Whatcha gonna be for Halloween??

[Undertoad]

The usual 80 of the little fart-knockers here. I bribe them with full-size bars from Costco, and they go crazy. It is their only interaction with me and I don't want to be called that weird guy who we never see.

Two separate lads declared that my house is "really cool". I explained that it was highly mortgaged and that if I don't find some work in the next few months their parents could buy it from me. They screamed in horror and ran.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Two separate lads declared that my house is "really cool". I explained that it was highly mortgaged and that if I don't find some work in the next few months their parents could buy it from me. They screamed in horror and ran.

But they didn't give the candy back, did they?

OK, folks, you got it from the horses mouth......the horse that keeps this board running. If you can't find the PayPal button, just ask.

[Trilby]

Don't be bummed, Elspode. I didn't get nearly as many trickertreaters this year. The kids that did come were so...so...dejected and downcast that you could have mistaken them for middle aged, mid-level managers at Wal-Mart or something. So many dispirited, unenthused, "trick or treeeeet"s. Was sad, I tell you. Like they were being forced on some Bataan Death March.

[glatt]

Our kids started out with a lot of enthusiasm, but then kind of forgot what the ritual was, and they would just knock on the door and stand there, not sure what they were supposed to do next. I had to keep reminding them between houses what they were supposed to do.

When I was a kid, we used to freakin' scream "trick or treat!"

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by glatt

Our kids started out with a lot of enthusiasm, but then kind of forgot what the ritual was, and they would just knock on the door and stand there, not sure what they were supposed to do next. I had to keep reminding them between houses what they were supposed to do.

When I was a kid, we used to freakin' scream "trick or treat!"

When you were a kid, did your parents take you out, tell you where to go, what to do, how to act and never let you out of sight for a minute?

I was on my own and that was half, or more, of the adventure. Sneaking up on people that could care less, but in my mind being terrorized. Nobody knew where I was or what I was up to, although in truth, the parent/neighbor network was keeping watch.

Now Halloween is run by Home(land) Security......keeps you safe......at a price.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

When you were a kid, did your parents take you out, tell you where to go, what to do, how to act and never let you out of sight for a minute?

When I was a young tike, yes. But I don't remember how old I was when they cut the strings. Mine are now 4 and 7. The 4 y.o. is too young to be on his own. I'd maybe be OK with the 7 y.o. going out without us if she had an older kid with her.

Times change .

We also have more traffic in our neighborhood on Halloween than when I was a kid. I think some kids get ferried in from other neighborhoods. Lots of minivans with kids jumping in and out of them. Crazy.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Maybe there are so used to having everything handed to them the thought of actually going out and working (dress up and extort) for it, depresses them.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by Brianna

The kids that did come were so...so...dejected and downcast that you could have mistaken them for middle aged, mid-level managers at Wal-Mart or something.

Samhain is the best night for divination, you know. Perhaps they'd seen glimpses of their futures, and they were too bummed to enjoy themselves.

[xoxoxoBruce]

There has been a big change in Halloween, the last 10 years. It used to be something kids loved and adults sort of dreaded. Now it's become a big deal for adults....more decorations, cards, costumes, parties.

The side effect is more orchestration and choreographing of the kids activities, which makes them feel they are just along for the ride......just a piece of the adults festivities.

Of course the other thing is safety and there is no doubt parents have to be more careful. They had the nerve to ask me why I painted FREE CANDY on the side of the van with no inside handles. Harumpf.

[zippyt]

A friend sent me these pics of her kids ,
and Yeppers the girl in the muddle is preggers , and married ,

[mrnoodle]

Finally got a couple band shots in, they all suck of all of us, but here's my costume, and a long shot of the band between songs. We had a great crowd that night, too bad the pics don't quite get the energy. I am some flavor of pirate. Mike had a robot mask that he didn't wear for long cuz it was hot, Josh was Donnie Brasco, Justin, the new bass guy, was ... i think... Johnny Cash, and Nate didn't wear anything.

I think it will be awhile before I talk them into GWAR paint. But hey! I got to be "lol, pirate"

[Iggy]

I didn't get any tickertreaters at all, but I live in a second floor apartment with the porch light always on (i.e. the residents don't control it) so there was no way for kids to know that I had candy. And it was really cold last night, so that could be part of it. But I didn't expect anyone anyway. They don't go to the apartments.

[wolf]

Apartment complexes used to be the absolute primo ground for candy ... low walk to loot ratio. The place I'm in is probably around 15% occupancy, if my own court is typical, so slim pickings here this year.

There are few kids in the complex currently, so I didn't even bother turn turn on the front door light, which is the magic signal that candy is available. No problem, that just means more fun size bars for me.

I think, though, that what has changed are not children, but parents. Kids still love going from house to house getting enough sugar to power a major city for a month, but their parents won't let them. I know that for at least one of my friend's kids, trick-or-treating meant mommy driving them around to the homes of trusted adults ... her friends, parents, in-laws, and grandparents. Almost doesn't seem worth the effort, does it?

[Undertoad]

I had to train myself not to send them off with a cheerful "seeya later!" like I do everyone else, because after I thought about it, that's a really creepy statement from an adult male who lives alone who they don't regularly see.

[Clodfobble]

I would say at least half the kids at the door this year didn't actually say "trick or treat" at all. Which was irritating to me, you're trick or treating, that's what you say. We also tended to get mostly older kids, in the 8-10 age range, which for me is pushing it as far as trick or treating age goes.