Well, it’s been a hot minute, hasn’t it? I’ve been good but work, work has not been the greatest. Lots of challenges as higher ed runs full speed ahead towards AI without any concern for its use cases, environmental impact or the like. In the world of Academia there is a lot to consider and frankly it’s taking up all of my time and my bandwidth is at capacity.

That negative vibe sucks up all my good energy but I am still pushing ahead and surrounding myself with good books and when I can, a nice meal. Plus, my fitness efforts have really paid off. Rage walking/running is highly recommended for health. All that rage provides endless fuel.

Right Now:

Still a coach for student ministry so I am about to hang with my students over three services! Takes up most of my Sunday but the students make it worth it. Coffee, a quick bite, I am out the door.

This Week:

Next week I leave for summer camp so this week will be work as usual and then picking up any last minute items for camp. We have themed days so I need to pick up some things for them. I REALLY wish one of those themes was not USA. Groan.

I plan to post a couple of reviews this week and pick my big summer read. I am not doing a summer list this year. I just want to pick a big, chunkster classic to spend my summer with.

Reading:

• Maybe in Another Life
• The Compound
• All the Little Ways
• We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

Watching:

I never have anything to contribute here but I found some stuff to watch. That new Netflix show, I Will Find You by Harlan Coben. Only eight episodes. Pretty good.

Also watching Curb Your Enthusiasm. I am a huge Seinfeld fan so anything Larry David does I am interested in. I don’t know why I never watched his show before but now I am fully invested. I will say, he is absolutely nuts and very ADHD in my opinion so I can only watch an episode now and then. It’s impossible to binge.

Family updates:

My daughter Emma is still doing well and loving New York. She is going to auditions regularly. I feel like she’s very close to hitting something. She performs at a local theatre and attends classes when she can. Her cat Jinx loves the NY street views from her apartment.

My son Evan ramped up his non-profit efforts as well as his city beautification projects for the city of Bellevue. His cat Root Beer is thriving and continues to be the most docile feral rescue known to man.

My little Otter Pup is still here. She will be 16 on July 4th, the bday we gave her based on her adoption age. She struggles a lot but still gets around, eats like a horse and is full of sass.

That’s all I have. Hope you are all doing well. Let me know!

It’s been a crazy time. Work has been very busy but reading has been good. I catch you here and there, mostly on social media but I am here and doing well, just inundated with work. The work/life balance thing got completely overturned awhile back and I can’t say it’s improving. I make the best of it.

Both kids are good. Emma is thriving in NYC. It really suits her. She continues to audition and has some work here and there. Evan’s non-profit has been going well as well as his job with the City of Bellevue. He loves Seattle.

The Otter Pup is still here!! 16 years old. I have said a least a handful of times in the past six months that the time is near and every single time she proves me wrong. The other day she tried to run out the door! Running is not something she does anymore so that was a surprise! She’s also taken to hiding kibble in her cheek like a hamster to dump into her bed so she can have a late night snack without getting up.

Right Now:

Still volunteering at church. Three services back to back covering 5th-8th grade. Love those students but at the end of the day, I am exhausted. I usually enter my attendance, grab a quick bite and pass out until dinner time. I am about to head there now.

This Week:

On Monday, I have a followup brain MRI. Everything has been good but I always get a little nervous since two small tumors remain. I feel great and have been able to up my fitness quite a bit. By outward appearances and energy levels, I am good. Much better than I was before my brain surgery. Strength is back, which feels great and also foreign. Gotta chuckle. It’s been two years!

I really don’t have much else going on this week. I am trying to line up my books accordingly so that I am never at a point where I don’t know what to read. One book that is on my radar for October:

Of course, this prompts me to reread the other books in the series because it’s been so long since I visited The Talisman. Kind of exciting though.

Reading:

• King Sorrow by Joe Hill
• I Am the Ghost Here by Kim Samek
• Wellness by Nathan Hill

Watching:

In typically Ti fashion, not a thing. These days curling up with a book is so much more inviting than gazing at a TV screen.

Grateful for:

• My health
• Still loving my ability to work remotely two days a week
• The rain we’ve had. California is out of the drought. First time ever.

I just want to say that although I have not been bouncing around blogs too much, I still see and read your posts. I hope you have a fabulous week.