Positively Tuesday- Reset Edition

 

The National Gallery

           I took yesterday off, sort of. With all the lost flex days, I changed my February 25 flex day to last Monday, so took vacation hours yesterday. However, I was in stealth mode getting caught up on emails, now ready today to officially be back to work. If I didn't have as much vacation as I do, this would not be smart work/ life balance. I figure though getting ahead of no one expecting me back eases me in. I try to do this whenever I have a full week or more off. With that, I'll start my list of the joys, simple pleasures, and things that make me smile. This will be the last sprinkling from our trip post.

1. The trip was safe, but we had a multitude of issues, starting with a confusing detour from the airport. Later, I lost my thick jacket on night one. The back pack I used has to be zipped right, and I had stuffed layers of clothes for a walk to the wharf area. It was rolled on top, and fell out, unseen. Why am I adding it here? Well, nothing of value or identifying were in the pockets. It could have been so much worse. I hope it ends up keeping someone warm that could use a warm jacket and gloves, which were in a pocket.
2. I already mentioned travelling as three adults has different dynamics. I'm grateful for the opportunity of what was likely the last trip as a trio. Life changes constantly. I hope all my kids look back and know that I tried to support them in their decision making, but ultimately let them make their own choices.
3. Recovered younger daughter's iPhone left in a Lyft Thursday night. I give 5 out of 5 for our Lyft experience this trip. ( Can you see a dumb pattern). Yes, I splurged on five different Lyft rides as my knee was done by Thursday afternoon. Special shout outs to Henry, the hero of Thursday night, and Misael, who was an incredible tour guide as he drove us to a college campus that wasn't very Metro accessible. He described neighborhoods, pointed out landmarks, and was just super friendly without being imposing. The other drivers were good, but other than hello and goodbye/ thank you, not any interaction.
4. A highlight of the trip was seeing the Pandas at the National Zoo. I've never seen one before and while not the greatest views to get pictures, here's one none the less.
   
5. I know our US tax dollars funds a huge amount of the Smithsonian's and monuments, but the access to these treasures is incredible. Our only disappointment was that the Air and Space doesn't open until March 11. We grabbed a ridiculously over priced light lunch at the American History museum, but I consider that a bit of a donation.
   
   
   
6. I wanted chill and relaxed for plane home. I put Bridesmaids on, and had to hold back bursting out laughing at Melissa McCarthy's character. She is one funny person. And... puppies!
7. Seeing how happy pup was once home gave me incredible joy. He has to know where I am constantly now. I'm sure he'll settle down to his pattern as my work week resets.
8. While a week of no cooking is a joy, a simple pleasure was getting back in my kitchen on Saturday making meals and snacks for DH and my daughter.
9. We had a nice movie night, DH, DD2, and myself. He hadn't seen more than an hour of her last Saturday, and then Sunday morning. We watched The Eternals on Disney Plus. Confusing movie but all set for sequels.
10. My daughter got back to school safely and I had a chat with my son Sunday night.

     I'm happy to be to resume work knowing nothing fell apart while gone. I had one night I needed to get back on something, but it was an easy task. I got sad news that one of my grantee's husband passed away last Sunday at just 55. I've known her for 31 years, practically my whole career. We're the same age and my two oldest are same ages as her two children. It hits home yet again how none of us know what and when in life  can change forever. I keep hoping I'm making the most of each day and not sweating the stuff that really doesn't matter. I'm the navigator of my life and can choose to get caught up in what's not fair or difficult, or can try to improve it. I'm well aware of the world situation, and in other head space, I focus on being informed, alert, and conscientious. This blog is for respite, and Tuesday specifically for that break from sadness and despair, inflation, and politics. I hope you have a positively Tuesday.