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 ... Scooby Doo with Frankensage, Ruff Weather... updates coming soon...

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Mom and I bought this audio version of "Something Wicked This Way Comes," read by Paul Giamatti - and it's just really cool for the season.  We've never read this book before, and I know this isn't technically reading, but it is something we can share together.  We're sitting there in the couch or up in bed, and just listening along to the story as it begins.  It's certainly a bit different than the 1980's movie, but it's still got the creepy vibes and some really fantastic descriptive dialogue.  Ray Bradbury's writing is just super fun.  Of course, we meet Tom Fury pretty early, and he's an even better character in the book, each conversation a quotation you want to hold on to.   

...audiobook, taekwondo, Warbington...

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... KidPak in the morning, sea monkeys tiny hope, wet... updates coming soon...

Indoor Day

The rain fell down immensely today, the wind gusting harshly outside, all loud enough to wake us up earlier.  Still in bed, you could hear all the violence outside and pray quietly that nothing falls and that everyone stays safe.  The power stayed on - our electricity has rarely gone out here after a storm.  But it was clear we were staying indoors today.  So what did we do?

We got ready for Christmas!  Seriously!  Yes, it's still October, but at the same time Mom saw a new bed covering at Cracker Barrel that looked festive and bright, and she ordered matching pillow covers.  Add to that our Christmas-themed Buc-ee, and the look of our bedroom has changed dramatically.  We've had the same blankets on our bed for 26 years now, so this is a big deal!

Mom also got me this really nice looking Christmas Carol devotional.  Can't wait to dive into this, but I'm good to wait until November at least.  Speaking of "A Christmas Carol," we Maddie and I recently drew our portions of the story to tell - it's our third annual SUNO contest, and this year we're all collectively telling the story of "A Christmas Carol" with different created songs that we write up.  That should be lots of fun!

But here's the more time consuming thing of the day:  Mom had a funny idea about putting a tree up and covering it with a sheet when it's Halloween.  So I actually spent a few hours getting the Star Wars tree up this afternoon, including all the new ornaments we picked up over the year.  One tree down, a few more to go.

It was an indoor day.  Maddie was doing homework, and we were watching seasonal movies and shows today.  We have a big October list of movies, so there's always something to check out.  We spent a good deal of time in the basement cleaning up down there, and while there I was also on the treadmill, still marching along that virtual Niagara Falls walk.  Amazingly, there's still plenty of POV footage online to watch of different attractions in the area, and so I've had a lot to see to go with the theme.  

Okay, time to get some rest.  We read tonight and said our prayers - tomorrow we're back at KidPak, and it's gonna be a great day!

Return to Mule Camp Market

I was at Mule Camp this morning, something I haven't been to in like seventeen years or so, even though it's right here in Gainesville.  We were there with the church, just advertising for the church, handing out candy, and just goofing around.  Of course, these costumes helped with all that.  It was an overcast and breezy day.  I parked at the parking deck, and it was a bit of a walk there, which was fine with me - I got there early enough to see the grounds and watch all the other booths get set up.

It never rained, but there's a hurricane coming up through the coast, and although it's path is straight north through Alabama, it's clear this massive storm will be affecting us here - is affecting us here.  Tomorrow we get the deluges and bands of storms, but today was a good day, outside of the occasional wind burst that would surprise people in booths and those little canopies.  I got a lavender lemonade at one point, a tasty treat, and one of our co-workers has a daughter that sold these succulent arrangements - I actually bought one!

It's a nice little seasonal treat for myself.  It looks nice on the counter now.  

It was a good time there, of course most of it working the booth.  Tonight Maddie had taekwondo, and things were getting a little more gusty outside.  She got home without any incident and now it's time for all of us to batten down the hatches.  First we have to find some battens...  anyway, tonight we read and we said our prayers before getting some needed rest.  

A Happy Heater

 

Okay, this small heater seems happy!  We're moving things back into the office area after the flood, and I think this goes over by Josh's desk or Isaac's.  I can't remember.  I just know it seems pretty happy about the move back.  File this one under the "things with faces on it," and one it a good mood!

Check out this turtle we found in our driveway.  This is not quite our pet turtle, but it has lived around our house for quite some time.  I was walking out on the porch and saw him there, trying to figure out which way to go in the driveway.  Eventually I got up and decided to give him a lift over to the grass in the yard.  I was concerned about cars.

This year we're back to our seasonal movies, and this is one that we've got a huge appreciation of.  In fact, Mom and I are about to get an audio book of this story, "Something Wicked This Way Comes."  More on that later, I think.  But for now, the movie was enjoyable to go back and see - the library scene is so creepy, and there's so many moments that just set up a creepy atmosphere.  This era of Disney movies was so unique.  

We did our reading tonight, moving along still with "The Thief of Time," where a glass clock has been built, one that can stop and capture time.  And those Auditors are behind it all, so the end result isn't going to be pretty.  Fortunately Susan and Lobsang are present to help save the Discworld.  We're enjoying the read.

Maddie was off of school today, but there was taekwondo tonight.  She got to sleep in though!  We all slept in a little bit, actually. 

Meanwhile Nana and Ye-Ye are on another expedition.  They're literally at Niagara Falls and other places in the area.  It's another amazing adventure, but this is something someone else posted about them.  It was posted by the folks who run Howe Caves in New York.  I'll close with this really fun posting we got to see about them.

Meet Marie and Glen, whose story with Howe began in 1969. The funny thing is, they never actually went into the cave! It took them 57 years to finally make it underground, and the story of why is just too amazing not to share. Glen and Marie have been together since the seventh grade! In 1969, they were high school seniors living in Riverdale, New Jersey. Like most teenagers, they wanted a little freedom, a little adventure, and a day away from their parents and everyday life. So, they hopped in the car and spontaneously headed to Howe Caverns! There was just one little problem. They hadn’t exactly figured out whether they could afford the trip. When they arrived, they were captivated by the property. They remember the big letters on the front lawn, the beautiful green grass, and how the entire estate looked more like a country resort than a tourist attraction. Marie remembers it as a beautiful fall day. The air was crisp, the weather was perfect, and they were two young people madly in love, enjoying what felt like a little vacation from the real world.

However, there was still that pesky issue of money. Gas was about 39 cents a gallon, and Glen wasn’t entirely sure they had enough to get back to New Jersey! So, instead of purchasing tickets and heading underground, they decided to stay outside and toss a football around. They didn’t even set foot inside the Main Lodge! That was their first visit to Howe Caverns. Fast-forward 57 YEARS…Glen and Marie are now retired and enjoying some time traveling around New York. One of the beautiful things about this chapter of their lives is having the opportunity to go back and experience some of the things they couldn’t afford to do when they were young- including a cave tour that they missed in 1969. This time, there was no worrying about gas money, no football on the lawn, and no skipping the tour. There’s something incredibly touching about two people who have loved each other since seventh grade, returning to a place they visited as teenagers and finishing an adventure they started nearly six decades ago! In 1969, all they needed was each other, a football, and enough gas to get home. Today, they have a lifetime of memories together and one more to treasure. Glen and Marie, thank you for coming back and sharing your wonderful story with us. We’re so happy you finally made it into the cave! Some adventures are worth waiting 57 years for!