Continuing with our Halloween string of posts...

Seriously. What the hell is up with Halloween = SLUT? Granted, I'm not really one to complain but anything short of being a virgin (no more!) means I am not afraid of sexy nurses. I remember back when even the prettiest girls in grade school would dress up as the most hideous witches. Or maybe the occasional princess/fairy. However, that changed in high school/college. Gone were the halcyon days of disfigurement and horror, in were the costumes of cleavage, ass, and hoochie. Yes, it was utterly terrifying. Terrifying to approach them, as their uterine walls may devour me. With BIG TEETH.

But what happened in those years? Yes, girls got shapely but where is the imagination? The fun? the true meaning of Halloween? The male side of me totally appreciates the "HURR BEWBIES HURR" of it all, but in all honesty I really appreciate an awesome monster as well. I once met a girl as a positive pregnancy test. Utterly horrifying. It was smart, and it was scary, granted she was no monster but she also didn't flop her butt cheeks out of her pants. It's something I see every week/weekend at bars, clubs, on the street/on campus and I'll be the first to admit it; I'm a horny guy. But I'm also a huge supporter for Halloween and the original "Oh no ghosties!" roots. Yeah, my costume isn't that terrifying, but only because my SO does not have any desire to be near me that night should I make it. (Like I said, I'm a horny guy).

I do enjoy the female form, but maybe just maybe, we can get a moratorium on the scantily clad clothing? (Unless you're a naked ghost like the girl from "Thirteen Ghosts" or Katie Holmes's character from "The Gift") I understand it's one night, it's something you aren't so it's ironic that you dress up that way, but seriously. I want to be terrified on Halloween, not turned on. I want to be scared well, and scared often. Or outright creeped out and fascinated by the horror. And while I'm at it, t-shirts that say "This is my Halloween costume" are really getting tired. The joke was funny the first 500 times. Show me something new, something cheesy. Oh well, here's to tomorrow. Guys, don't think you're off the hook on this one too. You know which ones I'm talking about, the guys all done up along the same vein as the vixen females in some way or another. That stuff isn't scary either. Creepy and scary are not always mutually exclusive.

Thanks to the people that still do their makeup and put their scars on; you guys rock.

T-minus a couple of weeks and counting 'til that most glorious time, Halloween. It is when I get to dress up and leave myself behind for one night. Putting on someone else's skin, and parading around as I feel that person should be. It is amazing how brave I feel when I can channel someone else, whether it was the Statue of Liberty or a doctor that was born with a dolphin face. There was always something appealing to me about ditching the mundane life that I had lead up to that point for something make believe, an image and character that I created. And people ate it up. If I was in a mask I could say hi to anyone, talk to anyone, act like an idiot on a dance floor and it was cool. Cloaks and other coverings only enhanced to the faux mystique that I exuded. Maybe once in awhile it would even be a *gasp* girl that fell into conversation with me. It didn't matter what I was, or that no one could guess what the hell I was dressed up as. All that mattered was I felt proud and comfortable. Ironic that it took me pretending I was something else and totally hiding who I was regularly. I would draw a parallel to Superman, but I don't have the cool powers.

I've always loved Halloween for that mere fact. That I did not have to be me, and by nightfall I would be transformed. It applies mechanics from some of my favorite genres of film and television. I once read an article about the Japanese fascination of transformation to a greater power as displayed in Anime: Kenshin's turning into the Battousai, Dragon Ball Z's Super Saiyans, even the Transformers taking everyday vehicles and making them huge awesome robots. Nothing is as it seems, and I let that be my guide for Halloween. I do try to frighten and I do get caught up in being spooky, but mostly it is about NOT BEING HERE. I feel as if I'm channeling the persona I'm assuming, acting, putting on a show. Yes, that one Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode used this little item for an episode, and that is why Joss Whedon is awesome.

So the important thing here is that with one day I do not have to assume the face and troubles of all the personalities that I use on a daily basis. Those masks and particular habits take the night off. For one great night, I transform and roll out... into a pirate.

Now pass me my eyepatch and sword, ye who travel these seas best prepare to be boarded.

This is a plea for people to enjoy themselves responsibly and intelligently.

Thank you to everyone that's reading ;)