My new book, "Beyond ESL - The Missing Piece for Authentic Communication" is in the works📚 It's designed to help ESL speakers bridge the gap between language knowledge and real-world communication. This will be a book I wish I had when I was mostly panicking. Please stay tuned💙

I know I dosed off a bit, but exactly how long have I been asleep? I'm not ready for the 2025 calendar yet😂 (Appreciate your work, National Audubon Society 🐦)

In the forest of giants, this magnificent beech tree stood as a sentinel. Ancient roots claw the ground, anchoring the tree beneath a carpet of tiny fallen leaves. Bees were buzzing around the trunk... collecting honeydew, maybe? A memory from Nelson, NZ. Have a nice weekend 🍃

🕊️May we find strength in unity🕊️ Wishing you a beautiful day/morning/evening 🏞️ A fond memory from the Skyline trail, Mt. Rainier National Park.

It was an honor to be a guest on Nicholas Kemp's Ikigai Tribe Podcast 🎙️ Now available on YouTube, too! youtu.be/MwpyOLiZNAc?fe… youtu.be/SV4drVlxm2k?fe… & more. Explore Japanese culture on Nick's YouTube channel youtube.com/@ikigaitribe 📽️

You're looking at a Steelblue Ladybird, a teeny-tiny metallic-looking ladybug. It was in the full-blooming flower garden in Isle Park, NZ. A fond memory💙

Oh, no! My late bro was a proud National Park Ranger in Japan. He'd cry. I'm wailing😭 The link says: "The Japanese government has decided to implement a project to attract luxury resort hotels to all 35 national parks nationwide by 2031, according to an interview with TV Tokyo"

A bald eagle, gazing at the horizon as the night’s veil is gently lifted. "The Evergreen State" is a perfect nickname for WA, 🇺🇸🌲🌲🌲💚 Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

As the moon lit up last night, Sei Shonagon's words from 1002 (!) shone through. From her work, The Pillow Book 🇯🇵: "In summer, it is the night that captivates - when the moon casts its glow, or on dark nights when fireflies dance, and even in the rain, it is lovely." & I agree!

Arrived a bit early for their famous sourdough bread, but the baker said, "Can I tempt you with Kanelbullars while you wait?" Yes, please, of course, OMG😍 And BTW, what are they? 😂 A memory from NZ: Early birds do get tasty treats! I had my first Swedish cinnamon buns 😋💙

Just sent off my manuscript for proofreading ✍️ I poured everything I’ve learned into this book, and now I feel empty. Buzzing, satisfied, but it’s time to deal with burnout. I need to be prepared for the final review—but for now, um, ice cream, maybe? 🍦

Are you prepared for the #Perseids? The annual meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of Aug. 11 through the morning of the 12th. All the details: go.nasa.gov/3WW0CKH More stargazing tips: science.nasa.gov/skywatching

My old hair dryer finally retired, so I got a brush-attached one. My goodness, this thing is like a sword—it’s long! After my shower, I wielded it like a Jedi in a solo lightsaber battle. When the fight was over, though, there was Chewbacca in the mirror. …Throaty growling😂

Getting critiques before publishing is scary.🙈 Although it's necessary and helpful, my ego gets bruised. OUCH. After agonizing and revising a couple of sections, I got better ones! As always, it's slow, but I'm getting there-- 🥰📚💻

I received my manuscript proof copy! It’s surreal to hold my book in my hands after all the agony I went through. A few more pushes to go! Can’t wait to share it with you all soon 😍

Thank you, Kathy! 😍💃🪩😍

Monday night's supermoon is the first of 4 supermoons in a row! 🌕

It took me forever to sink in, but I’m a certified World-Class Speaking Coach. Huge thanks to everyone! If you're speaking to an international audience, I'm your go-to specialist🎙️ I'm also curating tips from the certification program for ESL speakers📚 (Adding to the book now!)