Happy Halloween

This morning on the radio there was a commentator talking about the way Halloween has been taken over by adults. He said it's nothing but tackiness and that putting on a masks and costumes increases uninhibitedness. (Is that a word?) He also said he's noticed how the couple of days before Halloween at the stores is just as bad as it is around Christmas.

I've always liked Halloween, and I guess there is some sort of fun in putting on a different persona, giving you liberty to act differently. And there's the candy! The chocolate Mommy tax I imposed on all my children is one of the best perks.

Today my friend and I dressed up for seminary. She was the devil and I was an angel. She brought the wings and halo and told me to put them on. She put on the horns and the red tail. I'm not sure if we didn't get it backwards.

The Twopeas blog challenge today is: Since it's Halloween and all.. let's talk horror movies.. do you like watching them? If you do, what are some of your faves? and why??? I do NOT like scary movies. Not the modern scary movies at least. I grew up watching the old black and white ones, like Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Pit and the Pendulum, etc. Pretty tame compared with the past 20 years, like Friday the 13th, Chainsaw Massacre, House of Wax, etc. I did watch a few that scared the bejeezers out of me (like Rosemary's Baby) when I was a teenager, but I can't handle those anymore. My favorite scary movies now are probably more in the suspense genre like What Lies Beneath and The Sixth Sense. No slasher movies for me. And if it's rated R, forget it.

Another friend sent me some funny Halloween pics. Here are a few of my favorites:






HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Baby Tee's

These are funny! I can relate now that there's a (grand)baby back in my life. These are all baby tee-shirts. I saw some others at Goody's that were funny... the funniest being "Does this diaper make my butt look fat?"

Another silly survey

I got this survey, yes, another one of those silly surveys, from someone.

I'm feeling a little down today after finding out our Stake President at church died this morning from a massive heart attack. He wasn't that old. Life is fragile.

So, I'm trying to think happy thoughts. I thought this might help keep my mind off it. And I will save everybody the awkwardness of feeling obligated when you email these things and have to email back. You can do this on your blog if you want. Or not.

I laughed when I read that old people= out of high school. Was I like that when I was in my 20's?

Anyhoo-- here you go... (I edited out some of the drinking question since they weren't applicable)

The "old people" (out of high school) survey

Tired of all of those surveys made by High School kids?

'Have you ever kissed someone?'
'missed someone?'
'told someone you love them?'
'drank alcohol?'

Here are some questions for some people who are a little more mature... ok old folks like us......

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
The utility bill. Because I actually have to remember to pay that one. The others are all automatically deducted. Oh, and hubbie's credit card bill. I don't remember that one very well because I don't use it and don't know when there's a charge.

2. Where's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?
Italy or France. Oh, you mean around here??? Umm, Carrabba's is nice. I'd to try the new Ruth's Chris Steak House and see if it's nice. Yes, I know it is, but I want to try it. Hint, hint.

3. Name of your First Grade Teacher(s)?
Mrs. Rickard

4. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Sleeping, or laughing out loud with good friends.

5. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a teacher. An art teacher first. Then a music teacher.

6. How many colleges did you attend before you settled on the one you graduated from? Uh, well, I went to one, and never graduated. I'm thinking of going back, this time to UAH.

7. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
Because I was cold, and it's a big warm fuzzy hoodie.

8. Gas Prices! First Thoughts?
I'm glad they are going down.

9. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you?
I'd take my family with me to Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Great Britain, or Italy.

10. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
"It can't already be morning. Hey, that's not my alarm... That's Marc's! Darnit all, he set it a half hour earlier than I wanted to get up, and he's not even home!"

11. Last thought before falling asleep last night?
"Why can't I fall asleep!!!!"

12. Favorite style of Underwear for the opposite sex?
ummmm.... should I have edited this out? I'll have to say boxers.

13. What Errand/Chore do you despise?
There are so many, but probably the dishes.

14. If you didn't have to work would you do?
Travel. Read more. Oh, wait, I don't have to work. ;-)

15. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in

16. What is your favorite cartoon character?
Hmmm... not sure. I used to love Mickey Mouse, but mainly because he represented DisneyWorld.

17. Favorite NON sexual thing to do at night with a girl/guy?
Another one I should have deleted. But hey, I can handle the word "sexual" on my bolg that my kids read especially since it's used in a sentence as NON sexual. I digress. I guess sit on the couch and watch a movie together.

18. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?
Um, then it wouldn't be a secret anymore.

19. What was your First Car?
One I absolutely hated. A red '73 VW fastback. I thought it was the ugliest car alive. But it was a conversation piece.

20. Your Best "Your Mamma" Joke?
Yo mamma jokes? I am the Mamma. It's funny, the boys in the carpool have a rule that you can't tell "your mamma" jokes when you are in the car with your mom because, well, because she's there.

21. Your favorite lunch meat?
Honey roasted ham or roast beef. It's a toss up.

22. What do you get everytime you go into a Wal-Mart?
Groceries usually. I don't have a "tradition". Although, I do like the popcorn chicken they have back in the deli.

23. Beach Or Lake?
Beach

24. Do you think Marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
Uh, no.

25. Favorite Guilty Pleasure?
Romantic comedy movies

26. Favorite Movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out:
Uh, if I don't want anyone to find out, why would I tell the whole world on my blog? (okay, the whole 5 people who read my blog!)

27. What's your drink?
Diet lemonade from Chick-fil-a

28. Cowboys or Indians?
Cowboys

29. Cops or Robbers?
Cops

30. Do you cheer for the bad guy?
Sometimes, when I've been manipulated by the media. ;-)

31. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?
I've been told that I look like Sally Fields.

32. Which cast member of Lost would you be?
I don't know, I don't watch it.

33. What do you want when you are sick?
To sleep. And to be asked about. And for somebody to do the chores while I'm sick. And maybe a get well card or some flowers... I don't ask for much!

34. Who from High School would you like to run into?
I actually get to see a lot of my high school friends. But I'd love to see Suzy again.

35. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
I'm not sure. I'm a switcher. I hear a commercial, and change the channel to something with music on it.

36. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
Cosby's

37. Do you Like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
Since I don't technically work outside the home this is hard to answer... I do like the students I teach.

38. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
It used to Billy Joel, but I am so over him. Maybe Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves, Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor or Colin Firth. Hey, it's just dinner!

39. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No

40. Do you have a teddy bear?
This "old person" has lots of teddy bears. I used to collect them.

41. Strangest Place you have ever brushed your teeth?
At Theo's house. I can explain!!!

42. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to?
Northern California. Yosemite National Park. San Francisco.

43. Number of texts messages in a day?
I thought this was for "old people"??? Okay, 5 to 10 text messages A YEAR!

44. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Career.

45. Do you go to church?
Yep.

46. Pencil or Pen?
Depends on what I'm writing. I like pencils. I also like nice juicy pens. (ask me if you don't know what a juicy pen is)

47. Describe your favorite day.
Recently is was the day my granddaughter was born. Any day in Europe would be right up there. And I have to say my wedding day was probably the happiest day of my life.

48. How many jobs have you had?
Real jobs? Maybe 1 or 2. I have never worked full time. I worked as a seamstress, and as a nanny. But I've been teaching flutes lessons for 29 years, and have hardly considered it working.

49. What would be your "dream job"?
I think I have it... which is no real job. :O Although, there are a few jobs I've thought would be fun. One is in the desktop publishing business. But I'm not really a nine to five-er. I thought it would be cool to be a EFY youth speaker/motivational speaker, but I don't know if I've got it in me. Being a flute clinician and traveling more would be lovely. So would would being a travel guide.

50. Do you obsess over having things in even numbers?
Funny you should ask. Since I deleted some questions, this survey ended up with only 49 questions, so I had to make up one more.

My Grandbaby is a future band director

Now that's a scary thought!

Becca's been playing with Lindsay. Look at my son-in-law's blog. It made me laugh out loud!

Invisible

So somebody has finally invented a cloak of invisiblity:

WASHINGTON (Oct. 20) - Scientists are boldly going where only fiction has gone before -- to develop a Cloak of Invisibility. It isn't quite ready to hide a Romulan space ship from Capt. James T. Kirk or to disguise Harry Potter, but it is a significant start and could show the way to more sophisticated designs. (see article here)

Cool. It's a vote of confidence that the study of sciences in the USA is not dead. There are some smart people out there!

Now, sign me up when you can buy the invisibility cloak. I'd love to be invisible! But, I guess there are some ethicical and moral issues involved...

Southern Moment

Today at church I was holding my new grandbaby and somebody came up to me wondering who the baby was.

I said "It's my granddaughter! I'm a new grandma!"

And she said "wait until you are a great grandmother. I have 10 great grandchildren with two more on the on the way. Anna and Kiam are expecting."

I knew who Anna was, but for the life of me could not place one of her grandchildren named Kiam. I thought it was a different name, but I know a Kian, so it is a viable name. And I thought maybe this was a new granddaughter in law that I haven't met.

So I asked "Kiam? Who's Kiam married to?"

And here's where the southern moment came.

"Kiam, you know, Chris's wife?"

Oh. Kim.

(BTW- Happy Birthday to Becca!)

Happy Friday the 13th

I hope you don't have triskaidekaphobia.

I saw the funniest video I've seen in a long time. Makes me want to go back to the YMCA and work on my treadmill skills.

Treadmill Dance

catching up

Okay, time to play catch-up. Time to post the pictures I've taken in the last week or so.

Here's Baby Lindsay on her one week old birthday: Still cute as ever.
I think she's covering her face because she's tired of her grandma taking so many pictures!
On the way back from Nashville I saw a couple of things that reminded me of what we'd say to our kids when they were little. These big hay bales we called "elephants".
And cotton fields we called "Alabama Snow". I love seeing cotton fields right before harvest. It's amazing that cotton bolls grow right on a plant!
Since then, I've been up to see baby again. Josh has fall break, so Marc took a few days off and we spent them at his parents house. We, of course, spent time with Becca and family too! I'll post more about that later. I'm still in catch-up mode!

Habits

Some habits are easy to break. They say if you do something for 21 days in a row, it will develop into a habit. I blogged everyday for 30 days. But it didn't become a habit.

I figure there are two reasons why I don't blog.

One, my life is boring and there is nothing to blog about.

Two, my life is totally not boring, but then I'm too busy to blog.

I guess I need to get busy blogging and make it a habit again!

Waiting for Inspiration

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.

Action always generates inspiration.
Inspiration seldom generates action.

Frank Tibolt

For the past month I've been blogging everyday. The purpose of it was to make a cool scrapbook based on a month of my life. I got the idea out of a fun scrapbooking book called "The Big Picture" by Stacy Julian.

Last night I realized I didn't have to blog at the end of the day! I could blog whenever I wanted. And I didn't have to post a photo like I challenged myself in September. I'd been waiting until the last thing at night to blog, so I could record everything (okay, not even close to everything) that happened that day. But the lesson I learned from that is that sometimes it's hard when you force yourself to blog at a certain time everyday. It's easier when you feel inspired to write something. But, like the quote says, sometimes just forcing yourself to write makes you see things that happened, and gives you inspiration.

Now, back to our regularly programed random thoughts.

Did you hear they officially found the missing "a"? Yes, Neil Armstrong really did say "one small step for 'a' man, one giant leap for mankind", appeasing all grammar sticklers everywhere.

I guess since I'm still immersed in this whole Grandmother thing, I can't blog without mentioning baby Lindsay. AND posting some more pictures.

Yesterday we did a sort of amateur photo shoot. I took 146 photos of various poses of baby and family. I think about 20 of them turned out cute. The winning one will end up on the baby announcement. Here's one pose I liked:The other day I saw a commercial on TV for CiCi's pizza. It's message was basically your kid can have whatever he wants there, even if it is macaroni and cheese topped pizza or 6 different soda's mixed together. It made me wonder why we did stuff like that as kids, why we mixed those "suicide" sodas. It made me think of all the stupid things I did as a kid, mostly thanks to having a brother who was just one year older than me and dared me to do these things. The worst I think was when we dared each other to go without novacaine when we went to the dentist. Stupid!

So did anybody reading this blog ever do something really stupid because they were dared? Leave a comment about it, I double dog dare you!