In Cahoots

As the boys went out of town, Eva and I embraced our time together.  

Friday, was my day.

We woke up and went to a rock store.

Yes.  A rock store.

Eva ended up loving it, after the fact.

Then we went out to a fancy lunch.

McD's...

Don't judge.

Then we went to paint pottery.

We had a great time, until I realized how to get the hockey game on my phone....

We ubered out that night and went to our favorite Mexican restaurant.  Just a night out with the girls!

Then we went home and watched a few chick flix!

The next day was Eva's day.  She went to ATA to usher and watch "Little Shop of Horrors."  When she got back, she was antsy, but then we watched Dylan's 3rd game.  

sausage fingers

After the game, we began a scavenger hunt that Eva had prepared for me.

Seriously Eva?  You want me to help you clean your room?

But the next clue made much more sense...

Yay!  Gabby "wasn't able" to join us the day before, but apparently the two girls were in cahoots!

So we did the Tropical Cafe, next was ....grocery shopping?

Upon return, the girls in cahoots had more surprises.  

What a great weekend, in spite of all. Dylan placed third in the tournament.  Nice job Warriors!

Grease Lightning!

 There have been some changes at ATA....for better or for worse.

  The fall showcase has been turned into more of an improv performance.  I mean...that is good and bad.  I agree it is important to be able to think on your feet.  But at the same time, phew.  It was rough in some spots.  

    Eva's cast did awesome. (Sorry...they are the oldest and most experienced.)  The other casts just didn't know their lines.  Plain and simple.  It was embarrassing.  Yes, they were younger, but Eva has been with ATA since 6 years old and she has ALWAYS gone in prepared knowing her lines.  

    I feel everytime she goes, she returns more experienced.  The next show is the bigger one; the one Eva needs to audition for.  Maybe Grease was the first tryout for the bigger prize....

    

The Tournament that wasn't meant to be

 The thought of driving 8 hours for a hockey game to me, is completely ridiculous.  But yet, there it was on our schedule, Notre Dame, South Bend Indiana.

We were going to go all together.  But then, the logistics.  Jeff wanted to leave around noon, to avoid darkness.  I had UB until 7:30, which even when I worked that detail out, we had Eva to think about.  

She would miss her Matilda auditions.

Bummer.  

So I made my peace with the fact that I would watch it on TV...until I found out it wasn't available.

I was distraught.

How would I survive the weekend?

A Tough Pill to Swallow

 Hockey.  Hockey.  Hockey.

Its a tough pill to swallow when you were undefeated the year prior, and now you can't find the net.

Dylan's new team has some work to do.  They have amazing potential, but unfortunately are shooting zip.

It has been slow, but they are eventually getting it together. They had one tournament where they didn't score at all.  

They are taking on many unnecessary penalties.  Hopefully, they figure it out.

Little by little they are finding their way...

Alleghany 2022!

 One of my favorite events of the year, is traveling to Alleghany to hike and camp. We have been SO fortunate the past few years to have gorgeous weather.  

The kids.  They find their creek, and we don't see them again.  This year they really took advantage of that.  We had to use walkie-talkies.  They set up camp on the other side of the creek.

We hiked Bear Caves and Black Snake.

Eva's Poem

The Battle of Covid

 For two years, I escaped the contagions of COVID.  Both my kids had it.  My students had it. Somehow, I had been immune.

Until this year.  I was sitting at my desk eating sunflower seeds, when I all of a sudden realized I couldn't taste them.  

Sure enough.  I was positive.  

It really didn't change much for me.  I spent a day at home.  Then I had to not grocery shop.

It was not terrible. I could actually do this more often!