The Lake of Tobias

The summer before my college graduation, I went to Lake Tobias. Prior to taking the hour drive from my house to see this place, I heard very good things about the open-air museums and the abilities to pet the local animals. I didn't actually know it would be as insane as it was. I knew that I was in for a day full of petting animals and seeing wild things that normally don't grow anywhere close to the United States, but I didn't know exactly what it would entail.

The Story begins with the late JR Tobias. He originally wanted to go to college to study agriculture in animals, but instead became an officer in the Marines. He always disturbed Safari cruises when he could, and told many that only Wildlife Park was just a wild dream he had for after retirement. After owning several small successful businesses throughout his adult life while raising his seven children, that dream became reality. He was sent on a business trip out of the country, and returns home with some endangered animals that he had rescued from harsh living conditions in captivity or in their home environment. After approving all of them with the USDA, they were all permitted to stay in the states, and Tobias opened his State Park in 1965.

That he passed in 1996, his wife still makes her rounds every morning and evening, and even in her advanced age, continues to take care of the property and her late husband's stead. She became very good at managing the books, managing the animals, so you can go out new opportunities for Partnerships, and ultimately did a whole lot of outrage that would make her husband shed a tear. Concurrently, the interactiveness at this zoo and the friendliness of the staff and the animals are what made me determines to go.

Upon arrival, we first noticed how the prices were much cheaper than any National Zoo we'd ever been to. On top of this, there was a safari tour that we could go on for $5, which way of course had to do. As soon as we parked our car, we were getting into a Range Rover and heading out to talk to some animals. Because of a lot of us having food on us, almost all of the wildlife came up to us and said hello, and I almost got a couple of selfies with some of the animals. They always ended up looking away at the last minute though. On the list were oxen, bison, Impalas, deer, Orynxes, and a whole lot of other interesting mammals from all around the world. He also had emus and cassowaries.

In the main part of the exhibition, there was a petting zoo, where we could go and pet lots of cute furry creatures. I interacted with a llama, and alpaca, a sheep, a goat or two, and a camel. After this, we moved on to the other parts of the exhibit where I got to interact and play with a snake, a baby crocodile, and a baby porcupine.

There's a lot to see and do it this little zoo, and unlike a lot of commercialized zoos nowadays, the animals here are deeply respected and treasured by the staff their work with them. The animals were genuinely happy here. For about 20 bucks, you get a small bite to eat, Safari tour, and admission to the zoo for the day. You also get access to all of the free events and discussions that they have during the day. There really is no better deal for a beautiful peaceful day on the placid Lake Tobias.

The Shoe House

the Haines shoe house is an eccentric piece of art that dwells in Hellam, Pennsylvania. It resembles a 25x47x17 work boot, as they were originally sold by Mahlon Haines in the early 1900s. It also happens to be a right shoe, specifically. There is also a small dog house in the back, also shaped like a shoe, that was once 6ft tall, but has since sank into the Earth to become about 2 ft tall.

The story of Mr. Haines, as I discovered for myself, was a very unusual one. His sister owned a department store, and he worked for her after graduating from high school for quite some time. However, instead of being automatically promoted through the ranks, his sister made him struggle through the ranks, which eventually upset him to the point where he quit and decided to strike out on his own. He worked a bunch of odd jobs before landing a small gig in Ohio with his then fiance. She eventually left him, and all he had left to his name after losing both her and the job were his engagement ring, a couple of bucks in cash, his bicycle, and the clothes on his back. So, being originally from Southern Pennsylvania, he set out for home. His bike broke down, and he decided to sell his engagement ring and buy 10 pairs of shoes. He then set up a kiosk at a local market and sold the shoes, retaining his prophets and then increasing them. He became really good at making shoe deals, he realized he was on to something, and quickly started selling shoes that were refurbished from Hanover Shoe Outlet.

To promote his Empire, Mr. Haines spent an exuberant amount of time walking around town and giving out free pencils, mirrors, fans, and pocket protectors that had his business information on them. As of the early 2000s, some 1,500 fans had been recovered. needless to say, his business grew, he settled down and married, and eventually retired with several million dollars in assets. It was at this point in time that he was able to purchase a yacht and enjoy his life at sea, as well as return to the mainland to participate in community improvement projects and play with a softball team that was intended for individuals 75 and older. every time he got a home run, the team manager carved a bulldog for him, totaling a collection of 23 Bulldogs. eventually, he moved out of the shoe house that he built to advertise his business and open up for tours, and rented out two guest rooms. he hired a maid who also acted as a chauffeur, made some extra income off of renting out the shoe house rooms, and then built and lived in a house across the street from it. He passed away from respiratory failure on Halloween of 1962 in his 80s, settling 1.5 million dollars to various charities in the Boy Scouts of America, and leaving his widow with the shoe house, the house across the street from it, and enough money to live a comfortable retired life until she passed away.

When she passed away, the house set for a couple of years before an orthodontist purchased it to live in it. Eventually, he would come to pass as well, and although the house was left to some of his co-workers, they didn't know what to do to upkeep it. Eventually, Mr. Haines's granddaughter, who was an architectural contractor, purchased and restored the then rotting house to its former glory. It was rented out there on out as an ice cream store and tourhouse, and its history is preserved well into this day.

As for myself, I have quite a few impressions of this tiny house that I spontaneously explored one afternoon. First of all, they always have, and continue to this day, to sell wonderful ice cream. They also having a lot of cute souvenirs, and the tour of the house itself is very affordable at $5 per person and free for children. This makes it a great spot for both tourists and locals to visit. if the house was not designated as a tourist attraction, it is one that I would honestly consider staying in for a night. I hope that this shoe house has inspired other unusual houses to pop up around the globe. I know that there are glorified bunkers and treehouses, but I really want to see more things like the shoe house.

Although there typically isn't a whole lot to see in south central Pennsylvania, going for a day hike and then replenishing your battery with ice cream and a tour of the shoe house is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. the story is a lot more complex than just a fairy tale about the lady who lived in the shoe, although it is another wonderful metaphor. Go check out the shoe house today!

Why I Get Up Every Morning

Why I get up every morning

For any of you that have come to know me through personal experiences or my writing, you will understand my multiple pathways of intelligence. I I'm good at psychology, and psychologists have studied positivity extensively. Individuals who identify a list of 10 reasons why they get up every morning, and go so far as to write it down next to their alarm clock, are more likely to live a happier and healthier life, as well as improve their life span expectancy.

This one is incredibly important for me to remember, as mental illness runs in my family, and I unfortunately am no exception. This tends to shorten one's life span, and so, you start to really focus on the quality of the years in your life rather than the number of years. and so, here is my list of 10 reasons why I get up in the morning, whether it will keep me alive longer or not.

1) A strong cup of coffee.

There are so many different ways to enjoy caffeine nowadays, and my obsession with a good bean started during my freshman year of college. I had an 8 a.m. chemistry lab it lasted 2 hours, twice a week, and this is when I decided that if I couldn't beat it, I would need to try it with caffeine. After all, I am no stark example of a morning dwelling individual. I tried quitting unsuccessfully two or three times since then. I now officially have no intentions on stopping the caffeine intake, whether it is via Keurig or via Small Town Coffee Shop.

2) The urge to explore.

Being a full-time student and employee doesn't leave much time or room for travel, but whenever I get even a small bit of chance to do so, I like to go see and do things. I like to experience things that not everybody has the Gusto to go and experience. This desire to do generally-speaking odd stuff has lead me to riding camels in the Sahara, walking on ice outside a cruise ship in the North Pole, herding sheep in Northern Sweden, Hiking in Finland, drinking with locals in Denmark, getting almost manslaughtered by fireworks in Iceland, getting lost in Belgium, and getting rained on in Portugal (just to name a few random excursions).

3) The search for purpose and meaning.

In my unique faith, Unitarian Universalism, we are always searching for the truth purpose and meaning behind everything. No day is unexceptional in this regard, as I am always trying to look deeply into things around me. As one psychoanalyst had said, "we see the same sites every single day, but we don't often stop to actually see exactly what they are and why they are". I have to learn this, and so I have started making more and more active attempts to understand my internal and external world. 

4) Music.

Before I was a healthcare professional, before I was a writer and author, and before I was a traveler and a hiker, I was a musician. If it weren't for music, I wouldn't be here today, quite literally. I had rough teenage years, and the sweet sounds of rock and roll literally are what got me through it. The prospect of making more music with my band or solo project is one thing that always gets me going in the morning.

5) A sense of adventure.

This is much, much easier today when I'm out on a hike or a trip, but even so, it can still sometimes be difficult to get uncovered and get dressed and ready for the day. My spark of invention and constant pursuit of adventure really drive me to get out of bed and see what the world has to offer me each and every day.

6) The pursuit of happiness and knowledge.

Interestingly and ironically enough, learning new things makes me happy. And being happy makes me want to learn new things. It may seem like a vicious cycle, but if both are kept in check, and I always have a project to learn from grow from, I am pretty well kept.

7) People.

Interesting enough, I am more introverted than not, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy socializing. In fact, I rather love and enjoy meeting new people, learning new things about my fellow humans, and seeing my friends. I actually get kind of bummed out when this doesn't happen.

8) Food.

I love a good plate of food. Food really keeps me going, in more ways than one, and thanks to the magic that is breakfast, I have a literal reason to get up every morning. you'll find some recipes coming from me here and there, so stay tuned.

9) Newton's first law.

His first law states that an object in motion must remain in motion, while an object at rest must stay at rest. I like to constantly stay in motion, experiencing and witnessing and doing different things. Thanks for this, I am able to get out of bed every morning and see what stone has been left unturned and what is left to conquer.

10) Fresh air.

It may seem silly, but I really like waking up and getting some fresh air outside. There's something about the ambient atmosphere of nature it fills me with such vigor and intention. Plus, a little bit of vitamin C never hurt anybody.

The list could go on and on, but for now, the basic 10 reasons will do. No matter how metaphorical or butter or the reasons maybe, everybody has a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Mental health really is no joking matter, and as such, I'll be publishing some selected works of mine throughout the next few years, and one such title has been published here.

There is always light present for everyone; they just need help finding it sometimes. What are your 10 reasons?

Urban Exploration

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went up to Centralia for a little bit of urban exploration. It was very cathartic to see the inside of gutted-out buildings and realizing that somebody once lived there. However, I knew that this would not be the end of my journeys exploring gutted-out buildings. I eventually met somebody while working at a grocery store who was very interested in urban exploring and doing things in "The Great Outdoors" as well, and before I knew it, we became friends.

For the sake of the story, we will call him Chris. I was talking to a gentleman about my travels, mentioning Centralia, and then Chris was behind him and overheard this part of the conversation. So, we exchanged contact information after he showed me some pictures that he took of abandoned buildings. Two weekends later, we were out exploring these abandoned buildings. We stopped by an old Penn Mar waste building, only to find that the inside was inaccessible. We also visited the old Sawmill on Kings Mill Road and the York County Prison, but both were sealed up tight.

However, when we got to Manna Pro, and old Grain and Feed Factory in the heart of York City, we discovered that there was a door that could be cracked in two. We gave it a good Spartan Kick and climbed inside to explore. Chris had been here a few times before to take photos with up and coming models who wanted a first unique shoot. So, already being familiar with the layout of the building, he took me on a little tour.

There is something quite intriguing about exploring the inside of an abandoned building. It is a weird and eerie feeling to know that you are the only human beings to view the inside of the building in a very long time, especially since the triple reinforced (but open) door was discovered by us. Of course, it's also meant that the building was starting to deteriorate, as nobody had set foot inside the building since 2002. The air was very musky, but through the low light of our flashlights, it was incredible to see the grain hoppers that still had grain in them, the catwalk between the buildings, the vandalized office spaces, and the remains of offices. There were also at least $4,000 worth of industrial grade batteries inside the building that still worked, which surprisingly enough, we're left untouched.

The only scary part of the experience was fallingthrough a floorboard. I was able to catch myself before falling down to the floor below and breaking my legs at least, but it was still a heart-stopping experience. This won't stop me for going and exploring more buildings though. Exploring this old grain factory was only the beginning.