Jack and Sally

Oops - I was out of town last week and forgot to post anything - sorry! Now back in time for Halloween and looking for candy. 

The RULE in our house is that whatever candy you get, it has to be something you HATE (like gummy bears or sweet tarts).

The rule was made because I WILL eat almost anything with chocolate and whatever is left over will be completely devoured. I will hate myself the next day--but that won't stop me.

So.

That's the plan for today--but Halloween has been on my mind all week. While visiting NY last week I was visiting family in the suburbs and was absolutely amazed at the Halloween decor. 

A truly scary collection of creatures took up almost every inch of space on one lawn, including a tarantula that tried to wrap its legs around yours. Another lawn offered a collection of IT-like clowns that was terrifying. Yet another had deflated creatures crawling all over the front yard.

The other decorations were mostly fall-type pumpkins and leaves, which I am almost liking better at this point. My favorites, though, are blow-ups like the Nightmare Before Christmas characters. 

I happen to be a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, with its endless parade of creatures and Jack and Sally's lopsided love affair. What I like best about them is that most shows for kids have either good guys or villains. Jack and Sally are both and more: damaged, obsessive, ambitious, determined. 

Sally will rid herself of her arm instead of staying with someone she hates. Jack will do nearly anything to be Santa Claus even though he's the opposite of joy and cheer. Both are some of my favorite movie characters--and I don't really care what that means.

The picture I posted here shows them on a lawn that's not too far from where I live. It made me think about inviting them to my place next Halloween.

On a completely different note, this is supposed to be the weekend you can see the Aurora Borealis in certain states (including mine) but we'd have to drive out of the city and I'm much too busy writing today.  I did see Northern-Light-type flashes one night here when my son was little, but haven't since then.

It's on my bucket list, though, to find them again. So if you see any, send me some pictures! And if you see Jack and Sally flying around somewhere, what can I say? Let me know?