Where Shaggy meets Osama Bin Laden

Me in my "Light" shirt walking down Santa Monica Blvd. during the Halloween parade.

Last night, I taught my candlelight yoga class and later headed home a little tired, with a mild headache. My neighbors were all gearing up to walk down to the Halloween festivities on Santa Monica Blvd. And while I initially agreed to join them, I started having doubts. "Maybe I should just call it an early night," I thought.

Then I remembered the Citibank billoard which reads: Go on a living spree! And that was it---I was in. So we started walking down the street. People were honking and gawking at the outrageous costumes. I stopped and got a bottle of water, and minutes later my headache was gone---so perhaps I was just a little dehydrated.

The weather was a perfect blend of mild and cool. It seemed like everybody in West Hollywood was out, and most people were dressed up like someone.

I saw all range of costumes: Shaggy and Scooby Doo, Cher, Flash Gordon, Captain America, Oompa Loompas, Willy Wonka, Edward Scissor Hands (in fact I saw maybe 5 different characters that Johnny Depp has played in a movie), the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Darth Vader, Tom Cruise from Risky Business, the Karate Kid, witches, wizards... basically, if you can name a character or personality, it was there.

I met some great people, like my neighbor's friend Hillary who came up from Orange County. We ended up losing everyone else in the crowd, and then headed back early. At one point on the way back, Hillary and I looked over and saw Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, a bombing victim, and a slew of Saudi Arabian sheiks posing for a group picture. Talk about a rush of energy and excitement.

I loved seeing all types of people come together in their creations to celebrate and have fun. I think that was the best people watching I have ever done. Can't wait until next year!

The crowd on Santa Monica Blvd. and Westborne Ave.