Halloween Costume

Blog Prompt: What is your favorite Halloween costume?

I really don’t have a favorite Halloween costume. We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up so I usually dressed up like a hobo. There was never a thought about buying a costume because everyone made their own. I’m not even sure they had one that you could buy. One year I tried to be a scarecrow but the grass made my allergies act up and I was miserable all night. I love to go to Halloween parties where people make up their own costumes. One year we went to one and someone wore underwear all over his chest and he was a "chest of drawers."

Candy Corn

Blog Prompt: Do you like candy corn? Why or why not?

No, I don’t like candy corn because it is too sweet and tastes waxy to me. Now give me something with chocolate and nuts in it and I will be your friend forever. I also like Nestle Crunch Bars and Whoppers (malted milk chocolate balls). Of course we buy halloween candy that we like because we hardly have any kids come by so we eat the leftovers.

Original image: 'candy corn' http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035580274@N01/930748935by: Lisa B

Depression Looming

Blog Prompt: Crash of Wall Street stock market, Great Depression begins 1929. If you lost all of your money, what would you do to make it through until the economy turned around.

I would grow a vegetable garden as soon as the weather allowed. I would also see about working with others to set up a bartering system. Maybe I could share some vegetables in exchange for something that I need. I think people will need to work together when and if that time comes. I will also look seriously at all my luxuries and see what I could live without out.

photo credit: Original image: 'vege-garden_merge' http://www.flickr.com/photos/30628871@N00/10478370by: Rae Allen

Lost Passion

Blog Prompt: What lost passions would you like to rediscover?

I would like to play mah jong again like I did when I was growing up. Unfortunately, now that I have moved away from home and family, I’m not near anyone who plays mah jong or who even knows how to play it. The only one most people know now is that matching game that comes on computers that is called this. But mah jong with the ivory tiles is more like a gin rummy game. I have a very old ivory set that my parents gave me that I’m sure is an antique set. I guess eventually it will be a lost art like many others.

photo credit: Original image: 'Mah Jong' http://www.flickr.com/photos/9664566@N06/2549488749by: Timothy Farol

The Talking Laptop

Blog Prompt: Alan "Rocky" Lane (voice of Mr. Ed - the talking horse - and actor in Red Ryder and more) died of bone cancer October 27, 1973. See ButlerWebs Music Lyrics page for the words to "Mr. Ed" - Theme Song). If you could give a voice to something in your life that can’t talk, what would it be?

I would love for my laptop to talk. Whenever I can’t get something to work, it would be able to tell me what I’m doing wrong. Or if I wanted to learn something new, it would tell me step by step how to do it. Or maybe I can’t find a file and it would tell me where it was on the hard drive. If it was not feeling well, it could tell me before something bad happened to it’s hard drive.

· Then after reading Tammy’s blog, I started thinking of what else it would say like:
· Haven’t you been on here long enough? Shouldn’t you be doing some housework?
· Do you not have a life? Why are you on here so much?
· Did you ever think my keyboard was tired of you pounding on it all day? All you think about is yourself!
· Why do you keep putting things on my hard drive? How would you like it if I kept loading you down with weight?
· Oh, no! Now she is stuffing me in that backpack so she can lug me all over the world. Here we go again.

Microwaves

Blog Prompt: The microwave oven was introduced by The Tappan Company on October 25, 1955. Do you use your microwave and if so what do you like to use it for?

I love my microwave and can’t imagine cooking without it. I use it to cook my ramen noodles, frozen vegetables, popcorn, meat loaf, chicken as well as heating up water for hot chocolate and tea. I also use it to reheat leftovers that I may eat for lunch. I don’t really use it for defrosting though because I like frozen food to defrost on its own.

Imperfections

Blog Prompt: Sometimes it is our little nicks, dents, and imperfections – that make us able to relate to other people. How have you seen evidence of this in your own life?

Oh boy, do I have lots of nicks, and dents, and imperfections in my own life! Growing up as a minority, I think I can relate to those who face prejudice in their lives and can share how I cope with it. Paying my own way through college because we didn’t have a lot of money has helped share my stories with others who have struggled with financial difficulties. Having two daughters who suffer from bipolar disorder, I hope that I can help others understand that this is a medical problem and not something to be ashamed or embarrassed about anymore than you would if you had diabetes or only one leg. Losing all my hair and going bald due to stress was so traumatic for me and has helped me encourage others to do things that will relieve stress. Doing things and not succeeding all of the time has helped me be understanding and nurturing when others don’t always achieve their goals.

Xerox Copy

Blog Prompt: Xerox introduced the copy machine on October 22, 1938. If you could make a copy of something in your house, what would it be and why?

I would copy my playroom so that I could have a room for all my houseplants without getting in my husband’s way. He already complains that my house looks like a jungle. When we go away, they are locked up tightly in the house (with alarm system) so no one can come water them. My copied room would have a separate lock and key so I could get someone to water my plants when we travel. Of course last year, they were fine for the 3 months we were gone in the winter. I guess because it was so cold in the house, they didn’t need as much water.

Fall Memory

Blog Prompt: What is your favorite fall memory?

I love to go hiking anywhere where the leaves are changing colors. The air is usually crisp and the sun is shining but it isn’t too hot. The colors all around me as I walk make me feel like I am in the middle of a painting. I see the squirrels rushing to gather nuts for the winter. I hear the birds flying from tree to tree and I wonder if they will head somewhere warmer for the winter. I like to think God is celebrating fall by letting me walk through a kaleidoscope of colors feeling grateful for all that he does.

Music Concert

Blog Prompt: The Grand Ole Opry opens on October 18,1925. Have you ever been to a music concert? Describe the experience.

I remember going to a Jimmy Buffet concert at Furman University when I was a student there. He wasn’t as famous as he is now (I guess that tells my age) and I think Amy Grant was the opening act. In fact, I think that was my first concert that I remember going to with my husband. The only other concert I went to during college was to see Harry Chapin before he died in a car wreck.

Hair

Blog Prompt: The musical "Hair" premiers on Broadway on October 17, 1967. What was your favorite hair do as a teenager?

When I was growing up, I was never allowed to cut my hair. So my hair was down to my waist and there wasn’t a lot that I could do with it. It was too long, thick, and heavy to even curl. My part was in the middle so I either wore it down, in a pony tail or I wore it in braids. My choices were pretty limited.

Original image: 'hair' by Lisa B

Dictionary Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Dictionary Day (Noah Webster's Birthday, Father of the Dictionary). Teach us a new word by giving us a definition and using it in a sentence.

EUPHONIOUS \yoo-FOH-nee-uhs\, adjective: Pleasing or sweet in sound; smooth-sounding.

I liked to listen to her tell stories because she used euphonious sentences that made the story interesting.

Love Your Body

Blog prompt: Today is Love Your Body Day. What do you like about your body?

I like my height. Growing up I didn’t like my height because everyone was taller than I was. I really believed it helped them be more athletic and less clumsy, like I was. Everyone thought I was a little girl or too young to do things because I was so small. Then as I got older, it didn’t matter any more. Now that I like to hike, I am kind of glad to be smaller because I can duck under fallen trees.

Original image: 'Measuring up_4124' by James Emery

Favorite Children's Book

Blog Prompt: Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne, is published in 1926.What is your favorite children’s book?

I still think my favorite books growing up were the Dr. Seuss books. They were funny and cute. I liked a children’s book I found out about when I went to college called Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. There really isn’t any children’s book that I like more than another though. Reading children’s book are fun to read too.

Favorite Comedian

Blog Prompt: On October 11, 1975, "Saturday Night Live" premiers. (George Carlin was the guest host). Who is your favorite comedian?

My favorite comedian is Lucille Ball. I love to watch I Love Lucy reruns. She was even funny in movies when she got older. She knew how to make things funny but still have a little class.

Favorite Egg Dish

Blog Prompt: Today is World Egg Day. What is your favorite egg dish?

I love to eat omelettes if someone else makes them because I can’t make a pretty omelette. Mine comes out like scrambled eggs with “stuff” in it. I love mushrooms and cheese in my omelette. Sometimes I like the Greek omelette at a local restaurant that is made of spinach and feta cheese. The problem is that I’m allergic to spinach at certain times of the year and it makes my mouth itch. My father used to make wonderful omelettes for dinner and cover them with oyster sauce. Now I’m hungry so I will have to go find some food…Have a great day!

Favorite Fast Food

I think right now my favorite fast food is Burger King because I fill out the survey on the back of my receipt and we get a whopper free when you buy fries and a drink of any size. The two of us can go there and eat for under $5. I usually get the junior bacon cheeseburger and a value drink which is only a dollar each. I have to admit that when we have been home, I have been cooking more to save money and we feel better. When we are traveling, we tend to stay away from the fast food since we found it that it actually made us put on a lot of weight and we didn’t feel as healthy.

A Train Ride

Blog Prompt: The first railroad in the US was built in Massachusetts on October 7, 1826. Have you ever ridden on a train? Where did you go and what was it like? If you hadn’t, where would you like to travel by train?

I remember my one and only train ride that I took by myself. I was a sophomore in college and was going to take Amtrak from South Carolina to Florida for Christmas because it was the cheapest way to go. My parents were in West Palm Beach so I had to get the train in Columbia, SC in the middle of the night. This was already a 90 minute drive from my college. In fact, my boyfriend brought me to the train which stopped at an intersection with a road in order for me to get on. It was about 1am so the car was dark and all of the other people looked asleep. The train took off and I just prayed that I was on the right train. In the morning, the conductor finally came by to check my ticket and I guess I was on the right train. When we arrived at DeLand, FL, he tried to tell me that I needed to get off the train but I refused. I wrapped my legs around the seat legs and told them that they would have to arrest me to get me off. I didn’t know where this place was but I knew I was getting off in West Palm Beach! I was the only one left on that car until we arrived in West Palm Beach hours later and I was scared to death. I ended up calling my boyfriend from my parents’ house and telling the whole story. Two days after Christmas, he showed up at my parents’ home to drive me back to South Carolina. No wonder I ended up marrying him a few years later.