R&R - Review and Respond

RE: YEAH, IT WAS LIKE THAT - 1) There are NO appreciated graffiti artists because they are considered vandals and trust me, proud mama that I am, I had no appreciation for the mancub's art, which the arresting officer described as 'gang style' lettering. 2) The thing that burns me about MR. Morticia achieving BOOKWORM Level Ten Status {Archivist} is that the man cannot spell and has zero appreciation for the written word -- and I, who can spell quite well and absolutely LIVE for the written word, have never been able to break past Level Five! It's sheer madness, I tell you!!

RE: VOTER DISBELIEF - Because you have faith in me, I must confess the truth of the returning ballot. I wish to heaven I could blame it on our sasquatch maniac of a mailman or the admitted postal problem but ... well ... in all my voter enthusiasm, I forgot to affix a stamp on the envelope. :(

RE: REALITY - My dearest Bob, being from California {aka land of the barbarian governor}, anything over 85 degrees or under 65 is intolerable and sends Californians into a thither! I admit we are soft as fresh bread and spoilt as brown bananas, but there it is. * Remind me to send you and angel an electric blanket for Christmas!! :)

Reality

Charles Schultz says: Happiness is a warm puppy!

Morticia says: Happiness is a warm toilet seat
on a cold winter night!

Voter Disbelief

I arrived home to find my absentee ballot in the mailbox -- the same ballot I had mailed from my office mailbox earlier today. Anyone care to explain?

Voter Angst

Despite a plethora of paperwork to peruse and some last minute scurrying to find a # 2 pencil, I've completed my civic duty - my absentee ballot was properly filled in, signed and mailed off this morning.

To be honest, I really wanted one of those sappy "I Voted Today" pins distributed at polling locations, but due to the unpredictable nature of my business, I had to file absentee in case I was unable to leave my office on the appointed day and thus miss the opportunity of voting all together!

So, I'll have to hope that some kindly soul will donate their pin to me ... but I won't hold my breath ... I've been waiting for the Easy Bake Oven since the third grade! :)

Feeling A Little Rummy?!

Besides extensive training in the recognition of kitchen utensils, my in-laws also took the time to teach me Progressive Rummy. It is the card game of choice in their family.

When it's game time, everyone has a job to do.

• Dad gets the pen and score tablet.
• Mom gets the cards and begins a cursory shuffle.
• My husband clears the table.
• I don't have a job - unless court jester is a valid title.

For the sake of posterity, and because Mom gets mixed up, I've taken the liberty of consulting The 54th Edition of Official Rules of Card Games to note the correct order of hands.

• First Hand - 2 Books
• Second Hand - 1 Book 1 Run
• Third Hand - 2 Runs
• Forth Hand - 3 Books
• Fifth Hand - 2 Books 1 Run
• Sixth Hand - 2 Runs 1 Book
• Seventh Hand - 3 Runs

Now, I have a few notes of my own to add if you are going to play this game with our family.

1. Let Charlie teach you -- he's patient and honest
2. Let Mike heckle you -- it picks up the pace of the game
3. Let Mom have the card -- it's just easier that way
4. Let Dad keep score -- he's a mathematical genius AND it's against his conscience to cheat.
5. FINAL NOTE: never try to separate the sister-in-laws at the table - we like to sit beside each other and anyone who argues the point won't live to play another day (!)

Yeah, It Was Like That

You know it is Monday when:

1) The bathroom ceiling leaks during the least of the week's predicted storms
2) The police department calls to inform you that your son has been cited for being an unappreciated graffiti artist
3) The person who claims to be your husband (but is so ticked about the graffiti incident he won't speak to anyone in the house all night) beats Bookworm level ten and has the brass to crow about it

God as my witness, it was just like that.

Reader's Corner

If you enjoy a good mystery, might I suggest the Amelia Peabody series.

• To pique your imagination: ASR-Main
• To begin at the beginning, pick up a copy of Crocodile on the Sandbank.

Saturday Afternoon At Morticia's

The Cast of Saturday's Giggle Fest

Left to Right: The Irrepressible Red Head KV, The Steadfast DB,

The Angelic LV and as usual, I am absent from the melee due to photography duty!

Morticia's Luncheon Spread =

fresh flowers in antique vases

fresh fruit and sandwiches presented

in a variety of leaf shaped plates and bowls

and autumn scented candles strewn throughout the house