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