What's Important...

Recently, you may have heard that life has just got a little more complicated for me and my family. Just when I started thinking that with the new year, that my curse, my family curse was going to be gone with the change, it happens...

Where do I begin? Right now, I am sick of it. I am sick of hearing and telling the story over and over to everyone, who asks what happened. So I figure I will write about it, so that in the future, I will have this to come back to, and be thankful it was not worse.

Late Saturday night, Jason went to go pick up Erick from the Stake dance. I was downstairs playing video games alone, when all of the sudden, a flipping bat, (yes a bat!) flew wildly around Erick's room. It scared the crap out of me. I thought Jason was just going batty, when he said it happened to him one night, in the summer. But we never found it, and we could not imagine how it got in there. So I got a hoody on, and a broom and went back to see what I could do. It swooped down at me, back and forth, until it landed on the wall, and it stuck it's self there. Then I decided to just wait for Jason to come home but as I was standing there, I got a frantic phone call from my dad. It just a few words, he yelled out that the house was on fire! I asked him, "are you kidding?" He said no. Then told me to call my mom and then he was cut off. Suddenly the bat did not seem so scary.

Their home was a nice double wide trailer. It had 2000 sq. feet. What had happened, according to the fire chief, was that the cat must had knocked down the Christmas tree and it set on fire. It was a Scotch Pine, and it was loaded with lights. My dad even made the comment before, that is was the fullest and most beautiful tree they have had for a while. My dad does not remember getting out. He does not know how or who helped. When he heard the alarms go off all at once when he was in his bedroom, he said the cat came running, he saw the glow through the black smoke, he grabbed the cat and tucked it under his shirt. Then he ran to the back door, which was seized by the heat and banged on it. The neighbor who was in the shower, heard his calls for help, and her husband saw it was on fire. Several neighbors came and they all tell a different story, but none of them say who helped him out. One says he was on the ground. They all say he was already out when they came. My poor dad, my mean old crazy dad, is totally traumatized. He has been having nightmares, and he says the flames were right up to him. He last remembers kicking on the door and seeing the flames above his head and thinking he was going to die.

He got out of the hospital late Monday night. He did get some burns, and he had damage to his lungs and throat. The doctor says it can be months before it's healed inside. But they released him because he can breathe on his own now. I am doing what ever I can, I even cleared out Clark's room and bought a bed for them. Their ward members have been awesome! Dria's basketball team, and the varsity gave her tons of bags of stuff and a card full of money. I think she will be okay, but she has been in shock for two days, acting as if nothing happened. But yesterday, it has hit her, and she isn't the same.

Tragedy happens to everyone in some form. I hope we never experience anything worse. I do know what is is like to lose everything in a fire. My family was in a wreak with our moving trailer while on the way to Alaska when I was ten years old. Everything we had was in a stupid trailer meant for hay. When it was destroyed, all of the stuff was burnt in a giant bon fire, set by my dad and his friends. We had no insurance on the things and so we didn't have anything for a while after we moved. In fact, we went on to Fairbanks, and we lived in a tent! (well I slept in the front seat of the pick-up) Life went on, and we made do with what we had, each other. So with this, it will be another story to tell, a lesson learned, and a chance to start fresh for my parents. Most importantly, I do believe everything happens for a reason, even if it has the outcome we do not like, but Heavenly Father has a plan, whether we live die now or die later. I really believe that. Thank you for all of your support and love, but we will be okay and we will survive.

I Am Hauling Out The Holly!

It is just a perfect day to put things away, nice, sunny, and warm. I am letting my tree stay a day longer than it should, because I am focusing on outdoor stuff first. I already changed my profile, as you can see, I just couldn't wait. It's my New Year background. I love changing things, I wish I could get some snow before spring, but I am ready for a clean, simple house again.

When the holiday season is over, I begin my spring cleaning early. (I have to do it when I get the motivation) My dream is to have everything labeled, and put in a proper storage box. (no cardboard allowed) I want to get rid of my junk, and I have plan to get rid of anything I haven't touched in a year's time or more. A few things could stay, that are momentos, but really, I have to get real, some things are ridiculous to keep. Like clothes that don't fit, but wish that someday they could...Extra pots and pans, when really, I only have one favorite that I ever use...Toys, especially happy meal toys! And of course, anything I hang on to because I got a good deal on it, it half works, or because I had it when I was a kid. The truth is, and what I keep on telling myself, is...that somebody else could use it now, and would be thrilled to have it. So why not just give it up? That is what I tell myself, every year or every move. I don't need five totes full of Christmas stuff, so that is my goal, to downgrade it substantially. You should try it! It is like my own personal anti-depression , self-cleansing, refreshing thing that I do, to keep me happy and sane.

All I Want For Christmas is...Everything!!!

When I was a kid, I was pretty sneaky, or so I thought... I had to believe in Santa, and if I didn't, my mom said he wouldn't come to me. But I believed...kind of, because I never once found out how and where they would hide our presents!

I admit, I was a bit spoiled. Every year, I had a tall order for what I wanted. If my mom insisted there was a Santa, I figured I can get everything I wanted. And most of the time, I did. My list was not outrageous, but it did consist of numerous things. Literally I would get about 15 presents most of the time. My parent's were not rich either, but I had no clue that they were paying for it. I just figured, I must have been good enough for it.

It was exciting, very exciting, on Christmas Eve night. I would look out the window for Rudolph's red nose, and I thought I even saw it. Then I would end up falling asleep and I would, every year, get up in the middle of the night to discover first what we got. Being the oldest of a crew of four, I didn't always wake the others because they would be too loud. I never got caught, that I can remember, as I crawled on the floor quietly to inspect the area in the dark. A sibling or two would end up almost spoiling it, for I did threaten them if they made a single sound. After I judged which was mine and who's was who's, I would go back to bed. I would even go as far as unwrapping a gift or too, and putting it back together!

My parent's must of known something was up, because every year they tried to fool us by putting a weird name or symbol on the package so we didn't know who it belonged to. One year, I got up as usual, and went to the living room to find one huge taped up box! That was it, all the gifts inside. It caught me by surprise, and I wasn't able to open it to sneak a peek. I never told my kids about this, because I didn't want to give them any ideas. But nevertheless, I have been careful and now I don't care. If they want to spoil their surprise, they can. I just want them to wait until a decent time in the morning to do it. Man, I must be getting old!

I think about how great my youth was, all those presents, really never lasted. Not even the doll houses I had, or the stereo or even the TV. I thought that is how many presents a person was supposed to get if they were good. It took me until my senior year, when Jason came to visit Christmas morning and he saw what we got for Christmas. I would never forget how he shocked he was. He being the youngest of twelve came from a humble home, his gifts were few and practical. I felt bad. But he didn't say much. Then when Erick had his first Christmas, I went totally overboard! It was stupid! Because after watching the video tape, Jason and Erick opening gift after gift, it was apparent that it was too much. So over the years, it took me to realize that it's not about the gifts, that prove how much you deserve it. So this year, the kids are getting three gifts each, using the three wise men as a example. That is the way it should be, remembering it's someone's birthday, not theirs and that they are lucky to get anything at all. I just love Christmas...

Christmas Crap

I feel like blah!
I was feeling better for a day, but then after I had to clean up Clark's barf in the bathroom, at 3:15 am, I am so sick to my stomach again. Why do we have to be cursed? Why did Clark not lift the lid before he barfed? Then after I cleaned it , I was so tired and I scrubbed my hands twice with soap and still they smelled gross? Why then afterwards I heard the cat barfing on the stairs and I didn't throw her out in time? Why, Why, Why? I was going to make some Christmas cookies today for my neighbors, and do you think they would appreciate some stomach flu to go with it? I am also sad we missed going to chuch today, and though we are stuck here, waiting for the rest of the kids to bring more Christmas cheer, I thought maybe I would feel good enough to clean a little. But Jason refuses to do anything. He was sick two days ago and he never had to vomit, but he was well enough to play video games. I am trying to get my stomach settled enough for lunch, and to make everything worse, Jason has two dead deer hanging in the back yard! Anyone for deer meat? It makes me gag at the thought of it. Why, Why, Why? I am just sick of all this Christmas crap! That is all I have left to say.....

Do I Really Wish I Could Read Minds?

If I could read minds, would I like what was being said in them? When we all watched Twilight, I think everyone could agree that the scene in the cafe about mind reading was strange. I didn't expect it, and I guess it added a little extra humor when Edward mentioned the guy thinking about cats. In Sabrina's case, that would properly be true. But would I want Edward's gift? Yes and no!

I was not going to write about my experience creating the Christmas dinner. It is over with, and though some see it as a success, I see room to improve. Most people know it's not easy being a person with authority. Mine was not much, but my goal as the church's new activity coordinator was to impress the congregation so that they would accept me, and come to future events. I really wanted to make it special too. I wanted to share the Christmas spirit all around. As if you seen my blog early on, I have been in the Christmas spirit for some time. But again, I can't read minds, and it was obvious that some people were not sharing in the experience through out the week preparing and through the event it's self.

I went through a week of heck about meat! What a stupid thing to stress over, and when all the griping was done, and I had to make a executive decision over it, I ended up with too much of it. I felt because I had to make that decision, I thought the person I was dealing with was mad at me. If I could of read her mind, I would have slept better on Friday night and would have known that she would have came to help me after she said she wouldn't. It worked out. I was thrilled. The decorations turned out just the way I planned. It was beautiful. I wanted people to be in awe. It made me so happy and thrilled that all my planning turned out nicely and that people would be happy. All I had to do then was to sit back and enjoy the moment. BUT that moment was soured by a few minor things and people. I tried to turn the other cheek and think to myself, what was going on in their mind. I should have known that no matter what, things were going to get knocked over, people were going to complain about not finding a seat (which were many and I can't help that our church is so small and I used all the tables I had), and that people were going to be so indecisive about performing or not. I had people mad at me for their inability to bring their Nativities on time. I had people mad at me because I asked them to perform before people began to go home. I had people mad at me because I bought ham instead of turkey, the list goes on. All this complaining made me for one moment rethink about doing this dinner again next year.

I am still upset about it, and I prayed not to be. It made me feel better today that more people than complainers actually thought the dinner went so well. It made me feel good, and I had so much praise, it was almost getting annoying. Maybe if I could have read their minds, I would have not let the problems get the best of me. And maybe I could have avoided some unpleasantness. Perhaps I wish people could read my mind and they would know that I was trying really hard to please everyone and my heart was in the right place.

Candy Canes and Canker Sores

Candy Canes and Canker Sores, don't mix! It seems like it's the season to be fat and jolly, it starts in October and ends with a all out party on the last night of the year! Why, oh why, do we fall into this trap? Goodies and more goodies every where and every day, all in the name of a holiday. You know cankers feel, Clark gets them very often. I caught him sneaking dry juice mix and eating it! The packets are sugar free and is supposed to make up a gallon of juice, but he has been eating it like his own private Pixie Stick!

* warning, may contain gross content*

We all went to the dentist this fall and I am the one who ended up with six cavities! Oh brother! I had to go, because when I ate something chocolate, I began to feel pain. I went on Friday and it took them a hour to do one tooth! It took so long mainly because it was really deep and I couldn't get numb enough. I won't go into details but one I have to admit I was nervous, I was even shaking. Before we started, he asked me about about the tumor I had in my mouth that I had removed years ago. I think that was as close as I will ever get to real torture! I had surgery to pull down a tooth out of my pallet and was awake for it, but nothing can compare to what I had to endure! In as little details as possible, it was in my bottom jaw and it grew so big it covered my bottom teeth! I was awake for everything, and the smell of burning flesh will never leave my mind. The surgeon warned me that if it grew back for a third time, I might lose a portion of my jaw and teeth! I was super scared. After the second surgery, I looked in the mirror and saw what looked like a horror movie, my jaw bone surrounded by burnt flesh! (I will not describe what the tumor looked like after they removed it.)

My dentist on Friday brought back some of that fear, after he begun drilling the first time and I was not numb enough! I could not help but have tears roll down my eyes. Then he gave me all he could, he said, and I still felt it sorta. But for hours later, I could not talk right or eat. I survived and I think this is a lesson to be learned, for my kids, that need to lay off the candy. I haven't bought any Christmas candy for their stockings, and I might not.

Ice, Ice Baby....

This time of the year, when it gets cold outside, I walk very carefully to avoid falling. But every year I always manage to have one great fall that shatters my nerves, and makes me afraid to walk where ever ice is possible. So then I end up walking like a granny. (no offense to anyone who is..) It's hard to believe that there was a time in my life that I use to love the ice. I was not the greatest skater, nor the fastest, but when I played hockey with the boys, I can admit, I wasn't bad. I only played for fun in gym, recess, and after school. Yes, our elementary school Woodriver in Fairbanks, was so awesome, that we had our own skating rink!

I never played on a real team, but my brother's did when we lived in Evanston, Wyoming. Jason was my new husband at the time, and I pushed him to play with my little brothers all of the time. Since I was unable to skate any more because of my knees, he did. There was only one outdoor rink that anyone can use. When it wasn't being used for practice or games, it was open to the public and there were skates avaible to rent.

Well one night, when I was visiting my mom while Jason was out skating with my brothers, something happened. Something, gross and disgusting. I still remember the moment when I was eager for Jason to be back and my brother's came into the kitchen being loud as usual. Jason came in and acted as if nothing was wrong and he sat down to take of his wet boots and then said something to the effect of needing a bandage or something. I can't remember then, what my brother's were saying, something like how he got to drive Jason home and that he swore! (Danny was only in middle school at the time) but Jason pulled up his pant leg, and exposed this giant bloody hole! Yes! It was a pretty bad wound and Jason was even smiling. What is wrong with him? My mom rushed to his side, she being a nurse, she was always the one to go to for help. I could barely look at it, just the thought of where it came from was enough to be sick about! Apparently, the rink did not have any hocky skates for his size, so...he wore figure ice skates while playing around with my brothers. Showing off, I am sure! He fell and the long end of the skate went right into his leg! ALL THE WAY TO THE BONE! He pulled it out through his jeans, and the meat stuck into the inside of the pants. According to Jason, and then he swore for the first time in front of my brother's, who were totally shocked by this!

(Okay, you are proberly thinking this is the last of my gross stories, but nope, there are plenty more...ha ha ha)

I had to make my mom stay home while I personally drove him to the hospital. He didn't want to go. He said he was fine. When we got there at that little hospital, we were like the only ones there and they seemed to give us a ton of attention. They first did not believe the story, they thought it was a bullet hole! It certainly looks like one! Poor guy, he may be able to stand blood on animals, but he is a complete baby when it's his own. They had to clean him out, and when they shined the light inside, they let me look, and yes, there was the bone! I asked if they could just sew it, but they couldn't. So they packed it with a long piece of cloth, which had to be changed a few times a day until the hole closed up from the bottom up. You can image what that looked like, when they pulled out the blood soaked cloth. They sent him home the next day, after they fed him IV stuff, and then after that, it was a process to go through twice a day to get cleaned and restuffed. So, so, so gross. He has a scar for life that looks like a bullet wound. After this, I never ice skated again and neither did Jason.

Why Yes Vivienne, There Is A Santa Claus!

*CAUTION MAJOR SPOILER ALERT! KEEP KIDS AWAY!*

To tell or not to tell, that is the question. Should I tell Vivienne the truth about Santa? I wanted to but Jason didn't. I was going to tell her anyways and asked her some questions about it, and she responded with some innocent answers. She really believes in him , and I didn't want to crush that Christmas spirit gleam in her face. Though last year we told Clark the truth. He accepted it and has been really understanding. This year I told Vivienne the truth about the Tooth Fairy because trying to lie about it was just getting ridiculous! So I didn't tell her and her belief in Santa will continue for another year.

I know some of you have never did the Santa thing. The stories they come up in movies make the whole thing even bigger in some kids minds. I for one turned out okay, for as I believed in Santa far into my high school years. Even when I saw the presents my parent's bought and even if I heard them wrap things far into the night as a child. Some how and some way, even when my parent's were going through tough times, I still got just about everything I wanted! So he had to be real, to get the things I wanted even when my parent's were poor.

There is no doubt that I have a big imagination, and on Christmas Eve, I would stare out the window, looking for the Christmas star and Rudolph's shiny red nose. One year when I was in third grade, I could have sworn that I saw it and I told everybody I did. It was properly a plane but I believed. Especially when I have met the real Santa! There is a man (maybe crazy) that lives in a town called the North Pole in Alaska, who claims to be Santa Claus. I believed because I went there, and I saw his house, his workshop, and his reindeer. There was no Rudolph. So am I warped because I believed? My mom told me if I didn't Santa would not come.

I think it's not healthy to lie to your kids, but do we tell them everything? I am certain that all of can say we have lied to them for a good reason, at one time or another. Believing in Santa makes Christmas more special. Of course we know what the true meaning of Christmas is. I think I already explained in my last post, Christmas has become more than just our Savior's birthday. It has become a time where we should act more Christlike in honor of our Savior. The image of Santa carries that love on. Especially in time where people do not believe in our Savior at all, little do they know that Santa himself is helping people get into Christ like activity. BUT of course it's important to not let Santa over shadow our Savior, or worship him as if he was the Savior. Some people get confused, there is always going to be people that go overboard, commercialize Christmas, and take advantage of people during this time.

Believing that there is someone good in this world who cares about little children is a positive role model for our kids. Why would I want to take that away? Why is it any different than having other fictional characters as role models? Kids aren't stupid, they may wish to grow up like Santa, wouldn't that be better that Miley Cyrus? I enjoy playing Santa to my kids every year, it makes me happy. And temperorarily takes us away from reality of our troubles. I am sure someone can agree? It would be sad without Santa. What do you think?

Bah- humbug! To You and You and You!

We put our tree up this year On Wednesday. We put on lights up a week before. Does it makes sense that we got a live tree or endure the amount of the electricity bill next month? It does not make any sense at all. Or does it?

I had a few moments in the past couple weeks where I was thinking, I wish that we could skip Christmas this year...It did not help when my dad and Dria were saying they didn't want anything for Christmas this year, nor are they going to put a stupid tree, or waste their power putting up lights. All that talk just made me mad. I didn't want to hear it. So then I thought, maybe they are right. Maybe we should skip all that extra stuff and find our selves a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. But I changed my mind. ( remember I like to rebel?) I just refuse to let them be right, I refuse to feel sorry for ourselves and ruin my kid's Christmas. So I wanted to skip Thanksgiving, I decorated my blog and I set my alarm clock to Christmas music when I woke up. My kids got so excited to see the lights outside and when we got the tree, I let them put whatever ball they wanted up, instead of what I wanted. I am also going to make a effort to mail off Christmas cards, which I haven't done in a long time. I am even making the kids watch Christmas shows on TV. I want to surround my self with Christmas, is that so bad?

I took the kids, reluctantly to see Santa arrive at the mall, like we go every year. Three of them know the truth about Santa but it's the point to get into the Christmas spirit. It was a sad arrival, he was late, it was cold, and only half of the people came as they did last year. I thought it was depressing, no one waved but me, Sabrina, and another mom! He was looking at the people and they weren't excited at all. I told the kids to not make him feel bad, wave and smile! So Sabrina started jumping up and screaming SANTA, SANTA! He had a huge smile when he saw her, and when he came over, he gave her a big hug.

I know some people have gone overboard with Christmas, and have you ever wondered why? Some people even keep Nativity's and trees up all year round! Do you think they do it because they are lazy? It's because it the spirit of Christmas they wish they could feel all of the time. It has become something more that just of Savior's birth, it has become a time where people should give a crap about other people. A time to be with and think about family. A time where kid's can be hopeful, and dream happy dreams. The lights are a symbolism of the Christmas spirit, and when I see them, it makes me happy. I think it would be easy to be down with Christmas when things look bleak, when loved ones are gone, when your in financial peril, or even if your sick. That is when you have to fight back, and let a little bit of Christmas in your heart.... It can do a body good, so pass it on! Don't let the news ruin it for you, there is always going to be bad people and bad things happen to good people. And sometimes we will run into a Scrooge or two, that will try to damper our day. So get revenge! Tell them Merry Christmas and just smile!

I Survived Twilight!

I wasn't going to do this, run home a write about Twilight, but then thought why not? I stayed up until 1am looking for reviews or information on it. I couldn't find much but the reviews I read were either really hateful or extremely positive, there was no in between.

I am going to miss all the hype, it was fun to talk about something that everyone seemed to love with your friends. I felt that it brought us closer, the books I mean. I haven't quite been this excited about something besides the election, with a pack of people like this before on this level. I am not one to be gitty, jump up and down, to scream, or rock back in forth in my seat like Jennie L.. I sat between Shawna and Meg, there were 15 of us in all. Shawna was super excited, I wasn't sure if she was able to drive to the theatre safely! I told myself I wasn't going to clap, but when roller coaster screen came up, people clapped and I found myself doing it out of instinct. (how corny, I thought) I hope the girl's didn't think I was a party pooper because I was unable to show my emotions that way. Trust me, I would be calm if I won the lottery, and I have been when ever Christmas came. I am very excited in my own way.

I am not going to tear down this movie, I believed it served it's purpose. To visually give us Edward, Bella, Jacob and the others That is what we wanted to see right? It wasn't the best made movie ever, but I liked it. I would like to see someone do better. It wasn't exactly the easiest book to bring to film, since it was so unbelievable. People are going to gripe, I say, "SHUT UP!" Give me a break, give them a break! I have to admit though, there were some really funny moments, well more like looks, like Billy driving by, Edward in class, Edward sucking out the venom, and of course Bella going cross eyed while dying! I am trying to resist telling Jason all about it! I want to go with him when he goes, I just wish it wasn't so expensive! I just have to see this movie again to believe what I saw.

I thought Rob Pattinson did a good job acting, because people believe he is really Edward. In real life, he is such a dork! His hair, well, it's awful, he can't keep his hands out of it. When he was on Ellen, he touched his hair and it stuck up the whole time in a funky way. I feel for the kid, his 15 mins. of fame has turned into more. He doesn't know what to do. I just hope he handles it well, I hope he doesn't turn to drugs or alcohol to overcome this insanity! Poor guy! He has young girls, gay men, hot chicks his age, and old ladies throwing themselves at him! That would be freaky, if I were in his shoes. He is too nice, he puts up with a lot.

Do you want to know what was my favorite part? The prom of course! It was basically the whole movie which I loved, though it was different from the books, I think of the movie as another companion piece to the book. I certainly hope they make the other movies, if anything, to just see the actors enter act again. After the movie we all went to dinner to a Thai restaurant, it was my first time. I am a very picky eater and so I didn't eat much, in fact the lady didn't make me pay anything because I had some white rice with a couple drips of sweet and sour sauce on it. I think we all could have talked forever, it was a conversation we could talk and talk about. I am glad the girl's had fun, and I am glad I was part of their Twilight click, it will be something to always remember. Thanks girls, and thanks to Stephanie Meyer!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

My first thought of every morning is, has it snowed enough, so that Seminary and school will be canceled? I often wish it would snow, though it has happened many times of the past, a dusting gets everyone excited here. If it snowed a inch or two, you would think that they would declare a state of emergency! I often remember what a real snowfall was like, it has been so long time. Sometimes I tell the kids how it was when I was a kid. The snow had to be removed on your roof top with a shovel, and when we did that, we would a make pile we can jump in. The snow would completely make our parent's car disappear, and if they were on the curb side, the plows would make it unbearable to dig out. I even remember having the snow up to our windows, and my dad would make a tunnel like path to our door, how cool is that? I love the snow because it makes everything clean, white, and quiet. (Until it starts melting, then ugh!)

When I lived in Alaska, we never had snow days! The cars would all have studded tires with chains on them. In Fairbanks, we sled to school, I think I already wrote about that. We still had recess when we had school too. The plows would create a mountain for us to tunnel in by the end of the parking lot. As kids, we would spend all of our free time perfecting a cave or tunnel. And if it got boring, we played a real rough and mean game of King of the Hill.

No one could tell if I was male or female. I wore a hat with a face mask underneath. I would wear a coat under my one piece snow suit, that my dad put reflecting tape on. It had to have that tape because it was always dark in the winter, and I loved to play outside. I always wore Long Johns under my clothes, and two pairs of socks. I remember it being so cold that my eyelashes would stick together if I didn't wear goggles. I wore a pair of mittens inside of my gloves too. That was real snow, and occasionally, since I have moved, I got to experience some good storms in Wyoming and in Salt Lake. Here, the ice storm are pretty scary, but I have yet to experience anything worth mentioning. It is sad when the snow disappears the next day, or even on the same day. It does scare me to drive around people who don't know how to drive in the snow though. And one thing that drives me mad, is the fact the forecasters can not get anything right! Last year it seemed like they cried "Snow", a few times, and everybody would run to the store in a panic. I laugh! But I am guilty of going along with their madness, I didn't want to be the only one with out a extra milk! The stores must love it!

Jason, I told you so!

It is no secret that Jason was once a terrible driver! In 1992, on April fool's day, he caused a four car accident on the way to school! He wasn't paying attention and he rear ended his shop teacher, which rear ended someone else and also cause someone to rear end him! He was okay, the air bag was deployed but the car was a total loss.

Then one day while driving his brother Dan's Jeep, he backed out too quickly and got hit by oncoming traffic. Then another time, we were in his brother Kevin's car, when he got too close to someone in front of us on a hill. I told him, why are you so flippin close, back off! He said he was fine. But the light changed, and the car in front of us, had no choice but to hit the front bumper, when they took their foot off the brake. I told him, I told you so!

When I met Jason he had the biggest, ugliest 70's style brown striped van, with a huge dent in the side. I guess his parent's felt it would be safer for him to drive. When I moved away to WY, after he had graduated in UT, I still had my senior year to finish. He would come and visit me up there, while driving his red hard top Jeep. I was deathly afraid of his driving when I rode with him in that. When it snowed, it was even worse! One day, on the way up my parent's windy road, he took a turn too quickly on the ice. I told him to slow down! But we ended up over the curve on someones lawn, and then I told him so! I should have known that this was a warning sign!

He moved up to WY in January and worked for my dad at his shop. He lived in the apartment above, rent free. My dad always gave him a hard time about his driving mishaps, and swore that he would never ride with him! Until one day, I heard that Jay was coming over for dinner, and that he was going to give my dad a ride. At that it time, the streets were snow covered, and it was dark out as usual. My mom begun to get frustrated because they were late! And I walked outside to wait for them. Then I heard the sirens, and then rushed towards them, to look over the hill, down to where one of the curvy roads which lead to our street. There was a accident. And I quickly got in the car to check it out.

When I got there, I had to get out to see beyond the emergency crews surrounding Jason's red Jeep, on it's side! The first thing I saw was my dad's feet hanging out the window! HOW? Jay was wearing his seat belt, but not my dad. They ended up being cut out of his Jeep. My dad was never going to let this one down! They ended up okay too, you would think after this, Jason would be a little more careful!

But again, there was another told you so moment! A year later, we were married and I was five months pregnant. When he decided to take the steeper icy drive way out of our apartment complex, instead of the safer one. I told him not to. He didn't listen. He got up half way up the drive, when the wheels spun out. The the right of us, was the curve, and a steep hill that led to our apartment on the bottom floor. After trying, and trying, I got scared and told him I was getting out. So I unclicked my seat belt, and suddenly at the same time, the Jeep quickly learned to the right side and slid into the corner of our building! He used super human strength to pull my body over him, so I wouldn't get hurt! The whole passenger seat was caved in! If I had wore my seat belt, who knows what would have happened to me or Erick. I did go to get checked out but I was fine. Thank goodness for insurance, and for Heavenly Father watching out for us! I wish I could find the picture I have of this accident, it was crazy! But finally after that, he started listening to me!

A baby for Thanksgiving...

Sabrina was born two weeks early, on November 25th. The day before Thanksgiving. It wasn't planned to have her early. I had a cesarean with Erick before but I really wanted to try having her the right way. I didn't have much choice, but the doctor's assure me that she was going to be fine.

I was a bit nervous, of course they didn't try to stop it at that point, but after my water broke, my labor stopped. I had to have the c-section, and on top of everything, I had a team of medical students that I let be a part of my experience. Was I going to tell them no, when they are all standing there? I couldn't remember how many there were, at least eight of them. They came in the operating room at the same time, and one of them took pictures for me, in graphic detail! She was born at 11:11 am. Officially they said 11:12, but they waited a minute to call it. I felt this was a sign, because as a kid, and even now, 11 was my favorite number. I used to make a wish, whenever I saw the time was 11:11 on a clock.

I had her name all picked out before she was born, and I knew what she would look like. I wished and prayed for a girl who had curly hair like Erick, and I wanted dimples! The day she was born, everyone told me she was the most beautiful baby they ever saw. She had dark brown hair, it was slightly kinked at that point. And of course she smiled, and was able to lift her head up off the nurse's shoulder, showing off her dimple. (I have a pic of that) I was so pleased! I couldn't stop staring at her, she was so quiet, and she had one small flaw when she was born, one of her ears were folded, but it was still cute.

The day after, it was Thanksgiving. Jason missed out on the big dinner with the family, but my mom came and brought us some of it. My room was really big and nice, it had a wooden floor. Jason slept in the chair next to me, he was very sweet to be with me all of the time. By this point, I barely went anywhere, because I had a history of blood clots in my legs, and I had this thing on them to heat and massage them. On that night, I was dozing off because of the pain killers, I was on, and at that point, Jason was holding the baby up against his shoulder. I didn't realize it, but he was very sleepy too. When I had my eyes closed, all of the sudden, I heard a loud smack on the floor....Yes, it was the baby! I knew exactly what it was, when I heard it, and I hopped up so fast, and I bent down to get her, she wasn't crying!

Even then, as I was screaming for the nurse, he acted as if he didn't know what had happened! Two nurses came, and they rushed her away to check her out, I was left there, with him alone, because they wouldn't let me go. I tried to limit talking to him because I wasn't going to say anything nice to him. He felt very bad. When people came back to talk to me, they said she was fine, and it was luck that she hit her head where she did. She just had a slight bump. BUT they weren't going to do anything else about it but watch her! I told them no way! I want a cat scan! So after insisting on it, I was allowed to go where the radiologist was and watch the images download. He pointed out that she was fine. I prayed and prayed that she would be.

Afterwards, I wouldn't allow Jason to hold her. And I was even worried about my own ability to do so. So I left her with the nurses as much as possible. When it was time to go home two days later, after I got dressed and signed the discharge papers. I was waiting to go, when I was laying on the bed, and I suddenly felt a gush of warmth down my legs, and to my knees. I looked under the blanket and it was blood! It was a lot of blood, and it was coming from my belly! They were panicked! So was I! Because of my sudden jump up when the accident happened, and because I was taking shots in my stomach for clots, I tore my belly open!
(Okay at this point, you're thinking, Jennie's blog is just too gross to read anymore, but it really happened!)

To make a long story shorter, I wasn't healing very good. I had to be readmitted and I was put on the surgical floor, in a room the size of a closet! I felt left alone there, and because the baby was discharged, they bent the rules to let her stay with me, but they weren't going to take care of her! I was not allowed to have anyone else stay either, nor was there room, because the bed was against the wall, they had to pull the infant unit they let me use, out into the hallway, to even walk on the side of the bed! I really tried to fight depression, and when they thought I was ready to go home again, when I stood up, the blood would come rushing out! Before they could glue it, they treated it like a wound, and they packed the holes in my belly with white gauze. I had to watch them remove it, and feel it, when they stuffed it in and out! It was a horrible two weeks! I felt so alone.

But I got through it, and even when I came home, I was on restrictions, and I had to give myself shots in my belly for a while. But Sabrina was fine, she slept through the night like a pro. I dressed her up like a doll, and even though some people say it was gas, she smiled at me everyday! I know Heavenly Father blessed me with her. I know people have those jokes about being dropped on your head as a baby, but that is nothing to joke about. I would have never told anyone, but I feel it was a true test of spiritual strength during that time. My faith was sort of weak, but my prayers were answered. I didn't care what pain I went through, I would have done anything to have gotten to her sooner. Accidents happen, it could have happened to me, or even a nurse. I forgave Jason shortly after, I trusted him with her and all of the rest of my babies. It was just a lesson we had learned through the hard way, unfortunately. Nevertheless, I was grateful things turned out okay, and it was certainly a Thanksgiving I could never forget.

Stranded...

Through the years we have had our bits of car problems, and I think just about everybody has. Sometimes it may be because of something stupid, such is driving on a empty tank, and the worst is losing a engine or transmission in the middle of no where! That has happened to us, more than once. Because we love to drive and we push our vechiles to the limits sometimes, like passing people going up a steep mountain like Parley's, in Utah and losing our transmission on the way, so stupid! Or taking the risk driving with a engine light on, and ignoring it. What ever the reason, it has happened to us, and it sucks when it does. There has been that rare occausion, where we had minutes on our cell phone, it was not out of range, and we had AAA to bail us out. One particular time where I was extremely grateful was when we had to rely on the kindness of strangers.

We lived in St. George at the time, about six hours away from South Jordan, Utah, when we took our old used van to go visit my in-laws for a few days. We left on a Sunday and missed church because of it, and we hadn't planned on breaking down on the way. We had our large white husky mixed dog with us, named Lightening, he took up his own seat, when he rode with us. We couldn't leave him down in the deseret heat for days. So we went, and on the way there, without warning, we lost the engine when we were between towns. (if you ever took that drive, you would know that there are plenty of vast land between towns) We didn't have a cell phone with us, and it was too hot to stay in the van. We didn't even have any extra water either. So we decided, let's try to walk to the next town. We said a prayer and we began walking, away from the road, in tall weeds going north. We figured we had a hour or so of sun left and possibly we would get somewhere before long, but there wasn't any building in sight, either way!

As we walked (this must of been a pathetic sight to see), we had walked for only like 15 mins. at the most, when suddenly a small compact car stopped and honked at us. In the car, was two old ladies, who were sisters and they told us to jump on in, without even discussing our sitiution. The dog too? I thought, and top of everything else, in the back seat where two large coin filled water cooler containers that took up a bunch of space. They tried to stuff it in the trunk, but they would not fit. So Jason and all four kids stuffed themselves in back seat with the coins. As for me, I sat in the front area, sharing a seat with the lady, and the dog on both of our laps! To make everything worse, he was really panting, because he was hot and he weighed a lot! The ladies were as nice as can be, they were on the way home from Vegas, going to Park City, and they stopped because we had a dog! Usually people thought he was a wolf when they saw him, bright white fur with his pale blue eyes, when he stared at you, they looked mean. But he wasn't, he was just a big furry baby.

We were extremely grateful to the ladies, they drove us to the nearest town, and since this was still so far away from where we were going, they did something even nicer. They bought drinks for us, and offered to take us the rest of the way! Jason and Erick stayed behind though, so they could wait until help could come get our van. Luck was on our side, because Jason's brother owned a repair shop. We never heard or seen the ladies again after they dropped us off at my in-laws house, I even offered to pay them for gas. But I feel like the Lord did indeed answer our prayer and ever since then, I have felt compelled to stop and offer help to others when they are on the side of the road broke down too.

November is the Time for Thanksgiving...

After I first got my blog rolling, people may have noticed that I enjoy changing it as often as I can. The colors and designs are endless, which reflects my many moods, any special events, and seasons of the year. I try to control myself, and limit it to a once in a month thing, but something new always comes up! I am excited about Christmas coming up soon, I wish I could just skip Thanksgiving altogether. (the stores already do it, why can't I?)

But that's not going to happen this month, because I have had plans since the beginning to have blog themes, like the one I am going to have this month, "November is the time for Thanksgiving". This month will be filled with stories, things, and people that I am thankful for. There are many stories to share, because though I may not show it, I actually pray to Heavenly Father everyday to thank him for certain things and people. I have a lot to be thankful for, even when it seems like I am going through one of these poor me moods. I still will not deny that I am cursed, and people around me are starting to believe it for themselves. I just have a hard time getting past that, and thinking positively like I should. Because of this, I have tried to be prepared for life's problems, almost expecting it. When it does happen, I try to get a grip, and take a step back. Sometimes hearing another person's problems, makes your so minor. And that makes me for grateful for what I do have to deal with. But of course, there is only so much someone can take. And truthful right now, I am just about to that point.

I just want to make a shout out to the people that I am grateful for this week, that tried to make my frown, upside down when I tried to to lie with a fake smile, and say I was fine. And that is my neighbors, the Coiners who are like a second set of parents, whether they wanted to be or not. Micah who helps out more than he knows.

I am thankful for the understanding by Erick's teachers, counselor, and nurse, who I think show they care quite a bit when they are meeting with me on a non conference day, when they are so busy.

I am thankful for my sister Ann, Jay and her kids for coming all the way out here from California just to visit us for a weekend. Which wasn't long enough, but I was so happy to get what I could out of it, even if we had other problems going on at the same time. They didn't judge me, and they were so fun to be around. I just love them!

I am thankful for the manager I spoke to over the phone, who finally believed me, and helped me after I spoke to several people for him, that wouldn't. That really means a lot to me, and I am thankful for my status, even if it's may be short lived.

And finally, I am thankful for my parent's, even when sometimes telling them I have a problem, may lead to more. They usually have a unique way of dealing with things, and working angles that I never thought of. The thing about them is they would really do anything for their kids, if it was in their power, and I know that. I try to return the favor whenever I can. I am thankful for their love, and their resourcefulness.

Burnt OUT!

When you read my title, please understand that I am not burnt out on life, or any other of my responsibilities, just about election related stuff! I am sure like a lot of people, has been so caught up in the experience that now that it is over, you want it to be over. I can compare it to things like, when you invite someone over for dinner and then after you have cleaned, prepared, cooked, and entertained, you feel like, enough is enough, goodnight! But then they won't leave, they linger behind, still wanting to have the same conversation. I know it's strange, for me to be saying all this, because I have been looking forward to a win for so long, after being lifted up and inspired twice before and only to be knocked out once, and conned another time before that. I should be happy and thrilled!

I am sort of...I am hoping now, not be let down, and I am hoping for Obama to be a Superman, to do all he promises, and to prove to all those who doubted him, to never doubt him again. Does that ask for the impossible? I know I am not the only one who feels this way. I know how Republicans feel about losing. (it's about time, lol) They think this country is going down the toilet, they think they rather now live in Canada, and it's a sure sign of the Apocalypse! The country has already gone down the toilet, and now, we have hired a plumper, hopefully he can do the job.

I worked the polls yesterday, and was so thrilled to do so, even though I was sick, and was working with one, particular annoying person, who caused some grief during the most busiest time of the day. It's a long story, but without problems, it would have been completely boring! Before the election, I attended a meeting the week before, and they gave us more worries to think about on our big day, than before. The county sheriff came in and briefed us on about some threats that had been received, regarding the election. Besides dealing with obsessive party fans, our lives will be in danger? Sweeping for bombs, and possibly expecting crazy people to try to vote with guns, that sort of thing, hardly makes the pay worth it. Why is race make people so crazy, I hope now, people will move on about that, and just people!

So my other comparison about how I feel, is what someone might feel on Christmas morning. After months of waiting, talking about, singing the songs, and dreaming about want you want, it's finally here, and you wake up, and you got what you wanted. Just about the day after Christmas (I have to control myself from doing it on the night of), I want to put everything away, and I am then totally sick of all that is Christmas! I don't want to hear the tunes, or see the decor any more, I just want to everything to be clean, and I am ready for the new year. That is how I feel.

Go Out & Vote!

People in America take so many things for granted. One thing in particular is our right to vote for a new leader of our country. It doesn't take watching Jay Leno's Jaywalking bit, to see some of America's finest citizens in action. We are surrounded by people who are clueless or just lazy when it comes to politics, people in the line, parents at the games, people in our own homes, etc. Do you know what got me teary eyed, a while back when I watching the same old news about the war in the middle east? It was when I saw woman cry because she was allowed to vote for the first time for the President of her country. Besides braving the thought of riots, bomb scares, and prejudice against her, she had dark blue or black ink dyed on her fingers, which she wished she could never wash away. Woman are still treated like second class in some countries, some had never had such a opportunity. Of course I recognize the reason why she was allowed to vote in the first place, and that was because of our own country. It makes me feel proud that we care about others.

I think everybody knows by now that I am a election officer. NO big deal to some, but I take it very seriously! I feel like I am doing my part, to contributing to our country. In which, some people don't seem to really care about their right to vote. They just figure it's all in the delegates hands, or their vote will be canceled out by the friend or spouse who is voting for the opposite candidate. But it's the purpose, the right that we get to do so, that is one of the most important things. What if only a small percentage of people only chose to vote? What if the government realized that, and decided to give the responsibility to only a handful of people who are dedicated to doing it, so they stop wasting all this money on paying election officers , voting supplies, & machines? Don't you think that it would save a ton of money for the government and candidates who spend a ton of money trying to influence your vote? I am sure someone has thought of that and maybe prefer that. Maybe some dictator or party that wants to be in charge. What does that remind you of?

Just go and do it, it's not like it's such a chore, though this election may make you wait a bit, with other people who are just as anxious. That's no different than standing in line at Wal-mart at Christmas time. (or anytime,lol) Just be patient, especially if you come to my precinct. But that's another story for my blog...

It Must Have Been My Imagination, Right?

Have you seen shadows in the corner of your eye, and quickly turned your head, to find nothing there? I have some more questions for you, see if you can relate...

Have you ever taken a shower, when your alone in the house and you heard something, and then opened the shower curtain half way, so you could watch the doorway?

What about seeing shadows move in the TV set reflection, when it's turned off?

What about getting crank calls, late at night, asking you, " What are you wearing and telling you, that they were coming over?"

What about sitting there reading at night in your recliner reading, and for two nights in a row, the basement door would pop open real fast and then start to close?

What about laying your head on your pillow and hearing screams?

What about walking outside on a dark cold, and starry night alone, and then suddenly looking up, and seeing a massive fireball going across the sky as if it was crashing near by?

What about being awoken by finding out that your right arm is straight into the air, and feeling as if you can't move it, because it feels like someone is holding your hand?

What about getting up in the night to chat with you brother, in the room across from you, and then you both notice, down the hallway, there is a green ghost with a dog?

I could go on and on, these things have happened, to either Jason or I. I love spooky stuff, but I do get chicken too. Sometimes I try to ignore it, and then there has been times I had to cast it away! You can believe if you want, and /or just consider me crazy. I know what I heard, seen, and even felt! I have sensitive hearing and a good sense of smell, and I can't sleep well if there is a sound. Nor eat certain things, or work in a candle shop because the smell drives me nuts. I rarely wear perfume. But that's normal for most. Could phantom cats be the product of our imagination? (Jason &I) Well, I think I am done for the Halloween season of my spooky stories. Perhaps next year, I will share our experience at the Farm house, and the story of the Boogerdy, Woogerdy Man...HA ha ha...Sounds silly huh? Well it is, especially if you are scared of things that you don't understand or is really your imagination. truth is, most things happen for a reason, or there is a unparanormal explaination for it. I always try to debunk it, and when I can't or it's just too scary, I pray! I hope you have a awesome holiday and happy haunting!

The History of the old Hale Farm House

There are too many scary stories to share, that came about because of visiting or living in the old Hale farm house, in Waterford, Ohio. The farm is no longer in our family, it had been in for generations, and had hundreds of acres of land, which was divided by a killer road.

The farm had been first owned by my Great-grand parents, then for a brief time owned by another family, the Pottmeyers. After that , my grand parent's owned it, then my Uncle roy and then my dad. It was quite old, it withstood the Civil War days, it still had a building out back, that used to be the kitchen. It had a full sized basement, two floors, and a full sized attic. Which I wasn't sure what I was scared of most, the attic or the basement.... Across the street, there was a huge, double story barn, a large equipment shed, and a large modern shop.

The stories consisted of my great grand parents, they were very strange, silent people. My grandma said she was afraid of her in-laws. They didn't have electricity, which she was used to, for her parent's were a upper class family. My grandma Genevieve, told us about how they made her sleep in a seprete room than her husband, after they had been married for years, when ever they came to visit. She also told us that my Great-grandpa Fred Hale, who used to sit on the front porch naked, had lived to be in his ninties. He one day, had laid down on a bench in the dining area (she pointed to where), and died. Very strange huh? So it was no doubt then, that someone had died there. Reason enough to be haunted right?

Another death that I know of, was a farm hand boy, that worked for my grandpa. He took my grandpa's four wheeler one day without asking, down the gravel road, and crashed into a tree. His parents were awfully upset about it, mainly that he had wrecked my grandpa's ATV. When we were there for a visit in 1994, before we moved there, the family had just returned the four wheeler, all fixed and looking like new. All of us were warned to not to mess around on it. My grandpa then died of cancer, that fall, at home. Shortly after, we moved there, into that house. While my grandma lived down the road, in another house, less than a mile away.

Jason and I had been married for more than a year at this point, and had Erick, it was not fun moving into my parent's house again. Later in the spring they built a brand new addition, a huge bedroom for themselves, and a luxurious bathroom. We moved over to a new trailer, far across the street, on the other side of the shop, next to the fields, and woods. (also the cow graveyard)
So now that you know a bit of our history, in the next blog I will share with you how it was, living there.

Is my blog too scary for you?

I wonder why no one seems to be commenting on my blog since I changed it over to my new spooktacular page? So in question, I wonder if anyone is even reading it. Well, I care, and I don't. I love to write. I try not to seem so vain about it, but maybe someday, I can take these memories and thoughts and put them together for my kids to read someday.

As for the spooky stuff. Just because I love Halloween and scary things, doesn't mean I am evil. People are starting to get to know me and realize I really dig that kind of stuff. But to pretend that it don't exist and this world is not a scary place, is ignorance. I believe in protecting your mind from thoughts that are bad. Especially protecting your children from certain things too. But what happens when something really bad happens to them? Or they see something shocking and then they are scarred for life? I think you know what I mean. My kids know about the news, and dang it, they are going to fight if they end up kidnapped someday. And if they end up being chased by a axe murderer or get scary phone calls, they will know what to do. I am just preparing them in my own way. Also having the scriptures, prayer, and the Priesthood, will help them combat evil. Evil does exist, and if anyone thinks that it don't, they are foolish! As a parent and as a person, I combat evil every day in some kind of form. Don't we all?

I am not harping on anyone, and I apologize for making fun of anyone who doesn't like scary things. If I scare you, I am just trying to help you prepare for real scares in the future. (your heart, for example) And of course, I do think it is entertaining... It's okay, I will let you be, if you can't take it, for real. I just get frustrated when people make Halloween more evil than it is. Like for example, when people post signs on the door like, "Jesus lives here, so don't knock!" warning trick or treaters away. The schools here don't have costume parades, and most of their parties are labeled fall or harvest parties, instead of Halloween parties. Out here, in the area of so many churches, they have such a double standard. They treat Sunday like a extra Saturday, they drink at every event they can, coaches cuss at their players, they preach hate against other churches, and I can go on and on. BUT yet, some they think it is a sin to participate in Halloween? That is whacked. It reminds me of Carrie's mother, that to me is scary! (Carrie, the movie) I am surprised there isn't people out there banning and burning the Twilight books, because they are about Vampires and Werewolves. Give me a break... Okay, enough said, just thinking about this makes me miss being in Utah, just a little more.

Let's Go Toilet Papering!

Have you ever gone toilet papering? I admit, I have, just a few times and most of those times, it was met with disaster. I am sharing these little tid bits, of my wild youth, which have nothing to do with Halloween except for the fact, sometimes people do it on that night. I can strike at any time. Just a warning...

When I was in high school in Juneau, I first heard about the idea of toilet papering and messing with people's car for fun, through my friend, Stephanie's mother. She had got my parent's car, the one I drove, really good one night, and my parent's didn't think it was funny. I of course struck back, in a wimpy way, with putting TP in their yard. It was fun, and scary too, the thrill was so exciting. I had went along with some friends who really put the TP high up in these trees at a girl's house one night, and I escaped without getting caught. Well then I got braver, and I decided to go extreme.

One night, I gathered a mob of kids to go do a job in celebration of a friend's birthday, who lived two streets away in a cul-de-sac. It was dark, quiet, and I had bought a bunch of real cheap toilet paper. I was so afraid I was going to get caught, so I sent kids out to do most of the work for me, while I hid behind a bush. When they were done, they had a bunch left, and somehow, the idea of using the rest on the bushes in the cul-de-sac, were a good idea. Well, I hid behind some bushes on a guy's lawn from across the street, and I heard kids telling me they were done. I was crawling on the lawn, with my brother behind me, when I kid you not, this is really how it happened...I stopped when I noticed a man's bare feet standing in front of me, I looked at his calves, they had some muscle, and then I looked up, and there was a man, in a red bath robe with his hands on his hips, staring down at me! I didn't even get up! I was scared to death! All of the kids had disappeared! Even my brother behind me! When I looked at him, he seemed so angry, with his brown mustache, I had finally realized who he was, a man I have met before. A man, who had stopped me when I was driving, and only gave me a warning, it was Officer Hernandez! How could I have not known that he had lived here? I am so stupid! I certainly would have thought twice about doing what I did, if I had known, let alone be crawling on his lawn!

He yelled down at me, something like what in the heck was I doing? And then yelled out to inform anyone else who was hiding, to come put and clean up this mess! But they didn't! My little brother came out, scared to death, and I stood up, then started gathering all of the paper that was strung out everywhere. He stood and watched me the whole time, when we cleaned everything up, and he even watched me walk down his street towards my house. It was a lesson that should have been learned. My friend, Mark didn't even know that his yard was trashed for a few moments.

I didn't do it again, not while I lived in Alaska. I had the idea to try it when I lived in South Jordan, UT. I was brave enough because I went and gathered seven teen aged boys from my sister's Civil Air Patrol unit, and they stuffed themselves in our Colt Vista, loaded with TP. I drove over to a boy's house that I was not exactly getting along with at the time, named Aaron. His parent's house was huge, and very tall. They really didn't have many bushes or trees to mess up. I sat in the car, engine running, and saw the boy's surround the house, and try to throw TP over the roof! Then suddenly, chaos! Aaron had his friends over at that time, which included, my friends, Bob and Jason. My sister was screaming and I saw kids running down the streets in different directions, some came to me, while they were being chased with golf clubs! I of course put the petal to the metal, and left most of them! I came back around though and picked them up in different places, it was such a rush. No body got hurt, just scared. After this, I didn't dare do it again. How do people do it and not get caught? Have you ever done it?

Haunts of Douglas Island, Part 2

The story continues... While walking back, in the dark damp woods with Scott, Mohan, and Tara, we found a little trail on the right side that led straight down the hillside. We took it, and it was a short trip to the beach, which was nice. We hung out a bit, and then walked right back up onto the main trail, that led to where the trucks were. We came across the brick wall again, and I remembered that the trail which we found earlier, was something I wanted to check out. At this time, they agreed to go, but as we walked, it got extremely narrow, we had to walk in a single line.

Why we kept walking, who knows what we expected to find. We all ready found the ruins of the mental hospital, and this nature hike in the dark, was getting a bit tiring. Mohan led the way, then me, Tara, and Scott. The trees were really eeery, they seemed to curve around the trail. As we walked for about ten to 15 mins. it was then, we see the same flickering lights in the trees that we saw before. "Oh ya, I wonder what they are." I said. We were quiet, and as we got closer, we discovered it was tiny flames that were creating that light. When we came into plain view of the area, we stopped dead in our tracks. The trail ended in a muddy water. So we all just stood there, quiet, staring at the unbelievable thing we saw! I whispered, "someone must be here still," and Scott said something, like be quiet, someone is watching us.

There against the hillside, was a large old brick wall, with dozens of tiny lit, white candles, flickering in the slight breeze. All of the candles were lit and just floating there, spaced out, all over the wall. In the center of the wall, there was a dark hole. In front of the wall, was a tiny brick building, that had a black iron gate. From the trail, to the wall, water surrounded the area, so none of us walked over to it. Except for Mohan. Scott seemed scared, he wanted to turn around, but I told him to wait because Mohan had took off to the wall. I was so afraid that he was making too much noise! He walked over there and took one of the candles! We all whispered to him to take it back! But he didn't listen. He brought it to me, so we can see it. It was just a normal candle. Almost all the wall melted. He dropped it in the water. And suddenly, I can't remember if we heard something or what, but we were on a dead run, down the trail and to the trucks. We were all so scared and heavy breathing, I just couldn't believe it was real. What was that? Was it the devil worshipers that I heard of as rumors, while hanging out at the coffee shop? We went our separate ways and agreed to check it out the next day, while in day light.

The next day, Tara and Mohan couldn't skip class to go with us, so Scott, his friend Richard and I did. We drove over there during school, (we just made it a extended lunch) so that we can see everything in the daylight. Every looked different in the day, even the time walking on the trail took a short amount of time too. We walked to the ruins again, and the looked over the cliff at the end of the main trail, there were water falls there! Then we went to that freaky place, when we got there, the water was all gone. Just a bunch of old dried leaves. But there were no candles on the wall! The little building looked like a little grave thing, but there were no signs or words written anywhere. On the wall, we looked into the hole, and nothing inside it either. We did however find a little candle wax, but no candle holders. Strange, it was like they were stuck on the wall with wax. Rich laughed at us, while we told the story, in fact nobody hardly believed us at all. When we started walking back, there it was on the ground, the candle the Mohan had dropped.

So what do you think it was? I guess we are lucky we didn't find out, no matter, somebody had been there, and if so, how many were there? What if I went alone? I guess these questions will always go unanswered.

The Haunts of Douglas Island...

I remember this well, how scared I was, and how stupid, foolish girl I had been, when I was a teenager. I am not sure of when this happened, just that it was during my Sophomore year, at Juneau Douglas High School. I had worked at McDonald's at the time. My boss, Mrs. Tran, was a superstitious woman. Her son, Hal, who was my friend, sort of, had told me of a place that was said to be the haunting ruins of a burnt down mental hospital located on the hillside of Douglas Island. When he asked her about it, because she had lived in the area for a long time, she freaked out, and yelled at me, warning me to never go there! I thought it was funny, she was a very dramatic person when she spoke, and that made me want to go and check it out. Hal was going, but she forbid him, and I lied to her, saying I would stay away. But as soon as I could, I talked my friends, Tara, Scott, and Mohan into going with me.
(Eric C., Steph, or Shawn, do you remember this?)
I am not embellishing any part of this story, this is how it went down. In Juneau, there is a island that blocks the city from the wide ocean. The island is inhabited, it has a ski resort, some huge fancy houses on the hillside, and a thick lush forest. It also has a beach, which was a popular hangout, called Sandy Beach. Well anyways, on the South side of the island, there is a road that goes to the beach and it goes just a little further and ends right into the forest. Somewhere, in that forest, if we follow the trail off of the end of the road, we would end up finding the old ruins. Neither of us, have explored this trail before, I was simply going on Hal's instructions. How he knew all this, was beyond me, after I tell you this story, you might have a clue why.
When we got out, doing all of this on a school night, we brought only two flashlights among us. (very smart!!!) We started walking in the dark forest and right away, on the left of us, down the hill, we saw dozens of twinkling lights through the trees. We discussed it, we figured we would check it out on the way back, besides it was properly a house anyways, I thought. As we were walking, Scott tried to scare us, on the right of us. Scott would take off into the trees and pop out every so often and we would freak out. As we were walking, we noticed a brick wall on the left, with a whole bunch of graffiti on it, how strange! We agreed, this was weird, so we walked around it, to see if this was part of the ruins, but it wasn't, it just was a free standing brick wall in the middle of nowhere! On the other side of it, was a small narrow trial, leading down the hill, and along the trail we just walked on. Very spooky! But we continued on. We walked and walked, in the pitch dark blackness. Tara was cool with it, she was the only one really afraid though. Mohan led the way, then I second, with Tara sometimes holding on to my arm. Scott kept on goofing off! Then we suddenly found it!
There it was! It wasn't very large, maybe it was a three story building, and where I stood, I could see the large fireplace in the middle of the bottom floor. I didn't go in it, and it had defiantly been in a fire of some sort. The guys explored it a little and then we were bored. What now? The trail still went on past it, and we walked, shortly after we heard the sound of water, and discovered, the trail coming to a end at a cliff. The flashlight didn't work that well, we figured somewhere near by, there were water falls. That was cool. And we finally turned around, to walk towards home. To be continued!

What's That Smell?

I think people know that Jason and I get a kick out of going to Spook Alleys and Haunted Houses. Utah is really big on them, in the Salt Lake valley, in October, there will be at always at 12 of them. We liked to go with friends, and take family sometimes. Our own kids are too young, and nothing hardly scares us any more. Some of these places would be so outrageous! The art, special effects, and actors would really put on a show, some were professionals straight out of Hollywood. So who cares if the lines were long, that was to be expected. I can't even count how many we went to, or tell you all that I have experienced. But one experience I could never forget, that I had when Jason and I were newlyweds, we had taken my two twelve year old cousins, Mindy and Lisa.

We went all the way to Provo, to attend the Haunted Asylum, and we stopped on the way to eat at Taco Bell. It was a really cold, dark night. The place was really located in a empty old part of a existing asylum, up on the hill. I had never been there before so I didn't know what to expect, all I knew was a rumor that I had heard, about actors working there. It was said to have had real patients working as actors! Scary! My cousins were kind of scared about that, and I told them that actors were not allowed to touch you, no matter what. So we went.

When we got there, it was like a half mile long line and about six people wide! And the worst part was, in winded up a hill side, which led to the entrance. It was really spooky, almost looked like a castle. The hillside was steep and was outlined by trees, and the other side of the line, was practically a cliff! We were really getting anxious as we got closer, and we were bored too. I had a hard time trying to keep Mindy and Lisa out of the trees. When you are standing there, there is nothing to look at or listen to but other people. It was kind of entertaining. People talked about being scared, and how cold they were. In front of us, there was a older guy, who had slicked back black hair, cowboy boots, and a greaser style black leather jacket. He thought he was cool, his date was a taller blond chick, which he kept his arm around the whole time. I was just plain freezing! Pacing back and forth, and then I suddenly smelt it! The worse, foulest, most potent smell, that just seemed to hover around us and never leave! I am not even exaggerating. I plugged my nose, looking toward the people in front of us, how disgusting, " who do you think did that?", I asked Jason. He didn't say a word. I went to go retrieve the girl's again, I made them stand right next to me. They made such a fuss, being loud, they let everyone know something smelt wrong here, and then they took off again into the trees. Then suddenly I heard the sound of someone gagging, it was the greaser guy, with one hand holding himself up on a single small tree, spitting something over the cliff, towards the crowd below.

Then it grew, the crowd behind us in line, people were horrified at the smell, it seemed to travel down the line, and I turned around to watch the people make such a big deal of it. HOW on Earth can it still be around? I heard plenty of comments from people, I couldn't smell it anymore, but I laughed, and my cousins came back, and they laughed too. I heard some dude proclaim it was him, that he just had Taco Bell, before he came! And quickly after, Mindy looked at Jason, still silent and staring ahead, keeping warm with his hood on and his hands in his pockets. She pointed and started yelling, " It was you! You did it! It was Jason!" I looked at him, and I knew then that it was, I can't believe it, is that what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life? Is that what I married? Then I felt bad for him, he was trying not to pretend that he didn't know what she was talking about. I scolded her, and Lisa too, I knew the poor guy was really embarrassed. I looked around, and the greaser guy and his date were no where to be found, they must have left, even after in being in line for a hour.

As for the purpose we were there for, the first room was a wacky, foggy, hospital room, which had several clown like doctors, that you had to walk by. That wasn't scary, until one of them stabbed me in the leg with a huge fake syringe! Then I was scared! They must be real crazies! After that, we practically ran through the whole thing!

Here is proof that I was right... I found newspaper articles, written about it after I wrote this blog. One of the articles said that the actors/patients would actually grab people and lock them in a real coffin! I guess I got off, easy.

In Utah, the Daily Herald has called for resurrecting a Haunted Castle at the State Hospital, which for 26 years featured patients as "performers." The attraction ended in 1997 after NAMI Utah strongly protested the violent stereotypes associated with it as perpetuating stigma -- along with ethical issues involving treatment and exploitation of patients. Funds raised from the annual event paid for half of the hospital's recreation budget.

My Black Cats: The Phantom Cat Part II

One night, right before I nodded to sleep in my dark bedroom, I was closing my eyes. Then all of the sudden, I felt a movement at the bottom of bed. At first, because I was so sleepy, I figured it was just my cat, coming up to lay next to my legs. My eyes remained closed, paralyzed with fear, when I realized, that I did not have a cat anymore! With in the seconds of coming to the realization, I opened my eyes, and looked down towards the spot, that had a slight round depression there. This happened time and time again, after the first time, through a period of six years. Jason eventually bore witness to this phenomenon, but after a few times, it wasn't so strange, it felt natural.
The phantom cat never visited us when we had other cats in the house, and it only happened severval times, not every night. Then it stopped. The last time I noticed it, was when we had lived in Columbus, Ohio. I oftened wondered if it was my beloved fat black cat, Bear. My cat Bear, I had before Spooky, Salem, and Freighty. He was truly mine, since the day I noticed him in a Juneau pet store, there was a sign on the cage that said, "sold, to Terri Hale", my mother. He slept with me every night, though he was heavy and restricting against my legs, it was very comforting. Well, Bear was a strange cat indeed, he had long black fur, and he loved to lay on his back and get his belly rubbed. He often loved to lay on the stairs, taking up the whole step, trusting people to walk over him. He also had a familer strange low howl he used, instead of meowing for something. He was afraid of the light in the day, he would ask to go out at dusk, and sometimes late at night, he would cry at my window. What a smart cat, I thought. He even was caught on the roof of our porch, one time in the night, and I went outside, held up my arms, and after a few tries, he jumped down on me. But not without a little scratch or two.
The reason why I believe that my phantom cat was him was because he met a untimely, aweful death! We moved from Alaska, to Utah, and then to Wyoming, and he was my loyal favorite pet during that whole time. He was the greastest to me, but he got a urine infection in his last few months before he disappeared. So, he peed on the all the dirty laundry in the basement. My dad was beside himself with hatered for my animal. We took him to the vet, and they gave in medication. But my dad wasn't convinced he was cured. Well, in 1993, Jason and I got married, and then moved into our own apartment. I missed Bear, but he belonged to the rest of the family too. So then in October, weeks before we were all going to make the big move to Ohio, Bear suddenly disappeared! My mom and I drove all around for days looking for him. I checked the shelter and the sides of the road. Where my parent's house sat, it was on top of a hill, which had empty, plain, dirt lots across from it. Days later, I have given up hope finding him, my mom accused my dad of taking him on a long trip far away. But he lied and said, he had no idea where he was. Then when I was walking around outside in the bright sun, I saw him!
Poor kitty! I ran down to the dirt area where he was, he didn't run away from me or howl to me, like he would usually do. I picked him up and kissed him, and carried him home. He looked just the same, but he had no personality. He didn't cry, or try to escape, at home, he even went and laid on his stair like he always did. When my dad came home from work, he insisted that it wasn't him. But he didn't say why. That night my mom let him out and he disappeared again. We searched for him but had no luck. So then we ended up moving with out him.
My dad a few years later confessed to Bear's disappearance, to Jason. He told him how he hated black cats, ever since he was attacked by one in a barn when he was younger. He told Jason what really happened to Bear, and how it was completely impossible that he could come back, to life! He couldn't figure it out, where that cat came from, he thought he was cursed and if the cat hadn't taken off that night, he would have gotten rid of it too. It took me a few years to forgive my father for what he did, and now he feels bad about it. Maybe the phantom cat should have paid him a visit in the night, that would had been funny!

The Wild Man, Dance, and the Ambulance...

I will try to keep this as short as possible, but this is a interesting true story, I promise... When I was in high school, I once helped with putting on a spook house there, the night of a Halloween dance. I was all charged up, very excited. I helped set it up, we decorated a few rooms, which people had to travel though, via guide, leading the way. I was a guide of course, but that was kind of boring so I came up with something to include me in the spooking too.

The room was near the end, it was dark and was made to look like we were outside in a park somewhere. In the middle of the room, was a big wooden bridge, and a hut over in the corner. That part wasn't my idea, my idea was to lead people into the area, where I would stop on the bridge, and a person, a "wild man" would come and grab me and carry me away, while I pretended to be scared to death, screaming... My friend Don was perfect for the part, he was a ex-body builder, muscle clad guy, who looked absolutely crazy after I painted black stripes all over his body. The other part that made him seem crazy was the fact that he would be there, squatting in the corner hut, with a bowl of actual pig guts! (scraps from a butcher) This wasn't my idea either, thank goodness I wore a long sleeved sweater. He would make grunting noises, while squishing the meat between his fingers, pretending to eat it. Then when people came in, they would see this site, he would throw some pieces towards them, and me. When he got up, people didn't know if they should run, scream, or throw up! It worked like a charm, I would try to hide behind people, and he would snatch me up and carry me off over his shoulder. It was really funny when my mom and siblings came in! He really went after them, my little brother almost knocked down the place running away!

When we were done with the event, we went to join the costume dance in the near by commons area, already in progress. I get a little carried away when I dance. In the fourth song that I danced to, the song "Oh Yeah", was playing. That is a very long song! I felt something strange in my left knee! I fell to the ground, Scott, whom I was dancing with thought I fell. I swear it seemed like a minute before he helped me up. All I knew was that I felt a pop, and my left knee cap had moved to the left of my leg! When I was on the ground, I looked at it, and pushed it back, without a second thought. It was soooo soooo painful to move! My friends helped me move to the side wall, where I sat, surrounded by my friends. I can't remember if it was a teacher or the Principle that called my mom, but she came as fast as she could. It seemed like a long time. I tried not to cry. As long as I wasn't moving I felt okay.

When my mom came, it was too painful to get in the car, even if one of my friends carried me. So for the third time at a school, I rode a ambulance to the hospital. There they tortured me by moving it all around. I ended up in a leg cast! I was sad thinking no one came to see me after I got there. Until the nurse told me a wild looking man, tried to see me, but they wouldn't let him and so he left. I don't think it was the make-up that got him turned away, but the fact that he was hardly wearing anything. That was the first time I dislocated my knee...