Hi from New York! It’s been a bit quiet on the blog this week. I spent about two days traveling to get here and have been spending as much time with my family as possible while trying to fight jet lag. How can I be completely exhausted during the day but then unable to sleep at night?
It was a bit stressful getting ready to leave Hawaii because I had a lot to do before I left and it was a busy week leading up to my flight. Monday is usually my biggest work day, but I was flying on Monday so I had to shift some things around.
Even though I had a lot to do, I decided that I had to get up at 4:00 am on Friday to do a sunrise hike with some of my friends. How could I pass this up?
Everything else ended up working out well and when I left for the airport on Sunday, everything was done.
I got to the airport and zipped through security. I started reading a book called Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty. My friend gave it to me and told me she thought it was a really important read. I read most of it on the plane and I have so many thoughts to share about it in my book review posts.
And yes, I brought my own huge blanket on the plane! Worth it.
Sometimes flights suck, but this was a pretty good flight. I have gotten sick (read: thrown up) on flights, so now I take Dramamine right as I am boarding. I fell asleep before takeoff and I woke up two hours later. I spent the rest of the flight alternating between reading and sleeping, and 9 hours later, I was in New York. Not a bad way to spend 9 hours, if you ask me. I’m grateful that I can sit on a plane and travel 5,000 miles to see my family. All without even getting up. Flying does suck sometimes, but it’s a pretty amazing thing and I am so grateful for it.
Now that I am here in New York I am so grateful for the time I have with my family and friends. The first few days home have been pretty low-key but things are going to get busier this weekend and next week. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my parents. My dad just had knee surgery so he’s been home from work and we have just been hanging out while he recovers. I didn’t plan my trip home for his surgery, but it’s been nice to be home for that.
Yesterday, my friend Lea and I went to get coffee and to get pedicures. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I got a pedicure. It was so nice to treat ourselves and to spend some much-needed time with my friend. It’s really hard to maintain friendships across 5,000 miles and a 6-hour time difference, so I am really grateful that we’ve been able to do it. Whenever I see her, it’s like we’ve never been apart.
This morning, Lea and I went to work out together. Then I spent the day with my dad. I went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants with my parents for dinner. All of the food that I love about New York is carbs – pizza, bagels, Italian food – but I don’t think it counts when I am only here for two weeks!
Random note: Lots of people have been telling me that they are having trouble commenting on my blog posts. I thought about installing Disqus, but I like that you can use my comment system without having to register for something. It helps people who are non-bloggers to comment sometimes. Also, sometimes I like to write personal replies that I don’t want everyone else to see. I think that my comment system thinks that a lot of people are spam who aren’t. I think that writing your name instead of your blog name is helpful — Carolann instead of Carolann @ Finding Ithaka.
Obviously, comments make my day, but if you can’t comment, know that I appreciate you just stopping by! Hopefully, when Nick gets home I can have him take a look at it.
Happy weekend! Hope you do something awesome.
Enjoy your time in New York!!!! 🙂 I absolutely love it there.
I have thrown up on flights too! One time I threw up on two consecutive flights, which was the worst and super embarrassing. But I am grateful for that kind of transportation.
Taking your own blanket on a long flight is utterly essential!
Hope you’re having a great time with family and friends! Glad the flight went smoothly–I’m so grateful I’ve never gotten motion sickness on a flight, that could definitely make things pretty miserable. I always try to bring a blanket or at least a big scarf on the plane–makes it a whole lot cozier!
Your comment box only gives me issues when I leave the page sit for a long time and then try to comment. It’s like my time to submit a comment has run out and I get an error page. As long as I refresh right before I comment I’m usually good.
Glad you’re enjoying NY! It’s lucky that your dad’s surgery was so timely- I’d love to be able to spend that kind of time with my parents (and I live in the same town! lol).
Smart flying plan… I get really nervous on planes but I’ve never thought to knock myself out with Dramamine…
I swear the best thing about technology is that lets you stay in contact with friends, no matter how far away they live. And I’m so glad that you’re having a great time back home! I would probably be so overweight if I lived in NYC because I’d be eating bagels all the time!