1. The Costco Run

   November 7, 2026

   I missed the inaugural Costco Run with the family and I’m okay with that.

   

   But the ladies went to the brand new Costco in town on a Saturday afternoon after Halloween where all of a sudden it’s Christmas all the time now apparently and we have the pre-made gingerbread house to prove it.

   If you have ever gone to Costco, you know the rule: stick to the script.

   BW did not stick to the script.

   They went for an activity and to get butter and cream cheese and maybe some milk. Nowhere in the list was there any mention of tiny pannettone cakes for me, a toy to give for toys for tots. ¹ and some chocolate bark that is delicious and I have zero willpower it seems.

   All these things were not on the list, but part of the Costco experience..where you experience your money disappearing faster than you would like.

   The child found a friend to bring with her so they both entertain each other - but they hit the sample stands more than once and finally BW had to pull them away from the bacon samples.

   Speaking of bacon - it’s not a trip to Costco without the mandatory hot dog. While BW was ordering the tube steaks she sat down the kiddos beside an older gentleman and his son and when BW got back they were all chatting as if they were long lost friends.

   Tonight when getting the update from the Child she told me that she sat next to an older man while eating a hot dog.

   Her eyes then get as big as saucers and she tells me that

   he was 65.

   “THAT’s OLDER THAN YOU, DAD!! “

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

   ---

   1. this one is forgiven because we’re lucky enough to be able to do this again this year. You can too. ↩

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2. The Evening of Discontent

   November 6, 2026

   All our dependents were not on their best behavior tonight.

   

   It should have been easier. It was family fun night at the school after all. I even have photographic evidence.

   everybody smile and pretend we’re having a good time

   I blame tired and bored.

   First, the tired.##

   Whomever decided that a Friday night after a long week of school is a good idea to have a family fun night was not thinking this out thoroughly.

   She was tired from the get go and it showed. The draw was the pizza food truck - and the cannoli truck but I will get to that in a minute.

   BW and I were both starving == so our first thought was food. The child had other ideas so we ended up with dividing up and I was in charge of the food and they went to the book sale.

   When I found them and the child did not want to eat with us so she went and disappeared with friends and this left BW and I sitting at a little kiddie table in the hallway eating our pizzas together.

   “This counts as a date”, I told her as we were gnawing on our overpriced dinner from a truck ” I’m good for a while now”, I told her.

   The pizza date was highlight and it all went downhill from there. The child wasn’t misbehaved exacly, but overwhelmed with activity after a long week and so there were more no’s and whining coming out of her.

   We played a board game or two but none of our hearts were in it so after just one more lap to the gym to throw a ball around for a bit and a family portrait that shows we actually went, we got out of there.

   But first, the cannoli. We had to hit the cannoli truck. Okay, fine - but we’re having it when we’re home. It’s too cold to stand outside and eat a fancy donut and we have milk at home that goes with this.

   more whining happened.

   We got home, canoli eaten and tooth brushed, and then my little charge has had all the fun should could handle and she was finally out.

   Then, there’s the dog

   Winter - or at least cool weather is here. This means the dog is inside. This means the dog is bored and when the dog gets bored it eats stuff it should not eat.

   It follows you around looking for constant attention and if you don’t then it decides to go to the child’s bedroom and steal something she should not and eat it.

   Both BW and I have caught the dog with contraband that should not be in her digestive system.

   I am thankful for two things:

   1. The child doesn’t seem to care that the toys get eaten and at times go though the dog. Just don’t mess with her papers and cardboard boxes because she has plans for those.

   2. The child and I were talking about the dog and trips to the vet and how it’s amazing what the dog has eaten and still lived to tell the tale.

   Friday night:

   1. the house is a mess
   2. the child is tired and cranky
   3. the dog is still alive

   The good news out of all this is the date night I had with BW.

   It was Pizza in a school hallway but every night can’t be dinner on rooftops with candlelight - sometimes the best ones are with the ones with pumpkin artwork by second graders hanging in the hallway behind you while you share a cold pizza.

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

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3. The Doctor Visit

   November 5, 2026

   There’s a moment every once in a while you wish you could just trap and put in a bottle.

   this image will make sense later - stay with me.

   This was one of those times.

   She wanted to play doctor. Dad did not want to play Dr particularly, but here we are.

   First, out comes the first aid kit

   

   She then decides that my forearms are too hairy and gets out the forceps to “pluck my arms”, she tells me. I ask her if she thinks I am a chicken and....OW! STOP. That actually hurts.

   Okay, Fine.

   She then decides that I need some surgery to find my abs that have been buried by age and donuts.

   Out comes the big tools. This is going to be a big operation so she gets the tools needed.

   1. A funnel - for funneling out the donuts maybe?
   2. A light-up plastic skipping rope - for the light therapy
   3. Bandages - we’re gonna need bandages
   4. A needle - to put me out of my misery.

   

   I do not think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. It was hilarious. She had the one end of the skipping rope tucked under my shirt (the photo above) and the other end going into the funnel.

   I was going to ask where exactly the funnel was going to go but then she got the needle and knocked me out.

   I woke up with pretty orange bandages on my stomach and the aching of my abs from laughing so hard.

   Laughter is the best medicine and tonight was the dose I needed.

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co

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4. Missed Connections

   November 4, 2026

   We missed the School Bus for the first time today.

   

   We were outside, waiting and waiting and waiting…and then we saw it go by down the other street and it’s then we realized our mistake:

   The bus was not late. WE WERE

   You should have seen the look of worry on her face.

   You see, I told her that if she misses the bus that she has to have 3 NO FUN DAYS.

   But I didn’t hold her to it for a few reasons:

   1. I’m a pushover.
   2. eh, whatever.

   The reason for this tardiness was due to the fashion choices in the bedroom. It was unseasonably hot here for November so she went in shorts and she was having trouble finding the right top top match.

   So. We missed the bus because she couldn’t decide what to wear. I’m not sure how she became so grownup all of a sudden but here we are I guess - the age where sartorial choices are the top priority over being late for school.

   Because darling, it’s not how you feel – It’s how you look.

   Say hello to the 2026 School Photo.

   Notice the nice dress she wore. This is important now.

   

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

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5. The Vote.

   November 3, 2026

   Why do we need to vote?

   

   Oof. tough question for Dad.

   Because we each get to decide who gets to be the one that makes the decisions for the country for the next few years.

   That’s the simple version.

   I explained the Halloween treat she picked. She picked candy over chocolate because she feels that candy is the better value for sugar delivery. But, her friend across the street might want chocolate as they feel it’s better.

   So, you vote for the candy and she votes for chocolate and at the end of the day the votes are counted.

   Maybe chocolate wins, or maybe it’s candy - but we all had a chance to vote for our favorite.

   Me? I voted for a better future for her because that’s all that really matters.

   Until Next time,

   TH and Co.

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