JULY WAS A BLIND DATE WITH SUMMER - NEWSLETTER 07

Every moment from the start of this post will be exciting and fun because I am truly in my happy and fulfilled girl era. But what kind of lifestyle blogger will I be if I do not hope that this effect rubs off on you and hope you are staying as mesmerized as I want you through each line of today's blog. One thing is for sure, you will find that this month's newsletter is about a bunch of things and nothing in specific hence its  debut is a tad later than usual. This is majorly because I have thought of a gazillion ways to summarize this post from the first week in July for fear of making you read a dissertation in the name of a blog post. The good thing is if you are as prone to beautiful gossip as I am you will consume this newsletter even if it turns out to be a dissertation. It's just a way with us...

I left off the last time moaning about how half the year had come and gone by way too fast, and how inept it left me considering that I did not have any specific plans for the next half. I was reminded after that post how much I did not have to plan anything if God already has everything taken care of. So believe me when I say I started July like I was on a blind date, with no plans, ignorant of everything save for my summer job and looming deadlines for my research work. Truly whoever coined 'blissfully ignorant' had no idea what magic they created with that phrase because I can not state how much I have been surprised that my ignorance and dilly dally attitude to July paid off. First, it did wonders for my blood pressure and my anxiety, I had a few bad days but I promise they never lasted. Next, it allowed me truly prepare for the days I needed to really plan; mostly because I worried only about the few important things. The absurd thing is that I was truly and positively surprised every step of the way and knew exactly how to handle things. With no further means to convince you, I am glad to announce that July was a dream because I told myself everyday that the most important thing was me. Now over to you, what was July like? I hope you kept yanking your hand back telling it that you were more important when it was pulling you to do its bidding?

Viva LAS VEGAS

I will start off with my quick trip to the Sin City. I had the most beautiful and thoughtful host and I promise I did not commit any sin save for gambling away my friends $100 in the casino. Even though the chances that I could ever live in this city is almost zero, it definitely is a good spot to spend a few days if you ever need a breather. Be prepared to be active all day because the city really don't sleep considering they took "you snooze, you lose" literally. The most beautiful locations are in or not far way from the Scenic spot and since we don't gate keep here, if the nightlife is your thing plan to fly in late to the city so you can join the fun almost immediately. As a picky eater I find that the more places I go, the more my tastebuds adapt to the way different meals are cooked. I still am not adventurous with most meals and would rather stick to the regular staple meals I know of when I see a menu. I had heard a lot about Sadelle (a major food chain across the country) and decided to try it out in Vegas: safe to say I was not disappointed and it was worth the 1hr I had to wait inline since I didn't make any prior reservations and it was July the 4th. My stay was rather short because I originally did not have plans to go but I like that it was a place out of my comfort zone and I thrived during my time there. Vegas is truly for you if you live a larger than life lifestyle and even though it's not as expensive to live here, I still think you must be making good money to dwell in it. I packed my bags in a hurry and left too soon but who knows I might make a return trip before the end of the year. Now to the other fun part drumroll......

CALIFORNIA

California is an absolute dream. In my time here I have postulated that I will forever have a love-hate relationship with this place. First because my lifestyle is way too boring and mundane for a place this big and vibrant but I also love the thrill that come with bigger cities. Hence, while I might not move to California next year I might still make plans to live there next year. I am such a conundrum huh? I stayed in San Francisco and the Berkeley environs for the most part and I made sure I dragged myself out enough to be able to say I know a few other parts of this place. I will try not to delude myself and say I know anything distinct about the North and South sides of California which in typical Californian speak is NorCal and, SoCal but I know people from these sides never really see eye to eye and it is common to hear lighthearted banter or shade when you meet people from both sides. If anything, the weather is the best down here especially if all or the most you have ever experienced is the heat down south; I mean I wore a sweatshirt to work most days because it was otherworldly strange why the wind was chilly in summer. I remember just getting to the golden gates bridge two weeks ago and not being able to get the amazingness that is the view of that location because the entire place was clogged up in fog and it was freezing cold. I made a video in the cold that almost brought me to tears because what was I thinking wearing a soda sandals and flimsy jeans when people literally wore double sweatshirts. Now that I think of it, the weather is mostly why the bunch of them are still stuck there because no one wants the heat in the other parts of America. California is most likely the reason why they often say "you don't value what you have until you lose it" because you have to work and earn money here to be able to live the Californian dream. You pay double taxes for most goods and services and Haagen Daz is freaking $7 before tax, hell to the hell no. I am better off in my serene city where I don't pay for the bags I load my stuff in after I shop and where Boba tea is not so popular amongst college kids. This will never change the fact that I got to experience the wholeness that was this place and I am even more grateful that I had the opportunity to go again all expense paid. I have wondered in 50 million ways how this summer has turned out way better than my original plan. Someone mentioned how when we pray, we should be more specific about what we want and while I don't remember praying to live almost 2 months free of charge I know my prayers were close and I am grateful. I will particularly miss the bloom; especially how the beautiful flowers lined up the houses in the different part of town giving it the quintessential white picket fence vibe. To top off the dream homes you will normally find a Tesla model Y or two parked up front which again is the indicative index that people are not playing in this part of America. Excited that I have one more trip planned towards the end of the year to this beautiful place and I am fervently counting the days.

In summary, *I have lived a fake life and it will be so hard to go back* I am flummoxed that my friends that have spent their summer working in bigger cities have failed to share how they survived after getting back home. It is not as serious as you think but it is when you consider that I cannot wander the bay and shores of the Hilton every evening and muse over what I should order in for dinner. I will never remain the same again and I know I am being overly dramatic but sadly it is what it is. Here's what I have decided to do until the start of school, look at the amazing photos I took in every city I visited, moan about how much I miss it over there and work on bagging a grant for my research because I need an assistant so bad. Now that I think of this, the order might be a tad messed up but common sense has failed me hence my askew scale of preference. I promised a google drive link of my NASA escapades and I have attached it on here for your lovely eyes. This is the much I could share considering this is a government agency and everything needs a security clearance. There is a short footage of the most interesting atmospheric payload launch experiment we did with most of the space center university team and as you can tell this was the highlight of my time here. I am available to answer all the questions you might have if you want to know anything more about my time here. I only ask that it be within the engineering part as I earlier stated that although space explorations might be cool, I have little to no interest in all the work that goes on in sending man to the heavenly bodies. I could probably try to answer based on what some of the astronauts I met said but that's about it. This post is getting longer than usual so I vote for closure right here. Let me know what plans you have for August and if there is any chance it might be more fun. Until our next newsletter, I truly and sincerely wish you the best.

NASA - Space Center 

With all my love➰➰

Helen Damilola 💓