What I’m grateful for, week 39 of 52

October 5, 2021February 6, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Bunny time. After a while of not being with my bunnies, I finally got to hang out with them. Did I get majorly scratched because I was in their space too much and picked them up? Yes. Totally worth it. Now I get woken up at 4 am Pacific time for headrubs and sniffs, which, even at the inconvenient hour, makes my heart happy.

2. Sleeping in my own bed. It’s taking forever for it to smell as good as I want because of how long I was away, and the rainy weather when I was gone. Fresh sheets, all my pillows, and burrito-ing under the blankets, perfection.

3. Going back to my “morning” routine. Making my wrong coffee, tea, vitamin c, and filling my now twice dented “new” water bottle, makes me feel me again.

Song of the week: Finally/beautiful stranger by Halsey

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What I’m grateful for, week 38 of 52

September 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Safe travels. It’s very scary travelling right now, but I was fortunate enough to have journeyed to my destination with little issues. Even more so, to have a whole row to myself for a long haul flight. Being able to stretch out and actually sleep a majority of it, big plus.

2. Airconditioning and a nice view. I am in isolation right now, and will be for the next week. Being stuck in one room is bad, but climate control and a way to look out to the sunrise, super helpful.

3. Sugar and caffeine. My two biggest vices (besides charming, intelligent men) and I have been abusing them this week. I’ll do less sugar soon, but caffeine will still be my partner in night shift, and if anything, these brain altering chemicals are the least of my worries.

Song of the week: Shit Show by Peter McPoland

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What I’m grateful for, week 37 of 52

September 20, 2021September 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Gorgeous food. I was fortunate enough to score tables at great places in a fun city this week, had spectacular food (which matched the bill), got the full dining experience, and for a self professed food enthusiast, was pretty fucking great.

2. An almost romantic train ride. One of these years I will do one of those beatiful train car rides to be experience it once. Getting on a train for 2 hours in a beautiful coast, on a quiet car, was really pleasant. Like a good reset.

3. Getting things done. I was not fully ready for my weekend and i had a lot of help. I truly believe my friend Anna can run a small country and not break a sweat. Family also came through with a ton of help and guidance. I travel technically alone but I always have the help of my “tribe(s)”

Song of the week: On Fire by Switchfoot

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What I’m grateful for, week 36 of 52

September 14, 2021September 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. People that show up. Bar none, nothing more precious than time for other people. I’ve had so many people unexpectedly show up to more than I thought they would, and to see it makes my heart sing. I bitch a lot about fakery, but I’ve felt so much sincerity this past week, that I feel like hitting myself for being too cynical.

2. Art. Austin has so much beauty and art, and I’ve been blessed with a glimpse of it. I want to know more, feel more. I’m greedy with things that make me feel something.

3. Geeburt and Rick. Being jostled awake with those smiles started my days so well. Good people have great dogs.

4. More biking. Not nearly enough but got my blood pumping. If I could bike every day I would.

Song of the week: La La Land by Bryce Vine

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What I’m grateful for, Week 35 of 52

September 7, 2021February 6, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. The great outdoors. I have always been a city girl, but in my city, if you’re out of airconditioning for 2 minutes, you get sweaty and lose all fresh feeling. It’s not the same where I am now. The air is fresh, the landscape, amazing. I cannot wax poetic enough of how beautiful everything I’ve seen so far is. And how I get why people do this now, to reset and find time away. I was mistaken, and I will take all opportunities to go on adventures from now on.

2. Reroutes. From almost hitting one of the most exciting cities of the world and needing to cancel twice, the universe offered a peace offering of amazing people and incredible views instead. I got to be with kind, sweet humans and I will never forget the experience.

3. Being wrong about people. Working in the industry I do, I meet a ton of people of different cultures, belief systems, and races. I learn a lot every day and I appreciate being wrong in my preconceptions. I’ve learned more about my colleagues in a nonwork socialization than I thought I would, just being in a car and chatting. Having a real conversation without their “public” persona. Having adventures. Sitting with them.

Song of the week: Humble by Kendrick Lamar

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What I’m grateful for, week 34/52

August 31, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. New experiences. In the same thread as last week, openness to new things and new experiences (that didn’t lead to me being drawn and quartered) really gave me a different perspective on things I thought I had already made my mind up on. Needless to say, I’m going to keep my “Life is short, try the thing.” motto for a bit more.

2. People that feel like home. I forgot how much I missed the people I’m with this week, and how amazing it feels to be with people that feel like home is. I’ve been sleeping better and have woken up feeling cheerier than I’ve been for a while. It’s great.

3. Chemistry. Just that.

Song of the week: Two Ghosts by Harry Styles

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What I’m grateful for, week 33 of 52

August 23, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. The outdoors. I need to acknowledge how lucky I am to be able to experience the beauty of nature in these times. I may not be the most responsible right now, but I am taking in all I can before I go back to isolation.

2. Very long hugs from a beautiful soul. In an amazing twist of fate, a friend driving cross country was in the same city I was in for a few hours. I have admired and appreciated him since I met him, and to have a few hours with him was surreal. I am eternally grateful.

3. Interesting people. My comfort zone has been tested again and again, in weird and interesting ways this week. I feel like the more uncomfortable I get, the more I learn about myself. What I want. What I definitely don’t. And I feel better about not closing doors based on preconceived notions anymore.

Song of the week: Stop This Train by John Mayer

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What I’m grateful for, week 32/52

August 19, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Amazing food. Peking duck, tofu soup, taiyaki with soft serve. All in the same 5 days. I love this access to all these excellent places in the same 30(?) miles. Don’t even get me started on the drinking options.

2. Fireworks on rooftop bars. Two other people had to help me get ready. I was wearing a dress that, in a good day, should be called a sausage casing. But there were literal fireworks, good drinks and too much laughing that could be called appropriate.

3. Art that makes you feel things. Being around art, I think, is best when it elicits emotion. Whether it’s discomfort or disbelief, it still makes you feel something. I like art.

Song of the week: Fire for You by Cannons

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What I’m grateful for, week 31/52

August 10, 2021August 19, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Homes and homies. I have been shuttled around so much, and have had access to friends’s homes and families. I have slept better, ate better, and have laughed harder than I have in so long, and I cherish every moment. I am a sap, and will hold snapshots in my head as long as I can.

2. Private karaoke rooms with like minded friends. Singing at the top of my lungs, with friends who were also singing as loud > hitting actual notes.

3. Access to family who are usually so far away, and loved ones who trek with you when you forget things. I was able to hang out with a beloved aunt and come back in the same day. I know how lucky I am to be here, I just forget sometimes when I’m extra whiny.

Song of the week: Ocean Eyes by: Billie Eilish

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What I’m grateful for, week 30/52

August 3, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Being able to hug a friend I haven’t seen in a year. It’s been too hecking long, and being silly and catching up over drinks and sushi was amazing. My favorite part was just sitting in the car not wanting to leave because we had so much to talk about.

2. Kind hearts. I am always astounded by how people can directly be cruel or fake, and it really throws me off sometimes. But this week, I got to witness so much kindness from friends, and it was a breath of fresh air in what seems like an overwhelming drowning.

3. New experiences. This weekend I did new things with people I love and adore. It was definitely outside my small, comfortable box, but it was incredibly heart full.

Song of the week: Bedroom by JJ Lin and Anne Marie

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