Halloween Around the Mid-Shore
by Mary McCarthy
I am a bit of a Halloween freak. Here's a picture of my Centreville 1881 Addams-family-looking Victorian at Halloween. The ghosts in the windows were drawn (on painters' dropcloths) by local artist Brian Draper, who I worship!
Some local folks have attended my Halloween parties- adult costume galas held in my neighborhood once a year, though I have to admit to this year's being a bit smaller (I hate the recession!). The competition for costume prizes is fierce, to say the least.
Many of the articles I write professionally are Halloween oriented. I am even Hallo-crazy enough to have my own Halloween website, Creative Halloween. This year, I am excited to announce I put together a Halloween book called Adult Halloween Parties in honor of the groan-up parties I've had at my house over the last decade. So if you are looking for food, decor, drinks, costume or other Halloween ideas, I hope you'll check out the book.
So what are some ways to celebrate this most spooktacular of seasons around the area? Well, I recommend visiting Adkins Arboretum for any of their fantastic fall events. The haunted trail is awesome! If you don't mind traveling just a bit (under an hour)- I wholeheartedly suggest taking a trip up to Middletown, Delaware to visit Frightland. I went this past weekend and came home hoarse from screaming in fear! It is a TON of fun- not for the faint of heart or young of child though! Also they have a carnival with carnival food including cheese fries. Cheese fries. Need I say more?!
Oh, and you are more than welcome to come by my house on Halloween night! We have around 300 trick or treaters, many from pretty far away. I am still trying to figure out how to pay for the full size candy bars, but beg steal or borrow, they'll be there! I still remember the house that gave out the full size candy bars when I was a kid, and I am happy to be 'that house' now! I love when the kids call me the "Queen of Halloween." Every town has one, I guess. It's a lot of pressure, but making Halloween fun for kids (when unfortunately CERTAIN schools don't even allow it anymore) is something I love doing.
The local cable TV station is teaming up with the Eastern Shore Ghost Hunting Society to come by and film my house where they'll be looking for some Halloween spirits (although I told them most of my favorite Halloween spirits come in a martini glass!). It will be fun to see if they find anyone haunting the place other than myself.
Happy Haunting, folks!
Mary McCarthy (marymac)
blog: Pajamas and Coffee
My Brain Went on Vacation and all I got was this Filthy T-Shirt!
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
I can count the number of actual vacations I've taken in my lifetime on one hand. Recent years the count goes down to one finger! It seems "Vacation" has become synomonous with visiting relatives, or working around the house. Now that we're self-employed "weekends" have virtually disappeared, as well. We're always trying to do more, and there's ALWAYS more to do. A vacation seems as realistic as a self-cleaning refrigerator and self-emptying trashcan. (and if you find one of these treasures - LET ME KNOW!)
Turns out - it doesn't matter how much WE want to WORK! Our wonderful, complex bodies know what they need - and are in a position to get it! This past week, for example, my brain went on vacation - without me. It did NOT request vacation leave - nor leave a contact number! I hope it's having a wonderful time, exploring new worlds and new civilizations. Yeah - since I'm stuck here - brainless - I've been filling the hours with Star Trek re-runs. Luckily, I had to wait around anyway - for the Sear's repairman. Our BRAND NEW hi-tech washing machine is broken.
So I sit here, waiting for the repair-man in my crumpled, slightly stinky shirt. I'd like to write something catchy, inspirational and memorable. Uh........nope. I've got nothin'. Hopefully, my brain will return soon - refreshed and ready to take on the world!
And I hope it brings me CHOCOLATE!!!
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