Happy Devil's Night!

Vampire Kiss Martini
Serves 1

Ingredients:
1 part raspberry liqueur, such as Chambord
1 part vodka, such as Absolut
1 part Champagne, such as Korbel
wax teeth, candy corn, licorice, and/or blood orange slice, for garnish

Directions:
1. Layer raspberry liqueur, vodka, and Champagne in a fluted or martini glass.

2. Garnish with wax teeth, candy corn, licorice, and/or blood orange slice.

Michelle's Spell of the Day
Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~From Scooby-Doo

Four More Days Till Halloween

Hi everyone -- I'm back! Been taking a little time for a cyber detox from the blog, but thanks so much for all the good feedback on the story trailer. My wonderful editor Ginger reads in this trailer. My voice is so awful -- I'd never dare! Now that we're in the high holy of the Halloween season, I pose the question to all -- what are you going to be for the sacred day? I've always loved this holiday given that the stresses are minimal and optional -- buy candy, wear an outfit. Hell, that's every single day except amped up a bit. I've been all sorts of things for this day -- a mermaid, Snow White, a witch, a devil, St. Lucy. I have a stewardess costume from this year, probably inspired by the retro charm of shows like Mad Men and Pan Am. I like to think we all contain multitudes and this is the day which we can all explore those options if we want. I'll be back tomorrow with some Halloween recipes straight from the only cookbook I own (besides Cooking With Dr. Pepper) which is an Avon holiday cookbook, a gift from my mother many years ago. Hope your October is going well!

Three Days Standard Bereavement

Three Days Standard

Storylandia 4 is now on sale!  My story, "Three Days Standard" is in this issue.  Hope you guys are having a great Thursday.

www.storylandia.wapshottpress.com/2011/10/01/storylandia-4-now-on-sale/

Zombie Apocolypse

For this Tuesday, I start the Halloween month, most sacred of times, with a drink recipe for the infamous Zombie. The last time I had this wicked concotion, I had two and a pounding headache which has kept me from drinking them again. Still, I have the memories (of a kind) of this delicious libation.

1 oz light rum
1/2 oz creme de almond
1 1/2 oz sweet and sour mix
1/2 oz triple sec
1 1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz 151 proof rum

Shake all ingredients (except 151 proof rum) with ice and strain into a collins glass over ice cubes. Float the 151 proof rum on top, add a cherry (if desired), and serve.

19% (38 proof)
Serve in: Collins Glass

Make My Darkness Bright: Reviews of Dexter and Hung

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long absence -- real life (or what passes for it) caught up with me in a major way. I'll be posting regularly from here on out (fingers crossed!).

Two reviews today:

Dexter returns with our favorite serial killer, Dexter Morgan, recharged and ready for action. The last couple of seasons, Dexter has been through hell -- no surprise that this season has his examining issues of faith. Taking his preschool-age son Harrison to a Catholic school, he freaks out at the gore of the crucifix, thinking it might be too much for a child's sensibilities. He describes his own belief system as a code of things to do to keep himself out of trouble to which his sister replies, That sounds like training a puppy. Angel, Dexter's colleague who suggested the school to him, tells him that kids need to understand about "those kinds of things," meaning theology, sacrifice, and faith. After Angel's rambling answer to Dexter's question about how we know there's a God, Dexter replies, "Thanks Angel. That really clears things up." Great season opener. Dexter lives by a code, but will he start to see his morally ambiguous position as a force for the greater good instead of a personal monster, an inner darkness? The ads use Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" as background. I think it's a good guess that Dexter will explore his own place in the universal order.

Hung, in a opening episode titled "Don't Give Up On Detroit, Or Hung Like A Horse" begins with Ray and Tonya in a new center for women named Orgasmic Living. Both of their financial situations are bleak in backstory -- Tonya is working at Bigby's Coffee and Ray is substitute teaching a couple of days a week. One bank loan and a new idea later, they are teaching women to umm, enjoy themselves, and let's just say Ray's practicum portion of the seminary seals the deal. They're in the money at the end, but with the threat of Lenore's newfound boytoy at the end, will their joy be short-lived? Higher stakes this season give the series an added pop. Who will give in or just give up? Like Charlie the pimp said last season, Mind bullets -- bang, bang, bang!

Great quotes --
"You only have to kill one time to be a killer, baby." Lenore to Jason after he agrees to take money for sex, but just this one time

"I've been looking for you for a long time, like they do for the Dali Lami in Tibet." Lenore to Jason after seeing "the goods"

"The big guy hit the ground. Time for the runner up hottie." Vince M. after his intern faints after seeing black snakes come out of the stomach of a murder victim

Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Monday!