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.