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Old Joliet Prison: Dark History Before the Ghost Stories
Old Joliet Prison has attracted paranormal stories, but the museum historians preserving it want visitors to confront the documented history of incarceration first.
Travel, media, personal projects, places I’ve explored, and whatever rabbit hole I happen to fall into next. This is where I share the stories, experiences, and ideas that don’t always fit neatly into a video.
Latest writing
Stories, perspective, and rabbit holes
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Long Pool: Camping and Creek Time in the Arkansas Ozarks
Long Pool Recreation Area sits along Big Piney Creek in Arkansas’s Ozark-St.
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The Elms Hotel: Three Buildings, Two Fires and Haunted Lore
The current Elms opened in 1912 after two earlier hotels burned without fatalities, and the resort now openly offers paranormal tours while correcting myths about those fires.
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I Lost Over 25 Pounds During Quarantine By Eating H-E-B Meal Simple Meals
Melvin Maya shares how he lost over 25 pounds during quarantine by eating H-E-B Meal Simple meals and simplifying dinner.
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The Zombie Flick Yummy, on Shudder
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Where Should I Go Once I Get My RV?
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AATL Adventure Badge
An All About The Life design for your next adventure.
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Why ‘Don’t F**K With Cats’ Hooked Me Fast and Left Me Uneasy
I clicked on Netflix’s three-part series expecting another true-crime diversion, but the subject matter and the way it unfolds made it hard to shake.
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Why People Aren’t Subscribing To Your YouTube Channel
A practical take on why asking for likes and subscribers rarely works. Real growth comes from better content, smarter titles, and consistent sharing.
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Allen’s Landing: Why Houston Began Along the Bayou
Houston’s origin story begins along the bayou, at a place that is easy to pass without realizing how much of the city’s history is tied to it.
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My Houston Tacos List: Places I Want to Try Next
I’ve been meaning to turn my taco obsession into a recurring Houston series, and this is the list I’m starting with. If you’ve got a favorite, I want to hear it.
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Why You Should Buy The Canon M50
A personal case for the Canon M50 from a creator who has used Canon gear for years.
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31 Days of Horror
A cozy Halloween watch-list with horror favorites, franchise picks, and a huge running list for October movie marathons.
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Melvin Maya’s Bucket List
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Wondering What The Best Order Is To Watch The Marvel Movies and TV Shows?
A personal guide to watching the Marvel movies and TV shows in a timeline that made sense to me at the time.
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Swimming With Sharks and Stingrays In Belize
A Belize cruise stop turns into a bucket-list snorkeling day with sharks, stingrays, coral reef views, and a visit to Caye Caulker.
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Jean Michel Jarre Will Forever Have A Connection To Houston
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What I Think About Amazon Alexa, Samsung Smartthings and Google Nest
A practical home-tech review from my side of the fence. I share how Alexa, SmartThings, and Nest worked for me after weeks of use.
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It’s A New Year and A New Start
A preserved New Year’s Day reflection from January 2018, kept in its original historical context as part of the Melvin Maya archive.
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Behind The Scenes With Nikki D
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Another Behind The Scenes With Lindsey S
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Lindsey S Get’s BOXED For Christmas!!
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Would You Believe I Shot With Holly B Again
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I Shot With Lindsey S Again Today
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