Lady in Red

A belated happy new year to everyone, especially me! I recently got back from 17 days in Peru & Bolivia (would have been 15 but thank youuuu Storm Jonas!) and boy are my arms tired... from carrying home loads of alpaca-based textiles, which apparently are all in the colour family of RED (see title of post). I’ve never seen me looking so cozy as I did today!

It’s been a little surreal to come back to snow after weeks of humidity and avocados, but luckily the distraction of work helps you eat your emotions. See also: booze.

I can actually get away with posting about this trip on this here Homeworking blog since I had to design some signage and build two websites while away, although there is no photographic evidence of this. All I managed to capture is evidence of an International Netflix n Chill binge sesh (which could really be anywhere if you ignore the vague clues of Inca Kola, tres leches, potato bread, and subtitles). Also, I include some travel steez shots here: modelling my excellent flight wardrobe colour coordination; the sophisticated look a touch of duct tape adds to luggage; my own face adorned with a missing crown; and appropriating photoconceptualism in a home improvement store.

Quick rundown of the trip: Lima, dentist, Cuzco, altitude sickness, poop issues, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, long bus rides, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Islas Uros & Taquile, Copacabana, stomach issues, La Paz, El Alto, Cholets, #architecture, markets, Lima, more poop issues, buses, taxis, food, Central, leaving ;(.

(For more visual evidence of travel see the other blog I rarely update or the Instagram account I refuse to acknowledge I own. Or the documentation [and images of Lima life in general] of my lovely travel partner, P.)

In other news, the last month has dealt me a crazy array of new things: confirmed my 2010 Macbook Pro was officially failing (spontaneous restarts don’t really bode well for deadlines) and had to get a new one; new computer glasses for home use; new cement for one of my fake front teeth that decided to come loose right before my departure*; and new technical travel gear I will be abusing a lax return policy to get rid of. Hopefully some paycheques are in the mail right now, and a full-time job fairy visits soon. :-s 

Gotta say, I’m pretty excited to have these mass-produced artisanal warm-toned knits! The multi-coloured sweater (which was clearly the “reject” among the greater sweater population) especially reminds me of something I would have worn in art school and subsequently gotten rid of to pursue a more “professional” wardrobe, and the scarf (a gift) is like ketchup and mustard made a soft woven baby so comforting that I don’t even need to emotionally eat a hotdog. They’re warm as eff, and their thickness psychologically disables me from thinking too hard about what the future holds. They effortlessly pair with my existing gray sweatpants, Lettraghetti mug, and the Katy Perry tour shirt I am of course wearing underneath. Blanket is also a very good extra security layer when laying in bed and hiding from decisions/tax season/clients. I hardly know these beautiful weaves by my side, but I’ll never forget the way they look this afternoon.

Also, bonus.

*Coincidentally, I had to get a surprise root canal on my other front tooth the morning of the day I left Vancouver last August. What the fuck, teeth.