The conference we attended in LA a few days back culminated in a New Year’s Eve party with a “villains” theme. And so a few of us decided to go as characters from the board game Clue.

Robbi dressed as Mrs. White, the maid. She had brought a black dress along, but had to improvise with the rest of the costume, including a wig of loopy white hair made from strips of the hotel note pads left in our hotel room. And an “apron” made from one of the bathrobes that came with our room. And a maid’s cap made from one of August’s diapers.

As Mr. Green, my costume consisted of one of Bob’s suits (stuffed with one of the pillows from our hotel room), one of Robbi’s ties, and a bald cap made from a flesh-colored stocking and the severed ears of one of the kids’ stuffed animals (to serve as the bits of hair above my ears).

Our friend Aaron was Colonel Mustard. Though he would have preferred an actual pith helmet, this fishing hat was the closest he could come.

I think we look great with our revolver, rope, and wrench.

You are probably wondering if we won a prize, and I am proud to tell you that we did, narrowly edging out a group dressed as the terrifying, milk-drinking baddies from A Clockwork Orange. This, in spite of my awful wig.

The party was fun, and made even more so by the presence of a photo booth. I just can’t resist a photo booth. And so I didn’t try.

After getting my vogue on…

And getting smoochy with my date…

…I decided to rally some friends for a group shot. 

The first one didn’t work so well.

But the second one was better.

Astute observers will recognize Dahna and Ken and Sarah and Pat and Brian and Rachel.

After the group shot, we thought we were done, but the itch would not leave me. I enlisted Ken and Robbi and dove back in.

But then, wondering if color might be even more fun, I insisted we have a second go.

Rachel, insanely jealous of the fun that we were having, decided to join me in the booth.

But Robbi caught us just as things were getting good.

At that point, the ladies gave me the boot.

I don’t argue with ladies armed with cardboard revolvers. Or with evil queens.   

We were an unlovely pair, I in my stocking and Robbi with a diaper on her head, but as the clock ticked down to midnight, I couldn’t resist grabbing her for one more trip into the booth. 

After all, it is custom to kiss someone as the apple drops.

Why not capture it on film?