Holy Hallows, Batman!

Happy Halloween, all you tricksters.

I hope you get many yummy treats. And candy, too.

This is a shot from a colleague who has an amazingly complex story in tattoos across his upper body. The story starts from a young man and goes through his life, using more symbolism than I can even begin to get. Those professor types! Anyway, he's nearly finished w/ the series, and brought me photos today. This one was fitting, given the occasion.


Male Offspring's last football game is tonight. Which means not trick-or-treating. What the heck, doesn't the school district know that 14-year-olds are holding on to those last vestiges of childhood, like trick-or-treating? What's next, telling my son there's no Santa? Because I know he still believes in some Santa, y'all. Anyway, Male Offspring was very disappointed. I told him run a touchdown in for me, and I'll get you all the candy you want. It's not the same though.

The fact that they know, at this age, that they're nearing the end of childhood, makes it sadder.

The football game also means my house will be unattended on Halloween. Yeah, that's just great. And Mason with his separation anxiety, too. I'm thinking bunches of little tricksters pounding up to the door and buzzing the doorbell over and over and over and over will probably not be the most Zen experience for my boy. No dogs allowed at this stadium. If I leave a bowl of candy out for the honor system, the little monsters still have to come up the driveway to the porch. If I just leave the lights out, probably best, but then I run the risk of eggs and TP.

Beastly little heathens.

Teen Demon is working tonight. Last night she was up at the high school for "Spooky Street". Every year the high schoolers set up a safe Halloween alternative for the wee tykes. Parents can bring their little angels to Spooky Street, for fun booths and trick or treating. Teen Demon's booth was Candy Land, based on that childhood classic board game of the same name. Teen Demon and the Bohemian spent hours playing that game as tykes. The Bohemian still insists that her sister is a Candy Land cheater.

This year, Teen Demon took Batman to Spooky Street. No, he did not dress up as Batman. That would be cliché. He dressed up as a bumble bee. Batman is kind of a freak. He loves costumes. It's one of his "tricks". He loves tricks, and can do a lot of them, including "look for love" (turns in a circle), "bust a move" (jumps up, puts his paws on your hands), "take a bow", along with the usual beg, roll over, shake, and the rest.

Mason can do down and sit. That's pretty much it for Mason.

So Batman loves costumes. He prances around in any type of clothing. He especially likes Teen Demon's cheerleader skirt, but will pretty much wear anything. Except hats. Or bumble bee antennae.

Last night at Spooky Street, he was a star attraction. There was one other dog, a little thing, the kind that probably wears clothes all the time and can ride in a purse. This doglet was dressed up like Batman. I think the owner was confused that our dog's name is Batman, but he was dressed like a bee.

Why do people not get that concept?

Anyway, he loved the kids. One older lady asked if he was a service dog! He really is a good dog - we've thought about getting him certified to be a therapy dog, but the only thing with that is, you have to pledge to give them a bath EVERY time they "work". I agree they need to be clean, and bathed more than other dogs, but every single time? Like within three days of his last bath? Crazy. If he were some purse-sized yipper I could throw in the sink, okay, but it's seriously backbreaking work to bathe these two monsters. Anyway. So he had a good time and was a hit on Spooky Street.

I love that last pic - both of them had just closed their mouths and perked their ears to listen to something, and their lips got stuck in their teeth - ha!

Hope your Halloween is spooky and full of treats. And if any of you jokers come near with my house with eggs or soap, my dogs will bite your ass. They're vicious, now. The Labrador in them really comes out when threatened. So think about that.