It's full of washi tape and stickers inside. Doing the artistic part has been a big shift in my journaling practice and is helping me process in different ways.

Teal journal with stickers that read "The horrors persist, but so do I and other true tales" and "Madison Arts Commission 50 years" next to different color fountain pens

And here's a picture of my current journal (about to shift to a new one).

Write it Down: Journaling as a Tool for Personal Resilience A journaling practice does not need to be complex or burdensome. Learn the benefits of starting a journaling practice and how it can help planners and others in high-demand professions.

Great post from the American Planning Association on the benefits of journaling. I've carried a journal on me for 20 years. It helps me process what I'm mentally wrestling with so that I can let stuff go or see it from a different angle. Then I can take action. planning.org/blog/9327371...

But the way the Senate Republicans went about this will lead to wholesale gutting of environmental regulations across the board, including cultural and historic preservation. The looting of America to the highest bidder at our expense is moving into overdrive. Please speak up

Senate Republicans send Trump resolution to lift mining ban near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Congressional Republicans are sending President Donald Trump a resolution for his signature that would lift a federal ban on mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Lifting mining restrictions for the Boundary Waters has me hopping mad. This is moving forward at the request of a Chilean mining company so they can make a profit in a way that will damage the life of this area, which we are supposed to be protecting for Americans. This is horrific.

Master Hall & Private Dorms — Madison Trust for Historic Preservation Master Hall caught my eye not long after I moved to Madison in the early 1980s. I was struck by its sculptural presence, the most modern building on a quiet, one-way stretch of Gilman Street between U...

www.madisonpreservation.org/blog/2021/3/...

Scouting America to end DEI efforts in deal with Pentagon Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Scouting America will end all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in an agreement to keep Pentagon support.

This is indefensible @scoutingamerica.bsky.social . This move lacks integrity, harms scouts and their families, and teaches everyone to buckle to bullies. It violates the scout oath.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Friend: how strong do you like your coffee? Me: I want it to show up on a dog test

Here's where I'm at today. Ancora provided what I needed.

A historic piece of the Madison skyline is up for sale It’s all part of the state’s plan to reduce its overall footprint in Downtown Madison and save on maintenance costs.

OMG! I'm so excited to see what this property becomes
madison.com/news/state-r...

@danecountyboard.bsky.social has created an excellent program to help property owners remove racially restrictive covenants from their property. This is a great opportunity for property owners and neighborhoods to right a past wrong. danecountyplanning.com/Prejudice-in...

Wisconsin congregation preserves historic Capitol Square church as ongoing act of faithfulness [Episcopal News Service – Madison, Wisconsin] Building maintenance at Grace Episcopal Church is an ongoing challenge. That may come as no surprise for a 170-year-old church made from porous sandsto…

I wish more people loved their historic places like this. These places can be integral to what it means to be in community with one another: episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/07/09/w...

No kings. Yas queens (in rainbow and trans pride colors)

New paper sheds light on experience of Black prisoners in infamous Illinois prison malaria experiments The role of Black prisoners helped lead to the practice of using genetic testing to understand how patients will react to medications, according to the paper.

The only way to know better is to face uncomfortable stories. In light of the recent move by the NPS to ask the public to report on histories/stories that make them uncomfortable, it's important for us to not be beholden to white fragility.

New paper sheds light on experience of Black prisoners in infamous Illinois prison malaria experiments The role of Black prisoners helped lead to the practice of using genetic testing to understand how patients will react to medications, according to the paper.

Part of why we do history work is so that we can reach the point of "when you know better, do better." Stories like this need to be told, and we need to hear them so we can make better choices: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/11/b...

2025 NAPC Virtual Summer Short Course The sessions pictured below will be available for on-demand viewing until November 5, 2021. Click on each webinar below to view the recording. Please contact NAPC at director@napcommissions.org to r...

This is a great training opportunity for preservation professionals, but also for anyone who serves on a historic preservation commission:
www.bigmarker.com/series/2025-...

And this is my 2025 WI NHD shirt. Wearing it proudly

Students use National History Day to challenge power, spark change At National History Day, middle and high school students study history during an historic moment

The National History Day program creates engaged citizens who can make informed choices based on actual evidence. It's the essence of what I believe history education needs to do in our Republic: ask hard questions and discern real evidence from disinformation.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

This sends the message that LGBTQ+ history doesn't matter. Their stories don't matter.

Wisconsin Historical Society pride flag decision stirs internal 'mess' The Wisconsin Historical Society defended moving away from flags tied to “social movements.” Employees and Sen. Mark Spreitzer disagree.

captimes.com/news/governm...

For shame #WisconsinHistoricalSociety. Gov Evers said it best: "When the pride flag flies above the people’s house, it sends a clear message that Wisconsin recognizes and celebrates LGBTQ Wisconsinites and Americans."

GIS Specialist 1 The City of Madison Planning Division is hiring a Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist 1Are you interested in supporting efforts to improve GIS data and mapping that help inform decision mak...

Join the Planning Division team at the City of Madison, WI, as a GIS Specialist! Working with this phenomenal team of people, we're always engaged in creative and meaningful projects that make a difference in people's lives.

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/madi...

After becoming fixture of Monroe Street, beloved 'Madison Mural' to come down MADISON, Wis. — They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. For residents of Monroe Street, that sentiment is about to hit home as the vibrant Madison

This is why we don't approve painting historic brick buildings: it destroys their structural integrity. This isn't preservationists being overly precious about building materials. It destroys buildings and creates maintenance nightmares: www.channel3000.com/features/aft...

Advocacy Alert: Urge Your Senators to Sign-on in Support of Historic Preservation Funding! Join me in urging Congress to support funding for historic preservation. Reach out to your Senators and ask them to sign-on to the bipartisan FY26 #HistoricPreservationFund dear colleague letter being...

Please reach out to your senators to advocate for the Historic Preservation Fund. This supports the operation of the Tribal and State Historic Preservation Offices, and provides the funding for a lot of local preservation work: actionnetwork.org/letters/sena...

Image that says: "It is funny how recognizing AI art nowadays is just the same old rules as recognizing the face in old tales"

Boom! This also goes for phishing scams.

Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church

Ceiling of sanctuary in First Presbyterian Church, Racine

View from rooftop of Hotel Verdant

Started my day at the First Presbyterian Church in Racine for the Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commissions meeting. Ending it on the rooftop of Hotel Verdant

An FYI that invasive bush honeysuckle has shallow roots. Often pulling by hand or a couple of good kicks when the ground is soft will get that mess out. I just rained down destruction on these pests in my woods. So satisfying.

Join Our 50 for 50 Campaign - National History Day Invest in preparing students for a life of learning and creating confident teachers to strengthen the democracy and economy of the future

I've been honored to serve as a judge for National History Day for 20 years in 3 States. The loss of NEH funding threatens this year's program. Please consider helping.
nhd.org/en/get-invol...

Also, I love being a poll worker. It's an inspiring public service opportunity and I encourage everyone to try it out.

Picture of front of poll book

It's been steady at the polls here in Madison, WI. We had a line of folks eagerly waiting to vote when we opened at 7am. Get out and vote Wisconsin!

Thanks for speaking up! We need to be loud and clear that we need real history and that diverse narratives are valid. A sanitized master narrative is an injustice to everyone (and crap history).