Louise Carroll: Random thoughts for October
My random thoughts just pile up like leaves under the trees. I can't blow them away, so I share them with you.
Since it’s the month when witches fly, pumpkins are carved and children go door to door to get candy, I have a few random thoughts for October.
Anonymous said: "When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween."
An estimated 73 million children under age 18 will be out for Trick or Treat. I think I understand why 1 in 5 adults pretend they are not home on Trick or Treat night. That's a lot of kids.
In 2022, Halloween costume spending for pets was about $700 million. The most popular costumes for pets were pumpkin, hot dog, bat and bumblebee.
“My Halloween costume was so bad that people opened their doors and took candy from me.” - Glen Nesbitt
Mamie Eisenhower was the first First Lady to decorate the White house for Halloween. It was a Halloween luncheon.
“But everyone here knows that Halloween was invented by the candy companies. It’s a conspiracy.” - Max, Hocus Pocus
"Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, 'Never take candy from strangers.' And then they dressed me up and said, 'Go beg for it.'” - Rita Rudner
I like words that sound like what they mean. I really like dingthrift. It means one who is wasteful and reckless with money or resources. A synonym for spendthrift, it was first used in 1566. Interesting that in 1566 they had dings like we have dingbats.
Despite tequila production being limited to Mexico, over 70% of the final product goes to the U.S.
"If more politicians in this country were thinking about the next generation instead of the next election, it might be better for the United States and the world." - Claude Pepper
Spoons are a millennia older than forks.
I don't know who said this, but it is a basic truth. People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” - Marthe Troly-Curtin, author
The longest human beard ever recorded is over 17 feet long. I'm guessing he lived in a cool climate and was single. I wonder how long the longest non-human beard was.
Steve Chen worked at Facebook for a few weeks before quitting to begin his own startup. He called it YouTube.
President John Tyler fathered 15 children, more than any other president.
"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." - Carl Jung, psychiatrist 1875-1961
Captain Kirk never said, "Beam me up, Scotty," in any original Star Trek episode.
"There is always more goodness in the world than there appears to be, because goodness is of its very nature modest and retiring." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Louise Carroll: Random thoughts for October
