There...there wolf.

Happy Halloween!

Since I’ve already covered the other “big two” Universal Monsters, I guess it’s time to talk about werewolves. Lycanthropes of some form or another show up in almost every culture’s legends.  The were-whatever was usually linked to the most fierce or frightening creature in an area.  The same fears that led to the “Big Bad Wolf” in fairy tales, gave rise to the European werewolf stories.

Why, Mr. Wolf. What a big legacy you have.

The original legends were intertwined with other irrational supernatural fears of the time. The best way to become a werewolf was usually to be a witch first, and use the proper spell to transform. The best way to become a vampire was to be a werewolf when you were killed.  Also the idea that shape shifting into a blood thirsty beast is contagious is a relatively new one.  Old school werewolves tended to eat their prey, leaving nothing behind to inherit the curse except some wolf droppings. (And I’m pretty sure no Dark Age villagers were quaking in fear of the were-turd, or in France, Le Poop-Garou.)

From the Works of Edgar Allan Goose

As I sit here in my kitchen,

Noises set my old eye twitchen’.

Tiny sounds that I know I’ve heard before.

My husband out in fields a’ reaping,

Once again the vermin creeping

Slowly in the corner near the door.

A Perfect 10

Transcontinental Love Story

Or

How Do I Get Here from There?

Not only did she pick the ice sculpture, she picked me back when I looked like this. Am I lucky or what?

Up the Lake: Lake Stuff

Water Hazards

or

I Guess that’s Why They Call it the Lake

The center of all kids’ social, political and even military activities Up the Lake was, of course, wherever the beer was . . .

Jeff's Books to Open Your Mind: Sideways Stories from Wayside School

There is a whole lot of mind expanding goodness in these books by Louis Sachar.

Her Name Revealed

A frightening discovery occurred during a trip to Waltham, Massachusetts for a training seminar.  My family accompanied me for the journey, as it was during summer vacation, but like many terrifying realizations, it occurred when I was alone.

500 Word Freshman Essay

An essay must start with its thesis statement, which is expanded and supported in three body paragraphs before being restated in the conclusion.  The introduction paragraph supplies additional background support as well.  The opening section can also establish the tone and format of the document by using sentence structure, for example: sub clauses separated by commas, which will be used in the remainder of the piece.  Some extra information can be mentioned in the introduction without follow up in the body paragraphs to increase information, but mostly to attain the required word count.  The introductory section ends with a transition into, and often the opening words of, the first body paragraph.

Thank God I'm an Engineer

Parody of "Thank God I’m a Country Boy" by John Denver

The patron saint of engineers.

What’s the Worst that Could Happen?

When it comes to getting enough nerve to ask someone out, the clueless will often impart this question and answer phrased advice:

“Go ahead and ask her, what’s the worst that could happen? 

She says ‘No.’”

People who say this have little understanding of psychology in general and geek psychology in particular.

“No” is not always the worst thing.

“No” does not require alteration to the current lifestyle.

Studies have shown that any change, good or bad, causes stress.  Rejection is easy, there’s no change, you just continue on with life as it was before:  go to the arcade, read some comic books, play a war game, whatever.

“Yes” is where the trouble starts.

“Yes” leads to “Holy crap! What do I do now?”

Here’s an extended account of “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Oddly, not the most dangerous thing in the place.