This week's Food Friday - Hearty Pumpkin Stew:
http://ping.fm/EfabF

Free Flowing Friday

There have been so many fabulous things that have happened this week, I almost don't know where to begin! So let me start with ...

1.)... I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER IN 2010!! Yes, my middle daughter, Marie is expecting her first child on June 6, 2010 and I am so excited. I have been wanting grandchildren for several years now so this is wonderful news - makes me happy, happy, happy!

2.) I had a great niece born on Wednesday - Desiree Carter Semones made her appearance at 6:41pm, weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. Because of the swine flu, the hospital is not allowing visitors, so we've only been able to see her through the glass. My mom, Desiree's great Grandma has my camera so I should have some pictures later today. My niece, Ashley, did well during labor, but she was really missing her momma. I know my sister, Amy, is looking down and cuddling little Desiree with love.

3.) I sent my first freelance piece to KENTUCKY MONTHLY magazine this week - I'm so excited it will be in the Christmas issue. I've also sent several of my gifts for them to photograph, so I can't wait to see what they look like.

4.) I have finished my personal essay and my Super 70s article for the December issue of MERCER'S MAGAZINE. Now I have to start thinking about the new year - oh goody, a grandbaby!!!

5.) I'm on pins and needles about the job with the Ragged Edge Theatre. It's been over a week since the second interview and I know they are busy, but I'm getting nervous. The Theatre is putting on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the board has to discuss the candidates - maybe I'll hear the first of the week.

6.) I've read 3 very different books this week. The first one is by a Kentucky writing group - the KaBooM Writing Collective - entitled WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS. This is a beautiful book of poetry and personal essays. The next book is a young adult fiction book, HOW TO BE A VAMPIRE by Amy Gray.. This is a campy little book with all the ins and outs of vampires. The last one was THE MURDER OF KING TUT by James Patterson.. I have mixed feelings on this one - it is a good story, but it is supposed to be non-fiction and I think it drags in that area.

7.) Taught 2 pumpkin carving classes this week - one to a mother-to-mother group and one to the English as a Second Language class. Kids and Japanese ladies - both groups were fun and interesting!

8.) I'm getting excited about the Kentucky Book Fair coming up next week - I will be in bookworm heaven! I am already making a list of the authors I want to meet and the books I want to buy. It starts at 9am next Saturday, November 7th.

9.) I have to do something about my chocolate consumption - it has gotten totally out of control! With all the Halloween candy laying around, I can't resist. I'm going to have to summon up the willpower to quit eating chocolate and lose this weight!

10.) Last, but not least, I'm going to an awards ceremony for my daughter this morning at school. She is being honored for having a 3.7 GPA. Senior year is bringing me lots of "last things" - this will be the last award ceremony and spring time will bring scholarship awards.

Jethro Tull vs. The Eagles

Did you know The Eagles wrote "Hotel California" in 1976. Ironically, they used to open for Jethro Tull in the early '70's and Jethro Tull has a song called "We Used To Know" (from the album STAND UP) which was writen in 1969. If you listen to "We Used to Know" you will see how much like "Hotel California" it sounds. I love Jethro Tull and I also love the Eagles - but it makes me wonder ....

Check it out for yourself!

Pumpkin Carving

Here's a photo from the HARRODSBURG HERALD of the pumpkin carving I did with the English as a Second Language (ESL) class for Harrodsburg Baptist Church. I'll have more photos to post later. Thank you, Rachel Dean, for photographing the class!

It's not too late to buy a pumpkin for Halloween - check out these different varieties:
http://ping.fm/ARQoY

New Baby

My niece, Ashley, just had her baby tonight - 6:14 pm. Desiree Carter weighs 7 pounds and 10 ounces and is 21 inches long. She has a head full of hair and a great set of lungs.

Because of the flu precautions at the hospital, we are not able to visit with me niece or my great niece, so I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

It's going to be so exciting - the first baby in our family for several years. The 2 youngest grandchildren are 16 and 17. We'll have a baby again for Christmas - it will be so fun. Next year, with the addition of my new grandbaby, we'll have 2 little ones for Christmas!

Oh, did I forget to tell you? I'm going to be a GRANNY!! My middle daughter, Marie, just told me last night she is expecting in June 2010. I am over-the-moon excited and I can't wait!!

What's growing around the Bluegrass? Amur Honeysuckle is aggressively invasive:
http://ping.fm/1Y4Ph

Way Back Wednesday - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Okay, call me cheesy, call me campy, but my favorite Halloween movie is still IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN. There's just something about sweet little Linus waiting in the dark pumpkin patch that appeals to me.

Isn't it funny here in 2009 with DVR, iPhone and webcasts when we can watch anything and everything at the touch of a button, some classics are still best left for the holiday season. I still enjoy watching this great show.

There's just something cute about watching Charlie Brown and Snoopy rake leaves, only to have Linus jump in the pile while holding a sucker.

"Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker."

And does Lucy never get tired of pulling the football away from Charlie Brown at the last minute?

Poor Linus - will he never learn there is no Great Pumpkin? Oh, and this year he finally convinces Sally to forgo tricks-or-treats to wait with him in the pumpkin patch.



I think I like this episode so much because Snoopy (wearing his World War I flying ace gear) climbs aboard his Sopwith Camel (in reality, his doghouse) to battle the Red Baron. I love Snoopy!



In the end, Sally feels betrayed for listening to Linus and Linus feels glum because the Great Pumpkin didn't show up. But good characters keep going, so Linus perks up, leaving us with the proclamation that he knows the Great Pumpkin will come next year.

Dexter vs. Trinity

The Trinity killer is really just like Dexter! I sure didn't see that coming. I know it's strange to be rooting for a bad guy like Dexter, but come on, Michael C. Hall just embodies this character and you can't help but like him.

All this time I thought the deliciously evil John Lithgow was playing a wack-out, deranged killer, but he turns out to be a family man - just like Dexter.

This season of Dexter is shaping up to be a real nail bitter and I'm eagerly awaiting each week's new episode. I also have the new Jeff Lindsay novel - DEXTER BY DESIGN - to keep me entertained. Also, Showtime is also presenting 2 "webisodes" of Dexter, produced to show us some of Dexter's origins. Check out Showtime's Early Cuts.

Many Halloween traditions started in the garden: http://ping.fm/R9Xql

Really ...

... I'm not much for conspiracy theories and I have a background in health care - BUT - is anyone else worried about this mad dash to get the H1N1 vaccine? Part of my brain says this is exactly what we need to do to protect ourselves and our families from the swine flu. But there's another part - the dark and scary part of my brain - that's saying, "Wait a minute - why are we all rushing to let the government inject us with a medication."


I don't know, maybe I'm bonkers - maybe it's lack of sleep and too much news coverage.

While fall pears are in season, try out this yummy Country Pear Cobbler: http://ping.fm/HBDu3

Free Flowing Friday

Oh my, how did it get to be one week before Halloween? Time is flying away faster than a witch on her broom!

1.) I think the most exciting thing to happen to me this week is the freelance writing gig I picked up from KENTUCKY MONTHLY magazine! Last week, as a spur of the moment thing, I sent them a query letter about a possible Christmas article. This was in response to a prompt they posted on Facebook: "What do you do when you are faced with last minute gift giving?" Since I do so many homemade gifts for the holiday season, I thought maybe my ideas would come in handy for other people. Now I'm on a 2-week deadline to send them a 500-700 word article with recipes and instructions. I'm over the moon about doing this!

2.) Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of my hubby's 21st birthday - Happy Birthday, Baby! After homemade cards and poems, we went to Wah Mai for a celebration meal. As usual, I ate waaaaaay too much. Christine baked him a 2-layer cake yesterday and decorated it (with minimal help from me), but we were too full to eat any last night. Something yummy to look forward to tonight!

3.) Started carving some "Funkins" yesterday - Funkins are artificial pumpkins you can carve like real ones. After years of doing my elaborate carvings on real pumpkins, it is fun to be able to preserve my designs on pumpkins and I keep year after year. I am scheduled to do the first of my 2 pumpkin carving classes on Monday night - thanks Tanya! - and the 2nd class will be the following morning. I've been busy finding and copying some beginning patterns so everyone will have at least one nicely carved pumpkin to take home with them. With the exception of the demonstrations I've given at my children's schools, this will be the first time I've every tried to teach pumpkin carving. Wish me luck!

4.) I want to send out a BIG Thank You to Candlewick Press - you guys are awesome! After finishing my book review on Silas House's new book, ELI THE GOOD (published by Candlewick), I sent the publisher a link to my review. On their website they have an online catalog of new books coming out. I was surprised at the number of books they have for young adults and there were many I was interested in. I sent a request for the books I would love to read and review, and they responded the next day with an email that they would send me the books. This week I was greeted to a HUGE box of books on my doorstep - I was like a kid on Christmas morning! The first book I've reviewed - and I'm not finished reading it yet - is DRAKE'S COMPREHENSIVE COMPENDIUM OF DRAGONOLOGY by Dr. Ernest Drake. This is the perfect book for any child or teen who has a love of dragons. Check out my review at Bobbi's Book Nook and look for many reviews coming up for the holiday season.



5.) I think my favorite book of the week has been THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE by Katherine Howe. This is a debut novel that jumps between 1991 and the Salem witch "panic" of the late 1600s. Howe is a graduate student of American Colonial history and is actually the descendant of 2 women involved in the Salem witch trials - one lived, one was killed. If you are interested in the subject of Salem and the witch trials, this is a fast paced, fairly accurate look of a fictionalized story of this time. You can read my review at Bobbi's Book Nook.

6.) Tomorrow is the first annual Fall Arts Festival for the Arts Council of Mercer County - if you're in Harrodsburg tomorrow, come and visit us on Greenville Street from 10 - 6pm. There will be many activities all day long and artisans from the county will be set up selling their crafts. It should be a great day. Check out our event announcement on Facebook.

7.) I finished up an article on "The Fashion Industry in Harrodsburg" this week for the Habitat for Humanity-Mercer County events coming up next week. On Friday, October 30 they will be presenting a Fashion Symposium for area students with world-renown guest speaker, Alexander Julian. After the symposium, there will be a Project Runway for the students to show off the creations they have made for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Later that evening, The Best Seat in the House silent auction and dinner will be held at the Anderson Circle "Cow Palace.". This will be the biggest fund raising event of the year for Habitat.

8.) Tonight is the 2nd of our twice-monthly meetings of the Community of Mercer County Writers - Nomadic Ink. We will be meeting at 657 Fairview Court at 6:30. Tony has some great writing prompts planned and he has loads to tell us after attending the Kentucky Poetry Society's annual conference this past weekend. It should be fun!

Missing Girl Found ...

... This is just so sad ... Associated Press

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Detectives searching for a missing 7-year-old north Florida girl say they have found the body of a young girl in a Georgia landfill.

Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said the body found Wednesday had not been identified but the parents of Somer Thompson have been notified.

Somer vanished on her mile-long walk home from school Monday in Orange Park, near Jacksonville.

She was squabbling with another child, and her sister told her to stop. The girl got upset, walked ahead of the group and wasn't seen again.

Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville just south of Jacksonville Naval Air Station. The area where the girl disappeared is a heavily populated residential area.

Kentucky pears are ripening all over the Bluegrass: http://ping.fm/ssgQS

Fall care of ornamental grasses: http://ping.fm/eDDG2

Way Back Wednesday

Because we've all been such good little boys and girls, this edition of Way Back Wednesday is a 2-fer - 2 movies by Tim Burton that make me think about Halloween

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 stop motion fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to "Christmas Town". Danny Elfman wrote the film score and provided the singing voice of Jack, as well as other minor characters. The remaining principal voice cast includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page and Glen Shadix.

From IMDB: The Nightmare Before Christmas started as a poem by Tim Burton in the early-1980s. Halloween Town is a dream world filled with citizens such as deformed monsters, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, vampires, werewolves and witches. Jack Skellington - The Pumpkin King - leads them in a frightful celebration every Halloween, but he has grown tired of the same routine year after year. Wandering in the forest outside the town center, he accidentally opens a portal to "Christmas Town". Impressed by the feeling and style of Christmas, Jack presents his findings and his understanding of the holiday to the Halloween Town residents. They fail to grasp his meaning and compare everything he says to their idea of Halloween. He reluctantly decides to play along and announces that they will take over Christmas.

I love both of these movies - mainly because I love all of Tim Burton's work - but I think The Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite.

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is an Academy Award-nominated 2005 stop-motion-animation fantasy film directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton. It is based loosely on a 19th century Russian-Jewish folktale version of an older Jewish story and set in a fictional Victorian era village in Britain. Johnny Depp led an all-star cast as the voice of Victor and Helena Bonham Carter (for whom the project was specially created) voiced Emily, the title character.

From IMDB: When a shy young Victor Van Dort (Depp) fails to recite his vows properly at his wedding rehersal to a complete stranger Victoria Everglott (Watson) he flees and practises his vows in the woods. However when he eventually gets it spot on he accidently places the ring on the finger of a corpse known as the corpse bride (Carter). He ends up in the afterlife known as the land of the dead (which proves to be much more colourful and fun than the land of the living). He desperatly tries to get home especially when he finds out that his beloved wife to be will be marrying someone else to save her family from the poor house. The man she is being forced to marry is the devious Lord Barkiss, who is only after Victoria for her money (not knowing that she and her family are now completely broke) When he (and the rest of the dead) finally get to the land of the living a shocking discovery is made which reveals how Emily (the corpse bride) died and who did it as Victor and Victoria are finally able to be together. Charming comedy with an all star cast including Christopher Lee, and a few sweet songs along the way.

New Job

I'm a little excited this morning - about the possibility of a new job! Two weeks ago, I sent in my resume to the Ragged Edge Community Theatre in my hometown. This is a wonderful theatre that has been putting on local plays and performances for 26 years - since 1983! They are looking for a part time office administrator and I feel like I'm perfect for the job. I went for an interview with the theatre board last week and I think it went pretty well.

I wasn't really looking for another job, because I like the part time job I have now - but this one will allow me the opportunity to do both! With my youngest rapidly approaching college time, the extra income will be a bonus just when we need it.

Last night, I was called back for a 2nd interview, so it has given me a great sense of hope! Keep your fingers and toes crossed .....

Camelot

The family and I went to the Norton Center in Danville yesterday afternoon to see the touring production of CAMELOT. It was totally great fun! I have always been fascinated with the legend of King Arthur, Merlin and Morgan le Fey.

CAMELOT is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederic Loewe (music). It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King.

This was the first production at the Norton Center since the $3 million renovation of this facility

Pumpkin bread also makes a great holiday gift: http://ping.fm/DPmcs

Free Flowing Friday

It's been a rainy week here in the 'burg and fall has officially arrived.

1.) BONES and FRINGE last night were both awesome! On BONES, a 3,000 year old Egyptian Mummy is at the center of a murder investigation. Dizzy intern and sweetheart of Dr. Sweets', Daisy Wick, is back for another spin at the Jeffersonian - hilarious. On FRINGE, it appears like someone is trying to use an implanted brain chip as a mind control device. Walter is up to his zany adventures and Olivia appears to have gone off the deep end as she collects business cards from people she meets. I love this show! On a sad note, it seems both shows will not be on again until November - bummer!

2.) Read 2 good books this week - both totally different from the other. SHATTERED SILENCE by Melissa G. Moore is a non-fiction memoir about the daughter of an infamous serial killer. Not a book that highlights the grisley murders of her father, Keith Jesperson, instead Melissa shows us the survival instincts that got her through her childhood. Excellent book about a true survivor. EON: DRAGONEYE REBORN by Alison Goodman is a young adult fiction book and I've described it as a Chinese Tolkein story. This book has a deep dark secret, political intrigue, Chinese horoscopes and dragons. A fun and exciting read. There will be one more book in this 2-book series.

3.) I went for a job interview this week at the Ragged Edge Community Theatre. I currently has a part time job that I love, but I only work 3 hours a day. This additional job would also be part time and give me 4 more hours of work a day. I am so proud of our community theatre and I think I would be a perfect match for this job. With my youngest going to college next year, I'm going to need all the extra income I can get - might as well get it at a job I will enjoy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

4.) What is it with dogs and whining?? Our dog has started whining and it is just as annoying as when a child whines. We don't have a fenced in yard, so whenever the dog goes out, he has to be on a run. He's close enough to the house, that he can scratch at the door when he wants to come in, which is great because sometimes I just don't want to stay outside and play. But now he's like a 3-year-old - whining to go out, scratching to come in, whining to go out, scratching to come in ... over and over again all afternoon and evening. I swear, I don't think the girls were this much trouble!

5.) Christine and my hubby went to UK this week for a meeting with the Art Department. She wants to major in Arts Administration and the University of Kentucky is the only college in Kentucky that offers this major. I would rather see her go to a smaller school, at least for the first few years, but she has her heart set on Arts Administration. They both enjoyed the campus tour and had information overload with everything they learned.

6.) My oldest daughter's wedding announcement was finally in the paper this week. Of course, her father's family wrote the announcement, so my name was conveniently left out of the announcement. At first I was really angry and then I got pissed! But then I thought, "I'm better than these people, so I'm not going to stoop to their childish level." Everyone that matters to me knows Amber Dawn Wilham is my daughter. So, his crazy family can go on playing their little mind games, 'cause I'm better than they are. Nana nana, boo boo ....

7.) After reviewing Silas House's new book, ELI THE GOOD, a few weeks ago, I bopped over to the publishers website this week, Candlewick Press. They have a wonderful catalog of young adult books and I was totally impressed. I sent an email to the publicity department with a list of 10 books I'd like to read and review - I know, I'm a greedy book whore, but I can't help it. Well, I got a reply today and they are sending me all 10 books!! I'm in book heaven and can't wait for them to get here - hopefully this weekend. So watch out, more reviews will be on the way.

8.) You may remember, a few weeks ago a group in town asked me to teach pumpkin carving to a group of Japanese ladies. Since then, I've had another bloggy friend ask me to teach her mother-to-mother group, so now I have 2 classes to teach. This week while my hubby and daughter were in Lexington, they bought me several "Funkins" - artificial pumpkins you can carve. I'm so excited, so I plan to start carving pumpkins this weekend. I've always enjoyed carving pumpkins and now I'll be able to keep my creations from year to year. I may even advertise pumpkin carving workshops next year.

Learn how to save pumpkin seeds to plant for next year: http://ping.fm/ydrVS

What's blooming around the Bluegrass - Oriental Bittersweet: http://ping.fm/tzADN

Way Back Wednesday - Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The orginal Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed by Tobe Hooper, and written collaboratively by Hooper and Kim Henkel. Because of the content, the film was banned in many foreign countries. Initial critical reception of the film was mixed, receiving both praise and criticism regarding the atmosphere, story, characters, and graphic content, but it became a strong commercial success, grossing $30.8 million at the United States box office. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has gained a reputation as one of the greatest and most influential horror films of all time, originating several stereotypes common in the slasher film genre, including the characterization of the killer as a large, hulking and faceless figure and the use of power tools, knives and blunt objects as murder weapons.

The film stars Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Teri McMinn, William Vail, Edwin Neal and Paul A. Partain. While presented as a true story involving the ambush and murder of a group of friends on a road trip in rural Texas by a family of cannibals, the film is completely fictional. This is another one of those scary movies I first saw at the Starlight Drive-In in Danville, Kentucky.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has spawned three sequels, and a remake — titled The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and produced by Michael Bay — released in 2003. The original film was first succeeded by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), once again directed by Hooper. The sequel was considerably more graphic and violent than the original, due to the fact that a larger amount of gore was present in the film.

Favorite quotes:

Franklin: If I have any more fun today I don't think I can take it!

Franklin: They just shoot a bolt in their head, and then retract it. It's just BOOM-shht-BOOM-shht.
Sally: Franklin, I like meat. Please change the subject!

Franklin: [refering to the Hitchhiker] I think we just picked up Dracula.

Hitchhiker: You could have dinner with us... my brother makes good head cheese! You like head cheese?

Old Man: I just can't take no pleasure in killing. There's just some things you gotta do. Don't mean you have to like it.

Old Man: Look what your brother did to the door! Ain't he got no pride in his home?

Drunk: [laughs] Things happen here about, they don't tell about. I see things. You see, they say that it's just an old man talking. You laugh at an old man, it's them that laughs and knows better.
[laughs again]

Upcoming events at the Lexington Arboretum: http://ping.fm/2H7A6

Preparing perennials and biennials for winter: http://ping.fm/IE4Qs

The Quest for the Perfect Mug

I am a creature of habit - I like things the same and I usually don't deviate from my routine. I guess if you were a serial killer, I'd be your perfect prey, or so all the detective shows on TV would have it.

But sometimes my standard routine is a blessing for me 'cause I can move throughout my day knowing I've accomplished what I set out to do. Yes, I know what you all are saying - I'm a follower, not a leader. I'm a sheep, not a Shepard. I'm the goose pulling up the rear, not the point of the V.

So, when something interferes with my normal routine, it throws a kink into my schedule, almost like a vinyl LP when the needle gets stuck - I keep stumbling over the same problem over and over again.

Case in point - my mug. I am the type of person who always has a mug full of drink with me, in case I get thirsty. After years of searching and then numerous trial-and-errors, last year I found the perfect mug - or actually, my hubby found it for me. It was about this time last year when he brought me home a translucent green mug with a handle. I was skeptical, but I was going to give it a try.

Number one - it was double insulated, so it was not supposed to leak. After weeks of use, I found this to be true - my new mug never sweated! I hate a sweaty glass! I love to fix a mug full of ice and then pour a cold drink in, so the number one thing I want in a mug is for it not to sweat.
New mug - check, no sweating

Number two - although the mug had a handle, the bottom third of the mug was free from the handle. This means that the mug fit perfectly into my car's cup holder. Do you know how hard it is to find a perfect mug to fit your car holder? I've gone through many impostors, but this mug seemed perfect.
New mug - check, fits the cup holder

Number three - the cup had a rounded lip and no lid. I don't normally like to drink using a straw. Don't get me wrong, I will use a straw in certain instances like at a fast food restaurant, but I don't like using a straw. This new mug had a comfortable lip - not like most mug that have ridges where a lid fits.
New mug - check, easy to drink from without a straw

Bonus points - because the mug was translucent, I enjoyed watching my nice, cold Coca-Cola sparkling over ice. I know it's silly, but I enjoy the little pleasures in life.
New mug - bonus point, nice to look at

So for a full year, I have been over-the-moon about my mug. It was washed every single day and it went everywhere with me - to work, to meetings - anywhere. This was the perfect mug and my happy little world was rotating smoothly.

Smoothly, that is until the fire at our house. No, my mug didn't get burned in the fire. I wasn't home when the fire started, so naturally, my mug was with me. No, my mug got injured during the clean-up process. One day, it got knocked over and fell on the concrete front porch. At first glance, my mug was okay, but I did notice a tiny separation between the double insulation.

Over the next week, it became apparent that the double insulation seal of my perfect mug had been compromised. My mug started to sweat - ick! My mug was impossible to clean because now fluid was leaking in between the layers of double insulation. The day I saw mold growing between the two layers - double ick! - was the day I knew the mug had to go. Into the trash he went and I was left without my perfect mug.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I am still without a new mug. My husband found some that I thought were really cute - translucent with a bandanna pattern. But alas, no double insulation so the glass sweats. No rounded lip, so it is not as comfortable to drink from. And the handle goes down to the bottom of the mug, so it doesn't fit into my cup holder.

For now, I'm making due with foam cups my hubby always brings in from his commute back and forth to Lexington. I know, I know, they aren't environmentally friendly, but they don't sweat and they fit my cup holder. I do have to use a straw - pooh - but I'm trying not to complain. My hubby, my daughter and myself are constantly on the look-out for the next perfect mug. I know it's out there, I just haven't found it yet.

Free Flowing Friday

What? Friday again? Where did the week go? This has been a jammed-packed week, so here we go ...

1.) Last night several members of my writing group went to the Stars with Accents event at the Carnegie Center in Lexington - this was the kick-off event for the BoomSlang Fest starting this weekend. The event hosted many of the writers/poets who have been featured on the radio program, ACCENTS - 88.1 WRFL Radio Free Lexington - hosted by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, a Radio Show for Literature, Art and Culture and was voted in the Top 3 radio programs in Lexington by ACE magazine. Some of the featured readers last night were: Eric Sutherland, Donna Ison, Sherry Chandler, Leatha Kendrick, Jan Isenhour, Lisa Willams, Jude McPherson, Ed McClanahan, James Vincent and Katerina. This was a wonderful event and I encourage everyone to support activities of the caliber.

2.) Finished reading Silas House's new book, ELI THE GOOD, this week. Heartwarming young adult that I found impossible to put down. I hope everyone will try to read this wonderful novel. You can check out my review at Bobbi's Book Nook.

3.) OMG - have you been watching this season of DEXTER? I know I must be some kind of warped human being to enjoy a show about a serial killer, but this show is so well-written and suspenseful, I can't help it. John Lithgow is guest starring this season and the Trinity Killer - he is so deliciously evil I've already had nightmares from his performance. Who know the loony guy from THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN could be so scary?

4.) Last Friday I was so totally nervous about my radio appearance on ACCENTS, I thought I was going to be sick. Turns out, it was actually every fun! Katerina always puts her guests at ease and as long as I was looking right at her, I almost forgot I was on the radio. The program in which Tony Sexton and I were guest is now available for downloading here - it is the October 2nd show.

5.) My wonderful hubby has been stuck working the sunrise shift all this week. That means he has to be at WLEX by 4am every morning - 4am! This means he has had to go to bed at 8:30pm every night in order to be up by 2:30. Needless to say, it has been a sucky week for all. It is really wonderful to have him home by 3 every afternoon, but with him having to go to bed so early - well, you get the picture.

6.) Fall break - yippee!! My daughter is out of school for 2 weeks of fall break. I love this October break - it is usually the time of year we go on vacation, although we aren't going anywhere this year. My hubby and daughter are going to Kings Island one day and they have a college visit scheduled at UK, but other than that, we are have a staycation.

7.) Found an interesting website this week while I was "stumbling around" - Pooktre. They do tree shaping and make wonderful yard art, furniture and accessories. I have always been intrigued by people who are able to shape and mold nature.

8.) Tomorrow is the 2nd ArtVenture for The Arts Council of Mercer County. We will be meeting at Eagles Nest Nature Preserve on Calvary Lane from 9am until noon. All artist of any media are encouraged to come and enjoy the atmosphere and be inspired.

Food Friday - Cushaw Pie: http://ping.fm/YK529

Check out what's happening at the Salato Wildlife Refuge in Frankfort, Kentucky: http://ping.fm/l9BJF

There is still plenty to do in the garden - now is the best time to prepare for fall: http://ping.fm/j4jv2

Check out my newest article on Chrysanthemums - http://ping.fm/2vvwW

Way Back Wednesday - Halloween

Halloween

I'm talking the original Halloween from 1978 - an American independent horror film set in the fictional suburban midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois. This classic horror film takes place on Halloween and features Michael Myers' escape from a psychiatric hospital, his murdering of teenagers, and Dr. Loomis' attempts to track and stop him. Halloween is widely regarded as one of the most influential horror films of its era - I orginally saw this at the Starlight Drive-In in Danville, Kentucky. In 2006, Halloween was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Halloween is directed by John Carpenter and stars Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Nick Castle, Tony Moran and Tommy Lee Wallace sharing the role of Michael Myers.

Halloween spawned seven sequels, a 2007 remake — titled Halloween and directed by Rob Zombie — and a 2009 sequel to the remake, Halloween II, which is unrelated to the sequel to the original. The sequels feature more explicit violence and gore, and are generally dismissed by mainstream film critics. The 10 Halloween films, including the 2007 remake and its sequel, have had eight directors. Only Rick Rosenthal and Rob Zombie directed more than one Halloween film: Rosenthal directed Halloween II and Halloween: Resurrection, while Zombie directed the remake and its sequel.

Favorite quotes:

Dr. Sam Loomis: I met him, fifteen years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the *devil's* eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... *evil*.

Tommy Doyle: Laurie, what's the boogeyman?
Laurie: There's no such thing.

Sheriff Leigh Brackett: Every kid in Haddonfield thinks this place is haunted.
Dr. Sam Loomis: They may be right.

Dr. Sam Loomis: You've got to believe me, Officer, he is coming to Haddonfield... Because I know him - I'm his doctor! You must be ready for him... If you don't, it's your funeral!

Tommy Doyle: But I saw the boogeyman! I saw him!
Laurie: Okay, what did he look like?
Tommy Doyle: Ummm...
[pauses and thinks]
Tommy Doyle: the boogeyman!

[last lines]
Laurie: It *was* the boogeyman.
Dr. Sam Loomis: As a matter of fact, it was.

Check out this great article on storing fall vegetables and fruit - http://ping.fm/cyr4Q

Sucky Week

I know I shouldn't poo-poo a week before it's even started, but this is going to be a sucky week. My hubby has to work Sunrise shift at WLEX, which means he has to leave the house at 3:15am every morning - 3:15am as in just 3 hours after midnight. Yeah, told you it sucks ...

What this means for my family is, hubby will have to go to bed by 8 every night. Hell, it's just barely dark at 8. This means supper will have to be moved up a few hours to keep us from going to bed on a full stomach. We will have time to spend together in the afternoons, so the week won't be a total loss.

My problem is, I'm a creature of habit. I'm used to staying up - usually with my hubby - until midnight every night. With my insomnia, I'm sometimes awake even longer. We routinely eat supper at 7:30 or 8 because this is when he gets home from work. Mornings at our home run smoothly - Christine is up by 7 and out of the house by 7:30, I get ready for work by 8 and he gets up at 8, so we both have time in the bathroom.

Sunrise means hubby will be getting up at 2am - hell, I may still be awake at 2am! He'll be home by 2 in the afternoon, right in the middle of my prime writing time. Supper will probably be at 5:30 or 6.

I'm sorry - reading back over this, I'm a big whiny baby. I don't have anything to complain about so I just need to shut up. After all, things always have a way of working out in the end. Life is good and I need to be a happy camper.

Open All Night

I had something interesting happen last night, but it has left a scary thought in my head. I have never wanted any of my children to work in an all night convenience store and this is just one more explain of why.

I ran in to the BP station next to our local Wendys last to pick up a 2 liter of Coke. Damn my Coke addiction - I'm a slave to this caffeiney, sugary drink! Anyway, the customer in front of my had already put gas in his car and he was buying 2 drinks and a package of cigarettes. As he got ready to pay, he had no money or a credit card with him. He pulled out his license and told the clerk he would have to run home and get his debt card. This poor little girl had no idea what to do.

Here she was, a young girl - she couldn't have been much older than my 17 year old - alone in a convenience store. She was the only person on duty. As a customer in line, I was actually afraid for her, because what was she going to do? Call the police and risk this guy getting violent? He walked out the door, yelling back over his shoulder he'd be back in 20 minutes.

Poor thing was shaking like a leaf and I told her to take a deep breath and try to calm down. I asked her if the license was current - and it was by only a few weeks - so I told her he would more than likely be back to get them. I gave her my name and telephone number and told her to call me if she needed a witness.

I don't think any employee - especially a woman - should be left alone in a convenience store - you never know what will happen! I resisted the urge to call back last night, mainly because I wanted to forget the whole them, so I don't know if the man came back or not. I "assume" he did because I have not received a call from the store.

Parents - be worried about your children if they work in all night convenience stores. In my open, they offer more risks than benefits when it comes to making money.

Free Flowing Friday

I can't believe it is Friday again! Where did the week go?

1.) The most exciting news this week is that I will be a guest on the radio program, ACCENTS, this afternoon in Lexington. ACCENTS is hosted by bi-lingual poet Katerina Klemer and can be heard on 88.1 FM at 2pm on Fridays. Tony Sexton, leader of the Community of Mercer County Writers, and myself will be her guest and I am so nervous and excited! If you can't pick up the radio program - and most people in Harrodsburg won't be able to pick it up - you will be able to download the program next week from Katerina's website.

2.) Tomorrow I will be helping out my friend and fellow writer, Ruth Ann Fogle, as she makes an appearance in the Perryville parade. Ruth Ann's alter ego, Mother Flossie Upson, was invited to participate, so I'm providing her transportation in the form of my hubby's truck. It should be an interesting morning.

3.) I finished a great book this week, THE PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS (The Prophecy of the Sisters Book #1) by Michelle Zink. This is a young adult book and it is a far-cry from the recent rush of vampire and supernatural books. This book marks a return to the classic Gothic novels of the past and takes place during the Victorian Era of the late 1800s. I highly recommend this book and I am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.

4.) Did you see the premiere of Dexter on Sunday? Oh man, what a great start to season 4! I know I should feel bad about enjoying a show revolving around a serial killer, but it is such great fun, I find myself marveling at the writing abilities of the staff. And Micheal C. Hall as Dexter is deliciously evil! Casting John Lithgow as the rival bad guy, the Trinity Killer - brilliant! Lithgow appears so normal, but has a disturbing bad quality that comes across the screen and jumps in your face. It's going to be a great season!

5.) My hubby has to work night shift tonight and then he's on call all weekend - bummer! I guess I shouldn't complain because he doesn't have to do this very often, but it really ruins our weekend. I so look forward to spending time with him on the weekends.

6.) I have submitted a poetry manuscript to a writing contest this week - this is the first time I've even entered my poetry anywhere. Sponsored by A Room of Her Own: A Foundation for Women Writers and Artists, the won't announce the winner until November 15th. I know I don't stand a chance of winning, but I'm hoping to get some type of response. Keeping my fingers crossed.

7.) Fall break starts today - my daughter will be out of school for two weeks. I love fall break because the weather is so much cooler and all the leaves are changing colors. She has several college visits lined up during this time, so we are going to be busy.