FYI: Some people call Halloween “satanic” because it uses witches, ghosts, demons, magic, and occult imagery—things some Christian groups regard as spiritually dangerous or as glorifying evil. Others object because Halloween has historical ties to Samhain, an ancient Celtic seasonal festival, and they see any connection to pre-Christian practices as incompatible with their faith.
The history is more layered than the label suggests: Halloween also grew alongside the Christian observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day; “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” the evening before All Saints’ Day. Today, many people celebrate it as a secular holiday focused on costumes, candy, and community—not as a religious or satanic observance. Beliefs and practices vary, so some choose not to participate while others do.
We worked in the office most of the morning. When Joe called, reminding me he is coming over, I got dressed and went outside,
Tomorrow is Halloween, and we are having family over to get ready, and then we will all go to the Elks to celebrate! We know the lodge is ready!
Mary also asked me to trim the rootbeer tree and bay bush while the gardener was here so he could haul away the trimmings. I rescued three bay branches from the Great Garden Cleanup—Dr. Mary can turn their leaves into Christmas gifts for family and friends. First, though, the branches needed a proper bath. Even holiday gifts deserve to be squeaky clean!
Bay leaves are those aromatic little overachievers that add a subtle, savory fragrance to soups, stews, sauces, beans, and braises. In the U.S., “bay leaf” usually means the dried leaf of the Mediterranean bay tree (Laurus nobilis). Not the kind you toss in the pot and then forget to fish out—unless your guests enjoy a surprise botanical experience.
How many: One or two leaves are usually enough for a pot of soup or stew. Too many, or cooking them for a very long time, can make the flavor harsh.
Flavor: Mildly herbal, woody, and slightly floral. They add background depth rather than a strong, obvious taste.
How to use: Add a whole leaf while food simmers, then remove it before serving. It’s stiff and can be unpleasant or risky to bite into.
Fresh vs. dried: Dried leaves are common and keep well; fresh ones tend to taste more pronounced. Store dried leaves airtight, away from heat and light.
I could almost hear them singing, “I Am Pretty, I Am Pretty”
Then, with surgical precision, Mary removes the leaves and pops them into the air fryer to dry. It’s morning, and she is already dressed for the occasion!
“Come here, my little beauties”
We went to the post office, then shopped for supplies. First we stopped at Bebmo to get Butterscotch Schnapps. Butterscotch schnapps is a sweet, golden liqueur that tastes like buttery caramel or butterscotch. It’s usually made with a neutral spirit, sugar, and flavorings, and it often has an alcohol content of about 15–25% ABV, though brands vary. It’s commonly:
Sipped chilled or over ice
Added to hot chocolate, coffee, or cider
Mixed into cocktails with vodka, cream liqueurs, or apple flavors
The flavor is rich and sugary, so a little goes a long way. “Schnapps” can mean different things in different countries: in the U.S., butterscotch schnapps is typically a sweet liqueur, not a strongly distilled spirit. We are going to make Harry Potter Alcoholic Butterbeer!
Butterbeer is a fictional drink from the Harry Potter stories, served at places like the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. It’s described as a sweet, warming drink with a butterscotch-like flavor.
In real life, themed versions are usually nonalcoholic and often taste like cream soda or butterscotch, with a sweet foam or whipped topping. We are going to use clear vodka and Butterscotch Schnapps in our concoction!!
Yummy for the tummy!!!
After visiting Ralph’s Market, we went home and worked in the yard for almost four hours. Mary trimmed her roses and plants along the pool’s edge. I planted in the garden, completing two of our five gardens (one is full-time berries).
Oreo supervised and caught any balls that might have been thrown. Today I even used gloves and moved a lot of mulch between beds. We have one more to go, then we need to clear the weeds from the large bed; we may have to occlude the bed (put an opaque tarp over the area for about six weeks).
Farmer Paul at work!
We are keeping tabs on the proper way to raise our new child.
After working so hard and starting to get cold (we finally quit after 5 pm), we all went inside to the warmer air. We called Robin and coordinated tomorrow’s visit. We had a light dinner, then went to the TV/Living room to watch Halloweentown II.
Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge is a 2001 Disney Channel fantasy-comedy TV movie and the second film in the Halloweentown series. It runs about 81 minutes.
Marnie Piper and her family return to Halloweentown, where Kalabar’s son, Kal, plots to use a magical spellbook to turn Halloweentown into a dreary copy of the human world—and transform humans into monsters. Marnie, her siblings, and their grandmother Aggie have to stop him.
Kimberly J. Brown stars as Marnie, with Debbie Reynolds as Aggie and Daniel Kountz as Kal. It’s a light, spooky family movie with Halloween magic, a cozy early-2000s Disney Channel feel, and a story about embracing what makes you different.
Scary!!!
Mary fell asleep as the four hours of hard work caught up with her. I watched John Wayne in Rio Lobo while she sawed logs. Wayne plays Colonel Cord McNally, a former Union officer who teams up with two ex-Confederate soldiers to track down traitors who stole Union gold during the Civil War. Howard Hawks directed it, and it was his final film. The cast also includes Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O’Neill, Jack Elam, and Christopher Mitchum.
Oreo and I went outside before bed so she could go potty. Mary and Oreo went to bed, and I stayed up working on the website.
I ran across one more Collie Guide while I finished my email! I have this funny feeling that Oreo is sending us these messages! She is pretty smart!
At midnight, I joined Mary and Oreo for a good night’s sleep; tomorrow we party!!!
We worked in the office until 11:00am, then departed for the Elks weekly Girls Night Out! Oreo was her normal, wonderful self. We played ball inside for a while, and finally she said enough; time to go outside and really throw the ball!
Dad!! It’s time to go outside and play our favorite game!!!
So we went outside, and I spent about 40 minutes throwing the ball and planting the winter garden. I’d throw the ball, plant three veggies, then throw the ball again. I was getting pretty good at multitasking—though the ball may have thought I was running a very confusing fitness class.
I planted cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, three kinds of peas, onions, cabbage, three kinds of lettuce, Swiss chard, and some herbs. At least the garden bed won’t be bare when the party arrives in November. It’ll be dressed for the occasion before we are!
Then we came back inside and got ready for Girls’ Night Out at the Elks. While Mary finished up and looked beautiful, I checked my email and found the Starlighters’ invitation to Vintage Christmas!
It’s a FORMAL affair, so I get to wear my brand-new tuxedo, and Mary will wear a holiday ball gown. We do enjoy playing dress-up—apparently, November is shaping up to be a very fashionable month for both us and the vegetables.
Dad, I want to go OUTSIDE!
We got to the Elks at noon and visited the Bill C. Bob Z, George,Iris and Will. We had a great time teasing each other. Oero had to stay home. Bill wore his Halloween costume, the little devil! What could he be thinking?
Bill was looking pretty horny this afternoon!
Mary and I always dress for the occasion, but not in costume yet! We have enough Halloween clothes to wear something different every day for 30 days! Then the clothes go into the closet for another year!
Just us in our holiday decor!
On the way out of the lodge, there was a Halloween display, and Mary had to kiss the skeleton’s bald head. She said it reminded her of me!!!
The poor guys were trying to have a nice quiet lunch!
We returned home, worked in the garden for a while,e and played with the baby. Oreo likes fetch a lot! Mary was short on watercolor paper and several special colors, so we asked Oreo if she would like to go in the car. ZOT! She was sitting in the driver’s seat before we got there. It took some talking, but she finally gave up the front seat and settled into her bed in the back seat!
We went to the Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster. Oreo had a new adventure, seeing and sniffing all the art supplies and many of the artists! The owners were extremely friendly and had treats for the baby and a bowl of water for visiting pets!
They have anything and everything an artists might need!!!
After returning home, we worked in the garden for about 45 minutes and took out the very heavy trash cans (full of the remnants of this Summer’s garden). We (Mary) decided to go to the Tartan Room for dinner. Oreo stayed home and listened to country western music, her current favorite.
The Tartan Room is 65 years old and a “hole in the wall,” meaning it is NOT flashy and is hidden, but the food is amazing, and locals mostly patronize it! The address is on Tustin Avenue, but it is so far back from the main drag that, unless you know it’s there, it looks like a store.
Wonderful food, and they specialize in steaks!
As soon as we arrived, we gained control of the jukebox and played our favorites. Mary had the quesadilla while I tried the street tacos. We both had a glass of wine and enjoyed dinner while revisiting the day! I am lucky to spend every day with my best friend!
Oreo took one sniff of us and got that :Where’s Mine” look.
We explained to Oreo that she wasn’t Scottish, so she couldn’t go, but we would bring a treat next time. Even though it was dark outside, we had to go play fetch for a bit so she would be happy again!!
We finally settled down in the TV/Living Room and watched Halloweentown, an old Halloween movie.
Summary: Halloweentown is a 1998 Disney Channel fantasy-comedy TV movie about Marnie Piper, a girl who discovers on her 13th birthday that she comes from a family of witches. When her witch grandmother, Aggie, takes her and her siblings through a hidden portal to Halloweentown—a place where supernatural creatures live—Marnie gets swept into a mystery as a dark force threatens the town.
Kimberly J. Brown stars as Marnie, and Debbie Reynolds as her grandmother, Aggie. The movie has a cozy, whimsical Halloween vibe rather than a scary one, and it launched a popular four-film series.
Before going to bed, I checked my email. Mary and Oreo got there before me. I got a notification from Roger’s Gardens reminding me we must visit soon!
What a day! We all had fun and are looking forward to tomorrow’s adventures! Good night, all!
Oreo got restless around 4:00 am, so I let her out of her crate and invited her outside. She looked up and, in NO uncertain terms, said something like, “Are you kidding? It’s cold and dark out there! I will plop in the TV/Living Room until you guys finally get up!“
Mom and Dad! Stop dressing me in these silly PJs!
Mary and I finally arose. I headed to the office, and Mary made coffee. Oreo joined us; she likes to help! We attempted to explain Halloween to Oreo, but she looked confused. We will have to get her a costume before Saturday.
But first, we must go to the gym (Stop #1). We arrived at the gym feeling strong, confident, and wildly underinformed. Nijla and JC guided them to the exercise machines, where every seat seemed designed by a medieval blacksmith. “Just a few reps,” Nijla promised, while JC adjusted the settings to “historic regret.”
Mary pushed, pulled, and made noises usually heard from old floorboards. Paul tried to look athletic, but the machine kept returning him to the exact same spot—like a very expensive rocking chair. Nijla and JC cheered them on as the minutes stretched into several geological eras.
At last, the torture ended. We staggered away, victorious—and already dreading the long walk to the car. We did get one last laugh!
We made it home and changed for the never-ending errands we had planned. We told Oreo about the errands, and when we found her in the house, she was ready to go, complete with goggles, a red banana, and a leather duster.
“OK, Mom and Dad, I am ready to go!!!”
We departed at 10:30 am and headed out for seven stops.
The second stop (Stop #2) was Los Alamitos Hospital to pick up some records. They located the records, but it would take 15 minutes to prepare them. So we left for lunch at In-N-Out (Stop #3) and got burgers for the records person and us. We also got a “pup burger” for Oreo. An In-N-Out “pup burger” (often called a pup patty) is a plain hamburger patty, usually served without a bun or toppings, or seasoning, for dogs.
Stop #4 was back at Los Alamitos Hospital to retrieve the records.
Then we stopped (Stop #5) at Chico’s (Mary’s favorite clothing store), where Mary found some Christmas goodies, including potential presents.
Finally, we went to our original destination (Stop #6), H&H Nursery, where we got three flats of winter veggies and three bags of veggie food.
Oreo was a perfect lady, walking with us and helping us pick out winter veggies.
The Lexus pickup was loaded, and we headed home, but Mary fell asleep during the drive, so I quickly decided to stop at the Elks (Stop #7) and assign tables for Halloween. Mary woke us just as I turned off the 55 to go to the lodge.
After twenty minutes, I was done. Halloween is set in concrete, rain or shine!!
So now we are at Stop #8, rescuing Precious from the Lexus dealer. Mary went inside and when she did, Oreo got a little crazy aas if to say, “Where’s Mom, what’s she doing!!” When Mary drove out for me to lead her home, Oreo was in panic mode. After one block, she settled down. When we got home and saw Mommy drive into the garage, she was OK.
After driving all over town, we were happy to be home. Mary helped me with the veggies. The poor old Lexus pickup’s tummy was full!
I should add a stencil to the back of The Silver Fox identifying it as an F-150!
Our cleaning people were here, and Oreo visited them before going outside for a while. Domi and crew love Oreo, and Oreo is smart enough to stay out of their way, or she might get cleaned also. She seems to be adjusting well to her new life!
We had a small dinner, then migrated to the TV room for the rest of the evening. The TV was tuned to some channel I’ve already forgotten, but the main event was Mary needle pointing at and me providing professional ball-throwing services.
I threw the ball 25 times. Oreo made an impressive mid-air catch about half the time—which means the other half was apparently a surprise to everyone, including the ball.
Tomorrow, I’m upgrading my setup: a chair with a clear throwing lane down the hallway and into the family room. Oreo’s training regimen waits for no one.
I ended up watching Granite City on BYU TV. BYUtv is a television and streaming network operated by Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. I love their programming since it is family-friendly.
The day started with “Where is Oreo?” I left her crate door ajar on purpose to see what she might do. At 4:00 am, I woke up and looked for her. The baby was sound asleep in the TV/Living room, and nothing in the house was touched. She is a good girl!
At 7:00 am, I finally threw off the veil of sleep, jumped up, and yelled, “Let’s go pee-pee,” and Oreo zipped out of the crate at top speed and headed to the back door. We both went outside, and after 20 minutes of “fetch,” she finally did her job. Mary came out to assist in the game of fetch. Oreo always wins even when there are two of us!!
Yes, we are working on Oreo so he can fetch veggies from the garden!!
Our friend “AJ” emailed us to ask about tonight’s dinner! Dinner? Tonight? Oops!! Yep, we forgot to put in this season’s ticket for the Seagerstrom Theater, so we adjusted plans and will have dinner with AJ before the play!
We left the house at 11:00 am to pick up The Silver Fox, who stayed overnight at the Lexus dealer. He looked beautiful when we picked him up because he’d just been washed!! HE is good for another 5,000 miles!
Clean as a whistle!!
We drove home but left Precious with Lexus to change the oil and repair the center console. We will pick her up tomorrow, and I am sure she’ll be washed too!!
The Hot Rod in action!!!
After a bowl of soup, Mary headed off to painting class at noon, and I sent Oreo out to inspect her new backyard kingdom. She sniffed every square inch—including beneath the trees—so I’m pretty sure the yard has passed its first official security sweep.
Next up: Oreo gets a 90-minute solo trial while we go to the gym, preferably on a day when we’re not expecting any visitors. May the grass be interesting and the squirrels remain diplomatic. As a reward, we will take her to Los Alamitos to go to the Nursery and pick up some winter plants; we want something in the garden for the upcoming party.
We are surprised there are no skid marks where he stops and jumps at the ball/squeaky!!!
Mary brought home her work, but it was unfinished. The teacher gave them a tough assignment. I took a photo of the unfinished work so we could see a before-and-after! We had to paint each face and each square on the chef’s pants individually, and the watercolors had to dry first.
Mary plans to add a pizza and a wine bottle to the table, finish the background faces, give the chef a red bandana, and maybe add some black ink-pen highlighting.
Halfway through the product, looking pretty good!
Mary asked to send the incomplete watercolor to AI to add details that would help her finish the work.
So, I asked AI to: Optimize: Change the picture to add a red scarf around the chef’s neck, add a pizza to the left of the table, add three bottles of wine and glasses on the right-hand side of the table, and put some food on the table.
We cleaned up and left for the Silver Trumpet at 4:45 after a short walk with Oreo. We had dinner reservations for 5:30 pm. AJ joined us this evening. We saw “The Outsiders,” which was pretty good. It changed the names from “Greasers and Socs” to “Nerds and Socs”; I could identify it instantly. Obviously, I was a nerd!!!
Summary: In Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their Greaser family of outsiders battle their affluent rivals, the Socs. The Outsiders navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, The Outsiders is a story of friendship, family, belonging…and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”
FYI: In my high school in the late 1950s, we had several classes. Over the last twelve years, all my friends fell into one or more groups when we entered High School. Here were some common high school groups I remember (That was almost seventy years ago):
The Socialites: The socially prominent kids, often from wealthy or influential families.
The Preppies: Well-dressed, upper-middle-class or wealthy students, often associated with country clubs and college ambitions.
The In-Crowd: The popular students who dominated the school’s social scene.
The Socs (Socials): The wealthy, privileged teenagers, especially familiar from The Outsiders.
The Jocks: Athletes, particularly football and basketball players.
The Greasers: Leather jackets, slicked-back hair, hot rods, and rock ‘n’ roll.
The Nerds or Brains: Academically focused students.
The Rebels: Students who challenged school rules and authority.
I was a Nerd; I liked ROTC, enjoyed ham radio and the various shops, but turned up my nose at football and dancing.
We were gone for five whole hours, and Oreo ran the house. She handled the responsibility magnificently—no scandals, no surprise renovations, and apparently no plans to sell the furniture.
When we got home, I gave the “pee-pee” signal, and she was out the door in a flash. Then we played fetch in the dark, because, apparently, bedtime is for people without important ball-related business. Eventually, we called it a night and hit the hay.
Oreo and I discussed Christmas plans, and she’s already excited! Tomorrow we will order Christmas tree ornaments!
The weather is changing, and rain is expected around Halloween eve—though, given the weatherman’s track record, it may show up a day or two late. It’s definitely fall, and the holiday season is upon us. Time to bring out the decorations, the cozy blankets, and our most reliable forecast: “We’ll see.”
I went to the office, completed today’s Daily Diary, and then hit the sack at 11:30 pm. The Doc and Oero were fast asleep. I turned on the whole-house fan to lower the indoor temperature. Tomorrow is another big day, beginning with physical punishment at Peak Performance!
My morning routine has changed now! I get up, turn on Mary’s bathroom heater, check the house temperature, adjust the thermostat, open the back door, and return to the bedroom so Oreo can escape! Oreo goes down the hallway like lightning and shoots out the door like a 16-inch shell, leaving a battleship behind. With one little tinkle, she returns to me with a squeaky toy in her mouth. For 15 minutes, I stand out in the cold in a bathrobe, tossing toys onto the wet grass. Oreo didn’t even bother to take off her jammies
Happy Birthday to Mom, who would have been 118 today! That is Colleen (on the right) and Mom together. I do not know the other person anymore. This image is circa 1988.
???, Mom and Colleen
Yes, it is Monday. Mary and I arrived at Peak Performance for their bi-weekly workout, armed with water bottles, optimism, and a suspiciously large bag of emergency snacks. The trainers greeted them with smiles usually reserved for people about to enter a haunted house. “Ready to suffer?” Coach Antony asked, holding a clipboard ominously.
They strapped Mary and me into medieval-looking exercise machines that resembled a cross between a catapult and an office chair designed by a wizard with poor boundaries. “These are ergonomic,” Antony promised, tightening a strap. I glanced at Mary. “If this is ergonomic, I’m a decorative throw pillow,” he whispered.
The workout began with squats. At rep three, I negotiated with his knees, which had formed a union and demanded better working conditions. Mary pedaled a bike while Antony shouted encouragement. “Imagine you’re chasing a bus!” Mary pedaled faster. “I’m imagining it’s chasing me,” she gasped, “and it has teeth.”
After twenty minutes, the trainers announced a “fun finisher,” involving ropes and lunges beside a machine labeled DO NOT PANIC. I pressed its button anyway. A bell rang, lights flashed, and it dispensed a tiny towel. “It knows my limits,” he said. Antony raised an eyebrow. “It knows your laundry needs.”
They finished sprawled across the mats, victorious but moving like very old furniture. Antony handed us the schedule for next week. I stared at it. “Bi-weekly means twice a week, right?” Mary asked, suddenly alarmed. “Twice a week is correct,” Antony clarified. We sighed with relief as trainers cheerfully reset the machines for the 10:00 a.m. victims!
After the “workout,” we went straight home to check on the baby, and Oreo was perfect; she didn’t get into anything!! I played with her for a while before going to the Tustin Lexus dealer for a checkup.
Mary stayed behind and walked the baby around the block! After returning from their walk, Mary drove to the dealer and picked me up in Precious, May’s Lexus LS500h.
Precious is on the road commanding a lot of attention!!
The Lexus Sales Manager happened to be there, and he offered Mary $85,000 on the spot to buy it. He said it would become a collector’s item since they discontinued it this year.
We didn’t know how long my car would take, so we decided to go to the American Legion on Balboa Island for lunch. We had our usual, a glass of wine each, and shared their ginormous turkey club on rye. I added a baked potato, ensuring I wouldn’t need dinner tonight!
They have the best turkey club sandwich we have ever had!!!
Paul, our usual waiter, was there, so he brought two glasses of chardonnay before we even ordered.
FYI: The turkey club grew out of the broader club sandwich, an American sandwich that appeared in the late 19th century. Its exact birthplace is uncertain: a frequently repeated story credits the Saratoga Club House in Saratoga Springs, New York, in the 1890s, while other early references point to New York clubs and restaurants. So the Saratoga origin is popular, but not definitively established.
Early club sandwiches were commonly made with toasted bread, poultry—often chicken—bacon, lettuce, and tomato. They were often stacked in layers and cut into triangles, sometimes held together with toothpicks. Turkey became a familiar substitute for chicken, and “turkey club” came to mean the same classic combination with turkey, usually served with mayonnaise.
As sliced turkey became easier to buy and diners spread across the United States in the 20th century, the turkey club became a standard menu item.
The day was magnificent, with a temperature of about 75 degrees and a slight breeze. The water seemed a little high, but that was expected given the storms brewing south of us.
Dressed for the season!
The flags were flying, and they were all brand new!
Mary spotted another lad in a Halloween-themed shirt,rt so they compared notes.
The bay was fairly calm, with a few boats going back and forth enjoying the sunshine.
The sky was as clear as a bell.
No call from the Lexus dealer, so we went home to visit Miss Oreo, whom we let stay in the house rather than in her crate. The house was in perfect condition, but we saw that Oreo paced while we were gone, as shown by the security cameras going off continuously.
At 5:00 pm, I texted the dealer to keep the car and pick it up tomorrow; we didn’t want to drive in the 5:00 pm traffic!
We watched some TV and played “fetch” for a couple of hours before going to bed at 9:30 pm.
Today was relatively “slow” as we had nothing going on except going to the Elks for their annual holiday boutique. As soon as we got vertical, Oreo and I went outside for a rousing game of fetch. We had her running for 30 minutes non-stop with three of her favorite toys!
After the game, we got ready to go to the Elks. The women’s auxiliary sponsors this event every year, and they fill the ballroom and outdoor patio with purveyors of magnificent “stuff” you cannot do without.
FYI: The Elks Emblem Club is a community-service and social organization associated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Emblem Clubs commonly raise money for local charities, support community programs, and hold social events.
They’re separate from Elks lodges, and membership requirements vary by local club—many welcome women with an Elks connection.
Buy, Baby, Buy!!!
Robin came by the house at 11:15 am to meet Oreo for the first time, and they hit it off! Robin got “fetch duty” for about 15 minutes while we got everything together to go. We met Dianne there around noon.
We arrived just a tad early, four minutes before noon, and their buffet was closing. They loaded our plates with scrambled eggs, waffles, sausages, potatoes, biscuits, and gravy! Mary resisted, but I let them pile my plate high, so guess who did NOT eat dinner today? Robin didn’t join us because she is still watching her diet!
The meal was wonderful!
Dianne came in around 12:15, and the four of us sat around finishing breakfast. Since it was afternoon, Mary and I had a glass of wine while Robin drank champagne.
Next door in the ballroom, people bustled around doing their holiday shopping.
Oh my! One would think it was December!!
Mary found her favorite clothing boutique, where she bought her “bling” outfits. Bling is slang for flashy, eye-catching jewelry, clothes, or accessories—especially things that sparkle, like gold chains or diamond rings. In our case, it is rhinestones. Rhinestones are small, faceted imitation gems made to sparkle like diamonds. They’re commonly made from glass, crystal, or plastic and used on clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
When she donned the outfit, I had to wear sunglasses!
I tried to follow the girls around the entire area while they shopped, alternating between banker, wine glass holder, and package carrier. At the end, I was pooped out! I was in Estrogen overload! I did cave and bought a bag of roasted almonds, which I devoured as we walked around.
I would have probably taken more shopping pictures, but I was busy juggling three wine glasses, three purses, and a collection of goody bags.
Finally, I retreated to the lounge area, plopped down, and ordered a round of wine for us all. I almost decided to drink all four glasses, but the girls came struggling in from all that work!
Robin ordered a special brew!
Dianne came in empty-handed, saying nothing caught her eye. Little did she know I’d hired a witch to stop Dianne from spending money; she cast a powerful spell: “May every purchase turn into a sensible decision!”
I saw Dianne pick up a gorgeous handbag—and immediately put it back. “Thirty dollars?” she gasped. “That’s practically a retirement plan!”
She left with nothing but a free perfume sample. I smiled proudly. When Dianne came to the post-shopping event, she opened her purse and revealed the three “free” tote bags she’d been given to carry everything she didn’t buy.
Mary made up for Dianne! It took a small, two-wheeled handcart to get Mary’s acquisitions to the car, and then we had to drive home with the trunk open and tied down because it wouldn’t shut!
We headed home to let Oreo out and exercise. Oreo wandered what was in all the sacks for her!
Robin departed for home as husband Bob was due home from his Arizona gig any moment.
I played fetch with Oreo for about 45 minutes, but she sat down and didn’t bring the toy back!
We went inside, joined Mary in the TV/Living Room, and watched two versions of “The Canterville Ghost”, both telling the same story in different ways!
In Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost,” an American family, the Otises, move into an English manor despite warnings that it is haunted. Sir Simon, the ghost who has frightened the house’s residents for centuries, tries to scare them—but the practical, unflappable family treats his supernatural tricks as ordinary inconveniences.
Only Virginia, the Otises’ kind-hearted daughter, responds to Sir Simon with sympathy. She learns that he is trapped by a terrible old crime and helps him find peace. After Virginia’s compassion allows him to die and be laid to rest, the haunting ends. The story humorously contrasts American practicality with English tradition, while showing the power of kindness and forgiveness.
Oero and I went outside, braving the night air while she did her business.
The chronometer read 7:00 am, so Mary rose and did MY job! She opened the vermin cage, and Oreo shot out of the room faster than the X-15 Rocket Plane. Oreo did her job outside on the wet grass, then raced back inside, where it was relatively warm and definitely dry.
Today we didn’t have much planned except a trip to the doggie store for new supplies, including a self-locating toy box! We took the baby, Oreo, to the store, and I gave up the command “heel” because I didn’t want to choke her. She’s definitely a female, as she looked at, sniffed, and tried to bite every single toy in the store. We got away with spending only $200! Her got:
Two new beds, one for the car and one for the crate
New squaeky toys
Feminine hygeine (stain remover and rollup poopy picker-upper-bags)
An iPhone enable ID card
Training bites (assorted flavors)
Oreo hit the jackpot when she came to us!!
“OK Mom, I am done shopping, let’s go home!!”
On the way home, I worked on the website and found a recipe I’m dying to try. We used to think sweet potatoes were just potatoes with an identity crisis—until we learned to freeze them for a couple of days before cooking. Apparently, the cold gives them a delightful new texture. Who knew the freezer was their glow-up coach?
They’re also packed with beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A. So basically, they’re delicious and do good for you.
At noon, Mary pranced into the office in her cleanest dirty clothes, which meant only one thing: we were off to the garden.
We worked for four hours straight pulling up everything except one tomato plant and the kale for hail plants that seem not ot want to die. We filled two and a half 90-gallon trash cans to the top! I dug, pulled, and dropped the results on the concrete walkway between the gardens while I was on KP (Kailyard Police).
BTW: Kailyard is a Scottish word for a small vegetable garden. A more common phrase is kitchen garden.
“Stop already! You are creating trash faster than I can pick it up!!!”
The Naked Garden!!
Oreo was with us the entire time, making sure her heavy ball rolled right on top of the recently pulled greenery to help us flatten it before we put it in the trash; she was so helpful!
After four hours, all three of us were too pooped to pop!!
We went into the house and hit the showers (Oreo hit her bed and rested). We came out smelling like a slightly overhung rose.
I needed a Tow Truck to get into the house!
Mary put together a small but delightful dinner, which we enjoyed at the kitchen island—along with Oreo, who apparently thought it was a potluck. She doesn’t inhale everything in sight; she takes a few bites, then saves the rest for later, like a tiny furry food critic with excellent self-control. We really hit the jackpot when she came to live with us!
This image made me laugh!!!
For the rest of the evening, we watched TV and played fetch. At this rate, in a month I’ll be trying out for the Dodgers—my pitching arm is going to be so strong.
Then I got a message from Robin, who was at an early Halloween party with friends. I took one look and thought, “Wait… this is our daughter???” Apparently, she’s already in costume—or maybe we just don’t recognize her social life anymore.
Who is this strange woman???
Oreo and I walked into the backyard for one final inspection before going to bed!
I took a quick look in the old Farmer’s Almanac and went to the name of this moon!
FYI: A farmer’s almanac is an annual reference book with information useful for farming and everyday life—such as planting calendars, tide tables, astronomical events, recipes, and weather forecasts.
People often mean The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a well-known U.S. publication. Its long-range weather predictions are popular, though they aren’t considered highly reliable scientific forecasts.
Oreo and I will have to carefully examine the moon for the next few days!!
We finally crashed around 9:45 pm after a long day’s work!
Sue was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer on October 23th 1997, and the diagnosis was NOT good. As usual, she took on the fight head-on and laughed in cancer’s face. We went to Disneyland that day, and I purchased yearly passes, making sure we would be together a year later. We called the purchase “Life Day” and went to Disneyland every October 23 for the next twenty-plus years. Well, she was with us twenty-three years before passing and NOT due to cancer. Our last year there was October 2019, just a few months before she passed, and we (Robin, Bob, and I) met up with Michele & Franklyn and Joe and his family at Downtown Disney. We didn’t stay late because Sue was very tired.
Mary and I got up at 7:00 am this morning, a little later than usual because it was finally cool outside and the covers were nice and warm. Oreo was in her bed, and she shot out of the bedroom like a rocket to do her business in the backyard. (I think she slept so well because of all the chasing she did yesterday; come to think of it, that’s probably why I slept so late.)
“Let’s play!!!”
We knew the baby (Oreo) would have certain “characteristics,” and sure enough, she does!!!
Origin: They were developed along the border between Scotland and England to herd sheep.
Herding ability: They’re famous for controlling livestock with an intense stare called the “eye.”
Intelligence: Border Collies are highly trainable and often excel in agility, obedience, and other dog sports.
Energy: They need plenty of daily exercise and mental challenges—not just a quick walk.
Size: Most are medium-sized, typically around 18–22 inches tall and 30–55 pounds.
Coat: Their coat may be rough or smooth and comes in many colors; black and white is common.
Lifespan: They often live about 12–15 years.
Temperament: They’re usually alert, responsive, and devoted, but can become bored or develop unwanted behaviors without enough activity.
A good fit: They tend to do best with people who can provide consistent training, enrichment, and an active lifestyle.
We worked in the office for a while before getting ready for our gym appointment. I enjoy every minute we spend together, whether it’s working in the office, cooking in the kitchen, running errands, dancing, or, more recently, taming/training Oreo. Mary is such a joy to be around!
We went to the gym mostly to loosen up our sore arms after playing “squeaky” with Oreo all night long. After our trainer gave us his usual beatdown, we made a harrowing escape to the car and went home to visit Oreo!
Mary and her trainer were dressed for the occasion!
Mary and her trainer work out together!
I was me, of course! I worked my entire torso by trying to stand up! Lifting 202 pounds of fat is not for the faint of heart. As an afterthought, I may have to use a grease pencil and cross out the “or drink” statement just to be accurate.
This is the truth!!!!
When we got home, Oreo was out of her crate, probably because of the gardener making so much noise; she used her nose to push the crate door open. She didn’t do any damage and met us at the garage door with a big, big smile, commonly known as a SEG (ask us when you see us).
We decided to try another test: taking Orio out shopping. This time it was at the men’s clothing Store. I tried on two new suits and a new tuxedo. Orio was amazing. She came inside, lay down, and watched the whole operation from start to finish. I don’t think she understood how fast I could change colors!
Back home, we worked around the house. Joe, our son, came over, and we discussed lighting options for the upcoming party. While he waited for us to return, we removed the last of the old gazebo canvas. He met the new addition to the family: his sister, Oreo!
Mary and I worked around the house for a while and admired the weather and Mother Nature’s many faces. It looked like rain, but nary a drop fell. The wind was gusty but not continuous, and I waited for a while, trying to capture the orange Halloween flag because it has our name on it.
Around 8:00 p.m., the elementary school Halloween party got suspiciously quiet. Then we heard a steady stream of cars leaving, so we figured the party was over.
Turns out, the party ended because Mother Nature decided the weatherman was full of hot air—and started dumping buckets from the sky, with spectacular lightning and nearby thunder.
Oreo didn’t care one bit. Not scared, not impressed—probably wondering why the humans were making such a fuss. Mary and I, meanwhile, shut the doors, grabbed our blankets, and officially joined the “what’s going on” crowd.
We talked to Greg, and he is going to join us at Halloween at the Elks; he may be wearing his Santa Claus outfit, since he’s playing Santa this year! Greg was a little worried until I told him Mary and I went as Mr. and Mrs. Santa in 2024!
We both make jolly Santas, but Greg has the edge with his magnificent beard!!!
At 9:00 p.m., Oreo and I went outside. The sky was clear except for a few puffy clouds, the moon was bright, and the grass was wet—basically, nature had set the stage for a very damp game of catch.
We played for about 30 minutes, until I nearly caused a disaster by throwing the frisbee straight into the pool. I imagined Oreo heroically diving in to retrieve it. Instead, the smart COOKIE looked at the frisbee, then at me with deep disappointment—as if to say, “You threw it in there. You get it out.”
“No way I’m going in the water; there may be alligators in there!”
So I retrieved the frisbee and threw it and the orange worm a few more times, this time keeping it on the dry side of the yard. After Oreo took care of business, we headed to bed by way of the TV room, where Dr. Mary was doing her needlework. I assume she was making something to commemorate my excellent frisbee-throwing skills.
We were in bed by 10:00 pm! It has been a busy day!
We were up early at the office as usual, but this time Mary was the busiest. She got a cruise in May 2027 from Rome to Barcelona on Viking (we want to avoid the crumb munchers!) Diane (daughter-in-law) and Megan (granddaughter) are going with us on this trip.
Mary spent two hours on the phone with Viking, and now everything is booked and ready to go. Now we have to rob a bank to pay for it. We fly into Rome, cruise for a week, exit Europe in Barcelona, and fly home.
I came across an image from several days ago, when Oreo went to the doctor’s office. She was an excellent patient and came through the ordeal without a single bark! She is 30.1 pouinds and in excellent health! She is a smart dog, sometimes too smart.
What’s happenin’, Pop?
Oreo supervised us all morning, as she had to lie down after a rousing game of squeaky with Dad. I should mention that Dad was also ready to lie down after tossing the squeaky twenty times! Oreo is an excellent retriever!
There she goes at 68 mph right down the center of the lawn!!!
Mary came out and caught this activity on camera. She left out the part where I crawled back into the house and plopped on the couch with my oxygen mask!! My arm was so sore I am looking forward to the gym tomorrow and tell the trainer about my pains!
We got ready for Girls’ Night Out at the Elks—and we’re heading straight there because Vicky and her caterer are stopping by to scope out the place for the upcoming party. Nothing says “party planning” like a tactical inspection.
The gang was doing fine, and we were delighted to hear that Feorge turned 94 yesterday! He and Iris are now neck and neck in the race to 100. At this rate, we may need to start planning two very big birthday parties.
The Elks are getting ready for the Halloween Ball, and decorations are popping up everywhere. It’s starting to look festive—and possibly haunted.
Today’s special was baby-back ribs. Despite the name, they don’t come from baby pigs. They’re the shorter ribs from up near the backbone, where the ribs meet the loin. So don’t worry: no tiny pigs were invited to dinner.
Bob, our resident health nut (my brother from another mother), ordered baby-backs, and so did I. We cannot tell Donna, or he will be in trouble.
We know what it is like when Donna gets mad and finds out Bob went off the healthy diet!
Down Donna, Paul led him astray… AGAIN!!
We got the tickets for Pete and Lisa to join us on Halloween, and the lodge is ready for the event. Almost 20 people are joining us that evening, so it will be a blast. We’ll send a reminder to everyone that Halloween this year is at the Elks!
As we left the lodge, the skies were angry and looked like they’d bring more rain! We made it home without a drop! The weather forecast says no rain for the next few days. In fact, it’s going to be in the very low 80s for a few days.
Most of the activity was to the north of us!
We got home after a quick market run for some essentials. Oreo was ready to go out and play, and we worked her for about half an hour! She was tired, and I was tired! Mary was tired watching us!
At 3:30 pm, Vicky and Jim came by to meet with their caterer for the upcoming party. Vicky and Oreo really hit it off! We met with the caterer, and all went well!
After Vicky and Jim left, the vicious Oreo attacked us and demanded we play with her toys and with her. For two hours, we tossed everything at her, and she never tired out; oh dear, what are we on for???
Come on, guys; I need exercise!!!
Once we sat down and got comfortable, the Oreo monster showed up with 39 squeaky toys and boundless energy. We “watched” TV until about 11:00 pm, then I went outside with the vermin and tossed the ball a few more times before bed. Finally, at 11:30 pm, Oreo was ready for bed!
8:30 a.m., and we are on our way to get slightly killed; yes, it’s gym day! I shudder thinking about being chained to the various torture devices. But we need to keep this magnificent fizz-zeek tuned up and running to purr-fect-shun! We made it through the ordeal battered and bruised, but also loosened up. Once we got into The Silver Fox, we locked the doors to keep the trainers from getting to us.
We saw them in the parking lot looking for us!
We weighed ourselves on the way out, and Mary was shocked at how tall I have become over the years, horizontally, that is!!
After leaving the gym,ym we headed home to get ready for lunch with some of Mary’s college associates. They are fundraising folks and the nicest people you would ever meet! We went to a magnificent Italian restaurant at the Orange Circle called
Francoli Gourmet on the Orange Circle
While we were talking, cooking came up, and Mary mentioned our now-famous Bay Leaf tree! I found the following very interesting.
Many women add bay leaves to food without knowing the reason. When asked why, they say it adds flavor.
However, adding bay leaves to meats and other dishes can help transform triglyceride-type fats into monounsaturated fats (try cutting a chicken in half and cooking each half in a different container: put bay leaves in one and nothing in the other; then observe the amount of fat in each).
If you have bay leaves, there’s no reason to turn to the pharmacy, as recent scientific studies have proven they offer various benefits:
Bay leaves treat digestive system disorders, helping to eliminate abdominal bloating, heartburn, acidity, and constipation, in addition to regulating bowel function when hot bay leaf tea is consumed.
They reduce blood sugar levels and also act as antioxidants, promoting insulin production by the body, whether through consumption in food or by drinking bay leaf tea for a month.
They eliminate harmful cholesterol and help the body get rid of triglyceride-type fats.
They are very beneficial in treating colds, flu, and intense coughs, as they are rich in vitamin C; you can boil the leaves and inhale the steam to eliminate mucus and reduce cough intensity.
They eliminate insomnia and anxiety; if consumed before bed, they help with relaxation and provide restful sleep.
Drinking a cup of bay leaf infusion twice a day dissolves kidney stones and cures inflammations.
After lunch, we dropped by the Vet to pick up some extra meds for Oreo and finally headed home. Oreo was very happy to see us, and we took her outside and wore ourselves out throwing these squeaky toys all over the yard!!
We exercised Oreo before the rains came! In retrospect, she exercised us!!!
Oreo got two additional tests this afternoon. First, our Sunrun representative stopped by, and we signed up for a potential solar system upgrade to add a few panels and two batteries, so we can live off the grid when the lights go out. He was here for an hour, and Oreo acted like nothing was going on!
Since it was Wednesday, Domilita and Crew showed up around 4:00 pm, so three more people came into the house. Oreo greeted them, then came into the kitchen and stayed with us.
Lesson Learned: Oreo likes people and isn’t afraid or nervous around them!
We then went to the kitchen and used the Bat Phone to call Colleen. We were on the Bat Phone with her for almost 45 minutes! For you kids, the “Bat Phone” was a red desk phone connected to Gotham City Hall, used in 1966 to call Batman and Robin and help solve problems in the city!
We then called the Chartiers and talked to Lisa and Pete. They’re coming up on Halloween and going to the Halloween Dance at the Elks with us. We have not seen them in several months!
I finally got to sit down and rest!!
I checked my email and Facebook and found a set of questions I could answer “yes” to every single one. How about you? After thinking it over, I’ve concluded: yep, I’m old. I didn’t just own an encyclopedia—I bought one from a used bookstore, dated 1905, and read most of it. My head is now packed with completely useless facts, and most of those facts are older than I am!
We watched TV until about 9:30 pm, occasionally lobbing Oreo’s squeaky toy to keep us on our toes. At bedtime, Oreo and I went outside, where she took care of her pre-snooze business. After a long day, we all crashed in record time—and Oreo passed her exams with flying colors!
The last time I saw her, she was in her crate, wrapped up in her blankie and snoring away.
We ALL got up early and got ready to go to the Vet (Oreo doesn’t know what a Vet is yet!). Oreo went outside to do her business while we got dressed for today’s adventure. When we finished dressing, we looked for Oreo, and she was nowhere to be found. We got worried, so we searched room by room. We finally found her!
Smart dog!!!
Oreo jumped in the car like she knew what she was doing. Then we were off, and she looked out the window like she was having great fun!
After driving a bit, we talked about the doctor, and she looked puzzled!
Now she is worried!!
She got a little suspicious when we went inside, but she kept a stiff upper lip and let Dr. Lee weigh, poke, and examine her! She weighs 30.1 pounds, about 20 pounds lighter than Scout, but that’s OK; we are getting older, and she will be easier to lift!
We walked out together at 10:15 am with a bag of meds and another appointment to have her fixed (I didn’t even know she was broken). She is on her way to be the next Six Million Dollar Dog!!
From there, we went to her next appointment for her beauty treatment. Mary has gone to the Clip Joint for many, many years, and they are first-class. When we entered, the proprietors hugged us and said they were sorry about Scout (it’s been a year). We know Oreo will be in good hands with the Clip Joint.
Mary fixed us a quick brunch with scrambled eggs, peach halves, and cottage cheese! Perfect!
At noon, Mary took off for her weekly watercolor painting class, leaving poor old pops (aka Paul) to clean house! I worked solid for two hours and have everything ready for her white-glove inspection.
During that time, I got a text from Colleen, and the two grad grandchildren were out at the ball game in 45-degree weather! We made our trip just in time.
Mary came home with her painting and Oreo; she was ready at the groomer’s, so Mary picked her up. Oreo was like a new dog! Her coat was beautiful to the groomer, and she was full of wee-wee and vinegar. The groomers said she was a perfect lady the entire time. We can see many beauty parlor visits in her future!
Mary went Autumn in her class today!
It looks like New Hampshire
When Oreo got into the house, she went for the back door and out into the yard; she went like a hurricane blowing through. While she did her business, I unwrapped a bunch of squeaky toys I had received from Amazon. Her favorite seemed to be Mr. Platapus, and we spent the next hour throwing that silly thing all over the house!
Mr. Platapus!
We had dinner—and learned a valuable lesson. While we ate in the living room, Oreo thoroughly inspected the kitchen counter and found the lasagna sitting on the sink. The container hit the floor, and she was on that meal like a duck on a June bug!
Lesson learned: Until Oreo understands that counters are off-limits, store all food somewhere she can’t reach. And preferably somewhere the laws of gravity can’t help her.
One lesson a night was not enough!
After dinner, we watched TV while I threw toys for Oreo for an hour—until my right arm went numb and started considering not going into the Majors. We gathered up the toys and stashed them in the front guest bedroom, buried beneath a gigantic stuffed frog. Mary locked the door. Surely, we thought, that was the end of playtime.
Ten minutes later, Oreo pranced down the hallway carrying a very loud squeaky toy.
A few minutes after that, she did it again—with a different toy.
This time it was a blue hippo labeled as an “indestructible and hard-to-squeak” toy from Amazon. Oreo took one look at it and immediately chewed off its ears and feet.
Apparently, the guest-room door was less of a security measure and more of a suggestion.
Indestructible my butt!
Oreo is actually a cat burglar! The little stinker has figured out how to open the room doors by turning the handle with her mouth. Nothing is safe anymore.
Lesson Learned: When hiding something: a) make sure she does not see where it is being put, and b) hide it behind a door she cannot open without special tools!
I took her outside before bed, and she ran around the yard checking everything to make sure we were safe!
Before bed, we checked our email and got an invitation to the Starlighters Christmas dance.
Are you ready? It’s 67 days until Christmas! We are ready! We have our Christmas outfits ready, and we can use them for Halloween, as we did in 2024.
Just in case Santa needs help!! (From 2024 Halloween)
The three of us were up early this morning, and Oreo acted like she had been here a long time. I took her outside, and she did her business, then promptly wanted back inside to her food. She knew exactly where to go!
As usual, we went to the office, and she went in, lay in her new bed, watched all the activity, and listened to the conversations!
The refrigerator guy came by and got our ice maker working again in just a few minutes. Mary was right—as usual, no surprise.
The ice maker had frozen up, probably because the power went out while we were on vacation. The trouble was hiding below the grinder, where I couldn’t see it. We pulled out the unit, gave it a hot-water bath, and—wouldn’t you know it—it was perfectly normal again.
We knew the technician, and he charged us his $100 visit-and-assessment fee. When we learned he was the proud papa of a two-month-old, we handed over $100 cash. We figured he might need it to pry open his eyelids and iron out the wrinkles!
We decided steak and eggs were in order, so we put two magnificent steaks in the frying pan, and ten minutes later all three of us were drooling!
Looking good!!
The baby, Oreo, stared at me the whole time! We gave her breakfast and didn’t share our steaks, since we don’t want to start bad habits this early.
“No steak for the baby??”
Since the iceman came on time, I decided to test and baby by leaving her alone for two hours while I drove Miss Daisy (aka Dr. Mary) to her Dexiscan appointment in Los Alamitos.
When we returned, we found Oreo had gotten into the trash can, and it was our fault. I threw the styrofoam plate the steaks came in into the trash! It wasn’t a big mess, so lesson learned!
We then had an appointment with Geri, Mary’s painting partner. We are going to do some serious wine tasting!! Geri lives a block and a half down the street, so it was another opportunity for an Oreo test: how does she handle strange places?
Well, she marched right in, said hello to Geri and Joann like she owned the place, then headed for the patio—where she came face-to-face with the toy whale in the pool. Quite the aquatic welcome committee!
We poured some wine and sat down, and Oreo promptly wedged herself between Geri and Mary, where she stayed for the entire visit. Not a whimper for a whole hour while the four of us jabbered away. Clearly, she’d decided she was there to supervise—and we were all behaving well enough.
Her behavior confirmed we have a good baby!
Passed with flying colors
We walked back home, and Oreo walked perfectly, pulling only once or twice; with a gentle reminder, she returned to walking right by our side.
Geri’s charcuterie plate eliminated our need for any dinner! The three of us watched TV until about 10:30 pm. At some point, one or more of us were sleeping.
Oreo went right into her crate and crashed. We followed directly behind, and we were all nestled in our beds by 11:00 pm.
Tomorrow Oreo goes to the doctor, and then the groomer; two new experiences for the baby!
Today is a big day for us because we adopted a new baby. This one weighs 40 pounds, which was a little tough on Mary, but all are doing well! We drove all the way to Valencia, about 90 miles from home. We met the trainer at a park where she was teaching classes.
There were two border collies, both in crates. One was Rory and the other Kiya; we didn’t know either of them.
We first met Rory, who was a little on the hyper side and didn’t walk well.
We then walked Kiya, and she walked well on the leash and responded to commands. She was friendly, and she warmed our hearts.
So, Kiya came home with us. She jumped right into the car and took command of the back seat.
She is a beauty!!!
We drove home nonstop, and the baby slept most of the time, which means she can go on vacations with us!
We stopped at Ralph’s Market to get baby supplies like chicken breasts, kibble, wet food, and, of course, a toy!!!
When we got home, we introduced her to her new domain, and she walked around, sniffing everything!
After a thorough exploration, she came right into the house and had a bite to eat.
Then we gave her a squeaky slice of pizza, threw it, and she retrieved it for the next hour! She is an excellent dog because she chewed the squeaker out of the pizza in about six minutes!
“Come out SQUEAKY wherever you are!!”
We played until we were tired, then went to the TV room, where she joined in watching Tulsa.
We texted Colleen, and she was worried Jon and Sarah might be hurt because they just lost their baby Kiya. So we decided to rename her Oreo, duh! It was a good idea because, at our age, Oreo was easier to remember. Oreo usually means the chocolate sandwich cookie with a sweet cream filling. It’s a brand name, and its exact origin is uncertain—one popular explanation links it to Greek oreos (“beautiful”)
All three of us went to bed at 10:30 pm. Kiya went to her crate, and we hit the lights, and the three of us were out like lights!
We got up early with Robin and had our coffee. We called Colleen, but she was out. Robin left around 9:00 am to visit her sister, and we got ready to leave for Whittier at 11:00 am for a noon birthday celebration at DeLuca’s Italian Restaurant. I remember when it was first opened back in 1967.
We enjoyed the party with over eighty people joining the fun.
The birthday Boy had a blast.
The cake erupted in flame, to celebrate 80 years!
We switched to the other camera, and the true Tony was revealed!
We had a wonderful meal, and we were smart enough not to eat everything; we have containers for tomorrow and probably the next day. During dessert, grandson Charlie joined us and talked about his first semester at Cal Poly and some of his classes. He is a very grown-up young man!
Charlie decided to get into the party mood!
Joe took 10,234 pictures, and I only snapped a couple,
Charlie, Alex, and Amy
Let’s get them into the mood!!!
Charlie, Alex, and Amy
Joe was busy during the party capturing pictures of old people doing crazy things!
Nice pants Joe!!!
We left around 4:00 pm, went home for a short nap, and didn’t wake up until 7:00 pm!
We watched TV for a while, then crashed because we get to meet Rory tomorrow!
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After four years, Mary’s hearing aid finally died, so we made an 8:30 am appointment to get it fixed. We left the house at 6:45 am because the hearing specialist is in Newport Beach, and southbound traffic is horrible at this time of day.
Of course, there was no traffic, and we got there an hour early, so we stopped at Starbucks for a bagel and coffee before the appointment.
It turns out her hearing aid didn’t die; earwax blocked it, and within a few minutes, we could hear each other again. While we were in the office, we replaced the batteries, and after four years, that was all it took!
Huh??
We received an invitation from our audiologist to learn about the latest hearing-aid technologies. The biggest change from 2022 to 2026 is better AI for understanding speech in background noise, plus new wireless connections and more ways to adjust hearing aids on your phone. We decided it was good enough now, and we didn’t need to spend $14,000 yet!
Then we headed home; we had a small lunch, did some chores, and watched some of “The Way Home”.
Robin popped in at 4: 30 p,m and we departed for the Elks and Mamma Mia at 5:00 pm
We all got there around 5:30 pm and proceeded to terrorize the waitstaff behind the counter. Pasta flew everywhere, and I hate to mention what happened to the lasagne and pizza! The Lodge was all decorated for Halloween!
Of course, the subject turned to wine since it was Italian night.
Everyone was dressed to the hilt!
At the Elks event, Eddie and Dianne arrived in Italian folk outfits, vests, skirts, and ribbons, to confuse their friends. Frank practiced a tarantella, a lively, fast Italian folk dance traditionally danced to energetic music. It’s especially associated with southern Italy. The name links to the old folk belief that wild dancing could cure a tarantula bite.
Dianne carried breadsticks. The DJ, Ronnie, struck up a tune, and Eddie spun so enthusiastically that his fake mustache flew into the punch bowl. “Mamma mia!” cried Dianne, fishing it out with a breadstick.
The crowd cheered. Then the others in our group explained they were wearing costumes from three different regions—and Eddie’s hat was actually Swiss. Eddie bowed. “Excellent. I’ve always wanted international applause.” Dianne handed him the mustache, now marinated in fruit punch.
Diane and Fast Eddie
The Halloween subject was so hot and heavy that everyone wondered who was wearing it. Someone mentioned they were going to be a witch, and they were instantly challenged!
We were closest to the food and the dance floor — the best seats in the house! Since Ronnie was DJing, we did not have to worry about our ears being blown out. Ronnie does an amazing job of selecting dance music for us old folks and adjusting the volume so we can hear each other.
Lady and the Tramp redux.
Of course we have to dance, and Bob and Vicky showed us how it was done! They tore up the dance floor!
Vicky decided they needed a quick wardrobe change to “dance like a Cholo”. The Cholo/Chicana street culture belongs to the Mexican-American communities in Southern California.
Their style may combine:
Old-school soul, funk, and hip-hop steps
Pachuco-era zoot-suit dancing
Lowrider and barrio cultural aesthetics
Stylized gestures, footwork, body isolations, and group formations
Clothing such as pressed khakis, flannels, bandanas, work shirts, or zoot suits—depending on the era and setting
“Cholo” itself is a complex term. In some contexts, it refers to a Mexican or Mexican-American working-class identity and style; in others, it can be an insult or be associated with gang culture. Many people use related terms such as Chicano, Pachuco, or Sureño, but they aren’t interchangeable.
Poof! Thanks to AI magic, Bob and Vicky demonstrate Cholo/Chola dancing!
Mary and I wore “only normal” clothes, so we couldn’t keep up with Vicky and Bob. We did, however, add a little more music to the room!
I remembered how to play the squeeze box!
We actually sat down between dances and partook of the goodies!
Slurp, burp!
Ronnie the DJ brought the whole evening to life. He even handed out request sheets—though with everyone armed with cell phones and the Internet, he faced some stiff competition from the world’s largest jukebox. Ronnie was online too, so he fought fire with Wi-Fi and treated us to Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Mel Tormé, Dean Martin, and other Italian singers for the rest of the evening. By the end, the request queue was faster than the music.
Go Ronnie, Go!!!
As Ronnie (or Renaldo this evening) always says, “Ballate per tutta la notte, amici miei… È bello rivedervi, quindi divertitevi!!”
Ronnie is an expert at selecting danceable line-dance music! His selections had the ladies jumping through hoops! Not only that, he taught everyone the “Cupid Shuffle: dance! To the right, to the right, to the right, to the right…..”
Robin, Vicky, Dianne, and Mary tore up the floor!
The men enjoyed the dancing so much we wanted to throw them roses, but alas, there were no roses available, so we did the next best thing. We gave them our tossed salads!
We emptied our salad plates in tribute to their magnificent efforts!!
We all departed around 9:30 pm and headed home. Robin is staying with us tonight, so we got home and spent about an hour laughing and giggling in the office!
We had a good day! We can hear the wind beginning to die down now, and we dined and danced the night away!
Just a little history: lilesnet.com (our website) was registered on Tuesday, 26th of December 1995, 30 years, 9 months, and 18 days ago, or 11250 days ago!
We have another full day, starting with a visit to the Elks for Girls Night Out, then a visit to the Muck.
Before leaving the Elks, we made reservations for Mamma Mia at the Elks. Friday, we will have us, Dianne and Fast Eddie, Robin, and Bob & Donna.
Get ready to say “Mamma Mia!”—it’s the Lodges’ annual Italian Night! Doors swing open at 5:30pm , and we will be greeted with hand-passed prosciutto and melon balls, plus bruschetta on grilled baguettes—more toasted than your uncle at a family reunion.
The Italian buffet kicks off at 5:30pm and rolls on until 8:00 pm, serving up spaghetti and meatballs, penne pasta Alfredo with chicken, Italian beef with onions, bell peppers, and marinara sauce, spinach raviolis piccata, shrimp scampi swimming in white wine and garlic butter, rice pilaf, veggies, and a pizza cart that’s rolling around like it owns the place, offering a smorgasbord of freshly baked pizzas. I can already see the bathroom scale getting nervous!
Pair it with the house Chianti for just $5 a glass. We will top it all off with spumoni ice cream, Italian cookies, and coffee!
Then dance it all off from 6:00 to 9:00 pm with DJ Ronaldo. Note to self: Wear dance shoes!!
After getting home, we took a short nap. At 4:30 pm, we heard someone come in through the garage door. It was our grandson Zachary
Zack, bless his soul, came by and started our 10KW generator since the weatherman is forecasting significant wind activity this weekend. That means we are likely to lose power! We know more wind is coming based on our gazebo, which blew its top off this morning.
We headed to the Muck at 4:00 pm, knowing it might take an hour. We got there, and the band was doing their “sound checks,” so we got some additional entertainment, albeit in small spurts!
Tonight it was just Vicky, Jim, and us! The four of us gab like school children, laughing and giggling the whole evening.
We, of course, came with a “Mary Basket,” meaning the picnic basket was bottomless; she found sandwiches, T-bone steaks, a whole watermelon, grapes, veggies, and, of course, six bottles of vino!! The basket is haunted!!!
We were dressed for the occasion!
The band played non-stop for 90 minutes, and we were stomping our boots and yelling “HOW-DEE” until we were hoarse.
At 9:30 pm, we headed home, but our GPS waived us off the freeway and took us down side streets to the 90, which is Imperial. Our GPS showed the 91 Freeway lit up red, so we avoided a long wait!
There was ZERO wind at the Muck, but by the time we got home, the wind was howling!
I emptied the trunk and went into the house on full automatic—which is how I ended up hanging the car keys on their hook without realizing I’d brought them inside. When I went back out to lock the car, the keys had vanished. Mary and I searched every bag, coat, and corner of the house. It was a mystery worthy of a detective show: How did we start the car, drive home, and somehow arrive without the keys?
I locked the car manually! Meanwhile, the keys remained at large. Probably hanging out on their hook, enjoying the drama.
We gave up and went straight to bed. It had been a long day, and the wind whistled outside like it knew where the keys were but wouldn’t tell. At least we were safe: Zack had started the generator, and it was out on the ship—right where I could get to it.
I knew the keys were somewhere and figured out the house was being haunted! It is that time of year!
Then I got to thinking, always a dangerous situation. I went to the key hanger in the closet, and there, smiling a toothless grin, were the keys playing hide-and-seek.
Being a homeowner is so much fun! Yesterday our ice maker died! With tools in hand, I got to work, but alas, after digging out all the ice to make sure it wasn’t frozen, I determined the unit was internally busted. So we called our handy-dandy appliance service, and after a few negotiations, they will be here Monday morning to replace it. Poof!!
As if that weren’t bad enough, it is torture day! Yes, self-induced bodily harm comes our way this morning as we enter the gymnastics twilight zone where simple, harmless-looking machines come to life and begin to twist and turn body parts into unnatural positions. It feels unnatural!!
While we were working hard, two visitors appeared in the corner of my eye. One looked suspiciously like a gym buddy; the other, one of our fitness instructors. Both wore red devil costumes, grinning and hiding their pointy tongues. They seemed delighted to watch poor Mary and me get tangled up in the torture equipment—apparently, even Hell has a spectator section.
Oh my, where are we???
Being curious, we had to take a closer look!
Sure enough, it was Leila and Najla
We were lucky to escape with our lives! From the gym, we flew by home and headed to Huntington Beach for our every six-week appointment to get our ears lowered. We grabbed a small bite next door at the Black Trumpet, and we filled up so we wouldn’t need dinner since we have a board meeting at our house tonight.
While gorging ourselves on delicious food, we kept thinking about the two devils, and then POOF, Mary changed! Since the Black Trumpet was dark, Mary decided to bring her own lantern!
She was so still I started to worry—until I asked her to move. Sure enough, it was Mary, using her lantern to signal the waitress for a glass of wine. Even in a crisis, she knew how to flag down service.
We went from the Black Trumpet to Casa Valencia at 34.3 times a broom’s speed.
When we arrived, so did our cleaning crew, and Domi knew she had to be done by 5:30 pm, so she worked fast. She and Maria finished around 5:35 p.m., and our Fearless Leader, Bob Z, showed up a few minutes later to get ready for the meeting. Getting ready consists of sipping a small glass of wine!
Mary finished off the kitchen island with all sorts of goodies. The famous spider eggs were on display, and several were devoured by the board members (the rest will come tomorrow, even in a picnic basket at the Muck)
The buffet was ready! We should weigh everyone in and out and charge by the pound for the difference as they leave,
Oh my, calories galore!!
The meeting opened for business with Bob, Vicky, and Mary as the main active parties. We finished in about 90 minutes, covering all the Starlighters’ business. Since we are all good friends, discussions go fast.
Bob, Iris, and Will
We have fun, and the meetings are NOT boring!
Mary kept us on track and took the meeting minutes.
As the meeting ended, Bob told us about the wonderful jacket he got for his 80th birthday from Fast Eddie. Bob is now the envy of several old motorcycle guys!
I, of course, immediately went to ChatGPT and explained what I was seeing in my mind!
After everyone left, Vicky and Jim unloaded their trunk into our garage with supplies for the upcoming festivities.
As Vicky got cleared for takeoff, Jim grabbed the dashboard in a death grip, and the White Thunder—Vicky’s racing car—blasted off. After the dust cleared and the neighborhood dogs stopped barking, Mary had a brilliant idea.
Mary decided it was warm enough to take three victory laps around the hood in her modernized Halloween witch-mobile. She was thrilled to have the battery-powered model. I was thrilled too: no more connecting every extension cord in the neighborhood and standing in the street as Mary attempted to escape last year’s model like a tangled-up witch on a leash.
Mary and I headed to the TV room and watched two more episodes of The Way Home before calling it a night. When sleepiness started closing in, I made the long trek to the back of the house to brush my teeth, take my nighttime pill, and fire up the breathing machine—basically my evening pit stop.
While I was there, I finished today’s entry. That brings us to 6,482 entries since we started in 2007: about 324 posts a year, or nearly one a day. At this rate, I’ll have enough material to bore future generations for centuries.
Posted inFriends, Gym|Comments Off on Off And Running
Today is Tuesday, so my favorite artist will leave Casa Valencia at noon and take the Silver Fox for a ride to the Tustin Senior Citizens Center. That also means I will work around the house on my personal to-do list, which keeps getting bigger and bigger! You can see her work in Mary’s Loft!
Sometimes we call her Dr. Messy!!
I no longer go upstairs! It’s Mary’s Loft!!!
Here are some interesting facts about watercolors:
• Watercolor paint is made from pigment and a binder, usually gum arabic, which helps the pigment stick to the paper.
• The paper often provides the white areas in a painting. Artists commonly leave parts unpainted instead of using white paint.
• Watercolor is usually transparent, so artists can layer thin washes of color. These layers are called glazes.
• Water controls the effect: more water makes paint lighter and more fluid; less water creates richer, more concentrated color.
• Once a wash dries, it can be reactivated with water, though some pigments lift more easily than others.
• Gouache is a related water-based paint that is generally more opaque than traditional watercolor.
• Watercolor has a long history, but it became especially popular for landscape painting and travel sketches because the materials are relatively portable.
• The paper matters a lot: watercolor paper is designed to handle water without buckling as easily as ordinary paper.
• Artists use techniques such as wet-on-wet (painting onto damp paper) for soft edges and wet-on-dry for sharper details.
With Mary gone, I’ve been tackling my personal to-do list—which appears to reproduce whenever I’m not looking. Today, I organized the TV Room components, hid the wires, identified the remotes, and labeled them, so we can smoothly switch between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas movies on CD or streaming. Naturally, I also did the laundry, fixed the Roomba, repaired every flashlight in the house, and downloaded photos from our recent trip on the Sony A6000.
I got to see the work of art for 30 seconds before I was whisked away to the market, since we are expecting the Starlighters Board tomorrow at 6:00 pm, and Mary is putting on a spread.
This will probably end up at Charlotte’s house!! Love the eyes!!
We went in for “just a few things” and somehow left $280 poorer—with some excellent steaks for Her Nibs and me, plus a couple of nice bottles of wine for our guests. So, really, the groceries practically paid for themselves.
When we got home, Mary went straight into homemaker mode: whipped up an amazing dinner, then got started on her specialty—egg spiders! Of course, making Halloween deviled spider eggs requires two things: the right costume and an appropriately spooky background. It’s in the recipe. Somewhere.
She had to be in costume!!! She is almost done adding the legs to the spiders!
For the rest of the afternoon and evening, we watched TV; we are almost halfway through The Return Home. I did some work on the computer, ran into a Facebook gift offer, and stopped dead! How did they know? We can hardly wait to go visit Rory on Monday!
Bringing back memories!
Later that evening, I started thinking about Halloween, which is coming up soon, and I decided to ask Charlotte to join us, at least for the first two hours! I was reminded of the Halloween Ball when I got the Elks bulletin about decorating the Lodge for Halloween!
Now that’s what we call decorating!!!
At least we have our costumes picked out, and they are ready to be unleashed on the world!
A beautiful lady and a handsome devil!!!
Finally, Mary will get to wear her new dirndl as we were back east when the Elks had Ocktoberfest. Below is a brief history of the dirndl:
The dirndl is now closely associated with Bavaria and Alpine festivals, but its history is more recent—and more complicated—than the idea of an unchanged “traditional” dress suggests.
Early 19th century: In German-speaking Alpine regions, rural people wore practical clothing shaped by local materials, work, climate, and custom. These clothes varied considerably by region and social class. They were not one standardized outfit called a dirndl.
Late 19th century: Wealthy urban visitors and artists became fascinated with Alpine life and its clothing. In the 1870s, Munich department-store owners Moritz and Julius Wallach helped popularize a fashionable version inspired by rural women’s dress. The garment’s name is linked to Dirndl, a Bavarian-Austrian word for a young woman; Dirndlgewand originally referred to a maid’s or working woman’s dress.
Turn of the 20th century: The dirndl became fashionable as both a holiday outfit and a symbol of regional identity. Clubs and associations promoted local dress, or Tracht, often formalizing styles that had previously been more varied and changing.
Nazi era: The Nazi regime promoted selected forms of German and Alpine folk culture, including traditional dress, as part of its nationalist imagery. This period politicized some forms of Tracht, but the dirndl itself was not invented by the Nazis; its modern fashionable form had become popular decades earlier.
After World War II: The dirndl was widely worn at regional celebrations and became a familiar symbol of Bavarian culture, especially through tourism and events such as Oktoberfest. Over time, designers and manufacturers adapted it for changing tastes, using different cuts, fabrics, and embellishments.
Today, the dirndl can be ceremonial regional dress, a fashion item, or festive clothing. Its details—such as apron style, bodice, skirt length, and decoration—may reflect particular local traditions, but many modern versions are contemporary designs rather than exact reproductions of historical work clothes.
We finally crashed around 10:30 pm. Tomorrow is another busy day!!
The calendar was turned, and the image of medieval people being tortured came into my rather overactive mind. Yes, it is gym day! We must go forth and submit to hours of pain and suffering only to look the same as yesterday!
We dressed accordingly for the event!
They call us Pinky and Blue Boy!!
We got home and worked around the house all day. While Mary attacked her office desk, I attacked the garage workbench. For the rest of the day, all I saw was Mary at her desk sorting, filing, and looking puzzled! Her desk looks great, and she can use it for her art projects now!
We watched our TV series right in the office!
Around 7:00 pm, I pried her from the desk to make sure it was really Mary and not a pile of pillows! I was shocked; she had changed clothes and put on her accountant attire!
You can see both her desk and my workbench, and they’re actually usable!
The YouTube channel worked wonders!1
We crashed around 10:00 pm as tomorrow is another big day! We noticed the Christmas season social calendar is filling up quickly! James and Carol will join us for Halloween at the lodge, making our group 12. We bought tickets to see The Lettermen, and Vicy signed us up for Michael Bublé’s Christmas show at Spagatini!
Posted inGym, Just Us|Comments Off on Oh No! It’s Shout And Be Twisted Day!
