I just had the weirdest dream; so weird in fact that I thought it was real when I first woke up and was indignant about it.

I dreamt of a television commercial featuring an animated Ellen Pompeo (Merideth Grey on Grey's Anatomy) advertising a contraceptive device of some kind. In the ad, it talks about being surprised she's advertising such a devise on television. The animated Ellen Pompeo has bare breasts in the commercial, and as the commercial goes on, the animation slowly "tears" away from the top to reveal the real Ellen Pompeo bare-breasted stating something like "not embracing out-dated standards rules."

This was so real in my mind that I was shocked with disbelief that they would run something like this on television, and in my waking moments as I'm getting ready to go to the bathroom, I'm even thinking about the kinds of fines they are going to have to pay for airing such a commercial, and then I think, "No wonder, it's ABC. They have seemed to embrace everything that the rest of society considers unsuitable for network television."

How weird is that? What bothers me the most is now I'm sitting here thinking maybe I should stop watching ABC altogether, to include Grey's Anatomy, which is one of my favorite shows.

And, this is ALL FROM A DREAM!!!

This really surprised me...

You Are 64% Republican

You have a good deal of elephant running through your blood, and you're proud to be conservative. You don't fit every Republican stereotype, but you definitely belong in the Republican party.

You Are 12% Democrat

If you have anything in common with the Democrat party, it's by sheer chance. You're a staunch conservative, and nothing is going to change that!

We didn't get very many trick-or-treaters last night, but we got some. I noticed many people walk past our house, even though the porch light was on.  I don't understand that. I caught a few of them by popping my head out the door often. No one told me any jokes or performed any tricks for me, unless you count the four girls who were dressed as a cheerleading squad. They were my favorites because they trick-or-treated in cheer. "Trick, or, TREAT!" Then, once I threw a handful of Snickers, Hershey Miniatures and mini Reese's Cups in their bags, they cheered, "You, Are, SO, Sweet!" It was hilarious.

My other favorite was three little children who were dressed as pigs, and their parents were dressed as wolves. ADORABLE!

I've got tons of candy left over because I bought three huge bags wanting to be sure we didn't run out. At least I bought good candy that hubby and staff will eat, too. Maybe next year I'll put decorations up in the yard to attract people. I've got a bird bath out front. I could put a jack-o-lantern on top of it for effect!

When we were kids, my mom had this gorgous 2-tier fountain in our front yard. One year one of us got the idea to put the jack-o-lantern on the top layer and fill the fountain with something red. So, we took off the statue of the lovers that was on the top and put a jack-o-lantern carved with fangs on it, and put packet on packet of red Kool-aid in the water. We put a trouble light in the back of the jack-o-lantern and a hole in the bottom so the red water would run through. When the fountain was turned on, it looked REALLY eerie. It was so cool and everyone loved it. We used to go all out with Halloween when we were kids. Us older kids used to fight over who got to stay home and help over who had to take the little kids trick-or-treating.

Whew, time sure flies. I cannot believe it's Halloween already and in a few short weeks it will be Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to having trick-or-treaters tomorrow. We've lived way out in the country or in an apartment in the downtown area (above a business) for most of our married lives so we haven't had much call for trick-or-treaters. Now that we live in a house on a corner lot, I am hoping to get at least a few.

Saturday was downtown trick-or-treating in Knoxville. I found Pixie Stix at Wal-mart for $2 a bag, and there were 120 in a bag. It was a great buy and a great hit with both kids and parents. Being that the Knoxville store is half a block off the city square, we had to wave people into the store at first, but once they started coming there was a fairly steady stream. I think my favorite costumes were one of a dragon that reminded me of the Chinese dragons on this firecracker game I play sometimes at Shockwave, and a cute little sunflower costume on a baby. I took my witch bowl over there and it was a hit with those people. John hates my witch bowl - he finds it annoying because it's always taking saying stuff like "That's my candy," and "Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat."

I guess in the Midwest it is commonplace to tell a joke when you trick-or-treat. We got a few kids telling jokes. Some were age-old riddles like we used to tell. My favorite was one a 7-year-old told us.

"How do you catch a polar bear?" he asked.
"Very carefully," I guessed
"No. You go out on the ice and cut a hole in the ice. Then you put peas all around the hole. When the polar bear comes to take a pea, you kick him in the ice hole."

The new employee and I laughed at it, but we were shocked by it. His mother said it was better than the one he went around telling last year. He started to tell it, but she told him not to, then after he left the store, she stayed back and told us:

"What do you call two gay guys in a sleeping bag? A fruit roll-up"

We agreed it was bad - definitey politically incorrect - but we still died laughing just the same.

Wonder how many jokes we'll get told tomorrow night. I think even John is looking forward to it. When I mentioned we may not get home from work before the trick-or-treating started, he told me that he was planning on exercising owner perogative and leaving early. This is going to be so much fun. I only wish we had the time and energy to decorate the house up for it. Maybe next year.

Mom and David just left. It was a wonderful visit. It wasn't long enough, but then they never are, are they? We had a good time and I think they did, too. Mom said it meant a lot to her that John took off work to spend time with them. I am thankful we were able to do that this time. I pray that they have a safe drive home, and that we see them again soon.

We had a wonderful day off work today. Mom and David made it down in good time yesterday. I took the afternoon off and we had lunch together, then went to the grocery store to buy stuff we needed to make homemade beef stew. We had a good time visiting in the afternoon and making supper. Then hubby made it home from work about 6:30 and we all had supper together. It was nice. Mom cleaned up the kitchen for me last night while John, David and I watched "Grey's Anatomy". John asked her what those two white holes in the kichen counter were (clean and empty sink) LOL.

We slept in this morning - until just after 7 a.m. Woohoo!!!! Then we had a leisurely morning. Mom and I fixed a breakfast of bacon and pancakes and we all sat down at the table together. Mom cleaned up the kitchen while I got dressed. Then we drove to Kolona and visited a cheese factory for fresh cheese curds (they squeak when you chew them) and an Amish grocery store. We circled around to the Amana colonies and went through the museum as well as a few shops and had dinner at a German restaurant. We stopped by the wool mill after dinner where I bought a new cardigan sweater and a stone that's supposed to clean pills and the like off old sweaters. Finally, we stopped off at the outlet mall on the way home. Mom and I hit several shops, and we helped David pick out some shirts and sweaters from the Eddie Bauer store. They will look so nice on him at work and the shirts have enough similar colors in them they will match either sweater. I love when clothes mix and match like that.

It's about 9:30 at night and both Mom and David are zonked out. We wore them out today. John is watching TV. Mom is behind me snoring in the bed. Tomorrow we are doing some site seeing and running around closer to home. It's supposed to rain, but the things we are planning on doing are mostly inside activities anyway.

Oh, and the most exciting news: John and I found out from #1 daughter yesterday that we are going to be grandparents again. Woohoo!!! They've been wanting this since they got married a little over a year ago. We are so excited for them and can't wait to hold another little one in our arms again. But I've got at least 7 more months to wait.

Finally, please pray for Missugs. She was in a terrible car accident on Wednesday afternoon and is in pretty rough shape.

I say, BRRRRRR. It's in the 30s as we wake up this morning. Cold weather is officially here. I bought 3 new pairs of slacks and 3 new blouses the other day. It was the last of the clothes money I had set aside out of our tax return. I got some of it on clearance, so I did good staying at $100. I didn't feel so bad about my $100 shoes after I managed to get 3 new professional outfits with the remaining money.

But we were talking about the cold. I brought up the clothes because I am glad that I now have more than one pair of slacks I can wear to work in the winter. I am usually a skirt girl because of my height, but at least my legs will be warm today. The high today is supposed to only get up to about 45. BRRRR. The had predicted snow flurries last night and for today as well. I don't know if it flurried overnight, but I forgot to park the car in the garage so I may have to do some scraping.

Guess I'd better get moving just in case I do have to scrape frost or light snow from my windshield.

My mom and brother will be here in one week. YIPPEEE!!!! I am taking off work early today to get the guest rooms set up for them. I still have a lot of boxes that have not been unpacked. I need to at least stash some of them up in the attic for now, but they need to be done so strategically so I can get out the Christmas decorations and stuff soon.

Hope everyone has a great day! STAY WARM!

It is supposed to hit 93 degrees here today. That's pretty warm for Iowa this time of year. We slept with the windows open last night and the fan on low. That felt great! I wish I could stay in bed a few more hours. Seems like a day to sleep in is in order, but I've got no time for one.

I have a follow-up exam today at the eye doctor. I went two weeks ago but was late for my appointment and didn't get dilated like I was supposed to. He gave me a pair of trial contact lenses, which have been ok some days and uncomfortable others. I have yet to keep them in overnight (they are extended wear). I did notice that they bother me less when I'm outdoors than when I'm inside, so dust must be part of the problem. I am to wear my contacts into the office but have to bring my glasses to wear home after he dilates my eyes. I'll get to come home wearing some of those stylish plastic sunglasses. We only live about 6 blocks from the eye doctor, so I'm just going to walk home after my appointment. I could go back to the office, but I believe I'm going to take this opportunity to come home early. He said I won't be able to see real well for a couple of hours after they dilate me anyway.

Only 2 weeks and 2 days before my mom and brother come to visit. I can hardly wait!!!! It's been a year since I've seen my mom, and longer than that since I saw David.

I feel good today. I feel like I've accomplished something. The day started out with Sunday school. I skipped church because John and I volunteered for a fundraiser for the local animal shelter and needed to be there before church would get out.

The store was a sponsor of the event. We stayed up late last night tying dog treats to a postcard that said "No bones about it... Doty Computers has the best service around." On the other side was a coupon for 10% off a print job between now and the end of November, plus an offer for us to make a 10% donation to the shelter. I was really pleased with how cute they turned out. We also had to hang our own banner at the picnic shelter. I wanted to hang it between poles, telling my husband the weight of the banner would pull down enough on the rope to keep it up there, but he didn't like that idea. He didn't think it would be high enough, so we ended up throwing the rope over the rafters (his idea). As we tightened the rope, it scraped across the top of that wood pulling down a load of bird crap. It was sticky like tar and so gross. We couldn't find any soap in the bathrooms at the park so we drove home to wash our hands, with me palming the steering wheel so not to touch it with my sticky fingers. It was soooo gross. We now have to figure out how to clean the banner that we just spent $150. The rope we threw in the trash.

After we got home, I finished laundry, changed the sheets on the bed, did about a week's worth of dishes (2 sinksful), made a nice supper, watched The Amazing Race AND baked cookies for my hubby. I am ready to hit the hay as soon as I put the cooled cookies in a canister. I like the feeling of satisfaction I am going to bed with. OH, and I got the boxes cleared off the mud porch so we can move a shelf unit back in there tomorrow to store canisters and bigger appliances like crock pots on, stuff that is too big to fit in the cupboard.

Praise God for good days!

So much for employees working out. I had one of them tell me a couple nights ago that she got offered another job for more pay closer to home. It was a no brainer for her to accept it, but it still stinks that I am losing her. She was working out so well, too. It just sucks. So, now I am back to trying to hire two, instead of just one. I think I'm going to try to hire them from closer to the other store. Last time I was advertising for people who could work out of both stores, but the 25-mile drive does seem to be an issue, and it will only become worse the closer we get into winter.

Speaking of winter, it got cold here the past couple of nights. I woke up freezing this morning, thankful that John was cuddling. He only cuddles like that because he's cold, and usually it makes me sweaty. Not this morning! I was leaning into the cuddle BIG TIME.

The maple tree in my front yard is starting to turn red. It should be ablaze with color by the time my mom and brother get here in a few weeks. I was still able to arrange the schedule so I can take off a couple of days when they get here, so I'll be able to soak in the visit.

I'm super tired, so I think I'll head to bed. I put in a 13-hour day today, but made a couple hundred extra dollars by staying open late for some people. This weekend I will be volunteering my time at a fun dog/owner event at the park, called M.A.D.W.A.G. It stands for Mahaska Area Dog Walk and Games and raises money for the local animal shelter. We are sponsors of the event, and I volunteered to help out.

I went by the shelter today to drop off an advertising banner and made the mistake of playing with some of the animals. I saw half a dozen cats I wanted to take home with me, plus a couple of sweet dobermans.