Halloween: Pumpking Carving and Merriment

A special edition to celebrate Halloween.

Even if it is a few minutes from ending (and I never celebrate Halloween, ha), I want to share some light-hearted fun about the holiday. When I first came to the US, I learnt that the 31st of October is most famously known as the holiday where one can dress up like a slut…get away with it. Great. I had always come to know Halloween for its witches, ghouls and trick-or-treating tradition. So I didn’t expect that social commentary. But since then, I’ve discovered that partying isn’t the only feature celebrated today. In fact, pumpkins are one of the best kept secrets (from the rest of the world) about Halloween and its Jack-o-Lantern. Since I’m busy grinding my nose in books this year, I’m spending it quietly and wholesomely at home and at the office (no partying for me).

So this is what I did on Halloween 2011.

I started a new job and as part my personal growth and life-enhancing duties, I got to help with pumpkin carving. This is an annual competition in its 5th year – and the stakes are high. As with any competition carrying real and heavy consequences such as gloating privileges and well-justified up-turned noses, we took this task with seriousness and made magnificent orange sculptures.

Most importantly, it was so much fun!!

So here are my top 3 favourite creations. Guess which one won first place?

Candidate 1

Candidate 2

Candidate 3

Awesome right?

And despite my sarcasm imbued post, I really do love my new job. It’s so much fun. And I get to learn a lot of important things – pumpkin sculpting, among many other skills. And I mean that sincerely.

So what did you do for Halloween? 

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Hidden Oasis: Foothills Park

The weather in South Bay was gorgeous this week. Unfortunately, last week it rained most of the week. Too bad for my Dad who was visiting me. We weren’t able to do much with wet weather, except shopping and indoor activities. It gave me a good chance to cook some delicious food for him (I may post those pictures in my next post, depending on if I have any new material to post about). But this week, in comparison, the sun was out and the temperature had risen significantly.

To celebrate, I’m posting photos of a short afternoon in Foothills Park, in the heart of the Palo Alto mountains.

The Palo Alto mountains are not really mountains – they’re not high or steep enough. But they’re bigger than hills and have a couple of tracks that are a few miles long (I believe the longest is 14 miles); so it’s a substantial amount of space and nature to spend a day.

The mountains and I are not well acquainted. I have only seen them on the rare occasion and usually from afar when I’m taking the I-280 to San Francisco because the 101N is a nightmare during rush hour.

And let me tell you, I was not disappointed at all. There was a cute little artificial pond in the middle of the park. Many young children playing in the water in rubber rings and kayaks. There were a good many boys fishing too – but I doubt there are any fish in that shallow, grassy ditch filled with murky water.

Nevertheless, the view was beautiful and still. A delicious piece of tranquility on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

And speaking of delicious, there were some ducks. Not that I would have eaten them from the pond. They would be too smelly!

Hello! That’s my friend and me. I went to the park with her family and her husband took a beautiful photo of us.

In fact, I have to credit him and his son L for taking a few of these photos. Here they are, enjoying the view.

We really had a nice day. The next time I’m here, I really hope it’s for a nice picnic. Keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will stay hot and sunny.