The Halloween Thread

[IsaacNewton]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

 

[Dekster]

It is on a Monday this year so that sucks. Better when it falls on a weekend, especially Saturday, and you have the day to get properly ghouled up.

 

[IsaacNewton]

Yeah weekend Halloweens are much better. It's like a Wednesday 4th of July. WTH.

Of course people still have the Friday/Saturday Halloween parties where all the women dress up as French Maid, or Naughty Nurse.

 

[OldLady]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

If you like Halloween, you should try to visit Salem, Mass in October. It's fun. Besides the real witches.

 

[IsaacNewton]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

If you like Halloween, you should try to visit Salem, Mass in October. It's fun. Besides the real witches.

Does the town go all out? And aren't there supposed to be some haunted buildings there? I would think Salem Massachusetts would be witch central. I will have to put it on the list when I travel east to visit relatives.

 

[Katzndogz]

I love Halloween and I don't personally celebrate any holidays. To me, the Holy Grail of Halloween has got to be Sleepy Hollow New York.

 

[IsaacNewton]

I love Halloween and I don't personally celebrate any holidays. To me, the Holy Grail of Halloween has got to be Sleepy Hollow New York.

Wait that is a real place? I thought it was just a story thought up by Hollywood. So is the headless horseman story from Sleepy Hollow?

 

[Katzndogz]

I love Halloween and I don't personally celebrate any holidays. To me, the Holy Grail of Halloween has got to be Sleepy Hollow New York.

Wait that is a real place? I thought it was just a story thought up by Hollywood. So is the headless horseman story from Sleepy Hollow?

The Washington Irving story actually took place in Tarrytown. A few years ago Sleepy Hollow split itself off from Tarrytown so yes it's a real place. They go all out for Halloween.

 

[Katzndogz]

Just for you.

Sleepy Hollow NY |

 

[IsaacNewton]

Just for you.

Sleepy Hollow NY |

Wow thanks for the link, there is a whole story about a man named Slidell McKenzie who was captain of a ship and he had three young men of his crew hanged at sea for mutiny. Later in his life at age 45 he died while out riding his horse and it returned home with him still in the saddle. Good lord there is some truth to this myth. Another town to put on the itinerary when I go back east.

 

[OldLady]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

If you like Halloween, you should try to visit Salem, Mass in October. It's fun. Besides the real witches.

Does the town go all out? And aren't there supposed to be some haunted buildings there? I would think Salem Massachusetts would be witch central. I will have to put it on the list when I travel east to visit relatives.

We happened to be in Boston on a weekend in October and made a day trip there. It happened to be during a "festival" and there was a big parade late in the afternoon that anyone in a costume could participate in. It was great--people took their costumes very seriously. Be forewarned: traffic had ground to a literal standstill by midafternoon. We were marooned on a tour bus for so long getting back from another part of town that we ran out of time to see some things we wanted. But it was definitely worth the trip. And you can get your palm read, your Tarot done, meet real witches.

 

[IsaacNewton]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

If you like Halloween, you should try to visit Salem, Mass in October. It's fun. Besides the real witches.

Does the town go all out? And aren't there supposed to be some haunted buildings there? I would think Salem Massachusetts would be witch central. I will have to put it on the list when I travel east to visit relatives.

We happened to be in Boston on a weekend in October and made a day trip there. It happened to be during a "festival" and there was a big parade late in the afternoon that anyone in a costume could participate in. It was great--people took their costumes very seriously. Be forewarned: traffic had ground to a literal standstill by midafternoon. We were marooned on a tour bus for so long getting back from another part of town that we ran out of time to see some things we wanted. But it was definitely worth the trip. And you can get your palm read, your Tarot done, meet real witches.

Cool. I know a few people that consider themselves witches and they are just normal people. Who put spells on you. LOL No they don't do spells as far as I know. I'll have to do some searching, I'm guessing Salem has a lot of houses or buildings that are considered haunted. While I don't believe in ghosts I like to go through these places anyway. Maybe a chair will fly across the room at you!

 

[QuickHitCurepon]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

I had a talking zombie on my lawn once.

 

[IsaacNewton]

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never - nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore:
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

- Edgar Allan Poe -

 

[QuickHitCurepon]

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Silkworms burrow in but never come out.

Haven't you ever camped up against a silk tree?

I have.

Those nettles fall forever. Do you have your broom? I do. Time to fly!

 

[IsaacNewton]

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Silkworms burrow in but never come out.

Haven't you ever camped up against a silk tree?

I have.

Those nettles fall forever. Do you have your broom? I do. Time to fly!

The time to fly is approaching fast, with all on Hallow's Eve aghast!

 

[Jarlaxle]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

If you like Halloween, you should try to visit Salem, Mass in October. It's fun. Besides the real witches.

Does the town go all out? And aren't there supposed to be some haunted buildings there? I would think Salem Massachusetts would be witch central. I will have to put it on the list when I travel east to visit relatives.

It is commonly called "witch city".

 

[rightwinger]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

Love Halloween...best thing next to Christmas

My house last year

 

[Auld Phart]

Spirit halloween store, which is entirely seasonal and only shows up before halloween each year has opened already here. There are a number of buildings within a mile of each other nearby and they are alternatively occupied or empty as businesses come and go and Spirit has set up in an empty one for the last 6 years or so.
I enjoy this shop, they always have the newest displays with life-size zombies crawling out of graves or giant spiders climbing over tombstones, and a million and one costumes to choose from. As well as endless smaller skulls and eyeballs and fake teeth, blood, etc.

Great to watch kids in the store that are really scared of the displays.

Anyone else like Halloween? I think this is too early but eh, it's Halloween not Christmas.

Love Halloween...best thing next to Christmas

Reminds me of one of the Isaac Isamov "Stories of the Black Widowers" from years ago.

Christmas and Halloween are equal

base of 10---31
base of 12---25

 

[QuickHitCurepon]

She has gone way overboard on her costume. lol