Possumblog

AIEEEEE!!!

SCAAAAARY!

As promised, I got out the ol' digital last night before heading out to beg candy from folks. First up, the group standing inside the door--

Then outside by the SCAAAAAARY jack o'lantern--

Obviously, poor Boy didn't get his mug on camera, dolled up as he was as Bad Anakin, so I had him take off his helmet for this shot--

You will notice this is another inside shot--the reason I couldn't use the rest was that Oldest had done her best to squirm out the top of her "tavern girl" costume, which, when combined with a powerful flash, meant more of her was visible than anyone but her husband should ever get to see.

And how do you like Catherine's hat? Pretty spiff, no? That's actually mine from back when I was doing Rev War reenacting. I will say she looks cuter in it than I ever did. (That's my buddy Charlie on the left in blue.)

The walkaround went quite well this year. We circled the big loop (probably a bit more than half a mile when you add in the cul de sacs on the backside) where our house sits, and stayed on our side of the street, just to keep things simple. Talked to the lady who stopped us in our driveway to ask about buying our house--she wound up buying the one at the corner. Her nephew and niece-in-law are still interested in ours, though, so maybe once they sell their house we'll be able to talk more.

Walked on around some more, found one of those houses where they go all out with the haunted house theme--boarded up windows, rickety picket fence with cobwebs around the cemetery set up in their front yard, spooky music on crackly speakers, lovable doof dressed up at the door. The kids thought that was the best.

Went on around that circle and started up the street some more, came to a house where the mom dressed up. Or down. Rrrrrowll. They had a couple of yappy dogs and after the kids got through they came running back and Dr. Rebecca, Pet Vet, said, "She's got TWO dogs, Daddy!"

"Yes, I saw! ::mumbled aside to self::got a couple of other things, too.::"

"What?"

"I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING! DON'T TELL YOUR MOTHER!"

"But what did you say, Daddy? I said she had two dogs and you said something else!"

"LOOK, kids! They've got some really cool bats and stuff at this house! Go on up to the door and remember to say thank you!" Nothing like a diversion.

Obviously, I wound up telling Reba about our bounteously squishy neighbor after we got home, anyway--I always tell on myself.

That way, I can make sure she hears it the right way.

At some point in our jaunt I heard a couple of fire trucks come around the backside of our part of the neighborhood--I figured they must be out throwing candy or something, but we got around to the third corner and they were pulled up outside someone's house. I buttonholed one of the parents coming down the sidewalk and asked if it was a fire or paramedic call, and they said they thought someone was having a heart attact. (I started to write, "What a show-off," but thought it might be misconstrued as Not A Joke.) Walked on a bit, met one of Jonathan's school friends, whose name is Jonathan, and was dressed up like Darth Vader. What are the odds, eh? Probably pretty good.

Turned the corner, and by this time the kids were wearing down--Cat took off her sparkly red bandana, and Jonathan had me carrying his light saber, which, oddly enough, did not light up. Nor could it slice anyone's arms off.

Final corner, down the street, and to home for some nice supper and continual interruption by the doorbell. We had kids all the way until 9:00 last night. I bet they're going to be a handful in school today.

ANYway, ours got fed and bedded at a decent hour, and were quite responsible with their candy intake, as was I. I managed to steal only one candy bar, and it was a small one--the misnamed "fun" size--and that was it.

SO, now--on with the rest of the show for today!

Posted by Terry Oglesby at November 1, 2005 09:12 AM