Ghost Hunt 2007, Part II

That’s right folks. It’s Saturday night at the Nest. Ready the coffee and the girl scout cookies. It’s time to hunt up some ghosts.

For the uninitiated, we’ve done this twice before in the past couple of months. It’s terrifying. Read about our November and January hunts.

Tonight’s guests are the good people from Ghost Hounds. Stay tuned for live updates / me-shaking-in-my-boots throughout the evening.

8:40 pm – The Hounds are here, and we’ve all been introduced. I do not remember anyone’s name, unfortunately. It’s like my brain goes ———— right after someone says, “And our next Ghost Hound’s name is.”

Every time this gets me. Every time!

Our nameless warriors are taking some preliminary photos with the lights on before things get serious.

Current status–not too skeered yet, but expecting the worst.

9:14 pm – The Ghost Hounds are under my feet. The Wren’s Nest has a very extensive basement that runs under every portion of the house. In some parts, you can see through the floor boards. Maybe that’s why our gas bill is historically ridiculous.

The Harris family added on a kitchen and indoor plumbing between 1895 and 1900. Before then, the kitchen was in the basement. It’s a dirt floor, but you can walk around without worrying about hitting your head under the western half of the house.

On our first ghost hunt, everyone went down to the basement together. I tried to turn on the lights, but all three of the lightbulbs attached to the ceiling fizzled when I tried to turn them on. One, two, three–right in a row.

The lights haven’t worked since.

We’ve fooled with the breakers, different light bulbs… nothing.

The Ghost Hounds have flashlights under there now, and their lights are shining through the floor boards, up into my room–which is dark except for my monitor. Their flash photography is my lightning.

Current status–fine(ish), but feeling like this is the beginning of a horror film.

9:47 pm – Ghost Hounds are still in the basement. If I wander to other rooms in the house it’s a light show, seemingly from nowhere. Try telling yourself it’s just the flash coming through the cracks.

It’s real quiet except for the dog barking incessently and the occasional Marta train passing four blocks away.

Current status–wondering if a diuretic is really the best possible drink for this occasion.

10:59 pm – After a few sticks of rock candy, the Ghost Hounds are back at it, reading the Brer Rabbit stories aloud in hopes of conjuring up some spirits.

Two points for originality!

Current status–eating peanuts and ignoring the scary parts

11:14 pm – Chatting it up with the Hounds. As usual, the ghost hunters are very professional. The difference is, I guess, these guys are a lot less spooky.

Or am I just that much tougher now?

Current status–real cool.

11:43 pm - I guess we’re done? I was ready for an all-nighter!

Too bad everyone just left, and I have to turn out the lights alone.

This is the worst part.

Maybe if I just stay in here it will be light outside soon. I won’t be going to sleep for the next few hours, that’s for sure.

Current status–wide awake and a little disappointed.

See y’all next time, ghost hunters.