Virtual 5k is Underway!

 

Greetings from the AoA for the second week of September!  We thought we'd kick off this week's blog with an invitation for you to join our Virtual 5k Run/Walk for the Arc, which is underway anytime between now and October 3rd!  By clicking the photo above, you'll be directed to the sign up page where it will take just moments to register.  A virtual race is really easy.  You don't need to meet us anywhere, or too early in the morning, or on a certain day.  Instead, you pick your own time and own place to walk, run, or roll!  You can even return to the sign up page to enter your results, if you'd like!

Kevin completed his Fun Mile at Sandy Bottom Nature Park last week!  That's awesome, Kevin!! (You can click Kevin's pick to sign up, too!)

All registrants are entered into our drawings for WEEKLY DOOR PRIZES, so hurry and sign up!  We thank those of you who have already registered, and we thank those of you who are about to click either of the the photos above..................... Thank you, ONE AND ALL!

We didn't complete a 5k at the AoA this week, but we did lots of other things.  If you'd like to see what we were up to, read on!

Tuesday

After our dance warm up, we had a great Zoom session with our friends at home.  Someone really needs to remind Lisa to take pictures of our Tuesday sessions, because they are awesome!  Today, we learned about the Labor Day holiday.  Did you know President Grover Cleveland is responsible for making it a federal holiday?  (And that he also had a pretty cool mustache?! LOL!  You had to be there!)

We rarely enjoy a mid-morning snack, but when it's National Ants on a Log Day, we have to celebrate!  The celery, peanut butter, and raisin combination is popular and healthy.  Sam took his time to create his masterpieces!

We got Cameron to pause long enough to snap a quick picture of his log.  He made 3 little ones! 

Alexis and Liz unpacked lightbulbs for Eaton during our work time.  Great smiles, girls!

Later, the girls also helped Nan apply sticky gaskets to these parts.  We enjoy being busy with Eaton work!

The guys were busy taking breakers out of boxes.  They got over 200 of them done in about an hour.  And that included breaking down the individual boxes each breaker came in!

We heard from our friend, Drew, today.  He's being helpful around the house.  His mom said his chores never end!!  Here, he's pulling the trash bin out to the street!  We're sure your mom appreciates your help, Drew!!

Later in the day we worked on a cute scarecrow craft.  They will go up on the wall we are decorating for fall.

Wednesday

Heike was excited to show off her new Disney mask!  It looks very nice, and is reversable with another Disney pic on the backside!

Our state of the week was #35, West Virginia.  We learned about their history with coal-mining, and the interesting fact that many Italian immigrants came there to work in the mines in the early 1900s.  They packed pepperoni rolls in their lunch buckets, seen here!

Pepperoni rolls are taken very seriously in West Virginia, as is obvious from this gentlemen's t-shirt in the video we watched about the state's most popular snack food!  The Italian immigrants introduced pepperoni rolls to the state when the miners packed them for lunch.  We discussed how pepperoni is a cured meat, and doesn't have to be refrigerated, making the pepperoni rolls a good (and tasty) lunch item for taking deep into the coal mines!

 
We each made our own pepperoni rolls for lunch.  We labeled them on the baking pan, which is why no gloves, which the yeast dough stuck to...terribly!  Patrick placed a few slices of pepperoni and some cheese (which purists frown upon but most include nowadays!) on top of his flattened yeast roll dough.

Next, the dough had to be pinched closed so the goodness would stay inside.  Flattening the dough, fitting the ingredients on top, and pinching it all closed was challenging!  However, they turned out very well, and our guys loved them.  (We hope we remember to get pictures of the finished product and the happy tasters when we do this with Friday's group. 📷 🤪)

While the pepperoni rolls were baking, we worked out (and we mean worked out) with Paul Eugene for a 20 minute dance routine!  We earned those pepperoni rolls! 👏👏

We couldn't study West Virginia without introducing our guys to John Denver!  A couple of them had heard the song, and one knew his name...wow!  🎜🎝 Almost Heaven, West Virginia... 🎜🎝

We also played Lean On Me by the late, great Bill Withers.  He passed away in March, and was a native of West Virginia.  In this photo, our guys pointed to each other during the chorus! 💙💚💛

Our Wednesday ended with Yoga with Jaime.  She takes yoga to a different level...this is our guys in various stages of what Jaime called "Monkey Jump" pose.  Haha!  Our "live" instructor Patti never taught us this one!

Thursday

It was still raining when the Thursday / Friday group came this week, but we didn't let it stop us from a fun day!

We talked about peanuts during our Zoom, and learned some fun facts, like the "Elvis" is a peanut butter and banana sandwich, and astronaut Alan Sheppard left a peanut on the moon...it was the first "astro-nut!"  Haha!  It was great to see so many of our friends!

After Zoom, we celebrated Ants on a Log Day (and peanuts) by making the tasty and healthy snack.  Carol assisted Kevin in spreading the peanut butter on his celery logs.

We were about to pass out napkins, but Devin found another solution!  Fried chicken isn't the only thing that's finger-lickin' good!  (Yes, we had all washed our hands with "real" soap and water before this activity!)

Kate was focused on unpacking parts during Eaton work, even though she was also singing along to the background music on Pandora!

Xavier was also focused as he opened 100 of these packages!  He has to remove one component and discard the rest of the items in each bag.  

With the gym being off-limits due to students being tested, and it raining outside, we had to use the hallway for a brisk walk.  We wear masks for this because, while we are aware of keeping a distance, sometimes the speedier guys have to pass the others.  Kevin was about to pass Kate in this picture.

Shout out to Kate's mom, Elizabeth, who did very well with cataract surgery this week!  We made her some cheer cards, and bet she can read them better than ever now!  Way to go, Elizabeth! 👀

Kevin thought his popsicle stick scarecrow was cute!  It really is, Kevin!  We are working on a Fall Fun display for one of our walls.  Pictures next week, maybe!

At the end of a rainy day, we tidied up and then watched a short Peanuts cartoon.  We were celebrating Peanut Day, after all!!

Friday

It looked like we were going to end the week with another rainy day, so we broke out the disco ball during our dance warm up. 

Here's Lisa's request...🙋

Xavier, Devin and Kate thought it was a good one, even if it was an "old" one, because we really were "Dancing in the Dark!"

 

That largest Eaton work delivery of all time was finished up by this dedicated crew on Friday!  Our equally dedicated crew from the Tuesday/Wednesday group helped a lot, too!

The Eaton work generated a lot of cardboard that we took to the recycling bin. 

Our study of West Virginia culminated with our lunch of pepperoni rolls with a side salad and apple slices.  Tasty!  

Our friend Sam, who is home on Thursdays and Fridays, helped his mom with a fun project today.  They are establishing a Little Library in their neighborhood.  Sam helped move the donated books to a storage shed in the community area.  Great job, Sam!

When we enjoyed music related to West Virginia, we included "Lean On Me" by late West Virginia native Bill Withers.  As the others realized Kevin was singing, they joined in.  We love the AoA Singers!

After an "educational" afternoon of map skills and 9/11 history, the gang was ready for yoga.  We cleared away all tables and chairs, which we do on Fridays so Heike can deep clean the floor on Mondays, and spread out our mats.  This is their "before" yoga pose.

A session with our online instructor, Jaime, led to this "after" yoga pose...namaste, everyone!

The sun was shining outside when we finished yoga!  Yay!  After our rainy week, we hope it's going to be nice for the weekend. 

We hope everyone enjoys the weekend, rain or shine!

Lisa, Carol, Nan, and the AoA Gang

Here are our plans for next week:

Tuesday / Thursday:  We will Zoom with our at home friends on Tuesday, with our topic being "Mystery Animal" and on Thursday for a game of Weather Bingo.  We'll get lots of use out of our computer lab as we celebrate National Online Learning Day, too!  (Wonder if the public schools will celebrate?! 😁)  Lunch on your own!

Wednesday / Friday:  The 36th state to join the Union was Nevada, so that's our focus for today.  Nevada is one state that doesn't have a particular "state" food, or one that they are known for (besides buffets in Las Vegas, LOL), but they are the driest state in the country and grow lots of wild onions, so we will have a side of onion rings with blueberry grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.  We'll also commemorate the Air Force's birthday and Constitution Day.  Don't forget to dress to stretch, for yoga, too!