October is the month of birthdays in our family. We celebrate many relatives, cousins, and a niece who officially became a teenager as of Tuesday morning. For my Taylor Swift-loving niece, this week Annabelle is in her birthday era.
My Gilmore Girls book arrived in the mail on Tuesday. The show marked its 25th anniversary on Sunday and, even in 2025, remains a fan favorite. For most of us, the show (and The Office) got us through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The book was written by a literature and pop culture enthusiast. It will come with me on trips to Cutieās and maybe on Sunday when I go to the Gaffron Family picnic. This season, I am in my Stars Hollow Era!
āItās a lifestyle. Itās a religion!ā
We celebrated Annabelle Tuesday evening with a cookie cake and chocolate ice cream. She also opened a few presents from us. Her birthday has fallen on a busy weekend for us the last few years, as weāve held our Gaffron Family reunion too. In the past, Iāve gone to Fort Ligonier Days as well on that weekend. Weāve taken turns having the party at Twin Lakes and Mammoth Park. The most memorable party was a few years ago at Mammoth where the theme was Harry Potter. All the kids got to wear the iconic wizardās glasses. Coincidentally, a few of my gifts to her this year were some Haribo gummies shaped like characters from Hogwarts.
In the last few years, weāve graduated from the parks to other venues. Last year, her birthday party was at Brave with all her friends. Her cousins got introduced to karate while my cousins tried Cutieās Coffee for the first time.
Iāve had fun watching Annabelle grow up and excel in school. The pandemic meant she would have to learn from home like many other kids. Just like my Toastmasters meetings, she also had to be remote when she was learning. Sheās very active in the band, and we enjoy hearing her practice her (baritone) sax. Sheās passionate about dogs and loves being around her family and friends.
2025 has been the milestone year for me as well as some iconic TV shows. This Spring, The Office celebrated 20 years. I just finished The Paper on Peacock and it keeps up well with its sister show. A few weeks ago was 40 years since The Golden Girls made its debut on NBC. It amazes how that show is still relevant even with todayās millennial audience. Today marks 25 years since the first episode of another iconic show that Iāll be talking about in todayās blog.
In case you missed it, the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont hosted the author of āMeet Me at Lukeāsā, Kristine Eckart. Her book covers everything Gilmore Girls and includes other things related to the show. One of those being the Rory Gilmore reading list, as well as quotes from the iconic show that ran from 2000 to 2007. Give me a week or two and Iāll have my own review.
Last year, Cutieās Coffee had a Gilmore Girls themed coffee flight and they will be rolling it out again this November. Maybe I can do this with my cousin or someone else. This month, they brought back the Harry Potter Flight.
Yesterday, Cutieās celebrated its second birthday. What better way to celebrate one of Greensburgās best cafes than to have a market? In case youāre wondering, I wasn’t able to attend either event, but if I would Iād have a great time regardless of where I went.
The Gilmore Girls event had a raffle to win a swag bag. In addition to the vendor market, the Cutieās Coffee Celebration had free cupcakes and stickers. They also had goodie bags for the first 50 customers, a balloon backdrop, photo booth and more. I came in after the event and enjoyed a Cutie Carrot Cake Latte. My Cutie Coffee forecast is trending toward Pumpkin everything and Chai, including the Butterbeer Chai which Iāll enjoy next week during my vacation. Itāll be nice to stop in at 9 or 10am for coffee. Iāll bring Meet Me at Lukeās as well.
Now time to enjoy the first two episodes of Gilmore Girls!
Looking Ahead to Vacation
Vacation is less than a week away and the countdown is now on one hand. I have my itinerary all set from Toastmasters meetings to road trips and Cutie’s stops. Next Sunday is our Gaffron Family Reunion at Laurel Hill. The weather was perfect last year and we got to look at some old pictures thanks to our Gaffron Family from Guffey.
Last year I provided coffee from Dunkin’. Next Sunday, I will do the same. But, it will be in the form of K-Cups. Green Mountain, Donut Shop, and McCafe are on sale this week, so I will pick some up before I come home. My mother is bringing chicken tenders from Giant Eagle and making a vegetable casserole.
We all enjoyed ourselves last year and in the past years. I’ve come a long way since 2021 when I transitioned out of my old job and left the church. But I almost broke down last year because I felt overwhelmed and was hard on myself for the most pettiest things. So what is the key to having a great time on Sunday?
The solution is to move around and talk with everyone. It would have made my Christmas Eve experience a lot more worthwhile too. The weather looks great for Sunday so I will be spending time outside. Another suggestion will be to get plenty of pictures. I want to add pictures to the frame and collages to my stories this month. Third and last but not least, to relax and enjoy myself as it’s my week off.
One NFL team remains perfect; Penn State Falls
This weekend has been one of upsets in college football and blowouts in pro football. One team remains undefeated with the Eagles losing this afternoon at home to the Denver Broncos. Do the Bills stay undefeated tonight? If not, Miamiās undefeated season of 1972 still stands. Penn State goes from #2 to #7 to out of the Top 25. I get losing to Oregon in double overtime, but winless UCLA? Inexcusable! Their national title hopes may be shot, but hopefully this is the wake up call they need. But the question remains.
Is it time to move on from James Franklin in University Park?
Wednesday kicked off a new month (aka Pumpkin Fall) and being the first Wednesday meant it was a Toastmasters night in Greensburg. Overall, it was a good night. We had one speaker as our Ice Breaker speaker wasnāt able to make it. Our President taught us to turn our I Canāt into our I Can and how to trim our words to make our speeches (and for me, blogs) better. We saw the return of one of our members after some time away. She served as our Timer. We had our four in-person attendees (me included) and three online. The club success plan is in, so we can qualify for Distinguished. We just need to get guests in the door and develop them into members and continue giving speeches.
Speaking of that, Iām leaning towards a return to giving prepared speeches again in November.
Our Topics master was creative with her questions and the Wheel of Topics. My question had to do with apples and what to do with them. Of course, the number one answer to that question is to make an apple pie. It also led me to reminisce about the annual Apple festival in Delmont. Thatās actually coming up this weekend.
I went a few times in the late 2000ās when I worked at Kings and early on in my WIS career. The festival got a great turnout as it supported a local cause and also did good business for Kings that weekend. It was cool to see them making apple cider and looking at some of the farm machinery. My dad always enjoyed seeing the tractors at the old Harrold Fair ages ago.
It looks like perfect weather Saturday and Sunday if youāre headed out to Delmont for the festival.
Our next three meetings are October 15, November 5 and 19.
On Thursday, I finished the last two episodes of the Peacock series The Paper. Hereās my take on the show. I was skeptical at first that this could be anything like The Office. As the season went on, it got much better. You saw little comparisons to the iconic mockumentary here and there. Mare and Ned were my two favorite characters, Oscar was all right, and Esmeralda was an acquired taste. She was a bit over the top for me. As The Office put Scranton on the map, so will the Paper for Toledo. Fun fact: both cities are big Triple A baseball markets (like Allentown).
Whatās next on my viewing list? Iāll continue with the Great British Baking Show and have some Halloween movie nights watching Beetlejuice and Hocus Pocus. Maybe the Nightmare Before Christmas will be on my list too.
Thursday Night football continued to impress as the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams did battle. The Niners built a big two touchdown lead but the Rams kept it close in the second half and forced overtime. With most of San Franciscoās starters out, Kyle Shanahan worked with who he had available and thatās why his team is 4-1 and ahead in the NFC West. The division looks very competitive and right now, itās anyoneās race.
A quarter of the way into 2025, whoās the biggest surprise? Iād say itās both the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Tied at 3-1, both teams have been impressive in the early going. If Houston can get it together, this could be a three team race like 2023 was for the AFC South. The biggest disappointment so far has been in the North, as injuries have hindered Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Ravens D is struggling, and Cincinnatiās offense is lost without Joe Burrow. The division might just be Pittsburghās to lose, but theyāre an injury away too.Ā So far the teams to beat are Buffalo and Philly, but both teams need to work on their certain flaws. The biggest takeaway (no pun intended) is that Kansas City isn’t dead yet. I’d like to see Jacksonville challenge them Monday night.
Finally, another mild weekend is on tap as we toy with the 80’s on Saturday and Sunday. While we will have perfect weather for any fall festivals you may want to attend, the workweek is a different story. Rain is in the cards (which we need). Following that, it will feel more seasonal as we look ahead to the end of next week. I’m not sure what next weekend will be like, but so far it looks favorable.
Happy Spooky Season everyone! Welcome to Pumpkin Fall, even if the weather isnāt very Fall-like. As we turn the calendar to October, here are three things Iām looking forward to:
1) Iām excited to try some of the Fall Coffee choices at Cutieās Coffee. Coming up to bat is the Carrot Cake Latte which Iāve had my eye on since they previewed the new menu back in August. On deck are some of the other pumpkin options that Cutieās has to offer. The Pumpkin Cheesecake looks scrumptious, as does the Cutie Pumpkin and Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew. In the hole are the Chais. Iām getting serious Harry Potter and Hogwarts vibes seeing a pic of that Butterbeer Chai. OMG itās Pumpkin season, so why not try the Pumpkin Snuggle Chai as well?
2) Itās vacation time starting next Friday. My week off runs from October 12-18. Thereās a lot that I have planned but the three things that excite me about my week off include:
A) the Gaffron family reunion on October 12 at Laurel Hill. Iām still going to bring cookies but I might want to make something too.
B) One day during vacation, I want to go to either Downtown Pittsburgh or the Pittsburgh Zoo. If I go into the city, Iād love to visit the Andy Warhol museum.
C) Homecoming at Slippery Rock University. This trip is a special one for me as it marks 20 years since I graduated; thus, ending my college days. It would be my first real homecoming trip since 2017.
3) October 25 is the District 13 Fall Symposium. It will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Pittsburgh near the Airport. The keynote speaker will be Craig Valentine, and I am excited for all that this event and what is on the agenda.
The tools to having a great week off will be to:
Find a balance between family time and everything that I have planned. Maybe Mom, Annabelle, and I can do something on the days that sheās home from school.
Donāt eliminate it entirely, but cut down on social media use during this week. Itās a crazy time that we live in politically, and looking at any links related to that will just leave me feeling discouraged. Even if I agree with whatās posted, Iāll still get depressed.
Donāt overthink! I know, easier said than done, right?
Iām also hoping to get out to Ligonier at least once while Iām off and enjoy life. Meet Me at Lukeās is out Tuesday and I am excited to read it. In fact, the best place to take it may be a coffee shop or quaint little town (hint hint). As I read through the chapters, Iāll give my review of the book.
This month is a wrap on the 2025 Dinner Series with Mr. Clougherty as he and I have dinner at Primantiās close to home.
Itās Annabelleās birthday month as celebrates a big one this year. Just in time for vacation, itās contest time at WCCC as the divisionās best compete for a spot at the District 13 Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest.
Finally, whatās a vacation week without Toastmasters visits? Iāll be embarking on a road trip Tuesday night to attend a Johnstown Toastmasters meeting. Thereās a taco place on the way that I want to stop at. Plus, Iāll drive by the Hiram G. Andrews Center.
Online visits are also in the works with Cranberry High Noon and Country Roads meetings bookending the week. Of course, Iāll go to my home club on October 15.
Neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor backlash from others could stop Cutieās from holding their Bible Study. On Monday night, those of us loyal to the cause attended one final Bible Study for 2025. It wasnāt at our usual place, but the venue was familiar to me.
The lesson was on discernment and was led by Victoria and Trevor. We all gathered at the pavilion near the Skate Park at Twin Lakes to hear from Godās Word. The picnic tables donāt beat our chairs but it was still nice to come together.
If I said this venue was familiar, itās because weāve had a few of Annabelleās birthday parties here.
Discernment is the ability to make a smart judgment about something. In the Bible, discernment is the Spirit-empowered ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil, and right and wrong.
There was no music and no Cutie Cart, but someone did bring water.
The study ended around 7, and then we made plans for the winter months. The popular opinion centered around having a Bible study in-house or on Zoom, as well as doing Small Group study. A couple of people suggested a Cutieās Christmas Party. Sight and Sound Theatre even made it into the conversation.
Whatever the plans are for the upcoming holiday season and beyond should be exciting. Iāll stay posted on Instagram.
As planned, I made a visit to Cutieās this afternoon for my Cherry Pie Chai and it was good as advertised. Even with this Fall starting out mild, the coffee has still been good. Iāll be trying some more Pumpkin flavored drinks as we turn the calendar to October.
Early this morning, I listened to a podcast and the guest was Kristine Eckart. I dropped her name on the blog this week as her new Gilmore Girls-related book, āMeet Me at Lukeāsā will be released next Tuesday. The name of the podcast was called āWe Ship Itā. The We Ship It Podcast goes into detail about the most famous couples of lit and culture history. Judging by this podcast, the hosts were probably going to ship Luke and Lorelai. Also, who was the better boyfriend for Rory. If you ask me what team Iām on, itās going to be Team Jess.
In this instance, what does it mean to ship? In the context of relationships, to “ship” means to wish for or believe that two people or fictional characters would make a good romantic couple. This slang term, derived from the word “relationship,” is primarily used in fandom and online culture by fans to express their desire for a pairing, whether the pairing exists in the source material (canon) or is a creation of the fans (fanfiction).
On the podcast, Kristine talked about why Fall is such a romantic season. She also took part in a game of āWould You Everā involving famous literary and TV couples. Jim and Pam made it in to the podcast as did Chandler and Monica. She wasnāt afraid to show her excitement for the release of the book and even announced who will be narrating the audiobook release. Itās Keiko Agena, who played Roryās best friend Lane on the show. Kristine even talked about Harry Potter and what book or movie relates to Fall the most. That would be Prisoner of Azkaban. She also mentioned the Yule Ball from Goblet of Fire. Let’s be honest, we all know that Sorcererās Stone is an unofficial Christmas movie.
I don’t know if this guy is in the same category of pop culture aficionado, but on Instagram you have @retroblastfromthepast. This guy does videos that show what was on TV during a particular season and even on a day in history. He also tells you where the show placed in the ratings during that year. If you see his videos, please like, comment, and share them.
In other news, last week a couple of Toastmasters from the Johnstown chapter led a communications workshop for students in the Leadership program at the Hiram G. Andrews Center. Students from programs like Culinary Arts, Medical Office Technology, Networking, and Welding took part in it. Lots of fun exercises were featured in the workshop including impromptu exercises.
It warms my heart to see my old school get a mention whether itās in the news or on social media. Also, theyāre still making a difference in the lives of the students who attend. It has garnered a bad reputation for drama, but thatās everywhere.
Bible study is back Monday night, albeit in a new location. We are meeting at Twin Lakes and itās at the same place weāve had a few of Annabelleās birthday parties. While I wonāt be able to order cute coffee before my Bible Study, I may be down for some Chick Fil-A. I shall wait and see. Is this the last study for the year? Maybe. Not sure on that but at least we have a spot for tomorrow night.
After having read some not-so-kind words about my favorite coffee shop, I fought back on Facebook with kindness. I have nothing but praise for Cutieās and all the other local cafes including Nicoās. That one I have yet to go to but Mr. Clougherty says itās really good.
On Friday, I stopped in for a Caramel Apple Matcha Latte. Unsure whether to get it either hot or iced, since I drank my pumpkin spice latte hot, I picked the former. That was a good choice as I really tasted the apple and caramel. I didnāt make my usual Sunday trip because I was wrapped up in the NFL action. Iāll wrap up September with a Cherry Pie Chai Latte.
Recently, I discovered a page on Instagram promoting a new book about Gilmore Girls. The book is being released on the eve of the showās 25th anniversary. “Meet Me at Lukeās” is an illustrated guide to the show that chronicles the show over its seven year run. Gilmore Girls aired on the WB from 2000 to 2006. Its seventh and final season aired on the CW from 2006 to 2007.
For me, the show aired during the years when I was in college. I split time between attending Penn Highlands Community College in Johnstown and Slippery Rock University. I lived at the Hiram G. Andrews Center while attending community college.
The show became a favorite of my mom and then teenage sister. For me, I stuck my nose up at the series and preferred shows like Everybody Loves Raymond. I always envisioned a crossover where Marie and Frank would clash with the lavish Gilmore lifestyle.
But just before we went in lockdown in 2020, my opinion of the show changed.
I fell in love with the show the final weekend of the 2010s and got hooked. This show and The Office were a lot of peoples’ watchlists during the pandemic. Back to the book though.
“Meet Me at Lukeās has lots of insights, anecdotes, and lessons applicable to our own lives. Like the two books I own about The Office, this book sounds like itās a deep dive into the iconic show. I remember Michael York had appeared on the show during the fourth season. He was an English professor at Yale and had a brief romance with Paris. He had just starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember. The author puts a lot of work and passion into this project and from the looks of it, she is what they would refer to as a “superfan”.
What is the definition of a superfan? A superfan is someone who is extremely enthusiastic, dedicated, and devoted to a particular person, team, product, or hobby. They often go above and beyond to show their support of that entity.
Kristine Eckart is a writer, pop culture aficionado, and bibliophile. Her passion is to use literature to change lives. She is the person behind the new Gilmore Girls book that will be coming out October 7. You can follow her at her Instagram handle @gilmorebookclub or online at gilmorebookclub.com. Iāll close off the blog with this special event that I canāt be at, but throw it out for anyone whoās interested.
On October 4 at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in the beautiful town of Oakmont, there will be a Gilmore Girls themed event where you can meet the author. Trivia will start at 1:30pm followed by the book signing. I ordered my book and canāt wait to read it while I enjoy Fall coffee at Cutieās or sitting in the Diamond in beautiful Ligonier.
Our word of the day on Tuesday at Laurel Highlands Toastmasters was Courage. We needed that during the meeting as the technology was not being so reliable. But, those of us in person and online persevered through the mess and made it another enjoyable meeting.
We had three attending the meeting in person, while the others were online. A guest came on at the last meeting and we hope to see them at the next meeting on October 14. Also, we had an official visit from Autumn, our Area 23 Director. The room looked nicely decorated with plants, thanks to our amazing Sergeant at Arms. If we could get some furniture in there, the room would resemble a quaint little studio.
Thinking about the theme from last nightās meeting, Iām reminded of āYes We Can!ā, the quote made famous by our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. Though he did have critics in the opposing party and his own who sometimes made it impossible for the President to do his job. I also think about the theme in my lifeās journeys. Itās been easy for me to give up because of little or no support. But, Iāve also been my harshest critic as well. I must keep reminding myself, āYes. I can.ā Last night, when our wifi went down at the beginning of the meeting, our President had to make some moves to right the ship. Fortunately, our Area Director was still online and kept things cool. She also gave a good evaluation of the meeting. Props to Ryan for staying calm and to myself for staying at the lectern while online spoke or performed their roles. I was up there for a majority of the meeting.Ā
We might be looking into having one hybrid meeting and one online meeting every month, but nothing is certain yet. Time will tell and this may be up for discussion at our next officersā meeting. Dues are due September 30 and we have the minimum paid up, but itās still important to get everyone in the club paid unless they donāt renew. Some of us have paid for the year, others for six months. Iām in the latter. Our next three meetings are October 14 and 28, and November 11. I will be in Johnstown on the 14th visiting with their club as that will also be my vacation week.Ā
Watching Jeopardy! runs in the family. It was always a favorite of Gramma Hildeās (along with the Muppets), and I have many memories of being at her house on Friday nights. I always impressed her when I answered the question (or is it the other way around?) and she always had visions of me as a contestant on the show someday. Gram passed away in 2006 and with her passing went our love of Jeopardy!, as it was hard to enjoy the show that she had once loved. But our interest in the show has returned in the last few years.Ā
One of the contestants at the present time is someone right up Annabelleās alley. Heās a band director, and he played baritone sax in school. Thatās the instrument that Annabelle is playing in the middle school band at West Hempfield Middle School. Weāre cheering on Steven as he competes on the iconic quiz show. It always feels good to do stuff as a family, and watching Jeopardy! is one of those things.Ā
I was ready to watch the show on Peacock after I got back but was disappointed to learn the show wouldn’t be up on the streaming platform until 6am the next morning. Shoot, I even had a bowl of ginger snaps ready to eat while I watched. Ā
This week, weāre finally getting the rain that we so desperately needed. I was driving in it last night on my way back from Connellsville. A few heavy downpours greeted me as I made my way into Greensburg. More rain is on the way today but we have a nice weekend ahead. I wonder what the weather will be like in Dublin on Sunday.Ā
Finally, Pumpkin season is in full bloom. I have my coffee, tea, and cider options lined up. That, and I know what I want to try at Cutieās over the next few weeks. Carrot Cake Latte and Cherry Pie Chai, Iām coming for you! Iām looking forward to a Caramel Apple Pie coffee or a Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Latte at some point during Pumpkin Fall.Ā
Back in May, we were stuck in a damp, cool weather pattern. This coming on the heels of a warm, Motherās Day weekend when we opened the pool. I didnāt get in the pool until exactly a month later. Go figure with this Pennsylvania weather. The second half of the month was mostly cool and damp. It started to feel depressing and I wondered if we were going to have a chilly Summer. I also worried that I would have slipped into another depression with my summer vacation about a week away.
During the last week of the month, it was so chilly (I was on my way to Connellsville for a Toastmasters meeting one night), I could have seen snow flurries or rain mixing with snow and it wouldnāt have made a difference. Luckily we got out of that funk as we made it to summer. For the most, this summer has been hot and dry.
Fast forward to September. Weāve experienced a dry spell which has erased this surplus of rain that we had over Spring. As we welcome Fall on Monday afternoon, Iām looking forward to some soaking rain, as well as some cooler temperatures after the above average 80’s weāve had all week. Summerās last stand is about to come to an end. Funny how you tire of something only to want it again. We do need the rain to put a dent in the drought, nonetheless. Color is patchy but on some of the trees along Kerr Rd., it is starting to show. Iām hoping that the needed precipitation of the liquid variety will help keep the colors vibrant this Fall. But could it be too little too late?
Plenty of rain chances dominate the week ahead. As long as itās not disruptive, bring it on.
Last week, I was putting up HBC tags. As usual Wednesday night is when we put up new tags at the store because the new sales go into effect Thursday morning. Today is the last summer, and cold and flu season will be here before we know it.
Following my Hershey weekend when I saw the Trans Siberian Orchestra, I began to feel sick and that took up the first few days of my vacation. I spent Thanksgiving fighting a cold but still ate plenty of turkey and all the fixings. I worked five days from Tuesday through Saturday and had my defenses all ready to go. I took my NyQuil and DayQuil at the appropriate times. Given my schedule, I had to do the opposite but I figured it out. I drank my weight in fluids (green tea with lemon, orange juice) and took plenty of cough drops. Despite the coughing that lingered into the early stages of vacation, I still had a great week off and put a sizable dent in my Christmas shopping.
Cough and cold products will soon be a big seller as the seasons change. Drink plenty of fluids and keep plenty of tissues and hand sanitizer on hand. Also, get plenty of rest. It wasnāt easy for me, but I survived.
Last night, while scrolling through social media, I came upon a reel that turned out to be very relaxing. AmbianceHomeTV had an image up, and it was really therapeutic. Now itās best to use AI and Instagram wisely as not everything in my algorithm interests me. But this image and a few others that I looked at were just what I needed to forget the craziness going on in our world. The best image was the cafe window looking outside into a rainy town square. Donāt tell me this doesnāt remind you of Ligonier or another beautiful small town you might know of. AmbianceHomeTV also has a YouTube channel and this page is akin to the one on PlutoTV that plays Christmas music with a fireplace as the background.
Finally, I took advantage of my Sunday off by waking up and watching part of the Steelers game. At halftime, I changed course and took off for Cutieās for the first Pumpkin Spice Latte of 2025. The cups that Cutieās has for the Fall are so cute. So is the shirt that I wore today on my Cutieās Coffee adventure.
So how did my Pumpkin Spice Latte taste? Very good.
Despite the warm day that felt a little humid, I still ordered my drink hot because thatās how youāre supposed to drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte. But, to each their own. Later in the week, Iām going to try a Caramel Apple Matcha as Apple Fall comes to an end and Pumpkin Falls begins next week. There are plenty of other Pumpkin options to choose from as well. This includes the Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew and Pumpkin Cheesecake.
I began reading Matriarch this afternoon, having finished Barackās memoir the day before. I only got as far as the Prologue as this will be a weekend read until the end of October. But, itās looking like a good read so far. I was interested in the book after hearing one of Michelle Obamaās podcast (IMO with Michelle Obama) when she interviewed Tina Knowles. I ended up buying it during my week off when I shopped at South Hills Village. Iāll learn more about her life and family as I progress through the book. In the front of the book is a family tree and itās very extensive. I enjoyed seeing that.
Just a few more weeks until Meet Me at Lukeās is released!
Thursday night dinner finally happened! The third time was the charm as Mr. Clougherty and I rescheduled our dinner series twice. Once was due to swimming and the other was for Open House. I proposed we do it September 18 and he agreed to it. The timing couldnāt have been more perfect as the stars aligned.
We met at the Olive Garden, which would have been the August dinner. I did away with the Kings/Eatān Park meetup for the last Thursday this month and everything worked out. Iāve been here many times for birthdays over the last few years whether with family or with Kevin. My most memorable was my 40th when my fashionable sister treated me and gave me a cool gift bag with lots of things in it. Kevin and I both ordered the Create Your Own Pasta, with Angel Hair for me and Rigatoni for Kevin. I also ordered a cocktail, the Peach Bellini.
We met at 6 oāclock, this way I can allow him time to travel from his meet (in Connellsville). That worked out perfectly for us as I was able to take advantage of the nice weather and get a walk in at Twin Lakes. I did over two miles in just under and timed it perfectly. Iām trying to get walking routine down and so far, Iāve done good for myself. Iāll return to Hempfield Park tomorrow in terms of making it ten miles. I also count my steps at work when I sweep the floors, which Iāve done a few times this week.
Itās three weeks until vacation!
Itās a wrap for both books on the Obamas, as I finish āA Promised Landā this weekend. The third timeās the charm on reading this book cover to cover and, at just over 700 pages, this read was a massive undertaking. Itās very detailed and thorough and covers the early years of Obamaās life through his Senate years and ultimately, his first few years as President. Events highlighted include: the Great Recession, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, fighting for Universal Healthcare, and the Bin Laden raid. I would like to see another book that covers the subsequent years of his presidency, through his second term.
I still have both photo books to read through, and those should be finished by October. Obama: A Photographic Journey was a Christmas gift several years ago and I looked at it but like the memoir, never finished it. Iām now into his second term and should be done with that by the end of October. This book covers the eight years in the White House and also some pics before the Presidency. Pete Souza did an excellent job on the photography in this book and the writing is good too. I also just finished Michelleās memoir Becoming and it was good the second time around.
This Sunday Iāll begin Matriarch by Tina Knowles and this week continue with We Can Do Hard Things.
Itās the official end of Summer tomorrow and Fall begins Monday at 2:19 PM. Pumpkin Season can begin, even as if Iāve called this month Apple Fall. Itās time for my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the year (even though Iāve drank some Market District Pumpkin Caramel coffee already). Even with the last day of summer forecast to be warm and dry (83 degrees), Iām going to enjoy my Pumpkin Spice Latte hot.
Green Mountain and Donut Shop Coffee is on sale this week and Iād like to try some of their seasonal coffee. On my Cutieās Coffee rader in October, Iād love to try the Carrot Cake and Pumpkin Cheesecake Lattes, as well as the Cutie Pumpkin and Cherry Pie Chai. Maybe in a few weeks I can visit for their second birthday celebration in a few weeks.
Itās still warm through the early part of next week but, a pattern change is coming with much needed rain on the way, as well as more September-like weatherfully. Hopefully, this will put a dent in the rainfall deficit.
Stylish š 