Monticello Ghost Tour 2010

So, last night I went on ghost tour with some friends around the city of Monticello. The tour was hosted by the Big Bend Ghost Trackers. Monticello is said to be the south's most haunted town. I always thought that title went to St. Augustine, but for the purposes of this blog-it's Monticello. After each story I'll post the photos from that location.

One of the first stops on our tour was to the Jefferson County High School. The school was built in 1852, and was the first brick schoolhouse in Florida. The school is currently being renovated. The workers have reported hearing children laughing, and tools disappearing. The cloudy looking pictures were photos I took by placing my lens against the glass and shooting. The tour guide said that because of the type of glass it wouldn't be a problem. The last photo was the cleanest photo I was able to get. I don't understand though, because the people around me who were doing the same thing were getting clean pictures.

Next, we went to the John Denham house. It now serves as a bed and breakfast. There are reports of a woman in white walking throughout the yard. There have also been reports of seeing people walking around inside the tower in the center of the roof. There was a man there last night. I believe an actor. When he stood sideways he resembled Alfred Hitchcock. His movements were calculated, he would duck down, and then slowly pop up. Walk to a window and then duck down again.

Next on the tour we stopped at the Palmer House. The Palmer House is supposed to be the most haunted house in the south. It served as a funeral home from what I understand. The road next to the house was a cemetery. The graves were dug up before the road was put down. Our guide said that when they looked in the coffins there were scratch makes on the inside- meaning some people weren't actually dead when they were buried. As a way to make sure that the dead were actually dead they would tie a string around the buried persons finger that would connect to a bell above ground. Someone would sit in a chair next to the grave over night - where the term "graveyard shift" supposedly comes from. If the bell was heard ringing you were considered a "dead ringer" or "saved by the bell". Among the reports in this home are flying teddy bears, chairs rocking by themselves and a blood stain above the fireplace that refuses to go away even though the original wall that the stain was on has been replaced. The house is currently serving as an antiques shop. While we were listening to the stories outside the house, a woman came from around the side. She owns it now, and opened it up for us to walk through. Outside of the house is a statue. Apparently there have been reports of the statue moving. Not like "Night at the Museum" moving, more like, it shifts.

* That's not the moon.

Following the Palmer House we walked to the city's hanging tree. On our way we passed a group of people hanging out at the gas station (because that's where people go in Monticello for a good time) started making "ooooooOOOoooo" sounds as we walked by. It was pretty funny. The hanging tree sits outside the Courthouse. When it was used, hangings would take place at noon on Thursday. The shops would all close up at noon to go to the hanging tree to watch the days' hanging. To this day, the shops in the city still close at noon in keeping with the tradition. One of the stories about this tree has to with people driving by and seeing a soldier standing in front of the tree.

The Court House. At the bottom of the steps the concrete is slightly discolored. The tour guide told us that she believes it is from a gun fight that took place there, the stains left over from the blood. The following pictures of the Court House I included because of the orbs I caught. They seem to move, and don't appear in all my photos. I just thought it was neat that the one seemed to want to follow our tour guide. In the first photo, on the door is the brightest orb I've ever got on camera.

Next, we went The Wirick-Simmons House. This house was built in 1831 and survived the fires brought on by the Civil War. It currently acts as the Jefferson County Historical Society. A lady in pink and a lady in yellow are common sightings. Most people see the lady in pink looking out the windows, and the lady in yellow is reported to be seen in photographs. One of the ladies of the house used to make coffins in a building on the lot.

The Jefferson County Jail was the last stop on our hour and a half walking tour. No one knows for sure when the jail was built. The first mention of the jail was during a dedication of the Court House in 1908. This prison is actually 3 stories tall. The prisoners were held on the top floor and the bottom floors housed the officers and supplies. The back of the prison was where the women were held. Among the stories of this prison are hearing moaning, footsteps, and the sounds of cell doors being opened and closed.

Brief Update

So, October is starting out pretty well. I had a job interview this past week, with a follow up interview scheduled for later this week. Also have a ghost tour scheduled for Friday evening too. So excited. I'll be sure to take pictures. :) Not much else in the way of news. I haven't been baking so I've not had anything to post on my other blog lately.

Come on October!

I LOVE this month! The colors, the cooler air, the sense of mystery that Halloween brings. I am so excited about going on a ghost tour this month in Monticello with my friends. The food during this time of year is also incredible. Pumpkin bread and stews. Hopefully this month will be good luck in the way of jobs. I spent an hour working on my resume. We'll see what comes of it if anything. :)

What's In A Name?

Apparently A LOT! A friend of mine suggested that I make a food blog with recipes for the various things I make. I thought it was a good idea. Sort of like an online cookbook. I was trying to come up with names that hadn't been used before for food blogs. Almost everything I came up with was used. Yum-Yums, Delis Dish, This Could Get Messy, Jonesing For... But! I did come up with one that I could use. As far as I could tell, "What Are You Jonesing For?" hasn't been used. So, I'm working on a food blog now. Exciting stuff! :)

I Must be Crazy

So, it's about 1:20 in the morning. My shoulder is in so much pain, and I've got one hell of a headache starting. But given all that, I've spent a lot of time reflecting.

Perhaps my experiences in Virginia were a lesson. Perhaps I wasn't supposed to be there in the long run and that's why my luck never turned. Perhaps I was supposed to learn forgiveness, which to be honest I still haven't come to terms with Rich (the principal) lying to me. Perhaps the experience was a lesson in patience.

When I had my own classroom, I actually did enjoy it. Yes I was upset with the "system", and yes I had some administrators that I did not like. Yes there were some children that were challenges, and yes there were parents that were even more challenging. But, all in all - I have to remind myself, that I did enjoy it. I liked getting to know the kids. It was hard to become attached and really get to know them because as a substitute I was only there briefly. But, all in all I tended to have a good time. Even on the trying days.

I took it as a sign that I shouldn't teach because of the trouble I had with Virginia. So, I started applying everywhere. I'm attracted to jobs that help people, that help children. I've applied for state positions and federal positions and have heard nothing. A part of me for some reason keeps getting pulled towards teaching. I don't know why. I can't explain it.

So, I took a leap of faith so to speak. And I spent 75 dollars that I do not have (thank you Andy) to send off my application for a temporary teaching certificate. The school year has already started, but if I do get a temp certificate I can at least work on my certification. There are still jobs in elementary schools, and it's not uncommon for there to be positions mid-year. We'll see what happens. But, how funny would it be for me to send off an application for a temp, and get it on the first try? Where as in VA I tried for 3 years. Wouldn't that just be, insane? And if it doesn't work out, and I've wasted 75 dollars - well so be it. Virginia prepared me to deal with being screwed. It prepared me to not get my hopes up. It prepared me to just keep going.

So, as is typical in these type of situations: I am a leaf in the breeze, let's see where I land.

Kerli

I hardly ever pass along a song; but, it's a song that's inspiring to me and makes me feel better. Music to me is a mood enhancer. If I need to dance, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I'll put on Lady Gaga. If I need a boost and rage, Marilyn Manson comes to mind. If I want to sing at the top of my lungs, Lenka is always a great fall back. Kerli is a band I enjoy, I love the vocals and the lyrics. The music videos are twisted beyond belief, which I kind of enjoy. "The Creationist" is one of those songs that I like to listen to when I feel down, as well as Jem's "Just a Ride". But for now, I'll just leave the video for "The Creationist". It's not a music video, but it's her song. Lyrics at the bottom, just in case. Enjoy.

This is an old and funny poem
I accidentally overheard
It keeps the little children playing
And bigger children spread the word
My memory is bad
So I always tend to forget how it goes but

Life is my creation, is my best friend
Imagination is my defense
And I'll keep walking when skies are gray
Whatever happens was meant that way

You're no better or no worse than the others
We are all the same
And life is just a moment
You might as well enjoy this day
It's time to start believing
Everything you want is on it's way and

Life is my creation, is my best friend

Imagination is my defense
And I'll keep walking when skies are gray
Whatever happens was meant that way

We'll be growing, into knowing
While we're flowing
Keep on going

Life is my creation, is my best friend
Imagination is my defense
And I'll keep walking when skies are gray
Whatever happens was meant that way
I'm a creationist, oh, I'm a creationist

This is an old and funny poem
I accidentally overheard

A Fresh Start? It Still Feels the Same.

So in most ways, moving back to Florida was definitely better. I feel like a nicer person living here. One of the first things I noticed on moving back was that I don't cuss nearly as much while I'm on the road. Of course I've had the occasional "you moron" and the "you really don't know how to drive do you?" But no F-bombs thus far. I'm happier here despite the job search not going as planned.

I've applied to several places, I have at least 5 applications in with the department of education. It's only been 3 weeks since I started searching and applying, so I have to keep the faith. I broke down and went for an interview at a restaurant. I sat in the parking lot and stared in my side mirror at the restaurant behind me. I was reflecting upon the fact that I'm 26 and am sitting in the parking lot of a restaurant, again. This is not where I thought I would be professionally. I had to mentally psych myself up. "Think about networking, you'll be getting out of the house, you'll be building up your savings." It put me in a better mood, so I went in. It was just after three when I sat down. I waited 20 minutes, sat down and was asked 3 questions, "What position are you applying for, name a strength, name a weakness" - I answered those and was told that I was great. Amazing- such hard questions... Next I interviewed with the General Manager who asked me "Why don't you want to be a manager? I'll get with R and see where we can fit you in." Later I get a call from R asking me how the interview went, I tell him, he says the GM wants me as a manager. I know R doesn't, or at least he's making it sound like he doesn't. To be honest I don't want to either. I know I hang a lot of blind optimism on the word "if" but if I get called in for an interview somewhere, I'll have a lot more flexibility as a server than a manager.

Writing this just gets me depressed. I saw an article where they project unemployment to be high for at least another decade. How can they even forecast that? And what a load of confidence. I always thought I'd be something. I just don't know what it is. It's so much easier to sit back and think about the things I know I wouldn't enjoy, or wouldn't like doing-why is it so difficult to pin point what it is I would actually like?

I did start volunteering with the Girl Scouts. A friend of mine is a troop leader and wanted me to come help her. So, now I'm co-leader. Which is pretty neat, and a lot of fun. It's giving me something to do. :)

Otherwise, I can't sleep. It's almost 2 am. I was laying in bed from 11:30 to about 1:30am but couldn't get my brain to just stop thinking. Random thoughts. If only my thoughts were compartmentalized, kept in individual tupperware containers. I could just close all the containers and stop the thoughts-at least for a little while.