Oh, Halloween

I get email reminders to send Halloween flower arrangements and offering scary toys for the kids, but so far, Halloween, traditionally not a gift-giving day, is only the sixth biggest holiday for spending.

So, if not for gifts -- why are we spending money?

Costumes for kids and adults are always fun, and if you do not sew or are not crafty, they are available at a hefty price. Or simply add a mask to your everyday duds. Decorations are going beyond the paper lanterns and cardboard skeletons. Treats to buy, party favors. There are lots of ways to spend your money on Halloween.

Last year we spent $3 ½ billion, but this year's estimate is $5B! Wow. And that doesn't count the bills for extra dental and fat-fighting products we seem to face as a result of the candy-eating. Try shopping the sales so next year will be just as fabulous for just a little less.

technorati tags: vickisblog, halloween, costumes, decorations, masks, spending

Halloween Games

This is hangman with Halloween-themed words.

Any age can play, but some of the words are not easily guessed by the very young -- like chaotic and gruesome. The hangman is a talkative skeleton, starting with the skull and adding bones with each mistake. It is quick and easy and you might find it fun!

My favorite upright's twin brother sent me this link. Thanks, Larry.

For the very young, here are Ben and Jerry's Halloween Games. This is from Ben and Jerry, so it's no surprise one game is getting the ice cream scoops before the ghouls beat you to it. You can go to the pumpkin patch, pick one, and carve it. This is definitely for young kids.

http://www.toilette-humor.com/halloween/carve.html For a more challenging adventure, try to Carve the Halloween Pumpkin. When you are finished, click and a candle is placed in the jack-o-lantern for your enjoyment. They offer a contest where you can enter your picture of the best costume or carved pumpkin. There is a link to costumes for adults and babies, gag gifts and pranks. The headgear is cute.
Have a Spooky Halloween!

technorati tags: vickisblog, halloweengames, carvingpumpkins, benandjerrys

Happy Birthday Lady Liberty

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she,
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your tempest shore;
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)

The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, one hundred twenty years ago today. She was designated as a National Monument in 1924.

technorati tags: statueofliberty, ladyliberty, emmalazarus, givemeyourpoor,

Halloween is upon us

Which Halloween icon are you? Are you sweet or evil? What about a superhero or famous monster? Find out by taking the quiz.

Now that it is almost Halloween, I think it is time to share some old pictures. Here is a Halloween slide show of pictures of my boys in some of their costumes. This includes some holiday-appropriate sound effects.

technorati tags: vickisblog, halloween, costumes, slideshow, halloweenicon, quiz

Boys and Frogs

You can always count on boys to find frogs.

Big ones Tasty ones

And sometimes frogs who get stuck in a manhole.


My son took this picture when he found this poor frog in a predicament.
The first two pictures came through email.

technorati tags: vickisblog, frogs, photography

Here's a lulu

Lulu** writes The Daily Nooz where her mission is to create wonderful things by passing along news stories that catch her fancy. She pledges to be nice, and she is. Her goal is to dominate world media, and she just might.

Read about office pranks, TV show teasers, top ten lists, and odd news items. Fun pictures illustrate the stories, and there are some videos – short and definitely worth watching. There are some newspaper contests with examples of the entries – things like advertising jingles written to Beatles’ tunes and notes to write on an office car. When a newspaper is the source, that paper is given credit.

** I don’t really know if the blogger’s name is really Lulu as there is no picture. It could be written by a guy, or a group, but that’s okay. This is a fun sight.

technorati tags: newsitems, dailynews, oddstories, newspapercontests, vickisblog,

Air Force Memorial

Model of Memorial

This weekend is the dedication of the Air Force Memorial which will be open to the public beginning Monday

My dad was a pilot in the US Air Force. He joined the Army Air Corps to fight in World War II and retired from the Air Force in the 60’s. This memorial is for him and all the men and women who served, the pioneers of flight, the aeronautical advances of the last 100 years, and technological achievements in airpower.

The Memorial is 270 feet tall, three spires symbolizing the core values of Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do. My dad lived those values. The design reminds me of images of the Thunderbirds we saw when my dad took us to air shows on the base. See pictures of the design and the completed memorial.

Do you have an Air Force hero? Submit your story here.

technorati tags: airforcememorial, airforcethunderbirds, memorialdedication, airforcepilot

You Go Girl

Today is You Go Girl Day, a day to recognize and celebrate courageous women.

The name specifically mentioned with this day is Kathy Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space. She logged over 500 hours of space time.

This is the first time I heard of it, so maybe it's a greeting card sales tool. EXCEPT, American Greetings is offering free e-cards! Not just 'You Go Girl' cards. but birthday or anniversary or just say hi cards -- all free. What a deal.

I wonder . . . Is there an equivalent for brave boys?

technorati tags: yougogirl, kathysullivan, spacewalk, girlswithcourage, freegreetingcards

Admiral of the Ocean Sea

In 1492, when he opened the trade route between Europe and the Americas, Cristoforo Colombo was named the Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Viceroy and Governor of the new lands. He planned to open a new route to Asia, and although he sailed to the Caribbean three more times, he died believing he had found Asia.

Columbus' claim of discovering the Americas is now a controversy -- there were people on the island when he first landed! And there is evidence of contact between the Americans and peoples of other continents. The day commemorating his first voyage is celebrated in Americas as well as Spain, which funded the adventure, and Italy, where he was born.

Have a happy Columbus Day!

technorati tags: columbus, columbusday, admiraloftheoceansea, newworld, discoveringamerica

Get ready to vote

Step 1: Register

There is still time, but not much. If you are not yet registered, visit Go Vote or try Rock the Vote where you can even join FaceBook. Hurry! Apply for a mail-in ballot if you might have a problem getting to the polls.

Step 2: Get Ready

Get to know who you are voting for. Visit the U.S. House of Representatives to see your reprentative's activity or the U.S. Senate to see how your senators voted.

Step 3: Vote

Mail your ballot or go to the polls. Early voting begins pretty soon – next week in Texas.

Make your voice heard. Vote!

technorati tags: election, vote, registertovote, senator, representative

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Perhaps the best known advocacy group is the Susan B. Komen Foundation.

The Foundation has 22 corporate partners that form the Million Dollar Council in which each donates at least $1 million toward the goal of spreading awareness that early detection saves lives and we will find a cure only through research.

One partner is American Airlines which has supported the cause since 1992. As a retiree, I am proud.

I am one of millions of women who need a daily dose of chocolate, so I am pleased to see M&Ms on the list. There are always M&Ms in my candy dish. The company has several ways for you to participate this month including buying pink M&Ms.

My aunt Katie was diagnosed several years ago and her cancer spread beyond her breasts. On my desk is the pink ribbon I wore to Katie's memorial service. This is important. Really.

technorati tags: breastcancerawarenessmonth, susanbkomenfoundation, americanairlines, m&ms, earlycancerdetection

A Military Wife

My mother was a wife of a squadron commander, so I grew up knowing something about the support community built by and for military spouses and families. Here is a good example.

This military wife has the advantage of blogging to offer support to spouses of our deployed troops. She highlights legislation that affects the soldiers and their families, and links to many, many blogs and sites of interest to the military community far beyond her own base.

She's cute and fun, with an easy-to-read style. She is 'LoveMyTanker' and she has military-type names for her husband, two children, and dog HO4L (Hell on 4 Legs).

While visiting, check out her gallery of American flags from her readers. Take a picture of your flag and add it to her collection.



She tells us about a book The Blog of War offered free to enlisted personnel. For details, see her blog. While you're there, check her links to read thoughts of bloggers currently serving in Iraq and Afganistan.

technorati tags:

militarywife, americanflag, supportourtroops