RIP Matthew Perry

I was at a Halloween party Saturday evening when I heard about the passing of Matthew Perry.  I was so sad to hear it.  Matthew Perry and Friends have been such a huge part of my adult life.  I remember it was on the evening of my 21st birthday while I was waiting on a friend to get ready to go out.  It wasn't until the following summer in reruns though, when I really started to follow it, and then it became my favorite show, and pretty much still is.  My roommate Steph and I were completely addicted to it during our co-habitation years.  Oh my goodness, the laughs we shared over the years. 

I remember watching the very final episode in 2004.  I cried so hard the first time I saw the last episode.  It truly was like losing my own friends.

I loved watching reruns over the years, and the show has been there for us when we were sick.  I loved when our kids were old enough to enjoy and appreciate the show.  Our family shared lots of laughs together.  The Thanksgiving episodes have become an annual family tradition, and I'm so grateful how the show brought us together and helped us to create awesome memories.  It makes me so sad that Matthew Perry is gone so young.

The rest of the birthday weekend

It was a busy weekend, but overall very lovely.  Yesterday we were able to watch Notre Dame just unload on Pitt.  While I follow Pitt because the kicker is from my hometown, I was still delighted that ND could trounce a team.  Our Saturday evening was spent at a Halloween party at a friend's house.  While we all know I love Halloween, I do appreciate an evening spent with those friends!  It was a very fun evening.  

Today was a very cold and dreary day.  My dear friend Jen had wanted to have lunch today, so we made that happen.  I was able to run a quick errand after.  I came home and I'm grateful that Andrew is making a fire in the fireplace.  It's always a lovely way to end the weekend and start the next week.  I'm so grateful for the peaceful feeling.

Today I turned 50

Today was my 50th birthday.  It's always nice when my birthday falls at the end of the week.  I awoke to a text from Thomas this morning who had texted right after Midnight.  That was so sweet!  The school Uke group serenaded me at lunch, and we had dinner with my coworkers this evening.  I received so many messages and texts throughout the day.  It was a very nice day.

This morning brought the biggest surprise, and honestly, it brought me to tears.  I was at school and was in the music room talking to my co-worker.  When I got back to my office, there was a small box on my desk.  I found a birthday note signed by Thomas.  He and his girlfriend had picked out a lovely bracelet, and the charms were a heart, a puzzle piece, a baseball, and a verse.  It was the first "I'll do it on my own" gift from him, and the fact that it was so incredibly thoughtful made it even more special.

I hadn't been excited about turning 50, but it's been a great day.  And ultimately, I'm grateful that I do get to turn 50.  It sure beats the alternative!

The last day of my 40's

Today is the last day in which I get to tell someone 40-something.  I can't believe it.  I've been alive for nearly half of a century.  It feels completely surreal.

Last evening, the four of us had dinner.  We decided to venture out to the lodge at the state park.  The drive was absolutely gorgeous.  It was a wonderful dinner.  Nothing makes my heart so full as having us all together, especially at a meal.  We had a really nice conversation, and seeing them grow into adults, well there just aren't words.

It's been a beautiful week.  At my job, there is this huge tree that is a gorgeous shade of orange, and right across the street are two trees that are absolutely gorgeous red.  It is such a peaceful view, and I'm so grateful each time I see it.  

Time is passing in life so very quickly.  A week like this makes it easier to slow down and be grateful for so many things!

I wanted to write last week

I had really wanted to write last week, but it just didn't happen.  It was the longest week I'd had in a very long time.  Tuesday evening I worked at church and then had a meeting.  Wednesday I wasn't able to leave work early, and I had yet another meeting at church.  Very long beginning to the week.

And Thursday was the longest, but it was wonderful!  This summer, I had read that Richard Thomas (famous for being in The Waltons) was playing the role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the show was coming to Dayton.  I told Andrew I was buying us two tickets.  I love, absolutely love that story, and I knew with Richard Thomas playing the role it would be spectacular.  It was Midnight before we got home, but I was right.  It was a wonderful show.  Andrew and I used to enjoy theater performances, and now that the kids are grown we really should start enjoying them again.  It was absolutely wonderful.

I'd had early morning every day as I was helping a friend with school transportation, but I was looking forward to sleeping in Friday after our late night Thursday.  As we were leaving the theater though, I received word that our Early Care person couldn't be there, and I was moving VERY early Friday morning to get to work.

A friend had a health scare Friday, but all turned out well, and Andrew and I received our COVID vaccines that evening.  I went to bed at 9:00 that night and slept for nearly 12 hours.  I was exhausted, and Saturday Andrew and I both felt off, so we just sat around all day.

It was perfect fall weather last week.  The leaves were staring to change, and it was chilly enough, but sunny.  It was an incredibly long week, but the scenery was beautiful!  I love the month of October!

It's been a big week for Thomas

I had really wanted to write earlier in the week, but this was a crazy week.  With the kids grown, I don't normally have weeks as busy as this one anymore, but sometimes it happens.

A week ago yesterday, Thomas finished his classes he is taking to receive his CDL.  Yesterday he finished the driving requirements and will take his test this coming week.  Because he is in the process of earning his CDL, he's been hired by the local lumberyard and hardware store in town.  His first day was Monday, and he is thrilled that he's working his first 40-hour week job.  We are so proud of him, and he really likes this job so far.  The evening of his very first day, Andrew took him to purchase his very first "real" car.  It's a nice one too!  He was able to afford a 2020 Chevy Malibu with about 40k miles on it.  He had always wanted (and still wants) a truck, but he realized that the insurance, and especially the gas mileage, would not be things he wanted to pay right now.  We are so proud of how Thomas is adulting these days!

A really nice weekend in the middle of October

Fall has arrived, and I'm delighted.  We were off Friday, and I spent the day getting some errands accomplished.  I wanted to visit some shops in my home town, and the drive up was really very lovely.  I regret that Andrew and I didn't get to spend much time together, but he enjoyed his morning of frisbee golf.  I have to admit, I much prefer having Mondays off rather than Fridays, because a Friday always seems to fly by.

Yesterday, Andrew had to be at work early for the league cross country meet.  I enjoyed some football, especially the OSU victory, and we left for Dayton mid-afternoon to celebrate the 50th birthday of our good friend Pat.  It was a large group that included kids (and even a parent!) and it was so good to see everyone.  The best part was that our friend, Larry, was able to be there.  He had an emergency medical situation in August and was in a coma for nearly a week.  We are so grateful for his recovery, although not complete, and that we were able to see him yesterday.  We came home and enjoyed the ND victory over USC last evening.

Today has been a day of accomplishing things, and we are finishing by enjoying a quiet evening with a fire in the fire place and our candle lit.  I have a crazy week coming up, but knowing it is gorgeous weather makes it all better!

Almost ridiculously giddy

This evening I needed some string cheese, so I ran a quick trip.  Not to our local grocery, but to the empire grocery, if you know what I mean.  I had checked each time I was there (not overly frequently) if they had their stock of Christmas cards.  Picking up my Christmas cards and stamps each year is one of my favorite things.  I was delighted to see that the cards had indeed arrived.  Not just delighted, but almost ridiculously giddy!  And I ordered my stamps yesterday.  Yay!!!!!

I am also rather giddy about the fact that tomorrow is no school.  This extra day is much needed, and I'm very grateful.  And even beyond all of that, today was the most perfect fall day.  The colors are really starting to pop, and the tree at our school is beyond gorgeous.  Even though it was in the 70's, there was a nice breeze and absolutely no humidity.  I'm giddy about heading into my most favorite season, especially with a long weekend!

A lovely unexpected visit

Catherine has classes three evenings a week about 25 minutes away, but it's nearly an hour drive from classes to her apartment.  Last night, rather late, she let me know that she had several things to accomplish in town today, and had decided to stay here instead of driving to her apartment.  Andrew and I were exhausted (he had to work an event last evening), but we were so happy to take some time to chat with her.  Catherine was able to get things accomplished and was done mid-afternoon.  Andrew has to work again this evening, so Catherine and I decided to have Mexican for dinner (and Thomas wasn't at all sad he wasn't included since he's so picky), and it was really a lovely dinner.  She seems really happy right now, and I'm encouraged by her current decision making.  It was a lovely unexpected visit!

This was almost an ideal fall weekend

Oh my goodness, I absolutely needed this weekend.  The house was already mostly picked up, but I finished it off yesterday because we were having company.  That means the house is completely picked up today, and since I made crockpots of food for four people last evening, we have plenty of leftovers for dinner this evening.  The weather is delightful...so delightful I'm almost giddy!  Today I've been able to do a lot of computer work and have enjoyed the view (and scents) of our candles lit on the fireplace, and later there will be a fire to add to the ambience.  I enjoyed the Buckeyes win yesterday and the Steelers win today (crazy game!).  We even only have four days of work this week (no school for either Andrew or myself on Friday).  I needed this in so many ways.

There are only two things that could've made it better.  While Thomas is here, it is always nice (although certainly less quiet!) when Catherine is around.  We always love having everyone around the house.  And secondly, it stinks that the Irish lost to Louisville last evening.

All-in-all, I can't think of a much more relaxing way to head into our week!

A perfect fall day

Everyone laughed at how giddy I was about today's weather arriving.  It's 60 degrees outside right now.  It's been a mostly sunny morning, but either way, it's just an awesome day.

And to make it even more perfect, it's Saturday, and that means college football!  Ohio State has already won today, and Notre Dame plays this evening.  My very good friend, Andy is in town and will be visiting this evening, so I've spent today cleaning the house.  So right now, my house is clean, it's 60 degrees, it's Saturday, I'm watching college football, and a very dear friend is coming over this evening.  Yes, a perfect fall day indeed!

This October 4 was even better

Many years ago on this very date, Andrew and I had our very first date ever.  There are still some parts of that evening that I vividly remember.  The date obviously went well, and it was clearly the first of many evenings and meals spent together.  I'm so very grateful for that evening.

Tonight was even better though.  Catherine came here to stay over, and we were able to take both kids out to dinner.  There is absolutely nothing that makes my heart more full.  Although we couldn't have had this meaningful October 4 without that first one many years ago, this one was even better as we got to share it beyond just Andrew and myself!

161 games of hope

Today was the last day of the MLB season.  The Reds were officially eliminated from the playoffs just yesterday.  It stinks that they lost the last two games of the season, but it's amazing that we still had hope right through yesterday.  While I would have much preferred that our season be able to continue, I take some solace that Cards finished in last place, and that the Cubs didn't make the playoffs either.

This week is going to feel like baseball weather though.  The highs this week are supposed to be in the upper 80's.  Not my favorite kind of weather, and I especially hate the thought of using the a/c in October.  But, next weekend looks delightful, and I'm ready for long-sleeves!