Before the Storms Came

Began the morning with breakfast and Sheriff Callie's Wild West. "The Great Halloween Robbery" has bandits stealing a giant jack o'lantern full of treats for the entire town. Sheriff Callie, Deputy Peck, and Toby have to search a corn maze for the thieves and the loot. Peck's story of "The Ghost of Scary Prairie" is fictional, but Toby and many of the townspeople think it's real. The duo really get carried away when they see what they think is a ghost riding across the plains and go after it.

Speaking of scary, I learned at work today that not all scares are the fun Halloween kind. About an hour from the end of my shift, I overheard a co-worker doubled over in stomach pain and fever. She was really upset! I looked up her symptoms. They had to send the paramedics for her. She was sitting up when they took her out and looked better, but the head manager said they took her anyway as a precaution. 

Otherwise, this was a pretty quiet morning. Between the cool, windy, cloudy weather and it being close to the end of the month, we just weren't that busy. Most people will probably come later next month, when they start thinking of Thanksgiving. I had no trouble anywhere, including with the carts.

Put on The Halloween Tree while eating lunch when I got home. This 1993 animated version of the Ray Bradbury novel has Bradbury himself narrating the tale of four kids, three boys dressed as a skeleton, a mummy, and a monster, and a feisty girl in a witch costume, who follow their ghostly friend Pip to a spooky tree filled with Jack o'lanterns on Halloween night. The owner of the tree and pumpkin, Mr. Moundshroud (Leonard Nimoy), insists on them following the Pip through 3,000 years of Halloween tradition and horror history, from mummies and leaving food out for spirits in Egypt, to witches and Celtic festivals in Ireland, to gargoyles at Notre Dame in France, to the modern Mexican Day of the Dead celebration. 

Surprisingly sweet look at Halloween history that doesn't get discussed as often as similar traditions for Christmas. I love how devoted to Pip the kids are. They literally follow him through history to help him and won't let Moundshround hurt him once they figure out what he's up to. Charming animated film well worth watching with your kids during October, especially if they have any interest in horror or Halloween itself.

Hurried out to the Thomas Sharp School even before the movie ended. The kids were still pretty rowdy today. I'm glad we were able to get them outside for a little while despite the wind and chill. I don't think we'll be going outside tomorrow! It's supposed to pour all day. I chased the kids around, chuckled as an older boy hid from an energetic younger one, and chatted with the boy and some of the younger girls. We ended up going in early when it it started raining, and I spent the remaining time coloring and working on an artwork of Maple embracing Victor while Pavla fumes in her wedding gown and the enchanted deer Betty looks on. (Betty was supposed to have been Walter the Bear, but like I told the kids, I don't draw animals well.) (Oh, and incidentally, the rain stopped as soon as it started. It was just cold and windy again when I rode home.)

Switched to Young Frankenstein when I got home and while I ate dinner. Fredrick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) travels to Transylvania after he inherits his grandfather's castle. He's not proud of his family's ghoulish legacy, until he discovers his grandfather's private laboratory and wonders if the old man had something after all. He and his assistant Igor (Marty Feldman) find the appropriate massive body, but Igor's mistake with brains leaves the monster (Peter Boyle) less-than-brilliant. Fredrick manages to calm him, until his housekeeper Frou Blucker (whinny) (Cloris Leachman) releases him. Now the monster is running loose and the Inspector (Kenneth Mars) and the townspeople are screaming for both their heads. Not to mention, Fredrick has to figure out what to do about his prim fiancee Elizabeth (Madeline Khan) when he's courting his female assistant Inga (Terri Garr). 

This has been a favorite in my family for as long as I can remember. We're not the only ones who love it, either. Apparently, the cast enjoyed making it so much, they added extra scenes just to keep going! One of Mel Brooks' best movies is highly recommended for fans of Brooks or the cast, those who prefer their scares on the mild side like I do, or families with older kids who'll get a kick out of the horror spoof.

Worked on Maplepunzel for the rest of the night. The moon's glow on the last remaining mirror shard restores everyone to their human forms. The citizens of Hope Springs turn back into humans, including court musicians Eugenia and Mr. Foley. Hilary turns back into her regal self, and she helps Jeff from the mirror. Betty becomes a human again as well and runs to Scott's arms. Hilary haughtily admits that Scott is more than worthy of her ward, while Victor adds that he understands if Betty is no longer interested in their engagement.

Finished the night with two vintage sitcom Halloween and horror episodes as the rain started to come down much harder. We're not the only one having storms close to Halloween. It's "A Dark and Stomy Night" on Silver Spoons. When a storm knocks out the power, Edward insists that Ricky and his friends tell a round-robin ghost story. The boys really get into the tale the concoct, about three brave lads who are stranded in a strange mansion owned by a mad scientist (Edward), a pretty lady (Kate), and a very polite monster (Dexter).

The cops on Barney Miller are dealing with something much scarier than Halloween. Swine flu has decimated the police force, and they've been working nonstop for over 24 hours. Wojo is afraid of needles and tries to avoid the nurse giving them shots, while Harris flirts with her. Barney has his hands full dealing with an elderly couple visiting New York who were robbed by a cab driver and a man who thinks he turns into a "Werewolf" during the full moon.