Currently: July

Currently living/working: July sped by in what felt like a loop-de-loop of time. Somehow we both guided a lot of hiking trips, cleaned a lot rentals, did our respective admin jobs and enjoyed bits of free time here and there. It’s hard to describe the rush of an Alaskan summer, but another Alaskan came up with a great analogy. Just imagine you are at a music festival & all your favorite bands are playing simultaneously. No matter which stage you pick to watch, you always miss something else.

Current mood: Everyone makes a big deal about Summer Solstice, but it’s honestly not something to celebrate in Alaska as it acknowledges the inevitable descent into winter darkness! I’ve already felt the days getting shorter and the off-season approaching, yet we have a full 30 days of chaos to muscle through!

Currently excited for: Speaking of the looming season change, Justin smashed it out of the park planning our fall vacation pretty much all on his own. We’ve always said we don’t take enough cultural vacations, so he found a cruise around eastern Spain! I know people have mixed feelings about cruising, but for us, it’s a no-fuss vacation that requires very little planning & is an appealing and relaxing way to see a lot of places. We now have a carrot on the end of the stick for all our hard work this summer!

Currently worried about: Planning an international trip this far out is risky, as my mom is still on hospice under the care of my sister. We know she could die any day now (my mom is a medical mystery science can’t solve). But I suppose it could also be weeks/months (she may be trying to beat Jimmy Carter’s hospice record). You can’t stop living while you wait, and it’s not easy learning how to do both at the same time.

Currently not excited for: Regardless of my mom’s end of life, there’s a house in NJ to finish cleaning out and sell. Now is not the time, as being away from Alaska in the summer equates a loss in income. But the anxiety about the house is keeping a malicious grip on my brain, and I have a stress dream about it at least once a week!

Currently amazed by: I feel like I am a student of nature. Alaska speaks for itself, but I love having jobs (i.e., guiding & Alaska Geographic giving presentations/programs) where I am challenged to continue to learn so I can help fill in the blanks for visitors and be an authentic storyteller connecting people to nature. 

Current confession: In my June Currently post, I referenced how balanced both of us feel with our respective jobs. We still very much feel that way! Yes managing multiple schedules can be overwhelming and some days are incredibly packed. However, I’m starting to think that we’ve discovered a seasonal job hack. Have diversified jobs so you don’t burn out on just one! Employers in our area talk about “Angry August” and “Snappy September,” where employees become completely drained, exhausted, bitter and broken. I see how that can happen. The company we used to guide for was an “all-in” type of schedule where you were on back-to-back days with private and customized client trips from 7:30am-7pm. Being Justin was their lead guide, the grind just felt very unbalanced. We hesitated shaking up our 2024  summer employment, but we took the plunge and it turns out, we are happier and less depleted with the medley of gigs. 

Currently thankful for: The 35 salmon Justin caught to share & eat!

Current guilty pleasure: Even though we have a stocked freezer full of salmon, we still have been taking full advantage of the fact that there are 20+ restaurants open here in the summer. 

Currently proud of: I will do a whole blog post about this soon, but I joined Outdoor Life for their annual gear testing trip, and we ended up hiking 38 miles (7,517 feet elevation gain) from Walupt Lake to White Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. Not gonna lie, my physical prowess schooled me that I’m no longer a spring chicken. But I’m proud of what my body can achieve! 

Currently regretting: If ever proper paving comes up on our borough ballot, I think I would vote in favor of funding it. The potholes on Hilltop Road (our road) are out of control this year. It’s like playing Frogger every time I drive, trying to dodge all the craters. 

Currently reading: I never heard of The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman until nearly every one of my girlfriends said I needed to read it. Sure, it’s from the 1970s and there’s some misogyny between the lines, yet most of the advice still resonates for a healthy relationship. And let’s be honest, there’s always room for working on one’s marriage. I adore labels, so realizing that quality time is my love language provided a lot of clarity. 

I’m not sure what prompted me to load The Last Love Note by Emma Grey to my Kindle from my library, but I freaking loved this book. As a debut novel and fiction (not my typical genre), I was blown away by the pace of the story and the talented storytelling. Even though it is essentially a romcom (definitely not my typical genre), it delivers all the feels around grief, which are so well articulated by the author based on her personal experience.

Currently watching on Netflix/Peacock: We purposely took a healthy break from Below Deck this month! We ended up watching 2 seasons of “Your Honor” on Netflix, which is all sorts of messed up combining police corruption, hit and runs and drugs/mafia.