Right Now-November Recap

 RIGHT NOW...

I'm listening to another audio book. This one is called Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng.   Just started it so can't really comment on if I like it- but in general I enjoy a good audio book for my daily drive into work.   

I'm loving that we are into the homestretch of 2022.   We've already had a couple serious cold snaps and snow flurries.   A great time of year to just settle in an enjoy the view- cozy blanket, snuggly cat and a good book of course all help set the mood. 

The first weekend in November- I headed up to Fort Collins for what Thing 1 refers to as 'Nurse Con"...the annual conference for school nurses.   

It felt good to be back with my professional peers, and bonus for this amazing red sky treat that greeted me on my morning drive to the venue.

A few of us ladies were finally able to find a common time to celebrate a few Fall birthdays...Fall is clearly a crazy time to coordinate the schedule of 6 individuals...but when we finally got a date that worked for most of us- we ran with it- donning our "fancy pants" and hats and headed out to Season 52.where they really do treat you with excellent service, and great food.  Note to self-  Sea Sun (Pinot Noir) and The Walking Fool (red blend) were both wonderful compliments to my meal.

Speaking of good food, Thanksgiving- while a quiet affair with just Hubby and Thing 1 (Thing 2 was working)- was delicious.  

Forget Turkey- we go for the red meat- this year was a New York Strip roast that was on sale at the grocery store.  Note to self- this one cooks quicker than other beef roasts...

Didn't even bother with traditional desserts..

See's Chocolate Turkeys for the win...

The month would finish up with an unexpected repair to the Honda=  good thing I have a handy Hubby on stand-by to help with coordinating the repairs and giving me a lift home.

Yep- in the never say never category- I did find myself as the monkey once again...a sure sign that my arthritis is finally back under control as I was able to get myself into and out of the side car without too much problem.

Until next time...

May you find joy this time of year...

for it is after all the season to be Jolly...just ask Owen. 

Right Now-October Recap

 RIGHT NOW...

I'm listening to the morning buzz of the office.   With Halloween on a Monday- today, Tuesday should prove interesting to say the least.     So far- all is well- the copier is buzzing, the door bell is ringing and the overall chatter is one of happiness.   Well after all, we  are entering what many of us consider "the easy" part of the school year- the hustle and bustle of a new school  year has passed, the Holidays (and lots of routine breaks) is fast approaching, weather is good and we aren't feeling the work weary that hits as spring approaches.   It's all good.

Outside of work, I just finished listening to an audiobook- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie...it was a British "cozy" mystery.   Apparently, such a term is a legit sub-genre of mysteries.   Delightful to listen to, but grateful that I had the written kindle version to fall back on as the accent was pretty thick at times, and the narration tended to ramble- where I got confused if it was part of the plot or part of a memory being shared by one of the characters.

I'm loving that things are coming back into focus for me.

September was a blur and I found myself struggling to pull myself out of a funk.   The days just ran together with no sense of purpose to them.   But, this month, I found a bit more of my groove...

Be it a walk through crunchy leaves...

or an evening at the Bingo Hall...

it felt good to connect with local friends

and those just passing through for work...

I'm feeling good.    Not on top of the world-ready to move some mountains (my RA has still not returned to a place that I'm totally comfortable with), but I'm getting there.    

As this very creative board done by our students at work- it's time to fall into some good habits...and so this next month I hope to continue to move more, connect more and just be more present in the everyday events of life.

Until next time...

If given the choice...take the nap!  

Year in Review: 2005

 RIGHT NOW

I'm listening to that nagging voice in my head..."You are swimming in photos-you need to get back to this project".   Yep- the project I was so motivated about earlier this year-  downsizing the epic scrapbooks that I have crafted through the years.   

Disney magic Feb 2005

Not sure why I lost steam- probably just  the reality that "life happens"...I suspect I simply got pulled away from the keyboard, and got distracted.   

But, now turning the corner into the season of more  sedentary activity (yes, I admit I am a fair weather camper/traveler-temps drop and I am quite content to stay indoors) - I am determined to get back to this project.  

Like so many of the tasks that aren't  necessarily of the "highest of  interest", I know I will feel better once I attempt to  make even the smallest of dents in this project.

I'm loving  that 2005- I was fully digital- at least in the picture taking category (oh if only I had embraced digital scrapbooking early on I wouldn't be in this paper-jam!)

 Back then- I was a faithful customer of Snapfish (and later Shutterfly) -which means instead of breaking down the albums, hoping I hadn't cropped them into some weird shape (you know I'm not alone in that regard, right?) -  I should be able to simply check out what's on my Snapfish Account.   

One of the first pictures featured on the family blog

Another thing to love is that in 2005- I started the Family blog...yeah baby- instant memory jogger!

So- what about 2005 that was so memorable?   Let's look back

There were Spring Showers- 

Colorado Style

 To include A buried mystery van..

and a family portrait 

(I kid you not- I believe we ended up using this as our family Christmas card that year!)

because of course, getting the Things to cooperate

 with a traditional photo was about as easy as 

as catching this little one....(the Morcom girls joined in the fun)

There was Disney Magic

In February- we would make our one and only  family visit to the Magic Kingdom..

(for the adults- we found it too crowded & too pricey-

and for whatever reason- the Things never asked to return)

we soon discovered that if you give Thing 1 an autograph book

and set him out in search of collecting signatures

you will capture some of the all time best pictures 

of this typically camera shy Thing....

There were grand moments with grandparents

from a sleep-over at Grandpa's trailer in FL

to video games with Grandma in California

it's never a dull moment when these Things show up to visit...

There were summer adventures too numerous to count

*but let's give it a try...

A trip  to the park with Great Aunt Phyllis

who for the record- 

did an amazing job as "stand-in" grandma for Grandma Audrey

Quite moments with Uncle Obie

Ring Master?  Nah-more like ring leader of all things chaos...

a camel ride

and an elephant ride

Berry picking with the besties

*did any berries make it home?  Probably not...

picture taking at Elitches

*gotta love Season Passes!  

getting weary from all this fun...

it was time for a lazy day or two at the pool!

A milestone birthday was celebrated

Not saying who...

and not saying which milestone..

but someone sure had a grand time

celebrating with friends who go "way back"

to those she found more recently...

anyway you slice that cake with 40 candles..

this one is ready for a new decade indeed!  

And as summer shifted to fall...

There were traditions to be upheld

from a trip to Nick's

to an epic party at the House of Chang..

And while 2005 was a year filled with lots of grand experiences...

it really is more these random moments...

in every day life that lasts with one the longest...

Until next time...remember to take it just

one day...or in my case- one photo album

at a time!