The house by the creek

There are certain places that seem just right to go to during the night. I know that a lot of people enjoy this time of year. I freaking love it with a passion. It's the month I care to enjoy it all. I visit haunted houses, listen to ghost stories, watch all the scary movies that will come out, and end it with a Day of the Dead celebration. The most anticipated holiday I look forward too celebrating. I haven't planned anything ahead. I've just been going with what comes to mind. Went to my first haunted house this past weekend. Creekside Manor Haunted House in Midlothian, Texas. Proceeds of the ticket sales go to a charity. It was a group of five braves souls. We welcomed a new beginner to the scares. I did everything backwards by being the leader, the front woman to go in first.

It was a house in the woods. I parked my car across the street. Met with the rest of the group and bought our ticket. One person went to the restroom before going inside. It is always important to go to the restroom before going inside. The entrance had a small cemetery setting leading to a small room. You have to pass the small room to get in line to go inside. Beware of the small room. The house looked broke down with boarded windows. The house was perfect on a rainy night. We debated on going because it had started to rain hard. I would normally cancel but not this night. Rain was coming down hard but I told myself and the rest of the crew that it might stop by the time we got there. Minutes before we arrived it stopped raining. Once in line to get in the big house we start wondering how long the experience will be. We wonder if what we paid was going to be worth the scare. It was their first weekend opening and we couldn't wait to get the season started.

They took our tickets and it was our turn. Our group got to go inside together. Once inside the smell of mildew filled the air. It was the perfect setup for what we were about to endure. I went first holding my friends arm. Two more friends followed and our fifth friend was in the back. I do not know what I was thinking going in first. I kept screaming and yelling going through the narrow halls. Kept yelling for our fifth friend to see where she was. I got so scared at one scary creature that I actually pushed him away. I put my hand on his chest and pushed. I don't think I was suppose to do that but he got me good. I would run through there dragging my friend with me. Of course the chainsaw would try to scare us once we would step outside. I think by this point I would be used to it by now but nope I ran. These are the times when if you aren't a runner you would be the first one out of there.

Creekside Manor Haunted House

The whole experience was really scary good. The drive wasn't that bad. I woke up the next morning with a hoarse voice. It's Monday and a bruise on my hand finally appeared. I don't remember hitting my hand on anything but then again when you get scared the adrenaline kicks in.

The best haunted houses are the ones in the middle of nowhere. The houses that are in the woods. If I'm asked if I would go back to this one, the answer is yes. I'm going to start to pack a cooler with drinks because these places make you hot and thirsty. Yes hot and thirsty for more.

Which ever haunting you go to this year may you cry from laughing hard at yourself, have you loosing your clothes, (in my case my shoe), or have you almost pee your pants.

But whatever happens just be brave. Be scared of the real not the make belief.

A house built in 1854

My plan was to take the drive today, being the first of October. I took yesterday off work. I got up early decided to go for a walk came back and had my morning coffee. I began watching some scary stories on YouTube. The time now was twelve o'clock. I was thinking should I go ahead and go today? I mean I'm not doing anything. By one o'clock I had me an ice coffee to go and headed for the highway. The time it took to get to my destination was three hours. Once in the car I was thinking was I crazy? But I've done this before so I was just listening to music with my window down. My hair blowing making it messy but I didn't care. I tend to say what I feel the day I'm living with the people I see. I never know if it will be my last. I also never tell anyone where I'm going. I don't tell them because they worry. Half way to my destination I'm listening to my music when the car in front of me slams on their brakes. I began to slam on my breaks. It was a two lane highway due to construction. I was on the left lane on my right an eighteen wheeler. I began to hit my brakes so hard that I ended making my own lane in between the car and the eighteen wheeler. Lets just say I was one lucky traveler. It could have ended rammed behind the car or under that big rig. I guess it wasn't time for me yet....again. The car in front of me wasn't paying attention because she was on her phone and slammed on her brakes. I told myself, was it meant for me to even continue my trip? Just an hour and a half more to go.

under beautiful blue skies sets a home worth saving

I passed the dirt road that led to what I was looking for. I made a u-turn and it was now three fifty. I could see it as I was driving up to it. There it was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre House. How freaking exciting after so many years of wanting to actually make the trip I finally made the journey. It wasn't the original place the home of the house was placed. It was also surrounded by a fence and cameras were put in place. There was a box of flyers telling you about the house. I could have disobeyed the privacy that they were asking to keep and gone under the fence. Since I hadn't told anyone where I was I felt that I'd be missing for days had I trespassed. People actually live on the land. The house is boarded up but it's in the process of being restored. The house is real. The actual story of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't, or at least that is what they want you to believe. I don't think that if you actually had something like this happen to your family you'd want to be associated with the story. This is the house used as the prop for the movie. The house was moved from the University of Texas campus to this location when the City of Austin bought the land. To preserve the history of this house they moved it to a family farm now in Granger, Texas. It's a piece of Texas history so the plan is to conserve the house. Even though it was boarded up it was just a beautiful thing to see. Pictures were allowed. The idea of actually making the trip to see if it even existed was well worth the drive.

I went in day light don't know if I would have gone at night. I don't recommend you going alone. I take adventures by myself but if you want to explore Granger, Texas don't do it alone. Once I was an hour back home I let my sisters know I had gone on an adventure. Would I do this again....most definitely. I will always feed my wandering soul. Love this gypsy life now given. Will I ever stop? Not even close. Happy haunting to another start to a scary season. Go live and be free to do the things meant for you to see. I'm living this dream of finding what makes my wandering soul feel free.

Was it scary? No. Was it exciting? Hell yes it was. Do I need new brakes? Most definitely.

My First Taxi Ride

I listen to music a lot.  I don't watch TV unless it is a movie I pop in. My life is consumed by music. One day last year I heard a song, I loved it so much that I played it on repeat. I decided to listen to more songs by the artist. I found out they were coming to Texas. I knew I had to go to their concert. I put my days in at work. When they got approved I booked my hotel. When I paid for it I knew I couldn't back out. I still hadn't bought my ticket for the show but I told myself if it was meant to be then it will be. I live life this way. I plan for the randomness. The day came my first trip alone in fifteen years. I was both excited and nervous. I was going to drive myself by myself to my destination. The time came and I don't think my sisters believed I'd do it. My friends were excited for me. When I told my parents they thought I was going with someone. They were like, "Yeah right you are going alone". I said, "dad I'm following the music. I'm okay".

The Church I had stopped to photographed

Judah and the Lion

my latte from Espressivo Coffee

I left on time and arrived early. Did a little exploring downtown. Then I went to the venue to buy my ticket. It was meant to be, had the ticket in my hand. Every where I went I was surrounded by nice people. Even when I did my exploring, I stopped to ask questions. I left a poem I made in an exhibit held at the Culture Commons Gallery. My stops included a burger joint, a coffee shop, and a museum. The night came and the clerk at the desk told me it was cheaper to get a taxi to take me there. I waited for my taxi for forty five minutes but it still hadn't arrived. I wasn't going to make it on time. The lady at the desk asked if it was okay for them to take me. They don't have this service but didn't want me to miss my show. They took me and I made it two minutes late. They didn't want to take my taxi money.

the poem I left at the gallery

the Hope Outdoor Gallery

At first it was weird being by myself. By myself in a room filled with people waiting to see the performance. Once there I went to get me a drink. While I was at the bar a staff member came up to me and asked how I liked the venue. It was my first time here, I told him. He wanted me to have the best experience so he upgraded my ticket on the spot. I couldn't believe it. Once upgraded I made new friends that were there from Austin to hear them perform. When it was over it felt like I was in a movie script. I had found a way to get there but wasn't concerned on how to get back to my hotel. I know I don't have the Uber App. My sister telling me once there to down load it. I like doing things spontaneous and doing things the old way that I just told her I'd find a way. As soon as I walked out of the venue there was a taxi right in front of me. I asked if he was picking up, I got in and just like that I knew it was meant to be. The whole experience was special to me. I was never alone. You see when I went exploring downtown I went exploring down the wrong part of downtown. When I asked someone for directions he suggested I not be alone. He told me it wasn't safe for me to be walking alone. When he said that I looked over him and saw a statue of Jesus from the church I had just stopped to photograph. Every where I went on this trip I wasn't alone. I never am alone. Maybe there is a reason why that taxi never came to pick me up. I did call it twice to see where the driver was but they couldn't place him.

I will never forget this experience. My first of many to come. I told myself last year that I wanted to travel more this year and do things I still enjoy doing. I'm already planning my next one for March. I'm following the music up north. Of course if it is meant to be it will be. I've come along way from my past. There is a saying that goes "things happen for a reason". I believe they do. If you live your life right nothing but good things happen. I believe that we fall the hardest to make us get up and see what is truly meant to be. We don't understand the why until the mind is set free.

On my way back home I stopped at the Hope Outdoor Gallery. Somewhere I'd always wanted to go to for years. Its turning lucky forty this year and it will be demolished this June. What a coincidence.

What band was it that made me follow them to San Antonio...it was Judah and The Lion. It was an amazing show. They interacted with their audience and they love to dance. I'd do it all over again.