Aside from silly costumes, October 31 also means its time to tell the annual family Halloween story, affectionately referred to as “The Apple Story.”  2008 marks the 14th telling the story, so I hope you enjoy this year’s as much as the prior ones (and yes, the story still ends abruptly).  --M

One Halloween during in the 1970's, while my father was at Wash U, he and his roommate were in their room relaxing, when all of a sudden they heard a knock on the door.

Not knowing who or what to expect, they answered the door and were surprised to a little kid (instead of the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ running women they were hoping for).   After a few seconds of staring at each other, the kid finally shouted “TRICK-OR-TREAT.”  H (my dad) and his roommate were temporarily at a loss for words.  They lived in a locked dorm in the middle of a college campus and were not expecting any Halloween visitors.

H told the munchkin to hold on while they looked for candy.  Well, they did not have any candy, sugar or anything close.  After searching high and low, the sweetest item available was a Schnucks-aquired apple.  So, H presented that apple to the kid as a treat.

As you may know, the 70’s was a decade of change – people used to hippies and political protests began doing the shuffle and disco.  Furthermore, food, once thought safe, was now under suspension of tamper.  Aware of this potential danger, combined with the caution all youths should show towards strangers, the kid inquired, "How do I know there's no razor blade in there or anything?"

My dad, trying to defend his family name, instructed the little hooligan that he and his roommate are good people and that there is nothing foreign in the apple.  "Oh yeah, well then bite the apple and prove it," said the little brat.  Oddly complicit to a ten year old, H bit the apple and pointed out the kid that there still was no razor in the apple.

 Still not believing, the kid replied, “You knew where to bite! Bite here instead!"  As proof of his good-standing, H took another bite of the apple.  Then just as my father extended his arm to prove to the pint-size punk that the apple was clean, the kid grabbed the apple, turned, walked down the hall and went into the stairwell, never to be seen again.

About 3 weeks ago, C & M realized they missed their annual fall camping trip - dang busy-ness.  They have not been camping since the summer excursion to Cumberland Island, GA.  Numerous attempts were made to try and piece a time together to go with some childhood friends, but everyone's schedules were too conflicted for now.

Therefore, C & M have taken the initiative to go camping on their own (like normal).  They'll be heading out Friday, Dec 5 (after school of course) and returning Sunday, Dec 7.  HOWEVER, THEY NEED YOUR HELP - like a good Choose Your Own Adventure book, the decisions are too great.  They are taking recommendations on cool places to camp/tour in the greater VA area - shoot them an email or post a comment with a recommendation.  Winner gets a present from the destination; keep in mind they've been to Assateague Island already.

It’s November 1st and you are probably wondering, “So what were C & M for Halloween” and “did their costume winning streak continue?”

While I could tell you what we were, it would be so much more worthwhile (and simple) to just show you…And yes, for the fourth consecutive year we won "Best Costume" at our respective party.

 We were a Franzia (wine in a box) truck and dispensed Franzia from a box... the truck had working headlights and taillights.

The truck by the Wine Box      Sylvia Driving the Franzia Truck

C & M in the Franzia Truck at the Party

D was at the party with gf K -

(He was Sam Adams and she was the St. Pauli Girl)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN - LINK TO YOUR COSTUME AS A COMMENT.

Be scared.  Yup, that's right, very scared.  Since our second month of dating, C & I have been an unstoppable Halloween costume couple winning prizes at every party/function we attend (as my parents will likely note, the H's have always had great costumes - if they're nice they may even upload a photo or two).

In 2004:  The plug and socket (they've since started making them commercially)

In 2005:  The Sun and the Stars (featuring a glowing sun and twinkling stars)

In 2006:  A gigantic pair of Scandals

In 2007:  We took the year off, because we had house guests.

In 2008:  It's a big surprise!!!  But I will give you a hint... it involves a really big box.  Hmm, what could it be?  Don't ask, because we won't tell - you'll just have to wait and see.

While C is out of town (she's visiting our newly engaged friend Suzanne in Cin City) I get some alone time to do the things I've been wanting to do but couldn't.  Usually, I rally the troops for a night of poker or a nerd party (no one showed up to my last nerd party other then D).  Last night was no exception to the C-less outings; I got to partake in some cheese-less pizza, beer and sports.  Yup that's right, cheese-less pizza, because I'm dairy-special.

Because of C's gluten intolerance and my lactarded-ness pizza is usually not a food found in our apartment (except for the Red Baron one that's been in our freezer for 10 months waiting for someone who likes pepperoni, cheese and gluten to eat) or ordered into it.  Without C, what would normally be a crustless jumble of toppings and sauce became a delicious meat-loaded cheese-less pizza!  Add in a couple of gluten-loaded beers, a terrible Mizzou game, a disappointing Red Sox win and a generally not-funny SNL episode (no surprise) and we had a 3-person party at a buddy's house without C.

What's on tap next time C's out of town & I don't have finals/midterms...I'm thinking a tour of the Hanover Pretzel Factory and a trip to America's oldest brewery.  If you have other gluten oriented ideas/recommendations, please feel free to pass them along.