I'm back...well sort of
Mood:  don't ask
Well I am back from my trip to WV. The holiday was great. Spent lots of time with friends and family. Mom and I even got a chance to see Crique du Soleil in DC. It was AWESOME!!!

The ride home yesterday was rough. Traffic wasn't bad until I got near Richmond. At that point I-95 turned into a parking lot. Not exactly sure why. There weren't any accidents or cars on the side of the road. I finally made it to I-85 then got stopped again. This time there was a major accident. I was lucky that I could get off and take a side road. I feel bad for the people that had to sit there. The trip normally takes me 5.5 hours...this trip took me closer to 7. I was so happy to finally see my apartment.

I unpacked, did laundry, then re-packed for my trip to Wilmington today. Not at all happy about having to travel again. I brought Merlin into the office today so that Dana can take him home with her tonight. It is actually nice having an office pet. Everyone has been spending lots of time up at my desk.

Of course my day back from vacation hasn't gone smoothly. In the morning I usually log onto the website of one of the local news channels and what do I see....Dead Body Discovered at Falls Lake...Fowl play suspected. (News Story - in case you want all the details)*sigh* Just what I needed first things Monday morning. Within seconds of reading the story I get a flurry of calls and emails from the District office wanting to know more information and wanting to know why we haven't filled out any reports. HELLOOOOOO!!! We JUST found out about it. Even though we own the lake, we lease it out to the the state to manage. More often than not when something happens...we are the last to know. Normally we have 24 hours to process all the forms. They want them ASAP and keep after us to get more information. We don't know any more than what was reported on the news. *sigh* So not how I wanted to start the week.

Well I better get back to filling out the forms. Take care and I probably wont be writing anything till I get back Thursday.

Park Rangers...we are an observant bunch of people
Mood:  mischievious
I am not an observant person. I mean I notice the big stuff...like if I came into work one day and the dam was gone...I am pretty sure I would notice that. The little things however,are more of a challenge for me. Minor haircuts, new uniform, new boots, etc. So do I have a right to be offended?

Friday night I sat in my apartment with Tanya and her cousin Robin who was visiting from TN. We had polished off two bottles of wine when I box of hair dye emerged from Tanya's purse. On Halloween I put red streaks in my hair and for some reason people loved it. Tanya and Robin were determined to dye my hair and I was to drunk to refuse. My hair is now RED!!! Sort of like Gene Gray's hair in the X-men movie but maybe just a tad darker. Don't worry you all it is only temporary. It is one of those brands that washes out in a month. With my commitment phobia I couldn't do a permanent color for fear I would be stuck with it. But anyway...I digress.

I went into the pub Saturday night and everyone noticed I had colored my hair. How could you not...it is RED. Most of these people have only met me once so I was surprised that they noticed. And the majority of the ones who noticed were men. Also a big shocker to me.

I get into work this morning and no one says a word to me about my hair. My boss comes in however and they all comment on the fact that he has gotten 1/16th on an inch cut off his hair and how nice it looks. Still No one notices that I dyed my hair red. Come on people...it is bright freakin' red!!! Pretty hard to miss. My boss keeps looking at me like he knows I have done something different but I think is too embarrassed to ask what because he knows he should be more observant. LOL I guess that is what I get for working in an office with mostly men.

I have worked with these guys for almost 3 years now and they didn't notice the red hair. I work at the pub for two nights and they all notice. So what does that say? Have the people that I work with become complacent? Does the pub crowd care about me more? It is a quandary.

I am off to WV tomorrow and I don't know if I will have a chance to post while I am there. So if not...

Have a great Thanksgiving and if you are traveling...stay safe.

My mood improves with the appearence of the sun
Mood:  hungry
I am in a much better mood today. Things have been worked out with my surprise trip to Wilmington. A co-worker has offered to look in on the pets. I apologized to everyone that I snapped at yesterday so everyone in the office was in a much better mood today. My boss once told me that I am the cheerleader of the office that I often set the mood. I never realized how true that was until yesterday.

I think part of the reason I was so grumpy yesterday was the fact that I had had a flu shot on Wednesday and I was feeling its effects on Thursday. Not only was my arm sore but I had flu like symptoms It was sort of like have a very week flu. I just had the achy muscles and I was so sleepy. It also didn't help that the weather was crappy. But I feel 100% better today.

Some of you have asked how my first night at Tir Na Nog went. Once I finally got there, I had a great time. I have been downtown so many times that it is like second nature to me but somehow I missed a turn somewhere and ended up going out of town instead of into town. It was hard to find a spot to park close to the pub so I opted to park in the garage. I came out a door onto a street and had no clue where I was. LOL It is amazing how easy it is for me to get turned around. LOL I finally made it there...2 minutes late but I made it. LOL Annie explained what I would be doing, gave me a tour of the pub, and introduced me to everyone. I felt a bit worthless because I didn't really have much to do. I am the type of person who likes to be kept busy. About 8:30PM, Lenny showed up to collect the cover charge for the band and kept me company at the front door. He is from Scotland and has such a great accent. I could have listened to him talk all night. There are a few people, including Annie, that are from Ireland. I enjoyed their accents as well but I have to be careful. Sometimes they speak very fast and I don't alway catch what they are saying. I have picked up a bad habit working as a ranger. When someone comes in with a view point I don't agree with, my first instinct is just to smile and nod. I know it is bad but it works. It calms the person down and they usually leave less angry. Well I have started to apply this tactic to people who's accents I can't understand. It is the exact same thing that the Hispanics do to me when I tell them they need to move their vehicles. LOL I will try to work on this behavior. About 9:30 Annie took me over to the bar, bought me a beer, and introduced me to Alex (a woman who is a regular at the pub). I sat there and talked to Alex for a bit and listened to the band, I realized it was getting late so I got my stuff and headed home. I will be working again Saturday evening, so if you are out and about, stop in and say hi.

Well I guess I will close here. but before I do I wanted to share this picture with you. We get these safety messages every Friday and this one really made me laugh. What a mess this will be to clean up. Take a look http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/photo/archive/archive_201-250/photo218.htm

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

I am so mad I could spit!!!!!!
Mood:  irritated
We got word about a month ago that my boss and I would have to have budget training. It was understood that the class would be offered twice. One session would be in the district office and the other would be here at my lake. Great!!! I wouldn't have to travel anywhere. They then announced it would be held the week after Thanksgiving. Not all that happy about that part but hey it would be in my office so not really a big deal.

Well my boss comes out this morning from his weekly conference call and says that they have decided to hold only one session and it will be in Wilmington and it will be 3 days long starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. WTF!?!

Okay, normally I don't mind going to Wilmington but here is the thing. I am going home to WV for Thanksgiving and I have hired a pet sitter to watch the cat while I am gone. I know you are saying, "it is a cat...they can take care of themselves." Not this cat...he would destroy the apartment. The bird incidentally will be going home with me. The pet sitting expense will be just over $102. I planned for this and budgeted for it. Now because some idiot in the District has the planning abilities of a gnat, I have to some how come up with $74.

I flat out told my boss that I couldn't go. I can't afford it. He just gave me a look. Which for some reason sent me into a rage and I went off about how they, especially him, make WAY more money than I do. How they all have significant others to share the financial burdened. The money I make has to be budgeted carefully or I can't pay my rent or afford to buy food. I am in essence a single mother. I know to most of you my pets don't compare to children but in my eyes they do. I took on the responsibility for caring for them. They depend on me for food, shelter, and love. Don't children require the same? My boss looked at me and said, "don't worry...we will figure this out." Which did nothing to calm me down. I don't know what I expected him to say or even why I blew up at him. I guess because he was an easy target. I guess I hoped that he would have fought harder to change the training class. To explain to the District that it would be cheaper to have the session at Falls because you wouldn't have so many people on TDY. But he said nothing. He just excepted it. I love my boss to death but this is one aspect in which we are very different. He excepts things the way they are...I fight to change things to suit my needs.

I emailed the person putting on the training and he said so far I am the only one to complain. I am actually not the only one to complain, just no one else has voiced there complaints to him. Within 10 minutes of finding out that we had to go to Wilmington, I got 10 emails from fellow rangers complaining.

*sigh* it is days like this that I wish I was back working for the park service. We never had any money so they never sent us anywhere. All training was done online.

I need a beer!!!!

Great Aunts will say the darnest things...
Mood:  mischievious
Most of you have heard me mention my Great Aunt Buddie. No her real name isn't Buddie...its Beulah but when you are kid "Beulah" is hard to pronounce so somehow her name became Buddie. She is 96 years old, lives in a retirement village and still drives a car. She has been like a Grandmother to Anne and I since our own grandparents were killed in a car accident while vacationing in Mexico.

Aunt Buddie has alway been a source of amusement for us. She is a habitual shopper on QVC buying items she doesn't really look at but thinks, "oh that would be nice to have." So she buys it, gets it home, then she realizes it has too many buttons on it so she gives it to mom or myself. She tries to be modern and buy high tech gadgets like DVD players and cordless phones but it almost always turns into some sort of ordeal. Mom and I will usually get a phone call asking us to fix it. The bad thing about that is...I live 6 hours away. She expects to tell me the problem over the phone and I fix it for her. I have tried to explain the problem over the phone but it never goes well.

An another amusing thing about her is that she will say WHATEVER is on her mind. Whether it is appropriate or not. Such an incident occurred a few weekends ago and I am going to attempt to tell you what happened. I hope it will translate to blog well...

My mom got a call from my cousin Ethel Lou (yeah I know I giggle when I hear the name too). Ethel Lou and her husband were in Hancock, MD and decided they wanted to stop by and see Aunt B. They tried calling her but she didn't answer. Mom told them that she was probably in church but that she would meet them in Hagerstown and take them over to her place.

When they arrived at Aunt B.'s, mom sat them down in the house and went out to the parking lot to meet Aunt B. Mom didn't want her to walk in to find a bunch of people sitting in her house. Aunt Buddie pulls up and is surprised to see mom.

Aunt Buddie: "What are you doing here?"
Mom: "I have a surprise for you."
Aunt Buddie: "A surprise?"
Mom: "You have some visitors."
Aunt Buddie: "Is it Becky?"
Mom: "No!"
Aunt Buddie: "Is it Anne?"
Mom: "No! Why don't you just come in and see for yourself."

They walk into the house and Aunt Buddie sees these two old people sitting on the couch.

Aunt Buddie: "Is it Hazel and Bob?" (some friends of my mother)
Mom: No! It is Ethel Lou!
Aunt Buddie (In full Volume): "That can't be Ethel Lou...They cremated her!"
Mom: "No! The cremated Kitty" (Ethel Lou's sister).
Aunt Buddie: "No I am pretty sure they cremated Ethel Lou."

Ethel Low, in shock, tried to reassure Aunt Buddie who is still insisting that Ethel Lou had been cremated. After about 10 minutes or so Aunt Buddie finally decided to let it go and except that this was indeed Ethel Lou and not some impostor. She took them all out to lunch and when Ethel Lou decided it was time for her and her husband to head home, Aunt Buddie said she was sorry that she thought they had cremated her.

The bad thing about all this is, except for the fact that they should have called a few days before to let her know they were coming, is the fact that Aunt Buddie just talk to Ethel Lou three weeks prior to the visit. You just never know what Aunt B.'s mind is thinking and what words might come out of her mouth. It definitely makes the evening much more entertaining.

Tonight I start my training at Tir Na Nog. I will let you all know how it goes.

I live in a tree house
Mood:  happy
I really love the location of my apartment. It sits in the back of the complex on the third floor with a group of tree around the back. When I sit on my balcony it feels like I am in a tree house. I am use to the occasional visit from wildlife. Mostly small song birds and squirrels but I have recently had a couple of strange encounters.

Friday afternoon I was relaxing on the couch reading a book when I heard a group of crows going ballistic. They were so noisy I couldn't concentrate on the book. All the sudden I heard the reason for their distress. A red-tailed hawk was perched somewhere close and the crows were trying desperately to get it to leave. I walked out onto the balcony and searched for the predator. The calls were loud so I knew it had to be very close. I searched the trees to no avail, as I turned to walk back inside I finally spotted it, sitting on the roof of the building next to me. I ran in to get my camera but by the time I got back it had flown off. Just my luck.

But this morning takes the cake. As I was waiting for my coffee to finish brewing I heard Fenwick (my cat) making a horrible sound. It scared me a little since I have never heard him make this kind of noise. I was worried he might be sick or injured. I ran over to see him poking his head through the blinds, looking out the sliding glass door. I flipped on the light on the balcony and this is what I saw...





I know it isn't a great picture, but I had to take it through the glass and it was still very dark outside. I can't believe I had a raccoon on my balcony. I keep some nuts out there for the birds and squirrels so I am assuming that is what it was after. He climbed up through the lattice and at one point I thought he was stuck. I dreaded having to call the maintenance guys because I knew they would want to kill it. Men usually seem to want to poke at it with a stick or kill it. It has done nothing wrong and didn't deserve to die. I put half of my banana out on the deck hoping to lure it down from the roof and went back to getting ready. It finally managed to get down, took the banana, and disappeared.

The whole event made my morning. I know you all are wondering why I got so excited. I am a park ranger after all and should be used to this sort of thing. You are right and had I seen it in the park I wouldn't have thought twice about it but I live in the city and never expected to see a raccoon on my balcony.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things that make me smile. 1. Waking up every morning and realizing I didn't die in my sleep. 2. Coming home from work and having Fenwick greet me at the door with sleepy eyes and loud purrs. 3. Snuggles and kisses from Merlin. 4. Getting lost on a road trip with Justin. 5. Finding money in my pocket. 5. Spotting a bald eagle flying over the lake. 6. Fox pups playing with a dead black snake. 7. The Terminex trucks. For some reason seeing a truck with a huge bug on top wearing a top hat and gloves makes me giggle. 8. Planning on how I am going to use my $100 gift certificate to Tir Na Nog. 9. Getting a "1" on my evaluation. That is a good thing. Is is based on a scale of 1 to 5. 1 means you are superb and 5 means if you didn't work for the government you would be fired by now. 10. The Dead Squirrel cards I got from the group of 4 year old's that I did a program for. I brought in a bunch of animal pelts and skulls for them to see. After I left they cut squirrel shapes out of a paper bag and some kids drew tire marks and blood them. Some thought it was morbid. I thought it was funny as hell. One card read, "Thankao you for showing sgolgs and sgms." Don't know what that means either but it made me laugh. 11. Funny cards showing up in the mail from friends. 12. Phone calls from forgotten friends. 13. Pj's, a warm fire, a cozy couch, and a good book Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Anne 2. Diana 3. Your next...Leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!

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Everybody sing with me now...*all by myself...don't wanna be... all by myself*
Mood:  lyrical
I am all alone in the office today. :( I was so excited about it yesterday. I would be able to get so much done...no interruptions. But I sit here this morning and it is just too quiet. I know I complain sometimes about being swamped with work and the staff interrupting me with cray questions but I really think I miss it. One of our normal walkers out here felt so bad that I was sitting in here alone that he went and bought me a sausage biscuit at Bojangles. AWWW that was so sweet. Now I just have to figure out how I am going to work lunch since I went off and left mine at home. LOL Tomorrow is a holiday and I have the entire day off. YAY!!!

Last night's episode of LOST was awesome. Although I really didn't think the couple of scenes with Lock and the others burring MR. Eko really fit in. The whole episode could have just been about Sawyer, Jack and Kate. I would have been okay with that. I think Mr. Eko saying that the others were next before he died was a good stopping point for the fall. I still don't care about the two characters. It is getting exciting though. Is Jack really going to let Ben die? I know an oath. If he does save Ben do you think Ben will keep his promise to get Jack of the island? I couldn't help but get a little giddy when Sawyer finally told Kate that he loves her. *giggle* He is such a cutie.

Well I should get back to the quiet. *sigh* LATER!!!!

OMG I think this girl is me!!!!
Mood:  silly
My mom sent me an email this morning with this joke attached.

A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team's bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience. "Oh, I really liked it," she replied, "especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over like 25 cents." Dumbfounded, her date asked, "What do you mean?" "Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: 'Get the quarter back! Get
the quarter back!' I'm like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!

LMAO...The sad thing is...I have probably said something like that. I am not a football fan. Never have been and never will be. I just don't have the patience for it. I can't understand if a quarter is 15 minutes and there are four of them, then how can it take 4 hours to play a game? I also can't handle the constant stops and starts. Just play dammit. I usually watch the superbowl every year because when you think about it...it is really the only game that matters.

To buy or not to buy? That is a serious question
Mood:  not sure
Okay so last night I came to the decision that it was time to buy a house. Don't get too excited just yet. It may or may not happen. As most of you know I have a huge fear of commitment as well as having severe buyers remorse. Reading through the Fannie Mae website for 1st time home buyers got me completely scared. I tried buying a home last year but when I would go to look at the homes, this sense of panic came over me. I think the fear comes from the fact that this is all foreign to me. I have never bought a home. What happens if I don't make a good deal? What if I get in way over my head? How much below the asking price should I offer? I know a good real estate agent is suppose to help you with these things but they work on commission right? So can they actually be trusted 100%? It would be in their best interest to get you to pay more for the home...they in the end would end up with more money. *sigh* The whole thing is VERY scary. There needs to be a 1st time home buyers hot line where I could call and say, "okay here's the deal...the agent thinks I should pay $125. Is this a good deal or can I go lower? Can I get the seller to pay closing costs and throw in the fridge?" Maybe the hot line could even help me with my commitment phobia. They could give me a pep talk every time I feel like backing out.

What has caused the recent home buying decision? MY RENT!!! When I first move to Raleigh I paid $599. Now they want me to pay $710 (it was $729 before I talked them down). At the rate they keep increasing the rent..this time next year I will be paying close to $800. That is way too much money to throw away on an apartment.

I would love to own a home in Wake Forest but I fear I wont be able to find a place I can afford. I have sent emails to a couple of mortgage agents to see just how much house I can afford. I also have to take into account that I have almost $0 in savings. When my car died 2 years ago I used what I had in savings to pay for the repairs and to purchase my new car and I never got back around to saving. There are things I know I am going to have to pay for upfront. Deposit, inspection fess, closing costs. Just don't know if I can come up with that kind of cash. We will see. I will wait to see what the mortgage brokers say.

Talking about this is starting to make me nervous again so I will stop. If anyone out there has advice on things you learned when you bought a house, please pass it on. I will need all the help and support I can get.

These people actually expect me to do work....the nerve!!!
Mood:  don't ask
I came into work today and found a pile of bills that need to be ASAP. Combine that with the fact that I also must reconcile my credit card today and you get the hint that I wont be writing much of an entry today. I did however want to tell you all that I finally uploaded the pictures from Halloween. I know there aren't many of them but i was too busy having a good time to have a camera glued to my face. Hyun-woo took a lot of pictures so maybe I will get a few from him. But in the mean time....

Halloween Pictures

A view of Catoctin
Mood:  happy
Some of you have asked to see pictures of Catoctin (pronounced Ca-Tok-Tin). So this past weekend I went through my pictures and selected a few. For those of you who are new to the blog or are just getting to know me, I worked as a park ranger for the National Park Service for almost 5 years at Catoctin Mountain Park. I really loved the job but decided it was time to move on. So I accepted a ranger position here in NC. Although I love living in Raleigh, there is part of me that really misses Thurmont. I have included a slide show below but if you wish to take a closer look at any of the picture you can go here

I hope you all enjoy!!!

I feel like I am working in a box of crayons
Mood:  happy
The ride into work this past week has been so enjoyable. I haven't minded the usual morning traffic, the drivers who haven't a clue how to drive, the constant stops at the traffic lights that the city of Raleigh can't seem to synchronize. When I have a moment when I feel like I am about o get upset and yell at the idiot who just cut me off, I glance over to the side of the road and see all the beautiful leaves of gold, red, and orange and it makes me smile. Yesterday I missed my turn into the office because I was too busy looking at the leaves. I also allowed myself a little extra time in the morning so I can ride across the dam and see the leaves reflecting in the water. The leaves on the trees have really started to change. I think this weekend will be peak color. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!!!!

This morning was very cold. My thermometer when I got op this morning read 33 degrees. *sigh* I am so not ready for it to be cold. All I want to do is curl up on the couch with a fire in the fireplace and a good book. Maybe I will have a chance to do that this weekend.

Speaking of which...I don't have any plans for the weekend and I am really looking forward to it. For the past two months I have had something to do every single weekend. This weekend I am locking the door, turning off my phone, and taking care of me. I might not even make it our of my PJ's. HEAVEN!!!!My apartment is in desperate need of a deep cleaning so that is on the list but that's it. The rest of the weekend is mine.

I know some of you in the chat room the other night, brought up the fact that I have never posted any pictures from Catoctin. For those of you who are new to the blog, Catoctin is the name of the park where I worked before moving to NC. The reason why I haven't provided any pictures is because they were all taken pre-digital camera. It really is a beautiful park and I want you guys to see it so I will go through and dig out the pictures and attempt to scan them in. It might take me awhile so please be patient.

Well that is it for me. Take care you all and have a great weekend. Oh I also promise that by Monday I will post Halloween pictures.

Red Talied Hawks....with bells on
Mood:  quizzical
Sorry still no Halloween pics. I honestly intended to edit them and post them last night but I was still so hung over and exhausted from the night before that I came home and slept until LOST came on. Then once the show was over I was back in bed. Speaking of LOST...who the hell were guy and the girl in the hatch with the others? You can't just bring people on without introducing them. And what was up with killing off Mr. Eko? Sooooooo not cool. He was one of my favorite characters. *sigh*

Anyway...on to the main subject. I am duty ranger this week which means I am the one who has to lock up the park in the evenings. Last night as I was locking one of the gates I heard bells jingling. I looked around expecting to see someone with a dog but saw nothing. All the sudden this huge bird swoops out of the woods, grazing me head, and lands on the roof of my patrol vehicle. I turned around slowly towards the bird. I was now eye to eye with a very pissed off looking Red Tailed Hawk. Then I hear a voice from behind me say, "I am sorry I didn't mean to startle you." I turned to see a man standing there with a large leather glove on one hand. He is a falconer (a real one Marie...not like the one at the festival) and this bird is one of three that he has. The other two being another hawk and a kestrel. He said he has seen me the last few days and thought I might enjoy the encounter. Not exactly sure if he was trying to pick me up or just figured rangers were into this sort of thing. In any case I did think it was very cool. I don't think I have ever been eye to eye with a hawk before. This bird was very well trained. The guy would blow his whistle a certain way and the bird would take off. Another whistle sound would make him do something else. I stood there and watched him for about 30 minutes before realizing I still had work do. Very cool experience. He must be back this morning because I have see the hawk fly past my window a couple of times.

I am always amazed by the types of people we get here at the dam. It definitely makes the job a lot more interesting.

The Gaelic Festival and the Halloween Bash
Mood:  lazy
I finally loaded some pictures from the Gaelic Festival. I had such a great time. There were some really awesome bands and dancers. One band in particular I just LOVED!. They were a pipe and drum band from Scotland called Albannach. They put on a great show. You couldn't but move to the music. I bought there CD and brought it into work to listen to it and now boss has made off with it. LOL Hopefully I will get it back soon. Anyway enjoy the Pictures

Last night a group of us went to Tir Na Nog for their Halloween bash. It was Marie, myself, Marie's BF Alan, and his friends Scott, Matt, and Hyun-Woo. Hyun-Woo is visiting the US from Korea for a year and has only been in this country for about 3 months. He was the main source of our entertainment for the evening. We spent the evening explaining American things and teaching him slang. I guess it was about 11:30 or so when they finally announced the winners of the costume contest. 1st place went to.....ME!!!! I couldn't believe it. It took me awhile to get to the stage because I didn't realize they were calling my name. I seldom win anything. LOL What did I win? a $100 gift certificate to Tir Na Nog. That is a WHOLE lot of beer. Annie (the very nice lady who runs Irisheventsnc) also gave me a copy of the cover to her son Andrew Britton's new book coming out in March. It is a sequel to his first book entitled, The American. If you haven't read it...I highly suggest you do. It is a great book. I don't have pictures to post yet. I got home too late to download them off my camera. But I promise to post them when I do.

You can read Marie's blog here . She has some pics from last night.

I hope everyone had a great safe Halloween.

I'm fitted for fangs and now I am ready to go!!!!
Mood:  hungry
Okay so I was all set to NOT celebrate Halloween. I was going to lock myself in my apartment and spend the night watching movies. Well my friends have other plans for me. Marie, determined not to succumb to the Halloween malaise, has scheduled us an evening of fun at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub. Okay great…now I have to come up with a costume.

So Friday I headed to the Halloween Spirit Store. Now for those of you not from the US these are special stores that pop up only at Halloween and are FULL of costumes and decorations. I decided to go as some sort of spider vixen. Of course the one costume I wanted was sold out but the girl, seeing my disappointment, took me over to the clearance section and showed me a costume that I could modify for my needs. Best part is…it was only $5. Okay now to the accessories. I would need to get some fangs. There was half an isle dedicated to fangs and blood. I had tried most of these out before and they never stayed in. Watching me eyeing the selection was a young man by the name of Dan. He came over and proceeded to ask me what I was looking for. After describing what I wanted to be, he insisted that I not settle for the cheap fangs. That I should get this specific brand of fangs. It is the kind he started out with. Okay pause here…started out with? Okay Rebecca…don’t judge. Okay back to the story. I agreed and splurged on the expensive ones…$19.95. Luckily I have all the makeup I need, red spray for my hair, spirit gum and spiders. So I set off for home.

Once home I tried on the costume. It was great except for the fact that the skirt part of it is see through. No problem…I would just hit the fabric store Sunday and make a better skirt. I then went to “fit my fangs”. The kit comes with this dental molding stuff. You put it on the tooth and hold it in place for awhile and it forms to your teeth. Then you can pop the teeth in and out at will. Doesn’t sound hard…but it was. I managed to get one fang fitted properly but the other one just wouldn’t stay put. By now I am out of dental stuff so I will have to stop by the costume shop to buy more.

Saturday I spent the day at the Gaelic Festival and I will write more about that when I get the pictures posted.

Sunday morning I got up and headed over to the fabric store and bought some tool and fabric which all happened to be on sale…total $8. I then met Andy for lunch and he informed me that we was going as a Vampire and needed fangs. Since I needed to get some replacement stuff for mine I agreed to drive him over to the costume store. As I walked in Dan came up to greet me. I explained my situation and Dan then told me that I really should have my fangs “professionally” fit. I laughed, saying I didn’t realize that there were such things as professional fang fitters. He looked at me with all seriousness and said that HE was such a person. Andy then chimed in with the fact that he was looking for silver fangs. Dan informed us that he would be willing to meet all our vampire needs if I agreed to cook him dinner. Before I could respond Andy yells out, “It’s a deal!!” Wait a minute… there is a guy who claims to be a professional fang fitter coming to MY apartment and I have to make him dinner. I gave Andy a look like, “what part are you playing in all this?” He just smiled back.

At 6PM there is a knock at my door. I opened the door to see Dan standing there with a tackle box in hand. I invited him in (because I read somewhere that they can’t come in unless you invite them). He set up in the bathroom and started fitting Andy’s very cool looking sliver fangs. In the mean time I started dinner. I could hear Dan in the bathroom telling Andy all about the “vampire” community. Each sentence would start with, “well in the vampire community they would do this…” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Okay now it was my turn. Dan didn’t like how the fangs I bought matched my teeth so he fitted me with a pair that matched much better and would be easier for me to wear. I know I made him mad at one point. See you put this dental putty on the fang, put it in place, and then you have to hold it there for 5 minutes while trying not to move. Well I must have moved because the fit didn’t take. So Dan had to scrape it all out and start over. But both now fit really well. I can talk, drink and sort of eat with them in. Very cool. Most of the vampire talk by this point had subsided until we got ready for dinner and Andy informed Dan that I made spaghetti and that it had garlic in it. Andy was worried for Dan’s safety…didn’t want him to go up in flames. This upset Dan and he proceeded to tell us about all the fake Hollywood myths. This lasted all through dinner.

So now I have everything I need for a night of fun. I hope that everything that I want to do with my makeup and costume turns out. I have decided to be Spiderella or Spinderslla (can’t decide on a name) I must find a Prince Charming by midnight or I turn back into a spider. LOL I will try to take some pictures. I hope you all have a great evening.

The Legend of the Snallygaster
Mood:  mischievious
About a month ago Marie pointed me to myspce blog or a gentleman living in Ireland. He goes by Tuathal and a few days ago he wrote a really great blog about the legend of the Banshee. Last night before LOST came on Tanya, her brother Andy and I got to talking about Halloween costume ideas and Tanya mentioned she would like to go as some sort of mythological creature and the banshee was brought up. I showed her Tuathal's blog post and she was amazed by what she read. Thanks to Hollywood the Banshee has gotten a bad rap. Anyway...Tanya then stated that America doesn't have cool figures such the Banshee or Leprechaun. It is true that the Emerald Isle may have some cool mythological creatures but there are some pretty cool legends close to home. I then brought up the tale of the Snallygaster.

When I lived in Thurmont, MD a lot of the older people used to tell the story of the Snallygaster I am guessing to scare children. I have always been amazed and slightly amused by the story. I comprised information taken from Wikipedia and Ghosts and Legends of Frederick County by Timothy L. Cannon and Nancy F. Whitmore to give you the following story of....The Snallygaster.

According to legends repeated in the Middletown Valley Register in the early 20th century, the community was terrorized by a monster called a Schnellegeister. The word means "fast spirit or ghost" in German, but neighbors nicknamed it the "Snallygaster." The Snallygaster was described as half-reptile with octopus limbs, and half-bird with a metallic beak lined with razor-sharp teeth. It can fly. It can pick up its victims and carry them off. The earliest stories claim that this monster sucked the blood of its victims. The beast was spotted in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey before finally arriving in Frederick County, MD. It has been suggested the legend was resurrected in the 19th century to frighten freed slaves.
In February and March of 1909, newspaper accounts describe encounters between local residents and a beast with "enormous wings, a long pointed bill, claws like steel hooks, and an eye in the center of its forehead." It was described as making screeches "like a locomotive whistle."

Sightings of the Snallygaster were creating such a commotion that at one point it was reported that President Theodore Roosevelt might postpone a trip to Europe so that he could lead an expedition to capture it. Apparently the Smithsonian Institute was also interested in the beast. From the description provided by engineer 83, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, they determined the strange beast was either a bovalopus or a Snallygaster, since it had the characteristics of both. Further, its hide was so rare that it was worth $100,000 a square foot, as it was the only substance known to man that could polish punkle shells.(Punkle shells, for those of you who don’t know, are used by the African tribes of Umbopeland for ornamentation.)

The last sighting in Frederick County in 1909 occurred near Emmitsburg in early March. Three men fought the terrible creature outside a railroad station for nearly an hour and a half before chasing it into the woods of Carroll County.


Twenty-three years passed before the Snallygaster appeared again in Frederick County. First reports were received from just below South Mountain in Washington County. Eyewitness accounts claimed that it flew toward them from the Middletown Valley.

The beast was often seen floating back and forth over the area and was described as being as large as a dirigible, with arms resembling the tentacles of an octopus. The creature appeared to be able to change its size, shape, and color at will.

Although the creature made no attempt to harm any of the residents of the Valley, most people sought the safety of their homes as it flew overhead.

The Snallygaster finally met his end in a way some might envy. The creature was flying near Frog Hollow in Washington County when it was attracted by the aroma of a 2500-gallon vat of moonshine. As the beast flew overhead, it was overcome by the fumes and dropped into the boiling mash. A short time later, revenue agents George Dansforth and Charles Cushwa arrived on the scene. They had received information about the still, but were rather startled at the sight of the dead monster in the vat.

The two agents exploded five hundred pounds of dynamite under the still, destroying the remains of the Snallygaster and John Barleycorn’s workshop.

A great deal has been written about the Snallygaster since 1909. It has appeared in countless articles in the Middletown Valley Register, Frederick News Post, and other area newspapers. Is has also appeared in the Baltimore Sun, National Geographic, and Time Magazine.

In 1976, the Washington Post sponsored an unsuccessful search for the Snallygaster, as well as other strange Maryland creatures.

Frederick County is known for a great many things, but most will agree that none is as imaginative as the Snallygaster.

Romantic menories keep popping up in my mind....
Mood:  caffeinated
As I sat at my computer this morning trying to remember what I was working on yesterday that I needed to finish, I stared at the image I have set as my wallpaper. It is an image of the Cliffs of Moher that I took during my visit to Ireland last year. I recalled the day we visited the Cliffs. I like to do this a lot because that way it keeps the trip fresh in my mind because I haven't a clue when I will have a chance to go back. Anyway...I remember that day as being the coldest day of the trip. It was raining that morning. Not a heavy rain, just a steady mist. The wind coming up off the cliffs was so strong that it nearly knocked you off your feet. The sky was gray and there was a light fog surrounding the cliffs. I remember someone from our group complaining about the fog and how the view is much more amazing when the sun is out. Which maybe true, but I remember thinking that it couldn't be more perfect. This is how I always pictured Ireland when I was a little girl. What would Ireland be without the "Irish Mist". Anyway...I stood there taking pictures hoping to take that one shot that would help me remember this day forever when I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked over and saw a young couple standing not far from me. The young man was holding his girlfriend, trying to keep her warm when all the sudden he broke away and turned her so she was facing him. He got down on one knee and started talking. I know I should of walked away or pretended not to notice. This was a private moment between the two, but I couldn't help myself. I just stood there and watched. He gave this long speech about how they hadn't known each other long and that he knew that she said she wasn't ready but that he couldn't imagine himself without her. He was so cold (and perhaps a little nervous) that he shivered so badly that he could barely get the words out. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box and asked her if she would marry him. The girl hesitated for just a moment before she responded with a yes. It was so sweet and romantic that I couldn't help but tear up a little.

The weather has gotten much cooler lately and all I want to do is curl up on the couch under a warm blanket with a fire in the fireplace. The cold evenings make me miss Philip a little. He was so great to snuggle up to. I really miss that.

One good thing about the cold is that the leaves have finally started to turn. This is my favorite time of year. The cool crisp morning, the smell of the leaves mixed with the smoke for chimneys near by. The sky is blue and clear and its color reflects in the lake. I tried to take a picture of it but the colors just didn't convey well on camera. The water is still a tad warm and with the mornings being so cold, a mist rises up off the surface. It almost looks like smoke on the water. When the sun hits it in the morning with the colored trees in the background...it is just breathtaking. I really wish you all could see it. *sigh*

Well I better get some work done. Enough romanticizing for one day. Till next time...

For the Ladies
Mood:  happy
Colleen posted this on her blog and I thought I would share it with the rest of you.

Go here. HERE

Select a product. Ask to see the side effects.

Enjoy.

So Others May Live...
Mood:  a-ok
Last night I was suppose to meet Pottery Guy (protecting his identity) at the North Hills Mall Theater. He has been wanting to see "The Guardian" so we decided to make it a date. The deal was that we would meet outside the Theater at 7PM. He called me just as I was heading our the door to tell me that he was running a little late. No big deal. I needed to call my mother anyway. Which turned out to be a mistake because she really wanted to talk. Now I was the one running late. I got in my car and drove to the mall and parked in my usual spot by Target. I ran over to the elevators that take up to the Theater. The doors close and I pressed the button for the 1st floor. Nothing happened. I pressed the button again. Nothing happened. Time now is 7:18...movie starts at 7:20. I decided to exit and try the other elevator. I pressed the "open doors" button and nothing happened. OMG I am locked in the elevator!!! I kept pressing the button in a panic, praying to everything holy that the doors would open. Finally after about 5 minutes I was released from my steel prison. I decided at this point it would be safer to take the stairs. As I reached the top I nothing they had the elevator taped off and barricaded. WTF! They should have put signs on the ones in the parking garage so tha you know that they were broken. *sigh* I finally made it to the Theater and found Pottery Boy. We bought our tickets and headed in. Luckily they were still showing previews.

The movie was very good. I am not a huge Kevin Costner fan but he actually did very well in this film. Incase you haven't heard anything about the movie:

After losing his crew in a fatal crash, legendary Rescue Swimmer, Ben Randall, is sent to teach at "A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Wrestling with the loss of his crew members, he throws himself into teaching, turning the program upside down with his unorthodox training methods. While there, he encounters a young, cocky swim champ, Jake Fischer, who is driven to be the best. During training, Randall helps mold Jake's character, combining his raw talent with the heart and dedication required of a Rescue Swimmer. Upon graduation, Jake follows Randall to Kodiak, Alaska, where they face the inherent dangers of the Bering Sea. In his initial solo rescue, Jake learns firsthand from Randall, the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice, echoing the Swimmer's motto--"So Others May Live!"
The Guardian

The best part of the evening actually came during the previews when they showed the trailer for Eragon which is based on the book of the same name. A boy named Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest. At first, he thinks it's a lucky discovery, something that will bring food to his poor family for the winter. Instead, it brings a dragon hatchling, and Eragon is soon thrust into a world of magic and power through which he and the dragon must navigate. This is the first in the trilogy and it will be released in theaters December 15th. I am so excited. It looks awesome.

Well until next time...