For the past two years, I've gone as Tony Clifton (Andy Kaufman's alter ego), and I'd like to do something different this year.

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The question: Why should 8 year olds and 10 year olds be exposing their midrifts in October? What is the purpose of this? What is the ideology behind this?

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I've been Medusa a couple times (not in successive years and not with the same group of people, thank heavens, how could I ever show my face again?) I was also a silent screen film star once - blonde pageboy, long gloves, fur stole, cigarette holder - if I could only do that look every day! Except, I made myself sick from all the cigarettes (somehow the long holder makes you forget that you're not actually enjoying smoking).

Jane-et (who is my partner in every sense but the romantic) is crazy for Halloween. She was Gene Simmons from KISS a couple years ago and won a prize for that costume. The year that she dressed as a lion, she disappeared into the bathroom with a copy of National Geographic and emerged an hour later, looking like a lion. Not a cartoon lion. A real lion, out of the pages of National Geographic. Teased her hair out, applied fangs to her teeth...a real lion. It was weird.

Funnily enough, though she's a straight girl, Jane-et is often mistaken for a drag queen on Hallowe'en. She's 5'10 in her bare feet, well over 6 feet with her platforms on, and though she's quite, um, stacked up top, she's got no hips and no bum. Kind of like a drag queen.

This year, she's going to be a polar bear. I'm going to be a viking, the kind of comic viking you see in cartoons, with the horned helmet. Gives me an opprotunity to wear my chainmail bra that's sitting around gathering dust these days.

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I'm thinking about going as an envelope with white powder on it, but that seems like a hell of a lot of work.

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No it wouldn't! Okay, here's what you do. Get enough bristol board so that you can sandwich yourself between two big rectangles. On the back side using a marker, draw on the envelope creases, and on the front, put the name and address of someone you really don't like (for instance, Mike Harris or Dubya, or someone like that).

Then, buy that snow-in-a-can stuff (everyone's got their Christmas merchandise out now, so it shouldn't be hard to find) and spray it along the edges of the envelope flaps.

That would take practically no time at all compared to how long it took me to make a Blue's Clues costume last year (sewing a bunch of dark blue circles onto a light blue jumpsuit and making a cap with big floppy ears - eek - this year I bought a plush lion costume which he'll probably like better anyhow).

[ 23 July 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ]

They went as tennis players from teh 1970s.

They had big curly wigs and a headband, TIGHT white tennis shirts, TIGHT SHORT white tennis shorts, wristbands, old tennis shoes and wooden rackets.

It was hysterical, and they were very popular with the ladies.

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The answer: If the parents try to forbid their daughters from wearing the costumes they want to wear it means dealing with crying, whining, and temper tantrums. How many parents have the energy for that?

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Come off it blaming it on kids. My dad used to do that to my mom, and since she hates a scene she would always let him have his way to shut him up.

Kids are like that anyway - I could tell you stories. First peice of advice if the child looks at you really sadly, tears in his eyes but intermittingly buries his head in his hands and starts to sob - pull his hand away from his mouth - he`s just hiding the fact that he can`t maintain that sad tearful face.

Secondly, just as parents were put on earth to embarass their children, children have also been put on earth to embarass their parents. Take it as a natural given, and if the kid doesn`t need comforting or you can`t pick them up in the air and spin them around to distract them out of it - just give the other people your best "what`s YOUR problem" look or just ignore them.

Helped my mom put up a few decorations at her place because my dad usually gets gung ho about halloween. I put this skeleton on the outside door got the arms and legs just right and my mom took it down. She said that because of his yellow skin and the fact that he`s been losing weight that the skeleton looked too much like my dad.

My dad came from a large family, and since his birthday is on the 29th, Halloween was always HIS holiday. I think he even started celebrating it a bit more vigorously after his least favorite brother-inlaw died halloween night. I sort of assume my cousin doesn`t really celebrate halloween much anymore, but never really asked.

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I need a cat costume.

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I'm going as a Mommy Mummy. So easy - wrap myself and my baby in cheesecloth and off we go. And my mother is busy making a fancy home-sewn costume for my 20 month -old. Trinity has this thing for crocodiles so that's what she gets to be. I love Grandmas who can sew.

I'll be partying like a parent anyway - me and the neighbours are organizing a moms & tots hallowe'en party for Wednesday morning(who ever knew I would be involved in something that actually used the word "tots"). Mostly because it's impossible to do any real trick or treating when you live in a rural area - you hit two houses and then it's 10:00 pm. With little kids that's insane - my eldest needs to be in bed by 7:30. All the kids that come to the party get candy bags and we're having games, crafts, rhymes, and a little costume parade. I get to be in charge of the feeling game - you know, cooked spaghetti is "brains", peeled grapes are "eyeballs", etc. It's all being held at the local community hall.

I'm even baking. Just call me the goddess of domesticity (actually, Michelle is probably the rightful holder of that title).

I actually prefer it to some past Hallowe'ens, though - like the one in Calgary when I went to the combination party/Great Big Sea concert and managed to get into a fight. I ended up biting a girl.
Teach her to stick her elbow in my mouth.

I wasn't always a pacifist.

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I'm even baking. Just call me the goddess of domesticity (actually, Michelle is probably the rightful holder of that title).

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Hee hee ho ho ho...oooh ha ha...HAHAHAHA...hee hee...ahem...*snerk*...*choke*...ahem...

Okay, I'm all right now. You might want to talk to my "ex" about how "domestic" I am. Heh. The only reason I made my son's costume last year is because I had such good memories of my mother's home made costumes. I figured my son's first Hallowe'en costume was going to be made by my very own hands.

I did a good job, but it probably took me about 10 hours longer than it would have taken any other woman, seeing as I'm terrible at sewing and I had to do it by hand (no sewing machine). This year I bought his costume. But - oh, he's awake, I hear him getting up. This morning before day care he and I will make Hallowe'en decorations for the house.

I'm kind of sad about Hallowe'en this year, actually. My son is going to be in Daddyland that day. So tomorrow during the day my mother and I will be taking him to a conservation park nearby, where they're holding a Hallowe'en party all afternoon and early evening, with scavenger hunts, hay rides, ghost stories around a campfire, and everything.

[ February 16, 2002: Message edited by: Michelle ]

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I need a cat costume

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Thing is, though, I'm not sure how I'm going to make him take it OFF when the day is over tomorrow. He'll want to wear it for the next two months - to bed, to school, to the playground...

[ 23 July 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ]

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The bare midriff thing is due to the Britney Spears factor, which has also managed to penetrate the clothing lines that are meant for adult women (talk about a bad idea).

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Was the choice of the word "penetrate" intentional or a Freudian slip? Saw a video of her once because Kevin`s best friend Jeremy thinks she`s gorgeous. I have a friend whose not speaking to me now because I sent her something from rabble who works as a "dancer" in Texas with her own website - a pretty good feat for someone born on May 17, 1962! Some of HER outfits have more material than Brittany`s.

On 22minutes they were covering a story where Brittany`s producer prevented her from going topless because it might upset her fans. Rick Mercer: What? There are 13 year-old boys out there who don`t know how to opperate a pause button?!

That is one thing I don`t understand. Sending me pictures of her purchases: the car, the home, the outfits, the nipple ring - all considerd acceptable. Sending her something off of Rabble is some how inappropriate.

I was thinking about putting them in Saran Wrap with my name, address, and telephone numbers labeled on them, but I was afraid parents would still not like that. Besides, I figured if the kids ate my candy as well as 10 other things, and another thing was tampered with, you know who's gonna get blamed.

Also, you have to worry about peanut allergies and stuff too, I suppose. Sigh. It's so complicated now. But then again, ever since I can remember, only bought and sealed candy was ever given out. Once in a while I would get an apple, which was promptly thrown out.

CLICK if you love Jesus.

I was planning on going to the Parade of Lost Souls on Commercial Drive (a freaky Van. neighbourhood), but my girlfriend, who doesn't 'do' Hallowe'en somehow tricked me into making alternitive plans for the same night (tonight). Grrrrrr, why does religion always get in the way of fun?!

Oh yeah, I'm going to be Indiana Jones.

A lightbulb went off in my head! Go as Mike Harris! I could bring a great big wooden stick, and when people answer the door I could say "Hi, I'm Mike Harris. This is my stick. i use it to beat poor people with!" In my pocket, I could have a pen, to which I could add "And in my pocket is the pen that signed away democracy in Ontario. 'cause we all hate politicians!". And if I could get someone to dress up as a pair of scissors, then I could continue "And these are the scissors I used to cut welfare, and healthcare so those greedy fat bums couldn't soak up any more of your money".

Then, to finish off the act, I could say "Now, I suggest you give me as much candy as possible. Who do you want getting it? My hard working buddies, or those lazy slobs who are always at the welfare office?"

What do you think? Is the sarcasm blunt enough, or should I continue with the dramatization and mockery that was the original premise of the "poor-beatin' stick"?

LotusGrrrl, yeah I know. You don't have to rub it in. I haven't missed the parade in four years! It's rained every year except this one.... maybe the curse was on me?

I've been keeping an eye out at the second hand and discount stores my eldest likes to spend hours in trying to find that once in a life time bargain she happens to get about once a week. (she's sharp, there's no taking that away from her.)

I need a black leather vest, some black leather gauntlets, leather pants, and of course, a black leather hood, the kind that leaves the face open, but comes down low enough you need eye holes to see. I might have to make that item myself. A nice cat 'o nine tails slung from the hip would set it off nicely.

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skdadl: earthmother, I am shocked and appalled.

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You know skdadl, a person reads that line they just have to open the thread and find out what earthmother said.

I went to every second hand shop in town to find a used flower girl type dress.... Wound up with a confirmation dress several sizes too big (will fit over a snow suit if necessary). I'll hem it up a bit, jazz it up with some glitter glue, etc., maybe find a pink sash, and she already has a pink maribou head thingy with curly ribbons. Should come out fabulous!

I used to do the Hallowe'en costume thing every year.... 4 years of theatre school will do that to you... I once went as the mad Ophelia, complete with flowers in my hair, and my beau of the time was Hamlet. I also went in a string bikini and grass skirt one year... I've also put together several very successful clown costumes.

I generally go in black as my usual witchy self these days. I have some very lovely Sri Lankan bat jewellery that I like to wear...

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And, who knows, I might even wear it on Hollowe'en, too.

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Just the O'Henrys? I find that those 'Rocket' sugar candies go mushy by Christmas too.

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Ooh, I love rocket candies!

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Hey Michelle I wasn't sure if I should tell him it was you.

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(temperature-wise, that is)

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Earthmother - if I ever buy one I'll let you know. "What was that? Oh, what a silly mistake I made - I tied BOTH of your hands up in that bandage..." Heh.

The latex nurses uniform I saw wasn't one a fetishist would wear behind closed doors, actually. More an outfit to be seen in at parties and such. It was a low cut affair with a short flaired out skirt that would probably be fairly cool. An actual nurses uniform, the style say from the 60's or earlier (complete with hat) tailored close to the body would be unbearably hot. In more ways than one.

And as far as finding someone to wear one, that's really no problem in these internet days. The problem becomes one of geography, and finances.

Where was this here internet when I was 20?....

Youth IS wasted on the young. So don't let them have it - take some for yourself. You're as young as you feel.

This guy I dated for about 5 years before meeting my husband had a bunch of friends, and they would trade porno movies. They would get together and watch them the way people watch Jerry Springer - to make fun of it.

I could have worn my yellow polyester tuxedo with the salmon-coloured frilly tuxedo shirt, but I've done that for four years in a row, and I'm tired of it.

I thought of going as an envelope with white powder on it, but I was lazy.

So, I went as myself . . . ten years ago.

I wore ripped jeans, a flannel shirt tied around my waist, and an old concert t-shirt from 10 years ago.

I fear the concept was a little too subtle for most people. At one point one of the staff at the joint we went to got mad at me for sitting down on the job. He thought I was the DJ!

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what's up with knights these days

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that's so funny.

Can we expect even more posts than usual while you work off your sugar high?

This is Europa and me, on Hallowe'en!