Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. A fun filled day at work. Pedro the Guide Dog puppy came to work as a criminal (somewhat fitting, somehow); and L was a Police officer. As we work in a blind center, she was actually a officer of the White Cane Police. We have a policy at the center that all students that are legally blind are to carry a long white cane with them at all times when out of their room. This policy is not always 'honored'. Let's just say many people were 'busted', some several times. Everyone had fun with it, candy was handed out to those with their canes, or to those who had 'reformed'. Many of the staff dressed up, I was a detective with a trench coat, hat, and spy glass, there were cowboys, disco queens, and many others.

After debating for the whole week, Chris and I headed down to SLO for Halloween weekend. Chris's parents had out of town visitors and had arranged a trip to Hearst Castle for one of the evening tours on Halloween night. They had an extra ticket, so I got to go along while Chris stayed home to study and hand out candy to the multitude of trick-or-treaters.

It could not have been a better night for a tour of the grounds and house. The 'Castle' was a Labor of love for mister W.R. Hearst and was invite only destination for the likes of Amelia Earhart and Cary Grant in the 30's and 40's. It is a huge house with 3 guest 'cottages' set amongst extensive gardens on a hill-top on the central coast overlooking the ocean. We arrived on the hilltop at sunset and walked through the grounds, through one of the cottages, and the main house. There were many people that were dressed in period costume, lounging in the salons at cocktail hour, strolling the grounds, and even fixing their make-up in the ladies powder room. The weather was divine, warm breeze up on the hill top, clear skies for sunset and for star gazing, moonlight for the gardens and pathways. It felt like you were almost really back there, during that time, expecting Mr. Hearst to round the corner and challenge you to a game of pool at any moment. I highly recommend the evening tour here if you are ever in the area, it is unbelievable.