Well, it happened.  I know the person wasn't trying to be mean or anything, but it still stings -- and not so much for the 'obvious' reason.

I ran a few errands over lunch, including popping into Walgreens.  I didn't find what I went in for, but I did find some water paints on clearance, so I snagged them.  At checkout the older woman at the register said "buying these for your grandchildren?"

I did reply that they were for my 4 year old daughter, who will love them.  It is only a little that she thinks I look old enough to have grandkids -- because, let's be honest, I am, and my severe need to recolor my hair is the clear message here.  The real reason is that I hated it when I was a kid and people mistook my dad as my grandfather.  I distinctly remember one of the instances:  Wissinger's market out on 31st street.  I remember crying.  I don't know why it bothered me so, but it did.

The good news is Avery wasn't with me.  There's no telling if this would bother her as it did me, 

Two big things in my brain today... first is something that greatly troubles me and I gotta get it out so I can sleep tonight.

Today a presumption I made about what most Christians believe and hold true was shattered.  This is something that is black and white to me, a question of morals, and straight up addressed in the commandments.  It was classified as "too political" for an individual of faith, one in leadership, and they took the 15 foot pole approach.

I don't see it as political, but, let's presume it is -- fine.  Here's the deal:  Jesus got involved in politics.  Let's be honest... he was the ultimate victim of the political cancel culture of his day.  He certainly didn't just stay quiet and allow people to sit comfortably in sin.  I don't know about you, but I'm most ill at ease when things are pointed out to me that I am guilty of.

When I was a teenager I had a Sister (nun) teaching us as I wrapped up my years of catechism classes.  She told us :the stories in the bible aren't true, they're just stories meant to teach you a lesson" - and I'll never forget it, she fractured my faith and belief for years.  This interaction today made me think of that time, but I am definitely not allowing this response to break me - it does make me sad because it highlights how much luke warm water there is around me.  Aside:  I sincerely miss my church in Jtown.

Man is too easily misled and they lead other sheep astray.  Pray friends.  Get your relationship straight with God and ask Him to guide you and correct you.  When we start to say "surely God wouldn't judge me for this" or "I don't think He meant that" what we are doing is creating a god in our image.  Without admitting this error and repenting we earn our wages.

Pay on to Caesar friends what is his, and give God what is His (i.e., everything).

---------

The second is the realization that my ex is probably going to be patient zero for a covey variant.  He was notorious for not getting sick often, but when he did it was a doozy.  Let's say he caught something from me - he'd go down hard - he would then give me something different back.

Oktoberfest!  I love my town. Avery had a blast with two of her school buddies riding rides.  I did have a beer... and fries... and ice cream *ugh*

It's time to record a dream here... I'm not going to lie, I do think that we are seeing the start of the end, so perhaps me having this dream is no surprise.

I was outside, not at my house, not sure where I was - but it felt like it was somewhere here in town outside of someone I knew's place.  We started to notice a rainbow in the sky, then another and another - and we quickly realized the sky was full, just one beside another.  As we looked around we could see the ends of many rainbows converging up high in the sky and we turned our attention to where they met.

Shortly after doing so a bright yellow-white light appeared and quickly manifested into something falling to the ground (like a meteor).  Shocked we ran up the stairs of the house (it felt like the person I knew or was there at a party/celebration).  We got inside and I prayed - I was actually more joyous because I believed God was taking us soon than I was fearful of what I just saw.

It became a little overcast and gray.  I mentioned 3 days of darkness but I saw that cars and people were still moving so I suggested to who seemed to be a friend right there with me that we try to get to my place because I had food and water to get through that.  We headed to the parking lot where my car was and its like there were two bites/rips of metal taken from the front of the car and I knew it wasn't going to run, I didn't even try it.  The rest of the cars were gone from that area.  I was calling for my sister and from the tone and behavior of those asking why I was calling for her I knew that wasn't a safe place for me to be.  So I headed back inside and began locking the doors.

That's about where it ended and I woke up.

This long weekend was extra necessary after 3 days of Avery being home w/ the daycare closed due to another parent testing positive.  Today she returned, along w/ the dictator's rules to wear masks.  I hate this for her.

We did some more Halloween hunting and more decorating.  At this point I have lights up on the front/downstairs windows and a few more things "in place".  The cat was interested in the lights as they went up, so I am keeping fingers crossed he won't find them to be a toy overnight.

We also had a couple of gatherings this weekend.  The first was for a birthday party for Avery's bestie.  The second was for family.  My favorite egg's family gathered to meet his sister's fiance.  Unfortunately he couldn't come with, yup -- he was exposed last week too! -- but Avery and I had a nice time visiting.

I have to admit, I lost my sh*t a bit this morning on someone who didn't deserve it.  The dentist's office brings me anxiety to being with.  When they email and call incessantly to remind me of an appointment it agitates me.  You're in my calendar... I got it.  It's another one of those places that wants you to click links and to call back.  They also threaten to charge you if you don't cancel at least 48 hours in advance.  Why then are you calling me again TODAY, the day before my appointment saying I HAVE TO call you back by 12:30.  SERIOUSLY.  I called, pissed.  I'll be there - stop calling, stop emailing.  If I don't show, bill me your 'fee'.  I don't have time for it.  You shouldn't waste your staff's time making such calls either.

I mustered motivation and brought the Halloween decorations upstairs.  When I got up to start carrying things I thought it was just going to be a carry and done... but I got to work and put out a relatively large portion of items indoors.  It is spooky season, after all, right?  The good news is that despite the number of things I have already purchased this year, I still don't feel over run.

Wednesday morning I woke up to a text that daycare was closed.  Yup, another parent w/ a positive test.  Later that day the call came - daycare is closed for the rest of the week.  We're trying to make the best of it. Avery is old enough that she is almost thoroughly entranced with TV and her tablet if I allow it.  The only challenge is she wants someone to sit with her, so she was coming in to me or asking for my presence.

I reached out on the community FB page and had a teen come on Wednesday afternoon to sit with her and that made her happy.  I wish she had engaged and tried to get her to play etc, but, eh.  That was only an option because the local school district was closed due to the heavy rains and flooding on Wednesday.  Today we ran out for lunch together and picked up a grocery order midday before returning and her Dad coming to entertain her while I worked in the afternoon.  As such, I am not too far behind on hours for the week thus far.

Don't get me wrong, I have the vacation time to use if need be -- but I suspect we'll need it more in coming weeks, so I don't want to burn it if I don't have to. Yes, I think there will be another lockdown and closed schools/daycares.  The beatings will continue until morale improves.