It's ALL about Halloween.

It's Tuesday, which is Hodgepodge day for me - and it's just two days until Halloween.  This week's questions all have something that relate with Halloween, so let's delve right in...if you dare....

1.  What's something you're dealing with that might be described as 'tricky?'

Tricky as "challenging?"  I have offered to make Advent calendars to sell at our church festival happening right before Thanksgiving. I have gathered the supplies, and I have looked up options on Pinterest...  but I have not been able to move on from there and time is moving along.  I'm afraid to "start in"...and I'm worried they will look juvenile and cheap... and nobody will want to buy them!  Help!

2.  What's your favorite treat of choice? 

When I was a kid and I went "trick or treating" I would come back at the end of the evening and dump out my treats on the living room floor and then divide the candy up by type and favorite.  I loved getting Milky Ways and M & M's the best!  Close behind: Reese's Cups and peanut M & M's.  My older sister and brother emptied their bags too and we compared our "hauls"...and did some trading.   Oh - what fun!

3.  Did you/will you carve a jack-o-lantern this month?  Which real (living or dead) fictional 'Jack' would you most like to meet in person?  Why? 

I did not carve a pumpkin this year.  I haven't participated in carving since my daughters have gotten older and are not home for Halloween time. ) :  I bought a small real pumpkin though, and put it out on my front porch.  And, I have a fake (resin) jack-o-lantern to light up on the 31st.   A fictional Jack I'd like to meet?  How about a "Jack of all Trades?"   He'd be handy!

4.  in your opinion, what's the grossest sounding word in the English language? 

I don't like the word "slither"... because I don't like anything that does it!

5. When did your heart last skip a beat? 

Skip a beat in fear?  I'm a scaredy-cat when it comes to doing anything up in the air. I like my two feet on the ground.  So, I know my heart skipped a beat or two when I was up on a ladder cutting/trimming ivy on the front of our house.  I was also worried about snakes hiding in the ivy!!

6.  "Monster Mash" by Bobby 'Boris' Picket, Michael Jackson's "Thriller," "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon, or Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters"...  your favorite 'scary' tune? 

I think I have to pick "Thriller" for the song and the video!  It was such a breakthrough for music & movie making at that time.  I like the song...  and love Vincent Price in the middle of it.   The other ones listed are a bit too "pop-sounding" for me.

7.  It was a dark and stormy night when...

...I locked the doors, lit a fire in the fireplace, poured a glass of wine, and put on a funny movie (I don't like scary movies AT ALL!!)

8.  My random thought. 

Halloween thoughts... the "in" costumes this year:  Duck Dynasty family members, Miley Cyrus for the daring.   What else are you seeing?   And, Halloween traditions?  What are the new ones? It seems many children don't go house to house anymore.  So it's parties and going to a "trick and trunk" at church.  The history of Halloween was to scare away evil spirits from homes - the night before "All Saints Day".  Dressing up was to "fool" the spirits.   I like to remember the saints that died this past year...  we lost some good ones.