Day 31: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Well, it’s finally here, the big day. The day we have been working toward all month. Hopefully pumpkins have been carved, candy stocked, and costumes planned. I was getting last minute candy on Monday and there were many, MANY people in the aisles with cranky children asking them what they wanted to be for Halloween. Last week there were options galore, this week there are T-shirts and onesies. It will be an interesting Halloween for some people. If they were really creative children they would pick a unicorn horn and tail, with panda paws, a cape (with a hole for the really cool tail), tiara, maybe a harlequin mask, a tutu, wacky patterned leggings and sparkly shoes. Ok, maybe the mask and cape are a bit much, but it would be kinda cool to make a totally wacky costume. Oooh, that should totally be a game-show. Contestants are given a set dollar amount and a cart and have to do a supermarket dash type thing but in the slim pickins aisle of the costume department. The person with the most creative costume wins. The only criteria is that it can’t look like anything we would recognize. Oooh, I’m trademarking this. I will make millions……or at least hundreds……maybe just enough to get me next year’s costume.

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed the wonderful month of October. I hope you have drank or eaten your body weight in pumpkin spiced things. I hope you visited a corn maze or three. I hope you have fun plans for the evening or day or both. I hope these rambling have broadened your October horizons and given you some joy along the way. If not, I hope they made you seem saner in comparison to me ;) I have a host of plans for the day. Main plans, back up plans, plans for if those plans take a detour. I know at the end of the night, this Cinderella will kick off her glass slippers, find an easy chair and put her feet up. I will listen to my spooky Sounds of Halloween tape one last time before bed and then drift off to sweet candy corn colored dreams. In the morning will come the bleak November, but perhaps some of the bright lights and sweet treats from October will linger.

Happy Halloween everyone! Till next year.

Day 30: Family Fun Night

I am in full blown “October is almost over” panic. There are still so many things that I want to do before the month ends and I know I’m not going to make it. But that is ok, mostly. October is a no fault month. Besides, if I can't do it in 31 days, then I will just appropriate some of November for other October related purposes. Ah, now I feel better. Finally, November is good for something.

Last weekend it seemed, many people decided to have their Halloween fun early. I saw people in costume, read about people in costume, and heard about people in costume. So many parties and gatherings were going on before the big day. I hope they save some of the merrymaking for actual Halloween.

Parties are one of my favorite things about October. Scary movie nights, costume parties, harvest parties at school, pumpkin carving parties, trick or treat sleep overs, and the best of all, Family Fun Night.

Family Fun Night was the best day of the school year for me. Even better than the first day, and that is saying something. For years I thought the event was indigenous only to my school, but since then I have found out otherwise. For one night, our gym and surrounding classrooms would be turned into an October wonderland. Rooms that were dedicated to learning, morphed into photo studios, game booths and face painting way stations. The library turned into the cafeteria and the halls were filled with excited children who had parents in tow.

But the gym, the gym was amazing. Professional looking carnival booths lined every wall and took up any available floor space. And for the most part, the floor plan didn't change from year to year. The fish pond was always on the right back corner near the cake walk stairs. The cake walk was always on the stage. The ticket booth was always out of the gym teacher’s office. The rope climb with its big spongy mat was always in front of the cake walk in the middle of the room and the cotton candy was always out the right side gym doors turning the entryway into a shiny sugary mess.

Once I entered the building I didn't see my parents again until I either needed more tickets, had to drop off prizes because my hands were full, or needed food. Sometimes I saw them at one of the booths playing games, but really, I can’t tell you what they did with their time other than hold my winnings and keep the cafeteria chairs warm. It was pretty much a given that I would win 3 or 4 baked goods of some kind and bring home a fish or two that wouldn't last till morning. At some point during the night I would have the little kid melt down of NO I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YET, and the begging and pleading of just one more booth would begin. Eventually, after a few years, my parents got wise and curtailed my cake walk participation. No more walk after two wins, and I was forbidden to play the fish game, which really was fine with me. Perpetually dead fish are not all that much fun.

Now that I have had the opportunity to plan my own Family Fun Night, I realize how much work went into making things look how they did and run so smoothly. I wish that I could have a time machine to go back and appreciate with new eyes all that was going on. But maybe not, maybe I am content to just let it live in my imagination with all the sparkle and wonder that an elementary school child can conceive.

I still have mementos from those wonderful days. They make me smile every time I see them. Instantly I am transported back to a waffle floored gym and the sounds of merrymaking on a cold October night. I wish everyone could have such a wonderful experience. I wouldn't trade those memories for the world.

Day 29: October Soundwave

I know I have already mentioned October music. We have Monster Mashed and hung out with the Werewolves of London, but there is another side to October music that I forgot about until last night. October has sounds all its own. There is the sound of the wind through the trees. That brittle scratching that makes one think of monster fingers rap, rap, rapping at your chamber door. There is the crunch of leaves as they are stomped on or the dry scrape as they are blown across the pavement. There are the noises in the night that we can’t quite identify so we pull the covers a little tighter around our heads. There is the bubble of the crock pot or cauldron ;) and the hiss of a teakettle as we dream of the hot cocoa soon to fill our bellies. There is the soft whisper of heat coming out of the vents warming our homes or the crackle and pop of the fireplace as we snuggle close. There is the harsh clang of icy rain on the roof or the crunch and squeal of ice scrapers on windshields in the frosty morning. Maybe it is the dry rustle of cornstalks in a maze or the happy squeals of children as they run door to door collecting candy. There are many sounds to October and with only a handful of days left to appreciate them I challenge you to take a minute and really listen amidst all the other noise that fills your life, then tell me your favorite October sounds.

Day 28: TV Tricks and Treats

Have I mentioned October TV yet? I'm lucky if I can remember yesterday, and yesterday I know that I didn't mention October TV. Well, if I have, then claim selective amnesia and read on. If I haven't, then wahoo, it's new to you.

I am a big TV watcher. It is in my DNA. I won't get into specifics but I will say this, 1) I am a Nielsen family member 2) I know what sweeps, up fronts, and anchors are 3) I love TV as much as I do reading and movies 4) I have 20 shows I follow yearly. That should give you some idea as to where I am coming from. October turns out to be a very lucrative time of year for TV watching. This year more so than others, since most of the fall shows decided to come back at the end of September/beginning of October. The new TV season is like back to school for me. I have my premier date diagram; I plot out my viewing schedule. For an organizational nerd like me it is like Christmas. I get positively giddy. Plus, there is the added bonus that the networks turn their promo ads spooky, bats fly out of logos and chyrons get changed to pumpkins. I'm pretty sure they do it just for me.

But October, October is something special when it comes to TV. October means that most all of my shows (unless they are too cool/serious to lower themselves) have a special Halloween episode. Halloween episodes are always different from the other holiday episodes. For the Halloween episodes anything goes. Some shows that are on hiatus come back just for Halloween and do special episodes while they are on break. Some shows use the Halloween episode to do something totally nonlinear in the story line. Some shows just run with it and go all out on the Halloween theme.

Remember how I said that I wanted to live in my Halloween village? Well, come Halloween time, I really want to live in a sitcom. Every year I am excessively jealous of the costumes and decorations that TV families have. Yes, I am well aware that they are TV shows, and the families aren't real and they have costume departments to help dress them, but man, I want to live there. No matter what, the costumes are always super cool. A character may only have 5 minutes to get to a party and only have their closet as a costume resource, but somehow, they show up in full gear, and look great. Every. Time. Arghhh. I want the magic TV costume closet.

And the decorations. They always have the best fog, candy bowls, creepy lights or front yard displays. I know what it takes to decorate my house and the storage space it eats up. If just one TV character had to store all their decorations like I do mine, they would have to rent a storage space I promise you that. That said. I love the creativity that goes into each episode. Some of them even give me costume ideas for years to come.

My favorite Halloween themed episodes are, in no particular order; The X-Files: Home, which has forever made me fearful of a Johnny Mathis song. Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place: Mind Over Body, which was the best brain swapping episode ever done on TV. Modern Family: Halloween, which is the most realistic portrayal of how I am around the holiday. The Friends episode where Ross dresses up like Spudnick and has to keep explaining it. (Best costume ever. Second only to the Holiday Armadillo) Psych: This Episode Sucks, which totally gets my geekery for Halloween and pop culture references. And of course, it wouldn't be October without It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Which isn't a TV show per say, but these are my October Thoughts and I can put it in there if I want to. I always feel SO sorry for Charlie Brown. Every year I think, maybe this time he will catch a break. He never does, but I hold out hope. I also love Linus sitting in the pumpkin patch with his blankie waiting for the Great Pumpkin. It totally sounds like something I would do. Which is probably why my parents never let me see it when I was little. Smart parents. Then there was the year that Sunday Night Football fell on the same night as Halloween and my Benglas were playing. Leslie Nielsen did the scary intro and I just about died from holiday TV programming bliss.

I know not everyone is a big TV watcher, and I know not everyone likes Halloween, but I think I have enough joy in my system to make up for that lack. After all, it is the little things in life that can add the most joy sometimes. At least for me.

Day 27: Well Candy My Apple and Call Me Appealing

Yesterday as I was driving past the dentist who advertises cash for Halloween candy trade each year, I was struck with a terrible craving. I needed something red and delicious that I could sink my teeth into. I needed a candy apple. For years mom and I have gone back and forth over which kind of dipped and coated apples are the best. She says red apples with red candy coating. I say green with anything but red candy coating. I am still sticking to my no red apples policy, but I feel myself wavering on the hard candy shell bit as of late.

You see since we are dealing with my brain, when someone says candy apple, it is like saying caramel apple as well. Kind of like how the word October also means autumn to me. So when mom starts talking about that hard, crunchy outer shell, I think, the poor woman has gone and lost her mind. Caramel, peanuts, and chocolate are on the outside of a candy apple. Duh, it is candy after all. Thus begins the war of semantics in our house over what exactly constitutes a candied apple. My dad wisely chooses to stay out of it altogether. Smart man.

But I digress. Whatever form it comes in, red candy or coated with chocolate and other bits, they are like my cooking kryptonite. I can't make them to save my life. All I end up making is a mess. Kind of like how I can't make pancakes. I can make lobster thermidore, I can cook a super complicated soufflé and not have it fall, but ask me to put an apple on a stick and then dip it in something…..sorry, you are talking to the wrong gal. I have no idea why it is so hard. I have tried making it super complicated just in case that was my problem. Nope. I constantly burn the candy or get melty chocolate everywhere. Once I even got an apple stuck to a counter-top and had to pry it off with a screwdriver. Now that takes talent.....or a lack thereof. I can't even work those caramel wraps that they sell in the produce aisle, which advertise they are so simple a child could do it. Well not this child. That poor apple looked like the elephant man of apples when I was done with it. It was a complete and total fiasco.

Many moons ago I found a kitchen appliance that is used only for the purpose of dipping apples into it and having them come out all coated and delicious and perfect looking. I meant to purchase it because one, it is a kitchen appliance so I must have it. Two, it involves dipping apples which is a favorite October pastime. Three, it comes in a very nifty color. And four, did I mention it was a kitchen appliance? Alas, said beautiful machine was not purchased. I may or may not have been sidetracked by truffles that look like pumpkins, Frankenstein heads, acorns and black cats and blown my allotted kitchen gadget budget. But that is a conversation for another day.

So, when this year came around I was faced with the age old problem of how to get a candied apple that didn't come from a grocery store. Now I have nothing against grocery store caramel apples, I just happen to think they look puny and the nuts are always stale. I was ruined on grocery store caramel apples by my orthodontist of all people. The day you get your braces off he gives you the biggest gourmet caramel apple you have ever seen. (I think to make your teeth go all wonky again so that he can add a tennis court to go with the pool your mangled teeth already helped him build) It is, or I should say was, a gourmet apple that was covered with an inch thick candy coating. There was chocolate of two different kinds, marshmallows, caramel and nuts. It tasted like heaven and ever since it has been an October obsession.

Sadly, farmers around here don't seem to see the point in putting anything on their apples other than a pie crust. The "big" city is really too far away to justify driving to get one and even if I did drive, I have no idea where I would go to get such a delicacy. For some weird reason, they don’t have caramel apple sellers listed in the phone book. But luckily, there is always the trusty internet and UPS. As we speak, apple elves are busy coating my newly ordered beauties with artistic swirls of chocolate and sprinkles. I will admire their handiwork for approximately 2.5 seconds before I begin to devour them like an apple crazed fiend.

But back to the great apple debate that I have going with my mom. For years she had extolled the virtues of the red candied apple. She spoke with reverence over the taste, the smell and the appearance of such a delectable morsel. One day, quite by accident or an October miracle, we happened upon an establishment that sold these mythic treats. We both bought our shiny red apples and went out to eat them. Frankly, I'm lucky I didn't chip a tooth. That candy spackle was so hard all I could do was sit there and try to gnaw at it like some crazed beaver. In the end I think I ended up taking it back to my dorm room and whacking it on the desktop to loosen the candy coating. That part was fun, I will give her that. But mom loved her apple just as it was. She licked it like a lollipop and made a delightful mess of her face with all that melty candy coating. Oh my kingdom for a camera that day. Needless to say, candy apples are still her apple of choice. Truly, a house divided.

I will say this for the red candy coating though, it certainly is beautiful. Mom said that she had her first one at the fair. The only fair food that I like are corn dogs and elephant ears. I have never seen a candied apple at a fair, but then again I have only been to two in all my years of existence so it really isn't a fair comparison. Food on a stick seems to be a popular fair food, so I am inclined to believe that they are out there. Somewhere.

Red or green. Coated in chocolate or candy. Apples are a solid second to being one of the best October foods. You can candy them, bake them, bob for them, decorate them, throw them, roast them, twist the tops off and see who you will marry, dry them, dice them, juice them and make stamps from them. Any way you slice it (yes, pun intended) apples are some kind of wonderful.

So tell me, which do you prefer most, a caramel or candy coated apple?

Day 26: Barn Baby, Barn

Strictly speaking, the thought for today isn't unique to October, but it is the season when I think about them the most, so it totally counts. So what am I talking about, well, barns of course. I love barns as much as I love pumpkins, but pumpkins are easier to purchase and take up a lot less room, so I have to content myself with snapshots, clippings, and Google searches to feed my habit. I especially love barns that are rotting and weathered and about to fall down. But new shiny barns that are all red and have white trim catch my fancy too. Yup, I am an equal opportunity barn lover.

Not growing up in the country has lead me to have a very romanticized notion of barns that I am sure people who actually live with them and use them do not have. To me, barns are full of mystery and beauty, history and stories. I almost can't go by a barn without it sparking my imagination, which now that I live in the sticks makes for dangerous driving. I can't be day dreaming every time I leave my driveway.

Barns have a sense of history that houses don't. People modify houses all the time. Unless it is a historical dwelling, houses change with the times. But barns, barns stay the same. Their purpose is to be functional. No one decides to remodel their barn unless they use it as an office or guesthouse. Barns get left alone for the most part. They watch life go by and in some cases have ushered it in.

A good barn doesn't look new when its final days come. A good barn looks like it has lived every inch of its life the day it finally collapses. And that is how barns should go. They shouldn't be demolished with a bulldozer or wrecking ball. They should stand for years and slowly list to one side. Finally they should succumb to the alluring pull of gravity. A good barn should lie in a pile of cracked timbers for a few years with vines and creepers growing over it before it is finally removed. After all, it has served its purpose, it deserves a rest.  

My favorite thing when going down a highway is to look for tipsy barns. You see them in the strangest places. My favorite is one that stands just off the highway on the outskirts of a busy city. There is a vacant weedy lot being sold and there is an old crumbling barn sitting on it. It lists to the left in the front and the timbers have seen better days. The door has long since fallen off and not a stitch of paint can be seen. I love that barn.

These days we try our hardest not to show our age, to hide our peeling paint and cracked timbers, but old barns, they don't have anything to prove to anyone. They are out there for all to see, withstanding the ravages of time and showing every scar and nick. We could learn a lot from barns.

Barns remind me of who I am. They remind me of the passage of time and of history gone by. What has happened in those barns? Maybe they were used to store machinery. Maybe someone had their first kiss snuggled back in a hayloft. Perhaps it was a working barn with animals and tractors and gear hung from the rafters.

For some reason barns just make me nostalgic. They get my imagination going immediately. I think of barn owls soaring around the rafters. I hear the rustle of hay as a horse turns around in its stall. I watch the sunset from the open door of a hay loft, or feel the burn of the rope as I swing off a rafter into packed straw. I can smell the grease from an old tractor and hear the clink of tools swinging from their hooks in the breeze. Then there are October barns. They are good for dances, outdoor movies and haunted houses.

My favorite barn related discovery so far has been a small business called, are you ready, Built of Barnwood. So of course I love it, I mean it has barn in the title. It is now defunct, but it was run exclusively by a family of four and they even let their kids design some of their goods. They took wood from old barns and pallets and make new things from them. That just made my heart smile. I bought quite a few things from them and I love the idea that my little bit of wood used to be a working barn and now it has a new lease on life cheering me up. What a great idea. I should have thought of it first.

See, there are many, many reasons to love barns. Go find one and send me some pictures.

Day 25: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words…..

…..and since that is pretty close to what I normally write, whew, you get some time off for good behavior.

It seems more and more that those in the retail life like to promote holidays before their time, because of that, there have been a few memes and pictures that I have had since August and they are what I am going to talk about today.

I had to go back and look at my picture files because Christmas has been creeping in like a red and white stripped ninja. I see whole aisles dedicated to the holiday, Hallmark starts their Christmas countdown this weekend and last night, one of my coworkers was singing Christmas carols while he cleaned up. Not ok. So not ok, and not just because they are rushing the issue, but poor Thanksgiving gets left out yet again and it’s not even Halloween yet. I’m all for celebrating, but don’t keep rushing us. Let us enjoy the season we are in for a change.

So, as a reminder that we are still in fact in fall, here are few of my favorite pics from this year.

1)      Do Not Feed Hallucinogens to the Werewolves – I like this for obvious reasons. It has a werewolf in it with flying mushrooms and it looks like an actual park sign. It tickles my October funny bone. Werewolves are scary enough they don’t need to be drugged on top of it.

2)      Pumpkin Spice Cologne Pumpkins – I mean come on, pumpkins trying to fit in and wearing pumpkin spice. How meta.  A little pumpkin patch humor for you to start your day with.

3)      The Cereal Aisle – I found this early in the month and what made me really happy, despite the fact that there was lots of monster cereal, was the fact that below it was pumpkin spice cereal. Oh October and your pumpkin spice commercialization….never change.

4)      Cold Stone Boo Licious Ice Cream – it combines all my favorite things, black ice cream, Cold Stone, candy and October play on names. I haven’t had any yet, but it is on my bucket list.

5)      And Speaking of Ice Cream- Ben and Jerry should get some sort of Nobel Prize for holiday deliciousness. I’m sure it’s a thing. I have tried to find this limited edition but it appears to be a very limited edition or else has an invisibility cloak because I have not run into it yet.

6)      Pie Puns in Ads- I mean, is there anything better? I agree wholeheartedly with the caption above.

7)      Decorations – one of my friends sent me this. It isn’t the choice I would make for my yard, but it brings me joy nonetheless. They have a pirate ship on their front lawn and I love the little creatures along the front fencing. I would stop at your house for candy and give you a blue ribbon.

8) Pumpkin Boat Races - I mean COME. ON! First they grow ginormous pumpkins, then they hollow them out like canoes and THEN they race them. (waves hands frantically while jumping up and down to get attention) I am SO in!

Ahh, doesn’t that make you feel more fall like? What fall pictures do you have to share?

Day 24: A Haunting Good Time

I have had haunted houses on the brain lately. Ok, haunted houses and zombies. I just found out today, (today people this is not ok) that there is something called a Zombie Hunt in my area. And I quote "Players armed with paintball or laser tag guns will navigate the fields in order to escape the zombie horde! Your team will be asked to wipe out the zombies and make it to the decontamination zone to retrieve the antidote and save humanity." I mean HOW COOL IS THAT! I want to go save humanity from the zombie hoard. I feel it is my duty to go where I am needed and after all, humanity needs me.

I also was re-reminded that there is such a thing as Escape Rooms. There are a few in my hometown and this is the descriptor for one of them, "Prepare to be locked in a room with up to 11 other people and a Zombie that is chained to the wall! Hidden in the room is a key that will unlock the door to your freedom. To find the key you must locate numerous clues and solve riddles. Every five minutes the hungry Zombie’s chain will be released another foot. Within an hour, the Zombie will be able to reach you. You have 60 minutes to the find clues, solve the puzzles, unlock the door and escape the room without getting infected! Are you smarter than a Zombie? Find out!"

I want to find out. I want to find out. Pick me. Pick me. (jumps up and down over in the corner frantically waving both hands). I mean, are they purposely gearing these things to me? I think so and I appreciate it. Not all the escape rooms are scary though. There is one that has to do with the American Revolution for us nerdy history buffs, and one is in an arcade. I want to go so bad or haven't I mentioned that?

Then there is the Haunted World. I usually don't go for scary stuff like that. My motto is, there are already too many actual freaks and weirdos out in the world, and I don't need to seek them out. But this actually sounds kinda fun. "The Haunted World is a 30 acre outdoor haunt. You will wind your way through Gristle's cornfield and then make your way underground and into his 700 ft. dungeon of torture. If you can handle it, you will then pass through his barnyard, and visit his ravenous animals. You will also visit Hacksaw Jim's Stanky Cellar, Voorhee's Dilapidated Shack, Vertigo's Tunnel, and Cannibal Lecter's Carnival of Pigs." And if that isn't enough fun, they have something called Skullvania "which is an asylum gone wrong. Disturbed patrons have checked in, never to check out! You will make your way through each one of their rooms and experience firsthand what they experience daily. May their souls rest in peace." I just got goosebumps and they are the good kind.

I think all this mania started when I was in the car and heard the radio announcers mention a haunted house attraction that was so scary over half the participants can't finish it. The haunted house is called the 17th Door and it is scaring the pants off people. They are actually selling out of tickets and then about 60% of the participants can't even finish the course. I don't know whether to be impressed or really freaked out? You have to go room by room and supposedly things escalate as you go. You have to sign a waiver at the start and you are given a safe word if you can't go on. If you use the safe word you are immediately taken out of the...event....attraction.....room? That does not sound fun to me. I like to be scared every now and again, but on my own terms. It says for this haunted house the actors get up into your personal space. NO THANKS. If I wanted that I'd go stand in line at the DMV. Ok, I just looked it up and HECK NO. The mere video of the place was disturbing. Those are some sick, sick people. I don’t count that as fun at all. And they weren’t kidding about the actors getting all up in your your business. I’d bring mace.

Ahhh haunted houses. I do have a soft spot in my October heart for you, but mostly I am thinking of the one back home with the cheesy velvet glow in the dark paintings where the eyes follow you and they pipe in scary sounds through the PA. Now we are talking my kind of scary.

Oh October, you do have something for everyone.

Day 23: An October Story for You

It was the longest night of the year and once again time for the annual meeting of the months. Everyone was there. The triplets April, May and June were giggling over a fashion magazine on the over-sized couch. July was off in the corner causing trouble and slipping firecrackers under the butler’s shoes. March was drinking with January out on the patio while September scolded them and tried to keep things in order. November was hungrily eyeing the goodies on the sideboard while February was stuffing sweets into her purse when she thought no one was looking. August was lazing near the fire listening to a boisterous December recount holidays past and October was in his easy chair watching it all through his mask.

The meeting of the months always took place in the Great Hall of the Time Mansion. The Great Hall was a place out of time and was thereby deemed neutral ground by all the months. No one could claim favoritism or privilege in the Hall and they all took turns chairing the meetings. Out of the Hall, each of the months had their own set of rooms in the mansion and their own personal staff, which at the beginning of time had presented a problem when unsuspecting visitors had dropped by. They had been met at the door by any variety of beings. There were elves, flying babies, leprechauns, water nymphs, talking jack o lanterns, flower people, stars, elementals, Ents, scarecrows, cats and more. How would you feel if the north wind came to the door when you knocked? So, at one of the annual meetings it was decided that a master butler needed to be hired, just for the odd unexpected visitor. After all, one didn't want to scare the people too badly, that was October's job.

The hiring process was mercifully short. Thousands answered the ad but only one stalwart gentleman actually stayed for the interview process. The rest fled at varying points, either at the front door or in the corridors on the way to the interview room; but not Manfred Lillywhite. Manfred was made of sterner stuff and supposed that if his new place of employment had a few oddities, who was he to complain. He had grown up in a rather uneventful life and felt that a few quirks here and there would be a welcome change. Happily there was no shortage of eventful occurrences for Manfred to handle.

There was the time that April decided her pet bunny needed to befriend one of October's bats and soon the mansion was overrun with flying rabbits. Then there was the great Christmas cookie debacle of 783 when one of the elves turned the entire mansion into a gingerbread house. Thanks to February's sweet tooth, whole sections of the mansion had to be redone or forever sport tooth marks. Yes, the atmosphere was never dull in the Time Mansion. Why, one could walk from room to room and experience vastly different weather patterns and seasons. You could go alpine skiing on the grand staircase or visit the spooky caverns that made up the basement. Some of the bathrooms resembled tropical gardens complete with bathing pools and waterfalls, and the kitchens, yes; kitchens plural stocked every sort of gastronomical confection imaginable. The cutlery drawers alone looked like a cross between an arsenal and a medieval torture chamber.

Which was what made it so much fun to be the host of the annual meeting. October loved to show off the fruits of his month’s bounty and the tables almost bent under their combined weight. There was pumpkin panettone for December who liked fruitcake, and pumpkin soups and breads for November. There were cupcakes, candies, cider, tortes, tarts and ales. Fruit pies, meat pies, sweet pies and sour pies. There was so much food in fact, that scarecrow waiters stood by the Hall doors next to wheelbarrows ready to wheel the months out after the meeting. Truth be told, some method of conveyance was always standing by to wheel the occupants out after a meeting. Overindulgence was the goal not the exception. When December was in charge it was a sled pulled by gingerbread men, when it was August's turn giant floating sunflowers harnessed to bees carried them all away.

Sensing that things needed to get going, October indicated to Manfred to sound the gong and slowly all the months made their way to the great table. Once seated and properly situated, October opened the big book and called the meeting to order. He banged his pumpkin gavel and asked the secretary (who happened to be September this time) to read the minutes of the last gathering. Once that was done they proceeded to new business. February raised her hand and asked that her official color be changed from pink and red to lavender because it was a much more soothing tone. May took issue with the change and her sisters rallied around her. Not surprisingly the vote ceased to gain ground, but in order to placate her, June did offer to give up her 31st day so that February could celebrate one more day of her month. Everyone agreed that this was an elegant and gracious solution and the motion carried. It would be noted however that in the human world such a change would only be reflected once every four years in order to not cause too much of a commotion.

The next order of business was brought up by September who asked that November make up his mind and finally set an official date as to when Thanksgiving should be held. Traditionally it would occur whenever November felt hungriest and sometimes that meant two or three times in a month. The other months had heard the human population grumbling and decided to make November finally choose.  Round and round they went. November lobbied for earlier in the month, but October wouldn’t' have it. People were still in a candy coma from Halloween and didn't need another party. December didn't care one way or another and November kept trying to haggle for two more holidays. In the end they decided to hold the official day halfway between the festivities and most everyone was happy.

The only other bit of business was to present Manfred with his annual bonus and then choose the next month to host the meeting. March was unanimously chosen mostly because he was passed out in his chair and couldn't pawn the job off on anyone else. October rapped his pumpkin gavel to close the meeting and everyone began to disperse. They climbed, fell, or were carried to their respective wheelbarrows and taken to their rooms. When the last of them had left, Manfred snapped his fingers and the room was once again put to rights. The giant sandy hourglass was turned on its axis to count down the days until the next meeting and the candles were blown out. The fire was banked, and with a contented sigh Manfred closed the giant oak doors to the Great Hall. Yes, working here was certainly never boring.

Day 22: Sweets and Memories

Have you ever been walking and stumbled upon a scent lingering in the air that made you stop in your tracks? A scent that caught you by complete surprise and triggered a memory or made you smile? That happened to me yesterday. It was completely random. There was no way this particular smell should have been lingering but it was, and sniffing it took me right back to my childhood.

I can't accurately describe the smell. It was a pleasant one is about as close as I can come. It smelled like the candy my grandfather used to buy at the corner store when we went for walks. Since I know that much I should be able to describe if it had caramel overtones or a chocolaty vibe, but the best I can say is that I smelled a memory.

The minute my nose came into contact with that phantom scent I was instantly transported back to standing by my grandpa at the candy counter in the corner store. The particular goodies he liked came in bins and he would fill up a small plastic sack with a mixture of them. Sometimes he even let me pick what went into the sack. There were chewy things like taffy but not. Candied orange wedges, spice drops, butterscotches and other hard candies. Hands down, those were the best candies I have ever eaten. Maybe it was because we walked a couple miles to get them. Maybe it was because of the company I was in, or the fact that my taste buds were different then. Either way, I have never been able to find those same candies since.Sure, there are the modern day equivalents. They can still be found in bins. They may even be from the same company as when I first tried them, but they just don't taste the same.

But that got me thinking about candy. On the radio last week the DJ took a poll of what were listeners favorite Halloween candies. Before that I’ve seen countless web tallies of favorite candies by state. I disagree with almost every tally or poll I hear, but when I try to think about my favorite Halloween candy I am stumped.  

I don't think I actually had, or have a favorite. Ok, that isn't true, it will always be candy corn, but you really can't compare that to other Halloween candies, so for arguments sake we will leave it out. I know what I didn't like to get in my trick or treat bag. I wasn't fond of the houses that gave out health food. That's the equivalent of getting socks and underwear for Christmas. Sure, you may need them, sure, health food may be, you know, good for you, but you don't hand it out on holidays. That's like the dentists who give out toothbrushes. Buzz kill man. I also wasn't overly fond of popcorn balls. I like them more to play with than eat. They are just too messy.

I remember when I was done trick or treating, I would come home and dump all my loot out on the floor. If it wasn't wrapped it went in the trash. If it was waxy like those lips or some of the really hideous caramels they also went in the trash. I sorted my candy by type, chocolate, fruity, gum, licorice, suckers, stuff I don't want and other. Once my piles were sorted I called my parents in and they took their share. It worked out well. Most of the time my parents loved the things that I couldn't stand and I would happily hand them over, but when it came to the good stuff, I would haggle a bit.

If I had to narrow it down, I would say that my favorite Halloween candies would be the peanut butter cups and tootsie rolls. Wow. It is kind of sad that I can't remember what candy I liked as a kid. I know I had definite favorites, but tastes change. I know that I hated Almond Joys when I was little and now I love them. I also liked pixie sticks and now I can feel my teeth rotting just looking at them. If someone had given me a package of Red Vines back then I probably would have asked if they could adopt me. Twizzlers not so much. Cheap fruity knock offs.

Isn't it interesting what we remember? I have a fuzzy recollection that I liked the candy bars best. I think probably Snickers and Hershey. Dad got the Mr. Goodbars and no one wanted the Krackle unless the candy supply was dwindling and it was the only chocolate left.

So now that I have put some semi serious thought into it, what was your favorite childhood candy? Or if you are having trouble remembering like me, what is your favorite candy now?

Day 21: Plans Change for the Better

I had really grand plans for yesterday. I was going to get stuff Done, yes with a capital d. I had lists and everything. Funny I know. I was a productive person right up until noon when I had pumpkin waffles for lunch. Those waffles must have had some weird soporific effect on me because for the rest of the day I curled up with a blanket and the puppy and read October books. Not one, not even two, but four and I am halfway through my fifth. I only paused long enough to eat dinner. Ok, I didn't pause so much as carry it back to my room and continue reading while I ate (it was monster cereal by the way). But it was so worth it. I read outside in the weak sunshine. I read in the garage amidst my holiday decor. I read in the living room, spare room and my room. I read on the floor, on couches, on concrete, on a chair and on my feet, and you know what, it was wonderful.

October is like that. I can plan my day one way and have it take an unexpected turn and love the new plan even better. I have oodles of stuff on my plate for today, but something tells me I will be staying up to finish my newest book. After all, that's why God made pumpkin spice lattes. He made it expressly for people who stay up all night reading.

So thank you October for such a beautiful day. It was peaceful and unexpected and wonderful. Just like my favorite month.

Day 20: My Town

I know I have already talked about decorations and imaginary dwellings, but I just can't help myself. The thought for the day was brought about by a mix of things. I got home late last night and it was already dark and spooky. The clouds were dark and ominous and the wind was whipping everything into a frenzy. I went inside and got comfy, made some pumpkin tea, sat on the sofa and watched my candy corn lights flicker outside on the porch. After a while I picked up one of my October magazines and began to thumb through it. Two words caught my attention; they were "imagination library."

Now if you know me at all, you know my brain was immediately thinking two different things at once. First, I was pondering what exactly an imagination library would look like if it were to take on a physical form, and second,  I was thinking about the inspiration file in my desk. From now on of course I am going to call it my imagination library. What a wonderful choice of words. I put the magazine down, looked back at the Halloween village and began to day dream.

Every year I have spare moments where I imagine what it would be like to live in my Halloween village. There are a mix of spooky and normal houses, a train depot, a bakery, a roadhouse café, a cemetery, mansions, a few ghosts, Halloween trees, fall trees, of course a movie theater and much more.

My favorite piece of the village will always be the haunted mansion that my grandmother made for me. It was lost in a fire a few years back but it lives on in my memories. It was ceramic, the paint was chipped in places, the lights on the inside only worked half the time, and each transition of color made a clicking noise. But it was an old haunted mansion after all and such things come standard.

My Halloween village has had various incarnations. It is a magical town after all and nothing likes to stay stagnant. I can imagine walking down the cobblestone lane of my town. Some roads would be paved; some would be dirty and filled with overgrown weeds. Some roads would lead off into the woods and some would take you right to the mayor’s residence. In my town fall would be a big deal and a mandatory three month celebration. The local high school would be named after either bats or pumpkins and the town drink would be cider. Of course my town would be very monster tolerant, after all, monsters are either lab experiments gone wrong, or individuals who could just use a really good hug.

The Mummy, would run the local Bed Bath and Beyond. The Invisible Man would be the sheriff. The Creature from the Black Lagoon would be the swim coach, Frankenstein would be a surgeon and the Wolfman would be the owner of the local cinema. Dracula would be the bank manager and the Phantom of the Opera the local music teacher. An Igor would run the local coffee joint and the Headless Horseman would be the bus driver.

But the library, the library would be something special. After all, it would be an imagination library. The building would never be in the same place twice. Sometimes it might be found in the deepest parts of the forest. Other times it might be underneath the lake. Every so often you might find it on Main Street....or above Main Street. You could only access it by closing your eyes and picturing it. Once you saw it in your mind’s eye, suddenly you would be standing inside the great front hall. This library would be built like a castle, but without the drafts. There would be many rooms, attics, basements, secret passage ways and comfy chairs. There would be roaring fireplaces, window seats, spiral staircases, catacombs, and rolling ladders. Genies, elves, gargoyles and ghosts would retrieve any book you needed and you would never have to worry about returning books because once you were done with them they would just reappear back on the shelves in the library where they belonged.

In my library there would always be a chair waiting just for you, and it would always be exactly what you wanted and exactly where you needed it to be. The only limits to what the library could be would be your own imagination. Instead of using elevators to get to different floors, you would use magic mirrors. And as to the imagination part, there would be a very special room for that. Once in the room, you could walk around inside your own imagination. You could sail the seven seas, fly along the clouds, and create a world entirely built by gumdrops if you so choose, after all, it would be your imagination.

Wow, best town ever. I can't wait to move there. But first I have to find the shrinking potion that Alice drank in Wonderland. I know I put it around here somewhere. That pesky rabbit must have run off with it. Now that you know about my imagination library, what would yours look like? Have in it? Did I mention mine has a coffee fountain and butlers who like to bring you scones?