Currently - September '22

For this month's prompts, I took a look back at the prompts from September 2020, which I found in an unpublished draft. The last couple of weeks in 2022 have included a lot of soul searching, and I intentionally picked September 2020 to see what I was doing/thinking during another challenging time. Most of the 2020 responses could easily apply two years later, but I also came up with some new ones for 2022, apropos of the 'soul searching' bit above.

1st trip back to National Portrait Gallery in a long time 

appreciating - (2020) social connections. 

(2022) Still so true. I've had two recent happy hours with longtime and former colleagues, and we had friends over for dinner for the first time in a long time at the end of August. 

anticipating - (2020) The changing of the seasons and cooler fall weather. I'm sure I'll be complaining when it gets too cold and dark way too early, but for now, I'm looking forward to any changes in temperature that permit wearing something other than shorts and tank tops. 

(2022) Some big changes, like taking a sabbatical from work and using the time to move across the country and travel. Most of the details are still to be determined, but after meeting with my supervisor last Tuesday, I started telling people (including my family!) about it last week.

collecting - (2020) left blank

(2022) I'm adding to the collection of books from high school and college that I'm re-reading now, nearly 20 years later. Recent re-reads have included Fahrenheit 451 and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The descriptions of the talking walls and constant search for distraction in Fahrenheit 451 felt eerily accurate to the social media landscape of today, and I'm trying to remember how old I was when I read Roll of Thunder for school. This time around, I was really struck by the racist violence, and it's fair to say that most of it went straight over my head back in the day. It's excellently written, and is one of the best books I've read this year.

starting - (2020) left blank

(2022) To figure out the details of taking time off work, moving across the country, traveling etc. One thing we would like to do before we leave is a week-long bikepacking/camping adventure from Pittsburgh back to DC on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. There's not a lot of time to train, but I can definitely be more intentional about getting more rides in. 

finishing - (2020) A couple of books. After tearing through Where the Crawdads Sing on vacation, I've managed to keep the streak alive at home with a few books collected from various Little Free Libraries, including Kitchen Yarns (memoir) and Postscript (fiction). I'm also most of the way through Drinking Coffee Elsewhere (short stories).

(2022) - Finishing out summer by enjoying the bounty of produce as long as possible - peaches, corn on the cob, tomatoes, etc. We're really going to miss our weekly CSA when we move, and we will have to seek out another farmer's market after we get settled in AZ. 

Currently - August '22

Without an official 'currently' link up this month, I looked back into the archives in search of some prompts to reuse. I randomly picked August 2015, which was right before Keizo moved to the US. A very different time in our lives to say the least! 

Fast forward seven years, and here's what I've been up to in August 2022:

creating - I've started a second attempt at a haramaki (tummy warmer) for Keizo, but it's a little slow going. It's basically a large, ribbed tube, so kind of boring to work on and maybe August just isn't really the time to have a bunch of wool in your hands / on your lap, but I would like to finish it before it actually gets cold. I'm also very tempted by the new yarn and patterns I bought to make stuff for myself!

wishlisting - more vacations / travel! The photo above is from our recent getaway to Ohiopyle, PA where we rode bikes and visited Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Really the only thing in the way is planning them; both Keizo and I are lucky to have a bunch of vacation time stored up, but finding a time to use it can be hard.

hoping - next week at work is a little calmer than this past week. There are new projects starting without any of my other ones wrapping up, and it's really hard to keep track of everything and stay focused on any particular task long enough to make much meaningful progress. 

eating - After eating out and consuming fewer fruits and vegetables while we were on vacation at the beginning of the month, we've had a lot of salad the past few days. We got a bunch of tomatoes in this week's CSA box and the slow cooker is currently full of beets that have been piling up for weeks (dang, those things keep a long time!). I'm planning to make beet hummus and I saw a recipe for beet cupcakes. Maybe I'll have to start posting about recipes again to document how they turn out. 😉

watching - We've been pretty hooked on the dubbed episodes of the late 90's Iron Chef cooking competition on Peacock. There's some manufactured drama of course, but overall, it's very civilized and the number of dishes they're able to prepare in an hour is pretty amazing.

Best of July

• Closet clean out & finding a nice pair of earrings that I thought I had lost a long time ago. I gathered 5-6 bags of stuff we're not using anymore for a donation pick-up, which looked like a lot more stuff stacked in the living room than it did on out on the curb!
• Jack Johnson in concert - we had great weather and a fun time people watching from our seats on the lawn. 

Currently - July '22

I'm not sure which is harder to believe - that we're half way through 2022, or that this is the 7th Currently post this year! And while we've already passed by the first Wednesday of the month, I'm glad that it's not too late to link up with Anne in Residence and the other Currently devotees.

enjoying - I've really been enjoying the Ologies podcast lately as an escape from current events and a way to learn about the many interesting things way outside of my professional field.

having - We had my parents stay with us at the end of June, and it was really nice to see them and take some time off work. We got pretty lucky with the weather (80's and a bit sticky, but went up to the 90's the day they left), so we spent plenty of time outdoors, taking them to some of our favorite parks and to a crab house by the water, a summer 'tradition' we haven't done the past two years. 

hoping - for some light at the end of the tunnel at work. Things have been super busy, we're hiring a bunch of new people, and while I'm glad people are taking vacations, they seem poorly coordinated with the set schedules for certain projects. 

picking - some concerts, performances, baseball games etc. to go to, hoping that it makes it feel more like summer around here! 

We also are in the position to pick out a new (at least to us) car, which we sort of knew was coming, but is causing a fair amount of sticker shock nonetheless. Hopefully we will make a decision soon and can do a late summer road trip, perhaps?

using - this July 4 to read some chick-lit, start this post, and do a few others things around the house. Probably won't brave the crowds on the National Mall to see the fireworks later, but would like to check out the local concert and street fair right nearby.

Best of June

• New kitchen light - it felt like something of an ordeal at the time (as in 3 weeks for the landlord's handy person to get it fixed), but now that it's done, the kitchen is nice and bright!
• HH in Downtown DC - I met up with a friend after work and we grabbed some gelato, were serenaded with surprise music and bubbles at City Center, and strolled over to the newly renovated Franklin Square Park to check out the new design. 
• Friday night brews - On most Friday evenings recently Keizo and I can be found at one of the handful of local breweries within walking and biking distance. We happened onto a free concert at Streetcar 82 a few weeks ago and really enjoy the proximity and very low key vibe at 3 Stars.

Currently - June '22

Greetings from the patio on a lovely, 72-degree Sunday morning. My current view isn't quite as sweeping as the one below, but it's not too bad either. And while it's not the first Wednesday of the month, I'm not too late to link up with Anne in Residence and the other Currently devotees!

View from Bear Chase Brewing

celebrating - There's about a month to go, but I've started to think about how we can celebrate Keizo's birthday on 7/7. So far ideas include camping, getting together with friends of his we haven't seen in-person since before the pandemic, and/or a weekend in New York City. Plus birthday cake of course!

giving - Baby gifts! I gained 5 new cousins (including two sets of twins) last month, and went to a friend's baby shower last weekend. All the new arrivals are receiving a few of the tie-dyed onesies that were featured in the photo of last month's post. 

taking - Some time off towards the end of the month when my parents will be visiting! We haven't had house guests in ages, and it will be nice to do some 'touristy' things with them, or at least shake up the normal routine and have dinner together.

trying - To be more active during the long daylight hours and eat fresh foods while they're in season. My extra pandemic pounds haven't gotten the message that the world has moved on, and I'd like to fit into my shorts again.

wearing - Right now, and probably at least once a week this summer: a soft, stretchy, black and white romper. It's been hard to resist the urge to buy another one, but with returning to the office some days and my current collection of summer dresses that are just as comfy, I really don't need another romper.

Best of May

• Summer weather - Not everyone was excited for temperatures in the 90's, but I preferred it to the cool, grey, and cloudy week we had right after.
• Outdoor yoga classes - The location is well-situated between work and home, and it's been so nice to go to a class in-person, with plenty of space, the sounds of birds, and views of lush green trees. Well, except for yesterday's when the grass was being cut nearby.
• Two 3-day weekends - We didn't end up going camping in May, but did get to spend 3 days off together versus the usual 1 per week. Keizo had to work Memorial Day weekend, but I took full advantage of Monday off to get some extra reading and relaxing in.

From the Archives

What my June was like in:

• 2021 - emerging from our bubble to go to a wedding and get on a plane, 
• 2020 - the days after George Floyd was murdered,
• 2019 - getting ready for RABRAI, 
• 2018 - sharing our new favorite camp breakfast, 
• 2017 - work travel, and 
• 2016 - back when there were multiple posts per month!

Currently - May '22

My oh my, where does the time go? I started this draft back at the beginning of the month, and here it is two weeks later and I'm just now trying to finish it up. 

Trying out some shibori-style dye patterns on some onesies and tea towels

consuming - Greens of all kinds - baby arugula, kale, spinach & spring onions - from our CSA, as well as fresh bagels from the farmer's market. I also made pretty quick work of consuming all the episodes of the new season of the Great Pottery Throw Down and I'm on pace to do the same with Season 5 of the Great Canadian Baking Show.

feeling - Sad about some staff departures at work and a little uncertain about the whole "hybrid" work thing. Will leaving the house ever feel second nature again? Right now it seems to take an inordinate amount of prep work - making lunch, checking the weather, making sure to pack computer and notebook, etc., etc., etc. And then you go, and we're mostly on Teams/Zoom with people elsewhere. At least my desk at the office is large and next to the window!

finding - I found an outdoor yoga class on Thursdays after work and really want the weather to cooperate so I can make it a regular thing. The first class had around 12 people and it was really nice to gaze at some trees and flowers during downward dog.

following - The "Our Workplaces Think We’re Computers. We’re Not." episode of The Ezra Klein Show is almost year old now, but I've thought about it several times lately when I feel overwhelmed by my to do list or just kind of "off." It helps me remember all of the changes and uncertainty going on around me (see "feeling" above) and approach things with a little more grace.

spending - I'm getting a little better at starting my weekdays earlier, thanks to Keizo's work schedule and the sun rising earlier. I like to spend some of the time knitting, or maybe reading some non-fiction (I used to do this almost every morning, pre-pandemic) to get my brain going again.

Best of April

There's a common theme to all of these = more time outside!

• Camping - First trip of the season was a success, and the first time we'd made Japanese food over a campfire. The gyoza got extra crispy, and the okonomiyaki wasn't to bad either. Will definitely make again.
• Going out for happy hour - Both to meet up with friends, as well as revisit our favorite brewery patios with Keizo. 
• Charm City Bluegrass Festival - Our first big concert in a few years did not disappoint. We had pretty perfect weather (sunny & 70's), and it was set up on two stages so that when one band stopped, the next was all set to start. 

Currently - April '22

Saving the photo for this month's post, it appeared as though every previous April post included a photo of cherry blossoms. Nearly every single one talked about wanting spring to fully arrive so I could pack up the coats and thick sweaters and that hasn't changed a bit this year. But I did find a few surprises among the five other cherry blossom posts. Back in 2016 and 2017 I was a much more regular runner; 2018 wasn't anything special; and I guess it's good that 2021 seems so long ago? After that little trip down memory lane, here's what I'm up to currently: 

Be sure to stop by In Residence to read other's posts.

getting - A hair cut on Thursday! My last one was in the fall (I think?), so my strands definitely need some attention.

going - Camping in Cape Henlopen, DE next weekend. We went around the same time last year, and while the weather the first night was freezing (literally), it was sunny and increasingly warm the next two days. Hoping that this year will only be a repeat of the latter part.

planning - Just starting to plan an epic bike camping adventure on the C&O Canal / Great Allegheny Passage. Step 1 is getting more miles in, and thankfully the weather and longer daylight hours are starting to make that feel possible, and even enjoyable, rather than a multi-layered torture expedition.  

posting - A belated birthday card to my high school best friend. She's always very punctual with mine, but I'm about a month late with this one. Oooops.

thinking - Too much at work these days, managing several projects with upcoming deliverables, and on top of that, attending trainings and trying to figure out our new accounting system. The old one did about 97 essential things, and we're only being trained on one thing at time in the new one. It feels like a long road ahead.

Best of March

• Arizona trip - I can't believe this was less than a month ago. I'm ready for another getaway - cue camping trip!
• Fieldwork - I had two full days of fieldwork for work this month, which were rather enjoyable for a few reasons: the weather was nice enough to be outdoors, I wasn't sitting in front of a computer all day, I could focus on just one project that day, and it made things feel a bit more "normal" after working remotely for 2 years.
• More social interactions - Between being in a "full" office a few times this past month, to get togethers and eating out with friends, it's nice to have more variety and options for things to do!

Currently - March '22

We started March with an early "Spring Break" in Arizona to see my family and celebrate my niece's first birthday. I took a full week off work, and finally managed to stop thinking about it sometime on Wednesday. The weather worked out in our favor, and we enjoyed a couple of hikes and a bike ride while it was 70*+ and sunny. Here's what else has been going on currently:

Saguaro National Park

collecting - While the house collects dust, I've been collecting excuses, St. Patrick's Day ideas I won't follow through on, too much junk in the trunk, and books from the Little Free Libraries in the neighborhood.

craving - Our walk through the snow this morning left us craving soup for lunch, which we made happen with some pesto sandwiches on the side. Starting yesterday afternoon and continuing today, I've been craving brownies. My parents, Keizo and I split a particularly large and delicious one from 5 Points Market & Restaurant when we went through Tucson last week, and I'm a little worried the next one I make or buy won't quite live up to it.

picturing - I've been trying to picture what life would be like if I moved back to Arizona and spent time with my family on a regular basis instead of only 2-3 times a year. On one hand, it sounds ideal; on the other, I've lived on the East Coast for 10+ years now and losing trees, four seasons, my professional network, friendships, and my very walkable neighborhood with Metro access to DC makes the decision really difficult. 

playing - When we were in Arizona, I had fun playing with my niece - passing flash cards back and forth through the door of her doll house and stacking plastic rings on her little feet and wrists. From afar, we've had some good times making funny faces at each other on FaceTime.

wishing - There was a bit less going on at work. Multiple projects have deadlines and key milestones in May and there's a lot to do between now and then. Before signing off for the weekend, I tried scheduling my to-dos on my calendar and Monday and Tuesday are pretty much booked solid. :-/