Self-care and stuff

I showered today. Which for most people isn't much of an accomplishment, but this summer has been a little rough on the psyche. The lack of a routine, of a purpose, and the stress of major changes (move, new job) is taking a toll. A major toll. Like I couldn't remember the last time I showered toll. Thankfully, there are books, photos, and Nailed It on Netflix. If you want to feel better about yourself, you should watch Nailed It- watching people seriously screw up on baking challenges (not exactly life or death) will make anyone feel better, I guarantee. Also, I kind of want to be on that show. I would learn so much. And fail so hard.

Is this a ulog? I'm just going to word vomit so.... maybe?

Annnnnnnnnnd on to the travel photos. They make everything a little better too.

This was right before Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York (the only good part of New York, I promise you). I was stupid excited- I have had a thing for live theater since junior high. I also might or might not have sobbed embarrassingly during this show- the singing, the set-work, everything was just agonizingly beautiful. I feel bad for the people who sat next to me.

Lake Como in Italy was ammmmmmmmazeballs. This was in Varenna, one of the towns that were along the coast, at one of the villas. This little building was designed for nothing but to look pretty. I guess you would consider it a gazebo- but I have yet to be in a gazebo that was quite that beautiful before or since. I miss Italy with a soul deep ache.

Did I mention that I miss Italy? I just realized that all but one photo from this post will be from Italy. I make no apologies. Some people have soul mates- I might have found my soul-country. Something about the sunshine, the fact that there was an ENTIRE ISLAND dedicated to the beach (this was one of the islands near Venice, called Lido). Although I didn't actually lounge in one of these fantastical seats for 50 euros, taking a picture was almost as good.

One of my most distinct sense memories from Italy was the feel of these rocks under my feet- HOT HOT HOT.



I had to wear my flip flops down to the edge of the water, and pray that the level didn't rise enough to take them into the ocean. I actually hiked out to that tower, hoping to climb it, but it was closed. Amazingly, those caves had lines with clothing strung across them. It was strange and surreal to think that people actually lived in those caves (and didn't make enough to afford a mechanical dryer- seriously, in any other country you would have to be wealthy to afford such prime real estate).

Positano sigh The two photos above are from the same area of Italy- the Amalfi coast. The coffee was from our bnb, and was made/served fresh on their patio (surely there's a fancier word for patio in Italian, but I don't remember what it is). Walking up those hills was torture. I have never felt that kind of burn in my muscles in my life. I also learned that caffeine triggered migraines while I was in Italy. Discovering food allergy reactions while in a foreign country are not fun, but I would do it again to be there. I would do it three days in a row to be there again. Someone send me there again. Please?

I don't know what I miss more about Italy- the beer, the wine, or the coffee. They were all so good, and so, so cheap. I took this photo because I wanted to capture the instant of contentment that I was feeling at the time. I don't remember another point where I'd ever had the exact same emotion- where I was satisfied, where I wasn't striving for something, anything to feel complete.

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