cornerofmadness

It was an amusing start to the day. Well...didn't start amusing. I was woken up early than I wanted by noise. When I got to the Hamptons' comp breakfast I see that the room is filled. I sit down with my fresh made sweet potato waffle (with hot apple topping) with what has to be a pro/semi pro soccer team from Jamaica (since they all seemed to be later 20s early 30s, definitely NOT college aged) and they're watching soccer as they eat and shouting at the screen and each other like we're in a sports bar. Also I was the only one not on the team sitting there

I could not have asked for a better day. So cool and with a nice light breeze as I headed to Carillon Historical Park It's 65 acres of recreated (for the most part) village where all the buildings are little museums. The big welcome building had a stein collection of over 400 steins, history on several major innovators in Dayton including the Wright Brothers (naturally), Patterson (who did national cash registers) and Deeds (who was the one to donate the 57 bell carillon tower) There was bits about the brother's inventions (also there were animatronic 'innovators' telling their stories (those uncanny valley things freak me out).

There was 90 of those gorgeous antique cash registers, things of beauty as well as function (I rather miss that in the modern age). there were some old cars in there too and the world's most confusion carousel with just bizarre shit (though in a later picture of Wilbur I know understand the St Bernard style dog one), there was a cash register (had I gotten on I would have ridden that, it's the non moving bench one for grandma) cans of pop, chip bags, various animals.

From there I bought the 5 dollar train ride just to a) sit and enjoy the cool weather b) see the park and that was fun. From there I started investigating the offerings including (but not limited to) an antique fire truck car show (including two belgians and their fire carriage), Newcome tavern from 1796, a one room school house from the 1800s, the last surviving remnant of the Watervliet Shaker village, a horse barn (no horses), the hetzel summer kitchen and the really interesting stuff was:

Sugar Camp Waves cabin. I had no idea there were WAVES doing code breaking in Dayton in WWII
Gem City Letter press - which is an operational print shop (you can get a printed souvenier (I didn't))

The great 1913 flood exhibit. I had no idea Dayton was flooded up to 20 feet and horses were on the roofs because they swam there (more than a thousand drowned, poor things)

Dayton Cyclery that had some cool old bikes

The transportation center with some really cool old train cars and trolleys

The Wright Brothers national museum which included their No. 5 flyer which Orville felt was their best one. It was bigger than I imagined. Also I had no idea that Wilbur died so young (45 of typhoid fever)

The history on the hill interpretive center talking about the Hopewell people and the fact that this hill had been a small pox quarantine hospital (and after that for prostitutes with STDS)

I wish I remembered that Carillon Brewing had food and I'd have skipped the overpriced, underwhelming food trucks (I was still a little hungry and got a giant pretzel, nibbling on those leftovers now). They brew historical recipes and the one I got, coriander ale, was one of them, low abv, nice pale ale (not my usual choice) brewed with peppers and you could feel that.

From there I went to America’s Packard Museum I think the 20s-early 40s Packards were sexy cars. They were luxury, easily 3-5 times the price of an average car. The post WWII cars are less great (not a fan of the carribbean) they have one from the Godfather. They have one from a woman who wanted it kept for her when she returned from beyond the grave (the family kept it until 2015 when it came to the museum). The museum itself is from 1917 and was a Packard dealership.

I wanted to go next to Calvary Cemetery which I saw references to at the historical park. (this is not the cemetery I planned to go to) I put it in my new GPS (I can't use my phone. It's decided it doesn't know what the internet is) and it wants me to go to KY (that is not close). What I didn't know was that the Calvary in Moraine OH WAS the right one (that's a neighborhood, or sucked up suburb)

So I came home to the hotel for tea and relaxing and looking up the damn address. Here's the kick in the head. When I came out of the historical park I turned left on Patterson. If I had LOOKED right I would have seen the damn thing. It's right behind the park. Head desk (it's only like 7 miles so it's not a big deal). This is a CATHOLIC in all caps cemetery. Okay yes I've seen ones with more crucifixes but this had some truly interesting stuff.

What sucked it was the cloudless sky. SO many pictures are probably sun glared to death (I don't know. I haven't looked yet, you'll get pics another day). There were a few things I've rarely seen (btw do watch the video at the above link to know why I wanted to see it) lots of Mary statues by herself (one with cherubs at her feet which is unusual and another with her standing on the world crushing the serpent, much more familiar, how many times did I have to kiss that statue?) one family had stylized rosaries on their head stones. Some had historical markers (which was cool),found a whole mess of Nun graves, an entire section of baby graves (will use that picture the next time I bitch about Trump and RFK). There was even a brand new mausoleum. I swear to god I didn't know people were still making them!! (built about 20 years ago. They're still awaiting the fourth member or she choose to go elsewhere. She's my parents age so she could still be out there)

I went to dinner at Jimmie's Ladder 11 a bar/restaurant in an 1800s firehouse. It was good. I had their namesake sandwich (basically a reuben and a rachel in one sandwich) which was good. I wasn't going to drink but I decided I wanted the Grandma's Puddin' cocktail. Probably should have went with no drink. Don't get me wrong. It was tasty but a little small for the price. Putting it here for my own reference Giffard Banane du Brésil Liqueur, Five Farms Irish Cream, Oyo Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka, Cream

Now I'm in for the night (too tired to swim), off to the airforce stuff tomorrow.

So the only thing on deck today other than driving home was going to Hershey World. A) yes it's a giant tourist trap b) yes it's mostly for kids c) yes it's kinda hokey.

BUT I have wanted to do the 'factory' tour since I was a kid and never got to. I took myself. I got there early-ish lucky me (because there was no line and they have the queue line all dolled up with history to read while you sit around waiting. (I also was now on the clock. It was free to park for 3 hours, after that you were getting hit with a 35-60$ bill)

There is plenty of things to do at Hershey World as you can see. Most of it of course is geared to kids. I wasn't interested in that. One thing I thought SHOULD be on that web page is their no stroller policy. You can park them in the food court but with this level of people streaming in you couldn't just park it and level. I get why this is a rule. I saw the size of those strollers. You wouldn't be able to move inside but you should give people warning. Maybe I'm NOT taking my 1 and 3 year old if I have to carry them thru the whole thing and come back in a couple years...

I did not get through the gift shop unscathed (I'm talking POUNDAGE of chocolate here). This is where all the exclusive flavors were. I got me so many (good choice there, diabetic, good choice) cafe espresso and caramel macchiato and pumpkin spice latte nuggets, brownie and hazelnut kisses, a crystal kiss dish for mom for the holidays, peppermint patty chips for cookie making, whacky exclusive bars (some of which will be going into deep freeze for later gift giving), some expensive exclusive caramel chocolate and receese's cups with chocolate lava centers because peanut butter cups are MY favorite. I also found ancient ones I haven't seen if years like zagnuts.

I learned that krackle (another one I liked) dates to the 20s. Cool (so working on that Spider family as kids story. It's gonna happen) Another woman with a cane saw my purple sparkly one (I needed it at this point) and wanted to know where I got it as she has a boring black one (Amazon). Me and that cane nearly died getting onto the chocolate lab ride because it's a rotating floor and holy hell that's difficult to navigate when you can't feel your feet.


Yes I over spent. I did get out while parking was free. I tried that damn chocolate avenue grill again because it was 11:30 and it only opened at 11. Nope, full up. Went to Houlihan's a PA chain I haven't seen in years, had the best buffalo chicken sandwich I've had in a LONG time (the sauce had a bit of salt. I liked that also ranch dressing with blue cheese crumbles which I laughed because last night I had Beat Bobby Flay on as background noise and the judges reamed Bobby for mixing the two. Shows what they know)

Drove home. Too many 18 wheelers. SO many 18 wheelers but I'm home. My knee is done. It looks like a pumpkin.

Can't believe I'll be going back to work within two weeks.

I SHOULD get caught up on comments tomorrow. Thanks for coming along on vacation with me. I probably won't have the pictures up for a day or two because I have to get my syllabi done AND my loan repayment paperwork which the government just made infinitely harder to do (basically returned it to what it was 20 years ago)

I had my writerly ways nearly done, the browser crashed and for a second time the blog did NOT save a draft. I'll do that another day.

And my title isn't a lie. It is spooky. I went down to microwave something and the whole lobby/halls were empty. Just a few hours ago it had been bustling with all the steampunkers. Now it was like we were never there.

This morning went really well if you can ignore the low energy/half the people already mentally checking out. I went to a make your own tea blend thing. I've always wanted to do this with Adagio (still do) I wouldn't have called this a workshop really. It's like here's the tea, here's the mix-ins, go for it. I'll let you take 1 ounce for the 10$ you paid.... I mixed up whiskey black tea with some lapsang sou chong, added in cacao shells, ginger and cinnamon with a sprinkle of elderflower and called it Husk. I haven't tried it yet.

The next panel was by my friend Leanna on Poe and mesmerism. I very much enjoyed that. I thought I had an hour for lunch but no. The Victorians and the supernatural in literature was next. 15 minutes into it, no one showed and I thought well maybe since all the other talks were at the half hour not the top of the hour maybe the speaker was mistaken (wondering if it was Leanna since this is her forte). Someone went to find staff and next thing we know (it was a packed room) Leanna swoops in. No, this wasn't her panel. That person bugged out without telling anyone (how to get uninvited next year) and like I said it's Leanna's thing. She did well.

I said goodbye after that because the final panels had no interest for me. I headed out to Evergreen Cemetery to find Jennie Wade's grave (the one civilian death in Gettysburg) That was easy. There were other cool graves. and some fun names, can't remember them all but there was Solomon Toot, someone named Zephaniah and a mausoleum bearing the name Ball-Dickson (yes I became 12). Also found one mausoleum entirely in Italian.

From there I rolled down the street (past the hotel I usually stay in with my brother and SiL because it's in walking distance to all the interesting stuff. This con hotel is about 3 miles out) and stop at Mr. G's home made ice cream and texted my chocolate peanut butter to my brother to taunt him ( he loves it) God made the chocolate drip on my shirt in retailation.

Then I went to the battlefield to get pics of some of the monuments. After that it was dinner and I went to GarryOwen's Irish Pub. It was metered parking only (but I found plenty) and it's old fashioned meters, only takes quarters. I forgot about that. Then I remembered in some states handicapped tags can park for free. I google it. In PA I can do that for one hour so up goes my tag and in I go for the crab imperial 'poutine' (fries, cheese and the crab imperial in the place of the gravy) Tasty but SMALL for the price (ended up stopping at Sheetz for a hot dog to round out the meal, really goes together). I also had an Earl Grey Sour, gin, lemon juice and earl grey simple syrup. I think it needed a strong earl grey taste (I need to try making this syrup)

I was going to go ghost hunting but I'm exhausted and there was a writers' meet up on Discord tonight. I did that instead and got a little writing done before Discord fucked up and that was that.

Here's what I would have mentioned on the writerly ways: Always be on the watch for story fodder (Well Gettysburg is good for that) As I pulled into the Sheetz there was a man on the corner holding a nearly full sized cross and he had a microphone/transmitter with him. He started haranging people. As I was pumping gas, he was screaming at two women in a car at the redlight. JEZEBEL! You're whore like your mother. JEZEBEL JEZEBEL. You need to find God. Better hope you don't die tonight or you'll be in hell you diseased JEZEBEL.

Holy shit.




On to Hershey tomorrow.

And sometime this week I WILL catch up with comments (if there is any blog post you think I need to see, send it to me)

So I left this afternoon for Gettysburg. My GPS must have known this was its last chance to fuck with me because I ordered a new one (which didn't make it before I left) Mom had given me paper directions too from MapQuest (that still exists?!?) As I come up to the second service station on the turnpike the GPS says 10 miles to my exit.

I'm like...I thought I had to go through TWO tunnels and at least three service stations. So I pull off at the service station, check the paper directions. Both say I need to get off on US 30 E (and I know that's true) so I get off and that's when I remember my brother saying don't get off the first time it wants you to go off on US 30.

There's no way back to the damn turnpike. I'm now on the back country roads for 80s miles. I have to go through the Buchanan State Forest (which is more or less where I set my lesser known cryptid story that I just sent in). Up and down switchback mountains (hello Appalachia) with runaway truck ramps everywhere because it's so steep. At least Badlands Broncos are MADE for this kind of terrain (I mean this IS an off road vehicle which is what I told Hertz when they sent me a survey about how I liked day 2 of my rental, why do you have a fleet of off roaders?!?) I do get here without any troubles.

Only I'm here over an hour later than planned so there goes going to the movie theater tonight because by the time I check in and eat, it's like 10 minutes to go and I'm in no mood. Instead of unwinding with the Fantastic Four I go for unwinding with water aerobics in their pool which is deeper and bigger than anticipated.

The good news is the restaurant between this Wyndham and the Marriot next door is OPEN and gives me a better choice than eating here (overpriced) or going down to Perkins (and losing my spot in a very packed parking lot).

I will be leaving tomorrow morning to do a museum and hurrying my butt back while I can still park. I can walk to the movie theater. (the steampunk con doesn't start until 4)

For some reason they gave me a wheelchair room and I am a little upset about it because I KNOW there are wheelchair bound con goers. I didn't even ask for a handicapped room (maybe it came up with my Wyndham membership which I think that is on there). The hotel is sold out so it's not like I can move elsewhere in case someone needs this.

But I do question why hotels have wheelchair accessible rooms on upper levels? It seems like a danger if this place catches fire.


Community rec time

science since several of you said you like to see science posts

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thankfulthursday a weekly gratitude check-in community.

fffc Froday Flash Fiction Challenge

We fly out tomorrow. So today the sunblock decided to fail and I have patchy burns. Honestly could have been a lot worse so I'm not complaining.

Just another day in the pool and back to the ocean. Now this is a beach that is combed so there are no interesting rocks or shells. However today I wanted to take pictures on this promontory of rock in the ocean and as I wandered out there I found four little shells. I think they're limpets. I'll try to get them home.

Dinner tonight was weird in that it was the 'Mexican' restaurant but instead of traditional mexican food (which I was looking forward to) it was more generic 4 star sort of food except for an aquachiles starter which was octopus (that I didn't want) and some guacamole. I did get beef short ribs which was good. Dessert was a strawberry sorbet/hibiscus gelee tamale which pickled blueberries (it was also good except for the blueberries)

No new drinks (and I think we're all ready to go home)

I went to the poolside show alone, a mariachi band, all female except for the guitarist. It was fun.

And I did something today I haven't done since I fell: I got in a tub for a bath, or in this case, a jet spa tub and it was lovely. Also I was able to get out easily (It had a handicapped rail so I figured I'd be okay) Going to have to try a bath or two at home as I like reading in the tub (also speaking of home what the heck is up with it being 80 in March back there?!?)

well it's time for the obsessive checking of the hotel to be sure I leave nothing behind.

Tonight was the Rock show and they did a very good job with it, mostly 70s and 80s with a song or two from the 60s and 90s. It was a nice way to cap off the night.

Today wasn't bad, wasn't great. Mom and Dad are feeling their age and honestly I'm easily bored with nothing but lying in the sun and swimming which is pretty much our whole day. I did walk into the ocean again, just to the ankles where the risk of getting knocked down is negligible (windy today so it was rough seas).

I finally found one english channel on the tv they said there were some. There were two (if I don't include Fox News) I chose to watch foodnetwork dubbed into Spanish.

today was the French restaurant for beef wellington and a seafood bisque which was weird. They handed us a bowl of clams, mussels head on shrimp and calamari and then poured the bisque over it. Difficult to eat and the bisque didn't taste like much. The beef was good.

drinks of the day: an aperol spritz, aperol being a little less bitter than campari but it had soda which I'm not that fond of but it wasn't bad. What was better was the strawberry coupe which was strawberry puree, rum, ginger syrup and red wine vinegar. That was delicious.

still no pictures because I am tired.

My brother, his wife, mom and dad and I all made it to the Rivera Mayan with min. agita. Sure we had to be at the Pittsburgh airport at 3 AM and they didn't have the handicapped assist as asked. Have to putter thru the boarding because the boarding pass scanner is broken, why not? Second half of the boarding pass going missing mysteriously but hey who cares because they don't want them, just your face scanned in, good luck I guess? Sure, we had to sit on the tarmac for a half hour in charlotte because the airport was that busy. Sure there was plenty of turbulence. Did you say you wanted a HUGE line at customs? Well good because you got it (it IS spring break after all). Want a downpour, provided free of charge. Want a big pileup on the highway adding a half hour to the commute to the all inclusive resort? Sure, we can do that. Want your rooms not to be ready? Bonus.

My brother eyes me and says I've been coming here 21 years, never once had we waited on the tarmac, had turbulence, had a line that long, had the transport not waiting for us, had RAIN like this.

Hey, bro you're welcome. It's all part of the magic of traveling with me. I'm a joy. And so is this place. I'm too damn tired to get many pictures today but oh this is lovely and I already have an idea for the demon of gluttony running one of these joints because I have never seen this much food in one place at one time and that was just lunch!

Dinner was amazing. Here's the thing with all inclusive resorts, since everything is already paid for I can experiment with things I've not had before like a negroni. I wanted to try some campari drinks (which are popular in Italy) but I know it's bitter and an acquired taste and this place does them. It was herbaceous and maybe a little like they made the campari from grapefruit pith but I liked it. And at dinner we went surf and turf and my surf was predictable (lobster) and the turf totally unexpected: bone marrow steak tartar with some kind of herby green sauce (amazing) which was weird since I won't normally touch fat but this was so good. (and I AM a fan of if you're going to eat an animal, use it all!)

( I have a second wind so have some photos including the bone marrow) <a href= )

And look at me pre-doing Music Monday. Hit me up with your best beach songs.

( Here's some of mine )

I did it, everyone. I did it! I walked the Old Man's Cave trail Before anyone gets too excited no I didn't do the full 6 miles. I did the northern loop which is about a mile. I didn't need help except on two of the natural stairs areas where a step was just SO far down (my brother and his friend TT helped as needed) I did learn there is an early out for the trail (that my SiL had to take as she wasn't entirely well today) which is before those two areas and honestly that's fine because you'd get the gorgeous waterfall area and the devil's bathtub before that spot.

The cave is actually a shelter cave and the area was named for an old hermit living there in the early 1800s. But I made that walk and was mostly asymptomatic. Occasionally I had to stop but that was more the asthma than anything (SiL scolded me when I got to the top, where's your inhaler. Back at the cabin because I make good choices)

We also went to lunch and picked up dinner (so we didn't have to go out in the middle of the night again) We tried Rock House (I had suggested Conkle's Hollow lower trail because I've never done it and I've heard it's easy peasy and Rock House isn't). We didn't manage it. Got about a half mile in and then the thing went steep. Now on the way back to the car the leg became very symptomatic.

We were back at the cabin by two and stayed since we're paying buku bucks for this place and it's lovely (maybe pictures tomorrow or thursday) Also there's not much else to do but hike around here. I'm proud of myself by the way for getting through all this.

Now I'm less proud of not figuring out the roku tv. To be fair they have five remotes lined up and the label said use only the Roku one (then why have out the others) I got it on but I couldn't make it go to any apps but did manage to get it onto Crunchyroll by accident. Want to start your 14 day free trial? NO! Can't get back out of it. Turned it off and back on...and watched 1 episode of Chainsaw Man on Crunchyroll because it wouldn't let me out. Eyeroll.

They had a Star Wars pinball machine. I was super excited for it only...it's one with Rey and it's digital. No real ball. It just doesn't feel right. It wasn't nearly as fun as using a real ball (I still did good with it. I'm good with pinball usually).

Couldn't check in until 4 but our asses have to be out by 10...tip box for your cleaners. Dudes you're charging us 300$ to clean this place, I think you can afford to pay your cleaners. Still, super gorgeous place. I never get to do this since well...I live 55 miles away and you have to rent these cabins for 2-3 days min usually and they're like 300/night and up. Can hardly justify that when I live an hour away. However I always wanted to come out and write in a cabin and this week I'm getting to do it.

Also found the Coffee Emporium which had better selections AND better coffee than anything in my area and now I'm jealous.

bbl with tidbit and word count. Yay I finished the last big fight scene. Now I have to figure out how to deal with the mastermind behind all of this but now I'm worried about how without it being anticlimatic. guh.

The last day of the conference was good, great even. There were two really fantastic work shops I can't wait to incorporate into my classes. I already sent Dad to Lowes for the dowel rods I'll need. Those who saw me hobbling around yesterday checked in with me today. Sometimes I forget what it's like to have supportive colleagues.

Everything is packed. I had planned to do something tomorrow but a) I'm tired b) everything in St Louis seems to close at 4 pm....and the two things I want to do aren't open until 10 or 11 so that's way later than I'd want to get started as it's 7 hours 15 minutes without stops or construction so yeah, I'll just get on the road. My reward for giving up on tourism is sleeping in a bit tomorrow.

I know a lot of HAPSters left today and the poor hotel staff were still on my floor cleaning rooms when I got in at 530. I said look I'm leaving tomorrow, just skip me after you hand me over a face towel and we'll call it even. They were very happy with that.

Still no book report for wednesday. I haven't finished squat and I don't think I reviewed anything I did read this month. Should be fun in June playing catch up.

Hopefully I'll have a quiet trip home.

Ah open bars. It was a LONG day. So long. Good but long. The seminar speakers were very interesting, especially the bioarchaeology one and the migraine ones. The seminar part of this is now over. I didn't win a door prize, oh well.

Tomorrow (way too early) starts the workshop part of this. They are very much the more important part of this to me. It'll give me things I'll be excited to try in my classes (and I might actually do it though I tend to get all charged up and then by august have forgotten it all)

I did get a couple chances to talk to the professor who guided me around on my first year at my current uni (my second year of teaching) It was very nice getting to talk to her again.

After all that bad weather yesterday today was gorgeous. I took a small walk and that calzone place I doordashed was literally TWO doors down from here. Geez. fees well spent I guess. Had them again for lunch.