Decidedly Grim » Sundry

A Brief Hiatus

Comtesse — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:29:41 +0000

I’m going back to Catatonia to visit the family for a week, so the facts shall be on hiatus. I duly apologize. Maybe I’ll stumble across something ghastly on my trip to make it up to you? One can but dream.

Harry the Mummy Cat

Comtesse — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:43:14 +0000

While I was out urban exploring on Saturday, I stumbled across a mummified cat in a box. I decided to bring him home as a gift for my girlfriend Abigail. She was delighted to welcome him to the family. We spent an hour or so yesterday afternoon cleaning him up (as documented in this photoset) so he could take his place on display in The Castle DeSpair. Without further ado, please allow me to introduce you to Harry!

The Flickr Page, with full descriptions, is here.

Drama at the Esquire Motel

Comtesse — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:20:17 +0000

I’ve added a new entry on Grim Chicago:
Drama at the Esquire Motel

Grim Chicago

Comtesse — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:02:12 +0000

Started a new blog today: Grim Chicago. A chronicle of tragedies both profound and mundane in the Windy City. My first entry is up.

Grim Chicago

Drive-Thru Funeral Home

Comtesse — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:36:31 +0000

I was gonna make some crack about Americans being too lazy to get out of their cars… but then I realized this is in Compton. I suppose there might be a very good reason why you wouldn’t want to get out of your car to attend a funeral here. Sure enough, funeral shootings are what prompted the service in the first place.

Drive-thru Funeral Home

Here’s an article about the place:
Is the ‘drive-through’ funeral service inappropriate?

Thanks to Michael Marano for the link.

American Horror Story

Comtesse — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:15:03 +0000

I just watched the first episode of American Horror Story. Two pale, ghostly, scarred thumbs up! You should check it out if you get the chance.

American Horror Story

Ghost Mall

Comtesse — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:10:53 +0000

I went on another urban exploring adventure a few weeks ago – a much less interesting one than the abandoned church, but you might still enjoy the pictures. This was to the most famous dead shopping mall in America: the Dixie Square Shopping Center. It is famous as the site of the police chase through the mall in the Blues Brothers. There really isn’t much left of the place after over 30 years of abandonment though.

Abandoned Church

Comtesse — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:05:40 +0000

I went urban exploring again last Friday in an abandoned church in Chicago and came away with some nice (and sometimes creepy) pics. I thought you might enjoy them? (Click on the picture to access the album on Flickr.)

Run For Your Lives!

Comtesse — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:32:46 +0000

So you’ll never believe this, but last Sunday I ran and completed (albeit extremely slowly) the Warrior Dash – a muddy obstacle course run. It was a strange experience to get the Comtesse’s creaking old bones moving again, but one that I found mildly exhilarating. However, Run For Your Lives has something the Warrior Dash doesn’t have: Zombies!!! I not only want to run from the Zombies, I also want to BE a Zombie. This year it’s only occurring in Baltimore but the virus is spreading next year. Perhaps you might want to take part as well?

Run For Your Lives

Dialogue From A Teenage Gang Fight, Chicago, 1877

Comtesse — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:42:41 +0000

Murphy to Holden: “I’m not going with the bad boys anymore.”
Murphy’s friend Nelson to Holden: “I can knock the stuffin’ out of you.”
Holden: “No, you won’t.”
Nelson grabs Holden.
Holden: “I know you can whip me and I don’t want to fight with you.”
Nelson knocks Holden down and kicks him.
Holden: “Is it fair to kick?”
Nelson: “Yes, in a rough and tumble anything is fair.”
Holden flies into a rage and knocks Nelson down, kicking him in the stomach.
Nelson: ”That’s enough!”
Nelson collapses and dies from internal injuries.
Holden was found innocent due to self-defense.

(Chicago Tribune, June 9, 1877)