In Amsterdam, we took a canal tour. It was fun, scenic* and informational. We learned that the number of bikes in the city exceeds that of its population—single speed bikes that whiz along the flat land. We saw far more parked bikes than cars.
In the U.S. we have more guns than people. Which do you suppose is the healthier way to live?
*I might have included a photo here but don’t yet know how to get pictures off my camera and into my laptop. The sunrise below was taken on my phone.
Sleep
Jet lag. Did my best to stay awake that last leg of flying home, after lying awake in a hotel room for hours the night before. Other than a brief doze on the plane around noon—I wonder what time that would have been in Amsterdam?—I succeeded in staying awake during the sun-lit day hours.
Once home, an (unplanned) trick kept me up and moving even after sleepiness hit. Since I’d deposited everything on my bed. I couldn’t get in it until that mess was sorted.
Success! I achieved six solid hours of real sleep, from 8:30 pm till 2:30 am.
And then nothing.
Oh, but my intention for months has been to get up earlier. By 8:30 am, I had accomplished a great deal: scribbling notes, physical therapy**, eating breakfast and newspaper puzzles, feeding and walking Sophie, starting the first wash, grocery shopping . . .
The next day, I was wide awake and up at 3:30. Though a bit draggier than the day before. And this morning managed to rise at 4:30. Perfect.
**If I get up before the newspaper arrives, I can do PT expeditiously, without the procrastination and diversion of puzzling over puzzles.
The Cruise.
I still wish it had been a smaller boat. I had visions—fed by my long-ago Atlantic crossing as an exchange student—of standing on the prow breathing fresh air while we cruised up and down the Norwegian fjords. Instead, often that cruising happened at night. And there was only one very crowded high deck to look out from.
But the break from routine was long overdue. I’m back to revision with a fresh eye.
How about you? What kind of breaks do you prefer?
Kate Harrington 