So that I don't turn my other blog

into a commercial for Tim Minchin, I am going to post this here.  Actually going to do a whole run on some my favorite comedians. 

I am going to miss the Johnathan Ross show - maybe like Graham Norton.....he will come back to his talk show some day - a frog queen can wish.

Never look into the lasers!!!

So I am having a great time with my stack of UK comedy DVDs - Bill Baily has always been a favorite of mine....here is one of his latest. If anyone remembers the "washing up" scene at the end of Part Troll.....you will see he is playing with the same angle here. :)

Not only do some

of my workmates dislike Halloween....it is all holidays.  Not that I celebrate Christmas in any big way....but I guess it goes to show that you "don't know what you got till it's gone".  Not being able to put up anythng for Xmas kinds sucks too.

I found this quote recently, it has been running thought my head a lot.....

If I had a large sum of money I should certainly found a hospital for those whose grip upon the world is so tenuous that they can be severely offended by words and phrases and yet remain all unoffended by the injustice, violence, and oppression that howls daily about our ears. -Donald Trefusis

I was watching TV

last night and I saw this video and it reminded me that I said something about posting about my favorite music....I forgot...sorry, got distracted with Halloween.



Not only is Bob Mould one of my favorite musicians/songwriters ever, but the CD this comes from "Workbook" is definitely in my top 10 favorites.

I have to say that only Kate Bush, Tom Waits and Bob Mould (all his incarnations) can do no wrong in my eyes (ears). Everything they do is genius.  You might have another opinion, but you would be wrong :D

As proof, here is more awesomeness from his now defunct band Sugar.....see I told you he is a genius.

Crazy comes in all kinds of flavors

Having this yard up for 12+ years, you can bet we have talked to all kinds of people.

Nice, rude, drunk, obnoxious, stupid, grateful, stalker-but-really-nice people.....and they are fine, 99% of the people that come by are lovely.  Really.....except for the occasional "crazy"

And crazy comes in all kinds of flavors.

There is christian crazy - probably the most popular, followed by crazy pagan, crazy ghost hunter, and lastly "my kid deserves to get by the fence" crazy.

Now I am not saying that any or all of those people are crazy....they are fine.  I love hearing people tell me what they are doing with their church group, or how you celebrate Samhain...and I do love ghost stories, could listen to them all day.....and you can always ask if we will let you back in the yard.....asking is good, never know, maybe that sign is just a "test" to see if you will ask.....could happen.

Anyway....all that is good.  Fine, fine...no worries.

But then every once in a while the universe throws out a "crazy"

The lady that asked us to close the haunt is not "crazy" no, crazy is when you walk up to me and ask me about my religious beliefs to be sure that I am not decorating for satan. -  Really, you should shake my hand and ask my name before you start interrogating me....and at that point, my "crazy" comes out and I have to go find husband or I kick into that.....hum, what can I say that will be equally offensive? I have to not talk at this point.  It is never ever good when that mean frog queen switch flips on.  Never.

Or the pagan that comes running at me - literally I thought I was going to have to step aside because she was trying to tackle me! "I hear you so this because you are a pagan!! (grabbing both of my sholders) What a great way to celebrate the holiday....I think we should get a group of us (pagans) together and have an event here."

You do....wow, I don't ..... :D 

And, please let go of my sholders now.....

Same crazy as the christian, just different flavor and the same switch flips on, and I have to find husband.....seriously people, manners. 

Walk slowly or normally, extend your hand and say "Hi, I am "crazy persons name goes here", can I ask you a few questions?"

You will get a lot farther with that, crazy or not, trust me.

And the crazy ghost hunters.  Ah, I do love them.  They make me laugh until they start to annoy the crap out of me.  Seriously, don't ask me if the ghosts in the yard are real....you should know better than me. :D 

I always say...."no, real ghosts are too unreliable and those seances take a lot out of a girl....and really....are you blind!?" See I told you that when the mean frog queen switch clicks on I must remove myself from society....it is safer for everyone.  :D

And I do love hearing about your ghost stories ......at least the first 10 or so ....after that, I start to lose the will to live and that is when my phone starts ringing (I have it on vibrate, that is why you did not hear it....yeah, that is the story I am sticking to!) and I have to go.

And asking me if I believe in ghosts is just like asking my religious beliefs.....not something I am going to answer in a crowd of people....mass debate is not one of my strong suits.  And I have been alive long enough to know that someone will be offended by what ever answer I give.

Not that I do not want to talk to any of you.  Really, I don't mind.  But as you can see....there is a huge frickin' Halloween display over my shoulder....I might be a bit busy.  Leave me a comment card and we can chat and share pictures after Halloween....


....and by the way....NO amount of begging is going to convince me to let you or your children/sister/brother/mother/father/dog/cat/goldfish/tarantula (that is for you Dan, just in case you were thinking of bringing them) on the property.  You are not getting behind the fence.

Now that I think about it....a big wad of cash might work (we are talking 20s - no ones).....yeah, I think I would bend the rules for that one :D

Other than those people the rest of you that visit the yard are fantastic!!! We loves you!!!!!

I did not completely forget

about this blog....well, I guess I did kinda.

But I read this on my good friends blog at Me Smash and thought it might be a bit off topic for the Frog on the Pumpkin....but here....yes, it works just fine.

Thanks my friend. And yes, or course, I will get right on that sarcasm font. :D

Not the top 10 pickup lines, but still funny

1. Part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
(Ah, Mr. Davis, will you clear my computer history if I die?)

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
(Mrs. Davis, can you get right on this one? I could really use it.)

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
(Seriously.)

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
(Lamest one.)

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
(ugh)

10. Bad decisions make good stories.
(Apparently the may also make for entertaining obituaries.)

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
(This really freaks me out.)

14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
(I’ve also labeled them “Do Not Answer”, “Do Not Answer 2″ and so on.)

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

24. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

I have missed a few

Friday music posts.....I knew that would happen.

But I am back.  Today I will talk about one of my favorite CDs.  Does not happen often that I love an entire CD and can listen to it from start to finish without wanting to skip a song or in my head say "not really loving that song."

So on that very short list is an album by a group that has been called acoustic goth music.  Fair enough.  This one speaks to my dark side but in a more mature voice.  Does not seem as whinny as some goth music....sorry, not meaning to offend.  But sometimes..... :D

I have all of Human Dramas work.  But this one CD "The World Inside" is one of my very favorite CDs. Especially when I am working on something creative or if I just want to sit and listen for a while.  It is perfect with a glass or two of  Cabernet or Syrah :)

Here is a live version of "This Tangled Web"

It was quite an adventure

getting it delivered at 10pm on the Thursday before Labor Day....we have one small casualty, our fence got bent up by the delivery truck :( 

.....and I think our neighbors were none too happy with use trying to back a big truck into our driveway - Nice Christmas presents are in order for all the neighbors this year :D

Be careful what you wish for.....or just be really, really specific :)

Just to prove how much I care

I did forgo a Megadeath, Testament and Slayer show to finish up the foam for this project.

Matt and his brothers (one that is not in the picture actually took the photo) did and had a great time. 

Shocked?  LOL! The Frog Queen loves her some Slayer!!!  Yeah, don't ever put my iPod on random....it will make your head explode :D

Even though I am

vegetarian and do drink soy milk.   I found this LOLcat really funny. 

Just seems like something a cat would say :)

Hum, I don't hear you laughing.......oh well....

Humor me, okay?

 :D

I knew the cats

could sort this out :D

Hurry, I don't know

how much longer I can hold him.

:)

This is probably the singer

that I get the most static about liking....well maybe the second.  Jimmy Somerville.

But anyway, when I tell someone that I LOVE his falsetto and own everything that he has ever recorded with any group or other singer....they give me that blank "why" stare.

Honestly, I really don't know.  But for me there is something amazingly comforting in his voice. Even though his work is primarily dance/disco ish....I really do find it soothing to listen to.

You all knew the frog queen was insane, right?  Now you have your proof.

I still remember the first time I heard this song, and the joy I get listening to it has not faded with time nor familiarity :)



I have thought about it.....I get static about him.....but I would have to say first place is......  You are going to have to wait to find out :)

Husband has been having problems

with the kittehs bothering him in the office (he works from home) so I told him to just get a baby gate. 

Hum......

Guess I did not think that one through :)

When I said there were about 5

of my favorite songwriters, here is another in the list. 

Luckily an album called "Last Year's Model" by Elvis Costello found it's way into my world and rescued me from the world of early 80's top forty (not all of it bad....but let's be honest....a lot of it was)  Anyway, discovered "Alison" in a round about way and tracked down the LP.

Been mesmerised by his work ever since.....another one that is very hard to choose from.  But today I am going to go to a song that for some reason just grabs me every time I hear it.

Here is a live version of Hoover Factory




I believe that Tesco now owns the building.........I believe they sell vacuums :)

Sit back and enjoy the moment

Cause you have to take the crown off every once in a while :D

Because we love

our little neighborhood and city, both husband and I try to get involved in our community.  One of those things is hosting a summer concert series in our neighborhood park.  We have a concert every Thursday in August.  Lots of fun, we get to see our neighbors and have a great time.  We help raise money for the local high school grad party through snack and beverage sales.  A bit of work for husband, but we love seeing all the happy people.

A few years ago, one of our favorite neighbors that has a dark a sense of humor as me, got the kids to start drawing chalk body outlines on the walk ways.....cause we are just evil.  Of course he tells them to draw them for "Chris" - so I get all the blame.  He is just so thoughtful that way :D

Don't get me wrong we have lots of flowers and butterflies and there was even a cool robot in the mix last night. I am always amazed by the cool artwork.

But for some reason, the chalk outlines have become a standard.  They are getting more creative.  We have had the kids draw clothes on them, one time someone drew a Candyland type game all through the body that involved jacks and a rubber ball....I tried to follow the rules when I was playing with the kids....but sadly my adult brain could not keep up with the imaginative kids, but it was a great time.

And wouldn't you know, the night my phone battery was dead was the night they drew the "special" pool of blood oultine version....so no picture, darn.  I was really impressed how they were clever enough to have it go down the bike path and run onto the street.  Distrubed and impressed.

Anyway, this whole event is quite different from the the graveyard....but it cannot be all black and white paint all the time.

....who am I kidding, yes it can :D

Since we started

with XTC, I see no reason to change now.

I have the lyrics to several songs painted on the doors in my music room.  I am thinking of going to the doors in the hallway.  I want and XTC song, and I have been going round and round on which song.  This seems to be the one I am drawn to.......one late night/early morning, I am just going to get out the brush and paint and go for it.

Yes, I think this is it

The Last Balloon is one of my favorite tracks from the "Apple" sessions.  (unfortunately, no official videos for this CD)



The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon from fear


The last balloon is leaving, form that line right here



Climb aboard, climb aboard you menfolk

You won't need any bombs or knives

Climb aboard, climb aboard you menfolk

Leave all that, to your former lives

Drop it all



The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon of all

The last balloon is leaving, undress, discard, let fall



Climb aboard, climb aboard you women

You won't need any gems or furs

Climb aboard, climb aboard you women

Leave all that to the bad old years

Drop it all



The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon they'll fly

The last balloon is leaving and we won't qualify



Climb aboard, climb aboard you children

Move aloft, while you're fleet and fast

Climb aboard, climb aboard you children

We're weighed down by our evil past



Drop us all, you should drop us all

Drop us all and free your hand

Drop us all, you should drop us all

Drop us all like so much sand




"drop it all"

three very, very wise words

Today is a good day

I just put in my preorder for "I Shall Wear Midnight" by Terry Pratchett hard cover delux version from the UK - it will be here in September.

I will stay up all night reading it.....I can always sleep at my desk :D

So I am ripping off this idea

from another blogger Alphaville, that I just adore, because every Friday like clock work I get to hear a Tom Waits song. 

I know it should not be a big deal, last time I checked my iPod I had about 438 Tom Waits tracks to listen to.  But it is not the same.  Kinda like when you hear your favorite song on the radio...playing live over the airwaves.  Just a different feeling.

So, I know unless I stay up all night one weekend and post 52 songs, there is no way I am going to remember to do this every week.  And I know that there are all those cool blog follow things out there....but I already messed up one of those recently by being sick....and people expect you to play by a set of rules....you all know how I feel about those.

Anyway - I am just going to share songs that I love.  I would say I have a favorite song or songwriter.  But really I just admire some performers/writers for different reasons.

Today we are going to focus on one of my favorite lyricists.  I have many, but in the top 5 is definitely Andy Partridge from XTC - he is a genius in my book.  English Settlement is one of my favorite CDs (I am actually old enough to say I had it in vinyl originally :)

XTC  has written many great songs....but if I had to pick today, and believe me it is very hard for me to do this with their work.  It would have to be "Dear God" 




If you catch me on a different day it might be "Smartest Monkeys" or "Chalkhills and Children".....or maybe "Last Balloon"...oh, and then there is "Greeman"...I do so love that song too!

You know what that carriage needs?

a ghost horse.  We all agree, we have been thinking about it for a few years.  We ran out of time last year, but this year I made a commitment to get a hold of my friend Sara and head up to her horse ranch and film one of her lovey horses to make a ghost video.

This is going to be a cool effect!!

I have known my friend Sara for about 10 years - she went to Scotland with us last time we rented a castle. 

I have watched her go through some big changes in her life, and she has always been a brave and upbeat person.  No matter what anyone else said. 

One of them was watching her go from working here with me in marketing to living the dream of owning a 30 acre horse ranch.  She might tell you she misses the steady paycheck sometimes....but she is living the dream that she set out to live.  I admire her immensely.  Very proud to call her my friend..  I am very blessed to know some amazing people.

Anyway, she let us film her lovely horse "Legacy" last night for the video.  Husband was messing with it today and it is not going to work.  Not a total bust, we got to see her new baby horse (10 weeks old) Rio - who is the cutest thing ever!

Enjoyed very much visiting her place, so very different than my home in the city.  I just love getting out of my element from time to time. Life really is an amazing thing when you stop and pay attention.

So, darn, we are going to have to go back up there and visit baby Rio....oh,  I mean film the ghost horse again :D 

A friend of a friend

of ours Storm Large wrote a song for her one woman show called Crazy Enough that is a beautiful lullaby.

Looks like someone got a hold of one that song and used it in an homage to a family pet that passed away. Husband and I are big softies when it comes to animals.

She posted it on her Facebook page so she must be okay with this...I mean it is quite touching how could she not.

Husband sent it to me at work....told him to stop making me cry in my office! He replied "sometimes you have to feel your heart, even at work"

I adore that man.

I know I always say

that I never want to own a haunted house.

But I guess that is a lie. If I had the money to do what I wanted to do, I would quit my job and do it in a heartbeat.

We are talking starting at the caliber of Rocky Point (defunct) that would work for me. And also have the money to hire the right people. The right people to handle all the people that is :)

It takes a lot of people to run something like that, people with varying talents...which means varying personalities.

I deal with that now with my yard display/haunt - dealing with all my fantastic and talent helpers and managing the projects and all that encompasses is not my favorite part.

(Don't get me wrong, love working with all the crew....just sometimes more is not merrier :) I have the main crew all sorted, we work like clock work - most of the time anyway - but they days when there is a large crowd, I get a bit out of my element and am not at my best, no fault of theirs, just shows where I am lacking.)

There is a reason I am in marketing and not human resources.

I know that I am not equipped to handle that many people, and I really have no desire to learn to manage people, there are talented people out there that do and it makes them happy....I want one of them doing what they love so that I can do what I love.

That is the key into getting into the haunted house business for me. It has to be fun. I and everyone working needs to be having a good time doing what they are doing. With that kind of energy we could make the best haunted house ever.

There are so many different people and techniques (of haunting) and things to explore that wildly excite me. How much fun would working with new things, learning and sharing with people that love what they do? (Cause you know us haunters are not doing it for the money!) That part sounds deeevine.

So putting myself into a position of managing a haunted house would not make me happy....and that would travel through the haunt...and I don't want that. I really want to do what I love and work with people doing the same.

It is not really a goal of mine to do this, just an idea....trust me if the circumstances ever play out correctly and this can happen...I am out of this marketing world and making Halloween all day, every day. :)

Another thing

that makes me cray..okay crazier.

Justified type.

If you don't know when to use it then don't. If you have to ask...don't use it. Only very good designers can play with that tool outside the rules and make it work.

Don't look at me, I am not one of them. I stay away from the justified text button :D

When you use it, where you should not, your layout looks amateur - nothing will show off a newbie designer like poorly layed out copy. (And using Microsoft Word Art...or an overused font...or a...ah....I better stop now.)

I am currently reading a book that I like very much...but the layout (which uses justified type) is distracting.

Incorrectly used justified type is a rookie mistake....don't make it.

Sometimes I get

very, very lucky. In this case a good friend of my sister (and now our friend) works for an animation company here in town called Happy Trails. They do all kinds of shorts films and online comics. I posted about their version of the Spartacus online comic a while back.

Anyway, he does voice talent for Happy Trails and agreed to help us with the current video. We gave him a copy of the story a week in advance so he could work through it and then he showed up and we did a couple takes and it was perfect. Amazing.

We have taught a class on how to do this effect several times....we sorta of on purpose forget to mention this next part.

See....he took the video to work and they guys at the studio did some effects on it. That is how we get his face to turn into a skull every so often or the flaming eyes.....they are geniuses with After Effects :)

To return the favor we have made them a prop or two for some pieces they have had to film. Win-win for everyone....just really hard to teach that part in a class :D

Can I file a claim

of harassment with HR if people in the department are talking about the Twilight movies and it is making my ears bleed? Pretty sure that it is not grounds to fire them....but it should be :D

Importnant note

If you read the previous post....on Grave of Fireflies....I am talking about the animated version...not the live actor version...that one may be good too....I have not seen it. Likely never will....cause I LOVE the animated version.

Don't let that fool you animated with subtitles....it is still worth it....it is a very powerful movie.

Sorry I missed Monday

for paripating in the movie listing thing

....been very sick for a few days. Just in case anyone checks back here are my 12 - in no particular order :)

Grave of Fireflies - I have seen this movie at least a dozen times. To this day this is the only movie that makes me cry like a baby. I read a review once that said "if this movie does not make you cry, you are not human." If you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor, stop reading right now and find yourself a copy, really, I'll wait.

Frankenstein - Everyone loves Bride better, and I can see why....but this is my favorite. Biggest impact on me as a haunter and my love of Halloween. The lighting in this movie is astounding - James Whale was a visionary director. I could watch this movie every day. If you have seen my display, you know that the Universal Monster movies are a immense influence.

Lagaan (Once Upon a Time in India) - Yes, it is 4 hours long, and yes, it is an Indian musical, and yes it is in Hindi. But it is magic. I could go on and on about this one, it is a story about the English occupation of India, it is a story about cricket, it is a story about standing up for what you believe in, it is a love story....it is wonderful. And I am not just saying this because I am vegetarian :) (So the frog queen is vegetarian....what does that have to do with anything? Watch the movie, you'll get it.)

The Princess Bride - Who does not love this movie? Seriously? Talk about a movie that stands the test of time.

Princess Mononoke - HUGE fan of Hayao Miyazaki, I love all his work. But this is my favorite of his movies. And like I said on my blog earlier....if one more person tells me how "eye opening" or how "environmentally ground breaking" Avatar is....I am not kidding....I am going to beat them with my copy of this movie. Really, I mean it :D Don't tempt me...the case is plastic...it will be easy to clean off the blood :D

Star Wars - The original - it is a classic.

Chocolat - Amazing cast - just delightful to watch. Yeah, I am usually not one to agree with the crowd...but I do have to agree that Mr. Depp is just absolutely gorgeous. Besides that I love Juliette Binoche - one of my favorite actresses. First saw her in the Red, White and Blue series - great movies also - Blue being my favorite.

Reservoir Dogs - Love Tarantino films, kinda hard to choose......but this one is just brutal - gawd I love it! :)

The Haunting (1963) - Beautiful and scary....still amazing to watch.

Calendar Girls - I love brit movies and this one, based on a true story; well told, well acted....everything a movie should be.

Powder - I like Jeff Goldblum, yes he may be the same character every movie...doesn't matter (except for Independence Day....there was no saving that movie for me....hated it.) This is the only movie that I have ever seen twice in the theater.....in the same day. I liked it that much.

Serenity - Never saw Buffy or Angel and apparently I was the only person on the planet who had no idea who this "Joss Whedon" fellow was. Then a friend recommended Firefly - OMG, is that not the best TV show ever? Actually, that was not a question, I was stating a fact :D How many shows get canceled and then get a movie....only Joss fans can do that, this I have learned. Watch it for the two fight scenes with River - shinny!

Okay, back to prop building!!!

Because I am feeling silly today

Don't forget

your towel!

Today is "Towel Day" in honor of the late and very great writer Douglas Adams.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of my favorite books....ever!

I hate when that happens

Thought of the day

Women are angels

and when someone breaks our wings....

We simply continue to fly......

on a broomstick....

We are flexible that way :)

thanks to my friend Jen for that quote that was too good not to share :)

Yes, I believe he is correct

That is why I quit drinking it loooooong ago :D

Sometimes getting into

someones head takes you places you would never expect.

See, most of Halloween people have no problem with the 666 number being the reference for "the beast" "devil" or what ever other evil made up character that fits that description....we have all see the movies, we know the drill.

Not the Babbling Banshee, . . . . she is wired, how shall we say this?

A bit different :D

That is why she is my friend. She is one of those people that just makes you laugh out loud (literally) with her way of thinking.

Case in point is her latest blog post - check it out to follow the entertaining path of how someone associates the number 666 with green jello. It is a fun ride. You will not be disappointed.

Why bring this up....because the horrific dog grooming picture came from her, along with the mermaid skeleton....and several others. (Oh, and she draws too...that avatar image is her creation!)

Thanks my friend.

There are days

when you just have to step back and except the fact that you are loved and have some really cool friends....and husband.

When I was freaking out about this project not working, my friends at Happy Trails were willing to help me with project despite the fact that some of them were "sleeping at the studio" because they were working 20 hours a day...but they would find the time to help me, for one tenth of what they would charge anyone else, because we are "friends".

They even called me a couple times to see how it was going and make sure I was okay -I guess my freaking out worried them :D

Not only did husband spend hours and days helping me (and never complained), but never once gave me a hard time about my trash-talking of Pinnacle and how now I was forced to use it. At least he hasn't yet...... :D

Not a chance

of a name change, on our local creek, the original family that the creek is named after still lives in the area....and I don't think they are big fans of the graveyard :) I remember the year I put tombstones up during the garden tour, she was not amused :D (I understand, her yard has been in Sunset Magazine among others....and here I am putting silly Halloween decorations in my only locally featured garden! :D)

Now that I ponder it for a moment, I think my friends garden, with corpse in the pit put her over the edge! LOL!

I guess I will never really understand the people that dislike Halloween.....what are they crazy!?

Wait, I think that is what they think about me! :D

I think we are both right! :D

Hal takes guarding

the garden very seriously :D





...that is not actually Hal, but it looks like him...back before he became a house cat and we fattened him up a bit. LOL!

* I have to get a little

silly about this whole award thing sometimes. This whole project has had its share of "moments" over the years and at times I was done helping. Thankfully husband is a very sane person and has a lot of experience at "talking me down" when I get too crazy (like I said, guy deserves a medal.) I laugh and think that sometimes, I think I am going to need therapy over this whole thing. :D

Seriously, I really need to get out and make a prop to put me in a better mood. :D I have this project that was supposed to be my first papier-mâché project last year that I wimped out on :)

It is sitting in my music room mocking me......I think I might have to make time to give it a try - finally :) Or maybe not....if it goes wrong.....I will likely chuck it out the window and follow right after it! :D

Very, true

at least for the frog queen :)

We can't do anything normal

at our house. The Davis Graveyard thing has made us quite notorious in our city...at a recently meeting in the city, husband was talking about the new outdoor art installation in our downtown area....jokingly everyone assumed it would be made up of skeletons and mud men. :D When we go somewhere, we are refereed to as the graveyard people.

Good fun.

That said, I cannot even adopt normal cats. We all know that Hal (Halloween Cat) is quite famous as the keeper of the graveyard, so you would think that the other two house cats - Mason and Dorie would be jealous. Not really.

They have their own fan club - completely not graveyard related.

We adopted both of them from our vet. She had a litter of kittens that she rescued and gave all of them away but two. And being the smart vet that she is, she noticed that Mason is a very sweet cat who wants to be petted and played with - the vets office loves him, he likes being held on his back like a baby....he is just the sweetest cat....but his sister, not so much. She hides in the corner and does not want to be held.

So, she wisely said they have to go as a pair....otherwise Dorie would likely never find a home.

So husband and I are the suckers that agreed to take both of them. After a few years, they have grown into lovely kitties. Mason still likes to be held on his back even though his is the largest cat I have ever owned, making it kinda difficult to do :) ....and Dorie, well, she likes me.....and sometimes husband, but still not a big cuddlier.

But - when we go into the vet's office it is like I am bringing in celebrities. As soon as they know they are there everyone comes out from behind the counter to hold and pet them. When they finally do go back in the cage and head to the back (they get their nails trimmed about every 6 weeks) you hear them happily announce to the rest of the staff that "Mason and Dorie are here!" To where you hear plenty of "ahhhhhs" and squeals, and lots of "Oh! So good to see you guys" (Hal never gets that kind of attention :D ) . . . and I sit alone in a quite empty vets office waiting for their return.

I worry that someday I might just decide to keep them :D

This is exactly

how I felt during my meeting this morning.....I just hate the Monday morning meetings! Lots of blah, blah, blah....I don't know about all the rest of my co-workers...but I have stuff I could be doing right now...important stuff.....relevant stuff.....



see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Lessons learned

So what did we learn from our little adventure in 2008?

I already know this...but at times like this I am reminded that this display is so much bigger than me, it really has a life if its own. From all the people in the community that help to the fact that my silly cat gets fan mail! :)

So what did we do this year (2009).....we super-duper-duper reinforced the heck out of that scaffolding. Along with several other safety features....eventually I want a cable and harness attached to the roof.

We learned a very valuable lesson that day, that home owners insurance does not cover peoples medical costs from accidents like that on your property. You cannot even buy an extra rider. You can buy liability insurance....but that only works if you are found liable. And that only happens if we created something unsafe - like dug a pit in the middle of the driveway and pushed you in. So fortunately for us, he had health insurance. We have a new policy at the workshop that you cannot help with set up or take down or work with power tools unless you are insured - NO exceptions. It is not because we don't like you.....it is because we do like you. :) Well, most of you :D

We have the best crew. Through the whole situation everyone was helpful - from visiting him in the hospital to getting him around after that.....bringing him groceries in the snow and having him over for the holidays.

Seriously, you can steal any prop in the yard...the whole thing in fact. But don't even think of touching my friends.* I am extremely possessive of those wonderful people. I love those guys and you cannot have them...not even to borrow. Don't ask. :D

* and the cat. You can't have Hal, husband will kill me (he would likely give up me before that cat :D )...and anyway, it is Hal's yard, you could try to take him...but he would just end up back at our place eventually :)

This proves my point

on #5 on the last list. So we rent some movies (I am going to be nice when I say "we" - I am going to take credit for agreeing to rent them...so I guess it is partly my fault.) :D

So we watched two movies the other night, one romantic comedy and one horror film.

All About Steve and Jennifer's Body

All About Steve was painful to watch, I think I have an imprint of the embroidery on my sofa on my head from banging against it trying to lower my iQ enough to watch that disaster. OMG - I cannot find words to describe how awful it was. I should be honest....I did not watch the whole thing....I got up from the couch as many times as I could throughout the movie :D I rest my case, most romantic comedies are rubbish....they make both men and women look like idiots.

I have to go watch Practical Magic again so that I don't have that image of Sandra in a dreadful blonde wig stuck in my head.

So, Jennifer's Body had to be better, right? Well, only slightly...don't rent that one either. It is okay, but I would never recommend it. Not sure what it is, it had potential, but just never went anywhere and was too predictable for my liking.

Once again, not going to get into the well covered movie review arena.....just giving you my opinion....you will have to trust me on these two movies and stay away.

Husband says I get to pick the movies next time!! I have to see if Robo-Geisha is out yet :D

In order to save Hal

from befalling some tragedy from Carl's Curse....I will accomodate (most of) the award rules....just this one time :D

Kreativ Blogger Award rules (I hate rules):

Thank the person...done

Copy the award on your blog...done

Link to the person who gave you the award...done

Name 7 things about yourself that people may find interesting.....

I am missing some girl genes. I can prove it:

1. I HATE shopping.
2. Pink is my least favorite color.
3. Don't even think of buying me a gift from a jewelry store.
4. I did not like Sex in the City (yes, I watched the whole series - because many of my girl and my gay friends bugged me about watching it.) If Carrie was my friend, (and I guarantee you, she would not be, but if she was,) I would have smacked her upside the head with her ridiculously expensive shoes! :D
5. I don't like romantic comedies - I rather watch a horror or action flick instead :)
6. I am seriously allergic to mushy Hallmark cards (or any mushy card for that matter) - Husband knows I neither get nor give them.
7. I wear a single band as a wedding ring....I have no desire ever to own some outrageously big and distracting diamond....I rather have a rare book or piece of art instead.

Nominate seven Kreativ Bloggers....

Oh my, what is that sound? Yes, you did hear a slight "snapping" sound....man, that rule broke easy! :D

Okay Carl, that is the last time you get to pull the pet curse on me :D