We’re deep into Q3 but that’s okay! (I make the rules here.)
I spent a lot of time this spring visiting my Great Uncle George, who sadly passed in late June after several months in and out of the hospital.
Aside from our parents, my brother and I spent the most time with George and our Great Aunt “Rainie” when we were growing up. They have been such consistent presences in my life and it feels so strange that George is gone. He was THE most stubborn person I’ve met, super quirky, always curious, hilarious, and caring. I learned so much from him and I’m grateful for all the time we had together.
So the second quarter of 2026 had some sadness running through it, but there was also a lot of good. Please enjoy the rest of my updates:
Activities
Live Performances
- Mae Martin’s, The Possum: I mentioned Mae’s podcast, Handsome, in my 2025 Media Highlights post. I haven’t been listening as often, but I really enjoy Mae’s sense of humor and jumped at the opportunity to see them perform locally. I was glad to see the Capitol Center for the Arts’ large theater packed on a weekday, and Mae seemed surprised to pull that crowd at a NH venue. I had heard most of Mae’s “Caesar the Wrestling Bear” story when I was still regularly listening to Handsome, but it was wild to hear about the aftermath… I’ll leave it at that and you can watch the standup special once it comes to Netflix.
- Book of Mormon: I can see why people love it so much, and I really enjoyed the first half. It had great energy, impressive dance numbers, and I enjoyed the humor. The second half didn’t quite hit the same way for me, but it was still a lot of fun, overall.
- Titaníque: I LOVED Titaníque. It was silly and over-the-top in the best way, and the performers were excellent. I smiled the whole time and I would 100% go see it again if I get the opportunity. Please enjoy my low-quality video of the sing-along finale (yes, that is Jim Parsons, AKA Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, in drag as Rose’s mother, hugging Frankie Grande):
I shared in my 2025 Media Highlights post that I had attended my first RHAP Survivor live show and, “It was fun! I’d do it again.” Well, I did it again! The NYC show was scheduled to take place on my mom’s birthday, so she joined me this time.
We played games in Bryant Park, toured the Paley Center’s Survivor exhibit, had a blast at Titanique (see above), and attended the Survivor live show, follow-up podcast, and after-party. I got to see some of the same people from the fall event and met lots of new Survivor/RHAP fans. There aren’t many people in my day-to-day life who are into competition reality shows like I am, so it’s fun to be surrounded by them at events like this. It’s a fun crowd!
I think I first learned about Blood on the Clocktower through RHAP’s “Survivors Play Blood on the Clocktower” YouTube series (highly recommend). BOTC is a social-deduction game, which I typically love. There are tons of more basic versions of this type of game, like Mafia or Werewolf.
Lots of RHAP patrons are also big gamers and they’re particularly into BOTC, often playing together online. I had been wanting to give it a try, but it seemed like it would be better to try in person for the first time. I got the opportunity to do just that during my time in NYC for the RHAP live show, and it was so much fun!!
I have since played online a couple of times, but I definitely prefer face-to-face. Hopefully I can get some of my local friends to play soon…
My friend threw a Greek-gods-themed murder mystery party where Hans and I were assigned the characters of Zeus and Hera – King and Queen of the gods. If you know anything about Greek mythology, you know that there’s some tension between the two of them. People were extremely suspicious of us and I ended up being wrongly accused of the murder! I had a great time trying to convince people otherwise, even though it was a losing battle.
Taking inspiration from a TV show called Gravity Falls, Hans and I hosted a summertime Halloween party complete with ghost-cheese pizza, bloody popcorn, Halloween PEEPs s’mores – and costumes, of course.
I highlighted Priya Parker’s magical questions in my 2025 Media Highlights post, mentioning that I presented the topic for a “Trainer Certification” course last summer. This spring, I created a full conference session around the topic and presented it at the 2026 Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism. It was fun to be in the presenter role – especially since I used to be the primary planner for this very conference! AND my employer was surprised with the Outstanding Volunteer Manager of the Year award.
Because I work for a nonprofit that supports the NH tourism industry, I got to participate in a 4-day tour of 17 attractions up in the White Mountains. The agenda included mountaintops, caves, railroads, luxury hotels, and more. I really enjoyed getting to know the group, especially the Granite State Ambassadors who I will continue to see at various work events. They are so adventurous!
Food/Drinks
Tuna!
I’ve never gotten into tuna… until now. This Tuna Bean Dip recipe was my gateway into truly enjoying it, and it has quickly become my favorite, heatless summer dish.
Pizza Beans
This pizza-inspired recipe is hearty and, just like pizza, it is very customizable. If you like sauce as much as I do, you should give this a try!
Buffalo Bean Dip
Who needs chicken? This recipe is so easy and tasty, I’ve been making it often. You can also sub in some shredded chicken for the second can of beans… but I like the beans!
Hummus Pasta
I have been leaning on this Worldly Plate recipe I want a meal that comes together quickly – especially since you can make it a 3-ingredient meal (pasta, hummus, and lemon juice) if that’s all you have on hand. FYI I’ve never used nuts when I make this, and I often add sauteed mushrooms and nutritional yeast instead of or in addition to the cheese.
Media
TV Shows
- Only Murders in the Building: I had heard good things about this show but never tried it until recently – then Hans and I quickly ran through all 5 seasons that have been released so far.
- Survivor: The landmark 50th season had some frustrating moments, but it was a fun ride. And (SPOILER) that picture I included in my 2026 Q1 highlights post turned out to feature the winner of the season!
- Love Island: This show is so entertaining to me. This was my first time watching it as it aired (I watched season 5 over the winter), and it really seemed to gain some traction this summer. It seemed like everyone was watching – sometimes through our fingers because those challenges can be WILD and the men… yikes.
Podcasts
- Becoming You with Suzy Welch: “As a three-time New York Times bestselling author and the professor behind NYU’s wildly popular ‘Becoming You’ class, Suzy has spent years studying the art of decision-making and the pursuit of authentic purpose.”
- Try: What if you had a new language to explain what’s important to you? Now you do – on Spotify
- RHAP: See my my 2026 Q1 highlights post for a general overview. In addition to my usual Survivor-themed listening, I really enjoyed Kirsten MacInnis’ Love Island coverage
Books
- The Tribe and I Have Spoken by Rob Cesternino: I enjoyed the audiobook (narrated by Rob) and I also have a signed copy of the physical book, which includes lots of fun illustrations.
- “Rob Cesternino has probably talked more Survivor than any other person on the planet… Now, this foremost scholar of the show takes readers from the beaches of Borneo on the first season all the way to the landmark fiftieth season.”
Items
Flowy Pants
I’ve been living in some really comfy pants this season – including these Printed Palazzo pants and these Linen-Blend Super Wide-Leg pants.
Adidas VL Court Bold Platform Sneaker – Red/Pink
These shoes are comfortable and they definitely fit my shopping criteria for this spring: colorful! My closet has a lot of more neutral colors, so these are good for livening things up a bit.
There you have it: Q2 of 2026 is officially in the rearview. See you back here soon for my Q3 highlights!
