June 2026 Newsletter

From Dan, Your Friend and Summer Enjoyer

Dear Friends,

June was all about finding the fun wherever it happened to be: out in the San Diego sun, on the road with friends across the country, and even back at home on the couch with a very loyal dog. It was a month of rides, shows, waterparks, long drives, familiar faces, and small comforts. Let's get into it.

Fig. 21.0: A SeaWorld day with friends and peak summer energy.

I have annual SeaWorld passes, and there are a bunch of shows to see (Fig. 21.0). My favorite was the pirates show! During the school year, it is easier to get on the rides if we go on a cloudy weekday, but over the summer it is fun to see what all the hubbub is about. Sometimes the crowds are part of the season, like the theme park equivalent of a chorus yelling, "Yes, it is officially summer now."

Fig. 21.1: SeaWorld makes a solid San Diego vacation stop.

I also take my visiting relatives (Fig. 21.1)! It is a nice way to add a little sun and fun to their vacation when they are in San Diego. There is something satisfying about having a local pass and getting to say, "Oh, I know a place," then immediately producing whales, rides, shows, and theme park snacks like a magician with a very specific deck of cards.

Fig. 21.2: Tango Time at Sesame Place, obviously.

Speaking of sun and fun, the passes also let me go to Sesame Place with my friends (Fig. 21.2)! It is a nice perk because I used to go to that waterpark as a child many, many times, ever since it was Knott's Soak City, then Aquatica, and now Sesame Place. Who knows, maybe it will get re-themed again. But Tango is my favorite character ever, so for now I am simply in my correct era. It is Tango Time!

Fig. 21.3: A Texas stop on a very long and very friendly road trip.

Besides local fun, we also went on a long road trip to see friends all across the United States (Fig. 21.3)! Traveling over 4,000 miles round trip, we got to see lots of fun sights, including those friendly faces. It was the kind of trip where the distance becomes part of the story: gas stations, state lines, playlists, snacks, conversations, and the slow realization that America is, in fact, extremely wide.

Fig. 21.4: Black Jack, my One Piece watching companion.

Finally, there was no rest, because right after getting back from the trip I was house sitting for our beloved Black Jack again (Fig. 21.4). He watched One Piece with me every night. I do not know how much lore he absorbed, but I do know that he was excellent company, and sometimes that is the most important role in any long-running adventure.

For those curious, I wrote a complete research paper all about why I crossdress, as well as just showing a love for fashion, in the paper Clothes Are Clothes. Click the title to engage at a deeper level with me!

Hopefully you are taking some time this summer to enjoy the sun and the fun, whether that is local, abroad, on the road, or even just within the home. June reminded me that a good summer does not have to be one kind of thing. Sometimes it is a theme park. Sometimes it is a waterpark. Sometimes it is a road trip. Sometimes it is a dog and an anime episode. All of it counts.

Wear sunscreen, drive safe, drink lots of water.

Dan out.