Hi friends! It is time to catch up for another virtual coffee date! I can’t believe we’re already in November. October flew by, but we packed a LOT into it, especially when it came to Halloween. So, if we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that…
I’d tell you that October had a little less running than September. After I raced my first 10K in forever, my hip was bothering me more than it had been, so I knew I needed to back off a little. Thankfully, I’m back at it and feeling better! I’m trying to take it “easy,” which isn’t always something I’m good at, but my goal is to keep running, not push myself so hard that I can’t run. And yes, I’m still keeping up with my hip PT! At this point, those exercises are just part of my daily routine.
I’d tell you that October also had lots of reading! I finished Lovely War by Julie Berry, Five by Ilona Bannister for book club, Fruit Fly by Josh Silver, Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, Once and Again by Rebecca Serle, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, Mule Boy by Andrew Krivak, which my mom recommended, and The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson. I also finished volumes seven and eight of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion after basically devouring that series (WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING OUT?!), and just finished The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick for Nov. book club. Apparently October was a very good month for books!
I’d tell you that I LOVE Halloween, and am all for celebrating it all month long. Might as well get the bang for our buck on our costumes! We were able to enjoy it in so many ways — trick-or-treating in a nearby business district as well as a local high school, wearing costumes to ballet as well as piano lessons @ Musicologie, plus events with LM’s Girl Scouts, and her school’s Pumpkin Bop.
One of my favorite Halloween activities was watching FW participate in a Musicologie Open Mic in costume. He played spooky music on the piano at a local bar, which was such a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit.
And then, of course, there was actual Halloween! Our neighborhood goes ALL OUT. Police block the nearby streets to traffic, and we typically get somewhere around 800 to 900 trick-or-treaters (streets nearby get 1500-2000+!). Once it starts, it’s basically nonstop until it ends. It’s chaotic and a little exhausting, but I really love it.
Some scenes:
I’d tell you that we also officially finished fall sports! LM wrapped up her first big-kid soccer season, and she did such a great job. FW’s team ended their season in the best possible way by winning their local end-of-season tournament! They got a trophy and even had a clap-out at school, which made the whole thing truly special. After spending so many evenings and weekends at soccer fields this fall, it was such a fun way to finish the season. And winter (basketball) started this week 🙂
I’d tell you that I’ve been trying to soak up as much of fall as possible before all the leaves disappear. The colors have been beautiful, and I’ve gotten in lots of walks and hikes, including a family hike. I may complain endlessly about summer ending, but even I have to admit that Northeast Ohio is pretty beautiful when the leaves are at their peak.
I’d tell you that my parents also came to visit for a weekend, and we lucked out with beautiful weather while they were here. It was especially nice having them around because B was out of town, so I appreciated both the company and the extra set of hands! We don’t get to see them nearly as often as I’d like, so even a quick weekend together is always special.
And now somehow it’s November. We’ve finished soccer, survived approximately 4,000 Halloween events, and are getting ready for the sprint toward Thanksgiving and the holidays. I’m not quite ready to trade colorful leaves for winter weather, but I have a feeling November will fly by just as quickly as October did.
That’s what’s going on in my world. What’s new with you?
Did you do anything fun for Halloween this year?
What was the best book you read in October? Are you an Emma Lion fan?
Are you still enjoying fall, or have you already moved on to holiday mode?
Linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher for the Fit Five Friday linkup and the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah
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