The last days of October just flew by, and I don't even remember them. I do remember the beautiful fall weather disappearing and the clouds coming - but not all day every day. Just enough to let you know the seasons are changing. We had some lovely monsoon-like windstorms that Elise and I enjoyed from our snug little apartment - warm and prepared with flashlights and candles. We just had some brief flickering of light, thank goodness, but it was pretty messy looking out on the damage.
When I went to the dentist Monday morning, I started seeing detour signs as I approached North Bend. Luckily, the detour didn't take me far out of my comfort zone, and I got to get my semi-annual cleaning done. I've been going there for about 5 years, and it's a nice place. One dentist, one hygienist - sometimes - one office person - sometimes one person is all three! There's always good conversation, and I've never had to have any procedures done there, so that makes me happy.
I made myself go to the grocery store on the way home, because I knew if I didn't stop, my procrastination would keep me from going at all. It was pleasant even though rather crowded, and I took my time and got almost everything I went in for. I saw a long line for the one checkout space available and opted for self-checkout, which turned out to not be a good idea. I try to avoid it when I have full groceries just because it makes me tired to stand in one place and bend over and pick up stuff when I'm tired anyway. And after filling up 4 of my bags, I noticed I was feeling a little warm and dizzy. I got everything bagged up, but I could not manage to swipe my credit card and just put my head down on the shopping cart a minute. Immediately, the staff swarmed around me and swiped my card and brought me a chair and offered me water and hovered quite a bit. I was back to normal in about 5 minutes and felt ready to go, but one of the familiar guys who lives near me insisted on taking my groceries out and putting them in the back of the car. I felt silly but was really glad to have that help. Elise brought everything in for me when I got home. I really wish I knew what caused this dizziness. I think it's not eating breakfast and trying to do things even though I feel okay when I start. I hate to complain because I don't like to have to depend on someone else to take me places. Driving is never an issue, because I only feel dizzy when I stand in one place too long.
It's been an unpredictable week. I never know what I'm doing when I wake up but find out during the day if the girls are coming by and when and for how long. That's fine, but I feel like I never see them enough lately. I guess I don't even have any Halloween pictures. I'll need to request some from Emily so I don't have to keep on writing about myself.
I just did that. She's planning a wreath-making afternoon for us next week at Squak Mountain Nursery. I know it will be fun, and I'll actually get to see her in person for a change. She knows I'm a klutzy crafter and wants to take me anyway! I haven't driven on the new interchange yet - just haven't had the desire or the need - so I think that will be a good day for Elise to drop me off at the clinic and go buy her weekly Trader Joe's meals.
Another thing Elise and I have done is try to clean out the "sewing room" and get rid of some of the things I know I'll never do. That's usually fun for me, finding things and organizing, but I'm puzzled about where to keep them. Elise needs more room, and I know once I put fabric and stuff in the garage, it will disappear from my mind unless I label VERY carefully. So far, I have.
I'm getting rid of my old Christmas tree that takes up so much room on the shelves since Noreen was nice enough to gift me a bigger one last year. I also have a chair and several boxes of things to put on the Buy Nothing FB page too. I just procrastinate about taking those pictures and listing them. It was nice to donate about 6 boxes of clothing and household things to a fundraiser at the high school in October. It seems like the more I take out, the more I have, and I feel like I never buy anything new.
I'm making detailed lists of the books I want to read and giving it more thought. I've been on a downhill journey with reading lately. It seems like nothing I've tried has pleased me, and I end up sending them back to the library unread. I did read two quite extraordinary books this week though, and I just recommended them to Emily. I'll copy my message to her to save time.
-- I've been crying over a book this morning, so I thought you would like it. It's The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. Several times this week, I've been listening to it when I went to bed and fell asleep with it playing all night, I guess. I must wake up some during that time, because I do remember excerpts from it later. After doing this for the third time, I just went back to the halfway point and am taking the time to listen to it all at once. I did miss a lot! And it's good. And sad in places. And human and beautiful all at the same time. The other one is Sipsworth by Van Booy. Sipsworth is a mouse. I probably wouldn't have read it if I had known that. I just read a recommendation about how much people love it and how beautiful it is, so I listened to it. When the heroine is about my age and adopts a mouse and shares strawberries with it, how can I not like it? It's almost fantasy but realistic enough to identify with. I have holds for several other good-sounding books that will be trickling in in the next few weeks or months.
I don't see any pictures being delivered, and the only one I was sent this week was a video of a soccer game in the pouring rain and high winds with lots of screaming and laughter.
Kate had that soccer game and a very good martial arts skills test that her teacher was pleased with this week. She went trick-or-treating with her friend Eiri while Graysen was out with a soccer friend ringing doorbells somewhere else. Gray and Sawyer went to a Halloween dance last Friday night, and she gave it a thumbs up, but I don't know any more details about it. And probably never will!!
I had a fun morning one day last week when I got to visit with 3 friends - besides mah jongg ones - all on the same morning. Mary asked me over to play Scrabble, and as I left, I once again ran into Peggy walking her dog Riley (I think. She lost one recently). She walked along with me awhile, and we had a nice chat. Then as I passed Noreen's window, I peeked in and spotted her at her table. She waved me in and made me some coffee, and we managed to catch up on so many things. Our lives have been full of kids and activities and doctor appointments, so it was good to have the whole day to devote to friends.
I do have some pictures. The Wyvills invited me to brunch last Sunday morning, and I took a couple of pictures. We played a complicated cops and robber and innocent people game that I never quite understood, but it was quite entertaining. Carly had made pancakes, and there were English muffins and very good bacon plus some much-needed coffee. It's always fun to spend some time with them. Since they've moved a block or so away, we don't see as much of them. Well, Graysen sees Linda every day since she's her math teacher!
I missed getting pictures of the cats and the scary Halloween head in the window, and the one I took of Wes in the kitchen was blurred. Unfortunately, they're moving completely out of the neighborhood next week but within walking distance.
I tried to take some pictures of Kate in her punk rock outfit Friday after school, but Graysen took my camera and fancied up the ones she took until I hardly recognized her. Looks like she had a hard day of recess in the rain and wind, but at least one eye retained the makeup!
Ryan brought over the girls' laundry that I love to do, and it was perfect timing. I was about to do mine, so I'll have it all clean and ready to go in a few hours. He also changed the filter in my car. We have a nice bartering system! Elise and I are babysitting for the whole weekend starting Friday, so we need to call in all the favors we can!
