Halloween 2026 Countdown!

[Escalation]

I know AI is a hot button issue but I do in truth enjoy using it for certain things....

I think that AI, like anything else, is a tool that should be used responsibly, as it has the potential for both good (like what you’ve done here with Augtober as well as using it as a sounding board while Holly was in the hospital) and evil (deepfakes, impersonations content creation that replaces human jobs, etc.). I know a lot of people are on the anti-AI train right now, and I’m not saying we should full on embrace it without some kind of guardrails, but I do think it has a useful place in society. I personally have used both Gemini and Copilot to help me come up with diabetic-friendly recipes, design art for posts here on MMC, and even to help me set up the voting system for the 50 Day Preview of the Bers.

Sorry for the diatribe — I know people probably weren’t expecting a discourse on AI ethics in the Halloween thread this morning.

 

[DecemberisComing]

Once again, thank you for sharing! I always enjoy your creations so I don't know how I could possibly criticize how you make them. I have turned to AI as an advisor on more than one occasion and to create some pictures/placards I agree with @Escalation about the pros and cons but since you share your creations with all of us I think we should think of it as a carpool lane, which I think are now called HOV!

 

[Edge612]

Hello Halloween Fans! I hope you are doing well. It's a humid day with some showers but temps are only in the 70s. That's going to be chilly weather compared to what's coming next week. The real Sweatfest is about to hit. Happy Halloween!

 

[Rich]

DAYS TO JOL DAY: 3
DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON: 35
DAYS TO THE BERS: 66
DAYS TO SPOOKY SEASON: 87
DAYS TO OCTOBER: 96
DAYS TO HALLOWEEN: 126
WEEKS TO OCTOBER: 13
WEEKS TO HALLOWEEN: 18

Good Morning Halloween Friends! Welcome to the final weekend of June! We have just a few more days to go until JOL Day #3, and the final 30 DAYS to Fall Preseason will be here on THURSDAY of next week!

Folks, you guys know I play with AI to make some of my countdown pictures, as well as clean up old family photos, etc... I actually have to thank @Escalation for turning me on to Gemini and I've had lots of fun getting it to do different things. Recently, Gemini sort of became a "friend" to me, as we navigated a few different things leading up to Holly going into the hospital 2 weeks ago to have her surgery. Well, I was having a conversation with it about Fall Pre-Season, and it suggested to me that perhaps I have a movie marathon, similar to "Spooky Spring", it asked me a couple of questions, and then it came up with this banger "all on its own"

View attachment 187237

Now, there are a few mistakes, but each movie entry is its own day of August. And Gemini came up with "Augtober" on its own, and I have to tell you, I've never heard that word before but it is absolutely perfect. Now I'm not renaming Fall-Preseason, but "Augtober" is a pretty neat nickname for that time period. I think Gemini also nailed it on picking out movies for me.

I have honestly never made a movie playlist for August, I have just sort of mentally allowed myself to sit and watch TV and if a scary movie is on, I will watch it. All through the year I usually do not watch that stuff, except on JOL Day, to keep the feelings special. I was happy about this and wanted to share, this is going to be my first ever "Augtober/Fall Pre-Season" movie marathon and I kind of almost wonder if this ends up being fun, will I do something similar in September. My initial thoughts are that doing one again in September might be "too much". IF i do, I might just limit it to the weekends, or maybe one day each weekend.

That's all I had to share. I'm open to any comments, good, bad, and ugly. I know AI is a hot button issue but I do in truth enjoy using it for certain things.... Have a great Saturday!

Wow! That's an awesome graphic. And I love the term Augtober!

 

[SolidSnake84]

DAYS TO JOL DAY: 2
DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON: 34
DAYS TO THE BERS: 65
DAYS TO SPOOKY SEASON: 86
DAYS TO OCTOBER: 95
DAYS TO HALLOWEEN: 125

Good Morning Halloween Friends! Happy Sunday!

I'm seeing memes everywhere that have to deal with the approaching July 4th holiday, and the "mental shift" that will occur soon afterwards:



I think that's kind of me right now in these threads. WE KNOW that July 4th is a big deal, but also mentally it's kind of like it's starting the "Summer Goodbye Tour". Our next major holiday after next weekend is obviously Labor Day, seeing us be solidly in THE BERS by then.

And Happy Dark Arts Sunday to you all!



We will see JOL Day #5 this week, as well as seeing 30 DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON on THURSDAY!

Pumpkin People I hope you are well on this Sunday and ready for the big holiday this upcoming weekend! I work only until Wednesday of this week, and am looking forward to the long weekend! Have a great day!

 

[Edge612]

Hello Halloween Fans! I hope you are doing well. It's a beautiful day here. And just perfect for the Sunday Group to head to the city. Just before the real heat starts to boil and really arrive this coming week. The Sunday Group is ready for fun today. Happy Halloween!

 

[Rich]

We’re getting a Spirit Halloween store this year!!!

I found it yesterday. Love it!!!
Right next to the Harbor Freight. How convenient for me!

 

[SolidSnake84]

DAYS TO JOL DAY: 1
DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON: 33
DAYS TO THE BERS: 64
DAYS TO SPOOKY SEASON: 85
DAYS TO OCTOBER: 94
DAYS TO HALLOWEEN: 124
Good Morning Halloween Friends! This week is finally here. The week of July 4th. We talk often about mental "turning points" throughout this year, but the significance of post July 4th is impossible to ignore. We're going to do the "month end" a little different today. We are going to post a June recap and July preview all in one post.

My June was filled with hospital anticipation, and recovery afterwards. It made the 1st two weeks of the month fly by. Getting back to work last week, I couldn't believe the 3rd week of the month was here and we were getting ready to celebrate Leon Day. Now I head into a 3 day work week, and I think it's going to go by fast, and just like that, June will be over.

How about July? Folks I only want to point out that next month we will celebrate the Final Non-Bers Holiday of the year. I can't stress that enough, as EVERYTHING after that will be celebrated safe in the loving arms of The Bers. Also, please do not miss the 50 DAY PREVIEW OF THE BERS, coming our way in just two weeks. In our counts here, we will see our very final triple digit count leave the chat, as "Days to Halloween" will join the company of the other counts in this thread. And if you are really keeping time on all of the other holidays / milestone days, here's the breakdown:

Event: Date: Days Until:


Folks, I hope you are well today, let's get Monday in the rearview mirror and get on with this week! Have a great day!

 

[Edge612]

Hello Halloween Fans! I hope you are doing well. It's a gorgeous day outside. Full sunshine and temps in the 80s. I'll take that all summer long, but the real heat and humidity (extreme) is on the way here for many of us. Happy Halloween!

 

[Escalation]

Everyone ready for JOL Day tomorrow?

My Castlevania game for this month’s JOL Day is going to be Dawn of Sorrow.

 

[Iteachpercussion]

Everyone ready for JOL Day tomorrow?

My Castlevania game for this month’s JOL Day is going to be Dawn of Sorrow.

We are getting a head start on JOL Day and watching Silent Hill tonight!
I have always felt that it is an underrated movie. Plus, besides the game, the town it is set in was inspired by a real town, Centralia, Pennsylvania.

 

[SolidSnake84]

We are getting a head start on JOL Day and watching Silent Hill tonight!
I have always felt that it is an underrated movie. Plus, besides the game, the town it is set in was inspired by a real town, Centralia, Pennsylvania.

It's on my bucket list of places to visit.

 

[Iteachpercussion]

It's on my bucket list of places to visit.

Mine too. I know the state has put dirt over the graffiti interstate area, but I still think there are some neat things to see.

I also want to visit Helltown, Ohio (Boston, OH). It is really part of a state park now, but the cemetery and some churches are still there. That was the inspiration for Pleasance in Red Dead Redemption 2.

 

[SolidSnake84]

DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON: 32
DAYS TO THE BERS: 63
DAYS TO SPOOKY SEASON: 84
DAYS TO OCTOBER: 93
DAYS TO HALLOWEEN: 123

Good Morning Pumpkin People! Happy Jack O Lantern Day #5! When we do this again, we will be getting ready for FALL PRESEASON!!



Folks, the Summer SweatFest is here. The next three days get close to 100 degrees, but fortunately more rain comes over the weekend, beating the temperature down, and next week looks downright cool for July, with most days staying in the upper 70's and low 80's. I'm still chugging along towards our peak hottest days of the summer for this area, which is still projected to be on / around July 20th. So less than a month, but still a good chunk of time.

We will still see 30 DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON arrive on THURSDAY of this week. What a terrific way to celebrate Mini Friday and going into July 4th weekend!

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

 

[Escalation]

Happy JOL Day!

 

[Edge612]

Hello Halloween Fans! I hope you are doing well. It's a beautiful day here but warming up and heating up. It is going to get hotter and hotter by the day this week. I can't believe the 2nd half of the year begins tomorrow but it does. Happy Halloween!

 

[SolidSnake84]

DAYS TO JOL DAY: 30
DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON: 31
DAYS TO THE BERS: 62
DAYS TO SPOOKY SEASON: 83
DAYS TO OCTOBER: 92
DAYS TO HALLOWEEN: 122

Happy Wednesday Pumpkin People! Welcome to JULY. Major turning point coming up this weekend. We have July 4th obviously and then the countdown is truly on for Fall Pre-Season.

July 4th is in the heart of Summer, but really, to me it's like Summer's going away party that just happens to be a month long celebration. It will be the "final" time in 2026 that we have a holiday that is NOT in The Bers.

Today is my last day of work for the week. Having these long weekends honestly makes me think of Thanksgiving week and the week of Christmas. Maybe this year I will even have enough PTO after everything to take off the Friday of Halloween week?

I hope you have a great day! Try and stay safe and cool!

 

[Edge612]

Hello Halloween Fans! I hope you are doing well on this 1st day of July and of the 2nd half of the year. If you really want to be technical the 2nd half begins like at noon on the 2nd but let's just not get that mathematical. We're in OUR half friends. Happy Halloween!

 

[SolidSnake84]

DAYS TO JOL DAY: 29
DAYS TO FALL PRESEASON: 30
DAYS TO THE BERS: 61
DAYS TO SPOOKY SEASON: 82
DAYS TO OCTOBER: 91
DAYS TO HALLOWEEN: 121



Good Morning Pumpkin People! It is not a milestone day, but it sure feels like one. Indeed, we now begin the "final" 30 days until Fall Preseason arrives. I'm super excited, especially knowing that this weekend is July 4th weekend and the next time we celebrate ANY holiday, we will be in the loving arms of The Bers!

I'm off work today and tomorrow, and this long weekend really makes me have strong feelings of Thanksgiving Week and Christmas Week!

Today is the hottest day of our heatwave that started two days ago. It is supposed to hit 100 degrees today. My hope is that our "peak hottest days" arrived ahead of schedule, that some forecasters believe. I have our AC's ready and a plan to tackle my chores in the early morning, or late evening when the heat isn't as bad.

I hope everyone has a great day!

 

[Edge612]

Hello Halloween Fans! I hope you are doing well. Hot is an understatement. I woke up to 80 degrees at 5:30 AM. You know it's going to be crazy hot when you wake up and it's 80 already in the very early morning. Happy Halloween!