Archive | Being Human

09 March 2010 ~ 3 Comments

Someone bought the haunted mansion.

If you’ve been around this limb for a while, you might remember me talking about the Croke Patterson Mansion.

From Legends of America :

Built in 1890 by Thomas B. Croke, this sandstone residence was one of the country’s most elegant homes. Now serving as an office building, it is also said to be one of the most haunted.

According to the legend Thomas B. Croke, only entered the palatial mansion one time and was so emotionally shaken by “whatever” was there, that he never returned. Just two years later it was sold to Thomas M. Patterson, who’s family kept the home for several decades. Over the next several years, the building served many purposes, including a dance studio, a radio station, and a boarding house before it was converted to an office building. During the renovation to office space in the 1970’s, construction crews began to experience a number of strange occurrences.

After a long days work, they would often return the next day to find that the tasks they had completed the day before had been “undone.” After this had occurred several times, guard dogs were left to protect the property from what the workmen thought might be intruders. However, the next day they found the two Doberman Pinschers dead on the sidewalk after having apparently jumped from a third-story window. Once the renovation to office building was complete, employees almost immediately began to notice equipment, such as typewriters, copy machines, and telephone that mysteriously began to operate by themselves.

When a séance was held to determine who was haunting the building, they found it to be the spirit of a little girl whose body was supposedly entombed in the cellar. However, when the basement was excavated, they found a hidden chamber was found, filled with sea sand, but no remains of a little girl.

A ghostly image has often been sighted gliding up and down the main floor stairway and otherworldly voices have been heard here as well. Thomas Patterson, former owner of the home, is said to have been spied numerous times in the courtyard between the mansion and the carriage house.

When the building still served as an apartment building, occupants on the lower levels were known to complain about wild parties taking place on the third level. But, when these parties were investigated, they would be met with only silent emptiness.

(Photo gallery of Croke Patterson mansion)

I’ve read that it’s the second most haunted building in Colorado and in the top ten buildings for the Western United States.

My first psychotherapy office was in the Croke Patterson Mansion from 1996-1997. (My office was the door to the left next to the second floor mirror.) when a Veterinarian purchase the office building with the desire to turn it into a private residence. He and his new wife moved into the home with her two children. They turned the house into a private residence then went bankrupt. The house has been empty for at least two years.

It’s been for sale for at least a year.  Originally it was for sale for 1.3 million dollars. At last check, it was $495,000.  D asked me a number of times if I wanted to look at it. Usually, I love to look at old houses, and I love to house shop. But I wouldn’t allow myself to get drawn into the demons, ghosts, and otherwise evil spirits of the place.

Someone has recently purchased the home.

May God have mercy on their souls.

Continue Reading

07 March 2010 ~ 12 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 371

We had a couple of gorgeous days of spring… Now back to our usually scheduled rain and snow.

Oh well, at least we have Mutterings. These tiny little word prompts (created by the birthday girl Pea at LunaNina) help refresh the mind and soul. Or at least they are fun to do.

How do you play? Simply answer the word prompts in the comment section. When you’re done, take a look at what other people have said. It’s an awesome way to see how different and similar we are.

Here are your prompts:

  1. Detective ::
  2. Bangs ::
  3. Consultant ::
  4. Puzzle ::
  5. Learn ::
  6. Necklace ::
  7. 184 ::
  8. Stimulation ::
  9. Layered ::
  10. Police ::

Here are my answers:

  1. Detective :: novel
  2. Bangs :: She
  3. Consultant :: Business
  4. Puzzle :: Business
  5. Learn :: ing how to interact with business consultants is a puzzle
  6. Necklace :: diamond
  7. 184 :: diamonds
  8. Stimulation :: fantasy
  9. Layered :: silk
  10. Police :: Denver

Happy Sunday! When you play I’ll link to you here!

Continue Reading

02 March 2010 ~ 5 Comments

ItStartsWith.Us

Recently I joined a cool program called ItStartswith.us

ItStartsWith.us is a cool program designed to get people involved in making a positive impact on other people. Once a week, Nate, the founder of ItStartsWith.us, sends out an email with a weekly mission. The weekly mission is a 15 minute simple idea that can positively impact another person.  So far, I’ve been asked to do something special for a child and reconnect with an old friend.

We were in Craig for the book signing the week of doing something special for a child. I was able to spend some time with my young friend, Caroline. Over dinner at her mother’s house, I went through all of her birthday wishes including American Girl baby items. Ok, it doesn’t sound like much of a challenge but trust me. This American Girl stuff is creepy. It was all I could do not to scream “WHAT THE HELL?”  We also bought our usual case of Girl Scout cookies. And hopefully, Caroline felt like a special girl.

I was able to reconnect with a friend from Junior High School via Facebook. Facebook is such a weird adventure where past and present combine. Anyway, I enjoyed getting a chance to find out more about a woman who was a good friend to me in a time that I needed it.

Doesn’t sound very hard, does it?

So why not join ItStartsWith.Us? It’s free, costs you only 15 minutes a week, and you get to do something positive for someone else. If you’re worried about what you’ll be asked to do, click here to download a copy of last years challenges. Again, they are easy, fun and you can really make a difference in someone’s life.

There’s no downside to this! Go ahead – join! :)

Continue Reading

28 February 2010 ~ 13 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 370

Just say no to snow! At least that’s what I’m doing. So far so good this morning! (Of course there’s a 60% chance of snow, so my wishes will probably be denied.)

At least we have Unconscious Mutterings to depend on. You play this game by simply answering the word prompts (created by LunaNina) in the comments section. It’s a fun way to clear out the unconscious and get the week going!

Let’s play! Here are your word prompts:

  1. Harm ::
  2. If ::
  3. On my own ::
  4. She said ::
  5. Illegal ::
  6. Broke ::
  7. It’s a ::
  8. Chatting ::
  9. Cottege ::
  10. Podcast ::

Here are my answers:

  1. Harm :: ’s way
  2. If :: I were a rich man
  3. On my own :: today
  4. She said :: it was true
  5. Illegal :: to marry
  6. Broke ::n down
  7. It’s a :: tragedy
  8. Chatting :: it up
  9. Cottege :: miss spelled cottage
  10. Podcast :: esh

Happy Sunday! When you play I’ll link to you here!

Continue Reading

23 February 2010 ~ 3 Comments

Cellphones pop popcorn

You won’t believe this until you see it. Amazing  2 minute video.


Pop Corn téléphone portable micro-ondes
Uploaded by sassiere. – Up-to-the minute news videos.

Of course, it’s a hoax. It’s a viral advertisement created by a bluetooth headset maker.

Still, just like the circus or a magic trick. It’s cool.

May you have a little magic in your day!

Continue Reading

21 February 2010 ~ 12 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 369

Snow yesterday and the day before. Snowing today and tomorrow. Winter has returned to Colorado.

Gratefully, it’s nice and warm inside. Going inside is what Unconscious Mutterings are all about. These simple word prompts (created by LunaNina) help us access what might otherwise be hidden.  How do you play? Simply answer the word prompts in the comments. Read the word and write down whatever comes to your mind. Easy.  After you answer, take a look at what other people say. It’s amazing how similar, and yet unique we are.

  1. Teeth ::
  2. Sweeten ::
  3. Demons ::
  4. Pizza ::
  5. Protector ::
  6. Smooth ::
  7. Coat ::
  8. Pebbles ::
  9. Pregnant ::
  10. Sing ::

My responses:

  1. Teeth :: grating
  2. Sweeten :: er, artificial sucks
  3. Demons :: of doubt
  4. Pizza :: ‘I love pizza’
  5. Protector :: Pocket
  6. Smooth :: operator
  7. Coat :: ed with rayon
  8. Pebbles :: of sand
  9. Pregnant :: with snow
  10. Sing :: , sing a song, make it simple to last the whole day long… (Sesame Street version)

Happy Sunday! When you play, I’ll link to you here.

Who played?

Continue Reading

14 February 2010 ~ 18 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 368

Winter has returned to Colorado.  We’ve had a great time driving an hour to snowshoe. Today, we’ll be able to snowshoe & cross country ski outside our door. I don’t mind the snow. In fact, if it’s going to be cold, it may as well snow.

The only way to combat the cool dark of winter is to warm our hearts and minds. What better way to warm our hearts and minds then by clearing our unconscious minds with Unconscious Mutterings! How do you play fun and fabulous game (created by Pea at LunaNina)? Glad you asked. Simply answer the word prompts in the comment section – easy! When you’re done, take a look at what everyone else said. It’s fascinating to see how similar, and how different we are.

Let’s play! Here are your word prompts!

  1. Suitcase ::
  2. Exhaust ::
  3. Olympics ::
  4. Video ::
  5. Cargo ::
  6. Previously ::
  7. Wild card ::
  8. Artificial ::
  9. Gambling ::
  10. Exhibition ::

My responses:

  1. Suitcase :: on my  doorstep
  2. Exhaust :: fumes
  3. Olympics :: flame
  4. Video :: killed the radio star
  5. Cargo :: plane
  6. Previously :: on Denver Cereal! ;)
  7. Wild card :: football
  8. Artificial :: people suck
  9. Gambling :: ruins lives
  10. Exhibition :: Bodyworld

Happy Sunday! When you play, I’ll link to you here!

Continue Reading

07 February 2010 ~ 12 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 367

Ah, there’s nothing like a little Irish stew when it’s snowing outside. I have a stew bubbling in the crockpot and the snow is coming down. Mmmmm

And mutterings! How can we have a Sunday with out Muttering!?! I still love the mutterings – and hope you do too.

How do you play? You simply answer these word prompts (created by LunaNina) in the comment section. When you’re done, go back and look at what others had to say. What’s amazing about mutterings is how similar we are, and how different.

Let’s play!

Here are your prompts:

  1. Humbled ::
  2. Buns ::
  3. Snowstorm ::
  4. Sweetheart ::
  5. Punch ::
  6. Glass ::
  7. Classical ::
  8. Heels ::
  9. Twitter ::
  10. Husband ::

Here are my responses:

  1. Humbled :: by the gorgeous sunrise
  2. Buns :: of hot crossed
  3. Snowstorm :: beef stew
  4. Sweetheart :: candy
  5. Punch :: and Judy
  6. Glass :: ego
  7. Classical :: loss
  8. Heels :: hurt
  9. Twitter :: twitterbug
  10. Husband :: Best Friend

Happy Sunday! when you play I’ll link to you here! :)

Continue Reading

31 January 2010 ~ 15 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 366

Sunday. I do love Sundays. We’re fasting now on Sundays. And today, we’re going snowshoeing. Snowshoeing and fasting. Somehow they fit together.

Like Mutterings! These word prompts (created by Pea at LunaNina) fit so well into my life. And when everyone plays, it’s like a joyous chorus of thought, emotions and senses. Lovely in every way.

How do you play? Simply answer the word prompts in the comments. Easily done!

Let’s play!

You’re prompts:

  1. Furniture ::
  2. Beauty ::
  3. Sip ::
  4. Block ::
  5. Forehead ::
  6. Championship ::
  7. Hurl ::
  8. Whip ::
  9. Destruction ::
  10. Leather ::

My responses:

  1. Furniture :: solid
  2. Beauty :: within
  3. Sip :: ping tea
  4. Block :: the jerk
  5. Forehead :: against the table in despair
  6. Championship ::  skill
  7. Hurl :: ing (English name for the Irish game Iomáint)
  8. Whip :: ping boy
  9. Destruction :: American Rain Forest
  10. Leather :: chaps.

Thanks for playing! When you play, I’ll link to you here!

Continue Reading

24 January 2010 ~ 22 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 365

Sunday! Hurray! We have absolutely no plans. Now isn’t that the ultimate luxury?

Of course, I need to Mutter first. What are mutterings? They are these fun word prompts created by Pea at LunaNina You play by answering whatever pops into your mind after you see the word. It’s fun! Clear out the unconscious and get ready for the week!

Let’s play! Here are your word prompts:

  1. Food ::
  2. Death ::
  3. Cafeteria ::
  4. Need ::
  5. Born ::
  6. Stitch ::
  7. Badly ::
  8. Blocks ::
  9. Chuck ::
  10. Spiral ::

Here are my responses:

  1. Food :: coma
  2. Death :: by chocolate
  3. Cafeteria :: inedible
  4. Need :: for speed
  5. Born :: to Run? (Gaaah! I’m so well advertised)
  6. Stitch :: in time, saves nine <–what the hell does that mean?
  7. Badly :: done
  8. Blocks :: growth
  9. Chuck :: it
  10. Spiral :: thoughts

Happy Sunday! When you play, I’ll link to you here

Continue Reading