Made it back; dressing to unpacked was a little under three hours. Traffic noise is still bad but the lower intensity morning light made a huge difference.

A thing that would never happen in PA or MO: three SUVs traveling three different directions all stopped and hung back to let me cross the road. 

 Grocery bills continue to be yikes at a glance and in line with MO prices if I factor comfort food separately. My exploration of meat substitutes isn't doing me any favors, though if the Kroger generic soy based "chicken" is as good as the name brand stuff, I'm set.