It's here at last! Just waiting for the karaoke bar celebration tonight. I had to get some food at Safeway and the cashiers had plastic pumpkin containers at the registers. I found and took three of the flavored Tootsie Rolls. Similarly, when I went to get a book at the library, the staff had bowl of candy, from which I picked an original Tootsie Roll.
That's it for today. More to come about tonight. Everyone have fun and be safe tonight!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
One Day Left...
Only one day till Halloween. I still can't believe it's almost here. This year has certainly gone by fast.
Not much to say with only one day left. I went looking for Halloween Peeps at Rite Aid today, but they were totally out! Guess that what happens when you wait till the day before :-) On the other hand, there was still plenty candy corn for sale, but I decided I'd had enough of that. I'd had at least two bags of the stuff before the calendar switched to October and about two more after the month began. And a week or so ago, I got another bag of Candy Corn M&Ms. Those were quite good. I liked them better than the Pumpkin Spice ones.
That's it for today. Waiting for tomorrow.
Not much to say with only one day left. I went looking for Halloween Peeps at Rite Aid today, but they were totally out! Guess that what happens when you wait till the day before :-) On the other hand, there was still plenty candy corn for sale, but I decided I'd had enough of that. I'd had at least two bags of the stuff before the calendar switched to October and about two more after the month began. And a week or so ago, I got another bag of Candy Corn M&Ms. Those were quite good. I liked them better than the Pumpkin Spice ones.
That's it for today. Waiting for tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Parent's Sign Makes a Pumpkin Thief Eat Humble Pie
A friend shared from the Huffington Post this on Facebook today.
Eric Fidler spotted this amazing sign in D.C.'s LeDroit Park neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, and posted a photo of it to his blog.
Now a pumpkin thief's been carved up, rhetorically speaking.
Eric Fidler spotted this amazing sign in D.C.'s LeDroit Park neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, and posted a photo of it to his blog.
In case you can't make out what the sign says, Fidler transcribed it thusly, with the not-so child-friendly language redacted:
To the person who stole my son’s pumpkin:Thank you for the life lesson. This will teach him that sometimes people are mean for no reason and you have to just brush it off.Because my son is 2-yrs-old and cannot read this sign, I will add:You are an a‐‐‐‐‐‐‐.
And to the parent who hung this sign: You are a hero.
Update, Oct. 29, 10:41 a.m.: The hero parent behind the sign is Becky Reina, whodescribed her inspiration to WJLA:
LeDroit Park resident Becky Reina says her family carved four pumpkins a little over a week ago -- one to represent her, one for her husband, and one each for her two-year -old son Tommy and infant Abby."On Thursday we came out and there were only three pumpkins," Becky said.Someone had stolen Tommy's pumpkin."Pumpkins get smashed, pumpkins get stolen, of course," Becky said. "I was really just mad because it was only his pumpkin [they stole]."
Reina told the station she hopes the thief or thieves will "see the sign, and I hope they feel bad about it." It seems her hopes that the pumpkin will be returned are more tempered, since she suspects Tommy's pumpkin is among those that neighbors found smashed on the street.
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Only Things I Don't Like About This Time of Year
As much as I get into Halloween, I hate to admit that there are some things I don't like or get about it. I mean, nothing is perfect, sadly there is a downside to everything. For all the celebrations, candy corn, costumes, parties and TV show episodes, the following are something I just don't get about it.
1. Sexy Women's Costumes. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Why does it always have to be like this? Every year, I expect to hear rants about how every women's costume is "Sexy-This-or-That." You would think I, being from California where it tends to be warm well into October wouldn't have to worry about freezing my you-know-what off. Unfortunately it isn't always that way. Yesterday it started getting colder than in the last few weeks that seemed like a late patch of summer, prompting me to drag my hooded jacket of the closet. I now wonder how cold it will be when I put on my flapper costume on Thursday. I wore it to a celebration at a bar on Saturday, and it started to get a little cold. I know I've picked something a little revealing, but it looks the way it actually did in the 1920s, unlike other costumes which reduced a witch or princess down to a corset dress with puffy, off-the shoulder sleeves or make Wonder Woman look like someone in a ballerina's tutu. This wasn't how these characters looked originally, why should they be made this way?
Before I settled on the flapper (one of several ideas I'd had in mind before and as this month began), I narrowed my choices down to a that one, along with a French maid and prisoner,a ll of which I saw at my local Kmart, at the time selling for 30% off. The prisoner costume said it was for men, but I think that's just silly. There is no reason I could not have gotten it; I just decided not to, at least for this year. It could easily be a unisex costume, even if the package doesn't say so. And I don't get why those labeled as unisex costumes are almost always shown being modeled by men, and when you see them at a seasonal Halloween store that pops up in an empty storefront, they are inevitably placed in the men's section. And I don't why a tank dress is supposed to pass for an M&M or Scrabble board costume. It just so happens that at the bar I went to last week, a man and woman came in prisoner costumes, and both of them had the full-coverage pants and shirt with black and white stripes. The woman did not have the sexy one. Good for her, I thought. Now if I choose this costume another year, I won't feel guilty about it, but I wouldn't have felt guilty anyway. Thinking that women not wearing sexy costumes is breaking a rule is just stupid! Do what you want, go against the silliness of all this.
Why this sexy costume has stretched to young girls is another thing. In some ways I'm glad not to have kids so I'm not going through this problem with them. But I've noticed boys costumes for horror movies characters such as Leatherface and Jason Voorhees and boys' pimp costumes. There don't seem to be as many complaints about these being inappropriate as there seem to be about girls's skimpy costumes. I certainly wouldn't allow any of these if I had children.
2. Christmas stuff already being up. Come on, putting up Christmas in late October seems too early, but nowadays everyone seem to have Christmas in September next to Halloween. Kmart didn't even Halloween up until the first week of September, yet Christmas was already up at the end of that sam month. Today I passed by the mobbed Halloween aisles and heard "The Twelve Days of Christmas" playing from one of the artificial Christmas trees that have been there since the last week of September. I don't want to be hearing Christmas music yet! I've only heard "Thriller" once this month and heard a guy at the karaoke bar doing "Monster Mash" last Friday. This is what you should be hearing right now. No one should have to hear about a partridge and pear tree until December 1st. I know that some stations start playing Christmas songs as early as mid-November, but that's a rant for another time--like in November.
3. Not getting any trick-or-treaters. OK, this is about my neighborhood, and I know I can't do much about it. But I will be gone, at the karaoke bar Halloween bash this coming Thursday so I won't have to worry about a repeat of last year--buying about six bags of candy on sale at Safeway, only to have just one kid show up. I took the rest of the candy to work two days later (I took the next day off last year).
4. Seeing it get overshadowed by sports and politics. I just don't like sports (it's just how I am) and unfortunately this is when the World Series takes place. The local bar having a Halloween celebration is likely to have the TV screens above the bar stools tuned into the World Series as was the case last Saturday. And of course, every four years we have presidential election, occurring up to a week after Halloween and the candidates seem to be fodder for costumes. But the election seems to dominate the media in the month leading up to the final decision. And in a normal year(non-presidential-election year), local, regional and state election signs are everywhere, on a sidewalk or a lawn alongside someone's jack-o-lanterns. As a side note, I hate it when campaign signs remain up after the elections are over.
But this about all I can really say I don't like about the Halloween season. Other that that, it's one of the times of the year I get excited about, along with Christmas and the start of summer. Getting to have parties, wear a costume--what's not to love about that? As long as I enjoy all these things, it's easy to forget the bad stuff and enjoy what you like about it all.
1. Sexy Women's Costumes. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Why does it always have to be like this? Every year, I expect to hear rants about how every women's costume is "Sexy-This-or-That." You would think I, being from California where it tends to be warm well into October wouldn't have to worry about freezing my you-know-what off. Unfortunately it isn't always that way. Yesterday it started getting colder than in the last few weeks that seemed like a late patch of summer, prompting me to drag my hooded jacket of the closet. I now wonder how cold it will be when I put on my flapper costume on Thursday. I wore it to a celebration at a bar on Saturday, and it started to get a little cold. I know I've picked something a little revealing, but it looks the way it actually did in the 1920s, unlike other costumes which reduced a witch or princess down to a corset dress with puffy, off-the shoulder sleeves or make Wonder Woman look like someone in a ballerina's tutu. This wasn't how these characters looked originally, why should they be made this way?
Before I settled on the flapper (one of several ideas I'd had in mind before and as this month began), I narrowed my choices down to a that one, along with a French maid and prisoner,a ll of which I saw at my local Kmart, at the time selling for 30% off. The prisoner costume said it was for men, but I think that's just silly. There is no reason I could not have gotten it; I just decided not to, at least for this year. It could easily be a unisex costume, even if the package doesn't say so. And I don't get why those labeled as unisex costumes are almost always shown being modeled by men, and when you see them at a seasonal Halloween store that pops up in an empty storefront, they are inevitably placed in the men's section. And I don't why a tank dress is supposed to pass for an M&M or Scrabble board costume. It just so happens that at the bar I went to last week, a man and woman came in prisoner costumes, and both of them had the full-coverage pants and shirt with black and white stripes. The woman did not have the sexy one. Good for her, I thought. Now if I choose this costume another year, I won't feel guilty about it, but I wouldn't have felt guilty anyway. Thinking that women not wearing sexy costumes is breaking a rule is just stupid! Do what you want, go against the silliness of all this.
Why this sexy costume has stretched to young girls is another thing. In some ways I'm glad not to have kids so I'm not going through this problem with them. But I've noticed boys costumes for horror movies characters such as Leatherface and Jason Voorhees and boys' pimp costumes. There don't seem to be as many complaints about these being inappropriate as there seem to be about girls's skimpy costumes. I certainly wouldn't allow any of these if I had children.
2. Christmas stuff already being up. Come on, putting up Christmas in late October seems too early, but nowadays everyone seem to have Christmas in September next to Halloween. Kmart didn't even Halloween up until the first week of September, yet Christmas was already up at the end of that sam month. Today I passed by the mobbed Halloween aisles and heard "The Twelve Days of Christmas" playing from one of the artificial Christmas trees that have been there since the last week of September. I don't want to be hearing Christmas music yet! I've only heard "Thriller" once this month and heard a guy at the karaoke bar doing "Monster Mash" last Friday. This is what you should be hearing right now. No one should have to hear about a partridge and pear tree until December 1st. I know that some stations start playing Christmas songs as early as mid-November, but that's a rant for another time--like in November.
3. Not getting any trick-or-treaters. OK, this is about my neighborhood, and I know I can't do much about it. But I will be gone, at the karaoke bar Halloween bash this coming Thursday so I won't have to worry about a repeat of last year--buying about six bags of candy on sale at Safeway, only to have just one kid show up. I took the rest of the candy to work two days later (I took the next day off last year).
4. Seeing it get overshadowed by sports and politics. I just don't like sports (it's just how I am) and unfortunately this is when the World Series takes place. The local bar having a Halloween celebration is likely to have the TV screens above the bar stools tuned into the World Series as was the case last Saturday. And of course, every four years we have presidential election, occurring up to a week after Halloween and the candidates seem to be fodder for costumes. But the election seems to dominate the media in the month leading up to the final decision. And in a normal year(non-presidential-election year), local, regional and state election signs are everywhere, on a sidewalk or a lawn alongside someone's jack-o-lanterns. As a side note, I hate it when campaign signs remain up after the elections are over.
But this about all I can really say I don't like about the Halloween season. Other that that, it's one of the times of the year I get excited about, along with Christmas and the start of summer. Getting to have parties, wear a costume--what's not to love about that? As long as I enjoy all these things, it's easy to forget the bad stuff and enjoy what you like about it all.
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
Even this year isn't over yet and I'm still working on this challenge for this year, I've decided to join this reading challenge again for next year. Click here at Book Dragon's Lair to sign up. Below are the details copied from Book Dragon's blog:
hosted by me, here at Book Dragon's Lair
Sign- up below
Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again!
There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!
Requirements:
Levels:
I Love Library Books
Reading Challenge
2014
hosted by me, here at Book Dragon's Lair
Sign- up below
Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again!
There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!
Requirements:
- choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
- check books out of the library
- books may overlap with other challenges
- any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
- reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming)
- a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in.
Levels:
- board book - 3
- picture book - 6
- early reader - 9
- chapter book - 12
- middle grades - 18
- Young adult - 24
- adult - 36
- just insert IV - 50
I'm choosing 50 or more. I'm up to more than 80 for this year, so I know I can do it that way again.
Here is where I am keeping tract of my progress:
Here is where I am keeping tract of my progress:
- He's Just Not That Into You--Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
- Zoot Suit -- Luis Valdez
- The Devil Wear Prada--Lauren Weisberger
- The Early Stories of Louisa May Alcott
- Full Metal Alchemist (Vol 1-3)--Hiromu Arakawa
- Takedown Twenty--Janet Evanovich
- No Laughter Here--Rita Williams-Garcia
- A Stolen Life--Jaycee Dugard
- The Sugar Queen--Sarah Addison Allen
- Serafina's Stories--Rudolfo Anaya
- First Snow on Fuji--Yasunari Kawabata
- The Heart is a Lonely Hunter--Carson McCullers
- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe--Fannie Flagg
- The Gospel According to Larry--Janet Tashjian
- The Year of the Intern--Robin Cook
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower--Stephen Chbosky
- Love Bites: Poetry in Celebration of Dogs and Cats--Floyd Salas
- Poets of World War II--Harvey Shapiro
- Their Eyes Were Watching God--Zora Neale Hurston
- Number the Stars--Lois Lowry
- A Wrinkle In Time--Madeleine L'Engle
- The Day the Crayons Quit--Drew Daywalt
- A Summer to Die--Lois Lowry
- The Fault in Our Stars--John Green
- Gossamer--Lois Lowry
- The Night Circus--Erin Morgenstern
- Dragon's Oath--P.C. Cast
- Hidden--P.C. Cast
- Revealed--P.C. Cast
- The Lemon Orchard--Luanne Rice
- Through a Glass Darkly--Karleen Koen
- Gods in Alabama--Joshilyn Jackson
- Son--Lois Lowry
- Jacob Have I Loved--Katherine Paterson
- The Paris Wife--Paula McLain
- Just One Day--Gayle Forman
- Of Poseidon--Anna Banks
- Witch Season: Summer and Fall--Jeff Mariotte
- Reconstructing Amelia--Kimberly McCreight
- Beat Voices: An Anthology of Beat Poetry--David Kheridan (ed.)
- In Search of Color Everywhere: A Collection of African American Poetry --E. Ethelbert Miller
- The best American Poetry 1995--Richard Howard
- Selfish and Perverse--Bob Smith
- Dying to Please/To Die For/Killing Time--Linda Howard
- Drop Dead Gorgeous--Linda Howard
- Cinder--Marissa Meyer
- Scarlet--Marissa Meyer
- A Wind in the Door--Madeleine L'Engle
- Pomegranate Soup--Marsha Mehran
- Rosewater and Soda Bread--Marsha Mehran
- Harlem Redux--Persia Walker
- A Swiftly Tilting Planet--Madeleine L'Engle
- The Wednesday Letters--Jason F. Wright
- The Postmistress--Sarah Blake
- Mystery of the Dark Tower--Evelyn Coleman
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson--John Green and David Levithan
- Many Waters--Madeleine L'Engle
- Al Capone Does My Shirts--Gennifer Choldenko
- An Acceptable Time--Madeleine L'Engle
- The Cove--Catherine Coulter
- Hatchet--Gary Paulsen
- Where the Wild Things Are--Maurice Sendak
- Because of Winn-Dixie--Kate DiCamillo
- My Friend Rabbit--Eric Rohmann
- Rapunzel--Paul O. Zelinsky
- Vanished--Karen Robards
- Cinderella 2000--Mavis Jukes
- Ella Enchanted--Gail Carson Levine
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court--Mark Twain
- An Abundance of Katherines--John Green
- A Single Shard--Linda Sue Park
- Made From Scratch: A Memoir--Sandra Lee
- Pardon My French--Catherine Hapka
- Heart and Salsa--Suzanne Nelson
- Fairest--Gail Carson Levine
- Fallen--Lauren Kate
- Torment--Lauren Kate
- All Night Long--Jayne Ann Krentz
- Wild--Cheryl Strayed
- Cooked--Jeff Henderson
- Dark Places--Gillian Flynn
- City of Heavenly Fire--Cassandra Clare
- Bitter is the New Black--Jen Lancaster
- Passion--Lauren Kate
- Fallen in Love--Lauren Kate
- Rapture--Lauren Kate
- Top Secret Twenty-One--Janet Evanovich
- The Black Opal--Victoria Holt
- Julie and Julia--Julie Powell
- Tangled Vines--Janet Dailey
- A Touch of Crimson--Sylvia Day
- The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams--Rhonda Hayter
- The Gates to Witch World--Andre Norton
- Three Tales of My Father's Dragon--Ruth Stiles Gannett
- Blue Bloods--Melissa de la Cruz
- Flora and Ulysses--Kate Di Camillo
- Daddy--Danielle Steel
- Mount Vernon Love Story--Mary Higgins Clark
- Oh, the Places You'll Go/The Lorax--Dr. Seuss
- The Memory Quilt--T.D. Jakes
- The One and Only--Emily Giffin
- Gingerbread Cookie Murder--Joanne Fluke
- The Mercy Watson Collection, Volume 1--Kate DiCamillo
- The Mercy Watson Collection, Volume 2--Kate DiCamillo
- The Heiress Bride--Catherine Coulter
- The Polar Express--Chris Van Allsburg
- Lemon Meringue Pie Murder--Joanne Fluke
- Suicide Blonde--Darcey Steinke
- Unbroken--Laura Hillenbrand
- The Chocolate Castle Clue--Joanna Carl
- A Fatal Fleece--Sally Goldenbaum
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Visited a Local Haunted House
It was great, and I felt the people who put it on did a great job. Obviously, it was too dark to get pictures, so I'm describing ti as best as I can. Evil clown faces and hands sticking out from fake walls made of canvas. Scary characters popping out of coffins. A scary man in a hockey mask, who I bumped into (literally, of course). Among other scary displays. That about says it all. I think you get the idea if you've ever been to such a setup.
This was my first one, as I come from a town where we don't have a lot to do--if you ever meet anyone from my town, just ask them this and they will agree. As far as I can recall no one in my town has ever done anything like this and it was fun too see. This wasn't one of those haunted houses put on by the local Jaycees (which our town doesn't have, BTW). Rather, it was put on by a local competitive softball team to help them raise money. I found out about this haunted house about two weeks ago when I spotted one of their flyers at a local grocery store. I then saw that it would be taking place in a vacant building that once housed a local home appliance store that closed about five years ago. I felt this was good way for them to raise their money. It was fun. I would never have expected to see anything like this. Here's hoping they'll do it again next year.
This was my first one, as I come from a town where we don't have a lot to do--if you ever meet anyone from my town, just ask them this and they will agree. As far as I can recall no one in my town has ever done anything like this and it was fun too see. This wasn't one of those haunted houses put on by the local Jaycees (which our town doesn't have, BTW). Rather, it was put on by a local competitive softball team to help them raise money. I found out about this haunted house about two weeks ago when I spotted one of their flyers at a local grocery store. I then saw that it would be taking place in a vacant building that once housed a local home appliance store that closed about five years ago. I felt this was good way for them to raise their money. It was fun. I would never have expected to see anything like this. Here's hoping they'll do it again next year.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Meanwhile, Here is a Another Quiz...
| You Could Be a Vampire... If You Had To |
 Living forever doesn't sound half bad, if you could live forever with the people you love the most. But do vampires even love? And would the vampire version of you even be you? It's all too much to contemplate. Luckily, the chances of you ever becoming a vampire are astronomically low. What you would like best about being a vampire: Living forever What you would like least about being a vampire: Blood stained teeth |
Still Trying to Get back Into It
Will be back. Still in a not-so-great mood, but trying to do better.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
"The Way, Way Back"
I also wanted to take a break from the countdown to do something I've rarely done. Come to think of it, I've never done this on my blog, just on IMDB and Netflix, but It's been a while since I've done it there, either. I'm talking about movie reviews. I'm hardly the greatest critic, and reviewing is hardly one of my strengths, but I feel a desire to share my thoughts on something I've recently seen.
"The Way, Way Back" played at my town's cinema on Wednesday last week, oddly just before the DVD was released. Because it was an indie film released over the summer, my town's theater didn't show it till this month, as part of their Wednesday Cinema Arts Series done each spring and fall, after the major summer and winter blockbusters are over. Since I worked all summer up to six days a week, getting to the movies in my own town was difficult (I only managed to see four during that time on days I had off), but going out of town to see one of these indie films at an arthouse cinema would have been impossible. Too bad, since this is the kind of film that would have been a welcome break from all the comedies, action, animation and other mainstream releases that dominate the summer movie season. But I was glad to see it was playing in town last week and I went out and got the DVD on Tuesday.
I enjoyed this movie more that I would have expected. It's such a touching movie and I must admit I've only seen a few movies I can say this about. It's a heartfelt tale of a lonely boy, Duncan (Liam James), whom we first see in the far back seat of his divorced mother Pam's (Toni Collette) new boyfriend Trent's (Steve Carell) old station wagon. Such a seat was colloquially referred to in the old days "the way, way back," the title reference. They, along with Trent's daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) head to Trent's beach house for the summer. Trent makes a remark to Duncan (which I will not say here, though it has been quoted in other reviews I've seen of this online and in the IMBD entry) that makes the already sullen and withdrawn Duncan feel even more depressed.
Upon the characters's arrival at the beach house, the audience meets a mix of summer neighbors who take trips on boats and hold bonfire parties on the beach. These include divorced, talkative recovering addict Betty (Alison Janney) and Kip and Joan (Rob Corddry and Amanda Peet). Betty has three kids, including Susanna whom Duncan seems to pine over and Peter (River Alexander) who is reluctant to wear a necessary eye patch. Pam and Trent, become preoccupied with the neighbors and with each other. Duncan feels even more isolated and upon finding a bike (albeit a pink girlie one), he heads downtown and meets man-child Owen (Sam Rockwell) at a pizzeria, playing video games. Owen, we learn, manages a local water park, and the following day Duncan rides his bike to Water Wizz (it's the name of a real water park) and is given a job, which he keeps secret from the adults. He also sees Owen as a friend and mentor. The water park becomes Duncan's place of solace.
The film is directed and written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who worked on 2011's "The Descendants." The two also make appearances in the film as water park employees.
This is a touching coming-of-age story that focuses on the awkward type of teen who wants to fit in and how he can come into his own. As the kind of person was more introverted as a teen (and even today as an adult), I could really feel the boy's pain. Anyone who's felt this way should see this movie.
Taking a break from the countdown
I'm interrupting my countdown for other posts. It seems every year in October all my posts are for the Halloween countdown, which I have enjoyed doing since first doing so in 2009. And I intend to end it this year as the day comes. But right now, I'm feeling just a little out of it. Being without a job for almost two months had put me in not-so-great moods the last few days. Sorry to have to say this. The lady who works at the local bar was supposed to have a party this Sunday (she mentioned it in late August), but wasn't able to after all. I was so looking forward to this, but at least I still have the bar to go to for karaoke on Halloween night. I always look forward to that!
Today was the first day this month I did not feel like wearing shorts all day as it was quite cold and foggy until about four in the afternoon. This is California after all. Who knows how much longer this warm weather will be going on. Not putting away shorts and sandals until after October is far from unheard of in my neck of the woods.
I was without my car yesterday because I needed to get the starter fixed. I got it back today.
So I'm sorry to say I'm just a little out of the countdown mode today. But I will get back.
But something good did happen today--getting a lotto ticket and winning $5. Would not have expected that.
I will get better and back in the countdown mode.
Today was the first day this month I did not feel like wearing shorts all day as it was quite cold and foggy until about four in the afternoon. This is California after all. Who knows how much longer this warm weather will be going on. Not putting away shorts and sandals until after October is far from unheard of in my neck of the woods.
I was without my car yesterday because I needed to get the starter fixed. I got it back today.
So I'm sorry to say I'm just a little out of the countdown mode today. But I will get back.
But something good did happen today--getting a lotto ticket and winning $5. Would not have expected that.
I will get better and back in the countdown mode.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Quiz: Are You Black or Orange?
| You Are Black |
 You are a friend of the honesty, and you don't sugar coat anything. You prefer the truth in all its complexity. While you may relate to the color black, it doesn't necessarily mean you're a dark person. You just don't hide from the dark side of life. If anything, you tend to be sophisticated and classic. You don't follow trends, and you have your own style of doing things. |
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
This Week’s Assignment from the League: Halloween Photo Assignment
Halloween is nearly upon us, but there’s still time for another Halloween weekly topic! This week’s assignment for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers …
Photo assignment: Grab your camera and snap a few pictures of how you, or your home town, is celebrating the greatest holiday of the year: Halloween!
Well, this is just perfect because I took a walk in my neighborhood on Sunday and spotted some decorations I found interesting. This wasn't the first time I'd spotted any such displays, but the ones you see are those taken on that day. Click here and here for other decorations.
Today I took a walk around the trailer park and saw almost no houses decorated. That's just too bad. And I'm sorry to say I didn't get any pictures of those that were decorated, but then the decorations weren't very fancy or elaborate and just wouldn't be easy to capture in a photo.
But here are those from last Sunday.
 |
I loved the shadows the skinny trees cast on these pumpkins.
___________________________________________________________________________
Check back for more post this week.
Check back for more post this week.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Quiz: The Halloween Headband Test
| You Are Restless |
 You are intellectual and philosophical. What you like best about Halloween is observing others and seeing how they act. You are a lot of fun at times, and you have a sneaky side to you. You enjoy playing Halloween tricks on others. You don't mind the dark side of life, and you dig that Halloween embraces that. In fact, you probably look forward to this night all year long. |
Sunday, October 20, 2013
A Neighbor's Halloween Lawn Decor (+playlist)
Another video I shot on my digital camera while walking through my neighborhood across the street.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Halloween Decorations on True Value Hardware Sidewalk
I shot this on my digital camera yesterday in front of the True Value hardware store across the street from my home.
This is on my You Tube channel.
This is on my You Tube channel.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Another Decoration in My Neighborhood
Fake spider webs wrapped around a plant. Looks weird when viewed from a distance. The fake spider webs are more easily seen up close.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Quiz: The Halloween Cupcake Test
| You Are Compassionate |
 You're the type not to make a fuss. You're more likely to sit back and figure out how you can help. You're not looking for a lot of attention on Halloween. You're just happy to put a smile on someone else's face. You believe that Halloween is mostly for kids, and you want to make it as special for them as possible. |
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Toy Story of Terror
Waiting to see this new special on TV tonight! Should be fun. I loved the three "Toy Story" films. This is Pixar's first TV special.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Another Netflix Halloween Envelope
This one came today. I really like this design.
I rented the first disc of Season 8 of "Friends," the lone season in which they had a Halloween episode. It ironically aired the day after Halloween in 2001, but only because Halloween was on a Wednesday that year. I found it weird that in 10 years on the air there was only one Halloween episode, but that there seemed to be a Thanksgiving and a Christmas episode each year (there was no Thanksgiving episode in Season 2, however).
I also queued the first disc of Season 5 of "Frasier" to see the Halloween episode that season, in which Niles hold a literary-themed party. This was also the episode in which Roz finds out she might be pregnant. I loved seeing Bulldog as Waldo, who Frasier and niles knew nothing about. I expect to get this one next.
I was upset to learn that the second season of "Family Matters" wasn't available for rent. I would have rented that one to see the 1990 Halloween episode in which Urkel and Laura are held hostage during a bank robbery. It's a very fun episode to watch.
Monday, October 14, 2013
A Neighbor's Decoration
The best I could get. The only decorations I've noticed in the mobile home park where I live as of yet. Haven't been able tog et the the far side of the park yet to see if there any other decorations yet. Even with over 235 units, there usually aren't a lot of decorations, as observed in past years.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Hallowed Bones
Just started reading "Hallowed Bones," which I saw on my library shelf last year, coincidentally two days before Halloween. I knew I wouldn't finish it in that much time, so I decided to wait till this year to borrow it.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Quiz: What Pumpkin Face Should You Carve?
| You Should Carve a Classic Pumpkin Face |
 You tend to celebrate Halloween in the same way every year. You have a routine down that you like. You look forward to your favorite decorations, candy, and costumes. You might even carve the same pumpkin face each year. You love the Halloween classics like little kids in costumes, spooky movies, and candy corn. Why mess with a good thing? |
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Quiz: What Color Pumpkin Are You?
| You Are a Yellow Pumpkin |
 You believe that life's too short to be insecure. You're comfortable in your own flawed skin, and you encourage others to be the same way. You are always noticing the fun little details in life that everyone else ignores. Even if you aren't an artist, you have an artist's eye. You have a flair for finding hidden gems. You always have a new restaurant, band, or movie to suggest to your friends. |
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
"Scary Vintage Halloween Costumes" Video
Someone shared this on Facebook today. Be warned: the music is quite scary!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Fun Size
Got "Fun Size" from Netflix today. I loved this movie when I saw it last year at the cinema the Saturday before Halloween and just had to see it again. And of course now is the right time.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
What to Be This Year?
Still have yet to decide. And a look around all day turned up no ideas. The Spirit store was busy, but Halloween City less so. I hated the line at Party City.
But I'll keep thinking.
But I'll keep thinking.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Pumpkin Spice M&Ms
OK, now here's my blog on the Pumpkin Spice M&Ms. I picked up some of these along with the Candy Corn M&Ms at Target on Wednesday. I'd read somewhere (can't seem to remember where) that these tasted more like spice than like pumpkin. Well, I finally tried these today and have to say I agree. Can you even get candy to taste like pumpkin. I've never eaten pumpkin, so I don't know what it should taste like. But it sure doesn't sound very good. I think I prefer the Candy Corn M&Ms now. I may try to get more of those before the season is up, but think I will pass on more of the Pumpkin Spice ones. Now if only those elusive Black Cat Peeps will just turn up somewhere.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Spotted at Goodwill Today in the Halloween Section
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| Gangster costumes in black and in pink for 3.99
each. Some were missing the pants, and some pink
jackets were paired with black pants.
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| Poodle Skirts. Makes me wish I hadn't already done this costume last year. |
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| No explanation needed here. Are people still doing the "Thriller" costume? |
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| Don't know why, but I chose to try this one on. I don't know what it's supposed to be. I took this picture on the fitting room wall. |