I'm glad I dressed up! Very unlike me and I wasn't the least self conscious!
Oddly enough, I felt very comfortable in my 'costume,' even powerful and commanding!
I hope you've all had a wonderful & safe Halloween!
Friday, October 31, 2008
And so it's time to bid farewell...
Hubby's asleep & snoring, my makeup is off, my costume put away and the table is set once again. There are only 33 minutes left in this Halloween. As usual, I'm sad that it's come & gone so quickly!
A Motley Crew Indeed!
Miracle of Miracles! I've Dressed Up for Halloween!!!
This is the only pic I could take of myself that didn't make me look like a purple people eater! (I'm actually going for sexy scary witch!)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
What I forgot to mention in the last post...
Last year 1 of our nephew's spent Halloween night here with us because we were leaving for Punkin Chunkin in Deleware in the morning.
He was a little freaked out in the morning not because the table was set for those who've passed away but because 1 of the mugs appeared to have been drunk nearly down to the bottom!
Unfortunately Hubby was in "let's get out of here mode" and began clearing the table by dumping out the mugs in the sink so I never got to see which one it was! (Our nephew was just up so he didn't notice the which mug!)
Hubby has been on notice since to not dump out the mugs in the morning & to let me do it!
Preparing for Halloween
This year I've decided to set the table for this evening and next since I am unsure as to when "the veil between the world's" actually lifts and is thinnest - is it through this evening, All Hallows Eve, into Halloween or is it from Halloween through All Soul's Day on Nov 1st? In past year's I've only set the table Halloween night.
I know to some of you this may sound odd, but since my daughter passed , it gives me great comfort to do this. I set out a mug of hot cocoa for her along with Halloween candy and sometimes a Halloween toy or book and something to eat along w/her drink.
I also set a place for my Nana with a mug of black coffee (how she liked it), and cups of tea for my Grandma and Mother-in-Law and plates of some desert food to eat. (This year I've put out Little Debbie Pumpkin cookies).
This year I've also set out apples and pommegrante in case another way ward soul passes thru without family and would like something.
(I am Catholic but very eclectic in my faith and how I keep it!)
An Excellent Short Read for Halloween!
"All Souls" by Edith Wharton appears in a collection called "The Ultimate Halloween" which I purchased in 2001 and is my favorite in the book!
I read it ever year at the time - a bit of an annual tradition I suppose!
Ms. Wharton wrote a lot of "ghost stories," a lot I've read but I love this one! Description of place and experience is vivid - you feel the cold as you go through the story with Sara Clayburn! (It's not Stephen King so it won't scare the ever living pants off you but it is suspenseful and a little creepy!)
Sounds of the Season!
I've added more music to my playlist here, in keeping with the season of course and I hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
How Does It Happen Every Year?!
Halloween is literally 25 & a half hours away! How is it that each year this month takes forever to get here and then flies by so fast?! I'm already a little sad!
The leaves are finally pretty much at peak colors here - such vibrant reds, yellow & orange - what leaves are left on the trees & bushes that is! This past Saturday was high winds & heavy rain as was yesterday! (Some lucky ducks in Central and North West NJ got snow accumulations!!! We just had a snow shower for about 10 minutes that didn't stick to anything).
Well, I'm off to either do my annual reading of Edith Wharton's short story called "All Souls" (from a collection called "The Ultimate Halloween" which has some other great shorts too) or fall asleep for the night, whichever happens first!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Doing Writer-ly Things!
I still can't believe all this! Now that I've worked out the kinks to my editing system, the next days should go more smoothly! But, I did accomplish my new daily goal of doing a minimum of 10 days worth of posts from the manuscript, so I'm feeling good about that!
I think I've even got a title for my book! But, that's top secret for now! When I've submitted my manuscript to be printed, I'll let ya'll know the title!
This is all so very exciting!!!
I think I've even got a title for my book! But, that's top secret for now! When I've submitted my manuscript to be printed, I'll let ya'll know the title!
This is all so very exciting!!!
Well I'll be darned!
I've just "edited" 10 days worth of blog posts from my '07 NaNoWriMo manuscript, then I've got to continue writing about our trip up to New England and finally I've got to get my thoughts together for this year's NaNoWriMo, which starts in 4 days!
Huh - Guess I'm a writer!!!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Holy Crow! Check this out!!! [NaNoWriMo] Free printing for 2007 winners
Amazing! I'm going to have a book published!
-----Original Message-----
From: "Chris Baty" <noreply@nanowrimo.org>
Sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:02:40 Pacific Daylight Time
Subject: [NaNoWriMo] Free printing for 2007 winners
Dear NaNoWriMo 2007 Winner,
Last November, you and those typing fingers of yours did something amazing. And while you were busy bashing out your novel, we were frantically trying
to line up a prize worthy of your feat.
Our goal was to find a self publishing company who would give every NaNo
winner a free copy of his or her winning manuscript in paperback book form.
It's taken us until now, but we've finally found them.
CreateSpace, an Amazon.com Inc. owned company, is generously offering every
NaNoWriMo 2007 winner a "free proof copy" of their 2007 manuscript. What
this means: A free proof copy of your manuscript in paperback book
form---just by following the instructions below. They'll even cover the
costs of basic shipping to you.
To redeem the offer, you'll need a special NaNoWriMo winner's promo code. Yours is:
It's good for six months from today. Here's how you go about using it:
1) Go to http://www.createspace.com/nanowrimo and create a free member
account.
2) Set up your title: you will be asked to fill in information such as
title, author name, page count, etc.
3) Submit your title: make sure that your title's information is accurate
and complies with CreateSpace's Submission Requirements. Your Submission
will be reviewed to ensure it can be printed.
4) When everything's uploaded and perfect, just request a proof copy and
use the above discount code at check out. Presto!
After you receive your proof copy, you can then choose if you want to make
it available to the public at large---everything from showing up for sale
on Amazon.com to complete invisibility.
We asked CreateSpace to write up an introduction to who they are and what
they do, and I'm pasting that below. You can also read a bunch of their
helpful FAQs about copyright, ISBNs, and other important matters at
http://www.createspace.com/Help/Book/FAQ.jsp
And if you have any further questions, you can contact them directly:
http://www.createspace.com/Special/SalesInquiry.jsp
Thanks so much to CreateSpace for making our dream-prize come true! And
congrats again on your NaNoWriMo victory. We look forward to another year
of literary abandon together this November.
Warm regards,
Chris Baty
Director, NaNoWriMo
www.nanowrimo.org
CreateSpace, an Amazon.com, Inc company, provides one of the easiest and
most economical ways to self-publish your work, CreateSpace offers
self-service publishing tools that allow you to upload ready-to-print PDF
book files and make your trade paperback book(s) available for sale on
Amazon.com and your own E-store with no setup fees. Your product is
manufactured and shipped only when customers order so there is no need for
a large upfront investment in inventory to start selling.
CreateSpace Key Features & Benefits:
* No s
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
FYI Re MA pics!
Click on any of the pics to enlarge them to see details ~ I'll be posting all of the pics I took to an online Picasa album asap! I just tried to do a 'best of' with these posts.
I'm also going to be writing about my time in MA, to start though I think I'm going to break it up into 3 parts!
I'm also going to be writing about my time in MA, to start though I think I'm going to break it up into 3 parts!
Last Day in MA
Almost Done Catching Up! MA cont'd
Yet More Catching Up! MA cont'd
Last Day In MA!
Yet More Catching Up! MA cont'd
Yet More Catching Up! MA cont'd
More Catching Up! My Last Salem Pic!
More Catching Up! Salem MA cont'd
More Catching Up! Salem MA cont'd
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Catching up! Salem MA cont'd
The dungeon jail cells recreation is a tad cheesy in that the scenes are very old (probably made in the 60's or 70's, perhaps 50's!) and it's very very dark, which I know they do to show you how dim the actual cells were but it's difficult to really see inside each cell.
The most disturbing (and effective) scene is the hanging scene with 2 women and 1 man hanging from a tree, the executioner with the hood on behind them and another woman watching & waiting to be hanged. More disturbing was the fact that people were posing in front of the scene & having their pics taken!
Catching up! Salem cont'd
As I walked around the room it was in (the dining room I believe) I began feeling light headed & queasy, my heart racing a bit and started feeling warm. This has happened to me before & I so I just wanted to leave. Vic on the other hand was reading all of the info & taking forever!
A voice which wasn't mine said, in my mind, in a very odd & exaggerated manner, "This house is haunted!"
I replied in my mind, "Oh give me a flipping break!"
The voice repeated itself, "This house is haunted!"
I replied (silently!), "Ok, what do you want me to do about it?! I know what was done to the innocent was wrong!"
The voice just repeated "This house is haunted!" over & over until we got to the room that was the Corwin's children's room. In there it was cool & pleasant and I felt immediately better!
Cooky yet true! My question is, was that voice one of the Corwin family or one of the accused who appeared before him? (And I roll my eyes at it being called 'The Witch House'?!)
Catching up! Salem MA cont'd
I was disappointed here since it was an unguided tour and seeing that they've let the place deteriorate. There was a leak in the roof that damaged a section upstairs and 1 of the few pieces in the home which actually belonged to the Corwin Family!
Vic said he found it hard to believe at $8 a person that they "needed to find someone to donate the roof installation and supplies." Just the money they take in during this month alone could buy a new roof!
This is the last structure in all of present day Salem that dates back to 1692, the time of the Hysteria and the Trials and it's going to pot! That doesn't say much for the people running it or for the town itself.
Catching up! Salem MA cont'd
Salem, MA
Fascinating and beautiful! The history of the house is very interesting what with all the many changes to the structure of the house as time passed and the location on the water is amazing! (I cannot imaginw how cold it must be in the Winter!)
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Authors Ridge, Concord MA continued
I'm not sure how peaceful it is for the author's in Author's Ridge, what with all the people coming to see their graves & get pencil/charcol rubbings of their headstones but it was nice to see the flowers, pine cones & what nots left to them as a thank you and respect.
An amazing moment
The wind died down, it's dim with the cloud cover and all I could hear is the cricket outside our bedroom window! It was just a moment but it was wonderful!
Now the cars are passing by again, work trucks are banging around in the distance & the wind is starting to shake the drying colorful leaves. The air is a little warmer & more balmy than earlier.
We're supposed to get gusty wind & rain later today and tomorrow and another storm late weekend into next week. There go the leaves!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Present Before the Past!
A beautiful & LONG ride via bike - 13 miles there and 13 miles back equals 26 miles!
Yup you heard me right! We biked 26 scenic autumn foliage galored miles!
I nearly ended up in the swamp because some jerk swerved at me on purpose. I was headed down hill a bit so to avoid ending up in the water, I dumped the bike and fell. I was fine, but I may never walk again. 26 miles. And I literally cleaned my plate of appetizer, entree and dessert for dinner which took us all of 15 minutes to drive to in NH!
Hubby told me all Marines have a second birthday, the Marine Corps birthday and because I did this, he told me I could have this day as my second birthday.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Orchard House, final pic
So I wouldn't have to wait a 1/2 hour until another tour started, the ladies were nice enough to bring me to one that had already started. (The lovely woman who was the tour guide brought me to the 3 rooms I missed at the beginning once the tour was done & right before another started!)
My heart was pounding in my chest and tears kept threatening to well up in my eyes as I listened to the history of the home and the Alcott's. I wish I could've been alone in Louisa's room for a few moments so I could try to picture her there, writing away at her desk's, day and night.
What a wonderful, warm & creative home with Louisa & her writing and May & her art! (Though I don't get as much of a warm feeling from Bronson Alcott, their father).
Unfortunately no pics were allowed to be taken inside.
We went over to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Bedford Rd. to Author's Ridge afterwards. (Pics coming soon!)
I may go back to Orchard House on Saturday. (I feel a very emotional & inspirational connection w/this place).
It's Burnie!!!
Our lunch spot yesterday
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Ya couldn't make this up!
For those of us who are familiar w/NJ rest stops...
And We're Off!
I still feel it's odd being a tourist in my own state! I think we're in Augusta.
And We're Off! Pic 2
Friday, October 10, 2008
Another picture perfect Autumn day has given way to a crystal clear night with a nearly 3/4 full moon overhead. Unlike yesterday's balmy day turned balmy evening, as today's sun set, the slight humidity and stuffiness in the air faded with the light and a crisp chill replaced it! I could see my breath by the time we arrived home just before 9pm! I'm surprised I hear a cricket still chirping outside the bedroom window! The moon could light up the livingroom and our bedroom if I opened the curtains! (Sometimes I like to lie in bed with the curtains open to gaze up at the moon - it's very comforting). I feel so alive and in tune with things at this time of year!
Strange, I keep getting an icy tingly sensation along my right arm!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
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