Halloween Candy and Thoughts

So, what was your favorite Halloween candy as a child or as a grown-up, for that matter. Like I said in the post below, I loved Sugar Babies, Sugar Daddies, Taffy, AND does anyone remember Milk Duds and Cowtails? I liked those, too. And if you have a Halloween memory you'd like to share, please do so in the comments. Another Halloween memory I have is of me, Debbie and Johnny going from house-to-house in Logan and we tired of WALKING up the sidewalk, then BACK down the sidewalk, so we started running across the lawns....for a short while, that is, because one of the yard-owners had put fine guage wire or string around his yard and we couldn't see it in the dark....ya think?.....we tripped over it, going thump, thump, thump all on top of Johnny! LOL Needless to say, we started walking BACK up the sidewalks. And, yes, our parents were following us in the car and Dad got out and after checking to make sure we were alright, reprimanded us for taking shortcuts and told us to stay on the sidewalks. *sigh* Okayyyyyyy, Dad. *smile*
If you'd like to take a trip down candy memory lane, just google "retro candy". You can actually buy gift boxes of candy by decade, like the 50's and 60's. Remember candy lips and those little parafin bottles with some kind of drink in them? *sigh* What memories!

Halloween Memories

I may have posted something similar before but this time of year always evokes fond childhood memories for me. The only costume I remember wearing is a mouse costume. It was red and made out of the windbreaker-type of material. It had a black plastic tail coming out of the back, a hood that came up over my head and a gray, plastic mouse face mask. I thought it was great. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that my face would get all wet behind the mask from my warm breath mixing with the coldness of the mask. Yuck!!!

We always carried brown paper grocery bags to carry our treats in. None of these cutesy bags or carriers that they have now. Huh-uh.

I loved most every kind of candy, with the exception of sour or hot stuff. No fireballs or sweettarts for me, please. So, I usually traded those for something else. You see, after we returned home, Mom and Dad would help us get cleaned up and ready for bed. Then we...the five of us kids.....would sit down in the middle of the living room floor, dump our candy out and begin sorting through it, swapping eachother for our favorites and, of course, passing off the really undesirables to Mom and Dad, like apples, crackers, pennies, and the like.

Myself, if I am going to eat candy, I prefer for it to be chocolate or caramel and nuts are an added bonus! Some of my favorites were Sugar Daddies or Sugar Babies, most candy bars, and taffy.

I remember one Halloween, this little old lady had just made a batch of fudge. She told us to hold our hands out....we didn't know what was coming.....and she slapped a piece of this soft fudge in the palm of our hand. Yuck! Of course, we ate it because we didn't have any other choice. There were others houses to get to and more candy to collect!! Needless to say, we didn't offer our open palms for any more handouts.

Daniel was pretty ambivalent about trick-or-treating until one Sunday afternoon when we lived in Logan. He had a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and a Mickey Mouse mask. They weren't bought with the intention of going trick-or-treating nor were they bought at the same time. Anywayyy...this particular Sunday afternoon, one of our neighbors had told us to be sure and bring Daniel over for candy, so we dressed him up in bright blue sweatpants, his Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and we took the mask along. We took him next door, slipped the mask on his face, told him to knock on the door....he liked THAT! *smile*......and say "Trick or Treat". Well, when he saw that by doing so he could get FREE candy, he was hooked!!! *smile* We took him most every after that till he was about 10, though sometimes not because trick-or-treat here is done on Sunday afternoons and sometimes it just didn't work out with our church schedule.


Now, you talk about being a discriminatory candy eater, that is Daniel. Most years, I would end up throwing out most of the candy he had gotten or giving it away or taking it into work or to church for the SS classes. But he loved going out and getting it!! *smile* And we made some wonderful memories in the process.

The next two or three years, he was a clown. I made his costume from old material and yarn I had here at home and I had clown make-up from when I dressed up as a clown for Sunday School promotions and so on. Then he decided to be a pirate and I put his costume together with things here at home and added a couple of items that I bought. His last two or three years, he decided to be a karate/ninja guy and I made that costume, too.

Daniel always knew what he wanted to be like a year in advance and then he would want to be that particular character for two or three years, so it was easy to make him happy.

He's at it again!

As we were driving home from church this morning, Ed was reading political signs and are there ever plenty of them to read! One in particular caught my attention. It read: "So and so for Hocking County Persecutor". WHAT???? Me: "Ed, I believe that's PROSECUTOR." Ed: "Prosecutor..Persecutor.....not much difference." LOL He is so funny. He does this all of the time, as I've said before. He uses words that are ALMOST pronounced the same but not quite. AND sometimes when he is trying to get a point across or say something I don't necessarily agree with, I'll ask him just where he got THAT idea or where he heard it or I'll say, "And just where is THAT written?", to which he will reply I Cavinee Chapter 3, verse 12 or some other fictictious scripture reference! LOL He is a hoot! And he keeps me smiling and laughing for which I am thankful to the Lord above each and every day.
Oh, let me share another funny little thing we do. When one of uses an out-of-the-ordinary word, it usually goes something like this: Me: "Whenever she tells something, be it a story or anecdote or whatever, she is soooo repetitious." Ed: "Yeah, and I bet she tells it over and over again alot, too, hm?" I love being married to this precious man! He's one-of-a-kind and he's mine! Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Bloggers are terrible writers???

Bro. Jordan, our Ohio UPC District Superintendent, had THIS POST at his blog, which I found very interesting and amusing. I realize there are correct procedures to writing BUT I choose to write the way I would talk in a normal conversation AND I've been told by family and friends that that is just the way they find my letters, emails and blog posts: they read the way I sound when I am talking! *smile* Soooo, it seems I have accomplished something, hm? AND I was on the English scholarship team all through high school. I was the top student on the team, so I do know a thing or two about grammar and such. But I like writing freestyle. The end.

'Fessin up!

Okay, I wasn't going to blog about this but I WILL. I just don't want to appear to be whining too much about my physical ailments. BUT last week, somehow, someway, I managed to pull like a major muscle on the right side of my chest. Owie. I don't remember like doing it where it popped and I was writhing in pain, so I think I must have strained it repeatedly while possibly endeavoring to get out of bed by myself, INSTEAD of waiting for Ed to help me and by pushing myself up out of chairs or by pressing down on my walker as I ambulated along. Anywayyyyy, the pain got so bad, I wanted to be sure that it WAS indeed a muscle strain, so Ed took me to the ER this past Monday and , sure enough, that is what it was. Sooooo, I have been trying to rest the muscle, ice it and do what the doctor said. BUT do you know how much you use this particular muscle???? Sheesh!!! Coughing, sneezing, laughing, yawning, stretching......all of these and more affect this muscle. I almost go into a panic when I feel a sneeze coming on!!! *feeble grin* And with it being so dry here at this time of the year, I've been sneezing more than usual, it seems or perhaps it is just because of the muscle strain, I am more cognizant of sneezing?

Now, as to my hip replacement? I am doing great!! I HAVE NO PAIN IN THAT HIP ANY LONGER!!!! Can you believe it???? My incision is no longer red and puffy. I can do all of my assigned exercises, which Ed is very impressed with!! *smile* I no longer need to take pain medication though I am taking an anti-inflammatory for my muscle strain. I still have to use my walker but I no longer have to exert pressure on it like I used to. I just hold on to it lightly for balance as I am walking. (Okay, okay....I know there are those of you OUT there who are saying..."she needs more than a walker to be considered "balanced"! LOL)

Dr. Berend said that I will need physical therapy after my second hip replacement to help me regain the proper gate for walking normally and so on. I was a bit puzzled by this because I thought once I was no longer in pain, I would just naturally go back to walking like I used to before all of this happened. Hmmmm......not so. You see, I've altered my walking pattern so much over the past four years, because of the pain, that now it will be a matter of needing to learn to walk correctly again. *sigh* BUT, I can do it!!! AND I am going to do it!!! I told Erin Maree yesterday that I might even be able to wear some cute dress shoes with SMALL heels again one day and go struttin' my stuff!!!! LOL I'm just jokin' around but it would be nice. Dresses do look so much nicer with a small-heeled dress shoe, you know, girls???? *smile*

Well, I've rambled on enough for now but be prepared. I just feel like blogging like crazy for some reason!!! You have been warned!! *smile* Have a wonderful Friday, everyone!!!

Telling it like it is

I found this very interesting, after receiving the link from a dear friend.

No matter who wins....

TEN PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?
(Amen!)

Ed had a birthday!!

My wonderful husband turned 66 this past Friday! Daniel and Erin baked him a yellow cake and with chocolate icing....his favorite......and brought it over. AND they were determined to put 66 candles on it! Oh, and they were the kind of candles that you blow out and they keeping lighting back up. He had a time!


This past Saturday, Ed and I went to Walmart to get a few groceries. We entered the side where the florist shop is and, lo and behold if it wasn't Sweetest Day. There were flowers everywhere. I hopped on a motorized shopping cart and went on my way and when we finally got home, Ed had gotten me a pretty bouquet of red carnations. He doesn't do flowers very often, so it was a sweet surprise.
Actuallyyyyyy, my dear husband has been known to mutter, on occasion...."I'd like to find the guy who came up with all of these days I'm supposed to remember and, and....."
But, through the years, I've discovered that it isn't the flowers or candy or gifts that truly express his love for me. It is the day-to-day, small, meaningful things that he does that shows me he truly cares for me. *sighhh* Happy Birthday, Bro. Honey! *smile* (Last Friday, Oct. 17)

A milestone!

I slept the whole night through for the first time last night since having my hip replacement! We went to bed at 10:00PM. Now, mind you, I have to sleep ON my back with a pillow folded and placed under my left knee and two pillows supporting my left foot. I vaguely remember waking up at some point in the night, just a little, but I went right back to sleep and did not wake up until 5:00AM!!! Of course, I was ready to get up and so I did. I'm also able to get out of bed by myself now, too. But Ed still has to help me get into bed and get settled but hopefully that will not be the case after this week. I'm making progress!!!! Yayyyyyy!!!! And don't worry, I won't be over-doing it! I don't want to have any setbacks!
(Ed has always said that I could sleep on a fencepost....*grin*)

While Colin Powell, a life-long Republican, has chosen to support Obama, here in SE Ohio, I've seen another dynamic taking place among "life-long", strict party-line voters. I cannot say that I am pleased about this at all. Because I'm not. In fact, I'm apalled. Nevertheless, I know of "some" white Democratic voters who have been VERY vocal about the fact that they will NOT vote for Obama because he IS black. I mean, we are talking "dyed-in-the-wool" Democrats here, folks. Generational Democrats. But they will not vote for Obama because of his skin color. I honestly felt like someone punched me in the stomach. Not because I am an Obama supporter. I'm not. But it has nothing to do with him being black. I will be voting for McCain because the Republican party most closely adheres to supporting christian values that I feel are of the utmost importance.
There is a part of me that would love to vote for Obama. He is passionate. He is a great speaker. In my opinion, he has picked a better VP. Overall, he is a much more "attractive" candidate. His running against McCain reminds me so much of when Clinton/Gore were campaigning against Bush/Quayle in '92. Clinton/Gore made Bush/Quayle look old,boring and stale and I tell you, I felt myself WANTING to vote for Clinton but when it came time to punch that card, I HAD to go with my christian convictions and vote for Bush. I don't understand how christians can say that it DOESN'T MATTER who you vote for based on "christian values". Do we think God is not interested in how we vote? Do we think He turns a blind eye in the voting booth?
I hear people talking about the financial state that our country is in and so many are distressed, wondering where all of this turmoil is going to lead. I know this one thing: the government is not my provider. The Lord is my provider. He expects us to handle our finances wisely, conservatively and to be faithful to Him. He will see that we are taken care of. I believe this with all of my heart. I am reminded of the children of Israel when they left Egypt. They left with only those things they could carry but they never went hungry or thirsty or unclothed. Now, they may not have been happy with WHAT or HOW the Lord provided but He did provide. I believe the same is still true today.
Let me end this post by saying that you might be thinking that the voters I spoke of above are just SAYING they won't vote for Obama but when they get in that voting booth, they will. I don't believe so. While I wish with all of my heart that it wasn't so, even after all of the strides we've made as a country in overcoming racial prejudice, there is still a dark under-belly of racism alive and well in America. Needless to say, it will be more than interesting to see how this election finally turns out.
God bless America and may your hand of mercy be upon her in the coming months. Thy will be done.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

Jana, at Psalm 126 tagged me, so here are my six unspectacular things about me. I'm not going to tag anyone but if you would like to play along, please do. Just let me know in the comments.

Meme terms & conditions
1. Link the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. List 6 unspectacular things about you
4. Tag 6 other bloggers

Here are 6 unspectacular things about me.

1. I like to take an afternoon nap.
2. I am one of five siblings and a twin. My twin and I are the youngest, me being the oldest of the two by five minutes.
3. Red is my favorite color and I love animal prints.
4. I love to sit around a campfire.
5. It doesn't take much to amuse me. *grin*
6. I love dumb jokes. You know....the ones that make people groan when you tell them? I love it!!! *smile*

Autumn in the hills

I had a very good day yesterday, physically speaking! I was feeling a little "cooped up", so I decided to traipse over to Daniel and Erin's house where Ed and Lew were doing some carpentry work and also installing windows blinds. It felt so good to get outside and breathe in the fragrance of autumn. I used my stationary walker and took it slowly and did just fine. Here is a picture I took of the front part of our yard on the way back home.

Later, after I had been home for a little while, I could feel the muscles in my legs....both of them.....begin to tighten up but I kept walking about the house and doing a few things here and there. Yesterday was the first day that I did not lay down for a nap AND I didn't need to take any pain medication either. Until yesterday evening at about 8pm. By this time, my body was just so tired, I couldn't stay up any longer. I can't say that I was sleepy, just physically tired. So I took a Vicodin and Ed got me all tucked into bed

The Notebook was on TV last night and I recorded it but Ed wanted to watch it, so he turned it up loud enough so I could lay in bed and listen to it while he watched it. I drifted off to sleep waking up at a little before eleven o'clock, so Ed helped me up to the bathroom, tucked me in again and I slept until 4:30am, at which time I was ready to get up for the day. It is now 2:15pm Friday afternoon, I definitely feel a nap coming on, so I'm going to close this post and wish all of you a wonderful weekend!!! Go Bucks!!

The Upcoming Election

I've said very little....actually, I don't believe I've said anything about the on-going presidential campaign OR upcoming election. But, after receiving an email and checking its validity, I felt compelled to post a link to it HERE. I urge you to check it out and also Mr. Brown's website which you can access HERE. Of the utmost importance is that we each vote according to the will of the Lord. Not OUR will, but HIS will be done.

Some thoughts to share

Before having my surgery, I was more than a little concerned about taking possible addictive pain-killers. I was just so concerned about getting hooked on them and then not being able to get off of them when I didn't need them any longer. *biting my nails*
Wellllll.....any ambivalence I had flew right out the ol' proverbial window immediately after coming out of recovery. Hello. And I didn't even have to ask for them. Those precious nurses were in there every few minutes, it seemed, giving me another pill to take. They sent me home with three different pain pills and I took everyone of them. LOL Two of them I only took for the first week after I came home. Now I am just on Vicodin and I am just taking it when I need it, where I was taking two every four hours, no more than eight in 24-hour period.
I am actually amazed that my pain has diminished so quickly, considering the gash..er,uh, I mean....the incision I have on my left hip. Oh, and they don't do stitches or staples any longer. They used what Dr. Berend calls SUPER HUMAN GLUE! *smile* I love progress!
And another thing......I'm not allowed to cross my ankles when I sit. I never realized how difficult this would be NOT to do! I catch myself crossing my ankles all of the time!!! Specifically, I put my right foot behind my left ankle. *sigh* This is really going to be difficult when I have my right hip done!
AND I can only sleep on my back. Now, this wasn't so difficult to do when I first came home but now that I am getting better and have almost no pain at all in the night, I am getting a little antsy, wanting to roll over onto my side. I loooooove to sleep on my side! BUT....no can do at least until after my first check-up which is not until Oct.31. "I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. " I'm sure all it would take is me rolling over onto my side one time to make me not want to sleep on my side just yet. (ya think?) *grin*
ANDDDDD.......Ed and I had to switch sides of the bed when I came home. We have slept on our respective sides of the bed our entire 22 years of marriage. This was no small feat! But we made the adjustment without a hitch! Ed actually LIKES sleeping on MY side of the bed better!!! And I ACTUALLY like his side of the bed! So it has worked out really well. There is only one little problemo. When I have my next surgery....on Veteran's Day, November 11.....I just think that is so funny for some reason....like I'm taking one for my country or sumthin'....LOL...just kidding.....but anywayyyyy.....as I was saying.....when I have my next surgery, we will once again have to switch sides of the bed and Ed isn't too happy about this. But, being the wonderful, understanding husband that he has been, I know that he will do what he has to do. And besides, we can always switch back when all of this is over with!!
I believe that is all of the thoughts I have to share at the present time! *smile*

I had said in my previous post that I was going to post SOME pictures of Elder Bro. Martin's birthday party, but then I noticed how blurry they were BECAUSE the resolution on my camera somehow got changed and I just couldnt' see posting a bunch of blurry pictures for you all to try and focus your eyes on, sooooo....I just posted the one. Whew! Talk about a run-on sentence! *smile*
Here is a picture of Daniel and Erin's mobile home next to us! I took this just about a week and a half ago and we can't believe how quickly the leaves have changed. I'll have to take another picture and show you the difference. It feels so good to have them next to us even if we don't see them every day. They have really decorated it so beautifully, wanting to get their first "real" home just the way they wanted it.

Here are some pictures from Elder Bro. Martin's 90th birthday party at church yesterday. It was a carry-in dinner at our morning service and it was truly a surprise party! *smile* Ed's birthday is the same day as Bro. Martin's....October 17th! Ed will be 66, so he has a few years to go to catch up, hm? *smile*

x

This is just a short post to say that my recovery is just a little more difficult than I thought it would be. BUT I am getting better day by day. I think I may have overdone it an eensy bit yesterday....Friday....meaning I probably didn't rest enough and prop my leg and foot up.....so I ended up being completely worn-out last night when I went to be at about 10pm and thusly, didn't sleep or rest very well. Also, I now have a urinary tract infection that I am dealing with but I have an antibiotic as of this morning so this should be under control in no time. I've never had this kind of infection ever in my 56 years. Yuck....
Ed is still taking excellent care of me and friends and family have been wonderful to stay in touch and check on me and all.
Daniel and Erin are spending their first night in their new home next door TONIGHT!! They are so excited. Hopefully, I am going to be able to go over and see it tomorrow. Ed and I are going to endeavor to go to church in the morning and we'll go over to Daniel and Erin's afterward.
Hopefully, I'll have some pictures to post and share.
Oh, and it is also Elder Bro. Martin's 90th birthday tomorrow and they are having a carry-in dinner in honor of him after service in the morning. I'm hoping I'm up to all of this but if not, I know enough to limit myself and come home. I really do. But anywayyyyy.....I love birthday parties!!! *smile*
Goodnight to each of you and God bless!! ((HUGS))

Recuperating

I do have to say that recovering from surgery is alot more difficult than I thought it would be. I mean, I had been in pain for like three years but this is totally different. I just didn't think it would be this rough. I know it will get better and Ed has been absolutely wonderful to me. As I was preparing to leave the hospital, I was asked several times where I would be going and I told them that I would be going home and that my husband would be helping me. The response was always the same: "Wonderful...wonderful!" "That is great..." And it has been. Ed is a licensed STNA, so his training has come in very handy. :-) I'll keep this short because it is time for me to go back to bed for awhile. I'll keep you posted. God bless each of you!