A Ghost Story

I was working, I worked a lot back then. It was about 4 years ago, maybe 5. I was working in the home as a caregiver for two men aged fifty who had mental retardation and autism. We will call them Abbott and Costello.

Now Costello never did care much for anything other than flowers, he was nearsighted and hard of hearing. Abbott, on the otherhand, seemed psychic, or "touched"

He saw things, things that amused him, and things that truly frightened him. The frightening things would follow him it seems, and he would run and cower in the room where I was.

They eventually moved from that place, and his neurotic behaviours stopped.

Anyway, this event... dream... took place at the old house... the one with the scary things in it.

When they were at work, and i was cleaning the house: Doors would slam on their own... Slam hard, and things would "fall" off of shelves.

I ALWAYS had a creepy sensation when I was there alone, and did not like to be in a room without a window, or some kind of bright light.

OK, So, I slept there as a shift was a full 24 hours. So my shift included "sleep"

I hardly ever slept. And when I did I almost NEVER dreamed.

One night, I fell asleep hard. I dreamed all night, it was the most unusual dream I had.

I felt like I was me, but not me. Like I was in a different person, or I was not the same person, but I was still me.

So the dream begins:

I am awaking from my dream, in my dream. It is morning,
I open my eyes (still dreaming)


**Imagine taking a tablespoon of Vasoline petroleum jelly and applying one to each eyeball. The entire Tablespoon... in fact, cover your eye area with the entire container of it.**

So now you are imagining what I saw.

I thought I was blind!!... (remember, the dream was that I was awake)
I thought I woke up blind.
I was upset, where were my charges>? I needed to make their lunch and send them off to work.

I heard a door slam in the hallway outside the bedroom. It was dark.

In the amorpheous light, I could see exactly nothing.

But I could hear noises of someone ahead of me. Always ahead of me.

I followed the sounds as they led me through the house. Things were at odd angles, i could see the most blurriest of images,
I could only keep following the sound, knowing something was not right, knowing I could not get the Vasoline out of my eyes.

I was freaked out.
It felt like I was being led around, like my movements were not my own. I kept following the movements ahead of me. I kept turning blurry odd angled corner after another chasing movements and noises through the house.

I was panic striken. I felt trapped.

then I kind of saw him:
I could make out a mans form, he seemed to have very little hair. i could see little else, maybe coveralls.

He was in possession of me. He did not ask, he walked me out the door, and to the field across the street. A nature preserve. He walked me to a spot.

(I still get the chills)

He made me stand on it. he made me do this because he was in control of my body.
It was like I was him, sort of, like I saw through his eyes.

He was buried there. In the spot he showed me, he was buried right across the street, right outside the bedroom window.

I woke up then in actual reality knowing that one thing. That he was buried there, and i had walked all night as a ghost.

BEN BUILT ME A HOUSE!!

THANKS BEN!!!

Ben

Do you like ample space and privacy? This fabulous home for the distinguishing soul-searcher is located on a quiet cul-de-sac just West of the Great Unknown. It features incredible 360° views and some of the bluest sky available anywhere. All of its 2'127 bedrooms come with individual bath (Hathorian marble) and fantastic amenities like uninterrupted sleep and full choice of pixie dust and pleasant dreams. Several light-flooded cathedrals and temples of all denominations offer an unparalleled choice of tender care for anyone's soul.

While this fantastic opportunity is designed to please the quiet mind, it is at the same time ready for a an ever-changing lifestyle: The socialite in you will rejoice when welcoming guests in the oval, domed reception hall (serves approx. 500'000) with several walkable galleries around the structure on 18 floors. Adequate kitchens and dining facilities. Manual cooking is encouraged by the architect but not mandatory as excellent food of the freshest kind is served 24 hours a day (we do not know by whom).

This property includes several outlying islands with lush foliage, pools, colourful fish ponds, an adorable little family of unicorns and many meandering walkways. Automatic pain dissolvers, health & fitness radiators throughout the whole compound. Lot size is about that of Manhattan. Includes thought activated-teleporter. In other words: Come anytime, stay as long as you want.

SPECIAL OFFER for an unlimited time: Open up to the power of joy and the untainted laughter of the innocent child that lives within you and you may move into this unique home in the blink of an eye.

Note: A free artist's rendering of this property (about 20x28, acrylics on canvas) is available to our friend Infinitesimal if she thinks that it is appropriate for her current condition. The concept: Colour theme of serene white, just a little soothing pink, splashes of liveforce red and calming blue is targeted to trigger all known benefits of a joyful retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday business life. Denial of this offer carries absolutely no consequences at all (personal preferences in art cannot be discussed anyway) but one: the painting goes on sale soon.

What's YOUR Theme Song?

I cannot tell you exactly why... But SLOWRIDE by FOGHAT has been my theme song for over a decade. It just sounds like life to me...churning and grinding and taking it slow. What is your theme song?


Slowride, take it easy
Slowride, take it easy
Slowride, take it easy
Slowride, take it easy

I'm in the mood
The rhythm is right
Move to the music
We can roll all night
Oooh, Slowride
Oooh, Slowride, take it easy
Slowride, take it easy

Slow down, go down
Got to get your lovin' one more time
Hold me, roll me
Slow ridin' woman
You're so fine

I'm in the mood
The rhythm is right
Move to the music
We can roll all night
Oooh, slowride, take it easy
Slowride, take it easy

Slow down, go down
Got to get your lovin' one more time
Hold me, roll me
Slow ridin' woman
You're so fine

Slowride, easy
Slowride, sleazy
Slowride, easy
Slowride, sleazy

The Simpsons

HEY CAN YOU VIEW THIS VIDEO? LET ME KNOW, TRYING SOMETHING NEW...

Thallah Sesey

His name is Thallah, he is 8 years old. His favorite subject in school is English and this is his very own portrait. He is an orphan who was recently placed in an orphanage.
If you are interested in the Memory Projct, please cut and paste the link below.

www.thememoryproject.org

SPRING by Erte 1892-1990

Spring Has Arrived!!

Yesterday, the snow melted, the rain stopped and the sun shone. It was 65 degrees here and the shorts and flip-flops were out in full regalia. It usually is about 25 degrees here in mid March, this is a TREAT.

Miss Mouse (the cat) who just turned one year old last week, was of course eager to go outside.
As soon as the door opened, she identified her prey: A fattish squirrel who mistakenly took his safety for granted.
A mad dash and a certain oak tree later, and the squirrel will not venture so close to the door again!

This morning brings fresh promise: the vogel-birds are heralding the day at 7AM as the sun streams in any available window. I let my mind wander to thoughts of planting germinated seeds and how the backyard does not yield much light.

It is easy to think of Spring when the snow melts down to the moss on the ground, and the sponginess mixed with cool brown leaves that are slick with water that once was snow, pushes through your toes and the mud is protected by that mossy, leafy barrier. It is good to feel wet moss and leaves in the arch of your foot. It is one of the feelings of being alive, it is a wet wake up call that shoots to your fingertips and the nerves in the palm of your hands once dormant from woolen socks and snowboots now feel alive with empathy for the naked soles.

Sunshine on the top of your head and squish between your toes. It is impossible not to expect the best from a day like today.

Clap your hands together, and prepare yourself. It is surely marked to be a glorious day...

The Cherry On The Cake Of My Day

Yesterday a friend took me out for dinner and a cocktail. Mine came replete with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. I hate marischino cherries. I am allergic to them in fact. But it was a bad day to begin with, and this was the literal cherry on the cake of my crappy day. Delicious.

It began at 6AM with a migraine and the neighbors barking dog- (which is why it began at six AM). I made it to work (tutoring) on time (barely) only to find that the day had been canceled. So given that my computer was in the shop being fixed, I slugged over to the library for a few minutes to check my email.

I found that my late assignments would not be accepted without points off. I found I had been miscommunicating with a new friend. It was only noon, and I was starting to dream about that cocktail...

Later, at work, I realize it will cost almost 200 bucks to pay for my computer. So long Spring Break shopping plans.... I realize I will be at home all week, typing late assignments, overdue because of the monsterous migraine headaches that had stormed me and left me a dithering medicated idiot.

It is 5PM and I am seeing the cocktail, feeling it's frozen goodness (pina-colada) I want it.

By 7PM I am sitting in some crappy chain spot, and have asked "Rick" to please bring a pina-colada...

"Are they good?" I ask, (I rarely ever drink)

"Oh I never drink," Rick gloats condescendingly... "so I wouldn't know."

I suck down the syrupy unfrozen too sweet goo he places before me, and I cannot wait to down the disgusting cherry.
It squishes between my teeth and the sick red dye works it's way into my mouth.
A perfectly crappy end to a generally crappy day.
Who wants a slice of cake?

Anyone else have a "Cherry On the Cake of My Day" story?

Beware the Ides of March

Hello folks,
My computer has to go to the computer surgeon for some new guts.
I am using a friend's computer today. I think it is the Ides of March coming....

(from about.com)
The astrologer, Spurinna, had previously warned Caesar that on the Ides of March, he would be in great danger. If, however, Julius Caesar took care on that one day - then all would be well.

According to Plutarch's account, Caesar had previously made the wise decision to stay within the safety of his bedroom chambers on the 15th of March. However, Caesar's "friend" Decimus (Albinus) Brutus (not Marcus Brutus) managed to convince him that the astrologer's warnings were nothing more than superstitious foolishness.

So Julius Caesar decided to attend the Senate on the 15th of March. On his way to the Senate, Caesar "accidentally" met up with the astrologer. Upon seeing the Spurinna, Caesar confidently informed the astrologer: "The Ides of March are come."

Spurinna replied, "Yes, they are come, but they are not past."

Later that day - on March 15, 44 B.C.E - Caesar's enemies assassinated him in the Pompey theater, at the foot of Pompey's statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the temple of Venus.

What Are the Ides?
In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months of the year had an "ides." In March, May, July and October, the "ides" fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the "ides" fell on the 13th. The word "ides" was derived from the Latin "to divide." The "ides" were originally meant to mark the full moon - but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the "ides" quickly lost their original intent and purpose.
So an alternative (albeit somewhat dubious) theory, as to why Caesar might have "seemingly" ignored the ominous warning of Spurinna, is that perhaps Julius Caesar got the dates of the warning mixed up. He may have been thinking that the Ides of March fell on the 13th.

Using this theory, forgetful Caesar would have been very careful and stayed home on the 13th of March, but on the 15th of March his guard was down.

Picasso - Blue Nude

Gustav Klimt - The Kiss

This, one of my favorite paintings, makes me feel uplifted when the world seems up-side-down.