Thursday, May 07, 2026

What I Spent: April 2026

As a reminder, my husband pays the "big bills" like mortgage, phone, car, and electricity. I pay for groceries and the pets and that somehow evens things out. I spent a lot of money this month, but have no regrets.


Travel ($6.75, <1%) - public transit on my trip to Chicago

Technology ($29.99, 1.2%) - cloud storage for the year

Bills ($158.83, 6.5%) - insurance, home and car

Eating out ($170, 7%) - This is a lot for me. I ate out with Sarah for our buddy read a couple of times, had meals out when I was in Chicago (and twice in my own town when Bestest Friend was here), and got coffee a couple of times. 

Entertainment ($184, 7.6%) - Spotify membership and tickets to the Field Museum when I was in Chicago. Oh, AND I ordered my Advent calendar for the year ALREADY. 

Personal care ($191.84, 7.9%) - I had to stock up on some basic makeup supplies, including foundation, eye shadow, and some new lip stain. I mean, maybe I didn't "have to," but it feels like it's necessary. Next month I'm going to start adding regular pedicures to this category, so I have a feeling it will go up. 

Pets ($238.18, 9.8%) - Can you believe how low this is? Don't worry, it won't stay this way. Hannah the Dog is going to the vet on Tuesday because she needs to be vaccinated. 

Savings ($200, 8.2%) - You know what? I already added more than this in May. I will do better by the end of the year. (she says to herself)

Clothing ($544.25, 22.4%) - Okay, this seems like a lot, but it really is all necessary. I bought three pairs of summer pants, including these amazing linen pants that were on sale at Athleta. I cannot wait to show them to you if it ever warms up enough for me to wear them. I also bought new sports bras because that has been a for real problem. I also bought new cross trainers AND insoles because my feet and ankles were not having it when I had any impact with my old shoes. 

Oh, and I bought a couple of summerweight scarves while I was in Chicago and this is the category where I put my nose piercing. When I type it all out like this, it actually doesn't seem like a ton per piece. (For those of you asking if I need more scarves, the answer is always YES.)

Next month I'm on the search for new sandals and probably some lightweight professional tops to wear with those amazing pants. And then I'll be all prepared for summer. 

Groceries ($709.52, 29.2%) - We still gotta eat. Every single month. 

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How appalled are you by the amount of money I spent on clothes last month? Anyone else want to buy bright pink linen pants (they are very pink! it's awesome). 

Wednesday, May 06, 2026

Day In the Life, 5/4/2026

Monday was my mother's birthday. In an attempt to not think about that, I spent the day documenting what I did all day.

On Sunday, Hannah had GI issues, so I was sleeping on the couch in case she needed to go outside in the middle of the night. The thing is, neither of our girls knows how to act when we're downstairs overnight. Zelda keeps laying on me for thirty seconds and then jumping off my bladder or breasts to get down. Hannah must think I'm dead because she keeps coming over as soon as I fall asleep to nose at me - I think she's just checking to see if I'm alive. So, what I'm saying is that the sleep was not good.

2:04am - Hannah wakes me up. I decide we should go outside for a quick tour around the block. There is a surprising amount of traffic and it takes me a long time to realize that it's closing time. That makes me worried about the cars and I hustle Hannah along as quickly as I can. (No GI movement, in case you're curious.)


5:30am - Alarm goes off. I stare at the ceiling, hoping for more time to sleep. Alas.

6:00am - Get up, brush the cat, and check the weather. Friends, there is a flood warning and fire warning simultaneously. What in the ever loving fuck is this?

6:10am - Walk Hannah. No GI movement.


6:30am - I finish chores from yesterday, including putting away granola and sweet potatoes that I left in the oven overnight to dry out. I feed H half of her breakfast and get my own breakfast ready. 


6:45am - I sit down to breakfast where Dr. BB and I discuss Hannah coverage for the day. I'm going take the morning shift, he's going to come home in the afternoon. She might be home alone for an hour or so, but if I'm not confident in her control, I can stay for that hour, although it will be annoying.

7:00am - I put the clothes away that we line dried overnight. I grabbed all the things I brought downstairs to sleep (my pillow, charger, Kindle) and brought them upstairs with me. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, cleaned my piercing, and did an eye mask. While the mask was masking, I read a book. 


7:30am - Get dressed, put on work clothes.

7:45am - Log on to work. You can absolutely skip this if you are uninterested in my work.

Emailed the group chat that I'd work from home this morning while on sick dog duty.

Looked at a portfolio for a student in my class. The portfolio is not great and I decide it's going to take me too long to give feedback right now, so I start looking at students who made appointments with me over the weekend.

I commented on a few blog posts.

I arranged for someone to take over yoga the student union today since I'd probably still be home with the dog.  

8:12am - Heard Zelda finishing her breakfast. I wanted to know how she did, so I looked. The brat left one kibble and her steroid. Sent photo to Dr. BB.



8:13am - Back to work. 

Toubleshooting an issue with our degree audit form, including a phone call from a faculty member. Chatted with one of my colleagues about the issue so she didn't mark a student deficient for graduation.  Prepping for student meetings for later in the day.


9:15am - Walk Hannah. Oh, boy. Not a good outcome.
9:30am - Call vet. 
10:00am - Feed Hannah the rest of her breakfast. Give her medicine, as per vet tech I talked to. 
10:05am - Back at work, with occasional stops to see how the dog is doing. I'm writing feedback for that portfolio I ignored postponed earlier this morning. I also took another phone call from a faculty member troubleshooting our registration system.

Poor baby does NOT feel good.


11am - Tried to walk with Hannah. She laid down in the grass in the neighbor's yard and seemed content to just sit in the sun. We did this for 20 minutes and then I brought her back inside.

11:30am - My husband's home. He's now on dog duty. I ate lunch and headed to campus.

12:30pm - I have barely started my computer when a co-worker comes into my office to troubleshoot the degree audit. 

Work stats for the day:
Emails sent: 18
Student meetings: 3
Co-worker meetings: 2
Phone calls: 8
Meetings arranged for the future: 5
Grading and documentation - caught up 
Items off master to-do list: 4

4:40pm - Leave work to head to the local shoe store. The owner is retiring. This is SAD NEWZ because this is the place where I take to have my shoes repaired. But at least I got some deals, I guess. It's a short-term win for a long-term inconvenience.  


5:00pm - Head home. When I get home, my husband is already cooking/reheating dinner and he just took the dog out. I unload my haul from the shoe store, put away items from a Sephora delivery I received, feed the dog, and read my book on the couch for fifteen minutes. I consider vacuuming the dining and living rooms in those fifteen minutes, but YOLO, right?



6:24pm - Walking the dog again after dinner. She was cooperative and actually walked, but it was not a productive walk.


6:46pm - We made a grocery list and head out after I change from the dress I wore all day to jeans because it's cooling off quickly. The list is pretty bare, but we're planning a trip to Costco later this week, so don't worry. We won't starve. 


7:17pm - We arrive at my friend's house with cookies. We chat with him, his mom, and his sister. This is such a hard time for everyone. 



8:24pm - Finally make it to the grocery store. The self-check we usually use is not working properly. By the time we make it out of there, three different employees have had to assist us and we ended up finishing our transaction at a different terminal. 

9:11pm - We're blocks from my house when I notice we're right behind one of the cars with the penis taillights. I had to take a photo through the dirty windshield, but I had to document it.


9:16pm - Back home. We unload the groceries, prep the ginger (we peel it and freeze to it make grating easier), and take Hannah out for a walk before bed.


9:38pm - Getting ready for bed. I brush my teeth and take my make-up off. Then I take a shower. We discuss if someone needs to stay downstairs with Hannah (no). I blow dry my hair and do my daily goal tracking/journal. Then I put Hannah to bed, start the dishwasher, and go upstairs to wash out my piercing.  I read my Kindle book for ten minutes.

10:30pm - Lights out. 

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You'll note that I did not get any yoga or strength training done today because I was too busy walking Hannah half a dozen times. What is something you wish you had time to do today?

Tuesday, May 05, 2026

April 2026 Accountability Buddy

Wednesday, April 1
15-minute stretch class at lunchtime
30-minute yoga for fatigue and depletion - I had a tough fitness class yesterday and made have overdone it with my bad leg. I needed a day when I didn't really do much with my lower body.

Thursday, April 2
30-minute full body yoga

Friday, April 3
Day off

Saturday, April 4
25-minute chair yoga class at the community center
15-minute stretch class at the community center
40-minute gentle exercises for shoulders and hips - I really liked this video.

Sunday, April 5
30-minute full body tri-sets

Monday, April 6
30-minute yoga video in the student union at lunchtime

Tuesday, April 7
45-minute body blast at the community center after work

Wednesday, April 8
15-minute stretch class at lunchtime
20-minute full body stretch 

Thursday, April 9
30-minute yoga video in the student union at lunchtime
60-minute Zumba class after work at our local church - I don't know if I've ever talked about this class. It's held at a local Methodist church and I usually think very mean things about Methodists (based on two weddings I've been to), but this church seems cool. Zumba is free - they ask for donations. They are always handing out free food and clothing. It also seems to serve our Hispanic population and when I go, I'm usually one of the only people there who doesn't speak fluent Spanish. I love the vibe and how patient they are with me (the white lady with no rhythm showing up). It's honestly pretty great and welcoming. I don't go every week because it doesn't always work with my schedule and all the impact hurts my leg, but it's so much fun and I laugh and always feel better after I go. Thumbs up, First United. You make me think that maybe there are still some Christian churches doing good.

Friday, April 10
Day off

Saturday, April 11
30-minute total body dumbbell strength workout
30-minute yin yoga

Sunday, April 12
30-minute walking workout
30 minute low back hatha yoga - I was sort of hoping for more twists out of this, but it was helpful. 

Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14
Days off

Wednesday, April 15
5-minute warmup - Maybe I've never talked about this before, but I think warmups and cooldowns are a scam. But it had been a minute since I'd lifted a weight, so I did a warmup. I do not think it did anything.
35-minute no repeat total body strength training
30-minute yin yoga

Thursday, April 16
30-minute yoga video in the student union at lunchtime

Friday, April 17
Day off

Saturday, April 18
35-minute full body no repeats dumbbell workout
30-minute yin yoga - sometimes I want yin yoga and sometimes I'm annoyed that I'm not moving more

Sunday, April 19
30-minute Japanese power walk (#38)
30-minute yin yoga with Adriene

Monday, April 20
30-minute yoga video in the student union at lunchtime

Tuesday, April 21
10-minute stretch class
45-minute body blast class at the community center (outside! - canoe man!)


Wednesday, April 22
15-minute stretch class at lunchtime
30-minute yoga total body stretch - I did something to my bad leg yesterday at class, so I did a mat yoga practice. But I did it outside! Why not? It was a beautiful spring day. 


Thursday, April 23
30-minute yoga video at the student union during lunchtime
30-minute Zumba (I was there for an hour-long class, but I have to admit that my feet were killing me - I had new shoes and it didn't go well and whatever I did at the Tuesday night class is a thing)

Friday, April 24
Day off

Saturday, April 25
30-minute full body dumbbell workout - I really liked this video. Challenging moves without being impossible. 
30-minute yoga cool down 

Sunday, April 26
35-minute total fascia stretch - I was supposed to do cardio today, but I honestly ran out of sports bras. I had to throw one out and I didn't realize I was so close to the margins on non-yoga sports bras. I need to buy one or two more!

Monday, April 27
30-minute yoga video at the student union during lunchtime

Tuesday, April 28
45-minute body blast class at the community center (outside!)

Wednesday, April 29
15-minute stretch class at lunchtime

Thursday, April 30
30-minute yoga video at the student union during lunchtime

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*Our local healthcare organization does free stretch classes virtually three times a week. Sign up here! It's free. It's fun. We regularly talk about candy and what's for lunch. It's a delightful break in the middle of the day. You do not have to have your camera on. 
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Total: 24/30 (80%)days doing thirty minutes or more
Cardio/strength: 13 days
Yoga: 19 days 
Short stretch classes at lunchtime: 4 days
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Do you workout at a place outside your home? Do you have a regular gym or community center where you go? 

Monday, May 04, 2026

What I Read: April 2026

Before we get started, this is just a reminder that if you want to be sign up for a chance to win a mystery book package, please fill out the Google Form before Wednesday when I'll pick a winner!

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4/4: The Book That Matters the Most by Ann Hood (library audiobook narrated by Nina Alvamar, 2016) - I don't know. There were things I really liked about this book and things I really didn't like. Confusing. 3/5 stars (is that a good star rating? I DON'T KNOW.)

4/11: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (library, 2012) - Teen love triangle with ice skating and hockey. Look, I have GOT TO STOP READING YA. Not for me. 2.5/5 stars

4/11: The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (library audiobook narrated by the good and great Julia Whelan, 2022) - Props to Korelitz for writing a book in which every character is terrible, but you somehow want to keep reading more. 4/5 stars

4/15: The Martian Contingency (Lady Astronaut #4) by Mary Robinette Kowal (library ebook, 2025) - I really liked the first three books in this series and was excited to see Kowal was continuing the series. But I thought this book was like 800 pages long because it was taking me so long to read it. It's not that long, but it was boring. Just read the first three books. 2.5/5 stars

4/17: We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated from the Japanese by E. Madison Shimoda (library, 2023) - Book club book. What the hell did I just read? 2.5/5 stars

4/18: Ruins by Lily Dalton-Brooks (library, 2026) - Good Morning, Midnight and The Light Pirate were such great books. I was PUMPED for this one. And it was...not my favorite. 2.5/5 stars

4/19: Good People by Patmeena Sabit (library ebook, 2026) - Interesting. Cleverly done. I'm still contemplating the ending. 4.5/5 stars

4/21: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (library audiobook narrated by Karen White, 2008) - Sometimes you read a gentle book with weird magical realism and you just go with it. Also, I read this in 2012 when I was going through my Sarah Addison Allen phase, so that explains why I knew all the "twists." 4/5 stars

4/24: Legacy by Nora Roberts (library audiobook narrated by January LaVoy, 2021) - Sometimes you just want to listen to a Nora Roberts book, you know? 4/5 stars

4/24: Kin by Tayari Jones (ebook I own, 2026) - Buddy read with Sarah! We both loved it! 4.5/5 stars

4/26: The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (library, 2026) - Yes! I love an epistolary novel. They are so propulsive. 4.5/5 stars

4/27: The Road by Cormac McCarthy (library audiobook, 2006) - And my stellar run of books has ended. This is bleak, plodding, and plotless. I know people consider it to be a modern classic, so I apologize if I'm offending anyone, but this book did not do it for me. 2/5 stars

Total: 12 books
Average star rating: 3.42/5 stars

Did not finish:
By the Sword (Valdemar) by Mercedes Lackey - In my review for The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, I wrote "I liked the first part of this book when the main character was at school, but as soon as the actual war started, I was less enthused." That's how I felt about this book. As soon as she started fighting battles, I was not into it. Dare I say I think I'm done with Valdemar? DNF at 46%. 

Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - I read the first book and it was meh and the start of this book was not making me revisit that thought. DNF at 23%. 

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Is there a modern classic you want to like, but just don't? Is there a modern classic you recommend to everyone? 

Sunday, May 03, 2026

Happy Birthday to Nance!!

Today is Nance's birthday! Let's all head over there and wish her a happy, happy birthday. 

Nance is from the same area where my Bestest Friend is from, used to teach English in high school, and one of my favorite things on the internet is her comment section. In a recent post, we went from a comment in which I was complaining about signs targeted at dog owners to discussing the ambiguities of the English language. Where else can you get such value in 2026? Only at the Department. 

Available at Bike Parts on Etsy.

Because of Nance's influence, I try to bring up Moby-Dick once a month or so. Notice how Moby Dick isn't hyphenated in the above graphic? THEY DON'T KNOW THE RULE ABOUT THE HYPHEN. Nance knows.



Everyone go wish Nance a happy birthday! She's had a rough year and I just know this next year is going to be amazing. 


Friday, May 01, 2026

CBWC April 2026: Week 4

It's Cool Bloggers Walking Club (CBWC) time! Hosted by Elisabeth, we're trying for ten minutes of intentional movement every day. This the last week and Hannah and I tried to make the most of it. 

The mighty Rock overflowing its banks.

Wednesday, April 22
37 minute walk with Hannah the Dog first thing in the morning - I WORE SANDALS AND NO COAT. This is not a drill. Warm weather has (maybe?) arrived. 
11 minute walk with Hannah before bed
That is the stance of a dog who is pissed at this photo taking bullshit. 

Thursday, April 23
51 minute morning walk with Hannah
32 minute walk with Hannah after work



Friday, April 24
10 minute walk with Hannah at 1 in the morning. Who ate the cat food and was sick all night? IT WASN'T ME.
30 minute walk with Hannah this morning. 
17 minute walk with Hannah after dinner
14 minute walk with Hannah before bed

This is Hannah's take on Abbey Road

Saturday, April 25
48 minute walk with Hannah this morning
32 minute walk with Hannah after lunch



Sunday, April 26
43 minute walk with Hannah in the morning
32 minute walk with Hannah after lunch

I talk about a lot of training wins with Hannah, but let me tell you a real not win. This basketball is not normally here at this point in our walk. Hannah saw it, jumped back and nearly knocked me over, and proceeded to whine at it for a few seconds. She's scared of a ball? (My theory: She's getting older and her eyesight is not as good as it used to be.)


Monday, April 27
41 minute walk with Hannah in the morning
33 minute walk with Hannah after work
12 minute walk with Hannah before bed

This is always what Hannah would prefer to be doing instead of walking. Look at how grey her muzzle is!! 


Tuesday, April 28
47 minute morning walk with Hannah
23 minute walk with Hannah (or, rather, laying down in the grass and making me pull her up) after work
17 minute walk with Hannah before bed

These geese were mad that we were there.


Wednesday, April 29
45 minute morning walk with Hannah - She's really a morning dog and this is the only walk I can reliably get her to go on without being a brat about the whole thing. She's a true delight on morning walks. 
27 minute walk with Hannah after work. Remember how I said something about the weather changing earlier in the week? Well, I was wearing a coat, gloves, and mittens on this particular walk.
20 minute walk with Hannah before bed
It's lilac season, motherfuckers. 


Thursday, April 30
40 minute morning walk with Hannah - Creepy, cold, foggy morning. 

But can I tell you what PURE JOY is a dog who is allowed off leash in a random fenced playground for zoomies in the morning? SO MUCH JOY. Nicole recently wrote about how her dog tracks in dirt and leaves and she's constantly trying to keep her house clean. Here's the quote: Of course, the first thing he did after I drove him home from the groomer’s was to roll around under the grapevines, meaning that his pristine cleanliness lasted exactly 17 minutes, possibly a new record. Well, as I say to my husband when he complains of dead patches in the grass, you can have spotless floors and a perfect lawn OR you can have a dog, and I CHOOSE JOY.

You know what? Me too. Her paws and belly were muddy and needed to be washed before the day could continue, but I CHOOSE JOY. 

22 minute walk with Hannah before bed

I discovered a new setting on my phone camera and now I'm obsessed with taking glamour shots of Hannah. She doesn't always look like she's being kidnapped. Sometimes she looks vaguely worried about the state of international politics, too. 

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And that's a wrap on April CBWC. Can you believe it's May today? Where are you walking today?

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Let's Catch Up

Normally I'd do a Five for Friday post tomorrow, but I'm going to finish up CBWC tomorrow, so let's go ahead and do my regular Friday post now.  I'm rebelling against my own non-existent editorial calendar.

In what is becoming a regular warning on these posts, this starts light and fluffy and then ends with tough stuff. If you don't want to be bummed out, skip number five. 

I took this last night, friends, on our after work walk. It's cold and rainy AGAIN. Fuck spring. But look how terrified of the camera Hannah is. LOLOLOL. 

1) The last time I got a piercing was roughly fifteen years ago. I had a navel piercing when I broke my leg in 2011 and I had to take it for BULLSHIT surgery reasons and then when my leg healed, I redid the piercing. The hygiene instructions back then were something like "use antibacterial soap and turn the piercing regularly and if something hurts, you can try soaking it in a warm salt water bath." I don't want to scare anyone, but the number of infections I had with this routine was greater than one.

This time around? My instructions were: squirt it with this salt water rinse after you wash your face in the morning and the evening. Don't touch it. Change your pillowcase frequently. AND THAT IS IT. The warnings about antibacterial soap usage are hysterical.  And damned if this isn't the most comfortable healing process I've ever had for a piercing. I'm only a couple weeks in, but it's going well.

2) Remember when I said I was helping my nephew with his ACT? We were focused on only one section (English) and his subscore went from a 22 to a 27. I mean. Who's awesome? I am awesome.  And he did such a great job. I'm proud of him. 

3) My husband has recently invested in an electric kettle at work which means I am regularly getting fresh tea at work! Woot woot!

Have I talked about this before? I don't ever make my own tea. It's exclusively the domain of my husband. I enjoy the tea, but I'm too lazy to do all the things. If he's out of town, I'm drinking water and getting coffee from Dunkin', you know? But he's making me tea at home AND work? I am living the life. 

4) Podcasts. I have two recommendations for shows for you. 

In Adults in the Room, a Seattle reporter goes back to a story about sexual harassment and abuse at her high school that she reported on back on the '90s as a student reporter, but still has lingering questions about. If you have ever wondered if there was more to the story about something that happened when you were in high school, this is the show for you. Also, it's super disturbing. 

My high school question: Was BB really sleeping with the high school librarian when we were in high school? I suspect she was because they lived together once she graduated. Why? He was gross and she was beautiful. Also, she was really nice to me and I hate that she was taken advantage of. 

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has a great podcast history, but I was worried about it since Bill Rankin retired that it might not have as much support. I was relieved when I listened to Who Blew Up the Guidestones?, a podcast about a bombing at a controversial roadside attraction. 

(Kandiss Taylor is a Georgia politician who features in this story. I normally do not comment on people's voices. I do not understand what vocal fry is, nor do I care if people have it. I listen to The Chicks on a regular basis, can get behind whatever it is that Bob Dylan is doing, and have a mean Tom Waits impression. But I am SO ANNOYED by this woman's voice. Whenever they interviewed her, I mostly wanted them to do the thing where they summarize the interview instead of making me listen to her.) 

This podcast is sort of fun. I mean, it's fun if you sort of ignore the part about domestic terrorism. And, really, you should because the granite stones were terrible and deserved to be blown up. But maybe not under the cover of night. 

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Radical subject change

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5) I met Rob when my friend was first diagnosed with cancer. He and his wife would alternate flying back and forth from California to help my friend through chemo, through surgery, through radiation. I was chatting with Rob once while we watched my friend play with this dog in the backyard. I mentioned that it must be so hard to be away from his home, his wife, and his life while he was in Wisconsin. He said, "this is important and this isn't going to last forever."

Those words have really gotten me through a lot of hard days in the last year year and a half. 

Two days ago my friend was in a car accident and Rob was with him. Rob died in that accident. 

We are rallying around my friend. 

But life isn't fair. Life is hard. Life is harder for some people than it is for others. 

It is a cliche to say, but it's true. Things can change in an instant. So hug your loved ones. Don't sweat the small shit. Let your dog roll in the grass. Play another game of Uno instead of vacuuming the floors. 

Here's to Rob. Your work is done and you did good.