Happy Halloween, Wolfman!

The night did indeed go down. It was a fast and furious blur of fake blood and caramel apples cute ghouls and torn lace. Without the Master of Ceremonies, the ceremonies were a bit less smooth, however. Mike knows exactly how to wrangle the screeching masses of kids on Carroll street. For me, it was a tricky and funny frenzy trying to just keep up. Especially in a long blue gown and a really itchy wig. All in all, our friends on the block rocked the night with Special Fx makeup scary costumes and 8x10 polaroids. Wolfman, we hope we made you proud.

What Would the Wolfman Do

Does Halloween exist without the Wolfman? It's kind of unimaginable. With Mike gone on tour for a few months, Isabel and I are doing our best to carry on, step it up, and channel the spirit of the Wolfman in LA. While I still don't have a knack for extension cords and ladders and wires (I love you, Liz!), over the years, I guess I have picked up a few tips from the best. I'm even thinking of bringing some dry ice into the mix. It definitely won't be the same without the scariest, most fun Dad ever, but- the tricks and treats will prevail. Thankfully, we have my brother and family in town from China and our awesome crafty neighbors to help get things appropriately creepy and festive. Turns out my brother is a fantastic pumpkin carver. Who knew? And thank goodness, because carving pumpkins is certainly not on my list of joyous parental tasks. I'd much rather bake bloody fingers, which are going in the oven later today.

Halloween Heat Wave

We're having a little heat wave in LA. I like to call it the Halloween heat wave. Happens every year, yet still catches me by surprise. Just as soon as I put the pumpkins out, I have to bring them back in because they start to sweat. The weather in LA this year has been close to perfect, so this is by no means a complaint. In fact, I am looking at it as an opportunity to feel a little bit of the summer I didn't really have because I was working the entire time. So, this October, I am enjoying wearing my sandals and tank top with shorts- weird as it may be.

Despite me not being around much to play the past few months, I am happy to report that Isabel had a stellar time. A good Old-fashioned summer: Swimming, lanyards, friendship bracelets, braids, late nights with the neighbors, Camp Grandmommy, planes, trains and road trips, lost teeth, feathers, and pjs til noon. When I wasn't able to go on adventures to San Francisco and Santa Barbara, I gave Isabel my camera to document her experience. Not wanting me to miss a thing, she took 400 photos. Bless her sweet heart. Here is a "best-of" summer selection, including some that Isabel took. See if you can guess which ones are hers.

Tim Burton

One recent evening, I came home to a quiet and quite remarkable scene. Isabel and lots of drawing paper and colored pencils were splayed all over the kitchen floor. My mom had taken her to see the Tim Burton show at LACMA. It's no surprise that she was taken with his work as she is already a fan of some of his films. But, she REALLY got into it. Apparently, she spent 3 hours moving very intently from one drawing to the next in the exhibition. As she studied them with wide eyes, she began to draw what she saw, and then she branched out to create whimsical and absurd characters all her own. The resulting drawings and words are pretty priceless. I'd like to think that Mr Burton himself might agree.

"Pencil Smiling at Trees"
"Scissor Eyes Winking at Nothing"

And here is poem:

Hair Brushes

Brush your hair

Do you know what it feels like?

Yes I do

It feels like getting your hair zapped, don't you no?

No, I do not no.

Thank you for telling me.

Ha ha ha

I tricked you

I don't no either.

Everybody I asked said that.

I'm going to faint now.

Thoughts for the Day

Now that reading and writing is really clicking with Isabel, she is actually reading and writing on her own. She sits and thinks and takes her time. Here are a few examples of poem-esque thoughts scrawled on some of her drawings I want to share:

1. Why are there butterflies that we can't see

I do not no

do you?

no

Ask your Dad

2. Why are there so many things around us

when we are looking

it's strange

3. Boos

Boos scare you out of your pants

Make you jump in the air

Like a frog