I Feel It Must Be Said: Way Too Old To Be Trick or Treating

I've been seeing a lot of something I find troubling lately. On blogs all over this great internet of ours people are complaining about kids/teens who are "Way too old to be trick or treating."

I'm guessing the mothers who feel this way do not have kids old enough to fit into this age category. Because let me tell you something. If your kids are "WTOTBTOT" and still want to go out with a bunch of friends (who are also likely WTOTBTOT) for some innocent fun like trick or treating you will be grateful they are involved in such innocent pursuits. You will be kind of smiling thinking to yourself "Yes!" (with the 'yes' arm gesture involving a fist and pulling your arm down by the elbow like you want a trucker to blow his horn - you know the one.)

When I see the local teens strolling up to my porch on Halloween I feel so happy for them, for their parents, and for our community. I can't help but wish they could stay 'little' forever.

If your big kids are doing the rounds this Halloween send them to my house for a glow bracelet and some candy. They are more than welcome.

Decisions, Decisions...

Lately there have been decisions to be made. Some are simple. (I can't think of an example of a simple decision - maybe none are simple?) some are more difficult. (What to wear? Which purse should I carry? Should I buy this color nail polish?) Some are quite complicated. (What are we going to eat? What do we do about _______?)

Why did I start to write this post? Where was I headed? What was I going to say? I can't remember. They are having memory screenings at our local library on November 7th. I hope we don't forget to go.

Oh, Puppy, Puppy.

I love the sound he makes when he drinks his water.

This Not So Little Light

I went today to check for new posts on this blog. Some people just shine, you know? Through the good things and the not-so-good things, they shine.

Did you go to Sunday School as a little kid and sing this song?:

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

I don't know how some people do it. They don't have a light - they ARE the light.

Pepsi Throwback To Be Back in December

I just read a tweet from @pepsico saying Pepsi Throwback is coming back to stores in December. I have no idea if this is another temporary availability or a permanent one. Something is better than nothing. The wall was starting to come down. It is great to know we will be able to replenish.

Mapleside Farms, Bruinswick Ohio

Four of us went to Mapleside Farms. When we arrived we realized there was a Jazz festival going on in the back, so everything was busy. We were not deterred. It's difficult to get us to willingly walk away from good eats. Mapleside Farms has an applehouse and bakery, a gift shop, and a restaurant. We took our time in all three. Our favorite part? It's a tie between the applehouse and bakery and the restaurant. Very solid and worth the time.

The highlight of any trip to Mapleside Farms is the big caramel apple. These are so wonderful I will not eat a caramel apple from anywhere else. I used to be happy with caramel apples from candy shops and Carmel Popcorn stands, but now I am spoiled. (This will come as a shock to anyone who knows me - I should have made sure you were sitting down.) They start with giant delicious apples. The glob on the caramel so thick it makes me giddy. There are options, but I am a purist and go for one with chopped peanuts.

The dining highlight had to have been the barbecued ribs my husband ordered. They use apple butter barbecue sauce. Oh my ganache, I'm feeling faint just thinking about them! I didn't like the idea, but the sauce itself was out of this world.

If you are in Northeast Ohio this month (October) you are in for a special treat because Mapleside farms is having their 'Fall weekends" with horse drawn hay rides, apple picking, and a corn maze, among many other fun things to do.

Two college kids enjoyed it, and are looking forward to returning.

Four of us went - four thumbs up!

*I was only able to take pictures with my phone so the pictures of the ribs were blurry. I'll go back with a proper camera so you can see them.

P.S. Now I am hungry.

Oy With the Leonard Cohen, Already! AKA: Leonard Cohen, You Are My Sunshine

If you are a true Java Junkie, you get the "Oy with the Leonard Cohen, Already!" title. If not, I'm sorry.

Here's the rub: (another nod to Java Junkies) I want Leonard Cohen to sing "You Are My Sunshine" when he comes to Cleveland. I also want a recording of him singing it. Who can help? Does anyone know who I can call? I would work for free for a week, maybe two, just to get to hear him sing it and get to have a copy of him singing it.

Suggestions? Hints? Tips? Ideas? Anything?

Jellyfish at the Akron Zoo

In my opinion, some of the most beautiful things at the zoo yesterday were the jellyfish.
I could sit and watch them all day.

Now You Can Sleep At Night

I know you guys probably haven't been able to sleep because you were concerned about the expense of the Leonard Cohen tickets I was drooling over lately. I want to put your minds at ease. I got tickets! They arrived in my lovely mailbox just this week. I was going to take a picture of them but I didn't. I had a good reason, though. You would have been able to see my seats. Then all of you would have tried to buy tickets to sit near me. Frankly, Cleveland theater doesn't need to be marred by the stampede which would surely be caused by your enthusiasm to sit by me. If you know me at all you know I am way too lazy to photoshop things so the idea of blurring out the seats was beyond me. I am not too lazy to do this, though:

Leonard Cohen Comes to Cleveland Ohio!!

Here I go writing about Leonard Cohen on my blog again. Leonard Cohen is coming to Cleveland and I think he is doing it just for me!! The tickets are amazingly expensive, though. What gives? Seriously, $209 is the cheap seats. They go all the way up to $1400. I need some kind of corporate sponsor to go to a concert, now. I really want to see Leonard Cohen, though. I regret greatly never seeing Johnny Cash. I don't want Leonard to end up being another regret I have. Also? Pavaratti. He was in Cleveland, but I was in South America, or traveling there, that day. I am flipping my lid over Leonard coming to Cleveland! I guess I need to go seek employment so I can afford his tickets.

Anyone need a Girl Friday? Will work for Leonard Cohen tickets!