Happy Halloween

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very Happy Halloween.  

It was a bit disappointing at work today; I thing we didn't even have 30 kids come through the office building today.  And I'm being conservative on my count of 30.  But I digress.

The little ones that did come through were dressed to the nines, and they made our day at work a little brighter.

Happy All Hallow's Eve Eve

It's the day before Halloween, and TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy Halloween. 

You have plenty of time to check with the sale papers today and get the best deals on the Halloween candy, like I did.  

There's not much else to tell.  Other than be safe if you go out tomorrow night. 

Question Of The Day

Have you ever been to a salad bar that had no lettuce?  

Well, I did, today.  

I went to our new super-duper Krogers to get salad for our dinner from their usually awesome salad bar, only to find that they didn't have any lettuce.  They had some spinach, but no lettuce.  Not even any of the yucky hard-cored Romaine.  Me and a few other people standing around the salad bar were shocked as hell.  Two of the people walked off in search of a manager to complain to.  I proceeded to fill my cardboard container with everything else except lettuce, and then I went to the produce section and bought an 89 cent head of Iceberg lettuce to take home to chop up. 

So I ask again - have you ever been to a salad bar that had no lettuce?

Friday, Friday

Well, my Titans won big last night, and I'd like to give them major props.  And the 'Rents are still battling their colds, but seem to be doing a bit better today, so for that I am very thankful.  I'm still dealing with sinus and congestion issues, but I would gladly take on what the 'Rents are dealing with, just so they wouldn't have to be sick.  

There's not much else to tell today.  The three of us are in our pajamas and it's just a few minutes after 7:00.  We are hoping for a good night's sleep to help get rid of this sinus crap.  Stay tuned.

Cold, Cold, Go Away, Again

I'm much better now, but unfortunately The Old Man has caught my cold.  At least he doesn't have the coughing like I had, but he's been sneezing non-stop since yesterday.  And being the stubborn Old Man that he is, he won't take anything for it. Believe me when I tell you I'd gladly take the cold away from him and have it all over again.

Pray for me, America. 

Back In Action

I'm very happy to say I'm about 75% back in action today.  I still feel very tired, but have been able to bust a move at work and at home tonight painting.  

There's a lot I would like to write about tonight, but it's something that's really close to my heart, so I think I'll be able to talk about it tomorrow.

Back Among The Living, Sort Of

I feel like I'm back among the living today, sort of.  I had a fairly decent night's sleep, and only woke myself up one time coughing, so that was pretty good.  And I only had two major coughing attacks today, one at work late afternoon and one about an hour ago, so that's much improved.  I still feel tired, but I am on the mend.  I actually felt good enough to do some much-needed painting tonight on some of our quilt block pictures.  I'm hoping for an even more active day tomorrow.

Seriously - Cold, Cold, Go Away

On top of having this nasty cold, last night I caught a very wicked stomach bug. Today, I look like a character from any of the "Living Dead" movies - just about every blood vessel in my face and eyes have burst from throwing up so much last night.  Sorry, I know that's gross, but it happened.  

As quickly as the stomach issues came, they left, and I was able to eat a nice warm bowl of oatmeal this morning with no problems.  I haven't been coughing as much as yesterday, and I've gone through about half a box of Kleenax blowing my nose.  Once again, I know that's gross, but there's really only one way to get rid of head congestion.  

At least I'm able to watch my two favorite NFL teams play today while I lay on the couch.  Go Titans, and Go Pats, and Go Away Cold.

Cold, Cold, Go Away . . . And I Don't Mean The Temperature

Unfortunately, sometime in the last three days I've developed a nasty cold, complete with an annoying hacking cough and head congestion.  All I did today was either lay in bed or on the couch.  And it's not even 10:00 and I'm getting ready to officially go to bed.  I'm hoping to feel more lifelike tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Pre-Winter Report

I saw my first pair of quasi-Ugg Boots today.  The high was upper 50's.  So to the Ugg Boot wearer, it was cold enough to get her Ugg Boots out and wear them.  Good for her.  As for me, when I got home today the furnace was on. I immediately turned off the vents in my room as fast as I could, in hopes that it would cool down before bedtime.  

I'm not giving into winter this early.  This means no fires in the fireplace, no Ugg Boots or anything resembling, and I am going to wear my shorts until I freeze.What are people going to do when it really gets cold, as in the 20's or low 30's? 

So Happy It's Thursday

As I type this, my head is ready to split open like a ripe melon, and my throat feels like I've swallowed some razor blades.  I coughed all day long, and I'm sure I royally annoyed all of my coworkers who heard me hacking all day.  I've got my pajamas on, and just took some cough meds, and I'm getting ready to get in bed and hope for a cough-free day tomorrow.

Way To Go, Cleveland

TWIT would like to congratulate the Cleveland Indians on winning a spot in the 2016 World Series.  I would like to give a shout out to some of my favorite people in Cleveland, Chipper and Gail - the people that got me on board with the Indians over 25 years ago.  

I will be rooting for Cleveland in the Series regardless of who they play.  

Go Indians!!!

Trivia Update

After a dry spell, I am happy to report that Team Divas came in at a respectable 2nd place in Monday Night Trivia.  It was a well deserved win. 

There was a record 8 teams playing last night, and they all had at least 3 players, so the Divas held their ground. 

Monday, Monday

Sorry to repeat, but it is another Monday, Monday here at The Compound.

There are various things going on right now that I am trying to take care of.  

Stay tuned.

What A Great Sports Sunday

It was a great NFL Sunday, with both my Titans and Patriots winning.  The Pats got off to a shaky start but Tommy Boy got in his groove and they beat the Bengals. 

The weather was gorgeous today, and in between games we spent some time outside.  

The 'Rents and I just enjoyed some awesome corn dogs before we got to see the first pitch of tonight's MLB playoffs between the Dodgers and the Cubs. The 'Rents and I are going on record and saying we are rooting for the Cubs, given the fact that the Dodgers are our beloved Reds' nemesis.  

The Beginning of a New Era

Today is very bittersweet here in The Compound.  Today, Painter Steve and Bev's son Fireman Shawn and his family are moving into their house.  Yep, they will be our new neighbors here in The Compound.  We're very happy about that, but at the same time, we are sad that that means Painter Steve and Bev will be moving away from us.  They found a new house out in Shepherdsville, and will be moved in by mid-December. 

As Painter Steve said this morning, it's the end of one era, and the beginning of a new era.

Another Sweet Potato Update

The 'Rents spent another day out pulling up more sweet potatoes.  We haven't taken the time to weigh and measure today's crop, but just from looking at them, I'm pretty sure that a couple are well into 7 or 8 pounds.  We'll have the actual proof tomorrow.  

In the meanwhile, we enjoyed another batch of mashed sweet potatoes at supper tonight. 

Sweet Potato Update

The Old Man and my Sweet Mother pulled up another row of sweet potatoes today, and they yielded another huge (pun intended) crop.  One of the potatoes was a half pound bigger than the six-pounder I took a picture of yesterday.  

A friend told me to check the Guinness World Record site to see if ours would qualify for the world's biggest sweet potato.  I checked and we are not even anywhere close.  The record is 81 pounds, from somewhere in Spain, set quite a few years ago.  

But there's not use in trying.

Bud and the Giant Sweet Potato

You've heard of James and the Giant Peach; now you've heard of Bud and the Giant Sweet Potato.

This bad boy weighed in at 6 pounds and as you can see by the measuring tape, was a foot long.  

They dug up over a dozen this size and even bigger today.  So they must be doing something right in the garden.  

And before you naysayers discredit and say that sweet potatoes that big will lose their flavor, today for lunch the Old Man and my Sweet Mother microwaved a big sweet potato and they said it was as flavorful as a smaller one.  

At least this is one sweet potato that the ground hog didn't get. 

Farewell, Jeffrey

TWIT and I are saying farewell to an old friend Jeffrey.  

Jeffery and I were in first through fifth grades together at Greenwood Elementary School, and became good pals.  We kept in tough through middle school, but when we both got to high school, we lost touch. 

Jeffery's parents owned one of the most awesome pizza parlor's, Angilo's.  At Christmastime, they would always bring us a life-sized gingerbread man that they baked in the pizza parlor's oven.  And throughout the year, they would bring pizza for the class.  

But more so than remembering the gingerbread and pizzas that his parents would bring to our class, I remember the talks that Jeffrey and I would have about business.  Yes, even in elementary school, he and I would talk about being "business people" when we grew up.  I'm not sure what he ended up doing when he got out of high school, because we lost touch.  But I hope that he still became a "business people" like I did. 

I will never forget you, Jeffrey.  Thank you for being a friend.

Crazy Monday

Things are very crazy right now here at The Compound, with me putting away a dozen bags of groceries.  

Tomorrow morning The Old Man will be putting the primer on a whole bunch of boards for me to paint.  

For tonight, we rest. 

Back To Bidness

After unloading the truck this afternoon, we took inventory on paint and plywood, and made a trip to Lowes to restock on primer and to get some picture hangers. Starting tomorrow, The Old Man is going to go through all of the current pictures we have in stock and add hangers to the backs in preparation for our next festival in just 4 weeks.  Tomorrow morning when the lumber yard opens, I plan to call and order 2 more 4'x8' sheets of plywood in anticipation of more sales.  We've got enough boards cut out for our current orders with 3 to spare, but I am being very optimistic.  After all Christmas is coming, and I couldn't think of a better gift to give someone than a custom designed and painted quilt block pattern picture, could you?

Festival Recap

It's almost 8;00, and I just got home from a long day at the Southwest Community Festival.  It was an awesome day, and we sold more pictures than I ever imagined that we would. 

A lot of my coworkers and friends came by Pap's Barn Art booth today to say hello, and it was great to get such awesome support.  

I am already preparing for our next festival in 4 weeks.  

Festival Eve

Tomorrow, we will be set up at another festival, hoping to sell some of our barn art quilt block pattern pictures.  It's been a long, long day but everything has fallen into place. 

One of my "kids" that works for me went with me to the festival site after work and he helped me get the canopy and tables set up.  Then when I got home, we loaded the truck with everything else that goes tomorrow.  

I just now finished putting the bling on our new Christmas design picture, and it will ride in the cab with me on the way to the festival tomorrow, lest any bling should pop off. 

I've gone over my checklist three times and I'm good to go.  I just hope we sell some pictures.  

As always, stay tuned.

Thank You, Amazon

If you know anything about me at all, you already know that I love to shop at Amazon.com.  In fact, I feel totally responsible for the livelihood of our UPS and FedEx delivery people because they come to The Compound pretty much weekly.  

This morning, I ordered a cool hand-held saw tool for The Old Man to use when cutting the boards for our barn art pictures, and it was same-day delivery.  Technology still amazes me because I ordered it shortly before lunchtime, and it was delivered a few hours later shortly after suppertime.  You go, Amazon.

Welcome To The World, Baby Gemma

TWIT and I would like to welcome Baby Gemma into this crazy old world.  She arrived on September 29, and was eight and a half pounds and twenty inches long.  And she is beautiful.

Gemma's dad Timothy is very dear to me.  For a year and a half after college, I babysat Timothy and his twin Paul every day while their parents worked.  I felt like they were my own at times.   And this was back in the day when parents used the cloth diapers. But I digress.

Welcome to this crazy world, Gemma.  We know you will have all of the love, support, and encouragement  you need.  And I can't wait to meet you.


 

Election Blues

Trivia Update

Once again, I am sad to report that that Team Divas came in third place tonight at Monday Night Trivia. 

I will go on record and say that going into the final round, we had one of our highest scores since we started playing.  But unfortunately we didn't get the final question right and lost all of the points that we bet.  

We'll get them next week.

Apologies

I sincerely apologize for not posting regularly as I normally do.  We've been planning The Gala, snd I've been working on quilt block pictures, and I was on vacation last week; spending time with my family was more important than spending time on the computer.  I will get back to my regularly scheduled daily post tomorrow, and will do my best to keep my posting streak going.  In the meanwhile, thank you, faithful readers, for still following TWIT.  You rock.