The votes are in!

Are you watching the reality TV show, The Voice? My family watches it every season—mostly because my dad thinks his TERRIBLE singing in the shower means he could WIN if only Canadians could be on the show. (He couldn’t!)

Anyway, this week, someone that I thought was a FANTASTIC singer (like, way better than my dad) didn’t get voted through to the next round—and it made me a little sad. I wish I’d been able to vote.

Unfortunately, Canadians don’t get to vote because it’s an American show.

We’ve been talking a lot about “voting” in school this week—the U.S. presidential election is coming up FAST. Of course Canadians can’t vote for a new President either (and I’m too young anyway), but of course the results will impact everyone around the world. Because regardless of WHO becomes the next President of the United States, it will be a historic event. If Hillary Clinton wins, for instance, it will be the first time a woman is President!

My teacher says that in Canada, like in the United States and several other countries (but not all!), we’re lucky to live in a democracy—we have the RIGHT to vote, and the choice with the most votes is honoured. For our homework, we had to “put something to a vote.” Can you guess what I chose?

Yep, that’s right. I kept wavering on my Halloween costume this year, so I polled all of my friends and family on what they thought I should be. I created a ballot and everything, giving three choices:

1. Superman
2. Frankenstein
3. A creature from Beneath the SOIL

Before the vote, I “debated” the pros and cons of each. Like, for Superman, I was concerned that it would be too predictable—I’ve been Superman a few years in the past. My nickname is even Superman. My “creature” costume is the warmest. And my Frankenstein costume is the scariest.

The votes are IN and you know what? More than 40% of the voters think I should be the “creature” this year. I’ll be honest, that wasn’t my first choice, but Mom says I HAVE to stick with it…because I put it to a vote, and going against the vote wouldn’t support democracy. (I’m sure that’s the exact lesson my teacher was trying to teach us!)

So it’s official. I’m going to be a one of the creatures from the Beneath the SOIL Superman Duffy comic this Halloween. What are YOU going as?

Gotta Jet!

~ Chase “Superman” Duffy

Look at me, I'm...Superman?

My sister Amelia and I were in our grandparents’ attic last weekend rooting through some of Grandma’s old clothes, when Amelia found this antique dress that kind of reminded me of something you’d wear to a high school dance. (Not that I’ll ever go to one of those—I have two left feet!)

Anyway, Amelia draped it over herself and beamed at me. “Look, I’m a princess,” she said.

I guess I could have explained that wearing a fancy dress didn’t make her an actual princess—but I stopped myself just in time. Who am I to crush her dreams? Because actually this Halloween, when I throw on my Superman cape, my Frankenstein mask, or any other costume, I get to be whomever I want. A fireman? A doctor? How about a farmer?

Halloween is the ULTIMATE day of dress up. And sometimes, it can be a dress rehearsal for your dream job. Sure, I like being nicknamed Superman, but that job is already taken (and there is only one TRUE Superman). And what I really want is to be an Olympic athlete. Or a writer. Or maybe even something in the agriculture field…no, not a farmer. I don’t think I would be good at that. But what about a crop scientist? Or a farm mechanic like Grandpa’s friend, Kevin Therres? Did you know that there are HUNDREDS of jobs in the agriculture field? For real!

The other me—“Chase Duffy”—learns about quite a few of them in the new Superman Duffy comic, IT TAKES A VILLAGE. It’s probably one of the funniest books in the collection—and may be the last! 

Want a copy? Comment on this post with your dream job or what you’re dressing up for this Halloween and you could WIN the full set of 14 books.

Gotta jet! I still need to finalize what I want to be for this year’s Halloween. 

Maybe I’ll give one of those career costumes a try. What about you?

~ Chase Superman Duffy 

When the Weather Outside Is Frightful...

Well, that got ugly fast. The weather, I mean. One day, I’m sipping iced tea with Grandpa on his back porch talking about when he’s going to finish harvesting his canola crop, and the next day...BAM! snow covered fields and hot chocolate with Grandma.

Don’t get me wrong—I know unreliable weather is one of the more…exciting?...parts about living in Alberta, but I wasn’t quite ready for the white stuff. Not until AFTER Halloween. But since I can’t turn back time (except in my latest short story), I have decided to EMBRACE the cooler winter and…hibernate? Ha. At least until I dig out my toque and mittens!

Luckily, Grandma brought over a new craft brochure from the Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission with enough fun stuff to keep my sister and I busy for those cool fall evenings…now that it’s too dark to Pokemon hunt. (When is daylight savings again? I always forget!)

Anyway, you already know how much I love Play Dough (and the best recipe is in the brochure!), but this weekend, I am going to try making a lava lamp—with my dad’s help of course. Who knows, if it works out, maybe I can use it for Halloween decorating, which is ANOTHER project that is happening this Sunday. Spiders and cobwebs everywhere!

Here are the directions for the Lava Lamp, in case you want to try it too! (Remember to ask for a parent’s help…)

INGREDIENTS

tap water

food colouring

1 cup (250 mL) canola oil

1 package of sodium bicarbonate tablets

EQUIPMENT

clear glass water bottle or recycled glass bottle

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fill the bottle just over half full with canola oil.
2. Fill the rest of the bottle with water, leaving ½ inch (1.5 cm) at the top.
3. Add 10-15 drops of food colouring of your choice.
4. Break 1 sodium bicarbonate tablet into 4 pieces.
5. Drop in the sodium bicarbonate pieces one at a time to see the bubbling.
6. This can be repeated as many times as desired, and can be reused the next day or days to follow.

Hey! Maybe I can use this recipe to make a bubbling witch’s cauldron! If you want more great craft and activity ideas, email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com. I can send you a copy of the brochure!

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy