My favorite month is October

Hi All, Will Here...

I just have to say how much I'm enjoying the cooler weather. I never was one for 90-degree heat, even when I was young and trim. Now that I'm older and wider, I find that I prefer the cool Autumn days to any sweltering Fourth-of-July.

Along with the cooler days come cooler nights. Yet our squash and jalapenos continue to produce despite the rain (and resulting lack of sunshine). The garden is being put-down for the season and our "spare-time" is being put into other areas, like a visit to Nobbies to see the Halloween decorations.

Amber is in charge of the Conestoga Branch's playgroup Halloween party next Thursday morning. I have been tapped to provide some fun with dry ice, etc for the kids. Amber had to twist my arm pretty badly to get me to make that promise.

Speaking of over-extending myself... I was asked if I could give any further science demonstrations for King Elementary on any Monday or Wednesday afternoons from now through December. I was able to accommodate a few days for October, but only a single day in Novemeber. Time is a very limited resource, and I just don't learn new things as quickly as I did when I was 19. But I was able to set couple of dates in December, so I should get enough enjoyment out of these visits by the time the semester ends.

As most of you know, my mother will be living with us once her lease is up in April. In an effort to get her excited about coming to live with 3 of her 4 grandchildren, we invited her out over the weekend and part of Fall Break. It will be an effort to go get her, but I felt it wa important for her to do more than know that she will be living with us. I want her to be so happy about this new (albeit very different) chapter in her life that she counts the days until she comes here. In short, she needs to come, but I want her to want to come to Omaha. Between the Children's Museum, the zoo, and the library, I'm sure when she's settled-in that she'll wonder why she took so long to accept our invitation to live in our home.

Of course, this means that we'll be moving when our lease ends, shortly thereafter. We are looking for a house, with a fenced yard so that Rommel can get the exercise he needs, as often as he needs it. We plan to let my mom have her choice of bedrooms, and live at the place until we know where I will have my first job as a pharmacist. We don't know where that'll be yet, of course. But I have to admit that my perspective has changed in the last 2 years. When we moved here, I was counting the days until I could go back to Utah. But with what people pay for a house that's only 10 feet from the next house...I'd never get the farmette that inspired me to go to pharmacy school in the first place. There are many houses and lots that Amber and I like in Iowa. Truthfully, there are many worse places to call home.

As far as getting that 1st job out of school; the annual career fair is Friday, November 14th. AS a 3rd year student, there are jobs available that start after I graduate. It's not just a chance to fill-up on novelty pens and "practice" interviews this year. There is the possibility of receiving a firm, legal, offer fo employment. While it probably won't happen that way...it does make me realize that graduation is no longer in the "Buck Rodgers"-future. The end is in sight, though it's still a ways off.