A Little Science and an Old Childhood Song

                                                              

This past Tuesday, my friends and I went to the Cape May Zoo and we had the best time.

                                                             
                                               Saw some of my favorite animals

                                                                
                                              and one that I wasn’t expecting.

                                                                
I began to sing the song that I had learned at summer camp to my friends, who by now have grown accustomed to my strange outbursts.

                                                                      

             The woman behind us remembered the song too and joined in.

                                                                          

                               So here are some fun facts for you to enjoy.

                                                                           

The Kookaburra is the largest member of the Kingfisher family and comes from Australia and New Zealand. Even though you would expect with a name like kingfisher, that the bird would love to eat fish, it doesn’t. Their habitats, found in open forests and woodlands, offer a different menu.

They like to eat reptiles, rodents and frogs. They wait patiently until able to grab their prey and then the Kookaburra will fly the food up to a tree where it proceeds to whack the heck out of the animal against a branch.

                               This not only kills the food, but tenderizes it.

                                                                      

Does anyone remember the song about the Kookaburra?

This is the way I remember it:

Kookaburra sitting in the old gum tree

Eating all the gum drops he can see

Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra

Save some gumdrops for me.

Kookaburra sitting in the old gum tree

Counting all the monkeys, he can see

Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra

That’s no monkey, that’s me.

Please feel free to send me the version that you know.

Have a great weekend, “Go Play”

Episode Thirty-three of Lilith's Escape

                                                                                                               

                                                          

Edward took his time washing the slime of the corpse from his face, arms and hands.

                                                                                       
 He wiped down his trousers and removed his shirt, throwing it on the floor, knowing that he would never wear it again. How long should he wait before returning to Lilith? He sure as hell didn’t want to upset that dragon again.

                                                                  
He walked over to the window and looked out upon the town below. As nice as this part of the world was, he was anxious to return to England. He was worried about his cat and his friend, James.

                                                                                                                          
“I hope the cleaning lady remembers to feed Lizzie and I hope James hasn’t been visited by any zombies.”

                                                                                                                                              

He then headed over to the stairway and listened, waiting for a sign that it was safe to return to her. Would the beast still be there? And if it was, would it’s frustration at losing Lilith cause it to attack him? Knowing he needed to make sure she was unharmed, Edward started up the stone steps. As he climbed the stairs, he listened for whatever sound would clue him to the situation playing out in the bedroom. There was only silence, damn, that could mean so many things.

Finally he entered the bedroom, but where was she? Did she go with the angel after all? After taking a closer look, he saw her on the balcony, huddled like a child. Lilith sat there unaware that he was in the room, wiping the tears from her eyes. The beast was no longer there.

                                                                        

“Are you okay?” he asked. She nodded yes, but did not look his way. He stepped on to the balcony and took a seat next to her on the hard stone floor. “Lilith?”

“I broke his heart…sent him away…to be forgiven and healed. I know I did the right thing…but it hurts.” She looked up at the night sky and uttered, “Now, we’re even. Are you happy?”

                                                                      

Edward had no desire to find out who Lilith was speaking to. He had had enough of the mystical world for tonight. Tonight he needed to feel human and there was one sure way to accomplish this.

                                                               
 He stood and pulled Lilith to her feet and into his arms. She felt so light in his arms. “Lilith?”

                                                                          

“Yes, Edward.” She was giving her permission. “Yes before all of hell breaks down our door.” She then wrapped her arms around his neck.

He carried her to the bed and after climbing in next to her, whispered, “Just you and me, tonight. No hell, no heaven and no zombies.”

                                                               

Zoos, Surgery, Steampunk and Writers, Oh My!

 

                                                                        

                                                               

Yesterday was a bit hectic for me and I’m writing this blog with only one hour sleep.

My friends and I, you know the two ladies that ghost hunt with me,

                                                            
 have been trying to get to the Cape May Zoo for the past two years.

                                                                      

Due to weather, illness and work schedules, we never made it there until yesterday. What a beautiful day to go.

We had a great time except for the bees, who knew that it was “find food or perish” time.

                                                           
We had to eat our lunch while jogging from one picnic table to the other. Great exercise if you don’t have time to go to a gym.

                                                                            

Right from there, I headed to my daughter’s house to sleep over. If you remember, I posted a story on how my daughter and her husband were almost killed in a four wheel quad accident. Although having over 200 staples in his leg, Jimmy recovered. ReRe did not.

                                                                  

She is getting a plate put in her shoulder today. My job was to get the kids up and out to school. You remember the desperados.

                                                              
They're great kids and never complain as I play drill sergeant with them.

                                                                         

I slept on the sofa because I have major problems sleeping. Their very large dog kept me company, but unfortunately so did the cat. They don’t like each other.

                                                                        

After playing crossing guard and getting them each into their own section of the sofa with me in the middle, I finally got some sleep. Now for the good news!!

                                                                     

There will be a big Steampunk event this Saturday, 9/15/2012 in Center City.

                                                              
I’ve blogged about this and here is the link.

            http://gilbertcuriosities.blogspot.com/2012/08/upcoming-dorians-event.html

I was asked by the wonderful husband and wife team of Steampunk Works, Lady Eleeza and Commander Von Cobert,

                                                              
 to wear one of their fabulous fashions for the event and to be an extra on the stage. Sounds like great fun and I’ll take plenty of pictures. I did a blog about them also and here is the link.
 http://gilbertcuriosities.blogspot.com/2012/08/steampunk-works-steampunk-boutique.html

Our writer’s group, South Jersey Writers, is publishing a short story anthology

                                                                  
 and it should be coming out soon with a new cover. You can check it out on this link.

http://south-jersey-writers.blogspot.com

Keep my daughter in your prayers and I’ll keep you updated.

Update from Super G

                                                                            

I will be posting about the South Jersey Writer's Group and their short story anthology that is going to be published this year. Hopefully you'll follow our trials, tribulations and wonderful adventures as we work to that final goal. Visit the site below to find out about our book "Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey.


http://south-jersey-writers.blogspot.com/2012/09/update-from-tall-tales-and-short-stories.html

Part Thirty-Two of Lilith's Escape

                                                                

Edward was worried about leaving Lilith alone, but the dragon was agitated by his being in the bedroom. “Are you safe with him? Shall I stay?” he asked.

Lilith was holding on tightly to the dragon’s neck, speaking in a language that was unfamiliar to Edward even though he was proficient in many languages.

                                                                                                                

“Go, you’re making him angry,” she replied and then returned her attention to the beast. She spoke to it in a soothing voice, “I have caused you nothing but pain and have torn you away from your comrades. Hush, hear me out…….”

The dragon stamped its right foot in anger, for it suspected what she was about to do. “Never,” it cried out in agony. The dragon smacked its tail with such force on the marble tiles of the balcony, that pieces of marble sprayed the room. Lifting its eyes from Lilith’s face, the dragon became aware that Edward was still in the room. It let out an ungodly howl and shot a ribbon of flame toward Edward.

                                                                              

“Leave us…please Edward,” Lilith begged, but Edward stood frozen to the spot until she added, “He would rather die than ever hurt me.”

                                                                                                                                                                                    

Edward backed out of the room and watched as the dragon pulled Lilith close to its body with its long spiked tail. When he had reached the steps, Edward turned around to check on Lilith and for a moment, a blink of an eye, he saw the dragon morph into a beautiful winged warrior, an angel who held Lilith tightly in his arms.

                                                                                                                         

But it was the briefest of moments and then the warrior became a dragon once more and as Edward made his way down the stone steps, the sobs from both lovers echoed behind him.

                                                                   
 

Life is a Wild Ride

There are songs and videos that inspire me and today, I want to share a video with you.

.
                                                    Life can be hard and cruel, that is true.

                                                                    

And sometimes, we can forget to enjoy the ride to that final destination.

                                                                            

Remember to go headfirst into the waves and maybe, just maybe, the rough waters will seem more

                                                                          

like a fun amusement ride that you'll want to ride over and over.

                                                                         

  http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=T4FIS1FnOQg

A Second Visit to Laurel Hill Cemetery

                                                              

My ghost hunting friends and I visit lots of cemeteries. We should feel quite a home in one when we eventually do pass away, but for now we enjoy visiting the older cemeteries because of the historically prominent people buried there, the different types of tombstones that were popular in the past

                                                                 
                              and of course the chance to spot a spirit or two.

                                                                             

We packed a lunch, covered ourselves in sunscreen and my husband Dan (“The Ghost Hunters Conveyor”) dropped us off at the entrance of Laurel Hill. I need to make up a special tee-shirt for him.

                                              Dan is the cutie pie on the right
                                                                            

We visited some of the more famous people,one that lived during the American Indian War

                                                           

                         and some who were able to communicate with spirits.

                                                                          

The Laurel Hill Cemetery offers many events and if you click on to their event page, you find something that will interest you.

                                                      

No Rest for the Wicked: A Graveyard Cabaret

Thursday, September 20, 7:15pm

Friday, September 21, 7:15pm

Saturday, September 22, 7:15pm

               

The office staff is friendly, very friendly and helpful, very helpful. Alexis Jeffcoat was in the office when we returned from our walk and showed us a coffin that was used for viewing the body before burial. This was before embalming was widespread.

                                                        

They also have a small museum across from the office and you can take a tour and learn some interesting facts.

                                                                 
 Sometimes…you can learn a lot from people…even when they are dead. So do yourself a big favor and go visit Laurel Hill while you're still alive....boo!