Well, we're not there just yet, but my first costume party of the season was last Saturday. I got an invite from jpp over at The Badda Blog to join his group to a costume party at which his friends have won Best Group Costume four years running. I don't remember the last time I've dressed up properly for a costume party, but I was down. I got the group theme from Jason: Girl Scouts/Brownies. Hey, what is Halloween for if not for a bit of low-grade drag. Underage drag just adds to the fun.

I headed out to the local grocery store to get some supplies. I bought some patches and sized sashes. (Surprisingly enough, they don't make a Brownie sash in my size.) Merit badges needed to be purchased from the Girl Scouts Regional Center on the east side, so that waited for later.

I sacrificed one of my blue dress shirts, and Bex's mom sewed some cute cuffs on the sleeves. We stitched two sashes together, and on Tuesday I made the run to the Girl Scouts Regional Center. Now, many of the patches the Brownies wear are sold at sporting goods stores and local grocery stores. The merit badges are sold only at official Girl Scouts stores, since they must be earned. I have no official ties to the Girl Scouts organization, and would be straight out unable to answer any questions about why I needed to purchase fifteen single Try-Its.

I had a whole back story concocted. I was a Bad Dad. My wife had sent me to pick some things up from the Girl Scout Store, but I knew nothing about the scouts. My wife normally handles all of that, she just asked me to come out and pick up these patches. Security was not quite as tight as I had originally imagined, and I left with my patches.

I spent Saturday ironing on patches and putting the final touches on the uniform. I got dressed, Bex's sister came by my house, and we left. I remembered to buy beer, but unfortunately forgot to buy my Brownie Beanie. Was this our downfall? The world may never know.

Vlad and I made it out to jpp's sweet KCK pad. Jason and Sarah were putting the finishing touches on their costumes, and others in the group were milling about downstairs. Jason and Sarah came downstairs and it looked like we were ready to head out. Did I mention that the women were all pregnant Brownies? Class.

Off to Lee's Summit. Our group got to the party before some of the rest of the troop. We waited patiently so we could make a group entrance. The rest of the group arrived and we headed in.

I had waffled on a wig, and I think I made the wrong decision. The rest of the troop looked very good in their wigs, and I was wrong to worry about the beard/wig combo. It worked fine for the goateed members of our troop.

The party was very well put together. They had karaoke, beer, liquor, finger foods, and it was one of the most thoroughly costumed costume parties I've ever attended.

Our troop (troop 69, natch) chose "Like A Virgin" as our group song. I think I was a bit too close to the microphone, so I'm glad I was on the back side of the speakers. I'm just not a good singer. Did that earn us minus points?

Something did, because the hosts soon awarded the prizes. What was this? Best Group Prize to the Refrigerator Magnet Poetry guys? Yeah, it's an interesting concept, but jeans with white t-shirts with words printed on them? Come on, couldn't they have done better with it than that?

A complaint has been filed, but it sounds like we'll be licking our wounds until next year. Next year, I need to remember to costume the head as well. A little makeup wouldn't hurt, either.