Haunted Happenings: The Tombstone Tourist Edition

I am totally a Tombstone Tourist. I actually prefer this title over Taphophile. Personally for me it is more about the art that goes into the markers, and less about dead things. Also I can't go into a cemetery and not make sure I have exits in sight and running shoes thanks to Return of the Living Dead, I know that any body can rise and be a zombie. Always have a plan. Naturally today I was in a rush for good lighting and wearing flip flops. Not good. The ground is soft and there is nothing cool like screaming like a five year old girl seeing her first horror movie. I sound like a high pitched chipmunk anyway. So was I spooked at all today? I'll never tell... 

Tombstone tourist (otherwise known as a "taphophile", "cemetery enthusiast", cemetery tourists or "grave hunter" or "graver") describes an individual who has a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. This involves epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of (famous) deaths. -from Wikipedia. 

I've been trying to think up a great second Haunted Happenings, specially after the failure of "Alabama's most haunted empty lot and campsite bathroom." But life is busy, and I've been living up to this blog title... I've been indecisive. 

So I decided to share my love of old cemeteries. This is a favorite of mine. It has a rich history filled with old oak trees and more photo bombing Spanish moss. 

Now let me say, I have found nothing saying this cemetery is haunted. It's just old and has a feeling about it. If you're in the know about some Old Live Oak haunting please let me know!

There's technically three "Live Oak Cemeteries" this sign is on the edge of a little road across the road is Old Live Oak. New Live Oak is a little down the road. Here are some of the famous dead here. Honestly I never pay attention to the who in the cemetery but the tombstones. 

This photo is the only spooky thing that happened. Now when I took this shot I heard a low growling that I was sure was a motorcycle or car. I took 3 pictures and each time I heard the noise. When I went through my pictures there was only 1 picture of this. Now my partner in crime went back and took more but heard nothing. I'm 100% sure I took 3. You dear constant reader are now 98.3% sure I am full of shit. 

Spanish moss and sunset... This cemetery is really peaceful. There are homes and buildings surrounding it but it is always quite. 

The Jones Crypt. From rumors the old Jones home which is now a B&B is haunted. This to me is just beautiful. 

You can't tell from my pictures but it was raining lightly. She has water tracks that make it look like she's weeping. 

A view of Live Oak half of the cemetery. 

The Old side of Live Oak cemetery. 

I'm originally from Southern California, so I'm always stunned a moment when I see nature reclaiming plots of land or houses. I saw graffiti once on the brick wall of a really old, over grown abandoned cemetery and it said: "All ways lead to home." I like that and at the same time I find it all kinds of creepy. I always think of that quote when I'm in an old cemetery. 

CLBH

Deus Ex Machina to the rescue! !bang! !pow!

This blog entry is a book review. Not exactly what I was thinking it was going to be, honestly I thought that I'd write this review and it would be great and people would love me. Love me... But alas, it's not that great of a review. Love me... 

It's that old trap. A friend recommends a book. You share similar love of books. She gave it 5 stars, you read the first page and double (in this case triple) check to make sure it's the right book. Thankfully my friend (Hi Angie) and I have agreed to disagree on this book. It's a simple case of... This book just wasn't that into me. It wasn't the books fault lol it was mine. It was a bad break up. I just hope it doesn't drunk text me. 

 The book in question is Branded, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki. Now this book has great ratings. So this is strictly my opinion so before you little Branded lovers come and flame me for not liking it, I'm an old school troll and I flame back. Lol as if anyone will find their way to my little blog. 

 So if you plan on reading this dystopia tale of woe please stop here. Otherwise you've been warned about spoilers. 

 

 This story starts with a very awkward first person opening that left me baffled. Ok, she's six feet under but she's not, she's glaring at death and death is glaring back as she is about to hang herself. Ok so she's buried but not yet? I got the impression from the opening that she lived alone in a horrible shitty rat trap apartment. That she was going to off herself but she saw the ring her dad gave her with the longest ring inscription I have ever seen on it. It inspires her to live. (Pow!)  Just as the fuzz busts in to drag her without a trial to... Drum roll.... The Hole. Dumdummdum. This is a place where the sinners are left to fend for themselves. I was thinking a literal hole. Kinda like the last batman movie and batman is in a prison in the ground, cause its a hole. But I get the impression this hole is more like a slum. 

 Lexi, our main character is branded with a blue band. She never fights, she just takes it. The blue color represents the sin of lust. Her guard is a hunky muscley guy named Cole. His dog, Zeus was my favorite character in the whole book. She lives in a crappy room with what must be the worst gas station like bathroom ever. She's given scrubs and hospital slippers and the ring her dad gave her is gone. She's warned that there aren't a lot of blue branded people because they don't last long. She's not given a job as a hooker, but she's given a job at the hospital. There she meets Dr. Sutton who looks vaguely familiar. She is told to befriend a dying girl, she does, they bond, the girl dies. Even Hugh she is branded as a sinner of lust, she listens to no one, and is almost killed by guards who try to rape her. Cole and Zeus just manage to save the day (bang!) Dr. Sutton is all hey Lexi I did a rape kit on you and you're a virgin, wow you must innocent! 

 Now Cole has reasons he's supposed to guard her. He doesn't say. His room is attached to hers and while her room is slummy his isn't. He feeds her, bagels. I guess hell has bagels. Everyone know they are in love before they know. He wants to know her story but she's too full of shame to tell. He admits he is going to go on a hunt for her brother that she literally just mentioned to him. Her brother is also in the hole. Lexi writes her story for him. All about her pervy step dad and how he was from High Society and after her dad died he came in, made her momma a pill popper. He also peed in her face. Let me say that again. He pissed in her face. It was 3am when I read that 4 times cause I was seriously what the fuckitty fuck fuck was that.

 Cole comes back even more in love, doesn't kill her brother. Oh and he had her ring the whole time, what this old Hamilton heirloom I forgot I had...my bad. The big guard in charge knows who she is and wants her brother. Suddenly Dr. Sutton is like you two are fools in love, we got to send her to John Connor, I mean her brother the leader of the resistance. 

Her brother is a big scary bad ass full of rage. Kicks Coles ass to the curb. Dr. Sutton is a friend of her fathers. This info makes the whole you're a virgin more creepy. If he was her fathers friend, wouldn't it be assumed she's innocent? He's known of her, her whole life. Good looking out for her Doc. 

They have a command center, they train. I kept waiting for the mockingjay to show up. They attack. Her bro dies. Dr. Sutton is wounded and surprise! the commander (the secret dude in charge)is her step father who abused her! Surprise twist two! It's Dr. Sutton's brother omhegeee! 

The rebels didn't win, but the book ends with a trip to the beach awww. 

So that's my review. I gave it 1.5/5 stars. The whole branded idea was great, I wish they had fleshed it out. The dialog was flat and there was no character development. She's beautiful and innocent and this harden guard falls like from the moment he sees her. She's been molested for years, abused and nearly raped but she's in bed with him pretty fast. I didn't believe the characters and didn't like them. They are pushing this as a first in the series so why rush it all? 

Anyway that's my review. Love me... 

Haunted Happenings: July 4th Edition

  I've been toying with an idea of having a weekly or bi-weekly blog dedicated to something I find utterly fascinating. I love checking out places that are supposed to be haunted. Today on this wet and humid 4th of July the family and I trekked up to Old Cahawba, it's located 22 minutes from Selma, Alabama. What it is best known for is being Alabama's first state capital.   

  Now a few months ago, Deep South Paranormal came and filmed down here. It looked so cool, I knew I HAD to make this my first Haunted Happenings! Well. They must've had access that the normal visitor doesn't. I had a map and I still really couldn't find anything. Unless open fields are something you enjoy checking out. "Look honey! Doesn't this grass lot look spooky?" "Maybe if you're concerned about poison ivy or deer ticks..." 

 Honestly the highlight of the trip was my husband trying to convince me the "Stone Monument" (really just a giant rock in the middle of the road) was the gateway to the Deep South Hogwarts. I personally feel that's utter bullshit. There is no way I'm a muggle and if that was really a Deep South Hogwarts I would've known, faster then you could say Accio bug spray. 

I did however take a bunch of pictures featuring Spanish moss. 

This was the first building you see when you enter the ghost town of Old Cahawba. It's St. Luke's Episcopal Church. It was built in 1854. 

According to legend there is a ball of light that appears and floats around. When seers try to touch it, it disappears. It's referred to as Pegue's Ghost. We didn't see it today... 

This next picture is of the Frambo/Authur house. It was built in the 1840s. You can't tell from the picture but the Cahawba river runs right behind it. This house has been damaged by time nd by the numerous floods. I think this is the house they investigated around in Deep South Paranormal but they called it the Bell house. 

The Spanish moss photo bombed this shot.

These are just random pictures I took. I wasn't able to find the old burial grounds and the new burial grounds were closed today. 

We totally kept out! 

I just liked this little abandoned house. I couldn't find any information about it. It was right next to the ruins of the church so maybe the pastor lived here? I wasn't brave enough to go inside because on top of wearing flip flops I have a tendency to be a clutz and I sure didn't want to end up breaking a leg or something.

This is a photo of the Baker Slave quarters. It's all that is left of the Kirkpatrick homestead. It was very quiet and peaceful here. I noticed the absolute silence, no birds, bugs or anything. 

This was the main road. It boggles my mind the history this road has seen. Where civil war troops marched to me putting my iPad down to take the picture. 

These next pictures were taken on the way out. Just a random burial site and the P.O.W. burial area. 

And this led to the P.O.W. burial area. There are two places we stopped out that literally made my skin crawl. This little road was one of them. I just didn't want to go down there. So we didn't lol

Overall it was a disappointing trip. Not because we didn't see anything really spooky or the Hogwarts of the south, but because there wasn't really anything here. I was pretty researched before going, but buildings were not marked and it was hard to find the historical sites. 

This is the scariest building in the whole place. 

  

It was clean enough, but the last stall was closed and locked and no one answered when I called out. Hey maybe ghost orbs need a little potty time? 

I hoped you enjoyed the first ever Haunted Happenings. Until next time :) 

CLBH

Pen names... Own it? Or spare the family embarrassment...

I've been working on a novel for a few months. (Slow and steady wins the race!!) In the past I have written screenplays and other short stories. I have always used my real name. But recently I've been debating the whole thing.

 I censor myself a lot on Facebook. I don't usually just blast out what I am thinking because I treat my Facebook like I would a bar. No politics (although sometimes I can't help it) and no in your face religious posts (I'm Christian but not everyone is). I think I do some of it because I'm so all over the board with issues and really no one cares. I'm ok with it. I'm pretty real with myself, I realize I am never going to post a Facebook status update and have people say. WHOA. That made a TON OF SENSE. Crissy has won me over for the side of GOOD! Haha, the side of good, is that like a side of bacon. Why yes, I'll have the fried eggs and a side of GOOD! Sorry, having a let's talk about... SQUIRREL kinda day.

  Back to pen names. The end is in sight with this book and I feel like since this is the thing I think I am going to try to get published do I want a pen name. If I do, I need to decide it and start to build it I think. I have a friend who has a pen name and it suits her. I like it and I see how much work she is doing to build it up and I'm very impressed.

 To be honest there is a part of me that finds the idea to be very cool and romantic in a sense. I would love to have this whole other side of myself, that said I like the glory lol. When I was competing at a national level through school for public speaking I loved it. I mean I won a bronze medal in public speaking and beat out all the other people who were there from a college level. I think that's nifty. Considering on a good day I sound like a 10 year old hello kitty voice over actor.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? yay or nay? What would you name the awesomeness that is Crissy?

I'm a Writer... I write.

   I know you'll find this hard to believe but apparently I'm not a serious writer. I've wanted to be a writer since I was in 2nd grade. I won the James Madison Elementary School award for creative writing. It was a whole paragraph long and it was a riveting tale of a pear that was juicy and grew on a tulip tree. Take that Shakespeare! 

   I recently applied to a writers group a friend had recommended to me. I felt like a chump for applying. I mean seriously? The questionnaire should have been my big tip off. Not that it was a 40 question monster of a thing but that I was looking at it with my typical amused and cynical eye. I'm not naming names. Nor am I going to bash anyone, but needless to say I was denied. Why? I wasn't a serious enough writer and while my work was well written the subject matter was lacking. (This group likes historical period pieces) ok I'm bashing, they like badly written cliche terms like rutting betwix her thighs. *eyeroll* rutting? That's as sexy as ball and bail and I actually like that term more. But, I'm not a serious writer. 

I knew the moment I saw the question: "do you trust yourself as a person to find good words and perceptions?" My immediate thought was, "No I hardly trust myself to post a coherent Facebook status update.. I don't trust myself because my left typing hand wants me to type rutting." 

 I'm not going to lie, I am a little disappointed, I was looking for a sounding board type thing. But in the end I guess I'll take my brand of crazy and just keep it to myself for now. I'm going to do what all serious writers do, blog about it.. Oh wait, I meant the second thing serious writers do, eat a choco taco and text people about the unfairness of the man. Ok no, just the choco taco part. Really. 

Steamy Summer Reading...

 There are a few things I never leave home without. My kid, my wallet, cell phone, and iPad. You might be wondering why my iPad... Well that is where I keep my books! You never know when you can get a minute and in that minute you can spend it READING! I also play a ton of games with my kid, but he's not always with me so back to READING! (I know this post is long... if it turns into "too long didn't read" please scroll down to the very bottom. Thanks loser. lol ;) )

 You know how different magazines always have a Summer Reading list. It's usually made up of the top 10 NY Best Sellers list or some list of things that you doubt seriously anyone other than the authors family has read and enjoyed. No offense to anyone who has books that only their family has read. I'm sure you're awesome. Like in an abstract AWESOME way. I digress.

 I was thinking of the books that I've read this summer. It's just the start of summer, but here in my neck of the woods it has been SUMMER since January. Blah. Last summer I succumbed to the hype and read "Fifty Shades of Gray." I'm sure you've read it. If you haven't don't bother. It's basically bad "Twilight" fan fiction, with a side of passive aggressiveness and abusive stalking. So yeah just like "Twilight." But no sparkly vampires and naked werewolves. This summer I was hoping that Kresley Cole's newest Immortals After Dark would hit so I could grab that and read it. I've read "Inferno" by Dan Brown. (Didn't like it.) Basically this summer has been a total let down book wise, until I read the first installment of Mora Early's "Twisted Arrangement."

 Now, I love all kinds of books and this book falls under the category of adult contemporary (Who thought this category up? When I hear it, I think while reading this book, Kenny G and Michael Bolton should serenade me but I digress again. The real category is Crissy's Hot Yummy Fun Book Read. Yeah it's long deal with it.) The book itself is broken up into three parts, which is both nice and has driven me nuts. Specially after I read the second part because I was so into it I wanted to finish it NOW!


 That said, now I review. There might be spoilers. You've been warned.



 I often wonder what people who read "Carrie" by Stephen King before they knew he was Stephen King. This is the first (I believe) published e-book by the author Mora Early. Like a said a few scrolls up, this is a serial book, being that it is in three parts. The price was right and as a mom to an 18 month old toddler, I was kind of glad it was broken up. I was forced to not pull an all nighter if I really loved it lol. I think this should be a trend. The Mommy Serial book series for her own good for habitual book readers. (I should patent this idea) Anyway, I didn't really know what to expect to be honest.

 The first part introduces us to the main players. We have very self contained Emma, the party planner and her ne'er do well younger brother Todd. Now let me say that Todd drives me nuts. I don't like him much. But I think that in the end that I respected Ms. Early for writing him that way. I mean would the book be as good if everyone was perfect? No one had flaws? Nope. I'm hoping that Todd straightens up or Ms. Early writes another book and straightens him out. I'd buy it and read it in a heart beat. There is also a sexy self assured movie produce Joshua. I like him. A. Lot.

 Now the whole idea of this story is that Todd lost something that is a big deal to this small family, a family heirloom. I don't really want to spill all the details because I really think you should read it.

 The first book starts a little slow. But it picks up quickly and before I knew it I was sucked it and it was 2am and I was pissed there wasn't more book. Please see statement why I think serial books are good for me LOL. Lucky for me "Twisted Arrangement 2" was about to hit Amazon so I could get my fix pretty quick.

 Mora Early has a gift for dialog. Each of her characters has a feel to them and when you read them you really like their wit. She doesn't spend a lot of time making you understand what she is saying. She just expects you to know and I love that. I've read ALL of the Laurell K. Hamilton vampire hunter books and I think for me that is a HUGE thing wrong with those books. Her characters while well written spend hours and hours (it feels like it to me) talking to themselves explaining things that are VERY evident. When I read adult contemporary books (otherwise known as Crissy's Hot Yummy Fun Book Read) I think I'm weary about that.

 "Twisted  Arrangement" to me has great characters, good dialog, it is not bogged down with conflicted issues that need to be talked out to the point that you feel you just had a therapy session for free. The author treats you, the reader like someone who has half a brain and can follow her clear descriptions and get what she's saying. You can tell from this review how freaking refreshing that is. Seriously.

 Now for those of you are who looking for hot steamy sex from the first 10 pages, not going to happen. Which I'm glad. The first two parts are completely foreplay and not just meaningless sex for the sake for mommyporn. (cough cough Christian Gray cough cough lame) Anyway, I suspect there will be some motion between the sheets in part three. I hope so anyway because from what I've read it will be hot. (Yes I'm blushing while I write this.)

Now here's the coolest part of my whole post. Mora Early has a give away for a free copies of "Twisted Arrangement 2." Wait you say, but I haven't read part one. WELLL that part is now FREE! That's right skippy it's free! Here is a link for you lazy internet peeps.

http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Arrangement-ebook/dp/B00CW10KH8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372386264&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=mora+early+-+twisted+arrangement+1

Hopefully that will be a hyperlink and you can just cruise on over. Please give it a review if you get it. Also check her out on Goodreads, I was pleasantly pleased that Ms. Early actually gives feedback to people who talk to her. I hope she always does that. It's pretty cool.

Now before you decide to buy part two why not check out her blog and try to get it for free? Free is pretty great. Here is her blog: http://moraearly.blogspot.com/


I hope you enjoyed my sorta kinda review. I give part one 4.5 stars out of 5 and part two 5 out of 5. I really liked them and I am waiting impatiently for part 3. I'll probably talk about it here on my blog so keep tuned for that.

Hope ya'll have a great Summer, keep checking on me and if we're friends on facebook remind me TO PUBLISH my posts. haha.

CLBH.

Super Smart that is me! Otherwise known as Opps.

So, I have been writing on this blog since February. I have written on average two posts a week. I have written on such topics as bento boxes, my son, and the magical love between a mom and her yoga pants. Sad cliche I know, but my love of my yoga pants deserves sonnets.

Today I was deciding to write a post about a book I've been reading. I guess you could say it's a little bit of a serial book. Think Stephen King's "The Green Mile". Anyway, as I was reading the authors blog and trying to subscribe to it I realize that my blog had no posts. What? No posts. Nada. I checked my iPad, my blogger application and realized, that ALL of my posts were "DRAFTS". After much cussing, and possible a kick or two to my kids toys (Sorry muffin man scooter) I decided to scrap the posts with the exception of the first one. I'm still in the groove to blog so I might as well just go from here.

So, please stick around, read my mental leavings and enjoy. At least I hope you enjoy.

Amusingly amused.

First let me stress the title of this blog is based on a lyric by Jimmy Buffet. It has nothing to do with anything other then I am a parrot head and I think it sums up my life.

Now that, that's out of the way... Why oh why am I starting a new blog? Easy answer, the last one I tried to write while caring for an eight week old human. Enough said I should think.

I want to use this blog to vent and to express and create. I want to butcher grammar as well. Just kidding gram snobs. Haha ... Haha? Opps.