HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN

~~~~Well, here it is again one year later, Halloween. I used to love Halloween. We'd pick out costumes for our 2 children, then one of us parents would take the children into the neighborhood for Treats! We'd take turns doing this every year.
~~~~Jeffrey's friends would just love to come over to see how I had decorated our home for Halloween. I went all out. Every year I would find a new piece to add to our collection. It was so much fun scaring the kids (not the itty bitty ones!). We tried to tone it down for them when they came to the door.
~~~~~I had Halloween lights on the windows, voice boxes disguised as a spooky house, that would make a scary sound when you walked up to the door. Haha... it made quite a few jump, and then they'd laugh afterwards.
~~~~~Our front door acquired a squeak after a time, and I wouldn't let DH oil it cuz it made such a perfect Squeak for Halloween! I'd open the door slowly.... and, I'd be dressed up as a witch, usually. The lights would be blinking on the windows, and inside, I had black lights on outside. So, when I opened the door slowly and they saw me in costume, and I played the part... oh, the older kids were excited, and the little ones.... haha... sometimes I could not make myself "friendly", just cuz my voice was friendly, my looks certainly were not! LOL At least they had their parents to reassure them. :) I had so many decorations for the kids to look at, that they didn't mind waiting in line.
~~~~~ A couple of the years, I sat outside on a Rocking Chair, in my witch's costume with black lights on and just rocked back and forth, with a bowl of candy on my lap. Some of the kids were actually afraid to come up to me! I'd have to call out to them that it was alright, to come on over. I almost felt guilty telling them it's okay, I have candy. LOL
~~~~~It was funny, one year one of Jeffrey's friends inquired why was it that I had so many decorations out for Halloween, but didn't have as many for Christmas?
~~~~~After DH came home from trick or treating with the children, we finished off giving out the rest of the candy and then turn off all the lights so we could check out the kid's candy, and get them ready for bed. Those were fun times.
When Alexis was off to college and Jeffrey was already late in his teens, of course, he would go out to parties with his friends.
~~~~~ Every year, in the morning, we would awaken to Toilet Papered trees, and all kinds of new Halloween decorations in our yard.... NEW decorations, that we did not own! Jeffrey's friends (all girls - if you can imagine that -) would decorate our yard year after year.
Of course, we would get after Jeffrey and make him clean it up. He was none to happy about it, but the girls continued their tradition! We hurriedly hid our new decorations in our garage, cuz we had no idea where they had come from! We never used them for fear of retaliation! LOL
~~~We've missed this ritual these past 3 years. I now, of course, look back fondly on these times, and miss those days.
~~~ I sent a message to the girls today: Who is going to decorate our lawn tonight?

The Roof Gets Repaired (Talk about Noise!)

So, now that the foundation repair guys have left, we no longer hear the jack hammers and the other loud noises that came with it. The roofers started today! So, the jackhammers are replaced by tearing the roof off and pounding the new roof on. Here are some pictures when they are just getting started.









What the heck is up there in the tree? You can see it on the picture on the right, way up high. To quote "The Queen" - "WTF"??





HAHA.... I suppose this could be another use for our tree. The day was a beautiful day, but started out chilly. I guess the worker got hot and need to hang his jacket somewhere.

~~~Poor piper, loud noises scare her. She's been cowering in corners where ever they are not hammering. Or, she will come and sit close to me. Right now she is underneath my legs under the desk. I'd take a picture of her, but the camera is in the other room.
~~~~~~~They didn't warn us to move things off of shelves. All of my pictures fell off of the Mantle! We had some coins up there that belonged to Jeffrey, and we had them by his picture. They all fell. I hope I picked all of them up for Piper's sake! One of my knick knacks fell and broke. :(
~~~~~~While there were up on the roof, I asked them if they could put in some new florescent lights in the skylight. Those lights have been there since we moved in (brand new), 19 years ago! Only one was turning on- but weak.
~~~~They said no problem so they removed the lights. They will insert the new ones that DH is going to pick up tonight. COOL!! I've been asking DH to take care of this, but he keeps finding excuses! Sometimes..... ooooo - that DH! :)

UH-OH... I just went into the kitchen and there are pieces of the roof and dirt that has fallen through the sky light, onto the island and my floor!! I'll have to let them know so they can close it properly.

Never has our driveway looked so lovely.

So, the banging has gotten louder throughout the day. They say they will be finished tomorrow! I thought it might be at least 3 days! That's probably good because it might rain the next couple of days. YIKES!

Piper at the Beach!

We took Piper to the beach last month, and have just now downloaded pics. I know! Piper had a blast! We did too. It was a beautiful day, and there were not too many people.

Piper just Loved the waves! We took turns walking her out into the water, and when I was walking into the water, she didn't pull back, she started jumping around! Hmm.. I wonder if she will do that when she is all grown up?
She's getting BIG!!

~~~~Of course, we just walked her along the edge of the waves. We got a lot of comments - or should I say Piper got a lot of "Oh, how cute!; oooo... can I pet her?; She's beautiful, how old is she?"; And that talk led to, well.. just dogs. What kind they have, and so on.

~~~~~Piper tried to eat sand. Now that was funny! She also tried to drink the salty water. She didn't like that, but kept giving it another try .. until she had enough. LOL Instead, we encouraged her to eat her food & fresh water!

~~~~~ We walked her up and down that beach and encouraged her to jump in the waves as they came up to meet us. We were determined to wear her out, so she would be calm when we got home. NO LUCK! Can you believe that??

~~~~ Yeah, wishful thinking! I think she was reaady to go home. She slept all the way home. It's amazing what a 25 minute ride, power nap will do. DH got her in the tub and bathed her. Then she was full of energy, while we were wiped out and just wanted to chill after our showers.

~~~~ I wish I had that much energy!

Foundation Guys Finished!!

Slept in. Foundation guys are gone, $$$$$$, and 4 days later. Now for the Roof guys! Oh joy! That means I get to walk Piper out in the yard for potty and can't let her run agaga in the yard! POOH!! It was soooo very nice to sleep in for a change (sry to those that have to get up early); but I didn't have to be on call in case the guys had questions, cuz they were Gone!
~~~~~~~~ Today has been a much better day. I could let Piper out all by herself, and she seemed to Love it too! I peeked out the window, and she was running the length of the yard in circles! So, I got to eat brunch and watch my recorded Y&R w/o fighting with Piper! Alright! Both of us are happy! Um... I wonder... How long will that last?
~~~~~~~~~Roof guys were supposed to start today. Was delayed already cuz of rain, so they are not here today. And, GUESS WHAT?! IT'S RAINING!! That means another delay. At least a couple of more storms are on their way. It looks like the roofers won't start until next week. Pooh!

~~~~~~~Having major Tstorms here right now. Winds in excess of 60mph. Hail in some spots. I thought I heard something hit the window! Could it be??? HEY! Maybe the wind will blow off our roof then the Insurance will have to pay for it to be replaced! WooHoo - ah a gal can dream....

AAGGHHH.... PIPER!

So, today started out early for me, cuz the workers for the foundation work we are doing at our home would be here. My usual routine after waking is to take Piper out for potty. Today she has to stick to a smaller grassy area since the guys have dirt dug up everywhere. When she poos, in the yard, she makes it right in the center of the walkway by our flower garden. Hmmm... I should pick it up so the workers won't step in it. Ah, don't really want to. Besides, it is my yard, so I leave it there. I try to sit and watch morning talk shows while drinking my iced tea, until I'm no longer groggy.

~~~~~~~~~~Piper had other ideas. She wanted to play, she's jumping on me. Groan. I thought, hey, the weather is cool this morning (low 70s), so if I take her for a walk, she'll calm down and let me chill! DH took her collar off one night we came back from Jazz Fest (buzzed) and now, we can't find it! So, I had to use her choke collar. Well, might as well do some training along the walk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~It took me at least 10 minutes to get everything that I needed for the walk. Lock doors, get ponytail holder, cap, cut up some treat (from sausage roll - for dogs); grab cell, grab sunglasses, put leash on dog. Out the door we go!
~~~~~ I say G'Morning to the guys. G'Morning they say. THEN, one guy asks: Can you move the car out of the drive way so we won't hit it with the shovel? I said, let me get the key. So, we come back inside (bummer for Piper). Can't find the key. Call DH. Find key, tried to put in gear, it won't turn on. Dead battery. No other cars around, just HUGE work truck. Sorry guys.
~~~~~By now, my knee has begun to hurt... grumble, grumble... and now I have to go for a walk. I go in house, get Piper and head out for walk.
~~~~It's nice and cool, Piper's too excited and keeps jumping. I work with her a bit and she settles down for treats. Walk going pretty good. All of a sudden I'm walking with resistance. She does this when she wants to stop and smell the roses (or poop, as it were). NO, not this time. This time she IS taking POOP on the SIDEWALK!! The HORROR!! Quickly, I look around to see if anyone is peeping out the windows. I did not bring a bag to pick up poop! I didn't expect it! She never poops or pees on my walk. We do that before walk at home. Oh Crapdiddly! I can't leave it in the middle of the sidewalk! What to do? AhHa! There are some big leaves on the ground, so I pick it up with leaves. I was gonna leave it at the edge of the sidewalk beside grass, but then I thought, ah, they need fertilizer anyway. ~~~~~~~~~Off we go. I jog, then I slow down. This is to get Piper to do whatever I want to do. This is my walk. She's learning and does pretty good. Then I do some quick turns and stops. After stopping, I say "heel", then we start walking again. The other trouble I had with her was to keep her from walking in front of me. I kept having to tug at her collar. Made it home. WHEW! Now I'm all HOT. It's now 79 degrees.
~~~~~~ Now, I take off her collar & leash, and put away the treats, change from sun glasses, get a drink, gate off the "no enter areas", then sit down to watch my videotaped "Desperate Housewives". Piper keeps bothering me, jumping on me, ringing bell (tied on door - to go out), ahhh...
~~~~~~~I've got to let her out. We're trying to train her to ring bell hanging on the door knob to go potty, so I have to take her out. I put back on her collar/leash & go outside. All she wants to do is chew leash and jump around! I can't let her out alone cuz of the workmen. Grrr..... so we go back inside. So, I never started Housewives, cuz I was busy cleaning up pee in the carpet when she escaped w/o me looking. Then I decided, while we were in backyard walking to find a potty spot, to go ahead and pick up the poop from earlier, cuz I didn't want to step in it! (HA, serves me right!)
~~~~~~~~~~Grabbed some paper towels, picked it up, threw it in toilet, (that's when I found pee on the carpet), I flushed, and went to clean up pee. Went to throw toilet paper in toilet. OOPS, it's clogged -- CRAP!! and DOUBLE CRAP!!!
~~~~~~~~~After I throw the soaked TP in other bathroom, I check on the clogged toilet. Ah, good, the water has gone down, so I flush it. YIKES, the water is rising back up to the top!! Please, oh please, don't overflow!!! Nope, it didn't listen to me... SPLASH... All around the toilet area floor.... CRAP, AGAIN! This time, little bitty pieces of poop rise with the water.... NOOOOOO...... Not that too!!!!!
~~~~~~~I check on it later. The water has receded, but NO... No-Way, am I going to flush again! I'm too busy to look for the plunger. I'll leave that for DH. After all, he is the one that wanted the dog. hehe....
~~~~~~~~~Done with that. OK, just maybe I can make some breakfast! It's almost 11:00, time for The Young and The Restless to start! Piper keeps up her behavior while I try to have my breakfast/lunch. I've had enough! I take Piper and put her in her kennel! ~~~~~~~So, now I am able to finish brunch, then watch Housewives & Y&R, cuz I've missed both! Since I recorded them both, I get to fast forward thru the commercials. THEN, I fall asleep in the chair!
I get piper out 2 hrs later. Ah, it was nice to finally do what I wanted. She is good the rest of the day! WHEW!! Hope tomorrow's better, but I doubt it, cuz workers will be coming back.

Cataloging Comic Books & More

I'm cataloging Jeffrey's comic books. I'm happy to be doing this for Jeffrey, for DH and I ..... it's something he would have done eventually, especially with the new downloads for cataloging comic book collections. Some days I feel good about it and actually happy, even with a couple of glasses of wine.
~~~~~~~Then, there are some days that I pick up a comic book, and touch the tape that Jeffrey used to seal the plastic sleeve over the comic book, and I touch the same tape, run my fingers over it... and just think that I am touching the same tape that my Jeffrey touched once before while doing the same thing, taping the sleeve shut to protect the comic book. It's as simple as something like that - that jars you into your reality.
~~~~~~~~~And, it makes me so sad and make me cry - makes me miss him oh so terribly. Like I said before: there are good days and bad days. Yes, they still come, and I imagine that they always will come.... sometime - anytime, when not expected.
~~~~~~~~~~I spoke to Alison's father yesterday to find out how they are doing. That question always perplexed me. People would call up and ask how are you doing? Well, I just lost my child, how the heck do you expect I am doing? But, I respond, Good. It's really not fair to them. What else is there to say when you are checking on your loved one that you are so worried about?
~~~~~~~~~So, yesterday I hesitated asking the question when I called Alison's parents, knowing exactly how they are feeling.... in shock and devestated.
~~~~~~~~But, not knowing what else to day... YES, ME.... Not know what to say after going through the same thing. I ended up saying, I'm just calling to see how y'all are doing. Amazingly enough, Alison's mom had gone back to work, just 2 weeks afterwards! Her husband expected her to come home about lunchtime. They are still in shock. I was in shock for a year - 2 yrs. It's just so very hard to wrap your brain/heart around what has actually happened. To us, it's like a nightmare that we pray that we will wake up and discover that is was just that, a nightmare. That happens every night, until we wake up the next morning.
~~~~~~~~~Byron and I had a good converation that lasted about 45 minutes. I let him talk mostly and interjected when it was the right time. It was like reliving the whole nightmare again. But, this time, I hope to help give them some comfort in some way. Probably in just knowing that we have gone through the same thing, and that we will understand their feelings that no one... not their family, nor their friends, who have never experienced the same nightmare, will understand. That's just the way it is.

~~~~~~~~I found a new picture behind the boxes of his comic books. It apparently had fallen off of the wall. I had not seen it before. It is Jeffrey and some friends, that I'm sure I have met, just cannot remember their names! LOL Ah, he had just sooo many friends. :) I'll have to ask around. Every new picture to me, feels like I can just reach out and touch him.

Dove Evolution Commercial

I'm passing along a video found on Kcinnova's blog who saw it on Jen's blog, to share it with you.

NaNa NaNa NaNa NaNa.... BATMAN! And, Home Improvements

~~~~~~We have been working towards getting some major work done on our home. You know $$ is always a factor. But, we've started! I was telling DH about how a blogger friend's husband is getting a lot of repairs done around the house! You see, she supervises and her husband, and he does the work! It's a match made in Heaven! (K, do you recognize yourself?) I'm trying the supervising thing out. So far so good!

~~~So, after bragging about all of the repairs/remodeling her husband is doing, maybe I just struck a nerve with my DH. Maybe not, but whatever, he started with something minor. We got rid of our curtains and put in blinds! I'm not sure what kind of window treatment I might add yet. Anyway, it looks very nice!

~~~Here is a picture of Batman on the Mantel ledge that my son put there when he was little... maybe about 11yrs? One day a few years back, when Jeffrey was about 20 I guess, I was dusting and decided to take down Batman. We've gotten used to it being there so we never really noticed it there. Well, when Jeffrey saw what I was doing, He got all excited and said "NO".... Please put Batman back! He belongs there! I want him to stay there. (Sweet, huh?)

~~~~Well, I was surprised, but had to smile that he still wanted Batman to hang around, possibly to remind us of his childhood (do young men actually think like that - or is that just my wording? lol); but, since he still collected many Batman, and super hero comics, it meant a lot to him whatever the case. It made me nostalgic, and I placed Batman back on the ledge.

~~~~ To this day, Batman is still there, and I imagine it will remain there as long as I am alive. Hmm.... maybe I should put that in my will. :) Nice memories. Always thinking of some of them.

Please Let Sleeping Dog Sleep

~~~~This morning I actually woke up EARLY!! Ok, it was 7:30... Major early for me! I tried to go back to sleep - no dice. As I stirred around, I tried very hard to not lift my head too high, and keep the squirming to a minimum. I didn't want to wake "the Dog". So, I very carefully, squirmed my way to the edge of the bed, then I slinked over the wooden bed frame (waveless water bed). Finally, I slinked onto the carpet.
~~~~~If I lift my head over the bed, or stand, she will immediately awake! She sleeps with half an eye open! So I c r a w l to the door. I slowly open the door so she won't wake (who knows if door will creek or not). Then crawl out the door! YEA!! I MADE IT!!! Big *SIGH*. So, I happily stand up and walk over to the kitchen. Yea, I can watch some talk shows while I have breakfast! ~~~~~As I round the corner.... I see the family room. The side table is toppled over with all the remotes on the floor, DH's boots are scattered on the floor; one sock is missing. Then I see it - uh, I mean her..... DH had her hooked to her leash, (attached to my Gazelle) with lots of leeway for her to move around (had flexi leash). I guess she ate the other sock.
~~~~OH CRAP!! You mean I had done all that slinking and crawling and being ever so quiet to get out of my bedroom and SHE WASN'T EVEN IN HER KENNEL???!!!
Good Morning to Me.

Alison Fredrich Berry ~ 1978-2009 RIP Sweet Alison ~ We Will Miss You

~~~Alison passed away in an head on automobile collision on Thursday, October 1, 2009. She died on impact. Alison has been a best friend of my daughter since Jr. High school. I remember when Alison used to come over to our home, along with a few more friends, and practice drill team routines in our front room where we have a wall of mirrors.
~~~The girls loved to practice their routines together. The drill team was known as The Tigerettes. Alison and Alexis would study together either at her home, or in our home. They both were very concientious girls who cared about school and their responsiblities at home and in school. They were very involved in school. Then they would relax and have fun outside of school also.

Alison was 31 years young. Alison received a Masters and Doctorate Degree of Audiology. Coincidentally, the same field of work that Alexis is in. Alison was outgoing and an extremely kind and loving person. She will be missed.