something sparkly this way comes…

210. That’s TWO HUNDRED AND TEN trick-or-treaters to come to our door last night. Beginning promptly at 5:30 pm and ending just after 9:30 pm. The most popular costume, with an astonishing seventeen representatives, was the ninja. In the traditional category, there were many fairies and princesses and a few fairy princesses, eight witches, three brides of Frankenstein (with only one appearance by Frankie himself), four devils, four goblins, six cats, six zombies, one skeleton, two vampires, five pirates, one wizard, two “dark warlocks”, one bride, two cheerleaders, four clowns, one alien, two nuns, one rabbi. In the commercial category, we had one Bart Simpson, one Thomas the Tank Engine, two Dora the Explorers, one Scooby Doo, one Captain Hook, one Fantastic Four (which one, he didn’t know), two Captains America, one Barbie cheerleader, one Darth Vader, three Power Rangers, two of the Scream guy, one Jason (complete with chainsaw), ten Spidermen, five Venoms (Black Spiderman), two Mickey Mice, one pirate Mickey Mouse, one Neo. In the animal category (these were mostly kids under the age of two, and were truly adorable) there were three ladybugs (including a pair of twins), one zebra, three monkeys, one lizard, one turtle, one horse, two chickens, one shark, two bunnies. Then there were the standouts, like the two girls with hugely stuffed derrieres, who claimed to be “Church Ladies,” and the kid who was dressed not as Zorro, but as Pancho Villa. There were, of course, kids who simply put on their team uniforms and came as basketball players (two teams’ worth), kids who put on a ton of makeup and their sleaziest outfits and went as “Rock Stars,” and the kids who came dressed as nothing at all, but came anyway, bags in hand, a “Trick or Treat” ringing from their lips. I gave them all candy, each and every one. How did the candy hold out? Late Tuesday night we made a run to BJ’s for some odds and ends and some “just in case” candy. I’m glad we did. Here’s the before picture (we usually use this galvanized tub to hold beer at parties):

Here’s what we have left:

We’re choosing a few pieces to save and then I’m bringing the rest to work tomorrow. Or at least, that’s the plan.

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On this day: Jackhammering, Well, I feel better than I did before

Sources have warned us to expect in the neighborhood of 150 - 200 kids come Halloween night. I’ve made two separate candy-shopping excursions so far, mixing it in with my regular trips to the stupidmarket so as not to scare myself. Here’s what sits in bags on the dining room floor right now:

1 bag of Snyder’s pretzels (36 pouches. G says we’re gonna get egged for trying to give away pretzels. I think not.)

3 bags of Butterfinger (51 pieces; I ate three)

1 bag Butterfinger Crisp (18 pieces)

4 bags Kit Kat (84 pieces)

1 bag Brach’s Honey Candy Corn (75 pouches)

1 bag Jolly Rancher Assortment (100 pieces of fruit-flavored chewy candy, hard candy sticks, and lollipops)

1 bag Junior Mints (16 pieces; they were not on sale like the rest were)

1 bag Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (15 pieces)

1 bag Reese’s Crispy Crunchy Candy (20 pieces)

2 bags Snickers (36 pieces)

2 bags Milky Way (36 pieces)

4 bags Nestlé Crunch (96 pieces)

2 bags 3 Musketeers (42 pieces)

1 bag Tattoos For Trick-Or-Treaters: A Safe And Healthy Alternative (20 boxes, because there should be some tricks after Halloween is officially over)

That comes out upwards of SIX HUNDRED FUN-SIZE CANDY BARS. But at two hundred kids, that’s a measly three apiece. Or is that the going rate? The last time I had trick-or-treaters I was so excited I just told them to take handsful. Or am I going to be bringing in a boatload of leftovers to work November 1st? Weigh in, people!