halloweensunseen.com

Salem Day 7!

Awww, last day in Salem. Even with everything, I’m incredibly sad to leave Salem. Please don’t make me! I drag ass and pack up my shit. I don’t want to go! Did I already say that? Well, I don’t want to go! The idea of going back to Houston repulses me. I’m thinking, I want to stay longer but I’m broke on my ass. I’ve got to go. After all, I’m the “no credit card kid.” Cash only, baby! And I’m almost out of cash. So I check out but I’ve got to wait here in the hotel lobby for a couple of hours for my ride to the Boston airport. Guess I’ll just sit here and stare out the windows for a couple of hours. Can’t really move around much. What if he comes early or something? So here I sit looking out the windows at Salem. Two hours have now passed and oh look, there’s my ride …. with a flat tire! Oh shit, the day has begun! And a lady is driving! Sorry ladies, but I’d rather have a male driver at this point! She jumps out all chipper and shit and comes around to help me and I point at the back tire and she really goes off! I’m thinking, this is not my problem, this is not my problem! She’s running around in small circles repeating over and over, “What shall I do? What shall I do?” I shrug. So she thinks and then calls in. Good idea! The dude tells her to at least find a gas station and air it up and meet him at such and such place and they’ll trade cars. Good idea! So she asks me, “Where’s the nearest gas station?” I shrug. I do reluctantly at this point look over Salem and I spy a gas station sign. I do at least tell her that. We go, get air and drive. I’m not letting this get to me. It’s not my problem. I’m just too beat up! So we do get to the designated meeting place and we switch cars.

On the way to the airport, I see this gorgeous subdivision on a cliff overlooking Revere Beach. Yes, that Revere! Oh, I must come back! The most beautiful Victorian homes I’ve ever seen in my life! I will be back!

As we’re driving down the freeway to Boston, we see the other car with the dude driving by us and the tire is almost flat again. We just laugh and laugh and laugh! Finally, at the airport. These security dudes are pretty rigid. I practically had to get nude to get through and the lady security had a couple of issues with me and she was downright mean! Then it dawned on me as I finally passed through. This is the Boston airport where those two flights left and flew right into the World Trade Center! And this is where those terrorists were! I look around as if their ghosts are still hanging around here. I immediately check my attitude and understand why security was like that. Jesus, they’re just doing their jobs …. now. It was quite unsettling, let me tell you. I never thought I’d be this close to anything having to do with September 11th. I feel humbled.

Okay, I walk on through and what’s the first thing I see? A BOOKSTORE! Yes, there is a God in the Boston airport! I have some time so I peruse the books, buy a couple for the flight and go in search of something to eat perhaps. I know …… So I find a Wendy’s. One last splurge, right? I order up, get all situated at my table with my books and my food and I notice that there’s quite a storm brewing outside. Perfect! Then I bite my burger. IT SUCKS! It tastes like friggin’ airport food! No sense complaining, it’s a friggin’ airport! This is not my problem! So I pick at my burger, eat my fries and gulp my drink down and watch the storm roll in all the while. I love the weather in New England and it always seems so dark. Yes, I’m in my element. Please don’t make me go! Well, almost flight time. I go to the gate. I’m hearing the flight’s late, not late, late, not late and shit, it was on time. I dejectedly move through the jet way, onto the plane and to my seat. No smelling my face now I guess. I’m at a window seat but I’m just so sad, I don’t even want to smell my face. Read all my Salem entries in my blog if you don’t understand this.

And I get home. And that’s the end of my trip. I didn’t realize I’d feel like this. Salem kept a piece of my heart it did and now I’ll never be completely happy again unless I am there. See you next year - Haunted Happenings 2010!

Luvs,
Janet

Salem Day 6 - The Day After!

Okay, 2:00 a.m. - morning after Halloween - back home. Well, back at my hotel in Beverly at least. What a horrifying experience getting here! I never felt such relief to step into a hotel as I did tonight. If I come back to Salem (and I will), I will never stay outside of Salem again! Clearly, the shuttle service that took us to Salem earlier did not know what they were doing! After I attended the Halloween Ball festivities, I set out to meet up with the shuttle at the Witch’s Museum at midnite - our pre-arranged time and spot. When I arrived, I called as instructed and said I was ready to be picked up. The guy on the other end was frantic, spouting out instructions and directions to me - someone who didn’t have a clue where in the hell she was - on foot, lost and from Texas for crap’s sake! I gathered that I was supposed to meet the Van at a specific intersection somewhere in Salem. Hmmmm. I began walking and found a policeman directing traffic. I said, “See, look, I’m from Texas and I’m pissed and lost and I need to get to such and such intersection.” The policeman was nice and helpfully - eagerly even - pointed the way …. down a dark, spooky street to my left. At least I walked the right direction! I look down the street and it’s all houses - old houses - on both sides with some having people lurking around the porches. I’m not scared of ghosts but I am scared of people so I am not liking the idea of walking down there for a couple of blocks. Anyway, here I go, a very perturbed, somewhat overweight witch still dressed up in all her witchy best about to walk down a street that at this moment looks like it’s probably the scariest street in Salem. Oh, I’m so far from home - a totally solitary witch at this point. So I walk …. down the very middle of the street. What a sight I must have been! I’m peering at the houses as I go making sure no ghosts or zombies come running out. I am in Salem after all and Halloween has just ended. So I walk and I finally reach the intersection. There are no street signs. Now I’m not going to go into this here but why oh why are there never street signs when your life absolutely depends on it?! I do see two groups of people standing on either side of the street. I assume these are my people and choose the group that has the nicest looking lady standing there. So we wait, and wait under this huge tree. The lady and I speak. She has about as much information as I do but at least she’s a human presence for me. We wait and then it begins to rain. Salem has great weather. It happens when you least expect it. And there goes a cold wind. I have been in Salem long enough to know that you don’t take cold breezes lightly. So me and my beautiful hat are getting soaked and it will only be a matter of time before we are freezing as well. And I have no where to go, no way to get there. I see in front of me two guys from my hotel jumping into a cab and driving away. They could have offered to share that cab …. and fare …. with some of us. I would have. I’m from Texas. We wait, we get wet, we get nervous. And then alas, two Vans show up! We are elated and run and lurch to said heaven-sent Vans …. and neither are going to our hotel. The hell you say! Our group that had gathered were in no mood to hear this and quite literally jacked up both drivers and piled our asses into the Vans whether they liked it or not. “Now ***pointing gun at driver’s head*** if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get your skinny ass moving to Beverly!” And he did! We were packed in like sardines, soaking wet and stinking but we managed a civilized conversation during our ride.

We made it! Shit, we frickin’ made it. I get out of that fucking Van (never again), walk straight to my room, very gingerly hang up my hat to dry and fall face down on the bed. See youse in the morning.

Okay, I awake and it’s still the same day! I’m the fuck getting out of this hotel and going back to Salem for my final night! I pack, check out, grab a doughnut and coffee, arrange my ride to Salem and step outside to wait. It’s fucking freezing!! Sorry about the fucking “F” word so much. I’m just still fucking pissed. Now see? What I said about Salem weather? If you feel a cold breeze and especially a cold breeze accompanied by rain, you’re in for some cold-ass weather! Oh, and it’s cold but I’m on my way to Salem!

And now for the next leg of my trip. I arrive at my new hotel and I check in but I can’t get in my room until 3:00 p.m. I’m okay with that. I’m in Salem and I can explore! And low and behold, this hotel sits right on beautiful Salem Harbor. Now how did I manage to do that? I’m so excited so I set off with my camera in tow. I get quite far from the hotel. The Harbor and the day is so lovely, it’s beyond words. It’s cold and in the afternoons here it’s darker in the sunlight and I’m loving it …. walking, walking. And then I feel this rumble and low-grade pain in the lower part of my belly. Oh dear, you know? The food at the Halloween Ball last night somehow didn’t taste right. I suddenly remember this right here, right now. Next thought? You know, I’m here in beautiful Salem taking in the lovely sights of the Harbor and I’m about to shit my pants. Right here in Salem. Now who’d ever thought that? I’m in trouble. I’m a long way from the hotel, I’m not even in my room yet and I HATE to shit in restaurants! So I walk. Walk, walk, walking. Don’t I look normal? Just walking along, enjoying the sights, holding my ass as tightly closed as possible. My, my this is turning into a long walk. Walking, humming, oh dear. How much longer must I go and I sure hope I can find the public restroom in the hotel fast. I hope I don’t have to wait in line. I hope I don’t crap my pants. All these thoughts going through my head. Walking, isn’t Salem beautiful? The pain is getting worse, more insistent. Oh God, I hope I make it! Now I’m praying. The hotel finally. I race to the restroom after I ask where it is, good no line. I enter, tear at my clothes, sit, nothing. Nothing! I mean, for a long time nothing! People come and go, various sounds and smells and there I sit. Nothing. Was it just cramps with no issue? Good! I was so worried and ashamed. Didn’t have to be! But these cramps hurt and I don’t know what to expect. So I wait and just as I’m about to give up, it happens. It’s really fast and it’s over, just like that. Pain, everything gone. Never did come back. I thought I would be sick for the rest of the day. I feel that I’m being toyed with but I got some beautiful photos! ***Mental note: Do not eat at Ball next year.***

I at this point have an appetite. I know, weird. Typical Texan. So I get into my room and then go in search of food. First things first, ice cream! And it tastes rotten and old. Oh my gawd, what’s with this place? I throw away the ice cream and literally run away from it! Oh my gawd! But I’m really hungry and very bewildered at this point. So I walk and walk (again). It’s Sunday night in Salem, the day after Halloween, and everything is closing or is already closed. Hmmmmm, looking around. Keep walking. It’s cold. I’m hungry. I’m alone. Walking. I did A LOT of walking in Salem! And finally, there it is. Brothers Diner! It looks all cozy inside, warm with its fogged up windows. I’m going in. It smells so good! It’s a cafeteria-like place and these guys are treating me like I’m really, really welcome. I saunter on up to the food bar and create my dinner. Thank you, thank you. It’s so good. Thank you for feeding me. Thank you for being here. While I’m eating, I’m really soaking up the culture of this place. The way everyone talks with their accents and all, I’d swear I’m sitting in some little diner in the Bronx or something. It sounds and feels so New York. I’ve never been to New York but I’m sure this is exactly how it would be. Some character-looking dude makes a grand entrance in the door and throws his arms out wide and announces, “I’m back!” Just like in the movies made in New York. It’s uncanny. I’m getting a very weird feeling come over me like I’m in the Twilight Zone or something and I’m suddenly not in Salem anymore. Oh dear, that’s really scary. Must shake that feeling off! I have found that when you travel alone, you just have too much time to think and my brain’s been having one hell of a good time with me on this trip!

So, I finish eating and I get the HELL back to my hotel room! I go to bed at 9:30 p.m. I’m exhausted and tomorrow is another day here in Salem, Mass! Say goodnight, Janet!

Witch Statue - Salem 2009

Hello Sweet Ones!

I have a treat for you on this day before Thanksgiving. Yes, we can give treats after Halloween! I want to share with you my most favorite attraction during Salem Haunted Happenings 2009. The Witch Statue was simply fascinating to watch and she was so humorous. She made everyone laugh who encountered her and she scared a few others! What a treat for me and all the dear visitors to Salem in 2009.

And the Salem news - I contacted the Hawthorne Hotel to make my reservations for Halloween 2010 and they put me on the waiting list! Geee-susss! The hotel is already booked for Halloween 2010! Well you can bet, when they have a cancellation between now and then, I will most certainly leap on it! As I guess everyone knows, I miss Salem …. and I ain’t kidding! I think Salem put a spell on me and what other town could do it so completely?! I did truly love it there. The atmosphere was so peaceful and cool and the landscapes and architecture where so beautiful. I still have many, many things to see and do in Salem, I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long! Anyway, I’ll stop gushing and let you enjoy these Salem Witch Statue videos that I found at You Tube. I hope you enjoy her just as much as I did. Unfortunately, to get the full effect, you would have had to be there but you can get the idea here. The only time she uttered a sound was when someone put some money in her tip bucket. That’s all she had to do as well as fart around with all the people and I suspect she made quite a bit of money! Okay, I’ll go away.

Love to you all!
Janet

1. Witch Statue - Salem 2009

2. Witch Statue - Salem 2009

3. Witch Statue - Salem 2009

Halloween in Salem - Wrap up!

Okay, about my Halloween in Salem. It was way more than I could have ever dreamed it would be! I didn’t know that Salem would fill up with over 100,000 people strolling along the streets in costumes. Picture for yourself at Mardi Gras in New Orleans but without the alcohol-fueled bad behavior. Halloween in Salem is a peaceful, happy event. Everyone talks to each other and poses for pictures. It is illegal to drink alcohol in public in Salem and everyone knows it and lives by it. It was so refreshing to see so many people gathered in one spot that were happy and loving the holiday festivities. I felt safe in Salem on Halloween. That’s more than I can say about Houston! About my costume! I was (am) a witch and I bought the most beautiful purple felt witch hat. It is adorned with chiffon and autumn foliage. There is a picture of it in the blog here and you’ve probably already seen it if you are reading this. I included a gothic blouse, black skirt, striped stockings and some witchy shoes. I found it humourous that the only thing I had to buy was the hat. I can always throw a costume together with the clothes that I own. Everything I have is gothic, black, striped and pointy! I was flattered by a couple of people wanting to take pictures of me and with me. It really is a classy hat!

About the costumes in Salem! I can honestly say that as of now, there’s nothing I haven’t seen in costume wear! There were thousands and thousands of costumes and I think I tried to take a picture of every single one of them. There were so many people walking by that all I could do was point my camera into the crowd and hope to get something good. This method did not disappoint me! I got some excellent crowd and costume pictures! I’ve included a few here. I will have all my Salem photos pulled together for everyone to see.

Besides walking and experiencing Salem on Halloween, I attended a Halloween Ball at the Hawthorne Hotel. As you know from my prior posts, the Hawthorne is an historic and hopefully haunted hotel. On the night of the Ball, the hotel was transformed into the biggest haunted house you could ever wish for. I was a bit surprised by the security measures they took but I guess they have to these days. As I entered the door, I suddenly felt hands going all over my body. Whoa, WTF? They were even squeezing the bag that I was carrying. Probably feeling for weapons. I spoke with one guest who was dressed as “Edward Scissorhands” and let me tell you, he looked just like him. “Edward” was complaining because security made him “check” most of his costume at the door. Apparently he had what looked like scissors for hands (duh) and security did not like that one bit. So there he was only half of “Edward Scissorhands” and he was making his displeasure known. I felt bad for him because he really put a lot of effort into his costume. I knew exactly who he was even without the scissor hands. That made him happy that at least people knew who he was trying to portray. As I’m sure you are wondering why, the people in Salem take their Halloween costumes very seriously and besides that the Ball was really expensive! The band was excellent and they rocked the night away.

Let’s see, what are some of the costumes that I saw? I saw a man dressed as a stove, I saw the Octo Mom and all her babies, I saw a nurse escorting her patient along, her patient being in a straitjacket. I saw Bret Michaels, Daisy and Hulk Hogan. I saw Thing 1 and Thing 2 (don’t ask). I saw two headless horsemen, witches in drag, one only wearing a leotard, high heels and a witch hat (leaving a little more than I cared to see visible). A very handsome Fire Chief. Oh wait, he wasn’t in costume! I saw lot’s of guys and girls dressed in Victorian flair. I even saw Mozart! Scarlet and Rhett Butler were in attendance and the famous witches from Hocus Pocus, the Sanderson Sisters were happily in Salem once again. I saw lots of ghosts, ghouls and zombies, a few brides, birds and kitty cats. I could go on and on. Some people went really gory and some went with sexy and glamourous. There were many vampires and some of them looked a little too real for my taste! I found that in Salem, if someone wants to be a vampire, they just don’t cram plastic vampire teeth in their mouth, they actually have vampire teeth installed and these are very real. They also wear vampire clothing and it’s not a costume. This is their everyday wear. It’s a little unsettling to see but at the same time, it looks really elegant and “in style” like they are trendsetters. It was lovely!

The only real downside of Halloween was leaving to go back to my hotel. I wasn’t staying at the Hawthorne at this point and had to ride a shuttle back to my hotel. Well, it turned into a nightmare! The shuttle could not get back in Salem because of traffic gridlock to pick several of us up so we had to walk to another meeting place - in the rain and down darkened spooky streets. I got soaked, very cold and I was totally lost! Texas felt really far away at this point! I was never so happy to see a hotel in my life!

So my thoughts on Salem. Where do I begin? There was nothing that I didn’t love about Salem. I felt totally comfortable there and I had kindred spirts all around me. No one thought that what I do with Halloween’s Unseen is sick and crazy, they think it is brilliant. I was welcomed. I didn’t have to hide Halloween’s Unseen because of people that would not understand. I was encouraged. I could wear my witch hat any day, any time I wished. Salem is very proud of it’s witchy past and the poor, innocent people who were so wrongly accused and executed as witches will never be forgotten. Compassion for the lost ones is worldwide because of Salem. And on a more personal level, Salem is very enchanting and has an atmosphere and it physically wraps itself around you. Salem literally stays with you and it even stayed with me for a few days after I returned home. It’s very hard to explain but I did not want to leave. I was already missing being in Salem as soon as I got home. I am already planning another trip at some point next year. I also didn’t get to see or tour everything in Salem and Boston so I will be going back for that as well. To wrap it up, a person who is really into anything paranormal can not only make a living in Salem but feel completely comfortable while you’re doing it! Hmmmmm, food for thought!

Love to each of you!
Janet
Halloween’s Unseen (and proud of it)!

Salem Day 5 - Halloween!

Oh my gawd, what a day I’ve had!  Happy Halloween to every one of you!  I’m in the process of pulling all the hundreds of photos I took just on this day!  Let me tell you, Halloween in Salem was much, much more than I ever could have anticipated.  I will have my day posted here soon so stay spooky-tuned!

Luvs,
Janet

Salem Day 4 - Halloween Eve!

Well alrighty then, it’s the day before Halloween!  Actually as I write this post, it is Halloween morning.  I have a very busy day planned for Halloween but first things first.  Let me tell you about my day today.

When I awoke this morning, I knew I had to check out and find another place to stay.  Here I am over 1,600 miles from home and almost homeless.  Well that’s how it felt!  I had a few anxious moments there but I just went and took care of my business.  I got another hotel room in Beverly which is only about 2 miles from Salem.  The hotel has a schuttle that runs back and forth from Salem.  $15.00 per ride - 2 miles.  Can you imagine the prices around here?!  Everybody has it figured out how to make money!

Anyway, this place is new and it sits on a college campus so it’s very scenic.  I’ve included a picture down there of my view out of my windows.  It’s really strange but this room feels really creepy to me and it’s a modern building.  I don’t know if it’s the smell or what.  It does sit on the edge of what looks to be like some very dense woods.  Maybe that’s it.  I don’t know, I just feel spooked here.  The Hawthorne Hotel was very old and historic and I didn’t feel spooked there at all.  You wouldn’t think a brand new place would make me feel like this.

Okay, I’ll shake that feeling off if possible.  My day after I got my new room allowed me some time to explore some more of Salem.  I went to the Witch House and got some better pictures.  I’ve included one below.  It’s the black house.  This house is the only one in Salem that has absolute ties to the Salem Witch Trials.  The judge lived there and well, we all know what they did to those poor women and men.  19 were hung and one was crushed to death.  There were an additional 150 people in prison awaiting trial.  All accused of being witches.  None were witches.  This is a very interesting story and we will be presenting this on Halloween’s Unseen. 

I also bought my hat!  Oh, you must see it.  It’s down there in the photos.  I’m going to the Halloween Ball on Saturday night at the Hawthorne and the hat is part of my costume.  I love it!  I was so happy to find it!  At least I’ll be able to wear something pretty to the party!

So, dear dark ones, I will sign off for today.  I hope you like the photos that I’ve included!  There is a photo of a Salem police car with their witch logo on the door.  I love it!

Happy Halloween!
Janet

Salem Day 3!

Oh my gawd - Day 3! I walked literally for over 9 hours and I’m so exhausted! I want to tell you that it was worth every step. I took 100s of photos and took 3 tours. The tours were so interesting. Here’s a little advertisement for the tours. They did a fantastic job and I learned so much!

Spellbound Tours:
Witchcraft and Cemetery Tour
Ghost Hunt and Vampire Tour

City View Trolley Tour:
A driving tour around all of Salem.

Of course, I will share what I’ve learned. I have enough material to last me into next year!

I struck out on my own and walked and walked and walked. I found a lot of my friends from MySpace. They have businesses in Salem and they were making tons of money! I’m so happy for them! I have half a mind to get a business of my own up here! Also, I found the Bewitched Statue that was donated to Salem by TV Land in memory of the Bewitched show that used to come on. The likeness of Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha) was incredible. It looks just like her. I did love that show and it was so nice to see it being recognized in such a manner. I was also able to get a few pictures of the Witch Memorial and the “The Burying Point” cemetery which I’ve included below. The Cemetery Tour was so up my alley and the things I learned were awesome. That’s our tour guide down there.  He loves Salem and is a true historian of Salem’s troubled past.  I will have much more on the cemetery and the Salem Witch Trials so be looking for it on Halloween’s Unseen.  And too, I don’t know if y’all remember me telling you but the movie “Hocus Pocus” is one of my very favorites and it was filmed in Salem. I found many of the locations and I got pictures of those as well.

It was really fun to just walk up and down the pedestrian mall and look at the shops and see the various entertainment. My ultimate favorite was the “Witch Statue.” I’ve included a picture of her below. She was a scream! I could have watched her for hours and the only thing she did was grunt and kiss at you if you put money in her tip bucket. Her performance was brilliant. I will go tomorrow and get some video of her to share.

I do have to take care of something tomorrow for I will be briefly homeless. I need to find another hotel because the Hawthorne’s prices have gone up considerably. They are way over my simple head! As soon as I get settled in somewhere else, I can rest and start getting ready for the Halloween Ball on Halloween night at the Hawthorne. I am so fortunate to be going!

Anyway, I must put my broom away for now and rest. I hope you will enjoy my photos for today. I’ll speak to my spookies soon!

Love to all,
Janet

Salem Day 2!

Well, dear ones, day 2 here in Salem was perfect!  It rained and stormed and the wind howled all day and all night.  The wind whistled around this old hotel making it the perfect setting for a spooky celebration like Halloween!  I was so thrilled!  I could not have asked for a better place to be on a stormy day!

I did finally decide to brave the storm and go outside and walk the streets of Salem.  It was so cold and the wind kept turning my umbrella inside out but I had a purpose in mind.  I took along my video camera and I thought what better day than this stormy, dark day to go to the oldest cemetery in Salem and to the Witches Memorial.  Unfortunately with all the water and leaves, it was virtually impossible to see all the names at the memorial but nevertheless I did film there.  The “Burying Point” cemetery sits right next to the Witches Memorial but I was unable to enter because of water standing at the entrance.  Anyway, I did go on and continued to video as I walked around the streets.  Salem is a lovely city and it has so much atmosphere!  Of course, I took many photos of Halloween decorations!

When I finally returned to my hotel I was very wet, cold and hungry.  My room was quite inviting!  I decided to view the videos I just took and I am not good at shooting video!  The videos were good as far as the information I was sharing but the quality!  It was the Blair Witch all over again.  These videos sucked and I made myself sick watching them!  Jason said we can edit the bad parts out but I don’t think so.  If we do come up with something good, I’ll be posting it so stay spooky-tuned!

So even now as I sit here and look out the window, it is blowing so hard out there that I can see that the rain is horizontal.  The wind chill is 47 degrees.  Not a good day for sightseeing!  I guess I’ll just ride this out tucked in right here in my warm and cozy room at the Hawthorne Hotel.  There are a couple of horror/monster movie marathons on TV so I’m in my element!  I’ve included a few photos below.  Will speak tomorrow!

Love ya,
Janet

Salem Day 1!!!

Well, freakies, I have made it.  I’m here in beautiful Salem, Massachusetts.  I must say that it is quite lovely here.  The drive from the airport was picture postcard perfect.  I even saw the Atlantic Ocean on my way.  The air here in Salem is not dry as I thought it would be.  Actually it is very damp.  If it wasn’t so cold, it would feel like a humid day just like in Houston.

The people here are mostly nice but their ways are very different from ours.  I’m used to southern hospitality as you know.  The first thing I noticed is that I received no help with my luggage.  I was carrying a camera bag, a computer bag and a very heavy suitcase.  When the van got me to the hotel, the driver took my luggage out of the van but left it standing there on the sidewalk so I took hold of it and tried to bully it through the door.  I was not having good luck with it at all.  It was heavy and I kept banging my ankles with bags.  Finally some people came out the door and they held it open for me.  Then I proceed to the front desk and I get the usual “front desk” kind of look that they all are so famous for.  So I get all checked in, they hand me my door key and say thank you.  Well thank you to you too!  There was no one to help me up to my room with my luggage!  No one even offered!  Well, thank you, drive through!  What no bellboys with their hands out wanting tips?  This has to be a first for me.  Nevertheless, I managed to get up to my room and the room is wonderful.  Now if I can figure out how to turn on the heat.

As soon as I got a bit settled, I raced outside to get some photos!  That’s my real purpose for this trip.  Oh, and I wasn’t disappointed with this!  I got some great photos and I never went more than a couple of blocks from the hotel.  Salem is really a small city.  It’s no more than about a mile from one end to the other.  You can really walk to everything if you wanted to.  I did see a couple of panhandlers in the park.

Now at this point I’m really starving so I make my way back to the hotel.  Have you ever noticed that when you look forward to doing something for a long time and when you finally get to do it, everything begins to go wrong?  Well, my problems with my luggage have been ongoing considering the fact that I tripped over my computer bag on the jet way as you leave the plane and I almost crashed into a lady sitting there in a wheelchair.  I didn’t feel too bad because the man in front of me was pulling his bag along on rollers and it got stuck on a corner that was there.  So here we are, the man’s pulling and tugging trying to get his bag free and I’m trying my best not to land squarely in the lap of the lady in the wheelchair.  Do you think it was the wheelchair lady’s fault?  And why do we always want someone else to suffer along with us?  Me, the man and our luggage!

So here I’m really tired, hungry and my ankles are aching.  I walk in the restaurant and I immediately feel uncomfortable.  It’s because I’m alone.  When you are eating alone, you feel like everyone is looking at you.  The service was good and so was the food BUT you guessed it, I screwed up again.  Things have been so rocky since the airplane landed that I swear someone has put a curse on me or something.  Now I pull a good one.  While I’m eating I suddenly turn around to look at something over my shoulder and what’d I do?  I knocked my damn sandwich on the floor!  So what’s the first thing we do when we do something really stupid?  We look around real quick to see if anyone is looking, right?  Fortunately, I didn’t knock the whole sandwich over, just a portion but it’s a club sandwich and there’s about six layers to each section.  Well one of my sections is now on the floor and I’m trying to pick up the pieces with no one seeing me.  I’m having trouble bending over to get at it and then I get this picture in my mind of me and the chair toppling over.  That struck horror in my soul so I left a piece of chicken on the floor.  I kicked it under one of the legs of the table and they’ll probably find it in about 10 years.  And no, I did not eat it.  One of the pieces came up with what looked like an orange feather on it.  Nope, won’t be eating that!

I did finally eat and went to my room.  I was exhausted!  Hmmm, there may be a ghost in here.  I just felt someone or something playing with my hair on the top of my head.  I thought maybe it was a spider or something but nothing’s there.  Thank gawd!  I hate spiders and I would have run screaming down the hallway.  Now I’ve got the heebie jeebies …. stuff crawling on me.

Let me tell you a funny story.  The whole time I was on the airplane, I kept smelling the most beautiful fragrance.  It was a haunting odor.  You ever smelled something like that?  I couldn’t figure out what it was or where it was coming from but I really liked it.  I’m thinking that I sure would like to find perfume that smelled like that.  Anyway, I enjoyed it the whole flight.  It smelled vaguely familiar like I had smelled it somewhere before.  After I left the airplane and for the whole drive to the hotel, I didn’t smell it anymore.  I really didn’t give it another thought until when I took a bath.  For some reason I could smell it now in the bathroom.  I thought how strange it was.  I was loving it and then suddenly I realized, the odor was the lotion I had put on my face.  So, I was sitting there on the airplane, a window seat, smelling my own face!  Oh my gawd, I have to be the silliest dumbass I’ve ever known!  I had just started using this lotion a couple of weeks ago and there I was smelling my own face bouncing off the airplane window!  Dork!

And that was my first day in Salem!  I’ve included some of my first photos.

Luvs,
Janet