THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS????

Is there something wrong with this picture? I was putting away the last of the Halloween decor today and I realized that perhaps I have a holiday 'PROBLEM'. Then I thought, "I don't have a problem", I have just learned that if I don't buy the 'things and stuff' I like when I see it, the 'stuff' is usually gone when I go back. Seriously, I don't have a problem... Really, I don't. Seriously!

SERIOUSLY!

MY FAVORITE "THINGS" (& stuff) #3

Amazon Kindle!!
AMAZON KINDLE!

So, I have never been a real reader... I mean, I read when we are on vacation or when we are traveling, but I usually have so many other 'things & stuff' going on that I don't do a lot of reading. Actually, Suzie will tell you the reason I don't read a lot is because when I start a book I can't put it down until I am finished. She says I can be a little obsessive-compulsive. What ever.

Anyway... Deni, Erin and Suzie all have Kindles and they love them. I personally couldn't see a reason to have one of my own. I figured I could buy a lot of books for what it would cost for a Kindle and I wouldn't get my moneys worth. Well, even I can be wrong at times! LOL!

I was laying in bed one morning trying to make myself get up when a commercial came on for the "new" Kindle. Only $139.00! Or $189.00 if you want 3-G wireless (which you really want!). What a deal! I got up and ordered one right then. Unfortunately, they were on back order for a month! Dang. Oh well, I haven't had a Kindle so it wouldn't hurt me to wait.

September 15th my Kindle finally arrived. That day I downloaded the 'Hunger Games'. Finished it in two days. Ordered 'Catching Fire' that night from my bed and it downloaded immediately. (The 3-G wireless is SO worth it!). Finished that in a couple of days and then read 'Mocking Jay'. 'Hunger Games was the best, didn't love 'Mocking Jay'.

So, then I read the last three books in the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series, 'Dead to Worse', 'Dead and Gone' and 'Dead in the Family'. Then I read 'A Touch of Dead' which is a collection of short stories that fill in the blanks between the books.

Next was 'The House of the Vampire' by George Vierick, which is a 1907 Victorian Gothic novella where the vampire steals peoples thoughts and ideas rather than sucking their blood. Then I read J.R. Rains 'The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo' and 'The Oldest Living Vampire Tells All' by Rod Reduxx (kind of trashy but an interesting concept). Next was the 'Vampire for Hire' series by J.R. Rain, 'Moon Dance' and 'Vampire Moon', and then 'The Bleeder and Other Stories' and 'Teeth and Other Stories' also by J.R. Rain.

While we were in Bryce I read Bram Stokers 'Dracula' (loved it!). Then 'Frankenstein: Lost Souls' which is number four in the Dean Koontz series.

Now I am reading Mary Shelleys 'Frankenstein'. Classic.

So, I have had my Kindle for like six weeks and have easily gotten my moneys worth. The books are usually very cheap... Dracula was only ninety nine cents. The new hard bound True Blood book was only $7.99 on Kindle, $24.95 at the book store. The thing I love the most is that you don't have to go to the bookstore ever! If you finish a book in the middle of the night you can get another one without even getting out of bed! And you don't have to worry about storing all of those books! You can get hundreds of books and they all fit in the palm of your hand! Love it.

The only problem I have with the Kindle is that every time you get it out to read everyone around you wants to know if that is a Kindle. Then they want to talk about it. 'Yes", I say, "this is the new Kindle. Yes, I love it. Yes, it is great! Yes, you should get one! Now leave me alone so I can read!". Kidding. But seriously, the Kindle has been my new favorite 'THING' (& stuff) for over a month and I don't see it changing any time soon. You should get one! It could be your favorite 'thing' too!

COMMITTMENT TO THE COSTUME.....

So, when I commit to something I usually go with it all the way... right? Authenticity and attention to detail is VERY important! I had a vision for my costume and a wig with a skin head was just not going to cut it. You know what my son always says... 'Go big or go home'! Well, I went big.....


Yes, I shaved it off!!! Only the top came off for Halloween but the rest had to come off on Monday morning before I could go to work. Can you imagine the mullet I would have had if I had let it grow with the fringe? The thing that was really scary was with all the make-up I had on, my hair color was my own. I didn't have to put any gray in it for effect... I had enough gray of my own.

Funny thing today... My Bishop had me stand up at church and introduce myself with the other visitors. He had no idea who I was... but maybe that is not a bad thing, right?

ALL HALLOWS EVE HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!

Welcome to my nightmare! I know I have been a major slacker on updating my blog, but I think when you see what I have been working on you will understand. Halloween is finally here and I have created some great 'things and stuff' to share. In fact KSL television came out and did a story about us this year. The hours of planning and preparation have been worth it!

I wanted to share all of the details so I have written three blog postings that break up the decorations in to three areas-- I thought that might make it easier to read. Thanks for joining me... I hope you enjoy!

"WELCOME. WE ARE SO GLAD YOU HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED.

"Welcome... We have been dying for you to join us. We thought you would never come. Oh, the 'things and stuff' we have gone through making preparations for your arrival. I hope you realize how truly happy we are that you have chosen to join us!"

"Please follow us. We will give you a tour before we join the others inside. Stay close to the lanterns.... the graveyard can be treacherous!

Life is truly about 'Things and Stuff". A fitting memorial?

Please enter.. if you dare. There is no reason to be afraid of the dark... it is only what's in the dark that you should be afraid of! BWWAHAHAHAHA! Just kidding!




'Here lies the body of John Pound. Lost at sea and never found'.

'DRAPER' Life is all about things and stuff'.

'Here lies Edward Hyde. Buried here because he died'.

'I.M. GONE Grim death came without warning. I was well at night, dead in the morning'.

'Keep calm and 'SCARY' on'.

'La FLEUR A rose by any other name...

Not shown:

'My Angel. Tears cannot raise her, there fore I weep. (Some one said 'How sweet'. Seriously?

R.U. KIDDING. She was never meant to be understood, only loved'.


(I built the graveyard from top to bottom. The fence is built from wood, PVC and ABS pipe. The tombstones are crafted from construction insulation. They were then hand carved and faux finished. I also antiqued the kerosene lanterns to look like they had been kicking around the graveyard for years. Who knows how many 'things and stuff' they have been witness too.)

WELCOME TO THE WAKE!

"Greetings. Thank you very much for coming. Your attendance would have meant a great deal to Daddy Big Bucks. Please sign in so he knows you were here..."

Are you a weeper or a moaner? Wait, don't answer that... just sign the book and get inside!

Be sure to pay your respects to the widow's. Daddy's passing has been very difficult for them.


This is Genvieve. She doesn't look as sad as she should be... but check out what is in her hand. Interesting. Daddy's 'Last Will and Testament'. It seems that all of the 'things and stuff' that belonged to Daddy Big Bucks was left to her. Poor Esmeralda.

Seriously, 'POOR' Esmeralda. She didn't get a thing (no stuff either!)... All those years, and nothing. Oh, what is she to do? If you look closely, you can see her purse under her right arm. Is that a knife? I think I know what she is going to do...


This is Daddy Big Bucks. I get the feeling he was not ready to go!

They say that wakes began originally because some people could not handle their liquor and would pass out completely. They would slip into a coma that left them so paralyzed that people could not tell if they were dead or alive. Rather than risk burying them alive, they would lay them out on a sofa, have a party and wait for the person to 'wake'. Some how they had discovered that people were being buried alive only to wake and find themselves trapped. They started attaching a string to the finger of the corpse and running the string to the surface then attaching the string to a bell. If the corpse turns out to be only in a coma, they can pull the string, ringing the bell to let those above ground know that they are still alive and should be retrieved. DEAD RINGER. A wake was much easier! Believe what you want....

(Yes, I sculpted the figures from polymer clay. I compounded their make-up from a mixture of pastel chalks and translucent face powder. Their eyes are glass and imported from Europe. Igor's hair and beard are mohair raised on a farm in upper New York state. Their garments are tailored by me from vintage clothing and fur. Genvieve is wearing a genuine fox stole. I also built and carved the coffin and did the floral arrangements!)

WELCOME TO IGOR'S LABORATORY...

Step on in to the lab and see whats on the slab.... Sorry, just kidding. Wrong movie! Actually this is Igor's lab. Really, his name is 'EYE-GOR', not 'E-GOR'. If you think it is E-GOR you are mistaken, aren't you?

The 'Mad Scientist' is mixing up a lovely potion to add to tonight's punch... Beware! Igor has been studying anatomy for years. Particularly brains. The head under the bell jar above belongs to someone named Abby Normal. He can't wait to get his hands on it....


I am not sure what he put in the punch but it was very tasty!!! I could taste raspberries, grapes and maybe just the subtle touch of the blood of a virgin...


Lotions, potions, bugs and snails. If you look closely you may find some dead man's nails! Or his entire hand! BWWAHAHAHAHA! Each bottle is filled with something special for use in Igor's laboratory. Next year you should come spend some time reading the labels-- you never know what assorted 'things and stuff' you might discover.

HMM. There is only 360 days until next Halloween....... So much to do, so little time.