November 2024

LNC created a display to thank all the donors over the years to help LNC grow into what it is today.  Our kids have left their mark on LNC through the years and it is memorialized in this display.  

This is Reginald. He is my office mate.  Cindy moved him into my office (temporarily) while cleaning up the Halloween decorations.  I asked her to let him stay.  

November 2nd, Steve went to Swannanoa to help with Hurricane Helene clean up.  I went walking with Sandra and made it 3 miles.  That is HUGE.  My knee and foot cooperated with me today!  When I got home I pulled weeds in the front yard. Nick came over to get some help with fixing his Squidward costume before he went to another costume party that night.  It is always so much fun when he stops by.  I miss him.  

November 5th, ELECTION DAY!!  I had an appointment with Matt at OrthoCarolina to talk about my stiff shoulder.  I wanted to rule out a rotator cuff tear because my shoulder was getting more sore and not less.  Everything checked out and I was given the diagnosis of frozen shoulder.  He opened a physical therapy prescription for the frozen shoulder in addition to the knee.  Rebecca is going to LOVE this.  The good news is that this will resolve without having to have surgery.  

November 6th, Trump is president again.  NOT A HAPPY DAY AT THE CANNON HOUSEHOLD.  Jeremy was especially upset and came into my room talking very loud about all of his concerns.  I tried to calm him down by telling him it might not be as bad as he thought it would be and he broke down and told me he has been on hormone replacement for the last 18 months to transition to a woman and she would like to be called Valentine.  That took a hot minute to get used to, but it also led to a great discussion about how she feels much happier and hasn't had a drink of alcohol since deciding to move forward with the HRT.  Kamala gave a beautiful concession speech all about the importance of a smooth transfer of power and setting a good example of what democracy should look like.  I am still sad though.  

November 8th I helped Val (I shortened Valentine to Val although it usually comes out as Jer-Val.  I am working on it) clean her room.  They have a talent for letting it get really messy between cleanings.  

November 9th, I cleaned the house and mowed the lawn.  Nick stopped by again after getting his hair cut and before going on a run.  I had to rush out the door because I needed to be to the church building to meet with the visiting Church authorities that were in town for Stake Conference.  We were getting a new Stake Presidency and that always causes quite a stir.  Our first meeting was with Elder Corbitt (Area presidency) and Elder Bednar (Elder Bednar's son).  The really razzed me about my University of Utah binder and I got called on a lot in the subsequent meeting where they were training all the ward presidencies. I was really impressed with how well they remembered names and really hit on all the concerns we had shared with them during our first meeting.  Afterwards, they still razzed me a little bit.   It was all just fun and games and they asked me if I would be okay WHEN the Utes lost to BYU that night in their big football rivalry game.  I told them that the Church would still be true no matter what happens.  Unfortunately, the Utes lost to BYU that night.  Oh well - just proves that miracles still happen.  

November 10th we were up bright and early and on our way to Savannah to hear Avian perform with the SCAD Jazz group.  We picked them up and headed out to Tybee Island to walk on the beach for a little bit.  I love recharging at the beach.  There is something so soothing and powerful about the ocean that really makes me happy.  

We found some sanderlings!!!

I love the moss hanging from the trees. 

There were also ferns growing on the trees as well.  The ferns made them look extra fancy.  

We went to the Flying Monk for lunch and killed several hours walking around and looking at all the cool shops.  When it was time for the performance, Avian changed into their Beetlejuice costume and we walked over to Ogelthorpe Hall.  They sounded soooo good.  We were really impressed.  

After the performance, we walked Avian back to their dorms and said goodbye.  The ride home was not as smooth as it usually goes.  We were at a complete stand still on I-26 due to a car accident.  We had no where to go and just had to wait it out.  It was okay.  We Zoomed with Mom and Kathy for 40 minutes of it and that helped pass the time.  When we finally got moving two and a half hours later we saw that there several crews cleaning up debris from an accident involving a car and two trucks that were pulling utility trailers.  It was not a pretty sight.   We thanked the cleaning crews and told them to be safe as we drove by as I am sure others were not being very nice about the whole delay thing.  We got home around midnight when we should have been home by 10:00.  Oh well.  We made it home safely and that is always a good thing.  

November 13 - Avian turned 19!!!  That is completely bonkers that our baby is 19!!

November 15th we headed back down to Savannah to bring Avian home for the holidays.  They were so excited to have finished their first quarter so successfully.  All their professors were really nice and loved having Avian in their classes.  One professor, who never gives 100%s because "there is always a small mistake or two" gave Avian a 100% on their final project (it is the Master project - pictures are at the bottom of this blog).  They also made the Dean's list.  Once we got Avian all packed up in the truck and were ready to head out, we stopped by the Riverfront area and explored for a little bit.  It was super pretty and I completely understand why everyone who mentions it absolutely gushes about how amazing it is.   

The view of the bridge from the Riverwalk area

It is such a beautiful bridge.  

You can take a riverboat cruise and see all the sites along the river.  

The shops all have a very Charleston vibe about them.  We loved it!

Thank goodness this drive home was a lot less eventful as our previous drive and we made it home in good time.  Avian brought everything in the house and then promptly got in their car, drove to Sipco and then went to visit Leah (all of which were completely expected).  

November 17th we celebrated Avian's birthday as a family.  I miss having everyone together all the time. 

November 19th I took the day off and Avian and I had a spa day.  We both got our hair cut and then spent the day shopping and getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

November 23rd, while helping Val with some of their laundry, one of their shirts had some color bleed onto the off-white portion.  I knew this was a possibility with the embroidery and was there right when it finished washing to take it out, but that was not fast enough.  We tried several things to get rid of the color transfer, but decided that dying it was going to be the the best option.  I had seen a video of someone using avocado pits and skins to make a dye and we decided to give it a try.  It worked and we ended up doing two shirts.  They are a really pretty and earthy pink color.  

November 25th was our annual Serve and Play Day at LNC.  We traditionally take the Monday before Thanksgiving break and do some service around campus or the community.  This year the HS did the work on cleaning up the school campus while the MS and ES worked on care packages for the victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.  It was a fun day!  

November 26th was a remote day for LNC so I decided to take the opportunity of an empty school to clean the green chairs in the Media Center for Cindy.  It was a good and rewarding project.  The chairs looked amazing when I got done with them.  

November 27th I edges the yard and Avian mowed.  Edging the lawn is a huge step forward for me after my knee, foot and shoulder injuries.  I am grateful to be healing and getting my mobility back again.  Nick joined us for dinner and spent the night so he wouldn't have to drive up early the next morning to do the Turkey Trot 5K.  All my kids under one roof for the night - HEAVEN!

November 28th, we went to cheer Nick on while he ran the Turkey Trot 5K which has become a yearly tradition.  It was raining which made running a little bit more difficult and treacherous.  That didn't stop Nick, though.  

I thought I found an out of the way spot to take pictures.  I was WRONG!  They all cut the corner and came up on the sidewalk. I just stood still until they all passed.  

Nick made his goal of 22 minutes!!

The traditional post-race picture. 

Later that day we had our family dinner.  It was small this year, just the way we wanted it.  We had rootbeer floats for dessert as that is what everyone wanted. 

November 29th Steve when out shopping and Avian and I stayed home to get the house decorated.  Avian helped sort all the ornaments and color code them so we could make Christmas boxes for each kid as they are all getting older and may want to decorate their own places in the coming years.  When Steve got back from shopping, he spent some time in the garage playing with his new planer.  Avian and got the house looking festive for the Christmas holiday.  It was a good day.  

November 30th Steve spent the day in the garage making a charcuterie board for his boss.  He had drawn her name for the company gift exchange.  It turned out amazing - as always.  

One big one or four little ones.  It is gorgeous!

While Steve was playing in the garage, Donita and I went to see Wicked.  We had front row seats which were REALLY close, but it did not detract from the awesomeness of the movie.   We have to wait another year for the second half of the movie!!  It ended at Defying Gravity.  So GOOD!!!

Corn Dogs - a juxtaposition

Avian's copy of the master

The master