Thursday, October 05, 2006

Halloween tagging -- no eggs involved

Doctor Anonymous tagged me with a Halloween-themed 'meme'. Of course, tagging me is probably not all that difficult to accomplish: Not only am I a Curmudgeon, I'm pretty slow-moving besides.

I haven't been big on tagging or being tagged: Seems an awful lot like answering Interrogatories to me. On the other hand, I could prepare answers to these just-for-fun Interrogatories... or real ones. (Imagine a very short moment in time elapsing here.) OK, let's get started:

1. What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?
This is a tricky question. I was so scared by The Birds that I never got all the way through it. Still haven't, in fact. Can you believe that this movie was shown at a day camp when I was a kid? (Neither can I.) I believe the last horror movie I actually paid money to see in the theatre was The Omen -- and, no, not the remake earlier this year. The 1976 original, with Gregory Peck.

I tell the kids I don't need to go to a movie to be scared. I just need to look in my checkbook.

2. What was your favorite Halloween Costume from childhood?
I can't remember. But Long Suffering Spouse and I did attend costume parties back in the days BC (meaning "Before Children" -- please, I'm not that old). I remember I was proud of a Mr. Spock costume I put together. In my imagination I looked something like the picture above. In reality? Well, that's what recollection is for.

And there was a year when LSS and I were still dating that we rented costumes, a George and Martha Washington thing. I didn't get the wig then. (I could probably use it now.... *sigh*).

3. If you had an unlimited budget, what would your Fantasy Costume be for this Halloween?
Bill Gates, Donald Trump -- or maybe Warren Buffet (see left). But the disguise would have to be good enough to fool their respective bankers. Then I'd withdraw a large sum of money... and I'd get away with it too because the disguise would be so good and I'd never tell a soul.

Oh, wait....

4. When was the last time you went Trick Or Treating?
For my own account? Probably *gulp* about 40 years ago. Oh, that can't be right....

5. What's your favorite Halloween Candy?
Yes. "Yes" is what my father would say when asked if he'd like apple or pumpkin pie. Seems appropriate here, too. But nothing with marshmellows or creamy fillings. Or razor blades.

When the kids were little, it was my job to insure the safety of their candy by eating as much of it myself as I could get away with. No burden too big to bear, no sacrifice too great... these are my mottos....

6. Tell us about a scary nightmare you had.
Answering Interrogatory No. 4, supra.

7. What is your Supernatural Fear?
That God doesn't have a sense of humor. Or that He finds mine objectionable.

8. What is your Creepy-Crawlie Fear?
All of them. Perhaps that makes me a wimp. I prefer to think I'm just cautious.

But what I fear most of all is when Long Suffering Spouse senses that there's a mouse in the house. Because then the air is electric with tension until the poor unfortunate rodent is caught and killed. And it's very, very noisy when this happens. And, trust me, LSS knows when there's a mouse in the house. But those are stories for another time. (While you wait, you can always review this very funny story by cmhl. But LSS is even more fiercely opposed to the presence of even the smallest mouse than cmhl was to the presence of that small snake. LSS isn't scared, though, not exactly -- very jumpy, yes, but she is also determined. Insistent. No mouse would have a chance.)

9. Tell us about a time when you saw a ghost, or heard something go Bump in the night.
I'm of Irish descent -- so I'm pretty certain the boundary between this world and the next is permeable. But I can't think of any specific time -- right now -- when I've been visited.

But I can give you a ghost story, sort of: Every year there is a list published in the papers of "the most haunted" cemeteries in America. Last year, Oldest Son was invited to go on a road trip to one such place: Well, it's isolated, you know, in the middle of nowhere. Small. And old. And Oldest Son was interested... until he realized that this was where his grandparents (my parents) are buried.

10. Would you ever stay in a real Haunted House overnight?
Not if I knew it was haunted first.

11. Are you a traditionalist (just a face) Jack O'Lantern Carver, or do you get really creative with your pumpkins?
I'm left-handed and a tad uncoordinated, so I'm lucky if I can carve out even a traditional face.

12. How much do you decorate your home for Halloween?
Not as much as for Christmas. A lot more than we do for Arbor Day.

13. What do you want on your Tombstone?
Vacancy.
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Now, I have a question for Dr. A.

He runs this picture of Bertie Wooster on his blog, but I see no homage to P.G. Wodehouse anywhere.

And such an unflattering picture, too. Bertie looks as though he's spent a fortnight at the Drones Club. I can't imagine Jeeves allowing such a photograph to be circulated. Aunt Agatha would be positively aghast if she saw this image. What's going on here, Doc?

At right we see a picture of Bertie Wooster and the incomparable Jeeves in happier days. Or at least on a day when Bertie is more properly attired.

Actually, the look on Wooster's face suggests that he's receiving bad news. Is this when he finds out about the picture you're running, Doc?

11 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

first, i fixed Blogosphere, thank you very much.

second, this is a GREAT blog! late but great. (may be your best)

now, please don't make me wait so long next time. is work getting in your way?

bee

Dr. A said...

Actually, in this picture, Bertie was just told he had some bad spinach. That's why he looks to thrilled. HA!

Thanks for being a good sport. I wanted to be Mr. Spock for Halloween once, but mom wouldn't let me. Oh well...

Mother Jones RN said...

Hi there:

Doc A mentioned your blog, so I thought I'd stop by.
I always wanted to be Nurse Chapel for Halloween.

Great blog. I'll be back.

Patry Francis said...

The Birds completely traumatized me as a young girl.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Great answers; you look a lot like Mr Spock in that picture.

Whatever has happened to poor Mr Wooster? Send for Jeeves. What would Aunt Agatha say?

The Curmudgeon said...

bee -- oddly enough work is getting in the way. For some reason this blogging gig does not cover the rent or groceries or tuition or... so even though I'd rather be here, I have a pile of paper that is just calling my name.

dr. a -- Jeeves would never have served Bertie any bad spinach. Far too great a fish-eating brain to fall for that. No, I think it must be that scandalous picture you're running of him.

mother jones -- welcome. I do hope you'll stop by again. Re Nurse Chapel: I just loved all the women's uniforms on the original series -- before I even understood why.

patry -- I'm serious about The Birds: It was TCM or something and I couldn't stay in the room. I did however get through the Animaniac's spoof of the movie.

Capatin -- yes, come to think of it, I do look a lot like Spock in that picture. Thanks.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

work getting in the way again??? (she taps her foot three times and crosses her arms)

thanks for the great comment today. very nice of you......bee

MM said...

I enjoyed your list, as well!! Loved the Vacancy comment :)


Thanks for your comment to one of my posts. It is good to know that someone reads the nurses notes (and for legal purposes.. haha, which is why we write them)!

Anonymous said...

I'm giggling hysterically and my own version of the not-so-LSS (we've been married less than a year, he hasn't had time to really suffer yet) is looking at me like I've lost my mind. I don't DARE explain to him the reason I find your blog so funny is that he's going to be JUST LIKE YOU in about twenty years. (Ok, minus the career in law, but other than that...)
"Who in the heck ARE you?!?", you're probably thinking right about now...Well, I got here courtesy of Empress Bee *curtsies in the Empress's general direction*, and now I'm going to steal Dr. A's Halloween meme for my own blog.
We're also "neighbors", my own version of the not-so-LSS (who currently thinks I'm a little cracked and is probably wondering what he got himself into) and I live about two hours from Chicago. I must admit though, I'm a relative newcomer to the area, having moved from Texas (it's a whole other country), less than two years ago. I find snow enchanting, however...until I have to DRIVE on it! My not-so-LSS, however, was raised on the South Side (Go SOX!), so we have some very interesting cultural differences going on.
I must say I hope work does not continue to get in your way, and that you post regularly, because I'm having a ball reading your archives, but they'll only keep me busy for so long, and then I plan to join the Empress in nagging you to post!

cmhl said...

EXCELLENT answers to the interrogatories!

Although, you have outed yourself, you know. Now longer will the collective "we" see you as the brave, bristling, indignant Atticus Finch-type fighting for the rights of the poor and oppressed (wrongful DEATH!!!), but rather moreso as an irish-catholic (guessing here) softy that can get easily spooked, but will still hunt down the rogue mouse for his long-suffering spouse..

I think the scariest movie in my memory would be Blair Witch Project. Admittedly, I watch any type of scary movie solely through my fingers as they are covering my eyes. THIS movie however, was a little much for a spooky irish lass such as myself. I had to get up and rush out of the theater in horror, and then proceeded to peruse the snack bar for about 30 minutes before returning.

*end hogging comments section*

Smalltown RN said...

Ok....I have to add you to my blog roll.....Irish, left handed, love Bertie....do you think we could be related???

Hope you have a grand day....you certainly started mine off to a great start.

Cheers