I read Lisa W. Cantrell's The Manse last October. At first, I thought it was OK but nothing special. But I thought about it often and realized maybe I had enjoyed it more than I had thought. I saw some less than positive reviews on Goodreads, and maybe that changed my opinion; I didn't think the book deserved the hate I was seeing from other readers. So, I began to reread it a week ago. And I enjoyed it again. The story revolves around an old mansion in the center of fake town Merrillville, North Carolina. Each year the town's Jaycees rent the home from the owners and put on a haunted house in the Manse and it's usually a huge hit. The book is from 1986 or 1987 and set in 1985 through 1987, but you wouldn't necessarily notice this while reading. The story is not in your face '80s in any way. I still enjoy this regardless due to its 1980s setting in general. This is the year McDonald's release their Halloween pumpkin pail Happy Meals, after all. This is the ...

McDonald's is an American icon, a symbol of innovation. And today, the Golden Arches are a shadow of its former self. Eating out at McDonald's was something that American families could look forward to for decades. The food was usually inexpensive, and decent for what it was. I've talked about McDonald's nostalgia for a while now, especially in the Halloween season. In the 1970s and through pre-pandemic, McDonald's was a hub for folks to gather and sit and enjoy a meal or dessert together. The Mansard Roof era is the building that most of us Gen Xers and later will undoubtedly remember, and fondly. The Play Place was a revelation! A playground in the middle of a restaurant, c'mon son! That was genius. (Unless you had to clean them on the weekends like I had to...) I had the privilege to work in two different Mansard Roof McDonald's in the '90s. Back then it was nothing special, more a rite of passage and some summer spending money requisite. I bought a l...

Today most of America seems to have forgotten that the venerable jack-o'-lantern is not only an important symbol of Halloween, but also of Thanksgiving. As a kid this icon of Thanksgiving was a decoration you would see in people's yards throughout October and November; through most of autumn. Today you don't see it as much, with folks settling for simple uncarved pumpkins on the steps on the porch, or on bales of hay. I bring this up only because I'd like to see a return to the pumpkin-headed scarecrows staying around for more than one holiday. I'm keeping my jack-o'-lanterns out in the yard and on the porch until the day after Thanksgiving. It's time we keep the pumpkin-head scarecrow around all fall. This is a perfect way to repurpose your jacks into November, instead of letting them get tossed by some teenagers post-All Hollows Eve! However, there is something to be said for rotting jack-o'-lanterns after Halloween that just screams cool. Aging jacks ...

Diagnosis Murder is one of my favorite snuggle beside the fire nostalgia trips to enjoy once in a while, like Murder, She Wrote or Matlock . It has that cozy mystery vibe and it's set at the perfect era - i.e., late 1980s through the 1990s. Actually I think DM ended in the early 2000s... But, anyway. The episode (S2 E13) The Bela Lugosi Blues (1995) was one of the first episodes I watched that turned me on to the show, and that's purely for the vampire story. Plus, Julie Carmen plays the vampire antagonist! Yes, Jerry Dandridge's sister, Regina! Julie plays the undead Moriah Thomas, who is killing most of LA's eligible bachelor's, and Jack could be next! Usually Diagnosis Murder plays things fair and straight, dispelling any notions of fantasy before the shows climax, but with this episode the show leans into the supernatural and doesn't fix it with a bend towards reality. Is Mark hallucinating, high with fever, or dreaming?? None of the above! Th...

  Happy Halloween everybody! I hope it's spooky and fun for all of you! Enjoy this last great day of Halloweentober! Personally, I'm carving one final jack-o-lantern tonight, watching Hocus Pocus, eating pumpkin pie and making some Barmbrack bread! I'll be counting down to next Halloweentober as of tomorrow... I read The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. The first time I read this book, I didn't know what to make of it. But now, I get it. I think it's a beautiful book about life and death, and Halloween. I think I'd read it again one day. It's amazing how, with each Halloween, we add another day - another month - of celebrations to remember and hold near and dear. This holiday gets more special with each passing year, I suppose, because I'm older and wiser and take something from this celebration each time, even as I rewatch the same movies or TV shows or decorate with the same decorations. But it's in the air of autumn itself, and the leaves as they c...

 T and I spent the day off together watching Hysteria on Peacock and carving pumpkins. I do not like to brag, because I do not have a single skill to speak of, but I carved a big boy of a jolly pumpkin yesterday, and I'm proud of this guy. He is awesome. He weighed, sans gutting, about 40 pounds! This is the largest pumpkin I have ever picked up. I love him heartily.