i never did like math

Just because I'm tracking Weight Watchers points doesn't mean I'm making good choices. 

Deja vu all over again..four years ago I lost a bunch of weight. I found it in the last year or so. I started eating most evenings with Sweetie, who was working twelve-hour days rebuilding a restaurant. In retrospect eating like a construction workers wasn't such a good idea. 

I recommitted myself to Weight Watchers about six weeks ago and have lost eight pounds. Ten more to go. I know I'll feel better when the weight is gone, and more importantly my clothes will fit. Especially the new ones.

all hallows eve

My favorite costume of the evening

I've felt disconnect from a long-time friend. Nothing major happened, but she moved a few miles away and I started a job with more regular hours. Then more time passed and it started feeling awkward.

We keep in touch through facebook and an occasional text or e-mail. I've been meaning to stop by her house like the good old days. But I was afraid that I'd be dropping in at a bad time.

What better time to ring the door bell then Halloween when people are expecting visitors? Sweetie joined me and we had a great visit with Kassie's family. It was wonderful to catch up and rekindle the friendship.

If I was a kid I'd mark their house for trick-or-treating next year. Kassie gives out the giant candy bars!

hayride

A good time was had by all. The hayride/costume contest was a great mix of Dad's Second Helpings volunteer friends, family, neighbors, and Sweetie's family.

The weather was just right for bundling up, a bonfire, and roasting weenies.

I swear there is no better sound than hearing kiddos giggle as they are bouncing around in the back of a wagon.

finally

Note the fabulous bar top

Sweetie has been working really hard on helping to get the Aristocrat back open after a fire over a year ago. The pub threw a Contractor's Appreciation Party last night before the official opening. 

I loved being able to watch him greeting the folks he'd been working with for months and being able to admire his handiwork properly. 

I'm trying to work up enough nerve to share the details of the night of the fire - don't worry, I didn't cause the fire - maybe soon....

robot on a swing

Sweetie with his new painting

What have I been doing for the last year or so? Besides continuing to work three jobs and write and volunteer work and trying to keep the house from falling down around my ears, I've been dating this guy. 

As much as I'm a put-it-all-out-there sort of person, Sweetie would be happy to live under the radar. 

He's a great guy - thoughtful, generous, age-appropriate, and likes my parents. And as you can see from this fuzzy photo, he's handsome too. Sweetie has been working even more than I have for the last year, working to rebuild his brother's restaurant. Remind me to tell you the story of the fire that destroyed the restaurant later. I can almost tell it without blushing. 

Friday we went to a raucous event, Art vs. Art.  It involves making noise to vote and a Wheel of Death. Yep. A spin of the wheel determines the fate of the losing painting in each round. Artists gathered two weeks ago and were all given the same supplies. Through a series of judging the field of over 100 paintings is narrowed down to 16.  

Final judging involved four rounds of head-to-head competition. Two randomly selected paintings square off on stage as the audience cheers wildly for their favorite. The electronic applause meter sends the winner to the next round; the losing painting faces the threat of destruction (by chainsaw,  samurai sword, etc.) as determined by a spin of the ominous Wheel of Death. The “losing” painting can only be saved from its impending doom if someone purchases the painting for the minimum purchase price. Artists take home 70% auction price.

My contention has always been that the paintings are easy to see from the stage tend to win. It's harder to see fine art from the balcony. This year the bout ended this way: 

The final round came down to the Angry Care Bear and Robot on a Swing (my titles). Keep in mind the audience had been drinking...well, hell, even I can't defend the Care Bear audience choice. 

After each round the Wheel of Death is spun and the only way to save it is if someone purchases the painting. An professional auctioneer comes to the stage and the bidding begins - the minimum bid increasing with each round. No one was bidding on Robot on the Swing  and the auctioneer was counting down, "goooingggg once, goooinggg twice" when I saw out of the corner of my eye a hand shooting up and heard a hearty "YEP!" 

Sweetie bought the painting! I was a little shocked. As he confirmed later, it was the first piece of original art work he'd ever purchased. The painting is fun and well done and you smile when you see it - to me the true test of art that you want hanging on your wall.

Happily, after over a year of dating he still surprises me. In a good way.