Well, this is it.

Tomorrow I come into the headquarters, but then it's outprocessing time- getting signatures, getting examinations, etc.- and then I head for... not home. Texas. Gotta fly out of Houston 'cos of expensive change fees. My boss on this job and I will be sharing a car for the five hour ride back, and then I'll be checking into a hotel room in Houston- at the Airport Mariott, where they check to make sure people have left their rooms entirely when they check out. Which is good. And then on Tuesday I fly out of Houston at 10:40 AM local time and arrive in Newark at around 5:30 PM Eastern time. I will probably take a taxi home; the car services are weirdly expensive.

I am currently suffering from the horrible suspicion that my apartment has been broken into and my few things of value (the computer, TV, bike, and DVD player) taken. At this point I am not entirely sure I care about this so long as my bed is there and I still have at least one suit in the closet, since we're back to business wear at the office now that summer's over. I am glad of the airport Marriott stay because I will be sleeping in a bed again.

I am also going to have to find someone to be in my apartment on the 15th. My landlady's mortgage company is doing inspections that day and I really can't ask the boss to let me stay home until they show up, all things considered.

But at least I will be going home, and at least my job will still be there, and at least a weekend is coming. I may check into a hotel this weekend for one night just to sleep in a bed that is nowhere near anyone else and where I do not have to take care of a damned thing beyond the most basic level of manners. Or not, you never know.

We'll see. Tomorrow I start the long road home.