H pardy!

About a month or so, a sum of us decided to throw a proper Halloween bash.  For the past several years, Little Rock has been beset with shows where people play in cover bands -- this year it was the Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins, Jawbreaker, Springsteen, and someone else -- and it's all well and good, but it's not an acceptable substitute for a Halloween party.   So, weeks ago, we met up and made an ambitious list of things we wanted at this affair.  Even though we didn't get to do all of it, we did most of it.  I'm pretty proud of the end result and the crew I worked with.  Right now, I never want to throw another party ever again.  Maybe I'll feel differently after I recover?  Last night's  blowout was fun, even if I didn't know half of the people who showed and it was still going as I was leaving.  As far as I know, people behaved -- no fights, no peeing in the BBQ grill (4th of July 2010), and no barfing.  Some gal did knock over the disco ball set up, but I think it was an accident?  Well done, everyone.

The dance floor was painted and pre-assembled upstairs:

Zach applying adhesive to the panel:

The second room got a quick paint job makeover:

Blair, Matt & I got the masks up outside:

Gotta have black birds and black roses:

The bar area:

In the bathroom:

Used disco ball:

Finished Twin Peaks dance floor, complete with red drapes:

I got inspiration from this gal for my makeup.  The beginnings:

Photo by Blair:

ATM's funny leaning cowboy silhouette costume:

KMHD & Blair:

Zach:

We find a way.  Dented disco ball + record player + mounted flashlight = obviously:

ATM at the decks:

As more and more people showed up, it became increasingly difficult for getting around, let alone take photos.  But, I took one when I got home and was amazed that I didn't mess up my make up.  It turns out that cheap black eyeliner is the best thing to use instead of the general stuff they market as Halloween make up :

Even though I was hostess, I got a parting gift! Steven gave me some succulent clippings:

We found this today at clean up.  My guess is pot candy:

Everett distributed handbills at the party.  Nice ones, too.  I thought it was great, since this is currently not in vogue:

Happy Halloween, ya corncobs!

What's tops

 I went to Kathryn Budig's workshop this past Saturday.  I worried for nought.  I was able to do about 85% of what she showed us.  It was a great class; she is very charming, pretty, and a lovely instructor.  I posted her ridiculous flow video below.  






Need to brighten up ye olde wardrobe, but don't have any money, honey?  Try the classic workin' gal's affordable hair accessory ... ribbons!

If and when we have time, we are practitioners of Sunday drives.  We love to drive around Scott, Arkansas for the pecan tree-lined country roads:

 This year's lot of sugar skulls turned out so great.  I owe it to my pal Blair.  She's got the artist's touch.  Too, after much trial and error, we found an alternative to royal icing, which is a royal pain.  Glitter 'n glue is ace.  Do not use acrylic paint! 

 

Halloween draws nearer!  A few of us have put a lot of time, energy, and monies into havin' a real blowout this year.  Sorry, kids, this one's for the groan ups!

Early voting has begun in Pulaski County.  501 W Markham, 72201.  I've already taken care of that business.  If you want to view your ballot before you hit the booth, go to pulaskiclerk.com and look it up.  No surprises, yeah?  You can figure out, too, where you stand on the constitutional amendments.  GET IT SORTED BEFORE YOU GO.  Round up a crew and go with friends! My office went as a family unit to early vote.  Here is a secret photograph I took of my boss.

I'm just going to set these right here.

 Mariachi at the Old Statehouse Museum of Arkansas:

Plush downtown:

This bloke just joined the mariachi without asking.  They were good sports about it.  And he wasn't as horrible as one would imagine:

Breakfast with these lunatics:

 

I've mastered posole:

RIP juicer:

LR from Ft. Roots/NLR:

Rosalinda's:

Geese flying in loopy circles over my neighborhood:

 

It's been awhile since I've done two wine bottle furoshiki:

The other evening, Blair, Sara & I were stopped at the train tracks by a fella with a lantern.  You could see a train approaching slowly.  He hopped the train as it passed by.  We watched the cars go by.  I was too slow to pull out my camera to capture some of the best graffiti any of us have ever seen.  It was one of those 'you had to be there' experiences and we felt like we were at the right place at the right time. The train looks great with the headlights on it:

We went to the AR State Fair again for lunch yesterday.  Tater twisters? They're ok, but I'd pass.  Beef Sundae?  Not bad.  Try it once and then move on forever.  Fried pecan pie?  OK!

3/5 people in my office practice yoga:

Here we go:

Last night, I forced myself to sit in here for a spell:

Our state fair is a great state fair, it's the best state fair in our state!

This past Friday, ATM and I went down to the Arkansas State Fair.  In short, I have Fair Fever now.  In case you didn't know,  parking & admission is free M-F, 11-1, so, you know, LUNCH BREAK.  I think my co-workers and I are going to try for Thursday.  It's so much better in the day!  No lines and, as my co-worker pointed out, you don't have to deal with knucklehead youths.  

I love how busy October is.  Unfortunately, we've not been able to camp at all.  I do get a bit wonk when I don't get to hang out of doors properly.  Perhaps we can rent a cabin or go to the lake house soon?  At this moment, getting out of doors is more out of necessity than want.

So, I'm on a Halloween party planning committee.  We decided to have a decent blow-out this year.  We've got some pret-ty ambitious ideas, guys & ghouls, so I hope you (yes, you) can make it.  It's pretty much open invitation as long as we know you to some degree & you aren't an asshole.  Assholes will be pistol-whipped & used as decoration OR outright chucked from the premises.  Do bring your own brouha.  Please come costumed.  Be ready to cut loose on the Damned Dancefloor. Oct. 27.  209 Victory St.

This week/end will be fun, if not busy.  I've taken off Friday afternoon to go to the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival to see the Renaud Brothers speak about film making and journalism in the world's most dangerous places.  I couldn't tell you why it took Tim Hetherington's getting killed in Libya for it to really sink in the risks these documentarians take to expose what's going on in every corner of the world, especially ones that are extremely dangerous.  He held back on starting a family because of the uncertainty and danger!  It should be an intriguing panel.

Directly after that, I'll be rushing back to NLR to attend a fish fry.  It's not very cool and it's not very hip, but we enjoy sitting down with strangers and having a meal.  I've got two extra tickets if anyone wants to join us.  Proceeds benefit the church's kitchen.  On Saturday, I'm attending a yoga workshop that I have no business attending.  I'm chuckling at myself right now. Why on earth did I sign up for this?  At the time, it wasn't ambition, but a willingness to try something new.  Now, I've got my ever reliable self-doubt weighing me down.  I actually don't have the experience for it.  I'm guess I'm expecting the worst and hoping for the best. I've been assured that I haven't made a mistake, but we will see.  And, finally, if all goes to plan, we will have new insulation installed in the attic.  Exciting, I know.

Hm, what else?

Recently, I've been R A G I N G  because of people who remark on politics so casually and flippantly.  There's usually no regard for others or any thought of what they are actually saying.  With broad, sweeping remarks, they dismiss a lot of people -- people who aren't just like them.  Just because you can't see, feel, or understand the pains, hurt, and needs of others doesn't mean it's not real.  I firmly believe we really need to fortify the separation of church and state.  They've become too entwined and it's no good.  

Politics and religion are things you don't talk about with just anybody, but things have gotten so toxic and downright disgusting that even if you don't actively engage in conversation, it can be delivered right to you in a steaming pile.  I've seen people's property destroyed because they have Candidate A's bumper sticker on their car.  What the hell is that?  That's no way to behave.  It makes me want to take a break from politics, which is really unfortunate because I have a natural, if fatal, attraction to politics and I spend a lot of time keeping up with current events.  I do get a little unhinged when someone who doesn't have but a passing interest, if you can call it that, tries to engage with me.  Well, you can't argue with crazy or with someone who is factually deficient.  I don't even try.  Who has time for that?  Anything short of blatant racism, sexism, or homophobia will slide.  If you're just going to tell me our President is a Muslin, then we're done.  If you're going to call me names, I'm movingon.org.  You get the idea.  I believe in Freedom of Speech and people participating in the process, but I'm really gutted that it's being hijacked and held hostage by people who don't even know what the word (democracy/socialism/capitalism/consumerism/fascism, etc) means.  

One very long exhale.  Pops two aspirin.  I don't even know anymore.  

Felix the Cat Lands On His Feet

excellent...you are so...excellent

This song makes me cheerful.  It's so sweet, and, as house music goes, perfect.

It's You

Well, the rain ruined another weekend of plans.  Arkansas' finest season is turning out to be a wet one.  I did get some good yoga practice in, though.  And I had a really good lunch at Starving Artist Cafe.