where am i?!

i just returned from my weekly trek to wal-mart, every american's second home. seriously, i don't even like the place but it just lures me in. it doesn't matter how many times i can go, i always find something that captures my attention. today it was make-up and peanut butter. i went to find facial powder, but there was just too much from which to choose. as for peanut butter... you have your jif, peter pan, great value brands (three main ones). but the selection doesn't end there. you have creamy, crunchy, sugar, no sugar, low carb, low sodium, low sugar, low fat, organic, natural, with chocolate spread, snickers, and to my dismay - jelly. thinking of brian regan, what kind of lazy person needs their peanut butter AND jelly to come in the same jar? i don't understand any of it.
i spent last week in indiana, visiting family and friends. i had the chance to spend a day with a very good friend from college - also single, 26, and a missionary. we haven't seen each other in 3 years because of our schedules and i can't explain how nice it was to sit down - no time restraints - and talk with a friend who is in the same place as life as i. after the day was over (coffee, shopping, thai food, coldstone, barnes and noble, and movie included), i got in my car and just sighed. how refreshing.
i feel i write this quite often - that coming back to the states feels more and more strange each time i return. but i can't tell you how nice it is to just do "normal" stuff. i can mow the lawn, go to sonic and buy a chocolate/banana shake, go to the library, drive my car, watch rerun after rerun of "gilmore girls" and "what not to wear." those simple, mindless things keep me sane at times. i have found myself bamboozled (there's a word for you) when trying to do other simple things like greet people or go to the post. i can't remember which coins have which value or how to sign a check. i'm sure as soon as i remember all these things, i'll be on a plane back to norway.