Re ‘turnip… Maybe next year I will have to give it a try and see what happens!’

What will happen is you’ll end up with a) repetetive strain injury to your wrists after all that scooping b) approx 2.5 kg of turnip slivers c) a lantern that weighs the same as the Loch Ness Monster.

Yes, neeps = nice. You probably had them with haggis (which makes you braver than me…).

Turnip was used as a base for making coffee (‘ersatz coffee’) during WWII. See, I knew there had to be another interesting fact about the common turnip. But I promise I will widen my subject matter for my next post.

jimsmuse sez: Yes, I had the “neeps n’ tatties” with the haggis, which I actually did like! I can’t even imagine drinking powdered turnips instead of coffee… sounds completely bizarre!

I have found my way to the comment area at last! Great website, always interesting stuff to read. Love the pumpkin video. In Scotland (where I’m from) we used to use turnips for lanterns. This meant my poor mum and dad would have to spend hours with a spoon attempting to scoop it out while muttering that I better appreciate their artistic efforts. So you can see why, nowadays, most people go for pumpkins: they are a brighter orange, easier to carve, and also make great actors in Jimsmuse’s videos.

Hopefully, an interesting fact about turnips (there aren’t many…) – in Scotland a turnip is sometimes known as a tumshie. Hence the playful insult ‘tumshie heid’.

jimsmuse sez: I’m glad that at long last you finally made a comment on my blog (even though I know you’ve been reading it all along)! I can’t imagine making a jack o’ lantern out of a turnip, even though I know it is the traditional Scottish method. Maybe next year I will have to give it a try and see what happens! (I do well remember the other slang for turnip from my visit to Scotland when your dear sainted mum served me “neeps” and I didn’t realize they were turnips until after I decided they were delicious — what a clever trick!)

wanted to thank you for the AWESOMEST PACKAGE!!!!!!!!! i must rush out and get a pedi on monday so i can used the wicked black polish. and how did you know i lurve lippy? the whole bag smelled soooo good when i opened it…like skittles CANDY!

and the socks are too cute…and the nails…scary and love the box. nice card and lovely surprise. have more contests soon….i love prizes.

jimsmuse sez: I’m glad the package was a hit! I promise I’ll have another contest soon…although it would be easier to finance a wonderful prize if I didn’t have to worry about money for coffee for a few weeks (HINT HINT HINT!) You totally earned your goodies by: a) guessing correctly on the contest; b) being switched at birth with my younger sister; and c) being completely entertaining! Now go enjoy your party…you know, the one I wasn’t invited to!

loved the movie and soundtrack–the skateboarding pumpkin with a helmet was a nice touch–nj does has those pesky helmet laws.

hope you had a happy halloweeeeeeen. i’m off to make chili, my i-pod party mix, and on and on…

jimsmuse sez: The reason the knife looks so scary is because it’s carbon steel and not “stainless” steel. It’s not very shiny at the moment, but it’s still wicked sharp. I’ll have my personal assistant take care of the knife polishing right away!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jimsmuse sez: Thank you! I would like to thank the Academy, and all the S.L.O.B.S. for putting me in a silly enough mood to make this movie!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Carrie!!

jimsmuse sez: Of course they think I rock, Dishy — and I think they all rock, too! I think we all get along so well because they know they are fortunate to be related to another “kid” who likes to have fun (who just happens to be 41 and can drive and is allowed to use power tools and stay up late). Happy Halloween to you, too!

jimsmuse sez: I’m glad you liked the soundtrack: I love “Nightmare Before Christmas”, too. We had a lot of fun making the pumpkins “play” together, and “Mmmbop” just seemed like the right song for them!