Kitty Deschanel

(2021 update) How long is the flight to Australia? Oh, not too long - just 16 hours (!) or so from LAX to Melbourne. Of course, few of us start in Los Angeles. Our journey took us from Albuquerque to LAX (5 hours because there were no nonstop options available), from LAX to Melbourne, and from Melbourne to Hobart (another hour or so, plus several hours to kill at the airport). By the time we arrived at our hotel, the fabulous Maylands Lodge in Hobart, we were understandably exhausted...and then my husband took me on a surprise, multi-hour hike. Uphill! Do I even need to say it was a surprise? Surely no sensible person would have agreed to strenuous activity after all that flying unless they didn't understand what they were getting into. Then again, after that much travel, is anyone still sensible? Can they understand anything? (Honestly, I think SN just got lost and he wouldn't admit it.) I'd been dreading the long flight even before booking it. I tried to convince

COVID Vaccine Tips Drink lots of water before and after your vaccine. Be sure to eat something before your vaccine, especially if you are nervous. Wear a sleeveless or short-sleeve shirt. Don't tense up - shake your arm loose and try to relax prior to the injection. Don't take an Ibuprofen prior to your vaccine. (I did because I'm a wimp, then read that it can make your vaccination less effective. Oops.) Decide ahead of time which arm you would like to have vaccinated. Do you sleep on your left arm? It's going to be a little sore afterward. Try to schedule your vaccine for later in the day so that you can just go home afterward instead of returning to work. I was tired. Exercise your arm after receiving your vaccine. 5 days ago, I received my first COVID vaccination. The experience went well, although it was also a little...traumatic? Just a little! I registered to be vaccinated through the State of New Mexico . (Be sure to register for the COVID vaccine , if you haven&

I have an absurd story from New Year's Eve . Of course I do. SN and I usually spend the evening at home, old fuddy duddys that we are, but we couldn't resist the special New Year's Eve dinner being offered at one of our favorite restaurants, Slate Street Cafe . It featured 5 courses, including Saffron & Sea Scallop Risotto, Duck & Porcini Ravioli, and a Pistachio-Crusted Lamb Chop, all with wine pairings. It sounded like a fun time and an excellent excuse to dress up. This vintage red dress makes my inner Rockette happy. It is the most sparkly thing I've ever owned in my life - perfect for New Year's Eve. The dress was a gift from my boss. Isn't she the best? Also, my photographer loooves to take photos at an angle like this, despite my repeated pleas not to. With moments to spare before leaving the house, we took photos in this corner of the living room because it was the only tidy place. Just ignore the clutter visible through the gl

Happy new year! I have a special present to thank you for reading my blog - free printable calendar pages . Aren't they pretty? You can save these to fill in online or download them to print.  Free printable calendar page 1 of 16 - see below for an entire year's worth of free templates, plus 4 bonus months But wait, there's more! (I hope you read that in your best infomercial voice.) There are a lot of people with a negative attitude toward New Year's resolutions. "Stop trying to make 'New Year, New You' happen," they say. "No one ever sticks to their resolutions anyway." I am the rare person who enjoys setting these goals. You clicked a link for blank calendar templates, so I'm guessing you and I are not so different. Even better, I have tips that work wonderfully for actually sticking to your New Year's resolutions (and these free calendar pages are part of the plan): Set tiny goals. Do you buy multivitamins but often forget to take