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Blog- a.k.a My weird adventures


Spirit and Traditions: Mirror Lake
In Fall 2021, I decided to throw together a haunted road trip. I take a road trip to a specific location and back while trying to find...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 10, 20243 min read


Before College Students, There Were Axis POWs: Cuyahoga Community College- Parma, Ohio
Have no fear, community college students; I have an oddity for you. Before attending Kent State University, I attended Cuyahoga Community...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 3, 20242 min read


The Decaying Memory on the Lake: Chippewa Lake Park
In high school, I was flipping through my favorite literature, Weird Ohio, to find oddities around Ohio. One section about abandoned...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 27, 20245 min read


Summer Days at Euclid Beach: Euclid Beach Park
My mom would tell me stories about going to Euclid Beach Park when she was young. My grandma would also make references to the park in...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 27, 20245 min read


Luna, Luna Everywhere: Luna Park Cleveland
Years ago, I bought vintage postcards of amusement parks in Ohio. I have always been fascinated by vintage postcards, especially...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 22, 20249 min read


The Rollercoaster on top of the Hill: Puritas Spring Park
Growing up, my go-to places for summertime amusement were Cedar Point, Geauga Lake, Sea World Ohio (before they closed), and Memphis...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 6, 20242 min read


Muppets In Tinseltown Jim Henson Company Lot (Formally A&M Studios)
Before I tell its tale, I would like to start with a pop quiz. What is going to be mentioned in this article? Is it A-Charlie Chaplin,...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 6, 20242 min read


Knock! Knock! Room Service! Did anyone order a ghost? The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Walking back from the Death Museum, I went down Hollywood Boulevard on the Walk of Fame. Across from the Chinese Theatre, hidden around...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 6, 20242 min read


Let’s Talk About Death The Hollywood Death Museum
Disclaimer: This article contains references to details of murder, suicides, and other graphic material that may upset some readers. No...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jul 6, 20248 min read


Let’s See the Stars Hollywood Walk of Fame
We were in downtown Hollywood to look for the Carpenters star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with the Carpenters fan group. As we were...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jun 22, 20241 min read


Welcome to Hollywoodland…I mean Hullywood-Hollywood!: The Few Assumed Names of the Hollywood Sign
On the third day of the Carpenters tour, we visited LA to see the Carpenters Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After an hour of getting...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jun 3, 20242 min read


Wine and Dine with Spirits Selanne Steak Tavern
On my recent odyssey in California collecting weirdness, I somehow made my way to the artistic seaside town of Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jun 3, 20241 min read


The Wonderful Wizard of Bras: Disneyland's Quirky Adventure into Lingerie
On a recent trip to Disneyland, I decided to air out some dirty laundry. I went to an old archaeological marvel on Main Street, U.S.A....
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
May 31, 20243 min read


Mickey D’s with a Side of Carpenters: The Oldest McDonald’s in Downey, California
We were in Downey because my mom was a huge fan of the music duo, the Carpenters. In the morning, we visited the childhood home of Karen...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
May 31, 20243 min read


The Road to Hell-Dorado: Helltown, Ohio
Years ago, I was reading the book Weird Ohio. One section discussed the mysterious happenings of a town called Helltown. The book also...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Apr 28, 20243 min read


1001 Pythian Knights: Pythian Castle Toledo, Ohio
Back in 2022, I took a road trip around Toledo, Ohio. After taking a pit stop to the Oliver House for lunch in the center of downtown...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Apr 22, 20242 min read


Who Doesn’t Live in a Pineapple under the sea: Tarpon Springs Sponge Factory
In 2021, while I was on my way to Naples, Florida, with my mom, we stopped in Tarpon Springs. The village consists of many Greek...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Apr 14, 20241 min read


A House Filled with Spirits and Ghosts: The Friendly Harmony Inn
In October, when I was driving back from visiting Edgar Allan Poe’s grave, I stopped in Harmony, PA. It’s a quaint little town with...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Apr 6, 20242 min read


Christ of the Ozarks: A.K.A The Tale of Gumby Jesus
Coauthor and photo credit: Alicia DeRoma In 2020, my mom, sister, and I visited Missouri to meet a long-lost relative. For this story, I...
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Mar 31, 20243 min read


A Diamond in the Ruff: The Legend of Tiberius
While researching dogs in northeast Ohio, I did some extensive digging and found something exciting but so obscure that only the website...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Mar 23, 20242 min read


The Wandering Oddball Presents: The Wandering 5 Pound Pooch
To help out with Dog Month, I thought I would get a dog’s input on some weird locations. I turned to the most reliable consultant: my dog...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Mar 16, 20242 min read


Saving Private Smoky: The World War 2 Hero Dog
This story is for all of the Yorkie lovers out there, including you, mom! Down in the Cleveland Metroparks, there is a memorial with a...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Mar 9, 20242 min read


Mush Balto! Mush Togo! How Two Dogs Saved Nome Alaska
In March, the Iditarod kicks off with sled dog teams racing each other to the finish line. I first heard about the Alaskan tradition when...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Mar 2, 20243 min read


A-Tisket A-Tasket, a Giant Yellow Basket: The Longaberger Basket Building- Newark, Ohio
In mid-October 2021, I took a road trip in southern Ohio. While on the highway, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye that made...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Feb 24, 20241 min read
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