The Countdown to Halloween: The Fear-Zombies (Bonus)

(Note before we start this: I definitely have other favorites for this particular fear, but they will be listed in future posts, if you were wondering...)

Some of the best of the best stuff that deals with zombies...

1.) Resident Evil novels

Here is a Listmania list that deals with all of the novels (as unearthed by The Outstanding Seanny).

Notes for the best reading experience: If you want to scare yourself silly, read in the dark with a flashlight or by candlelight. These books are definitely made for an older crowd, and can really scare a child with macabre details. If you hate conspiracy theories, this book series probably isn't for you.

My personal thoughts: I've read a good majority of horror novels back in the day, and these are honestly some of the scariest books I've read to date. The details are heavily macabre and done right. I didn't sleep right for weeks after finishing each book. My favorites in the series are The Umbrella Conspiracy, City of the Dead, and Code Veronica. If you have played the games, seen the movies, or a newbie to the RE series, this is the best place to start/go back to. Extremely worth the read.

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2.) Shaun of the Dead

Notes for the best viewing experience: This movie is perfect when you want a darker comedy, but with a touch of action. This movie is best for the people that are new to zombie films, horror movie veterans, and people that don't want to watch something too scary. A definite party favorite. Also, a definite watch for fans of British tv shows.

Personal notes: I'm dead certain (I made a punny!) that this movie is going to become a classic in the future. The casting is perfect. The music and one-liners are super catchy. There were some parts of this movie that made me jump the first time I saw it. If you think about it that way, this is a perfect movie to prank someone to, especially if they have never seen this movie before. I have so many emotional ties to this movie that it isn't even funny. For example, I got this movie as a Blu-Ray as one of my anniversary gifts from Ian.

The Countdown to Halloween: The Fear-Zombies (Part Three)

Note before we start this post: Many apologies about the late post. Cleaning for the party has been pretty crazy, especially with my concussion feeling as if it's relapsing due to accidentally getting headbutted the other day by Gazo. I have been forced to take it easy as much as possible, even with the party time limit and multiple projects that need to be completed at hand. If things get worse, I'm probably going to end up back in the E.R., and the party will probably be cancelled. This situation kind of really sucks.

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The Fear: Zombies

These next couple of days are going to go over my fears of zombies and spirits. I'm separating these posts due to each post being pretty lengthy. I'm highly necrophobic. Mostly, I fear what the dead actually think of us. If they were reanimated, would they come back completely soulless?  Would they still keep their memories and habits, but still decay? Would their mind be controlled by a parasitic force, forcing them to kill against their will and reverting them back to basic needs (the likely choice)? If they were in spirit form, why can't they move on? Am I being watched at this very moment by one of them? Did I piss them off when they were living, somehow, and now they're possibly after me?

The fear of the zombies, in specific, started off due to being exposed to a B-rated, Filipino horror movie that dealt with voodoo zombies. I watched this movie with my mom since she didn't like watching horror movies alone, and I wanted to learn Tagalog. I don't remember the name of the movie (I've been constantly been trying to find out what it was so I can re-watch it). What I do remember is the fact that that one of the final scenes dealt with some of these poor people being drug into the earth by the dead and being swallowed up into the earth while the dead feasted upon the living that they caught. I still remember that scene to this day, picture perfect, and it sends chills down my spine. I slept with the lights on for weeks afterward. I feared back then that one of the voodoo zombies would grab my legs, drag me into a hole in the ground, and devour me while the earth swallowed us up.

It was awhile before I came in contact with anymore zombie related stuff. I think I honestly wanted to repress the idea of zombies on purpose, on a subconscious level.

Enter the Resident Evil series. Resident Evil 2 really freaked me out while I watched my younger brother play through it. I had to see the other games to see how they turned out. I was exposed to the first movie in high school. The storyline was alright, but it still creeped me out pretty badly. I think the way the dead moved, and the music really creeped me out the most during that movie. That movie had some pretty creepy one-liners. After one of my guy friends, Joey, told me about the book series, I had to read them all. If you seriously want the best Resident Evil experience, you need to read the books for sure. The macabre detailing will leave you sleepless for weeks, but it's totally worth it to know the canon story line.

I was hooked, even though I was creeped out every time I was exposed to anything dealing with zombies, even to this day. I'm pretty sure with my enthusiasm on knowing things about zombies that my old group would agree that I even loved zombies. In truth, I studied up on them so I could avoid them like a plague if they happened to exist.

I would like to survive, please: If you happened to wonder if I have a zombie survival plan, I do. In fact, I have thought up and plotted plans in dealing with multiple situations, and with family, strangers, or if I am alone. I made Ian promise to kill me off if I became a zombie if there was no cure during the chance that a zombie apocalypse would happen and vice versa. In my will plans, I have asked for a barrier to be built around my coffin in the case I happen to be reanimated. I also like that plan since I don't like thinking about people stealing my stuff after death or doing worse things to me, personally.

What are your thoughts on zombies? Do you think zombies are possible or a hoax? Do you have a plan? Do you think zombies are overrated? Post your thoughts in the comments. Thanks! x

The Countdown to Halloween: The Fear-Medical Needles (Bonus)

Best of the best horror movies dealing with medical needles...

Movie #1: Audition

Notes for the best viewing experience: This movie starts off a bit slow, but works up to a faster pace.  Make sure you pay attention all the way through, especially at the end. This movie is best for a person that loves psychological horror, foreign movies (especially with a Japanese flair), and sexy femme fatales.

Personal thoughts: This movie will mess with your mind until the end. You think you get what going on, and then everything becomes absolutely trippy. Most of the scenes with the needles still make me cringe to this very day.

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Movie #2: Planet Terror

Notes for the best viewing experience: This movie is best watched with people that love action and ridiculousness. This movie might inspire you to make barbecue ribs, or make you shy away from them altogether. I highly recommend this as a party movie.

Personal thoughts: This movie combines some of my biggest fears of medical needles and zombies, and yet, I still love it. You can't help but root for some of the female leads and poetic justice served in this movie. As a fair warning, some of the one liners are addictive and you may find yourself saying them without realizing it.

The Countdown to Halloween: The Fear-Medical Needles (Part Two)

Note before we start this post: I relabeled the titles that dealt with the Countdown to Halloween to separate them from other posts I may be making this month. This is also my personal blog, after all. What I love about this particular blog theme is that each post will still show, but will be lumped together for the same day that they were posted in, so you guys will be getting something extra. I am having a Halloween party on the seventh of this month (to avoid parties overlapping later on). On that day, you will get a party related post AND a Fear Series post. How awesome is that? ^.^ Other times, you may get a personal post or even a review overlapped with something else CtH related that was not planned in advance...

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The Fear: Medical Needles

I have to admit, this is one fear that has waned or worsened over time, due to the situation.

My parents said that I was a trooper when it came to medical needles around when I was born up until the age of four. I could even look at the needle and not be fazed one bit. The shot was administered, and then everything was over with. Here's a lollipop and a bandage for you, along with your discharge papers. Done.

Everything changed up until the age of five, when I dealt with my first dentist experience in Idaho. My family attended a local dentist place since it was cheap and got the job done. The first dentist I had was not great with kids and elderly people (he had such poor reviews from patients that he eventually got fired!) and had even pinned me to a chair trying to administer a shot into my gums. I called out for my parents when the dentist was being too rough. My dad rushed back, and saw what the dentist was trying to do, and told him to stop. I rushed out of the chair in tears. Dad was not pleased, and told the dentist off. I would not attend M. Dental for over ten years after being traumatized. I was referred to a specialized orthodontist after that incident.

Since then, I was being highly skittish around medical needles, with good reason. The State's medical facility had some male nurses that were beefy and rude. One of them vice gripped my arm while giving me shots I needed for traveling overseas. My right arm was bruised for days. I try to avoid going there whenever possible for my shots now.

The worst part was yet to come. Enter my sixth grade year, which was the second worst year of my whole life. Mom and dad got told off since I wasn't updated on my shots due to school records not transferring right. My parents argued that I had shots, especially since I had traveled outside the country not too long ago to see my family in the Philippines. The schoolboard wouldn't listen, since the state doctors hadn't sent them my records as planned. We were referred on over to St. Luke's over in Meridian. I liked the lower areas of St. Luke's since the building was brand new at the time and had multiple areas with fish tanks. What I didn't like was the fact that I thought that my Pediatrician was a pedophile/creeper (it was later seen via the news that he was arrested for being a part of and owning child porn, confirming my fears), especially around my brothers, the rough/rude nurses, and the fact that they didn't bother contacting the State's facility for their shot records, causing later overdoses that could have killed me. To this day, by body has random spasms due to the overdoses (these spasms were heavily noticeable during middle school, and were so bad that I was referred to multiple doctors around the state). I thought that my family hadn't tried suing them for maltreatment, but I recently found out that they had, and unfortunately, lost in the end. The fact that I was manhandled when I got my blood drawn later in their lab did not help their case.

Since then, I have only been getting getting shots/blood drawn at St. Alphonsus if I can help it. Their services are way nicer in general.  During my pregnancy with Evelyn, they handled me with care and even brought in specialists to help me out. I endured through shots and blood draws for Evelyn, and would do it again if I have to-for her.

Have you guys had any freaky/bad/good experiences in dealing with medical needles? If so, post in the comments! Thanks! x

The Countdown to Halloween: The Fear- Original (Part One)

I really hope everyone is having a great Countdown so far. I have so many great posts in store for this month due to major inspiration; some of the inspiration is recent due to some of the lovely commenters. Much love to the people that commented and the new followers. You guys rock! <3

Oh, and to the people that want to make lists based on the topic posted, post them down in the comments so I can read them! If you have any questions, I'll try my best to answer them! If they deal with a future post, I won't answer it until that post is posted, if the post doesn't answer it first.

Now, please enjoy part one of The Fear Series!

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Fear is one of the main reasons of why Halloween is so awesome. People have a love/hate relationship with being afraid. Why are some us driven into macabre thinking when others shy away from it as if it does not exist?

I know what I'm afraid of.  How about you?

Here is my top list of fears in the order of the series:

• Medical needles
• Zombies
• Spirits
• Spiders
• Drowning
• Being eaten alive
• My loved ones being harmed somehow
• Failure
• Sleepwalkers
• Certain types of environments around me/houses at night
• Being alone for awhile
• Ventriloquist dummies
• Porcelain dolls
• Clowns
• Being forgotten or replaced

The Countdown to Halloween: The Kingdom of Witches

***Note: These next two days are going to have some short and sweet posts due to some heavier content on the way.***

It's nearing Misgivings Day! Let's get into the Halloween spirit, shall we?

This video has been giving me goosebumps since I first watched it a couple of years back. I love how the music, poem, and animation work together in harmony. It flows so beautifully. Enjoy!

The Countdown to Halloween: Halloween traditions

I have been asked on Twitter by multiple people what kind of traditions I follow during the month of October to celebrate the Halloween. I consider late September to mid November "Spooky Season," mostly due to the awesomeness of Oktoberfest, Halloween, Samhain, and the Day of the Dead, and celebrate during this time. With fall and winter, you seriously get the best holidays and the best food.

Here are my current traditions in no particular order (which will be crossed off when each one is completed):

• Making candied/caramel apples  Completed 10/7
• Having a horror movie marathon  Completed 10/7
• Attending a friend's Halloween party  Completed 10/26
• Drinking hot spiked cider (Not applicable when I'm pregnant, obviously!)  Completed 10/26
• Drinking hot/cold cider (Applicable anytime!)  Completed 9/16
• Watching anything related to Elvira (she's so cool!) Completed 9/28
• Dressing up in multiple costumes  Completed 10/25
• Going trick or treating (with friends or with Evelyn) This didn't happen due to Evelyn and I being extremely sick. The thought is depressing.
• Enjoying a Halloween edition of a regular candy  Completed 9/28
• Honoring my ancestors with incense, lighting a candle, silently praying, and offering honey afterward The full rituals I have been planning have been put on hold until I'm feeling better. They will probably take place around my anniversary. I have been offering prayers by fires, in the meantime.
• Participating in All Hallow's Read  Completed 10/7 (We celebrated early on Misgivings Day! How awesome is that? ;3 )
• Participating in trick or treating for UNICEF We may or may not be able to do this, all depends on Evelyn getting better. :/ UNICEF is accepting donations late due to Hurricane Sandy's destruction.
• Checking out a seasonal Halloween store  Completed 10/30
• Wearing a vibrant colored wig  Completed 10/15
• Wearing various over-the-top makeup looks for the hell of it  Completed 10/23
• Scaring people whenever possible by creeping up on them  Completed 10/22
• Enjoying a Sam Adam's seasonal beer  Completed 9/24
• Reading scary stories online or in book form  Completed 9/26
• Making a sugar skull Going to make these on November 1st or during mine and Ian's wedding anniversary.
• Consuming something pumpkin flavored  Completed 9/25
• Drinking hot chocolate while wrapped in a blanket with a fire started in the fireplace  Completed 9/22
• Watching a foreign horror movie
• Creating a hypersigil I have created the hypersigil, and hopefully going to fire it for Dia de Los Muertos.
• Listen to Gothic/Halloween inspired music  Completed 9/15/Technically all year round!
• Watch The Kingdom of Witches to get into Halloween mood (totally awesome Youtube video worth the watch! I have been watching this since it was first released. I will put up a post on it tomorrow!) Completed 9/29