I love the sound of the geese in October and November. Because all our kids have been born in October and November the sound of their squawking and the sight of them flying above will always have a fond place in my heart. I will always associate them with new life.

Sitting outside on the front porch drinking coffee. The baby is in bed, one sick kid is in bed, a kid who used to be sick but is now feeling better is being read to and I am re-energizing in the cool October air.

Fall reading for you

I’m used to driving on these kinds of roads and so now traffic is deeply annoying to me.

My wife got these little lamps for the kids beds because they kept losing their flashlights at night - where do all the lost flashlights go by the way? - and they are honestly kind of sweet. Never had these things when we were kids. It's futuristic now.

Life is busy. Good busy, but busy. It seems like I am traveling for work every single week. It's great work, the best work, but busy. There's a lot going on, a lot to manage, just so many plates in the air with so many exciting things in life - business ventures, creating art, raising kids and getting ready for another one. Every Friday afternoon feels like a race to the very end, the last minute before sunset, and then silence. We keep shabbat in the traditional way in our house which means we don't drive, spend money, or use our phones, tvs, internet etc... It's very important for our family. Our whole week revolves around it really. It's the arrival point at the end, that which everything is kind of gravitating toward and that which cannot ever be postponed or rescheduled. It's an island in time and one where we are just a family and only a family for 24 hours once every 7 days. I've said it before, and I will say it again - doing it keeps me (someone who is online all the time) sane. Sometimes it's really hard to pause work, sometimes I don't get everything done and I feel a real bad itch and it's hard to not scratch it. It's also hard to say "no" to people or events which happen on Saturday (which happens a lot) even if we really want to go. But that's how it is and it's important and the rewards far outweigh anything else. I post about this somewhat regularly because it's really such a huge part of our life - taking that one day a week off. It's almost radical in the age of the smartphone. Nevertheless, this week was a busy week. This morning my son and I were in the eastern U.P. right near Canada, but now we are home and the sun is getting lower. My wife baked challah like she does every week, baked pumpkin muffins, a whole chicken, quiche for tomorrow morning, and tuna salad for lunch after. And now, it's time for us to sign off. Have a wonderful weekend, and shabbat shalom.