What I've Done

(Props to anyone that catches the song reference in the title.)


Whilst working on my other posts earlier this month, I thought to myself, "Self, I think perhaps it's time to get some photos of what's had you so busy that you've hardly had time for photography this year." This isn't quite a photo essay, but is an explanation of sorts.

How are all of these rather varied subjects connected, you might wonder? And further, how in the world have they been the cause of the author's busyness?

Back in June, I got involved in an industry I hardly gave a thought previously: the world of haunted houses. That's right, those cheesy Halloween attractions that attract the souls who enjoy subjecting themselves to scares. Until I started working at this particular haunted house, I'd never even entered one of these supposedly enjoyable venues. I very reluctantly started by doing a bit of clean-up work for a friend and kept getting dragged back to help out. In the blink of an eye, I was working eight to thirteen hour days at the haunt, doing everything from clean-up to construction. Before long, I knew how to use table saws, circular saws, speed squares and such. I was laying roof ties, climbing twenty-four foot ladders, applying siding, and so much more. I even have a tool belt now.

But it didn't stop with construction; my fire marshal friend wound up being put in charge of the fire and safety team that the haunt requires during operation. Naturally, I got asked to join her team.

The twentieth was our first operational day of the season. I've been able to watch our customers and actors from the roofs of the haunt (dubbed the "security catwalk"), which has been an educational experience. (I bet you didn't know that about ninety percent of the groups that go through haunted houses hang onto one another for dear life the entire time.) While I still don't understand folks' attraction to being scared, I must say that I'm grateful to our patrons for visiting our haunt. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do what we do.

As a conclusion, feel free to check out The Haunted Mines website and if you're in the area, come by and visit some time.

Fire Rehab

Some recent shots! Just took these yesterday while visiting my fire marshal friend at her station. This is one of the three pieces of apparatus they have stored at said location.

Fire rehab is a section of the department dedicated to the well-being of the firefighters. Rehab sets up on the fireground to provide firefighters with nourishment, rehydration, and any medical attention they may require (ie: treatment for smoke inhalation, heat stroke, etc.)

This particular fire rehab truck is not active, but is retained by the department as one of their antique pieces.

Balloon Glo

I'm not working chronologically in my effort to get caught up on my blog posts. I will be posting pictures that I snapped throughout August later, but for now, I'd like to share my most recent shots.

Anyone from Colorado knows about the Balloon Glo--for anyone else, here in Colorado, we have this massive gathering of balloonists annually called the Balloon Classic. I didn't make it to the mass ascension the Classic hosts, but my sisters and I did make it to the Balloon Glo. The Balloon Glo being the inflation of the balloons without ever launching them.

One of my rare highly edited photos.

Amber Waves of Grain

According to the date stamps on these photos, they were taken on the second of August. I honestly don't remember the date. I merely remember that we had one of our massive rainstorms out at the museum and that when the rain cleared, the sun shone through the clouds and cast a gorgeous golden light upon the rainy landscape.