For once this won't be a long post. Why, because sometimes you just don't need to mess with perfection. The way it is, is enough. And today I present you with....the perfection of enough.
Today, or rather yesterday was a wonderful October day. It was almost perfect. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if I had suddenly developed amazing pumpkin carving skills and hadn't dropped an entire pumpkin pie blizzard all over my lap. Other than that, perfection!
I got to converse with friends about pumpkin carving preferences and find out that small children are more adept at carving than I am. I sat underneath an almost full and hazy October moon while listening to frogs croak and owls hoot. I listened to my Sounds of Halloween tape three times through and by the end I was full on singing. I finished my zombie book and didn't scare myself silly. I worked on Family Fun Night stuff and was very productive, and I am about to snuggle down and watch one of my October films. Ahhh. This, this my friends is October bliss.
Tomorrow, or rather today, I get to decorate for a party, carve a pumpkin or two, drink a pumpkin spice latte and watch more spooky movies. October, I am kinda in love with you.
I'm curious, what would be your perfect October day?
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Family Fun Night: OT Day 28
I am starting to go into my “October is almost over” panic. There are still so many things that I want to do before the month ends and I know I just won't make it. But that is ok. October is a no fault month. Besides, if I can't do it in 31 days, then I will just appropriate some of November for other October related purposes. Ah, now I feel better. Finally, November is good for something.
Today it seems, many people decided to have their Halloween fun early. I saw people in costume, read about people in costume, and heard about people in costume. So many parties and gatherings. I hope they save some of the merrymaking for the actual day.
Parties are one of my favorite things about October. Scary movie nights. Costume parties, harvest parties at school, pumpkin carving parties, trick or treat sleep overs, and the best of all, Family Fun Night.
Family Fun Night was the best day of the school year for me. Even better than the first day, and that is saying something. For years I thought the event was indigenous only to my school, but since then I have found otherwise. For one night, our gym and surrounding classrooms would be turned into an October wonderland. Rooms that were dedicated to learning, morphed into photo studios, game booths and face painting way stations. The library turned into the cafeteria and the halls were filled with excited children who had parents in tow.
But the gym, the gym was amazing. Professional looking carnival booths lined every wall and took up any available floor space. And for the most part, the floor plan didn't change from year to year. The fish pond was always on the right back corner near the cake walk stairs. The cake walk was always on the stage. The ticket booth was always out of the gym teachers office. The rope climb with its big spongy mat was always in front of the cake walk in the middle of the room and the cotton candy was always out the right side gym doors turning the entryway into a shiny sugary mess.
Once I entered the building I didn't see my parents again until I either needed more tickets, had to drop off prizes because my hands were full, or needed food. Sometimes I saw them at one of the booths playing games, but really, I can’t tell you what they did with their time other than hold my winnings and keep the cafeteria chairs warm. It was pretty much a given that I would win 3 or 4 baked goods of some kind and bring home a fish or two that wouldn't last till morning. At some point during the night I would have the little kid melt down of NO I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YET, and the begging and pleading of just one more booth.
Eventually, after a few years, my parents got wise and curtailed my cake walk participation. No more participation after two wins. And I was forbidden to play the fish game. Which was fine with me really. Perpetually dead fish really are not much fun. Now that I have had the opportunity to plan my own Family Fun Night, I realize how much work went into making things look how they did and run so smoothly. I wish that I could have a time machine to go back and appreciate with new eyes all that was going on. But maybe not, maybe I am content to just let it live in my imagination with all the sparkle and wonder that an elementary school child can conceive.
I still have mementos from those wonderful days. They make me smile every time I see them. Instantly I am transported back to a waffle floored gym and the sounds of merrymaking on a cold October night. I wish everyone could have such a wonderful experience. I wouldn't trade those memories for the world.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Bunnies of Doom: OT Day 27
In my short time on this earth, I have come to realize that there are some things I find scary that other people simply do not and visa versa. For example, I think poster people are looking at me. I find the Stepford Wives frightening beyond belief. I think older people in white cars are out to get me and that USA made for TV horror movies come true. But there is one thing that trumps all these fears, and that is bunnies. Bunnies are dangerous creatures all dressed up in fuzzy hippity hoppity fur to lull one into a sense of false security. But I am on to them.
I used to be one of the mindless "aww bunnies are so cute" masses. That is until two things happened. One, my friend got a pet bunny and it turned out to be a madly hopping psycho. I think it was really a werebunny. I have never seen a rabbit with that much shaggy fur. I have also never seen another rabbit actively chew its way through dry wall in order to escape confinement. That thing freaked me out and with good reason. I woke up one morning, turned over in my sleeping bag and there is was right next to my head with its evil nose a twitching, munching on computer cables. It had escaped from its cage and hopped over to me. I think it was trying to decide how best to eat my brains. I took one look at those little red beady eyes and screamed. That rabbit was not of this world and I never spent the night again.
The other thing to make me scared of bunnies was a kids book. Yes, I said a kids book. I have a rather overactive imagination if you haven't already guessed and this was enough to push me over the bunny paranoia edge. The title character goes by the name of Bunnicula. He is a white rabbit that was found in a movie theater (my kind of bunny so far) He has a black back (looks like a black cape) and a widows peak of black fur on his head. He doesn't like sunlight and sleeps most of the day (also like me) and likes to suck the juices out of the vegetables that he eats. When the family wakes up in the morning the carrots will still be whole and sitting in the cage, but they will be white in color because all the inside carroty juice has been sucked out via two little tooth holes. See, what did I tell ya. Bunnies are out to plot our doom.
Bunnicula is really not the main character though. He doesn't talk and the action doesn't revolve around him. Rather the family cat Chester narrates the whole thing. Chester is a bit of a conspiracy theorist and thinks that Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit (I tend to agree). The books revolve around all his crazy Wil-E-Coyote like plots to get the bunny out of the house. The poor rabbit never does anything except for drain veggies, but this just unnerves the cat.
I got started on these books way back in elementary school when we had book order days. After all, who wouldn't want to read a story about a supposed vampire rabbit that was found in a movie theater. And with titles like "Howliday Inn" and "The Celery Stalks at Midnight" I was a goner for sure. The books are not even remotely scary, but when I was a kid I had this habit of reading them on dark and stormy nights and I could get myself worked up real good. Bunnies after all can be very scary things. Like Anyanka pointed out in the musical episode of Buffy, "and what's with all the carrots, what do they need such good eyesight for anyway?" Yeah, why do bunnies to have to have good night vision and such sharp teeth. Hmmmm. Anyway, I still enjoy the series and read them every October.....sometimes other months too. After all, one can never have too many good books in October.
But I'm getting off track. The point is, forget about not letting a black cat cross your path. Beware of bunnies. Beware. If I really did see one in the corn maze the other day, I was lucky that I escaped with my life. Just imagine running into a werebunny in the middle of a corn maze at night. No thank you. So yes, I do enjoy reading about a vampire rabbit every October. But call it more constant vigilance and homework than reading for fun. When the werebunnies finally attack, and I fend them off, you can thank me later for all my selfless reading ;)
I used to be one of the mindless "aww bunnies are so cute" masses. That is until two things happened. One, my friend got a pet bunny and it turned out to be a madly hopping psycho. I think it was really a werebunny. I have never seen a rabbit with that much shaggy fur. I have also never seen another rabbit actively chew its way through dry wall in order to escape confinement. That thing freaked me out and with good reason. I woke up one morning, turned over in my sleeping bag and there is was right next to my head with its evil nose a twitching, munching on computer cables. It had escaped from its cage and hopped over to me. I think it was trying to decide how best to eat my brains. I took one look at those little red beady eyes and screamed. That rabbit was not of this world and I never spent the night again.
The other thing to make me scared of bunnies was a kids book. Yes, I said a kids book. I have a rather overactive imagination if you haven't already guessed and this was enough to push me over the bunny paranoia edge. The title character goes by the name of Bunnicula. He is a white rabbit that was found in a movie theater (my kind of bunny so far) He has a black back (looks like a black cape) and a widows peak of black fur on his head. He doesn't like sunlight and sleeps most of the day (also like me) and likes to suck the juices out of the vegetables that he eats. When the family wakes up in the morning the carrots will still be whole and sitting in the cage, but they will be white in color because all the inside carroty juice has been sucked out via two little tooth holes. See, what did I tell ya. Bunnies are out to plot our doom.
Bunnicula is really not the main character though. He doesn't talk and the action doesn't revolve around him. Rather the family cat Chester narrates the whole thing. Chester is a bit of a conspiracy theorist and thinks that Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit (I tend to agree). The books revolve around all his crazy Wil-E-Coyote like plots to get the bunny out of the house. The poor rabbit never does anything except for drain veggies, but this just unnerves the cat.
I got started on these books way back in elementary school when we had book order days. After all, who wouldn't want to read a story about a supposed vampire rabbit that was found in a movie theater. And with titles like "Howliday Inn" and "The Celery Stalks at Midnight" I was a goner for sure. The books are not even remotely scary, but when I was a kid I had this habit of reading them on dark and stormy nights and I could get myself worked up real good. Bunnies after all can be very scary things. Like Anyanka pointed out in the musical episode of Buffy, "and what's with all the carrots, what do they need such good eyesight for anyway?" Yeah, why do bunnies to have to have good night vision and such sharp teeth. Hmmmm. Anyway, I still enjoy the series and read them every October.....sometimes other months too. After all, one can never have too many good books in October.
But I'm getting off track. The point is, forget about not letting a black cat cross your path. Beware of bunnies. Beware. If I really did see one in the corn maze the other day, I was lucky that I escaped with my life. Just imagine running into a werebunny in the middle of a corn maze at night. No thank you. So yes, I do enjoy reading about a vampire rabbit every October. But call it more constant vigilance and homework than reading for fun. When the werebunnies finally attack, and I fend them off, you can thank me later for all my selfless reading ;)
Friday, October 26, 2012
Through Linus Colored Glasses: OT Day 26
I felt a bit of October melancholy today. I think it was mostly to do with Christmas creeping in. And it isn't being subtle about it either. Don't get me wrong, I like Christmas, but it needs to quit co-opting October. At McDonald's today as I was getting my Scooby Doo pumpkin bucket I noticed the menu board advertising Christmas drinks. Then later in the evening while watching an October themed show and drinking my cider Target had a full on Christmas is coming add complete with snow and presents. Plus, I got two Christmas coupon catalogues in the mail. Arghhhh. I am no fan of November, but come on. If you are going to skip Halloween, at least give Thanksgiving a fighting chance. Poor fall holidays, it seems that your days are numbered.
So while I was in my pre Christmas funk I found a way to cheer myself up. Yes, I bought another plush Frankenstein doll. No, I did not buy another pumpkin. But I really felt like it. I also bought something called a Ghost in a Jar, which I find greatly superior to the creepy Elf on the Shelf. There are three different ghosts in jars and I have had so much fun with this one, that I may have to go collect the other two tomorrow.
But what really cheered me up was my purchase of an interactive sound book of It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I usually watch it on TV when it rolls around, and if I happen to miss it I pull out my copy for holiday viewing. But the book just called to me. So this evening after everyone was asleep, I opened it up and went on a Halloween journey with Charlie Brown and his pals. I know I already mentioned this story a few times this year, but when I settle down to do October Thoughts I never quite know what will stick. Today it is this, and it isn't repetitive so bear with me.
Now of course I like Snoopy. He will always be my favorite. I am kind of partial to his happy dance and the sound he makes when he laughs. But my favorite kid is Linus. He is the character that most resembles myself. He is a kid and not ashamed to be one. While his friends go out and party he is content to follow the beat of his own drum and wait for the Great Pumpkin.
I don't know if someone (cough cough his parents) told Linus that there was a Great Pumpkin or if he imagined it. Either way I respect him. If someone told him about GP, then I admire him for sticking to his guns. His friends ridicule him. His own sister calls him names, but he never wavers, even when the Great Pumpkin doesn't show. If he imagined it, then I am in awe of his creativity. I mean, what on earth does a sincere pumpkin patch look like anyway? I have gone round and round about that one for years. I think a sincere pumpkin patch is a bit wild. It might not be in neat rows, it will have a variety of pumpkins and it won't be fenced. Beyond that I couldn't really say. I guess my imagination isn't that great. And how on earth does a really big pumpkin fly, let alone hand out presents? What a creative mind.
I love that Linus is willing to dream big. He has a goal and by golly, he sticks to it. He actively searches out what is the most sincere patch. He writes letters to GP, he misses parties and trick or treating just to catch a glimpse. If Linus were a real boy, I would want him for a friend. I would know that I could count on him. If he said that he was going to do something, then he would do it. I would also hope that some of his youthful innocence would rub off on me. That some of the wonder and magic would find its way into my bloodstream.
I also am a bit in love with the fact that Linus carries his blankie wherever he goes. I did that for years and a man who is confident enough to carry his blue blankie with him, gets my vote. I also love his sweet naiveté. His friends come tromping by on the way to a party and he assumes that they are coming to see him and sing pumpkin carols. I love that in his mind that is the only option. I also love that someone other than me knows that there are such a thing as pumpkin carols.
While the gang goes off to bob for apples and listen to Schroder play the piano, Linus is out in the pumpkin patch having his own fun. He is his own man. He doesn't let anyone's opinion of him get him down. When he is being teased or when things don't go his way, he is positive and looking forward to the next time. My favorite line is "But Linus still wasn't ready to give up." What a guy.
I love that when he thinks the Great Pumpkin is about to appear, he does the manly thing and faints. He is so overcome with excitement, anticipation and joy that he is full to the brim and can't contain it anymore. But I think the bet part is that even though he is teased, even though he potentially missed the Great Pumpkin, as the gang leaves he shouts, "If the Great Pumpkin comes, I'll still put in a good word for you." He is willing to share his magic and wonder. He is willing to believe enough for all of them.
When I grow up, I want to be a Linus. And I don't think that is such a bad thing to aspire to. I even know where there might be a really sincere pumpkin patch ;)
Which Charlie Brown character is your favorite?
So while I was in my pre Christmas funk I found a way to cheer myself up. Yes, I bought another plush Frankenstein doll. No, I did not buy another pumpkin. But I really felt like it. I also bought something called a Ghost in a Jar, which I find greatly superior to the creepy Elf on the Shelf. There are three different ghosts in jars and I have had so much fun with this one, that I may have to go collect the other two tomorrow.
But what really cheered me up was my purchase of an interactive sound book of It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I usually watch it on TV when it rolls around, and if I happen to miss it I pull out my copy for holiday viewing. But the book just called to me. So this evening after everyone was asleep, I opened it up and went on a Halloween journey with Charlie Brown and his pals. I know I already mentioned this story a few times this year, but when I settle down to do October Thoughts I never quite know what will stick. Today it is this, and it isn't repetitive so bear with me.
Now of course I like Snoopy. He will always be my favorite. I am kind of partial to his happy dance and the sound he makes when he laughs. But my favorite kid is Linus. He is the character that most resembles myself. He is a kid and not ashamed to be one. While his friends go out and party he is content to follow the beat of his own drum and wait for the Great Pumpkin.
I don't know if someone (cough cough his parents) told Linus that there was a Great Pumpkin or if he imagined it. Either way I respect him. If someone told him about GP, then I admire him for sticking to his guns. His friends ridicule him. His own sister calls him names, but he never wavers, even when the Great Pumpkin doesn't show. If he imagined it, then I am in awe of his creativity. I mean, what on earth does a sincere pumpkin patch look like anyway? I have gone round and round about that one for years. I think a sincere pumpkin patch is a bit wild. It might not be in neat rows, it will have a variety of pumpkins and it won't be fenced. Beyond that I couldn't really say. I guess my imagination isn't that great. And how on earth does a really big pumpkin fly, let alone hand out presents? What a creative mind.
I love that Linus is willing to dream big. He has a goal and by golly, he sticks to it. He actively searches out what is the most sincere patch. He writes letters to GP, he misses parties and trick or treating just to catch a glimpse. If Linus were a real boy, I would want him for a friend. I would know that I could count on him. If he said that he was going to do something, then he would do it. I would also hope that some of his youthful innocence would rub off on me. That some of the wonder and magic would find its way into my bloodstream.
I also am a bit in love with the fact that Linus carries his blankie wherever he goes. I did that for years and a man who is confident enough to carry his blue blankie with him, gets my vote. I also love his sweet naiveté. His friends come tromping by on the way to a party and he assumes that they are coming to see him and sing pumpkin carols. I love that in his mind that is the only option. I also love that someone other than me knows that there are such a thing as pumpkin carols.
While the gang goes off to bob for apples and listen to Schroder play the piano, Linus is out in the pumpkin patch having his own fun. He is his own man. He doesn't let anyone's opinion of him get him down. When he is being teased or when things don't go his way, he is positive and looking forward to the next time. My favorite line is "But Linus still wasn't ready to give up." What a guy.
I love that when he thinks the Great Pumpkin is about to appear, he does the manly thing and faints. He is so overcome with excitement, anticipation and joy that he is full to the brim and can't contain it anymore. But I think the bet part is that even though he is teased, even though he potentially missed the Great Pumpkin, as the gang leaves he shouts, "If the Great Pumpkin comes, I'll still put in a good word for you." He is willing to share his magic and wonder. He is willing to believe enough for all of them.
When I grow up, I want to be a Linus. And I don't think that is such a bad thing to aspire to. I even know where there might be a really sincere pumpkin patch ;)
Which Charlie Brown character is your favorite?
Thursday, October 25, 2012
October Was Kind to Me: OT Day 25
So this isn't a very traditional thought, it is more like a diary of my day, but it has October wonderfulness stamped all over it, so I'm gonna post it.
The day started off late, for me anyway. It seems that I slept through the first October snow. I'm ok with that though. I am much happier with rain. Not so much its frozen cousin. Though it does tend to make things pretty. But we are getting off topic. When I got up everyone was gone. Not in Home Alone they all flew to Paris without me kind of way, but everyone had errands or appointments and had to skedaddle. So it was a lonely breakfast. At least I had my monster cereal to keep me company.
I had a doctors appointment that I was hesitant to go to and once there I didn't get the best of news. BUT, that is when the October magic started to kick in. I brought my zombie book with me to pass the time in the waiting room and had fun scaring myself silly over the totally plausible and immanent zombie outbreak that was sure to happen while I was sitting there. A man coughed. A woman was eating something sketchy out of her purse and a little boy was moaning. When the nurse called my name I was off like a shot. I wasn’t going to stay there in that zombie breeding ground. I spent the time in the exam room waiting for the doctor devising ways that I could Spider Man myself down the side of the building to get away from the surely mounting zombie hoard.
After the appointment I was feeling both a bit depressed with the results and elated that I didn't end up zombie snack food. So I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte and some sweet potato curly fries. I drove down to the park and watched the river run by as I munched and slurped. The day was beautiful and overcast and every now and again it would spit rain for a handful of minutes. It was my kind of day.
When I got back home, I found a package waiting for me. I had forgotten that I had even ordered it. Inside were my autumn truffles. Some are shaped like pumpkins, some like leaves and acorns. But by far my favorites are the monster collection. There are four truffles and they all look like something spooky. They are so well done that I don't even want to eat them. I want to shellac them and keep them forever as decorations. I'm sure I'll get over it and be eating them by morning.....or at least late afternoon.
While I was truffle gazing I had a brain storm. It was a cold, miserable day by normal person standards. By my standards it was perfect. I decided right then and there to go to the corn maze. It was cold, the wind was blowing and it was spitting rain. That meant that I got to wear my boots. SCORE! So I loaded up my gear and off I went.
Once I got there, I found that I was the only customer! I kinda had a feeling about that. Man was I excited. I was practically hopping up and down as the cashier gave me my instructions. I chose the hard section of the maze first and happily squished my way down the rows. I got my boots and pants good and muddy and I only managed to fall down once. Who knew that mud was slippery. I saw black birds in the maze and one bunny. At least I think it was a bunny. It was kinda large and grey and could possibly have been a cat. But I don't think that cats hop. But man, that bunnycat was like the Hulk of animals. I kept a wary eye out the rest of the time let me tell you.
I gazed at the sky. I listened to the crunch of the stalks as I walked by. I took pictures, I hummed, I listened to the silence. It was amazing to have the whole maze to myself. It was a gift just for me. And I didn't get lost once. Yes, I am going to brag. The big maze is supposed to take a forty five minutes to an hour. It took me half an hour. And no I wasn't running, I was meandering and taking pictures and looking at birds and bunnycats. The smaller maze is supposed to take twenty minutes. It only took me ten. I felt a little sad that I whizzed through both mazes, but it was still fun.
I took some time to feed the goats, I wandered around the cow train. I did the mini maze for kids, I eyed the zip line that I was too big to ride on and I tried to take a picture of myself and the inflatable pumpkin that they have at the entrance.
I was so stoked after going through the maze. I really thought that I was going to miss out this year. It was a pleasant surprise that I didn't. I chatted with the maze owner and his grandson who seemed to think that I was very brave to go into the maze alone. He kept pointing at me with his eyes real wide and telling his dad that I was going in the maze. I'm glad I impressed someone today.
On the way home I was still jazzed about the maze experience and didn't want the October fun to end, so I bundled up mom and one of our house guests and drove them back to the maze. I am still not brave enough to go through the maze after dark. But I did want to go on the hay ride. Again, we were the only customers in the place and the owner was so amused that I came back and brought friends that he let us go on the hay ride for free. We all bought cider and took a ride under the stars. It was AMAZING. The moon was peeking from behind hazy dark clouds and casting beautiful reflections on the water. The corn stalks were luminescent in the moon light and it was perfection. The hay wagon was comfortable and the ride smooth. It was the perfect way to end the evening.
Once we got back to the drop off point I went over to the pumpkin patch and yes, I bought two more pumpkins. I would have bought four more but decided to exercise some restraint. They really were perfect pumpkins though. Simply gorgeous. I may even carve one. I think this puts my count at thirteen, possibly fourteen now. I'm sure I will probably buy a few more before the month is out. I'm kinda glad it is almost over. If my pumpkins were to stage an uprising we in the house are already woefully outnumbered. I don't want to add any more potential soldiers to their cause.
Once home I settled down and watched a few Halloween specials which made me laugh. After they were over, I got to sit in the darkened living room while everyone was asleep and eat Franken Berry cereal and watch the Halloween village blink. Right now I am sitting on the couch with a puppy curled up on one side of me and a kitty on the other. The puppy has one of my candy corn holiday socks stuffed in his mouth and seems quite content. The kitty is passed out on my leg and snoring loud enough to drown out the highway traffic noises. It is a good evening and the perfect end to an almost perfect day. I can't wait to see what October has in store for me tomorrow!
The day started off late, for me anyway. It seems that I slept through the first October snow. I'm ok with that though. I am much happier with rain. Not so much its frozen cousin. Though it does tend to make things pretty. But we are getting off topic. When I got up everyone was gone. Not in Home Alone they all flew to Paris without me kind of way, but everyone had errands or appointments and had to skedaddle. So it was a lonely breakfast. At least I had my monster cereal to keep me company.
I had a doctors appointment that I was hesitant to go to and once there I didn't get the best of news. BUT, that is when the October magic started to kick in. I brought my zombie book with me to pass the time in the waiting room and had fun scaring myself silly over the totally plausible and immanent zombie outbreak that was sure to happen while I was sitting there. A man coughed. A woman was eating something sketchy out of her purse and a little boy was moaning. When the nurse called my name I was off like a shot. I wasn’t going to stay there in that zombie breeding ground. I spent the time in the exam room waiting for the doctor devising ways that I could Spider Man myself down the side of the building to get away from the surely mounting zombie hoard.
After the appointment I was feeling both a bit depressed with the results and elated that I didn't end up zombie snack food. So I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte and some sweet potato curly fries. I drove down to the park and watched the river run by as I munched and slurped. The day was beautiful and overcast and every now and again it would spit rain for a handful of minutes. It was my kind of day.
When I got back home, I found a package waiting for me. I had forgotten that I had even ordered it. Inside were my autumn truffles. Some are shaped like pumpkins, some like leaves and acorns. But by far my favorites are the monster collection. There are four truffles and they all look like something spooky. They are so well done that I don't even want to eat them. I want to shellac them and keep them forever as decorations. I'm sure I'll get over it and be eating them by morning.....or at least late afternoon.
While I was truffle gazing I had a brain storm. It was a cold, miserable day by normal person standards. By my standards it was perfect. I decided right then and there to go to the corn maze. It was cold, the wind was blowing and it was spitting rain. That meant that I got to wear my boots. SCORE! So I loaded up my gear and off I went.
Once I got there, I found that I was the only customer! I kinda had a feeling about that. Man was I excited. I was practically hopping up and down as the cashier gave me my instructions. I chose the hard section of the maze first and happily squished my way down the rows. I got my boots and pants good and muddy and I only managed to fall down once. Who knew that mud was slippery. I saw black birds in the maze and one bunny. At least I think it was a bunny. It was kinda large and grey and could possibly have been a cat. But I don't think that cats hop. But man, that bunnycat was like the Hulk of animals. I kept a wary eye out the rest of the time let me tell you.
I gazed at the sky. I listened to the crunch of the stalks as I walked by. I took pictures, I hummed, I listened to the silence. It was amazing to have the whole maze to myself. It was a gift just for me. And I didn't get lost once. Yes, I am going to brag. The big maze is supposed to take a forty five minutes to an hour. It took me half an hour. And no I wasn't running, I was meandering and taking pictures and looking at birds and bunnycats. The smaller maze is supposed to take twenty minutes. It only took me ten. I felt a little sad that I whizzed through both mazes, but it was still fun.
I took some time to feed the goats, I wandered around the cow train. I did the mini maze for kids, I eyed the zip line that I was too big to ride on and I tried to take a picture of myself and the inflatable pumpkin that they have at the entrance.
I was so stoked after going through the maze. I really thought that I was going to miss out this year. It was a pleasant surprise that I didn't. I chatted with the maze owner and his grandson who seemed to think that I was very brave to go into the maze alone. He kept pointing at me with his eyes real wide and telling his dad that I was going in the maze. I'm glad I impressed someone today.
On the way home I was still jazzed about the maze experience and didn't want the October fun to end, so I bundled up mom and one of our house guests and drove them back to the maze. I am still not brave enough to go through the maze after dark. But I did want to go on the hay ride. Again, we were the only customers in the place and the owner was so amused that I came back and brought friends that he let us go on the hay ride for free. We all bought cider and took a ride under the stars. It was AMAZING. The moon was peeking from behind hazy dark clouds and casting beautiful reflections on the water. The corn stalks were luminescent in the moon light and it was perfection. The hay wagon was comfortable and the ride smooth. It was the perfect way to end the evening.
Once we got back to the drop off point I went over to the pumpkin patch and yes, I bought two more pumpkins. I would have bought four more but decided to exercise some restraint. They really were perfect pumpkins though. Simply gorgeous. I may even carve one. I think this puts my count at thirteen, possibly fourteen now. I'm sure I will probably buy a few more before the month is out. I'm kinda glad it is almost over. If my pumpkins were to stage an uprising we in the house are already woefully outnumbered. I don't want to add any more potential soldiers to their cause.
Once home I settled down and watched a few Halloween specials which made me laugh. After they were over, I got to sit in the darkened living room while everyone was asleep and eat Franken Berry cereal and watch the Halloween village blink. Right now I am sitting on the couch with a puppy curled up on one side of me and a kitty on the other. The puppy has one of my candy corn holiday socks stuffed in his mouth and seems quite content. The kitty is passed out on my leg and snoring loud enough to drown out the highway traffic noises. It is a good evening and the perfect end to an almost perfect day. I can't wait to see what October has in store for me tomorrow!
Sometimes, Treats and TV Are the Same Thing: OT Day 24
Have I mentioned October TV yet? I'm lucky if I can remember yesterday, and yesterday I know that I didn't mention October TV. Well, if I have, then claim selective amnesia and read on. If I haven't, then wahoo, it's new to you.
I am a big TV watcher. It is in my DNA. I won't get into specifics but I will say this, 1) I am a Nielsen family member 2) I know what sweeps, up fronts, and anchors are 3) I love TV as much as I do reading and movies 4) I have 22 shows I follow yearly. That should give you some idea as to where I am coming from. October turns out to be a very lucrative time of year for TV watching. This year more so than others, since most of the fall shows decided to come back at the end of September/beginning of October. The new TV season is like back to school for me. I have my premier date diagram, I plot out my viewing schedule. For an organizational nerd like me it is like Christmas. I get positively giddy. Plus, there is the added bonus that the networks turn their promo ads spooky, bats fly out of logos and chirons get changed to pumpkins. I'm pretty sure they do it just for me.
But October, October is something special when it comes to TV. October means that most all of my shows (unless they are too cool/serious to lower themselves) have a special Halloween episode. Halloween episodes are always different from the other holiday episodes. For the Halloween episodes anything goes. Some shows that are on hiatus come back just for Halloween and do special episodes while they are on break. Some shows use the Halloween episode to do something totally non linear in the story line. Some shows just run with it and go all out on the Halloween theme.
Remember how I said that I wanted to live in my Halloween village? Well, come Halloween time, I really want to live in a sitcom. Every year I am excessively jealous of the costumes and decorations that TV families have. Yes, I am well aware that they are TV shows, and the families aren't real and they have costume departments to help dress them. But man, I want to live there. No matter what, the costumes are always super cool. A character may only have 5 minutes to get to a party and only have their closet as a costume resource, but somehow, they show up in full gear, and look great. Every. Time. Arghhh. I want the magic TV costume closet.
And the decorations. They always have the best fog, candy bowls, creepy lights or front yard displays. I know what it takes to decorate my house and the storage space it eats up. If just one TV character had to store all their decorations like I do mine, they would have to rent a storage space I promise. That said. I love the creativity that goes into each episode. Tonight I got to see three Halloween themed episodes and they were all marvelous. Some of them even gave me costume ideas for next year.
My favorite Halloween themed episodes are, in no particular order; The X-Files: Home, which has forever made me fearful of a Johnny Mathis song. Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place: Mind Over Body, which was the best brain swapping episode ever done on TV. Modern Family: Halloween, which is the most realistic portrayal of how I am around the holiday. The Friends episode where Ross dresses up like Spudnick and has to keep explaining it. (Best costume ever. Second only to the Holiday Armadillo) Psych: This Episode Sucks, which totally gets my geekery for Halloween and pop culture references. And of course, it wouldn't be October without It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Which isn't a TV show per say, but these are my October Thoughts and I can put it in there if I want to. I always feel SO sorry for Charlie Brown. Every year I think, maybe this time he will catch a break. He never does, but I hold out hope. I also love Linus sitting in the pumpkin patch with his blankie waiting for the Great Pumpkin. It totally sounds like something I would do. Which is probably why my parents never let me see it when I was little. Smart parents. Then there was the year that Sunday Night Football fell on the same night as Halloween and my Benglas were playing. Leslie Nielsen (no relation) did the scary intro and I just about died from holiday TV programming bliss.
I know not everyone is a big TV watcher, and I know not everyone likes Halloween, but I think I have enough joy in my system to make up for that lack. After all, it is the little things in life that can add the most joy sometimes. At least for me.
I am a big TV watcher. It is in my DNA. I won't get into specifics but I will say this, 1) I am a Nielsen family member 2) I know what sweeps, up fronts, and anchors are 3) I love TV as much as I do reading and movies 4) I have 22 shows I follow yearly. That should give you some idea as to where I am coming from. October turns out to be a very lucrative time of year for TV watching. This year more so than others, since most of the fall shows decided to come back at the end of September/beginning of October. The new TV season is like back to school for me. I have my premier date diagram, I plot out my viewing schedule. For an organizational nerd like me it is like Christmas. I get positively giddy. Plus, there is the added bonus that the networks turn their promo ads spooky, bats fly out of logos and chirons get changed to pumpkins. I'm pretty sure they do it just for me.
But October, October is something special when it comes to TV. October means that most all of my shows (unless they are too cool/serious to lower themselves) have a special Halloween episode. Halloween episodes are always different from the other holiday episodes. For the Halloween episodes anything goes. Some shows that are on hiatus come back just for Halloween and do special episodes while they are on break. Some shows use the Halloween episode to do something totally non linear in the story line. Some shows just run with it and go all out on the Halloween theme.
Remember how I said that I wanted to live in my Halloween village? Well, come Halloween time, I really want to live in a sitcom. Every year I am excessively jealous of the costumes and decorations that TV families have. Yes, I am well aware that they are TV shows, and the families aren't real and they have costume departments to help dress them. But man, I want to live there. No matter what, the costumes are always super cool. A character may only have 5 minutes to get to a party and only have their closet as a costume resource, but somehow, they show up in full gear, and look great. Every. Time. Arghhh. I want the magic TV costume closet.
And the decorations. They always have the best fog, candy bowls, creepy lights or front yard displays. I know what it takes to decorate my house and the storage space it eats up. If just one TV character had to store all their decorations like I do mine, they would have to rent a storage space I promise. That said. I love the creativity that goes into each episode. Tonight I got to see three Halloween themed episodes and they were all marvelous. Some of them even gave me costume ideas for next year.
My favorite Halloween themed episodes are, in no particular order; The X-Files: Home, which has forever made me fearful of a Johnny Mathis song. Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place: Mind Over Body, which was the best brain swapping episode ever done on TV. Modern Family: Halloween, which is the most realistic portrayal of how I am around the holiday. The Friends episode where Ross dresses up like Spudnick and has to keep explaining it. (Best costume ever. Second only to the Holiday Armadillo) Psych: This Episode Sucks, which totally gets my geekery for Halloween and pop culture references. And of course, it wouldn't be October without It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Which isn't a TV show per say, but these are my October Thoughts and I can put it in there if I want to. I always feel SO sorry for Charlie Brown. Every year I think, maybe this time he will catch a break. He never does, but I hold out hope. I also love Linus sitting in the pumpkin patch with his blankie waiting for the Great Pumpkin. It totally sounds like something I would do. Which is probably why my parents never let me see it when I was little. Smart parents. Then there was the year that Sunday Night Football fell on the same night as Halloween and my Benglas were playing. Leslie Nielsen (no relation) did the scary intro and I just about died from holiday TV programming bliss.
I know not everyone is a big TV watcher, and I know not everyone likes Halloween, but I think I have enough joy in my system to make up for that lack. After all, it is the little things in life that can add the most joy sometimes. At least for me.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Dressing It Up: OT Day 23
I am not a girlyl girl. I don't like dresses and I’m not overly fond of skirts. I will take an action film over a romance any day. I can't use make up in a convincing fashion and my only hair styles are up, down or in a hat. That said, I LOVE to play dress up, or as I like to call it, make believe. Some little girls wanted to be a princess when they were growing up. I wanted to be a pirate...or Indiana Jones. My heroes were Mr. T, Hulk Hogan, Batman and Fragles. My poor mother had to be on constant alert lest I attempt to tear my shirt down the middle whilst shouting "I pity the fool."
When I was growing up, there weren't very many worthwhile costumes for girls. I could either be Barbie (too much pink), Strawberry Shortcake (too frilly), a princess (ugh yuck no), or a ballerina (too much like a princess). What I really wanted to be, they never had costumes for. No Neverending Story (and how does one dress up like the Nothing anyway). No Dark Crystal (ask for a Gelfling costume and people look at you funny). Mom wasn't really into me being a Ninja Turtle, so for years I settled for being a really hideous clown. I am ashamed to even admit it. I hated that costume. I still do in fact. I think I inherited it from my older cousin. It was itchy, came with a hideous mask that I really couldn't see out of and it made my face sweat.
I don't remember what happened to the costume. I'd like to say I took it out back one dark evening and buried it, but it probably got donated to Goodwill. Poor kids. I pity the fool. The hideous clown was replaced by a leopard unitard that came with a snap on head piece and already affixed tail. It was my favorite costume of my childhood. Mostly because I had a tail to twirl and the fact that I felt compelled to make the cutest growling noises known to man while wearing the costume. I did it so much in fact that dad had to threaten to take my candy away to make me stop. It was no use telling him that the suit was making me do it. I wore that costume until I couldn't squeeze into it anymore. At some point my head got to big for the hood and the leggings that used to go to my ankles It resided somewhere past my knees. It was a good run and a great costume. Plus I really enjoyed having whiskers drawn on with eyebrow pencil.
Costumery in our house was pretty low key until I started going to college. Then I could choose my own costume. My favorite college costume was Queen Amidala from Star Wars. I did the full make up and everything. I looked so convincing in fact that at my part time job (where they encouraged us to wear costumes on the day) little kids kept coming up to me to get their picture taken. It was a blast.
I love costumes. I love that now there are so many more things to choose from, in a way. But it is still hard finding things to my exacting specifications. For years I have wanted to be Charlie Chaplin, but I can't quite find the right bits. One can't simply stick on dark pants, a hat and a fake mustache and call it good. They have to be the right corduroy pants with a black bowler, a rounded cane and big, slightly clownish black shoes.
I also don't like to settle for mainstream. Why be Katniss Everdeen when I can go as Charlotte from Making Fiends. I like elaborate or quirky, or combination of both. I can't wait to find a good steam punk costume. As soon as Halloween is done and I have had time to appreciate the month, I start searching for next years costume. Sometimes I buy two or three out of season just so I have options if it comes down to the wire and I still haven't found "the one"?
But why do I like costumes so much? I think it is because I live more in my imagination than most people. Getting to wear a costume is a way to express that after a fashion. How cool to suspend disbelief for just one night and pretend you really can fly, because you are Peter Pan or Tinker Bell. For one night you can be a princess if you want. You can be a mummy without the nasty side effects of being dead for years. You can be a dashing pirate or a super hero. You can walk around shouting "I'm Batman" and people will only think you are a little crazy.
In one of my favorite TV shows, the characters dress up for Halloween and due to a little magic snafu, find themselves stuck as their costume for the night. When picking a costume I always have that idea floating around the back of my head. Sure, I want to be a Twister game board. How funny. But what happens if I get stuck this way. It is an interesting idea to think of. Maybe this year I will go as rain. Not quite sure how to pull that concept off. Maybe paint myself blue and stick clear beads all over to show moisture.
Whatever I choose to be, I know I will have fun doing it. What is your favorite costume past, present or future?
When I was growing up, there weren't very many worthwhile costumes for girls. I could either be Barbie (too much pink), Strawberry Shortcake (too frilly), a princess (ugh yuck no), or a ballerina (too much like a princess). What I really wanted to be, they never had costumes for. No Neverending Story (and how does one dress up like the Nothing anyway). No Dark Crystal (ask for a Gelfling costume and people look at you funny). Mom wasn't really into me being a Ninja Turtle, so for years I settled for being a really hideous clown. I am ashamed to even admit it. I hated that costume. I still do in fact. I think I inherited it from my older cousin. It was itchy, came with a hideous mask that I really couldn't see out of and it made my face sweat.
I don't remember what happened to the costume. I'd like to say I took it out back one dark evening and buried it, but it probably got donated to Goodwill. Poor kids. I pity the fool. The hideous clown was replaced by a leopard unitard that came with a snap on head piece and already affixed tail. It was my favorite costume of my childhood. Mostly because I had a tail to twirl and the fact that I felt compelled to make the cutest growling noises known to man while wearing the costume. I did it so much in fact that dad had to threaten to take my candy away to make me stop. It was no use telling him that the suit was making me do it. I wore that costume until I couldn't squeeze into it anymore. At some point my head got to big for the hood and the leggings that used to go to my ankles It resided somewhere past my knees. It was a good run and a great costume. Plus I really enjoyed having whiskers drawn on with eyebrow pencil.
Costumery in our house was pretty low key until I started going to college. Then I could choose my own costume. My favorite college costume was Queen Amidala from Star Wars. I did the full make up and everything. I looked so convincing in fact that at my part time job (where they encouraged us to wear costumes on the day) little kids kept coming up to me to get their picture taken. It was a blast.
I love costumes. I love that now there are so many more things to choose from, in a way. But it is still hard finding things to my exacting specifications. For years I have wanted to be Charlie Chaplin, but I can't quite find the right bits. One can't simply stick on dark pants, a hat and a fake mustache and call it good. They have to be the right corduroy pants with a black bowler, a rounded cane and big, slightly clownish black shoes.
I also don't like to settle for mainstream. Why be Katniss Everdeen when I can go as Charlotte from Making Fiends. I like elaborate or quirky, or combination of both. I can't wait to find a good steam punk costume. As soon as Halloween is done and I have had time to appreciate the month, I start searching for next years costume. Sometimes I buy two or three out of season just so I have options if it comes down to the wire and I still haven't found "the one"?
But why do I like costumes so much? I think it is because I live more in my imagination than most people. Getting to wear a costume is a way to express that after a fashion. How cool to suspend disbelief for just one night and pretend you really can fly, because you are Peter Pan or Tinker Bell. For one night you can be a princess if you want. You can be a mummy without the nasty side effects of being dead for years. You can be a dashing pirate or a super hero. You can walk around shouting "I'm Batman" and people will only think you are a little crazy.
In one of my favorite TV shows, the characters dress up for Halloween and due to a little magic snafu, find themselves stuck as their costume for the night. When picking a costume I always have that idea floating around the back of my head. Sure, I want to be a Twister game board. How funny. But what happens if I get stuck this way. It is an interesting idea to think of. Maybe this year I will go as rain. Not quite sure how to pull that concept off. Maybe paint myself blue and stick clear beads all over to show moisture.
Whatever I choose to be, I know I will have fun doing it. What is your favorite costume past, present or future?
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