There’s a lot of debate in the Maskull home as far as what to listen to. Some mornings, Morticia wants to crank up the latest song from Duffy. I, however, wish to listen to Neil Diamond. So we argue about what sort of music to turn on.

Then after we’ve argued, made up, and gotten dressed again, we compromise. In fact we always agree on the same band when we compromise: the Misfits.

How do we always manage to agree to listen to the Misfits? One reason, which I will state here:

The Misfits are the greatest horror punk band. Ever.

Yes, I know I have just made a very bold, brash, and definitive statement. But I can live with it - because I’m ready to defend my words with some reasons. How about five?

1. The Misfits pioneered the genre of horror/punk. You’ve seen other bands that play music that’s kinda horror-y and kinda punk rock-y at the same time. Some are more horror-rockabilly or more horror-
   metal or whatever but the point is (to use John McCain’s favorite phrase) that The Misfits inspired the whole thing. I doubt that without the Misfits, Gwar would have ever existed.
2. The Misfits are fun to listen to. Well, maybe songs about decapitation and UFOs and vampires aren’t your cup of…whatever it is you drink. But for the average person with a sense of humor and fun, Misfits songs hold a certain humorous, campy, nostalgic charm. They’re silly, and they go right along with classic horror movies.
3. The Misfits have an awesome logo. You’ve seen the skull logo probably everywhere except cereal boxes. Why is that? Is it because the logo sucks and looks really dumb? NO! It’s because the logo is AWESOME. I rest my case.
4. Other people love the Misfits. I bring this into my list of reasons not because doing everything other people do is cool or right or the way to be…no, I’m thinking of the way when you play a Misfits song other people will comment and say “Haha I have 20 eyes in my head” or whatever. It’s cool to be able to talk to a total stranger about a band you have in common.
5. The Misfits songs are classic, timeless, and will always be cool. Teenagers will be discovering Legacy of Brutality ten years from now, and thinking they’ve found the coolest band ever. I guarantee it! The music never gets old, and will never go away. It’ll be in many music fans’ collections for years to come.

So do you understand why us Maskulls can agree on this one band?The Misfits really are a great band…and we can’t diverge on our opinion of their music. Neil Diamond…not so much. But the Misfits? Definitely.

Halloween is upon us- finally! Time to start getting ready for all the fall festivities. Not only is it time to look for a costume for yourself and to deck out your house in scary decorations that make the neighborhood kids think twice about passing by, BUT it’s also time to pick out costumes for your pets!

Yes, your pets. It’s 2008 and many pet owners these days include Fido or Tiger in their Halloween celebrations. It all starts with the right costume. Some of the the most popular pet costumes of the 2008 season are:

1. Clown Pet!! So cute and simple, too. Adorable costume with conicla clown hat and ruffle collar. Perfect for the pet who won’t tolerate elaborate costumes.

2. “Big Daddy” Pimp costume. Vest-style jacket with leopard accenting. Matching hat included. For the pet with big personality!

3. Raggedy Ann costume. For size Large. Dress/apron with hat. For the big, lovable, sweetie.

4. Zorro Pet. Size Small. Zorro cape, hat and two spurs. For the little guy with spunk!

5. Power Ranger Pet. Includes body top and tie on mask. Perfect for the family pet with super-hero qualities. The kids are sure to love this one!

Don’t leave your pet out of the party! Halloween is fun time of year for everyone, including “other” members of the family. Besides having fun with your pet this Halloween, remember to keep them safe and comfortable for the ultimate time!

Please read these useful tips on Halloween Pet Safety and Costumes:

1. Buy the right size costume! There are size charts on the tags to guide you to the right size. This is important for comfort as well as safety. Watch out for costumes that use rubberbands, as they can burrow into fur and dig into your pet’s skin.

2. As with any pet toy or device, it is recommended to not leave your pet unattended in any costume. They could become entangled and hurt themselves.

3. Don’t put the costume on right away and expect your dog to go along with it. A few weeks before you expect him to wear the costume, use treat training to get him motivated. Drape the costume over his back for a few seconds, and then give him a little treat. Do this for a few seconds several times, then daily, longer each time, treating and praising all the while. Put the costume on loosely, and follow the above instructions, for a few seconds, then a few minutes, with praise and treats galore.

4. Make sure that no matter how you include your pets in your Halloween Celebrations, their safety should be of first concern. For example, if your bring them trick-or-treating, use a short leash make sure he is not going to get overly excited or scared by the many strangers. If your pet is going to stay home with you while you answer the door to trick-or-treaters, keep him away from the front door to prevent over-excitement, bites, and to keep him from slipping out. And remember to make sure all your pets have their ID TAGS on their collar; if your pet is lost, he’s 10 times more likely to be returned to you if he is wearing a proper tag.

5. Take extra precautions of you own a black cat. Unfortunately, there are misguided people who would harm a black cat due to the age-old myth that black cats are evil. Confine your pet indoors for a few days prior to HAlloween to keep him safe.

6. And remember, NO CHOCOLATE!!! It’s a good idea to NOT share any candy with your pet, but especiialy chocolate. Chocolate is toxic for animals and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart distubances, and even death.

So have fun with all the Fall prep work and the coming festivities, and don’t be afraid to include your beloved “best friend.”

I usually have a dilemma on Halloween day. It happens each year, and it’s silly: I usually have two costumes and can’t decide which of the two I want to commit to. And in case you’re thinking, “that ain’t nothing to worry ’bout. Ain’t no commitment.” then you’re incorrect. It is a commitment because for only one night I get to be whatever it is I choose to be, and then I have to wait a whole year before I can be anything different. So my choice has to be one which is awesome.

Now, there are a few things which are perennially awesome (for Halloween, that is).  I have my own list so yours might differ but you simply will have a hard time convincing me that the following don’t rule:

1. Mummies
2. Vampires (classic Dracula-type)
3. The Wolfman
4. Michael Myers
5. Zombies

Yeah, I love all the above. They’re each either cool, scary, or both. But one of them has an advantage over all the others because it’s also easy. When you need a quick costume on short notice or on a tight budget you can always be a ZOMBIE.

A zombie is one of the easiest things to be - at minimum, a zombie costume requires some old clothes and some black makeup. You simply make dark rings around the eyes and lines extending around the lips (think of the way Michael Jackson’s eyes looked in Thriller).

For a higher-budget zombie, you can do a quality makeup job with more FX or you can simply get a zombie mask for Halloween. There are many different styles out there, but this is one I think looks cool:

Glom Zombie Mask

It’s not too too over-the-top, but it definitely is scary and observers undoubtedly will know that you, as the mask wearer, are attempting to portray a scary dead person.

This Halloween, I’m probably not gonna end up being a zombie. I’m leaning more towards a Wolfman.

But then again…

Yes, I like Fall and Halloween. The changing of the seasons, with the vibrant Autumn colors and the crisp mornings, is my favorite time of year. Something about it all intensifies all my emotions, including melancholy and happiness. Is that weird or does this happen to you, too?

And yesterday while I was out shopping and came upon some Halloween costumes, my first reaction was an intense “Awww… How cute!” The costumes were for babies and toddlers and I could not pass them up without a long look!!!! How can a parent decide which is the cutest, or most scary, for a toddler?

There are so many options. when it comes to children’s costumes.  Have a tiny infant?  Bunting-type costumes are perfect; they are cute and keep the child nice and warm.  Have a toddler?  Then the possibilities are endless.  There are the tried-and-true favorites, like witches and lions.  Or your child might choose to be a super-hero or popular TV character.  And if you have a pre-schooler, then most likely they will be choosing the costume.

Some of the things to consider when buying a costume for a small child are comfort and practicality.   One year I bought the cutest costume for my toddler, but it ended up being too hot for him to wear and we had to change at the last minute.  Another time the costume I chose had facial accessories he refused to wear, and believe me, there is no way to make some kids wear some things!  And yet another year it was so cold that everyone’s costume was covered with coats, but I guess there was no way around that.  Last year, my 3 year old wanted only a certain costume, which I could only find on-line and bought the last one available.  When it arrived it was really too small, but he did not care.  Remember that aside from how cute your child would look in a certain costume, there are other real life things to consider, such as the weather and your child’s comfort.

And do not, absolutely do not, wait until the last minute.  Selection will be limited and you will be more stressed.

Start shopping around now.  Bring your kids when necessary, to help choose and also to try on the costumes.  And remember to enjoy this part of Halloween.  It won’t be long before your kids are grown and you will only be able to “ooh” and “awww” those adorable costumes while they are on the hangers.