1. Thursday is National Walk To A Park Day. I know these celebratory days are mostly made up, but some are fun to think about. Do you live close enough to a park to walk to one on Thursday? Will you? The most famous park in the world is Central Park located in NYC. Have you ever been to Central Park? What did you think? If you haven’t been is this a place you’d like to see? 

So we live right across the street (ok, my neighborhood entrance is across from) Maclay gardens, which is a massive place with bike and walking trails, lakes, and lots of camelias. In fact, Ash and I got married there. But there are many in our area and while I won’t walk to one today, I could. (Maclay Gardens below)

In terms of Central Park, yes we have been and it was pretty neat. I was impressed something so large could be right in the middle of the city. We stayed in a hotel that overlooked it in 2009 and in 2017 we went to a friend’s wedding in the park.

2. Something you’ve done recently that turned out to be a ‘walk in the park’? 

Actually, the 30 mile ride we did was way easier than I thought it would be, if we are being honest. I mean, it sure did hurt at times but it was a lot easier than the hills we’ve been riding!

3. Can you parallel park? Do you have to do this often where you live? 

Yes, I can but we don’t have to do it very often. Sometimes if we go downtown somewhere I will but I usually look for a few open ones in a row to make it easier.

4. The colors of fall…red, brown, russet, golden bronze, golden yellow, purplish red, light tan, crimson, orange red, and scarlet. Are these colors you like to wear? Is this your season in terms of color? What about your home? Would we see these tones in your home decorating? 

I do enjoy most fall colors but don’t go out of my way to buy them this time of year. I’d wear a crimson color for sure, as my kids’ middle school features that prominently, though it is more like maroon. My house has mostly neutral colors like light green and blue, beige. I have a lot of Fall decor up and about right now though, which I love.

5. What part of history do you find most interesting? Elaborate. 

I really love the aspects that deal with how people actually were. I watched a video series not too long ago about how the middle ages weren’t as “dark” as everyone depicts them. I think peoples’ sensibilities change but generally, people do not.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Well, I am completely over hurricane season. I am ever so thankful that I am not in the path of this one but man, those South Florida folks are about to get pounded. And while every Floridian who has been here long enough is well-versed in all this, the problem I’m having now is that this cycle, it seems that things are sketchier than ever before. Internet folks hyping things and overexaggerating, the government seemingly botching multiple aspects, etc. Why? Why does it seem the world just keeps getting worse instead of better?

OK, let’s be positive instead. Hmm, let’s see… no, can’t think of anything. LOL. I have to conference with students aaaaall day and during my one break time, go onto campus to observe another instructor. It’s going to be a long busy one, for sure. Plus, once Ash gets home we plan to do a maintenance ride. We have a 35 mile race/ride this weekend so it would be good to do so. I guess one positive thing is the weather should be pretty cool going forward. Also, they moved the pre-state meet so Dakota can now have time to get ready and go to her first school dance Friday without missing any time. Though, here’s a question that kept me up in the night: she’ll be wearing a dress and reasonable heels and they’ll be dancing etc. How might she keep her phone on her? I feel like a crossbody bag ruins the look and hinders. But I’d rather she have her phone for when it’s time to pick her up. Any ideas?