I’m so sorry, Theo.

That’s an excellent plan, msbelle!

Having a real hard time getting motivated to do anything at all. Except curl up under the comforter with a book. Maybe I’ll just roll with that a little while longer...

Oh, here we all are!

meara, distressing in the moment, but that kid is going to have a legendary story to tell.

Theo, I'm so sorry.

We had no trick-or-treaters. Jim and I watched The Nightmare Before Christmas, I did some private ritual stuff, we were in bed by 10 - and at 3 this morning the bleepin' fire alarm went off. Got up, checked everything, checked outside, came back in and went "Well, we know they work". This morning we are both dragging.

Just dropping in to say hi. Now back to read!

Theodosia, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Wow, new board! I totally was not paying attention for the last week (apparently) and started to panic when I got the 404 message. Then phew, it's a shiney new board!

I actually had a remarkably nice Halloween, far beyond all expectations. I wore my hobbit get up to work on Friday, and was NOT willing to reprise it yesterday because the feetses (while adorable) are very not-warm and also my feet were in agony by the end of Friday. (I made hobbit feet years ago out of a first generation set of vibram 5 finger shoes. Painted them vaguely skin-tone and added some crepe wool hair.) I usually go for tons of arch support and highly supportive shoes so an entire day basically barefoot on concrete and linoleum floors was NOT ok, even after a nice epsom salt soak. So no hobbit get up Saturday, especially knowing that I would be walking significant distance.

I tossed on a pointy hat-band picked up a Michael's post-halloween clearance a few years ago and my black wool cape and headed over to the extended family house, exactly a mile away by foot. No point driving, there was tequila promised at my destination and while cold out, it was a perfect night for walking. Crisp, cold, clear, and full (blue) moon. Plus decorations!

Got SO many "great costume!" comments as I was walking over, and I kept laughing to myself because it was barely a costume, just clothing. But hey, Every Day Is Halloween in the right mindset. At my destination it was barely contained pandemonium. The 9 and 11 year old had been flip flopping about trick or treating for weeks. Adults were ok with them going out together (just the two of them) in costumes with faces covered. It's outdoors, minimal (if any) contact with others, perfect socially-distanced activity. They finally decided to do a short loop around the block -hitting up a couple neighbors who had pre-arranged candy delivery systems (packets of treats tied to tree branches, or a table at the end of the sidewalk with help-yourself goodies.)

When I arrived around 5pm it was still full light out, they were partially costumed, their mom was bravely attempting to force spaghetti into them, and their dad was still at work (he delivers for USPS, they've been working 10-14 hour shifts on the regular for months.) He managed to get off early last night was home before dark! There was much rejoicing. The kids eventually ate some "real food" and went to finish getting costumed. A treat-slide was set up and decorations were moved to barricade the front porch from any errant trick or treaters attempting to make close contact. I made cocktails for the adults.

The kiddos went off on their quest for candy strange. Dad finished his shower and helped himself to lukewarm spaghetti. Mom and I ignored the real food and enjoyed tequila-based libations and candy. We three adults camped out on the front porch with a halloween music playlist (heavy on David Bowie, Ministry, and MM covers of Danny Elfman) ready to slide treats to any trick or treaters. There were maybe 15 kiddos total, a tiny percentage of usual, but some great family ensembles. A teeny ghostbuster was accompanied by parental team members and a doggo in a ghost costume. A group of teens walked by in costumes but no masks (!!!) and we offered to throw candy at them from a ten foot distance. They caught some of it.

The kiddos returned with their loot, a pretty impressive haul considering they were out for less than an hour. They were instructed to go watch a scary movie. They eventually settled on all of the Simpsons TreeHouse of Horror episodes (the younger is NOT ok with scary movies) and set out all the DVDs in the basement. The adults had an other round of cocktails and played board games in the dining room after turning off the front lights and leaving a bowl of candy at the bottom of the stairs. There was popcorn, more candy, and around 10pm the adult females started to reconsider our lack of real food. Oh well. She had a string cheese, I had some salted pumpkin seeds.

Around 11pm the kids were still going...or possibly asleep in front of the tv. We didn't go downstairs to check. Dad had passed out on the sofa while mom and I played Among Us with strangers. I got my scarf and cape back on to walk home.

The walk home was BEAUTIFUL. Huge full moon, no one out, I didn't see another living soul for the mile walk home. I made some detours to particularly well-decorated homes. I had a bag full of leftover candy (including several full size baby ruths) and left candy on front porches, tables, gravestones, and in skeleton laps. One house down the block had a bowl full of taco bell salsa packets with a sign to "take one, no mas" They got some candy added to the salsa packets. I drifted off to sleep well exercised and overly sugared. Woke up with no hangover! And baked oatmeal with gala apple, chopped walnuts, raisins, hemp seeds, and flax meal is waiting for me. Noms.

Happy November everyone, it's a good day to remember all our dear departed ones and honor their memories.

is there a current delurking thread, or a goodby to 2020 thread

Delurking thread is: [link]

The Goodbye & Good Riddance thread doesn't usually start until December.

Theo, I am so sorry. I feel like the older I get, the more sad news comes my way.

Erin, that sounds like an awesome Halloween!

I never had any trick or treaters, and didn’t get any this year. I usually would go to Maria’s but we didn’t this year. It is her favorite Holiday. Mine is Thanksgiving, and all of them are cancelled this year. Just all sort of super depressing for a person who is uncoupled. I never thought I would miss people this much!

Hello, new board, and thank you, Gud!

We had no trick-or-treaters, as expected; virtual game night with friends, as usual.

erin, that sounds fabulous.

Theo, I am sorry for your loss.

I feel like starting a goodbye and good riddance thread before January invites 2020 to do its worst before it leaves. Then again, I have no faith that 2021 will necessarily be better, so...