1. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music? Last time you went somewhere for the live music? 

I did, for a time, but we haven’t made time lately. The last time was Atlanta sometime last year. I was dragging Ash to all my favorite bands and I even went to see a couple of his.

2.According to HGTV the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here’s what’s on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)

• Sherwin Williams-universal khaki (inspired by heavy canvas and outdoor gear)
• Behr-hidden gem (a confident shade of teal)
• Valspar-warm eucylyptus (a warm sliver tinted green)
• Dutch Boy-melodious ivory (a honey tinted beige)
• Glidden-warm mahogany (a classic brick red)
• Krylon-matte coffee bean
• Clark and Kensington -Hazelnut Crunch (warm reddish-brown)
• Graham and Brown-Divine Damson (cherry red with a subtle violet undertone)
• Dunn and Edwards-midnight garden (the green that works everywhere) 

First question-did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers? Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style? Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so might you choose a color from this list? 

Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most? 

I know a little more than half of those paint companies but not the others. The link takes you to 2025 so I search for 2026; I do like Hazel a lot and could totally see that in my house, though I don’t have any painting projects planned. We painted the front door not too long ago; just the same dull brown it has been but it helped a lot!

On that list, I like the name “midnight garden” the most. And wasn’t that a Bath and Bodyworks line of soaps and lotions??

3. What’s something in your life you have to do-watch-or participate in that’s about as exciting as ‘watching paint dry’? 

Hmm, I don’t think there’s anything THAT boring but sometimes on afternoons when I can’t muster the brainpower to plan after 5 classes in a row, I feel anxious and ready to leave work; those two hours can feel like watching pant dry.

4 . Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert day…did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What’s your absolute favorite dessert. Yes, just one. I know!! 

I ate some pumpkin spice covered pretzels Tuesday so, I guess that’s celebrating. I don’t often eat dessert but my favorite would be black forest cake. And I never eat it!

5. Perhaps today is the day I will __________________________________. 

Catch up on phone calls I have to make.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I didn’t do a Monday post because our “teacher work day” was something the diocese calls “data day”, which means we spent way too long looking at charts of test scores. The only good thing I got out of it was some ideas – that I came up with myself – on engaging students in the next quarter. Regardless, Monday was successful otherwise; left and took my middle for his sports physical. He missed day one of soccer tryouts, but they’re all week. He got cleared for Tuesday so he can be there the rest this week. We shall see if he makes it. I try not to get too invested in worrying about those things for them anymore because it can be stressful. If he makes it, cool. If not, try again.

We went to dinner Monday night, the three of us, (Ash is out of town and Elliot was at work) and had Mexican and by 9 I was exhausted. But I woke up having good ideas for classes on Tuesday.

I was super tired Tuesday night, for some reason. I could barely get myself to stay up past 9! Feeling better today though. I’m proctoring PSATs and it’s a half day for students; really hoping it is for us too, though they have not said!

Oh, ETA: today is my 20th wedding anniversary. Ash is out of town this week but we did just have a 2 week vacation! I’ll drink a beer later as if he were here. We were a little beered out, after vacation and then the weekend, but so it goes.