Oddlyenough

EXHAUSTED TODDLER ASKS STORE SANTA FOR A NAP

The parents of a Texas toddler shared video of the exhausted young girl telling Santa exactly what she wants for Christmas: A nap. Allen Bartell of Trinity posted a video to YouTube showing his daughter, Linden Mae Bartell, taking her turn on Santa’s lap at Bering’s Hardware in Houston. The video shows Linden, tuckered out from a long day of shopping with her parents, sitting on St Nick’s lap and being asked what she wants for Christmas. She says she wants to “take a nap.” Santa and the girl then mimed taking a snooze together. Linden eventually told Santa she would also like a reindeer.

(UPI)

CAMEL FLEES OHIO YARD, WANDERS IN TOWN

A camel named Scooby escaped from its owner’s Ohio home and wandered loose through town for about an hour and a half, witnesses said. Locals snapped photos of the 1-1/2-year-old camel as it wandered the streets of Springfield Township, in the Toledo area, on Friday afternoon and caused minor traffic delays. A neighbour alerted the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, which dispatched deputies to the scene about 3 pm.

Neighbors who recognized Scooby helped corral the camel and contacted owner Nabil Shaheen, 54, who was out of town at the time of the escape. Shaheen returned to the township and walked Scooby home. Shaheen said he does not know how Scooby managed to escape from his fenced-in property.

(UPI)

NUCLEAR MISSILE SILO LISTED ON AIRBNB

A Cold War-era missile silo in rural northeast Kansas that housed a nuclear warhead 65 years ago and was later converted into an underground mansion is now finding a new lease on life as an Airbnb location. The Subterra Castle Airbnb opened for business about six months ago. It’s located in rural Wabaunsee County, about 25 km southwest of Topeka. Airbnbs are privately owned residences that are offered online for short-term rental, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports .

Matthew Fulkerson, 37, is the host for Subterra, and said it was his idea to turn the site into an Airbnb. Fulkerson is a neighbor of Subterra’s owners, Ed and Dianna Peden, who have lived in the converted missile base since 1994 and are on board with the Airbnb idea.

More than being a place for people to stay when passing through Kansas, Fulkerson said he has a bigger vision for the site. “I see it as becoming a destination,” he said, adding that the base has already been featured in several media outlets.

In addition to a main-floor bedroom, Airbnb guests at Subterra will have a full kitchen, private bathroom, laundry services and a fireplace which gives a “nice, cozy feeling in the fall and winter months,” Fulkerson said. He said he and the Pedens “are considering using both apartments upstairs and down” should Airbnb traffic pick up, “especially because some people really want the experience of sleeping underground.” Fulkerson said Subterra is the first and currently the only Airbnb located in a converted missile silo.

(AP)

HARRY POTTER-THEMED TOWN CELEBRATION DRAWS MUGGLES

Wizards and muggles have turned out in droves for a Harry Potter-themed celebration in a small community, so much so the town is now looking to turn it into an annual event.

Spring Street in Newton was transformed on Saturday into Diagon Alley, the magical market from the JK Rowling book series. More than two dozen restaurants and stores in Newton’s main business district featured elements of the franchise, including a restaurant that served Butterbeer and a store that gave patrons magic wands. Many attendees dressed up in Harry Potter attire. Some donned scarves with colors from the various Hogwarts houses and Harry’s signature round eyeglasses.

Mayor Wayne Levante told the New Jersey Herald that the overwhelming crowd was much larger than organisers initially envisioned. “It’s just awesome to see this many people here in Newton,” Levante said. “There’s obviously a demand for this... A rising tide raises all boats, so we’re going to make sure that we do this bigger and better next year because this is lightning in a bottle.”

Town and local business leaders planned to meet Monday to discuss next year’s event and how it could be improved, including the possibility of making it a two-day event. They planned to address concerns raised by attendees, such as a lack of parking and the need for more bathroom facilities. Some people also voiced displeasure over long waits to get in to some stores, but officials say that was mostly due to the larger than expected crowds.

(Yahoo)