First and foremost, a brief week recap. I worked, T traveled for work, L had pneumonia. Antibiotics and me absent off work/school for 1.5 days. Half a day on Monday and a full day on Thursday. My work is understanding but I still feel a little guilty. I like my job, and I like the structure and control at my job, and taking sick days gets me out of balance.

We also couldn’t meet up with Lisa who was in New Jersey this week! We had a solid plan on Wednesday evening then did an x ray- sure enough – acute pneumonia for L.

As I am typing this on a Saturday afternoon, she is feeling better. No more fever but her cough is still bad.

Because I took a sick day to be with a sick kid, I could do virtual yoga on Thursday. So that is a positive.

A highlight was Malevo performance with my sister- friend H at NJPAC in Newark. Malevo is an all-male Argentine dance troupe that uses percussion and malambo (gaucho tap dance) in their performances. Their performance was incredible, strong and kind of primal?… H and I had a wonderful time and went out for drinks afterwards to a restaurant across the street from NJPAC. H actually grew up in Newark so she knows her way around. But she mentioned that all those beautiful buildings, hotels, restaurants, the performance arts center, the tram, none of it was there when she was growing up in Newark in the 80s and 90s. I came back home at midnight.

Boy, was I tired the next day… I am bummed because I slept in and missed my usual Saturday morning yoga.

Q4 reflection

September and October were hard months. T was traveling a lot, I was solo parenting, L had (has) pneumonia. Back to School for the three of us, travel picking up for T, kids activities starting. Our kitty passed, I had a fender-bender. Three back to school (late) nights, one PTO meeting, one spirit week. Hard time finding a sitter for dates (but not for mornings).

Connected to the above are some positive things. Fall in New Jersey. Kids doing well in school and enjoying their activities: learning, connecting, challenging themselves. Saw my sister friends – multiple times in multiple settings: sauna, vineyard, a concert. Apple picking, hay rides, and multiple hikes at the reservation.

Said goodbye to a few of wardrobe things. My one of the two pairs of Thursday booties entirely broke after 6 years of wear. They’ve been re-soled twice and this year the leather started coming out of the soles (which were still good). But I can’t just wear soles, I need the top, too. So I said goodbye to them and bought a Sam Edelman black pair of booties.

Two pairs of jeans that *kind* of fit but not really. In other words, I can squeeze into them but I’m uncomfortable. Had both for 7 years, and it showed. Purchased one pair of Joe’s black jeans. They fit and they flatter the body that I now have.

I addition to the booties and jeans, I dropped off two big bags of kids’ clothing at the “clothes and toys” bin.

Which month was better? October, mainly because T was not traveling as much. Oh, another positive was hiring Charlotte for some morning and Brazilian jiu jitsu lessons drop off.

Next week is Halloween. I have been partaking in a bag of lollipops that I bought on a whim and kept in my car (not a good decision). A red gothic witch is me, a purple cat is L, and a Bumblebee transformer for R. T will probably be Vader? Or a ghostbuster? Or an Undertaker? Or a Raven? Or a tired dad? 😉