October seemed really busy. It actually started with September and my annual trip to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. I met up with Shannon and Clare, and we saw a few musical acts as well as the human chess game. It was really packed, though. I heard that they were within a few people of needing to close the festival for the day. It's really not that much fun when it's so full, but we still managed to do the things we wanted to do. We did see the Medieval Babes, among others:
 |
| The Medieval Babes - always worth hearing |
General Conference was the next weekend, and then I took the first of two trips into DC. This first one was to see Elizabeth Smart - you remember the girl that was kidnapped from her home when she was 14 and then returned 9 months later. She wrote her side of the story, "Her Story", and was doing the book tour thing. My friend Ashley and I got to meet her!
 |
| Me, Elizabeth, and Ashley |
She is just the sweetest thing. You would never know such a horrid thing had happened to her. She's just so bright and cheerful, like a ball of sunshine. She has a perfectly normal life now, but has become an advocate for children who are abused. Given her experience, she is a great advocate.
The next trip to DC involved my friend Lauren and a chance to see 2CELLOS. They were absolutely awesome. They are as their name implies, 2 cellos. There was a drummer at one point, but for the most part it was just these two guys:
 |
| 2CELLOS |
Sorry the picture isn't better, my iPhone does ok most of the time but still needs a 'dark room' setting. Their opening act was pretty good too, though I can't remember their name (oops). We decided not to stay for autographs - the line got really long really fast. I have one of their albums, but should really get more.
 |
| Ani wasn't pleased I stopped petting him to take his picture |
My kitties are doing pretty well too. Ani is getting bolder every day. Sometimes he will even sit by me! Usually he just climbs all over me and tries to eat whatever book I'm reading, though. He does come upstairs - he will try to sneak all the way up into my bedroom, which Kitty really hates.
 |
| Kitty face |
Kitty is her usual ornery self. She was preventing me using my laptop this particular day, so I took her picture. She's getting better at not attacking me, though. Last night she was really sweet. I woke up, cuddled with my pillow, and she had curled up by my head with her paws in my hair. It was really sweet.
 |
| All curled up for bedtime |
Since it's been getting colder, I got a blanket down from my closet, and several other blankets and sheets fell to the floor. I was too lazy to pick them up (it was well after midnight that night), and Kitty quickly adopted them as her her bed. Yup, it's still there, about a week later. I haven't had the heart to pick it up just yet.
Last but not least was Halloween. I spent a lot of time making a costume for my friend's daughter. but I did manage to pull this together. I'm a Lady Dwarf. Still haven't worked out the persona or name yet, though I did get some suggestions from Facebook.
 |
| Lady Dwarf - and yes I styled the beard myself |
I took the Sister Missionaries to the Ward Trunk-or-Treat. They love,
love, LOVE my costume!
 |
| Me with two of our Sister Missionaries (there are three of them) |
 |
| Me with our third Sister Missionary |
Apologies for the sideways pictures, not sure how that happened :(
So that was my month. November, well, I'm going to NYC this weekend, so I'll have to get back to you on that!
