Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 was a weekend long event this year filled with zombies, parties, and Grant's first Trick-or-Treat.

Zombies! Run!

The festivities began on Saturday morning when my neighbor, Tom, and I ran in the inaugural Fuquay Varina Strafe Zombie Run; a 5k through streets filled with the undead.  Unlike normal 5ks this one was more of a game where runners were given flag-football flags and began the race.  Along the way the zombies would ambush the runners and try to grab the flags.  For every flag you lost it added seconds to your finish time.  For every flag the zombies got they earned points.  There were "health" flags along the way which took time off your finish.

The Running Dead

The hour before the race witnessed the worst weather of the year.  It rained with temperatures in the forties; cold, wet, and miserable.  In fact 15 minutes before the race it poured and the zombies began to wonder about hiding along the race course and getting soaked.  (Very out of character for a zombie).  Lo and behold, as about 70 of us "survivors" lined up for the start, the rain let up.   However, the showers left behind huge puddles to avoid in addition to the undead.


The race began the first few zombies seemed to just come at us with that foot-drag-undead-shuffle that zombies are famous for.  The running pack was still pretty bunched up when we turned the corner and were set upon by half a dozen zombies sprinting at the crowd!  "Panic" hit the crowd.  Survivors zigged while the undead zagged.  Flags were ripped off and still the race continued.

Running a 5k is relatively easy no matter what shape you are in.  You find your pace, go, and settle in for the course; six minutes, ten minutes, thirteen minutes per mile - eventually you will get across the finish line.  When you add zombies trying to chase you down you then find yourself having to sprint.  Often.  When you least expect it.  All the zombies have to do is stand there and wait for you to come at them - and then they chase you.  It adds a dimension to your race that kicks your butt.

Well, I lost my flags - heck, I could have had ten flags and it wouldn't have made a difference - but I managed to finish third overall in about 22:10.  I am looking forward to next year!

What Costume Party?

BBQ Stains and Mascara

Saturday evening we packed up the boys and dish full of sausage and peppers and headed to the Newton's for a costume party.  Lisa and I waited to the last minute to come up with our costumes and, while in Wal-mart, decided to dress like Wal-mart shoppers or Jerry Springer guests.  I bought a "wife beater" tank top and then proceeded to clean the car engine with it, ripped a hole in an old pair of jeans, and found a hat to complete my look.  Lisa was sporting pink leopard print velour pants, a tank top with her bra straps showing, and a big set of hoop earrings.  Naturally, she ends up looking great and I end up looking like a regular on "COPS".

I love dressing up and poo-poo the folks that don't play pretend just for one night.  Really, get into the spirit and have some fun!  For one night a year you can be funny, scary, sexy, creepy, or just plain wrong (i.e. the pregnant nun get-up). 

Samantha reported in from New York that her Halloween consisted of going to bed early.  I guess 14 year old lack the little kid joy of dressing up and walking around in the dark - too juvenile.  At least she wasn't out egging the neighborhood.


Dragon and Dragon Tamer



Two years ago I made TJ's Halloween costume - the famous firetruck - and since then I have become the default costume maker for the holiday although I have no more creativity than Lisa does.  Our original theme for this year was going to be "The Incredibles" because TJ looks just like Dash with his hair slicked back.  Samantha would have been Violet and Grant Baby Jack-jack.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find red spandex for all of us and the idea withered in the days leading up to the weekend.  The question became, what to do for TJ's costume.  TJ is a fan of "How To Tame Your Dragon" and I was inspired to cut a brown bath mat into a animal skin vest with a shield, axe, and Viking hat from the dollar store and things we had on hand. TJ has a warrior's spirit, so anything with a sword, axe, or gun is absolutely fine with him.   

Not So Fierce Dragon


Grant's costume - well, every Viking needs a dragon to slay, or in this case, tame. Using our imagination and some things around the house we made Grant's dragon suit.  With a little brown duct tape, aluminum foil, and a painted wings we had the perfect little dragon who was less fierce than he was friendly.

It rained on Halloween evening - in fact it poured with temperatures in the fifties - and we were about to give up on going around the neighborhood.  In our family friendly little subdivision only two kids came to the door before 7pm.  What a bust!  Last year the streets were full of kids!  Then our friends rang the bell!  It was TJ's friend from down the road!  It stopped raining!  Lisa packed up the boys and headed out for a walk around our lake, hitting the houses along the way.



Halloween 2011

Somehow the word got out that Trick-or-Treat was on and soon the door bell was ringing all the time.  While the rain kept a lot of people inside our house had it's fair share of cops, witches, and super heroes.  And - our boy(s) managed to fill their bags! 



For the last two years our Halloween decorations have been in storage in New York.  We just haven't found the the room in a vehicle to get three big bins of plastic jack-o-lanterns, tomb stones, decorations and a fog machine down to North Carolina.  Hopefully next year will be the year that the kids walk with trepidation towards our front door as creepy music echoes from the windows and mysterious shadowy figures lurk behind drawn blinds...

Happy Halloween to all you creepy creatures!