Deal, or No Deal

I'm not really going to say much about what's been going on. Here's the abbreviated version: burns (but you probably already read about those) pneumonia, more pneumonia, yucky virus, ear infection, more ear infection, and more ear infection, termites, and a very nasty stomach virus (repeat that to yourself four more times, please; I don't have the energy to retype it). I'm not going to say all is finally well here because, ahem, I'm not quite ready for that much commitment. My commitment-phobia pops up in the strangest places, as you see.

Needless to say a lot has happened since I last posted. I'll walk you back through everything in upcoming posts, but for now I'll just start at the, um, now. Okay, ready?

So, what's the deal about Deal, or No Deal, you ask? In the past D and I have spent the first couple of weeks in November hiding in the closet, avoiding the sugar-induced pandemonium that follows a tremendous windfall of the trick-or-treating variety. A couple of years ago I came up with the brilliant idea that I could possibly "buy" the candy back from them--for a price, of course. Knowing that the guys are not very concerned about growing their wealth (or protecting their teeth), I had to come up with something really enticing to cause them to give up the stuff they walked so hard to earn. Cold cash wouldn't do it for them. Uh-huh.

This is where Deal, or No Deal comes into play. The boys really like the show, so I made our version of it at home, with Halloween candy as the currency. In the "case" (a gift bag) I had a special mystery treat. On the white board is listed three or four options to earn the case. They choose an option of their liking, but they all end with me receiving the vast majority of the candy. Don't ask what happens to it after that. I'll never admit tell.

So here is the November 1, 2007 Deal, or No Deal.

First we are in accumulation mode...

...and accumulate they do!


Here is the final haul, with very heavy bags. Our neighbors are very generous, especially when a tiny little cow is in the group.



They chose option three, which gave them one piece of candy a day for the next fifteen days. I get to dispose of the rest in exchange for the precious "case." Oh, did I say it was a gift bag? Well, this year I couldn't find a gift bag big enough to hold it. I really couldn't!



So here we are, with the new Super Soakers (Arctic Blasts, of all things) and swim trunks. A plan is formulating. Suddenly a fortress appears.

The fortress needs defending.

Defending at all costs. Get back you filthy invaders!

Artillery, check!

Filthy invader, check!

Target. Site. Attack!

And attack!

And attack some more!

"I can't help you, you filthy invader."

"I'm much too busy being adorable."

The victory laps, er, swings.

And we're off to formulate a new plan. Who wants to be a bank robber today?

I think M chose the right weapon...no reload necessary!

Now, will someone please remind me about this November 1st post, with the Super Soakers, swim trunks, and plastic pools when I start complaining about the hottest day of the year next summer? I occasionally need to be reminded why I like living in the south.