Tintin comic incoming:

The panel from a Tintin comic in which Captain Haddock, looking frazzled, says 'What a week, huh?' to which Tintin replies, 'Captain, it's Wednesday.' Snowy also looks very excited about the unregarded beer in front of him. Tintin is likely to have a very drunk dog in a few panels.

I have promised to update throughout the month about my goals. There have been some wins and some losses.

Starting with the losses, I didn't have the courage to talk to the homeless men at the park, and I haven't seen them since. Talking to strangers is really hard at any time, but I'm praying the words and actions that make them feel seen and respected and heard come to me soon.

I also have completely failed to call the retirement center back. I sent them an email and was hoping that emails would be the main form of communication, but alas, they want to talk on the phone. Millenial that I am, this sounds like one of the deeper circles of hell to me, but that's why this was an out-of-my-comfort-zone goal.

Progress items include having found my fabric stash and a pattern that I can make mittens out of. Also I had coffee with a friend this morning whom I've been meaning to reach out to forever and finally did. I also invited her and her family over for dinner next week.

We saved $50 (!!!) off our grocery bill last week by not needed many pantry staples and by me choosing to make a lot more things at home (bread, snacks, crackers, etc). I was able to give that money to the food bank today. It is very encouraging to see that while the need is probably greater than we can sustainably meet, for the moment people are really stepping up and there are a lot of opportunities and a lot of people providing food and money to those in need.

There is a couple in my community that seems to do everything for the community. Everybody knows these two and they run lots of programs and events. They are huge servants of the community and I admire them immensely. This week I was able to step in and sub for one of her music classes while she was out of town on a much-deserved vacation, and that was a win for both of us. My rusty conducting skills got exercise and she got a real break (we told her she was not allowed to take her computer).

So there it is, the first(ish) week of no-chill November. In other news, I've been working on a musical setting of Cædmon's Hymn that I am really enjoying, and I'm still working away on that transcription but very, very slowly. And that's the news!x