Why don't people like Halloween? It's my favorite holiday.

can totally see why someone in Salem would hate it. In fact, a friend of mine in Rhode Island was all excited this past year because she went to Salem around that time and I cringed a bit thinking of the poor residents.

Ahahaha... yeah. I do appreciate the boost to the local economy but I dislike not being able to go out to lunch or dinner during all weekends of October (and the end of September!) I also hate the crowds, the mess, the lack of parking, the traffic, and the occasional violence. I would love it if it was just kids coming to the door trick or treating, that's the only thing that's fun- we get to see some of our neighbors with kids.

Oh my god. SO GOOD. I walked in the door and got handed a cream puff. There were cookies (heart-shaped), brownies, chocolate mousse things in chocolate cups, and something else I'm forgetting, as well as the best spinach quiche I've ever had. I ate more quiche than pastry.

Dude, I'd be all over celebrating Free Pastry Day.

Did you get the Mazda, PC?

Congrats on the new wheels P-C!

Congrats, P-C! May you and your new car have a long and wonderful relationship.

Did you get the Mazda, PC?

I did! In the color I wanted and everything. For under $20K, as long as I registered the car at my uncle's address instead of my own. I will post pictures once it fucking stops raining so I can take some.

Also, car salesmen went from being whores to pimps. And I think my uncle's familiarity with them is from the neighborhood he grew up in, not personal experience. I hope.

Thanks to everyone here for your feedback and advice! My uncle was proud of me for having done my research and picked a good car.

Why don't people like Halloween? It's my favorite holiday.

I hate it. Mostly the Prince of Darkness's (AKA my brother) fault. When I was about four, he told me that there were bad men waiting to jump out from the shadows between the houses in my neighborhood (which were very dark) and get me and take me away and do bad things to me. Or jump out of the shadows of the porch to get me if I opened the front door.

Add to that my inherent shyness over talking to complete strangers, and walking up the driveway to a stranger's house to ask for candy was tantamount to bamboo shoots under the fingernails. Just the thought of it gives me the mild beginnings of an anxiety attack. To this day, I don't like walking outside after dark, which SUCKS.

It was terrible when the kids were smaller-- I'd always have to find someone with whom to make the rounds or let Lewis take them. I actually enjoy that the large outdoor mall here has trick or treating-- it's well-lit and there are a lot of people around, so it's far more comfort-zone friendly for me.

As a Halloween parent, I fail.

I LOVE Halloween. It's better than Christmas for me. I can total understand a Salemite's distaste, though.

If anything, I wish Halloween was less commercial and truer to its roots. I'm all for *making* costumes, making *scary* costumes, and the like.

Poor Barb! That's rough. Also, bad brother! No biscuit at ALL.

Poor Barb. You need to come down here for Halloween. Several of the neighbors on my street gather our lawn chairs together and drink our favorite beverages while the kids get treats from us. We just tell the little ones that they need not bother going up to the houses because we are all here in the driveway. That way if one of us runs out of treats we just toss in some from the other buckets. (or recycle our kids stash)

Note to self: you may feel better, and I know you really hate how nasty your house and yard are right now. This does not mean you actually have the energy to tackle it all after not eating much or getting out of bed for 48 hours. Chill out before you hurt yourself.

Valentine's Day was ruined for me years ago, but if somebody wanted to rehab it, I could be into that. Right now, I have enough chocolate to float a boat in though.