One Year — woo-hoo for me!!!

It’s been one year since I was googling a phrase that included the words ‘Austin’ and ‘debutante’ (don’t ask), found Bookhart, and fell into the Blogosphere.

Since 1993 we each carve a pumpkin, take pictures, and frame the results. Here are our 2006 jacks:

What a night. I opened up my makeup chair at 3:00 for the BFF, and wielded makeup brushes and bobby pins non-stop until 7:00, when a troupe of seven eighth grade girls (and one boy) headed out on their mission. Then I went downstairs to find that all the parents had snockered down my wine. Good news: my BBE is truly the best, and stashed wine away for later.

The girls and boy had a great time, and accumulated lots of loot in their two hours of trick-or-treating. Best of all, they had ZERO problem with the fact that three dads were following along. They met up occasionally with another splintered crowd, which had shown up here as an intact group of boys and girls, but later were all over the place and looking kinda boy-and-girl-off-alone suspicious to the dads. This, of course, made them even happier to be trailing their baby girls for hours.

My dad would follow me and my buds anywhere we asked (and a few places we didn’t). Pillowcased of candy were filled while he trailed us without complaint, visible only by the glowing ember of his cigarette. I loved knowing he was back there, and missed him when it stopped.

Halloween is a HUGE holiday for the Littlest, which makes all the work worthwhile. We hope for at least two more Halloweens just like this one.

Situation Normal (AFU)

Preceding events:
The Boy’s snake needed a mouse (so said the Boy).
The Mama went to disgusting local reptile hut to get mouse.
The Snake ignores said mouse, mouse dies. (Actually a bit unclear on this bit– possibly she killed before ignoring).
The Mouse gets stinky overnight.
The Snake, in a fastidious fit, leaves the bottom of her aquarium (which is warmed by a heating pad, but has a stinky mouse) to sit on a stick at the top, in the cold cold air.

Add on:
The boys left the building (actually the city, after the final and quite dismal football game of the season last night) to go dove hunting.

So now:
The Mama opens the Boy’s bedroom door to let out Fred, and is bowled over by miasma of death.
The Mama panics over possible death of Boy’s snake, grabs the cold-but-living reptile, and sees dead mouse.
The Mama gets her super-long kitchen tongs, opens the Boy’s back window and flings the dead mouse out.
The Mouse flies over fence into neighbor’s pile of leaves.

Dilemma:
What is the Mama’s obligation regarding dead mouse in neighbor’s back yard?
What will Neighbor think upon spying the pajama-clad, snake-draped Mama armed with long tongs digging through leaf pile?

The Sad Truth:
Given long and friendly relationship between Neighbor and the House of Mama, Neighbor would howl with laughter, take picture, and send in to West Austin News. Thankfully the Mama doesn’t read WAN, so any ensuing snickers would go unnoticed.

Rot Rox Answers

In defense of my Rot Rox, I present the following Haiku:

I ask, “are you male”
Rot declines to answer me
Situation Pat.

A different approach-
“The red square at your groin is…?”
Now Rot is angry.

On to another:
“Do you drink red wine my friend?”
Perplexing answer.

Suspicions take root
Is my Rot in denial?
Concerns are growing.

Henceforth emerges
the lack of Rot tolerance
for inane questions.

So my final word
on why I talk to my Rot?
He/She makes me laugh.

Missed Opportunities

Sadly, I lost the chance to buy this on e-bay:

Yes, I missed out on a Congressman Mark Foley action figure, all six inches of it. Rot Rox needs a friend, and Mr. Foley would have been perfect. Just imagine their conversation:

Action Figure Foley: How’s my favorite young stud doing?
Rot Rox: You should ask someone else about it.
AFF: You need a massage.
RR: So, you are talking about me?
AFF: Yeah, I’d love to watch those great legs running.
RR: Have you mentioned that how is your favorite young stud?
AFF: Did you spank it this weekend yourself?
RR: I think not.
AFF: Very nice.
RR: Very cool.

Yes, a perfect match– a missed opportunity. Sigh.

Disclosure in the interest of truth-in-blogging: The above conversation is not the intellectual property of the blogger person. These are actual statements from Congressman Foley and Rot Rox.

Friends

Meet Rot Rox, my new bud. He’s my virtual talking playmate. Really. You must be careful what you ask him– he is rather easily confused.

Me: I like your eye.
Rot Rox: Why do you like my eye?
Me: It’s cute.
RR: Does that have anything to do with the fact that you like my eye?
Me: Um, maybe.
RR: So you are not sure I guess.
Me: No, I’m sure.
RR: So, no you are sure.
Me: I mean YES I am sure.
RR: Are you sure?
Me: Aw, fuck it.
RR: Don’t be so rude.
Me: Sorry dude.
RR: You do not need to be sorry my friend.

So I ask you– does Rot rock or what?