Fall

Tonight we got a lot of the living room tree done - almost there!  We'll share pictures when it's all said and done.  While that was going on, Maddie and Mom were also watching the Dolly Christmas movies - "Coat of Many Colors" and "Christmas of Many Colors" as well.  We'll get to "Smoky Mountain Christmas" a little later in the series.  Maddie was doing a puzzle while watching too - we brought up a 1,000-piece puzzle that's a picture of the Hong Kong Disney castle.  It's a super nice puzzle - we have a few 1,000-piece puzzles that we haven't done yet, so I imagine this might be an ongoing hobby for Maddie here.  

Oh, and speaking of Maddie, she got to go back to Farmhouse Coffee, one of her favorite destinations.  The college treated everyone to some coffee, and that was a real treat.  She actually didn't finish her beverage, so I got to try some of that too.  It was a better day today - the colors outside are some of the most vibrant I think I've ever seen.  These leaves are brilliant in their yellows, oranges and reds - just so spectacular.  I can only imagine what it is like further north in the mountains.  It was an amazing drive home a few weeks ago.  This has been a legendary season.

Mom made some tikka masala for dinner, an old favorite that we haven't had in a while.  That was really awesome.  We were getting some things done at work, pretty much wrapping up the Christmas booklet, and then actually doing a bit of work towards Summer Xtreme 2026 too.  Yes, I said Summer Xtreme 2026.  Wild!  

I'm moving forward on the Thanksgiving virtual  path, and that's been fun, writing things I'm thankful for along the way each day.  It's a great season of thanks.  I was finishing up "Batman Returns" while marching along.  It's technically a Christmas movie, right?  I'm remembering now - even though I haven't seen it in a while - how obsessed I was with this movie for a season.  That's when it first came out, a lifetime ago.  I still have all the McDonald's plastic cups for "Batman Returns," the whole collection.  

In retrospect, it's now more difficult for me to pick between "Batman" and "Batman Returns" as to which s my favorite.  At one point, it was decisively "Batman Returns."  Max Shreck is a great character from Christopher Walken, and that opening shot of a brooding Bruce Wayne in his darkened manor is pretty atmospheric.  Catwoman nearly steals the show, and that whole Maxquerade Ball is so iconic and well done.  The style of these movies is amazing.  It's hard to believe it's been so long.

Anyway, better day.  Still recovering quite a bit.  Not well in so many ways.  Got to keep getting up and keep trying.  Tonight we read a bit more from "Jingo," discovering who it is that wants to have a war, and who doesn't of course.  Also, we said our quick prayer after that, bringing the whole Plush Entourage down the hall to get tucked in and ready for sleep.  Earlier day tomorrow!