Halloween!

Halloween used to be a big production, with months of forethought. My mom sewed multiple costumes for me, which were frequently used for several years. One year, she made me a Wendy dress out of an old sheet, and I went with my neighbors Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell.

I miss trick or treating, and I miss dressing up. My neighborhood doesn't have enough kids for me to stay home with a bowl of candy either.

This year, I discovered something fun to do: Trick or Vote. With Halloween just four days before the big election, Portland (and 50 other cities in 40 states) are doing a fun get out the vote campaign. I get to go door to door in costume, but this time, I'm asking for a pledge from people that they will vote their whole ballot and get it in by the deadline. There are a lot of important issues on the ballot in addition to the president, so we hope to encourage people to look at all the candidates and measures. It's nonpartisan, which makes it easier to reach out to everyone.

After much deliberation, I finally settled on dressing as Beethoven because my hair is just right for it. I've compiled a black coat, white tights, short pants, a white frilly shirt, and a red scarf.

Cool New Toy

I am really enamored with my new magnetic bracelet/necklace that my mom gave me for my birthday. The hematite beads are magnetic, and also attract the small steel beads, so by sticking it together, I can make it a bracelet, anklet, choker or long chain. Pretty neat. Plus, the tiny pearls are pretty with the black and silver metals.

To Put on his Head

My boyfriend has recently taken to wearing a stiff solid green "bandanna" (really just a piece of cotton tied to his head). He continues to wear it despite all advice. Today is his birthday, and my roommate and I are using this opportunity to give him some alternatives. I made the hat on the right, and my roommate bought the fleece ear band and real bandanna. Hopefully he'll take to one of them. The green bandanna does make me smile.

Other People's Shoes

I was at a party tonight and all the guests had left their shoes outside the door. When it came time to leave, I had the urge to test out all the different shapes, sizes, colors and styles. Shoes really do say a lot about a person. The stylish and severe, the fun and bouncy, the tough and worn, the light and sporty. I was happy to leave in my own familiar Keens.