Just In Time For Halloween

I've had only a few 'para'.....'normal' experiences in my life. And one of them just happened yesterday.

Now be warned, this story.....is....quite....lame. So, it will not keep you up at night.

Wednesday morning, before leaving for school at 7:15am, I placed a load of clothes into the washing machine for a thorough washing. Loaded. Started. Running.

Upon returning home about 9:45, I went to the basement to switch the load over to the drying machine for a thorough drying. A side note on how my old Kenmore washer cycles and such:

• Fill (with water)
• Load (with clothes)
• Wash
• Spin
• Rinse
• Spin

And none of these cycles can take place if I leave the lid open, except the 'Fill' stage. Anyway, back to my lame story, when I returned home to switch the clothes over, the washer lid was open (like you see in the photo above), the washer was filled to the top with clear water, and the machine was turned off (button depressed), just before it was to run its final rinse cycle.

Now I've thought about some options here:

1. I forgot to close the lid and the washing machine stopped running after filling and before it cleaned the clothes. — this doesn't work because the washing machine had run through all its cycles except the last one, plus the operating button/knob had been pulled out, I definitely pushed this in or the water could not have filled, and the knob does not pop back out (off) when you open the lid, the machine just stops.
   
2. The load was unbalanced and the machine flipped the lid open. – if the load was unbalanced it would have continue to be so when I closed the lid and turned the machine back on, additionally, it would have to be so unbalanced and rocked so hard that water would be out on the floor and the energy needed to flip the lid open probably would have caused it to swing but shut after it hit its full open position
3. The dog did it. — possible, I guess?

At this point I thought it would be a good idea to take some photos around the utility room just for fun, and this photo, in particular, I found interesting:

At first look the photo seems totally, normal, but when I looked at it the second time I saw something odd, and here are the marks that I find odd (outlined), because these marks are not on the wall as they appear to be in this photo:

And even closer (click for larger):


Anyway, I'm not saying it's a ghost. But it's weird, and it's not normal. Therefore, it's paranormal.

Big. Old. Tree.

Lost? Then you need to find the 'Signal Tree'. This huge, old tree—a 300-year-old Bur Oak, which is known as the Signal Tree in Akron, Ohio was formed by Native Americans and used for way finding. Just like a 'you are here' sign you see at the mall. Exactly like that in fact. Either way worth seeing in person as this photo does not do it justice.

Great winter shot of the tree here by Akron's own Bruce Ford.

Freaky Charms

So I groggily wander into the kitchen the other morning and want am I greeted by? An evil Lucky Charm Leprechaun. At that point I was too scared to eat my breakfast and began flashing back to the movie of the same sorts:



Yep, that is one Miss Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun 1. Luckily that took my mind off the evil leprechaun on my cereal box and I was able to enjoy my sugary deliciousness to start the day.

The Doomsday Vault...Keeping Humanity..Errrrr...Seeds Safe From Armageddon

So let's say an asteroid hits the earth, and most living things on the earth are wiped out, what would you do for food? Well, you would just head on up to The Svalbard Global Seed Vault and pick up some seeds to start your post-apocalyptic farm, YAY! This is all good and great, but what I want to know is where is the 'people vault' located?

Some media for your viewing enjoyment.

What Castle Is Complete Without A Ghost?

Somewhere, someone, with lots of free time, had the most ingenious idea of starting a ghost photo study blog. And now, the rest of us, with lots of free time, but no ideas, can visit the site and look around.

The image above is what is listed as 'the winning' image...whatever that means. There are no winners when ghosts are involved.

My Next Vacation...

...Will be to 'Doll Island'...Doesn't it look lovely? Who would like to meet up there?

Just to get you excited about it you can click onthe photo above for more, or read on:

"Sometime in the 1950’s Julián Santana Barrera begun collecting dolls found in the trash. He lived in this tiny island in Xochimilco and according to his family, these dolls kept the bad spirits away. The family also says that a young girl drowned at the island and he brought the dolls to keep her spirit happy. The island was for many years forgotten, but then in the 1990’s a program to clean up the canals gave again way for the Mexican style gondolas (trajineras) to pass by the island. Julian drowned at the island on April 17th, 2001."

Now what would make it even better? Being there at night, and you can enjoy that by watching this episode of 'Destination Truth'.

Are We Back Or Are We On Our Back?

I think the summer blog break is about to end. Maybe.

In the meantime let me recall how I almost came to an end–in white water this summer on the Lower New River in West Virginia. I've been down this river 4 times before and never had much of an issue, included with falling out, but this time we got dropped in the rapid and instead of shooting out and down the river to calmer water I somehow got caught in the hydraulic beneath the raft. It was probably only for about 10 seconds but it may as well have been 10 minutes.

Sadly, I emerged and have since returned to working life...

Clearly, This Blog Is On Hold For The Summer

So sad. But there is no time.

"And When He Molested My Nephew..."

Oh shit–I never get tired of these Hitler spoofs... Here is the latest. Hitler finds out MJ has died and cannot perform at his birthday party.

The Blob Has Arrived

As you can see this blog has suffered through the summer months. If you can even call this pathetic weather 'summer'. Anyway, it appears aliens have arrived, according to some. Check it out.

Nature Is Gross

Some type of gross nature thing. Caterpillar sounds about right.

How Did I Ever Slice Pizza Without This?

That pizza doesn't look so good but that slicer does! I'm going to have to get one I think.

This Is The Nerdy Kind Of Stuff I Would Do, If I Had Plenty O Free Time

But alas I could never manage my time so well as too have such free time. I can't even get my shit together enough to redo my sorry ass old web site that is practically 3 years old now. I do find the time to at least update the copyright date—oh wait, that still says 2008 too. Clearly hopeless.

Anyway, I do have just enough time to watch the video that I would never have time to make. Enjoy nerdlings.

Oh No, He Made Contact With The Slice

Easily the best opening sequence of a TV show I've ever seen. Not just because it's about pizza but because we all are guilty of doing this. Or maybe just me. Either way, funny.

King Of Queens - Pizza Night - These bloopers are hilarious

"It's A Banner Day In The Kessler Household—Eat Up Scotty!"

The Pizza Project has officially reached 300 different pizza entries. It took almost 3 years, therefore averaging about 100 different pizzas each year.

The breakdown:

• 169 Ordered from pizzerias, restaurants, and bars
• 88 Bought frozen from the grocery store and baked
• 43 Made from scratch at home

I think I may have to start traveling greater distances to keep up this pace. And, it's nothing short of a miracle that I dont weigh in at 400lbs at this point. Anyway, go get hungry here. A good time to view the site is about 30 minutes before lunch.

p.s. - I love pizza.

A Rose By Any Other Name Would Be Just As Stinky

This is the side of our garage where the garbage cans are stored. It's a fairly dull place with some random things growing sadly, placed there by the previous owners. In fact, there really is no landscaping on our property. For whatever reason the previous owners didn't feel the need to have a nice yard, or home for that matter. Anyway, from what I can tell they randomly planted some odds and ends around the yard in no logical manner.

Now if you backup a step from those garbage cans you'll see the one thing on our property that is booming. This randomly placed rose bush.

For whatever reason, it loves the stink of garbage and recycling and as you can see, it is thriving off of it.

You Can Have My Carpet When You Pry It From My Cold Dead Paws

Well, we've pulled out all the nasty carpet from the upstairs of the house and the dog was not happy about it. As you can see, she refused to give up the last little remaining piece here.

Please Don't Feed The Turtles Your Fingers

Heading out for an afternoon hike on Monday evening we ran into this huge snapping turtle. About 14" long at least. I wanted to feed him some treats from the palm of my hand, you know, like at the petting zoo, but the wife wouldn't let me. She doesn't let me do anything fun.

Catch 'O The Day

Every morning the pool skimmer holds some type of unexpected surprise, whether it be giant fighting spiders, a dead chipmunk or bird, or a myriad of very odd looking insects which I can't even name.

This morning is was this little frog guy (toad dude?). I think he was quite exhausted from treading the skimmer waters by the time I found him and got him out. Anyway, no frog legs for dinner tonight as I have released him back in to the forest.

Closeup here.

To Toil On Tile

Well, we've finally managed to get around to laying tile throughout the entry, hall, and kitchen. The nice thing about tiling is how easy and quick it goes, plus it is totally painless on the knees.

In Just 6 Short Weeks!

From This:

To This:

Yes, just 6 "short" weeks and many, many hundreds of un-budgeted dollars, and the pool is clean...Well, 95% clean, the deep end needs a touch more of something, I think.

So to this point we've dropped in about:

• 200lbs of Chlorine
• 100lbs of PH
• 3 bottles of Flocker
• 1 bottle of Clarifier
• 1,000's of gallons of water to refill from vacuuming 5 times

Oh the joy. Next Spring this better be way easier to get open. Or else it may become a garden.

Blue Bug Group

So I'm cruising along with the dog on our Sunday morning hike, dirt church as I like to call it, and I see this nasty-ass looking 'thing' hanging out on a tree. So of course I had to photograph it. I don't know what it is, but to me, it looks like a giant maggot with a bright blue head. Very gross. Nature is gross sometimes. Figured you should know that. Nature isn't all flowers and pretty stuff you know. Best to stay in the house and watch TV.

Help Wanted

It says, "This is not a joke." and it was found on the internet. So I'm thinking about responding.

"Say Hello To My Little Friend!"

Actually, not that little friend. That photo is only there so you would read the headline with the proper accent. The little friend I speak of is this little guy:
This little bird has made its nest on the back of our house above a speaker, which we have no idea how to turn on. But when the momma bird's little birds are ready for feed-me-some-regurgitated-worm time, they make tons of noise on their own. And I sit there and watch. And get hungry.Then I start to squawk for the wife to feed me...Some regurgitated pizza. Sadly she won't. I still have to chew it my self. Life is a bunch of b.s.

"Flee To The Cleve"

In order to make up for the last couple videos, I feel the need to post some feel-good-Cleveland-videos, #1 on the list–30 Rock comes to Cleveland. See it here.

I Was Away, But Now I Am Back. Possibly.

We'll see how it goes.

Just In Case You Missed It #4

Hastily made Cleveland Tourism Video attempt #2.

Well, if we can't laugh at ourselves, there's always Detroit.

Just In Case You Missed It #3

Hastily made Cleveland Tourism Video.

I love Cleveland and it has many great things as I often post about, but if you can't laugh at yourself, well then you just suck.

Sasquatch Porn

This video gives 'Messing with Sasquatch' a whole new meaning.

Now you may ask yourself, "Is that Sasquatch going to town on that dude?", and if you did, you would only be half right.

But, if you asked yourself, "Is that Sasquatch going to town on the Six-million Dollar Man?", you would then be entirely right.

And so, I present to you, the best thing you have seen in the tubes this year, The Six-million Dollar Man VS the Sasquatch. I have just a couple of questions after watching this video:

1. Why does the Six-million Dollar Man make weird springy machine noises when he jumps across a 1-ft creek around :27?
2. Why can't he whoop the Sasquatch if he's the Six-million Dollar Man? What kind of robotics are these?
3. Why do firework sound effects go off every time the Six-million Dollar Man gets tossed?
   
4. Why does the Sasquatch have a 70's porn-stache?
5. Why does the Sasquatch have vampire teeth?
6. How did this crap get on TV?
   

The Stair Is Bare

The stairs are now a hazard as they have no traction. Walk at your own risk!

Well, the stair carpet has been the first carpet/padding we've removed that was stained in dog piss from the previous owners. Obviously the dog never figured out how to stand on the stairs and take a leak. But the upstairs does stink so I can only imagine what we'll find next...

Stay tuned.