Eurotrip 2017: Prague

View from the Charles Bridge.

Oh, Prague. You are gorgeous and affordable, and I love you. I spent the most time here of my three destinations, and it was definitely my favorite. I stayed at this AirBnB, and I would recommend it. On the other side of the river from the touristy Old Town, so a little quieter, but there were plenty of shops and restaurants on my street, and the tram stopped just down the block. Pretty much perfect. Some highlights from my time:

- The food. Oh lord, the food. So good! I had a great portobello burger at a vegetarian restaurant, fresh pasta and pesto, all sorts of goodies at a vegan cafeteria, and quite possibly the best pizza of my life. Reservations seem to be a big thing in Prague, but since I was a single, a few places let me sit at the bar/grab a quick bite if I promised to be done in an hour, so I got by without making any. Plus, they have trdelník and Angelato. I loved it.

Freshly made salty caramel gelato.

- The sights: I visited the Karel Zeman museum, the Kafka museum, Strahov Monastery, the Lennon Wall, the Astronomical Clock, saw a blacklight theater performance, and went the movies (to see Home Again, in English. I had a rough day and needed a break, lol). I'm a movie buff, so I really enjoyed the Karel Zeman museum, which delved into his use of special effects and different film techniques before CGI was a thing.

- The public transportation: I thought it was easy to get around in Prague. A lot of things were walkable from my apartment, but if I wanted to take the tram or metro, it was pretty straightforward (you can buy a three-day pass on their app, and plan your routes on Google Maps). I also took a day trip to Karlovy Vary (2.5 hours from Prague) on a bus for about $10 roundtrip.

- Karlovy Vary: I spent a Saturday here, and it was a great day. Arrived in the morning on the bus, grabbed a quick breakfast, and then went to the spa for a few hours. I had a mineral bath (a literal bath in a copper tub, you just soak for 20 minutes and then they wrap you in a sheet to relax/dry off), a massage, and went to the pool (with sauna and whirlpool). It was nice and very relaxing, but a little different than the states, procedurally. My appointments were booked in separate rooms, and I dressed in between each treatment (they're not about that white robe life). Also you have to pay for your time in the pool, and I got scolded for going half an hour over my projected time (it was inexpensive and not a big deal, but how am I supposed to estimate how long I want to relax in the nice warm water? Ninety minutes was just not enough). I spent the rest of the day wandering around the town, which is full of beautiful old buildings, rolling hills, and fall foliage. Just gorgeous.

This is what Europe should look like, right?

- Not speaking the language: Not knowing Czech was not much of an issue. It would've come in handy for picking out a tablet, but when I asked if people spoke English, most of them did, at least enough to get the point across. For directions and bus routes, I would just remember the general idea
of the street or stop name (like "the one that starts with SD" when I needed to get off at Švandovo Divadlo), which worked out just fine.

The one thing I didn't like about Prague (and Europe in general, really) was all the smoking. So many cigarettes, y'all. Colorado has fairly strict smoking laws so I'm not really around it much here, and the smell really bothers me. But what can you do?

The One Where I Whine About My Meaningless, Consumer-Driven Life

Well guys, I made it! I was in Europe for 12 days and lived to tell the tale. I wouldn't go so far as to say "I came, I saw, I conquered," but how about "I laughed, I cried, I ate all the baked goods"? We'll go with that.

I hate that this is the thing that sticks out at me about the trip, because it seems completely stupid, but my phone broke on Day 4. One minute I was scrolling through Instagram, and the next, the screen went black and I was never able to get it to reboot. I'm ashamed to say I freaked out, because I try not to be tethered to my phone, but I did freak out a bit. How was I going to contact my AirBnB hosts? Or look at maps? Or research and plan a day's activities? OR TAKE A GODDAMN PICTURE? I didn't really need it for making calls, but I definitely needed its other capabilities.

I thought it over and decided to buy a tablet to get me through the rest of the trip. I didn't want to spend money on a phone that might not work when I got back home, and I figured a tablet would do what I needed it to do and be more affordable. So I took the tram to the mall and luckily spotted a Samsung sign in a store window right next to the stop.

After asking around for an English-speaking salesperson, I ended up just pointing and pantomiming my way through the purchase, and I left with this. The camera pretty much sucks (no flash and 2 MP) and it's far slower than my phone, but for $72, I made it work and tried to move on with my life. In the grand scheme of things, it was a minor hiccup in an otherwise enjoyable trip. And way better than having food poisoning on a long-haul flight.

I might be extra salty about it because I still don't have a phone, three weeks after mine broke. I ordered a new one within 24 hours of its death, but apparently the replacement was just released and Google is behind on shipping them out, so ... tablet it is. I will say, it's much easier to use the tablet here, where I know where I'm going and have generally the same schedule every day. But I do look forward to the day when I can (for example) text someone that I'm running late, or call my doctor to schedule my annual physical. One day, friends. One day.

(Don't worry, I'll write more about the actual trip in another post. Because it was dope.)

It gets me real pissed off, and it makes me wanna say ...

FUUUUUUUCK. All of the fucks. Sunday morning I woke up, read about Trump ridiculing the mayor of San Juan, and went back to sleep. But this morning, I woke up to much worse news. Another mass shooting. The worst one yet (in America).

I am of course saddened by the loss of life here. I'm not dead inside. But since I didn't personally know anyone affected by the shooting, my grief is outweighed by anger. When does it end?

I've seen lots of fun people on Facebook telling my friends not to "make it about politics." Newsflash, people, IT IS ABOUT POLITICS. Gun laws are political. Lately, health care (and thus mental health benefits/coverage) is political.These are things our government regulates, and these are two big factors in tragedies like Vegas. So how exactly do we expect things to change if we don't make it political? We're gonna pray all the bad away?

That was rude. I'm not a big prayer person, but no disrespect if that's your thing. Please continue to pray for people's minds and hearts to change if you choose to. But I think we've got to take tangible action to prevent more of this shit going down.

That means better gun control laws. Sorry I'm not sorry that it makes it harder for Joe Blow to get a gun. It SHOULD be hard to get a gun, friend. Perhaps as hard as it is to get an abortion? Just sayin. And even if tightening up gun regulations doesn't stop ALL mass shootings, I'm guessing it would stop some. Isn't it worth a try? So, call and write to your congresspeople. I have Sen. Gardner's number saved in my phone, because 2017. Support organizations that are working to end gun violence and the influence of the NRA, like Everytown for Gun Safety.

It also means more accessible mental health care. I'm lucky, I can go to therapy for $15 a visit, because I have really good insurance. Even with that, it took me months to find a therapist who A) takes said insurance and B) was accepting new patients. Relatively few hoops to jump through, but like I said, I'm lucky. But someone who is struggling won't want to deal with hoops; it will seem like an insurmountable task that will never get done. We also need to address the stigma surrounding mental health care (this org seems to be working on it - I'm not familiar with it, but Aisha Tyler posted about it and she generally knows what she's talking about). It's absolutely not a sign of weakness to seek help. Honestly, I feel like recognizing you have some shit to deal with and attempting to address it is brave. Tamping it down or masking it by distracting yourself is the easier option, because you don't have to leave your comfort zone. But taking care of yourself makes you better able to take care of others, and if we all took better care of people, there just might be fewer people resorting to gun violence. Or any violence. Whoa.

So that's my three-pronged plan. Gun control, more access to mental health care, and love. Easy-peasy.

Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.

Hey y'all. I want to write about all the garbage that's going on in the world and how we can/should be doing better, but I don't really have the words and I don't feel informed enough to say anything novel. So I'll just talk about myself, cuz I'm super good at that. Next week, I'm trying something new and taking a solo international trip. Technically, I went to Spain to study abroad by myself, but there was school and a host family and field trips, so that doesn't really count.

I've been wanting to travel more outside the US, but it's hard to find travel buddies and I was hesitant to go it alone. People either didn't have the funds or the PTO, or we couldn't get our schedules to line up. But when I found a cheap ticket to Brussels in June, I just bought it (shoutout to Kayak's Explore tool for the heads-up on the sale). I decided it was time to start doing what I wanted in life, partner or no partner. And the only way to get over your fears is to face them, so I might as well start. Should I list some more cliches, or are we ready to move on?

So I'm going. I leave Wednesday for 12 days, with stops in Prague, Brussels, and Iceland. I'm very excited and only slightly nervous. I'm doing an Icelandair flight to Brussels, with a stopover in Iceland on the way home, and then I found a cheap ticket from Brussels to Prague. Things I'm looking forward to:

- TREATS! Belgian waffles, chocolate, trdelník, etc. My sweet tooth shall be satisfied. I'll try to squeeze in some vegetables between all that and french fries.

- Unplugging: I'm sure my phone will be used a lot for directions, translations, photos, etc. But I'm not bringing my laptop and I intend to lay off the social media (excluding Instagram, cuz I'll be overgramming the shit out of this trip) and TV/movie watching. The goal is to read books and be present. Also kinda jazzed about the quiet that will come from not speaking the language(s).

- All of the museums. And culture. And history. Last time I was in Europe, I was 21 and didn't so much care about these things. Now I can appreciate the fact that old things in Colorado are from the 1800s and old things in Europe are CENTURIES older than that.

The only real anxiety I have about the trip is not speaking the language. I've been practicing common phrases (please and thank you, how much is this, I don't eat meat, do you speak English, etc.) but I feel like not being able to read street signs could be challenging, especially when taking public transportation. I was nervous about this before my Asia trip, but it turns out English is abundant in Thailand and Cambodia, and it was never an issue. I don't want to assume Europe will be the same, though. But I downloaded Google Translate and I'm hoping I can make it work.

So that's what's going on with me. I'm sure I'll write more when I get back and have a billion photos and recommendations and reviews to share. What's new with you?

New York: The Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made Up

Phew. This summer (every summer, really) felt like a whirlwind of activity, and things are finally slowing down. I love summer, and most everything that happened was fun/enjoyable, but it's nice to have some breathing room, ya know? Although I am definitely missing my community pool already.

I hardly traveled the first six months of the year, and then my PTO took a major hit starting in June. I did ATX Festival, Seattle/Vancouver in July, Tennessee in August, and New York City last week. Because who needs retirement savings? JK. I do. But taking a long weekend here and there is a feasible way for me to satiate my wanderlust.

Let's talk about New York. I first visited in 2005, when I was a senior in college. My dream was to move there after graduation and work for a women's magazine, preferably Jane. The trip made me realize just how freaking expensive it was, and how overwhelming the hustle and bustle of the city was for me, after growing up in a town of 5,000.

This time around, I was less overwhelmed and more smitten. The architecture is gorgeous, the public transportation is expansive, and there are so. many. options. when it comes to food and entertainment. We were there for 4.5 days and I feel like we barely dipped our toes into the pool of things to do. I still don't think I would live there (unless I won the lottery), but I had a fabulous time.

We arrived Wednesday afternoon, and took the bus to the subway to our hotel. The Moderne Hotel was a perfect fit for us: cute, great location, clean, and fun/friendly staff. I would definitely stay there again.

The impetus for the trip was the ticket to Hamilton I bought myself the day after the election last year. Trump becoming president really gave me a jolt of "anything can happen, you shouldn't put off doing what you enjoy" FOMO and I went for it. Coincidentally, they had just opened up new dates, so I was able to buy a non-resale ticket for less than a million dollars. My friend Laura (aka Other Laura aka my doppelgänger) decided to join me on the adventure, and thus, a trip was planned.

Hamilton was ... good. I'm glad I got the chance to see it, but I think my expectations might have been too high. I know every note of the original Broadway cast recording, so it was obvious when the cast deviated from that. There were some good deviations (the current Aaron Burr was a little snarkier than Leslie Odom, Jr.) and some bad ones (Eliza's voice didn't blow me away). So, there's that.

Me and Evan Hansen's bed. Good story: After I took this, I had to convince the guy sitting behind me that I was taking a selfie and not a photo of him. 

What did blow me away, though, was Dear Evan Hansen. Holy crap. I cried, more than once. It really takes a nuanced look at belonging and loneliness and doing what you can with what you have. Also, Ben Platt is phenomenal. I saw on Instagram he'd been on vocal rest the week prior, but I never would have known otherwise. He sang his fucking heart out. And his mannerisms to depict Evan's awkwardness and anxiety were perfect. His Tony win was absolutely deserved.

We also saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and it was really fun. Not revelatory, but it had some cute updates to the characters, and the sets were great. Christian Borle makes a great Willy Wonka (streets ahead of Johnny Depp, for sure. It'd be hard to beat Gene Wilder in my heart, though). Overall, an entertaining and enjoyable show.

This is already a novella, so I'll be brief about other highlights.

- The New York Public Library: The building is gorgeous, the tour is free, and you learn all sorts of fun facts. Win.

- Museum of Sex was super interesting. Lots of exhibits for a small space. Plus they have a boob bounce-house. How could you say no to that?

- Museum of Math was also interesting, and honestly a little challenging. I don't math that much in everyday life, and my geometry skills were a liiiiittle rusty. Tessellation is hard, friends.

- Top of the Rock (observation deck on top of Rockefeller Center): Great views of the city. And I was singing the 30 Rock theme song for the rest of the day.

- DŌ: Edible cookie dough sold in scoops, like ice cream. As good as it sounds.
- Milkbar: I tried cereal milk soft-serve. It's a different taste, but I dug it.

- The Meatball Shop: I thought this was gonna be so-so and mostly a gimmicky place, but the food was delicious. I had a sandwich with pesto and veggie balls, and it was probably the best meal of the trip.

I've had "see a Broadway show" on my bucket list for a while, so I was happy to check it off (times three). And it was fun change to be in an urban environment, where things are walkable/easily accessible by public transportation. While Denver is growing, I live on the outskirts, and even the most developed parts aren't on the same level as NYC. There are so many sights (like three boroughs) I didn't see, so I'm sure I'll be making my way back at some point.

ATX Festival, Year Two

Hey y'all! This post is about Texas, so I'm allowed to say y'all here, for sure. I arrived home a few days ago last month (killing the blogging game, as per usual) from Austin, Texas, where I spent the weekend attending my second ATX Festival. It was glorious. I wasn't quite as pumped as last year going into it, because there weren't as many shows I watch coming this year, but I had a great time anyway. The highlights:

Creatives and cast from Sweet/Vicious. 

- Sweet Vicious screening: I had never heard of this show and then decided to watch it before attending the fest, and it is SO good. And the cast and creatives love it, and it’s so meaningful to them and so many viewers. MTV cancelled it, but they’re still shopping for a new home. I hope they find one, because this story is important and deserves to be told.

Kick-ass females of television: Mara Brock Akil, Liz Tigelaar, Kyra Sedgwick, Mary McDonnell, Taylor Dearden and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

- Complex, Not Complicated: A Look at a Woman’s Character panel: A chat with some badass females who are actresses/writers/creators/EPs about the importance of depicting women as multi-dimensional characters but going beyond the "harried woman who tries to have it all” trope.

The I'm Sorry panelists. And the free popcorn and cocktails the show sponsored. Alternate caption: "More people sitting in director's chairs!"

- I'm Sorry screening: Created by and starring Andrea Savage, the show is loosely based on her real life. They screened the pilot, and it was hilarious - bawdy, relatable, and the cast is filled with funny people you'll recognize. Also, Tom Everett Scott plays her husband, and I've had a crush on that adorable man since That Thing You Do! It's on TruTV and I honestly have no idea how to access that, but if I can figure it out, I'll definitely be watching.

There were a bunch more screenings and panels (I think I went to 17 over four days), but those were my absolute faves. I AirBnB'd it again this year, and my place was near-perfect. Great location, comfy bed, and a pool. 10/10, would stay again. The ROT Rally was in town, which means it was hella loud, but since I wasn't driving, it was only minimally annoying.

The only weird thing about my AirBnB: This creepy-ass sign.

The thing I really love about this festival, more than any celeb sightings or swag, is the people. I joked on Facebook while waiting for my flight that I was "going to be with my people," but it's true. I'm normally not one to talk to strangers, but making friends here couldn't be easier. Knowing that we share an obsession with television makes it real easy to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. And they're just as pumped about the topic as I am. I feel welcomed and accepted and not at all weird for showing up solo. I haven't signed up for next year's fest yet, but I'd say it's highly probable I will return.

Keep Calm and Carry On.

Me with my pals Sara and Kelly in Sevilla, Spain. There is little photographic evidence of my last Europe trip, because this was back in the day (2005) when cameras used film. And you can't waste those frames on selfies!

I've been thinking a lot lately about the state of the world. With the the upcoming anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, the attacks in Portland, Manchester, and London, and myriad other acts of violence that have occurred in the interim, it's hard not to think about it, really. And having a loose cannon in the White House does little to ease my mind (but that's a whole other blog post).

The idea became more personal when my mom called last week as I was driving home from work. We chatted while I was stuck in traffic (hands-free via Bluetooth, don't worry), and I mentioned I've been researching a trip to Brussels and Iceland.

"Be careful," she cautioned. "Brussels had all those attacks." I know she's my mom and thus she worries, but the threat of a terrorist event didn't even register on my list of concerns about the trip. I was more nervous about not speaking the language and finding an AirBnB that was affordable but still had a bathroom and no bedbugs. So her comment gave me pause.

Bad things do happen. And they can happen anywhere, at any time. My house is 15 minutes from the movie theater where a dozen people were killed in 2012. The last time I was in Europe, I happened to visit London in between the two July 2005 bombings. I don't say that to imply "Look at me! I've narrowly escaped tragedy!" but merely to point out the sadly ubiquitous nature of these events. Being out and about in the world today comes with a degree of risk.

But I don't want to let that stop me. I've always wanted to see the world, and I'm finally in a situation where I have both the PTO and funds to do so. So while I can't say I'll be venturing to the Middle East anytime soon, I don't want to put travel on hold until we somehow unlock the secret to world peace. Letting fear overshadow the things that bring me joy in life feels like letting the bad guys win. And if someone gets to win in my life, I want it to be me. So I'll proceed, with caution. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Female-centered shows I love

It's pretty common knowledge that I'm more into TV than the average gal. But my obsession with a certain show has reached critical mass the past few weeks, and that show is Pretty Little Liars.

Y'all. What even? This show is on Freeform fka ABC Family, and (while the characters have now aged up) it's about high school girls. And I started watching it when I was 26! I am so not the target audience for this shiz. But I'm HOOKED. I tried to quit somewhere around season 2-3, but ended up binging to get caught up, and I've watched religiously ever since. And now it's the last season, and we're going to find out who Uber A/A.D. is (the girls have been tormented by this A villain for seven seasons; they've unmasked other As in the past, but this is the big kahuna).

It's also the first show I've been this into while acknowledging that it's a ridiculous show. I enjoy watching it, but I equally enjoy reading the recaps that crap on it, like this or this or this. Things are just silly at this point. Nothing is realistic. Ever. But I CAN'T QUIT WATCHING.

I even changed my flight so that I'd arrive in time to attend the ATX Festival panel with I. Marlene King (creator of the show). That's fairly cray. It's not as if she's gonna tell us who A.D. is. But still, it's the panel I'm most excited about at this year's fest.

In less embarrassing news, there are a few other shows I've been digging lately that are, like, actually good.

First up, Sweet/Vicious. This gem was cancelled by MTV after one season (because they needed more room in their schedule for reality garbage? IDK. MTV is not great at keeping decent shows around). We've got Bryan Cranston's daughter, Sam from You're the Worst, and a vigilante coming for rapists when the system fails to punish them. Yaas. I love that there's a show focused around this subject matter, and I love that the characters are developed and not completely predictable (e.g., the sorority girls aren't just bimbos). It's kind of like Dexter, except with better clothes and more laughs. And even though the story won't be continuing, the single season has a decent arc that won't leave you totally unsatisfied.

Another show I'm very into right now is The Handmaid's Tale. Based on a novel of the same name (that I haven't read, but now want to), it follows the lives of several handmaids, women forced into service as reproductive slaves. They're assigned to wealthy/powerful families so the husband can impregnate them and they can provide the family with a child. The whole premise is beyond fucked up, but I'm engrossed and terrified every time I watch it. Also, Elisabeth Moss is a damn dream as Offred, the central character. I never watched Mad Men, so I'm late to the party, but this woman can act. And the whole dystopian society/government overtaken by religious crazies is pretty timely, given all the crap going on in our world at the moment. We're not on this level, but christ knows what's going down in the future. And that makes this show scary AF.

My brain is mush and beyond ready for the long weekend, so I'm gonna end things here. What shows have y'all been into lately?

HIGH FIVE!

It has been a minute since I did one of these posts, but I like how they prompt me to show gratitude and provide a hodgepodge of recommendations, shoutouts, etc. Good times. So, here we go!

1. Prescription sunglasses: How did I live so long without them? I've been wearing glasses since middle school, but since I only wear contacts to the gym these days, I decided to spring for my first pair of sunglasses last month. Game changer, for real. Being able to pop them on/off when I go outside (you know, like a normal person) is amazing.

Wearing the Schaefer style from Classic Specs. 

Don't worry, I parked before I took this.

2. Finding my people: I don't really mean in terms of friends (although making connections in that area is also awesome). Lately I've noticed that I really enjoy a lot of the people I pay for services. My hair stylist is awesome, my personal trainer cracks me up, and my therapist just, like, gets me. The comfort level/rapport we've established makes doing things I would normally view as a chore (like working out) way more appealing.

3. Sneakers: I've been on the hunt from some summer shoes. I need them to be comfortable (because old) but still cute enough to wear with dresses (cuz that's pretty much all I wear in the summer). I tried on about a million pairs and finally settled on the Chuck Taylor II -- similar in appearance to classic Chucks, but with more padding, etc. for us elderly folk. These were a close second.

All white errythang may have been a mistake, but maybe I can keep them clean.

4. S-Town: A new podcast from Serial and This American Life creatives. They released all seven episodes on March 28, and I listened to the whole thing that day. I thought it was going to be another true-crime podcast, and I was down for that, but it twisted in an unexpected and compelling way. It was beautifully done and way more interesting to me than another murder-mystery show.

5. 13 Reasons Why: Speaking of things I binged, THIS. I am a sucker for a good teen drama, and I loved that this one was a little more down-to-earth than, say, Pretty Little Liars (even though I watch that, too). Clay is adorable and everyone's parents are people you know from other shows you love. It's definitely dark/uncomfortable to watch at times, but I'm still thinking about it days later, so it's worth a look.

Linking up with April et al. for Five on Friday. Happy weekend, y'all!

I Hate Children (including yours)

Just kidding, friends. But it does seem like any time I make a comment about children or parenting, at least one person takes it that way. Just because I don't have (or want) children doesn't mean I hate them. Some of my best friends have kids, and I like hanging out with them (is that the same as the "I'm not racist, some of my best friends are black!" defense? Oh, lord.) I think kids are fun, and funny, and if you have a rotund baby/toddler, I will be quite smitten. Chubby cheeks FTW!

That being said, I do think there are a few places where kids just should not be. Like, ever. Even if they are the most well-behaved, chill kids on the planet. These places include:

- Breweries: I equate this to bringing kids to a bar. There is nothing here for kids. They don't serve food, and most don't even serve any non-alcoholic beverages. In fact, the whole point of the place is for adults to sit around and drink adult beverages. Heck, as a light drinker, I get bored at breweries sometimes. So what about it would be entertaining/enjoyable for your children?

To be clear, no problem with the breastfeeding, cuz that's natural.
What's not natural is your kid being at a brewery IN THE FIRST PLACE.

- Movies: Let me start off by saying, not all movies. Family-friendly movies, I expect to be loud and full of kids who are not thrilled about sitting still in the dark for 90 minutes. Not a problem. But bringing your infant to a 9:30 p.m. show of an R-rated movie? No queen. Wait for the Redbox. I also have a particularly vivid memory of watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (which, while technically a kids' series, is rated PG-13) and being distracted during the final face-off between Harry and Voldemort because a toddler was traipsing up and down the stairs next to me in her flip-flops. I didn't pay $12 to listen to that thwap-thwap-thwap noise while waiting to see what Harry's fate will be. Kids aren't the only ones behaving badly at the movies, but I don't feel comfortable shaming children as I do my peers (I'm the one stage-whispering "PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY!" to any adults being turds. Sorry I'm not sorry).

- Nail salons: Similar to the brewery situation, there is nothing here for kids. Unless, of course, they're also getting a mani-pedi. Then I have no beef. But if you brought you kid and expect them to hang out while you get pampered for 45 minutes? I've never seen a kid who was able to make that work. But I have seen kids who entertained themselves by splashing their hands around in my footbath, which kinda killed the whole relaxing vibe.

Essentially, don't bring your kids places that are fun for you and not for them. Sure, you've gotta take them to the dentist and the grocery store and on planes, and they might not enjoy that, but it's necessary. Having them tag along to your recreational/relaxation activities is not. So for their sake (and mine), please leave them at home.

Things I'm Loving Lately

In no particular order, here are some things I've been enjoying:

Imposters: I think I saw an ad/blurb about this show on Entertainment Weekly and thought I'd give it a shot. Six episodes later and I am IN IT, y'all. It's about a woman who marries wealthy people and then drops off the face of the earth after stealing all their money. It has kept me guessing with the plot twists, but it's still frothy enough to be fun. Also, the lead actress (Inbar Lavi) is so stinkin' pretty. I like her face.

Homeland: Obviously not a new show, but Homeland is on its game this season. I loved it in the beginning, then there were a few seasons where it was just kinda off. But it is back now, and I'm obsessed. The Carrie/Quinn dynamic is very compelling, I like the struggles of the president-elect (who is female -- apparently I'm not the only one who thought Hillary was gonna take it), and Dar Adal is creepier/more devious than ever.

Torrid: I've been in Torrid before, but it didn't really seem like my kinda place. I gave it a second look recently after hearing you can buy big-girl bras there, and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only do they have bras that can contain the girls (and I happened to go when they were on sale for $30), but some cute clothes and good sales (buy one, get two free on all clearance -- yaaas, queen!). I scooped these up, along with some bro-y workout tanks and other clearance tops:

Dress

Sweatshirt

Massage: I decided to treat myself for my birthday and bought a year of monthly massages. I had my second one earlier this week, and it was so nice. It keeps me more relaxed and works out some of the kinks I acquire while living life because old. Definitely a good investment.

What's been putting a smile on your face lately?

Time for an update

... of my "about me" page. Because YIKES.

There's nothing really wrong with it, but it's not a reflection of who I am anymore. For one, that photo was taken 4+ years, several inches of hair, and many pounds ago. By my ex-husband, at my old house, neither of which I've seen since 2014. So, yeah, outdated.

Aside from that, it's just so freakin' earnest. And basic. It reminds me of pretty much every profile I've ever seen on Bumble BFF (yeah, I've tried to meet new girlfriends on Bumble. It's not really panning out).

Back in the day (circa 2012, when that was written), I think I was really afraid of turning people off by swearing, or ranting (two of my favorite things), or talking about anything that might not be all sunshine and rainbows. I also may have had delusions of grandeur regarding this blog, that it would somehow "take off" and become a source of income for me. (Tangent: I should've known that this was not to be, based on the time I interviewed for a magazine job I was not at all qualified for. Part of the interview was putting together a short article about antler chandeliers based on the info from the press release. I sat there in panic mode for about 30 minutes before writing some completely terrible copy about how the rustic beauty of the chandelier would be a charming addition to any mountain home. No queen.)

But now that I've been reading these things for a while, it seems like many blogs that are monetized aren't all that interesting. It takes a special touch to make sponsored posts seem interesting and authentic, and I definitely don't have it. So I'll just make money at my job and save this space for whatever the fuck I feel like. And revise my bio page accordingly.

This is not important. And that's OK.

I never blog anymore. Not because I don't enjoy it or don't have anything to say. But every time I come to this space to share my thoughts, I get really caught up in whether I'm saying anything new or interesting, or whether I am being fair and considering all angles.

While those are typically important things, like, for life, I realized that this doesn't have to be perfect. I started writing here to catalog who I was and what I was doing. Not to highlight the latest lifestyle trends or share my brilliant insights on race relations/politics/etc. So I'm going to get back to that. It might be trivial or uninformed, but it's me. The End.

JK. That would be a new low for posts, even for me.

So, what's up with you? I'm still adjusting to life in Trump's America. Not that my everyday life is really affected by his presidency, but it's been a journey to find the right balance of reading news and staying informed and engaged, and not, you know, losing hope for humanity. I'm still working that out, really. But I've been trying to focus on the smaller stories, of people being kind and learning to be compassionate and understanding. That gives me hope that we will work through this as a country and not just implode. This American Life has been crushing these kinds of stories lately. Give it a listen, if you're so inclined.

Outside of that whole situation, life has been good lately. I went to Hot Sulphur Springs last weekend and vegged out in the water for about eight hours. It's smelly (because sulphur), but it's relaxing and pretty affordable and only two hours from Denver, so I'd recommend it. Also, there's a restaurant called The Glory Hole just down the road, and that seems like it's worth a visit.

I've been to a bunch of good restaurants lately, my favorites being City, O' City and Sugar Mill (because how could I not love a place with sugar in the name?). I also tried out Denver Restaurant Week for the first time this year, and I was ... underwhelmed. I don't know if I'm not a fan of fine cuisine, or upscale places just aren't great at making vegetarian entrees, but I was not blown away by anything. And I didn't take any photos, because I feel like theeee biggest turd when I take photos of my food nowadays. Bad blogger, I know.

Speaking of bad blogging (it's today's topic), I recently read a post on another blog about how to make an attractive Instagram account, and the writer suggested having a theme. Your most recent nine posts should be somewhat cohesive, to give visitors an idea of what you're about. As it turns out, I'm about all sorts of things:

Should my theme be treats? Or dogs? Or how to
take a super-flattering selfie while getting your hair highlighted?

I'm not knocking her advice by any means; it makes sense, and I'm sure it works. But I've never been able to settle on just one area of focus (hence why this blog is called Life of Laura - it's all the things).  Blogging was the best for me back in the Livejournal days, when I just wrote about my life and didn't think about readership or including photos or sticking to a theme. So I'm not going to. And that's OK.

I Got Here as Fast as I Could

I wrote this more than a week ago. Then decided it was whiny and I didn't need to post it. But it keeps coming up, so I'm posting about it. Obviously, this is my opinion, because it's my blog, and everything I say here represents me.

The Women's March has become this shockingly divisive event, and I'm really baffled by that. I marched here in Denver, and it was a totally positive experience. I loved seeing people of all ages, genders, and races gather together. There was definitely some anti-Trump sentiment, but a lot of pro signs as well. Pro-equality, pro-kindness, pro-education. Pro-liberty and justice for all. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of unity and reassurance that there are still people in the world who are willing to speak out against injustice, and I felt comforted knowing I'm not alone in my concern for the future of our country.

As for those who didn't march, that is their prerogative. No one should do something they're not comfortable doing. And I get that the Washington organizers probably alienated some anti-choice people by removing an anti-choice group as a sponsor. But the vision statement for the Denver march was "We are all relevant, we are all valued, and we are more powerful together." There were signs there I didn't personally agree with, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the day. It's unfortunate that others didn't feel like they could bring their differing opinions and still participate.

For those who felt the marchers don't know how good they have it and shouldn't be complaining (like Christy from Facebook): inequality is inequality, friends. Just because things aren't "as bad" in the U.S. doesn't mean that inequality is acceptable. And wanting better for ourselves doesn't mean we don't also want better for others. Yes, getting paid less than a man to do the same job is not as horrific as women being tortured for showing skin or disobeying their husbands, but that doesn't mean it's OK, either. 

The first two I can just brush off. But for the women of color who feel that white women are late to the party and cannot be trusted (see here and here, and also this): I have so many feelings about this. The first thing that comes to mind is bumper stickers. In Colorado, stickers that say "NATIVE" on the Colorado license plate backdrop are quite popular. But there's a newer sticker that says "Not a native, but I got here as fast as I could." Yes, it's true, I've never gotten involved in the past. I wasn't promoting injustice, but I wasn't working to stop it, either. But I'm here now, and I want to help. And it's disheartening to be told that I'm not doing it right, or that my involvement is somehow disrespectful to those who've been working at it for a while. Everyone is on their own journey, and we arrive at places in our own time.

I also take issue with the fact that white women as a whole are the problem. The women taking selfies in their pussyhats aren't my tribe. I'm fairly anti-selfie. I didn't really feel like the march was about me -- it was about coming together and standing up for our rights. So maybe I'm not one of "those" white women, and I resent being grouped in with them. On the other hand, I don't want to let that criticism deter me. I'm not going to stop showing up. I'm willing to listen and learn, and I want to do what I can to move America forward. Maybe I'll step further outside my comfort zone and be one of those nice white ladies at the next Black Lives Matter march.