Home Again, Jiggity-jig

I just got back from the longest holiday I've taken since 2002.  I was off work for 24 days in a row and away from home for two solid weeks--Seattle to Vegas to Death Valley and home again, jiggity-jig.  It was grand.  Oh, so grand.  I mean sure, I missed my warm cozy bed and my soft cuddly cats (so much!).  The desert sucked every ounce of moisture from my skin and I nearly turned into a lizard.  We experienced a few kinks as the government shutdown impinged on our jolly national park vacation.  But we saw our friends get married by Elvis.  I got some quality family time on both sides--singing, playing games, cooking, talking.  I hugged my first Joshua Tree and squealed over a chance encounter with the cutest little cat-sized foxes ever.  I saw the cold blue waters of Pudget Sound and then the fireworks over The Strip the very next day and was in the lowest point in the western hemisphere the day after that.  I basked on sand dunes under a blanket of shooting stars. I sweated and froze and laughed and cried.  I was dazzled by this world.

And I have SO much more to say about all that!!

But, for now...

We spent a night in the Joshua Tree forest.

We (carefully) explored the Devil's Golf Course.

Our final sunrise of the trip colored the sky over the mountains in Death Valley.

We (accidentally) saved the best hike for last: Desolation Canyon.

...a sneak preview while I launch back into the swing of things again.  Laundry.  Unpacking.  Cat cuddles.  Moisturizing.  Work.  Groceries.  Messages.  More laundry.  And a lot of much needed sleep.  I am worn out with good times.  Thank my lucky stars.