This week we asked the staff “What was the spookiest (or kookiest) costume you’ve ever worn?”

Carmen: I dressed as bacon and eggs as a child (Thanks Mom!).  Now I find pleasure it subjecting my own kids to embarrassing costumes.  My personal favorite was when they were both skunks.

Adam: I’ve been random zombies, ghouls and hobos throughout my trick-or-treat days. Nothing really jumps out as all that “Kooky” or “Spooky” – guess I’d be pretty lame at a costume party now a days.

Sandy: Like Adam, I’m lame about dressing in costume. I remember being various witches and ghosts as a kid. Nothing particularly spooky or kooky.

Charlie: One time I put Elmer's glue all over myself and rolled in a leaf pile.  I told everybody I was Leaf Man, I got in trouble that night.  I miss my twenties some times.

Salli: The most recent costume I tried was Steve from "Blue's Clues".  The kooky part was that I thought kids would know who I was at first glance.  Not so much.  And I disagree with Charlie...he dressed up as 'House' a couple years ago, and it was spooky how much he looked like him!

Debbie: I was never really a spooky costume person.  My favorite as a kid was a stewardess (dating myself - now "flight attendant")  As an adult  - probably Betty Rubble from the Flintstones!

Bonny: I love Halloween because I have small children and we host an annual chili party but I personally have never been a fan of dress up.  I have a no face paint rule.  I usually pull out the black cat ears and call it a day.

photo credit

September is here, leaves are beginning to fall and the weather is crisper. Today the WRIS staff discusses their favorite ways to enjoy one of autumn’s best products – juicy, delicious apples.

John: I like apple cider. Also like eating straight from tree as I used to do at Orchard Hills in Chesterland during a round of golf!

Adam: I love apple cider (and cold pizza) in the fall. It takes me back to high school; the morning after a football game….ahhh….good times.

Sandy: All of the above, plus applesauce and freeze-dried (‘brothers all natural’ apple crisps are a great snack!). Washington state is known for its apples, and the house I grew up in had two apple trees in the back yard. We used to eat them in all sorts of forms, including homemade applesauce.

Charlie: My favorite way to eat apples is to grab them right off a tree and eat them.  The sour green ones were the best.

Salli: My faves are cut into chunks with a fresh wedge of good cheese and a nice bottle of wine, or in my Great Aunt's recipe for homemade apple pie...which means just a whisper of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Warm up the pie and slap a good slice of cheddar or a nice dollop of whipped cream and you're eating a little piece of  heaven!

Debbie: I would say my favorite is dutch apple pie.  I have to also agree with Salli - wine and cheese is right up there.  Makes me think of California wine country trips - totally awesome.

Bonny: The more crisp and tart the better.  If I am feeling crazy, I will do crunchy peanut butter.  I love a caramel apple in the Fall too!

Carmen: My grandmother used to make delicious apple butter.  The recipe involved Red Hots candy believe it or not.  I think I will try making it myself soon.

Image courtesy of La Grande Farmer's Market

We’re health conscious crew here at WRIS Web Services.  Here are the activities we like to participate in, as well as advice for those just starting out.

Charlie: I run and do some moderate weight lifting.  I think my advice would be moderation and consistency.  If you are sporadic with exercise you end up starting over every time you go out.  Don't over do it, if it hurts then you probably shouldn't be doing it.

Debbie: I do yoga, bike, cardio and weights/fitness bands.  I believe you need a balanced approach to a fitness program.  Try to do something every day and keep a log of what you do.  When you see it in writing it keeps you motivated.  It takes 3 weeks of doing something consistently to make it a habit.

Bonny: I run, lift weights and do the AbGlider baby!!  If you want a cost effective and quick solution to working out that helps you tone up AND loose weight- AbGlider IS the answer:) [Editor’s Note: Bonny was not compensated for her endorsement of AbGlider]

Salli: I do nothing except try to keep up with my kids.  Not sure that really counts, but unfortunately I have never been athletic...at all!

Carmen: I’m an endurance junkie so I mainly run, swim and bike.  I also do P90X as my resistance training.  My best advice is to set ambitious, but achievable, goals.  I find having something to work towards gives me motivation to get the workouts in.

Sandy: Right now I do yoga and walking. My advice: try different yoga styles till you find one you like.

John: I like to run. It takes time to become in shape and to reap all the benefits of running, and I think most people quit before they ever get to the point where running is fun for them and not something they dread or have to do to keep the weight off.

The stores are jam packed with mini fridges, dry erase boards and shower caddys.  That means only one thing – it’s back to school season for college students.

This week WRIS Web Services is also headed back to college.  (Well, more in a “reminiscing” way than a term paper and final exam kind of way)

Where did you go to college? What was your favorite part of college? What class do you wish you would have taken?

Charlie: I went to Denison University in Granville, Ohio.  I think my favorite part of college was developing relationships with new friends that were from different parts of the country.  I should have taken a technology class or two and maybe I would have appreciated networks and computers a little sooner.

Bonny: I too went to Denison University (with Charlie).  The favorite part of college for me was the life long friendships I gained.  In addition to my friendship and working relationship with Charlie, I have maintained a tie with a group of woman that I went to school with.  Even though we do not speak on a regular basis or even stay connected through Facebook, we meet every 2 years for a Girl's weekend. Every reunion is amazing and it is as if we had never parted. Ironically, even though I majored in Spanish, I never really "learned" it.  If I could do it again I would like to have been fluent.

Salli: I went to Cuyahoga Community College on scholarship and then to Kent State University.  My favorite part of college would have to be the friends I made.  It probably would have been good if I had minored in computer programming or French.  I took classes in those areas, but not enough.

Sandy: I went to The Evergreen State College and the University of Washington.  My favorite part of college was learning to be independent and learning assembly language programming.  I wish I’d taken some theater tech classes.

Debbie: I started at University of Akron, but transferred and graduated from Cleveland State University.  My favorite part of college was being out on my own.  I probably would have chosen a different major and gone into Education to teach high school.

John: I went to John Carroll University.  My favorite part was meeting new people and having fun.  I would have like to take more international business classes, seeing as our economy has become so global since I graduated.

Carmen: I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s from Case Western Reserve University.  The friends I made while there (including my husband!) were one of the highlights.  I also really enjoyed participating on the cross-country and track teams.  I wish I would had room for some accounting classes.  I’ve had to teach myself (or bug Debbie!)

Summer is in full swing here at WRIS. In the spirit of sunshine, our team QA for the week is:

What is your favorite thing to do/eat in the summer that you can't do/eat the rest of the year?

Carmen: One of the best parts of summer is being able to swim outside.  Whether it is lap swimming to get ready for triathlon season (another great part of summer) or just playing in the shallow end with my little boys, there’s just something magical about the smell of chlorine and sun!

Salli: Throwing open all the windows first thing in the morning and leaving them open until late at night.  I love the smell of fresh air throughout the house.

Charlie: I would have to say the ability to cook out and hang outside at night.  I know you can do this in the other seasons but it’s just not the same as summer.

Bonny: Gazpacho- I would eat it every day if I could.

John: I like to grill and chill out outside with friends and family. Also walking around the neighborhood is always nice in the summer.

Sandy: Watching the fireflies in our backyard at dusk; I’ve only lived east of the Rockies for four years, and they’re still magical to me.

Debbie: Hanging out by the pool with friends!