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.