For the first time since I was 2 years old, I didn't get dressed up for Halloween.
Does this mean I've grown up -- or have I lost some of my youthful spark?

This may not seem like a big deal to most, but for me, Halloween is the best holiday (even though it's not a holiday, technically). It's better than Christmas, Birthdays, Hannukah, what have you. For one day of the year, it's ok to wear whatever you want, no matter how offensive or slutty, and we encourage kids to take candy from strangers.

Actually, I should either blame Canada Council for having a grant deadline of November 1st, or I should blame myself for being the Queen of Procrastination.

Partly I blame last year's costume for being the best ever -- 2 girlfriends and I went as Spinal Tap -- we had armadillos in our trousers! I was Derek Smalls. It was probably the most frightening costume I ever wore because I did look nearly exactly like him, and not like a girl one bit.

Anyway, as I was biking home from work on Saturday night through club-land, trying my best not to run over drunken partyers who stood in the middle of the street looking for cabs, I didn't feel too bad about missing halloween. For one thing, every single girl was dressed as a slutty ______ (insert various costume here), and every guy was dressed as a half-assed zombie. The only costume I really was impressed by was the guy dressed as a bunch of grapes. He was also surrounded by sluts. Good for him!

On wednesday I did have the pleasure of stopping by a friend's house for a bit where we sat outside with pumpkins and candles and tried to hand out candy to unsuspecting youngsters. Unfortunately, the other halloween displays on her street (tiki torches, smoke machines, booby traps, haunted obstacle courses, fiery pits of gloom) were so extreme and lavish that most kids passed by our little 4 inch pumpkins. We had to sit outside and harass the kids to come over and take candy. Even then, I didn't feel too bad about not being dressed up. So I ate about 12 little chocolate bars until I never wanted to eat chocolate again, got on my bike and met my friend to record a demo for this grant.

But by the time Thursday rolled around, and Halloween was gone and my grant finished, I felt a longing to put on ridiculous clothes and dress in drag and throw eggs at cars and put grass killer on people's lawns!! (jk... sortof).

Oh regret!!

Dear Canada Council for the Arts,
Please give me the grant so I can feel good about missing my favorite day of the year!!
Love,
Sarah