Happy Hallowe'en! Old Northeast 2012

I took a brief walk for several blocks around me to get a glimpse of some of the decorations before the neighborhood is invaded tonight.  It seems like there is far less this year.  Maybe because Halloween falls midweek, or elections, or Sandy or a combination, or just plain ennui?  I did see several homes in the midst of being decked out.  One of my neighbors told me that they passed out over 2,300 pieces of candy last year!  The yard with the pirate ship, above, was the one that had Sarah P's crashed plane there last year.  I plan on another round tonight to see if more is up, plus to catch some of the lighting.  

I attempted to capture some new decorations instead of some of the same from other years.  I did notice that the home that has had a circus in their front yard for the past several years, is very subdued this year.  It appears that the circus has left town.

HMS Bounty - A Casualty of Sandy

This picture was taken on The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg in January 2008.  The tall ship has been docking here for the winters.  I was saddened to learn that the Bounty was the ship that sunk off the coast of North Carolina last Monday.  Two lives were lost.

Happy 25th Birthday Mia!

Mia turns 25 today!  Happy Day Mia!  You were born smiling and you make me smile!  I love you!
And some fun Birthday celebrations from the past!  I thought I had posted these already (All right!  There's no fool like an old fool!)

Thank you Mia, for all the smiles and fun over the first 25 years!  I'm planning on many more!

I Skyped with Mia this afternoon.  And later, on my walk, to celebrate her birthday, I lifted a pumpkin spice latte to her happiness and health!

All Hallows Ball Tampa 2012

This year, instead of going in costume, I decided to volunteer to help out on the night of the event.  For those unfamiliar, the All Hallows Ball is a private, by invitation only, masquerade party.  It originated in a private home back in the 70s and has grown from year to year.  For the last four parties, the Tampa Convention Center has been the site of the festivities.  [ See past posts: 2008 A, 2008 B, 2009 A, 2009 B, 2010, 2011, ]

The previous three parties were held in the concourse areas, a split, multi-level venue.  This year it was held in one of the ballrooms.  I think because of that, the decorations were much more elaborate.  The theme this year was "It's A Small World" and the decor was derived from the Small World attraction.  It was cute!

One of the things I enjoyed was that as a volunteer, I got to do a great job of seeing the array of costumes as the guests were arriving.  It also made it easier to see friends and acquaintances and talk with them.  When I got home I thought I would take a self portrait in my volunteer garb.  It was late, I had only water to drink.  But you will have to hold your computer up to a mirror for it to read properly.  Sorry about that!

Random Monday: Donnie Darko, Paranormal Activity in My Hallway and A Couple Walks

I do not like watching the debates because I find them too stressful.  They do not play well with me.  I voted already, dropped my ballot off about two weeks ago.  So, I've been finding other things to occupy my mind.  I figure I can check various recaps online and look at all the posts on facebook.  What fun!


Tonight I decided to watch Donnie Darko.  I only saw the movie once before a while back.  I liked it then, but found it even better this round.  Maybe it has something to do with the "Mad World" song, which is on my walk playlist.  Love the song.  I'm not sure if it was the vibes the movie was giving off or what, but I heard this muffled noise in my hallway.  Checked it out.  Saw this weird glow:

Anyhow, found this other version of DD:

For today's walk, I decided to head to the "Open Air" post office downtown to mail a package.  It was such a beautiful day, upper 70s, nice breeze.















I took this picture on my leg around Demens Landing.

I took this shot on my walk on Sunday night:

Taking a Cue - Just Deal

I'm not sure why, but I woke up just before 4:00 AM this morning.  Maybe it was the 7.2 mile walk I took last night.  

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Then I followed the walk with a blueberry / strawberry / yogurt shake and cocoa coated almonds chaser.

And maybe it was watching the late 50s horror movies on TCM.  But anyhow, I woke up early.  Lying there wide awake, I attempted to relax and go back to sleep.  But no such luck.  I didn't have any specific anxiety.  I just did not feel tired.

So, taking a clue from a post that my daughter-in-law Joy put on her blog last week, I decided to follow her lead and "Just Deal With It".  [Nota bene:  I do not have pregnancy induced insomnia.]

So, I got up at 5:00 AM and baked a batch of cookies from the cookie dough I bought for a fund raiser from a former co-worker's kid.  I brewed up some pumpkin spice coffee and I was good to go!

Fireplace Friends at Halloween

Way back when Joe was Joey, he made this "monster" on a piece of cardboard.  I think he was around 5 years old.  I don't remember exactly.  Every Halloween when we decorated the house, the monster took his place on the fireplace hearth.

As the family grew.

And grew.

I put my few Halloween decorations up, and now have a (fake) fireplace for Mr. Monster.  (Sort of like Mr. Manager, you know, of the banana stand.)

I'll need to get a picture of Ruby with this monster!

Ghosts of Hallowe'ens Past

The other day Mia was feeling a bit nostalgic for Octobers and Halloween up in the Albany area in New York where she grew up.  She asked if I would scan some of the old photos and send them to her.  I have twelve 'shoeboxes' full of snapshots, and a bunch of albums, in addition to about fifty reels of 3 minute super 8 films and several dozen super 8 video tapes.  I've managed to pare down the photos to just over one shoebox of the better photos.  One has to start somewhere!

Hallowe'en was always a fun time in our family.  Mia's birthday is on the day before Hallowe'en and her birthday parties were always a lot of fun.  No question as to the theme!  And this year she turns the big 25!

One thing I also miss about the fall is the apple picking and the apple cider donuts at the apple orchard bakeries.  I got to relive that when I was visiting up there last October.  But despite the beautiful autumn colors, there was still that overpowering sense of what was to follow:  cold, gray days, ice and snow!

I was extremely surprised when I saw how big Hallowe'en is celebrated here in Saint Petersburg!  My neighborhood does it BIG!!!  I had no idea!  I mean, we sometimes froze when we walked around the neighborhood with the kids.  Here, the parents have drinks in hand and socialize with other adults as they walk with their kids around the neighborhood.  And many blocks are blocked off for parties, a circus with high wire acts in the front yard, cotton candy machines, front yard bistros, graveyards, and on and on!  Who knew?!!!!!

It's all been fun, and lots more to come.  There's a new generation of ghosts and goblins coming along! That clown in the picture below is the Daddy of the little lady bug below!  BOO!