To go home or not to go home....

Okay, so here's my dilemma. Saturday, I am scheduled to drive 21 hours to Tx and I'm not quite sure if I should... Don't get me wrong - it's not like I don't want to. I've been planning this trip for a while and until about a week ago was very "gung ho" about driving.

Here's the deal:
1. There's the weather. Not only do I have to coordinate travel weather here in South bend, but I have to make sure there is a 2 day window of good - or somewhat good - weather to travel in. Ice-covered interstate is not my idea of good traveling conditions. This alone could determine whether or not I drive down, if I can't get out of here, I'm not going anywhere.

2. I have to think about my ORP - original research proposal - which is the first of 2 very important oral exams required to be truly considered a candidate for a Ph.D. Simply - if I don't pass, I'll be going home soon anyway. Well, I have to do both of my oral exams this spring but I'm currently working on the first one. I've been working on the idea and am getting close to getting that squared away, but I still have to get a paper written on my idea and prepare for the 2 hour long grilling that my committee will surely give me. If I go home, I will more than certainly be required to work on this - though we all know how much work I will probably do between visiting friends and hanging out with family.

3. Cost. Need I say more? The reason I'm bringing my dogs with me is that it was too expensive to board them while I was gone. Driving was the most economical way of going home hands down but the whole trip still adds up, since gas prices are not cheap and I have hotels to stay in.

4. Home means family and friends. I was excited about going home and seeing a myriad of friends. Jessia is gonna be in town with Tommy and Nick - how often do I get to see them? I was planning on going to San Antonio for New Years, hanging out with lots of good friends I have there. I haven't seen many of these friends since May, when I moved away...

So what do I do? I guess the answer is obvious. I should probably stay in IN and work on my ORP and just get it done and over with. I can always plan a "Yay! I passed!" trip after the fact... can't I?