By Golly, Ollie!

I’ve been thinking about the marble that used to scroll across the top of my Expage back in 1999.

I’ve been thinking about running.

I’ve been thinking about hiking. Or rather turning myself into a hiker.

I’ve been thinking about Antarctica. Both the continent and the one my son and I made from magic clay.

I’ve been thinking about the Antarctic Treaty System, too. 58 nations participate in it, and it prohibits military activity, nuclear explosions, and the disposal of nuclear waste, while promoting free sharing of scientific data. Why can’t the rest of the world be like Antarctica?

I’ve been thinking about the upcoming season of youth soccer that my husband and I are going to coach.

I’ve been thinking about how I want to curate lists to other interesting blog posts that I’ve discovered on the internet. Except that I haven’t discovered blog posts recently, and I really miss that. I miss reading personal blogs. Everything is either a professionally published article or a Substack (which seems like it tries to be the old internet, but it just isn’t, and I can’t really explain why). How do I even find personal blogs in the year of our Lord 2026?

I’ve been thinking about philosophy. Nothing in particular about it other than I just wish I were well versed in Philosophy. I think about Philosophy like I think about Hiking.

I’ve been thinking about how hard it is to not post something on the internet that isn’t somehow related to the marketing of some product that can be purchased through an affiliate link.

I’ve been thinking about painting with watercolors even though I am absolutely terrible at it (and this isn’t me simply being humble. Truly, I am terrible, but it is fun anyway).

I’ve been thinking about the Medieval Era. Nothing in particular about it other than I just wish I were well versed in the history of the Medieval Era. I think about the Medieval era like I think about Philosophy or about Hiking.

I’ve been thinking about how Springtime is coming, and I’m so excited for it, but I’m also dreading all of the impending yardwork and home improvement projects we have to tackle this year.

I’ve been thinking about posting this list for over a week now, but I’ve grown so self-conscious about posting anything on the internet. I definitely didn’t feel this way back in 1999, when I first published my Expage. The one with the marble that scrolled across the top of the page.