Erie's Vampire Crypt

On my tour of the Erie Cemetary, we visited the Vampire Crypt. This blackened, unnamed mausoleum is built into Cemetary's hill (in section 13).

It is rumored the vampire comes out at night to catch its prey and 9 times out of 10 there is a black cat guarding the gated entrance during the daytime.


V marks the spot:

Happy Halloween!

Binx?

Sean Murphy, NCIS's Timothy McGee, also starred as Thackery Binx on Hocus Pocus.

You're Welcome.

The BooErie

Night time brings a whole new twist to The Brewerie at Union Station in Erie, Pa. If you ask the employees you may even hear a ghost story or two.

Urban legend has it that decades ago, a young couple was at the ticket window with their young daughter Clara. As the family climbed the stairs to the train platform Clara’s father turned to say something to her and his heavy suitcase accidently knocked her down the flight of marble stairs to her unfortunate death.

There is some evidence that Clara’s spirit still remains in the Station and that many strange happenings have occurred on the restaurant level and the second floor. The stairwell where Clara had fallen is just off the kitchen and that is where strange noises, lights going on and off and names of the staff being called out in a child’s voice have been heard.

We were told that on several occasions’ employees’ experienced the sensation of “someone sticking their foot out to trip you” while they were walking down the hallway on the second floor. Also the current owner of The Brewerie, himself, has felt an icy breeze down his neck while walking in that same hallway.

Sounds of a child’s giggles have been heard and other unexplained events have taken place in the halls and stairwell of Clara’s passing. There have been enough of these events to draw the attention of three local paranormal groups to come in and investigate. They have recorded some interesting findings.

NINE

“NINE” is a vibrant and provocative musical that follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he reaches a creative and personal crisis of epic proportion, while balancing the numerous women in his life including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penélope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Stacy Ferguson) and his mother (Sophia Loren). The film is directed by Rob Marshall who directed the film CHICAGO.

The original 1982 Broadway production of “NINE,” nominated for twelve Tony Awards and winning five, including Best Musical, was directed by Tommy Tune, choreographed by Thommie Walsh, starred Raúl Juliá with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit. The 2003 Broadway revival of “NINE” received eight Tony Award nominations and won two, including Best Revival of a Musical.



It premiers in LA on December 18 and opens nationwide on December 25.

Fashion: As Seen on TV

On Desperate Housewives this past Sunday, Gaby sported a Cream and Yellow Dyed Ruffle Tank by Fifteen Twenty (a brand that Eva herself loves to wear) and a matching yellow skirt.


Delicate. Feminine. Flirty.

Erie Cemetary

Yesterday, I attended the Erie County Historical Society's Erie Cemetary Tours. Here's the description: "During Walking Tours through the Erie Cemetery, you can listen to the legends of the infamous vampire’s crypt, the burglarized Scott Mausoleum, the coin-covered gravesite of Civil War hero Strong Vincent, and many other mysterious legends of the Erie Cemetery."

I wouldn't say the tours were too creepy, but it was neat to have a tour guide take us around to notable graves.

Below are some of the pictures I took:

Two children (brother and sister) buried on the Reed family plot.

The Burglarized Scott Mausoleum (where a body was removed from her coffin)

SATC Movie 2

Just a little preview of Sex and the City 2...

There have been some spoilers released and I, originally, made sure to avoid the news. But yesterday I accidentally stumbled across a picture, which inevitabily made me look for more.

I don't think these pictures are spoilers, however, if you really want to be surprised do not read on.

The movie goes where the first one didn't dare: Back to the '80s. This flashback will take the audience to how the characters met! And it will, of course, take the fashion back too.

Carrie will don Madonna-inspired outifts.

Charlotte will be her preppy self.

Miranda will emulate the nerdy law student.

And Samantha will be her sexy self in punk rock outfits.

The movie is set to be released May 28, 2010. I can't wait!!

P.S. Tim Gunn, of Project Runway, will also make a cameo in the movie.

asian lady beetle

It's that time of year for the Asian Lady Beetles to come out of hiding...

Harmonia axyridis is originally native to eastern Asia, but which has been introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known, and spreading in those regions. It is commonly known as Asian lady beetle in North America and Halloween lady beetle (because it invades homes in October in preparation for hibernation).

Many people now view this species as a nuisance, partly due to their tendency to overwinter indoors and the unpleasant odor and stain left by their bodily fluid when frightened or squashed.

Asian lady beetles hibernate in cooler months, though they will wake up and move around whenever the temperature reaches about 50°F. Because the beetles will use crevices and other cool, dry, confined spaces to hibernate, significant numbers may congregate inside walls if given a large enough opening. They often congregate in sunlit areas because of the heat available, so even on fairly cold winter days, some of the hibernating beetles will “wake up” because of solar heating. These large populations can be problematic because they can form swarms and linger in an area for a long time.

Sometimes, the beetles will bite humans, presumably in an attempt to acquire salt, although many people feel a pricking sensation as a lady beetle walks across the skin. Bites normally do no more harm than cause irritation although a small number of people are allergic to bites.

Gross!

Brothers & Sisters

In the first episode of Brothers and Sisters this season, I loved two of Calista Flockhart's character's outfit.

In the show, her husband is running for governor of California and thus she is running for CA's first lady.

In this first outfit, her and her husband are being interviewed by the news. I love this brightly colored cocktail dress with the great ruching and bow details on the chest. Also, her clutch is classic and in a wonderfully simple color, which balances out the bright color of the dress.


The second outfit was a pant and top worn to an engagement party of her character's brother. I loved the soft color of the blouse but I adored the billowy, silk petals on this top. I loved how it was kept less dressy with a classic, tailored pant.

I tried to find on the Brothers and Sisters webpage and online elsewhere what designers made these, but I was unsuccessful. Does anyone know what designers made these outfits?

P.S. Kudos to the costume designers on the show!

Monster Monday: Workplace Gaffe? Make 'Em Laugh!

By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer 

In my first admin job, I committed a gaffe I was certain would end my career. While sorting mail, I accidentally trashed the VP's paycheck. I figured I was doomed but wrote a last-ditch satirical news release about how to get the boss's attention, featuring my faux pas, and routed it to my coworkers. One shared it with the VP himself, who thought it was hilarious. He saw me as a versatile writer who didn't take herself too seriously. I ended up working there for five years.

"I don't know if people are more successful in business if they have the ability to laugh at themselves, but I definitely think it lightens up a stressful situation at work," says Jamie Masada, owner and CEO of The Laugh Factory comedy clubs in New York and Los Angeles. "If you take everything too seriously at the office, it can put a damper on your day. The more you laugh, the less stressful the work environment may seem.

Follow these tips to make light of a potentially heavy workplace situation:

Use Comedy to Build Camaraderie
For Paul Dilakian, an associate account executive at a public relations firm, laughter is the key to keeping workplace stress in check. He recalls one particularly bad day on which the company receptionist provided some much-needed comic relief when a box of copier toner exploded all over her: "Her hair, face, glasses and white outfit were completely black." Though Dilakian felt sorry for her, he couldn't help laughing. And the receptionist joined in, the outrageous laughter lifting everyone's spirits.

"If you can't step outside of the day-to-day chaos and have a laugh, it can really take a toll on your sanity," Dilakian says. "It's important to realize that there's more to work than just work. You're not machines. You're human beings with interests and emotions that need to be stimulated.

Practice Good Humor
But as every stand-up comedian knows, not every attempt at humor hits the mark -- and no one wants to bomb in front of the boss. "Whether you're in front of 100 people at the Chuckle Hut or Marcy and Joan in Accounts Receivable, the same rules apply," says comedian, writer and actor Peter Spruyt. He and comedy songwriter Grant Baciocco explain how to develop your comedic timing:

• Know Your Audience: "The material that works in front of a crowd of uptown hipsters at midnight on a Friday won't fly with the 8 a.m. office audience on Monday," Spruyt cautions. "So you need to gauge the sensibilities of the people you're talking to. Know the difference between what makes them laugh and what they find hurtful, offensive or just plain stupid."
• Poke Fun at Yourself: Tell the truth, Baciocco says. "Pretend you're a third party viewing what happened, and (tell it) from that perspective. Audiences enjoy when you can poke fun at yourself, so simply saying, ‘this was my moment of stupidity...' will get them laughing."
• Consider the Situation: "The safest situation is one where you have committed the blunder yourself, because you're not likely to get fired or reprimanded for self-deprecating humor," Spruyt says. "If it's someone else, be sure that person enjoys a laugh at his expense before you risk joining the ranks of the unemployed."

Here's the full article on Monster.

Do you have any embarrassing or funny moments from your office work?

One Small Step for the Economy

Because of Macy's "Buy More and Save" shoe promotion, I was forced to buy and buy and buy some unnecessary footwear.

Below are some pictures (I ordered them online, so I haven't received them yet):

Nine West Barbe2 Pumps in Blue Multi.

Adidas Women's "Sailing Light W" Sneaker in Yellow
Bandolino Shoes, Berry Pumps in a Dark Grey Herringbone Pattern

CL by Laundry "Madeline" Sandal in Pewter

Basically all but the Bandolino will have to be saved for the spring season, but I am still excited to get them.

Project Runway - Episode 7

Yikes. Again I am waiting until a few hours before the next Project Runway episode to blog about last week's episode.

But in honor of the Macy's challenge from last week, I just finished up an online order from them. I love the Macy's "Buy More and Save" promotion for its shoes. Buy one save 15%, two save 25%, buy 3 save 30%. (I bought 4 pairs.)

Last week the designers were asked to create an all blue outfit for Macy's INC brand. You would like as a Penn Stater, I would have loved this challenge. But ::Yawn:: I did not. I thought the challenge was oh-so-boring, as were the designs created.

I suppose if I had to chose a favorite design, it would be Carol Hannah's design and Shirin's execution of the high-waisted day-to-nighttime look. Judge Zanna thought the look had instant appeal; she said she thought it was a chic little number.
Irina won the challenge with this dress that used French seams to sew stripes out of sheer fabric. Heidi said "I really, really loved this dress! I would totally wear this dress."

Her teammate, Gordanna, helped create Irina's other design. Michael Kors thought the blouse was very pretty and Heidi said, "I love that it’s sheer but then it’s not."

We said Auf Wiedersehen to Louise for her ruffled dress. Michael Kors thought there was nothing in this dress that would attract a Macy's customer's eye. Heidi said, "I wouldn’t even say “hard to wear.” I would say “unwearable.”"

But I think the dress that really sent her home was the one sewn by Nicolas (who had immunity in this challenge). Michael Kors said, "It looks like a bridesmaid dress with a shower loofah ruched up the front of it." Judge Zanna said, "If I walked into Macy’s and saw racks of this, I would have walked straight back out."

What do you think about the challenge last week? Are you as bored with the challenges as I am? If Nicolas didn't have immunity, do you think he would have been sent home too?

Project Runway - Episode 6

I am just getting the recap of last week's Project Runway in under the wire. Oops.

Last week, Project Runway designers were asked to design for 4 different movie genres: Science Fiction, Action, Film Noir, and Period.

Surprisingly Nicolas Putvinski won this episode's challenge with his ice queen design for a science fiction movie. As Heidi said, "He loves white and lace, and it has not really worked in other challenges, but today it worked." The collar of this dress was really neat and cool (pardon the pun). But the best part was the model's L'Oreal hair and makeup - the ice effect on the hair was AWESOME.

Christopher Straub was again in the top three with his 1800s Period design (she was supposed to be a vampire). I liked this one the best. It translated from the Victorian era, to the Modern Era, to the Runway. Heidi was impressed (as was I), that he made this with $150. As Judge Zoe said, this dress has the "wow factor." Lovely.

Louise Black was in the bottom two designers with her 1920s-inspired dress that was supposed to be from a film noir. Judge Zoe said, "It looks like a French maid uniform, like you get in a plastic bag in the store." And Heidi thought it was a "snoozefest."

Ra'mon Lawrence Coleman was sent home for his Reptilian inspired dress (for a science fiction movie). Judge Zoe said "It looks a little like “Swamp Thing” like a B movie." And she thought it was "shoddily made."But if you think this dress is bad, you should have seen his first design - a lime-green unitard. Auf Wiedersehen!

What did you think of last week's show?

Dumb Dan!

"What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to."
-Hansell B. Duckett

Recently, Dan Galena won a federal lawsuit against Erie County Councilman Fiore Leone for violating Dan's first amendment rights and was awarded $5,000 in damages. Now, Galena is asking a federal judge to order Leone to pick up a legal bill of almost $100,000.

So just to be clear, Dan. You spent $100,000 to get awarded $5,000? Real smart, dude.

I get it. Sorta. It's the principle of the matter and the fact that you won your case. Not the money.

So why are you now looking for taxpayers to pick up your legal expenses? Oh. Because now it is about the money? Oh. Because now you have learned that when the squeeky wheel gets the grease, you have to pay out the nose in order to receive it.

Luckily, the County has insurance that would pay the jury award and legal fees, but the County would be on the hook for a $25,000 deductible - a.k.a. the tax payers will be paying.

Well, thanks a lot, Dan. You expect us to pay, because you felt the need to rant during a County Council meeting and Leone tried to shut up your disrepecting, interupting, non-coherant tirade! Why?

When I have an issue with someone, I blog about; I sign a petition; I write them a letter; I wait my turn to speak. I don't interupt a meeting and yell over the them.

Dan, here's some advice:

"One must talk little and listen much." - African Proverb
"No one is as deaf as the man who will not listen." - Jewish Proverb
"Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once." - Turkish Proverb
"They always talk who never think." - Matthew Prior
"Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble." - Frank Tyger
"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence." - Robert Frost