It’s not very often that my dad and I get to spend a huge amount of time together, but thanks to my mom’s recent trip to South Dakota, he’s been hanging with me up in Flagstaff this weekend.  We’ve done our best to fill his short time here with fun times and yet still remain low-key enough that he can consider his stay up north a vacation.  After a long drive and a few short stops in Phoenix on Friday (I mean who could be in the valley and NOT stop at Cabela’s???), we arrived in Flagstaff on one of the coldest nights of the winter.  I’m sorry, but telling me that it’s -10 degrees windchill doesn’t inspire joy and happiness.  Is that just me?

Saturday morning we worked to get my car started and unfrozen from its parking space and moved to campus before lunch at New Frontiers and a trip to the mall.  Next, we met up with Cory to see the matinee showing of Valkyrie.  I have to confess I was not excited to check out ‘Couch-Jumpin’ Cruise’s newest cinematic masterpiece but was pleasantly surprised that after it was all said and done Mr. Scientology didn’t detract from a really great movie.  After the movie, we met up with J-Lo and had dinner together before heading back to hang out at my place.

We slept in Sunday morning before we headed to church.  After spending such a long time searching for a new church home, it meant a huge deal to be able to show him where my new place of worship was. Strangely enough, dad and I wound up at the same Mexican restaurant as J-Lo after going to separate churches. (I still believe he was stalking us despite his constant denial.) Sunday night we hung out with Cory who made stir fry, and after a few hours of an NCIS marathon, we ended up watching both installments of Grindhouse, Planet Terror and Death Proof. (What could possibly be better than watching exploding zombies with your dad and boyfriend?!?!  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.)

Yesterday while I ran into work to check in and meet our new staff member, dad headed downtown for a haircut and beard trim.  A couple of hours later we met up for lunch before spending the rest of the day hanging out and enjoying each others’ company and a House and iPod loading marathon.  Finally, we had dinner at one of my favorite Thai food places where we treated our impeding colds with spicy food.

Dad left town today in time to pick mom up from her return flight, and I can’t help but be a tish sad that he had to go.  One of the hardest things about living in Flagstaff is living so far from those I care about the most.  But instead of dwelling on the small amount of time I get to spend with them, I prefer to relish what time I do have.  With a new year approaching, one of my resolutions needs to be to go home more often. Because even though it’s completely cliche’… Home truly is where the heart is.