Jim and I took a trip to Half-Priced books today. It’s about 1/2 an hour away and we usually try to check out some other fun shops when we go.

One of those was Pottery Barn. Not really my cup of tea, but interesting in its own way. I was wandering around in there when I came across a ceramic bare foot on a tray. That was it – just a foot. The toes were a little longer than my own – and mine are kinda long – and it was done in kind of a gray glaze. Odd.

I called Jim over and asked,

“What would a house have to look like there were would be ‘perfect spot’ for something like this?”

He didn’t even have to think about it and didn’t bat an eye.

“Yours,” he replied.

I started bristle, but then acknowledged that I do have an entire shelf of skulls. And a bowl of brains at work.

It’s valid.

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We also stopped over at Crate and Barrel. It’s kind of amazing the attention to detail and how precisely positioned and arranged everything is. Very stylized and generally out of my price range. Also, no actual crates or barrels to be found.

I needed to use the rest room and while the restroom was as decorated (or over-decorated) as the rest of the store, the prior user hadn’t flushed the urinal.

So, it smelled like a gas station restroom.

Which was unfortunate. I’m pretty sure it spoiled the affect they were going for – and I’m guessing they were regretting not springing for the auto-flush. For the record, I did flush when I was done. And washed my hands. I guess it was notable that, no matter how much you dress things up, you can’t escape the human element.

Or, apparently, the human odor.

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Finally, I finished up the costume this weekend. The detail work had been done for a while, but I had some mechanical challenges to wrap up. Those were surmounted and this evening I had a dress rehearsal and showed my neighbor – since I needed to actually try and walk around and he could see into the backyard.

He was impressed and I was more mobile than I anticipated. As with previous years I may have some trouble with stairs, but I’m working on my route around campus and should be okay.

Looking forward to the day off and a day of creeping people out.