Currently: November

Currently living/working: Most of this month was spent living on a cruise ship, while the second half of the month was spent in Denver visiting Justin’s family. 

Current mood: The weight of my mom’s estate has lightened on my shoulders since I sold her house, but somehow I don’t feel 100% free? Could it be that I’ve been coping with feelings of anticipatory grief for nearly a year now? 

Currently thankful for: Yes, I closed on my mom’s house Nov. 18 (blog post coming). I cried happy tears and took a minute to feel all the feels. There was an enormous amount of stress leading up to the closing, and I had to lean on multiple neighbors for last-minute tasks associated with the closing, especially because I was doing all the “for sale by owner things” without a manual and from afar. My mom’s neighbors are rockstars, and the Kopecs will miss being a part of that neighborhood. 

Currently regretting: So my previous blog post waxed poetically about cruise life, but the part I left out was the fact that boats are a Petri dish. In the last 3 days of the trip, Justin picked up a nasty cold. I packed like 2 mucinex, 2 DayQuil, and 5 cough drops with us, so it definitely wasn’t enough … Once we landed in Denver, I immediately took him to Urgent Care, where they confirmed bronchitis and haemophilus influenzae virus (not the flu despite the name).  I suppose the tradeoff of vacation is getting sick? Seems like every time we travel, one or both of us come down with something. 

Currently not excited for: While I didn’t catch Justin’s illness, I hit the lottery and ate the baby carrots that apparently had E. Coli in them (the warning on the news came out the day I ate them). So for 24 hours, I was dead to the world. This is the 3rd year in a row that I’ve come down with a serious stomach bug. I truly think it is the universe giving me a taste of what Justin goes through in his daily life so that I have more sympathy for him??? 

Currently proud of: My book Between Each Step: A Married Couple’s Thru Hike on New Zealand turned 4 this month! As of November 1, 2024, I’ve sold 1,248 books. Not to compare myself to others, but I once read a stat that 96% of books sell less than 1,000 copies in their lifetime, so yippee! There hasn’t been a quarter where I don’t get a royalty check (small) from my publisher for Amazon and other bookstore sales. I think that’s kind of cool! Most sales happen locally, as we sell books at the yurt and quite a few local shops. 

Currently excited for: We are returning to Alaska 12/2, and staying put for the long winter. I have my coping mechanisms for winter survival—one of which includes leaving during November when we are losing so much light. But I’m looking forward to creating a new winter routine once we get back. I’m subbing for a friend who manages the tiny gift shop in Denali National Park’s winter visitor center, and will be stocking the shelves while she is gone until January. I might also sub at our local library again, like I did two winters ago. It takes an effort to get through Alaskan winters, and I’m ready for it. 

Current confession: My mom’s life has consumed my own this year, almost like a part-time job. What took a back seat was freelance writing (for pay). Writing is my pleasure, and publishing isn’t always the endgame. Much of my material lately will never see the public eye, but I’m hoping for more time in 2025 to get back into paid freelance writing.

Currently worried about: Leaving Alaska during winter is risky … every time we return, there’s usually a crisis either in the travel or at home. Frozen pipes. Truck won’t start. Flights canceled. No taxi available at the airport when we arrive at 1am. Driveway blocked by snow. Parks Highway closed from Fairbanks to Healy. Heats out at Uncle Fred’s (where we stay in Fairbanks). Can we return unscathed this time? Think of us Monday night as we fly out …  

Currently amazed by: I was super grateful to put my Spanish practice to use in Spain this month! I’d like to think it helped us to get around, but the truth is, lots of people speak English for the touristy areas where we visited. I am still using DuoLingo to practice my Spanish daily, and recently, my 12-year-old nephew brought me onto their SuperDuoLingo family plan (unbeknownst to my brother-in-law, lol). Major upgrade! 

Current guilty pleasure: Justin finally got a new set of chompers. He had a bridge in his mouth that was maybe 30 years old. In Alaska, his dentist quoted him close to $10K for it. In Mexico, the dentist/mechanic/janitor/banker/cartel quoted him $1000. We settled on doing the job in Denver, where his old dentist cut him a deal for $3600. 

Currently reading: I haven’t read a Kristen Hannah book I dislike, and I think part of the reason I like her fiction is because it’s more like historical fiction. The Women by Kristin Hannah was no exception. I had never thought much about the nurses in Vietnam, let alone how they were treated when they returned to America. Also, this book had so many unexpected twists, which added to its greatness. 

Feeding off my Kristin Hannah high, I plucked Winter Garden off my mother-in-law’s shelf. It focused on a mother’s relationship with her daughter’s after their father was gone, so it sort of struck a chord. I liked it, not nearly as much as her other books though. 

Currently watching on Netflix/Peacock: We are in Below Deck withdrawal … we haven’t watched the show at all this month (in part because we couldn’t stream on the boat). Anyway, we’ve been taking the break as an opportunity to broaden our horizons. Discovered a few good movies as a result!