No, really. I’m not just trying to be coyly punk rock; we really did have a good time.

Our border crossing was made of happy mistakes and miracles – the entire thing took less than an hour, as opposed to the 3+ hours it should have been. Someone made a mistake when allowing the duty-free line skippers through, and our lane went second instead of last. Also helping: as we approached the Booths of Full Disclosure, they opened up two more and cars were sailing through. The border man was more interested in the state of garbage pickup in North Vancouver, but we were allowed through with minimal questioning and we were on our way. Yay!

We landed at Doug and Ali’s place around 3pm, and finally got to meet the small human named River. She is, as expected, adorable and we all had a great time watching her be a baby. I was pleased to note that not only was I not afraid of the infant, but she also did not spark the dreaded maternal instinct in me – I came away from Seattle without a Lust for Babies. I didn’t think it was really an issue, but you can never be certain until you’re on the front lines and now I know.

We ate some lunch, hung out, then split into two groups. The boys went to drink beer, and the girls went to go do girlie things. It was at this point I truly decided (instead of the minor resolve that came after fondling Ali’s iPhone) that I want an iPod Touch for Christmas, and Christmas was right now so I grabbed one. I named it iPug. It isn’t nearly close enough, but I enjoy self-flagellation and irony in equal doses. I’ve so far spent the morning hacking it unsuccessfully; I am not a natural hacker so I am thinking this may take me some time before I have it doing the things I want it to.

On Sunday we all trekked out for some breakfast with Bobbie and her small child, then said our goodbyes. We spent the afternoon in downtown Seattle doing the touristy things – watching fish being thrown at the Pike Place Market, getting free hugs, drinking coffee, walking all over the damn place. It was good fun. I love Seattle, almost more than I do Vancouver – if I was able to, I’d live there in a second. Since I can’t, Vancouver is still most excellent and we’re close enough so I can pretend to be as hip as I tell myself I often am.

We arrived home last night around 10pm exhausted and laden with the aftermaths of our strong dollar consumer orgy. I am officially resolving to NOT let 8 months go by before my next visit; now that my fear of this one particular baby is out of the way I am confident that I will not be so hesitant to make the very easy trip down south to see some of my favourite people in my favourite city.

It is gorgeous outside, so obviously that means I need to scoot to the Italian supermarket for some fresh pasta and sauces for tonight’s dinner.

I like my life. I wish I had a job and a pug and harboured a little less resentment at my husband, but I can only hope that this too will pass and eventually I can be really really happy instead of just sort of mostly happy.