X-Entertainment.com X-Entertainment UGO
X-Entertainment is still feeling pretty bad about those lobsters.

« Right by Night. [Main Index] Hangin’ With Mr. Krueger. »

09/04/2007: Bag Of Skulls.

The woman enjoys autumn much the same as me, but for her, I have to think it’s at least partly due to my increased agreeability to random trips to Michaels. If you don’t live near one, Michaels is a chain of arts & crafts stores. I’ve already complained about the woman’s obsession with this place, and it hasn’t let up.

During the Halloween season (Christmas too, to a lesser extent), I only raise my Michaels hate flag at half-mast, because the chain offers a spooky smorgasbord of booing bric-a-brac, and it’s often stuff that none of the other stores around here carry. They also get a gold star for being one of the first places in town to sell anything Halloweeny, and the proof is in the blood pudding: It’s barely September, and I’m already buying bags of skulls.


(click here to see the WHOLE bag!)

In fact, that’s what the product is officially titled. “Bag Of Skulls.” The shoe (or skull) fits, as it’s five bucks worth of little menacing skulls neatly nestled in a black net sack — which itself has a bunch of smaller skulls built in! So many skulls!

What I really dig (ha!) about them is that they don’t kowtow to society’s usual call for all toy skulls to look perfectly gregarious. These are some seriously mean-faced skulls. After closer inspection, I noticed that they all have gigantic fangs, so they’re not even supposed to be human skulls. It’s a bag of monster skulls! I was on the fence about buying these, but a sack of monster skulls is definitely worth a fiver.

I can’t find my giant Spider-Man figure, but picture him palming one of these babies. Totally sincere Shakespearean Yorick pose just waiting to be designed. I so need to do it. Where’d I put that guy?


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Bookmark and Share


Discussion Thread: 279 comments
1 2 3 ... 6

Nice Skulls.

Ghosted by Crizag in Newfoundland @ 09/04/2007 8:20 PM EDT

It looks like someone raided a ginormous werewolf graveyard and stole their shrunken heads. These skulls actually look like the squishy stress balls that they give away at work.

Ghosted by jjwspider @ 09/04/2007 8:20 PM EDT

I got stuck at Michaels yesterday, but I managed to keep her down to 15 minutes, a miracle in and of it self. How did I miss the sack-o-skulls?

Maybe Spidey is under your bed, that’s where I would be if I were a 12″ action figure.

Ghosted by Mad Cow @ 09/04/2007 8:21 PM EDT

I was in Michaels a couple days ago. The miniture towns were pretty cool but I think i could only stand to have them on for a few minutes at a time. Very noisy.

Ghosted by Bill @ 09/04/2007 8:26 PM EDT

Matt,

Good deal for 5 bucks. To my surprise, the first store near me to put anything Halloweenesque out was Party City (Party America, etc.). I heard from one of the clerks they started almost 3 weeks ago! Now THAT’S what I call devotion!

Already when I walked in a few days ago the place was playing Halloween DVD’s on how to decorate your spooky house, and Halloween music. Plus, costumes in almost every aisle.

Is that the Spiderman that came with the ninja costume? Because if it is I remember having him too.

Ghosted by Cotter @ 09/04/2007 8:34 PM EDT

Damn you all for having a “stay up all night” thread the one night I can’t stay up to be a part of it :evil:

Ghosted by Knegative @ 09/04/2007 8:44 PM EDT

The Halloween store I saw last Columbus Day seems to have reappeared in the same Westmont shopping center (or will – they were just hiring for the season the last time I was over there). The grocery store where I work just put their Halloween stuff out last week, though it’s not all out yet. I imagine the school supplies will probably be around for another week or two before they give way entirely to candy and giant moving skulls in black robes and plastic light-up pumpkins.

Actually, Matt, thanks for reminding me I wanted to take a look at the AC Moore on the other side of the same mall as the Halloween store for fall decorations. AC Moore is an arts-and-crafts store chain similar to Michael’s. I don’t hate it, mostly because, also like Michael’s, they have cool holiday decorations you won’t find anywhere else. (This was one of the only places I could find anything for the Fourth of July.) I wanted to see what their general fall decorations were like – it’s too early for me to think of Halloween decorating.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 09/04/2007 9:06 PM EDT

I didn’t see those at my MICHAEL’s. Good stuff.

I love my giant Spiderman but, man, it is tough to keep him standing.

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 09/04/2007 9:13 PM EDT

Hmm, I’m thrown by the “Ages 8 and up”. Would a 7 year old swallow some of the smaller skulls? Get twisted up in the net like a helpless fish? I don’t know but it’s bothering me.

P.S. Is that a pumpkin recipe book??

Ghosted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 09/04/2007 9:21 PM EDT

I was definetly impressed with Michael’s selection of Halloween stuff. Prices aren’t bad, either. I plan on going and picking up some of the little glass potion bottle thingies that have clever, spooky labels.

Ghosted by EtHM @ 09/04/2007 9:29 PM EDT

skulls, skulls everywhere are skulls, breakin’ up the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the skulls?

sorry, went into “five man electrical band” for a second there!

Ghosted by ginger @ 09/04/2007 9:34 PM EDT

Michael’s can also do cool Halloween framing..they actually carry orange steel frames and black mats for this purpose. i got a cool old concert poster framed this way.

Ghosted by Another Matt @ 09/04/2007 9:52 PM EDT

I work at a Michaels up here in canada. We’ve been selling halloween stuff for at least 3 weeks now. In fact we’ve actually sold out of certain things including 6ft mummies that mumble when you walk past them.

Ghosted by Neen @ 09/04/2007 10:20 PM EDT

I recently applied at Michael’s.
If all goes well, I will be working there in the smack-dab of the ‘Ween season.

Actually, if all goes well, I will be working at the Halloween Supply store next to the Michael’s…

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/04/2007 10:23 PM EDT

I’m staying at the Marshall House in Savannah later this week for business and it turns out I got the reservation for the most notoriously haunted room. It was featured in ABC Family’s Scariest Places on Earth a few years ago. The lady that made the reservations did this on purpose.

Ghosted by Bill @ 09/04/2007 10:24 PM EDT

I don’t know that I could do the village for Halloween, but i have a very deep window sill in my new place that is begging to be lined with cotton snow and mini houses come November.

How does one lose a giant Spiderman?

Ghosted by kb @ 09/04/2007 10:24 PM EDT

Also, where is all the goddamn slime, stores?
One of the reasons I love the season is because my chances of finding decent slime products raises by about 25%.
I’m just not seein’ it yet.

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/04/2007 10:25 PM EDT

You need to get her to be a craft snob, then she won’t want to go to Michaels anymore. Instead, it will be specialty store after specialty store and she’ll see the logic in not dragging you along on all of those separate trips to get that organic silk yarn or discontinued scrapbook paper or whatever she’s into. I’m telling you – my husband hasn’t had to enter a Michaels in years.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 09/04/2007 10:28 PM EDT

Technically, I have to admit Halloween is now less than 2 months away- but I still feel it’s too early to start getting exited.

However, that didn’t keep me from noticing 2 pieces of candy corn flattened on the sidewalk outside work. Not to mention the nearby coffee shop which now apparently also sells rubber skeletons and glow-in-the-dark eyeballs. Oh, and the farm I pass everyday now has pumpkins out along with a big Jack-O-Lantern sign.

-Yep. No avoiding it.

Ghosted by GloriousKyle @ 09/04/2007 10:29 PM EDT

I loves me some Michael’s. I like Hobby Lobby too, but they’re way too Fundamentalist to carry cool Halloween stuff. I’m Christian and all, but can’t we have some fun in this transient life?

Ghosted by penguin_poet @ 09/04/2007 10:32 PM EDT

This is what I get for actually going out today.

I miss 2 blogs. You’re on fire, Matt. Making up for lost time is how I see it.

I too was dragged into a craft store today with my gf and her best friend, but we went in an AC Moore (a poor man’s Micheal’s) There are Micheal’s around here too, but this one was close to where we were.

What were they looking for? Picture frames.

But I did see a bin full of beanie babies, many kind of old (circa 97, 98 & 99). Sadly, I had them already, and back when they were popular, I paid WAY more than $3 for them.

And now, I will go to the last thread and read all 100+ comments. It was at 105 when I looked at it around 4pm.

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/04/2007 10:33 PM EDT

I can honestly see myself buying 10 bags of skulls if I saw them for sale somewhere.

Ghosted by Frostor @ 09/04/2007 10:37 PM EDT

I just noticed the main page’s title…AWESOME Spaceballs reference! I freaking love that movie! Pizza The Hutt was just a great, disgusting character. Dom DeLuise voiced him well.

Also, yesterday I went to see “Mr. Bean’s Holiday.” I thought it was good, I was laughing the entire time. If you’re a fan of Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson, or just plain British Slapstick humor, go see it. Also, Willem DeFoe plays a self-absorbed filmmaker. (the movie that he shows at Cannes mostly consists of himself traveling up an escalator)

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/04/2007 10:45 PM EDT

The ‘Ween Jones sodas are out.
Every single flavor is a rerun.

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/04/2007 10:55 PM EDT

Are the can designs any different?

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/04/2007 11:00 PM EDT

Lemon Drop Dead had made the move to a can; it’s yellow.
Gruesome Grape and Candy Corn are the same and I am pretty sure Strawberry S’Lime is the same, too.

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/04/2007 11:08 PM EDT

I’ve yet to try a Jones soda, ever . The flavors always scared me away I guess. Are they good?

Ghosted by Tommy @ 09/04/2007 11:10 PM EDT

The regular, non-Halloween stuff is very good.
The Halloween stuff tends to be a bit too intense (or downright gross) to enjoy as anything but a novelty.

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/04/2007 11:12 PM EDT

I was a little harsh on the Halloween flavors in my review; they’re not as wacky as the Thanksgiving flavors which are SUPPOSED to be disgusting. With the Halloween flavors, some are better than others. As a general rule, remember to drink them VERY chilled. Jones Soda by and large isn’t good warm. Not that any soda should be warm, but like, you can drink Coke if it’s warm…Jones, no.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/04/2007 11:16 PM EDT

still nothing halloween-esq over here in my part of the world.. sigh, hopefully soon. i’m dying for some mixed jumbo bags of fun size candy bars, you know the bags of candy you pay 10 bucks for.. sigh. its okay.. right?

Ghosted by Andrew @ 09/04/2007 11:16 PM EDT

I’m eating a salad as a late night snack because thats all I could find. This sucks, I should be eating Reese Pumpkins or something.

Ghosted by Tommy @ 09/04/2007 11:29 PM EDT

just microwaved a pizza and loaded up on cheez curls and chocolate chip cookies. woot woot.

Ghosted by Andrew @ 09/04/2007 11:30 PM EDT

:( Alls I have is four-day-old chicken on a low-quality hoagie roll.

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/04/2007 11:33 PM EDT

Yeah, well at least none of you spent four hours (off and on) preparing a dinner that your significant other couldn’t even eat because the enchilada sauce had too much heat in it. That is what I get for following the recipe and putting in one whole jalapeno chile. Stupid book said the sauce was supposed to be mild, so I figured she could handle it. I love the heat. Her? Not so much.

I ate what I cooked and she ordered Chinese food.

Ghosted by Magic Toy @ 09/04/2007 11:45 PM EDT

Sup guys, So whens the next stay up all night thread? Im working a grave yard shift and its pretty boring from 2am till 5am so it be cool to have some one to chat to. I caught up on three of your post today Matt. Along with the good reading I got a nice vocab lesson (Caveat, and gregarious).

So along with the Halloweens fun times comes my sons first birthday! HE was born on Halloween last year but were going to celebrate it on the 30th this year so my little girl can go trick O treating. Were trying to come up with a good theme. Im thinking a traditional Halloween party. Any ideas for games we can play with the rest of the kids?

Ghosted by mjgrass @ 09/04/2007 11:46 PM EDT

Tommy,

Way over priced. Saw them for 5 bucks and scoffed at the insanity.

…then I bought them because they were shaped like pumpkins. And they were delicious.

What am I saying, buy them ’till your hearts content.

Ghosted by Cotter @ 09/04/2007 11:46 PM EDT

Cotter,

Yeah, I’ll probably buy a bunch. For some reason, they never seem as good as the Reese Eggs, but maybe thats just my memories fucking with me.

Ghosted by Tommy @ 09/04/2007 11:49 PM EDT

Hey, check it out! I’m back on! First off, thanks Matt and Bill for helping me to figure out my little posting problem. ‘Preciate it.

Yeah, Michael’s is pretty good for Halloween. I gotta make a trip soon. I’ve heard the Party City near here is revved up now too. My dad works at Wal Mart and says they have some stuff in the back but won’t put it out for at least another week. They’re really letting me down. God knows they’ll have the Christmas stuff encroaching in on Halloween before October is over with, but they sure are taking their sweet time on the Halloween stuff. It’s just not like them to not start pushing a holiday or major event annoyingly earlier than is necessary. I want cheap Halloween crap, dammit! I’m going to be moving soon and I need decorations for the new apartment…….

…which I will probably keep up all year.

Ghosted by DJ D @ 09/04/2007 11:52 PM EDT

Magic Toy, I know people who think black pepper is hot. I scoff at them and continue eating my spicy food with great enthusiasm.

Also, the nearest Micheals is about 20 miles away from me. Along with pretty much everything else. I hate this town so much.

Ghosted by Annette @ 09/04/2007 11:54 PM EDT

Tommy,

If I’m not mistaken, you’re talking about the milk chocolate eggs with half-melted chocolate inside? If so that shit is fucking great! …Or maybe that’s just my memories fucking with me.

DJ,

Yeah, I’m telling you, Pary City is BOOKED. They have Halloween shit practically falling off the shelves.

I refuse to call you DJ D due to your earlier post in the Halo 3 soda topic.

Ghosted by Cotter @ 09/04/2007 11:55 PM EDT

Oh, and Magic Toy, don’t go changing the name. I think it’s cool the way it is–just my 2 cents.

On the Halloween front (the movie, not the holiday), I did take issue with a few things, like explaining Micheal’s origin mostly, because what always made him so scary and interesting was that there was no real reason for why he was the way he was. He came from a normal family and just one day snapped. That’s a lot scarier. But at one point the other night during the new movie, I turned to my cousin and said, “You know what, if these people were my family I’d kill them too.”

But, in the plus column, the movie’s chock full of horror cameos and Zombie’s usual cast that you’ve seen in his other movies. If you know a lot about horror movies you’ll spot a lot of folks. And it’s really cool that he brought Danielle Harris back to the series. Me being the big ol’ horror geek that I am I was constantly pointing to the screen, going, “ooh! It’s so-and-so!” (don’t worry, not loud though. It is my belief that people who make noise in the theatre should be punched in the throat).

Ghosted by DJ D @ 09/05/2007 12:05 AM EDT

Cotter What post would that be?

Ghosted by DJ D @ 09/05/2007 12:07 AM EDT

Another underrated place to look for Halloween stuff is a hardware store like a Home Depot. They usually have a small section of expensive but cool like things eletronic candy bowls that’ll scream at you, moving decorations, etc.

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 09/05/2007 12:11 AM EDT

Cotter,
I’m just talking about the classic Reese peanut butter eggs, but I think I know what you’re talking about too.

Ghosted by Tommy @ 09/05/2007 12:18 AM EDT

DJ,

Cotter Yeah, playing with Halloween supplies while watching Halloween II…that does sound pretty close to heaven to me! Good on ya.
Ghosted by DJ @ 09/02/2007 1:16 AM EDT

Tommy,

Yeah, the double eggs are great. I’ll have to look into the Reeses eggs, must have overlooked those. Then again, I’ve never been a huge fan of Easter. No memories of egg hunts or coloring with me. Plus there aren’t any good TV Easter specials if you ask me.

Ghosted by Cotter @ 09/05/2007 12:22 AM EDT

Hey, Toy, at least you tried to make something you thought she might enjoy, you just got tripped up by a misleading recipe. My ex used to be like, ‘tough shit’ if I didn’t want to eat his ‘burns going in AND out’ chili. Oh, and belated happy birthday!

Ghosted by Moony @ 09/05/2007 12:26 AM EDT

Cotter and Tommy One of my guiltiest pleasures/addictions in life is Reeses cups/eggs. Reeses and Dr. Pepper might just be my 2 “stranded on a deserted island, cannot live without” necessities.

Oh, and maybe I’m slow or something, but I still don’t see how that quote requires the dropping of the “D.” Not that I mind…D or no D..whatever your heart tells you is right…just wondering is all.

Ghosted by DJ D @ 09/05/2007 12:32 AM EDT

DJ,

Your user name in the post lacks the extra D. That’s what I started calling you. I later found out the extra D was present in every other post. I refuse to conform. I’m just a stubborn ass hole… and I like the sound of DJ better. Reminds of Full House and when Nick @ Nite wasn’t worthy of a spanking.

I also love Easter chocolates, but I just hate the holiday itself. Like I said, no good shows, memories, and I HATE the colors. They just don’t mix in my mind (purple and yellow, right?).

I also hate any kind of soda that isn’t fruity. I actually think Coke is ok, but I just never drink it for some reason. I kind of grew up with the mind set I hated it, so now whenever I see it I also think it will taste bad but it never does.

Ghosted by Cotter @ 09/05/2007 1:00 AM EDT

Hmmmm….interesting that a simple typo on my part could cause you take such a stubborn stance…I wonder what this says about you on some deep psychological level. Maybe you’re just easily persuaded and manipulated…maybe some form of OCD is involved….maybe it’s 1:06am and I’ve probably over-analyzed this waaaaay too much. I’m going with all of the above.

Yeah, and I agree. Nick @ Nite’s starting to slip. They’ve got Home Improvement on there now? What’s that all about? Oh, and is it weird that I always thought Kimmy Gibbler was really cute?

Ghosted by DJ D @ 09/05/2007 1:10 AM EDT

Yeah, it didn’t bother me at all that she didn’t want to eat it. As soon as I sampled the sauce I knew it was going to be far too hot for her. The funny thing is she had tasted it a few minutes before I did, had already discovered it was too much for her, and was contemplating how she was going to survive the meal without making me feel bad. When it burned my tongue (in a good way) I just turned to her and laughed and she smiled and said, “thank god you taste it too.” Then I got the Chinese carry-out menu from one of the drawers and told her to knock herself out.

It really didn’t turn out that bad. This is the first time I have ever attempted authentic Mexican cooking so a lot of the techniques are new to me. There will inevitably be some trial-and-error, but it was fun. I’ve been on a cookbook binge lately. You can find some pretty decent deals through Amazon and when you couple that with their super saver shipping it doesn’t damage the bank account too bad.

DJ D: Reeses cups and (especially) eggs are firmly entrenched on my top-10 list of the greatest things in the world, somewhere between the The Simpsons and a fine single malt Scotch Whisky. They made the list sometime during the early ’80s and have showed no signs of slippage, like me, after too much Scotch Whisky.

Ghosted by Magic Toy @ 09/05/2007 1:13 AM EDT

1 2 3 ... 6

Add A New Comment!


This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 8:15 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.