Sunday Pictures (Saturday Below)

Saturday Pictures

Not dead

So, I haven't updated in a long time...sorry. But I have been ever so busy, you know, the whole burning the candle at both ends sort of thing and while I do not feel so bad about it, some things- such as Blundering- have at to take a back seat.

Still I continue to have fun. Chautauqua Girl, Bookbonobo, and myself hit up the major Chapters book sale and made off like bandits. B and I each picked up a book of essays- "The Victorian Vision" from the Victoria and Albert, and it is beautiful. Moreso at its $8.00 price. I also picked up a reprint of a 1904 ladies golf manual for the park library, a nice book on household managment, and "Life With Father" for something, like, $25.00 total.

The Park continues on well despite the end-of-season slow-down &c. I am kind of looking forward to the change that is school, but not the six months of work work work I know it will be. Still! I have classes in the history of a bunch of stuff, and children's lit and that sort of thing, so it can't all be bad.

Other good news is that I have been asked to drop off my resume at Louis Vuitton by the Assistant Manager who is also a co-worker at Mumbai Co. So I may or may not be on my way to an exciting job with a super high-end manufacturer that, if I needed to, could be transferable to another city.

I feel as though the summer has just melted away, though, and I haven't spent nearly enough time with E and A- who I called on Sunday but too late.

As you can see, I don't know what to feel. I've had a trying but good summer. I look forward to the first...hmmm...week of school but not the rest. Possible new job but my favorite job is coming to a close pretty quickly....funny.

Let me resign myself to a quiet contentment, shall I?

I have a bias against motorcycles. But only those from 1939 to Present.

I live an exciting life. Why, just today I went to Wetaskiwin. To the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. See? Exciting!

Well, it was for me anyway. I like old things and that includes old cars, you see. So it is obvious that I should have enjoyed a trip to a museum with a specialization in old cars. There were many that I should have liked to take with me but for obvious reasons could not. Needless to say it is a new goal of mine. I'll go with something smallish at first. Not the Duesenberg, for example. Maybe one of the old electric cars from the 10s. You know, something they wouldn't miss much. And then I'd move up from there. After that I'll go bigger like....a quary....or....a baseball team or something.

And then I'll have such an exciting life that you will all be jealous of me! And then finally I can stop crying at night!

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a happy day too- I hope. The same Ms. H. who accompanied me to the R-A M today will allow me to take her to look for a men's cigarette holder. I am hoping I can regain some of my mystique that was lost when my poor pince-nez fell to the ground and smashed. Maybe I'll look for a monocle too...or lorgnettes...or something of that matter. Well, not lorgnettes, cause those are for women. I can assure you the venture will be delightfully exciting.

Finally, for Bonobo. This is just part of the late Pennsylvania Station that I had mentioned a while ago. It went down in the 60s to make room for Madison Square Garden #4- the one NOT on Madison Square.

I will refrain from going on a tyrade...



Excitingly yours,
K. W. M. Spaans


PS- I'm talking to Smitty's about the embiance-music job. But an ad firm with Bonobo would be better.

Possible Career Paths &c.

I was trying to consider what kind of interesting jobs I could do after I graduate without having to move on to another program or a masters or some such business. I wasn't successful mostly because to make a good list one needs to transcribe ones ideas upon parchment, or, if one is computer savvy- and, boyo, I am not... but still- type said list into ones computo-machine. Well...I was impeeded by that AND Frasier, which is a good show. Anyway, here is a list of possible jobs I may be good at;

1. Voice over artist for cheap commercials shilling kitchen gadgets.
2. Along the same line, and a real personal dream of mine, professional audience member for infomercials.
3. Barista at the Starbucks in the Edmonton International Airport.
4. Translator for blind, deaf, and dumb Spanish tourists.
5. Assistant to the Assistant Vice Principal of a lesser public school with few students and less funding.
6. Manager of a traveling musical production hitting the b and c markets in Canada, the US, and Mexico.
7. Picture straightener.
8. Butler.
9. Sock darner and glover repair person.
10. Crossing guard facilitator.
11. Auction display co-ordinator.
12. Embiance music selector for Smitty's Restaurants Canada.
13. Boot black.
14. Glass container and jar inspection specialist.
15. Site safety inspector for Ron Hodgson Used Cars.
16. Tree inventory specialist.
17. Front desk clerk for a low-regarded, two-star motel in Balzac.
18. Wholesale pre-popped popcorn salesman.
19. PR Representative for a company specializing in the manufacture of refrigeration systems for box cars.
20. Toothpick and skewer designer.

I am not actually getting down on my Arts degree because I do think that there will be something for me out there. I just wanted to see what kind of jobs I could come up with. It was fun! Lists are fun! Hurray!

Saw Pirates last night. It was good if a little long, and not as good as the first, which really was very very good. The best part was being there with Chautauqua Girl and Bonobo. They always make the sun shine bright.

In defense of Firkins

Everybody who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Firkins House. Why? Because it is such a dear little house and so very modern and quintessentially (sp?) 1912. Because I have worked Dr. A. Firkins and Blanche up in my mind as being this well-humored, kind-of-brash-but-altogether-lovely, not-entirely-temprate, couple of 24 year old American adventurers who were the types to one day, for little reason, deside to up and leave Chicago for Godknowswhere, Canada and stay here for 10 years before moving to California (whew). Because nobody really knows and few seem to care to know the actual story.

What people seem to care more about are the ghost stories as introduced by Creepy Canada or Ghost Stories of Alberta or there teacher or whatever, and I have reached the point where I become personally wounded at every inquiry regarding "the ghost house". I have decided to dedicate much of this entry to the elimination of these rumors in hopes that- should somebody search "Firkins House" or "Fort Edmonton Park Haunted House" or "Edmonton Hauntings" or whatever they might stumble upon my numbscullery [sic] and recieve a little truth. I realise that you, my regular readers, are the converted, and so I hope you will understand that I am not expecting a change from you.

To begin. Dr. Ashley Martin Firkins was born in Paw Paw, Illinois in 1888 and his wife, Blanche Carolyn Roberts was born in Chicago in 1887. He was a graduate of the Northwestern University Department of Dentistry, graduated top of his class, and substituted for a professor for one year. She was a society girl and apparently entirely above him. They were married in October of 1910 and moved to Edmonton in 1911 where Blanche gave birth to their first daughter Carolyn Roberts Firkins in that same year. They moved into their home, Firkins House - the "Haunted House"- in 1912 and that following year they had their second daughter Miriam Roberts Firkins. That's it, two daughters, no son. There was never a son. Never.

Now, in 1923 they up and moved to California. Not because someone died. Blanche did not kill Miriam. Ashley did not lock his son in the basement (mostly because he didn't have a son, and if he did he'd lock him in the garage). They just left. Why? Edmonton's cold? The economy sucks? They were bored? It doesn't matter, they just left. Dr. Firkins died in 1933 after an earthquake- his patient survived- Blanche died in the 1970s but not before her eldest daughter Carloyn, and Miriam has gone missing and may still be alive (Any info? Please comment! Please!). But none of them died in the house and none of them haunts the house.

Now my history of the house becomes hazy after this. I know a military man moved in, and another family, and then the final owners- who will remain unnamed because, I know I wouldn't want my name plastered on an unknown blog- and during this time, to my recollection, nobody ever died in the house. Perhaps an old man, but information seems to say that he died at the Mis. If so, he was the only one to die while actually owning the house.

So, tell me this Creepy Canada...How in Gods name does the body of a little boy, afflicted with tuberculosis or something, haunt the house when there are no indications that his death (or life) ever occurred? And indeed, Creepy Canada, if this boy has a penchant for leaving his ventriloquist dummy about the house- amongst the "original furniture that [we] inherited"- why haven't I nor any of my co-workers, in all of our combined years, ever seen it? And why have we never been informed of the miraculous fact that all of the furniture is original? Hmm? Did you make some stuff up? Hmm? You can tell! I won't even ask about the book of magic.

And tell me, Edmonton Paranormal Society, why, when you came into this house that I and others love so dear, did you choose to play Civil War music to "induce paranormal activity"? Now, correct me if I am wrong but the Civil War ended in 1865 and didn't really touch Chicago too much. And, again, I accept the blame should I be false, but the Firkins were born, like, 22 years after in ended. Why? Why would this do anything?

The very fact that you chose to do this indicates to me that you don't actually have an understanding of the buildings you enter and, if I may be so bold as to say, having an understanding of the history of the buildings you enter may actually give you an idea of what to look for, rather than blindly running out of the house screaming because you feel as though you are going to throw up and this is, somehow, caused by a ghost.

Kindly, do not disgrace a beautiful building because of an intestinal tract problem.

Also.... To avoid "ghost pictures": a) make sure your camera strap isn't in the way of your lense- that makes blurs that could be percieved as "ghosts" and people will believe you, b) clean your lense of dust and acknowledge the dustiness of the house so that you don't get "orbs" (ie- dust but really, ghosts), c) and if you catch someone in olde tyme clothes consider that maybe, just maybe, they could be interpreters.

Finally, to future visitors. Do not come to the house expecting a ghost story. Come to house to enjoy its comfortable and happy atmosphere. Don't be fooled by what others say. Stories are just that; stories. But history- my sweet, sweet history- can just as quickly come along and squash them all.

See...I take this personally now!

Anyway, on to personal stuff....er...more personal. I just returned from Canmore. All things considered it was lovely! Great weather, relaxing time away from work with Chautauqua Girl, and ginger ale at the Rundle Lounge in the Banff Springs Hotel. But, alas, as would be expected, I woke up dreadfully ill on departure day and had to postpone until Tuesday. Both myself and CG spent the day doubled down with the gurglies, wishing for our own demises (and yes, I do blame the heat). And, despite getting better for the drive, I spent the rest of the trip with terrible cramps that could have ruined my trip- and the trip of CG. I hope it didn't ruin hers because it didn't ruin mine.

CG took me to the Whyte Museum which was a highlight. I will not attempt to explain it beyond being a grand collection of paintings and personal effects of the Whytes of Banff. I am sure CG will have more to say.

Altogether a wonderful trip that will be even better when we go back in August.

"I'm just a-talkin' to hear myself talk"- Donna, 1904 World's Fair Souvenir Record

So Chautauqua Girl and I went to Stephansson House the other day and it was mirthful. That is to say it was mirthful after the tense thrity minutes she and I spent in my itty-bitty car embroiled in a heated discussion about some-such business that in the end was really not that important. But after that it was fun.

S. House is very pretty all things considered (ie- the size). It is rather like a Victorian home that one would see on the East Coast, only...teeny. The interpreter who showed us the house was lovely, and, you know, actually showed us about the place and tried so hard to engage us- and I am hard to engage as I generally dislike listening to things. Additionally, a relatively substantive amount of work has been put into the home including silk-screening replica lino to match the samples of the originals. And I have to respect those efforts. Oh! And there were cookies and like good visitors we consumed them happily but never actually took the recipe (although I intended to).

We then went to the Makerville Creamery and had iced cream which, as one would expect on a 30 degree day, melted all over my shirt leaving me feeling sloppy and child-like. To add to the child-likety we went for burgers at White Spot afterward which is always a nice post-drive delight.

Work has been going...I am having those awful mixed feelings that have been echoed in other blogs. There is that element of betrayal and that element of still loving it. I DO still love the job, I DO still love wearing a costume and playing house. I DON'T, however, like how, somehow, things have become so fucking complicated and micro-managed. I DON'T like feeling as though I have worked so hard to make things go and to stay diplomatic yet still feel as though I am doing a crappy job.

I take comfort in the fact that the new interps are really quite amazing- as noted in an earlier entry- and I am able to keep my head down and stay happy, but I don't like the feeling of the possibility of being the next one to get "the talk". I don't think it will happen this year as I have really been given no indication of it, but having had "the talk" a couple of years ago from another SS I know that it is not fun and I don't want to do it again. I still had a good summer, though. I still think, in the end, I will have a good summer...just not the best...and that is unfortunate because I have been having "best" summers for the last three.

...I am still very proud of my garden...

...Do-do-do....

Oh! Going to Canmore this weekend which is happy news. Four days of sunny mountain skies and warm mountain air. With hiking and drinks and all that sort of stuff. And, you know, no work.

Pictures &c

As you may have already noticed I am in love with mein smart car. I don't really need to reiterate that and I am sure you would have preferred that I hadn't. But I do, what with his get-up-and-go, his bright smile, his ridiculous inability on steep hills. Ah, I have a new automotive best friend.

And now I have a picture of him too, so that you may bask in his glory- those who don't do so on a daily basis that is...

...please...please don't hate me...I get excited about these things and never let up...

Additionally, as a service to those not in the city I provide these two images featuring not just the opening weekend billboard featuring N____, but also the scary big one graced by myself and Chautauqua Girl. I am not quite sure what to think of it, really. I mean, it's nice that I'm on a billboard (placing me at F celebrity status), but I think I look old...or something...older, anyways. Maybe a little predatorial as J_____ likes to point out. Incidentally, sorry for the poorish quality of both images. The first I took while still in motion, the other one was taken in the general vicinity of the sun and while, considering the weather lately, I could have waited a minute and it would have disappeared behind a cloud or something, and therefore I would be privy to a clear shot. But I am too...what's the word?...impatient...yes....impatient.

Speaking of the Park. It remains to be a bit of a rollercoaster, but in general is doing better. There is a new schedule and that is happy news. Additionally, I should note that the newbies (who are no longer newbies mind you) are, with few exceptions, amazing. They are doing such a lovely job and I am happy to hear that they are loving it despite its flaws- flaws which they recognize are not normal. It is just nice to know that what could have been a potentially crappy group of interps that would have entirely changed the feel of the place, have actually proven to be mostly delightful (that includes you, Bill). Ah...'tis good.

Chautauqua Girl and I are going to Stephanson House tomorrow which should be interesting. Having worked at the S House's "companion site" before being, well, removed from office through no fault of my own, I would like to see if their interps also sit around knitting, their hair in pigtails, while we blindly wander the rooms. Yes, that was a jab at those who replaced myself and the others, and I take nothing back.

And...that's it...