Fall things

I've been thinking of ending this blog. I can't keep up with it anymore, but I also can't seem to pull the plug either. This blog has been a great writing outlet for me over the years and while it hasn't really been that lately, I am hopeful that maybe one day I will have energy for it again.

All that to say, here I am with another seasonal update. 

(Quick sidebar, I am in deep despair about the election. I can't believe we have to live through this yet again. And this time, we anticipate it to be so much worse. With that said, this blog is not about that. I really don't have energy to write about that right now).

This post is about fall and all the places I've been zipping around to.

1. Canada: In September, Blake, Brendan, Levent and I planned to go up to Ontario to visit Grandma Naomi. Unfortunately, the weekend we planned to visit ended up being the week she passed away. So we went up that weekend for the funeral instead. While funerals are never fun, it was great to hang out with the Canadian cousins (Mariah, Alanna and Joey) for a little bit.

2. Swimming: I've gotten back into swimming this fall. I joined a local gym (The Jewish Community Center) and have been swimming 3-4 times a week. It's quite a different experience from my time at the Newton YMCA, but I am getting the hang of it again. The biggest difference is that I frequently have to ask to share a lane with someone, which I HATE doing. But I do it anyway. And usually we don't have to share for the entire duration of my swim anyway.

3. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving in October. We originally weren't planning on it, but our weekly family dinner just so happened to work best on the Canadian Monday holiday. So we went for it. I am not mad about having two Thanksgivings in my life these days.

4. Mom and Dad came to Columbus and I hitched a ride with them to Illinois. The main purpose for the trip was to see Titus perform in the marching band one more time. (He's a senior! I cannot even believe it). We got there in time for senior night at the football game. Then, the next morning, after Leah joined us, Leah, Dad and I went to the high school marching band competition at Illinois State University. We got to see our old high school, (Eureka! Go hornets) perform before Morton did. (I should also say that we did go to see my niece Mikaela in the marching band too. She is in the pit and it's so fun to watch her play). They rocked it! After the morning session, Leah, Dad and I went to Avanti's to get lunch (which is something I would do after performing in the ISU competition in high school).

We were back at my brother's house for a bit in the afternoon. So I popped down the street to catch up with my high school friend Kare. It was so good to see her! I've been to Morton three time this year and this was the first time we weren't ships passing in the night.

In the evening, it was back to ISU for the evening finals at the competition. Morton won! (Which was not super surprising for them, but still cool to watch). We even ran into our old high school band teacher, Mr. Statler!

Saturday was truly the main event, but I was there until Monday. Other highlights included brunch with Leah in Peoria on Sunday morning, hanging out with kids, working from a coffee shop in our old hometown Eureka on Monday morning and getting La Gondola for lunch, of course.

5. Kansas! After my Illinois, I flew out to Kansas for a work meeting that I was presenting at. It was so great but also so strange to be back. Lots of things were different and yet everything seemed exactly the same. I had a rough time getting out there and so only ended up being there for about 48 hours. But I think it was the perfect amount of time. I hung out and worked with my colleague friend Tina, I had lunch with my friend Denise, I stayed at Heidi and Hayden's house and got to have another girls night with Kate, Tina and Karin. It was so great to see everyone again.

5. Supporting Asheville: This fall western North Carolina was hit by a hurricane that devastated the region. It was hard to witness all the destruction and hard to wrap my head around the idea that some places I loved dearly didn't exist anymore. Thankfully all the people my parents (and I) know were okay. I did my best to support some of my AVL favorite businesses from my home in Columbus including getting this sweatshirt from Moonlight Makers. 

6. Hiking: Is it hiking if it's in Ohio? Maybe. Or maybe it's just walking around in the woods. Near the end of October, Blake, Brendan, Levent and I headed to Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve and did like 8 miles of hiking, which was more than we thought it would be. Classic. It was a little past peak colors but still very beautiful - even if I can't walk up a hill without huffing and puffing. 

7. Puzzling. I've gotten really into puzzling this fall. It all started because Levent mention that maybe we should puzzle and listen to audiobooks together. (Swoon). So we did! But only one puzzle, and only half a book (which I eventually just finished on my own). But that kick started me into doing a puzzle about once a week for several weeks in a row. I am currently taking a puzzle break, but plan to get into again this winter.

8. Camping: Levent and I went camping! On purpose! Lol. Levent is definitely the camper in our relationship but I wanted to give it another go because 1, we got a tent as a wedding present and never used it and 2, I wanted to do something Levent enjoys. Plus I love the idea of cooking camping foods. So the first weekend in November, we headed down to Burr Oak Cove Campground. We picked a "pack in" camp site (which actually was only like a minute walk to the car) and since it was past peak season, we felt pretty isolated (in the best possible way). My thing is that I need to have a toilet nearby, which makes us have to stick to campgrounds. However, we do not think it's fun being right next to randos in the woods. So this was a perfect place. Highlights included cooking over the fire and on the camp stove, watching movies in the tent at night (although I kept falling asleep both nights), going on a five miles hike and generally just relaxing with my boo. It was fun! I think we're going to be camping people.

And that was my fall! Well, there is still a bit to go but we are slipping into winter mode slowly. I am looking forward to the holidays and then going to brace myself for whatever comes next.