Sunday, June 28, 2026

LOOKED UP craft school in NC

John campbell folk school

Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T

Reading: finished Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey; tonight starting Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Eating: salmon and more salmon 

Playing: Tom Lehrer parody songs from the 1950s and 60s

Obsessing Over: Cemetery Resource Protection Training 

Researching: infrared sauna and potential pacemaker issues 

Treating myself: summer sky blue manicure and a 90 minute massage




Saturday, June 27, 2026

What made you happy this week?

​Asked on FB. Loving friends’ answers. Here’s mine:

Me:

-Rain

-Reading

-Movies at the Polk: Princess Bride & Blade Runner

-New bookshelves, and unpacking and decluttering in process 

-Good meeting with nutrionist

-Lovely new board gaming group

-Cat possibly past a bout of sickness without a vet visit? *fingers crossed*


A Perfect Day for us

Today was a perfect day. It was not full of luxury or perfection, but busy with Sean and I working well together to solve problems, make life better plus some indulgences. 

We got a sorta sick Skitty off to the vet and new meds because we don’t want Peter to have to deal with a potentially sicker Skitty while we’re out of town. 

We got a new bed unpacked for Peter for his college condo and got a pile of random charger cords and ear buds sorted and weeded out. And trash thrown out and his room arranged better.

We met with a handyman who seemed efficient and knowledgeable to get a price quote on little things to fix around  the condo it up. And eventually replace counters and sinks and mirrors and lights.

Then we had a lovely small healthy lunch. And pedicure for Sean and manicure for me. I got a blue called Summer Sky. 


Then we leisurely went to the massage place and both got 90 minute massages that were blissful. I had to rush a little to pick up Skitty on time, but we made it and got Skitty home.

We had dinner at our face sushi place, then ice cream at the Palestinian ice screamin place. 


Then Sean remembered he wanted stuff at Curaleaf which was next to a comic book/game store. And we learned about their other store in Lakeland. We bought some small merchandise to show our support.

Now we’re back at condo, have fed a hungry Skitty and will settle into some books and an early bedtime.



Friday, June 26, 2026

upcoming travel

In the past year, I moved twice (once to Tampa with Peter) and once to Lakeland with Sean (and Peter). We have been exploring Tampa and Lakeland and west central Florida, and because of that we have not missed making any big trips much. But we are ready too travel again. North Carolina by train (inspired by Susan) and the Dragon Con in Atlanta.

Once the animals pass, I have three long road trips I want to do!

And we still have a Viking credit to use up. And we both want to go to the UK.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Journaling random thoughts for today

I checked our solar panel app today for first time in awhile. Yup, still producing electric. Still saving us money.

I tried to multi-task too hard today. Eventually I had to go nap and push rest of my To Do list to later. I’m way better about doing that. Preserving my energy and health is a priority. 

I didn’t make any fuss on social media. But Peter, my baby, turned 24 yesterday. I’m still absorbing that. I love him so much. 

Here’s a photo of two things I’ve bought recently that give me joy:

  • A dinosaur who holds my Apple Watch charger. It looks so adorable and keeps my charger handy.
  • kai rose body butter. Stephen Colbert said this is his favorite smell because his wife wears it. She named it and even spelled it, I’m sure their sales took off. It really is nice lotion.


Second photo: I had a loaf of bread fail recently — yeah, I didn’t photograph that one. Didn’t rise. I think I rushed the process but I did worry my sourdough starter was not well. I discarded some and moved some to a clean fresh jar, then fed both. And they’re bubbling away happily — iykyk. I want my little yeasty friends to be happy! I have a new loaf to bake in morning; I can already tell it’s a good one.


I’m fairly certain my cat is senile. She’s never been smart. But she just is getting weirder. I think her little brain isn’t processing well. She’s still very cute.  

Looking forward to exploring our little town a bit more when our friend Susan is here this coming weekend. While I’m also praying for more rain, so if things go right, it could also be a weekend of jigsaw puzzles and movies.


Saturday, June 13, 2026

Weekly REPORT

  • Reading Jesus & John Wayne (audio) and Between Church & Hate (book) 
  • Eating gummy bears, steak, boneless chicken wings, spinach quiche — too much! 
  • Playing loads of games including new-to-me games SETI and Root and DownUp and Nana and Hot Streak and LOTR trick taking game 
  • Obsessing Over moving my cardiac care to Tampa 
  • Researching e-bikes in NC and religious rights 
  • Treating myself to sleeeeep and friends 

Small Joys Project

Back in January 2023, I came across a British woman on Twitter who had written out 365 small joys on pieces of paper and put them in a jar, ...