If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m exhausted. I’d tell you that it’s soo easy for me to forget how much of an introvert I really am until I find myself in a situation where I’m around a bunch of people and all I’ll really want to do is cuddle up on my bed and read a book or watch Gilmore Girls or blog a bit. This week has been really busy and really good. But I’m exhausted. I need to recharge with some serious alone time.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about how I visited my grandparents in Iowa on Monday and Tuesday. My grandma really wanted me to visit before I head off to Thailand and I hadn’t been down to the little town where the live since October. I’ve grown up visiting this small town and I even lived with my grandparents there for the three summers that I worked at the local county museum. So much has changed over the years, but being there always brings back waves of nostalgia from my childhood. Plus, my grandma and I are basically BFFs, and I’m always up for an excuse to hang out with her. We had such fun together, visiting the shops in town and whatnot. Grandpa did his own thing most of the time, but it was good to see him, too.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about the little excursion I took on the way back home that inspired this Hump Day Haiku. At a rest stop in Iowa, I saw a sign for a Norweigian Memorial/Heritage site/I’m actually not really sure what it was because I never found it. Anywho, I tried finding it because I’m a weird history buff and thought it would be awesomely historical and such. Well, Norweigian Memorial/heritage site/whatever was never found, but I did find a nice park off the beaten path with a beautiful lake and some deer chilling out (though they ran away when I got too close…whoops!) and some camp grounds and such. It was a beautiful day and a dandy excursion!
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that my car wouldn’t start on Thursday and I ended up being late to work. I called my boss and he was fine with it, just told me to get there as soon as I could. Luckily, a neighbor who happens to be a former mechanic heard me trying to start my car and he came over and diagnosed the problem: the fuel pump was out. I ordered an Uber so I could get to work ASAP. Meanwhile, my dad was a real champ and made sure it got towed to the dealership while I was at work (as I’m not supposed to be making calls while at work). The car thankfully got fixed that day (at no cheap price). I’m just glad I was at home and not driving or parked elsewhere when the fuel pump gave. Made the whole situation way less stressful.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about how I went out on Friday night with Nicole, my best friend since kindergarten. I hadn’t been out since May, so it was a much needed night! Working weekends is not conducive for such frequent excursions. Not that I make such frequent excursions as it is…given how I highly value my introvert time. That said, sometimes a night out is a necessary part of life. We went to a few different places and had an all around good time. Went to work today with a bit of a headache and feeling a wee bit tired…but it was worth it.
If we were having coffee, I’d talk about how I participated in a Glo Run tonight with my family. Basically, if you’re unfamiliar with these events, it’s a 5K that takes place in the dark and everyone is given glow sticks to wear and a lot of people dress up in neon and there’s crazy glowing things along the run path. This was a little overwhelming for me just because there were soo many people and loud music and I just felt overstimulated in general before the run. I really kind of just wanted to go home. That said, once I was running, I started to feel awesome. I was jamming to my tunes and it was a beautiful night and it was so cool to see everyone running covered in glow sticks. My brother ran ahead of me since he’s a faster runner and my parents walked the course, so I was by myself and it was great. The run was great and the introvert time was great and now I’m sitting here hiding away in my room blogging and it’s SO GREAT because I just needed some alone time after this crazy busy week full of so many extroverted activities.
If we were having coffee, I’d lastly tell you that I GOT MY VISA IN THE MAIL THE OTHER DAY! Thailand is becoming more and more real every day. I’m so excited. I can’t believe I’m doing this! And I know it’s going to be amazing.
If we were having coffee, I’d be ready to pass the floor over to you…and ask if you have anything to share over coffee.
This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share link up at Part Time Monster.
It's a Britta Bottle! 
Sounds like a busy, but really fun week! It’s amazing that you went to Iowa; might sound strange, but I’m interested in visiting there, too! Any case, enjoying yourself while you are still in the U.S. is a great thing to do. But I’m sure you’ll have lots more fun abroad in Thailand soon! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🙂
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I practically grew up part time in Iowa I spent so much time visiting my grandparents there. People in Minnesota like to make fun of Iowa because it’s flat and there’s nothing there but fields and fields of corn and soybeans and what is there even anything to do in Des Moines, the capital? but it will always hold a special place in my heart.
I am trying to make the most of my last few weeks here. I have so much planned it’s kind of insane. But I know I will have lots of fun in Thailand, too.
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I’ve been binging on Gilmore Girls for the last couple of nights. I haven’t turned it on yet tonight but I know it will come as soon as I read a few more blogs. I have seen the entire season several times over but I don’t tire of it, although I am not seeing it in the same light as I saw it the first few times. Now I’m thinking Lorelei and Rory don’t have the best relationship for a mother and daughter because they consider each other best friends first and that’s not the healthiest for a mother-daughter relationship. I really think you have to be a mother first then the best friend. I have daughters. I know the difference. Anyway, off of my GG soapbox!
It’s wonderful that Thailand is getting closer and closer for you!
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I agree, I don’t think their relationship is healthy, either. Whenever Lorleai tries to pull the Mom card, Rory just gets really upset with her because she’s not used to that and then they get in a fight and then sometimes they don’t talk for ages…and it’s just not a healthy relationship at all. I’m working my way through season 7. I’ve been trying to finish this series for years and I’m so close! Didn’t get much watched this week because I was so busy, but I hope to finish the series before Thailand!
It is wonderful…I still have a lot to do, though!
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You do look a bit like you’re part of the Gilmore-girls family 🙂 (see it as a compliment)
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Hehe, I sure am. I’ll take the compliment, I guess. 🙂
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What a busy week! As a fellow introvert, I can definitely understand feeling run down after that much togetherness, especially after a big even like the run. Looks like so much fun, but crowds can be really draining. Glad you’ve had a good time, though!!
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I definitely would have enjoyed the event last night way more if I wasn’t already drained from the week. I’m just glad I got a good run in in the process!
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Hi Britta, I could feel how overwhelmingly extrovert your week was! You really needed a ‘alone’ time!
It’s interesting to read that because it gives me more insights on how an introvert feels, and makes me respect it even more. I think I’m in between, to make matters more complex!
Your family is gorgeous. Love the photo with grandma and the neon shot!
And the photo of the lake is blissful!
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I’m definitely in between. Even though I identify as an introvert, I tend to go through phases–right now I’m going through an introvert phase and really have just been wanting to stay in hang by myself most of the time, which may be because I know I’m going to have to push myself waay out of my comfort zone in Thailand. That said, I also go through more extroverted phases. In the last few months of college, I was going pretty much every weekend–probably because I knew I only had so much time left to go out as a college student. That said, my extroverted phases are relative. An actual extrovert would probably still be crazy restless in my extroverted phases as I still need my alone time and still can only spend so much time with people, regardless.
Thank you so much, Lucile. My mom would be thrilled to hear that. 🙂
Ah, it was such a beautiful day! It was cool and felt just like fall and I adored it! I have some better pictures that I’m saving for future Hump Day Haikus and I can’t wait to share them!
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Interesting to hear that you go through phases. It’s quite helpful as you can rest and recharge before engaging again in new activities.
I get your point about perhaps protecting yourself from closer contacts as you’ll be away very soon. Makes sense.
Please tell you mom!
I’m looking forward to seeing the pics!
Take care. Xxx
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Sounds like you definitely need some quiet alone time. I’ve been feeling a little restless and antisocial recently–I need my extrovert time!
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Yes! I’m going through a major introvert phase right now and, despite how busy I was this week, have been wanting to spend a lot more time by myself reading, writing, and watching TV. I think it’s because I know I’m going to be pushing myself way out of my comfort zone in Thailand…and my body is wanting to save up energy for that.
Good luck getting your extrovert time! I know that stir crazy feeling, too. Sometimes you just got to go out and have some fun!
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Glad that it was a good busy week!
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Me too.
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I love your polka dot dress! From someone “not too crazy” about polka dots. hehe. But yes, I completely understand me time. Your family sounds (and looks) like fun. That was a good picture, even if you were not selfie ready. So, congrats with the visa. Thailand is coming pretty soon. Let us know where in Thailand you will be based. I know a friend who volunteers at a local orphanage in the jungles.
I know this is off topic but I figure “this” will be a good place to put my thoughts regarding your other post. See, this goes to show how totally non confrontational I am too. I am from Florida where you see lots, if not, most people put up this flag that you speak of. I wasn’t born here nor did I study American history in detail back in the day so I am completely ignorant when it comes to the intricacies of this great country’s history. But initially, my thoughts upon seeing the flag displayed at homes or in people’s trucks was that it was a symbol of racism. Lately, with all that has been going on, the more I hear my friends’ points of views about the flag and how connected they are to it culturally, the less I see it as being racist. I guess it all boils down to WHO and WHAT their intentions are in wearing/displaying the flag. Sorry, to digress here. Just my two cents. 🙂
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Belle, this is so weird…but this comment ended up in my spam folder. Good thing I happened to check it today (something I rarely do).
Thanks about the dress. 🙂 I I purchased it in Dublin a few years back, so it always reminds me of the fun I had on my trip there. I will be sure to keep the blogosphere updated on Thailand as best as I can. When I’m taking my teacher training course in Chiang Mai, I will have an interview with the leaders of the organization I’m going through and they will place me in a school with the information they take away from that interview.
Ahh, yes, my Confederate flag post. I do understand that many people, particularly Southerners, view the flag as a cultural symbol. I, however, find that very hard to understand as a Midwesterner with a pro-Union Civil War education, not the mention the mere fact that the Confederacy has been dead for 150 years. I do also have an extensive knowledge of Civil War history and I know that in the present day, we tend to blow the slavery aspect of the Civil War out of proportion. Yes, it was an important factor in starting the war, but not necessarily in the way we understand it today and there were a lot of other tensiosn going on there, too (strife between the North and South had been brewing for DECADES). That said, I have a problem with the Confederate flag because so many people have been educated to believe it is a racist symbol that it really has, in many ways, become one. I know not everyone who flies it is flying it for racial reasons, but I also believe there are better ways of showing cultural pride than through the public display of a symbol that is seen a negative to many. Perhaps that’s too much to ask of people, but it’s just the way I see it.
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Oh yes, THIS post! Glad you found it. I, too, thought it didn’t get posted because when I hit “comment” it didn’t show up where it is supposed to be and I was like, man, that was a lengthy reply and it just got lost in cyberspace for some reason. I simply dismissed it as a fluke. But now that you found it in your spam, I’m thinking maybe some words triggered your spam alert. I don’t know. 🙂
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