Halloween Tricks

Good old fashion Halloween tricks.
I'm glad that our children have grown up in a time that most Halloween tricks have gone by the wayside.
When I was a kid we were more into candy than playing tricks on people, however we did start the farmers outhouse toilet seat on fire once. That about sums up my childhood Halloween pranks.
My dad told me that when he was a teen they once took a guys model T apart, moved it to the barn roof and put it back together.

Hope everyone has a safe
and trick free Halloween

check out this vandalism instructional video courtesy of The Office.
you'll have to watch a 30 second commercial before it starts, but it's worth it.

CITIES OF THE DEAD

When ever I travel whether on business or vacations. I love to check out the local cemeteries. It drives my wife nuts, because that is the last thing she wants to see. I especially enjoy grave yards with historical significance.
By far the best and creepiest of grave yards I have seen are those found in New Orleans.



The above-ground tombs in the cemeteries of New Orleans are often referred to as "cities of the dead." Enter their gates and you will be greeted by decorative, rusty ironwork, and blinded by the sun bleached tombs. Crosses and statues on tomb tops cast contrasting shadows adding a sense of mystery. Votive candles line tombs on holidays to remind you the Dead have living relatives that still care.
New Orleans has always respected the dead, but this isn't the reason the tombs of our departed loved ones are interred above ground. Early settlers in the area struggled with different methods to bury the dead. Burial plots are shallow in New Orleans because the water table is high. Dig a few feet down, and the grave becomes soggy, filling with water. The casket will literally float. And so they began the custom burying in above ground tombs. Wealthier families of course have the more ornate looking tombs, with iron rails, statues and other adornments. Crowded so close together they look like row houses in a small city. And so they began to be known as "Cities of the dead"
The families that own the tombs have buried generations in the same location. City ordinance requires that the previous relative must have been dead for at least 2 years. Their remains are then deposited down the sides or the back of the tomb, whats left of the coffin is destroyed, thus making room for then new tenant. Some of the tombs have long lists of those that are "buried" in the same tomb. Cool stuff. No wonder the New Orleans cemeteries are said to be among the most haunted in the world. It is probably relatives fighting over who was there first.

FRANKENSTEIN

It is October; Monster month, so I can declare,
I love Frankenstein.
Ever since I was just a kid I loved Frankenstein, I read Mary Shelly's novel "Frankenstein - or the Modern Prometheus" when I was about 12 years old. And have reread it several times over the years. Shelly completed the novel when she was only 18 years old. Even with her husband's connections it took over a year to find a publisher for her novel.
Of course Frankenstein is the name of the Doctor that created the monster, the poor monster never had a name other than "Frankenstein's monster", no wonder he had issues.
But what I really love is Frankenstein movies. There have been over 100 movies (believe it or not) having to do with Frankenstein in some way. No I have not seen them all. There are some good ones some bad ones and some very bad ones. How about "Lust for Frankenstein" 1998, nope, haven't seen that one. There are funny ones "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" or how about "Blakenstein" , haven't seen that one either
The first "Frankenstein" was a silent movie released in 1910, it was a whole 13 minutes long. I do have this one on my iPod a great start of the genre
My favorites by far are the Universal Studios movies made in the 1930's; "Frankenstein" 1931, "Bride of Frankenstein" 1934, and "Son of Frankenstein" 1939. With the famous monster created by actor Boris Karloff (right).
And of course high on the list of favorites is Mel Brooks "Young Frankenstein" and to make this one even more funny, you should watch the 3 old ones first. There are many subtle scenes that Mel Brooks took from the old ones, like someone descending an enclosed stair case with an unlit candle! who knows where the light source is. Or lightning flashes that can be seen in a dungeon with no windows! great stuff.

SO, HAPPY OCTOBER
Watch a Frankenstein movie.
there are plenty to go around.

DEFEAT!!

HAVING THE COURAGE
TO ADMIT DEFEAT
CAN SOMETIMES
BE A KIND OF VICTORY