Ghost Hunting in Millersburg

I planned to take this trip over two years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and...

We finally drove over to Millersburg on Friday afternoon. I convinced DH he needed a break from dealing with his father's estate.

We stayed for the long weekend at the Hotel Millersburg, which is one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the state. For those who want to check it out, it is ADA compliant, but don't expect 5-star luxury. It's a nice, clean place to sleep while you're running around town, taking notes and pictures.

It's located on Jackson Street, which is the main drag through town. I made a point of reserving a room on the Jackson Street side in order to watch the traffic.

In the Bloodlines and Millersburg Magick Mysteries series, I place Jo's coffee shop across the street from the county courthouse. I made a point of taking a picture from what would be her shop's front door. The retail spot is currently empty.

Even if I wanted to put a coffee shop there, I wouldn't. There's a (relatively) new coffee shop two blocks to the right of this picture called Broken Grounds. DH and I had breakfast there two of the three mornings. The only reason we didn't stop in the third morning is because they're closed on Mondays.

The Broken Grounds also has church services on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. The pastor's a bit of a character, but he reminds me of one of my uncles who is a retired Lutheran minister.

I also found my peeps at The Expansion Gaming Corner, which is caddy-corner from The Broken Grounds at West Jackson and Mad Anthony. The owner was awesome, knowledgeable, and didn't look at a gray-haired, female customer like she was crazy. I will definitely go back the next time I'm in town.

Saturday night, we had tickets to attend Paranormal Night at the Museum. It's sponsored by the Victorian House Ghost Guild and held at the Victorian House Museum. Everyone who attended had a blast. If you want tickets for the evening session, go to the Ghost Guild's Facebook page. Normal visitation and other special events can be found at the Holmes County Historical Society's website.

So, yes, the Millersburg, Killbuck, and Berlin in my stories are based on the real towns in Holmes County. This is what folks mean by writing what you know. But that doesn't mean you can't use a little imagination in the process.

Coronavirus Pandemic Day 363 - Jumping the Gun

29,293,090 known COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and 530,614 known dead from the disease.

A year ago, DH and I sat across from each other in the local Applebee's and debated what would happen with COVID-19. The week before, the news broadcast announced the first death when I was on a layover in St. Louis. As we ate, hospitals in New York were becoming overwhelmed. No one was totally sure how the disease was spreading. There was a lingering unease even in our little town.

Less than a week later, my father-in-law's assisted living facility was closed to visitors. Two days later, the Ohio governor shut down the state.

A year later, Texas's governor is reopening the state. The CDC says it's far too early, and I agree. The new British variant is already spreading through the U.S. while we barely have 10% of the population vaccinated.

I worry because GK and his girlfriend are stationed in Texas. I worry because my unborn grandson doesn't have a choice in the matter. I worry because they want us down in San Antonio for the baby's birth, and the last thing I want is to expose them to COVID-19.

I'm glad Ohio's Governor Dewine is upholding the masking and social distancing efforts. We aren't out of the woods yet. But there is some hope on the horizon.

On Thursday, my and DH's age group can sign up for appointments to get oue vaccines. It's not a perfect solution, but if it helps us to welcome the grandkid into the world, then it's a little less worry on my soul.

Stuck at Home

First of all, a shout out to some unsung heroes who aren't getting any kudos in the coronavirus epidemic--the folks that work in the utilities fields. Do you have natural gas, electricity, and/or water in your house? What about phone service whether it be cell or landline? That's because these people are still going to work and doing their jobs. So a big thank you to these workers!

I don't think I had that much of a social life until I started rescheduling or postponing some activities. And I'm sitting here right now, questioning whether I should cancel my dentist appointment next week.

Also, Carrie Vaughn's latest book, The Immortal Conquistador, dropped last Friday for those looking for an awesome read. It's the latest in her Kitty Norville series.

If you're sitting at home fretting about finding good information online, I suggest reading Bob Mayer's blog. Bob is ex-Special Forces and a longtime writer. His Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide is a start if you weren't ready for a long stay at home. There's a lot of scams out there right now, but in Bob, I trust.

Finally, I blew off writing yesterday after the twelve hours of will-we/won't-we have voting in Ohio. It wasn't just the Democratic primary on the ballot. There were several school levys. With school cancelled in the entire state until April (for now), I'm keeping my fingers crossed that our local district can reopen its doors once it's safe to do so without the operating levy it desperately needs.

I contacted friends and talked with writing colleagues for a good chunk of the day. I did get a little bit of editing done, but I really need to buckle down on the current wip.

In the immortal words of Sergeant Esterhaus from Hill Street Blues, "Let's be careful out there."