I'm re-wearing an old costume this year (boo) because I couldn't get the right supplies to make a mask that matches the one I made for Jenn. Just look for posts with the tag halloween if you want to see the costume; it's from a few years back.

In honor of a day cherished by most of my fellow Silent Hill fans, I'm presenting a short story written in the setting of our favorite ghost-plagued, monster-ridden, hell-on-earth resort town. Now, I'm no expert, but this may constitute fanfic, a thing I usually try to avoid. But if you can get an audience riled just by writing "Toluca Lake," it's silly not to use it.

( GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND GREAT UNKINDNESSES DO FOLLOW. )

Jenn's very busy with a job, so I'm going to step in and do a bit of promotion for her.

Later this month we'll be hawking her wares at the Monster-Mania Horror Movie Convention on August 22nd, 3rd and 4th. I'll be attending a wedding on the 23rd, so lady_tyrael will fill in as Jenn's lovely assistant. The Lost Boys reunion will be part of this convention, so if you've had your eyeballs scorched by the recent Lost Boys sequel it may bring some small comfort.

So if you're local, or not local and want an excuse to visit sunny New Jersey (too sunny for my taste) come on down, visit our table, get Robert Englund to autograph something and have a drink with us after buying one of Jenn's prints.

When Condemned 2 was released I struggled for weeks about the whole "can I afford another console" thing. I like the first game, played it on my PC but at a low resolution (even today, after like 3 upgrades I still can't crank up a game that was made for original XBOX?) After reading some middlin' reviews I calmed down and decided that the then looming recession would eat up any money that could be spent on an overpriced game box.

Today I saw this advertisement:


Now, inexplicably I'm back to wondering if I can maintain my standard of living, without my teaching pay for the summer, and still afford that PS3.

Even knowing little about this, I want to play with it.

New steampunk zombie horror RPG

Of course, I need to check out the system first. I may just raid it for source material. Hit location tables, though gruesome fun, can slow combat to a crawl. I hate that.

I'm happy with my costume this year. A little blood, a syringe full of green goo, and a few hours of watching Jeffrey Combs. Voila! Herbert West! As portrayed by Jeffrey Combs, yet dressed as H P Lovecraft envisioned him; a turn-of-the-century doctor.

See for yourself:


Just a simple injection of my reagent . . .


Well. That was certainly exhilarating. And has given the laundry lady a real challenge.

Both photos by lady_tyrael.

I got to show off this little get-up at hollow_01's parlor gathering and took home the Samhein King award. Two years in a row. Heh.

Spec track for a project I'm pretty sure I'm not getting. Pretty rough, but you get the idea. Also short.

If I suddenly find out that they do want me, I'll have to pull it down. Meanwhile, enjoy.

Toy Waltz

I'm proud of the carousel sound. I think I will use it again.

Halloween was a success around our place. A red-lit entryway, the post-industrial noise of Lustmord, two Silent Hill nurses flanking the doorway and me doing my automaton best to frighten children with jerky, mechanical movements.

Many a child was too afraid to approach and the adults egged them on but kept their own distance. Maybe they didn't want to upset their child by being seen as fearful. Maybe the child was the canary in the coalmine.

The high point for me was a passing mother and child on the opposite side of the street. The mother asked her child if she wanted to cross over and the girl replied "I don't want any more candy!" Mwah-ha-ha-ha . . .

jenniferrodgers took the art photos of our costumes and she'll have them posted. In the meantime, here are the quick snaps I got of our preparations.

( . . . if you gaze too long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. )

Another 100 word story today:

Occupation?

“I kill people for the government,” He finished his beer while I stared. “Population control I think. They got me out of the ‘hospital’ and set me up here. I do whatever I like, long as I meet quota every month.”

I closed my notebook. “I can’t sell that. No one will believe you.”

“I got proof,” A gun poked my ribs. “Let’s just walk out the back.”

He rolled open the door of a rental truck. I saw the sound-proofing tiles, the manacles hanging from a chain, the toolbox.

Blood stains.

“Everyone believes if you scream loud enough.”

-

Jenn and I made the scene at 2 parties this weekend and got to show off our costumes. We're both happy with the looks we've achieved. Photos will be available soon but until then, just imagine a shambling faceless nurse and a 6' automaton nutcracker.

Please take this opportunity to be unsettled by Dan's costume test. The children on his street will need therapy. I can only hope I will be half as scary.

Child-rearing was simple in the Victorian era. Terrify them at every opportunity and they will grow up to be adults suitable to send into trenches to absorb mustard gas and machine-gun fire. I began writing a few cautionary nursery rhymes, suitable for rope skipping and nightmare fuel. More will come together in the future.

Beware,
Take care,
The rabid bear,
His bloody claws will rend and tear.

Beware,
Take care,
The winding stair,
The murderer is waiting there.

Since I'm posting I may as well get this one online.

Grey Ruin

Doc slammed the door as hard as he could, slapped the locks shut and ran through his house, ending hunched against the couch.

That terrible figure was still in his eyes; the distended limbs, the tissue sloughing away.

Then he heard squishing; the sound of Jell-o going through a straw. It came from the kitchen. Doc covered his eyes and shivered. Moaned for it to “get away.” At last the sound stopped.

But now he could smell the wet rot. He looked up into his patient’s eyes.

“I told you it was bad. Why didn’t you believe me?”

(Submunitions: Stories in 100 word or less.)

I have a neighbor across the street; 40something man who lives with his elderly parents and is unemployed so far as I can determine. Instead he fills his days with lawn care. Every three days he runs the mower. The next he weeds and edges. The third day he sprays strange chemicals and wears a plastic face shield to protect his eyes or tunes the mower up.

Next door to him as a house of 3 or 4 20something retail workers. Their landlord comes by and mows their lawn once a week.

Today as I walked to my car I noticed that both lawns are just as green. Just as well trimmed and just as full.

I am now utterly terrified of my neighbor across the street.

I've decided to turn the links page into a short gallery of my works. These songs/tunes/audio collage/scores/etc. are all mp3 files. If you really like them, you can keep them for your private personal use. If you really really like them, and you want to hear more of them, write me and tell me so and I'll return to my studio with renewed fervor. If you really really really like them and you have money, you can write me to commission my services for films, games, background music for cult meetings, etc.

Please don't be a jerk and use them in your film, game, cult, etc. without my permission though. I'm generally agreeable and I'm sure we can work something out before I have to let slip the copyright laws of war.

Enjoy!