Halloween Howlings

This has to be one of my most favorite months of the year. Halloween is, hands down, the funnest, least stressful holiday for me. What's not to like? It's all about fun and food and dressing up.

And October feels like such a powerful month. Especially here, where the air is rich with the changing season. There's a feeling of power in the air, of change, of expectation...It lends itself to a magical spooky holiday so well.

It's funny that I do love Halloween so much, considering I really do not like to be scared. As little sis' older sibling found out when she scared me a few years back and I nearly clocked her. Actually, I think they have all figured that out. The hard way. [g]

Several years back (okay, over a decade ago!) I went to Ha.llow.een Hor.ro.r Nig.hts with a friend of mine. Talk about stressful. For those of you not from the central Flor.ida area, it's a special event Uni.ver.sal Studios theme park does at night during the month of October. When I went, they had mist/fog machines, haunted houses galore and I don't know what else. I pretty much went through the haunted houses clutching my friend in front of me for guidance as I buried my face in her back. You want scary, go there. OMG do they know how to do scary. (And this year is special - it's the 20th year they've been doing this!)

All the employees wore costumes too. And some of them just wandered around the park. You'd be standing there and some monster or ghoul or axe murderer would walk up behind you. When not burying my face in my friend's back, I walked in circles. Seriously. With each step I would spin as I moved. So no-one could creep up on me. Ackkk.

But when all is said and done, I did have fun that night. Especially once we realized some of the regular rides were open and there were no lines. Although I'm not sure my friend N did! She probably had no clue what a chicken I am until that night. LOL.

This year should be less fear-filled. No big plans. Shanni is old enough I doubt we'll trick or treat. She's probably going to a party with friends now that she's in high school. So I have no costume picked out. And I won't be buying candy since there aren't a lot of kids in my area. Maybe I'll have a party for us "adults" at my house. Without scary movies. Or I'll never get to sleep. ;)

Maleficent

Crankyotter, this one's for you...


It's actually from Halloween 2005 and includes my little sister (right) and her older sister (left).

You can't tell too clearly, but my face is green and I did purple eye shadow in a big way. Tried to copy off the DVD of "Sleep.ing Beau.ty".

I bought the costume off of the internet. It's great. Especially out here - just toss it on over sweater & flannel-line jeans and you are good to go trick-or-treating. (Halloween is usually the first really cold snap of the year. 20 to 30*F for the highs.)

Next year I need to add the staff with the raven. That's harder to find. At least, one that looks real. ;) I'm also thinking of adding long black or purple nails.