A Motley Crew

I know Halloween is supposed to be strange, but this one was a weird one for us. We were prepared that trick-or-treating had come to an end since Carter is in 7th grade. But he had a group of girls ask him to tag along so he wanted to go.

Our only rule was that he had to dress up. None of this showing up with a pillow case and begging for candy. So he decided he wanted to dress up as an injured person who got run over by a car or hit by a bus. "I can say I'm a role model. This is what happens when you don't look both ways." He found some used crutches at Goodwill and we tore up an old sheet for bandages. We paid 2 bucks for face paint and away we went.


He wanted a black eye and some various cuts on his face. (Sort of like Brett Favre today.)

And we can't forget multiple head wounds either!

We wrapped his head, one wrist and a foot. Thankfully, Trick-or-Treat hours don't last too long. I don't think it's all that fun walking around on crutches!

The group of girls he went with are fun bunch. I knew 2 of them from soccer -- the "man" next to Carter and the pink-faced monster next to her -- but the others seem pretty nice.

After dropping him off, it was back home to hand out treats for the first time ever. We had no idea if anyone even swings into our neighborhood since most of the kids in residence go elsewhere (as we have for years).

I'm almost ashamed to admit this, but we've been so preoccupied with the car and other "stuff" going on that we never even got a pumpkin to carve this year! I know, that's awful. But I put a lighted fake one in the window to attract any ghosts or goblins passing by.

We had a group of 5 young trick-or-treaters knock on our door before the "official hours" even started. Whoa. Maybe I should start a tally board! But then, just like Linus waiting for The Great Pumpkin, no other trick-or-treaters arrived.

So I guess that's more Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kit-Kats and Butterfingers for us. What? You think we'd hand out treats we didn't like?? Add to that Carter's 4 pounds of candy (yes, I weighed it), and we're set at home and my work candy dish for quite awhile.

Probably about as long as it takes some of those girls to get all the glitter and color out of their hair! I'm happy to report, Carter was "injury-free" in no time. Now that's a good Halloween

Hope yours was filled with a few treats, too!

Shuttle Run

Normally I don't care one way or the other when the state cross-country meet is town. I think it's been held at The Ridges Golf Course some 15 years or so. As a passerby, I know it is a crazy zoo. There are thousands, yes thousands, of runners, coaches and fans who converge on Rapids. So we know what roads and stores (Wal-Mart, boo-hoo) to avoid during this Saturday each year.

Today, though, we got a taste of it!

My high school friend Julie, who lives south of Madison, was coming through town (from Eau Claire actually). Her daughter is on their school's cross-country team but due to an injury, didn't run much this fall and did not qualify for state. But she wanted to cheer her teammate on, so I said, "Why not park at our house and we'll shuttle you over to the meet? It's only 5 minutes from our house!"

Jim has a friend who was coming into town to cheer on his nephew. Jim hadn't see this guy for probably 20 years, so he said, "Why not park at our house and we'll shuttle you over to the meet? It's only 5 minutes from our house!"

It was kind of cool. They both said, yes, and we had a little shuttle service going.

Jim's friend, wife and daughter arrived first. I got to play sweaty hostess because I had just gotten back from a run when they arrived. No, I did not compete today and, after seeing these kids run, I wonder why I even try!

Anyway, Jim shuttled them over to see boys' races shortly after noon.

Julie and the girls got here right after that. I hadn't seen the girls in years. In fact, the last picture of Julie and I together with the kids was taken 10 years ago (with Carter squirming off my lap). So we took another group shot and headed for the meet.

I wanted to see just how crazy it was and I was not disappointed. For all the chaos among fans -- from crazy costumes to cow bells -- it was obviously a well-run event. I wasn't kidding about the thousands of people either. Very cool to be among concerned and supportive parents and friends cheering on their runner or runners. Julie's daughter's friend had a tough go of it, running with a wicked head cold, but she had a lot of teammates very proud of her. It was neat to be a part of it.

After we caught our "shuttle" home, Julie headed back to Madison and Carter and I headed to Plover to buy expensive basketball shoes. We all know how important good shoes are, right? Right. I'll keep telling myself that.

When we got home, Carter and I watched The Karate Kid movie -- the remake. It's no surprise I'm a huge fan of the original from the '80s. But I must say the remake was pretty good, too! Carter really, really liked them both and calls this one "inspiring." Not sure what it's going to inspire him to do, but I know it has nothing to do with running cross country any time soon.

It's fun to watch, though!

Wheel Done

I am pleased to report we are back to being a two-car family again!

After our failures in Wausau yesterday, we widened our search on the Internet and found ourselves in Green Bay this morning at a Honda dealer. We had one in mind from our search last night and, after looking at several similar ones on the lot, came home with it.

So we have a new car -- new to us, anyway. It's a 2006 Civic with low enough miles we think it can get us to Iola and back for the next 6 or 7 years. (And we hope our jobs last that long, too!)

Carter likes it because of all the little interior lights and digital displays. He got to ride shotgun on the way to a birthday party at the YMCA in Port Edwards. He does this sweeping "Vanna" motion of the dashboard and says, "I just love all this technology!" It's no KITT car, that's for sure.

After we dropped him off, we had about 2 hours before we had to return. Rather than drive all the way home, we hopped down the road to Goodfella's in Nekoosa and met our friends Mike and Christine for pizza. Hadn't seen them in awhile so that was fun.

When we were done eating and still had time to kill, we thought, "Why don't we go to the casino and blow some of our hard-earned money?" Well, we weren't thinking that exactly, but you all know that's how it almost always turns out. Unless you're my father-in-law who always "breaks even." (So he says.)

Did have fun there and picked Carter up by 8:45 p.m. It was a very long day with minimal time at home. But who can complain about a new car, old friends and good pizza?

Not me.

Shop 'Til You Drop? I Don't Think So!

Carter is laying on the carpeted floor of the computer room as I type this. He claims it's because he's waiting for his blanket to warm up. I think he wants to make sure I don't write about any girls he may "know." So I'll save that for another time...

Today was our first day of shopping for a new (well, different) car. You know, some people love shopping. We're suddenly not fans.

We had a Honda sort of picked out from various Internet searches. It seemed the best deal for the price versus mileage. So we trekked up to Wausau after work to check it out. We tried not to appear "too interested" so we actually ignored the Honda for awhile and test-drove 2 other vehicles.

When we got to the Honda, it became immediately clear why it was priced so reasonably low. We're talking "basic model" here, folks. Here is this 2005 model with a missing radio (but a spot for one) and, get this, roll-up windows! Oh no sir, we are not traveling back in time and having "manual" crank windows! And yes sir, we need a radio when we're in the car for 2 hours a day. Yikes.

So, since that was the last vehicle we looked at, we headed home and will have to embark on Day 2 tomorrow. There is no school and hubby and I both took the day off. So maybe all 3 of us can join in the fun! Hmm.

Actually, we don't have any other cars in mind right now so we need to think up a game plan. All I know is I do not want to spend our whole day off shopping.

Unless it's for new shoes or something. But those can only get me so far...

Fall Fury

Yup, I stole that headline from The Weather Channel, but really, there's no other way to describe this crazy windy weather!

It was a loud night last night with the wind just howling constantly. Despite less sleep, there are 2 things I'm grateful for. One is that nothing came flying through any windows (we saw plenty of downed trees and branches on our morning commute). And two is that it was just wind with a teeny bit of rain -- even though it sounded like a blizzard.

Well, make that 3 things I am thankful for. We did not get snow. My nephew Tim out in South Dakota and friend Gail in North Dakota both reported "blowing and drifting" snow today. Yikes. It looks like it veered off into Canada or maybe northern Minnesota. But it doesn't seem to be coming to Central Wisconsin. If you believe the weather men.

Since it allegedly will be sunny and 40-something on Friday, hubby and I will go look at vehicles then. For now, we're being nice and sharing the CRV with each other. He was extra nice and took Carter into town to confirmation so I could get some baking done, too. Due to my Momma Drama, I never got my Rice Krispy treats where they needed to go last Thursday so I am trying this again.

And Fall Fury or no Fall Fury, it is perfect baking weather! Don't ya think?

Blow Ye Winds, Hi Ho...

I have a song stuck in my head with the lyrics: Blow ye winds, hi ho, a roving we will go... When did I ever hear it or sing it? No idea. But it's hard not to think windy thoughts today.

The weather forecasters started giving us warnings yesterday that today was going to be really, really, really windy. Did I mention really windy? Like gusts up to 40, 50, even 60 mph. Unfortunately, they were right.

We've got rain on top of it so it's awful out there. Hubby and I had planned to trek up to Wausau after work but once we hit the monsoon, we figured we better wait until another day or so. As hubby pointed out, nothing says "desperate" like showing up in this weather to buy a car. They'd know we needed it and we'd have no bargaining power.

Plus on days like this, a person of a wicked nature thinks about alternative transportation anyway -- like a broom.

I was telling someone I started out the day as the Wicked Witch of the West and I've already made it to the Midwest! After learning from my nephew in South Dakota that they have the snow plows out already, I am not sure I want to stay in the Midwest either. Is there sunshine out East? Too bad I can't get this broom to fly South. Knowing my luck with vehicles, it would probably break down over a hurricane or something...

Speaking of vehicle "issues"... I had to change a headlight bulb again on the CRV. I think that's why the previous owner sold it. I mean, seriously, how many times have I changed these in the past 2 years?? It's a pain in the butt and I had to have Carter help me tonight (holding the flashlight).

I'm hoping my gearhead side proves I can be useful for something -- and not just breaking every machine or electronic device I touch.

This does not mean I won't charge Jim for labor...

Poor Sport

I am so glad Carter had his sign-up meeting tonight for basketball. It is time to focus my attention on a new sport. I am doing oh so poorly with my football endeavours, that's for sure.

The Vikings are awful (I might as well get that out of the way right away) and my fantasy team is losing right now by nearly 100 points! Anyone who plays fantasy football knows that's unheard of! It's awful.

So I will be glad to be hooping it up for the next few months. Looks like this is our only week of freedom for awhile. Carter will start basketball practice Monday already and the season goes to early January.

Last winter was his first attempt playing organized basketball. He has a lot to learn but he's enthusiastic about it -- as long as he can figure out how he's going to squeeze in homework, reading and baritone practice along with it. And maybe girls, too. But I told him that's the first thing he can drop.

They probably don't play fair at this age anyway.

(But when do we? Hmm...)