Happy Halloween and Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween everyone. Have a nice and safe trick and treating evening. If you have younger kids and don’t want to go street to street or door to door trick and treating, try your local malls. I saw where most of our larger mall have a trick or treat event. They may have some fun activities for them as well. For the older kids, remember safety comes first. Message from your parents, don't eat too many Mini Snickers, and you know I'll throw most of it away when you get home. Have a wonderfully fun and spooky time today!

Devil girl is Daughter's Costume Tonight - Freckles Devil Dog

Snorkeling in Key Largo Florida

We are in Boca Raton Florida today enjoying the cool but sunny day at our hotel. Three-of-the-four-to-go group arrived in Florida Saturday afternoon. (Freckles (four(th) to go is sadly kenneled this week). We drove to Key Largo and stayed at the Ocean Pointe resort. The resort is a large group of individually owned condos, and the buildings and grounds are in very nice condition.

We stayed in building #3 in Room 407. The condo was simply furnished, but very clean, and we had everything we needed for one night. The owners live somewhere in New Jersey, and the condo was strangely decorated so similar to our North Myrtle Beach, SC Condo. It had the same brand appliances and washer and dryer as our condo. Even the pictures on the wall were the same as we had in our condo. All this made us very comfortable.

On Sunday Dick and Kara saw dolphins at the marina gazebo, and we went back later and saw a small sting ray. Later that afternoon we all went on a dive boat snorkeling trip. Kara has not snorkeled since we went to Hawaii when she was four, and she didn't remember. I'm not a great snorkeler, and particularly hate being put off a boat in 35 feet of water to do it. The location was great for the divers though, and they saw a shark and a large sea turtle. We saw some smaller fish, and when Dick and Kara went out they saw some beautiful sea fans and parrot fish (so it was reported). I was scared off by the shark story from the first stop on the trip.

My very best part of the whole day was when a large school of dolphin was "enticed" by Capt. Greg to follow in the wake of the boat. They did what I call the dolphin dance, jumping and skimming through the wake. I have never, never, never seen that anywhere, in any of our island travels, and it was truly magnificent.

Key Largo was not nearly as cool as Key West had been on our cruise trip many years ago. It doesn't have any of the charm. It has very few restaurants, and hardly any shopping (even just tourist shopping traps).

Dick and I have always wanted to go to Key Largo, Bogey and Bacall and all! Now we've been there and crossed that island off our list. It was nice to get away for a few days, but tomorrow back home, where I'll return my daughter to her real 5th grade teacher to continue her fractions and clouds learnin'. I'll be very thankful for that transfer!

Fourtogo loves to go, hate the travel and not being able to find my toothpaste in my luggage each night!

Fall Leaves Window Art Craft Project

Many years ago, I saw this craft idea for using Fall Leaves for a simple art project. It's easy, creative and fun, and Daughter and I make it almost every year.

Materials
Fall leaves from trees
Waxed paper
Ironing board and iron
Hole Punch
Ribbon or Twine or Thin Rope String

Assembly
You need to collect fall leaves. Choose a variety of fall leaves from the ground or off the trees. Look for leaves that are nice and flat (not curled up), choose as may different colors or blended colors as you can find.

Cut two sheets of wax paper to the same size - we find that the name brand wax paper gives better results.

Stretch out one sheet of wax paper on your ironing board organize your leaves in the desired layout on top of one sheet. Make sure to leave about an inch all around the outside edges. Place second sheet of waxed paper over the top. Use a medium-hot iron and carefully iron over the top sheet of paper and leaves, being careful not to burn. Give a little extra ironing to the edges to fully seal. Carefully turn the project over and repeat the ironing on the backside.

Allow to cool. Punch holes in the top with a hole punch. Thread ribbon or twine through the holes and hang on window. It looks a little like rustic stained glass.

Project time about 15 minutes for assembly and ironing.

A Little Halloween Quiz - What Classic Costume

On Blogthings they have really fun, great quizzes and stuff you can do. Just click on the Halloween Quizzes and have some fun. I chose what is your Classic Halloween Costume style. The answer...

You Should Be a Ghost

You are seen as shy and introverted. You like to blend in... or disappear. You see Halloween as the day you can sit back and enjoy what other people are doing. You don't scare all that easily on Halloween. If anything, you tend to scare people. You don't try to be scary, but you do tend to lurk around and catch people by surprise.

What Classic Halloween Costume Should You Wear?

Four to Go's Corn Maze Adventure

I Do Love Fall Most of All

Our four to go crew and our neighbors four to go crew went to Ken's Corn Maze in Garner, NC Saturday night. It was great fun. They have a 2.5 mile corn maze, and make it more fun by incorporating a little gaming challenge. You have to find certain "stations" hidden (very well) within the 2.5 miles of tall corn rows, and these stations all have a letter on them that matches letters on your game card. You have to whole punch your card. The group that finds all the letters first, and in the shortest time wins. The letters spell out KEN'S CORN MAZE (of course). We finished in just over an hour, and our competition finished in just about the same time.






If you live in the Raleigh NC area and are looking for a fun Halloween time, visit the wonderful corn maze. They also offer hay rides, inflatable bounce toys, pumpkin checkers, a fun rope maze, and of course food.


Our fourtogo group give this adventure ***** stars.

North Carolina Public Schools New Graduation Project Requirement

My grandma always had a saying for people who were trying to do things the extreme way. It was "gagging and gnats and swallowing camels."

The State of North Carolina has a new graduation project initiative that may actually discourage students from completing high school graduation requirements, and increase NC's high dropout rate for high school students.

This program titled The North Carolina Graduation Project was added to the NC High School Graduation Requirements in September 2008. It is rather a mini-thesis (think Masters or PhD program not high school).

It requires a project, portfolio, summary report, oral presentation. I think for students who are just barely hanging in there to complete their diploma, this requirement may be too much, and may actually discourage them from "hanging in there." This may further increase dropout rates.

What do you think about this requirement? Does your state have a similar requirement ?

Wednesday 10-15 Presidential Election

I watched once again the debate last night between McCain and Obama. I liked Bob Sheiffer as the moderator. He sat right up at the table with the candidates, and took a more active roll in moderating the answers and providing a firm nudge from time to time.

I don't think we learned anything too new. By this time any new thoughts on how one would run the Country would probably be perceived as a flip flop from the original policy.

I was glad that McCain "manned" up and was cordial to Obama. I'm glad they took the time to look each other square in the eyes (okay semiaverted) as they made points directly at the other.

McCain probably won points for being most improved from the last debate. He was "at the ready" of his ship last night. Obama still had the most concise thoughts on his economic and healthcare plans, and he still has the better idea on using the Bailout Package monies.

What people need to remember, whichever candidate's idealistic policies and sweeping change plans, is that he alone from the Executive Branch does not act in sovereignty. Only with all three branches acting in concert with each other, does a thought become a bill, become a law, become signed by that one person - the president. There is a whole lot of downstream paddling to make change happen.

No one group there acts alone - and thank goodness for that. Change is good, and both candidates promise change, but either of the two presidential candidates will have a lot of people that will have a lot of input before a change goes into effect. One Man As President Cannot Change America - that would be another country, another time, another title.

Fourtogo - going closer to the last of the campaign ads.

Fall In The Carolinas - It's State Fair Time!

Well it's not quite Fall today. It was 83 degrees when I went out for lunch, and tomorrow it's going to be in the high 80's. The summerfall weather makes it hard to dress fallish, and keeps the air conditioner running (and the electric gauge wheel spinning and spinning).

One Fall Annual Event is the North Carolina State Fair. Opening Day is October 16 - and Fair runs through the 26th. It's not unsual to this Illinois girl for the Fair to be in my state Capital, but our State Capital, Raleigh and the N.C. State Fair is virtually downtown Raleigh (yes, Opie and Andy, your Rawlie.) The Fairgrounds are set close to the North Carolina State University campus, and smack in a mixed business and residential area.

The area is really too small and the crowds too large for the venue. Visitors park miles away and shuttle in (for a hefty fee), or can pay a heftier fee and walk a couple of miles to the main gate. The Fair is always poorly laid out, with no clear traffic pattern, and again visitors walk shoulder to shoulder in criss-crossing lines to the rides and attractions. Rides are too expensive, and the lines too long for small children to have to wait in. The Fair is very expensive. We go on the strictest of budgets, walk almost from our house (or so it seems- to save parking prices), allow only one or two treats, and only one or two of those darned Midway rip off games, and it's still $100.00 for a few hours of sheer Hell (for me)!

Four-to-Go's Daughter always wants to go every year. Every year I stubbornly say no, then give in. It's after all a Fall Family Time Event. Lord, give me good walking shoes and a cool, clear day.

I do love Fall. I love Halloween. I hate the State Fair.

New Bertolli Oven Baked Meals

Evenings are always hectic at our house - homework (urghh), new puppy, everyone home from work all chatting at the same time about our day. Then there always the "what's for dinner" battle cry. Thanks to a manufacturer coupon available online to print, I had picked up the Bertolli Five Cheese Ravioli Oven Bake. It was so easy, I simply followed the package oven bake directions, had it in the oven in less than five minutes, set timer for 40 minutes, took that new puppy for a long wear-em-out walk, and voila came home to a restaurant quality Italian dinner, ready to serve on the plate and eat. Thanks Bertolli for this new product.

Who Won The Presidential Debate on Tuesday Night

There have been so many pundants, voters, and news media discussing this issue all day on Wednesday after the debate. Here's my take on it. It wasn't even a real debate. A real debate is when the debaters look each other in the eyes, make a point, maybe with a little emotion in their voice, or even a little fist pounding on their podium or table.

A 31 page hammered out "Rules of Engagement" document by the Election Committee left this very important debate high and dry. It looked more like a script and a performance in a movie, than any debate. Even in high school debate clubs there is more emotion and substance than John and Obama brought to the table Wednesday night.

McCain seemed tired (who wouldn't be at 71 with the hectic schedule he's had to keep). He seemed to have trouble keeping thoughts together, and he was all over the place with his answers. He seemed to snub Obama at the end of the debate, and even ignored Obama's extended hand at the end. His wife Cindy stood rather behind him at the closing, hands behind back, barely interacting with the crowd.

Obama was handsome, well dressed out, and looked and spoke very Presidential. His voice was strong and eloquent. His wife Michelle literally went down the rows, shaking hands, smiling and touching voters in the crowd. I think they want it more that's for sure.

The McCains left early and the Obamas stayed and hob nobbed with the crowd. It looked more like a social event gone bad for the McCains, and they took their coats and went home early.

It was no debate for sure. Once or twice McCain and Obama almost had a challenge moment, but it was at best a scripted event. No real clear winner- one looked old and tired, and one looked like he could stand up straight, look people in the eye, and be a President.

We'll have to wait three weeks longer for the movie release, but the trailer was good.

Win or Lose a Debate - Win or Lose an Election!

Fourtogo awaits the ending in November, and the end of all the nasty political ads - at all levels of elections this year. Some of our state's ads look like they were written by the High School Drama Club.

fourtogo - Peace Out

Five More PayDays Till Christmas

I work for a small company, and all of us wear many hats. One of mine is to remind our field staff that pay day is on this Friday. It's all set up on my events calendar, but when I went to the calendar yesterday, I had to also post an event for early December, and that's when I saw it, yup only five more paydays till December 25. Usually by the end of October, I've started my own little Christmas Savings Club - but not this year.

I do know that Christmas this year will have to be significantly pared down at the fourtogo house, and I imagine that will resonate with families all over the world.

Maybe it's time to get back to Norman Rockwell Christmases, simpler trees, outside decorations -the ones in our neighborhood are approaching Clark Grimswald's Christmas Vacation proportions.

Right now the full displays are up in the stores, trees, holiday music, presents - and the leaves haven't even turned yet. There's going to be a sense of desperation that trickles down the whole economy this season - sell sell sell early, buy buy buy economically.

Anyway - remember to start your own Christmas savings Account and put away a few dollars each payday, pay for Christmas with cash or check, and keep it simple.

fourtogo - saving harder than we've had to in a long time.

Finally A Solution For My Family Room Wall

VivaTerra unique wood wall art is going to be the perfect solution to my challenge of what to put on a blank wall space in my family room. These panels which can be ordered as a set, are made of floating triangles. They are made of sustainable wood, and can be painted to match or compliment your room decor. We have lived in this house for 6 years, and I have been searching for just this perfect wall art. I didn't want any of the brass wall sculptures, because our home is more simple than that, and I never found just the right combination of regular art sized right.




While searching through the VivaTerra web site, I saw several other items I've put on my want list. Check them out.

I have ordered mine today, and will post pics when I put them up in our home.

fourtogo - only 8 more rooms to finish or redo.

U.S. Bailout Economic Recovery Money to China? Who Knew?

During Friday Oct. 3 drive time talk radio WZTK 101.1 FM (p.m.), the guest speaker talked about an unconfirmed article that had crossed his desk about the U.S. shipping of $800 Billion dollars to China to shore up the devalued dollar. These dollars were Ameros (the official currency of the new North American Union - a U.S., Canada, Mexico consortium) that's unofficially a done deal.

I thought how convenient it was that the transfer was on the same day that the $700 Billion bailout was finalized. So, I did a little research, and on a google search for "Ameros to China", I found several results that look very credible. Here is one link that seemed to have the most information. Read the story and draw your own conclusions. I believe it's just too darned convenient.

halturnershow.blogspot.com/2008/10/us-ships-800-billion-ameros-to-china.html

The U.S. owes China some $2.3 Trillion dollars of debt. At the beginning of this whole bailout urgency I blogged about what if it was one of the countries that the U.S. had borrowed money from calling in their loan or calling the shots. (fourtogo.blogspot 9/22/09). There was perhaps too much urgency to account merely for the mortgage crises (which had been in the forefront of the news for months).

Today the very Wall Street the bailout plan was supposed to "fix" closed at a four-year low. Some economic recovery plan I'd say. Can you speak Chinese?

four to go - gone past the Fleecing of America.

And Yet They're Still Advertising

Funny Photo Thursday
October 2, 2008

This rolling billboard showed up Friday (9/30/08) at an intersection near Raleigh, NC I travel through every day. I just had to share and laugh. Given the world's mess started with enticing ads like this and a family with No Money Down!

Fourtogo...always looking for a funny photo