Halloween Hauntings in Williamsburg

BOO!

And Happy Halloween to all you "trickses" or treaters!

I have been a busy bee... While I haven't posted in a few days I have been reading my favorite blogs every day. Sometimes even leaving my two cent comments on them. Speaking of two cents, what is it with people shopping for furniture in October? Is there a constitutional amendment against it too? It was by far one of the slowest months I have ever experienced, and not just in Newport News, my old store in Richmond was slow too. Oh well, November is another month, and another opportunity to make the budget (my own and the stores')...

My daughter came down for a short visit over the weekend, and a small group of us went into Colonial Williamsburg for the "Ghost Tour". It's an hour and a half walk through CW with a guide that shares stories about the hauntings and history of the old city. I kept looking for the blue glows and lights that our guide referred to several times, to no avail... The stories were very entertaining and informative, and it was nice to hear tales of the history of Williamsburg (and the surrounding areas) that were not Civil War related... My friends in Richmond certainly know what I am talking about... I have always been a history buff, and always had a hard time with the focus on civil war history that abounds in the capitol city... I mean, I know it's filled with it, but come on folks, there is a lot more history to be touted and proud of in Richmond and the surrounding towns... Anyway, so we are strolling through the town, listening to our leader, when out of the corner of my eye, in one of the "most haunted" buildings I catch a blue glow out of one of the windows on the side of the old structure. I tap Jim on the shoulder and point over to the darkened home - just to make sure I am not imagining. He verifies my observation and we fall back from the group a little - which we had been doing some anyway, as Jims back was bothering him a little - to check it out. We work our way down the street a little so we can see more clearly into the side window... and... you won't believe what we witnessed....

We didn't take any pictures and have no proof, but coming from the inside of this historically preserved, and reconstructed home, was the most amazing thing...

Tune in tomorrow for the revealing and horrifying answer...

Over on "Out" for today, from Haunted Williamsburg (Toano), VA!!!

and Happy Halloween again to all!

BALLOT QUESTION NUMBER 1

This is the exact wording you will see on your ballot, Tuesday, November 7th (in the Commonwealth of Virginia):

Question: Shall Article I (the Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to state

"That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."?

Why on earth do we need an amendment to our constitution that is so ambiguous? Check out the following videos if you would like to see some of the answers/questions this amendment might raise...

Vote NO Virginia!

Stepping off soapbox now!

Over and "Out" from Toano, VA

Emergency!

This is the most current ad by the Commonwealth Coalition for educating Virginia voters about the Marshall/Newman proposed Virginia Marriage Amendment. On ballot question #1 VOTE NO!

Burning!

This is the first ad used by the Commonwealth Coalition to educate Virginia voters about ballot question #1 the Virginia Marriage Amendment.

Ok it's Official, I'm Gay!

Remember the line in "Steel Magnolias" about all gay men having "Track Light'n"? Well, I must be gay then... I installed track lighting in the kitchen yesterday. Not the boxy square flat tracks, but a curvy piece of modern art with brushed metal fixtures that meanders it's way across the ceiling. Oh yeah, I even added a dimmer so as to make sure my "gay card" never gets revoked.

Meanwhile, Jim and I spent an hour or so moving some art around in the entry hall and living room to finish off the look we were trying for. It turned out great. The final result is the living room has some very traditional elements, with some very contemporary pieces in it. It's done for now!

While at the grocery yesterday, I found a cute little yard sign for Halloween. It is a scarecrow with small signs with arrows that says "Welcome to our Patch". Since my schedule at work changes on Monday, I will be home on the 31st, so I thought it appropriate to decorate a little for the trick-or-treaters. I thought about doing this:

But rethought it after I realized how many $4.99 pumpkins I would need to buy to fill the bodies. Still, a very cute idea, maybe next year? I am working the next few days so expect a small delay in posts, unless something really exciting happens.

Over and "Out" for now, from Toano, VA!

Complaint Department

OK... I am now the complaint department of my blog... Yes, it appears there are some that rely on "this here thing", to keep up with me... You know who you are... Of course I am too cool and well mannered to mention any names (Bryan, Crystal, Philip, Sean, et al...) so I will only type (not mention) a few of them...

Life has been good... I got the RED living room painted (the color is called radish). The ceiling is a "wet sand" color like the hall and kitchen, and the trim is bright white. The photo below is after the new sectional arrived Friday, but before I re-stained and re-hung the mantle and a really cool mirror, Jim had hidden in a upstairs closet, over it. The accent colors in the room all revolve and reflect the colors in the area rug you can see on the floor. The carpet in the room is an "off white" almost beige tone, while the sofa and window treatments are cobblestone (grey).

What you can't see in the picture (since I am standing in the doorway from the kitchen, right next to it) is the new 42" LCD HiDef television that Jim bought last week... He has been glued to it all weekend while I worked and after I got home. Fortunately there is now a comfy sofa that will accommodate the two of us (laying down even) and the dogs - Yes Kelly, our dogs like the new (Value City) sofa as much as yours do your new sofa/loveseat...

So, between work and my projects at home I hope you all understand why my blog entries have been slow in coming... I am off the next two days and will try to fill everyone in!

But for now I am:

Over and "Out" from Toano, VA

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Ok.... I know.... Too many days between posts.

Jim and I received two complimentary passes to Busch Gardens (this past Sunday). I had never been, so we spent most of the afternoon/evening walking, window shopping, exploring, and people - one of my favorite past-times - watching. Oh yeah, we rode a few coasters too, starting with Apollo's Chariot, first in the front car - then in the rear. We did the same for Alpengeist, including one time in the dark, and finally the original Loch Ness Monster.

In between we met up with the couple that got us the passes and joined them for a private beer tasting - She works for Busch at their resort and spa in Williamsburg. We learned how to prepare a glass properly for beer, how to pour it correctly (not that I pour beer into anything other than my mouth). Additionally, we got to taste a few new concoctions coming out soon to a grocery or ABC store near you. Seems Mr. Busch was down last week and wanted the hostess at our sampling to give him some direct feedback on the new stout "Bare Knuckle" when it is layered in a glass with a more traditional ale (like Michelob Amber or Budweiser Select) in "black and tan" fashion. We were all happy to oblige...

I will be painting the living room today, RED... I have all the prep work done, and Jim started on the trim work last night while I was working.

We are doing great! While we are getting more comfortable with each other, we still have a honeymoon atmosphere that feels wonderful... We spend most of our free time together and still haven't gotten too much of each other... A good sign, since I plan on being near him for a long time!!

More soon!!!

Over and "Out" from Toano, VA