Home for a bit

Another Halloween has come and gone, and a good time was had by all. There were lots o'zombies this year, but not just zombies – zombie ballerinas and zombie princesses, which was, um, odd. My favorite costume this year was a very clever s'more.

If you can't eat 'em, wear 'em!

I ate four treat-sized candy bars, which was probably three too many. I had planned to not indulge at all, but caved when faced with a full bowl of tiny chocolate goodies. I paid for it this morning with a sugar-induced headache.

Why was it three too many, and not four? Because my granddaughter snuck upstairs and left my favorite – a snack-sized Three Musketeers – on my nightstand. She's a sweetie. And I couldn't refuse her generosity, since it was the only Three Musketeers in her trick-or-treat bag!

Okay, moving on.

I found the blue moccasins, and the price was so good I bought a pair of charcoal-grey ones as well. I'd originally thought I'd just find out what size to buy and then order online, but I just couldn't leave them in the store.

Vickie, I found a white shirt, too, but thank you for your very kind offer. (And a couple pairs of jeans, a size smaller than the ones I've been wearing this fall. WOO HOO!)

The only thing left on my list is a pair of dressy black flats.

Tomorrow is West Virginia's J-J Dinner, this year honoring retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller. More driving, driving, driving. But we're spending the night (it's in Charleston, WV, which is two hours from our home) and then driving, driving, driving home Sunday.

I shall then, possibly, collapse in a heap. The good thing is I've felt great, eaten reasonably well (I had chicken and spinach for dinner Halloween night, passing on the pizza, but then there was the candy) and stayed as active as possible considering the time limitations. I took a short walk when I got home today, and my husband and I are planning an early walk in the morning before we head out. But it's still going to be a pretty low-mileage week.

I can only hope that sticking with the program most of this week will shake a pound or two loose by Monday morning.

And if not? OH WELL. I shall keep on feeling great, eating reasonably well and staying as active as possible.

Off I go …

It's time for my annual fall trek to celebrate Halloween with my younger granddaughter. It's going to be warm in the Triangle this year – up to 75° tomorrow! Which is great, that means she won't have to cover up her good-witch Glinda gown with a sweater or jacket.

I have to stop for sequins on my way to North Carolina. We're recycling her bride's dress from a couple years ago by adding a little bling to the bodice. She has school all week, so I won't actually get to spend much one-on-one time with her. But trick-or-treat is always fun. And maybe I can walk her to school Friday morning before I head home.

While I'm there I plan to visit the Cary, NC, Trader Joe's for – oh, my, there are so many fun things at TJ's that I can't ever find here in the Middle of Nowhere. I used to haunt the yarn shops when I went to my son's, but I have a lifetime supply of yarn, even after the big purge earlier this year, so fiber searches have gone by the wayside.

Now I'm all about consumables and clothes. Heh.

My husband is, as you might guess, delighted with my weight loss, and even more delighted that I'm having fun with the clothes shopping. He frequently says he's never had so much fun watching someone else have so much fun. (I really do think he's The One. Heh.)

One thing I've discovered is that shoes are comfortable when you're not lugging 50-plus additional pounds around. I used to wear Clark's clogs and Birks exclusively because any other shoe hurt my feet.

Since my shoe size has changed, I need new ones for various outfits/occasions. I'm still looking for a pair of black flats to wear with jeans/slacks. I also want a pair of blue suede Minnetonka moccasins. Just because. I've ordered both and had to send them back because the size was wrong, so I'm just going to shop for shoes in person from now on.

At least until I settle on a size that fits.

I also still haven't found a white Oxford button-down shirt. What I've seen is either too dressy or too expensive or the fabric isn't soft enough or, or, or … suffice it to say I'm on the hunt!

Wow, this is a boring me-me-me post. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for yesterday's, as well. I apparently woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Actually what happened is I found myself in a Facebook debate the previous evening with stupid people who just kept shouting about how bad and awful and terrible Democrats are for wanting to raise the minimum wage.

SERIOUSLY???

I don't have time to go into it here. But I am appalled at the lack of compassion some humans have for their neighbors. The disdainful attitudes and derogatory comments are … well, all I can think is WHO RAISED YOU?

So. Off I go, for a couple of family-fun days decidedly lacking in news and politics. There will be plenty of that when I get back.

Happy Halloween!

It's that creepy time of year again. I made this video five years ago, but it still works. The magic of YouTube. Heh.