So, this journalist walks into a bar....

Back to work, back to work. The vacation is over. *sigh* It's good to be back, believe it or not.

I LOVE my job. I really do, I'm not just saying that. There are some days when I absolutely hate it, but it's the people I hate (usually my editors!), not the job itself. What other job in the world pays you to spend a day on the lake in a sailboat to cover a race? Or gives you the opportunity to ride along in a WWII era stunt-plane, not just once, but twice? Or the chance to fly with the Thunderbirds, meet the president (not that he impresses me, but still...) and talk to some of the most interesting people in the region?

There aren't many jobs like mine, I know that much. I love talking to people and listening to their amazing, inspiring, heartbreaking, thought-provoking stories, but even more, I love sharing those stories with thousands of people and giving them a public voice. And I do that pretty well, if I do say so myself. From time to time I lose all professionalism and actually cry when hearing a particularly sad story. I've hugged moms who lost their sons in Iraq, cried with moms whose child has been raped or murdered and I've rejoiced with the people who have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

I think I do some good, in my own small way. I'm not moving mountains or winning Pulizters, but I'm giving a voice to the people who might not otherwise be heard. And that's enough for me. I love doing it.

But sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be able to stay home with my girls, at least during the summer. Would I love it as much as sometimes think I would? I don't know. Sometimes, being home with the girls DRIVES. ME. BATTY. They get on my nerves and when they do, I threaten to go to work just to get away from them and find a little peace and quiet. I know, that sounds terrible, and I feel pretty bad for saying it, but, there it is.

For the most part, I loved being home and just goofing off with the girls. It was fabulous to not have to rush, rush, rush to get out of the house in the morning and just hang out in my pajamas while enjoying my morning coffee and making breakfast instead of dumping cold cereal into a bowl. To wake up in the morning and think... "Hmmm...what to do today?" and then decide to sit around and just chill with the kids for awhile. We swam, camped and fished, hiked and went to the zoo, rode the horse, walked the dogs and worked on the chicken coop. Unruly and I had a couple of picnics and built a "fort" in the living room. We colored and painted, played board games, watched bad movies and went shopping.

Could I do that all the time? For months at a time? EVERY DAY? I don't think I could. But who knows, maybe I would surprise myself.