Awhile back, I blogged about service in restaurants, and the practice of tipping, even when it may not have been warranted. If you haven't read it, check it out here:The Perfect $5
Saturday introduced a new wrinkle in the tipping game, a little thing I like to call, Multi-party Tipping.
Saturday, Becky and I accompanied a group of 4 other friends to the Grand Victoria Casino. Before we entered the gaming arena, we decided to eat at the fabulous buffet. Twenty bucks a person is a little steep, but oh well, the food was pretty good...maybe not 20 bucks a person good, but still.
It's always been a pet peeve of mine when you have a "large party" of people with separate bills, all parties seem content to leave their own tips for the meal. If each person drops a Lincoln on the waiter, then he scores $15 for that hour on top of his wage. Let's do some math and see if this is really just me being a pain, or if I may be right on this one.
Exhibit 1: NUMBER OF TABLES
The way I see it, we were a party of 6, HOWEVER, we were only there for one hour and I know we were not this guy's only table. As a rule, I like to double the sales tax for the tip (more if the service was good, less if it was not good), so on a $40 bill, 6% sales tax is $2.40...doubled and rounded up, $5. If each each of the three groups leave $5, then he gets $15 for that hour, plus his wage, which, if we assume for the sake of argument it's half the minimum wage (because most waiters work on tips) then he's up to (approximately) $18 an hour. Throw in the 3 other tables he's waiting at $8 per table ($3 wage plus $5 tip per table) and he's making a staggering $42 per hour!!
Do you make that much? I do not.
Exhibit 2: THE SETTING
I will only touch on this because it shouldn't matter that much, however, we were in a buffet, and this guy only had to refill our drinks and take plates away. I should really be a waiter, cause that's not too hard to do for $40 an hour.
Exhibit 3: ONE TABLE, ONE TIP
I figure between the 6 of us, averaging 2 plates per person, you get about 12 plates for the waiter to clear. Well, what if Current World Hot Dog Eating Champion Joey Chestnut, and former Champ Kobyashi sat down together and cleaned, oh 30 plates each a piece? That would be 5 times more dishes than my party consumed, but they would leave the $5, double the tax tip. Is that fair? I believe one table, one tip. Maybe the tip calculation per table would be reflected in the number of plates, the number of visits the waiter made, or something like cost of one meal divided 5 (or something like that.)
The prosecution rests.
Now, defenders of the waiters may fire back with the following.
Exhibit 1 Defense.
If you like to pay double the sales tax, and were paying for the entire party, the bill would have been $120...sales tax on that is $7.20, making double the tax $14.40!! So, leaving $15, technically would have been double the total tax on the table.
Exhibit 2 Defense.
Do you really believe the only thing this guy does is fill drinks and bus your table? (Honestly, I've never worked in food service, how the heck do I know??)
Defense rests.
In my closing argument, I would like to say it's preposterous to think that for an hour clearing my table and filling my drinks, this guy deserves a wage higher than what I make doing my job...ok, my job's easy, so that's not a good argument, but that's a moot point. What I wanted to say is, I believe a simple group tip would have been more appropriate, instead of dropping $15 on this guy for his normal hours work. What about the girl who doesn't get a party of 6 table in her nightly rotation?? She only makes $30 an hour!! And that, my friends, is an injustice...
What do you think? Help me justify my position, or change my ways. Please leave me your verdict. Thank you.
(Please let me know your verdict on the BUFFET restaurant, and if the verdict would change for a regular sit down place...oh, say Outback Steakhouse for example.)
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
False Negative
Popular Science magazines in the '50's would have you believe that by the year 2000, we would have flying cars and people landing on the moon. Well, we didn't quite accomplish those things...what, we did land on the moon?? When did that happen??...anyway, my point is, we did have some other technological advances, namely a little website called Ebay.
Yes, Ebay was around before 2000, but my introduction to the site was slightly after we partied like it was 1999 for the very last time, and in February of 2000, I signed up and made my first purchase (I believe it was a sweet lot of Beatles LP's that I picked up for super cheap.) After that fateful transaction, I became hooked.
I currently buy and sell, and have a relatively modest 561 positive feedbacks from unique users (over 700 feedbacks total). In the nearly 8 years since I began, I have had ZERO negative feedbacks to muddy my reputation, and I have only received one Neutral feedback from this joker that only gave me a Neutral cause I gave him one...but that's a story for another time. Recently, I've been making some fat cash on some Beatles items I had multiple copies of, and everything was going fine...that was until "Canada"* came into the picture.
*name changed to protect the innocent, the guilty, or in this case, the Ass Hat Canadian buyer who gave me Negative feedback...wait, I'm getting ahead of myself...
The item was an original 1960's Beatles Yesterday and Today LP (mono version, if that kinda thing is important to you.) When the dust settled, "Canada" was the high bidder at $9.99 with $12.00 shipping.
I'll do the math for you...total cost 21.99.
He paid via Paypal immediately on the 29th of September. Since the 29th was a Saturday, I waited and shipped his LP out the following week. I went to Ebay and left positive feedback for him, as he fulfilled his part by paying me. All was well in Ebay land until the 17th of October, when I received an email from "Canada" saying the following:
I need to take action with PayPal and eBay I have not received my item . I have not heard from you .
Since this was the first I had heard from him, I thought it was odd he would jump straight to taking action. I searched my "Junk Folder" and discovered that a few days before he sent me another email asking:
Can you tell me when my LP was shipped ? It usually does not take this long .
I quickly shot him an email, explaining that I missed his first email, and I also explained to him when it was shipped, that is went through the USPS (Post Office), and I told him it could take up to 14 days. I said if it wasn't there by the 22nd, to email me back, and we could arrange for a refund of some sorts.
I guess he didn't want to wait. Soon after I sent the email, I received a few emails from Paypal and a company called Square Trade. Paypal's said:
Dear Sir,
"Canada" has opened a dispute for the payment made to you on Sep 29,2007 indicating that they never received the item.
Your Transaction ID:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buyer's Transaction ID:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There are many reasons why this might have happened. It could be that the item is still in transit or was accidentally delivered to the wrong address. Sometimes buyers open a non receipt dispute too soon because they underestimate how long it can take for shipping and delivery. By opening this dispute, "Canada" is asking for your help to resolve this issue. This is your best opportunity to resolve this problem before the buyer escalates it to a PayPal claim or files a chargeback with their card issuer.
Square Trade's email tried to get me to pay them $30 to get the negative feedback erased. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?!? I opened up my Ebay and sure enough, "Canada" left me my first negative feedback in nearly 8 years...it said...
Have not received the item or refund lost my $12.00 shipping also scam!!!!!!
SCAM?!? Why in the world would I risk my entire Ebay reputation to scam this joker out of 20 bucks?? I fired back a reply to his feedback, saying:
560 unique + feedbacks, over 700 total. Why would I scam for $20? Lost in mail?
I then emailed "Canada" and basically asked him what the heck he was trying to pull? After all, I emailed him, told him all the information he wanted AND offered to work with him on a refund and he completely ignores that and files a claim AND tries to slander my name?
This meant war. The refund was officially off the table now. I was going to just give him his 20 back and call it a day, but now, the principle of the matter had taken over. I had done nothing wrong, and I would fight this dispute.
I clicked on Paypal to see that "Canada" had struck first:
I paid in good faith Sept 29/07 and I still have not received my LP or heard of any delay from you . Please give me my refund .Or ship my item and let me know when you have shipped it . After all I paid $12.00 for shipping it should have been here a long time ago .
He quickly fired again, this time cutting a bit deeper:
This seller continues to not communicate I think hes long gone and if not should be investigated and taken off eBay
Ouch!! I did communicate with him, but he wouldn't email me back! I frantically searched for the button on Paypal to log in my side of the story, but a button was not to be found. After 20 minutes, I found a phone number and called Paypal.
The Dispute Resolution guy said that since "Canada" had upgraded the Dispute to a Claim, the lines of communication were effectively closed for "Canada" and I to resolve the matter on our own. I explained to the Paypal guy that I didn't have an opportunity to respond, and he said to just email the resolution department with my side of the story, and it would be noted.
So, I did. I wrote my side, and I wrote it hard. This was my response, and every word is the complete truth...
I recently had a Dispute filed against me which escalated to a claim before I was able to enter any information in my defense. I am concerned I will loose this claim because of this, and I would like to take this opportunity to give my side of the story before my good reputation as an Ebay seller and a Paypal user are any more slandered.
On Sept. 29, an item of mine was purchased by Mr. "Canada". He paid promptly using Paypal. On October 2nd, I left a positive feedback for him, and on Oct 3rd, I shipped his item via USPS (United States Postal Service). As per my norm, I let the positive feedback act as my communication that the payment was received, and therefore, his item would be shipped immediately. Although I didn't mention in that feedback that I was shipping the item, I am a reputable seller who has over 700 positive feedback (from 560 unique buyers/sellers) and have never had a negative feedback against me. With that being said, I also work in "good faith" with my buyers that if I leave you positive feedback, I will be sending your item.
On October 3rd, I shipped the item to his Non-US Verified address in Canada via USPS. The buyer did not request it be shipped via a traceable method, nor did he purchase any kind of insurance protecting him from a lost package. This is unfortunate, because now the package is lost. There is nothing further I can do.
An email was received by me from the buyer which unfortunately went into my "Junk" filter, and I did not respond. Soon after, I received notification that a dispute had been filed. At that time I EMAILED MR. "CANADA" and apologized for not responding. I also gave him exactly when I shipped his item, and an expected time he could expect to receive the package. Instead of communicating with me, he ignored my email and left a negative, scathing feedback on my ebay saying that I had scammed him, and followed that up by posting a slanderous note on the Paypal Resolution Center claiming that I was not communicating with him, I was long gone, and I should be investigated and kicked off ebay.
I have done what I can, and I feel I do not owe Mr. "Canada" a refund due to this unfortunate Postal Service mishap that he neglected to account for. He held up his end by paying, I held up mine by shipping...the post office dropped the ball by losing the package, and without insurance, I'm afraid there is nothing else that can be done.
Please add this to my Resolution Dispute, so that I have a fair shake in this matter.
Thank you
I felt confident that I would win my claim when it came before the Paypal Board of Dispute Resolvers. All I had to do now was wait.
I didn't have to wait long. The next day, I received an email from Paypal saying that they received my version of events, and they passed that information on to Mr. "Canada". Shortly thereafter, I received an email from Paypal:
PayPal has concluded our investigation of the following
Buyer Complaint: Transaction Date: Sep 29, 2007
Transaction Amount: -$21.99 USD
Your Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buyer's Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Case Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Because the buyer has reported that the claim has been amicably resolved,this case has been closed. Thank you for your cooperation with our investigation.
Sincerely, Protection Services Department
I also received an email from Ebay:
"Canada" has filed a request to mutually withdraw feedback for the transaction shown below. eBay allows members to withdraw feedback for a transaction if they both agree it is no longer appropriate.
REDEMPTION!!!
The only reason "Canada" put as to why he withdrew the complaint and feedback??
"Package arrived today, OCT 24...Post Dated Oct 1."
Hmmm, interesting that the package arrived the same day Paypal sent him my rebuttal...a rebuttal that would have effectively killed his case, as I was obviously not in the wrong in any way.
Whatever. The case is closed, I'm updated to 562 positive feedbacks with ZERO negative, and all is once again right in the Ebay World.
Yes, Ebay was around before 2000, but my introduction to the site was slightly after we partied like it was 1999 for the very last time, and in February of 2000, I signed up and made my first purchase (I believe it was a sweet lot of Beatles LP's that I picked up for super cheap.) After that fateful transaction, I became hooked.
I currently buy and sell, and have a relatively modest 561 positive feedbacks from unique users (over 700 feedbacks total). In the nearly 8 years since I began, I have had ZERO negative feedbacks to muddy my reputation, and I have only received one Neutral feedback from this joker that only gave me a Neutral cause I gave him one...but that's a story for another time. Recently, I've been making some fat cash on some Beatles items I had multiple copies of, and everything was going fine...that was until "Canada"* came into the picture.
*name changed to protect the innocent, the guilty, or in this case, the Ass Hat Canadian buyer who gave me Negative feedback...wait, I'm getting ahead of myself...
The item was an original 1960's Beatles Yesterday and Today LP (mono version, if that kinda thing is important to you.) When the dust settled, "Canada" was the high bidder at $9.99 with $12.00 shipping.
I'll do the math for you...total cost 21.99.
He paid via Paypal immediately on the 29th of September. Since the 29th was a Saturday, I waited and shipped his LP out the following week. I went to Ebay and left positive feedback for him, as he fulfilled his part by paying me. All was well in Ebay land until the 17th of October, when I received an email from "Canada" saying the following:
I need to take action with PayPal and eBay I have not received my item . I have not heard from you .
Since this was the first I had heard from him, I thought it was odd he would jump straight to taking action. I searched my "Junk Folder" and discovered that a few days before he sent me another email asking:
Can you tell me when my LP was shipped ? It usually does not take this long .
I quickly shot him an email, explaining that I missed his first email, and I also explained to him when it was shipped, that is went through the USPS (Post Office), and I told him it could take up to 14 days. I said if it wasn't there by the 22nd, to email me back, and we could arrange for a refund of some sorts.
I guess he didn't want to wait. Soon after I sent the email, I received a few emails from Paypal and a company called Square Trade. Paypal's said:
Dear Sir,
"Canada" has opened a dispute for the payment made to you on Sep 29,2007 indicating that they never received the item.
Your Transaction ID:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buyer's Transaction ID:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There are many reasons why this might have happened. It could be that the item is still in transit or was accidentally delivered to the wrong address. Sometimes buyers open a non receipt dispute too soon because they underestimate how long it can take for shipping and delivery. By opening this dispute, "Canada" is asking for your help to resolve this issue. This is your best opportunity to resolve this problem before the buyer escalates it to a PayPal claim or files a chargeback with their card issuer.
Square Trade's email tried to get me to pay them $30 to get the negative feedback erased. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?!? I opened up my Ebay and sure enough, "Canada" left me my first negative feedback in nearly 8 years...it said...
Have not received the item or refund lost my $12.00 shipping also scam!!!!!!
SCAM?!? Why in the world would I risk my entire Ebay reputation to scam this joker out of 20 bucks?? I fired back a reply to his feedback, saying:
560 unique + feedbacks, over 700 total. Why would I scam for $20? Lost in mail?
I then emailed "Canada" and basically asked him what the heck he was trying to pull? After all, I emailed him, told him all the information he wanted AND offered to work with him on a refund and he completely ignores that and files a claim AND tries to slander my name?
This meant war. The refund was officially off the table now. I was going to just give him his 20 back and call it a day, but now, the principle of the matter had taken over. I had done nothing wrong, and I would fight this dispute.
I clicked on Paypal to see that "Canada" had struck first:
I paid in good faith Sept 29/07 and I still have not received my LP or heard of any delay from you . Please give me my refund .Or ship my item and let me know when you have shipped it . After all I paid $12.00 for shipping it should have been here a long time ago .
He quickly fired again, this time cutting a bit deeper:
This seller continues to not communicate I think hes long gone and if not should be investigated and taken off eBay
Ouch!! I did communicate with him, but he wouldn't email me back! I frantically searched for the button on Paypal to log in my side of the story, but a button was not to be found. After 20 minutes, I found a phone number and called Paypal.
The Dispute Resolution guy said that since "Canada" had upgraded the Dispute to a Claim, the lines of communication were effectively closed for "Canada" and I to resolve the matter on our own. I explained to the Paypal guy that I didn't have an opportunity to respond, and he said to just email the resolution department with my side of the story, and it would be noted.
So, I did. I wrote my side, and I wrote it hard. This was my response, and every word is the complete truth...
I recently had a Dispute filed against me which escalated to a claim before I was able to enter any information in my defense. I am concerned I will loose this claim because of this, and I would like to take this opportunity to give my side of the story before my good reputation as an Ebay seller and a Paypal user are any more slandered.
On Sept. 29, an item of mine was purchased by Mr. "Canada". He paid promptly using Paypal. On October 2nd, I left a positive feedback for him, and on Oct 3rd, I shipped his item via USPS (United States Postal Service). As per my norm, I let the positive feedback act as my communication that the payment was received, and therefore, his item would be shipped immediately. Although I didn't mention in that feedback that I was shipping the item, I am a reputable seller who has over 700 positive feedback (from 560 unique buyers/sellers) and have never had a negative feedback against me. With that being said, I also work in "good faith" with my buyers that if I leave you positive feedback, I will be sending your item.
On October 3rd, I shipped the item to his Non-US Verified address in Canada via USPS. The buyer did not request it be shipped via a traceable method, nor did he purchase any kind of insurance protecting him from a lost package. This is unfortunate, because now the package is lost. There is nothing further I can do.
An email was received by me from the buyer which unfortunately went into my "Junk" filter, and I did not respond. Soon after, I received notification that a dispute had been filed. At that time I EMAILED MR. "CANADA" and apologized for not responding. I also gave him exactly when I shipped his item, and an expected time he could expect to receive the package. Instead of communicating with me, he ignored my email and left a negative, scathing feedback on my ebay saying that I had scammed him, and followed that up by posting a slanderous note on the Paypal Resolution Center claiming that I was not communicating with him, I was long gone, and I should be investigated and kicked off ebay.
I have done what I can, and I feel I do not owe Mr. "Canada" a refund due to this unfortunate Postal Service mishap that he neglected to account for. He held up his end by paying, I held up mine by shipping...the post office dropped the ball by losing the package, and without insurance, I'm afraid there is nothing else that can be done.
Please add this to my Resolution Dispute, so that I have a fair shake in this matter.
Thank you
I felt confident that I would win my claim when it came before the Paypal Board of Dispute Resolvers. All I had to do now was wait.
I didn't have to wait long. The next day, I received an email from Paypal saying that they received my version of events, and they passed that information on to Mr. "Canada". Shortly thereafter, I received an email from Paypal:
PayPal has concluded our investigation of the following
Buyer Complaint: Transaction Date: Sep 29, 2007
Transaction Amount: -$21.99 USD
Your Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buyer's Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Case Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Because the buyer has reported that the claim has been amicably resolved,this case has been closed. Thank you for your cooperation with our investigation.
Sincerely, Protection Services Department
I also received an email from Ebay:
"Canada" has filed a request to mutually withdraw feedback for the transaction shown below. eBay allows members to withdraw feedback for a transaction if they both agree it is no longer appropriate.
REDEMPTION!!!
The only reason "Canada" put as to why he withdrew the complaint and feedback??
"Package arrived today, OCT 24...Post Dated Oct 1."
Hmmm, interesting that the package arrived the same day Paypal sent him my rebuttal...a rebuttal that would have effectively killed his case, as I was obviously not in the wrong in any way.
Whatever. The case is closed, I'm updated to 562 positive feedbacks with ZERO negative, and all is once again right in the Ebay World.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Haunted Halloween
(click on any picture to enlarge)
Welcome, guys and ghouls, to the great Halloween party known as the Gillespie House of Horror!! In collaboration with my mom and dad, Becky and I set up a party for our many nieces and nephews.
It was a great turn out with 10 adults and 13 kids...even some celebrities showed up!!
(Becky's brother Albert as Joe Dirt)
(Me as Napoleon Dynamite...take a good look, this may be the only time you see me in jeans or a white shirt!! Becky was Deb...I don't have a picture of her, but I'll get one.)
We started with a Kid's Fear Factor.
(Ralph, the Fear Factor Mascot)
After breaking the kids into teams, we began our first event where the teams would have to pick one member to eat each of three foods we deemed gross...Prunes, Plain Vanilla yogurt, and Spinach Lasagna Baby Food.
(Me and a cast of thousands begin the first competetion.)
(Natasha's face says it all, as she downs some delicious Spinach Lasagna Baby food...which I tried, and it's disgusting!)
Since each of the teams had one contestant finish first, we went to the tie breaker...Sardines!! Luckily for the contestants, it was California Girl Sardines, cause we all know the Boy Sardines are nasty!!
The next event had the contestants one by one stick their arms into a container and pull out objects...the highest team total after each kid got their 30 second turn was the winner. Oh, yeah, and the container contained 50 LIVE CRICKETS!!
(Xander arm deep in crickets.)
The third event was the egg relay. The teams lined up and the first kid would crack an egg into their hand, and would have to pass it to the next teammate, who would pass it to the last teammate, who would place it in a cup. Each team had to crack and relay 10 eggs, the most eggs won.
(Kelsi - pink hair - and Natasha race to fill their cups.)
The last event was the most disgusting. Each team would roll the dice once to get one liquid (either water, milk, or fruit punch) and roll the dice two more times to get two foods (candy bar, grapes, green beans, or hot dog). The teammates would each drink a cup full of the blended drink. What we didn't tell them was the fastest on each team would have to drink again to determine a team winner!
(Chandler, Xander, Paige and Logan drinking a very un-tasty Milk, candy bar and Green Bean mixture. "It's just like chocolate milk...with green beans in it" someone remarked.)
(The final face off pitted Kelsi, Aaron and Logan...Kelsi took one drink of the water, green bean hot dog mix before it came back up on her Panda purse...Logan spit a bit helping on the table. Aaron masterfully chugged the whole mix down, to win the event. I drank a cup of this, and it was straight nasty!!)
In the end, the team of Aaron, Natasha and Shelly won the Fear Factor, and Aaron won the Top individual performer.
(Aaron, obviously Fear is not a factor for you!)
After we ate, we took vote for the Best Costume Adult and Kid. The winners were...
(My dad as a Leather Face inspired monster. Or, "the Bloody Chef" as Chandler called him. Big ups to my mom for the execution of Dad's costume plan...dad had the idea, mom made it. Love that Leather mask, which mom actually made. He also had light up red eyes that were triggered by a switch in his glove that he actually made, and raised shoes that made him 3 inches taller...it was really cool.)
(Hailee...Becky's younger brother's daughter...isn't she so cute!!)
Next, Becky and I set up for the Haunted House. The kids split into smaller groups, and began in the first room, the Haunted Parlour.
(Haunted Parlour...at night, with the lights out and candles all around, it was more scary. Note the hanging goblet to the scary man's left.
(The Haunted Parlour also had a hanging vase of black roses.)
I think all the groups made it through this room fairly well, and Becky and I expected the first three rooms would be fairly tame...even maybe lame to the kids, with the basement providing the "action" because we were hiding downstairs...well, when the first group stepped into the next room, the ER Gone Wrong, all bets were off. Immediately, Paige (my brother's oldest, 10) began crying hysterically, and her brother Xander soon followed suit. I guess Dr Hack-Em-Up was too much for their young brains to handle.
(ER Gone Wrong. We had the lights out and a blue revolving light flashing on the scene. Little candle lights lined the bed, and for the Haunted House, the plastic container had chicken liver in it. Creepy laughs filled the room.)
(Close up of Dr Hack-Em-Up)
(Patient X's headless body.)
After much calming from my brother and my dad (and some pushing to get Chandler...my brother's 5 year old...to actually even enter the room) the kids composed themselves and entered the Graveyard of Terror.
(Graveyard of Terror. The pumpkins on the left were lit up, and the coffin in the middle had blue lights illuminating the skeletal remains of a killer. It was pretty creepy. Note the excellent tree, made by my dad with a cat stand, brown craft paper and some vines. Graveyard sounds, screaming, chainsaw noises, etc, filled the room.)
At this point, Becky and I feared the kids wouldn't even come to the basement, as we had scared them half to death with the upstairs stuff. But my brother managed to get them down, where immediately they had to crawl through a pitch black tunnel. It took coaching with every kid, but they all (except for a few) went through...some with an adult in tow to protect them. Once they exited the tunnel, a row of streamers lined a path to a few other site scares...
(Scary baby...lit only by a candle. It was creepy, trust me.)
We also had a caged guy that shook and rattled for them to look at before seeing what appeared to be the HEAD OF PATIENT X!! When the kids got closer, Becky (who was completely covered to look like it was just a head) would scream and scare them. At that point it was my turn. I was lying on the floor behind some chairs, and I had this fellow rigged to fall from the ceiling with the pull of a string.
(Yes, it's Chucky from the Rugrats...yes, the kids commented on that.)
Upon passing "Chucky," the kids entered a dark room where we had one of those static balls set up, where you can touch it and it'll send a beam of light to your finger...anyway, after a second in this dark room, I turned the "Fire Ghost" on...
(Fire Ghost)
After a 3 count, I killed all the lights in that room and Becky hit the tape recorded message telling the kids to get out, something went wrong...When they made their way to the exit, I would reach out and grab at their feet as the scurried away.
Surprisingly, after the tunnel, it was smooth sailing for the kids...remember that first group who cried in the ER? When I reached out for their feet, they actually laughed and said "Hi, Uncle Tony!!" Can't scare em all I guess.
After all the groups went through, I turned the lights on and took the kids through to show them nothing was scary in the light. A few of the kids were terrified and would only go through with the lights on if I held them! I guess the Haunted House was scarier than I thought!! We talked about their favorite parts while they played in the tunnel, and dropped Chucky from the ceiling with my pull rope. At the end of the day, it was a great success, everyone had a few laughs, a few screams, and a great time!!
Welcome, guys and ghouls, to the great Halloween party known as the Gillespie House of Horror!! In collaboration with my mom and dad, Becky and I set up a party for our many nieces and nephews.
It was a great turn out with 10 adults and 13 kids...even some celebrities showed up!!
(Becky's brother Albert as Joe Dirt)
(Me as Napoleon Dynamite...take a good look, this may be the only time you see me in jeans or a white shirt!! Becky was Deb...I don't have a picture of her, but I'll get one.)
We started with a Kid's Fear Factor.
(Ralph, the Fear Factor Mascot)
After breaking the kids into teams, we began our first event where the teams would have to pick one member to eat each of three foods we deemed gross...Prunes, Plain Vanilla yogurt, and Spinach Lasagna Baby Food.
(Me and a cast of thousands begin the first competetion.)
(Natasha's face says it all, as she downs some delicious Spinach Lasagna Baby food...which I tried, and it's disgusting!)
Since each of the teams had one contestant finish first, we went to the tie breaker...Sardines!! Luckily for the contestants, it was California Girl Sardines, cause we all know the Boy Sardines are nasty!!
The next event had the contestants one by one stick their arms into a container and pull out objects...the highest team total after each kid got their 30 second turn was the winner. Oh, yeah, and the container contained 50 LIVE CRICKETS!!
(Xander arm deep in crickets.)
The third event was the egg relay. The teams lined up and the first kid would crack an egg into their hand, and would have to pass it to the next teammate, who would pass it to the last teammate, who would place it in a cup. Each team had to crack and relay 10 eggs, the most eggs won.
(Kelsi - pink hair - and Natasha race to fill their cups.)
The last event was the most disgusting. Each team would roll the dice once to get one liquid (either water, milk, or fruit punch) and roll the dice two more times to get two foods (candy bar, grapes, green beans, or hot dog). The teammates would each drink a cup full of the blended drink. What we didn't tell them was the fastest on each team would have to drink again to determine a team winner!
(Chandler, Xander, Paige and Logan drinking a very un-tasty Milk, candy bar and Green Bean mixture. "It's just like chocolate milk...with green beans in it" someone remarked.)
(The final face off pitted Kelsi, Aaron and Logan...Kelsi took one drink of the water, green bean hot dog mix before it came back up on her Panda purse...Logan spit a bit helping on the table. Aaron masterfully chugged the whole mix down, to win the event. I drank a cup of this, and it was straight nasty!!)
In the end, the team of Aaron, Natasha and Shelly won the Fear Factor, and Aaron won the Top individual performer.
(Aaron, obviously Fear is not a factor for you!)
After we ate, we took vote for the Best Costume Adult and Kid. The winners were...
(My dad as a Leather Face inspired monster. Or, "the Bloody Chef" as Chandler called him. Big ups to my mom for the execution of Dad's costume plan...dad had the idea, mom made it. Love that Leather mask, which mom actually made. He also had light up red eyes that were triggered by a switch in his glove that he actually made, and raised shoes that made him 3 inches taller...it was really cool.)
(Hailee...Becky's younger brother's daughter...isn't she so cute!!)
Next, Becky and I set up for the Haunted House. The kids split into smaller groups, and began in the first room, the Haunted Parlour.
(Haunted Parlour...at night, with the lights out and candles all around, it was more scary. Note the hanging goblet to the scary man's left.
(The Haunted Parlour also had a hanging vase of black roses.)
I think all the groups made it through this room fairly well, and Becky and I expected the first three rooms would be fairly tame...even maybe lame to the kids, with the basement providing the "action" because we were hiding downstairs...well, when the first group stepped into the next room, the ER Gone Wrong, all bets were off. Immediately, Paige (my brother's oldest, 10) began crying hysterically, and her brother Xander soon followed suit. I guess Dr Hack-Em-Up was too much for their young brains to handle.
(ER Gone Wrong. We had the lights out and a blue revolving light flashing on the scene. Little candle lights lined the bed, and for the Haunted House, the plastic container had chicken liver in it. Creepy laughs filled the room.)
(Close up of Dr Hack-Em-Up)
(Patient X's headless body.)
After much calming from my brother and my dad (and some pushing to get Chandler...my brother's 5 year old...to actually even enter the room) the kids composed themselves and entered the Graveyard of Terror.
(Graveyard of Terror. The pumpkins on the left were lit up, and the coffin in the middle had blue lights illuminating the skeletal remains of a killer. It was pretty creepy. Note the excellent tree, made by my dad with a cat stand, brown craft paper and some vines. Graveyard sounds, screaming, chainsaw noises, etc, filled the room.)
At this point, Becky and I feared the kids wouldn't even come to the basement, as we had scared them half to death with the upstairs stuff. But my brother managed to get them down, where immediately they had to crawl through a pitch black tunnel. It took coaching with every kid, but they all (except for a few) went through...some with an adult in tow to protect them. Once they exited the tunnel, a row of streamers lined a path to a few other site scares...
(Scary baby...lit only by a candle. It was creepy, trust me.)
We also had a caged guy that shook and rattled for them to look at before seeing what appeared to be the HEAD OF PATIENT X!! When the kids got closer, Becky (who was completely covered to look like it was just a head) would scream and scare them. At that point it was my turn. I was lying on the floor behind some chairs, and I had this fellow rigged to fall from the ceiling with the pull of a string.
(Yes, it's Chucky from the Rugrats...yes, the kids commented on that.)
Upon passing "Chucky," the kids entered a dark room where we had one of those static balls set up, where you can touch it and it'll send a beam of light to your finger...anyway, after a second in this dark room, I turned the "Fire Ghost" on...
(Fire Ghost)
After a 3 count, I killed all the lights in that room and Becky hit the tape recorded message telling the kids to get out, something went wrong...When they made their way to the exit, I would reach out and grab at their feet as the scurried away.
Surprisingly, after the tunnel, it was smooth sailing for the kids...remember that first group who cried in the ER? When I reached out for their feet, they actually laughed and said "Hi, Uncle Tony!!" Can't scare em all I guess.
After all the groups went through, I turned the lights on and took the kids through to show them nothing was scary in the light. A few of the kids were terrified and would only go through with the lights on if I held them! I guess the Haunted House was scarier than I thought!! We talked about their favorite parts while they played in the tunnel, and dropped Chucky from the ceiling with my pull rope. At the end of the day, it was a great success, everyone had a few laughs, a few screams, and a great time!!
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