Hurricane Halloween

That's basically what's going on outside my bedroom window.

Late last night, we had "driving mist," and this morning, it turned into "Holy Jesus Lord, I'm Not Kidding, You Will Get Soaked To Your Underwear If You Run Out To Check The Mail" torrents of rain. And this afternoon, the tree falling winds started. So, our back yard is totally flooded, we're besieged with wet muddy bassets every couple of hours, it sounds like our house will cave in, we can't open the screen door without it blowing back on us, the lights flicker every 45 minutes, and I'm pretty sure I just now realized I forgot to roll up my driver's side window (whoops).

Among my first world casualties of Hurricane Sandy: my in-office work day, my hair appointment, my now postponed for its 4th week in a row catch up coffee with my friend Jon, and the hour long walk I promised the dogs. I'm pretty sure they're missing that the most, since I flaked on taking them out last night.

Ladies Basset are not amused by the blowing rain

But, on the plus side, I got to work from home, which meant making a plethora of phone calls while sitting in my grundgy pi's and drinking good coffee and watching Dexter. I wish I could work form home every day. I'm way more focused when I'm not directly supervised. Maybe I'm just used to working on my own. But really, I think I just like hanging around in my fat pants.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's exactly it.

Anyway. While working from home makes me miss daily fat pantsification and the oodles of free time, I do like being able to pay my bills. And maybe one day I'll be paying bills and padding my savings account. Or, re-padding it. Or, like, have one again. Sheew.

Anyway (2.0), Miss Thang Sandy was nice enough to give me a nice weekend before she made it rain all up in these parts. While my original plan was to truck down to my friend Kate's family's beautiful farm for a weekend of fall-type activities and a costume party and horses and dogs and friends, I ended up having to work til late on Friday, mostly all day Saturday, and parts of Sunday. But, all was not lost. I did get to go to my friend Sarah and Jeff's Halloween party with Scott and Cindy, where I previewed the only creative costume I've ever come up with: HBO.

flapper outfit: Boardwalk Empire. Fangs: True Blood. Shoulder dragons: Game of Thrones. Badge/holster/bottle of Jameson: The Wire (the holster also held a shiv made from a toothbrush (thanks, Cindy!): Oz. Baseball Bat: East Bound and Down/The Sopranos/Ken Burns. Big Ass High Heels: Sex and the City. Unnecessarily expensive phone, dejectedly bored expression, and needless leggings: Girls.

I AM BLOOD OF THE DRAGON/MOONSHINE WHISKEY/DRUNK IRISH HOMICIDE DETECTIVE

Coming from the girl who dressed as a slight variation of a witch for 16 years, and then as "Devil in a  Blue Dress" for 2 years, I was pretty impressed with myself. And it was fun to get "Oh SHIIIIIT THAT'S AWESOME" looks from people once I explained what I was. And I came in second in the costume contest. So yeah. *adds new achievement to resume*

Scott and Cindy went as Fry and Leela from Futurama:

Among many others, Cousin Eddie and Reagan, and Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega showed up:

And there was even a human centipede sighting: 

I even got one the ladies in costume, Nancy, as my 2nd place trophy:

I'm gonna go ahead and blame this picture on the prop Jameson I drank 

Clearly, it was a totally classy night. And I set my own personal record for wearing 5" heels for almost 2 hours before my feet nearly collapsed. COSTUME DEDICATION--I ALMOST HAVE IT.

Oh, did I mention I missed my life changing hair appointment? Basically, I need a big change. And really, I want to be Adele.

But it might be way too expensive. So we'll have to see.

And the lights have just flickered for 5 minutes straight, so I'm going to leave here and find some candles and vacuum before we go Amish.

Ye Olde Renn Post

Have you been to a Renaissance Festival? Specifically, the Maryland Renaissance Festival? No? Then you're missing out. It's a medieval wonderland filled with street performers, artisan shops, jousting expositions, theater shows, mazes, slides, awesome food, elephant rides, and more corseted and pantalooned figures than you can shake a meat skewered stick at. 

I've only been a few times, but I this year's trip was especially memorable (and not just because I was wearing the coolest, most appropriate hat ever.) 

we ran into Bo and Daron! yay!

so much foods on sticks

macaroni and cheese on a stick

it was delicious

Mel and Phil and the Lady and the Tramp jumbo turkey leg maneuver

Sir Bo-Clops tries to cut a short cut through the maze

camel

a little known fact about Mel's boyfriend Phil is that he used to be a King at Medieval Times. I make him recite his King's dialogue in his King's voice whenever I see him. It's impressive.

so super serious. for serious.

2 girls, 1 knight

Mary with Matt, her and Lance's metal-smith friend who made Lance's wedding ring

Mary's new favorite key chain

It's a blast and a half. Get thee to the Fair!

Bill Purray, dog-cat

Bill Purray doesn't realize he's a cat. He chases and snaps at the other cats in the house, curls up with the dogs, jumps up on me like a dog when I walk into my room, and plays fetch and tug-a-war. And he plays hard with his toys.

So after he decimated the 5th dangly-cat toy I got him, I decided it, f--it, I'm just buying him a dog toy.

Success! He drags it around with him everywhere, and sleeps with it at night. It absolutely reminds me of our old dog, Joey, with his toys.

DONT YOU DARE LOOK AT ME

Thank you, squeaky raccoon thingy. Bill Purray loves you.

Gainesville, aka The Mouth of Hell

I managed to get some pictures of the ominous storm that brewed up on Monday. I'm not one to sit around staring at and photographing clouds, but these looked especially menacing.

And after it looked like Revelations from Gainesville to Herndon, it rained gently for 10 minutes and stopped. Go figure, Virginia.