Work has been kicking my ass lately. We took on a huge new client with high expectations and seemingly low tolerance for silliness. Plus the boss has been out for a week, and I've been the unfortunate soul named on her Out of Office email bounce.

Bleah.

But, it's nearly November. The braces are almost off, although still cranked down tightly in hopes of having them done by Christmas. Cousins are marrying. Friends are moving their bars into new, larger digs. Puppies are onery.

And there will be Irish dancing, hurling, and beers in the park this weekend. Annual Irish Festival. I think I may buy a kilt. Or at least the family tartan.

That is all.

We bundled the puppies into the truck this morning and took them to the park for a walk around the pond. It was wonderfully cool this morning, below 70 degrees. Finally summer is over.

The braces haven't been all that bad. I'm on the home stretch now, and Doc says I might have them off by Christmas.

But today he seems to have cranked everything up to 10. My entire mouth is sore and I can barely eat. First time in almost a year that I've really been in pain.

This too shall pass. I hope things keep moving along so I can have them off by my birthday. I have a few things I'd like to do when we visit San Francisco again....