Halloween Sacrifice

Around this time every year the thoughts of the little ones turn to the sugary glee of Halloween. Families begin to agonize over what costumes to buy or assemble for the kids. Grownups begin to revel in the possibilities that open up to them as they too can dress in a costume and play for a night.

Some grownups take their fun a little too seriously and thank god for them. I am a Halloween junkie and have been since I was little. I was blessed with parents as creative and crazed as myself and this has resulted in an addiction to all things macabre. My parents are a little more normal in that they are Halloween centered. My tastes run a little further across the year. Christmas is safe, but everything else gets a little strange sometimes. My co-workers often shake their head when they walk past my desk as it is guarded by Pinhead, Gollum and a cute little teddy bear.

This love for Halloween has stretched across many things, and life has allowed for extreme Halloween celebrations as well as denying me the fun of the season. One thing remains constant however. My Jack-O-Lantern carving takes places whether I'm home or not. My skills have evolved over time so that my father actually can't wait to receive his carvings to display with pride on his porch. I usually do a strange one and then a readily recognized one.

My tools have evolved from a simple kitchen knife as a child to several smaller tools and even a rotary tool. The results are fun and I seek to challenge myself every year. I am looking for ideas for this year's victims. What do you think I should try to hack this year?

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