I went to my first Lincoln retirement since I retired in 2024, and it was lovely. Congratulations, Scott! It felt so good to see other retirees, my former team, and even a few new educators in the system.

Played dress-up murder-mystery where everyone had secret clues and nervous “ticks.” Mine were saying, “Sit down” every time anyone stood up, and to put my head down until someone said my name or shook me. While interrogating suspects, my bonus challenge was charades - was ridiculous in the best way.

I spent time in Rockport, Massachusetts, and visited Motif #1 —the red fishing shack that has become one of the most painted and photographed buildings in New England —with my friend Johnny.

At the end of September, we attended JoAnne's annual celebration at her Greek church (Nectarios) in Roslindale. I love reconnecting with the friends who also support her. That steadiness grounds me, a tradition that weaves through the years. Continuity in faith, friendship, and ritual is resilience.

Instead of seeing a show at the A.R.T. in Harvard Square, we were redirected to the old Hasty Pudding Theater. The space carries its past in advertising posters, photographs, and echoes of laughter, a little unexpected nostalgia before the show even began.

It’s almost time to put the garden away for the season. This year, I gathered beautiful squash blossoms, my first zucchini, cucumbers, string beans, and tomatoes, which are still coming. In the late light, I caught my own silhouette, shadow bent over, picking flowers; another kind of garden art.

We went out to dinner last Saturday to celebrate my middle child’s 30th birthday. It was lovely and he brought along three of his friends.

Founded in 1935 amid the Great Depression, the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society united artists and makers for mutual support. They honor natural materials (Japan’s Mingei tradition), preserve everyday craft, and advance a just, equitable, and accessible culture of art.

Greek festival at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Webster, MA. My soon-to-be son-in-law’s family’s parish. Food was delicious, the dance demonstrations were lively, and the age range was striking; in my experience, it’s rare to see a church so engaged with its next generation.

My soon-to-be son-in-law, Elias, is the drummer for The Rokket. We caught them live this past weekend at Warehouse XI in Somerville (tucked down the alley behind Bronwyn, the German restaurant), and wow — what a night!

Indigo and Andy hosted a game night at their new home a few weeks ago - always a blast. We play Jokers and Pegs (aka Social Security), which everyone calls “the game.” I even get some Salem the cat time; he looks downright pleased with the new setup.

The boardwalk in Sandwich, MA at low tide.

On our last 24 hours in Sandwich, we finally visited the town’s famous Boardwalk. We had been to the beach on the far side earlier in the week, but this time we actually “walked the planks” (a little pirate humor).

Before we left Cape Cod, we made a trip to Provincetown. Walking those streets felt both familiar and dreamlike. As a child, my father always took us to the Army Surplus store, and I still carry those memories so vividly that sometimes I can’t tell where the dream ends and the memory begins.

I wanted to share a few more snapshots from our Cape Cod trip, ferry ride and all, over to Oak Bluffs—nothing like being on the water with the breeze and the excitement of arriving somewhere new.

We spent a week at the Cape, enjoying time together as a family, with folks joining in when they could around their work schedules. One afternoon, we took the ferry to Oak Bluffs for a leisurely lunch by the water.

Happy International Cat Day. This day was established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in 2002 to raise international awareness about cats and their welfare. The day also aims to promote adoption and encourage responsible cat ownership. My cats each have their own personalities.

My niece Jeike and her boyfriend Tom visited from the Netherlands. Savannah, Elias, and Indigo joined us at Kimball’s Farm in Westford. Even with a 2½‑hour wait for mini golf, the time flew by as we enjoyed lunch and conversation.

Went to a local event last night, a first for me! Outdoor hot air balloons, a laser light show, a great DJ, plus food trucks and vendors made for a festive evening. 🎈🎶🍔.

My niece, Jeike, and her boyfriend, Tom, arrived from the Netherlands after exploring NYC & Washington, DC, to spend time with her cousins! Kicked things off with a visit to Sequoya's workplace (Bosse in the Natick Mall) for a fun evening of darts and dinner. So happy to have them here! 💕🎯🍽️

Congratulations to my beautiful daughter, Savannah, on her engagement to Elias, who popped the question during one of their sweet, everyday evening walks, proof that even the most ordinary moments can become extraordinary. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, and shared sunsets. 💍❤️

I love the musical, Hadestown, and the Concord Youth Theater Production did not disappoint. Hurry to see its brief run this week! concordyouththeatre.org

The National Museum of the American Indian had an exhibit, Indigenous New York. I found the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) exhibit especially powerful. It explored sovereignty through the game of lacrosse, a sport they invented, which remains a strong symbol of their identity, tradition, and nationhood.

On our recent trip to New York, we noticed “Ghostbusters Central” on Google Maps and realized we were nearby, so we decided to check it out. It’s a working fire station, the very one featured in the movie.

I had a beautiful day at Great Meadows (Concord entrance) last Friday, absolutely perfect after the rain. The air was fresh, the pollen was low, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of green… in dozens of shades. Birdsong surrounded me, even if I couldn’t quite spot or identify the singers.

Voodoo Doughnut is renowned for its kitschy, quirky atmosphere and inventive toppings, including cereal, cookies, and glittery frosting. I tried the classic “Voodoo Doll” (it’s shaped like one) and soaked up the over-the-top ambiance.

Nature lovers, take note: Portland, OR, doesn't mess around when it comes to outdoor beauty. Washington Park is a true gem nestled within the city.

I went on the ghost tour in Concord, led by a young woman giving the tour for the first time. She had memorized the script, knew the history well, and did a great job telling the stories. I was surprised that some of the ghost stories were just from just 20 or 30 years ago.

I accidentally deleted this post, so here it is again (or else I’ll have two if it suddenly appears). I experienced some of Portland’s amazing food truck and foodie spots! Hawthorne Asylum is where the diversity and innovation of Portland’s culinary scene were on full display.

The city lives up to its nickname, "Keep Portland Weird." Portland proudly embraces its offbeat, countercultural spirit. From its independent shops to the humor of the Portlandia TV series, it’s clear that uniqueness isn’t just tolerated here; it’s celebrated.

I visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden, which was beautiful, but it was the intricate mosaics that truly captured my sense of wonder.

The Willamette River, central to Portland’s landscape, has over a dozen bridges crossing its waters. I took a brunch-time river tour that highlighted the history and scenery, offering beautiful views of the Cascade Range to the east and the Coast Range to the west. It was a memorable experience.

While in Oregon, I found the distance to Walden Pond (and a few other areas) pointed out in Courthouse Square, aka “Portland’s Living Room.”

I was already going to Portland, Oregon, for a conference, so I went early to visit my friends, Carin, Erik, and Alexis.

This past week, I went with Deb P. to see The Happy Together Tour at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium—a fun “greatest hits” show packed with legends from the '60s and '70s.

I’m in Portland, Oregon, for a conference and came a few days early to adjust to the time zone and explore the city. I started with a taste of the “peculiar,” "funny," and “quirky.”

Enjoyed the Strawberry Festival last week at Bedford’s Congregational Church (next year will be the 75th Annual!)

Still riding a theater wave, but managed to sneak in a movie, Lilo & Stitch. It felt like a completely different film from the original animated version, but I really loved the Hawaiian music. The soundtrack alone is worth a listen. Also saw Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York at the A.R.T.

This past week, I celebrated several beautiful milestones, moments that mark both endings and beginnings. First, we started with an adrenaline-filled celebration at TreeTop Adventures in Canton to celebrate my twins, Savannah and Indigo, 28th birthday.

Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers entering the hall at the IDEAS Educator Conference brought powerful energy to the space.

In other fun events, I saw one of my favorite up-and-coming actors, Tallulah Smoler-Curren, perform in an original show at the Footlight Club. I’m also posting a photo of Boo, a white cat who likes to sit with his front arms hanging down!

I was part of the Conference Committee that hosted the 4th Annual IDEAS Educator Conference. The night before, some of us went out to celebrate.

Happy Pride! I went to Watertown this week.

Johnny (my university partner) and I celebrated the one-year anniversary of receiving our doctoral degrees together at Toscano’s in Harvard Square - returning in our full regalia to the same spot where we first toasted with our families. It was a sweet, full-circle moment.

I’m so proud to share that my niece, Jab’ellalih Ixmatá Schaaff, graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences. She earned honors in her major and was nominated for membership in Sigma Xi, the prestigious scientific research honor society.

I went on a walking tour of the Boston Common w folks from the Upstander Project. The walk, entitled: Before Boston: How the Freedom Trail Paved Over Indigenous History was very special and uncovered missing pieces of Indigenous traditional knowledge and a healthy relationship with the environment.

Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977. Episode IV: A New Hope is from the 1979 book, Art of Star Wars. In 2 years, it will celebrate its 50th anniversary, a remarkable milestone for a story that has captivated generations, thanks partly to the long lives of George Lucas (81) & John Williams (93).

I went to VIVA Karaoke with my work family. We rented a private room and sang show tunes, top 40s, and, of course, a few 80s songs for good measure.

It’s been about 10 yrs. since Dakota graduated from high school. He started at Middlesex Community College & then transferred to SNHU. It was a good match. He took 1 course a semester and is now a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with an Associate's in science information technologies.

I haven’t gone to as many movies as I would like. Live theater, art shows, & music are my life now. Hadestown is my new favorite musical. I saw it last year at the Wang Center and the “Teen Edition” in Stoneham a month ago. I have seen two more productions: Wakefield and Billerica High School.