Enjoy Halloween . . .

I miss Yoda . . .

When Dale and I were first married we always hosted a Halloween party every year. Usually on the Saturday night closest to Halloween. They were so much fun, especially when I think back to all the people we use to pack into our little house on Thatcher Rd. There were all kinds of great costumes, we usually gave some different prizes and always adult beverages and large amounts of yummy food was consumed. Some costumes over the years were of bikers, army people, hippies (Brian & Grace), hunters (of course), Zombies (Blake and Diane), James Bond (Phil), gangsters, lot's of girls that I worked with at St. V's and Dale worked with at Tektronix would show up. I've dressed as a baby, an old hunched over woman (nobody knew it was me until awhile into the party) another time as Madonna (in the Like a Virgin days), those were some crazy parties. I guess once we started having kids the parties went away and taking them out became our halloween fun. The boys had so many different costumes over the years, Ninja Turtles, Clowns, HeMan, Vampires, Zombies, Cookie Monster, Scarecrows, but my favorite was Yoda. Can't remember which one of the boys was Yoda, but the face on the mask was so pathetic it was cute, so I'm sure whoever it was always got extra candy. Halloween is so much fun with kids, all the planning for what costumes to wear and all the party planning for school (which now has deemed the holiday politically incorrect to celebrate..bah humbug). We are very excited though to see the grandson's in their costumes this year!! So it's off to Safeway to pick up some bags of candy for the door and special treats for some special visitors. Hope their parents have as much fun as we did.

Recent medical discovery . . .

Thank goodness I have family and friends that are always watching out for my health as I was forwarded this recent very important email . . . .

IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVICE FOR WOMEN

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions.

Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had.

Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.
Side effects may include:
- Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration
- Erotic lustfulness
- Loss of motor control
- Loss of clothing
- Loss of money
- Loss of virginity
- Attraction to the same sex
- Table dancing
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

You have been warned.

Now that's just scary . . .

Halloween week at Blockbuster Video has all of the "horror" movies on display front and center in the store. As I was browsing through some of them I think back to shows that I think were scary. Rule one - I will never watch them at night and Rule two - I won't watch them alone. Even though for all of them it would be the second time I would be watching them. No thanks.

Here's my list (in no particular order)

The Exorcist - most scariest movie ever!

Halloween (the original) - actually left the theatre crying after seeing this the first time . . . too scary.

Carrie - the blood spill at the prom sent me over the top.

Silence of the Lambs - everybody knows why . . soooo creeepy.

Amityville Horror - could this be our house? every creak sent me into thinking we had ghosts.

Poltergeist - the mirror scene, nope didn't like it one bit.

Friday the 13th - the mask, something about that mask.

Any of the scary movies involving babysitter's getting phone calls (eekk!!)

Chucky - how could they make a doll soooo scary??

The Omen - such a cute little boy, bad bad boy.

The Ring - that's just not right a girl crawling out of the TV.....yikes!

I am going to have to watch something happy now even remembering these movies!! like Casper . . BOO!

It's in the mail . . .

Ballot complete. No more paying attention to negative TV ads, sorting through stacks of political mail, hanging up on poll takers during the dinner hour, reading blah blah editorials about McCain and Obama in the newspaper or watching SNL's political skits. My decision has been made and I felt the world was lifted off my shoulders as I dropped my ballot in the mailbox. My part is done. Now it is up to them. Don't screw it up people. I only have a few small requests to whoever wins this presidential campaign.

• Do at least HALF of the things you have been promising us you will do over and over and over again for the past year you have been campaigning.


• Don't EVER allow this much money to be spent again on political campaigns it is unexcusable. period.


• Don't screw things up, obviously if you have won people are putting alot of faith in you...I mean it....don't f--- it up!


• If you mess with my healthcare benefits, social security, retirement savings or bank accounts in a bad way, you had better be prepared for lots of negative press at the local, state and national level.


• Cut the PORK in government, and start on your first day.

No BIC's Andy, Amanda, Kevin, Nick and Karly!. . .

I've become a soccer mom again . . .

How did this happen?, I thought I was retired from dragging my lawn chair to the soccer field, wrapped up in blankets to keep warm and watching boys play soccer. I can remember even counting down the days until our youngest wasn't playing soccer anymore and quietly saying a "yeah! no more sitting in the cold and rain anymore watching games". At the beginning of this year's boys soccer season some of the players kept asking me to come to their games during the preseason, they were telling me "Mrs. C. we are going to be really good this year, we are going to make the playoffs, you should come watch us". So I went to a couple games early on just to check them out. I discovered, they are REALLY good. The game they play is fast paced, lots of action and what they can do with their feet and the ball is unbelievable. I still have no clue though about off sides, didn't get it then and still don't get it now .oh well! I have become hooked and have managed to make it to all of their home games this season and their last one is this week. If they win Thursday we will be first in league. The FG boys soccer program has not placed 1st in league since 1978 . . so knock on wood! They are a great group of kids, they play aggressive, there are no individual superstars and they are all unselfish in their game. The first playoff game is going to be at home on Saturday, November 1st and wouldn't you know it I have tickets to the OSU vs. Arizona State football game that day . . oh no, never have I been so conflicted before about going to a Beavers game. I guess I have really become a soccer mom again. Just pass the orange slices.

Thanks alot Duck friends and family! . .

I would have been a DUCK fan for one stinking day! if SOMEBODY!! anybody!!! would have told me, but no, not one friend or family member happened to mention that my all time favorite quarterback Joe Montana was at Autzen for the game vs. UCLA on my birthday weekend! Oh my gawd!! I'm sure he tried to get in touch with me but I was out of the house that Saturday and my cell phone was dead. You are all so in trouble for not notifying me that he was in our state. GO BEAVS! so there.

Voting Category . . white boomer women . . .

Yes, that's what some of us are called these days AND based on the article that appeared in today's Oregonian written by Associated Press reporters Trevor Tompson and Alan Fran, this is exactly who I am.

I quote - "White women ages 45 to 64 are one of this year's most hotly (I like the word hotly. . ha!) contested voting blocs, evenly divided between Barack Obama and John McCain, and wide open to be pulled either way, according to a recent Associated Press poll. One of every 6 voters in the 2004 election was a white woman in that age range. Many have balanced jobs and run households, and are often acutely aware of their families economic pressures because they write the checks, buy the groceries and fill the tank with gas. They are demanding that the presidential candidates show them concrete solutions to the financial crisis and other problems. Women of this generation "are a little more savvy" (I agree!). As a group, these women have not yet been swayed by either contender. A sizable 44% of them remain persuadable. A quote from Deborah Nance 56 of Wilmington, Del. "Go with the seasoned guy who might get in there and die the next day, or go with the young guy who you really don't know that much about." In the recent survey, more boomer women said Obama understands people like them than said so about McCain. On the other hand, more said McCain has the right experience to be president than said Obama did."

End of article . . . so true.

There are many things I agree with McCain on, AND there are many things I agree with Obama on. Can't we get the best of both candidates and create a new one?? Help! This is all giving me a big headache.

Sincerely,

White Boomer Woman (1956)

A sense of humor is a requirement . . .

After all of the negative campaigning of late, these clips from this week were really enjoyable. . . Get those votes mailed in!

That's soo not cool anymore! . . .

So some kids were talking the other day. Actually, they like to talk everyday in the office about . . well . . teenage stuff. You know guys, girls, clothes, cell phone features, what they are doing this weekend, "Are you going to the game?, well are you going to the game" blah, blah, blah. I usually just casually listen while working on the computer or doing paperwork at my desk. I am learning things, oh yes everyday, I am learning things, the lastest thing is that. . . MySpace is not cool anymore, it's become "lame", "it's soo stupid" and "people are SOO dumb on it" (exact quotes). Now the place to make "new friends" is on Facebook. "You know Mrs. C, that Facebook is mostly for kids in college and older, but it's way better than MySpace, everybody is so stupid on MySpace it's ridiculous, they tell lies about you and make up stuff, we don't even use it anymore, well . . . hardly anymore". Ha. It's weird to me how kids seem to equate their self worth by the number of MySpace friends they have, or the number of text messages they receive in a given day. There are some real record breakers at school in that category, unbelievable. What a strange world when you can be talking face to face with somebody and you are constantly interrupted by their annoying music that announces that they have just received a text message. They pickup and respond to the messages from those people faster than when you are standing RIGHT THERE talking to them in person? What's that all about?? Helloooo?? whatever happened to not being rude to somebody that is in a conversation with you right here, right now...arrghhh. So anyway, back to Facebook, I had to brag to one of the kids the other day, well, I do have an account on Classmates. com, "OH, Mrs. C, that is really dorky, nobody signs up for that!", "oh really?. . well maybe it's just for old people then." "No, you should just get a Facebook account, they do reunions and stuff on there too, and you could be my friend". "Aahhhh, thanks but no thanks". I'll just continue to be dorky and keep my Classmates account, and have a blog page that I blab on, and personally call or email people that I consider to be my "friends". I won't be able to post that I have 275 friends (or however many) like you do but I'll be OK with that.

They aren't even there anymore . . .

Some of us were talking the other day about all the old clubs/bars we use to go to back in the day . . . Back when we didn't go to bed at 10pm, but when our nights just got started at that time! Here are some we remembered.

The Blue Maxx - at the Hillsboro Airport this was always a fun place to go with a group of girlfriends or other couples. My first exposure to the Chippendale dancers happened here . . woohoo! A semi nice restaurant, pretty decent music, but overpriced drinks and covercharge. I remember being entered into a dance off with some encouragement (too many drinks) from some girls I worked with at the time. Never been so embarrassed in my life. Remember I was only 22 -23 (my long life).

Earthquake Ethels - located in Beaverton on Cedar Hills Blvd it was THE PLACE to go for disco at it's peak. Friday nights were huge at Earthquakes when the Tektronix crowd (before all of their layoffs) would pack the place until the wee hours of the morning. Every hour on the hour they staged an earthquake, it was so stupid but it was the highlight of the evening. All of those Saturday Night Fever songs really kept that place going during it's short lifespan. They served very watered down drinks and the disco ball with the strobe lights was as cool as we all were back then.

The Faucet - a Beaverton hangout on Hillsdale Hwy (I think it's a Chinese restaurant now). This is where you went for loud and proud rock & roll music and pool playing. Live bands and lots of cigarette smoking, I seem to remember.

No Dogs Allowed - another Beaverton hangout, this was the place to go to if you were single, it was the true definition of a "pickup place" back in the 70's (not that I would know anything about that). Always had great headliner rock bands and couples that argued in the parking lots. Ha, don't know why I remember that.

Jekyll & Hydes - I hadn't even thought about this place until it was mentioned, but yes I know we stopped in there a time or two. It was also a Beaverton hangout. We didn't really go into Portland much back in the day, I guess Beaverton was our Portland.

The "O" (Oasis Tavern) - a FG landmark in the 70's it was THE spot to go in town. Huge gathering place during the summers with coed softball teams stopping by after games. There were always big pool tournaments happening at different times and a popular place to lay down your football pool bets. Many a break up occurred with friends of ours due to too much time spent at the "O". . ha! Great memories. The place was the "Cheers" of FG. Now it's a warehouse for an Espresso stand.

Where do they all go now?

Mmmmm puddin' cake . . .

This Saturday is our first at the OSU Beaver's tailgater and game for this season. We didn't make it down to the Hawaii game because we had a camping trip planned (but we listened to it on the radio in the campground!) and the USC game was on a weeknight so we gathered at the Boyle's house for an indoor tailgate party and had alot of fun, even lost my voice a bit. The game is starting at 3:30 on Saturday but as always this group makes a full day of it. The setup begins at 8:00am with the grills firing up around 9:00am! Our contribution will be preparing breakfast burritos for a crowd. Always a favorite, the combination of sausage, bacon, onions, peppers (for those who like), potatoes, eggs, little salt, little pepper, cooked together and laid on a warmed flour tortilla with a bit of shredded cheese and salsa. Now how could you not like that?? Of course, since that won't be enough for this hungry group, pancakes are also being prepared as well. As soon as the meal has been consumed, preparation begins for the pregame meal!! Got that right!! It's burgers, all the trimmings, lots of salads, desserts and all the various munchie dishes that everybody brings! All the while washing it down with some adult beverages (responsibly of course) for most of us!! Then it's rolling (I mean heading) over to the game, cheering on the mighty Beavs, then back to the tailgater during halftime (because it has been a full hour without food? and beverage). Then back to the game for the second half. We either cheer our way out of the stadium or quietly head back to our area. Then the cleanup and teardown begin, quite a process.

Well here is a cake I'm bringing, easy, good and thought you might enjoy the recipe . .

Banana Pudding Cake

1 or 2 ripe bananas

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 pkg. jello instant pudding (banana or vanilla)

4 eggs

1 c. water

1/4 c. oil

1/2 c. chopped nuts

Slice bananas into large bowl, mash, add remaining ingredients. Blend together, beat at medium speed with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into a well greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 - 70 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered suger.

Maybe I do need that hotline number?. . .

Uhhhhh . . could it mean you have a gambling problem if you have become an advertisement for the Oregon Lottery scratch tickets? . . No? . . Well, I didn't think so either, just thought I'd check though . .HA!

Black market chocolate . . .

I'm pissed. It is 2:30 in the afternoon and I NEED a piece of chocolate, and I need it NOW. As I take my dollar bill and roam the commons to find the vending machines, I cannot believe what I see. They have removed every piece of "candy" out of the machines and replaced them with things that have granola, raisins, whole wheat, fruit, nuts, yogurt, oatmeal, aaaarrrrrghhhhhh!!! Where has all the chocolate gone??? PEOPLE . . don't you understand!!!! women over 50 are required to have chocolate everyday, it doesn't have to be much, just a bite or two of something chocolate!!! I soon learn (from my boss) who is in charge (that conspirator . .ha!) of the vending machine contracts, that it has been mandated by the Oregon Dept. of Education that children now only have access to "healthy snacks" instead of products containing the dreaded EVIL sugar in them. JUST FINE! hmmmppfff, I will go to Costco, buy my own box of Hershey Chocolate with Almonds bars and sell them secretly out of my desk drawer.......ssssshhhhhhh....I know there is a market and I will make a killing! There are other desperate women lurking the school hallways with similar faces of pain that need the cure. I will be their savior.

I have to tell somebody . . .

I'M GONNA BE A GRAMA AGAIN!!!!! YEAH!!! After waiting patiently since the news in September from Chad and Nicole I can't stand it any longer and I am blabbing it on my blog. Most all of the family has already heard but wanted to brag about it to the world (like Gramas do you know) that I get to spoil another little one soon. Due to arrive sometime in May, maybe on Uncle Josh's Birthday May 2nd?. We couldn't be more excited and Lucas will be such a good big brother, he already has the kissing babies part down!! I think it's time for the shopping to begin, oh and you know how I hate to shop . . . HA . . .NOT!!!!

Remember when we were little . . .

and there was such a thing as "do overs", well this past week in football brings that idea back.

Thursday - The fans of Beaver Nation were saddened by the no excuses loss to Utah 31 -28 after an astounding win against USC the week before. We watched the entire game and painful 4th quarter on some new cable channel called VERSES that took a few scrolls with the remote to finally track down. Let's hope our upcoming home game this Saturday against Washington State puts us back in the W column! We know the food will be good!!

Friday - The mighty FGHS Viking football team loss to the Tigard Tigers 49 - 6 on a rainsoaked night at Hendricks Stadium, that wasn't fun.

And if THAT wasn't painful enough . . .

Saturday - We are in Monmouth for Parent's Weekend with Andy and attended the Wolves matchup with Western Washington University, there we witnessed the WOU football team lose 24 - 13. In the aftermath of that game we returned to Andys' house where we watched the Ducks game (for hubby, the single Ducks fan in our family). AND the streak continues, the Ducks 44 - 10 loss to USC caused my husband to want to turn the game off early, which is a big NO NO at our house. Good thing we had those beer drinking games late into the evening to help distract us from our sorrow . . right Andy!!!

THEN FINALLY Sunday TODAY - There was redemption with a WIN by the Chicago Bears over Detroit 34 - 7. GO BEARS!

This is very sad, I think we may be a completely obsessed football family.

Oh, if you only knew . . .

. . the items that high school kids lose on any given day. I am the keeper of all items lost and yet not found. My desk drawer (smaller items) and a big bin in the office are where the following can be found . . .

iPods, Cell phones (many, many cell phones), Jackets, Jeans (how do you lose your pants?), hoodies (lots of sweatshirts), tshirts, shoes, flipflops, cleats, notebooks, folders, planners, school books, library books, backpacks, watches, necklaces, gym bags, rings, purses, earrings, waterbottles, bras (yes, bras), digital cameras, sunglasses, journals, keys and wallets.

Most of the items brought into the lost and found are items left in the cafeteria at lunchtime, lockerroom (unlocked items) or items found by someone in the commons area of the school. We aren't talking about cheap stuff either, we are talking about very nice stuff. What really floors me is I rarely have a student that comes and checks for any of their missing items. Except, for the kids who have lost their cell phones or iPods, those seem to be the only things that put them into a major tailspin if they are missing. I take 2 huge garbage bags into a storage area in the back of our locker room at least every 2 weeks. It's unbelievable. After storing these items for approximately 6 months, we send them on to Goodwill. Very rarely do I have to take a student into the back storage area to try and "find their jacket" or whatever it was that they lost. I think they have either told their parents that it was stolen (not true) or that it's just lost and they can't find it, without even checking our lost and found. Now I see why everybody goes to Goodwill these days, it's where they sell all of the good stuff.