Happy Halloween!

Jessica wanted to be a prom queen for Halloween so naturally I waited until the last minute to think about finding her a costume. We went to the dreaded Wal-Mart yesterday and looked through the already picked over costumes. There was nothing prom queen-related in her size so we settled on a vampire dress, fangs, and long black wig. The fangs came with makeup.

I spent about $30 on the costume, but she was excited so it was all good.

It was crowded in Wal-Mart and there were only three human cashiers, as usual, so against my better judgment I decided to use the self-checkout. What a disaster.

I had to call the cashier over twice to help me. First the fangs wouldn't scan, which sent the computer into lock-down mode and the cashier had to punch in a 14-digit code to clear it. Then I had to get approval from the cashier to purchase beer. Finally, on the way to the car, I glanced at the receipt and noticed I had charged myself twice for the wig, so back we went to get the extra charge refunded.

Of course by this morning Jessica did NOT want to wear the costume because it was too short. And by this afternoon, she didn't want to wear the wig because it made her head itch.

So off she went with her friends to trick or treat with just her fangs and face makeup. But at least I was able to snap this pic while she had the wig on. She looks very much like she does when she is in a bad mood. Ha ha!!

Honor Roll!!

Kudos to Jessica for making A/B honor roll! Way to go Jessie!!!

If she looks like she's sleepy it's because she was!! I took this early this morning.

Just another Saturday

I have been living in this subdivision for almost 11 months now, traveling the main road in and out numerous times daily. There are a couple places where the road has dips. They are not big dips but big enough to cause a bump when driven over.

This morning, I noticed construction saw horses with a caution lights had been placed near the dips and signs posted to watch for the dips. I am wondering why they are cautioning people at this point? Surely whomever authorized the signs already knew about these dips. Maybe they are going to be repaired soon.

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On my way to the bank this morning, I was stopped at the intersection of Thomasville and Bannerman Roads in the left hand turn lane. A motorcycle cop with lights flashing pulled out in front of me and the other stopped cars and stopped midway across Bannerman to block us. Then another motorcycle cop pulled into the middle of the intersection and began motioning the already moving traffic to move through the intersection, while he held up his hand in a stop motion towards me and the other cars.

I figured someone important must be coming into town, hence the police escort. As I sat there wondering, I watched the traffic going past me for a bus or a limo or something to indicate the reason why these cops had stopped us. Several semis passed, a tour bus passed, and many cars came through intersection, but nothing special. In the meantime, my red light turned green and then red again as I sat there wondering what was going on.

After a few more minutes. The cop in the middle of the intersection got on his motorcycle and left; the other cop followed.

I wonder if they were pulling a joke or something.

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On my way back from the bank, I noticed a woman walking down the main drag of my subdivision while reading a book. Not a paperback book either... a rather large hardbound book. I am curious as to how she can read and walk without getting hit by a car.

Spread the mustard

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 100% Punctuation: 80% Spelling: 60% Vocabulary: 20%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

My English just spreads the mustard.

Laurie

Laurie is back in the hospital.

Daddy called me Saturday night to tell me. All we know is that she is in CCU and is in stable condition. Mom said she thought it was the same problem she initially had last February (the first time she went in)... can't remember what that condition was called.

As before, the hospital will not give us details without a "pass code" and we don't know how to get that yet. I think Laurie is the one who has to authorize it but at this point, we don't know her mental state.

Her boyfriend's sister said that Laurie had started drinking again; that she barely weighs 100 lbs.

When I talked to Laurie last month, she told me was 112 lbs. It was an awkward conversation for me. She seemed out of it, slow to respond, almost like she was drunk. But Daddy said that she talks like that now because of having meningitis... it damaged her brain.

I feel numb. I feel bad that I am not more worried, but I just can't think about it.

One small step for mankind... one giant step for me

I now have a dryer. Yipee!!

I called up Mays-Munroe and asked if they had any dryers in my price range and the man (the owner actually) said the cheapest one he had was $299. It was an off-brand made by Whirlpool; a commercial grade dryer. He proceeded to give me way more information than I would ever have wanted to know which I liked. He knows his stuff. They have been in business since 1932.

I asked how soon it could be delivered and he said they could deliver it today.

Well that was good enough for me.

So I bought one right then and there over the phone. Bought it sight unseen.

After the delivery guy called to tell me they were on their way, I realized that I didn't even ask what color it was. I was hoping it was white, to match the washer, and it was.

I never thought I would be excited to do laundry..... and it will be nice to have a backyard that is not booby-trapped with clothesline.

Get the phone

Yesterday at work I heard a phone ringing. It was the phone in the copier area.

It rang and rang and rang and rang and rang.... no one answered.

I continued working trying to ignore the incessant ringing in my ears. I began to think, "Doesn't this person realize after 30 rings that either no one is around to answer it or is going to answer it?"

Finally, after at least 50 rings, it stopped.

Relief. I went back to concentrating on my work.

Three minutes later the phone began to ring again. "Geez," I thought to myself, "Doesn't this person ever give up? NO ONE is going to answer the phone!!!!!!"

I looked over as Colin was walking out of his office and we both looked at each other as if in mutual understanding. He thought it may be a fax call. But it wasn't a fax because we now get our faxes through our copier. We have no fax machine.

I decided that I was going to answer it. I walked back to the copier area and saw two people in the area ignoring the phone.

I just walked off. Somehow I felt stupid for wanting to answer it.

I NEED a dryer!

I went to look for a dryer today.

Okay, I know I have procrastinated. I know.

First I went to Home Depot. They had one, a brand made by Maytag but not called so, for $279.00. Their delivery fee was $55.00. The sales lady said there were none in stock but I could have one delivered by Wednesday.

I decided to move on and look at Lowes.

Lowes' cheapest dryer was $259.00, but was an off-brand... a Rover. The door didn't shut very easily so I was wary. They had an Amana brand dryer for $279.00 and the door shut better. They charged $59.00 for delivery and could have it delivered tomorrow.

I have cold feet, however. I pondered and pondered. But I feel like I need to check out Mays-Munroe, a family-owned business that has been around since I can remember. And they were not open today.

In the meantime, I am continuing life without a dryer. I got my clothes out on the line today even though there wasn't much sun and it was humid.

Later, as I was sitting on the couch, I heard rain... it came out of nowhere!

"DAMN," I yelled. I jumped up and started running around like a mad woman.

"Jason, QUICK!, help me get the clothes..." I ran to the car to get my umbrella. I couldn't find it. I opened every door on the Jeep and looked all over the garage before I found it.... in the Jeep.

This has happened too many times now. WHY!!

We got the clothes in, but they were damp. And Jason was complaining the entire time because apparently he will melt if he gets wet.

As soon as we brought the clothes in, it stopped raining.

I NEED a dryer!!