What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: May 2026

You may recall that May is my favorite month. Don't get me wrong, I actually love all the months for various reasons, but May always seems to be a place of rebirth. The flowers are blooming, the sun starts shining more, and this is one of the best months to be 

in San Francisco. Karl, the fog, has not made his appearance yet, as it is brought on by the very hot temperatures inland clashing with the cool temperatures of the Pacific. The weather is just right, not too cool, not too hot, and the morning air is fresh and clear. May always reminds me that it is a joy to be alive. 

This year is no different. I flew home on the first, beat jetlag by staying up the entire flight (boo yeah) and literally hit the ground running....by going out for a run in one of my favorite places, the headlands. The rest of the month was spent with family, walking or running my usual 6 mile loop, and at the end, prepping for and starting off on the next adventure, a bike trip! This one goes from Mexico to Canada along a different dirt route, which you can see here. 80% of the route is on dirt and 70% of it is on public lands (National Forests, National Parks and Monuments, and BLM land), which means that for the most part, you can stop and camp wherever you want. Currently I am still in Segment 9 in Arizona. 

I've got a long way to go still...

I'd love to hear what you're up to! Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Alaska, BC, California, Arizona

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: I actually read quite a few books about the US and Mexico! 

Amity: 1866 post Civil War, formerly enslaved (but not yet freed) brother and sister get separated; one is in the US and one is in Mexico. Brother goes to find sister. (****)

Ballad of Love and Glory: 1846 Mexican American war (****)

On the Plain of Snakes: Travel writer Paul Theroux drives along and crosses over the US/Mexican border several times before delving deeper into the country. (in progress)

Watched: n/a

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food <-- black sesame ice cream *yum*

✅ Book about country <-- see above

✅ Family time! 

✅ Ride my bike in two new states <-- Arizona - 1/2

✅ See at least one National Park that I have not been to before. <-- Glacier Bay NP, Alaska

✅ New thing <-- saw an orca!

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1. What is the name of last month's chapter? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

February: Back in the Groove

March: Serenity Before the Storm

April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

May: The Ring of Fire and Ice

I went from Alaska (cold) to Arizona (hot) all in one month and it was quite the contrast! 

2. What did I learn last month? 

I learned a lot about salmon, glaciers, my family's knowledge of trivia questions and...cactus! I decided I had to stop calling them the "one that looks like a pincushion" and the "one that looks like a Rastafarian" and so I looked them up. Did you know that Arizona has over 50 different kinds of cacti? We all probably are familiar with the Saguaro (middle row, far left photo), and it is very fun to find people shapes within them, but one of my favorites is the Cholla (top row, middle photo), because it reminds me of my little succulents at home, where you could remove the "chick" and make a whole new plant. The Cholla does the same thing, giving it the nickname of the Jumping Cholla. Also, if you speak Spanish, you will know this already, but if you don't...Saguaro is pronounced Sah-wahr-oh, and Cholla is pronounced Choy-ah. 

Cacti

3. What was the weather like? 

It was all over the place! Alaska was around 40-50 most of the time, San Francisco was around 50-60, it was about 50-70 at my parents, and then it was 70-105 in Arizona! The only place it rained was BC, but otherwise the skies were clear and it was beautiful! 

4. What event last month was my favorite?

It's really hard to choose! I saw orcas! I even got them on video, which was very lucky! We also did a helicopter ride to a glacier while in Alaska which was a very cool experience. I have been on a helicopter before but I can honestly say that it does not get old. I would do it again in a heartbeat and would love to even learn to fly one. #lifegoals! 

I also got to ride on a narrow gauge railway that my Dad has done a lot of work with, spent a lot of great time with family and friends, got a new bike, played many, MANY hands of Rummy with my brother, had a birthday, ate hamburgers, drank beer, walked in the forest, went to San Francisco and so much more! It was a very full month for sure. 

5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month? Despite a pretty slow start, once I started riding, I read at least a book a day on audio, and due to camping, have been reading my Kindle a lot at night! However, no five stars, but lots and lots of fours! 

Book: The Electricity of Every Living Thing - While on a thru-hike in England, the author determines that she has Asperger's. The walk gives her time to think it through and contemplate what this diagnosis means for her.  

Movie/Show: The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (Britbox/Kanopy (free)) - Classic detective stories set in London and surrounds, based on books by Elizabeth George. When I was younger I read so many of her novels and loved them. The show was filmed in the early aughts so the quality is not great but the stories are still fun. 

Podcast: I am loving the Headwaters podcast, which is about Glacier NP. First of all, it is hosted by two rangers, and I like them, so that helps. Second, despite being about Glacier, there are so many interesting parallels to other things, like this episode where they talk about forest fires and how they affect different groups, the environment and the animals. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

My Driver License was expiring on my birthday this year. Now, I am not a procrastinator, so of course, I got online in February to renew. Not to make a short story long, but if you are unaware, for a REAL ID, you need to have a physical address and prove that you live there. My ID still had my Oakland address, so in order to renew the first step is to change your address (online) and the second step is to request a new ID (also online). Easy right? Well, for some reason, the online address change would not work. I would go it, change it, it would say that it was going to take 3-5 business days, then I would get no email or anything, but in 3-5 days would go back and check and it would say "not processed." I did this several times using different browsers, my phone, and even my brother, as I thought maybe the issue was that I wasn't in the US. It did not work. I sent an email to the DMV asking for an extension. I got no response. 

I was going to be arriving home one day before my birthday, so plan B was that I would just go in to a physical location. If you have ever been to the DMV, or maybe it is just the DMV in California, the reputation is not great. So I printed out everything that they may ask for, and tried to make an appointment. The first available was in June, so I decided to just take my chances. I borrowed my Dad's car and went in on my birthday, the day my ID expired, and got in line. Good news: it only took about 15 minutes! Yay! Bad news: I got back in the car and the car wouldn't start. So I spent the next hour figuring out why and ultimately getting a new battery for the car. 

In the end, it was not too bad, and I went and got my free Starbucks milkshake frappuccino to celebrate my win. The funny thing is that my Dad had asked me earlier what special thing I wanted to do for my birthday and I told him that it was just a regular day really and that I had a lot of errands to run. So after my errands I also helped him clean out the basement! Sometimes being an adult is fun, eh? Full disclosure: I had a hamburger and a beer too!

Cheeseburger salad, buffalo cauliflower, IPA

Is this how the IG people do it?

7. What am I looking forward to this month?

The World Cup! I will fly home and go to a game in the Bay Area and then go to Seattle for a second game and it is going to be so much fun. My friend K and I have tried to get tickets to other years but have failed so this is our redemption! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

MAY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?

2. What did you learn last month?

3. What was the weather like where you are?

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

JUNE: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What is your ideal birthday meal (and drink)? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: April 2026

I know that April is not quite over yet, but I will soon be on a plane, on a ship and with family, and so I thought I would post early this month, as I will be otherwise occupied once the month is actually over.  

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Thailand

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: The Glass Kingdom by Lawrence Osborne. A book set in Bangkok about an American woman who steals from her boss and escapes to an expat apartment in Bangkok. She makes some friends and meets some locals but also finds some trouble along the way. I just thought it was okay. 

Watched: Mysteries of the Mekong (shown on Apple TV, YouTube TV or Paramount) -- A nature documentary about the Mekong Delta. I personally like nature shows so I enjoyed it! 

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food <-- Malatang soup at Xiong Lao Han Malatang

✅ Book about country

✅ Documentary about country

✅ Fun times with the girls! 

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1. What is the name of last month's chapter? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

February: Back in the Groove

March: Serenity Before the Storm

April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

2. What did I learn last month? 

I learned that elephants eat for about 16 hours per day. Then also only digest about 40% of what they eat, which means they poop roughly every 1.5 hours, which ends up being a total of about 200 pounds of dung per day. 

3. What was the weather like? 

It was hot. I would estimate that the lows in the evening were around 29 C / 84 F and the highs were around 39 C / 100 F, with humidity of about 50% plus. The silver lining is that it only rained a couple of times. The downside is that I only went out for real exercise a couple of times per week (I did walk to places still, but did not do dedicated runs very often). 

4. What event last month was my favorite?

Having the girls visit! We had a lot of fun wandering around, eating, going to the beach, feeding elephants and more. It was really fun to see things through their eyes, and we gave them some cash so they could interact with the vendors and locals when and where they wanted, and seeing what they decided to do and how they handled new situations was interesting! 

5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month? My reading has been absolute crap. Between having the girls here, feeling lethargic due to the weather and spending a lot of time planning the next several months, I have not done much reading. 

Book: The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion: Vol 1. It was short and sweet and about as much as I can concentrate on at the moment. 

Movie/Show: The new season of Top Chef, which is set in the Carolinas. 

Podcast: This episode of Acquired about Costco. (If you enjoy this, you may also like this one about TJs)

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

When the girls were here, we set up some tours for their enjoyment. Tour #1 was to an elephant sanctuary, where it was hot and there were flies. L was so bothered by the bugs, and kept asking if we brought bug spray (we didn't) and spent most of the time there scratching (PS they were not biting!) and trying to brush flies off. Tour #2 was a old train ride, a train market and a floating market. L slept through the train ride, and ate something that looked like a nut in the train market (she is deathly allergic). I am pretty sure that instead of remembering the tour events, she will remember bugs, heat and nearly dying. Kids! Side note: we had a great time staying cool by playing cards in the AC cooled apartment, so I am sure there are other memories to be had! 

7. What am I looking forward to this month?

Alaska cruise, seeing family, and starting a new cycling adventure! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

APRIL:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?

2. What did you learn last month?

3. What was the weather like where you are?

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

MAY: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! If you have littles in your life, what thing have you done that they have totally missed the point of (in your mind) or didn't seem to care about? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: March 2026

You thought I only posted on Mondays, but I fooled you! Due to my 20 in 20 anniversary next week, this week I have a bonus episode for you. You're welcome! This is not a joke! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Japan

What new food did I try? There were a lot of things! The most fun one was Okonomiyaki, which is like a noodle, cabbage and oyster omelet of sorts. 

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: Fifty Words For Rain <-- Japan (kind of strange)
Read: The Reason I Jump <-- Japanese author, who happens to be a 13 year old boy with autism *This one was my favorite of the three
Read: South of the Border, West of the Sun <-- Japanese author

Watched: The Unspeakable Things That Happened in Unit 731<-- covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and World War II.
Watched: Being Japanese Part 1 and Part 2 <-- identity in Japan (especially if you are not full Japanese)

Notes: I enjoyed The Reason I Jump, as it gives you an insight into some questions you may have about autism. I also found the Unit 731 documentary interesting in that I had heard about the Japanese being cruel during some of the wars, but not this specific part of it. I really enjoyed Being Japanese, as it talks about the struggles to integrate for some "outsiders" to the Japanese culture. 

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food
✅ Sent > 5 post cards
✅ Hiking in Japan
✅ Book about country
✅ Documentary about country

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1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove
March: Serenity Before the Storm

April will be busy, then...the summer will be busy...so March is the last calm month for a while! 

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned that the reason the Japanese statues have little "aprons" on them is because they are an offering to the guardian of children and travelers, Jizō. Parents place these items on statues, often with hats, to ask Jizō to keep their children warm and safe in the afterlife, to ask for protection or express gratitude, or to ward off illness or evil.

Statues with bibs

I also learned how to wash before going into a Shinto shrine (use dipper to clean the left hand, right hand, mouth, then clean the dipper), and how to properly pray at the shrine (pay a coin for good luck, bow twice, clap twice, pray, bow again [and sometimes ring a bell]) and how you should walk to the side of the path as the middle is reserved for the gods. 

Washing station

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was great! It rained a few days but mostly it was around 10 C / 50 F. Perfect running weather! 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Hiking the Kumano Kodo was great. It is a pilgrimage over 1000 years old and it just felt so serene, walking amongst the tall cedar trees, seeing the shrines and temples and hearing the birds and the bugs. It was right up my alley. 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

Book: I really enjoyed Travels with Charley, in which John Steinbeck takes a road trip across the US with his dog. 

Movie/Show: I started the new season of Top Chef, which is in the Carolinas this year. 

Podcast: Don't be fooled by the title; this episode of Choose FI is of two women talking about getting used to not hoarding time, and about how hard it is to let go of perfectionism. I related to them very much. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

Well it's not really "funny" but I had to get dental work done in Japan, a root canal and a crown, in two different cities, and neither of them spoke any English! It turns out, they have very cool machines and the out of pocket cost (total--> root canal: $90, crown: $375) was probably less than it would have been at home WITH insurance. Despite disliking dentists generally, it was probably the most pleasant dental experience that I have had in a while. Also the second dentist let me take photos of him and his machines while he was making my crown! 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

The girls! They will be joining me for spring break and we have a lot of fun things planned. Elephants, floating markets, eating all the street food, massages, mani-pedis, beach time, temples, buddhas, the works! I will need a vacation once they leave but it will be very fun I am sure. 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

MARCH:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

APRIL: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What was the worst dental procedure you have had? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: February 2026

I like February; having four weeks means there is an organized manner to the month. Exactly four weeks with no extra days hanging off the ends. It is short but sweet, and is a good time to start planning for the months ahead. I did get some planning done, started my continuing education for my licenses and even worked on my taxes! So it was a productive month, all in all. Here is the look back for the month. I will also be adding notes on new foods, books and documentaries set or about the countries where I am traveling, and completion of any items on the looking forward post I did last week. This month, I will also go over a few of my FIGS, hosted by Elisabeth! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Taiwan

What new food did I try? Peanut Ice Cream Roll (rice paper, peanut crumbles, ice cream and cilantro), aka the Ice Cream Burrito. Delicious. 

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: Daughters of Shandong <-- China/Taiwan
Watched: Island in Between  <-- Taiwan

Both courtesy of Diane. Thanks! 

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅Rode a bike in Taiwan 
✅ Sent > 5 post cards

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FIGS: Lunar New Year decorations and celebrations, finishing a good book (see below), getting a clean bill of health, random morning catch ups with several loved ones, a few runs along the river, mostly great weather, a couple of fun and challenging hikes, dragon fruit smoothies, boba tea, getting my taxes 90% completed, getting my continuing education 90% completed, 7-Eleven takeout meals.  

7-Eleven Chicken Breast Bento
Tofu, egg, chicken, cabbage and rice

Just heat and eat! Cost ~ $3.00

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1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove

This is a play on words as I (1) pulled a muscle in my back and had to read a lot and recover for a while. However, it could not have come at a better time, as I was (2) in the same place for one month, hence the "in the groove," as I was also able to get back into a routine of sorts for the month, even if it was not as active as I had hoped. 

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned that firecrackers are lit during Lunar New Year to scare away evil spirits and the mythical monster "Nian," while welcoming good fortune, joy, and prosperity for the coming year. This ancient tradition signifies a loud, celebratory start to the spring festival. The noise and bright flashes are believed to attract good fortune and prosperity for the new year. 

How did I learn this, you are wondering? Well, this goes on not just for one day, but for about two weeks, or maybe more, and it happens all day long, but especially around 11 pm or 12 am! When I left at the end of the month it was still happening and the actual New Year day was on the 17th. They are VERY loud. Also, paper slips representing things like money, cars and homes are burned to honor ancestors and deities by providing them with money, goods, and, by extension, wealth for the afterlife. This is a crucial expression of filial piety (care for elders), ensuring spirits are well-provided for in the new year.

Needless to say, the month of February was very loud and smoky! 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was mostly nice! There were a few rainy days, but all in all the weather was probably highs around 21 C / 70 F and lows around 9 C / 48 F. There were a couple of hotter and cooler days but it was very temperate for the most part. 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Being in a place that celebrates Lunar New Year was a lot of fun. I mean, I have been lucky to live and work in San Francisco, where we have reportedly the oldest Chinatown in North America as well as one of the largest outside of Asia. This means that I have a rudimentary knowledge of the customs or events during this time. However, it was tenfold in Taipei! Also, in San Francisco I learned how to say Happy New Year, but I only learned it in Cantonese, so I have had to learn it again in Mandarin! The decorations and the lights and the lanterns are very striking and very impressive to say the least. 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

Book: The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami

Movie/Show: I usually don't have Netflix, but my Airbnb had it, so I binged Outlander. It was fun to see some of the places where I was only a few months ago. When I was in Scotland, I had not seen any of the episodes, but we did pass by some of the filming locations, and I actually stayed with a friend in Linlithgow. The palace there (where Mary Queen of Scots was born, and where my friend got married!) was Wentworth Prison in Outlander. 

I also got an Apple TV subscription with one of my credit cards and I need suggestions! Do you have any? 

Podcast: The Thoughtful Travel podcast. If you are looking for inspiration for destinations, or like to hear stories of why people travel, their mishaps along the way, traveling with kids and more, you may want to check this out! 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I had a hamburger in Taiwan on one of my last days there. Why is this funny? Well, if you know me, you know that I like to eat the local food. However, I was meeting up with some new-to-me friends, and when I asked them if they wanted to go to the night market, my friend said that her husband was "not an adventurous eater" and that he liked going to Western food places. So not only did I have a hamburger, but I paid more for one beer and one hamburger than I probably have paid for my last 8-10 meals out at local places (and for the beer, I essentially paid San Francisco prices for it). However, the moral of the story is, that if you want to make new friends, you have to (literally) pay the price. PS they were both very nice people and I would hang out with them again. 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

I am looking forward to hiking the Kumano Kodo (PDF map here) in Japan. Like the Camino in Europe, it is an ancient (1,000 year old) pilgrimage linking three grand shrines. It is considered a path for healing, purification, and spiritual reconnection with nature. You know me, I love spiritual reconnection with nature! Also, there are Onsen, which are thermal baths, where you go naked, and I think that is something that I need to try at least once in my life. 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

FEBRUARY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

MARCH: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Do you have any suggestions of what to watch on Apple TV? Have you ever been to a naked thermal bath? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: January 2026

I know that for some, January was a cold and bleak month, but I was lucky to be in a place where that wasn't the case. After spending the holidays with family, I set off again, this time heading westward from home. It didn't start without a bit of adventure though, as the day I left, flights were being canceled right and left due to the conflict with Venezuela, and the airspace was closed over the Caribbean. My flight was delayed, then delayed again, then canceled. The wait time on the phone for an agent to figure out what do do was eight hours. I tried the chat, but as they often are now, it was a bot, and it was not very helpful! I got onto another flight, which was also delayed, then delayed again, but finally I made it out of the country! I ended up spending about 10 hours in the San Francisco airport. 

Pro tip: don't take no for an answer. When I got to the airport, despite not needing to check a bag, I stood in line for an agent. I asked him if he could put me on a different carrier, since the only other flight on my carrier (Delta) was the next day. He told me that with my 30 minute layover in Seattle, even with the delay, I was "going to be fine with the connection," aka, I would make my next flight. I was highly doubtful, so once I was inside the airport, I went to another desk with a real person and was put on a direct United flight, which is what I would have wanted anyway. Unfortunately this flight was also delayed and I ended up getting in about 4 hours later than I would have originally had things gone according to plan. 

The other saving grace was the lounge access I have on one of my credit cards, which I have been trying to decide the value of, but you can't put a monetary value on the ease of being able to hang in the lounge with food and WiFi and drinks and a nearby toilet while the world is going crazy outside. It's the rough times that show you who your real friends are and what things have more emotional value than you may have realized before. So, without further ado, here's January in a nutshell. 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Taiwan

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

Taiwan is known as "the Sweet Potato" apparently due to its shape, and/or the fact that sweet potato plants are resilient, as are the Taiwanese people. In January, I rode around the entire island, mostly around the edge, eating my way around each city one by one. 

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned that Taiwan is called the Sweet Potato. I learned that dragon fruits are a cactus looking plant. I learned that I don't really like asparagus juice but I love milk tea. I learned that the kanji for "cold" looks kind of like a puppy dog to me. Woof.

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was quite nice! Mostly around the 70s f / 20-25 C but sometimes a bit cooler, and a few days of rain and high humidity. However, mostly pretty darn good! 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

It's hard to say but I did enjoy the night markets in Kaohsiung, as well as a hike I did there, which I found randomly but really enjoyed! 

Kaohsiung Liuhe Night Market

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? I got off to a a rough start and did not finish my first book until January 11th, but due to the bike ride, which meant LOTS of audiobook time, I caught up on my reading goals a bit and there were some good ones! However, none of them WOWED me, but I think my mood is just not in a "wow" mood right now, so I gave no 5 star reviews in January.

Book: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen, which I started during the cruise in late November, but finally came back to and finished, and am glad that I did. 

Movie/Show: I binged the last few episodes of Grey's Anatomy. I know its basically a soap opera, but what can I say, I still enjoy it after all these years. 

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary on the BBC, where real people tell interesting tales, like this one, where a man accidentally finds his birth mother in his local bakery. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I got attacked by a monkey! I was in the Taroko gorge and I had just ridden up to a little village and I sat down to have a drink and a snack and before I knew it, a monkey was running up to me. I stood up to get away and he hopped up onto me and tried to get my food. For some reason, I resisted, as if saving my food was important, and he went away. However, two minutes later he was back, and I put my food behind my back to keep it away from  him and a different monkey came out of nowhere from behind and snatched it right out of my hand. It scared the bejeezus out of me and I screamed like a little girl! 

This is not the monkey that attacked me, but it is the same type.
(Formosan Rock Macaque) 

The funny (?) thing also is that I just watched Outbreak a few days before that and after the monkey took my food, I thought about how lucky I was that he had not bitten me or something! There is a scene in the movie where a little girl is feeding apples to the diseased monkey and it puts you on the edge of your seat, I tell you! 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

I am looking forward to the Lunar New Year, and to settling in a bit in one place, to going to a couple of meetups, finding some good hiking trails and eating more great food! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

JANUARY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

FEBRUARY: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What is the longest amount of time that you have ever spent in an airport? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: December 2025

December was an interesting month, and not a relaxing one, as is often the case. However, it was filled with good people, good food and sometimes even good weather! This is the last monthly wrap up for 2025 but stay tuned for my 2025 "month by month book" later this month! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Atlantic Ocean, Florida, California

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Baguettes and Many Steps
February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii
March: Wet and Wild
April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too
May: Al Fresco
June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions
July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure
August: The Dark Tourist
September: Recharging The Batteries
October: Blown Away
November: Baby, It's Cold Outside
December: (Not So) Calm Seas

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned a lot about sea turtles! I listened to a lecture by a biologist and learned about what the different types are, what they eat and how long it takes before they reach the age of maturity (10 years in some cases) and have to find their old hatching grounds to lay their own eggs. The one most of us are probably most familiar with is the Green sea turtle, which is the one with the pretty shell (like the one in Finding Nemo) but there are six other types! 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was nice on the Atlantic, rainy and warm in Florida, nice on the California coast, but there has been a nasty tule fog in the Sacramento valley that is also quite cold and has been lingering! At my parents for the holidays, it was rainy (and the Sierra got a big snow). Then we got a King tide and a lot of rain, which caused a bunch of flooding and a shut down of the 101 freeway! Woohoo. 

Donner traffic cams on the afternoon of Jan 4

Marin county on the afternoon of Jan 3

4. What event last month was your favorite?

It's hard to pick one specific event, but I would probably say in general, it was spending time with loved ones! 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? Although it feels like due to visiting, I got no reading done, I actually did read a few good things. 

Book: The Correspondent & The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club #5) 

Movie/Show: My Dad and I got hooked on the Norwegian holiday TV show Home for Christmas (Hjem til Jul) on Netflix which was totally silly and very Hallmark movie, but of course it was fun to see how it all turned out. 

Podcast:  I'm enjoying Lives Less Ordinary and Things Fell Apart on BBC

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I told K's kids that if they swore, they would have to pay me $1 per swear word. The youngest, L, who is 11, asked if we could clarify which words were bad. I said of course we could and asked which she needed clarification for. She said, "what about the C word?" and I told her that definitely that was NOT allowed. She said, well can we confirm what it is (you know she just wants to say all the bad words but have permission to do it) and I said sure, but we won't repeat it ever again afterwards, and she says....Crap!

Of course I said, yes that is a bad word, but I thought you meant a different one and she wanted to know what it was. I did not enlighten her. 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

I am hoping to do some cycling if I can get my butt in gear (pun intended!) and rent a bike and figure out where to leave my stuff etc. This is where I want to go. Photos and stories TBD! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

DECEMBER:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

JANUARY: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Do you think crap is a bad word? Where do you draw the line for an 11 year old? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: November 2025

Despite being a bit chilly, November was a great month! I had some time to wander around, regroup, pet cats, hike some high peaks, spend time with friends, hug children and see some beautiful sights. 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? England & Wales

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Baguettes and Many Steps
February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii
March: Wet and Wild
April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too
May: Al Fresco
June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions
July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure
August: The Dark Tourist
September: Recharging The Batteries
October: Blown Away
November: Baby, It's Cold Outside

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned about the textile trade in England. In Manchester, it was cotton and it was very important, which is how they became as big of a city as they are. Also during the Civil War they decided to stop buying cotton from slave owners, which meant that they had to source the cotton from Egypt and other further afield places, therefore driving up the prices. There are also a lot of well known bands from Manchester. Can you name one? 

I also learned about the silk industry in Macclesfield, which was kind of like the "end of the silk road" as London would send the silk there to be processed. I got to see an old loom in action, which was so cool, but very, very loud! I can't imagine working for 10 or 12 hours a day in that kind of environment! 

Silk looms

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was a tad chilly, with some rain at the beginning and by the end, on one of the colder days, it was about 17 degrees F! On that day, I was riding a bike, and it was icy! 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Its hard to choose! I spent some time in Snowdonia, and loved wandering every day, as well as climbing Mt. Snowdon. The peaks and valleys there are beautiful! However, I also cycled from one end of Wales to the other on the Lon Las Cymru route, and that was quite an adventure! Last but definitely not least, I got to spend some time with Rachel and the kiddos (and the husband of course!) which was great. We even went hiking with the twins and I made a new bestie (Clara)! 

Me and my new besties!

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? November was not a good reading month. I was having trouble getting into any audiobooks, despite having time on the bike or hikes to listen! However, there were a few that were four stars for me. 

Book: A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden

Movie/Show: N/A

Podcast: nothing new... 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I was riding the bike on a tiny Welsh road, down a hill and a patch of ice came along and I fell! It was such a slow speed fall (in my mind) and I wasn't really hurt. Also there are barely any cars so I was not in danger of getting hit. However, it was so hard to pick the bike up off the ice and gingerly make my way off the ice with the bike! Also, later I discovered quite a nasty bruise on my thigh, but I had not even felt it when I fell. 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Hugging my Mother! 💖(and my Dad of course, but there is something special about laying your head on your Mothers' bosom, isn't there?) 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

NOVEMBER:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

2. What did you learn last month? 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

DECEMBER: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Can you name a band from Manchester? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: October 2025

As I mentioned in my last post, I was out of cell and internet service for most of October because I was walking the Scottish highlands, and when I wasn't out of service, I was either looking at the weather or my next route on a trail, or I was spending time with friends. My friend has two kids and we spent hours talking about the different ways to say something in Scottish vs. American English. It was loads of fun. Mostly it was them making fun of me, but in a very loving way. For example, they thought it was hilarious that I say trash instead of rubbish, candy instead of sweets, store instead of shops, or gah-rahge instead of gare-idge (garage). 

We had a long talk about the difference between squash (concentrated fruit "juice" that you add water to before drinking), soda (and how people in the US also call it pop or coke), and fizzy drink, which is what they call soda. Also, their favorite, and something I learned from their Mom (or Mum as they say) about 20 years ago, our pants are their trousers, and their pants are our underwear. So if you tell someone you are not wearing pants, you may get a "wee giggle" from them! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Scotland and England

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Baguettes and Many Steps

February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii

March: Wet and Wild

April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too

May: Al Fresco 

June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions

July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure

August: The Dark Tourist

September: Recharging The Batteries

October: Blown Away

2. What did you learn last month? 

I had a marvelous time at the (free) Highland Museum in Fort William, which had a nice display about the Jacobite Rising and Bonnie Prince Charlie. It is still a bit confusing figuring out the royals (like James, who was Catholic and ended up being King of both Scotland and England, but in Scotland he was James VI and in England he was James I, because they were still ruled separately at the time). Anyway, Bonnie Prince Charlie was grandson of James VII (who was grandson to James VI, are you still following this?) who was the last Catholic ruler in Scotland, but had been banished to France when the protestants took over the throne. Bonnie Prince Charlie fought to win the throne back, but lost. Hence no Catholic leader. While hiking, I also got to go past some areas where battles were fought, which tied it all in nicely. Plus despite being a lot of sex and kilts, Outlander does talk a bit about some of this history (side note: I have not seen the show, but I did see some of the places it was filmed apparently).

Blackburn Castle (apparently in Outlander)

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It came in like a lion and out like a bobcat. The month started off with Hurricane Amy and gale force winds and rain. I think in some of the western islands, the winds were supposed to be 60-90 mph! However, I was in the highlands for that, and I would guess they were in the 30-50 mph range where I was. I did have a few wet and windy days, but after that blew away, I had a couple of basically nice fall weeks! I was pleasantly surprised as I had steeled myself for rain every day. I would say in the 31 days, it probably rained all day maybe 5 of them, rained a bit maybe 10 of them, but the rest were pretty nice (about 2-12 degrees C most days / ~ 35 - 55 F)! I call that a win. 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Spending time with the kids was fun. We played games, talked about fruits vs. vegetables, learned about mammals, did quizzes and just had fun hanging out. Of course it was great to see my friends too, who I haven't seen since 2009. 16 years is too long between visits!   

And also this! I got to see the "Harry Potter bridge" where they fly the car under it. 

Glenfinnan Viaduct

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

Book: The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. This book is a little disturbing as it starts off with a tragedy. However, I couldn't help but relate to all of the characters, even when they were not necessarily aligned. If you read it, tell me, what do you think about Corby, the main character? Do you want him to be forgiven? 

Movie/Show: I had a lot of fun watching the show Traitors with my friends. It is kind of silly, but it is like the game Murderer that maybe you played when you were a kid. There is one or more Traitors and the other people are Faithful and they all have to try to figure out who the traitors are before they get killed. I only watched one episode, but it was entertaining. 

Podcast: Do you like true crime podcasts? You might like Paradise! It's about an English couple who turn up dead in the water off the shore of Guatemala. Who killed them? Listen to find out?

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I don't know if this is funny, or just fun. As I was walking over a creek on a bridge, I saw a blue heron down below so I stopped to film him and all of a sudden he flew and then landed in the water and was flapping around. I thought he had gone mental until I saw he had a fish in his beak. The fish must have been about a foot long and they thrashed about a bit before he let the fish go in a small pool of water then sat pecking at it a bit. I think he was waiting for me to go to eat it, so I left. But I got it all on film! It was the coolest thing, and I was telling the kids that I feel a bit like David Attenborough! 

Sorry about the quality - screenshot from video

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

I am looking forward to a few things! Time to catch up after being out of touch all month, visits with friends, maybe a bike ride (?) if the weather holds up, and also, I will start to slowly make my way back home at the end of the month! More on that later! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

OCTOBER:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

2. What did you learn last month? 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

NOVEMBER: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Have you ever seen a bird catch a fish? Or any other strange David Attenborough moments? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: September 2025

September was a great month. In fact, September may be close to May in being one of my favorites. I love the not so hot weather, lack of big crowds and bugs, cooler nights and quiet days. I was happy to spend most of the month in a mountain town and I really got to recharge my batteries after a couple of months of more planning and being on the go. 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Bulgaria

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Baguettes and Many Steps

February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii

March: Wet and Wild

April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too

May: Al Fresco 

June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions

July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure

August: The Dark Tourist

September: Recharging The Batteries

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned how to mail myself something in Bulgaria, which may sound easy, but it is not what I expected. You do not get things mailed to your address (and the addresses are not always what they say they are either); instead you have it mailed to a central company, which is not the post office, but is instead privately owned. I guess it is similar to living in a rural place, as in the area I grew up in, the UPS driver may not know where to leave a package if you put in your address; instead, most people get things mailed to a PO Box, which is kind of a pain when you need to get something send via UPS or Fed Ex, as they do not mail to PO Boxes. However, in Bulgaria, I still am not sure how the private mail company makes money, as I went to pick up my stuff and I didn't have to pay any sort of service fee. Maybe the sender pays them? This I have not yet learned. 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was GREAT! The highest high was around 70 and the lowest low was maybe around 40 and the days were clear and the sky was blue and I skipped and pranced all around, whistling a happy tune all month. 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Skipping and prancing and whistling a happy tune, of course! No really though, I met up with some people for a hike, some different people for dinner, went bike riding with a friend, met a running buddy, and went to the big city to sleep on a friend's couch and visit. It was a good month socially, outdoors-wise, weather-wise, and everything. Plus I got some future travel plans booked! It was a productive month. 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

Book: It was a rough reading month. I only read eight books and DNFed two books in September. None of them were FABULOUS!, but the best one I read was Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man. You can't help but get annoyed by, and love Vera, all at the same time. 

Movie/Show: I finally watched The Pianist! Having been to Warsaw recently, it really helped cement some of the details of the uprising in my mind. 

Podcast: I started listening to a new one called Backpacker Radio, as I wanted some inspiration, but I am not really sure how I feel about it yet. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I can't really think of one! Your turn! 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

The Cool Bloggers Walking Club, obviously! :) 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

SEPTEMBER:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

2. What did you learn last month? 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

OCTOBER: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Can you get packages delivered to your front door? If not, where do you went them? 

Looking Back: Books

Belgrade, Serbia

I did a hike at the end of July for eight days, and on that hike I read at least a book a day. During the day, I'd listen to an audiobook, and at night, after setting up camp and eating, I could easily read half of a book. However, I won't lie; since then, I have been in a bit of a reading slump, so to speak. In the third quarter of 2025, I DNFed at least five books, and there were at least three more that I only got a few minutes into and just didn't feel interested, but did not give them DNF credit since I barely even started them. 

The other thing is that I started a book that was 1,200 pages long and although interesting, it was SO LONG, and it kept me from starting another, so it definitely impeded my progress. However, I finished it finally, and it ended up providing a lot of interesting information after all was said and done (it was this book: The Eighth Life, recommended by Tobia, about multiple generations of the same family, set in the country of Georgia).

Despite some hiccups, there have been a few good reads in the last few months! But, instead of just listing the good ones, I will give you three good, and three I wanted to like but didn't. 

THESE WERE GOOD! 

Heartwood by Amity Gaige. I don't really need to say much here, as this book has been praised by many (Lisa, Birchie, etc.) already. TLDR: Appalachian hiker goes missing, police woman starts looking for her. We love all the characters, and we want them to win. (5 stars)

The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Straus. The title says it all. I am fascinated by this part of history and the fact that this was (a) true, (b) about women, and (c) an interesting take (told by the great niece of one of the women, who is not a writer, but wanted to get this part of history in the books). (5 stars)

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah. This is about a woman born of Palestinian parents who is living in the US and is a teacher in a school that gets shot at by a radicalized alt right. It is a moving story about her journey into Islam, her struggles with living surrounded by people who judge her for her hijab, including some of those close to her, and how she copes with it all. (5 stars)

Don't worry; there were other good ones, but you will be hearing about them in my yearly book wrap up! I can't give away ALL the spoilers at once! 

I WANTED TO LIKE THESE BUT DIDN'T

The Crash by Freida McFadden. Not her best work. I am usually entertained by her stories, but this one was a bit rote and just did not do it for me. If you want a better one, try The Teacher or The Inmate. (2 stars)

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. I tried. I tried again. I did it for Elisabeth. But I just could not get into it! I liked her other books (Forgotten Garden, Secret Keeper, The Lake House) so maybe I was just not in the right mind space? Anyway, I DNFed it in the end. 

Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott. It's a female boss, who is large and in charge, and successful. One who has tips so that we can all be large, in charge and successful. Who doesn't love reading about that? Well, just add a bit too much name dropping, and company name dropping, and it starts to remind me of some of the bros I worked with in the finance  industry. Did you know that she worked for Apple, and for Google, or that she just happened to be talking to Steve, you know Steve, right? Steve Jobs? and Sheryl? Sandburg? DNF. 

So, tell me, what is one great book you read this month (or quarter) and one that you wanted to like but didn't? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: August 2025

Yup, I am going to say it: I can't believe that it is September already. Happy Labor Day! In most years in the past, I took my two week vacation on this and next week so that I could only use 9 days of PTO and take 16 total days away, and I would usually go for a long hike somewhere. This year I will not be on a multiday hike today, but I am heading somewhere where there will be plenty of hiking! Stay tuned! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Baguettes and Many Steps

February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii

March: Wet and Wild

April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too

May: Al Fresco 

June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions

July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure

August: The Dark Tourist

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned too much to go over here, but to put it in a nutshell, I learned a lot more about the influence of the Ottoman and the Austro-Hungarian empires over the areas of the Balkans (and Romania) over the years. There was lot of fighting over these lands, mostly due to the fact that they were on important trade routes (you should look at the map of Bosnia & Herzegovina, as you will see they still have a TINY piece of coast) and especially the Danube, which goes through Belgrade, and was a crucial part of trading. 

However, what is especially interesting is how each place is different now because of this. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, there is still a lot of Ottoman influence, with mosques, food, and even language. For example, I already knew how to say "let's go" because it's the same word in Turkish! Also, each country has their own version of the kofte, which I enjoyed in Turkiye, but in some places it is called ćevapčići or ćevapi and in Romania it is mici or mititei. In all cases, it is meat, minced, and grilled; think hamburger in tube form (I am probably offending all kinds of people here). 

Top: Romania mici/mititei
Bottom: Bosnia ćevapi, Montenegro ćevapi

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was pretty hot sometimes but all in all, it didn't rain much, which is a blessing, as I was hiking a few times and also rainy days < sunny days! 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

I don't want to say that I "enjoyed" learning more about the Sarajevo siege, but I am fascinated by the history, and it was also very interesting to go to Sarajevo, hear their story, and then go to Serbia and hear theirs and see how they did or did not match up. Every side has a story, don't they? 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

Book: The Nine by Gwen Strauss. This is a true story about nine resistance fighter women who escaped a German forced labor camp during WWII and attempted to cross the front lines to get to safety. 

Movie/Show: In my last lodging, I had a TV with English channels and I did put Frasier on in the background from time to time. I find more and more though that I like to work in silence, so I rarely even use the TVs in any of my rooms. 

Podcast: Are you still paying more than $50 a month for your cell phone? If so, this episode of All The Hacks is great; he breaks down all of the phone plans and carriers so that you can decide if switching is something that may work for you. *one that he does not cover is Tello, which has a top plan (35GB) for about $25 per month. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I took a train in Romania that must have been the local, because it stopped about 40 times on a 145 km / 90 mile route. However, that is not the funny part. Because it was the local, it was not fancy, and most of the seats were in sets of four where you face two other people. About three rows in front of me, there was a lady facing me; she was probably in her early 60s, and she was GOING TO TOWN on her nostrils, really looking for some gold. I never saw her pull anything out or wipe it on her pants or anything but I kept waiting for her to hit pay dirt. 

It kind of reminded me of the Shel Silverstein poem, The Sharp Toothed Snail: 

Inside of everybody's nose

There lives a sharp-toothed snail

So, if you stick your finger in, he may bite off your nail

If you stick it further in, he might bite your ring off

Stick it further in, and he might bite the whole damn thing off

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

After several weeks of faster travel, I will be in the same place for an entire month. This will give me a nice opportunity to get some things done without feeling like I have to rush to do them before I change locations again. 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

AUGUST:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

2. What did you learn last month? 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

SEPTEMBER: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What is your favorite Silverstein poem?