A change in the winds: Seeing old friends, getting new schedules, feeling cooler climates

October has brought so many good things to Jay and I. 

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We've been lucky enough to be able to have visits with friends last weekend AND this weekend coming up. And we'll have family coming in just a few weeks after that. We're far from home, and though we've started to make new connections here, there's nothing like seeing the people who know you the best. 

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The heat is finally breaking. We've finally reached the tipping point here in central Florida where I am able to wear jeans and long sleeves in the evening. I'm even able to get through most of the day in my office without turning on the air conditioner.

Even though we went through fall last year, I guess it's because this was our first full summer that it seems like we waited even longer for the cool temperatures to arrive. I have to admit I'm kind of jealous of the kids who will be coming around later this week for trick-or-treating. They'll be able to wear their costumes just as they are. For many years at home in New Jersey, we had to either wear bulky layers UNDER our outfits, or put an coat on OVER our costumes. Alternately, we'd bring our coat, but then not wear it, and freeze. Not great options, any of them, really. 

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One of the best bits of news we got over the summer was that Jay would start getting Sundays and Mondays off, so that we'd have a weekend day together. This was the first weekend we had it and it was so nice to have a full day off with Jay - I got to go to a fundraising event at the Jazzercise studio in the afternoon and then we still had plenty of time to do something together that night.

Shimmy and Shake party at Jazzercize Mills 50 Orlando

We were going to go play video games at DisneyQuest, but we decided it was just too beautiful to stay trapped inside, so we headed to to EPCOT for the Food and Wine Festival - and it was, to our delight, pretty empty. We had been to one side several weeks ago, but not to the other, and we're going with some other friends later this weekend, but you can just never get to everything.

Illuminations finale from the bridge near the U.K.

It was just nice to be together. We even stayed to see Illuminations: Reflections of Earth..

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We're so looking forward to more fun in coming weeks - we've got tickets to some great events, and the holidays will soon be here.