Plans!

First of all, we are extremely excited that Nikki will be coming next week for Thanksgiving. I can't wait for her to come for a couple days. It will be short, but fun. And if we get the chance, I am sure cooking will be involved. Both Nikki and I are talented cooks and bakers. But, with only a couple days, maybe we'll skip cooking and do other things (hopefully not shopping on Black Friday!). Yeah!

Today, we are headed to our friend Agnes's house for a pre-parade party. We'll be heading downtown for the Grand Illumination. It will be cool (in the 50s), but otherwise a nice evening. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and meeting some new people. We always have a good time with Agnes and her brood.

We have a couple parties to attend the first weekend in December as well. Leanna is having a house-warming party and Amanda is having her 1980s blowout party for her 30th birthday. Both should be a good time.

I'm hoping for a cookie baking day with my 8-year old friend, Jack. I always have such a good time hanging out with that guy. I'm also hoping for a Chanakah get-together with Dawn and Josh.

We got inexpensive flights to Minneapolis for Christmas. Thankfully, we won't have to drive to and from Minnesota this year. Such exciting times to come. I'm pretty much finished with Christmas shopping. I'm excited to put together the gift bags. I'm feeling creative.

I'll be trying to post more pictures and keep up with the blog more often. Check back!

TECA East, Roger's Competition

Roger was in charge of the East Coast TECA Conference and Competition last week. He ran the event, which meant the weeks leading up to it were both stressful and busy for him. He did a great job. I'm really proud of him. These pictures are the results of the competition Roger took charge of, which was Elementary Design Project. Students had to design and build a greenhouse to protect and feed the "tree" inside. This project sprouted from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. He had a good time planning and coordinating the event. I think the students were creative and did a nice job. I know that I am glad the conference is over...I get my husband back!

Nor'Easter, Thanks Ida

These pictures are of downed trees a block behind our apartment. These represent the main reason for our power being out for 3 days. We are lucky we didn't have more damage ourselves. We have electricity, heat and hot water and life is good again. I'm glad that storm is over, though.

Holiday Season

This year, for some reason, I am more excited about the holidays than I have been in recent years. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and I think this year will be nice. Roger and I will probably have a quiet dinner and relax with some holiday movies. I've talked Roger into a Christmas tree this year (it did not take much convincing) and with our busy travel times in December, we'll likely decorate it on Thanksgiving, too.

I'm hosting a small cocktail party for ladies only the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It will be nice to have some food and drinks with some friends before the holidays get hectic. It has been a long time since I've hosted any kind of party at my place and I am quite excited. I used to be pretty good at it. I've been searching my stash of cookbooks (mostly Barefoot Contessa) for the perfect mix of vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free and delicious recipes. I think I've got it! I'm also making pomegranate cosmos, along with wine and beer and non-alcoholic drinks. I get more excited each time I think about the party. I'm hoping for a nice turnout, but will have a great time if only a few women come over.

I also am looking forward to chic night at my sister-in-law, Gwen's house in December. I think it will be fun hanging out with the female Skophammer's. They are always good for some laughs and good times. I'm bringing some Virginia white wine and making crab dip. I love being a part of such a wonderful family. Marriage has brought me so many unexpected and lovely treats in life.

Then, of course, it will be Christmastime. I'll leave all that for another post. After 38 years, I still get sooooo excited about everything Christmas. It makes my parents and my husband laugh, but I am so happy to share it with them every year.

Bring on the holidays!!!

Unexpected Endings

October did not end as I expected and anticipated. I did not run/walk the Wicked 10K. Instead, Roger and I flew home to Minnesota because Roger's dad was in the hospital. Luckily, he is doing well and on his way home today or tomorrow, but last week, we did not know what was going on. We flew home a week ago and spent the weekend back and forth between the hospital and seeing our grandson, Owen, on his first birthday. The weekend was full of fun surprises, the best being that Roger Sr. was progressing so well.

I missed out on the race and that makes me sad. But, in life, the most important things are family and loved ones. I don't regret the decision to go to Minnesota. I know in my heart it was the right thing to do, and I like to do what is right in my heart.

I'm looking forward to a quiet November.

Pictures

Autumnal tree at Monticello
At the Small Craft Beer Festival at the Oceanfront
Before walking the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K...brrrr...it was cold
Monticello, Jefferson's beautiful home outside of Charlottesville, Virginia
One of the homes at Appomattox, location of the Lee's Surrender to end the Civil War

October

My favorite month is October. In Virginia, North Dakota or Minnesota, we begin to see signs of autumn. The air is crisp and cool in the evenings and early mornings. The sun brightens the days. I just adore October.

I am roasting pumpkins in order to make a soup tomorrow. I love cooking from scratch. I adore the feel of pumpkin guts and seeds in my hands, the smell of roasting food and the anticipation of a delicious soup tomorrow, that I made!

This month is so busy. I can't recall a busier October in the past. Right now, Roger is in Nashville for a conference, but he will be home tonight. He says it has been a good time, as well as important networking time. I think he has enjoyed the music, too.

We will be moving to the apartment across the hall. It is slightly larger and has a much better flow...and a bigger bathroom. It is also away from the smokers whose apartments bleed into our current place. I am fed up with the smokiness and ready to get out. We have 10 days to move so it should be a piece of cake (let's hope!)

Paul arrives from Minnesota on Friday. He hasn't visited for a couple years, but we are looking forward to ODU football, including tailgating, and a possible trip to Monticello in Charlottesville. Charlottesville is my favorite city in all of Virginia. I can't wait to get back there. And each time I visit Thomas Jefferson's home, I am in awe of his genius. It is truly an amazing site to visit.

The following weekend, I am walking in the Susan G Komen 5K at the oceanfront. After the walk, there is a Oktoberfest, Small Craft Beer festival on the Boardwalk. Should be a fun weekend with some friends that we haven't seen very often lately. For the first time in years, I will be skipping the Town Point Park Virginia Wine Festival. Roger and I decided that we needed a change this year. The wine festival has always been a good time, but many of the reasons I used to go have changed. It has disappointed a few friends, but Roger and I must follow our hearts.

Then Halloween weekend will keep us busy. I am running/walking the Wicked 10K on Halloween morning at the oceanfront. Roger got us a room for the weekend so we don't have to drive all over the place. I think Dawn may get a room as well. I am hoping to finish in a decent time, but I am confient that I will finish. And that will wrap up October.

During the weeks, I will listen to 150 speeches and prep for the next assignment. I love teaching and can't wait to hear my students and see what they have learned. Teaching is such a rewarding profession. I love it!

November should be much quieter...I say that now, but we'll see. Perhaps a trip to Ikea.

Busy School Days

Roger and I have been busy getting back into the semester. I am teaching 5 sections of freshman public speaking. I have 150 students. It has been a challenge to manage and organize all the classes. I love teaching. I enjoy connecting with the students. They, for the most part, seem eager to learn in my class (or perhaps they are faking it?). I love the in-class exercises and discussion. This is working out much better than the power point lectures of last year. Roger has 4 classes, all different, which poses a different challenge for him. His prep time is spread amongst the four classes, as well as the grant he works on and the TECA club he is advising. I do get to see him, but he is quite swamped. He seems happy about teaching and advising TECA. It is shaping up into a good semester.

We have had friends over for dinner and have gone out a few times with others. We are pleasantly settling down into this life...and I like it (I think Roger does, too).

On To the Next Phase

Roger and I are no longer students. ODU officially awarded my degree on Friday. Tomorrow, Roger is a full time professor (Dr. Skophammer) in the Education College at ODU. I start my adjunct work at ODU tomorrow with 5 sections of Freshman Public Speaking, with 30 students in each section. That's a lot of speeches!!

It has been strange for both of us to not be students. Neither of us looked for final grades during the summer term. Since my thesis was completed, there has been no homework. Roger taught over the summer, so he had grading and emails and such, but no student homework.

We are planning our schedule for the fall semester, and it is complex. With one car to share, we must schedule travel between home and campus. Luckily, Roger got a new bike for his 50th birthday, and has room to store it in his office and the apartment, so fingers crossed, this one won't get stolen. This time in our life is exciting for us. Who knows what the possibilities hold?

Our friend Paul will be coming for a visit in October. Jarrod may be coming this weekend for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. I'm hoping for visitors and parties and fun all around. We are even in the earliest stages of planning a Halloween party. I love not having homework!

In between school and fun, we will be training. I'm running a 10k and hoping to run a half marathon in 2 years, after I turn 40. I'm planning for the Napa to Sonoma half marathon...beautiful scenery and great wine (I can't lose)!

Well, off to find some breakfast. I think we have to schedule grocery shopping, too. Ah, I'm loving my life right now and it feels better than I could imagine.

Boogaloo and Thesis Printing

Little Feat with Bonerama and Anders Osborne...they wailed!
Jim and Mike enjoying a cigar, a beer and a cool breeze on the Carrie B.
Handsome husband...it was hot in that tent (The Missing Kidney Bar!).
Kelly...loving the pigtails!
Elizabeth and Rachel...friends from the Humanities program and music lovers alike!

Last weekend was the Bayou Boogaloo at Town Point Park in Norfolk. Roger and I got 3-day passes and enjoyed the weekend of bayou blues and Cajun cuisine. Friday we listened to some fun and lively Zydeco bands and had the best jambalaya ever! The Abitas beer from New Orleans was cold and refreshing...and what's a Cajun festival without at least one Hurricane...yummy. Saturday, we heard some hard rockin blues of Anders Osborne and the sweet mellow blues of Dr. John. Roger and I met up with several friends throughout the day and enjoyed meeting some new friends as well. Sunday ended up being a lot of fun. Roger and I hung out listening to Bonerama and Little Feat in jam sessions including Anders Osborne from the day before. Talk about some good music. A little more jambalaya and crawfish completed our terrific Bayou weekend.

I am currently printing my thesis for binding. I hope to have it all completed tomorrow...finally!