Pondering

2023, Day 1

January 1, 2023 Ovis ObscuraLeave a comment

In Which Our Heroine Reflects On The Value Of Inspiration, Joy, and Connection

I had about a bazillion thoughts to share with you over the past months, but life got busy and I fell into the trap of wanting to make my Blog Entry just perfect and then I got distracted and had a bit of an anxiety attack (I’m feeling better now, thank you) and now it’s 2023 and I never got around to writing that Perfect Post.

So you get this instead.

I was reading over my Other Blog (Ovis Obscura: Where There’s Wool, There’s A Way) and I noticed something: I wrote that blog much more like I wrote my Livejournal back in the day. It feels natural and unplanned, like I’m just talking to you about what’s going on in my life. It feels personal. I liked that, and I miss it.

I tried to make this blog more planned, more polished. I still want it to include Useful Things like Tutorials and Reviews Of Things I Love, but I also think it’s important to include personal things and to write when I want to write, not wait until I can assemble a Beautiful Essay. (Though I’ll admit that I want to present you with a few of those, too.)

Being able to write when inspiration hits is important. And that’s something I want to carry forward into 2023. I think I overplan, and guess what? That feeds into my anxiety! Joy. (Sarcasm here, in case that wasn’t obvious.)

A friend of mine posted this article to her Book of Faces this morning, and it definitely helped inspire this train of thought: The Verge: Bring Back Personal Blogging. One of the Many Things I’m doing to Marie Kondo My Life in 2023 is leaving Twitter. It has served its purpose in my life, and it no longer sparks joy. And that’s okay! Twitter and role playing with friends on that platform got me through some tough times, especially in 2019 – 2022. (I would argue that was a rough time for most people.) I did love Twitter as a way of getting my thoughts out there, and the character limit was a fun writing challenge. But now? It’s Back To The Blog. I’m keeping those friendships in other formats and on other platforms, but the Blog is going to be my Main Channel For Shouting Into The Void.

Well, not quite into the Void. After all, you’re all out there.

It’s been a rough year. I’m glad you’re here.

I hope to be here more often.

2023 will be a better year, I hope, if only because I’m on the lookout for the good stuff. I’m going to try to be kind, to myself and to others, and to give myself grace when I fail or don’t remember to do everything or just mess up a little bit. (I’m really good at beating myself up! I’d like to actually get worse at that.)

In conclusion (for now), here’s something I posted to my Tumblr. I wish this for you, me, and everybody.

A Wish For All Of You In 2023:

May you find peace with yourself and with others.
May Kindness and Love find you and spring from you.
May you recognize Perfect Moments, and may they stay in your memory for when you need them again.
May this year spark joy.

Marie Kondo strikes a pose while rainbow colored animated letters spell out "Spark Joy"

New Beginnings

December 6, 2022 Ovis ObscuraLeave a comment

In Which Our Heroine Ponders The Benefits of Starting Over

Isn’t this a lovely-looking bit of shawl knitting?

This is the “Promise Me” Shawl by Boo Knits, from her In Love Collection. My mother found this gorgeous gradient and wasn’t sure what to do with it. She admired my own Promise Me, and I offered to knit her one because she is my mother and she adores everything knitted I’ve ever made for her.

However.

I was almost 8 rows into Repeat 3 of the Lace Pattern (which you can knit as many times as you like to expand the body of the shawl) when I realized that I wasn’t going to have enough yarn to knit both that and the edging. Since I didn’t feel like playing yarn chicken, I started tinking back, stitch by stitch, carefully tracking my rows so that I could start the edging at the right place.

Around Row 6, I dropped a stitch. Seriously dropped. Through several rows of yarnovers and decreases.

(Dropped Stitch Not Pictured Because It Was Too Terrible For Sensitive Knitters’ Eyes)

At that point, I had a choice. I could either struggle and try going beyond my expertise to either figure out how to pick up the stitch or hold it until I could tink back to that point, or I could undo the whole thing and start again.

I ripped it out (gently) last night and started over this morning.

As I began the process of casting on for the second time, I thought about how beneficial starting over can be. In this case, I have lost nothing but my own time, and I still don’t think that was truly lost. I’m back in the rhythm of this pattern, I know I’m going to have enough yarn to finish it, and it will still look gorgeous when it’s finished. I feel like the first attempt was a rough draft, and now I have a plan that I know will work. Uncertainty has been replaced with certainty, and I have gained both experience and practice.

There are many other times in life when this choice applies: Fix it, or start over? The correct answer depends on your priorities and your state of mind, as well as what’s healthy for you. Just because you’ve put time into something already doesn’t mean that you have to keep going as you are. You can either go back and fix things, or, if that’s not possible, you can make a fresh start – whatever that looks like to you.

I’m keeping this thought firmly in mind as we end 2022 and look forward to 2023. May it bring hope to your heart as it has to mine.

Confessions · Pondering

On Time: How It’s Going

May 10, 2022 Ovis ObscuraLeave a comment

In Which Our Heroine Reflects On Modern Times And Her Attempts To Manage

Time is a strange thing. Lately, it feels particularly illusory – like it’s gone in a flash. At the same time, I feel as though I have nowhere near enough time to do the things I want to do. This is mainly because, when I sit down to do the things I want to do, I keep getting interrupted by either the things I have to do or the Existential Unease that seems to be a side effect of simply existing in the world today.

For me, a lot of that Existential Unease comes from feeling a lack of control. I don’t feel like I can plan things like meetings or even time to myself, because emergencies and cancellations seem continuous. My focus is dogged by constant reminders of the uncertainty of life. I feel like I never know what’s going to happen next, and that bothers me (to put it extremely mildly). It also makes it very difficult for me to manage my time and my goals.

It’s important to acknowledge all of that. Doing so allows me to look at what’s not working so that I can adjust and do something that does work. I also need to acknowledge that I can’t control other people’s behavior or the laws of time and space. However, I can control how I handle my own life and set boundaries for myself around my time. The whole point of time management is to make it so that I can get through the ‘have tos’ efficiently so I can spend time on the ‘want tos.’

I also need to give myself a break. Sometimes, things don’t work out the way I planned them. Looking at the circumstances surrounding that will help me do better next time – or just let it go if it turns out there was no way I could have controlled or foreseen the outcome. That’s all part of figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

An excellent practical example of this for me is this Blog. I had every intention of posting an entry at least once a month. I plugged that task into Habitica and started organizing ideas. I have a System (more on that in another entry) that has worked well for me for my Bullet Journal, though I’d never used it to organize a writing project before. Every month I missed, I got upset with myself. I would sit down to write and obsess about creating a Real Blog Entry that would be witty and informative (or, at least, witty). And then I’d freeze up, close the document, and go do something else, and the Entry would remain a disjointed bunch of unpublished snippets.

And honestly, I’ve realized that’s just plain silly.

This Blog is never going to be perfect, but it can get better. And the only way that’s going to happen is if I practice. So, I’ve given up on thinking of each Blog Entry as a polished, finished thing. I’ve started thinking of them as Published Practice instead. And in order to practice, I need to devote more time to that practice. And that’s not going to happen unless I carve out actual blocks in my schedule for it. I have to develop a regular habit of writing.

And how am I going to manage that, when I don’t have a regular schedule and never know when I’m going to be interrupted? I need to do some analysis of my current System and habits and have a look at my calendar. I need to come up with a Plan. And I know I’m going to need some help – both from actual people and from my handy-dandy electronic devices.

I’ll let you know how that goes next time, Dear Reader.

Keep well until then!

Pondering

One Thing At A Time

January 20, 2022December 9, 2022 Ovis Obscura3 Comments

In Which Our Heroine Uses A Blanket As A Metaphorical Ladder

When the Pandemic really hit in March of 2020, I was completely overwhelmed – like so many others. Events that I’d been looking forward to for months were suddenly cancelled, and I didn’t know when I could start making those kinds of plans again. The world felt like it was stuck in limbo. I lost my ability to focus on anything for longer than about half an hour at most. Creative projects, including activities I used to find soothing, became almost impossible. I felt like I was in a fog, unable to move forward.

But I had to do something. And, gradually, as the fog started to lift and things seemed to stabilize a bit, I was able to think about ways to help myself both cope and progress with things I wanted to do.

One of the things I decided would help was to start a new project. It had to be easy and comforting with manageable subtasks that I could plan and track and that wouldn’t be affected by outside circumstances. It had to be something that I could do at home, as well as something that didn’t require too much concentration. It also had to be bright and colorful – a mood-booster.

Enter the Portland Blankie.

I’ve made blankets out of squares before, but only one of them has ever gotten finished. The main reason for this, I think, is that I’ve never gone into it with an actual plan. The finished blanket was charted out after I used up scraps of Malabrigo Rios (left over from other blankets) and knew how many squares I had. The other two “in progress” blankets are both being made from scrap sock yarn left over from other projects, and I have absolutely no plan or color scheme in mind. I don’t even know how many squares I’m going to need for each of those blankets.

Bright turquoise yarn on a red knitted background

The Portland Blankie is different. The yarn is Caron Simply Soft, a durable acrylic I’ve worked with before on gifts and enjoyed. It has no dye lots, so I don’t have to worry too much about getting matching yarn if I accidentally don’t buy enough. (So far, so good.)

Once I’d chosen my yarn, I made a Plan.

Just planning this thing felt therapeutic. It gave me something to look forward to, something over which I had control. And that was just the first step. (For the record, I write up an index card for every project so that I can track things like pattern variations and make sure that, if I’m making two of something, they match.)

I’ve been working on the Portland Blankie for a while, and this project ticks so many boxes for me:

Every square starts the same, and I know what to expect. I have the pattern memorized, but it’s still written down on my Project Card, just in case my brain blanks and I need a refresher.
When I finish a square (weaving in my ends as I go so Future Me won’t be overwhelmed and never assemble the blanket), I’ve Finished Something. If I really wanted to stop there and use all of the squares as coasters, I could.
I’m not always working with the same color. It’s easy to change things up so that it never feels like a chore.
Each square takes me about thirty minutes to complete. That feels very doable when I’m thinking about it, and I feel great after I finish a square. That also means that I don’t have to devote hours at a time (though I absolutely can).
I can see my progress easily, whether that involves looking at the squares themselves or hashmarks on my Project Card.
This is something just for me (though I’ll probably share it with Alex if he wants). Pandemic Times have been Times of Sacrifice, and it’s important to remember that we deserve good things, too.

A spiral of crochet squares in different colors with black borders

It didn’t take long for every square to feel like a rung on a ladder, helping me climb to a clearer, happier place. I have some other healthy coping mechanisms in my toolbox, but this is what got me started. It worked, and it continues to work, even as I’ve been regaining focus and concentration. I’ve been working on other projects more and the Blankie less, but I’m still working on it between other things. I hope to have it done by next winter – but there’s no rush.

Working on this project has also served to remind me that, no matter how overwhelming the world or our daily tasks may seem, focusing on just finishing the next step can help. And if we don’t get everything done that we want to, giving ourselves some grace is important, too.

One thing at a time.

Times are hard, but there are good things that we can give ourselves. What coping skills or projects have helped you keep your head up during these Tough Times? Let me know in the comments.

Introductions

Rebooting

January 4, 2022December 6, 2022 Ovis ObscuraLeave a comment

In Which Our Heroine Considers The Purpose Of This Blog And Celebrates Her Own Return

There are only so many “I’m back!” entries one can do on a blog before it becomes ridiculous, and I think I’ve passed that threshold. (I probably passed it ages ago.)

However, I firmly believe that you can revamp a thing as many times as you need to to make it work for you. Thus, I’m revamping this blog and trying something new.

It’s certainly a different world out there than it was when I published my last entry here.

Society feels different. Technology feels different. I feel different. Life has changed dramatically in some significant ways.

With that in mind, I’m rethinking this blog and sorta-kinda combining it with my other blog, http://ovisobscura.wordpress.com. I’ve decided that I’d like my creative and life stuff to be all in one place. So, I hope you also find knitting and photos thereof interesting.

I’m going to try to post at least once a month. Regular writing is one of the many, many habits I hope to further develop in the coming year. (More on that later.) I want this blog to be both a Window Into My Brain and a Resource For Others.

So, what do you have to look forward to in this space, Gentle Reader?

Ramblings about Life, Knitting, Writing, Organization (especially Digital Bullet Journalling); Tutorials and Templates (especially for Trello and Habitica), Stationery (hopefully including some reviews), and possibly a little bit of Animal Crossing. (Yes, I finally jumped on that bandwagon.) Not to mention the Overused Parentheses that you’ve come to know and love (or loathe)!

I’m looking forward to 2022, and sharing my adventures with you.

Pondering · Travel · Uncategorized

Every Day Carry (EDC)

July 17, 2017December 6, 2022 Ovis Obscura2 Comments

In Which Our Heroine Ponders What Burdens Are Necessary

I have a very bad habit of carrying far too much (mainly literally, but sometimes figuratively) on my person every day. I like to travel light, but I also like to be prepared for any contingency. I also detest not being able to find things – everything I carry must have its designated place in my Daily Kit.

Every so often, I purge my handbag of All That Is Unnecessary and try again, but there are certain Things Without Which I feel Distinctly Uncomfortable. I continually struggle to find the balance between Bare Minimum and Distinctly Overloaded. Add to this my constant Hunt For The Perfect Handbag (which means changing bags fairly often and sometimes forgetting to move some Essential from one bag to another), not to mention the back problems that occur when I overload myself, and you see part of my need to simplify and streamline my EDC.

I imagine that I am not the only one who struggles with this dilemma.

So, how does one decide what is necessary?

For some people, there are auxiliaries that will vary from day to day and situation to situation. Is today a work day? A vacation day? Will I be near home, or will I be far away for the day? Will I have a lot of down time, or is every moment booked solid?

While these are all important things to take into account, most people carry a “core” with them every day. For some, it’s as simple as KWP: Keys, Wallet, Phone. As long as one is carrying those three things, one can contact others and be contacted, one can get into one’s home/car, and one can identify one’s self and make purchases.

For many people, however, there are other daily tasks and activities that require equipment. I gave myself this guideline: If you truly use this every day, then carry it. Otherwise, leave it at home.

In the interests of keeping myself accountable (and possibly inspiring others to take a good, hard look at what they carry every day), here is my current EDC:

(Not pictured: my phone, as that’s what I always use to take photos. Pray ignore the cat hair. Hiro firmly believes that I stuff bags full of yarn especially so that he can cuddle with them.)

My wallet is a Pocket Deluxe Chic Sparrow Elysium. It holds all the usual things (cash, cards, ID), as well as the notebooks in which I keep my Bullet Journal and a fountain pen. (My current favorite is a Pilot Namiki Decimo with a Fine nib, though I have also been known to carry my ever-reliable Kaweco Sport.)

My other supplies are split into Tom Bihn Organizer Pouches by category. Because I have at least one fountain pen with me at all times (as this is definitely my favorite kind of pen), I also carry ink cartridges. In the same pouch, I have a letter opener, a pencil sharpener, and three tiny stamps that I use to track weather in my planner. I usually carry a knitting project, so a second pouch holds essential knitting notions. A third pouch contains a very minimal First Aid Kit with Advil, adhesive bandages (Star Wars and Wonder Woman, because life is too short for boring bandages), and lip balm.

To be honest, I probably still carry more pens than I strictly need, but I use them every day. I also always carry at least one ordinary rollerball in case my husband needs one and forgets his.

The various pouches help me to make sure that I can find everything, even in the most capacious, non-pocketed handbag. They also make it easy to remember to transfer everything from bag to bag.

I use everything on this list almost every day. Those things that I carry “just in case” are purely medical at this point (other than Alex’s pen). There are things I have left behind in the past (like my knitting), but I have consistently regretted it.

What do you carry with you every day? What are your reasons and requirements? Let me know in the comments or, if you’ve done your own blog entry on this subject, please leave me a link!

Pondering

The Bullet Journal

June 2, 2017December 6, 2022 Ovis Obscura2 Comments

In Which Our Heroine Attempts To Bring Order Out Of Chaos

As readers of this blog know, I am not the most organized person. My methods, particularly in the creative areas of my life, tend to be slapdash and haphazard. This leads to long breaks in productivity, a tendency to forget things (such as the fact that blogs need to be updated in order to remain relevant), and the necessity for scrappy “catching up” entries like this one.

Fortunately, I have been working on improving my organizational/planning skills over the past year, so I am hoping that I can go less than a year between blog entries. Apparently, creating an actual schedule helps. Who knew?

The most important organizational improvement I have made is using the Bullet Journal system by Ryder Carroll. I’ve been using the system for over a year now, in conjunction with a couple of mobile apps, and it’s working very well. I work better with pen and paper generally whether I’m planning or writing fiction, and the Bullet Journal has been great for that. I remember things better if I write them down by hand. Just the Index and Page Numbers have made a huge difference.

It all started with my notebook collection. I mentioned in an earlier entry how much I love notebooks, as well as my bad habit of purchasing notebooks and storing them in a drawer rather than using them. A little over two years ago, I decided that it was time to find a way to use those notebooks. I came across a tweet from Maureen Johnson about how she had nearly lost her Bullet Journal in a taxi. “What’s a Bullet Journal?” I (and several other people) asked. She sent us all to Bulletjournal.com.

I knew this was the perfect way to usefully consume at least some of the notebooks in my collection. I always try to carry a notebook on my person in any case. The idea of being able to put everything – plans, tasks, story ideas, sketches – in one, everyday notebook, and then to be able to reference and find everything when I needed it was an epiphany. It was simplicity itself, yet endlessly adaptable.

The best thing about the Bullet Journal system is that it has worked. I have filled notebooks. I have become more productive creatively. I have managed not to forget as many things or let them slip through the cracks. I still have a long way to go as far as forming productive habits, but I have consistently written in my journal every day (except perhaps one or two) for over two years now. I’ve modified the system to fit what works for me after extensive experimentation with different modules. I’ve also moved from the recommended A5 Leuchtturm1917 notebook to a B6 Slim “Fauxdori” Chic Sparrow notebook, as I’ve found it useful to split my Collections off from my Monthlies and Dailies. I still use digital apps like Google Calendar and Habitica, but I’ve integrated them into my Bullet Journal system.

One trap to avoid: There’s always that idea that, if we just buy the right pen/notebook/dividers/stickers/sticky notes/fill-in-your-favorite-stationery-supplies-here, we will instantly be effortlessly organized. If you want to take up this system, my best advice is to avoid the words “Bullet Journal” on Pinterest and Instagram for at least a month. The artistry that some people devote to their journals turns said journals into beautiful jewels – but that’s not where the focus needs to be. That’s additional stuff, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but a Bullet Journal should be functional first. Figure out what modules work for you, and go from there.The wonderful thing about the Bullet Journal system is that one uses whatever notebook one has on hand and whatever pen gives one delight.

This is not to say that I do not have an impressive collection of sticky notes and pens and glittery ink and suchlike. My powers to resist Shiny Things are not strong. But I am using these things, and I suppose that’s what counts.

Next on the list, of course, needs to be an Inventory and Organization of my Organizational Supplies. That always feels just a trifle recursive.

Have you tried the Bullet Journal system? Did it work for you? Do you want to, and just haven’t dipped your toe in yet? What’s stopping you? Let me know in the comments, and I will respond with encouragement!

Travel

ADVENTURE!

September 30, 2015June 2, 2017 Ovis Obscura1 Comment

In Which Our Heroine Remembers That She Has A Blog

I am absolutely certain that everyone else’s year thus far has been just as busy as mine has. Between fire and flood (well, the opposite of flood in my case) and other joys of being a homeowner, plus a few exciting travel adventures, it’s been a rather eventful and interesting time.

I read somewhere that “Adventure is just the result of bad planning.” I think, however, that there are certain adventures that you simply cannot plan for. For instance, you cannot plan for the previous owner of your house to leave no clear indication of where your well might be so that you can find it when the 20-year-old pump craps out on you and leaves you without water for five months while you desperately search for the well, only to find that it is cunningly concealed under a concrete pad in front of the garage. You cannot plan for your middle-aged cat to suddenly become deathly ill so that you must give him subcutaneous fluids daily. (For the worried: He’s made a miraculous recovery. He only needs his fluids about once a week now and is perky and happy in a way he has not been since youth. Everything is wonderful, and the vet is “happily amazed.”) You cannot plan for the company that is pressure-washing your house to have their trailer spontaneously catch fire and burn down your trailer that is sitting right next to it. (Again, for the worried: Everything is fine. Insurance is a fantastic thing, no one was hurt, and the fire was out in a matter of about 5 minutes once the firefighters got there. Also, there was nothing in the trailer except for the race ramps used to get very low cars in there. It might have been much worse. There might have been a car in the trailer.)

Needless to say, this year has been a bit more adventurous than we had hoped. (Or, obviously, planned for.) Things are beginning to calm down a bit, and we have had some (planned) travel adventures, as well!

Alex and I have been doing a good deal more with our local car clubs lately. We’ve been unable to go out of the country (see above), but we have been able to take trips on our own continent. Recently, we went on a trip to the California Redwoods and the Oregon Caves with the Classic Car Club of America. Alex and I had never been to the Oregon Caves, and neither of us had been to the Avenue of the Giants, either. The trip was fantastic, and our car proceeded beautifully, rain or shine.

This is our 1938 Bentley. I love this car. Love, love, LOVE. It’s right-hand drive, brought to the United States from England in the 1950s. Alex drives it. There is no power steering (obviously), so it takes far more upper body strength than I have to wrestle it around at low speeds. Alex and I do agree that, given the option, we might have brought something else for a long road trip, but the experience was wonderful. It’s amazing how well a car of this era can move along modern roads (though you wouldn’t want to take it down the freeway for any length of time).

Here is a redwood tree! (Me included for scale.)

We hope to take more road trips this autumn and next year. As I become a More Confident Driver Of Classics (not the Bentley, thank you), I will be able to help with the driving on some of these trips. I also really enjoy the idea of being able to just throw some things in the trunk of a car and go Adventuring. (A little planning is good, but Spontaneous Adventure is so much fun.)

Perhaps Adventure is less a lack of planning and more just enough planning to be safe, but not so much as to remove the Element of Surprise from one’s travels.

Do you, Dear Reader, have any adventures planned this autumn?

P.S. Here is a photo of Loki, showing off how pleased he is to be feeling better.

Pondering · Travel

That Wistful Feeling

November 11, 2014June 2, 2017 Ovis ObscuraLeave a comment

In Which Our Heroine Does Some Navel-Gazing About Travel

Once again, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. One of my Autumn Resolutions is to be more regular about posting, and it’s never too early (or late!) to start.

Today’s post is about travel, and how the best-laid plans “gang aft agley,” as Robbie Burns so aptly puts it.

Alex and I had plans for this month. We were going to England, where we would spend time together in various places. (We went to the UK almost exactly two years ago, but that was with my parents. While it was a very pleasant trip, there is a big difference between travelling with four people and travelling with two.) First, we planned to go to London, to see off the competitors in the London to Brighton Run, visit the Sherlock Holmes exhibit at the Museum of London, and see what a real Bonfire Night in London looks like. Then, we planned a leisurely journey, stopping at enticing places along the way in a romantic, carefree manner, until we reached Birmingham and the giant, all-indoor NEC Classic Motor Show.

However, for a variety of reasons (not least of which is the fact that Life has been insane, and we didn’t want to add the stress of planning an international trip to said insanity), we decided to put off the England trip. (I’m hoping we can try for sometime in March — no motor show, but the Sherlock Holmes exhibit ends April 12.)

Before we called off the trip, I had already started plugging dates into my Google Calendar — Bonfire Night, Remembrance Day, the NEC Motor Show, and so on. I never got around to taking those dates, or the automatic reminders for those dates, off the calendar.

Thus, every so often, an alert pops up on my computer or phone to remind me of what I’m missing. I don’t cry about it or anything, but I do feel a bit wistful when my calendar reminds me that I’m celebrating at home, rather than in England. (Glenna C’s recent jaunt to England, complete with photos, definitely boosted my wistfulness. Just saying.)

While I know we made the right choice in not going to England this year, I still miss being there. I’ve been three (four?) times in my lifetime, and I feel homesick every time I leave. I will say that the weather here has been conspiring to be as English as possible for this time of year (cold, damp, foggy), and I’m grateful. I’ve pulled out my woolies and tucked my T-shirts away for the winter. I’ve also pulled some bangers out of the freezer and pulled up my favorite recipe for onion gravy, so good old bangers and mash are definitely in my future. I’m looking forward to cooking at home more, getting the house really clean and organized, and continuing my eternal game of catch-up with my blogs and other writing.

At the same time, I’m already starting to plan the next trip, and the next…

I’ll keep you posted.

Travel

Rome, Sweet Rome

June 3, 2014June 2, 2017 Ovis Obscura1 Comment

Greetings from Rome, Italy!

Why, yes, it has been a long time. Blogging has certainly gotten away from me this year. I’ve done some writing (both letters and work on the novel), but most of my brain has been occupied with travel over the past few months. Alex and I will be in Italy for the next 19 days, and I wanted to share our trip with you, as well as some Travel Tips for seeing the places we visit. (Plus, the weather is absolutely gorgeous here, and I’m getting some good photos.)

We arrived yesterday after an extremely long set of flights. The timing was great, though, since by the time we got our luggage and everything, we were just in time to catch the Leonardo Express train to the center of Rome, catch a taxi from there, and check into our hotel. (We’re staying at the Grand Hotel Plaza, and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s not cheap, but the location is worth every penny.) We had a nice, relaxed afternoon, went out for a small dinner, drank a bottle of wine between the two of us, and slept pretty well. (I woke up at around 4:30 and dozed until we finally got up around 7:00.)

Everything is beautiful here. Even the desserts are beautiful.

Today, we went to the Forum and the Coliseum. Here’s your first Travel Tip: Go to the Forum first, as early as you can. Your ticket will also get you into the Coliseum. Going to the Forum early means you beat all the tour groups and get a nice, quiet walk around the site. Get lunch when you’re done (the Forum is seriously huge, so take your time seeing it all), then take your ticket to the Coliseum and enter the express line. You already have your ticket, so you don’t need to stand in the Extremely Long Ticket Queue.

Here are a few photos from the Forum. Note the Forum Cats.