Happy Halloween

Just had what I think were our last Trick or Treaters of the night - a car full of teenagers. All of them were in costumes, which was very cool, and had pillow cases for bags - and they all complimented our decorated yard & house and were VERY appreciated of Candy Corn (which they said no one has any more). Yes, we go that extra step.

Halloween House, a photo by weremonkey on Flickr.

Halloween

Enjoying Trick or Treaters at Rancho de WereMonster tonight. All of my earthworms and eyes are nearly gone. There is still one severed finger left.

Yesterday's Pumpkin Carving Party was a big success. We were a bit less organized than previous years as MonsterMustDie was still moving things off the back porch when people were arriving. I got the last of the outdoor lights up as our first guest arrived. Great fun. Cool Jack o' Lanterns made by my favorite people. Lots of food. Lots of spirits. We did have to make a grocery store run for basic things like sodas and ice. Kisa Bastet helped out by volunteering to bring back some pop so I did not have to leave the party.

finished Jack o' Lanterns, a photo by weremonkey on Flickr.

"Cookie Monster" Offers Best Explanation Yet for Occupy Wall Street

Someone called Cookie Monster has written a clear and persuasive explanation for the Occupy movement.

Yes, there always going to be rich and poor. But we used to live in country where rich owned factory and make 30 times what factory worker make. Now we live in country where rich make money by lying about value of derivative bonds and make 3000 times what factory worker would make if factories hadn't all moved to China.

Capitalism great system. We won Cold War because people behind Iron Curtain look over wall, and see how much more plentiful and delicious cookies are in West, and how we have choice of different bakeries, not just state-owned one. It great system. It got us out of Depression, won WWII, built middle class, built country's infrastructure from highways to Hoover Dam to Oreo factory to electrifying rural South. It system that reward hard work and fair play, and everyone do fair share and everyone benefit. Rich get richer, poor get richer, everyone happy. It great system.

Then after Reagan, Republicans decide to make number one priority destroying that system. Now we have system where richest Americans ones who find ways to game system -- your friends on Wall Street -- and poorest Americans ones who thought working hard would get them American dream, when in fact it get them pink slip when job outsourced to 10-year-old in Mumbai slum. And corporations have more influence over government than people (or monsters).

It not about rich people having more money. It about how they got money. It about how they take opportunity away from rest of us, for sake of having more money. It how they willing to take risks that destroy economy -- knowing full well that what could and would happen -- putting millions out of work, while creating nothing of value, and all the while crowing that they John Galt, creating wealth for everyone.

That what the soul-searching about. When Liberals run country for 30 years following New Deal, American economy double in size, and wages double along with it. That fair. When Conservatives run country for 30 years following Reagan, American economy double again, and wages stay flat. What happen to our share of money? All of it go to richest 1%. That not "there always going to be rich people". That unfair system. That why we upset. That what Occupy Sesame Street about.

Fun at Netherworld.

colder

Yikes! The forecast has changed. Instead of getting warmer on Thursday, the predicted high is even colder than yesterday. Now it's supposed to be all of 60 degrees.

This might mean turning on the heat for the first time this year. I will try to be strong and resist.

first cold day of the year

Yesterday's rain came with a lot of cold air. This was, indeed, the first day that I've walked outside and felt truly cold. I think the forecast was for 64 degrees and that, apparently, is what it takes to give me a chill that is beyond skin deep. The temperatures are supposed to climb higher for the rest of the week, which is predicted to be sunny. It really felt like summer has left for this year with leaves falling under overcast wet skies.

Today, as usual, was unbearably quiet bit I did meet with friends tonight for dinner at a new Persian restaurant on Roswell Road that I had not gone to before. Having learned my lesson from last night, I ordered an appetizer with nothing more than water to drink and had more than enough to eat without completely draining my wallet. I should know it is always worth the cost of dinner and hanging out to be with friends, chatting and listening and learning new things. Dinner has been the high point of every day this week.

My Birthday

Went out to eat with pitbullpotpie, Brandon, Roy, and MonsterMustDie at La Tavola Trattoria. Good food and even better company. Of course, there were some very generous gifts from Gillian that I will be able to use at the Pumpkin Carving Party.

Bagged cat

eats, hot sauce, spooky movies, coyote

We just got back from what turned out to be a good evening with another couple in the neighborhood. Dinner ended up being at the new HD2 (Hot Dog) restaurant near the theatre after we got rock star parking at a meter space beside the theatre.

Once in the theatre, I bought a print signed by the illustrator of the Silver Scream Spook Show posters. Also got to sample the new Green Goo hot sauce they were selling for $10 a bottle. Actually, quite tasty- hot but not too much with plenty of garlic and basil in it.

Saw Bridget and Nelson leaving at the same time we were making our way out and got into a brief conversation on wild mushroom gathering and where to learn how to identify the edible vs. non-edible kinds.

Spotted a coyote in a front yard a couple of blocks from home.

The longest weekend

All of my weekend plans seem sabotaged. One by one, every thing I want to do is being changed or cancelled altogether. I have been looking forward to having as many group activities with friends as possible, after a long empty week by myself.

Last night, I skipped the Vampire Ball at the Shelter, one of the few events I try to make it to there.

When I make plans with friends, the housemate doesn't like the travel involved and does not want to be left out because it's my birthday weekend. He wants to spend this special weekend with me, even at the cost of me having anything that might contribute to my emotional well being. The plans for a friend's party out of town tonight are cancelled. The movie I wanted to see, he at first said absolutely not. So, I suggested dinner out with some neighbors, if we could find anyone to eat out with. The only couple that took us up to it have plans to to the same movie tonight. He has since changed his decision on the movie and, in order to have dinner companions, will to Silver Scream with us tonight after making sure I am aware how much he will not enjoy it because it is one of the worst movies Vincent Price ever made, in his opinion.

Tomorrow afternoon, I am having brunch with my mother. By myself. He will not be joining us so he can work on his eBay auctions, even though he knows I depend on him to go with me to spend time with her. So now it'll just be me and my mother spending quality time together with me trying not to say anything, with no way to be invisible.

Tomorrow night is the season premier of Walking Dead, which I'd like to spend at a gathering for a friend who is getting his Andy Wahol 15 minutes + on this episode. I dread to see what comes of those plans next.

with the festival season starting and friends near

why do I still feel so incredibly lonely?

monday morning

So, last night I dreamed of Steve Jobs and Doctor Who, among other things.
Dreamed there had been a children's television show in the past that featured Steve Jobs and his family.
Dreamed of old photographs discovered in notebooks containing poems, negatives, slides, and letters.


Thoughts:
Believing banks will not loan you more than you can pay back and that all things are priced fairly is as bad as believing that the FDA would not let companies sell anything that is unhealthy for you.


Weighing on my mind:
Figuring out how to afford health insurance for myself.
Getting the landlord to send someone to the house to take care of the ant nest in the roof over the main bathroom and cldeaning the roof and gutters on the house and shed.

remembering Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is dead

We've lost a great man.

R.I.P. Steve.

Thanks for everything.

Good morning, October.

Last night, I had to get up and make MonsterMustDie go back to bed. He was high from the pain killers, itchy and speaking in a strange voice similar to a 5-year-old. I told him that he needed to be in bed on the same level as the bathrooms and that I would sleep in the sofa if necessary. I did not want him slamming into walls or falling down stairs. I got him back in bed and he slept through the rest of the night.

He is very sore in the jaw today but he's looking much better. There is still little or no swelling in his face, which is a very lucky thing. He felt good enough to go out treasure hunting this morning and brought back a few cool things - vintage miniature power tool toys that are just like tiny versions of the big boy tools and a groovy Tiki ceramic bowl manufactured for Trader Vic's that has a soft triangular shape held up by three standing figures similar to the salt & pepper shakers.

Now he's back down on the sofa for a day of Gamera movies.