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A Time of Transition at Laurel Highlands Toastmasters!

Last night was an big night for us at our Laurel Highlands Toastmasters meeting. We were going to be nominating new officers for the 2025-26 Toastmasters year. Our President, Sharon, will be representing the District beginning July 1 as our Program Quality Director and I look forward to seeing what she has planned. We’re already looking ahead to Fall as well, more to come at a later date. Ryan will serve as President and he could very well be tasked with the goal of leading our club to Smedley Distinguished. That’s one of the new designations coming into the new Toastmasters year. It will require the 10 goals that would get the club to President’s Distinguished but a minimum of 25 members. We will get there at Laurel Highlands next year.

For the first time in my Toastmasters journey, I will be serving as Treasurer. I have plenty of people to answer my questions if I need to know what to do to properly carry out my duties next year. Our club Treasurer at Greensburg will become President of that club next year.

We had a nice speaker mix last night with an ice breaker and two mentoring speeches. Four guests attended as well, with two online and two in-house all excited to learn more about Toastmasters. Our President got us fired up for the meeting and stressed the importance of attending the meeting on this night. Out of our 14 members, we had enough in attendance for a quorum. The election of new officers did not take long at all, and it was a very smooth process.

Looking ahead, we have Summer Club Officer Training on June 21 at Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, but members will have the choice of attending online as well. Thus it is a hybrid (in person or online) event. Our last meeting of the year will be at Bud Murphy’s on June 24. I’m hoping we will celebrate as a President’s Distinguished Club.

Next Friday there is a demo meeting at the Panera Bread in Morgantown which is putting together by our Area 3 Director/Club Growth Director-Elect , along with one of our members at Laurel Highlands. This club will bring Toastmasters back into northern WV, if it charters. It will also benefit West Virginia University and the surrounding community. If I’m off, I’ll consider taking a drive down to Morgantown to attend this event. What’s needed to get this club off the ground: 20 members and so far a good number of people make up part of that magic number. Some volunteers are still needed. I’ll be reaching out to Greensburg via email tomorrow and get the word out about this event.

We are a great club representing many nations, achievements, and interests at Laurel Highlands. We will make history this year when we get to President’s Distinguished, and next year when we get to Smedley Distinguished!

Not Afraid of a Little Rain at our Family Reunion!

Sunday was our annual Gaffron Family Reunion. It was held at the same venue we’ve had it for the last several years. We were also at the same pavilion, and boy did the indoor building come in handy. The forecast trended wet and windy. Despite the rain and the chill in the air, it didn’t stop us from enjoying everyone’s company. My aunt’s church was an option though. 

MVP of the Gaffron Family Reunion goes to Jonathan for building that fire to keep us warm. We even got to roast a few marshmallows. The picture of Uncle Bob on the mantle was a nice touch too. He always enjoyed these family reunions. In the messages, I read some nice comments about Sunday’s picnic the day after. 

The turnout was good despite a few no-shows. Aunt Sue counted 31 people in attendance. Not too bad considering the weather conditions. It was nice to catch with everyone and see what’s new. Everyone had a good time. We had an amazing spread with lots of food. Mom’s Texas sheet cake got rave reviews, and the chicken she got from Giant Eagle was a hit as well. I know I was pretty full at the end of the night. I got plenty of pictures from Sunday’s reunion, and a video of the fire that make a great reel to use at Christmastime. I was inspired after seeing that fireplace video on PlutoTV a few years ago. 

My parents were a little bit concerned about seating being at a premium. Due to the rain and cool temperatures, no one was sitting on the deck. That was one of the major changes from previous years. Some braved the weather to be outside, and we had the picnic tables available as well. The rain tapered off as the afternoon went on. 

A nice walk around the lake would have been nice, as would an outdoor fire. 

Prior to going to Laurel Hill, I stopped at Cutie’s like I always enjoy doing. They’re getting ready for Trunk or Treat this Saturday. Just like last year before the reunion, I ordered a Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew. Unlike last year, I didn’t drop it in the parking lot. While there, I got a cannoli from the pop-up who was there. The Madagascar Vanilla flavored cannoli went great with my cold brew. By 11am, it was off to Somerset County for an afternoon of fun.

Kicking off my Vacation at Fort Ligonier Days!

The plan for my first full day of vacation was to go to Fort Ligonier Days, after a laid back Friday afternoon. After working seven straight nights leading up to my vacation, I needed some time to recover. I went to the gym a few times during the week and a few days I walked outside to meet my exercise goals. Sometimes, you have to take advantage of those opportunities when the timing is right. 

We had pizza from Domino’s and later on, enjoyed The Great British Bake Off. The signature actually drove my choice of dessert on Saturday when I ordered from the Sand Hill Berries booth at Fort Ligonier Days. I felt a big difference in my attitude between Friday and Saturday, as I kepy my phone at bay while watching the Penn State game.

I got the bus at Ligonier Valley High School and came into town just after 11. It was an understatement to say the whole town was packed. No one was getting through town on Saturday. That’s why my GPS sent me up PA 259. If I didn’t want to go to the high school, there was another pickup spot at Laurel Valley Golf Course. 

The sights, sounds, and smells sucked me on Saturday. As I walked into town, I got to see the parade already in progress, I didn’t miss seeing Hempfield’s band marching down the parade route. I thought to myself that it won’t be long before Annabelle is part of that wonderful event known as Fort Ligonier Days. All the bands sounded good and I enjoyed the Shriners in their little cars. That was up at the Diamond. The smells of the food trucks forced me to make a difficult decision. What do I eat?

I got the Chicken Strips and Fries with a bottled water. It wasn’t too bad of a choice and tasted like Kennywood. However, I knew I could have done better by walking down Main St. to the Pickled Chef’s food truck. I had grilled cheese from them at one of the Greensburg night markets and it was to die for. The line of vendors stretched from Town Hall all the way down to the old Railroad Station. I returned to the Diamond for a slice of cheesecake with raspberries and whipped cream. Where did I get this culinary delight? The Sand Hill Berries booth. It took me to my last Fort Ligonier Days five years ago. That right there was a win win. Planning for this event would have made the day even better.

In My ‘90s Era!

Welcome back to myself after some time off from the blog! I started the month of October taking a much needed vacation from writing, as I celebrated the posting of my 1000th blog. During that time, I changed the name of this blog as well as my Instagram handle. The ‘90s called my name as well. 

I began watching ER on HBO Max soon after finishing The Pitt. It wasn’t in my plans, but the algorithm had other ideas. As of this weekend, the first season is almost complete. I’ll watch the last episode before I embark on my Cape May adventure Tuesday morning. 

ER was a product of Michael Crichton and John Wells (who also produced The Pitt some 30 years after ER’s debut). You might say that 2026 has been the year that I got into medical dramas. Jurassic Park had come out a year prior to ER, so Crichton was kind of a big deal around this time. The show finished #2 in the ratings behind Seinfeld and ahead of Home Improvement. Friends finished #8 and would also be on the rise throughout the ‘90s. Muse See TV Thursdays on NBC were worth watching in 1994. 

In addition to ER, I also discovered a podcast that is part mental health and part ‘90s nostalgia without being called so. The title of it is “We’re Still Here, Babe”, hosted by’90s child star Natanya Ross. She starred in “The Babysitters Club” and was a recurring character on “The Secret World of Alex Mack”. Ross also guest starred in an early season episode of “Boy Meets World”. While new and only having a handful of episodes aired, Ross’s “We’re Still Here, Babe” podcast is very powerful. 

Her story will humble you and make you realize that not all Hollywood actors have it easy. Like us, they are human and have made mistakes. Some of Ross’s guests on the podcast have included Will Friedle and Rider Strong (Boy Meets World and the Pod Meets World rewatch podcast) as well as Marla Sokoloff (Babysitters Club and recurring actor on Full House and Fuller House). 

If you’re like me and have grown up with this awesome era of Nickelodeon, then this podcast is for you.

Trying the Gilmore Girls Menu/Reflections

This morning I used my free time to take a drive out to Ligonier. It was something that I had planned for a while. When I’m there, I always like to stop at Abigail’s Coffehouse. One of the specials they’ve had is usually during the holidays, called the Twelve Coffees of Christmas. This month, to celebrate the Fall season, Abigail’s unveiled a menu related to the popular show that is synonymous with Fall.

I’m talking about a Gilmore Girls menu. Finally, something that proves how synonymous Ligonier is with the show and the fictional town. They’re not the first cafe I’ve been to that has had something related to Gilmore Girls on its menu. Every Fall, Cutie’s Coffee has a Gilmore Girls Coffee flight. They’ve done this every Fall they’ve been open. 

I follow Abigail’s on Instagram and was very excited when I learned that they were coming out with a Gilmore Girls themed menu. I scrolled through all the drinks and they all look good. I looked over the choices and decided on Rory’s Blueberry Muffin Latte. Other options you can find on this iconic menu include:

  • Stars Hollow Latte
  • Dragonfly Inn Matcha
  • Luke’s Diner Special
  • The Chilton Cold Brew

I could taste the Blueberry Muffin and I was pleased with my choice of drink. That’s two hot drinks in a row. My next coffee stop will be Saturday at Cutie’s. Since I work overnight (likely up until I start vacation), it’ll be an afternoon visit. I’ll miss the market but I’ll enjoy my coffee nonetheless. I sat down in the Diamond and read another chapter in my romance novel. Fort Ligonier Days comes next week. 

Maybe I’ll make a return visit and enjoy another delicious Stars Hollow Coffee. I’m still divided on my plans for next Saturday. as it’s too close to call. 

Ligonier is a beautiful small town, despite the fact that it leans “red”. There’s a reason most fans of GIlmore Girls see it as the “Little Stars Hollow”. It’s also the perfect  Hallmark Christmas Town. Other towns in Pennsylvnia with this distinction include but are not limited to:

  • Indiana
  • Bedford
  • Canonsburg
  • Lititz

Like Saturday morning, the drive was foggy but the visibility was a little better. I even saw a few peaks as I passed Idlewild and made my way into Ligonier. I’m also starting to see a little bit of color change with yellows and oranges. How long will it last is the question. I’m hoping to see some yellow next weekend when I drive out to Laurel Hill for our family reunion. 

Well, it’s time for me to reflect. This is going to be my 1,000th blog post when I send it this evening. A major accomplishment by far and I didn’t think that I would be getting it out this soon. 

I started posting regularly late in 2019. My cousin deserves some props as she is the one who encouraged me to go ahead with it. As I started writing, I had no idea what was going to come a few months later. In my blogging era, I’ve gone through a global pandemic, health issues, and a major job transition.

A major breakthrough came when my cousins gifted me with a laptop so that I could do more with my blog. 2022 became 2023 and I was finally establishing myself at Giant Eagle. The year ended better than it began. This was the Children’s Hospital era as my Somerset family would be spending a lot of time there.

The next year saw me set a record as I finished 2024 with 200 blog posts. It was quite a year but very exhausting. I tried not to let the results of the election get me down as I enjoyed a weekend trip to Hershey just before Thanksgiving. I didn’t let being sick over Thanksgiving sour my early holiday vacation. It may have been cold, but I enjoyed a great club officer training and Christmas with my second family.

This blog will be changing names and getting an update over the next month. The personality and brand won’t be changing, but I feel this name suits me more. I’m still going to be Stylish, don’t worry.

Goodbye, Stylish. Hello, James the Lifestyle Writer.

Area 62 Speech Contest!

I had the morning off on Saturday as I was en route to Morgantown for the Area 62 Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest. As a Toastmaster of 15 years, this wasn’t my first rodeo. For the area director and contest chair, it was his first rodeo. The contest was held at the Morgantown Public Library, located downtown. The venue has hosted previous contests and thus is an ideal location for a big event. The staff was very friendly in helping lead me to where the contest was, so the library gets an A in my book. 

For me, this was my first time in West Virginia since 2021. Coming by way of Fayette County and the Laurel Highlands, it was very foggy. I crossed over the bridge into West Virginia, greeted by the “Wild and Wonderful” signs. Interstate 68 makes for a nice drive in the Fall, whether going to a football game in Morgantown or a train ride in Cumberland. It was a busy morning downtown, with a farmers’ market going on across from the library. Thus, the downtown area was pretty active. As I made my way home after the contest, I saw plenty of signs of student housing. This is a much busier college town than I was used to at Slippery Rock.

It was my first time downtown, but I’m no stranger to Morgantown as I’ve traveled there for work in the past. But that was along the I-68 and I-79 corridors. 

It wasn’t looking good at first, and then everyone shuffled in. You can blame the construction on I-68 for some of those late arrivals. I came in at the Sabraton exit (Exit 4) but got there with plenty of time to spare. It was a busy weekend with other area contests going on. One of Laurel Highlands’ members serves as Division Director, so he was at another contest. There’s an official whom we could have used. Other people had plans, and weren’t able to attend the contest. But, Gary was able to pull it together, getting his team of judges and timers and ballot counters lined up. 

Three clubs were represented at the contest. Area 62 consists of Laurel Highlands, Western Maryland, Country Roads, and ESL (Elegant Speakers and Listeners). The contestants were all very good. For the judges, this was a hard contest to judge. One of the speakers talked about living in England. I felt tempted  to talk about The Great British Bake-off but didn’t get the chance to. Doubling up was the keyword as our contestants took part in Table Topics and Humorous Speech. One of them served as an official. 

The Table Topics Question: What is a piece of advice that in the past you thought was wrong, but as an adult knew was right. This question relates to the comments I read on social media. That is,  how I’ve seen things in my youth are much different than how I have seen them as an adult. Just my two cents on the question that was given. 

The winners of the contest will represent Division F in that contest coming up Octoner 17 in Blairsville. For me, it will be a nice end to my vacation week. I look forward to hearing the best speakers on a much bigger stage.

How I’m Spending my Fall Vacation!

My next week off is coming in just 11 days. Amid a busy October, my vacation week is filling up. I am off the week of Columbus Day.

My vacation starts October 9 (the Friday before). The reason that I asked off the two days before my week off was because of our family reunion. I am weighing the options for Saturday, however. That’s because Fort Ligonier Days are going on, plus a wedding shower for my cousin. It’s also one of the weekends for Autumnfest at Seven Springs Resort.

The next day is our Gaffron Family Reunion. For the sixth straight year, it will be at Laurel Hill at the indoor pavilion. I enjoy having the picnic here because of the indoor fireplace. When it’s chilly outside, we have a place to keep warm. An outdoor fire pit was installed more recently, and we got to try it out last year. For the fifth straight year, it will be a Sunday event. It was suggested that I bring coffee, but I might inquire about making some cookies. Predictions for the weather are mixed, but it will feel seasonable regardless.

I’m going out of town (and out of state) for a couple of days. It’ll be to a place I’ve been to before that’s near and dear to my aunt. It’ll be my first time there in eight years, predating COVID and my blogging era.

This will be my first time taking a vacation away from home in the GE era, if even for only a few days. It’s also going to be the first time I’ll be out of state since the 2020 pandemic. Recent out of town trips for me included Erie during the height of COVID and Hershey in the Fall of 2024.

We’re hoping for good weather at Cape May. In the wake of the nor’easter this weekend, a lot of beaches have taken a hit. Cape May has seen its share of flooding as well. Long Island and New England were expected to bear the worst of the storm. On the bright side, at least this isn’t snow, yet. 

There are some coffee shops I will definitely try out on my visit to Cape May. One of them I’ve been to before and one I haven’t tried yet. As I blog during the trip, I’ll definitely give a review of the cafes and post to the stories. I’ll be sure to tag my people and places on the socials as well.

When my aunt goes to Cape May, she likes to stay at the Grand Hotel. I’m looking forward to getting my own room and having that ocean view, even if only for a few days. I need to remember to bring some coffee for my Keurig in my kitchenette. I might take some Starbucks but maybe that Green Mountain seasonal coffee will go on sale as well.

After I return from Cape May, I’ll wind up the vacation week with a speech contest. I was at the Area 62 contest in Morgantown on Saturday and had an opportunity to hear some of their best speakers. Now they’ll have a chance to present on a bigger stage.

The contest is in Blairsville, which is a perfect halfway point for those who are competing.

What’s My Multiverse?

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe wraps up this week. The Big Bang Theory spinoff produced by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady aired on HBO Max. In it, Stuart and other side characters from the iconic sitcom go to different multiverses to save the world from certain doom. The show has appearances from others who appeared on the show, including main characters like Penny and Raj

What is the definition of a multiverse?
A multiverse is a hypothetical collection of multiple, distinct universes that together comprise everything that exists, including all space, time, matter, and physical laws.

The multiverses differed every show. I could explain them, though I don’t want to spoil the surprise. You usually get an idea of what the next one is at the end of every show.

What’s my ideal multiverse? 

The surprising answer to that question, is to live in one where we are different animals. Think about it. We could live in a universe where we are dogs or cats. We could chase balls or play with yarn, and live in our own little dog or cat city. Something to consider. Thinking about it from an animated point of view, I’d love to live in the Peanuts or Doug multiverse. Like the titular character, I too write in a journal. Recently I gave the creator a follow on Instagram and enjoy some of his posts.

Moving onto TV Shows… 

2026 can be called the Year That I discovered Medical Dramas. When Queer Eye ended, I immediately jumped on The Pitt bandwagon to see what it was all about. Needless to say, I was hooked. A few months later, I wrapped up both seasons and will sit pretty until January when season three debuts.

Social media algorithms are funny, as they find other things for you that they think you’ll like.  ER was one of the suggestions on that most recent algorithm, as it related to the Pitt and Noah Wyle.

I started watching last week and i like the show so far. Noah Wyle looks so young at the ripe old age of 23. I’m also a fan of George Clooney on this show. This is before he made it big on the silver screen with films such as Oceans Eleven. As a young up and coming actor, he also starred on The Facts of Life and played a recurring character on Roseanne.

I am a fan of TV shows and what goes into them. That’s why a good rewatch podcast on former shows I’ve watched is something that piques my interest. Last week, a book on the history of ER in stores. Down the road, this may be a gift to myself (after season 3️⃣ or at Christmas). 

As my 1000th blog post draws near, here’s a little bit about me…

As I just mentioned, I enjoy reading about TV shows and what goes into making them. Office BFFs is one of those books that I purchased in 2022, written by the actors who host the popular Office Ladies rewatch podcast.  I own this book, along with another book related to The Office written by Brian Baumgartner. 

Jessica Radloff was a suggestion from me on Instagram because I follow Gilmore Book Club. She is the author of a book on The Big Bang Theory.  She has a book on Young Sheldon coming out in October. I read that it’s juicier than Meemaw’s brisket. Both books, along with ER: The History are on my list. Jessica also hosts a podcast on The Big Bang Theory. 

Closing off the blog, the Great British Bake-off started Tuesday. It airs then in the UK, and Fridays on Netflix. It’s easy to scroll social media and see winners so if you haven’t seen it yet, tread carefully. After having watched bits and pieces for years, last year was my first full season and it was a treat. It was bittersweet though as it would be Prue Leith’s final season as a judge as she retired. I am looking forward to seeing Nigella Lawson on the show but she definitely has some big shoes to fill. 

Fall Is In The Air!

Fall officially arrived this evening at 8:04pm. Our Toastmasters theme this evening at Laurel Highlands Toastmasters was Fall is in the Air. I came up with the theme and the Word of the Day, which was Bountiful. Mother Nature got the memo for the Autumnal Equinox and blessed us with no humidity and highs in the 60s. Below normal temperatures after a muggy start to September? I’ll take it. 

It feels like the ‘Ber months have finally arrived. Are they here to stay? That remains to be seen. 

Indian Summer is the new fad that’s in, along with Pumpkin Spice and Gilmore Girls. OK, it’s not a fad, but now that Fall is here we may see some of that weather. An Indian summer is a period of abnormally warm, quiet, and hazy weather that occurs in late autumn, typically after an initial frost. Indian Summer usually occurs in October, November, or occasionally early December. This period requires a prior cooling period or killing frost, followed by clear skies, warm sunny days, cool nights, and characteristic atmospheric haze. 

Credit to Wikipedia and Farmer’s Almanac for this information. 

We’re cool this week but we will trend warmer as September comes to and end and October begins. I’ve seen 80s in October and while unseasonably warm, they don’t stick around. I remember Columbus Day weekend in 2007 when we climbed well into the 80s. It was a hot day at the Apple Festival in Delmont. Annabelle’s first birthday party in 2013 at Mammoth Park felt like Summer. 

Fall isn’t just colors and sweaters and long, brisk walks. It’s a transition period (like Spring). There’s going to be days when it’s 80 degrees and humid, but there’s also a chance you’ll see your first snow flurries. This is just October, mind you. November could bring us our first winter storm of the season but also a mild Thanksgiving. 

In closing, I think I finally have the rest of the week figured out. With a trip to Morgantown Saturday morning and gas being so high, I wanted to find ways to save on fuel. Before I go to Cutie’s tomorrow morning, I will do my morning walk close by, in my neighborhood. I’ll make sure I keep the umbrella handy. Then I’ll go to the gym Thursday since I’m meeting Mr. Clougherty. Friday may be a perfect day for an afternoon walk as we trend sunny and pleasant.

Counting Down to October!

We‘re in the closing days of summer, and the weather will be trending cool and damp this week. Even though we’re tired of the rain and it seems like a broken record at this point, there’s just something about Fall. Drinking coffee and watching the rain fall outside is just relaxing and therapeutic. It’s like watching the first snowflakes fall in November.

Fall begins Tuesday, and I’m counting down to October and my week off. From the looks of it, next month will be busy for both me and my family.

There is a lot on tap other than the usual coffee visits and football games I’ll be watching on TV. The Great British Bake-off will be in full swing and I’ll be enjoying it with my mom and sister. I’ll have something to share at the reunion with my cousin since she likes the show.

College football will be getting into conference play and those games are always fun to watch. Baseball will shift to the postseason and the road to the 2026 World Series. Fall is a good time to be a sports fan.

You can’t forget the changing colors when you’re out traveling through the Laurel Highlands. I don’t think I’ll see any next week on my trip to Ligonier however. I’m looking forward to a Stars Hollow themed drink very soon.

Cutie’s Coffee is celebrating its third birthday in October. The first Saturday of the month there will be a market in the morning. If I’m off Friday night I’ll come down early. Otherwise it can wait until I wake up as they’re open until 4. Later in the month, Caleese (in West Point) will have its first birthday.

BariSax turns 14 in October. Not sure when we’ll celebrate as our Columbus Day weekend is already busy. It may be the weekend after, which is around the time Cutie‘s has their Trunk or Treat event. We’ve graduated from the days of birthday parties at Twin Lakes and Mammoth. The Harry Potter themed party for her 11th birthday was pretty sweet though. A developing story and I’ll post when I know more.

Division Speech Contests will be running in October. Ours in Division F will be held on October 17 in Blairsville. That has become the central location for our division as U.S. 22 is a major route between Monroeville and the Allegheny Mountains. While it falls immediately after I get back from Cape May, more than likely I’ll be headed to Blairsville. Also it’s more than likely that I’ll put my hat in the ring to volunteer. The winners of the contest will represent the District at the first District 219 Fall Leadership Symposium. That will be November 13 and 14 in Boardman, Ohio.

My cousin‘s wedding is the weekend after I come back from vacation. It’ll be my first since going to Rob and Sara’s wedding in 2021. For our family, this will be the first since 2011.

My vacation starts the Friday before, and there is a lot entailed. I’ll go more into detail later this week as the countdown to 1000 is down to one hand.

We Closed the Pool!

Another summer has come and gone. It’s been in the plans for a couple of weeks now, and we’ve held out for as long as we can. After careful consideration, our pool is officially closed for the season. While we’re sad as it marks the end of summer, we’re also relieved that it’s finally done. 

It takes a lot of work to get the pool ready to close for the season, just as much as it does getting it ready in the latter part of Spring. We had to take the weather into consideration as the forecast had trended wet this week. A loophole was found as we had a dry evening on Tuesday. With that, we got everyone to pitch in and help close the pool. 

It takes a team effort when closing down the pool for the season. There’s the process of taking apart the filter. A couple of hands and we’re able to get the ladder out of the pool and get it drained. Then there’s getting the cover on the pool. It takes every hand to get it on there the right way. We need to secure the cover with rope so that it doesn’t blow off when we have high winds. Dad goes around the pool once that’s done to get the plastic around the pool. 

It’s not an easy task, and takes a lot of work, but it doesn’t take long if everyone helps. Think of the Entenmann’s donut boxes. A lot of work goes into making those boxes. You can’t be too hasty with getting the pool ready to close. A lot of work goes into maintaining it during the summer, and protecting it during the colder months.  

Has the summer of 2026 been a bust when it comes to swimming? No, even though I could have spent more time in the water than I did. I was doing well until the wildfire smoke came in and ruined our air quality (for a few days). After mid-July, I just couldn’t find the time to get in the water.  It’s not that I was wasting time, I just couldn’t find it. Also, I spent a good amount of time going to the gym (or walking outside). One thing I could have done to increase time in the water would have been to curtail the outdoor walks until the humidity died down. I won’t complain or grouse about it as I’d made up for it trying to stay physically fit in 2026. 

The pool’s closing is a sign that Fall is either here, or will be arriving soon.

The rain may be a broken record this year, but there’s something about a cool, damp Fall day that gets the blood flowing. It’s relaxing and therapeutic, like the first snow of the season (as long as it doesn’t wreak havoc). The rain is sticking around, but the humidity is leaving as next week is trending unsettled. We’re entering the pumpkin spice zone when it comes to weather. It’s the perfect opportunity for a hot Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

This morning I went to Caleese. On deck is Cutie’s for my first Pumpkin Spice of the year. Even though I’ve had Pumpkin Spice K-Cups, I’ve balanced that with Fall Blend and Butterscotch. I’ve had to adjust my schedule a little bit as I’m working Sunday. Originally that was going to be my Ligonier day. It means I can enjoy some of the Steelers game (or Eagles game on FOX). My trip to Little Stars Hollow will come at the end of the month. I’m leaning towards the Dragonfly Inn Mocha when I go to Abigail’s.

This morning, I got the Cookie Butter Crunch Latte at Caleese. I joined the loyalty program via text (I do the same with Cutie’s Coffee). While there, I read a chapter of my new romance novel. “Love Felt Like This” has become a New York Times bestseller and the author is traveling the country promoting her new read. I’m really starting to come into it and can’t wait to see where the book goes. 

Post-Caleese, I took a walk at Twin Lakes. Initially, I was there longer than I wanted to be but everything evened out in the end. With rain chances lining the extended forecast, you have to pick your battles. I made a quick stop at Barnes and Noble before heading home. I wanted to check out that new book on ER. It’s become my latest to show to watch. 

In other news, 20 days to vacation and the number is shrinking every day!