Eating: Basmati rice and steamed spinach and broccoli topped with olive oil, Trader Joe’s Everything But The Elote seasoning, and Cholula. Andrew and I are trying to jumpstart a routine of going to bed earlier and getting up earlier so I can have coffee and exercise before work, which is great besides the constant pang of hunger.
Working On: A large grant and some freelance work. It’s kind of crazy (and a little sad) that I legitimately have three jobs, but I’m grateful to have income during a time when so many are without.
Feeling: The endorphins from a 5-mile run are keeping me afloat. I’m PMSing and therefore 1.) bloated, 2.) quick to pop off, and 3.) not especially motivated to do anything beyond taking a long bath and eating chocolate.
Currently Reading: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.
Thinking: About the amount of patience foreign languages teach you. It reminds me a lot of my years bartending: the tears you cry through the unforgiving learning curve make every milestone sweeter. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve considered giving up on Italian simply because I despise feeling ignorant and incapable; how humbling to experience what immigrants push through every day for a better life? Last week I broke my 27-week streak out of sheer frustration. I typically take two 1-hour lessons a week, but I’ve been so anxious about everything I don’t know that I’ve made little effort outside of the classroom lately, which makes these rapidly paced lessons (during which my teacher barely speaks English anymore) often painful. I have a lesson tomorrow with a new teacher whose hours work with my schedule way better, so here’s to the next leg of this beautifully fractured journey.
Loving: This cool brown color boosting/toning treatment my hairdresser put me on to. It’s kept my dark brunette fresh as ever for almost a month since I’ve gotten it done (I wash *a lot* so my color tends to fade quickly).