happy halloween

I have a whole new appreciation for Halloween after tonight.

My perspective of Halloween as a child was:

1. Mom tapes a picture of a black cat to the front window.
2. Wear costumes.
3. Wander the neighborhood until feet are frozen.
4. Get candy.

~~~

My teenager perspective of Halloween was:

1. Run around outside after dark.
2. Get candy.

~~~

My perspective of Halloween as an adult pre-parenthood was:

1. Buy candy.

~~~

My perspective of Halloween as a parent:

1. Design and create costumes for kids.
2. Buy candy.
3. Give out candy or walk through neighborhood until feet are frozen.
4. Clean off face makeup or hair color from children.
5. Await possible cleanup of vomit.

~~~

My perspective of Halloween as a gramma:

1. Buy candy.
2. Dote on cute little treaters.
3. Threaten anyone who scares my little darlings and try to help them understand that it is all pretend.

~~~

My perspective of Halloween after tonight:

1. Buy candy.
2. Watch Jr and Jack and Stu construct blinking eyes that line pathway to coffin that contains zombie who sits up as treaters approach through mist that rises around the walkway towards the stuffed monster sitting on the porch holding the bowl of treats who grabs the bowl as you reach for a treat.
3. Oh my gosh. Is it sick to laugh as Jr startles kids reaching for treats? Is it cruel for parents to encourage, cajole, and push their kids to pass through this nightmare-inducing pathway just so they can have a piece of candy, and then tell the kids to say thank you after Jr scares them? Is it hilarious to hear the big kids--teenagers--tell each other that this isn't scary, that's a real guy in the chair, hey maybe it isn't a real person, and then scream like little girls when his hand moves toward the bowl?

~~~

This has been the best.Halloween.ever.

And you should know, Jr didn't touch anybody. And he takes off his mask and offers the bowl of candy to little kids.

And scaring adult men who dress up is possibly the most fun of all.

~~~

Don't you think they would be terrified if they knew we have raccoons?

but how do you feel about people who put their pets in costumes?

See, around here, the dogs don't really care so much about the costumes but they are totally focused on the rawhide bones...

cheering me up

I've been feeling a bit sad of late. Not sure why. Uproar at work? Extra expenses? Missing the Californians? Failing my information systems class midterm two days ago?

Yes, could be any and all of the above. But then tonight, this little face showed up and said things like, "hourglass, don't touch" and "dat's a boobytwap" and "Ine otay" and other astoundingly clever things especially for a two-year-old, and mostly, pretty much lightened my mood and lifted my spirits.


This picture looks just like one I took of her daddy at this age. Hopefully she won't hate me for posting it, but I couldn't resist...reminded me so much of him...and uh, hopefully he won't hate me either, right?

it's back

Raccoon spotted in the toy room bedroom window--outside...

Thank you again, Gus.


Gaaaaaahhhh...

yes it's autumn

It may be Autumn, but for every one of those pictures this year, there's one of these:

There's this one:

And this one:

But then there's this one:

Have I mentioned how excited Jr is for Halloween?


We visited the pumpkin patch together this year and I only wiped away a few tears as I enviously watched other grammas with their grandchildren--

These are the final choices and a fine crop they are.

Perhaps I should have been a bit more concerned about that spidee in the window though...

memories

I was just clicking around facebook and found this picture from the drummer's wedding reception. It might be one of my favorite shots ever--well done, Shi.

i'm smiling right now

Last week I checked my graduation status online. Shocked to learn I had eight classes to complete after this semester instead of four. Stewed about it all week and finally called my adviser yesterday. Excited to learn that I just need to send a complete transcript from SLCC that shows my associate's degree and shows I already completed those four additional classes. And my adviser decided to give me credit for one of my remaining four classes since I've already taken it too.

Three classes next semester and I'll graduate.


On another equally high note, guess who got 96 on her family law test that she worked herself into a frenzy on last week? May I also modestly admit that 96 was the class high? Average was 73.


So there you go. Hard work may just pay off. I'm smiling right now.