new grandbaby Izzy's Santa Sack, and new gift tags for the Santa Bags all around! it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎅🌲

we took David and Melissa out for his birthday, then hit Walmart. picked up hotel snacks for next weekend. and other essentials...like chimichungas.

stolen pics from our KC Wine Co day.

Found my Joplin notes and I have no less than 18 "if I have time" side trips.

mind you we have the conference from 12-5 Friday and 9-5 Saturday. The Bonnie & Clyde hangout is a MUST. and I really want to go eat at their favorite place on Main st. it's a steakhouse now, so pretty sure Kevin will be alright with that. thinking I'll wear my ridiculous Bigfoot pants? cause what would be a more appropriate place? other than the Oddities and Curiousities Expo, but the boat done sailed on that one.

found another diary tonight looking for our 2020 taxes Kevin needed for paperwork...

no date. found a Reese's peanut butter cup christmas tree melted into register under couch cleaning LR. ain't motherhood grand? Brother Markum called to tell us services will be held in the not quite completed new church since furnace in old church isnt' working right.

Jan 9 another red letter mom day here in north Missouri. it all started driving to work the low collant light flashed on and off, stayed on all the way home, had Kevin check it out, I'm throwing fluid so it goes in shop tomorrow. I wanted to borrow Koren's car and she told me I always slam the door too hard and it's gonna fall off. Katie hid the money she was supposed to pay Kay today. (her sunday school offerings often end up in her money jar.) . Kate found the money, then we took it to Kay's. Katie likes to pay her, so just leave the money in her bag that she takes with her. I was pissed about something online I was trying to do, then Kate was pissed and throwing stuff all over the already trashed LR, so I told her if she threw anything else, she's never be allowed in the LR ever again, which is the lamest threat ever since this is a main exit/entrance point. she put on her boots and went out to build an igloo like she'd seen on tv. we're all in a mood today, it seems.

Jan 8. made the preschool snow ice cream recipe after we got home from Family Reading Night. Donnie Stark is the new school janitor.

KJ got his lip caught in his braces twice yesterday. Ortho told him to rince with saltwater for the bruise. he didn't want to and announced it didn't hurt anymore.

JAn 7. Kevin called to see if I was ready to be picked up, we were waiting on truck to show up for 3rd load feeder pigs, so Martha brought me home.

Jan 5. all area schools cancelled. Kevin brought me home 2L of Pepsi and put in fridge. Kj to orthodontist. 9.5 degrees at 6:25 a.m. Kate was in snow to her knees helping me feed dogs.listed books on eBay.

Jan 4 snowed in. I got Lumina stuck on curve trying to get to town for Pepsi. Kevin had to save me. I. am. out. of. Pepsi. Lije came in on tractor to check cows and brought me a bottle of Pepsi and bladed our road and driveway. said roads were almost impassable by tractor.

Jan 3. I am grateful for many things. that we are together and healthy. for Midol, Always with Wings and Sudafed. Puffs Plus with lotion. for our jobs such as they are. for a landlady who lets us get behind on the rent when times are tough or I just flat out forget to pay it without evicting us. that our December bills are paid except for property taxes. a washer and dryer that work. vehicles that run. that we're so far surviving Debtscape payments. that I haven't completely lost it yet that our first child is about to fly the coop. we have food in the house and gas $ till payday. that Finding Nemo made it to satellite, cheaper to rent than buy the vhs. and that I finally remembered to buy Koren a phone. I am grateful that it is my weekend off and I can wear jammies all day. that I have time to read and scrapbook. that I'm still tough enough to work in the barn. and that I've made it almost 2 years without surgery. the computer. Koren checked out Grandma Grace at HyVee today and bagged her groceries.

Jan 2.not going to go into details here, but I was in a mood. You think he'd throw water on me if I was on fire???? Marriage.

Dec 28. Kj's bible he lost at church camp came back!

Dec 27 Katie has been falling asleep on floor working on her projects. Kate loves to play with Max.

Dec 14. Kj's Book It Pizza at Pizza Hut.

Dec 19. how time flies. when I was 18 I was head over heels in love. I had no career plans. now I think I'd like to be a paleontologist. or live in a Victorian mansion on a cliff overlooking the sea. or be a Civil War scholar scouring attics for old journals and letters, or work in a zoo or a book store or as a photographer. a writer. a librarian. travel in time to solve the Lizzie Borden or Jack the Ripper cases. or to feel the hot prairie son and be afraid of half dressed Indian braves and trying to herd too many small children in a wagon train? I try to keep genealogy current and scrapbook family memories, not an exciting life, butr it is my life. will I be remembered as a hog barn drudge or a mom who did whatever she had to for her kids? will you rememeber me lying on the bed staring out the window forgetting to make supper? our messy house? the rare trips to Pizza Hut? how I always tried to get you what you really wanted? for xmas and your birthday? the sleepovers? building snowmen? walking endless zoos and cemeteries? me telling you to 'put that back' at the store? how much I loved you? how much your dad and I loved each other?

Dec 20. Koren got a list of apartments from the college and soon she'll really be gone. no more piles of laundry, mountains of Mountain Dew bottles, no bidding on eBay from school, no stale cigarette smoke smell...going to see SAnta on the square, then take the kids to see Cat in the Hat although my cousin Robin warned me it. is. not. a. kids. movie.

'Whether fate decides our course or the imagination persists through the generations, I cannot say.'

Dec 23. I fell through a gate today carrying my AI supplies, smashed my head into a gate, my hand through a gate, and banged my damn knees up on the slats. Earlier I had leaned over and got my hair caught in the electric tail burner I had plugged in overhead. Katie has been 'too sad to sleep" and 'too scared to sleep'. 'the curtains scare me because I can see the black.'

xmas eve. I hurt like a mother from my little fall yesterday. katie got a Dora doll and guitar. Kj got new GameBoys games and a Video Now.

Dec 1. KAte spent $18 of her birthday money at DG on a Bratzy dress up doll, light up wand, and Kelly toys.

Dec 2. Kevin lets Kate open her advent calander and eat the chocolate before school. sleet.

Dec 3. Kate stayed home cough and fever. I went to work with cough and fever. (gonna be 100% honest here, I've went to work contagious with about every damn thing over the years....)

Dec 4. KAte woke me up at 2:30 with a fever. Kate and I to dr. my ribs hurt from coughing. we have 'the new strain of flu.' Rx of Promethazine. (nasty tasting magical no more cough and comatose sleep medicine.) Kate 47.5. I'm 222.

Dec 5. KJ went to school nurse FOUR times today with headache, he is now feverish and puking.

Dec 7. do I feel better? I work up at the exact time I'm supposed to check risers. will I get fired today?

Dec 13. Katie on day 4 of 10 day antibiotic. sent Koren off to work with the car phone. the roads make me nervous.

half day. can't buy 3 cold medications at Dollar General on same day. Walmart doesn't give a fuck how much cold medicine I buy for the 5 sick people in my house. ugh.

Nov 23. Katie was supposed to be a cow in the church Christmas play, but she wants to be a monkey, so I'll make her a costume. Kj is sick. Koren called in sick to work. Can't get her to take NyQuil. my firm belief is if you take it for a week you'll feel better or you'll die. either way, problem solved. blundered into Chillicothe the day of the damned Xmas parade. ugh.

Thanksgiving, Kate & I helped do chores at farm until she got sick and had to come home. KJ still has diarrhea. he missed school again yesterday.

Day after Thanksgiving, saw Brother Bear at Corydon theater. bank said 16 degrees.

Nov 29. Kj says he still has diarrhea. KJ, KATe, and I to Mom and Dad's for supper.

Nov 30 Brown family dinner. KAtie took a blanket from Koren's bed for her tent and Koren took it back.

no date. Miss Val told Koren when she picked Katie up from preschool that when asked how the kids Thanksgivings had been, Katie said hers was horrible because Cody was there and she hated him.

Jan 11 Kevin asked me when I woke up at 2a.m.ish to go to bathroom where Koren was. she doesn't appear to have come home from work. he thinks she spent the night at Cody's. Cody called about 3:30 a.m. to say she'd fell asleep at his house and she came home with Cody about 4 a.m. and asked why I was up.

Jan 12 KJ stayed home from school with cough. Kate rode the bus for the first time.

Jan 13. I love the way death is presented in Sins Of The Seven Sisters. when grown up Hughie goes to cemetery, he sees his great aunt Almeda striding around like she looked the first time he met her. she tells him she wants moved to a different cemetery, there is no one to talk to there. they can only go so far away, and John Wilkes Booth gets up twice a week and takes a shot at Her. when someone else comes, she just disappears. low antifreeze light coming on again. used KJ's Book It at Pizza Hut. used Koren's 10% HyVee discount. she checked us out. KJ home from school again. c/o ear pain. sinus and ear infection, bag of antibiotics, weighs 112. fire at Mercer city Hall a.m.

"Many famous people never got a college degree, people like Thomas Alva Edison, Harry S. Truman, and John Wilkes Booth." Kj home sick again today. Princeton Post said City Hall fire was suspected arson, objects thrown in thru back windows. Koren requested an early out note so she can go to O'Reilly's on her way to work for more car parts.

no date: the church van kids didn't get to take part in Moving Day. KAte fell on ice in driveway, KJ half carried, half drug her to house. she was screaming because his pieces of pizza were bigger than hers, and her poor nose is raw from her cold, she finally locked herself in our only bathroom with her box of Kleenix. she opened up color books all over livingroom and placed piles of crayons by them so she could stay up all night coloring. bitter cold.

Jan 17. Kevin took KJ to BB clinic, I picked him up after work. he won his 2nd Gatoraide at the Gator shoot! and Katie and I again got to see it!

Jan 16 took $18 to fill the Lumina.

Jan. 15 found out on the yearbook order form that Katie brought home that Koren is on yearbook. KJ was top speller in Spelling Bee Tryout! Kate brought home her first book bag. (at this point and time I ahve no idea...guessing this was a big deal.) Koren's graduation trunk arrived today, also going to order her a picture frame. not a lot to send a kid out in the world with....I wish we could do more.

Jan 19. left work early and picked up KAtie to go to dr we both have sinus infections. she weighs 48, me 232. Dr. concerned with my tonsils and possible sleep apnea. wants me to do a sleep study and consider tonsil removal.

JAn 20. Kate rode bus to and from school. last week Kevin called me on way to work, he saw a bald eagle by Gary Porters. (this used to be a rare thing. now we see eagles often. it is amazing.

JAn 23. KJ wore his shirt backwards to school for picture day. the poor guy really needs a mom who's home in the morning. Katie hid her Rx and acted like she took it. Koren decided Teen Court was gay.

Jim Palmers conservation column didn't address the mountain lion checked in at Robinsons Station, but did say the fuzzy pic printed in The Mirror was an internet fraud. it was taken in Washington in 2002.

(I have this in no particular order) JAn 30. cold, cold, cold. my riser day. busted my ass on a divider lying under the snow. actually fell flat on my back. KA-BOOM!

Jan 28. tax day.

Jan. 27 satellite disconnected. said they didn't receive payment, Kevin argued over phone and finally got it turned back on with a reconnect fee. Miss VAl says Katie, Kelsey, and Destiny put on shows on the picnic tables at recess.

JAn 24 Koren checked me through her express 12 or less items lane at HyVee. Katie ate her ENTIRE Happy Meal, down to the last french fry. Dixie called about 8:20 p.m. and started the conversation with "I'm going to ask you a something and don't you lie to me." someone had told her they saw a little truck with Iowa plates at Lije's and that Barbara who used to run the Lineville cafe would ruin Lije and her 4 boys would take everything and throw Kevin out on the street and he better tell his dad.

Jan 23. to Mom's store. Sears had sent us the wrong portraits, they called, I will mail these back and they'll send right ones. Financial aid meeting for college. KAtie is excited learning about whales, the ocean, and salt water. Chery Berndt had another daughter, 5 lbs. Trinity.

Feb 2. Groundhog Day. he saw his shadow. Kevin took me to work, slick and snowing, all area schools cancelled BUT Mercer, they really value the lives of their students. I'll give them that. Martha brought me home. KAte set up an elaborate camping game. with bed and blankets for her babies, a gun for protection, food & dishes, a dinosaur to type on her toy computer, and a realistic campfire made out of sidewalk chalk.Markham's garage caught on fire about the same time Brian Hardin fell off his roof.

Jan. 31 KJ is coughing again. Valetines Photo Shoot at Jody's Little Photo Shop. spilled my plate of roast, carrots, and potatoes on living room rug. Kevin went to borrow a 4wd and met his dad's new girlfriend. not who Dixie thought it was. took the littles to Cold Mountain, when we left all the other adults were scowling at me (another inappropriate movie). Kj took her to bathroom during movie for me.

no year given. Feb. 3: left work early for dr appt. B/P 130/90. blood sugar 94. hemoglobin 12 or 14. weight 232 in boots and holding George Washington book. Dr. didn't say one word about my weight (this time) but did get on me for caffeine addiction.

Feb. 4: Kate bought herself $2.49 in snacks at Ragan's with $ from her change jar. while studying for Spelling Bee I learn that my hair has a description: "hoary." can I remove the proofs on the kids picture packs and not order them? I kinda think I've done it before. and I'm still walking around a free woman.

Feb5: Kevin took me to/from work, blizzard white out conditions. school out at noon for weather. Katie gave her Dora a haircut. black wisps of hair everywhere. KJ got on deathwatch.com to see when we'd all die. me 2004. Kevin 2019.

Feb. 6 stayed home with kids since I'd already taken day off and school was called off. hit my not quite healed shaving boo boo at work and about bled to death.

Nov 18. Kevin got his deer, a little 6 pt. button buck. make beer bread and cheesey potato soup from mixes for supper.

>

Nov 17. Breadeaux Beat The Clock pizza for supper. requested I make a Thanksgiving dinner since it is her last one at home. (so this entry is 2003.)

>Nov. 16. hb $2.69/lb. at Ragans. took Katie and KJ to see Scary Movie 3. (I always was the best mom for taking kids to inappropriate movies.)

Nov 19. Katie helped Kevin cut up his deer. she bummed rides with Grandpa Lije on 4wheeler and tractor, showed us the Indian dance she learned at school.

Nov. 20. where is the mop?

movies watched today: Alone With Bigfoot and started Creatures, but had to stop to wrap up in a blanket and stare off into the abyss cause I opened the windows today and wonderful cool air.

also did some phone call stuff off my list, picked up Kevin Rx, and since DG was out of instant rice, bought REAL rice that you have to cook for my stirfry tonight. and I'm not a fan. add that to the list of stuff I prefer to have no contact with: fresh milk. cats. country music. cleaned that mud off from front windows from powerwashing, which was now of course just dust. rediscovered Katie's TikTok, and watched everyone . that girl has talent. I realize it's an app but still. she has such an amazing record of her life. and I love the way Brayden picks her up and tosses her around dancing. this is a time in my life, due to my own eating habits, that there will be no picking up and slinging around for entertainment purposes....maybe to save the carcas for the life insurance proof. but the Polaris has a winch on the front like that little Jeep in Jurassic Park, so probably not necessary for my husband to pick my abundant self up.

today went to farm to help out, then took Izzy and Ann to Bethany ER where the Dr. agreed with yesterdays Dr. that baby Izzy is ok.

Ann worries. Izzy is pretty perfect in my book. and I learn something on all these Dr. visits, too. my Grandma Grace WAS correctly burping the baby.

When I said that I loved you I meant that I loved you forever.... 39 and counting ❤️

Koren: Here’s to 39 years! ❤️🍾 happy anniversary!

Zerelda has strep throat and couldn't go to school today since she was contagious, so Daddy dropped her off on way to work and we hung out all day.

I learned that she loves the Pete the Cat White Shoes song. and that she can swing in the big kids swing now. She was as good as she could be on the car rides and the Dr. and Hospital visit (Dr ordered chest and stomach x-rays.) she also helped me vacuum the living room and hallway at her house. we got ice cream at DQ (she calls it The Queen) and she took a nap on way home, then we went to the park until Daddy picked her up. She asked nicely for Barbie to go home with her and Daddy said yes. I am always amazed at her eyes. A sick day means playing at Gramma's.... Zerelda loves her Zombies 🧟🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

I tried to start watching Devil in Ohio, but it has the Dr from Bones in it and she just annoys me. throw in Nicolas Cage and Sandra Bullock, why not. I. just. can't.

Chiefs lost yesterday. it wasn't pretty. like I always say, it ain't easy being a Chiefs fan.

Witchy Women 🪄 finished up the girls today.

also finished up Monster Jeffrey Dahmer on Netflix and watched the new GA. Kevin took an early out. went to bank, then we went to State Farm for a premium quote and picked up the meat order forms at locker (appt. is made. The Procrastinator finally got it done.) tried the Detroit Pizza at Pizza Hut.

PLACED 16TH IN THEIR GROUP We would like to thank you for supporting Deb Dailey in this competition. Your participation allows us to aid the B+ Foundation in its mission to provide financial assistance to families, fund childhood cancer research, bring awareness to the fight against childhood cancer, and spread positivity!

so that is over. made the first witch doll today. is she really done? will have to sleep on it...

and some snapchat fun.

a copycat phenomenon that has left its prints in casino garages across Southern Nevada.

Some say it started at the Stratosphere. But it’s impossible to know where or when the first tourist was drunk or bored enough to pull off a shoe and slam it on the ceiling or a low-hanging beam. “It’s usually young people — a guy picking up his girlfriend and walking her across the ceiling,” said one casino official. “I’m not sure why they do it, probably because they can.” Why the Sahara’s collection is the most notable is likely the product of low ceilings and an old garage that hasn’t had a new coat of paint in some time, said Jenna Novotny, the property’s marketing manager. “People have had a lot of opportunity to do it,” she said.

(I was neither drunk nor bored, but smacked my croc onto a beam and left a footprint at The Excalibur. deb)

Mel has Covid and Izzy has The Flu.

got her Tama Flu. Ann is understandably worried. she is only 2 months old. another beautiful autumn day.

The Phoenix Lights (sometimes called the "Lights Over Phoenix") were a series of widely sighted unidentified flying objects observed in the skies over the southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada, and the Mexican state of Sonora on March 13, 1997.

Lights of varying descriptions were seen by thousands of people between 7:30 pm and 10:30 pm MST, in a space of about 300 miles from the Nevada line, through Phoenix, to the edge of Tucson. There were two distinct events involved in the incident: a triangular formation of lights seen to pass over the state, and a series of stationary lights seen in the Phoenix area.

The United States Air Force identified the second group of lights as flares dropped by A-10 Warthog aircraft that were on training exercises at the Barry Goldwater Range in southwest Arizona. Witnesses claim to have observed a huge carpenter's square-shaped UFO, containing five spherical lights or possibly light-emitting engines. Fife Symington, the governor of Arizona at the time, years later said he witnessed this incident, describing the object as being "otherworldly."

The lights were reported to have reappeared in 2007 and 2008, and were attributed to military flares dropped by fighter aircraft at Luke Air Force Base and flares attached to helium balloons released by a civilian, respectively. (now of course, I didn't witness this myself, BUT I was in Phoenix September 2022 at the airport. and. I. believe deb.)

#ghosthuntingwithtracyanddeb Tracy's Haunted House

Tracy says her house is haunted. The dogs look intently at nothing. Lights turn on. Fan changes speed. Hear footsteps in hall. Update. woke up next morning. the pic I took of the room door was up on my phone. It took me a while to go to sleep. Room was 100% dark. dum dum dum.... the last night I was there, was squatted on floor in dark plugging my phone in when there was a blinding bright light in my eye. like INSIDE my eye.

#ghosthuntingwithtracyanddeb The Luxor

Las Vegas is a city that is full of incredible stories of legend. This is certainly the case when it comes to the Luxor, where it is believed that an eerily high number of deaths have taken place at the venue, resulting in a huge amount of paranormal activity. Let’s take a look at its history to find out how it got dubbed the most haunted casino hotel in Sin City.

The iconic pyramid-shaped casino resort has a notorious reputation for being linked with numerous suspicious and untimely deaths. Many guests that have chosen to stay at the 4,407 room Egyptian-themed resort have frequently shared their experiences of ghostly events. If you take a look at the history of the venue it’s not surprising that there are so many claims of haunted sightings within the property. The impressive building, which is one of the world’s largest hotels and the 4th largest pyramid, opened in 1993 and took only 18 months and $375 million to build. It is thought that several construction workers died during the building process, with conspiracy theorists suggesting that the management kept these deaths under wraps to save the reputation of the resort. Reasonable grounds for haunting don’t you think? There are also some who argue that the Luxor was doomed to be haunted before it was even built, simply because it is designed like an Ancient Egyptian tomb – a sure fire way to upset the spirits. Many suggest that the Luxor’s haunting has increased since the hotel opened a Titanic themed exhibition in 2008. The exhibition contains parts of the doomed ship and personal items belonging to many of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

In Las Vegas hotels deaths are not exactly uncommon. Approximately 1,100 visitors die every year in Sin City with the majority being from natural causes. However, 15% of all deaths are suicides, 11% homicides, and an eery 6% go completely unexplained. Nearly all of these deaths will not be reported on because the whole of Las Vegas knows that bad news can affect tourism and reduce the city’s profits. As such, there is little proof of the many deaths that have occurred at the Luxor. However, even without these unreported deaths it is clear something strange is happening inside that famous black pyramid. The Luxor’s first reported death occurred in 1996 when a lady jumped from the 26th floor of the hotel. At the Luxor, suicides of this nature are made extra grisly because the pyramid shape of the building means those leaping to their deaths do so from indoor balconies. This means instead of the street they land in the building’s atrium amongst the other guests. Another guest is also believed to have fallen to his death, this time from the 10th floor. The circumstances around his death remain a mystery but there was no evidence to suggest his fall was voluntary. The Luxor has also seen deaths from many other causes. These have included strangulation, as was the case in the assault, robbery, and murder of a 16-year-old woman by the name of Sara Gruber. But perhaps the most alarming means of murder came in 2007 when a casino worker, 24-year-old Willebaldo Dorante Antonio, was killed by a home-made explosive device in a plot that Newsweek compared to the hit TV show CSI. The bomb was set under a plastic cup that had been left turned upside down on the top of his car. When Antonio turned the cup over the explosion was triggered, ripping a hole in the car’s roof and killing him. The casino was not evacuated, and it continued to run as normal. Three years later, the highest profile death took place at the resort. UNLV football player Demario Reynolds got into a fight with another guest, Jason Simon Sindelar, over his partner. Sindelar was an MMA fighter and struck a devastating blow to Reynolds, who then fell unconscious after hitting the floor and never woke again. In 2010 a court ruled that Reynolds had died from an overdose and not from the fight. 2012 saw the next death – a casino employee was murdered by their boyfriend in full view of the public in the lobby, scarring those who witnessed the murder. The same year, a case of Legionnaires’ disease took another victim at the hotel. Two cases had been identified previously, with the water being treated both times. However, this third case was not picked up quickly enough because tests on the water came back negative until just after the victim’s death. Creepy. A third bizarre death took place that year when an airman visiting from Nellis Air Force Base mysteriously fell 25 feet down an elevator shaft. Once again, no evidence suggested that the victim’s fall was intentional.

But who are the ghosts? The Deadly Blonde The most common ghost guests report seeing at the Luxor is a mysterious blonde lady who is often seen in bedrooms on the Luxor’s 12th floor. Guests sleeping in these rooms have been known to wake up fighting for breath and feeling as if they were being choked. Others report catching glimpses of the woman standing over their bed or feeling a phantom hand running across their face. The hushed-up deaths of several workers during the building’s construction in the 1990s has reportedly led to the appearance of many ghosts. These were most commonly seen on the dark banks and tunnels of the hotel’s old ‘Nile River Tour’ an attraction where guests were ferried to different parts of the pyramid by boat. Many have suggested that the sight of so many ghosts was one of the main reasons the Luxor demolished the river tour during later renovations. The Luxor’s exhibition on the Titanic includes over 300 artifacts recovered from the bottom of the ocean. Many of these items are extremely personal including clothing, purses, and glasses. Whilst interesting to look at there have been tons of reports of the item’s original owners coming back to haunt the exhibition, including a shadowy figure who has frequently been seen standing on a near-perfect replica of the doomed ship’s grand staircase. Other guests have also caught glimpses of one of the Titanic’s lookouts, Frederick Fleet, who committed suicide in 1965. He stands on the exhibition’s Promenade deck peering out into the gloom, searching for the fateful iceberg.

For example, it is believed that pyramids in Ancient Egypt required a Sphinx to be facing both East and West so that the pyramid was protected from evil on both sides. The Luxor pyramid only has one Sphinx facing East, potentially leaving it exposed to evil spirits. People also forget that Egyptian pyramids are actually tombs built on the West side of the river Nile. This is the side where the sun sets and where Ancient Egyptians believed the newly dead entered the underworld. It just so happens that the Luxor is built on the West side of the Las Vegas strip.

so, on Sunday deb was 🎶 standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona 🎶

we were on the way to their close friends sons birthday party. we stopped at Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City; in Two Guns at an old abandoned gas station, campground, and Mountain Lion zoo attraction along Route 66; and saw mule deer, prairie dogs, and pronghorn antelope. about hit 2 black good sized steers just ambling across the road in the dark on way home....the guy in other lane did hit them.

Monday Tracy took me to The WigWam Motel, where the newest National Lampoon Vacation movie was filmed. we saw a huge crow at The Petrified Forest. we did Route 66 stuff in Holbrook. so many cool old vehicles and dinosaur statues. then just kicked back watching tv with Tracy's mom. The Queens Funeral procession. cooking channel stuff. the news.

Tuesday we got up at 5 a.m. to leave at 5:30 a.m. so I could get to airport in Phoenix. Tracy walked me as far as she could, and I found my gate. used my phone for check in this go round. couldn't get my suitcase shoved into above seat cabinet. had some helpful suggestions from other passangers and was holding up the line. took out the books I'd shoved in outside pocket, put them in my little under seat bag. nice guy shoved my suitcase up and then took it down for me when we arrived in Denver. so, when I get off plane, I find #1 The Bathroom, #2 my gate, and #3 any possible Pepsi. they were asking for volunteers to check bags since the flight was full,and since it was my last leg and I was done in Des Moines, I did my first bag check. then when we got to Des Moines, I found #1 The Bathroom, #2 The Baggage Claim, and #3 there was no Pepsi machine. so, got my bag, figured out which shuttle I needed to parking lot, and got off at right lot. my ears didn't pop till Indianola. when I got to Phoenix on Wednesday, they didn't pop for a couple of hours.

did I mention the prairie dogs in Taylor where they live? I had a little guest room. I am happy for them. They love Arizona. they bought a National Park Pass for $80 a year and can go to any national park unlimited times. they do a lot of day trips. they have a nice house. and they were super gracious hosts. and tour guides.

I saw a Bigfoot sculpture in Vegas, and a cut out at Denver Airport. Tracy found me a Bigfoot sticker at The Petrified Museum.

we drove past reservations. they are desolute looking places, with people living in shacks with no electric or water. saw homeless people. the Phoenix landfill is built on The Rez. on the way to airport Tuesday saw an Arizona sunrise and 2 rainbows. lots of people camp off the grid out there. hippie busses. excellent star gazing. in their town, no residential street lights. Off white honesty. saw some lizards or geckos or something reptile like. saw after effects of fire. you wouldn't think the desert could burn, but it does. the cactus. it was like living in a Live Action Western. I know Kevin would love it out there. I will get this man on a plane.

Slaughterhouse Canyon Road.

this was a cool stop. just in the middle of nowhere, as many of these things tend to be.

If you're among those who seek out hair raising experiences for the fun of it, then head to Kingman to the base of Luana's Canyon, more commonly referred to as Slaughterhouse Canyon.

There's a longstanding legend that surrounds this eerie canyon and, if the story behind it is true (which can't be proven), it's horrific, tragic and just plain sad. Legend has it that during the 1800s, a family lived down in the bottoms of Slaughterhouse Canyon. You can probably guess the first part of this tragic story: one time he left, and he never returned. Meanwhile, his wife and children were left alone in the canyon and they slowly began to starve.

As with any canyon, if you yell loud enough, the echo will eventually make its way right back to you — and as the family began to wither away, their screams of starvation would circulate all around the canyon. Eventually (as the legend goes... ) the mother couldn't bear to hear her children's painful screams — and so she murdered them and then took her own life. Visitors to Slaughterhouse Canyon have reported feeling the anguish that still permeates the air. And on evenings and nights when the air is still and thick, it's reported that you can hear the screams of the kids and of the mother as she made the tragic decision to end their suffering.

definitely eerie out there. there are houses just down the road. are they haunted? do they hear ghostly screams?

epic friendcation day 1 continued....adding Arizona & Nevada to my states list.

went to Travis Walton pay phone. Hole in Rock. Goldfield Ghost Town. (Ghost Adventures were here!) gas station with self checkout. that, my friends, is an idea whose time has come.

and now this brings us to Thursday. day. 2. The. Grand. Canyon. there are no words. it's like looking at a 3-D painting. and a major temp. drop. saw wild horses, elk, and deer. also some type of lizard. did Fred Flintstone pics. ate at In-N-Out Burger. cause we're on our way to Vegas, baby! Las Vegas, Nevada! we stayed at the Excalibur Hotel on THE 13TH FLOOR after we saw a BLACK CAT CROSSING THE ROAD coming out of parking garage. I couldn't get a bedtime Pepsi, couldn't get my card to work, and my cash was wrinkly.

Day 3. Friday. we bought drinks for their Yeti cooler (no mini fridge in room) and iced our drinks down. yeah, baby. morning and bedtime Pepsi for the debster now. we ate in hotel: Krispy Kreme. CinnaBon. a sportsbar for supper. took the tram (like a subway). went to the haunted Luxor Hotel. walked the strip. Coca Cola Store. Hersheys Store. M&M Store. the main agenda of the day was Zak Bagans Haunted Museum. it was everything I thought it'd be and more. watched some famous fountain do it's thing.

now it's Day 4. Saturday. today's Main Event was The Oddities and Curiousities Expo. it was crazy. taxidermied stillborn puppies for $800. mummified rat claws. bloodstones made from human blood. and they'd make them to order. cow skulls. human bones. fetal mice in tiny jars of embalming fluid. paintings of naked women. dead peoples things. I loved people watching. so many cool outfits. I was underdressed in my Serial Killers tee. the puppies really bothered me. but then Tracy found the tiny little mouse heads glued onto old fashioned studio portrait cards and I couldn't decide which one to throw $40 at. I also bought a bumper sticker; a poppet made from a mediums old shirt, her feelings and intentions, and herbs; a zip event hoodie; a charm; and a limited edition signed Stephen King print. (framed it first thing this morning and added to Stephen King collection.) there were cool witch dolls that I am going to try to imitate. just a little bit of everything. pic by the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.

I. was. here. The pay telephones where Travis Walton called for help after his UFO abduction.

The Travis Walton UFO incident was an alleged alien abduction of American forestry worker Travis Walton by a UFO on November 5, 1975, while he was working in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests near Snowflake, Arizona. Walton was missing for five days and six hours. After days of searching with scent dogs and helicopters, Walton says he reappeared by the side of a road near Heber, Arizona. The Walton case received mainstream publicity and remains one of the best-known alien abduction stories, while scientific skeptics consider it a hoax. In 1978, Walton wrote a book about his purported abduction titled The Walton Experience, which was adapted into the 1993 film Fire in the Sky

my ghost hunting friend Tracy really is the hostes with the mostest. she planned so many fun (some haunted) and quirky things!

I'd never flown. after my ghost hunting friend Tracy moved to Arizona, she said she'd get me plane tickets for Xmas and I'd fly out there and we'd ghost hunt.

the time came, I drove to Des Moines airport. alone. took me 3 tries to get into the parking lot. I can't follow GPS directions. I just can't. Navigated through the airport. did the self check in kiosk although I had tickets downloaded to my phone, so I wouldn't hold up the line trying to find the tickets. bought a Pepsi from a vending machine right inside door, chugged half, and threw it away during security check. after all my worry about the 3-1-1 bag, they didn't even look at it. convinced myself after take off that I was on the wrong plane. (I knew when they scanned the ticket, they'd tell you if you were boarding the wrong plane, but I also knew that somehow, someway, their system wasn't working and I'd be stranded in Bozemen, Montana. ) Middle seat. inside the plane sounded like powerwashing by a constantly running B Barn heater. Whoosy and rumbly.had a free water and a free snack mix. (did this all 4 flights.) got off plane, found a Pepsi-which is harder than you think. All the airports were 99.0% Coke. you had to really look. paid between $2.50-$4.75 for a Pepsi. worth every bloody nickel. found 2nd gate. and I got a window seat! it was less scary looking out windows at the clouds. I'm a cloud watcher, and they're just as cool from up in the air. I found Rip Running, alligators, dragons, all kinds of stuff. the clouds looked like snow and the sky like water.

Tracy was waiting for me at Baggage Claim and away we went! ate lunch at Famous Daves. saw wild horses.. sagauro cactus.