DRESSED FOR HALLOWEEN

Here it is, Halloween already. I've always really enjoyed the holiday - what's not to like about dressing up and getting free candy?

We were encouraged to wear a costume to work today; we're having a party (complete with booze - on campus - I feel like I work for David Brent at the Wernham Hogg paper company in Slough) today in about an hour. My boss asked me a few days ago if I was going to dress up; she thought I might be religiously against Halloween.

I am not religiously against Halloween. I'm not a huge fan of dressing up like a ghost or witch or anything overtly evil (although I did go to a party once as Britney Spears in her Catholic schoolgirl outfit, which was pretty skanky of me), but I don't see anything wrong with costumes and candy and goofy decorations like fake spider webs and people getting together to have a good time and build memories. Plus it's all part of the whole fall experience.

Since I didn't have much time to put together a costume, I came as a person from a cold-medicine ad. I'm in my PJs with tussled hair and a blanket around my shoulders, and I used makeup to darken the circles under my eyes and make my nose red. Not terribly creative, but comfortable at least. And I only had to spend about 10 minutes getting ready for work this morning.

I've done better other years. In high school I went once as Cruella Deville, with a leopard-print coat and my hair painted black on one side and white on the other. I've gone as the tooth fairy, Rapunzel, and an '80s valley girl, and a couple years ago, Philip and I appeared at a party I threw as Napoleon Dynamite and Deb.

The Deb costume was pretty good, but apart from Napoleon, not terribly obvious. Unlike Philip (in his "Vote for Pedro" T-shirt and curly wig) whose costume was unmistakable solo, mine needed a little explanation. I did get some amusing guesses as to my identity. Clad in tennis shoes with slouch socks, a side ponytail, and a rad fannypack, guests at the party wondered if I was a tourist, or even funnier, if I was dressed as the host of a Christian party. Best of all, my mother-in-law didn't think I had worn a costume.

Around here, people have been pretty creative. I've seen a '50s drive-up waitress on roller skates, a mullet-clad redneck, an enthusiastic Steve Irwin, and a Man in Black - complete with guitar - among others. We'll see what other unique costumes people are sporting here in a few.