After just a bad night, I posted a blog post. I know two people got to read it, and thank you for your comments on it. I’ll think about it some more and take your words into consideration. This morning, I decided that taking the post off the blog was probably best. This friend has a history of lurking, and would probably not appreciate reading what I wrote….
Thanks, again.
Peace & Love,
Mare
….to get over the shock that I am blogging! I’m back…not sure for how long, but for now, I am here.
A lot has been going on. Sister in law Sandy is still fighting the fight with her cancer. We’ve had some recent scares, but I think they’ve figured out the cause of her most current problems, and for now she is comfortable and enjoying time with the family. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers for her.
Me: I’ve had so many ups and downs lately, it’s been a bit overwhelming. Financially, physically, and emotionally draining is how I would describe the first three months of 2011. I’ve decided to throw it all up to HIM and just keep trudging through. I’m making it. I’m so thankful for friends and laughter to get me through.
I’ve been off work for the last 5 days due to a shift change. For a month I’m moving to a second shift position. It’s all a big confusing mess, and I’m really glad I’m not in charge of scheduling 8 women and 2 men and somehow trying to make them all happy. Today I start 10 hour days…..Wednesday through Saturday. The perk is I get every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday off, and my supervisor lets me have flexible hours on Wednesday and Thursday. So if I need Thursday off, I can come and work Sunday, Monday or Tuesday to make up for it…..I’m ok with it. It’s only for a month and hopefully it gives me some brownie points for when I want a specific shift at the end of the year.
I’m looking forward to auditioning for the Fountain City Festival Production of Wizard of Oz in May. I was flattered that I was actually considered to be the director of this year’s show, but very glad that someone else was chosen to do it. I’ve always said I like being on stage better than in front of it. It’s been a year since I’ve been on stage, and I think I will enjoy this new experience…if given a part. I’ve decided on a tryout piece….and I think I have the music tucked away at my dad’s, so let the practice begin! I wish they could come do the audition in my laundry room….the acoustics are INCREDIBLE in there! I was singing like nobody’s business yesterday while throwing a load in and (not meaning to toot my own horn) I sounded awesome!!! 
I have decided to direct the Christmas show this year for the Village Players. I had intended on being in it, but I’ve heard that there are several women interested in trying out, and I think I would like the opportunity to direct a musical. So, Nuncrackers, here I come! (P.S. I’m looking for 2 tweenage boys and 2 tweenage girls to play the Catholic school kids. Must sing loud!!!!)
It’s about time to get ready for work. I hope you’ve overcome your shock by now.
Peace & Love!
Mare
Long time…no blog! Don’t be alarmed, I’m alive and well……or anyway, getting well-er! I’m feeling a blog post coming on, but can’t type now. Have to get ready for work! I’ve missed you all and hope you’re all doing well!
Peace & Love,
Mare
Tuesday, 8am: Back in Michigan. After signing in, it didn’t take long to get our assignments. I was surprised to still see several people showed up, despite the misting rain. We were sent back to Ohio. We were staging at the Ramada Inn at Holiday City. Off I go…..
After arriving we got split up into teams of 5. 4 civilians to 1 fireman. We were instructed to take our time and search every nook and cranny in Holiday City. There is a large factory, Chase Brass behind the Ramada, and they agreed to let us search their property. Let me say this….that was a huge property. 2 1/2 hours later, we finished….with nothing found. We regrouped and were sent to a Golf Course just a little south of Holiday City. The entire group that was sent to HC arrived there (Approximately 60 people) and we lined up on the road about 10 feet away from each other and we walked the entire golf course. The wind had picked up and it had gotten a lot colder. I’m happy to say I dressed warmly and it didn’t really bother me. Nothing found there, either. The next area they wanted us was Opdyke park which is a little further south off of one of the back roads. We did the same sort of thing there, however it was a lot more difficult due to the horrendous terrain. Lots of sticker bushes and burrs….It was so hard to walk through. This was a pretty creepy area….I didn’t realize there was a Mental Hospital that was there years ago, and that there is a tiny grave yard way back in the woods…..I’m sure this is a very scary place at night all alone…still, nothing was located. They wanted to send us to the old Indian Burial Mounds (I had no idea they had any) but since it was so cloudy, and it was almost 4, and the fact that none of us had eaten anything all day, it was decided we would call it a day. We all headed back to the Ramada, where a full buffet of donated food was set up for us. I inhaled two plates of food…..Lordy, I was hungry.
We did a whole lot of searching today, and unfortunately nothing was found. The news media reported on one station that the bodies of the boys were located which was totally false. The search continues tomorrow, and every day until these boys are found.
I keep questioning how I would handle it if I were to be with the group that found them. I’m sure it would be hard, but not even near as hard as it is right now for the mother and family of those boys who have no idea where they are. They need to know where they are. They need closure.
Please continue your prayers. I work Wednesday and Thursday, but if they are still searching Friday, I’ll be there. Hopefully it won’t be needed and they are found within the next two days.
Part 3 completed.
Peace & Love,
Mare
Monday, 8am: After finally finding Morenci, Michigan, I made my way to the Fire Department. I went alone, not knowing what was in store for me. I normally am not a shy person, but I was strangely uncomfortable walking in by myself. However, I made it in, and a very nice woman flagged me over, and told me I needed to sign in. She was so kind and appreciative. She assured me I was not the only person there that came in alone and also that it wouldn’t take long to start talking to people. Whew. Did I mention that there were about 200 people standing inside this fire department garage/and outside? Wow. The numbers kept growing and we actually outgrew the fire department, and a church across the street opened their doors for us to congregate. We were delayed due to a tip that the FBI had received early in the morning. It was apparently a solid tip (at the time) and they wanted only fire personnell and law enforcement at the scene they were called to. Well, we waited in the church for about 2 hours. Finally, the Morenci fire chief announced that the tip didn’t pan out, and they were going to send us to Pioneer, Ohio to the Community Center. After interviewing the father, it was determined that he was in the area of Pioneer, Kunkle, Holiday City, and West Unity in Williams Co, Ohio the night of the children’s disappearance. So off we go. Once we got to the Community Center, the firemen were called out again, and the civilians (all 200 plus of us) were left sitting. They brought in enormous amounts of food that had been donated and the socializing began….until about 1:30pm. Finally, we were split up into three groups and loaded onto school buses. Here we go…
Each bus had a fire chief in charge of the group as a whole. He split us up into teams of 6. Five civilians and one fireman. They dropped us off a mile apart from each other on St. Rt. 15 just south of Pioneer and stretching all of the way past Holiday City and then on a couple of side roads. We had three people on either side of the road and separated about 20 feet from each other. We were instructed to look for anything that just doesn’t belong. If we found something, we tell the fireman, who then calls the fire chief, who then contacts the base, who then contacts the FBI……what a chain! We had only gone about 2/10 of a mile when I located an item in the ditch. It was a paper towel with some blood on it…ok, a lot of blood. Fireman comes over, then they called the chief, who sent the County Sheriff’s office….then the FBI. This did not happen as quick as I type it. I stayed with the item while the others continued on their search. I stood there for about 20 minutes I guess. As I stood there, I stared at that towel. Is this the blood of three little boys? Or, is this the blood of a deer wiped off the hands of a hunter? I hoped for the latter, but I couldn’t help but fear the worst and I stood there in a ditch on St. Rt. 15 and cried. The bus came around after dropping our group off and went back around and picked everyone up. There were lots of little things found, and I don’t know if they were useful or not….
By the time we picked everyone up and got back to the Community Center, it was getting dark. Too dark to start a search anywhere else that night. It was a long day, with very little searching done. However, I met a whole bunch of people who were brought together with one goal in mind. I knew that I had to go back Tuesday and try again.
End of Part 2.
My apologies for my lack of blogging. These final months of the year have been proving to be busy…busier than i really care for. I have been working an incredibly horrid 12 hour shift. The only good thing about it is I get every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off….however, I have yet to enjoy a weekend off due to the available overtime. That’s my own fault.
What has prompted me to blog is my latest experience. In my head, it’s going to be long…unfortunately. I wish it was something I….or anyone else would never have to blog about.
The News: Three missing boys from Morenci Michigan. Alexander, Andrew and Tanner Skelton. Aged 9, 7 and 5. Father has, as of today, been arrested for kidnapping the children. The FBI and Law Enforcement have been investigating and the volunteer search has been ongoing. It has no longer been labeled as a “rescue”……and has now been labeled a “recovery.”
I started following the case this past weekend at work. After looking at the map, and seeing that this occured within an hour of my own home, I knew there was something that I needed to do. So, with having Monday and Tuesday off this week, I decided to go up and see what I could do to help.
Part one complete.
….is not supposed to consist of washing electronic devices. Unfortunately, it was the case at my house yesterday. The old purple phone is history. Thanks to knowing someone at AT&T, I am now the proud owner of an Iphone. It is SO much smarter than I……and I’m quite intimidated by it. (Electronics and I just don’t get along….) My problem lies in the fact that neither I or my friend were able to retrieve my contacts from the waterlogged, yet spring fresh smelling device that was once my phone. So, my plea to all of you readers….PLEASE EMAIL or TEXT ME YOUR HOME AND CELL NUMBERS! Thank you!!!
Peace & Love,
Mare
The walls came up, the walls went down. Finally, I’ve done a show that came out in the black. My “curse” is broken. I think we have enough to buy a candy bar or two. That’s a first!
Despite the headaches and stressful moments, I enjoyed myself immensely. I have to admit, though…..I’d rather be on stage.
Ok, on to life as I knew it.
My future days (and nights) for the next couple weeks will consist of cleaning a house…I’m sure it’s still under all the clutter somewhere…laundry, spending time with Miss Kitty, and reaquainting myself with my friends and talking about something other than a play or the stressors behind it. I’m also going to start working out again in the mornings. I’m afraid a “play diet” consists of lots of McDonald’s and sometimes Subway. And for that, I’ve felt very drained. Time to the grocery store and buy food that needs to be cooked.
I think what I am most thankful for though is the fact that I got to finish the show. My sister in law Sandy was told that she may not be with us by this time and I had made it known to the board that at any moment I made need a fill in. I am so happy to say that I did not. Sandy is doing quite well, and though not as strong physically, she is still working and spending lots of time with my brother and her girls. Sometimes doctors don’t know everything.
Ok, time to close. Laundry is waiting. Must have clean clothes for work.
Peace & Love!
Mare
Oh what I wouldn’t do for a night off with no commitments……no fair, no play practice, no nothing. Just me, my jammies, a bottle of wine, and a movie…..I really need a day to unwind.
I’ve been working almost non stop this month. With play practice on top of it, I’ve been feeling a little dragged down and not quite myself. I’m not saying I’m having any difficulties with anything….on the contrary, actually. Play practice is going well. There’s some parts that need a little tweaking, but overall, I think we will put on a good show! Did I mention I have a very good cast? I’m not just saying it because of the two fellow tangenteers that are involved, either. They seem to be enjoying themselves, and having fun….and to me, that’s the most important thing.
I’m very much looking forward to next Friday. At this time I have no plans. It’s one of those days I have desperately been needing. I think I shall stay home in the jammies, make a yummy dinner, drink a bottle of wine, and maybe, yes, I think I shall, watch some of my favorite movies……Gone with the Wind, Troy, Braveheart, and possibly…..Love Actually!!! No phones, no internet, locking the door and not answering, all me night!
Well, as I sit here and daydream, I see that it’s time for me to leave for work. Have a lovely night, all. See most of you tomorrow night!
Peace & Love,
Mare
Uh huh. I’m way behind on this. I’ll try to finish this up quickly. This trip was SO last month……
So, back at the ranch…..
We walked around this big old TB hospital and didn’t see a gosh darn thing. I wasn’t scared, AT ALL. Of course, other people in our gang of ghost hunters swear that they have pictures of “orbs” and shadows and people in windows. I call BS on it, of course. They also took their little ghostie meters, and maybe, just maybe, if everyone in their group didn’t have their cell phones on and receiving text messages and whatnot, I would think that maybe there was something making the meter light turn red other than their incoming and outgoing messages.
The place is fantastic and full of history. I loved it. Even though no ghosties to be seen, or heard, or felt. I guess I’m a seeing is believing in this instance. I would definitely go back again, just for the atmosphere and the fun we had!
Alrighty then, I’m done with this post topic. I have others brewing in my brain that are about ready to be written. Hopefully within the next month or so, anyway….
Peace & Love,
Mare
Powered by FireStats