it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Now for some holiday cheer!  These are the pumpkin beers I have tried so far this holiday season.

Punk'N Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Post Road Pumpkin Ale, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Of these three my favorite is the Dogfish Head.  I liked it's flavor the best.  I'm on the lookout for more Pumpkin ale so I will update if I find anything I like better.

I try to watch as many horror movies as possible during October.  I kicked off the movie marathon today with "The House of the Devil" which I really enjoyed.  It's definitely a slow-burn kind of movie.  If you are wanting hardcore gore or constant scares then don't bother watching it but if you don't mind an actual plot and waiting until the VERY end for payoff then I'd say give it a shot.  It's on Netflix Instant which is where I'll be finding most of the films I'll be watching this next month.  "When a Stranger Calls" (the original) is pretty boring.  I really liked the first 20 minutes or so but after that it's basically a swan dive into predictability land.

I'm trying to make myself watch things I haven't seen before like the previous two movies but I'm sure that I will watch all my classic horror staples of the season at some point like "Carrie", "Suspiria" and "Black Christmas".  I also watch just fun holiday themed movies this time of the year like "Hocus Pocus" and "Practical Magic" even though they aren't horror.  So that's pretty much what you can expect for the next month or so.  If you have any horror suggestions, particularly evil children or sorority slashers please let me know, those tend to be my favorites.

YOU DARN KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN

If you've been reading this blog for a while you might remember THIS post about the insane Jesus people from the beginning of the year.  Well today I had some more bible thumping visitors. The scenario played out a bit differently this time.  Let me start at the beginning of my day.

I woke up, did a couple hours of schoolwork until I literally couldn't see straight.  Then I worked out for 45 minutes while watching Battlestar Galactica.  So I finish working out and by this time I don't have time to shower before getting my son Alden off the bus.  No big deal, the bus people see me at 6 AM with my crazy hair and half asleep face, they aren't going to care that I'm in my workout clothes.  I remember it's trash day so I start collecting the trash from the bins around the house & put them outside. I go back into the kitchen to look at the clock, I have seven minutes til the bus gets here.  Cool, I can grab a water and chug it.

Then I look up and I see them.  The theme from "Jaws" immediately pops into my head.  In my brain I'm going "shit shit shit!" then I do what any rational person would do and I run to hide in the big open part of my hallway where you can't see in from anywhere outside.  They bang on the door.  I stand there thinking "okay, good they are going to think no one is here and then they'll leave".   Then they bang on the door again.

THEY STOOD THERE FOR SEVEN MINUTES UNTIL THE BUS GOT HERE.  I threw the door open in their faces and said "If you will excuse me, I have to go get my child off of the bus"  then I stormed between them, turned around and added "And while you are at it you should just go ahead and leave." One of them responded with "ARE YOU SURE?" and I said "YES, I AM VERY SURE."

Now I am sure that to some people I look like an asshole in this scenario, and I probably kind of was.  But I don't care.  In my opinion my behavior was completely called for.  Case in point:
I don't answer the front door, pretty much EVER.
I saw them coming, I saw their bible & their literature.
I didn't answer the door.
I didn't answer the door for MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.
I was trying to do the polite thing and just ignore them until they went away.
They are the ones who wouldn't let me be polite in that situation.
I HAD to get my child off the bus or I would have let them stand their knocking until their version of Jesus came back.

Alden got off the bus and was really confused about who was leaving and parked backward in our driveway.  He said "Who is that?" and I said "Just some rude, crazy people, I told them to leave us alone.  I don't think they'll be back."  He laughed.  Then we came in and he did his homework and I ordered him this book from Amazon because I want him to be educated when people like this start spouting off their beliefs.  I want him to decide for himself what he does or doesn't believe.

I have anxiety disorder and I ALWAYS go back in my brain after any conversation and think of how I could have spoken more eloquently or handled a situation better, and honestly when it comes to door to door preaching I always think about really snarky things I wish I had said instead.

I'm thinking about making a sign for both my doors that just says "We aren't buying what you're selling, please move along."

Amanda EFFING Palmer

There is no way that this post will do the concert justice but I'll try.  First off we ended up running about 2 hours behind our original plan.  Then of course we got caught in traffic and by "traffic" I mean that they shut the interstate down to ONE lane THREE TIMES on the way down to Atlanta.  I don't do well in Atlanta traffic when it's moving along nicely, so you can imagine how much I was cringing having to stop and go and sit and wait.  I managed to keep my cool surprisingly well by just playing around with my iPhone (I forgot my e-reader at home).  I was one more idiot driver or road work from a serious panic attack though.  Josh complimented my restraint which was very nice of him because I know being the twitchy person in the car who is doing breathing exercises in between tourrettes like strings of curse words is probably really distracting and annoying.

When we finally reached the destination the plan was to grab some food close by and then walk to the venue.  When we passed the venue we could see that the line to get in already stretched all the way around & behind the building.  So we decided to take our chances that the venue had decent food and just hurry to get in line.  Neither of us had eaten anything all day long and by this point it's 7:20 or so and we are both starving.  We met some really cool people standing in line.  It was definitely the most eclectic group of people all in one place that I have ever seen.  Lots of tiny hats, and prom dresses, punk outfits, fairy wings, kilts, period costumes, preppys, vests, glow sticks, masks, pretty much anything awesome, you could find in this line of people.  It was like the Island of Misfit Toys, but when everyone is a misfit, then no one is.  Everyone was lovely, and kind.  I never heard anyone complain about being in line 30 minutes past when the doors were to open.  It was just a very awesome love filled environment.  You couldn't ask for better company.  I told Josh "These are my people, and in a few hours Amanda Palmer is going to play you the songs of my people."

Jherek Bischoff was the first act of the evening.  He played various string instruments and he was very adorable and funny and humble and I just wanted to give him a big hug.  The second act was The Simple Pleasure who were absolutely fantastic.  The lead singer and guitar player is exactly how I envision Peter Pan, his look, his energy, everything.  The final opening act was Ronald Reagan - Boston's Premier 80's Pop Saxophone Duo which is exactly what it sounds like, two gentlemen playing saxophones to 80's music amazingly well.  When they played "Eye of the Tiger" there was some stripping into workout clothing and a push-up contest involved.  They were absolutely hysterical and I really hope that I get to see them perform again sometime.

Before the next set we started talking to this really lovely group of ladies.  They had driven all the way from Orlando and it was one of their birthdays.  We had so much fun talking with them that we agreed to meet up for drinks after the show.  Then Amanda and The Grand Theft Orchestra (which consists of all the musician listed above) came out and played "Intro" and them immediately went into "Smile" and the photos that everyone had submitted to her site after getting their tickets flashed on the screen while she played.  It was really cool and interactive and you would see your face and then start going "OMG THAT WAS MY FACE!  DID YOU GUYS SEE MY FACE!" to everyone around you.  Or maybe that was just me?  Somewhere in this part of the story Josh finds a setlist laying on the ground.  The filmographer was right behind us running various things like the graphics and stuff on her computer.  She asked if she could have it back once she noticed where it had gone.  We of course said "yes".  She let Josh have it again after the show was over because she is absolutely wonderful.  Then there was lots more music and Amanda read small one line stories of "Sad things that happened in your room" that people had submitted outside in the lobby.  They were all absolutely haunting.  Then she started playing "Bottomfeeder" and in the middle of the song she began crowd surfing and she had on a huge blue train on her dress which spread out over the entire moshpit and she's just floating along & singing. You can watch someone's video of it here.  I think everyone got a little bit misty eyed when she played "Bed Song" because DAMN that song just guts you.  During the encore she played "Leeds United" and let people come up on stage and dance and the horn players (who were volunteers) were brought back out.  Just watch the videos there are a bunch of them on YouTube, I can't do any of this justice at all but the entire experience was just magical and lovely and I want to relive it.  They did a signing after the show but they didn't have time for individual posed photos so it was just a quick meet & greet and thank you type thing but it was still fantastic and awesome.  I got my set list signed.

After the show we went outside and hung out with some really cool buskers who were from Jacksonville.  They played all sorts of really cute songs on their pink (signed) ukuleles.  I was sad I didn't think to get my own ukulele but so it goes...

We kept looking around the line for the friends we had made during the show and we finally decided that they must have already left.  We were bummed out but again, these things happen.  So after about 15 or 20 minutes of hanging out around the venue to see if they popped up we decided we'd better head out.  We were driving by and I saw one of our new friends going into OMG Taco and I started screaming "PULL THE CAR OVER THERE THEY ARE!!!"  So I hopped out of the car and Josh dropped me off to go park somewhere.  We were all so excited to see one another again because we had all accepted defeat thinking we'd never get to see one another again and get each other's contact information.  So from there we just sat at the bar and had some birthday drinks and talked about all sorts of music and nerd things like Disney and Harry Potter until it was time to head out.  We exchanged contact info and then Josh & I walked the trek to the car and went back to our hotel.  It was an awesome evening and it couldn't have gone better if I'd dreamed it.

There was shirt purchasing and a flamingo and a peace twig and other things that I can't even put in order but rest assured that they happened and it was fantastic.  P.S. all my photos from the show are in my "concerts" album on Facebook so check it out if you haven't already. 

You guys can keep your pumpkin spice lattes, just give me all the pumpkin ale

The air has had a crisp bite to it in the morning for the past few days.  The afternoons are no longer blazing hot and I can run barefoot without my feet catching on fire.  The bugs aren't eating me alive.  This is my favorite time of year.  When the winds start swirling around you and you start thinking about what fall will bring.

My favorite holiday has been Halloween for my entire life.  According to my mother I became enchanted with it at a really young age and it's never let me go.  I could take or leave Christmas, and I LOATHE Thanksgiving, but HALLOWEEN, Halloween is magical.  I can't wait to wear my big black boots and a hoodie and curl up on my couch watching horror movies.  Of course I can do those things any time of the year, but the authenticity of it all during fall makes it a million times better.

I can't wait for bonfires, and candy corn, and pumpkin carving.  This time of the year is always when I start feeling my creativity firing up.  I always start painting, crafting, playing dressup, and making 'fall' playlists.  Songs are weather dependent and take on different colors to me, if you don't understand then you are probably never going to, it's just one of my 'things'.

P.S. I am going to see Amanda Palmer on Saturday.  I hope to have many photos & exciting things to tell you afterward.  This is from her new CD with Grand Theft Orchestra "Theatre is Evil".  If you have a problem with gore don't watch the video.  (I am looking at you mom).