Puzzler

I have a file (or three) of old artwork and writings from my old job, which were done by my kids. Today's brain teaser comes from Jake (circa 1998.) See if you can solve the puzzle...

Answer: It either has something to do with the coefficient of kinetic friction, or it's about going to lunch at Friendly's.

The Ride Home

Today's Brief Comment

A talk show was playing on the radio at work today. I was barely listening to it until, all of a sudden, one of the guys on it started to laugh. It startled me because when he laughed, it sounded exactly like Dad.

Until that second, I didn't realize how much I've missed that laugh and it surprised me that, when I heard it, I started to cry.

Miscellaneous Updates and Complaining

The cold I’ve had for the last two weeks is finally fading away. I hope. Every time I think I’m about over it, it fights its way back.

My almost brand new furnace is broken. I still have heat, but it needs an expensive fix - hopefully this week. This is the furnace that was put in by my psycho (former) plumber a little over three years ago. At the time, I needed a new furnace and I felt bad for this guy as he seemed to be struggling. He was a young guy with a young family and I wanted to help (He has since relocated.) Lesson learned on my part (maybe.)

I continue to be amazed at how out of shape I am. I raked leaves in my front yard this past Saturday - I even used a leaf blower for most of it (Yes, I know. I hate them, too.) I spent a good part of Sunday wondering why I ached so much and pretending it didn’t hurt to walk. Monday was slightly better.

Sam continues to have assistance in looking for a job. He’s had several interviews and one or two call backs, but so far, nothing has panned out. On the other hand, I don’t know if I mentioned it or not. We finally got through all of the work and submitted the ADA bus transportation application, and he qualifies- for three years, to start. That's one more hurdle down - for now anyway. Besides the everyday stuff - like following up on doctor’s appointments, I have a few other things that I need to address for him. But the next big one, I’m hoping to put off until after the holidays.

And speaking of holidays, I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week - and Christmas is only a month after that! I’m way behind schedule on everything - cleaning, meal planning for Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping, etc. I usually have a bunch of ideas of what I’d like to get people for Christmas, but this year I have none - so far, at least. It's been bothering me because I feel like I haven't even been able to focus on it. I keep telling myself, there’s still time, there’s still time - even though I don’t feel like there is - and what little time there is, is growing shorter...

Making the Rounds

Last Tuesday night was Halloween and, like usual, Sam and I made our usual rounds - mostly in Mom and Dad’s old neighborhood, which we've been doing ever since forever ago. Sam doesn't get particularly excited about Trick or Treating, but he clearly enjoys it. Every year, I wonder why that is.

I know one of his teachers from his high school lives along the route. Sam likes to see her every year and she makes a big deal out of seeing him - which is nice, but also a little odd. Back when he was in school, there was a time where I had called his classroom to complain about her (over some incident that's not worth getting into here.) Sam was unaware of it but, ultimately, I ended up talking directly with her about what I considered to be a problem. Back then, I didn’t know that this is who it was, or if I did, it didn’t make a difference. Anyway, that was several years ago and she’s always been very nice to Sam ever since, and maybe outside of that incident, she always was. Either way, Sam enjoys seeing her.

The other place Sam likes to stop is at a house a little further down the road. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this place before. An older woman lives at this house. It used to be this older woman and her mother, but the mother passed away several years ago. Anyway, this woman gives away small stuffed animals instead of candy - which is right up Sam’s alley. This year, she was not only giving away small stuffed animals, but also a toy to go with it. The toy, in Sam’s case, is one of those plastic guns that shoots small ping pong type of balls. Unlike the stuffed animals, this is not up Sam’s alley, but he took it anyway, I'm sure to be polite.

So I get that he likes to see his old teacher and he likes to see the stuffed animal lady, but afterwards, he likes to keep going, collecting more candy. I’m not complaining, I enjoy walking around with Sam, but the thing is, for the most part, Sam doesn’t eat any of the candy.

Whatever his reasons, we finished up at those houses, plus a few more, then we headed home.

Back at home, Sam got out of his costume and went up to take his shower - but first, he slung his bag of candy over the post of the dining room chair, where it still hangs - and probably will for quite some time - right next to the bag of candy that's been hanging there since last year.