The Dead Files

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Courtesy Travel Channel

We have come to enjoy different types of TV shows during our pandemic isolation. One that is actually kind of scary is a show on the Travel Channel ominously titled The Dead Files.

This paranormal themed show features Amy Allan, a physic medium and paranormal researcher, and Steve DiSchiavi, a retired homicide detective with 20 years experience with the New York City Police Department.  The show first aired in 2011, and is currently in its 13th season.

Each episode has a different “client” of theirs, and the two investigate  each haunting/paranormal event separately. Allan performs walks of the property and as a sensitive, she sees and sometimes talks to the dead spirits. DiSchiavi on the other hand, does police style research, interviewing others who have connection or history to the place. He also digs into the past stories of the property, finding documents and old photos. The two do not compare notes until the end.

When they present their “Reveal” to the clients at the end of the show the results are  startling. Allan often uses a police artist to make a sketch of the ghosts she has seen, and the most of the time this sketch is the same entity the property owners have seen. Amy and Steve then offer solutions to getting rid of the ghosts.

Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, this is a fun show to watch, even for just a couple of episodes. If you have an interest in ghost hunting, this show is for you. The Dead Files is now streaming on several streaming services.

Here we go again

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Yep, more danged snow: enough already!

We had a day without snow, but with frigid temperatures. Some more snow was predicted, maybe an inch or so. However we had another “woke up, looked out and said wow” moment. We got another 5 inches of the white stuff. Fortunately we have been blessed with no interruptions in any of our utility suppliers.

Perseverance on Mars

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A new Rover lands on Mars this afternoon!

 

Courtesy NASA

The new Rover Perseverance is landing on Mars this afternoon! It launched on July 30, 2020 and has been traveling through space since. It is going to land on what was a lake bed millions of years ago. There will be studies of the material that may have fossil remains of previous life on the red planet. There will also be a microphone on board to hear the Martian winds.

It lands just before 4 PM EST today, February 18th, 2021.  This is the NASA website that will broadcast live from Mission Control starting at 3:15 PM EST.  Check this out, this is an amazing mission.

 

South Dakota flashback

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We were traveling in South Dakota in October of 2018. Here is a look back…

Traveling on I-90 through South Dakota provides some remarkable scenery. In addition to the natural wonders of the state, one man-made marvel really stands out. Near Chamberlain at Exit 294 you’ll see the signs for a rest area with a Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. As you exit the interstate and drive up a decent slope you see a very large stainless steel sculpture with a geometric pattern. Then you soon realize that it is a star quilt being held by a beautiful Native American woman.

The star pattern

Note the person on the left for scale

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the statue titled “Dignity of Earth and Sky”. The creation of South Dakota Artist Laureate Dale Claude Lamphere is a magnificent example of very large scale public art. The statue represents the courage and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota people who come from the area. The star quilt pattern is traditionally used to honor people or peoples.

A whale of a sight

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This life size statue of an Orca killer whale is in the entrance way to the Tulalip Casino off of I-5 north of Seattle.  We have been patrons of the casino several times when we traveled to the Seattle area to visit family.  When we were last there you could park your motorhome for 3 days in the designated RV lot. No services, but a patrolled and safe place to stay.

It seems that there is a brand new, additional casino on the same property. There was a Grand Opening  February 3rd. It is listed as being twice as large as the first casino. We will definitely check it out the next time we travel to the Pacific Northwest.

 

Unexpected and surprising good news

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In case you missed our last post, our COVID vaccine appointments were canceled due to the snow storm that basically buried the country.  OK, so yesterday our son and I went to Walmart to pick up one of my prescriptions. We almost didn’t go because I really didn’t need it til next week, and it was snowing at a pretty good clip.

My son went in to get the Rx. When he came out he told me the pharmacy tech had asked him if his parents had gotten their COVID vaccine yet. He told them no, their appointments were cancelled. She said for us to come in, they had extra vaccine today, no appointment needed!

I called Sher, told her the news, and to get ready. We drove back to the house and I changed into a shirt for easy baring of the arm. We were back at the Walmart soon, and within about 40 minutes we were vaccinated, held the safety 15 minutes after the jab, and had our follow up appointments made 30 days out.  What a great surprise on a snowy day.

 

Bad news and pretty good news

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Completely unrelated but kind of cute photo

Which do you want first?  Ok, the bad news: We had appointments for our first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine scheduled for 3 PM this afternoon. Last night the State Department of Health sent us text messages stating that due to the impending snow storm our appointments were cancelled. Rats!

This large storm is all over the news. It is touted as one that affects millions and millions of people. (When did they start tallying how many are affected by snow, rain, hurricanes, etc.) We had about an inch of snow overnight. The big storm is supposed to hit here about 3 PM dumping up to 9 inches they say.

Oh yea, the good news. This morning we called the information number for vaccine scheduling. First we found out that after our appointments today were cancelled that we went to the back of the line. We were able, however, to get scheduled for next week on the 23rd. We will have to go to an adjoining county’s hospital, about a 20 mile drive. (The  soonest we could get in our county was March 15th.)

So we’re losing 8 days, and don’t yet know which vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, so we don’t know about timing the second dose. We had made reservations at an RV park in Florida based on our first appointment date, but may have to change them. Time will tell.

It’ll be nice again… sometime

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We’re expecting sub-zero wind-chill and 8+ inches of snow over the next 36 hours

Signs of hot summertime

As always, February seems like such a dragging winter month with the cold and snow and ice and other icky weather stuff.  But, spring always does come, and it appears that the vaccinations are beginning to roll out more and more. There is some glimmer of hope that the country is making some progress on beating this pandemic. Guess it’s better to be optimistic.