I started taking guitar lessons last month and honestly it has been way harder than I expected but also incredibly rewarding. My fingertips are still adjusting to the strings but I can finally play a few chords without muting them entirely. The instructor said I have decent rhythm which was a surprise because I always thought I was tone deaf. He recommended practicing for at least fifteen minutes every day rather than cramming for an hour once a week. That approach actually works better for me. I found a bunch of tutorials online that break down popular songs into simple patterns. It feels great when a song starts to sound recognizable. I am hoping to learn at least two full songs by the end of the summer so I can play for my friends. They are being supportive even though I make them wear headphones sometimes.

My family finally adopted a rescue dog last week and the entire house has a new energy now. He is a two year old mixed breed with a lot of enthusiasm and very little understanding of personal space. We named him Beans because of the shape of his paws. The first few days were mostly about establishing a routine and figuring out what treats work best for training. He is incredibly food motivated which makes teaching basic commands much easier. We take him on two walks a day and I swear my step count has doubled. He is still a little nervous around loud noises but he warms up quickly. The kids are absolutely smitten and fight over who gets to feed him in the morning. Overall it has been a tiring but amazing experience. I am glad we decided to rescue rather than shop.