In years past I've turned our 2-car garage into a haunt. This year, however, we celebrated our 30th anniversary this month with a Mass and large catered party at a local restaurant on the 9th. We then immediately went on a week-long vacation to New England. Add a trip to Cape May, NJ for a Halloween-themed week-end, and to New York to see the Addams Family on Broadway, and I'm left with no time to put into the haunt. Solution? On the Friday before Halloween I committed to a friend to set up for "Trunk or Treat" at his church. It turned out well (It was actually a very fun party - Trunk or Treat, Haunted Trail in te woods, costume contest and games for the kids in the parish hall), and my set up actually won 1st prize for the vehicle displays. Sunday we had tickets to see "Bat Boy, the Musical" at 3 p.m. So I took advantage of what I had already, and set up the van in the drive, with the addition of music, "real" strobes and lights. The response I got, even from the "regulars" (those that come to see my display every year) was suprisingly positive. Some folks actually commented on how different it was from previous years - the van really did look like a hearse from the rear. All in all a good experience.