Started Typing: 10:34 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:53 AM ET
It’s 51°F now, but was only 41 when I woke up…that’s downright chilly! Not having to take a dog out first thing (and several more times) every day is still bittersweet, but I think by the time it’s properly winter I’ll be able to properly appreciate it. 
It’s a bit cloudy, but there’s enough sun that I don’t have to turn on any interior lights and I can appreciate the fall foliage that’s visible from inside (there are lots of big trees in my yard/neighborhood). The leaves around here hit peak color about a week ago; I always enjoy the show. If I ever move someplace where the leaves don’t change I know I’ll miss it.
WifeBFF wound up cancelling dinner yesterday. Honestly, I’m not surprised: she’s ecstatic about being done with dialysis and she is starting to feel better, but she’s still recovering from the month-long ordeal and is bound to still have some bad days. We’ll see how she feels in another week.
So, yesterday was full of TV and Lego and sloth. 
On a whim, I ordered a pizza for dinner; I’ll have a couple slices for lunch today. Today will be much like yesterday, except I’ll do laundry at some point. It’s going to be another long/busy week, so I’m definitely appreciating this quiet weekend.
It’s hard to believe that election day (note: I’m only talking about my county) is next week already! This Wednesday I’ll leave work early and go to the county government center for 2 hours of refresher election officer training. I don’t really need it, and the last election I worked was only five months ago, but I always figure it can’t hurt – though if there are any fires at work that day I won’t mind if I have to cancel. Then I’ll help set up the polling place on the evening of the 3rd, as I always do, and the 4th will be the Super Long Day. I’ll be a provisional specialist again (assisting voters who need to cast provisional ballots, including same-day registrants): I enjoy it, because I like interacting with voters. I especially love helping first-time voters, be they teens or new citizens.
Normally I’d work from home the day after the election, because I’ll be fine in the morning but the 16-hour day will start hitting me at around 3pm, but my program is holding an all-day “tech expo” on the 5th and a new tool that I’m spearheading will be an exhibit. Two of my direct reports will help staff the table, but I definitely need to be in the building all day. I’ll work from home on the 6th and 7th, though (and the night of the 7th is when I’ll drive up to NJ).
Heh! Nah. 
I’ve certainly seen The Goonies, but it doesn’t mean much to me. If I were inclined to get a pirate ship it would be the Black Pearl.
I think my next new set will be the tropical aquarium: I’m not really a fish person, but this looks awesome!
That is so cool! 
(Both the gesture and the critter!)
I usually shop in person but sometimes get groceries delivered from Wegman’s, and if I need bananas in a delivery I let the InstaCart shopper pick them. Their produce tends to be better than Giant’s or Safeway’s. I have a note in InstaCart asking for the bananas to be as yellow as possible but stating that some green is OK, and that I’ll understand if they have to be mostly green. I’ve had good luck with that so far. (
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Ugh…feel better soon! 