"TRICK OR TREAT!"

"YOU OWE ME RESTITUTION!"

And the big day has arrived. It might be a little chilly for the little beggars, so this year I will give them all something to warm their innards. Each little trick-or-treater will get a scoop of mash potatoes in their bags and a ladle full of hot gravy. Yummy!

Everybody drive cautiously out there tonight when the ghosts and goblins roam the streets.

"From Ghoulies and ghosties and long leggedy beasties

and things that go bump in the night... Lord deliver us."

IZZAT.... IZZZATT?

IT IS... IT IS THE GREAT PUMPKIN!

Once more Linus conned Sally to miss her Tricks or Treats and wait for the Great Pumpkin. And I am getting ready to pass out Treats on Halloween night... I have a nice collection of rocks.

A big welcome home to the Meems

I did miss her, even if it was for only a few days, but her trip was for a good cause... running.... er... walking in the Race for a Cure with Kirsten, Dani and Terry. And now we can get back to normal and get ready for the little beggars on Halloween night.

"Double, double, toyle and trouble,

Fire burn and caldron bubble."

Another great one passes away...

Soupy Sales died today. So, so sad and so, so young at 83.. We miss you Soupy!!

Not Right....

Wrong decorations to have snow on them.

sPike Saves a Puppy!!!

This morning as sPike and I were walking along 18 mile a small white puppy (one of those yappy curly haired small creatures) came running across the street towards us. This was heralded by many screeching brakes and cars coming to dead stops. The puppy was followed by a little girl about 11 years old who was screaming and crying "Stop Lilly". She was followed by her father, a fairly good sized man who was yelling at her to stop running as he came charging across the street through the traffic. sPike and I stopped and the puppy began to run towards and back and forth in front of sPike looking to play, I believe, but not getting close enough for me to grab her. A man on a bicycle stopped and tried to grab the dog and fell down into the grass and mud, a motorist got out of his car and attempted to grab the dog but kept missing. Traffic was at a standstill. sPike was calm and just watched the puppy in his casual way as the puppy got closer and closer. I told the little girl to take off her jacket (a puffy purple wintry thing) and to throw it over her dog because the dog was so small and her jacket would cover it. She tried and missed a couple of times but on the third attempt covered the puppy and all was well. sPike was so patient and kind and did not make any aggressive moves toward the puppy so I think he was a hero!!! Traffic then moved on, the girl and her puppy went home and sPike and I continued our walk.

Office Tricks-or-Treats

Since we don't get tricks-or-treaters at the condo, I focus all my Halloween decorating efforts here at work, and people seem to look forward to it every year. In fact, I was getting harassed already when I was at work for one day between my New England and Memphis trips. Apparently, the expectation now is for me to get the decorations up by October 1st. I decorated on October 12th; that was the best I could swing this year.

But I love coming into work and seeing these decorations every day. So I do it for myself as much as everyone else! Most of them are probably in it for the candy anyway.

Denver Marathon Results

So I ran the marathon today. Here's my stats:

3:26:18 finish time / 6th in my division / 114th overall men

I'm not sure how many marathoners there were - or how many in my division. But there were over 15,000 total runners lined up. That included the relays and half-marathon folks. Anyway - it will be interesting to see what it was '6th' out of ;-)

Anyway - that qualifies me for The Boston Marathon for both 2010 and 2011 (needed 3:30:59 or better), which was my goal. My previous best time (at Colfax) was 3:36:59

The day was absolutely beautiful. Maybe a little too warm for distance running. Starting line temp was probably around 45 - finish was in the upper 60's I'm guessing. In distance running, anything over 55 degrees starts to slow you down.

The course continues to be such a great course. Winding through all the major Denver parks and historic neighborhoods, including the downtown area. And things don't start really 'hurting' until about mile 20, so you can enjoy things up to that point :-)

I held a pretty dead even pace throughout. I couldn't have gone any faster and finished feeling tired but strong.

Afterwards we all went to breakfast downtown. Paige, Luke, Kelsey, Corbin, two of Kelsey's friends (Aspen and Kellie) and Corbin's friend Julia.

Now just recovering. No major aches or pains. Just tired and a little sore. This week is a *really* easy week with no real running until Thursday - and even that is more of a 2 mile easy jog. Looking forward to just running in the next few weeks with friends and in a completely unstructured way for a while :-)))

Dog Days Of Fall

Ah, here I sit, ehr, lay. Just waiting for time to pass. Waiting for my mom and dad to return. I'm so bored here. Nobody loves me...nobody takes me out for a walk...nobody pets me. You're right, I can't say that all with a straight face. As seenhere, Spike is in his adopted bed. He sleeps here at night, though he did attempt the bed thing a couple of times. However, with Eric and Katie in a queen bed, there wasn't a whole lot of room for Spike, especially when Eric didn't even like sharing their king with the cats. That aside, he spends most days in the front room, watching the 50 cent fish in its $100 surroundings...but that's another story. Oddly enough, even though he doesn't like me playing the piano at mom and dad's house, when I play here, he just lies down next to the piano, and listens. He follows me most places, and only attempted to bolt once; that was when you mom and dad had just left, and I got home moments later. Luckily, I lunged and grabbed onto his collar, and all trouble was averted. The boys take pride in feeding and brushing him, and Tom does enjoy accompanying us on our evening walks, though I still have not convinced any of them of the joys of picking up poop.

All said and done, he seems to be content here, and we would take him in a heart beat, if need be. But don't go and order us our own just yet. Having an already trained and tame dog is one thing, but I don't think I would have the patience or time to do that part right now with Jimmy still being so demanding. Maybe when I'm certain that Jim will sleep until 6 or 6:30 every morning, and I can actually plan a morning routine, I may contemplate it, but for now we're just happy being Spike's babysitters. I'm sure Spike will still be ready for you tomorrow. He's very good with the boys, but I'm no so sure he really enjoys all the mauling he is receiveing on a daily basis. Be safe and happy...Spike is.

Halloween Decorations at Our House

The 6 foot ghoul is the latest edition to our display. Made it ourselves.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVIN

Even as a very young boy, Kevin was still very talented. Here he is practicing his scales. Sorry we cannot sing for you, Kevin.... but we do wish you a very Happy Birrthday and the rest of the year. I love you lots

On the road again...

We are off to sunny Florida to visit with Daughter, Molly and Polly and Boo and Dani. Although it is quite hot and humid right now, I think the Meems needs the additional vitamin D to get rid of the last vestiges of her cold, bronchitis and whatever else she may ail with. While there, I will see what I can do to give Kirsten's computer a proper tune up. This time we are leaving sPike in the capable hands of the Sheenboys. He should be a lot happier there than at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm.

Happy Birthday, Phoofie!

Probably a bit older than our Birthday boy of yesterday.... but not by much. And it looks like she may have a secret admirer too. Now he is quite a bit older than Ed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDMUND!

Our 5 year old has a new friend. She sits next to him in class and has made his transition to school easier on him. Not only is he smart, but he has inherited the Sheen good looks too. Just look at the adoring look from Jamison. Way to go, Ed... way to go.

Super decorated home(s) in our neighborhood!

So this particular set of neighbors is always decoration EXTREME every Halloween, Christmas and Easter - yes, that's right. They even decorate on Easter! This is actually two neighbors working together to combine their homes and yards. It's kind of a shame because they covered up the scary faces - not sure if it was because of the snow and frost maybe? Anyway - here you go. Click on each picture to get a sense for the detail they put into each yard!

I'm baaaaack!

And I am finally at home after 3 weeks of crazy travelling - a week in Palm Springs, home for 4 days, then 5 days in New England, home for 1 day, then 2 days in Memphis...I am VERY happy to not be getting on a plane again for 3 entire weeks (at which time I will be off to Vegas for work and also a wee bit of fun).

Our New England trip was awesome, fabulous, perfect, wonderful. Lots of beautiful foliage, crisp Fall weather, clam chowder, maple syrup, and, thanks to our tour of the Ben & Jerry's factory, yummy ice cream. It was nice to keep up with the Sheens via the sPike rEport during all the traveling! Loving the Halloween pix, and will post some of my office once I decorate it on Monday. People have been asking and asking when I will decorate...obviously I haven't been in town long enough to make it happen, but I guess they expect it from me right on October 1st!

Boo, Dani, and the girls just arrived in Orlando less than an hour ago, and Mom and Dad will be here on Wednesday, so the week will be busy-busy-busy for me, but all in a good way! Can't wait to see everyone!

Son of BOO!

In our edition of Boo II, this guy does the front of his house up every year on October 1st. Christmas is not so much, but he really gets into Halloween. J and R are coming along on our new gutters and siding, but those boys do take their time... and they love to talk. We will go to Sams Club this afternoon and probably pick up our Tricks or Treats. BOO!

It's Closing In!!

Kelsey and Kylie came down with the flu today (not sure whether it's H1N1 or one of the other billion strains out to get us). Corbin had it a week ago. People at work are dropping like flies. I'm just trying to make it the next week and a half to the Marathon without getting sick. Otherwise it's 6 months of training down the toilet... probably literally =:-O

I'm now acting like a certified germa-phobe. I had my flu shot (for the other strains) a couple weeks ago. I'm washing my hands constantly. Stepping away from anyone that looks like they are going to cough. Avoiding going to the gym... and yesterday I bought a couple bottles of hand sanitizer to carry in my pocket for the conference I'm going to tomorrow.

I'll be glad when the Marathon is over and I can go back to swimming in the cesspool of humanity. I honestly don't know how those compulsive life-long germaphobes do it. It's exhausting!

Winds-Day

Very windy here today. Today is a slow Flo Day around here. Meems is out getting tested for drugs. HAH! its for one of her part time jobs giving out flu shots. On our walk the other day, some of the homes really get into the Halloween decorations. Oh WELL, maybe I am not that thirsty.

Its a time for change....

Just got through cutting the back forty for the last time of the year, put the mower away in the garage and brought down the snow blower. I am ready for anything that gets thrown at me. Hopefully it is just precautionary for a month or so. Gotta keep it dry and pleasant for the annual Tricks or Treats and the vigil for the Great Pumpkin.... singing pumpkin carols.... And we sure don't want a snow fall until I can pick up the 30 or so bags of leaves that are going to come down from the trees back there. Maybe this year, I can enlist the help of my able bodied grandchildren and pay them off with hot chocolate and Nana's cookies. Yeah.... Right!

Ooooooooo, Its October

.... and you all know what comes at the end of October.... As the second witch said in Hamlet, "By the prinking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." Watch out for all the ghosts and goblins. They will steal all the candy you collect from Trick or Treating.