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Another post started with so... not too much to say, but time is passing. here is a note of what's been going on!

1. Congratulations Batman! Lots of adjusting to do, but can I say I am so pleased for you AND I feel very happy to know the name of baby J. I was waiting so patiently after all... ;-) heh.

2. Fall is here and I am SO HAPPY. The mountains look like they have permanent sunrise colours and the trees are beautiful. Mornings are crisp and the morning there was a stunning mist pulling off the river, all the way up the mountains...it felt magical on the drive in to work.

3. Due to #2, I am happy I bought a crock pot (on sale, natch) and am looking forward to stews and winter foods. I'm getting potatoes, beets, kale and carrots out for the garden. Digging up potatoes is the most awesome and rewarding thing over, and I can't believe this is the first time I've done it.

4. Since my parents (yay!) and my sister (yay!) are coming up, we have finally gotten the back bedroom set up with a real bed, with an electric mattress cover, which will be heaven as the winter creeps in. This also means that any visitors will have a lovely room to retreat to AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER COMING UP. Yes, even in the winter. I'll take you to a dogsled race and we'll go for a winter steam in the hot springs with the locals, k? And I'll make you stew. You'll get vacation street cred too, just sayin'.

5. I bought myself the cookbook "How to Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman. So far, it looks amazing, but did not contain the first recipe I looked for (shepherd's pie..which possibly doesn't have a recipe because it's very very easy). I don't care the rest of the book looks awesome, with variations and everything.

6. I went on a mini iTunes bender. Thanks for your suggestions! I didn't follow them (yet..I will next, promise). I bought the new Imogen Heap album (extended to get the instrumentals too). In our house, Imogen Heap and Frou Frou's stuff has imprinted on us as fall/winter music and it really put us in the mood for the season to have her back on rotation. I also got the new Amy Millan, mellow and awesome, also winter music. Finally, I got the Regina Spektor album. Love her, check out Eet, my favourite track so far...for some reason there's 3 or 4 versions of her album Far listed..the $8 is totally fine and I don't know how it's different from the $11 one, so whatever.

7. Hey, if you go to Patrick Watson's page on the iTunes store and click on his album, there's 2 free tracks listed! I don't know why, but they are great tracks and I want you to have them! I feel like if you troll around iTunes, you can get free music. For example, were you aware that iTunes canada has a free french language track each week too? Buried at the bottom of the home page, and sometimes late, but three times it's been a real keeper. Next is to get individual tracks with my remaining credit based on all your suggestions. If you find free tracks on iTunes as you move around, tell me please!

8. Fall pictures next time. I'm thinking I should start up a picasa page and have pictures not just on my mac..I would choke if I lost them all. Perhaps time to get an external hard drive. hmm.

9. Life's good! R starts teaching pre-school today and is signed up to complete an early childhood education level 1 this month, so he's jazzed about that. He bought an old man puppet named pops to help him and he'll be a fun addition.

10. I've been officially made permanent at my job, which feels nice and grown up and secure. Can't wait to complete probation and get my frikking benefits. Also, it's annoying to have to apply for vacation time. Worth it though ;-)

11. Pictures next time!