How to dress up like "Marceline, The Vampire Queen" from Adventure Time (on a shoestring budget)

It wouldn't be Halloween unless one day before the big day at least one child decides they must be an obscure pop-culture reference to dress-up like.

Something "we" can easily pull off a costume in a 24 hour period.  Easy!

This year, uh, yesterday my 6th grader informed me she was going to be "Marceline" (a Vampire Queen?) from Adventure Time.

I asked if they sold a costume for this, which she confirmed she would not need any of that.  Just one store stop, or two.  And Sharpies.  Plenty of Sharpies.

Really all she needed the most was a red An Axe Bass, and a long black wig and vampire teeth.  That's all.

Grumbling aside, we did pull off a some kind of ensemble overnight which may pass for the suggestion of the real thing.

I struggled hard on the creation of a bass, when, naturally, the obvious thing to do when trying to figure out how to "make" an "Axe Bass" was to just Google the video.  Duh.

That video created and uploaded by very detail-oriented older kids who channeled their inner Martha is found here:

Nope, too complicated:  So, here's my extremely remedial, Completely Stupid Idiot's Guide to becoming Marceline:  All done on the fly on a shoe-string budget using one foam core board from Michael's, a variety of Sharpies, our own attire plus the one or two "big ticket items" Including  $9. vampire teeth, and a 8$ cheapo long, black wig from one of those horrible Halloween Costume places that only show up in abandoned strip malls in October.

Here's our progress so far:

Computer print out of Marceline's Axe Bass, and the beginning materials

Voila!! 30 minutes later and look!  A 2 dimensional, foam-core, red Marceline Axe Bass!!

Last night, myself and the once and future, Marceline continue our planning.

Why Hurricane Sandy should matter in the voting booth

On my recent trip back to Vermont this August I finally witnessed savage effects of Hurricane Irene which unexpectedly ripped through the Green Mountain state where nobody was expecting this kind of weather change.  It was a heart-breaking, rude reminder that global warming is very real and is changing our beloved world faster than we can turn things around.

Many Americans don't even believe there is such a thing as global warming thanks to believing the radical republican right who benefit from big businesses related to oil and gas.

Now here comes the next "unexpected" East Coast-Big One, "Sandy."  (Really "Sandy?"  My daughter's convinced they're naming hurricanes off a list of retirees at Leisure World.)

Depressing.   In fact, this blog post was formerly titled "Please Be Safe," but I woke up today convinced that this was such a downer of a post that I should attempt to be more practical with my thoughts.  (When in doubt, strive to be practical.)

So, what can be done?

--  Well, not waiting one minute longer to choose an administration that immediately ceases our dependence on fossil fuels is WITHOUT A DOUBT  the very first step in the right direction.  No question about this.  To suggest otherwise is, in my opinion, sinful.  To our planet and our children.

Clearly Obama is obviously the better choice than Romney's "drill, baby, drill" stance, but even Obama's administration could and should do more to step things up and further fight the effects of global warming.  For instance, we should have the courage to ruffle global feathers and take this fight against fossil fuel polution all the way to China and snuff out their black plumes of putrid, toxic air pollution once and for all.  Because, the pollution's Acid Rain is killing us, too.  (I think it's a significant  missing piece of the puzzle about the rise of allergies and asthma, too, but, hang on -- I digress -- that's for another post.)

Listen, I did what I could. I traded in my beloved Honda Odyssey for a Ford Escape Hybrid. It's smaller, less comfy, less a lot of things I miss dearly, but in the end when I think of how much I'm on the road and how I know that I've something big in my tiny life to change my carbon footprint, I can go to bed and sleep better.

I suggest we all do something in our own lives to reduce their own carbon footprint: STARTING WITH NOT ELECTING ROMNEY.

So, every time you watch the Weather Channel.  Think about this:  THOSE SCARY WEATHER REPORTS WILL GET WORSE IF YOU VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN.

Now, don't be fooled by the title of my blog:  I'm on the side of Mother Earth, not the "Left" or the "Right."

My advice here would be entirely different if the Republicans running for office were interested in conservation of resources and economic and policy restraint, like they USED to be. But now? Republicans = $ interests and that = a huge part of what's killing us.

Tina Fey bitch slaps Akin over "legitimate rape" commentary

Hey, I love this woman!

Truthfully?  I didn't used to.  My husband has always been fan enough for the both of us, however now I see why he adores her so much.  She's very smart, so funny, outspoken and best of all -- she's got great glasses.

But now?  I'm a believer!  Tina Fey's my hero after watching her speak out in this video.   It takes courage to call anyone out regarding the scary issues like rape and abortion.   She's right.  Where do these men get to have the last word on decisions regarding women's bodies, or rape, at all?   They don't get to define or make the rules about these things.  But they'll be happy to if we let them.  So, uh, let's not.  Kay?

Fey's obviously indignant about all these "gray-faced men," but she's also pretty brave to take on the stickier issues in this current political climate, too.  People are just plain mean about politics these days. Speaking out about tough topics ain't easy.  I get the finger just for having an Obama sticker on my car, but Fey?  She's the brave one.

Bottom line -- here's what women need to do:  Speak up for other women.  All the time.

Because if we wait for men to do it, it's not going to happen.


Here's what she said:

Brad does acid (extremely funny)

Say no more.

Brad Tweets Live Acid Trip: Click Here  

Check this out.  Definitely worth a look.  I promise.

-- Geez, and Anna Lily just informed me that it's National "Red Ribbon Week."

Oh, well.  Kids?  There's always going to be "a Brad."  And if you don't know not to hang with him by now, I can't help you on that one.

More scary squirrels down the rabbit hole.

Hold My Breath, by Holy Ghost!

A welcome new sound to start filling that hole left by LCD Soundsystem's untimely demise.

Holy Ghost! - Hold My Breath from Deadhorse Films on Vimeo.

Out with the old, in with the new. Bring it on.


Holy Ghost!

CHARMER: Title song and video from Aimee Mann's newest album

Refill coffee cup while first commercial plays -

Very funny video by one of my all time favorite musicians, singer-songwriters, Aimee Mann, who is now on tour for her recently released new album, Charmer.
Check out the NPR review of Aimee Mann's Charmer, here.

Or, you could read about the show I saw by reading below. 

Aimee Mann superbly kicks off new tour at the Coach House.

The premise behind her Charmer's video may not be the first time you've seen this, but the comedy angle works so well as a counterpoint to her often emotionally direct, thought provoking work.   The video's narrative is simple:  Just purchase a body double to carry out your most thankless, mind-numbing, time-wasting activities in your life.   I like the Laura Linney model.  I think I saw one on sale at Costco. It's a good fit, but I may have to order one in brunette.



Aimee Mann – Charmer by VEVO