Meow! It's "National Black Cat Day"

James Dean

With a scant 4 more days until Halloween, how fitting that today is National Black Cat Day...Meow! 

So I let my fingers hit the keyboard and Google the WWW and what to my wandering eyes did appear but a pictorial to honor Halloween of Black Cats and their celebrity owners. One in partik stood out, well a few actually did but this one popped a little more.

Behold the beauty of James Dean and his Black Cat, oh, and there's also a table involved too, for good measure (I guess.)

For those of you reading this who don't know who James Dean is, and I am sure there are a few. First of all take the Walk of Shame and then do a Google search. You'll thank me, trust...

Seeing James and his pussy takes me back to a simpler time, also a time in Hollywood that will never come back. "Yes" Virginia all the glamour is gone, but legends live on!

Go Black Cat or go home! Have you cleaned the litter box?! 

James on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean  

"Familiar Faces"

Los Angeles Singer-Songwriter Drew Aron

Releases Debut EP Familiar Faces
Collected Observations of an Ex-twenty-something Artist
On Elegant Regrets Music

1st Single, “Running,” out October 2
2nd Single, “Sugar Maple,” out October 23
Full Familiar Faces EP out on November 13, 2020

Drew Aron, one-time classical guitarist turned folky singer-songwriter, will release his debut EP, Familiar Faces, on Elegant Regrets Music on November 13, 2020. In advance of the EP, Aron will put out two singles along with videos for each. “Running,” the first single, came out on October 2, and “Sugar Maple,” out on October 23. Familiar Faces will also have a video release. For more information please visit
https://www.drewaron.com.

Aron’s songs, while simple on the surface, reveal many layers upon closer listening and understanding of the artist’s journey through making and releasing this EP. The moving seven-song Familiar Faces has been building over the last five years, when Aron began writing songs again after a long period of focusing on a career as a classical guitarist. Inspired by fellow musicians who were working on telling their own stories and making their own albums, Aron abandoned the classical music path and started to work on telling his own musical story.

While not necessarily a “concept” EP, Familiar Faces is the collected observations of an artist, also in recovery, trying to find his way amid the ups and downs (and laughter mixed with tears) as a creative soul in the City of Angels. The songs began as scribbles that Aron never thought he’d release for public consumption, penned between health food store and food delivery shifts. Aron’s friend K.C. Maloney (aka Adult Karate) encouraged him to develop his songs more seriously into a solo project, and this nudge inspired Aron to continue writing and honing his day-to-day observations and experiences into wry, folky musical nuggets of truth. A lover of ‘60s and ‘70s folksters like Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, and Gene Clark, he hoped his sound would be more tongue-in-cheek, but as you’ll hear, Aron’s music is often heartachingly earnest, something he himself has found surprising. He says of his songs, “It goes in one way and comes out another. That’s what I find I love the most about the process.”

                                                              "Sugar Maple"

The recording of Familiar Faces was an organic process that took about two years. Aron recorded much of the EP in his bedroom, and used a neighbor’s house as well when roommates were too noisy. This is a true slice of modern life, right down to the recording process, and over time some of the songs were reworked from wherever they started to the mature songwriting voice you hear on the finished EP. “Each song was recorded at a different stage of development,” Aron says, “so I feel that, aside from the lyrical content, each song also tells the story of where I was with my singing voice, how ‘country’ or ‘folk’ I wanted to be. There’s a wonderful conflict in the EP because, at first, I didn’t intend the recordings to all be put out together.”

Once Familiar Faces had taken shape, Aron worked with his friend Dash Hutton to add some drum tracks, and Adaline (frequent Adult Karate collaborator) to bring in some vocal harmonies. Limited time and resources dictated Familiar Faces’ uncomplicated arrangements, allowing Aron’s folky voice and heartfelt lyrics to shine through. After years playing classical music, the artist finds himself at home in the refreshing simplicity of his new identity as a singer-songwriter. Aron sums Familiar Faces up best: “I don’t see this EP as a singular statement, or some sort of way to establish a new artist identity for myself. It is, quite literally, a record of me finding my own voice through music.”  

Only 9 Days Left...VOTE!

What She's Saying
Lizzo 

With only 9 days left Lizzo and Myself are here to remind you to VOTE!!!

Lizzo recently greeted supporters at an event for the Biden-Harris presidential campaign in Detroit, MI. With a mask sporting the word VOTE. Are you sensing a theme in today's post? Good, that's the whole point of it, VOTE!

What's that? Have I voted? Why "yes" I have, weeks ago I filled out my ballot and put it in a drop box. Then I tracked it, and got a text a week later saying my VOTE had been received and counted. Best text I got all month.

So if you haven't made your voice heard what are you waiting for?!?! I asked you tell me and tell me now, or better yet get out and VOTE!

Voter information at:

https://www.vote.org/  

Go Horror or Go Home! With Author M. E. Franco

Jack Skellington Says: "Eat Me!"
M.E. Franco

Alright Minions, it's here. Every Halloween Season I get with M.E. Franco author of the popular supernatural Dion book series and ask ten questions about our favorite time of year. It's our Halloween tradition, what's yours?!

MS: OK, let's start off by addressing the elephant in the room. On a scale of 1 - 10, how bummed are you that we have to wait until next year to see Halloween Kills?   

ME: I was so disappointed. I didn’t realize how much I was looking forward to it until it got postponed. By the looks of the trailer, I think it’s going to be worth the wait though!

MS: Which female horror icon is your Woman Crush?  

ME: Kate Beckinsale as Selene in the Underworld movies. More action than horror, but she was mesmerizing. 

Marie Laveau's Resting Place 

MS: Name your favorite cemetery that you have visited. 

ME: I was actually able to do a tour of the cemeteries in New Orleans. It was really interesting to see the crypts that they use, since they can’t bury people underground.  Cemetery #1, where Marie Laveau is entombed, was probably my favorite. Would have loved to go back there after dark. 

 

Regan MacNeil

MS: You have three doors to choose from, door number one has Pennywise behind it. Door number two has Regan MacNeil (in her possessed state) behind it. Door number three has Donald Trump behind it, which door would you choose and why? 

ME: Door number three because I could totally take him in a fight.

The Book That Started It All...

MS: Any plans to do a fourth Dion book?   

ME: I hadn’t planned to initially. I did write a few chapters for fun, but I didn’t really have a plot. I eventually came up with an interesting idea for a story line, but finding the time to write is tough.

MS: Spill on what you consider the lamest costume you have worn for Halloween.  

ME: One year I was really busy, and Halloween was on a weekday, so I actually wore one of those lame shirts that say “This is my costume.” 

MS: The Tell-Tale Heart is under your floorboard, what do you do?   

ME: Time to move!! Don’t want to get caught.

Seance, Seance!

MS: Your having the old fashioned version of a Kiki, a Seance. Name three famous people you whose spirits you would call upon to appear, and of course why damn it!   

ME: I’d ask Elvis for a song, Mark Twain for a chat, and Patrick Swayze for a dance.

MS: Losing weight is a bitch. Do you choose a gypsy woman's curse, or blood sucking leeches in your quest to shed pounds?   

ME: After the lockdown pounds, I’d probably be desperate enough for a curse!

MS: OK, last but certainly not least. What are your special plans for everyone's first pandemic Halloween?  

ME: Eat the candy I bought for the kids who can’t trick or treat and look for a good gypsy woman.

Want more M.E.? Of course you do! Get scary with her at:

https://www.facebook.com/MEFrancoAuthor/

https://www.amazon.com/M.-E.-Franco/e/B008NAKQW6

https://twitter.com/mefranco1

https://mefrancoauthor.blogspot.com/?m=0  

Can We Talk? It's National TV Talk Show Host Day

Did you know that with only 8 days left until Halloween that October 23rd is National TV Talk Show Host Day? Why October 23rd may you ask? You may actually, it's in honor of the King of Talk Shows the late Johnny Carson, because it happens to be the date of his birth.

If you don't know who Johnny Carson is, Google him, you are in for a real treat, no tricks. Moving on, also a treat is Drew Barrymore's talk show, called The Drew Barrymore Show, naturally...

"Yes" there are many talk shows, oh so many, I could have chosen to spotlight on this hallowed day, but I chose Drew. Why? Because she is so authentic and enthusiastic on her show, her feel good vibes are quite infectious.

Another reason is, I have encountered Ms. Barrymore off an on throughout the years and she has always been one of the kindest, most genuine people I have ever met. So, yeah I could be somewhat bias, but I do believe if tune in you will be won over by her unique one of a kind energy that is Drew Barrymore.

That's All Folks!

The Drew Barrymore Show on the WWW -

https://www.thedrewbarrymoreshow.com/  

Michael's Musings

Shout at the Devil!
Michael Shinafelt

Hello Minions, here I am representing! "Yes" it's moi in my favorite Halloween costume that I came up with. That's correct my own version of, shall we say, Satan?

It was a big hit the year I wore it, literally, I was packing a riding crop. Ask my boyfriend at the time about that, or not. It's time to crack it either way...

I'll F#cking shred you, you whore! The more you know

What horror movie am I watching tonight? 2020 

Oink Night, getting piggy with it

You're a total Libra? Prove it! 

Vote like you are a fly on Pence's head

Picture yourself on a boat on a river, just do it, and do it now!!!

It's always Halloween in my soul...

That time I quoted a movie and someone asked me if the quote was from Maid in Manhattan, "As If" 

Woman Crush of the Week - Sissy Spacek in Carrie. If you haven't seen this, you're dead to me

I'm so excited for the veil between the living and the dead to reopen for business

Don't make me projectile vomit 

Wouldn't Tom Hardy make a great Dracula? Michael just sayin' 

If you die and you are a ghost, do you still have piercings? Asking for a fiend (not a typo)

Humbled to accept my Noble Prize for my contribution to the culinary world: A three bean salad with stir fried turkey

More fun with food with me here:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

Season of the Witch
Jamie Lee Curtis

With only 10 more days left we have entered the final countdown until Halloween. Thus I thought we would Hump Day & Chill with the Queen of Halloween Jamie Lee Curtis, dressed as one of my favorite seasonal archetypes (other than a Vampire) a Witch!

So here's a Halloween story for you to Hump Day & Chill with. As a Kid I went out Trick or Treating as a Witch, and had mad crushes on Witches in general, pretty ones and green ones with warts.

Well my Dad took me to a Haunted House one year and there were people dressed as various spooky things entertaining people while they waited in line to enter. One woman was dressed as a, you've got it, Witch! 

She was of the green with warts variety. She came up to us I told her I thought she was pretty and asked her if I could give her a kiss. She said "Yes" and thanked me after.

There you have it, now Hump Day & Chill on that for your remaining 10 day countdown!

Mic Drop!!!

Witches on the WWW -

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-witches-video