After lengthy delays in DFW, I finally made it home to Virginia in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. But, hey, I'm still at work and almost functioning! Caffeine is my friend.

The rest of my trip to Dallas was a blast. We did, indeed, head out to IKEA and wander around the showrooms a bit. We also got a look at the coolest minor league baseball stadium thats right next door - when its not 104 degrees outside, I'd love to catch a game there.

Sunday was a leisurely day of reading and watching movies. Storms blew in that afternoon, and we spent some time sitting on the front porch doing something quintessentially Texan: speculating on the rain. When it did finally come, you could see movement in houses all down the street as people watched. Across the street, our neighbors came out into their courtyard and started cheering. Its been a long, dry summer in Dallas.

Sunday night I got my Tatum fix while the family gathered at Buca di Beppo for dinner. She is still the cutest baby ever, and I don't care what you say, I swear she understood the drawings I made for her on my menu. Our family is growing by leaps and bounds again - my aunt Nancy and her boyfriend Jim announced they were getting married! Jim's family was there as well (this should have tipped me off, but I was oblivious) and they fit in well with our loud and raucous group. Afterwards Jeff and I met up with Laura, Scott, Ellen, Steve, and Wes at the Old Monk for drinks.

I took the day off on Monday, so I was able to enjoy a delicious breakfast with my mom and brother at Cindi's - a vintage Dallas eatery that hasn't changed much since Mom and Pop used to take me there as a kid. Even after all these years, Jeff and I still giggle at the unfortunate combination of the Casket Store and the Boxes To Go outlet next door.

No trip to Dallas would be complete, however, without a little Boggle. So we met up with my grandmother for lunch at her place, followed by some serious Boggling. Gramma, Jeff, and my mom are some of the few in the world who will actually still play Boggle with me (my Aunt Virginia being one notable exception, but she's notorious for making up words) so I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

It was one of those perfect weekends where you see everyone you want to see, but still feel like you have time to relax and enjoy yourself. And, even better, I get to go back in three weeks!