Music Monday Tribute to the Bay Head Halloween Parade... We Did the Mash, We Did the Monster Mash!

I'll be posting some photos from the Bay Head Halloween Parade soon, but first it's time for Roxy's Music Monday theme: Halloween! In honor of all the scary monsters, sweet bumblebees and flamingos, and creative costumes that turned out at for the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade, here's Bobby "Boris" Pickett with a spooky video of the Monster Mash:



I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash
He did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
He did the mash
It caught on in a flash
He did the mash
He did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash

The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolf Man
Dracula and his son

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds
The coffin-bangers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"

They played the mash
They played the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They played the mash
It caught on in a flash
They played the mash
They played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
He opened the lid and shook his fist
And said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"

It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash
The monster mash
And it's a graveyard smash
It's now the mash
It's caught on in a flash
It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my monster mash is the hit of the land
For you, the living, this mash was meant too
When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash
The monster mash
And do my graveyard smash
Then you can mash
You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash

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Today's the Day: Annual Halloween Parade in Bay Head, NJ

For the past few years, it feels like the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade has involved a grim weather forecast of hell and high water. Yesterday we drove down to our beach house in the pouring rain, which flooded Lake Avenue and didn't let up as we made our way to the Crab Shack to pick up 100 clams for dinner.

All week long, our little Weather Girl, Maddie, has been watching Weather.com, where just like last year, they forecast rain, rain, rain on Saturday, but sunny and 60 degrees on Sunday for the Bay Head Halloween Parade. Witches, goblins, ghosts and Disney princesses will start gathering on Mount Street in Bay Head, New Jersey, shortly after 11am for the 11:45am parade start.

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Bay Head Halloween Parade This Weekend... Wait Until You See London and Maddie!

Roxy's loyal Bay Head Blog readers know that our family takes Halloween very seriously, particularly our participation in the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade. Last year, London, Maddie, Rex and I won the "Good Sport" award for grown-ups who dress up in the best costumes and march in the parade with their kids. The photo on the right shows us in costume, from left to right: Maddie (as Sharpay "Golf" from High School Musical) Rex (as Ken), Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis, Roxy (as Barbie), and London (as Sharpay "End of Year" from High School Musical).

This year, I don't want to give too much away to the competition in advance of the event, but London and Maddie are dressing up and performing along the parade route as their girl band, the Butter Bites, and we've prepared a special "float" to march in the parade. And Rex and I will be in costume as you've never seen us before... pictures on Monday!

Will Rex and Roxy (Dressed as Barbie and Ken) Win the Ocean Star Halloween Costume Photo Contest?

By now you've heard about our family's Good Sport trophy in the Bay Head Halloween Parade, and we're wondering if we can add a $100 restaurant gift certificate to our Halloween good fortune. Our daughter, London, snapped the photo on the right of mom and dad dressed up as '70s era Ken and Barbie dolls at the Bay Head Halloween Parade last weekend. A photographer from the Star News Group, publisher of The Ocean Star, saw the two of us in action and suggested that we enter our photo in the First Annual Spooktacular Halloween Photo Contest.

Whether the costume is scary and ghoulish or downright foolish, Star News Group wants to see area residents decked out in full Halloween regalia. Prizes will be awarded to winners named in three categories — adults ages 18 and above, children ages 17 and under and pets. Rex and I will be competing for the adult prize -- a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of the winner’s choice from the online StarNewsGroup.com Restaurant Guide. For children, the grand prize will be a $50 gift certificate to Quinnderella’s Toys in Manasquan. For pets, the grand prize will be a $25 gift certificate to B.C. Woof in Manasquan. Photos can be submitted via e-mail to contest at starnewsgroup dot com or dropped off in person at either The Ocean Star office, 421 River Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach or The Coast Star office, 13 Broad Street in Manasquan. All photos submitted must be the property of the entrant. Upon submission, all photos become the property of Star News Group and may be published in print and online.

Wish us luck!

Trick or Treat: Democratic and Republican Presidential and Vice-Presidential Hopefuls Greet Supporters at the Bay Head Halloween Parade in Bay Head,

While Rex and the girls and I have been fortunate to take home the Bay Head Halloween Parade's "Good Sport" trophy (for adults who get dressed up to march in the parade with their children) this year and in prior years, one family almost always gets the trophy for the best family, and this year was no exception.

In the photo on the left, Sarah Palin greets the crowd on Mount Street in Bay Head, then on the right she joins, from left to right, a very short Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis, and John McCain to accept the big family trophy.

London and Maddie, Rex and Roxy's Big Win at the Bay Head Halloween Parade

We won, we won! While I do try to teach my girls that "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game," it sure feels good to have that trophy in hand. As a family, we won the "Good Sport" award for grown-ups who dress up in the best costumes and march in the parade with their kids. So here we are in costume, from left to right: Maddie (as Sharpay "Golf" from High School Musical) Rex (as Ken), Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis, Roxy (as Barbie), and London (as Sharpay "End of Year" from High School Musical).

I took an amazing bunch of photos (including a Bay Head appearance by all of the presidential and vice presidential candidates) that I'll be posting over the course of the week, hope you'll enjoy!

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Today's the Day for the Bay Head Halloween Parade

It is eight o'clock on Sunday morning and we are waiting for London and Maddie to wake up at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ and begin the countdown to the 11:45am Bay Head Halloween Parade. Witches, goblins, ghosts and Disney princesses will start gathering on Mount Street in Bay Head, New Jersey, shortly after 11am for the 11:45am parade start.

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, we stayed up north in Mendham on Friday night for the big Joan Jett & the Blackhearts concert at the Mayo Center of the Performing Arts in Morristown, NJ. We waited until late on Saturday afternoon for the drive down, and made it here in time for one of Rex's specialties...the last lobsters of the season. The weather forecast, including howling wind and rain all day yesterday, may have scared some other fair weather residents off, but we were determined to get down here and march in the parade...come hell, Halloween, or high water. Thankfully, the high water on Lake Avenue has gone down overnight to make way for the parade.

London and Maddie decided to go as a pair of Sharpays (the High School Musical character, not the dog breed) -- one Sharpay Golf and one Sharpay End-of-Year Celebration, complete with gold lame (pronounced la-MAY, not sure how you'd spell it differently than adding an accent over the "e") pants.


Rex and I are going as Barbie and Ken, and we're hoping this motley family can win a trophy this year. Rex really looks the part, and London promised to style my hair in Barbie pigtails, but the competition is always tough... we're not the only family in Bay Head that takes Halloween seriously!

Wish us luck...and if the girls' costumes, wigs, and oversized sunglasses turn out to be a suitable disguise, I may even share some photos here on Monday.

Weather or Not, London and Maddie Are Ready for the Bay Head Halloween Parade: Sunday, October 26th, Mount Street to the Firehouse in Bay Head, NJ

Rex read me a grim weather forecast for the weekend from The New York Times earlier this evening, but we're going down to our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, come hell, Halloween, or high water. Right now Weather.com is forecasting rain on Saturday, but sunny and 60 degrees on Sunday for the Bay Head Halloween Parade. Witches, goblins, ghosts and Disney princesses will start gathering on Mount Street in Bay Head, New Jersey, shortly after 11am for the 11:45am parade start.

London and Maddie decided to go as a pair of Sharpays (the High School Musical character, not the dog breed) -- one Sharpay Golf and one Sharpay End-of-Year Celebration, complete with gold lame (pronounced la-MAY, not sure how you'd spell it differently than adding an accent over the "e") pants.


Rex and I are going as Barbie and Ken, and we're hoping this motley family can win a trophy this year. Rex really looks the part, and London promised to style my hair in Barbie pigtails, but the competition is always tough... we're not the only family in Bay Head that takes Halloween seriously!

Countdown to the Bay Head Halloween Parade...3 Weeks To Go and London and Maddie, Rex and Roxy Are Almost Ready!

I know I've told you before, and I'll tell you again...our family takes Halloween very very seriously. Even before London was a glimmer in our eyes, Rex and I would sit out on the porch of our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, on the Sunday before Halloween, and the crowds of ghosts, goblins, princesses, prom queens and football players would gather in front of the shops on Mount Street for the Bay Head Halloween Parade.

The year Maddie was born, my niece Candy sewed a homemade pumpkin costume for Baby Maddie and a farmer girl costume for London, and London pulled her sister along the parade route from Mount Stree to the Bay Head Firehouse in a hay-filled (aaaahhchoo!) wagon. The girls won a trophy that year.

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Countdown to the Bay Head Halloween Parade...London and Maddie, Rex and Roxy Are Almost Ready!

I know I've told you before, and I'll tell you again...our family takes Halloween very very seriously. Even before London was a glimmer in our eyes, Rex and I would sit out on the porch of our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, on the Sunday before Halloween, and the crowds of ghosts, goblins, princesses, prom queens and football players would gather in front of the shops on Mount Street for the Bay Head Halloween Parade.

The year Maddie was born, my niece Candy sewed a homemade pumpkin costume for Baby Maddie and a farmer girl costume for London, and London pulled her sister along the parade route from Mount Stree to the Bay Head Firehouse in a hay-filled (aaaahhchoo!) wagon. The girls won a trophy that year.

Last year, we competed as a family...sort of. While you may be familiar with two Disney characters -- Hannah Montana and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) -- you may not be aware that they were sisters. London wanted to dress up as Hannah Montana, but Maddie had a theme picked out for our family...Maddie as Sleeping Beauty, Rex as her handsome prince, and Roxy as Maleficent, the thirteenth fairy who was not invited to princess Aurora's christening. When Maddie saw her sister's costume, she coveted the blonde wig and microphone and had to have one of her own, and the legend was born: Aurora Montana! The panel of judges smiled upon us and we won a family trophy in the Bay Head Halloween parade last year.

Today, I bought our family's Halloween costumes online...the girls convinced me to be Barbie, and Rex will be Ken, in our coordinating outfits from the Sixties. We'll be rocking the parade route with not one but two Sharpays from High School Musical: Sharpay Golf and Sharpay End of the Year in gold hot pants. Do you think we've got a shot at a trophy this year?

Harvest Time in Bay Head, NJ: Looks Like the Arts & Crafts Festival Is Cancelled

I was just checking out the Fall activities scheduled in Bay Head, NJ, and it looks like the Sixth Annual Arts & Crafts Festival scheduled for Saturday, October 11th, has been cancelled.

If you're looking for something to do that day, why not consider the Bay Head Historical Society House Tour, and snoop around our neighbors' houses from 11am to 3pm.

I'm sure I'll be sorry to have missed the annual Bay Head Dog Walk, also scheduled for October 11th, but I'm sure the dogs will leave something on my lawn to remind me that they stopped by our beach house. You can register your sweet pups in front of Mary Holder Realty, 520 Main Avenue, at 12:30pm, and the walk starts at 1:00 PM. There's a registration fee, but proceeds go to a good cause, the local animal shelter.

During the month of October, you can also see the display of scarecrows around town and vote for your favorite by dropping your ballot in the boxes you'll find in designated stores.

And last, but certainly not least, London and Maddie, Rex and I will all be in Bay Head for the Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 26th. Line up in front of the shops on Mount Street 11:30am and march to the Bay Head Firehouse, where prizes will be given out. Be on the lookout for Barbie, Ken, and a pair of Sharpays from High School Musical!

Bay Head Halloween Parade Scheduled for Sunday, October 26th

London, Maddie, Rex and I always look forward to the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade. It takes place every year on the Sunday before Halloween, even if Halloween is a Sunday, and this year, the Bay Head Halloween Parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 26th. We take our costumes very seriously, as do our neighbors... in past years, we've seen princesses waving from their floats, broadcasting music through the town, from Mount Street to the firehouse. One family, frequently winners of the family trophy, has dressed up as the Incredibles, the Untouchables...what will they think of next, dressing up as the Bay Head police force, all decked out in 5.11 Tactical gear and writing parking tickets?

This year, London and Maddie both want to be Sharpay from High School Musical (one Sharpay Golf, one Sharpay glammed out for the end of school celebration), and they have their hearts set on seeing Mom and Dad marching along as Ken and Barbie. We'll hope to see you out there...look for the blonde with pigtails in the 1970s floral print dress!

Special thanks to our sponsor, 5.11 Tactical Outdoors, where you'll find a complete selection of tactical gear, whether you're a professional or just dressing up for Halloween. Please click on the disclosure link in my sidebar under "Hot Topics" to review this site's policy on sponsored posts.

Bay Head Memories: Maddie Sings in the Shower

Sipping my last 4 o'clock beer of the "Lifeguard Summer" (June 15-Labor Day) and looking back on wonderful memories from our family's best summer yet in Bay Head, New Jersey. Way back more than 15 years ago, before I met Rex, I remember being the last one to leave the beach every Labor Day evening in Pt. Pleasant Beach...shedding more than a few surfer girl crocodile tears because the summer was over. Thankfully, while the lifeguards have gone back to college, we'll be back to our beach house in Bay Head most weekends until the Bay Head Halloween Parade, which happens every year at 11:45am on the Sunday before Halloween. Only happy tears this evening...Rex and I have a great deal to be thankful for this year.

I'm taking a little bit of liberty with the photo below, as Maddie actually prefers the indoor shower and London is the one who takes most of her showers in the backyard, but Rex can't help being proud that our outdoor shower, which his son TallBoy built when he was eight, still sees action almost every day of the summer, all these years later. So please feel free to sing along with Maddie, as she belts out Daniel Powter's "Bad Day," even though she only has good ones here at the beach.

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carryin' on

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

(yeah...)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day