'allowe'en

As mentioned previously, jack-o'-lanterns are on my "happiness is" list. Just about any drawing is more fun in pumpkin form. For example, my carving of Homestar Runner from two years ago:

Click images for larger versions.


I'll give a tip of the hat to Stuart for this year's jack-o'-lantern idea:





I think it looks pretty cool. It took me about an hour and a half from start to finish (including scooping out the insides). I found a large image of the Wicked logo online, brought it into Photoshop, used the magic wand tool to select the letters and witch icon, then used the Paths palette to "create work path." Then I exported that path to Illustrator, where I was able to scale it to the size I wanted and print it out. I taped it to the pumpkin as flat as possible, then poked holes through the paper with an awl, tracing the lines. I then removed the paper and started cutting, following the dots as my guide.

The hardest part, if you couldn't tell, was the little witch dotting the i. Luckily, this was a pretty thick pumpkin, so I was able to have flaps of shell on the outside create the outline effect even if it was practically falling apart inside. The only other hitch was the letter D, since I had to leave a tiny bit attached for the middle of the letter. Using some cheap pumpkin-carving knives from the grocery store, it all went pretty smoothly.

And now for the Grinchy part: carving pumpkins is about the only aspect of Halloween I like. Even as a kid, I hated dressing in costumes and walking around to get candy. Sure, free candy is cool, but it required dressing up. Now that I'm an adult, I get invited to Halloween parties and come up with simple, easy-to-assemble costumes. I've gone as Linus several times, which is just black pants, a red striped shirt, and a light blue blanket. I've always hated makeup. I get tired of all the fake blood and brains and lord knows what all else that's used as decoration this time of year. So much emphasis on gruesome guts and gore. Meh.

I've always found haunted houses more annoying than anything else. My friend Bre agrees with me that a good haunted house would be more creepy than scary. No Jasons with chainsaws or groaning mummies. Instead, it would be some dusty old mansion with creaky floorboards and slamming window shutters. Think Disney World's "Tower of Terror" ride. Shadows would come and go. Strange sounds may or may not be eminating from the bookcases. And just when you think it's almost too quiet, the grandfather clock lets out a loud GONG and some fake mice go scurrying across the floor. You escape behind the nearest door, only to light the torch and realize that the room is lined, floor to ceiling, with DOLLS. With their wee beady eyes following your every step. Just then, the door slams shut and locks. ...And one of the dolls starts to speak... Now that's a haunted house I'd enjoy getting freaked out in.

Edited to add: Here are my dad's, mine, and my mom's jack-o'-lanterns assembled on our porch railing:



(My dad's looks like it's winking in that picture because the lid is offset and the top hole is showing through.)

Since my dad was helping my brother paint the kitchen in his new house, I helped my mom hand out candy for Trick-or-Treat. We gave out 450 pieces of candy, which is typical for our street. Several kids and parents even recognized my Wicked design. I also enjoyed this little vignette:

Mom: Fifteen minutes left. Here, let's get rid of the plain Hershey bars first. I hope there are some Whoppers left over.
{pause}
Me: Y'know, you can buy candy all year long.