I had high (unrealistic) hopes for my ability to participate in The Gal's Gratitude Challenge. But the school year ending, a month-long trip to prepare for, and a doozie of a cold, I just can't keep up.
6.08.2026
finished reading
From the publisher:
A darkly comic and warm-hearted novel about an old man on a cross-country mission to reunite with his high school crush—bringing together his adult daughter, two orphaned kids, and a cat who can predict death—from the beloved author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals
At sixty-three years old, million-dollar lottery winner PJ Halliday would be the luckiest man in Pondville, Massachusetts, if it weren’t for the tragedies of his life: the sudden death of his eldest daughter and the way his marriage fell apart after that. Since then, PJ spends both his money and his time at the bar, and he probably doesn’t have much time left—he’s had three heart attacks already.
But when PJ reads an obituary of his old romantic rival, he realizes his high school sweetheart, Michelle Cobb, is finally single again. Filled with a new enthusiasm for life, PJ decides he’s going to drive across the country to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community in Arizona to win Michelle back.
Before PJ can hit the road, tragedy strikes Pondville, leaving PJ the sudden guardian of his estranged brother’s grandchildren. Anyone else would be deterred from the planned trip, but PJ figures the orphaned kids might benefit from getting out of town. PJ also figures he can ask Sophie, his adult daughter, adrift in her 20s, to come along to babysit. And there’s one more surprise addition to the roster: Pancakes, a former nursing home therapy cat with a knack of predicting death, who recently turned up outside PJ’s home.
This could be the second chance PJ has long hoped for—a second shot at love and parenting—but does he have the strength to do both those things again? It’s very possible his heart can’t take it.
currently
I am...
Thinking: I have so much to do to finish up the school year and get ready for my month-long trip to Virginia
Feeling: this cold has really kicked my butt! I'm still without full voice and coughing and very tired
Celebrating: there are two days of school left for me this year!
Grateful for: I was able to make a nail appointment at a different salon. I'm relieved to get any appointment anywhere!
Enjoying: putting together a capsule wardrobe to hopefully prevent me from overpacking
Weather: 66° and mostly cloudy
A quote I want to share:
6.07.2026
sunday stealing
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10 Questions You Aren't Used To
1. What celebrity would you never want to meet? George Clooney--I'd be afraid the mystique I have for him wouldn't survive
2. What do you label yourself as? a voracious reader and social studies teacher
3. You can only have one sandwich for the rest of your life. You have every sandwich-making ingredient known to man at your disposal. What sandwich do you make? well, it would really depend on a lot of things: would I have to eat it daily? I've been craving a BLT lately, but I never turn down chicken salad with craisins and pecans
4. An angel provides you with a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. What's it gonna be? well... I don't drink so there's that...
5. Have you ever built a snowman? yes
6. If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be? how long does it take me to adjust to retired life?
7. Have you ever baked your own birthday cake? yes
8. Which are cooler: dinosaurs or dragons? dragons
9. What do you like about babies? how they smell so sweet, and when they reflexively curl their fingers around yours
10. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. What's the first rule you put in place? a well-rounded education is free
INSTEAD OF STEALING, LET'S BUILD OUR OWN MEME. Think of a question you'd like to ask and insert it here. If we get at least four good ones, we'll do our own DIY meme in a week or two.
What takes up most of your time when you're not doing this?
Would you rather have every traffic light turn green or always get the best parking spot?
finished reading
This story focuses on Cassie Hanwell, a glass-ceiling-shattering star in the Austin Fire Department who moves cross-country to live with her ailing, estranged mother. While Cassie is a rock star as a firefighter, she’s a bit of a dud on a personal level-stubbornly refusing to open herself up to the possibility of love or affection. Watching her character grow over the course of the story was incredibly satisfying.
The rigorous, intense life in a firehouse was much more than I expected. Firefighters are true heroes! The makeshift family Cassie builds among her initially reluctant coworkers feels completely genuine. Her healing process with her mother is equally realistic; it certainly didn't happen overnight.
Ultimately, the novel’s big themes are handled sensitively yet realistically. No character experiences a sudden, magical epiphany—the changes are earned, making the story all the more impactful.
From the publisher:
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's excellent at dealing with other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it's an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.
The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because she doesn't fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don't date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she's worked so hard to be taken seriously?
Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.
finished reading
From the publisher:
An insanely competitive housing market. A desperate buyer on the edge. In Marisa Kashino’s darkly humorous debut novel, Best Offer Wins, the white picket fence becomes the ultimate symbol of success—and obsession. How far would you go for the house of your dreams?
Eighteen months and 11 lost bidding wars into house-hunting in the overheated Washington, DC suburbs, 37-year-old publicist Margo Miyake gets a tip about the perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, slated to come up for sale in one month. Desperate to escape the cramped apartment she shares with her husband Ian — and in turn, get their marriage, plan to have a baby, and whole life back on track — Margo becomes obsessed with buying the house before it’s publicly listed and the masses descend (with unbeatable, all-cash offers in hand).
A little stalking? Harmless. A bit of trespassing? Necessary. As Margo infiltrates the homeowners’ lives, her tactics grow increasingly unhinged—but just when she thinks she’s won them over, she hits a snag in her plan. Undeterred, Margo will prove again and again that there’s no boundary she won’t cross to seize the dream life she’s been chasing. The most unsettling part? You’ll root for her, even as you gasp in disbelief.
Dark, biting, and laugh-out-loud funny, Best Offer Wins is a propulsive debut and a razor-sharp exploration of class, ambition, and the modern housing crisis.
finished reading
On the bright side, the love triangle felt fresh, and both men were entirely swoon-worthy, making the relationships feel believable. Ultimately, though, I just couldn't quite get past Cassia's entitlement and brattiness.
From the publisher: She’s seen what her happily ever after looks like. And it’s not him.
Cassia Park believes in soul mates. Fated love stories. It’s her family business, after all—for centuries, from Korea to Los Angeles, the Park women have peered into clients’ past lives to find their one true love, their “fated”. This magical secret is why One & Only Matchmaking has a 100% guarantee … for everyone but Cassia.
Enter Ellis. He’s twenty-eight, indecently handsome, and not destined to be the love of her life. But destiny has more than one curveball ready, and her surprising connection with Ellis might be the key that unlocks finding her fated—and reveals a family secret that will make her question everything she’s ever known about her family, her belief in love, and truth itself.
Cassia will have to decide if she’ll follow her fate… or make her own.
postsecret
PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.
6.06.2026
gratitude days 4-6
Something I do every day has become my hobby: driving. I love my morning commute, which is about 30 minutes of driving Route 1 with fields on either side and rolling hills in the distance. The fields are filled with potato crops, and it's lovely to see the season's bounty. I love my afternoon commute because it's my opportunity to rehash the day and really leave work concerns in the car, so that I don't overthink everything when I'm home. It's a neat little trick I developed during my therapy journey and it serves me well.
Driving has become one of my hobbies, too. It's how I relax, how I unwind, and there's nothing more fun than a leisurely drive with no destination in mind.
saturday 9
For You
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) In this song, Rick Nelson tells us he'd give his girl the stars from sky or a string of pearls. Have you more recently given or received a gift? What was it? I gifted a "blind date with a book" gift to my work bestie for her birthday.
2) By the time this record was released, Rick was already a show business veteran. He had been a regular on his family's sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, since it began airing on radio when he was just 8. Most of us weren't child performers but many of us had chores around the house. When you were young, did your parents give you an allowance? $3 per week
3) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet moved to TV, where fans saw Rick grow into a teen who drove a 1932 Roadster. The car really belonged to Tony La Masa, who collected classic cars and rented them out to TV and movie producers. Have you ever earned or raised money with your hobby? no
4) Paul McCartney has called Rick Nelson an "underrated singer who could really carry a song" and said Rick was one of his influences. Who do you believe you have influenced, professionally or personally? as a high school teacher, I'll say I've influenced over a thousand kids
5) This week's song was already an oldie by the time Rick performed it. "For You" was recorded the first time by Casa Loma Orchestra in 1933. In those days, most records were 78 rpm discs, thick and usually only able to hold 3 to 5 minutes of sound per side. Most record companies stopped producing them in the 1950s. Have you ever seen a "78?" yes, we had quite a record collection as a family
6) The lyrics to "For You" were written by Al Dubin. After Al left college he supported himself as a singing waiter. That's really two jobs in one. Which would you do better at: singer or server? server
7) The music was written by Joe Burke, whose last hit song was "Rambling Rose," recorded in 1948 by Perry Como. Have you ever heard of Perry Como? oh--yes! "Catch a Falling Star" was very, very popular in my elementary music classes
8) In 1963, when Ricky's recording was on the charts, the Zip Code was introduced. How many different Zips have you lived in? 3
9) Random question: When you were in high school, were you taller or shorter than your classmates? Or were you the average height? I have been the same height since I was in middle school, so I've gone from being one of the tallest to being one of the average (I'm 5'5")
6.04.2026
three on thursday
Thing one: my cold is finally starting to clear up, and my voice is slowly making a return to normal
Thing two: the graduating seniors did a school walk-through in their caps and gowns. I love seeing them walk through the halls. I think it's even more fun at the elementary school, though
Thing three: since I teach mostly seniors, I don't have many classes going right now. I hate to complain, but I've completed my end-of-year classroom chores.
6.03.2026
gratitude: day 1-3
It's not that I don't practice gratitude but I've been really sick and lax on writing on my blog. So Day 1 is about "Home," Day 2 is about "Nature," and Day 3 is about "Something I see every day." I'm combining them: outside my second-story window in my apartment is a birch tree. I love watching the seasons change via the tree and love living among the leaves. I was thinking about the tree late Monday afternoon because I crashed into bed as soon as I got home from school, and the leaves were almost glowing from the sun shining through them, casting a light green around the room.
6.02.2026
currently
I am...
Thinking: I had a poignant day with my Advanced Placement Psychology seniors; not only the last day of class together but also the last day I will teach this course--due to a scheduling conflict, the course will not be offered next year, and after that I am retiring.
Feeling: satisfied: I did some of my most creative teaching with this AP Psych class this year. Physically? I feel horrible; this cold has me in its grips! I don't think I've been sick this year, so this is a doozie!
Celebrating: the end of this school year is upon us! 😀
Grateful for: I submitted a request for the last day of school off. It was granted! Traditionally, it is a "step-up" day for the underclasses. It's an unstructured clusterfuck of a half-day, and I've always dreamed of taking the day off.
Enjoying: all in all, I have had a terrific school year
Weather: 47° and clear
A quote I want to share:
5.31.2026
sunday stealing
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Stealing the Friday Fill-ins
1. Morning duty is not the end of the world.
2. Snickers ice cream tastes so good!
3. Sometimes, putting others first is necessary.
4. Maine is breathtaking, really.
5. Well, maybe there is some truth to the matter.
6. This week, my plans include book group, after school detention, and a couple of other school-related things.
saturday 9
Mystical Magical
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's song is about a new love affair, and Benson Boone bounces between frustration and optimism when he thinks about it. Does anything inspire your mixed emotions these days? my mixed emotions are about my upcoming trip to Virginia, to visit my sister and her family. Mixed emotions because I'm flying out the day after school gets done. No time between.
2) The lyrics mention "moonbeam ice cream," which is something Benson just made up. Last summer, when this week's song became popular, ice cream shops were inspired to create flavors with that name. What's your favorite ice cream flavor, and will you take that in a cup or cone? lately, it's been mint chip, although I had some Snickers ice cream that was delicious! in a cup, please!
3) He sings that "once you know" about a love like this, "you know." Tell us about something you had to experience to fully understand. End of the year teacher tired!
4) He composed this song at the piano. Do you play piano? no
5) He first sang in public at a high school talent show, which he only entered on a dare. Can you recall any dares from your junior high or high school days? no, I can't recall any specifics, although there were so many, it's no wonder I can't remember!
6) Benson was a good high school athlete and competed in diving at the state level. Can you execute a dive off the diving board? oh, hell no
7) When he was 18, Boone auditioned for American Idol. What were you up to when you were 18? taking college classes and working a part-time job at a gas station
8) Benson has a dog named Max. He's not alone in this. "Max" is one of the most popular pet names in the US today. Have you ever known anyone (furry or otherwise) named Max? I currently have a student named Max
9) Random question: If we knocked on your door on one of your lazy, stay-at-home days, what would we likely find you wearing? skinny jeans and a hoodie or a t-shirt depending on the temp
postsecret
PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.
finished reading
Set against the backdrop of the 2024 election, the narrative follows Artie's examination of his own life amid intense political strife, perfectly capturing the meditative reflection so many of us experienced during that time. Artie's profound loneliness, his searching for meaning, and his waning professional zeal felt incredibly real and beautifully rendered.
This novel is a masterpiece.
From the publisher:
Artie Dam is living a double life. He spends his days teaching history to eleventh graders, expanding their young minds, correcting their casual cruelties, and lending a kind word to those who need it most. He goes to holiday parties with his wife of three decades, makes small talk with neighbors, and, on weekends, takes his sailboat out on the beautiful Massachusetts Bay. He is, by all appearances, present and alive. But inside, Artie is plagued by feelings of isolation. He looks out at a world gone mad—at himself and the people around him—and turns a question over and over in his mind: How is it that we know so little about one another, even those closest to us?
And then, one day, Artie learns that life has been keeping a secret from him, one that threatens to upend his entire world. Once he learns it, he is forced to chart a new course, to reconsider the relationships he holds most dear—and to make peace with the mysteries at the heart of our existence.
Elizabeth Strout, as we have come to expect, delivers a moving exploration of the human condition—one that brims with compassion for each and every one of her indelible characters. With exquisite prose and profound insight, The Things We Never Say takes one man’s fears and loneliness and makes them universal. And in the same breath, captures the abiding love that sustains and holds us all.
finished reading
From the publisher:
She’s got his back.
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.
He’s got her heart.
Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.
They’ve got a secret.
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he goes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, says no one will believe it.
What could possibly go wrong?
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.
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