Les Bonnes Choses

Evanston kicks ass. We received a community newsletter in the mail last week outlining the Hallowe'en day events. The Northwestern Wildcats played against the Penn State Nittany Lions (NU lost 34-13), and, because of the date, they had a number of kids activities that drew us out there. We didn't stay too long because le p'tit monsieur was a malcontent, though Jude did get a balloon "ghostes" (pronounced ghost'-ezz). We also stopped for a couple of minutes to appreciate the NU Marching Band (NUMB, which probably carries a dual meaning late in the season). I think a tear might have come to my eye when the band performed Thriller -- with one section at one point putting down their instruments to do the thriller dance.

We were home just after 3, in time to prepare for the trick-or-treaters. The other reason that Evanston kicks ass is that the community newsletter indicated that trick-or-treating runs between 4 and 7pm. There is little more irritating than teenagers ringing your doorbell at 8:30 dressed either in normal clothes (the punk costume) or else a boyfriends' football uniform (the jock costume) scavenging for whatever candy was not given out to the little kids earlier on. Having a definite end time makes it just a little easier to relax at the end of the night. This year, Jude would have nothing to do with trick-or-treating. He wouldn't even put on his costume. But perhaps he's just brilliant. We have a metric boatload of leftover candy, and he didn't have to ring a single doorbell to get it. On its own, this might not mean much, but keep in mind that Jude also helped give out candy at the door, and was quite a miser.