Happy Halloween!!

This time of year always reminds me of when I saw one of the scariest movies that I can remember.

It was called

HALLOWEEN


with a new actress named Jaime Lee Curtis. I don't remember the name of the actor who played opposite of her. But I DO remember his name in the movie.

MICHAEL MYERS

This movie came out in 1978.


It set the bar for how scary movies SHOULD be made, as far as I'm concerned. There wasn't too much blood and guts. There was more scary scenes like Michael wearing the mask and peering in the window: Or jumping out at people.

Let me set it up for you. My friends and I decided to see this movie at the show. First we went out to dinner after work, then to a small movie theater in Chicago that we had never been to, in a neighborhood some of us were not familiar with. Why, I am not sure. It was Fall, of course, so it was dark by the time we went to the show. We got into the theater and sat down. I can't remember if there were three or four of us. Anyway, the movie started and got our attention right off the bat. The music alone got my heart rate going. For some reason, I STILL don't know why, I happened to glance back at the man sitting behind me on my left. He had a HOOK arm. I almost wet my pants. I continued to glance back at him throughout the movie and thought, "If this guy puts that hook on my shoulder I will SCREAM!" I really was kind of frightened of him. It's not too often that you see someone with a hook for a hand; let alone while watching a scary movie!

At one point in the movie my friend Chris leaned over and whispered, "Why is it so dark?" (talking about the movie). Suddenly Michael Myers jumped out of the darkness wielding his big butcher knife and shoved it in some kid's chest, nailing him 6 inches off the ground to the laundry room wall.

"THAT'S WHY!!" I whispered back.

We had a good laugh about that later, but at the time it scared the bejesus out of us!

After the movie was over we hurried to my friend's car, climbed in, and, you guessed it....her car wouldn't start. Well, now I was having visions of ole hook arm coming after us! Luckily my other friend Teresa called up her boyfriend to come look at the car. It didn't take him too long to get there, which was good because if memory serves me right, the theater closed and we were left all alone in the parking lot. It was a LIT-TLE SCARY.

So seeing Halloween on the big screen, the man with the hook arm, and the car breaking down in a strange neighborhood, all left a scary impression on me.

I will NOT watch scary movies on my own. I used to go to the show with my scary-movie-watcher-friend, Jan, but sadly she passed away suddenly, 2 years ago. She would get a kick out of me screaming in the theater, hitting her, or holding her hand during the scary scenes. Why would I subject myself to that?

I don't know. Just crazy, I guess.

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Watch a clip......if you DARE!

Flea Market Finds

A couple of weekends ago I went to a local flea market with my sisters and husband. It was hot and sticky out.

This flea market had everything imaginable. Old things, new things, junk, food, toys, furniture, etc. We didn't even walk through the whole thing.

Here are just a few of the treasures or oddities that caught my eye.

I just love these blue painted chairs.



I don't know how comfortable they would be, but that is my favorite color of blue!

Look at this old table/drawers. Just think of all the things you could keep in them!



These glass bottles called to me, standing there so pretty all in a row, with the sun glistening off their different shapes.





Here are some old canned goods.



I wonder if they were for real or if the labels were reproduced and just stuck on new cans. I didn't pick up a can to see if they were empty or not. Hmmm......

Some people are just so crafty. Just look at what they did with this old step ladder.



Right next to it was this old high chair. Another beauty!



Here are some old chairs just begging to be bought and refinished. I was surprised to see that the one on the left was actually a rocking chair with no arms.



I stumbled across this box of troll dolls. Remember these? These came out when I was young, but then didn't they reappear in the 90's? I wonder when these are from - back when or "way back when"?



We found this old rag doll. Can you read what's printed on her apron? Click to enlarge the photo.



But here's the REAL DEAL Raggedy Ann. Did you have one growing up? I did. Look at that price! $85.00!



But I have something to show you that's even pricier than that doll. These two dolls cost $150 each. And they are "U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi, you're UGLY". They MUST be antiques for that price. They were very heavy, too.

Meet Ugly Baby #1



And Ugly Baby #2



True, Ugly Baby #2 isn't as bad as Ugly Baby #1, but still *shudder*. Could be "Chuckie's" spawn.



Speaking of scary, remember these old Halloween costumes?



I thought this looked like Kathie Lee Gifford at first.



But I see on the side of the box that it says, "Cinderella". Oh.

This is the kind of costume we used to wear as kids, right? Bought them at the Five and Dime Store or K-Mart. Consisted of a plastic mask and a one piece cheap costume. We were LUCKY if we got this. Otherwise we went as a bum and burn a cork to rub all over our face. Whoop-dee-do. Kids nowadays go trick-or-treating in these elaborate costumes. Yeah right. They have no idea. But again, we used to go out for hours carrying a pillow case and come back home with it filled with candy. Now parents are too afraid to send kids more than a couple houses away for fear someone will put pins or a razor blade in their candy. So I guess it's a trade off. Shitty costume/great amounts of candy or fantastic costume/handful of candy. Yep. We had it better.

For all you Parrot Heads out there - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere!



These are original Tinker Toys in the original container for $20.



Look at this old-fashioned pull toy. I just love it!



You saw all those wonderful things above, and might be wondering just what exactly I bought.

Well, none of the above.

Not that I didn't want to, mind you.

Space is an issue, of course.

So this is what I did buy.

I bought this nice travel bag for $10.



It's a Vera Bradley knock-off. The real thing would cost me anywhere from $69-$92. Granted, it would be a little nicer, but for $10, this one will do!

My other great find is.......

Are you ready?

Don't be jealous now.....

Scroll down......










"Say what? A bowl full of smiles," You ask?

Oh, no, my friend. Not just a bowl full of smiles.

You see, these smiles squirt.

Oh yes they do.

There's a tiny hole right by their smile. So, you squeeze the ball, submerge it in water, let the ball fill up with water, then fire away. The guy at the flea market said that they shoot up to 20 feet!

I know. I am a sucker.

Why do I have a bowl full of them? 25 to be exact? Well, in a couple of weeks we leave for our annual camping trip with Jim's family. I usually try to bring something goofy (besides ourselves) to entertain the troops. What sounds like more fun than smiley squirt guns.

But wait. There's more.

I opened up a new box of Honey Nut Cheerios and guess what was inside?



That right there is a Fiona (from Shrek) squirter. See the hole in her little crown? Oh yes boys and girls, Patty's got herself a SPECIAL shooter.

So here's Fiona and the boys. Notice how some of the smileys turned around to smile at the Queen.



Oh, yeah. The guy who sold me these also suggested that I could wash these out and fill them with, let's say, liquor. Then we'd have "shooters" all right! (Although I don't see the need to wash them out - won't the alcohol kill all the germs?)