Halloween (plus a few days) Update

On the Halloween front -

We had a pretty nice Halloween here ... we had plenty of candy ready, Janice had her Halloween decorations out, and we got a little "spooky looking" for the event. We both dressed in black goofy attire, tried to look scary (it didn't take much for me - I just "foofed out" my already too-long hair ... Janice did a nice job on her scary make-up), and we put on some rather scary music (Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" - a perennial favorite - listen to it here) and opened the driveway-facing windows and cranked up the sound system a bit. I moved a few of the solar light rocks over to the wetlands area and focused them on the larger rocks to create a bit of an illuminated graveyard effect (for what it was worth). We lit candles in the entryway by the stairs and put a few out on the rocks to the left of the front pathway. Anyway ... we did our best.

We got 12 "real" trick or treaters ... not too bad, but I would have expected a few more in this large a neighborhood. Hmmm ... perhaps we scared off a few of the parents with the "Fugue" ... who knows.

The real "treat" for us, came at around 9:00, when at the door appeared our next door neighbors Dan and Jennifer (they are the neighbors on the driveway side of our house) and the neighbors one house up from them, Kurt and his wife (who wrote their names down, but now Janice has moved that piece of paper so I don't remember her name). We asked them if they wanted candy, or beer. Gee ... I wasn't surprised at the "Beer" response. LOL

So we had a nice little visit from them - I had already met Dan and Kurt, way back when. I hadn't met their wives. They were all very nice, and it was good for Janice to meet them all for the first time ... she's been asking me ever since, "Do you think they think we are weird or something?" since they were not dressed at all, and here we were, rather ... weird-looking and dressed up a bit. My reply was "Who cares. If they think that, well ... so be it. We are weird and really love Halloween, so what's the difference? They can all just get over it." LOL

They seem to be good people ... although Dan (immediate next-door neighbor) is a Patriots fan. Janice thought it was rather a-holish of me to say there had been a big discussion at work as to whether Tom Brady (Patriots quarterback) is or is not the most over-rated quarterback in the NFL at work, the previous day. Whatever ...

Anyway ... it was a good night.

Interesting tidbit - while I was moving the solar lights around, a Lincoln Town Car pulled up to the curb midway into our little grass strip in front of the wetlands to the right side of the house. Someone got out, and walked across our grass, and I heard him say "This is where I threw it." I was up closer to the house at the time, and started walking down toward the car and person. As I approached, the person ran back into the car, and it drove off.

Subsequent inspections in daylight have not revealed either a body, drugs, or a bundle of twenties.

So that's a bit of a mystery ... but I would imagine if it were kids throwing something out that was "important" to them, they were probably back the next morning to retrieve whatever it was.

In other TERRIFIC news ...

We've spoken to Liz a few times this week. She has been promoted from "Catering and Events Management Trainee" to "Catering and Events Management Assistant" at "Janos", the restaurant where she works, in Tucson. As you may or may not know, "Janos" is a phenomenal restaurant in Tucson, and has won numerous awards. She called the other night to tell us she's getting her own business cards from Janos. I'm pleased by that!

But ... better than that ... Liz has decided to follow her father's long-spoken advice, and has decided to go back to school (at Pima Community College) to pursue an Associate's Degree in "Hotel and Restaurant Management". I have told her, on numerous occasions, that her initial promotion into her "Catering and Events Management Trainee" spot was a great thing, and that she should look into this. This is an ever-burgeoning field, since there will ALWAYS be new restaurants, new hotels, and this part of the "Hospitality Services" industry is never going to shrink and it will never be outsourced. There is an option, in this coursework, to transfer credits to Northern Arizona University for a Bachelor's degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. I keep bringing up her former sommelier who left Janos for a six-figure job in Las Vegas. There is money to be had in this business, and ... you know ... there isn't much better a job than one that makes other people have fun, enjoy their lives, and have great experiences. I sometimes think I would love to do something like that ... rather than "making things work" as I do.

She is coming along extremely well ... every time I call her at work to return a call or to just touch base, she is the epitome of professionalism at her job as she answers the phone. I'm extremely proud of her. :-)

On the Thanksgiving Day front -

Perhaps we discussed this ... Thanksgiving Day, this year, coincides with the 60th Wedding Anniversary date of Joe and Joyce. We are preparing for something very special, in their honor. We're really excited about this ... call me, I'll tell you about it. :-)

Turns out our T-Day plans will be for dinner for 18. I have been researching grilling the birds, rather than buying a smoker and dealing with that. I think I might be a little more comfortable grilling than smoking, since the indirect heat method on the grill is more in line with what I do with a brined turkey in the oven.

On the Pre-Thanksgiving Day front -

I got a call yesterday afternoon, from the carpet installers used by Home Depot, that we could schedule the installation of the new carpet on Monday (11/6) for the basement stairwell. I will work from home on Monday, to be around while they do this. This is a good addition to the house, since we're going to reduce "tromping teen noise" and get a nice reduction in any leftover smell from that staircase. Once we open that up to the "boys" ... we can relocate their litter box, and they can explore that level.

Today -

I have been waiting for the light frost to clear from the grass, and soon I will be out there with "the Deere" doing a leaf-blow / lawn-cut to push the downed leaves out into the woods and/or wetlands. I need to put down the final application of late-fall fertilizer down this weekend, and want to do that after the leaves have been cleared, naturally. I've been happy with my overseeding efforts, and want this yard to be even more beautiful next year.

We have a few other chores/errands to do ... dry cleaner pick-up/drop-off, pet supplies, and the first pass at dry goods purchases from Sam's Club - namely toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, etc. in preparation for the "barrage" come Thanksgiving.

We are also going to put down a coat of "B-I-N" (a sealer/primer) on the steps. I did the landing last week and it made a bit of difference in the whole "smell" issue. Perhaps if we do all the steps where the carpet will be installed on Monday, it will make even more of a dent. I think Janice will do that, while I take care of outside chores.

We also still have artwork to hang ... egad ...

I think it can be summarized by saying "The whole thing about home ownership is ... ' It's always something.' "

Other Than That ...

GO SALUKIS! BEAT CARMI!