I finally started Christmas shopping today, beginning with Shog. This year, with two exceptions, it's all about the bacon: Bacon: A Love Story, bacon band-aids, old-fashioned bacon candy, bacon gumballs, bacon magnetic poetry, a bacon and eggs scarf, a Periodic BaCoN tee, and bacon wrapping paper. For sentimental reasons, I also got him a Bob Ross finger puppet, and his "big" gift is a tabletop air hockey game to replace the large one that we got from Ven (which we gave to friends with kids—and a lot of room—when we moved). Oh, and I just thought about it and bought him a Team Bacon stocking! *twirls*

For about half a second, I thought about buying Shog bacon soap, but then I decided that I didn't want him to smell like bacon, and I did want to stick to my budget.

In other holiday news, people have already started decorating for Halloween; it's a big deal here in Martinsburg. Last year, I carved a pumpkin-eating jack-o'-lantern, and I want to outdo myself this year. After reading Mom's copy of Food Network Magazine and seeing a spider jack-o'-lantern, I've decided that I'm going to have that, plus a wee version of it (the male), make or buy a web (and possibly see if I can't get glow-in-the-dark paint to spray it with), and carve little pumpkin insects to stick on it. I think it'll be fun! I also want to decorate the front of the house with pumpkin lights.

Last year, we had to make an emergency store run for more candy, so this year, I'm going to stock up early with twice as much candy. And you know, perhaps I'll buy a hat or costume or funky face paint. I love Halloween!