Tag Archives: romance
31 Days of Spook – Story Submission
Hello my spooky friends. Thank you so very much for staying with me during my 31 Days of Spook. We really hope that all of you are shaking and shivering by now with our scary stories. Here at the Hotel Thompson, we just want you to enjoy every single spooky day that October has to give!
Today, we have another guest story submission. This one is from my friend Lori. Do you know Lori and her ducks? If you don’t know them, you are definitely missing out on beautiful pictures, wonderful stories on her ducks. You just have to go visit their blog. Please make it a point to visit my friend Lori – tell her that Bacon sent you. This is her tale – enjoy my friends!
Christmas at Hanging Rock
By Lori Fontanes
There’s a visitors center at Hanging Rock but on that stifling day right before Christmas, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. I vaguely recall one other couple, possibly on their way out, but after that, no one. And it really was hot, even by Australian standards, and even though antipodal December means the end of spring, it must have hit triple digits. That year, summer had come early, or maybe only at the Rock.
I’d wondered about the strange site known as Hanging Rock ever since watching Peter Weir’s lyrical film, which takes place on its stony peaks. “Picnic At Hanging Rock” dreamily reenacts the supposed real-life disappearance of a teacher and her students on Valentine’s Day in the year 1900. The girls and their chaperones go for a picnic but some don’t come back. They disappear between the silent stones, without explanation. Where did they go and why? If they were taken, why not the others? Since the movie doesn’t provide answers, we’d decided to see for ourselves. One hundred years after the alleged events, we thought it would be fun to pretend to investigate. We left our rental car in the parking lot, grabbed two water bottles and started climbing.
I’m not really good in hot weather. It’s my husband who thrives in the heat. Like a desert creature, he absorbs the radiance and turns it into useful energy. I wilt. As we slogged our way to the top, weaving among the huge boulders, he tried to joke me out of my increasingly foul mood. It had to be 100 degrees or close to it and I felt thirstier than our water could satisfy. Nonetheless, I suggested we ration the supply carefully. Since it wasn’t supposed to be a long hike, my husband merely shrugged. See, he’s the optimist and I’m the realist. I like to be prepared; he likes to leave for the airport at the last minute. And there we were, alone, on this weird outcropping of volcanic rock in the middle of rural Victoria.
As I think about it now, I realize that no one knew where we were. We didn’t tell the hotel staff, our families were celebrating the holidays thousands of miles away and in these pre-smartphone days, no one expected you to stay in constant contact. It was 2000 (yes, Y2K) so I guess we had a cell phone but I doubt we could have gotten reception. Hanging Rock is that type of lonely, an inland Bermuda Triangle, buzzing with insects, desolate and blistering. In fact, I wonder if the igneous formations hold a sort of magnetic charm that distorts compasses and makes minds struggle. That day, I told myself it was just the heat. It’s hard to think straight when the mercury hits those highs.
About halfway up, when it didn’t look like we’d meet anyone else, my husband started in with his silliness. I guess you could call it romance. Either way, it was the last thing I needed so I ignored his playfulness.
“Let’s keep going,” I said.
“Let’s go this way,” he said.
His way didn’t feel right.
“No, I think the sign says this way,” I demurred.
He wouldn’t listen. I hung back as he entered a small archway that somehow I knew wouldn’t work. Stubbornly, I stood there and watched him go. I don’t remember the details. He may have cried out. Like I said, I can’t remember.
He emerged pretty quickly.
“You’re right, it’s not the way,” he said.
“What happened?”
I moved past him to see. The path he’d chosen led to another opening and then, a sheer drop. He must have stopped in time but he may have slipped because somehow he lost both bottles down the slope.
We kept going.
I tried not to think about losing the water. We had a distance to hike before reaching the top. Or should we turn around now? Should I say something? Would it matter?
And then, we arrived. It looked like the summit or close enough. Was there a rock like an altar? A platform? Or maybe nothing at all, my memory doesn’t say. All I know is how bright it was and still. Quiet, like the inside of your breath when you hold it. I didn’t know what that quiet meant.
My husband tried to kiss me. I sidled away. It didn’t seem like a good idea. I might have said, are you crazy?
He might have said, yes.
“Let’s go.”
I kept my voice as weightless as possible. Bugs sang in counterpoint to my clattering heart. I walked quickly in the direction of escape.
My husband made an off-color comment then followed. I fought my rising anxiety, wanting to read the path with clarity, not fear. We decided to go down a different way. He might have suggested it. I might have agreed.
It might have been the heat.
We came to an intersection where once more, he wanted one way and I, the other. I don’t know how I knew it but on this point I’m perfectly clear: If we’d gone his way, we might not have come back. At that moment, I felt completely certain that the Rock wanted him to stay. And I couldn’t tell him that. So I had to convince him to follow me. I ignored the insects, the heat, my thirst, our dusty isolation and said, in my calmest voice, “Let’s go this way.”
The words hung for a moment.
“Okay,” he said.
Copyright 2014, Lori Fontanes
The Valentines Date to Remember
You voted for it and the two winners were Benedict and Rockelle for their hot date on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2014. The day started off with a lot of primping, planning and excitement. Manny and Bashful helped Benedict get ready for the day as Princess Coralena and Virginia helped Rockelle.
The day started off with the exchanging of some gifts. In the picture to the left, Benedict gave Rockelle a special box of chocolates telling her how he feels. Notice, “You Caught My Eye” was written on the box. Nice touch Benedict! In the picture to the right, Rockelle gave Benedict a red hot love ducky because she went quackers for him. Nice touch Rockelle.
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Then, it was time for dinner. Mom and dad researched a lot of restaurants that would be unique for the happy couple. Something that touched both of them in
a different way. Something that made them think of their homelands. You know since Rockelle is from Australia and Benedict is
from the United Kingdom. A place maybe they didn’t have from their birth places but something that was unique to the United States. Then the light bulbs went off in their heads and they knew of the perfect place. Reservations were made and mom/dad (AKA the chauffers for the night) then bundled the two up for their romantic dinner.
Yep, that’s right. They went to Hooters on Tara Boulevard. The night started off with some shots in the picture to the left. After a few shots, Benedict and Rockelle loosed up a bit and started talking about their feelings for each other. In the picture to the right, you can tell that there was a magnetic pull to each other. Perhaps love was starting to erupt?
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. They did a few shots to loosen up – you know liquid courage. Hooters is a great place that plays a variety of different music. Once they were loosed up, they were rocking to the music. Benedict asked Rockelle to dance. They did the electric rock slide and the pebble shuffle… you know instead of the two step or twerking.
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After the shots and all of that dancing, they thought they might need to get something on their stomachs. You know drinking without eating makes one light headed and who knows what would roll around then? They started with some buffalo shrimp. Who needs utensils? It is finger food so they both dived into the plate. Benedict was such a gentleman and actually wiped some sauce off of Rockelle’s face. Of course the proper way would have been by using a napkin instead of using his tongue. But she seemed to like it.
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Both liked fish so they decided to order the big fried fish sandwich. It was enough to share. And there is a reason that it’s called the big fish sandwich. Do you see how big that fish is? This was certainly one that didn’t get away and was a keeper. Benedict started on one side and Rockelle started on the other side. They met in the middle. And the little round things are tater tots. It’s often been said that Benedict looks like a potato so it isn’t a shocker that he absolutely loved the tots. 
And Hooters, they are known for their wings. Yeah, that’s right. They’re known for their delicious wings. They got some of those to try as well. What’s a great night out if you don’t have lots of food. And they were there for several hours getting to know each other. The wings were fried, breaded and medium – mmmm – Rockelle loved them.
And, of course there is one more thing you have to do when you are at Hooters. I’m not sure if you are familiar with this restaurant. The staff is wonderful, gracious and very out going. They were wonderful to Benedict and Rockelle on their special date night. And since this was their first time at the restaurant, they wanted to give them a memory in a picture. So, they all decided to have their picture taken with the special couple.
Notice the two in the picture. And the girls were gorgeous. But after the photograph, Benedict assured Rockelle that she was the beauty and he only had eyes for her. aaww – way to go Benedict! 
After they left Hooters, they didn’t want the date to end. They decided they needed something sweet. And again, Benedict came through. While they were in the back seat, mom/dad overheard Benedict tell Rockelle there was nothing they could get that would be sweeter than her. I think by this point they were holding hands as well.
They decided they wanted ice cream so mom/dad (AKA Chauffers) took them to Baskin Robins where they enjoyed a scoop of snickers ice cream. By this time, they wanted to sit at a separate table from mom/dad so they could talk by themselves. Mom and dad heard a lot of giggles so it seems they were getting along great.
Date night must have went really well because the next morning, Benedict and Rockelle were seen in the kitchen sharing a heart shaped doughnut. This special date night might be the start of something fabulous – maybe even a great relationship like Bogey and McCall. One never knows.
So friends, pat yourselves on the backs for a wonderful twosome.
I would like extend a special thank you to Mike Fiely the manager at Hooters and his wonderful staff located at 6785 Tara Boulevard, Jonesboro. Ya’ll really helped this little piggy out in making this special date night one to remember for my pet rocks. I would say, “You Rock!”
Last Day to Vote
Love is in the air here at the Hotel Thompson – that is for sure!
Today is the last day to vote for the Bachelor and Bachelorette that will go out on a date on Valentine’s day, February 14th. The wonderful romantic ‘date night’ will be posted on Monday, February 17th.
Be sure to vote!
Vote for the Bachelor here: https://piglove.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/lets-make-a-love-connection/
Vote for the Bachelorette here: https://piglove.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/lets-make-a-love-connection-bachelorettes/
Hello Sooty
Every once in a while, I come across an article that I just *can’t* pass up in sharing. Take for instance Sooty. Sooty is a guinea pig from South Wales. Read about his amazing escape and what he did – snorts. Way to go Sooty!
Piglove 