Step 1: Agree to take their test while too damn happy and slightly drunk to take said test seriously.
Step 2: Call them and their test out as what they are, a scam to get you to buy their stupid scientology book.
Step 3: And this is an important one, call one an asshole.
Ok, this is what went down.
My friend and I were out having a few drinks, celebrating my return to the city. We went down into the subway station to go to our respective apartments when my friend decides to sit down to one of those free stress tests that the Scientologists offer. Honestly I never really noticed they were Scientologists before. Anyway so I am waiting patiently as another Scientologist comes up to me and tries to persuade me to take a test, saying I could disrupt my friend's test being there. So FINE. I go and sit down and listen to the guy ask me questions about my stress and watch him fiddle with a dial to move the meter. Soon enough my friend is over to me, having figured out the scam moments before. So we're kind of giving the guy testing me a hard time, not being mean, just having some fun with him, when this other Scientologist walks over and starts harassing me, calling me fake and just being undeniably rude. I mean these people are taking stress tests in the subway. And they're Scientologists!! with tables of some science fiction novel they're literally trying to sell off as the new Bible. As if the old one was bad enough...for free!! Do they really expect people to take them seriously. So now this guy is trying to tell me off and I'm not really having it and my friend and I are telling off anyone that starts shit with us and then I call this guy an asshole and he comes right over to me and asks me what I just said. So I repeat it for him. And then he puts his hands on me. And I remove them, and tell him not to fucking touch me. And he puts his grubby little alien worshipping hands on me again, and I toss my tin plate of food, remove his hands again and reiterate that he shouldn't put his fucking hands on me. Then suddenly the police were breaking shit up and as soon as I explained what happened they went after the guy and we walked the other way. I'm guessing this has happened before. And...that's my story.
I regret two things. I wished I had called him Tom Cruise. I wished I had suggested he take his own stress test. OK, I regret not breaking his nose a little, but I would have ended up in jail had I done that.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
TYPOS
Yeah, i'm not really good a catching typos. And because proof reading is usually a strict requirment in all my other writing ventures, I usually pay little mind to my blog typos. But there were so many in my last entry that I had to do something about it. Sorry people. It doesn't mean I don't love you.
IN[CAR]CERATION
Through an odd twist of fate I ended up using my friend's car and working on the movie I Am Legend the other day. The movie shot some in NYC a couple of months ago, but then mostly all the production wanted were empty cars. For any one that knows the story of the novel, I think you could guess why. Well this time they wanted bodies, and lots of them. 1,500 to be exact. I was extremely for this night for two reasons. 1: Because I am SAG. 2: Because I had a vehicle that night. I got to location good and early and parked in the reserved area. Entering this enormous white tent that housed the 1,500 extras was like walking into a circus. Complete pandamonium. Luckily I was first in the SAG line because I was so early and so I checked in, grabbed a couple bags of chip and went back to the car as directed. And there I sat for a couple of hours until we drove to set was down below the underpass of the Brooklyn bridge. When I first drove on set, it didn't look like a huge scene. I helped line a small street with car. Will Smith's vehicle was parked a few cars in front of mine. We did a couple of rehearsals of grabbing our shit out of our cars and fleeing down the street. (The scene: the citizens of NYC trying to escape the zombie/vampire infected island.) I must go on a slight tangent about midgets now. First I don't find midgets funny for just being midgets. That Geico commercial with the midget actor: not funny. How did it come to be that being a midget was inherently funny? But it seems like they've always been there for our entertainment. I don't think much when it comes to midgets. They're just people, slightly off people. Look, I'm not saying I'd date a midget. But I think it's degrading to present them as comedic devices because they're not like the norm person. Saying that... I predict in the next 5 years I will have a midget in my writing for a good laugh. Okay back to the scene and why I orginally thought of midgets. Will Smith's stand-in was rehearsing for the camera and we all were following and it just so happened that I ended up behind him. Well he was carrying a child in his arms. Now children don't stand in for children actors, maybe because it requires a good amount of patience and time on set or simply it's easier than dealing with child labor laws. So I am walking behind the Will Smith stand-in and suddenly the midget in his arms turns around to face me and I really had to hide my shock. I don't know why I was thinking she was a kid, maybe cuz this was a REALLY small midget. Because for some reason the realization was pretty disturbing.
As the night went on more and more extras filled the street, all of them herding down the street, making it more and more difficult for me to get out of the car. Suddenly there were tanks and army type and police, a helicopter and lights, it definately picked up. Production decided they want to fill the car, so I had three guests. First a guy: he and his girlfriend were picked off the street and brought onto set. Then a girl: I'm not even sure what she was doing in NYC, she's goes to college in Boston. But apparently her agent got her the job and she was risking entry into certain colleges courses to be there. The third was a little girl: She was standing outside the car with her dad and I felt bad, so I asked the dad if she wanted to come inside (because there was only room for one more.) The college girl joined in and told the little girl to come in and sit next to her in the back seat, cuz she was harmless. Then I whispered loudly to the little girl not to come inside because the college girl was in fact quite dangerous. After some joking around the little girl came inside. And we formed this odd little group of four, acting as silly as possible in between takes. Many of the extras were idiots as far as staying out of the way of the car as I was driving, which was required later in the night, the PA's had to continuously yell at them to give us room. And then the car was not required in the scene, and by association neither was I. So there I sat for the remainder of night. And so I let the herds of extras pass me by as I sat warm inside the car, as I received countless envious looks from the people outside. And that's about it. I was nice to go home.
I must say it's good to be back online. My internet connection went poof the other day. And since then life just hasn't been the same.
As the night went on more and more extras filled the street, all of them herding down the street, making it more and more difficult for me to get out of the car. Suddenly there were tanks and army type and police, a helicopter and lights, it definately picked up. Production decided they want to fill the car, so I had three guests. First a guy: he and his girlfriend were picked off the street and brought onto set. Then a girl: I'm not even sure what she was doing in NYC, she's goes to college in Boston. But apparently her agent got her the job and she was risking entry into certain colleges courses to be there. The third was a little girl: She was standing outside the car with her dad and I felt bad, so I asked the dad if she wanted to come inside (because there was only room for one more.) The college girl joined in and told the little girl to come in and sit next to her in the back seat, cuz she was harmless. Then I whispered loudly to the little girl not to come inside because the college girl was in fact quite dangerous. After some joking around the little girl came inside. And we formed this odd little group of four, acting as silly as possible in between takes. Many of the extras were idiots as far as staying out of the way of the car as I was driving, which was required later in the night, the PA's had to continuously yell at them to give us room. And then the car was not required in the scene, and by association neither was I. So there I sat for the remainder of night. And so I let the herds of extras pass me by as I sat warm inside the car, as I received countless envious looks from the people outside. And that's about it. I was nice to go home.
I must say it's good to be back online. My internet connection went poof the other day. And since then life just hasn't been the same.
The Sweet Smell of Stale Death
We now have two confirmed C4C deaths!!!! On team "Mommy, Why is Grandpa Crying" we scored with the former oldest woman alive, Leila Daughty Bertrand. This one gave me a particular fuzzy feeling, because since I had read about her current lifestyle, which was sleeping for days at a time and functioning minimally, she was an instant favorite.
And from the team, "Teaching Your Old Dogs How to Play Dead" the oldest man in the world Emiliano Mercado del Toro died the other day, giving me and my C4C cohort 2 deaths in the first month of the year. Very exciting stuff! Unfortunately "Peter O'Toole: Team Captain" hasn't scored us a death yet, and that's the team we're running with on a side bet. But the good news is that apparently Peter O'Toole is too frail to attend the Oscars!! It would just be swell if our team captain kicked it first!!! Peter I love you, but COME ON! PAPA NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES!!!!
And from the team, "Teaching Your Old Dogs How to Play Dead" the oldest man in the world Emiliano Mercado del Toro died the other day, giving me and my C4C cohort 2 deaths in the first month of the year. Very exciting stuff! Unfortunately "Peter O'Toole: Team Captain" hasn't scored us a death yet, and that's the team we're running with on a side bet. But the good news is that apparently Peter O'Toole is too frail to attend the Oscars!! It would just be swell if our team captain kicked it first!!! Peter I love you, but COME ON! PAPA NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES!!!!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
I Got a Date With Jesus
Besides the initial annoyance of some college-type kids and their obscenely over-sized luggage and chattering, the train ride up north was fine. It's hard to drum up any more excitement for such a trip. It the summer its kind of a nice transition for city to green. In the winter, its more like, "boy is it fucking cold up here." I watched a Sin City on my laptop for the better part of the way.
I've noticed lately that days and days will go by without me speaking a word. Sometimes I curse at one of my computer and whatnot, or even talk a bit to myself, but my contact with the outside world is exclusive to the instant messenger. Counting my latest streak, I think it had been about 4 days with no talky-talk. So as I am sitting around talking to my parents, telling them of my exploits, I'm practically losing my voice. I had to continuously sip on my screwdriver to keep my throat going. Which had its own effect.
In about an hour I am going to a church service. You heard it right folks. A church service. Singing, praising, the whole hoopla. My nephew is getting baptized and so it's what an uncle's gotta do. I ain't gonna enjoy it though. Luckily I'll have the story to my script to sit there and stew over for the duration. I hope I can manage to drown out all the "Hallelujah!"s
(Wow!!! The sneeze man!! Some people just ride the sneeze like a wave, just let it take control. I just heard a sneeze that could rattle some windows)
I've noticed lately that days and days will go by without me speaking a word. Sometimes I curse at one of my computer and whatnot, or even talk a bit to myself, but my contact with the outside world is exclusive to the instant messenger. Counting my latest streak, I think it had been about 4 days with no talky-talk. So as I am sitting around talking to my parents, telling them of my exploits, I'm practically losing my voice. I had to continuously sip on my screwdriver to keep my throat going. Which had its own effect.
In about an hour I am going to a church service. You heard it right folks. A church service. Singing, praising, the whole hoopla. My nephew is getting baptized and so it's what an uncle's gotta do. I ain't gonna enjoy it though. Luckily I'll have the story to my script to sit there and stew over for the duration. I hope I can manage to drown out all the "Hallelujah!"s
(Wow!!! The sneeze man!! Some people just ride the sneeze like a wave, just let it take control. I just heard a sneeze that could rattle some windows)
Friday, January 19, 2007
100% Purpose
It is complete. My apartment is completely about function and absolutely nothing to do aesthetics. Allow me to map it out for you. This is my apartment. Bed, weights, computers, instruments, TV stuff, a dining table that came with the place and now... index(like) cards taped in columns on my walls. (Finally I found a use for my old headshot postcards!!)
I'm kind of out of my grump, nothing had changed though. Still no work, still toiling over the story of my script. I'm not really upset about the work thing, I mean, not gnarling about it. It's more about stress and worry than anything. But whatever, work will come along.
The script story on the other hand is kicking my ass. I just haven't found it yet. I have talked to people whose opinions I highly respect today just because it got to the point where I needed feedback and after all that I think I am going back to the drawing board. Really I have about 20 more pages before any of this becomes a problem, but its best if I work this stuff out now. I need to look at the characters, look at the direction and mood I've already established, and figure out where to go. It's really like a puzzle, with these stupid fucking pieces I have to arrange until I got a beautiful panoramic of the Grand Cranyon. Where the fuck is my Grand Canyon!!!
I'm kind of out of my grump, nothing had changed though. Still no work, still toiling over the story of my script. I'm not really upset about the work thing, I mean, not gnarling about it. It's more about stress and worry than anything. But whatever, work will come along.
The script story on the other hand is kicking my ass. I just haven't found it yet. I have talked to people whose opinions I highly respect today just because it got to the point where I needed feedback and after all that I think I am going back to the drawing board. Really I have about 20 more pages before any of this becomes a problem, but its best if I work this stuff out now. I need to look at the characters, look at the direction and mood I've already established, and figure out where to go. It's really like a puzzle, with these stupid fucking pieces I have to arrange until I got a beautiful panoramic of the Grand Cranyon. Where the fuck is my Grand Canyon!!!
Bring Your Own Holy Water
Every extra knows that this time of the year sucks for work. And boy DOES it!! I have worked maybe one day out of the last month. I thought this year's hiatus period was going to be a bit easier now that I am more established in casting agencies. If work doesn't start popping up by next week I might have to start considering more conventional work for a bit, like selling my body online or starting up a live bait tackle shop.
Tomorrow I'll be going upstate for a very brief time to go to some funny religious ceremony for my nephew. I wonder if we can bring our own holy water. I dont know, it's not that I don't want to see my family, it's just that I don't feel like going upstate, especially now.
I'm not feeling very inspired today, didn't particulary feel like getting out of bed. But I will try to make the best of it. I think I might need to go one step further with my script and use index cards to map out the series of scenes and tape them to the wall or something so I can literally LOOK at the story as a whole. Because at this point, it needs alot of coming together. I feel like I have the elements, I just need to figure out what to do with them. With that and a good exercise, today should be oddly identical to yesterday!!
(Maybe you're thinking well if he's so fucking bored, why is he complaining about going upstate to see his family? It's complicated. There's a hefty amount of stress that tends to pile up when out of work this long and the last thing you want to do is leave the possibility of employment behind or even interupt the process of seeking out employment.)
Tomorrow I'll be going upstate for a very brief time to go to some funny religious ceremony for my nephew. I wonder if we can bring our own holy water. I dont know, it's not that I don't want to see my family, it's just that I don't feel like going upstate, especially now.
I'm not feeling very inspired today, didn't particulary feel like getting out of bed. But I will try to make the best of it. I think I might need to go one step further with my script and use index cards to map out the series of scenes and tape them to the wall or something so I can literally LOOK at the story as a whole. Because at this point, it needs alot of coming together. I feel like I have the elements, I just need to figure out what to do with them. With that and a good exercise, today should be oddly identical to yesterday!!
(Maybe you're thinking well if he's so fucking bored, why is he complaining about going upstate to see his family? It's complicated. There's a hefty amount of stress that tends to pile up when out of work this long and the last thing you want to do is leave the possibility of employment behind or even interupt the process of seeking out employment.)
Thursday, January 18, 2007
FIND
Internet searches sometimes come out of nowhere and sometimes take you to weird places. Lately for no apparent reason I've done some film related searches. The first one was for "Rocky" Dennis. You remember that movie "Mask" starring Cher and Eric Stoltz? Yeah the real life Rocky that the movie was based off of. I wanted to see what the actual person was like and futhermore what he looked like. And I found it. Kind of a disturbing find. (Though no more than the film depicted I guess)
After that I started looking up info on Elizabeth Short aka the Black Dahlia. I read about her life, accounts from people she knew, and her gruesome death, including photos of her cut in half and all that nastiness. Quite a disturbing find.
Most of today was spent grueling over my new script and trying to come up with a complete story and the details of said story. I'm....getting there. The trick is finding something I consider realistic enough, yet novel enough. It's trickier than it seems. Eh, a couple more days of pacing and I'll have it.
After that I started looking up info on Elizabeth Short aka the Black Dahlia. I read about her life, accounts from people she knew, and her gruesome death, including photos of her cut in half and all that nastiness. Quite a disturbing find.
Most of today was spent grueling over my new script and trying to come up with a complete story and the details of said story. I'm....getting there. The trick is finding something I consider realistic enough, yet novel enough. It's trickier than it seems. Eh, a couple more days of pacing and I'll have it.
Irrefutable Proof
Well, this is for Brekfan16 who left a comment on my previous post. Apparently he/she needed a photo of Brekken Brek and me together to believe me. This is the only photograph I have with him, so its just gonna have to do. (It was shortly after we heard of Phantom Man's death, not a good day.)
No more questions please
No more questions please
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Squashing Rumors
Some jokes really CAN'T be taken too far. Take for instance. I'm walking down a sidewalk with a friend, when suddenly our path becomes complicated by bodies rushing ahead of us and/or past us, columns and the like. After we clear this fiasco, we begin proposing what else COULD have provided obstacles like... oh say, tires to walk through, jungle gyms, hurdles, military types tossing us rifles so we could drop to the ground and crawl through mud, jetpacks and finally jumping on a tourist bus and waving with smug smiles as we escape (there were many more funny ones, I WISH I could remember.)
I also dialed casting to figure out my call time for work work and I was told I couldn't work on the show, because of the featured part I had on it months again. It's certainly not anything to take personal. I was VERY featured, as a dotcom model. In fact I have been approached on sets before and strangers have commented on the appearance, which eventually got me curious enough to check it out. SO.... it kinda sucked, because work is slow enough right now. BUT then again it didn't, because today was a great day to have free. And the agent felt bad enough, so hopefully I'll hear from the office soon for something else.
Now its time to talk about an odd rumor that just doesn't seem to go away. I've had a LOT of people approach me, thinking that I am DCUP producer/member Brekken Brek. Asking me for autographs, asking me when the first DCUP album is coming out, about my roles on As the World Turns and General Hospital, about fellow DCUP members Ariel Starbody and Black Olive..... Look people, I NEVER said I was Brekken Brek. It's really quite silly that people think I am Brekken Brek. I mean people that have heard MY music know that it's mostly moody and introspective. How anyone thinks I could just become a rip-hop prodigy overnight and start one of the industry's hottest bands is beyond me. Let's just leave it as this... I am a HUGE DCUP fan, I think Brek is totally cool, Ariel is super sexy/crazy and Black Olive is completely unpredictable. Sometimes I wish that DCUP wasn't such a supergroup. I think that maybe if they weren't then they'd definately have their first album out by now, but egos and other commitments you know... Anyway, I hear from the great vine that a new song is in the works and I also hear it's really fucking good, so I can't wait!!!
Hmm, what else? I made some tasty roasted potatoes tonight. I need to get a new driver's license because I found mine was missing by day 3 of Adventure 2007. It's really odd that I have had this stupid little card for 8 years and then it just disappears on me. The thing is I misplace a good many things, but I've always been good with my driver's license. Blah!! This weekend I have to go upstate to be there my for nephew's christening. I don't plan on spending much time upstate. Though I should register my car, yeah, I should make a point of doing that. Tomorrow I am going to focus on writing. And that's that.
I also dialed casting to figure out my call time for work work and I was told I couldn't work on the show, because of the featured part I had on it months again. It's certainly not anything to take personal. I was VERY featured, as a dotcom model. In fact I have been approached on sets before and strangers have commented on the appearance, which eventually got me curious enough to check it out. SO.... it kinda sucked, because work is slow enough right now. BUT then again it didn't, because today was a great day to have free. And the agent felt bad enough, so hopefully I'll hear from the office soon for something else.
Now its time to talk about an odd rumor that just doesn't seem to go away. I've had a LOT of people approach me, thinking that I am DCUP producer/member Brekken Brek. Asking me for autographs, asking me when the first DCUP album is coming out, about my roles on As the World Turns and General Hospital, about fellow DCUP members Ariel Starbody and Black Olive..... Look people, I NEVER said I was Brekken Brek. It's really quite silly that people think I am Brekken Brek. I mean people that have heard MY music know that it's mostly moody and introspective. How anyone thinks I could just become a rip-hop prodigy overnight and start one of the industry's hottest bands is beyond me. Let's just leave it as this... I am a HUGE DCUP fan, I think Brek is totally cool, Ariel is super sexy/crazy and Black Olive is completely unpredictable. Sometimes I wish that DCUP wasn't such a supergroup. I think that maybe if they weren't then they'd definately have their first album out by now, but egos and other commitments you know... Anyway, I hear from the great vine that a new song is in the works and I also hear it's really fucking good, so I can't wait!!!
Hmm, what else? I made some tasty roasted potatoes tonight. I need to get a new driver's license because I found mine was missing by day 3 of Adventure 2007. It's really odd that I have had this stupid little card for 8 years and then it just disappears on me. The thing is I misplace a good many things, but I've always been good with my driver's license. Blah!! This weekend I have to go upstate to be there my for nephew's christening. I don't plan on spending much time upstate. Though I should register my car, yeah, I should make a point of doing that. Tomorrow I am going to focus on writing. And that's that.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Spaghetts Forever!
I have been eating spaghetti for nearly a week now, lunch and dinner. I made a big pot of it several days ago. I didn't intend to make so much, it just kind of happened as I added ingredients. Before I knew it the whole thing became a fiasco. Fortunately, like a dog, I am quite able to eat the same thing over and over. So it's all good.
Yesterday was my first day back at work, just general background on Law and Order. Nothing exciting. But finally a paycheck!! It was quite nice to get out. Oh yeah! The E train is a filthy whore! EWWW!! You whore E train I hate you! I fucking hate you!!!
I work again Tuesday on Six Degrees. YAY!!!! We all thought you were cancelled!! So glad to see you back!!
Worked on some music today. I had really planned on it, but I started shuffling through some new beats I found online and I got the bug. I don't know if my standards for myself aren't as high as they once were, but lately I've been pretty happy with the quality of my creative output. I hate to say it, but I think I'm just putting out some good shit.
Oh, I did manage to see Peter O'Toole on Letterman the other night. Though not overtly ill-looking, he did appear to be very slow. He was also really funny. Good for him, keeping his mind intact and all. Go ahead, take you're time dying, let's say..... December huh? Enjoy Thankgiving.
Yesterday was my first day back at work, just general background on Law and Order. Nothing exciting. But finally a paycheck!! It was quite nice to get out. Oh yeah! The E train is a filthy whore! EWWW!! You whore E train I hate you! I fucking hate you!!!
I work again Tuesday on Six Degrees. YAY!!!! We all thought you were cancelled!! So glad to see you back!!
Worked on some music today. I had really planned on it, but I started shuffling through some new beats I found online and I got the bug. I don't know if my standards for myself aren't as high as they once were, but lately I've been pretty happy with the quality of my creative output. I hate to say it, but I think I'm just putting out some good shit.
Oh, I did manage to see Peter O'Toole on Letterman the other night. Though not overtly ill-looking, he did appear to be very slow. He was also really funny. Good for him, keeping his mind intact and all. Go ahead, take you're time dying, let's say..... December huh? Enjoy Thankgiving.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Cash4Cadavers 2007!!!
Mommy, Why is Grandpa Crying?
Jane Wyman
Margaret Thatcher
Estelle Getty
Lena Horne
Liz Taylor
Ruby Muhammed
Nancy Reagan
Betty Ford
Lady Bird Johnson
Tammy Faye Messner
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Eve Denise Curie LaBousse
Leila Daughty Bertrand
Geraldine Ferraro
Hanna Barysevich
Mary Travers
Brooke Astor
Shirley Temple
Jane Tomlinson
Pauline Phillips
We'll Teach Your Old Dogs To Play Dead
Dick Vertlieb
Alicia Parlette
Ariel Sharon
Harold Pinter
Emiliano Mercado del Toro
John (Johnny Lam) Jones
Tyrone Jones
Muhammed Ali
Mickey Rooney
Robert Sargent Shriver Jr.
Magic Johnson [Formerly John Silvertand, but the S.O.B. died three days too early, R.I.P. you selfish stiff]
Charles Friedgood
Ingemar Johannson
Max Roach
Richard Quigley
Harrison Dillard
Thomas Nelson Sr.
Ronnie Biggs
Peter Duranko
Gordon Hinckley
Peter O'Toole: Team Captain
Peter O'Toole
C. Yardley Chittick
Robert J. White
Soupy Sales
Charlton Heston
Walter Cronkite
Lou Henson
Jackie Cooper
Claude Levi-Strauss
Jack Klugman
Kirk Douglas
Jack Kevorkian
Joe Nuxhall
Albert Hoffman
Earl Butz
Bruce Bennett
Brad Lloyd Clemett
Edwin Morgan
Henry Allingham
Michael Tetrault
Mommy, why is Grandpa Crying? is named so because all the contestants are old women. We'll Teach Your Old Dogs to Play Dead is named so because we stole the most popular names from last year's lists that didn't die and used them ourselves this year. Peter O'Toole: Team Captain is named so because I had such high hopes for him on our list last year, my C4C partner thought we should go all out for him this year. This team is ALL us. And a fine list it is. Oh YEAH!! I am SO proud of our teams!!!
[To make life and death even more funny, Mr. O'Toole will be appearing on Letterman tonight. I hope I can stay awake to check his progress.]
I Want My TV 13
Channel 13 (PBS) is really such a great station. Time and time again I return and learn something new. Today I watched some show that studied Neanderthals and proposed that they weren't exactly an ancestor to modern man, instead modern man and Neanderthal co-existed, and its likely that modern man killed off the Neanderthal when they migrated from Africa to Europe. That is fucking crazy!!!
Another part of the program talked about how amphibious species are dying out all over the world, especially frogs. One scientist pointed out how a frog's biology is very similar to a human's, which is why students dissect them in high school. And so if there is something in the environment that is harming frogs, humans may as well be at risk to the same factors.
And yet another part that featured a scientist who has created a new sort of battery cell powered by bacteria!! When the bacteria consume, they create an electrical current that can be manipulated to power things. Right now no more than a calculator and for the size of the power cell, it's not terribly impressive. But the scientist went on to say that that since that began the research they have increased the output levels by 1,000 fold!!!
Science is fucking cool.
Today was bunches of good.
Another part of the program talked about how amphibious species are dying out all over the world, especially frogs. One scientist pointed out how a frog's biology is very similar to a human's, which is why students dissect them in high school. And so if there is something in the environment that is harming frogs, humans may as well be at risk to the same factors.
And yet another part that featured a scientist who has created a new sort of battery cell powered by bacteria!! When the bacteria consume, they create an electrical current that can be manipulated to power things. Right now no more than a calculator and for the size of the power cell, it's not terribly impressive. But the scientist went on to say that that since that began the research they have increased the output levels by 1,000 fold!!!
Science is fucking cool.
Today was bunches of good.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Getting Back To Work'n'Order
As soon as I returned to my apartment Saturday I was gone again. Sunday we went upstate to the Hudson Valley area to visit R>Y>A>N and watch my friend in a show. Before that though, we stopped to load up Dave's vehicle with furniture, vertabrae and fake legs. We arrived with plenty of time, so we had lunch and visited my old roommate in his place of employment. The show was amusing, and it was great to see my friend performing magic, on stage doing anything really. One of those people that have an undeniable presence on stage and I always feel privelged, yes privelged to see this person perform. After the show I saw yet another friend, I last saw working on American Gangster. It was a nice night, however I was only working with two hours of sleep and the drinks went straight to my noodle, so after returning to stay the night at R>Y>A>N's I passed out rather quickly.
Monday I returned, and it was yet another really great day. Now, it's alot of catching up on normal stuff, groceries, laundry, putting the apartment in order, and refocusing on work. It's nice to sleep in a bed again and take regular showers I won't lie. Tonight I found out that my shower head has a massage feature. So I turned it on and let it hit the back of my neck and chatter my teeth. About a year of living here and I never knew!
And last but not least! Cash4Cadavers is ON for 2007!! For those of you not in the know, it's a death pool online. And I am not in the least ashamed to say my friend and I not onl participate but we have 3 teams this year. And these are the titles of those groups. (When the rosters come up, I'll provide the link so you may see who we have drafted into the program.)
Team #1: "Mommy, why is Grandpa Crying?"
Team #2: "We'll Teach Your Old Dogs To Play Dead"
Team #3: "Peter O'Toole: Team Captain"
I'll also explain the meaning behind the titles soon, but ain't they great!!!?
Monday I returned, and it was yet another really great day. Now, it's alot of catching up on normal stuff, groceries, laundry, putting the apartment in order, and refocusing on work. It's nice to sleep in a bed again and take regular showers I won't lie. Tonight I found out that my shower head has a massage feature. So I turned it on and let it hit the back of my neck and chatter my teeth. About a year of living here and I never knew!
And last but not least! Cash4Cadavers is ON for 2007!! For those of you not in the know, it's a death pool online. And I am not in the least ashamed to say my friend and I not onl participate but we have 3 teams this year. And these are the titles of those groups. (When the rosters come up, I'll provide the link so you may see who we have drafted into the program.)
Team #1: "Mommy, why is Grandpa Crying?"
Team #2: "We'll Teach Your Old Dogs To Play Dead"
Team #3: "Peter O'Toole: Team Captain"
I'll also explain the meaning behind the titles soon, but ain't they great!!!?
...And What Did We Learn?
The question has been asked... what would make you go on a trip to search out ghosts? There are two answers. 1. Well, to see if they're real, of course! I (and Dave as well) thought if we take a week to go to documented haunted sites, there were some pretty good chances that we'd see a ghost, an orb, a flashing light, hear a body-deficient voice, something ya know! What better way to figure out the unknown than going to hunt it down? 2. If such spirits did exist would I ignore fear and pursue them? This comes more into play with the type of spirits we were pursuing, which were mainly pretty malevolent in nature. It was important for me to test myself like this.
So how do I feel about things, with the trip now over? I am of course disappointed that the first mission was not accomplished. I don't know any more than when I started whether ghosts/spirits/whatnot exist. I never SAW anything. A whole week dedicated to a ghost search and no CLEAR sign. I wish that the actual locations were easier to find and in some cases, still existed. The most frustrating times were when we uncertain if we were even in the right area.
To part 2, I'd have to say I am pretty satisfied. They were a few times when I was pretty freaked out, and still I forged onward. We did certainly encounter some unusual sounds and sights. And I am happy to know that I always walked toward them instead of away. It was certainly an adventure, many of the nights found us in the middle of a supposed haunted forest or whatnot, roaming around the backroads of Virginia, calling the spirits out and sometimes trying to incite them with flute or insults. We didn't hit up some cheap haunted hotel, we went out in the middle of nowhere, we went where things were reported to chase you, where holes were reported to swallow you up and I am content that when we were there we turned over the stones looking for some fucking sign.
Despite not seeing ghosts, it was a grand time. A lot of laughs, a lot of music, good times with a great friend. Ah, adventure 2007, you were a fabulous way to begin the new year!!!
So how do I feel about things, with the trip now over? I am of course disappointed that the first mission was not accomplished. I don't know any more than when I started whether ghosts/spirits/whatnot exist. I never SAW anything. A whole week dedicated to a ghost search and no CLEAR sign. I wish that the actual locations were easier to find and in some cases, still existed. The most frustrating times were when we uncertain if we were even in the right area.
To part 2, I'd have to say I am pretty satisfied. They were a few times when I was pretty freaked out, and still I forged onward. We did certainly encounter some unusual sounds and sights. And I am happy to know that I always walked toward them instead of away. It was certainly an adventure, many of the nights found us in the middle of a supposed haunted forest or whatnot, roaming around the backroads of Virginia, calling the spirits out and sometimes trying to incite them with flute or insults. We didn't hit up some cheap haunted hotel, we went out in the middle of nowhere, we went where things were reported to chase you, where holes were reported to swallow you up and I am content that when we were there we turned over the stones looking for some fucking sign.
Despite not seeing ghosts, it was a grand time. A lot of laughs, a lot of music, good times with a great friend. Ah, adventure 2007, you were a fabulous way to begin the new year!!!
Day 6
Washington D.C.
The ghost hunt was over, we were on the last leg of our journey. I had requested D.C. because I had never been there, and it would have been a shame to pass by it without giving props, yo. We walked about visiting a majority of the sites, the Capitol building, the White House, the Vietnam wall, Lincoln Memorial, the National Art Gallery, Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian was really amazing! Everything in that fucking museum is a joy to behold, from the Wright Bros. Exhibit to George Washington’s military uniform to Edison’s original incandescent light bulb to Seinfeld’s puffy shirt. I was wide-eyed like a kid in a toy store. Another highlight was the Natural History museum. When I was a young one I wanted to be an archeologist and I’m still pretty fascinated by the field. To look at evolution and all the bizarre creatures that existed ages ago and slowly morphed into such different creatures today! I only wish it wasn’t quite so crowded, but what do you expect on a 70+ degree Saturday in January? We also performed (for our own entertainment) one of the longest and most integrated impromptu skits of my life. In fact I was really too involved for me to try to describe to you. That was pretty much the day. My legs were floppy and ready to fall off by the end of it. Another 4 or so hours and we were back in Queens. Adventure complete.
The ghost hunt was over, we were on the last leg of our journey. I had requested D.C. because I had never been there, and it would have been a shame to pass by it without giving props, yo. We walked about visiting a majority of the sites, the Capitol building, the White House, the Vietnam wall, Lincoln Memorial, the National Art Gallery, Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian was really amazing! Everything in that fucking museum is a joy to behold, from the Wright Bros. Exhibit to George Washington’s military uniform to Edison’s original incandescent light bulb to Seinfeld’s puffy shirt. I was wide-eyed like a kid in a toy store. Another highlight was the Natural History museum. When I was a young one I wanted to be an archeologist and I’m still pretty fascinated by the field. To look at evolution and all the bizarre creatures that existed ages ago and slowly morphed into such different creatures today! I only wish it wasn’t quite so crowded, but what do you expect on a 70+ degree Saturday in January? We also performed (for our own entertainment) one of the longest and most integrated impromptu skits of my life. In fact I was really too involved for me to try to describe to you. That was pretty much the day. My legs were floppy and ready to fall off by the end of it. Another 4 or so hours and we were back in Queens. Adventure complete.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Day 5
Lexington, Virginia - Poor House Road Tunnel (The Bone Tunnel)
[Though the tunnel is much shorter than I imagined or wanted, we ventured above the tunnel. There we found the remains of an occult ceremony, candle wax and the skull of what Dave guesses is a boar. The skull was stuck in a tree. Walking further we found a set of stairs nailed into a tree, like someone had attempted to build a tree house on this steep hill. Scouting in the other direction, we entered a valley where it became more clear that the original train tracks were set. Then we came across more animal remains, much larger ones, more complete and yet another skull hanging from a tree. I slipped on some of the bones while taking pics of them, fortunately I didn’t fall. I slipped on a pile of bones people!! A pile of fucking bones! Who can say they’ve been there? We walked a little further until a body of water and sunset forced us to go back for flashlights and bigger weaponry.] - The former Dave had me write down as we waited in the car for it to become full-blown-out night, in case we might not return from this particular adventure.
It was decided that any threat that night would be of a human kind rather than paranormal. And so we set out armed with Castor, Pollux and the big blades.
Venturing through these woods came with other complications than the night, like pricker vines, barbed wire and lots and lots of slippery clay to hit ass first. There were no ghosts, no orbs, just the challenge of traversing that damn forest!! As we left the woods for the road again a car came. I quickly jumped back up into the woods and hid behind a tree near Dave. Then I heard him say that he dropped his machete. The problem with this is that the headlights of the car reflected right off the blade.
The car stopped I can only imagine for this reason. As soon as he continued forward, I grabbed his machete and stuck it in the ground next to him. The car passed through the tunnel and stopped once again. This time I’m sure its because Dave’s vehicle was parked on that side.
I guess I forgot to explain the Bone Tunnel! The tunnel cut through a steep hill that allowed for single-file vehicle traffic. The top of this hill formed a plateau. There was a stream that actually flowed through a side of the tunnel and a thick fog that concentrated most suspiciously around and inside the tunnel. When you enter the tunnel, you can hear the echoing of the stream and it gives a slight likeness to the sound of voices.
Okay, back to the stopped car. All I could really make out was the red tail lights and heard two voices, but couldn’t discern their conversation. So I snuck over to the side of the tunnel and looked around to the corner to see if they were coming our way. They eventually left and so I jumped back onto the road and called Dave down. We wasn’t coming, so I walked through the Bone Tunnel myself to check up on the car. Still no Dave I went to go see what the fuck was up.
As I passed through the tunnel again.... I heard a voice(s). Male. With a couple of higher pitched voices as well. At first I thought Dave was fucking with me or that the car had dropped off someone to fuck with us. But this was not the case. Dave was still in the woods, looking for his machete he had not seen me put next to him as I then learned. Dave says he also heard a voice much more distinct than provided by the echoing water. And this my minions! was the only paranormal experience to note for the entirety of the week!
Here are some pics from that night. If anyone can guess what the hell type of animal owns the skull I am holding, let me know!!
[Though the tunnel is much shorter than I imagined or wanted, we ventured above the tunnel. There we found the remains of an occult ceremony, candle wax and the skull of what Dave guesses is a boar. The skull was stuck in a tree. Walking further we found a set of stairs nailed into a tree, like someone had attempted to build a tree house on this steep hill. Scouting in the other direction, we entered a valley where it became more clear that the original train tracks were set. Then we came across more animal remains, much larger ones, more complete and yet another skull hanging from a tree. I slipped on some of the bones while taking pics of them, fortunately I didn’t fall. I slipped on a pile of bones people!! A pile of fucking bones! Who can say they’ve been there? We walked a little further until a body of water and sunset forced us to go back for flashlights and bigger weaponry.] - The former Dave had me write down as we waited in the car for it to become full-blown-out night, in case we might not return from this particular adventure.
It was decided that any threat that night would be of a human kind rather than paranormal. And so we set out armed with Castor, Pollux and the big blades.
Venturing through these woods came with other complications than the night, like pricker vines, barbed wire and lots and lots of slippery clay to hit ass first. There were no ghosts, no orbs, just the challenge of traversing that damn forest!! As we left the woods for the road again a car came. I quickly jumped back up into the woods and hid behind a tree near Dave. Then I heard him say that he dropped his machete. The problem with this is that the headlights of the car reflected right off the blade.
The car stopped I can only imagine for this reason. As soon as he continued forward, I grabbed his machete and stuck it in the ground next to him. The car passed through the tunnel and stopped once again. This time I’m sure its because Dave’s vehicle was parked on that side.
I guess I forgot to explain the Bone Tunnel! The tunnel cut through a steep hill that allowed for single-file vehicle traffic. The top of this hill formed a plateau. There was a stream that actually flowed through a side of the tunnel and a thick fog that concentrated most suspiciously around and inside the tunnel. When you enter the tunnel, you can hear the echoing of the stream and it gives a slight likeness to the sound of voices.
Okay, back to the stopped car. All I could really make out was the red tail lights and heard two voices, but couldn’t discern their conversation. So I snuck over to the side of the tunnel and looked around to the corner to see if they were coming our way. They eventually left and so I jumped back onto the road and called Dave down. We wasn’t coming, so I walked through the Bone Tunnel myself to check up on the car. Still no Dave I went to go see what the fuck was up.
As I passed through the tunnel again.... I heard a voice(s). Male. With a couple of higher pitched voices as well. At first I thought Dave was fucking with me or that the car had dropped off someone to fuck with us. But this was not the case. Dave was still in the woods, looking for his machete he had not seen me put next to him as I then learned. Dave says he also heard a voice much more distinct than provided by the echoing water. And this my minions! was the only paranormal experience to note for the entirety of the week!
Here are some pics from that night. If anyone can guess what the hell type of animal owns the skull I am holding, let me know!!
Day 4
Richmond, Virginia - Hollywood Cemetery
This was the least credible place we had for haunted activity. So I really wasn’t expecting much. Such in consideration I thought it would be fun to take a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, so off we went! Of course the place ain’t exactly jumpin’n the winter, no staged battles, not even many colonial people bustling around. It was still kinda cool. We pretty much just walked about and tricked a less than happy couple into taking our picture at the stockades.
Next we went to Jamestown, the first English colony in America. The Archeological dig museum was REALLY fascinating. In a place like that you can either look at the artifacts and say, "neat." Or you can use them to piece together an idea of how their lives were back then. I’d like to think I do that latter. Although I did pretend to have a thing for the Pocahantis statue...
After that we moved on to Richmond. It’s really amazing how segregated much of the south is. Richmond is quite an example of this. We found the cemetery in a run-down neighborhood and we were just about to enter and do some daylight scouting for the Death Pyramid, when the grounds keeper shut the gates on us and grumbled that the cemetery was closed for the day. We went to a local dive to kill some time with grilled cheese, soup, beers, and a couple of games of pool. I played amazingly I must say! When night fell, we went back to Hollywood Cemetery. The easier access to the graveyard was also the most visible (on the side of a street). So we acted real casual until climbing the fence in. We had to sneak around in the shadows until clear from an occupied building inside the cemetery’s gates. Once we made it down the trail, I must say I was quite impressed by the landscape. Aged magnificent tombs cluttering large steep hills, monuments of the dead everywhere. We continued searching for the Death Pyramid (a very large pyramid set somewhere in the cemetery where thousands of nameless Confederate soldiers are buried. It is said you can sometimes hear moans from the monument. There is also the story of a little girl who walked past the cemetery every day and petted a little dog statue every time, treating the stone figure like it was real. She was later struck by a vehicle and buried in the cemetery; the groundskeeper placed the dog statue next to her, knowing her fondness of it. It is said you can hear her and the dog playing at night.)
This cemetery was unbelievably vast, and once we reached the rear of it, there was an amazing view of the city of Richmond and a large river that glistened under a near full moon. Though we came across a creepy looking bird-cage that housed a vault, which turned out to by James Monroe, there was still no Death Pyramid. So we continued the perimeter of the cemetery, eyes peeled open. This is where imagination gets the best of you. As I walked past headstone after headstone, I would imagine shadows cross between them. And this was a little freaky. What the mind can create!! It’s truly perplexing when you think of the psychology of it. Anyway, we eventually found the Death Pyramid and we were not disappointed. It stands about 30-40 feet tall I’d have to guess. We considered climbing it was a moment but instead walked away with a piece (stone) of the pyramid. We heard no voices. We also found the dog statue/little girl’s grave and encountered nothing strange. THOUGH!!! As we approached the front of the cemetery once again, suddenly the air became cold. Dave and I looked at each other, then down to the Death Pyramid stone he was still holding. Fuck’em, we were leaving with a keepsake!
This is the first haunted stop I can actually show you. There’s even a virtual tour!!
http://www.hollywoodcemetery.org/
This was the least credible place we had for haunted activity. So I really wasn’t expecting much. Such in consideration I thought it would be fun to take a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, so off we went! Of course the place ain’t exactly jumpin’n the winter, no staged battles, not even many colonial people bustling around. It was still kinda cool. We pretty much just walked about and tricked a less than happy couple into taking our picture at the stockades.
Next we went to Jamestown, the first English colony in America. The Archeological dig museum was REALLY fascinating. In a place like that you can either look at the artifacts and say, "neat." Or you can use them to piece together an idea of how their lives were back then. I’d like to think I do that latter. Although I did pretend to have a thing for the Pocahantis statue...
After that we moved on to Richmond. It’s really amazing how segregated much of the south is. Richmond is quite an example of this. We found the cemetery in a run-down neighborhood and we were just about to enter and do some daylight scouting for the Death Pyramid, when the grounds keeper shut the gates on us and grumbled that the cemetery was closed for the day. We went to a local dive to kill some time with grilled cheese, soup, beers, and a couple of games of pool. I played amazingly I must say! When night fell, we went back to Hollywood Cemetery. The easier access to the graveyard was also the most visible (on the side of a street). So we acted real casual until climbing the fence in. We had to sneak around in the shadows until clear from an occupied building inside the cemetery’s gates. Once we made it down the trail, I must say I was quite impressed by the landscape. Aged magnificent tombs cluttering large steep hills, monuments of the dead everywhere. We continued searching for the Death Pyramid (a very large pyramid set somewhere in the cemetery where thousands of nameless Confederate soldiers are buried. It is said you can sometimes hear moans from the monument. There is also the story of a little girl who walked past the cemetery every day and petted a little dog statue every time, treating the stone figure like it was real. She was later struck by a vehicle and buried in the cemetery; the groundskeeper placed the dog statue next to her, knowing her fondness of it. It is said you can hear her and the dog playing at night.)
This cemetery was unbelievably vast, and once we reached the rear of it, there was an amazing view of the city of Richmond and a large river that glistened under a near full moon. Though we came across a creepy looking bird-cage that housed a vault, which turned out to by James Monroe, there was still no Death Pyramid. So we continued the perimeter of the cemetery, eyes peeled open. This is where imagination gets the best of you. As I walked past headstone after headstone, I would imagine shadows cross between them. And this was a little freaky. What the mind can create!! It’s truly perplexing when you think of the psychology of it. Anyway, we eventually found the Death Pyramid and we were not disappointed. It stands about 30-40 feet tall I’d have to guess. We considered climbing it was a moment but instead walked away with a piece (stone) of the pyramid. We heard no voices. We also found the dog statue/little girl’s grave and encountered nothing strange. THOUGH!!! As we approached the front of the cemetery once again, suddenly the air became cold. Dave and I looked at each other, then down to the Death Pyramid stone he was still holding. Fuck’em, we were leaving with a keepsake!
This is the first haunted stop I can actually show you. There’s even a virtual tour!!
http://www.hollywoodcemetery.org/
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Day 3
Diggs, Virginia - Old House Woods
Though the paranormal activity in these woods seems a little too fantastic, the reports were given by credible witnesses who have lived near-by the woods for years. Much of the lore is based on actual historical events that took place in or around White’s Creek, which is just beyond the woods. At the edge of the woods is a house, long ago abandoned that was said to have caught fire and then put itself out. There are just TOO many stories to relate but some of the characters attributed to this forest are headless dogs, a shrieking woman that comes out when it rains and floats above the trees, old merchants and pirates who had hid their stolen goods in the swampy woods, revolutionary soldiers, and last but certainly not least a large hole, possibly a swirling pond in the middle of the forest where people and animals are reported to disappear when they approach (which we now call The Void.)
We again had time to research the accounts and history of the woods during the day, which is where we learned much of this information in more detail in several books. I felt that the number of publications about the woods gave reasonable validation to the accounts. And then we were off!! The directions brought us to back-roads America, a few houses on each road, some wealthy houses, some broken-down houses, some trailers, some burned down houses with trailers in front all with a share theme of cluttered junk and/or car with varied disrepair. We suddenly became clear to us that local shotgun-toting hillbillies were as much a risk as malevolent spirits.
The remoteness of these woods, the stories and the incredibly creepy appearance set in my mind and Dave’s that we might not possibly survive this adventure. The night before I had a strange dream in which Dave and I encounter a woman spirit dressed in a black blouse and white dress on a beach....before I knew about the beach and before I knew about the shrieking woman. Running didn’t seem much an option against hostile forces with some ominous hole about ready to swallow us up. And reports also stated that many people had gone into the woods and were not seen again. We ate dinner, rested a bit, suited up and returned. We decided to take a beach route up north and then cut into the woods, that way we’d hit a haunting hot spot and avoid attention from the locals. Unfortunately the beach turned out to be private property, so crosses became just as risk, a risk we accepted. We quickly figured out that deep swamp was in our way of entering the woods and so we continued up the beach, looking for an entry way. At one point we could hear this strange sound, something in between the sound of dogs and birds, a relentless noise, coming from the forest. Though a little unsettling we continued. It actually made me more curious and in turn more anxious to see what the fuck was going on in these woods. Sensing nothing at White’s Creek, we took the one and only trail-way leading off of the beach. As we continued down the path suddenly the air became colder and then just as quickly Old House was there before us. I will admit at this point I was creeped out. Nevertheless we cut into the house’s yard and circled it until we were in the back. There was little chance of getting into the woods, because the yard was outlined with swampiness. Still we made a brief attempt, but the woods were so dense with brush we couldn’t get more than 20 feet in. I was getting frustrated now and asked Dave if he wanted to check out the house itself, which had been creeping the fuck out of me. I walked up and pointed my flashlight into one of the windows. Inside there was space heater. I inspected further to find a Rubbermaid trash can on the otherwise spooky porch. We left the house after that and walked the very long way back to the car. Upon walking back we saw something of a trail that lead into the woods and decided to return with the car, park nearby and enter. So there we were. Midnight. Full moon. In the middle of a haunted forest with big and small blades, a bottle of holy water and each a pentacle necklace. Asking the spirits to come out. Then mildly insulting them by telling some of the spirits that had been reportedly killed by Blackbeard there, that we had visited Blackbeard, and that he said they were pussies. And NOTHING! (Though we did come across a pond-like body of water that COULD have been the mysterious Void.)We left disappointed, but knowing we had done everything in our power to encounter the ghosts of Old House Woods. They just weren’t around. So much for the Old House Woods.
Also went to a run down airplane museum and jumped on a wing for photo op.
Though the paranormal activity in these woods seems a little too fantastic, the reports were given by credible witnesses who have lived near-by the woods for years. Much of the lore is based on actual historical events that took place in or around White’s Creek, which is just beyond the woods. At the edge of the woods is a house, long ago abandoned that was said to have caught fire and then put itself out. There are just TOO many stories to relate but some of the characters attributed to this forest are headless dogs, a shrieking woman that comes out when it rains and floats above the trees, old merchants and pirates who had hid their stolen goods in the swampy woods, revolutionary soldiers, and last but certainly not least a large hole, possibly a swirling pond in the middle of the forest where people and animals are reported to disappear when they approach (which we now call The Void.)
We again had time to research the accounts and history of the woods during the day, which is where we learned much of this information in more detail in several books. I felt that the number of publications about the woods gave reasonable validation to the accounts. And then we were off!! The directions brought us to back-roads America, a few houses on each road, some wealthy houses, some broken-down houses, some trailers, some burned down houses with trailers in front all with a share theme of cluttered junk and/or car with varied disrepair. We suddenly became clear to us that local shotgun-toting hillbillies were as much a risk as malevolent spirits.
The remoteness of these woods, the stories and the incredibly creepy appearance set in my mind and Dave’s that we might not possibly survive this adventure. The night before I had a strange dream in which Dave and I encounter a woman spirit dressed in a black blouse and white dress on a beach....before I knew about the beach and before I knew about the shrieking woman. Running didn’t seem much an option against hostile forces with some ominous hole about ready to swallow us up. And reports also stated that many people had gone into the woods and were not seen again. We ate dinner, rested a bit, suited up and returned. We decided to take a beach route up north and then cut into the woods, that way we’d hit a haunting hot spot and avoid attention from the locals. Unfortunately the beach turned out to be private property, so crosses became just as risk, a risk we accepted. We quickly figured out that deep swamp was in our way of entering the woods and so we continued up the beach, looking for an entry way. At one point we could hear this strange sound, something in between the sound of dogs and birds, a relentless noise, coming from the forest. Though a little unsettling we continued. It actually made me more curious and in turn more anxious to see what the fuck was going on in these woods. Sensing nothing at White’s Creek, we took the one and only trail-way leading off of the beach. As we continued down the path suddenly the air became colder and then just as quickly Old House was there before us. I will admit at this point I was creeped out. Nevertheless we cut into the house’s yard and circled it until we were in the back. There was little chance of getting into the woods, because the yard was outlined with swampiness. Still we made a brief attempt, but the woods were so dense with brush we couldn’t get more than 20 feet in. I was getting frustrated now and asked Dave if he wanted to check out the house itself, which had been creeping the fuck out of me. I walked up and pointed my flashlight into one of the windows. Inside there was space heater. I inspected further to find a Rubbermaid trash can on the otherwise spooky porch. We left the house after that and walked the very long way back to the car. Upon walking back we saw something of a trail that lead into the woods and decided to return with the car, park nearby and enter. So there we were. Midnight. Full moon. In the middle of a haunted forest with big and small blades, a bottle of holy water and each a pentacle necklace. Asking the spirits to come out. Then mildly insulting them by telling some of the spirits that had been reportedly killed by Blackbeard there, that we had visited Blackbeard, and that he said they were pussies. And NOTHING! (Though we did come across a pond-like body of water that COULD have been the mysterious Void.)We left disappointed, but knowing we had done everything in our power to encounter the ghosts of Old House Woods. They just weren’t around. So much for the Old House Woods.
Also went to a run down airplane museum and jumped on a wing for photo op.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Day 2
Virginia - Blackbeard’s Point - The fierce Blackbeard is said to haunt the area where his head was placed on a pike.
Today we had time to go to the local library to research the area and the stories of Edward Teach a.k.a Blackbeard. Researching the legends of this man was really fascinating. He was ultimately killed in combat by 25 slashes and 4 gunshots. He was decapitated and his head displayed in the Chesapeake Bay as a trophy/warning. We were able to find out the exact location and Dave somehow got directions. And so we set off!
This is ended up being a disappointing story of development destroying a good haunting ground. The bay was filled with expensive homes, packed in developments like a trailer park. Long story short- we drove and drove and found not the slightest sign of Blackbeard’s Point. We did come across the bay where the Monitor and the Merrimack battled, which was cool. Eventually we gave up. So much for Blackbeard’s Ghost.
We contemplated stopping mid-way to a site haunted by slave ghosts, but decided we wouldn’t have enough time. I also started wearing Castor full-time. 1: It’s occasionally convenient to wear a knife. 2: This is the main reason. It makes me feel more like I’m on an adventure.
Today we had time to go to the local library to research the area and the stories of Edward Teach a.k.a Blackbeard. Researching the legends of this man was really fascinating. He was ultimately killed in combat by 25 slashes and 4 gunshots. He was decapitated and his head displayed in the Chesapeake Bay as a trophy/warning. We were able to find out the exact location and Dave somehow got directions. And so we set off!
This is ended up being a disappointing story of development destroying a good haunting ground. The bay was filled with expensive homes, packed in developments like a trailer park. Long story short- we drove and drove and found not the slightest sign of Blackbeard’s Point. We did come across the bay where the Monitor and the Merrimack battled, which was cool. Eventually we gave up. So much for Blackbeard’s Ghost.
We contemplated stopping mid-way to a site haunted by slave ghosts, but decided we wouldn’t have enough time. I also started wearing Castor full-time. 1: It’s occasionally convenient to wear a knife. 2: This is the main reason. It makes me feel more like I’m on an adventure.
Day 1
Deleware - Old Pike - The Haunted Road
There was an unreasonable amount of travel that slowed the journey’s start off considerably. But the real frustration was actually looking for the haunted road. The directions dumped us off at suburbia and pretty much left us stranded from there. Fortunately one of our three trustees was online and set us on the right path. The road barely needed a sign. It was easily the creepiest road around. Long and twisty. Accounts say that people have heard screams from the surrounding woods and seen eyes peering at them. Things have also been known to chase and/or attack your car as you drive it. And there is a spot where you can hear a baby crying. We scouted the road quickly and then went to eat and search for a Walmart to buy a bunch of general supplies. The search for Walmart had us driving around in circles for hours. Finally I acquired an address from the invoice of a newspapers box, used the zip code on it to find the Walmart and the address to give us directions there. We each bought a knife to commemorate the journey and for further defense against the whatnots. After supplies had been obtained, we made a slight diversion to a cemetery. Being closed, we snuck ourselves to the back of the graveyard and climbed the fence to get in. Once in we proceeded to the center of the grave yard, where Dave assured the spirits we meant them no harm and asked them to appear before us. There were lots of shiny stuff to make us double-take and some weird vibes, though honestly it’s likely they were merely due to the fact we were breaking into a cemetery in the middle of the night. We both continued asking spirits to appear, both nothing happened and we agreed to progress to the haunted road. Upon climbing the fence to leave a dog starting barking at us, making David hurry over the fence. This resulted in a crotch pant tear and a few hand flesh wounds. But no time to delay, onto the haunted road!!!
Before going onto the road, wiped our new blades with holy water and christened them Castor and Pollox. We went to one of the creepier parts of the road and parked, rolling down the windows. Turning on the car radio to a quiet static we sat and listened and looked out. We did this several times in a few locations, eventually shining a flashlight around to inspect....but NOTHING!! To part, we drove the length of the road slowly. With windows still down I took out my flute and began to play, hoping to rouse the spirits but still nothing. I snapped some pictures as Dave drove us out and that was that. So much for the haunted road.
There was an unreasonable amount of travel that slowed the journey’s start off considerably. But the real frustration was actually looking for the haunted road. The directions dumped us off at suburbia and pretty much left us stranded from there. Fortunately one of our three trustees was online and set us on the right path. The road barely needed a sign. It was easily the creepiest road around. Long and twisty. Accounts say that people have heard screams from the surrounding woods and seen eyes peering at them. Things have also been known to chase and/or attack your car as you drive it. And there is a spot where you can hear a baby crying. We scouted the road quickly and then went to eat and search for a Walmart to buy a bunch of general supplies. The search for Walmart had us driving around in circles for hours. Finally I acquired an address from the invoice of a newspapers box, used the zip code on it to find the Walmart and the address to give us directions there. We each bought a knife to commemorate the journey and for further defense against the whatnots. After supplies had been obtained, we made a slight diversion to a cemetery. Being closed, we snuck ourselves to the back of the graveyard and climbed the fence to get in. Once in we proceeded to the center of the grave yard, where Dave assured the spirits we meant them no harm and asked them to appear before us. There were lots of shiny stuff to make us double-take and some weird vibes, though honestly it’s likely they were merely due to the fact we were breaking into a cemetery in the middle of the night. We both continued asking spirits to appear, both nothing happened and we agreed to progress to the haunted road. Upon climbing the fence to leave a dog starting barking at us, making David hurry over the fence. This resulted in a crotch pant tear and a few hand flesh wounds. But no time to delay, onto the haunted road!!!
Before going onto the road, wiped our new blades with holy water and christened them Castor and Pollox. We went to one of the creepier parts of the road and parked, rolling down the windows. Turning on the car radio to a quiet static we sat and listened and looked out. We did this several times in a few locations, eventually shining a flashlight around to inspect....but NOTHING!! To part, we drove the length of the road slowly. With windows still down I took out my flute and began to play, hoping to rouse the spirits but still nothing. I snapped some pictures as Dave drove us out and that was that. So much for the haunted road.
Monday, January 01, 2007
The Missing New Years Recap
I know I know, I have yet to go over 2006. Honestly I may not, it's such a difficult year to sum up into a list or a few words, it's been all over, alot of really good and some really bad. But we endure don't we? And we fight for the things we can't do without. I have learned a lot this year that I know.
The New Years Resolution
Well it turned out there was just too much to be done in preparation to get out for New Years Eve celebration. Today we finalized the first three days of the trip, we went to a church and got ourselves two bottles of holy water, we went to an occult store in Manhattan and invested in two pentacles (mine is a celtic pentacle, dave's a gothic), and I purchased a cell phone charger for the car. The difficult part of the trip is trying to figure out exactly where these haunted areas are, and that has taken quite a lot of time.
At 11:45 Dave and I went to a local park, stood in the sand and performed a protective ritual for our journey that involved the pentacles, and a drawn pentacle in the sand that we stood in while performing the ritual, holy water, sangria, and a cigarette for inscence purposes. We started the ritual at 11:59 and ended it at the chime of the new year. It was a rather decent start to Adventure 2007. Afterwards we watched the fire works in Manhattan and I thought of the people I care about and how they were spending their new years eve.
And now the time has come for Adventure 2007. May I survive it!
At 11:45 Dave and I went to a local park, stood in the sand and performed a protective ritual for our journey that involved the pentacles, and a drawn pentacle in the sand that we stood in while performing the ritual, holy water, sangria, and a cigarette for inscence purposes. We started the ritual at 11:59 and ended it at the chime of the new year. It was a rather decent start to Adventure 2007. Afterwards we watched the fire works in Manhattan and I thought of the people I care about and how they were spending their new years eve.
And now the time has come for Adventure 2007. May I survive it!
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