Carving Party !!!!

Last night I attended (and participated in)
Dan Shapiro's 29th Annual Pumpkin Carving
Party.  For several years I have heard rumors
and stories about this legendary event.

It was already quite dark (at 6 p.m.) when I
arrived at Dan's home,  "Termite Manor"
(as Dan calls it).
There were already several carved pumpkins
glowing under the monstrous oak tree on his 
front lawn.  I was greeted at the front gate by 
a "cave-like" canopy that extended to the
front door.........which looked like the entrance
to Herman Munster's........with the added 
attraction of Dan's 508 lb. pumpkin  (his
personal best).
As I entered the front door, bagpipe music
was playing.....(yes, it was bagpipes......I don't
know what bagpipe music has to do with
Halloween, but it seemed appropriate at
the time).
When I entered Dan's livingroom I could hardly
believe my eyes.......in the center of the room
was a "mountain of pumpkins" that was
15 or 20 feet wide and 2 or 3 feet high.  There
were fat pumpkins, flat pumpkins, round pumpkins, ugly pumpkins and tall
pumpkins.
There were big pumpkins and small pumpkins.
There were orange ones, yellow ones and
white ones. Pumpkins, pumpkins,  everywhere !
There were about a dozen people (young and old) climbing over the
pumpkins trying to find
the perfect one to carve.
Soon I was also climbing this "tower of cucurbits".......I found a nice
tall orange one
.....about 95"ott......(23 lbs. on the chart but
it felt like it weighed heavy when it landed on 
top of me when I slipped and fell off the
pumpkin heap).
As I sat amongst these gourds whittling away
with my trusty little pocket knife I couldn't help
but notice that carver on my right was using
an electric drill, an industrial strength model,
with attachments that would make my dentist
envious.
To my left was a maniac using a jig saw.
I still haven't figured out why he was wearing
surgical gloves !
If you are thinking that this must be messy 
inside the house.......you are correct....it is.
As protection Dan removes the furniture and
covers the living room, hall and back room
(yes, they are carving back there too)  with
plastic......which he also runs 2 feet up the wall.

The highlight of the evening came at 8 p.m.
when Dan cut open his 508 pounder with 
a "saws-all"..........when he cut the top off
all the small kids dove inside for the seeds.
It was quite exciting........boy did those kids
get messed up with pumpkin goop.

All the carved pumpkins were put out front
under the big old oak tree and lit up. There
must have been 60 or 70 of them. There
were also witches' brew pots among the
pumpkins that were "steaming" with dry ice
in water.  The visual effect was amazing.

Next year when I go back I'm leaving my
pocket knife at home......I'm bringing a
chain saw with me !!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL !!!!!
George Webster
Napa, Ca

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