Life – what a funny ride, really!

So today, I had work from 9am-2pm. Standard, nothing special about that. Straight afterwards, however, I was scheduled to go for a picnic for a friend’s birthday which was to be immediately followed by a nighttime endeavour for another friend’s day of days. Given I’ve also got work tomorrow morning, and not wanting to lug around all my clothes etc, I decided to just take my things for the evening with me at the start of the day.

2pm arrives, I’m in the changeroom – oh good lord! Embarrassment! Have I brought a pair of mismatched shoes? YES! Are they actually for the same foot, so I can’t wear them even if I wanted to? YES! Ah! Fail! Don’t get me wrong, had they been slightly appropriate, this wouldn’t have been an issue, but there was no way i could wear chunky black solid closed-in shoes with a tight and frilly dress. Not happening.

Alas, an emergency pit stop to Wittner, just across the road was required. Thankfully it was pay day today – not that I was intending on this purchase. Just as I stepped outside, however, new soles on the ground, CRASH! BAM! and pouurrrrrrrr….a thunderstorm! Crazy. And so, in brand new shoes, I ended up soaking wet anyway.

Eventually, I trampsed my way to the picnic (not the greatest break-in mind you) where I spent a lovely afternoon celebrating and eating with my posse, if you will.

And then! The day took another turn!

There is debate over whether facebook on one’s mobile is a good thing. Maybe it was a little antisocial, but come 4-5pm ish, I felt a quick check was in order. Well, wasn’t I glad I did?! Because, a congratulatory message had been posted on my wall, because of this:

http://www.mimco.com.au/Blog.aspx?CategoryId1=90&CategoryName1=Blog

Wahoooo!!! Oh man, what excitement! What joy! Brought a big smile to the face

Life is always unpredictable – today, it gave me a few giggles.

Sono previste per il prossimo 28 novembre le semifinali di Sanremo Rock. Cinque band campane in concorso: Picnic di Salerno, Romantic Lies di Piedimonte Matese, The Aircast e Nicturia di Caserta , The Broken Wheels di Dragoni. La finale in programma sempre sabato alle 21. Al vincitore la pubblicazione di 100 cd singoli, tour promozionale, inserimento nel catalogo Area Sonica. Ecco come Mario Bertolino ci ha scritto qualche riga sui Nicturia. In bocca al lupo a tutte le band campane, ovviamente.

Ci siamo. Finalmente il momento è arrivato. Sabato prossimo presso la struttura Palafiori di Sanremo si terranno semifinali e finali del concorso per band emergenti SanremoRock 2009, il concorso vedrà anche la partecipazione della band casertana  “Nicturia”.
L’approdo  alle fasi finali di questo importante concorso musicale rappresenta da un lato la consacrazione e il premio ad anni di lavoro e sperimentazione musicale e dall’altro un punto di partenza per scenari di maggior rilievo.

La band nacque nell’ormai lontano 1998 dall’incontro di alcuni ragazzi di un paese della provincia di Caserta, Nocelleto,   nel corso degli anni si sono succeduti alcuni avvicendamenti tra i componenti del gruppo, per arrivare oggi ad una formazione eterogenea in piena maturazione artistica i cui componenti sono Francesco Pellegrino (voce), Lucio Giramma (chitarra), Armando Delle Donne (chitarra), Michele Girammo (tastiere) e i due ultimi innesti: il giovane bassista Raffaele Giacobbone e il collaudato batterista Roberto Orsomando.

Il genere dei Nicturia è un rock molto originale, dove si amalgamano progressive italiano e new wave  con contaminazioni di Cure e Mars Volta.
Dopo questa tappa per i ragazzi si prospetta ancora lavoro in studio: infatti è prossima la registrazione del prossimo singolo “Le Formedel panico” ,la cui uscita è prevista per l’inizio del nuovo anno.
E’ proprio il caso di dire “in bocca al lupo”, in questo loro cammino “verso il sogno” (titolo del loro primo successo).
Ma.no

Spring Hill (70N)
For fishing and picnics

Two recent trips to Spring Hill airport in Sterling, PA proved to be both eventful and learning experiences (when aren’t they?).

Spring Hill sits upon a shelf beside a plateau in the poconos. Given the right conditions, this tiny airport is an extreme challenge. There is a hill at the southwest end of the runway that is severely steep. I don’t suggest taking off from runway 23 with a loaded airplane in the summer just as I don’t suggest trying to climb that hill on foot. Ropes should be required. If you do happen to use the runway, expect the winds to drift you off centerline even before you get to treetop level. I have yet to land on 5. I’ll submit a PIREP if I ever do. Night landings on 5 are not authorized. The threshold sits back 400′ from the runway’s edge (gee, I wonder why?).

On the opposite node, separated by almost 2500′, there is a lack of earth. Not far beyond that is Route 84. If you’re coming from the south, you won’t see the airport until after you pass the hill and spot 84. AVP approach was very helpful.

The water table is inches below the surface and hosts a very large but relatively shallow pond. If you like fishing, bring your rod. I can guarantee that there are fish, but don’t expect to actually catch a lot. The pond contains carp (big fish) but the most practical way of catching them is probably with a bow and arrow. I totally expect to try that sometime. Small bass and other panfish live there, too.

A moderate size pavillion is a great place to have lunch or wait out a thunderstorm. I saw horseshoe pits, but no horseshoes (or horses, but I did see a flock of turkeys). There is plenty of room to play catch or frisbee. Don’t try football unless you like being tackled onto exposed tree roots. Bring everything that you’ll need to satisfy yourself. There are absolutely no conveniences. That means drinking water or restrooms.

Other services do not exist either. Finding someone to help you will take a while. I had the displeasure of pushing 79V into a tiedown when the clouds got thick. Of course, the soil was soft and after my dad and I pushed it in the muck, we discovered that the ropes were too short. It took much longer to get her back out. All those horses under the cowl couldn’t even do the job. I finally got someone with a small tractor mower and a rope to pull 79V out. Searched out a better tiedown spot and tucked her in to wait out the weather. The best tiedown was the end of the row closest to the runway (for future reference). You may have to tie two ropes together to make them reach.

Even without other luxuries, fuel is available. The airport is staffed only on weekdays. If you plan to go, I’d take these numbers with you: (as listed in the AFD and airnav.com) 570-242-5771 and 570-689-4040. I assume that the airport carries minimal insurance for a public use area, because they’ll ask you to sign a waiver (if they see you).

If you’re looking for a real short trip to enjoy the outdoors for a little while, Spring Hill is an excellent place to go. Whether you want to relax alongside the pond, take a walk and picnic, or just wish to challenge your skills, you now have some knowledge to make your experience a good one.

Little fact for the day: the airport is run by a man who invented the radon detector. His equipment is so sensitive, that it calibrates the calibrators.

Sacred Ki'i Guard the Place of Refuge at Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Whether you visit the Big Island for a few days, a couple weeks or a few months, you want to make the most of your time in Paradise. With such a wide variety of natural and commercial attractions, it is natural for the visitor to get a little overwhelmed in the “Option Overload” and not be able to make a balanced and informed decision on what they want to do and how best to spend their time.

Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, the Place of Refuge, As Seen from Two-Step Snorkeling Beach, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Even choosing which beach you want to spend time on, or where you want to hike can be an exercise in confusion and conflicting advice.  Clearly, visitors to Hawaii could use help making quality decisions about how best to spend their time.

Sacred Ki'i at Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, the Place of Refuge. The "Kona Style" of Polynesian Wood Carving is Considered Among the Best in the World and These Sacred Iki are Fine Examples, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the release of their new GPS/WiFi enabled App for iPhone and iPod that helps you navigate your trip to Hawaii with hours of informative, location-aware video and information. Although our video guide will lead you to dozens of unusual, untamed and unspoiled spots, let’s look at what may be Hawaii’s most spiritual, historically important and beautiful attraction, Pu’u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park, and highlight just a bit of the information you might not be able to find from maps and guidebooks that could otherwise cause you to miss some very interesting places and amazing sights if you did not have Tour Guide Hawaii’s new App.

Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park Entrance, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Pu’u Honua O Hounaunau National Historic Park: The Place of Refuge

Hale O' Keawe Heiau and Keone'ele, Pu'u Honua O' Hounaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Introduction: Writing about the Place of Refuge in 1889, Robert Louis Stevenson said: “There are times and places where the past becomes more vivid than the present, and the memory dominates the ear and eye…”

Royal Fishpond, Place of Refuge, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Easily the most beautiful, peaceful and restful spot in all the Hawai’ian Islands, Pu’u Honua O Honaunau is a place of ease and regeneration for even the most weary and jaded soul. Of enormous historical and cultural significance, the sacred grounds at Honaunau are the best-preserved and largest remaining Pu’u Honua, or Place of Refuge, complex in Hawai’i. It is also a wonderful area to wander, swim, hike, snorkel, relax, picnic or SCUBA dive

Sacred Ki'i Guard Secrets as Old as Hawaii Itself, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Samuel Clemens and Kamehameha III passed many days in idle chat along the Great Wall of Honaunau; one can still sit upon the rock where they reclined and see the holes bored into the lava to support poles for awnings. For anyone who had any doubts about what Old Hawai’i was like, a trip to Honaunau will fill your imagination, your camera and your soul.

Hale o Keawe and Temple Precincts, Place of Refuge, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The Place of Refuge: A complex and strict order of law, known as the kapu system, controlled and governed everything in ancient Hawai’i from the order of crop rotation to proper sexual relations, what fish may be caught and in what season, what foods could be eaten by women and proper respect for the royalty (for instance, it was to break kapu for men and women to eat together, for women to eat pork or bananas, or for commoners to look upon the king or to step upon ground he had trod). Under the kapu law system, punishment for any transgression was swift and severe: immediate death by stabbing, clubbing, strangulation, drowning or burning. There was no appeal and no recourse; judgment was immediate and final.

Path from the Temple Grounds to the Royal Precincts, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Unless the accused could escape to one of the designated heiau at a place of refuge. Once there, the accused would undergo a cleansing ceremony by the kahuna and would be absolved of all crimes and allowed to return to his family and previous life, free of onus. Women, children and the infirm also took refuge at the Pu’u Honua in times of war, as did vanquished warriors wishing to submit to the winning chief. Not often mentioned, however, is the grisly sport the king’s men sometimes made of the unfortunate accused, chasing them across sharp a’a fields, through the surf, over mountains, toying with their victims only to butcher them upon the Refuges’ outer wall, seeming seconds from salvation. This too, was sanctioned by the law.

A Passage Through The Massive Wall of Honaunau, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

The complex at Pu’u Honua O Honaunau, established as a National Historical Park in 1961, is vast, well preserved and pervaded by a soul-filling peace. Down the center of the complex runs the Wall of Honaunau, 100 feet long, 10 feet tall and 17 feet thick. It separated the palace grounds of the Ali’ from the temple grounds of the Pu’u Honua. The wall was made without mortar or dressing the stones and has survived for over 500 years.

The Dry-Stack Masonry Employed by the Ancient Hawaiians, Using No Mortar, Has Survived Over Half a Millenium of Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanoes With No Apparent Damage: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The royal residence area includes the canoe landing at Keone’ele Cove, Heleipolala Fishpond, several reconstructed residences and a canoe hale as well as the famous Hale Keawe, where the iwi (bones) of as many as 23 Ali’i ancestors of Kamehameha were once stored and venerated.

The 'Ale'ale'a Athletic Field, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

On the grounds of the refuge itself stands the stone platform, ‘Ale’ale’a, which was used for sports, the Keoua Stone, legendary resting place of the Ali’i and the Ka’ahumanu Stone, where it is said the favorite wife of Kamehameha the Great hid after quarrels with her husband.

An Ocean View Through Waiuohina Lava Tube View, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Leading south out of the refuge is the 1871 Trail, so named because area residence paid their 1871 taxes by improving and maintaining it. This trail leads to many important archeological sites such as the Ki’ilae Village, ‘Oma’o Heiau, Alahaka Heiau, Keokua Holua and the Waiuohina Lava tube.

Sunset in the Vog Cast an Eerie Light on this Sacred Iki, Place of Refuge, Honaunau, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

The Place of Refuge, Pu'u Honua O Hounaunau National Historic Park, From Across Honaunau Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

At least twice in the last month i’ve read comments suggesting that there is something deeply insulting about anybody describing themself as attracted to trans men. The implication, i suppose, is that the person is suggesting that trans men are different from men in general – and so aren’t ‘real’ men.

Some trans men get particularly exercised when a woman insists that she is a ‘lesbian’, yet describes herself as attracted to “women and trans men”. I agree this is problematic but the problem belongs to the lesbian in question: how does she reconcile an identity suggesting an attraction exclusively to females with a stated attraction to males? It shouldn’t become ours. In most such cases the woman is bisexual but simply doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact; she’s got a lot invested in her identity as gay, queer, whatever and can’t afford to see it compromised by any suggestion of heterosexuality.

That’s my analysis anyway. I would be very reluctant to enter into a relationship with anyone who ID’d this way, but having issues around your sexuality is hardly a hanging offence.

If anything, we might have a bit of empathy: even in the first decade of the 21^st Century it’s still no picnic to identify as gay. People struggle to feel fully accepted. Can you really blame them then for not wanting to jeopardise their membership of a community where they do feel they belong?

This brings me on to another group of people who may also come to identify as ‘attracted to trans men’. Consider the case of a person – for simplicity’s sake we’ll say a woman* – who has been in a long term relationship with a trans man. During that time she has taken an active role in the community. Her community – because, make no mistake, the FTM community does not consist of trans men alone but also their SOFFAS (horrible acronym!): friends, family and especially… partners. She understands the humour, she speaks the language.

Should that relationship break up is it really so surprising that this woman might seek another relationship with a trans man or even come to think of trans men as the people she’s attracted to? Can she be blamed for wanting to ‘marry within her community**’? Note that, just as the lesbian in the first example risks jeopardising her membership of the lesbian community if she admits an attraction to a trans man, so this lady stands to lose her place in the FTM community once she is no longer in a relationship with an FTM guy. No matter how long she’s been involved with it, no matter how much she’s done for it. Sad but inevitable. Again, how about a little bit of empathy?

And, at the end of the day, if someone does perceive trans men as different from other men, what of it? As long as the difference is a within-group one (trans men are perceived as a subgroup of men with particular qualities), rather than a between-groups distinction (trans men are perceived to be a group in addition to men), then what is the big deal?

* Bio or trans, it makes no difference; because the male and female transsexual communities are different entities in my experience.
** Of course, this does assume her experience of FTM culture was a positive one, which is not something that can be taken for granted in this current climate of buddy-bashing.

Last week the kinder class went on a hiking trip.  They got to breath fresh air and experience being close to nature at the same time.

先週の金曜日、キンダークラスではハイキングの遠足にでかけました。新鮮な空気に自然に触れる事ができました！

It was very peaceful, and everybody felt relaxed.

They had a picnic lunch, which they brought with them all the way!

みんなとてもリラックスできました。ピクニックもみんなで楽しみました。みんなお弁当の入ったバッグをがんばって運びましたよ！！

The lunches were very yummy too!

おいしいランチでした！

Everybody still had lots of energy after the hike!

みんな元気いっぱい！

i went over to play with em & jen in their massive pile of leaves.  but not just jumping in it.  fallling off backward into it from the swing, running around the tree and flying into the pile,  diving into it. oh for a massive pile of leaves with a swing nearby.  perhaps i shall migrate our leaf pile.

little girl, next door neighbor.  played in the leaves too.

we had a picnic too. cider, spice tea, cookies.  sitting in the leaves.

…

En todo cumpleaños tiene que haber unas velas a la altura de la ocasión:

Next month, myself at Emblem Studio will be at this years Picnic Holiday Sale along with Bryan Bruchman of Hillytown.com, Come say hi and pick up some new prints, posters, pins and much more!

Today the babies were a little sick, a little housebound, and a little grizzly.  So after lunch we took a drive up the coast… Porirua…Plimmerton…Pukerua Bay…Paekakariki… to Paraparaumu where I visited our joinery spray painter to deliver some shelving parts and new timber samples for The Assembly Stackweave.  Sabina saw ladies riding along the streets on horseback, and sheep on the roadside farms.  Thomasin and Lido mainly slept.  Once home the temperature had risen, and our neighbour, one week overdue with her second baby rested her load awhile in our sunny courtyard.  I dragged out the rug and beanbags for the kids and they spent a happy afternoon lolling about, with me rushing around fetching drinks, snacks and trying to limit their roving to the carpet, and not the concrete.  Sabina stripped off and waded in the pot plant saucers.  It was a nice afternoon, on the courtyard carpet.

This Sunday we went to Innovative Film city, which is in Bidadi close to Bangalore on Bangalore-Mysore road.

I felt that price of various attractions was on a higher side and also the staff there seemed to be uninterested in providing any help to the visitor. Overall we did not enjoy the place very much.

Sempre achei que a europa no verão fosse insuportável. Não sei porque, imaginava aquele calor de 40 graus, aquele sol que não acaba mais (sou daquelas que sempre foge pra sombra, tô aprendendo a gostar de sol só agora), e bom, sempre gostei mas do inverno.

Na verdade é tudo isso daí mesmo, mas ao mesmo tempo as pessoas são mais felizes, os lugares ficam abertos até mais tarde e você pode fazer picnic no parque.

Então sem enrolação, mais 5 coisas pra se fazer em Berlin, agora algumas no verão:

#6 Tomar sol e cerveja nas margens do Spree

Essa foto eu tirei umas 20:00, o horário mais gostoso. O sol não é tão quente, você não fica disputando um cadeirinha de praia e todas essas coisas. Não sei o nome do lugar, mas é perto da ponte onde tem um “camelôs” vendendo uns SOUVENIRS bizarros tipo máscara anti gás e bombas falsas. A maioria dos cafés “am spree” tem essas cadeirinhas de praia na margem do rio.

#7 fazer picnic em Potsdam

Como só fiquei 5 dias em Berlin dessa vez, Potsdam não tava nos meus planos inexistentes. Mas fazer picnic no parque tava! Como sempre, errei o trem e vi que a última estação era Potsdam, resolvi parar lá. Foi um dos dias mais lindos da minha vida. Deve ser gostoso alugar uma bicicleta e sair andando pela cidade inteira, só o parque do palácio tem uns 3km, mas você anda tudo e nem percebe…

# 8 Biergarten

não tenho foto também, porque sou idiota. Mas tem Biergarten por todos os lados, alguns tem até areiazinha no chão pra parecer uma praia haha

Bom, resumindo, é um jardim pra você beber cerveja (e comer bratwurst). Precisa de mais ? Tô vendo que todas as minhas dicas do verão vão se resumir em beber cerveja, mas acho que vocês não se importam haha

#9 beber cerveja

#10 beber cerveja

pronto, cansei por hoje.

오늘 집에서 오빠랑 같이 떡볶이 해먹을려고 했는데.. 날씨가 너무너무너무너무 좋아서 김밥 사들고 공원으로 가기로 했다아!!  그래서 과외 끝나구 단무지가서 참치김밥이랑 또 다른 김밥 사들고 갈려고 했는데.. 가니 closed-_- 할수없이 한아름에서 살려고 갔는데.. 옆에 있는 롤들이 더 맛있서 보여 고것들 투고해서 Piedmont Park로 고고씽~~~

호수에 물들이 반짝반짝하는 이유 아는 사람?? 밥 먹고 의자에 앉아서 자연관찰하며 찍은 사진! 이날 찍은 사진들 중에서 이 사진이 제일 맘에 들어!!!

미팅이 있어서 오래 있지 못하고 금방 와야했지만,
그래두 나름 우리 집에서의 데이트가 아닌 데이트 했네ㅋㅋㅋ 붸리나이쓰~

자세히 안보면은 잘 안보이는데.. 오빠랑 나랑 손금 진짜 똑같아~~ 큰 라인들 세개랑 중간에 길게 뻗은 손금까지!!  비슷한 손금 가진 사람 찾기 힘든데, 신기하지 않아?! 키키키

982 days and going on~ 우리 천일 얼마 안 남았구나?! 꺄!! >_<

1. Start at South Ken/High Street Ken/ Lancaster Gate
2. Walk to Serpentine Gallery
3. Stroll through the park
4. End up at Serpentine bar & kitchen in time for the sun set

(Map)

This is a great date for sunny summer and winter afternoons.  You could easily do this walk in reverse. If you and your loved one are early birds you could start off the day with a hearty English breakfast at the Serpentine bar & kitchen and then burn off all those calories on your way to the other end of the park to the Serpentine gallery. If you’re anything like us, or if it’s a first date we’d recommend you have a lie in and amble down to the gallery around midday – this way you’ll have lots to talk about on your stroll through the park!

THE SERPENTINE GALLERY

The Serpentine is a very small gallery in the middle of Kensington Gardens so getting there is pretty easy.  You can stroll there from different parts of town; walk down from Lancaster Gate, High Street Kensington or South Kensington.

The location and beautifully ornate design of the building always creates an interesting contrast with the contemporary art contained within. However, be warned it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the exhibitions are interesting and unexpected like in 2007 the gallery became the first museum to exhibit Damian Hirst’s personal art collection, which included a masturbating car and a video of the underground placed in a Whales mouth! But the avant-garde nature of the Serpentine can lead to some pretty ridiculous exhibitions but can still be great fun if you don’t take it too seriously.

We recommend you checkout their website http://www.serpentinegallery.org for information on what’s on and bear in mind that the gallery gets pretty busy at weekends.

After you’ve finished at the Gallery take a walk through the park making your way over to the Serpentine Bar and Restaurant.

Although it’s owned by benugo, a chain of restaurants and coffee shops, it has a lovingly unique feel. The decor is simple and ensures almost everyone has a view of the glistening Serpentine.  A little lounge has been cleverly assembled in the centre, with love seats and cushions ­ perfect for a smoochy winter cocktail. If the weather is good, however, there are large cushions available for fun and frolics on the grassy area!

It’s self-service; you grab a seat which makes it even more relaxing. The menu here is really casual and a good mix of nibbles and bigger plates, there is something for everyone and on the whole the quality is really good. If you don’t feel like having dinner you can have a quick snack or afternoon tea or we’d recommend stopping off for a pint at least, to help conversation flow!

If you do want something more intimate and glam then you could choose from the following options. We’ve chosen restaurants that are intimate but wont require you to be dressed up to the nines. Guys if you’re organising, please bear in mind that your lady might be dressed quite casually so don’t book the Dorchester!

Wow, when was the last time I updated? Way too long ago, I believe. To whoever may be reading, I apologize! Anyways, I’m gonna try and get back in the swing of blogging. I always feel slightly guilty whenever I go so long without posting. So for those of you wondering, yes, I’m still alive.

Anyways, today some friends and I went to a playground for a picnic. This sounds perfectly normal, right? Just a few friends, a picnic table, and way too many salty snacks… nothing strange about that. Well, normally you’d be right, but this playground is a little out of the ordinary. For starters, it’s behind a cemetery. Also, it’s supposedly haunted. And did I mention it’s called Dead Children’s Playground? No, really, I’m not joking. Apparently there were some pretty brutal murders back in the sixties, and the bodies were found close to the playground. I’m not sure if there’s any truth to this story, but it’s the best known explanation to the activity that occurs there at night.

Oh yes, the activity. I should probably explain that as well, no? You see, at night the swings are known to move rhythmically with no reasonable explanation as to why, and you can also occasionally hear the giggles of small children. Creeeepy. So do I believe this? Well, after tonight, maybe so. It was around 5 o’clock and nearly pitch dark. Allison and Bree had run off to take pictures down in the cemetery and Neeta and I were swinging on the playground. Seeing that the other two had kidnapped my camera, we decided to track them down. We got off the swings and started up the steps to the covered area when we heard it. A loud, high-pitched giggle that could only belong to a small child coming from near the woods behind us. Terrified, Neeta and I took off screaming.

As creepy as it was, I kind of want to go back after dark again. I highly doubt Neeta will ever step foot near Dead Children’s Playground again, but Allison and Bree have agreed to come with me. So what about you guys? Ever had any paranormal experiences? Do you even believe in ghosts? Tell me about it in the comments. Until then, here are a few pictures I managed to get at the playground. Enjoy!

Here in Oregon it rains a lot starting usually in September and lasting until May or June. There are breaks in the rain of course, and that leaves a perfect opportunity for a picnic. Picnics do not only have to be in the summer months. They can be all year long.  When my children were little we would have a picnic at home in the living room at least once a month.

We would get a picnic blanket and lay it down in the middle of the living room.  I would fix some finger foods and set them out on the blanket; some small plastic plates, plastic spoons and forks and we were set.  We would have our picnic and watch a movie at the same time.  It was great fun!  The kids loved it and it was an inexpensive way to do something different.

There was one time I did not have anything to fix for the picnic that was finger food.  So I fixed a big bowl of pasta and added some Parmesan cheese and butter and we all ate from the big bowl in the middle of the picnic blanket!  The kids really loved that picnic!  There was a race to finish that pasta dish.

Where is your favorite picnic place?

[ Another New York Trip ] : Day 3

So as we rode our bikes around Central Park, we found this cute little area by the water to have our picnic. The food was from Bouchon Bakery, and we ate a tasty butternut squash sandwich, an ahi tuna salad and a ton of pastries. yum.