Last night we didn't get as many kids as last year. We still got a decent amount --at least two dozen-- but in years past we've seen three times as many. I've seen mini-vans drop off swarms of kids in the neighborhood over the years. One thing about where I live, it is exactly like every TV movie that has a scene where suburban kids go trick or treating. It's surreal how closely it resembles depiction in movies and television. But it was much more subdued last night. I think we have an entire sack of candy left over from BJs. And the kids were generally nicer this year. I only had one incident where several kids (it always seems like the boys) had a little grabfest when I leaned down to put something in a bag. 

It's just par for the course, really. 

I was surprised to find all four pumpkins still in my back yard this morning. Usually someone comes along and swipes one of them. 

Now it's time to start taking down the decoration and --like last year-- bust out the Christmas stuff as soon as possible. 

I have decided to participate in NaNoWriMo again this year. But I'm pairing back the goal even further than previously indicated. I'll shoot for 25K this year and see what happens. I just can't commit to the amount of time without incurring serious trouble this year. And I've got a lot of other stuff going on at the moment and most of it I don't want to actually neglect (although stacking wood is still not done and I keep wishing I would come home to find it magically completed on it own). But I've done almost no prep for taking myself out of the month and it's wildly unfair to just announce it today and think everything will be swanky.

As for what I'm going to write, I've pulled out one of the ideas I've had bouncing around for the last few years and culled together a starting point. I have this meandering thread that I think I can follow. But I'm sure it'll crash and burn faster than anything else I've tried. I'll probably post crappy excerpts as I go, like last year.

Just don't be surprised if I just stop this year. If I hit any real trouble this time, I'm very likely to bail, although I'll let you know.

Next year I'll try to be better prepared.