I dozed off wothout writing, so here’s a quick morning post:

I’m writing from Phoenix, where I have a work event this weekend. I had some time yesterday and got to do a little exploring, which included finding Fatty Daddy, home of this wondrous concoction. That would be a waffle cone with gelato, a macaron, and a toasted marshmallow on top.

What an amazing city!

I head back to D.C. tomorrow afternoon. After all, we cannot spend all our time on vacation. Otherwise the work would never get done. And my cat would get lonely. And Rudi would miss me. So, I suppose it’s a good thing to get on the plane tomorrow. But I will miss my folks and Karen (and also getting to eat cake multiple times a day).

I did some work. I attended an event. I saw a friend. I knit a little. I read a bit. I bought fresh citrus at a farmers market. And I enjoyed some California sunshine.

And I ate an ice cream sandwich made of peanut butter cookies and ube ice cream.

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. My work event went really well today, and everyone involved was nice and helpful.

2. Where I’m staying turns out to have felt further from San Francisco than I’d expected, so I opted not to head back into the city for their restaurant week. Instead, I explored the Walnut Creek restaurant scene and enjoyed Peruvian and Burmese food, as well as a local ice cream shop.

3. The commute to where my event was being held today was just shy of a mile’s walk along a canal pathway. I passed joggers and walkers with baby carriages and toddlers, backyards with citrus trees, and a snowy egret perched on a fence, which a dog walker said was its usual spot.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

D.C. at the literal crack of dawn.

My job is taking me to San Francisco in the morning. I’ll be there for an event on Thursday and then will take a red eye back early Saturday morning. I’ll have some normal work to do, as well, while I’m gone.

But I’ll also have a little time to myself, too. I’m hoping to enjoy the nice weather, to swim in the (outdoor) hotel pool, to check out restaurant week, to attend the local version of the creative professionals event I go to here in D.C., and to see an old friend.

And at the end of it I’ll come home, where Corey will be glad to see me for the weekend, but where I’ll also have the apartment to myself for the following week. Rudi does a lot of traveling for ski coaching in February and March — prime snow time, obviously — but this year, I’ll also be on the move. In addition to this trip, February holds time away in Connecticut, Arizona, and Florida. I think we’ll both be in D.C. at the same time 10 days for the whole month.

So pardon me while I log off and go curl up with him for a bit. I’m going to miss him!