HALLOWEEN COSTUME DECISION...........

This annual decision making process becomes harder every year. Thegrandson has actually had his mind made up for months, it is we, the adults, who kept thinking he would change his mind. NOPE!! He loves Hellboy, and decided that was the costume of choice for this years Trick-or-Treating. I haven't seen one of these movies from beginning to end, but the parts I have glimpsed, were actually funny. There's just something about a huge red man, making jokes and killing the demons, that makes a mother smile!(Ha!)




When hitting the kingdom of Walmart, Target or K-Mart - one typically finds the "costume of the moment", Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Cinderella, Witch, etc....
Hellboy is not on the racks...period. We ended up doing the mail order tact. When the package arrived - thegrandson was on Cloud 9.

The costume included the red head mask w/ sideburns, huge arm, coat and belt. Thegrandson was trying it on and exclaimed "WHERE'S MY DEVIL TAIL???" Damn!! Back to the interwebs and a tail is ordered. I must say he looks pretty good in this outfit - now we just have to hope there is NO SNOW on the 31st. Oh, we have to make some small modifications to the arm, so it wraps "around" his scrawny arm...no biggie there.

Dressing boys for this once a year event is always a huge decision making process as I have mentioned. With my daughter, it was easy, because of all the sweet and feminine choices available. But don't ask her that question. As she reached puberty, I made a simple choice for her - HOOKER!! Hell, with all the makeup available at our fingertips and the avant garde clothing of the time - this was her costume for several years. Cheap (the costume) and easy - and out the door for the goodies. I was certainly a wonderful mother.

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This morning started out, much like every other morning, and as I was having my coffee and watching the morning news, I get a phone call from my neighbor - who never calls this early (just before 9 am). She was asking if I was OK, since there were two emergency squads outside. I told her I was fine, but from where my kitchen in located I actually have no clue what is going on outside. Although, my dog kept running back and forth, whining - I just chalked it up to her being in heat and wanting to go out!

Alas, the squads were at the "new" neighbors house. After 15 minutes or so, when I saw no equipment being carried in or out and the squad guys walking back and forth on the cell phones...I knew there was a death. the father-in-law that just moved in two weeks ago, apparently died in his sleep. I have known Pete for several years and my daughter knew him better, so I'm sure this will be hard on this family.

I contacted one neighbor and we will take up a collection for flowers as we are the "bigger" people here, as she noted. I feel bad for the two grandchildren who are in school and unaware at this point. Again, we get NO guarantees in this world and we have to cherish and hold dear those we love - every second. This past Monday was nine years since my husband passed away, and tomorrow will be two years since my best friend passed. So this is just a depressing time of year for us.

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I will close with pics of some really crappy or interesting (depending on one's frame of mind) Halloween costumes:

MORE PICS TOMORROW!!! TIS THE SEASON.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY: PAST THE VELVET ROPE (FRIDAY POSTINGS)

NEW NEIGHBORS....STILL PISSING ME OFF!!!!

I posted about the "new neighbors" and their stockade fence in July and August, and as of yesterday, more distressing news. This couple and their two children are moving her parents and aunt into the house also. In trying to be nice (hah!), I know these people and they are dirty asses.

The couple now have three vehicles in the driveway, and are constantly moving them in and out in choosing which vehicle to drive for the day. With "mom, dad and auntie" moving in, there will be an additional FOUR VEHICLES!! Get a grip folks, the driveway is wide enough for one car and sooo not long enough to have them lined up. PLUS....they will be bringing possibly THREE more dogs.

As one neighbor states, this is "like the Clampett's without the mansion!" Our neighborhood has always been neat, tidy and close...and now, I'm afraid that the abundance of people and junk are going to devalue neighboring properties even more, and this we don't need!

Thegrandson wanted to play with the neighbor's boy the other day, and I told him he could, but they would have to play in MY side yard. He defied me and I saw him in their yard - he has been grounded for this act. I can't get him to understand, that by these people putting up this atrocious fence, they made a statement..."leave us alone!!" No problem from me. The mayor of this fine burg, after my letter was read to council about the illegality of the fence, said I was just crying sour grapes and the city was not going to do anything about the fence. BTW, the mayor and I have been friends for at least two decades..........NOT ANYMORE!!! See, our Mayor fishes with the father of the neighbor (the father who will be moving in soon).

I should hope that once this big move-in has been made, that steps will be taken, if there is a problem with all the vehicles and dogs! This will remain to be seen.

Truckloads of drywall and 2X4's have been going in this house - all to the basement, so I would imagine it is going to be one cozy living arrangement. Did I mention that the mother of the residents, also has a motorcycle. She may keep that and her truck at her boyfriend's house - two blocks away. Yes, that is another click in this scenario - she screws around on her husband, and everyone is COOL with that. UGH!!!

I'm hating this situation more and more every day.

Oh well, I will update the comical and aggravating situation here - for sure! Right now, I can't take enough drugs to rid myself of the pain from the toilet seat debacle. My arms, breast bone (that never healed) and back are killing me. But I have to dust and run the vacuum today. I really want to get the windows cleaned too - we shall see how this all works.

Have a great day and I shall return......later.........

MY EXCITING LIFE..........IT SUCKS!

I blogged about this house fire in December, and need to reference it once again.

I said very little regarding the individuals who resided there, but to limit my disdain, suffice it to say - DYSFUNCTIONAL barely describes the living arrangements. In brief, the "parents" resided there with their multitude of children, (current husband being the father of only two), plus the wife had her boyfriend living there also.

The woman has had many scrapes with the law in the past - and the only description I can use here, is GYPSY. She knows how to con, use her body and wiles to get just about anything she desires. That fire in December is suspected as arson, but could not be proven. **She already had 3 hotel rooms booked for the night of the fire, all family pictures were removed from house, and Christmas presents stored elsewhere...DUH?!?!

Originally, they were supposed to either renovate or tear down the house - this is our city ordinance. Now, when passing this burned out structure - there are For Sale signs tacked all over the house. The property itself is worth very little - I can't imagine anyone wanting to renovate - and again, another burned out structure will still remain, grass growing untended, varmints moving in to the disgruntlement of the neighbors...and they will get away with this. **Trust me, if I were Mayor - they would not.

Since I posted about the "new" neighbors and my unhappiness, again I find I have to bring this topic up again. Besides paying such a large sum for this house (more than appraised value for this area), they installed over $10K worth of chain link and stockade fencing...now they are having a new roof laid.

When I came out onto the deck yesterday, I did a double take - to ensure I saw what I thought I saw. This woman (of previous mentioned house fire) was lugging shingles up a ladder and onto the roof. She was working equally with two other guys.

Yes, the UPS and FedEx drivers almost wrecked going down the street!

Another sneaky pic. Whatever happened to coveralls?

Just a distant shot!

I heard several stories last night about the work relations of "this group," and was not totally shocked.

Back to her "burned" structure. They apparently used all their insurance money to purchase another house a few miles away - thus no money for tearing down the monstrosity. I should hope (and I will encourage) that liens are placed against the property to see that is torn down and does not blight the rest of the neighborhood.

So there is my "chick" shot of the day for any horny bastards out there (theson?!?!) to enjoy. Now, if the neighbors had hired the Chippendales, I would have a different tone to this posting.

I shall probably return...........later................

THE FENCE....BANE OF MY LIFE @ THE MOMENT....

The new fence being erected by the "new" neighbors will look something like this when completed - I would assume. When I moved here almost 24 years ago - I went out of my way to OPEN up my property, removing an old stockade fence, which was warped, full of termites, and UGLY. I also removed many ugly bushes and dying trees - thus ending up with a very nice extra lot.

All that is coming to an end - and their fence, whether you call it a "stockade" "privacy" or plain old "wooden" fence is destined to be an eyesore at some time in the future. So, as mad as I am about the situation - I am convincing myself - it is something I will have to get used to. Now my warped mind is running wild with all the endless possibilities of how to deal with "my" side of the fence.

Thedaughter and I were on the deck until very late last night, tossing around ideas.

Starting some ivy growth came to mind first. Thedaughter asked me how do we do that..and I replied "hell, I just come up with finished ideas" and we will have to research ivy growth now. I could start the process so it will look good on my side, but by golly - it may just start climbing over the other side into their view - ahhhhh!!! Too bad!




I could maybe, find some old windows and flower boxes and decorate it so it has an outdoor/whimsical flair. But considering I kill flowers and green things on a regular basis - I will have to go all "hoopie" on them and fill them with PLASTIC flowers.





One commenter said I should plant trees that will ensure the droppage of massive amounts of leaves - in the future. Hmmmm....a possibility, but I honestly don't wish to deal with leaves that may miss the mark and head my way!!!




An idea, one that thegrandson would love - would be to give him all kinds of paint - and just let him "have at it!" A little graffiti, a stick figure here and there - it wouldn't be a work of art for the ages, as his artistic talent is not developed yet. But this could be a very challenging an interesting project for the little tyke.


This is my favorite...inviting all my gay friends and they their friends - and paint it rainbow colors. I wouldn't mind having a rainbow colored fence to look at - but with the thought of revenge in mind - they would truly not be affected.



My ultimate - most favorite idea...to mount very bright lights to the corners of my house facing this side lot - and then utilizing the yard as a new entertainment area. I mean absolutely, knock your eyeballs out of your head BRIGHT lights - that my be forgotten to be turned off at night, lights.

In reality, I will take this one day at a time. But this does not mean that I cannot have all these "interesting" ideas rolling around in my head. Many neighbors I have spoken with, are totally shocked that these new neighbors are literally "dumbing down" their very expensive purchase. Trust me on this...I have not accused them of being smart. For a family that thought they had a large parcel of property, by placing this fence - and a separate chain-linked area in their back yard (for the dogs) - they have depreciated the piece of property, that should in all reason, appreciate with improvements.

I spoke with a former neighbor of these people, and was informed that they NEVER cut their grass and the property was cluttered with "stuff." I should hope that any future changes they make will not start to depreciate all my neighboring properties either.

We have been threatened with rain for a couple of days...but nothing here yet. Maybe today, because there is all sorts of "green" stuff on my weather map.

I have a couple of major projects to start, but I honestly can't get motivated. I was going to start one this morning, but I slept wrong, and if you remember, I have stated before....after my triple bypass surgery, my breastbones never "knit" together. I was allergic to the wire or something, but the bones overlapped during the night, and I can't get them back in place. Sounds stupid, I know....but I have to throw my shoulders around till they separate. My life sucks sometimes...!

Have to catch up on the news now...so catch ya.......later...................

**p.s. If anyone has any other great ideas regarding this "fence" - don't hesitate to let me know.