Archive for 2010 Salem Trip

November 2, 2010 – Last Day in Salem

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , on December 9, 2012 by Janet Glenn

I’m up and I leap out of the bed! I never have to sleep in that bed again!! Yay!!!! I’m up and out, good riddance to that room! I checkout at 11:00 am but my ride won’t be here until 2:30. It is colder today outside than the whole time I’ve been here! It’s freezing! I dread going out there but I want to go to the Mall and eat. I decide to go out and brave the cold. Well dang, the Bronze Witch is there! I thought for sure she’d be gone by now. I spoke with her on Facebook a couple of times yesterday. I feel like I know a celebrity. I do! I go into the Mall and I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Christmas music! There’s Bing Crosby singing, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” while I browse the Mall still decked with jack-o-lanterns, flying witches, grinning pumpkins, scary ghosts, Halloween here and Halloween there! I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around this. Welp, it’s time to move on I guess!

I go back to the Hawthorne Hotel after I eat and I wait in the lobby for my ride to the airport. You will never believe what they are doing here at the Hawthorne. They are busily switching out all the mattresses in the hotel!!!! Oh horror of horrors! EVERY MATTRESS IN THIS FUCKING HOTEL WILL BE LIKE THE TORTURE DEVICE UP ON THE 6TH FLOOR! Come to think of it, the mattress up there looked brand new. Oh my gawd, say it’s not true! What a horrible thing to contemplate! Get me the fuck out of here! The Salem Waterfront Hotel is looking better and better for next year!

Well, finally, there’s my ride. I’m tired of watching this mattress shit. I’ve had it up to here! I stomp out to meet my ride who jumps out of the car and promptly breaks my suitcase! He’s broken the strap that holds both my suitcases together. This is not good. I already have a computer/camera bag. I’m pissed but like always, I act like it’s okay, just an accident, I know. I figure out another way and I make it work and we drive away. Goodbye Salem. I look at the driver and he looks strangely like a Yankee to me. News flash! You are in Massachusetts like almost to friggin’ Canada here. There’s the state of Maine right up there to the right, so duh, dumb ass! I’ve noticed on this trip that being alone has really made me scared of the natives living here. At the Halloween Ball and even after I was home looking at all the photos, all those strange people scared me a little. It was creepy looking at all of them while thinking, there’s no one here that knows me. I know no one. No one is looking out for me. Nobody even knows me to know if I went missing. This is some creepy shit. Oh, it doesn’t pay to think when you are so far from home and completely alone. The driver, he really creeped me out. He was almost an alien to me and I could not stop staring at him. Oh thank God, there’s the airport. Nobody knows anybody there so I will fit right in. I feel in such a pissy mood at this point. I guess my disappointment with my room has pretty much put a damper on my trip overall. I’m wondering if I’ll stay at the Hawthorne ever again.  And just what is this shit that the driver looks suspiciously like a Yankee?  What the hell does a Yankee look like?  We, from the south, are a strange bunch!

Now get this. When I arrive at the airport, instead of being able to just walk in, I’m accosted by a “Sky-Cap.” Now I know Sky-Caps. My Dad worked for the airlines for 36 years. I know that you always tip the Sky-Caps. I wasn’t ready to spend money again but I allow the Sky-Cap to check my bags. $60.00 yet again plus tip for the Sky-Cap. Feeling fleeced, I walk into the airport. I just spent almost $75.00 just to walk in the airport! Yup, I’m pissed. And later I see said Sky-Cap waving at me from afar saying, “Hello Texas!” Yup, of course, he likes me and I officially know someone in the Boston Airport. I then check out the Bookstore (love) and buy some Sudoku puzzles for my flight. I go to the gate and sit for a couple of hours watching people, just like I started this trip. Sadness is settling around me. I knew this would happen. Finally, I’m walking through the jet-way to my plane. I find my seat and plop down into it. CRAP.

When the plane taxis out and takes off, I begin to cry. I mean I cry hard, big ol’ tears as I stare out the window watching Boston fall away from me. I feel heartbroken. I knew this moment would come. I dreaded it all week! Will I be back to Salem? Damn straight! Oh, and Sudoku puzzles are a wonderful way to kill time. I’m back in Houston before I know it. It was a turbulent flight home but I love turbulence!

And now that it is the end, I’ve included a few of my favorite photos below among which is a photo of the first pilgrim’s grave that arrived in Salem on the Mayflower.  The last two were taken in Boston from the water of which I will pay a visit to again someday! Hope you enjoyed my 2010 Salem trip!

Until next time!

Janet

Hawthorne Haunted Hallway

Hawthorne Hotel Haunted Hallway

Salem Window Fairy

Captain Richard More

Here Lyeth Buried the Body of Capt Richard More
aged 84 years
Died 1692
Mayflower Pilgrim

Witch House Sunset and Leaves

Friendship Salem

Salem Harbor Sky

Washington and Essex

Boston Restaurant

Boston Wharf

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November 1, 2010 – Day 7

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , on November 19, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Well, it’s finally the next day and I leap out of bed. All I want is out of that bed! My day’s plan is to walk around Salem Harbor and I have a taste for salmon so I think I’ll go to Red’s yet again. I’m going to miss Red’s when I leave. When I get there, there’s a line out the door. I guess a lot of people are still in Salem for the holiday. I get in line, of course! I spy a seat at the counter and I run and get it, order my salmon and conversate with the lady next to me. She talks about a lot of stuff. She’s a local. I eat my salmon (a little under done) but it’s good. I then set out for the harbor. It’s really beautiful. Just the way I remember it but it is very cold today. The sky is really beautiful and I try to catch it but I’m not very successful. I’m having difficulty with my camera or should I say, my camera is having difficulty with me. There’s so much I still need to learn. I walk a lot around the harbor, cold or not, it is so lovely out here. I see the “Friendship,” a beautiful old sailing ship. I walk all the way around to the Common and get some good shots there. I walk around the neighborhood around the Common and all the way back around to the Hawthorne, my home base. I happen upon what looks like a pair of scissors laying in the grass by the sidewalk in front of the church. It’s only half of the scissors laying there. I have a chilling thought and I picture in my mind someone carrying that around last night while walking the streets on Halloween …. walking the streets just like I was. It takes me back. I guess there are those types here as well …. someone walking around the streets of Salem in the crowds wanting to hurt someone, kill someone even! Not a good thing, not a good thought but true nevertheless. I head on back to my room. My poor legs and hips are killing me! I can barely take another step! I wonder how much I’ve walked during this trip? Miles and miles I bet!

Back in my room and I’m pretty much out of things to do at this point. It’s just me and this gawd-awful bed until check-out time tomorrow. The whole night stretches ahead of me. I’ll be so happy to get away from this bed once and for all! I’d go down and friggin’ drink but I don’t really drink! Crap, I guess I’ll just write on this blog, right? Right!

Please do enjoy the photos of my walk around Salem!

Janet

Friendship of Salem

Salem Custom House

Salem Harbor House

Salem Funeral Home

Salem Harbor House

Salem Mansion

Salem Scissors

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October 31, 2010 – Halloween in Salem!

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , , , , on October 17, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Hawthorne Hotel Room 624

What a horrible night I had! It was so damn hot in this room and the bed has gotten harder I think just to spite me! And although I had the window open as far as it would go, it was like an oven in here! And the bed, well, it has officially turned into a torture device. I am very disappointed in the Hawthorne Hotel. And the walls are so thin! These people checked in and they have talked and talked and talked! One woman talks in this low monotone and it just goes on and on and on! It’s just this constant drone. It’s like having a bee buzzing by your ear without stopping for 3 fucking hours! I’m losing my mind! The crazy thing is that when I walk out the door of my room, someone asks me if I’ve seen the ghost. This has happened several times. Yesterday a large group of people were outside my door and were asking me about the ghost. And there was a tour outside my window last night …. talking about the ghost. Well, no ghost in their right mind would hang out in this room! But, yes, there’s a ghost at the Hawthorne Hotel. I know it because I experienced it last year! And if you’ve read my blog like good little creepies, you already know about it! But, back …. when I wake up (as if I really slept), it’s frickin’ Halloween and I am in Salem, Massachusetts, the Halloween capital of the world!!!!!

Halloween!

So Halloween, what shall I do with this day? First things first, I take a long hot bath and shower. Must be clean and pretty for this wonderful day! Oh dear, the weather dude is saying it’s super cold and windy. You would not know it by this stupid room. It’s still hot in here and the heat is not on. I know …. but the AC won’t work either! (Love it when I answer myself…) Wonder who is manning the controls down there? Some jerk vlad … hee!

What to wear? Don’t want to get too tricked out until tonight so I’ll wear a bit toned down witchy-look but I will wear my cloak (cape?). Hmmm, my tunic is almost a dress on me. I really have lost weight. Unemployment will do that to you!

Salem Costumes 2010

And out I go with my camera on Halloween day! Feee-uck! It’s cold outside! And the wind! Gale force! My cape is blowing every which way. People are being blown this way and that! It’s really hard taking pictures. I pull my hood up on my cape and that helps with the cold wind but I can’t see anything now. So I stop occasionally and take pictures of the crowd and Halloween costumes. Shit, I’m not wearing heavy enough clothes. I’ve come to the realization that fashion doesn’t give a shit about weather! And what happens in Salem, kiddies? Salem weather happens when you least expect it! Yay! Gawd, I’m a dork. So, after many pictures, I decide to go to one of my favorite pizza places – the Upper Crust. Gotta get out of this cold. I’m dying heya. The people talk so funny here and I catch myself talking that way. Accent? Just think John Fitzgeral Kennedy whose ghost, I might add, is alive and well here in Massachusetts. And you know what else? Do not stare at cops here in Salem. If you get their attention, they want to know just what (the fuck) are you looking at, and they sound like they’re straight out of New York. I think they do that to make them sound more bad ass than they probably are. Still and all, I wouldn’t mess with them. They do sound scary bad.

Salem Ferris Wheel

Yum, the pizza is as good as it was last year. I sit right by the window and watch the crowds walk by, most in costume. You don’t see this in Houston! (I’ve included more pictures below.) These people are having so much fun. They are so happy! These are people from all over the world and we all gathered right here in Salem. I just plain love this shit! The smells remind me of the festivals I went to when I was a child. Remember the Halloween carnivals we had in elementary school? All the food booths, roasting, hmmm, I don’t remember what they were roasting … but they were! Running hither and yon in our Halloween costumes with a spooky chill in the air. Coloring black cats and pumpkins on paper that smelled really funny. And candy, candy, candy! That’s how it is here in Salem except the adults are having just as much fun as the kids. Everyone dresses up! There’s a carnival over there with it’s witchy-adorned ferris wheel. The midway, popcorn, sausage and yes, they’re perfectly happy taking all your money while you try to beat their almost impossible games. All those memories come back alive here in Salem. The really cool part (although I think some of you would disagree) is that you cannot drink alcohol outside in Salem. The cops are very hard on that! You can’t drink or even look drunk outside in Salem. Zero tolerance. It’s nice though, I hate drunk people … especially drunk people in my family! Drunks always ruin everything!

So back, eating my pizza and I ordered way too much but it’s good. Remember the difficulties I had last year the day after Halloween? Well, strangely enough, a little while ago I had a nasty cramp way down low in my belly …. just like last year! Now wait just a damn minute! I did not eat at the Halloween Ball last night. The memory of what happened to me last year on Salem Harbor is way too fresh! I do not want to walk the streets of Salem again like that, walking stiff-legged with my ass held tightly shut! Nope! Okay, let’s think. Since I didn’t eat anything at the Ball, it has to be the alcohol …. very cheap bourbon at super ridiculous prices. I only had two drinks but they were bad. No wonder I don’t drink!!!

Salem Costumes 2010

Well, I buck up, pull myself together and brave the cold and wind and walk around Salem on Halloween. The bronze witch is there freezing her witchy tits off …. or is it teats? Witch teats? I think I’ve seen that in a story somewhere. Oh hell, I don’t know, she’s fucking cold! People are being blown right by me. Funny, sort of like the Wizard of Oz tornado. I’ve been blown up one street and down another for quite sometime now and I’m so damn cold. I try to go over to see where the fireworks are going to be but the wind is blowing so hard, I can’t even peek around the corner and step on that block. Welp, no fireworks tonight I surmise. There’s supposed to be a band playing there as well. The weather in Salem is a force to be reckoned with, let me tell you! It never does it half-way! It is full on, let’s get it on, kick some ass!

I make my way back and I’m so cold and beat up, I decide to pop into the Coven for hot, hot, hot coffee. I get my coffee with honey and cream and sit by the window and watch the festivities outside. People in costumes are still being blown by the window. Swoosh! I savor this moment. I even posted about it on Facebook from my phone. Sitting here in Salem, in the Coven, on a very cold and windy Halloween with my warm coffee in hand. It is dusk and I’m in my element. I’ve never before felt like I’m where I’m supposed to be more than I do now. If I could just freeze this moment in time. If only I could ………

Salem Costumes 2010

Ok, I must break the spell. It is after all Halloween at dusk in Salem. I make my way back to the hotel to change into my witchy best for the evening. I really only change a few things but I add my lovely witch hat. Now I really feel at home! In Salem on Halloween, you get stared at if you don’t have a costume! As I venture out, I notice immediately that the wind has died down but it is still very cold. I head for the Pedestrian Mall and I change from taking photos to taking video. It’s one or the other! I notice that the crowds are significantly smaller than last year and there’s a lot less costumes. I think all the Halloween festivities last night, Saturday night, wore everyone out. It is so quiet even with the crowds. It’s almost boring! I walk around and there are people actually stopping me to take my picture. One person said I was an “awesome witch.” Another was bragging how he would be sending my picture back home to Brazil. He said I was beautiful. At some point, I just stop and stand there on the Pedestrian Mall and some of the people think I’m one of the “street performers.” They are commenting and having their pictures taken with me to send home. Wow, all’s I need is a tip jar like the Bronze Witch and I could be making some money! **Makes a mental note of this!**

So I spend the next couple of hours walking and taking in the festivities all around me. There’s bands playing, break dancers (ha) and lots of souvenir and food booths. There’s monster face painting and Dracula fang installations. I make my way over to the Witch Memorial and the Salem witches have left a lovely floral wreath in memory of those falsely accused and executed in 1692. The memory will never die and it should not! I’ve heard some stories of the executions and they were gruesome, awful. The one man, Giles Corey, being pressed to death and the others hung by the neck until they were dead. Do you really know what happens to someone when they are hung? Dreadful and evil! All this happened here and it was so unfair to those people! Can you imagine being pressed to death? Having rocks placed on you over a three day period until finally you are crushed from the weight? From what I understand, the guy kept asking for more weight, more weight, more rocks! All he had to do was admit he was a witch and they would have stopped. Giles Corey would not admit it and they would not stop. Now it’s awful, morbid history. The punishment put upon this man and the unfortunate women by “religious people” in the name of God! So I pay my respects at the Witch Memorial …. and another couple of pictures are taken of me smiling with total strangers for memory’s sake. That’s cool.

Halloween Band

I walk around some more. It is frickin’ cold out here and all I have is this stupid cape! It’s not warm at all! I’m hungry but everything I see is so packed with people. I watch another band that’s close to the hotel. They are playing Beatles music so, of course, I linger. The singer is cute and he has an English accent … and long blonde hair. No Beatle there, ha! I watch awhile, then I head to the hotel. I NEED some warmth. I’ve seen a lot of people tonight who are walking around half naked because of their costumes, and there ain’t no way they’ll put a coat on and cover up their “look.” I think they have lost their minds! I’m freezing my arse off! This witch has to give it up and go inside.

I get in the lobby and oh my God, does that feel good! It feels like someone wrapped a warm blanket around me. Oh, I love you Hawthorne Hotel! Up to my room. Oh, I hate you, stupid bed! But now the strangest thing happens. I get into my warm nighties. The room is now cold. I look out the window and I think I hear a boom. What the hell was that? I hear it again. Well, would you look at that! It’s the fireworks show! I have a perfect view right here from my window! So I pull up a chair and watch, all roasty-toasty, right here in my window. I can see all the people in costumes walking in the streets by the Salem Common and the Salem Witch Museum. I can see the end of Salem’s Haunted Happenings 2010 and most interesting of all, I can see the police getting everyone off the streets because Halloween is over. Yup, they were being rough with everyone they dealt with and I had a bird’s eye view. They made a couple of arrests right there beneath my window. They were running everyone out of the Common. No one in, everyone out! The concession stands turn off those blasted generators. Aww, quiet at last! And there’s those beautiful huge police horses! I would come back to Salem just to see them! The police are riding them through the Common to get everyone out. Aww, to have a job like that! I’ve never seen horses so big nor so beautiful! I watch and watch and watch out my window. It’s hard to tear myself away. I’m trying to hold onto Halloween as long as I can. And it’s over. Over for another year. Damn, damn, double damn! I still have a couple of days here in Salem though!

Happy Halloween!

Janet

Salem Costumes 2010

Salem Costumes 2010

Salem Costume 2010

Salem Costumes 2010

Salem Costumes 2010

Salem Costumes 2010

Salem Costumes 2010

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October 30, 2010 – Day 5

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , , , on September 20, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Well, today is the day of the annual Halloween Ball here at the Hawthorne Hotel. It is a big deal here in Salem. As for my day, I’ve decided to go in search of gifts to take back to my family. Shopping in Salem is very fun. Too bad I not only have a money limit but I have to be mindful of how much I buy. Lord almighty, I can’t afford to take home another suitcase! I will never get over the fees that Continental Airlines charges for checked baggage. A fee for a fee for a fee ….. shit!

Salem Old Burying Point Cemetery

Anyway I bathe and dress and go out to see my beautiful Salem yet again. I still am worried about leaving. I have been crying off and on the whole time I’ve been here fretting about having to leave. What is it about this place? What the fuck is Salem to me? I can’t figure it out. The psychic lady who did my reading didn’t think I ever lived here before in a past life. What the hell does she know? What the fuck is it about Salem? It drives me crazy and it’s very real to me. When I’m in Salem, this whole “thing” comes over me. The feeling is so real especially when I’m in the Old Burying Point cemetery. That’s where it’s the strongest. I find it significant that the only major “spirit photo” I got was in the Old Burying Point cemetery last year. When I’m in the cemetery, I feel this incredible heaviness in my chest. I feel I’m being watched or that they (they?) want to tell me something. I feel this real heavy weight settle all around me. Salem Ancient TreeI feel more than compelled to touch the trees especially the largest ancient tree that you see here. And do I touch it? You bet your sweet bippy I do (what the fuck is a bippy?)! I think I've mentioned this before in this blog but dammit, I mean it! I went over to the Howard Street cemetery the other day and I felt no such thing. I loved the cemetery with the squirrels and jail and all but I just don't feel anything there. Of course, I can't get in the cemetery so that is a bit off putting but this all is very strange. I really wish I could know what's going on with me and Salem. How do I find out? Does anyone know?

Howard Street Cemetery

I head on out in search of gifts and I decide to eat at the Coven. Now doesn’t that name just piss some of you off? **Lots of Laughter** It’s not a place to go worship the devil as some of you think. The Coven is a very cool little coffee shop/cafe type place. I order coffee and “The Criminal.” “Excellent choice” the young guy says and yes, it was very good. It was an egg on a toasted crossiant. Whoa, what an idea! Not really. Fact is I like it very much and I love my surroundings even more. To me, everything in Salem is “an event.” Every little thing I do is special. Well for crap’s sake, here come the tears again. What an ass I am! Anyway, on this day, I shot some great video of dear Salem and I’ll try to show you if I can figure out how to convert the damn videos. Thanks JVC …. and this is a completely differant story (rant) for later!

Ok, I have a particular shop in mind for a couple of gifts but damn, there’s a line to get in! Dang tourists (tee hee)! I guess I will stand in line. Why not? It’s Saturday in Salem and it’s perfect! The shop is cool if a little uppity but a lot of shops (and people) are like that here. It’s okay with my cuz I’ve been accused of the same thing many times in my life. I’ve been told also that I write way different than I act in public. Whew, that’s a good thing! Can you imagine?! I’d be chasing people down trying to put them in my morgue and then I would write rude things about them! Hee! Anyway back, I go through the shop. It’s a spooky/witch shop. Lots of spooky/witch things but there’s some interesting stuff as well. I’ve been accused of being a witch many, many times in my life … even as a child. The mean kids in school called me “Morticia.” The “Addams Family” was popular when I was a kid. But, you know what? Looking around this shop, I don’t have a clue what to do with most of this stuff. I don’t even know what most of it is but some of it looks real interesting and other stuff looks real meaningful except I don’t really know the meaning. I buy a $2.50 Mood Ring and leave that place. At least I know what a Mood Ring does!

I go in other shops and see things that I really want to buy. This place here has a really cool selection of Ouija Boards both old and new. There’s one exactly like the one we played with in my childhood. There’s new, modern ones as well. I would really like to buy one but I have been SO warned against them that I’m afraid to. What if it makes the plane crash? This little toy board made by Parker Brothers … a toy company? Which brings me to an interesting fact right here in Salem. There’s some apartments here that are built on the land where Parker Brothers had their business and this is where they made what? The Ouija Board! Ok, that’s cool, right? Truth! Really!

Salem Bronze Witch

Alright, wandering down the Pedestrian Mall and there’s my favorite bronze witch statue. I think I would return to Salem year after year just to watch her work the crowd as a statue! Her costume is fabulous and I have learned that she designed and made it herself. The costume she had last year was different but they are both excellent. She really does look like a bronze statue …. an 8 foot tall bronze statue! She’s really good with the people and she makes her living totally from tips. She’s got this eccentric little witch sound she makes when you drop some money in her cauldron and I’ve seen people put money in there over and over and over just to get her to make that sound. Then she kisses at you and this is a very personal and sweet gesture and the people love it! She plays with people, of course, stealing their hats and giving them away to other people. She’ll stand very still like a statue and bop you on the head as you walk by. Sometimes she will be very still and someone will get up very close to her looking to see if she’s real and she will move ever so slightly and scare the crap out of them. Too funny! This girl is a part of Salem and she earns her money. Once she gets up on her step-ladder and gets settled, she will stand there 10 hours or more a day, not getting down … not even to pee. I don’t know how she does it. I pee about every hour. I’d be screwed! I salute her and she’s my friend on Facebook! Ain’t I something? (Right)

Hocus Pocus 1993

So looking around. I do finally find the gifts I want. Love buying things in Salem. I guess I should get back to my room. I’m planning to be late to the Ball tonight. Tonight on ABC Family on TV, they are having a back-to-back showing of the movie “Hocus Pocus.” A double feature! Oh rapture! As you know, “Hocus Pocus” was filmed right here in Salem and I’ve had such fun here walking around and finding the locations where they filmed. When I used to watch the movie years ago (and I watched it over and over but didn’t have a clue as to why), I never dreamed I’d actually be in Salem someday watching it. Goes to show, you just never know!

Janet's Witch Hat

Okay, watching “Hocus Pocus” and getting ready for the Ball that’s being held downstairs. I’m slathering on my witchy makeup. Does every damn thing have to be about a witch for cripes sake?! Yes indeedy! You are probably wondering, how does she go to a Halloween Ball all by herself? How indeed! I just get my shit in order and I frickin’ go! I do have my camera, of course. A camera is the ticket. It can be a companion and is for me. It’s my excuse for being there in the first place naturally. My excuse to “be.” Now, off to the Ball! Back in a bit!

Halloween Ball Costume

Okay, my gawd, I’m in my room after the Ball. I’ve had 2 drinks and I’m feeling very tipsy. I never drink, 2 drinks and I’m such a wimp! Well, my beautiful hat and cape did the trick. I was a hit with a couple of guys. One was the guy 2 rooms down. He was haunting me meaning everytime I looked up, he was standing close to me. It became a game to me sort of. I would move on purpose to see if he would show up in my vicinity yet again and damn he appeared everytime! It did my heart good to be getting the attention from a man again. Then I wandered into the main ballroom and I fell absolutely in love. There was this guy in there. We were so drawn to each other! He was young, in his thirties, and he was with a date. We first encountered each other while we were trying to make our way through the crowd. For one brief moment, the people stopped and he and I were left looking at each other face-to-face and holy Jesus … an enchanted moment! Then the crowd moved on. We came together again one more time and it was downright, in your face attraction. It could have been love for us. I know it! But alas, I moved on and went to my room, a bit tipsy and thinking how happy I was to have had that experience with both of those guys. I knew I was too old for the young one but how sweet it was to think of it …. and him! The other guy? I heard him and his wife screaming at each other when they came back from the ball. I hope I didn’t cause that!

Tomorrow is Halloween!

Janet

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October 29, 2010 – Day 4

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , , , , on September 16, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Okay, today – meeting Tony Moran from the movie Halloween in front of Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery. Michael (Tony) is not there when I arrive so I go in the monster gallery. I LOVE IT!!!!! Count Orlok's in Salem, MassAll my very favorite monsters are here! All the Hammer Film movie monsters! And don’t they look real …. life size …. scary …. unsettling …. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I very slowly savor Count Orlok’s gallery. I look over each monster, up and down, this way and that. This guy is good. Oh look, Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff, Bela Friggin’ Lugosi! I’m so in my element. And the music, excellent. Oh and there’s Mother and Norman Bates as well. But the creepiest room to me is the Death Masks. These are casts taken from the actual faces of the actors. That room in there is full of their faces …. in death. Shiver! Alfred Hitchcock’s in there too. I’m loving this! And then after a few assorted various monsters, I’m out in the daylight again. In Salem again. Off I go this way and then I’ll go that way!

Tony/Michael still isn’t there so I grab some photos of the carnival. The sky today is really stormy and I’m trying to catch just the right shot and light. I wander on down and get some great shots of the Old Burying Point Cemetery again. I’m so drawn to that place for some reason. My heart squeezes when I’m in there and I have to touch my tree. It’s a beautiful ancient tree. The bark is so rough …. and warm. I could stay with it all day but I tear myself away. Does this make me a tree-hugger? Don’t care … love that tree! I do have Salem to do after all. This cemetery is so old that the original passenger that came over on the Mayflower is buried here. Jeeeesus!

So I do tear myself away and off I go. I’m hearing a lady selling ghost tours over a PA system loud. Give me a break. Lots of ghosts are going to show up for that I bet! She’s got a huge booth with flashing lights sitting way up high. Kinda kills it don’t you think? Kinda makes me want to kick her ass……..

Now I wander into the Salem Wax Museum. The wax figures are cool and the stories are interesting. All about the witch trials. I’m reading some very unsettling things like for instance, that a lot of people were thrown in jail accused of being witches, which we all know but what I did not know is that when they were being kept in jail, they were being charged for their food, clothing or anything else that they might have a need for. The sad thing was that when they were released (not everyone was convicted), if they did not have the money to pay what they owed for their keep, they were not let out! Some people died in jail simply because they could not pay their way out! They were never convicted of witchcraft but they died in jail for being poor! No wonder Salem has spent all these years trying to do right by these people! The Wax Museum was eye-opening …. and tragic and has left me feeling pissed off.

Okay, out in the air again. Off to see Michael …. and he’s there! I guess I’ve seen him without his mask before because I recognize him. I talk to him. He’s personable. I tell him about Halloween’s Unseen. I feel really strange in this moment. If you had told me back in the 1970s and 1980s that I’d be talking to Michael Myers/Tony Moran about something personal I’ve accomplished that had something to do with Halloween …. and he was liking it, well, I would have said, “You are crazy!” He lets me take his picture and charges $10 for his autograph. Shit! Oh well, everyone’s gots to get theirs! I like Tony Moran, he’s nice to me and he’s going to check out my web site! (right)

Okay, let’s see. I think I’ll go to the Salem Witch Museum. Off I go. I’m alone! For some reason I’ve been reminded of this a lot on this trip. While I’m in Salem, I just go hither and yon doing what I please, when I please but on this trip I do feel lonely. Maybe next year someone will go with me. (right)

Now, the Salem Witch Museum. In I go and I’m seated …. on the floor. Now I’m in pretty good shape, Lord, I walk miles, but I do have flaky hips. But I buck up and sit on the floor like everything is cool but I’m not liking it. Now an interesting thing occurs here on the floor. We sit on the floor and begin to twirl around. I don’t mean the floor twirls, we twirl around and around and around! The show is set up in the “Castle” in a circle. We follow these sets around the room that light up and guide us through the witch hysteria. It’s very interesting and I love the creepy music. It’s all very interesting and I don’t know why I worried about sitting on the floor. I was never still and not there long at all! Then we are released …. directly into the gift shop only to be held captive there until the second half of the show. Can you say, “Ka-ching – capitalism?” OMG Salem …. and I did not buy anything! Then off we go to the next part of the show. This one’s cool. It defines the “witch.” The mid-wife beginnings, flying around the night sky on broom sticks (give me a break) and the gentle witches of Wicca. Then there’s a huge board explaining “witch hunts” over the years which we’ve all been a part of. Hee! And out and it was good. Actually, this is the first time I’ve taken the museum tours in Salem and I’ve not been disappointed.

It’s dark now in Salem and very cold. I’m heading back to my room. As I’m going to my room, one of the guests a few doors down stops to flirt with me. I’ve seen him before. Big ol’ biker dude with long hair, spooky eye contacts and Halloween skulls braided into his beard. My kind of guy! I actually took a picture of him at last year’s Halloween Ball and I told him so. He’s intrigued, his wife’s not.

I’m now in my room on this hateful bed. I have a beautiful view with lovely fall trees outside my window. I can see the Salem Common, the Salem Witch Museum, the Roger Conant statue but there’s those damned concession stands! And what runs concession stands? From 7:00 am until midnight all I hear are damned generators! It’s constant and, of course, each little stand has it’s own generator! Between this gawd-awful bed and the constant groan of those cursed machines, I’m going to lose my mind! I’ll just go take a bath …. always a solution! If I drank, I’d drink. Shit.

Luvs,

Janet

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October 28, 2010 – Day 3

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on August 28, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Oh, my aching ass!! Hate the bed – love the shower!

On this day I set out to take photos of the beautiful mansions on Chestnut Street. My purpose? To look for Coffin Doors. Yes, you heard that right – Coffin Doors! In the old days, there were no funeral homes to take care of everything when someone died. The families had all the death festivities at home. The front door or Coffin Door was really a normal door and a third. They were really a 3-part door big enough to make it easier to remove the coffin and the body out of the house for burial. Here’s a photo I took of said door-type. Sort of creepy don’t you think?

Anyway I go back to Red’s for breakfast. Looking cool again. This day … a silver glittered tunic with black capris underneath, purple and black stripped socks to my knees and ankle-high black suede boots. Today, a little different reaction from people. They are looking but it’s not really friendly. From the women, they slide their eyes up and down me and then it’s kind of a “Why didn’t I think of that?” attitude. The guys ARE talking to ME! How strange. They don’t talk to me in Houston at all. It’s all looks …. it’s the clothes. I’m always the same person. I’m always Janet!

Some of the attention I’m getting is kind of scary. I am alone after all and I’m walking all over this busy town taking pictures with an expensive camera or two. I’m being careful. I spy some house builders up ahead, one of them stopping to look at me a little to long, a little too hard. I turn around and walk the other way. I spy another guy walking towards me. I don’t like his looks. I step out into the street and put a couple of parked cars between us. If he grabs me, I’ll bite his balls off. I ain’t kidding either! Teeth = balls, that’s the ticket!

I then make my way around to the Howard Street Cemetery by the old Salem jail. I can’t get in this one and I don’t feel exactly comfortable here. I don’t know why, it’s just that something gives me the creeps here. I’ll be on my way thank you very much! But before I go, I snap some photos of the houses here and guess what?! One of these photos gets featured in the Salem Tourist Guide 2011 and that’s it there on the left! Good gawd, who would have ever thought that would happen!

I now wind my way around to the Witch House, my favorite house here in Salem. I do love the Witch House! It looks like a witch house but guess what? There’s never been a witch in it! It’s all hype. One of the judges of the witch trials owned it and lived there but there were never any witches there. Well now that sounds kind of dumb. There were no witches at the witch trials either! I’m a dumb ass. Anywho, I go inside for my first time and spend quite some time and get lots of pictures. The guy that works there likes what I’m wearing and we joke about me dropping glitter in the Witch House. At least I’m leaving something he can remember me by. I make a point to move some of the artifacts a little out of place here and there. Mark my territory I guess you’d call it. I haven’t been called a witch my whole life for nothing, right? Right! Now there’s been a witch in the Witch House …… kidding!!

Speaking of the Witch House, check this photo out that I took in the Witch House. Am I going crazy or does that look like the image of a witch’s face in the artifact? Do you see it?”

As I’m walking back to the Hawthorne, I see this guy with long hair, a black duster coat with a shovel thrown over his shoulder. My kind of guy! As I walk by him, he falls in next to me and starts walking with me all the way down the Pedestrian Mall. Turns out he’s a Salem tour guide and asks what I’m doing tonight and why don’t I come to the ghost tour. I say I just might do that as I notice that he’s got just about every other tooth missing. On second thought ………. As we are walking and talking, I mention to him where I’m from and that I have a friend who has a popular ghost tour in Galveston, Texas that does very well. I mention that there are a lot of ghosts in Galveston what with the 1900 Hurricane and all and the guy reminds me that a lot of people have died in Salem over the years as well and loses interest in me and kind of wanders off. Can you say competition? Too funny! At least our guy in Galveston has all his teeth!!!

Ahhh, still walking down the Pedestrian Mall… My meetup with the gravedigger was fun but I got the chills from a funky friendly vampire who so reminded me of the head vampire in Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. I’ve actually got this guy hissing at me and trying to bite me on video which I will try to get up at some point. A photo here will do quite nicely for now.

Also too, I had a bit of a run in with Frankenstein on this very afternoon during my walk through Salem. Ho, hum, just a typical day on the Pedestrian Mall!

Look see! There goes the Bronze Witch! Oops, no, she can’t walk, she’s a statue, but there she is. I love her to death!

I had a wonderful romp with the squirrels in the Howard Street cemetery along my way. Don’t they have an interesting place to live?! They seem to be looking at me right in the eyes which makes for fabulous photos as you can see. Always, with the camera ready!

What a fun day this is. All these wonderful monsters and wild animals greeting me as I make my way back to my hotel. And now I am back to my room, I enter, glare at the bed. Gawd, I’m exhausted and these boots are killing me! Being beautiful is hard work! I’d like to go do another harbor tour but I’ve got to go rest and that’s just what I do. The streets are quiet again tonight in Salem but this will be the last time for several nights now. Watch out, Halloween weekend is almost upon us! I now go run a luxurious bubble bath and decide just what adventure will I have next!

Luvs,
Janet

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October 27, 2010 – Day 2

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2012 by Janet Glenn

THAT WAS THE WORSE BED I'VE EVER SLEPT IN!!!! OUCH!

Red's Sandwich ShopI have made a discovery … a realization really. I decided on this trip to dress the part every day. Here in Salem you can dress festively gothic and walk through the streets and feel right at home. I am dressing the way I really want to actually …. and I’m attracting so much attention! This is so cool! Last year I wore regular shirt, jeans, T-shirts, leggings, comfortable shoes and I was just one of the crowd, a “tourist.” Today I wore a black sweater with beads on it, black short capri leggings with black and orange stripped socks peeking out from knee-high pirate-like suede boots and a black sweater duster. My hair is bushy, long to my waist and bright red. Nails = long and black. I’m walking and people are looking at me, talking to me, centering me out like I’m a celebrity almost. Well, I’ll be damned. I really think these people think I’m part of Salem, maybe even live and work here. When I was in the Old Burying Point Cemetery, people stopped me to ask me questions about the cemetery. They think I work here. Now I understand a lot of things. It doesn’t really matter how old you are, if you “look cool,” well, you’re cool! I love Salem. I can stretch my wings here. I dress how I really want to dress. I look like I feel! I go to a restaurant for breakfast, “Red’s Sandwich Shop,” and I feel so comfortable that I take big ol’ bites of my food and don’t care if anyone is watching me eat!

It’s night, in my room finally. What a super busy day I had! When I left Red’s, I walked, took some video, shopped …. bought a cape! I love Salem!! Watched my favorite witch statue in a window (it’s raining) and jumped on the Trolley for a spin around Salem. I’m thinking I should go back to my room, I’m tired but shit no! My Trolley ticket is good just for today, so I take a ride out to the dock on Salem Harbor and jump on the Salem Ferry and ride all the way to Boston and back! I don’t know what it is about Salem. I’m just good at it! The Ferry ride is FUN! The weather is bad so the ride is rough and I love it! It feels like I’m riding on a bucking horse. It’s not really putting me to sleep like some of the other passengers I see around me. I’m not sleepy but I’m loving it. The movement is so relaxing and fun. I look around and there are a couple of guys nodding off. One is completely asleep with his mouth hanging open rocking and keeping time with the movement. The Captain of the Ferry makes a comment about my black nails. See I told you! It was sort of peculiar I know but just as soon as I got off the Ferry in Boston, I turned right around and got back on the Ferry to head back to Salem. Didn’t really have a desire to explore Boston all by myself. Makes a mental note, **Do Boston!**

Now we are coming to the dock in Salem at sunset. I could not ask for a better place to be at this moment! Oh, Boston is a beautiful city as well. I did get some beautiful photos of Boston as we approached it from the water …. and you’ll see them! The ride back is wonderful with the setting sun. As I go along, I look at the ancient islands passing by here and there. I’ve seen the tops of these islands in pictures on the internet over the years and I am once again awestruck that I’m actually seeing them up close, literally riding by right next to them. They are rocky and craggy and have a story to tell. They give off a feeling of spookiness …… well, what did you expect?

Back. What a wonderful trip! I want popcorn and a horror movie. Don’t like bloody slasher movies. Fooled everyone, right? You’d think I would like them, right? Don’t. The popcorn dude is playing with me. Flirting, a little sexual suggestion. Man, what clothes will do! Stay away from Kettle Corn, it sucks! The popcorn dude gives me a huge serving in a big ol’ bag. Much more than the stupid little containers he’s selling. He even ties my bag of popcorn with a twist tie. Helps me with carrying it I guess. He tells me to enjoy my scary movie and includes that the only thing scary in his life is his marriage. Damn, these clothes! And the guy was Irish. A beautiful Irish accent he had!

Back at the hotel. Walk through the lobby …. snooty …. nighty night! And they don’t have the pumpkins up yet. How long shall I have to wait?

Luvs,
Janet

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October 26, 2010 – Day 1

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , , , on August 24, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Well, bend me over and *bleep* me up the ass! I’m on my way to Salem, Mass and I’ve just had my first screw! The airline just charged me $60 bucks to check 2 bags! OMG 60 bucks!!!

Airports = people watching. I can do it for hours. I wait well. My Dad worked for Braniff for 36 years. He began working for Braniff right out of the Marines after World War II. He was cleaning airplanes. When he retired, he was Manager, Ramp and Operations at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Of course, it wasn’t called Bush back in the 80s. My EX-husband gave my Dad a cigarette lighter with HMFIC engraved on it. HMFIC = Head Mother Fucker In Charge. You better believe it. My Dad was an Aries. Enough said.

I’m worried about having enough money to get home. No worries – I have Jason……. and the TWC (Unemployment Commission) it seems. Since I’ve been unemployed, the struggling has been horrendous. I’ve worried about this Salem trip every since I got laid off. So, of course, guess what happened? Well, the unemployment money ran out a couple of weeks ago and as luck would have it, my emergency funds from the Government came through while I am here in Salem! They actually made an emergency deposit. Holy shit! I guess I was supposed to get to Salem and I can get home too, well early, for a job interview that came up the very night before I left for Salem. I feel compelled to leave Salem early, NOT happy about that! (Note: By the way, I got the job!)

Okay, back to my purpose here! I am on the airplane flying my old ass to Salem! Boy, I’ve waited for this for a long time. It’s been a long, hard, worrisome wait what with the unemployment and all but here I am finally. I’m peering out the airplane window as we speak! Question: Why on earth when you have an airplane full of adults would the movie be “Toy Story 3?” How many of these Continental flights are full of children I ask? Especially this early in the day on a week day? Who makes these decisions? Who says, “Well, since there’s hardly any children on our flights at this time, let’s play a children’s movie.” Now that I think of it, a lot of decisions made in our country make about as much sense! The guy sitting next to me was wondering what the movie would be …… surprise!

So here I squirm. I remind myself of the kid, “Are we there yet?” I must have checked my watch 50 times. 3 hours ….. 2 hours ….. I’m worried about having to pee. I drank water at the airport. Do you do that? Sit and worry about having to pee? We all do it, don’t we, especially in an airplane. I have the fear of getting locked in the airplane restroom because I did when I was small. I flew a lot, got locked in once but it scarred me for life. I keep looking at the guy next to me. He’s on the aisle seat. I’m sizing him up to ask him if he’ll let me out so I can go pee. This goes on for quite sometime. I see others getting up and going. I envy them. I think about their empty bladders and how long before they will have to pee again. Fuck, I’m obsessing. I hate that.

Here comes the flight attendants with their goodies. Ah, just what I need, a full can of Coke! Um, drank that down. My pants are getting tighter. Maybe I’ll take a nap. I love turbulence! It makes me feel like I’m being rocked like a baby. I fall asleep – twice! I wake up, look at my watch. The stupid movie is still on. Hmmmmm. Pull out my book, read a page and the guy next to me stretches, yawns, looks back towards the restrooms, gets his ass up and walks back there. Here’s my chance! I tear, scrape and lurch my ass back there as fast as I possibly can. The restrooms are full but I don’t care. I’m waiting my ass right here. I get to go for cripes sake!

All the way to Salem from the airport, my driver bitches, moans and groans about how terrible it is here in Salem …… corruption, unemployment. How people including he have these expensive degrees and huge student loans and can’t find work. He’s driving a taxi for crap’s sake! He told me about a person who has requested a refund on their degree. “Here, you can have the degree, I want my tuition money back. I promise I won’t remember anything you taught me!” I asked him if that can be done and he said it is being looked at by the legal people. Wow! I’ve never heard of that …….. BUT back to me, you know, ME! Everything is about me! I’m on vacation here, spending my money here, I want to look at beautiful Salem now. I’m here! I’m sorry if it’s corrupt and struggling but the fact is, I came here to get away from all that shit so shut the fuck up and let me have my fun! Love you, driver, but you’re distracting me. Don’t I sound selfish?!

Okay, arrive at the Hawthorne Hotel, not checked in yet, not 3:00 pm so I take a lovely walk around the Salem Common. First photo taken, check! God, I’m happy to be here. I can just stand in one place and be happy!

I go back to the Hawthorne and get checked in and go to my room, make a call or two and then I venture back out. I want to have a Tarot card reading and that’s just what I’ll do.

Well, the reading. It’s my first night in Salem and I’m in search of a real psychic by God! So there I find one in a room next to a pizza place. Hmmmm. The room is made up to look all spooky and shit. I have my reading and I must admit I walked away at least somewhat convinced. It’s a racket for sure but the lady did surprise me. At the beginning, she only had eyes for the $5 bill I had in my hand which was my change from paying for the reading. I watched her eyes follow my hand as I took the $5 bill and slowly bent down and stuck it in my purse. She was not letting it out of her sight! Actually, before hitting my purse, I jerked my hand with the $5 quickly to the left and then to the right just so I could watch her eyes dart this way and that following that fiver! Hee! Okay, I’ll quit fucking with her. But alas, the reading. She began by asking me questions that were designed to get all the information she would need so she could look like she was psychic. Shit, I’ve wasted my money I’m thinking. She basically repeated everything back to me I just said and was sitting with her eyes closed holding my phone acting as if “something” was coming from “somewhere.” Then towards the end she said something very curious. She picked up something about Jason that there was no way she could have known. I jumped on it because if it was true, I was pissed. It was something he wasn’t supposed to be doing! She got nervous because it was something that I wasn’t supposed to know! She apologized looking as if she had suddenly stepped in something. Shit. She actually did something! She also picked up on an illness he has. Geez. And the reading was supposed to be about me! She asked for my email address to keep in touch. Maybe she’s trying to make me feel better. I never heard from her. And the $5 bill? She got it!!!!

Tonight, walking through the streets of Salem in the dark. The streets are deserted. Lovely … I’m happy. I stand in the dark in front of an ancient church next to the Witch House. It is very dark here, cold and yet I just stand there looking up at the church, really feeling the history here. I know I should be scared here alone in the dark, 1,600 miles from home, staring at this old church where 2 unfortunate souls, caught in the witch hysteria of 1692, were excommunicated from this church and then one was executed by hanging and the other was pressed to death. That happened here, right here where I’m standing …. in the dark, in the cold. Oh Salem, how you do make me feel!!!

So I turn away and walk back to the Hawthorne Hotel. Day 1 is over and I’m already feeling tearful, for you see, I’m already worrying about having to leave Salem in a week from now. I will now be tearful for the remainder of the trip. I’m such a dork!

Luvs,
Janet

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Intermission!

Posted in Salem with tags , , , , , on August 20, 2012 by Janet Glenn

Chestnut Street Window Pumpkins

Alrighty then, I’ve reached a little break here in the telling of my adventures I encountered during my trip to Salem, Massachusetts in 2009. I’m sure that all of you who know me personally have always known my penchant for anything and everything creepy and spooky and my adoration for writing and irreverent humor. You also know that it was a natural progression for me to create Halloween’s Unseen and go on my eerie travels to Salem, Massachusetts. So somehow I’ve thrown it all together into one cauldron and it rests here on my Word Press blog for your enjoyment.

Happily, I am ready to begin telling you about my next trip to Salem in 2010. It has much more craziness and irreverent humor than my 2009 trip and I think you will have a real good time reading it. Please take a moment to peruse the photos that I add because photography is one of my passions as well.

GOOD NEWS! I’m taking a trip to Salem this year (2012)! I’ve obtained my airline fare for $5 frickin’ dollars! Oh yes, I’m going! It’s funny, it cost me less to fly than it does to check my baggage. It’s a crazy world! And, I’ve also got my hotel reservations! I have added a new attraction to my 2012 trip. This year I will be spending 3 nights in Boston and they have spooky tours and history for me to immerse myself in. The hotel is a couple of blocks from the beautiful Boston waterfront. Then I will go on and spend a week in Salem. Oh rapture! I am ready to go! This should be a very interesting blog this year!

Okay, I’ll stop here and begin sharing my adventures in Salem in 2010!

Love to each of you!

Janet

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