Christina had a majorly disappointing day today, despite our efforts to make it special. Her seat got moved in math so now she doesn’t get to sit with her friend, her teachers won’t let her do backbends or round-offs at recess, she didn’t have anyone to play with at recess, she didn’t get to spend Halloween with her best friend like Robin did, Robin got more candy than she did, and she didn’t get any tablet time. It’s easy to look at pumpkin carving and making jack-o-lantern pizza and trick or treating as disappointing when everything else around it sucks. I guess there’s always next year.
Category: October 2023
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October 30
Our flamingos have been a staple ever since I decided to put them on our wedding invitations 16 years ago. Someone thought it’d be cute to get pink plastic flamingos dressed as bride and groom for my bridal shower. They were a hit and made an appearance at our wedding and have survived our time in Queens and Jacksonville. And now they even get in the spirit of the various holidays throughout the year. I particularly love the skeletons for Halloween. Things are changing now and I don’t know what that means for the flamingos, but for now they still bring me joy.
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October 29
I wrote and delivered this morning’s service at church and it turned out absolutely beautiful. I got a lot of really touching compliments on it. It was something I really needed to do and something that gave me a lot of comfort at a time when I really haven’t had much. I’m so glad that what has helped me this month also touched others. And also Christina bought a pumpkin that is as big as she is.
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October 27
Getting ready to decorate our very first trunk for trunk or treat. Robin had the idea for the Nightmare Before Christmas theme. Even though I told her she was going to have to be the one to do it because she’s the one who signed us up, I kind of took over. I can’t help myself – it’s nice to have something a little different creatively to do. I’d never strung popcorn before and Zero was kind of a stroke of genius (relatively speaking). I think it will be cool… depending on whether I can figure out how to set it up in a car trunk. Now that Robin IS going to help with.
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October 25
I’m just processing all of what’s happened in the last week. It’s a lot. But life goes on.
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October 24
It was an incredibly stressful day in a pile of stressful days, so I gathered up some gift cards and we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I always think alcohol will take the edge off a bad day, but it turns out chocolate cheesecake is the real answer. I’ll have to keep that in mind.
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October 22
The advent calendar is coming along, but it will be a miracle if I actually finish it in time to use it this year. But I am amazed that it actually resembles what I imagined a year or so ago.
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October 21
Advice: Never take a hungry 9-year-old to a park if you want to actually enjoy the park. Solution: Applebees. Not my first choice by far, but man, it was awesome getting some one-on-one time with my favorite hungry 9-year-old.
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October 19
I jumped off a bridge today and I’m still falling. I don’t know where I’ll hit ground. I can’t complain. It’s not like anyone pushed me. So much for regret.
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October 17
Jupiter. In astrology, it represents higher learning. I think I still have a lot to learn. Today was a challenge. I didn’t realize Billy had a football game, we haven’t gone food shopping this week so the kids didn’t have dinner, and I had chorus rehearsal. Tonight’s lesson was: trust your inner strength. You can get through this. And even when you are alone, you are not alone.
Year in Photos 