Halloween Best

What was YOUR best Halloween costume?

I have always enjoyed creative things and that combined with the idea of doing that and going around and collecting candy or monetary awards, well, that was just icing on the cake.

One of my best costumes was my unique spin on BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. You see, as a result of getting hit by a car in 1987 (see link for more info_  ) I had over thirty surgeries to my left foot, ankle leg, knee.  A couple of these surgeries resulted in the application of an external fixator. Many people call it a “halo” —I’ll take a halo any way I can get it apparently. LOL.

I joked around and called it a rotisserie because it had many wires running through my leg, between muscles and bones…like a chicken. It’s purpose was to hold the surgically placed pieces in place while I healed. Since I found myself in this contraption during Halloween, I decided to find a way to creatively use it. I would be the most realistic Bride of Frankenstein that many had ever seen!

Here is a photo of me posing with my surgeon Dr. Karl Raynor as the Bride of Frankenstein! I had a real electrodes strapped to me and working with my TENS unit (used to help with pain) with it’s flashing lights on my belt (not seen in the photo).

You should have seen all the people at the Walmart and on the street trying to figure out how I got those wires to look like they were passing right through my leg.  When someone was brave enough to ask, I told them that it looked real because it WAS real. Then I had to laugh as some of those same people looked like they were gonna faint.

I did get runner up at one party (held at a downtown brewery). The first place winner was an adult male wearing a diaper and a bib with a fake appendage sticking out through one of the leg holes. Give me a break!! I said “BREAK” not as in relief NOT as in another broken bone. . . thank you very much.

Please comment and let me know: What was YOUR best Halloween costume?

What’s Your Favorite Color?

The question of the week from a friend is
“what does your favorite color say about you?” My answer is PURPLE. That is my favorite color. A deep royal purple along with a vibrant fuschia are my very favorite colors.

I don’t know what it really says about me. I know that many people feel that purple is the color of royalty, but I don’t consider myself to be especially aristocratic or even comfortable with snobbery.

I do think it is interesting that purple is made from the combination of red and blue. Ever since I can remember I have been artistically interested in the way in which colors are made. Red is a hot color and blue a cool one, so if you mix the two you get this lovely “I can be both! ” That is one way of looking at it I suppose.

Purple is found in grapes, beautiful mountain scenery, and the crocus flowers which emerge from the still falling snow to testify to the promise that Spring is not far away. Amathyst is a purple stone that is assigned to my February birth month. A deep purple velvet shows off sparkling jewelry like brilliant stars against a God’s velvety night sky. Purple can be soothing like lavender or bold like a banner.

Yes, purple is my favorite color and I think it says that I am flexible. Neither the hot-tempered demanding red, or apathetic cold blue… I am understanding and approachable; a caring, passionate purple : )

How’s that for an answer JoJo? If you are reading this, will you please comment on what is your favorite color and what does it say about you?

What’s an IQ?

Today I was cleaning out e-mail, linked to a site and took an online IQ test. Most of the questions were sequence related (some of the number sequences were difficult). I always enjoy the graphic sequences and suspect I did best on those and word grouping/meanings.

The final goal of this so-called free IQ test was to try and get me to check out some offers. Thanks, but no thanks. Just pressed the skip and navigated right out of there.

Final Score? According to this thing, my IQ is 140.

What exactly does that mean anyway? Is that good or bad, average or what?
Well, according to the afreeIQTest.com website a score of 140 is in the “superior intellegence” and just about in the range of “MENSA would like to speak to you”. Yeah, right.

Anyone that knows me is probably laughing quite heartily now. Me too.

4H: What is it? How can I join?

I really believe in 4H. It is a youth organization that was started and upheld by Purdue University and Land Grant structure. The regular 4H clubs offer children the opportunity of “learning by doing”. Traditionally, people associate 4H with showing cows, pigs, horses and sheep or sewing, food, needlework and canned goods at the county fairs. But 4H is so much MORE!

Today’s 4H offers Mini clubs for children who are not yet in the 3rd grade to learn even more simplified lessons while having fun in a structured, nurturing club setting. The total number of projects offered has skyrocketed over the almost 30 years since I was a 10 year 4H member. The offerings now include such things as collections, writing, personality, health, woodworking, woodcraft, computer, animal posters, wildlife, forestry, genealogy, bowling, gardening, clothing design, sewing, miscellaneous crafts, recycling, pottery, ceramics, electricity, and independent study projects. These are only some of the offerings. Chances are, if your child is interested in it, there is a project for them. If you have knowledge of it, there is a 4H leadership opportunity for you.

I was a farmer’s daughter and a former FFA member at my highschool. Besides taking part in animal projects, vet science, livestock judging, fine arts, soil judging, parliamentary procedure, sales demonstrations, speech, choir, wildlife management…etc, I developed skills of leadership, cooperation, community awareness and civic responsibility.

Now, that I am raising my daughter in the city, I got plugged into 4H anew as a leader. My first love is in leading a local 4H Dog Club. We offer obedience training which all members must participate in, then, optional Showmanship and Dog Agility. My husband and I have made most of the equipment, but are in need of obtaining more as our program advances. The parents of the kids in our club are ACTIVE participants. Together we are a family. Like a pack of dogs, we show one another respect, learn from each other and experience successes with one another. All the while the kids are learning that I am not there to train their dogs. We are there to help THEM to train their dogs. Even the most timid little child learns how to take charge, communicate clearly (even nonverbally) and grows in understanding and confidence. It truly is a wonderful thing.

Our particular dog club is open to any child grade 3 through age 18 at the beginning of the school year. They first register as a 4H member, pay a nominal membership fee, and sign up for as few or as many projects as they believe they please. There is the Dog Poster project available for even the child who may not own a dog, but want to learn and exhibit. Many materials are provided by the County Extension Office through trained and certified volunteers who schedule and lead meetings. There are also record sheets to be filled out to assure orderly organization and team the skill of record-keeping.

The 4H year culminates at the County and State Fairs where the project(s) of the child can be viewed by all. At the fair, projects receive ribbons and the appreciation of the general public. A sense of accomplishment is instilled in the growing minds of our communities children thanks to the program of 4H, the service of volunteers, involved parents and leaders, and the effort put forth to “make the best better”.

If you have questions regarding signing up a child in 4H or becoming a volunteer leader or resource assistant, please contact your local County Extension Office Agent and inquire. The number for your area is in the blue pages under county government or just search on the web for “County Extension Office AND (the name of your) County.”

We Are Waggers

The Warren Township Waggers 4H Dog Club got it’s name in 1998. The club generally met in the spring and summer months outdoors to help children 3rd grade and older who were enrolled in the 4H Dog Obedience Program.

In 2004 we began to meet at the Marion County Fairgrounds and were therefore able to practice even when it rained. Club usually meets weekly and addresses the disciplines of obedience, showmanship and agility as well as general dog related education.

Parents of the children often stay for the 2 hours of instruction and learn right along side the rest of us. Educated parents then become a valuable tool in reinforcing the good habits that we learn at club.

The leaders are certified by the Marion County Extension Office as 4H Volunteers. Generally speaking the leaders are people who share a love for that special bond between an animal and child and are willing to nurture that through the 4H Dog Project Program. Recognizing the importance of good citizenship of both people and their animals, these volunteers come alongside and instruct the child, who then instructs the dog.

Together, leaders, children, parents and the dogs all become a “pack”; a tight family group. We learn and problem solve together. No one of us “knows it all”; but what we don’t know gives us the opportunity to find out together!