Sorry I didn’t write on Friday; it was a weird morning. My oldest was melting down about a bunch of stuff like his phone not charging overnight, he was tired, he was behind on school work, etc. So he wanted to stay home and I’m fundamentally against that so we argued and he cried and eventually I told him to go in the house and I took my middle to school instead. (They ride together.) Sometimes things like that happen, ya know?

Anyway, I would have recapped Thursday if I had written said Friday post so here are some photos of the kids (and one of me) that night:

The two had plans with people who actually live across the street from one another so it was convenient to drop them off there. They luckily had a ride back with our neighbor, who was also at that event. We walked with our other friends because we said we would, even though Dakota did not trick or treat with those friends this year. It was fun though; chatted with folks and enjoyed the neighborhood. Funny thing is: this area is literally a 2 minute drive from my house and while we never get any kids, their area is alive and well when it comes to Halloween!

So anyway, after the Friday morning debacle, we had a plan to ride with a friend after he drops his kid off at a bus stop, so that was around 8:30. We rode 2.5 miles to the start of the trail and then about 7 out and 7 back so it was an almost 20 mile hilly trail ride. It was kind of rough, tbh! I kept up pretty well though… even with my hybrid tires that don’t do too well on places where you need mountain bike tires. Too much dry sugar sand out there.

I was beat after that but we showered and went for hibachi and then ran errands to Academy and Total Wine. Exhausted after that! Ash and I started a cheesy sword and sorcery movie but then decided to go take a nap! Didn’t sleep amazing but it was restful. In the evening we mostly just watched a movie and hung out with the kids.

Saturday morning was restful early on. My oldest got up early to mow before work. I cleaned around the house and hit the store for some stuff early. I had things to cook. I took zero pictures but I made sausage balls and southern green beans to take to a friend’s little birthday bottle share at 12. I got one picture there; some good shared beers and our friend made a brisket so that was tasty. After we left there, we had a party to attend for some folks we know who were celebrating 10 years of running their own business. Photos from both down below:

A long, busy day but fun. Dakota spent the night with friends after the last party and we went home to relax. I was exhausted and knew with the time change, it wasn’t getting any better!

The time change did however make it easier to get out for our 45 mile ride the next morning. We chose to drive down to where part of the trail intersects with Scenic Highway. There’s a nice little parking lot there and you can pick up the trail easily. We did 22.5 out and it got us just over the Ochlokonee bay bridge.

It wasn’t a bad ride and we did much better than last week when we hit 36 miles and both started cramping up. We took those little Nuun caps in our water and I even had a couple Gu packs. I was pretty tired by the end but we made it. On the way back we snagged some pizza and wings from Papa Johns then went home just in time for football.

I was dedicated to laundry and chair-sitting, though at a certain point I started thinking my oldest should have been home from work- it was 4 and the restaurant closes at 2! So I’m all texting him and trying not to worry and then he finally replies and tells me they had the busiest shift in years. A normal really busy days gets about 110 reservations and they had 175! He was pretty tired and hungry but once he got home and resituated, went back out with some friends. I am really glad that he’s differentiating; he tends to hang out with the same 2-3 people all the time and I just want him to have a variety of people around him. Obviously most of that is not in my control anyway.

In the evening, when we were burned out on football, Ash and I finally watched the 2014 film Whiplash, which I highly recommend. SO good.

That about does it. It’s about 7 now, I am grading papers and expecting my daughter to be up soon and I have to drive her to school this morning so she can audition for a duet for Thursday’s first band concert. Busy week ahead: voting, Ash goes to a conference, a cross-country end of season celebration, working (though I am cancelling Thursday and making them do an online activity) and then we head out for a quick weekend getaway to Sea World on Friday!

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OK this week’s theme is songs about country, government, or National Pride. You know everyone will pick this but:

And I love this one. It is, to me, one of the most patriotic songs and what’s more American than good ol’ wrestling?

And I always liked this one, because it seems a lot of these people trying to make laws for everyone only live in coastal cities and what the heck do they know about “average” folks? They sometimes don’t. I say sometimes because I know that not everything is black and white and not everyone fits into a box that the two-party system created.