Once My Looks Go, I've Got Nothing

  I've written before about Carve-O-Lantern , the company (now known as Pumpkin Masters) that brought detailed, miniature-saw-based pumpkin carving to the masses. One thing I have not done, however, is carve their iconic jack-o'lantern design: the inimitable Mr. Lips. And when I say "iconic," I mean it! Mr. Lips was on the front cover of the very first Carve-O-Lantern pattern booklet back in the late 80's.     Se ñ or Labios would go on to be a featured element of these pumpkin carving kits for years to come, even as they metamorphosed into the Pumpkin Masters brand we know and love today. As big of a fan as I am of these carving kits, I never actually endeavored to make my own Mr. Lips. I'm not sure why...perhaps he was overexposed? Or perhaps I was fearful of screwing up the relatively difficult, intricate pattern that made up Mr. Lips's illumined face, thus exposing myself as a carving poseur. Whatever the reason, I decided to shake off the jinx this ye

     Well, looking at my cute kitty calendar, it's about that time...   That's right, it's October again, which means it's time to bust out my Halloween Village for another season of miniature monster madness. I have of course written about it in previous years , but for this year I wanted to do something a little different. For last year's theme, I largely excluded the older elements of my village in favor of showcasing my newer pieces. This year, though, I decided to make it a point to go back to the very origins of my festive decor fixation and include the original buildings and characters that I got from Oriental Trading Company...three decades ago? That can't be right, can it? I'd better confirm with the kitty calendar. Oh. Damn. Well, since I started doing this what amounts to a generation ago, I suppose it's only appropriate that I chose to combine what you might consider the first generation of my village with the latest one. As such, I endeavor

Sometimes, one simply needs to get out of town. Perhaps you might owe money to mobsters who are now hunting you, wanting to collect on the debt you owe them. Or perhaps you might need to flee a raging disaster, like a fire or flood. Or perhaps the very sight of your home fills you with dread, as flitting shadows conjure dark memories that torment you, day and night. Or perhaps you just need a temporary change of scenery. Either way. Recently, my wife and I took a trip to Santa Barbara to celebrate her birthday. Santa Barbara, for those unaware, is a lovely city situated on the central California coast. It's kind of like if Santa Cruz had continued going to Sunday School instead of dropping out to dabble with peyote. Its mild climate and gentle shores make it the perfect destination for a summer getaway. What follows here is a chronicle of a getaway of this nature. DAY 1 We stayed at the Hotel Californian, which, despite lacking mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice (in o