this week

Pretty much un-sick. Won the Hamilton lottery again, for front row seats. Had my first massage in five months. Escaped an escape room with twenty minutes to spare. Caught up with a law school friend. About to play games and have soup dumplings.

surprise supplies

Gummy care package from faraway friends!

corner turned

After nine days of total uselessness, two visits to urgent care, piles of medicine, and ridiculous hours of TV, I've turned the corner, just in time to almost go back to work again. It was a pretty grim time.

The silver lining is that it reminded me just how much Boyfriend loves me (and vice versa), and how lucky we are to have found each other in this big world.

another nurse

Boss Dog arrived this morning, and is already pinning my legs down on the bed with his head, while curling up behind my legs, as if I needed another excuse to stay in bed and get some rest.

best medicine

Reading a perfectly beautiful book in bed, listening to my dog licking his chops as he sleeps in front of a space heater, I took a break to poke around on my phone and read a clickbait article that unexpectedly made me laugh until I cried. Was it that funny, or am I just in one of those moods? Does it matter? It's been a while since I laughed until I cried.

slow down

I was working through a long list of things to make and mend and do, but then I got sick, so I'll take that as a cue that my body doesn't want to hunch over a sewing machine for the whole day, and take some time to sleep and read and overdose on vitamin C.

pause

A quick business trip (there and back in one day) on Thursday with the big boss, then a little heart to heart yesterday, followed by team outing to see Star Wars, and hot pot out with friends, and that brings 2019 at work to a close. 

The next two weeks should be quiet: some errands (five accomplished in two hours today!), lots of reading, pajama time, sewing, and some time with friends.

good and bad

The bad news is that my sewing machine broke earlier this week, trying to hem through multiple layers of canvas. The good news is that I was able to get a good deal on a better machine. The bad news is that it cost twice as much as my (admittedly very cheap, refurbished, and lower quality) old one. The good news is that it works so much better, and the price difference is likely justified.

morning mood

Is there anything better than listening to music in bed while drinking coffee and spooning your dog, and then he sighs, puts his paw on your hand, and cuddles deeper into the crook of your shoulder? (The answer is no.)

falling in love

When you love your handmade boots from a small local brand so much that you wear them every day, even if they don't really go with what you're wearing. That new leather smell is just 🔥

when it rains

I had won the Hamilton lottery only after months of playing, then I won again yesterday for tonight's show. I asked Boyfriend if he wanted to go, and it turns out that he won, also, after playing maybe five times. He can't go, so I'm going with a good college friend. 

chill chill

Cold weather and a holiday week meant lots of hanging out in the house, working on making a jacket, buying a few things from small businesses, sleeping, eating and drinking more than is wise, hosting an impromptu Thanksgiving hotpot with a couple coworkers and partners, and having my sister's family and my former work wife over for fondue and general goofiness. Tomorrow was intended to be another house day with more sewing and reading, but I won the Hamilton lottery, so we're catching the matinee tomorrow!!

almost

Another hour or two, and the slipcovers for the dining chairs should be finished, freeing me up to focus on reading, or perhaps to try my hand at that utility jacket pattern I've been eyeing...

still got it

Charmed the host of a long-standing popup dinner (where we were guests of a friend) until he insisted multiple times that we give him our email addresses to be added to future dinners. The other guests said that in some cases, it took years before they were added to his direct invite list. Next dinner is in three weeks.

sounds good

Just got fancy speakers and a fancy amp from the boss-friend. Like, really fancy. 

messenger

It's good to be the bearer of good news.

noods and frenz

New yuzu ramen place with coworkers, and ran into former coworkers, so we shared a table. Good ramen and good friends, not a bad start to the weekend.

i scream

After a years-long relationship with Cherry Garcia, I'm revisiting an old flame, Haagen Dazs strawberry ice cream, and remembering why I loved it in the first place.

not that old

A coworker assumed he was "way older" than I am, and that once I get to his age, I'll understand why he might want Botox and fillers. He's a year younger than I am.

who, me

A friend needs a "successful woman" to come speak to his daughter and 60 other Girl Scouts about the role of community in success. And he asked me, even though I chase happiness over success.

small victories

I may have finally figured out how to do a ponytail that doesn't look sloppy by the end of the day. It only took 41 years.

what i needed

Friday soup dumplings and games at home. Saturday spontaneous In-N-Out in the sun, then Vietnamese dinner with sister's family and Jesus Christ Superstar with them and a friend (and Jesus and Abbas had voices to die for), then a drink with the friend. Sunday facial and then a work call in my kitchen with my CTO neighbor (and our CEO across the world). And then I finally finally finally got a solid night of real sleep after three nights of terrible sleep.

And happy 11th anniversary to Boyfriend and me today!! We're bringing a bottle of champagne to our Monday games night, because that's how old nerds celebrate.

aww shucks

When you get called out by an external partner (on a call with your boss) for good things, and then they say it again in email. And then your boss separately tells you that you're doing a good job. And then other people say they don't think anyone else would be able to keep everything moving as well, while managing the personalities involved. That's pretty cool.

two wins

Started the morning at the eye doctor, where I found out that my eyes have gotten better. Ended the afternoon at work, meeting the dog from Henry's shelter that I sent my coworker to adopt (just in the nick of time, as several people arrived at the shelter after her to try to adopt the dog). Today was a win.

pop

Finally, a well timed zit pop. 

right side

Here's to this morning, when everything aligned: I woke up naturally at the right time, feeling refreshed, and the covers were just the right amount of warm and snuggly, and the coffee was just the right amount of caffeine. Getting up on the right side of the bed happens so rarely, but it really makes it nearly bimpossible to have a bad day.

weekend recovery

Really rough week at work, followed by the exact weekend I needed: dinner and concert with friends, sleeping in and napping on and off until 4, TV and reading, and now a sewing night with some girl friends.

ottoman empire

Made a slipcover for our ratty ottoman, and it's like new! No need to waste the old one or buy a new one. Next up, designing and making slipcovers for our dining chairs, which will be much harder and more tedious...

third time

Saw Hamilton again yesterday with Boyfriend and a couple of friends, then got dinner at a Mexican

seafood place. Going to a concert next weekend and then Jesus Christ Superstar in a few weeks. It's a good month for live shows!

best monday morning

Best start to a week: drinking coffee in bed while sandwiched between my two favorite dogs.

tasty wines

Went to a wine tasting fundraiser at a friend's house over the weekend. Tasted lots of great wines, and accidentally won a lot of silent auctions to support girls and dogs. Worth it.

two weeks in

Back into the normal routine, and it's like I never left. New things to work on, plus the usual stuff, plus the usual unusual stuff. It's good to feel useful and needed, and it's good to have had a break. Here's hoping the feeling lasts...

yes new york

Work meetings went better than expected, no jet lag, lots of walking and people watching and friends and ice cream. Today, a day to read and recover before a night of games. Tomorrow, one last brunch and some terrace drinks, and then it's back to real life and all of its messes and stresses, but which also includes my dog.

almost back

Two weeks in Africa: sunrises and sunsets, long drives, elephants for days, but also lions and leopards and cheetahs and impalas, plane after plane, cold mornings and warm duvets, big bathtubs, huge skies, infinite stars, Cheshire moons, no underwires or makeup, sunglasses tan, passport stamps.

Now, a few days in New York, just as big and wondrous and strange, with just as much pull on my restless heart.

rolling with it

The utterly busy relaxation, the mindless plans, and the class excitement of safari are so awesome. More stars in Botswana than even Namibia, and lots of big cats eating their kills. My camera has decided it only wants to work intermittently with a lot of fussing, so I won't get as many great shots, but the theme of this trip, what with its last minute genesis, Boyfriend's passport issues, and my camera, seems to be "roll with it," and it seems to be something I'm getting better at with time. Simple pleasures like a cozy bed on a cold desert night, hot porridge with honey before the sun comes up, a lazy afternoon nap in between game drives, and the unexpected click of the shutter when my camera decides it's willing to take a photo, all of these are delightful bits of each day.

journeys and destinations

Spent the last week frantically seeing friends, running errands, and getting everything ready for our big trip. It was productive in a ton of small but satisfying ways (I made my first shirt and dyed another! Organized my bathroom! Pranked a friend with birthday donuts! Got dog care lined up for the trip! Bought tickets to go see Jesus Christ Superstar!)

We embarked on our journey: a ten hour redeye to London, an eleven hour layover, an eleven hour redeye to Johannesburg (and an initial sigh of relief that Boyfriend's self-inflicted passport emergency didn't blow up yet, fingers crossed that it works out for the rest of the trip). We have a day in Johannesburg -- visited the consulate a couple times, then I fell asleep getting a massage, and expect to make friends with the bathtub tonight.

Tomorrow, Botswana!

fam

There's the family you're born with and the family you choose, and if you're lucky, the two overlap.

Tuesday, grabbed lunch with a college friend (after already getting properly soused with her and another friend over wine and cheese on Sunday).

Spent Wednesday afternoon in the city with the friend visiting from Switzerland, and I'd forgotten how he's just sunshine for the soul. It was good to catch up and just bask in that for a bit.

Thursday late night hang with work friends, talking and eating bad pizza over wine.

Friday afternoon hot tubbing with my sister turned into Friday night dinner with her family, complete with YouTube gems, BIL guitar jams, and just general reminders that when your blood family overlaps with your chosen family, there is nothing safer or more secure.

spaaaah

Spent five hours at the spa today, part of it with a friend who had found out it was my birthday and surprised me with flowers and a gift. Had lunch with two other friends earlier, during which time flowers from my office got delivered to my house. Altogether a relaxing birthday and a great cure for the hangover I had after drinking three bottles of wine with two girlfriends last night over copious quantities of cheese and bread, while sitting on one of our decks and watching the changing light on the hills.

rich

How did I get so lucky, to love and be loved by wonderful friends?

pop

One week into rebooting yoga, and I just had the most satisfying lower back crack where it has been jammed up for a while.

lady of leisure

It's busy, not working!! I've mended sweaters, bought materials to try making a shirt, prepared to mend jeans, made bread, done yoga, practiced guitar, read books, gotten my car serviced, taken Henry on another swim date, and gone up to the city to visit with friends in town from Switzerland (I haven't seen them outside of a group in years, and it reminded me why I like them so much). Boyfriend is visiting family for a few days, but he left coffee and food for me, the house is a wreck, and I've got so much more to do, it's a good thing I have two more weeks to keep doing so much nothing.

amazon

Vacation time is play time! Big order of games and sewing supplies coming in, plus a swim vest for Henry!

back at it

My back has been much neglected, so I'm starting up with yoga again, and for a birthday treat on Monday, I'll be going in for a massage, sauna, steam room, and facial.

just getting started

Hot day yesterday, so we had a swimming party with the dogs (which Henry was skeptical about, but we'll try again). Got an overdue pedicure and did yoga today, then escaped to the city to beat the heat -- picked up a scarf and boots my friend was holding for me, mended a sweater, then another friend joined us and we grabbed boba, then picked up a few things in Japantown before meeting yet another friend for ramen and a nice walk before heading back down. My big plans for the week revolve around sleeping, reading, playing board games, catching up with friends, going back to the dog-friendly restaurant, working my way down a list of errands and chores and other things that I've been avoiding or putting off.

to do

Watch more sunsets.

africa awaits

And just like that, we're going to go on safari in southern Africa. Actual countries still TBD, but it's going to be great.