October 31st

Happy Halloween! I wore a suit to work and I think I looked pretty good. So there.

Anyway I’m tired of staying late at work and this weather sure isn’t helping, so I’m pretty ready for the weekend. Do I have plans? Not at all. And that’s awesome.

October 30th

Today was busier than expected! Really from 11 onward I had plenty of stuff to do. Unexpected, but it was all right. And I had lunch at the office with some coworkers, which is one of those things that’s nice because office friends but also I like taking an alone lunch too because I can decompress and get out of the office and all that. Also, the weather is crap. So grey. No sun. Very dark and gloomy. Not fun. Tomorrow it might snow or flurry? Sigh.

I’m going to try my Overtone conditioner though - I hope it turns out well!

October 29th

Work was much more chill today. Unfortunately the weather has gotten to that point where it’s grey all day and never sunny so I was pretty tired all afternoon. I need to get outside more this time of year I think, maybe I can trick myself into thinking it’s nicer weather.

Tomorrow is gonna be quiet in the office and I’m okay with that.

October 28th

Okay, too many nightmares in a row. I gotta sleepy on the other side of the bed or something.

Today was good! Busy, but that does make the time go by faster so I can appreciate that. The next two days should be a lot quieter - there’s a conference in town that a lot of people in the office are attending.

I’m gonna have a fruit cup and I guess try to sleep some more. No bad dreams though, please!

October 27th

Well, it’s later than I thought!

I’m back home safe and sound and a little bit hungry I think. I had dinner with Brad and now I gotta get to sleep, but like...Haribo gummies, you know?

October 26th

I’m at my mom’s house! It was super rainy all day so the drive here wasn’t great, but I listened to Hadestown for the first time in awhile. (And then it made me sad.) But it’s so nice to see my mom! And I gave her the gifts I got her in Germany as well. All is well here!

October 25th

I’m gonna sleep in tomorrow y’all, I’m ready. But this week has gone pretty well all things considered. Hooray!

Anyway I bought a jumpsuit today. Deal with it.

October 24th

What if I actually went to bed early tonight. What if. Like, I am really in bed with a sweater and pajama pants on. Who am I?

I’m gonna go visit my mom this weekend and I’m excited!

October 23rd

I’m back on my bullshit y’all, I am watching YouTube instead of showering and going to bed. Gonna eat some cookies.

I’m a sleepy bitch.

October 22nd

Work is actually a bit slow this week! I thought it was going to be hectic, but I seem to have come back right after all the crazy. It’s all right though, it means I’m not overwhelmed.

I’ve got a free weekend...no idea what to do. Possibly visit some cat shelters and love on some cats, because kitty cuddles are good therapy.

October 21st

First day back at work wasn’t too bad! I’ve still got some restless energy and mild jet lag but I feel like I’m doing better. Also CBD oil is great. And so is Subway.

I love autumn and spooky cozy season.

October 20th

I felt pretty good yesterday and most of today. Then I went out for dinner and my anxiety symptoms all came back out of nowhere and haven’t subsided. I’m so frustrated and I don’t like feeling like this. I sent my doctor a message so hopefully things will get sorted out soon. I know they will.

October 19th

I’m so happy to be home with my stuff and my cats. It’s nice here. I missed Ohio.

October 18th

I’m back home. Thank goodness what a rough day. I’m going to have some food, watch YouTube, and decompress. And sleep...definitely sleep.

October 17th

Aside from a rainy morning, today was all right! I got quite frustrated with Google Maps since it couldn’t efficiently find this perfume shop I was looking for, but I found it and found dinner and found Penney’s/Primark and had a much easier time of the tram, so I would call today a success. I also bought a suitcase so I could check a bag on the way home. I get a checked bag for free and I’m not going to have to lug it around anywhere, so it was 35 Euros well spent.

And tomorrow I head back home!

October 16th

What a lovely day today! Aside from a pulled muscle(?) in my neck, today was fun. I went to Dún Laoghaire to walk around, and it was fantastic. Tomorrow I’ll do some shopping! Gotta get up a bit earlier tomorrow though. I can do that.

October 15th

I’m very happy to be here in Dublin. My hotel isn’t in a great location, so I’m sure I’ll need to figure out the bus system. But I’m right across the street from a gas station, which means cold bottled water on demand! That’s a huge plus.

The flight today was pretty easy. Customs was a pain, and the terminal at Berlin Tegel wasn’t very nice, but Aer Lingus always does a good job. Now I’m just watching TV in the hotel and relaxing.

October 14th

Today is my last full day in Berlin! I slept in quite a bit, did some shopping, and now I’m on my room with room service dinner and watching some British game shows. Tomorrow I fly to Ireland!

I have really enjoyed Berlin. I would definitely come back here in the future. I’m sure I will someday!

October 13th

Today I went to the Pergamon Museum! I was tired and my eyes were dry, but it was good. Then I walked a looking way to the Berlin Wall museum, which was kind of hard to navigate at night since it’s all outside. I did so much walking today! I’m tired! I hope I can sleep well tonight!

No plans tomorrow! Maybe Pfaueninsel if I’m feeling brave enough to do public transportation!

October 12th

I went to the zoo today! I’m actually quite tired now, which is excellent because I want to get to sleep early tonight.

The Berlin Zoo has a weird layout. I got lost so many times! The zoo itself feels a bit dated, but it was still a good time. I saw some new animals, which is always exciting. The panda and the seals and the hippos were really cute! I didn’t get to go to the aquarium, but I’d definitely go there in the future if I get the chance. Maybe even on Monday! Tomorrow is Museumsinsel day!

October 11th

Sometimes when you travel alone, you have to do dumb stuff that you wouldn’t usually do. For me, that means deciding spur of the moment that sure, after shopping you’d actually be quite keen on seeing the Brandenburg Gate because not much is open. And hey, it’s a two mile walk at night, but that’s okay! And then you get a mile into your walk and you’re sort of away from all the stores and the interesting things to look at. But what’s this? A Lime scooter left in the middle of the sidewalk? And your GPS wants you to go through and completely unlit park that may or may not be open? Oh sure! It’s not like I’d know my surroundings any better in the daytime! Sure, this park is probably really lovely, but it’s totally fine if all I can see is two feet in front of me! And sure, I stepped in a deep puddle that totally soaked through my shoes!

But I made it to the Gate! And there was a light show! And then I saw a cool lady playing guitar and singing Hozier and OutKast!

And then I took an Uber back to the hotel.

October 10th

I took a long train ride from Frankfurt to Berlin today! Berlin is wonderful. I love the atmosphere here, and my hotel is fantastic as well. I even went grocery shopping. Now I have to figure out my TV remote since it’s not working. Then I’m gonna sleep!

October 9th

Another tough day here. Currently at the train station waiting to go to Frankfurt - and it’s really chilly!

October 8th

Strasbourg is so beautiful! Unfortunately it’s a bit grey here today, but that’s all right. I am dreadful at French though. Like, I knew that going in, but I was presented with a French menu at a little cafe/smoothie place and while I knew that a Fragola smoothie would be strawberry, I didn’t know that the “Le Thon” Sandwich that I panic-ordered was tuna...with corn? Such a weird combo. Not bad, but like...I didn’t want tuna. I’m regrouping at my hotel right now because I literally could not find a public toilet, so I just went back to my hotel. How embarrassing.

I also bought...perfume! It was honestly a completely impulse buy. I was in what is essentially the French equivalent of Nordstrom because oh my god, they have a lovely perfume selection. Lots of stuff that was way too expensive though. Then I see these little 30ml Diptyque bottles. I smell the tuberose one. Then OF COURSE, because apparently it is a universal thing for perfume ladies in department stores to hover, the sales lady comes over and is speaking to me in French and I’m saying the only French phrase I learned for this trip (“I don’t speak French.”) and she explains kindly in English that this is some limited edition bottle blah blah and it was actually quite affordable as far as Diptyque goes, like 55 Euros, so...I bought it. It’s quite a French scent, so it just felt right.

Then I went to Uniqlo and bought a raincoat because it’s been drizzling, and embarked on an incredibly long journey to find a toilet. I never found one. So now I’m at my hotel having a snack before dinner.

October 7th

Today has been a very tough travel day. Now I’m waiting on a train to take me to Strasbourg. But I ordered some food and drinks in German which is pretty dope.

October 6th

On a plane headed to Frankfurt! I’m arriving tomorrow in Frankfurt time (and my local time), so have an early entry! I met calming dogs at the DFW airport and I’m super happy!

October 5th

The pre-trip anxiety is real! I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight. I don't even feel like my CBD oil is doing much. Hopefully the cats will be calm and cuddly. I'm honestly super stoked that everything fit into my backpack and purse without much trouble. I had to make a last minute run for some travel toothpaste and deodorant, but I think I'm pretty good to go now! Let the fun begin!

October 4th

All right y’all, no work for two weeks! Just one more full day before vacation! Yay!

I ended up leaving work in a panic because I decided to check my seats for my flights and found out they were all unassigned despite me picking them out many months ago. (I only left about 15 minutes early, but I was just losing my mind down at my desk.) Luckily I was able to get all but one assigned back to a window seat. Unfortunately I had to pay to sit in a “preferred” seat on my flight to Frankfurt which was like $90 and doesn’t seem to be too special of a seat, but I’ll happily pay $90 to sit in that seat over a middle seat. Even though I originally picked a window seat...maybe it’s some shady way to get extra money. Though on my long flight home I was able to get a window with no issue, so who knows? I’m going to look into my Berlin to Rome flight now since that’s on a different airline and see what sort of seat I can get for myself there. Fingers crossed!

October 3rd

I went to a cat cafe today. It was really nice and chill and just what I needed. Then I bought a ton of chewing gum for my trip.

Now I’m just ready for sleep. Cas is here in my pillow, so we’re gonna cuddle.

October 2nd

I have dry eyes and itchy skin but I caught five Giratina today so that’s pretty neat.

I dunno what I’m doing tonight. I’m like...too stressed to sleep.

October 1st

I am itchy ALL OVER. I think it might be a stress thing? I’m not actually sure. But it’s giving me anxiety. Like, I feel all out of sorts. I’m so nervous about this trip. And today at work was stressful. This is a tough week.