It’s definitely spring. It has been since we got back from vacation on March 15. First, the crocuses. Then the daffodils followed. I’m not sure what happened next, but it included hyacinth, violets, dogwoods, cherry blossoms, maples, those pretty white spidery flowered trees that I haven’t figured out, the forsythia… as well as then the tulips. The grass is turning green. The lilies we planted in a pot last year are starting to poke above the soil, showing their green fans. A few trees are showing a green fuzz of new leaves. Potted herbs as well as lettuces are showing up at the farmers’ market. It. Is. Spring. It’s beautiful.
I started a new job! I’m back in the nonprofit world; I’m thrilled. This is the last day of my second week. The first week was orientation as well as training. This week was a lot of web surfing as well as email. Next week I’m hoping there shall be more day-to-day work to retain me busy as well as that I can start taking more ownership of the projects. The mental break is good. I’ve discovered that I’ve lost a lot of my ability to focus with the last gig. I’m so used to multitasking as well as juggling that I don’t know how to slow down as well as really take something in. I think the forced rest is good, as well as that I’ll be able to approach the new work as well as new relationships fairly open as well as refreshed.
This job is, I hope, the start of achieving some balance in my life again. It’s amazing to not check my work email obsessively every night as well as on weekends. I’ve set parameters with my boss as well as with myself as to what part of my life my job is permitted to be. Part is the key word there. I’m determined to retain those boundaries as well as get life on more of an even keel.
BF as well as I went to visit family in PA over Presidents’ Day weekend. We had a really relaxed, low-key, fun time filled with just good visits. Time to talk as well as catch up. Time to bask in being happy to be in one another’s presence. It was great.
We also went to AZ March 8-15 to go back to Supai. We spent a few days in Phoenix visiting with family, as well as then headed to Hilltop. We did the 10 mile hike in on Monday morning, hiked down to the Colorado River as well as back, about 14 miles round trip, on Tuesday, did some minor waterfall hiking as well as a lot of relaxing on Wednesday, as well as then hiked the 10 miles back out on Thursday. We managed probably 40 miles in 4 days. Not too bad! It was amazing. Breathtakingly beautiful. Serene. It’s the type of beauty where I had to stop as well as remind myself to look around because of the fact that I’m really here. The canyon walls have a way of making me feel so small as well as so present as well as a part of things at the same time. It was exhausting as well as rejuvenating. I’m so glad we were able to go back. I’ll post a few pictures soon!
Mom was here last weekend. We went to see the cherry blossoms knowing that (but not really computing the ramifications of) it was the first weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Kite Festival was going on, there was a marathon, as well as there was some other long-distance walk on behalf of charity going on. Holy madhouse. It took a good half hour from the time that we exited the train doors until we saw the sunlight at the top of the metro escalator. We walked down, past the Washington Monument, where the kites were bright splashes of color against the white of the monument as well as the crisp blue of the sky. We walked down to the Tidal Basin as well as made our way an estimated all of the way around with the hundreds of thousands of others. The blossoms were in full bloom, hanging from the branches as well as dancing in the breeze. The sun was bright as well as the sky was a clear, pure blue. It was gorgeous, as well as Mom was tickled. Our visit also included an impromptu dinner party, a trip to a gallery as well as to the Phillips Collection, a trip to Stitch DC on behalf of yarn to manufacture Tubey, new shoes on behalf of mom, and, of course, introducing her to everyone at the farmers’ market. It was a really lovely visit.