It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

It's that time of year when the Great Pumpkin makes his appearance in the pumpkin patch that is most sincere to give out treats to all the good little boys and girls!

I grew up watching this delightful cartoon on TV back in the day. It first aired in 1966 when I was 9 years old. Yes, I was the target audience! Good Grief!

Every year after that, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" would be on our Halloween must-do list. I'm so happy that the tradition continues today. I grew up watching the show, my kids grew up watching it, and just last weekend I watched it with my 9-year-old granddaughter!

For those who have been not seen the show, here is brief synopsis:

Linus writes a letter to the Great Pumpkin, looking forward to his
arrival on Halloween night. Of course, his older sister, Lucy,
thinks he's crazy. She doesn't believe in the Great Pumpkin.
But Linus's faith is strong. Nothing will deter him.

The gang get their costumes ready for trick or treating.
Charlie Brown has trouble with the scissors. 

Lucy: A person should always choose a costume
which is in direct contrast to her own personality.

Lucy leads the gang trick or treating
 and has to ask for an extra piece of candy for her
"blockhead brother" who is waiting for Great Pumpkin.

Meanwhile, Linus has settled into the most sincere pumpkin patch
he can find and waits expectantly for the
Great Pumpkin to appear at midnight.

Snoopy has his own problems. As the World War I flying ace,
Snoopy is ready to battle Red Baron. 

The gang goes trick or treating and get all kinds of goodies.
Except for Charlie Brown. All he gets is a bag of rocks.

After trick or treating, the gang has a Halloween party.
Everyone is having a good time except Lucy.
She is too bossy for her own good.

Snoopy continues his mission to destroy the Red Barron.

Linus encourages Sally to join him in greeting the Great Pumpkin.
Her love for Linus wins out and she spends Halloween night
in the pumpkin patch. Linus and Sally see the
Great Pumpkin rise out of the pumpkin patch. Or maybe not.  

At the Halloween party, Lucy bobs for apples
 and accidentally touches DOG LIPS! 

The Great Pumpkin didn't show up and Sally is angry with Linus.
She missed out on tricks or treats, the Halloween party
and all the fun. She demands RESTITUTION!

In the end, Linus is not deterred. His faith is stronger than ever.
He believes that next year the Great Pumpkin will show up for sure! 

Fangirl

Me and Ernest Cline. Just so happens we wear the same glasses!

I'm a "Fangirl" of Ernest Cline!

I attended the Laramie County Community College Literary Connection this weekend here in Cheyenne and got my picture taken with Ernest Cline, screenwriter of the movie "Fanboys" (2009) and author of the New York Times Best-Selling book "Ready Player One."

Ernest told us about the amazing adventure of how his first screenplay, "Fanboys," came to be optioned by Hollywood and made into a film. And how Kevin Spacey wanted to Executive Produce the movie and got the ball rolling with George Lucas, giving permission to film at Skywalker Ranch. The rest is history.

Ernest learned that when Hollywood buys your script, the screenwriter has no say in the final product. He said in Hollywood the screenwriter is not the low man on the totem pole -- the screenwriter is the part of the totem pole that is stuck in the ground.

He decided that his next story would not be a screenplay, but a novel. This would ensure that if it were made into a film (with all the cooks in the kitchen messing with his masterpiece), the original story would remain intact.

Little did he know that this novel, "Ready Player One," would become a best seller and a bidding war for film rights would take place, with Ernest writing the screenplay. WOW!

I bought his book and he signed it for me! My first book signed by the author!

Ernest signed my book: "To Luana, Live long and prosper!"

Ernest's book: Ready Player One