Halloween Season has arrived...

Yes.  Season.  Those who know me know how much I love Halloween and this brings Halloween Season!

Caboose is sort of decorated!  I would have done more, but there's a lot of shit going on in the world and in my life right now that this was about the extent I could muster.  Quite pleased though.

It's like I decorated for her

The other thing I love to do this time of year, is hit a Pumpkin Patch.  An actual Pumpkin Patch.  I just can't bring myself to get my pumpkin at a Grocery Store.  The closest and I think coolest is the Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch.  It can get pricy if you want to do all the stuff they sell, but if you want to just go take some pictures and get yourself a pumpkin it's totally rad!  I love doing this!  This year mom, Libby and Hailey came along!

Taking a stroll since we got there early

Besties for Life

Mom had the hots for the FrankenScarecrow

Cat? Tribble? Gremlin?

I love this kid

Our pumpkins!

When did she get so big?!

Great morning Pumpkin Patching!

I can't wait to carve my Pumpkin and make my favorite Pumpkin Seed Snacks!!!!

Guns...

I don't understand America's obsession with guns.

It's just us.

No other country is as obsessed with guns as we are.

We even have a fucking amendment that was put in the constitution. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  

Nothing.  And I mean nothing.  Is as hot of a topic as guns.

Hear me out:

I'm a liberal.  Most of my friends are liberals - some to the extreme.  Most of my friends are extremely against guns completely.  Others, like myself, don't want to take away you gun people's guns necessarily, we just want better laws, regulations, etc.  Oh and AR Rifles banned for fucks sake.

Personally I hate fucking guns.  The fact that this little (or larger) piece of metal can take away the life of a living creature with one pull of a trigger freaks me out.  I also have some sort of trauma from childhood that relates to loud noises that any sort of loud noise (firework, car backfire, gunfire) actually scares the shit out of me and gives me severe anxiety.  I don't know why, but that's the way it is.  When I get scared, my knee jerk reaction is to cover my ears.  I can't explain it but it's some sort of phobia I've had since I was a kid.

But I know people, responsible people, that have guns.  They have handguns.  Maybe shotguns.  They lock them up.  They obey all the rules and laws and regulations.  They are very respectful of them in fact.  I have absolutely not one ounce of concern or worry that something accidental will happen because of their guns.  If you want to have a handgun for protection - so be it.  If you want take your guns and go shoot crap in the desert or at shooting ranges - so be it.  But no one, NO FUCKING ONE, needs an automatic anything.  Here is where I'm confused.

Why is it so easy to get your hands on the weapons meant to kill multiple people at a rapid speed.  Yes, some states are way stricter and you probably can't get a hold of these as easily but you can get them if you try hard enough.  Why the fuck are they not banned?!  Why in the ACTUAL FUCK are there now things called bump stocks that you can purchase that can be added to a non automatic gun and make it automatic?!  

My other confusion is why the Hell are we so obsessed?!?!  Example - the nano second someone opens their mouth about gun control or gun anything really, the gun people say "Don't take my guns!!"  They may start spouting off the 2nd amendment.  You can't even have a discussion about it.  People with guns seem so fucking protective of their right to have a gun they flip right out.  A lot of these assholes are the same ones who think it's ok to take away people's human rights but don't you dare touch my fucking gun! (Not all of you).  What is that?!  What's with guns?!  

A guy I dated a while back - on our 1st date (he knew I was liberal) he felt the need to tell me he had guns but not to worry because he obeyed the law and was careful and blah blah.  Honestly I didn't care.  You didn't have to tell me that 5 minutes into our date.  It's ok dude, settle down, I'm not a liberal here to take away your gun - but again - WHAT IS THAT?  And he's not the 1st.  I have so many people I've had conversations with that are all chill and cool and most of the time pretty left swinging politically.  Then if guns are mentioned, as if you stuck them with a hot poker they tense up and get all defensive saying "Well I have guns and I have a right and I'm careful and BLAH FUCKING BLAH!" 

We have an NRA.  We actually have an organization that is a national GUN ORGANIZATION.  Not only that - it's seriously one of the the most powerful organizations in the country.  

Other countries have no fucking clue why America is so obsessed with guns.  I keep using the word obsessed because that's what we are.  A school - A FUCKING SCHOOL WITH CHILDREN  - can get shot up yet nothing happens.  A nightclub in Florida gets shot up and holds the record for the worst mass shooting in US History and nothing happens.  And now the Vegas shooting took that record from Florida, killing a bunch of innocent people trying to enjoy a music festival.  WHAT. THE. FUCK.

While my heart is breaking, and I've been crying for days, and crying more reading the stories of the victims and I can't even begin to imagine the fear and the horror these people went through that awful night, I come back to this - why was this 60 something year old gambler able to buy that many guns and bump stocks and no one raise an eyebrow?!  I'll tell you - because we're obsessed with guns. 

We can't even talk about it!  I look to you - the gun people - calm the fuck down and stop worrying so much about people trying to take away your guns or take away your rights and try to get our backwards ass country right now to step the fuck up and fix this.  Because they're certainly not listening to any one else.

Halloween Season at D-land...

Yup!
Gotta start Halloween Season off checking out the Halloween Decor at the Mouse House!  I think my pass will be expiring so had to hit the Halloween season one more time!  Plus I just love going with my mom who is completely obsessed with Disneyland.  Plus this is the first year that California Adventure decorated!

Of course - 1st thing is 1st - pretty much the only ride we went on because it's the most important - Haunted Mansion turned Nightmare Before Christmas!

My favorite part of Halloween Season!

I love you Zero!!!

Awwww Sally!

We got stuck on the ride for a bit.  Totally don't mind!

Mom of course always has to play the Buzz Lightyear game and I actually beat her for the 1st time ever I think!

I look like I'm taking a ...well....

We also nabbed every Photo Pass Person we could find and got plenty of photos!

Caught that little bitch again!

Our Prim and Proper Halloween Photo

Happy Halloween!

ZERO!!!!  I wish I knew who it was!  I would have petted him!

We realized that Disneyland really only decorates Main Street.  So we did a round through the park but were pretty disappointed in the lack of decor so we headed over to California Adventure.



They have completely decked it out super cute!!

First order of business was mom had to get the limited edition Oogy Boogy Popcorn Bucket!

We then hit Cove Bar because I'm always hungry and they have good wine!  We sat at the bar and had delicious sliders and wine.  We got to talking about online dating and I showed mom my Bumble app.  She spent the next 20 minutes swiping for me!  Ha!

Give me wine.

They had Cars Land set up friggin adorable!

They photographer said "Act like a monster!"

Cornucopia of Cute!

Loved the Pumpkin Cones!

My favorite piece of decor was the Headless Horseman!  So rad!!

Yaaaaaaaaaasssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Be Scared" they said.  Mom didn't get the memo

We then stuck around for a bit to see some of the darling littles rolling in all decked out in their costumes for the Halloween Party they have later in the evening.  My favorite was an entire family of Pirates but I couldn't get over this precious little dude already tuckered out.  I feel ya buddy!

Cutest little sleepy pirate eva!!!

We headed out before it got too crazy and chalked up another wonderful Mama and Daughter Day at Disneyland in the books!  I love you so damn much mom!

This is why online dating is the 9th Circle of Hell...

I was explaining the levels we have to go through during the online dating process to a friend the other day, and she's of the geek culture and referred to it as "Leveling Up".  A perfect analogy.



Here's how it goes once you've signed up on a dating site or app:

Now, this 1st level depends on what site/app you're on.  You're either swiping through the deck of cards that are dudes, or sorting through your dudes that are daily sent to you based on the site/apps algorithms, or some other way dudes are presented to you to like or pass on.

You then may "Match" with someone. - LEVEL UP!  (This usually means both parties "liked' or "swiped right" on each other)

Then hopefully you start a conversation via the site/app.  Some of them the women has to initiate (Which BTW - if I matched with you, I liked you for some reason, and I will ALWAYS initiate. Not every woman is a ghost) and some it doesn't matter.  Some are timed.  But this next step is the emailing/chatting via the app/site.

Dude actually responds to the emails/chats and you two keep a conversation going (note - keep a conversation going) - LEVEL UP!

At this point you will hopefully dig each other enough to exchange digits.

Then you text each other or *gasp* a phone call happens - LEVEL UP!

You actually text more than one day. - LEVEL UP!  (Yes. Actually another level here)


Now - yet another level falls here - you actually consistently text (or call, but let's be real 98% of the world texts now) with the thought - ON BOTH PARTIES - that this is leading to an eventual meet up.  A lot of the time things fail here, you find out if you got yourself a pen pal.  But if not - LEVEL UP!

You make a date.  With details.  - LEVEL UP!

There is where you may actually get a bit hopeful.



Date actually happens.  Like you go to the agreed place and your date shows up and you have an actual date.  - LEVEL UP!

Now here's another crucial time.  The date either bombs and the courting ends here.  Or it goes really well - or so you think.  Both of you actually have to have that chemistry or spark or something.  You may think it goes well but the dude ghosts or let's you know (which is super rare) that he didn't feel it.  So I will say here - the next step is you continue contact and schedule and go on and actually have a 2nd date - LEVEL UP! 

You schedule and go on an actually have a 3rd date - LEVEL UP!

From my experience if you can successfully make it to 4 or 5 actually successful dates that it really does look like it's going to go somewhere you can officially say you have now passed the needed levels to fall into actually possibly dating someone.  So consider yourself promoted - to another set of levels.



Unfortunately I can't say this means you're done or have found the one, but you've at least got past the beginnings.  Does this make sense?  Seem like a lot of work?  It is.

Welcome to the 9th Circle of Hell which is Online Dating.

I made a purse...

Like actually made a leather purse.

My mom's longtime friend Belen has an artist Hubs who always has a booth down at Laguna Art-A-Fair.  I guess a few weeks ago she took a class to make Leather Purses.  She told my mom about it who got all excited and signed me, her and Danelle up for it thinking it would be a fun Sunday.

I was warned to come with a design.  I am no artist.  Like at all.  I can barely draw a stick figure so I hit up Pinterest and looked for ideas.  I saw a cute kitty purse and thought that could be fun, so I printed out the pattern and brought it along.

We got there early enough to grab some breakfast at a coffee house down the way then hit up the Fair.

The class was in 2 parts.  10:30 - 12:30 then a break for lunch then 1:45ish to 3:30.

The gal who taught was also an artist at the Fair.  She had cut up some pieces for us and we got started.

We were told to start "designing" our purse.  Lord.

Did I mention I can't draw?

After my sad attempts at drawing, I decided on a shape and cut it out.

Looks kind like a purse!

Mom and D at work

The teacher and I decided it would be easier to have the cat on the purse rather than as the top part so I cut out the cat (was actually ok with my shape) and got ready to punch the holes.

Not bad actually

I was then to punch holes to sew.  This was hard on your hands.  I'm actually still sore from it!

Now, when I started trying to sew this damn cat head onto the purse it was awful.  Leather is not easy to go in and out of, my back was screaming and I was just not having very good luck.  I got to a stuck point and the teacher stepped in to help.  Thank GAWD.  We talked about what she was going to do and my growling stomach and aching back were like "Do whatever" and she sent us off for lunch.  When I came back she had finished the cat.

After a delicious lunch and a couple of glasses of wine I was ready to re-tackle the thing.  I then finished sewing the purse together, added the top part, added the strap and added the closure.  All with her guidance.

Here's the 4 purses all finished!

D made the clutch, mom's purse has the little flower and Belen has the square one

We took an after shot with our teacher and we are all now official purse makers!

Purse ladies!

Afterwards we then wandered the Fair, I picked up a few gifts and we took a photo booth shot of course.

Yay for Art!

As frustrating as it got a few times, and as tolling as it was on my back and neck, it was a super fun day!  I actually am pretty happy with my little hippie leather purse I made!  I really enjoy doing things I wouldn't normally sign up to do.  Thanks mom for treating me to a fun day and letting be pretend I'm a bit of an artist.