If I were a poet, I would compose an ode reflecting on my new loss of independence, freedom, etc with my return home. No longer can I do what I want, when I want, go where I want. Or at least, without parental permission. But for the next 4 months I will have to defer to the higher-ups and the greater powers that be.

But it is nice to be home. Even if it was hell getting here. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I was on a nice flight. I really can't. Mom and I got through check-in, customs, and security just fine leaving us about 2 hours at the gate. It was raining and kind of windy so we were worried about delays. Our flight got pushed back from 2:20 to 4. We boarded after 4 o'clock. And then airtraffic control put in a restriction and we sat on a remote runway for an hour and a half. Not cool. Our three hour layover in Chicago had vanished and we were now looking at missing our fligt unless conditions in CHicago were bad too. Which they were. Our 6:05 flight when to 6:50, to 7:20, to 9:30, to 10:40, to 11:30. I was not happy, seeing as my laptop battery had died in Toronto and people were using the only available outlet to charge their cellphones and iPods. When it was announced that the flight was delayd until 11 someting, Mom and I decided to go for a walk. This was around 9pm. We were walking through the terminal when we heard the call to board for Northwest Arkkansas. We looked over and lo and behold there was the last XNA bound flight out of Chicago. Mom goes up to the counter, gets us put on standby, and then we are given boarding passes. We board the new plane, extremely pleased with ourselves and our fortuitous walk. Then a crew member came on the speaker and said we were waiting for our captain's plane to land. And that it would take half an hour. So we wait. Then we find out his plane landed but they can't get to a gate. Another half an hour. The Captain arrives and we take off! FINALLY!

Land in XNA without our luggage as it was on the other plane. Run downstairs to be greeted by Dad, Chris, Shiraz, and a banner that says "Welcome Home Nikki". Mom asks where her banner is. We drive home, Chris and I discussing the DaVinci Code, which I read twice over while waiting for the plane. Get home, marvel at the new TV Dad bought which is bigger than me and the desk Dad bought Mom.. Go to bed, excited that I had some contact solution and toothbrush with me because the rest of it was in my checked luggage. Hear the garage doors open around 12:40 and discover that it was dad off to the airport to get our bags. It turns out that our original flight was almost7 hours late.

Rejoice in the fact that I have luggage, clean my room, switch out my photo frames with pics from this year, reassemble my theatre wall, see prom pics of Chris, see Chris's Paris photos and turn lime green in envy, accept his cool gifts from Paris which include a Paris t-shirt, Helling vol 2 in French, French Fry sauce from McDonalds which I will try next time we have fries, and a horribly bad french rap group's, called 45 Scientific, CD. I have yet to listen to the entire album but the tidbits I have heard scare me. Especially when it is a couple of black French rappers singing about how "Le Crime Paie" or "Crime Pays".

God save my eardrums.

I also feel the need to recap my amazing karaoke night with my Japanese class. I had never been to an actual Kareoke plae but damn, this was so much fun! Even if I can't sing to save myelf or the lives of innocent children, I did enjoy myself profusely. And the beer. I was sad when I received the call that my drive had arrived but it is certainly something I won't forget. And then I shall have to relive it again when I get the pics from Ernest...

And two marks back so far- Intro to East Asian Civs- 80% (A-)
Spanish 220- 81% (A-)

Yay!

But I still dread seeing Japanese....