Month: May 2024

Being a tourist in Italy

The trip is really my friend’s bucket list item so she picked the cities we’re going to and has made all the tour reservations but I don’t think I would have selected any differently. As I may have mentioned, we’re starting in Rome, then traveling by train to Venice and Florence before returning to Rome.

We’re going to hit all the big tourist areas:

  • The Vatican
  • The Colusseum
  • Trevi Fountain
  • The Spanish Steps
  • A gondola ride on the Canals in Venice
  • The Duomo

And I’m sure we’ll hit a lot of other things too. For those of you who have been to Rome, Venice or Florence, what would be attractions that might not be on our radar but that we shouldn’t miss? Let me know in the comments!

What to eat in Italy?

I’ve been joking that my 10 days in Italy will be me trying to eat as much gelato as possible. But I cannot wait to dig into the actual food. I lived in NYC for a long time and was privileged to eat at some pretty fantastic Italian restaurants there, but there’s nothing like the real thing in Italy right?

What’s number one on my list? Well, I won’t know until I’m in the first restaurant. Risotto? Braciole? Pasta? Doesn’t matter – I’m sure it will be fantastic. Here are the links I’ve been drooling over:

And we haven’t talked at all about the pastries. Mmmm….. How much you want to bet I come home 5 pounds heavier? LOL!

Going to Italy!

Next week I embark on a trip to Italy so I thought this week I would theme my entries for the trip. I booked the trip with a friend before I was laid off so you know I’m going!

This is my first trip to Europe since 2008 so to say I’m excited is a little bit of an understatement. Also – I was the weirdo that took 2 years of Latin as my second language in High School so I have a bit of affinity for ancient Rome. We’re going to Rome, then Venice, then Florence and back to Rome before heading home again. We’ll be hitting all the big tourist sites and packing as much in as we can in our 10 days. I have a collection of links about each of our destination cities – what to see, what to eat, what wines to try – it’s kind of overwhelming!

I’ve got lists for everything – what to pack, things to do this week before we go and things I need to be sure to take care of when we get home. I have the kitty sitter reserved and a neighbor watching my flowers outside to water if needed.

I understand pickpocketing is a real issue in the tourist areas in Italy so I have a new bag to carry that fits right up against me and has zippers or a button on every pocket. I just have to remember how I managed my bags when used to ride the subway when I lived in NYC and I think I’ll be OK.

Want to know what is freaking me out the most? Whether my electrical adapter will do the job! I bought a new one but I still have to figure out whether it will work for my hair dryer. LOL! I have to laugh – currency conversion doesn’t bother me at all but electrical conversion scares the life out of me!

Second on my list of things that might freak me out? Italian phrases to use. When I went to France, I had a lovely couple correctly spoken phrases to use to ask if the person could speak English. I have no idea if my pronunciation of Italian is any good. And I really hate being the rude American who just assumes everyone will speak English! I’m hoping maybe my Latin classes will help – but let’s face it, that was decades ago and Latin isn’t really so much a spoken language.

Am I missing anything to think about before the trip? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Pilates

I’m off to a Pilates class in about an hour. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy Pilates – I feel taller after every class. Which is a real bonus when you’re 5’2″!

A lot of people conflate yoga with Pilates – they really aren’t the same. Yoga is more about flows and taking your body through a progression of positions. Pilates is more about finding a position and then keeping your core steady and maybe adding movements with the arms and legs. I attend a class that uses a reformer which is a bed-like frame with a flat platform on it, called the carriage, which rolls back and forth on wheels within the frame. The carriage is attached to one end of the reformer by a set of springs. The springs give varying levels of resistance as you push or pull yourself along the frame. That resistance can intensify your workout – and believe me, you get a workout!

A typical reformer – there are also straps used to pull the carriage using either your arms or legs.

Pilates is really helpful in improving flexibility, working on the strength (and tone) of your core, improving your spine stability and really making you aware of how you hold your body. If you find your shoulders creeping up to your ears over the course of the day – Pilates might be for you!

I find it very relaxing. The combination of deep breathing and focused movement has a really amazing impact both physically and mentally – I recommend it wholeheartedly!

There are apps and online resources for classes – try typing Pilates workout into YouTube and you’ll get all kinds of free workout videos. I prefer a class setting to make sure my form is correct – and because I love the reformer. Check your local gym or search “Pilates gym near me” for classes including a reformer. Many gyms offer a free introductory class so you can see if you like it.

Give it a try – your core will thank you!

What to do?

It’s a rainy day here in Chicago. What’s a person with too much time on their hands right now to do on a day like this? I asked Chat GPT and here are the options I got:

  1. Curl Up with a Good Book: Grab your favorite book, make yourself a warm drink, and cozy up in a comfortable spot to immerse yourself in a captivating story.
  2. Watch Movies or TV Shows: Create a mini movie marathon by watching your favorite films or exploring new TV series. Pop some popcorn, snuggle under a blanket, and enjoy the cinematic experience.
  3. Cook or Bake: Spend some time in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes or baking delicious treats. The comforting aroma of freshly baked goods will make your home feel extra cozy.
  4. Indoor Workouts: Stay active indoors by practicing yoga, following a workout video, or doing bodyweight exercises. Exercise not only boosts your mood but also helps you stay energized on a rainy day.
  5. Get Creative: Embrace your artistic side by painting, drawing, crafting, or trying out DIY projects. Let your imagination flow and create something beautiful or meaningful.
  6. Pamper Yourself: Treat yourself to a spa day at home with a relaxing bath, facial masks, and soothing skincare products. Take the time to unwind and pamper yourself from head to toe.
  7. Listen to Music or Podcasts: Create a playlist of your favorite songs or discover new music genres. Alternatively, listen to engaging podcasts on topics that interest you to entertain and educate yourself.
  8. Board Games or Puzzles: Gather your family or housemates for a friendly game of board games, card games, or puzzles. It’s a fun way to bond and pass the time together indoors.
  9. Journaling or Reflection: Take advantage of the quiet, introspective atmosphere of a rainy day to journal, write poetry, or reflect on your thoughts and feelings. It’s a great way to practice mindfulness and self-expression.
  10. Organize and Declutter: Use the rainy day as an opportunity to tackle organizing and decluttering projects around your home. Sort through belongings, tidy up spaces, and create a more organized and functional living environment.

I have to admit – I giggled when I read the list. None of these are things I wouldn’t have thought of myself. And my number 1 with a bullet would also have been to curl up with a book! I really need to think of a better challenge for Chat GPT because this answer did not impress me!

Technology!!!!

Is fabulous when it works isn’t it? I’m having one of those days where it isn’t working as well as I would like.

I got a new Apple Airtag to put in my purse for my upcoming vacation – and it just would not pair to my iPhone. I went online and got the routine to use to reset the tag: take the battery out and replace it – hear a sound. Repeat 4 more times and it should make a different sound signifying the tag is ready to pair. I took out the battery and replaced it dozens of times with no change in the sound. I even tried a different battery! So I did a chat with Apple and of course as I was typing in the serial number of the airtag and the version of iOS my phone is running, it took off and paired. UGH!!!

Then I replaced the ink cartridges in my printer – and I kept getting an error message with the new ink. That resolved after I shut down the printer and restarted it.

Which brings me to this blog post. Apparently I need to shut my computer down more because I couldn’t get a new post form to come up until I restarted my computer. Sigh…..

Makes me slightly afraid of what the rest of the day might hold? LOL! Hope your Monday is off to a good start!

Network TV Upfronts

I’ve read a couple of articles this morning about the coming Network TV Upfronts. Upfront week will start May 13th this year and it always makes me feel nostalgic. I may not have had a Media Director title on the client side, but when I worked at Midas, I functioned as the Media Director so I got to go to the Upfronts in NYC every year.

Cast members from Survivor at a CBS Upfront party – two of my agency friends and I are in there too!

If you aren’t in the Ad Agency or marketing biz, you probably only ever hear about the Upfronts on the morning news shows or Entertainment tonight – because all the stars of the shows are in New York and they show up on all the entertainment shows plugging their new series that was probably announced at an Upfront event. Or you might have heard about the giant parties – although I understand they aren’t exactly what they used to be these days.

It used to be my favorite week of the year in New York. Imagine a class reunion that goes on for an entire week – that’s what it was for me. Mainly because I worked for Madison Avenue ad agencies for almost 10 years before I went to the client side and know a lot of agency and sales rep people in NYC. Upfront week was always my opportunity to see old friends and reconnect. Days were filled with meetings to hammer out what networks/shows/sports events Midas was interested in buying, reviewing target audience data and strategizing about pricing. But the evenings were just plain fun out playing with old friends. The TV Networks know how to throw a party!

So for all my NYC friends that are still going to the Upfronts – I’ll miss seeing you! And as a shameless plug – if you hear of any good jobs for me in Chicago let me know!

Telehealth

I got an email this week from my health insurance company encouraging me to use their telehealth feature. I don’t know what to make of telehealth. It seems like a good idea I guess – you get to talk to a health care professional in person but I worry about what can be missed when you aren’t face to face.

Will the doctor miss something because they can’t see symptoms as well? I don’t go to the doctor a lot but what about the last time I had a sore throat? Who’s going to do the test for strep if I’m on a video call with the doctor? Or what about when I sprained my ankle? How do I get an x-ray if I’m using telehealth? Will I still end up at the urgent care? And then what are the insurance impacts? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions – and from what I can tell in researching, the answers might change depending on your health care coverage.

Here’s some info on telehealth – https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/why-use-telehealth?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHJCLW07LarH0Y7ekhE14PuCJ3P2rKr5WQVI3IwEoNZeBlS8-kTSoJcaAs4hEALw_wcB

I was out with a group of friends last night and one of the ladies has recently had a mastectomy. Complications put her in the ER and more complications lead to an ambulance ride to a second hospital 45 minutes away. She says she has good health insurance – and yet before the complications, she already had $40K in bills her insurance won’t cover and she is still looking at surgery for reconstruction.

I have moved around a lot as an adult – and I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t have good records for all the medical procedures/treatments I’ve had over the years. I think our healthcare system is a mess – but I don’t have a good solution. But things to start with? I would like to see more transparency in billing – and some sort of system that tracks your health care providers and treatments from cradle to grave. I’d love to hear your thoughts – how about you leave them in the comments?