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[caption id="attachment_1520" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Halloween 2004"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSCN06042.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1520" title="SI Exif" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSCN06042-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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<p>For those of you who read yesterday's <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/10/28/day-30-jack-o-lantern-disasters/" target="_blank"><strong>Experiments in Jack O'Lanterning</strong></a>, there seems to be a theme here...</p>

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<p>Once upon a time there was a Late Bloomer named Michelle.</p>

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<p>Michelle absolutely positively LOVED Halloween and its traditions.</p>

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<p>One of her favorite traditions was dressing up in costume for Halloween.    For the past few years, Michelle donned her Catholic School Girl costume to Halloween parties.  Michelle is many things, but a shopper she is not.  (Highly unusual female behavior, isn't it?)  If the costume ain't broke, why fix it? </p>

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<p>Then One Halloween, Michelle was writing this Late Bloomer blog about incorporating soul-scintillating challenges into each day for 365 days.  That's a lot of days to fill! </p>

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<p>Since she loved Halloween so much, she wanted her soul-scintillation around Halloween week to center around all things Halloweenie.  So on Day 32 of this 365 challenge, Michelle decided on shopping for a new costume. </p>

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<p>Which is sort of inaccurate.  She had no desire to shop, but her friend, Christy Jo, forced her into it. </p>

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<p>From an actual Christy Jo email:  "You will need a costume.  You can't post blog pics wearing the same costume from last year." </p>

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<p>Now, reader, have you seen Michelle's costume from last year?  And if you happen to be a Facebook "friend" on her personal page, do you REMEMBER her costume from last year???</p>

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<p>Exactly.</p>

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<p>But Christy Jo is always heavy on the peer pressure.  And since she is one of Michelle's favorite peeps, Michelle tends to listen to Christy Jo when she bosses her around. </p>

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<p>So, against her better judgment, Michelle headed on down to the Halloween megastore, Spririt.  She gave herself an hour, which tends to be her maximum shopping capacity. </p>

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<p>Michelle marveled at the swarm of people invading the store.  They looked remarkably similar to the swarm that she witnessed at the MVD a few weeks prior.  (You may refer to this pit of despair as the DMV in your fair state.) </p>

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<p>Michelle was afraid.  Very, very afraid. </p>

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<p>Trying not to gag on the swarm's eau du cigarette smoke, she approached the woman's costume section.  As Michelle rummaged through the various options, she wondered how normal women wear this crap?  I mean, come on!  Michelle is no prude -- her old "standby" is a Catholic school girl costume!  She likes to be fun and flirty like the rest of us!  But she also has class and prefers not to look like a Ho when she is out in public. </p>

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<p>Actual text message to Christy Jo:  "Leaning towards my Catholic school girl standby.  Gross stuff!"</p>

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<p>Actual reply from Christy Jo:  "Wear shorts under."</p>

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<p>"Oh, that's sexy!  I think I'll wear shorts under my skirt like I did in 5th grade", thought Michelle.  </p>

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<p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Exhibit A:<br class="spacer_" /></span></strong></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA2701791.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1522" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA2701791-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

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<p>When Michelle found the Alice costume, she was very excited.  You can't make it out here, but the lettering on her apron says, "Curioser and Curioser".  On the right side of the Diary of a Late Bloomer blog page, please note the "Curioser and Curioser" section! </p>

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<p>This costume turned out to be curioser indeed.  At 5 foot 2 and ¾ inches tall, Michelle was curious as to how the Alice skirt did not cover her bum.  She assumed that the long-legged model on the package was much taller, and <em>her</em> skirt covered <em>her </em>bum!  Curioser and curioser...</p>

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<p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Exhibit B:</span></strong></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA270180.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1523" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA270180-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>

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<p>Tinkerbell!  With coverage!  And then Michelle remembered the Halloween where Katie Ann was a fairy and those bloody wings nearly drove her (and everyone she bumped with them) to the brink of insanity. </p>

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<p><strong>Next! </strong></p>

<p><strong> </strong> </p>

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<p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Exhibit C:</span></strong></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA270181.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1524" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA270181-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

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<p>Michelle has fantasized about being a mermaid for Halloween as long as she can recall.</p>

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<p>"If this is supposed to look like a mermaid, then my name is Ariel," mused Michelle.</p>

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<p><strong>Next! </strong><br class="spacer_" /> </p>

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<p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Exhibit D: </span></strong></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA270182.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1525" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA270182-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

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<p>Men don't costume shopping issues.  They can look like an idiot, get a few laughs, and call it a night. </p>

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<p>For women, shopping for a Halloween costume has evolved into a more stressful shopping experience than shopping for a bathing suit! </p>

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<p>And so our Late Bloomer Michelle ultimately decided on...</p>

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<p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Exhibit E:</span></strong></p>

<p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;"> </span></strong></p>

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Back in 2004, sexy costumes covered your assets. A little mystery is always a good thing, if you ask me."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSCN06042.jpg"><img title="SI Exif" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSCN06042-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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<p>And all was well with the world.</p>

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<p>Because <em>this</em> was the costume that Michelle really wanted to wear in the first place. </p>

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<p>Funny how that works. </p>