Happy Halloween!

Flash off for Pumpkins on The Wall.

There was a heavier focus on Halloween and all things macabre this year at MZ HQ. For Starters, lot's of scary movies, including my new favorite "Count Yorga, Vampire" aka "The Many Loves of Count Yorga."



Yorga is classic gothic 70's vampire shtick. Star Robert Quarry can go from smooth to creepy in a flash, and I like how there is no need to explain his presence amongst the swinging So Cal hipster scene he decides to exploit. There is no explanation for any of this, really. It's some of the most ridiculous stuff I've seen in years, but sufficiently ghoulish. I can't comment on the Actors double chin in the sequel, since along with watching scary movies I've also been eating too much candy.



This year I was blessed with of those rare opportunities to enhance two young peoples lives in untold ways, forever. My nephew and niece had never heard of "Devils' Night" and, apparently, neither have some of the more recent transplants to the greater Pittsburgh Metro Area, so I will summarize; Devil's Night occurs the night before Halloween, or in some cases the night before trick or treating, and basically involves various levels of harassing ones neighbors, usually for not passing out candy the year before. Kids around this region are encouraged to engage in this behavior on this annual occasion. Naturally, my 8 year old nephew and 6 year old niece loved the idea, so I started them of with "Tic Tacking" aka ringing the door bell and running, and gradually worked them up to throwing a rock through a kitchen window. What a great tradition, terrorizing the neighborhood!



Passing out candy was more fun this year due to a seasonal itunes playlist, and most importantly, colored lights. Colored lights can transform a space and should be employed at every legitimate occasion. This year I used the lighting color to enhance my costume. I enhanced my awareness by drinking several beers and eating entirely too much candy. Not enough kids do this anymore. We used to have to line up at every house and then return home to unload the 10lb pillow case from our FIRST trip. The good thing about fewer kids trick or treating is more candy for me.





I wish I had my camera! I stumbled upon a new cornstalk maze. Not a very large maze, but fun, and always a little bit creepy thanks to that Stephen King movie.



"That pumpkin is weird. Hey, what's that sound?"