HAPPY HALLOWEEN

AND WHEN WE SAY "HAPPY", WE MEAN "HAPPY".

Ashley spent Halloween Eve with some friends from her Bible study group. Only superheros were allowed to attend this event. Equipped with mask and cape, she quickly flew away and we did not see her again for the remainder of the evening.

.

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As Christians, we typically do not celebrate the Satanic holiday known as Halloween. Instead, we call it a Harvest Party. Then we celebrate it.

This year, Debra mentioned that she had never before been to a haunted house. She asked if I would take her to a haunted house this year and I said "yes". When we arrived at the haunted house, the parking lot was full and parking assistants, equipped with flashlights, were guiding traffic. We stood in line for an hour-and-a-half before finally reaching the house.

Between Debra and me, one of us was genuinely scared and squeezed the hand of the other quite tightly through the haunted house and through the adjacent graveyard. But we're not mentioning any names.

TWO WORKPLACE HALLOWEEN GREETINGS

Greeting 1:

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Greeting 2:

NOT HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Three of us at work are Radiation Therapists. We are the ones who administer the radiation treatments that are prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist. Two of us are named Cindy and one of us is not named Cindy.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Last week I made a movie for Debra.

This week I made another movie just for the fun of it.

To view it, click here.

RULES FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVING

Success in life can be achieved by following three simple rules. Here they are:

Rule 1

No talking when Teacher is talking

This is foundational for all future success. Those who listen to teachers will learn and will become successful. Those who talk when the teacher is talking will not learn and will not become successful.

Rule 2

Follow all directions

Success requires the ability to follow directions. Ignoring directions will lead to certain failure.

Rule 3

Keep your hands and your feet to yourself

This shows basic respect and courtesy toward others. Those who intrude into the personal space of others lack proper boundaries and will not succeed in life. Those who follow this rule will develop into polite and successful individuals.





I learned these three rules from a sign hanging in a classroom at church. It was hanging in the classroom where I was helping with the three-year-olds yesterday. Unfortunately, none of the students in this particular class can read.

MEETING ANIKA

I worked side by side with Anika for roughly nine months, but never actually got to meet her. Then, last April, she left our department and I was not able to work beside her any longer. And I still had not met her at the time she left.

But today I finally got to meet Anika.

Anika and her mom on her mom's last day of work this past April.

Anika and I worked side by side for roughly nine months.

Today, I finally got to meet Anika for the first time.

Anika thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Obviously.

THE FARM

With Halloween only one week away, we joined granddaughters Baylee, Rylie and Makiah at The Farm in Medford. We spent a couple of hours petting animals, walking through the darkness of a haunted hay maze, watching a show featuring trained farm animals, riding a hay wagon and playing prize-winning games.

Our gang included (from left to right) Debra, Makiah, me, Ashley, Baylee, Josie, Rylie and an unnamed scarecrow.

Baylee, Rylie, Makiah and Nana's right leg.

Ashley and Makiah in the petting farm.

A goat poses with Nana, Baylee and Rylie.

A llama poses with Ashley.

Sometimes llama's like to pose by themselves.

Baylee and a bull, sort of.

Rylie watches a show with trained farm animals while Josie, Makiah, Ashley and Baylee are shown watching in the background.

Rylie and Baylee stand beside the antique tractor that pulls the wagon for their hayride.

Makiah prepares to slide into the space occupied by two horses.

Baylee rides the merry-go-round while Nana stands and watches.

Rylie follows Baylee on this horse riding adventure.

CELEBRATING THE WORD "YES" BY MAKING A MOVIE

I began celebrating the word "Yes" exactly eight years ago on this date. In the past, I have celebrated it with a card. This year I tried something different. Something new. This year I celebrated the word "Yes" by making a movie.

I have never made a movie before. This is my very first attempt ever.

Only three tools were needed to make this movie:

1. A laptop computer,


2. a guitar,

and

3. a digital voice recorder.

To watch this four-and-a-half minute movie, turn on your speakers and click here.

THUNDER, LIGHTNING, RAIN AND A PUMPKIN PATCH

A trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze is an annual tradition in our family. This year was no different. Well, it was a little different in that rain had been in the forecast for the past few days. We decided early on that bad weather would not deter us. Rain or shine, we would maintain the tradition.

It rained.

It thundered as well, sounding much like a gun firing beside our ears. Lightning also flashed through the sky several times while we were working our way through the corn maze. This year's maze was designed to celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln.

The wet weather did not dampen the spirits of Silas, Devon or Naomi. All three grandkids returned home wet and happy.

Me: "Where's Papa's camera?"

Naomi: "There!"

This tall this fall.

This aerial photo served as a map for navigating through the corn maze. This year the design portrayed Abraham Lincoln. Last year the design theme was "Election '08" and featured facial images of both Barack Obama and John McCain. The previous year featured an elaborate design of a pirate ship.

Papa carries a snuggly Naomi through muddy, rain-drenched paths in the corn maze.

5 WW's (Wet Weathersbys)

With rain descending on some covered heads and on some uncovered heads, The Weathersbys follow the map from the maze entrance to the exit.

Halfway through the maze, the Weathersbys find a large, open space in the beard of Abraham Lincoln.

Naomi stomps through the mud in Lincoln's beard.

Silas and Devon in the hay maze.

Naomi stands on a bale of hay while Tim watches.

Leaving the corn maze, heading for the pumpkin patch.

Devon lifts a pumpkin about half his size.

Silas' turn to lift a pumpkin.

Naomi thinks about lifting a pumpkin.

Evidence indicates that Silas' pumpkin was sitting on a muddy surface at the time he lifted it.

Evidence indicates that visiting a pumpkin patch on a rainy day causes mascara to run on the left eye.

Burger King break.

Through the weekend, I missed several opportunities to catch Naomi's tears on camera. Finally, I captured one of those opportunities.

DINNER WITH SAM

Usually our visits to Beaverton include dinner with Chuck. This time we decided to do something different. This time we decided to have dinner with Sam. Safari Sam.

Silas, Devon and Naomi stand in front of Jumpin' Jackpot at Safari Sam's.

Devon attempts candy catching with the claw.

Naomi demonstrates her driving skills.

Naomi ascends the climbing structure via the rope ladder.

Silas scores big with video golf.

Devon drinks one strawful of soda at a time while Bethany chews pizza with her mouth open.

Granny and Silas visit and dine.

Tim and Naomi enjoy their pizza.

Birdseye view of pizza-eating Silas.

Devon orders ice cream.

Bethany photographs Devon eating ice cream.

Silas orders strawberry ice cream.

Four generations include Naomi, Naomi's mother, Naomi's grandfather and Naomi's great-grandmother.

Papa and Naomi cross a rope bridge in the climbing structure.

After returning home from Safari Sam's, Naomi tries on my work boots.