barkbox

I signed Henry up for a few Barkboxes (monthly shipments of toys and treats), and the first treat was pretty cool: you put it in the microwave and it puffs up into this warm crunchy thing. He was so excited to eat it that he was hopping around so much that he couldn't eat it.

clean

Glad I decided not to cancel the cleaning lady while we were gone, so we came home to a tidy house. Laundry in the dryer, mom's cooking in my belly, first round of inbox triage complete, I'm as ready as I'll ever be to go back to real life...

record unpacking

For the first time in years, I'm fully unpacked the same day I got home from vacation. This was partly to triage the laundry situation, and partly to enjoy my loot, which includes three (!!) sets of airline pajamas, lots of exciting candy, and a sweat suit that came highly recommended by a friend.

one more day

Only one day left of vacation, but at least that day will include sleeping in, cherry blossoms, a bullet train, red bean KitKats, one last dinner, and a first class seat with a few movies I'd like to see. And my dog waiting for me on the other side of the ocean.

140K

Managed to get over 140,000 steps this week, for an average of over 20K per day.

rub a dub dub

Always take a bath at the hotel, especially if there is a giant cedar tub.

jealousy

Oh, to live in a place with good public transportation, bath houses, and delicious food in small portions...

firm

Firm mattress is best mattress.

best part

The best part of vacation might be the psychological freedom of having email sync turned off on my work account.

keeping up

We're getting lots of walking in, plus I've been watching Orange Is the New Black once a day on the treadmill to get some extra steps, so I think I'm actually going to come out of this binge trip OK.

specific tastes

When you eat enough Japanese meals in a row to identify your own specific obsessions therein. Mine: noodles, lotus root, shirako, red bean, soy lattes. His: yuzu.

addiction

When you finally get Wi-Fi after an unexpected 26 hour hiatus.

butler

When the hotel has a butler, and he brings you a big bag of the welcome snacks (yuzu flavored crunchy things) after you ask where you can buy them.

lookit that egg

shiso smoothie

Who knew that shiso would make a blueberry smoothie super tasty? The cafe in the Google Tokyo office, apparently.

new snacks

Best thing about checking out another Google office is trying the local snacks. Giant apples, sour grapes gummy candy, dried fish with almonds, huge vending machines, black vinegar drinks? Gotta try them all, and find room for breakfast and lunch at the cafe, too!

first class

The only bad thing about a flight in first class is that it ends much too soon.

lizard buddy

Boyfriend directed Henry's attention to a lizard on the deck today. Henry's excitement and enthusiasm knew no bounds. Jumping, whining, scrabbling at the window, yodeling, it was ON.

61

Realized that with our planned travel this year, we'll hit six or seven foreign countries, four of them new ones, bringing my total to 61.

also great

My own bed. Daylight Saving Time. Happy dog.

that was great

The weather softened up while I was in New York, I ate lots of good food, saw friends and coworkers, walked and took the subway, had a pretty fascinating experience at Sleep No More, and had a smooth journey home.

mini hibernation

A post brunch jetlagged nap in a cozy hotel room with blackout curtains when it's freezing cold outside.

walking from new york

Turns out there's a walking desk right next to my engineers, so I can still get some steps in despite the frigid weather this week!

strangers on a plane

Flight was delayed by four hours. On the upside, I knew about two of those hours in advance and got more time at work to get stuff done, and also had time to pace and get some steps at the airport. Guy on the plane said I was the nicest stranger he's ever traveled with, just because I offered to switch seats with him for his bum leg and gave him water for his pills.

different strokes

Squeezed in for an unexpected appointment with the chiropractor at work today, so I was with a different one than usual. I love my usual chiropractor, but it's fun to get a different style adjustment sometimes.

closeup

Went in for a company-funded photo shoot today to get a headshot for a conference. There was a makeup artist, and the photographer did silly photos, too, so I have lots of good pictures for serious and silly uses.

skinny jeans

I'm wearing a skinnier pair of jeans today! Just a few more pounds and I will fit into every pair I own.

toffee bread pudding

Yum.

so thankful

Nothing like vacuuming the house myself to make me really appreciate my cleaning lady.

early bird

When you have to wake up much earlier than usual, and for some reason, you're up and alert before the alarm clock goes off.

fireplace s'mores

Super easy, the ingredients are shelf stable, and always a crowd pleaser.