I really like to pass out candy on Halloween and count the kids.Tonight we had 57.That is a normal number in the last few years.But in the 90′s it was normal to have 175-200.I miss a lot of kids…..a steady stream of kids at the door.I love the costumes.This year there were quite a few characters from the Harry Potter series.My favorite was a little clown about 2 years old.I could not get my camera to work.But I did get a picture of this 50′s teenager with the pink poodle skirt.She must be ‘going steady’ since she has the letter jacket on.Her brother was all in white.I am not sure who he was.

Mona went wacko the first few door bell rings.Then she relaxed some and took advantage and sniffed all the kids as they reached for the candy.There were two doggie costumes…..one a mutt and the other a dalmation.No bully behavior from Mona for the dogs How do you like my favorite Halloween trick?I remove the screen and the storm window so I can give out the candy without opening the door.Mona hangs out the window (to get the best sniffs) so I put towels on the window ledge.We had a great night.BTW, those are Dutch klompen hanging by the front door.

I went to visit my mom last week.I was gone from Monday to late Friday night.When I got home, Mona was my constant sidekick.She followed me everywhere.Here she is on her Denver Bronco’s blanket.She is not a fan….it was just $1 at a garage sale and it is a really nice blanket.If you sit at my computer and look down from my right elbow, that is Mona’s cave.She is a very tired girl.

Here is my mom in an outfit that made me thirsty for kool-aid.I have no idea what she is looking at up there but …..Mom, what is up with that purse?

Her knee is working pretty good.No cane, no limping, and she even drives.However, I was driving Miss Helen all week. 

You all know that Blips joined the YMCA with a family membership.Since Mona is not allowed…..that leaves me as the intended target of the ‘family’ membership.I started going just to support Blips because he was so determined to get fit again.Not wanting to waste my time, I have developed a passion for the designed workouts also.  First there was about $200 in workout clothes.You think you can wear just an old t-shirt but…noooooooo, it has to breathe.(quoting Blips here)Then yesterday I caught a blip(pun intended) on the TV about MRSA, the superbug that does not respond to antibiotics. 

BUT…here is what is creeping me out.MRSA used to be just in hospitals.It now has moved to schools and locker rooms AND gym equipment.GYM EQUIPMENT, you mean like all the machines people are sweating on at the Y???The machines I use 6 times a week!(Maxima shivers) The TV said it kills more people in the USA each year than the AIDS virus.The Center for Disease Control said, 19,000 died in the US in 2005 from this virus.Now I am super creeped out.I am going to the gym today BEFORE all those sweaty guys drip on the machines.It makes me feel just a little bit better.And maybe I have to get out my dirty looks or start handing some of these guys the bottle of cleaner and a towel.There is a bottle of sanitary stuff that you are supposed to spray on the equipment and wipe it with a paper towel as you leave a machine.And I can hear it flying out of my mouth already…..”hey, you dripped all over that, wipe it down!”  Maybe it would be a good idea to bring Mona along for enforcement.One look from a pit bull is much more effective than a dirty look from me.

and then I start thinking about the bottle.You have to pick up the bottle to bring it to the machine to spray.Yah, the same bottle the sweaty guys pick up to clean their sweat off the machine.ohhhh geeezzzz, creepy feeling in my stomach returns.

Last week there was a picture in the local paper of a bride trashing her wedding gown.  Yup, it is supposed to show committment to the new husband….she won’t be needing it ever again.  Well, my first thought was….nobody ever wears the same wedding gown twice anyway so this is really weird.  She was in her gown with jewelry and all……laying on a mucky old log in a swampy lake.  Yewwww, I could even smell the green slime just looking at it.  And yes, her wedding gown was sinking/floating in the green mess as she stretched out over the fallen tree.

My only thought was……what the heck is the matter with people?

It is supposed to be a new trend on the east and west coasts.  They (whomever “they” are) say it is expected to be catching on in the midwest and be really hot soon.  Wanting to add some pictures so you could see what I mean, I went looking and found some great picutres in every kind of setting although the beach is the most popular.  Railroad tracks, dumps, running in the rain, bathtubs…….it has a competitive feel to it. 

I looked thoroughly at these brides.  They have all their teeth and are usually wearing shoes.  But, I am surprised to say…….that I actually got to like it.  Remember in the movie Harold and Maude when Maude took off the very special ring that Harold gave her and threw it in the ocean?  She said, “Now I will always know where it is”.  This wedding dress trashing has that feel to it.  Trash it, now you no longer have to pay $100 to clean it, seal it, store it and always hope it does not get yellow.  Now, you always know where it is…..in the trash.

If I was a trend setter, I think I would have the new husband swallow his ring to show committment.  That way he never forgets to wear it.