Junk In the Trunk

Life here has pretty much returned to "normal" and, no, I really don't understand normal anymore. I returned to Oz solo a month ago and I'm still wondering how it can feel like I got back last week, but the calendar confirms it has been a month.
As always happens, my luggage weighed more coming back than it did going the other way. That would be all right if it weren't for the extra pounds that weren't inside the suitcase. Ugh!
It's one of those things that happens when you do a lot of visiting over meals and just "have to" frequent all those eating places we love that haven't made it across the ditch. Like Starbucks, Arni's, Frozen Custard, Chik-fil-A, and much to my own amazement - Taco Bell. I've never been a "Taco Hell" fan, but even that sounded good for some reason. I guess things seem better when you can't have them. Did I mention Starbucks?!
I came back from the States alone because Eric decided to stay two more weeks and paint the house. He had his Aussie buddy Andy fly over to help in this project along with the two conscripts living in the house (Ethan and A.J.). The house became a testosterone pit and with all the hard work going on, the beer was flowing pretty freely. As a matter of fact, there was a bottle of beer lurking somewhere in about every picture I saw of the painting project in progress.

The pictures of the completed project are proof that they did a great job and didn't overdo it on the beer front. Even better, no one got hurt and heaven knows our house is a real huge challenge with half of it being three stories. That was a welcome answered prayer.
They have plenty of stories to tell not the least of which is how Andy drew a crowd to him everywhere he went. People were all agog at meeting a real Aussie bloke and Andy is, admittedly, a bit of a character. He and Eric are great "mates" and we are thankful for his and his wife Jan's friendship.
Now we're missing our family and friends back home in the USA. At least we'll get to see most of them at Christmas as we've bought our tickets for the next visit. Now I just need to divest myself of those extra pounds from the last trip before we leave because experience tells me I'll be bringing back some extra junk in my trunk.