Forge Light

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tidbits for Tuesday

I'm not sure how many tidbits I have to share today ... but I thought I'd get a post out there before the cobwebs settle in again. Although, cobwebs would be apropos for this week, given the ghoulish holiday that approacheth. One of my favorite holidays, I should add!

I'll start with this. I emerged from a flu fog that swept over our house last week and realized that holy shit, it's almost Halloween! And I haven't carved one pumpkin or made sure all costume bits and bobs are taken care of. I think the girls are set ... I just need to sit down and gather everything together to make sure it's all in once place before Friday, when they have a Halloween party at school. What pleases me especially about this is that it's a Halloween party and has not been distorted and bent into some sort of vanilla version of things because of religious concerns. Last year they had a "fall festival" and learned about autumn. Groan. I'm sorry, but in any faith there is dark and light and you can't truly appreciate grace and love without a bit of fear and screaming. Heh heh. Heaven ain't heaven without hell to consider, right? Plus, I don't think dressing up as the devil or enjoying the deliciousness of a scary story about the Other Side is going to draw one into a life of heathendome. Is that a word? Heathenness? Anyway. If you're into devil worship and sacrificing stray cats, it's not because your parents dressed you up to go trick-or-treating, you have a screw or two loose and need some help. Or you're a brilliant madman like Poe. Imagine a world without Poe? I think not!

My favorite scary story? The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Scared the living bajeebers out of me as a kid, in a delicious, tell-me-the-story-again kind of way. The thud of haunted hooves reverberating on a dark dirt road in the far flung country where no one can hear you scream ... a tall shadowy figure on horseback, black cape flying, a glowing jack-o-lantern held high, a missing head? Shiver. Remember, I grew up in Vermont on a back road where it was very easy to imagine such characters as the bent and sniveling Ichabod Crane and the terrifying Headless Horseman.

One of my favorite lines in literature ever?

"Something wicked this way comes ..."

I love that so much it gives me the shivers every time I read it. Just like the first line in Moby Dick, "Call me Ishmael." (shiver) You just know you're in for a good tale with those three words and I can't open the book and read that line without running the risk of reading the whole darn thing over again.

Another bit. Last night my husband, who has a very active and intellectual dream world, though he rarely remembers it, said rather loudly in the middle of the night, "Two of them can make a compound!"

Right-o, my love! Now put down that bunson burner, you're ASLEEP.

A bunch of little bits. Charlotte asked to be Loretta Lynn for Halloween after I bought Vanleer Rose, the album Loretta did with Jack White. You should hear her sing the lyrics to these songs about the death penalty and the trash that burns down your family tree in a very convincing Kentucky twang. Kind of hard to drive when that is coming from the back seat of the van! She also has a crush on Jack White. And a boy named Shane on her bus. And her gym teacher Louis. Iris has decided to be Princess Jasmin for Halloween. I think I've mentioned here how calmly (?) I looked all over the internet for a costume that was appropriate for her at five years-old. Would you like to see the name of the one I did find?

Harem girl. HAREM GIRL. I would like to buy everyone at Costumecraze.com a dictionary. And then I'll hit them over the head with it.

Another bit. Eli made an emergency trip to the grocery store on his way home from work yesterday to get me some coffee. I had had to go with a lesser brand in the past week, which didn't really matter that much because I couldn't taste anything and the caffeine had about as much affect as giving a breath mint to a carnivore. But, now that I'm bouncing back, I realized how nasty this coffee is and I asked sweetly if Eli could stop somewhere and get my favorite coffee ... One Village's Sumatra. Whew ... what a difference! Thanks, buddy!

I can't think of anything else to report at this point ... I hope this finds everyone doing well and keeping healthy out there!

Posted by Melissa at 5:48 AM

12 Comments

Baino posted at 12:43 PM
Sounds like a lot of preparation. Halloween comes and goes without much aplomb here despite the retailers desperate attempts to sell us 'scream' masks and other bunkum. Hope you have fun!

Miladysa posted at 4:04 PM
Pleased to see you are on your feet and back to your usual self :)

We have a pumpkin waiting to be carved and costumes ready. Your joy at the season spurs me on to make sure we enjoy it just as much as you do!

Sir H speaks in his sleep sometimes too - isn't it amazing how alike they both are?

Something wicked this way comes... *squeal*

Melissa posted at 7:18 AM
Baino -- we have a good time and the kids enjoy de-gutting the pumpkins and preparing their costumes. I love to see the jacks glowing out on the porch and walking the dark streets on the 31st!

Milady -- We are bouncing back! :) I can't wait to see your photos of Halloween night. We'll be walking with friends this year, which will be fun -- the kids can be in a little herd up ahead while the parents walk and talk behind them! That's funny about Sir H! Eli lets fly with some interesting exclamations -- often of the four-letter kind. LOL.

Bimbimbie posted at 3:18 AM
Yeees*!* I agree with you Melissa, you have to have good and bad, light and dark, spooky and toe curling delicious terror of the imagination OR you might just as well hop into your grave this very moment ;) I wrote a little avian tale for Halloween part inspired by what I've seen in my garden and what I've read at roYds*!* Hope you got all ready in time for the school Halloween party.

Miladysa posted at 9:00 AM
Hmmmm.....

what is this I see before me?

Cobwebs?

*!*

;)

Miladysa posted at 9:54 AM
*starts sweeping*

Miladysa posted at 2:07 PM
*whistles*

Miladysa posted at 4:55 AM
*dusts*

Miladysa posted at 7:23 AM
*puts the kettle on*

Miladysa posted at 2:15 AM
*butters scones*

Melissa posted at 5:09 AM
ROTFLMAO, Milady!! You are fabulous!!! :D

Miladysa posted at 3:30 PM
hee hee :)