and then there were three

L to R:  Abby, Meego, Magnum

The guys got on the stick so we have three jack-o-lanterns to adorn the front stoop.  We told Meego he's too old for trick-or-treating, but he's out roaming the neighborhood without the candy begging part.

I didn't see any costumes at school today.  Then again, college kids can be very individual in how they dress, so maybe I did see some costumes and didn't know it.

So far, we've had a good steady flow of traffic - cute little kids, still in the excited and polite years.  Now that it's approaching 8 o'clock, the older more obnoxious ones will probably start appearing.

I'm sad to see October come to an end - such a nice time of year.  Today in my teaching class, we did an activity that is meant to help students understand the reason we have seasons.  I was cast in the role of  "Fall".  A happy role for me as I dutifully tipped my head, just so, towards Polaris.

Now, onward toward winter.  I for one,  plan to not shave my beard for all of  "Movember".

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'tis the season

I drove all over town to get THE perfect pumpkin!




Well, okay, actually, I CALLED all around about a 5-mile radius to find a store that still had ANY pumpkins.  Then I went to the ONE that said, "Yeah, we got a few, but they're being pilfered fast!"





It was slim pickings, but we scored three nice ones!  Nothing like last minute pumpkin gettin' to make Halloween interesting.

Yeah, Halloween is tomorrow already!  I did remember to get candy a few days ago.  But Meego reminded me, I think it was just yesterday, that we didn't have any pumpkins yet, so we went on our pumpkin-gettin' mission after school today.  MINE is carved, what are Meego and Magnum's excuses?

Actually, Magnum's cleaning up dinner - more power to him - and Meego went to go help a friend get the friend's fat suit working.  

Speaking of fat suits, hear about that woman planning to give don't-eat-candy letters to obese trick-or-treaters?  How does that even become a news story without her promoting it?  COUGH*attention hound*COUGH.  And what about the kids dressed in fat suits or other non-revealing costumes??  Meego's fat suit friend, for instance, is actually a little athletic dude.

OH the logistics involved!  I'm dishing out candy.

Years ago, we lived down the street from a dentist.  He gave out toothbrushes.  I, for one, appreciated that and always made sure to hit his house.

I just checked the weather forecast for tomorrow night. and it doesn't look too bad except for maybe people out dressed like Tarzan or Miley Cyrus.

Are you dressing up?  Giving out treats?  Shunning the whole thing as being of the Devil?
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Silver Liningness Sunday

This has been a week of friendly responsiveness.  I've already mentioned the very strange happenings at the DMV.  But there's even more!

Last week, I ordered a pair of warmups online and was asked to fill out the store's customer satisfaction survey afterwards.  Everything was good, except I dinged them on "delivery/tracking" because I was never able to get tracking information on my package.  Sheesh, I got an unexpected lengthy personalized response in less than 12 hours.

Yesterday, I e-mailed the help desk at my tutoring management site over some troubles with the online tools.  Again, I got a speedy personalized response.  Well, the problem's not resolved yet, but there's much to be said for a quick response.

Speaking of tuting, I finished up with Son of Cookie Lady and The Princess this week.  Their tests were yesterday.  Son of Cookie Lady was an interesting student.  He's on the autism spectrum and is very intelligent, but sometimes gets lost in tedium.  He repeatedly impressed me with his grasp of deeper meanings, but then would turn around and say something like, "Why do they ask that question?  I wouldn't ask that question.  I would ask..." or "Why do they use this word this time, but another word on that other question?"  I'm interested to learn how he did, and wonder where he will be twenty to thirty years from now.

So I'm looking forward to more time for family and school and grateful to be financially able to cut back on work.  I've said "No" three times in three weeks!  I'm having fun playing with the new camera and taking some sloth tips from Reese.

Reese says, "Lovin' my new chunk o' driftwood!"

It was also nice to enjoy a short but sweet visit from brother Guano this week, and grateful that he was able to check on our elderly parents too.

The fall weather continues to be wonderful.  A friend of mine, who enjoys running, has been nursing an injury for two weeks and hasn't been able to enjoy the lovely running conditions.  She's grumpy, but as she says, the bright side is "My Halloween costume is making itself!", reminding me that I'm grateful to be able to play outside.  

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won't you be my neighbor?

Fall is my favorite season.  It's a beautiful fall day today.  I was doing homework, and it was strangely fun, but Magnum, Meego, and China were all outside.  Pout.

I grabbed that new camera and went out for some playtime while the menfolk "worked".

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wait... what?

I packed for the occassion:

• Novel I'm currently reading
• Nexus 7 tablet, fully charged
• Full water bottle
• Notebook and pencils

I was prepared.  Today was the one we'd designated as DMV afternoon.

I picked Wolfgang up at the appointed time.  He approached the driver's side, asking to drive.

"Nope, we have to keep this as painful as possible", I explained, "to further etch the experience into your brain so you don't lose your driver's license again".  Even though I'd prefer not to drive, this was a teaching moment.  We did what we had to do.

We arrived and Wolfgang told the touchscreen why we were there, and it spit out a number.  We looked at the printout, estimated waiting time was 23 minutes.  Wowza, sounded good to me!

We found seats and Wolfgang left for the restrooms.  I don't even think my butt cheeks were fully into sit mode when I disbelievingly heard what kinda sounded like our number:  L508.

I looked again at the slip of paper:  L508

I looked at the wall mounted monitor:  L508

I sat transfixed, staring at the monitor as the automated voice repeated the number:  L508

Then an inner voice said, "Damn you, GET UP!  Before they say L509!!"

I grabbed my bag o' stuff and practically ran to the designated station.

"Yes... we just got here....   he's in the bathroom...",  I stammered

"You're here to replace a lost license?", he asked, looking bored.

"Yeah, he's in the restroom.  I have his birth certificate", I said pantingly and slapped the document on the counter, hoping to keep the bored DMV man occupied so he wouldn't say something like, "Step aside while I take the next person"

As Mr. DMV clicked away on his keyboard, I covertly texted Wolfgang, "WE'RE  UP!"  under the judgemental eye of the "No cell phones" sign.

I'm still in a bit of a shocked state.  I have spent HOURS of my life at that very DMV in the past.  Going for snack runs, doodling the ankle bracelet tracking devices of various criminals, playing endless games of hangman as the phrases became more and more violent toward all things DMV.

Wolfgang too.  "I told my friends I'd be gone for like three hours".  We were in and out in about 15 minutes.  It almost felt wrong.

We hightailed it to the parking lot and drove off before some mistake was righted, and we were corraled like captive beasts.  Like before.

Something's wrong with that DMV now.  I'm scared to go back.
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guess who's coming to dinner!

Brother Guano graced us with his presence, briefly.  And no, he didn't really come for dinner, but it seemed like a better title than "guess who's coming to crash on the futon!"

Just one of those passing-through-the-state visits.  Short but sweet and better than nuthin'.  I was glad my Tuesday class is in the afternoon, although if it were a morning class, I'd have good reason to ditch.











I played a bit with the new camera that I still haven't played with nearly enough (like, really, at all).  Note the grainy photo.  Back to the drawing board.  But still, I had to record the blogworthy event, since he's one of the sort of readers and cast of characters around here.

I thought I would also slap the photo on my facebook since a good number of my fb friends know Guano from our growing up days.  facebook kept trying to tag him as Wolfgang.  Really?

And speaking of Wolfgang, he lost his driver's license.  No, not as in had it taken away, but as in "had it at Elitch's (amusement park), didn't have it after".  *sigh*  You know what that means...

*MUSIC  OF  DOOM*

The dreaded DMV.  *SCREEEEEEEAAAMMM*

I said I'd take him this week since he doesn't have a car.  How ironic.  Since he's under 21, he's got to go to the Teens and Criminals DMV for a replacement.  Here I thought I was done with that place until Meego is of age.

So I'll take him.  Maybe HE'LL stay for dinner.

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Silver Liningness Sunday

I was paying some bills, but writing the silver lining blog post sounded like more fun.

Another good week of course.  It's even good to have bills to pay I suppose.  And last night I had a dream that I was on a chartered airplane going someplace fun, except the plane didn't have a bathroom.  WTH?

Anyway, I visited another PEO chapter this week.  I'm starting to feel a little impatient with just visiting and want to settle down with one of them soon, but I really should give them all a fair shake.  I've narrowed it down to five chapters, based on their meeting times, and I've visited three.  Sheesh, it's like The Dating Game.

School's going well.  I think I've settled into the whole student thing now, just in time to start setting up my schedule for the next semester.  I'm taking part 2 of the math class I have now and I'm torn between continuing with my same instructor, whom I like, or switching to a different instructor with a better time slot.  Sheesh, more Dating Game!

I mentioned Napolion's first trip to the vet's.  I still don't know if he's responsible for my flat tire, but I'm keeping an eye on him.  Speaking of tires, I had a lovely autumn bike ride this morning and decided to bring the helmet cam along.

I took a spin over passed MouseTown*.  Weather was beaut, but it's changing fast.  More snow in the forecast for tonight.   I didn't see any rare mice, as usual.  Here's the minute-and-a-half version:






*Local Preble Jumping Mouse preserve



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