Yes this is a blog about a blog. How very meta of me.

Some of you guys already know about my new blog  (cause you've been reading & commenting on it- thankyouthankyouthankyou my darlings!!!) But some of you don't know yet, surely. So I'mma gonna blog, in this blog, about how I blog, on another blog. Following me so far?

My new personal blog can be found here:
http://heathershade.blogspot.com/

BOOKMARK! Read! Comment!

Why am I blogging elsewhere when I could blog here? Well, because it's going to be featured on my website HeatherShade.com, and also, because I like to be more independent with something that is going to represent me & my views, I want something where I can have total control over the look, feel, and function of the blog, and also, I want control of which- if ANY- kind of advertising is on it.

And ya just can't do that on Myspace.

So what will I be blogging about? Mostly just the life & times of a starving artist/photographer/model/author/ghost hunter/ urban explorer/ fashionista/ all around weird girl. Posts will prolly include stupid anecdotes, occasional rants, and various musings on topics such as life, love, friendship, ghost hunting, UE, art, work, photography, depression/MDD, pets, relationships, shenanigans, street fashion, horror films, urban legends, music, monsters, zombies, and whatever the Hell else is lurking around in my warped little mind. This blog is still pretty new, so I'm still fiddling with the layout and the look & feel, but, I'm posting already- go read! And if YOU have an independent blog and would like to be considered for my blogroll, contact me, I'm always looking for good blogs to trade blogroll links with.

So. If you're interested, you know where to find it. And if you do- COMMENT, I always love to hear you guy's feedback.

Booya.

So I got tagged by Mystic Wolf to share 10 random things, habits, facts, anomalies about me (thanks, girl!) I'll be tagging 10 of you to do the same at the end, so pay attention :P

Now, here are your random Shady facts:

1. I was raised by hippies. Yes, hippies. My Dad is still a long-haired guitar-playing musician dude to this day.

2. I make meowing noises a lot. I dunno where it came from, it just happens. I will be sitting there at my computer, or watching tv, or whatever... and... 'meow'. Meows just pop out of my mouth. Ask people who have hung out with me, they will tell you 'she meows!' Sometimes I just leave a single meow on voicemail messages. They always know it's me!

3. I am ridiculously, supernaturally sensitive. I feel emotional pain with a vividness that is like the blade of a knife. Even certain colors affect me emotionally. I have always been this way and do not know how to buffer myself. I suffer a lot because of this. On the flip side, it works for positive emotions as well. I can get giddy/happy like a maniac, when there's something to be happy about. And it just pours out of me when I am taking photographs or drawing or writing, and that's great for the creative process (if not so much for everyday life)

4. I love reality television. It's stupid and cheesy and ridiculous and I love it and I don't care who knows. So there.

5. I just cannot see myself as physically attractive. I look in a mirror and all I see is.... yuck.

6. I own 3 dogs, 3 cats, a goldfish, and 2 Japanese loaches. I basically have a zoo over here. Most of my pets were rescued animals, even the goldfish, who was destined to be piranha-food. I am a sucker for animals and trust them way more than humans.

7. I give nicknames to everyone and everything. It's just a weird habit I have. Even my pets have like, a dozen nicknames each. I think I picked this habit up when I lived in New Jersey with all the Fat Als and F**cking Franks and Crazy Tonys and so on.

8. I get along with guys better than I get along with girls. I grew up around boys so it sorta figures. So, most of my good friends are boys. But deep down, I have this huge hole in my heart and long for a female sidekick to fill it. I long to have a best girlyfriend to hang out with.

9. I hate seafood. I will not touch any food from the sea (or the lake or the ocean or the stream) Seafood grosses me out, bad. I hates the sea and eveything in 'er, yarg.

10. No matter what people think they know about me, my personality, my relationships, and my past... they are almost certainly 100% wrong. I keep a lot under the surface, and I am extremely misunderstood. So much so, that people tend to just make shit up for what they don't understand. It pisses me off but I refuse to explain myself to the general public. Just remember, people- 'ASSUME' makes and ASS out of U and ME! :P


Ok. And now... I am tagging for the next round........... get to it people!
I tag the following:

1. El Rojo Muerte- because I am nosey and she is my Twin and I wanna see what other strange things we have in common (because I am sure there's more, dammit!) :P

2. The Netherest- because he has a way with words like nobody else, and I wanna see what he'll come up with

3. Debra- because she is my gilry-girl, and I want to hear 10 random things about her. And because I am nosey :P

4. Donny- because he's fams and also a total smartass. So I am expecting funny answers DonnyDonDon!

5. Boxinghelena- because she is a very dear old friend and I haven't seen her in awhile and I need to be caught up!

6. Scott because he ALWAYS makes me larf. And I like to larf.

7. SuZy*FaRkUs- because she is a very cool chick, and so mysterious dammit. I want to hear some random facts girl!

8. EatsTooMuchJam because, well, he is one of the most hilarious people I know. And thus, his answers will bring much hilarity. Hooray!

9. HBK- because he is also hilarious. And interesting. And fun. And I am nosey :P

10. michellieboop!- because it is always a good idea to keep tabs on your stalkers. And she is my favorite stalker!

Here is an update on the progress of the case against my sister Haley's murderer. We still have not saved enough money to place Haley's ashes in a final resting place; donations may be made to the Haley Michelle Welsh Fund at any Wells Fargo bank or online via PayPal. com to sharon_w17@yahoo.com

In Loving Memory of Haley Michelle, our Angeleyez, 1977-2007



It's been awhile since I posted an update on my sister Haley's murder, and things have been progressing, so here's what's been happening. Haley's alleged murderer- Ronald Thompson- was extradited and brought back to El Paso on Feb 22nd. He had been incarcerated in Phoenix, where he lived and where he was captured, up til this point. They held his arraignment the past Monday, and I- along with my family- were there in the courtroom.

It was our first time seeing the person who killed my sister in the flesh, and it was pretty traumatizing for my family. He was sitting right there in the room with us, in his striped orange jumpsuit, with leg shackles on but no handcuffs (wtf?). His attitude was smug and cocky, he sat in a casual manner as if this was no big deal to him. He would occasionally glance briefly at my family and then away. He didn't make eye contact with any of us. I felt nothing but hatred for him, and anger. I didn't stop staring into him the entire time we were in there, and he didn't look back at me.

He went before the judge with his lawyer, and was formally charged with capital murder, which is intentional murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit a felony offense (in his case: terroristic threat) He plead not guilty, and that was it, they led him away. Now we wait for the next hearing, whenever that may be. They are still deciding whether or not he is going to be facing the death penalty.

Some of you may have seen the story the El Paso Times did on Haley's autopsy. First off, fuck them for publishing her autopsy report so graphically, in their newspaper, before the family was even told the circumstances of her death. Yes they have a right to publish such information, but you'd hope they'd at least be DECENT enough to give us fair warning. I mean, when they wanted quotes from us on her death, they had no trouble contacting (and contacting, and contacting, and contacting) my entire family by phone, email, and even showing up on our doorsteps. So they could have been more decent about it in my opinion instead of risking us finding out the way we did. Anyway, those of you who read the horrific circumstances of her death learned about it the same way we did- in the newspaper. For those of you who didn't, here is what happened that night (as much as we know so far, anyway)...

According to the Times... "In the early morning of July 31, an unnamed witness dropped Thompson off at Chan's duplex in the 2400 block of Red Sails Drive, stated a complaint affidavit obtained by the El Paso Times. Thompson tried to sell the witness some personal property. When he declined the offer, Thompson "advised he was going to rob" Chan. The document, filed by a police detective, reported that another person claimed Thompson later tried to trade some of Chan's property for a vehicle that was for sale. The seller refused. Chan's faded-black 1995 Pontiac Bonneville was taken from her home." Ronald Thompson's fingerprints were found in her place, along with other physical evidence which is not yet specified. He ran back to Phoenix immediately after the murder, and was seen by people in Phoenix with what appeared to be fingernail-like scratches on his arms and legs before he was finally apprehended a week later. After threatening to the life of another female in Phoenix, he was caught, arrested, and sent to jail for another offense in AZ while awaiting extradition to El Paso.

According to the autopsy, Haley was bound hand and foot with duct tape and an electrical cord. Duct tape was also placed over her eyes and her nose. She was beaten and kicked all over her body. There were compression marks on her neck, as if in a possible strangulation attempt. She had eight lacerations on her head- four on her face, and four on the back of her head- from extreme violent blows from a heavy statue, in fact a cherished family heirloom from my Grandpa that had been passed down to Haley. The blows to the head are what finally killed her. She suffered greatly and was terrorized before her death, and she fought for her life- there were defensive wounds on her hands and arms.

Ronald Thompson has a history of abuse against women. Law enforcement sources in Phoenix have referred to him as a 'well known' and 'violent' pimp. He has a history of charges of a violent nature- assaults, robbery, kidnapping. In short- this was no accident, and he is NOT a good guy. He often lived at seedy hotels while living off of exploiting women as a pimp. This includes his own girlfriend, who as of last report, was incarcerated in an AZ jail herself for prostitution and possession while Thompson headed off to El Paso to avoid charges of probation violation. His flight led him directly into the path of my sister, an innocent person who paid the price of meeting him with her life.

I am reliving all of this again in writing it, because I want everyone to know what he did, I want everyone to be aware that he is here, within our city, waiting his trial for the monstrous things he has done. I hope for support in our search for justice for Haley, a good and beautiful person who did nothing to warrant the atrocious and inhumane manner of her death.

We will be holding a memorial show in Haley's memory next month at Zeppelin's and hope to see some of you guys there. I will post more info on that later.

Thanks for reading this.

Damn, I've missed all you crazy fools. It's goodgoodgood to be back...........

I just posted some random new photos to my Flickr account (HERE)... they're pretty dark & moody... my photography matching my mood of late?
Heh.

Anyway, check them out, comments welcomed... thanks.



A random dark/shadowy back road in New Jersey, shot by Shady

I haven't been online lately... holiday madness, internet connection problems & illness have been f**king with my world. And I'm busting ass at the moment on a few web design projects so I've been busy, hectic, stressed. Le sigh. Sorry to those of you who haven't heard from me in awhile.

I don't have anything new to show at the moment, but here's something you guys (my El Chuco peeps in particular) might appreciate in the meantime- check out my pics & stories of various haunted, abandoned, and just plain weird locations in and around El Paso Tejas- click here.

Even if you're not a Chico's-Tacos-eatin' El Pasoan, check it out anyway if you like the spooky-spooky. You'll find pics/stories on stuff including haunted El Paso High (pictured below), the creepy legend of La Llorona, the ghostly tower of Loretto Academy, and lots more. So check it out.



Lunar Eclipse in progress over 'haunted' El Paso High, El Paso Texas, photo by Shady