LorieByrd.com

Monsters Inc.

Okay "monster" is a really harsh word.  They aren't really monsters.  Well, some of them aren't.  Image by The People's Cube.  Link via Kitty.

Horror Flicks

I am a big fan of horror movies.  I don't favor the blood and guts slasher variety, but the Alfred Hitchcock suspense/mystery kind. Psycho is playing on the TCM channel as I write this, and it got me to thinking about which movies I would like to rent this weekend for the Halloween leadup.  I would like to compile a list of some of the best horror films.  Please share your favorites in the comments section, along with a short description of any films that are not well known, and the reason they are great films.

I will update this post periodically this week with some of my favorites.  Here is a start:

Silver Bullet -- This movie is based on a Stephen King short story and it has it all -- humor, suspense, mystery and horror.  Gary Busey is great as the alchoholic uncle of the hero of the story, a wheelchair bound boy (Corey Haim) who figures out what has been killing people in his small town.

The Lost Boys -- Another Corey Haim film, with the other Corey (Feldman), as well as Kiefer Sutherland, thrown in for good measure.  The hippie grandfather is my favorite character, and the last line of the movie is the best.  This is similar to Silver Bullet in that it is a mixture of humor and horror and was also made in the 80's.

The Birds -- One of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies. I watched this movie on television when I was a child and it really freaked me out.  I have seen it many times since.  It doesn't really freak me out anymore, but it is a great movie.

Jaws -- I have seen this movie many times and everytime I see it while channel surfing, I find myself watching it until the end.  The book is great, too.

Rosemary's Baby -- I wouldn't call this one of my favorites, but it is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen.  It gives me the creeps and if I see it while channel surfing I will usually avoid it like the plague so that I don't have nightmares.

The Omen -- Scary, scary, scary. 

Update:  Here is a good list with great commentary and this Yahoo list of top 100 horror movies is good, too, but does not include commentary.

Update 10/26:  REALLY SCARY (link via Kitty).

Update 10/27:  A really good kid movie is The Little Vampire.  Another is Casper.  We liked both of these enough that we bought the videos.  Now I guess I need to get the DVD's.

What Were These Parents Thinking?

Via Ace.

Fair Fun

The N.C. State Fair opened on Friday and the weather throughout the weekend has been wonderful.  If you live within driving distance of Raleigh and have never been to the state fair consider checking it out this year.  As long as I have lived in the area, I have tried to make it to the fair at least one day each year and although I have missed a few, I could count them on one hand. I have tons of fair memories and now that I have kids I enjoy seeing them make their own. So far, the rock climbing wall, the fun house, cotton candy and every ride they are tall enough to ride are annual must do's. 

Last year I met a local blogger at the fair and he posted tons of fun pictures and great commentary here,  My favorite was his picture and description of those at the "Peace Booth."  Be sure to check them all out.

Halloween Tips

Don't forget to check out my cousin's cool site, Sleepless Souls, for neat Halloween decorating ideas.  Her home was featured last year on HGTV's Extreme Halloween, so she knows what she is talking about and has some really inexpensive ideas that pack a big punch.

Media Bias Is No Joke -- But This One Is Pretty Funny

My aunt and uncle sent me the joke below in an email.  This one probably made the rounds during the election, but this is the first time I have seen it, so I thought some others may have missed it, too. 

Two boys in Boston were playing baseball when one of them was attacked by a  rabid Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy ripped a board off of a nearby fence, wedged it into the dog's collar and twisted it, breaking the dog's neck. A newspaper reporter from the Boston Herald witnessed the incident and rushed over to interview the boy. The reporter began entering data into his laptop, beginning with the headline:"Brave Young Red Sox Fan Saves Friend From Jaws Of Vicious Animal."  "But I'm not a Red Sox fan," the little hero interjected.  "Sorry" replied the reporter. "But since we're in Boston, Mass, I just assumed you were." Hitting the delete key, the reporter began: "John Kerry Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific Dog Attack."   "But I'm not a Kerry fan either," the boy responded.  The reporter said, "I assumed everybody in this state was either for the Red Sox or Kerry or Kennedy. What team or person do you like?" "I'm a Texas Ranger fan and I really like George W. Bush," the boy said.  Hitting the delete key, the reporter began again: "Arrogant Little Conservative Bastard Kills Beloved Family Pet."

Carnival of Recipes

I have not posted any weekend recipes lately, so I hope to make up for it somewhat by posting a link to the Carnival of Recipes at The Glittering Eye.  Enjoy.

What Were They Thinking?

Check out some of these ridiculous celebrity kids' names found in an article quoted by Betsy Newmark.  I work part-time several mornings a week at a job that has me visiting preschools and I find it interesting to hear what the popular names are these days.  Me and the woman I work with sometimes discuss the more unusual names we hear and ask "What were those parents thinking?"  She used to work in a doctor's office and told me of a patient whose name was pronounced sha-thede.  The only problem is that they spelled it "Shithead."  Can't that be considered grounds for a claim of child abuse?

Sorry, Gotta Go

What a great idea -- Sorrygottago.com has sounds to help you get off the phone.  Hat tip:  Scared Monkeys.

Hurricane Victim Hits Jackpot

$4.25 in quarters landed  $1.6 million.