#specter is amazing i love the twist on jack

[donasarah]

Books I read in 2022

In previous years, I would set my reading goals to 25, 30 books, never quite managing to reach them. I have accepted that I am a rather slow reader in 2022. With that said, I set the goal of 12 books this year, averaging a book a month. This let me indulge in longer books, and take my time with denser ones. I finished 19, and I aim to read 12 again in 2023. In no particular order: -Star Wars: Specter of the Past (Timothy Zahn) -Star Wars: The Fallen Star (Claudia Gray) -Out of the Dark (David Weber) -The Space Between Worlds (Micaiah Johnson) -Into the Light (David Weber, Chris Kennedy) X -Carrie (Stephen King) -Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton) -Necromancer (Gordon R. Dickson) X -The Jewel of the Seven Stars (Bram Stoker) X -The Lost World (Michael Crichton) -Bird By Bird (Anne Lamont) X -Hav (Jan Morris) -A Winter Haunting (Dan Simmons) -I, Vampire (Jody Scott) -The Dying Earth (Jack Vance) -Eaters of the Dead (Michael Crichton) -Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice) X -Orlando (Virginia Woolf) -Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere (Jan Morris)

The five books with "X" at the end indicate that I did not finish the books, and have no wish to return to them (with exception of Into the Light, which I will talk about later.) Generally, I feel as if a book has struck me wrong, I don't waste time finishing the novel. I have far too many books I wish to read to spend valuable time finishing bad ones. The beginning of the year overflowed from 2021 in where I read far too many Star Wars novels. While I always will be a fan of Star Wars, my time reading the expanded material has ended. No matter how good they are, they fail to inspire me creatively, ultimately being products on the assembly line. If I ever want to break out as a writer, I realize I must read outside of the narrow space opera setting. I read a surprising number of Michael Crichton books this year, an author I will probably never pick up again. Not to say he is a bad writer, but that he is one that doesn't really appeal to me on a general basis. But as I binged every Jurassic Park movie (and groaned at the franchise), I decided to read the books it was based on. My copy of Jurassic Park was actually gifted to me by a coworker from the Worst Job I Have Ever Had, so I had been meaning to give it a go anyhow. And it was just alright! In typical hard sci-fi affair, it had a ton of interesting ideas and clashing of philosophies, but lacked in character depth. Lost World, on the other hand, was a bit phoned in, and I do not really recommend it. It's clear that Crichton has an affinity for the Arthur Conan Doyle book of the same name, but the actual prose was uninspired. Eaters of the Dead, on the other hand, might be a contender for the best book I read this year. Short, fast, and historically interesting, Eaters of the Dead has amazing characterization of Viking and Islamic culture of the late 900s AD, and has a twist villain that blew me away. It was so good, I dare not read any other Crichton book after this. I do not want to bitter the excellence of Eaters of the Dead.

I cannot recall if I spoke of Into the Dark in a previous year that I gave it a try, but the controversy of the novel is what sparked my interest. Weber is not an author I would likely read usually (much like Crichton, I realize), as he writes mostly military sci-fi. This genre is not shy about it's right-wing slanted world views, and Into the Dark is no different. Characters love talking about their guns, to the point I would call Into the Dark gun porn. Aliens invade the "modern day" world (when written, 2010), and humans fight back! The twist is that the humans straight up lose, and have to be bailed out by Count Dracula. Yes, real Dracula. The most hilarious twist in any book I have ever read. I had high hopes for the sequel, released some 12 years later, but Into the Light hardly leans into the goofy camp of the vampire reveal. Instead, it seemed embarrassed that it had done that, and hardly brings it up. So I put it down for now, but perhaps in 2023 I will give it another shake.

My best discovery this year was the author Jan Morris, and her book entitled Hav (which is truly a novel and novella combined into one volume). Jan is truly one of the most interesting people I have ever read about, and it brings me such sadness to learn she passed in 2020. Her work and career stand as monumental inspirations to me, and knowing I missed the chance to thank her by just two years feels like some type of irony. Hav is a fictional peninsula in Greece, but the way Morris writes about it makes it more real than some towns I have visited. Her name was achieved in the arena of travel writing, so when Hav was released in the 80s, people tried to book flights to a place that did not exist. If that wasn't interesting enough, Hav stands as a scathing and humbling reflection of the European world, and ends on the strange foreboding feeling, cashed in by the followup novella and mirrored by how 9/11 shaped the world. All that would make Jan Morris a good writer. But her journey from James Morris to Jan Morris makes her legendary, because yeah, on top of being a fantastic writer, she is one of the first prominently public British transgender people, flying to Russia in the 70s to receive gender affirming surgery. Did I mention she also fought in World War 2, and was the first reporter to climb Mount Everest successfully? Trieste is the capstone to her career, blending all the experiences she has had in life and distilling them down to the characterization of a single Italian city (or as the book goes on to say, a city that happens to be the capital of Nowhere.) I cannot wait to read more of her work in 2023. Orlando by Virginia Woolf might take the spot for the best book I have read this year. It's the only book on the list that I plan to reread again, once I find a copy that isn't falling apart at the spine. For how famous and influential this book is, it is surprisingly hard to track down a copy. Across four books stores, two used two new, I could only find one copy, and by the time I was finished, the spine had completely splintered into dust. But it was absolutely worth reading, even in that condition, and I eagerly await the chance to read it again.

I, Vampire was a book I read based on the cover and back blurb, and it was the craziest book I read this year. A vampire and alien fall in love, while in the background the author delivers some of the most sarcastic and biting criticism of modern day capitalism I have read in a pulpy sci-fi novel. It's great stuff, and I can't wait to find a copy of the first book in this apparent trilogy!

The worst book I read this year was certainly The Space Between Worlds. I do not really have a hot take associated with it, other than it was a mess of a book and needed at least two more drafts to make it a little more readable. It's clear that this was a debut novel, and I did buy it brand new, so I wish Ms. Johnson the best of luck with the next novel. Here's to another year of finding good books to read.

[lexosaurus]

maddie and jack inviting danny into the lab to test their new invention.

"So, uh, how do I know if its working, exactly?"

"Oh, you'll know. Fire away Danny-o!"

The raven-haired teen nodded once, though his hands were still grasping the cold metal of their new Fenton-brand invention gingerly as he narrowed a wary eye.

Well, taking a shot wouldn't hurt. At least he wasn't at the firing end. Danny fumbled with the device a bit before aiming at the target before him; A small ghost, roughly the size of a fist or a baseball.

Knowing his parents, (And boy did he know them,) their ecto-technology was never quite condensed enough to completely obliterate a ghost in a single shot, much less any lasting wounds. The most injury a shot from their ectoblasters gave him were first degree burns and bruises that could compete with Jupiter's spot. So, harmful, yes. But nothing that should destroy.

With complete trust in this, Danny pulled the trigger.

The first revelation that something became horridly, terrifyingly wrong was the sibilant whine.

It was near a murmur, yet swiftly rose to have likelihood akin to a pained wheeze, then a much more obvious groan. The blob flopped and squirmed despite no obvious injury, and Danny didn't even realize the unwarranted grimace that had come to spread on his features.

Groaning became garbled moans, and moans became unsettling, hitched... Noises that panged the kid's heart.

Beside him, Jack had a delighted yip! "Great job, son! Our new weapon is working like pie! Speaking of, we should go for some pie,"

"But, its... The ghost. It looks like its in pain." A jarbled shriek seemed to respond.

"And that how you know it works!"

Maddie, who had been busy scratching away with a ballpoint, hummed a pleased tone. "I thought we explained it to you and Jazz this morning, sweetheart?"

"Explained what?"

"The invention!" The soft click of a capped pen, the dry heaves from the cage before them. "Your dad and I couldn't figure out how to harness condensed ecto energy capable of punching a hole right into a ghost's core without potentially overheating our weaponry."

"But we discovered that we could... Force the molecular bonds to detach themselves. Now, the atoms themselves keep reattaching, so we haven't figured out how to completely break down a sample of ectoplasm..."

"But the theory is— was— that if we can make it so the ghost is constantly being broken down and put together again on a molecular level, it will create enough physical pain to stun the ghost!" A cherry-lipped grin spread under her tinted goggles. A gargle resounded from the cage.

"Your—" Danny's stomach twisted. "Just going to let it... Sit like that? Let it break down and put itself back together endlessly?"

Jack boasted a laugh. "Sick and twisted of you, son! But don't worry," He kneeled closer to the cage, where the blob shivered and flopped. "It should be unstable enough that a single poke—"

Jack peeked two fingers into the surface of the blob's skin and was immediately met with a fine coverage of dripping, green ectoplasm.

"... And it'll break completely! Wow, I think some of it got in my mouth."

"Of course, we believe the effects will be much stronger on a larger ghost."

"Now if only we could catch one of those humanoid specters!"

"I wonder how much ectoplasm would explode if we tried this on that Phantom menace..."

Holy shit!

Amazing. I love this. Perfect angst, and delivered right to my doorstep. 👏👏👏

[tallstales]

Day 2 Podcasts (13 Days of Halloween)

Next on the list of spooky things to do for Halloween are Podcasts! Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Radio shows used to have us shaking in our boots long before scary movies and now with the uprise in amazing voices to choose from you can explore the unexplained, seriously spooky, true crime, or tame fun year round.

Here is a list of 13 favorites, some tried and true and some brand spanking new!

The Cryptid Cases

The Cryptid Cases tells the story of Mia Miller and Lucas Campbell, old college friends who reunite after the disappearance of Mia's grandfather. This dynamic duo explore the continental US in search for mythical monsters and the mystery Mia’s grandfather left behind. Sometimes the cryptic creatures are exactly what history has us expect, and other times the audience is in for a hoax. Either way, this podcast is jam packed with interesting story telling, surprising discoveries and cool cryptid facts.

Here Be Monsters

Here be monsters is a podcast about the unknown. This collection of unusual audio documentaries has been in existence since 2012 so they have just about every topic under their belt. Some of their most recent include: unnecessary cruelty, unreadable books, and did neanderthals bury their dead? Now is the perfect time to listen, having just separated from their production company and moving forward as independent every listen counts! Go give them a shot and be sure to check out their patreon.

Jim Harold’s Campfire

Campfire is a very unique podcast in that it invites you the listener to take part in the storytelling! Just like a good old campfire gathering, Jim tells his own stories and the listener can call in and share theirs as well giving a creepy true story vibe.

This is a great one for the Halloween season or to stream at your virtual Halloween parties! Maybe you can stretch your story telling skills with a call in of your own.

Borrasca

Speaking of storytelling, do you remember Borrasca? For those unfamiliar, this terrifying tale has haunted the pages of Creepy Pasta for years!

Creepy Pasta is known for it’s unbelievable horror finds, but few stories hold the praise for writing, storytelling, and straight up nightmares that Borrasca leaves with its readers. Now you can listen to this psychological thriller written by The Haunting of Hill House season writer Rebecca Klingel and starring Riverdale’s Cole Sprouse.

Feel like you’ve listened to Borrasca before?

No Sleep

You may have heard the original Borrasca on the No Sleep Podcast with many other Creepy Pasta favorites. The No Sleep Podcast is a multi-award winning anthology series of original horror stories featuring casts of talented voice actors, rich atmospheric music and sound effects. It’s so well known and equally well liked for a reason. And with 15 seasons under their belt, you could easily listen to this all October long and still have plenty to keep you occupied through the rest of 2020.

And speaking of popular, next on our list has a following that just keeps growing with the ever expanding content:

Lore

Sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction. In this well known podcast from Aaron Mahnke’s growing productions, the truth is definitely scary. It doesn’t need to be Halloween to enjoy these bites of dark history, but it certainly helps. Especially because for the month of October Lore becomes a weekly podcast so you never have to worry about running out of your favorite spooky content.

And if you do? Well that brings us to our next podcast.

Unobscured

Where Lore takes on new or sometimes multiple stories for each episode, Unobscured takes on one topic per series. The first year explored the Salem witch trials in such stunning detail that I am positive, if you tune in, you will learn at least one brand new never heard of Salem thing per episode. And that’s coming from a New Englander! Unobscured does exactly what it says on the tin, it takes a topic and peels off layer by layer of history and human emotions until the image left is, well… unobscured. Season 2 goes on to explore the Spiritualist Movement and the brand new Season 3 takes on Jack the Ripper! I’m working my way through that one with my husband right now and we’re loving it.

Pretty Scary

Are we scaring you off with this list? Do you like spooky but not scary? Want to listen to some scary stories but need a little humor to be able to sleep later? Pretty Scary is a pretty great podcast to try!

This podcast focuses on crime, ghosts, aliens, and all other manner of mysterious and unexplained phenomena. And! It’s hosted by comedians. Not only does this group know how to tell a story, but they definitely add some light to the dark.

The Scaredy Cats Horror Show

Speaking of podcasts for those faint of heart, there is a new kid on the block called The Scaredy Cats Podcast! This is a favorite for my husband who wants so desperately to know about the horror movies my friends and I love to talk about but was scared by the kittens in The Haunting of Hill House. Yes, you read that right - THE KITTENS.

This podcast is about scary movies for people who are too scared to ever watch them. Each week Alex Goldman, avowed horror fan, screens a scary movie for avowed scaredy cat PJ Vogt. Together, they want to find out if it’s possible to become a person who enjoys fear.

Sawbones

Another show for those not looking for a scare but maybe to have some fund being grossed out this Halloween is Sawbones.

Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin take you on a tour of Misguided Medicine through history. Every Friday, they dig through the annals of medical history to uncover all the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we’ve tried to fix people over the years. Oh the things that go so very wrong!

Family Ghosts

Slowly getting back into the spooky, there is Family Ghosts.

Every house is haunted, if not with spirits then with secrets. Family Ghosts is a documentary-style storytelling podcast that investigates the true story behind a mysterious figure whose legend has followed a family for generations. Grandmothers who were secretly jewel smugglers, uncles who led double lives, siblings who vanished without a trace, and other specters who cast shadows over lives in ways that might not be immediately obvious.

Spirits

Speaking of spirits - here’s a podcast about them in all their forms! Spirits is a podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore and every episode comes with a drink to sip as you listen!

Co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy re-tellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week.

Last Podcast on the Left

With that little bit of liquid courage from spirits, we’re diving back into the deep end with Last Podcast on the Left!

The last Podcast on the Left covers all things gore. Their topics run the gamut from horror told around the world both real and imagined to demons, movies, cults and serial killers. If you’re looking for new terrifying topics weekly, Last Podcast on the Left is sure to satiate your blood lust.

But don’t be too afraid, this group of goofy guys speak to their audience in a way that makes you feel like you’re one of the friend group. It’s easy to imagine meeting up with your friends on that old couch in the basement or around a campfire every week to scare each other senseless and share a few laughs.

13 days of Halloween with Keegan-Michael Key

Last but certainly not least is the treasure that is 13 days of Halloween with Keegan-Michael Key, a new podcast from Grim and Mild. My husband and I just started this last night and we are so excited to continue the weird and wild journey forward!

13 Days of Halloween is a unique adventure that tows the line between ethereal horror and thrilling campfire tales. Each episode explores a different chilling story from the residents of the mysterious Hawthorne Manor and its caretaker voiced by actor Keegan-Michael Key. A fun twist was that this manor is really brought to life with 360-degree surround sound. New episodes are released every day starting October 19th, ending on Halloween.

We couldn’t end this list on a more perfect podcast.

Don’t forget to comment below!

13 Days of Halloween is a special treat for me and my readers. On Halloween, there will be a very special giveaway I’d love for you to take part in. All you have to do to enter is comment or share this post to your social media.

Thank you for participating and best of luck!

[nellie-elizabeth]

Supernatural: The Big Empty (13x04)

This season is kicking serious ass. I love it so much I cannot even tell you. Let's just dive right in!

Cons:

My complaints are really minor. There's a moment at the end when Jack steps in and saves the day, but the special effects looked pretty goofy. They did this sort of subwoofer sound effect and slow-mo and his eyes glowed gold and it was just kind of hokey.

Pros:

That's literally my only complaint. I sat there for a second trying to come up with something else I disliked, and I couldn't.

The main story involves Sam, Dean, and Jack hunting down a shifter who is disguising himself as lost loved ones before killing his victims. They think they've found the culprit, a therapist named Mia, but she proves her innocence. She is a shifter, but she uses her powers to give her patients a chance for closure. Turns out, it's her terrible, abusive ex-boyfriend, Buddy, who is also a shifter and who is trying to take away her happiness. The shifter gets the best of Mia, Dean, and Jack while Sam is away following up on a lead. It looks like Sam is going to get shot when he walks in the door, as Buddy has the whole situation rigged, but Jack manages to access his powers in time to save the day.

First of all, I like that the plot was simple and straightforward. We didn't need five different twists, we didn't need too many detours. Dead people are killing living folks. Ghost? No. That's ruled out. Shifter? Yes. The first shifter they find? No. I was almost waiting for yet another double cross, and was pleasantly surprised when it never arrived.

And speaking of, I really liked Mia! The moment when Sam realizes she's a shifter, and comes bursting into the room with a gun, was the perfect subversion of expectations. Sam and Dean both hold a gun on her, but she explains her innocence and the boys actually let her explain herself. They've certainly come a long way from shooting monsters on sight! And I loved the parallels that this created with Jack. Mia has learned to believe that being a "monster" isn't everything. It's not what you are - it's what you do with that. I was really pleased that while the disgusting, abusive Buddy got the ax, Mia lives to fight another day.

Jack is... just adorable and precious in all ways and I want to adopt him? I love that Sam and Dean are taking on pseudo-parenting roles with him, albeit very unwillingly in Dean's case. Sam accuses him of being like their father was, and Dean shoots back defensively, wondering if there's a problem with that. Both Sam and Mia point out to Dean that Jack is clearly scared of him, and just wants his approval. There's such a sad echo of Dean's own desperate seeking of approval with his father. It seems pretty clear that Dean can't look at Jack without being reminded of what he's lost, but by the end of the episode he throws the kid some praise, telling him he did a good job when saving Sam and Dean's life. This is such an utterly fascinating dynamic and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

One of the highlights of the episode is Jack and Mia's private moment, where Mia shifts into the shape of Kelly, to give Jack the chance to talk to her and hold her and feel as if he's with his mother for the first time. This was just so emotional in every way shape and form, and the acting was spot-on.

Then you've got the Sam and Dean dynamic going on. The two of them, along with Jack posing as their little brother, go to therapy with Mia to try and figure out what's going on with the deaths in town. It's meant to be just for show, but Dean lets his resentment out into the session when he accuses Sam of being delusional for not admitting that Mary is dead. Sam lets out with one of the key reasons behind his grief - Dean was the one who had the relationship with Mary. Dean's the one who remembers her from when they were little, and Dean's the one she connected with upon her return. How is Sam supposed to accept that he's lost the chance to have a real relationship with his mother? He storms out of the room.

Now, in any other episode of Supernatural, Sam and Dean might have a fix-it conversation at the end and things would get a little better, but in this one, the outburst literally happens in front of a therapist, who calls Dean out in no uncertain terms: "you just made your brother so upset that he had to leave the room." In the end, we do get that fix-it conversation, and it's even more heartbreaking that you'd imagine. Dean apologizes for being a dick, and then Sam reveals an awful fear - what if Dean is right, and Mary really is dead, and he's just been in denial? Dean says he doesn't want to hear that - "I need you to keep the faith for both of us, because right now I don't believe in a damn thing." Dean admitting that he's hit rock bottom and he's willing to accept help from Sam is just such a critical turning point for their character arcs this season. I'm all about it.

This episode's title is "The Big Empty," which of course refers to the subplot with Cas that I'll be talking about next... but it also refers to the theme of grief that's prevalent through the episode. It's notable that nobody in the main plot ever mentions Cas' name. On the surface, the grief in this particular story is centered on the loss of mothers - Jack grieves for Kelly and Sam and Dean grieve for Mary. Jack learns that Sam wants him to help save Mary, and he's all on board for the plan, while of course Dean doesn't believe it's possible. We get all of these conversations and moments to talk about grief and the emptiness and lack of faith that comes with it, and meanwhile the specter (not literally in this case) of Castiel is hovering over the entire episode. We know he's not really gone, but on earth he's just left an emptiness.

Okay. Misha Collins. You're amazing, dude. This week, he gets to pull out yet another character, playing The Empty as a manifestation of the nothingness that came before the creation of everything. It's just a black nothingness, infinite and older than time itself. I love the idea of a place where eternal sleep is really a thing. It's not Heaven, but it's not Hell. You're just... done. And the manifestation of the Empty is eternally asleep as well, that is until Cas wakes up (thanks to Jack's powers) and starts disturbing his beauty rest. Cue a series of scenes where the Empty tries to get Cas to just give up and go back to sleep, and Cas stubbornly refuses to do so. In the end, we see Cas wake up, apparently back on Earth.

The Empty had this weird accent and this sort of jittery sense about him that reminded me a little bit of Crazy God Cas or Casifer, but not enough that it was just a copy of either of those things. Misha did a great job of creating a properly sinister yet still undeniably charming entity in the brief time we had with the Empty. The character creation was also good from a writing standpoint. It makes sense why this guy wouldn't be a mover and a shaker in inter-dimensional politics or power struggles. He's made of nothing and he'd just like to be nothing for the rest of time. Cas being awake is messing with that for him.

You've also got the fact that Cas' first guess when asked why he's awake is that the Winchesters must have made a deal to save him. He's not sure what's up, but the minute he has awareness of himself, all he wants is to go back, because Sam and Dean need him. The Empty tries to get through to him with self-loathing, telling him he's a worthless burden, that there's nothing waiting for him back on Earth... he says some stuff about knowing Cas' inner soul, and mentions knowing "who you love," which my shipper heart reacted to quite violently. Jury's still out on that one, though - it's possible the Empty was talking about Kelly. Or, I don't know, "humanity" or some crap like that. Regardless, the most incredible thing about all of this is that it doesn't work. Cas does not waiver in his desire to escape from the Empty, because he knows that his family wants him to come back. This is such a big step for Cas, who just a few seasons ago was allowing Lucifer to possess him because he didn't think he was worthy of helping out in his own right.

I've seen some rumblings in the interweb worrying that the figure we saw at the episode's end was the Empty, and not Castiel. I definitely see the worry, but I'm really hoping, for the sake of selfish desires and narrative building, that this is Cas, truly back from the dead. They created such a cool concept for the Empty, a creature of nothingness that just wants to sleep. It would be weird if that creature popped into the mortal realm for no good reason. And also, we've got the scene transition, where Dean tells Sam that he doesn't believe in a damn thing, and then literally the next shot is Cas appearing back in our world, pretty much ordained with the sole purpose of restoring Dean Winchester's faith. I am just all about that.

So... there you have it. This was an excellent episode. I'm enormously pleased that Jack seems to be sticking around as a more permanent figure in the season instead of jumping in and out of the story like so many cast members have in the past. I can't wait for Cas' return and all the epic reunions!

9.5/10

[creepykingdom]

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 - Review

Words and photos by Gretchen Von Cloedt 

One of the lost joys in life is the ability to get dressed up in costume and go trick-or-treating. Generally, once you're past your teen years, the activity is taboo unless you have children. Well, my friends, through Disney magic, you too can re-live your childhood and parade around the Magic Kingdom, dressed in costumes and, in fact, Trick-or-treat.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party is a separate ticketed event held on select nights during the Halloween Season. I make this a priority every year, and let me tell you, this year it did not disappoint!

New this year, they had a whole new Halloween castle projection show called, Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular. This was probably the most amazing and advanced show I've ever seen projected onto the castle. One amazing feature was the inclusion of a live action Jack Skellington hosting the show. It is a cannot miss!

I really enjoy the character interactions. They have rare characters, and familiar friends all decked out in their Halloween best! A highlight would include The Pumpkin King himself, along with his best gal, Sally. If villains are your thing as they are mine, they have them!

We had a “spoopy” good time watching the Boo-To-You Parade. Disney parades are always cool, but we really love this parade! The parade opens with a reading of the Headless Horseman poem, and the Hessian himself comes trotting by. We really liked the inclusion of Constance Hatchaway, the bride herself, dancing with the ballroom specters. The whole thing is so much fun!

We had so much energy from all the candy, we stopped at the Monsterous Scream-o-ween Ball and danced with Mike, and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.”. While we didn't ride any attractions, they did have fun overlays on several of their classic attractions. Space Mountain, Pirates of the Carribean and Mad Tea Party all have a Halloween twist to add to the fun! Over at the Haunted Mansion, Madame Carlotta perches on the front lawn of our adored spooky abode, and banters with the mortals while they wait in line. I enjoy the concept, but I think I would have enjoyed it more of she were free roaming and mingling in the crowd. Perhaps similar to the citizens of Main Street.

We also tried a couple of the featured snacks for the party! Over in Liberty square, we tried Constance's “For Better or For Worse” Wedding Cake. This was a lemon raspberry cake with a not too sweet frosting. It was cool and creamy, but slightly tart. We also tried the Headless Horseman Cheesecake. I am admittedly not a pumpkin fan, but my hubby is, and to quote him “I was shocked with how flavorful it was.” So I guess it was good, because I just looked over and it was gone. This was chocolate cake and pumpkin mousse. It was a creamy crispy tasty treat.

There is also a castle stage show called Hocus Pocus villian Spectacular! The Sanderson Sisters from the beloved classic Hocus Pocus, along with other Disney villains, stir up some trouble in the Magic Kingdom! This show plays several times during the evening, so make sure that you stop and watch it once... or twice! At the end of the night we had somewhere around 20 lbs of candy, all from treat stations located around the park. There was so much to do, it is hard to get it all in. I recommend attending more than once if you can.

[cowandcalf]

20 Question Meme

I was tagged by the handsome @b-n-a-o and my sweet friend @loyalty2waystreet.​ Thanks both of you, for tagging me. It always feels special when it happens. xxx

Rules: Answer 20 questions and tag 20 amazing followers you like to get to know better!

Name: K. (sorry folks, I don’t like to put my real name out in the open)

Nickname: I don’t have one, honestly. LOL, I can write the one my little sis calls me sometimes : Katschgge (awful Swissgerman).

Height: 5‘4 (163cm)

Orientation: lesbian, married to my gorgeous wife (I had my fair share of relationships with men)

Nationality and ethnicity: Swiss

Favorite fruit: Raspberry, Apple

Favorite color:yellow and different shades of turquoise

Zodiac sign: Leo

> Favorite fictional characters:Steve McGarrett, Danny Danno Williams, Harvey Specter, Mike Ross, Ennis del Mar, Jack Twist

Favorite season: Definitely Summer! But I love the seasons because each one holds so much wonderful events in nature and in tradition in readiness.

>Favorite book: Oh, very difficult to answer because I love so many! These following books I read at least twice: ‚ES‘ (IT) by Stephen King, ‚Der Schwarm’ (The Swarm) by Franz Schätzing, ‚Haifischfrauen‘ (Shark Dialogues)by Kiana Davenport.

Favorite flower: It’s not a flower, it’s the elder bush.

Favorite scent: Musk (since teenager days)

Favorite animal: Cats, Dogs, Horses. I love all animals.

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate: Definitely coffee!

Average hours of sleep: 4 -6 (too less sometimes, but life’s too good to sleep too much).

Cats or dogs: Both!

Number of blankets you sleep with: one, a huge one J

Dream trip: Anywhere where I can meet Buck Brannaman – cowboy country

Blog created: 2016

Okay, I know, not everybody is fond of such tagging games. But I do it nevertheless. I’d love to thank you for following me, for putting up with all the stuff I post randomly next to my craziness about McDanno and Marvey. You definitely rock, my dear followers and I appreciate each and every one of you ! Skip this game, if you don’t want to do it. No pressure. It should be fun.

I tag:

@fvckboi-carlile @joannereads @soiknowwhentoduck @harveylovesmike @skullduggery63 @pink-panther-lost @dawilly76 @tissueoflies @heihei @ibelievedbuthelied-blog @basement6277 @piejunkie @embracetheshipping @murphyhatesme @serapekkala @akane022 @shoelessperson @tsclly @abc-980 @hoouna