My day actually started about three days ago when I woke up for work around 5.  Usual work day...not tired when I got home.  No big deal, I'll try to sleep later, I said...

No sleep.  Work day again.  "It's Thursday for me!  Wheee."  Come home...dragging ass on the way home, I get back...I'm wired.  I catch a few hours nap, but that's about it.  Work last night went well....

And today I had to drive to Lufkin to visit my Dad.  It's the best meeting point (almost halfway) between home and where he lives.  Why, you may wonder, do I need to go visit him again, at a strange halfway point, when I'm so sleep deprived...

Because he's going back to Iraq...as I mentioned previously.  And because this time he's staying for TWO years.  *sob* In the year he was gone last time, I never even got to hear his voice other than in a voicemail...I always missed his calls, and he never came back to the states.  The three hours (and nine of driving)  I got to spend with him today was NOT enough. 

For those of you who don't know....I grew up in a SMALL town.  Like 20k people, and when college was out of session, that cut in half.  I grew up there, I went to college there.  My parents knew (and not because they were snooping...just because gossip is powerful) what I had to eat for dinner at Prom before I got home that night. 

Before moving to Texas, I'd never been more than 20 minutes away from my Dad.  Mom had moved about 70 miles away, so I was more used to that.  I move to Texas, and a few months later, he moves to Iraq.  Talk about separation shock.  I was so glad when he came back...

And now he's quit his tenured position at the local university, dumped his girlfriend, sold his vehicles, packed up everything in the house and is renting it...

Anyway...enough about that.  I get to Lufkin, and start to go meet him at the resturaunt...and discover that my wallet isn't in my jeans.  No biggie, it must be in my bag...no?  seat?  no...car?  no.  CRAP.  I just drove 4.5 hours with NO LICENSE, and no money, or plastic, or anything...Which wouldn't matter, except the trip took over half a tank of gas.

Dad and I spend our time.  It was very nice, as usual.  I ask if I can bum some money for gas (feeling pretty silly, but having explained the situation with the wallet), and he gives me 10. 

I fill as much as I can on that 10....and I get another 8th of a tank basically...I'm still not up to half.

I got lost TWICE on the way home. 

But luckily I found a shortcut. 

4.5 hours with no radio or AC (just in case...) sucks. 

I'm home now. I've got to teach in about 10 hours.  I'm going to bed.