Thriving

There's a small space underneath the exterior phone box where we plant alyssum every year. This year the chickens (before the fox ate them) kept digging the area up, so they didn't do very well. Then it was dry and whatever was left died. However, some time during October, a few plants emerged and now they are thriving. It's pretty amazing, since everything else has just about died off. I'm hoping they make it to December.

In a Fog

7:30 a.m.

Glee

Though my family has suspected it for weeks, today I am coming out as a full-blown *Gleek*! Drove them crazy over the weekend with YouTubing my favorite songs, so I broke down today and did a massive download from iTunes, so I can go back on the down-low with my obsession! (Very un-Kurt of me!)

Shift Change

These sunbeams are known by many names, including Jacob's Ladder and Rays of Buddha, but the technical term for them is "crepuscular rays," because they tend to occur at dawn and dusk. When I was little, I asked my great-grandmother what they were. She told me it was the light created by Angels changing shifts. (Makes total sense if you are Catholic and living in a Pennsylvania steel town.) Whenever I see them in the middle of the day, as I did today, I always wonder what in the world is going on -- like maybe the Day Shift Angels need reinforcements.

Award

It's not too often I post a picture of myself here, but I had a really great moment this past week. Educators at G's school nominated me for a community service award that is sponsored annually by a local business. There was a big shindig at the arts center and each nominee was given his or her moment in the spotlight. Though I didn't win the top award, I was incredibly honored to have been recognized for the activities I have been involved in over the past two years. Thanks THK and AH for putting my name forward!

Chula Vista

Last weekend we took a minibreak and went to the Chula Vista Resort in the Dells. Not as big as the Kalahari, but we liked it and would go back. Kind of struck out at outlet shopping and didn't get too far on Christmas shopping when we stopped in Madison. We did however enjoy lunch at Casa de Lara and walking around State Street.

Happy Halloween

G recently became hooked on NCIS, which is in almost constant rotation on the USA Network. So when she went Trick or Treating with Cha and Mara last night, it's no surprise that she dressed up as NCIS Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto!