November

Looking back past our Novembers.
2023. 2022.

Entry#321. 11/06/2024.    
I had a very bad experience from Roof/gutter cover installation by Lowe’s. As a result of wrong gutter cover installation, I had a leak problem and more. The repair process happened in the summer of 2023. Seehere the entry on 8/26/2023.  You can see a photo of rotten boards underneath the roof shingles which scared me tons. I was in horror at the sight of that rotten roof!! I was.  
After the repair, the next step was finding a new contractor for interior repair. It took a long time and I set aside the project for a year. I found him and his awesome crews at the end of spring 2024. They did a magical repair job quickly in July 2024. I was amazed and I was thankful for them.  
Then my turn. I needed to paint the wall by myself. Two coats of Primer paint. Then two coats of color paint.  
(First of all, I did remove old wallpaper which was over 40 years old. Somehow the wallpaper was peeled off with the drywall “skin” together. It was awful and stressful. I almost cried. A bad experience indeed.) 
My original plan was “finishing to paint after our son takes off to Montana”. I was supposed to have plenty of time to finish. However my life goes on with other daily routine endlessly. Time flew by quickly. Anyway I had to rush to finish up my painting project for 3-4 days after all. I tried to do my best. You know? I follow my husband to go handcycling/cycling during the day. That means I had to paint the wall midnight. Well I tried. I was relieved very much when it was all done.  
The funny part is that our son didn’t notice the very fresh painted wall at all when he got home from Montana. Not at all(!).  
I want to add this, too. The “sad” part is that I cannot show the fresh painted wall to my husband in person because it is upstairs (You know? He cannot climb stairs anymore in our house.) I was proud of myself very much, however I couldn’t show off my pride to my husband.  
Well, I felt good anyway looking at my accomplishment by myself.  
Home repair/upgrade: The one is down. Many more to go (I know, I know.) 

This (below) was in the wallpaper removal process.

Entry#320. 11/05/2024.  
Our son has finished his first experience of the seasonal job of Montana Conservation Corps https://www.mtcorps.org/

After my husband got injured in July 2021, and became a paraplegic, our son's presence at home (he decided staying home during his college times and commuted from home) was very helpful to both of us. Especially for myself. I had to manage a lot of heavy stuff around us. I had to learn many things about mechanical stuff including wheelchairs and handcycles. Our son's knowledge and muscles helped me a lot because I am small.  
We all were ready for our son's new chapter of his own life in the first week of August. He started driving from our town, Oxford, OH to Missoula, MO(!). It's about over 27 hours driving according to Googlemap.

Since it was a seasonal outdoor job in the forest, he drove back home after the great experience with nice crews. (Sounds like that so far. I still keep catching up with him and what he did and what happened there.)  During his work period, there was not much cell phone service and internet.  
On the way back home, he stopped by Devils tower and Mount Rushmore with his new friend from the work who is from Florida. He stopped by to see his Cross Country bond friend from his high school in Northfield, MN. During the Idaho/Montana time, he traveled to Seattle with his work friends as well.  
My husband and I have been enjoying listening to his stories very much. He will be home for a while until he sets up for the next seasonal job or a permanent job. For now, he needs some good rest and needs to restore his energy, I assume. I still need to learn more new stuff from our son, too. The World is big and I look forward to seeing our son's future life. 

Photos.  See? Devils tower and Mount Rushmore!

Photos.  Here. Before and After. (August and November)

And this is after "the fresh CUT"! in November.

Entry#319. 11/02/2024.  
Reserchers are fun to watch to me, all the time. Their eyes are shining brightly when they talk about their experiments and results and discuss about it. I cannot be in that discussion, but I always enjoy listening to their sounds. It was Grad students research forum at Miami University. One of my husband's student presented her poster. I was glad that I was able to visit there. Capturing moments of their discussion is precious. Don't you think so?