This get together on Saturday Nov. 1st was my 45th backgammon dinner party since moving here to the Garrison in June of 2004. And this one was just great; too much fun!

I started cooking the Witches Stew Brew (actually, a marvelous thyme based Irish Beef Stew) at 4:00pm with the movie Van Helsing running as background.

Colin was first to arrive, and we chatted as I cooked and sipped some wine. When that movie ended, I put the classic Night of the Living Dead on while the backgammon games raged around. It had been awhile since anyone had seen this movie, so most of the attention was to the tv and not to the movie!

We broke for dinner around 7:15pm, and then at 8:00pm I put the movie of the night on: 30 Days of Night>. Now that's a scary movie...

It only took about 10 minutes of that for Gary to flee, dragging Marissa behind. Brian had another party to go to, and right after our cup cake break, Colin decided that he couldn't take any more, and he left. Things were thinning out fast.

So Scott, Steve, Rick and I bore up under the pressure, and finished the movie, loving every minute of it. That ended about 9:45 and everyone except Steve left and we watched 'Underworld 2' but he was nodding out toward the end and he left so I had to finish it all up on my own...

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The two pumpkins Marissa carved last weekend greet the party guests.

Close up of pumpkin on the left.

Close up of pumpkin on the right.

It's 4:00pm and time to start fixing dinner. Wine is at the ready, but where is the chef?

Colin was not interested in having his picture taken - probably because his costume was an off duty Honda mechanic...

Steve coming as the scariest thing he could think of: the Patriot's Tom Brady with a torn up knee.

The chef stiring our Witche's Stew Brew. What's with the attempt at dressing like a modern day pirate off Africa's eastern coast? The whole costume was supposed to be enhanced by a scruffy beard. But, even after letting it grow for a week and having everyone at work think I was getting deranged, it just never made it. Maybe after I reach puberty, the thing will grow. Maybe for next year's party I'll try it again, but I'll start 3 weeks ahead on this beard growing thing...

Gary and Marissa arrive all decked out and ready to party.

Rick showing off his wolf costume and poor, poor Little Red Riding Hood's cape.

The Van Helsing movie seems to have captured everyone's attention.

Gary and Marissa going at it over the board.

And if you know what Brian has come dressed as then you must be wierd. I never heard of The Adventures of Pete and Pete or this superhero he was dressed up as. We'll take his word that this is a popular and well known character is some circles...

And to prove that some people know who Artie is, here's Brian in the Portsmouth Halloween Parade where he says/claims that many people knew exactly who he was...

Scott arrives in gangster garb, wine and board in hand. He's ready.

Scott wasted no time in challenging the superhero to a game.

The chef popping the pizza into the oven for those who were not interested in my Witche's Stew Brew. How rude...

These guys just kept at it all night. I'm not real sure how the score came out, but there was an awful lot of trash talk going on. This might be the start of a new rivalry.

Even Rick could't believe these two never came up for air.

Now everyone gets distracted by the Night of the Living Dead movie. Focus, guys. Focus...

After I took this shot, I stepped up and Rick and I battled out a set. He's up on me after locking me on the bar and running all his checkers saftely past me after he cleared his 6 point and - yeah, guess what I threw from the bar...

Rick's wolf costume feet. Great stuff!

A darkened room sets the tone for those strong enough to weather through the 30 Days of Night movie...