AUTHOR: Dave Sypniewski DATE: Saturday, October 08, 2005 ----- BODY: You know, with Halloween right around the corner the teens out there are always willing to part ways with big wads of cash for the excitement of shitting their pants. Yeah, there's the traditional favorites like "Six Flags FrightFest" and a few castles in Chicago that transform into "haunted mansions" where for ten bucks a pop, some out of work college kids/Theatre Majors will gladly put on the grease paint, costume, and fake blood to give you a thrill. Let me tell you a real ghost story from October 31st, 1977 where for at least 12 hours, the Earth fell off it's axis and havoc ensued throughout the now defunct Sandridge school in Calumet City, IL. I knew from the get go that something wasn't right as soon as I made my way through the few inches of snow on the ground and still falling. While most of the kids were wearing costumes of characters from "Star Wars", my Mom was too cheap (sorry Mom), and I was forced to go either as Spiderman or Batman...I don't remember. I DO remember putting down the little brush for the "paint by numbers" we were doing in "Art" class to go to the Haunted Gymnasium. With the lights out, I remember walking and feeling my way through all sorts of wicked stuff like eyeballs, brains, intestines, bones and a human heart. Scary crap to an 8 year old! That is, until the lights came on by mistake. I don't know if it was relief or a big letdown when I saw a lot of middle aged Mom's holding bowls of grapes, spaghetti, and Jell-O-. It was kind of like pulling back the curtain on Oz and finding a scared, little man. I was still scared despite the fact I found out the truth and I still remember that to this day. No money involved and no waiting in lines. These things are priceless, and worth their weight in gold when you compare them to "Six Flags" or any other place at Halloween. What's more, they will NEVER be repeated again! ...OK, what's up with "The Donald"? I guess he isn't as bad off as they make him to be. The Real Estate market is still booming, and such is the case in the Middle East where Trump has just signed to have his moniker placed atop a new hotel. This is in a part of the world that most wouldn't even want to be taken hostage to yet, some wealthy Arabs are taking their oil money and making their own paradise. Needless to say, BILLIONS of dollars are already at work as they've finished constructing man made islands which from the air, resembles a palm tree. In addition to Trump's hotel which is located at the "trunk"of the tree, there are plans for shopping malls, restaurants, an amusement park, and upscale residential housing as well as rental properties. Why? So we see the Middle East as a family friendly place to vacation. It sounds silly to me too! "Terrorism" is written all over it however, this project is already 40% finished and Trump hasn't even broken ground on his contribution yet. Above is the photo of the proposed hotel, which looks silly to me. It's supposed to symbolize a tulip in Spring...opening up and blooming. A new beginning. As if the crisis out there is finished! The photo above is only an artist's rendering which may or may not be built. The island? It's nearly complete. It's either going to be a blessing for that area or, as I predict, a big white elephant where tumbleweeds will roll. THAT'S the way I see it today! GO SOX! -------- Squealing Pig WORLDWIDE!: Halloween 1977 and tip-toe through a 100 story tulip!

Squealing Pig WORLDWIDE!

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Halloween 1977 and tip-toe through a 100 story tulip!

You know, with Halloween right around the corner the teens out there are always willing to part ways with big wads of cash for the excitement of shitting their pants. Yeah, there's the traditional favorites like "Six Flags FrightFest" and a few castles in Chicago that transform into "haunted mansions" where for ten bucks a pop, some out of work college kids/Theatre Majors will gladly put on the grease paint, costume, and fake blood to give you a thrill. Let me tell you a real ghost story from October 31st, 1977 where for at least 12 hours, the Earth fell off it's axis and havoc ensued throughout the now defunct Sandridge school in Calumet City, IL. I knew from the get go that something wasn't right as soon as I made my way through the few inches of snow on the ground and still falling. While most of the kids were wearing costumes of characters from "Star Wars", my Mom was too cheap (sorry Mom), and I was forced to go either as Spiderman or Batman...I don't remember. I DO remember putting down the little brush for the "paint by numbers" we were doing in "Art" class to go to the Haunted Gymnasium. With the lights out, I remember walking and feeling my way through all sorts of wicked stuff like eyeballs, brains, intestines, bones and a human heart. Scary crap to an 8 year old! That is, until the lights came on by mistake. I don't know if it was relief or a big letdown when I saw a lot of middle aged Mom's holding bowls of grapes, spaghetti, and Jell-O-. It was kind of like pulling back the curtain on Oz and finding a scared, little man. I was still scared despite the fact I found out the truth and I still remember that to this day. No money involved and no waiting in lines. These things are priceless, and worth their weight in gold when you compare them to "Six Flags" or any other place at Halloween. What's more, they will NEVER be repeated again! ...OK, what's up with "The Donald"? I guess he isn't as bad off as they make him to be. The Real Estate market is still booming, and such is the case in the Middle East where Trump has just signed to have his moniker placed atop a new hotel. This is in a part of the world that most wouldn't even want to be taken hostage to yet, some wealthy Arabs are taking their oil money and making their own paradise. Needless to say, BILLIONS of dollars are already at work as they've finished constructing man made islands which from the air, resembles a palm tree. In addition to Trump's hotel which is located at the "trunk"of the tree, there are plans for shopping malls, restaurants, an amusement park, and upscale residential housing as well as rental properties. Why? So we see the Middle East as a family friendly place to vacation. It sounds silly to me too! "Terrorism" is written all over it however, this project is already 40% finished and Trump hasn't even broken ground on his contribution yet. Above is the photo of the proposed hotel, which looks silly to me. It's supposed to symbolize a tulip in Spring...opening up and blooming. A new beginning. As if the crisis out there is finished! The photo above is only an artist's rendering which may or may not be built. The island? It's nearly complete. It's either going to be a blessing for that area or, as I predict, a big white elephant where tumbleweeds will roll. THAT'S the way I see it today! GO SOX!

posted by Dave Sypniewski at Saturday, October 08, 2005

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