SNOW, SNOW, SNOW AND MORE SNOW...



Thought I'd show you the creepier side of winter...


Other than the fact that it IS winter that is...

Notice how the camera flashed on the door penguin's face...kind of weird

It even caught part of the face of the one in the snow bank...

Notice the carved edges of the snow banks...

The once fluffy stuff has compacted enough to be able to carve them...

Notice the metal sign stakes that seem to be acting as a snow guard fence [sort of]. I had brilliantly froze them in the ground so they will be stuck there until the thaw. I had planned on putting the lights back up but the electrical plug-in is under all of that crap too! I bent the wires over so no one will impale themselves on them.

In the photo below...see the poor shoveling penguin. His head barely peeks out of the snow near the orange dot [sign to be]

I've even carved a way to the garbage can. I hadn't planned on it, hoping to save some shoveling, only to notice that the meter reader dude has to plow his way through it to get to the meters out back of the house. I did stop at the can though...he's young enough to plow through the 3 feet deep stuff of the rest of it to get to them...:(

Notice the valentines?

Been trying to keep them above the snow fall and have had to lift them out three times already!

So here I sit at my computer composing this.... hoping that shoveling is coming to and end...



And again the door penguin catches the last creepy shot...



And all of the dots in the pictures are NOT Orbs....



JUST SNOW AND MORE SNOW....

THE GAG IS FINALLY LIFTED!


The only thing was, it was tied around my brain instead of my mouth!
Here I was crabbing about [to myself & kids] on "why" won't blogger let me blog, when it was the fault of the damn viruses that hit me around Xmas time...nice present NOT! My son was able to fix my computer woes by doing what ever the hell that he does to them...make any sense? I was happy to be able to work again...not that there was too much of that...;( Worst was I couldn't blog! Something he knows nothing about the workings of it so he couldn't say what was wrong! Nor did PoD! I had stories to tell...pictures to show and NOTHING could be done! WHO DO YOU CALL.... Nope....not Ghost Busters...;}

You try and figure it out....yourself! Yup...me got a brain storm...in the middle of our miserable snow storms!




Why not look it up on here....?



First of all, one has to be able to get on here in the first place...so it wasn't all my fault...;{! All I had to do was read and COMPREHEND what they were saying!


:O


Go figure Huh! Pushing sixty and it's never too late to learn something...;)


Something about changing my settings? I figure it happened then? He has to come back home again [not sure when that will happen] to fix the scary parts that really caused it. I still have a fear of clicking the wrong button so I won't go there! ANYWAYS.... It is way too late after Xmas to want to post the office pictures [unless you beg for them...:}] and believe me I tried to many times and couldn't!


Xmas came and went...we all had fun and were well for a change! The present I played with the most was my new "Game Camera"! Still trying to figure out where to put it. I know for sure that it doesn't work well [the batteries die] in the cold! Great for inside...I have discovered that the cat likes to walk all over places where she's not supposed to be...;} Work has been starting to get busy right now which is strange for a January with me. Normally my slow times are from Xmas to April/May. The town's Centennial is coming up in July and the one who are on the ball are starting now, which is great for me. I hate last minute jobs and have figured that's what will happen...seems I might be wrong One never knows... Main topic around these parts lately it the AMOUNT of snow we have right now... One is aware that it is winter and that we do get snow here... Only thing is, we haven't had THIS MUCH in a LONG time...

This is from ONE of MANY storms we've had lately! It's been shovel, shovel, shovel, shovel.... After one pushes their way out the door....

One just gets finished and it starts all over again!

No these aren't Orbs...just snow and more snow and more snow

I did manage to get Xmas taken down and put away. I left up the pine garland and lights for Valentines...


Which will appear as soon as I get a chance once more...



Not pushing my luck here...


I have also been trying to comment on your posts too but the gag was in place there too...


Hopefully I can do that...




?

AND THE BITCHIN CONTINUES...

This was emailed to me yesterday by SewLady & Tank, challenging me to email it to any 3 friends...

How about the world on blog...


This topic covers what I have been saying for years about aid going out of OUR country, when our poverty level says the same....or worse!

I, too, am heading for the retirement time and this is what I have to look forward to...


:(




Here's the story from someone Else's view...






                  We got $3.11 extra on the Nov OAP. That will buy a loaf of
bread.  Even if you only eat 1 slice a day, it wont last a whole month!!

                  Remember  this when you cast your ballot both federally
and provincially - both should be coming up soon  - (just how soon ??)

                  As a raise last year, seniors got 2/5th of 1% on their
Canada Pension and 0% on the Old Age Security.  This won't even scratch the
raise in taxes that McGuinty levied, what Premier Campbell's doing in B.C
with the 12% HST and other user fees. We're "broke" & can't help our own
seniors, Homeless, Veterans, Orphans, etc.????? This is so pathetically
true... in the last months we have provided aid to Haiti, Chile, and Turkey.
Now Pakistan, the same people that will turn around and build the I.E.D.'s
that kills our troops. Also another boat load of refugees has arrived from
Sri Lanka that will get aid that should go to the CANADIAN people that have
worked all their lives to make this the country it is today Our retired
seniors living on fixed income receive no aid while our government and
religious organizations pour hundreds of millions of dollars and tons of
food to foreign countries. We have hundreds of adoptable children who are
shoved aside to make room for the adoption of foreign orphans.
Why are so many CANADIAN citizens, and the CANADIAN government, so star
struck they won't provide for our own?

                  CANADA: a country where we have homeless without shelter,
children going to bed without  eating, elderly going without needed meds,
and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of
Haiti on 12 TV stations, ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents,
clothes, bedding, doctors and medical supplies. Imagine if we gave ourselves
the same support that we gave all of these other countries.  I feel bad for
them, but I also care about CANADA and our seniors who developed this great
country, only to be forgotten.

                  Sad isn't it?


So, so true! 




Here is another example of what goes on right here in Dodge...


What faced me in my mailbox yesterday....

The free paper with a colored picture of our Grade 2 class and how proud they were that they accomplished sending 100 boxes to the "Samaritian Purse" organization which runs the "Operation Christmas Child". These are shoes boxes filled with happines for some poor child who may not recieve anything for xmas! Which is a great idea... if they had included a box for a CANADIAN POOR CHILD, but they didn't!

These go to children ACROSS THE WORLD that need it more than ours?

WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!

PoD and I have been fighting this project since my kids were in school here! 

I am all for a child learning to give freely....it is a great message!

What message our school is sending, is that...OUR POOR doesn't count!




And really.....who is to say that they [100 boxex] will make it to those kids anyways?




I don't say that we don't do anything else here...they do as much as they can with a Food Bank and Xmas Hampers for those who need it. I will give freely to those and do!


All This time of the year I am over run with having to support ALL of the communtiy sport/charity events with a small [?] door prize. In which I am rewarded with a small mention in the news letter...if I am not for gotten [which has happened....oops, sorry] that is! Must remember to add that I am supposed to benefit with a tax write-off.... that's harder to use on your taxes than you think!


Who gets away with not having to put out for these [door prizes], besides their attending the function [which most don't], is the private sector! Seldom do you see a family donation to the thank you list!








Good start for Dec 1....huh?




Did plan on a picture of "old time decorating" to be the first post but bitchin got in the way instead...;(




Maybe tomorrow....


Stay tuned for "Xmas Decorating" with lots minimal bitchin....

WHERE DID IT GO?

The Age of Innocence....

AJ...her first day of school...Kindergarten

A look of excitement...

Yet a bit apprehensive...but there's a sparkle in those eyes!

A hint of a smile...

She may have HAD a few weeks of happiness...
who knows for sure?

Her life at school has been one from hell since!


She is being bullied by one boy and shunned by most of the kids in her school!

As of today, she cries herself to sleep most nights...wondering what she has done wrong to deserve the hurts that she receives daily from her classmates, especially from one certain boy! It's hard enough being a bully's main focal point, but if you have no moral/physical support from your own sex in your grade [or others]...life sucks big time!

She says that she has a couple of friends that live out on farms but PoD sees no activity from these friends [?] outside of school and when your daughter says that she spends all of her time alone or in the library filing books during her spare times, things don't add up to any social life in school either!

All you lonely adults out there know what I am talking about...try being a teenage hormonal girl and all alone [family doesn't count]! Things can get serious if not seen to!

HER CRIME RIGHT NOW:

She's almost 6' tall and is dangerously overweight in a classroom of SCARY THIN girls! [Most are screaming right now..."quit using the "fat" as an excuse", but in this case it's TRUE!] Thinness rules in this town as I have found thru my own experiences, worse so in the girls in our school! One is even on the "Anorexic" watch list...that's how bad it is!

HER CRIME IN THE BEGINNING: [Kindergarten onward]

She was classified as being "slow witted" [?] by the boy who was tormenting her and the rest of his classmates [plus some town people]? Her problems were; Dyslexia, which makes learning things harder for her due to all the visual confusion of letters and words, she had some slight visual problems which were correctable by glasses, hearing impairment [which required tubes being put in] and the fact that she was taller/bigger than most her age. All of this led to her being very quiet and very shy. She was afraid to talk in case she made a fool out of herself. This helped to labeled her as "retarded" [?] by some?

From the beginning she needed special teaching help to cope with the Dyslexia and that helped to set her apart immediately from the rest of her class. Thing is...she will never be "cured" from the Dyslexia, she will always have it! Yet her grades are excellent and she has never had to be held back...ever! Why hasn't she been recognized for that fact? Maybe it's the fact that she still has to attend these special classes? Her sight and hearing aren't a problem anymore either...so that's not a deterement?

But one could live with those if they were her only problem!




Her worst hell comes from one boy in her class!

Let's start with Kindergarten...

Our naive world of belief in small town niceness, came to a crash one day, when PoD noticed that AJ's body was covered in big bruises...21 of them! Mostly on the legs! That's when she found out about all the torment this boy had putting her through, the latest being throwing rocks at her! Hard enough to leave BIG bruises!

She had been taught not to be a "cry baby" and to fight her own battles. So she tried...

Her response to this boy's torment was just to say nothing and take it! Tattling at that age was not an option for any kid, even in Kindergarten? Sadly Happily bruises tell stories! PoD spoke to the teacher, all was seen to and never happen again...the throwing rocks that is!

Verbal abuse makes no visual marks!

This kid is an expert at meanness!

He has honed his art to a perfection!

A master at his craft and he's only 13 years old!

He did push her too far one day [gr. 2 or 3] and must have got right into her face [plus he was tormenting someone with her] because she retaliated by punching him in the nose [making it bleed]! She had been taught not to hit, but not to take any abuse nor abuse to others either.


He no longer gets that close to her anymore...:)! Sorry...I normally don't condone violence but enough was enough!

A happy time for her was in grade 5 when she was chosen to play "Mary" in an Xmas pageant being held for the seniors, in the senior's hall, only to have that destroyed by him!

All costumes consisted of bath robes and towels for head draping. She looked no different than the other girls, yet was chosen to be tormented by him on the way that she looked, during the bus ride to the place. She had bravely held her tears back until they got there, but could not go in because he had destroyed her confidence in her attire! A tear stained face didn't help either...all would know she had cried! Took lots of talking from PoD and bravery on her side to complete her part in the play with everyone wondering why she had been crying. I knew without being told what had happened and who the culprit was by the smirk on his face through out the whole play!

If looks could have killed...he would have been dead by my eyes alone!

Kids play you say....

Kids will be kids...

They will grow out of it...

I AM FRIGGING TIRED OF HEARING THOSE EXCUSES BY LAME ASS PARENTS OF THESE TYPES OF CHILDREN!!!

For there are many of them!

AJ could probably write a book on "How To Be Tormented And HOPEFULLY  Be Able To Take It"! Sad to say!!!

Let's fast forward to present day torments...[not that I want to belittle all the other experiences she's had to endure...story is long enough] Let's just say they were MAAAAANY!

They are both 13 now...

-Color Purple...a favorite of hers. Looks really good on her, suits her skin tone. Can't wear it anymore. He now calls her "Barney"...whether she wears it or not!

-September...had saved dried "spike pods" just to throw at her! These are hard suckers, some golf ball sized, with pointy spikes that stick to what ever thrown at...they love skin and eyes! Not to mention that can explode on contact, spraying their seeds everywhere! Toxic seeds that is! Picture screaming girl with mouth open and seeds going in...! /:[ His today's past time is reminding her that he has some FROZEN ones with her name on them waiting for her unguarded moment! Whether he really does or not is not the point...the threat is there! Today he adds "Spike Ball" to his name calling. This was due to PoD's talking to his mother [useless venture] and him about the incident. It's now the big joke to him! Can we say bang your head against the wall satisfaction..;(


-She dyed her hair black [which looks good on her] only now her calls her a witch! Sadly it was close to Halloween so that name has stuck too!


-This kid not only torments her but everyone else who gets in his way...you are either in his group or you will get picked on! That is his way! AJ has no girlfriends because most don't want her problems with this kid.


-Can't ride her bike to school anymore because PoD's safety rule makes her wear a bicycle helmut and he loves to torment her more when she does! Let's add "Helmut Head" to the name calling list!


-His usual responses to her are to called her his hateful names to try bring her ego to the ground and they work so well that he has her believing that she is fat, stupid, stinks and is too ugly for anyone to want for a partner.

He has even thrown in the threat of him stabbing her someday!

With a smile in his voice!


If she tries to ignore him, he bugs her until she has to respond someway...hopefully by crying. This means throwing things at her too!


-He so brazen that he even tried to get her attention at a volleyball game, while sitting right in front of us with his buddies! The only one noticing was me [more daggers from my eyes]! He kept calling her name! Happy she never let on that she knew what he was trying to do or if she even knew it at all. The fact is...he did it right in front of us! That's how sure of himself he is that no one can touch him!


And sadly he's right!

He's been kicked out of this school maaaaaaany times!
Been driven to other towns that don't want him in their system either?
Talked with maaaaaaany counselors/teachers/priciples...nothing works with this kid!


Statement from mother of the monster sweet child goes like this...


"If you have any ideas on how to deal with him let me know. I'm out of ideas! I don't know what  I did to raise such a dink like him?" She called him that, not us!


She also said that she gets daily phone calls from the principle about him!


His brother had come home when PoD had called on them and the first statement out of his mouth was..."What has DickHead done now?" Seems dink and dickhead is the normal names for him at home?


What has come out of his mouth to PoD about his treatment of AJ...
"She's not the only one that I bug"
"I don't care what people with authority think about me or tell me to do!"
"I enjoy it!"


ALL SAID IN FRONT OF HIS MOTHER....with big smile on face [probably scary eyed too]!

This is AJ's most recent photo...

Does this look like a face of happiness?

This was the Halloween Dance night. A drastic costume change from the one wore to school. One she had carefully planned. A "Girl of the 70's". A sparkly dress, beads, gawdy tights, high heels and my full length [faux] fur coat. Sounds horrible right? He called her a Hooker! How many of us [guys included] have dressed in that same costume style and not been classified with such distain as she was treated to by him and her classmates because of her costume?


She changed to what you saw in the previous post about Halloween...a "Glamour Girl"


The damage was already done by the sad look on her face that evening...she did try to smile but you could tell it was a strained one!


Now you know what she has/is dealing with...

She has NO self esteem at all, about any part of herself!
She has tried to make friends but every time she tries standing next to some girls they move away from her! They don't even try to disguise it either...they just do it!
She fears for her safety because of the boy's knife threat!
She has nothing but bottled up emotions and says that all she feels is FEAR & ANGER!!!!






What has the school done to help her with the bullying and being a social outcast...


-A young teacher has taken her under her wing during school times and is trying to help build her self esteem back up...but she can't be there all of the time


-They make sure the evil kid sits nowhere near her and are trying to protect her in the hallways!

Other than that...what can they do?

PoD picks her up from school as much as possible...but where's the exercise in that?



The teachers give their usual speeches about "Bullying", what the causes and effects are...but are the kids really listening? Are they even getting it?


This isn't my first time around with this PROBLEM!


PoD's started in Grade 1 [in this town] and continued right up until grade 10! Her crime was being fat and had germs!? She got skinny [gr. 10] and developed an attitude, that was her way of dealing with her tormentors [3 horrible boys and snobby "skinny" girls]! Notice I said "got skinny"...her life changed because she was no longer in that "over weight class" which made her unwantable? As for the germ part...kids do grow up, only the damage was done!

Yah, her classmates have since apologized [you know how I feel about that] for their treatment of her then and feel good about themselves for making amends on their past. It didn't heal her left out feelings though...which is what they had trampled on in the first place!

Guess what...she's still being left out? Why did they apologize only to keep the ignoring on going still? These adults?






For AJ, as of a few days ago...
The troublesome boy's parents have finally received a diagnosis on why he is the way that he is. He has: ODD [Oppositional Defiant Disorder], ADHD [Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], OCD [[Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder], Russell-Silver Syndrome [failure to grow syndrome] with a maturity level of a grade 3! [Look them up...you will be amazed! I think most kids must be that way lately! ;( ]


What a smack in the head for those parents not to mention for that kid! NO WONDER HE IS THE WAY THAT HE IS!!!


8 YEARS that family has had to put up with this kid and those disorders!


8 YEARS... it's taken to get that diagnosis!

???????




It hasn't only been AJ that has suffered from the abuse from this kid. He has made his home life hell and has destroyed his sister the same way as AJ? What took so long? The mother did say that they had to change Health systems here in order to get these results?


Some can be helped with medication and he is slated for a personal assistant now. Hopefully it will help AJ from here with the bullying by him but what of the rest of them who don't have those excuses?


Is ignoring a person or shunning them, classified as Bullying? It makes them outcasts!




It breaks my heart when I attend her volleyball games and have to watch her being totally ignored, not spoken to and generally not getting to play! She joins these things to fit it and it just doesn't work! I give her TONS of credit on keeping on trying!

It doesn't help that the coaches never include her much either! Both my daughter and her have made great bench warmers for they were too fat to be played? Sad to say they weren't the only ones not played much. Rule goes... only the "fit" [skinny] got to play and not that they were the most qualified! Being fat is only advantageous if you are a boy and play football!



I have to say that this post has taken a long time to write due to it's sensitive nature!


I have had to consider my grand daughter's feelings on letting the world know her problems but I am tired of her being a big secret!

I tried with my daughter, respecting her wishes not to make matters worse for her and stayed out of it. Let her fight her own battles. All that did was let her building her self esteem with anger! I don't want anger for my grand daughter!


I want her to know that there IS someone besides her family that actually cares about how she turns out!


PoD was asked by the school's Principal to keep it quiet about what is wrong with this boy so that everyone won't think this kid is as mentally disturbed as he is? Don't let anyone know what is REALLY wrong with this kid and why he is the way that he is? With this kids actions most don't like him now...won't knowing just what IS wrong better, than that of "he's just a horrible kid"! We all recognize the ones that display the obvious psyhical syndromes but not the ones with these problems! His are immense and I reconize that, but it doesn't change what he has done to my grand daughter!

I want the world to know about what happens with these kids with these problems!

What will he be like in the future when the smoking and alcohol starts?

WILL medication help him?


Against PoD's wishes, relayed from the Principal... I want the world to know! If that includes my lurkers in Dodge...so be it! It's not meant to destroy this kid [?] only to let others know why he is this way and to ask WHY DID IT TAKE SO FRIGGING LONG???




Who is paying for that silence...not my grand daughter nor will the rest of his victims!




He can be medicated and hopefully is! Yes, he has a long road with possiblity of no hope of being "cured"!


SO DOES HIS VICTIMS!




AJ's fight back to mental/psyhical freedom has started with her health style change...she is changing her eating habits and exercising! She has now joined up for basketball with her goal being to "do" all sports or at least try to. Hopefully she will get to do more than bench warm! Big people can be athletes too you know!


She also works out at the gym after school...when not doing school sports that is!


She can make herself skinny [and healthy :)] by doing these things...yet






WILL BEING THINNER, MAKE HER MORE ACCEPTABLE........?






How can one cure her shyness?

Cure her fear of making any kind of mistake? [Judged but who?]


Her Dyslexia will forever be there! Ask the famous people who have the same problem!


She will never be short as well as he will never be any taller!


Sadly she comes from a long line of a family history with hereditary "misfiring synapses" that can lead to serious consequences if not seen to! This is our dark secret [not my side of the family]!






Good start for what kind of future....






Seems the "Age of Innocence" is.......

?

REMEMBRANCE DAY...

"Lest Ye Forget"...

I haven't!

My tribute to the fallen...it's been lit since the 7th and will stay lit until tonight at midnight!

I remember the high pitched wails from the "War Sirens" that used to be in Edmonchuk [Alberta, where I was born]! There was one half a block from our house. When it went off one never knew whether it was real or just another practice run! Being that close to it made it really loud and quite impressive to a young child like I was. To this day, that sound, still sends the same chill down my spine and the old feelings of dread returns! Our town has a fire alarm siren that is about the same distance as the one from the olden days and it sounds the same!

That was the worst reminder that ones life/freedom could be taken away at any moment by unknown forces!

The other is the "Poppy"!

The RED Poppy!


Removing the War Sirens was a great thing for me and I hope they never have to return!


But removing the color out of the red poppy to promote peace sounds dumb to me!

All that does is make the red poppy insignificant!

Doesn't the red stand for the blood that was spilled for the sake of our freedom?

How does draining the blood that was spilled from that war symbol make it peaceful?

Removing the color from this symbol makes no sense!

The "red" poppy is the symbol for war reminding, isn't it?

Is this not the symbol for peace...

[I meant to show it as a white dove...oops]

?

I thought they could add it this way....

But I still don't like it on the poppy!

Other symbols like the health and disability Awareness Ribbons...

are represented by colors!

Removing the color did not change the reasoning for their awareness.

The white stands for something else!

 So today I am standing up for ALL of our Veterans who gave it their all for US! 

LEST YE FORGET!

FASHIONISM WEDNESDAY...

 NO...not really.

Just our costumes for the Halloween's Family Dance on Friday night.

PoD is "Princess of Darkness", AJ a "Glamor Girl" and JD wanted to be a "Skeleton".

I came as "Mother Nature"...

Which totally blew away all the little kids!

I was amazed at all the little kids who couldn't stop touching the orange tulle cape that I wore. Some even followed me? Many came up to me and with awe in their voice told me how nice I looked...calling me "Mother Nature". I figure their parents must have explained who mother nature was and they took it as something special? It sure stroked the old ego!

It wasn't much of a dance, more like a milling around of dressed up kids and very few costumed parents? Happily there wasn't any judging of costumes...it's too hurtful to children. All feel their costume is the winner and those who just throw something together are no match for the store bought ones. My preferrence is for the thrown together ones.


Would like to share more photos of this dance only the Exes camera confused both PoD and me, so you will have to take my word on it being very amusing seeing the variations.
PoD and I did get "Honorable Mention" on the best costumes, though. Screw the award, my reward was the look on the kid's faces!
Two hours of sugar frenzied kids was enough for us!




Next up...first my rant




The adult Halloween dance was held on Saturday and it was also a "Benefit Dance" for this poor little boy [2] who is bent over with a tumor that is growing on the side of his neck and spine. It is huge! The parents are extremely young and the financial burden is emmence! They needed this dance to help pay for the numerous treatments and surgeries that it is going to take to help this child...if he survives it that is!


What was very noticeable was the absence of the older citizens of this supposedly close-knit town! I was maybe the 4th oldest? I can't help but compare it to the fund raiser for the boy who lost his father due to a heart attack, the turn out for him was shameful compared to what this boy with the tumor got! That other boy will probably someday have a new dad to raise him whereas this boy with the tumor may not live to even enjoy a dad, period!


Most may not enjoy getting dressed up and hate Halloween but that gives no excuse for not showing up and giving your support to this young couple and HIM! Happily there were 2 that came with no costume just to support him! All I can say to those who didn't attend from this town [with no valid excuse like sick or dead] SHAME ON YOU! You better be sending a check to them or donating through some other means!

There was guys there that were only working in the area...they paid out the 20.00 entrance fee and didn't even know the kid!




As for what you missed...

PoD..."Princess of Darkness"

PoD forgot her staff...note she is wearing killer "slut" boots. With her crown she is about 6' tall!

And me as the "Queen of Halloween"...

and my killer shoes...[5.00]

No high heeled concotions for me! I prefer being close to the ground and have to problem with being 5'3"! Seems I was smarter that those who did wear those killer boots...most came off when the dancing started...;)

We, as usual stayed with our group...

This is our normal look...us and the Orbs!

Its like we have this wall around us and everyone else is afraid to approach it?
Except for the 50/50 ticket sellers and the table cleaners.

Lived here for 28 yrs and still not approchable? Although I did get a few inquiring on sign work...guess that's the only topic they figure I/we know?

Did get compliments on our outfits but they weren't winners.

Best Male Costume..."The Mad Hatter"

This was our selection too!

Best Female..."Cruella Deville"

It was okay but not note worthy in my books.

Didn't get a pic from the front cause it wasn't that great.

Why they picked it was beyond me?

Best Couple...."Extension Cord and Outlet"

PoD had taken the photo before they won and it was our choice too!

Even better was the fact that this was the boy that my son grew up with and practically lived at our place, a second son, you can say. So happy for him and his girlfriend. Both him and my son very seldom see each other any more, as they have gone their separate ways...;(


The next choice wasn't my pick but it was PoD's!

They were dance costumes and won mostly because they looked and were called the "Skanky Ninja Turtles". The pic shows the 3 of them without their "Skank" boots on. The outfits must have been uncomfortably short as most spent their time trying to keep the skirt down. Don't know why they were wearing shorts underneath?


Guess it's jealousy...I used to be that skinny!

They were cute and well made outfits.

We did do some dancing and have pics to prove it...even though it only looks like we are just standing there...

Will be show more Orbs and some diffrent ones

Not sure if can be called a dust mote or Orb...can you see a face in it?

PoD lost her boots after the first song!

Something about "Jello Legs"?

Here's PoD dancing with a few more Orbs...

Do you see a face in the brightest one?

The larger one is probably a dust mote. See the difference?

Yup...even I dance

Doesn't it look like I'm talking to this Orb?

We did have fun without anyone else...even though the dance floor was full.

Here a selection of costumes for your own ideas...

They even held a mock fight...notice the Orb with the face on it?

No...I'm not just pointing to his crotch...;}

Note this one...it has a very distinct face

I never noticed that the mouth looks like it shows teeth in the smile?

One of the final shots. 

We have such a large dance floor area, yet the crowd stayed shoulder to shoulder close near the stage? Granted the rest of the floor got pretty sticky from spilled drinks!

Why do people have to dance with their drink in their hand? It's not like one has to be worried about anyone slipping anything in your drink! This is a small town, everyone is watching your every move!

It got really hard to take near the end...all one wanted to do was go home. Feet tired and it's not entertaining, yet one has to stay because they bought 50/50 tickest and PoD bought a chance on the big TV they were raffling off.

Her ticket was half a playing card. A card that showed all sorts of promise for being lucky!

A Cat Card...a witch's familiar and the 7 [her lucky number] of diamonds

They pulled the 7 of hearts on the cat card!

Guess close only works in horseshoes...;{

And yes my Halloween has already disappeared from my house til next year!

YAHOO...WE WON!

or did we?

See previous post Oct. 22 "In the Dark Ages"...



Dear QoH,

Council reviewed your correspondence dated October 13, 2010 at their October
27, 2010 Regular Meeting.

Council has noted that access will be granted under the following terms:

1.    Shall be supervised at all times.
2.    Must work around all displays.  Nothing is to be moved within the
gallery or the museum which is located throughout the building.
3.    All museum artifacts must not be touched or used in any manner.
4.    The safety of all displays must be given your attention at all times.
5.    Approval of dates must be received from the Administration Office.
6.    The Administration Staff may require access, from time to time, to the
building during your investigation.

If the paranormal group is prepared to work within the above noted rules and
regulations, access will be granted.

If you require additional information, please feel free to contact me.

Town of Dodge Administrator



Sure wished I was at that meeting to hear exactly what was said!

If I read this letter correctly, note #1 & #4, this means PoD and I are responsible for the paranormal groups the we know and have/will, go through us. I'm okay with that! What about those that request access and are granted it that we don't know!

Besides, do we get a say in who gets to this paranormal researching? We do have standards!

What about the USE of our leisure time? How can they book this extra stuff without clearing it with OUR schedules?


I am okay with the ones that we know [baby sitting [town's words] for free] but if they are going to let all that request access and we have to babysit those others...something has to be clarified!

Is this going to be a paying job?

We do have a life, even if I complain that I don't...;}




I knew when the meeting was going to be held but wasn't notified that my letter was going to council or I would have requested to be there, to field any questions. I would have set them straight on that point right away! Yet I wonder at their audacity to think my passion would rule my brain?

Would you stay/sleep in the creepy courthouse with strangers, which can be 2 nights/days...constantly?




Doesn't any of them watch those horror shows...;} cue in creepy music right now.....






Maybe for once you lurkers out there can help with this decision whether we deserve to be paid for the over and above call of duty?




What say you.....

STILL IN THE DARK AGES!

You'd think with all of the advancement we have with technology that we would be open to other avenues...such as the Paranormal


But we still have the "Doubting Tomas" to deal with here?


A favorite saying [I'll probably screw it up]...;}




For those who BELIEVE...no proof is necessary
For the SKEPTIC...no proof is possible!




This hold so true with the old ways of thinking in this town!


I have mentioned many times that this town is celebrating it's 100th birthday next year and has been on a drive to make it look pretty and hopefully generate interest in others to want to live here. Contest for changing the town logo [big needless expense] was held...not sure how that went? Letters went out, urging us to come up with new ideas...anything to draw interest. Not only for housing possibilities but for tourist attractions too!




My big idea was to use the fact that Dodge has this big, beautiful Court House and have advertised that it is "Haunted" [on web site] to do it some good, maybe not for living there, but for the tourist part?


What better gimmick than the haunted one!


How many other places in Saskatchewan is known to be haunted?


We even got PROOF by way of technology...not hearsay


We got PROOF because we allowed the paranormal groups come in to document the place! Different ones so there would be no bias opinions!




BUT NO MORE!




Powers to be in the town systems has decided that they can no longer allow access to them, due to what  reason I am still unsure of?


This is how it went...




A paranormal group wishing to book filming time [research] has been refused access to the building...seems forever? It's not just them...all of them!


Maybe I read it wrong....?




Good Afternoon QoH,


In 2009 the Town of Dodge established the following policy regarding use and rental of the Court House for meetings:
1. That the upstairs gallery and Council Chambers is not available regarding rental for meeting, effective immediately.
2. That the Council Chambers shall ONLY be utilized by Town appointed Committees and Chamber of Commerce.
3. All committees meetings shall be booked in advance, according to availability on a first come first serve bases, with the Town Administration Staff.


Unfortunately, since then the Museum has been added to the facility and we are continuing to complete the necessary renovations of the Court House. With the number of artifacts that are on display and the art display that are out - concerns have been made regarding the safety of the displays. With the number of concerns it was it makes it very difficult for us to continue to grant access to all paranormal groups. It is unfortunate; however; we must insure that we maintain the safety of the display's on site and can complete the necessary renovations to the Court House.


We hope that you will understand.


Town Administrator






Do you think I understood?








NOPE


This is my reply....




Dear Town Council:


This is in reply to your email to me Oct. 12.


I am quite amazed at your decision to NOT let the paranormal groups do more research on your "Haunted Court House"?


Why are you advertising on your web site that it is a haunted building then?


What proof do you have, to prove that fact, to be able to make that statement?


Hearsay and town gossip is not proof!


The proof you needed was obtained by two different paranormal groups! This proof was captured on video and by sound! Hours and hours and hours or recording/editing by people who are willing to VOLUNTEER their LEISURE time to do this! Yes, it's for their benefit too, but how can you complain when your proof was obtained for FREE! When I say benefit, I mean this is important research on a touchy subject for them and just because one doesn't believe doesn't mean it doesn't exist!


You doubt their honesty by not allowing access?


First of all, my daughter and I had offered up our LEISURE time for FREE, and did so, just to monitor such a thing and to keep it from happening! Not to mention our reputations in being associated with this medium! So in doing so, we have built up a relationship with both of these groups and can now vouch for both of them


For another fact, they are bonded! One even works for the RCMP!


We had offered up our services to keep track of this then and still do, for FREE! This will mean us staying with them while they are in the building over night, if need be and believe me that is NO easy feat for EITHER OF US!


The problem you ran into was what we had warned about all along...letting just any group in and be UNSUPERVISED! No one ever contacted us [we left cards] when these other groups did their thing? From reports, some weren't good! We monitor just exactly what's going on in there, while it is happening and by what the group does/stand for. There will be NO satanic rituals or evil doings and such, as mentioned by the religious factor of the nay Sayers in this town while we are there!


Unless you doubt our honesty? After all we are NOT bonded!


Do you monitor free roaming groups/people while they tour the gallery and museum? If you have camera, do they cover all angles? Are they guided tours?


If not guided, what assurance do you have that things don't go missing then...just because they sign a book? Do they provide credentials when they do? Seems to me you have more proof of stuff missing after a REGISTERED group leaves then strangers off the street!


Some deem that a Gallery and Museum will be big attractions to a town? How many are going to travel to Dodge for just that thing?


How many MORE might, if they were PROVEN to be REALLY, REALLY HAUNTED!


You might say you have enough proof right now...but really, how much is enough? Wouldn't LOTS more, draw more attention? Can you imagine the media attention! One group is now affiliated with T.A.P.S from the USA, which documents just such a thing. Even "Creepy Canada" has shown some future interest when I contacted them six years ago...all I had to do was get back to them!


The "Calling Lakes Paranormal Group" from Ft.Qu'Apple has submitted what they have captured so far on the DVD call "Haunted - The Dodge Court House". This shows video proof of a "Ghostly Child" like figure stepping into view, in the doorway of the men jail cell room! This group also has their own web site in which the town gets FREE advertising of your "haunted" court house.


Also the Ghost Hunters from Saskatoon has proof on their website too! More FREE advertising!


Why do more research now?


It is a documented fact that construction in these old buildings raises not only the dust, but much more! They need to be re-documented. Also one is not guaranteed to capture something every time! It takes HOURS of recording plus HOURS of editing with sometimes NO results! That's a lost weekend to them!


Plus we have our celebration coming up next year and why not add "Paranormal Tours" to the agenda? I have spoken with one of the groups and they would be willing to come here to do something for FREE or for maybe travel/lodgings in the court house/some food? My daughter and I would be willing to organize this and be with them if need be?


Why aren't there year round haunted tours? We did the M/N reunion one year...you could charge for this sort of entertainment, making money off of them? People would rather be entertained by the spooky than the normal boring museum/gallery stuff! Proven fact..look at the attendance book!


Unless you are an artsy person you will not go somewhere to visit a SMALL town exhibit just to see who or what, but they will if the place hosting it is PROVEN to be haunted!


Some may not want their stuff associated with being "haunted" but fail to realize that it's not their stuff that is haunted...just the place! And if you are able to draw any kind of crowd with this kind of means, why wouldn't you want ALL to see it there, whether it be haunted or not?


"Paranormal Fanatics" can be antique/art collectors too! They might recognize some ancient relic on a ghostly shot and just have to find their way here?


You say you want a gimmick or selling factor to have this town recognized by, yet you pass up the biggest one of them all...the "Haunted Court House"?


Who else has such a beautiful building like this, that is still standing in Saskatchewan, let alone one that is PROVEN [recorded] to be haunted?


Are we not entering a new age and are supposed to be forging into a new future?


Let's change the narrow thinking that goes along with the unknown!


Let us be FREE THINKERS and take a fresh look at what they MIGHT prove to us all! It might be a risky venture, but one you have already started for yourselves by advertising on the web!


So, that is why I am amazed that you would turn down such a great attention getter for Dodge.


QoH




I sent that out on the 13th

Not sure if anything will come of it....


Seems to me I made mention of this such a thing happening....




The religious factor was not mentioned in the letter. That was from personal conversation with the driving force behind this rejection.


Also renovation work isn't happening every weekend either!




All who enters takes the risk of any damages and they know that and everything has been replaced exactly as it had been found...so that's not it either...

Wake Up Dodge!