On This Day in History

Today is October 31st and we all know what that means: it's my first blogiversary!

Oh yeah, and it's Halloween, too. I really like Halloween...or more accurately, I really like dressing up and I have a difficult time avoiding candy. I figure any holiday that combines costumes and sugar has to be pretty cool. I've been a pumpkin, Little Red Riding Hood, a fairy, a ghost, and a hippy in years past. (You'll just have to trust me on those since I don't have scan-able evidence.)

Post high school - yes I still dress up...I believe 'growing up' is a conscious decision I haven't made yet - I've gone as...



A housewife. You would not believe how soft my face was when I washed off that mask!








*snort, a nerd














A 70's star











A band geek. Oh wait...that's from high school. How did that picture get in the costume pile?









A Gothic punk






Um, and someone with a boa













As I mentioned, today is my one year blogiversary. I could hope and wish each of you might send me a gift but that's highly unlikely. ...which is why I've decided to hold a contest and give one of you a prize. A $20 gift certificate to the store of your liking! $20 could buy the turkey for your thanksgiving dinner, the stamps for your Christmas letters, or one sock from Neiman Marcus. You just need to submit a caption for the following picture by next Tuesday evening.

"Caption Me!"

Presenting ... Cruella De'Vil. Seems I got a little mixed up with the wrong Disney movie this past weekend. Here I am at a tea party with the Mad Hatter. Put on your thinking cap, sorcerer hat, golf hat, baseball cap, or night cap and submit those creative captions. My favorite wins the $20, or all my left over candy...whichever they choose.

Tackiness

Johnny Cherie is a very loving sister. She and I had a very close bond when she was little. I left for college after she turned 5 and didn't realize how much she missed me until I heard her say over the phone, "Charlotte, I love you. I miss you. I want you to come home."

*Thump

That was the sound my heart made as it fell into my stomach. I loved and missed her too. As much as I loved college, part of me longed to go home as well.

Fast forward to now. She is a sophomore in high school and I'm headed to my 10 year reunion soon. On occasion, just for fun, we will say to the other, "I love you. I miss you. I want you to come home." Never mind the fact we actually live together.

This morning she said something different. I'm sure it's the new way of saying "I love you" since she and I share that type of bond. However, I was a little confused so perhaps you can help me translate teenage lingo.

She came into my room around 7:20. She was wearing red basketball shorts, a black and white stripe sock, a flip flop, a basketball shoe, another mismatched sock, a over sized t-shirt, a tank top on top of the tee, a tie around her head, suspenders, a belt, a necklace, and a coat. I looked at her odd outfit and paused long enough for her to say, "Today is tacky day at school. I need to borrow some of your clothes."

Hmm...

I love you, too?

Did you hear about the new pirate movie?

It's rated ARRRRRRRRRRRR for too much booty.

I was able to see Pirates III this weekend. Nothing better than seeing Johnny Depp on the big screen for 2 and 1/2 hours. Ahhh...

Anyway, in preparation for the movie, some friends of mine threw a Pirates party complete with a contest for the best costume. I need to confess: I love dressing up. I am only encouraged further if there's any chance for costume competition. I had to scrounge around the house a bit but what do you think?

I took an old pair of pants from my concert band days (Why we still have them 10 years after I graduated is a mystery.)

And tucked them into Johnny-Cherie's conservative boots.

I added an Old Navy shirt in the Rainbow Bright variety,

And covered that with a ridiculously over-sized, mismatched shirt.

I accessorized with an eye patch, one of Julia-Gulia's earrings, a belt, and a toy sword

Next I needed a handkerchief. I opted for red but you could always choose psychedelic if you happen to be a pirate stuck in the 60's.

I download a skull/cross bone picture from the internet and taped it to a Zorro hat turned (glued) pirate.

I borrowed a stuffed toy monkey and what did I get?

ARRRRR ya ready?

Oh, and I won Best Costume.

NOW GO WALK THE PLANK!!!