Books of 2022

I tried to read some longer books last year, to get more of an immersive experience. I’m still working on that goal for this year. I changed a few things–didn’t do goodreads, stopped running to the blog to write down every book read, did mini reviews in my journal, and I think some of those…

Birmingham and Montgomery

I’m in Birmingham with two of my close friends. Last year, we went to Hot Springs; this year, Birmingham. Kind of off the beaten path, but a good place to go. I’m on for teaching Black American Literature next semester, so this is also kind of a research trip (not that I put in for…

August–No Posts

Wow. I didn’t post at all in August. I think that’s the first time since I started my blog that I haven’t posted in a month. August was hot and special. The first bit of August was consumed with getting home, unpacking, and working on some of the things we had neglected. Seamus and Gilbert…

Great Allegheny Passage Bike Tour

Last week, three of my friends and I rode the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburg, PA. It was an incredible experience! In the summer of 2021, I was itching to ride my bike again, so I asked a friend who’d been riding to work if she’d like to start riding…

Eating My Way Through New Orleans

Yum. I ate a lot on this trip. Oji Slow Drip Cold coffee at French Truck Coffee was smoky and rich and just what I needed in the morning. Espiritu Tacos were a great mix of sweet potato, cauliflower, and cilantro. I added the elote to that, and a mezcal margarita, and it was amazing.…

New Orleans

I’m in NOLA for a work conference, and I just love this city so much. I flew out this morning, arrived to MSY around 2, and caught the city bus into town. It’s super easy now, because you can buy a 1 or 3 day Jazzy Pass for unlimited transportation on the bus, streetcar, or…

Recovered and More Snow

Everyone has recovered from Covid. Not sure if the other kids had it; all tested negative, but then we ran out of tests. Patrick made it home from Colorado with the car. We cleaned the house and thought about some home improvement projects. The kids had off school yesterday for MLK day, but they probably…

Books of 2021

I read more books than I have since I started keeping track, and it was fun, but less fulfilling than I’d hoped to read a lot of books. I have some tweaks to make for next year, but for now, here’s the list for the archives, and some reflection. * indicates e-reader ^^indicates audio 1)…

Lead Up to Break

We had a solid run up to Christmas, with some lovely traditions. We added some new things. For the first time, we put some lights on our bushes outside. I took Porter and a friend to see Junie B Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, a play at the community center that Porter’s friend was performing in.…

More Fun

Porter, Harlan, and I went to the tree lighting ceremony on campus. They had cookies and hot cocoa afterwards, but their favorite part was rolling down the big, steep hill on campus! I took the younger boys to Scottish Walk. Definitely festive to see the bagpipers and the kennel clubs with the different dogs–corgis, Westies,…