San Diego was fabulous.  The only thing better than touring this:

 USS Midway 

or riding this

Ferry to Coronado Island (nice farmer tan, btw)

or lounging on this

Coronado Beach and Derrick’s feet

or strolling through this

Balboa Park 

or eating at cute places like this

Prado Restaurant (Balboa Park)

and this

 Lola’s 7-up Market and Deli (Carlsbad)  

Quick aside:  This was by far the coolest family-owned restaurant I’ve ever been to.  The woman with the white hair behind the counter was friendly and gorgeous.  I wanted to take a picture of her close-up but was too embarrassed.  She and Derrick talked over the counter for fifteen minutes and no, that is not him in the vest, because I draw the line at vests.  She told us all about her family’s legacy with the restaurant and was so enthusiastic about it; apparently one of the original owners had an affinity for 7-up soda, and thus the hybrid name.  She beamed the whole time we talked, and I wanted to stay all day.  Pictures of her family from generations back graced the restaurant, including this mural outside of her mother and aunts, which I loved.

I think I could pass as a sister, don’t you?

But back to my original train of thought.  As I was saying, the only thing better than visiting this

Mormon Battalion Historical Site (Old Town San Diego)

Or watching the fishermen on this

Oceanside Pier (Oceanside)

or watching the surfers on this

Oceanside Beach 

or cheering at this

 Padres game (Downtown San Diego)…

…is coming home to this.

We missed these little people so much.  Forgive the trite expression, but the best part about getting away truly is coming home.

Even if it means coming home to Kennewick Derrick.

(He’s really not so bad.)