Kids' Scariest Movie Monsters

Wasn't sure about this, but I actually laughed at a few comments.

Birthday

For my birthday,

we had buffalo chicken and pizza and played Uno.

My wife got me a fun, personalized card and

an awesome, retro speaker for my iPod. Love it!

My daughter wrote me a very sweet, heartfelt letter,

which I love, but won't be sharing here.

My oldest son and daughter-in-law stopped for a visit
and gave me a new game - Farkel Party.

My youngest son made me this video for my birthday:

How cool is that?

I am a lucky guy.

Another One Bites the Dust

Here it is, December 1st yet again and where have I been all November?

Completing yet another NaNoWriMo!

Yup, I made it over 50,000 words and wrote a novel. Sadly, this novel isn't one I am particularly proud of. The damn story just got away from me. Luckily, it is fanfic, a story dealing with my version of what happened after Halloween 2 and before Halloween 4. Yeah, I know, a tale told many a time by many a fan, but hey, it is my version, as creaky as it turned out.

The important part is I did it.

Another year, another NaNoWriMo successfully accomplished.

Also, as an added bonus this year, my two youngest kids (ages 15 and 13) also completed 50,000 plus word novels of their own! I am very proud of them for even attempting it, much less completing it! Kudos to you both!

Now, on to Christmastime!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Costume Help & Wallpaper

Ran out of time to have a post ready last night,

since my youngest broke his leg in his soccer game.

He is in a splint until we see the doc again next week, and then it'll be in a cast.

He was going to go as Dwight Schrute from The Office for Halloween,

but with a cast on, he is going to need a new costume.

I suggested Professor Xavier from X-Men, but he didn't seem keen on that idea.

Anyone else have an idea that incorporates a broken leg into the costume?

I didn't want to skip a day in the

Countdown to Halloween completely,

so here is a desktop wallpaper I made a few years ago.

The pics I used are Michael Myers from Halloween,

Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th

and Micki, Ryan and Jack from Friday the 13th: The Series.

I believe I made this using Scrapblog.com.

Interview with me at Zombos' Closet

Hey, how cool is this?

I was interviewed about Halloween and why I love it over at Zombos' Closet!

Check it out: My Halloween: Caffeinated Joe

Thanks for the opportunity, sir!

Books in Waiting

Okay, I like to read. And I read eclectic stuff, whatever interests me at the moment. Usually fiction, as I love delving into new worlds, or continuing stories of other worlds and beloved characters.

I asked my daughter to take a picture of the shelf I have with books waiting to be read. I have all these, plus about five or six more upstairs.

~ click to enlarge, if you're bored ~

So, as you can see, some interesting stories waiting to be read. A Clive Barker book I have had for years that is just so long, and his writing can be daunting. But I will give it a go one day.

Also have some Final Destination books, Supernatural books, Robert Frost's book of Poems, book about classic game shows, Great Expectations from Dickens, a Murder, She Wrote novel. I could go on, but you get the gist. Lots to read.

Not a problem, mind you. Just sharing. Paperbackswap.com has been a great place for someone like me. I am able to unload old reads I don't mind parting with, books that others are looking to delve into. And in their place, I use the credit to get yet another book I am dying to read. Or, at least for now, add to my shelf.

Currently, I am reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I have loved the movie for years and the book is great. Eleanor is a fascinating character.

Oh, and in the picture, on the left, are pics of my daughter and youngest son from several years ago, as well as a statue of one of the Wild Things.

Hope I didn't bore you with this little glimpse into my life.

Day 22: A frightening child actor

Frightening, eh?

Going with Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther from Orphan

I actually thought the actress was a young-looking adult just playing old,
but she was only 10 when cast as Esther and turned 11 during filming!

She is quite a talented kid! Esther was DAMN creepy!

Day 24: Favorite Christmas Thing You're Doing/Done In School

Wow, this is going back!

I guess the best thing was in Kindergarten back in the mid-70s.

The school had a holiday play and our class recited
'Twas the Night Before Christmas while we were on stage in our pajamas.

Day 23: Advent Calendar You're Doing

We have a few here - chalkboard, tiles, digital, chocolate -
but the kids are the ones who do those.

I have my laptop desktop as a countdown calendar,
and I x'off each day as it goes by!

Day 21: Favorite Christmas Picture

My three kids on Christmas morning 6 years ago.

Day 20: How Late Do You Stay Up on December 24th

Usually, about a half hour or so after the kids have gone to bed.

And that is only once the last of the guests have left.
Anywhere between 10:00 PM and midnight!



One year, we hadn't found any time to wrap some gifts,
so my wife and I, with help from my mom, were up until wee morning hours,
wrapping gifts and getting things settled.

That was a long night & a short sleep!

Day 19: How Early Do You Get Up on December 25th

Usually, pretty early!

We used to wake when we heard the kids moving about,
but the past couple of years, I think we woke before the kids!

We wait for them to come in and show us what Santa put in their stockings,
then we go down, light the tree, get the camera and get settled.

Then the kids come down and the fun kicks into high gear!

Day 18: Favorite Part of Christmas Day

Without a doubt,
my favorite part of Christmas Day
is when the kids come down and open their gifts.



Love seeing the mixture of joy, happiness and surprise!

Makes all the chaos well worthwhile!

Day 13: Favorite Gift You Ever Gave

Wow. Tough to remember so many gifts given over so many years!

The only one that I can remember that especially stands out
is the "custom" action figure of our son that my wife and I gave him one year.

He had been big into playing with his action figures of different characters
from his favorite movies and TV shows, and asked Santa
for an action figure of himself so he could join in those adventures.

At first, we were stumped. Then we came across this:



It is an Elliot action figure from the movie E.T.

We took the figure out of the package and placed it in our son's stocking,
and Santa was able to deliver a custom figure of him that year!

Day 12: Favorite Gift You Ever Got

Woops! Thought I was ahead of the game, and I forgot to write today's post!

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My favorite gift has to be my daughter.

She was born just a few days before Christmas, while it was snowing outside!

We had quite a special holiday that year.
Of course, she slept through most of it, and we were exhausted,
but it was an amazing Christmas!

Day Sixteen: Future Tattoos

Day Sixteen: Future Tattoos
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Okay, don't have any yet, so any tattoos would be future ones. Lots of scars, though!

When I DO get tattooed, it will be something with the word "Raven". After that, probably something with my kids' names or nicknames or something.

Nothing exciting there, eh? Ah well.

Late

For the man and his wife life is going according to plan. At least, as much as they could plan how life went.

Their oldest child is 25 now, with a good head on his shoulders. He is married to a wonderful woman, moving up the ladder at work and moving into the first home he has to pay the mortgage on.

Their middle child is almost 14, smart, beautiful, funny and infinitely caring. High school is next on her already busy agenda.

Their youngest child is 11 (and a half, don't forget), bright, athletic, with a wacky sense of humor and an empathy for others beyond his years.

Their parents are proud of them all. And also content with their decision to stop at three children.

Unexpectedly, the wife announces to the husband she is late.

How could this be, they wonder. They had long ago taken permanent precautions. This plan was written in pen, not pencil. No erasing. No editing.

Patience, they counsel each other. A fluke. We will wait and see.

The wife doesn't think it is possible anyway, and doesn't want to think about it.

Her husband is surprised to find his mind wandering. The kids are so much older now, they don't need him, at least not in the way little kids need a parent. Independence is what we teach them to strive for, but once they are on that path, we see them walking further and further ahead. And they no longer hold our hands for guidance or safety.

A week passes. Still late.

The wife assumes it is the onset of menopause, not an unplanned pregnancy. We will wait and see, no cause for alarm. She doesn't really want to start all over again, so late in the game. They should be having grandchildren, not more children.

Her husband remembers the good times from the past. Little hands eager to grasp and explore. Little minds eager to learn and expand. Times spent teaching them to speak and walk, not to hush up and sit still. He warms to the thought of a little one. Just one more.

Another week passes. Still late. A test is taken. Negative.

The wife is relieved, of course it is negative. No way it could happen. That time has passed.

Her husband is torn. Part of him is relieved. No more colicky babies, no more teething, no piles of dirty diapers. That time has passed.

No more little ones holding tight to Daddy.

That time has passed.

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Click here for other Theme Thursday posts ---> LATE

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Theme Thursday - Castle

Wanted to write something for this week's Theme Thursday, which is "Castle"

However, I am taking part in the NaNoWriMo again this year, and have been trying to keep my word count up. Still behind, but doing okay.

Here are some pics, at least.

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This is from our 2005 vacation to York Beach, Maine.
Me and my two youngest, having fun building castles in the sand.



A better pic of the kids.
Amazing to me how much older they look today, four short years later.



The castles that came from our time in the sand.
Fun memories.

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I remember the end of one vacation there, sitting in the sand with the castles done, the prospect of heading home and leaving the beach behind for a year looming.

My kids were sad that their creations would be lost forever. I told them not to think of it that way. Think of the the castles as being dissolved back into the sand, patiently waiting for next year. When we returned, we could pull them back up, rebuilding them to stand in the sun once more.

It helped them smile and feel a little better, before the waves came and erased their artwork from the beach.

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For more Theme Thursday posts, click here ---> Castle

For my page at the NaNoWriMo site, click here ---> Wings1295

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Theme Thursday - Swing

The theme chosen this week at Theme Thursday was "Swing".

Tough theme, I kept drawing a blank. Here is what I came up with:

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Baseball Swing, Part One

I never played Little League as a kid, but my youngest son is playing on AAA for the first time this Spring. His team has been doing great, and the kids (and their parents) are having a fun time.



He usually has the position of catcher, which he has improved at so much over the season. But one of the things he has been working hard on is batting. He had gone quite a few games without a hit and it was bugging him. Everyone had advice and tips for him, and he was trying it all.

A couple of games ago, he got his first hit, a bunt. Very cool! And tonight, he had another bunt and then got a great hit, a grounder that cracked off the bat. The throw to first was fast, and he was out, but it was an awesome hit!

Great job, Dave!

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Baseball Swing, Part Two

A major league baseball player having issues with the swing of the bat is David Ortiz, the Red Sox DH (Designated Hitter). He has been having a really tough year, with his stats down all over the place.



But the faith us Red Sox fans have for our Big Papi hasn't shaken. We are pulling for him each and every game. Last night, he had a great home run against the Yankees, and I don't know who was more thrilled - Ortiz or the fans!

You can do it, Big Papi!

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Next is this amusement park ride, called the 'Alpine Swing':



I haven't gone on one of these since I was a little kid, but my younger kids and our 'nephew' have gone on it quite a number of times. I can only imagine the feeling of freedom they feel is mixed with a little bit of nausea!

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Last is one of my favorite places to sit, when the weather permits it:


This is a stock photo, but the same model we have.

This is the swing we have on our deck, overlooking our backyard. I love just sitting and swinging with my wife, watching the kids play or swim in the pool, tossing rocks for our dog to search for, and sometimes just enjoying the day, a cool breeze, and peace and quiet.

We also love that the two side tables are ATTACHED to the whole frame. We had little tables with our previous swing, but our dog and/or kids kept knocking them over. No more now!

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Hope you had fun with these random bits and pieces. If you get a chance, swing on over to the Theme Thursday site and check out what the other bloggers have in store for this theme!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

The leprechauns I saw this morning:



And here's a little tune for you:


Dolly Parton - we irish

Luck & Happiness to Everyone! Have a great day!