June 2026 update

 This marks the end of year 13 teaching and year 9 at my current school. 

1. Save more I'm at a plateau. Just trucking along with my 9% monthly contributions to my investment portfolio. 

2. Travel More: Summer travel has started. These will post in different travel blogs, but I've made it as far as Wyoming. 

3. Don't cry over men Better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all. 

I still have no idea if there was love in my marriage. I loved him, but he said he didn't think he ever loved me.  We don't speak, and I don't ever think he will apologize for the heartbreaking things he has said. And I don't know how anyone every gets over that level of betrayal and it absolutely has impacted both romantic and platonic relationships. 

My wedding anniversary is in June. I made myself as busy as humanly possible that day because I didn't want to feel the pain that I know I need to. I know I need to process this more than I have, but graduation day was not the day for that. 

More recently I had a relationship that meant a lot, taught me what I can ask for, and expect and letting go of that has been really hard. 

4. Find Joy in work: It's weird to want something so much, be offered it and then find out, it's maybe not what you wanted after all.  There were some sleepless nights in decision making this spring. But I think I made the right choice for where I am right now. 

This is the time of year that students share the ways I've impacted them and I had a few this month that I will hold on to for years to come. I am lucky to do what I do and I'm glad to feel that again. 

In reflecting on this past school year. I didn't come in refreshed I came in exhausted, because I didn't take a break- I worked summer school; and while the money was a nice addition, the lack of ability to come down was detrimental to my mental health this school year. So props to the people that can do it. I'm not one of them. It takes me a full 3 weeks to come down after the school year, I need the summer to continue to do what I do every fall. So in taking this time off I know I'll be a better version of me come September. 

5. Get rid of over 500 items.   Coming into June I'm at over 530 items out and I'm focusing on living in a clean space. In packing for travel I got rid of more and I'm sure when I get home I will have items I didn't use on the road at all and that will be the strong hint to get rid of those things. 

Donated:

11 pieces of clothing

1 pair of shoes

4 Housewares 

Used up: 

7 Personal care items

6: Life long learning: With the school year ending and summer starting, I watched a LOT of videos this month. Some were really good, and some not so much. I hope I haven't run out of classes I enjoy. 

Running total as of June 1: Lessons: 217              Hours: 114.66

June totals: Lessons:      63                 Hours:  32.01

• America's State Parks- By National Geographic -  JAN: The man lecturing claims to be an expert but as someone whose been to a lot of these places, his pronunciation sounds like someone who has no idea what he's talking about as he is saying words phonetically that I promise you no local would every say that way.  They also don't include any MN state parks when talking about the Great lakes, which is nothing but a disappointment. Certainly good to learn about potential travel opportunities for my cross country drives, but has several short comings. Listened to 3 this month. FEB:8 more this month Made it through the ones that currently interest me- things along drives I will be doing this year. Got good ideas for trips I already have planned. I may circle back to the rest of them at some point, but for now I feel good about what I've learned and that I can actually use it in the next 12 months. March Update: Nothing April Update: Strong Desire to go back to the east coast and explore New England. May update:I probably wont be heading to the southern Appalachia any time soon, but state parks near the National Parks in Florida probably sometime in the next few years.  June Update: West Texas isn't a place I feel like spending time, more due to political leaning than much else. But Big Bend is on the National park list so knowing I will get there someday, means there is some interest in learning what else there is to do.  I have now finished this series: 3.5/5 Interesting but a lot I wouldn't use anytime soon, but good to reference for future travel.
• The Geography of the National Parks- By National Geographic New for February. I am not doing these in order I am doing them based on upcoming trips, So I started with Joshua Tree and Death Valley and moved on to summer trips though I find it all very interesting.  There are 36 lectures in this series and I have currently done 7. March Update: I watched 11 this month. I appreciate that they discuss geography of similar national parks in both Canada and Mexico, reminding me of just how special this country is and cementing my goals of seeing more of America without feeling so much pressure to see what else is out there globally as we have so much here. April Update: watched the episode on Big Bend. It's a pain to try to get to but I look forward to enjoying it on it's own at some point, looks like it has so much to offer. May Update: Nothing. June Update: 
• Ancient Civilizations of North America New in May: As a fervent explorer of America's National Park systems I am very interested in how the land was lived on and used prior to colonization. I find this super interesting and was already 4 episodes in before I realized I had completed more than 1. The lecturer provides background on terminology, concepts, carbon and other forms of dating before moving into different theories about how people came to be in different places. After the scene and background are set he move on to talking about the similarities and differences between groups of peoples that show up in different parts of the vastness that is north America. June Update: Learning about the Mississippian era communities from around 950 to 1400 CE and the introduction of Europeans to North America. In the later part of the month I learned about the ancestral Pueblo peoples. 
• Forgotten America: Rediscrovering Events that changed history 5/5 New for June: Discussion led by a singular speaker Dr. Rachel Michelle Gunter. I could have watched all of these in 1 sitting if I'd let myself. Instead it took a little less than a week.  Very interesting some things I knew but many details I did not and I like learning the weird or unknown details of otherwise relatively common pieces of information. Strongly recommend if you're looking for an interesting info dump on one of the provided topics. 
  
• Medical Mysteries 4/5 New for June. I think because I am somewhat of a mystery it is good for me to know that some mysteries get solved, but also to learn things I may not know about my own mysteries. I especially enjoyed episode 6 as it's focus is on agnosia which was the topic of my favorite psych class in undergrad "Sensation and Perception".  The only reason this series was not 5/5 is due to episode Three which should not be listened to if you have a weak stomach- I'm pretty good but bugs burrowing under my skin is something that is a real fear for me so a point was lost. 
  
• The great works of Sacred Music New for June. I thought I'd enjoy it, it's a little dry and boring so maybe not.
  
• Warping Reality: Inside The Psychology of Cults  3/5 New for June I am a millennial woman, I feel like that means I like true crime shows and learning about murderers and cults. Not sure how we ended up that way, but I know I'm not the only one.  I found it interesting, and informative. I do think there are certain types of people more susceptible to cults, those looking for structure, belonging, community, connection and understanding. And honestly I get it, I understanding the longing desire for those things. Not to the extent that I think I would end up in a cult, but I get how people do. 
  
• Experiencing the James Webb Telescope 3/5New for June. This is designed to be WATCHED or you miss out on on the beautiful images collected by the James Webb Telescope. I don't understand all of the science, but I find it interesting. 
• Urban Legends   New for June Sounded interesting. 
  

7: Adding a new goal for the rest of the year- Go to more concerts. There are a lot of shows this coming fall that I'm already booked for and I want to go to shows, on my own and work on loving myself more and not needing someone else to bring me joy. 

I saw 2 concerts in June:

Cole Porter: Let's Misbehave put on by the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall which was a pretty good show until the fire alarm went off.  I have been smitten with Cole Porter's music since High School and it was fun to hear some different takes on some of his classics.  What I didn't love was not having a set list to follow. They said everything would be introduced, but they didn't. Some where different arrangements and even different lyrics from the orginals so knowing what's what would have been helpful. Frankly if we get printed programs as Benaroya does, they should have a set list printed. 

Rhiannon Giddens with Mary Chapin Carpenter at Chateau St. Michelle Winery in Woodinville.  An OG favorite artist of mine with a more recent discovery is a great way to kick off the summer.  This concert was pure joy, everyone was clearly having fun lots of dancing and great music. I can't believe I haven't seen a concert at Chateau St. Michelle before, but I know this wont be my last. I do recommend bringing in your own food and water bottles as their food and drink prices make Climate Pledge look cheap.