Another Halloween. 61 strike that 65 trick-or-treaters. That's pretty much on par with last year's 63. I think we have a trend.

Didn't do anything majorly exciting in the decorating front this year, just the usual stuff. A handful of teenagers showed up as I was tearing down.

Some days I feel like a totally hard nosed jerk. I don't want to be a jerk, but there are things I'm just not willing to do compromises I'm unwilling to make. I guess that does make me a hard nosed jerk.

candy corn makes everything better.
The tape library that dominates most of the thoughts of my waking hours is dead. DOooomed! The support guy can't get the firmware to upgrade correctly. I feel a great deal of dread about this. This is the same firmware upgrade that failed before I went to Washington.

But what makes this all ok? Candy Corn! Provided by Joey from Client Services.

been busy

It's been a while since I've said anything. In that time I've helped my friends pack, been to a sock knitting machine gathering, worked on loading the truck for my friends, gone to the Corn Palace, and missed Wall Drug (they close early in the off season) been to Idaho and Montanna, arrived in Washington, played the tourist, helped with unloading the truck, riden the train back, had breakfast, been trapshooting (9 and 6 with strong wind in our faces that shifted from left to right) taken a nap, had dinner, caught up on my personal email. Soon I will go to bed.

19: 9/25
20: 6/25

My secret project is done. I was up til nearly 1AM finishing it. I'll post pictures after I give it away.

Knitting

To those who wonder if I've been knitting lately:

Besides the socks of last week's finishing fame which I knit months ago, yes. I have been. I've been working on a secret project the last two days with a fury. I'm done with the knitting. Now I just have to do the finishing details. I either need to be done Wednesday (which I know is tomorrow) or Friday, or certainly before I leave town for a week on Monday.

six shooters three guns

Well today we went trap shooting again. This time in addition to Erik and myself, we had Toad, betsy, Tony and Aaron. Betsy did great. She hit it 11 her first round. I don't much remember what anybody else shot. DeNae got 3 on her first round ever if I remember right. I did ok. I spent a lot of time thinking about what people around me were doing and not paying attention to what I was doing.. So not great, but the stations I felt focused on I did pretty well at. The second round was like (1,4,3,1,0) I'm also beginning to think this might be like bowling. If I bowl with good bowlers I bowl high scores, if I bowl with bad bowlers I bowl low scores.

All in all I think that despite shooting sort of pookey introducing three new people to the game made it an up day. I'm definitely becoming a member next year, and I'll probably buy a punch card. Also I think I might try and sneak out and shoot during the weekdays a bit more often, those old duffers who shoot trap all day really know what they're doing.

Erik was also talking about seeing if he could get Rick (who owns Metro) to set up a class for like half a dozen or so people. Since none of us have had any formal instruction at this, and who knows we might accidentally learn something.

17: 6/25
18: 9/25

mishmash of stuff

I saw Serenity. It was great! Also sad.

I am going to go see The Princess Bride on the big screen Wednesday night.

I finished the train wreck socks.

More trap shooting today. Erik and I went with Carolyn. She hadn't shot in a long time. She did pretty well 6/25 twice, with different guns both rounds my 20ga and a rental 20ga. I spent more time with the Mossberg. I did a bit better. I had problems with getting a good picture again. I think I need to be up higher cause I don't really see the rib at all. Did ok though, first time in double digits since the 20 I shot with the BT-99. Darned tree.. eating my shotgun.

15: 9/25
16: 10/25

The tree guys are here. They're amazing. They're practically silent when they're working. I mean they talk to each other, but as compared to some of the yahoo's we've had on the block since the storm.. oh so professional. They're raking up leaves now that all the little branches are gone, and they're figuring out how to get the big stuff down. They're all wearing helmets and climbing gear. They've got rope strung all over the yard. The dogs don't even seem to know they're here. That's how good they are. Who are these guys? Legacy Tree Care out of Maple Grove, MN. (the website is lame he said "You saw that and still hired us?!?" apparently there is another website on the way) I've been dealing with John here today, and he really loves tree care, planting, tree health stuff. He doesn't so much like simple removals, but the tricky ones he likes. So.. got a tree doing something stupid? He's your guy. He apparently also does consults on what to plant and other neat stuff. They're earning their out there money today.

My Brother, the best brother in the world, sent me an iPod shuffle. It arrived today, so instead of being asleep like sane people at 2AM I'm up playing with it. Fortuneatly there's not very much music on this machine.

I think I'll wander to bed soon.