The Maker and his Muse
For the past 20 years, I have been self-employed as a private fiduciary -- an umbrella term in the State of California for someone who manages estates of both living and deceased, providing for financial supports from those financial investments for beneficiaries and heirs. Additionally, I serve to protect the person in their health and assist in their realized independence, if that is their goal.
Prior to this career, I was a computer consultant and programmer, which enabled me to prepare my current business for remote work, including the isolating events of the Covid pandemic. I still do some programming for my business in the implementation of Zoho One, creating this website and a handful of others, hosting, and consolidating applications to eliminate the excessive subscription-based software thrust upon most of us.
While I never thought I would be traveling extensively just to get to my office, what I love is my home in New Brunswick and being able to use my creative side to build, construct, and implement new modules to my home haunt. I got here by way of internet dating, marriage, divorce, and loving the area. I see this as my retirement home but still work to keep the brain cells active and continue to assist people in their long-term goals.
In 2023, my sister joined me and she helps me set up, design, build, and engage the community in what we build. Madam D is instrumental in the success and really enjoys passing out treats and asking her crystal ball for approval to upgrade the sweets.
It is May 2026 as I update this site, I will get more pics of the muse (Juno), me (Eric) and our clairvoyant (Darlene), the latter found under modules.
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Directions
Recommend driving up Orchard to Islandview and parking at the park.
Exiting the Park
Suggest driving down the asphalt next to the wading pool.
Legal Disclaimer
These recommendations and directions are not being given with any permission or authority to use the park, leave your vehicle therein, or instruct you how to operate your vehicle.
Please use the public space with care and obey all traffic laws.
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Q&A
Why 14IV?
Quite simply, 14IV is the shortened address of where a cool Halloween yard exists. Since Halloween is the only time the home is decorated, the number 14 has a little bat on it. The ivy around the number is just a play on words IslandView = IV = ivy.
What made you decide to decorate?
I have always loved Halloween. I love horror flicks and I love magic. I'm also a member of
the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, California. However, I haven't done magic in a while. All of that aside, after the neighborhood thought that fog-gone-wrong was neat-o, I decided to carve out some work time to build a better Halloween scene.
What was your first display?
In 2021, I tried to use a fog machine. It was a failure, even though many neighbors thought it was cool. Cool was the problem. Fog comes out hot and hot dissipates. However, I had the Costco dragon making his rumblings, so maybe the fog was supposed to be smoke.
I just wanna know if you give out candy?
There's always someone nearby. Look for Madam D and be sure to ask her crystal ball nicely for a large candy bar. Wait?! It said, "NO?!" Well, it is called Trick or Treat!!
Where do you come up with your ideas?
After my first taste of fog gone wrong, I searched the internet to find out how to fix it. Well, I found lots of good and bad ideas. From there I decided I wanted to do more...a lot more. I mean, how about ghosts floating on the lawn? Or getting fog on the front lawn -- that has taken a lot of work. I just started to search and Halloween 2022 became my passion.
Why isn't it scarier?
Most of our ghosts and goblins are more like Casper and Baby Groot, so it's important to shield them from zombies and things that make you scream in the night. But don't be discouraged. Plans are in the works to do scarier stuff in the back.
Sorry, no drive-thru
Once Madam D closes her big candy fortune-telling shop, we are closed for the night. We will turn off the entire lawn so that late trick'r treaters don't feel the urge to dodge the hidden wires and become ensnared just trying to get to the front door. Please respect the effort we have put forth and park down the street, get out and show off your costumes.
Why the website?
First, I wanted to document and share how I created my Halloween yard, much like the YouTube makers I have learned from. Second, I have friends all over the world who would like to see my creations but cannot make the long journey. And finally, well, I'm trying out some new templates and tools and it allows me to continue to wear that propeller beanie (geek-dom).
