Candy For Breakfast

Wow, Halloween was fun. I'm just coming down from my most recent sugar high, so I thought I should write something. I would have tried before, but the copious amounts of peanut butter M&Ms and mini Crunch bars in my system had me shaking like the business end of a Latina Hip Hop star.

We had over 100 kids come to the house last night. There were a lot of cute costumes, and the requisite amount of young punks in black sweat shirts and cheap masks. Our plan to become the cool house by giving out full size candy bars worked like a charm. From the "oohs", "aahs" and "cools" that we heard from the pint sized pan handlers, it was clear that our house would remain egg and toilet paper free. None of our decorations were disturbed either. That may have something to do with the fact that I made our big, scary looking dog quite visible or that it was about 28 degrees by the time trick or treating was over. Vandals have a hard time carrying out their nefarious plots when they can't feel their toes.

There is one thing that bothered me, and it was not a new development this year. There are a number of mooches who come to the door and just stick out their Halloween loot receptacle. They expect you to just toss your candy into their bag, pumpkin, pillow case, or whatever they have and let them go on their merry way with no effort. That doesn't fly on my porch. I may let it pass for a toddler who is so nervous they are on the verge of defiling their costume with an intestinal Halloween horror, but everyone else has to show me a little effort. More than a couple times, I was standing at the door looking at some wide eyed waifs holding out their sacks. "You gotta say it." I would demand. There was no question what I meant. Every time, I was answered with a resounding "Trick or Treat." Once you do your little dance for me, I pay off. Enjoy the candy. This year, I only had one manner deprived hooligan not say thank you. So you know I had to give him a sarcastic "you're welcome" as he trudged away.

Tomorrow I will take everything down, and another Halloween will be in the books. I got a couple good ideas for improving my scare level for next year. Hey, here's some last minute news. Stay up a little late Thursday night. I will be filling in on "The Steve and Johnnie Show" again. Tomorrow night, Laura Hirsch and I will be doing the whole show from 11pm-5am on WGN. It should be fun. Try to join us. Later...Brian