Quick-Bob

Dad-o was, indeed, fearless and fast -- but the winner of the bobbing was .... well, we can't remember his name but he was FAST. We called his brother (who was also there) 'Ta-Boing', but we can't remember his little brother's name. We'll call him Quick Bob till we remember his real name (as in quick apple bobbing).

The Original Wrigley's Halloween

• Taffy Pull (Would you eat that taffy after being 'pulled' by those children? Not me!)
• Apple Bobbing (my personal technique stunk! Didn't want to get my face wet.)
• And the ever-popular 'Run your nose through flour to get the coins that are buried in the flour' game. Now, why didn't that catch on?

Happy Halloween All.

Stuff I wrote

I spent the weekend in Blackpool! I'll post some photos here for you as soon as I get a chance to catch up - but be warned: Blackpool is a tacky version of Las Vegas.



In the meantime, I've written various things.



I touched on Blackpool on my blog here : http://backspace.blog.me.uk/family-history and here: http://backspace.blog.me.uk/travel-blues (warning: includes profanity!)



I was also flying and dealing with weird people here: http://www.fearoflanding.com/excerpts/just-being-helpful/



And complaining about Connor (code name: Alex) here:


http://mid-centurymodernmoms.typepad.com/midcenturymodernmoms/2008/09/he-doesnt-write.html



And last but not least there's some flash fiction here: http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-banshee-by-sylvia-spruck-wrigley/



One commenter wrote in response to the story:



You should write more.



*wilts*

Dockweiler Beach Bday Bash

Friends of ours had their Birthday Party at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey this afternoon. :)

So Peaceful sits the Big Grasshopper.

Woo-Hoo! BIG Waves!

Jeff says "Hey...grab the flag! NOT the T-shirt!"

Tami shouts "I GOT IT, I GOT THE FLAG!"

Kyle wonders.."But, why can't we TACKLE?"

Katey says "I like the red team and the blue team"

Can we just pretend it's Hawaii?? :)

As the bonfire begins...those with children head home.

FUN!! :)

Wrice Salute?

I recognize the Vulcan Salute -- is Kenny's The Wrice Salute?

First Day for the Old Dog

Dad heads off for his first day of school. Tax Class meets twice a week (Tuesday/Thursday 6-9 pm) for eleven weeks. Three hours each session for a total of 69 hours. I am to expect 1.5 hours plus of homework after each session. There are quizzes, a mid term and final. All counted towards final grade. They 'may' offer employment opportunities to students who achieve an overall grade of 80% or better.

Instructor claimed not to know exactly but thought first year tax preparers earn about $10/hour plus some rather complicated commission calculation.

Homework for this Thursday is Chapter One 1040EZ form. With Exercises to complete to exhibit proficiency.

I asked Lynda if I could have a back pack to match my jeans...she said "No." :o(



Note closeup of my departure. NEW haircut. Shorter and no 'part'. I asked for the 'Sinatra Look' (Frank not Nancy). She cut it a little closer than I would of picked, but we will see how it grows out. Lynda likes it, and that is most important. Very low maintenance.

I think what I requested is also called the Ceasar Look (Ole Blue Eyes stole it from Julius).

Vote for me

Click here to see the news coverage I've been getting in my bid for the 2008 presidency.

Watch out McBama!

Enjoy.

Hey, Tami...

If you ever see Oetker Creme Brulee brand in the store, get it. It's easy to make and sooooo good. Toss in a couple of raspberries (I didn't have any) and you're done!

Allowance

In addition to starting Kindergarten, Kyle has also started earning an allowance. He can earn up to $5.00 per week ($1 per age).

His chore list includes:

• Put toys away
• Put clothes away
• Make bed
• Homeword done
• Set dinner table
• Clear dinner table
• Clean glass tables (coffee table, end tables)
• Empty trash

The first four chores are daily chores. The last four (in blue) - he gets to pick which chore he wants to do each day.

He gets 25 cents deducted for any incomplete chores, and we do remind him to complete his chores if we see something undone. So far he hasn't had any deductions.

At the end of the week he gets 50% of his allowance in cash for spending on whatever he wants. Part of our hope is that this cash will cut down on the 'begging' he does for candy and small trinkets when we are out with him doing errands. It also gives him the ability to save for some of the bigger toys he wants between April and December when there are no gift giving holidays. When he's spending his own money, he's a lot more frugal. For his birthday this year, we took him to LegoLand, and told him he could buy a toy for up to $30 at the gift shop, but when we told him the prices were better at Target, he decided without coercion, that he would rather wait and see if he could get more legos at Target instead of the instant gratification of buying something that day. He ended up with two toys from Target instead of just one from the gift shop

The remaining allowance is split equally: 25% gets put into a savings account, and 25% is set aside for gifts and charity.

First day for the Kindergartner

Waiting for kindergarten orientation to start

Today was Kyle's first day of kindergarten. There was a brief orientation at 9am (1hr later than the normal school start time of 8am). The Principal gave a short talk to all the kids telling them to give their parents a hug and a kiss and tell them that everything was going to be OK. Then she assigned kids to their classrooms (there are three kindergarten classes) and sent them on their way.

The parents (Tami) stayed behind to fill out more paperwork and learn where to drop the kids off on all future school days.

Kyle is in room 10 and his teacher is Mrs. Hernandez.

After Tami picked him up from school, she asked Kyle what he thought of his teacher and he said "She's AMAZING!"

When I got home I asked him how his first day of school was and he said "It was great!" He said they sang songs, read stories, and they even have a Lego train set with tracks and everything. He seemed very excited (and he LOVES Legos).

He also picked his clothes for the day - he wanted to wear his 'skeleton' t-shirt. So this evening I asked him if any of the kids at school liked his shirt. He said "Nobody said anything about my shirt, but I think they liked it in their minds."

First Day for the Mighty Sixth Grader

This first happy-thumbs-up pose is in the house ready for action (she was ready about 40 minutes early by the way...bet that won't happen often).

And this "stylish" pose is just outside with her Awesome New (and matching) Backback (a JanSport of course!) ready to go!

And finally, after much anticipation, she is at school amongst the commotion next to friend Molly (also a Theater Class buddy) who is luckily in the same classroom. HOORAY!