Andrew / October 24, 2008 9:48 AM

Suggested by Maureen. If you have a question for Fuel, send it to inbox@gapersblock.com.

We throw a Halloween party every year, and this year the theme is Rock'n'Rollers. I *think* I'm going to be Brian Setzer, but I haven't fully committed.

Maureen / October 24, 2008 11:29 AM

No idea where we're going...Hoping to get some ideas from you fine folks! We were thinking maybe hitting the Park District's Trail of Terror, but beyond that, no idea.

As for costumes, I really really wanted my sister and me to go as the wooden dolls from Raggedy Ann and Andy's Musical Adventure, this super trippy cartoon movie from the 70s, but my sis said no one would get it because apparently no one on earth other than us has seen that movie. Anyone seen it?

Greg / October 24, 2008 11:41 AM

Yeah! Camel with the Wrinkled Knees!

I suppose you could always claim the right people would get it, but you can't always count on that...considering I was once Charlie Brown from The Great Pumpkin special (sheet w/ tons of holes, bag of rocks, AND a tape player under the sheet playing Vince Guaraldi music) and not one person at the party got it.

Hal / October 24, 2008 11:49 AM

I once (possibly almost 20 years ago) went out as Speed Racer with a perfectly flawless costume, including the helmet.

Not. one. person. got it. Several times I was asked, "What are you, a polo player?"

That scarred me. I've never put much effort into a costume since then. Diminishing returns and all that.

Spook / October 24, 2008 12:44 PM

Rev. Senator/Meek's Church, I wanna see some gays and a Buddist in hell

Spook / October 24, 2008 12:49 PM

explanation, its a "once a year" haunted house

eee / October 24, 2008 1:23 PM

For a party this weekend, I'm recycling a geisha costume from a few years ago. On actual Halloween, I'm staying in to watch scary movies. The night after I'll be at Andrew's party with the lamest costume ever.

And Greg, I totally would have known who you were. Then again, I've contemplated that exact same costume myself.

Gaigen / October 24, 2008 1:29 PM

At the risk of giving it away, a special friend and I are going as the parents of a VERY popular political figure currently active. She has her side figured out (with some help from me) but I'm having trouble getting mine specific enough to be recognized. if you can figured out from my (ahem) cryptic message, help me out!

steven / October 24, 2008 3:38 PM

i'm sticking with the classics, going as a vampire, albeit a slightly classier version...sharp black suit, small inconspicuous fangs, long yellowish fingermails and red contact lenses. should be fun. maybe i'll convince someone to let me bite their booby.

mary / October 24, 2008 3:52 PM

i dont even have any plans yet, but i'm contemplating being frida kahlo, except i have glasses and am not sure if that will diminish the effect. i have to thrift store it and get a long flowy skirt, a white top and a huge silk flower for my hair. ill probably just use eyeliner to fill in the brow.

printdude / October 24, 2008 3:56 PM

I am So going as the Joker!

either that or Drunky Drunkerton.

What I like to go as is Happy.

kate / October 24, 2008 6:55 PM

I'm going as a hooker.

No, not one of those $60 "slutty nun" costumes.

I'm going to dress as a busted-ass, Mad Dog-sippin, itchin & scratchin' hooker.

Party tomorrow night and another one on Halloween night. Hosted by friends at their homes.

Steven / October 24, 2008 7:42 PM

Thought about going as Jason, you know the slasher in the hockey mask, with a Sarah Palin mask underneath... until I realized that is just way too much going on that would interfere with cocktailing.

So I'm going as a coke whore instead.

mike-ts / October 24, 2008 11:20 PM

Due to my uncanny resemblance to the guy, I'm going as Joe the Plumber to a party I'm attending Saturday night. Those who follow the news will get it, those who don't, well, I'm going as a plumber named Joe. Duh. I have a hard hat with the name tag "Joe the Plumber" on it. Greg and Hal's experiences tell me that was a wise move.

The outfit: gray t-shirt, jeans (yes, I'll remember to provide back cleavage, i.e. Plumber's Butt), cotton work gloves, hard hat, and a five gallon bucket with a couple of pipe wrenches (hard for someone to steal those) in the pouches of the bucket organizer - the skirt with 50 pockets that sits on the rim, and in the middle, a dozen plus long necks on ice.

I have an aluminum bullet Thermos, and am thinking about putting Coke & Bacardi in that, but I don't know if it'll react with the aluminum innards. Heck, beer comes in aluminum cans, and I think I saw a vodka in an aluminum bottle (Danka?) so I should be okay. Yes, I'll leave room for the fizz factor.

I hope there's an Obama there, too. Otherwise, I'd be Abbot without Costello, Frick without Frack, Hardy without Laurel. I'll mean it in good fun, and hope the others do too. Political humor does come with a bit of risk.

Jasmine / October 25, 2008 4:12 PM

Night of, I'm going to the parade in Boystown. I may or may not be dressed as a Hogwarts student.

Night after, I'm going to Andrew's party. I was thinking Beth Ditto (how many larger lady rock stars are out there?) though I don't know if I could bring myself to go out in public in a spandex jumpsuit. We'll see.

Maureen / October 25, 2008 6:02 PM

Greg, we must have had the same cartoon childhood. I would have totally known your Chuck costume; the music would have given it away. Were you equally traumatized by the fire in Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown?

Jasmine, FANTASTIC idea. If you can find a gold lame catsuit, you HAVE to wear it.

So, I'm starting to think about costumes of classic ghost stories, like the China Doll that grew claws and sharp teeth. You guys remember other ghost stories like that that would lend themselves to costumes? You know, like the man with the hook outside the car? Would you recognize a china doll with claws as that story?

Maureen / October 25, 2008 6:03 PM

Oh, and have you guys been to any haunted houses this year?

mike-ts / October 26, 2008 1:02 PM

Recap - everyone knows who Joe is, and there were a McCain and two Palins to goof with. Instead of Cuba Libre's, I made mojito mix, so no fizz for the Thermos, which I lost and have to find. Costume cost = $3, for a new, clean plunger.

The Day After, when party attendees go to the host's house to retrieve their lost phones, cameras, and other doo-dads.

Leelah / October 26, 2008 2:51 PM

Everytime I tell someone that I am going as Pele, they think I mean the soccer player, but I mean the Hawaiian volcano goddess.

Gaigen / October 27, 2008 9:20 AM

... and a five gallon bucket with a couple of pipe wrenches (hard for someone to steal those) in the pouches of the bucket organizer - the skirt with 50 pockets that sits on the rim, and in the middle, a dozen plus long necks on ice.

Mike, you are SO gonna get tired of carrying that stuff around all night long. Maybe a pair of painters pants with a loop to stick a pipe wrench in?

Gaigen / October 27, 2008 9:21 AM

Mike..
Oh, wait, you already went. How did it go? Did you carry all of that stuff?

corinna / October 27, 2008 12:36 PM

I'm going to the Boystown parade dressed as Hedwig. If one person thinks I'm a real tranny, I win at life.

Irisheyes1212 / October 27, 2008 1:55 PM

I waitress part time so our bar is having a Halloween Party. Our building is ridiculously warm so if I wore anything I would be the waitress that tried to dress up then sweat in your beer.
So I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt that says Happy Freakin Halloween. Last year I wore a last minute costume and looked like a big fat red riding hood which induced tears. I am not putting myself through that again.

How could anyone not have gotten the Charlie Brown costume? I have that figurene on my desk at work lol. I haven't seen it advertised for TV this year :-(

lmy / October 27, 2008 3:57 PM

i think i'm going to be a chinese olympic gymnast - wear lots of make-up, act shy and say "i don't know my birthday." i did attend the haunted house at navy pier. it was okay. where is this party you are all going to? i don't have plans yet.