Merry Christmas! (Oh, and Happy Halloween!)

For 15 years, In&Out Magazine has been the definitive source of “Everything that’s going on” in and out of the community. We thank you, our readers, as well as the businesses that support the magazine through advertising, for that opportunity. But with little going on, and many businesses suspending or canceling their ads during the Covid-19 crisis, we are suspending publication of the magazine and web sites for the month of May. 


prickett fence

How can you tell it’s almost Halloween? All of the department stores are stocked to the gills with Christmas displays. If that doesn’t shoot you face-first into the “Autumnal Harvest” spirit, than I just don’t know what will. 

I’m happy to say that I’ve been invited to a Halloween party this year and I look forward to scrambling at the last minute to throw together a costume for both me and my wife, just like four years ago when I was also invited to a Halloween party. I don’t get invited to many parties, which surprises me because I find myself so darn entertaining. I guess most folks just don’t have my correct contact information. Yeah… that’s it.

I don’t necessarily like politically themed costumes—I get enough of that mess on the other 364 days. No kitty cats either—way too easy. Although a humongous biker dude in a kitty cat costume is pretty funny. Store-bought outfits don’t work for me either. I always feel like I stole someone else’s idea. 

I’ll probably end up doing something “bloody” this year. Gushing head wounds always crack people up.

I recently got an email asking “if Halloween were to fall on a Sunday, would we trick-or-treat that evening, or would it be some other day.” I’m guessing they meant that since it’s Sunday, which is a “church” day, for some reason the two could not coexist without an apocalypse. The email didn’t explain why they were asking, just that they wanted to know. 

Now, I usually don’t comment on really dumb questions, but… I was in a particularly devilish mood, so I explained: When Halloween falls on a Sunday, all festivities will be celebrated on the previous Tuesday, Oct., 26. Because of this exception, all trick-or-treaters must (not shall, but must) wear a brightly colored elbow patch on their right knee and speak with a Swedish accent. Furthermore, when in church on the following Sunday, all Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups received on the previous Tuesday will be offered up to the poor souls who have no peanut butter cups, and must (again, not shall) deposit the candy in the collection plate

For the record, the next time Halloween falls on a Sunday is 2021. I need to stop reading my emails. Then again, I don’t want to miss a party invite.

Chris Prickett
Former contractor, former home inspector and funny guy, Chris Prickett is owner and designated broker of Prickett Realty. A New Jersey native, Prickett has been a top-producing REALTOR® in North Phoenix over the past decade. He has been a columnist since 2005. Over the Prickett Fence is published weekly by In&Out Publications.

Chris Prickett

Former contractor, former home inspector and funny guy, Chris Prickett is owner and designated broker of Prickett Realty. A New Jersey native, Prickett has been a top-producing REALTOR® in North Phoenix over the past decade. He has been a columnist since 2005. Over the Prickett Fence is published weekly by In&Out Publications.

chrisprickett has 110 posts and counting.See all posts by chrisprickett