Friend carved the pumpkin last night and it certainly looks scary at night with a lighted candle in it. Every year he carves the pumpkin and each time it looks EVIL. It's the way he cut the eyes. He makes quite a project out of it. First he outlines the face on paper, then on the surface of the pumpkin. He spends quite some time with his glasses on making sure it is drawn just right. Then he takes a knife and carefully cuts the face out, taking his time in doing so. He really is pretty good at this artistic endeavor. You'll see it lighted in the latest video embedded below. Also, he watched Rachel Ray, who recommended rubbing the inside surface of a carved pumpkin top with cinnamon, so that when the candle burns inside there will be a "refreshing scent of cinnamon in the air." Ray's tip comes at the end of this Pumpkin Seed Video that aired on October 23, showing how to prepare and roast pumpkin seeds. I thought it was rather a good tip, so I thought I'd mention it to you pumpkin-carvers who don't watch delightful little Rachel Ray. Tee-hee.
Most of the snow that fell last night melted by dawn's early light -- but it's icy cold outside. Local news reports the snow flurries have ended for the time being. Going to have to make sure I bundle up before going out in the world today to the clinic to pick up some surgical masks to wear around as protection against germy people, ha-ha. Here is what's left on my truck:
The cats, although fascinated by the falling snow flakes wanting to bat at and play with them, refused to walk out on the snow covered porch. The Little Tiger Cat yelped when I pushed her. Through the cold night they slept on my bed amongst the blankets, being disturbed at times by the growling sound of the wind outside. The sound really is creepy and it especially bothers Whiskers, who hid under the bed when it grew loud. I listened to it in the dark -- it sounded like demons were howling at the locks. Very creepy.
My electric blanket quit working and refused to heat up. Checked the plugs and connections, but it just would not warm. One side quit working a couple of weeks ago (it's a queen size dual control), and now the other side has stopped warming, so I've unplugged it to avoid a fire like the news story about an old man who burned up in his trailer (photos) here because of a faulty electric blanket control. My blanket was old anyway, I was expecting it to quit working. But I sure could have used it last night. Thing is I don't need one to cover the whole bed; all I need is a throw-sized one to just cover myself. Although I don't have money in the bank I'm going to find a small one because I need to keep warm to avoid any chills that might cause me to become sick with my compromised immune system being so low. Don't want to take any chances with this chilly weather. It's better to play safe than sorry.
Here is the crummy snow / pumpkin home video:
CARSON CITY GHOST WALK 2009
My friend Alissa and I were gonna go on this ghost walk, but we both got broke and couldn't afford the tickets. Oh well, maybe next year.
NEVADA'S GOING TO DRY OUT, SCIENTIST SAYS
A scientist says Pyramid Lake (the gigantic blue saltwater lake I swam at in one of my videos from a few months back) is threatened by global warming and predicts doom and gloom for the lake (and Nevada as well):
"The water level has probably gone down 100 feet in the past 50 years," said Obradovich
"In 50 years, Pyramid will be half as big as now, maybe a third as big as now. More saline, less fish, shorelines of mud," said Bruecker.
I've embedded a RERUN of my Pyramid Lake swim from last summer. I still remember how warm, clean and refreshing it was. I also got a little sunburn from the experience.
