monkey off my back May 12, 2008

Many of you already know this, but for those of you that don’t, my sister is dating Derek’s brother. Yes, we are dating brothers - I know, I know…it’s like Darlene and Becky on Rosanne.

Derek and I have been dating for many, many years (almost seven). He is close with his family - and I am close with mine. Over the years, we have grown very attached to the other’s family. I know it sounds cliché, but I think of his family as mine. I love his parents and adore his brothers. They’ve become a big part of my life. As you can imagine, it felt weird and incestuous when one of them started dating my sister.

They have been dating for over two years now. When it first happened, I thought it was funny; I laughed it off. I thought it wouldn’t last, but it soon became apparent that it wasn’t just a fling. I’m embarrassed to say that I began feeling very weird about it. I was so conflicted. On the one hand, I was thrilled that they were both happy. On the other hand, I felt cheated. I lost part of my sister. I couldn’t talk to her about “sisterly things” because I was nervous she would tell him. Plus they were constantly encroaching on my space. They were everywhere. At Derek’s parent’s house - they were there. At my parent’s house - they were there. Holidays. Birthdays. Parties. You name it - they were there. Were they trying to be us? For a long time, I felt conflicted and confused. I constantly had this pang of guilt for being selfish. They were happy, how could I be so self-centered?

I’m proud to announce that I’m officially ok with it. I’m not even sure when it happened - but I am. Today, I was watching them interact and they seem so happy - it warmed my heart. I’m realizing all of the positive things that come with it. My sis and I always get to spend holidays together. She understands Derek’s family dynamics. And most importantly, they are both happy and in love.

Ultimately, I’m not sure what will happen with them - only time will tell. But, I can tell you that it feels great to have that monkey off my back. Hooray!

questionnaire May 8, 2008

Kathryn emailed me this questionnaire. I thought I’d post it - feel free to respond or do it yourself and post as a comment. My responses are below in italics.

—-

Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know your Friends. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!

The only reason I’m doing this is because I’ve had a crazy work week and I’m totally brain dead. It’s a nice break.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:45.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Duh - Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Horton Hears a Who (with Sydney)

4. What is your favorite TV show? Brothers and Sisters or Top Chef

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee and apple

6. What is your middle name? Marie - BORING. Although when I was born it was Lee. By the time my parents got home from the hospital they realized that it was a little strange to be named Kindra Lee Brownlee. So they changed it to Marie.

7. What food do you dislike? Watermelon. It tastes like car sickness.
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? The mixed CD Derek burned for me.

9. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Accord.
10. Favorite sandwich? I’m not a huge sandwich eater. I prefer soup and salad.
11. What characteristic do you despise? There are so many - it’s hard to pick one. I guess Ignorance.
12. Favorite item of clothing? I have no clue - I hate all my clothes.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Greece.

14. Favorite brand of clothing? Who cares.
15. Where would you retire to? Wow, I have no idea about a location. Somewhere near my family, in a home that has a big kitchen for entertaining, a large deck or patio for morning coffee or evening drinks, and a nice yard. Oh, and a big bathtub!

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My last birthday I was in Vegas with my USD girls. Miss you guys!

17. Favorite sport to watch? Football - although I like going to baseball games when it’s sunny.
18. Furthest place you are sending this? San Diego.

19. Person you expect to send it back first? NO clue.
20. Your shoe size? 7 or 7.5

21. When is your birthday? November 30
22. Are you a morning person or a night person? I’m a day person. I can be a little grumpy in the mornings and I don’t stay up all that late anymore.

24. Pets? Nope. I don’t think I would be a good pet owner. I like people.

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us? Derek moved in!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? I wanted to be a news anchor (Katie Couric) all the way up through high school. When I got into college I realized that was a stupid idea.
27. How are you today? Pretty good! It’s been a rough week - but I’m feeling much better today.
28. What is your favorite candy? Gummies.

29. What is your favorite flower? I don’t think I have one. I like the big bouquets at Pike Place Market - fresh, colorful and many varieties.

30. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? I have so much to look forward to this summer: Stacy’s Wedding, Stacy Bachelorette Party, Brad’s wedding at Lake Las Vegas, Camping, Backpacking and hopefully some time up at the lake house.

32. What is your full name? Kindra Marie Brownlee
33. What are you listening to right now? My coworker Dave talking on the phone to a media rep.

34. What was the last thing you ate? I’m too embarrassed to tell. Ok fine. Tater Tots.
35. Do you wish on stars? Absolutely. I also make wishes when all the digits on a clock are the same number - for example 11:11. I start wishing like crazy - but if it changes to 11:12 in the middle of wishing it doesn’t come true. So you can’t get too greedy - I get greedy a lot. That’s probably why I still haven’t won Mega Millions. Although, I’m positive I will win someday.
36. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Is this the standard 8 pack of crayons? Or the fancy 54 pack? If it’s standard I suppose I’d pick red.
37. How is the weather right now? Overcast.
38. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Derek.
39. Favorite soft drink? Diet Coke - although I don’t drink it very often. When I was a kid, I loved grape soda.
40. What is your favorite restaurant? OMG - I can’t answer this question. Way too hard.
41. Hair color? Blonde/Brown.
42. What was your favorite toy as a child? I had toys, but I’m not sure I ever played with them. I can’t picture it.
43. Summer or winter? SUMMER
44. Hugs or kisses? Depends on who they are from. But I would say hugs as a general rule. There are exceptions (Derek).

45. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla.
46. Coffee or tea? Both.
47. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes, I do.
48. When was the last time you cried? I’m not even kidding; I was watching Saved by the Bell this morning as I was getting ready for work. It was the episode where Zack has knee surgery and he’s scared and Lisa Turtle comforts him. It made me tear up. She was so sweet.
49. What is under your bed? Three of those plastic storage containers. I bought them the other day to make room for Derek. My apartment is about 650 square feet - it’s a tight fit.
50. What did you do last night? Sat in 520 traffic on my way home from Microsoft and then relaxed all evening.
51. What are you afraid of? Friend and family dying.
52. Salty or sweet? Salty.
53. How many keys on your key ring? Probably 6.
54. How many years at your current job? 10 months.
55. Favorite day of the week? Friday.
56. How many towns have you lived in? 6
57. Do you make friends easily? I think so. I’m easy to get along with.

58. How many people will you send this to? I don’t know.
59. How many will respond? Depends on who is busy at work right now.

tired May 7, 2008

Monday night I left work at 7:30pm and continued to work at home until 12:30am. I took one break to heat up some soup. Tuesday night I worked at the office until 9pm.

I’m tired. I’m going to bed.

girl’s weekend May 4, 2008

This weekend, I went to Scottsdale, AZ with my mom and sis for a little mother/daughter quality time. This is our third year going to Arizona for a girl’s weekend – I’d say it’s becoming a tradition!

As always, we had a fantastic time. We didn’t “do” much – but that’s the beauty of it. The purpose of the trip is to spend time together – just the three of us. We don’t go to Scottsdale to be tourists; we go there to be with each other.

You may be thinking, why do you have to go all the way to Arizona to spend time together? Because in Arizona we can control the variables. Nobody has to make dinner. Nobody has to run errands. And we get to choose the attendees – just the three of us. We can give each other our complete, undivided attention. We aren’t clouded by the distractions of daily life.

This weekend, we sun-bathed by the pool. We ate and drank. And we talked and laughed, a lot. To some, this might seem like a boring trip. To us, it was perfect. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful mother and sister, and I feel so lucky to have spent another special weekend with them.

today is a good day because… May 1, 2008

• The sun is out in Seattle.
• Derek is moving in with me today – hooray!
• I’m flying to Scottsdale, AZ this evening with my mom and sis for our annual girl’s weekend.
• My favorite work coffee mug was in the cupboard this morning – someone has been hording it for the last 3 weeks.

no more good-byes April 24, 2008

Derek moves in with me one week from today – for good. Not for a summer. Not for a month. For good. I can’t even explain how liberating and exciting this is. I get to see him every day. I will fall asleep next to him every night and wake up next to him every morning. Happy hour after work? Yes. The market on Sunday mornings? Yep. Sushi for dinner tonight? You know it!

For those of you who have ever been in a long distance relationship, you know how heartbreaking it is. It constantly nags at your heart. It never escapes your sight. You can’t forget it. By Saturday morning, you’re already dreading the Sunday night good-bye. He looks different every time I see him. I know it sounds bizarre, but it’s true.

The pressure to have amazing weekends can also be daunting. What if you get in a fight? Then you’ve wasted a day. What if you have errands to run? That’s boring. Not enough sex? Too bad, because you have to wait two weeks now. Then there’s always the question of other people. Do you include other people in your weekend? Or do you keep to yourselves? These are the realities of a long distance relationship.

For the last seven years, Derek and I have been doing the long distance thing. It’s been ok. We’ve handled it pretty well. What was the alternative? We felt it was our best option. Now I feel like we can handle anything.

As much as I hate to admit it, there are a few positive things about long distance relationships. You build incredible levels of trust – it’s impossible if you don’t trust your partner completely. You learn to appreciate and value each other – you don’t take each other for granted. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. But I’m already fond enough. It’s time to eliminate the absence. No more good-byes.

Twenty years from now, we’ll look back on this time in our relationship and laugh. And we’ll say it was well worth the wait (and then we’ll kiss).

warning: it’s addictive April 24, 2008

TypeRacer is so much fun. My best score thus far is 77 wpm.

random things that have made me laugh April 23, 2008

• Other people’s weird laughs. I work with some weird laughers. When I started at this job, I was shocked – absolutely stunned by these laughers. It’s hard not to join in!
• Under bites on people who are trying to act cool or tough. Try it. Push out your jaw so your bottom teeth are in front of your top teeth. DO IT. Now, look incredibly serious and cock your head sideways. It’s funny, right?
• Everybody Loves Raymond. I don’t know why, but this show just cracks me up EVERY TIME I watch it. I mean it – every time. It’s on TV right now and I’ve laughed out loud at least six times. That’s pretty incredible. The weird part is, I shouldn’t like it. I’m not the target audience. I have nothing in common with the characters. And yet, I can’t get enough. It’s a mystery.
• The word “nards”. I have a friend that says “nards”. He he he!
• My 7 year old brother Nathan (one of the triplets), was getting in trouble for calling his brother a “terd”, so he made up a new word to use instead. The word is “tert”. Tert! Tert! Tert!
• And of course….this photo:

salt & vinegar April 22, 2008

The other day, a coworker bought me a much needed mid-day snack. She walked up to my desk and said, “I got these Kettle Salt & Vinegar chips because they perfectly describe you.” As you can imagine, I was anxious to read the description. What could I have in common with a bag of chips? Saturated fat? Makes loud crunching noise? Greasy? I did not like where this was headed.

I snatched the bag from her hands. On the bag, in big bold letters it said “unconventionally STRONG and tangy”. I honestly think it’s one of the best compliments I’ve ever received – it’s perfect!

dead-arm April 17, 2008

About a year ago, my doctor recommended that I get the HPV vaccine (Gardasil). Apparently, 26 is the cut off age – so I felt the need to start the series immediately. It is a three-shot series and yesterday I got the last of the three. I have to tell you, it hurts like a MOTHER! My arm feels like someone stabbed me with a butter knife and is twisting and turning it in meaty part of my shoulder. Ew – “meaty part” of my shoulder. Why did I describe myself as “meaty”? Must be an insight into how I’m feeling about my weight. Anyway, I wish my arm would just fall off. And since I’ve had this done twice before, I know I have another three days of dead-arm to look forward to.

Oh well - here’s to a cervical cancer-free future!

don’t forget the compassion. April 15, 2008

Today, I was extremely wrapped up in my own day and in my own life. I was engrossed in my “To do” list and angry about this weird swollen bump on my face. I was completely caught off guard when a friend emailed me out of nowhere and said, “Today, my sister would have turned 42.” Her sister is dead.

It broke my heart and seared me to my core. Here I am, stressing about my face and my workload and she’s just trying to get through the day without an emotional breakdown. It was an important lesson to me – you just don’t know what other people are dealing with day-to-day – a freshly broken heart or a dying parent. A nasty divorce. A battle against cancer. Another miscarriage or a recent layoff.

As you move through your day and interact with the people around you, just remember that you don’t always have the full story. Before you get frustrated with a grouchy sales clerk or a flakey friend – there could be more at play than you know. Don’t forget the compassion.

the ruthless gardener April 13, 2008

The weather this weekend inspired me to purchase and plant my summer produce. Last year, I grew tomatoes and basil. This year, I decided to step it up a notch. I’ll be growing:

• Tomatoes (5 varieties)
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Chives
• Bush cucumbers
• Red Bell Peppers
• Anaheim chili
• Walla Walla Sweet Onions
• Strawberries (2 varieties)

For those of you who have seen my patio, you are probably thinking that I went overboard. I think you may be right!

quarter year review April 8, 2008

Now that we’re a quarter of the way through 2008, I thought it would be a good idea to evaluate my goals for the year and see where I’m at. I’m going to rate myself on a scale of 1-5 (5 being completed; 1 being a failure).

Start blogging (2-3x per week)

4 - So far so good! I’ve been blogging regularly since the end of December and loving it. My blog has provided me with a great creative outlet and has allowed me to explore my writing. It’s weird. I thought I would run out of things to say, but I haven’t. I still struggle with how much to disclose and where to draw the line. Some days I wish I could be more candid. Other days I freak out that I’ve disclosed too much.

Thanks to all of you who have been loyal readers and supporters. Your clicks and comments have given me the confidence to continue writing and blogging. As of today, I’ve reached 51 posts; 4,634 views; 137 comments, 10 categories and 195 tags. My best day ever was 210 views.

Experiment with new recipes (at least 2 new recipes per month)

4 -Success! I have been trying new recipes and overall it’s been a lot of fun. For me, the hardest aspect of cooking is making the time for it. I’m looking forward to summer when the local produce will be ripe. I’m going to explore as many local farmers markets as I can. I’m open to suggestions if you have a favorite.

Continue going to the gym (3x per week or more)

3.5 – So-So. Up until my vacation I would have given myself a 4, but since I’ve been back from Punta Mita, the workouts have been few and far between. I’ve been good this week and I WILL get back into a steady routine. As summer approaches, I’m hoping I can train myself to get up and workout in the morning. That way, I’m free to play in the evenings. I’ll keep you posted on how that progresses, I’m not much of a morning person. It’s going to be tough.

Finish book proposal by the end of March

1 – Uh, not so good. I have worked on it, but it’s not even close to complete. I’m bored of it. Maybe it’s not as good of an idea as I originally thought. I’ll have to think about this goal a little bit more and decide if it’s worth revising. Maybe I should just ditch it. Or maybe I’m just being lazy and the thought of writing a book proposal has completely overwhelmed me. Not sure yet.

Pay off my car loan by the end of April

3 – I’m going to rate myself a 3 on this one. I’ve had a couple unexpected expenses come up. I don’t think I’ll have it paid off by April, but I do think I’ll have it paid off by August. Not too shabby.

Go to the dentist

5 – Complete! Well, actually that’s not completely true. My first visit is complete, but because my mouth situation is so bad, I now have a treatment plan (5 sessions and over $1000 later). I go for my second visit next week. Sigh. Now I remember why I never go to the dentist. Hopefully I’m on my way to better oral hygiene. I’m doubtful.

Overall, I’d say I’m doing pretty well. I’m averaging 3.417. I’ll keep checking in as the year progresses.

Flash Pillow Fight – Pike Place Market April 7, 2008

This just cracks me up. Every time I hear about these “flash pillow fights”, I can’t help but laugh. First in Ballard, now in Pike Place Market. It’s weird – but funny!

weekend recap April 7, 2008

I had such a great weekend – it’s a shame we’re already back to Monday. The weekends just go by too quickly. Highlights include:

• Happy Hour at Dexter & Hayes Thursday AND Friday.
• A yummy sushi dinner at Kisaku in Tangletown. Limited roll selection, but good sushi and very reasonably priced. Sake bombs were fun too.
• Bustin’ a move in Queen Anne with Stacy and Richie – I think we may have made our own dance party.
• Watching Richie lose use of her legs and crawl into my apartment.
• A big group dinner Saturday night at the Old Town Alehouse in Ballard.
• Morning coffee and a card game on the ferry with my sister. Just call us the Golden Girls! J
• Breakfast (Streamliner diner) on Bainbridge Island with my mom, stepdad, sister and Derek.
• A visit to Grandma Lavee’s house (Derek’s grandmother).
• Visiting with Derek’s parents, aunt and cousin over a delicious lunch/dinner. Derek’s mom (Anita) is a fantastic cook!
• Derek for four full days. What more could I ask for?!

Lowlights include:

• Saturday morning…recovering from Friday night.
• A parking ticket on the top of Queen Anne.
• Running out of time this weekend – I really need to get my nails done – they are nastified.

When I grow up April 2, 2008

I’m going to be a doctor. An Olympic swimmer. A professional skateboarder. There are people out there who were born knowing their passion and their future occupation. I’m not one of those people. I envy those people. It’s such a blessing to be born with a unique skill and a strong passion that shapes your life. What do I have? I’m good at a lot of things, but I’m not exceptional at any one thing. I’m well-rounded. Where does that leave me?

As I move through my 20s, I’m struggling with what I want to “do” with my life. Unfortunately, I’m extremely fragmented. I want to be a writer. I want to start my own business. I want go back to school. I have so many ideas and see so many opportunities. But I never act on them, or if I do I only “half” act on them. I never dive in head first; instead I approach the pool and test the cold water and then pull out. The responsible and cautious side of me always wins.

Part of my problem is that I don’t entirely trust myself. My ideas and excitement levels fluctuate so much that it’s hard to decipher a crazy idea from an idea I truly believe in. I feel like I should “just know” when I have a THE plan. The clouds will part and I will suddenly have clear direction. But that hasn’t happened yet. Does that mean I haven’t had a winning idea yet?

I want my work to be meaningful and fulfilling. I don’t want to be one of those 60 year olds who are saying, “I’m 60 and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.” Although I can certainly relate, I find it kind of pathetic. Are they in that position because they never took a risk? Because they never found their passion? Or is it because some people are constantly changing and are never content where they are at?

Clearly I don’t have the answer. For all you firefighters out there that have known your life’s calling from day-one, consider yourself lucky. I hope I figure out mine someday. I would prefer sooner than later.

a kid tourist in Seattle April 1, 2008

This weekend, my 7 year old sister (Sydney) and stepmom (Danna) came to stay with me for a “girl’s weekend”. Sydney is a triplet and the only girl in the trio. They live in Wenatchee, so it was a special treat to get to spend some one-on-one time with them.

They arrived in Seattle Saturday afternoon and we immediately headed downtown to see Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who.  Sydney was very excited to see it, and she loved it. I thought it was cute and had a good message.  The animation was fantastic.  After the movie, we jumped on the Monorail and headed over to the Seattle Center. Sydney had been wanting to go the top of the Space Needle FOREVER (or so she claims).  J I don’t think she was that impressed once we got up there.  We spent 15 minutes up there and she was ready to move on. In her defense it was cold, windy and rainy up there.  That night, we ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then headed home.   

The next morning we woke up and headed to Ballard for breakfast.  We went to the Hi-Life in the old Ballard firehouse (a very kid friendly restaurant). After breakfast we drove downtown and walked around Pike Place Market. We watched them throw the fish and looked at all of the crafts and trinkets.  After the Market, we walked down to the Seattle Aquarium – what a hit! Sydney informed me later that it was her favorite part of the weekend.  The aquarium is interesting and does a good job of showing a wide variety of sea life. The highlights include octopi, sharks, sea otters, sea lions, and all kinds of strange looking fish.

All in all, it was a really fun weekend with Sydney and Danna.  It’s so fun to be a tourist in your own city, and it’s even more fun to be a kid tourist. Thanks for all of the fun!

just do it March 26, 2008

Last Monday, I was so frustrated with my laptop; I broke down and decided to buy a new one. I’ve been complaining and hating on my ancient laptop for months now – maybe even a year. It was time.

I ordered it on Tuesday morning and it was delivered on Friday afternoon. It is sleek, sexy and works beautifully. I couldn’t be happier. For anyone who is debating on making a technology upgrade, don’t wait – just do it. I feel like a new woman!  

Details: purchased it from Frys.com (they have great weekly specials) - $799

Laptop: HP Pavilion Entertainment PC (dv6755us); HP dv6755us Notebook Pc,15.4″ Intel Centrino Core 2 Duo T5450, 2GB,250HD,DVD-/+RW DL LS,Windows Vista Home Premium.  

washington state ferry workers March 25, 2008

Generally speaking, I try not to make big sweeping generalizations like “all dogs stink” or “all frat boys are cocky assholes”, but I think I may have found a generalization that I’m willing to support and standby: Washington State Ferry workers are the grouchiest, most unpleasant bunch of people I’ve ever met.

There, I said it. I feel like I’m qualified to make this assessment because having grown up on the Peninsula and living on Bainbridge, I’ve been riding the ferry for years. I even commuted daily to Seattle from Bainbridge for a year. I have never met a pleasant ferry worker. They are always scowling, taking themselves way too seriously and being rude to commuters and unhelpful to tourists. If they think you are driving too fast or if you have your headlights on, they will CUSS you out. They love nothing more than to crucify people for this. And don’t even think about accidentally parking in the wrong lane.

Let me give you a few examples:

Example #1

Ferry workers are total control freaks. You would think they were in the FBI the way they boss people around and act like they are hot shit. Let’s be honest, they are human stop lights. They tell cars where to park, when to stop, when to go and when to turn off their headlights. All of these tasks can be accomplished with either a stop light or a road sign. And yet there are more ferry workers per passenger than there are teachers per student in your child’s school. Go figure.

Anyways, back to example #1. The other day, I drove onto the boat. They pointed me in the general direction – this isn’t my first rodeo, I’ve done this before. I pulled up about a foot from the car in front of me and parked. Done – turned the engine off. As I was getting out of the car, one of the ferry workers walked up and INSISTED that I get back in my car and pull forward six inches. WHAT?!? Are you crazy? It wasn’t even a full boat! Jerk.

Example #2

Random story. My mom is a regular commuter. She commutes from Bainbridge Island to Bellevue everyday (it’s crazy, I know). One summer day, she was riding the ferry and had her bare feet kicked out the car window. As she often does, she fell asleep and took advantage of the extra time for a little nap. She woke up because one of the ferry workers was tickling her bare feet. EWWWW.

Example #3

During the summer, it’s common to get a lot of tourists riding the ferries. Most of the time, they are riding to Bainbridge and then riding right back to Seattle. The tourists don’t know that they have to “disembark the vessel” when they get to Bainbridge. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen ferry workers treat the tourists like they are the biggest idiots because they are confused by this.

 

For anyone who thinks this sounds like a good gig, successful Washington State Ferry workers:

• Display a permanent frown and enjoy going out of their way to be rude.
• Have an uncanny ability to get worked-up over minor things.
• Enjoy standing around with coworkers.
• Have a family member that already works for the Washington State Ferry system.
• Enjoy making unsolicited passes at passengers.
• Mullets are preferred.

post-vacation blues March 23, 2008

The posts were scarce last week – I know. Mentally it has been a rough week. I have a horrible case of the post vacation blues. Without a doubt, it’s the worst case I’ve ever had.

I’m sure you can relate. Our recent trip to Mexico was a serious eye opener for me. I don’t care what anyone says, Mexicans do not live a sub-par life. In fact, I’d say their quality of life is better than ours. They’ve got it good. They focus their attention on important things like family, friends and food!

This last week I’ve been totally distracted. I haven’t gone to the gym all week - I just can’t bring myself to go. My apartment is a disaster zone – the dishes are piling up. I’ve been eating horribly because the grocery store just seems ridiculous. My job is boring me because it seems trivial. And to top it all off, I’m sporting a bad attitude.

In general – I’ve lost my focus. No matter how hard I try, my thoughts drift back to Punta Mita. My body physically aches for the warm breeze and hot sun. I can practically taste the fresh seafood and tart margaritas. Most of all, I miss the simplistic life that Mexico represents. It’s a place where work wasn’t a primary focus of my life (monopolizing 9 hours of each day). It’s a place where I was able to be an attentive girl friend. A place where I could read to my heart’s content. A place without the stress of my daily life. I know those of you who know me are rolling your eyes right now and are thinking “Kindra, you bring unnecessary stress and anxiety on yourself. “ I know. But I can’t help it. Punta Mita helped me to escape all of that.

Soon, it’ll be just another vacation. My tan will fade. The sand-flea bites will disappear. And my body will forget the warmth of Mexico and will stop recoiling at the damp Seattle weather. At this point, I’m hoping it happens sooner than later. I’m not sure how much longer I can take this horrible case of post-vacation blues. Here’s to a new week.