I've been tested before. I've run with
the bulls in Pamplona, conquered New Zealand's biggest bungee jump
and killed a couple of spiders at Shona's request. But after “Fright
Nite” at the Pacific National Exhibition I've unequivocally
maintained my “reasonably masculine” rating. If the last time
you've been through a haunted house was at some local festival or
back in the 90's then you need to see what level haunted houses have
been taken to. I could try to explain some of the scenarios but
basically Shona screamed a lot and both me and my mate Daniel
squealed like school girls at the occasional scary surprise. But
highly skilled actors, elaborate buildings and state of the art
robotics created some very daunting situations with Freddy and Jason,
Hannibal Lecter and other screaming, startling characters bursting
out of dark corners.
Halloween. Its so trashy. Its like
Santa Clause and The Easter Bunny rolled into one. Why is it
celebrated? I don't know, I don't care either. People just dress up
and do funny stuff all for no real reason. And how I do love fancy
dress.
But costumes aside, the single greatest
experience of the fall season so far has been making Jack O Lanterns.
Oh what fun they are. Encouragingly easy and very rewarding we turned
the simple task of carving a pumpkin into a exercise of wine drinking
and socialising with the inaugural “Pumpkin Carving Party”. I
could go on, but I don't think I need to explain the occasion any
further do I?
With said carved pumpkins sitting
outside our front door and armed with a large bag of individually
wrapped ghoul shaped marshmallows we failed to receive any trick or
treaters. But then again I wouldn't take my kid down our street
anyway, so we weren't too disappointed. Besides I was far too busy
applying fake blood and flesh wounds to myself for my zombie costume.
Shona meanwhile was far more sensible, as usual, dressing up as Annie
Wilks, the psychotic lead character from the movie Misery.
There were many great costumes on
display that night. Superheroes and super villians, cartoon
characters and undead creatures, but the funniest costume all night
was a guy in a chicken suit. Not because of the chicken suit, but
because he had a beer in hand, was drunk, angry and fell over the
gutter as he walked past me. Very amusing. Costumes were typically
far more creative than just vampires or zombies, some real creative
processes went into outfits we saw.
But now there are less than 6 weeks
till Christmas. Snow is falling at lower and lower altitudes on the
mountains, days are shorter and there's even talk of snowfall in
Vancouver next weekend. For me its as exciting watching the leaves
change colour – (which was exciting for me.)
And finally, the beauty of living in a
different country is learning a new perspective of an idea or topic.
I can happily say that I know have a greater appreciation for The
Simpson's Tree House of Horror series. It just makes more sense now.
The world's most indirect travellors Josh and Shona.
