For those of you not familiar with the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest it ask contestants to compose a bad opening to a story involving "it was a dark and stormy night." As always I forgot to submit my entry since I don't think about it until around Halloween. I've always found it a little odd that the deadline is April 15th. Since I don't have an official entry to show you I offer you this short story that begins with this oh so trite phrase instead. Click on through to read this horrifying (as in bad) story.

A year ago I made a post explaining why I put up such a big Halloween display each year. I explained that I am not a Satanist, that it does take considerable time to put up my display each year, and that at the end of the day I put up my display because I want to create memories for the neighborhood kids. However, I find that along with other people I am asking myself the question of why I do it. Before I address that I want to talk about the number one question I have been asked this year: What does your wife think about all this?