Well the mystery of just what my wife would do on Halloween has been solved.  She hid.  We have two bags of candy to gorge upon.  She took one to work and kept two in the cupboard.  We've been eating Peanutbutter Cups since I got home.

  My problem is this -

  I'm not really sure when "Begger's Night" is this year.  In this part of the U S of A, Trick or Treat and Halloween don't necessarily fall on the same dates.  Generally the trick or treating happens a day or two before Halloween itself. Either way I'm not going to be home those nights.  I should be in Tennessee visiting a friend.  My wife is staying home.

  This is the first Halloween we've spent in this town.  We have no idea on just how much candy to lay in for the kids.  I know there are a lot of them around here, just how many go out from door to door is the unknown factor.

  At the old place we only had a couple kids show up each year.  We'd buy a couple bags of "Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups", turn on the porch light at six in the evening and wait.  At nine we'd turn off the light and always have at least one unopened bag of candy left over.  That bag would usually last a couple of days while my wife and I binged on sugar.

  My dilemma - How much candy should I buy?

  Do I want to risk leaving my wife at home alone with only a couple bags of candy?  I don't want to come back home and find my windows covered in soap scrawlings describing me as a (insert suitable explative here).  Or should I go all-out and really load up on bags of the stuff?  I also don't want to come home and find my wife in a diabetic coma.  (She is and will.)

  I've considered alternatives to candy.  Coins?  Only fun for me if I heat them first and kids now will only take Visa.  The price of fruit quickly ruled that out.  I've consider some other items too.  Scoops of ice-cream, ladlesful of hot soup, beer....  The last few items are being filed away for next year when I can be home to watch.