Happy Halloween!

Hallows Month, Day 30

Way back in March 2014, sister Pamela and her beau Michael took us to this most awesome tequila bar and restaurant in Atlanta. Us being moi and little sis Martine. The excellent food and beverages were enhanced by the Day of the Dead decor. It felt a little like Halloween six months early. I was not complaining.

Hallows Month, Day 29

Mr. Poe may be reeling in his shallow grave, and if he is, it is likely at least in part due to the recent actions of my cuz Cory. Riffing on Poe's classic ode Annabel Lee, he wrote his own version dedicated to our lovely friend Brenda. Enjoy.

BRENDA KAY B.

It was now, in the present, not long ago past,
In a green house beside a dead tree,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know,
By the name of Brenda Kay B.
And this maiden she lived with a great many thoughts,
Of her Ghoulies and Ghosties set free.

And now, in the present, this right saucy lass,
In her green house beside a dead tree,
There she lives with much vigor and passion and vim,
The lass who is Brenda Kay B.
Much vim and much vigor as herself she surrounds,
With her Ghoulies and Ghosties set free.

And now, in this season, not long ago past,
In a green house beside a dead tree,
The Halloween spectres and spirits are rising,
To the delight of our Brenda Kay B.
Rising to startle and frighten and panic,
Brenda’s Ghoulies and Ghosties set free.

And now, in the present, not long ago past,
Far from the green house and dead tree,
The maiden did journey, clad garish and rainbow,
As clown Boozo, not Brenda Kay B.
A truly bad car wreck. Sad pigs in a fire.
Who needs Ghoulies and Ghosties set free?

Not now, not the present, but the most recent past,
Left behind – the green house and dead tree,
See Boozo confronting the Mother confounded,
She who bore our dear lassie, you see.
With a stare and a sigh, puckered brow and eyes wide,
Quoth THE EDNA, “OH, BRENDA KAY B!”

Hallows Month, Day 28

If you'll refer back to Day 24, no, I have not made progress on the spooky book crafty project. So let's look back to a spooky craft project I did complete! I feel so much more like I've got it all together. Evidence of past project completion makes me think that future project completion is a less remote possibility. I have hope! And now the pressure to perform is killing me. Let's move on, shall we?

Hallows Month, Day 27

Statistics humor. Who knew such a thing existed?

Hallows Month, Day 26

Bake some Halloween themed, festive goodies! Cupcakes will do, but last year I experimented with cookies that looked like severed fingers. Complete with an almond slice for a nasty looking fingernail. I've seen clever confections like Oreo cookies transformed into spiders and a sheet cake masquerading as a cemetery plot using oblong sandwich or butter cookies poked into the cake to appear as headstones. Go crazy! Sometimes disgusting can be delicious.

Hallows Month, Day 25

How much fun is this? A whole freaking lot of fun, if you ask me! See more ideas here. Go ahead. You know you want to.

Weighty Subject

Weight has been on my mind. In particular the association between my physical weight and my spiritual/emotional weight. I have been an emotional eater since the age of eleven but did not recognize that fact until fifteen or so years ago. It took a great deal of time to make the connection between feeling stressed and the fact that I ate in response to it. Not a good thing. So it seems some unhealthy eating habits have settled in again and I've been doing my best to ignore their manifestation. I need these cookies! I need these peanut butter white chocolate pumpkin shaped thingys! I need these fried semi-vegetable-like things dipped in cheese sauce! Could it be that if I dealt with the stuff that's really bothering me that these unnatural needs would disappear? Hmmmm. I made a positive move earlier today to relieve myself of some emotional negatives by paring down my social media contacts. And I feel better already. It's time to be more mindful about what I consume. That includes so much more than what I put in my mouth. I've known for years that what I take in through my ears and eyes and heart has a direct influence on what I eat. If I put myself on a strictly positive emotional/social/spiritual diet, the calories take care of themselves. How many times must I learn this lesson? Until I get it right. 

Hallows Month, Day 24

You know how you think up a holiday-specific crafty project? And you consider how to execute, in the carrying out rather than kill meaning of the word, so you gather materials and think on it for a spell. This little project is now in its second year of consideration. And will perhaps be completed by the third. Anyway. A couple of years ago I was seeing these cute stacks of faux books with Halloweeny themed titles on their faux spines. And as happens with dozens of crafty things I take a fancy to, I think, why spend the however many bucks on it when I likely have the materials at home to do it myself? So before I hauled a couple of boxes of rummage sale leftover books to Goodwill, I pulled out three of them that made a nice graduated stack. Thinking that I could create my own little spooky tabletop library. That was as far as I got the first year.
     

Here we are a year later! I had packed away the books with the Halloween decorations. I know, clever thinking! The next step was to download some free creepy looking fonts and then print out some creepy sounding new titles for the books. The next step that I haven't quite gotten around to is to decoupage the new titles onto the spines of the books. Clearly I'm still thinking on this and may very well pack all of it up until next year. With only a week remaining until Halloween who knows what will transpire. 

Hallows Month, Day 23

I love Sandra Boynton so very much. Buy her books! Expose your children to her whimsical, fetching animals! You won't regret it.

My Kind of Girls

Hallows Month, Day 22

Feeling devilish just a few years ago. Always work at an establishment that allows Halloween costuming.

Many, many years prior to the first photo with full makeup and it would seem, serious contemplation of my pointy tail. Sadly, the demonic headpiece is long gone.  Rubbery latex costume pieces have an expiration date. One day you open the costume closet door only to find crispy red shards on the floor. It was fun while it lasted.

Hallows Month, Day 21

This is a plastic jar of rocks, people. Rocks. Like, stones you could pick up out in your yard. Nothing scary about that. Nope. What's scary is that the marked price is $19.99. Truly, would any rational person spend twenty bucks on a container of rocks? Though I did find this at Kohl's. And you have to try pretty hard to pay full price at Kohl's. But still. Unless maybe they're magical rocks. Rock on.

Reflections on Yesterday

All I really wanted was to get well and return to work. I liked my job. I felt appreciated for my contributions. My daily activities included a mix of  both routine and challenging tasks. For the most part I enjoyed the company of my coworkers. But after surgery and months of physical therapy I could no longer do my job. I was in constant pain and my hands never returned to their pre-injury, pre-repetitive-motion-compromised condition. I was subsequently dismissed from the job I had expertly and faithfully performed for six years. I was damaged and deemed disposable. So I hired a lawyer and sued my former employer. The past four years have been frustrating, demoralizing, and educational. As many times as I wanted to drop the whole business and walk away, my resolve hardened and I continued. I refused to go quietly. Finally, yesterday brought closure to this long and difficult chapter of my life. The lawsuit was settled through mediation. I am so very grateful to the friends and family who supported me along the way on this most difficult journey. The dollars I was awarded will not set me up for an easy life of leisure nor will they make my pain go away. But it's done, it was worth the fight, and I feel a sense of relief and closure. I'm ready to let this all go and leave it in the past. The next chapter awaits and I look forward to what it brings with optimism and enthusiasm. 

Hallows Month, Day 20

In no particular order, these are my favorite movies and tv series featuring witches as main characters. 

The Witches of Eastwick*
Bell, Book, and Candle*
Hocus Pocus*
The Witches of East End
The Craft
Practical Magic*
Once Upon a Time
Stardust
The Wizard of Oz*
Maleficent

*I love these so much I own copies of them!

Hallows Month, Day 19

I shall pass this lovely fall afternoon indoors. With a roomful of lawyers. What could possibly be scarier than that?

Let's Dance!

Hallows Month, Day 18

My pretty boy mostly black Halloweenish kitty. He was never helpful when I made up the bed. Still miss him but I'm less sad. Steinie was a most excellent cat.
  

Hallows Month, Day 17

Yes, you have seen these jaded ladies already. But I thought they deserved a second look. I still claim Bloated as my alter ego, but not feeling so bloaty this morning. Thanks for asking.

Hallows Month, Day 16

Facebook, you frighten me. With only one mutual friend, how for the love of the benevolent deity of your choice did you manage to suggest I might know and ought to perhaps friend my first serious boyfriend? Since you ask, yes, I did make the poor choice of clicking on him and being being shown his profile. I'm pretty sure it's him. The truly frightening part is that he lives in the area where I'm house shopping and planning to move. Of all the gin joints, blah, blah, blah.   

The Ides of Hallows Month

I apologize for the low-res phone photo. Several rummage sales ago Colleen left this spooky painting here. I took a liking to it because it's just a little creepy but also fun. I enjoy the wild-haired little girl with the broom and the lions remind me of Patience and Fortitude. Last spring I gave the painting to Emma. She enjoys spooky things and I was, still am, paring down the possessions in anticipation of moving. Which will happen. Eventually. When the right person walks into my house, falls in love with the fab kitchen and queen suite*, and buys it. 

*Most people refer to it as a master suite, but as long as I'm sleeping there it's the queen suite. I much prefer being the queen of the house to being master. The lucky buyer can call it whatever they wish.
  

Hallows Month, Day 14

More decor, what more could you ask for? I recommend hiring a small gargoyle to guard your wicked poison supply. They don't care for poison, wicked or otherwise. Promise him a pumpkin spice latte, gargoyles prefer a seasonal caffeinated beverage.

Not Schrödinger's Cat

Well, that envelope tasted crappy. From now on it's the cat's job to lick the envelopes! It's the least he could do. Considering the other places he licks without protest or gagging, this couldn't possibly be worse. And, no, I'm not going to lick Newt's butt to verify one way or the other. This has been your cat tasting experiment for today.

Hallows Month, Day 13

What's better than a dozen roses? Well, I would say combining the concept of flowers with the baker's dozen concept of baked goods. Resulting in thirteen, count 'em, thirteen black roses! Yes, they're fake. But I prefer to think of them as mummified or perhaps un-dead roses. How festive.

Hallows Month, Day 12

Hallows Month, Day 11

It is so very odd that we have not experienced a hard frost yet this fall. This is South Dakota! I have tropical flowers happily blooming near my front door. Not very Halloween-ey at all.

Need My Parenthood Fix!

Dear NBC,

In true tenacious form, I have powered through Seasons 1-5 of Parenthood in a mere twelve days. That's 7.5 episodes per day. Like so many other rabid fans, I am wondering when you plan to release the final season of episodes to Netflix. You toyed with us earlier by announcing that streaming would be available September 25th! Well before I became addicted to my daily dose of Braverman drama! I viewed the final episode of Season 5 last evening and noted that the show's producers ended it with a montage of scenes that tied up many story lines but at the same time left a few cliffhangers. Like at the time that episode was produced they were dealing with a cliffhanger of their own, namely, had they been renewed for a sixth season? This open letter is a request to release Season 6 to Netflix immediately. I am loathe to admit that when episode 90 was over and the count reset to the pilot, I rewatched it. Yes. I did. Thanks so much.

Signed,

A Pitifully Addicted Fan   

Hallows Month, Day 10

Let us consider the witch. The oft maligned bad girl of the season. Their origin lies in the tribes of old where the elder women were revered for their wisdom and their knowledge of herbs and medicine and the healing arts. It's Saturday night. Consider an evening in watching a movie about witches. There are so many that I love I find it difficult to choose! For me, tonight it will be a classic! Pardon me while I cue up Bell, Book, and Candle.

Hallows Month, Day 9

Remember Drusilla? She is once more out on display. This whole house for sale business had me stowing a whole bunch of stuff in a storage unit. That decluttering thing. It would seem that I was overly optimistic over accomplishing a quick sale because I tucked away a tote of Halloween decorations! Last week I retrieved it and freed Miss Drusilla from her bubble wrap cocoon. I have just decided to make her an honorary MacBroome sister. It's only fitting.

Hallows Month, Day 8

Me, the witch with fluorescent green hair. Tigh is the catatonic looking guy in the monk's robe with a beer in his hand. I believe this was five years ago. Spider web lace is so flattering, don't you think?

Hallows Month, Day 7

Methinks this is perhaps in October of 2000. And I'm pretty sure I've posted this pic before. Miss Tallulah is witching it up while Reid escorts her, or something. Michael is crouching next to a minion consisting of a shop vac topped with a foam skull head wearing a monk's robe. The eye patch is because we could only find one eyeball superball. He's a pirate minion. On wheels. Arrrrrggggg!

Hallows Month, Day 6

Perhaps my finest moment in kiddie costuming. Reid (fanfare!) as Mr. Potatohead! Holding a Mr. Potatohead! Just above Mr P's eyes and just below the brim of his hat, we can see an anxious looking Reid peering out. I can't draw a recognizable Mr. Potatohead to save my life. But I sure as heck can sew one.

Hallows Month, Day 5

From a previous life when I was a vegetable. This would be, as we fondly called it, The Little House on the Alley. I actually made this costume the previous year for my boss's elementary school aged daughter. Yes, I removed a bit of stuffing so my grownup sized body would fit inside. The hat was one size fits all, which is usually a cruel trick. Certainly not a treat. And, yes, I was wearing bike shorts underneath. How could you begin to think I went commando. 

Hallows Month, Day 4

Well, look at this! It's the MacBroome-Shuttlecock sisters again! And this time I can tell who they are! On the left is Heidi dressed as a Holstein, in the middle is Frigga as the frisky milk maid, and on the right is Grace the cat. Sort of a sketchy barnyard theme. Demonstrating that we clearly understand the concept of growing older without growing up.

Fifty Episodes In

All I have to say is, the Bravermans*, et al, are the kissiest, horniest bunch of people I have ever seen.

*Or is it Bravermen?

Hallows Month, Day 3

Halloween isn't complete without a black cat. Or a mostly black cat. Still miss my pretty boy Steinie.

Hallows Month, Day 2

Oh, look! It's the MacBroome-Shuttlecock sisters! Just hanging around the cauldron on a Friday night. Frigga, Grace, and Heidi. Don't ask me witch is witch, I can't tell them apart. You may groan now.

Hallows Month, Day 1

We shall be celebrating Halloween every single day this month, children. From October 1973, feast your eyes upon my devilish brother Cullen, witchy sister Martine, and moi in the middle, oddly lacking a seasonal costume. I am, however, wearing a dopey hat that is more appropriate for another holiday. And it coordinates with the witch's socks! It seems we carved pumpkins that year. Note my fashionable black and white Dior frame glasses. And I remember that I sewed the pink checked, denim trimmed top I'm wearing. Let's have a moment of silent reverence in honor of Cullen's pants.