Not enough treaters, or treats

Happy Halloween!
I only had five trick-or-treaters tonight. They were the cutest trick-or-treaters ever, but still, there were only five of them. I would love to live in one of those neighborhoods where there are a whole bunch of treaters, and a whole bunch of fun costumes. As it is, I'm glad I didn't buy more candy just for the treaters, as the dent left by those five kids didn't even register in the bowl.
That being said, Sydney still got 136 pieces of candy from her walk around the neighborhood. She and Madi collected, then came back and counted, then poured it into a pile, and then divvied it between them based on what each preferred. So now she has a huge bag full of candy that she likes, with nothing really for me to take to work tomorrow. Of course, I'm still going to take half of it to work. She simply does not need all that candy in the house.
Also, there's less candy for Brian and I to enjoy, since all the candy that Sydney doesn't love got taken home by Madi. So there go all the Snickers and 3 Musketeers, and other randoms that Brian likes. At the end of the day, that's better for us, but right now, I really wish I had more treats for myself downstairs.

No Grinch for me. I don't like him

I'm going to take this morning and share something kinda weird.
I don't like the Grinch story.
It occurred to me as I watched yet another trailer for yet another Grinch movie, that I really, really dislike that story. I've seen the television movie more times that I can count, and I've never been a real fan of it. And when the movies are released, I'm never interested in seeing them.
I think the Grinch is an asshole who should just stay in his cave and treat his dog nicer, and leave those happy people alone if he's so bothered by the holiday. Like, just leave them be. I don't even care that he may or may not be redeemed at the end. He's an asshole, and should just go away.
Dude. You live in a cave. Go find another one away from the neighbors who annoy you.
So, no, I won't be seeing the new Grinch movie. And that's about all I have to say about that.

Frosting is the best "-ing" in the world

It's an entirely different process in recovering from a late night that was not of your making or choosing. Sydney's friends didn't fall asleep until 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, and they weren't quiet about it. I didn't really expect them to be, as it was a sleepover, but it would have been nice to get a couple more hours of sleep than I got, just the same. Sydney had a great time though, which was the entire purpose for the night, and I consider it a wild success!
I didn't get a chance to nap at all yesterday either, so I fell into bed a bit earlier with eagerness for the upcoming sleepytime. And while I still woke up a couple times during the night, it was a good sleep, for sure. Tonight's will be good too, I hope, and I'll try to go to bed early again.
Here's a thing I did: Sydney's birthday cake was super pretty, but it was made with an extra interior layer of frosting inside it. So, the baker took the regular sheet cake, sliced it in half horizontally, applied a layer of frosting, and then put the other half back on, before frosting the entire thing. This is too much frosting. Which, if you know me, is an insane thing for me to say. I love frosting. But this extra layer just made the whole cake super, super, super sweet with frosting. We soldiered through Saturday night, but none of the girls ate much of it, and I couldn't stomach any more than the piece I had. So yesterday afternoon, I came upon a brilliant idea. Brian and I removed the top, scraped out the frosting in the middle, and replaced the top layer. It was way messier than that quick and easy explanation, and Brian and I both ended up with hands full of frosting, but the end result is a way better cake. I'll toss it out tomorrow because we have a ton more sugary treats in the house this close to Halloween, but at least now I can snack on it today with better results in my belly. I love frosting.

Wait? Is it really Friday?

FRIDAY: So for as much as I was all, "I'm gonna be patient with this book," um, yeah. I was up until 12:30 last night finishing it. It was really good, and brought me to tears a couple times, and ended the story and character arcs delightfully. It's not due back to the library until the 13th, I think, so I'll digest it for a couple days and then reread it next week. She's so good, this author. The finale of her other book series is coming out next year, and I'm eager for that too, for sure. Reading is good for you, kids.
VIERNES: There's a smell in my office the last two days, and it's driving me crazy. It's a selection of candles, I'm sure of it, and they're being stored in the small office/storeroom near my desk. Yesterday, I was able to close the door to that room, but today, the worker bee in there has been in there all morning, and I can't shut that door. The smell is kinda Sephora/grandparents' cologne, and it's tickling my nose so much that I'm ridiculously distracted by it, and I'm counting the minutes until I get out of here ... (94, by the way). I had never been one to be terribly bothered by random smells, or anything perfume-y anyway, but this one this week is bugging me.
VENDREDI: I had wanted to walk the trail today after work, but I've got such a list of stuff to do before Sydney's party tomorrow night, and I'm in a state of scatteredness that I may be palpitating, that I chose to bypass the physical exercise for mental sanity. Syd and I will visit Target for party food shopping after school, but the random school activity that will take three hours tonight and was not really on my agenda until a day ago, has me in a slight state of panic. I've got my lists, and they're not crazy, but I'm worried about my timing. I mean, Brian and I are still going to the movies tomorrow morning because I must do that regularly, so I know I'm not too overwhelmed with things to do because I was able to plan that without flipping out. So I'm stressed, but not crazy, and I think I still have all the plans in a good place. I'll go home after work and eat some lunch, wrap some presents, reorganize my lists, and then be ready to get this party started.
FREITAG: One of my responsibilities at work is maintaining the online calendar, and yesterday I got a pile of dates to start for 2019, and I can't believe that the year is almost over already.

An ITEM! list for this October day

ITEM!: Honestly, I think this book may take up every blog post until I've finished it. I'm happily obsessed with it, and taking my time in reading it, which is a straight reversal for me. Usually, I'm up all night and reading at every opportunity. Last night, I didn't get to it until after 8 p.m., and stopped reading before midnight. I'm about 300 pages in, and thoroughly enjoying how the plot is rolling out so far. There are more than 975 pages in it, and I'm so excited about the amount of time it'll take me to finish this one.
ITEM!: Did I complain to you last year during the holiday season that I wasn't able to get to Disneyland to enjoy the holiday-ness there? If I didn't, count yourself lucky, because I'm pretty sure I bitched my mom's ear off about it. Anyway, through a weird kind of happenstance and change of plans, I'll get to go this year. Mom, Sydney and I will visit on Friday after Thanksgiving, and I'm getting super excited about it. Seriously, I'm getting very, very excited. I haven't seen Disneyland in the holidays since Sydney was maybe 5 years old, and I think she's going to love it, and that's the best thing ever. Also, Christmas-y Disney treats!
ITEM!: Sydney's having a birthday party this weekend and I'm ridiculously concerned about how my new area rug in the living room will survive. There will be no small candy to fall between the shag. There will be no pizza or cake in the living room. There will be no drinks but water. I will allow chips and popcorn, but only because I really kinda must, otherwise Sydney may lose friends. But I hope she has fun. But I really, really hope my rug comes out unscathed.
ITEM!: I'm pretty pissed that I didn't win the Mega Millions jackpot last night, as I had some pretty awesome plans for becoming a billionaire. Still, I'll check all our tickets this afternoon, since even a couple thousand dollars would be extremely helpful.

I get to read it FIRST

So remember when I was super giddy about the book that I was first on the waiting list for at the library? Well, it's at my house right now, and I'm 150 pages into it already. I picked it up before I got Sydney yesterday, and started it last night. I'm into it, of course, but I'm also taking my time. It's not due back until early to mid-November, so I should be able to finish it and read it again if I want before then. It was a good stop at the library. Anyway, that's why I probably won't be blogging at night for the next few days. I'll break the rules and do it at work during the day, or at home in the morning, until I'm done. Yay books!

Ballots in the mail in the morning!

Brian and I did our vote this evening, and I'm eager to get our ballots in the mail. We have a real shot of changing the direction of Arizona this year, and we're excited to have our voices heard. Some of the polls indicate that there may be a bit of a blue shift in the state's representation, and if that ends up being the case, I'll be proud to be a part of that change.
We read all about our propositions though, and did our research on the different candidates for all the different elected offices. We'd seen enough attack ads from both sides of every issue and person, so we visited the non-partisan sites for the straight information on the issues. We disagreed on only one proposition, so we might as well have not voted on it at all since we canceled each others vote there. And while I tend to keep my voting opinions to myself, I did insist that Brian vote yes on the city proposition that would protect the nature preserve from any shady, loophole-based development. My own desire for that preserve protection steered my vote for new city council members, too. You a city council member who voted for the preserve development? You're out, as far as my vote is concerned.
So, the vote is super important this year, and I'm so glad to have a voice out there! Unfortunately, though, Arizona doesn't send out "I Voted" stickers in its absentee/mailed ballots (like California does), so I won't have any cool "I Voted" pic to post on any social media, which is a drag, for sure. I want to shame and peer pressure others into voting, and Arizona is not making that easy for me to do!

People! Just cooperate, won't you?

I am not a fan of confrontation. I really kind of avoid it with all my power, to the point where even Brian and Sydney rarely get my more aggressive side. I had to assert myself over the last couple days on one of my Marco Polo threads, and it was satisfying, but also nerve-wracking. I'm just not used to challenging people. I certainly have my opinions, and I am not afraid of voicing them, but when forced to argue my point, I always get flustered and awkward. Or at least I always feel like I do.
Because of this particular confrontation, my entire day was an exercise in feeling like I was inexplicably under attack. Like, the line for the prescription pick-up was long. The baker at Safeway acted like my ordering a cake was a very real imposition on her day, especially when we chose a design that was on a cake on the shelf, rather than one in the book. The guy at Einstein's was super rude and very not into conversation regarding cream cheese. My macaroni and cheese plate was incredibly hot, even through the silicone handle. My daughter didn't want to check out the Halloween doughnuts at Krispy Kreme or go to Starbucks. Target didn't have any paper lunch bags.
It was weird how every single stop made me feel like I was on the defensive. Attack! Defend! Attack! Defend! At any rate, my day ended okay, with little to no actual offenses thrown my way, and I didn't have to throw any punches to finish it up. I think tomorrow I might just spend my entire day in and around my house. Better to not interact with the public perhaps.

Plenty of Hemsworth chest though

Brian and I saw "Bad Times at the El Royale" this afternoon. Is it weird to feel disappointed by a movie that has some real potential? I mean, Brian and I both felt like this movie was almost, almost really good. The cast was intriguing. The storylines were interesting. And visually, it was attractive.
The idea of a group of people meeting at a random hotel with their own stories and paths, and then clashing in some pretty spectacular ways, has some real merit. Especially when it's written by someone like, say Tarantino. Which this obviously was not.
It was slowly paced, but had an ending I didn't entirely expect. I think I love the idea of this film more than the actual film, and that's pretty disappointing. I actually liked this movie, though it may not sound like it.

Once again, super giddy over a book

Something pretty exciting for this reader is happening next week, I think. One of my favorite authors has a new book coming out next Tuesday. I typically only purchase this book series in paperback, so I borrow the books from the library in hardcover so I can read them, until they're in paperback when I buy them. So next week's hardcover has totally been on my radar for the library for a couple months.
I had been checking the library regularly to see when I can get on the waiting list for it. And last week, the book was listed in the Catalog, so I was quick to request it to get on the list.
Imagine my surprise, you guys, when the request went through and the website didn't immediately tell me where I was in line for the book. The next day, I checked the site again, and it had me listed as "(1 of 4)." Today, I'm listed as "(1 of 6)."
Holy crap, you guys, am I first on the waiting list? FIRST?!?! Will I get a notification on Tuesday, (or Monday even?) that the book will be available for me? I am beside myself with excitement! Like, honestly, so excited!
I'm in the middle of my Anne Rice book right now, and I'm hesitant to start something else once I'm done with it. I want to be ready to read once Tuesday comes around ... just in case...

Like, who even cares, but I have thoughts

I have thoughts on the Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson thing, and I usually stay as far away from celebrity gossip as possible, but this guy, and the way he seemed to be riding her coattails and acting like she was the lucky one was irritating me. Also, did you read about how he thought it was okay and cool that she got felt up in front of a crowd at a funeral? And that it was no big deal, even flattering? [Editor's Note: I'll never wish anything more than for men to spend just a few days as women, and then they'll realize all the indignities and hardships and violations visited on us by them, and then maybe they would change their minds on what they deem problematic and bothersome.] So it was with inexplicable and surprising relief that I read about this particular couple breaking up. So many times, we as the public, may feel that someone is better than who they've chosen. And typically, I stay far away from the fray. But with this one, I thought, "Good. Kick him to the curb. You can do WAY better." I just got a creepy vibe from him, and I won't apologize for having an opinion on this one.
I have no other celebrity relationship thoughts to share with you.

I took a nap I didn't want today

My list for right before my mom gets here is usually full up with cleaning my house and stuff. This time is different, of course, because now I have house cleaners coming regularly, and by an awesome twist of fate, they're coming tomorrow, right before Mom arrives.
My list before our adventure this week is still pretty long, but all the icky stuff I hate doing so much will be done for me. And that's super exciting!
I ended up falling asleep on the sofa this afternoon, and that bugs me because I wanted to get more done today. Oh well, obviously my body knew better than my brain. Still, I have a comprehensive list that I will enjoy crossing things off tomorrow and Wednesday.

The grown-ups got to go out last night

Brian and I went to see the stage musical "Waitress" last night.
I was kind of blown away by the amount of people in the audience that didn't seem to know anything about the movie that the musical is based on. A really big plot point of the movie is Jenna's affair with Dr. Pomatter, and I was taken aback by the amount of audible gasps in the audience when the characters got together the first time. And how many were surprised when Jenna finally told Earl to take off. I mean, I know I've seen the movie a couple times, but I always get surprised by people who pay the money for the musical tickets without doing the homework on the movie it's based on.
Anyway, it was a well-done show, and we enjoyed it, even though we agreed that the subject matter is a bit depressing, even though there's a happy ending. I mean, the first seven-eighths are a real drag emotionally, to be honest.
Still, it's all good because the grown-ups got to go out last night.

Target was super cool to me yesterday

I started a new book today, but it's not the book I wanted to start. I have a couple library books right now, and the one of them that I started today is not at all floating my boat. I'm 112 pages into it, and I don't think I'm a fan of the main character, nor do I particularly like the writing style of the author. I think I may try to soldier through a couple more chapters tonight, but I won't be shocked or surprised if I end up dropping this one back at the library in the morning on my way to the trail head.
I did actually buy a book yesterday though. Sydney and I ventured forth to Target, and while wandering through the store, we came across a few copies of the latest Anne Rice book, "Blood Communion," on the bookshelves. I had planned on bypassing the book for a couple months and giving the idea to Mom for Christmas, as I always have a list of books for her to get me for the holiday, but a sticker on the book's front caught my eye. It said,"Signed First Edition." And oh my god, if it wasn't a signed copy. An actual Anne Rice book signed by Anne Rice! That is pretty amazing. Granted, it's not the experience of standing in line at a bookstore for hours waiting to get a book signed, but it's still awesome, and something that I don't have. And I've got almost every Anne Rice book on my own bookshelf. And this one, this particular one, has her signature in it.
I'm such a huge fan of her writing, and her characters, and this is simply a very awesome thing for me. Anyway, that's the book I'd rather be reading, and I may just get to it tomorrow.

It's no secret; I prefer shutters

Let me tell you about something that I've been incredibly bad at taking care of in my house. There aren't a lot of things that fall by the wayside in my life, but this particular aspect of living has long been ignored. I am talking about, of course, the vertical blinds in my windows.
We've been pretty brutal to the vertical blinds, and have a collection of broken ones piling up in a hidden corner of the house. When they break on a window, I take intact blinds from the window in the loft and replace them in each individual room. Because of this, the window in the loft is missing about half of its blinds.
A couple assumptions I have made: 1.) Of course, I will be able to wander into Lowe's or Home Depot and buy replacements whenever I want to. 2.) They will have the proper color I want. 3.) They will have as many as I need. 4.) They will be cheap to buy.
Because of these basic assumptions I have made, the actual research of finding replacement blinds has not occurred at all. For five years, we've been breaking and "fixing" the vertical blind situation in my home.
This is on my mind tonight because Elliot broke another blind in my bedroom this afternoon. Interestingly, the break is in the form of a split up through the middle of the blind's bottom. Typically, the blinds are ripped from the holders at the top and the little catch hole is broken. But not this time, little rascal! I'll be able to leave it hanging in the bedroom, but it will have to replaced at the same time as all the others. Whenever I decide that will be!

Is it too late for tea? Duh; no!

I do love my hot tea in the late evening. It's a ritual that I have had to bypass over the summer, since it is, in fact, way too hot outside to be drinking hot tea.
Over the last couple days though, I've been enjoying some cooler evenings, and therefore, enjoying some hot tea at night. My witching hour is between 10 and 11 at night, and I can feel the draw of the hot tea. I find myself wandering the upstairs, muttering to myself about needing something to drink. Once I head downstairs, the hot tea is all I can think about, and everything is put on hold until I've got that cuppa. Also, I've got some awesome holiday and seasonally appropriate mugs from which to drink my tea, and having unpacked my Halloween mugs, I'm especially eager to partake.
So I sit here right now in my happy place. I've got Stephen Colbert on my television, dogs sleeping on my bed, a computer in my lap, and a hot tea beside me. This is all good stuff. And the evenings will only get colder.

Rain, rain, stay a while

We're in the midst of a pretty awesome rainstorm, and of course, that dominates all conversation. Brian was excited to tell me that the storm stretched all the way from the house to his work, thereby decreeing that this, "is a really big, like, 30-mile wide storm!" Rain is a good thing no matter where you are, so we'll take this unexpected and early fall storm with a healthy dose of gratitude.
I'm glad I walked the trail yesterday though, instead of putting it off until today, as I had entertained. The mountain, I'm sure, is very muddy right now.

As for October, we've got a fun month ahead of us, I think. Brian and I have tickets to see "Waitress" in the next few days; Sydney and I are heading to San Diego with Mom for Sydney's Fall Break; Sydney turns 12 later in the month, and we'll host a party for that; and then, of course, Halloween. October is the beginning of the busy holiday season for us, and I'm starting to get super excited for it!

Bring it on, Halloween

Let's talk about Halloween decorations. I have out everything I think I want out, but there are still some things sitting on the dining room table, waiting for me to find them a place. It's just a couple pieces that I could probably donate very easily and with minimal emotional effort, so that may be the way they go. I do need to close up the bins though and get them back in the garage, because I'm sick of seeing them all over my dining room.Tomorrow, I'll get to the outside decorations. I have some new signage to put out, and some things to organize and prepare for. It occurred to me this morning that Sydney and I will have to hit the pumpkin patch some time in the next couple weeks, and also that I need to come up with some new ideas for those pumpkins. Last year, I had a mummy, spider and candy corn. I haven't seen any super cool or noteworthy ideas yet this season. Obviously, I'll need to do some research on this.
Sydney and I bought our third and fourth bag of candy of the season today. I did myself a favor and bought her candy that I can very easily walk past without a thought, though: Hershey bars and Dove caramel and chocolate candies. I didn't say I don't like them, because they both sound pretty awesome, but that I could walk past them more easily than say, a Twix, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Junior Mints, Milk Duds, York Peppermint Patties, Bit-O-Honey, Hot Tamales, Rolos, Tootsie Rolls and CINNAMON BEARS.