• The nerd in me points out Hobbit day; the day that Frodo and Bilbo share a birthday within the Lord of the Rings world. I am teaching Fellowship to my students and while they may not love it, I still do and always will.
• I have a doc appointment today and I haven’t done this in a while: left work midday. I forget that where my school is is not really near anything convenient. I have to drive to the middle of town and back during the long second period (testing day) and that’s always a little annoying. I normally wouldn’t go to the doc for a follow up but this hormone patch is irritating my skin. It does what it is supposed to but is chewing me up!
• My son’s car is back in the shop and I swear, it’s been one thing after another. I want my kids to have transportation so they can get to school and work but the cost is putting me out!
• Luckily, this month has – knock on wood – not been too full of extra expenses. And I have not been eating out much, though we did eat out last Friday and that was not cheap. I think eating at home is just so much more cost effective.
• While we don’t have fall temps JUST yet (soon though) I am feeling the pull to decorate and enjoy my yard more. Which also means I need to carve out some time to cut vines and shrubs back. Now’s the time so it won’t grow back for a while.
• A couple years ago, a local teacher ran for a city commissioner seat and I didn’t care for him. He held a town hall so we could ask about this plan he had for a new park. I asked where the money was coming from and he claimed the city had it already allotted. I didn’t really believe it, especially after a specific moment where, when my husband was combing Facebook marketplace for an old TV, he ended up AT that guy’s house to buy one. Dude related that he was selling items donated to him to fund the project. Then this guy got two fast food places built next to one of our high schools – because that’s what kids need! Anyway, I don’t care for him. Today, I saw an article in the local paper reporting that this guy has apparently been attacked by owls on his morning run multiple times. I find this exceedingly amusing!
• In my creative writing classes, we finished up a poetry unit, which I was definitely out of my depth on but I managed to teach. I then found myself writing and enjoying poetry for maybe the first time ever. I never truly liked writing it in grad school. I’m copying one of mine below. It’s not great but I liked writing it.

The Abyss Stares Back