closing the book on September

I’m back.

Contrary to rumors, I have not gone dark. I’m trying to resume good blogging habits, despite many interruptions, such as technology challenges, family responsibilities, and the distraction of other media (books, namely). Believe me when I say I have missed writing. But here we are at the end of the month, making amends and resolutions for a new month.

Some September highlights include the following:

~ school. This fall, both boys started a new school, Capitol Hill, joining many of their friends who were either already there or who also transferred. Simon is in the third grade. He is an eager, disciplined learner, keen to do his homework each night, which sort of knocks my socks off. Winston is in the first grade and lives in perpetual denial that he has any homework. So you can see, I have my work cut out for me. Both have a fair amount of homework, which we’re trying to juggle with two nights of soccer each week. We’re managing, but getting into a good groove has been a bit of a struggle.

~ soccer. Simon and Winston are both playing with the Blackhawks club this fall. Tuesday nights are development nights (an extra practice for Si) and Little Hawks (Win’s main program). Simon is super casual, strolling around the field, not exerting himself terribly hard. Winston is super competitive and never stops running during his hour-plus on the field. I watch contentedly from the sidelines—reading books and playing with my new toy and chatting with other parents—glad not to be the team manager.

~ iPhone. No longer able to resist the temptation, John and I bought matching iPhones. 3Gs. I have spent much of the past few weeks learning how to use the thing, setting up contacts and accounts, synching iPhoto and iTunes, and so on. It was pretty easy, especially after I upgraded my OS. A little extravagant, I know, but I couldn’t synch iTunes to my phone without downloading version 8, which my OS didn’t support. So I coughed up the money for Leopard, installed it, and synched iTunes. Shortly thereafter, I discovered I couldn’t open iPhoto or view any of my pics, the last three years of which I am storing on my laptop. So I shelled out for iLife. In a few months, I’ll have forgotten about the time and expense. For now, I love surfing the web or collecting e-mail when I’m away from my computer, as well as using Google Maps for directions. Next up: apps!

~ books. In September, I read a three books: The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Brian Selznick), The Man Who Ate the World (Jay Rayner), and Thirty-Three Teeth (Colin Cotterill). As my friend Caryl said, when she handed over her copy, “Hugo Cabret is a must-read,” and Caryl is rarely wrong about such things. I loved this middle-reader novel, heavily illustrated in Selznick’s amazing pencil sketches and set in Paris, and I look forward to reading it aloud to Simon and Winston. Also, Thirty-Three Teeth introduced me to a fantastic new character—Dr. Siri Paiboun, the reluctant national coroner. This novel is part of a character-driven series, set in Laos, following the Vietnam War. The non-taxing mystery reminded me of Alexander McCall Smith’s Precious Ramotswe series, but the exoticism of Asian culture and superstitions put in mind John Burdett’s Bangkok 8 (and subsequent books). Currently, I’m in the middle of three or four books, which isn’t unusual for me but it has been awhile since I’ve been able to split my attention in this way. My book group is meeting on October 9, so I’m motoring to finish The Annunciations of Hank Meyerson, Mama’s Boy and Scholar—a mouthful, I know, but I’ve really enjoyed this first novel. And, I know I’ll be talking about it quite a bit in the months to come. The author, who is local, is a friend of a friend, and the book is being published by a small press, which means that it won’t get a lot of attention, so word-of-mouth helps. I am happy to loan my copy to anyone interested. Simply put your request in comments or e-mail me.

~ bike. I put just shy of 95 miles on my bike this month, 61.5 of which happened in one day in Door County, Wisconsin. As the weather turns colder, I’m finding it altogether too easy not to hop on my bike. So I’m ordering a long-sleeve jersey and knickers, and I’m setting a goal for myself before I hang up my bike for the season. In October, I’d like to ride 200 miles, which, I figure, can be achieved by taking one 25–30-mile ride a week, supplemented by a few short trips to the Cathedral and back.

~ travels. In September, I made two quick weekend trips, exploring parts of the Midwest I’d not yet seen. Earlier in the month, John and I visited Door County, Wisconsin, which was beautiful and wooded, with Lake Michigan lapping the shore on one side of the peninsula and Green Bay on the other side. We traveled there in the splendid company of friends, Tom and Bonnie. Last weekend, I drove to Lake Pepin, a bulge in the Mississippi near Red Wing. My mother and sister accompanied me, ostensibly to help me celebrate my birthday. Again, the area was beautiful, all bluffs and trees and Old Man River. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Harbor View Café in Pepin, WI, which features local, seasonal fare, and we stayed at a comfortable B&B with an eco theme. Please, go stay at Journey Inn. It’s a great getaway, not far from the Twin Cities, and the owners were neat people. More on this later.

Bring on October, the very best month of the year!