It’s November 1st. According to David, it’s the first day of the rest of our lives. I like to start life over at Labor Day and New Year’s Day, but David likes to declare a fresh start on a regular basis (i.e., anytime he is frustrated with himself). Mondays, first days of the month, new trimesters at school – all are fair game to be Day One.
But first, I must say farewell to October with its first fallen leaves, first torrential downpours, and Quinland’s 17th birthday. I had the day off on Friday and spent it hauling out all the Halloween decorations. All that effort on the day before Halloween seemed a bit insane, but I have so few holidays left with Quinland being a kid at home that I didn’t want to miss this one.

I’m not a fancy decorator by any means (says everyone ever), but I think that bringing out the same stuff year after year is what matters. Most of it has been around for so long that I have forgotten where it came from. (The tiny pumpkin basket, I know, came with a Bitty Baby Halloween costume – a teddy bear – which was sold on eBay along with tons of other stuff. I had to keep the pumpkin.)
But on to November! It’s going to be a busy month. Quinland has one of the major roles in the school play (which debuts this week) and the NBA season is now in full swing; these two conditions will be perfect for an upcoming visit from Lynette and Joe. The chance to catch the Blazers vs the Spurs and to see Q perform? We couldn’t keep them away if we tried. I need to start preparing for Thanksgiving, the Christmas Shopping Season, and my birthday, all of which are coming up rapidly as well.
To all this I must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of my mind by extensive reading. (I daresay.) My IKEA-cart-turned-nightstand is all filled up: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors. The Probiotics Revolution. Decorate. Organized for Life. Pope Francis. David is ready to read as well: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. An assortment of travel books. High Fidelity. I even scored him See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody, the autobiography of Bob Mould from Sugar and Hüsker Dü, from our local library. I might just read that one first.

The books are not the only thing lined up and ready to go. I have plans. Plans, mind you. This month is going to see a whole host of activity here in my world. Home, health, habits – we’re talking upheaval, in the best possible way. Stay tuned!