Can't let Halloween pass without having a backgammon dinner party, The Great 2009 Halloween Backgammon Tournament And Midnight Bean Tremors Brew.

I was a little at a loss to come up with an idea for the 'Midnight Bean Tremors Brew', but for some reason I stumbled on this recipe for 'Vegetarian Bayou Gumbo', and I thought, why not give that a try?

For the Cajun spice mix I used 'Emeril's Essence Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast), but I felt it came out a little bland for what I had been expecting. Others thought it was great, but the back up pizza was necessary. And talk about a sore hip: man, was I a hurtin' unit after over 3 hours of prep work and constant stirring of the pots of gumbo, roux, and Basmati brown rice. I did manage to get a couple of games of backgammon in with Brian (say, Brian, did I mention that I'm 6 up on you?), but the kitchen called.

I didn't even get to really watch any of the movies that I ran all during the day, the last couple of which I had seen before: Van Helsing and Halloween. But the Halloween was not the original with Jamie Lee Curtis and was not good. Oh well...

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Marissa and Courtney Saturday morning carving up the pumpkins for the doorstoop for the party.

A late afternoon shot of the doorway. We're ready to par-tay!

Tim arrives ready to get down with it.

This is my sad excuse for a costume: I'm a New York City nerd as evidenced by the 'dead mouse' hanging around my neck. Sorry... but that's the best I can do. And yes, the shirt says what you think it says. In my defense, given to me by my daughter, who should take full responsibility for her dotting father but refuses to under these types of displays of senility. Again in my defense, I've never been much for costumes. I encourage others who are far better at such things to dress in part. All I can do is make my feeble attempt and do the cooking - which is exactly what I'm doing here.

Gary, Marissa, and Courtney arrive in costume and ready to play some backgammon.

Tim and Brian get down to it.

Marissa and Gary can't decide whether to keep the game going or watch Event Horizon, one of the several movies I ran during the course of the day.

Brian in solo contemplative mode waiting for me to get back to our game from taking the stupid picture, with Linda and Tim fighting it out and trying to ignore Brian.

By the time it got dark enough to take a picture of the lit up pumpkings, it was misting and a little sleety out, as you can see from the splatter against the lens. Ah..., Halloween in New England....

Brian waits patiently on the side while Linda pretends she's impressed with Tim's scare tactics.

Rick standing over Linda with knife at the ready if she expresses any displeasure at the flowers he gave her for her birthday.

Steve and Katie arrive just in time for dinner and the movie.

Colin and Steve telling lies to each other over how it could have been had they had time to play some backgammon against each other. Sure, guys. Sure....

Eleanne and Michael in full party gear.