Jealousy, envy, and covetous neighbors...

We used to be THE NEIGHBORS that everybody in our community talked about. WE decorated the most for holidays, WE had the biggest, baddest, brightest decorations. Although always tastefully done.

We have neighbors that used to come and just stand in the street in front of the house to look at the decorations and stare at the tree through our living room windows. Now, granted, we had a 13 foot, fresh cut, frasier fur fully decorated with about 6-10 thousand lights in our window. The window is 10 feet wide and the tree spread out the whole 10 feet and literally reached to the ceiling. To get it out I had to take a chainsaw and cut it into 3 pieces and muscle it through the door. The outside was decorated with a gazillion lights, shapes, blow ups, etc. Yeah, we had fun!

Then a couple of years ago "new" neighbors moved in across the street. They gobbed up their yard with all kinds of decorations. Not "tasteful" stuff like we have but gaudy stuff. And just as my wife and I decided to go from 13 feet of fresh cut frasier fur to a modest 10 foot artificial tree with lights already on it. (Greatest thing we ever did! I was too old to climb the ladder.)

Well, a "cold" war erupted with the neighbors. They went for quantity and we went for quality. Each giving the eager public choices.

Now, it is taking on a whole new dimension...Decoration Wars-The Next Generation! Oh yeah, I'm taking the gloves off with my new secret weapon. My kids!

The kids decided the burning cauldron, blow up frankie, strobe cat, myriad of lighted pumpkins, skeletons, signs, tombstones, etc. were not enough. Oh no! They "upped the ante" this year. They built a crime scene in the drive way. Yup! Chalk outline, crime scene tape, fake blood stains on the concrete, bloody saw, hammer and then bloody hands on the door of the house! Way cool and lit by flashlights just lying on the ground!

I was sitting out front with the bucket of full size candy bars waiting for the ankle biters to come begging for candy and who comes along? THE NEIGHBOR and his brood. OK, we did not have all the gobs of stuff he did, but we went for quality. Still, it is a unsteady truce we have. As he walked up it hit him! He was envious of the crime scene! Oh, he stopped, stared, looked at me, looked at it and grinned. When he came over with the kids he said "nice crime scene, definitely stepped it up to a new level, huh?" He looked at his wife and told her next year, he had new plans!

I grinned, gave the crumb snatching linoleum lizards their free candy and watched Mr. Envy walk away.

Oh yeah, I and my next generation minions have still got it! Oh, and next year...well, let's just say that Team BigAl is already planning surprises. God, I love having kids!

Making memories...

This summer we took the family to Florida. My middle child had never "done Disney" so to keep her from being scarred for life we all trouped down. We met some friends from Ohio and we had a ball. I did learn one thing: I don't need to go to scheme parks with my kids now that they are 23, 19 and 15! Mint juleps on the veranda at the hotel for me, or at the very least a massage!

While at Disney, we were waiting at a place to eat lunch and a street band came by to do a skit that involves visitors to Disney. Well, they asked me to be the king in this skit. Now, I've always had the attitude that if you are going to do something, go all the way. Don't hold back. Enjoy it and make the most of it. Well, I totally got into the part, hammed it up with the real actors and we all had a ball. The actors really enjoyed it and thought it was super! The audience seemed to enjoy it.

I was thinking the whole time that my kids would think I was a dork and might be embarrassed. Far from it. They said it was the hit of the trip and talk about it regularly. They've asked me how I came up with the comments, how I could make it so fun and real. I tell them it is about doing everything you can with what you have and not "mailing it in". I was hoping it would be fun for them and build a memory.

Last night my college girl called and was laughing hysterically! In class that day she was asked to do a skit and got the "lead" part. She remembered me at Disney and decided to really get into the part, have some fun, and go for it. She was already wearing vampire teeth to celebrate Halloween early and it only added to the part. She told me I was her inspiration and just "going for it" was so much fun. She said the class had a ball.

Now she has a memory of her own and she can pass this down to the next generation! I guess we are just unrequited actors!

Memories....

I talk a lot about memories. Memories I have, memories of my kids, memories of my youth. I try to hang onto them because they are the key to our learning. I've tried to learn as I go along. One thing I learned early is that don't just look at the past, embrace the future. You have to do that with memories. If you are so busy enjoying the ones you have you'll not make new ones to have for the future. So, think of like like driving. The rear view mirror is small compared to the windshield. Memories should be like that. We need the ability to look back but what is coming is so very important, too.

I hope to talk about making memories in the coming posts. I think they are important. I hope I get to share with you my rule that we all need to live a country song moment and that we need to "walk between the drops". More on those rules later.

For now, here is my thought. A dinner tomorrow serve desert first, then the meal. It will keep them wondering for a long time. Talk about making a memory!

Moving out...

It has been an interesting 4 days...lots going on. My oldest is looking to buy a house. A condo to be specific. She's looked at a bunch and has settled on one that is not too far away. Not sure if it will work out since it needs some work before she will buy it. We will see.

This is pretty tough to think about for me. She is my baby girl and I've watched her grow up. She is ready and I am very confident she will do great but it still is tough. Very tough. I anguish over it a lot.

I remember when I moved out. Not quite as traumatic since I did it right after college, never moving back home. I got married right away, too. Hard to believe that was 28 years ago already.

The condo she wants is very much like our first apartment! Wow! It brought back a lot of memories just walking through it. The new town, the non-existent furniture, the things we did not know. Ouch! So much to learn. But, we figured it all out and I'm sure she will, too. I'm enjoying talking to her and getting to work with her on it. She is doing all the work but we are there to help her, answer questions she has, explain things to her, tell her things to watch out for, etc.

Saturday was band competition day. My son's marching band hosted a competition. It was a long day and while helping out I got my shoulder hurting again. Chewing Vicodin again. I went to PT today. Getting old has its good times and its bad.

I was in NY yesterday. Business travel. Great trip up on a 6:00 AM flight. Nice, smooth and on time. Coming home was another matter. We left on time and technically got home on time but it took 20 minutes longer than it should (no reason given) and it was VERY bumpy. I don't like flying on a good day and I really don't like bumps. Plus my shoulder was hurting so it was not a good flight.

Let's see, daughter making an offer on a house, shoulder hurting really bad and a bumpy flight...I said getting old has its good times and bad...where are the good?

Memories in a cellophane wrapper...

I love candy apples. I've eaten so many that I think of them as a fruit. I don't like the caramel apples, I don't like the ones rolled in nuts. I am a traditionalist. Bright red candy around an apple! I've watched these made so many times in big copper kettles and I've even made them at home.



I love the sticky candy around my mouth as I eat them. Being a Carnie as a kid was special and candy apples were a big part of that. I got them free since I was "with the fair" and knew the people that made them. Usually they'd make me one with a little bit thicker dip of the candy coating. Add to that some salty popcorn and voila! you have the perfect salt/sweet snack!

I know it is tough on the teeth and every visit to my dentist I think of it when he is checking an old filling. But, it was worth it.



If you notice the wrapper, it does not have a lot of red candy stuck to it. That is key. A good apple will not leave a lot of candy. That means the candy was a the right temp when applied to the apple.

Also, the round stick is very important. I guess that is why I don't like the store packages for making at home. A flat stick just does not work!

I've made forts with these sticks and played with them for hours! Ahhhh, the joys of simple things.

Amazing what a little fruit and candy can do for you! Food for the soul.

A fair pot...

While at the fair last night I visited the NC Pottery Expo tent. For my potter bloggers here are some pics:

Sorry about the quality. I used the phone on the blackberry! I have about 30 total. If anyone is interested just let me know and I'll send them to you or post on snapfish.

It was interesting seeing the pots all together from different artists. Some amazing stuff. Jen, I didn't see any butter dishes. There is an obvious shortage of those. Can't wait to see yours. Ron, they had some great mugs but not like yours! Elaine, no pots that looked barrel fired either. I did like the bowl with the chop sticks. it has cut outs to hold the sticks on the side. I hope you can see them. Becky, no one was using mugs while making music. I guess they don't have the imagination going.

Why am I interested in pottery? I've always wanted to throw a pot. Just one of those things. I love to learn and have a long list of things I want to do and have tried. Cooking is one of those passions I've grabbed hold of. It is fun. Maybe that is why I like pots so much. They are useful items for cooking and eating. My Dad cooked and actually owned a restaurant. He cooked all the time and it was special to me. He loved seafood, all kinds of seafood. When I cook I think of him and when I cook his recipes, especially for clam chowder, it brings back many memories. I always talk to the kids when I'm cooking and I share those memories and the recipes. I can see them doing the same thing one day, sharing with their kids and talking about my Dad.

My Dad's father was a master carpenter and built some incredible things in New Bern, NC. Dad learned the trade from him but never became a practicing carpenter. He decided other things interested him more. I learned some of the carpentry skills from my Dad and picked up a few of my own. There is something great about working with wood. I love it. The world dissolves away and nothing matters. I've not had the time to get back to it for a while but it still calls. I like the things I've built and we use many of them still. Others are stored away for the grand kids to use, like the half loft bed I built for my son. He loved it until he got just too big for it. Now it is waiting for him to pass down. With memories built in. He'll share why this nick is here and why this nail hole is there and why it is built the way it is. I look forward to setting it up with him one day.

I'm thinking of taking pottery classes. No, I don't intend to change professions but I like using my hands to make things. It is satisfying in a tangible way. Many times I don't have a specific object that I can point to and say: "I built that".

Besides, I need some jars to hold more memories.

Under letter G, number 52...

Just got in from the State Fair. It was "can" day, which is our favorite. Take four cans of food for the food bank and you get in free. We always go this day. It is a little thing but we do it because we're helping someone. I mean, we are going anyway so why not go on a day that helps?

The posting earlier today about going got me to really thinking while I was on the way over. Thinking about experiences and how little things you learn can stay with you a life time. I was with my Dad one time when we were visiting with the head of the local Jaycee's. The Jaycee's are a civic organization and put on fairs to raise money for their charitable projects. Dad was meeting with him to discuss business and naturally he took me along. I've always been inquisitive and this day was no different. When I met the man we shook hands and he called me Governor and was exceptionally nice to me. I asked him why he called me Governor. He looked me right in the eye and said..."I don't know who you'll grow up to be. What if I were mean to you and you became President of the US? That wouldn't be smart. We never know who people are, what they've been through or who'll they'll become so we should treat them with respect, honesty and politeness". I've never forgotten that and I was about 8 years old.

A fellow blogger, Becky, has left a couple of posts on my blog. She is a potter and I follow her blog and encourage you to check it out. It is on the list to the right (Claydog). She seems to enjoy my blogs about memories and is always gracious and encouraging. I've not met her but she seems like the kind of person I'd enjoy knowing. She reminds me of this man. She never had to reach out but did and shared her appreciation for some postings. I'm glad she did. I like talking about memories and my life and the lives of my family. I'd gotten away from that with some recent blogs and she helped me see I should go back and do what I like. Thanks Becky!

I don't know where life is going, but if we listen to its lessons as we go along it is surely telling us things. I've missed some I'm sure (we don't know what we don't know) but I've tried to listen and catch them as I've gone along.

More on the fair tomorrow. I have a candy apple to get to. Oh, and YES the ham biscuits and fries were just like they always are...perfect! I didn't win at Bingo but my wife and son did!