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.

wat

When your big boss and your boss both think you are smarter and more capable than you do, and want you to try scary, new things, and you realize that almost every good decision you've made started out as a scary, new thing, you've got a lot to think about.

good people

No matter what, surround yourself with good people who will help you figure your shit out by listening, giving you options, giving you feedback, and giving you the time and space to think about it all.

sunday

Fed the sourdough starter, did yoga for the first time in a few months, did Henry's teeth and nails, practiced guitar, dyed two shirts and (more daringly) a wool cardigan, made dinner, and watched two wonderfully awful Christmas movies (because Hallmark now shows them for two weeks in July!). A nice, puttering day at home to end the long weekend.