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Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home
Jan. 2nd, 2024 07:17 pmHappy 2024, Dreamwidth! We're on the plane home from Berkeley, after three full days there and two half-days (which were also travel days). Travel is always physically uncomfortable, but one does it in tradeoff against friendships and new experiences; this time there were allergies acting up and the distinct absence of a normal gym I could get a day pass to, but I got to play two new games (Anomia, Wingspan) and hear some new music, etc. I also did a group Pilates class, experiencing my first time on a reformer (as opposed to just floor stuff), on the 31st -- a reminder not to finalize the list of "firsts" until the year is truly over. I did a good job of not freaking out about the spiderwebs in our hosts' house, most of which were in places there was really no danger of touching them, and spent some time looking at them: exposure therapy.
As for humans, along with the usual friend-group I got to see a good work friend -- including his new house, finally -- and Birdie, who happened to be in Berkeley for a meditation thing and was easily able to come over for dinner. Props to my mom for realizing I'd be near her, because I didn't figure that one out on my own and now I've been able to put her (young, new to the area) in touch with some friendly locals.
We get back at midnight, and I was wise enough not to schedule a handstand lesson or go back to work tomorrow. It's bad enough that the cleaners are coming. Before leaving we did clean up pretty well, not to mention hanging up new posters, but there'll be plenty to do regardless as I last-minute prep for the incoming tornado of work busy-buzzy.
On the way out I drew a thumbtack using white charcoal pencil on black paper; it was from a photo and I want to do it using normal pencil on white paper, too, to see how differently it comes out. Wifi's not good enough to do work, and the turbulence has steadied out enough to draw, so I guess that's next.
As for humans, along with the usual friend-group I got to see a good work friend -- including his new house, finally -- and Birdie, who happened to be in Berkeley for a meditation thing and was easily able to come over for dinner. Props to my mom for realizing I'd be near her, because I didn't figure that one out on my own and now I've been able to put her (young, new to the area) in touch with some friendly locals.
We get back at midnight, and I was wise enough not to schedule a handstand lesson or go back to work tomorrow. It's bad enough that the cleaners are coming. Before leaving we did clean up pretty well, not to mention hanging up new posters, but there'll be plenty to do regardless as I last-minute prep for the incoming tornado of work busy-buzzy.
On the way out I drew a thumbtack using white charcoal pencil on black paper; it was from a photo and I want to do it using normal pencil on white paper, too, to see how differently it comes out. Wifi's not good enough to do work, and the turbulence has steadied out enough to draw, so I guess that's next.
