Hey folks.

It's been a heck of a year jobwise, so I haven't been around much at all, but now that Labor Day has passed, I figured I'd add my plans to the board. Ya never know who will get an idea from it. I certainly have just reading you guys here.

Every year we do a themed party. In the past we have done...
Come as Yourself, Dead. (this was creative..we had roadkills, frozen victims, murders and suicides.)
Harbingers of Death (Gods and goddesses of death, psychopomps, omens)
Elegantly Morbid (Velvet, silk, ruffs and ghastly jewelry... all time frames)
Magic (witches in abundance, a few wizards, cultic priests and even a few enchanted creatures, familiars and genies and such).

This year it's Monsters, be it legendary creatures, madmen, demons, cruel tyrants of history, or movie-born boogeymen. And of course our massive, team trivia game will have a monster theme.
It's a challenging theme for women, I've been told, but gorgons, vampiresses, zombies, succubi and hags and lunatic femme fatales have already RSVPed, so it seems to be inspiring imagination. Next year will likely be Fey-folk and Goblins.
Tradition insists that we do Pirates one year in the future, and maybe Ghosts, or just The Undead.

I've always wanted to do Lugosi's Dracula, and do it well, and this year is my chance. I'm renting the white tie and tails, complete with hand-tied bowtie and watchchain. The Medallion is a plastic store bought, but on a much richer silk ribbon. The cape will be custom, tropical weight wool with a satin lining.

The other half will likely be Medusa, and Quasimodo and Joan Crawford are hosting with us. They are gracious and good friends with lots of room (though what Quasi sees in Joan, I've no idea).
I used to ask a story as payment for entry, like old Van Tassel himself, but our parties have gotten large enough that we now ask either a snack or a sweet. We usually provide hot food. Joan is a good cook, as is Medusa. I'll be preparing a caramel-apple station myself.

I'm hoping to find "The Halloween Tree" on TV sometime this year.
I'm hoping the upcoming new film "Trick R' Treat" is as classic as it looks ( a new film, not the old one from the early eighties).
I need more Midnight Syndicate.
I listen to most anything I can find on Live365 under the search term "Halloween"
..And I finally have some time off to take, so I can see the dawn on November 1st, after a night of TOTer's, candy, salty foods and horror movies galore.

Finally, little pieces of white velco stuck to the walls and ceiling with poster tack, and draped with tea-stained torn cheesecloth, makes your home look just awful. it's cheap and looks nice and decrepit.
This maybe more of a party themed thread, but I put it here just to catch up with folks and say hi.
I trust the moderators to move it if they wish.