Hyper Focus

 I spent most of the day yesterday alone in a hotel room. I had a couple of Zoom calls, but most of the day I could just work--and boy did I. It's amazing how much I can get done with zero distractions.

I've been playing around with a book idea, and I really think if I could lock myself away for a week I could write the dang thing. I just have to be somewhere with no housework, no people to talk with, and nothing else to do.

On the Road

I'm traveling for work this week. I'm in the foothills of New York doing an accreditation visit. The visit doesn't start until late this afternoon, but it's hard to get here from home, so I spent yesterday traveling. Detroit Airport has gotten fancy:

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I thoroughly enjoyed watching the fountain dance while a baby grand played by my gate.

I also finished book 5:

I had to take a break from Poldark for the next neighborhood book club read. This one took some really interesting twists I did not see coming, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I was going to in chapter one. Our book club reads a lot of sci-fi, and this is another one. I'm also noticing the genre tends to just end, which I don't love. I could have used one more chapter. That said, I'm glad I read it!

 

Big Weekend!

Issa had a very big weekend! Friday afternoon, Brad and I took she and Kai to vote for the first time:

We were masked up because Evan had Covid last week. We only tested because the high school sent an email saying they had a major cluster, and Evan's English teacher had announced she would be out all week. It turns out what we thought was allergies was, indeed, Covid. He never had more than a sniffle, and he did not mind hunkering down in his room and having his favorite foods delivered. He is back to school today, and all is well!

We were so proud of how they researched their ballots, and the elections crew made a huge deal of their first time voting, insisting we get a picture of them at the ballot box:

They also thought they were twins, which was hilarious.

Sunday, we had our first dance competition of the season:

A month ago, we weren't sure Issa would be able to dance. Thanks to a great sports med team and amazing teachers who helped her slowly return to dance, she not only danced but she crushed it yesterday. We will get the photos and videos, but I have never seen her so relaxed and truly happy on stage. She had so much fun. I'm not going to lie: I sobbed through her jazz number. The last time I watched it she went down, and it was so scary to watch her going into that lunge again.

And, her team won top studio:

The look between she and Stephanie--I'm so glad someone caught it on film. Issa was the first Monarch, and this season of lasts is something special:

It was a long day, but I'm so grateful that it was a healthy, fabulous day.
 

Book 4!

I finished book four  of 2024 this morning:

This is another in the Poldark series, and wow. We are approaching the turn of the century, and a bit more reality has hit the family. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I have no idea where the next book will take us!
 

That Did Not Go as Planned

As Issa is getting ready to go to college, one of the things that has been making her worry the most is the fear of failure. We had the brilliant idea that they meant she just needed to experience failure. The surest place we could think of was the pottery studio. I got permission to take her in to the studio and give her a lesson. I intentionally started her with a huge lump of clay, which is insanely hard. This is his first throw:

She initially wasn't sure about the feel of the clay, but she definitely did not experience failure:

She kept working and tweaking--even when I told her that she could try something but it might cause the vase to collapse. She was thoughtful, and she opted to take the risks, and it paid off. It wasn't the lesson we were going for, but it was an important one nonetheless. 

 

A Very Big Weekend

We had a whirlwind weekend around here!

Friday night, Brad and I went to our favorite Italian restaurant to celebrate Valentine's Day:

The food is just so ridiculously good, and our waiter was charming. His wife also has celiac, so we felt so safe eating.

Saturday, we had Scholars' Day on campus for Issa:

She didn't have to interview since she's already been awarded the Teaching Fellows and Scholars' awards, but she did get to meet some of her future classmates, which was fun. She has some new contacts, and she is still really excited to come--even thought the dining hall really blew it and didn't label things. It gives us time to trouble-shoot that before it is her every day.

Saturday night, Issa and I went to the Journey concert:

Toto opened for them, and it was Journey's fiftieth anniversary tour:

We sang out hearts out, much to the amusement of the gentleman sitting next to us. It couldn't have been more different than our last concert, the Eras Tour, but it was still so good in its own charming way.

Sunday, we girls headed to the ballet:

We saw three Gershwin pieces, all of which were new and incredible. It was the first time we ever saw a ballet done in character heels! 

It was a busy weekend, but it was also so very fun!
 

Once More to Wonderland

Every four years, the Meredith faculty and staff produce Alice in Wonderland for our students. We put the whole thing together in basically a week, and it only works because we reprise our roles over time. This year happened to the 100th anniversary of this tradition, so it was an extra special event. Most of our department participated, and I was thrilled to reprise my role as the Caterpillar:

The family got to come see it on Saturday, which was really fun:

Since this was such a big year, we also did an extra matinee performance, so the College provided dinner between the two shoes on Saturday. We were quite the spectacle:

There really is something magical about these trips to Wonderland. There is no other time when the faculty gets to spend a week together just doing something fun, and the students love it. It's so fun to watch them realize who we are and sign their books afterwards. 

It also takes us three and a half years to recover. It's a long, exhausting, physically-demanding week. But by 2028, I'll be so ready to do it all again...

 

Book 3

I finished book 3 of 2024 this morning:

The Poldark saga continues, and I love that this one was allowed to end in a tangle rather than a neat bow. However, I might feel differently if I didn't have the next one ready to go! It was also very nice to read in my dry sauna again this morning. It was a much softer way to start the day!
 

God is Good and Captain Disaster Wins

 This morning did not begin as planned.

Brad was supposed to be traveling to DC this morning. He found out his afternoon meeting today moved virtual, so he was able to delay his flight to this evening since he would have no where to take a virtual meeting early this afternoon if he was traveling.

I went out to do my yoga this morning, and I heard running water. That is never a good thing in the garage. Sure enough, our hot water heater had sprung a leak. I went to get Brad up--extra grateful he was there. We started moving things, and then I looked up hot to shut down a water heater and narrated the process to him.

While he drained the tank with a garden hose I called ARS. They were here by 8:15.

The good news:

Brad had just redone the garage and the only thing directly on the floor were some mats and weights--all things that are easy to dry.

ARS is able to replace the water heater today, which is even better since we had to turn water off to the house until it's repaired.

Brad's meetings for the next two days also moved to a virtual option, so he was able to cancel his trip no problem, which means he will be here for the whole repair/dry out process.

It is certainly not a fun way to start the day, but we are so grateful that we are able to get it repaired today and that we were both here to deal with the chaos and still get everyone where they needed to be this morning!

Onward...

She Said Yes

This is was a very fast and very fun weekend. Mom, Shannon, and I met Becca in New York to do some bridal gown shopping! We all met up Friday evening, and we had an amazing Italian dinner. I had chingale for the first time state-side, and I was very, very happy.

Saturday morning we have breakfast at the hotel before going to Kleinfeld's:

These people know what they are doing. Becca was able to share her vision with the consultant while the three of us cozied into a couch. We stayed put, and Becca got to play fashion show! I don't remember exactly how many dresses we tried on, but I do know we found the most perfect dress:

Complete with a champagne toast:

We had lunch at Eataly and did a little shopping before having a super cool dinner at Beauty and Essex. We found a few of the recipes we want to try, including the most perfect tortilla soup with a cheese dumpling and a kale and apple salad that was amazing. 

Sunday morning we had brunch before Mom and I flew back. 

We had such a fun weekend catching up and chatting about wedding plans. It was a whirlwind, and I'm so tired, but I am very, very grateful we were able to be together and find the perfect dress!