Side and back. Some sort of thick, firm cooling pillows which I flip as needed during the night so it's always cool on my skin. Single very thin comforter, under which I am still too hot. DH sleeps under a ginormous pile of comforters and quilts, idk how he doesn't boil alive. Ceiling fan on high always, heat off, will be opening windows as soon as he lets me. Loop earplugs when he snores/breathes near me or the neighbor dog starts barking. Same neighbor keeps their floodlights on all night shining directly into our windows. We can't close the blinds or the cats will tap on them to wake us up and open them. They take their nighttime neighborhood watch duties seriously and must have access to all windows, lol. I occasionally use an eye mask but sometimes they make me feel claustrophobic, and I can sleep in light.

We celebrated NYE at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and then went to Poland and Ireland (after having been in the Netherlands and Czechia). I'm hoping to get a long weekend soon in NYC, and we have a couple obligatory trips to visit family in California and Ohio this summer. We are starting to plan a fall trip to Scandinavia, and hopefully a short getaway to Montreal once it warms up a bit and has more lively street life. I'm going a bit stir crazy atm.

Sorry, I guess it's Google Translate. It's very simple to use

We use an app called Translate that will translate any written words (so, at the airport, public maps, museum signs, menus, street signs...anything) from any language into English (or whatever you set it to). Just download Italian into the app and you won't have rely on your friend for everything. It translates spoken words too, but I use it mostly for signs and menus.

It isn't advisable to use public USB ports, fyi. Too much security risk. Far better to bring a plug and a battery for backup.

We bought a membership this winter when the first one in our state opened. It's about an hour away and I doubted we'd go often, which has proven true. They do have a few items we like--their nuts are terrific, they have surprisingly good frozen salmon fillets the right size for us, we really like their almond butter and it's a much better price than TJs, they have a good price on a nice moisturizing body soap even DH likes and so on. We have bought a few flats or large boxes of pantry staples like pasta sauce, Cabot mac and cheese and instant rice; also toothpaste and dental floss that will last for years. Mostly the packages are just too big for us. We don't buy much produce there for that reason--we just can't eat it all and most would go to waste. I have not liked any of their bakery items (to the point I won't bother trying anything else--again, they are too large for us and they haven't been good quality imo. We actually threw out an entire pumpkin pie after taking a bite). The street tacos are good and while not inexpensive, they last both of us at least three or 4 meals. We don't use disposable items or trash bags and things like that, though I do prefer the Kirkland dish tabs over the cascade I had been using (which smell so gross they make me gag). We do buy gas when we're there but often just to make up what we used to drive there--it's cheaper but not practical for us. DH likes going there but it remains to be seen if we'll renew the membership. I don't think it's all that, myself.

Yeah, now I'm definitely going out hiking in the rain this weekend! Dumb question, but how does one find salamanders?

Sending extra ❤️ and ((hugs)) @Kassia. I know how hard this stuff is 😞 I for one am glad they are being cautious!

When I just tried Local Community + Cottage Rentals several local real estate/cottage rental type places came up. We are in a big tourist area, though, so it might be easier here than some other places. I agree with trying real estate sites too, and local chambers of commerce. Even town halls should be able to direct you to the right folks.

We have local cottage rental places here; you might look to see if something like that is available in your intended vacation spot.

So cool! 🐸

I'm glad yours stayed on! I spend an unusual amount of time determining what sorts of things we need to stay safe and reasonably comfortable in the event of storms, it's almost soothing in a weird way lol. I'm thankful we don't truly need much--heat security is definitely my primary concern!

We have a generator too, it keeps the pellet stove running, lights, cell phone chargers and our small deep freeze running if needed. That plus a gas cooking stove is major peace of mind. Like you, we lose power frequently--if anyone's out, it's probably our street. I'm glad you're back on! CMP sent a text indicating they hoped to have us back by 10 pm TODAY, but instead it was just a few hours. So weird. The kitties are thankful their warm radiators are back, lol.

We saw them once while backpacking in Manitoba, but only briefly before it got cloudy. Seeing them in Iceland or Scandinavia would be amazing!

Poor kitty! 😞

No, just a coastal storm that dropped more ice than expected, I think. Are you in an area you might get to see the northern lights?

We got power back on for a couple hours and then it went out again! Boo. At least we ran the dishwasher and heated up the house in the meantime. The storm is long past so I’ve no idea why it went out again 🤷‍♀️

Yeah we had an ice storm that basically knocked out the entire coast from Kittery on the southern NH line all the way up to Belfast. Some inland areas got over 2 feet of snow but here on the coast was less snow and more ice. Trees and lines are down everywhere.

Today’s PSA: check on your older neighbours and make sure they have what they need and are comfortable. I just took hot tea to our 92 year old, tough as tacks neighbour and found her cold and shivering. 😞. I sat with her for quite awhile and was able to get her gas stove (heater, not cooking) stove working and showed her how to use her cell phone. I’ll go back over tonight with a hot dinner and battery lanterns if we are still out tonight. Take care of each other out there!

We’ve been out since 9 pm Friday. Is everyone keeping safe and warm?

I've been battling depression for a couple of years. I'm currently in a space where I can accomplish the very basics (and we don't have kids at home so daily clutter is a minimum) but ugh, my house needs a good washing. I'm thinking about hiring a cleaner but I have no idea how. Good luck, OP. It's daunting.

I'm 51 and I still use this trick 😅 (yes, I'm pretty sure I'd be diagnosed with dyscalculia or something similar were I kid today)

Right there with all of you with my college kid. Even on Vyvanse he's struggling so much; I wonder if it's the right dose or even medication. How is it that these companies seemingly have no accountability to provide enough medication for people? (I don't really want a complex answer, just to vent)

I just use a freebie eye mask from the airlines when I need one, but DS loves his weighted eye mask by NodPod https://nodpod.com/ I use Loop earplugs; I've never had luck sleeping in other kinds but I find these comfortable (even as a side sleeper) https://us.loopearplugs.com/. I wear them in public sometimes too (my hair covers them)

I've never seen it spelled out so I assumed it was pronounced like Yeee-Awww like a wannabe cowboy-esque YeeHaw but without the H.