8/26/2026 at 5:24 p.m.

The mister called while he just pulled away from the parking space at his office. He said he's calling to invite me for a walk, if I'd like to.

OMG!

I never say no to so many things, especially to walks and hikes.

We went to the park but didn't park our car near it but a few alleys away. I love it when our routes are in these streets, as I get to see backyard gardens.

I was honestly jealous of the vegetables and flowers we passed by. In all of the years since I started gardening, this year is my lowest-achieving year. I have only a few varieties of plants that I was able to grow.

I do have a few flowers and vegetables, but most were grown from "volunteer" seeds. (Those plants that grew from the seeds dropped on the ground from that last year's crops.)

We passed by the creek at the park. I saw a bed of zinnias, hibiscus, cosmos, marigolds, begonias, tomatoes, pumpkins, and sunflowers. 

So envious. 

I will do better next year's planting season. 

Oh, by the way, we walked for an hour and hurried home because we were starving. What was for our dinner? It was roasted pork, and mango cucumber salad. I used the lemon cucumbers from our garden. 

August 19, 2022

 I saw a friend last Monday at a food court near our house. I was asking her why she didn't join the gathering with her other Pinoy friends. 

#datingsince1990

She said she just avoids drama. So she only regularly hangs out with her husband.

I concur.

I do not belong in a group, but with my D-squad. I also love hanging out with my human cubs' friends. Thankful that they also love Jay and me in return. 

However, Jay and I also hung out with an old friend who lives in the next town, he's not a regular. He's a monthly hang out kind of a friend. Well, at least we try to see each other on a monthly basis. 

By the way, he's the only male in my life that I have a platonic relationship with that I can freely say that I love. He's my 24-hour phone-a-friend whenever Jay and I couldn't see eye to eye which happened a long time ago. He listens and never judges. I love him.

I do not think I am equipped to be in a group of friends. I guess I am somewhat of an introvert.

Although it has been pointed out numerous times in my life that I have a big personality, honestly I check almost all the boxes on being an introvert.

There is nothing wrong with that. That only means that I love my own company. 

But on a regular basis, the mister and I are tied in the hip, just like we were in college. 

Last Sunday, we went on an overnight camping trip at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It was about an hour and a half drive away from our house. We also hiked at the Appalachian Trail. These photos were taken at the Compton Peak, a 2.4 mile round trip hike. This is a natural wonder--a breathtaking site!

This hexagonal rock formation is called a columnar jointing.