I landed from Maui, Hawaii back in Cleveland, Ohio late last night. 

I wasn't kidding in last week's column when I said I'd be taking a holiday in Hawaii.  My wife (so weird to say that) and I got married on December 4th and took off for Hawaii on the 6th.  I had some articles written and hiding away for Jon to post while I was gone.  Coming from the northern midwest and in December no less, Hawaii was an incredible experience.  Snorkling, traversing to the top of Haleakala and peering down upon the world, endless breakfast buffets, $12 dacquiris, the best ahi tuna steak I've ever had, swimming face to face with hundred year old turtles, getting tanned and red in December... and all with the the most amazing person I've ever known.  It was absolutely one of the best weeks of my life.

But as day six of our honeymoon came around we both felt oddly homesick. We missed our dogs.  We missed the snow that was falling and our Christmas tree.  We loved paradise, but missed the Holiday Season as it's represented in Norman Rockwell paintings.  So here I am back to "Normal". 

It seems a lot's gone on since I was away, or so my 300+ e-mails tell me.  I've got the big DCUO beta patch downloading and I'm anxious to see how the game's changed (I hear mixed results) and write up a bit for this week's DCUO column.  Cataclysm hit while I was away, and I'm pretty sure I'll have to cave in and boot that up this weekend too. 

In any case, it feels good to be home.  Even good to be back at work.  I love vacations, but they should remain vacations... because they're more special when they're fleeting.