Southern Journeying...

It has been a whirlwind week thus far. So much to say, so much to see. I will be waiting until I return this weekend to tell all the details, though. It might take me that long to organize my thoughts and collect together everything from my Dayton trip! Overall, it has been a wonderful experience. Good friends, interesting and wonderful people, unique sights. I'm already looking forward to this fall and enjoying a ghost tour when I return. While I haven't spent a great deal of time seeking out ghosts in the places I've been, one doesn't need to be surrounded by the dead to enjoy some things! sometimes, living can actually be more fun...



For those of you thrown off course by my last post, I do apologize somewhat. I've been meaning to post a French entry for a while, but recently had a little added incentive. I miss being more bilingual, and being reasonably close to french-speaking areas of Canada, it seemed fitting. I'm sure I shall do that again. Perhaps after an adventure further north...



In other news, my manuscript hates me. Formatting it isn't as simple as I would like and I seem to hit pitfalls every time I attempt it! The rainy, dreary weather doesn't exactly excite any enthusiasm, either. but at least I've given it a good try. One way or another, I'll solve that enigma known as Microsoft Word. Perhaps when I'm home again. Though some things might take precedence over it upon my immediate return. Life is getting quite interesting, and I know more than ever that where this year leads me is a mystery. So many possibilities and probabilities. We shall see, as I always say...

Quand en France... Ou Québec...

(Mes excuses à l'avance pour cette écriture... je ne suis pas francophone complètement...)

Bien que je n'aime pas des climats plus froids, une certaine partie de moi a été toujours attirée à certaines régions du Canada. Le Québec se range haut sur ma liste, et donné mon arrangement doux de la langue française, je prévois de l'explorer pour moi un certain jour bientôt. Évidemment, je ne peux pas résister ajouter quelques endroits hantés à mon itinéraire. Mais y a-t-il des fantômes au Québec?

La réponse, après l'effort approfondi cherchant les spectres, est oui. Tandis que le nombre d'histoires de fantôme est petit, ils existent. Et les spiritueux de cette terre sont considérablement variés.

Dans Blanc, sur l'île Greenly, le conte d'un marin naufragé errant les rivages survit. Des soirées brumeuses, il erre la côte à la recherche de ses compagnons. Les touristes peuvent également visiter la Caverne de Rossignol (Rossignol's Cave) où les formes brumeuses et les voises désincarnés dérivent des anciennes mines d'amiante. Ou, peut-être, allez aux automnes de Montmorency (Montmorency Falls) et voyez "le dame dans le blanc" tombez dans les eaux ci-dessous. Habillé dans une robe de mariage, elle répète le plongeon mortel chaque dimanche matin.

Pour votre propre aventure paranormale, regardez Les Visites Fantômes de Québec (Ghost Tours of Quebec) et prévoyez un voyage pour chercher les fantômes du Canada du nord-est.

Venturing Forward into the Unknown...

Let's just say camping was interesting. Hot days, freezing cold nights, and a redneck dressed as bigfoot drinking with his buddies and wreaking havoc on what should have been a relaxing stay. I received my first sunburn of the season on both arms (which, fortunately, became a tan after two days of discomfort and pain) and experienced a first: getting my fingers slammed into a closing car door (no serious damage, but one finger still feels a little tender). Topped off by being away from running water, flushing toilets, and a shower for over three days, who could ask for anything more?

Life itself seems to be getting more interesting by the day. I thought I was finished with my manuscript, only to realize I need to edit some of the formatting before I'm asked to submit it. Since that's the one area where my Word skills are lacking, it should prove to be fun (all sarcasm intended). Then, top it off with an ever-interesting, forever optimistic relationship front, frustration is bound to become overwhelming.

To be honest, the waiting game grows tiresome, but I know this year will end on a good note one way or another. Good things (and people) are on the horizon. It's just a matter of getting there. I am both happy and impatient at the same time. but I don't want to jinx myself by spilling out details. It never fails to go awry if I so much as say what I believe will happen. I've learned the hard way. from now on, after I'm married (or something comparable), I'll spill.

My belated birthday surprise arrived in the mail today too, so that put a smile on my face. All the way from Australia. And it shows just how little it takes to make my happy. There was a time when I had photographs of all my friends, framed and poised around the room to regard with fond memories. Many of those photographs have disappeared over the years, tossed out by unpleasant roommates or lost in the shuffle of moves. but I'm working on getting that collection back together. Now, I need to work on gathering more frames to put them in. I'll find the space as soon as I get that much worked on.

I'm heading off to Dayton in another 30 hours or so, but I thought I should update this when I was thinking about it. Good times will be had, and perhaps when I return, I'll have something just as good waiting for me...

Gone Camping... and Spooking...

Tomorrow morning, I'll be leaving the confines of my small town... to the confines of a small, long-vanished town in a valley: Beaver Creek State Park! Thankfully, the weather is supposed to be nice. Perfect for camping! There is a Scavenger Hunt set up for Saturday night, so anyone who is interested, feel free to stop by. I know full well that some of the prizes are quite nice. Here is the flyer, done beautifully by Jeri Holland:

(click to enlarge the image)

Another Year Closer to Death...

It has finally happened. Today is my 30th birthday!

Thanks to some wise planning, I'm taking it easy today. Though I do have a few things to accomplish, like moving furniture (long story) and packing for the camping trip coming up later this week. Otherwise, I'm relaxing. I'll be catching up on Sunday when I return from the haunted Beaver Creek State Park.