Recombobulation Areas. Recalibration After Vacation. And a Spain Report.
And of course...Happy Fourth of July!
Happy Independence Day to my American Readers!
Wishing everyone a safe and happy day, and hoping you’re sharing the day with family and/or friends.
Question - do you have a favorite 4th of July memory? (Share in the comments!)
Of course I’m asking this so that I can share mine. Not sure if you realized this, but in 1976 yours truly was the winner of the Hartford, Wisconsin 4th of July Bicycle Decorating Contest. It was pretty epic - my dad decked out my little red bike with lots and lots of streamers - it was literally covered in red, white, and blue splendor. The prize? A child-sized china set that I have to this day. Awesome prize, and more importantly, an awesome memory of my dad. I’ll think of that today. :)
I’ll also take some time today to chill, because I tell you, I’ve had a heck of a case of jet lag since getting back from Spain a few days ago. I’m okay until about 5 p.m. then I start to crash. And burn.
My jetlag leads me to my second question:
Did you know that Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport is home to the world’s only “Recombobulation Area” sign? It’s located just outside of the TSA security area at the MKE airport, and signals the spot where travelers can (like the name) recombobulate.
I learned all about this area from Molly Snyder’s article, “Reflecting on the World’s Only Recombobulation Area Signs” in OnMilwaukee. It turns out the recombobulation sign came from former Mitchell Airport Director Barry Bateman who invented the word, “recombobulation area” to acknowledge the fact that after frenetically discombobulating for TSA (take your shoes off, belt off, take out your laptop, etc.) we all feel a bit stressed out and out of sorts.
The wise Mr. Bateman realized the need for a dedicated space to get our wits (and belongings) in order. So, he called a Spade a Spade and deemed a spot outside of TSA an official “Recombobulation Area.”
Pretty genius if you ask me, and guess what?
The idea of recombobulating is precisely What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week!
While travel is wonderful. And amazing. And eye-opening.
It also can be exhausting (in the best of ways).
So let’s not forget that when we travel, or remove ourselves from our daily routines in other ways…
We can’t forget to take some time to RECOMBOBULATE.
That means resting.
Recalibrating.
Organizing.
And getting back into the swing of things.
The need to readjust ourselves to daily life is just as important as the need to remove ourselves from daily life.
It’s about balance.
Speaking of balance… a quick word about The Saturday Sidebar.
In case you’re new here, The Saturday Sidebar is my weekly bonus content that goes out in full to paid subscribers. (Free subscribers get a peak at the newsletter, but not the whole monty.)
So that I can focus on some new features, curate epic content, and make some improvements to this newsletter, I’ve decided to take a summer sabbatical from The Saturday Sidebar.
But don’t worry… you will still receive What I’d Rather Be Talking About… EVERY THURSDAY.
And, while The Saturday Sidebar won’t go out each Saturday, paid subscribers will still feel the love - in the form of bonus content and “flash newsletters” sent throughout the summer. And for this first week without the Sidebar, I’ve made today’s newsletter a bit longer for everyone.
With that, let’s get to the good links, tips, and a bit about my Spain trip.
XO,
Abbey
podcasts
The Be Well Podcast has The Ultimate Guide To Summer Wellness. A great solo episode with host Kelly Leveque.
Want to know The Fastest Path to Escaping Your 9 to 5 Job with Less Risk? Find out on this episode of the Ed Mylett Show.
A good episode from the Feel Better Live More podcast - How to Use Food to Improve Your Mood, Overcome Anxiety, and Protect Your Memory with Dr. Georgia Ede
Networking doesn’t have to be a royal pain, it can be rewarding and actually fun. Find out how on this episode of The Liz Moody Podcast where Liz interviews one of my favorite podcasters, Lori Harder in The Best Networking Tips for Your Dream Job, Friends, Health Habits, & More.
style
Recombobulate your closet and personal style by getting your wardrobe in check and creating a great capsule wardrobe. Here’s one way to do it.
Speaking of… I wish I’d read Conde Nast’s Capsule Wardobe packing advice before my last trip. (I’m going to “packing school” before my next trip.)
What’s on sale the 4th of July weekend? The Hollywood Reporter tells us what’s what and what’s on sale.
Because who can just list one source for Fourth of July sales, here are 80 more to consider, thanks to Travel + Leisure.
Here’s what you need to know about Amazon Prime Day (July 16 + 17) according to USA Today and TODAY.com.
books
One of my favorite podcasters, Lori Harder talked about the book Daymaker. It’s premise is that if we go about our days simply looking for ways to make someone’s day… we create a ripple effect that does indeed makes someone’s day and as a bonus… makes our day too. I like this idea.
If you know me, you know I’m not a huge reader. But my husband is, and I like to walk to the library to pick up books he has on reserve. (I get my steps in, plus I feel like a reader for maybe 30 seconds.) I just picked up The Bear by Andrew Krivak, and I think I might try and give this one a read. The Bellevue Literary Press gives a great synopsis of The Bear, “A young girl and her father live alone in a mountain forest that fronts a lake in a devastated world. She learns from him how to live off the land, hunting for food, and finding shelter. The Bear is the moving story of a journey they make together to the ocean, and the bear who helps her find her way back home.”
While traveling in Spain last month, I visited two museums that are definitely worth a visit if you find yourself near San Sebastián - Chillida Leku and The Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum.
This week, let’s talk about Chillida Leku. (Cristóbal Balenciaga fans will have to wait for my museum report #2 coming next week.)
Chillida Leku. Where do I begin? I’ve never felt such a calm sense of appreciation for art and nature before visiting the grounds. The place is absolutely amazing.
Located on the outskirts of San Sebastián, Chillida Leku is a unique outdoor museum where the sculptures of the famous Spanish artist Eduardo Chillida are strategically placed to blend with the beautiful surroundings.
It’s the perfect intersection between nature and art; a gorgeous space to reflect on nature, life, and the amazing work of Chillida.
In case you’re wondering about the name - Chillida Leku - Leku is a Basque word that means “place.”
Chillida and his wife Pilar Belzunce purchased the land in 1980 with a vision to restore it as a setting where future generations could enjoy Chillida’s work in a unique and serene setting.
The vision came to fruition as the space is used today as an exhibition space, as well as a venue for musical performances, meditation, yoga, and use by individuals and organizations.
Benches are placed throughout the property, so people can enjoy an afternoon reading, working, or relaxing among the sculptures.
2024 is the perfect year to visit this exhibit as the year marks one hundred years since the birth of Eduardo Chillida. The commemorative year provides the opportunity to appreciate his work, and his contributions to the history of modern art. Consider a trip to San Sebastián - visit the Tourist Office of San Sebastián or Spain’s Official Tourism Website for more information on the many things to experience in this beautiful city.
healthy summer eats
Closing out this week’s newsletter with a bit about Spanish food. I’m still thinking of all the amazing pintxos, Basque cuisine, and Mediterranean food we enjoyed in Pamplona, San Sebastián, Madrid, Toledo, and Valencia. Each city had unique dishes, but the common theme was… fresh, healthy, and prepared with olive oil (and Spanish love). Back in the US, we’ve been trying to stick with that theme. More fresh produce, less processed meals and snacks.
If you want to know what a typical Spanish breakfast looks like, see this video.
Entertaining? Here are Three Easy Recipes for Healthy Mediterranean Summer Dining.
Run don’t walk to the store to get ingredients for this Tunisian salad recipe or this Mediterranean summer salad.
Finally, if you like the Mediterranean diet, here are some recipes and general tips.
And since it’s the Fourth of July when you’re getting this…a few nutrition tips for your 4th of July cookout.
Let’s end with some refreshment… some healthy mocktails and 3 Spanish tapas and wines to enjoy alongside.
That’s a wrap!
Enjoy your day, your weekend, and I’ll be back next Thursday!
Abbey
