Ghost Hunting!

Bucket List Alert!!

It's finally happening! I'm slowly chipping away item by item at my hefty bucket list, and the next feat up for conquering is staying the night at a haunted hotel!! Spooookkkkyyyy!

My mom, who you could say is probably this blogs number one follower (thanks mom for faithfully reading lol), mentioned to me after reading my bucket list entry that she wanted to help me accomplish something on my list, and to my surprise it turned out to be staying the night in a haunted hotel. Initially, it began as something I was going to do with my sisters, and now Mom has agreed to join our motley crew on a mission of utmost paranormal importance!

As a kid, I was always fascinated by anything and everything ghost related. I'd watch scary shows or movies by myself before bed, glued to the tv, constantly looking over my shoulder or out the window to catch somebody or something staring back at me. Of course, I'd immediately have to follow anything spooky up with my favorite VHS of My Little Ponies or CareBears, but dagnabit, I'd make it through every second of Tales from the Crypt. Living out in the middle of nowhere pretty much, I was the one who convinced my little sister that we lived on an Indian burial ground, and that unless she wanted to be hunted down and scalped by our land's previous inhabitants, she better spit on that old fence post and run like she'd never run before. Or those ghosts were gonna get her. She owed them that penance of spittle. Or by gosh, they'd come to collect, and it would either be her Pokemon Pikachu card...or her life.

I was an odd kid.

With that said, I've never really lost my fascination with the otherworldly, and after my mom mentioned she was gonna make this dream a reality, I immediately got to searching for the perfect place to spend our "NIGH OF TERROR" in, as I have so fondly come to call it. I've done a little internet research, as well as gathered some reviews and suggestions by others who have taken on this little dare. And we will be staying at...drum roll please....

The Faust Hotel in New Braunfels, TX. Now, I don't want to spoil the follow up blog post, when I spill all the dirty details of our delightfully frightening stay, but I'll fill you in on few tidbits about the place. The Faust is a national historic landmark, located in the small german town of New Braunfels, just outside of both Austin and San Antonio. The hotel was originally begun in 1929, just two weeks before the stock market crash, and has since survived on into this day and age. Currently, the hotel retains its period decor, with minimal upgrades to provide for guest comfort, which is one of the reasons I chose it. I didn't want to stay in what was supposed to be a haunted hotel, surrounded by modern decor, and flat screens, and all that jazz. I wanted it to feel authentic! Part of the fun is setting the ambience, and letting your mind play tricks on you, and I just don't think I could do that surrounded by minimalist furniture and bottles of Evian.

Anywhooo, the hotel has been rumored to be haunted by several ghosts, including but not limited to a previous owner who likes to play tricks on guests, a naughty bar ghost, a man dressed in period clothing, and a little girl nicknamed "Christine." All with mostly harmless MOs, aimed at providing playful antics. Except for the one ghost that pushed someone down the stairs, killing them instantly.

JUST KIDDING. But wouldn't that be cool?!

So, that's just a little teaser/trailer for the cool blog to come soon! Our hotel is booked for the weekend of May 7th, and yes I requested the scariest room on the scariest floor of the hotel, I mean we gotta do it big right?? I'll be strapped with my camera all night long, wishing I had some other cool paranormal activity gear other than my own two eyes and ears...but I guess they'll have to suffice.

Has anyone ever had a ghostly experience themselves? If so, please share! Let's help set the mood for this otherworldy overnight expedition...

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C'est La Vie!! Ah, oui oui!

C'est la vie! Ok, I'll be honest, that's about the only french phrase I know, but tonight we had the true privilege of being exposed to some DELICIOUS french culture. And when I say delicious I mean amazing, and when i say culture I, of course, mean FOOD. (I mean really, what's more important than food?)

Our household is currently full to capacity with three full time occupants (soon to be minus one), three pets (a dog, a cat, and one hedgehog), and one traveling kiteboarder of extremely european and fancy descent. Our good friend Jeremy (Leoni to us) is crashing our couch for a few weeks, until his apartment is ready for occupancy. Everyone should be extremely jealous of him and hate/envy him just as much as I do. Not only has he just returned from an extended vacation in Brazil, but he's relocating to Corpus Christi to live the dream as I like to call it. He gets to spend every day outside on the water, teaching the good people of the dirty dub c how to surf some gnarly waters with his kite. Not too shabby of a situation if I do say so myself. We all loathe/love him in this house because we are truly jealous...but extremely happy for him at the same time.

Anywhoooo, having gotten to spend a good amount of time with him as of late (he's served as an excellent escort the past several weekends to various events where Jeff was unable to attend), I now know that the name Leoni is of italian descent, meaning lion, but that his parents were actually from the region of Northern Africa...don't hate me if I'm wrong Leoni, but Tripoli and Algeria?? Bear with me, because the point of this blog is food, and I'm getting there.

So, recently we were having conversations about food and what we like, and Leoni mentions this amazing concoction that is a staple in the regions where his parents are from. It's basically made of what's called merguez, which is essentially a spicy lamb sausage, served in a crusty baguette, heaped with french fries, and doused in a special spicy sauce called harissa. Of course, my intial reaction is to want it immediately. Hence, we devise a plan in which Leoni, who has never before made this concoction, agrees to prepare this meal for us, in all its delicious glory!

Let me just say, he didn't let me down. Now I don't know what a traditional merguez baguette is supposed to taste like, and I've actually never had lamb before, but this fantastical treat was off the chizzain. We're talking juicy meat, spicy sauce, crusty bread, topped with all the familiarity of your traditional french fry. An epic party in your mouth. Paired with a new summer blend of Shiner Ruby Redbird Beer (which I've also never had), and you've got yourself a dinner.

Now, I'm only gonna say it once Leoni, so you listen good. Please don't leave usssssss. We've so enjoyed having your French @$$ around here, and well, now that I know you can cook...I never want to let you go. Our couch is comfortable. I know the cat is annoying. I know we wake you up every morning leaving for work, but we can change. The cat can go. We'll make it work. Let me know what you think. :-)

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The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Man, I'm totally NOT holding up my end of the bargain on this ten days of blogging thing, am I?

My sincerest apologies, all 24 of my dedicated blog readers.

Today's topic is 5 people who really mean a lot to you, and for me this is so difficult! I have quite a few people in my life that really mean a lot to me, and its very VERY difficult to narrow it down to just five, so rather than pick and choose, I've narrowed it down by a few groups of people that mean a lot to me.

My parents) This is a no brainer. My parents brought me into this world, and for that I owe them...well..my life. Everything I am today is because of them. I've taken the good and incorporated it into my own life, and also seen what not to do (sorry mom and dad) and changed myself for the better. As I grow older, I see more and more how difficult it is to raise a child, and how much I took for granted as a wee sassy, slightly spoiled youngster. Thanks for putting up with me guys. :-)

My sisters) My sisters are like built in best friends that HAVE to love you. They have no choice. I couldn't have been blessed with two better sisters, and I'm lucky to have been given the job of "big" sister. All those days I played house with Sam when I was technically too "old" to play anymore. Showing Alex all the cool un-lady like things to do. It's been a great experience, and I can't wait to see what's ahead for us as we all make our own families, and create memories together. Love you guys.

My BABE!) I've gotta say I'm truly the luckiest girl. It's taken me a while to get to this point, but I feel like now that I'm/we're here, I've never been happier. Don't get me wrong, life's not perfect, and some days are harder than others when you're with someone, but when you're in it for the long haul, you work through it, and you always come out on the other side. I honestly don't know where I'd be without my special someone, and I can't wait to see what happens for us next!

My friends) Obviously, all of the friends I've made and kept along the way are important to me! They've all touched my life and changed me in some way, and I couldn't be more blessed to have those people in my life. I've got my best friends, Sara and Heather..two friends I got know in college, and have had in my life ever since! They're some of the first people I call with news..good news, bad news...advice, venting, crying, laughing. They're amazing. In addition to my "besties," I've met some great friends through work and play down here in Corpus, as well as at my previous job in Kerrville. I've also got a group of lifelong friends from grad school that I still keep in touch with via "life update" emails, and others from undergrad. I'm truly blessed when it comes to the friend category!

My grandpa) I'm not going to say much about him, but my Papa Fennon was one of the most amazing men I have ever known. He's passed away, but I still miss him every day and wish I could see him and talk to him all the time. When my family went through rough times, he was there. He took care of us. Anything we needed, he'd do everything he could to get it for us. He loved us, and we loved him unconditionally. I can't wait to get to see him again one day, and I live every day to make him proud.

So there you have it folks! The five people in my life that mean the most to me. Ok, I know I know, I didn't really narrow it down, but when you have so many great people in your life, how are you supposed to choose??

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Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride.

So today's blog topic is hard for me because technically I'm supposed to write about "6 things I wish I'd never done or could change". The reason why this is difficult for me is because I strongly believe in the whole adage that everything happens for a reason...even more so in the idea that our path is steered by something greater than ourselves, and we are brought to the joys in our lives for the same reasons that we are brought to our sadness.It's all part of the plan. You have to experience the bitter so the you can relish the sweet.

With that said, I honestly can't pinpoint anything in my life that I'd change or regret doing. The people I've loved cross my mind, the career paths I've chosen and how I'm changing direction crosses my mind as well, the things I've said or didn't say when I should have...yes, things may have been easier had I known better, and hindsight is always a perfect 20/20, but how would I know what I truly want and need had I not experienced what I now know to be what I DON'T want? Does that make sense?

So, I'm boycotting this blog topic. I could be wrong, and many of you out there may have things in your life you wish you could change...do you? If you were given the chance would you go back and make a different decision? I'd like to know what the consensus is on this subject matter...

For many people, the need to be perfect or live that dream life is an overwhelming feeling, but just keep remembering that "Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride."

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Pretty Pretty Please

Pretty Pretty Please Don't you ever ever feel like you're nothing, you're f@#$# perfect to me!

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"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."

Seven Things That Cross Your Mind Alot

Ok ok, so I know I haven't been keeping up with my ten days of blogging, I admit it, I'm terrible. But right now it seems that I have a little downtime, as I've been pretty dang worthless all weekend due to "too much fun syndrome" aka having one too many cocktails. So I'm taking it easy, munchin' on some magical mcnuggets of goodness that my sweet boyfriend went and got for me, and I'm posted up in bed...ready to write and roll!

So today's topic is seven things that cross your mind alot...I'm sure I can list more than seven, but for the sake of being concise, I'll narrow it down.

1. My future.

Honestly, for me, right now, the most important thing I've got going for me is getting into my program, and starting (and finishing) it as soon as humanly possible. It's truly taken me so long to finally figure out what it is that I think I want to do with the rest of my life, and I'm so antsy to already be done with it! I go through these little bouts of craziness when I realize how old I am, and where I thought I'd be at this age. In all honesty, I thought I'd be married, maybe have a kiddo on the way, doing Athletic Training, own a home...you know, living the American Dream :-) ...And I couldn't be further away from that picture right now, but I wouldn't trade where I am and the people I have in my life right now for the world. I'm finally doing what I WANT rather than what I think I SHOULD be doing. I'm with the right person. And I'm taking my time. There is no perfect timetable, a plan that everyone has to follow. Married by 25, kids by 28, house by 30...yada yada yada. Trust me, I still have those days of panic when I think life is passing me by, but as John Lennon once said "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." You can't always be planning the future, or you'll forget to enjoy the present.

2. Food.

I love food. I'm either thinking about what I want to make next week, brainstorming my grocery list, eating, thinking about when I'm going to get to eat next, cooking, thinking about what I'm going to cook that night, or wishing I was eating. Food is a big part of my life as I learn to enjoy cooking, and making things that look and taste delicious. I enjoy the challenge, and I like sharing my creations with the people I love.

3. The great to run or not to run debate.

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I love running. With that said, it can sometimes require A LOT of effort to continue to run consistently. When I'm pressed for time, running late, or have a lot of things to get done, surprise surprise, running is usually the first thing that gets cut from my to-do list. I do most of my running during the week on my lunch break. With school, and work, and homework, and just trying to find some time to relax, I don't have much expendable time or energy during the day. There are times when everyone wants to go out to lunch, and I can't go because I have to run. Of course I'd much rather be stuffing my face then dragging myself around the block in the sweltering heat, but as hard as it always is to get going, the feeling I get when I finish my run for the day is irreplaceable. It's a constant battle of to go or not to go, but you can almost always count on me lacing up those kicks and trudging on.

4. I wish I was sleeping.

Well, I think this one is pretty self explanatory. From the moment I wake up in the morning you can bet I'm already thinking about how awesome its going to be when I get to go to sleep again. I loveeee sleeeepppp. Almost to the point that I could develop anti-social tendencies just because sometimes I'd rather sleep than go out. Nothing beats the feeling of waking up refreshed and ready to go. And if I don't get at least 7 hours a night, I'm gonna be cranky. You can count on that.

5. Did someone take Lexi out?

I mean, its nothing super exciting, but I'm just being honest. My dog Lexi is like my child. I love her. Talk to her even. Force her to wear ridiculous garb and then take pictures of her. She's my shadow. Soooo, if I'm not taking her outside to go to the bathroom, I'm constantly wondering if any of my other apartment mates remembered to take her out. I mean imagine how you'd feel if you had to hold it in all day?

6. I hope Jeff's ok.

My boyfriend works long hours, very late at night, so I'm constantly worried that he's alright. He gets off late, and then has to drive about 15 minutes home, on the same road that could be filled with crazies at that time of night...so like clockwork, I usually wake up and check to make sure he made it safely home. I can't help it, I have this need to know that the people I love are safe and sound. It's weird. =-)

7. I love my friends and family.

So I know this is a pretty generic thought, but I don't necessarily have one or two people that I'm always thinking about. It's more like throughout the day my mom will pop into my head, or my sisters, or my dad, or this friend, or that friend. I'll wonder how they're doing, what they're doing, and hope that they know I love them. Thoughts of them are also usually accompanied by the thought that I'd much rather be with them then doing whatever it is I'm doing at the moment!

So those are the seven things that cross my mind alot. Nothing to special, no real deep musings on the origin of life or anything like that. When it comes down to it, I'm a pretty simple person (no, not simple minded!). I think this list is truly a brief glimpse into the things that are most important to me. Like sleep. food. family...and well, you get the picture.

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...And I'm Freeeee, Free Fallinnnn...

Well ladies and gents! Mark another one off the good ol' bucket list because this girl has officially taken part in the craziest thing she's ever done! Plummeted from 10,000 feet above the Gulf of Mexico, to land on a tiny strip of beach in Port Aransas..and man, was it something else.

I've literally been ITCHING to write about this topic ever since I knew it was going to happen, about 2 months ago. My Aunt Marti called and informed me that she wanted to surprise my mom for her 50th birthday by treating her, me, and my sister to a gift of a lifetime...a tandem skydive jump! Because we wanted it to be a surprise, we secretly planned the whole ordeal...set up the dive, invited close friends, and planned a small get together at the coolest restaurant in town, Brewster's Street (that's a plug for you babe!) for afterwards. We even went as far as to get a custom cake ordered from Janet's Cakery (the most awesome bakery in town) with the face of my mom's favorite person of all time plastered on it, Elvis...uh huhhhhh (said in the classic Elvis style). We've never had a party like this to celebrate a birthday, and 50 only comes once a lifetime..as does skydiving if something goes wrong lol.

Anywho, I digress. Let me just say, skydiving was an utterly exhilarating experience. For four of us to go, it literally took hours, as this small, local business Skydive South Texas was utilizing a VERY SMALL plane that could only take up one jumper at a time. Those hours waiting weren't spent in vain, don't worry...as we waited for each of our group members to land, we got to sunbathe, drink a few brewskis, and soak up the rays of another gorgeous day on the island...now that's what I call service.

My mom went first, it being her birthday and all, and also probably for the fact that if she waited for everyone else to jump, she'd more than likely end up talking herself out of it. The smile on her face after her land was priceless, and not many people can say they've jumped out of a plane at 50. Congrats Mom!

Then my sister Sam, who was the skydiving veteran of the group (she's been once before) got to go, except she got to go above and beyond just enjoying the ride! She got the amazing experience of pulling her own parachute cord, and even doing a little light steering...now that's what I call a badass!

Then there was me. Let me just tell you, as a girl who gets sick riding shotgun in a honda civic, going on a ferris wheel, riding in any size boat, AND flying in airplanes, I was more than a little apprehensive that I'd end up vomiting all the way down on my "majestic" ride from 10,000 feet above. What makes the emotions even more tumultuous is that you spend a good 2o minutes slowly gaining altitude in a little puddle jumper, which gives you PLENTY of time to second guess what you're about to so, and totally psych yourself out. So you can imagine my stomach was already turning circles at that point. But in all reality, it doesn't really hit you that you're about to jump out of a plane until the side door opens and you can feel the wind rushing past you. THAT'S when I panicked. What did he say earlier about arching your back? Was he gonna tap my shoulder once or twice?? Or was he gonna tap my leg?!! OMG I'M GONNA DIE!

And then nothing.

All of a sudden you're out, you're doing everything he told you to do, and all you can do is look around you in complete and total awe. The wind creates a vacuum of thought, and well...you're flying. For approximately 45 seconds you're in complete freefall. Dead weight, heading toward the ground. The closest you'll probably get to "flying" in your entire life, and it's truly amazing. You're trying to ham it up for the camera, but really all you can do is stare at the view. The water, the beach, the horizon, the intense blue of the sky from this high up. It's almost indescribable.

Then reality sets in as the parachute opens, and you're jerked upwards, which was literally the most uncomfortable part of the whole gig. Anyone who says they didn't get a camel toe from that strap is an outright liar. Despite the camel toe, the floating sensation was pretty amazing. That is until we started manuevering in circles to adjust our speed and altitude for landing, which was approximately the point in the descent during which my stomach started saying to me "hey, I think we're gonna hurl." Nevertheless, I held it in enough to enjoy the last bit of air, and as soon as we landed and disengaged, I bent over and dry heaved the crap outta myself.

Luckily, nothing came up, and I recovered just in time to see our last diver, Terry make her jump! So proud of you lady! You did amazing, and looked flawless coming down!

So that was our experience. As we were floating to the ground, our Tandem Instructor, Ken (who was strapped to my back at about as close as humanly possible) asked me what was the craziest thing I'd ever done before this. I honestly couldn't tell him. I've spent most of my life playing it safe. I always wear a seatbelt. I try not to text while driving. I don't eat nuts at a bar. At that moment, I realized jumping out of a plane was in fact, the craziest thing I'd ever done in all my 27 years on Earth, and I've gotta change that.

There may be nothing like the feeling of free falling to give yourself that rush, but be prepared folks, because if there is...I aim to find it.

Pre -Dive Group (me, sam, mom, and Terry)

Right before we signed our lives away

Party like a rockstar Mom.

You're not hardcore unless you live hardcore.

Getting strapped in before the drops!

Sisters por vida.

Mom coming down with the sun behind her.

Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Sam coming down with the prettiest parachute I've ever seen!

Lovin' every minute of it.

I have no idea what I'm about to do lol.

Me, heading downtown!

Floating.

Sick as a dog. gonna vom.

Terry rockin her descent!

Happy 50th Birthday Mom.

My mom and her favorite person not alive.

We even got a Jeff siting! Score!

We'll be the spokespeople for Skydive South Texas :-)

Loving me some family.

Be on the lookout as I'm sure to be posting more pictures and video from our actual dive! Can't wait to see how ridiculous we all look!

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