I really like the design of this Disneyland Matterhorn

patch. I cannot remember how long ago I bought this.

But I will tell you ONE thing, it was way before Disney

became the out of control monster that it is today.

I stopped by Dollar Tree today (where everything is now

$1.25) and found this fun little Happy Halloween picture.

MOST years when October 1st rolls around I like to put

a few Halloween decorations around the house. My

pumpkin, a rat skeleton and the like.

Sometimes things are just what you make of them and
the decorations kind of get the spirit going.
And I like this picture.

When I left the store I discovered that the
picture I bought had a little tear in the spooky
bat so I did something that in years past
I would have just let slide: I went
back in and exchanged it.

I know, it was only $1.25...
But I was right there.
So...

This is the note I had attached to my computer monitor
when I quit smoking twenty years ago today. Today is
my Twenty Year Quit Smoking Anniversary.

I know I keep saying it, and I will say it again: this
affirmation was one of THEE most important aids
to me during that time. It is SO true
and it got me through.

Today I don't have any desire to smoke.
Nothing, Nada. None.

I am beyond thankful for this.

And again, I will always support those
who choose to smoke cigarettes.

Once again! For fun!

And historical purposes!

Gasoline prices. Late September 2023.

I don't do this often but I needed a little pick-me-up

at work. So on my break I threw caution to the wind

and bought a TWIX bar out of the machine.

It was... SO good.

~ Random Around the Ranch Photo of the Day ~

One day not too long ago, my car and I were stuck
in a ditch (that was fun) and while I was waiting for
somebody to tow me out I took this picture
of a boulder along our road.

REENLIST
(I don't do a lot of license plates but
some just scream to be seen.)

Look who parked next to us while we were on our

annual Halloween Crawl. Maybe we will meet

up in Target and become besties!

#taylorswift

My son and I did our Annual Halloween Crawl

for 2023. We had a great time and I can't wait for

SPOOKTOBER to roll around so that I can post
some pictures I took during our adventure.
What a fantastic and pretty long day.

And yes, as usual I did indeed make a 2023 Halloween

Crawl purchase. I can't wait to show that as well.
SPOOKTOBER is just around the corner.
Only 41 nights until the big day.

I had my wee little heart set on something yum-yum-yummy
and ice cold to drink today but we had no sun tea prepared.
Dang-nabbit. So I set my sights on some Hawaiian Punch!
THAT works. And when I make a glass of Hawaiian
Punch I don't mess around. Deeee-LISH and
this should last a while... maybe.

This was made from sugar free
singles-to-go.

You know what?
I just realized that I posted almost the exact same
thing about Hawaiian Punch on Friday, February
2nd of 2018. So to make up for it here is a
picture of James Munroe.

Oh, and just in case, here are

some Hormel tamales.

On Saturday, January 21st of this year I had posted that I bought

these 4.875 inch Crescent Mini Pliers at Home Depot for my
birthday. I have kept these in my bag or purse since then and I like
having them so much that I decided I needed an upgrade.

Meet the upgrade!

KNIPEX (pronounced however you feel like pronouncing it)
Tools Cobra 5 inch Water Pump Pliers. I have had my eyes

on these for quite some time. I would say that at three times
the price (that's why it took so long for me to buy them)
of the Crescent Mini Pliers, the Knipex are three times
more likely than the Crescent to successfully
complete any job.

These pliers have major gripping capacity and the jaws
lock into place. I am really looking forward to having
these pliers on me when I need them.

And last but TOTALLY not least...

Last night was the third and final night of the

Cars Three Night Film Festival at Borden Cinema.
I had never seen parts 2 and 3. I loved 'em! These
were three rockin' movie nights I will tell you what!

Life is a Highway!

Look how many copies of the movie Deadheading are
left on the shelf at Walmart after months and months.

Word might be getting around about this movie.

$14.96.

Man, take it from me how angry you'd be if you paid $14.96, took
it home and watched it only to find out just how bad
THIS MOVIE SUCKS.

Never, never, never, EVER buy this movie. NEVER. I have this

movie on my Movie Collection page listed under MOVIES THAT

SUCK, because this movie SUCKS.

This has been a Public Service Announcement.

P.S. I didn't pay $14.96. I bought the DVD at
Dollar Tree ($1.25) a while back. I STILL feel
like I was ripped off.

Back Jack for President!

Third party?

The Fast Food Party!

The Good Old FFP!

GOFFP!

!!! UPLIFTING WEDNESDAY BONUS PHOTO !!!

Ghost Pepper plant progress. Kind of gangly looking,

but it does have leaves on it. And it is getting pretty big
but I cannot put it outdoors or any other place here on
El Rancho as I am just not set up to do so right now.

It would be eaten or destroyed.

!!! BONUS BONUS HUZZAH BONUS PHOTO !!!

I did prune the Ghost Pepper plant and there is

some new growth happening. This has the
potential to become slightly exciting.

It's official! Tonight at Borden Cinema! It starts!

Years in the making!

DISNEY'S. CARS. THREE. NIGHT. FILM. FESTIVAL!

When the sun goes down, the fun begins!

I'm SO there.

~ September 11, 2001 ~

We will never forget.

My mom just ran across this ticket stub of a concert

she attended. Merle Haggard and George Jones.
Sure am sorry I missed this one.

I threw this skeleton hand in the back of the car for
the 2023 Halloween season. He is from Dollar Tree.

$1.25.

Corky again.

The world's best dog.
Napping on our way across
the US of A.

Taken with my Polaroid
Swinger Land Camera.
Late 1960s.

I don't buy a lot of this stuff anymore as I have

no room for it and this ain't my doing 'cause as I'm loading my
weeklies into the car today this guy just comes running
out of the store and all the way through the parking lot
and hops into the back seat and what am I supposed
to do run all the way back to the store and shove
him in through the doors?

I am parked out in the back 40 so THAT ain't gonna
happen. I reckon we are stuck with each other for now.

Years and years and years ago when my son was
a little boy, before we lived on El Rancho De La Tex,
we used to visit here on our vacations and I would regularly
shoot my firearms down in a canyon on El Rancho's land.
On one occasion I just happened to take a used bullet
casing and push it into the ground under the shade of an
oak tree leaving only the primer end exposed.

There it stayed for a few years and I would always
check on it during our visits to see if it was still there.

Finally after some years I dug it out, tied that red
ribbon to it and hung it on the wall in the home we
lived in at the time. It served as a reminder of all
the good times we had on El Rancho. All these years

later I still have the casing and as with all
my little things, it is treasured.

For fun and historical purposes!

Gasoline prices, September 2023.

Know what's good on these hot summer days?

Sun tea. Yep.
Sun tea is good on these hot summer days.