the top.

we're all mad here, neighbors.
well,
i'm angry, or at least upset anyway, a lot of the time.
i'm a grumpy guy,
and i'm cold too often, and what's worse,
i have the faintest irritating little bitty baby cold.
a filthy rhinovirus is chargin' against my nostrils,
and i've got all sorts of aches and fugues and agues and irritants.
so,
yeah,
i'm a little mad.
y'know what that needs?
uh-huh.
a mad hat.
i mean, c'mon.
that should be obvious.
so,
i guess y'all should probably check the teleport:

that's one tall topper, right?
is that a working light on it?
you know it.
c'mon.
don't be dumb.
huh?
what??
oh,
for sure, i'm a great big giant lame-o...
but,
i've also got a towering top hat,
with a tinkers lamp and ribbony laces an' that.
so now who's an A*-hole?
awwww.
it's still me, isn't it?
ah well,
you know the rules-
stay ugly, stay dope.
yuuuuup.
luckily,
making tiny engines on hats IS dope.
isn't it?
well,
that's like,your opinion, man,
get a little bit better look at it:

that's a chopped and reassembled outlet box,
a slice off of a wheat thins box,
some airhose valves, assorted caps, sexy green rearden metal type wire,
brass brads, and a wind-up clock key.
and then there are these grommets:

lace-ups, friends.
expert.
and yeah, that light, too:

mmhmmm...
it's just a candle-style tea light in a hole.
with a cap over it.
still,
it's pretty neat to have a giant hat with a tiny nerd lamp on it.
at least, i think it is.
i keep making stuff,
even though none of it is gonna be able to happen at the same time.
there may be costume/character changes throughout the hallowe'en season.
i guess that's the way it should be, though, guys.
because too much is the right amount.
and that's a real, true, actual thing.
***********
also,
when i wake up,
i get to see this:

i know.
no big deal.
but,
i am just feeling pretty grateful for the Folk Life & Liberty Fortress.
i do all the other other sh!t that isn't hats and plastic guns to keep it running.
(although those are real guns right there)
also,
responsible adulthood isn't all that great,
but a fantastic flora-filled bedroom to lay down and rest my worn-out
weary wreathed-in-worry skull in is totally a great ending to every sh!t-salad day,
and it's a well-appreciated worthy reward at the finale of every amazing evening, too.
making moves to maintain this old busted castle is what i do.
i suppose after a brutal summer,
i'm just now taking a minute to appreciate why i did it all.
true stories, friends.
that's what i tell;
never quiet, never soft.....