THIS AND THAT * Here’s an idea…This Christmas purchase some of your gifts from your hometown and home-based stores, and your turkey or ham from the local grocery store. During this crazy year, we need to come together and support each other, and what better time than at Christmas? * As a grownup I’ve learned that all the “Christmas magic” I felt as a kid was really from my mom and dad who loved me so much.

Mom and Dad’s anniversary was November 26th, so this year since Thanksgiving lands on that day, here is a poem I read that reminds me of them since they always had such a bountiful garden every year.

THIS AND THAT! * Sir Sean Connery, the James Bond all other actors aspire to be! He was my favorite Bond, but I also enjoyed many other movies he starred in, and I do mean “starred,” in through the years. He had that charisma on and off the screen, and had such a commanding, yet lilting voice.

MAN ALIVE, TRENT IS FIVE!! Who has a pocket full of rocks And loves puppies and bugs? Who can wrestle like a champ But also gives great, big hugs? Who can’t resist jumping in puddles And loves to explore? Who will be celebrating a birthday soon And will be four, plus one more? Who leaves behind a trail of dirt Wherever he goes? And likes to make snow angels Whenever it snows? Who loves to play Mario Kart And works hard to win each race? He learns to take his time And figures out the pace. Who loves catching butterflies And then sets them free? He likes the monarchs the best And steers clear of the bees! Who loves his big sister And his Mommy and Dad? Who enjoys playing with Drake and Rosie And is always happy, not sad? Who makes me so proud And has courage galore? Who is strong and brave And so much more? Who is my little bit of Heaven, My miracle from above? It’s my five-year-old Trent Who I love, LUV, LoVe! Happy Fifth Birthday to my one-and-only Trent Avery! Love you and your big sister more than more, Grams!.

* I had a yummy cookie at the Ribbon Cutting for the new pour-in-place surface for the Stockton City Park. It was a strawberry cookie with white chocolate chips. I liked it so much I decided to recreate it for my next little baking project. Here is what I came up with—I used the old tried and true cake mix cookie recipe, which is a strawberry cake mix, two eggs and a half of a cup of oil. I mixed those ingredients together, then threw in a cup of the white chocolate chips. I dropped spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and baked them at 350 degrees for approximately eight to ten minutes. Amazing!

Halloween is coming So what should they wear? Will Tessa be a princess And Trent look debonair? Tessa will be a cheerleader In Stockton blue and white. Trent will be Captain America Come this Halloween night.

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE! This is the editorial I wrote in 2016 and it worked so well, I decided to reprint it again with a few additions! On Tuesday, November 3rd, America will be going to the polls to vote. We need to get America back on track, not only for ourselves, but even more importantly, for our children and future generations! Now I am not one to talk or debate politics very much—or tell people who to vote for—but I would like to make a few, tiny suggestions about voting on Tuesday… Think about what the candidates stand for.

THIS AND THAT * Legendary singer/songwriter Mac Davis passed away on September 29th, and although I knew he wrote such great hits like “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” “Don’t Cry Daddy,” and “Whoever Finds This, I Love You,” I did not know that he wrote the lyrics to my favorite Elvis song, “In The Ghetto.” If you want to listen to some great music, check him out. His music will live on! * Yes, it is finally October! That means all the cobwebs and dust in my house are now Halloween decorations! * People who were born in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s have lived in seven, six or five decades, two centuries, two millennia and had the best music, the coolest cars, drivein theaters, soda fountains and plenty of happy summer days.

* Hey, who remembers watching American Bandstand AND Soul Train? “I like the song because it has a good beat!” * Read this and wanted to pass it along…In March of this year there was a Friday the 13th, a full moon, and we turned the clocks ahead all in one weekend. On October 31st, Halloween is on a Saturday, there will be a full moon that night, and we will turn the clocks back an hour.

THIS AND THAT * Hey, Charlie Brown, I hope I look as good as you do when I turn 70! Charlie and the Peanuts gang will officially observe their 70th anniversary this weekend! The launch date for the daily comic strip by Charles Schulz began on October 2nd, 1950 with the Sunday edition out in the newspapers on January 6th, 1952. We could learn a thing or two from that comic strip.