OOooh, I was looking forward earlier to logging on and tapping out a little something about my vacation, but instead I had problems with my laptop as I logged on: No sound, where I usually have them, and problems, apparently, with my modem. I suppose things may have gotten broken in the flight up here to Maine.

Traveling this time was horrendous, and I have decided I will not fly if I have to again. Oh, I suppose I'll have to if I'm traveling out to Colorado, but I'll try to drive as much as possible from this time out. Rude employees, long lines, no directions about standing in the correct line; condescension when encountering new things I've never come across before -- this ATM-like machine because I had used e-tickets. The presents I had wrapped were torn open and inspected -- and snippy comments like "Northwestern is not liable for packages that split open in flight." Well, then, I guess I'm not liable for anything then am I? If my laptop is broken, I'll really flip. I like to travel, but I've never enjoyed the airport experience, and I viewed all of this as intrusions on my civil liberties.

Furthermore, I made the mistake of logging onto work using my dad's computer, and there were several upsetting e-mails, and then I just have to sit back and relax: It's just not worth it.

Right now, I'm borrowing my dad's laptop to type this in, check my bank balances and personal e-mails. Yaay: My tenants have all paid their rent and so the mortgages are paid. Yikes, I'm already down to almost $0 in my personal bank account, that's from paying "cash" for the DVD players (that were a hit, yaay!). And I heard from my little Colorado friend Corey.

And the weather and time up here has been a relaxing time. I'm staying up at "Topside", the second home my parents have bought , and of which I'm part owner. We bought it furnished, and it comes with a lot of 1970s furniture, gold and avacado green. Low ceilings, fold out beds, knotty-pine walls, and a table in front of a picture window overlooking the road and in the distance the bay. I have been sleeping A LOT, so I must have needed it.

My sister is here, with my nephew. He looks a lot like our family, and I haven't said anything, but I think he looks a lot like me when I was a kid. He has brown eyes, though, and straight hair. He's walking, kind of like a sailor on deck, and very pleasant. I think he's going to have our personality, too, someone who is a little on the shy side, he doesn't cry or carry on; just looks and watches everything. Duncan was happy to see me, apparently responded to Dad's mention of my name, running up and looking for me. When he saw me, he bugled, pawed me excitedly.

On the second day here, C from Cincinnati pulled into town. She was an instant hit with my family. We went on a hike in the rain, hung out at the aquarium, and she picked up the bill at the Tugboat Inn when we went out to eat. She fully joined in conversations with all of the family. I'm sure if we were straight, we would be getting married. She particularly liked Toasted Almonds, and the story behind it, a Smith family tradition, that we shared at Tugboat.

On the third day, my old boyfriend R, and his new boyfriend B showed up, fresh from Bar Harbor. My dad was a bit hostile, and I hadn't thought about it in advance or I would have stressed about how everyone would get along with each other, but no need: Everyone got along fine. After dinner last night, the four of us returned to town and walked along the quiet streets and even quieter boarded bridge, stopping to talk quietly and stare at the water, mirror-like in its stillness, lights blinking softly in the distance, along with a soothing foghorn or two. We bought a bottle of wine at Hannaford's, and had a laugh around the dining room table in the house. Lotsa laughs, R telling a funny story or three: B's mother, a tough Della Reese; Sharon, his coworker and her "mother who isn't her mother", and his own mother. They looked so happy, and they talked about their new condo and getting hitched next February. We had more laughs around the breakfast table in the morning, waving from the picture window at the few folks walking with their dogs or driving by.

I was reminded again that the most important thing about finding someone compatible for me, is a sense of humor. C saw a unique side of me, because she met friends of mine from a different, earlier time in my life.

Privately, I've been thinking about the Dayton duplex. There's no avoiding moving back, and despite the illness in my stomach as I drove through that town on my way to the airport. If I have to live there, I'm thinking I will treat my living quarters as if it's a vacation home: I've been flipping through a Cottage book Mom has, and I think I'll paint the floors, and put together decorations as if the duplex is a vacation cottage -- painted floors, oil lamp hanging from the kitchen walls, adirondack chairs in the yard, wild rose bushes. Decorating it this way will be cute, and will enable me to get through the next, very cold, steps.

Despite the frustrations, I'll remember the laughter with my sister, my family, and my friends. That's what's important in life.