I took my fake nails off today, trimmed and buffed them, rubbed in some vitamin E oil, and coated them in Vaseline. They look a little healthier, but I know it’ll take a few weeks before my nail beds actually feel strong again. As much as I liked having fake nails, they became harder to maintain as they grew out—and they definitely weaken your natural nails. I really should treat myself to simple manicures at home more often, even if it’s just clear polish. Honestly, I should at least buy a proper nail file.
Unpacking is finally finished, laundry is washed and put away, and I’ve already rescheduled and made my appointments last week, so today feels refreshingly quiet. Other than coding and making dinner later, I don’t have much on my plate. Tonight I’m making Chile Colorado, a rich Mexican stew with tender beef in a deep red chili sauce. We were supposed to have it over the weekend, but Tommy’s stomach wasn’t up for it—jet lag has really been hitting him hard.
Jet lag hasn’t spared me either. My body thinks it’s hours later than it really is, which throws off my sleep. Coffee has become my best friend, though even that doesn’t fully cut through the fog. My appetite is all over the place, too—sometimes I’m not hungry at all, other times I feel like I could eat everything in sight at the strangest times of day. It’s a weird adjustment.
Tomorrow Karissa starts school again. I need to remember her major—I keep forgetting—but I’m excited and nervous for her. School hasn’t always been easy, but she’s working hard. Tomorrow we’ll go through her syllabi, classes, and books together. Kel is starting school too, and I’m wishing both of them the best.
I realized I’ve been writing mostly about what we did on our trip, but not much about how I felt about it. Sometimes I worry my thoughts will come off as cringey, but I’m going to try anyway.
London was amazing. It was more crowded than I imagined, but the energy and buzz made it exciting. The city felt enormous—so much bigger than I had pictured—and full of things to see and do. I’d love to go back, especially to visit the British Museum, which we missed. Harry Potter World was another highlight. I love seeing behind the scenes of how movies are made. One funny memory: Tommy, our friend, and I dragged our suitcases to a luggage storage place late at night in a sketchy part of town. It wasn’t too bad, but definitely colorful. The look on Kel’s and our friend’s wife’s faces when they later came with us to pick the bags up was priceless.
Paris was just as enchanting, though in a different way. I’ve been before, but it felt even more crowded this time. Still, it carried a slower, more relaxed energy compared to London. Walking through its streets really did feel like stepping into a postcard, with charming cafés, stunning architecture, and layers of history everywhere. I love history, even if trying to take in so much at once was overwhelming.
After a week in London and Paris, we started our cruise, which may be one of my favorite cruises yet. Despite itinerary changes before and during, I enjoyed all the ports. I loved waking up in a new destination each morning while still having the comfort of the ship. There was always something to do—or just time to relax and watch the ocean roll by. I definitely ate more than usual, especially desserts. I finally tried gelato for the first time—the brownie blast was my favorite, though the strawberry sundae was close behind. Breakfast every day felt strange too, since I usually fast until lunch, but I gave it a try.
My favorite ports were the Orkney Islands and Stonehenge. Both had their mysterious circles of stones, which I guess I’m drawn to. Stirling Castle was another highlight, even if my legs are still sore at the memory of that steep climb. And Blarney Castle? So many spiral staircases! It took nearly an hour to get through, between the steps and the line for the stone. I didn’t think I’d kiss the Blarney stone—lying on your back and leaning upside down isn’t exactly natural—but I did, and it was worth the laugh.
One of the wildest parts of the cruise was sailing through a storm. We couldn’t go to Invergordon because of the weather, and the ship even took a bit of damage. They locked the doors to the decks and balconies, and the ship listed for a while. Walking was a challenge, but we passed the time with card games and had fun anyway.
Belfast and the Titanic Museum were unforgettable. I’ve always had an interest in the Titanic—I even built a 3D puzzle of it back in Germany when the movie was huge. Seeing where the ship was built made it feel more real. Cobh, pronounced “Cove,” was beautiful too. I told myself before the trip that I wasn’t going to climb on the rocks at the Giant’s Causeway, but with Tommy and our friend helping me, I did it. Normandy, though, was the most emotional. Standing on those beaches and seeing the cemeteries brought the history of D-Day into focus—it was more powerful than I expected.
Now that I’ve written all this, I realize I spent more time blogging than coding. Lunch is coming up soon, and fasting since 5 a.m. is catching up to me. I can smell the girls’ breakfasts, and it’s making me even hungrier. Maybe I’ll grab a second cup of coffee before I dive back into coding and wait out the last hour before lunch.
Today I actually had a proper lunch instead of my usual toast or quick sandwich. I went with a French bread pizza, and it was good. Afterwards, I filled out a survey that Princess Cruises emailed me. I actually enjoy surveys—they’re a nice way to reflect and share feedback. I made sure to commend some of the staff who really stood out and also offered a few thoughts on how things could improve.
Now it’s time to start dinner prep. Chile Colorado is on the menu tonight, which takes a few hours to make. First step: cutting and searing the meat. That part alone isn’t included in the two-hour simmering time, so it feels like a whole extra step. I’ll also be making Spanish rice, beans, and roasted acorn squash on the side.
I did manage to catch up on my planner today too. I’d been slacking for about a week, but it feels good to have it updated again.
Dinner prep ended up taking me about an hour, but now things are moving along. The rice is next, then I’ll work on the beans and squash while the Chile Colorado simmers. A hot cup of tea sounds perfect to keep me company while everything cooks.
