Tag Archives: hotel

Oct19

Welcome To Rome!

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Welcome To Rome!

Hello!! My family and I enjoyed the most wonderful vacation in Italy and spent ten days traveling and city hopping. This tour was compliments of AAA and Collette and it really was a whirlwind adventure. Johnny, myself, my parents, and older brother went here, there, and everywhere with thirty-five other people and our amazing tour guide, Savio. We made forever friends, unforgettable memories, and fostered a love and knowledge for every location we visited and its surrounding areas. This was our first time out of the country and it truly couldn’t have gone better thanks to the meticulous planning and guidance of our beloved Savio. We may be back in the A-K-Rowdy, but Italy will never be far from our hearts.

Our travels began with margaritas at the airport at ten in the morning (obviously), a quick flight to Chicago where more margs were consumed (obviously), and an overnight flight that brought us to Rome for the start of our tour. Due to the other members of our group all arriving at different times, we were able to get ourselves checked into the hotel to rest, spend some time in the city, and have a big welcome dinner that evening. As soon as we made it to the Mediterraneo Hotel (I will be reviewing every hotel we stayed at), Johnny and I freshened up and made our way into Rome for some shopping as his sunglasses broke on the flight. That is when our adventure really began…

Johnny and I emerged onto the streets of Rome with no other plan then to find him some sunnies. We decided to ask the first people we saw who looked close to our age and learned that they were not from Rome but Austria. We chatted, laughed, and made up in the air plans to meet up for drinks after our welcome dinner. Rather than keep asking for help, we took it to the streets and hit up a bunch of different stores. Johnny and I found sunglasses and I also purchased a GORGEOUS purse which you will see later! After our shopping we returned to the hotel to have some drinks and wait for our dinner featuring regional specialties.

Our welcome dinner was absolutely delicious and I was so appreciative to the attentiveness of our tour guide to ensure that my mom and I always had vegetarian options. The meal started with a yummy flatbread and a rich pasta with veggies. Next was a divine pastry filled with cheese (I was in heaven) and the most tasty pistachio ice cream for dessert. It was actually one of my favorite sweets we had on the entire trip! And, of course, the wine flowed freely as we dined and got to know all of the other guests who felt like family within days.

After our meal, the fun didn’t stop because Johnny and I hit up the rooftop bar at the hotel to meet with our new friends from Austria. Guys… We got absolutely wasted and spent hours drinking Prosecco, sharing stories of our respective countries, and laughing hysterically. One of our new pals wants to visit us in Ohio for a “hillybilly time” of drinking moonshine and shooting guns and we’d love to make it happen lolol. We are still in contact with them! As much as we would have loved to keep the night going, Johnny and I were beat and had an early following day filled with sightseeing. This day set the vibe for the whole trip and it promised to be fabulous. I can’t wait to tell you all more about it so stay tuned because lifewithlilred is having an Italian takeover!

In under two weeks, Italy felt like home. We are thankful beyond measure for this beautiful time with friends and family and I am so excited to relive it all here with my dear readers. Keep it posted!

Have you been on vacation this year? Where did you go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov19

Transforming Your Bathroom For That Hotel Feel

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Transforming Your Bathroom For That Hotel Feel

There’s something about that luxury hotel experience that makes going away more of a treat. One thing that most people remember from their favorite hotels is the bathrooms. Hotel bathrooms are usually sparkling clean and undeniably luxurious. We spend a lot of time in our bathrooms so how about replicating this hotel experience in your own home? Here are some tips to help you out:

Get Rid of Damp and Mold:

One thing you never notice when you’re in a luxury hotel is damp and mold. Your bathroom is, by nature, one of the wettest environments in your house. You generate a lot of water and steam, especially when taking a shower or bath. This water and vapor can damage your walls and develop into damp or mold, which is both unsightly and unhealthy. The good news is that you can get rid of these issues, especially if you catch them early.

Using a sealant like RIW Toughseal is a great way to prevent damp or mold, as it provides a physical barrier against water and steam. You or a contractor can use it in a shower area to protect your property. If you already have damp or mold problems, you might be able to catch it early and air out the room to get rid of minor damp. You can then damp-proof the walls to stop the problem from coming back. However, in more severe cases you may need to get a contractor to repair the damage done before going through the damp-proofing process. To find a professional, simply do a search for “mold removal in Greensboro, NC” or your local area to get the problem under control.

Super Soft Towels:

Hotel bathrooms are luxurious for several reasons, but one that stands out is the towels. The best hotels come with towels that are incredibly soft on your skin, which is ideal after a steaming hot bath or shower. There’s nothing worse than stepping out and being forced to use a scratchy towel to dry yourself. With this in mind, a simple way to replicate the spa-like bathrooms of the best hotels is to use fabric softener on your towels. Invest in new towels every few years, as older towels often end up hard and scratchy no matter what you do. It’s a small treat, but it’s worth it.

Sparkling Clean:

The best hotels aren’t just beautifully decorated, but they’re also incredibly clean. They achieve this by hiring professional cleaners who know how to keep an area spotless, no matter who’s been there before. You can clean the bathroom yourself and keep on top of it, but it can be a good idea to hire a cleaning service for a one-time deep cleaning session. This makes it easier for you to maintain your sparkling bathroom.

Potted Plants:

A simple way to level up the decorations in your bathroom is to add some potted plants. These add some life and greenery to your bathroom, making it feel undeniably like a relaxing spa. As mentioned before, bathrooms are naturally moist rooms, so pick plants that thrive in a humid area. A dying plant or dead plant can be worse than no plants at all.

Small and simple changes to your cleaning process and decor can transform your bathroom in an instant. Now, run that bubble bath and relax!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct7

So Luxe: Hotel Vibes In Your Own Home

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So Luxe: Hotel Vibes In Your Own Home

There are a lot of reasons why you might want to make your home look more like a hotel. Hotels have this feeling of luxury and comfort, which is likely to be something that you would appreciate in your home too. So if you’re wondering how to make this a reality for your home, how are you going to achieve that? Let’s find out:

Deep Clean All Surfaces:

One thing that hotels do a lot is thoroughly deep clean every surface that you can see, as well as those you can’t. This requires hard work and constant diligence, but it is the kind of thing that you should think about doing if you are going to make your home more hotel-like. There are many surfaces that you need to think about here, including all of the counters and tabletops, and these should definitely be cleaned on a regular basis if possible. You should also make sure to get some professional carpet cleaning carried out occasionally and consider doing the same for all the upholstery too.

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^^^ Pexels Image

Upgrade Your Lighting:

For your home to be more like a hotel, you will want to opt for show-stopping lighting which is at once sophisticated and elegant, as that is going to produce the right vibe every time. You should also consider some soft and gentle lighting for focal areas in rooms, as you might find in hotel rooms. This lends a certain calmness to rooms that are all about relaxing. Good lighting can really make a world of difference.

Use Symmetry:

If you look at the room layouts of many of the best hotels, you will notice that there is often a definite symmetry to them. This doesn’t have to be an absolute rule all of the time. However, if you do make some use of symmetry in a clever way, you are going to find that your home looks a lot more like a hotel and much more interesting and stylish for it too.

There is also something to be said for a little tasteful asymmetry, and if you can marry these two together in the right way you might be surprised at how much it can work. You can achieve both of these ends by simply moving furniture around or remodeling a room if you are keen to make a huge difference.

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^^^ Pexels Image

Be Wary Of Clutter:

A hotel would not have any clutter whatsoever so it might be time for an overhaul of unneeded items in your home. This is especially great to do during changes in the season to give your home a breath of freshness. Make use of clever storage options for things that can’t be parted with and donate and recycle the rest. And, do try to keep the clutter from returning!

The Bed:

Finally, remember that the most important thing of all for a hotel is the bed. The more comfortable and luxurious this is, the better. Treat yourself to a good quality bed frame and mattress. Don’t forget some great linen, throw pillows, and plush blankets too. This alone is going to make your home a lot more luxurious in no time at all.

Who needs a five star hotel when you can have a five star home, instead? No room key required!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb26

My Thoughts On The Elisa Lam Documentary

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My Thoughts On The Elisa Lam Documentary

Hey! So yesterday, we discussed various forms of my lock down entertainment but I left out one major talking point in the TV section. I had just watched the Netflix documentary, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel and it was all news to me. Despite the Elisa Lam story apparently being huge in 2013, I had no idea about any of it – the haunting viral video, the dark past of the Cecil Hotel (American Horror Story even based Hotel off of The Cecil!), and all of the conspiracy theories of what could have happened to Elisa even though her death was ruled an accident.

Because I had no past recollection of the Elisa Lam story, I devoured the four part under four hour long documentary in one evening. It took me a while to digest all of the information because the “elevator” video was playing on a loop in my head. However, after thinking about it for a few days, there is still something about the Elisa Lam story that just doesn’t sit well with me. At the end of the day, we have no firm idea of what her last few days were like which makes the case feel severely lacking in closure. I don’t believe in any of the far fetched conspiracies about the case but I have a feeling that the management of the Cecil Hotel knew more than they were letting on. The hotel manager didn’t seem particularly trustworthy to me and she had an extremely defensive standpoint throughout the documentary.

Speaking of conspiracies, I thought that this documentary focused way too much on them. I was completely shocked to learn at the very end of The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel of Elisa Lam’s struggle with her mental health as well as her family’s confirmation of it. Instead of starting a conversation about mental health, the documentary almost encouraged the Internet Sleuth sensation while only briefly glazing over a life that these “detectives” ruined – Pablo Vergara’s. Elisa Lam’s story just felt like it got added in after the fact.

This is the third documentary that I have watched recently on Netflix and I can’t say that I have been very impressed with any of them. Each documentary has just had so much extra crap muddled in that I feel like it doesn’t do the actual story any justice. While the first two episodes of Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel were really gripping and informative the remaining two indulged heavily in conspiracy theories which was a missed opportunity for more meaningful conversation.

What are your thoughts on the Elisa Lam story? What was the last documentary you watched? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

May23

Keeping Yourself Entertained On Vaca

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Keeping Yourself Entertained On Vaca

Are you one of the lucky ones heading abroad on your vacation this year? Whether you’re on the road, in a hotel, or on a cruise, there can be moments, particularly after a long day of exploring, when all you want is to settle down and relax. An evening in the hotel with Netflix or a good book can be just what the doctor ordered after you’ve been on your feet all day sightseeing. But staying entertained and ensuring that you don’t run out of things to do while you’re abroad isn’t quite so easy as when you’re at home. Here are just a few ways that you can make sure that, even in your downtime, you’re fully fighting the boredom blahs:

Don’t Rely On Books: If you love to get a jump on your summer reading list while on vaca, books can become far too cumbersome. Whether you read while you travel, relax by the pool, or just as you go through life, it might be time to invest in a bit of a technological helper. Rather than packing a book a day into your luggage, a Kindle is a cheap, lightweight, and easily transportable alternative. With literally millions of books to choose from, all accessible online, you’ll never be caught short without a book again.

Keep Some Entertainment Downloaded: Sometimes WiFi is obscenely slow, and sometimes *gasp* you just can’t connect at all. The worst thing in these situations is to have no backup plan. Keeping a few shows downloaded onto whatever device you’re using can be a real lifesaver in moments of boredom. Netflix has options to download now, as do many other video hosting sites. And be sure to double check that your Spotify Premium account is up to date before you set off so that you can still access all of your favorite music, even when WiFi isn’t an option.

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Pixabay Image

Netflix Is Your BFF: When you need some reassuring familiarity and an evening to yourself, it’s all about Netflix. Whether you’re entertaining young ones or just chilling on your own, being able to get a few of your favorite shows online is essential. While Netflix, ordinarily, won’t work abroad, using a VPN enables you to bypass that. Check out securethoughts to find out exactly how to do it. Then, all of your favorite shows are just a button-push away.

Portable Chargers Are Everything: We rely so heavily on electronic devices in this day and age, from smartphones to laptops and tablets to Kindles, that it’s not surprising that portable charging devices are growing in popularity. When you’re in an airport or hotel room, chances are that you’ll have access to power, but when you’re on the road, public transport, or walking around the city, it could be a bit more tricky. Keep a fully charged portable power supply in your handbag all of the time, and you’ll never find yourself caught with the power out again.

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Is your device fully charged??

Traveling the world doesn’t mean that you don’t want a few moments of R&R every now and then, and if they take the form of your favorite books or TV shows, it’s always best to be prepared. Happy traveling!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct7

Get Inspired With These Exciting Startup Ideas In The Travel Sector

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Get Inspired With These Exciting Startup Ideas In The Travel Sector

Get Inspired With These Exciting Startup Ideas In The Travel Sector:

Those with dull, dreary jobs often have two dreams they regularly think about at work. One is getting out of the 9-to-5 and starting their own business. The other is traveling the world. If this sounds like you, then here’s a good idea- create a travel business!

There are all kinds of ideas for a startup in the travel sector. Some of them are relatively easy to start and run. You can mix your passion with your work and get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It can also be lucrative- the travel industry is a large and growing one. If you’re considering starting a business in the travel sector, here are some of the best ideas.

Open A Hotel: People always need somewhere to stay when they’re traveling to different places. That’s why starting a hotel is always a smart business idea. Whether you want to start a budget hotel in a tourist area like Berlin or a luxury hotel in a tropical location like Rio (you can read this blog for ideas on how to start a business in Brazil if this is something you’re thinking of doing), it’ll be a rewarding project.

Of course, buying and setting up a hotel will take a lot of money. You’ll need to rack up funds from business loans and possibly investors, as well. If you can create a great place to stay and market it to tourists, you can start making a lot of money fast. The best thing about it is you can live out a dream by residing and working in a luxury location. It’s one of the best ways to start a business overseas. It’s a fantastic startup idea if you have the ambition, passion, and funds.

Start A Travel Agency: Travel agencies offer a range of services to help people find and book holidays. Although physical travel agencies are dying down, online travel agents are bigger than ever. You can set up a website to offer flight and hotel price comparisons.

Travel agencies usually make a commission from getting users to book flights or accommodations with companies. You could also provide consultancy, where you design an entire holiday package for a customer. It can be competitive to get into, so you might want to appeal to a niche market. For instance, instead of focusing on average consumer holidays, you may want to focus on business travel or cruises.

Create A Travel Blog: One of the simplest ways to profit from traveling is to start a travel blog. It takes minimal costs and anyone can do it. It’s easy to create a blog with a service like WordPress and start posting interesting articles about your travels. You can create a travel blog as a hobby but building it into a business will take more effort. You’ll need to find ways to profit. This might involve advertising travel products and services for other companies. You can also offer advertising space on your blog and increase profits by getting more views.

You could also expand to other sites. Many travel bloggers post video content on YouTube of their travel experiences. You can make money off of YouTube views and also attract more users to your blog. Those who build up followings can even get sponsors so you can truly live the dream of being paid to travel.

Where is your dream location to travel to? Who runs a travel blog of their own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image Photo Provided By: Wikimedia

Aug6

American Horror Story Airing Of Grievances

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American Horror Story Airing Of Grievances

Hey everyone and happy weekend! This week, the teasers for American Horror Story season six have began to surface, leaving everyone to wonder just what the theme is going to be. This usually would be a time when I would start to get very excited for just what lies in store for AHS, but unfortunately, I just can’t get on board for this upcoming season. Take a look at the teaser trailer and then let’s discuss:

If you recall from my posts about last season, AHS: Hotel, I had to quit watching after episode seven or so. I just couldn’t take it. I thought Coven was bad but last season really really sucked with a capital S and a capital UCKED. From the very first episode I could pick out what the problem was and a lot of people will probably disagree with me but that’s okay. My number one issue with AHS: Hotel was…Lady Gaga.

That’s right. I said it. I genuinely believe in my heart of hearts that Lady Gaga was the worst thing to happen to AHS so the fact that she is coming back for an encore in season six instantly turns me off to the show already. Unpopular opinion? Probably – but let me explain!

The major issue with having someone like Lady Gaga cast as the lead is that every. single. scene. has to revolve around her. I just couldn’t take it anymore in Hotel. I was sick of her soft core sex scenes, her dull performance, and the fact that she was now the queen bee of the show when she wasn’t doing much of anything.

Lady Gaga single handedly took away the ensemble effort of what made American Horror Story so special in the first place. When every character was committing to the story in a way that did not directly revolve around one character *cough cough* is when the show was something amazing. But when you take away the ensemble effort, you just end up with a program that isn’t even worth watching.

I feel like every scene was directed in a way that would make all of Gaga’s “little monsters” stick around to watch more and this resulted in a season that was campy, trashy, and an all around hot mess. I stand firmly in my beliefs that 1) The show is nothing without Jessica Lange. 2) They should have went with an unknown to become the new AHS queen bee. 3) OR if seniority and talent were an actual thing being considered, Sarah Paulson should have became the female lead.

So, am I going to tune in to the new season of American Horror Story? Yes, I will because I am curious and because I want lifewithlilred to maintain its status as a one stop shop for all things AHS. Am I thrilled about it? Absolutely not. After this rant, how could I be?! But as always, rest assured that when the new season airs, you can always find the latest AHS scoop here on lifewithlilred!

So there you have it, my American Horror Story Airing Of Grievances! Who has any ideas on what season six’s theme is going to be? Does anyone feel similarly to what I described in this post? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec10

American Horror Story: Hotel “Lil Red’s Farewell”

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American Horror Story: Hotel “Lil Red’s Farewell”

Helloo everyone and a very happy evening to all of you! Alright, guys. No one can say I didn’t try. NO ONE. But, on this ninth episode of American Horror Story: Hotel, “She Wants Revenge”, I am throwing in the towel. I refuse to spend any more time on this season. Therefore, I’m renaming tonight’s episode, “Lil Red’s Farewell”.

boohoo

Week after week you guys have tuned in for my reviews and opinions on the new episodes of AHS and I am so humbled and appreciate it greatly. However, it doesn’t feel right putting aside an hour for a television show that’s below sub par. During tonight’s new episode, all I could think of was how much I wanted to crawl into bed and crack open Stephen King’s “Cell”, which I began rereading yesterday. I was craving genuine horror as opposed to the soap opera dramatics that AHS has been delivering every week with episodes that have consistently disappointed.

Not only has this season bored me to tears BUT these posts have been boring me as well. Don’t get me wrong, if I was loving the season it would be different – but it’s so hard to crank out similar posts for every episode when nothing exciting is really happening. During Freak Show, I lived for my Wednesday night articles on the new episodes…So you know something is wrong when I dread firing up the ol’ laptop after epis of Hotel!

I gave this season my best shot and the benefit of the doubt for nine weeks, but enough is enough. I now plan on spending my Wednesday nights tucked in with a good book or perhaps watching some old slasher films. I have an insatiable urge to absorb entertainment of quality and Hotel has done nothing to satisfy this. So, that’s that. I bid you farewell, American Horror Story: Hotel because I’m breaking up with you for good this time. Better luck on season six! Now cue the music!

So there you have it, the final post on American Horror Story: Hotel, “Lil Red’s Farewell”. Now if you’ll excuse me, Cell and a midnight snack is calling my name! What are your opinions on this season of AHS? Who has given up on the show? Who is a die hard Hotel fan? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Don’t you worry about what I’ll be filling the Thursday and Friday slots on lifewithlilred with! I have some very fun upcoming posts up my sleeve! ❤ 🙂

Dec2

Sorry!!

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Sorry!!

Helloooo everyone!!! I am SO sorry! I totally drew a blank and forgot that American Horror Story was on this week – I thought that they were taking a two week break for Thanksgiving but apparently not! But I’m okay with missing tonight’s episode because you guys know that I don’t care for season five anyways. 😉 And besides…Tonight was date night with Kyle!! And I finally have pictures to prove our relationship:

^^^ Aw, I love us!!! ❤

Because of my uh-oh on forgetting about AHS tonight, I’ll be taking a break from the usual synopsis and opinions post for the week. But make sure you tune in with me next week to pick up where we left off! I hope all of you are having a fantastic night! What was everyone up to on this fine Wednesday? Who has any big plans for the weekend? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov20

I’ll Tell You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought (AHS Episode 7)

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I’ll Tell You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought (AHS Episode 7)

Alright everyone, I need you to know that I’ve tried – but I can’t do it anymore. I’m going to go right out and say it: This season SUCKS. Believe me, I’ve tried SO hard to get into it. I’ve had faith week after week that the episodes are going to get better, but alas, they’re not and I’m thoroughly disappointed. The newest episode of American Horror Story: Hotel entitled “Flicker” will receive my lowest ratings of the season with: half a star. “Why?” You might ask. Well, let me tell ya:

Where is the horror?!: Yes, this season has boasted some terrible and shameful scenes, however, I wouldn’t classify Hotel as “scary” in the slightest. Yes, things get a little bit gory on the show – but is that truly frightening? No. There hasn’t been one moment during season five where I’ve truly been scared and therefore, I’m not a fan. “Flicker” offered quite a lengthy back story on the Countess as well as a possible lead on the Ten Commandments Killer and that’s about it. Did anything really “happen” in the episode? No, not really. I was bored to tears. #sorrynotsorry

Where is the plot going?!: What is this season even about? Lol, seriously someone please enlighten me because the multiple plots that have been introduced are going nowhere fast. There hasn’t been one solid and steady plot throughout the entire season and to me, that’s unacceptable. I have no idea where the episodes are going and what they have to do with the big picture. It’s so evident that Ryan Murphy bit off more than he can chew and I think it was a big mistake casting Lady Gaga. All the Countess seems to do on the show is offer a fashionable presence, which I feel is exactly what she wanted. As I’ve said multiple times, give me Jessica Lange or give me nothing because this show is a flop without her.

boohoo

Where is the acting?!: As a person who loves the theater, I hate “hating” on actors – but the acting on Hotel is sub par at best. Sarah Paulson is dull. Wes Bentley is dull. Chloe Sevigny is dull. Lady Gaga is dull. It’s all very very boring. All of the characters seem to be talking but saying nothing and frankly, it looks like all of the actors were half asleep when they were shooting because their eyes are all glazed over and they look just as confused as the viewers. What drew me in to American Horror Story was that it was a television show that had really phenomenal  actors – and most of the actors on Hotel are phenomenal but they just aren’t bringing it. No one is doing it for me and I’m just completely over it.

*Breaths deeply*…Wow, I really needed to get that off of my chest because it’s been building up for a PHAT minute. As mentioned earlier, episode seven – “Flicker” received half a star for poor acting, a crummy story line, and an overall snooze fest of an episode. Better luck next week, AHS.

I Told You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought of episode seven of American Horror Story: Hotel, “Flicker”, and now it’s your turn! What are your thoughts on the episode and season in general? Who do you think is the Ten Commandments Killer? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: For the record, I don’t think that John Lowe is the Ten Commandments Killer. I know a lot of people think so but it just seems like too obvious of a choice for him to be the TCK. #quotemeonit