Wrapping Up the Week

 

Friday is finally here—and it’s a holiday weekend, too. It’s been quite a week. Most of my time at work has been spent buried in emails: finding the right information to answer them, or carefully wording responses to delicate matters that really should have been handled by my boss. Still, I think it turned out to be a successful week overall.

I’ve got a few more emails to get through today, but the good news is that I’m working from home. Well, part of the day will be spent working from the mechanic’s while I get an oil change, but that still counts.

Once the workday is done, I’ve got three days ahead for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Here’s hoping it’s a restorative weekend for all of us.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, everyone!

A Rough Couple of Days

 

Yesterday was a rough day. Something had me extremely drowsy. I woke up, fed Isabella, and when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, I went back to bed. Later, I managed to write yesterday’s post and get ready for work, but I was still so out of it that I nearly fell asleep in the shower. At that point, I realized it wasn’t safe for me to drive. I texted my boss to let her know I was having some issues—balance and nausea, which were also true—and went back to bed.

When I woke up again, I felt a little better. My back and leg weren’t bothering me as much, and I wasn’t quite as drowsy, though the nausea lingered. Once I got to work, I was too busy to focus on how tired I felt, but the nausea stuck with me all day. I finally managed to eat a little dinner before heading to bed early, waiting for the dark to settle in.

This morning I woke up with a headache and lingering nausea, though I did manage some coffee and breakfast. I sort of slept well, but Isabella was agitated all night. She woke me at 10:30 for an unusual snuggle—curling up on my chest while I petted her until we both drifted off. Then she woke me again at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 4:00. I got up a few times to check on things—my blood sugar (since she has woken me before when I was hypoglycemic), her food and water, even just walking around the apartment. She had plenty of water, but I topped it off anyway. I never did figure out what was bothering her.

I’ll be glad to get home after work today. If I’m still feeling rough by lunchtime, I may just call it and come home. I’m looking forward to a restful weekend, though I do have an event to work tomorrow night. Thankfully, it’s not long, and I’ll be with some people I truly enjoy working with.

Wishing you all a great Friday and a wonderful weekend ahead!

Balancing Acts

Yesterday was a rough day. I actually expect the same today—not for the same reasons (at least I hope not)—but because I have an event to attend that usually requires standing for long periods and sitting in those uncomfortable folding chairs. With my back, I can’t stand too long and I certainly can’t sit in the wrong kind of chair for very long either. The event is scheduled for three hours, though I suspect we’ll only be there an hour and a half or two. Still, even that feels daunting.

What made yesterday difficult was having to go down into the basement to pull some objects for this event. My boss and I have already discussed my difficulty with stairs, and I’d been told to ask a particular person for help. When I did, that person went to my supervisor to complain—and instead of backing me up, my supervisor somewhat chastised me for even asking. Thankfully, someone outside of my department offered to help, which made all the difference.

I think today will work out fine, but I know my back and leg will pay for it later. After standing longer than usual yesterday, I already paid the price last night with extra pain. Still, I’m holding onto hope that each day brings a little more strength, a little more resilience, and maybe—just maybe—a little less pain.

Running on Empty

Some mornings, the words just don’t want to come. Today is one of those mornings. I thought maybe I’d write an art history post, but nothing has clicked yet. Maybe tomorrow inspiration will strike, but today, I’m drawing a blank.

Part of the problem is that work has been so busy lately as I catch up from when I was out. Yesterday was productive—I actually managed to get quite a bit done—but by the time I got home, I was wiped out. It felt like I had run a marathon without leaving my desk. Of course, there’s still plenty more to tackle today. Somehow the pile never gets smaller, it just rearranges itself into new and interesting shapes.

Right now, though, I don’t exactly feel like conquering that pile. I’m sitting here, yawning, wishing energy would magically appear. But I also haven’t had coffee yet, and let’s be honest—without coffee, I’m basically running on fumes. A cup or two might just be the miracle cure. Isabella has already had her breakfast and is now looking far more content and energized than I feel. I swear that cat has better time management than I do. Her daily schedule mostly consists of sleeping, staring out the window at the birds, eating a snack, and then fitting in a few more naps before starting the whole cycle over again.

So here’s to coffee, to productivity (hopefully), and to finding a spark of inspiration when it decides to arrive. Maybe tomorrow I’ll have an art post to share, but for now, I’ll just share the honest truth of a sleepy morning trying to find its rhythm.

The Trouble with Monday Morning

Isabella decided I didn’t need to sleep in today. She woke me up way too early, and while that’s nothing unusual, I really wanted to stay asleep a bit longer and avoid the pain radiating down my leg. No such luck.

The good news is I took a vacation day today. The bad news—besides the pain—is that the only reason I took a vacation day is because of car trouble. I can’t get the car into the mechanic until tomorrow, and I don’t dare drive it anywhere else. So here I am, stuck at home, with no transportation except for that one hopeful trip to the shop tomorrow.

Honestly, with the way I feel this morning—leg pain and day two of a migraine—I probably could have taken a sick day. But since HR has managed to screw up some of my leave paperwork, I’m trying to be cautious. Until that gets fixed, I’m afraid my sick leave will get eaten up too quickly.

All I really want is to feel better. I’ve said that for years about my migraines, but at least with them, I’ve learned how to keep going and live my life. This back and leg pain is different. It makes even basic mobility a challenge, and that’s not something I can just push through as easily.

So today’s plan is pretty simple: hope the pain eases a bit, or at least that I can get some more sleep. That’s about all I’ve got in me for now.

I hope your Monday morning is starting off better than mine. Here’s to a smoother week ahead for all of us.

TGIF!

While my bosses refused to let me work from home for an extended period, I did at least get to keep my regular Friday work-from-home day—and I am so glad it’s here. This week has been a trying one, my first back in the office after my medical leave.

The first three days of the week, our parking lot was closed, which left me with two choices: park in a lot up a steep hill or park in one three times farther away but on level ground. On Monday, I tried the hill. Going down that morning was rough; going back up in the afternoon was pure agony. On Tuesday, I chose the level route—only to discover that the extra distance was even worse.

By Wednesday, I’d been told that the museum’s reserved spaces would be available because campus security was going to deal with the cars parked there that didn’t belong to museum patrons. I bet you can guess what I found when I arrived—the same cars, still in those spots. So, back to the hill it was. Going down wasn’t terrible, but going up… well, let’s just say I took my time. Once inside the museum, I had to sit before I could do anything else. By then, I knew what my body would and wouldn’t tolerate, so I paced myself.

Yesterday, the parking situation was finally back to normal. But the workday itself made up for it. A two-hour meeting in uncomfortable plastic chairs is never fun, but it’s worse with a pinched nerve. I switched to a padded chair after the first fifteen minutes, but it wasn’t much better. By the end, I was shifting around like I was sitting on a bed of nails. Lunch in the break room wasn’t an improvement—the wooden chairs are no kinder to my back.

Back at my desk, my chair finally let my leg relax, and I took my midday meds. The relief lasted until I had to get up to let someone into a locked room. That part was fine; what wasn’t fine was running into a talkative professor who’s also president of an arts organization board we both serve on. He asked about my back, and I told him about the pinched nerve. He had a similar problem before a hip replacement fixed it, and he went on to talk about the board meeting tomorrow—which I doubt I’ll make. Eventually, the pain got so bad that I had to stop him mid-story and say, “I have to go sit down.”

In short, I overdid it yesterday, and I’m paying for it today. My leg is in a lot of pain this morning, and I’m hoping my meds kick in soon. At least I can work comfortably today from my own couch.

And now, to send you into the weekend on a happier note—here’s your Isabella Pic of the Week. She’s sleeping peacefully—though she wasn’t quite so peaceful at 1 a.m. last night when she insisted I get up. Turned out her water bowl was low. I filled it, and she let me go back to bed without complaint. She’s lucky she’s cute, and even luckier that she’s the perfect Friday reminder to rest, recharge, and keep a little sweetness close at hand.

Here’s to a weekend with no steep hills, no long walks, no terrible chairs… and maybe just a few cat naps of our own.

Just Two More Days

So far, this week at work has been rough. I expected a lot of catching up after being out on emergency medical leave, but I didn’t expect the added challenge of my boss being openly—or at least quietly—hostile about it. It’s not always outright confrontation, but her demands and unwillingness to even discuss accommodations have been deeply disappointing. She’s also requesting documentation that, according to my physical therapist, should only come from HR. I’ll have to tell her that today, which I’m sure will be another fun conversation.

The whole situation has triggered a lot of anxiety and deepened the depression I was already feeling from the fact that my pain doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Part of that, I think, is because of how far I’ve had to walk from our temporary parking lot. Our usual lot is closed for repairs, and the longer walk from the temporary lots has been rough. The lot is supposed to reopen tomorrow, so I asked to move my work-from-home day from Friday to Wednesday to help reduce the strain. She refused.

When I tried to find another solution—asking her to address the problem of our two museum-reserved parking spaces being used by people who aren’t even patrons—she told me to take it up with her boss. It felt less like “couldn’t” and more like “wouldn’t,” but I did as she said. Thankfully, he actually took action, going out to take pictures of the cars parked there and contacting campus security. He’s dealt with severe back pain himself, though for him walking brought relief. I explained that for me, it’s the opposite—every extra step makes the pain worse.

There are other issues I could get into, but honestly, I’m too tired to go into detail. I just hope today is a better day, and I hope all of you have a good one too.

I just need to survive two more days.

Back to the Office… Ready or Not

Today, I head back to work. My paid medical leave officially ended yesterday. Technically, it should have shifted from continuous leave to intermittent leave for the next two months, but the Human Resources Department at my university managed to botch the approval. They didn’t follow through with everything my doctor requested, so now I have to sort that out. I need to contact my doctor this morning to see if HR even sent him the paperwork needed to fix this.

I wish they had at least considered a work-from-home arrangement, but my boss refuses to even request it. So, that’s off the table. Instead, I’ll go into the office today and spend my time reading and sending emails—tasks I could easily do from my laptop at home. I have no appointments or meetings scheduled, and if I did, they’d be virtual. My boss seems to lack any sign of empathy or sympathy, but there’s no point in continuing to complain about her. It’s just not worth the energy. There’s nothing I can do except quietly keep an eye out for other opportunities. I’d prefer to stay in New England, but I might have to look farther afield. What I won’t do is move back to Alabama.

Sorry for the work rant, but it’s what’s on my mind this morning. Since I have to face the day regardless, I’m trying to focus on the positives—like how well things went when I ventured out yesterday.

Yesterday, I ran a few errands and—surprisingly—it went great. I had no pain, walked without a limp, and felt like myself again. The only odd moment was leaving the gas station, when my right leg suddenly got wobbly. It didn’t hurt; it just wasn’t cooperating. Still, I considered the outing a success. The only caveat: I never walked more than 20–30 yards at a time. We’ll see what happens today when I have to walk farther and sit in my office chair for hours.

This morning didn’t get off to the best start. I woke up with pain in my leg and had to sit down while my coffee brewed. Maybe the day will smooth out like it did yesterday, but honestly, with the way I’m feeling right now, I’m not overly optimistic. Still, I’m holding onto the hope that today will surprise me for the better—because I could use a day that ends with me feeling proud I made it through.

Friday, More or Less

Normally, I’d be saying, “Thank goodness, it’s Friday!” But honestly, the days have been running together lately. Being stuck at home with limited mobility and not much to do, each day feels pretty much like the last. The only reason I knew yesterday was Thursday? A new episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped.

It was one of those quirky episodes, and I tend to enjoy when SNW leans into its weirder side. Star Trek, across all its incarnations, has often done quirky well—though sometimes it goes completely off the rails. Still, I appreciate the risk when it works.

I’ve gotten off on a tangent, but to be honest, I’m not sure I had a point to begin with. That’s kind of the vibe lately. I’m not sure what today holds. I probably need to make a run to the pharmacy, but that can likely wait until tomorrow. I should also follow up with my doctor’s office about the physical therapy referral. Other than that, there’s really nothing urgent.

Maybe I’ll just sleep the day away. I haven’t been sleeping well in general, but last night was an exception. I’ve figured out that I fall asleep most comfortably on the couch. Once I wake up from that first stretch of sleep—usually still groggy—I’ll move to the bed and sleep the rest of the night. If I try to start out in bed, I toss and turn for hours before inevitably giving up and heading to the couch anyway. So last night I skipped the middleman: I started on the couch, drifted off, then transitioned to the bed when I woke up. It worked.

Another thing that helps? Not wearing clothes. I know that sounds like an overshare, but anything with a waistband—no matter how loose—puts pressure right where the pain originates. It’s amazing how much relief comes from just avoiding that added tension. So I’ve embraced comfort and ditched the waistband altogether whenever I can.

If I don’t nap the day away, maybe I’ll read a little or find something to watch on TV—maybe a series to binge or a good movie to pass the time. If anyone has recommendations, I’d love to hear them. I could use something new and distracting.

That’s probably enough rambling for one post. I hope you all have a great weekend. I doubt mine will be entirely pain-free, but here’s hoping it’s at least a little less painful—and a little more restful.

Thursday Check-In

I spoke to my doctor last night as he was preparing the paperwork for my leave request. Unfortunately, things aren’t improving as quickly as I’d hoped. I still can’t sit or stand for more than a few minutes at a time, and walking more than a dozen steps makes the pain nearly unbearable. I told him I was aiming to return to work on Monday, thinking I might finally have the right combination of medications to function again. He told me that was overly optimistic. Realistically, he expects I’ll be out at least two more weeks.

Today has already started off rough. I had a hard time falling asleep last night, and Isabella, ever punctual, wanted to be fed at her usual 5:00 a.m. breakfast time. She was somewhat patient and let me sleep until 5:30.

After feeding her and brewing a cup of coffee, I settled in with an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. That might sound like a decent way to start the day—except I’ve also got a migraine on top of everything else.

At least I can sleep the day away if I want to. And right now, that’s probably the best plan.

Isabella Pic of the Week:
She’s been curling up on a black blanket lately—so well camouflaged that I nearly jump out of my skin every time the blanket moves. It’s her own personal cloaking device. Somewhere, a Romulan engineer is taking notes. 🖖🐾

Finally Friday

Thank goodness, it is finally Friday. This week has felt unusually long—one of those where Friday seemed like it would never arrive—but here it is at last. I’ll be working from home today, which also means I’ll likely sneak in a few loads of laundry between emails and projects. That’s life.

At least it’s supposed to be a beautiful day. Tomorrow promises more sunshine and even better weather, and I’m planning to take full advantage of it. I’ve decided to go hiking around Lake Willoughby, a glacial lake in northern Vermont known for its incredible clarity, chilly waters, and breathtaking scenery. From the pictures I’ve seen, it’s no wonder it’s considered one of the most beautiful lakes in New England.

Looking north from above south shore of Lake Willoughby, with Mount Hor on the left and Mount Pisgah on the right.

I’m looking forward to a day spent in nature—hiking, relaxing, and hopefully finding a quiet spot on the shore to sit in the sun and read. Whether I make a full day of it or just a few hours, I’ll have plenty of water with me, and of course, I won’t forget the sunscreen.

But first, there’s this work-from-home Friday to get through. Hopefully, it will be easy enough, and then I can start the weekend properly.

How are you planning to spend your weekend? Do you have a favorite spot in nature to relax and recharge?

Here’s your Isabella pic of the week, proving once again that she’s the queen of cozy. Half-covered by a blanket and looking absolutely adorable, she’s clearly mastered the fine art of Friday relaxation.

Is It Really Only Wednesday?

It’s Wednesday, but it doesn’t feel like a Wednesday. Honestly, it feels like it should be later in the week — Thursday at least, maybe even Friday if the universe were kind. All day yesterday, I kept thinking it was already Wednesday. Each time I realized it was still Tuesday, I felt just a little pang of disappointment. And now that it actually is Wednesday, I have a feeling I’ll keep thinking it’s Thursday and end up disappointed all over again.

This week has been dragging, and I can’t quite figure out why. Monday actually flew by because I was deep into a project, and while Tuesday didn’t exactly speed along, it wasn’t bad either — I kept myself busy with several tasks and even made some progress here and there. But now, here we are at the midpoint of the week, and time seems to have slowed to a crawl.

Today promises to be quiet — my boss isn’t in the office, and my other coworker works in a different part of the museum, so I should be left to my own devices. Which is fine by me. If people would just reply to my emails with something more substantial than “I’ll get back to you,” I might even have more to do. As it is, I’m half tempted to start working on my art history post for this week and see where that takes me.

One thing I am looking forward to today is getting back to the gym. I haven’t been able to go for a while because of my back issues, but I’m feeling much better, and I’m actually eager to go back. I miss it — the routine, the focus, even the little aches that remind me I’ve done something good for myself. It will feel good to move again and hopefully pick up where I left off.

There’s a certain appeal to a quiet Wednesday, though. The museum is peaceful when it’s like this — the soft hum of the HVAC, the occasional creak of a door somewhere, the construction of the building across the street, or the shuffle of visitors’ feet in the galleries (if we have any visitors). I can almost imagine I’m in my own little world here, tucked away among the artifacts and exhibits.

Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I could just crawl back into bed and wake up on Friday morning, when I’ll be working from home and closer to the weekend. But, as always, I’ll muddle through today and tomorrow and make the best of it.

If your week has been dragging too, I hope you can find a little bit of calm in the quiet moments — or maybe even a little spark, like a good workout or a kind email, to get you through the rest of the week.

How’s your week going? Does it feel like it’s crawling or flying by for you? What little things help you push through the long days?

Easing Into Monday

I woke up this morning with my back feeling better. Once I got up and started moving around, it did hurt a little — but it’s definitely an improvement over the last few days. No migraine today either, even though it’s supposed to rain this evening. That feels like an accomplishment in itself.

I didn’t sleep particularly well last night, but somehow I still woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. I think a good, restful weekend helped. I really took some time to relax, which seems to have made a difference.

There’s never a lot to do at work this time of year. I’ll start making inquiries into speakers for the fall, work on refining some classes, and begin a project on branding for the museum with our communications office at the university. It’s a good time to ease into the week without feeling overwhelmed, and I’m feeling positive about what lies ahead.

I hope it’s a good Monday — for me, and for you too. Let’s make the best of it.

How are you starting your week? Do you have anything you’re looking forward to or working on?

And to my French readers, I wish you a joyful and meaningful Bastille Day — Bonne Fête Nationale!

Something Has Got to Give

Last week, I wrote about the back and abdominal pain that had been plaguing me. Thankfully, the abdominal pain has eased up, but the back pain seems to have gotten worse. To top it all off, I managed to sleep oddly last night and woke up at one point because my neck and shoulder were hurting. This morning, they’re still stiff and sore.

I called in sick last Monday, so I’m determined not to do that again today. I don’t want my boss thinking I’m going to make a habit of calling in sick every Monday. Mondays are hard enough — I don’t usually want to go to work on a Monday, but I still show up. Today, though, I really do have a legitimate excuse.

I plan to call my doctor’s office this morning. It’s conveniently just across the street from work — about 30 minutes from my apartment but less than five minutes from the office — so if they can fit me in, at least it won’t be a hassle to get there. Honestly, I just want some relief. I miss going to the gym (and that’s a sentence I never thought I’d say).

I also have an appointment for a massage tomorrow afternoon, which I really hope will help loosen things up. At this point, something has got to give.

Here’s hoping this week brings some healing.

Running on Empty This Morning

I know that today is usually when I post one of my art history pieces, and I do actually have one written and ready… but I just haven’t had the chance to gather the images for it yet. Honestly, I would have worked on it last night, but I was at the museum working until nearly 9:00 pm, giving tours. By the time I stopped for gas and got home, it was close to 10:00 pm, and I was wiped out.

My throat felt raw from talking loudly for two solid hours (the realities of leading big group tours). I always keep a bottle of water nearby between tours, but I can’t bring one along during the tours themselves—no food or drink allowed inside the museum. So when I finally got home, I was simply too tired to pull together the post.

The tours themselves went well, though! These were high school students visiting as part of a summer camp. One of the groups in particular was fantastic—really engaged, asking great questions, and interacting with me throughout. Of course, not all groups of teenagers are like that (group dynamics are always interesting), but that one made the long evening worthwhile.

I’m still feeling a bit worn out this morning, but I have another regular workday ahead of me. I’ll try to have the art history post ready for tomorrow. Thanks, as always, for reading.

Migraine Fog

Sometimes I just don't know what to write about. This week has not been particularly exciting—it's been one of those stretches where the days blur together, marked mainly by their lack of notable events. On top of that, I've been dealing with a migraine since Monday. Though it's better this morning, it's still lingering, a quiet reminder that it's not quite ready to leave.

Migraine fog has a way of clouding thoughts and making inspiration especially elusive. It leaves me feeling disconnected, struggling to find the right words or any words at all. I sit down at the keyboard, hoping something will spark—perhaps a memory, a piece of news, or a passing thought that might grow into a meaningful reflection. But today, the page feels particularly daunting in its emptiness, my thoughts muted by the dull haze of discomfort.

Yet, there's comfort even in admitting the absence of excitement or inspiration. Writing honestly about these quiet, difficult moments feels genuine, relatable. It's a reminder that life isn't always about milestones or major events. Sometimes, it's simply about getting through a dull week or coping with a persistent headache and its accompanying fog.

So today, I'm writing this—acknowledging the quiet, the uneventful, and the struggle to find words through the haze. It's a small step, but sometimes, that's enough.


Isabella Pic of the Week: Ever attentive, Isabella is probably pondering life's great feline mysteries—or perhaps just wondering when I'll go to bed so I can get up early enough to feed her.

Monday Again

Here we are again—Monday. Somehow it always manages to arrive faster than we expect, doesn’t it?

This morning began the usual way: me standing in front of my closet, staring blankly at the hanging shirts like they might whisper the answer to “What should I wear today?” I finally settled on something practical—comfort matters when you’re spending most of the day alone in the office. Yes, alone. The joy of summer at a university museum means most folks are off on vacation, faculty are scattered to the winds, and students are few and far between. It’s quiet, still, and honestly… kind of blissful. There’s something peaceful about being the only one here. No meetings. No interruptions. Just me and the hum of the air conditioning.

Of course, with summer also comes the slow trickle of tasks. There’s not much to prep, no classes and not many programs to plan, and the daily to-do list is shorter than usual. I can’t say I’m complaining, but it does leave a lot of room for reflection—and daydreaming.

One of those daydreams involves my fitness routine. Today marks the next-to-last session with my trainer, and I’m already thinking about what comes next. Do I keep going in the afternoons, even though I know I’ll be tired from work? (Let’s be honest—not having much to do can sometimes be more exhausting than being busy.) It’s easy to talk myself out of going when I’m dragging by the end of the day. That said, I’ve genuinely enjoyed working out, even if it’s just a 20–30 minute walk on the treadmill. I haven’t quite worked up the courage to use the machines on my own yet, but that’ll need to change next week. Or maybe… maybe I try becoming one of those people who works out before work. I used to do that—twenty years ago—when I had college classes later in the day instead of a full-time job. I’ve always admired folks with the discipline to exercise before the sun’s fully up. Could that be me? We’ll see. I’ve got one more session to decide if I’m ready to trade evenings for early mornings.

Wherever you are this Monday—whether you’re easing into the week or sprinting out of the gate—I hope your weekend brought you some rest, some joy, or at least a good story to tell. Here’s hoping this week treats you kindly, and that you find a few quiet moments of your own, even if you’re not alone in an office.

Stay cool and take care.

Back to the Grind

After two blissful weeks mostly away from work—save for those pesky Thursdays—I’m officially back to my regular schedule starting today. The vacation glow has already started to fade, and I can feel the familiar weight of routine settling back on my shoulders. While I’ll still be working from home on Fridays (a small but welcome mercy), the Monday-through-Thursday grind resumes with all its usual charm—or lack thereof.

Truthfully, I’m not exactly thrilled to be back. It’s not just that the rhythm of summer makes everything feel slower and heavier. It’s that summer at the museum tends to be... well, quiet. Too quiet. There are no classes to prep for, no public programs to plan, no whirlwind of events to coordinate. Just a few tours here and there, which don’t require much in the way of preparation. I could practically recite those scripts in my sleep—and, some days, I think I do.

To make matters even less enticing, my boss is not exactly my favorite person. Let’s just say their leadership style is a little too hands-on in all the wrong ways, and not nearly hands-on enough where it might actually help. Combine that with the slow trickle of summer foot traffic and the looming sense of "Why am I even here?" and you’ve got the perfect recipe for seasonal ennui.

But I suppose there’s something to be said for the quiet, even if it’s not particularly productive. Sometimes, the summer lull gives me time to think, reflect, and—if I’m lucky—sneak in a bit of personal writing or reading between tasks. And with Fridays still reserved for the sanctuary of working from home, I’ll take the silver linings where I can find them.

Here’s hoping the next few weeks bring a little unexpected joy—or at least a few interesting visitors to break up the monotony. If nothing else, I’ll have time to daydream about my next escape... or write a blog post or two.

Friday Is Upon Us

It’s Friday at last, and I think we’ve earned it. Being at work yesterday felt never-ending, like the hours were stretching themselves out just to test my patience. But the weekend is finally in sight.

I’ve really enjoyed my vacation time over the past two weeks—especially Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, which were absolutely beautiful sunny days. Even though Saturday is supposed to bring rain, I’m still looking forward to the chance to be lazy, catch up on some reading, maybe watch a movie—or take some time appreciating the quiet rhythm of my own thoughts… and touch, depending on what kind of movie I end up choosing.

There’s a certain heaviness in knowing it’s coming to an end. The slower mornings, the freedom to do things on my own time, the luxury of not living by an alarm clock—it’s hard to let that go. Isabella even let me sleep until after 5 a.m. a few mornings before demanding I get up and feed her, which felt like a rare and precious gift.

But there’s something to look forward to: Sunday marks the beginning of Pride Month. Even if it’s just a quiet acknowledgment this weekend, there’s comfort in knowing that June brings with it a celebration of identity, resilience, and community. A new month, a new beginning, and a reminder of joy—no matter the weather.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Disappointed

When I went for my workout yesterday, I found out that my trainer, who I was really enjoying working with (and not just because he was cute), got a promotion and will be the assistant manager and no longer be able to train. He said he'd always be there to answer questions, but he couldn't do the actually training anymore. Friday will likely be my last day training with him. I don't know if they will get another trainer anytime soon, but I hope if they do, he's just as good. I am happy for his promotion, I just hate that he can't train me anymore.

I'm also a bit disappointed because I have to go to work today. I still have Friday off to use up the last of my vacation, but I have to go in today. I'll be the only one there, so it won't be bad. This time of year, we are lucky if one person comes into the museum. Usually if someone comes in, they are either taking a shortcut to the library or on an admissions tour.

Anyway, here is your Isabella pic of the week. The first was taken from outside, the other obviously from inside. She becomes obsessed this time of year with the robins. She doesn't care anything about any other birds or wildlife, just the robins, which is what she was looking at through the window.