Happy 4th of July!

Ah yes, S&Pers!

It is the hot, sunny day and warm, firework-poppingy night when we celebrate how diverse, bizarre, messed up, wonderful and unique this little Noble Experiment called America has always been.

We here at the Skull & Pumpkin salute America, the American Dream, and the small but vocal group of American Citizens who hold dear their freedom to celebrate the darker side of life, who have a leg up on everyone else when it comes to dealing with fear, darkness and death... simply because they explore it all the year 'round.

God Bless America!

Shuffle ever onward, American Troops of Hallowe'en Love!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

P.S. Watch this space for a special announcement coming very, very soon. You will soon be able to have some homemade, handbuilt Skull & Pumpkin goodies direct from the October Country... details will come in a few days.

Onward!

 

DDSPatriotic!

Rumors of my death...

...have been greatly exaggerated.

Well, not so greatly. I mean, I'm not dead, this is certain.

But for a moment there I sure felt pretty gone.

Oh dear S&Pbrains, I am okay, I have been merely struggling with something I am sure many of you have also experienced from time to time.

Depression.

It's one thing to love the image, another to feel like that image all the time.

The causes and cures are my own, and certainly none of your problem (or business, really), but I will say that it takes me out of my life for a time, every time. 

And I am heartily sorry for this ridiculous span of Skull&Pumpkin-less down time. 

I feel guilty for having followers, almost. I am afraid my own fears and folly will bring you all to breaking down the door of this li'l pub, chanting for my aching head, the lot of you a seething, swimming mass of monster-madness...

Now, don't worry, if you cared enough to worry. I am alright -- my incredible wife and family are always supportive and uplifting, and I am coming back.

Just kind of taking some alone time in a cold, sad Winter.

 I am also finding my Hallowe'en love slowly pulling me back into sanity, back to myself...

And I must come back, I must.

Not just for my own sanity... but because there's something wonderful coming in a little over a month...

... and I've got monsters to build.

Thank you for being patient, and for understanding.

Send me some good ol' fashioned Hallowe'en Loving vibes, would you?

I'll be back.

EDIT:
In honor of my first post in quite some time, and just to shake off the dust of Christmas, I have removed all the Christmas songs from the jukebox and replaced them with a few pieces I felt I needed to hear in my process of returning to life.
First, because I miss my friend Andy Williams, I felt the need for a little Days of Wine & Roses, this version by two other musical legends, Bill Evans and Toots Theilmanns -- if you have to ask who's playing what, you don't listen to jazz nearly enough.
Second, because I miss the sunny, windswept Fall, guitarist Will Ackerman's Shape of the Land lays in quite nicely.
Third, because I miss my childhood, the theme to Dusty's Treehouse. It was only on L.A. TV in the '70s, but was then picked up nationally on Nick in the '80s.
And finally, because I miss Disneyland and my favorite ride of all time, I give you the entire 22 minute audio bed for the Haunted Mansion -- every scream, rattle, clank and cackle. It's what you would hear if your Doombuggy paused at every scene in the ride until all the audio was played.

Enjoy some new tracks.

Again... I'll be back.

DDSProcess

Punxazombie Phil.

Whether he saw his shadow or not...

I think we're in for some trouble.

DDearlySPring!

It's all up in the air.

Well, dear ol' friends, I realize things have been decidedly quiet around this old homely humble house of Hallowe'en hoopla, but keeping busy does have its merits. And visiting family is always worth whatever one may miss in the meantime.

Still, I am not feeling very happy about not posting anything at all since last month -- last year, actually.

But I felt right now would be a good time to post a little 'hello', since I am currently flying over the southwestern United States at 30,000 feet.

So here it is, an S&P first, loyal patrons -- a post from WAY up high.

They really know my tastes, this airline...

"This is your captain speaking. You are now free to move about the pub..."

But in all seriousness, let me tell you -- I wish you could all see how beautiful our world is from up here.

Oops, the seatbelt sign is on again. 

Aw, you know what? Screw it, we have to move our legs -- how about a little...?

Honestly, it is a very cool thing to have blogged from 30,000 feet. I hope the minor novelty of of such a post can go some way toward making up for my lack of posts thus far.

I'll be back soon.

DDSPleaseforgivetheabsence!

My calendar changeth over.

Waiting on Guy Zombardo & the Orchestra to play in the new year...

A prosperous, joyous 2013 to you all!

DUMDUMSHREKPOPthechampagne!

Avast.

Aaarrrr...

Ye best be caterwaulin' this a'way today, me poppets...

DDSpeaklikeaPirateday!

Our second award!

Yes, dear S&Pers, it's been a long time since I've gotten in here to discuss, divulge, dissect, and d-rink with all of you, and I feel terrible about it but work and life are demanding right now and it's taken all the computer life out of me.

I don't like it, but there are far worse problems I could be suffering, so I'm not going to gripe any more about it.

And in fact, we have something to celebrate.

In addition to our Versatile Blogger award, the Skull & Pumpkin has just been awarded the iDigYourBlog Award, bestowed upon this humble house by the always wonderful Marsha from her always fabulous Ghoulie Girls blog!

Sweetness!

Now, just like the Versatile Blogger award, there are a few rules attached to the honor which require a bit of exposition for me.

No problem.

Firstly, accept the award. This, of course, was simple.

Secondly, link back to the person who awarded you. This is also simple, since I've had Marsha's Ghoulie Girls blog on our 'Rest Of The Neighborhood' links list for a long time now, and just linked to it in this sentence and above the award image. Hell, I'll link to it again here. AND again here.
Just please go, will you? It's a truly worthy Hallowe'en blog run by a nutcase Autumn Person just like the rest of us.

Thirdly, write three interesting things about yourself.

Let's go weird on these:

1. I love old '50s and '60s stock music cues, the kind heard in old educational films, cartoons and lower budget features from the era, in animated fare like Gumby, and later cartoons like Ren & Stimpy and Spongebob Squarepants. I have several hours of such music on my MP3 players and listen to them like you listen to your Top 40 radio, latest podcast or archived jazz collection.

2. The transverse lines on both of my hands (heart and head lines in palmistry) are connected and straight across the entire hand, a rare condition known as a simian palmar crease, or simply the simian line, and it's especially rare to have it on both hands without the presence of a chromosomal disorder such as Down's syndrome, or a nervous disorder (not anxiety/depression, which I do endure once in a while, but things like peripheral neuropathy).

Not my hands, but the same thing.

3. I have been known to drink Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce straight from the bottle -- a friend and I used to each have a cap full while we were cooking with it. Strong, spicy, like a Bloody Mary without the blood or the booze. Or the Mary. It's melted anchovies, how can you not like it?

Fourthly, bestow the iDig Your Blog award on five more blogs you... well, you dig.

Now, like the Versatile Blogger award (which required fifteen blog choices!), I am going to simply say that I absolutely have sent the award to five very worthy blogs and they can talk about it and pass it on in their own time and manner. Some of them have been good friends of the S&P for a long time and are listed in that Rest Of The Neighborhood links list I mentioned previously.

I wish the iDig Your Blog award could look like this in real life:

That's something I could really dig.

I wish to thank Ghoulie Girl Marsha for her consideration of this little pub, and her kind comments about my writing, and most especially for simply being such an exemplary Autumn Person. You rock, Marsha!

Now we have two awards! SO cool!

DDSPresented!

New-vintage brilliance.

Good evening S&P-brains!

It's been a long stretch of days and nights since I last visited -- I hate when I can't get in here and recharge with some Hallowe'en libation -- but I finally have a moment to sit and relax...

... and tell you about some incredibly spookylicious art being whipped up by an incredibly spookylicious artist.

I know, right?

Oh my good S&Pers, you must go to Halloween Treasure Studio right now, and peruse the All Hallow's eye candy that is the work of artist Cali Lee.

What time is it? 

Time to set sail to retro-Hallowe'en goodness, of course.

Cali's usual medium is 'acrylic on found object' -- she finds old knick-knacks headed for the dump heap, and with her paintbox and the occasional application of papier mache and other materials, turns them into things of beauty any collector would love to own, and many do -- her pieces reside in many collections!

Given her modus operandi and singular vision, each is a one of a kind piece sure to bring smiles of delight to vintage Hallowe'en lovers for many, many years to come.

One I'd love to have here at the ol' S&P:

Talk about a Hallowe'en Radio! Just incredible!

Each of the pieces you see here came from the Gallery on her website, and all have long been sold to lucky Hallowe'en collectors all over Hallowe'endom.

But Cali keeps on keepin' on with the spooky wonderfulness that is Hallowe'en Treasures Studio, and is always on the lookout for new-old treats for all of us.

Pure magic.

I have added her amazing site to our 'Rest of the Neighborhood' over there to the right, because I plan on visiting all the time.

I urge all of you to do the same because HOLY PUMPKINS it is so very, very awesome.

Thank you for your amazing talent and love for Hallowe'en, Cali Lee! 

DUMDUMSHREKPOP!

Game day.

It's not shaped like a foot.

It's not even shaped like a ball.

But it's loads of fun.

Being a pub, the S&P always has a place for those Autumn folks who enjoy the Autumn tradition of American football, even if we don't really make too much noise about it.

We don't allow arguments about teams, yelling at the old Predicta above the bar, or any wagering on it, of course.

But The Big Game is afoot, as Sherlock Holmes would say... or would've said if he'd been into football.

The team buses have arrived...

The players are getting in the zone...

The cheerleaders are warming up the fans...

"Gimme a Z..."

"Grunnnhhhzzzghgghooanzzz...."

Everyone on the field is ready for action...

"Dude! I'm open!"

No matter your team, or who wins, or if you really even care, I hope you all enjoy your Game Day. 

We'll be watching and laughing and enjoying ourselves all Day.

And Night.

And Dawn.

DDSuperP!

The Last Day.

Yep.

It's at the door.

2012 is upon us.

We think of the wonderful things this past year has given us. We think of the not so wonderful things, too.

We think of those we've lost whom we didn't expect to lose. We think of those we've found whom we didn't expect to find.

We recognize our ability to let the past year simply drop like a pebble into the river of our lives, temporarily rippling the water but ultimately adding to the colorful, clamouring riverbed of who we are, and who we hope we will be.

And we come to realize that we get every day and night we love all over again. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays. Laughing, crying, gifting, eating, drinking, loving. A new Christmas, a new July 4th, a new Hallowe'en.

And it all begins tomorrow.

So... it is right that we celebrate tonight.

A happy, healthy, hauntingly good 2012 to each of you.

Here's to more of everything good and less of everything not so good.

And now, of course, join me...

DUMDUMSHREKPOP!!!

Afterglow.

 Ah!

Welcome, welcome.

I hope you are all enjoying your respective Christmas gatherings and goings-on, and I am happy to see you visiting this humble place during the holidays. It's why we're here, you know -- a gathering place to share and enjoy the company of like-minded, good-hearted Autumn Folk at all times of the year.

My family has been sharing a wonderful few days of holiday cheer, and I can tell you we now are all a little looney from a long weekend full of sugary treats and drinks and indulgent dishes and salty snacks and naps and late nights full of laughter and remembrance of Christmases gone by.

Just as it ought to be.

I want to share just a few more bits of Christmas, S&P-style.

Here is our very orange Hallowe'en treetopper, a gift to the lovely V and me from my dear mother.

It actually resides year-round on our mantle, but I am always so happy to see it on our little black tree where it truly belongs for a few weeks a year. Thanks again, Mama.

Now, any Autumn Person worth the epithet expects their holiday gifts to be a little horrific or Hallowe'enly, right? I know you all get it.

So...

 A first class skull. Who doesn't wish for at least one skull for Christmas?

 And so, I got two!

 And three!

 Not Hallowe'enly, but definitely horrific. 

My oldest crush and favorite hero on Blu-ray -- along with my very first Blu-ray DVD player!

Not even remotely scary or Hallowe'enly, but another gift of Sigourney Weaver 

is always worth bragging over.

Besides, it's a great film you should all see.

I hope you all gave and got at least one great, fine, heartfelt gift, whatever it may be.

You are each a fine gift to me.

Merriest of Christmases to you all. 

DDSigourneyPower!

Making Christmas.

Hello again, loyal S&P-brains!

I hope you've all been enjoying your own Week Leading Up To That Other Holiday... we sure have.

Here at the Skull & Pumpkin, we do things a little differently for Christmas. Oh, we have a tree and lights and presents and all -- we're not completely crazy -- but there's always a bit of a Hallowe'en touch, of course.

For example, as you approach this old homely house, you can't help but notice our unique holiday spirit...

 I made this Burton-esque wreath years ago, and hang it up every year.

 This be-capped beauty was originally part of a set piece from the

Haunted Mansion movie that came out some years back. 

(Minus the Santa cap, of course.)

 Our driveway skeleton gets into the cap action too. Just to offset

the rotting pumpkins, you understand.

Our gargoyle guards received a bit of garland flair from the lovely V.

Of course, our decorating is not limited to the outdoors, but it's essentially identical to the decor found all year 'round -- we just add a tree and some lights and garland.

But I do want to show off these way excellent construction paper ornaments that were handmade by my nephew, known to you S&Pers as Mr. Jack, when he was just a little guy...

 That's right -- Drac, Frank and Wolfy in their Christmas best!

 Are those some awesome monster Santas or what?

This year they reside in my paper Hallowe'en lantern just above our little tree.

Of course, we still have the amazing monsters handmade by my nieces and nephew in L.A. ...

OH yeah... baked Frankensteiny goodness!

A few shots of our Haunted Mansion corner...

Skull hand-markered and hung by the great Kiara.

So, that's a taste of the Autumn People-influenced Christmas decor at the Skull & Pumpkin.

I can only imagine that you each have your own spooky spin on That Other Holiday... care to send some pics so we can all admire them over a few drinks by the fireplace here at the ol' S&P?

Send them to your humble pubkeep:  --*skellington*35*@*aol.com*-- (remove the *'s) -- and let's have some fun comparing and sharing our creepy yuletide customs!

Here's to everyone having a wonderful, wonder-filled Other Holiday!

DDSPresentsneedwrapping!