Preparing for Zombies

The garage window is decorated with scary creatures (see previous years post here, we tend to do the same from year to year) and the bowl is filled with chocolate goodies.  Yes, tonight we hand out treats to every zombie and princess that comes to our door, much to Buddy's distress.   We also hook up scary sounds to a speaker and project that throughout the neighborhood.  

Tonight I am expecting about 30 trick or treaters as that is what we had last year and tonight is a weeknight versus weekend and it is supposed to rain.  That does not usually dissuade Vancouver Island trick or treaters however as they are used to it.  At 9pm or when we run out of candy the lights go off.  Not much worry of running out of candy though.  This year I spent $3 on two masks at the thrift store that we are hanging from the lights on our garage and $34 on candy.

Getting freebies in the mail is much like trick or treating for adults....these came yesterday.  The laundry soap sample will be given to Mom as hubby is allergic to almost everything except sunlight detergent so I buy that by the 4 litre jug.  We use Voltaren all the time for arthritis - this is the perfect travel size for hubby.  It's been a long time since I've received any freebies, they don't have that many in Canada.

Work is steady, life is busy with appointments etc.  The truck is mostly fixed from our accident last month.  We still have to take it on Friday to have a dealership as there is a seat belt/airbag error on the passenger side.  When you are rear ended airbags are not supposed to deploy as your seat belt saves you from too much damage but it seems Toyota's commonly have this problem when rear ended.  The bag didn't deploy but obviously some kind of sensor went off.  The collision place does not have the appropriate Toyota computer to assess what is wrong with that so we had to make an appointment at the dealership.  Mom and I are healing, she has started physio therapy but my chest still hurts so will hold off on chiropractic treatments until that is fully healed.  My Dr says that sprains and bruises take longer to heal than breaks often times - well that sucks! Anyway, our claims adjuster was quick to wave money in front of Mom and I to settle quickly but we are not settling any claim until we are certain we are at the end of whatever medical treatments that we need not covered by our Canadian healthcare (physio and chiro are not).

Completely off topic but hubby and I went a movie for the first time this year, using a gift certificate that one of the kids bought him for his birthday.  We went to "A Star Is Born" - what a fantastic movie.  I have always been a fan of Bradley Cooper but not really ever of Lady Gaga.  That changed with this movie.  Both are super talented, both in the acting and singing department.  I really hope this movie wins awards, they both deserve it.

And for the grand finale - I managed to stay on budget this month in the grocery department - and even shaved over $100 off previous months overages!!  I ended the month at $467.37.  The monthly budget is $575 (including all cleaners/otcs/personal products) Canadian.  Previous months overages were $171.14.  Now my October budget   $575-overage left of $63.51 = $511.49.  The freezer is full. So are the cupboards.  I only have one item I am totally out of - chicken and will buy 4 kilo of boneless skinless breasts this weekend.   I've said it before but for some reason I can buy parts much cheaper than buying a whole chicken so I do.

I have invited my best friend for supper on Saturday as well as Mom, we intend to do ribs so I will need to buy some of those and some ice cream to go with a homemade apple crisp.  I did vacuum last weekend but quit as my chest hurt - I will try again this weekend to see what the progression of healing has been.  Not sure why vacuuming would cause it to hurt but it does.

I am super excited about next week - our thrift stores used to wait until after November 11 to put out Christmas stuff but this year they are doing it a week early - one on Saturday and one on Monday.  These are the best days all year to try and find vintage/antique items so Mom and I are ready.  My wine making experiment is ready to bottle - next Thursday I will be bringing home 20 bottles of sauvingnon blanc and my friend 10 as she wanted a 1/3 share.   Hopefully that will mean a decrease in liquor costs.  In the new year I will start a different batch, maybe a reisling this time.

May your day be filled with ghosts and goblins - Happy Halloween everyone!