Happy Birthday, Marlene!

Well, I must say that I had a very good Christmas. I was surrounded by loving family and friends, didn't have to do all the work all by myself, in fact I didn't have to do much work at all and yet I was able to reap all the benefits... it almost felt like being a kid again. Aside from my mom occasionally forgetting who we were or what we were doing, along with a phone call last night where I once again had to tell her I did not steal her grand piano (she never owned one) nor did I take it with me to Dana Point (mine's still in Rocklin at a friend's house) it was a great trip. On Christmas Day, while Dad napped, I went on a walk with Mom and took some pictures of her. She looked beautiful and was very cheerful and happy, greeting others on the street who were also out for a stroll with a hearty "Merry Christmas".

My mom, Olea Mae Babbel Woolf

But the best part of Christmas was when we had little Sawyer blessed that night after a delicious meal that my ever-cooking sister, Marlene, prepared for 30 of us, including 6 missionaries. Kelly, her husband, gave Sawyer "a name and a blessing". He was joined in the circle by the missionaries, my dad, Holly's husband, a nephew-in-law, and a friend. And he was blessed in my dad's blessing gown that was sewn for him by his grandmother. Dad was blessed in 1915 and my great-grandma, Mary Lucretia Hyde Woolf, died the next year, so she must have been quite old at the time she made it. All my brothers and sisters and I have also been blessed in the gown and most of all of our children and now grandchildren have been able to wear the gown on this special occasion.

Chelsea, Sawyer, and me after the blessing

Today is Marlene's birthday. The best way to sum up her life thus far is one of SERVICE. I love this picture of Kelly and Marlene flanking the missionaries as they attempted to teach the Elders how to sing Silent Night (Stille Nacht) in German. And what a heavenly peace it was.

Thankfully, they all have beautiful voices

I can't send Marlene birthday greetings without posting a picture of her kids and our friend, Miriam, who also entertained us with several Austrian yodels and carols on Christmas Eve.

Cailey, Miriam, Madison, Brigham, Brittlyn,Mackenna, & Camryn

It's Christmas Eve and I Hear Jingle Bells

Last Saturday, Chelsea, Sawyer, and I left Dana Point for Granite Bay. What normally takes less than 8 hours took about 10 with the 3 times we stopped at truck stops to feed Sawyer. But what a good little traveler he was.

Sunday, I enjoyed visiting my old ward which, in my opinion, has the best ward choir in the whole church. I went up to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with them for the last number. This choir is so large that sometimes it seems there are more people singing in it than in the audience. After church we had a great chicken dinner at my sister, Marlene's, and introduced Sawyer to his great-grandparents and the rest of Mar's family.

Monday, my mom was having some health problems so we went to Auburn and packed up a suitcase to bring her down to Marlene's. Dad seemed relieved to have a little time out and said he was going to go to see the movie, Australia, and have a steak dinner.

On Tuesday, Chelsea and I drove down to the Bay Area to introduce Sawyer to his Grandpa Lynn and Uncle Jim, but first we stopped in Woodland and introduced him to my sister, Sandy, and most of her family. After lunch and a visit with the Storeys, we made our way over to San Francisco for a walk around Fisherman's Wharf, ate dinner at Alioto's No. 8, and spent a few hours at the stores at Union Square. A day in San Francisco at Christmastime was a tradition for me as a child and I was happy to be able to help begin this tradition for Sawyer. Okay, maybe, one-time occurence. It was cold and damp and a little rainy and just perfect!

We miss having Brittany, Jordan, Annie and Jakey here, but know that they're having a great time in Park City and Cancun, and hope to see them sooner than later. Eli and Reggie, the Dog, braved the snowstorm coming down from Truckee and made it for Christmas Eve dinner. They, too, got to meet Sawyer. The weather was pretty sketchy so we're glad they arrived safely.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Dad and Mom meeting their 15th great-grandchild

One More Post

When Chelsea was on bedrest with way too much time on her hands she decided to make up this little shirt and have it ordered over the internet. In honor of Sawyer's original due date of Dec. 16th, we had him wear it today.

We can't imagine our lives without him in it the past three weeks and 3 days. Here's to early babies!

Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Hurry On Your Way Because...

Some Favorite Things

In the past week the following really good things have happened:

I reconnected with a friend and hairstylist that I knew in TX who always does the perfect blonde for me and Chelsea, works out of her home in Tustin, and was willing to delay a road trip to Tucson just to fit us in with our bad roots and frazzled hair. She doesn't do hair to make a living, she does it to provide charity to the down and out, ie. us. Can there be anything more that I would want for Christmas than a visit to Gina's? I think not, but then...

She told us where to find a Chick-Fil-A on our ride back to Dana Point. A CHICK-FIL-A! Chelsea and I both love Chick-Fil-A and haven't seen one since The Woodlands or Austin. I heard one had come or was coming to Roseville, but never saw it. We often talk about the places we miss in TX, like Taco Cabana, Pappacitos, Guadalajaras, Ninfas, AND Chick-Fil-A. Well we drove right there and had ourselves some good ol' chicken sandwiches and WAFFLE FRIES! Yahoo! Surely Santa had come early, but then.....


I received a box of See's Peanut Brittle on my front porch as a little gift from a dear friend who lives out-of-state. PEANUT BRITTLE from SEE'S! We ate it in 2 days--it was so good and yummy.



Now I was truly feeling the Christmas spirit and needed nothing more, but then...

Yesterday, a gift arrived in the mail from another dear friend in Reno. Of course, I couldn't wait to open it, so I didn't, and it was a bottle of Estee Lauder's Beautiful perfume. I instantly sprayed it on me and became beautiful. Last September when I was moving down from NorCal this friend helped me pack my house and while I was hot, sweaty, and grungy, she remained calm, cool and Beautiful, which she was wearing. I hadn't smelled the fragrance for some time and it just brought back such great memories of when I used to wear it. Apparently she remembered my comment on how wonderful it smelled, because here's a precious bottle of it, now sitting on my kitchen counter (where I left it after I wore it).
Is this a great Christmas season or what? I'm typing this blog with little Sawyer sleeping on my lap. I'm hearing baby squeaks, and eating See's, and looking blonde, and smelling beautiful. I look and smell like Gwyneth Paltrow, Estee Lauder's spokesperson ( but when she starred in Shallow Hal).

In order to express my gratitude and contribute also to charity I just donated a little money to http://www.reachthechildren.org/

I can't wait to jingle all the way on our drive back home this Saturday.

What A Difference A Year Makes

To get a proper perspective on life and life's trials, one only need to look at these pictures and acknowledge what a little time and a little growing up does for a clearer vision of happiness.

"And all these things shall give thee experience"

Jake & Annie at the Harvard MBA Crimson Kid's Christmas party 2007

Jake at the party in 2008, "I'm think I'm getting the hang of this Santa thing!"

And Annie, "I'm not even embarrased by my little brother anymore, in fact I think I'll keep him".

Honest Judge, I Swear I'm Not in a Gang

Maybe it's just me, but considering little boy Sawyer has two attorneys for parents, isn't it curious that he seems to be taking a solemn oath while he's sleeping?

And then what does he do when he's awake? Flash gang signs to the boyz in the hood.

Or maybe it's a little code to the baby angels saying, "I'm okay for now, but stick around and help me through this thing called life!"

I love Sawyer's fingers, they are so long and beautiful and wrap perfectly around mine

Visitors and Visits

Our family is fasting for Mom this week. She is having some health complications. Fasting doesn't come easy for me, especially with my Sacrament meeting early in the day. However, it's always easier w/ a noble purpose and something like this blog to divert my need to munch.

Sawyer had his first doctor's appt on Monday. He did the usual baby thing by dropping 7oz. of his birth weight down to 5lbs.14oz. But he measured at 18 3/4" telling us he wasn't 17 1/2" when he was born which is what they said. We had to go back on Thursday to make sure he'd started gaining 1 oz/day, which he had--he's doing great and eating very well. My BYU roommate and longtime friend, Nancy Metcalf, came to call on Tuesday. "It's always fun when Nancy comes, when Nancy comes we're gay." Man, it bugs me that that word has been taken away from us. On Thursday my brother, Bill, was in town for business and my sister, Cheryl, and her granddaughter, Stephanie, came down from the LA area and joined us for a great meal of beef stroganoff. Poor Cheryl started driving back at 11pm. What a long night for her, but we sure appreciated her efforts. And I think she really enjoyed seeing the baby even though her house is full of grandkids.

Nancy Lucetta Hellewell Metcalf cuddling the babe

Great-uncle Bill (and I do mean Great!) and Sawyer feeling very mellow

Sawyer's great-aunt Cheryl brought lots of presents which made him happy

On Friday we took a little outing up to Newport Beach to Roger's Gardens. What an amazing site to behold. We loved walking among the fresh cut trees for sale and admiring all the ornaments and floral arrangements. Chelsea and I were a couple of losers trying to figure out the stroller in the parking lot even though I'd already carefully studied the mechanics a few weeks before. We got there around 3:30 and by the time the stroller was open the sun was setting. Not really, but sometimes these new baby things are so simple they're complicated.

www.rogersgardens.com

This place reminded me of when we used to go into San Francisco at Christmastime as kids and Mom would take us to Podesto Baldacci. I often wondered why we would go into someplace if we never bought anything. I soon learned that the sole purpose was to breathe in the grandeur. Thanks, Mom, for instilling in us your appreciation for beauty and nature. As we pushed Sawyer along the pathways I had a chance to also give Chelsea a little botany lesson, pointing out some of my favorite flowers. When I pointed out the camillias, I said, "These are the plants that Grandma Lulu and Grandpa Doug had in their front yard." She said, "As soon as I saw those I thought they remind me of a Grandma plant but I didn't know why".

You gotta love the weather down here!

And, oh yes, Little Sawyer's umbilical cord fell off so he got his first official in-the-water bath.

Lucky for me Chelsea lets me have the honor

Have a great Sunday! I think I'm going to head into the kitchen and think about what I might want to eat soon now, very soon.

Can You Believe It's December?

I can't.

My life has been spent the last few months with countdowns to the birth of Sawyer. Now the real fun begins. I love December. I'm not always that crazy about Christmas Day but I sure enjoy the excitement that leads up to it. And this year I'm especially happy that I practically don't have to do anything about it. We're not decorating the apartment (all the ornaments are in storage), we're not putting up a tree (somehow it didn't get on the truck), I'm not hanging lights outside from a 20-ft. ladder (where is the ladder?) and besides, the guy across the street has lit up his unit so we get to see lights without all the work. I might put up a colored strand or two inside but mostly I do that so I get the flavor of a Mexican restaurant and I tend to leave them up well into springtime. I am looking for a place to hang the Christmas cards, and a corner to pile a few presents that we'll take with us up to Granite Bay. For people like my friend, Lynn, who love to decorate for Christmas, my minimalist approach to the Christmas extravaganza must seem unbelievable if not downright Scroogey. For me, it's like the best Christmas present ever. I'm sure (maybe) by next year I'll be ready to jump back in on all the fuss.

We plan on leaving around 12/22 to enjoy the holidays w/ my family in northern CA. A friend is letting us stay at their house so we have some space and a little quiet time for Sawyer. Both Chelsea and I are so thrilled that little Sawyer came last Monday instead of today, or next week, or the week after that, which will make him 4 weeks old by then and just perfect for the drive.

I think the one thing I will miss is my antique wooden Coca Cola Santa Claus from the 1930's. He's been a constant companion of mine longer than my kids or any husband. Since he's in storage, too, and there's absolutely nowhere to set him up currently, I will display him here. There we go...my Christmas decorating is done, virtual style, along with greetings from Eli and Reg.

If Santa ain't happy, no one's happy

Bootie Call!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

FOUR THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

Annie and Jake Archibald

Sawyer Storey

The resources & energy to still make a Thanksgiving feast--so much for a picnic at the beach!

Introducing Sawyer Daniel Storey!!!

"You only just tell a boy you won't ever have anybody but him, ever ever ever, and then you kiss and that's all. Anybody can do it"

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Becky to Tom, Chapter 7)

YESSIR! That's just what we want to do is just kiss this little boy forever and ever and ever! Sawyer arrived this morning at 6:41am after a VERY brief labor of 3 1/2 hours. He is 1 day shy of 37 weeks which makes him 1 day shy of official "full term". Chelsea's labor was so fast and she transitioned so quickly that she never had the epidural. At the time she didn't think it was such a great idea, but recovery is so much quicker that by tonight she's thinking, aside from all the screaming, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. He is 6lbs. 5 oz., 17 1/2 inches long, has lots of brown hair that I think will be curly like his dad's and has the sweetest little face. He was alert and checking out his world but is now settling in on being comfy. Chelsea was amazing and I'm just so proud of her. I came home for a few minutes to send out some more emails, write this, and pick up a turkey at Trader Joe's. Because when all is said and done, how can we be more grateful than having this little baby join us today and celebrate my most favorite holiday with us on Thursday which will now include the traditional feast. Mommy and baby will be home on Wednesday. I'm going back shortly to spend the night. We are all happy and thankful and thank everyone for all their kind words and loving support over the past months.

All is well, all is well!

What Do You Need?

Dana Point Harbor

The other day Chelsea and I went down to the harbor. It was a really clear and beautiful afternoon as you can see. One of those days that makes you so happy to live in California.

In spite of all the crazy stuff that goes on in this state, there's nothing like the peace that comes from looking at boats and dreaming about all the wonderful adventures you could have as you sail away. I especially like to read the names of the boats. I asked Chelsea what she would name her boat if she had one. She said Chelsea Drugstore from the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want." I've listened and sung to that song since 1969, 7 years before she was born, and yet she knew every word of the lyrics, and all I knew was "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need."

It's a good question to ask myself as to what do I really want, especially in this season of Thanksgiving. World peace like in "Groundhog Day"? Yeah, that would be nice but I don't see it happening for awhile. A room of my own other than in Chelsea's apt? I'm okay for now. Good health? I've got that. Love from and for my children and family? Got that. A car that's paid for? Check that off. Hmmmm, how about a boat?

I'd name it Napa Dog Road from a dream I had one time. And I'd love a boat sometime. But I still don't really need one. I have so many blessings this is hard.

I'm thinking, I'm thinking.....Do you know what you might want but might not get ?

Today when we were back at the harbor and it was cold and foggy Chelsea looked over into the water and said, "What's that? Is that a man in the water?" I looked over and hey, it was a dolphin! It was jumping up and then diving back in and was about 15 feet from us. That was really cool. And what a treat! But I didn't need to see a dolphin; it was just a little extra gift from the day.

Okay, I've got it!

I want SUGAR! I decided to cut way back on my sugar intake last Thursday, today is day 3, and whenever I do this to myself day 3 is always the hardest. Grrrrrr!! That's what I want. And not having it makes me scream, "I can't get no satisfaction!" So in order to get what I need I'm going to go into the kitchen and eat a cracker with cheese. This probably sounds stupid with Thanksgiving just around the corner and the year's greatest all-time feast. But since it's just the two of us this year (or three if Sawyer shows up) we're taking it easy on Thursday. If the sun comes back by then we'll enjoy a picnic down by the beach and, according to the old grade school joke, eat the sand which is there.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Now the Curtain Opens on a Portrait of Today

Way back in July it was hard to imagine what November 18th would hold in store for us. When Chelsea's perinatologist told her to go on strict bed rest at 4 months along followed by two hospital stays for pre-term labor, we didn't know if little Sawyer would make it all the way, much less make it at all. But due to her incredible ability to follow all the rules, and I don't say this lightly, but not exactly one of her strong personality traits, she has successfully brought her pregnant self to 36 WEEKS!

36 WEEKS...the magic words, 36 WEEKS--no more meds, 36 WEEKS--no more bed rest, 36 WEEKS--"Go dancing!" Dr. Posner said. At 36 weeks she could get her hair done again, get a manicure and pedicure, eat out at restaurants, go to movies, go shopping, and do all those things without feeling guilty. And so she did. Today the nail salon and Olive Garden, tomorrow the world! She actually got her hair done 3 days ago and we went shopping yesterday. But still...

Tomorrow is Chelsea's 32nd birthday. So we'll be eating out again, at Salt Creek Grille, on my brother, John's, recommendation. We celebrate together. She for doing so well and having survived. Me for holding down the fort for her and knowing I, too, will now get some of my life back. I remember well the day she was born. It truly was a Chelsea Morning!

"There was milk and toast and honey and a bowl of oranges, too. And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses."

When the docs first told her what the last 4 months would require she was thinking, "Man, that's for the birds!" But take a look at this picture I took on my iphone last Saturday. Gives the expression a whole new meaning. I think the only thing these guys are thinking about are their endless possibilities.

"And the streets are paved with passersby and the pigeons fly and the papers lie waiting to blow away"

Life's a beach, then you fly!

California Dreamin'

It's a world of contrasts and opposition. This past week Southern California has been in the news with all the protests over the passage of Proposition 8 and then the rampant wildfires in Santa Barbara County, north LA County and parts of Orange County. Freeways have been shut down. Thousands of people have been evacuated. Hundreds of homes have burned to the ground. And several people have died or been severely burned. Winds have been up to 70 miles per hour and the temperature over the weekend hit 100 degrees in some areas...except here.

Here it's felt like Hawaii without the humidity. It's been hot but not too hot, clear, fresh, and glorious.

I can't help but wonder how I can live so close to such terrible disasters and yet my biggest inconvenience was trying to get to a performance of the LA Philharmonic Symphony at the spectacular Disney Concert Hall Friday night and dealing with 2 1/2 hours of traffic, which had nothing to do with any of the news items, but was just a typical Friday night on the I-5 parking lot.

AND...I've been able to play with my new camera. In preparation for the birth of my first grandchild in 2004 I finally switched from my film camera to digital. It's been 4 years and I knew it was time to upgrade even though I really like that old Sony for ease and size. But with the impending arrival of Chelsea's little boy and the massive changes in technology I knew it was time to upgrade again, which I'd been trying to hold back on---but I just couldn't any longer. The problem, of course, at least for me, is the learning curve on anything new and improved. Today around 4:30 Chelsea and I went for a quick ride up the PCH to Laguna Beach. I knew the optimum time lately for sunsets around here is 5:15. The day before we'd also been for a drive to keep her from getting punchy when we discovered a place that looked like a super location to practice on my camera. Because Chelsea is only moderately coming off bed rest until Tuesday and because the window of opportunity was limited I only got to play around for 20 minutes or so. But it sure was fun to start to discover what this new camera can do. Unfortunately, it's now 1:50 am and I'm barely figuring out how to transfer the images to my computer w/ all the new software. But it's coming around, slowly but surely.

Do you see the people in the kayak?

I zoomed in on them on some of the shots but I'm not going to bore you with all of them.

This is one of my favorites, I like the star in the upper left hand corner

This one surprised me the most, it was dark out but the lens really opened up

This is going to be great sport! It might take me another 4 years to figure out most of the stuff. I wish I was one of those people who's intuitive about technology, etc. I tend to need to read all the instruction manuals instead of just playing around and see what happens. Maybe I should apply that learning style to how I live my life. I'm trying, I really am.

My Favorite Veteran

Major Anthony DeVoe Woolf

(thanks Jay & Jeremy for this slide)

My dad, who will be 94 in January, served in World War II shortly after completing his LDS mission in Germany. The older he gets the more he shares with us his army experiences. We're hoping he's able to complete his autobiography that he's currently working on so that we will have all these stories saved for future generations. He is my favorite vet and I pay tribute to him and all those who have served and are serving in the armed forces. His younger brother, Wilford, also served in the war as a pilot in the Air Force. Uncle Wilford died a few months ago. Below is a picture they had taken for their parents

Wilford Woolf and Tony Woolf

I'm extremely grateful for the brave sacrifices my dad and uncle made for our freedom and our country and for the families they left at home who loved them, worried about them, and prayed for them. I love you, Dad!

DisGuysed and Dolls

As if things couldn't get even scarier what with Halloween and certain election results, this morning I'm sitting in the living room across from Chelsea when I hear this loud shriek explode from her mouth, "Oh My Gosh! When did my arm hairs grow so long? They're black and I look like Big Foot!"

What?!

I think it's time for little Sawyer to consider more seriously about making his entrance into this world. Chelsea's brain is fried. We saw her perinatologist on Tuesday who told her to stay on the meds and bedrest for 2 more weeks and then she can go dancing. We saw her regular OBGYN on Friday who said get off the meds and start back into her regular life, whatever that is. With conflicting medical direction what would you do? We really don't want little Sawyer to have to go to the NICU no matter how brief. Yet she also knows she needs to start building up her muscles again by sitting up for longer than 30 minutes or so. She's decided to compromise somewhere in between, meaning she can drive with me thru Starbucks or McDonald's or sit at the beach for an hour while I go for my walk but she can't load the dishes in the dishwasher. I think that's how it's playing out. No, seriously, I'm happy she's actually able to start getting around again. She's been a real trooper through this whole thing. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be on strict bedrest for the past 14 weeks. Wait, yes I can, I've been here. And with 2 stays in the hospital behind her, we're both very happy the time is drawing nigh.

She sent a photo of herself to some of her friends because they'd been asking her how she looks. Unfortunately she didn't get back the response she was hoping for. They all told her she looked huge. I think she looks great


34 weeks 3 days and counting

Because the one doc gave her the A-OK to get up and go she signed up for a breast-feeding class tomorrow at the hospital. They told her to bring a baby doll or stuffed animal with her, but if it's a stuffed animal it can't have a tail. Huh? The only doll around here is one I brought with me to sell on Ebay, Brittany's original Cabbage Patch doll which she "adopted" from the Cabbage Patch Hospital when we lived in Georgia. I tried to sell it at my garage sale for $5, but a very honest woman told me they're selling for over $100 on the internet so I took it out of the garage and brought it down on the truck. However, it's at least 24" long and looks 2 years old. As much as the La Leche League might think it's appropriate, Chelsea doesn't. We have a sock monkey that used to be Eli's, but it has a tail. We have a little teddy bear my sister, Marlene, gave Chelsea, but it's too small. Just preparing for this 2-hour class is giving me a headache thinking about it.

Chelsea is in her bedroom right now reading a book she ordered about breast-feeding. And I'm in my room writing this and thinking about dolls I've known and loved. Cheryl and I got matching dolls when I was 4. Mom painted our initials with red fingernail polish on the dollies' bottoms so we could tell them apart. When I was 8 I got my favorite baby doll I named Bonnie Kay. She's boxed up and in storage. I dearly loved my Little Red Riding Hood doll from Germany but she's gone AWOL. I received my first and only Barbie for Christmas, 1961. And then, of course, in 1974, 1976, and 1980 I got my 3 real live dolls. And 2004, 2006, and soon in 2008 has brought 3 more real live baby dolls into my life.

On the off-chance Marlene ever does decide to read my blog I'm including this video for her and anyone else whose wish came true when she found the doll of her dreams under the Christmas tree.

I Went to the Bonnie Hunt Show Yesterday and All I Got Was this Dumb Mask

After tonight this may be the last time you see this face

So I got this email asking if I wanted "VIP" tickets to the Bonnie Hunt Show and that they had "giveaways" as an enticement. I called my friend, Nancy Metcalf, to see if she wanted to join me again. The shooting was yesterday for today's airing. Along w/ lousy hot dogs and moderately cold root beer they gave us a duck whistle, a Christmas ideas book (didn't I just get rid of all this junk in my garage sale?) and a mask to wear expressing our candidate of choice. If I'd been smart I should have asked for an Obama mask also so I could bring it home to Chelsea as a souvenir. Then we could both be in the picture. Oh well.

The upside is that while I was trying to take my picture on the self-timer mode of my camera Chelsea came walking in the room from her bedroom and jumped about 3 feet high.

"What are you doing?" she screamed. "It freaked me out that some old man was sitting in the living room!"

The downside? It almost brought little Sawyer into our world 6 weeks early. Her perinatologist already delivered 3 little babies today on election day (Chelsea had an appointment today that had to be rescheduled). He didn't need to assist with another one.

I hope if your candidates and issues won tonight that you're happy, and if not, well, there's 2012 when we can do this all over again.

I'm Baaaaaaack!

pictures courtesy of Brittany

TREAT
-by Jack Prelutsky
Trick or treat, trick or treat,
Give us something good to eat.
Give us candy, give us cake,
Give us something sweet to take.
Give us cookies, fruit and gum,
Hurry up and give us some.
You had better do it quick
Or we'll surely play a trick.
Trick or treat, trick or treat,
Give us something good to eat.

I'm Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day and I'm tired of it. I haven't had trick-or-treaters the past 5 years and this one is once again no exception. When I lived in The Woodlands I got tired of the bell ringing because I didn't get a DVR until the last few years and it would mess up my TV shows which were always at a really good spot when someone came to call. However when I moved to the country in Granite Bay no one ever showed up. The unlit street was dark and a kid trying to clean up wouldn't get much of a haul walking from acre to acre. So I understand. But just on the off chance that someone, a prankster, my nieces and nephew, even a robber came to call, I'd load up on the Halloween candy, ready to hand it out. Invariably no one came.

There are two schools of thought regarding Halloween candy when you're older... 1) either buy the stuff you like because you'll probably have to eat what's leftover if no one comes or 2)buy the stuff you hate so you won't have to eat what's left over if no one comes. My dad's still buying candy and he's 93. But he's still getting ghosts and goblins. He told me a while back that he has someone in his house he doesn't recognize. He says he's living with an old lady, surely not his bride from over 61 years ago. And he always tells me that goblins are living there since things like wallets disappear and show up in the refrigerator. I have someone in my house I don't recognize either, but Chelsea's informed me that it's me looking back from the mirror. Who is that person? See, I tried to subscribe to school number two! I bought a big bag of individual packets of dried fruit because Brittany told me a few days ago that she and the kids had already been to 6 Halloween parties and she was exhausted from scrubbing my sugar-infused grandchildren off the walls. So I went w/ the healthy stuff.

However, this afternoon, Chelsea, the woman who wanted me to paint her pregnant belly like a jack-o-lantern, was feeling pretty deprived w/o some sort of chocolate. So at 4:30 I went to the store and got a big bag of mixed Hersheys' kisses, Reeses, and Mr. Goodbars. "Give me candy, give me cake, help me have a bellyache!" And I tell you...EVERYONE was driving around like they'd been eating sugar from 6 Halloween parties! Costumed kids were running crazily around the sidewalks, moms were fighting for parking spaces, and many men were confused as to which holiday they were celebrating. By that I mean they were doing what they normally do on Valentine's Day--buying something an hour before it's expected, even though BOTH Halloween and Valentine's Day fall on the same dates every year.

So it's Friday night. The best night for Halloween every 7 years. And I'm eating all the "good" stuff in case some kids Do show up and want some treats. I'm trying to leave the dried fruit for them. And I'm saying to them, "You had better do it quick. Cause I think I might be sick!"