Bob Saget Stole my Idea!

The show is called "Strange Days with Bob Saget" and is pretty much "My Experience As" but with video and a budget!


http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/nov/20/strange-sojourn/

Truth be told, someone must've come up with this idea before me as they've already filmed several episodes but still, quite a disappointment.

Couldn't they get Mike Rowe, Less Stroud, or Anthony Bourdain, or even Guy Fieri? I mean, I got beat out by BOB SAGET?

My Experience as a Volunteer

Last Saturday, my friend Jeff and I attended a Habitat for Humanity of Monroe build day. We worked from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM prepping and siding a garage in Dundee. We started by tearing down some old siding, pulling nails, and prepping the area. We then wrapped the garage in a special paper lining while another group put up the vents that run along the overhang of the roof. We then set about the actual task of putting up siding.

Overall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend everyone try it, or something like it, at least once. It did seem to me that the construction site could have used a bit more leadership and direction. Dave and Andy seemed like great builders, but they didn't really encourage people to step up and help out. There were many people who spent most of the day just standing around. In fact, after we finished the paper project, there was a solid two hours where I had nothing to do and resorted to sweeping out the garage and stacking plywood.

After lunch, where I managed to dump an entire glass of pop all over myself, Jeff and I decided to get back and aggressively seek a job; we didn't volunteer to stand around and watch others work all day, after all. That's when we made sure we got to work on the siding, and the afternoon went wonderfully after that.

Two of the things I really like about Habitat for Humanity of Monroe is that you get to see the results of your work right away and the project is right in your backyard. Sure, it was a great thing to give money to Haiti, and I felt like it was the right thing to do when I made a modest donation to Wikipedia, but in my mind those are far off places, where my donation is just lost in the shuffle of all the other, larger donations. But with Habitat, you're helping your community (well, Monroe's, anyway), you're helping your neighbors. I think that it's much more rewarding to know that you're having a larger impact right here at home.

Habitat certainly isn't the only local nonprofit or charity looking for volunteers. I encourage all my readers to find a cause you care about and seek out the most local group you can and get involved. Even if it's something you don't know much about now, you may develop a passion for it that you didn't even know you had. Fight off the feeling that one person can't make a difference in such a big world by making a difference in YOUR world.

I need your help everyone. Give me ideas of what to do. Give me places to go, people to see. Call your friends who may be involved in a community, group, or culture that would be interesting for me to attend and write about. I've got two events still on the horizon, but I need plenty more. Help me out. Thanks!

http://www.habitatmonroemi.org/index.php

My Experience As a Paranormal Investigator

My Experience As a Paranormal Investigator

Saturday night, my friend Dayna and I spent some time with the guys and gals of Oh-Mi Paranormal, tromping through what was once the site of the Battle of Frenchtown, where 397 United States forces were killed by a British – Indian coalition.

We battled rain, passing trains, and occasional road noise, but otherwise encountered nothing I would classify as paranormal. While I didn't find any ghosts, I did gain a great deal of insight and appreciation for what paranormal investigators do and their reasons behind it.

The story was familiar, each member I asked recited a similar story: some time in their past, each had a paranormal experience that they were helpless to explain. The ordeal was enough to drive them to seek out what it was they encountered, to understand the nature of the phenomenon that they experienced. For founder Ryan Sparks, this personal quest is secondary to his main goal: helping others who are confused or frightened by what they perceive to be paranormal experiences in their own lives.

Ryan explained to me that about 80% of their cases are solved and are not paranormal. Ryan cited prescription drug induced hallucinations, gas leaks, old furnaces, and even clients using LSD and other mind altering drugs. Ryan doesn't get disappointed when the result of his investigations reveal a worldly explanation for the problems facing his clients, he's just happy to help.

As for the actual investigation, I found it to be a bit dull when compared to the Ghost Hunters or some of the other TV paranormal investigators. I guess I should’ve expected that when a 12 hour night is compressed to a 30-minute TV-recap, the parts where they wait for the spirits to manifest are cut out. We did some EVP work, and took a nice walk through the field to try and talk to some of the soldiers that may be lingering there, but our efforts were for naught. Of course, that didn't mean I didn't have a fun time and good experience.

I found that the paranormal investigators were very down to earth people, with rich full lives and close friendships. Each of the people I talked to that night credit paranormal investigations as creating the best friendships of their lives.

Like any community, the investigators seemed to like to talk about other (friendly) rival groups, the latest discoveries or encounters, and their place within the overall culture of the paranormal. Debate topics ranged from whether they would seek an alliance with a TV show ghost hunting team, to whether or not ghosts can see 'ghosts' of us (in a cross-dimensional time travel sort of way).

I learned a lot about paranormal investigations, but more importantly, perhaps, what drives a paranormal investigator. I learned that the mechanics behind the members of a ghost hunting community are similar as those around a book club or baking group: to seek companionship and conversation with like minded people in an effort to enhance their understanding of their particular field of interest, their community, and society at large.

I'd like to thank Ryan and the rest of his team at OH-MI Paranormal for extending me the courtesy of an invitation to join them on their latest investigation. Please check out their website and facebook page.

Facebook Group

2 NEW EVENTS - Tomorrow

I'm attending 2 events tomorrow and plan to share my experience with you.

In the morning, I will be volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Monroe.

At night, I will be joining a paranormal investigation, also in Monroe.

Look for my experiences to be posted next week sometime.

Upcoming 'events'

So far, I have but one event planned. I'll be attending a Wiccan ceremony sometime in December. I am super excited to learn more about Wiccan beliefs and rituals.

Please let me know if you have an event that I could attend. I'd surely appreciate it.

The beginning of my experience as....

The Purpose
Ok, so I had a wacky idea to expand my horizons. Take one part dirty jobs, one part World of Jenks (which I've never seen) and add in some other stuff and you'll get an idea of what I'm going for.

I want to experience things that are outside of my social, cultural norms or that otherwise take me out of my 'comfort zone'... and I want to share those experiences with whomever would like to read about it.

So please, invite me to your traditional wedding, or to come see what it's like to work at your ethnic restaurant, or attend your unorthodox religious event!

If you have ideas, connections, or the ability to hook me up with someone who could facilitate anything that meets the following criteria, please let me know.

Criteria
Wherever I go must allow me to write about it here in this blog.
It must take place in a single day or consecutive weekend.
It must me mind expanding for me in some way.
Must be in easy enough traveling distance from downriver Michigan.

So who knows someone that fits the bill? Let me know!

Thanks.