Ghosts Schmosts?

Alright, so some of you may or may not believe anything that I am about to write. And to be completely honest with you, I don’t give a shit if you do or not. Because I was there and I know what happened. That being said, I went on a ghost hunt this weekend. And it was the craziest thing EVER!

So this past weekend my friends Christine, Mary and I went on a girls weekend to Mackinac Island, Michigan. This place is absolutely gorgeous. And almost TOO adorable. Anyways, it’s supposedly very haunted as well. So for fun, I decided to buy us tickets for a ghost hunt, which was properly titled “The Hunt”. I figured hell, for $25 a person it will at least be a cool experience! So Saturday night (October 17th) we went on our hunt at approximately 9:15 PM….

It was the 3 of us, a guy named Jeremy and our 2 guides Lemech and Sean. We went to the Mission Point Theatre which is located in the Mission Point Resort. There Lemech gave us each a electromagnetic measuring device thingamagig. See the following picture to see what this looks like:

Electromagnetic Measuring Thing

We were instructed on how to use them and he said that if a spirit was present then the lights would go from green to the yellow or orange. The scale was from green which was always on to red which meant the most activity. He then said that if we get close to a light source then that will set them off, so we should try not to scare ourselves by thinking it’s a ghost when it’s really wires in the wall. Good to know. He then took us into the Theatre, which was old as shit and apparently they no longer have plays there. Only movies now. This is what the theatre looks like:

Really dark because we turned off the lights. Theres a small balcony on top. This was taken from my standing on the stage.

Lemech then told us that there are 3 ghosts that haunt this theatre. One named Harvey, a man named Steve and a little girl named Isabella who mainly stays in the balcony. OK, so I AM DEATHLY AFRAID OF GHOST CHILDREN!! Any scary movie that has to do with dead kids I refuse to see because it scares the hell out of me. So obviously I immediately freaked out. They got to know who these ghosts are through a device that can connect people with spirits on occasion through “whitenoise”. When the man Harvey said his name to them, they investigated it and sure enough, in the 60’s a college student named Harvey proposed to his girlfriend, who turned him down and told him she didn’t even care about him and that he was only a college fling. He promptly went to the bluff behind the theatre and committed suicide. He haunts the theatre because he loved it so much. Lemech said that spirits generally haunt the places they loved when they were alive. Steve only told them through whitenoise his name and that he had committed suicide. They don’t know anything else about him yet. Also, Isabella is a very new spirit, and her name is the only info they have been able to obtain.

SO, to get it started we went up to the balcony where Isabella hangs out (again, I am terrified of dead kid ghosts). We brought 2 toys for her. A stuffed penguin and a small etch a sketch. We placed the penguin in one of the theatre seats and laid the etch a sketch on the floor. Lemech said she responds more to a woman’s voice so he had me tell her that we left toys for her to play with and that we would be back in a couple hours. We then went downstairs to the main theatre area and tried to talk to Harvey. They taunted him a lot, mentioning how he couldn’t get his girlfriend to love him and even saying “we have a girl here with blonde hair, just like your girlfriend had!”. To which I promptly yelled “IT’S NOT EVEN REAL!! I DYE IT!!!”. I never admit that. But I was scared! Anyways Jeremy’s EMF (electromagnetic field detector) starts going off into the orange light. I figured oh whatever, there’s gotta be a logical explanation for this. I didn’t want to believe in it. We did some more exercises to try to get things to happen. Nothing major. Then a door slammed. On it’s own. Next to us. HOLY SHIT! We searched everywhere to see if there was a reasonable explanation for it and there wasn’t. That’s when the REAL crazy stuff started to happen.

We decided to trek upstairs to the small balcony to check on the toys. The penguin was still in the exact same place we put it. So we went to the etch a sketch. We could all see each other and there was NO POSSIBLE WAY anyone could get up the stairs without us noticing. The etch a sketch had what looked like a tear drop on it. We searched around the ceiling to see if there was a leaky roof (there wasn’t. plus it wasn’t raining at all). So we just kind of brushed it off our shoulders turned to leave and HEY THERE! Mr. Penguin was GONE! While we were all up there, the penguin moved from its seat to under a seat 3 rows behind. Like I said before, there is no possible way a person could have done it. We would have seen it. Ok, now I am officially freaking out. We go back downstairs and Christine and Lemech head to the catwalk on the theatre’s stage. Sean goes to the side of the stage to look around and Jeremy, Mary and I stood in the middle of the stage together. All of a sudden all 3 of our devices start going into the RED. I scream out “I’m peaking! I’m peaking! What do I do?!”. That’s when Christine yells out “That’s what she said!” from the catwalk. I giggled, looked over to see Sean walking on the stage towards me then I looked out and saw a person walk across the doorway in the hall. I assumed it was a janitor…until it didn’t walk across the next doorway. Sean jumped of the stage and ran at full speed to the hallway searching to see if it was an actual person. NOPE! He yelled “HOLY SHIT!!!”. Our guide was now freaking out. I was also freaking out because I saw it. Lemech then went out to the hallway and called his boss because there was so much going on. It seemed like they were also pretty damn shocked.

Some more doors slammed. We got crazy scared a million more times. But then the biggest thing ever happened. We all sat on the floor around their computer where they had the software Audacity hooked up, which allows us to try to communicate with the ghosts. We are ready to record when out of nowhere and RIGHT NEXT TO US a little girl starts coughing a heavy cough, like the kind you cough when you are crying. She coughed a few times. It was a sound no one could make up. It almost had an echo to it as well. I looked around and said “did anyone else hear that??” and everyone said yes. Then the door directly next to us SLAMMED. Needless to say, we all screamed and ran. I have no idea how I went from sitting Indian style to the other side of the stage so fast. It shook me to the core. I had tears in my eyes and I was shaking. Lemech tried to get one of the spirits to play the piano and pulled the stool out of it saying “can someone play us a song on here?”. Then Lemech and I headed outside to have a cigarette because I was shaking so bad. On our way out we realized the bathroom door was wide open. It was shut last time we checked. While outside, Christine came out and asked if we had been by the piano. We answered no and she told us that while everyone else was away from it, the 2 high notes started playing. When they went to check it, the stool had been pushed in, like someone sat down, scooted in and started playing. Yeah. It really happened. So now I’m just ready to go. I want to leave. Lucky for me, we were out of time. So we did one more check on the balcony, which I did not participate in because I wanted nothing to do with that little girl anymore. I hear footsteps running around up there and then I see Lemech’s flashlight turn on and hear him yell “STOP IT!”. Christine comes running down the stairs saying she was stomping around behind them. Oh and they had the etch a sketch. The little bitch drew on it! It looked like a bunny kind of. SHE DREW ON THE ETCH A SKETCH!

We got the hell out of there.

I almost cried. The guys walked us back to our Bed and Breakfast because we were way too freaked out to walk alone. I emailed the owner of the Ghost Hunt on Mackinac company and he said we had one of the most active nights ever.

It was insane. It seems crazy, but I guess you could only really believe it if you were there. Because I tried to have an explanation for everything, but that cough was real. There was NO explanation for what I heard and what I saw. I am a true believer now. And I can’t wait to go back next year and do it again. The owner also said he wants to personally guide us next time as well.

My view on the paranormal has completely changed. It exists. Whether you choose to believe it or not.

that’s all for now.

Love, Shannon

And just when you think he can’t be any more of a douche…

He surprises you with something on a whole other douche level! It’s official folks! Jon Gosselin has taken the title of “King Douche” from Spencer Pratt. First TLC (finally) fires him from “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ turning the show into “Kate Plus 8″. Then he says he wants to put a 90 day hold on his divorce proceedings from Kate and apologized for coming out in public with different women so soon. NOW he has sent a cease and desist order to TLC saying he does not want to exploit his children on television anymore and if production crews come to his home he will have them arrested. OK, Listen up asshole. I think it’s funny that he gets that check pulled out of his money hungry hands and NOW he gives a shit about his family. Does he think the public, court systems, Kate is  blind?? We see through your selfish acts, douchebag. And frankly, we are getting sick of them. Just a month ago you were saying you despise Kate on T.V. and now you want to “work things out”? God, you suck. Just go away for awhile, because you are only embarrassing yourself. Ok, enough about this piece of shit.

Wait....I don't get a check anymore?!

ON to something else..

Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland after 31 years of avoiding the U.S. and charges of having sex with a minor. OK, I am going to have to say that I think they should just drop this and let him go. Why? Because the girl, now in her 40’s, and her family have forgiven him and have said they want the charges dropped as well. So then do it. You give a slap on the wrist to every other celebrity but now you’re going to throw the book at this guy after 30 years? Listen to what the victim’s wishes are. If she said she wants him to go to jail still, then I would be all for it. But she doesn’t. So just drop it! I know all of the details about how it’s rape and this and that. I get it. And it’s horrible. But there are a lot of other details that go along with the story. Just let it go. The guy has had a lot of hardships in his life. He has been punished. Ok, that’s all I have to say about that.

I'm old. Leave me alone!

Let’s talk about Sarah Palin. I know, it sucks, but I have some things to say about this one.

This broad is like herpes. She is a pain in the ass , goes away for a little bit and then comes back more in your face than ever! She oozes the need for the spotlight. Seriously, first she comes out as running partner with John McCain (Who I personally think screwed himself during this election by choosing her to be his V.P. Either way I wasn’t going to vote for him), then she quit her job as governor of Alaska, talked about maybe running for President still in 2012 and NOW she has a memoir coming out. God, just freaking GO AWAY! I thought she was a pretty cool woman until she opened her mouth. Now whenever she speaks I cringe. I don’t know if it’s the accent or her odd analogies. The woman just bothers me. Wasn’t one of the reasons she stepped down as governor to get out of the spotlight and be with her family? But now I see her EVERYWHERE. Please, go to your home in Alaska and enjoy your views of Russia from your backyard, because I can’t take any more of you.

God Bless America.

Haha, that picture gets me every time.

Alright. That’s all for now.

“Teenagers Scare the Living Shit Out Of Me!” – MCR

In the news lately, there have been a lot of reports about these websites created by high school students. On these websites there are “slut lists”. Well apparently, the parents of the students who are featured on the list are getting upset and blaming the schools for what is being posted on the net. Um ok. I’m not a mom but I’m pretty sure if my daughter ended up on a school slut list I would be getting upset with her, not the school. The school is not the problem, the kids are. I just don’t understand teenagers. I’m a senior in college and only in my 20’s and I already have a problem with them. I just don’t get their actions. I mean, every school has always had sluts. My high school was filled with them. And rumors about girls spread like wild fire. It’s funny because guys totally get away with it. Their friends high five them and all of the girls think they are soo dreamy because they’re “experienced”. Huh? Did I miss something? Girls, stop being sluts. Don’t have sex for money. And save the hooking up for college. God knows you’ll be doing a lot of it.

Rebecca told Stacey that Sarah told Nikki that Kelly told Amber that I'm a SLUT?!

And what the hell is with all this new trendy shit? I don’t understand, what is this new pacifier thing? People taking pictures with pacifiers in their mouths? Last time I took a picture with a pacifier in my mouth I was like 2. Just eat a damn Ring Pop! Has the same look and at least you get to have some candy at the same time. I mean, the “trendy” club music, the skinny jeans on guys, hats worn sideways, long hair on guys, Mesh shirts. When did the early 90’s return? Did I miss the memo? All we need now is the return of early grunge music (please God don’t let that happen). I feel like teens today are so immature. I look at them and think back to when I was 16-18 and don’t remember acting so foolishly. It’s time to grow up. Once you get a car, you pretty much have to stop with the nonsense and face the facts that you aren’t 12 anymore. And stop living off of your parents money. It’s called paying for your own gas. Get a job. All of these kids I see at gas stations who don’t know how to work their fancy new cars aggravate the hell out of me! You stick the gas pump into the little hole in the side of your car and hold the lever. That’s called filling up your tank. It’s a scary concept, I know. You can do it.

it took 3 of us, but we finally figured it out!

I’m so happy I am out of high school. I am glad I grew up pretty quickly. I think it’s in large part to the way I was brought up. So thanks Mom, for helping me be mature and act my age. And for making me pay for my own stuff. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but now I completely get why you did it. You rule. (But can you still sometimes buy me things?)

As far as the slut thing goes, don’t be one. Rumors are gonna happen. There will always be those girls who try to bring you down, but just brush that off your shoulders. You guys are so young, not EVERYTHING is the end of the world. Trust me, I went through it and it wasn’t so bad. Assholes aren’t worth it. Good people are. Don’t trust everyone. Always have some sort of barrier. As the great Dolly Parton said, “I’ll never harden my heart, but I’ve toughened the muscles around it”. You’ll all be ok. Just stop doing all this weird crap.

Love, Shannon

So much doucheyness, so little time…

I know way too many of these guys

Where to begin!!

Oh wait! I know where.

Rod Blagojevich has come out with a book titled “The Governor”. Anyone who actually buys a book from this man should be beat with it. It’s just another attention getting tactic that he thinks will help him in court. Once again Rod, you were caught red handed! They have evidence! YOU ARE ON TAPE! You are still trying to tell people you’re innocent? Seriously? SERIOUSLY?? Rod, you are a giant DOUCHEBAG! And you have VERY bad hair. And your wife almost drowned on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” before they even made it to camp on the first day.

I want to shake that naked man's hand

On to my next topic

Dear American Citizens who kept their children home from school today in hopes to protest against  Obama’s speech to them, you are all DOUCHEBAGS! Why would you protest the president telling your child to work hard at school and never give up because they are an important part of helping our country succeed? Oh wait, maybe it’s because your hopes for them are to get knocked up at the age of 16, quit school and live in a trailer that waves the confederate flag like you probably do. I am SO freaking sick and tired of people’s crap!! Not EVERYTHING the man does is wrong! Jesus Christ, compared to Bush he’s pretty damn good! Just because some of you are racist assholes doesn’t mean you should take away your child’s right to hear for themselves what they can do to accomplish their goals. I don’t agree with everything Obama says or does, but this is one thing everyone should be 100% happy with. He’s telling kids to stay in school! GOD people, stop being ignorant assholes! HILLBILLIES!

"my kids don't need no damned education!"

Ok, now for my final topic:

Jon Gosselin, just when I think you can’t get ANY douchier you go and outdo yourself. Bravo, douchebag, Bravo. Jon is probably one of the worst attention seekers in today’s media (ok, he might be tied with Blago). He has been all around Vegas attending parties and the Hamptons hanging out with Michael Lohan and screwing everything that has a vagina. Now all of a sudden he is some great father and on a Kate bashing spree. Yeah, she was a nagging bitch on that show. Yes, she has gone on Larry King and other news outlets talking about her CHILDREN. But apparently he deserved it because he is a piece of crap. Saying you DESPISE your wife? That you cry so much over her and she broke your heart? Ok, listen pal, we have all seen the pictures and your earlier statements about your 22 year old girlfriend. Your kids are going to grow up and read about all of this one day and start resenting you. So just shut up. You are a D-O-U-C-H-E!

"What do you MEAN Ed Hardy shirts are ugly???"

OH wait. One more thing. Levi Johnston, shut the hell up. I can’t stand Sarah Palin but please, you are going overboard. She sucks. You suck. Now please, go away. Douchebag.

nuff said

LOVE, shannon

The “Promise” Rings and Pick Up Lines

So on Friday night I went to a dive bar that I LOVE with some of my closest friends in Indiana. I saw this really cute couple with rings on that one very important finger and mentioned that they looked so young to be married. My friend then informed me that they aren’t married, those are just promise rings they gave to each other. What the hell? What does a promise ring REALLY mean? I have had 3 promise rings given to me in my life. One of them was a “this is my promise that one day we’ll get married” ring. That was total bullshit. I even have one on my finger in my high school grad photos. I regret that one. But seriously, every guy that has ever made promises or bought me a ring has only done one thing: treat me like shit. Um..that wasn’t exactly the promise I was looking for? But thanks anyway. A person I know whom I won’t name (cough cough MOM cough) has gotten a couple of promise rings since my father died. Those guys all ended up having MAJOR issues and broke her heart. Now she is with this amazing guy who treats her like a queen and has never bought her a ring. Maybe that’s the way to go. Promise rings are like the kiss of death (kind of like when my sister and I bought a picture frame and had it engraved for my mom’s boyfriends every Christmas. They all ended up being pretty damn crazy. Sorry mom. We decided to stop that tradition and do something different for Chuck. Wise decision). ANYWAYS, more power to ya if you have had a successful relationship out of a promise ring. But I’m sure a lot of you at least women can agree with me on this topic. We (women) don’t need any empty promises. Just don’t treat us like shit and you’re good in my book. And if you think buying a ring for $100 that has a diamond you need a microscope to see it in it will make up for all of the crap you put us through then you are mistaken my friends. But at least I got a diamond out of the relationships. Even if they are little ones.

ON to the next topic. What is with the weird pick up lines? Last night a man walked up to my friend and me while we were sipping on some delicious Stoli Bluberi (they spell it all fancy) with Sprite and said “excuse me ladies, but you two look like movie stars!”. We laughed in his face. He then turned red and walked away. Yes, nothing turns me on more than a balding middle aged man telling me I look like a movie star. He ties for the most awkward pick up line with the old guy that asked me if I was a model on a billboard…oh yeah, he was with his wife. What? I don’t understand why a nice respectable YOUNGER THAN 40 male can’t come up and just say “what are you drinking?” or “hey my name is …”. Sounds lame, but it works. If anything go to the website www.linesthataregood.com for some real gems. But what do I know? I’m just a single gal in her 20’s. Anyone else have any awkward pick up line moments? Please, do share with the class!

Classy

I'm totally using this one.

Oh yeah! And I got new sheets. They are gray and super sexy and I love them. That is all. Have an awesome Labor Day!

love, Shannon

people have MAJOR problems

Disclaimer: As always, the following blog is full of my opinions. I understand if not everyone agrees with me. But try not to get so angry as some do with me because I have the balls to put in writing my thoughts on certain events. With that said, here we go…

I’d like to start this blog with the news story of Jaycee Dugard, who was abducted from a bus stop in 1991 when she was just 11 years old.

Jaycee Dugard as a child

It turns out she has been forced to live in the backyard of this insane couple’s home for the past 17 years. The man of the house and her abductor, Phillip Garrido, a CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, raped her and she gave birth to two of his children. One of which she gave birth to at the age of 14.

Garrido and his wife. Yeah, they don't look like freaks or anything.

The compound where Dugard and her two daughters were held captive.

*This is why sex offenders should be put away FOREVER!!!*

WHY does the government give them maybe a few years in jail and then make them register as sex offenders. Yeah, that’s totally going to stop them from doing it again. Obviously NOT! These sick assholes are going to continue doing whatever gets them off again and again. They should just kill this guy instead of wasting tax payers money on him going to jail. Seriously, why don’t rapists and kidnappers get the death sentence? I mean, I know SOME do, but why not all? In a way, they are taking away a life. People are never the same after suffering through an experience like that. This woman is NEVER going to be able to live a normal life. Her daughters also won’t. Maybe as close to normal as they can get, but never an actually NORMAL life. Because this piece of shit raped and held them against their will. And what kind of wife allows her husband to DO something like that??! So disgusting. It makes me sick to think of the world we live in. Justice needs to be served, and no, giving a slap on the wrist and anything less than 25 years in prison is NOT justice.

MOVING ON….

Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein

As you all know, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein passed away on August 28th of an apparent drug overdose. His body was found in his New York apartment next to a bag of crack and a pipe. Even though I think this is tragic because he was so young and my heart goes out to his family and close friends, the situation makes me so mad. He survived a PLANE CRASH for christs sake! That is a miracle and he should have thanked his lucky stars. It’s kind of a big eff you to the families of those who did not survive the crash. He survived and instead of turning his life around to live it to the fullest and healthiest, he does something like this. I just don’t understand people and the things they do. If you have a problem, you get help. Suicide and/or drugs is NEVER the answer. I’m not saying the guy committed suicide. I’m talking about people in general. It hurts so many people. No matter how hard things can get, you can always find a way through the storm and make it to the other side. It just takes some hope and a little bit of believing in yourself.

just remember, “life is short, but sweet for certain”. take full advantage of the time you have here on this earth and put the bullshit and past hurt behind you. You CAN survive it. I promise.

love, shannon

Politics and Vacation.

Before I begin my blog about my vacation, there’s something that really pissed me off this past week that I want to talk about. That was the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from his jail cell in Scotland.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi next to some of the destruction

He was the piece of shit who bombed Pan Am flight 103 in December of 1988, killing 270 people, 180 of them Americans coming home for Christmas. This man is a terrorist and he was let out of prison after serving only 8 YEARS in jail because he has terminal prostate cancer and has 3 months to live. GIVE ME A BREAK! He walked off the plane in Libya looking like he could do a dance while they gave him a hero’s welcome. I’m sure he is in severe pain. I hope he is and I hope he has a miserable death. Why should he be allowed to die in his bed with his family around him when he murdered all of those people. If you read the autopsy analysis on the victims it is horrifying. Most didn’t die until impact and they were more than likely awake, if they weren’t the ones who were flung out of the aircraft and fell 31,000 feet which would be a 2 minute freefall. It gets worse but I will spare the details and let you look it up yourself if need be. If he was convicted in the U.S. he would be dead by now. If not, then he most certainly would not be leaving his jail cell to die at home. You know why? Because we don’t let terrorists go because we have “compassion”. Because we have BALLS! I know that the U.S. couldn’t stop his release and I know that we at least tried, but it makes me so sick that the families of the victims have to relive the horror again as their loved ones’ murderer is set free. EFF YOU SCOTLAND! Way to make the guy pay for his actions. You probably fed him steak and gave him nightly foot rubs too. Grow a spine and stop putting terrorists back on the streets.

Crater caused by the impact of the plane

Memorial for the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103

ANYWAYS

I’m so excited I got to go to South Florida and see my family but I’m happy to be back in Chicago. Lets do a little recap of this weeks events, shall we? I’ll start with the top 5 reasons I hate flying.

1. Waiting to board the plane while a stupid ass girl took up the only 2 seats left with all of her carry on shit including her TEDDY BEAR. This chick was at least 18 years old….SERIOUSLY!
2. The people who hold up the lines to get on and off the plane because they are trying to get all of their shit into the overhead compartments. My sister had a brilliant idea. Make all of the assholes who carry bags onto the plane sit in the very back so those of us who checked in our bags can easily get on and off the plane instead of WAITING for you slow people to retrieve your things.
3. Waiting in the security line. There’s 50 different reasons why I hate this. No time to explain them all.
4. There’s always a possibility of crashing and dying.
5. Babies.

Florida was a different story. I love going back there. I was born and raised up until 8 years old in Hollywood, Florida, which is between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. My family still lives there and I miss them so much. So seeing them was great. I am reminded every time I go back exactly why I am the way I am. They are all so effing WEIRD. I love it. I’m talking all of the men in the family dancing in the same very odd way to Billy Joel in the pool at my Uncle’s house Saturday night or my grandparents constant hilarious bickering. Oh, and my Grandma’s random unintentional racism and off the wall comments. And the beach! Oh how I missed the actual BEACH. The kind with an ocean. It was great swimming in the salt water and getting some sun. We went fishing in Biscayne Bay, I’m good at casting my fishing line….not so good at actually catching the fish.

TRY is the key word in "trying to fish"

So after 4 days and nights of being with my family I left today. It sucks being so far away but it’s not like the flight is THAT long or expensive. Especially since my grandparents are getting older, I want to see them as much as possible. All in all a very successful trip. Next trip? Minneapolis road trip I’m taking Friday-Sunday this upcoming weekend. That should be an interesting blog…

what the hell….

…this product may be the creepiest infomercial device ever. Ladies and Gents I present to you the Loud ‘N Clear. It’s a new listening device that looks like a bluetooth. The video explains itself. Take a gander:

ok…so what did you think of THAT?? I am now going to be paranoid that someone is listening to me every time I see a bluetooth. It’s so creepy. I understand the old people thing (lets face it, they need all the help they can get) but the guy listening in on the women’s conversation at the party?  Check out the lady who yells “BINGO!”. She scares the crap out of the lady in yellow. Have you people ever heard of going up and actually talking to someone? I have to admit that I thought that infomercial was pretty damn funny because it’s just so ridiculous. And when you pay the $20 for it, you get 2! WHY WOULD YOU NEED 2??! Double the stalking? Give one to your creepy friend and try to pick up chicks? Maybe take the ladies out for a rousing game of Bingo. I don’t know, but I am definitely going to be extra careful of what I say when I see people with devices in their ears that look like handless phone things. Freaky. Maybe that’s why this old guy turned and gave me a dirty look from the front row of the movie theater on Sunday. He must have had a Loud ‘N Clear in his ear and listened to my sister and me make fun of all of the old people in the crowd. Sorry old guy.

Other than that I am preparing to head to South Florida tomorrow. I can’t wait and luckily those tropical storms/hurricanes are going to miss South Florida (knock on wood). I’ll definitely blog tomorrow and let you all know how my plane ride went because I hate flying with a passion. It’s kinda like the storm thing I mentioned yesterday. Every time I get on a plane I think it’s going to crash. So optimistic, I know. That’s enough for now. toodaloo!

love, shannon

P.S…..sorry if I offended anyone who uses this product or the maker of this product. But seriously, come on.

why being a tornado chaser may or may not cure my fear of storms…

so you came back for more nonsense eh? well i’ve got good stuff for you today! (not really)

so the crappy weather going on here in Chicago has got me thinking about why exactly i am afraid of storms. i mean, living in south Florida i braved it through Hurricane Andrew without getting that scared…ok so did millions of other people but YOU’RE MISSING THE POINT! i was never really that afraid of weather. then when my family moved my ass to Northwest Indiana when i was 8, i had decided i was going to be a weather girl on the weather channel and a tornado chaser on the side. i think that’s a pretty big decision for a kid. i’ll even indulge you by telling you how much of a weather dork i was. i would measure the rain that collected in my jar and jot it down in my little weather notebook (it was just a blue notebook with the word “weather” written in sharpie). my parents put a tornado chasing video tape (remember those? no? then you’re too young to read my blog) in my stocking one christmas. i watched it ALL THE TIME. twister was one of my favorite movies. and, i shit you not, the weather channel was my favorite channel on tv. you can ask my mom. the whole point of this story is that i was FEARLESS….until the first time we had a tornado warning and i heard sirens. then i ran down to our basement crying like a little baby and curled up into the fetal position as my dad laughed at me. all talk. i was all effing talk. at 8 years old. to this day thunderstorms scare the hell out of me. and i’ll tell you why. it’s because i automatically think there is going to be a tornado every time a storm hits and that i’m going to die. “How can you cure this?” you ask? i’ll tell you how. i should go on one of those tornado chasing tours. i for some reason am still fascinated by looking at images of tornados. i get all warm and fuzzy inside when a new season of “Storm Chasers” starts. i think that if i’m going after the tornado instead of the tornado going after me, i’ll be ok. maybe seeing one of those bad boys in person from a safe distance will make me feel better. that probably doesn’t make sense to you, but somehow in my own twisted mind it does. then again it could scare me even more. i once saw a waterspout in the keys and cried. but still, i will not give up on my dream of storm chasing. i’m ready to conquer my stupid fear so that i can one day comfort my own children (if they allow me to actually take care of a child) when they get scared of storms. that or i’m just screwed for life.

love, shannon

the tornado VHS i had....some good stuff in there.

cookin up a new blog….

….even I can’t handle how witty i can be sometimes!

so i just got home from the movie theater where i saw “Julie and Julia”. of course it was a good movie, i mean it’s MERYL for christ sake. but i could never imagine trying to cook all of those meals and blog about it. not to mention after a year of eating nothing but rich, delicious french food, i would weigh about 300 pounds. but it did get me thinking about this whole blog thing. in the movie julie (amy adams’ character) was talking to her husband about blogging and he told her that it’s like having your own book, but you don’t have to work to get it published, you just type out your thoughts, hit enter and it’s out there. kind of scary, kind of empowering. i mean, i know the only people who even read my blog (although it’s still a new development for me) are my friends that i tell to read it, but still, it’s my thoughts out on a platter for whoever wants to read them. maybe i’ll try to blog about more interesting topics…but maybe not. i AM a pretty random person. the movie was also about believing in your self enough to not just give up on things. you gotta keep on truckin’! good stuff. ok my mom is driving me nuts trying to imitate julia child’s voice and i’m hard boiling some eggs for my grandpa and me. talk about a hard dish to master!

love, shannon

julia vs meryl