What weighs 120 pounds

has 7 points, and is in the bed of Daddy's truck??? My deer! WoooHoooo! Finally, success!  OK, here's how it went...

We got to the cabin(s) somewhere around noon. I got Daddy settled in and I took off up the hill to my cabin. All day, looking out one window, scanning, ooking out the other window, scanning. Nothing to see. No movement, no signs of wildlife.

At dusk Daddy called me and said that for the next 20 minutes or so it would be "prime time" for deer. And so it was.......

I promise to give you all the details, but for now, I will just let you see for yourself. I've told this story so many times already I am exhausted and just need sleep. I will gather y thoughts tomorrow and attempt to provide you with an interesting blog. Besides, you know what they say about what a picture is worth.

It's a good thing

that I like to sit and daydream looking out the window because I sure didn't see any wildlife yesterday.

Daddy and I were out the door headed for the stay-cab before daylight yesterday morning. It was a bit chilly, but overall, it was a great day for deer hunting. Hours later I would re-evaluate that statement.

I had fried an egg--two, actually--for an egg sandwich to enjoy later in the day. Some people can eat just as soon as they roll out of bed. I'm not one of those people. Unless, of course, there are left over brownies. Those I could eat while still in bed.

Now I knew my hunting time would be limited as I had a jewelry party to attend at 4:00 PM.

The whole time we were hunting, we saw nothing. No signs of life at all. 

On the way home I did see a squirrel. Somehow that didn't make up for not seeing any deer. Oh well, tomorrow's another day...

A little off.....

And the winner is.....

At the time of my last entry two programs were vying for my videos: Photobucket and Picasa.

Photobucket stalled at 34%, Picasa is still running and is 94% complete! (still holding my breath until they are viewable!)

Man, once again I am reminded of how important it is to tackle a task while it is small so that it is not insurmountable later. 

I'm so excited about having another opportunity to deer hunt with my dad. We went last year for my first experience. There's just something about getting up before sunrise, traveling over a long gravel road around bends, up hills, through hollows to reach your destination--a small squat in the middle of the woods.

Last year I did see, and shot at, a buck. I never saw him again. I don't intend to make that mistake again.

Fast forward 10 hours or so. 

Picasa came through! 100% downloaded and were viewable. whew! Now, hopefully I can free-up my sweet hubby's PC very soon.

Now, as far as the deer hunting--I have an update on that as well.

I arrived at my parent's house right around 2:00 PM. A beautiful day and a scenic route, it seems I had only left minutes before when I found myself rolling through the gates of their home.

Maggie is much more aware of her surroundings than I am. She may be, but I refuse to either: 1) Proceed with my head sticking out the window, or 2.) Proceed with my nose touching the air vent in the car inhaling deeply, eyes closed, only to then clear my sinuses by blowing snot out of my nose. While either method may be effective in its own right, I find it unnecessary. 

Onward......

After chatting a bit, Daddy and I gathered a few things and were quickly in his truck headed for the "stay-cab," as it were.

My sister and her husband own a very quaint cabin nestled somewhere on who knows how many acres of woodland which my dad manages for them as they live in Germany. That place will hereafter be known as "the cabin."

Sometime after having this dwelling, my dad either placed or had placed a small (I'm talking small...) camper trailer at yet another location on the land to be used for hunting purposes as a sort of blind or the like. 

It is equipped with gas heat, which has been very welcomed numerous times by many hunters, myself included. This (mo)bile cabin will from this time forward in my writings be referred to as the "mo-cab."

There is yet a third "cabin" of sorts which is again, much like a glorified blind. However, this one compared to the mo-cab is as a Holiday Inn is to a Motel 8. A step up in furnishings from the mo-cab as it sports a wide shelf that doubles as a bed for the weary from time-to-time.

This humble abode will henseforth be referred to the "stay-cab." (No wheels, so it ain't goin' nowhere, ya know? It's stayin'!)

All that to say this: we would be hunting from the stay-cab, and so we did.

Earlier I made a statement about how beautiful it was today. For a November day, it was very pleasant; clear skies were above us and a gentle breeze surrounded us.

The brightly colored golden leaves drifted like pinwheels from their former homes onto less lofty places as an occasional gust of wind threw its weight around.

 

Midday, and a good 3 hours before sundown, I could hardly wait until I was perched atop the padded down bar stool facing a sideways sliding glass window open just wide enough so that a gun barrel could be slipped onto the aluminum slides.

Again, my Native American roots began to stir within me as I became more astute, attentive, aware, tuned in, if you will.

After a quick review of the gun's safety and the distance markers, the watch began.

My riffle (the gauge/caliber escapes me....it is black, though, and it meets the guidelines of the Arkansas State Fish and Game Commission) was safely perched on a stack of National Geographic magazines duct taped together for stability.

In front of me, just a short distance outside my window, lay an empty/used-up salt block, just the brown container left covering the top of a stump.

Red flag markers indicated a 100 and 150 yard distance, respectively. Just beyond that, at the edge of the tree line: 190 yards.

Daddy and I whispered to each other a few times whilst hunting, but mostly the silence was broken by the sounds of birds overhead.

Basically, there are two sides of the stay-cab from which one can position the gun well enough to shoot--and kill--a deer.

I would switch sides with Daddy occasionally so that I could have a change of scenery and so that he could sit for a while.

So intent on at least seeing a deer, frequently I saw and heard things that were not there. I sure wanted them to be, though.

My foot resting on an ammo box and my elbows on the carpeted window sill, I was posed for success.

Yet, we saw nothing. I take that back...I saw nothing. Daddy saw to black bears, one ahead by about 15 minutes or so, running across the clearing just ahead of the 150 yard marker. I missed them.

Not long after that, we traded spots again and the sun wasn't long for the sky at that time.

The fact that Daddy told me that when the bear move in, the deer generally move out, made me feel better. I figured it musta been something like that. It surely wasn't me... wink...

About thirty minutes had passed when Daddy started sliding the window shut, locking it tightly and pulling the window shade down.

He informed me that it was getting too dark to hunt on that side as I most likely could not see my sights and set them on a deer with so little light.

I disagreed, and told him so, and informed him that I would swivel my chair around to that direction and scan every so often. He consented.

My back to Daddy, I then felt a nudging at my right shoulder, a whisper saying, "Hey, Teresa.." "Yeah?" I answered. "It's not nearly as dark with these things off," he said reaching around me holding out the pair of very dark shaded sunglasses. We both laughed, shaking our heads.

Though it was darker outside the window where Daddy was, outside my window was a sky which looked like pink and blue cotton candy. Beautiful.....

But even that scene faded into dusk and too dark to hunt. We began locking down and preparing to head back home.

No, I didn't see a deer. No, I didn't see the bear. But know this...I was with a dear, and he's much more fun and way smarter than the average bear!

Tomorrow's another day.....

A Little Off....

Upload Pergatory

Well, I have moved up a level, if you know what I mean. I have cleaned up my laptop after the worst self-inflicted faupax to date. It took about 12 hours, but through diligence and tenacity coupled with stubbornness and research, I managed to claw my way out of that sticky, enveloping pit. Whew!

One would think that it would be a good long while before I perched myself in front of a computer. I jumped head-long into them (my laptop AND the not laptop, whatever that's called--desktop, maybe??) the first thing this morning.

My first cup of coffee in hand, soon I was running spywear and virus checks on both PC's. That done, I set out to "clean up" Tom's computer-the big one. He has mentioned, more than once, how he would like to sit down at the computer "one time!" and not have 20 programs begin to load up and run in the background.

I can't imagine to what he is referring. Even so, I began to investigate if there was anything I could do to simplify his world. 

Because of many reasons I won't go into at this time, I have been downloading all of my videos and photos onto that computer---several times over. What I mean by that is for some reason unbeknownst to me, they all first download by date, then again by file name as I name all of them for quick retrieval.

It seems I have several photo programs that I have downloaded (imagine...) and each time I open one of them to edit one photo, the program copies both folders, the date one, and the name one.

OK, so, I'm thinking you're getting the picture--sorry for the pun, I couldn't help myself! Anyway, as it turns out, each time Tom gets on the PC, a warning flashes about the virtual memory being low. Hmmm...

Not unlike most operations involving a PC, there are several ways in which to approach a task and eliminate a problem. I think I've tried most of them to this point.

My first attempt to relieve the virtual memory by removing a few videos and photos failed. I ran a search for videos and photos. A bit surprised by the results, I opted to send them all to my Palm Pilot. I think I heard it laughing out loud to that request.

Second choice was to copy them off onto a CD. As I mentioned before, the variations in which one can broach an undertaking are virtually endless. Evidently, this was not a viable option. As many programs as I have to copy media onto CD's one would think that at least one would accommodate my needs.

It wasn't as if I was unaware of the magnitude of media I wanted to transfer onto CD's, but not one of the programs informed me that indeed, the requested task could be completed, however, it would take 10 CD's or something like that. The only message I was given was that there was too much information for one CD, to modify and try again.

Leaving half of them on the cutting room floor, intending to complete the task in two sessions, again, I fed my request into the machine. Rejected, again. Still too much information. Files too large to fit on the CD's. Well, HELLO!!! Just put what WILL go on there on there and let me know where you left off so that I can take up where you left off. Not an option. Not on any program I have.

Thirdly, I began looking into downloading or uploading (I'm never quite sure which is correct, and why) my files onto one of many of my Internet accounts. I have a Smilebox account, a Picasa Web account, a Fileshare account, and a Photobucket account.

Smilebox now charges for videos, Fileshare is my newest and most unfamiliar account, so I tinkered around a bit with the latter two accounts.

At the time of this writing two downloading (uploading?) processes are in progress. They each have been working for about 3 hours now and the progress bar shows that each have 2% and 11% , respectively, task completion. This may take a while.

I would not mind so bad if I knew that 100% of the request would be finished, eventually. While it may well happen, my experience has been that I tend to get hopeful at or about 90% of mission accomplished.

Said hopefulness dashed at the notice of "download aborted," for one reason or another, I do try to busy myself during the active time as to not hover over the progress bar holding my breath and wringing my hands.

And so I blog. Perhaps this time I won't be disappointed. Wouldn't Tom be surprised if when the next time he sat in front of the desktop PC it notifies him that his virtual memory bank had had a deposit?

A Little Off.....

Where no man (or woman!) has gone before....

I was there. Computer Hell! As a matter of a fact, I just recently left there and came back to a much more pleasant place--out of root files, executable files, paths, formats, uninstalls, installs, search and destroy, Crap Cleaners (that's the name of a real program), rebooting, file registries, tools, preferences, security breeches, potentially harmful files.....got it?

Yeah....been there.....ain't going back if I can keep from it.

OK, I admit causing the problem initially. To be honest, at this point in time, I can't remember why I even downloaded it, but I downloaded a program called PC MightyMax. ah, yes, now I remember. I couldn't open a file, so Windows suggested I update or something to that effect.

Well, up comes this program claiming they could crack any code, yada, yada, yada. I fell for it. I'm not that good at being able to tell the legit programs from the scammers, spammers, and the wham-bammers.

DO NOT DOWNLOAD PC MIGHTYMAX!

I have downloaded/installed a billion programs. Some of them have worked well, some--not so much. It has always (until now) been easy enough to uninstall a program. 

Oddly enough, not only was it NOT listed in the program files so I could quickly, and relatively painlessly choose it from a list and click "uninstall,"  but there was absolutely no trace of it anywhere except the red warning box that annoyingly popped up every 5 seconds or so.

And, when I right clicked on the pop-up, the only option offered was not to close the program altogether, rather to close the menu of the pop-up. Translation: "I'll go away for another 5 second or so. See you later, sucker!"

So, the Reader's Digest version of this escapade is that I "googled" the program, where I quickly learned that the program is bogus and that it is nearly impossible to remove it once it is installed. Great.......

One suggestion was given that was successful. I reinstalled it, it then showed up on the program file list which allowed me to UNINSTALL! WoooHoooo! No more pop-ups!

The moral of the story: Google BEFORE installation, not after!

A little off..............

Heritage Beckons

Must be 24 degrees or so. I don't rely on such things as the television or thermometers. Nope, I've got Cherokee and Blackfoot Indian blood coursing through my veins. 

Those of us fortunate enough to have Native American lineage instinctively know such things. Much like Euel Gibbons (for those of you who are too young to know who he is, Mr. Gibbons is a naturalist), we find nature bountiful and are naturally equipped to survive in the wilderness.

So, the temperature was only one thing about this morning that was a given, so-to-speak. It was evident that much wildlife had recently crossed the path I now traveled. Yeah, ok, so Maggie was sniffing wildly, so what? I knew it anyway....

Deer were very close. Well, at least one, anyway. There was no doubt about that. I could just feel it in my Native American bones. (I am quite proud of my heritage!) Aside from the fact that once I paused my crunching the crisp frost-covered Autumn leaves for just a moment, Maggie froze in her tracks, tail high, stiff, and over her back, and in a stance that would shame any trained Pointer, I just had that "feeling."

She, too, could hear the carefully placed footsteps of the very animal for which many donned an orange vest this morning. It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway---naturally, I heard it first.

We must have stood motionless with only the steam of our exhales to render us living beings for 15 minutes. Leaves falling from trees all around us, it appeared that Maggie was confused as to exactly where the sound of the softly stepped on leaves was coming from. Poor dear....

I stared intently toward the spot I knew the deer would soon become visible. But, it never came to pass. Maggie got restless and began to whine, which in turn alerted the still hidden deer. 

Being outdoors with any domesticated animal can be a precarious event. And had Maggie not been on a leash, I feel certain she would have ruined even that brief time I had in my element--nature--by instantly haphazardly attempting to flush any/all living creatures from their fortresses.

Ah, yes, for that one frozen moment in time I was one with my ancestors that had gone on before me. It was as if they were hauntingly calling me home, drawing me deeply into the thickly wooded area from whence their spirits came. Sigh.......

And so it goes. To be sure, there will be another opportunity for me to experience my roots. Until then, we wait......

A Little Off.........

Gotta be smarter than the camera!

I love my not-so-new camera, but there are still a few features about which I am no expert. One of those features is the "customized timer."

Theoretically, one has available to him/herself these choices when it comes to "still" shots: Single shot, 2 second timer, 10 second timer, and the elusive custom timer.

I learn so much more quickly simply experimenting with a gadget. I exhausted my efforts, and battery life on trying to figure this one out before I backed down and pulled out the operator's manual.

Troubleshooting section:Nada. Instructions different from what I had been doing up until that point: Nada.

Supposedly, one can set the delay and number of pictures to have taken. I chose 10 photos (maximum available) and 30 second delay. Humph!

It took all ten of them in about 5 seconds--over and over, and over again as evidenced by the photos below. There may not look like much of a posture/pose difference, and that is due to the fact that it can become somewhat difficult to "strike a pose" ten times in five seconds. So...at least I can set up the scene for you.

Tom and I celebrated out first wedding anniversary a few days ago, November 3rd. We were out of town, so just today were we able to fulfill tradition and cut and eat the first layer of our one year old wedding cake.

Though the photos are less than perfect, we certainly had a blast setting up for the photo op. LOL

Random thoughts on routine.....

I've put very little thought into the subject, as you will soon be able to testify to, but as I was putting Maggie's beach towel in the microwave, I wondered how many other people were doing the same. Let me explain....

There is no doubt in my mind that Maggie, my dog (you can see her on my youtube channel!) is not human, rather a domesticated animal. I have that head knowledge. But, I do tend to affix human attributes to her from time to time.

Being a nurse, it is second nature to assess any given situation with an eye for detecting level of comfort. Such as...when Maggie is all curled up in a tight ball  with her nose poked in some squeezed space in thightly folded limbs, the information gleaned from that is: she's cold.

Now I mentioned being a nurse. I'd also like to mention that my dominant spiritual gift is...you guessed it...helps/service--which is most likely one reason I was drawn to that field. So, if I can comfort/provide relief from an untoward situation--or at least one I perceive as being untoward--I will.

Not only Maggie, but others around me may well suffer because of my tendency to interfere with their state of being. There has been many a time I have awakened someone to reposition him/her because it looked to me as if their neck was going to be broken because of how it was positioned atop a crumpled up, folded up pillow. Well, there is no telling how many "cricks" I have prevented......

And so, due to frost on the pumpkin weather, and because of routine, I warm Maggie's beach towel up in the microwave every morning and gently cover her with it tucking it in snuggly around the edges of her compacted body. 

Immediately the warm mound swells as she takes a deep breath, and then a soft sigh upon exhale slips from beneath the warm covers. Minutes later, the mound flattens as she thaws (that's what I think, anyway) and repositions herself more comfortably on her side, all stretched out.

Routine. 

A little off........

Productive Video day/night

Visit my youtube channel: www.youtube.com/ladybugapprentice. I've been downloading video clips all day and now into the night. YouTube is a fantastic way to let your family and friends see what's going on! I am totally impressed! Hope you enjoy.

My eyes are drooping, so I'm going to say goodnight for now. I've got to start blogging earlier in the day!

A Little Off............

Having a good hair day~LOL

Maggie and her empty bowl

I have tried for the longest time to get this posted or sent in some way. To me, it is one of the funniest things I have ever seen and I am lucky enough to see it almost daily.

Mag-Pie is the sweetest, most intelligent, loving, loyal, unassuming puppies I have ever know. She has such a personality! Never will she beg, but she can stare even a child down if she's hungry enough.

She's a quick study, but what she does in the following video was nothing she was taught. This one, she taught us!

Well, well, well.....after working with this video all day and half the night, I never could get it to load. BUT!!! I have my very own YouTube channel and you can watch it there! How cool is that??

http://www.youtube.com/ladybugapprentice

You should be able to just click on the link, but if it doesn't work or for some reason doesn't take you there, cut and past. As always...leave me a message about what you think of it!

A Little Off...........

Meeting our grandbaby and Michael for the first time.

I finally did get a video made of seeing our grandbaby and our future son-in-law for the first time. Much of the video programs I have loaded onto my laptop are totally new to me and can very frustrating when I want to just hop on it and have it work immediately. Strangely, that is not always the way it always works. Well, OK, hardly ever.
Other than being on here somewhat small....yeah, I'd have it full-screen (wink) I rather like it.

You will note that I have edited both the transition between the photos and the photos as well. The variations range from: old photo, older photo, oldest photo, water color, sepia, black and white, gradient gray tones, and some I can't even remember what the names of the special effects. I hope you enjoy it.




Still no word from BeeJays, unfortunately. I understand there is a financial problem elsewhere in the world. Something about a national deficit or something. Hmmmm....whatever. (giggle)
Trust me, I'll keep you posted on any headway I make.

No Miata, no mansion, no worries....

I got to thinking about our trip to Springdale and to Tulsa. While we could not have had more fun, felt more special, and basked any more in our financial fantasy, I'm just betting we have fewer "headaches" than rich people.

Are they happier than we are? Not always. One can be happy poor or rich. There are some pretty miserable wealthy persons, and there are just as many paupers.

I've lived not really wealthy, but much more financially well off than I am living right now. I didn't have to estimate the cost of what I had in my basket while shopping. I didn't have to look at the price of any item I wanted, I simply pitched it into my shopping cart.

I had every amenity a person could want and still have to work outside the home. I had the 3-bedroom home with a fireplace and 2.5 bathrooms. Had the garden tub in the master bathroom and the walk through closets.

All I wanted? Was to be loved and accepted for the person I am. Validated, I suppose. To be treated as if my opinion mattered. I had all the beauty surrounding me. I had never been so miserable. No material possessions could make up for living in a micro managed, controlled marriage.

Today I have a tiny mobile home equipped with one tiny little bathroom. The furniture is old and worn, my former nice furnishings long since sold at a court ordered auction.

But I love, and I am loved--unconditionally and completely. No one tries to change who I am nor quell my thoughts, feelings, or actions. I am number one in someone's life. That's all I ever wanted. I am content. I am happy.

I am so thankful for the blessings in my life today. Oh, yes, I get impatient, and I get anxious, but more than that, I have peace within the confines of my tiny little trailer, and that can't be bought. I know--I've tried.

I'm still working on video and slide shows from our trip to Tulsa. I hope to have them available soon.

A little off.........

Home again, home again...

Good to be here, too! I promise to update everyone (both of you, lol) tomorrow. I'm doing my best to get vids and pix posted at well....

Never a truer statement made than the one written next....

A little off.......

Celebrating our first year together!

Seriously....I know how cliche it sounds, but really...how time flies!

Tom and I met online. It was St. Patrick's Day, actually. The site? Just Say Hi. It has since changed its name, but I will be eternally grateful that Tom sent me a little St. Patrick's Day good luck!

Jr. and Bobbi have been so good to both of us. We have been so spoiled from lending us their convertible yesterday to taking us out for a celebratory dinner tonight, we feel like celebrities.

I have been such a bawl-bag the past couple of days! You know how you get when pride swells up in you so much that it forces the tears from your eyes even when you try your darndest not to let it happen? That's been me.

I am so happy, it is ridiculous! Tom is every woman's dream! He is so precious! Isn't God good? ALL THE TIME!!!

Until tomorrow.....

A little off........


Tom and Teresa one year ago today.

Tom and Teresa one year later.


L to R Bobbi, Tom, Teresa, Jr.



Our Anniversary Sundae

Life in the fast lane...

Bobbi and Jr. treated us big time when they offered us their Mazda Miata for the day since it was our 1st wedding anniversary!

Literally, tears in my eyes because of the honor and raw thrill that was written all over Tom's face. Obvious dreams were being played out right before my (and now your) eyes. His demeanor and countenance changed. He sat just a little taller, his head held just a little higher, his smile just a little wider.

I'm not sure when the last time Tom drove a manual shift, but I tell you now that he drove like he's never driven an automatic! I was delighted watching him effortlessly down-shift, stop, and then be in sixth gear without hesitation. In fact, I'm suspicious that he actually looked for opportunities to run through the gears--show off! LOL

November Painted Firey Sprays and Golden Scenes

If today is a taste of what November holds, we are in for a real treat!

What an awesome and breathtaking palate God blesses us with every changing season. Today my family and I witnessed His vast, majestic canvas in all its splendor! With every turn in the road ahead of us, we anxiously awaited the beauty only He can afford. He did not disappoint.

After a breakfast of jowl, eggs, and toast, the "family unit" piled into the SUV and atop a Honda Gold Wing headed for Pea Ridge. A location rich in American History, not only the half of us who served in the United States Army was interested in visiting the Pea Ridge National Military Park, all 6 of us were.

Jr. (my brother) and Bobbi (my sis-in-law) were sporting the Gold Wing and Mom, Daddy, Tom, and I were in the SUV. Oh, how I wish I could have been on the back of a bike, too! Talk about a perfect day for a motorcycle ride! Well, it was a beautiful day for anything, today--even hanging out the back window of an SUV, which, yes, I did. You should be able to tell by some of the photos below.

Far too much to tell about (you simply must visit either in person or via the web) tonight, but suffice it to say, no one walked away wanting. There was a museum, an informative 30-min movie, a gift shop/book store, and a 7-mile tour one can take with many monuments, plaques, and historical site markers along the way.

The majority of the photos I have posted here were taken on said driving tour.
The day in no way could have been improved upon. The weather was a perfect mid 70's, sunny, slight breeze, and the bluest of blue skies as a backdrop for the bursting autumn colors of our North Arkansas trees.

Enjoy!

A Little Off...................

How fun is that???

Whew! How busy was it here today?! Got up fairly early this morning because I couldn't sleep. As a matter of a fact, I didn't sleep well all night. I had my mind on how I was going to decorate myself.


Realize that I have not participated in Halloween festivities in over 15 years. I broke out of all that is sacred, through caution and tradition to the wind. I was excited to be the one to answer the door and greet some gaily, fancifully dressed, wide-eyed, chocolate wired children. It's been too long!

But, long before it was time for the fun part....there were things I had to do first. You know, the not so fun preparation. For instance, I love my meatballs, but don't especially like going to the store to buy the ingredients.

There was an up side to having to get out today, though. We got to go by my sister-in-law's workplace and take pictures of her, her co-workers, and their workspace. It was decorated hauntingly....as you will see when I post their photos.

My parents would soon be here and I still wanted to tidy up the house a bit and start supper before I even thought about turning the attention to myself and my costume.


Shopping went smoothly, with the exception of the check-out lady who was the equivalent of A Christmas Carol's Ebenezer Scrooge. Some people just simply should not be allowed to work with the general public. It just isn't good personal relations. Moving right along......

Starting the meatballs as soon as I got home, ASAP I grabbed a dust mop and quickly skimmed over the hard wood floors and wiped down the bathrooms. Recruiting my brother to monitor the meatballs, I then concentrated on the over-all appearance of th house. You know, the scan one might do if company was expected. Right on cue, my parents pulled in the driveway.

We visited for a very short time when I invited Mom into the kitchen to help prepare the salad. She began washing and slicing tomatoes as I then turned my attention to the garlic bread. Uhhhh.....which reminds me.....just now.....that no photos were taken as is tradition for the sake of my sister, in Germany.

I had every intention of documenting the whole ordeal, but as time would have it, I didn't get to complete the meal, I merely started everything. My monitoring brother ended up putting everything on the table as I had to quickly prepare myself for our trick-or-treating guests.

Not unlike any other day, today time got away from me. Before I knew it the doorbell was ringing and I didn't even get to treat our first visitors, the zombie (my sister-in-law) got/had to!

Soon thereafter, I was ready and outside perched on a little park bench strategically placed between two huge pine trees in the front yard while the rest of the family was feasting at the dinner table. I ate 2 1/2 hours after that.

I had such great fun! I was, after all, dressed as a princess! Albeit a dead one. Before the night was over, I had that "princess/prom queen wave" down perfectly. My brother had placed a flashlight on the ground to the left and to the right of me like spotlights and I, for once, was the star! Not a dog, not a bird, not a prop, or a stand-in, but the real deal! The star!

It goes way back.....you see, my sister is the, and has from day one been the drama queen. In her younger days, she was not only the star of her block productions, but was the producer, director, coach, manager, and in charge of part casting. Which, incidentally, was why I never had a speaking part, didn't even get to whine as the dog or squak as the bird, and was dang thankful if I was cast as anything more than a tree or a frog. And if I complained...I was banished from her kingdom altogether! LOL

Yes, tonight was my night! There were no body doubles, no stand-ins, no-one to take from me what I have deserved for 51 years! My public adores me and it was overwhelmingly obvious to me as the evening wore on. There were mothers and fathers who asked my permission for a photograph of their child(ren) taken standing next to me. They knew they were in the presence of royalty!

Yeah, so I milked it....for all it was worth...trust me! LOL I did have such great fun and my adoring fans were honored to be given the privilidge of being seen with me in public--as if I were a regular, common person. I do hate to put on errs, you know....

And now it is time for my spotlight to fade. Again, to the dreaded part. The make-up removal, the shower, and the scrubbing this gunk out of my hair! LOL

You've been most generous with your time in reading my blog. I do enjoy it so. I hope you have, too.

And to all of you "little people...."
Good night~~~~~~~~

A Little Off..........................