🎄The Captains Home (Stand Alone)

 THE CAPTAIN'S HOME

This story comes from Hernando County, Florida. This area is now home to a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and a park. This story is about a former Civil War Captain and his family. Unlike most stories where everyone lives happily ever after, this story tells of the Captain's end.

The Captain had been given a plot of land on the Gulf of Mexico as a reward for his war efforts. This reward came with one stipulation. The Captain had to remain in service to communicate with the local Indian tribes and maintain peace. The Captain accepted the reward, and he built his home among the swampy marsh and waterways. As the years passed, the Captain maintained peace with the local Indian tribes and kept good relations with them. Some of the locals said the Captain's land was cursed; however, the Captain squashed those rumors and said he and his family were blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

Locals started the rumors again against the local tribes when one day during a meeting with a local chief, one of his farm workers interrupted their meeting with the word that the Captain's wife was in labor and she was having complications. The Chief sent a group of older women in the tribe to assist with the birth, and the Captain sent the farmhand to the local doctor's home to come help. The farm hand later arrived, stating that the Doctor was not available and the Indian woman did all they could to save his wife. Later after the birth his wife passed from the complications. The Doctor arrived shortly before she had passed and stated that the woman of the tribe did a miraculous job and he would not have been able to do any better.

Although he had grieved for his wife, the Captain knew that there was nothing to be done and held no ill will for the Doctor or the woman who had tried to help with the delivery. He praised the woman who helped with the birth and thanked them for saving his newborn child. The local tribe also attended her funeral as a mark of respect they had for the Captain.

Years passed as the Captain raised his children and continued his obligation to help communicate with the local Indian community. One morning, a garrison showed up at the Captain's home because there had been a report of growing tension with one of the local tribes. The leader requested the Captains' help. The Captain had gone to meet up with the leaders for what he had thought would be a peaceful meeting. However, during the meeting, another Captain from the area killed a local tribal leader and many others from the tribe. The Captain tried to stop the fighting and bring about a peaceful resolution. During the fight, he was stabbed in the leg by an Indian brave who did not understand that he was not involved with the bloodshed. The garrison soldiers had taken the Captain home and left him alone with his freed slaves and children. Doing this would be a fatal mistake.

In the early morning hours, three days after the failed peace meeting, the Indians declared war. Even though the Captain had not caused any death and had tried to gain peace, the tribe had decided he was an enemy, and a war party descended upon the property to exact revenge. The children in the barn with the field hands were whisked away to safety and hid in the swamps. The eldest daughter, upstairs with a maid, hid in a hideaway passage while the Indians searched the home. However, the Captain, the nanny, and his two youngest children were not so lucky. The children played in the hallway with the nanny when the war party rode horses into the home and trampled them. Then the war party dismounted the horses, walked into the sick room, and killed the Captain while he lay in his bed. As the legend says, the Captain's last sight was of his two youngest children dead in the hallway.

 

After the attack, the eldest daughter's fiance, who was in the military, asked why no soldiers were left to help protect the Captain and his family after the meeting that happened. Why were they left alone? A high-ranking Commander in charge of the inquest stated that there was no meeting planned and that he did not know about the meeting. He had discovered that this meeting was never authorized. Later information showed that the other Captain in attendance caused the bloodshed in retaliation for his livestock hunted by an Indian hunting party further south. The eldest daughter lived in the home with her siblings and servants until her wedding. When she married her husband, they took all the remaining siblings and staff and moved to Saint Augustine, where her husband lived. Before leaving the property with her family, the daughter burned the home and farm to the ground, leaving nothing behind but smoke and ash.

 

As many times as I've heard the story, we never were given an exact location, however, there is a rumor has it there are a few driveways on the right side before you get to the Bayport pier and boat launch, and one of them is a way to get to the land. (However, this may now be private property, so first ask for permission if you try to find it.) If you're brave enough to trample along the water near the picnic tables by the canoe launch, there used to be a rumored path to get to the location. However, you don't need to do any of that because during a warm spring or summer morning, if you time it just right and the air has that spark, if you sit at the tables and listen. You might hear the Indian war party start and the sound of horses running, then the screams of children. I searched for the location once and experienced the sounds of the war party, and I never wanted to risk meeting them.

Tales From The Blog

With the way things are going in the world, I have been moving my older posts to create a book, and I will publish the book once I have enough. There will be additional commentary after each of the posts about how I felt about writing it.

Post 1- November 11, 2015- 1476 views

BE KIND TO THOSE RETAIL WORKERS!!

Well, people, it's that fabulous time of year again... Thanksgiving and holiday retail shopping.  I feel that I must take to my soapbox and give you all a little perspective.  I am sorry I have to put it that way, but after swinging into a store yesterday to get a candy bar and seeing a very ignorant person yell at the cashier because the customer simply didn't read the ad and would not listen to the poor girl doing her best to explain the ad gets my blood boiling because if you know me I try to protect the cashiers at my job as much as I can. So here are a few simple things you can do to not make yourself look like an ass this holiday season...

• DO NOT WAIT TILL LAST MINUTE.... At this point, I cannot express more.  I had this happen last year at my job, A gentleman wanted to get his wife a pair of fashion boots but they were a little pricey.  However price or not they were selling quite fast. He came in every week and looked at them. I suggested that if he was sure he wanted them but was unsure of the price to put them on layaway because I could not guarantee the boots would be here when he was ready to purchase.  When he came in three days before Christmas to buy the boots we were sold out in her size as well as every store for 50 miles around.  Let's just say he was not happy, accused me of a bunch of crap, called me terrible names. However, this year he brought his wife in already and then came back the next day and bought all the boots she liked so lesson learned on his part.
• WORK A LITTLE WITH YOUR SALES ASSOCIATE WE WILL TRY TO MOVE MOUNTAINS.... This part is doubly true at my store we had a wonderful woman who wanted to get her twin teens matching dresses and shoes.  We had the shoes, but not the dresses.  However, we could get the dresses, but they wouldn't be in till December 26. So we went above and beyond for her and took a potentially bad situation and made it okay. She brought the shoes for the girls and ordered the dresses. We went the extra mile and printed pictures of the dresses and sold her the fancy gift boxes to put the pictures in and a even made the bows and ribbons so all she had to do was wrap the shoes.  Turned a potentially bad situation into a great one and she has been back ever since shopping almost every week.
• DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.... We are trained, we can and will help you with whatever resources we have at our disposal.  Your hubby wants that Star Wars t-shirt in extra large. We don't have it however we can order it from the next store over and you can pick it up at their online pickup area.  Or you're not sure of your girlfriends size.  Show us a picture or point out someone who has the same body shape.  Need a TV, tool, etc.. We can help but only is you ask. We have so many people who we will ask do you need help say no or outright ignore us then get loud saying You don't have it, when if they would have asked we did.
• ACTUALLY READ THE AD.... Words like in select stores, limited quantities, during specific times are actually in there.  Club members pricing as well. We do have to adhere to the ad for the most part, help us help you.
• PRICE MATCHING DOES NOT EXISTS ON BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND... That's right people if you go to most retail stores who price match it does say that black Friday weekend there is no price matching. That goes for sure at most retailers.
• IF YOU HAVE A COUPON.... I love coupons, however, please be sure to read the exclusions.  Clearance, hot buys and special deals in most stores are excluded as well. Again on Black Friday weekend a lot of coupons are excluded.
• OH STORES LIKE YOURS ARE THE REASON YOU POOR PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK THANKSGIVING.... Last year I heard that so many times I seriously had to laugh.  People who say that make me laugh because they are saying it on Thanksgiving night with an overflowing shopping cart.  When you work retail or are hired on for retail you are told full out that you are working the whole weekend.  That includes Thanksgiving night. We know what we signed on for.  But you say it as your shopping is irony.
• YOUR WORKERS HAVE BEEN ON THEIR FEET FOR 10-12 HOURS.... Yes management, full timers and our amazing workers have been moving their bums for 10-12 hour rotations on Black Friday weekend.  We do a ton of behind the scenes stuff to make your shopping experience fun and satisfying.  We go through a wickedly insane amount of coffee, energy drinks, Sugar, and snacks.  Myself personally had I think at one point last year a 2 liter of Pepsi, coffee, candy bars, energy drinks, apples with Nutella, and cheddar popcorn on my desk.
• USE, YOUR MANNERS... Don't be a dick on the day you're supposed to be thankful for what you have.  Use your manners people we are human too and want to do our job, have to ask the questions we do and can only be so fast. We would much rather be home with our families then working.

So I hope this little help list will actually help you not be such a bad shopper this holiday season.  I work with the most amazing group of people and a lot of them are like a second family to me, we all want to help you but only if you give us a chance. Have a great shopping experience this holiday season and please be safe out there.

**After 25 years of customer service, I felt that a post was needed. People can be horrible during the holiday season, and after many years, I have seen retail workers be abused verbally and sometimes physically. So remember, be a little kinder to everyone during the holiday season, and you will feel the true meaning of the holiday season.**

Post 2- November 19, 2015- 595 views

BLACK FRIDAY IS COMING!!

Ha Ha, every time I say "Black Friday is Coming", I get the Game of Thrones Meme going through my head!  As you know, one of my three jobs is I work retail.  Seriously though, as much as I hate giving up my Thanksgiving night (this is hopefully my last year), It is wild seeing people going after what they consider deals.  I know some are great, but it's funny watching people rushing to get to a item that was cheaper three weeks earlier. So after getting to know so extreme Black Friday shoppers here are a few tips that I learned that might just help you get those items you want.

1. When going to any store you want to have a plan in place,  start with making a list of what the most important items on your list. If they seem to be out the items find the nearest sales person find out if there is more in the back, and if not see if its order-able. Yes, people see if you can order the item get it there are no rain checks, so for example, say those boots you want are $19.99 and they are out. Get a sales associate spend the three minutes with that salesperson and order them. However, be prepared to use the plastic at this point because on Black Friday if it is paid by the card you automatically get the order processed,  with a pending cash payment the item can be sold to another customer, CASH DOES NOT HOLD IT!
2. If you're a set of spouses shopping together... Split up to make it go faster, then after you get the super important items on your list meet up for the basic stuff. We all have cell phones, people you won't lose each other that's what they are there for.
3. Do some prep work. Some stores are doing Thanksgiving night and 5 am Black Friday door busters.  They both will have some good deals don't be afraid to miss out on one set at one store to get another set at another store. 
4. Also big ticket items will not be available for online purchase.  That amazing TV or laptop is in store only. Don't be crying to the store manager or staff because you could not add it to cart and get the deal price.  We don't care because somewhere in the ad it said in store only.
5. Remember Cyber Monday. You can get some phenomenal deals online for in store pick up or be the smart one if its free shipping its a great way to send those Christmas gifts to another state and not have to spend a dime on shipping (also having to wait at the post office in the 30 to 45 min line).
6. This is my favorite one... Remember your mom and pop, and small stores, also your small charity stores that are run by the churches. These businesses are your friends and neighbors and they rely on your business to survive so please this holiday season stop in and see what amazing gifts you can find!

I hope this list helped a little. But most of all have fun this Thanksgiving and remember what is truly important I sure will be.  But if you go shopping after those deals please be safe out there. May whichever god or goddess you pray to watch over you and yours this holiday season.

**As a retail worker, Black Friday can almost come out as a curse word. Posting this made me vent a bit. Enjoy your shopping, but remember that most of it can be done the day after Thanksgiving and not the night you have the turkey!**

November 2, 2016

HOW A LITTLE TYPO MADE FOR AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS TRADITION!

Okay guys and girls first for those who really know me they know that I am a compulsive obsessive person when it comes to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  I am also in love with a good story as much as the next person. So last year when I stumbled upon this story about how NORAD started tracking Santa I had a good chuckle.  Then to my surprise I was looking at pins on Pinterest tonight and behold the story of the Santa Tracker reappeared in my thread so I figured it was fate I had to share the story with the world. 

 The whole NORAD tracking Santa started because of a typo in the paper. Here is a picture of the ad that Sears Roebuck and Co. Posted over 60 years ago.  They didn't realize it, but that phone number was not the line they had to speak to Santa, but to the Continental Air Defense Center (Now NORAD).

How would you have felt as someone who works at a military installation  getting a call on the red phone hearing a tiny little voice asking if they could talk to Santa.   However, our military men who were working that night proved they were even bigger hero's by just going with it.  But what really warms my heart is that NORAD did not stop at a one time thing, This has become a tradition that has spanned the generations since 1955.  It has become such a tradition that NORAD employees plus others volunteer their time on Christmas Eve to make children happy. But seriously looking at these pictures in the CNN ARTICLE I think the volunteers are just as excited as the kids.

I mean seriously when NORAD releases this statement you know they have the spirit of the Christmas Holiday!

"Our constellation of defense satellites "uses infrared tracking to keep pinpoint accuracy on the heat signature from Rudolph's nose," NORAD says in its promotional materials. "Ground based radar tracking sites relays, global positioning updates to our elite fighter pilots, who often escort Santa's sleigh through rough weather." 

On Christmas Eve, I always run the Santa Tracker Application on my cell phone... And before you say anything, yes, I have it on my phone it goes live December first and then does a countdown till when Santa Takes off on December 24th, It however has a NORAD link and that is A+ in my book so the kids and we adults can learn about what's going on in our Military.  Plus, don't judge me, 

Or if you want, you can check out the physical website HERE.  This website also goes live with Santa's take off countdown on December 1st as well.

As someone whose family has had a rough year with loss please remember what the holidays are really about. To some there are religious aspects, but the underlying theme has been that these holidays are about family and friends.  Keep that door open to everyone who is in your heart and keep an extra plate at your table.  May you be blessed beyond measure this holiday season.

Angie

P.S. Let me know what you think comment below!!

*I wrote this to tell the story of the NORAD Santa radar!*

Posted 10/30/2019

I am fortunate, I live in a notoriously haunted Florida town. This town is the location of one of the best haunted museums ever! In honor of All Hallows Eve, I bring you this top 10 list of ways you can tell you live in a haunted house.

#10. You hear the floor creaking or footsteps going through the house, like someone is walking when you are the only one home.

#9. You walk into the kitchen and all your cabinets are open when you know you left them shut the last time you were in there.

#8. Your dog barks or cat hisses at a random spot and there is nothing that you can see.

#7. You try using a selfie filter for faces and a face appears on your screen.

  (Yes, this has happened in my home and previous home multiple times.)

#6. You hear people having a conversation in the next room and when you go to see who is in your house there is no one there.

#5 Objects are not where you left them.

#4. You see shadows and people out of the corner of your eye.

#3. Objects are thrown at you when you are alone.

#2. You live in one of the most haunted towns in your state so you best just deal with it because the odds are against you!

#1. You start seeing spirits right in front of you.

Just a little spooktacular bit of fun for you all! Happy ALL HALLOWS EVE!

Blessings and have a great time Trick or Treating!

-Angie

**Who does not like spooky season!**

New Year New Me....HAHA...Just Kidding

Posted Jan 12th 2023- 423 views

Well, it's been a long while since I have posted. I can make excuses, but seriously, what would be the point. As most know I try to be 100% transparent and honest in my posts. I have been struggling... A LOT. I suffer from anxiety and depression. I have been hiding away from the world basically crocheting and working. I have missed my blog and have just started the great revamp. My life has changed so much in the last three years. I decided that I am coming back on my terms to start posting like I want to instead of a need to fill the blog. As my life has changed so much I will be deleting and removing a lot of the old posts that I feel were filler and starting fresh. I will still be sharing my writing and my very rough versions of the books and stories I am working on as well as adding a new section of my paranormal adventures.  So I guess the biggest thing I can say is please excuse the dust as we are remodeling.

Much love and blessings,

Angie