Queen Mary and the Ghosts

In 1967, the City of Long Beach bought the Queen Mary, a recently decommissioned luxury cruise ship. What the city counsel didn't know was they weren't just inviting the ship to port. They also invited the ghosts who are trapped mid-way through their passage between this world and ours.

The Queen Mary was named for Queen Mary also known as Mary of Teck. She was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom and wife of George V.

The ship was built by John Brown and company. The Queen Mary set sail from England to the United States on her first voyage in 1936. The largest luxury liner during the era, the ship was also the fastest way to cross the ocean.

During World War II, the Queen Mary was renamed the Grey Ghost serving as a troop ship. The Grey Ghost's expediency was so well known that Adolf Hitler offered a large bounty to any U-Boat captain who could sink the ship. Luckily for the Allies none of the U-boats could catch the fast-moving ship.

Today the Queen Mary serves the area as a hotel, restaurant and tourist attraction. The tours includes a self-guided tour from one end of the ship to the other. Exhibits present the most interesting information and displays at each point of interest, such as: the bridge, the captain's and officer's quarters, communications, engine room, infirmary and deck areas.

The ghost tour moves through the bowels of the ship at a quick pace telling the sad tales that ended on board the ship. A vortex in the pool area has been determined as one of the main areas of paranormal activity by more than one set of ghost hunters.

Lists of the dead include former passengers, crew and stow-a-ways which seem long considering the medical advances available at the time. Probably the most horrible story involves the companion ship that was hit and sunk within five minutes during a WWII mission. There were no survivors.

The Queen Mary needs some work as the barnicles are visible from the dock and some of the lesser used areas are in need of repair. The main shopping and dining areas are excellent examples of the Art Deco period reminiscent of a grander time in World History.

The Liebster Blog Award

Sharla Shults nominated When Kate Blogs for the Liebster Blog Award.

What is the Liebster Blog Award?

“The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers.

The Meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.” Wow! Thank you, Sharla!

Click back to Sharla's blog Awakenings http://awakenings2012.blogspot.com/

As with all blog awards, there are 'rules' so here are the answers to the 11 questions Sharla left for me to answer:

1. Who do you admire most and why?

John Lennon for writing lovely music & being an excellent example of a working class hero. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKwXwU5iWs

2. What is the best book you have read this year and why would you recommend it to others?

My Magical World by Samantha Blackwell

This is a lovely story written by an up and coming writer.

http://www.amazon.com/My-Magical-World-Samantha-Blackwell/dp/1468115952/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344397459&sr=8-1&keywords=magical+world+samantha

3. Where do you get your inspiration?

I'm inspired by life, every day.

4. What is your favorite part of nature?

Babies are always amazing.

5. Would you rather be a bumble bee or a butterfly?

A bee because they make honey.

6. When did you first begin to write?

Age 3, on the wall. I finished my first book in the 6th grade: Randy Raccoon and friends.

7. What is your favorite sport?

Baseball

8. If you had a choice for a pet, would you rather have a gerbil or an iguana?

Neither.

9. If you could be reincarnated, who would you like to be?

I'll have to wait to find out... but that's very exciting.

10. Which would best describe you, a cool cucumber salad or a hot tamale?

Hot Tamale. I'm passionate about many things.

11. What is the best food you ever ate and where?

Oh, that is a tough question! My favorite restaurants are: Roasted Garlic in Alpharetta, Georgia for their roasted garlic, Rancho del Zocalo in Disneyland for their enchilada plate and Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM for breakfast.

Here are the 11 blogs that I nominate for the award. They are in no particular order. I do read these blogs & hope you'll enjoy them as well.

http://strictlyspidophile.blogspot.com/

http://wordsplash-joannefaries.blogspot.com/

http://klaudiajurewicz.blogspot.com/

http://belindasblogging.blogspot.com/

http://adventuresintheballpark.blogspot.com/

http://torggilsworld.blogspot.com/

http://pullupatoadstool.blogspot.com/

http://simplescarf.blogspot.com/

http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com/

http://carolinegerardo.blogspot.com/

Here are your 11 questions:

1. Who is your favorite author?

2. What is your favorite book?

3. Do you give books as gifts? If so, how do you decide which book to give?

4. Who is your favorite up and coming author?

5. What music do you love?

6. What art do you love?

7. Coffee or Tea?

8. Vanilla or Chocolate?

9. Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn?

10. Beginning or End?

11. Why do you blog?

:D

Beluga Whales

Known as the white whale, beluga whales or Dephinapterus leucas naturally live in the Arctic & sub-Arctic regions of the ocean, around Alaska, Canada, Russia and Greenland. Adult Belugas grow up to length of 16 feet and live to 50 years in captivity. They are stunningly white. The name Beluga comes from the Russian word ‘belukkha’ which means white.

Scientists refer to the Belugas as canaries for the high pitch sound they make. But the term canary is also accurate in that the whales are sensitive to pollution and serve as indicators of healthful or unhealthful environments, much like the mine canaries.

Beluga whales were the first live ocean mammal to be displayed in a permanent tank to the public in New York City. Since that time Belugas are periodically harvested from the sea to replenish the aquatic centers around the world. Researchers working with the whale have discovered that the whales are able to identify and have distinctive sounds for particular objects, giving the hope that someday humans and whales will be able to communicate.

Belugas swim at a tranquil pace and appear to be smiling most of the time. They are known to be playful with each other and their human handlers. In general, they are social creatures living in pods. However, belugas move from pod to pod increasing their social circles.

Figurehead Folk Lore

Figure heads on the front or prow of ships were carved from wood. Many were carved in the shape of a woman but some striking examples included Neptune or other mythological characters or animals, such as lions or horses.

The figurehead was often meant to help non-literate people understand the ship’s name. Figureheads were popular until the 20^th Century.

Maritime folk tales tell others stories about figureheads. Water spirits or Water faeries inhabit the figurehead. These spirits guide the ship and keep it from danger as well as protect the crew and passengers from sickness and other traveling maladies. If misfortune overtook the ship, the faeries would lead the sailor’s to Heaven. Without the masthead and the fairies, the sailors would be left to haunt the seas.