It’s hard to believe September is almost over! Mostly because we have spent the month roasting in high 90’s temperatures here, and even today we are expected to see 90 degrees. So it still feels like summer, even as the fall workload takes over.

I have been working hard. Lots of students (45 counting my college students) and lots of gigs. Mostly it’s been weddings and some I’ve had to organize, so lots of putting music together in digital setlists and lots of communication. Coming up there’s Bach Society and a musical (Death Becomes Her) so I’m trying to get prepared for that. I’ve also been hitting the gym two to three times a week, and doing a weekly stretch session, which has been super helpful.

But we’ve been having fun as well, though a bit too aggressively at times: it’s easy to get to the end of the day and wish you could just stay home and relax instead of going to the play you bought tickets for! But that’s how I like to make a full life, by filling it, ha!

As usual I hit a low point on the Katy Trail. I never tire of making sure to pose for this picture.

We went to Black Mountain STL for dinner one night and it turned out to be a “pop-up” night there, so we enjoyed “Nugs and Bubs” instead. Then we went next door to see “The Mercy Seat” with St Louis Actors Studio at the Gaslight Theater.

Another night we saw “Come From Away” at Stages and then got a late dinner at Katie’s Pizza.

And another night I met a friend to see “Little Women” at the St Louis Rep.

The cats are worn out just thinking about it!

Then Louie and I got dressed up and hit our neighborhood’s Oktoberfest Party. In September, don’t judge. His outfit is from my dad, circa 1973 and my outfit is from online, circa 2026. We made a good pair, I think. Perhaps we also have our Halloween costumes already, as we may need to dress up for a party this year.

Louie is also wearing the Oktoberfest T-shirt from the previous year, though the straps cover up a graphic of a squirrel wearing Lederhosen. We didn’t do T-shirts this year. Anyway, the party was great fun: we talked with a bunch of people, ate pretzels and bratwurst, and drank beer from a keg, which is always a good time. I made an Apple Kuchen, though I had some trouble with the recipe: first I couldn’t find the one I’d made before, then thought I did, and realized it was a completely messed up recipe, probably somehow made by AI (I’m being absolutely serious, there is no way anyone submitted that recipe as it was a hot mess and didn’t work) and ultimately I had to start all over using the recipe…from my blog. Oops. I was too tired really and tried to do too much that week and rushed it. A lesson was learned, and all the kuchen got eaten anyway!

This weekend we are going to a symphony concert and hoping to get a hike in, weather permitting. October will fly by because there is a ton happening: regular work, a show at the Fox for two weeks, Louie’s birthday, and of course, Halloween. Let’s hope we get to at least enjoy some lovely fall weather before the ice and cold comes to get us!