1. When you think of autumn what sounds come to mind?
The first thing I thought of was the rustling of wind. Something about the way it blows through leaves that are turning, getting brittle and dry, sounds different than when it comes through a newly sprung tree of green. The katydids die down (that’s a summer sound) and the breeze and hooting owls come in, this time of year.
2. Is a trip to the mountains something you enjoy? What’s your favorite mountain?
I have not really ever taken one. I mean, when I was a kid we’d spend time in Western New York and it was way out in the sticks, but I don’t really remember the mountain aspect as much as I maybe should. We are heading to Asheville in December (to visit breweries and ski) and I think it’ll be my first true mountain vacation. Unless you call Stone Mountain an actual mountain and then, ok, we went tubing there in 2017.
3. What’s something that once felt like a mountain, but is now just a molehill?
Hmm, probably when I was trying to find a job after leaving the Legislature in 2024. Now that I’m on year two of working here and feeling pretty comfortable, all that struggle and strife seems a distant memory.
4. Let’s play this or that-fall foods edition. Yes you have to choose.
- pumpkin spice latte or chai latte
- apple cider or hot chocolate
- stew or chili
- sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole
- butternut squash soup or creamy mushroom soup
- cranberry sauce or gravy
Having to choose was rough! I don’t want any of those lattes, tbh.
5. Sum up your September in a sentence or two.
Settled into the Fall semester and began football season. Geared up for the next few BUSY months!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
This week is insane! Monday was the only slower day; left work and came home to make food, then we took a long walk (3.8 miles) and watched football. Yesterday, Dakota played the middle school football game with the pep band (she also has to do this next Tuesday for the championship game), tonight she has the final cross country meet and as possibly mentioned in a previous post, boys and girls from her school should win it all, so there will be a lot of extra time for the awards, etc. Tomorrow, she has an hour-long musical theater performance. Friday, we got invited to a “kill the keg” party from the group who put on a fest last weekend and clearly has a lot of leftovers. On Saturday we have a kid birthday party for a friend. Then of course, Sunday is football. I like being busy but I literally have no time to do anything. For example, yesterday I took Dakota to cross country practice and whereas I normally leave from there and go to work, getting in 20 minutes after I am “supposed” to arrive, I went home and tidied up the kitchen and washed a keg, did a slight bit of pool stuff. I only left 30 minutes later but man, that really helped me feel more ahead!
I am dealing with a particularly bad bout of poison ivy – still – and it’s getting painful now. probably because the calamine is drying it out. That is what should happen but it’s getting really annoying! If you have any tips and tricks, let me know. We found long ago that if it stays “wet”, i.e. if you use any kind of hydrocortisone cream, it never heals. We also discovered that that hair dryer feels like you’re scratching it without actually doing so, but the all-powerful AI tells me I’m doing damage. Well, that just sounds like the way the world is now: conflicting info everywhere!
Ugh to the poison ivy. I had it so bad one year I had to get a shot to kick it. I’m not too far from Asheville. Have you been before? It’s a huge brew town for sure. We often meet friends up at Sierra Nevada because the venue is stunning and the food is good. I’m not a big beer drinker but I love the vibe there. Good luck ticking all the boxes in your busy week!
I have not been yet! My husband went in 2019 and we had plans to go in 2020 but when things were still closed in October for our anniversary, we decided not to. I can’t wait!
Poison ivy sounds awful, never had to deal with it (yet) myself. No tips, sorry
You do have another busy week. When I started to read your random thought, I saw “Monday was the only SHOWER day, and I thought, “dang, that’s busy!”
I do like the sound of the wind blowing all of the leaves. Your mountain vacation sounds like it’s going to be a good one. It sounds like things are so busy for you at the moment. The poison Ivy sounds nasty! I have no idea about it as it doesn’t grow here in England which I am quite glad about. I hope you get some relief soon.
I’ve never had to deal with poison ivy. Yes (ugh!) to conflicting advice. Maybe you should see a doctor (because you have LOADS of free time!) and see what a doc thinks. Your week does sound busy- you’ll make it through and then it sounds like CC will be over? We went to the Sierra Nevada BC when in Asheville. It’s a neat place and huge. You would like it, I’m sure.
We don’t have poison ivy here, in California but we do have an abundance of poison oak. My husband a couple of years ago, worked on our friend’s property and there was poison oak all over and he got it bad. It took a couple of months to get rid of and even then, his doctor says he is highly susceptible to it now. They gave him some injections. It would have never cleared on its own.
My advice is I wouldn’t play around with it. See the doctor and be done with it. Of course it depends how long you’ve had it.
Just since Sunday morning. It seems to be slowly fading but still very itchy!