F@#$%^&*'N BRRRRR!

Well, another week has gotten by me and I haven't kept up with the blog.

As Fox Mulder would say, I've experienced 'Missing Time'. I blinked and it was Friday.

But, life should be getting back to normal around here soon. I think.

This morning, in the wonderful NorthEast, we have had our first freezing morning. That means the steps were slippy, the car was covered in ice and it's generally REALLY fuckin' cold. 

I didn't even turn on the heat yet because we don't until November, usually. I haven't even purchased the damn replacement filter for the furnace yet. 

This weekend's forecast...snow. 

That is a four letter word that I HATE!

Not just a dusting either, which is what we normally get in November, but a 4-6 inch accumulation. 

In October!

I'm not ready. And not just in the get out the shovels and winter clothing way.

I mean mentally not ready.

Winter is NOT hard here. It's hard in Alaska. It's hard in Canada. It's hard in Russia.

Here, it's just annoying but I'm not ready for it. I'm not ready for the long dark nights. The slush and ice. The cleaning of the cars. The shoveling of the driveway.

Of course my husband and son can't wait. They only think about the good stuff. The snow angels. Snow ball fights. Snow forts. Skiing lessons. Sledding. Hot chocolate and hot coffee after playing in the cold.

I know. I would love to know why I live here too. Sure, we get all four seasons in their glory here in NY. That's one pro but the list of cons is too long to contemplate.

But, as a New Yorker we must make due. We bite the bullet. We bitch and moan and then we go shovel.

Have any complaints about your local weather? Feel free to share.

Hope y'all have a happy and safe Halloween. I'll post pictures of Bumblebee next week.

GO FSU!
GO RU!
 

Best Halloween Pumpkins?

I'm sensing a theme. I don't know why.

I'm still on an unintentional writing break so I thought I would talk about pumpkins. 

Normally some friends that have a farm nearby paint and sell pumpkins for the fall but, due to the fallout from Hurricane Irene, they were unable to this year. 

These are both from 2010. The 'R' is for Rutgers which is a college in NJ where my brother works.

This is for the Florida State Seminoles (sorry Tara). My husband spent some time at this college and we have adopted them as our favorite team.

These I just thought were funny.

Pumpkins are a little scarce around here this year so a little more expensive. I will try to pick up one or two for my son and husband to carve out before the 'big' day.

Do you guys get pumpkins for the fall?

Not to rush us all into next year but Arlee Bird is already gearing up for the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge and even set up its own website this year! Check it out!

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a list of stuff going on and coming up.

And a BIG thank you to Murees Dupe for this One Lovely Blog Award!

Best Halloween Candy?

Anyone remember these days besides me?

Sad but true.

I can remember clear as day my father insisting he get to look through all my candy before I could have any.

He said he was checking for dangerous items but really he was just stealing the good stuff and leaving me with the Zagnuts and tiny boxes of raisins.

Is this better?

I like this better too. Chocolatey goodness.

The problem I'm having is when the nice people at the door offer a basket with too many choices my son always seems to grab for lollipops.

Must be a man thing. Wanting everything on a stick.

Really. I'll eat peeps in any color or shape. 

I have a love/hate relationship with candy corn. They are gross but I will eat them constantly if there is a bowl full anywhere near me.


Do you have a favorite? Maybe something you don't share with the ghouls and goblins at your door?

Best Halloween Movies?

So...my husband and I inadvertently watched the premiere of Season 2 of The Walking Dead. 

I don't get it. 

I mean...I get it...it's a show about zombies.

But I don't get why they made it into a show. I mean haven't we seen that movie? Like A MILLION times? 

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good zombie movie and they are kind of hard to find.

I mean good ones. 

Honestly, I think the best zombie movie is Shaun of the Dead but I'm weird like that.

Then I started to think about great scary movies for Halloween. 

When I was growing up *mumble* years ago the best scary movies were the ones where you didn't get to see much.

It was all about suspense.

Now its all about the gore factor and they rely too heavily on computer and special effects.

And where's the damn storyline? I mean I don't care if the girl in the pajamas dies or the guy in the woods gets gutted because they haven't given me any story to care about them.

Now when I watch movies I spend all my time saying, "If she carried a firearm that would never have happened."

When I think of scary movies I think of Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Omen, Salem's Lot and Alien. Just to name a few.

So? What do you guys think of when you think of scary movies?

And...what kind of candy are you handing out this year? I'll keep my traveling options open!

May 2012 can't come soon enough!

I'm jonsing for the new The Avengers movie. 

Have you seen the TRAILER yet?

It's awesomesauce personified!

The CAST alone is AMAZING but then to get my hero, Joss Whedon, to co-write the screenplay and to direct?

Come on! 

I guess I shouldn't wish so many months away but...I WANT!!!

Okay, I'm done.

Sorry for another short hiatus. Have some family stuff going on that requires my presence away from the laptop. Posts might be spotty for a few more days.


My wonderful child has finally chosen his Halloween costume. He has decided he will be Bumblebee from the Transformers this year.

Excellent choice.

I was pushing for Harry Potter but he is only 5 and isn't as big a fan as I am.

Here is the funny part about picking the costume.

This is how I remember Bumblebee in cartoons from my childhood.

This is a real costume. They sell it on buycostumes.com.











This is how my son sees Bumblebee in the movies today.

This is the actual costume we purchased.







Slightly different. I was crackin' up at the first one though.


I know my mom made us costumes as kids but she at least had some talent.

I am not a crafty person at all and would just end up embarrassing the poor child.

He is better off with these purchased ones.

Besides, he now has a trunk full of costumes and accessories to play with.

He likes to mash them up.

 Buzz Lightyear/Boba Fett/Indiana Jones with laser shooter

Boba/Buzz/Jones with Monster Slippers and shield










I can't wait to see how Bumblebee fits in!


Have a great weekend everyone!


GO FSU!
GO RU!

Sing it with me...If I only had a brain...

Scarecrow
I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin' while my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle for any individ'le,
In trouble or in pain.
Dorothy
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin' you could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.
Scarecrow
Oh, I could tell you why

The ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things I never thunk before.
And then I'd sit, and think some more.
I would not be just a nothin' my head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,
If I only had a brain.

What exactly is a ding-a-derry anyway?

Oh well.

That is how I'm feeling lately...my head all full of stuffin'.

But, I did write just under a thousand words this weekend. That's a good sign.

I should be writing now, and I intend to get back to it, but I feel really bad about not blogging on schedule for the past 2 weeks and I just wanted to say hello to you guys.

I hope you are all doing well.

I know there is a lot going on out there. I'll try to post some more info on Wednesday but until then ... check here and here and here for a few blogfests! 

So...how are you? What'cha been up to?

#EPIC FAIL

I couldn't decide what to write about yesterday for The Insecure Writer's Support Group post.

I have so many insecurities its hard to pick just one to share.

Then I thought maybe I'd post an excerpt and see if anyone liked it. I couldn't even find one that I liked. 

Then I thought I would go around and read about other people's insecurities and I would get an idea for myself.

I read through about 15 posts and left a few comments.

Before I knew it the day was over and I had never posted a damn thing.

Fail.

Groan.

Epic. Fail.

Sorry to all of you that came by looking for a post only to find ... nothing. 

Hopefully I can get my shit together soon and get back on track!

What a great month!

October

The best month in the whole year.
Mostly because of Halloween.
Love it.
If I was wealthy I would have my own haunted house.
But I'm not.
So, I can't.

BUT...I can tell you about all the other wonderful things that happen this month as well as Halloween!
 
Did you know that its also:
*Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
*National Bake and Decorate Month
*National Caramel Month
*National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
*National Popcorn Poppin' Month
*Self Promotion Month

And its:
*National Storytelling Week 7-9
*Fire Prevention Week 9-15
*Teen Read Week 16-22
*International Magic Week 25-31


There are a ton of daily observances too. I get all my awesome and strange holiday information from here.


Fire Prevention Week is big around here. Our Fire Department goes to all the school with equipment and gear to show the kids.

If you see information about an Fire Department open house in your area, you should go. Our guys are all volunteers and they attend a tremendous amount of training and they would love to show the public what they can do.

At our open house they normally get a car that they can practice cutting up with the Jaws of Life and other equipment. They walk you through their different gear and show you all the apparatus. It's a great day for kids and adults to get to know the members.

I'm still waiting for my son to make his final costume selection for Halloween. I think its down to Thor, Bumblebee, Captain America, Harry Potter, Iron Man or a zombie.

It's tough..all these decisions at five.


Come by tomorrow for the Insecure Writers Support Group post! 


For some other upcoming blogfests go visit Tara Tyler! She's got a great list!

Anyone get the number of that truck???

Damn.
That was a long week.

Very...very...very...long.

It started about 2 weeks ago with the realization that we couldn't squeak any more miles from our car and that repairing it would cost more than it's worth. 

So began the research and the phone calls. Somewhere in there was my evil birthday. Then the dealership visits and the paperwork and yadda, yadda, yadda. 

Needless to say as of last night there is now a new car in our driveway.

But it was exhausting to the brain.

So, the brain fought back...by closing up shop.

I didn't even have a thought to write down let alone a thousand words worth of story or even a quick blog post.

And that sucks because I like writing to you guys and I don't like that I slacked.

Here's hoping that won't happen again any time soon.

I don't have much to tell you about what's going on because I haven't been around to see everyone...so, what's going on? 

I do have this link for Romance Writing Contests if anyone is interested...here.