I've answered the obligatory "and how long do you plan on staying, ma'am?" and "what is the purpose of your visit, ma'am?", I've waited while the immigration dude checked my credentials incase I'm wanted in multiple countries and I've stuck my index finger in the electronic fingerprint thingy. 

I've had my bag rifled through to make sure I'm not carrying any life threatening tweezers or manicure scissors, I've taken off my shoes and my belt incase I set off the metal detector and I've been wanded to make sure I wasn't covered in cocaine residue.

But nothing prepared me for my experience between the US and Canadian border.

In 2002 as part of my whirlwind tour of the NE region of the US I went to Niagara Falls.  My nephew Anthony*, his wife Bernadette* and their daughter Alannah* were on tour with me.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when crossing the border.  I'd only ever crossed international borders in a plane before, so my experiences with immigration had always been in airports.  I guess if I had flown into Canada my immigration experience would have been the same.

So imagine my surprise when we pulled in to something akin to a toll booth.  Apparently the Canadians do drive through immigration.

We waited our turn in line, then pulled up next to the booth and waited for the immigration officer to approach the driver side window.

In the car we had 2 dual US/Oz citizens (my nephew and his daughter), 1 US citizen (my nephew's wife) and 1 Oz citizen (me).  The immigration officer took our passports, disappeared into his booth (presumably to check that none of us were international drug dealers - a real possibility for my then 8 year old niece) and then returned to the car.  He handed the passports back, asked how long we'd be in Canada for then ushered us through immigration and wished us a pleasant stay in Canada.

It was on the way out of Canada that the excitement happened.  Again we pulled up to the toll immigration booth and waited our turn.

The people at the head of the line passed through without incident.  Then the guy in the car ahead of us pulled up to the booth.  He handed over his passport and waited while the immigration officer checked whatever he had to check.

The immigration officer came back to the car without the guy's passport and asked him to get out of the car.  Then he reached into the car and opened the trunk.  Another immigration officer appeared and started going through the trunk while the first officer ordered the guy to stand up against the car with his legs spread.  He patted him down but didn't find anything.

I guess the second guy must have found something because after a quick phone call the Canadian police arrived (no, not the Mounties!).  They handcuffed the guy, frogmarched him to their patrol car and drove away with him, leaving the immigration officers to move his car.

Finally it was our turn and the immigration officer approached the driver side window and looked in.

"Sorry about the hold up folks," he said.  "That was a bit of excitement for the day!  Now, if I can just see your passports please."

In the back of the car, my 8 year old niece leaned towards me and whispered theatrically, "Aunty Jodie, were not going to get arrested too are we?"

Just a word of warning though.  If you're leaving Canada around lunch time and you think you're going to find somewhere decent to have lunch on the American side of Niagara Falls, you'd be wrong.  Unless you want to eat at McDonalds.  When we stopped at the service station for petrol before starting the long drive home we asked the service station attendant where we could get food and he told us to go back over the border into Canada.

*  Names have been changed to protect the relatives.

Our amazing local art council has been discussing adding theater to their program for awhile.  My writing group is an arm of that art council, there is a literary guild that produces a book of stories about our area every two years, and now we've added the Southeastern Ohio Regional Theater Guild.  From that pool of people we found a director and the Art Council secured a small grant letting us tick "someone to produce" off the list.

Last week, my time was spent securing the venue.  We have three Methodist churches in our small town, old, older and oldest.  Two of them, older and oldest, recently consolidated their memberships and moved to older's church, leaving oldest church empty.  It's perfect so we're off...auditions are Sunday and Monday.  So if you live, or no someone who lives in the Southeastern Ohio area, come join us!

The Caribbean has long been a luxury and exclusive destination, a hang out for the rich and famous and visitors to the region will not be surprised why.

With a fantastic range of beautiful and unique countries, the Caribbean has much to offer the long haul traveller, from calm sandy bays to rugged mountainous jungle interiors, teeming with wildlife.

Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach holiday or a lively fun filled break, an all-inclusive holiday in the Caribbean can provide the perfect setting.

Almond Resorts have a great range of all-inclusive properties across Barbados and St Lucia that will ensure you never want to leave, and with many great family options, the kids are sure to have a fantastic time too!

When it comes to food, Almond have an option for all tastes, from freshly caught seafood and western classics to sumptuous local dishes to make your mouth water.

For the active minded, there are a great range of activities available on land and at sea from snorkelling and kayaking to golf and banana boat rides.

For more information on all inclusive Caribbean holidays, visit Almond Resorts or call 0870 907 9601.

Snag
Snag was the site of the lowest temperature ever recorded in North America. On February 3rd, 1947, weathermen etched a notch in the thermometer, because the mercury was below the lowest indicator marks. When the thermometer was analyzed later, it was found that the temperature would’ve read -81.4°F (-63°C). In temperatures that low, the voices of people could be heard four miles away. Frozen breath hangs in the air for up to 15 minutes, making it easy to find where someone has gone.

Northice Station
The coldest place in the western hemisphere is Greenland, although the country is historically claimed as part of Europe. The Northice Research Station in the middle of the Greenland Ice Sheet recorded a temperature of -87 °F (-66 °C) on January 9th, 1954. The researchers immediately packed up and went home to the coast. Just kidding! However, it must be too cold to take photographs, since I couldn’t find any of Northice.

Yakutsk
Yakutsk, capital of the Yakutia region in Siberia claims to be the coldest city on earth. Considering it has a population of 200,000 people, that may be so. In January, daily high temperatures average around -58°F (-50°C). Residents often leave their cars running all day long to ensure they can get home. You are warned not to wear glasses outside, as they will freeze to your face and tear the flesh when you try to remove them. See more pictures and a video of Yakutsk here.

Verkhoyansk
Verkhoyansk, in the Yakutia region of Siberia, lies within the Arctic Circle, an eight-day drive from Yakutsk. But you can only drive there in the winter, when the lakes are frozen, because there are no land roads! 1,300 people live in Verkhoyansk, the biggest part of whom make their living herding reindeer and fur hunting. The area has abundant natural resources, including gold, but is too cold to develop profitable mining. The picture above was taken at the Pole of Cold in Verkhoyansk. Note the mammoth’s tusks that mark the spot.
Temperatures that have been recorded at the Verkhoyansk Weather Station have shown a record low of minus 72 degrees Celsius, and an average temperature for January being minus 49 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, a nearby town by the name of Oimyakon is also trying to gain the title of Cold Pole, with an unofficial record low of minus 78 degrees Celsius. It is no wonder that this region has the nickname of “Stalin’s Death Ring”.When you think you are cold, check out the forecast for Verkhoyansk.

Oymyakon
Oymyakon, the other village that claims to be the coldest spot in the northern hemisphere, is also in the Yakutia region of Russia. In English, the name means “Oy, My Achin’ Toes”. Just kidding! In the Sakha language, it means “non-freezing water”, because of the presence of a hot spring in the midst of the permafrost. On January 26, 1926, the temperature in Oymayakon was recorded as -96.2 °F (-71.2 °C). Some will argue with this figure because it was achieved through extrapolation instead of a direct thermometer measurement. Like Snag, Canada, Oymyakon lies in a bowl between mountains, which traps cold air. The temperature in winter is often lower than -50°F. It was -76°F just last week! See more pictures of Oymyakon here.

Vostok Station
In the southern hemisphere, there’s no argument about the coldest place. The coldest temperature ever recorded on earth was at Vostok Station, a Russian research station in inland Antarctica. On July 21st, 1983, thermometers read -128.6 °F (-89.2 °C). The station is manned year-round. Russians are hardy people.

you are searching for great names for your site? We have many domains, where are begins with GO.

GO... and get it, for your site.

You can lease it or make an offer to buy it:

Go69.eu
GoBanking.info
GoBlueRay.info
GoBluRay.info
GoCleanCars.eu
GoEnergyHomes.com
GoEnergyHomes.info
GoFunds.info
GoHybridCars.info
GoInvestments.info
GoMore.info
GoOne.eu
GoPartners.eu
GoScience.info
GoSolutions.info
GoSportEvents.eu
GoSupport.eu
GoSupport.net
GoTwitter.info

Contact: mail(at)HiQualitydomains.com

WebSite: www.HiQualityDomains.com

Best regards

The Webmaster

It's Bald and Free Day and World Smile Day.  And remember, "Picard's bald", so it's cool to be bald.

Trixie has to be a pumpkin too.

Now I just have to find the Toto costume I made Cayden when he was a baby to see if Evan can wear it this year.

In a heavy saucepot, mix

• 1 can of nonfat sweetened condensed milk

with

• 2-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 blocks of Baker's unsweetened chocolate, chopped up (should be around 1/2 cup)

Melt over low heat. When milk and chocolate are totally blended together, turn off heat and add

• 1-1/2 teaspoon of Pear William (Kirschwasser might work as well)

• 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries (not maraschino)

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Spread mix in a wax-paper lined 9-inch pan. Put in refrigerator for an hour, until set, then slice into small squares.

This makes an insane amount of fudge for a small household. However, fudge freezes well in freezer bags, and each piece defrosts in around 2 minutes. Little bit of trivia: the original purpose of all those little tins of condensed milk was to help provide safe milk for troops during the Civil War. (Elsie becomes the best known spokes cow in 1960.)

The original recipe is here on the www.eaglebrand.com site. None of this is safe for people who can't have sugar, alas. Any people with diabetes are outta luck when it comes to fudge, it seems. The milk being fat free may help a little, but remember there's all that chocolate in it too. If anyone out there still plays bridge, this might be a good dessert to bring along for the sideboard (or piano bench in my childhood home) near the card tables. That way you get a taste without ALL of it going to your waist.

I wonder what kind of candy would be given out if hoellege age chicks went around trick or treating? Wouldn't that be a sight to see. I bet you would see a whole lot more dads walking around keeping their tykes safe from marauders and child snatchers inappropriate? maybe. Care? definitely not. Hmm, then there runs the chance of the mothers and wives, mobilizing in some sort of anti-hoelloween version of M.A.D.D. , taking offense to all the fathers, and partners, going out ogling all the candy porn out there. If your wondering where this is going, i'll let you know, it's going right here, just wanted to say candy porn to lead into the fact that I fraquing loooooove candy corn. Sugar, corn syrup, and water and cooked them into a slurry; Fondant added for texture; marshmallows providing the soft bite. then all the different sizes, shapes and colours*. What's not to like. As much as I loooove it I hardly ever eat it at any time besides around halloween, I am pretty sure it is available at all times, I am considering stockpiling some corn of candy this season. Speaking of stockpiling, remember the people that used to leave a bucket of candy at the door with a note saying you should take one since they were either not there, not allowed by law to talk to kids (yes I went there again and I still don't care) or the third option that they could not be bothered to pretend to like your cheap ass costume but were still enough of a Lemming to feel they would not be doing their part in society without spreading the candy joy? Remember how you would sprint up to the bowl, excited that you would have a half time preview of the nd of the night goodness that is digging through a bunch of candy for what you like best, instead of the coin flip** that a knock on the door and a hand full of candy was? Remember finding the bowl, empty because some douche kid had taken them all? That kid was me, I got there and found shit candy (Tootsie Rolls) and instead of fleeing in terror as i believe all people should from the horror that is Tootsie roll, I took all the bowls contents in order to assuage my anger, disgust and disappointment by pelting costumed children, like you, with them. I kid I kid, you I did not live by you, I did not take the candy, but who wouldn't stoopid absentee adults, pedophiles*** and passive participators, "just take one," Ha! being hopped up on sugar and dressed as little demons will all of a sudden make kids and young teens start caring about each other.

I Intended to give some more recipes on how to make candy and talk more about its many virtues and dark hidden evils and untruths, but I tire of this. Halloween is 25 days away, on to costume ideas.

• Since Hoelloween is going nowhere, why not organize a candy porn party, pretty much just your regular college age Halloween fare + Candy.
• Ladies, I use the term loosely, if you must Hoelloween (punny haha loose, hoes? get it...) it up instead of going as one of the cliche go toes, like sexy nurse, why not go as a Foxxy Love (costume) from Drawn Together. If you have not seen the show do yourself a favor, go find it watch it, bring friends. If you would like to challenge yourself this Halloween, you could try and hoe up Strawberry Sweetcake or to be different without having to think too much of how to wear less, gender bend as Xandir (costume).
• Costumes for everyone: Candy! M & M's are always good, but you can try different takes on them. as a group you can go as 3 musketeers and be both the french and candy. Or one person the two people be the letter m and one an ampersand, you could make huge hands and spread butter on them for Butterfinger, Carry a baby while wearing a shirt that says my name is Ruth for Babe Ruth (I know he's a baseball player and has a shirt but make your own) . You could just make fun of people and snicker at them for Snickers and if you are or can find a girl named Katherine, Kathleen, Katarina, Katrina, Kathryn, Kathy and variations all you will need is a black 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am or a  a 2008 Ford Mustang  Shelby GT500 KR , and you've got a Kit Kat .Since your shortening the female name to get Kat you can drop the Thousand to get kit, and if anyone asks tell them to give you a break...that was candy corny, wow I do not like where this is going must stop here are pictures of candy costumes

• *See how I spelled colours there? I remember coming to the states from Kenya, where which the country formerly one of the colonies of the United Kingdom , I had learnt my English. I was rather dismayed to find that they did not use the letter 'U' in their spelling. I remember thinking, "What's wrong with you, what did U do?" or was it "What's wrong with U, what did you do?!" It was none, I was not that punny as a sixth grader, but I am bringing the U back. I do not mean "the U," I cannot bring that back, remember how dominant they used to be?
• **ever need to flip a coin when online? I have and after you bookmark this link I am sure you will find reasons to flip a coin or two online, just like if you'd find reasons to use a huge well financed and trained army if you had one, because you know that's what it's there for.
• ***I referenced the  a taboo subject 3 times, without any remorse. Your allowed to hate me know, since I don't care about you anyway. Kidding, unless its you Kali...so not my favorite.

• here is a treat for you curious enought o check what was down here

Knight rider clips, luved it but not as much as candy corn

new car has yet to prove itself but here this guy

Never fail, the first trick-or-treaters arrive while we're still eating dinner. Our dogs bark wildly and have to be herded into the den.  They're convinced each time the doorbell rings, it's just the mailman wearing a different disguise.  But our pig, Maisie, springs to her feet (okay, technically they're hooves) and actually trots over to the front door.  She's been waiting for this night all year.  For Maisie, Halloween is tantamount to a walk down the red carpet on Oscar night.  The pig paparazzi - dads with video cameras -  vie for the best angle to capture a shot of their little princess/Transformer with a REAL pig.  

Did I mention that this real pig is wearing an orange witch's hat with a purple moon and stars on it?  Yes, I've become one of THOSE people.  People who dress their pets in costumes.  The minute I strap on her hat, Maisie knows it's show time.  This will be her 12th year greeting trick-or-treaters.

You should know that our neighborhood is a throw back to times gone by, so come Halloween, busloads of extended families arrive from the Other Side of the freeway (aka barrio).  Three generations holding outstretched pillow cases.  There is always an adult who holds one out while motioning that it's for the baby, who's all of two weeks old.  Yeah, right.  

The first year, we had over 300 trick-or-treaters descend on our house. They chewed through the candy like a swarm of locusts in a field of spring corn. Since then, I've beefed up the inventory and I've developed a smooth slight of hand move so I can drop a lone jawbreaker into a plastic pail in such a way, that they actually think I gave them an entire handful of candy!   

The first Halloween we had Maisie, she stood out on the front porch "in costume." People walking by would suddenly stop. "What IS that?" they'd ask. We enjoyed telling people it was a dog in a pig costume.  "Good costume, huh?" we'd say, relishing their confused reaction.  They'd edge closer. " Holy sh*t!"  

For 12 years people have returned each Halloween asking, "Is this the house with the pig?"  Maisie's got the routine down.  All I have to do is say, "Trick or Treat!" and she ambles (when you're as big as Maisie, ambling is your peak speed) out onto the front porch, makes a very wide U-turn, plops down, and then opens her mouth.  She looks like those oh-so-cute dolphins waiting to be rewarded with a fish.  Maisie, though, is happy to feast on miniature Tootsie-Rolls or Now and Laters, paper and all.  She hasn't met a candy yet that she doesn't love.  Halloween means lots of photo ops and photo ops mean lots of treats.   Pigs are smart - diabolically so - and this pig knows how to work a crowd.

One year it was growing late and it was obvious the trick-or-treaters had moved two blocks south to where the houses are bigger and people pass out full-sized brand name candy. Maisie had called it a night and retired to the den.  

The doorbell rang and I was tempted not to answer, but I looked outside and saw a father and his little boy. I opened the door.  "My little boy really just wanted to see the pig," the father explained.  When I told them Maisie was asleep, they both looked heartbroken.  Sucker that I am,  I offered to usher the little boy back to the den so, he could take a quick peek at the pig. His father nodded approvingly. 

But when I opened the den door, there was our fox terrier, Wily, wildly humping Maisie, who was laying sound asleep with big grin on her face.  The little boy's eyes grew large as I mumbled something about them "playing." I grabbed the boy's hand and took him back to his father.  "Did you see the pig?" his dad asked.  I didn't wait for the kid to answer.  I dumped all the remaining candy in his bucket and cheerily waved them off.   "Happy Halloween!"  Once they'd stepped off the front porch, I quickly locked the front door and turned off all the lights.  Only then did I burst out laughing.  Geez!  

Last weekend, I lugged down the box of Halloween decorations and unpacked the plug-in foam jack-o-lantern that we set next to the front door. Maisie's ears twitched and she stuck her nose into the air and snorted.  She knows it won't be long now.  Halloween is in the air.  She can almost smell the Tootsie Rolls.  

.

+Today was also the day I started my new job. I think it will be a good job. I like the people that I will be working with, a lot, and the work seems like it will be fairly easy once I catch on.

-I have school tomorrow and feel like I haven't done any school work in forever. I really have to get started on my Death and Dying paper which is due in four weeks. And my immigration paper. Ahhhhh!

+I weighed myself at John's tonight and lost eight pounds since starting my anti-paralyzed-stomach pills. YAY!

+Ohhh! And almost four weeks after the keying of John's mustang, Misty is finally home and looking brand new! Just in time for his birthday =)

I kind of fell into the job, when the new principal at my kids' school talked to me about needing a Communications Director and I said, gee, that's exactly what I used to do at my old job and gave her a few suggestions and suddenly it was like, when can you start?

To be truthful, it's only contract for now to get them going and see if I can handle it, and they will go through a proper search. But for now, I'm working on getting the newsletter and web page, etc., up and going. And getting paid. Just like that. Huh.

--------------------------------------

Organizing a bat mitzvah with a 12-year-old girl is a little bit like organizing a wedding and trying to get along with your MIL-to-be. They want everything to be just right and just like everyone else does it and why are you trying to be difficult and interject some originality into it? Neither, it seems, are much into originality.

Now, I get along with my MIL very well, so what I am about to say probably isn't true for everyone, but for me, trying to find common ground with a 12-year-old-girl has been more difficult than doing the same with the MIL. That kid is rigid.

I'm beginning to the see reasoning behind only having this for boys, because I cannot imagine fighting with a boy over invitations as much as I have fought with Maya. Too bad there isn't the bat mitzvah version of eloping. She could run off and have a quickie bat mitzvah in Vegas, and when she comes back we could give her a thousand bucks to start her adult life off right. I guess that's kind of missing the point, huh?

I look forward to hearing from you!

Copyright Marilyn Moll.  Reprinted with permission.  All rights reserved. http://www.urbranhomemaker.com

For many of us, planning Christmas festivities such as shopping, cooking, baking, gift making, and hospitality can automatically cause a great degree of anxiety. We, at The Urban Homemaker, don't advocate complicated or expensive holiday celebrations, and wish to encourage your family to focus on the true meaning of the holiday season. To do so while making preparations for the upcoming holidays, this twelve-week simplified timetable could be used as a checklist and is designed to be flexible in order to assist you.

Remember, the timetable is merely a suggestion; rearrange, add, or delete activites from the schedule to meet the needs of your family.

Week #1 - "List Week" - Oct 5-11

Make your lists of gift recipients, Christmas cards, menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, goodies to share or to give, favorite meals to prepare ahead, decorations needed, and gifts to make.

Week #2 - "Browse Week" - Oct 12-18

Develop and record ideas for gifts and decorations. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What would our ideal Christmas be like?
• What activities are particularly important to our family at Christmas?
• How much emphasis do our Christmas activities place on the spiritual side of Christmas?

After inventorying supplies on hand, purchase non-perishables needed for holiday baking, supplies needed for gift making, film, batteries, gift wrapping, and Christmas cards as needed.

Week #4 - "Baking Week" - Oct 26-Nov

Set aside the time needed to complete holiday goodie making. Make lists of toys, books, and clothes that children would enjoy and keep the list handy for telling family members who ask what they would like.

Week #5 - "Gift Making" Week - Nov 2-8

Focus your energies on completing gifts to be made, setting aside gifts that aren't coming together, and writing a Christmas letter. Find family photos suitable for inclusion with Christmas cards.

Week #6 - "Shopping Week #1" - Nov 9-15

Decorate your home for Thanksgiving and focus on gift buying for prepared list. Wrap and label packages as you go. Set aside needed shipping boxes.

Week #7 - "Shopping Week #2" - Nov 16-22

Complete as much shopping as possible. Take advantage of many items that are on sale before Thanksgiving! Check Thanksgiving menus and grocery list: purchase any additional, needed supplies.

Week #8 - "Thanksgiving Week" - Nov 23-29

Use this week to prepare Thanksgiving dishes, pies, homemade rolls: enjoy the holiday with your family.

Week #9 - "Mailing Week" - Nov 30-Dec 6

Complete package wrapping for gifts to be shipped. Complete addressing and mailing of Christmas correspondence.

Week #10 - "Meal Making and Decorating Week" - Dec 7-13

Prepare some favorite meals and other baked goods for the hectic days ahead. Decorate. Involve children in memory making!

Week #11 - "Final Shopping/Wrapping Week" - Dec 14-20

Complete last minute details and enjoy holiday parties, concerts, and family activities.

Week #12 - Dec 21-27 - "Celebrate!"

Enjoy the Holidays with Family and Friends!

Take time to drive the neighborhoods to enjoy holiday lighting displays. Enjoy family traditions and special meals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Marilyn Moll is the founder of The Urban Homemaker, a family run business dedicated to teaching and promoting “old fashioned skills for contemporary people”. They offer back-to-basics products for physical and spiritual family health. Visit Marilyn and her family online at:  http://urbanhomemaker.com

I am so sorry that I haven't posted this on Friday. I have a lot of things to do on the weekends and school is tough, so please, I hope you guys understand.

October Catalog Cheats:

1. Click on the Jack-O-Lantern to get the Red Viking Helmet.

2. To get the Blue Viking Helmet, open and close that 4 more times.

How to get the Gold Viking Helmet:

3. Keep the Blue Viking Helmet box on the catalog and don't close it. Click on the Yellow Puffle to get the Gold Viking Helmet.

(Click to enlarge if needed)

Behold, the Gold Viking Helmet! :cool:

4. Click the torch above the Ghost Costume to get the Black Superhero Mask.

5. Click on the Lighthouse on the 6th page for the Black Scuba Mask.

6. Click on the Pink Flipper on the shoe rack to get the Mixed Bracelets.

7. Click the blue penguin wearing the Spikester Cuff's right fist to get the Jade Necklace.

There are 4 new backgrounds for Nonmembers. Only of of them is new and the other 3 are just repeats.

Don't forget that Club Penguin's 3rd Anniversary is coming up in 2 weeks!

See Ya!

-Vietpride28 :cool:

Gulf Girl notes: More information, especially on bands and clubs, coming soon!

Collier County

• Halloween Happenings Family Fun Fest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Collection at Vanderbilt shopping plaza in North Naples. Featuring a pumpkin patch, free entertainment activities, including bounce house, spooky slides, a petting zoo, and train and fire truck rides. Safe trick or treating will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a children's costume contest from 2 to 3 p.m., and a best-dressed pet contest from 3 to 4 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Children's Museum of Naples.
• Pumpkin sales begin Sunday, Oct. 12 at two local churches. Pumpkins are for sale at the Naples United Methodist Church (6000 Goodlette Road in North Naples) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and at the Estero United Methodist Church (8008 Lord's Way in Estero) from 9 a.m. to dark Saturdays and Sundays until Halloween, and from 2 p.m. to dark weekdays. Proceeds from pumpkin sales benefit each church's programs.
• Family Halloween Ball will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at Vineyards Community Park (6231 Arbor Blvd.) in North Naples. Attend in costume and dance the night away. $15 per family.
• Halloween Happening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at East Naples Community Park (3500 Thomasson Dr.). There will be a fun rock wall, fortune teller, hay ride, face painting and bounce house. Costume contests begin at 11:30 a.m. $2; all ages.
• Ghost and Goblin Costume Party from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Veterans Community Park (1895 Veterans Park Dr.) in North Naples. Halloween fun for kids with costume competitions, pizza, games, prizes and scary surprises. $10; ages 4 to 7.
• Something for the adults, then: 'Crawl in to Fall' Pub Crawl from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at various watering holes around Old Naples. Crawlers travel by trolley and receive free food and drinks en route, as well as goodies; proceeds from the event benefit Collier Spay Neuter Clinic. $99; ages 21+, obviously.
• Oktoberfest from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19 at Erin's Isle restaurant (Collier Boulevard). Special menu includes traditional German delicacies. Free; all ages.
• 'Ghoulish Comedy Magic and Frightful Illusions,' a magic show by master illusionist Gary Goodman, will premiere at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Norris Community Center in Naples. Gary and his assistant will perform magic and illusions to spooky music and special effects. Volunteers from the audience will be invited to help. $15 to $20; ages 4+
• Another Oktoberfest, this one from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Village on Venetian Bay. German-style fun, plus pumpkin-painting, juggling, a balloon artist and more. Free; all ages.
• Messiah Lutheran Church Harvest Festival from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Golden Gate. There will be carnival games and old-fashioned square dancing as well as a dinner of pulled pork sandwiches and roasted corn. Benefits church youth attendance at the LCMS National Convention. Free to $8; all ages.
• Halloweeny Pajama Jams from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 at Max Hasse Community Park (3390 Golden Gate Blvd W.) in Golden Gate. Kids enjoy pizza and Halloween crafts. $10; ages 4 to 6.
• 'Bump in the Night' Halloween Event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples. Learn about the 'ghost owl,' as well as some of the Conservancy's other spooky critters. Ghost stories around a campfire, too. $12 and $15; all ages.
• Middle School Halloween Dance from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 at Veterans Community Park (1895 Veterans Park Drive) in North Naples. Middle school students wear costumes and dance the night away. $10; 6th to 8th graders.
• Ghoulish Gathering of the Hello Stiletto Shoe Club, a social networking club for fashionable women, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 at Ooh Ooh Shoes (350 12th Ave. S.) in Naples. In the spirit of the season, wear your scariest stilettos and mask. Enjoy martinis and hors d' oeuvres, shop for shoes, and enter to win prizes from Beverly Feldman and Sergio Zelcer. Proceeds benefit the Naples Shelter for Abused Women & Children. Not a member of this club? Quite OK: Register here before attending. It's free.
• Costume Contest and Party with SpongeBob from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Dinosaur Playground in Naples. Prizes and a chance to meet SpongeBob. $5 to $12; all ages.
• Strut Your Mutt Pet Costume Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Germain BMW of Naples. Hosted by The Humane Society of Naples, with pet costume contests, prizes and vendors. $10; all ages.
• Boo at the Zoo 2008 from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Naples Zoo. Trick-or-treat in the zoo, join costume contests and watch the zoo's critters 'carve' pumpkins with their teeth and claws. Scary! Free; all ages.
• Pumpkin Fest at noon on Saturday, Oct. 25 at St. Monica's Episcopal Church (7070 Immokalee Road) in North Naples. Magic shows, pony rides, crafts, games and more. Free; all ages. The church is also holding a pumpkin patch fundraiser event all this month; hours vary.
• Halloween Spooktacular from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Borders bookstore in North Naples. With costume contest and storytime. Free; all ages.
• Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Mackle Park on Marco Island. Halloween games, food, crafts and fun. A costume contest will be held for attendees 11 and under at 6:30 p.m. All are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween best. Free; all ages.
• Outdoor Family Movie Night from 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Cambier Park in Naples. The film wasn't listed, so Gulf Girl called the Norris Center to find out which chilling pre-Halloween pick it would be -- and prepare yourself: It's The Astronaut Farmer. Let the terror begin! Free; all ages.
• Humane Society Dog Halloween Costume Contest from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Cambier Park in Naples. Show off your pup's creative costume, plus contests, prizes and a parade down Fifth Avenue South. Free; all ages.
• More Oktoberfest, this one from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 at The Esplanade on Marco Island. Eat German delicacies and drink beer while listening to polka. Benefiting the Marco Island YMCA. $5, and children under 12 are free; all ages.
• East Naples United Methodist Church Fall Festival from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 at East Naples United Methodist Church (2701 Airport-Pulling Road S.). Games, crafts, face painting, bounce house, hay ride and pumpkin decorating. $5 per child; all ages. The church is also holding a pumpkin patch fundraiser event this month; hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
• Halloween Howl & Costume Contest from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the Golden Gate Community Center (4701 Golden Gate Pkwy) in Golden Gate. Holiday-themed games, children's activities and treats; different times for costume contests, depending on age. $2 per child, adults free; ages 1+.

And on Halloween:

• Baby Booooooo from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at North Collier Regional Park (15000 Livingston Road) in North Naples. Tiny ghosts and goblins are invited to attend this Halloween party and partake in candy corn relay races, pin-the-tail-on-the-cat games, candy giveaways and more. Free; 3+.
• Halloween Spooktacular from 6 to 10 p.m. at Fleischmann Park (1600 Fleischmann Blvd.) in Naples. Don your costume and play games, trick or treat, visit the bounce house, take a hay ride, check out the activity stations, eat some candy. $5; 1+.
• Halloween Costume Party on Fifth Avenue from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Naples' Fifth Avenue district. With live music, costume and pumpkin carving contests. Free; 21+
• Halloween Trunk or Treat from 6:30 to 8:30 at Max Hasse Community Park in Golden Gate. Pull up in the parking lot and in a safe, monitored environment go car to car and stock up on candy. Free; all ages.
• Golf Pros and Tennis Hos costume party from 8 p.m. to close at Captain Brien's Off the Hook Comedy Club on Marco Island. Costume contest includes $250 for the best-dressed man and sexiest-dressed lady; $5 shots, too. Costume means free admission; 21+, obvs.

Lee County

• Mike Greenwell's Family Fun Park on Pine Island presents its 17th annual Haunted Hike. Horror-filled walk through a haunted woods. Perhaps knowing that confusion creates fear, there's some conflicting information about when this creeptastic event actually begins: News-Press says it's Friday, Oct. 10; Greenwell's site says it starts Friday, Oct. 17. Both agree it concludes on Oct. 31. $8, $9 or $10, depending on when you go. ALSO: Greenwell's will host its 17th annual Safe Trick or Treat at the park too, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 30. Full details on the site.
• 'Dracula' begins Friday, Oct. 10 at Cultural Park Theatre in Cape Coral. Bram Stoker's classic, transformed for the stage, will run for seven performances. Tickets are $11 to $16.
• Fort Myers East Rotary Club holds its Annual Pumpkin Patch daily until dusk, from Friday, Oct. 11 to Oct. 31, at at Sun Trust Bank (14490 Palm Beach Blvd.) in Fort Myers. Each Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m., Halloween stories will be read to children. Stroll through the pumpkin patch in search of the Great Pumpkin. (All ages? Free? No idea! This link doesn't say, and Gulf Girl couldn't find a Rotary website to tell her anything. Creepy!)
  
• But it's not a costume! The 2008 Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival returns on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12. Full event schedule here. No worries, Capt. Jack: Gulf Girl is pretty sure there will be rum.
• Halloween Express from 7 to 10 p.m. from Friday, Oct. 17 to Friday, Oct. 31 at Lakes Regional Park (7330 Gladiolus Dr.) in Fort Myers. Enjoy a seasonal ride through the train village, but watch out for ghouls and ghosts. $2 for 1 to 5 years; $5 for 6 and older. Contact the train village for more information during daytime hours, 239-267-1905. Infants and pregnant woman not allowed.
• Friendly Forest Trick-or-Treating from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Fort Myers. Little guys will have an easygoing trick-or-treating experience at Calusa: There's face painting, pony rides, crafts, a magician, more. $5 to $8; ages 3+. Also offered Oct. 19, 25 and 26.
• Pet Halloween Costume Contest from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 at Petco at Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers. Free, all ages.
• Zombicon '08 begins Friday, Oct. 24 in Fort Myers. Events throughout the weekend, include Friday night's kickoff event, Premature Burial from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers. Saturday, Oct. 25 events include an acting workshop presented by the Florida Rep on 'How to Walk Like a Zombie,' roller derby and the announcement of the winners of the juried show 'Dark Art,' which is currently being held at Patio de Leon art gallery Space 39.
• Cooking Class: Halloween Treats from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 at Robb & Stucky Culinary Center in Bonita Springs. $45; all ages.
• Skate Fright Night at Eagle Skate Park in Cape Coral. Costume contest, DJ and candy. $5. (Time? News-Press says 7 to 10 p.m.; skate park site says 4:30 to 5 p.m. Mysterious!)
• 'Day of the Dead' Story, Poems and Crafts at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Cape Coral-Lee Public Library in Cape Coral. Special story and poems in honor of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead, the holiday of celebration and remembrance of loved ones. Free.
• Kids Halloween Costume Contest and Trick-or-Treating from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 at Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park. Free; all ages.
  

And on Halloween:

• Mall-O-Ween from 5 to 9 p.m. at Miromar Outlets in Estero. Bring the little ones out for trick-or-treating. Free; all ages.
• Halloween in the Park from 6 to 8 p.m. at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. In an effort to promote safer trick-or-treating, event volunteers will hand out candy to kids who attend this public event. Free; all ages.
• Wine Dinner Series: Haunted and Mysterious Labels from 7 to 9 p.m. at Robb & Stucky Culinary Center in Bonita Springs. Frank Pulice of Austin’s features wines that relate to the Halloween theme, while Chef Kristina presents a five-course tasting dinner. Guests are encouraged to attend in costume. $95; 21+
• Hallo-Walk-In-The-Park from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Schandler Hall (419 Florence Ave.) in Fort Myers. A safe, treat-filled walk in the park for families. Kids in costumes will receive candy and prizes. (Free? All ages? Again, apologies.)
• Spooktacular 2008. There doesn't even appear to be an official website, and the downtown Fort Myers website leaves it off its event calendar entirely, making this either one of the most poorly-hyped events in Gulf Girl's recent memory or a big secret she wasn't supposed to share. But here's what she knows, courtesy of a flier she grabbed over the weekend and a September News-Press story: Official hours are 7 to 11 p.m., and it's in the streets of the Fort Myers River District. Includes a concert by Juliette and the Licks at 8 p.m. (that's actress Juliette Lewis' band); harrowing horse and carriage rides; 'scare zones;' a haunted historical walking tour; a 'gruesome graveyard;' and communications from beyond psychic pavillion.

Related: 2008 Florida Halloween Events.

Gulf Girl has tried to assemble a full and correct list of Halloween information, but encourages you to double-check before going. She will add more events as they become available. You're also welcome to post your own if there's something she's overlooked.

Happy Halloweening!