Walking With Jefferson's Ghosts, part 3 (conclusion)

If the first tour frightened me, the second one terrified me. I discovered I had a sensitivity to the paranormal, especially if the entity is dark or malevolent.

Tour #2 began at the Jefferson General Store around 10 p.m.. We were introduced to the story of "Roy", the ghost of a little boy about 6 years old, dressed in denim overalls. He likes to play in the store, and on the sidewalk running parallel outside. He's made such an impression, the owners of the toy store across the street have named it after Roy.

Next to the store is one of the few vacant buildings that is wholly inaccessible due to the building's deterioration. It used to be a bank (you can see the metal inset in front of the doors), and it was there I first felt a prickling of the hairs on my head.

We continued into the residential area where we passed an empty lot located next to the Governor's House. There I had such a bad feeling, I remained in the street. Our psychics were so spooked, they continued on down the street, reluctant or refusing to stop. Jodi explained the site is known to contain a very evil male spirit, and he has attacked people in the past.

This house is one of the very active historic houses in Jefferson. Also known to host a violent past is the Schluter House (below), which saw the murders of carpetbaggers during the reconstruction period after the Civil War.

We also passed another vacant lot, but this one was surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. This lot used to have a house where Diamond Bessie lived. The story of her life and death (murdered by her boyfriend) is fascinating (Google it, you'll see). More interesting is the fact that she is buried underneath six layers of concrete because she was interred wearing her extensive jewelry collection. This site played havoc with our digital cameras, giving us light streams and streaks on many of our pictures. (I didn't have my digital with me, but I saw what the others were taking.)

The worst (or best?) experience was the story of the "man living on the second floor" of the McKay house, which is now a B&B. Paranormal groups have encountered this angry spirit, and they have EVPs of a voice growling, "Go away!".

Jodi assured us that these ghosts are pretty much "stuck" in their locations. Which meant we didn't have to fear taking a ghost with us, or accidentally irking it to the point where one would come after us, following us back home.

Once I returned to my own B&B, I quickly showered and crawled into bed. My laptop computer lay on the writing table near the bed where I'd left it on but closed. It was in 'sleep mode'.

Some time during the night I was awakened by the sound of my laptop powering on. The light of the screen brightening splayed out like a horizontal halo. Even more frightening, I heard the computer tap-tapping, as if someone was using the touch pad. This went on for several minutes while I cowered underneath the covers and prayed for protection. Yep, I did. The tapping sound stopped, but the screen remained lit for I don't know how long. The next morning, I opened the laptop to see my mainscreen, exactly the way I'd left it the day before.

Would I recommend this tour? Most definitely! Jodi Breckenridge is a hoot of a host, a true Jeffersonian, and extremely knowledgable about the local history and haunts. Please feel free to Google for more info.

You can also get some good idea about the ghosts and haunted locations from two books that I own. GHOSTS OF EAST TEXAS AND THE PINEYWOODS by Mitchel Whitington (2005, 23 House Publishing), and A TEXAS GUIDE TO HAUNTED RESTAURANTS, TAVERNS, AND INNS by Robert Wlodarski and Anne Powel Wlodarski (2001, Republic of Texas Press). Both feature a photo of The Grove on their covers.

Happy Halloween!

Today is the day we can all be someone were not right? I planned this 'little' party here at work with cupcakes and trick-or-treating and well, the enthusiastic people are few and far between LOL. Although, we have one hard-core who is Darth Vader, and it's pretty cool. We even have a Princes Lea (sp?).

Good luck on the sugar highs today Peeps.

Your Returning Spouse Have What?

               You have a spouse (or boyfriend or girlfriend if you are single) that worked abroad to help shore up the financial requirements of your family.  Your spouse suddenly came home and confided to you that she/he had developed the HIV virus (AIDS) through casual sex.  What would be your reaction?  Would you still accept her/him inspite of what had happened? Please explain your answer.

Tags: Husband, Wife, Overseas Foreign Worker, Casual Sex, HIV Virus, AIDS, Fidelity, Family

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla   

Craft Shows, Festivals, Fair....do you go to them?

Oak Alley Plantation


I haven't really gone to Craft Shows in several years.....it seems like I went to them for years and never missed them, even traveling with friends to other towns and states even to attend them. Then I just lost interest in them somewhere along the way as life became busy.

Two weekends ago.....Miss Priss and I decided at the "spur of the moment" on a Sunday afternoon to go to a Craft event at a Plantation just about
in-between our city of Baton Rouge and the city of New Orleans.
We had heard about the show going on but hadn't really planned on going. She and I haven't really gone to Craft Shows because I always went with my friends.

But now she's getting older. Sigh. And it's time to "Teach the ways" of Craft Shows and such. HA!
So we jumped in my truck and headed towards New Orleans.

The area is called "River Road" because it runs along the Mississippi River and it is known it's wonderful and beautiful old Plantation homes.

We went to "Oak Alley" Plantation in Vacherie, LA. which has held a Craft Show for the past few years.

Vendors Tents everywhere....

Even Tents under big sprawling Oak limbs....

The day was the MOST perfect day for doing this.......very clear and sunny and just a tad bit cool.

After looking around at all the things offered...I talked Miss Priss into "Touring" the Plantation with me as well.....I love History and she's not a huge fan....YET. Just give me a bit more time.....HA!

You aren't allowed of course to take photos inside the house...cameras and their flashes aren't healthy to the presevation of antique paintings and such....so these photos are from the front doorway below and the upstairs balconies.

Views from the front door area and the balconies.



The Plantation and it's grounds are wonderful if you ever want to visit it.



Another view.....

Have you ever taken a photo of yourself? You know how you hold the camera out with your own arm...they usually aren't pretty are they? HA!

This photo is better but still no "work of art."

Finally it was time to go......they were packing up the tents and their goods.

We ended up buying a pair of "LSU Tiger earrings" for Miss Priss and "three Silver Charms for my Charm bracelet".....an "Aligator (of course) and two different styles of "Crowns" (of course) from a vendor from New Orleans.

Then it was time to go......so we headed to the FOOD BOOTHS.....which when you go to Craft Shows or Festivals in Louisiana.....believe me when I say.....
"It's all about the FOOD!!!"

There was soooo much good food to choose from.....the smells the entire time were incredible. Finally we decided on what to eat and headed out the gates to leave.

Miss Priss with the "Shrimp and Onion" on a stick.....and "Kettle Corn" for the Daddy.....and fresh Lemonaide.


We were parked WAY OUT in a big ol'field....in the middle of Cane fields. So we had a good little walk ahead of us again. UGH!


Have you even seen a "Sugar Cane" field?? Sugar Cane is a huge crop in Louisiana.

Sugar Cane


It looks tall and similar to corn in some ways because it's a stalk plant with those long leaves....but it's different.

Going back out the long drive to Oak Alley.

Louisiana is known for it's "Festivals".....many small towns hold them. There are nearly "400" Festivals held in Louisiana annually during the year. A
mazing isn't it? They are all different too....

I had NEVER gone to anything like these "Festivals" until we moved to a small town in South Louisiana for several years. The food, the culture, everything involved is interesting and something to see.....at least once. HA!


Crowley has the "Rice Festival"....Rayne has the "Frog Festival"....Delcambre the "Shrimp Festival".....Abbeville has the "Giant Omelete Festival AND the Cattle Festival"....New Iberia has the "Sugar Cane Festival" and on and on the list goes.

How about your "Neck of the woods"....does your city do something special in the Fall or Spring regarding Festivals or Fairs?

Stay tuned.....
I am going to show you photos later from a "Festival" that my Cousin Sara's town does in Missouri.

Ghost Walking in Jefferson, part 2

Jodi proceeded to tell us about several places in Jefferson that were haunted, or about activities there which made people believe they were haunted. Of course, all of this was viewed from the OUTside as we passed by on the street or sidewalk. That is, until we got to the Coffee Shop, which is also a kareoke bar, and located across the street from the Jefferson Hotel.

She took us inside where the proprietor gave us some interesting firsthand information about his encounters. Specifically, what occurred upstairs on the second floor. Immediately thereafter, Jodi led us all upstairs into that area, which was pitch black.

It didn't help that the place had been decorated for Halloween, complete with torture rack, mummified remains, and assorted body parts. It also didn't help that I was definitely uncomfortable - to which Jodi remarked that many of us may be psychically "sensitive" to spirits and may not know it until tonight.

Worse, digital cameras were coming up with some freaky glowing lights in their pictures, which made no sense when the shots being taken were of the ceiling and walls (there was no power upstairs.)

Other stops along the way included several vacant buildings and one shop which I had visited earlier in the day. To hear the story of THE CHAIR over in the corner of the room, then to hear the psychics exclaim that two children were "sitting on the stairs and watching us", while another malevolent male spirit was watching us from the back of the room was enough to spook me. I didn't care that a fourth entity, who was the ghost of a woman who used to work at the store, had vanished into one of the walls and was waiting for us to leave. Once I left that store, the air had a much "cleaner" smell.

We ended the tour at The Grove, which Jodi gives a 60 on her 1 to 10 scale. The Grove has such a rich history of appearances, occurrances, and sightings, that several books have included this home (still with people living in it!) in their listings. You can also Google "the grove Jefferson Texas" and find lots of references to it. In short, Jodi refuses to step foot in the house.

She told us the story of when she brought a basket of goodies to leave on the front porch as a welcoming present. After fixing the basket the way she wanted, she reached for the card she'd placed next to her, only to find the card gone. As she was using the tailgate of her truck as a temporary table, she searched the truck bed for the card, under the truck, and several feet beyond the truck, hoping to find it, without any luck. Finally, she decided just to leave the basket on the porch and call the new tenants later. When she walked to the front door, there on the welcome mat was the card, in its envelope, lying face-up.

Like I said, Jodi swears she'll never set foot on the property again. And I believe her...because as she was telling this story, the EMF detector (the one with the row of lights across the front) began spiking into the red. It was as if the ghosts were confirming her story. Needless to say, the rest of us hurried back into town for the second tour.

To be continued again tomorrow.

The Most Haunted Town in Texas, part 1

I just spent the night in Jefferson, Texas, which bills itself as THE MOST HAUNTED TOWN IN TEXAS. I took both of the ghost walk tours hosted by Jodi Breckenridge, and let me tell you there were times my hair stood up on end.

"If the town has a violent history, and the town itself has changed very little, you can bet it's going to be haunted." Jodi was right. If just half of the stories she conveyed actually happened, it would be enough to make the most jaded skeptic into a believer.

A bit of history here about Jefferson: Its population blossomed to over 30,000 soon after the Civil War. Steamboats wound their way up the Caddo Lake, and the town bustled with saloons, inns, and bordellos. But because the town put its money on the steamboats and not the railroads, the population began to dwindle until now it has around two thousand citizens.

The ghost walk is in two parts. Part one begins at 8 p.m. at the museum and lasts until 9:45-ish. The second half meets at the Jefferson General Store right after the first one ends, and lasts until midnight. Jodi leads you on a brisk walk through downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods which boast a multitude of historical placques.

A self-confessed chicken, Jodi doesn't hesitate to vacate a site if "signs" of activity persist while she's leading the tour. On this particular Friday night, we were graced with the presence of two paranormal investigators (complete with EMF detectors and tape recorders) and two psychics.

Texas Law says that if you own a building or home that's suspected of being haunted, you must reveal that information to any prospective buyers if you try to sell it. But if you own a hotel or B&B, you are not required to tell the tenants or overnight guests.

Which brings us to two of the most famous hotels in Jefferson - The Jefferson Hotel, and the Excelsior Hotel.

If you want to spend the night in one of the haunted rooms at the Jefferson, hotel management will be happy to accomodate you. Ask for Room 19 if you really want a sleepless night. Or Room 14. Or Room 5. On a scale of 1 to 10, Jodi ranks "The Most Haunted Hotel in Texas" at a high 8.

However, she ranked the Excelsior directly across the street at a 20. Not only will the hotel staff there deny it's haunted, but they will not let you know if the room you're given has a history of apparitions, etc. Take your chances there, and chances are you won't have a peaceful sleep.

(to be continued)

Why when it rains, does it pour? I am speaking metaphorically of course. But enough on that… me no air my dirty laundry.
Atleast today anyways.

Can you believe that in a little over two weeks I will be basking in the sun on a beach in Mexico (See above for my hotel!) with a cold frothy beverage in my hand (with an umbrella)? I seriously cannot believe it myself. In fact, now I can’t stop thinking about it. Damn.

Now to organize the child care. Seriously, and I make no joke here, I have a flippin’ spreadsheet to keep it all straight in my head. I know I will be worried sick most of the trip that the right person picked up my child and took her back and forth to school/day care. I have tried to simplify it as much as possible…but too many people were only available a day here, or a day there, and NO ONE could do it the whole week. That said, I was pretty shocked at some people for not even volunteering.

For several reasons.

1. I am the first one to do a favor for anyone…friend, family, even aquaintances. In fact, I usually volunteer before others even have a chance to say no
2. I live in Mission (read: China) and the ‘friends’ that live close by are almost the only ones that DIDN’T offer (except Matty J and that’s cause he rocks)
3. Even a fabulous friend who lives DOWNTOWN stepped up to help with Elvis
4. I am in a jam, friends help friends in jams
5. My daughter is awesome…she is almost the coolest 7 year old alive

But hey – it’s situations like this that yet again reiterate the need to eliminate people from your life that really don’t give a rat’s ass about you…even though you do about them. We live in a selfish world, no? I know I blogged about this previously…but I honestly do get surprised every time this happens to me…and then I STILL stand up and do favors for people that so obviously couldn’t care less about me. I am, in a nutshell, a ‘person to be used’…It’s called being kind-hearted and generous…and HELL YA I am tooting my own horn.

Side note: Men Suck. Almost always. No relevance to the story, just ‘cause.

Go Green for Halloween!

* roast the pumpkin seeds for a natural snack
* compost the jack-‘o-lantern
* wear vintage clothing for a costume
* use an old pillowcase for a candy bag
* give out apples, popcorn balls, or other healthy treats
* use beeswax candles
* walk, ride a bike, or use public transportation

Do You Decorate Your House for Halloween?

There are stores that spring up in unused warehouses or vacant parts of a shopping mall, and these stores are strictly seasonal. Like right now, they are heavy into selling Halloween items. Everything from costumes to body parts, gallons of fake blood to life size animatronic characters.

There are plenty of houses around my town that decorate. Their themes range from the spooky to the whimsical, from horror movies to Disney. All in fun, and I love to see what people can dream up.

The only thing I don't like is when people dress up as scarecrows or whatnot, then sit on the front porch just so they can scare the pee out of some little child. Not cool.

You Got AIDS By Accident, How Will You React?

               You inadvertently contacted the HIV virus through tooth extraction where the equipments used were not properly sanitized and it developed into a full blown AIDS.  What would be your reaction?  Would you sue the dentist that caused you to have the HIV virus?  Please explain your answer.

Tags: HIV, AIDS, AIDS Awareness, Promiscuity, Safe Sex, Abstinence, Sex Within The Marriage

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla 

Tea Time.....

Me in front of "The Russian Tea Room" in New York City.....Miss Priss on the side having a Latte along the way.
On our last day in New York, we were walking to 5th Ave to shop and just "happened" upon "The Russian Tea Room"....which made me mad because I WANTED to go to Tea while I was in the city.
But on trips we don't always get to do everything we want to do sometimes..bummer.
Especially in that city because there is SO much to do and see.
Oh well...I know where it is now.....so maybe next time. HA!

However......on another day recently, here in my own city of Baton Rouge...I went to a Tea with some very special people.

Marsha my good friend and Tea Hostess

Last week, or was it last week? I think I've lost a week somewhere in here.
It's been a busy life lately. That's normal for this family though. HA!

Anyhow.....my good friend Marsha sent invites out to a few of us for Tea the other day.

The table was set when we arrived and it was GRAND!


It's always so heartwarming when someone goes to such effort for your enjoyment...especially since they didn't "have to do it."



Each place setting reminded us of how she used to set up at her Tea Room
"The Hope Chest" when it was still open.
Many of you who know me or know her story, may remember that Marsha who had ran her Tea Room for 10 years here in Baton Rouge, closed it after her husband passed away.

Antique Christmas ornaments hang from her crystal Chandelier above the table...it looks SO pretty in person.


Two of the "Honored Guests"...Marsha's Daughter-In-Law, Christy with her baby and Marsha's Grand Daughter, "Baby Avery" who Marsha now takes care of nearly daily while Christy works.

Marsha is known for her fabulous "Tea Foods" and this was just "one" of our dessert.
She pays CAREFUL attention to detail....just look at this Bread Pudding.

She made them like Autumn Leaves!!!
So fun!

One of the "displays" in the room. Cute!

We other ladies had some items to discuss....for a while now we have had a "Burden" to start something to help women...especially the younger ones....but we are seeking direction.

Tricia, Joyce, Marsha,and Diane who is seated.


Whoops.....lets try it again but this way.

Sometimes it's all about "positioning around obstacles"......

We all know that when the "timing is right" that everything will all fall in to "position" and will work out.

Oh.....and also that a "Cup of Tea" will have a HUGE part in it all.

A Classic Halloween Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas

An Absolute Classic!

Gets you in the mood for the full holiday season, not to mention the little bits and pieces of song you'll find yourself humming after it's over.

It Ain't Halloween Without CANDY!

I remember my brother and I checking out our stash after going Trick-or-Treating. We'd go into my bedroom and dump our orange plastic Jack-'o-lantern buckets onto the floor and start counting to see who'd gotten the most. There were certain items he liked that I didn't, so I gave him mine. And he did the same for stuff I liked but he didn't care for.

Of course, he always pigged out on his, and paid for it later.

Me...I ate a little that night and hid the rest to eat a piece at a time later on. It wasn't unusual for me to have candy all the way to Thanksgiving. :D

Regarding Dressing Babies in Costumes...

I don't think anything could be cuter than a baby dressed up for Halloween...
Unless he's your grandchild! This is Branson Mooney, my grandson. Monkeying around at age 9 months. :D

Would You Pull The Plug?

You are the official guardian of a very closed relative who is in a comma at a hospital kept alive only indefinitely by life support systems. The doctor says that chances of any recovery and reawakening is almost nil. You are almost at the end of your patience and resources. The doctor says that it's your decision to pull the plug or not. Would you pull the plug? Please explain your answer.

Tags: Euthanasia, Mercy Killing, The Dignity of Life, The Inevitability of Death, Life Support System, Pull The Plug, Dying, Eternal Rest

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Hello November...

...Yeah it came that fast.

We leave for Mexico in three week and well, i am nowhere NEAR my goal of weight loss. Seems like this hump wont go away without exercise and well, I sometimes need to spellcheck that word, let alone have any motivation to do it. Although, I am playing softball tomorrow.

OK, so softball isnt really a good work out lol. But hey, it's something.

Saturday is my sexy friend's Bday who happens to be dating my brother. I am looking forward to it because we are going to a pretty classy joint and I get to wear my sexy dress. Who cares if i wore it the last time we went out...its SEXY! PLus, I wanna show off my tan. Limited mind you since i have only gone to the tanning bed 3 times, but today will be 4 and i just KNOW this will be the time i get dark.

I am not even convinving myself.

So anyone started their Christmas shopping yet? Seriously, i know people that are DONE. Makes me sick. Like pukey sick. I thought i was queen of preparedness and it seems that every Christmas i fail myself. Monetarily, organizationaly, emotionally, the whole nine...errr... three yards. (get it? i only listed three?!?) I'm so weird today.

Yes, JUST TODAY. Shut up peanut gallery. Or are those the voices in my head?!

Mooney Does Movies: "Quarantine"

When "The Blair Witch Project" came out with its shaky camera work and in-your-face reality, it broke new ground. I liked it because it was a fresh approach, and although there was zilch blood-letting, the movie scared the beejeebers out of me.

Then there was "Cloverfield", which I LOVED. Again, the basis of the movie was one lone person videotaping a "real" event as it was happening. In this case, a Godzilla-type monster destroying New York City. Like BWP, the only thing I had to oversome per se was slight dizziness brought on by the constant camera movement.

Now, here's "Quarantine". Based on the Spanish film "REC" (which hasn't been released in the US yet), it's the story of a woman reporter and her lone videographer following a bunch of firemen as they answer calls around town.

One call sends them to an apartment building where they find some of the tenants foaming at the mouth and attacking others like mad dogs, chewing through necks and arms. Unfortunately, while these firemen and police, and the newslady with her tag-along camera man, are trying to figure out what's going on, the building is battened down tighter than Fort Knox. And anyone who tries to escape is, well, shot.

This movie slapped me in the face with improbabilities. Like, if someone's shut off the power, how is the elevator able to work? And how long IS the battery life for one video camera?

At first I wasn't impressed. Well, not until I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about it. Now I want to see it again because the damn movie has gotten under my skin. I also want to see it in another theater because the one I was in had the film way too dark (you could barely make out the characters when the camera was using its night vision.)

I also want to the see the original Spanish version when its released in the US.

Will this movie scare you? Hell, yeah. Worse if you're in a theater with a bunch of scream-happy teenagers.

Initially I planned to give this movie a half moon. After a restless night, I'm changing my vote to a 3-quarter moon.

Initially, I didn't think I would be interested in getting a copy of this movie once it was released on DVD. I'm re-evaluating THAT thought as well!

Tuesday at Bravo's

Last Tuesday, "The Pool Group" met for lunch at a new wonderful Italian restaurant here in Baton Rouge, called "Bravo's."Sarah, Ms. Sandi, Ann

The atmosphere inside the dining the building was FABULOUS......we were all very impressed with that AND the food. It was soooo good and very reasonable. Maybe because we were eating at lunch time. Rates may be higher at night.


Phyllis, and Irma

Ms. Phyllis is always so funny!

Joan, Norma, and me.

When I first arrived......the ladies didn't recognize me because my hair was fixed up! HA!

I joked that "it was hard to recognize people because we didn't have bathing suits on.....we had REAL clothes on!"Scary. HA!

I miss swiming with my friends three times a week......but we are all going to Ms. Sandi's for a "Cookie Exchange" the first of December.....right.

"Packing on pounds, like bears for hibernation" so we can exercise it all off in the Spring! HA!!!
Oh well.