Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I like the auburn, bright orange, red and yellow leaves. I love the smell of pumpkin spices and apple cider. This year has been a little dry. There won't be nearly as many colorful trees but I have seen a few. Mostly I see a lot of dead, brown leaves.

The kids and I painted a pumpkin patch on our windows on Monday. Today we made ginger bread men cookies. My child with multiple personalities loves ginger bread men. He kept it together in order to earn the priviledge of making them but he didn't seem to understand what it took to make the dough. He flipped out because he couldn't go straight to rolling it out and using the cookie cutter. Once the dough was made he rejoined us. He seemed to have a ball with that but after lunch he snapped again and I had to restrain him to his chair. I don't really understand what's going on with him. I really think he needs a medical evaluation. He's one step away from blowing a gasket.

I went to a meeting last night. I'm going to see if I can find some recovery buddy to sit down with me and help me decide my next action. I want to get caught up on as many bills as I can but I've got some decisions to make. I hate dealing with financial matters!

Gratitude list

A- Awakenings, Anthony, antidepressants
B- Betty, Beverley
C- Cats (however annoying they may be, chocolate, clean clothes, computers
D- Diet Dr. Pepper, Downy
E- Elaine S., e-mail
F- Faith, finger paint
G- God, ginger bread man cookies
H- Health, heart, hope
I- Internet
J- Jennifer, Jane (surprise, surprise! She finally showed her humanity., Judith
K- Kristopher, Kenny
L- Linda (my bff for life, laundry mats
M- Memos to remind me of things I forget
N- Nosy neighbors
O- Oranges
P- Pennies, principals who thank you for a job well done, PTO
Q- Quedarrius (all 6 of his personalities came out today)
R- Roosevelt Whitfield, rain (I hope we get some)
S- Serenity, sanity, security, Stepahnie (she made me a CD with some music for our Adaptive P. E.)
T- Taylor (the drama queen behaved today, bless her pea picking heart, transportation
U- Unity
V- Vicki
W- Water
X- Xena (she's on every day at 6 a.m.)
Y- Yolanda
Z- ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ (rest is a priority, snoring is an option)