Critical Mass, Halloween Edition

Despite our vows not to go back next month because it would be cold and miserable, the last Friday of October rolls around and once again, I find myself at Critical Mass. The reasoning was that it was nearly Halloween, and what could possibly be better than an unruly mob of cyclists? Answer: an unruly mob of cyclists in crazy costumes. Besides, next month would be even more cold and miserable, so we should go this month. (Let's see if this reasoning holds up again in Nov.)

I'd been musing over a few costume ideas (gay Dumbledore, kid from E.T., Elphaba the (not so) Wicked Witch, cross dresser [the story of a frustrated bureau]) but I was having trouble piecing together key ingredients, like a stuffed E.T. doll. After standing in the rapidly emptying costume aisle at Target for a while, I gave up and went back to the drawing board. Then it hit me - I should be an accident victim! This was all the more appropriate for CM because lots of us have actually been hit by cars, including myself (twice).

I took a white t-shirt and was going to drive over it to create tracks. On second thought, I grabbed the spare tire, rolled it through some mud, then rolled it over the shirt. Add some streaks of fake blood, bandages and gauze on the forehead, and a leafy twig sticking out from my ear and voila, I was rocking the disheveled, just-got-run-over look. Note: this is what I wore to work on Friday.

Unfortunately, it was forecasted to pour that night. After a vigorous debate, Ana managed to convince everyone not to wimp out. Besides, she'd bought several packs of face paint and hair spray dye, and we were going to use them, dammit. So it's after 5 on Fri afternoon, and here I am, standing outside a cubicle, painting white circles around Katherine's eyes while Nathan is smearing a wax scar onto my cheek. An hour later, Ana has a scary clown frown, Katherine is Raggedy Ann, and Nate is rocking the David Bowie lightning bolt.

Eventually, we make it to Daley Plaza, which has been transformed with orange fountains and a haunted house. There are zombies on bikes, banjo players (being carted) on bikes, and a girl with a plunger dressed as Luigi passes us. Later that night, we spot a guy dressed as Mario, and excitedly tell him there's someone dressed as Luigi! He says that he talked to her earlier and they were going to meet up afterwards, but now he can't find Luigi in the crowd, and he's looking so if you can help...

Katherine: I'm looking for Raggedy Andy!
Me: Well, I'm looking for a sleazy TV lawyer!
Nate: And I'm looking for Mick Jagger!

At that point, the rain went from romantic sprinkle to cold and miserable pouring, and we left to go dry off. But I have faith that Mario and Luigi found each other somewhere in Coin Heaven.