halloween weekend

Didn’t get everything done yesterday for month-end, as several things came up as the afternoon wore on. Luckily the stuff I did last week was good enough, as I completely forgot to take a last look at a couple of reports. What got left out was just the difference between an A and an A plus job by me, but the numbers worked out on the positive side as opposed to being negative. Still have lots to do.

The Johnson Ferry Halloween Carnival last Saturday was amazing because so many people go. Only the ferris wheel line was way long, and they had lots of stuff for kids 14 on down. For the second year in a row it was hard for our group to stay together…the girl’s Anna’s age go one way, and the boys Matthew’s age go somewhere else. Will found friends his age to hang with. It filled their back parking lot, but it was on the chilly side, so the activities inside their gym were popular. The chili, hot dogs, drinks, snow cones, popcorn, and cotton candy were cheap and easy to get, though the funnel cake line was long. Not a good idea for my to gobble down a bowl of chili, then hop on the teacups-style ride with Matthew and his buddies. George Wright was hanging out at the popcorn stand, but I didn't see any Condras this time.

I remember the year I took Lang and Claire trick or treating. Our kids went out trick or treating with the neighbor kids. Pirate Matthew and cowgirl Anna both took off their uncomfortable boots (not made for walking, I guess). Matthew came back, sat in a chair, crossed his legs, and stuck his head and hands inside the pillowcase he had his candy in. Will went with the younger kids, then went longer with other older boys. Then we all watched some of Ceil’s new favorite movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Made a little progress Sunday on the playhouse, setting the cinder-block "foundation" and building the triangles that will hold up the roof. Hopefully we’ll finish by Thanksgiving.

Friday Mark turns fifty.

Have yet to tabulate Will's results...hopefully by tomorrow. They aren't many boys who have played so many seasons at his parkas Will, so I started thinking that he's probably near the top of any park statistical list of career games played, hits, walks, doubles, triples, stolen bases, putouts, assists, double plays...maybe eventually some pitching categories as well. It's something, but I know not much.


With the baseball season ending this past Saturday, we head out of town this weekend, meeting up with in-laws to attend the Clemson-Duke homecoming “college football game”.

Will has some old TWIB videos with Roger McDowell’s antics, but we trust JS and BC will continue to make good decisions. Heard that they had a list of candidates, but were so impressed with the interview that they went ahead and hired him.

I too was thinking the message was similar to previous messages, and wonder what will fill the next five weeks. He hinted at some of it. I use Excel as well, tracking as much as possible, though I need to make some improvements (utilities and other checks aren’t posted/totaled with credit and cash purchases). Ceil has her bi-weekly ”budget” that certain items are supposed to come from, and overruns and other stuff (like gas) goes on the credit cards, that gets paid off every month. I gather receipts to post, but don’t hound her about every penny. Like Andy said, though I’m detailed oriented, Ceil is the opposite.

The way I have it set up, I can go out in the future and see how things look (bleak, with Christmas looming!). As easy as it is to fret about how we’ll get through, it really seems to be a God thing that we’re always able to make to through. Cash will come from unexpected places…I wasn’t expecting a coach’s gift at Will’s team party, so I was surprised when there was a quite nice one.

Not long ago I stumbled across a cheap book, Secrets of the Code, by Dan Burstein. Didn’t read it, did you? Don’t have any idea where he’s coming from yet.