A Day in the Life of a Lady Nomad, Arizona Edition

Every so often, I document a day in my not-so-average life. Last time, I told you about a winter day in sunny central Spain. Today, I’m in Flagstaff, Arizona, whiling my winter away with quiet days focused on health, sunshine, and finishing up my latest guidebook. So, what does a fairly average day look like now? Well…

7 / I wake to muted winter light and lay in bed for awhile, warm and feeling Luna’s steady breath against my side, where she’s been curled up under the covers for most of the night. As usual, I’m not using an alarm clock, preferring instead to let my body’s natural rhythms dictate my days.

Eventually, I drag myself out from under the covers, turn on an old episode of Gilmore Girls, and do the usual morning routine things—taking the dog out, curling my hair, and so on.

8 / My breakfast routine is a very set one here in Arizona. Being focused on my health, I start with a series of vitamins and probiotics and such, as well as some food and usually a warm cup of cinnamon tea with honey and milk.

I also make Luna’s breakfast. Right now she’s eating a combo of rice, veggies (carrots or peppers), pumpkin (to keep her gut happy), and lean ground beef. Her breakfast often looks better than mine.

8:40 / I’m settled in a cozy chair in the sunroom to work the morning away. Today’s agenda is mostly answering emails, complaining again to the crappy American Airlines customer service about how they cancelled my flight and have yet to make things right, sending advance copies of my New York guide to people who have agreed to review it when it comes out next week, and creating a sample of the New York guide for those who want to peek inside before purchasing.

11 / After a productive working morning, I sign onto Skype to catch up with one of my good friends in Switzerland. We talk about small dogs (and how any man who doesn’t like our small dogs can go ahead and stop asking us out on dates) and her new business idea and my complicated love life until I have to sneak away and get ready for my afternoon coffee date with my best friend here in Flag.

12:20 / I make a lunch out of my Chinese food leftovers while listening to some gorgeous recently downloaded music and then head to the coffee shop down the street to meet Emily for a mint mocha and in depth conversation about loneliness, love, mental illness, and other things that close friends delve into during coffee breaks.

2:17 / The sun is shining and the day is warm, so when I get home from coffee, I immediately harness Luna and head out into the neighborhood for a sunshiny walk.

Luna is thrilled and zig-zags through the mud at the side of the road, so the first order of business when we return is a bath. When we’re done, she’s mad at me and looks like a drowned rat, but smells distinctly of lavender.

When we return from our walk, the package containing my print proof copy of New York City: 10 Locals Tell You Where to Go, What to Eat, & How to Fit In has arrived. So once Luna is presentable again, I tear into the package and carry the book happily around the house taking photos in every patch of sunshine I can find.

3:11 / Like a good author, I then sit down to review the copy and make sure all the formatting, colors, etc. have come out. There are two problems that need to be fixed, so I contact my designer right away. Then, like a good health-focused, not-working-full-time author, I decide I’m done working for today and settle in to watch the latest episodes of Law & Order SVU and Chicago PD while snacking on organic chips and salsa.

4:42 / I head out the door to my much-needed massage appointment and spend the next hour totally blissed out and half asleep before returning home to a long, hot shower and a snuggly Luna.

7:35 / I slip out of my room and socialize a bit with the roommate and her dinner guests before sneaking away again to brush my teeth and cozy up in bed for Facebook chats with attractive men in between episodes of Gilmore Girls.

8:30 / I pop two Benadryl, as I’m still getting over a little cold, and within half an hour I’m drifting toward sleep. I barely manage to turn off the computer and curl myself around Luna before sleep takes me.

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What’s a typical day in your life these days?

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Interested in Arizona? I’m working on an unconventional guidebook. Be the first to know when it hits a bookshelf near you.