Spirited Spirits...

If there's one bad habit I refuse to get rid of, it's enjoying a cocktail or glass of beer/wine from time to time. Now that doesn't mean I down gallon after gallon of it. (Maybe a few times back in my early college days.) But it's a nice way to unwind. Believe it or not, paranormal-themed spirits have been slowly making their way into stores across the nation. Here are a couple of them, just in time for Halloween.

Back in early spring, I had the pleasure to enjoy some of Dan Aykroyd's Crystal Head Vodka. It boasts a few different things, like being made with pure glacier water, quadruple distilled, and filtered through Herkimer diamonds (to give it some added boost of psychic energy). It comes in its own glass skull decanter which is actually quite nice and useful long after the vodka ceases to exist. And as far as the alcohol goes, it's not bad at all. And if you're all for things without any additives, this is your vodka. The price tag is a bit steep, but it's a neat conversation piece... if it lasts that long. You can hear the whole story from Dan--including the tale of the crystal skulls--in this video:


But there's another booze on the market, and this one supposedly has some haunted history to it. According to the website for Frozen Ghost Vodka, the spring in Western Canada where the water used in the production of this vodka comes from was the scene of a murder. Tobias, the victim, was buried in the ice at the site by a neighbor; the man confessed after being haunted by the ghost of Tobias. Rumor is that Tobias still keeps watch over his spring. Of course, we can only take their word for it. They don't reveal the exact location.

Even so, this booze boasts a spooky bottle to go with its watery contents from a haunted site. And at half the price of Crystal Skull, it's a bit more in reach of anyone who doesn't mind paying for premium vodka. And there's also Kraken Spiced Rum. While it's not "ghostly," it does involve a cryptid creature from myths. And it's actually rather good too. I'm sure there are whiskeys, rums, and other liquors out there with a supernatural twist, so keep your eye out as autumn gets into full swing.

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.

Just One Final Poke...

After the last post, I couldn't resist mentioning this little find. If you're a skater (or just happen to like them), you might find this interesting. The demented... er, creative guys behind Roger Skateboards, Stacy Lowery and Michael Sieben, have one board in particular with a mention.

What is it about a skateboard featuring a ghost with a boner that's so interesting? Beats me. No, not some obsession with necrophilia. It's just... bizarre. But bizarre in a good way, hence it earning a place on here. My humor quotient is way down lately, so I figure, what better way to get back into the swing of things (sorry... bad joke). hey, it could've been worse... I could've mentioned the trouser snake one.

That is all for now. No more lewd paranormal talk or mental images of sharking ghosts for you today. Carry on as you were.

Curses! Foiled Again!

Criminy. My luck is horrible lately. First, the groundhog saw his shadow today. Six more weeks of his befrigged winter!! Then I get an email about my order. Discontinued! They say the third time's the charm, so hopefully I'll still be getting my early birthday gift as the new item. The Fates are proving evil but I won't allow them to win.

On the plus side, I did find confirmation of one haunting for the book. I have plenty of writing to tackle today, but I'm feeling less glum today (finally) so I should have a chance at getting somewhere without everything coming out like garbage. Boy, am I looking forward to spring. I could really use some natural anti-depressant in the form of tolerable weather. It's my one chance to feel better, I'm beginning to believe...

A little happiness would go a long way about now. And I don't mean lithium. Perhaps getting this book wrapped up would help. As well as good, enlightening, cheerful conversation with positive undertones. I think this could turn into a good week... but that all depends on how I view it (and what I allow to bother me). Accentuate the positive; elinimate the negative. And so, with semi-renewed vigor, I do believe I should get back to work...

Sickness and Stylishness...

It has been a quiet start to November for me. I have spent the past few days recovering from a major chest cold so I haven't quite felt up to writing much. I still feel a bit under the weather, but I'm determined to make a speedy recovery. I have too much to get caught up on and too many things coming up to allow myself to be out of commission for too long.

But even in sickness, I found something fitting to mention here.

Having gone through at least one box of Kleenex in the last two days, I now understand why I aways believe in having plenty on hand. And for those of you with the morbid streak, why not try black tissue? For those in mourning, wanting to look sophisticated, or depressed about the status of health care in America, Diashowa, a Japanese company, released its own line of black facial tissue... though with a price tag of $178 for 20 boxes, it might not be a wise choice of you're sick!

Though if you prefer blowing your reddened nose with toilet paper, Renova has a cheaper black alternative for mourning losses of a different kind. They also have more cheerful, vibrant colors if your bathroom would like a chipper feel to it.

A Bazaar That is Truly Bizarre...

All Hallows Eve is now within our sight. Only a few more days until the veil between the spirit realm and the word of the living is at its thinnest. Odd things are bound to happen. Odd people will rear their heads. Madness will reign and the mystical will become normal.

Perhaps I'm exaggerating a little, but you catch my drift.

Of all strange and wonderfully bizarre things I have uncovered in my searches across the internet, I recently discovered a store unlike anything I have every laid eyes upon in the past. Indeed, Carnivalia is like no other pagan or occult shop. There is a hint of whimsy, a dash of artistic flair, and more oddities than you could possibly comprehend.

From originally-designed Ouija boards to bottled ghosts (and they will happily take your unwanted haunted trinkets of you wish), anything and everything any pagan or mystic could possibly want can be found there. Creepy clocks. Disturbing dolls. Potions, books, and clothing. It's a wild funhouse ride through the insane mind of a pagan sideshow act.

Best of all, they have many items of a queer nature. And I don't mean "odd". The owner and his partner, Storm Faerywolf, do remember their family.

When you check out the website, be sure to keep an open mind and beware of tongue-in-cheek humor. At times, it's difficult to discern what is intended to be serious and what is comedy. Judging by the copious text portions and strangely hilarous images, I lean more toward the latter on all accounts. Nevertheless, it's worth a browse at the very least. Or if you happen to be in the San Francisco area, be sure to swing by North Broadway in Walnut Creek and visit their storefront. If the website is any indication of what awaits, you might not leave for hours.

Misery Loves Company...

Who says games were meant to be fun and cheerful? One card game created by Keith Baker changed that belief. It's called Gloom.

Lemony Snicket meets The Addams Family in this bizarre game that would make Edgar Allan Poe proud. Players try to bring down their misfit families with dreaded disease and calamities, while cheering up their opponents with weddings and the like. It's a game of losing self-esteem; he or she with the lowest total Family Value wins.

Gloom is available from Atlas Games at a wide range of stores. It's intended for two to four players, ages 8 and up. Expansion packs, such as Unwelcome Guests, Unfortunate Expeditions, and Unhappy Homes, are also available.

So if you're looking for something a little macabre to play this autumn, this just might be the ticket...

Deluged with Ghosts and Technical Glitches...

My postings on here have been quite erratic lately. I do apologize for that. But it's not without reason.

Most of the time I've spent writing lately has been working on research, notes, and chapters for my new pet project. I've spent a lot of time reading various books and writing pages of notes, verifying facts and half-truths to get accurate information about various hauntings. After translating my scribbles (anyone who has seen my handwriting knows it's worse than a doctor's), I've been writing drafts for chapters and revising them after a few days away to clear my mind. My own personal deadlines have kept me quite occupied.

I took a brief break this week to write up a historical sketch as well. I researched a building months ago and packed the notes away, only to be asked about them a few days ago. I pulled out my old information and typed up a detailed background paper for the owner.

My wireless connection seems to be on the fritz as well. Originally, I thought it was a problem with the router, but instead it's in the wireless card. Apparently, jostling around a laptop and bashing the card against objects and my knee doesn't do it too well! lately, whenever I'm in the middle of anything online, it suddenly shuts itself off and I have to jiggle it to get it working again. I'll be remedying that tomorrow, and next week I'll avoid the hassle by trying to directly connect to the DSL (wish me luck on that one).

I still haven't touched the website redesigns. I have the basic pages done, but there is so much more to add and edit. Trying to get everything running properly isn't always easy, but I'm content in its simplicity. It's quick-loading, clean, and writing-intensive. Still, I have finished the basic work on my new Cafepress account for the site. Some graphics will be changed as I have creative bursts and think of better designs, but the basics are up and running. I always welcome feedback and suggestions as well. There are a few designs I have in mind, but haven't found a proper way of translating them to images.

Otherwise, it's back to the grind for me. Back to covering the rest of the Lizzie Borden story often left out in paranormal tales, researching a cross-dressing businessman, and recalling a famous musician who worried that being known to be gay would make that the only thing he was remembered for (which, inadvertently, became true). So much fascinating work and odd histories.

I have to say it: I truly love this project. And I haven't said that about any writing work of mine in almost a decade.

A Trouserless Observance...

It's time once more to celebrate clothing... or at least what we wear underneath it. Yes, it's National Underwear Day!

This year marks the sixth annual observation of the holiday, sponsored by Freshpair.com. In past years, Times Square was filled with men and women wearing nothing but their skivvies, but things will be toned down for 2008. There will still be celebration, a runway show, and underwear giveaways to people passing by in New York City.

And if you like your underwear to be a bit creepy, perhaps get yourself a pair of ghost satin boxers, skull low-rise boxer briefs, or Waxx brand skull briefs (from the fittingly-named Dead Good Undies).

After all, what is underneath our clothes can be quite terrifying sometimes...

Eerie Accoutrements...

If you're in the market for that morbidly interesting piece of furniture for any room in your home, look no further.

The creations at Coffin Couches are a unique way of bringing life to old things. Since law prohibits the resale of coffins by funeral homes to the general public, these pieces are bought in Southern California by the company and revamped into leather upholstered seating and perched atop six cast iron legs.

If you're looking for something other than seating, be sure to check out Casket Furniture. They offer a wide selection of hand-crafted pieces for a variety of uses.

Either way, you can add a touch of whimsical macabre to any decor.

When Pink Flamingos Just Won't Do...

Tired of the same lawn ornaments everyone else has? Want something unique to spruce up your garden and show your macabre sense of humor?

Why not a zombie?

Alan Dickinson, a British sculptor, was commissioned to create an odd, spooky piece for the Toscano home and garden catalog. So, he created a life-size undead man! The Zombie of Montclaire Moors comes in three pieces and can easily be placed in a garden, lawn, or darkened corner of a basement...

It's perfect to frighten children, or keep those nosy neighbors at bay. And if you have a brown thumb, at least your plants won't be the only dead thing in your yard...

They're Baaaack.... But Not to Cuddle!

Remember when your mother told you to be nice to your toys?

Sometimes, your toys remember these things. Including a line of plush bears called Teddy Scares.

It's a simple concept: forgotten teddy bears back from the dead with an attitude straight out of a horror movie. They were there for you for all those years, and you turned your back on them. Now, they're not so cute, cuddly, and sweet.

The creative folks at the Dave School created a short animation film for the creatures. I love the morbid humor and some of the casting of voices were simply perfect: Linda Blair as Rita Mortis and Clive Barker as Edwin Morose.