Chasing My Ideal Career: Day Dreaming

Tags

books, family, free-writing, journaling, reading, travel, write28dayschallenge, writing

These days I’ve grown a bit envious of people who turn hobbies into money-making ventures. Jay and I love watching travel videos on YouTube. How incredible it must be to get paid to go exotic places and video the experience?

I understand that perception is not always reality, and I’m ignorant of the actual work involved with travel vlogging. I can’t even bring myself to keep our adventure journal up to date, and these people have to create content, edit, and find time to publish it? (Unless they have a whole team, which is a topic for another day.)

How We Bounced Back When Unexpected Obstacles Blocked Our Way

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adventure, beer, Colorado, food, hiking, national park, travel, write28dayschallenge

Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.

Michael Palin

Filled with wanderlust, my darling has done a great job of planning trips with varying lengths and energy level requirements this past year. While I’ve not officially checked the stats*, this year seems to be the most adventure-filled yet.

Sharing Four Things From My Quiet September

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audio books, books, concerts, justus league, live music, Marvel, reading, share four somethings, travel

I always enjoy looking back on the month, recapping a bit about what made it so special. Thankfully Heather hosts her monthly link-up, providing me the motivation to share those moments. Let’s get started for September!

Loved

Jay discovered Burke’s Garden a few years ago, but we never managed to visit until a few weeks ago over Labor Day weekend. This tiny town in the mountains of Virginia lived up to its promise to be a quiet escape from the world. We spent 2 days (mostly) unplugged, enjoying a local Amish bakery, and biking the 10-mile loop to enjoy the scenery.

Fantasy Football and Family Fun

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family, fantasy football, five minute friday, free-writing, green bay packers, justus league, nfl, sports

A few years back, all members of the Justus League* started a Fantasy Football league. Levels of football knowledge ran the gamut:

My dad brought almost 70 years of arm-chair quarterbacking into the league. Before the draft and mid-week before each round, my darling nerd-ed out with player research. On the other end of the spectrum, my mom played along just to be a part of the group. Claire, my teenage niece, just picked all Patriots players because of her love of Cape Cod and the New England area.

Halfway There: Looking Back at Camp Fradd’s Dope June Adventures

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books, glacier, great smoky mountains, hiking, national park, olympic, reading, rocky mountain, share four somethings

We’re halfway through the year already? As we finish up June, I’m joining the Share Four Somethings party Heather hosts each month. These highlights – loved, said, learned, read – are a small look at how I spent Chapter 6 of 2021.

70th Birthday Energy for the Win – Sunday in Smashville

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birthday, celebration, daddy, family, free-writing, hockey, nashville, predators, preds, smashville, sports, write28dayschallenge

There is nothing that matches the excitement of playoff hockey in Smashville. Jay and I attended our first game on a whim in 2017 and keep going back for more. Of course last year, the playoffs looked a bit differently. The NHL shortened the season, allowed more teams into the post-season, and they played it all in “the bubble.”

How to Plan an Epic Adventure (Hint: Marry a Nerd)

Tags

Grand Tetons, international travel, itinerary, scotland, spreadsheets, top deck, travel, western europe, yellowstone

As a kid, my family traveled regularly. Resulting in seeing most battlefields and amusement parks on this side of the Mississippi. When Jay and I got married, I knew one of my non-negotiables was a yearly vacation. I told him that I wanted to go somewhere every year, even if it was somewhere small. I’ve referenced the year we stayed in Kentucky in the middle of nowhere. If I can have memories of that then I feel certain that I truly mean anywhere will do. I mean I’m sure my family did something but all I remember is the Bates motel vibe from the place where we stayed.

Our first vacation as a married couple was our honeymoon in Villa Rica Georgia. A friend was kind enough to give us their vacation travel points for the stay. It’s hard to beat free on a newlywed budget!

Braving My First Overnight on Mount Leconte

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family, five minute friday, great smoky mountains, hiking, national park, write28dayschallenge

Living in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mt. Leconte has almost legendary status. While not the tallest or even the most difficult, Leconte is “the” mountain to climb. The mountain, complete with 3 distinct peaks, is easily seen and identified from town.

Starting the New Year Off Right

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books, cabin rental, Cabins, family, holiday, reading, travel

Looking back at my 2020 entries in my gratitude and bullet journals, I discovered how much of the year had gone right. While its important to acknowledge the difficulties, and grieve where necessary, I want to call out the good when possible. Once again for 2021, I’ll be joining Heather’s Share Four Somethings link-up.

Here are just a few special things about the first month of the new year.

Loved

Ringing in the new year with family

Last year, Jay and I had to forego our New Year’s Eve tradition of counting down to the new year with my sister and her family. We had “the flu” (or a reasonable facsimile which resulted in complications wildly similar to the Rona, but I digress), and kept our germs at home. At the stroke of midnight, we did a toast with Nyquil and felt grateful to not believe the superstition that what you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll be doing the rest of the year. AHEM.

Somethings About September

Tags

books, hiking, Monthly Review, national park

Loved

National Parks

Jay and I traveled west for two weeks to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. I’m still writing in my travel journal, based on notes I took of our daily activities. Almost a month later, and I’ve only completed day 10 of 16.

Once I’m finished with the journal, I hope to take those memories and turn them into posts to share here. So far I’m kicking around ideas about perspective, enjoying the journey, controlling anxiety, and making sure ‘experts’ are trustworthy.