So I managed to survive another week without Tom and an extremely busy schedule. Tom had to leave on Sunday for LA. Meanwhile, Allison and I were off to Girl SCout choir practice. The choir was asked to sing the National Anthem at Girl Scout headquarters for a ceremony honoring MD Senator Barbara Mikulski. She has been very influential in getting funding for several girl scout projects. The girl scout council also had Northrop Grumman to thank for providing funding for our headquarter remodel and installation of engineering programs for girl scouts, as well as the STEM program(science, technology, engineering and math programs) that all the schools are pushing right now. No one was available as a representative from Northrop, so I texted Tom and thanked him. I also sent him a photo of B Mikulski. He thought it was cool, but not as cool as running into one of the stars of the ICarley show in LA. in a pizzaria-Miranda Cosgrove. After we sang, Allison and I still had to stay for the delegate meeting. Barbara spoke for 30 minutes and then stayed with her aids for a photo opportunity, so we were running late. We also had a General come speak and thank the senator for her support in funding as well as for the generous girl scout cookie donations we have provided the servicemen and women over the years. He also thanked the scouts for visiting the returning soldiers at the airport and introduced a program for girl scouts offered through the Army. General Nick Justice. He was a very good speaker and as B Mikulski said-what a great name. All in all it was a fun evening, but long (and I finally met someone much shorter than I am!).

ON Tuesday I was running again to get Scott to his Boy SCout meeting.

WEds we had a break and got to stay home and study and do homework. Allison had finished up her regular season of Field Hockey games. A makeup game on Monday (which they lost to the top ranking team and that had been rained out on Friday), and their last game on Tuesday which honored the Senior players with a tailgate after the game. Scott and I arrived after the game was over, but stayed for a brief presentation to the seniors. Allison enjoyed that game since she played and they won. Now they are practicing for State Finals. I had the added dilemma of trying to get her to practice at 3pm at the local parks. The girls need to practice on turf since most of the finals are played on the artificial fields. Fortunately she got a ride to the fields and I just had to pick her up.

On Thursday I was back running early since I went to a class on cognition and dementia/Alzheimers. After class I had to pick up the kids and get them dinner so I could go to Scott's Parent Teacher Conferences. I wish Tom could have joined me for that, but I talked enough for the both of us. Afterwards, Allison had a piano lesson. It is fun to hear her working on the Christmas music, but I am not ready for that holiday!

Friday the kids were off school, so Tom and I had planned on traveling to Williamsburg to the Howl O Scream Haunt fest at Busch Gardens. INstead, I took the kids myself since Tom did not arrive home until late Friday night. At least Cookie did not have to go to the kennel. We took her for a nice long walk in the morning, and after I ran a few errands, we were on our way. Friday was a bit chilly, but very sunny and dry. WE had a wonderful time at the park. We met up with our neighbors and their kids who were also spending the weekend. I especially enjoyed the haunted houses, but the kids aren't interested. Scott even had an issue with crossing a bridge to one of his favorite roller coasters since it was haunted by zombie clowns(He couldn't handle it). Needless to say, I couldn't bribe or drag him across so I gave up and ended up returning the next morning(rather than outlet shopping boo hoo), so he could ride in the safety of daylight. (These cannot be my kids when it comes to scary stuff). I can't get enough. Anyhow, we spent the night and had a beautiful morning back at the park before returning to Baltimore after lunch.

Saturday night Allison had to work, so while we were waiting for her I decided it would be fun to invite the neighbors out to a local Octoberfest celebration. We have a local hall named after Max Blob(Blob's Park) which features polish dancing primarily, but in October they sponsor the Germans and lots of beer and brats(with polka dancing included). The place holds 850 people, and it was packed. With only 7 waitresses. Tom and our friend Eladio decided it couldn't actually be run by Germans since it was so disorganized and slow when it came to serving beer and food. We opted for the buffet, and got there early which helped. I had a great time dancing the chicken dance, the Hokey Pokey and a new German line dance that involved flying like an airplane and schwimming in the ocean(apparently all the rage in Europe) and sounded like something from the Brady Bunch singers. Good thing they had lots of beer. Tom even joined me for a few polkas, but I thought we were going to pass out from all the hopping and jumping. We also enjoyed watching the really old guys in lederhosen out on the dance floor doing traditional German dances. Surprisingly the kids were not on board with this entertainment factor. They were bored. How sad they did not grow up with our traditional weddings and family get togethers. They didn't understand how much fun they were missing(although I am not so sure about the old german guys in shorts). It was certainly an interesting evening. And to make things more crazy, they paired it with a Haunted House-Bennett's Curse. One of the scariest in the country, and it was jam packed with people. We got stuck behind a firetruck and ambulance when we tried to leave. At least we did not get stuck like our friends behind the truck that blew a tire when it hit a guard rail trying to get around the fire truck!

Sunday morning we were off to church early as Scott had to altar serve. He had his friend Sammy spend the night so he joined us at church. Scott was a bit nervous since this was his first time without Allison serving by his side. But he held his own and did just what he needed to do. So in the afternoon I took him to get his hair cut since he has school photos in a week. We also picked up a few more fish for his tank and did some Halloween party shopping.

ON a sad note, Tom lost his Aunt Joan Conrad to Alzheimers last week. She had been living in a nursing home in Colorado for several years. Her husband also has Alzheimers, so it was Tom's cousin Scott from California that let us know.

And we wish Tom's Dad a speedy recovery from his fractured forearm after he stepped off a ladder too soon while hanging the Halloween decorations. (Hope you have fun with your OT Dad when that cast comes off!) I spend most of my time at work treating fractured wrists and forearms, but not usually from stepping off ladders in our community. Maybe a step stool.

Work actually slowed down a bit which was nice. Last month I had to put on an open house-I was in charge of food of course. This month I had to present to our Low Vision support group and spent a few days taking classes.

Enjoy our Halloween photo shots from Busch Gardens, The May POle dance at Octoberfest and Sen B Mikulski(in the green suit). Kathleen