I can’t help but feel like this week is gonna be wonky; I’m used to a certain flow: Ash is home on Mondays and Wednesday and I go to campus on Tuesdays and Thursday and the kids are usually in school. Well, not this week! I think the only day I’m going anywhere is Tuesday, because somehow the local college set this as the last week of classes. Weird.

Anyway, if you read my Friday post, you know we decided to just get our long ride out of the way. We probably got to the trail head around 9:45 so that was when we began. We rode 25 miles to the good gas station in Wakulla only to find that they did still have biscuits but their card machines weren’t working. Sigh. So we rode on another 12 then stopped for lunch.

The BBQ was good; could have been better. But was good for sustenance. I was hurting prior to stopping but felt fine all the way back. Ash was a little worse for wear but it turned out alright. Just tiring.

We got home slightly before 5 and just as we pulled in, my middle boy’s friends showed up. So it was kind of a quiet night; my oldest was also out with friends. Dakota watched a couple things with us but mostly talked to her friends on the phone – which is what 11 year olds do I suppose.

On Saturday I planned to do nothing much except hit the grocery store and watch some Premier League. The four of us (oldest was working) worked in the yard some; cutting overgrowth, mowing, working to get the ground around the fire pit flat so we can eventually pour concrete. It was quite a bit of work! Made burgers for lunch and then napped. Elliot got home and wanted to watch a movie. I don’t know if I would recommend “World’s Greatest Dad” because it was really weird, but we watched it together. It has Robin Williams in it but it is decidedly NOT a family movie.

Back in September, I saw that Yngwie Malmsteen was coming to town and as a pretty big fan, figured we’d go. Here’s a favorite of mine:

At the time, I kind of ignored buying tickets and looked up peoples’ reviews of recent concerts. You know how they say ‘never meet your heroes’? Sometimes old-timer concerts are that way too: disappointing. So I decided, nah. The show ended up being postponed anyway due to storms but on Saturday, our friend Tim said he’d been given two tickets and asked if we wanted to go to the rescheduled event. We picked up one more ticket and around 6:30, we were on our way. The venue was one we hadn’t seen a show at since maybe 2001! It’s small but decent.

He sounded great but I wish he’d had a singer. When I looked up the tour a couple months ago he had a dude singing for him but I guess he’s not anymore! Oh well. Still a fun time.

Oh yeah, prior to us leaving, Dakota left as well. On maybe Thursday last week I got a message from someone we used to know: one of her friends from pre-school. They were “besties” but due to a job change, they moved about 5 hours away to Alabama. Well, her mom said they were going to be in town all week for the holiday and wanted to get them together. They swung by the house and picked her up then she spent the night. This little girl’s grandparents still live here so it kind of worked out. I was happy they got to see each other again and I know they were thrilled. We plan to get them together again sometime this week.

Sunday was again a day I wanted to just relax. I finished laundry, went to the store and got everything else I needed for Thanksgiving (except Cool Whip; I forgot that) and then watched the Liverpool game. It was dicey there for a bit, as they were tied with the team who is dead last on the table but they did manage. Mo Saleh for the win! I know for many of you this means nothing but I love soccer!

I ordered pizza, picked it up, realized I was in a bad mood, and talked myself out of it while in the car. I’ve been having a hard time feeling happy lately and it’s kind of awful given everything I have and whatnot. Especially since it is the season of Thanksgiving. I was watching one of my favorite Youtubes this morning, Celebrating Appalachia, and she always does these livestreams with prayer requests and words of wisdom. One of the things she related was a saying that was something like, ‘don’t meet trouble halfway because it probably won’t make it.’ I.E. stop worrying about stuff that may never happen. With me waiting to see how many sections I’ll be teaching in the Spring, I need to take a step back and stop fretting. I always try to make sure I have things set up but it’s unpredictable. But you know, worrying doesn’t solve anything.

ANYWAY, back to Sunday: ate our pizza and watched football. Nice afternoon all in all. Dakota and I took a walk around 5 then by 6, the whole family went outside and had a fire. It was a nice evening!

This morning I have to get all my classes set up for the week, do some grading, then by 10:30 leave to take Isaac to get an ID. I am still a bit grumbly about him needing one mere months before he gets his learner’s permit. But if it means he can start earning money with the city in January, then so be it.

Anyway, hope everyone has a great week! I don’t know how my blogging will be but I may need to steal away to reflect, given everyone home and stuff. LOL.