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The results of wearing the most un comfortable bra I own. July!  The month were the house starts to kill me in the manner of a slow cook oven. My space is constantly stuffy. Even with the windows open and the fans going. Heat rashes adorn my hand and feet like awful henna designs. It's been hard to sleep.  It's been hard to not get depressed. It's been hard to concentrate.  Fortunately, I won't be stuck in here for the whole  summer! At the end of this month there is a trip to Mexico City lined up. It's part work related, part mental health booster. Because I am losing my mind, thanks for asking.  I am happy to get out.  I would be thrilled to get out except there is as yet a pandemic drifting through the air.  Still drifting through the air.  Mutating as it goes. Sure, sure I got my vaccine, but there is a little fact that keeps slipping people's minds: VACCINES ARE NOT A CURE ALL. I can still get sick even if I have been vaccinated. My CHANC...

Happy Halloween, biz-nich-izzles! Photo by  Karolina Grabowska  from  Pexels It's May. It's spring!  It's time to celebrate Lemuralia! Wut?  Is that a kind of lemur party? Well, no, not quite.  Before the Catholic Christians messed around with the dates- as they always seemed to do- the month of May was the time when some ancient Europeans would turn their thoughts to lemures  or the dead- the scary, unhappy dead. And how to make sure they weren't a bother to the living.  Romans, in particular, held observance for lemures on May 9th, 11th, and 13th.  May 11th just happens to be my birthday and it's an "unlucky" day according to the Romans. Which would explain so much about me? They warn against people getting married in May, but what of those born in the month? Are we screwed? For me, yes. I've been sufficiently, quietly screwed right over in so many ways through the years. Given the list of things that are wrong with my existence, I'...

Needle mark from my second blood test April ticks by.  I do not want the month to linger, but I don't want it to vanish without my noticing; without me having left my mark on this delineated section of time. I pressure myself to write a blog post and publish it before the month ends. I have to make up for the negativity of my last post . It was a downer. That was the truth of the state I was in. But no longer. Here is my good news:  Summary:  New computer.  I am no longer battling three infections.

Happy March everyone? It's that time when we all reflect upon Julius Caesar's wild death, palm frond crosses, and... leprechauns.  And I guess we should all take the time to think back on a whole year  of stupidity driven global pandemic. By the way - HAVE YOU DONE THAT YET?! Personally, it's been a weird start to 2021.  I was off like a bolt and then the ground fell away. I've propelled myself forward as a ghost since maybe about the middle of January. It was around mid-January when my body started telling me there was something wrong.  But it did not tell me very clearly what was wrong.  Most of my symptoms could be written off as any other thing else.  I thought I was just extra stressed out from having to meet a deadline.   Silly me. I was extra stressed because I was sick! When I found myself suffering stomach discomforts that would not go away, I knew I had to see a gastro doc.  Fluids were sent off to be tested and- To everyone's 's...

I said this wasn't going to go on and on forever- This is the last one! Rounding out this mini series of travel blog posts, I'll leave you with- Tips! Because, why not, eh? A beloved symbol of Morelia:  Bronze statue of thee  Purepecha  women at the center of a fountain. They are unified by holding up a giant low rimmed basket of fruits piled high. Locals have added cloth masks and scarves to the figures. Mind the sun. The uv index is rather high in central Mexico, even in winter. The region is designated subtropical highlands so that basically means you are closer to the sun twice over! There is generally plenty of shade, but remember to cover yourself up, wear a hat, sunglasses, etc. During non-pandemic times don't forget to put that sunscreen on yo' face!  Stay hydrated. Morelia is about 6,400 ft / 1,950 m above sea level. At this altitude the body tends to loses moisture faster. IBS sufferers might struggle with this more than others. I, um, did. Beverages li...

Soooo, what is there to do in Morelia anyway? Here's a little list!   ᖴ E ᔕ TI ᐯᗩᒪᔕ At the time I am typing this, it is  certainly a really strange time for festivals, but the shows do go on! Some of them. With caution.  (Unless you are in Tulum where they don't believe in any form of caution .)  I was down in Morelia for a film festival which happened to coincide with the Day of the Dead. The whole film festival event had better sanitation and security protocols than anywhere I'd been so far. They were very serious about not being a super spreader event so I felt safe sitting in a movie theater with so many empty seats around me. (Can we social distance all the time? ) Even with the precautions, I didn't want to spend my time in a movie theater for hours when there's a whole city to explore outside!   Una ofrenda con cempasúchil    The Day(s) of the Dead was DRASTICALLY toned down this year. The cemeteries were blocked off. Tourists were discouraged...

What travel story is complete without a bit of peril? As if a global pandemic isn't perilous enough! The view outside One perk of being in the Morelia Film Festival  was that Hugo received a night free at Hotel Casino . It's right at the city's main plaza. An exciting location. Not a place to get a good sleep. Unless you have noise cancelling devices. The building, like so many of the buildings in the city, is built in the Spanish/Ancient Roman villa style where all the rooms are positioned around a central courtyard. The rooms are on the second floor. The downstairs of the hotel is a lobby/restaurant/bar so if you are staying there or not you can enjoy a meal.  Our pad came with a tiny balcony overlooking the main square with a view of Morelia's famous cathedral. A Goya reproduction (or print) hung over the bed. The vibe was minimalist hacienda posh.   There was not a lot of floor space to be had, but dark wood of the ceiling was like 17 feet up. No, I'm not ...