end of October

Seriously calendar, slow the heck down!!!  I am ready for this election cycle to be over (we both early voted this week [check]), but amazed that in a few days its already NOVEMBER!

I had a low-key birthday - dinner out with Kevin, and a stop for gelato afterwards (making the best of the warm weather).  I went to work that day (considered taking off, but decided against it) and enjoyed reading all the Facebook messages all day long from my far flung friends -- one message came from my neighbor who is working in Dubai!

I am now the proud owner of a left-handed guitar - I've never played before (played flute badly in middle and high school), so it will be a learning experience for me, but I've been wanting to take up a hobby, and have it be something that does not involve screens of any size -- sure I will watch 'how to' videos, but eventually I hope to be able to just play on my own.   Don't expect any videos of me playing anytime soon, I'm still struggling to shape my hand into chords, but I'll get there..practice, practice, practice.....

The only one in the house with a Halloween costume this year is Smokey, and its a shirt that says "I ate my costume", yep sounds about right.....

Air Show

We finally made it back to the Air Show this weekend -- last time we went was TEN years ago, I knew it was long ago since our nephew was tiny....but until I dug around for photos, I didn't realize it was a full decade.

I had a great time, but unfortunately Kevin's day went downhill quickly (more on that later).


Kevin remembered to bring folding chairs (score!) and we made good time getting there.   We followed directions on the freeway and went to the park n ride to take a shuttle to Ellington Field (that is the way to go!), and when is the last time I'd ridden in a school bus?  also easily decades...

After getting through security (National Guard members are EFFICIENT, TSA could learn something), we walked around the planes and helicopters on display.  We could walk through some and even talk to crew members -- there is one plane there that has flown so long it is the same plane a man and his GRANDFATHER have both served on.

After getting our fill of looking at planes and being ready to sit, we went and set up spots near the runway to watch the air performances (also happened to be near a smoothie stand to get some shade). Once we got settled Kevin put on sunscreen (I'd already applied while in line to get in -- I burn so quickly) and that's where his day went badly.  Its the same sunscreen we've used before, but he got it in his eyes and it just burned so badly he couldn't even open his eyes.  He missed most of the best performances since he just had to keep his eyes closed...I could've really used a chemistry class eye wash station


He tried flushing it with bottled water and even went to the medical tent (a first for either of us), they did help him but he was still hurting so badly we had to make the decision to leave, it was also hot and the ATM line was long - which we'd have to wait in to get enough cash to get much food.

We saw a tiny bit of the Blue Angels when we came out from eating (at a restaurant, with plates and full bathrooms).

Once we got home, I bought an 'eye wash' at the store, and that gave him a lot more relief.

We will return to the Air Show in the future, and won't wait 10 years.  Here are a few notes for the future/lessons learned:

• go later (with lunch already eaten) - so we can stay late enough for Blue Angels and not be limited to food options on site
• bring bottled water (clear bottles can be brought in)
• bring kleenex - works as toilet paper if needed, porta potties were out
• bring cash - ATM line was long
• bring different sunscreen for Kevin

Funniest moment -- at dinner, I was trying to make Kevin's eyes tear up to help flush out the sunscreen, and the saddest thing I could think of  to describe was  the part in the movie Dumbo when his mom gets put into a small cell as punishment for trying to protect her baby, and him going up to her and being soothed, rocked by her from outside.   Just describing it makes me cry, and it was sort of working on him,  but also making him laugh at me crying...we must've been quite a sight.....

Walk findings

Hello October!!!!     The weather is finally starting to get nice, and I am so glad to leave summer behind.


I'm trying to extend my walks with Smokey since the weather is getting nicer, and he's stuck inside our townhouse all day while we are at work (its busy time of year for both of us at work).  We see the most interesting things on our walks, I'm going to try to start listing them because they are just hilarious.  just this weekend;

Friday: a person had set up a hammock in the park and was reading in it --- think I can get a turn?

Saturday: package of flash paper on the sidewalk...I had to look it up, a magician somewhere is missing it...and it's so flammable it ships wet...interesting...   also, one more trick figured out

Sunday:   a large tote bag, looked quite nice....I'm assuming someone is coming back for it.


Other notables from before I started tracking:

- pocket mirror (came home with me)
- $20!!!
- a dress on the side of the road 

- LARPERS --- live action role play-- they are the BEST, they meet in costume and with props at our local park

random musings

I'm more excited than I probably should be that tv shows are finally coming back!   Over the summer I've enjoyed checking out some new-to-me shows, but do look forward to the premieres.

I always tell myself I won't get into a new show since I always seem to pick the ones that will be cancelled, but can't help myself.   This year so far I'm trying out Speechless.  I saw a commercial and love that it depicts something besides the poster-perfect family.   Minnie Drive is the mom, and she advocates for her oldest son who is wheelchair bound and communicates with an electronic board.   It has that level and still finds a lot of humor.  I hope it can make it through the season, but I do worry it may not have the broad appeal needed.

I'm always surprised at grocery items that make it onto shelves.  Saw 2 new kinds of pop-tarts today: orange crush and A&W root beer...why? just why?     I love my soda (really trying to cut back) but its supposed to be liquid, and just sounds terrible in that form, and isn't a pop tart for breakfast?!?!   so many things wrong.

I don't think of myself as a huge fan of the chevron patterns and yet based on recent purchases -- gym bag (finally wore mine out after many, many years) and the gift bag for our youngest nephew's gift, evidently its growing on me...

CMT awareness month - What is CMT?

September is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease awareness month!  It is totally coincidental that I have the same initials as this disease, but some folks who are near and dear to me live with this disease and I'd NEVER even heard of it until I met my husband.   That is exactly why I want to raise awareness (and money) for it, its fairly common and almost no one has heard of it....

I sometimes forget my husband has it and admit I don't fully understand what all it affects in his life -- he has often looked at me doing a task (tying my shoe, buttoning a shirt) that to me is just second nature and he's like 'how do you do that so fast?"    This infographic is a good reminder of some what he deals with on a daily basis, and I know that he has a milder case than many.

I don't often talk about it as I know many people are private about their health, but he said he's ok with me sharing this, so now I want to make sure everyone knows about it.  Its common and yet there's no walk, or public events that I'm aware of to raise money and awareness....

There is a movie about a girl living with CMT -- check out Bernadette if you have a chance....

Credit for infographic goes to: Contractor Quotes.