Heavens, it’s taking me so long to recover from the trip! I didn’t sleep well the night before last, waking up at 4 am, so I barely functioned yesterday. I got more sleep last night, so I feel better – foggy, but better. The drive on the Garden State Parkway is insane. Huge backups for no reason. It takes forever. Once I got on the Thruway in NY, it was smooth sailing.

I was tired when I got home, but the first thing I saw was a black swallowtail butterfly flitting around the garden. Wasn’t that a lovely welcome? Better than the welcome from my husband, who fell asleep on the porch glider and didn’t even hear me drive in! I was in and out of the house calling for him, and starting to get worried, and then I found him on the porch where he had been sitting, waiting for me. Sleep overtook him.

The theater building and complex are fabulous and so well planned. Filled with light. It was renovated not that long ago. Red Bank is a pretty little town on the Navesink river, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. I did walk around a bit on Friday. There were antique shops right by the theater, but they were disappointing. Pretty junky. But the view of the river is beautiful and when Hurricane Rita finally passed us, I could see the harbor and all the boats.

It felt good to be coaching again, and not via Zoom, but in person, face-to-face. There’s no comparison. I go back in a little less than 2 weeks.

Ruby and Dexter, dressed for a road trip.

Blythes are good companions, but this little girl is sort of the perfect size. Same body size as a Blythe, but obviously, a smaller head.

This is how they traveled. Remember this basket from my friends at Play From Your Heart that I got at the Blythe convention? It comes with a little mattress and pillow.

Don took this photo.

I think everyone should have a doll as a traveling companion!

I missed the others, though, and was glad to see them again.

I am telling you: they keep me sane in the midst of the horrors and crimes and abuse from this administration. Play. Whatever your preferred method of playing and creating is, go for it. Do everything you can to find pockets of peace and joy. We are meant to play, and that shouldn’t stop just because we’re adults. Or old ladies, in my case.

Love to you all.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

The smaller Rose of Sharon bush has started to bloom. I always forget that the color is deeper on these flowers. So pretty!

We had a very hot and uncomfortable weekend. But today is much cooler and that is very, very welcome.

This will be brief. I’ve been working hard all weekend. Today we have to shop – food for Don, who won’t have a car this week – and food for me to take to NJ. I’ve made lists of things to pack. It’s shocking how much I have to take for 6 days, but it is what it is. And I have to show Don where and how to water while I’m gone.

After years and years of going out of town to work, the appeal of it all is gone. We don’t want to be away from each other. But, if it means work, we do it. So that’s what I’m doing this week. Hopefully, Don will get a chance to do the same thing soon.

This is very short, but I have a lot to do. Thanks for all the supportive comments on my last post. You are the best,

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

I’m rather edgy this morning so I’ll keep this short. I finished most of my work yesterday, so I’m going to try to take it easy this weekend.

I haven’t worked in so long that my level of confidence is low. I know that I’m good at what I do, but I’m officially older than anyone else in the company and there have been no offers for over a year and a half, so that lack of confidence is real.

And there are lists to be made, questions still to be answered about the mechanics of this whole thing, and all of it is too much for a person who loves being home with her husband in her ‘safe place.’ I don’t want to be away from Don but of course I have to be. He doesn’t like it either. I used to be fairly cool with it all because going away to work happened fairly often. But now I’m out of practice. And my life here with Don is more important than ever.

Once I’m there and working, it will be better. I  will be better.

And, of course, I know I’m lucky to have this job and I am very grateful. It goes without saying, but I’m saying it anyway.

I have some chores to do around the house today and that should keep me occupied.

This is brief, I know, but it’s to the point!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.