alas - it is almost time to bid farewell again to this fair city - we'll most likely see you again sometime around stardate: 61061.5. Live long and prosper folks!