I’m back! I didn’t intend to take such an extended break – or any break at all, really – but life just got a little too busy for me to keep up with everything. The semester came to an end, which is really exciting, but I had a few things due all at the same time. When you add on work deadlines plus other things going on in my life, there just wasn’t enough time! So I thought it would be fun to do a bit of a catch up on what’s been going on.

I mentioned that my semester came to an end – I’m getting closer and closer to finishing my MPH! It looks like I only have one class left, plus my essay and practicum. It feels like I’ve been in grad school for as long as I can remember, so every time I can check something off the list of requirements, graduation seems just a little bit more real.

Everything else going on has mostly been just other fun, personal things! I went to go see the musical Come From Away at the Benedum, which was so incredible. I had heard that it was really good, but didn’t really know what to expect, and was so blown away. It tells the story of 9/11, but it focuses on the people who were flying that day and had to be diverted to Canada since no planes were allowed to enter the US airspace. If you get the chance to see it, I really recommend you do. There’s one more show left in my series subscription – Dear Evan Hansen, which I’ve been looking forward to since they announced it was coming over a year ago. It’s been such a treat to see so many amazing shows this year.

I also got to see Jonathan Van Ness’s Road to Beijing tour, which was a mix of gymnastics and comedy – I guess my new goal should be to see all of Queer Eye’s Fab Five – and I went back to CMU to see a student-run performance of Mamma Mia! Lots of cultural events, all of which were really fun.

I also went to a cousin’s baby shower, and went out to brunch for Easter. It was great to catch up with family and to celebrate the holiday, too. We brunched at Spirits and Tales, the restaurant in the new hotel in Oakland – The Oaklander. I’ve been watching the construction happen every day at work, so it only seemed fitting that I go to check it out. I actually haven’t been going to too many restaurants lately (although I did make it back to Or, The Whale), so I was very appreciative of the great meal! There are a few other places that I have been meaning to check out, and I’m hoping to make that happen sooner rather than later.

I’m really looking forward to summer, and to things hopefully slowing down a little… or at least being busy in a different way. Summer is always my favorite season – the perfect mix of travel and relacing weekends at home. It finally seems like it’s close, and I can’t wait.