October 2025

October 3  - The month started off pretty rough.  When I went into the garage to start the truck so I could go to work, it wouldn't start.  I did all the little tricks Steve had showed me when the truck did this on our road trip, but nothing worked.  I woke Steve up so he could take me to work and we could figure it out later.  After opening the gate, we came around the school building find the Scholastic Book Fair truck parked by the library entrance doors.  Steve let me out there and I helped the driver get everything unloaded so he could be long gone before carpool started.  At the end of a long and active day, I caught a ride home with my neighbor, Heather, who happens to work at LNC as well.  

October 4 - First thing Saturday morning we took the truck to Heath to have him check it out.  He was not able to find anything that would have prevented the truck from starting.  We will just have to watch and see if it happens again.  This weekend was also General Conference and a good chance to get some small projects done while listening to the talks.  

October 11 - We decided to drive to Savannah to visit Avian and to put the official license plate on Tim.  All the paperwork had been completed (finally).  We honked as we passed the dorm on the way to the parking lot for parents on weekends.  After we took care of the license plate, we walked to Starlandia.  They were having their $10 bag sale.  Anything you could get in a bag was only $10.  I got a SCAD rain visor and some labels and Avian and Steve threw a few things in as well.  It was a deal.  Back at the dorm, we picked up the roomies and took them to lunch at Chipotle.  It was fun to listen to them talk during lunch.  Avian really did hit the roommate lottery with this crew.  After lunch, we dropped the roomies off and went up to Broughton to visit Blick and get a few other things.  Avian found the perfect birthday present for Ezra and I got some of Dr. Graham's favorite body scrub.  The day ended way to soon and we were on our way back to Charlotte.  

I found these at Blick Art Supply while we were getting Avian stuff for classes.  Jenny and I used to each more Mac and Cheese than I am sure was healthy. Even Jenny agree that Mac and Cheese gummies was pushing it too far.  

We drove through a heavy rainstorm just south of Columbia.  Suddenly a rainbow appeared right in front of us.  I had an epiphany that a rainbow is all about perspective, timing and focus.   A rainstorm is about your proximity to and perspective of the light reflecting off the water vapor in the air.  Your focus needs to be on the right things at the right time.  To see a rainbow all this needs to be in alignment to see it.  If you are not focusing, aligned and in proximity with God, you won't see the miracles, the messages, the people, etc. God puts in your way.  

October 17 - I went to the temple with all the RS presidencies in the stake.  It was fun having so many familiar faces in the room.  Afterwards we went to Chick Fil A to get to know each other a little better.  

October 18 - Steve went to a tool show in Hickory and had a great time.  While he was playing with tools, I got a shipment of yarn Sharron sent.  It was amazing.  That night we went to the Boden's to watch the Utah vs. BYU football game.  We were definitely the token Ute fans to pick on during the game.  We did not give them what they wanted.  We complemented the plays of both teams.  Yes, we are evil! 

So much yarn with so many possibilities. 

October 21 - Steve pulled a 15 yours day to figure out the AI stuff at work.  He was exhausted but they accomplished a lot.  

Gorgeous clouds at the end of the day

October 23 - I attended an IXL conference in uptown Charlotte and learned so much about the data capabilities of this program.  Steve started working on his leather apron.  It is going to be really cool when he is done.  

October 26 - We met Nicole and Peter Ivey at church.  They were in town for a conference and happened to be at our ward this Sunday.  Nicole and I got talking before the lesson and continued afterwards.  We had so much in common and wanted to continue getting to know each other.  We invited them to dinner.  We lit a fire in the firepit and had a blast getting to know each other better.  Both of us substitute at school and love it.  We are easily distracted - SQUIRREL.  We both have trans/bi children.  She plays the violin and crochets and loves the We Do Not Care Club.  It was a fun night.  

October 27 I was in meeting ALL day - from 8 am to 10:30 pm - school and then church.  It was a long day.  

October 28 - I was walking into the building in the morning.  When I came around the corner, I stopped in my tracks.  There was a skunk walking around under the canopy where there would be students in less than half an hour.  I immediately called Nick and let him know and followed the skunk until it disappeared into the bushes by the basketball hoops.  We never did find it, but it was quite an adventure.  

October 31 - Avian texted a picture of her with Rose at the DQ in Savannah.  Avian's roommates helped Rose surprise Avian with an overnight trip.  She got to watch Avian play in the volleyball tournament.  Avian's team took 3rd place.  They were very surprised.