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.
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October 16
I spent some time shopping online using the massive store credit I have from earlier this year when my account was hacked and some jerk bought some expensive appliance on my card but the store wouldn’t give me a refund. I guess this is the best possible outcome of that.
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October 15
Today has to have been the most beautiful day of 2023 so far. I’m so glad I managed to wrench the kids out of the house for an hour. I told them I was going and I was taking all the phones and iPads with me. Given that choice, they came with me. I don’t think they regretted it. To top it off, we got to eat dinner outside on the patio, which was so nice. And it reminds me that my garden desperately needs to be weeded. Sorry, garden.
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October 14
I got Robin this puppy and added some lavender oil to try to help soothe her anxiety. He looks just like Pinot, her favorite living being on Earth. I think it works somewhat. I thought for sure she’d name him Pinot Jr., but she calls him Bob. In her book, everyone is Bob. It makes her smile. That’s all that matters.
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October 13
Christina was insanely amazed that these two magnets held together THROUGH HER FINGER. Ka-pow.
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October 12
The person who literally made me who I am. I love you, Robin! Happy birthday.
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October 11
It’s been kind of an average Wednesday, or at least as average as Wednesdays get. Talked to Rosina for a little bit. Did some online shopping in the dance studio parking lot. Feeling ready for bed.
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October 10
I made meatball subs for dinner and Christina gave me the ultimate compliment when she said, “Wow! These are just like my favorite meatball subs at Subway! Only better!” How about that. I make better sandwiches than Subway. Write it down, folks.
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October 9
Christina woke up this morning with a fever, so I had a partner at work today. And literally everyone on my team was out of the office, so I really didn’t do much either. Our house cleaners didn’t come and we had no food to cook. And yet we still had homemade pasta carbonara and Christina still made her funny jokes and work got done. Funny how that works.
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October 8
I’ve hiked the trails at Losco Park about a thousand times, but today somehow I got turned around and ended up hiking the loop twice, turning a 1.5-mile hike into a 4+ mile hike. It wouldn’t have been that big a deal, except Christina and the dogs were with me and the dogs were exhausted and Christina didn’t really even want to come in the first place. They were all troopers, though. Christina didn’t even complain a little bit. At least the weather was nice. Gorgeous, in fact. One of the first fall days of the year.
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October 7
Trying to do more with my days where I can. I finally cleaned up the piles of papers that I had to take out of my broken filing cabinet. It resulted in two trash bags of shredded papers dating back to 2016. But now my office seems to have almost doubled in size. And then we went to the fall festival at school. The kids loved hanging out with their friends and I even talked to some other parents and it was a beautiful day. Nice to get out.
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October 6
Robin said she loves me very, very, very, very much today, which kind of makes up for my crappy day yesterday.
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October 5
It was another long day. I spent 40 minutes making this delicious rice and beans that normally everyone loves for dinner and then no one ate it. Christina wouldn’t speak to me for two hours, saying she hates me, because I wouldn’t set up a phone line for her. I love doing things for the people I love, but I do sometimes wish they’d respond with a thank you instead of demands for more.
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October 4
Poor Pinot has another abscess. The vet recommended having his anal glands removed so that it doesn’t keep happening. This was his second one this year and it is very painful to drain when they happen. Apparently once he’s had them, he becomes more prone to them in the future. Poor guy. Not sure what we’ll do. I just want him to be a happy boy.
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October 3
The first time I looked at the music I had to read for chorus all those years ago when I first joined, my eyes almost fell out of my head. I knew I’d seen all the elements of music that were on the page before, but it was all so tiny and there was so much there and it wasn’t in English! I took one look at it and almost dropped it back off at the table and went home. I was beyond intimidated, feeling I was in way over my head. And I kinda was. I pretty much still am. But somehow I haven’t been asked to leave yet, so I keep showing up and faking it as best I can. It’s a privilege to fake it like this year after year without being asked to leave and I am grateful. Grateful that I haven’t given up and grateful that they haven’t given up on me. Performing in this space is one of the few things I do that I feel has worth.
Year in Photos 