Frog Queen Follies

The reason that I started this blog

2011-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

was to have a home for the footnotes in my other blog. Just like Terry does in his books.

So here we go. BTW - if you have not read the Frog on the Pumpkin blog post, this will likely make no sense to you. :)

* from the box, PumpkinHead sounded a lot like the gargoyles from Fable :D

** Every time I see PumpkinHead I play the XTC song - The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead in my mind.....love that song. So I am fine with that.

Potential

2011-07-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I just love me some british comedy. And one of my favorites was, actually let me clarify that....my favorite IS Black Books....LOVE that show.

So, from that I discovered Dylan Moran....who I equally love, and this particular piece of his has stuck in my mind for years....he does a bit about potential and why most of us never "open the door" to our potential....cause if you never open the door, it is always like you see in your mind....we are all afraid of the reality....what if I am not what I think I am.

So maybe the under achievers have the right idea, you should stay away from your potential...you might mess it up!

I did not say that well or funny.....but he did.

Yes.....in my potential room....there are flamingos serving martinis!

One arch down

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Lots more to go! This is two vetical 8 foot panels to the arch and one 4x8 on it's side for the top.

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So it begins

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First load of foam for the new abbey! Let the madness begin!

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Saw Tim Minchin in concert

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last night - it was amazing. He is better in person that on DVD (no surprise) - I think he was genuinely touched by the standing ovations....I was shocked to see so many people in Portland at his show.

I was really wanting him to close the show with "White Wine in the Sun" - but I think I am equally happy to hear a great version of a cover from one of my favorite song writers. He sang "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen (in the Jeff Buckley style) I liked how part way through the song when we were all singing the chorus "Hallelujah" over and over again.....he turned to the audience, smiled and said

"You are all getting the irony in this right?"

LOL!

I did not record the show - the venue police were quite on top of cameras last night. But here is a link to a version he of the song he did in London earlier this year.

It is like Halloween, just got to get out there and find your people. It was nice to be a heathen among heathens. I wanted to turn around at the end of the show and say "Hey, everyone can we exchange emails......yes, all of you."

But I didn't and they all disappeared into the night.

Some Fish on Friday

2011-06-17T16:49:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite songs. Ever.

Another Tim Minchin Friday

2011-05-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

This one gets a lot of play time on my iPod.

Kate Bush trumps all other scheduled posts

2011-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

New Kate Bush is out....well, not new exactly - reworks of her old songs....but when it comes to Kate you have take what you can get :)

Cool video for Deeper Understanding featuring Robbie Coltrane and Noel Fielding - love them both. She is always able to get cool actors in her videos!

For all those that say they like to original better...if pressed, I would have to agree (Mostly because I love that CD as a whole so much) - but I do appreciate and very much enjoy this new interpretation.

Besides Spirited Away and Princess Mononke

2011-05-09T11:13:00.001-07:00

I love Howls' Moving Castle.....what can I say. I am a fan!

Lego version!!

see more Must Have Cute

Tim Michin x2

2011-04-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

Guess what?

After I bought the Seattle Tim Minchin tickets, he is now playing Portland!! And at probably the closest club to my house in town. Woohoo!!

So, I will be at that show.....and maybe Seattle if I cannot sell those tickets - let the Tim Minchin stalking commence!!

Besides Terry Pratchett

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and a host of other talented writers....Neil Gaiman is one of my favorites. Something about how he puts a sentence together always moves me. I have been very busy this year so far, almost to the point of feeling out of control, madness in the not good way.

For some reason sitting in my office wondering how in the world I was going to get through all this I remembered this poem from last year from Mr. Gaiman.

Helps me keep things in perspective :)

If you have never heard this, click on the link, it is always a pleasure to hear him speak, or you can just read the poem at the bottom of the email.

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

…I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.

I will explain why I love this later...

2011-04-09T03:17:00.001-07:00

I got Tim Minchin tickets

2011-04-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

Woohoo!!! He is playing in Seattle....about a 5 hour drive from here - love Seattle gives me an excuse to spend a weekend hanging out up there!

I will be there on Friday, June 24th - I could not be happier. I finally get to see him live.

Now if Billy Connolly would just play Seattle that would be perfect! Cause as much as I love Tim Minchin and Eddie Izzard and Dylan Moran and Tommy Tienan and Lee Evans and Bill Bailey and Chris Rock and Kat Williams and Robin Williams and Paula Poundstone and Jimmy Carr and Catherine Tate and Russel Brand and Ross Noble and Sean Locke and Stephen Lynch the late George Carlin and Richard Pryor and Sam Kinison and Noel Fielding and Dave Chappell and Demetri Martian and Steven Wright and Lewis Black and Mike Ward and Eddie Murphy and of course, Lenny Bruce (I am sure I forgot a few) - Billy Connolly is my all time favorite.

But since Billy is not coming to Seattle and Tim is....on June 24th - he will be my favorite comic!!

A little Minchin to celebrate!!!

Fright Club: Blog vs. Blog Challenge: Creative Sites of Horror

2011-04-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Go to the Fright Club blog and help settle this once an for all - who has the better creative blog site.

I hope you guys can help sort this out....I can't choose, love them both. :)

Fright Club: Blog vs. Blog Challenge: Creative Sites of Horror: "ShellHawk's Nest vs. Adeles SpOOky Art Adeles SpOOky Arthttp://adelesspookyart.blogspot.com/ShellHawk's Nesthttp://shellhawksnest.blogspot.c..."

If there was less pink

2011-03-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

...actually let me state that correctly, if there were "no" pink. I would so want this.

Spirited Away is one of my favorite movies.

This one is dedicated to

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husband.

This Tim Minchin Friday is dedicated to my lovely and almost always happy husband - First time I heard that I had to laugh. Every time I hear it I am reminded how lucky I am to have such an understanding and patient husband....heaven knows he needs patience being married to me :D

Okay so it is technically Saturday

2011-03-19T00:51:00.000-07:00

But here is your Tim Minchin Friday video.

Evolution....not just a good idea....a fact. Thank you, all my hard core christian friends can go now.....ha, who am I kidding.....I have not firends! :D

Husband discovered

2011-03-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Kahn Academy and we are both just completely hooked. This is an absolutely brilliant idea and a great story of how it came to be.

If you have kids in school, this site is perfect. Or if you are just like husband and I and are curious about things....just "things' - calculus, physics, finances, etc. This is the site for you.

He talks about many, many subjects in short videos that are easy to understand. I so wish this would have existed when I was in school!

Check it out when you get a chance.

http://www.khanacademy.org/

We now return to

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Tim Minchin Fridays

This is probably my favorite love song. Frog Queen is not a big fan of soft and mushy songs....so this suits me right down to the ground.

Better Be Home Soon

2011-02-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite pair of song writers and performers are Tim and Neil Finn. Love Split Endz, Crowded House, ALT, Finn Brothers and both of their solo works....not to mention all the albums they have played on with others and the many people they have written for and/or produced. I have a very large chuck or real estate in my CD collection dedicated to those two.

Very talent brothers that I have admired for a long time.

And as you might have noticed I recently discovered Tim Minchin.....so imagine how happy I was yesterday to see his latest YouTube video.

Tim Minchin covering a Crowded House song. Now, when I first hear this I thought.....well many of the older Split Endz songs are rather funny, Hermit McDermit or That Was My Mistake - would probably fit well into his style.....but when I heard him singing Better Be Home Soon, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Tim Minchin Fridays continue

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This is definitely one of my favorite routines from him.....brilliant.

How about

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Tim Minchin Fridays.....at least until I run out of Tim Minchin stuff to post :)

I could not agree more

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see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Japanese fighting spiders

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My folly blog....my follies.....so more comedy. Dylan Moran is one of my favorites. Black Books is one of my favorite TV show ever. It is the show that I discovered both Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey. A gift that just keeps on giving.

Here is one of my favorite Dylan Moran bits.....not only because it has a spider reference....because it just cracks me up

.....and then the cage comes down.....

Well, he mentioned spiders

2011-01-18T07:02:00.000-08:00

so I have to post this on my blog. Husband and I are big fans of Ricky Gervais. While traveling we picked up his latest DVD - called Science. Frog Queen loves when he goes after the bible.....so I knew I would love this one. And the set is just fantastic!

This is a bit about the story of Noah.....and it starts with a bit about spiders.....perfect for the frog queen. Grab a beer and enjoy!

Yeah, another one

2011-01-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

So my current folly is British comedies.....you will find this happens every time I get a large stack of DVDs from Amazon UK :)

This cracked me up...."No mate, it is this kind of situations swearing was fucking invented for!" I want to use that line, thank you very much.

If have not already met.....may I introduce Sean Locke.....Sean, meet everyone.

I know what will work

2011-01-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

I remember a long time ago when I got into blogging, one of the first memorable blog posts I recall is from ShellHawk (at least I think it was her) - she was lamenting on how a blog "written" by a cat was more popular than hers. Made me giggle and the fact that I had 2 cats at the time (and three cats now) how funny that would be. But I did not want to do something like that because I was too new in the blog world and did not want piss off any bloggers.

Well, time has passed and I have had the immense pleasure of now knowing said blogger personally, and she has a brilliant sense of humor. So the worries were unfounded.

Anyway....the idea has been in the back of my head for a while, I even got the blog "Graveyard Cats" attached to my profile....nothing there yet, but at least I have it when I finally get my act in gear and get on that one of my many projects.

Then I saw that Bean from the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Blog was selected by a cat food company to wear a camera around and be part of a film.

That is it. If I really want to have a Youtube video that people watch, or a blog that gets more than a few hits a day......I am going to have to use more of my resources and involve the cat.

Since Hal is kinda/sorta famous in the (agreeable very small (less than 50 hits a day) part of my haunt community,) I thought this would be perfect.

I will get the silly cat (sorry Hal), majestic, handsome, and entertaining cat, a video camera to wear around the yard at Halloween! F*cking brilliant. Not original mind you.....but I am not proud. I am in marketing, I am used to selling my soul on an almost daily basis. :)

And in this case....I am willing to sell Hal's soul too.

But my dreams have dashed by the fact that it is virtually impossible to find a cat collar camera! Seriously, someone lend me some money, we are going to make cat/dog collar cameras for under $100 (and preferably shipped from the US) - we are going to make a fortune....cause I know from market research.....pet people spend a ludicrous amount of money on their pets.....you just have to see the set up in my house to prove that.

Hummmm, I bet you are all wondering if there is a point here.....there is, maybe. I am not guaranteeing that....remember this is my folly blog.

So the other day I was listening to Tim Minchin (I know HUGE surprise) anyway, he does a song that proves this point perfectly, I see that he too understands my pain........it is called Yourtube Lament. (lyrics below)

All my carefully measured metaphor

All my flat nine dominant seven chords

All of my shtick

My lyrical trickery

All of those bows

All that applause

All my intertextuality

All my self-aware hypocrisy

All of those rhymes

My irregular times

All my softly spoken sophistry

All my make-up, all my lights

All my photo shoots in tights

All my pretensions

All my intentions

All my glitzy opening nights

All my brow-dependent jokes

All my mirror balls and smoke

All my tilts at wit and whimsy

All my poetry

My swear words and my smut

Will never get as many hits

As Kitten Waking Up

Home Haunters DVD collection

2011-01-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

So now that that is all over, can all of you now submit to the the Home Haunters Video DVD set? Please? Please?

We only have about 10 haunts at the moment. :( - Thanks to all 10 of you!

There has normally been around 100, if we do not get more soon, we will have to cancel the DVDs due to the cost of producing and duplication.

There are awards for these also....they are just trophies and no fancy prizes that the Home Haunters Association has.....sorry, my budget is much smaller :D It is all for the fun of it anyway....right? :)

Looking forward to seeing what you create in 2011.

Really short history lesson

2011-01-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

Why does the frog queen keep mentioning the Reformation and "thanking Henry" :D

Reformation? - Henry said f*ck you to the Catholic Church started a new church and ordered all the Catholic churches to be dismantled

....most of them were "unroofed" this meant taking the lead roof off the church to use elsewhere. Without the roof, the buildings fell to ruin and many were dismantled to build fancy homes to the people that Henry granted the church land. (that is the really short poor American education version - if someone wiser knows more....please help me out.)

....not that I am all that big a fan of the Catholic church (in fact you could go so far as to say it is quite the opposite :D) but it is very sad to see all these ruined cathedral/church because of the reformation

....and not that I am a big fan of Henry VIII (didn't know him personally) but his decision to break away from the Catholic church (which I personally understand, been there myself much to the dismay of my family) was the downfall of so many amazing buildings

.....the more I travel over there, the more sad I feel

....then I think, man, does that mean I am rooting for the Catholic church? Wait, that can't be!! Oh no!!

......quite a quandary I tell you. I try not to think about it too much makes my head hurt :D

Could not,not post this

2011-01-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I mean I am the Frog Queen after all :)

But this blog is my folly

2011-01-03T07:02:00.000-08:00

so, here is another whim of mine. While in the UK we got the latest Jimmy Carr DVD - now, really, I am not exaggerating.....this guy can offend - even those that don't easily offend. He has gotten in a bit of trouble more than once for his jokes. So, you have been warned:

So that I don't turn my other blog

2010-12-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2010-12-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

could sort this out :D

Hurry, I don't know

2010-08-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

how much longer I can hold him.

:)

This is probably the singer

2010-08-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

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

Because we love

2010-08-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-08-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-24T02:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

Don't forget

2010-05-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-23T10:29:00.001-07:00

Thought of the day

2010-04-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

That is why I quit drinking it loooooong ago :D

Sometimes getting into

2010-04-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

at least for the frog queen :)

We can't do anything normal

2010-02-10T13:40:00.001-08:00

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

2010-02-01T11:16:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

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

I know that I am

2009-12-24T10:59:00.001-08:00

the reason for the change to the "holiday dress code memo" this year. It not specifically says "Christmas" clothing, instead of "holiday" clothing.

It used to read "holiday themed clothing", and yes, I did write it that way on purpose. No, not so I could wear a skeleton scarf on Christmas Eve (that was an added bonus), I wrote it that way as to not offend anyone who is of a non-christian faith or does not celebrate at all. I purposely did not use the word "Christmas" because I am allergic to lawyers :)

Anyway, big surprise that the frog queen does not own or ever plans to own a holiday sweater, so I just wear a Santa hat or antlers or something - paired with a Halloween item. For no other reason than I like Halloween and Christmas and I have a sense of humor. :D

Something that I think HR finds an absence of in an employee to be a necessity :D

So, I have this skull scarf that I wear all the time (not just Christmas eve) and it appears that wearing it outside of "Halloween" is offensive to some people I work with. They reported it to HR....who now has to be more clear in their communication to staff, because of me. :)

For the record, the HR department used to be next to marketing and we are good friends. I help organize most of the staff parties and events, I decorate, create the flyers and awards, they love me. They thought it was silly, but they are also afraid of lawyers so . . . . . . .memos have to be edited.

And if she did not like my skull scarf, then she would really hate my skull hat with holly on it....I thought about wearing it today......I had it in my hand this morning as I was walking out the door....at the last minute, I put it back in the box. (That was close!)

As for the gingerbread house. I told the department if they wanted me to make it, it was going to be "haunted"......I think they were even a bit, ah.....shall we say surprised. Guess I don't have to make one next year! :D

Frog on the Pumpkin

Okay, I am tired

2009-12-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

of waiting....will they just show the final Dr. Who episodes already?!?!?

This is killing me.

A good reminder why I try not to watch TV, when I like something....I have little or no patience. This is why I prefer reading....the only thing stopping me from finding out how it ends....is how fast I can read, coupled with how tired I want to be at work the next day :D

Why did David Tennet have to be such a good Doctor!?

I could have been done with the series when Chris left......cause I was sure no one could do better.....but I was wrong. Just like everyone else David is one of my favorite Doctors. (Although Tom Baker will always be the Dr. Who in my mind, guess I am just old school :)

If you are a fan

2009-12-03T15:12:00.001-08:00

of Fox News, sorry for my last post. :)

As much as I find the channel annoying, my making fun of them (and Mr. Murdock) was more in reference to the circus type atmosphere of the channel and anything related to that making a Pratchett movie, rather than the actual channel's content.

I hope the last post will make the title of this blog make a bit more sense :)

And.....if you like The Hogfather....they made The Color of Magic (his first book) and The Light Fantastic (both books, one movie) into another delightful movie. If you enjoy the humor, you will like this one too.

Rincewind was perfectly cast. And any movie with Tim Curry (as Trymon) gets my attention. :)

Now I am just waiting to see the Wyrd Sisters as a movie....who will they cast as Nanny Ogg - cause I do happen to posses a cat to play Greedo (although now gone orange tabby, Merlin would have been PERFECT) - yes, Dorie might have found her calling - if I can pry her out from under the couch :D

When she saw it

2009-11-23T13:58:00.000-08:00

(her award) my sister said...."Hey, wait, I think that is actually a picture of me in Scotland." :D

She is right the picture that I used from my sister's "Least Likely to be Found" award is a picture of her and I outside of Stirling. I do have pictures of her at Loch Ness, but they were not the right angle for the picture.....and the ruins of Urquhart Castle (which is by far the coolest part of the loch.....unless of course, you believe in Nessy :D ) was in the background.......it was easier to photoshop out the background from a picture of a light brown heather covered glen. :)

Speaking of Scotland.....we are trying to swing a trip back there in November of next year (2010). The plan is to rent a castle, no, not this ones :) with about 10 friends.....anyone want to go? :D

The age old question

2009-11-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I cannot post another LOL cat on my Frog on the Pumpkin blog, or I will lose Carl at ILHM, and I like Carl...I mean who doesn't? So here it is....had to share.

Frog queen follies

2009-11-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

is directly connected to

Frog on the Pumpkin

That is the main blog. This blog is where I put all my long winded and not completely related tangents connected to posts on the Frog on the Pumpkin blog.

I am very good at compartmentalizing :D

Be kind

2009-11-18T07:20:00.000-08:00

those are my words today.....because sometimes haunters (well, I guess people in general) can be unkind. I know it happens, things can get misunderstood, but can we be nice to each other for a while?

We are all haunters and work our butts off to put on the best show we can. And we should be proud of what we do. It is awesome.

We are all putting our heart and soul into what we do and it hurts when people say mean things about some one's display. I am talking about the Home Haunter Association Yard Haunt Awards. I was checking them all out the other day and it seems on a few of the comments on the videos were unhelpful and mean.

It is the second time in recent memory that I have read where haunters are attacking other haunters - it just makes me sad.

You have the right to your opinion, we all do, but I don't think that anyone would appreciate being ridiculed or told their display is "insert negative adjective here".

Do what you want, but I just want to take a moment to say, "be nice out there". We are all just doing this for the love of Halloween.

I am overly

2009-11-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

sensitive. I think it is because in my day job, I have to deal with a lot of PR and worst case scenario situations.

So I am always aware that something in the yard might be offensive/inappropriate, etc. I am not too worried about it in general, I mean there are some people that find Halloween offensive, so to them anything I do is wrong. Not really worried about them, they will likely not visit the yard anyway.

But I am sensitive to hurting someones feelings or offend someone on a personal level.

So my initial reaction to filming the kids as ghosts was - no way. Someone who has lost a child is not going to find that very entertaining.

So I asked all our friends that had kids (and one I know who, unfortunately, had lost a child) and they all said I was being too sensitive.

I still was not convinced.

And....a week later, on the day we started filming.....still not liking the idea.

Until I saw the kids in the yard. They were having a great time and thought it was cool that they got to be ghosts like their parents. Yeah, this is going to work fine.

The first time it was shown in the yard and they were so excited.....I was glad I had come to terms with the whole project and thankful that husband and friends encouraged (okay, maybe pushed) me to let this be part of the yard.

I have learned a lesson about myself and my perception of the display. I was reminded that this is not to entertain myself and make me happy, and not just for the visitors.....but a creative outlet for many people.....even and now especially for the kids.

Funny thing is

2009-11-02T13:15:00.001-08:00

I can guarantee you that most of the conversation through our anniversary dinner tonight will be about Halloween. Seriously, I cannot think of a day where Halloween is not come up at least once.

I think we might have a problem....is there a 12 step plan program for this? :D

Even more help

2009-10-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Although I can do pretty good with foam and a hot knife, my web programming skills suck.

A fact made plainly clear by my fabulous work on the Haunters Video Awards site. As you can see, I clearly need some help.

If any of you out there can help me, I really need someone to redesign the site and create some banners. So if you can or know someone who can volunteer (I am spending all my budget on awards, plaques and postage) to help me with this site I would be forever grateful!!!

I can probably get a free set of the DVDs for you and some other goodies....if anyone in interested, I can contact some of my vendor friends and see if I can get a donation.

Just thought I would ask, you can email me at chris@davisgraveyard.com.

Happy Halloween and be sure to film your haunt!!!

And to the lady

2009-10-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

that came up to the team and told them that they needed more bloody gore and blood and scratches on their makeup and other unhelpful suggestions, and that she would be back next year "when they do it right."

When they do it right?!?!?

Please do not come back to my yard. Ever. This is not the frog queen's joking face.

That was mean, I have no use for that here. If you would have said it around me I would have escorted you out of the graveyard. :)

Believe me, there were police officers and reserves waiting around for something to do....they are nice people, here to support the community; they liked the dancers. If I would have asked, I am sure they would have been happy to remove you from property. :)

I am going to bet that your daughter dances at another school. And it is easier to make yourself feel better by tearing down other people, that the hard work it takes to build yourself up. I guess there is a bit of rivalry between the dance teams...after all these years, looks like high school never changes :D

Still no reason to be mean. Mean people stay out of my yard!!!

I am very stressed this time of year and you really do not piss off the frog queen....you think those headstone in the yard are just for decoration? :)

Seriously,

2009-10-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

when was the last time you saw a pumpkin in a real graveyard, how about a scarecrow....so they are gone. I gave away my scarecrow and quit carving pumpkins.

Earlier this year I was reading Pumpkinrot's post (tried to find it to link....sorry, no luck) on traditional Halloween decorations. It struck me that in my single minded pursuit to create a graveyard, I had banished anything that was not appropriate from the decor, including pumpks and scarecrows.

I like pumpkins and scarecrows, they were always part of my decor. I missed them.

But they were not going into the graveyard....they just did not fit.

But I do have a large backyard.....hum, I have always wanted to decorate back there, maybe I can do something in the garden.

I knew I wanted a scarecrow for the garden, but how to put pumpkins in the mix? I really don't have the space to grow pumpkins proper in my vegi garden, but I could create something that was just for photos.

So down from upstairs comes a Bart, a little bit of Fix-all, caulking, hardware removal*, a bit of stain and paint, and some rebar to hold up his head, out he goes in one of the vegi beds.

A couple bags of potting soil and a handful of pumpkin seeds ....some rain and a bit of sun....and I have my latest Frog Queen folly!

This is not the finished scene, a few more details to add and some adjustments to the scarecrow, but the Marci's pictures were too good! I had to share. :)

More photos from the lovely Marci

*remember, frog queen HATES when you leave that metal hanging hardware on your skeletons, yes, I will make fun of you, you have been warned. :)

LOL! Footnote on my footnote blog :D Silly frog queen!

I have been working

2009-10-07T10:00:00.001-07:00

on a blog post since July, it is too self indulgent in its current state. I am still not ready to post it, likely never.

But today brought it back to my mind.

I have shared a bit how some haunters don't care like The Davis Graveyard, be it husband and I personally, or the style in which we haunt, or the way we go about promoting the graveyard.

Fair enough, they are your opinions, you are entitled to them. I can say that I never meant my words or intentions to mean what you say they do....but I have been around long enough to know to just leave it alone, at that point there is usually nothing I can say to change the situation and we will both just end up unhappy.

I wish it could be otherwise.

Anyway, a couple of things really got me down this year and has unfortunately as much as I have tried to not let them bother me...there has been a dark spot on my Halloween heart most of this year.

What got me thinking about it....was that this morning we had several people come up to us and thank us for what we do, like the guy that said he appreciated that we brought the Halloween spirit back to the neighborhood.

As I was walking home with husband I realized that I had let the words of a few people hold too much sway over me this year and that was unfair not only to myself, but the many people we work with and the thousands of people that we create the display for. They deserve all of my attention, and I have foolishly given it to a few people that don't deserve it at all.

I have been a silly frog queen indeed.

I don't think I am completely better yet. But I do feel something changing.

Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-10-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

I guess there are some rules to getting this award, I am not big on rules - red heads, we are nothing but trouble....so I am going to follow the rules part of the way and answer some questions

1.) Thank the person who gave this to you - done
2.) Copy the logo and place it in your blog - did that
3.) Link the person who nominated you - ah.....okay Here she is in all her loveliness!!!
4.) Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know

Seven things.......hum.

Nothing is coming......

1 - I hate answering these things :)
2 - I don't like passing on awards...they feel like chain letters to me. (Sorry, really I am, just a silly frog queen thing - no one, take it personal, really!!!)
3 - I lose my car keys on a daily basis
4 - hate coffee - I know, I am weird :)
5 - had a cat named Merlin - he was an orange tabby....I miss him a lot
6 - loathe pop music (top 40)
7 - The Witchery in Edinburgh, Scotland is my favorite resturant in the whole world!

That is all, the frog queen is done....if any of you want an award, let me know, I would be happy to pass this one on to you :D (not!)

Not that I don't think my fellow blogger are not creative....you are....baby steps for the frog queen....she actually answered a blog award questionaire., I participated in a "Musical Monday" for crying out loud!!!!..can you feel it? Yes, that is the sound of the universe tearing apart! :D

Gawd, I am a drama queen!!! :D

What will happen next! The frog queen might do something nice, slow down a bit.......no, not gonna happen :D

I did not say

2009-09-28T10:53:00.001-07:00

anything about the spider in the eye incident until Sunday night....mostly because I could not utter the words out loud. But we were talking to some friends that stopped by on Sunday afternoon and the conversation got on to spiders....as conversations do.

"Well, you know, daddy long legs are really not spiders" says Ruby - one of the biggest fans of the Graveyard since she was four (she is six now) - makes her parents drive by everyday when it is set up.

"Looks like a spider to me....that is guilt by association. It is a spider in my book."

Everyone laughs.

The thing "spider" that crawled in my eye I am pretty sure was a daddy long legs, or something close to that....I think I could go look it up and find out for sure.....but that would mean looking at pictures of spiders to help identify it.

My left eye informed me not to even think about it, that it has seen enough spiders....thank you very much.

Not all the pictures

2009-09-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

on the blog are of spiders.

Just one too many, and one at all, is too many.

To be fair, he has posted a lot of frog pictures...which I LOVE. But I think it is going to take a LOT of frog pictures to make up for that spider :D

I could never put a ground breaker

2009-09-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

from Pumpkinrot in my yard. Three reasons:

(Look at that picture....don't we all covet one of those!!!??)

1) It rains a lot....a lot, lot, lot, lot....I am not exaggerating...come on my Northwest buddies you know what I mean. We have a lot of water here.....lots of water. It would be goo. Mossy, slimy goo. Wait, I am sure I could find a use for that :D

2) I have one outdoor cat. He loves. No, wait, let me clarify. He LIVES for October so he can scratch props. Foam and wood can be fixed with a bit of paint (and some cursing under my breath.) Fixing a corpse......I would have to get a repair kit from Rot .....I wonder how much that would cost :)

3) And most important. It would make my props look plain and boring. Yep, not that it would be hard.... :) And the realization of my inadequacy would likely make me want to throw myself off a bridge....and as I said, there is lots of water here so I have a lot bridge choices. :D

To be safe...I am going to stick to pumpkins ...and maybe a few greeting cards - what harm could they cause :)

Frog Queen knows her limits (just like I know I am evil), and I am fine with that!! :D

Sugar Mice

2009-09-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

I told myself that I likely never would participate in the questionnaires and other blog follies. But that was on my main blog....I have decided that the frog queen follies....is exactly that. Follies.

Not to dismiss Musical Monday and all it's wonderfulness, but for the frog queen to participate in something not Halloween related, especially now, is an the event itself, and must be considered a folly. I know, I am very silly. :)
I have been Good Mourning, Glory blog for a long time now but never participated in this weekly ever...so here we go. Thanks Diane for the inspiration.

So here I go.....my first blog world participation post :D Excuse me if I don't the the protocol exactly right...I am not good with rules :D

Since I was musing on Scotland, I thought I would make a Musical Monday post on one of my favorite bands - ever, and a definitely one of my favorite song writers. Fish has it that, the reason that Phish spells their name that way.... He already had "Fish" taken.
Anyway...back in 1985 my sister and I were watching MTV back when they actually played videos and happened upon "Kayliegh" by Marillion. We LOVED it and spent years tracking down the Misplaced Childhood LP (back when CDs were just getting started) and found that they had a few other LPs out....I bought them all.
On the Clucking at Straws LP I came across this song. It quickly became and remains my one of my all time favorite songs.
Not sure why, as the frog queen, being female and having no kids - I cannot directly relate to the lyrics in any reflection on my life...but the longing in the song has always rung true for me. Something about the lyric and the way the delivery from Fish - just seem perfect to me.

As a folly on top of a folly....years ago when we were in London, I convinced husband to spend our wedding anniversary in a dodgy club called the Mean Fiddler to see one of his solo shows. If I ever doubted husband loved me....I got proof that night.And....on that same trip the guy my sister was dating...who was born in Aberdeen (Scotland) was on that trip with us....he went to a candy store and bought me some sugar mice. They made me cry. I know it is silly, but they are one of my prized possessions :D
So here is Sugar Mice by Marillion - the video is very cheesy 80's - close your eyes if it gets too distracting.

I was flicking through the channels on the tv
On a sunday in milwaukee in the rain
Trying to piece together conversations
Trying to find out where to lay the blame

But when it comes right down to it theres no use trying to pretend
For when it gets right down to it theres no one here thats left to blame
Blame it on me, you can blame it on me
Were just sugar mice in the rain

I heard sinatra calling me through the floorboards
Where you pay a quarter for a partnership in rhyme
To the jukebox crying in the corner
While the waitress is counting out the time

For when it comes right down to it theres no use trying to pretend
For when it gets right down to it theres no one really left to blame
Blame it on me, you can blame it on me
Were just sugar mice in the rain

cause I know what I feel, know what I want I know what I am
Daddy took a raincheck
Cos I know what I want, know what I feel I know what I need
Daddy took a raincheck, your daddy took a raincheck
Aint no one in here thats left to blame but me
Blame it on me, blame it on me

Well the toughest thing that I ever did was talk to the kids on the phone
When I heard them asking questions I knew that that you were all alone
Cant you understand that the government left me out of work
I just couldnt stand the looks on their faces saying, what a jerk

So if you want my address its number one at the end of the bar
Where I sit with the broken angels clutching at straws and nursing our scars
Blame it on me, blame it on me
Sugar mice in the rain
Your daddy took a raincheck, your daddy took a raincheck

And they have red eyes

2009-09-13T01:32:00.000-07:00

too. These frogs I want to make. They will become a permanent garden folly when I am done.

This will be my spring project. Along with the Tardus garden shed I want to build.

OHHHH....the frogs will be trying to get into the Tardus!! Maybe I will put a key in on a chain in the mouth of the frog on top, reaching for the lock!!!

No particular reason just seems like a fun idea......maybe I should write my own Dr. Who episode :D

It is very late, and I am being silly, I must go to sleep, I need to make more props tomorrow!

His name is

2009-09-13T00:59:00.001-07:00

Jeff

this "Husband" I refer to in the blog, in case any of you did not know that :)

Jeff & Chris Davis of the Davis Graveyard - just in case you needed more clarification :D

One of my favorite

2009-09-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

posts and stories was this post.

It was one of the first times I tried telling a conversation between husband and I. Pretty close to how it happened. I found myself remembering the conversation and seeing it in reverse and realised....that I, in fact, did not get my way.

I had not noticed that the first time around. :D

To be fair to husband....I also did bug him about changing the prop...pretty late at night....you know, when we should be sleeping...cheap girl trick....I feel ashamed....just a little.

I am over it now :D

I also admitted in public that I loved Friday the 13th The Series. Yes, I have the worst taste in TV shows :)

I have a problem

2009-09-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have been a big fan of bad British scifi forever. Loved Dr. Who - Tom Baker is still my favorite. Oh, and I remember watching the original Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy...remember lots of tin foil. :) And I loved Torchwood, it was sad to see it end, but it was a great run while it lasted.

Oh and then my second favorite Red Dwarf. Silly show, but for some reason it still makes me laugh...and every time I watch it I feel bad for Danny John Jules, those teeth could not have been comfortable.

Saw the recent Back to Earth special and have to say that overall I liked it. They were on a budget and it shows, but the homage to Blade Runner is rather distracting...I like it sometimes, but other times I just wondered "why?" I have to say that most of the guys look pretty good for 10+ year later...a little larger :) except for Danny - wow, I mean he that made purple spandex ABBA outfit look....no, actually the outfit is dreadful. I hope he got hazard pay.

Anyway, that brings me to Dr. Who - the longest running scifi show ever. Pretty cool. I have loved this new season and both the new doctors. As I posted a while back (and you should read this post if you did not originally, my friend Jason made the funniest (and colorful) comment) on how I am not sure I am going to like the new Doctor.

We will see how it goes.

I have probably watched the Blink episode more than any of the other, mostly because of the angels and that it is a good story. So long term plan is to have an angel similar to the Blink angel on Dr. Who.

Can I carve arms out of foam? We are going to find out.

2010 . . . . .maybe?

Quake Secure?

2009-09-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Southern California.....so earthquakes were a part of life. Husband and I had this plan on when to panic. It is okay to say in bed or in the office, until the pictures started to fall off the walls.

Yeah, then, I get in that doorway. Quick!

So, I learned a few tricks on how to keep your stuff from breaking every time the earth started quaking.....:D So sorry, could not resist.

Anyway, it is called Quake Secure. Cool stuff, holds almost anything on a surface, like a vase on a table, even when the table moves or shakes....you actually have to "twist" the item off to release it.

Great for earthquake areas

or for someone with three house cats :)

Which story to tell?

2009-08-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

First folly

This donation box is a design by Toph (the other Chris) who drew up a quick sketch after we all batted around ideas for a comment box. He was musing afterwards that when he makes simple sketches, we tend to make what he draws. The more complicated they are, the less likely we are to make.

"It is because we know we can never live up to your drawing" I replied. "We take one look at that and go, no way can we make something that cool." :D We are a bunch of under achievers!

Second folly

I made the big chest joke, because I am practicing because we are setting up the scaffolding on "talk like a pirate day." Someone thought we should all wear eye-patches as we are working on setting up.

Wouldn't that be fun?!

"No, not really, I just don't envision the crew out there with drills and mallets walking around the yard and up and down stairs with an eye patch on being the best idea. " :D

If that be the case, I will just call the ambulance in advance and ask them to wait outside the yard.....cause it will only be a matter of time :)

Confession of a

2009-08-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

pretty good vegetarian ....Anyway, I know that I have eaten my fair share of soup that had animal stock, or something that was flavored with some meat product. I own a few things with leather. But as a rule, if I know it is in there, I won't eat it or buy it. Just like the animals too much. No big hidden agenda...not trying to change the world...just my world. :)

After being a vegetarian (husband too) for 25 years I have been talking to my doctor about improving my health and trying to reduce carbs (sometimes I am more a carbotarian than a vegetarian...cheese pizza, mac n cheese, cheese sandwich (for the record, no, I did not steal Pumpkinrot's), garden burgers...) and she said something about maybe (not trying to change my belief system) but just maybe I should look at adding fish to my diet.

Hum......I have heard a lot of people try to convince me that fish are not "animals" over the years.... a few time, sitting across from them having fish n' chips, I was almost sold. Almost. ;)

After my initial shock, I thought about it and talked to husband. We thought that maybe we would eat a bit better if we loosened up our diet. There are lots of options, free range animals and the like. At least the animals are treated better.

But today I passed 'the chicken truck' on the way to work, happens a few times a week. A big semi filled with chickens in cages, hundreds of them. Today was a nice day, but some days it is pouring rain and freezing, others it is over 100 degrees....I know they are just going to be eaten anyway....but still. Yeah, as of today, Frog Queen is still a vegetarian.