Happy Halloween!

Newspaper Photo of Me at Age Five

Halloween is hot and muggy here on the Florida Gulf Coast. Shani and I just took a neighborhood walk and checked out all the carved pumpkins on our neighbors' front porches. Most are like us and didn't bother to put out any decorations.

However, we do have candy ready, the kind we like (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers and 3 Musketeers) in case we have some trick-or-treaters. Kinda sad that very few kids trick-or-treat these days. Last year we didn't have any in this neighborhood, but several young families have moved in over the last year, so we have hopes that a few little ghosts and goblins visit our house tonight. We have an old tape of scary sounds that we're going to play by an open window.

The grandkids did their trick-or-treating last night, because they live in a town that forbids trick-or-treating on Sundays. Sheesh! That makes no sense to me. Halloween is on Halloween. But, of course, no one asked my opinion. Well, our grandson was Scooby Doo (his favorite) and the twins a Lady Bug and a Bumble Bee. I'm supposed to have some photos emailed to me.

As a kid growing up in southern California, Halloween was a big deal. Our elementary school always had a Halloween Festival with lots of good treats. Our neighborhoods were filled with kids and we all went out trick-or-treating. Sometimes I was a witch with my long red hair. Other times a cowgirl, complete with cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a toy holster with six-guns borrowed from my brother.

My next door neighbors and I would run through our neighborhood at full speed. We'd pass by the dark house with the barking dogs who lived under the house. There was one "old lady" who never opened her door, but always left a basket of ruby-red apples on her doorstep. Most neighbors gave us the usual Candy Corn; Wax Lips, Mustaches and Fingers (yeah, that was a big thing back then); Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops and Candy Suckers. The "good places" gave us candy bars. We'd make a second trip back to those houses. The people never complained, just said, "Ah, you kids have been here before."

I remember the very last time I went trick-or-treating. I think I was twelve. Ricky, Debbie and I were cowboy bandits, complete with bandannas pulled over our faces. More than one person said, "You kids are too old to trick-or treat." But they still gave us candy. I believe we enjoyed that particular Halloween more than any other, because that was the last time we went trick-or-treating.

Sometimes my little brother used to trick-or-treat with me. But he usually went off with his own group of friends. I think the very last year he dressed up as a gorilla. Though my mom and brother, who now live together, sometimes have really cool Halloween parties and they and their friends all dress up. Last year mom was a witch with green hair. I don't remember what my brother was for that Halloween.

Funny thing, nowadays people take pictures of their kids in Halloween costumes. Such was not the case back then. Costumes were always home-made and no one bothered to take a picture of us. We just celebrated the day and had a grand time.

There was one particular Halloween of  importance when I was five years old. A kid named Robbie and I had our pictures taken gazing at a huge carved and candlelit pumpkin. One photo made the cover  and another on the reverse inside page of our local newspaper. I still have that page from the newspaper and take it out every now and then to look at it. I had big eyes, ringlets and chubby cheeks, whic I guess was my costume of that year.

When I was sixteen I dressed up for Halloween, just on a whim. A friend of mine, Craig B., was a hippie and I was a teacher with glasses. We went to a friend's house to show off our costumes, but we didn't trick-or-treat.

Twice in my 20s I dressed up for Halloween. The first time I was a witch with glittered eyelids and long glittery fingernails (my own nails, by the way). I went to a local dance club with a bunch of friends. Everyone was in costume. Another time I was a French Maid and went dancing with a girlfriend of mine. It was when I went back to college and the dance was at the college bar and grill. Diane and I got to dance with every hunky guy there.

The very last time I dressed up for Halloween was in New Orleans. My sister-in-law, Loretta, and my daughter and I were all three witches. My husband was a Sheik. New Orleans is definitely a fun place to party on Halloween.

Well, on our walk this afternoon, Shani wore a Halloween bandanna. I guess that's the only "dressing up" that we're going to do this year. We'll have to wait until dark to see if any trick-or-treaters visit our house. If not, we've got some yummy candy to eat. Of course, we'll put the candy in the freezer and eat a piece of it every now and then.

For those who are flying on their broomsticks tonight, Happy Halloween!

In Loving Memory of Nikki - A Once in a Lifetime Doggie Companion

One of my last photos of Nikki

Yesterday Nikki, my 10 1/2 year old Lab/Chow beloved canine companion passed away. For the last 2 1/2 years she'd been fighting canine diabetes, which required insulin injections twice a day just to keep her alive. Almost overnight she went from 67 lbs to 36 lbs, as the diabetes ate away almost all of her muscles until she looked like a furry bag of bones. Then she developed cataracts and at the last was totally blind. But none of this stopped Nikki. She thought such was the life of all dogs and she maintained a sweet doggie smile and the rotary wag of her tail until the last few hours of her life. At the end she had numerous complications from her diabetes, including failing kidneys and in her last hours she had uncontrollable grand mal seizures. She passed away with me at her side. Nik and I had been inseparable for ten joyous years.

I'm not handling this loss very well, so I'll wait and write more later. In the meantime, you can read more about Nikki in previous posts: "Nikki and the Thunder Monsters," "The Ordeal of Bathing Dogs" and "A Story About Dogs - Parts 1-4." Let me tell you, it's very difficult to lose a very best friend. 

Cooler Weather - A Great Time to Read

Shani & Nikki watching me read Henry James

The beginning of October here on the Florida Panhandle and somebody turned off the heat. I'm talking 50s and 60s, which is pretty chilly for Florida this time of year. Normally it's warm temps through mid November. Shorts, sleeveless-Ts and bare feet kind of weather. Only yesterday morning the weather took a decided dip and it's long pants, socks and sweatshirt weather. A decidedly chilly breeze is blowing, making it too cold to sit out on the patio. I'm hoping this is just for a few days. I'm already wanting the warmer weather back.

On the other hand, cooler weather means lots more time to read. And since I'm a book-aholic, I jump at any chance to snuggle into a comfy chair and read. I'm still making my way through literary classics I missed in years past, or old favorites I want to read again. So right now I'm on a Henry James kick. Back in High School I read the requisite Turn of the Screw and Daisy Miller. At 15, when I was sick at home for two months with mono, I read James' Portrait of a Lady. Through the years, that book has remained one of my favorites.

Well, now I've set out to read all of Henry James' novels. In the last few weeks I've read Washington Square, The American, The Europeans, Daisy Miller, Roderick Hudson and Louisa Pallant. This morning I'm going to start The Bostonians. I never realized how much I'd enjoy reading Henry James. His books are addictive, which is saying a lot for an avid reader like me. I can't finish one without delving into the next one minutes later. Maybe if I'd read these books when I was younger I wouldn't have enjoyed them as much? I don't know. I must say these are great reads for this time in my life. His stories are all about character and place. He wrote as if he were painting a picture. So maybe that's why I'm enjoying them so much?

As I said, I'd love to have the warmer weather back. Then I'd sit out on the patio and read Henry James. In the meantime, I'll curl up in my recliner, or lounge on the couch, and enjoy his books just as much as if I was reading them outside.

Coffee and Kindle - Replacement Received

My new Kindle 3G and Coffee

I finally received my replacement Kindle, the new Kindle 3G, yesterday afternoon after waiting practically forever. It was lost enroute and eventually arrived after eleven days of shipping and lots of phone calls and emails with Amazon/Kindle. So here's a photo taken this morning of the new Kindle and my morning cup of coffee.

If you've read my other posts about my problems with Amazon/Kindle, it's been a long haul to get a new replacement for my three month old defective 2nd Generation Kindle. First they sent me a "refurbished" one as a replacement and it didn't work. Duh! It took lots of complaining and unpleasant words before I got a new one as a replacement. I'm still waiting for my refund, which they claimed to have processed over a week ago, but which still isn't showing up on my credit card account. When that finally gets straightened out, I'll have to deal with the issue of getting a refund on my warranty for the original Kindle. You see, they want me to pay for a new warranty for the replacement Kindle, even though I already paid for a two year warranty and only had my Kindle for less than three months when it went on the fritz.

Since I've had both the 2nd Generation Kindle and now the Kindle 3G, I can give a few comparisons. The new one is smaller, lighter weight and has darker print and better contrast. I like the switches better on the new one. Also, the vents are on the back upper corners of the device instead of the back bottom corners. This should prevent overheating, which I think was part of the problem with my 2nd Generation Kindle. Since I've only had this new one for 24 hours, it remains to be seen how it will hold up to steady use.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the Kindle. It's a great concept for an avid reader who always wants to carry his or her books around at all times. My complaint is primarily with the warranty that allows them to replace a defective Kindle with a refurbished one at their discretion. I think that's a rotten policy and if I'd "read the fine print" before I bought my original Kindle, I wouldn't have bought it for that reason. On the other hand, since I didn't find that said "small print" before I bought my Kindle, after I bought it, it was too late to turn back. I really liked my 2nd Generation Kindle until it went on the fritz after only ten weeks of use. As I've said before, the Kindle is great when it works and not great when it doesn't work.

The other major problem with Amazon/Kindle is the poor customer service. I spent a horrible two weeks fighting with Amazon and Kindle support in order to get my replacement Kindle 3G. I tried to explain to them that their customer service is the worst I've ever encountered. But I don't think they cared one way or the other. I've been a satisfied Amazon customer for over five years, but I'd only bought books, CDs and DVDs. I only once had to return a book, when they sent me the wrong one. So I had no idea that I would have such a big problem in purchasing my Kindle.

Even though I've had a rather unpleasant experience with Amazon and Kindle Support, that doesn't mean everyone else will have the same problem. My adult daughter got her 2nd Generation 9" Kindle last January and has not had any problems. I'd like to think that what I encountered was an exception to the rule.

Do I recommend the new 6" Kindle 3G? So far, I think it's great! Considering the price, I hope it works for a good long time. If it does, then I'll be a very happy Kindle owner. All I can say is, if you want to buy one, please be sure to read the warranty, including the "fine print."

Mums the Word!



Mums and Potted Wildflowers

"Mums the Word!" I've wanted to use that expression for a long time. Well, this was a day for mums, or rather, chrysanthemums. They were on sale for $1/pot at WalMart, so how could I help but buy some? Actually, my husband was out doing the grocery shopping this morning and I called him on his cell and asked him to get some of the mums. So he brought home seven little potted mums, which I promptly replanted in the glazed pots on our patio. So pretty, in bright yellow, purple and gold. If the mums are still on sale tomorrow, I think we'll buy some more.

This has been a week that went by much too fast. It seems like all I did was blink and the week was gone. Maybe it was the beautiful Florida weather? This is the perfect time of year, with temps in the 80s and a cooling ocean breeze. In fact, Monday morning was so cool I had to wear a sweatshirt when I sat out on the patio early in the morning. The other mornings have all been a little warmer, so no sweatshirt was needed.



This afternoon I took photos of the planted mums. Yep, I take photos of everything. I also took photos of the pale blue skies dotted with small white cotton-ball clouds. The sky was so beautiful today I was almost tempted to take out my oils and paint some sky-scapes. But the day was too nice to do anything more than take a few photos, listen to the birds, watch the butterflies and blue dragonflies and read.

I have a lot to write about from this past week, but for now I'm just going to stick with the mums. I'll write about the other things tomorrow.