Two more days until the big one. The day we take the kids around the neighborhood to collect chocolate for us parents. Holloween is my favorite holiday. Not just for the candy, I love the costumes, too. Even the yards are dressed to kill:

Candy gathering is best done like writing a story, which in turn is like going to a party. Go late, leave early. During the first hour people are rationing. One piece of candy from each house. The visit to goody ratio is not worth it. Kids get tired and want to quit early. It’s better to go during the second hour. People are getting tired of the whole deal, and most people don’t want to be stuck with all that candy. They give it out by the fistful. It’s good sense to have a pillow sack for the overflowing plastic pumkins. Bring a wagon if you have one, but make the kids walk, this is for the candy.

The final step in effective trick-or-treating is critical. Watching the kids’ every move when they get home. They have a tendency to stash the candy in another dimension. While they are at school the next day… It’s razoo time!