Just a Funny Story ...

 Last Sunday Jeff and I were walking up to the T-Mobile center to see Linkin Park in concert. 19 year old me couldn't have been more thrilled! And I don't want any Emily Armstrong hate, she is amazing! We all miss Chester but the band still rocks and I'm so glad they are on tour and I got to experience their music live. 

Ok, back to the story. We are leaving the parking garage and there is a bank ATM on the corner. The ATM was beeping loudly and when I turned around there was a big stack of cash hanging out of it! I grabbed the money and the receipt and looked around. That's when I realized there was no one on the block. 

Jeff stares at me and asks, "why did you do that?" 

"Someone is going to steal someone else's money. I bet they thought the transaction failed and they just walked away."

Jeff very confused, "The bank is closed what are we supposed to do about it?" 

We looked for a drop box and then just decided to take it back to the car and head to the concert. On our second trip back to the T-Mobile center I asked Jeff if he was mad and he said no, but he suggested next time I shouldn't take the money.

Fast forward to Wednesday (I was busy on Tuesday and forgot to call the bank), I call a branch of Arvest bank and let them know that I found some money at one of their ATMs and would like to get it back to its owner. The very nice woman on the phone was so shocked that I wanted to return the money. She said she has never ran into this before. I let her know I had the receipt and the time I found the money so the ATM people should be able to get it back to the right person. I e-mailed her a picture of the receipt. 

Her branch manager called me back and was so thankful and happy for what Jeff and I were doing. She said I was such a nice person and so thoughtful she was sure this good deed would be returned to me. 

What the manager didn't know was my good deed was returned by how happy everyone was that I did take the money and Jeff will never be allowed to forget, that was the RIGHT thing to do. He drove to KC this morning and returned the money and receipt and the branch manager had gotten me some flowers and a card. Thank you Jeff for taking the time to finish something I technically started, Mwah! LOL

All's well that ends well and I share this story for two reasons: 

1. I've already told Jeff my first instinct was affirmed, and I will always take the money hanging out of the ATM and try to get it back to its person!

2. There are good people in the world and when we get to be that person it feels better than finding money.

Yay for finding a person that puts up with your nonsense!

The concert was fantastic. However, I would love for headliners to start at 7 and not 9....but that's just me!

Goodbye August, Hello September!

 I think all I needed was some cooler temperatures to get my motivation back up. These fall-like mornings and rainy afternoons have been a welcome relief from the dog days of summer. I also finally tackled the first part of my Alpaca Quilt. Today, I finished the last of the 37 lantern blocks and tomorrow I will sew those strips together. The sewing machine and I are getting along. It is funny but when I am working at my cutting table eventually a kid comes in and starts talking. It is nice to have company, and I like hearing whatever it is they have to share. 

This week we also got one night of pickleball in and last night we went to Going Bonkers! You read that right Daryl (17), Alex (13) and Joseph (days from 11) all decided on Going Bonkers for our Saturday night activity. It was a surprising choice and fun. They climbed in the jungle gym and played only the games that got them tickets. They all left with a handful of candy and smiles, I'll take it! 

It was a good month, let's hope for more of the same in September!

Read 24 Books 14/24

Finished two book in August and I would recommend them both! 

Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt was another book that I was waiting for from the library. I'm probably one of the last people to read this book and I loved it. It is not often you can say your favorite character is the octopus but he really was one of the best parts of this story. I was truly sorry when it was over. Ms. Van Pelt, I need a sequel! 

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane was another paperback that I picked up at the Library book sale. It was a tale as old as time, the man wants to open the relationship then he immediately regrets his choices. LOL It was definitely an adult read but it was also a story of a woman coming into her own. I liked it!

Run 650 Miles 393/650

I ran 65 miles in August. This was a great miles month due to me following my race plan and finding some company for my long runs! I almost thought this goal was going to be out of reach but with four months left in the year this goal is still doable. 

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt The first 37 blocks have been completed in August! 

Placemats - Done April 2025 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021-I got both boys 2021 books done in May! 2022-Got Daryl's done in June! Got Alex's done in August! All I need to do now is finish both boys 2023 books! 

My first quilt blocks in years!

My running plan and I'm actually doing it!

We went to the Food Truck Festival last weekend, I had three of Topeka's best. A banana and Nutella crepe from La Creperie Co.

A Strawberry Lemonade from Poppin Squeeze

And the most delicious salad I have ever had from The Flavor Wagon! It was Chicken, lettuce mix, apples and ginger dressing. Soooo good! I've already tracked down his truck and had another this week. LOL 

Happy Birthday Dear Daryl!

My baby turned 17 yesterday. It is his dad's week, so we had his birthday dinner tonight. I did call him twice yesterday, so I think he knew, he was on my mind! 

Tonight we had birthday dinner and since it was Daryl's choice we ended up at Red Lobster. He got a few gifts and lots of food, all is well with the world. He was telling us all about the upcoming KU football game he is going to and that he is practicing wrestling with some of his teammates. It seem that junior year is off to a good start! 

Love you buddy, see you on Sunday! 

He liked his new hoodie! 

Jeff got him what we see him with the most. Junk food! 

Daryl enjoyed his birthday meal, I ate too many biscuits!

Projects Day!

Sometimes you just need a day at home. Today was that day! Jeff got a screen mounted on the wall, finally hung all of our wall decor, I finished a shirt resize I got mad at two months ago, did a long run and finally got two trash-trees out of our landscape. Those trash-trees pop out of nowhere, and then in a week they are three feet tall. Nice trees don't do that, sadly. 

Yesterday, Jeff and I got to be volunteer bartenders for my Johnson County Extension Foundation friends. Tara promised it would be simple, and it was! It was nice to be able to help, because sometimes I feel like all I do is ask for help. So if you need free bartenders, that is something Jeff and I will consider. Just remember, you get what you pay for! LOL!

Next up on the sewing machine will be starting the Alpaca quilt. I would love to get that done in 2025!  

This may not look like a lot, but we hung stuff in many areas today!

From months ago, the before of my OKC half marathon finisher shirt!

The after! No close ups, this has more puckers than a lemon eating contest. The fabric was very slippery and since it is a running shirt, I did not go for perfection! 

Everyone is back in school!

 Yesterday, the rest of the house had their first day of school. Daryl started Junior year, Anna and Alex started 8th grade and Joseph started 5th. Yay for being back on a routine! We even have the drop off schedule perfected by day two. Daryl takes care of himself, Jeff takes Anna and I take Alex and Joseph. So far everything works. 

When I got home from work yesterday everyone was asleep! Having to pay attention for an entire day must be exhausting. I bet a lot of teachers needed an early evening nap as well. Happy school year!

I was accused of getting their new shoes dirty because I needed my picture by a tree. Oh well, they are shoes! 

Bring on 5th grade!

Smiling is hard

Daryl kinda gave me a smile!

Throw back to first day of 3rd grade and first day of Kindergarten! Bigger smiles!!

Back to School Begins!

 At the Bergles household we are one student down and 4 to go with first day of school. 

Lucas moved into the Missouri Military Academy on Friday and will attend his Sophomore year of high school there. Neither Jeff or I have any experience with boarding school so everyone is learning a lot! 

Lucas had time with all of his grandparents before he moved to school and we had one of his favorite family dinners, spaghetti, on Thursday night. His school is four hours away so we left Thursday evening for his 8:30am drop off. 

I think he was equal parts nervous and excited, so we got a little half smile for his drop off picture. By now he has had his haircut and gotten his school uniform. I can't wait until we get those pictures! He has a fall family day in October so there will be more updates then. 

Now we just need to get the other four back in class! My Netflix account needs a rest. LOL 

I wore my KU shirt on purpose. LOL 

I told Jeff you have to get a picture of them walking in the building.

On Sunday we went skating, Anna can skate circles around us. Jeff did stay upright!

Go Joe, go!