Purely Gratuitous Photos

All work and no play ... right?

Thanks to Perry's Nut House and Weathervane Restaurant in Belfast, Maine for providing these scintillating photographic opportunities. ;)

Ghost Stories of Coastal Maine

While in Maine, I tried to find out as much as I could about the ghosts and ghost legends of the area. With so much history (and surely tragedy) there were bound to plenty of stories to go around, I figured, so I went in search of them!
At the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast, I heard about an eerie circumstance of a very heavy book being thrown across a room. Accident? It so happens the house once was owned by Impressionist painter Waldo Peirce, best friend to Ernest Hemingway. At that house, they did the kinds of things ornery guys did those days so it’s not so much of a stretch to think his ornery ghost still might be lurking around!
I stayed at a place I just knew was haunted - the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport - but I couldn't get the story out of the owner, no matter how hard I tried! I even found an orb on a picture of my room! Lack of ghostly disclosures notwithstanding, it was an awesome place to stay. I had my own fireplace, which I lit myself, thank-you-very-much. All of their food was organic or all-natural (particularly impressive to me,) and they hosted a tea each afternoon, an overlooked delight these days. The Inn also happened to be within walking distance of 170 outlet stores and shops! I think I'll have to go back and keep working the owner for those ghost stories! :)

Seaweed Lobster Bake in Belfast

What trip to Maine would be complete without lobstah, right?

At Belfast, Maine’s Three Tides, I took part in my first lobster bake! The owner baked about 15 lobsters, along with new potatoes, corn on the cob, eggs, and clams, in 1,000 pounds of seaweed over a flaming, hot fire. The seaweed pop-popped as the food neared being ready, and the smell was delish.

Seeing it baked this way was very cool! The seaweed gave the lobster a little bit of a smoky flavor and kept it superbly moist. It easily was the best lobster I ever have eaten!

Visiting Cabot Cove, Maine, Home of Murder, She Wrote

My trip to Maine was exciting for a reason that perhaps demonstrates my obsessiveness with mystery-solving, mystery-writing women.
I am a huge "Murder, She Wrote" fan. Huge. I have the entire first season on DVD, and I don't usually do that kind of thing. When I found out I would be heading to Belfast and Freeport, Maine, I immediately compared their locations to Cabot Cove, Maine, home of Jessica (J.B.) Fletcher. I discovered that Cabot Cove actually is a fictional location, but, from visual cues throughout the show, it can be determined that Cabot Cove is in the very same vicinity! I was so excited, I just can't even tell you! I immediately went online and requested "Murder, She Wrote" books to take with me on the trip. It was so cool to be where she solved all those mysteries and got all that inspiration for her stories! ;)
Doesn't this picture of Belfast look exactly like Cabot Cove?

River City Renaissance

The very first edition of the Austin arts magazine River City Renaissance has just come out, and I am pleased to announce I was part of this first endeavor. I have a story in it on the different performing arts venues in Austin, and the publisher was nice enough to put my picture and bio at the front of the magazine.

Home, Sweet Home

Whew! I have just returned from a ten-day cross country spree spanning from Kentucky all the way up to Maine. While I had a great time, I am happy to be home - I get to sleep in my own bed, detox from all the rich food, have a social life again (hopefully) and get back to the nitty gritty with work (although the trips themselves were work, as they were for my travel writing.)
I should be back to more regular posting here shortly, and I have some fabulous pictures to share, too.
It feels good to be back in Texas! : )

Horseriding - Daniel Boone National Forest

My favorite part of my trip to Kentucky was horseriding on a beautiful horse named Novar through the Daniel Boone National Forest. Novar liked people but not other horses - she was good to me! :)

The weather was beautiful. It was right before a cold front came through so it was still fairly mild, but there was a strong breeze rustling all of the leaves way above our heads. I loved it when they let us run the horses at the very end!

I've cemented a horse in to my future plans. You know, when I retire, my ranch in the country - now with a horse (in addition to my beach house, of course!)

Cumberland Falls in Kentucky

I've been staying on Lake Cumberland (literally, in a houseboat) touring Southern and Eastern Kentucky. These pictures are of the area near and of Cumberland Falls in the Daniel Boone National Forest. I took a very wet raft ride up to the base of this waterfall. The ride is called the Rainbow Mist because of the rain-like mist that pours from the waterfall. What I did not get to see - but I am super intrigued by - is a phenomenon called a "moonbow." On full moons and a couple of days each way, a moonbow is created around the falls. A moonbow is similar in effect to a rainbow. There are only two regular ones in the world - Zimbabwe and Kentucky. Who knew?

Where's Candidly Caroline Now?

Where am I now?
I'll give you a hint - I've had no Internet access, and even my cell phone hasn't been working! I've managed to scrounge a few minutes online, but that, too, will soon be gone!

I Don't Love Ana and Mia

I don't "heart" ana. I don't "heart" mia. I am not an angel.
I can not tell you how to throw up; I will not provide thinsperations; I can not show you pictures of bones sticking out; I certainly don't have any ana recipes - and I find it very discouraging to see your searches for these terms landing you here on a daily basis. Exactly how big is this problem? The enormity even staggers my frame of reference, and I consider myself fairly educated on the subject. Please find real help, not the kind you will find on friends of ana and friends of mia sites.

For my readers, you will find the comments (which have grown steadily) interesting on Pro Ana and Pro Mia - Still and Pro Ana and Pro Mia.

Newly Published Work

My "Smile at a Kid Today" column-style story just came out in Kansas City Parent. The story is a worthwhile read if you have a minute or two. It talks about how adults are really the only sources of meaningful compliments for kids and how we should exercise that ability often:
With peers - "Children know they are accepted only when they are included, but even that is really more the taking away of a punishment (being excluded) than the giving of a reward (a compliment.)"

Placing My Order for Mr. Right

I decided to check the accuracy so far for my Cancer and Dragon horoscopes. You'll remember I posted them at the beginning of the year. They have been surprisingly accurate so far, which is somewhat intriguing.
All the horoscopes I've read, in addition to these, seem to point toward me finding love in this last quarter of 2006 - a very welcome change, if it's true. However, my schedule as of late doesn't seem to support any serious mate searching so I'd like to get the ball rolling by placing an online order.
First of all, refer to My Must Haves and Can't Stands. These are essential, the Bible of Caroline Eligibility.
In addition:
1.) It'd be nice if he lived in Texas (or at least had a private, kick butt beach house on the Gulf.)
2.) Preferably, he'd be my age to lower 40's.
3.) My height or taller is a plus, but I've gotten over this hang-up.
4.) I'm a complicated person. I'm pretty sure I 'm a lot to handle so I need someone up to the challenge. Most men are not.
Please send resumes or curriculum vitaes, cover letters, and any applicable and substantial bribes. Submitted materials will be reviewed until the position is filled. Trial periods, perhaps concurrent with other applicants, may be required of the man or men selected, especially if multiple applicants are highly qualified.