It’s That Spooky Time of Year…

…and the scary movies are running rampant.  Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I try to take advantage of every part of it.  However, as some of you know, I am not easily frightened; I am yet to find a Halloween/horror movie that will scare me out of my wits.  I’ve made it an ongoing project, and what better time to throw myself into that project than the week of Halloween?  Plans include The Shining, The Exorcist, and Paranormal Activity.  Visit my Twitter page to keep track of my findings…here’s hoping I can find something to adequately creep me out.

However!  Aside from this Scary Movie Challenge, there are several movies and shows that I must make time to watch every Halloween season – traditions, if you will.

Hocus Pocus

Yeah, yeah, I know there are people who have very strong negative opinions about this (awesome) movie.  But I don’t give a shit.  Many moons ago, I accidentally rented this VHS tape from Blockbuster, thinking it was a Mary Kate & Ashley video (how much did I date myself with THAT sentence?!).  From that moment on, I fell in love.  Curling up on the couch and watching that opening sequence of Sarah Jessica Parker flying across the water in 17th century Salem gives me a warm feeling that few other things can elicit.  And no Halloween night is complete without an early outing, some leftover candy, and Hocus Pocus.

Amityville Horror

My senior year of college, one of my roommates was completely terrified of any movie that was remotely scary.  So, naturally, one of her friends and I sat her down in the common room, ordered pizza, turned all the lights off, and watched the Amityville Horror.  She handled it pretty well, until it was over.  Her friend went back to his dorm and I went out to a party, leaving her all alone in the suite.  I get a text later that night asking when I was coming home – the movie and solitude had gotten to her.  I spent the next day at work researching the house, the haunting, and all the stories, and almost creeped myself out as it was the day before Halloween and I was alone in the back of the office.  My season is not complete until I find this movie, turn out all the lights, and try to be scared.

The Halloween Tree

I watched this a few times when I was little, and while I don’t remember the exact plot or premise of the movie itself, I remember with perfect clarity the slightly disturbed and bothered feeling I experienced.  That’s a Halloween movie, I always thought.  It’s now on the list of spooky holiday movies that must be watched.

Halloween Wars

I know summer is over and autumn is here when commercials begin on the Food Network for Halloween Wars.  Five teams consisting of a pumpkin carver, cake decorator, and sugar artist do their best to complete projects that are scary, disturbing, and edible.  It’s my favorite.  There’s a hot competition between The Walking Dead and Halloween Wars every Sunday night in October; Halloween Wars usually wins.

Ghost Adventures

I know this show is silly.  But I don’t care.  It’s fun to watch these goofballs run around houses in the dark, convincing themselves that there are demons afoot.  I tend to talk to the tv during these shows, as well.  Don’t judge.

 

Halloween is my jam, and these movies/shows are part of what makes it such an exciting time of the year.  What about you…what movies or shows or traditions are necessary every year?  Leave a comment!

August Was a Bitch

When a loved one dies, time stops.  No blogging, tweeting, socializing.  My laptop was silent for several weeks, the only activity my phone saw was the ringing from relatives calling and the beeps from text messages.

Every Saturday night when I was little, Pa-Pa and I sat in the den while Nanna cooked dinner.  The lights were on, the room warmly lit and welcoming.  Tom & Jerry was our favorite cartoon to watch, followed closely by Popeye and The Pink Panther.  When I was older, we’d spend every Saturday roaming around, stopping by the mall, or a toy store, or just spending time together while the car had its oil changed.  I’d spend hours in the den, showing him my gymnastics Barbie dolls or building things with Lincoln Logs or brightly colored cardboard bricks.  After we moved in, Pa-Pa would come say goodnight to me every night, and always sang me to sleep.  Amazing Grace, The Old Rugged Cross, I Come to the Garden Alone.  His favorites, and now some of mine, too.

When I got older still, Pa-Pa picked me up from high school, always stopping by Chick-fil-A or Krystal if I was hungry.  And he drove me to my first day of college, parking in the keyhole at Oglethorpe and watching as I made my way into Hearst.

I wasn’t there when he died.  Mom, Nanna, and Uncle Henry were there, however, so thankfully he wasn’t alone.  I had contemplated getting up in the night and driving the dark and silent streets to sleep in his room with him, so he wouldn’t be alone.  One day I’ll learn to listen to my gut when it’s telling me to do things like that.

It’s been over a month, and none of us can settle down.  After several months of being on call and going, going, going, it’s jarring to suddenly have come to a stop.  What now?  What do we spend our time talking about and doing?  As Nanna said, after the memorial service, “Well, what do I do with the rest of my life?”  I think the first step is finding peace.

It’s a quieter house, now.  The tv, always alive with football or baseball, is silent.  When I visit, I open the door to an empty room.  We’re talking about remodeling, new carpets, painting, new artwork, so life is slowly moving on.  New projects are good for the soul.

I miss him every day.  I will always miss him.  And I don’t have any positive spin on the subject, some neat way to end the story to make the reader feel better.  I’d love to say I’ve spoken to him in a dream, or felt his presence, or heard his voice, but I’ve never been a big believer in that stuff.  So I’ll be happy with my memories and my pictures…I have so many happy ones, and that’s what counts.

October!

As anyone who knows me can attest to, I am a freak about holidays.

For instance, the first cold night of October (NEVER before), I make my special chili and either cornbread or garlic bread.  I buy a new bottle of wine I’ve never tried.  I open all the windows.  I bring in the autumn decorations, both literally and figuratively, and spend the evening watching a Halloween show, cooking, and decorating.  It’s arguably my favorite night of the year.

I’ve never understood how people can lose sight of the magic still left in this world.  How they can become so blind to the beauty, whether it be fire colored autumn leaves, sweet spring breezes, or the sun reflecting off the swimming pool water in the summer.  Life is beautiful.

What a view.

I’m almost five months into working for myself, and though the road has been arduous and at times treacherous, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

(I actually get depressed when I think of ever going into an office again.  I’ll take that as a sign)

I love spending my days at my own desk, writing blogs or planning social media attacks or addressing envelopes.  I love taking breaks to pet Walden or make some tea coffee (who am I kidding, if it’s not whiskey, it’s coffee).  I love having the freedom to come and go as I please, which means my newly-retired grandmother has fashioned a list of things we can go do together.  She’s paying for my gas while I drive her to doctor’s appointments, I’m taking her to new restaurants so she can experience new things.  So far, it’s working well.

Halloween is coming quickly, and since giving Comcast another try at providing me television I’ve been watching the shit out of some Halloween episodes on the Food Network.  I’m going to the Little 5 Points Halloween Parade on Saturday, which is always crazy awesome.  I should get a pumpkin at some point, too, which means I’ll go for a medium sized orange fellow and leave with 2 large pumpkins, 3 small ones, and an array of various gourds, baby pumpkins, and other autumnal items.  I can’t resist.

omg Halloween magazines!

And, finally, with autumn comes change, a new chance to begin.  I’m all about that.  I’ve improved my Facebook page (which everyone should visit and Like, btw).  I’m planning out my blogs in advance in case I get lazy (let’s be real, I totally will get lazy and forget to post).  I’m making plans with mom and nanna to go apple picking and scenic railroad riding.

Let’s make this the best autumn yet.

I think this is older than I am…I got lots of my Halloween decorations from Nanna’s house.