Lesson 381: Rocktober

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Eloise pulled out the skull cap tonight.



The leaves have changed here in northwestern PA.



It's October.



We're only two days in,
and it's already been a rocking good time.
I've renamed the month Rocktober.

My hometown high school celebrated its Homecoming tonight.
This was a very popular photo of the west end of the home bleachers
from last week's game.
It got lots of likes!

This week
I shot the east end where all the cool kids sit--
the band.

Cool teachers, too, apparently.

You know where the best seats in the house are,

don't you, Mr. Humes?

The Homecoming King and Queen were crowned.

And afterwards, instead of fireworks,

t-shirts were shot off from the t-shirt cannon.

Rocktober!

The Robotics team is as cool as the band.

Someone is going to make your bionic eye someday.

The class of 2019's doughnut stand was a Rocktober success.

George and Jane called Elroy Jetson home for dinner and he missed the photo.

2019??
Really???

Sam got his face painted,

and the home team got a victory.

Life is good.

The most Roctober thing I discovered so far was this fantastic idea,

sported by fellow Mom-Fan-Shutterbug WChwatty.

It's called a Smoozi!

And Eloise NEEDS one!

Natalie and her date Ryan had a Roctober good time at Seneca's Homecoming last week.

And they didn't care in the least that it was still September.

Sam Rocktobered it at the end of September, too, with his first win last week.

 

I'd typically celebrate all of this Rocktober fun with a pumpkin cookie or two,

but those are no-no's now that I'm a participant in Dr. Krauza's 58 Day Challenge.

This will be the fourth fall in a row that I have participated in a Wellness Challenge.

It is the single best thing to keep you on track during apple pie

and pumpkin spiced latte season.

The challenge ends the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

The challenge suggests refraining from sugar, wheat products, and dairy,

but encourages whole foods eating which encompasses a wide array of foods.

When searching for an after school snack today,

I checked out the label of the Gibble's Potato Chip bag.

During the 58 Day challenge, you learn to read labels

if you do turn to processed and packaged foods.

I thought I was within the guidelines for this one,

until I got to the prime lard.

Not so friendly on the hips, I suppose.

I'll rock off a couple of chips at my outdoor workouts.

Keeping up with them four years strong!

Come join in on the Rocktober fun!

My motivation for following the 58 Day Challenge this year

is all due to my nephew.

I'm learning to eat like Jack eats,

and all other people who suffer with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is truly a pain in the gut.

The disease has become branded and claimed its colors of blue and orange.

A walk to benefit research efforts was held on Erie's Presque Isle last weekend.

Even Superman showed up

(with is camera!).

Aunt Eloise purchased three cookbooks and I've been making messes in the kitchen ever since.

I've read accounts of natural diets,

full of whole foods, 

and free of chemicals and inflammatory foods

can throw the disease into remission.

Knowing this,

it seemed strange that the walk organizers would pass out Cheetos

for finishers.

To me, Cheetos look like inflamed intestines.

Eloise ain't ever been to medical school,

but common sense tells me to stay away from these kinds of foods

even if they do match the disease's claimed colors.

When I find some good recipes over the next 58 Days,

I'll post them on this blog for you all to try.

Mystery of the past few weeks solved!

My good Biolage shampoo and conditioner had been disappearing at an alarming rate.

That stuff is expensive and we've been blaming poor Natalie for using too much of it.

I happened to peek in the tub the other night after Sam's football practice,

He poured himself a bubble bath with the shampoo

and lathered his skin with my conditioner!

"It was in a squeezy bottle, Mom!  I thought it was soap!"

I apologized to Natalie and sent her to bed wearing her People t-shirt.

They make people happy--

all over the US--

Natalie's shirts have rocked it from

Maryland

to Florida

to Chicago!

If you missed your chance for one of the shirts,

we will do a short re-order.

Check the facebook walls of my mother, sister, husband, daughter, and myself.

All will have a google document to request a shirt.

All orders must be pre-paid by October 20th to be ordered.

Eloise and family wish you a Rocktober start to your month!

See you next week,

ELOISE