Week in the Life 2019 | Tuesday Photos + Words

Today's Tuesday lens is "Observing". I tried to spend the day observing. It was a pretty busy day overall.

First thing's first - coffee. I like having this machine, even though I resisted at first (because of the impact on the environment, lol). But it makes a perfect cup of coffee (only dark roast! - I prefer Starbucks Verona or Donut Shop Dark). One thing I observe is that it always looks a bit weak coming out. 

These flowers are doing really well. They don't normally get the rain because they are under a little area where the roof is like an awning, so someone (probably the gardener) must be watering them. I sure haven't lately. 

Breakfast at my desk as usual. I'm glad I can have breakfast here (although I probably shouldn't), because there is no way I could get up early enough to get ready AND eat before getting out of the door.

Second cup of coffee. The new water filter machine at work doesn't keep the water as hot, so you always have to nuke it a bit or the coffee (instant) won't dissolve. This is really the only time of the day when the teacher's lounge is quiet and empty.

Desk view. Messy. I always have to have all. the. things. out and ready to grab. Notice that I have an ENTIRE pencil case of pencils, markers, and pens to choose from. Totally cray cray.

Signing, signing, signing - always signing papers. Signatures are a bit deal around here. Like big big.

Eavesdropping on Andres´s meeting with a publishing company. Nowadays everyone is trying to sell digital packages. I get that we (education) need to get into the 21st century, but of course there is resistance. First, we don't even have computers in most of our classrooms (mainly because there is no way to secure the rooms and make sure they don't get stolen). Second, if we sell students packages of digital platforms, where they learn English online (which I will argue won't be as effective, but that's for another day), then we would literally be selling ourselves out of a job. So another company can profit. I mean, come on! We teachers aren't that dumb, are we?

Warning: upcoming mini-rant.

(Disclaimer: It's not that I don't think we can't integrate technology and different learning platforms and digital tools into our teaching, but many of the products they pitch us are basically not sold as resources but as a replacement for the teacher and the classroom. Also, I still don't see students, here at least, willing to pay for a class as well as pay for access to an LMS or digital class. Anyhow, there's a lot to think about, but as a teacher I can't help but feel a little threatened by the idea some people have that we can be replaced. Again, I think eventually people would realize we cannot, and would come back to the human element of learning - we already have so many students who tried the online thing with no teacher and came to us because of their disappointment - but in the meantime, it's just one more thing "they" are doing to minimize us and treat us like second class citizens who really aren't needed. And this is worse as an English teacher, in my opinion. We are less valued that any other teacher out there (math, science, literature, even phy ed sometimes!) and yet! the ironic thing is that all these people who minimize our work because "English is easy", are people who have not learned the language, despite years and years of having studied it. I might venture to say that a foreign language is one of the hardest things to learn, so we English teachers should be REVERED.)

Rant over. For the time being.

A quick trip across the street to the tienda to find a little mid-morning snack. Opted for peanuts, and some sweet chifles to accompany my lunch. One thing I observe is that they haven't been stocked up very well lately. They've been doing some remodeling so I imagine it is because they are spending more of their money on that and less on inventory.

Lately work has been crowded and there is really nowhere to go to have a little peace to eat your lunch. I will sometimes go down to the car, but this week, as Andres and I have been riding separately, my car is parked in a pretty public area of the parking garage. I felt like I was on display as I ate my sandwich (tuna to boot). The observer as observed.

One thing I wanted to do this week was take a picture of every meal. But, as I am starting to realize, they aren't always pretty. This is tuna on naan (Bati shared from the package he bought from the Yemeni bakery down the road).

And then I had to leave. I am giving a workshop in a publishing house this afternoon. It's for their teacher clients and it is about teaching listening. I love the skill of listening and teaching it, so pretty excited to share my ideas today.

Got there a few minutes late because of traffic, but no worries - everyone else was much later than me. We ended up starting closer to 2:15. Notice my Carmex on the desk. I need to have easy access to it as I'm teaching.

Break time. One of the things I have observed at this point is that the teacher's level of English is not very high, and they don't seem to be very quick on the uptake. In fact, I would venture a guess that about 90% of them have only understood 20% of what we are doing. It may have gotten a bit theoretical for them. I tried to use some of the concepts we deal with in TEFL, but today it just isn't working well. No worries, I'll be back on Thursday to do more game-like demo activities.

I also notice that about half of them go home after they get their food. Ha. Typical.

I got home around 7 and it was already dark by then. The ride home was a bit harrowing. There are creepy thugs on the street who are also "window washers", but they get very angry if you tell them you don't want it (especially if you are a woman, a gringa, in the car alone - I noticed that they didn't bother the men). I have decided to get passive aggressive about it, because I'm sick of feeling intimidated, so I've decided each time they spray my window and start washing, I will use my built-in cleaner and spray them. Today I did it (although to be honest I did wait until the guy sprayed my car, then got mad and walked away when I told him an emphatic NO), and I must have got him a little with the water as he was walking away. He got real angry and stood outside my window, peering in hostilely and trying to scare me, then going around and looking in all my windows. I was scared of course, but I refused to back down, and stared him down the whole time, watching him. Then I yelled at him to NEVER touch my car again. All this happening in bumper to bumper traffic with a police officer not even forty feet away (staring at the sky so he didn't have to do anything). Well, it turned out fine in the end and at least I didn't show him I was scared, but on Thursday I plan to take a different route home. These are the things I hate about living here.

Andres had made ravioli, so as soon as I walked in we had some supper. 

Finally, we all had some time to relax and unwind. Lately, for Agus, that means either playing some games (usually Minecraft) on his device or listening to music (or, most likely, first the one and then the other after his shower).

For Nico, this might mean watching YouTube videos. I should probably keep better track of what he is watching. It's not really that I don't trust him, but at the same time, he's a teenager, and there is a lot of CRAZY stuff on YouTube. I looked at what he was watching tonight. Nothing too horrible - some video of a kid standing in a shower in his swim trunks and a snorkel while his big sister lanced huge blobs of butter and mayonnaise at him (???). This resulted in hysterical giggling from Nico. But the real problem here is that the unknown is always a click away, and he might happen upon something that starts innocently and ends in a completely different place. I won't lie - the mayonnaise lancing made me feel like maybe I need to keep better tabs on all things YouTube - if only to save him some brain cells!

For Andres, relaxing and unwinding meant going upstairs and watching soccer news on the big TV. For me, it meant reading from the book I'm on, The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin, and which I am really enjoying.

When it's time for bed, the boys have been finishing off the night watching an episode of "A Closer Look with Seth Meyers" with me on the couch in Nico's room. They love it when Meyers makes fun of Trump. Then it's time for brushing teeth, peluche talk, and prayers. Lights out.

A full and beautiful Tuesday.

Week in the Life 2019 | Monday Words + Photos

Oh Monday. Week in the Life starts today and I almost forgot because of my sheer exhaustion. We were delayed getting out of Miami because there had been some afternoon storms that shut down the airport for a while (ALL the flights were delayed and quite a few cancelled), so we didn't actually get home until after 4 a.m. I can't usually sleep on the airplane, so I was quite exhausted. Andrés had to get up early (5:30) for work, but I was lucky and got to sleep in (Shushú took the kids to school).

I got up at 9:30 and a shower felt pretty good. 

Got ready. Already thinking about all the things I need to get done this week.

Andres's parents left us some bread and cheese for breakfast. 

Decided to grab some coffee for the car and eat breakfast as I drove to work. It was a good decision because the traffic was quite heavy and slow and it took me an hour and fifteen minutes to get there. (I couldn't leave until 9:30 because I had pico y placa).

My upcoming calendar - not too full but a bit of freelance in the middle of the week. It's times like these when things are so chaotic and up-in-the-air at work that I am thankful for some freelance.

On my way to work.

Catching up on emails and some news (the royal baby was born) as I ease my way into this relatively quiet Monday (although there seems to be a storm brewing...).

Not this type of storm. The weather is pretty typical for this time of the year, perhaps a bit warmer than usual, but there isn't much variety from day to day.

We didn't have anything made for lunch of course so we headed over to the Chinese place near work. It wasn't very crowded. The price is right for days when we haven't got anything planned. 

I like the vegetable noodle dish. Lots of veggies - I made sure to eat them before the noodles this time so I wouldn't fill up on carbs. Ate most of it anyway - must have been quite hungry!

A quick class observation before I have to head out. Must be off the city streets by 4 pm!

Love picking these guys up. We sat downstairs on the couch a bit to chat with Boy and Shushú, then hopped in the car for the one-block ride home that would finish my commute.

This is what the house looks like with all the bags in the dining room. Eventually the kids helped me bring them upstairs. Nico didn't have to be asked twice (mostly because he wanted to "get it over with").

Agus was pretty excited to check out his new game controller (or as excited as he seems to get lately - he is a pretty stoic person). There was a little trial after the unboxing, and a lot of commentary throughout the afternoon about what was good/bad and what worked or didn't. At the end of the night he said he was "really happy".

Andrés didn't get home until 5:30pm (he's having to make up an hour a day for eight days because of the mandatory May 1st "holiday"). We made our way upstairs to watch him unpack and "reveal" all the goodies and treats we had bought in Florida. The kids were a bit impatient. (Suddenly Agus had a "bunch" of homework.)

Nico checking out the Sour Patch Kids cereal we got. (I had texted them a picture and heard back that they wanted it.) It claims to start sour, then go sweet.

After a fish dinner I did some laundry and we got things ready for tomorrow. Around 10 the boys and I watched "A Closer Look" (they LOVE it when Seth Meyers makes fun of Trump) and then it was peluche talk and prayers (Nico trying out his new memory foam, cooling pillow).

What I read in April 2019

Loving the books I've been into lately. I have a HUGE TBR (to-be read) list on my phone (e-books) and Kindle, as well as a pile next to my bed of physical books that I'm "saving" for a special occasion (I don't know why this is a thing with me). I really want to read them all, but at the same time I *LOVE* the anticipation of those books. I love staring at the covers,especially. I love the fact that I can get the covers in color on my iPad now, too. The only thing missing from those e-version covers is that I can't run my hand over them...

Here's what I read this month: 

         

Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftan | This was the March book for the book club I'm participating in on Goodreads (Hearts and Homes for Refugees). I've just been lurking but I absolutely LOVE being a part of a book club. Being part of a (physical) book club is something I have on my bucket list that probably won't ever get checked off while I'm living here, so I am really enjoying being on this online one, having been invited by a friend who lived here in Ecuador about 10 years ago. The topic is terrific, too, something that is close to my heart. 

Call Me American was a really nice book, probably my favorite so far from the book club list. I love reading about the Somali culture, especially since my experience working with Somali refugees at IIM. It fascinates me that people can live so differently from what we, in the Western world, would call "normal". Abdi's account of his experiences with the war also made the conflict and problems in Somali make more "sense" in my mind (although after reading about them there is nothing that could actually make sense of what's happening there). Just a really interesting, harrowing glimpse into a part of the world and a culture that I don't know much about.

 A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum | This is a book I'd been hearing a lot about. It is the story of three generations of Palestinian Americans, and their struggle to adapt to each other and make sense of their past lives in the context of living in the U.S. I love these kinds of books that bring you through the generations, telling the story from different points of view (in this case of the mother, daughter, and the mother-in-law). Even though you know the fate of the mother in the story early on in the book, there was still a need to read and find out what happened, which just means the writing was great and driven by plot. I really like a book that makes me re-assess my feelings towards the characters the whole time I'm reading.

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya | This book is the true-life story of the journey a young girl takes while fleeing the genocide in Rwanda. I'll admit, I know almost nothing about this "chapter" in the history of Rwanda (I know almost nothing about Rwanda), so I was excited to learn a bit more about what happened. Unfortunately, Wamariya was only a small child when she fled her home country with her older sister, so there wasn't much in terms of explanation of the politics and culture behind the whole conflict. Nevertheless, Wamariya's story is an important one to read, in particular because she has very strong views about colonialism and the refugee "experience" that every well-intentioned do-gooder should hear. A lot of the things she "complains" about are things I have thought about here in my time in Ecuador - the idea that people want to do good often because they see themselves as superiors, as the "saviors of the savages" (this is an attitude I have seen time and again here and it really bothers me, because they'll get upset if they are not received as such), and the fact that by giving and giving they are actually doing harm in some cases (making the displaced "dependent" on material or consumer goods) - both ideas were very insightful. I am sure I am oversimplifying her message, but those were the parts of the book I identified with the most, although I'll admit they were the parts that were also the most difficult to read. At points she seems so ungrateful and rude, since she has clearly had many MANY opportunities that most people could only dream of (I mean, she was on OPRAH!). But I get it - the way Oprah reunited her with her family was probably garish and jarring, meant only for ratings, and her anger at people laughing because some refugees in a war zone had asked for photo storage over other "necessities", are justified. As she says, refugees have lost everything, have no physical proof or account of who they were and where they came from, so photo storage may seem more important to them than food. Anyways, a LOT to think about with this one, and while I didn't love it, I think sometimes that was the whole point of why Wamariya wrote it.

What I'm thinking about for Week in the Life 2019 (May 6-12)

I’m really looking forward to Week in the Life 2019. Most years I don’t actually complete an album, but I still love the process of looking closely at our lives, looking at our daily routines and then being able to compare how things are the same and how things are different from one year to the next.

It seems like there's always laundry waiting to be folded. The good thing is the kids help with this now.

As I gear up for this next week of documentation, I'm thinking about being more mindful about the type of photos I take. This may be hard because I haven’t done a good job of taking pictures I like in the last year or so. So this year for WITL I really want to concentrate on finding shots that look good, that represent little pieces of our lives, and that are taken purposefully and not just as an afterthought, before we go to bed because I forgot to take pictures that day. This is my intention – we will see if it plays out or not.

I'm thinking about finding some common themes on a daily basis (I’m hoping this will help with my intention). For example, I want to document what I (we) eat morning, noon, and evening throughout each day. I want to take pictures of these foods and then feature at least one on a tag I’ve created beforehand.

I'm thinking about focusing on gratitude. It would be nice to finish each day with something simple that I'm thankful for. I’d like to pair it with a picture but that might mean too much planning for the busy week ahead. 

Falling asleep after a busy morning of dentist appointments, running errands and doing some homework (reading).

I'm thinking about paying attention to the fine details of our day, in particular the things we say and do when we are home together as a family: what are the things we are talking about at the dinner table? What are the jokes Agus plays on his brother? What are the things Nico “corrects” us about each day? What things do they say to each other? What stories are they telling? 

I'm thinking about paying more attention to what they are doing online. What are their favorite games and apps at the moment (I know some but not all). What snaps are they sending to each other? What pictures are they taking? What homework do they have?

I'm thinking about getting each person to write their own story during the week, to get a different perspective, maybe add in their own handwriting as well.

Typical view on a lazy Saturday. Sitting next to Nico while he does homework.

It’s always fun to see the passage of time in this way. Words + photos for the win.

Around here

Around here we are looking into colleges and financial aid for Agus. It is still two years away but, as we all know, those two years will go by quickly.

Around here the boys have been participating in "multiple intelligences" week. Nico has been talking about the story he wrote for the writing intelligence day, and the pencil drawing he chose to do for arts intelligence today (an eye). Today is math intelligence day. Agus doesn't say much about what he wrote or didn't write. He did inform me that he drew "a sunset or something" for the arts day.

Around here we just paid for Agustin's driver's ed classes, which he will be taking this summer, three hours a day for two weeks. I am super excited for him and this new stage in his life, but also feeling a lot of anxiety as he starts branching out on his own.

Around here there are some major changes coming up in terms of work, not all welcome. But we've weathered this storm before, and I imagine we'll get through it somehow.

Around here I am dreaming about writing more, like writing a book or short stories or something. There is no reason to believe I will ever do this, nor that I even should, but yesterday I read a post that reminded me: Why not me? and What would you do right now if you knew you couldn't fail? I have so many answers to those questions: set up an Etsy shop with crochet items, open my own English school, write a book (both fiction and one for English language teaching), start a vlog (one for the family and one for English language learners). These are just dreams, really - fun to think about and maybe putter about in. There will be no regrets if they don't come true.

Around here the nights have been colder and it's been wet and rainy. The cold is convincing me that maybe I am not going through menopause yet.

Around here I've got lots of doctor's appointments coming up. Hoping for a clean bill of health.

Around here we are just living our lives, both out of habit and routine, and it feels perfect and right.

The Monday Blues

Feeling a little blah and blue. 

Maybe it's because it's Monday. 

Maybe it's because I've been procrastinating things and have a bad feeling about how it's all going to play out when things are due. 

Maybe it's because I want a standing desk and am stick of being hunched over the computer at work all day.

Making my own standing desk. Gotta love the gray hairs and the bulging belly, though.

Maybe it's because I'm feeling out of control about my weight, diet, exercise, like I have no will power and then I feel ashamed and depressed. 

Maybe it's because of all of the changes at work and the unknown: Henry is retiring and (I suspect) because of that they are making things difficult, they want Andres to take the position with no pay raise or other guarantees, and it just seems unfair and maddening like we are being targeted or sabotaged. We've gone through this before, and hopefully we can get out of it, but the in-between part is no fun and very stressful (even though I don't feel the stress directly I'm sure it's affecting me). 

Maybe it's because I feel like in my forties I'm having so many health issues (most controllable, if I can muster the will power to be healthier): uric acid, cholesterol, ovarian cysts, weight gain worse because of peri-menopause and having no uterus and being constantly hungry for chips, thyroid issues, breathing problems (adult onset asthma? Doctor won't say but what else could it be? Allergies?), nodules in my breast that require regular mammograms and ultrasounds, foot problems and muscles aches, a need to go to a dentist...well, the list feels like it goes on and on.

Maybe it's because I took a week off of regular exercise to adjust to the altitude after our amazing UK trip and therefore my body is sore and tired.

Maybe it's because I haven't been sleeping well (I assume - I fall asleep fine but toss and turn all night and wake up feeling like I haven't gotten a restful sleep). This may be the result of a combination of all of the above.

I remember my grandma telling me that, whatever I do, not to get old, and while of course I don't want to live a short life, I get it. I totally get it. The mid-forties have kicked my butt.

I hope the kids have little homework - or at least homework they can do on their own - so that I can go home and take a power nap. Today's a good day for one.

And then I saw this on Twitter and had a good laugh! At least I'm not alone...

What I read in March 2019

Another slow month, full of lots of work and some travel prep and travel. I will need to step up my game to get to that magical number 40! That's just how some months go, though.



Here's what I read:

The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life by Lauren Markham |  This book was the February read for my book club on refugees. It was the story of twin brothers, Salvadorean, who make it to the U.S., crossing the border illegally and finally getting their resident status. It is a good way to understand a bit about the crisis at the southern border (if you want to call it that), and a little more about the U.S.'s direct role in the problems to our south. The brothers weren't super likable, necessarily, and in that sense it felt "real" to me - for some reason that I can't put my finger on, I think we tend to find the Latin refugee/immigrants a bit unlikable at times. It may be because they are often very frank about being in the U.S. only to make money and send money back, or bring family members to the U.S. It doesn't fit our "romantic" idea of what a refugee is. But it is SO important for us as Americans to understand that the U.S. has put Latin America into a corner, destroying in many cases their democracies, stability, and economies, and for that reason alone I feel strongly that the people from these countries should be welcome with open arms in the U.S. We should all read more about their stories and the political history behind them that has shaped them.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George | This book came highly recommended by my friend Jenny, and while I didn't like it very much (I really couldn't identify with the characters, and the writing was a translation from French and felt a little disjointed and straining to be "poetic"), there were some really nice passages and ideas throughout. The premise (a bookseller who owns a book store on a barge and recommends books to others as a sort of health remedy) was really nice.

What I read in February 2019

A bit slower month, but it was also a shorter month (to my credit! haha).

Here's what I read:


Origin by Dan Brown | I checked this out from the library because I was looking for something light, easy, and fast to read, but also good, and I enjoy Dan Brown's books. I really liked this one too - learned a bit about Gaudí and Barcelona and the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain - and solved a mystery all at the same time!

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng | This is another book I checked out various times but could never get myself past the first chapter. I finally got into it because my friend Jenny said we should do a Snapchat book club, just the two of us, and this is the one she chose. I liked it a lot, even though the ending was a bit unsatisfying.

What I Read in January 2019

One of the things I've wanted to do with my blog for a long time is keep track of my reading habits and what I've read each month. So, I've decided to just go ahead and do that, even though it is almost mid-April and seems like a strange starting point. But I love going back to my Goodreads page and seeing the different books I've read, and I wish I had just a little more information about each one: what I thought about it, why I read it, what I liked or didn't like about it.

January 2019
I started the year off strong, as I often do. January is usually a good reading month for me. I have set a Goodreads Reading Challenge of 40 books this year. This is the same number I've done for a few years now. Some years I get close, others not even halfway, but this year I'd really like to try to break that threshold - just because that will mean I'm reading enough. I just love books so much and need to make the time for them like I used to.

Here's what I read:

A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival by Melissa Fleming | I read this because I was invited to join the Hearts and Homes for Refugees Book Club. We will be reading a book a month, and each one will be about a refugee's story. I love these kinds of books because we get a glimpse into a real life story. I honestly can not imagine what some of these people have been through so sometimes I leave the book feeling hopeless and despondent, but overall I am so glad I took the time to hear this story and understand a bit more about the refugee crisis in Syria.

Calypso by David Sedaris | I was really looking forward to this one, since I've enjoyed Sedaris's books in the past. I didn't love it as much as I thought I might - it seemed a bit dark at times but there definitely were a few moments where I smiled or laughed out loud. Overall, it felt a bit sad and nostalgic, but not in a bad way. In the end, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't the light, funny read that I expected.

Becoming by Michelle Obama | This is one of my all-time favorite books EVER. Not because I am necessarily a fan of Obama - I didn't know much about her before reading - but because she tells such a great story, writes so eloquently, and has great insight. I read this as a library loan on my Kindle but this is one I think I may need to buy to add to my collection and reread at will.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman | Another all-time favorite. I had checked this book out of the library a couple of different times, and never seemed to get around to reading it. I finally picked this up (on my Kindle) and after the first two pages was immediately hooked. Eleanor Oliphant is an endearing, special character who will live in my imagination for years. Really, really enjoyed the story, the writing, and the character development.

It was a good reading month!

Currently | April 2019

Tulips in London market.

Feeling happy and satisfied and content with our recent trip to England and Scotland. Loved experiencing these countries so much and just really glad we went to the conference. London, Liverpool, and Edinburgh will live in my heart for many years. I enjoyed being a tourist, learning new things and seeing new places, and (my personal favorite) visiting museums. There is something about a museum that calms and clears my soul.

Reading a book about my One Little Word (OLW) for 2019 (habit) called Making Habits, Breaking Habits: Why We Do Things, Why We Don’t,and How to Make Any Change Stick by Jeremy Dean. It’s giving me some good insight so far (only on chapter one) into what a habit is, what it feels like, and why we need them as humans.

Thinking about my word, habit. Feeling a bit more curious about it and connected to it. (The book is helping to pique my interest – I like the more scientific approach to understanding habit, rather than the “self-help” approach many books take.)

Browsing books online. I love doing this as much as I actually love the act of reading. I read about books, make lists of books, and add books to my TBR (to-be-read) pile and it makes me so happy. Hello Goodreads and Instagram Book feeds.

Taking a break from the news cycle for a bit. Mostly this is happening because we’ve been out of the country for a couple of weeks and I just didn’t keep up with what is happening, but it also feels right at the moment, like it might make me a bit happier and less stressed out. Yet I worry at the same time because these past two years have shown me more than ever how important it is to be connected, to be aware, and to pay attention. I don’t want to be clueless about things that don’t affect me just because it’s the easy thing to do. But what Ali Edwards wrote in a blog post today about the same topic really made me think about my current motives for following the news closely: is it spurring me to action (no), or am I just consuming it (yes)? So I’m going to “unplug” for a little while and come back to it later, refreshed and maybe with ideas of ways to make a difference (better than I do now).

Liverpool

Watching a recurring sketch on Late Night with Seth Meyers called “A Closer Look”. It is mostly politics-related (so I won’t be doing cold turkey from politics and news completely), but it is something Nico and I have occasionally watched before bed as a part of our bedtime routine. Lately Agus has asked to be included, so once we are ready we go get him (he is usually on the orange chair listening to music before bed), and the three of us sit down together to watch. I enjoy this time with them both and like that they are interested in something I enjoy as well.

Planning meals for the week. I’m ready to make some changes to my diet – the last three months of just trying to lose weight through exercise have been disastrous – but one thing I have learned is that at this point in my life, exercise alone isn’t going to work. What I put in my body may be more important than how much I actually move it, and it’s time to recognize that fact. I don’t expect it will be easy, but hoping the book I’m reading will give me some ideas of how to tackle this change and make healthy eating a bit more of a habit.

I love book stacks but I don't like that books in Spanish never standardize their spines. It's a bit chaotic. 

Buying books in Spanish from a colleague at work. Excited to read some books that were originally written in English and then translated to Spanish (Rusia by Edward Rutherford, The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne). I like this sort of “genre” better (books translated from English, well, except for the Verne), probably because the thought process is more familiar to me and I can work on the language rather than the organization of the writing.

She's here!

So excited this morning to open my message app and see a message from Kristin that Baby Gotch 2 (I think her name might be Reagan but I haven't been in the loop about it) was born at 6:04 am, at 8 lbs 10 oz, 21 1/2 inches long.

Super excited about this addition to the family. Too bad I won't meet her right away but Kristin is good about videos so I'm hoping she'll send lots our way.

Congrats Mommy and Daddy!!!!