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 Nova Scotia: A Magical Garden Near Wolfville

Updated July 2026

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…