Gather round as I tell the tale of the first BYOP party many moons ago. I lived alone in a tiny studio apartment, only about 350 square feet total with a giant closet and a tiny hot water heater. I had to walk uphill both ways to the bus stop to go to my stupid soul-sucking job trading mutual funds. The only thing that kept me going some days was the grand plan I had to host a pumpkin carving party as Halloween grew near. I invited my seven friends at that time to "Bring Your Own Pumpkin" to my apartment for some fall festiveness. I spread a plastic paint drop cloth on the floor and all seven friends and I crowded around and wielded sharp instruments in close proximity of each other. We crafted some lovely creations, but that was back before those new-fangled digital cameras, so it's hard to share the photos with you youngsters in the blogosphere. Each jack-o-lantern was lovelier than the next. And lest you think the pumpkin carnage was senseless, we roasted the seeds and ate them, providing sustenance for our merry-making.
The BYOP party grows larger each year now. While each pumpkin carving party is great fun on its own merits, I'll always remember that first one fondly.
Here are a few photos from BYOP 2008:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivrvMM2Yj7lOUyLCY1dIf9HiWW4sJZhGb9saM8SyNiaWVKVKprd-TU1rajUY01XxOQznuMvySP4gDb_wWHqchyphenhypheni3YALPXqLzWidbt8M_PluaY_rjRbVTP0qQcpnltCUWr1SIgXA/s400/BYOP08b.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurPLslgZzyqBCiSYriJ7FHEe81PvB7zsCu7IsLMNLKFiY3oHCv6ta1FCuuuMIkshPvywBYgsLa9f0wfOLdHRB8FxDZf8KtFohbtuLRkq7BMhKxnSV4XMg1JPIfL8-tQdABWqSvg/s400/BYOP08r.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3zfaLGA6CfPu5mwFf3GWUGwboMEUl-FwcCCy1jKyZXgK4JNi-pRLX7SJhLoYlqeWcw_ljEp2-1r_OmWWTrDZxIwo97OXSYEiia2_ltjRDNfdOpOJt42nuhGkFlvDra-EWM2KRA/s400/BYOPsmile08.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51eplXlpqkZc_SG8NW2lvx9xVH_HM98-bWuLTh4TbGdpqAHNXoQVZTjffdBCa-Tr6Ym-THyUbMajjwf-28mmoC1NuT1D0LLSFz-QCICONZxV807oVoROTm8pAZ1D0YREn0swyTg/s400/BYOP08x.jpg)
I have to admit, this last pumpkin was my fave. Nick M. made a trick-treat-toe game with removable Xs and Os. Clever!
Sadly, Chad was so busy helping me prepare for the BYOP party this year, that he did not carve a pumpkin. Eek! I've requested that he pay penance by carving a turkey portrait into a pumpkin for our Thanksgiving centerpiece. Look for photos of that later this month!