Thing the first
I realised last night that I am a terrible blog parent. My little corner of the internets turned FIVE on 9th October, and I completely and utterly forgot about it. Whoops? Let's have a little dance party to celebrate, shall we?
Thing the second
I'm doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November and I'm kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind of terrified about it. So feel free to send me "HAVE YOU WRITTEN YOUR 1,666 WORDS TODAY??" messages at regular intervals during November to keep me on track. Also, as a result of this, blog posts may be somewhat light on the ground. But I'll still be over on Snark Squad a million times a week recapping Supernatural and Dawson's Creek and Doctor Who!
Thing the third
Marvel have released the line up for Phase 3 and I'm alternating between screaming with excitement and emailing Kim to ask her to please explain what I'm screaming with excitement about. But seriously, BLACK PANTHER AND CAPTAIN MARVEL OMFG!!!!!
Thing the fourth
Have you SEEN the Age of Ultron bonus scene that was released? I CANNOT STOP GIGGLING.
Thing the fifth
I got a text message from C at 3.45am that said "WHO THE FUCK RUINS DELICIOUS MAC N CHEESE WITH FUCKING CAULIFLOWER?!?!?!?!?!?!". Needless to say, he has strong feelings about cauliflower. And a tendency to forget the time difference.
Thing the sixth
The Basics have released a single from their new album, The Lucky Country, and it's absolutely PHENOMENAL. I saw them perform it live last year - I think it was about the second or third song they played - and that was the moment where I went "Holy crap, I love this band".
Thing the seventh
Little Miss A is insisting that I have to dress up to go trick or treating with her on Friday night. I'm pretty sure I'm going to let my hair dry by itself and claim I'm Hermione Granger. Because that takes the least possible amount of effort.
As I've said time and time again, Australia doesn't really do Halloween. It doesn't get dark until 8pm and everything's green, so it's hard to pretend things are spooky and mysterious and harvest-time-y. Plus, we're really lazy when it comes to costumes of any sort. Essentially, if it requires going out to buy anything in order to make said costume possible? We're on the Nope Train.
That said, there are some seriously badass characters that I'd dress up as for Halloween. You know, if it took, like, no effort at all...
1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling)
I wouldn't even have to try on the hair front. I could just wash my hair, let it dry by itself, and have Hermione hair without any effort! Plus, she's an absolutely phenomenal character and I adore her.
2. Natasha Romanova/Romanoff (Marvel Comics - Stan Lee et al)
She's a comic book character, so it totally counts as a valid choice. Although to be honest, I'd probably dress up as on-the-run-from-Hydra Natasha in Captain America: The Winter Soldier because it requires less effort. Like I said, lazy.
3. Celaena Sardothian (Throne of Glass series - Sarah J. Maas)
I don't think you can get much more badass than a mysterious teenage assassin who also happens to be a long lost self-rescuing princess.
4. Kate Daniels (Kate Daniels series - Ilona Andrews)
The only way you can get more badass than a mysterious teenage assassin is by looking to Kate Daniels, who kicks butt and takes names and has an attack poodle and FIGHTS WITH A SABRE THAT EATS UNDEAD FLESH. Awesomeness.
5. Fair Finley (Wilfair series - Alysia Gray Painter)
Fair's not a badass in the same way the other characters are, but she does a lot of discovering-who-she-is stuff over the course of the series and comes out the other side stronger and more confident. And I could use that right about now.
6. Alexia Tarabotti (Parasol Protectorate series - Gail Carriger)
Alexia is a totally no-nonsense character and I love everything about her. And if it weren't for all the effort it required, a steampunk costume would be totally amazing.
7. Lirael (Abhorsen trilogy - Garth Nix)
What can I say, she's a librarian. And an Abhorsen. That's a pretty fabulous combination.
8. Granny Weatherwax (Discworld series - Terry Pratchett)
I hope to be Granny Weatherwax when I'm old, and spend my time teaching everyone that old ladies should not be taken at face value. Dressing as her for Halloween would just be a head start on that process.
9. Cather Avery (Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell)
Admittedly, my fangirly t-shirts wouldn't be Simon Snow themed, but I relate to Cath a lot, and so it seems appropriate (and lazy because it wouldn't take much effort. SCORE!) to dress as her for Halloween.
10. Admiral Jane Roland (Temeraire series - Naomi Novak)
She's kind of a minor character, and is practically non-existent in the second half of the series but how could you not want to dress up as a woman who commands a heavy-weight dragon in the Napoleonic Wars? Sure, no one would know who I was, but I'd get to wear a hella awesome coat, so who really cares?!
Which characters would you dress as for Halloween?
Yes, I know that title will make very little sense to non-Tumblr people. Whatever.
So Australia doesn't really do Halloween, as I discussed in (slightly ranty) detail last year. But when Anna tagged me in her Halloween questions tag, I couldn't resist despite the fact that I only had a handful of years from which to answer the questions.
And besides, I didn't make a vlog in September, so it seemed only natural that I make two in October!
I apologise about the rubbish lighting through most of this. I totally forgot that there was a window behind me. This is what happens when you go to film a vlog and discover that your tripod is broken...
So over the past month, I've had quite a number of tweets that were all "WHAT DO YOU MEAN AUSTRALIA DOESN'T DO HALLOWEEN/PUMPKINS/THING I CONSIDER NORMAL FOR OCTOBER????".
I was going to write a blog post about it, but then it all got too complicated and long winded and I made a vlog instead. I'm not sure that it really explains anything properly, but my brain feels slightly less rambly so I guess that's a good thing?
Aaaaaaaaand I just realised that I left out this entire spiel I had planned about how Halloween makes no sense here because a decent chunk of the customs involved date back to Samhain, which was all about keeping your family and livestock safe through the winter and holding back the darkness. OH WELL...
Time to link up with the Broke and the Bookish again! I have to say, I'm an epic wuss when it comes to horror. I rarely read it, I rarely watch it (except for Supernatural, which is more creep-tastic than full blown horror), and if I see the little red "HORROR" sticker on books at the library, I tend to give them a wide birth. That said, here are ten covers that I've come across over the years that have creeped me the hell out. 1. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I had a Sherlock Holmes illustrated omnibus as a kid, and the Hound of the Baskervilles was on the cover. I can't find the exact edition, but the one I had featured an enormous dog with red eyes and glow-in-the-dark drool. I had to hide the dust cover whenever I read it otherwise I had nightmares. This cover is pretty terrifying too. 2. The Meanest Doll in the World by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin
I came across this one the other week while volunteering at a primary school library, and WHO THOUGHT THAT COVER ART WAS OKAY?? 3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Zombies give me the mega wiggins. I didn't even get to the first zombie in The Walking Dead before I had to turn it off, and I hid through most of Shaun of the Dead. This book is lucky it was hilarious enough to get me past the cover. 4. It by Stephen King
One that I haven't read, but instead had the misfortune to pull off the shelf while picking up a copy of Salem's Lot. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE. 5. Dracula by Bram Stoker
This is the Penguin Classics edition that I have, and I've always been completely freaked out by his pointy eyebrows. Especially when combined with that widow's peak hairline. 6. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
This one is mildly creepy on its own, but when you add the content into the equation, it becomes downright terrifying. Do not read this book when home alone at night... *shudder* 7. Chain Letter 2: The Ancient Evil by Christopher Pike
Despite being an epic wuss about horror books, I LOVED Christopher Pike in high school. The stories weren't THAT scary, but the covers were pretty bad. (Now, they just look dated - check out that font!!) 8. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Another one that I had the misfortune to pull off the shelf at the library while trying to get at something else. That cover art combined with bad spelling? NOPE. 9. Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine
Yeah, we all know that Goosebumps books are hilarious rather than creepy in hindsight. But this cover, much like ventriloquist's dummies, is all kinds of scary. 10. Pretty much anything by Richard Laymon
His books seem to have been republished in the past few years with covers that are more stark and less busy, but there's something about the font and the imagery used on the covers of any 90s edition that just makes me shudder. What are you reading this Halloween? K xx
Given that it's Halloween on Thursday, this seemed an appropriate choice. I'm an epic wuss when it comes to all things spooky. There are still occasions when I watch Supernatural from behind a pillow/my hands. So when it comes to horror movies, I'm firmly on the Nope Train. Except when it comes to Scream. Because way back in the dim dark past of 1999, the English curriculum included something called a Communication Project. We had to form pairs or threes, and develop a project that required us to work with others from outside the school to do something like hold a masquerade ball or a formal, or put on a play, or host a presentation about something.
Em and I decided that we were going to make a spoof version of a horror movie. And we decided on Scream. We watched it approximately 500 times while writing our script, roped a bunch of friends into starring in it, and then filmed about two scenes because it took FOREVER to do anything. How we were planning on editing our movie, I have no idea...
ANYWAY. That's a really long winded story about why I love the crap out of Scream when I can't stand horror movies.
Reasons why Scream is awesome:
1. Drew Barrymore. She may only be in one scene, but it's a pretty damned fabulous scene.
2. Murder-y trivia competitions.
3. Neve Campbell. She doesn't stand around screaming when she gets attacked. She fights back every step of the way.
4. The ridiculous costume Ghostface wears.
5. Matthew Lillard. He's so fabulous at being an asshat. And this line is solid gold:
9. Ridiculously oversized scissors.
10. Henry Winkler. That's right, the Fonz is in it. And he's fabulously awful.
11. Video stores.
12. Rose McGowan.
13. Speaking of, let's add death by garage door.
Plus, the following quotes:
- "That is SO sexist. The killer could easily be female!"
- "Liver alone! Liver, liver. It was a joke..."
- "He's my superior!" "The janitor is your superior."
- "How does it feel to be almost brutally butchered?"
- "Oh, now that's in poor taste. If you were the only suspect in a senseless bloodbath, would you be standing in the horror section?"
- "There are certain RULES that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie. For instance, number one: you can never have sex." "BOOOOOOOOOO" "BIG NO NO! BIG NO NO! Sex equals death, okay? Number two: you can never drink or do drugs. The sin factor! It's a sin. It's an extension of number one. And number three: never, ever, ever under any circumstances say "I'll be right back." Because you won't be back." "I'm gettin' another beer, you want one?" "Yeah, sure." "I'll be right back."
"See, you push the laws and you end up dead. Okay, I'll see you in the kitchen with a knife."
- "There's a formula to it, a very simple formula. EVERYBODY'S A SUSPECT!"
- "Careful. This is the moment when the supposedly dead killer comes back to life, for one last scare." "Not in my movie."
- "You sick fucks. You've seen one too many movies!" "Now Sid, don't you blame the movies. Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!"
- "Where do you get this shit?" "Ricki Lake."
I love the crap out of this movie, no matter how many years I go without seeing it. I think I might actually have to go and buy it on DVD so that I can watch it regularly, that's how awesome it is.
Reasons why Hocus Pocus is awesome:
1. Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson. She. Is. Brilliant.
2. There's a talking cat. And a MUCH better talking cat than Salem in Sabrina. Just FYI.
3. The book. It's still creepifying.
4. Sarah Jessica Parker. This is literally the only thing I've ever seen her in where I don't want to punch her in the face. (And yes, I just checked her IMDB page to clarify that statement. I stand by it.)
5. The scene where the sisters sing "I Put a Spell on You" at the Halloween party.
6. Tricking the witches into the kiln with a French tape.
7. Kathy Najimy. Unlike SJP, Kathy Najimy pretty much steals the show whatever she's in. This is no exception.
8. The mother's Halloween costume - 1980s Madonna.
9. Okay, you guys? This completely blew my mind when I found out. Thackery Binx? IS TIMOTHY MCGEE FROM NCIS. (aka Sean Murray)
10. The scene where Dani hides in the cupboard and spies on Max hugging his pillow and calling it Alison. Seriously awkward in real life, hilarious on film.
11. Billy Butcherson. Who doesn't love a snarky zombie?!
12. The sleazy bus driver.
13. The local bullies, Jay and 'Ice'. Ice, incidentally, is played by Larry Bagby, better known as Larry, the Sunnydale High bully from Buffy.
14. The scene where the Sanderson sisters think they've met Satan.
15. Flying on a vacuum cleaner.
16. Dani. Sure, she's a pain in the arse little sister. But she's also hilariously sassy a lot of the time.
17. The scene where Billy cuts open the stitches across his mouth and starts yelling at Winifred.
Plus, the following quotes:
- "I. Am. Beautiful. Boys will love me!"
- "You should have punched him." "He would have killed me!" "At least you would have died like a man."
- "Max likes your yabos."
- "Oh, come on. It's just a bunch of hocus pocus."
- "I summon the burning rain of death!"
- "Dost thou comprehend???"
- "I've always wanted a child. And now I think I'll have one. ON TOAST!!"
- "I AM CALM!"
- "Go to Hell!" "Oh, I've been there, thank you. I found it quite lovely."
- "Well, what does it say?" "Well, it says to form a circle of salt to protect from zombies, witches, and old boyfriends."
- "Max, I'm not going up there. My friends at school told me all about that place. It's weird!" "Dani, this is the girl of my dreams!" "So take her to the movies like a normal person!!"
- "WHY? Why was I cursed with such IDIOT sisters??" "Just lucky, I guess."
- ""Oh, look. Another glorious morning. Makes me sick."
- "Thackery Binx, what took thee so long?" "I'm sorry, Emily. I had to wait three hundred years for a virgin to light a candle."
- "Don't get your knickers in a twist! We're just three kindly old spinster ladies." "Spending a quiet evening at home." "Sucking the lives out of little children!"
- "Sisters, All Hallow's Eve has become a night of frolic, where children wear costumes and run amok!" "Amok! Amok, amok, amok, amok, amok... [Winifred punches Sarah in the stomach] Ugh!"
- "Well, tell me then, what do you call this contraption?" "I call it... a bus." "A bus. And its purpose?" "To convey such beautiful creatures such as yourselves to your most... forbidden desires." "We desire... children." "Hey, it may take me a couple of tries, but I don't think there will be a problem."
- "Wench! Trollop! You buck-toothed, mop-riding, firefly from hell! I've waited centuries to say that." "Say what you want, just don't breathe on me!"
- "It's the chocolate covered finger of a man named Clark!"
- "What is this place?" "It reeks of children!" "It is a prison for children."
- "Hello, I want my book. Bonjour, je veux mon livre."
- "I will always be with you."
What's your favourite movie to watch at Halloween?
Happy Halloween, my lovelies!! We're not much for the Halloween-ing in Australia, but I remember all too well those wonderful days in the dim dark past when I lived in Canada and stuffed myself with all the candy on the planet. * reminiscent sigh*
Ahem. Given that we don't do much in the way of Halloween celebrations down here, I figured I'd take the opportunity to watch one of my favourite Halloween-y movies.
Sleepy Hollow. Okay, so it's not Halloween or even Nightmare Before Christmas, but it's brilliant. And brilliantly stupid. And more than a little ridiculous. I love it.
Reasons why Sleepy Hollow is awesome:
1. Johnny Depp.
2. Tim Burton.
3. Johnny Depp AND Tim Burton.
4. Tim Burton says in the commentary that he took pretty much every opportunity to cover Johnny Depp in fake blood. Just because he could.
12. The supporting cast includes Dumbledore, Vernon Dudley, Rita Skeeter, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and Saruman. Seriously.
Not to mention, the following lines:
- "The heads are.........gone?"
- "Good horsey!"
- "You must NEVER move the body!" "Why not?" "...Because!"
- "We thought you'd shot your boat." (translation: "We thought you'd gone bonkers and run away")
- "We did not know it was a murdering plot!"
- (regarding a spider) "Kill it! Kill it! NO - stun it." (I always want someone to pull out a wand and yell 'Stupefy!')
- "Watch your head." <-- punny, no?
- "Where are we going?" "Anywhere but here!"
So there you have it.
At the risk of sounding like Ghostface from Scream, what's your favourite scary (or Halloween-y/spooky) movie? Also, does anyone other than me love Sleepy Hollow??
When I was making the Halloween cupcakes a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to pipe on the green stems for the pumpkins and the faces on both styles. But I didn't want to wash the piping bag in between, because it's a bloody pain in the arse. Plus, I wasn't sure I'd have a small enough tip to do the faces well. So I went with the lazy option - zip lock bags.
You really can't use them for any kind of precision decorating work (not that my decorating is even remotely precise!), but it sure saves a lot of washing up. Especially when you're working with a crapload of black food colouring...
Mmmm, delicious... Doesn't look at ALL like something off the set of Supernatural!
So if you're in a rush or need a teeny tiny piping tip that you don't actually own, go with the zip lock bag. It's cheap, it's easy, and it saves a hell of a lot of washing up! Plus, it can have pretty decent results with a little bit of practice:
So my brother, C, and his girlfriend are visiting me at the moment. So I don't really have the time to write a proper post. Instead, I'll leave you with these photos from last night:
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