Happy Hallowe'en

So, since I'm here at the Hive after all, rather than out in CO or up in Seattle or anywhere else altogether, I decided to get into the spirit of things right here at home. Last year I felt quite Grinch-y (excuse the mixed metaphor but I've got Nightmare Before X-mas playing right now so it's actually quite appropriate ;-) and chucked nearly all my H'ween decorations. Luckily the pack-rat in me came to my rescue, as I managed to stumble upon a bag o' faux cobweb in a random drawer. (Leftover from Middle-earth Fellowship's year at Mirkwood, no doubt.) This combined w/the tiny decorative pumpkin which I Jack-o-Lantern'd (b'c Portland's OUTTA pumpkins, sadly!) and my big bag o' pirate garb 'n' gear* has turned my front porch (and self) into a fine piratical H'ween celebration.

(*Yes, I have been known to outfit an entire wedding party at the last minute in pirate attire ;-)

And now that NBX is playing and I'm dressed up and a bowl of candy's by the front door, I'm fondly remember past H'weens: zipping up to Lompoc and instigating a Pirate-themed celebration of our own. Word got around ('tis a small town after all - and one of my cohorts worked w/kids in the local library) and we had repeat visitors vying to say "ARRH!" (req'd for a treat) for us as well as folks coming from across town after hearing 'bout us. THAT was marvelous...and ended up as an annual tradition for a time. :-)

Oh, so many more memories're coming to mind now...Dumb Suppers w/Dear Friends and numerous acquaintances in the Santa Clarita Valley, wandering over to a haunted house display by a big-time H'wood effects dude, big wild parties at UC Santa Cruz (best costume: a Smurf dressed in naught but a blue high-top Converse tennies and blue body paint), wandering Hollywood Blvd and seeing quite the freak show and police on horseback and seeing NBX for my 1st time, enjoying my first ever Cirque du Soleil show, coming up w/last minute costumes, planning and creating outfits, watching horror movies, &c. Just thinking 'bout it - it's all swelling my heart w/joy and happiness.

I've been spending lotsa time at home, getting better (stupid virus making the rounds), cocooning, thinking 'bout what's happened this past year, who's passed on...taking good ME time. It's that time o' year. I'm here now. I'm happy and content. This next year's gonna be a good one.

3 Bags May Not Be Enough

Lots o' costumed kids wandering my neighborhood - I love it! I may end up bailing early if'n I run outta treats though. Besides, the Bagdad's having a free fun event later tonight: zombie costume contest and showing of AMC's new series pilot for The Waking Dead.

EDIT: Clickie for Pickies from Today

EDIT2: Exhaustion - and not yet being fully recovered from cold - so opted to skip the zombieness in favor of curling up w/kittenheads at home once the packs o' trick-or-treater's retired for the evening.