So I decided to get a little motivated this year and carve a pumpkin. I haven't carved one in years. Seeing as I had just seen Where the Wild Things Are and liked it a ton, I decided to go for a Where the Wild Things Are theme. I did some searching for templates, and found a really good one which I am using.

This is the work product so far after just under 10 hours of working on this thing. About 6 hours yesterday, and another 3+ today. I have no special tools -- I am using a normal kitchen knife, for the entire thing with the exception of cutting the top off to gut the squash. I am not cutting all the way through either -- nowhere on the pumpkin have I cut through, again except for the top. I am just carving the outside skin out. It was very difficult getting the light to show up well enough for a photo. I had 4 flashlights inside the pumpkin and it was sitting in my closet with the door completely closed (pitch black) and I finally managed a long exposure shot that does it some justice.

I have just a little bit more to do tomorrow, which is to carve "Max" in. I also want to scrape the insides down some more to get more light to show up. My hand feels crippled and I have cuts all over both hands, but so far it's been worth it. The only real place I fucked up was on one of the feet on the right monster. I have been unbelievably meticulous about it. I mean shit, look at the fine details like the hair on Moishe.

YEAH. When done, I'm going to give the pumpkin to my lady friend!

That's some fine artistry man.
I wish I had talent and time to do something as cool.

awesome!

Fabulous-io!

And with your crippled hand, you can cry about not being able to "handle your bid-niz" for some extra Nookies, eh?

Yep very cool.

Sweet, dude!

Way better than the stupid Obama pumpkins people made last year.

I'm agreeing; nice, Kyle ...

Thanks!

I finished it. Went out and bought some vasoline and smeared a ton of it all over the inside and areas where I carved, because apparently that makes it last longer. I may have carved it too early, but we shall see. Handing it over to my sweetie on Saturday.



My hands will never carve a pumpkin again. I don't even want to look at a fuckin' pumpkin.

Again I find myself approving.
I just saw the film today. It nearly lived up to my extremely unrealistic standards for it. There few things I could find fault with and even fewer that were related to the film itself. I'll credit Spike Jonze with having balls to tackle such a difficult topic. It's not lightly that you take on the reinterpretation of a cherished childhood classic. I'd definitely recommend it.

It was my first book. My mother taught me to read at age 4 so I would have something to do and she wouldn't have to hover over me. but it put me 2+ years ahead of my kindergarten class. At the end of the school year when our teacher handed out gifts, I got "Where The Wild Things Are" and the rest of the kids got rubber stamps and stuffed dogs. So I'll be seeing it soon.

That pumpkin is awesome it's a shame that it'll rot before Halloween.

mini-spoiler alert!




i thought the movie was fantastic, albeit a few touches different from the book. i suppose it's to be expected. it was awesome in imax.

i thought the soundtrack was whimsical and now i get goosebumps if the trailer comes on tv. i absolutely loved the mudfight scene, and my boyfriend's 6 year old was cracking up right along with me when douglas turned up with the stick arm. my eyes welled up at the end. basically i laughed and i cried and i would definitely recommend.

wasn't james gandolfini just perfect for carol? it's funny how close the character is to his tony soprano.

I missed seeing it in IMAX by 10 minutes because the subway trains were running late.
Instead I saw it in a tiny 1-screen theater.
James Gandolfini was pretty good I have to say. The only thing I could find fault with was in the use of common childhood cliches. I'm not saying I can think of a better way to have done it, but the part of the film I found the most abrasive was the "Small is good, my powers are able to slip through the cracks" scene where Max engages in a bit of imaginative one-upsmanship with the Wild Things. The one-upsmanship part is such a cliche of how adults imagine that children are supposed to act that it bugged me a bit. Apart from that, though, the only thing that bugged me were the assholes in the theater. I really think it was an excellent film.

The film is GREAT!

Speaking of great, I need some help on my costume design. Again, I was not planning on dressing up this year because I'll be on a plane Halloween, but I got invited to a party tomorrow night and so have to throw something together. Last year the same thing happened - the day before Halloween I decided to go, and thought up my Suicidal Stockbroker costume, and spent $2 on a piece of rope at Home Depot and used the rest from my home supplies.

I have an idea for tomorrow night that won't require a lot of work either, but will be equally as funny. I am going to be "Craigslist."

So far I have the following ideas:

• Piece of cut out poster across my crotch and another one on my ass that says "Casual Encounters"
• Cut out of poster in the shape of a heart over my heart that says "Men seeking Women"
• I'll wear a tie, and on the tie (vertically) I will have a poster piece that says "Jobs"
  
• Somehow I need to incorporate "Craig" into the theme. Might have some stand on my shoulder with a poster piece with an arrow pointing to my face with "Craig" next to it.
  
  I need a couple of more ideas for like my legs, and maybe a hat/head thing. For Sale somewhere... and maybe Services. Hmm.
  

"Services" should be written in pink sharpie on both your upper and lower lips.

Why don't you have a name tag that says, "Hello my name is Craig S. List"

• Piece of cut out poster across my crotch and another one on my ass that says "Casual Encounters"

Uhm ....

I can't wait for the "have-a-good-trip!" sex this weekend and next week! Haha. My pelvis rectum is going to be so sore before heading to Japan...

Very nice pumpkin work.

I have to drag out my sewing machine sometime this week, my kids want to be pirates.

Are you sure that's a good idea ? I'm sure you could find some washed out bikie to ink your kids.

What's a bikie?

Biker with experience doing prison tats.

I stand by my sewing machine skills.

But kids with tattoos rock ...

You don't even need to sew to make a pirate costume for a kid. All you need is a red bandana, black pants you cut into "pirate shorts" and a striped shirt with a vest over it.  Add a wooden sword and an eye patch and you got one pirate. 

This costume would take a sewing machine though......

Are they going to be butt pirates?

Well I decided I am feeling anti-social and not going to the stupid party tonight. (People suck.) I did get to spend time with the lady at a local Oktoberfest thing today which was awesome and I gave her the pumpkin. She loved it!

Sasha I like your "Craig S. List" name tag idea. Also, my lady said on my ass I should put a "For Sale" sign which I thought was awesome. I have the foamboard and everything that I picked up last night, but no motivation and I don't feel like dealing with stupid people and crowds tonight. She's got an art show party she's going to, so I'll probably just drink at home and watch TV.

You aren't going to go because your girlfriend is doing something else?  You are such a pussy.  I'm going out tonight to the Red Shed for a little while if you want to come.  It's going to be low key, probably not very many people, but I wanted to check it out anyway.

Nah, she had the art show thing planned for a while. I decided not to go because the party is in fucking Temple and my buddy was going to drive, and I didn't feel like being stranded at some party that could be shitty as hell, with potentially crappy people to boot. Plus I had stinking suspicion many of the people there wouldn't "get" the Craigslist costume.

Cool thanks for the invite: where is Red Shed? What time?

I'll text you, because that's what the cool kids do.

But kids with tattoos rock ...

This!

Also, my lady said on my ass I should put a "For Sale" sign which I thought was awesome.

I guess the only way to take the wind out of her sails after your girl mocks you to you face is to revel in it and thereby take away any degree of shame she may have thought she was imparting to you.