Halloween candy, as I live and breathe. Incredible. Still two and a half months until Halloween yet the merchandising mania is already underway.
Don and I were talking about it, and we think the stores should set up a permanent holiday aisle, with the fall/winter holidays represented on one side, and the spring/summer holidays on the other.
Believe it or not, today is Dmitry Davidov's 18th birthday. So far he's celebrated by taking his exit exam at the driver's ed school and getting a 92, then coming home to receive his gifts. First came the card:
Then was a bottle of a men's cologne he's wanted, mostly due to the name...."Davidoff". 
And finally the thing he was pretty sure he was going to get, i.e. GuitarHero3 for the PS2:
To his enormous pleasure, Dan and Joe were able to come home early from work (though Joe needs to return this evening) and they've just left for Victor's house. ;^)
Tomorrow's his official party, so stay tuned..... 
I love the story of Eric Liddell, and a friend has pointed out this wonderful story about him: Eric Liddell, the Lost Olympian
I was just at a store, waiting my turn at the lone open register with another woman behind me. Turns out the customer being served was wanting to make a return and the young lady had to get a manager to do it. He told her to use one of the other registers, which were essentially behind us and to the right.
The woman behind whirled around and nipped smartly to the front of the newly-created line, instead of allowing me - who had been ahead of her - to maintain my place.
Didn't say anything, mind, but I regret to say I was thinking plenty, with none of it complimentary to her.
This sort of thing happens now and again, and it's always been my standard practice to let those who were already ahead of me to be ahead of me in the new line, instead of taking advantage of my proximity to jump in front.
Or was she within the bounds of proper etiquette, and I'm being a crabbopotamus?
Okay, of course it's someone's wedding day! I realize that. What I mean is, today was a volunteer-at-a-wedding day.
Large wedding! Ten bridesmaids and groomsmen, BION. Here's a photo of Cassie, the photographer, taking a picture of the groom and groomsmen walking down the street (she's obscured by the videographer):
Then it was the bride's and bridesmaids' turn to be photographed; not sure what the raised arms signified:
This was one of my favorite vignettes today.....the bride and her parents guiltily sneaking out of the bridal parlor to peek into the sanctuary so as to check it out:
Here's what they saw, BTW, and I helped light those tea candles along the back:
A pretty venue for a lovely bridal couple!
Charles! And with him were Cherish and Aries, the 6 1/2 month old pit bull puppy.
Big puppy! 
All dressed up in a Texas Tech Red Raiders shirt, too. Lookin' stylish, was Aries.
Dmitry and Dan had gone to get the latter a pair of steel-toed shoes, seeing as how he now is certified to drive a fork-lift, but they returned while Charles & Co. were still here:
Aries is all about tummy rubs, ready to flip over at a moment's notice if he thinks there might be one in the offing. ;^) Dan brought Max out so the two pooches could meet, but one wouldn't call it a rousing success. Aries was eager to make Max's acquaintance but I'm afraid those friendly feelings were not reciprocated. Well, he lives a quiet life here, occasionally getting nose-to-nose with Pebbles, the poodle that lives behind us, so the sudden appearance of a large, lively, barking Aries didn't exactly thrill him.
Didn't do much for Zeus the cat, either. Wow. Hadn't heard her hiss in ages. Poor ol' Aries, so anxious to make friends with the other four-legged critters in his orbit but being still a puppy, hasn't learned that when it comes to newcomers, it's best to take it slow.
Charles has reserved a spot for him at the PetSmart Pet Hotel in Arlington for the weekend, so he needn't worry about him chewing up Aaron's apartment (where Charles stays when he's in town). Good plan. 
(It's mostly the first ten seconds that are neat. Afterward the strike appears to just sit there.)
Facebook pays the bills through advertising revenue, which is fine with me....saves me having to fork over the dollars myself.
At this very moment advertisements for green tea are rife. Apparently whatever your health issue may be, green tea is the answer!
Right up there with it are ads for some strange berry....acai? Is that it? Never heard of 'em before now, in any case. Oh my, if the purveyors of those berries are to be believed, a healthier, slimmer me is lurking right around the corner! Imbibe these berries and I'm on my way to looking just like the myriad Hollywood stars who've been in on this secret for ages.
I'm so sure.
However, not everything is acai berries and green tea. Look what popped up a few minutes ago:
Cute pet cremation urns? There's nothing wrong with the concept of pet cremation urns, mind, but I'm not especially crazy about "cute" as an objective when designing them. Either do it with dignity or not at all. Pet cemetary? Fine. Nice wood box with a nametag on top? Fine. Heck, taking the body of the deceased, er, "loved furry one" to the vet and let him or her dispose of it, fine.
But dumping the ashes into what looks for all the world like a Christmas tree ornament?
That leaves me cold.
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