OK, I really don't hate Halloween. In fact, I really like the "holiday". I love to see well-done costumes and to watch my children have so much fun gathering all that candy and showing off their costumes. It's fun to watch them have fun. Even my office-mates enjoy the black-and-orange season. This morning we all walked downstairs to see the parade of three-year-old preschoolers come through in their costumes while trick-or-treating at the downtown businesses. We oohed and aahhed at the pirate, the princess, the flower and the pilot. (READ MORE)

The street we normally trick-or-treat on was consumed with kids and families last night. It was really fun because I can't ever remember seeing so many people out at once. However, with that many people parading up the street, some of us got caught in clumps. And one of my pet peeves is people I don't know walking too closely to me. I can't stand feeling like someone is literally breathing down my neck.

With The Mr. and the kids walking several paces in front of me while I dealt with some horrendous foot cramps (man am I pushing the water today!), I took the opportunity to stop and let someone pass me by.

"Hey, are you Michelle?" the woman asked as I stepped aside.

I was shocked that, first of all, someone recognized me, and that she could see me in the dark.

"Yes," I said.

"I'm Cheryl L."

"Oh my gosh!" I literally screamed. "Hi! How are you?"

"I'm great!" I think she was laughing at me, at my enthusiasm for seeing her. (READ MORE)