Halloweek is upon us, but because I won’t really have the chance to dress up this year (because someone very awesome and important is getting married that day), the all-consuming madness that usually descends on me has been kept at bay. I may not be able to resist throwing a little something in my bag on wedding day, but otherwise the annual WHAT THE FUCK AM I GONNA BE FOR HALLOWEEN AND WHERE WILL I BE IT has been successfully avoided.
But since Halloween is the subject on which I seem to blog the most reliably every year, I thought I’d round up some posts from the past, dating back to 2009. Maybe a bonus EVEN EARLIER one if you read all the way to the bottom…
Last year I wrote about a concert we went to, sound-interactive quasi-costumes I made, and my many thoughts and feelings about Sexy Costumes.
I also wrote about how, maybe shockingly if you know the depth with which I was/am obsessed with the film, I don’t want to be The Princess Bride. Because she’s kinda dumb.
I guess I was too busy making a killer Jem costume in 2013 to write anything…
In 2012 I plugged my half-hour documentary about why we, as a society, have told ghost stories in the past and continue to do so even in an “enlightened age.” A few reasons include [SPOILER ALERT]: to explain our fears, to support religious and societal morals, and because, duh, we like being scared, yo. It includes ghost stories as told by first-hand witnesses as well as professional storytellers. It’s a subject I’m still deeply interested in, and I would totes start a podcast about it if I had the time.
Trailers below, watch the whole thing here: As Long as We Keep Telling.
If you happen to be in Bloomington, IN check out this tour of my favorite haunted places around town, including the grim tale of how I touched a curs-ed stump and DIED 7 YEARS LATER TO THE DAY. True story.
The same year I gave tips for last-minute costumes, and in 2011 I made a story-slideshow about 21 different costumes I’ve worn in 19 years. Some more embarrassing than others.
And in 2009, I talked about the one costume I’ve always wanted to create but never have, after telling the story of a truly weird and spoopy store we visited that once belonged to The Batman.
Extra bonus link: Right after a whirlwind Halloween trip to the U of I in 2005! Why can’t you capitalize numbers? THAT 2005 WAS TOTALLY ALL CAPPED. That is a LiveJournal link you guys. Uh-you’re welcome.
I heard my probably favoritest ghost story ever on This American Life* last weekend–turns out the spoooooky old mansion had horrific ventilation and everyone inside was hallucinating from carbon monoxide poisoning. I don’t think I can convey how very much that delighted me.
My major was located in Memorial Hall, so I saw that inscription several times per week. The scariest things I saw in that building were all the signs warning of asbestos. (Although, in retrospect, it probably would have been easy to freak some of the kids out with stories of haunted sewing machines and industrial steam presses that usually did do serious damage to students during the normal course of operation… But I’m not that kind of person. Really.)
I still wonder if anyone else in our family is so Halloween-centric. I guess I’ll find out if I ever blunder across their blogs. Hahaha *looks nervous*
*Don’t judge.
I am way behind on The American Life but I love even ghost stories with totally explainable non-ghostie endings. Because until you get there, you’re still spooked. And it’s still a great story.
Do tell if you find any other family members’ blogs 🙂 You were always the queen of self-made costumery in this lot.