I finally got the go-ahead to start putting things into my desk drawers! It feels like a small milestone, and I’m excited to start making the space my own.

Right now, though, I’m caught between organizing my desk and studying. My cybersecurity book is sitting in front of me, and every time I look back at my desk, I keep thinking about how much I want to get everything put away. I think the best plan is to stay focused on studying for a few more hours and save organizing for my lunch break.

The only challenge is that I don’t yet have a clear vision of how I want everything arranged. I want my desk to be organized in a way that’s practical and easy to maintain, not just neat for the moment. I need to spend a little time thinking about what belongs in each drawer so that my workspace will make sense for how I work every day. I can’t put anything on top of my desk until Friday, when it’s done curing.

I finally started going through some of my things today and managed to get a few items put away in the drawers of my desk. It felt good to make a little progress, but I also knew I had to stop. I’ve learned that if I let myself get too deep into organizing, I’ll look up and realize I’ve spent the entire day sorting through piles, rearranging drawers, and making “organized messes” instead of actually accomplishing everything else I wanted to do. Sometimes it’s better to make steady progress than to disappear into an all-day organizing marathon.

It seems like Summerween is in full swing again. It’s funny because it’s not actually a new trend. From what I’ve read, it started gaining popularity back in 2012 after Disney’s Gravity Falls introduced the idea of celebrating Halloween during the summer. Now it feels like it’s exploded all over social media again. I don’t remember much about the show myself, although I know the kids watched it for a while. I wonder if they even remember it.

Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why people love spooky season. Halloween has always had a unique charm, and if someone wants to watch scary movies or carve a pumpkin in July, more power to them. Life is short, and people should enjoy the things that make them happy.

What I don’t understand is the consumer frenzy that seems to come with every trend. Every year, it feels like stores race to put out seasonal merchandise earlier and earlier, and people rush to buy mountains of cheap decorations just to create the perfect social media backdrop. It’s less about celebrating the season and more about keeping up with whatever is trending online. By the time October actually arrives, so many of the decorations are already sold out because they’ve been sitting on store shelves since June.

Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but I miss letting each season have its own moment. Summer should feel like summer. Let us enjoy backyard barbecues, pool days, vacations, and fireworks before we’re surrounded by plastic skeletons and inflatable ghosts. Then, when the air starts to cool and the leaves begin to change, Halloween feels special because we’ve been anticipating it, not because we’ve been looking at orange and black displays for four months.

There’s something to be said for enjoying holidays as they naturally come along. We don’t have to rush from one celebration to the next or constantly chase the next trend. Sometimes living in the moment is enough.

Disney World is getting closer! The excitement is definitely building, but if I’m honest, I’m also a little nervous. Traveling has always made me anxious. I spend a lot of time wondering how everything will go, whether the flights will be on time, if I’ll remember everything I need, and how the whole trip will unfold. I know that’s just how my mind works. Deep down, I’m sure everything will be fine, and once I’m there, I’ll probably wonder why I worried so much in the first place.

There are so many things I’m looking forward to. At the top of my list are the classics: Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (what used to be Splash Mountain), and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Tommy listed some rides that I’d like to experience, also.

Of course, Disney isn’t just about the rides; it’s also about the food. More than anything, I want to find an amazing buttery croissant. There’s something about a flaky, fresh pastry that just feels like the perfect vacation treat. And when I make it to the France Pavilion at EPCOT, macarons are absolutely non-negotiable. And Dole Whip! I can’t forget to have a Dole Whip!

The cruise should be an adventure too! I’ve never sailed with Royal Caribbean before, so I’m excited to see how it compares. The ship is huge, especially compared to the Princess ships I’ve been on in the past, so I’m looking forward to seeing the ship. I think I’ll still like Princess ships.

I won’t have internet during the cruise, but since it’s only four days, it shouldn’t be too difficult to unplug for a while. It’ll actually be nice to take a break from being online and just enjoy the experience. Once I get home, I’ll post lots of pictures and write about the trip! I am bringing my laptop, hopefully I will have time to write after a day at the Disney World Parks.

I rode the bike for twenty minutes. It wasn’t bad. I’m going to organize my desk a little and then read. I’ll have pictures of my desk when I set it up.