I cleaned the last of the camping equipment from my car this morning. (Yes, from the trip nearly two months ago.) I thought I had removed all the perishables long ago, so I was surprised-but-not-surprised to find a mold pie on the floor of the passenger seat. (Luckily, it was contained by the plastic packaging labeling it a raspberry pie.) It is nice to drive without a pot in the seat next to me and a tent shifting around in the back seat. It’s probably better for gas mileage, too.

Brandon, I do still have your tent. I hope to be at the Grunerts’ Christmas party, and I will try to bring it along then. I also have a dark drab-green wind breaker jacket of unknown origin if any of you gentle readers are missing one.

Did you know Hot Wheels only cost a buck? I want to buy some for myself now. The Chamber does an annual Christmas Party for the kids in the Salvation Army’s after-school program across the street. Chamber staff and Board members take names and get them gifts. I got my young man, Brandon, a Transformers toy (the Decepticon tank) and four Hot Wheels cars. I know that I would have loved to get those toys when I was his age, and the absense of a generational gap made me feel warm and Christmassy.

On the same shopping excursion, however, I had one of my first old-person moments. A young whipper-snapper was manning the register at K-Mart. I was buying some garland for our trees–basically beads and small pine cones on string. I had been very careful and gentle with them. Then this boy just manhandled them to scan the UPC and shoved them in a bag. They were getting tangled in each other and little bits of pine cone were getting all over the counter. I almost asked him to please be gentle because they are fragile, but that felt too fuddy-duddy; I tried just to go with it. The strands of garland are safely here at home now, and in fine shape.

Shadow is the official household Christmas kitty (not to be confused with wood-burning cats). He is napping on the back of the couch right now after a long afternoon of inspecting all the exciting decorations. Everything meets his approval. I’m sure he will be even more tuckered out after inspecting the Christmas tree, which we will pick up this week. The ornaments are all set to go, and this year we’ll be putting the tree in the living room where we can enjoy it more. I also have to decorate–for the 15th straight year–my miniature artificial tree, which goes on the dresser in the bedroom.

On Friday I found a used RCA surround sound system listed for $50 on Facebook marketplace, by a guy living about 15 minutes from here, west of Millersville. I checked it out Saturday. It was in good shape and I walked away with it for $40. It’s hooked up, and boy is it among the coolest 40 bucks I have ever spent.

Speaking of which, the Rezendeses just came over to watch Ratatouille. So I must go.

The Facebook group I probably trolled was “People Against all the sexual image ads that facebook is now allowing.”

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks to everyone who shared it with us, and especially to those who helped with the cooking and cleaning.

Four pie crusts are in production. I always think it’s hard and instead it just keeps getting easier.

Tonight I’ll roll out the dough and roast the pumpkin. In between bouts of Halo 3 with Timothy. We have to beat it tonight. With our mad skillz, shouldn’t be a problem.

All the rest of the groceries are purchased and rarin’ to go. We got Diet Coke with Lime. It’s almost time for A Garfield Thanksgiving.

Congratulations to Bekea and Dan.

I think I trolled a Facebook group tonight.

I love having a housecat.

I would like to figure out why I so do not get along with my mother.

Brick is being particularly shmurdy tonight.

Gotta run, appointment with the shrink.

For anyone who is interested, Paste magazine (which is fantastic) is allowing you to name your own price for a subscription this week (ends Friday). Totally sweet.

From my horoscope for today:

“…With eccentric Uranus coming into focus tomorrow, take a chance and
invite a few unusual friends over. Even a low-key party can turn into
an interesting event if you are willing to take a small risk.”

Amanda and I advocate another artistic outing this Friday evening. This one’s even closer to the Rezidence.

It’s the opening for the annual Holiday exhibition at the Lancaster Mvsevm of Art. It runs from 5-8; admission is free.

I had an enjoyable weekend. It started with an evening on the town Friday (actually, it started with incredibly flavorful chicken chowder), where the three Lancaster couples hit up some of the art galleries and boutiques that were open late for First Friday. An even-better-than-expected time was had by all.

Saturday I spent the day from 8-5 as a judge at the Dallastown Wildcat Forensics Invitational. I judged Lincoln-Douglas debate (that’s 1-on-1) over whether plea bargaining is just. It was a great time, shared with Ryan Miller, Sean McComas, Steph Borger, and a flock of rather intelligent and fun high-school speechies and debaters. After the tournament, we all went to the Greek Food Festival at an Orthodox Church in Leader Heights, then to the home of one of the forensicators, where we played ’80s Guitar Hero and Mafia.

Then Steph, Ryan, and I went to the Borger’s/Hearts & Minds. We showed one of the forensicators, Mel (“I had a Xanga in 7th grade,” she said), the basement and she was overwhelmed. All the shelves I set up down there still stand, and a few of my original section labels remain, including “Drugs and/vs. Pastoral Care.” Then Ryan and I watched the second half of the BC/Florida State game. Ryan loves his BC, and I hate Florida State, so that was fun.

Yesterday I woke up and spent all morning watching the above Kubrick film, definitely in the top 3 historical fiction movies I’ve seen. Worth it for the costumes alone. Then I tried to read but slept all afternoon. Amanda got home, we watched the new Simpsons and Family Guys, and then we went to bed, being the for-all-practical-purposes 40-year-olds that Miller and Steph insist we are. (They’re right. But we’re still cool 40-year-olds.)(I hope.)

http://www.theinfantree.com/

It is First Friday after all.

Note
that the folks who run the gallery did an installation at Purple Door this year, and that
they link to The Simple Way, Denison Witmer, Relevant magazine, and
Mars Hill.  

Btw, here’s the convention center they’re/we’re building here, cater-cornered from my office.

You should see the steel structure flying up. It will open next year. Someone should host a convention there and we can all go. (I’m thinking a “new monastics” conference sponsored by the simple way.)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
From Me and The Pigs