Slowing down, eh?

[Sickie Ickie]

Seems things are slowing down here, eh? That's okay. I'll be around all year long to post. :)

[Brightside]

No worrys, Sickie. I'm still here. I just don't check in (or post) as offten, but I'm still here.
We couldn't leave you all alone in here. There is no telling what you would get into.

[Sickie Ickie]

*Singing* Nobody knows- the trouble I've seen.....

[Clarice]

Me and Sickie sittin near a tree
Hackin motors for FCGs

[Mummy deer-est]

I'm here! I'm here! Just a sick...and tired. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

[Sickie Ickie]

Me and Sickie sittin near a tree
Hackin motors for FCGs



LOL!!! What a great rhyme! :D

[Sickie Ickie]

I'm here! I'm here! Just a sick...and tired. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I understand, mums...now, if you excuse me for a sec, my 3 yr old is wiping his nose on my bare back!

[putrid]

Now that paints an interesting picture Sickie Ickie. LOL
Yep, I'll be here all year. Got the web site still in pieces and nothing to show for it...yet. Got a few projects started. Those glass Santa heads need a bit of help. That oil base paint is taking weeks to dry. That's why I haven't posted anything about them. I keep my failures to myself. LOL Going to try something different. And am currently thinking up ways to use empty toilet paper rolls that don't look like toilet paper rolls when your done. Might make a post of that and see what ya'll come up with as well. Still on the hunt for more Christmas oldies and antiques. Be posting all about the gets and misses of the hunt. And all the projects that turn out right. If I posted everything I try that doesn't work I'd be writing a book. LOL

[putrid]

Hope you get to feeling better soon Mummy deer-est.

[Mummy deer-est]

Thanks, putrid. I don't mean to complain....just wanted to do it a little! lol. I know I shouldn't though, cause it can be worse. But just wanted to say that I'll be here, through out the year. But my greatest contributions might be: "How is the weather?"!!

[Sickie Ickie]

Weather? getting 3-6" snow tonight! UGH!

[putrid]

Yep, we got snow too. About 6 inches. Nothing like listening to good Jazz and watching it snow.

Mummy deer-est, no matter what you'd have to say it'd still be good to hear from ya. And here in mid MO. the weather is always changing so I'll always have a different answer for ya. LOL

[bethene]

Mummy, hope you are feeling better, Sickie, I will still be here, just for some reason haven't been on line as much , but still will keep checking in. The weather here sucks, more snow and blowing, it just keeps coming!! Sure hope spring comes early!! Hope every one is doing well, have a great week end!! Be safe in this bad weather!!

[Sickie Ickie]

over a foot here so far. snow blower mountains in parking lots that are taller than your head. In our parking lot today was snow over 3 feet tall. Imagine trudging through that to get trucks, then trying to plow trucks through that to get to the front door for teh customers. Trucks got stuck more than once, and fishtailing was common.

[bethene]

oh man Sickie, that sucks, thats ALOT of snow! It's supposed to get a little bit warmer here next week, hopefully by you too! At least melt some of it!!

[putrid]

Wow Sickie Icke, that's a lot of snow. We're warming up above freezing here in Mid MO. Snow should all be gone by Monday. Hope ya'll get some of this warmer weather too.

[Mummy deer-est]

... the weather is always changing so I'll always have a different answer for ya. LOL

lol, putrid!
We had some freezing rain the other day (two hour delay for rain, but not snow? Can't figure that one out) but just cold now. Hope you get shoveled out soon, Sickie.

[Sickie Ickie]

Naaaaahhhh too lazy to shovel my drive. I just plow through it! LOL

[larry]

:) Thanks for keeping things going. Been busy doing super secret ninja stuff.

[putrid]

So that's who slapped me on the back of my head! JK LOL Good to read from ya again Larry.

[bethene]

Today here, the temps are above freezing, snow is very slowly begining to melt, but there is so much if the stuff, it doesn't seem like it. A couple more days of above freezing will help, hope this stays a while. but who konws. Hubby and I took a drive to Lake Michigan yesterday, walked out on to the pier, the beginning of it any way, it is surreal out there almost seems alien, it's so quiet.. The snow and ice are about 1/3 of a mile out, the pier is ice and snow together, water sprays frozen in place, huge chunks of ice , like giant ice cubes randomly placed, on the walk ways, it was pretty cool. On area, where people fish in the summer was snow and ice up to the rails, could just see the metal peaking out. I really enjoy the Lake, what ever the weather!! Rode by the camp ground where I do one of my haunts, looked kinda sad empty. Ahh, well, time does fly so it will be full again before we know it! Have a great rest of the week end. Enjoy the super Bowl, all you foot ball fans!

[Sickie Ickie]

The lake, eh? LOL I really enjoyed the lake and water until about 3 years ago when I came extremely close to drowning. One of my buddies had to save me. (sigh) Since then, I've become a little gunshy of water.

[putrid]

Dude, you and I share the same almost drowning experience. Probably over 30 years ago for me now. I dread the idea of swimming or getting in. I'm nervous now thinking about it. Even in pools I have to go easy for a bit. But after I'm in the water my fear goes away and I'm fine with it. However I do tend to stay where I can touch the bottom. Even just to be able to bounce back up to take a breath.

Bethene, it was one of the better Super Bowls. Didn't get to see it all but what I did watch was cool.

[Sickie Ickie]

yep Putrid. For a while after, even taking a bath was a little scary for me. now I'm okay with that. heh

[putrid]

Kinda weird how that tends to stay with ya. But it's like falling off a horse. If you don't get right back on you may never again. I've fallen off a horse before so I have experience. I know what I landing in. Climbed back on and shared it with the horse. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

For now, I'll view the ocean from my tv. LOL

[putrid]

Ya, I know where your coming form my friend. I'm glad I lived in Florida before that experience. But every time you get back in you build up confidence so the next time will be a little easier.

So how did we get from slowing down to reasons to stay out of the water? LOL I think this forum will be like any other good place. Big holiday rush filled with folks needing and sharing advice. Then the after the holiday bash. Trickling down to the locals keeping shop. With each passing season there'll be more locals. New ones joining and even old ones leaving. Any place that stays the same burns out.

[Mummy deer-est]

Who you calling a burn out!!!?!!!

btw...my daughter had a near drowning incident last summer...she still tells us about the time when she was in the water and had to *blows up her checks real big and holds her breath* and how the doctors made her better. Scariest thing ever. And I haven't gone back to a pool with both of them (w/o my hubby) since. But kids -- they bounce back, I guess.

[Sickie Ickie]

I gotta admire her. :)

[putrid]

Who you calling a burn out!!!?!!!.......

??? Any place that stays the same will burn out. I've been on a forum where things weren't run well. Admin. was posting on everything and it made you feel like you were being watched all the time. Most likely not intentional. There was a core group of folks keeping the place active for a wile but no new members. Folks just ran out of things to say and stopped posting all together. Forum burned out. Sorry Mummy deer-est. I didn't mean any one person or persons, just a place in general.

I'm glad she bounced back so quickly.

[Sickie Ickie]

Putrid, I think she was being sarcastic. LOL

[Nephew Fred]

I check things out every day here,but unless I have something terribbly witty or entertaining to say, I'll just keep quiet.So I'll guess today I'll be quiet.....wait ,does this count as witty or just annoying?You be the judge,I have waffles to eat.....

[Sickie Ickie]

Waffles? Aren't they pancakes in square shapes?

[Clarice]

Nooooo. Pancakes are mushy, smushy, soggy round things.
Waffles are lightly crispy, square pieces of heaven with wonderful little pools for butter and syrup. MMMMMmmmmm!

[Sickie Ickie]

okay, I take it back....carbonated pancakes. :p

[Clarice]

giggle <:O)

[Xmaslilly]

Of course it slows down we are all starting our Halloween prop making now and thats okay cuz most of us on here do both so no -one should run out of stuff to say...I will say I am on the lookout for my Xmas project materials at the local thrift shops...I always have something going so when I get bored <yes I said bored with what I am making at the time I will switch from Halloween to Xmas all yr long.
So be annoying ,witty ,whatever as long as you are posting something for someone to read and maybe comment on.
Sickie > carbonated pancakes that's a good one!
but I would rather have the carbonated pancakes than the real pancakes.

[putrid]

Don't know if I'll have any time to do more Halloween stuff this year. Need to keep putting together the stuff for the web site. Most of it will be Christmas. Everything off of Cryptopropology will be on the Halloween side of the site. I have more ideas for that side too.

Xsmaslilly, bored? The only times I get bored is when I'm watching TV. It's like a drug or something. I turn this box on, sit down and I'm out like a light. LOL

[Xmaslilly]

Yeah bored I know, how hey?..I guess I have too many things going at once but keeps it interesting ..I know what you mean about the TV though and I watch that at work while making stuff also, so don't need to watch it at home.
what is Cryptopropology , you have probably said already but I CRS sometimes.

[bethene]

Every one here is so ambitious with their projects, I guess I should get going. and get working on something!!

[Mummy deer-est]

Putrid, I think she was being sarcastic. LOL

Sorry for letting this slip...but to reply, I was completly being sarcastic....I am, in fact, a huge burn out!! lol

I know what you mean, putrid...I was just joshing you. We all want things to stay fresh! *Insert Sickie's joke here*

[Sandy Claws]

I'm still here too, I have been doing more Halloween themed work lately so I've been on the spookier themed sites. Like everyone here I'm up to my waist in snow and ice as well, BLEAH!

[putrid]

........I'm up to my waist in snow and ice as well, BLEAH!

Well Sandy Claws, I hope your dressed for it. JK LOL

No problem Mummy deer-est. One thing I've learned from being on forums. With everyone from different backgrounds and different parts of the country it's easy to unintentionally ruffle feathers. My response was a 'just in case' I did just that. I've found it best to quickly smooth things out. Apologize for what might of happened. Instead of letting it go. Hoping I didn't offend you with my response. ( Which would, of course, make things worst. I'm better at making things worst. LOL )

[Sickie Ickie]

*Sickie joins hands and starts singing* Kum-by-yah.......

[Xmaslilly]

duh cryptoprpology ok i get it ..nevermind

[Sickie Ickie]

heh a bit cryptic, huh Lilly? :)

[CandyCane]

I'm still here you guys. I've been busy finishing up a project that I didn't get done for Halloween. But......I really do want to make another elf, one with a big fat bearded face. He'd be the old man elf. Oh and I think a girl elf would be fun too.

[Sickie Ickie]

We should call you teh elf-master! Your prior one was fantastic!

[spookineer]

I really do want to make another elf, one with a big fat bearded face. He'd be the old man elf.

Hey Laurie, you want a pic of me for a model?

[spookineer]

Slowing down? Oh heck no, just shifting gears...

[CandyCane]

Hey Laurie, you want a pic of me for a model?

Thanks spook, but you're not old enough :)

[putrid]

duh cryptoprpology ok i get it ..nevermind

Sorry I didn't answer your question in my last post Xmaslilly. Cryptopropology is one of the small free web sites I have with Earthlink. It's all Halloween props. Hauntology is pics of past walkthrews we've done. I'm going to combined these sites and add them to the new holidaycraftology.com site I'm currently putting together. The site will be split between Halloween and Christmas with the home page being the only link between the two sides.

[bethene]

just stopping by to say Howdy, and wish every one a great Friday and week end. This week flew by, I can't believe it is Friday again already.

[Sickie Ickie]

Yep. I haven't been on lately due to work and shows, but I treasure when I'm here with everyone! :)

[putrid]

OK, so I got curious and went looking for other Christmas forums. Found a hand full. One's been up for a lot longer than this one. There's not much activity on any of them. This place is as or more active than most and miles ahead in activity than some.

I've noticed that there is a BIG gap in Christmas props and home made decorations. It goes from supper easy to needing a PH.D. in computer programming. One extreme to the other with little in between. I think that's the big difference between the Halloween crowd and the Christmas crowd. Seems Halloween has everything from plastic jugs and paper mache all the way up to robotics. Most folks buy there Christmas stuff. For the most part those that make there own have two choices. Thirty seconds to finish or four years of college. LOL Most of the stuff I've found is designed for kids to do. I don't see this changing over night. It'll take a wile and a lot of talented folks to add to the 'home made' collective. To fill that middle ground with projects that take more time and maybe a bit more talent to do. In time this middle ground of projects will start to equal or look better than the things you can buy. Perhaps even projects of things you can't buy. That's when the 'make it yourself' Christmas crowd will start to grow.

[spookineer]

Good point Putrid, There are many times more Christmas decorators than Halloween. I've wondered why there are so few xmas forum websites in comparison to Halloween. I was building animated christmas displays back in the early 70's. You'd think there would be more of them by now. Maybe Haunters are just more passionate about it?

[putrid]

Perhaps, being a haunter myself I'd have to say it's a lot more fun putting up a yard display for others to enjoy than it is decking out the inside of my house.

I think it has more to do with most haunter's plan and build all year long. There's not that many how-to's out there to keep most folks planning and building Christmas props and decorations. Unless you count all the stuff geared for kids or the 'quick and easy' crowd. You'd go threw 1000 sites full of coloring book pages to the one with animated lighting details. (Not to many folks over the age of 18 are going to have long discussions over coloring books. LOL) Most of the props and decorations on every forum I've visited are supper easy. There's not much to discuss when your gluing baby food jars together. When home made Christmas projects reach a level of skill that warrant discussion then forums like this one will stay as active as the Halloween ones do.

[spookineer]

Yep, I think you nailed it there Putrid.

[Clarice]

Another thing to consider is weather. I think people are less likely to decorate outside in winter because of fears of their decorations getting ruined. Halloween decorations can be made using cheaper materials because the threat of bad weather is minimal. For decorations and props to withstand wind, rain and snow they would have to be made using sturdier materials.

[putrid]

............ Halloween decorations can be made using cheaper materials because the threat of bad weather is minimal. For decorations and props to withstand wind, rain and snow they would have to be made using sturdier materials.

LOL You should move to MO. We can get all that in one 3 days. Sometimes in one. It can be 70 at 9:00 PM on one Halloween and the next year the high might only get to 30 and the low in the teens. We've had temp swings of 70+ degrees in one day. Spent one Halloween chasing tombstones because of the 30+ MPH wind gusts. Another soaked because it rained ALL day. Stopped for maybe 15 minuets or so. It's only snowed once in my lifetime on a Halloween and that was years ago. You'll sweat one year and freeze the next here. And it doesn't do much good to watch the weather. It can and will change daily. We could have the same weather for Christmas too. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

Great insight and discussion folks! October is just as unknown weatherwise as Christmas is here. The theory is good for warmer climates, however it doesn't hold up here in in the midwest.

[putrid]

Sickie Ickie, your probably only 9+ hours drive from here. Taking 70 east, 270 north and east and 55 on up. Ya'll get the same unpredictable temp swings but have the lower end of the lows between us. Be interesting to find the temps for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas for the last 10 years. I know you'd end up with Halloween's colder than Christmas and Christmas's warmer than Thanksgiving. We tell the time of the year by the trees. Not the temps. LOL

[bethene]

Putrid, we have the same thing in west Michigan, too, there is a saying here, don't like the weather, stick around, it'll change in 15 minutes!!LOL! I have taken my kids TOTing in the snow, usually even with out the snow it is cold and rainy, but then again , could be 70!, We've had blizzards on Thanksgiving, only to have Christmas be 60 degrees, so you never know. But I think for the most part, getting into animation, and big props, haunters are more into it, there is more obsession with halloween. At least it seems to be. Maybe most "deckers" are low key?!

[putrid]

It's good to know this isn't the only part of the country where God's sense of humor shows. LOL

[Xmaslilly]

check this out
they have stats for back in the day I didnt see any halloween temps though
put in your city ,state, or zip
http://http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=holiday-stats

[putrid]

Xmaslilly, all I'm getting is a yahoo search page telling me page can't be found.
Oops I think I found out why, your http is doubled. hope this works,

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=holiday-stats

[putrid]

Will have to play with the site a bit. Couldn't get anything for my town or St. Louis. I typed in my zip and got a map of a place a good 150+ miles to the north of us. LOL I think I found out why our weather's been wrong. They have NO idea were we are! LOL

[CandyCane]

Dazed and confused, eh putrid?

[Sickie Ickie]

Isn't he always? :p

[putrid]

I'm not confused. I know right where I am. My version of reality is SOOOOO much better than the rest of ya'lls. LOL

[Mummy deer-est]

I want some of what he's on!

[Sickie Ickie]

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

[putrid]

My version of reality has the world revolving around me. If it's revolving around someone else I'd be the one spinning. Then I'd be tossing my cookies. Three spins and your out. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

Unless, of course, the ball lands on your lucky number! LOL

[bethene]

It never lands on mine!!

[Sickie Ickie]

bet on black or red :p

[putrid]

I like to bet on the 1/3 spaces. 1 - 12, 13 - 24, 25 - 36, seams to be easier to win than black or red. I do anywhere from 40 to 70%. Even at 40% when your winnings is 2X your spot you still come out ahead. I've also tried mixing the two. Black or red and the 1/3s. For the most part won on one or the other adding to or keeping my chips. I play only what I can afford so my largest chip start to date has been $40.00. But I walked out with $76.00. Accidentally put 6 chips in one stack instead of five. Good thing I won. LOL However when I loose it's not often but fast. 100%. I'm either on or off. No in-between.

I've sat down at a table and got my $20.00 in chips and get laughed at. Watch folks drop $500.00. I'm still playing as they walk away empty handed. Gambling isn't about the big score. It's about coming to terms with your decisions and reality. If you loose sight of reality your going to make bad decisions. Loosing 500 in 10 minuets or less is a bad decision. Loosing 20 is dumb but can be looked at as paying for the entertainment. And for the record I might go 6 or 7 times a year. Usually because someone else wants to go. Just something to do. And even though I've won more than lost I never really got a kick out of it. Kinda boring.