That Time of Year

First of all, it was October...

As I've mentioned many times on this blog, autumn is my favorite time of year, and October is my favorite month. Halloween, of course, is my favorite holiday, and now that we're officially in the Halloween Season (or, as Mr. Bradbury likes to call it, The October Country), it's the perfect time to start talking about all kinds of creepy, wonderful things.

Like my tattered, dog-eared copy of the horror anthology October Dreams, which I took down from its spot on the bookcase Saturday for a month-long string of familiar reads.

Creepy, wonderful.

Speaking of Mr. Bradbury. I've placed my trusty, well worn paperback of The October Country on the passenger seat in my car, waiting for lunchtime coffee shop revisiting.

Creepy, wonderful.

For something a little more current, I just got an email from Amazon alerting me that my 3-disc special edition blu-ray copy of The Walking Dead, season one, is on its way.

Creepy, wonderful.

'Round these parts, the leaves have just begun to change and the commercial assault of Halloween costume shops and pumpkin-spiced lattes has hit its stride. Networks are already running horror-themed programming and local haunted houses and hayrides are popping up all over the place.

I've already been invited to two Halloween parties, and people in my department have asked me what I'll be wearing on the 31st. As usual, I think I'll go as an editor with way too much work.

As I write this, I'm reminded that this year I have to buy a pumpkin. Somehow I managed to forget that staple of Halloween tradition last year.

I've busily gone through my Halloween Season film collection, and I've chosen a few that are Must Watches. Being that it's early, I still have some time to tinker with this list.

Lots to do, lots to do.

Soon enough, the reds and oranges will turn to brown, and the inevitable drive towards winter will eradicate all traces of the October Country. But for now--for these next 20-odd days--we're in the heart of it.

The creepy, wonderful heart of the October Country. And I, for one, couldn't be happier.