The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

This is Not a Happy Things Post

Lest you think my life is one big Happy Things Friday montage, rest assured — there’s always stuff happening behind the scenes. Some of it’s bloggable, some of it’s…not. (When SHU and I had…

Hard Things, Life
Aug, 07, 2025
55 Comments

On My Shelf: Books I Read in July 2025

In recent years, summer months have marked a precipitous drop in my reading activity. Now that the kids are a bit older (and I’m in a reading groove, mostly because of all the wonderful…

Reading
Aug, 06, 2025
42 Comments

Oops! I Did It Again (Spelled It Wrong)

I’m a decent speller. (The kids’ spelling, for the record, borders on horrid, and I mostly blame the school-issued Chromebooks and their ever-present autocorrect. But that’s a rant for another day…)

Here are a few…

Habits, Language, Random
Aug, 04, 2025
36 Comments

Started a campfire without matches or a lighter.

Crashed a wedding. (I can’t…

Never Have I Ever, Personality Insights, Random
Jul, 28, 2025
40 Comments

Tangled Garden: A (Not-So-Hidden) Nova Scotia Gem

Last week was all about local adventures. With both kids off at sleepaway camp, we wanted to make the most of our time close to home — no overnight bags, no itinerary spreadsheets (though…