AMERICAN GHOST RIDERS

06/15/2024

My Wife Raychel Had Her Own Battle With Cancer and Still Made Every Effort To Continue To Lead A Normal Life Day To Day. THAT Was Truly Remarkable and Courageous. Not Only That It Was A Battle She Did Not Fight Alone.
Raychel Won Her Battle But Millions Of Women and Men Worldwide Lose The War Yearly. I Sincerely Pray That Princess Kate and King Charles Both Win Their Fight Against Cancer But Let's Not Forget Those Who Continue To Fight While Trying To Lead Their Normal, Everyday Life.

I Salute You Remarkable and Courageous Women and Men Worldwide.

05/12/2024

Happy Mother's Day To All The Mother's Out There In Facebook Land. Hope You Have A Truly Awesome Day And Remember... Without Us, You Would Have Never Been A Mother!

04/13/2024

It is a wise man who leaves when it is time to go. It is a fool who stays when it is time to leave.

03/31/2024

HE IS RISEN! REJOICE IN THE LORD!

03/30/2024

Let us remember that on this day over 2000 years ago our Savior Jesus Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice and showed his ultimate love for us in that sacrifice. Go off into the world and spread your Love around. For Love nourishes and strengthens the soul and honors God's gift of forgiveness for us all.

03/27/2024

With the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland memories flooded back in of the Melan Arch Kansas Avenue Bridge Collapse on July 2, 1965 in Topeka Kansas. My mother, sister and I had just crossed the bridge and it literally collapsed behind us. This was a huge tragedy that had a big impact on the community. The accident killed one person, 53-year-old Kenneth Allen of Topeka, whose car plunged 60 feet into the river – which was seven or eight feet deep – and landed on its roof amid fallen concrete, pinning him inside. It was less than a year later, June 8, 1966, that the tornado that almost wiped Topeka off the map occurred. It was not a great year for Topeka.

03/15/2024

TODAY IS THE DAY
Today my Kickstarter Campaign Begins to bring "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume 2" to press.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ubtat2d/never-say-never-an-epic-journey-volume-2?ref=50oc0o
Why am I starting a Kickstarter Campaign to publish this important second volume? Please read on...

JUSTICE FOR SHIRLEY
On May 16, 2010 my mother Shirley Elizabeth Hummel died after being murdered by her Doctors. The "Doctors" administered a deadly cocktail of Haldol, Seroquel and Geodon. Each drug had the same black box warning: "WARNING: INCREASED DEATH IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS
Not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death, compared to sugar pill." Her "Doctors" chose to ignore these warnings.

I tried desperately over the next 3 years (statute of limitations for filing a malpractice lawsuit), to find an attorney to take my mother's case and get her justice but to no avail. Each attorney refused stating, "It's your word against the Doctor's". I pointed out that it was the Drug Companies' words against the "Doctor's" but my pleas for Justice for Shirley fell on deaf ears."

THE JOURNEY
As my pursuit for Justice for my Mother continued the time drew near for me to fulfill her final request and inter her ashes between the graves of her parents in Rochester Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas. Early the morning of July 23, 2013 I began The 578 mile Journey with my mother's ashes on my motorcycle from Eula, Texas to Topeka, Kansas.

As the miles rolled by I thought of my mother's lifelong battle with mental illness, the wrongs she had suffered in her hard-fought and tragic life. I also thought long and hard about how I could get justice for my mother at the hands of her "Doctor's". Since no Attorney wanted to take on the battle I would have to fight the war by myself. By the time I got to my campsite in Topeka, Kansas a solution came to me; I would tell her story.

SHIRLEY'S STORY
The decision to tell my mother's story was not an easy task to undertake, I would have to research, and rely on my memories, the memories of others and those stories my mother told me of her life. Early on I realized that I had taken on a Herculean task.

In order to tell Shirley's Story correctly I would have to interweave past and present into a narrative that would take the reader on an "Epic Journey". It would be a Journey that would not only inform but also entertain in a way that only real-life drama can.

NEVER SAY NEVER
As I wrote my mother's story I came to the realization that telling the story would take more than just one book; I would need to do two volumes. But I needed to get the first volume completed before I could start on the second volume.

Life, work and research slowed the process of telling the story. I thought I would never complete what I felt was one of the most important projects I had ever done in my life. But never say never because on October 21, 2023 I was finally able to self-publish "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume One".

VOLUME TWO
So here I now sit, starting to complete my mother's story to not only see that Justice is served but also to help others who might have a loved one suffering from mental illness. My experiences may serve as a guidebook to a deeper understanding of those who suffer from and those who must care for the mentally ill.

I am 67 years old and still work. I also have a wife who battles schizophrenia. Between work and life, I do not have much free time. Your support of this project will help me complete Volume Two within a year instead of 10 years. Your support means that I can cut my work schedule in half and concentrate on the completion of Volume Two.

SYNOPSIS OF VOLUME TWO
"Never Say Never: An Epic Journey – Volume Two" serves as a powerful conclusion to Shirley's story, building upon the foundation laid in Volume One. Authored by James Alan George, the narrative offers a deeply personal account of Shirley's lifelong battle with mental illness, intertwined with her son's poignant journey to understand, support, and ultimately love his mother. From Texas to Kansas, James embarks on an emotionally charged journey to fulfill Shirley's final wish of being laid to rest beside her parents.

Through vivid storytelling, the narrative delves into the complexities of Shirley's life, her relationships with her family, and the valiant efforts of those who sought to rescue her from the grips of mental illness. It offers a raw and unfiltered exploration of the challenges faced by individuals grappling with mental health issues, while also highlighting the enduring bond between a mother and her son.

With its raw honesty and emotional depth, "The True Story of Shirley Elizabeth Hummel and Her Lifelong Battle with Mental Illness" invites readers to bear witness to Shirley's journey, offering insight into the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and the transformative power of love and compassion.

THANK YOU
Your support of this project and helping me finish telling my Mother's story will help get Shirley the Justice she never got and put a proper closure to her story.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ubtat2d/never-say-never-an-epic-journey-volume-2?ref=50oc0o

The continuing saga of Shirley Elizabeth Hummel and her lifelong battle with Mental Health and her struggle to overcome.

03/12/2024

I am just 3 days away from the start of my Kickstarter Campaign to bring "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume Two" To Life.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ubtat2d/never-say-never-an-epic-journey-volume-2

Your support of this project will be greatly appreciated and there will be rewards for your support

$5 Donation
Book Launch Event eBook and Shoutout

The reward includes:

1. **Early-Release PDF Copy of "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume Two"**: You'll receive an advance digital copy of the eBook before its official release date, allowing you to enjoy the continuation of the epic journey presented in Volume One.

2. **Shout-Out on Social Media**: Your support will be acknowledged with a public shout-out on the author's social media platforms. This could include mentions on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or others, expressing gratitude for your involvement in the book launch.

3. **Shout-Out on Website Book Launch Event Pages**: Your contribution will also be recognized on the official website dedicated to the book launch event. This acknowledgment may appear on pages promoting the release, events, or other relevant sections of the website, ensuring your support is highlighted to visitors.

$10 Donation
Acknowledgment of Support

Your name being prominently featured as a supporter on the acknowledgment pages within the first edition copy of "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume One." This acknowledgment serves as a permanent recognition of your support for the book and its author. It will be visible to readers who acquire and peruse the first edition, highlighting your contribution to the creation and success of the initial volume of this epic journey.

$35 Donation
Personalized Signed Paperback Edition

For your generous pledge of $35, you will receive a personalized, signed paperback edition of "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume Two" by James A. George. This special edition will bear the author's signature, adding a personal touch to your copy of the book. As you embark on the epic journey presented within its pages, you'll have a tangible reminder of your support for the author's work.

$45 Donation
Personalized Signed Hardcover Edition

For your generous pledge of $45, you will receive a personalized, signed hardcover edition of "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume Two" by James A. George. This special edition will be bound in durable hardcover, ensuring its longevity and beauty on your bookshelf. Additionally, it will feature the author's signature, adding a personal touch to your copy of the book. As you delve into the epic journey presented within its pages, you'll have a cherished keepsake to treasure for years to come.

$75 Donation
Signed Paperbacks of Volume One and Two

For your generous pledge of $75, you will receive personalized, signed softcover editions of both "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume One" and "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume Two" by James A. George. These special editions will be bound in softcover, providing a comfortable reading experience while still bearing the author's signature for that personal touch. As you immerse yourself in the captivating narrative of this epic journey across both volumes, you'll have the pleasure of owning signed copies of each installment, making for a truly special addition to your library.

$100 Donation
Signed Hardcovers of Volume One and Two

For your generous pledge of $100, you will receive personalized, signed hardcover editions of both "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume One" and "Never Say Never: An Epic Journey - Volume Two" by James A. George. These special editions will be bound in durable hardcover, ensuring their longevity and elegance on your bookshelf. Additionally, each book will feature the author's signature, adding a personal touch to your collection. As you delve into the rich narrative of this epic journey across both volumes, you'll have the pleasure of owning signed hardcover copies of each installment, making for a truly cherished addition to your library.

These rewards offer early access to the book and public recognition for your support.

03/06/2024

I'm excited to announce my book, "Blogging Kansas: Musings From The Land Of Oz - Revised, will be promoted as part of a special sale on to celebrate 2024 Read an Ebook Week from March 3 - March 9. Be sure to follow me for more updates and links to the promotion for my books and many more!
www.smashwords.com/books/view/1526734

03/03/2024

Happy Read an Ebook Week! You can find my book, Blogging Kansas: Musings From The Land Of Oz - Revised https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1526734 , available now at 100% FREE to help you celebrate. Find my book and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek from March 3 - March 9!
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11/24/2023

Laying halfway between Rush County Road 370 and Rush County Road 390 is the Pioneer Cemetery also known as the Albert Cemetery.
The small and nondescript Cemetery rests along the south side of Kansas Highway Number 96 and can easily be missed as you drive by to Points West and it's almost invisible as you head east.
The name, Pioneer Cemetery is fitting. The most recent burial within the small plot of land was in 1894. There are no internments after that date.
The earliest internment was a 6 year old child in 1865. However there may be three graves that are even older that are only marked by two small white stones.
As you stand within the confines of the small Cemetery on the Western Plains of Kansas you cannot help but be struck by the isolation of the spot.
Who were these people and why was this particular area chosen to lay their bodies at rest? There are larger cemeteries nearby that are just as old yet here on the Windswept Prairie the bodies of 14 Souls were laid to rest.
There is a steel pipe entry that has long lost its gate. The edges of the cemetery are marked by Limestone posts for this is after all Stone post country. Nearby the remains of a fence that once surrounded the Pioneer Cemetery rest in the prairie grass. The Tangled wire is home to the vines of gourds that's sprout in the spring and become dried dead husks in the winter.
The ground in the cemetery is pock marked over the graves giving evidence that the wooden caskets buried beneath the surface have rotted and collapsed.
The bodies within these deteriorated caskets, whatever small bits of bone might be left of them, are returning to the Earth as it should be. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
This is a harsh land of extreme heat in the summer and bone chilling cold in the winter. This arid region has no halfway in between point. It took strong and Hardy individuals to try to tame this land. But for these individuals the land remained untamed and they rest beneath the surface as a silent testament to the Pioneer spirit.
If you pass this way stop for a moment and pay your respects to those who went before and who cease to have mourners as those who knew them have passed on themselves.
-The GYPSY-

10/09/2021

Wonderful story about a cemetery restoration in Pennsylvania.

In 2015, Chuck Colton learned about the Old Saltsburg Cemetery for the first time. He remembers sitting on the steps of the historic Saltsburg Catholic church when a friend asked if he’d ever visit…

06/07/2020

I have always held to the belief that Cemeteries are Sculpture Gardens; Artistic Tributes to the Dead. As an area rich with Art a Cemetery begets Art. A Cemetery inspires Photographers, Historians, Fine and Sculpture Artists. Yet an Art that a Cemetery Inspires is truly as old as the oldest Cemetery, as ancient as the most ancient Mausoleum and as ingrained in the Human Animal as time itself; Rubbings.
The Art of Rubbing has always held a fascination for me. I could never explain why. But as an Artist it was one form of Art I knew I would one day explore. On June 6, 2020 I finally explored that Art form and it was a learning moment.
My visit to the Topeka Cemetery and my first step into the Art of Rubbing taught me many things. I learned what would work on strokes and what wouldn't. I learned what stones offered the best images and what stone faces were lost to a Rubbing. But I learned something a little deeper and it may explain why the Artistic Soul practices the art of Rubbing.
As I walked among the stones of the Civil War Section looking for the first one I would rub I read the names upon the markers. I read their rank, their home, their company, their unit. Some were Cavalry, some Infantry and one was Navy. Then I saw it; Manless Roseby.
Pvt, Roseby was a Veteran of the Indian Wars. He died in 1899. There is every possibility that his passing came as an end result of his participation in those wars. We do not know if Pvt. Manless Roseby was a good Soldier or bad Soldier. We do not know if he hated Native Americans and wanted to see them dead or was just a Soldier following orders given by Superiors following the desires of the Government to control and eradicate Native Americans. We do not know and we cannot judge. Judgement of Manless Roseby lies with a higher power greater than ourselves. What we do know is here lies
MANLESS ROSEBY, PVT CO G, 24 U.S. INF., INDIAN WARS, APRIL 12 1899.
As I searched the stones, picked one to rub, knelt in front of the grave, rubbed the stone and read the inscriptions I felt close to these men and women that were gone and out of this world. Their Earthly remains beneath my feet, buried in the Earth of this sacred place. I shared a moment with those that had passed. I felt like they were somehow aware that I had spent a moment with them and for a short time they had been remembered and their names spoken once more.
It is amazing, as you rub the stones, those things that are revealed within the Rubbings that are missed by the naked eye. Yes, I learned a lot on my first outing practicing the Art of Rubbing and more was revealed to me than I ever expected. It will be interesting to see what is revealed the next time I practice this Ancient Art.

-The GYPSY-
www.ArtistAlleyStudio.Com

07/07/2019

Sitting approximately halfway between Yates Center, Kansas to the west and Iola, Kansas to the east is the Kansas Ghost Town of Piqua.
The small quiet Woodson County Community has it's claim to fame as being the birthplace of American Film actor and comedian Joseph "Buster" Keaton. Known as the "Great Stone Face" Buster Keaton's mother Myra and father Joseph (Buster was the sixth in the family line to bear the name Joseph), were Vaudeville performers appearing at the local theater in Piqua when Myra went into labor. Buster through his career remained as humble as the town into which he was born. Yet Buster Keaton was not Piqua's only notable native son.
Fred Leo Kipp (born October 1, 1931, at Piqua, Kansas) played professional baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. He is the last living player to play for both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees and has written a book about his life that is titled The Last Yankee Dodger. He currently lives in Overland Park, Kansas and runs a small construction company and promotes his book through radio interviews and book readings.
As I walked the streets of Piqua I was struck that though it is a dying community there is still an air of old time small town pride and tranquility.
Flecks of Blue Paint cling desperately to forgotten playground equipment and structures in the town park which waits for the last blue chip to fall. While the abandoned baseball field plays silent witness to the coming conclusion.
I sat on the blue paint flecked bleachers of the abandoned Baseball field where Piqua's finest young men, including Fred Kipp once played America's past time. I could see the spirits of those long ago players playing those long ago forgotten games. I could smell the hotdog's, roasted peanuts, ci******es and the occasional whiff of whiskey from shared bottles as the the citizen's of Piqua cheered on their local team against whatever other local team dared to challenge them. Those cheers lay as a silent echo in the baselines of the no longer used field.
Piqua sits on a Ley Line which passes through the abandoned ball field Maybe that energy is what keeps Piqua still breathing today. Or maybe it is the spirit of those who still call Piqua home. They know that it does not matter who was born there or where the town is heading into the future they just know that for today life is good in Piqua. The people of Piqua are happy and proud to be a member of this Kansas community.

-The GYPSY-
www.RubberBiskit.com

02/14/2019

K Building: Topeka State Hospital

Formidable the K Building stands defiant one of the last remaining reminders and survivors of the former Topeka Kansas State Hospital.
The K Building had always held a certain fascination with me as my Mother had been a patient housed within it's confines in 1954.
Shirley Elizabeth Hummel had suffered a psychotic break (called nervous breakdown at the time), when she had discovered that her new Army husband had a wife in England. She had been admitted in an almost catatonic state and spent the next year in recovery.
I had drove by the gloomy, now empty and lifeless building numerous times always staring at it and wondering what lay within it's hidden hallways.
Then one cold mid autumn day I discovered that I had an opportunity to find out what secrets the K Building still held. I was driving school bus at the time and my route included Capital City High School. "Cap City" is a school for at risk children and K Building had at one time in the 1970's and 1980's been used as the "Cap City" High School. It was November 9, 2014 and I had some time to kill before I would pick up the students from the Menniger Building (another remnant of the former hospital and then the high school) for their ride home. So I grabbed my camera and walked across the sleeping grass of the long broad lawn that serves as the welcome mat of the dark brick structure.
I started walking around the building taking photos, my imagination ran wild wondering what the inside looked like; what windows did my mother look out of in the sadness of her ruined psyche. Did she long to be set free or did she feel safe shut off from the world within the confines of this sanctuary of the disturbed?
I moved around to the front of the K Building and climbed the concrete stairs to take photos of the large porch where patients once sat smoking their camel ci******es and trying to make sense of their jumbled world. As I snapped my photos I suddenly heard a creaking sound and turned around to see the entry door of the building swinging slowly open. It wavered and swung slowly back in forth in the slight breeze as if beckoning me to enter. "Come in Gypsy, come in. See what you wonder about, come in. Have your questions answered, come in. Be my guest and know, come in.' I walked in through the heavy wooden door.
The light of the late afternoon entered the entry hall with me and illuminated the reception desk. My mother was admitted into this structure at this desk. She was just one of a long line of patients admitted into this building. But more special to me than them, she would one day be my mother.
I walked through dark and empty halls of peeling paint and cobwebs. Dust sat heavy on window seals daring you to brush it off and onto the floors that no longer held a high gloss shine.
Windows that were not boarded up fought back the outside light through glass panes frosted from age not desire. heavy doors hung on heavy hinges within the heavy air of the building. The building seemed to envelope you holding you in and holding in it's secrets.
I walked down the long hallways dark and foreboding like the catacombs of Paris yet the catacombs of Paris would fight to be as dismal as the K Building was and is. I wandered up stairs majestic and stolid. The craftsmanship of the building was not lost within it's loss and decay. I explored the second floor which somehow seemed lighter and more airy than the first floor. I then ventured to the narrow stairway that moved higher into the building, to the top floor.
I new, when I entered the top floor that I had found where this buildings darkest secrets lay, they were here. I was standing in the reception area of the clinic and therapy room. Damaged and troubled minds and souls had poured out their torment within these rooms. The echos of their pain still permeated the air in these decaying corridors.
Which room had my Mother sat in with her Doctor pouring out her soul and wailing out the torment of the betrayal she had to endure. I would never know but I could still feel her pain and the pain of those who came before and after her hanging in the air.
I moved back down the stairs and decided to explore the first floor one last time before leaving the building. I still wondered what room my mother had been housed in and resigned myself to the fact that I would never truly know. As I moved down the hallways I stared at the doors that still carried the plates where the patients in that room had their names displayed. The plates sat as empty as the rooms waiting for new patients with forgettable names and faces to occupy them once more.
I turned and headed back towards whence I had come, it was time to leave and head over to "Cap City" and pick up my students and that is when I saw it. On an old wooden door protecting an old empty room was a number; 103. Memories flooded back from my childhood and from those memories I knew I had found the room my mother had occupied during her stay in the K Building. I stepped into the room and looked around. It was empty except for an old bench beneath an even older window. Dust mites flew up from the floor and danced within the stagnant air. I moved over to one of the windows and looked out knowing my mother had looked out this same window and I smiled, remembering one of my mothers favorite sayings; "If I had one hundred and three dollars for every time that happened...." I had found my mother in this dying, dreaded monument of a long ago era that few had escaped. My mother had escaped but as evidenced she had forever carried the memory of her time within this place with her. She carried the memory and now I would too.
As I left K Building and walked off the porch I stopped and looked down a stairwell at the heavy steel door that guarded the basement access to the building. I turned and walked away from K Building knowing that it's basement would be an exploration that may or may not happen on another day.

-The GYPSY-

02/13/2019

Rubber Biskit Road Show Podcast From January 15, 2007

The GYPSY'S ROUNDTABLE: EVERYONE HAS A GHOST IN THE CLOSET, THE BASEMENT OR THE ATTIC. WHAT GHOST DO YOU KNOW? The GYPSY looks at those spirits that surround and astound us in this frank and often chilling discussion on what becomes of us after death. ...

01/30/2019

Lafontaine, Kansas School House.
Photo By: The GYPSY
2/7/2010

The empty and collapsing school house in the unincorporated community of Lafontaine, Kansas echos the slow demise of the once bustling Missouri Pacific Railroad community.
At rest in the southwest corner of Wilson County. This now ghost town which was founded in 1879 around it's post office which delivered its last letter in 1991 is now almost empty. Only a handful of residents still hang on not in the hope of a community revival but because they still call this place home.
Abandoned homes sit silently waiting for residents that will never return.
Two buildings are all that remains of a once proud downtown that served local farmers and travelers that stopped on their way to distant places far away from Lafontaine.
The old town repair shop still stands empty and waiting to repair what cannot be fixed.
The ring of the Blacksmiths hammer on his anvil coming from his shop is no longer heard down the empty road.
A tile entry way sits in front of a nonexistent doorway of a long ago gone general store.
The remains of the sidewalk that once carried shoppers through the downtown district of Lafontaine from shop to shop now passes empty lots and ends at the once bustling Post Office.
The Post Office building, once the center of the community, stubbornly refuses to disappear making the silent statement: I was here when the town began and I will be the last thing to go as the town fades away into history.
Lafontaine is a town that came and now goes as swiftly as the Kansas wind that blows through it's empty streets.
-The GYPSY-