Happy Halloween! (305/366)

TIME:  6:13 PM
PLACE:  The cousin’s house
SUBJECT:  StellaDella and Eva

The Dark/Goth Fairy and the Hippie.  They trick-or-treated for two hours – yakking the whole time.  My feet hurt from walking.

Vertical Flight (304/366)

TIME:  7:33 PM
PLACE:  Junior High gym
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy – jumping

Wow.  That boy can jump.

(He didn’t block the shot, but his opponent didn’t make the basket either)

Necklace (303/366)

TIME:  8:46 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  StellaDella and her necklace

SD made this necklace as part of an Art project for school.  Her assignment was to create a piece of jewelry that could be displayed in a museum.  Success!

Kill Me Now (302/366)

TIME:  5:29 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Oreo in costume

Oreo is wearing a Pterodactyl costume with a jockey caveman.  She doesn’t look like she is enjoying it.

DramaQueen Is Now 15 (301/366)

TIME:  ??
PLACE:  Local Photography Studio
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen – 6 months old
(one of my favorite pictures)

My first-born entered the world at on 10/27/97 at 10:47 pm.  She is the reason for my first major surgery (C-section) and quite a number of grey hairs.  Today she turned 15 and is gunning for a driver’s permit.  I foresee many, many more grey hairs in my future.

Slender Man (300/366)

TIME:  5:51 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen, friends and Slender Man
 
MonkeyBoy had a Halloween dance and decided to go as Slender Man.  Here he is “stalking” DQ and her friends in the front yard.  Creepy.

View From the Bleachers (299/366)

TIME:  8:09 PM
PLACE:  Junior High
SUBJECT:  Gym

Basketball season has begun.  MonkeyBoy made the 8th great team.  Therefore we will be spending many evenings here in the coming weeks.

Halloween Décor (298/366)

TIME:  10:38 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Skull and lamp

I finally decorated a little bit for Halloween.  I’ve been really slacking on holiday décor these past couple of years.  And on posting pictures as well.

Real Men Wear Tutus (297/366)

TIME:  7:40 PM
PLACE:  Fortel’s Pizza
SUBJECT:  Man in a tutu

The grandfather of one of SD’s teammates told the girls he would wear a tutu at the end of the year soccer party if they won their last two games.  They only won one, but he still put on the tutu, much to the girls delight.

Fall Foliage (296/366)

"The clump of maples on the hill,
And this one near the door,
Seem redder, quite a lot, this year
Than last, or year before;"

- David L. Cady, October in Vermont

TIME:  7:43 AM
PLACE:  Dad’s house
SUBJECT:  Maple tree

StellaDella has been down for the count the last week.  The official diagnosis by the pediatrician on Saturday is an upper respiratory infection.  She was prescribed azithromycin to fight the infection.  Unfortunately, she still couldn’t go to school today.  My dad, God bless him, agreed to watch her while HH and I were at work.  I dropped her off at his house this morning and saw that the tree planted in the front yard 30+ years ago is once again dressed for fall.

Natural Van Wrap (295/366)

Homer Simpson: I can't believe I'm in Cheech and Chong's van, the van made out of weed!
Cheech Marin: This van is not made of weed.
Homer Simpson: Then what's it made of? Hash? 'Shrooms? Lysergic acid diethylamide?
Cheech Marin: No, the van is just made out of... van.
Homer Simpson: Ohhh!

The Simpsons: Season 22, Episode 16, A Midsummer’s Nice Dream, 13, Mar 2011.

TIME: 2:48 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Shadows on van

The sunlight and the neighbor’s tree made interesting patterns on HH’s work van this afternoon.

Viola (294/366)

“The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer.”

Victor Borge (Danish born American Comedian and Pianist, 1909-2000)

TIME:  6:10 PM
PLACE:  Yard
SUBJECT:  Viola

Victor is talking about a different type of viola, but I like the quote.

Mums (293/366)

“A chrysanthemum by any other name would be a lot easier to spell.”

― Robert C. Savage

TIME:  6:08 PM
PLACE:  Grade school
SUBJECT:  Mums at the Fall Festival

We had our Fall Festival at school this evening.  There were several games for the kids, a bounce house and inflatible obstical course, face painting and hair coloring stations.  To eat there was cotton candy, chili/hot dogs/hamburgers and for dessert, a bake sale.  The kids where able to redeem the tickets the won at the games for prizes.    HandsomeHusband donated the chrysanthemums and hay bales we used for decorations.

Bunch o’ Bags (292/366)

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in”

Will Rogers (American entertainer, 1879-1935)

TIME:  6:22 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Tote Bags for Fall Festival

My employer donated 150 tote bags for our fall festival tomorrow.  I delivered them this evening to drop them off and to help with last minute preparations.  I was called home to help comfort my son who received an elbow to the nose while playing in an 8th grade basketball game.  He was in such pain.  I don’t think it is broken – it’s a clear view up his nostrils and his eyes aren’t turning black – but it’s gonna hurt him for a while.  My poor boy.

Hail, Hail Rock & Roll! (291/366)

"Roll over Beethoven, and tell Tchaikovsky the news."

Chuck Berry (American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, b.1926)

TIME:  10:22 PM
PLACE:  The Duck Room, Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Chuck Berry
(all taken with cell phone)

When I found out that Chuck Berry still puts on concerts about once a month at Blueberry Hill, I decided I needed to see him while I had the chance.  My Dad and brother Mike joined me.  I wasn’t expecting too much – I mean, the man turns 86 tomorrow (Oct 18th) – but I can honestly say, it was $35 well spent.  He put on a great show.  He was having a good time, so was the audience and he can still play a mean guitar.  Love you Chuck!

Good Morning (290/366)

“Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of day.”

― Glen Cook, Sweet Silver Blues

TIME:  7:11 AM
PLACE:  Outside
SUBJECT:  The morning sky

I wake at 5:30 am every morning so I can be on my way to work by 7:00 am.  At least, I try.  I’m usually running behind – for example, today I was 11 minutes behind schedule.  I’m not a morning person, but seeing skies like this helps me face the day.

Pumpkin (289/366)

“We fancy men are individuals; so are pumpkins; but every pumpkin in the field goes through every point of pumpkin history”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)

TIME:  5:40 PM
PLACE:  Porch
SUBJECT:  Pumpkin

We bought pumpkins at Aldi’s [a grocery store] this weekend.  They are nice big ones and only cost $3.49 each.  Can’t beat that.

Connect 4 (288/366)

Sister: (inserts a winning piece) "I Won!"
Brother: "Where? I can’t…"
Sister: "Here...... diagonally!"
Brother: "Pretty sneaky, Sis."

Commercial, Connect Four game, 1981

TIME:  5:30 PM
PLACE:  Laser Rock
SUBJECT:  Connect 4 game

Last day of soccer today.  After the boy’s final victory (5-1 woo-hoo!) in very windy field conditions and just before the storm hit, we all went to eat pizza and play laser tag.  Well, all the boys, the coaches, some siblings and a couple of parents – not me – played laser tag.  I sat and had a vodka drink and ate some chicken wings.  I needed to conserve my energy for the Season 3 premiere episode of “The Walking Dead” later this evening.

Windy & Misty (287/366)

Winds in the east, mist coming in.
Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin.

Bert (played by Dick Van Dyke), Mary Poppins, Walt Disney Productions, 1964.

TIME:  10:46 AM
PLACE:  Soccer fields
SUBJECT:  Flags and goal

Wind and mist were what greeted us at the soccer fields this morning.  I took a few photos with my camera then decided to put it away and just watch the game.  A few minutes after doing this, I watched StellaDella score her second goal of the season.  Way to go SD!

Private Screening (286/366)

Homer Simpson: (inside a movie theater) "BORING!"
Lisa Simpson: "Dad, we can't see the movie"
Homer Simpson: "I can't believe we're paying for something we can get on TV for free. If you ask me, everybody in this theater is a giant sucker, especially YOU!”

The Simpsons Movie, 20th Century Fox, 2007

TIME:  8:52 PM
PLACE:  The movies
SUBJECT:  L-R, Brother Mike, Nephew Michael, Niece Brandi, StellaDella, DramaQueen and Dad

We went to the 9:05 pm showing of Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie” and ended up being the only people in the theatre.  We’re special…or we stink and nobody wanted to be in there with us.  Naaah – I’m going with special.

Stuck (285/366)

The Doctor: The world's about to end, and here I am, stuck in traffic.

Doctor Who, (TV movie), BBC Worldwide, 1996

TIME:  4:53 PM
PLACE:  Old Route 66
SUBJECT:  John Deere combine

I tried a different route home.  That was a bad move.  I ended up being stuck behind this combine and was unable to pass for many, many, many miles.  Ah, the joys of living in the Midwest.

Shiny and New (282/366)

“Bite my shiny, metal ass!”

Bender, Futurama (TV series 1999-present)

TIME:  10:31 PM
PLACE:  Basement
SUBJECT:  Dryer vent

See this?  This is new.  It’s new because our 19-year old dryer (purchased by HH for me way back in April of 1993 before we were married-très romantique-no?) shot craps this weekend.  As he installed the new gas dryer – it helps to have a husband who is a gas fitter – he decided to replace the venting as well.  Its so shiny and un-linty!

It’s Fall (281/366)

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."

- Nathaniel Hawthorne (American short-story Writer and Novelist,1804-1864)

TIME:  11:49 AM
PLACE:  Outside
SUBJECT:  Tree

With the drought we had this summer, I didn’t think that there would be much color to see his fall.  Shows how much I know.

Homecoming Cousins (280/366)

TIME:  6:44 PM
PLACE:  Sophia’s house
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen and Sophia

It’s the big Homecoming dance at both of the local high schools this evening.  The girls got themselves all gussied up.  Hmmmm…I think their fathers need to have some shotguns at the ready.

Beer Me! (279/366)

"To alcohol! The cause of... and solution to... all of life's problems"

Homer Simpson, The Simpsons, Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment, 16 Mar. 1997.

TIME:  8:27 PM
PLACE:  Downtown
SUBJECT:  Beer stand at the Chili Cook-Off

Our town has its Annual Chili Cook-Off this weekend.  Through my work, I volunteered to work the beer stand on the Square from 7:30 to 10:30.  I figured it would be a good spot to see everyone.  What everyone didn’t plan on was the rain and cold weather.  It was a bit cold, wet and very slow tonight.  It was still fun though – I’ll volunteer again next year.

Between The Overpasses (277/366)

Gallagher: I know you people, you're the smart ones…You're not the ones goin' over the overpass with the turn signal on. Where are they gonna turn? You almost wish they would.

Gallagher: Over Your Head (1984)

TIME:  6:11 PM
PLACE:  State Street
SUBJECT:  Highway overpasses and sky

We had a 5 days off from sports (Junior High soccer ended last week Thursday, his other league is still going on though) MonkeyBoy made the 8th grade basketball team – Way to go MB!  Practice started today.  I picked him up afterwards and quickly snapped this as we were sitting at the stop light on the way home.

It’s Whaley Cute! (276/366)

“Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.”

~Fred Allen - born John Florence Sullivan (American comedian, 1894-1956)

TIME:  10:06 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Flat wallet

Did you groan when you read that title or did it give you a haddock?  Whale, I’m sorry if you don’t like puns, but just try to get on board with it.  The porpoise of today’s photo is to lure you in with the cuteness of my new wallet.  You took the bait, chum.  Holy mackerel, I hope your head isn’t swimming.  That’s the power of the net.

Helped Out By the Husband (275/366)

I love my husband more today than yesterday…yesterday he got on my nerves.

TIME:  Texted to me at 6:27 pm
PLACE:  ??
SUBJECT:  Sunset

Me:  Pretty
HH:  Like you.
Me:  Awwww