Well, we got through the busy weekend. It was nice to see our families (including my brother, sans entourage) even if it was really for only a few hours each. My Mom’s fundraiser went fairly well (this was the last year) and she bought my scarf. R’s Aunt was very pleasantly surprised when we walked in to the restaurant (the train was an hour late- we were supposed to be sitting there with her daughter [who also came from out of town] to astonish Auntie when she walked in), and the reception in honor of her ordination was very fascinating- we had no idea she was so groundbreaking, one of the first women pastors in the Lutheran church, and quite inspiring.
Family time was great, but being up there for such a short while is always frustrating. I wish we could spend more time with them, and I really wish we didn’t live so far away. The meeting with the girls was somewhat frustrating too, we came to the conclusion that we need to start the planning over, because this Feb/Mar/Apr now isn’t working. We need to find a better time-- probably next fall, which may remove Puerto Rico from our options (hurricanes). It also makes me more wary about spending money on a week-long girlfriend trip, since I want to go to Europe for several weeks about a year later. I wouldn’t mind doing a wine country & Catalina Island trip this fall and saving PR for a later girls’ trip. We’ll see what happens.
Gymnastics is going well, I am the only girl who can make it around the bar, and I managed to do a few front handsprings. I feel like we aren’t really building though, I thought that each day would serve as a foundation for skills needed in later classes, but so far only handstands and round-offs have, thing I could already do on my own. We’ve only been on the bars 1 day out of 6, which worries me that we’re going to newly rip our hands each time, since we aren’t building calluses. I think sometimes our teacher forgets from day to day what he wanted us to do and just makes it up. But there are still 16 more classes, so I’m sure we’ll get to do a lot, though I am missing next Wed to go to book club and discuss a book I really enjoy, Eat Pray, Love. Next semester R & I might take rock climbing together! I didn’t suggest it this term because I didn’t think he liked climbing, but apparently top-roped indoor walls are ok.
Also, we love The Office! We were excited to watch the new episodes this season, but then we realized that we still have another season of DVDs. I think we never got into it before partially due to poor TV reception, but mostly because the first few episodes are awkward and strange, but once you get to know the characters, it becomes hilarious!
It’s certainly fall around here now, crisp & sunny days punctuated with occasional bursts of rain. It’s nice to sit inside and watch a movie and knit during the rain, though I’ve gotten less done than I had hoped, especially since I end up doing extra projects that weren’t previously on my list- a starfish bib for my friend’s baby shower, and a hat supposed to be a Christmas gift for one of my nephews was commandeered by R (meaning I need to knit a new one for Isaac). I’m going to try to do NaKniSweMo, Buttony sweater, here I come! This weather is doing interesting things to the garden as well, the larger tomatoes are finally ripening; I hope they don’t split from all the moisture. We are getting a lot of sugar pumpkins, beans, and broccoli. I need to pull up some more beets to make salad: boil the beets until tender, throwing in the leaves for the last few minutes. Peel, slice, and throw the beets & tops together with gorgonzola, torn lettuce or spinach, & nuts, and dress it all with sweet vinaigrette, yum! You can also add fresh beans or whatever else sounds good.
I know this is already too long, but the weirdest thing happened yesterday, and must be mentioned. The dogs started freaking out at the window, as always if a cat or dog goes by. But then I heard shouting; there was a police car across the intersection, and several neighbors were standing in their yards watching two big black pit bulls. The pit bulls didn’t seem particularly aggressive at first glance, but apparently they had been roving the neighborhood for a while, harassing people and threatening dogs (luckily all were all safely inside houses or fenced yards). The cop was keeping his car between the dogs and himself, but at one point he crossed the street, and the dogs came at him. I couldn’t hear, so I don’t know the whole situation, but he waved his baton at the dogs and they kept coming, and he pulled out his gun. He was yelling at them, but they continued to advance, there was a big POP and he shot one of them! It fell down and crawled a bit, and then got up, bleeding from the mouth, and they both trotted off down the street. So. Bizarre.
Oh, and the internet is still being ridiculous and NOT WORKING during the day. Grr.
Stitch was hesitant at the beginning, and very apprehensive regarding trailing blackberry vines, but Lilo absolutely loved leaping through the underbrush. She seems to be equally crazy about the beach and forest, so I guess we'll have to go more often. 
which was excellent. Highly recommended! 
