Top 10 Signs You Are Too Old To Trick or Treat

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

8. You ask for high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say, "Great Boris Karloff Mask!" and you're not even wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or....." and can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

1. You keep having to go home to pee.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This past weekend MrC and I had rather a busy time. On Saturday morning we were up at CWSA range for a falling plate match, then drove home, unloaded our guns from the car, packed the RV and took off again.
MrC had some business in Hoquium on Sunday to take care of, so we decided to take the RV and spend Saturday night there rather than leaving early from home on Sunday to make the drive.

An old tugboat moored waiting for work

The weather was fabulous when we arrived in Hoquium, so after checking in with the owner of the business, we took our cameras and walked along the river bank and through the old part of town. Hoquium used to be a booming log town up until the "spotted owl controversy" The logging industry has waned but according to residents the town is making a comeback in other directions.

This Heron waiting for his dinner to swim by.

Saturday evening, MrC and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant which was right next door to the business MrC was to work at on Sunday, and afterwards settled into our cosy RV for a good night's rest.

Some of the old riverside buildings of yesteryear.

I have just six days before leaving for New Zealand and still have some details to take care of, this is why blogging is having to wait until I have time.

Mother Nature at Her Best

Last night as we drove home after a meeting, the moon was full, and brightly lit our way home.
This morning it was hanging fairly low on the horizon just above the rosy pink clouds being painted by the first rays of sunrise. How gorgeous a sight this is.

What kind of movies do chickens watch?

Finally, a sunset

The days lately have been so drab and dreary without any sunshine, so it was nice to see the sun yesterday and today. As I drove up our road to the house tonight, I could see we were in for a lovely sunset. I came in the door, greeted MrC before picking up my camera and going out on to the deck to catch the last of the sunset colors before they faded into the night's velvet blackness.

I have busy since returning from Reno, so blogging has been on a back burner and will probably remain so for a while. The countdown until I leave for my visit to New Zealand has started in earnest. 13 days from tomorrow.
I confess to feelings of excitement now the time is so near, and have started to pack some of the things I plan on taking with me. Making lists is a good thing, I think it has something with age as I find I forget things, dang it anyway! So there are many check marks on the list as the items are placed in one of the suitcases.
Well, that is all for now, I remember something else to be packed and if I don't go and do it now, I will forget. *chuckle*

GBR RENDEZVOUS- Banquet

Saturday night we all congregated in the Mandalay room for a prime rib dinner. After we had eaten Terri and I sold envelopes with a playing card in each one. These were for donated prizes of gift certificates, a very nice range bag(I was lucky to win the bag) and the top prize a Hi-Point pistol. A photo copy of the winning card for the pistol had been sealed in an envelope and mailed to MrC by Hi-Point Firearms, to be opened once all the envelopes containing the playing cards had been sold.
The funds from the raffle were given to Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss our guest of honor and founder of Project Valour-IT, towards another voice activated laptop.
Project Valour-IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded military men and women, who are unable to use their arms or hands because of injuries or amputations.
Chuck, told us the story about how he was injured while serving in Iraq and how a voice activated laptop computer changed his life. He also told us about the idea he had, to get more laptops for injured military men and women resulting in the inception of Project Valour-IT

Some of the gang waiting to see if their number is going to be drawn for a prize.

We also had many door prizes, some are pictured below.

And the lucky winner is........

Chuck and Terri

Terri was the lucky winner of the Hi-Point 9mm pistol which she graciously donated to Chuck. Like her husband JimmyB says "my wife rocks" and indeed she does.

Chuck Ziegenfuss also told us a story about a wounded soldier who had lost both legs and one arm, and how his life has been drastically changed from the moment he received his voice-activated laptop. He is able to use voice commands to activate the laptop, to send and receive emails from friends and loved ones, surf the ‘Net, and communicate with his friends still in the field without having to use his one remaining arm. How wonderful is that?

I sure was choked up hearing such a touching story and know, this is one organization I will support. I encourage all of you to donate to this very worthy cause. So far over two thousand laptops have been donated and many more are needed.

You may make a donation Here

I don't know about any of the other Gun Bloggers, but I returned home exhausted a combination of too much good food, lots of conversation, gambling, shooting, and not enough sleep. I am looking forward to next years Rendezvous.

Dear God

A little boy wanted $100.00 very badly and prayed for weeks, but nothing happened. Then he decided to write God a letter requesting the $100.00.

When the postal authorities received the letter to God, USA, they decided to send it to the President.

The president was so amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy.

The little boy was delighted with the $5.00 bill and sat down to write a thank-you note to God, which read: Dear God: Thank you very much for sending the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington, DC, and those guys deducted $95.00 in taxes.

Range day in Reno

On Saturday before driving out to the Palomino Valley Gun Club for a day of shooting many different guns, most of us went back to Flavors for a buffet breakfast. This being our third day in Reno and my having eaten way too much last night at the seafood buffet, and the previous two days, I was not feeling overly hungry. I decided to tag along with MrC as he made his selection from the buffet and had him place a small muffin on his plate so I would at least have something to go with my coffee. As I was snacking on the delicious muffin I heard a waiter ask, " anyone for some champagne?" "Yes please" I said, and was given a small glass of the bubbly stuff. There is nothing quite like a bran muffin, orange juice, coffee and champagne to start the morning, right? *chuckle*
Off to the range we drove, paid our fees and set up for a day of fun. MrC and I did not bring any guns of our own to Reno, but there were plenty there to shoot.

There were many shooters lined up at the stations at this very nice facility.

Chris setting the sights on the target

Chuck Zeigenfuss, our guest of Honor at the banquet Saturday evening. More about this wonderful young man in my next post.

Notice how far out some of those targets are, and there are more you cannot see in the far distance. US Citizen had a 50 caliber conversion on an AR-15 which was hitting a 12" target at 965 yards, that is around half a mile. When I was standing about six feet behind and to the right of the gun when it was fired, I swear the concussion parted my hair. It was awesome indeed and when MrC asked if I would like to shoot it, I was thankful he was just joking.

Fodder shooting his 45 caliber Thompson Tommy gun, which I got to shoot, and had a blast, pun intended.

Larry has just fired one down range.

Mel getting her sight picture before blasting a few holes in the target.

Is MrC having way too much fun or what?

Joe Huffman of Boomershoot fame, well at least the back of the tee shirt he was wearing.

Kevin appears to have plenty of ammo to keep him busy for a while!!

After a fantastic day of shooting, we packed up and returned to Circus Circus to make ready for our banquet.

Gun Blogger Rendezvous

We arrived in Reno, Nevada around 12:30pm on Thursday 11th October for the 2nd annual G.B.R. Grabbed our checked luggage from the carousel and made our way out of the terminal to find the shuttle to transport us to the Circus Circus hotel where the rendezvous was to be held.

MrC and I checked in at the reservations desk, then took the elevator up to the 18th floor to our mini suite. Of course the first thing I do upon arriving in our room, is to open the curtains and check the view from the rooms. As usual it is parking lots, rooftops and casinos I see.

The globe houses the Mining Machine in the Silver Legacy hotel/casino.

The lights on all the buildings cloak the ugliness of all the rooftop parking lots.

After getting our bags unpacked, we rode the elevator back down to the third floor to the Tahoe Room. This room we had booked as our hospitality room, where we could all hang out, use as a meeting place before venturing out to meals or the range, and somewhere for our meeting with the NRA on Friday afternoon
On Thursday evening, over pizza in the hospitality room, all the gun bloggers who had arrived so far, sat around for a story swapping/BS session.

Friday morning, many of us gathered at a buffet for breakfast. I was somewhat confused when we approached the restaurant as the name of the place was not as I remembered it from last year, and the front seemed to be missing some of the decorations I remembered. The mystery was solved when I noticed a signpost with the old name, The Victorian still clearly visible. I wonder why they changed the name to Flavors.

Some of the gang enjoying their first, second or perhaps third plate of wonderful food from the buffet.

Have you any idea how difficult it is for a Weight Watchers member, such as myself, to show restraint when making good choices. Choices? heck, it was like placing a bowl of chocolate, whipped cream topped, ice cream in front of me and saying " you can have just one bite!
I was not about to choose. Instead I had everything I fancied, just a smaller portion, and loved every mouthful, and not one feeling of guilt. *grin*

Eggs, sausage, and lots of bacon for JimmyB

Donuts, coffee cake, sweet rolls and much more to choose from.

Yes, they also had fruit and cereal for those of us who wanted to watch their waistlines, though I can't remember anyone in that category on this occasion.

Cakes of every kind. Drool!!
I suppose by now you have figured out that I have a sweet tooth, and no, I did not have cake for breakfast, I waited until the evening meal.

At 2pm on Friday afternoon the Gun Bloggers met back in the hospitality room for a meeting with Glen Caroline and Ashley Varner of the NRA. Glen's job is to encourage us to not only pay our yearly dues to be a member of the NRA, but to become actively involved in speaking out for the Defenders of the right to arms. Ashley's job is to be a "public face" for the NRA and gun owners.
There was much discussion, with both sides, NRA and us gun bloggers and gun owners. voicing our views and opinions on various topics. I got the impression that it was somewhat heated at times, but not in an angry fashion. After the discussions were over, notes written down by Glen and the dust had settled the gun bloggers had a "show and tell"
Larry Weeks from Brownell's, brought us some great tee shirts, hats and other products and also talked to us about some magazines the company is manufacturing for the military, and other things about the company he has worked for, for I think he said, 26 years.
There were guns all of kinds proudly shown by their owners. I must admit, I do not know much about the different kind of guns, but I did get to shoot several wonderful weapons on Saturday out at the range. There will be more pictures of our "day at the range" soon.

Reno-day four

I have not been posting, as we have been way too busy running around, and generally having a great time.
I never thought the day would arrive, when I would voluntarily skip breakfast, but today was the first. There is a very good buffet where we have been enjoying a healthy breakfast and then dinner, then last evening we had our banquet. OMG waaaaay too much food for me. This morning, many of the bloggers and spouses were to meet for breakfast, but the thought of more food made me feel nauseous, so I stayed up in our room and MrC went down and probably ate my share as well as his own.
The weather is beautiful, so Mrc and I are meeting up with friends in 30 minutes, to go and visit the automobile museum then for a walk along the river. I have taken many pictures and will be taking more to show you when we arrive back home.
We will be back home Monday evening, so I should have something for you to see probably Wednesday.

From Reno Nevada

Hello folks, here we are sitting in our mini suite at Circus Circus on the 17th floor, looking out at rooftop carparks and other casinos in the distance. We left Whidbey Island at 7am this morning and arrived in Reno around12:30pm.
As usual there are many, many folks throwing money in the slot machines hoping for the "big win" In fact as soon as you leave the plane, and enter the airport in Reno, there are a couple of rows of slot machines. This time I plan on saving my cash for next month, when I visit New Zealand. OK I will throw perhaps $10 in he winning slot machine and come home a millionaire (chuckle)
That is all for now, we are going to finish up our sandwich, the go explore a little.
bye for now.

Thought for the day

Whakatauki, or proverb from the Maori of New Zealand.

Whakatauki have a translation and a meaning. The meaning is usually based on Tikanga or history. This word only gives the translation of the whakatauki.


Aroha mai, aroha atu

Love towards us, love going out from us

29 days and counting down!

I really haven't been goofin' off this past week, it just has been a very busy time. By the time evening rolled around, my brain was too tired for blogging.

Besides working a couple of days , then spending an extra day at work for a training session I have been doing the usual housework, cleaning up around the garden and doing a little more shopping in readiness for my trip to New Zealand oh yes, I also made a run to the bank for more travelers checks. Need to have some extra spending money, just in case something really special, catches my eye and says "buy me"

I think I am all organized and ready for my looooong flight on November 5th. From here on out, the waiting is going to drive me crazy, although MrC and I will be flying down to Reno on Thursday and spending five days at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous so that will take my mind off my visit to Aotearoa for a while.

I did have a little senior moment, in that I forgot I lose two days as I travel down under and had made arrangements to pick up my rental car and check into my accommodations on the 5th. sheesh!! this is the day I leave USA I arrive in N Zed (what some of us Kiwis call home) on Wednesday the 7th. Now all this has been taken care of I should be able to rest easy.
Tomorrow I get to work the morning shift, filling in for the other Desk Diva, and by golly, when I get home I am going to REST!

Photograph taken on a windy day, up at Deception pass last weekend.

A little range time, and some sight seeing.

Both Saturday and Sunday, MrC and I spent time at CWSA range. Saturday was a bowling pin match where I timed in rather well, but unfortunately was knocked out early on when I came up against one of the best shooters in the club.

Sunday was a falling steel plate match, which is one of my favorites. I did rather well in placing 5th with Chris.
After the match on Sunday we decided to drive north as far as Burlington so MrC could go to Sportsman's Warehouse to pick up more ammunition as the price is going up soon.
I decided to take my camera along, to take shots of Whidbey Island to take back to New Zealand with me in November as I want my family to see this beautiful part of the world I am living in.

On the way home we pulled into a parking area so I could take pictures of Deception Pass bridge which you have to cross, to get to and from the northern tip of Whidbey Island.
To say this bridge is spectacular is an understatement. You can get an idea how far above the water and how large a structure it is, just by comparing the size of vehicles crossing the bridge with the structure and the drop into the water below.

We drove down through the quite lovely Deception State Park to the North Beach where we walked the beach and viewed the bridge from below. I was imagining the work which went into the construction of this beautiful bridge over the treacherous waters below.

Two trees cling to a huge rock on the shore, framing the log strewn beach.

Even though it had been raining, and there was a very cool breeze blowing, our exploration of this lovely place was most enjoyable, and all without the summertime crowds of tourists and people on holiday.

THURSDAY CHUCKLE

IT WAS ALREADY LATE FALL AND THE INDIANS ON A REMOTE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA ASKED THEIR NEW CHIEF IF THE COMING WINTER WAS GOING TO BE COLD OR MILD.

SINCE HE WAS A CHIEF IN A MODERN SOCIETY HE HAD NEVER BEEN TAUGHT THE OLD SECRETS. WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE SKY HE COULD NOT TELL WHAT THE WINTER WAS GOING TO BE LIKE.

NEVERTHELESS, TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, HE TOLD HIS TRIBE THAT THE WINTER WAS INDEED GOING TO BE COLD AND THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE SHOULD COLLECT FIREWOOD TO BE PREPARED.

BUT BEING A PRACTICAL LEADER, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS HE GOT AN IDEA. He, using his cell phone, CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND ASKED, "IS THE COMING WINTER GOING TO BE COLD?"

"IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WINTER IS GOING TO BE QUITE COLD," THE METEOROLOGIST AT THE WEATHER SERVICE RESPONDED.

SO THE CHIEF WENT BACK TO HIS PEOPLE AND TOLD THEM TO COLLECT EVEN MORE FIREWOOD IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED.

A WEEK LATER HE CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN. "DOES IT STILL LOOK LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY COLD WINTER?"

"YES," THE MAN AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN REPLIED, "IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY COLD WINTER."

THE CHIEF AGAIN WENT BACK TO HIS PEOPLE AND ORDERED THEM TO COLLECT EVERY SCRAP OF FIREWOOD THEY COULD FIND.

TWO WEEKS LATER THE CHIEF CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN. "ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE WINTER IS GOING TO BE VERY COLD?"

"ABSOLUTELY," THE MAN REPLIED. "IT'S LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS WE'VE EVER SEEN."

"HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE?" THE CHIEF ASKED.

THE WEATHERMAN REPLIED, "THE INDIANS ARE COLLECTING FIREWOOD LIKE CRAZY."

Thanks Joyce for the chuckle

Wet Blanket

This morning the day dawned, shrouded in a wet clammy fog. The round bales of hay in the neighbor's pasture, are just visible through the fog.

An industrious little spider, has tented my Hen & chicken in a finely spun web, which has caught the mist and a couple of fallen leaves in it's strands.

I am praying the weather forecast, predicting a sunny afternoon, is right on, as I have plans to get out in the garden and do a little clean up work.

UPDATE: 11:46 am
UPS just delivered my box of Tulip and Daffodil bulbs which were ordered earlier this year. I am now, really praying for the sun to break through the fog, so I can get them planted.

BASEBALL FOREVER

Two 90-year-old men, Moe and Joe, have been friends all of their lives. When it's clear that Joe is dying, Moe visits him every day.

One day Moe says, "Joe, we both loved baseball all our lives, and we played minor league ball together for so many years. Please do me one favor, when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's baseball there."

Joe looks up at Moe from his death bed, "Moe, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favor for you."

Shortly after that, Joe passes on.

At midnight a couple of nights later, Moe is awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to him, "Moe--Moe."

"Who is it?" asks Moe sitting up suddenly. "Who is it?"

"Moe--it's me, Joe."

"You're not Joe. Joe just died."

"I'm telling you, it's me, Joe," insists the voice.

"Joe! Where are you?"

"In heaven", replies Joe. "I have some really good news and a little bad news."

"Tell me the good news first," says Moe.

"The good news," Joe says, "is that there's baseball in heaven. Better yet, all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too. Better than that, we're all young again. Better still, it's always spring time and it never rains or snows. And best of all, we can play baseball all we want, and we never get tired."

"That's fantastic," says Moe. "It's beyond my wildest dreams! So what's the bad news?"

"You're pitching Tuesday."

FEELING GLOOMY? NOPE, NOT ANY MORE!

I have come to the realization, my moods certainly follow the seasons and weather. The last couple of days have been rather gloomy and I have kinda felt glum too.
My "get up and go" got up and went somewhere without me, and I seem to have lost my creativity, so blogging has become a chore.
Whine, Whine, Whine, snivel, snivel, OK I am over it, now to be more productive.
Good news from the weather forecasters, the sun is supposed to shine this afternoon, *smile* so that means I will probably get outside, and shovel the mound of compost, delivered by our landscape friend, into a wheelbarrow, and start on distributing it around the garden. Nothing like a little hard work to get you out of your funk EH?

My holiday to New Zealand is coming up in about six weeks, so I have started to get things ready to put in my suitcase. From experience, I have found it is a very good idea to make a list, and as soon as you think of something you want to take with you, write it on the list right then, or it will be forgotten.
All my skin care products have been put into smaller containers, and clearly labeled using one of those little plastic label making gizmos. I used to write on sticky paper labels with a marker, but soon discovered the writing would wear off and I wouldn't have a clue what was in the bottles and jars. I think this is something to do with getting older and not being able to remember things like I used to. *chuckle*

This is the first time I have visited home, where I will not be staying with family. My Mother passed away last year and my two brother are not in a situation where they have accommodations for their Sis, so I have rented a cabin at the local Holiday Park. The cabin, according to my brother, who checked it out for me, is basic, clean and cozy, with everything I will need to take care of myself. The good news is, the owners of the Park are friends of my eldest brother, so I have been given an extremely good rate for my 15 days stay.

I wonder what security is going to think when they see all the other goodies in my suitcase. Food is quite expensive in New Zealand and being a thrifty keewee with some Scottish blood in my veins, (OK so I am kinda cheap) I have no intention on buying more groceries than I will use, so I have packets of instant oatmeal for my breakfasts, my favorite Chai tea, Splenda, and I will probably take some of my own home ground coffee and some filters. You will also find some of my Weight Watchers snacks, to take care of my sweet tooth cravings, and goodness knows what else I will throw in at the last moment.

I must confess, my sense of adventure is surfacing and the urge to create my own little nest of, home away from home, for 15 days is appealing. The difficult part is going to be, being away from my honey, MrC for all this time, especially during the evening hours when I return to my nest after my days outings.

Well now, that was good therapy. All the brain work and typing it took to put this little post together, has left me feeling so much better. It is time for breakfast and to get my day underway.
You all have a wonderful day too.

Silly, but part of my childhood

It is a dreary wet day here on Whidbey island and thoughts of my visit to New Zealand in November are running through my head. Memories of my childhood in New Zealand, came flooding back, memories of splashing through rain puddles wearing my gumboots and along with these memories came the melody of The Gumboot Song

It is a silly little song which put a smile on my face on this dreary day. BTW gumboots are kiwi for rubber boots or wellingtons.

You can read the history of the song and listen to it HERE don't forget to turn your speakers on

THE GUMBOOT SONG

by Fred Dagg


Righto, kick it in the guts, Trev...

Gumboots, they are wonderful, gumboots, they are swell
'coz they keep out the water and they keep in the smell.
And when you're sittin' round at home, you can always tell
When one of the Trevs has taken off his gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Now there's rugby boots and racing boots and boots for drinkin' rum.
But the only boots I'm never without are the ones that start with "gum".
I've got short ones and long ones and some up to me belt.
I'm never dressed 'till I've got on me gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Whenever I sing at the opera, my gumboots are a must.
They help me hit the high notes, and protect me feet from dust.
They keep the water well away, so me voice won't get no rust.
You will not never see me without me gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Now Rob Muldoon and Rowling, they haven't made a hit.
They're ruining the country more than just a bit.
If they keep on the way they're going, we'll all be in turd.
So you'd better get yer feet up yer gumboots.

Comfort food is all in the eye of the beholder

Or is that in the taste buds of the ..............
The cold season is here. Just a couple of weeks ago I was telling a friend that "I have not had a cold in about two years" Should never have uttered those words, I now have a dooozy of a cold and no energy to boot.

MrC went off to the range this morning, and I decided to pick the few apples on our small tree and whip up an apple crisp, so I could have some ice cream.
Yes I know, I can have ice cream without apple crisp, but I want nice warm crisp with melting ice cream on the top. Call it comfort/ get well food. I can hear you telling me chicken soup is good when you have a cold, trouble is I do not like chicken soup, so you have the soup I am going to enjoy my dessert.

I did feel somewhat better after my bowl of apple crisp and vanilla ice cream, well that is my story and I am sticking to it. Now I think a nap is in order.