Ghouls and Candidates, Parties and Elections

First off, YAY FOR OBAMA! He is not my ideal candidate, I do not obsessively love him like lots of other people, but I do like him and think he's an excellent step in the right direction. Obama will not only lead us in a different way than the Bush administration, but just by being young and black, he sends messages of embracing change and diversity to our own citizens and to other countries. I hope he fulfills half of his promises; that will be infinitely more than what Bush fulfilled. As a friend's mom said, "Well we at least know Obama's not a moron so that's a step." Also, they're getting a puppy!! I love the idea of a little doggie shitting on the polished floor of the white house. Those girls are gonna love it.

It must be so surreal. The whole thing is so much like the Kennedy's...young, beautiful, stylish, excited, strong. Michelle Obama is a great first lady, but what a burden to take on as a young mother and lawyer! She has her own work, which she went to Harvard Law School for, and now is seen by all as the wife of Barack and mother of his children rather than a successful lawyer. And raising kids as the first African-American family in the white house! I hope she doesn't have an anxiety disorder or the next four years will destroy her nerve-endings.

Those girls probably have no idea what is actually going on. They are young, only seven and ten. This must feel like a dream to them. I hope they're able to enjoy their time in D.C. and live somewhat normal lives. I hate when the media exploits politicians' children, especially with these girls being so young! Let's hope the focus remains on Obama and what his administration will do... 'cause damn they have a lot of work. Did anyone else hear a bit of relief in McCain's voice during his speech?

Well, congratulations Obama and thank you for a wonderful speech accepting the presidency. I particularly loved the section about the 106 year old black woman. What an amazing and bizarre experience life must be for her right now! Also, congrats to everyone who voted and followed the election details, no matter who you voted for. And thank God this shit is over.

More importantly, HALLOWEEN PARTYYYYYY! Jess across the hall, Dave and I threw the biggest and best party I've ever helped host, ever. We spoke to the people in the other apartments before doing anything and got them all excited too, then invited 100 people and went nuts with decorating. There are four apartments in the building, two on the second floor and two on the third floor, a small foyer on the first floor and a roof, so we went all out... fake blood on the walls telling a story about the murdered Eliza, cobwebs and lights encircling the banisters and rails, a graveyard with bones and tombstones and eerie music along with caution tape and chalk-outlined bodies on the roof. The actual apartments had themes; mine was Wonderland and Jess's was Underworld. In my kitchen we hung garbage bags from the ceiling to the floor and put this weird doll we made out of a pumpkin sack stuffed with newspapers in front of the bags. I also hung up a small doll's head and hung the rest of her body in the doorway to the living room. I then made a dreamy/creepy sign welcoming all to Wonderland ("May all your dreams come true... be careful what you wish for") and we hung stars on the counters, lighting the room with Christmas lights, a dim lamp placed behind the hanging bags, and a Jack-o-Lantern. In the living room, we hung glittered stars from the ceiling along with bloody, decapitated dolls. We put various shades of red liquid in eight little jars we have, took apart a Barbie doll and placed her body parts in the different jars, then displayed them on a small shelf in the middle of the mantle. We had Christmas lights in there, too, along with more garbage bags and lots and lots of candy. Dave made an awesome playlist, full of funky and poppy and rockin' dance tunes, and we partied like it was 1999. Amazing. At least 75 people showed up, mostly in costume and amazed by our haunted house. It was so incredible.

Jess's apartment, Underworld, was full of cobwebs and bats. Her living room was beautiful, with rose vines, cobwebs and bats hanging from the ceiling. She draped all this cloth around the walls and hung creepy vampires and ghosts around the room. Between the kitchen and living room hung caution tape with bloody letters. And she looked so hot in her little hat, her long curly locks and a Victorian style lace-up dress.

I dressed as a peacock, with makeup on my eyes, feathers sticking up from a headband wrapped around my neck, and a tail sticking up from my ass. I wore a feather boa, a crazy shirt, black spandex pants, and wrapped green/gold ribbon around my waist. A couple hours into the night though, I shed my feather because they were annoying all the guests (whenever I walked anywhere, people were poked and tickled and complained). Friends from Beacon came, from college, from Boston and from D.C. We got them properly drunk... in my apartment we offered beer in the fridge and a homemade spiced wine. Jess's apartment offered loads of Jello-shots (including some made with Everclear) and Jungle Juice. Then on the roof was our Coors Light kegger. It was truly an amazing night!

If you wanna check out pictures, go here. This is one album Jess posted on facebook... she has another one if you search her profile. Enjoy!

Lastly, CMJ ended up not as fun as anticipated, but still a good time. I missed the Deli showcase with Semi-Precious Weapons because I was working late for this crazy Halloween dance we hosted at Beacon where the twelve-year-olds thought they could dry hump each other to some reggaeton. I did see Akudama at the National Underground, which was a pretty good show despite the horrible sound mix. I also saw The Gay Blades play an absolutely too drunk show at Spike Hill, which had its great points and its low points and mostly its very drunk points. The highlight from the week was Jay Reatard rockin' his soul out at Glasslands on Saturday night (which, actually, wasn't a CMJ show 'cause they rejected my badge). Women and Crystal Antlers opened, and I literally moshed and thrased and kicked like the little 15-year-old I once was with short pink hair in church basements at straight-edge punk/ska shows. It felt good until the next day when my neck and shoulders were painfully stiff and my toesies were throbbing from a very poor choice of shoes, but the night was way worth it.

In closing, Happy Belated Halloween and Happy Election and Happy The Election Is Over. We're considering hosting a New Year's Eve masquerade ball, so beware...