Trick or Treat...

Happy Halloween!
I love Halloween! I totally love trick or treat night so much more that the kids don't need me to walk the streets with them. I know they're a little old for candy grabbing, but I don't have a problem with teenage trick or treaters. I love when the older kids come by. Their costumes are mostly awesome and they're very respectful. I dig that. 
We had a houseful this year. All four K's, spouses, grandson, my niece, her boyfriend and cousins (who are like my nieces, too), and my folks. We didn't do dinner this year - no time and too busy, but we did have some snacks. The teenagers even brought snacks, which was super cool.
There weren't a lot of trick or treaters this year though. Our numbers have been steadily declining. I'm not sure why. We don't have many good neighbors left, which might be part of it. This year, we were the only porch light on in our little block. But there isn't much candy left, thanks to the K's.
Here's my trick or treat (true or false)(like Tall Tale Tuesday used to be):
1. K4 changed her costume at the very last minute, then was frantic that we didn't have everything she needed.
2. My niece's boyfriend wore a sign that said "Nudist on Strike". 
3. K3 dressed like a mermaid. 
4. K2 & J were both Spiderman.
5. Some kid threw an egg at my truck.
6. K3 ate so much candy that he puked.
7. Baby B was a smurf. 
8. My folks dressed up like pirates.
That's enough for now. Guess if you want. There are no prizes, but it might be fun. (Though I don't think anyone reads this blog anymore?)
Behave!

Pumpkins...

At our house...
Pictures (hopefully) to follow.
K1 - absent due to a stomach virus.
K2 - she made a monster. This monster took up my whole dining room table. It was gross and messy and I was not happy, but the carving was so cool.
K3 - Insisted on a big pumpkin. Whatever. He carved it, poked the pieces back in, and then proceeded to practice knife throwing at the pumpkin... I am confused...
K4 - Still uncarved. She's waiting for her decal. The one Dad is printing for her.
K5 - We carved, colored, carved, and tried to feed the carved pumpkin apple slices. (The pumpkin did not like) She yelled at her pumpkin for not eating the apple, scribbled on it, and then gave me her little one to keep.
We had a blast on pumpkin carving day!
Behave!

Happy Halloween!

I didn't even remember today is Halloween until around 5pm...that's just testament to how my Monday went. Started off stressful...is ending somewhat better...
Since we already had our Trick or Treat night, there isn't a lot going on around here tonight. We're watching the live feed of Ghosthunters, which is cool.
So! Go here to my friend Natalie's and check out her brand new release! I've read this book and it is awesome!

This is the last post of October 2011. Fair warning...I'm about to start complaining about 2011. It's pretty much sucked. Tomorrow begins November...Really?
That is all...
Behave!

Weird Wednesday...

I am alone. For the moment. The quiet in my house is near deafening - except for the dog. This is odd to me (not the dog). Usually I am surrounding by chaos that is hard to explain and the noise level has got to be at illegal volumes. But none of that matters for the next few minutes while I am blissfully alone.
***
Tomorrow is my baby boy's fifteenth birthday. I'm not sure how he got to be that old. And in high school. I clearly remember his little blond head and his spiderman undies. Now he's talking about college and girls and all kinds of things I'm not ready for.
***
There is a mosquito flying around me. Shouldn't they be dead now?
***
On the writing front, I am settling on what to write next. And, of course, instead of grabbing a perfectly good idea out of my idea folder, it's something brand spanking new. I'm getting excited. It's been a while since I've put fresh words on the page. I've missed it. I will finish the zombie book at some point, just not now. I need to start it completely over and at this moment, I'm not that passionate about it. (This decision is subject to change without warning - just saying) This new book is coming together in my mind. Which is good, because there for a while I truly thought my brain was broken. Really broken. Apparently, what I needed was some time off...
***
By the way, today was markedly better than yesterday. Which is good because if today had been the same, you'd find me rocking in a corner somewhere.
Tomorrow night is trick or treat night/birthday celebrating, following by more birthday celebrating the following night and new Supernatural.
That is all...
Behave!

Trying to Keep Up!

I meant to blog last night...
This week seems like it's been two weeks long already and it's only Tuesday!
Tonight is our town's annual Halloween Parade. The parade comes right down our street, which means we end up with about a million visitors. Normally it's a really good time, but I'm not into this year. Yeah, we're still hanging out to watch, but I forgot to send the mass email out reminding everyone, and the people I did tell forgot. So, we have a small crowd this year. Which is fine. The house didn't look even halfway presentable until about 20 minutes ago. K2 planned to clean for me today, but her work meeting ran late, and then there was a slight family emergency to attend to.
I'm not cooking this year. No time. Usually I make chili and stuff and do the grand hostessing thing. I bought some cookies and threw frozen pizza in the oven for dinner, but I forgot beverages. I'm not fighting traffic to go and pick anything up either.
We've got about an hour until the chaos begins. My granddaughter and her mom on our their way. It'll be fun to watch her watch. And my folks should be showing up soon. I'm not sure how many more we'll have.
The only thing I know with great certainty is that I'll be glad when it's over. Next year I'm going to have a better plan so I don't feel like such a Halloween Scrooge!
That is all for now!
Behave!

Halloween Random

A random list:
1. There are several things I never thought I'd hear my adult son say. For example: Does this nail polish look okay? Does this dress make my butt look too big? Is this purse too gaudy? Do you have a sweater I can borrow? Ha! And yes, I laughed at him when he came home the following morning with the dress around his waist, my sweater on, and his girlie slippers, but no fishnets or red wig. I told him to take a change of clothes because I figured he'd be smart and stay at the party overnight. And, no purse, dang it! I had dibs on his bag. It was sweet.
2. We talked briefly about my job loss when it happened and I've been actively seeking new employment. It's tough out there, and apparently there are a lot of predators stalking the Help Wanted ads. Last week, I spotted a position I was qualified for, applied and went through the initial phone stuff. It was a service. When I found that out I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, but decided I was being paranoid. Ha! I should have listened to that kernel of "don't". I have been getting spammed like crazy, phone calls on the house phone and my cell, and it's quickly getting out of control. This morning I had 22 emails in my inbox. 18 of them were spam. I am not happy. I went back and checked the service's site, and yeah, it's unethical, but basically, just by filling out the application you give them permission to sell your information to third party vendors without having to click on a "tos" button. Great.
3. It's cold in my house. We haven't turned the heat on yet because B has some service work to do to our dinosaur in the basement. That's on the agenda for today. The dinosaur and to hook up the little red fireplace in my dining room which was moved from the living room because the heat funnelled directly up the stairs and did nothing to take the chill away from the first floor. I am currently wearing thick socks, two sweatshirts, fleece pants and a blanket.
4. Teenaged boys can eat! Yes, I already knew this, and I did plan for it, but the quantity of what they consume still has the ability to shock the heck out of me. K3 has his best friend over for a "birthday weekend" sleepover. M arrived Friday night. I made cheesesteaks. Twice as much as usual, and there were very few leftovers. Saturday morning they consumed nearly an entire box of cereal. For lunch, each of them ate a big can of ravioli's. I made 3# of sloppy joe's for dinner and 2 boxes of ranch bacon salad for six people. Not a drop left. Then, 45 minutes later, they were warming up the oven for garlic cheese bread.
5. Today is the last day of October! Holy crap! And yay! Only two more months left of this craptastic year! Now I look ahead to Thanksgiving, which I am hosting this year. (Just don't mention Christmas yet!!) I love hosting Thanksgiving. I'm not sure how many we'll have, but I don't care. The more the merrier. Yes, I have a ton of stuff to do before then, but that's okay.
6. K2 began rock climbing this summer while she was a counselor at camp. She loves it. Now she's teaching beginning climbing at a gym not far from school. Last night she competed in a competition and took 5th place in her category. Not bad for someone who's only been climbing for a few months. I didn't get to go to the competition, but B did and he said it was very impressive.
Okay. That's enough random.
Enjoy Halloween!
Behave!

Ghost Stories 2

So, on our second trip to the beach, B and I left the kiddos in the capable hands of my sister and friends and went to the beach to look at the phosphorus sand and stars. It was really romantic and very cool. We walked along the shoreline, played with the sparkly sand, and stared up at the stars for quite a while. The beach was empty and the tide was on its way in when we decided to head back to the beach house.
A few hundred feet on the beach access road, we saw a couple walking. B slowed and asked if they needed a ride. They said yes, thanking us profusely for stopping and got in the back seat. They told us their Jeep had broken down and asked us to drop them up ahead, at the end of a lane. We made small talk the rest of the way, until the man said to stop, that this was where they needed to be and it was only a very short walk to their place. We let them out, and watched them walk towards the woods, wondering if they'd taken a back trail in or something.
We kept looking to the left - looking for the road or any signs of a house, but there was nothing. The way the trees lined up made you believe there might have been a road there at one time, but erosion, storms, and time had removed all other signs of civilization. We kind of shrugged it off, until we realized the tide had only started coming in when we left and the couple said their vehicle had been caught in high tide. Plus, we didn't see any signs of a Jeep being stuck. So...
It was strange to say the least. The next morning, B mentioned it to the guy at the bait shop and he could only shake his head and say it's happened before. Do I believe we picked up a ghost couple along the side of the beach road? Heck, I don't know. Most of me doubts it. But it's a good story either way.
Behave!

What I Live With...

Halloween costume. He has fishnets as well. My boy...Oh geeze!
Behave!

Ghost Stories 1

In honor of Halloween...

I was probably eleven, maybe twelve. We lived in a speck of a town in Iowa, in an old stucco house that had a lot of very cool stuff - like a laundry chute and a counter in the kitchen you could move around to suit your needs/wants. I was in sixth grade and had found a friend that lived a few blocks away. (though I could be wrong about that, we didn't live there long and my sense of direction is whacked.) It had to be early spring since we moved in May and the only other weather I remember is snow. (A lot of snow)
Anyway. This friend and I were having a sleepover at her house. They lived in a cute little house with two bedrooms on the second floor. My friend in one room and her older sister in the other. Except my friend never slept in her room. Ever. She then went into a long tale about a ghost and how when she was sick she woke to find him beside her bed, how the ghost would play the piano in the middle of the night and touch her mother's pottery projects, leaving impressions but no fingerprints. And that he was a nice ghost - a soldier who had passed away that grew up in the house, but he didn't like it when she had visitors and he didn't like her sisters room, which is why she slept in there most of the time.
Yeah, whatever. Even my eleven or twelve year old self was a bit skeptical. But she, and her sister, insisted they were telling the truth. I don't remember feeling afraid at all, even when I did hear the piano playing in the middle of the night. I figured it was effect or her mother, or whatever.
Fast-forward to the next morning. They had field work to do and my family had things going on as well. Everyone from her family had gathered outside to begin their day. I was standing by the old well pump waiting for my mom when I remembered something I'd forgotten. I have no idea what it was. I went upstairs, feeling a little strange when I got to the top of the stairs, but not remembering the ghost stories or even thinking along those lines. It was cold up there, colder than it had been all night. I grabbed my stuff and headed down the stairs when I heard knocking coming from below me. I stopped at the window and looked out, thinking someone was messing around and had come in to try to scare me, but everyone was still outside.
I rushed down the stairs, the knocks still audible, and opened the pantry door (located right under the stairs) expecting to at least see someone inside, but there was no one. I, of course, hurried outside and told my friend. She laughed and said that had to be their ghost saying hello to me.
To this day, I don't know what to believe. I could very well have been tricked - the whole ghost story thing some scam they all ran when they had visitors. Or, they could have been telling the truth. There's no way for me to know, and there's no way to know if what happened on the stairs was really paranormal or some trick designed to scare me.
So there you have it. Make of it what you will. I'm still trying to decide.
Behave!

Birthday Partying

Saturday was the big 13th birthday party for K3 and my niece. They're 10 days apart and are best friends, and wanted to have their birthday party together. What started out as a skating party somehow turned into a costume party. Which was fine and appropriate considering the time of year.

The picture is my brother-in-law and K2. Their costumes were amazing. Everyone did a great job dressing up. Our parents even came in costume. We originally planned to have the party at the Meadow, but the weather was iffy - though it turned out to be a beautiful day. We set up and decorated my sister's garage complete with a live spider we found crawling across the garage floor. I don't have a decent picture of the inside to share.

At least 35 13-year olds showed up. I couldn't get a decent head count, they moved too fast. Add the adults and there were over 50 people there. My brother-in-law has a friend that DJ's and he was amazing. He kept the kids moving on the dance floor and even got the boys to step up and participate. The kids were hysterical. Watching them was a lot of fun. Boys and girls stayed apart for the beginning, then they slowly began hanging together. K2 did the Thriller dance and it was absolutely amazing. As weird as it sounds, I almost cried.

It was a long night. But fun. The kids had an absolute blast. The mess wasn't even that bad. And now, the birthday boy (tomorrow) is running a fever and is home from school. I'm not even sure he can go back tomorrow because of the school's policy, though I'm relatively certain his fever has nothing to do with swine flu.

So there you have it.

Behave!