Dessert Can Be Deadly...

As some of you might know, Ghost Adventures recently traveled to Salem, Massachusetts; this week Travel Channel aired the episode filmed at the famous Witch House (better known as Jonathan Corwin House). It's the only remaining structure in Salem with direct connections to the world-famous Salem Witchcraft Trials. Of course, humor ensues when Zak meets witchcraft. I'm not sure asking random people on the street if they are witches is good form. But this is Ghost Adventures, after all, and we're used to an unlimited amount of intentional (and unintentional) laughs.

A lot of the places I recognized from my past trip to Salem for a book signing and pleasant stay with psychic medium Jeffrey Justice. Even before I heard this episode was coming out, I had been thinking about my trip. I do miss Essex Street and all the history. So, I did a little shopping and finally made a few postponed purchases with connections to my trip: a few herbs from Hex: Old World Witchery and some dinnerware from an artist I discovered at the delightfully morbid Life And Death in Salem. After all this time, her work still called to me.

While browsing the shop, waiting to visit Jeffrey on one of his breaks, a pair of empty eye sockets stared back at me from a dinner plate. It was part of the "Skull and Cross Utensils" design series of refurbished restaurant ware created by ceramicist Meredith Host. While the artist lives in Missouri, she received her Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Ohio State University in 2008. Some of her work is quite unique (if not downright comical), though I'm partial to her depictions of skulls, bones, and organs on stark white plates, bowls, and cups. There's something about serving a slice of Death By Chocolate on a plate decorated with a grinning skull that seems too fitting for me.

So I broke down and began my collection this week with a set of four dessert plates. I'll warn you now; the dinnerware is highly addictive. Perhaps it's my odd sense of humor, but I love the idea of skull plates and zombie brain bowls laid out on a table. I'll slowly add to my collection provided I can resist the temptation of breaking the bank to fill the cupboards. Unique, well-crafted, morbidly-amusing things are so hard to find. Not only that, I'm a picky person. When I find something that screams "I must have that" it's a rare surprise.

I couldn't mention macabre dining without touching on another delight from "Professor Paranormal" himself, Loyd Auerbach. While I am eagerly anticipating his book, Haunted by Chocolate, to be released, you can find some spooky treats on the related site. His decadent "Ghost Drops" are available by mail, or you can schedule a chocolate tasting for an event or party.

Hold the Cadavers, Please...

Pappu Sweet Center and Catering in Wolverhampton, UK, was shut down and fined this week. Police were called back in August to a report of a sudden death and couldn't believe their eyes. Not only were the conditions in the kitchen unfit for food preparation, but the body of a dead man was reclining nearby on a sofa.

One cook was chain smoking and spitting on the floor repeatedly. Fly-laden chicken was defrosting in an adjoining room, oozing blood and fluids onto the floor. A dead rat was found beneath a pot and rodent droppings were discovered in many areas.

Sounds appetizing, right?

After conducting a post mortem, the dead man was found to have died of natural causes, but environmental health officers closed down the business, owned by Jaswinder Singh.

City council officer Nick Edwards is grateful and hopes to send a message to anyone preparing food in unsanitary conditions.

"We are pleased that the council's actions," he said, "have resulted in the courts banning this individual from ever running a food business again."

After the Panic at the Disco...

Well, I'm feeling relaxed tonight. Relatively. I've accomplished what I needed to work on this weekend, though a bit later than I expected. I would love to discuss things further, but since I have this nasty habit of jinxing myself whenever I open my mouth, it will have to wait a while.

Otherwise, my weekend was interesting. Cleveland Pride was decent. Same people, same setup. I didn't even notice there was a theme until we were leaving... isn't that sad?

Dinner plans changed. There was a $10 cover just to walk into Union Station, and since no food is worth that overhead cost, we ventured elsewhere. The second choice of restaurants turned out to be just as unfortunate. They were without power and unable to cook! Finally, we opted for Bennigan's.

I had a pint of Guinness and a burger, and all was well with the world.

This week is passing extremely quickly. Almost too fast. Perhaps because of the many things that need to be done? I have phone calls to make tomorrow, plans to set into motion, and an immense cleaning project ahead to turn my desk from a disastrous mountain of chaos to a real work station. No wonder I have a difficult time focusing. Too many distractions.

I do have two bright bits of news today to share with you all. I have more good press!

Just tonight, author Jeanne Barrack posted an interview with me on her blog, The Sweet Flag. She's a delightful woman... and since I haven't gotten around to featuring her on here yet, I may as well mention her now! Also, Paranormalizer reviewed my blog on his website (and I'll be adding the tag eventually.. once I figure it all out). A 10 out of 10!! Wow, I'm impressed. That must be a typo. So much for my self-impression of mediocrity!

And here I thought I was the only one getting much enjoyment out of my words. You like me!! You really, really like me! *sniff*

Tomorrow, between frantic phone calls and very important emails, I'll be returning to my usual insane self. Goodness gracious... after such a slow few weeks, I should be able to come up with some great material for here!