November

The princess has arrived. If I am correct, and at this size of kitten, I very well may not be, I think we obtained a female kitten when Kate asked me to keep her for one night at the beginning of the month. Boo, as I am calling her because she is solid black and afraid of everything, was discovered in an engine compartment in the parking lot outside Feeder Supply. Kate was on shift and couldn't keep her until the shelter opened the next morning. So what started as a good deed, quickly turned into another responsibility. Why do I create my own chaos?

He makes yoga tools so much more interesting. 

My morning cup of tea has become a game of keep away. Boo attacks the tag while I attempt to sip. Whereas it is entertaining, it is also risky. And not so relaxing. And so instead of my favorite yellow mug, something with a lid is currently required.

Diesel was not able to leave her alone when she first arrived. He was completely obsessed and quite jealous too. So we contained her in one room for the first couple of weeks. We are still working on it.

                                           

Progress!

I bought him a bow tie and sternly suggested he begin to act as distinguished as he appears. He isn't even pretending to entertain the idea.

His life is hard.

Waiting on his daily walk has become increasingly more dramatic. He progresses from staring Greg down to turning his back in a ridiculous pout.

This boy is not cheap to feed.

Kate called the first Saturday in November and asked if I'd come help her fluff her Christmas tree. "Kate, it's November second." She quipped, "why are you such a Scrooge?" As it turns out, Kate isn't the only daughter who put up a tree that weekend. Erin decided it was time to buy a tree for the house after years in the condo without one. She says it's for her cat. Of course she does. But a group text has shown the shenanigans of kittens in trees all month. Everyone with a tree has their hands full. Thank goodness I was already certain I wasn't putting one up this year. Maybe Kate is right. I might be a Scrooge.

My parents came to town to attend the Veterans Day program at Austin's school. They also got to watch a basketball game since they were here early enough on Sunday afternoon. Austin was giddy having them here for both events. I took Veterans Day off to spend time with them and ended the day with a glorious nap. Work has become a bit draining and my inflammation numbers reflect the need for restorative rest. All in all, it was a good day off. 

Kristin hosted a girl's weekend for our friend group and these are the only pictures we have to show for it. Why are we so bad at grabbing a snapshot of the people who mean so much? But I had to stop and admire the gorgeous ginkgo leaves in downtown Troy, Ohio. 

I invested in a writing course that started at the beginning of the month. After several sessions, people would comment that they would be sharing what they unearthed in their writing process with their therapists. I laughed at myself for questioning if I needed a therapist. It reminded me of Erin in first grade who lamented being the only girl in her class who didn't get to have a step mom. Her life was hard. And whereas I certainly have moments of questioning my sanity, the writing course is helping me dig deep so a therapist is not in my immediate plans.

For Lauren's 28th birthday, I asked to keep Austin for a sleepover. She got to have a quiet dinner with Dean and then accomplish some Christmas shopping. Grown up birthdays are pretty mundane. Erin joined us for the evening and brought a Ninja gingerbread cookie kit. Austin enjoyed only the final steps of creating. He was on my phone video chatting with his dad so I missed grabbing photos of him drinking the icing straight out of the bag. I love our time together and miss the daily interactions now that they are settled in their own place. 

Our quiet day together grew suddenly very quiet when Austin asked to snuggle. All of us worried he'd wake with a fever. Fortunately he did not but a nap is extremely rare for him.

Erin hosted Thanksgiving this year and I would like to formally nominate her to make it a tradition. She is so much smarter than her mother. All the dishes were assigned and a specific timeline was set. She cleaned her always clean house and provided beverages. Clearly, I have been doing it wrong. We all laughed and relaxed together. It was good. 

I ended the month hiding from Greg yelling at the Ohio State vs Michigan game. I always make myself scarce for that particular competition. I accomplished some Christmas shopping and fielded texts inviting me over to avoid going home afterward. The game did not have Greg's desired outcome and ruined an otherwise lovely Saturday around here. 

October

Oh how I love October. We ushered it in with a quiet birthday dinner where Greg slipped away from work to join me and Ty. The house was slowly decluttered as Lauren moved out; the reduction of dog hair alone refreshing. 

After Greg's daily workout, he and Diesel take a walk. Diesel, who somehow can apparently tell time, takes up his position in the kitchen and stares Greg down until he finally makes his way to gather the leash. Greg laughs as he attempts to negotiate with the stern dog, "just ten more minutes."

And then one day Greg thought he would skip the walk to get some things done around the house. He was wrong.

October weather makes adulting challenging because I just want to hold down my porch swing with a book and a cup of tea rather than be at work. I compromise with lunch breaks outside. Greg is still bewildered to find me wrapped in a blanket under the stars on early Saturday mornings. I simply can't get enough of the crisp, clean air. 

We got to hang out for a few hours with his mom while they did laundry. We crafted, had dinner and dessert before choosing a show. 

Austin has been lamenting his first loose tooth could result in the tooth fairy visiting while his dad lives in Hawaii. Trying to find a way for his dad's feelings to not be hurt when he missed the milestone, asked Taylor if his fiancee still loses teeth. Whereas she is quite young, she isn't that young. This child cracks me up with his insight and ability to throw shade so innocently. His father, by the way, was not nearly as amused as the rest of us. 🤷

After months of campaigning, the boy finally scored his coveted ebike. I had so many reservations about this purchase but he has fully embraced the cold air to take himself to school and hopes to secure his first real job now that he has transportation. I'm waiting on the reality of January to hit but he insists he is tougher than the elements. That being said, one of the arguments I had against the ebike was storage. I made it clear I was not losing my parking place in the garage.......

Clearly, I wasn't specific enough. We ultimately created space in the garage around Greg's workout equipment. Ty is so thrilled with the purchase, he invited me to take his picture. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, I jumped at the opportunity. He was shocked I insisted on shots sans the helmet.  

Makenna had a sweet little cat that in so many ways, was like her child. Kiwi was taken abruptly and it crushed her. A few weeks later, they learned of two tiny guys in need of a home. They waited until they were fully weaned to add them to their family. Meet Freddie and Frankie......

Everyone is delighted. I mean, how sweet are these faces?

Erin treated me to dinner at a local Venezuelan restaurant for my birthday and I loved the entire experience. First, hanging out with Erin is always special and secondly, the food was fantastic. All the things you hear about oldest daughters being the organized ones who step in to help and problem solve? It's all so true. 

My job requires an annual flu shot and because I am currently on two immune suppressing medications, I was concerned about this one. I scheduled it for a Friday morning to give myself a weekend to recover. It not only robbed me of my weekend but cost me my first sick days. I slept on average 18 hours a day and only Diesel didn't mind. He is such a perfect cuddle buddy/weighted blanket.

Giving me life this month:

Crisp, cool mornings; fall leaves both on the trees or gently falling from the bright blue sky; the Curious George soundtrack; daily yoga challenge (even if in some moments, I am sure it is trying to kill me), puppy snuggles and sweet kittens, Ty asking to volunteer at school because a teacher invited him to work alongside her, reading on the porch swing and hot tea on the deck. 

Read this month: 

I abandoned one particularly dark novel halfway through the month because I was not in a headspace to appreciate it and googled, "light reading suggestions." I should have specified that it need not be mindless or lacking plot. So one book was bust but the second? Delightful. The Rosie Project was the only book I read this month I'd recommend to others. The Girl Who Was Taken was decent and unfortunately, You Only Live Once could have been written by a middle schooler.

 

A friend gifted me these shirts after I photographed her extended family. I am so touched by the gesture and adorable designs. I mean, how sweet are these?

This moment prompted a conversation about where on the autism spectrum we all land...

Our county postponed trick-or-treating due to a rainy forecast until Friday, November 1. The result landed all of my kiddos and most of their significant others to join us for chili and hot dogs. It was a beautiful night sitting on the lawn enjoying the company and neighbors. Diesel was certain the entire event was designed to get him lots of attention. Of course he was. The evening was so perfect, we ran out of candy. This is not a bad problem to have but I was surprised we managed to unload over six pounds of chocolate one piece at a time.