Halloween

Brooklyn is a very civilized place, assuming that the ultimate measure of civilization is whether it knows how to celebrate halloween properly. (I think that's a fair assumption.) Not only is it possible to get a pumpkin without having to buy it two weeks in advance (Cambridge, I'm looking at you), but there's also some serious trick-or-treating.

Getting home at 6:15, I was worried that I might have already missed the peak of the ritual. Ha. My first batch of candy was gone in 20 minutes. I dutifully went over to 7th Ave and bought another three bags of candy. They were gone in 10 minutes--an average rate of about 6 kids a minute.

I wonder if there's anywhere where the trick-or-treating balance is really maintained. I know that when I was growing up, there was always a big bowl full of candy left over, usually more than I took in myself. There weren't enough trick-or-treaters to cover all of the houses there. Here, on the other hand, there's a lot of kids. (I had no idea how many until tonight.) But with nobody else on my block on handout duty, I felt like they couldn't possibly be earning as much candy as I used to.

Clearly someone should study the economics of halloween and figure out what's going wrong. On the other hand, the kids seem to be having a good time either way.

My apartment

I could tell long stories about how hard it was to get all of my furniture, but it's easier to just give a quick tour, and besides, the stories aren't really all that interesting.

But I did learn that "the Ikea way" involves giving absolutely no help to customers whatsoever and strictly following the letter of the rules. That cuts both ways... In the 15 items they would deliver for a flat rate, they counted the $3 plastic pencil tray as one "item," and the 8-drawer dresser (delivered in two boxes) as another "item." Ah well. It was fun putting it all together.

Anyway, I now have a recognizable kitchen, living room, and bedroom (complete with bed). Still working on a coffee table. And blinds.