I had mentioned in my last entry that in lieu of a traditional birthday cake, some of my family surprised me the other night with those tasty red velvet and salted caramel cupcakes. Unbeknownst to me, however, my mom had a surprise (belated) birthday cake custom-made for me for another small get together she’d planned at her house last night. I have a bit of an infatuation with Tiffany & Co., so my mom had the cake shaped and frosted in the design of one of their trademark light blue gift boxes with white ribbon.
I had to take a couple pictures of it before I guiltily cut into it. It was just so cute- and so were the very bright and colorful flowers I received as a belated-birthday present, too. The whole evening was such a wonderful surprise!
Today, I bundled up and headed out to explore and photograph the old abandoned Medfield State Hospital. Unlike other locations I’ve been to, the grounds of the hospital are open to the public from 6 AM ’til 6 PM daily. Entering any of the buildings is strictly prohibited, and there are security personnel who routinely patrol the area, but for the most part- you can roam freely without being hassled. The place is monstrous, and very spaced out, which left me with a lot of ground to cover.
Because of the cold, I was the only one up there today- which made the whole experience a little eerie at first, especially when I was hearing metal clanging from inside the buildings whenever the wind blew, or seeing animals run by when they heard me approaching, but it proved to be a really cool adventure. I’d like to go back when it’s a bit warmer out so I can stay and poke around a little longer.
The hospital was built in 1892, and stayed open and operational until 2003, which explains why it’s still in relatively good condition (sans a couple of broken windows here and there) compared to other abandoned hospitals & asylums in New England.
The grounds were also apparently most recently used as a filming location for the movies “Shutter Island” and “The Box”.
Down the street, a couple of miles away from the front entrance of the grounds, is the Medfield State Hospital Cemetery, where patients who died between 1918 and 1988 have been laid to rest. I had wanted to stop and respectfully take a look, but it looked like the front entrance was closed off as I drove by a couple of times. Maybe next time.
Yesterday was my birthday, and was celebrated in a quiet, low-key fashion. I worked most of the day, and spent most of the evening with my mom and some of my relatives at her house. It was nice.
Knowing my love of all things red velvet, which is only matched by my love of all things salted caramel, my mom, aunt, uncle, and cousin all teamed up to create the above-pictured “Red Velvet & Salted Caramel Cupcakes” in lieu of a traditional birthday cake for me. They were DELICIOUS, and I borrowed the recipe from my aunt to share with any foodies who may read this blog, or for anyone who is just interested in attempting to bake something new:
YOU WILL NEED:
* One box cake mix, and the ingredients to bake it (eggs, flour, milk, etc.) It can be any kind of cake mix, depending on your preference.
* Sea salt.
* 4-5 Heath Bars (Butterfinger bars are also a good substitute)
* Caramel ice cream topping
* Buttercream icing
* Squeeze bottle
OKAY, HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:
1. Bake your cupcakes according to the package directions.
2. When the cupcakes are nearly done baking, pour the caramel ice cream topping into a measuring cup.
3. Add 1/2 tablespoon of sea salt per 8 ox. of caramel. You may have to add a little more, depending on how salty you want them to taste.
4. Warm the mixture in the microwave for one minute, and then stir well. From there, pour the mixture into the squeeze bottle.
5. When the cupcakes are done baking, use the squeeze bottle to inject the mixture into the center of the cupcakes. Be sure to save some of the mixture for later! When all of the cupcakes have been filled, move them to a cooling area.
6. Keeping the Heath (or Butterfinger) bars in their packaging, HULK SMASH ‘EM INTO BITS. When you’re done, unwrap them and pour the pieces into a bowl.
7. When the cupcakes are cooled, frost them with the buttercream icing, sprinkle them (or dunk them) into the broken up Heath/Butterfinger bits, and drizzle more of the salted caramel mixture over them.
8. SHOVE CUPCAKES INTO MOUTH.
The sweetness of the red velvet cake, the salted caramel filling, and the broken up bits of Butterfinger made for an unexpected and pretty awesome flavor combination. Definitely one I never would have thought of before.
Before I wrap this entry up: many, many thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes and kind words yesterday! It really meant a lot. I love you all and I had a great day!
And can we all just stop for a moment and appreciate this birthday card my mom gave me? Holy shit.
One of my favorite things to do in the winter is head up to New Hampshire (usually Hampton, Seabrook, and the surrounding areas), and cruise along the coast, park by the ocean, and just relax with a hot cup of coffee and some good music. The boardwalk and most of the seaside motels are closed, which makes the place look like a ghost town, a sharp contrast to how it typically looks come July and August- but it’s so peaceful.
I headed up there earlier this afternoon for a few hours to take in the scenery before the snow started to fall, and made a quick stop in Portsmouth a few miles away to photograph the long abandoned Portsmouth Naval Prison:
I first saw the prison last Spring/Summer after taking a wrong turn in an attempt to head back towards Boston from Portsmouth. I was in awe at it’s size as I drove over a bridge that ran along the water across from it and knew that I wanted to come back to photograph it at some point.
The prison was built in 1908, and was used until it’s closure in 1974. Since it would be too expensive to either renovate or demolish, it sits alone, weathered by the elements and decaying from lack of maintenance. It’s a beautiful structure, although getting close to it is tricky since it’s located on the grounds of a restricted federal facility, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
The facility was actually referenced to in “The Last Detail” (1973), starring Randy Quaid and Jack Nicholson, as well as Stephen King’s story, “The Body”, which was later filmed as “Stand By Me”.
Let me just go ahead and get this out of the way right now: I love Guillermo del Toro. I will watch pretty much anything that has his name attached to it. His style of story-telling and his direction methods make for beautiful and compelling films. I feel weird even just calling them films, to be honest. They’re so much more than that. They’re art, plain and simple. He is an artist- and a brilliant one at that.
Although I’m a fan of his more well-known and critically acclaimed hits, “Blade 2”, the “Hellboy” movies, and “Pan’s Labyrinth”- I’d say one of my all-time favorites has got to be “The Orphange” (in which he was executive producer). I remember being so thoroughly creeped out and moved by the end of it that I could barely hold a conversation with my friends after we’d watched it. I had gotten so wrapped up in the story that when it was over, I was spent.
I’ve been anticipating “Mama” for a while now. Another executive producing endeavor from del Toro, the previews for it made it look like a visually stunning and scary supernatural thriller. Led by Hollywood’s current favorite leading lady, Jessica Chastain, sporting a rather unusual haircut, it already seemed more promising than my last trip to the cinema had been.
WARNING: THERE ARE EXTENSIVE SPOILERS AFTER THE CUT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.
January Thaw is pretty much over, as evidenced by the ridiculously bitter cold temperatures we’ve hit the past few days. Venturing outside for more than a few minutes at a time has been a challenge, and lately I’ve been timing just how quickly I can sprint from my front door to my car, my car to my office, etc. without my lips turning blue.
Thankfully I’ve been introduced to some products that have made this winter a little more bearable and have given me a leg up with preventing chapped skin, cracked lips, greasy hat hair, and seasonal blues- and I thought I’d share my arsenal!
1. Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief: (1.7 oz., $37.00, clinique.com): For as long as I can remember, I’ve had oily, sensitive, and often problematic skin. I’m prone to redness, breakouts, and shine- and I had grown to accept the fact that I would forever need oil blotting sheets and the strongest toners and exfoliants imaginable. It was a way of life and I had adapted to it.
So imagine my surprise when my esthetician, Barbara, who has been familiar with my skin since I was a teenager, determined my skin was actually quite dry during a recent routine facial. I had thought my skin was beyond hydrated. I use an oil-free moisturizer, and have never experienced any sort of tightness, save for immediately after I use a scrub on my skin, and I drink what I thought was plenty of water daily.
But the elements of this frigid season had dried my skin out (and I’m sure my coffee addiction doesn’t particularly help, either), and I turned to an old friend, Clinique, for help. Moisture Surge is an oil-free, fragrance-free gel that you apply after your regular moisturizer to give your skin a boost in hydration. It helps smooth out fine lines, flakiness, and tightness- without clogging your pores. I’ve been using it twice a day, every day, for a couple of weeks now and I’ve already seen and felt a dramatic improvement to my skin’s texture and tone. *
2. Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream (1.5 oz., $36.00, sephora.com): I’ve worn foundation since I was 19, and I’ve tried so many different brands and types over the years that I’ve lost track- but the product, no matter who makes it, is always difficult to stick with. It either clogs my pores, or slides right off, or changes color on my skin after a while (I’ve turned jaundice yellow a few times), or simply does not give me the coverage I need.
I’ve heard people raving about BB creams over the past couple of months, and had been tempted to try them, but was concerned with not getting the right amount of coverage, or worse, having a reaction and breaking out.
Enter Dr. Jart+ BLDBBC. This balm feels amazing and lightweight on my face, gives great coverage while it evens out my skintone, offers SPF protection and antioxidants to help gradually strengthen my skin over time, and detoxes my skin from impurities caused by free radicals such as pollution or bacteria.
Like Moisture Surge, I’ve been using this product for a couple of weeks, and have not had to apply foundation once. My skin looks radiant, even after I take it off for the day! *
3. Nivea’s Pure & Natural Milk and Honey Lip Balm ($2.49, most drug stores): My lips are a mess in the winter. They crack, they peel, they’re red and feel like they’re on fire, and my only solution when I’m not smearing chapstick and Vaseline all over them is to desperately try to cover the damage with a heavy, waxy lipstick.
So, while perusing balms at a drug store recently after I’d forgotten my chapstick at home and needed some quick relief, I came across Nivea’s Pure & Natural collection- and the milk and honey balm caught my attention. It was cheap, and I decided to give it a whirl- and boy, am I glad I did. This lightweight balm smells delicious, and is soothing on contact. It also stays in place, so constant reapplications aren’t necessary. It helped heal my lips in a matter of days, and my pout and pucker has never looked better in the middle of January!
4. Lush’s “No Drought” Dry Shampoo (1.9 oz., $6.95, lushusa.com): I wear a lot of hats in the winter (1. because it’s cold here, and 2. I love hats), and while they look cute when I’m out and about on the town, my hair underneath is a different story. Overwashing my hair, in any season, dries my scalp out- but spacing out my shampooing causes my curls to tread the fine line between “glossy” and “grimy”. This is a problem I notice especially in the winter, and typically right after I take my hat off. Product build-up in my hair coupled with sweating in a wool cap adds a level of oil to my locks that’s hard to get rid of.
Lush’s “No Drought” Dry Shampoo helps take care of it. Massaging a little bit of this citrus smelling powder into my scalp, and brushing it through to my ends, absorbs excess oil and sweat, but keeps my hair really soft and manageable. I like to keep a bottle of it in my bag for after I wrap up a work-out session at the gym or for touch-ups at work before I meet with clients of co-workers.
“Winter Essentials” not pictured: My deliciously rocker-chic “Simply Vera” Vera Wang snow boots, my $5 CVS brand sunblossom hand cream (the cold and gloves make my hands so dry and itchy. This hand cream is a lifesaver, is easy to carry, and smells wonderful), my brightly colored spa socks, my ever growing collection of fleece blankets, and my red velvet cake flavored instant hot cocoa mix.
What are some of your “Winter Essentials”?
* NOTE: While nearing completion of this entry, it was brought to my attention that some of the companies listed use testing procedures for their products that go against my ethical beliefs. I do not condone, nor would I ever condone, testing cosmetics on animals. I kept the reviews as they were as I wanted to give an unbiased account of the results I experienced from said products. Following this entry, I will be looking elsewhere for similar products to achieve similar results, but from companies that do not test on animals. *
Without fail, nearly every year around this time (and typically during “January Thaw”), I tend to get a nasty 24-48 hour cold that renders me completely useless to the outside world and causes me to retreat to to the depths of my bedroom- armed with tissue boxes, a gallon of Simply Orange orange juice (with extra pulp!), a bottle of Ibuprofen, and my Netflix subscription to ride it out until the worst is over and I feel well enough to return to work . Last night on my way home from a day trip to check out an urban exploration location in Western Massachusetts, I started showing the telltale signs of an impending illness- my throat started hurting and I had a dull headache that grew increasingly stronger as the hours wore on.
I typically wouldn’t be concerned, but there is also a bad flu epidemic that has swept most of Massachusetts (and judging from last night’s Golden Globe Awards, nearly everyone in Hollywood has it, too), so when my symptoms hadn’t improved much by this morning, I opted to take the day off from work as a precaution to rest, relax, get plenty of fluids in me, and nip it in the bud before it got worse without risking potentially spreading it to any of my co-workers.
I feel a lot better now than I did this morning, so here’s hoping it was just a fluke.
At least I had a good weekend.
Saturday night I took Sean out for a belated birthday dinner (his birthday was last Monday, but our work schedules delayed the celebration by a few days). At his recommendation and request, we went to Dali in Somerville. I’d never been before, but Sean seemed confident that I’d enjoy it, and he was right.
The food itself was really good, but I was so enamored with the decor of the place that I kept getting distracted from our fried milk and flan. Admittedly, it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside is really, really cool. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of Spanish food.
Back roads in Western Mass.
I said it earlier in this entry, but yesterday I headed out to the mythical land known as Western Massachusetts, specifically the town of Greenfield, to take a few photos of the Candlelight Motor Inn. I was hoping it would be in a more tranquil part of town, but a McDonalds has been built directly next door (they actually share a parking lot), so trying to get into the zone while people were ordering Big Mags and Happy Meals twenty-five feet behind me was a little difficult.
I can’t find much history on the place, like when it was constructed or when it was closed down (all I could pull up was a 2012 obituary of a woman who used to work in the housekeeping department), but the buildings are in rough shape. Add in the elements of snow/ice potentially weakening the roof and floorboards, and I chose to take exterior shots instead of risking my safety to try and get a couple of interior ones.
Here were some of my favorites from the bunch:
There was a pool area I had wanted to check out, but I was losing light quicker than anticipated, so I’m thinking I may have to make a trip back- more than likely in the Spring or the Summer when it should be less slippery and therefore less hazardous to walk around.
I did see a couple of other interesting locations on the way I’m thinking I may check out this coming weekend if I have the time and if I’m feeling well enough.
Speaking off, it’s time for me to drink some hot tea, take a shot of NyQuil, and get ready to turn in for the night.
Last night I headed down to McGreevy’s Pub after work to grab a beer and catch a small acoustic set from my favorite Boston boys, the Dropkick Murphys, to celebrate the release of their new album, “Signed and Sealed in Blood”. I had a blast. I’m a longtime fan, and it was such a pleasure to sing along, and dance, (and drink!) with other fans who quickly became friends. Such an amazing crowd, and such an amazing show.
Sorry about the photo quality, or lack thereof. All I had was my cell phone, and I was getting jostled about quite a bit during the show.
Afterwards, Ken and I briefly talked about my father over a beer. He was so unbelievably kind and compassionate, as were the other guys who were milling about, talking to everyone who had come by the show, signing autographs, and posing for pictures. There is no other band out there who love their fans more, or who do more for their community, than Dropkick Murphys do.
I’m so proud of them, and I’m so honored I got to be part of the celebration.
Their new album is brilliant. I highly recommend it. I first heard the song “Rose Tattoo” off of it a couple of months ago, and was instantly hooked. It’s still one of my favorites. It just hits me on such a personal level. Here’s the video:
Apart from “The Walking Dead”, my favorite horror franchise is, without a doubt, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. That’s not to say I’ve enjoyed every movie in the series (I like to pretend “The Next Generation” never happened. Sorry, Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger!), but the original 1974 film, which was completely unique for it’s time, coupled with the fact that the actual making of it was bordering snuff film territory- will forever make it a creepy classic that can’t be topped.
And I may be in the minority here, but I thoroughly enjoyed the 2003 re-boot starring Jessica Biel, as well as the 2006 prequel, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning”. I thought both films were genuinely scary, with just the right amount of gore to make you cringe without being desensitized. They had plots that seemed to have had some actual thought put into them, and they were brilliantly cast. R. Lee Ermey’s ruthless, sadistic, and foul-mouthed Sheriff Hoyt will forever be one of horror’s greatest villains.
So when it was announced that there would be a new installment in the series, I was skeptical. There’s only so many ways to make a family of hillbilly cannibals with a penchant for power tools new and fresh without re-making the original (again), and you can’t really develop long-standing fan favorites like Leatherface without completely changing the franchise’s history. I thought the way the prequel ended was excellent. It tied everything, the re-boot, the 1974 original, and every film afterwards, even the bad ones- together perfectly.
When it was announced the new installment would also be in 3D, my skepticism turned into downright cynicism. I’ve said it in the past that 3D is used entirely too much in movies where it’s not really necessary, but in horror films? It’s almost always cheesy*. Case in point: “My Bloody Valentine 3D”.
*I did enjoy “Saw 3D: The Final Chapter”, but I will openly admit that I was biased, as seeing Sean Patrick Flanery in 3D is an experience every woman should have at some point in their lives- and that adorable Jigsaw puppet in 3D completely cracked me up.
Regardless, I am a dedicated fan of TCM, and on Friday night, I headed to the cinema with my friend Stef to catch a screening of “Texas Chainsaw 3D”. I wasn’t expecting much, but I also wasn’t expecting… Well, this…
WARNING: AHOY. AHEAD THERE BE SPOILERS. CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Monday night was, by far, one of the most amazing, intense, unique, debaucherous, and fun New Year’s Eve experiences I’ve had in recent memory. I think I’m actually still in the process of recovering, and this is coming from someone who usually bounces back fairly quickly after a wild night or a crazy weekend.
I have Sean to thank for all of it. For those who didn’t follow my old blog, Sean has been one of my best friends for the past sixteen years. He moved in next door to my parents’ house when we were little kids, and we’ve been pretty much inseparable since. As the years go by, we’ve continuously tried to outdo each other in terms of finding really cool, can’t-be-topped events and parties to go to.
As big fans of Punchdrunk’s “Sleep No More” (we’ve seen the play three times now), when Sean heard they were throwing an extravagant New Year’s Eve soiree at their new home in NYC, entitled “The Royal Huntman’s Ball”, he knew I’d be up for it and jumped at the chance to get us tickets.
I’ve never spent New Year’s Eve in NYC before, and wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but when I walked out of Port Authority after a four hour bus ride from Boston, and saw the Empire State Building twinkling multi-colored lights, and heard people yelling “Happy New Year!” to the NYPD Officers who were lining Times Square, I knew I was in for a memorable night that would go down in history.
And I was right.
Of course, such an unforgettable night called for an unforgettable dress. Enter Modcloth’s (my ultimate online shopping addiction) “Glitz All or Nothing” Dress, which garnered a lot of attention and compliments over the course of the night with it’s sparkles.
Once we reached the McKittrick, we were swept away to an absolutely delicious three-course dinner where we were sat with other attendees, donned in ballgowns, tuxedos, and top hats. We toasted with Chardonnay and got to know one another before we headed into the performance. Each time I see it, it’s different, but still incredible in it’s own inexplicable way.
For those who aren’t familiar with “Sleep No More”, here’s a pretty good summary taken from the play’s Wikipedia page:
“Sleep No More is set in a building with five floors of theatrical action, putatively called the McKittrick Hotel, though with many rooms and features not normally associated with hotels, including those which resemble an antiquated lunatic asylum, doctor’s offices, children’s bedrooms, a cemetery, indoor courtyards, shops, a padded cell, a ballroom, taxidermist’s menageries, and so on. The actors and their environment all adopt the dress, decor, and aesthetic style of the early 20th century, inspired by the shadowy and anxious atmosphere of film noir. The production “leads its audience on a merry, macabre chase up and down stairs, and through minimally illuminated, furniture-cluttered rooms and corridors.” Audience members begin their journey in a fully operational lounge, the Manderley Bar, from which they enter an elevator that transports them to the major floors of the “hotel.”
Sleep No More tells the story of Macbeth, though the audience is given no programme and there is no speaking from either the actors or audience. The actors (unlike the audience members) wear no masks and perform in passionate, silent, interpretive group settings, solitary scenes, and, sometimes, dance sequences. Audience members are instructed to remain silent and masked at all times once they have boarded the hotel’s elevator up until the time they return back to the Manderley Bar; however, they may move freely at their own pace for up to three hours, choosing where to go and what to see, so that everyone’s journey is unique; they may also exit the premises at any point. Audience members may thus follow one or any of the actors throughout the performance, or they may independently explore the many rooms of the building; in groups or alone. Recorded music plays steadily throughout the building at all times.”
Because the performance is meant to be stimulating to all senses, it should come as no surprise that photography is strictly prohibited, hence the lack of pictures on my part. I left my camera and my cell phone in coat check, since you’re supposed to truly experience everything, not live through a series of photographs.
However, the theater company did have a photographer on site (Monica Simoes) to capture some of the action from dinner and the ball. The gallery can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
After the final scene, it was time to dance and drink the night away until the clock struck midnight, and then dance and drink some more. There were two very different settings to choose from- the jazz lounge, which featured some great live punk Celtic & bluegrass bands, some of which yours truly danced and twirled ’round and ’round to until I got dizzy- and the grand ballroom, which was more club music (and a little too much dubstep for my liking), but still very fun. Sean and I bobbed and weaved between the areas, taking in the sights and sounds, and even stumbled on a vintage photo area set-up where we had the picture at the top of the entry taken together.
We were in the grand ballroom when the countdown to 2013 reached it’s final minutes, some of the cast of “Sleep No More” on stage to take us through the last seconds of 2012 before we were showered with confetti from the ceiling. Truly an incredible moment.
By 2 a.m., we were tipsy and spent. Our feet were starting to hurt, and we still needed to check into the tiny hotel we managed to find and book last minute on the edge of Wall Street. Grabbing our coats and our bags, Sean and I bid adieu to those still partying in the McKittrick, probably until the wee hours of the morning, and braved the cold. Everyone was trying to get a cab since Times Square was still clearing out, so we walked most of the way, meeting all sorts of fun people who were still feeling very celebratory despite the chill in the air.
Side note: I never want to hear another vuvuzela horn as long as I live. Hearing about eight of those at the same time at 2:30 in the morning will forever be burned into my brain.
We overslept a tad on New Years Day (a well deserved rest, in my opinion), and hurriedly got ready to spend a couple of hours in the city before we headed back to Boston. As was the tradition whenever I went to NYC with my dad, I made a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to light a candle and say a prayer to in his honor, and then went to grab brunch at the Cosmic Diner, where Sean managed to snag the first picture of me in 2013- and I’m actually smiling in it!
I also have insanely frizzy bed head, and am about to stuff my face with Greek omelette, but still- all smiles!
Another four hour bus ride shortly after brunch, and I was back in Boston and getting ready to go back to work. Needless to say, I had a blast. It was so incredible to be in a city I love, with one of my most beloved and treasured friends, meeting new and exciting people, and ringing in an entirely new year filled with entirely new possibilities.
If New Years Eve and New Years Day were any indication of how the rest of 2013 will be, then I’m very, very excited.
And to close out this first real entry in my new blog, a silly little tradition of mine is to start the year off with a song, a theme, if you will. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate track than Florence & The Machine’s “Shake It Out”. It’s perfect.
Regrets collect like old friends. Here to relive your darkest moments. I can see no way, I can see no way, And all of the ghouls come out to play, And every demon wants his pound of flesh, But I like to keep some things to myself. I like to keep my issues drawn. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
And I’ve been a fool and I’ve been blind. I can never leave the past behind. I can see no way, I can see no way. I’m always dragging that horse around, Our love is questioned, such a mournful sound. Tonight I’m gonna bury that horse in the ground. So I like to keep my issues drawn, But it’s always darkest before the dawn.
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
And I am done with my graceless heart, So tonight I’m gonna cut it out and then restart. Cause I like to keep my issues drawn. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back- so shake him off.
And given half the chance would I take any of it back. It’s a fine romance but its left me so undone. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
Oh woah, oh woah!.
And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t, So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my rope. And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope. It’s a shot in the dark and right at my throat. Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me. Looking for heaven, found the devil in me. Well what the hell, I’m gonna let it happen to me?
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
Let me just go ahead and get this out of the way right now: I love Guillermo del Toro. I will watch pretty much anything that has his name attached to it. His style of story-telling and his direction methods make for beautiful and compelling films. I feel weird even just calling them films, to be honest. They’re so much more than that. They’re art, plain and simple. He is an artist- and a brilliant one at that.
1. 
Apart from “The Walking Dead”, my favorite horror franchise is, without a doubt, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. That’s not to say I’ve enjoyed every movie in the series (I like to pretend 
Legally Redhead 