The other week, I joined Gideon on his work trip to San Diego.
Gid worked each day we were there, so I had some time to explore on my own.
I tend to feel a little melancholy on trips with extended alone time. Maybe it’s because I can’t live up to the version of me I hope to find upon reaching my destination; that’s to say, instead of standing before a scenic view in a billowy dress (impractical) or striking up conversation with locals at a nearby bar (my social anxiety could never), I find myself doing the same things I’d be doing at home: spending too much money on coffee and mindlessly scrolling on my phone. It’s almost like I’m looking for a distraction from myself, and spoiler alert: It never works.
This newsletter will not be about me suddenly becoming a fearless, Pinterest-worthy, has-so-much-fun-she-forgets-she-has-access-to-the-internet-in-her-pocket kind of traveler. But it is about enjoying a trip a little more for what it is, even when that’s belly flopping onto the hotel bed and reading Reddit theories about White Lotus.
So, here’s what the trip looked like:
Matching my socks to my suitcase (a suitcase that I could not for the life of me lift into the overhead bin on the plane).
Seeing this many shades of blue at once.
Finding this rainbow-snake-Medusa statue on my morning walk.
Stressing when I realized I left my room key in my room, thus making elevator travel impossible.
Reading my book in the jacuzzi (before a little kid cannonballed in).
Happening upon this bar with a perfect moody evening aesthetic.
Watching this sunset.
Not pictured: my middle seat on the flight home.
And now onto some honorable photo diary mentions:
For those who suggested crocheting in my recent newsletter in which I shared my desire for a new hobby… HELP. I cannot figure out how to hook the yarn. Any advice for a beginner with absolutely no skill? Video tutorials (though I will note I watched like ten of them on Youtube)? Thanks in advance LOL.
And finally, please enjoy the message spray-painted on a dumpster in my neighborhood:
Okay, I’m off to read more theories re: White Lotus. If you have a conspiracy, PLEASE tell me below. I’m in deep.
Fun photo diary! As for crochet help, Toni from TL Yarncrafts is the queen of crochet as far as I'm concerned (and Tunisian crochet as well, although I'd recommend learning traditional crochet first) Maybe this video will be helpful? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzWX2dx8ufc
To try and briefly explain it: you have your slip knot on your hook, you wrap the working yarn (the part that is connected to the rest of the ball of yarn) around the hook from back to front, and then pull your hook down, catching the wrapped yarn, and pulling it through the loop that's on your hook. It can help to rotate the hook about a quarter of a turn when you're pulling it down so that the hook bit catches the yarn over (the wrapped yarn). It feels awkward at first, but once you figure it out, it kind of clicks, and then you can figure out how to hold/tension your yarn in a comfortable way. Hope this helps! :)