The Randomness Awesomeness Challenge-ness!

So my buddy Chad E. Young came up with a fun little eight part questionnaire, which he sent out to myself and a couple other fellow horror bloggers.  He's calling it the "Randomness Awesomeness Challenge-ness", and since I've really got nothing to do tonight, I figured I'd answer the challenge.

So here are my answers to the eight questions in Chad's challenge.  Well, they're not really questions so much as they are quick fun little topics to spew some thoughts on, and share some pictures in relation to, but you get the idea!

 

#1 - A MOVIE STUB FROM ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE EXPERIENCES

Kinda bummed right now because I actually used to save my movie ticket stubs, but stopped doing that a while back, and I think I ended up throwing out all of the ones I had saved.  Used to keep them in a little wooden treasure chest, but alas, I came to the realization that I just can't save everything.  I have a tendency to do that and I'm afraid if I keep it up, I'm gonna end up on Hoarders one of these days.

 

So while I don't actually have a ticket stub to show off here (the one above was found on Google!), one of my favorite theatrical experiences that's coming to mind right about now was when I saw Grindhouse, back in 2007.  Getting to take in the entire Grindhouse experience is something I am so grateful that I didn't miss out on, and the whole thing was all the more special because I experienced it with my brother and my parents.  Not often that all of us made it out to the movies together, so that's a pretty nice little memory.

Another recent theatrical experience that stands out was Paranormal Activity (also from 2007, oddly enough), which I saw with Jen.  There was so much excitement around that movie at the time, and when we got to the theater there were massive lines, and security guards lined up to keep everything moving smoothly.  It was the first time I'd ever seen that kind of excitement for a horror movie at the theater, and I remember how into the movie the audience was, collectively gasping for breath every time the lights went out, and the camera focused on Micah and Katie in bed.  So much fun.

 

#2 - A CHILDHOOD PHOTO OF YOU BEING A GEEK, OR REPPING YOUR GEEKINESS

I know I've shared this picture before, but that's a very young me rocking the original Freddy mask, along with a pretty kickass pair of baby blue footie pajamas.  Wish I still had that mask.  And those pajamas!

 

Proof positive that I have always been, and will always be, a Freddy fanboy!

 

 

#3 - A BIOGRAPHY THAT YOU JUST CAN'T STOP READING

I wouldn't exactly say that I "can't stop reading" Bruce Campbell's autobiography, but I have read it a couple times, and I do find myself reaching for it quite often, when I'm scrambling for reading material to take onto the shitter with me.  So there's that!

A biography that I just can't seem to START reading?  Lance Henriksen's Not Bad For A Human.  Been meaning to crack into that for years now!

 

#4 - ONE VHS TAPE THAT YOU'LL NEVER PART WITH

You'll probably be surprised to hear that I actually don't have a very big VHS collection, despite how much love I have for the format.  I've got a lot of them, don't get me wrong, but I've never really been able to afford collecting the real valuable ones, so my VHS collection mostly consists of titles like the Elm Street and Friday the 13th films.  Not very impressive, but those are the ones that remind me of my childhood, and that's what VHS is all about for me.  The whole paying $100 for a rare tape isn't really my bag.  I'm fine with a beat up sun faded copy of Dream Warriors.  That's what makes me happy.

Anyway.  That totally did not in any way answer this question.  If I had to pick one that I'd never part with, it'd have to be my copy of Ice Cream Man, signed by Clint Howard.  That'll go into the grave with me!

 

 

#5 - A PHOTO OF YOU AND A CELEBRITY THAT EITHER PASSED ON, OR NEVER DOES CONVENTIONS ANYMORE 

My mom actually just recently dug up this photo, which I thought had been forever lost.  That's a 20 year old me, without a beard and rocking a pretty stupid hat and a pretty awesome Hunter S. Thompson t-shirt, with May herself, Angela Bettis.  Bettis is of course not dead, but I haven't seen her at a convention since this one (Monster Mania in 2006), so yea.

 

Fairly embarrassing photo of myself, but Bettis looks precious as always.  Definitely one of the most exciting convention encounters I've had with a celebrity, and I remember being incredibly nervous up in the hotel room preparing to meet her.  I recall chugging back some kind of liquor in preparation, and spilling a bunch all over myself in the process.  She didn't fall in love with me, as I had delusionally (is that a word?) hoped.  Maybe next time.  Hopefully there is a next time!

...and why the hell did I used to think that big weird hat was cool? And those necklaces and rings?  Ugh.  I would have to call this the Johnny Depp phase of my life, only at the time I didn't realize that I looked nowhere near as cool as Depp does.  Thankfully, I overcame that phase.  I'm much more comfortable just being a bearded greasy haired dude wearing jeans and a horror shirt.  That's who I am.  And I've learned to embrace it.

#6 - AN ACTION FIGURE OR TOY FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD THAT WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR COLLECTION

That right there is the original talking Freddy doll, released back in 1989.  Not the most valuable toy in the world, and the box is in pretty rough shape, but this is one of the most cherished collectibles in my collection, particularly because of the childhood connection I have with it.

I clearly remember being a young kid and seeing this at a store up by my local shopping mall, and wanting it so bad.  I don't remember if my dad bought it for me right then and there, or picked it up for me for Christmas, but I did end up with it in my hands, and I somehow, after all these years, managed to keep it in the package.  Goes to show that I've always been a collector, even when I was a kid!

Love this thing so much.  And yep, the pull string sound effects still work, and aren't even all that distorted!

 

#7 - YOUR FAVORITE HORROR MOVIE SHIRT

Now this is a tough one.  I own so many horror movie shirts, and it's kind of impossible to pluck out just one favorite, from the bunch.  But I'm gonna go with Fright Rags' Killer Klowns shirt, which makes me smile every time I see it in my closet.  Still to this day probably my favorite design they've put out.

 

#8 - A PHOTO OF YOU AS A KID, IN A HALLOWEEN COSTUME

I've posted a bunch of old school Halloween pictures in the past, but here's one that Jen just dug up the other night, and posted on my Facebook page.  A very young me dressed as a little pumpkin boy ... the original Sam, if you will!

Not sure what's going on with my lip there, as I don't seem to recall having a nasty case of childhood herpes...

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If you've got a horror blog and you'd like to participate in Chad's challenge, feel free.  And be sure to send me a link to the post, once ya make it!!