Got back last week from my vacation East. Oh god was it needed, but definitely, DEFINITELY, not long enough. It's funny how one can spend a large portion of time desperate to "get away" from where one comes from, then gets away and spends an even larger portion wishing to get back. OR maybe it's just me. I don't think so, though, because P and I have had discussions about it and he feels the same way. It's not that I dislike living in Ottawa, because obviously I wouldn't stay if I didn't like it, but I find myself getting homesick and nostalgic and antsy and wishing I could just get out of this city and go back home, just for a little bit.

The trip was great. I met P's family, which was really fun. Totally hit it off with his older sister. I haven't told him this, but I already really admired his sister, based on the things he told me about her being a writer, and the stories of them growing up. But then to meet her in person and discover that she is really as cool as he says she is, and find that we have an easy time talking to each other about writing, and "get" that side of each other is really great.

His brother and girlfriend and three kids came down to visit as well. The youngest is only 7 weeks old. Pretty good little baby. Poor P doesn't know what to think of babies (or so he says), but watching him with the older kids is revealing - he's so good with kids. I know that every woman likes to think her man is good with kids, but honestly, he's really really good with them. He's got almost as much energy as they do, but he plays when it's time to play, and when they need to behave, he makes sure they behave, and he talks to them without talking down to them and they absolutely adore him. (It could also have something to do with the fact that they love to crawl all over him and he lets them...).

His dad is really great too and I'm glad I got to meet him. Sadly, his mom passed away a number of years ago and it's too bad I won't get to meet her, because P really loved and admired her and it would have been nice to get to know her.

Meeting his family was really good. He had already met mine, while my parents visited here, and it went over well, but at home he was able to get to know them a little better. I had fun showing him where I grew up, and the places that formed who I am. Very fun time for us both.