HALLOWEEN WEEKEND!

After a week filled with gathering certificates, licenses, blood test results, and filling out 60+ pages of paper, I can report that I am now officially eligible to be a substitute teacher in 5 districts. It was an exhausting, gut-wrenching, totally frustrating experience for me. Here were some sticking points that will irk me until the day I die: Why did I have to print out 60 pieces of paper to apply when every single school district already has a digital version of my credentials? Who is going to look at them when they are stored at a central location no one has access to? How many times did I give someone at this agency an opportunity to steal my identity by writing down my Social Security number on a piece of paper that is going to be misfiled somewhere? (for those of you who don't know an Ohio intern had discs stolen from the back of his/her car this summer with thousands of peoples private information. So a piece of paper is more secure?) Why does each district need to have a copy of my original transcript when in order to get your license you need to present 2 copies to the state? Would they have given me a license without a degree in education? How can they believe that a SS card is a form of ID? Don't they know anyone can color that small piece of paper with colored pencils to make it appear to be real? And what self-respecting terrorist, or terrorist organization supporter, would actually check off the YES box to the following statement: "I support terrorist groups who plot against the USA" on the Homeland Security-swear-in-blood-you-are-a-USA-supporter document? Hello? Why is the person collecting these papers cranky, not helpful nor the least bit pleasant? Why do you need every telephone number you can reach me at if you aren't going to call me? Now I am on my own. After receiving a confirmation email "on Monday"(said email has yet to arrive--on Tuesday!), I am to go to a website and pick my days to work for the month. No more frantic phone calls at 5 a.m.? I sincerely doubt that. But time will tell. I am willing to tough this out to get my face and skills out there and show these people what I can do. Let's see if someone appreciates the fact that I have run the gauntlet to teach in Ohio!

After living in NY and NJ, this still shocks me, but here in Ohio, Halloween is called Beggars' Night, AND it is regulated down to the time you are allowed to trick-or-treat. Some towns hold this event on nights other than October 31st. This year, we were lucky enough to hold the event on the true date of witches and goblins from 6:30 to 8. We had a ton of kids on Halloween night. I would venture a guess of around 200 ghouls, action figures, princesses and ladybugs scrambled past us in their frantic 90-minute Beggars' Night gathering. Because Daylight Savings time was late this year, we had sunlight until 7:30! It was a beautiful evening. We all sat out watching the kids weave their way up the street to our house. Some of the younger ones had to be convinced that the monsters in our garden weren't real.Parents came with cameras. There were many Kodak moments caught digitally in cameras and phones with Rus' creations. Strains of Monster Mash played repeatedly, thanks to a looped disc. There were moments of unrestrained dancing and singing by many of the visitors! Apparently, the physical education teachers (not stated as gym teacher specifically for Lynnie Koch who always asked, "What's Jim?!) taught the kids a dance for the Monster Mash song. We saw a variety of renditions. It is fun to see how in the 3 Halloweens we have been here now, the kids we don't see as often, are maturing. At the end of the evening, Rus and Dennis brought the characters down to the basement to be undressed and stored for next year's extravaganza! I know but will not reveal, under pain of death, the new theme! We entertained friends until 10. It was a long day!

We all recovered on Saturday with our usual routines. Dennis discovered the new Barnes and Noble in the new section of Polaris Mall. He picked up a Japanese language tutorial and is being diligent about doing a lesson a day. He has a good tongue for languages. Time will tell if this will be a good tool for him to use in his life adventure as an engineer. Rus and I went to play cards with our once-a-month Euchre group on Saturday evening. It is always a fun experience with lots of laughs, good food and friends. Rus won the prize for having the lowest score this time.

We decided that though it was 60+ degrees, with the wind it was too cool for kayaking on the lake. Major bummer! We decided to check out the Rails-to-Trails bike path connecting Johnstown and Granville. We drove out to Rus' Alma mater, Denison University, parked in the former train station, and rode to Johnstown on our bicycles. The path is beautifully paved along a scenic waterway that takes you past houses, farm fields, horses, cows and sheep. It was just the perfect day to do some biking. We then went to check out Dillon Lake State Park, which is a little further east. Dillon Lake turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The lake, kayak launch, beach, hiking trails, facilities were all lovely, but the best part was the cabins they rent up in the hills overlooking the lake. Each cabin has a screened in porch with a view of the lake through the forest. the cabin is built out on stilts. I imagine you feel like you are in a tree house. Very cool! There were hunters galore staying in the cabins this weekend. I am sure they are used by families during the warmer weather. We were particularly excited because you can bring pets. Pepper loves to hike and walk on the beach. We just may use this option someday. In one of the parking lots we came across one of those woolly-bully caterpillars. From my job at Blossom Hill farm, I know farmers use them to predict the winter. I have to forewarn you that it looks like a long long long winter here in Ohio. Ugh! Laura came home for dinner on Sunday after her Halloween celebrations with her friends at OSU. There were parties, parades, parties, friends, parties, and more parties for her. She dressed as a penguin for Halloween. Believe me, if I could have gotten a picture, I would have posted it! We all shared stories about our weekend one story funnier than the next!

Monday sent the boys off to work and Laura to school. I posted for several jobs, the usual routine. It was so beautiful out I decided to drive over to Alum Creek State Park beach with Pepper to take a walk. Who knew they closed the gates for the season November 1?!? I parked on the grass at the entrance and walked with Pepper to the lake. What a beautiful day! There were boaters out and a few jet skis. The water is really low so we could go much further into the water. Pepper had fun chasing the seagulls as we walked. We met two gentlemen in wet suits, who had been using metal detectors to find things in the water. They apparently only came up with bobbi pins and beer caps this day. Another day! Another treasure! It was nice to be able to enjoy balmy weather in November, even if we have to pay the piper down the road!