The Film Noir Experience

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. There is no logical reason for this. I do not dress up for Halloween. I do not do anything in particular to celebrate it. Its mostly that I like this time of year. School is underway (and, being a huge nerd that is very important to me.) The leaves are changing. There is a crispness to the air and the hint of snow to come (or, at least there was prior to moving to Cardiff.) And, all kinds of excellent fruits and vegetables are in season. User groups are taking time out to exchange pumpkin recipes, there are caramel apples in the farmer's market. It is a spectacular time of year where it feels like things are coming to fruition. I just love autumn, I suppose, and Halloween is a celebration firmly rooted in the middle of it.

Yesterday afternoon, whilst I have been looking for jobs and seriously jonesing for a bit of home, I received an email from my Father mentioning that he and my Mother would be dressing up for Halloween at their respective jobs. My mother wears the same thing every year: she dresses in all black and wears a pointy witch's hat. I do not know what my Father will be wearing this year (as he didn't tell me, he is going to send me a picture when he is all dressed up), but I have an image in my head of him dressed up as a Christopher Lee-style Dracula. The Halloween celebrating of my parents does not stop there, though. For, you see, they have a cat.

We have had Mittens since she was a kitten and since I was seven or eight. That is not the best picture of her as it was taken with a mobile phone, but you get the point. Mittens is a venerable, old kitty who spends her days lying about the house, asking to go outside, playing with bits of string, and talking my Mother into giving bits of chicken or fish. However, this year Mittens will also be dressing up for Halloween. Under normal circumstances, I do not approve of dressing up your pets. Poor little fur babies already have on a coat, what do they need a hat and gloves for? And, as for how Mittens actually feels about being dressed up, well, just check out the look on her face.

I am not quite sure what she is supposed to be. I think it might be a bat. Or, perhaps even a dog. The only thing I can say about this photo, other than it made me smile, is that it looks like Mittens has put on a little weight. Although, it could just be the way the costume is tied around her neck.