eight boxes.

I have a mix of things to say, so I have a numbered list for you:

1  Some good news about the hurricane (and the main purpose for this post): our building has a generator.  Also, I have cooked any food that needed to be cooked, and it is in tupperware ready to eat.  Also, we have two gallons of water stored under my bed, plus some water bottles.  Also, I have eight boxes of cereal and a huge bag of apples and a lot of carrots.  So . . . basically my eating habits will not be disrupted should disaster strike.

2  Dinner with Ann was wonderful.  We just talked and talked.  And I'm glad she brought some cupcakes to you!  (I meant to ask--where were they from?)

3  I got to have a little {glorious} taste of home on Tuesday -- I went to Cafe Rio with Rory and McKay!  It was so wonderful.

4  The Halloween party on Friday was so fabulous.  Except I was wearing fleece the entire night while dancing like {insert-simile-here}, so needless to say I was quite sweaty.

5  I found my new house.

We collected cans for the food bank yesterday in a very lovely neighborhood and I fell in love.  It has a picket fence and everything!!!

6  We will be leaving soon to go sing at the chapel dedication.  Elder Cook is going to speak.  And I am going to sing my little heart out.  I'm really excited.

7  My sunflowers make me so happy.  So so happy.

8  We watched Vertigo last night.  I didn't like the ending.  But it was a cool movie.  I like old movies.  And Jimmy Stewart.

9  I actually got a little homesick today.  Weird, I know, but it happens to the best of us.

I'll do my best to keep you updated on the storm.  I will be smart and safe though, don't worry.  I have a lot of strong pioneer blood in me, so I'm not too worried.  I just really hope it doesn't ruin the autumn leaves.

so strange

Woke up with this song stuck in my head.  Don't know how or why.

homestead farm

So I went apple picking.  I was going to write a poem about this adventure to go with the pictures, but then realized that there were too many pictures.  Needless to say, if you can't already tell by the pictures, this was the perfect fall afternoon activity for me.  Driving through wooded roads.  Colors.  Leaves.  Apples.  Nature.  Pumpkins.  I was in heaven.

We returned to April's house for rosemary roast with rice and zucchini.  And then caramel apples.  And laughter and rainbows and joy.

     

glass coke bottles

Friday was a wonderful day.  Truly wonderful.  A little stressful at times, but things worked out as they always do.  {I'll give ya a little teaser here--Friday evening was so great that I just pretended it was my birthday party.}

The day started off with a morning at the Newseum.  This reinvigorated the journalist side in me.  At everything that we saw -- the Berlin Wall, old newspapers/news clips, a 9/11 memorial, etc.-- I would just imagine what it was like for people at that point in time to see that headline.  It was really cool.  And the balcony there also had a beautiful view.

After the Newseum Carly, Amanda, and I went to and old diner called Ollie's.  It had old music playing and antique toys and good burgers.  My favorite kind of place.  Only complaint is that they used Kraft pre-sliced cheese that did not melt all the way . . . so I just peeled it off my burger.

Here's where the stressful part came in: the temple.  We had a temple appointment at 3:00 and so I ran to the metro to go back and change/grab my recommend.  But the metro was delayed.  And then we got off on the wrong bus stop.  And then, when we finally made it to the temple over 1.5 hours later . . . . I realized I left my recommend at home.  Luckily, I had my old bishop's cell phone number so they just gave him a call and luckily he said I was okay.  And the temple was lovely as always.

After the temple, we rode to the completely opposite side of the metro to go to our friend's house in Vienna for an ice cream party.  (This is the part where I pretended it was my birthday.)  He has a legitimate 50's diner in his basement.  We drank Coke from glass bottles and had fancy ice cream sundaes and listened to oldies on a jukebox.  Pure, pure bliss.