I’m going to Rome with my mother in spring 2026!! SO EXCITED!

Sat for the JLPT N2 exam at DePaul University today. No idea how I fared. Celebrating with a hot Szechuan dinner anyway!

So long, Tucson! (I’ll be back at Christmastide.)

Grateful for sunshine in Arizona. Sorry to miss to snow in Chicago!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am fortunate to be so blessed.

Holiday travel season has begun! Ready to visit my hometown for Thanksgiving.

I’ve made a lot of progress in my amateur radio hobby this autumn! Transmitting CW has been a fun challenge.

Cardiac Cats!

Took the day off work so I could operate my radio at a historic train depot. A very good life choice.

The last monk leaves the garden; days decrease, And autumn grows, autumn in everything. The whole seems to fall into a shape As if I saw alike my work and self And all that I was born to be and do, A twilight-piece. —Robert Browning, from "Andrea del Sarto"

"Do not pray for an easy life; pray for strength to endure a difficult one." — Bruce Lee

Back from St. Louis. I had a nice weekend scoping out national parks, historic sites, and art museums!

On my way to St. Louis, Missouri for the weekend!

I had my yearly mammogram today. (I’m fine!) Tell your loved ones to get screened regularly.

Big radio day! Volunteering at the Chicago Marathon to do emergency communications with ham radio operators!

Five life lessons from 二尊院 (Nison-in Temple) in Kyōto: 1. Don’t be impatient. あせるな 2. Don’t get angry. おくるな 3. Don’t be arrogant. いばるな 4. Don’t get disheartened. くさるな 5. Don’t be lazy. おこたるな

朝学習 (asagakushu, “morning study”) keeps me focused and grounded.

I turned 43 years old today. Incredibly grateful for my life. On to the next chapter!

GO CUBS GO!

Race day!

I’m down to four figures on my student loan payments. Progress!

"The leaves of brown came tumbling down, remember? In September, in the rain. The sun went out just like a dying ember, that Sepember, in the rain. To every word of love I heard you whisper, the raindrops seemed to play a sweet refrain." —Chad & Jeremy

I want a proper desk to work on my Japanese studies and write my daily correspondence.

I’m putting my efforts into studying Japanese language and kanji for two exams I’ll sit in December 2025/January 2026.

Lovely quiet Sunday. Grateful to have the time and leisure I want.

Grateful for my parents. I’m doing my best to appreciate them as fully as I can while they live.

While my mother and I were tending to my porch garden this morning, we discovered elm tree seedlings!

Full moon magic!

My parents are in Chicago for a week. What a treat!

This Labor Day weekend, I did not labor.

Quiet and content.

Nature journaling & bird watching in Jackson Park!

Programming my handheld transceiver radios has been an exercise in patience and follow-through.

Grateful for my stand of sunflowers, grown from seed. The goldfinches are delightful to hear and see.

Enjoying a few days visiting my brother in Seattle!

Dog days of summer in Chicago. Happy to stay inside and read in front of the fan.

Fox hunt practice with the radio club! (No actual fixes being hunted; it’s a beacon sourcing task.)

Sleepy Sunday. Glad to take things slow today.

Big thunderstorm rolling in through Chicago! Perfect for reading.

Royals vs. Cubs at Wrigley Field!

I’m glad I made time to watch thr sunset each might in Michigan. Grateful for this time by the lake.

I had a great morning birding along the Paw Paw River!

On board the Pere Marquette train to Michigan! Excited for a 4-day solo trip.

Big rain in Chicago!

Preparing for a summer grilling cookout! At the market picking up proteins & vegetables.

Grateful for this morning’s post-rain air wafting in through the window.

I rested a great deal this long weekend. It felt good and necessary.

Last morning in San Diego. So nice to breathe in cool ocean air.

Beach life (for a few days) has been magical. Soaking up as many ocean breeze and waves as I can.

Catching a late-night flight to San Diego!