Turning tricks

Following on Wednesday’s post, I can report that there was a wide spectrum of participation in Halloween costuming yesterday at the office.

In keeping with the Harry Potter theme, a number of people dressed in Hogwarts regalia. A few superheroes—or villains, maybe; I’m afraid I get a little confused. Two Harley Quinns, but no Jokers. Some people just put on a mask or cat or mouse ears and called it quits.

My manager hauled out his dinner jacket. With his stubble and untied black tie, he declared he came as “last night’s bad decisions”.

And I ratted and sprayed my hair (which drove me mad all day), slapped on weird eye makeup and put on some swag from a conference two years ago:

Yes, I was a mad scientist.

Well, there was a costume contest, with folks voting on three categories: best group (six people in ordinary dress but with bad passwords hanging around their necks—like “password1”, “666666” and “admin”), most creative (someone with a metallic mask/helmet jobber; I could not tell you what he was, but he couldn’t drink beer at the happy hour) and blow me if I didn’t win “funniest costume”.

I seriously didn’t think I was in the running, but there was actually a prize:

It’s an Amazon gift card. Unspecified amount, but if it’s enough to cover the cost of the hairspray and ratting comb, I’m happy.

And when I got home yesterday, I washed my hair, used a fistful of conditioner on it and very carefully combed it out.

Boo, y’all.

STOP PRESS: The gift card is for $50. Huh.