Picture Pages! Picture Pages!

The Great House Flip

2009-09-27T16:29:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been a long 3+ years. Lots of work has gone into this house--before moving in (my cleanliness standards greatly exceeded those of the previous owners), after moving in (my taste greatly differed from those of the previous owners), and finally in preparing to sell (because, well, that's just the way it is). But it is done!

It's amazing to see the transformation. This is no longer the hideous house that I first went to look at--my friends and family scoffed (and held their noses due to the stench the previous owners didn't seem to mind)--but here is my house reborn and ready to sell.

My original post with house pictures from October 20, 2007.

Some day (hopefully) soon, I'll be able to post similar pictures of the house Keith called home vs the home we made together vs our flipped house (a work still in progress)! Anyhoo, enjoy! :)

Master Bath

2009-09-21T16:40:00.014-05:00

Before: The crazy, glossy blue stripes and pink flowers on the bathroom

wallpaper certainly clashed with the big, glossy flowers on the bedroom

wallpaper. Looking from one room to the next was cause for headaches galore.

Now: No major changes since I did them upon moving in, but still a clean slate

for the new homeowner and way better in my book!

Mine: Still pink, not my favorite, but at least it was somewhat more soothing.
The purpose of soaking in your master bath is to reduce the strains of the day,
not create more with eye-boggling wallpaper chaos!

Art & Twilla's AKA My Dream Home

2009-06-13T10:03:00.010-05:00

Since Keith and I both have houses and his is a family heirloom, we decided to place mine on the market. Difficult. I love my house and it offers security--I always need that safety net. No matter how much I like, my HEAD rules over my HEART. Always has, always will.

So compromise would be a camp. And low and behold, my dream home of childhood has become available + the lovely added bonus of being surrounded by my family (Matt, Jennifer, James, and Asa) (My Grandmother) (Hopefully, eventually, Luke and Jaime).

So we hold our breath, hope my home will sell, and this one will become my new, even more fantastic safety net. After all, what is life but if not dreams waiting to come true, especially for a realist such as myself? A realistic dreamer, that about sums me up...

My swordfish is still there. It already has Keith's chicken coop. The pond and land we both crave. Plus my happy childhood memories. Could anything be more perfect? Wish me well! :)

Memorial Day Ride

2009-05-31T19:19:00.002-05:00

Brockport-->Kersey-->Weedville-->Mt. Zion-->Benezette-->Medix Run-->Medix Hotel (Buffalo Burgers. David Cassidy vs. Van Halen. Assorted Goodies with a Few Too Many Beers)-->(Reunion with Lisa & Steve--No Reading Material on Deck After 9PM) + the Good Karma Chic (YAY! WE LOVE YOU!!! Many Blessings and a Good Life To You!!!)

Medix Hotel-->Medix Run-->Benezette-->Mt. Zion-->Weedville-->Kersey-->Pit Stop (Singing and Drinking with Bob White and the Happily Married Cook)-->Lost Keith's Phone while Turned Off (YIKES!!!)-->Brockport-->Much Fun Around House-->Bed @ Some Point-->Morning Hangovers-->Phone Returns Home-->Awesome Ride-->Awesome Weekend!!! :)

The Rest of the Pictures!!!

Sam's Birthday/KILTS!!!

2009-05-16T19:41:00.001-05:00

Sam's party--little did we know it would include kilts!

Jennifer's ride home pictures?
Don't ask--probably shouldn't view them either...

Short video clip of the BBQ experience.
Complete with crazy laughter...
Good thing we aren't in Arkansas! :)

Los Angeles April 2008

2009-04-08T19:50:00.008-05:00

Santa Monica and Venice Beach...

*Venice Beach as in the beach!
*The stores, streets, and people!
*Murals, art, and random goodies!

These are two of my most favorite places on Earth! :)

San Diego April 2008

2009-04-07T18:57:00.010-05:00

Balboa Park

La Jolla Beach (apparently Keith missed the signs about
LOOKING NOT TOUCHING!!!) and Azul's (Hands down...
the best dining experience Keith and I have ever had...
Mmm... Duck... Goat Cheese... and the best view EVER!)

The long awaited Sony Online Entertainment tour pictures
for all my freaky gaming friends out there and a special thanks
to Dar and Nandy for making our personal tour possible! :)

Who Needs John Deere?

2009-03-28T18:11:00.003-05:00

Entertainment when you live in the backwoods of PA

Petey plowing Dave's field with his Dodge...

Who needs a tractor when you have a Dodge?

Which is scarier? RJ laughing or Keith running?

Also slightly scary...

Tangent from Petey AKA the workings of Petey's brain

Night Sky December 3, 2008

2009-02-10T22:32:00.001-05:00

More pictures of the view from Grandma's house and the visit with mom.

And the first of several videos from that day...

My Boo Bear

2009-01-19T22:45:00.015-05:00

Harrnh's parents (Diesel and Nova--German Rottweilers--total sweeties!);

their Shar-pei/Rottie mix (CUTE!); and one of their Boston Terriers (EW!)

Picking Harrnh (AKA lots of puppy pictures!)--not an easy choice!

Jennifer helped me with this one--hence Harrnh's middle name being

"Badger"...she's our secret love child--but shh, don't tell anyone! ;)

The first casualty (my MP3 player cord); Random pictures

A few pictures of Asa and James with Harrnh; Harrnh at Keith's

(with Mia and Bruiser); Harrnh at Heidi's (with Niko, Taz and Bootie)

Becky's Christmas surprise AKA Niko

It all started with Harrnh and Becky's life-long dream to own a rottie.

Her husband, Shane and I planned and schemed all week--determined

to surprise her with her own puppy. Plans kept getting foiled, but we

pulled it off and Becky got one of Harrnh's sisters for Christmas. So as

our girls grow up, we get to share in the pains of "new motherhood"

together. It's a good thing that rottie puppies are so damn cute... ;)

And so, a final question... Is it wrong to put my little rottie in a pink collar?

Probably. Keith is most insistent that a black leather collar with metal spikes

is in order--but hey, what she doesn't know won't hurt her--it's fun making

her be a little princess! Besides, I'd rather save that leather collar for myself

(and maybe the leash for Keith)! :)

No Quarter

2008-10-17T18:05:00.001-05:00

How much does it cost for your kids to ride the carousel?

Nothing...

...if you are a redneck! ;)

Matt giving the boys a free ride...

Cooper's Farm 2008

2008-10-17T15:36:00.008-05:00

Picking out our pumpkins for Halloween...

How many pumpkin farms are nestled in behind cemeteries?

Perfect for getting one in the mood for the season! :)

Our trip to Cooper's Farm 2008 + a bunch of super
cute photos that I stole from Jennifer's MySpace!

RenFest 2008

2008-09-21T14:44:00.006-05:00

Celtic Weekend--Huzzah!!!

Bag pipes, kilts, Irish dancers, kilts, Irish ballads (bawdy, I may add), kilts, belly dancers, kilts and the usual loveliness (Washing Wenches, Cast in Bronze, and all the rest) that is the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival! View past RenFest pics here!

I picked this weekend specifically because they were having the kilt contest... If I went a tad bit overboard on the kilt pictures, well, what can I say?! ;)

Whether a hoot... or an out-and-out HOTTIE...

...ya gotta love men in skirts! :P

First Tattoo Party

2008-09-13T03:13:00.008-05:00

More of George's body art and other pics from the party.

Video Snake sent me of George. George's MySpace.

Another tat party will be occurring soon! Woo hoo! :)

Dave & Brenda's Party 2008

2008-08-16T00:21:00.007-05:00

The chic magnet becomes a convertible! :) It's a SWEET ride, let me tell ya!

What a grand night! We kidnapped Les, he grinded the pole to Becky and I yodeling that roller-skating song (the one Keri loves about the brand-new pair of roller skates and the shiny new key); we watched an (un)erotic ass-smacking karaoke version of My Hump; RJ for once wasn't the victim of Pedro...

And can you guess which bike is mine???

Camping with Keith

2008-07-12T05:47:00.012-05:00

It was a mostly naked weekend--to the point that some people ran away from the site telling their children not to look... to others not realizing it until hours later when I finally tried to maneuver myself and blanket to the tent to get dressed...

All for good though, it was a grandfather with his four grandchildren and watching them maneuver our kayaks was truly a great time. Guess maybe you had to be there, but seeing how much they enjoyed the kayaks made our whole weekend. Hopefully they will be able to adopt the sport also.

Naked kayaking in the rain was my VERY favorite--I may need to mention that it was also quite dark and we had to navigate via flashlight...

Ah, the rain... Sunday morning found all of our possessions quite soaked! :)

I have many lovely pictures of my naked hottie, but for some reason they embarrass him (perhaps as much as I am embarrassed by the ones he took of me)--so anyhoo, I can only post these clothed pictures of him and my hot pictures of Keith bathing in the lake are um, elsewhere...

Of course, I could have been a total ass like he was and sent videos of him swimming naked to all of my friends... Lovely. Cell phones just aren't right sometimes! Mermaid, my ass--pun intended! ;)

But hey, fair is fair... He thinks it's cool to send out naked videos of me...

I think it's cool to post one little picture of his naked ass on the Internet! ;)

Lake Erie With Kathy's Family 2008

2008-05-09T16:58:00.001-05:00

I know... it isn't right... our California pictures aren't posted yet--hell, my Christmas and Easter pictures aren't even up yet! Anyhoo, here are our photos from Mother's Day weekend when we met Kathy, Preston, Matt and the girls in Erie, PA.

Our first stop, the pier. It was great until the girls set off the alarm in the tower--I believe the police may have been looking for two female midgets the rest of the evening...

Our journey around the peninsula. Playing at the beach; Matt challenges his mom to a stone skipping contest; pictures of Lake Erie and a genuine Californian beach bunny! The girls ended up in their underwear the remainder of the trip--so, half naked female midgets may have been a more accurate description for the police after this part of the journey...

The Presque Isle lighthouse and sunset pictures over the lake. As Kathy put it--we are just making up for all of those lost years--hopefully next time won't be so many years away! And now that we know Matt is only a matter of hours away, hopefully we can drag him down to play in our neck of the woods, at least occasionally! :)

Asa Turns Two!

2008-02-17T15:14:00.002-05:00

Who would expect that singing Happy Birthday could be so traumatic???
Watch the video clip and you'll see what I mean!

The guests, the cake ordeal and of course, the presents!

Why is there a picture of Keith included here?

Because this was after telling the chipmunk story

and realizing that he is totally IN with the family

and that is such an amazing feat that apparently

he felt like striking a cocky, little pose... ;)

Christmas Photos 2007

2008-01-21T11:39:00.008-05:00

Mash enjoying one of their many new kitty Christmas presents.
They should have known that there would be a price to pay (they
were not real keen on the next week of two young kiddos and
a dog ruling their roost).

Christmas Morning 2007.
Does this picture remind anyone else of the crawling
little dude in Labyrinth? Toby? Didn't he have the same outfit?
Anyhoo, I apologize for all of the shots of Boot's ass--for
one reason or another, she enjoys walking in front of cameras.
She's almost as bad of a ham as Asa is...

As always, more Xmas pictures stolen from Jennifer...

Christmas Night 2007 and playing with the weasels.
We may never see pictures of Jennifer holding Big Guy
again--these are sacred! Amazing what alcohol can do! :)

The remotes vanished the day after Christmas and I
accidentally stumbled across one of Nubie's stash spot
as a result... Sadly, I thought Keith stole my remotes
but I soon discovered the truth and many of my missing
Christmas ornaments and other lost gems!

They call themselves the Singing Santas--but I think
the Drunken Santas would probably be more appropriate!
These are from 2006 at the Treasure Lake Ski Lodge and
compliments of Shawn...

Keith's Family

2007-12-24T16:03:00.000-05:00

Keith and his mom, Gail

Gail and Jon

Heidi (Keith's sister) and Les

Shane, Becky (Keith's youngest sister), Kyle, Brian, Malachi

Amy, RJ (Keith's younger brother), Brandon, Kayla

Dad's Christmas Card is Ready!

2007-12-06T22:30:00.002-05:00

Now to figure out a way that he won't open it until we are there--I HAVE to see his face!

Check it out! I think he'll love it! :)

National Day of Mourning 2007

2007-11-25T23:57:00.000-05:00

We were blessed with beautiful weather for our "Thanksgiving Day" celebration. The ceremony and speakers were wonderful and very moving. I was also impressed by the wide variety and age range of supporters that showed up for the gathering. It was such a spiritual event--maybe just that connection to my ancestors and heritage--maybe the connection to a lifestyle that makes sense. Whatever the case, this is going to be a yearly tradition.

Our ancestors and "past friends" were invited to join us and their presence was clearly felt. I went through two sets of fully charged batteries and half of a third set--just while on the hill (this would have been for approximately forty pictures--whereas, normally, one set of batteries would take AT LEAST one hundred pictures). Some suggest that spirits drain electrical sources while gathering energy. At any rate, my camera regained momentum upon leaving the hill and reuniting at Plymouth Rock.

We participated in overtaking the streets of Plymouth and marching to the first church in Plymouth (and likely America) for the dinner. A meal was provided for the gatherers; we didn't stay long though because space was limited and we chose to give our seats to others. It was all good though since Laura prepared a feast that we took with us to Nikki's! ;)

The drive home was equally beautiful (albeit, LONG--the normal eight hours from RI turned into ten; thanks to shoppers, hunters, holiday traffic + the normal commuters). These are mostly just sky pictures from our trip home (clouds, rainbows, the sunset); some of those other things in life that fill me with feelings of peace and serenity... Click here for my Plymouth pictures from July 2007.

Halloween & Dia el los Muertos

2007-11-04T02:22:00.003-05:00

The plan was to go to Wal-Mart and have a family photo session done with us in our American McGee's Alice costumes. We arrived a few minutes late, waited a very long time, but the photographer remained MIA. We did offend a significant number of Wal-Mart shoppers, which I suppose made the trip worthwhile--however, the whole idea was to have these wonderfully disturbing images to send out with the Christmas cards this year. And of course, ultimately, since Dad refuses to have photos of his children amongst their family photo gallery--a very large, elegantly framed photo was to be one of his Christmas gifts. Damn missing Wal-Mart photographer--that would have been so cool!

So, instead, we had Therese and Johnny catch some family poses (these ones won't be used, but are still fun to check out) and we will be picking our Christmas photos from these (including the picture for Dad)--suggestions would be appreciated--we have the final choices narrowed down to these nine (numbered for your suggestion convenience)... The backgrounds aren't as cool as the waterfalls, fall foliage, Barbie and other backgrounds we would have gotten at Wal-Mart, but they'll have to do.

Old Town, Winchester, Virginia (Saturday, October 27). Random trick-or-treating shots in Old Town (including James trying to juggle and his scary encounter with a mechanical ghoul). Random buildings in Old Town and houses in Winchester (unfortunately my batteries died and the charged ones were trapped in the back of the Exploder). Before and after trick-or treating pictures, including our dinner at Glory Days (a FANTASTIC dining experience with food to die for + they still treated us like royalty, even though we were bloody, gory and toting two young kids--highly recommended--request Rick, he's the best!).

Family pictures that I stole from Jennifer's computer, Jennifer's car after the nice policeman plowed into Matt and pictures of the kids on Halloween day.

Dia el los Muertos at Michele's (Friday, November 2nd). Our journey included a trip to the liquor store (Blue Nun for the dead, resurrected priest & Fish Eye for Jesus--wine, of course)--which almost got us lynched...

Clerks: "Halloween party?"

Priest: (funny look) "Um... Halloween is over..."

Jesus: "Day of the Dead."

Clerks: (scared looks--wondering if we are planning to go dig up corpses or something equally heinous) The stares and dirty looks continued as we walked out and got into the Flair Mobile. Some people just don't get it...

Michele's pictures are great--she's got some REALLY interesting ones! Plus, we managed to get LOTS of goggle pictures. Anyhoo, we toyed with the idea of having the theme be religious figures for Halloween in April--but I'm thinking we'll stick to the Alice theme. While bloody Alice in Wonderland offends almost everyone, it's nothing compared to what just two religious icons brought about! C'mon guys, you don't think God has a sense of humor???

Glimpses from a Small Piece of the Appalachian Trail

2007-10-30T21:40:00.000-05:00

Our trip to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Pictures from the trail (mostly of trees, some odd pods and some asphalt), the trail II (I know not all of you love the woods and trees as much as I do, so I have broken this album into several smaller ones), the trail III.

Some of the views from the overlooks, views along the drive (excluding the idiot that tried to kill us) and some random shots of the hiking crew. Our journey ended with Matt carrying Asa, Jennifer piggy-backing James, and me trying to keep Boots from going after the stick-carrying child and her power-walking mother. An awesome hike overall--next year, back-packing/camping! October 28, 2007

R.I.P.

2007-10-29T01:05:00.000-05:00

Never forgotten...

Last Days of Fall

2007-10-24T23:34:00.000-05:00

Our little hike back County Line Road, Brockway, PA.
We didn't get lost. It wasn't the Apocalypse. But we did
make a porcupine chatter and we put up new sardine
windchimes along the way. We trespassed. We saw the
naked neighbor clothed and cruising around on his trash
truck. He wasn't wearing goggles though...

Good clean fun for all! October 21, 2007

The Long Awaited House Photos...

2007-10-20T23:28:00.000-05:00

Some photos are ready; more are on the way... Sorry it is taking so long. There are some pretty strange "before photos"--most are taken of flaws because they were taken while I was still debating the purchase. You know, looking at the upstairs “before photos,” I think maybe they let the kids design and choose the color schemes… *SHUDDERS* What were they thinking? There’s no transitioning between the rooms—they absolutely clash and make the other rooms look even worse (hard to believe, but yes, it is possible).

In fact, between the filthiness of the house, the bizarre paint jobs, and the way the repairs took place—I am now convinced that this is the “Lord of the Flies House.” There never was an island—the story was based on this house! Surely no adults ever lived here! No adult would permit such atrocities! This was a house controlled by children—there is no other logical explanation!

Anyhoo, to celebrate my one year anniversary of being a home owner (September 13th)--here are the long awaited house photos!

Downstairs
Kitchen: Before and Now
Dining Room/Library: Before, Inbetween and Now
Office/Ferret Room: Before and Now
Downstairs Bathroom: Before and Now
Guest Room: Before and Now
Mudroom: Before and Now

Upstairs
Living Room: Before, Inbetween and Now
Master Bedroom: Before, Inbetween and Now
Master Bath: Before and Now
Gameroom: Before and Now
Playroom: Before, Inbetween, (Not finished yet)
Room Transitions: Before and Now

Pete thought that it would be great to add my bizarre stuff to her horrible paint jobs and to sit back and watch the chaos that surely would ensue. The “inbetween” photos give you an idea of what my house would have looked like if I had taken Pete’s advice. The Meditation/Playroom is still in the inbetween phase because I haven’t painted it yet—hopefully this winter…

Anyhoo, the inevitable question, why so many pictures? Insurance purposes. When my apartment on Main Street flooded, my apartment photos were a absolute blessing! Anyhoo, if you notice any links that aren't working (there are a few more here than I am used to dealing with), let me know. Thanks!

RenFest 2007

2007-10-18T21:26:00.000-05:00

The Renaissance Festival in Pittsburgh re-opened last summer--Heather, Garrett and I made it down for Mardi Gras weekend.

They replaced the Mud Show :( --the Mud Show was my very favorite-- with Washing Wenches, which actually turned out to be pretty cool (A LOT of adult humor).

They had another new attraction--the bell guy. It's really hard to describe--eerie, but beautiful all at once. The instrument manipulator reminded me of those large winged bird people from the Beastmaster (think heads floating in the soup; swooping down and wrapping their wings around humans, digesting them and leaving just a pile of bones behind)--really creepy and cool.

I realized that I have never taken pictures of the jousting, so I also did that this year.

I captured shots of Steve Korpa's Bent Oak Enchanted Artifacts cabin (I'd love to do something similar on my property some day--I love this building)--he's also the one that made my finger trophy pouches (the mechanic & the princess fingers)--neat, neat stuff!

The scenery and buildings are still a large draw for me--I think the grounds are absolutely beautiful. And of course, the other spectators (including Green Tara--not a tree!)--how could you not enjoy people watching at a Renaissance festival?! Sadly, no giant rabbits this year--but perhaps that is good--they HATE faeries...

And as always, photos and posts from past RenFests (including our five-year anniversary when Demetrius came along). I did check all of the links to make sure that they are still in order--amazingly, only two were no longer working.

Matt's Family Album

2007-10-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

February 2007--Matt and Jennifer's stay at Grandma's house (Matt, James, Asa, Grandma and Aunt Jeannie). Snow play at Dad's house (Matt, James, Asa and a brief glimpse of Dad convincing James to shovel for him). Hmm, no pictures from the stay at my house? What's up with that, Jennifer? :)

Asa's 1st Birthday--The traditional, messy cake eating pictures and others from Asa's party. Hey, look! Jennifer's actually in some of these photos (we won't ask what is so funny in her balloon picture)! (February 17, 2007)

Matt's last Navy tour--His ship pulling out from San Diego, CA. (April 4-July 2007)

Random photos of Matt that Jennifer has sent. Photos of James from 2007. Photos of Asa from 2007. Family photos from 2007. Photos of Boots. Pictures from 2006.

My Nevada Family

2007-10-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

I'm still waiting for Mickey to post pictures on her MySpace for me. Anyhoo, these are pictures of my niece in Nevada--Elizabeth Marie (12/2/04) and of my two nephews: Robert (1/14/93) and Bryson (8/7/98). Maybe I'll get lucky and Mickey will send pictures of herself and my brother, Luke, also! Yes, Mickey, that was a hint! :)

Sadly, these are the only pictures that I have of the boys, at this time--and they are super old--from 2004! And oddly, these are the only pictures that I have of Elizabeth. Guess that happens when there is so much distance between family members? But Mickey has vowed to send me newer pictures--I can't wait!

A Bunch of Different Albums

2007-09-27T21:23:00.000-05:00

A few pictures of Gettysburg, PA, from a conference that I went to at Hoffman Homes. I definitely need to do a real visit at some point~I can't believe that I live so close and that this was my first brief drive through! Very beautiful town...

My Reflection of Dreams dreamcatcher. Special touches such as two badger claws, two crow feathers, swan feathers, a piece of turtle shell and the regular accessories (horse hair, turkey feather, pheasant feathers, etc).

There is now a legitimate fear of my driveway. Check out the pictures from that scary Saturday night when a multitude of people became trapped in my house as we attempted to find a tow truck to remove the car straddled across my driveway. No, it was not due to alcohol--it was the result of a friend backing out of my driveway in the dark for the first time--never an easy feat! At any rate, due to a pipe that had strategically placed itself in front of the tire that backed over the ledge, a tow truck was the only possible way to free ourselves...

Stunning pictures that Nikki took of the Atlantic Ocean--these are fantastic! Plus new pictures of the lobotomy lamp.

Photos of some of my before and after garage sale finds. I'm never quite sure if they are going to be worth the work that I inevitably put into them; but these ones panned out nicely. The antique stove actually belonged to my parents before I was born, but they eventually went modern and it sat in my grandma's storage for the next 30+ years (and apparently was a fine home to squirrels and spiders alike).

Some pictures that Stein took--mostly neat photos of Denmark (Jylland, Kobenhaven, Amalienborg, etc)--but also some cute photos of her babies, Magnus and Milo. Keep an eye out for Milo as he is becoming quite the poster boy for blue British Shorthairs! Also, Stein has finally started her own picture blog (Hooray! Way superior to mine) and while you're at it, check out her regular blog, too.

Photos of the bizarre and creepy doll that lurked in Michelle's old basement. It sat up on a ledge, out of reach, but was the first thing that you saw when you opened the basement door. There were other creepy toys that hung around and moved on their own free will, but I wasn't willing to hang out down there any longer than I did!

My own creepy little doll, Ringo from the Beatles. He may have been neat back in 1964 when he was created (currently only worth $100 in mint condition); but my lucky fellow was painted to resemble Mr. Rogers at some point, making him completely valueless. Except in my eyes, of course, I still think he's pretty cool!

And of course, those random photos that didn't quite make up their own album...

Connecticut

2007-07-07T20:21:00.000-05:00

Mystic Seaport~home of Seamen's Inne~some of the worst expensive food I've ever had~but what a super fun name! ;)

The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration. My favorites? The fruit bat cave during feeding time (watermelon) and of course, the blowfish! :) Check out more at the Mystic Aquarium website. I particularly enjoyed their PT109 display and artifacts. Maybe it is because my Grandfather was in the Navy during WWII or because both of my brothers are currently in the Navy; perhaps it was the experience of standing next to an elderly gentleman and overhearing him whisper to his wife that JFK "was truly a hero," as he wiped tears from his eyes and knowing that he likely lived through the war himself; maybe it was just the fact that I hate that my brother is out on the ship right now and I just want him to come home... whatever the reason, I found it to be a very emotional display as well.

And of course, I didn't have a cemetery from Connecticut yet and we happened upon this beautiful one in Mystic and had to grab a few shots. There were A LOT of photos, so I created a separate album for Nikki's photos (but don't worry, there are not as many photos as there were from the aquarium).

Massachusetts

2007-07-07T17:33:00.000-05:00

We did the trip to Plymouth and visited "the rock." This year's National Day of Mourning will be celebrated on November 22, 2007, at noon. I am toying with the idea of making the trip if anyone is interested in joining me. Click here for links regarding the history of the first Thanksgiving and Plymouth Rock.

As we overlooked Plymouth from Massasoit's statue on Cole's Hill, we were serenaded by the lovely sound of Scarecrow Hill. As we gravitated toward the music, we discovered that not only are they an awesome band, but they were putting on the show to support our troops and also had a food drive under way. Check out their official MySpace or for the Scarecrow Hill fan site, click here.

And since I did all of the really cool MA cemeteries in 2005, I decided to post another type of memorial. For those of you that are still convinced that MySpace is just for kiddos or believe all of the Oprah "MySpace is Evil" hype~you may not be aware of the numerous MySpace memorials that exist. As you know, I am fascinated by how people chose to immortalize their loved ones. From the stones and inscriptions that are chosen, the gifts and offerings that are given, to the poems posted in the newspapers on anniversaries.

They say that grieving is a private process, but I believe that part of what moves us beyond the grieving stage is sharing our grief with others and knowing that we are not alone in our loss. The Internet and MySpace have opened so many new doors for the grieving process and I wanted to share this with those of you that are not aware of these sites.

I often recommend that my clients write letters to their deceased loved ones and MySpace makes this an acceptable practice and creates a wonderful tribute. It allows family and friends to connect and share their stories in new ways that were never possible before. Please don't believe that I am macabre in choosing to view these sites (or because of my love for cemeteries, for that matter)~it is simply an understanding of grief and the healing process. So anyhoo, enough said, please meet Brittany of Scarecrow Hill fame.

Rhode Island

2007-07-07T04:20:00.000-05:00

A glimpse into Nikki's apartment in Cumberland, Rhode Island. 500 miles/8 hour drive from my door to hers...

The Monastery in Cumberland. Beautiful place; home to a tree that perhaps grew into the metal fencing surrounding it (reminded me of the gate/tree in Richardsville, PA) and a tree that has grown a unique bond with the rock next to it. Also home to numerous "haunted spots," including the gravesite of nine monks killed by Native Americans. It was pretty cool because Nikki only knew that it was in the woods~yeah, the place is surrounded by woods, with paths in all directions! Yet somehow, we walked directly to the tomb. Check out this site for more information about the Monastery hauntings.

We drove all over Charlestown, Exeter, and other parts of Rhode Island searching for the Narragansett Indian Longhouse; the Narragansett Indian Meeting House/Church (I REALLY wanted to see that); the Tomaqauq Indian Memorial Museum (we found it shortly after it closed for the day); and the Narragansett Royal Indian Burial Ground. We finally found the Royal Indian Burial Ground after pulling off on a goat trail (yay for Jeeps!) and hiking to the top of the hill with hopes that it might be up there (and it was~again, our inner GPS was serving us well). Apparently, the meeting house/church once stood nearby the burial grounds; however, it seems to have been destroyed while stripping the area. The longhouse has since been replaced by a community center. I'm not sure that I understand why a rock would be caged and protected in Plymouth; yet, sacred grounds get destroyed or aren't deemed worthy of marking at all...

Charlestown Beach (Swimming in the ocean on my birthday~oh yeah!)

Fireworks in East Providence (I love fireworks over water~the reflections are so cool!) Thanks to Ms. Stein for requesting that we get pictures~normally I wouldn't; but some of these turned out hella cool! Be sure to check them out!

Next trip, I'll get photos of Little Compton and Sakonnet (still the most beautiful part of Rhode Island, in my opinion) and hopefully some from Bristol, too. Anyhoo, I'll be posting photos from MA and CT over the next couple of days and eventually, my house photos and a whole slew of other albums will be appearing~so keep checking back! :)

The Mist

2007-07-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

These pictures are just strange. This happened sometime toward the end of April because it was close to the "multiple birthday" (April 22nd--Lela, Kama, Nancy, Don and Earth Day). I remember that because Don was killed in December of 1999 and I was trying to figure out if there was a significance regarding the date this happened.

I had recently finished painting the family room and was taking pictures with my cell phone. I noticed that there was an annoying bright blue thing that was popping up in the lower left hand corner of the photos. I'm still guessing that it was a string or something since it appears in essentially the same spot each time. I'm chalking the orb-like spots up to being reflections from my flash.

However, had it not been for the bright blue light and my irritation, I would never have noticed the "blue mist" that my cell phone was picking up. Once I noticed that and started following it with my camera and catching shots, the bright blue light went away. I kept these photos in the original order, they are completely untouched, and I took photos in other spots to show the difference and to show that it wasn't my camera.

I first noticed the mist by the closet and then it moved to the right hand side of my sofa and finally to the middle of the sofa. The whole experience played out over about half an hour's span of time. Perhaps this is nothing big. But there is also the factor that a water globe in the game room began playing extremely slowly, by itself, as I was photographing the mist. It's a Beatles Yellow Submarine wind-up globe (so it can't be blamed on batteries and it hasn't been wound since long before I moved here) and it played so slowly that it would play a fraction of a note, pause for 20-30 seconds and then play another fraction.

Maybe you can explain everything; but I can't. I would chalk it up to crappy cell phone pictures and any number of things, had it not been for the globe playing at the same time~which would have been slightly weird even without these visuals occurring. I always have logical explanations for everything~but this one baffles me. I'd love to hear a good theory that makes sense...

I apologize...

2007-07-01T06:52:00.000-05:00

I haven't been able to upload my photos for quite some time and I apologize for the delay. However, we are up and running again and have TONS of photos that have been waiting to make an appearance. So keep watching over the weeks to come! :)

My 15 Pieces of Flair

2007-06-07T23:08:00.000-05:00

That just doesn't look good in my driveway--no
matter how good of a deal it supposedly was
(CARFAX had a different story to tell!)...

Yup, that's more my style!

Add a little flair and we are good to go! Okay, so
maybe I don't need 37 pieces of flair to express
myself--but I do have the required 15. Actually,
my Jeep has 22 pieces of flair, at the moment.
Disturbing, yes. I agree 100% and I hope that it
stops now... Anyhoo...

My 96 Blazer had a bit of flair, too. Yeah,
I suppose it is weird that I take pictures
of my vehicles, but I get attached! I loved
my Blazer (actually, they were the photos
from when I was trying to sell it). Here it
is with so much snow that I had to SHOVEL
it off (okay, I love big snow storms too, what
can I say + it is a reminder to my warmer
climate friends as to what they are missing
in PA and why they should come visit).

More pictures of my 03 Liberty. Despite any
comments I may get, it really does make
picking it out in parking lots SO much easier!
And finally, I've gotten a lot of requests, so
here is the link to the place that I got my
Spy vs Spy tire cover from.

Pet Pictures

2007-03-16T03:59:00.000-05:00

Ugh.

What's worse than that lady that is always dragging out pictures of her grandkids and you are never sure if they are boys, girls, or even human? Yup, that's right, my insane amounts of pet pictures! If you've seen one; you've seen them all!

Anyhoo, I can't stop myself from taking them and I know that at least Stein enjoys them~so here are yet more pictures of the critters! :)

Anubis~destroying Mash's princess bed; hiding in the ferrets' tent; checking out the ferrets; hanging with Mash on the sofa and their adventures with the register covers (WEIRD).

Mash~thinking she has a new home and Mash's prayers for rain. Yes, she made it rain on the 4th of July and then Christmas, too--damn cat, wonder what she has been doing to make all of this snow?

Ferrets on laundry day~no hammocks!

From Coast to Coast--Christmas 2006

2007-02-09T03:34:00.000-05:00

In From Rhode Island
Photos from Nikki and Loki's visit over Christmas (man, Nikki takes some messed up pictures!). Photos that I took during Loki's visit. Photos of Nikki's Christmas gift + the first of many disguises to come. Photos from Nikki's blogs and MySpace.

In From San Diego
Photos from Dar and Nandy's visit over Christmas (Nandy took them--don't ask me!). Photos of their home in San Diego. Photos that I pirated off of their MySpaces and blogs. :)

KAMA!!!

2007-02-08T23:06:00.000-05:00

Kama was in from Hawaii over Christmas! I hadn't seen him in around five years, so that was hella cool. Plus, I got to hang out with his mom (that's Barb on the right and for those of you that haven't seen me in ages--yeah, that's me on the left!) and Greg--also very cool. It was a trip seeing the boys too; they are actually taller than Kama now (my pictures of them didn't save though--damn cell phone). Plus I met the dog version of Mash. Overall, a lot of fun!

Some sites Kama recommended checking out: Halloween in Lahaina 2006; More pictures from 2006; Halloween in Lahaina 1998; couldn't find the pictures of the spaceship that stretched across the street--but still a lot of cool photos here (not for the faint of heart). And since we are planning Halloween in April again this year (would that make it the 2nd Tri-Annual Halloween in April?), you may want to get some ideas for costumes while you are checking these out!

Kama mentioned that he dressed up as the X-Men's Wolverine for Halloween one year--hmm... Now that you mention it, he WOULD make an awesome Wolverine!

Jordon's Birthday 2006

2007-02-04T01:25:00.000-05:00

Amy decided that for Jordon's fifteenth birthday, she would torture her like our parents did to us at our birthday parties. Yup, I'm sure that we won't be seeing either of the boys that she brought ever again and I can't even imagine what they told everybody at school the next day!

SOCO 2006

2007-02-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Better late than never, pictures from our Spooky Ooky Camp Out 2006 (in fact, I am STILL waiting for Cindee to send me her pictures from 2005's SOCO) (HINT HINT). Pictures from this year's Spooky Ooky Walk and our visit to a Pet Sematary found in the woods behind Cindee's house. Speaking of such things, Heather also helped me find the final resting spot for my Pet Sematary during her visit. So come spring thaw I will be planting cremains...

Pictures of Cindee's Yard. There are a few new additions and cool things to check out. And for those of you that don't quite get my decorating style, check out these pictures of Cindee's house~SEE! I am not the only one out there!

And finally, the SOCO 2005 pictures in case you have forgotten and also the infamous blog entry from SOCO 2005. These are scary indeed!

Unbelievable Offer!

2006-12-16T17:39:00.000-05:00

You saw them on Mash's blog and wanted more...

Here are the unedited, for the first time ever, photos from the full bathroom scene.

Wait there's more!

See photos of the kitty by himself AND pictures of the kitty with Mash.

And if you click now, you can view photos of the kitty checking out the weasels!

Hurry!

These photos won't be offered again at such a low, low price!

Butler County Fair 2006

2006-07-03T07:51:00.000-05:00

Best birthday in a long time! Tractors, combine demolition derby, and other random photos throughout the day. School bus demolition derby 2006.

The Treehouse

2006-07-02T04:16:00.000-05:00

The inside rooms missing from the virtual tour (the bathrooms, closets, downstairs livingroom). The yard (top, sides, back) and the possible problems (basement, deck, drainage system).

Acreage, Indians, Ferrets & Farms

2006-06-25T21:31:00.000-05:00

DuBois/8.2 Acres/Stream/Pond/Wooded/Badass yard (these are a bit blurry due to the fact that we were doing a driveby--note the Blue Heron hanging out in the stream on the property).

Memorial Day 2006—New ancestors discovered (another Native American relation--my Great, Great Grandma (Minnie) on my dad's side--Seneca; but they tried passing her off as "Cornplanter Irish" since it wasn't fashionable to be married to an Indian in those days--hence my Great, Great Grandfather's nickname "Indian Joe."

My Cinnamon Girl—Meeting the business (she's a little ball of energy--these are the few pictures that I caught of her holding still).

A few more Coder Farm photos (mostly the property and pasture).

New ones have been added to Mash's, Rikki's and Link's albums, too.

Caves, Stages, Nests, Spongebob?

2006-05-29T00:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got my chance to check out a cave. I guess it only makes sense to explore the ones in Pennsylvania first! We hit some heavy construction and road delays and I was fearful that it would be a repeat of the Missouri situation and that we would get there as the last tour entered, but we made it on time. This one was pretty cool; you actually take a boat ride through it. Here are the photos from our day at Penn's Cave.

And as promised: photos from Mo’s graduation (I just discovered that my camera does have zoom—wish I had known that then); the nest as of Mother’s Day and finally: Does Spongebob promote fellatio? I'm sure most of us have heard the speculations as to Spongebob and the rest of the Bikini Bottom crew. These children's items certainly don't help matters (and yes, these are honest to goodness Spongebob products)...

Spongebob Pervert Pants (most of you have seen this in the flesh--for those that haven't, this is the top to a children's drink bottle--my friend bought one for her kid and was so offended that she poured old Bob's liquid into a regular cup and refused to let her daughter drink from Spongebob as manufactured--this was in 2003--I haven't seen one on the market since) and the Spongebob Sucker (a fitting companion to Spongebob Pervert Pants--this one swirls around in your mouth with the push of a button and the insertion of a few batteries). Okay, you have to admit--these do seem kind of strange to offer to young children!

Another Piece of Paradise

2006-05-16T00:09:00.000-05:00

Okay, here's that 20 acres that I have been raving about. This is the place I have dreamed of as home since childhood. The only thing missing is the little stone cottage...

Perfect for swimming, fishing, wading, playing, catching crayfish and salamanders, camping, kicking it at the camp-fire, relaxing, hiking, exploring, having spooky ooky campouts, meditating, soul searching, falling in love...

Since I went a bit photo happy--here are the main categories: the view from the road, the forest, the creeks, the stream, the railroad tracks, the inner view, the swimming holes--take your choice or be brave and view all 185 photos! :)

I'd Love You Forever...

2006-04-23T02:39:00.000-05:00

132 acre farm in Home Camp, Pa (a little east of DuBois).

Farm includes a house, 2 barns and 3 spring-fed ponds.

New furnace, fuel oil, septic system, electric, well and spring water.

Perfect for hunting, farming, living, camping or development.

To truly appreciate this place, you should enlarge each picture.
These pictures are tiny and don’t do the place full justice.
Upstairs: 4 bedrooms (2 large + 2 small) and a bathroom.

Downstairs: kitchen/diningroom, livingroom, den, sunporch.

Anyhoo, I think that this would be a lovely birthday present.

I'll let you keep your horses (or cows, goats, whatever) there.

Heck, I’ll give you a nice chunk of land to build your own house on…

My way of saying thank you!

It's only $375,000, but that is negotiable! :)

House Tours

2006-04-08T20:31:00.000-05:00

This blog posting has been screwy, so I apologize that this is just now getting posted. Not only did the previous post go all crazy, it made my whole blog go crazy.

Attempt #2: Not as detailed or with as much info…

House #1 was beautiful downstairs and recently remodeled (built-in shelves and other wonderful features all in knotty pine). But the upstairs needed work and there were numerous places throughout where the floors (and stairs) gave as you walked. Nope, no go.

House #2 didn’t even require me entering. It was cute and camp-like in the picture—in reality, bad location + the ceiling was falling in (YIKES).

House #3 is locally knu sous-commandant Marcos, pour reprendre les termes du journaliste de la Grange. Je reviendrai plus tard, après quelques lignes à lire sur la géniale imposture du sous-commandant Marcos, pour reprendre les termes du journaliste de la Grange. Don’t know. This is what my blog told me I posted. I told ya it was being screwy! On a more interesting note, this is also the house that I said put me in mind of the Amityville Horror.

House #4 is the Amish house. Would have needed way too much work--inside and yardwise. And regarding flack for wanting to live amongst the Amish: you try living with freaks like Manassas, Mudman, Beef, Sloppy Joe, Prego and all the others over the years and see if nice, quiet Amish neighbors don’t suddenly seem appealing to you too…

House #5 was almost a go. But the reality of needing all new windows, 10 rooms with most needing new plasterwork, the need for a new heating system, electrical work, the reality of heating a three-story house with 10 rooms—well, yeah. I can wait here a bit longer.

New Albums

2006-04-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

I scanned a few of my photos from the past 30 years and you may notice that there are pictures and albums in new places and new pictures in many of the previously posted albums.

I’ve also added a few new albums:

Check out some of the pictures from 2004’s Halloween in April. We didn't have Halloween in April during 2005 due to my school schedule and 2006 has been cancelled due again to insane schedules... Hopefully 2007 will see our next Halloween in April.

Just for fun, you might want to view Things That Make You Go Hmm… Be forewarned that some of the photos may frighten, disturb, or nauseate you. Others are just plain funny.

I’ve started an album of my favorite friends—however it is far from being finished and new pictures will be added over the next few weeks (or months—you never know with me). So expect new photos and other friends to be added on a regular basis (quite of few of my friends haven't been added yet because I haven't found the right pictures).

Snowy Nights

2006-02-24T00:50:00.000-05:00

It's nights like these that I miss Krishna the most. When the snow falls rapidly and everyone else is tucked away inside...
Heavy snowfalls, in the early morning, meant that we had the streets and the fresh, clean snow all to ourselves. Somehow, taking Krishna for a walk always turned into hours of snow play on these nights.
She loved lying down in the snow and having me cover her completely--she would then barrel out, just to do it all over again.
This may very well be the last snowstorm of the year. The days are getting longer now. The bright, early sun and the sound of birds singing means that my favorite time of year is coming to an end soon.
I hope that they have taken the time to play in the snow with her. There is really nothing quite like it.

I miss it more than words can express...

An Aunt!

2006-02-17T18:27:00.000-05:00

My new nephew, Asa Matthew (Matt and Jennifer's).

Born: 2/17/06
Time: 6:27 pm
Weight: 7 lbs 7 ozs
Length: 20.5 inches
Sign: Aquarius

Also in Virginia, my nephew, James Cameron (4/24/04) and pictures of James and Asa together.

I also have a niece in Nevada--Elizabeth Marie (12/2/04) (Luke and Mickey's) and two nephews: Robert (1/14/93) and Bryson (8/7/98). I don't get as many pictures of them though...

Christmas 2005 (Florida)

2006-01-15T22:45:00.000-05:00

Daytona
We spent every day at the ocean and playing along A1A. I guess I forgot to take pictures for most of this part. Anyhoo, here's what I did catch on film: Blue Springs Park in Orange City (where the manatees were); the bone bike at Froggy's (ridden by a drunk armadillo); the Boothill Saloon ("I'd rather be here than across the road"); across the road from the Boothill; and why yuppies should never go to the beach.

Gatorland
The raw steak flinging around to persuade the alligators to perform wasn't the greatest incentive since they were well-fed on the hot dogs that morons were throwing at them. However, the vultures knew to follow the crowds and were waiting to pick up the pieces and fight over them. Slightly eerie that no matter where you went, the vultures came along... Nonetheless, the vultures put on the best shows at Gatorland!

Orlando (including the putrid windchimes)
Random cool things downtown; our trips to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (with special albums for the Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue and the Macy's Parade recreation--which was quite creepy). Sadly, the Hiny Hiders and the broken toilet seat (long story) pictures didn't turn out.

Brief Overview of Dixmont

2005-12-10T23:59:00.000-05:00

Construction began on the Dixmont State Hospital on July 19, 1859 and its doors officially opened to 113 residents and their staff on November 11, 1861. A vision created by Dorothea Dix, the Dixmont State Hospital was a Kirkbride building, known for creating plans for asylums that promoted the mental healing of the residents.

Located on 406 acres, Dixmont was completely self-sufficient with its own power plant, water supply, postal office, butcher shop, gardens, and morgue—it required no contact with the world outside. At times housing over 1000 patients, the grand visions of better treatment for the mentally ill, soon decayed.

Dixmont closed its doors in 1984 and has since been the target of vandals, seekers of the paranormal and youth requiring a secluded place to be youth. More than 1,300 graves (marked and numbered on small stones) can be found in the woods surrounding the Dixmont hospital. The state of Pennsylvania plans to preserve the 1-acre cemetery where these former patients are buried.

As the buildings are being cleared of asbestos, they are being demolished to create way for the new Wal-Mart Supercenter (slated for opening in May of 2007). Demolition of Dixmont is expected to be completed early in 2006. Currently, only a handful of the old buildings still remain.

Pictures can be found in the links listed below--with the exception of the staff house. Perhaps Dixmont visitors did not think that it would have anything interesting to photograph? If anyone out there has photos or information on the staff house, I would be quite interested...

Anonymous Dixmont Pictures

2005-12-10T22:59:00.000-05:00

I received these photos on December 5th and thought that I would share them. It looks like they are pictures of a building that was torn down prior to our visit.

Our tours were of the main building that the patients resided in, the dining hall and of the building that housed the staff. Not to mention, an extensive tour of the grounds while searching for the cemetery...

The Dixmont Trip

2005-12-10T21:59:00.000-05:00

Where to begin? Four of us went—two of us got sick (headaches, nausea); all five of the cameras that we took went berserk (orbs in several photos and what appears to be smoke or fog in several others).

The vehicle that we took (and it wasn’t mine, so that wasn’t the problem) didn’t start when we tried to leave; there were parts of the buildings that we all felt weird vibes in…
Photos that I took are in albums contained within the links (ones with the date in yellow are by Sara). I left all of the photos exactly as I received them. Photos showing in the blog are by Brittany.

The outer views of the asylum are incredible (but I am curious as to the need for the excessively large ice bin). The Kirkbride buildings were amazing and it is sad to see that so few of them are left.

I also awoke to a weird experience the morning before our Dixmont trip... Connected? You decide.

Unplanned Destruction

2005-12-10T20:59:00.000-05:00

Vandals commandeered some of the construction equipment and took it upon themselves to do their own demolition, which cost thousands of dollars worth of damage to the machinery.

The Asylum

2005-12-10T19:59:00.000-05:00

Some of the inside views at Dixmont are a bit haunting. I took a full-roll of pictures within this building--however, there was no trace of many of them.
Most sites tell of Dixmont as a happy place and that everyone was just part of “one big happy family.” Dixmont housed patients for 122 years. 122 years. This entire time was flowers and sunshine?
Dixmont housed thousands of mentally-ill patients, mentally and physically disabled individuals, and many individuals that would be considered “normal” by today’s standards.

Dixmont was also home to rapists, murders and other violent individuals that society wanted rid of and didn't know what else to do with.
They couldn't be watched and contained all of the time. What crimes did they commit against the other patients?

The imprints could still be clearly felt within the walls.
All of my photos taken within the shower rooms and bathrooms are gone.

There weren't even black negatives showing where the pictures should have been--they simply weren't there at all.

Go figure.

The Quiet Room?

2005-12-10T18:59:00.000-05:00

There was rusty wire throughout this room (walls, ceiling, floor).

Guesses are that this was a padded room and that the padding had long since rotted away...

This room freaked me out and I did not stop long enough to get a photo. This was the only attempt that any of us made to capture this room.

Clearer photos can be viewed on some of the links below--in particular, "the wire room."

Dixmont Orbs

2005-12-10T17:59:00.000-05:00

It wasn't snowing on the day that we did our Dixmont tour and these pictures were taken inside of the building that housed the patients. Notice the star incorporated into the flooring. Brittany was standing on the star when she took these pictures. Pictures taken in other parts of the room came out normal. The orbs still appeared even after cleaning the lens.
Paranormal investigators go nuts over one of these spots in a picture--here we find an entire room full.

When Raw Fear visited Dixmont, they also discovered that their pictures had orbs in them. Decide for yourself...

The Belly of the Beast

2005-12-10T16:59:00.000-05:00

The dining hall had some of the most beautiful architecture on the grounds. We unfortunately did not view much more than the main dining room.
Other Dixmont sites that I have visited show pictures of large cages in the lower parts of this building. Our tour through the dining hall was quite rushed and consisted only of this floor.
Some of my pictures taken in the dining hall were quite strange.

I can offer no logical explanation for any of them.
Sara captured this odd picture; which is quite similar to many of the ones I took.

Smoke? Light?

I'm not really sure.

The Staff House

2005-12-10T15:59:00.000-05:00

Of all of the buildings, the staff house was the one that I was the most anxious to tour as we walked the grounds. We were told that it didn't house anything interesting. I beg to differ...

I can't even begin to tell you how creepy this building was... I got more bad vibes here than anywhere else on the tour. I haven't been able to find any information on it or other pictures of it.
There were huge drainage grates in the middle of each of the three floors, suggesting that this building was also hosed down. But it was the STAFF house. Why would they need to hose it down?

There was a gated and wired section that led to the attic. Surely patients wouldn’t have been in this building—why was the attic the equivalent of a large cage?
Each window in the attic had a chair in front of it, looking out. What purpose did this serve? Since the windows faced the back of the property, I’m guessing that looking out to monitor the asylum wasn't the plan.

More of the Staff House

2005-12-10T15:33:00.000-05:00

Hidden on the hill...

A home fit for Norman...

"No hole in my soul"

I really, really, really did not like this building...

Perpetrator

2005-12-10T14:59:00.000-05:00

Perpatraitor...
Perp-A-Traitor...

Yet another glimpse of the staff house. 122 years. 1000s of patients. Rapes, beatings, and other traumas occurred in one form or another.

Creepy, creepy place. I am almost positive that the Wal-Mart slated to be built there will be haunted… ;)

The Outer Grounds

2005-12-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

We also (unintentionally) visited the reservoir during our search for the cemetery.

Despite a treacherous hike through snow, mud, ice and across frozen dirt mounds--we did not find the cemetery which is cited as having approximately 1300 numbered graves.

A future trip is planned.

Dixmont Links

2005-12-10T12:59:00.000-05:00

A listing of links for those interested in locating additional history, photos and information related to the Dixmont State Hospital:

Dorothea Dix, Kirkbride Buildings, the Kirkbride Plan, and Dixmont as a Kirkbride building. 2003 Post-Gazette article reviewing the overall history of Dixmont (which includes a photograph from the cemetery), and "A self-sustaining city," a Post-Gazette article reviewing the nature of Dixmont's functional aspects.

Ohiotrespassers has interesting information and photographs of Dixmont. Gallery 3 contains morgue photos (already demolished at the time of our visit) and "the wire room." Their history section also includes wonderful old photos of Dixmont.

Ghoststudies Gallery presents 99 photos of Dixmont, including the mural that I searched for during our recent journey.

Opacity.us provides history and some fascinating photos.

Guerilla Tourism In Pittsburgh reflects upon the local legends regarding Dixmont.

The first episode of Raw Fear was shot at Dixmont. They also claim to have discovered orbs in the wire room and the same areas that we found them. They have pictures of the trip so that you can decide for yourself.

If you are truly interested, you can also purchase Raw Fear: The Haunted Asylum, the DVD that they filmed in the Dixmont Insane Asylum. It does have live footage of the morgue and really nice footage of the "wire room."

The Kitty

2005-11-25T22:32:00.000-05:00

Mashed Potato is believed to be a Himalayan/Siamese mix. A SPCA, severely flea-infested, drop-off (she couldn't even open her eyes because of the fleas)--Mash has been with me since 8/23/03. I met Mash while volunteering at the SPCA with one of my clients and couldn't get her out of my head. I drove back the next day and adopted her.

Mash's name was inspired by the discovery of Tom Robbins' books, which were the focus of that summer. Having devoured all of his books (and nothing else) in a relatively short time--one apparently also begins to think like him...

Anyhoo, Mash is a very vocal cat (takes after the Siamese side, in that aspect) and she feels that living with the weasels is the lowest of lows and that no cat should ever be subjected to such torment. She's a lousy bug-hunter and acts more like a dog than a cat. She faithfully waits by the door while I am gone; she follows me from room-to-room when I am home; and she comes when you whistle--Mash is just one cool cat.

You can check out her blog at Mad Mash Beyond the Litterbox.

The Current Business

2005-11-24T21:33:00.000-05:00

Sirius Black came to live with me on 7/21/07. Born on 4/23/07, Sirius was my first experience with baby teeth! Sirius is my only ferret from a breeder (Ravensnest Ferrets). He's a beautiful black sable hob (currently he looks like a regular sable). In keeping with his parent's names: RN's Fireball of FSF (chocolate hob) and FSF's Tootsie Roll of RN (chocolate solid jill) and also keeping in mind the Harry Potter theme that Ravensnest frequently uses; my little guy is named after one of my favorite characters in the HP books. He is fairly sure that Cinnamon is his ferret and has been obsessed with her since his first day here. He's growing into quite the little man and is especially fond of lying on his back and having his mommy rub his chest and belly. He's still intact (much to the dismay of my other ferrets and to the olfactory senses), but will be getting neutered closer to his first birthday.

My Cinnamon Girl was rescued on 6/7/06 from a very naïve animal hoarder. The stench was unbelievable. Dogs and cats everywhere imaginable. She meant well, but wow! Scary! She told me that the ferret was in such bad shape when she got it that its teeth were overgrown. She had to "give it stuff to wear its teeth down." Ferrets are NOT rodents, their teeth do NOT grow like that! I’ve heard of people filing ferrets’ teeth down or removing them altogether, but this is the first I’ve seen anything like it. She told me that the ferret would bite so hard that they would have to pry her mouth open with a metal file. She told me that she could not use Bitter Apple because it makes the ferret flip out and attack. The ferret even destroyed the Bitter Apple bottle. The lady's heart was in the right place, but I wish she would stick to cats and dogs. Weasel girl came home with me. What choice did I have? She's a total ball of energy and sometimes makes me crazy with her mischievous manner, but she is a sweetie none-the-less! Update 11/07: Cinnamon is still a little foot-biter and her energy levels haven't even dipped yet. She is always into everything and you can't turn your back on her! Cinnamon 2007.

Crimson Comet is named after an Australian comic book hero (so named for avenging the ticks that were almost his demise). His name was selected through an on-line contest (Monique picked that name). Found outside in a wood pile and surrendered to the SPCA, he was thoroughly covered in ticks to the point that they were life-threatening. He came to live here on 6/25/05 and is still working at overcoming his numerous fears and becoming a "normal" ferret. The other ferrets are helping him with seeing that there is to be no fear in a ferret's heart. Crimson has a sweet disposition (except towards Mash--I think he may be the true "cat killer" of the group) and everyone agrees that he is absolutely stunning. Update 11/07: Crimson shows no fear and no hint that he is anything but your normal ferret. He's still absolutely gorgeous! Crimson 2007.

Link #9 was already named Link when she came to live here on 6/11/04. Since she came here for dragging a kitten away and was feared to be a cat killer (plus she was the ninth ferret to come into my life)--she earned a #9 (for trying to steal the kitten's nine lives) after her name. Also, she was most unappealing and reminded me of a greasy link of sausage (song by Black Slaxx--33 Links of Sausage)--so she became Link #9 (The Cat Killer). She is the one ferret that not even the bullies will mess with. While she is loving and often keeps to herself--she is most savage if provoked. She has also lost the nasty, greasy coat and has acquired a soft, velvety one. Link is perhaps best known for her acceptance and welcoming of new ferrets when everyone else avoids or torments them. She also has a small, green, plastic frog that is "her baby" and she is often seen toting it with her throughout the house. Update 11/07: Link has been battling with adrenal disease, but it doesn't seem to have slowed her down. She still spends her time transporting plastic balls from one end of the ferret room to the other--when Cinnamon isn't tormenting her, that is! Link 2007.

Nanook of the North is named after an Inuit Eskimo known for his survival in the Arctic. Nanook overcame great odds and almost didn't make it. In his previous home, he survived cage escapes in an animal-unfriendly, Pit bull and Doberman-infested environment. Inactivity eventually claimed his back leg muscles (he would pull himself along with his front legs and had to receive physical therapy several times a day) and a burn in his mouth was preventing him from eating. Having dropped to an extremely unhealthy weight--it is believed that many of his brain cells were also lost. Nanook still tires easily and tends to be quite placid (not your average ferret). He has also become a bit of a glutton and is often found at the food bowl and even makes special trips to the cage so that he can eat while the others are out playing. However, after his first month of being kept alive solely with a heated wet food paste and a high calorie food supplement--seeing him eat on his own is still a happy thing (and he is able to use his back legs most of the time, now). Update 11/07: Nanook is finally gaining weight and becoming more active--he still pretty much has a zombie mentality though! Nanook 2007.

Winzig das Opossum (German for "tiny opossum") has been with me the longest of the current ferrets (12/13/02) and is the only one that came straight from the pet store to live with me. She is therefore known as "The Princess" since she has no idea about the horrors that most of her cagemates have lived through. She still had her own battle, early on. Having been spayed and descented too early, part of her female organs still remain which causes her problems from time to time. Winzig has also experienced the loss of more than a few of her cagemates. However, she maintains a positive, happy ferret attitude. Very dainty and delicate, one has to humor her (and try not to laugh) when she attempts to be ferocious. Update 11/07: Winzig has recently been discovered as the "Secret Biter." I'd hear tales of her biting and bad behavior from pet sitters and always thought they had her mixed up with someone else--my angel wouldn't act like that! Well, I've finally seen it with my own two eyes. She's still my special princess though! Winzig 2007.

Gone, But Not Forgotten

2005-11-24T20:47:00.000-05:00

RIKKI TIKKI TAVI 11/10/02-10/10/07
Named after the Kipling story about the mongoose--Rikki came to live with me on 5/21/03. Rikki was my only rescued ferret that did not come from a bad home--she simply needed a new home. Owned by a deaf family from Canada, along with four other ferrets, a dog, a cat, and several children--Rikki came to live with me when her owners moved to the states and couldn't keep their ferrets. Her signed name was either "Bear" or "Smelly" (because she liked to smell things).

Rikki loved to give kisses and knew the best hiding/sleeping spots in the house. She was also the one that removed the stuffing from the sofa arms to create "hammocks" for the ferrets to sleep in. Rikki had bowed legs in the front and never ceased to entertain us with her peculiar hop, but she never let it slow her down. Rikki crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge a month before her 5th birthday and only three days before Winzig's birthday. Rikki's last pictures.

BANTER BASHO BADGER 11/18/03-1/1/06
To banter is to playfully tease. Basho's a zen poet. Banter was a blaze ferret and had a badger-like appearance, as well as the feisty badger spirit. Always leaping and bouncing about (mouth open, teeth bared, appearing quite vicious); living to torment humans and weasels alike; he was secretly a little mama's boy at heart.

Banter came to live with me on Valentine's Day, 2004. He had been named Piranha for his love of latching on and vicious attacking (not to mention the many scratches and wounds suffered by his claws)--his first owner had him a grand total of five weeks before deciding that he was a holy terror and that she couldn't handle him. Even though he was only three months old when he came to live here, he was very nasty. Banter did eventually tame down and became quite the little cuddler. He could generally be found lying across my feet or anywhere that I was.

Banter was only a little over two years old when he died and the cause was unknown. I had gone away for Christmas and was gone for a little over a week. When I came home, Banter hid from me, for the most part. I assumed that he was mad at me for leaving. Two days later, I came home from New Year's dinner to find him dead in his cage. I guess I have to be grateful that it didn't happen while I was away and that I did get to spend a few brief moments with him before the end.

BARON WEASEL 1/3/03-5/9/05
Named after the weasel in "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George, Baron Weasel was a total Mama's boy. And sadly, he was a weasel that only a mom could love. Matt (my brother) and Sharon (long-time friend and now Slim's girlfriend) are the only ones that appreciated Baron almost as much as I did and saw how special he was. And maybe Pete, since Baron is the only one of my ferrets that never bit him...

Baron came to me in a rather odd manner. I received a phone call requesting that I take him because he was left behind when his owner went to college and his other cagemates had died. I met the owner's father at Uni-Mart, in DuBois. Baron (then named Charlie) was in a dufflebag sleeping and my first thought was that he was absolutely huge, stinky, and mean-looking! He came with no toys and laughed and chuckled upon his first tour of my apartment and all of the goodies just for ferrets.

I soon learned that Baron offered "Poison Kisses" (as Dar also discovered). Many ferrets will lick you as a means of offering kisses and love. Baron offered poison kisses, in that, if Baron started licking you, he was about to gnaw that body part off. Many attacks and bruises later, I realized that when Baron started licking you, get away! But regardless, he was a little cuddler and liked to snuggle up with me on a regular basis. Whenever I would rub his neck, he would get all fuzzy and happy--not many ferrets do this, most think you are trying to attack them and they go psycho!

Baron was also a terror to the other ferrets. His most favorite activity was dragging the other ferrets around by their necks and new ferrets would get grabbed and shaken as they were drug around. The poor new ferrets were generally terrified and would scream and end up soiling themselves. Baron just seemed to invoke fear no matter where he went.

Baron was scheduled to have a cyst removed on Monday, May 9, 2005. A year earlier, he had the tip of his tail removed due to having a nodule removed from it and the hair never grew back quite right, so he had a lovely "poodle-do" on his tail. He made it through that surgery okay and I hoped he would do okay with this one also. However, he began having trouble urinating that Saturday and when we went in Monday morning, I learned that his prostate was blocked. Due to his age (approximately seven years old) and the severity of his problem, I had to have him put down.

I would have never guessed that Baron would become such a special (and very missed) part of my life. He ended up being one of my all-time favorites. Banter still has difficulties too--Baron was his only playmate and his best friend.

BUD BADGER 9/25/04-5/6/05
Bud Badger (so named for his badger striped-head) wasn't with me for long, but his brief time with me was very special. He was a cuddler and spent many evenings tucked in my shirt as I worked on the computer.

Bud didn't get along with the other ferrets and had to be housed separately with his cagemate, Sassette. Occasionally, he would have it out with her too. With people, however, he was very gentle and loved attention.

He was rather old when he came to live with me (I'm guessing he was probably seven) and he had seizures throughout his time here. On Thursday, May 5, 2005--I came home to find Bud having a really bad seizure. He also had several strokes and experienced paralysis. I stayed up all night with him and had him put down the following morning.

Three days later, I lost Baron. Not the best of weekends--Mother's Day to boot...

DAS FRETTCHEN 1/26/02-3/19/04
A present for Blitzkrieg, das Frettchen (German for "the ferret") was everybody's favorite ferret. He was a ferret that could totally be trusted with anyone (except Pete, of course). He traveled with us half way across the United States for Matt's graduation from the Navy. He enjoyed car trips and would hang out peacefully watching out the window.

Dickey referred to him as "Depression," since he was unable to say his name (or Dickey being Dickey, he just didn't want to say it right) and he made special visits just to see this ferret. Dickey would actually get down on the floor and let this ferret crawl all over him and would spend hours playing with him. For those of you that know Dickey, you know how bizarre that is! :)

das Frettchen died at two-years old. We still don't know what the cause was and made weekly trips to the vet for fluid injections and new attempts to save him. Nothing helped.

I guess he was lucky to have those two years. das Frettchen was going to be sent back to the breeder (Path Valley) to be destroyed. The pet store (Pet Place, DuBois) felt that he was mean and aggressive and not fit to be a pet. His cagemates had been sold weeks earlier, he was caged by himself, and the workers were giving him raisins when he bit (rewarding the behavior--real smart). I persuaded them to let me take him (with the promise not to bring him back or sue them) and he tamed down within two days. Easily, the nicest ferret that I have ever owned.

BLITZKRIEG 2/19/96-10/15/02
Blitzkrieg (German for "lightning war") was my special little guy. He tried so hard to protect me from my abusive relationship. He would wait until the gentleman was sleeping and then would run up, bite him on the belly and run away. Eventually it came down to "the ferret goes or I go." Of course, there was no difficulty in making that choice.

Blitz gave up after Spaz died. He made it ten months and just quit. He quit eating, quit drinking, quit living. He couldn't deal with Spaz being gone. It was heartbreaking to see what he went through after Spaz died. It is for this reason that I will only have one ferret or many ferrets--I NEVER want to go through that again.

SPAZ 4/02/96-12/23/01
Spaz (because he was) was a present for Blitz. I was in college full-time and worked full-time, so I was worried that Blitz may be lonely. The abusive boyfriend decided we were getting Spaz, as opposed to his cagemates, because he was the only ferret in the group to bite me and apparently he was hoping to have a ferret on his side (it didn't work out that way though).

Spaz was diabetic and had numerous health problems, which was likely the reason he didn't live as long as most ferrets. He never totally bonded with people; his true love was for Blitzkrieg. Between the two of them, mass chaos ensued.

KOTO 6/22/89-2/19/96
Koto (named after one of the ferrets in the movie "Beastmaster") was my first ferret and a great little girl. I had her for eight years and she carried me through many heartaches and rough times (the move to CA, my mother's death, several years of an abusive relationship).

A very mean ferret when I got her, she paved the path for future ferrets to come and is responsible for my love of ferrets. Koto was the original sweater monster and was the runt of her litter, so she only had a stub for a tail. She went with me everywhere that I went and had great travel stories of her own. The number of people she bit is beyond count! :)

Sassette AKA Sassy

2005-11-24T15:48:00.000-05:00

Sassette and Buddy (soon to be renamed Bud Badger) arrived in September of 2004--right after my apartment flooded. The last thing I needed was two more ferrets added to the chaos; but they had no where else to go. Their cagemate, Link, had come to live with me several months before that (June 2004). Figuring that Link would be ecstatic to be reunited with her old cagemates, I reintroduced them. Sparks flew and it was discovered that Bud and Sassette didn't get along with other ferrets and Link wanted them dead.

Bud and Sassette were housed separately until Bud died in May 2005. At this time, I again reintroduced Sassette to the others. She didn't like them and they despised her. Sassette soon became the object of their torment. Link was mortified that Sassette had moved into her new home and led the other ferrets in a daily hate-filled series of attacks against Sassette.

On June 28, 2005, Sassette found a new home where she is the only ferret and has two cats to play with and torment. Sassette is the first and only ferret that I have ever adopted out--but it was completely in her best interest and it is something that I need to learn to do if I am ever going to have a ferret shelter. She is now know as Sassy (I always hated the name Sassette)--and it fits her well! She is doing well and I am able to visit her regularly.

Sassy also has her own blog now (full of cute pictures), which you can check out by following this link.

UPDATE 4/8/06: Sassy's home is now a two-ferret home (few ferret people can manage only having one), as she gained a new little brother, Loki, on March 31st. Sassy is reportedly not happy with the new addition and relishes in tormenting him!

FINAL POSTING 10/7/06: Sassy lost her fight with adrenal disease. This is her final posting on the ferret blog.

Much Loved and Missed

2005-11-23T23:02:00.001-05:00

While none of the following pets were ferrets, they have huge places in my heart and I hold out hope that they will be waiting for me on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge...

KRISHNA
Krishna is a Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound)--one of the tallest and fastest dogs known to man. They are in the hound group (sighthound) and have an odd, piercing wail as opposed to barking (reminiscent of the call of banshees). They are absolutely amazing and beautiful to watch in action (check out this video clip).

Krishna came to live with me on her first birthday. Since my meditating Buddha was the first of MANY of my belongings that she destroyed (Krishna being the black Hindu God) and due to her crazy long fur ("Hairy" Krishna)--Krishna fit. She suffered from separation anxiety (don't all of my pets) and was big enough that she was even able to remove items from my walls and destroy them. Any dog that can stand, put their front paws on your shoulders and still have their head be a good ten inches above yours is a big dog.

Due to the fact that I was working 12-15 hour days and she was home alone that entire time, I began seeking out a new home for her. Shortly after this decision, the roof of the apartment that I was living in caved in and I had to move immediately. I was unable to find any place that allowed dogs and the official wheels were set in motion.

Krishna went to live with an older couple that had a Borzoi in the past and longed for another one. They live in the country; have a large fenced-in yard and numerous small dogs for Krishna to romp with. The dogs have their own sofas and the woman does dog grooming. Her name is now Krista (better than Liza, as she came to me with, I guess). I still have visions of getting my house and land and Krishna coming to live with me again...

VINCE
Vince was a gorgeous German Rottweiler with a large head, clear expressive eyes, and a beautiful bone structure. Vince was almost three when he came to live with me. He had always had male owners and his behavior problems were in part due to his belief that he was the boss in my home. He came to me with the name Vince.

Vince hated all other animals--dogs, cats, ferrets, birds--if it wasn't human he would go mad trying to catch and kill it. He was also a large, powerful dog making it difficult to control him when he decided something needed to die. He killed all of the stray cats I had adopted and had been feeding. He attacked my landlady's boxer (thankfully we eventually were able to get him off of her dog and he ended up being okay). He nearly destroyed my TV one day because I was watching Animal Planet and upon hearing cats meowing, he thought there was a cat behind the TV and set out to find and kill it.

Vince was always angry when I went into the ferret room and would head butt the door (think Cujo) and would pee all through my house when I was in there. He "marked" several of my friends as his (including my roommate)--always fun when your dog lifts his leg and pees on your friends! Yet I loved him and tried to look beyond these things.

Vince was my sole companion after my six-year relationship ended. We walked through the State Game Lands daily. My car windows were covered in slime and drool on a regular basis. As for his aggression; I got him neutered, we went through obedience classes, yet nothing worked. While he loved people, his aggression did eventually begin to show towards me also. The next step would have been moving near Cornell University and hoping that they could help figure out and stop the aggressive behaviors--thousands of dollars that I didn't have...

As I mentioned, Vince was my sole companion for quite some time. What finally pushed him over the edge was when I brought home a guy that I liked a little more than just friends. While Vince adored the guy too, he had issues with losing his place as the "main man" in my life. He became increasingly aggressive and began snapping at me also. Eventually I had to have him put down.

I was unable to take the chance of him attacking a human the way he did other animals. He didn't give me a choice, when he started turning on people. Perhaps you would have to understand the sheer strength this dog possessed. I tried everything I could. There is nothing more difficult than taking a beautiful, healthy animal that you love dearly and is in the prime of its life and ending it.

I still miss him more than I should and cry over him even now. I never loved a dog as much as I did Vince and I have a special place in my heart for rotties as a result. While I hope to have another someday--there will simply never be another dog quite as special as Vince was.

GOITER
Goiter was an abused iguana that a friend had brought to me. He had burns all over his body, including his jaw and was starving to death because he couldn't open his mouth to eat. For weeks, he survived by having liquid minerals run along the outside of his mouth with the hopes that some of it would be ingested. He earned the name Goiter because of the appearance of having goiters all over his body.

Goiter never grew in length over the years, but he did end up becoming a beautiful iguana with few visible scars remaining. He was a gentle fellow, could be held by anyone and frequently slept upon my chest. He wasn't the brightest pet that I've ever had, but was certainly one of the sweetest.

RAZZMATAZZ
Razzmatazz came to live with us as a kitten. His mother was a large full-blooded Siamese and his father an unknown wanderer. When our mom took us to pick out a kitten, he crawled onto my lap and the rest is history! He was so little when we got him that he would stand in the opening of Kleenex boxes and shred the tissues with all four feet. Eventually he grew into a 25+ lb cat that we could count on to console our tears and he became part of the family. He was named after a prize-winning Samoyed.

Razz was with us for sixteen years. When my youngest brother turned eighteen, we had to have Razz put to sleep due to old age. Matt and I went together to have Razz euthanized and buried him together. As Matt put it, we grew up with Razz--he was our connection to childhood, youth, and family--Razz's passing was like our mom's way of saying that we were all grown now and no longer needed watching over--Razz was free to go.

The Kids

2005-11-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

You may notice that Mash and several of the ferrets do not have many photos exclusively of them. This does not reflect any preferential treatment (as Mash would have you believe). They all have numerous photos of just them; however, not all of those photos are available on-line.

Also, while the ferrets are not jealous creatures (they are just out to have a good time)--I did list their personal stats individually in alphabetical order to prevent Mash from trying to stir up hostile feelings. They suggest that you check out their blog, Wacked Weasels, to learn the truth that Mash doesn't want you to know. However, their blog is a bit dry--odd little creatures--I would advise against reading it.

Here you will find photos of the ferrets as a group. Being the social creatures that they are, it is pretty rare to find a weasel off by itself. They have discovered that they generally can create more chaos when they move together as a group. This also seems to help prevent Mash attacks.

While Mash clearly hates the ferrets and is quite jealous of them--they also feel that she is often nasty to them for no reason. Mash and the weasels just seem to have one of those volatile relationships that there is no hope for. Mash has the Godmommy, Uncle Jim, Heather and many others believing that the weasels are horrible creatures that abuse her and make her life unbearable. Judge for yourself who has it worse--the ferrets or Mash.

Winzig's 3rd Birthday Party

2005-11-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

9 out of 10 ferrets agree... Converse Rule! And this was against the world famous Skechers, rubbed on and loved by cats everywhere! My favorite picture? When the ferrets are yelling at each other to get up and party!

Also, photos of what happens when the landlady refuses to turn on the heat...

Mash's Evidence

2005-11-13T14:05:00.000-05:00

Mash's proof that the weasels really torment HER...

The Gatekeeper

2005-11-12T04:28:00.000-05:00

Mash's "new game" AKA proof that she DOES terrorize the ferrets. The first thing the groggy, waking weasels want to do after getting out of their cage is to follow mom to the kitchen and drink out of the community water fountain.

Mash, who has realized this opportunity to attack the dazed weasels, sits behind the livingroom curtain waiting to pounce on and chase the ferrets as they attempt to pass through.

Guaranteed to raise a fuzzy tail on the weasels and increase their odds of premature heart attacks, it is such abuse that leads to the occasional leap and nip from the ferrets.

And if she is brazen enough to do this in front of me, you can imagine what the weasels go through when Mash knows that I am not watching...

Spidey Web Snapper

2005-11-10T17:31:00.000-05:00

Not for the faint of heart; I caught Spidey in the act of trying to escape. Pretty lucky that he is so big and top-heavy...

I had one other Rose-Hair escape and they are a bitch to catch! :)

Good Charlotte

2005-11-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

These are my first successful photos of Good Charlotte and this was also the day of her first "official" human contact (I couldn't resist--she is so soft and pretty).

I also had to share this description I found regarding my beloved Charlotte (my Sunburst Tarantula):

Animal Description:
They are often called "Orange Demon Spiders" and "The Orange Bitey Things" because of their speed and aggressive natures. Because this tarantula is so aggressive it is often not recommended for beginners. When feeding, it is recommended to feed through a sliding door at the top of the enclosure to prevent bites and escapes.

About 14 to 15 centimeters in length, the Usambara Orange Baboon is an average sized spider. However, its size is the only thing that's average about it! They are a fiery, deep orange or red in color, with dark marks on the abdomen and cephalothorax. Paired with their extremely quick speeds, they often resemble a ball of fire.

Poor Charlotte! What a reputation! After all, she is my GOOD Charlotte!!!

However, if she escapes (as Mash seems to be encouraging)--she may become that little demon that they speak of! And I suppose I should probably keep her lid on more often...

Wooly Bully

2005-11-10T10:18:00.000-05:00

These pictures are really fuzzy--I will keep trying. Anyhoo, this is Wooly Bully (a Wooly Tarantula) on the day that I brought him home (November 23, 2005). He was so tiny and cute, not much bigger than a quarter. My, how quickly he has grown up!

Wee Weasels!

2005-11-02T03:16:00.000-05:00

If I would have been able to get a ferret from Ravensnest Ferretry, one of the hobs in these pictures would soon be living with me. These are the results of the Phoebe/Moose (his last) breeding.

Moose also has a really gorgeous son, Oscar. Maybe they'll breed him in next couple of years and I'll still be able to get one of the "Mooselets." Seamus, the huge champagne male that they would not let me "ferretnap" is a Mooselet, too.

Dia el los Muertos

2005-10-31T22:02:00.000-05:00

We got our mom's headstone 3 1/2 years ago (Mother's Day 2002) and this is the first time that I have taken pictures of her cemetery. One thing that I especially love here is the view of the countryside.

Beulah Land--2nd Viewing

2005-10-31T22:01:00.000-05:00

These were taken on Halloween and show Beulah Land as the leaves were changing and falling.

The clearing of the forest also provided a glimpse of headstones that are hidden within the woods the remainder of the year. Some were still impossible to get to, due to briar patches and other such forces of nature.

My Day With Jules

2005-10-29T22:56:00.000-05:00

Edeburn--This was the first of our stops. Juli was attacked by a tree and she showed me the grave that attacked her sister on their last visit.

Halton--We couldn't remember exactly where this one was located--miraculously, Juli spotted it from across the river while SHE was driving. How she spotted it, I will still never know... Crazy. Totally crazy. This cemetery is interesting because it is primarily children--there are three adults in the entire cemetery--all of the rest are young children. Even though the graves are from the early 1900s, several had gifts of children's toys on them.

Munderf--This one is home to Ben's site.

Richardsville--The most interesting part of this cemetery was a tree that had grown around an old iron fence becoming an interesting hybrid of metal and living organism (another of Juli's odd discoveries). Perhaps it is a magical doorway to some unknown land... Also, the Baptist Section of the cemetery.

Beechwoods--This cemetery was my main inspiration for celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

The random photos along the way.

Finding Ben

2005-10-28T23:17:00.000-05:00

My strange sighting occurred at the Munderf Cemetery. We drove along its roads with no intentions of getting out; it wasn’t the most exciting place I have ever been to. However, I spotted a tree, at the top of the back section of the cemetery that I wanted to photograph. We parked by the tree and upon getting out, I couldn’t find a shot that I liked.

Since we were there, Juli decided to check in on the sites of some of her ancestors. I began walking down the hill into the center of the cemetery. I found myself drawn to the back row and spotted a stone of interest. I took several photos from the middle rows, looking out across the horizon and then approached the grave.

It was the only stone that I approached in the entire cemetery. I had never been to the Munderf Cemetery, but had driven past it numerous times. How it is that of all the stones in the cemetery, I ended up at this one is beyond me. I can’t begin to explain how strange this was, but it made the hair rise on the back of my neck.

For six years, I heard about Ben. His passing had a huge impact on many lives—most of all, my boyfriend of the time. He told the story often as we passed the cemetery. Yet despite his grief, we never stopped to visit.

They were eleven when Ben was killed. He was hit by a car and died instantly. My boyfriend never got over it. It was his first experience with death and the loss of a close childhood friend. Perhaps this was part of his anger and rage. I do not know.

I still haven’t mentioned this to him or any of his family. It was all just too weird.

How or why these things happen, I can not say. It seemed a little bit beyond odd coincidences, in my book, though. The pictures turned out pretty cool--note the rainbow in the final picture--beyond words...

Fright Night

2005-10-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

The rest of the pictures from Station Scare. Also, the bleeding walls that I came home to.

Russ Streiner and John Russo

2005-10-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

Our brief brush with fame. Streiner (left) co-produced and played Johnny in Night of the Living Dead. Co-writer, Russo, (right) also played a zombie.

Autographs and photos with two of the zombies and big wigs from the original Night of the Living Dead... Are we lucky gals or what?!

The Lost World

2005-10-22T19:10:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when you let me lead. I'll get us lost, through some unknown door, into an unknown area full of scary beings...

In this case, a wrong turn made us miss half of the Night of the Living Dead Farmhouse and we ended up in a restricted area. Of course, since there were interesting things in the restricted area and we had cameras (which we later found out were also restricted), we decided to stop and pose.

At any rate, the trip down Dinosaur Alley was a fun one and we were really surprised by all of the extra rooms the second time through the Farmhouse & Cemetery! Even on our third and fourth trips through, we never did quite figure out how we ended up here!

Nikki Meets Her Hero

2005-10-22T18:27:00.000-05:00

Rather eerie, hazy, almost as though a snapshot of a dream...

We almost got poor Freddy fired, but Nikki got her photo!

Beaver Cemetery & Mausoleum

2005-10-09T03:23:00.000-05:00

Photos of where my beaver was laid to rest... Not really--don't wig on me! :)

Seriously though, this is a beautiful cemetery, with some of the most incredible mausoleums that I have ever seen (252 Crypt Addition Completed!!!)--especially note-worthy is the Leaf Mausoleum and we did catch some inside shots of it also...

Beulah Land 2005

2005-10-04T13:56:00.000-05:00

Located in Reynoldsville, PA--this secluded little cemetery is literally located at the dead end of a wooded country lane.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the journey along this back road is the fact that graves and headstones are randomly scattered throughout the woods and along the hillside. This goes on throughout the several mile journey to the actual cemetery.

These photos were taken in late August while the woods were still lush and full. A future trip is planned in mid-autumn (perhaps for Halloween or All Saint's Day) when the leaves have fallen and the hillside and headstones are visible.

My Favorite Person on Earth

2005-09-30T22:22:00.000-05:00

This is my brother, Matt and his bearded dragon, Herman. Since I don't have this photo in an album--it will just have to go in as it is...

There is an album of his wedding photos above. Additionally, around 2/12/06, pictures of his first-born will be added!

The Twelve-Minute Wedding

2005-09-29T03:20:00.000-05:00

Twelve-minute weddings rule! Being Maid-of-Honor AND giving the bride away in jeans, a t-shirt, and Chuck Taylors was also pretty bad ass! Anyhoo, here are a few photos from the big day! Would you believe that Molly is 4 1/2 months pregnant in these pictures?!

Molly and I have been friends for 17 years now (since October 1988)--which is pretty amazing considering how much I moved around and how many people I have lost touch with over the years. The only friends that I have had longer are Kim and Shauna (both from C-L--although Shauna now lives in Utah), I've been friends with them since the nineth grade. I still keep in touch faithfully with them, too.

Demetrius Goes To A Renfest!

2005-09-24T03:27:00.000-05:00

This year was a little bit different. The original Renfest group (Cindee, Heather, and myself--first visits, Summer of 2001), regrouped for our five year anniversary of attending the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. Demetrius made a guest appearance this year and insisted on having his photo taken in all kinds of weird places. Fun photos! Also nice shots of my favorite--The Mud Show's, Mud Pit!

The Best Road Trip Ever!!!

2005-09-15T19:52:00.000-05:00

Thought to be the second oldest cemetery in the nation, Old Burying Point Cemetery (Salem, MA), is noted for its grim, Puritan-style headstones. Adjacent to the cemetery is the Witch Trials Memorial, dedicated in 1992 (the 300th anniversary of the trials) by Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel.

The House of Seven Gables (Salem, MA), built in 1668, is the oldest surviving wooden New England mansion. I would love to show you the horse hair insulation (337 year-old horse hair--crazy!) or the staircase going up a chimney that we were forced to climb if we wanted to see the attic; however, photos of the interior of the house were not permitted. But I guess it wouldn't be the same without the panicky, claustrophobic, suffocation that one feels while actually climbing the staircase (thankfully, we didn't have to go back down it). Nearby is Nathaniel Hawthorne's birth home, moved to the site and restored to its 1808 appearance.

Bunghole Liquors and other fun photos from Salem, Massachusetts. Pictures from the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. A really beautiful cemetery, the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (Concord, MA) is where Author's Ridge is located (final resting place of Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson). Random photos from Concord and Fall River, Massachusetts (including Emerson's home).

The outer view of Lizzie Borden's house in Fall River, Massachusetts and the inner tour of what is now the Borden Bed & Breakfast where we intend to stay sometime soon... Oak Grove Cemetery, where Lizzie and her family are now laid to rest (???). Did I mention that I have rocks from near her gravesite and they, along with an awesome poster of her, now adorn the spare bedroom? Sweet dreams, I am sure. Even looking at the photos of her house made me a bit queasy... Guess you had to be there to understand.

Pictures from various parts of Rhode Island. I didn't get pictures of the really awesome houses and such, because we were driving--I had hoped to find them on-line, but no such luck. In other words, these pictures do not do Rhode Island justice, but they are still cool...

Cindee's Yard & SOCO

2005-09-10T05:03:00.000-05:00

The famous Fairy Mound and several of the other cool spots Cindee has created in her yard. Photos from the "retreat weekend." Some photos may seem a bit disturbing, but come on now! It was the Spooky Ooky Campout! What would you expect?!

More photos will (hopefully) be entered at a later date--I'm still waiting for Cindee to send them (and also, the picture of Garrett as a witch). But it may be another year or so before we see them...

The Humble Home

2005-08-28T15:15:00.000-05:00

My version of the virtual tour...

My apartment was a combination of toys, fantasy/medieval items, super heroes, and religious artifacts. There was no real rhyme or reason to it and I decided it needed a slight makeover. These are the before pictures.

These are the new "themed" rooms. I redid the spare bedroom to encompass some of my Halloween collection and Clive Barker pieces. The kitchen is reserved for my heroes (be they super heroes, musicians, or anyone else I look up to). The bathroom has become my Zen temple. My bedroom/Mash's room is dedicated to the Renaissance period (with the exception of the computer). The living room contains a collection of Southwestern images.

I've included a few of the flood pictures showing how I lived for several months, until they finally worked on my apartment (it is absolutely amazing that I did not wig out). This is also why I take pictures of my apartment--they come in immensely handy after such incidents...

School Bus Demolition Derbies

2005-08-12T20:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, yeah. I know you guys are thinking that school bus demolition derbies must be for huge rednecks! Actually, it's universal. Who didn't dread the school bus ride knowing where you were headed?

For me, the school bus was an evil place where bullies and perverts could get you and nobody knew. I rarely had less than an hour ride (damn rural areas). There was always the fear that there would be no seats left or that nobody would sit with you. I think I hated the bus even more than school itself. One adult and fifty kids. Not good odds.

In elementary school, we had a bus driver that wouldn't take us home if we were bad--she'd drive back streets, up over sidewalks, and all kinds of scary stuff. So of course, the high school kids would push her to see how crazy they could make her--not pleasant for us little ones that were missing our afternoon cartoons!

I think it's natural to enjoy watching school buses be destroyed. But then again, I am not denying that I tend to be a bit warped...

Renaissance Faires

2005-08-10T21:17:00.000-05:00

Wizards and Wonders Weekend, 2004. These are from one of the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festivals, located near Greensburg, PA. We always dress in full costume and spend the day (no matter what the weather). From ghouls, to faeries, to giant rabbits that hate faeries--you'll see it all!

This was also the year that Ed Beard, Jr. was present (artist: Magic the Gathering, J.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter, etc) and I got several awesome autographed pieces.

Brockway Through The Seasons

2005-08-08T03:16:00.000-05:00

I don't care what anyone says! I think that Brockway is a beautiful little town!

Missouri 2005

2005-08-03T04:40:00.000-05:00

Our campsite in Livonia, MO and Johnny's misfortune. The graveyards in Missouri that we visited. The trip to Lake of the Ozarks State Park (the entrance to Ozark Caverns and Coakley Hollow Trail) in Linn Creek, MO.