An Unorthodox Halloween – Page 36

A very special Fears of Childhood.

Another in my series of examining the fears of childhood.

Somehow, some way, Talia managed to bite her finger whilst attempting to devour Oreo’s hard enough to draw blood…and trama ensued.

Talia REALLY does not care for blood. Ever since I was testing the 3d gel, and had colored it red (since we had a plethora of that color), she got rather upset with the ‘blood’ all over my face.

And, this cropped up again as she went through the haunted houses this season. One particular room, COVERED in blood, was always where she wanted me to pick her up. She don’t want anything to do with that.

Talia, it seems, has a fear of blood.

From 2011 buildup

Alec, meanwhile is nursing a long standing fear…of dogs.

From 2011 buildup

I really don’t know where this comes from. Both grandparents have dogs, and to my knowledge, he’s never been bit, yet he is still VERY nervous around either of them, and does not often pet, and will flinch if the dog so much as moves at his touch…

Kyle….

Oh, Kyle…

He got his first taste of a ‘real’ horror movie the other night…a sleepless one…

From 2011 buildup

As for Talia, though, she’s got her own way of working through the blood thing…raiding Alec’s old costumes.

From 2011 buildup

Tapping the Uncanny Valley.

Man I love Netflix.

They recently made it available to our PS3 without mailing away for a special disk, and I’ve been in love with it ever since.

Most recently becoming re-acquainted with that hidden gem from my childhood: The Dark Crystal.

I was never a huge fan of it…for a rather odd reason. It just tasted wrong. Yes. Tasted. It’s one of those few films that has the unusual effect of leaving me with a taste. I know it sounds odd…and I can’t explain it.

I don’t know, maybe I was unconsciously tasting podling essence.

But, watching it again after many years of it being forgotten made me appreciate it on a whole different level, but it’s still rather disturbing. Trying to pin down WHY, I’m left to consider the Uncanny Valley…

What’s that, you ask?

The ‘Gelfings’ in Dark Crystal can definitely fall into that ‘valley’.

And, that got me thinking…how do we tap this?

First thought came to costumes.

Think of virtually ANY Halloween icon. They are more or less human, yet have some characteristic that makes them just that much ‘off’. I’ve always told people that to make a good, original, scary costume, you’re best bet is pick a feature and enlarge it, while minimizing others.

Larger eyes, mouth, teeth, etc.

But, really, “the valley” can apply to most things. We create certain expectations for any number of situations, and when something is ‘off’, we begin to get uneasy.

One thing I’ve noticed in my 6 years doing this yard haunt, the first thing I did remains one of those things that tends to make the trick or treaters uneasy. There is no one at the door. No candy, no reward for ringing that bell. Groups will go to the door, and then stand wondering what to do as they see other kids heading out into the yard. Is it right? Is it safe?

What other things can we take just left of center? What other things can we take into the valley?

This is going to take some thought…

Back to abnormal.

Been trying to get on to post for a few weeks now, but my son has had the computer tied up as he completed homework.

(time to get that laptop for them up and running…)

But, we’re back, and up to our usual oddities.

Much as this website was the first project for 2010, the first project of 2011 is rather ‘boring’. Making myself an actual workspace.

With so much trouble last year resulting directly from my lack of one, it’s actually fairly logical.

First and foremost is clearing the space. And, most of what Santa brought me is organizational items. In the garage, I really should have gotten ‘before’ pics. But, we’ve cleared all the kids bikes off the floor, and moved all my bamboo and torch storage out to the shed, where I’ll be building a mezzanine shelf to accommodate all that…in the spring, or at least above freezing…

Along with that, we have improved the lighting.

From 2011 buildup

To something you can actually work under.

From 2011 buildup

And, we’ve taken a little page out of my wife’s organization book.

From 2011 buildup

I’m sure I’ll fill them all quicker than I expect…

From 2011 buildup

Still have a long way to go, but we’re excited to have an actual workshop for a change….

Back to basics.

Where the heck have I been?

My holiday vacation has been spent expanding on the overall theme of last year:

Back to the basics.

And, when you look at the problems faced last year, the two largest problems were the result of storage and workspace. Or lack thereof.

Thus it is that break has been spent clearing out, organizing, and improving our storage and our workspace, and we are not done yet.

The back to basics theme will continue to permeate our mindset throughout 2011. Our planned purchases for the year are all focused on improving and replacing basic items, and the Harvest, perhaps the most basic theme possibly, will be making a return showing as well.

Peace on Earth…

Ya know, I thought Halloween was supposed to be the season of mischief. However, it is our Christmas decor that has always been vandalized. I continue to find them moved into…not exactly child friendly positions…often broken in the process.

Every year save the ones we put Jack out, anyhow. Seems someone really likes to wreck our Christmas lighted animals.

Not that I mind, really. These deer were scheduled to be cannibalized for parts, anyhow, and were just put out ‘because’. (all our ‘normal’ decor broke during last winter)

So, what do I do with a deer that no longer stands up?

Add a little Christmas light blood of course.

From Christmas