All Hallows Eve (on the Horseshoe)

Happy Halloween, folks!

The apex of October has, for at least most of the last decade or so, seemed more like an epilogue than a climax. That obviously has more to do with our own Halloween Party, which every year detracts attention away from the holiday itself by absorbing all of our energies on costume-hunting, party-prepping, and house-cleaning/decorating.

Not that I'm complaining.

Another win for Southern Tier's Halloween beer.

As we've done the last seven years, we rolled in to the Johnson's residence for their annual Trick or Treat the Horseshoe party. The Horseshoe is the nickname given to the neighborhood compromising their street (Sweetbrier), Highbrook Dr., and Westbrier Terrace (the outside outline of the 'horseshoe' shape), and Greenbrier Terrace, Canterbury Dr., and Lawndale Dr. (the inside outline.) It's all self-enclosed, so super safe for trick-or-treaters and their families, and a lot of houses participate in the distribution of candy.

Not nearly as good as we had it back in the 80's and 90's, but definitely a few clicks above the usual.

Erik had a fire going and several chairs set up by the time we got there, with their garage emptied of vehicles to accommodate Courtney's buffet-style table set-up. Like we always do in this group, everyone brought food to pass as well as candy to contribute for the evening, but after a measly two hours of giving it out we still had a crap-load on hand (which is par for the course, honestly - we all buy too much, every damn year.)

This isn't an all-night rager, compared to our party last week, but it's a nice, chill time and super nostalgic seeing all the kids running around in costumes having the time of their lives. We were home and in bed by 11pm or so, and I did my damnedest to help finish off the half-barrel of Miller Lite that we had worked on at my house the week before. . . but we didn't quite do it.

So here's one, last installment of pictures from October, gang - enjoy. . .

Another appearance of the Wild Kratz

I don't know all of these kids, but Julianna is left of Ella, and that's Harper in the Minions shirt.

And the obligatory weird one.

Before all the trick-or-treaters set off for their two-hour odyssey, we were able to get one picture of all of them together in the Johnson's front yard. This took multiple attempts, folks.

Erik set up a TV by the driveway, which was streaming old horror movies from like the 1950s for awhile, before some big football game or something came on, then folks wanted to switch to that.

After I had consumed my required Halloween, fancy beers (I always save a couple for the big night itself), I switched to our trusty keg.

Folks hanging out and snacking in the garage.

The food spread.

Kids eventually trickled in, coming into the house to start the usual sorting and trading process (good to see kids still do this sacred tradition.)

Loading up plates.

Brandon, Holty, and Collier

Womenfolk, probably talking about something super important.

Collier, Tom and Mitch, watching the game (sorta.)

If there's anyone who shouldn't be playing around with a hatchet, it's Holty.

My wife is special needs, don't make fun.

Holty and his wife, Alicia.

Collier and Mitch

As the temperature continued to drop, the fire became more and more popular. By around 10pm most of the folks had taken off (this party is definitely more a 'swing by' for a bit sort of an event, which most people hanging out in the 6pm to 8pm window of trick-or-treating.)

Most of the night looked like this right here.

Selfies in Ella's bedroom.

Hey look, I'm actually in a picture.

Another Halloween in the books. We'll see you guys next year.

- Brian 

Memorial Day

Hi readers.

So today is Memorial Day, when we as a nation have the opportunity to come together and blah blah blah blah.

Just like we've done the last three or four years, Erik and I assembled our local Masonic body - Centre Lodge #273 - and marched in Midland's annual parade, throwing out candy to dirty-faced children and letting the people of the community know that, yes, Freemasons are still a thing. 

We had an okay group of guys turn out - about eight, same as usual (which is infuriating because there's over a hundred able-bodied members in our lodge, plus another seventy or so who are too old and decrepit to get out of a chair) - and like always Yours Truly was in charge of reserving us a spot in the parade, making the announcements, gathering up the banner and aprons, and making sure everything went according to plan.

This year we had perfect weather - pure sun and low-70s - and the parade itself went off without a hitch. Kris didn't march with First United Methodist Church this year, but she was in charge of orchestrating their placement and arranging the parade crap for them, and Abby marched with her MHS Varsity Pom Team. Alayna and her boyfriend, Sebastian, watched (and got some pics for us) down on Rodd Street, too.

Afterwards, according to custom, Erik and I - and those Kings of the Hill that volunteered to help us (this year it was Rob and Steven, our two newest recruits) - had lunch at Big E's. Following that, it was a sunny, afternoon tanning session in our backyard, where the Houghs (and Ella) worked on establishing our base tans for our upcoming Florida trip in June.

So here you go, gang - this year's Memorial Day Parade. Enjoy. . .

First attempt at getting a group picture in front of the banner (Evan, who's like 7 ft tall, wasn't sure where to stand.)

Centre Lodge #273

Kris' vantage point in the parade was across the street from First United Methodist Church, down on Main Street. Midland High was towards the front of the parade, with the Varsity Pom Team leading the band down the street.

MHS Varsity Pom (Abby is third back in the column closest to the camera)

Abby and the team marching by. . .

Crabigail

A little while later, the Masonic bodies of Midland - us and the Shriners, who came up directly behind us this year - came up. We had a large gap between us and the Fischer Concrete people directly ahead of us. The old guys driving the truck (that Morgan generously rented for us from his Ford dealership) were going slow, so we had to keep slowing down so they could catch up with us.

I helped take the banner out of the back of the truck at one point while we were setting up at the staging point of the parade, and got stuck holding one end of the banner for the remainder of the parade (opposed to throwing out candy, like I usually do.)

As always, we had a bunch of candy stored in the back of the truck, and the guys throwing out candy had to regularly run up and grab more bags out of the truck to whip out at little kids waiting eagerly along the sides of the parade route.

The Birch Brothers, institutions in our local Masonic bodies (this year the parade organizers demanded there be spotters in every vehicle in the parade. . . which is probably a good thing, I guess.)

Erik and Steven, throwing out candy.

The Shriner Cars (as usual, we had a car break down fairly early on in the parade this year. . . but only one, which I believe is a record.)

Turning onto Rodd Street (I tried to take some pics while walking with the banner.)

Meanwhile, back on Main Street, Kris' church was coming up from a little farther back in the parade.

Back on Rodd Street, our candy was still going strong - nearly made it to the end of the parade this year, which was awesome.

Abby finished before us (obviously), and got a selfie with Brooklyn at the retirement home that's the ending point for the parade route.

Sebastian and Alayna, meanwhile, on Rodd Street, were able to get some pics of us as we came by.

Seriously couldn't ask for better marching weather this year - I was stoked.

Booya.

Rob scrambles to reload.

Erik whips some candy at the teenagers.

Coming towards the end of the parade route.

Afterwards, like we always do, everybody piled into the backseats and bed of the rented pickup truck (which was frickin' HUGE) for what was supposed to be a quick drive back to the staging point, where everyone's cars were parked.

Instead, for whatever reason, Chuck drove out to frickin' Saginaw Road and proceeded to take some long-ass way back to Revere Street, going 40 mph with the tail down and all of us hanging on for deer life in the back. No idea who thought this was a good idea.

Cruising down random side streets on the way back to the staging area, going much faster than we would have preferred.

After miraculously not dying on the drive back to the cars, we loaded up and met Steven up at Big E's for some post-parade lunch and beers. There weren't a lot of people up there, but there was only two servers working the whole joint, so service was insanely slow. We were there nearly two hours.

A bunch of the pommers and other teenagers, meanwhile, had some post-parade grub over at Pizza Sam's, downtown. This pic accurately sums up where Abby was at at that point of the day.

By the time I got back to the house, the girls - and these two assholes - were setting up outside for a multi-hour bronzing session in the backyard.

Kris, Alayna, Abby, and Ella were oiled up and working on those base tans so they didn't fry like lobsters in the blistering Florida sun.

I was quick to join them (though due to the crazy amount of yard work I've been putting in the last couple weeks, I already have a decent base to begin with.)

Dogs being dogs.

Hours of this. Seems boring, but I frickin' love it.

So there you go, gang - another Memorial Day Parade in the books. We'll see ya next year.

- Brian