My intentions have been to post once a month but will you look at that?…It’s been 2 months since my last post. And so it goes. I hereby declare I’m going to post when I feel like it to free myself of guilt!

Unfortunately, summer hasn’t started out so well for us….Mr. SOTSS’ dad passed away over the weekend from a rare and rapid illness called CJD and we’re really all just in shock. His dad was just shy of 72 but was quite strong and healthy up until 2 months ago when he started to show symptoms. He was still running a business and doing all the things. Neither of us ever expected this. We’re now navigating through unchartered territory with the loss of a parent (and me trying to to support someone who’s lost a parent). I’m grateful to have had a few years to get to know him and experience some memorable family sailing trips as well as two special trips to Block Island (off the coast of Rhode Island)—first, for his wedding in 2015, and then two years later to celebrate his 70th birthday. I have to say that his passing has left me feeling that sense of urgency once again. Stop waiting and start doing….wait, isn’t that the tagline for The Home Depot? But really….we need to just tell our loved ones we love them as much as we can and go do what makes us happy on the regular.

On a brighter note there have been many awesome moments since my last post too.

Mr. SOTSS’s birthday was a quiet one this year but we celebrated with ice cream which is always a great way to celebrate 🙂

His youngest daughter just graduated from middle school and his oldest daughter just turned Sweet 16.

I have also discovered that our yard has some lovely flowers growing. We had peonies a few weeks ago and now we’ve got hydrangeas.

I finally got a chance to go kayaking on the lake across the street from us. They rent kayaks and canoes every weekend from Memorial Day thru Labor Day for $15. I’ve gone twice now and plan on going again this weekend. It’s so peaceful out on the lake.

I only first experienced kayaking on one of those trips to Block Island as I mentioned earlier. I may not be great IN the water but I do like being ON the water….

Speaking of water, I’ve been working 2 days a week in Manhattan and ironically am driving from New Jersey back into Staten Island to commute via the Staten Island Ferry because it’s actually the cheapest and most efficient way to get downtown.

I went to Baconfest at a local winery here in New Jersey with my friend Lisa. We enjoyed pairing wine with fries that were covered in pulled pork.

I attended one of those “Paint your Pet” events where I got to paint this picture of Duncan (and sip wine simultaneously).

I had a peaceful outdoor yoga practice with my friend Roe a few weeks ago overlooking the NYC skyline. Hoping to get there once again in July and August for this special summer series.

It’s all about quality, not quantity these days…a couple of short and fulfilling runs and a few hikes as well.

I’m really proud to say that I’ve been keeping up with some basic strength training at home 3 times a week for 4 months now. My 5 pound dumbells are starting to feel too easy now so I’m going to bump up to my 8 pound dumbells next week. Woo hoo! There are still some things I don’t see much of an improvement with though…specifically push ups! Why are they so hard?

Oh, and I had my first “frozayyy” (frozen rosé) while out to dinner with some of my girlfriends. Not pictured was a HUGE soft pretzel with beer cheese. It’s not pictured because we inhaled it before I thought to take a pic. #truestory

And I finally got a haircut last week. I kid you not that I hadn’t had a haircut since February of 2018. It was time. I managed to get a couple of days out of my blowout too which is a near impossible feat in the summer but we had a few low humidity days.

Other randomness…

At the beginning of this month I had a business trip to Montreal.

I was hired as a photographer to shoot some candids at my client’s offsite meetings and 15th anniversary celebration dinner. I didn’t see much of the city but I did have their famous poutine…

And of course Duncan and Chester are still living their best life. I even watch them on our “doggie cam” when I’m at work. Apparently Chester lets Duncan get the window a lot.

I have no big plans for the summer but in light of Mr. SOTSS’s dad’s passing, I’m going to try to do more of the things that matter and less of the things that don’t matter. More reflecting and less worrying.

What are your summer plans? Is everything ok in your world? I sure hope so.