1. October 25th is International Artists Day…do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

Hmm, I like a lot of artists, really, but my favorites have always been Caravaggio and Edward Hopper. Two very different time periods! I guess I always liked both for the lighting used and the feelings they evoke.

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

I feel like I used to be more artistic but these days, I don’t do a lot of those things anymore. Aside from writing, I don’t really do much.

3. What’s a skill, task, hobby, or job you’ve done so often you now have it ‘down to a fine art’?

Hmm, this is surprisingly tough. I feel like this describes how I think I am about getting all the household stuff done but to be perfectly honest, I don’t really have it down to a fine art. I just feel that way. LOL.

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you’ve had recently (or not so recently if that’s easier). 

Not as often as we used to, that’s for sure. But mostly because we are busy. Ash and I used to eat out a lot when it was just us and then we had kids so outings had to be well-planned, for timing, atmosphere, and price. During Covid, we ate out A LOT because when you hang out at home all day, you have to do something to get out! I would say somewhere in-between for us. Maybe 2-3 times a year we’ll go somewhere on the nicer side, but I’m out with mid-tier. We don’t really eat fast food so that’s kind of out. In terms of a great experience recently, Ash and I went to this newish fancy place in town called the Huntsman. We had elk and antelope respectively, and everything was really good. Nice time, too.

ETA: I just re-read the prompt and realize it said LESS then stellar! Hmm, I guess it was a couple months ago when I met Ash at Carraba’s for a late lunch. Our waitress didn’t bring our starter soup for – I kid you not – 25 minutes. We mentioned it and we saw all the other waiters pouring their tables’ but we never did. So we left and went elsewhere and that too was bad. Ash’s burger came out cold and by the time he’d finished, my salad still hadn’t shown up. When I questioned the waitress, she had the gall to say, “Well, I don’t make the food.”Are you kidding me??

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

Yes! We always used to do family costumes but of course, as the kids have grown up, it’s shifted. This year, only three of us are vampires. Isaac is Stitch. Elliot is, of course, not doing anything. I decorate the yard and inside and we love the spooky time of year. We get trick or treaters but not to my house, since I live pretty far back and on a traveled road. No one is typically walking down my street. We will go about 3 minutes up the road to our friend’s house and ride in their trailer and let the kids gather candy.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I think I have vacation hang-over. I am reluctant to work, I want to look at the pictures we took, and I am just feeling blah. I tried to mentally prepare myself for coming back and slogging through now until March 8th (end of Session) but alas, I am just not ready. Especially not now since they took one of our committee weeks and turned it into a special session. Which is not horrible, but a little annoying. I think Thursday that week goes back to regular committee meetings, which means I might not miss brew club.

We had such a nice time in Helen, Georgia! I recommend it for sure, though warn that it is touristy, if you don’t like that. But you can do all those hikes and whatnot, which balances the kitsch of the actual town.

Today begins a long string of busy days: EC meeting then maybe going for Halloween trivia, tomorrow is Girl Scout pumpkin carving, Friday we might go to a charity event at the Junior Museum, Saturday we’re probably brewing and then going to a Halloween party at night. It’s a lot, all the time. But what would I do without all this?? No idea.