To mid November

I made it to my 6 month anniversary at my new job. I am now through my probationary period and able to use vacation hours.

I used my first vacation day to take care of some errands and to spend time with my excellent friends.

I went to the MVA and fixed my real ID issues. I made a much needed dentist appointment. We hiked Sugarloaf and ate delicious Greek/ Turkish food.

We ate for over an hour then went over to a coffee shop and had hot cider.

An excellent day.

We had flaming cheese!

I know that the Taj Mahal doesn't look like it but here is an important Japan update.

Yoshi went to India and this is a picture he took.

In response Kathryn and Erena went out and got Indian food.

This is the appropriate reaction.

I made Japanese pumpkin with wild rice and goat cheese.

My poor new baby figs found that they do not like the cold.

We have had some wonderful sunsets. It is now late enough that I am leaving work after dark but for a few weeks I got to see them as I left and drove home.

Megan asked to have her hair black again. She is being Wednesday Adams.

Meg and I went to an SCA event. It was called Highland Havoc.  It was an equestrian and archery event.

When you pay an entrance fee at an SCA event they give you a site token to wear  I quite liked this one.

It was cold and Meg was dressed and layered and still cold.

Even though it was a small event the local Baron and Baroness had a tent with hot drinks and heaters and we took good use from it.

I threw knives and axes and almost got some archery in but Meg asked to go home so I am going to aim for it next time.

I made Irish pocket pies and mashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts as a sort of medieval carry over for the week.

We have started a new tradition. On the Fridays when we don't go to D&D we are having a family movie night.

We are calling it Nerdy Night.

On Nerdy Night we watch movies that are foundational to nerdy culture. We are starting with fantasy movies and then we will move on to Sci-Fi and comic book.

With each movie we have a meal themed on the film.

So far we have had a Hobbit night and a Last Unicorn night

We have things like flowered cheese for the butterfly.

Things that are not as they appear for the witches caravan and lava cake for the Red bull.

Also of course Unicorn toast the next morning because Megan watched Last Unicorn several times in a row thereafter.

If you have some good kid appropriate movie suggestions for Nerdy Night please let me know.

For Veterans day David and I got the day off but the kids did not.

I felt a bit sick (the shorter days are hitting my anxiety pretty hard) but we did a little yard work and a little hot tub. Then we went out to the fancy Indian restaurant that we intended to on Memorial Day.

The yard looks pretty much winter ready and the food was outstanding.

The restaurant is called Rasika. 

We are going back as soon as we can.

Hawaii update: Dad had cataract surgery.

It went well and he is pleased with the results.

We went to the PTA meeting for November and Megan (so excited!) sang to us.

She rushed into the school and jumped with joy into the arms of her classmates and then preformed her heart out.

We had a nice down weekend with games and movies and no activities whatsoever.

The big activity was a small hike with the dog.

Also I made a sandwich.

ha 

Good weekend.

Last weekend we had Megans friend birthday party.

We went to Habichi. I thought she would like the drama of the flames and he would like the proximity to sushi and salmon.

I was right. Though the flames shocked her with their heat and power and she backed up about 5 feet and had to be returned to the table with reassurance she seemed happy.

Then we went next door to laser tag with some of her friends.

We drove all of them back in the minivan that poor David is stuck with until his car is out of the shop.

It was a billion and 2 people in that van, I am pretty sure.