Back At the Family Manse

My sister has reported more activity back at my family's home.

(1) Last week, at the beginning of the month as she turned off the television in the living room with the remote control, it turned itself back on and this happened three times throughout the week.

(2) Back in July, the kitchen cupboard door closest to the stove swung open slowly. There were no breezes, the windows were shut and the cupboard door had been latched.

I can remember these events from my time living there: the television was the most annoying. No matter what television, no matter in which room, the television would always come on by itself or shut off by itself or change channels. There was no predicting when this would occur but I would end up reading instead or watching the channel that "it" selected. Do our ghosts have control issues?!?

I've Looked At Clouds From Both Sides Now...

We're all still grieving poor Avery's death. It was so sudden and unexpected. The grief is pulling at me, making it hard for me to do anything. It feels as if I'm trying to walk in deep water.

I didn't want to do my readings on Friday. Then, when I met the people, I was glad that I had done the readings.

One of my clients was a soldier who had been to the world's political hotspots. In the past, I didn't think that I could put myself in the boots of a soldier but I found myself doing so quite easily.

There are some psychic similarities between soldiers and psychics: we both carry around images that most people will never see or have to see.

Though I couldn't ever imagine myself in the role of a soldier, I have grown spiritually through reading for him. He was, in fact, a very spiritual person. I think the fact that I'm not a flake and, in fact, that I am quite practical, impressed him.

Immediately afterwards, instead of "decompressing" as I normally would, Scully and I took Mini-Me to the park for some swinging and sliding. It was nice to get out in the evening but I still carried all the readings around in my head and it made me irritable.

Note to self: do some kind of mental exercises after a day's worth of readings.

My Beloved Cat

My beloved cat died yesterday.

This illustrates perfectly that I oftentimes have no prescience when it comes to my OWN life.

We were all saying good-bye to our other cat, Alabama, who appeared to be dying of renal failure. With the farewell over, my husband put her into the vehicle and drove to our animal hospital.

I looked behind me at the back porch and saw something small and dark for a second near Avery, then it disappeared.

Not a second later, Avery let out a howl of sorts. I ran over to the back porch because it seemed as if he might have had a hairball. I didn't think he was dying: it hadn't even occurred to me. After some few minutes, I realized that he was gone and I called my husband.

He was waiting in the Vet's office with the other cat when I reached him.

"Avery's dead!" I shouted.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Hurry home, honey. Avery is DEAD!!!"

It was an unbelievable day. Scully stayed home from work and we were all sick with grief. I had to explain to our two-year-old daughter that Avery "was sick and had to go stay with other cats now." I think it helped her to process the absence without unnecessary detail that could frighten and confuse her.

After she went to bed, we held a tiny funeral for him.


Avery, June 1995 - August 2, 2005

A Musical Guest

It's four a.m. and I can report ghostly activity.

Our enclosed porch is accessible only by us: it's locked from the outside and no people or animals can gain access.

About 10 minutes ago, Mini-Me's 10-in-1 Musical Combo toy started playing for about 20 seconds. When I went to the porch, I could see the lights of the toy indicating certain buttons had been pushed. When I opened the door from the living room to take a closer look, I noticed that the cat was sitting about 4 feet away from the toy. I Wondered if it had been the cat as she jumped off her chair and came inside. I closed the door and locked it.

Five minutes later, the same toy was making the same musical noise (indicating the same buttons had been pushed) and there was nobody out there. These buttons requuire some force to activate: a mere breeze wouldn't do it. In fact, Mini-Me often tries with her foot to do it and she cannot.

There are no other signs. I have seen nothing and don't pick anything up right now though I imagine it will make more sense after I sleep.

Usually, if a ghost has a message he/she will appear in my dreams or I will "just know".

In The Absence of Posts

I have to apologize for my absence. It seems there is little to write about these days that doesn't involve my babysitting woes. My sister had agreed to babysit and now she, too, has decided that she simply can't.

What am I to do? My family promised to help me and I'm booked into October/early November.

Part of me is fed up with everything. I'm fed up with seeing/sensing things, fed up with everything about it and fed up with trying to balance family, home and work. I need a vacation.

Now, this doesn't mean that I'm GIVING up, just that I'm FED up. I needed to vent. There. I think I'm done.

I'll come back in a better mood, I promise.

The Blue Lady

I forgot to record my sister's ghostly encounter that took place in my home and, then, I forgot that it had occurred.

She said that she had seen an elderly woman wearing blue and going out the back door.

I haven't seen this particular ghost. I do know, however, that an elderly woman used to live here at one point. (We still get mail from the Rev. Billy Graham organization addressed to her.)

Her sighting occurred about two weeks ago.

Wow!

At 5:00 a.m., I woke with a start. There was noise coming from downstairs. Burglars? Half asleep, I strained to make out the sounds: a man and woman having a conversation! Scully and Mini-Me were sound asleep.

Ghosts! For the first time in my life, I was a little uneasy and didn't go downstairs.

Ghosts aren't new to me but to be awakened by the noise is extremely disturbing.

The Fundamental Things Apply...

More babysitting woes. My mother, out of spite, decided that she will no longer babysit Mini-Me. This definitely leaves me in a bind.

On an emotional level, I was able to confront my mother for the first time ever today. I think that her behaviour helped me muster the courage.

We went to some good friends' new home--toddler in tow--for dinner and it went well. I didn't have to write any cheques to replace priceless broken figurines, etc.

Last night, as I explained, I had my last tarot party. It was a bittersweet experience: it was clear to me that I enjoyed doing this kind of event but it was also clear that I want my evenings to be dedicated to my family.

Scary tales from some clients about the trouble in which their adult children have found themselves. In these stories, I see the soul-grabbing dedication of mothers and the heart-stopping seediness that exists around every corner--that I can't see from where I sit--in the city nearby.

The Parties Are Over

I can't think of what to write these days. My babysitter bailed on me completely. My mother doesn't want to come up to babysit, just to visit.

Thankfully, my sister has come to stay with us until she finds an apartment of her own. I get a built-in babysitter for a couple of weeks.

Finally, my very last tarot party EVER is on Friday night. I was doing them every week before the baby arrived; then, I stopped booking them and simply met my commitments. So this one, booked almost a year ago, is the last one. For so many reasons, I wanted to stop. Suffice it to say that I don't enjoy the "entertainment" aspect of things and I really, truly have no time. My reading schedule is extremely busy and weekends are for family.

Sleepless

It wasn't "just a sore throat". I have laryngitis and I am putting up with relentless teasing by Scully. Even my toddler keeps putting her finger to her lips and saying, "Shhhhhh..." when I speak. She then bursts into laughter. Her reaction and my own voice are both pretty funny.

I cancelled my reading first thing yesterday morning and the client was happy to avoid becoming sick.

Maybe I overdosed on Bradosol candies last night. I had one nightmare after another but they weren't of the prophetic variety.

I was also up most of the night, too, after 3:00 a.m.. I always wake after my dreams but I was unable to return to sleep due to coughing and fever.

The Sick Psychic

I don't get sick but I'm getting sick. It's my throat. Fortunately, I kept my schedule light for Canada Day: only one reading. I'll just keep sucking on Ricola drops.

I keep thinking of T.S. Eliot:

Madame Sosostris, famous clairvoyante,
Had a bad cold, nevertheless...
(The Waste Land)

(Of course, being psychic doesn't work that way. In fact, I have never even won a contest! It's about other people, about helping people.)

Last year at around this time, I had laryngitis. I had to cancel several readings one day because I had absolutely no voice. Hopefully, it will just remain a sore throat.

O, Ms. Vanderbilt!

I feel confident that she did not foresee this one particular point of etiquette (at least, not specifically), so I must address it myself:

Please don't email/call your regular psychic for "one quick question" and expect him/her to respond without compensation.

(I'm not talking about the people who write to me through this blog. That is a different matter.)

Really, one couldn't expect to contact a lawyer and ask for "one quick affidavit" without expecting to pay for it, right?

Frankly, if I were to respond to each and every request, it would amount to spending all of my time answering questions for free.

I want to help. I really do. This is why freebie requests create discomfort.

Where are MY manners?

Thank you to the person who recently reviewed my blog. I'm glad that you enjoy it.

Vacation

My sister left yesterday with promises to return once weekly. Unfortunately, she's ill again and I won't be seeing her until next week. Throughout her stay, it felt like a vacation.

Speaking of which...

I had been hoping to take the month of October off from readings but, after Scully's veto, I am now booking into that month, too. I guess I just wanted to take a vacation. There's always about a four-month waiting period to see me. I thought that I would use the month to renew myself. Maybe I'll take up yoga instead.

My sister reports more activity back at the family home: a cupboard door swinging open in the kitchen and the appearance of The Lady (as I refer to her).

Discomfort

The Personal

I booked today off in advance because I had a doctor's appointment. I have been extremely emotional lately due to a combination of many things.

I'm not yet settled into this home of ours: I have no space of my own. There are workbenches, power tools and paint supplies in every major area. I would just love to have an office space and, one day, it will be done; however, there are several other rooms that need to be done first.

The Family

So far, just about everyone in the family has now noticed Mini-Me's "discussions" that take place within the presence of people and without. Scully pointed it out the other day: the laughing, the answering of unheard questions. I'm pretty sure my sister and mother have talked about it.

Scully has admitted to instances of thinking he sees (out of the corner of his eye) someone in the house; it often happens for me in my gardens. Of course there are ghosts in my home! It's just rare that Scully relates accounts of his experiences. It's rare, too, that he classifies his experiences as paranormal.

My sister has been visiting since Wednesday and I'm so glad: it's as if I'm on vacation. She changes Mini-Me's diapers, offers to give her meals and tells me to rest. Ah, sisters...

The Movies



We watched Birth, starring Nicole Kidman, and we weren't exactly impressed. (I don't mean 'we' in the imperial sense: my sister and I). It is a disappointing, oftentimes disturbing, tale of reincarnation that lacks character depth/development. Boundary-pushing dialogue and situations induce intentional discomfort in the audience and realize conflict in the main characters. Ultimate resolution of the conflicts is not really worth the wait.



We also attempted to watch the American version of The Grudge, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, but I kept dozing. I will have to try to see it again on a day when I'm less exhausted. From what I could discern, there seemed to be some interesting deviations from the original (which I could discuss later.)

Long Standing And A Little Sitting

I gave a rare, late-evening reading for a long-standing client who ended up having to wait nine months to see me.

This was rare for me because evenings and weekends are reserved for my family. She was grateful and I was glad that I had relaxed my policies a bit for her.

I booked several appointments this morning, watered my front gardens and I did these while Mini-Me slept.

Last night, during an even rarer event (a spare, quiet moment), I could see the moon from where I sat in the living room. Our neighbourhood is in a very rural setting, surrounded largely by a conservation area. My living-room window framed the trees and old garage and, as the wind gently shook the branches and leaves, I saw the moon. It was a moment of clarity and respite from the chaos.

The Week In Review

The Fat Psychic

Well, this week was interesting. One client offered me a "personal training" session (which I think, I hope, I declined). People automatically assume that I am unhappy with my weight, that I would like to shed it.

The Busy Psychic

I've noticed this change: I rarely have to send reminders to clients about upcoming appointments: they call me to confirm.

The Family Psychic

My sister and I were on the 'phone yesterday when she received another call. I pressed her for information about who had called and why she was letting me go. A "couple" were the callers and, as soon as she told me, I got chills and started shaking. I tried to ignore my reaction because I can't control my sister's life and I didn't think she would listen.

Many hours later, my sister had left shortly after our call, my mother and I were talking. I divulged to my mother my severe reaction and she, in turn, admitted that she was worried sick. I told her that the couple were plotting, that my sister was in danger and that I was very afraid.

Later still, unable to contain myself, I placed my third call to my mother begging her to ring my sister's cell. Instead, she gave me the cell number that I had forgotten. I let it ring and ring but my sister did not pick up. Resigned to inaction, I went to sleep.

The baby woke us at 6:00 a.m. and I waited until 8:30 to telephone my parents: my sister had returned home in the wee hours. As it turns out, my sister, at first, would not discuss what had happened; then, she revealed that the couple had robbed her of her money ($40.00) and left her stranded in the middle of the night in a strange city. She had no bank card and no credit card. She finally did get a ride home from someone else and, shaken and frightened, has learned a lesson.

Just A Thought...



I think I saw Poltergeist at the wrong time. I was thirteen, it was at the cinema and, frankly, I was dealing with this phenomena at home. To this day, however, I don't support the accepted definitions of poltergeists.

At that time, what I experienced was pretty exasperating but mild. Leaving the cinema, I couldn't tell what was going to happen to me or my family.

The events that we lived through were pretty run-of-the-mill where such activity is concerned: objects moving, physics-defying destruction of property and performances for guests.

Checking In

Today, I didn't get a chance to listen to my messages. The baby is going through a very difficult stage and so much of my energy was focussed on just getting through the day.

I have journeyed deeper into Angels & Demons. I'm going to reserve indepth comment for now and simply state that I am enjoying it: it's good suspense. It's interesting so far.

There was no ghostly activity that we were aware of today. Interestingly, however, a photograph of my great-grandfather was found outside its frame, behind other frames. I discovered this the other day when Scully was "weirded out" by things. I must say how proud I am of him. Instead of picking away at the situation for even the slightest implausible scientific interpretation of events, he pretty much said, "Holy ----!"

I have been tackling my children's book collection and, afterward, I will start cataloguing my books on ghosts and spirituality. This could take for-freakin'-ever.

Guess Who...

Scully has had the lion's share of 'paranormal' experiences today.

He yelled up the stairs while I was in the bath. He knew that the baby was napping (and that we really like it when she is napping), so, I thought, it must be important.

"I think the ghosts want you."

"Huh?"

The cabinet door (behind where he had been sitting in the dining room) had popped open without impetus.

"It wouldn't even close," he explained.

Then, after my bath and while the baby was eating her lunch, I stood outside the back door. My husband was setting up his mitre saw.

The security alarm went off at the front door, then the doorbell rang. Thinking that it was my father-in-law, I ran to the front door and swung it open to find nobody. I peeked around each corner (he could have been hiding) but, still, the porch held no visitor.

"That's just...bizarre," he opined. Then, with a shrug, he added, "Better find out what they want."

Aged Angel Statues and Ferns...

If anyone is thinking about coming to the Great Lakes region of Ontario, consider this: the heat and humidity are stifling this month.

It's not possible to air-condition a turn-of-the-century home unless there are modern windows. Our windows are as the title (or should I say, titular?) picture of this blog shows: mullioned. (That is, by the way, a picture taken by yours truly of the window between the first and second floors: it is about 9 feet in height and it was during our first winter blizzard last year.)

My readings are late in the day today, so I don't have to rush around cleaning. My mother and sister will be babysitting.

Due to the lengthy (months-long) wait for an appointment with me, many people have requested to be put on a "cancellation list". If only I were that organized! I do my best. Usually people don't cancel, thankfully, so it isn't much of a problem. I am going to think of a way to devise a cancellation system. Maybe put a form on my website? I don't know.

I don't have a lot of spare time so I generally just let things coast. My business kind of runs itself.

A Medium's Media

My husband, an IT professional, insists that his family is geared with the best. At any rate, I must be a very connected psychic: personal digital assistant, laptop, desktop, wi-fi, and more...

Yesterday, he surprised me with a USB mini-light. It lights up my keyboard.



Tomorrow, I will happily accept delivery of my universal wireless keyboard for my palm. Actually, I have been wanting this for a long time and, finally, Scully agreed that it was essential for me. Yay for me!

What Was I Thinking...?

My babysitter bailed on me this week. It was a horrible, gruelling struggle to find someone. I seriously considered cancelling the rest of this year's schedule but I think I was just overwhelmed. I was promised that it would never happen again.

Being a professional pyschic is still work and, as for any working mother, it's a battle to keep all of the balls in the air while juggling. Sometimes, it is easier than at other times.

For some reason, while out for my daily walk with Mini-Me, I decided that renting a movie could work for me. After all, it was just a 2-hour-or-so commitment, right?

I rented, Darkness.



Ack. It didn't work. I tried admirably hard to find the time. Finally, with the DVD already two days late, I sat down to watch it. Unfortunately, with about 30 minutes until the end, Mini-Me awoke from her nap. The material just wasn't suitable for an almost-two-year-old child.

Tomorrow should be interesting. I had to get my Mother-in-Law to fill in.

Even a psychic can't see everything coming. Last night, while in the kitchen, I asked my husband for a glass. Neither of us was paying attention and I ended up walking straight into the glass that Scully was handing to me. Consequently, I have a HUGE bump on my forehead.

It's just one of those things. Mini-Me keeps pointing to it. She wants to know if it hurts.

Only when I smile.

Change and Routine

Three months ago, I decided to book this past Friday off: no readings, no work-related issues. Happily, it coincided with our reno schedule. My husband was off this week, too.

Thank you to the person who reviewed this blog. I know that it takes some time and commitment to do so and I appreciate it.

I wanted a change and decided to alter the background colour, etc. I hope it works. I guess the rationale behind avoiding the black background in the first place was to avoid playing into the stereotypes about psychics and the paranormal. I truly hate the "flake" factor that comes with the territory.

This being said, I've begun to read Dan Brown's Angels & Demons. (Forgive me for not searching for a more thought-provoking link.)



The very title put me off but I can't resist a good mystery or a good piece of genre-writing in general.

Last night's dream: a heavy-set, female ghost with long hair walked past me and told me that she would be present at the next reading. She disappeared into a building before I could ask why.

Umm, O.K.

While this is not unusual for me, I can't help but get a little irked that I'm never told why. It does become clear during the reading but why the heads-up?

Oh, well.

The Nursery

My readings this week went quickly but my babysitters (family) flew out of the house like bats from a cave just minutes afterwards.

"Did you see a ghost? You know they're really harmless." They were behaving as if they were (uncharacteristically) frightened considering their own experiences with ghosts.

"No, no...We just have to get...going. Bye now!"

I think the nursery freaks people out though Mini-Me is not bothered in the least. She is perfectly safe in that room and she knows this.

Oft have I been sitting with her only to discover that she is laughing and speaking with someone directly behind me.

"O.K.," she giggles and puts her hands to her mouth to stifle laughter. "Fun!"

She is so very well-behaved. There were no tantrums during my readings.

I hope that this week's events don't indicate years of revolving-door babysitters due to an unsettling feeling that comes over some people.

What Would It Take...?

I don't scare easily. I have been the lead investigator in many investigations. At the actual event, I have taken the lead in another sense because I trod through without the slightest hesitation whereas many will not.

More than once, following a night of investigation, I have been asked: is there anything that frightens you?

Well, just about the only thing that could have me wanting to run screaming from a house while vowing never to return would be a tantruming toddler who refuses to sleep two days in a row...

Seriously, however, the 'paranormal' doesn't frighten me...anymore. Certainly, when I was much younger, my curiosity about what was happening to me was tinged with a bit of fear because I simply didn't understand. Now, there are still aspects of my abilities that I don't understand and, in these cases, fear has been replaced with a desire to learn.

Declining and Reclining

Representatives from a clothing chain/store contacted me this past week: they wanted me to participate in a tarot-reading event. They already have a psychic but wanted one with a good reputation instead and, according to them, I am highly reputable. Blush.

I declined. Suffice it to say that I'm very busy.

I couldn't stay awake at around 6:00 a.m. this morning. So, Scully kindly poured coffee into me. Later in the day, while Mini-Me napped, I kicked off my shoes to watch Ju-On: The Grudge.



I have to say that I didn't find it frightening at all; however, I felt compelled to continue watching it.

What fascinated me most were the glimpses into Japanese culture: the architecture, especially, held my attention.

I didn't realize that it was based on two other films.

If you're interested, here is the official website.

I must note that I've not seen the U.S. remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.



I think I have to watch it now.

Just Today Stuff

There are many readings tomorrow and maybe even getting my kitchen floor washed by my mother. She likes to do it and I don't know why.

It was a difficult day for myself and Mini-Me. There were tantrums and difficulties with sleeping and shopping.

While in line at the grocery store:

"Oh! Did your daughter lose her shoe?"

The baby is screaming and won't be consoled. Now, she's kicking.

"No, thanks. I have it here..." By way of apology for the scene, I find myself beginning an explanation:

"It has been a hard day..." We walk out and leave the grocery bags on the counter.

I had a difficult time with many other things, including trying to return business calls, requests for appointments. Somehow, when Scully came home, I was able to start supper, feed the baby and book some appointments.

Interesting To Me

Having done many hundreds of readings, I think I'm still surprised by people who come to a psychic not once but two or three times and still try to test the person.

Examples in point:

(1) people book back-to-back appointments with a "friend" who is actually a spouse or a family member;

(2) people try to conceal the identity of the person(s) by whom they were referred.

To be honest, it doesn't matter to me. The thing is, I ALWAYS know. I call the party on it and we move on from there.

I could understand doing this the first time visiting a particular psychic. What about the second and third times? This is costing the person(s) money. It can't be a matter of trust; otherwise, why would someone come back?

I think it's time for bed.

The Veil

I can't help it. I shop the DVD bargain-bins all the time. You will note several of my past "findings" have been mentioned.

Well, today, I did it again. After three readings, I had a good amount of time to head over to the plaza. At the hardware store, I found, The Veil. It has been hailed, apparently, as "one of the greatest television series that was never aired."



Featuring Boris Karloff--who assumes several roles--it contains five "spine-tingling episodes" of "freaky phenomena" in black & white.

If anyone has any information about when it was filmed, please let me know. I'm being lazy, actually, since a simple search would fill me in. I'm tired. I hit the ground running at 5:30 this morning and now I'm complaining, too.

Good night.

One Step Beyond



While browsing in a bargain shop yesterday, I found a 3-episode DVD of the 1959 show. I was elated!

The disk sleeve declares: "These are "real stories" of the supernatural featuring twisted tales of ghosts, disappearances and other explained mysteries. Truth or fiction? You make the call."

The episodes featured:

The Affair
Anniversary of a Murder
The Boxer

Topper (1953)



I also found one of my favourite TV Series as well. (Based on the film series which was based on the novels by Thorne Smith.)

The episodes featured:

Second Honeymoon
Trip to Lisbon
The Proposal

I paid one CDN dollar per DVD.

Happy May Day

From Miscellanea & Ephemera:

My mother being Irish, she used to tell me all about May Day while I was growing up. I like to acknowledge it in some way.

The Return of May

Hail! fairy queen, adorned with flowers,
Attended by the smiling hours,
'Tis thine to dress the rosy bowers
In colours gay:
We love to wander in thy train,
To meet thee on the fertile plain
To bless thy soft propitious reign,
O lovely May!


'Tis thine to dress the vale anew,
In fairest verdure bright with dew;
And harebells of the mildest blue,
Smile in thy way;
Then let us welcome pleasant spring,
And still the flowery tribute bring,
And still to thee our carol sing,
O lovely May!
Now by the genial zephyr fanned,
The blossoms of the rose expand;
And reared by thee with gentle hand,
Their charms display;
The air is balmy and serene,
And all the sweet luxuriant scene
By thee is clad in tender green.
O lovely May!

Felicia Dorothea Browne Hemans (1793 - 1835)

Happy May Day! I have no May Pole (just one in my memory from Barbados) and I haven't washed my face in May Dew (said to make a plain woman beautiful) or walked barefoot in the dew (said to ensure healthy feet).

Read more about Irish culture and customs on this day.

Maybe I will go wash my face...

***

Don't tell my other blog, but I DID go out and run barefoot in the dew...and even washed my face.

When Good Ghosts Do Bad Things...

Two members of my family were complaining bitterly the other day about teaspoons: they couldn't find one among dozens bought in the last while.

It was then that I spoke of Collin, a ghost hanging around their home. I am familiar with the ghosts of my family's home but I had not seen him before.

I told them to say, "Collin, enough is enough. Give us back our spoons!" The next day, behold, there were all the spoons in the kitchen, dozens of them.

The following day, however, my sister wondered where the cat was. She is an indoor cat and nobody thought to look for her outside. There she was, however, at the front door, scratching to get in. Nobody had opened the doors throughout the day.

Collin is being a pain. However annoying, he is harmless.

O What A Day

I had a pretty good day of readings yesterday. This means that my mother, who comes to babysit, did not drive me completely crazy. She even washed my kitchen floor.

Curiously, a woman who has pestered me for a reading for months--back and forth with rescheduling, etc.--did not show for her appointment. I might have to get tough with people who don't show: Scully suggests that, should someone call to reschedule AFTER having missed an appointment without notice, I should tell the person that the appointment will need to be prepaid.

I think he's right. At the moment, I'm booked far in advance and people wait so long for an appointment that the particular appointment slot yesterday could easily have gone to someone else.

The other appointments--repeats--went really well.

Our living room where, at the moment, I conduct my readings is starting to look normal again since the new sectional sofa arrived.

Amityville Horror (2005)

Add this to my list of movies to see.

I realize that the rumours have been swirling for many years about the authenticity of reports of the family's experiences; however, even if a hoax had occurred, it wouldn't mean that the house isn't haunted.

I found the original movie truly creepy and, trust me, it takes a lot to frighten me.

Article

I've been writing an article for this blog and your patience is much appreciated.

I don't get many opportunities to write or to read these days, but I have been trying to get some done everyday. Thank you, Caillou. Mini-Me loves Caillou and looks forward to a video at 9:00 a.m. each day. Her naps have all but disappeared.

Leaping Up or Forward

Another radio show on Sunday. I guess it went pretty well: people mostly asked about recovering lost jewellery. I was approached by another radio host to do another show on another station.

I wasn't myself. I think that when I have been away from reading and writing, my equilibrium is disturbed. I need books. I need to write.

I have been working steadily on my house, a house that, according to an acquaintance "looks like a psychic should live here". I think that was a compliment.

The house is not ancient (1920) but it is surrounded by original terraces of moss-covered stone. The enclosed porch spans the entire width of our large house and the backyard stretches for one quarter of an acre. The original carriage house at the back would have accommodated perfectly a 1920's car but it is used largely as a shed by us.

I hope that, by now, your eyes have not glazed over due to boredom and that you will permit me one further indulgence: a brief discussion of how I decorated the front porch: vintage lace and linen, old wicker and wrought iron, ferns with other lush plants. I can't help it: the messier and more rustic, the better.

I hope to read and write out there -- during Mini-Me's naps -- this spring/summer.

Ghosts / Calls Waiting

Yesterday felt like the longest day that I'd had in a while.

My father-in-law called to see if I needed any help.

"You sure do have a lot on your hands. A sick husband, a baby..."

"Don't forget a business. I have a business, too."

(He laughed sympathetically.)

"If you need any help, just give us a call."

I need a bath, I thought. And a walk.

With a baby into everything and throwing tantrums and toilet training, returning calls requesting appointments was difficult and fraught with obstacles. I did manage to book several appointments. (This is actually a daily reality.)

Sleep is restless. Ghost dreams alternate with parental-anxiety dreams. Lately, when a ghost tries to communicate this way, I feel like saying, "Just leave a message and I'll get back to you."

As For Myself, Restless

Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost...
(Shakespeare, The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth, Act III, Scene II, line 169)

My ghost dreams last night were pretty intense.

There were hundreds, all at once, marching through the streets. I got the impression that they had all died at the same time, in the same tragedy. They were protesting something but I woke before I could discern what it was.

I told a woman, also a ghost, about those that I had seen marching. She was so preoccupied with the contents and state of her last life that she would not listen to me.

Frustrated, with a sense that I could not accomplish what I was supposed to have done, all the while being absorbed in this latter ghost's activities, I woke.

Oftentimes, the psychic don't get to rest even when they sleep...

Capturing Castles

From Miscellanea & Ephemera blog:

Jeesh, I have been away for quite some time. I have been working on some reviews that I hope to post soon. Otherwise, there's not much to tell you.

I confess to having bought some really good books lately, some vintage and others new. (Said items bought in defiance of a moratorium and said moratorium was issued by yours truly. Well, I'm changeable.)

Most recently, I bought I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith, published 1948. (Dodie Smith also authored 101 Dalmations). It's a book that I have been considering for quite some time (every Monday, actually, at the local store). What finally convinced me to take the leap was finding a movie based on the novel. Now, I'm intrigued.

Now, not only have I not read the novel, I also haven't seen the movie. I will have to come back to this. Soon.

Poor Scully...

It must be difficult living with someone who makes strange announcements all the time.

"There's going to be an accident on your way to work today in X. There are multiple cars but you're not involved. It's just...kind of close to home for me."

"Huh? Okay." Off my husband goes to backslashdotcom all day and he doesn't really think about my prediction.

At the end of the day, he comes home, I greet him and we go about our evening routine. During a commercial break, he says, "Oh, yeah. You were right. There was an accident in X, multiple cars. It really made traffic bad."

Dublin - Malahide Castle

I need to make mention of a good little article that describes Malahide Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in Ireland:

...its 800-year-old family history is haunted with many
unseen and unknown spirits and their presence is made to believe in
every room.

I always wanted to live in a castle while growing up. It just seemed...fitting. My life was naturally filled with so many gothic elements that no one could have blamed me.

At any rate, it would have been difficult to heat, nigh impossible to decorate with any great fidelity to its originating architectural period and my interest in the gothic is now pretty much confined to literature and film. I do have to admit, however, that I love a good thunder-and-lightening storm.

Here is the said article printed in the Economic Times of India.

Movies To Watch

Having a baby in the house now means that I often have to choose only one of these options when there is spare time:

(1) sleep
(2) eat
(3) bathe
(4) write
(5) read

I should add one more option: (6) watch a movie.

Over the past few months, I have accumulated some DVDs that I would love to watch. Though not in this order, this is the list of movies that I will have to make time to watch:

13 Ghosts (1960)
The Invisible Ghost (1941)
The House on Haunted Hill (1959)
Dominique (1978)
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Death at Love House (1976)

As you can tell, I appreciate the older film. There are some classic movies of the 1970s centred around "reincarnation" that are really very good. I will list these later.

The Things That Make You Laugh...

I've spent most of my dream-life receiving information from ghosts and this has increased even more so in the past two years. I don't know why they come to me with information. That's just what happens and--though it can be uncomfortable at times--I don't find it frightening in the least.

The other night, I dreamt that my CAT was smoking a CIGARETTE and it completely freaked me out! Since the baby has come to live with us, I guess I feel like I'm not taking the same degree of care of my cats that I used to. They still get my attention but it now has to be shared with a baby who DEMANDS my constant attention. So, could my cats really be running wild and getting into trouble ? :-)

Holding Up, Hanging In

Wow, babies are incredible and absolutely demanding, darling little creatures. I can't believe how much my life has changed in a month. For one thing, I am up at 4 or 5 a.m. daily. That never used to happen. For another thing, there is this amazing little being demanding my utmost attention at all times. What is more, I don't seem to have much time for myself. Because I also run a business, I have professional responsibilities. I must say, however, that a bath feels absolutely luxurious when I get to have one. I also have a very helpful husband: Scully changes diapers, plays with and tends to her needs very wonderfully when not at work.

I was finally able to resolve the scheduling conflicts and now have a babysitter for my reading days.

There has been no time to read and no time to watch cool movies though my movie pal assures me that she is holding my place for me. I need to get to a movie soon.

Though much of my learning lately has revolved around baby, I've learned some startling professional things as well: I'm considered "famous" by people in the city and surrounding regions. It is true that people have come from way up north and from far south, but I didn't take it to mean that I was "known". Strange, as I've said before, as long as I FEEL anonymous, I'm ok with it.

Every now and then, however, something intrudes on my feeling of anonymity. This time, my sister related a conversation she had with some of her new acquaintances:

"My sister is a professional psychic and she's on television, radio, etc. a lot."

"Oh, yeh? What's her name?"

My sister's answer garnered this:

"Oh, she's your sister? I've heard she's good."

Well, now my blushing commences for having typed this, I'm still shocked. I always am.

Always one to make me laugh, my sister asked if I ever had the feeling that people are staring at me. "Well, they sometimes are!"

Tele-Vision

I did have another TV appearance -- national -- another live question-and-answer. It went well. Lots of calls, then lots of appointments.

The hardest part for me was getting ready: I needed a babysitter to keep Gigi company while I got ready. Wow, it was such a luxury to sit in a bath for more than 3 minutes. I was there to feed her and brush her teeth with her but mostly my mother-in-law cared for her. I'm going to look into this babysitting thing. My husband and I would like to have a date.

My mother comes up to babysit so that I can get my readings done during the week. Yay! It works out.

Schedules and the Toddler-esque

Eek! I have fallen into the vast blog abyss of the non-poster. I apologize. Really, I do. If you don't believe me: a thousand times, I apologize.

To keep you posted: I have decided not to reschedule any of my parties or investigations (weekly) though I now have a toddler in tow. Scully will babysit in the city of party or investigation. I will be the one with camera, video camera, digital voice recorder, etc. or whatever I need for the occasion.

For local investigations, I have recruited those who have expressed an interest in accompanying me.

I haven't had time to peruse the most recent issue of Ghost! Magazine (which magazine I received a few weeks ago, I believe).

I have placed a moratorium on book-buying, both personally and professionally. My $100.00-per-month habit was not sustainable. My husband will be awake with me through the withdrawal symptoms.

Hmmm...I still have not seen the television show, "Medium" and, truthfully, I will probably not see it. Nor have I seen "Most Haunted" which is still Most Talked About among my clients.

The toys that were activated and noisy at the home of my family-of-origin are here and have been very quiet.

As I may have mentioned earlier, my readings resume on Friday which means that I have only two days left in which to make this house look less Toddleresque.

Update

My unscheduled absence from this blog has been due the fact that my husband and I are now raising my 18-month-old daughter, Gigi, and I am adjusting to the new schedule.

Well, blogging has been difficult for me since Gigi came to live with us. I'm sure that I'll get back on track shortly.

There hasn't been much going on that is worth reporting: I'm still doing readings but I have taken a 2-week vacation by rescheduling appointments. The only appointments that I didn't reschedule were parties.

I've had a few clients say, "Oh, I have children and I don't mind being interrupted if you'll still read for me at my appointment date/time." Something like that.

Gigi was awake until 5:00 a.m. with teething symptoms so neither of us has had much sleep.

I See Double

Very little sleep is making me sound stupid while dealing with clients who continue to phone. Performing a simple matter of mulitiplication required effort.

I wish that I could write more.

Having a baby around the house full-time is not easy.

Just A Day...

On waking this morning, I received a call from a radio station requesting an interview. It was just a minute or so in length but would I be interested in doing it?

I gave the interview while getting Scully ready for work. (Did I mention that, in my few spare moments, I am also a housewife?) It aired at around 12:30 or so.

I also struggled with the idea of calling my mother (difficult to do even in a crisis, I'm afraid.) A ghost around her visited me in my dreams last night and asked me to pass along a message to her. This happens nightly but doesn't usually involve my mother.

Then...Maybe the surprise I experience is a good thing. I know that people come to see me from all over the province. I was just surprised to learn that my first client of the day took two trains and two buses to get here.

Now, I wait for my final client of the day.

icCheshireOnline - Guests flock for ghosts galore at hotel

I still haven't seen this show. I know, I know. People think that I should be watching this kind of show all the time. I LIVE it, however, and sometimes that's more than enough for me.

GHOST-HUNTERS who have flocked to a hotel have not been disappointed, according to a staff member who sees the resident spooks almost weekly.

The 350-year-old Old Hall Hotel in High Street, Sandbach was thrown into the spotlight by cult TV show Most Haunted - broadcast on satellite channel LivingTV - which identified 14 ghosts in its rooms.

During the hour-long show viewers saw spirit medium Derek Acorah, helped by spirit friend Sam, tap into the lives of more than a dozen ghostly apparitions.

The hall, built by Sir John Radcliffe in 1656, has gained a reputation as one of Britain's most haunted hotels.

Now hotel assistant Lisa Davies says Room 11, which had most paranormal activity, is booked up until May.

She said: 'We get people saying they have seen the ghosts all the time.

'I have seen the lady in the hall on a number of occasions. The first time I could not believe my eyes, but I am so used to seeing her now it doesn't bother me.

'You just have to accept them. They don't do any harm, they are a bit mischievous, like stealing things and moving stuff around, but they have never been bad to anyone.'

The hotel is reputed to be haunted by a guest who hanged himself, an elderly woman dressed in black and children who can be heard playing hide and seek.

Room 11 is alleged to be inhabited by the ghost of a servant and her large ginger cat. Another spirit terrifies guests by turning on taps and pushing them under water as they bathe, as one of the Most Haunted film crew experienced.

But Old Hall owner Sue Hall says people come from all over the country to stay at the hotel.

'One of the first calls we got after the show aired was from a guest cancelling his booking in Room 11, but in the main people are really interested,' she said.

Mr. Acorah's reputation is stellar.

Drained? Probably Not

Yesterday, I think I got very tired after my readings. I fell asleep around 8:00 pm and awoke just after 7:00 this morning. Frankly, I'm still tired but I have a lot to do before my last reading of the day at 6:00 pm.

I'm not sure that it's actually to do with the readings (though I have an inordinate number throughout the week) that I am tired: my diet has changed. I'm eating less (but better) these days and having longer days.

I always have clients express concern: don't you get tired? Is a party too tiring for you? They've known psychics before and these people always got tired. I don't know. I'm always likely to attribute fatigue to something else and I don't worry about burning out.

I'm glad for the warm weather approaching. Winter in general tires me. I become more lethargic. I've never understood those who have fun in the snow. Sure, there are snowangels and snowmen to make but skiing? Nah, not for me. I like walking.

Uncomfortable Relay

I think I've mentioned that I have ghosts in my dreams? Well, I'm completely aware in my dream that I am speaking with a ghost and I have total recall of the experience. Unfortunately, this happens many times a week and I sometimes don't get a lot of sleep. Thankfully, I'm pretty used to it and it doesn't scare me.

One night, I fell asleep and "Don" appeared to me. He walked quickly past me in a darkened hallway. He was tall, portly, dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt. He was also bald and loved motorcycles. Middle-aged.

Anyway, he said, "Tell her I love her!"

"Um, ok, but who are you?"

"It's Don," he said as if I should have known.

"Well, how will she know that I spoke to you?"

At this point, he pulled out a gun, stuck it in his mouth and pulled the trigger. I woke up instantly.

The next day, I was going to be seeing a friend (whom I didn't know very well at all). I struggled with the idea of telling her about "Don". Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and I pulled her aside.

"Er, did you have an uncle who died?"

"Yes."

"Was his name Don?"

She was more interested now. "Yes," she said.

"Was he, um, kind of big, bald and middle-aged? Liked motorcycles?"

"Yes, yes!" Her eyes were absolutely wide.

This was the hardest part. "Did he commit suicide? With a gun?"

"Geeezuz," she said, "that's him. Why do you ask??"

"He says to tell you he loves you."

Recently, In A Letter To A Friend...

I think it's unfortunate that I kicked off the new year in the following way. Oh, well.

Hmmm...idiot at the New Year's party. Well, we decided
to spend the evening with two friends at their party. As it turned out,
only 3 others made it: 2 of them were a couple.

I know the guy from my days at the university: he was a few years
ahead of me in philosophy, in the Doctorate program from which he
would eventually disappear. When I met him again through SCULLY's
friends, I instantly knew he was a jerk. His name is X.

So, while my friends are showing interest in what I do (they are
extremely supportive of my career choice), X has to talk to me about
what I do. My friends are dreading this, I can tell, and I am trying
to avoid eye contact. I can see him navigating around the room and,
finally, the conversation has to happen or I will be rude.

(SCULLY has decided to let me handle it: X is an idiot but I can
always hold my own. He had his own experiences with X while at
university: turns out SCULLY is far superior in intellect and better at
chess, too. The guy has consistently vied for the position of alpha
male ever since. Tedious.)

I entertain the questions about what I do for a living. He won't
leave me alone. He needs me to know that he thinks my psychic reading
cannot be real because it doesn't fall under the umbrella of science
and mathematics and, well, that's all there really is...blah, blah,
blah.

He also needs me to know that he believes that what I do with the
cards etc. can be easily explained. So, there's my chance to shut him
up: "What do I do with the cards? What does a psychic reading
involve? Do I use cards? Does that fact that I make predictions with
greater-than-average accuracy necessarily imply some statement about
the nature of reality, if such a Nature there be?" You see where I'm
going.

He won't be derailed. Despite the fact that he cannot adequately
explain what a reading is, that he can't tell me how my readings
proceed or what kind of predictions I make, he needs to establish his
superiority. He looks like an idiot. I tell him that his arguments
might be strengthened if actually knew something about what I did.

The only way that I can shake him off is by agreeing to call it an
evening when SCULLY asks if we could go...

It went on for hours and my head was hurting because I wanted to join
in the big people's conversation. :(

Anyway, I felt like telling him how inappropriate it was to expect
anyone to defend his/her career choice and no less so at a party!

At any rate, thanks for permitting me the rant.

At least I got to rant about it. Hmmph.

Well, You Don't Really Like Me...

I checked on Blogexplosion and I have dropped down to 7.29 or something, a full point's difference! Actually, I'm shocked by the number of votes (22).

Raising Spirits

I think that there are still some people close to me who need to be told again that even though I work from home, I am not REALLY home. Now, dear readers, this isn't a lesson in metaphysics; I simply mean that there is sometimes the tendency to assume that I'm not actually working.

I am drained by readings sometimes but I am even more drained by long-distant relatives (of the living kind) who need me to cheer them up. I have such a headache right now. Eeyeck.

I actually do readings all day long and my stamina is very good but sometimes--just sometimes--I feel dizzy and light-headed afterwards, toward the end of the day.

It's funny: the other day, a married couple came to see me in two separate appointments. They figured that I wouldn't know that they were married. By the end of the lady's reading, I told her that I knew it was her husband for whom I was to read next. She looked sheepish and admitted to me their deceit. The husband was even more shocked.

My niece's musical toy aquarium has been playing on its own: it happened the night before last. At least, this time, it wasn't a toy that I had given her so my sister can't transfer her annoyance to me!

Put The Book Down...Back Away Slowly

My sleeping pattern has been thrown wildly off lately. It's because I only really get a chance to read late at night and, then, I find it hard to put the book down.

Just one more paragraph.

Just one more chapter.

Just one more hour until I get to make coffee.

Investigations

Today, my Scully accompanied me on an investigation. He's so good at it: very thorough with procedure and he does great camera work, too.

I get so inundated with images and impressions that it is easier for me to have someone along with me when I am not investigating with a paranormal group.

I have lots of offers to assist which is really nice but I rarely take anyone up on it. Besides my husband, there are three other people whom I trust to have with me and, in general, I prefer my husband.

We have taken to referring to each other as Scully and Mulder--jokingly--in the presence of others during investigations because it causes us all to laugh. It is funny and he is definitely my Scully.

I have two book reviews pending for this blog and I hope that you will find them useful.

The Insane One

I was recently contacted again by the Insane One, a person who truly terrifies me. I have been trying to find a way to avoid reading for him but cannot. He wanted a free reading and had already spoken to 2 or 3 other psychics that day.

The impressions that I get about him are not good.

Behind Again

Why do I let myself get behind with my investigation stuff? I think I know: it can be effing tedious. Listening to hours and hours of data. I have so much to do tonight because I have been procrastinating.

The investigation about which I write is ongoing: possible e.v.p. files sent to me by a client. I am meeting with her tomorrow to discuss results.

Egads!

Now, I promise not to provide a spoiler of White Noise but it was bad and the message was worse: "Don't communicate with the dead because you don't know what you're dealing with..."

There were some good, shocking and frightening moments but the horror spin on the E.V. phenomenon made me cringe and I worried that its message might have been effective where the young audience was concerned.

Off To The Cinema

I'm off to the flicks: my friend talked me into seeing White Noise. Aside from the wincing that I may end up doing, I will probably have a good time.

My reluctance to see it may have to do with the dozens and dozens of possible E.V.P. stuff that I hear every week.

Oh, well. I am tired and achy and tomorrow it is back to readings.

Definitely, I'm a grumpy psychic tonight.

A Day Off

As I mentioned before, I took the day off today.

"Must be nice," my husband commented.

I do feel slightly guilty but, since I'm the boss, I can do this, right? Well, I did have a very long, exceptionally busy week.

I plan to get things done today, really. I don't know what just yet. I will attend to Matters of Consequence. There are always calls to return and email to answer for booking appointments.

One mission today: I have to go to a particular art store in order to get a refill for my favourite pen. It's an Itoya. Best pen I've ever had.

Tomorrow evening, I'm going to see White Noise though I truly disapprove of a horror spin on the whole E.V. phenomenon. It's just that my friend, with whom I go to the movies every Tuesday, is so excited about it. Ah, well.

Today, Today and Today

I get to wake up slowly, drink coffee and watch Fawlty Towers this morning.

The last week has been insanely busy, beginning with the television appearance. On Friday evening, I did a Tarot party that lasted 3 hours. Then, I came home and had to make sure that everything was in place for the investigation on Saturday way, way up north.

I had readings throughout the week. I think that I have stared insanity in the face. I'm not talking about neurosis (which makes someone seem a little off), nor about sociopathy (which makes someone appear completely normal). I am speaking of true, psychotic break from reality. In this instance, I was unable to speak very often: the client did all of the talking. I gave my impressions but the client wasn't listening. I was glad when the session was over.

I get the day off tomorrow. I shouldn't actually have a day off but I decided to keep tomorrow free for the details to which I need to attend.

I Can So Relate...


Working from home...

Quotidian

As usual, I spent most of the day taking appointment requests and cleaning the house for clients.

I was up into the middle of the night working on investigation stuff: making sure my files were set up for the next two investigations (one on the weekend and one the following week.)

So, nothing exciting to report.

I have to stop writing now because I have messages to listen to regarding appointments, but I will try to write more later today.

Television Groove

I just finished booking dozens of readings. The whole experience of going on national television was great. By all accounts, it was a good show. It lasted one half hour and was fun.

Everyone at the station was very nice. Some of the "big" people came up to introduce themselves and congratulate me.

I wasn't nervous, to be honest. I'm used to the camera from investigations and interviews. I'm used to speaking in front of people because I was on radio 5 times last year.

Back to Normal

My husband left for work hours ago and I have been shopping online. I am procrastinating since I have business matters to take care of and I would rather let the show coming up today be my main focus in that area.

The television show is about 2 hours away. That is, I have to be at the station in make up in 2 hours. Me? In makeup? I never wear it, never want to do so. So, this should be interesting.

I am calm and I thought I might be more nervous.

Jeepers

Wow, the television appearance is in slightly more than 12 hours. This--and all the media attention that I have received--really shocks me. I don't understand why it happens or even how it comes about.

I've been recognized before for television interviews and my name has been recognized as having been on radio, but this might shake my sense of anonymity to the core. I will do my best to not be freaked out if more people recognize me from now on.

Also, I have been looking ahead in the calendar, looking for a month that I might be able to take completely for myself, for writing. I haven't come up with one yet.

I will need much coffee this week, I believe, to help me sustain my energy throughout the week as it is going to be so terribly busy.

Not even psychics get to have extra long vacations. To be honest, I still did some work throughout the holidays: booking appointments, etc.

My husband's work schedule resumes tomorrow. I truly enjoyed having him home with me all this time. Guess it's time to get back to work, isn't it?

The Ghost Watcher and The Eye

First, let me explain that I generally choose my movies based upon the description on the back of the case. Also (and to the disappointment of my husband), I usually pay no attention to the fact that many movies seem to skip a theatrical release altogether.

These things being said, I rented both of the above-noted titles last week.

Ghost Watcher (2002): This is definitely a B movie and I couldn't sit all the way through it. Much of the acting was horrible. Apparently, if you do manage to sit through it, the end is creative. Umm...life in the current incarnation is too short.

The Eye (2002) (a.k.a. Jian gui): I quite enjoyed the acting and the premise (though a familiar one through popular television series) was compelling enough--blind girl, cornea transplant--to watch unfold in its entirety. It was filmed in Hong Kong. I was unfamiliar with the directors (Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang) and the actors but I absolutely love subtitles. While watching yesterday, I wished that I spoke Cantonese and Mandarin.

So, that is how I spent my New Year's Eve day.

Happy New Year!

Yay, it's 2005 already. Where does the time go?

Early One Morning...

I'm up early this morning. Usually, my husband is up at this time before I am. I'm drinking coffee, watching the news.

I must remember today to ask my husband about the blinds in the bathroom: I keep finding them open (which is unusual because we both enjoy privacy).

I'm looking forward to tonight: ringing in the new year with people that I've known now for years and whom I like.

My dreams were quiet last night, nothing of interest to anyone.

The Next Nine Days...

What a busy schedule:

January 3 - television appearance (gawd, I found out it's national)
January 5,6 - readings, regular schedule
January 7 - Tarot party
January 8 - all day investigation / readings up North

When I return on the 8th, I have to prepare a report of another investigation.

Today...

After two days of shopping constantly, I found an outfit for the television show with much, much help from my husband. It's simple: black calf-length skirt, green sweater and funky 1920s'-style shoes.

So far this week, one person has asked if she can be my assistant at investigations and a parapsychological group has asked if I would be interested in working with them.


My husband and I really enjoyed shopping together today and visiting with a favourite uncle.

Television!

Well, I don't know how they heard of me but I was invited to do a live, call-in show on a well-known television station. Wow.

I am very, very nervous about this but I do get to buy a new outfit :)

Apparently, my rating on Blogexplosion leaves something to be desired. 5.50, I think. Jeesh, I hope I haven't bored you to death. Err...wrong choice of words??

It was a matter of curiosity for me to try the Blogexplosion phenomenon. I'm not sure how I feel about marketing one's blogs so aggressively. Sure, there are link directories, etc. and I don't really have a problem with submitting my blog to those, but actually participating in a blog-viewing plan? Ah, well. I have met some fantastic people so, for that reason alone, it was worth joining.

I suspect that you would like more details about the readings that I give daily but I can't provide you with much: I promise people confidentiality and I would not want to risk a client recognizing him-or-herself in an entry on the offchance that my blog would be stumbled upon. No apologies here.

If, however, you think that there should be more information about ghosts, then I will do my best to provide you with experiences that don't affect copyright of any sort.

At any rate, to the people who "blogmarked" me, I thank you. You like me, you really like me :-)

Happy Holidays!

OK, I haven't posted as often as I said I would but things have been busy: clients and botanical products and stuff.

Now, things are settling down for me since I booked the rest of December off for myself (I can do that cuz I'm the boss).

In January: readings resume from Monday to Friday and then there will be an investigation up north in the second week. My husband and I are going to treat it also as a vacation.

Ghostly events to report? My sister has told me that my niece's noisy toys are going off by themselves. (Still, she went ahead and bought her another such noisemaker for Christmas: Tickle-Me-Elmo). That house is never devoid ghostly activity. In fact, during her pregnancy, a toy on the nursery shelf (Ernie, I believe) started talking.

In our home, my husband and I can hear conversations in the basement WHILE in the basement! In fact, we keep thinking that the other one is speaking!

Also, the other day, hearing my husband yell, I ran frantically up the basement stairs to the main floor and asked my husband if he was all right.

"Yes!" he shouted back down from the top floor (we have a lot of stairs and a very tall house). He thought that I had yelled.

There's nothing much else to report except the footsteps that I can hear from the basement when I'm the only one in the house.

Everyone keeps asking me if I intend to watch the new show called "Medium" in January and the spate of supernatural-inspired movies that are upcoming...I might but I'm not exactly excited. I guess it would be the same for my husband: coming home after work and watching shows/movies about computers.

For me, a movie can seem compelling for different reasons: the pairing of actors/actresses, the script is based on a familiar novel or the director is one of my favourites.

At any rate, I look forward to the new year for many reasons and I hope that you do, too.

Sunday's Radio Show

It went really well: there were callers queued before I even got to the microphone. We took about 40 calls which has to be some kind of record.

The host said that the show gets better all the time.

Each time I appear, the questions seem to be clustered, coincidentally, into one of several categories. Last show: job and finances. This makes sense given the time of year but my family, avid listeners that they are, have told me that they prefer the questions about love and relationships. I have no control over this, as I've tried to explain, since calls are taken on a first-call, first-answered basis (as it should be).

My readings, in person, are usually about one hour in length and pretty comprehensive. Not surprisingly, then, the show is a change of pace.

Gothic Requests

I've added many books to my Christmas wishlist this year and I think that my husband has endeavoured to find me some. There's little in the way of fiction, mostly the meta-gothic: criticism, history, etc.

I have had trouble with motivation today: I can't seem to wake up and start doing things.

I scheduled only one client today and this appointment isn't until 6:00 p.m. I feel rather selfish because I am now booking into the second week of January when I could have given some of the day to clients. It's Christmas, however, and, so, Merry Christmas to me.

Back soon.

Radio

I'm leaving for the radio station soon. Once I get there, the time goes by so quickly. A one hour show just flies by.

Tarot and Such

Last night, I did a tarot party and it turned out very well. I severely limit the number that I do. This is done in addition to my regular schedule of weekday readings and only on Fridays.

I apologize, dear readers, for not posting much lately but I have been so terribly busy. My writing has also preoccupied me.

I will write more and more indepthly this week, I hope.

In The Closet

My husband and I went to a party last night at which so many people came up to talk to me about what I do for a living and about my website.

We had lots of fun. A friend of mine who writes for a monthly Canadian magazine asked so many insightful questions and really was interested in what I had to say. Bless him!

Why have I hidden this for so long? He mentioned there were, of course, those who would scoff and I burst into laughter: aren't there always? I laughed not because this was news to me (as, indeed, it was not) but because I was acutely aware of how little I cared that people scoffed.

I was in a room filled with some of Canada's most privileged, educated people. Everyone there held at least a B.A. and, yet, there were no signs of pretension.

I suppose that some people might feel superior to me when they find out what I do because they assume that I cannot be intelligent, that I cannot hold views contrary to their own experience and be taken seriously.

Many people are pretty silent when they discover that I hold a respectable degree and that I will be seeking another one shortly (as soon as our renovations are done).

We all have to come to terms with who we are: in my twenties, I was uncomfortable with who I am and now, in my thirties, I have never been happier. Maybe so many people struggle with direction because they feel compelled to follow only conventional and acceptable paths. I chose to follow my intuition.

Last night, I saw how comfortable I am with, well, me.

Radio

I have been asked to make another in-studio radio appearance for December. I love doing the show! (This makes 5 times this year)

I have been booking parties left, right and centre. This is in addition to my 10 am - 6 pm weekly schedule of readings. 'Tis the season.

Nanowrimo

Well, dear readers, as you probably already know, I chose not to attempt to complete my novel in a month. I love the process and I want it to take as long as it needs to in order for me to produce what I know is now brewing.

What started out as a challenge to keep writing was fantastic: I am writing and really enjoying it. I chose the quality-versus-quantity approach in the end.

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

This movie was based on the book, Black Hope Horror: The True Story of a Haunting. I wish that I could comment on the film's fidelity to the book; however, it has been about 14 years since I read it. It certainly seemed to faithfully depict what I recall of my reading.

The book itself was gripping and hard to put down.

I enjoyed Patty Duke's performance.

Another Tarot Party

Last night, I did a tarot party and it went very well.

I have had to turn down requests to do parties because I don't really want to give up my evenings and weekends as these are for family. So, perhaps, once a month but no more.

I am exhausted today but it doesn't have to do with the readings. I try to stay up so late and then wake up very early. That's the problem with being a night person and an early riser.

Graveyard Story (1990)

I find it hard to believe that this movie was made in 1990. The low-budget, elevator-style music and stiff performances convinced me it was much older.

The supernatural was not the star of this movie.

It was nice to see Dundas, Oakville and Hamilton.

Morning Readings

Though I'm having trouble waking up, early morning readings are good for me. It forces me to get the day started and it helps me to be organized. Still, I am exhausted.

The Dead Will Tell (2004)

This made-for-television movie, featuring Anne Heche and Jonathan LaPaglia, delivered an interesting take on an old theme: haunted object leads to the solution of an old mystery.

I won't say that I didn't enjoy it. Every actor was strong and the script, though it seemed to leave little room for emotional development in the main characters, twisted and turned often enough for good surprises.

Not quite gothic (there weren't many genre characteristics), it was thoroughly a good ghost story.

Big Bad Bessie

I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was making tea for a client, opened up the carton for the first time and it MOO-ed. How embarrassing to discover that such cartons do not, actually, contain milk but saltwater! So, there was no milk for my client's tea. Aargh!

As my husband put it, we could have used milk much more than the $5.00 in downloaded music. Ah, well.

The clients had travelled such a long distance for their readings and, here I was, unable to make tea. Thankfully, they were very understanding.

American Haunting

This up-and-coming flick, being filmed in Romania, seems as if it will be an irresistible combination of supernatural and Donald Sutherland.

This goes on my look-for list.

Readings

I couldn't sleep last night or the night before. I am haunted by the figure of a woman in the midst of a horrible tragedy. She came to see me two days ago and her plight was so harrowing that it still pangs me.

I try to remain distant from the emotional edges but it is difficult to do so. It seems unnatural to not engage. I held her hand and hugged her and that was all that I could do and maybe that was what she needed. She was too hysterical for an appointment and we just sat together, both of us painfully aware that there were no words to soothe her in any of the minutes that passed between us.

Of this I am convinced: People feed each other spiritually.

Cemeteries in New Orleans

Cool breezes blow through the walkways of 18th-Century buildings, the clacking of horse carriages echo off the brick walls and the white facade of the St. Louis Cathedral rises above it all. Throw in paranormal activities, voodoo practitioners and creepy graveyards, and it's enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

This would definitely be worth the trip! At this time of the year, there must be several thousand articles written about Ghost Tours and ghostly phenomena. New Orleans has to be among the most fascinating of venues:

Every October, thousands of travelers descend upon the Crescent City in search of horror and hauntings. Costumed guides lead visitors through crumbling cemeteries, the drumming of voodoo rituals thump through the walls of homes and reported sightings of ghosts come from every crack and crevice in the French Quarter. This is a city that takes no shame in its macabre attractions and history of horror and death.

Apparently, the religious history and aged cemeteries are among the main attractions.

The roots of these burial rituals are traced back to Africa. It all ends in the cities of the dead where histories of mystery, danger, disease and horror lie encased in massive crypts. Behind the rusty iron gates, the ghost-white tombs lie adorned with crosses and angelic statues that exude both beauty and mystery.

Since the city was founded in 1718, the dead in New Orleans have never been content staying in the ground. Corpses buried on the banks of the muddy Mississippi river once washed into city streets, and those buried within the city often broke from their coffins and rose to the surface during floods and heavy rains.

If ever I get the opportunity, I will visit in October.

Tarot Parties

I was hired to do a series of parties for the same organization and tonight I did the first one.

It went well and everyone was pleased. I think the fact that it was hosted by a Wiccan really enriched the night. I'm not Wiccan but I am very familiar with the ritual objects, etc. The host was very dedicated to Wicca.

People always assume that I am Wiccan because of what I do.

I think that the people in attendance were impressed by the fact that I actually do readings for a living, Monday to Friday.

An Interesting Day...

I also received my new "Gothic Tarot" deck. Jeesh, I think it was an impulse-buy because I am disappointed. Not that the weathered angel statue aren't great and not that they weren't chosen appropriately for each card, I just expected more I guess.

I suppose that I was hoping for more of a literary angle.

I received, too, my Gypsy Fortunetelling Deck (also an impulse buy). You see, a few years after beginning the tarot (almost 2 decades ago!), I grew restless for different methods of divination. I stumbled across plain-card reading (as well as a host of other methods). THAT's what the Gypsy Fortunetelling deck is: plain-card reading.

I suppose that I was hoping for there to be something more to it, more history associated with it.

They are, however, both interesting decks.

Ghost! Magazine


New Print Edition

Today, I received my first copy of the first issue of "Ghost! Magazine". At first glance, it is obvious that I will enjoy it. It's published with the Ghost Investigator in mind and includes nifty little features for the savvy ghost hunter. Also, at first glance, it seems that not all of its features are very interesting to me (even as an investigator) but time will tell. Besides, no publication can be everything to everyone, right?

Definitely, I will be blogging more about this magazine in the future and will give an indepth review once I've had an opportunity to peruse it. I like what I see!

Gwyneth Paltrow's Home

Apparently, according to Phil Kemp on this site, there is rumour that the London house bought by Gwyneth Paltrow and husband is haunted.

Well, in my opinion, all houses are haunted but I would be interested to hear the tales told by all previous owners including Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes.

The Call of Carnivale

I have it on good authority that this is an excellent series concerning the supernatural. I've had the pilot episode recorded for quite some time and I just don't seem to find the time to watch it. I think I should. I will.

If anyone has watched this show, let me know what you think.

New Ghost Movie To Watch For

I always keep an eye out for a good ghost movie. The last one of note for me was "The Others". I haven't seen any since that have truly frightened me, so, when I get word of an up-and-coming project, hope springs...

Delpy Haunted by Lost Child Ghost 'Legend'
Fri, Oct 08, 2004, 08:10 AM PT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Julie Delpy experienced a blast from the past when she reunited with Ethan Hawke for the recent "Before Sunset," and now she's going to be haunted by the past again for her next project.

The 34-year-old actress has signed on to star in the eerie ghost thriller "The Legend of Lucy Keyes," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film is based on the real-life story of the Keyes family in Princeton, Massachusetts whose four-year-old daughter Lucy disappeared in 1755. Her loss drove the girl's mother, Martha Keyes, to the brink of insanity. She eventually died 31 years later. To this day, witnesses insist that they still see the ghosts of Lucy and Martha restlessly wandering Wachusett Mountain.

Haunted Inns and Hotels

Sometimes, it seems as if there are just too many guides of this sort. If you'll excuse my choice of words, it is an idea that has been done to death. At any rate, according to the Arizona Republic Online, dated October 9th, there is a new title:

Ghosts that supposedly reside at hotels in Arizona are the subject of a new book by longtime ghost hunter Debe Branning. Sleeping with Ghosts! - A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Arizona's Haunted Hotels & Inns, features stories of murder, mayhem and love at haunted establishments throughout the state. Branning relates her experiences with hotel spirits in Douglas, Bisbee, Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma and Jerome. Branning and her ghost-hunting team, the MVD Ghostchasers, have been tracking ghosts in Arizona for more than 10 years. The book is published by Phoenix-based Golden West Publishers.

Honestly? I will probably read it.

World's First Sports Stadium Publicly Declared Haunted

Follow the above link for the full story. Here's a snippet:

(PRWEB) October 8, 2004 -- On Saturday, September 18th, 2004, Rochester Paranormal had been invited to conduct a private tour and investigation of Frontier Field in Rochester, New York, for the purpose of discovering whether or not, there might exist conclusive evidence as to the potential presence of any apparitional phenomenon.

Rochester Paranormal has achieved one of the highest success rates of any private research team within the United States, regarding their consistency for acquiring apparitional and anomalous evidence based on the combining theory and talents of Psychic Paranormal Researcher Director J. Burkhart & Psychic Medium Ms. Lee.

There is, apparently, photographic evidence on the official website for the Rochester Red Wings Baseball Team.

I checked out the photos and I would need more evidence than these offer.

Congrats, at any rate, to Rochester Paranormal for its investigation.

Ohio's Ghost Tours Offer Eerie Experiences

The above-linked Ghost Tours are something I would love to try.

I know that I have had a lot of fun going on ghost walks in different areas: Fort George, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal...

My favourite, however, is that of Ottawa:

Haunted Walks of Canada was founded in 1995. It offers unique historical walking tours with a ‘ghostly’ theme in Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario. Our tours appeal to all age groups and are conducted in the evening when the lights are low and the atmosphere is just right for a good ghost story. The Haunted Walk captures the unique ‘darker history’ of each city by presenting it the way it was meant to be seen.

The Haunted Walk offers several different walking tours through the quiet streets of the Nation's Capital. We are Ottawa's most popular walking tour company and this season, we are expanding with several new tours. Whether you're interested in chilling murders, or misbehaving ghosts, you can join us in the daytime or in the evening by lantern-light.

For information: (613) 232-0344

Spooky Sleepover

If you happen to be in Sheffield, then this would be a great opportunty:

GHOST-busting volunteers are being sought for a spine-tingling challenge - a spooky sleepover in one of Sheffield's most haunted buildings.

The Cavendish Centre for Cancer Care wants 30 fearless fundraisers to sign up for the eerie event.
They will sleep the night inside the turret house at Manor Lodge on Manor Lane - rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots.
The Haunted House Sleepover, on Saturday October 30, aims to raise at least £2,000 for the cancer therapy centre on Wilkinson Street in Broomhall, Sheffield.
Volunteers will get into the spirit of things with a creepy ghost walk around the medieval Manor Lodge site before being bolted inside the turret house with little more than torches, flasks, and sleeping bags for protection.
There will even be a series of spectral readings from literature students at the University of Sheffield, performing their own material and reciting scary prose.
Each participant will have to sign an eight-clause disclaimer agreeing not to leave the sleeping area unless escorted by staff and confirming they are "fully aware of the elements of risk involved" in the event.

...and it's for a great cause! If anyone does do this, please let me know.

Catching Up...

For international clients, I decided to start doing my readings by telephone.

As always, my last guest spot on radio went very well and generated tons of calls.

I have bought too many books recently (which I will review here as time permits).

I expect to be writing a good update very shortly, so stay tuned!