Weeknotes: May 18th - May 24th 2026

Disclaimer: It should be mentioned that Weeknotes are always a snapshot of the week itself and lack the fullness of life - as is the case with any personal blogging.

✨ Happenings

• On Victoria Day, Taylor and I joined the family to play Twilight Imperium for the entire day. I played the Mahact Gene-Sorcerers and Taylor played the Deepwrought Scholarate. When the game ended for dinner, Dan and I tied (with ties being a rarity).
• This was a great work week with lots of time spent outdoors doing educational programming with the kindergarten and Grade 1 students. I was blessed to spend much of my day next to a stormwater pond. Outside of work, Taylor and I got to spend time with friends as well like bouldering with Katelyn on Tuesday, and going for dinner at Tamarind Vietnamese Grill & Noodle House with Nyx on Thursday. Beyond that, I continued to plow through the Calgary Board of Educations' bureaucratic gauntlet in the pursuit of getting on the substitute teaching roster.
• On Saturday, Alexis, Taylor, and I joined Alberta Wilderness Association for a hike along Leseuer Ridge. Despite our failed attempt at the trail last year, we managed to complete the loop this time around, and got to see many pretty wildflowers and vistas in the process (nature journal entry can be found here). Once home, I puttered around in a mess of soreness and scattered restlessness.
• On Sunday, Alexis, Taylor, and I went to Frank Lake for the first time and joined in on the birdwatching hijinks with Alberta Wilderness Association. It was likely the best birdwatching outing I've been on for years with twelve lifers spotted! The most notable lifers included the Black-necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalarope, Marbled Godwit, Forester's Tern, and of course, the American Avocet (there will be a nature journal entry in good time). Once back in the city for lunch, we went to Bonjour Saigon for an scrumptious meal! At home, we hung out for the rest of the day and started playing Return of the Obra Dinn on the Playstation 5 (again continued gratitude extended to Avery).
• For books, I continued reading Michael Pollan's A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness. As for video games, I continued to play Marathon, but Taylor and I started playing Return of the Obra Dinn and it kicks ass so far.
• As for this referendum; we are a proud Canadian family and we will never surrender to separatist traitors.

📷 Photos

👣 Taylor's Footnotes

• Have nothing to add this week! Except... if you can, join us in protest on May 29th. This illiberal, immoral, and undemocratic provincial government has got to go. There are many protests taking place across Alberta. Check it out here!