November first half

So I hurt my knee and my shoulder. I am wearing a knee brace and sometimes my knee feels like its going to completely give out, it is much better than it was. I took a few weeks off running and am doing very modified stances at Kung Fu. My shoulder injury is a strained rotator cuff and my Dr. gave me some exercises to try. So boo to all of that.

I'm back to running and my shoulder has full range of motion with only a little pain in certain positions.

My chess set is coming along. I like the praying mantis bishop best. I only have the kings and queens left to do.

Kathryn and Erena have new haircuts and look very nice.

I took the kids to Sugarloaf. We went up the steep side. This is how I know my knee is much better.

It was cool and clear and we went out because the kids had off from school for election day. First the school system said they would then they wouldn't and then they would again. I was having a work from home day and took a break to get out and away from the news.

Lots of other people had the same idea. 

I tried my hand at making scones. They turned out really well. I will definitely make them again.

Kelsey made soft pretzels and brought us some. I entirely missed her and found them that evening in my mail box. What an excellent find!

Mariam got us an Aldi's cheese Advent calendar.

That is the best idea ever. Cheese!!

Thank you to my wonderful friends for keeping me in treats.

David mulched the leaves. This is our first time using the new mulching attachment on the new mower and its great. Everything chopped tiny and put right back into the yard. Good stuff.

We took Megan running with us last week. She rode her bike. We ran at the cemetery where it is nice and flat. The cemetery loop is 3.1k so it was just about perfect for her.

We also went to yellow park. We've had so much rain that the puff shrooms have pretty much taken over.

Megan stomped on them until clouds of spores covered everything.

I did some archery and some knife throwing. I lost no arrows despite all the leaves all over the ground back there. I did lose one knife though. I think I know where it is and need to get back there with a rake. 

We had a fantastic play date playing Among Us with the whole family plus Michelle and Kelsey. Online games for the win. It was delightful and hilarious.

If any of you are playing among us please let me know so that we can play with you.

I got good news at work. I was asked to apply for permanent position that will be opening up soon. It was such a relief to find that they want me to stay. Being off contract (as my aunt pointed out) is much more stable. I love stable. I was so proud and happy that I bought myself flowers with the groceries I picked up on Friday night. 

Tulips are my favorites and this was a wonderful mix bouquet of them.

Here is a new robot that I am getting to work with. Its still in the set up stage. I am not to show pictures of what I do to the public so I don't but this one is new and doesn't do anything yet and I love robots and wanted to show you this one.

I thought that my boss was about to demote me (anxiety speaking loud and clear to me). Instead he showed me the new robot and let me try to get to terms with it. I love the software and have high hopes for it. For me it represents all the good stuff that has happened recently when I was afraid of all the bad stuff. The tulips plus the robot are my sense of hope for myself and my career and my contributing to cancer research and to my group at work.

Good stuff.

The election went the way I wanted it too. We knew the result when we heard mom screaming from the basement. She opened up the Biden soda we got her a few months ago. Much celebration ensued.

This morning we went running again at the cemetery. It was freezing. I am still cold. We took both kids and their bikes. I am now drinking a hot tea and waiting for lentils to boil and finishing up my blog catch up. Sorry to bombard you with so much.

Welcome back to the blog.