what re you doing for/what are you going to be for halloween?

I remember nothing in the realm of costumage before age 4, so I'm beginning there:

1984 - A Monchichi. I was in heaven. If you don't know what a Monchichi is, this probably means that you were not born exactly in the summer of1980. For some reason, people outside of that very precise age grouping are completely unaware of the Monchichis existence. The chichis were essentially tree-dwelling, fuzzy cartoon monkeys. Here is a picture of one:

http://static.flickr.com/6/5687699_2e83d36cfe_m.jpg

1985 - Ronald McDonald. This costume was pretty horrific. Plastic, sweaty, and on top of all that involved some type of sweater. In the photos, however, I look VERY pleased with myself.

1986 - a rock star? This is a patchy memory. I'm sure you're familiar with the 80s, childish image of rock stardom. It's mainly to do with putting crazy crap in your hair and dressing like some kind of demento. (Actually, this is fairly otm. How bleeding typical that I had a better idea of what being a rock star meant when I was 6 than I do now.)

1987 - A vampire. This is pretty much my main thing throughout elementary school. The thing I liked, studied, wanted to be, etc. My first foray into vampiricism involved the bane of any serious vampire-dressing child's existence: the plastic fangs. Oh, naivete! I definitely improved as time went on. I was a vampire with little variation from age six to about age eleven, so I'm gonna skip ahead.

1991 - This is the year I really broke out of the mold.

http://www.yellowstonewilderness.com/images/kirk_tux.jpg
I decided to be Kirk Trevor (yes, the conductor of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra) with a twist. I was essentially a PSYCHOTIC VAMPIRE Kirk Trevor, and I carried a baton and spoke as if I had a speech impediment. In re: that last item, I remember my mom being all "oh, Emily, you should leave that out, it's mean" but simultaneously laughing hysterically. I gotta give my child-self some respect for this one.

1992 - A hippie. Not really a stretch for me at that point. I was growing out of the goth period that began around 1st grade and into a dashiki-wearing, flowing locks phase anyway, thanks largely, I think, to the original Broadway cast recording of the musical Hair.

To be continued.

last year i was blossom

that will make everyone wet their pants

most recent costumes include: alex from clockwork orange, a drag queen (i swear i'm not a man), a pretty unsuccessful attempt at bjork, and (with a few friends) a litter of kitties.

pretty simple concept, elegant in its execution: it's a frog, but human-sized, and he's wearing professional attire because he conducts business during the day. all you really need is a frog mask, frog hand mittens, and a suit.

I am debating whether this year's costume should be clever or sexy. Past years I have been a rhinoceros, a chicken, a leper, a nun...Meanwhile all my friends are being cowgirls, gypsies, flappers, and she-devils. So I think this year I should do something that allows me to traipse around half-naked, and not all covered in latex or fake blood.

I am going to be the bassist in Patsy Cline's backup band, then I have to change and be Johnny Thunders.

I bought a leather jacket.

I went to a Halloween party carrying a sign that said "NUDIST ON STRIKE." It was a very easy, cheap "costume" and I got a lot of compliments on it. Also, two people asked me to end my strike, which was kind of hilarious.

A friend of a friend's band is playing The Chain Drive. I may go see that.

Bill Lumbergh.

Stitching a swastika armband, which is (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime event over here.

nothing. no one really gives a shit about it here.

Currently working on a version of "Monster Mash" with two girl vocalists I know quite well.....

I was gonna go as Chris Benoit, but a lot less people got the joke than I expected, so instead I'm just gonna be Gumby.

If I end up doing anything, I'm going to go as Big Mick the Mattress Man of local ads for the 'sleep galery & futon outlet.'