GhostGirl.

Zaffis Calder interview part 01 of 04 - Dangers of the Paran

2012-01-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

Part 1 of a 4 part series.
Viewing this latest short interview series from Father Calder and John Zaffis is interesting and a well intentioned warning for those that jump into the paranormal field and open themselves up to things that can't possibly comprehend. Both of these men have years of experience dealing with entities that are less than friendly. Not all of them are going to be "Casper" like. If you are going to take on the paranormal field, then you should do so with as much knowledge as possible.

Ghosts Harmless or Just Another Entity in the House?

2012-01-11T18:04:00.000-08:00

This discussion has come up twice within a week in my house. The first time it happened after a friend of my husband's had an encounter with a spirit at Summer Resort where he works. It wasn't scary, only startling, and yet, if you've never given much thought to spirits or ghosts, then coming into contact with one can really scare the starch out of your shorts.

The thing is, not all haunting activity is dangerous or mean. I believe that the personality of the person is the same in the spirit world that it is in this world. If they were mean, cantankerous and a lech... you've got yourself a spirit that may be difficult to deal with. But if you have one that spent their life looking out for a property and truly loved the place, then they are probably sticking around to watch over it in the afterlife.

Several years ago, my father was renting the downstairs of an old Captain's home. My dad watched over the place for the family and took care of the odd jobs that needed to be done. But at night, when it was really quiet, the doors would start to open and slam shut and there was a feeling of being watched all the time. Even his cousin who cleaned the house hated to be there alone. My father suspected that the resident spirit was the previous owner, so, instead of being scared, he decided he'd set some ground rules for "Old Tom". When the activity started up he would tell him to stop, but when he wasn't there Tom could do what he wanted. He acknowledged Old Tom and proposed a sharing of their home. It worked for them.

But what happens when the spirit is not friendly? I always suggest that people tell the spirit that the house is theirs and that they need to be very clear and even loud about it. Everyone in the house needs to make this intention known. Set rules and tell them what you will or will not accept. If this doesn't work then the next step is get in touch with someone who has experience dealing with this kind of situation. No one can "make" a spirit leave. Free will is the same on their side as it is on ours, but there are things that can be done to help the situation. If you have a spirit or entity that is causing havoc within your home then you need help. Especially, if your fear is preventing you from taking a stand against the activity.

But if you spirt is just curious, helpful, or even friendly, then embrace the situation and be thankful for the addition to your home.

Got Ghosts? How to Sell a 'Haunted' House

2012-01-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

Got Ghosts? How to Sell a 'Haunted' House

In all seriousness, I'm sure that this isn't in the training manual when it comes to training real estate agents, but it come up occasionally. The article may have a bit of the "tongue-in-cheek" attitude, but it does concern a pretty serious issue. With more and more awareness in the paranormal, people are probably looking at their houses and prospective houses with a closer eye. But what happens when the previous tenant had some spirit attracting activities? I'm not sure about the house-cleaner part of the article. There are those that can advise on what to do with a haunted property, but there are also a lot of people out there who would love for you to hand them a bunch of money so they can wave some sage and tell you they did the job. It's not that easy and it encompasses more than the resident haunt. Buyer Beware takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to dealing with spirits that don't necessarily want or need new tenants. Is there a way around this? I think that buying a house and getting one that is structurally sound and not full of hazards is hard enough. Check with the people that live around the house, if you can. Most likely, if the house has a history, then they know about it and are usually willing to share. I'd say, do your research before you jump. Check out any property by researching it's past and spend some time in the house if possible. It won't take you long to find out if you're welcome there.

Taph Corner: A Country's Attempt to Divide, Even in Death

2011-10-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

While doing research for a scene the other day I came across an interesting note on the history of Belfast, Northern Ireland and the people who populated it. It's no secret that the city is divided, both physically and psychologically when it comes to the differences between Catholics and Protestants. This nothing new. It's an age-old battle that has claimed more than can truly be counted. But what I found interesting was that even in death the divide is tangible.

In 1869, Belfast City Cemetery was built as a Victorian masterpiece for the hereafter that included iron fountains, massive, monolithic monuments (try that one three times fast) and a wall to divide those buried in with their religious differences. A wall itself is nothing. There are huge walls that separate Belfast all over the city, but this wall is not quite as noticable as those the tourist gawk at, it's buried underground. The 9 foot wall was meant to separate, but before it could be utilized it came into question because of a dispute with Bishop Dorian over who had ultimate burial rites over the Catholic section. Ultimately, he purchased the rights to bury Protestants on the Catholic side of the wall. The Bishop then bought property on the opposite side of Fall Road for Catholic burials. So, even in death they were separated... only not by a 9 foot wall, but by a road.

Today, Belfast City Cemetery is a tourist attraction as well as a victim to continued vandalism. But the beauty fo the Victorian attempt at grandeur is still evident in the massive tributes and modest observances to those who are buried there. For more information, check out the city's website at http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/citycemetery/history.asp

Can you get into trouble doing this on your own?

2011-06-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

This question was posed to me by one of my best friends after an experience she had on an Artist Retreat recently. Her group were staying in a very beautiful, old place and had experienced some possible activity. Intrigued, they decided to experiment with a technique using a table and an overturned glass; an experiment that she'd witnessed during a recent writer's conference. At one point, they experienced what sounds like frenetic activity and varying reponses through the speed and movement of the glass.
My friend, being the logical person that she has always been, questioned me as to whether the movement of the glass was caused by them or the entity that they encountered? This is a compilation of the email conversations that followed. With her permission I'm posting them here in hopes that it might help others in a similar situation.

My response...

What you are talking about is a form of dowsing. Using a glass would be the same as using the pointer on a Ouiji board. By several participants placing their fingers on the pointer or glass you transferring energy to the glass that can then be channelled by a spirit or entity to make contact. Usually, when you do this you can gauge the answers to questions by the speed and patterns of the glass or pointer. The more intense the activity, the closer you are getting to the answer. This works with yes or no questions, of course.

Early "talking boards" and later Ouiji boards were set up to give more specific answers using the alphabet. There is also a technique that involves no glass, just the table. Usually a table or smaller, more stable table that the participants gather around. They place their hands on the table, fingers spread out and touching pinkies with the person next to them. By focusing on the questions and energy in the room you can get spirits to "tip" the table and even rotate it. As long as the contact is not broken the movement of the table can continue and get quite extreme. There have also been incidents of tables lifting off the floor for a second or two.

Basically, spirits feed off energy in humans and by participants channelling their energy they are giving strength to the spirits in order for them to make contact. A skeptic would say that the participants are making the table (or glass, or pointer) move... no one can be completely sure if it isn't being moved by someone else. Only your own actions. This is an ancient method of communicating. It was glamourized by the Victorians who loved anything and everything paranormal.

Okay, but the question was... Can you get into trouble doing this on your own?

Yes and no... it all depends on intent and how open you are to the experiences. A non-believer will never have a true experience because they will always have a reason not to believe. A skeptic will find an answer if they can, but in the absence of logic will entertain the idea of possibility. And then there are those who think that everything they see or experience is paranormal. Not everything is. That is where the scammers come into play because they love people who openly believe and accept without questioning.

If their intent is to contact a loved one, then they don't need a table and glass or Ouiji board to do it. They only need to ask and then look for an answer. It may not come right away and it may not be in the way that they expect, but they will get answers. My example of this is that there have been times since my mother's death when I have wondered if she'd been forgotten. No one wants to be forgotten. I grieved over the fact that I was seemingly the only one grieving for a person that had been on the earth for 63 years. I got my answer a day later when I ran into a friend of my mom's who came into the store. She'd seen me countless times since Mom's death, but she stopped me specifically that day to say how she thought of my mother often and missed her so much. I was floored. I'd gotten my message and though I've never gotten anything directly from her I've always received a message. No table or board required. I would also add that I've tested this out of curiosity and had the same results with it.

That said, I always try to consul on the side of being careful of true intentions...

One thing I'd suggest when you do this kind of experiment is to set the intentions before starting by asking that only spirits with good intentions make contact and state that you are there only to communicate. Also, at the end make sure to send them (or release them from the questioning) back to where they belong and be sure to thank them for any contact they may have made. Sounds odd, but by doing this and making it clear that the session is through then you are closing the door that you open by trying to make contact. Politeness actually works well with this.

If the intent (of your group exercise) was to bring through something that might have been harmful, then I would worry. If the husband instead of the wife had come through I would worry. But I think you just had a spirit with unresolved issues. The thing to remember is that those who don't have unresolved issues move on to other things. I believe that they have things to learn, but that's my own belief system. Yours could be very different from mine. Same for the others.

In the end, there's really nothing bad about Ouiji boards or any other device used for connection with spirits. It's the intentions of the users that should be questioned. I always say that you should never ask for an answer or a sign that your not prepared to receive. Forewarned is forearmed... and all those other lovely metaphores. But truly, it is up to individual as to how the situation progresses... and ends. Respect is key, even for those that have passed. As much as I'd love to think that there are those who have gotten a better "perspective" from the other side, there are just as many souls who will not recognize the lessons needed to be learned.

Spirits of the Graves

2011-05-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

I picked up a couple of new books this week, both by Michelle Belanger. If you've followed Paranormal State at all then you are most likely familiar with Michelle. She brings a very clear mind and interesting insight to investigations. In her book Haunting Experiences: Encounters with the Otherworldly she talks about attending a lecture early on in her learning. The lecture was from a fellow paranormal investigator who advised that cemeteries are not places filled with the departed, but more simply they are place markers for those that have passed.

I'd heard this myself over the years. In fact, my own experiences growing up had led me to believe that I would find little interaction from such places. But I think I came to a better understanding of it once I felt the immense grief that went along with losing my grandmother and my mother within a two year period. Their loss was incredible, but it also served to teach me that while spirits may not necessarily be tied to their grave site, it can be place for both those that have passed and those left behind to come together in grief. And, as someone who is very conscious of emotional energy I know that just the grief of those left behind can have a lasting affect on the landscape of these hallowed grounds.

These are places of reverence for a reason. In the 1800's it was common to build elaborate garden-like cemeteries that rival the grandest parks. People would picnic and stroll among the graves and revel in the peace they found there. They may have been originally designed as spectacular monuments to the deceased, but they became a places of ease and reverence and respect for those who found comfort there.

Just as Michelle came to her own understanding of the connection between spirits and the cemeteries, I came to find my own experiences. Some of them were the dearly departed and other were simply guardians left to watch over those that visited. My mother raised me to be the next keeper of family legacy. The one who tended the graves and made sure that no one would be forgotten. The number of graves that I tend has increased greatly over the years. Even for those that are not related. But as I continue the legacy I'll be keeping an eye open and my mind cleared to the possibilities. After all, the greatest lesson learned are those that come to you with an open mind and heart.

Blessings ~

Grief and the Paranormal

2011-01-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

I hadn't been involved with the paranormal community for very long before I began to realize what an extensive role grief and grieving plays with our search for answers in the paranormal. It seems simple enough really. After all, we aren't trying to contact the living, but those that have already passed. That leap should not have been as big as it was for me.

Everyone has a story. There are very few who haven't been touched in some way by grief and the art of dying and the ever after. I do wonder just how many of those that are out there actively investigating are doing it because they feel that they need to justify the losses in their own lives. I know that I saw and met with many people who were looking for that link, that reassurance, that hope that we are not forgotten.

I've been putting off writing this book for long enough. There are some things that just need to be said whether they gain an audience of one or a thousand.

So, I put this out to you... if you are actively pursuing your interest in the paranormal, what part did grief bring you to this journey?

I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Snow and Angels

2011-01-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken a year ago in the early morning light after a rather industrious storm. The cemetery is a large one here in Brunswick and has, by far, some of the most beautiful and expressive stones of any in the area. I chose this particular picture because... well... we got another big storm today. And it was enough to give me some time to think about some of the bigger issues that have been weighing on me lately. The cold breath of air that comes with a snowstorm tends to clear the fog from the mind and the blanket of white freshens the decay that late Fall weather strips away from the trees and litters the ground. There is also a promise in the storm. A promise of renewal. A promise that anything old can become new again and a promise that despite the bleakness there is always the prospect of Spring to come.

But this is Snow AND Angels. Not snow angels as many would suspect. This is due to an experience I had last week when I attended a funeral of a young boy. At 13, he was not that much older than my son and both of my children had had the priviledge of knowing and befriending Alex. You see there was something very special about Alex that went beyond the fact that he had several health issues that plagued him. But those same things that had made Alex different made him all the more determined to be like any other pre-teen boy. He loved game cards and Wii and competition of any kind. And he loved being generous with his friends and looked forward to being with him. His loss is incredibly sad, but there were so many lessons learned from his life that they will continue to be reaped by all for many years to come. And this would be where the Angel reference comes from. I wasn't raised to believe in the strength and guidence and protection of the angels, but yet, when I started investigating it became all too evident that if I could go into a room expecting to find evidence of life after death, then it was plausible to call upon Angels for assistance. Both during investigations and after. There were many times that I called on the angels to provide a buffer between the entities that I'd experience and the myself. I firmly believe that they have assisted me in many ways over the years. But even when you are the one calling on the Angels you begin to wonder if you are alone in your belief. Am I the only one who asks? Am I truly believing or merely sending out my thoughts into the ether?

I got my answer at Alex's funeral when his friend Jack approached the podium. You see, for Jack to even be able to stand is a miracle in it's self. He has had so many physical challenges that just the idea of attending school was an incredible endeavor. That he was friends with Alex and many others is a gift. But Jack had a gift to give to all who attended the funeral. As his helper assisted him to the stage she apologized saying that "Jack had wanted to speak". He wanted to give the church full of mourners a message. He said "I told Alex about the Angels and now he's with the Angels and they're laughing". These words were as close as I can get them as I was sobbing with most of the rest of the attendees. So many wonderous things came together at that moment to bring forward the light of a little boys light and another little boy's offer of comfort to those he knew were grieving most. Wisdom beyond their years. A lifetime lived in a minute. I always believe that the brightest lights, those with lessons to teach are often the ones that burn out the fastest. We only have to watch and listen and learn. As for the Angels? I'm watching and listening and learning... Thank you Alex and Jack.

The Importance of Intent in the Paranormal

2010-10-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when even those who have no interest in the pranormal begin to see the influx of information being offered out there. It's everywhere. TV... Radio... Internet. And, while there are many who will never do more than just watch a show or go to a haunted house, there are those who may take it a step further and actively pursue paranormal activity. There is nothing wrong with this as long as you are prepared for what you encounter and you go into it with the right intention. You are never sure what it is that you are going to find when you walk into a situation and you need to be prepared mentally, physically and spiritually to handle whatever is out there.

Recently, this was brought home to me when I realized that my son was fascinated by a pair of dowsing rods that I had created. While dowsing rods are fairly benign, they do offer a chance to communicate with spirits and, if the intentions are not for the best, they could open a door to an entity that you may not be prepared to handle. Especially, if that entity ends up in your home because of inexperience.

Just as intention is important for the investigator, it's also important for the family experiencing the activity. If you want to reclaim your space then you need to look at your intentions and the intentions of those around you. We can only do so much to help. If you continue to invite this activity, then you can't expect that it's going to go away.

Out of all the tools that an investigator can use to prepare themselves I believe that going in with the proper intention is right up there. There are teams out there that don't believe in protection or spiritual preparation. That's fine for them. I'm going to make sure that I've got all everything that I need.

From a Recent Investigation

2010-09-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

There were no outstanding anomalies in the pictures. Nothing to show for it except some experience and some great photographs of beautiful stones.

To paraphrase a popular saying... A bad day ghost hunting is still better than a day at work.

(This particular picture was taken by an impressive collection of stones in a family plot. The stones stood about 4-5 feet high and had beautiful carvings. The lot was raised and surrounded by a stone border.)

Paranormal Pet Peeve of the day

2010-07-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Sites that offer the same information as a host of other sites... without checking the information or even questioning the validity.

Take for instance this little tidbit:

"Once featured on ""Unsolved Mysteries"" the tree is gutted and is cut off about nine feet from the base. The tree has faces that protrude from the wood. They appear to be upturned in agony with the mouths open. On this is island is also a pet cemetery. Phantom dogs and houses have been seen romping around the site."

I found this little gem on about 5 different sites. My question is... since when do Phantom houses romp?

Leeds, Maine Cemetery

2010-06-30T04:17:00.000-07:00

These were taken during a recent camping trip to Leeds, Maine. My impressions of the tiny town were of a community nearly forgotten to the outside world, yet thriving despite. The landscape was dotted with beautiful, spacious farmhouses and farmlands that went for miles. If you get the chance to visit, it's worth the trip.

Of course, it isn't a trip for me unless I can find a cemetery to check out. These are from just out of the center of town.

But I found this last one to be the most interesting. Note the inscription on the stone to the right. It would appear that she had a fondness for men with the name Augustus.

2010-06-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Wildfire Loose: The Week Maine Burned
by Joyce Butler
Down East Books (1979)

Early on in my writing endeavors I had the good fortune to work for DeLorme (it was then known as DeLorme Mapping and it was in Freeport). Part of my varied jobs as an assistant was to cover lunches and the occasional Saturday for the woman who ran DeLorme's tiny store. This gave me ample time to peruse the books, many of which dealt with Maine geography and history. It was during this time that I had the great fortune to read Wildfire Loose. It's one of those books that you never quite forget. The images provoked have lingering long after the reading.

For those of you who don't know, in October of 1947 Maine was facing a serious drought condition. After a wet spring there was very little rain from midsummer on and when the crisp Fall weather arrived so did the increased warning of fire. The fires were scattered throughout the state, further hindering the problems with fighting something of this magnitude. At it's height, the fire consumed the majority of Mount Desert Island and the prestigous summer community of Bar Harbor. Southern Maine's York County had huge losses in both life and property, scars that are still visible in the changed landscape.

I'd encourage anyone with a love of Maine and it's history to hunt down a copy fo this book. It's well worth the effort.

Archaeologist's last wish set in stone | CapeCodOnline.com

2010-06-06T04:05:00.000-07:00

Archaeologist's last wish set in stone | CapeCodOnline.com

SANDWICH — James Deetz spent his life in graveyards.

Deetz, a renowned archaeologist and the former assistant director of Plimoth Plantation, examined the intricate drawings and epitaphs to become one of the country's leading experts on gravestone studies. He was especially drawn to the death's head, nicknamed "light bulb heads," that adorns so many stones from the 18th century.

Just before he died in 2000, Deetz repeated what he had made clear to his family throughout his 70 years.

"It was always his wish to have a period-type gravestone," said Joseph Deetz, one of Deetz's nine children.

But it was a man described as Deetz's 10th child, David Wheelock, who stepped up to fulfill that dying wish.

Read the rest of the article here...

Appeals court sides with NBC Universal in 'Ghost Hunters' idea theft case

2010-06-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

Appeals court sides with NBC Universal in 'Ghost Hunters' idea theft case

EXCLUSIVE: NBC Universal has won an important appellate court victory over two individuals who claimed to have come up with the concept for the hit Syfy reality show "Ghost Hunters." Check out the rest of the article...

This is a forward from The Hollywood Reporter http://thresq.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/appeals-court-nbc-universal-ghost-hunters.html

After the Storm

2010-02-28T06:37:00.000-08:00

I took advantage of the new snow and a quiet Sunday morning to takes some photographs. This are just what I call my static shots to see what the lighting and placement will look like, but you can definitely get a feel for how beautiful it was out there this morning. And yes, these are of a beautiful cemetary here in Midcoast Maine... Enjoy...

Little Known Fact...

2010-02-25T15:20:00.000-08:00

In the years before the Temperance movement took over in New England, the cost of rum and/or other such alcohol during the funeral rites often cost more than the funeral itself. Many families struggled to cover the burden involved supplying the mourners and those that helped by retrieving the body, building the casket, etc..

Hunting with Maine Ghost Hunters @ Fort Pemaquid

2010-02-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

I took a class in producing book trailers this weekend, so I thought I'd try my hand at it and show you a bit of what it's like to go on an investigation with Maine Ghost Hunters. This one took place in October, 2009 at Fort Pemaquid, Maine. It's awesome and beautiful spot and worth the trip just to see the views. Enjoy!

2010-02-15T20:17:00.001-08:00

Stay tuned...
It's coming your way soon.

On Vermont's Revolutionary Road: The Bennington Monument

2010-01-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

I can't even tell you the amount of times that we've made the trip from Maine to Vermont. We've done it so many times that we have a set route that we like to travel and a familiar place to stay in Rutland. Last year, I decided that even though the hubby had to work I would take the kids on a three day trip. On our last day we headed south from Rutland, taking the historic route 7a toward Manchester and Bennington. I was excited to show the kids the monument since the last time they'd been there they were too little to understand the power of it. We got an early start from the motel and by the time we hit Bennington the sun was breaking through the mist surrounding the lush green rolling hills. As we made the turn and traversed the short road up toward the monument, the square opened up as if the clouds were parting. We were there before the museum opened, before anyone else for the matter and we took our time walking the grounds and letting the dew seep into our shoes. There was an eerie silence that settled within us as we made the rounds of reading the inscriptions and noting the figures that surrounded the monument. I took some of my first amateur video there. But mostly, we just enjoyed the peacefulness there. If there were spirits with us then they chose to respect our reverence. I'd have loved to see them at a place dedicated to their place of honor. Maybe next time they'll chose to tell us their own tales.

I've got a new toy...

2009-09-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

I got it for my birthday. I'd been drooling over it and scraping to try and save for one for months. But somehow, as it always happens... there were other places for that hard earned money to go. But I must have been a very good girl because my family bought me my very own for my birthday. I take it everywhere. Even, my to my husband's horror to bed at night since it has wifi access and I can check those last minute emails and facebook posts. But there are other neat uses I've discovered. I can twitter to my heart's content. I can download my library of music and even read books and listen to podcasts. I can download and watch episodes of my favorite shows and I can take notes when I'm researching things and then send them to myself. I can even... with headphones attached, manage to block out all the other people in the breakroom when I'm trying to escape at work. This little baby is a wonder. But I just found one more thing that I'm dying to try out. I downloaded a white noise generator from the ap store for free. Now, I can set it up and give it a try on investigations. Even if it doesn't work then I'm not out the cost of the ap. I just love my new toy!

reposted from ghostgirlguides myspace @ http://www.myspace.com/ghostgirlguides

"HAZZARD OF THE JOB"

2009-08-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

And no, I'm not talking about my retail job. I'm talking about Paranormal investigating. Okay, let me preface this by saying it's been a REALLY hard week. My Dad-in-law passed away Sunday from a very quick moving cancer. It's been horrendous on us all for the last couple of weeks, but it's hardest on my husband. Still, in all of the worry and stress that led up to this week we had begun to feel that there was something else happening around the house that just wasn't quite right. Actually, to be honest, I suspect that it hasn't been quite right around here since about May when we had a big investigation in Boothbay. This was not our first time there so I already knew the place, it's history and it's intricacies. So, the night of the investigation I hurried up to Boothbay (about a 45 minute drive) directly from work. I didn't take my usual time to prep myself both mentally, spiritually for the investigation. Then again, up until that time the only entity that I'd come across was one that was eager to let me know just how hard his death had been. I think I was a little lax this time. I had my usual ecoutrements of medals, blessed stones and all. But something that night was determined that I was going to be able to help him. You know, I've joked at investigations and told them that they wouldn't want to come home with me. I've got kids and they wouldn't find it restful. But aparently, this one didn't really care about restful. He only wanted to be heard. About a month after the investigation I started telling my team mates that I was have dreams of a man standing in my backyard watching, but not coming closer. I was a bit freaked, but it eased a bit. Over the last couple of months we started getting phone calls with no one on the other end. At first I discounted it as marketers, but they amount of them kept increasing. They increased so much that as of the beginning of this week we were getting 10-12 of these calls a day. It was a bit unnerving, but we were so caught up in what was going on that I never stopped to think there may be more to it. It wasn't until Monday morning when my son was standing outside his sister's room and reported seeing a ball of "something" hit her window with a loud thud. Myself and my husband didn't hear or see it, but my daughter said she had heard it. Immediately, we sprang into action. My husband went one way around the house and I went the other. We were determined to catch anyone who might be sneaking around out there. (Not the first time unfortunately). But there was no one there. No tracks in the wet grass except our own) and nothing around that could have made the noise. Only then did I begin to suspect that this was something other than a normal nuisance. I contact a group I belong to and a friend told me that I had, in fact, brought an entity home with me who was desperate to get my attention. She said she would work with him and try to help him. My husband was not so convinced. After about 24 hours she told me that she had been able to help him pass, but he had been most resistant. Aparently, he was a young man who had died in a car accident and was determined to make me listen to him. He followed me home because he thought I could help, but I was too surrounded by my own grief to notice. It was only when I pointed out to my husband just yesterday that the calls had stopped that he began to really accept that there may have been something behind it all. They've stopped completely. No dead end calls. Oh, this doesn't mean my husband is a believer. Far from it, but he will certainly think twice the next time I get one of those calls.

Reprised from my blog on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/ghostgirlguide
Check it out and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear about your own haunting experiences.

Million Dollar Fort that was bought for a steal...

2009-08-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

It was meant to protect the city of Bangor from the English. After a failed attempt by both ocean and land (Aroostook War) Fort Knox was built to hamper their attempts to gain control of the lucrative timber industry. Fort Knox was named for Henry Knox, the first U.S. Secretary of War. It's his mansion that can be spotted on the road in to Rockland. Aparently, the other, more famous Fort Knox, is also named for him. Another interesting fact? According to Wikipedia, it was the first fort built of granite. It was built on the western side of the river in Prospect, overlooking Verona Island and Bucksport. Bucksport burned twice, but Fort Knox was never fired upon. It could have something to do with the massive artillary housed in fort, or the unique design which was ages ahead of itself. Though it was never completely finished, the bill for it ran somewhere around a Million. It was sold to the state for $2,121 (according to Wikipedia. The tour guide at the fort mentioned it was somewhere around $1,000. The huge cannons and 2 batteries were originally designed to fire hot shots, or 100lb cannonballs that were fired to red hot and then shot at passing wooden ships. With the advent of iron clad ships, this process became obsolete. It was manned by a contingency of Maine Men during the Civil War and another from Connecticut during the Spanish-American War.
To walk around the fort is to get a very real sense of the skill and artistry and knowledge that went into the fort's design and usage. Aparently, some of the previous tenants were so enamored with their surroundings that they decided to stay. There is a long, winding hallway that snakes the rear perimeter of the fort. There is an eerie calmness that prevales there. I found that some of the smaller rooms were intriguing, though I found very little to claim as evidence. The food storage that runs beneath the inner bailey yard is intriguing to me. Especially, the one that had another room off to the side. I would love the opportunity to investigate without the hindrance of the tons of tourists milling about. It was often very loud and the sounds echo through the corridors. I did have an interesting discussion with the tour guide who related to me that she had been there for quite some time and had often experienced strange and intriguing experiences, including one particular close encounter with a helpful spirit who offered her a hand with some paperwork in the giftshop.
All in all, it was an incredible experience. If you check it out for the history alone, then it is well worth the trip. Want to see some pics? I'll be posting them to my myspace page within the next few days. Check them out and other photos at http://www.myspace.com/ghostgirlguide

And if you want to have your own spooky experience at the fort then check out their events at http://fortknox.maineguide.com/events.html for their Fright at the Fort 2009.

Now this from the Sun Journal | Connecting you with your Community

2009-08-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

Sun Journal | Connecting you with your Community

Yesterday, I posted about the vandalism in Bath, but I thought it only fair that I post the other bit of news that I found that came from the Sun Journal.

Urban Legends? Most of us have heard at least one. Many of us can repeat them with eerie resonance. In Poland, Maine they apparently have a legend of their own. A ghostly spector waling the roadside in a wedding gown. I know of at least three other towns in Maine that can boast similar claims and who knows how many there are across the country. Does that mean that they are all fake? No, that means that there are those out there who are seeking answers and love the idea that there is more than we can see out there.

I applaud the writer for his use of humor in the article. Mr. LaFlamme, you don't owe me money so this isn't an attempt to reclaim. But I appreciate the fact that you put this out there for everyone to speculate on. Do I think that there is a spirit walking the roads of Poland? Maybe... who knows for sure. But the story may linger longer than the spirit.

From the Times Record: Vandals target historic fence

2009-08-12T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Times Record; Vandals target historic fence
If you've read my blog in the past then you've seen my pictures of the former Children's Home in Bath. It's a beautiful, old lady that holds a stoic place on top of the hill in Bath, overlooking BIW, the Kennebec and even the grounds of the Hyde School.

What frosts my butt is that there are those out there who would damage the property... and not necessarily for monetary gain. It appears that they are doing it only for the fun of it. They are breaking up the heavy iron fence that surrounds the property and discarding the pieces in a scattered fashion throughout the neighborhood. Come on people! Get a life! Haven't we got better things to do with our time then to damage something that someone so long ago labored over and treasured? The same for those who find it "fun" to vandalize cemeteries. I'm not sure why they don't think that's going to come back on them someday, but by my measure I hope it does.

With the cost of repairing the fence at an estimated $25,000 per section perhaps those who vandalize it can spend their time looking for a less expensive way to repair the fence instead of damaging it.

My... very frustrated... .02

GhostGirl.

(Photo is from the Times Record article dated August 11, 2009. Article was written by Seth Koenig, Times Record Staff.)

"Cursed" Ships

2009-08-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I had a late night discussion that started with Pirates and ended with exorcisms. Most of the time hubby merely nods his head. Sometimes, he'll raise an eyebrow or even tell me it's all bull. But last night he was in one of his nodding moods so I took advantage of it to bounce an idea off of him. Lately, I've been fascinated by Pirates. This isn't anything new to me. I've been fascinated with them all of my life. Lately, I've been reading The Mammoth Book of Pirates by Jon E. Lewis, and in particular I've been reading about Morgan's exploits before he went to Panama. Add to that the appearance of a three masted Barquentine, the Peacemaker, that appeared off Bailey's Island this week and it has set my mind to thinking. You can't grow up around the water without hearing the legends and superstitions. I've talked about this in the past, but I firmly believe that all superstitions are based on a need to explain what can't be explained by fact. One of those superstitions or traditions involves the renaming of ships. I'll leave the Googling of the actual methods to you, but the idea behind it is one that fascinates me. Part of it involves completely removing all forms of the name you wish to change. I began to wonder if this was somehow tied to Pirates. In one way or another their have been pirates since long before the written words. Their tales and exploits are worldwide and their impression lasting. Modern day pirates bear little resemblance to the Errol Flynn character type. That image was firmly set by the romantic ideas of the writers and film makers. Pirates were calculating, deadly and very imaginative in their problem solving skills. It would not be hard to imagine that having captured a highly desirable ship they would want to remove any indication of it's past endeavors. Perhaps, this isn't truly the beginning of the renaming tradition, but my guess would be that it figured heavily into it's formation. There is also the idea that simply by naming something... whether it be a car, a boat, an animal... we are investing an energy or existence into said object that would linger. For instance, if a ship were to experience a large amount of challenges it could easily be considered a "cursed" ship for lack of a better way to explain what has happened. By calling this ship "cursed" we give it a negative energy that carries forward. By renaming a ship with by tradition and ceremony then possibly the negativeness could be transformed and a ship become something else. But then, there are those who believe that no matter the ceremony a ship that is "cursed" is still a ship that is doomed. You're take on this? I'd love to hear it. Email me at TeaganOliver@yahoo.com .

2009-07-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

I learned a new term today... Psychopomp.

Never heard of it? Check out Wikipedia's definition at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopomp

Did you know?

2009-06-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

That the Stanley Hotel has more than one connection with Maine? Stephen King used the hotel as his inspiration for The Shining. But The Stanley has another infamous connection. In the late 1800's two brother's from Kingfield, Maine, F.E. and F.O. Stanley parlayed their love of inventing into many successful ventures. Ventures that included a dry plate system for photography that eventually sold to Eastman Kodak and the Stanley Steamer, a steam powered car that in 1899 made it to the top of Mt. Washington and set land-speed records in 1906 and 1907. In 1909, Freeland Stanley, suffering from Tuberculosis, moved to Estes Park, Colorado along with Francis and built the Stanley Hotel. They continued to work on inventions and their ghosts are believed to linger in the infamous hotel they created. The Stanley Brothers created more than a living legacy... they created one that continues long after the grave.

Somethings old and Somethings new

2009-05-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't figured it out yet. I'm in the process of revamping my GhostGirl. blog. I've added some fun stuff and hopefully lots of great outlets for your Paranormal Interests. Let me know what you think of it...

GhostGirl.

my apologies...

2009-04-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

to Danielle Egnew, whose trailer I posted about this morning. I was in such a hurry and wanted to share that I posted the wrong twitter addy for her. Want to follow her? It's http://www.twitter.com/danielleegnew

It's definitely worth checking out.

The Perfect Haunting Trailer -- Check it out!

2009-04-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

I just found this through a Twitterer called danielleegnew.

It's a trailer for her upcoming "Montgomery House: The Perfect Haunting" http://tinyurl.com/dxbmjq - a paranormal documentary. It's worth checking out. You can view the trailer through the link. I wish her tons of luck with the project.

2009-04-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome investigation this week. I can't really go into what we did, or didn't have happen, because the evidence is still being reviewed. But it did make me think about a couple of things that I hadn't run into with previous investigations.
The first... was a language difference. Maine has a very strong Acadian French connection, so it's a definite possibility that we will eventually run into an entity that does not speak English. So, how do we handle this? Well, for me this is a catalyst to relearn some of my 3 years of high school French. I'll let you all know how that goes.

But the question is... do interactions with ghosts transcend language?

We have yet to find out.

Two... This is the first time that I have even considered the idea that there may,or may not be a parallel time line that can on occasion cross. I'm not saying that this is what happened here. We may very well at times run into entities that don't know they are crossed and are just going about their normal, day to day activities.

If there are many levels of existence, as has been proposed by some, then are really able to cross those lines and interact? And if so, how do we tell the difference between an intelligent haunt that doesn't know it's crossed and a transcendence of the levels?

What do you all think?

working on a little theory...

2009-04-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

I've got a ghost cat. Well, not really. What I have is a very old (read almost 22 year old) cat that is so pathetic he looks like he's already passed away, but doesn't realize it yet. He gets out of the chair only a couple times a day and that's only to do his business (usually in most inconvenient place) and to eat. He can barely see and in order to eat he has to bury his head completely in the bowl to get it into his mouth.

So, last week I was busy working on my book late at night when I saw him come out of the living room and go to his bowl. He ate a bit and then went back to the living room. It was only when I went to put him back in his chair... because he can't get up there on his own... that I realized that what I had seen was not him. He was in his chair in his catatonic sleep. It wasn't JuJu. He was asleep in the other chair, turned inside out and upside down as is his fashion. So, what had I seen?

This got me to thinking about when my mom was at the end of her battle with colon cancer. Often she would wake up and talk to me about flying. She dreamed about it often. Soaring above the heads of those around her, only to return to her body once again. I think perhaps, that this may be some of what we see when we catch a vision out of peripheral vision. In this case... Moose's night wandering.

So, what do you all think? Is there a correlation between astral travel and suspected haunting? I really love to know what you think...

Are there big cats in Maine still?

2009-03-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

With all the talk about the big cat sightings in England, I got thinking about the sightings of that we have right here in Maine.

According to EasternCougar.org, in an article that ran in Bennington Banner on January 27, 2009, New England hasn't official had a killing of a cougar since the last one was reported in Maine in 1935. In New Hampshire and Vermont, the date is further back... going in the 1880's. But still, there are rumors that continue of a big cat that stalks the vast woods, and sometimes more populated areas of Maine.

Right here in the Brunswick area, there have been a handful of reports of a large cat species over the years. In February of 1999, the Times Record reported that a local woman had seen a large cat possibly twice the size of her dog on a neighbors property. Many speculate that there is one living in the depth of forest surrounding the Navy Base. The reports cover many years and to date, have nothing significant to substantiate them. But that begs the question, why have we not had significant evidence to say there are big cats still here in Maine? Could they really have survived? It's hotly contended. My own husband, who has hunted the Maine woods for years has seen bobcats, coyote (little smaller than a domestic dog) and coy-dogs. I know that it's impossible to put coy-dogs, coyote and wolves in the same category as cougars, but the wolves are elusive and just as hotly debated.

For now, the debate continues. But like everything else that can't be explained... there will always be people out there searching for the truth.

Question for the week...

2009-03-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Do Spirits really know they're dead?

I was listening to a podcast today and it brought up the topic of coming across spirits that don't know they are dead. They were questioning whether spirits could be unaware of their own passing. My take on this is that yes, they can be unaware of their own passing. A few years ago I had a vision of a spirit that had been in a motorcycle accident. He was holding his neck and pacing back and forth in the spot that he died. I could feel his panic and his confusion. I believe that it happened so quickly for him that he had no idea that he had passed. And since time appears to have little influence on them they can be trapped for a long time and feel as if it were still when it happened. There is much debate over why there aren't more of these spirits roaming around unaware and disturbed. Who says that there aren't, we may not be aware of them. But I don't believe that it is outside the realm of possibility for the chaos in which their life ended to continue on in the hereafter. What do you think? Possible? Or not?

Why Science Doesn't Prove EVP Exists?

2009-03-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

Why Science Doesn't Prove EVP Exists?

Interesting discussion going on over on Paranominal's Blog...

Evp Is short for Electronic Voice Phenomena. These are unexplained voices or noises which are picked up on tape or on a digital recorder….Presumably Voices Of Spirits …Passed Away People….

I’m Curious Why Does SCIENCE Not support the theory in any way Our Modern science now?

And Is It Fake Or True?

My take (since I was unable to post there I brought it here...) But I encourage you to go read the others posted there...

As with any scientific experiment you need to have controls in order to make sure that the environment is pure and there are no outside influences. I agree that outside of the controlled environment there is no way to be 100% certain that the evidence has been tainted. And, that even in a house or building, there is no way to completely control the environment. But as an investigator I take precautions. I don't use old tapes on any investigation. I catalog all outside disturbances and I discount anything that can't be proven without substantial evidence. I've never found anything that I am completely positive is an EVP. I have heard some incredible stuff and yet, there's doubt. I think science is moving forward in being able to prove that there is (or isn't) contact being initiated. But we have a long way to go. Fortunately, this kind of focus on the paranormal field has sparked a sort of creative lab for many who are coming up with unusual ways to investigate, ways outside of the normal realm of scientific thought. We shall see how this all goes.

Weigh in on this and let me know what you think?

Visitors?

2009-03-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

First, let me start by saying that I'm not psychic. I've had plenty of experiences over my lifetime that lead me to believe that I'm sensitive, but I'm not psychic. I truly think that being Paranormal Investigator has heightened that sensitivity. There is something about sitting quietly and listening, being aware of what is going around you and training your senses to look for things in less than desirable conditions that I think has taken this intuitiveness to the another level. That said... I don't investigate in my own home. I know a whole lot of investigators who have no problems setting and running investigations in their own homes. I'm not one of them. I consider there to be an occasional visitor here. I believe the previous owner comes once in awhile to tinker in the workshop in the basement. But he doesn't bother us and we don't bother him. Still... the other night there was something or someone else outside.
Let me just clarify something. I take precautions when I go to and leave and investigation to protect myself. I make it clear that whatever entity we possibly make contact with is not allowed to come into my home. I call it my sanctuary and I use that term specifically because I believe "sanctuary" to be a universal term. A place of safety and respite. A protected place. And nothing save my family and friends are allowed to enter that sanctuary.
But the other night? Someone was standing in my driveway. I don't have a clue who it was or why they picked my house to come to... but they were there. I got the impression of a tall, thin figure, slightly hunched at the shoulders. I didn't see specific clothing, but I did feel like it was possibly a young man. What did he want? I'll probably never know, but there was definitely a sense of sadness both in his demeanor and what he put out. I don't know anything more.
So, has anything ever followed you home? And, how do you take precautions so that they don't follow you? Inquiring minds want to know.

2009-03-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

Maine Ghost Hunters is working on setting up a talk at a local Maine school. This interests me a lot since I love to see you people get involved in something that interests them. If any of you out there are teens who are interested in the paranormal? What things would you like to know from us?

Italy dig unearths female 'vampire' in Venice (AP) - Yahoo! News - Yahoo! Buzz

2009-03-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Italy dig unearths female 'vampire' in Venice (AP) - Yahoo! News - Yahoo! Buzz

Perhaps, it just an early Twilight fan, but they have some very interesting reasons for why this particular lady was found with a brick in her mouth. I'd love to say that science has brought us into an age of enlightenment, but frankly... I work retail... I'm not sure I'd call this an age of enlightenment. :)

Get a Great Paranormal Read and Maybe Win a 8GB IPod Touch

2009-03-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Hello there! My name is Bree, and I’m one half of the romance-writing, virtual-crime-fighting duo known as Moira Rogers. I’m here today because Bitten by Books was kind enough to agree to help us celebrate something really exciting that only comes once in an author’s lifetime: the release of the first book we ever wrote.Awesome, right? We sure think so! Of course, the part that takes a little bit of explaining is the part where Crux is, in fact, our sixteenth ebook to be released. A lot has happened to us since fall of 2007, when we first sat down to try and tell the story of Mackenzie and Jackson, the heroine and hero who have to fight an evil supernatural conspiracy spanning generations to win their chance at a happy ending. We scampered off to hone our craft on short stories and novellas and learned from our experience. But we always came back to this story, because in the end we loved our tough determined heroine and her smooth talkin’ detective hero too much to leave alone.
Today, in honor of Crux’s release, we’ve teamed up with Bitten by Books for a chance to make someone else just as excited as we are. We have in our possession a NEW Apple iPod to uch 8 GB (1st Generation) (Retail Value $229.00), perfect for listening to music AND reading books through the awesome application Stanza. The Apple iPod touch 8 GB also holds 1,750 songs or 10 hours of video. Go here to read all about it. We’re also going to give $50.00 and $25.00 Visa Gift Cards to two lucky runners up! All you need to do is read the rules below and enter this awesome contest. And if you happen to pick up a copy of Crux, we hope you’ll love Jackson and Mackenzie as much as we do!Book Excerpt: “Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack…until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny.”****************************************************Readers, here’s how to enter the Crux New Release Contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN one of THREE fabulous prizes.The Prizes:Apple iPod touch 8 GB (1st Generation) (click the link to see the exact item)$50.00 Visa Gift Card$25.00 Visa Gift CardPlease note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.1. The easiest way to enter is by purchasing copies of Crux. Yep, it is true, if you purchase a copy of Moira’s new release here: http://mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/crux. You will get FORTY entries to the contest for each copy you purchase. It is not mandatory to purchase a copy, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email me a copy of your purchase receipt to racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.2. Spread the word!! Post this event in it’s entirety including the image at the top of the page for the contest announcement on your blog or website. Right click to save the image to your computer. Come back and leave the links to where you posted it. Good for 20 entries PER place you post it.3. Attend one or all of the events hosted at Bitten by Books in the upcoming weeks, comment and participate at those events for extra entries into this contest. Here is a link to the event schedule: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=4698. Start with Diane Whiteside’s interview from today here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=4787. Just come back and tell us which ones you participated it and leave the link for the event.Good for 10 entries per event you attend.4. Read the Bitten by Books reviews of Moira’s books here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Moira%20RogersThen leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love. Good for 5 entries per review.5. Post all of the links to Moira’s reviews on Bitten by Books along with your thoughts on each one on YOUR blog/website. You MUST come back here and post the links to where you posted the links at. Good for 10 entries per place you post them.6. SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only. Be sure you VERIFY your subscription, an email is sent with the verification link. Unverified subscribers will not be entered and will be deleted from the mailing list. Good for 10 entries.7. Post the link to the contest here today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=4815) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group (any group where it is appropriate) and you will be given TEN additional entries for a chance to win for every link you post. BUT you MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word! NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day. Good for 10 entries per place you post the link to this event.8. Purchase copies of Moira’s awesome books USING THE LINKS BELOW today through Friday 3/20/09 and send us a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes or snail mail) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for TWENTY additional entries. You get TWENTY entries for each one you purchase. Not valid on past purchases. Please use these links below to buy her most recent books.CruxRED ROCK PASS BOOKSCry Sanctuary (Red Rock Pass #1): http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/cry-sanctuaryLAST CALL BOOKSKamikaze (Last Call: New York #1): http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=966Hurricane (Last Call: New York #2): http://www.changlingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=983A Last Call Christmas Party (Last Call: New York #2.5): http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1045Tequila Sunrise (Last Call: New York #3): http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1010Virgin Daiquiri (Last Call: New York #4): http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1051Tequila Sunset (After Hours #1): http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1114MYSTIC VALLEY BOOKSMoonshine (Mystic Valley Shorts #1): http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/moonshine.htmSome Like it Haunted (Mystic Valley Shorts #2): http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/haunted.htmThe 13th Step (Mystic Valley Shorts #3): http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/13thstep.htmLast Hope (Carnal Powers #1): http://loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=866DOWN AND DIRTY BOOKSWild Card (Down & Dirty #1): http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1013Calling the Bluff (Down & Dirty #2): http://www.changlingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1062STAND ALONEUnder the Magnolia: http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/magnolia.htmSexual Healing: http://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=24Or buy ANYTHING from Amazon today through Friday 3/20/09 by using the Amazon search box to your right hand side on our site. We will know if you used the box to search and buy, so please be sure to use it or your entries won’t count. Send me a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes or snail mail) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 20 entries per item purchased.9. Add us as your friend on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooksAdd us as your friend on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks be SURE to tweet us after you follow so we can count your entry! @BittenbyBooksBe sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you! Good for 5 entries per place you friend us.8. Be friends with Moira by joining her here:Her Newsletterhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/moirarogers/Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/moirarogersForums: http://www.moirarogers.com/forums/Twitter (Bree): http://twitter.com/moirarogersbreeTwitter (Donna): http://twitter.com/donnajherrenThen send us a copy of the email you get once you are approved for her newsletter, forum welcome email that will have your username on it and the confirmation of friendship on Myspace to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). For Twitter, send me a tweet to @BittenbyBooks with @moirarogersbree and @ donnajherren that says “Crux New Release iPod Touch Contest” (please don’t DM the tweet) Good for 10 entries each place you add.10. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event be SURE to include us in your tweet @BittenbyBooks http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=4815. Good for 10 entries.11. Add Moira’s blog, website and live journal to your blog roll or links page: http://www.moirarogers.com/ http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/ and http://moirarogers.livejournal.com/ Good for 10 entries for each place you add it.12. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com/ if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry! Good for 10 entries.13. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by today! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get FOUR entries and you get SIX entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!14. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your user name. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there. Good for 10 entriesGENERAL CONTEST INFORMATION:The contest ends on Friday 3/20/09 at 11:59 pm PST and the winners will be contacted the following week. You will receive your prize directly from the publisher. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.IMPORTANT CONTEST RULES:1. If you aren’t interested in receiving the prizes, offered please do not enter the contest.2. You have THREE days from the day the I contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re- award the prize to another entrant or not.3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. We have the option to re-award it or not.4. Contest is open to readers worldwide. International shipping will be the least expensive option available and insured if possible. US shipping will be via priority mail, with delivery confirmation and insurance. The prize contributor and Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible if your prize doesn’t show up or is damaged in transit. The item (s) will not be replacable. The prize is shipped directly from the author.5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.7. Contest is void where prohibited.8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry

In the name of research... Sara Sampson

2009-02-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

Sarah S. Sampson 1832-1907 Nurse, 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry Agent, Maine State Soldier's Relief Agency

I'm sure you're probably asking just who is Sarah Sampson?

Well, in doing my research on Bath I came across the story of this incredible woman and I thought I would pass her story along to you. Sarah was the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Charles A.W. Sampson of the 3rd Maine. In the beginning of the Civil War, Mrs. Sampson went Washington in order to be close to her husband. But she hadn't been there long before she found herself consumed with the plight of the hundreds of injured boys she saw in the hospitals. When her husband became ill and had to retire back to Bath, Maine, Mrs. Sampson returned with him to see to his care. But she spent her free time raising money and supplies to send to back to help out those boys from Maine that she'd seen in the hospital. It didn't take long before she was restless and determined enough to know that she had to return. She, along with many of the other women of the area raised money so that she could return and continue her efforts. She was well known, even to the likes of Lincoln who met her on more than one occasion. And her tireless work to take are of the boys from Maine was remembered and documented in the letters from the returning men. After the battle of Gettysburg, Sarah was consumed with the need to help. She stayed with them and mothered them. Apparently, she claimed that she would not leave until the last of the boys from Maine were well again. And she was true to her word.

After the war, Mrs. Sampson was instrumental in the organization and running of the Bath Naval and Military Orphan Asylum. It's an imposing, enormous structure that still sits in Bath. Because she was a woman, her role was limited to that as Matron of the home. But she took her role very seriously and she was dedicated to finding good homes for all the children in her care.

Mrs. Sampson died December 22, 1907 and is buried in Arlington Cemetery. Strangely enough, her husband is not buried in Arlington, but in Bath.

So, when times are tough and we think that there is nothing we can do to change our situations... perhaps we should think of Sarah's tireless efforts for the boys from Maine.

Ghost Hunting Examiner: Paranormal investigators record orb attack in abandoned hotel/nursing home

2009-02-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

Ghost Hunting Examiner: Paranormal investigators record orb attack in abandoned hotel/nursing home

For In Nomine Paranormal Research (INPR) the Hotel Reiger was a goldmine, a paranormal investigator's dream. A former bed and breakfast and nursing home in Sandusky, Indiana gave them some unusual evidence recently. Check out the article and view their video "when orbs attack".

Absolute evidence? Probably not, but it certainly does give us all something to think about...

Posted using ShareThis

Ghostock!

2009-01-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

I just found out that fellow writer Marley Gibson is going to be speaking at Ghostock!If you haven't met Marley, then you're in for a treat! She's a great speaker and she's always got some fantastic stories to tell. She will be there with some other great names, Dave Schrader from Darkness Radio (I'm a huge fan), John Zaffis and the charismatic Chris Flemming... just to name a few. All this and they are holding it in Salem... one of my most favorite places in New England.

I just might make it to Ghostock myself?!

Want more info on Ghostock? Click on the banner above or go to http://www.ghostock.com

Is help always needed?

2009-01-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing a topic that we had under discussion on one of the paranormal discussion lists I belong to. Actually, there were a couple of topics we were discussing, but I'm saving the other one for some other time.

Do all spirits need help moving on?

This discussion started because someone voiced concern that on shows such as Ghost Hunters and GHI they don't help spirits move on once they find them. Ghost Hunters has made no bones about the fact that they aren't there to help spirits move on, only to prove or disprove their existence. There are groups out there who have people who specifically are trained to try and help spirits move on. Not all groups do this, most because they don't have someone with this kind of expertise. Some because they just don't feel it's their place to try and get spirits to move on. Others? I don't know... maybe they figure that isn't what they are there for... who knows.

But I'm not sure that all spirits need help moving on. Not all spirits are grounded here, trapped with unrealized dreams, unresolved issues or even, evil intent. I believe that there are some spirits that are here because they are brought forth by loved ones, some held by emotional chords of loved ones. Their need to keep their loved ones close can mean that they are tied to them. Kind of like being on spiritual redial.

I remember when my grandfather was dying. He was in a coma and I sat by his bed everyday talking to him. I read to him. I told him about my day, what the kids had done and I talked to him about some of the choices he'd made in his life. After about a week I found myself sitting with him late at night when his nurse came in to check on him. This was someone he knew, someone he'd worked with for years. It just happened that we were all in the same place at the same time. We chatted a bit, but before he left he told me that I needed to let my grandfather know that it was okay to leave. That my hold on him was one of the reasons he was lingering. I said my goodbyes that night and the next day I stayed home. He passed away the next night. If someone who is in a coma can squeeze my hand and be affected by my sitting at his bedside and talking to him... then so could a spirit. Most would rationalize it and say that there is no way that I can prove it was my will that made him linger. I would say that there is no way they can prove that it didn't.

I started doing this because I wanted to help people. Living or passed. I've seen so many who try to hold tight to people who have passed and look for any sign that they are still around us. It's not bad. But you can't bind someone to you because it's right for you.

Hmmm, I think I got off topic.

Anyway, my point was... that not all entities or spirits need to be saved. Some just want to let us know they are there. Maybe they are looking for validation from the other side? Maybe there are some that are here because they enjoy the suffering they see when people are scared. People are generally the same on the other side as they were in life. Some never had a life... but that's a topic for another discussion. Some are attracted by the actions of others... good intent or bad. And some just want to get a message across... we just need to figure out which one it really is...

MGH, on the road again!

2009-01-22T04:27:00.000-08:00

When I was talking with someone about suggestions to increase the traffic to my blog they suggested that I put more pictures up to personalize the experience. So, here's a picture for you... I got a new phone with a handy camera feature for Christmas and I took a picture of the MGH team on the way to our investigation last weekend. And yes, that's the dashboard of my truck you see.

CAIPRS January Workshop

2009-01-21T03:05:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2009
Cape And Islands Paranormal Research Society's
Cape Cod Community College Paranormal Lecture Series
Presents CAIPRS, Investigator
Justin Smith
presenting
The Science of Monsters
Cryptozoology (study of hidden animals) has fascinated people for years. Some have spent their lives studying the creatures that most believe only resided in the imagination. Join Justin Smith Field Investigator for Cape And Islands Paranormal Research Society, as he will lead you through the different concepts and theories of Cryptozoology such as evolution, using history and folklore to study such creatures, and giving you a few more things to think about. Does the Loch ness monster, Bigfoot or chupacabra come from myths or are they real? This is a multi-media presentation and audience participation is welcomed.

Link!

I really am here... somewhere

2009-01-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know I've been remiss in posting lately. My excuse is that I was running a mini-workshop on my With a Little Luck blog and that took a ton out of me.

And then, I sprained my thumb today... okay, so the thumb thing doesn't excuse the fact that I haven't blogged lately, but it does tell you why it's taking me a heck of a lot longer to type this blog then it usually does. Arghhhh!

Anyway, what have I been up to? We went on the first post-holiday investigation of the year! Very interesting... even dare I say... fun?! It was great to be back with the group and I got my Maine Ghost Hunters shirt! They are awesome! Check em out!

I also found a new paranormal gathering spot called GhostHunters.me. Check it out when you get a chance. I consider it another place to bounce ideas of other hunters and test theories.

Lastly, Haunted Voices Radio is running a broadcast tonight... check out the info below

HAUNTED VOICE RADIO NETWORK

LIVE Tonight “Tuesday Night Education”

8pm EST/7pm CST “Tuesday Night Education” With Host Todd Bates and Discussion Panel.

Tuesday’s topics:

Demons, are they really from hell? Exorcisms, Church of Satan & Anton Lavey, Who actually is Satan?, Are Demonic Hauntings on the rise, and more! For this program we would love to hear your live call in feedback and comments feedback@hvrnc.com . These topics have been a HUGE controversy for years and without your help may NEVER be solved. Be sure to use either our Toll Free line 877-216-2987 or LIVE chat room at www.hvrnc.com to give us your feedback! Tuning in to our program is simple, just visit www.hvrnc.com and select your player from our network list or for easier tuning you can download our free toolbar here

I want, I want, I want...

2009-01-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

HVRNC (or Haunted Voices Radio Network) are testing out a new investigation tool. The Geophone. It picks up and alerts you to seismic vibrations. And the cost is good.

Want to know more? Check out their website.

2009-01-08T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping to make it to RWA National in Washington D.C. in July. Of course, this depends on a lot of different things, but one of the things that interests me about this trip will be that I'm driving to D.C. I'm also hoping to meet up with some other paranormal investigators while I'm there and see if we can share some ideas. Washington also had a lot to do with the my entree to the paranormal. When I was 17, my mom and dad booked us on a bus tour to Washington along with a couple of other families that my mom worked with. It was April and the Cherry Blossoms were out near the Smithsonian Aeronautical Museum. I remember how heavy the scent was and how warm it was compared to how cold Maine in April still was. Still is. Anyway, one of the tours that we went on was of Arlington Cemetary. I'd never been there before and while I found the tomb of the unknown soldier interesting, as well as the endless rows of stones, I was still young enough to have a very surreal response to the amount of, or lack of mortality that Arlington represented. But then, we stopped at the statue of Iwa-Jima. I'd seen the image before. I knew that it represented struggle, and the ultimate act of coming together to protect what they could. But I was 17. What did I really understand about the ultimate struggle. I had a few months and I was graduating. But as I stood back away from the group and looked at the monument I was overcome with an incredible sense of sadness. More than I had experienced at any other time throughout Arlington. Tears streamed down my face and the intense feeling of lose was devastating. I had never felt it before and I've only felt it a few times since. Once each when I lost my grandparents and once again when I lost my mother. It's that overwhelming loss of hope. And it was a point of reference for me. I had no point of reference for Iwa-Jima, no connection through family history, nothing. But at that moment, I felt as if I were channelling every bit of sadness, loss and overwelming grief that ever lingered there. That was when I began to think that there was something to this imprinting of emotion that lingers, connecting with only a few that can sense it. A memory captured, traded upon by strangers who unwittingly, psychologically tap into the Memory tape. Some years later I saw video footage of Ira Hayes, the Pima Indian and Marine who is one of those featured on the Monument. For Ira, those men he left behind were much more than the monument could ever portray. A sadness that followed him for the rest of his short life. When I looked at the footage of Ira as he watched the presentation of the monument I realized that I had stood pretty much where Ira had. Did I feel Ira's overwhelming emotions? Who can say. But it was enough to lead me on my path...

New Ideas for Investigating

2009-01-08T04:10:00.000-08:00

After watching GHI last night I started googling the use of UV Filters on Paranormal Investigations and I came across this posting:

Paul Bradford and the IR/UV strobe, Columnist: Buck Bannister

Bradford is taking his ideas and using them to create new equipment that can be used in investigations. You can say what you will, but even if this didn't work, it'd still be the kind of thought process that this field needs in order for all of us to keep moving forward. Ironically enough, a lot of the processes and equipment being developed are in response, or as a counter to, the advancements made in other equipment such as cameras, etc.

So, as one field advances, another is adapting to make it fit another. Evolution of the paranormal field?

What are you seeing out there that is new and interesting?

New Season of GHI

2009-01-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

I've heard a lot of discussion on GHI following last season. Some good. Some bad. Most of it having to do with the changes in staff and the wavering amount of tension. I'm looking forward to GHI's new season. The show incorporates all the things I love, the paranormal, history and even... a chance to learn something new. As they neared the end of the last season it was visibale tht they were finally starting to mesh. They were getting beyond the usual teambuilding process and starting to get more into using their skills to investigate the fantastic places that they're given the opportunity to explore. Think about it. They've got access to places that most investigators won't even get the opportunity to visit. I'm looking forward to what they have to offer.

P.S. And before you yell at me... Yes, I know this is an pic of the old team, but I like it all the same.

They're looking for ghosties in Northern Ireland

2009-01-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Apparition Brings Traffic to a Halt

Apparently, their seeing apparitions in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. And it's causing an influx of gawkers who are clogging up the roads in an effort to catch a glimpse. Seems it's causing a bit of a traffic snare...

I figure this would be about the same as a ghost sighting in Harpswell, Maine...

My thanks to GhostlyCast for keeping me up to date on the paranormal goings-on around the globe!

Proof of ghosts? You tell me...

2009-01-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

This came from my friends over at mypara.net! Enjoy!

Da Ghost is a Gansta!!!!!

Haunted Voices Radio Network Anyone?

2009-01-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Bob at North Coast Paranormal Research Society (or NCPRS) was kind enough to pass along the broadcasting schedule for HVRNC's tonight's show. If you got some time, tune in and check it out!

Friday January 2nd 2009 8pm CST/9pm CST Guest: Mike Robare of Central Ohio Paranormal Society (C.O.P.S.). Join your host Todd Bates as he interviews long time friend and Founder of C.O.P.S. Mike Robare. Learn how Mike’s invention of his Ultra Violet lighting system changed paranormal video evidence forever! We will also be discussing their latest investigations, investigations techniques, evidence and much more! For more information visit their website at http://www.centralohioparanormal.com/ Be sure and interact with us in our LIVE chat room for all of these events at http://www.hvrnc.com/ as well as our new member’s only HVRN instant messenger! Call in lines will be open and are TOLL FREE at 877-216-2987 (Outside the United States or Free Long Distance Plans please call our direct line 618-421-4205). For more information on this week’s show lineup feel free to email us at info@hvrnc.com or visit and print out our events calendar at http://www.hvrnc.com/modules.php?name=Calendar&op=ShowMonth&month=12&day=1&year=2008

On Pod...

2009-01-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

I found a new podcast. Well, it's not new, but it's new to me.

GhostHunter the Podcast.

Jeff Barnes is passionate about Ghost Hunting. But more importantly, Jeff is passionate about responsible Ghost Hunting. His knowledge and understanding of the field is evident, as well as his quest to make sure that there are not just people out there running around with cameras and camcorders and calling themselves investigators. Want to hear more from Jeff?

Check it out...

Too cold to go out for New Years

2008-12-31T18:12:00.000-08:00

besides, today was an absolutely crazy day at work (3rd day in a row) and I'm exhausted. Came home made a quick lasagna and now I'm taking the opportunity to relisten to some of the evidence from our last investigation. I'm new to Wavepad, so if there's anyone out there with good tips on how to use it I'd LOVE to hear them.

Anyway, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe, healthy, prosperous, successful and happy New Year!

Control(s)

2008-12-30T04:41:00.000-08:00

The more I investigate the more I understand the need for controls within the investigation. All the interesting results in the world mean nothing unless you can prove the conditions and the actions behind the results. But is there such a thing as having a completely controlled environment an attainable goal in an investigation? I don't think so. We can do whatever we can to handle this, but in the end... there is no way to completely control our investigations. Think of it this way, even in someone's home you are subject to their environment. I've been in houses that were clean and neat and orderly. But I'm in Maine during the winter which means that we are at the mercy of heating systems. Anyone who has had forced hot air in their house knows that it spits up a lot of dust. Wood heat the same and the temperature is not constant enough to get a satisfying set reading. Even forced hot water can be hard to regulate.
These are just one of the many environmental controls that we can't actually control. So, where does this leave us? Well, it narrows down the pool of available evidence by being able to use only that which is beyond reproach. Very small amount of evidence indeed. I've seen some incredible experiments being set up by Paranormal Enthusiasts who are looking at controlling the enviroment. I'll be looking for more. In the meantime, the adage applies.... when in doubt, you gotta throw it out.

What causes the energy drains?

2008-12-29T05:04:00.000-08:00

There's an interesting discussion going on over at mypara.net about how entities draw energy from around them. Ever found that those brand new batteries that you just put in are unexplainably drained? Then there are the cold spots that are isolated, extreme and unexplainable. I've had the battery drain. I've even had the cold spots, but frankly, in Maine there is no way that you can really call any environment a controlled environment during the fall, winter, spring... well, just about any season. There are just too many factors to take into account. Leakage around windows, forced hot air systems, general drafts. I've got a IR Thermometer, but I've never been able to use it as more than a reference since they only measure surface temperature. I've had limited exposure to thermal cams so I can't speak to those. Maybe sometime soon I can try one of those out. So, what is your theory about energy drain, what causes it and how to they manage it? Inquiring minds want to know...

Good Will to all?

2008-12-28T06:28:00.000-08:00

Look, I've been a romance author for over 15 years. I know how hard it can be to get credit in a field that people don't always value. But there is a lot of talking going on in the paranormal field... and not all of it is good. For every person out there truly trying to further the research there is another out there whose actions may not be all that above board.

I'm not here to point fingers. In fact, I'm here to NOT point fingers.

It's hard enough to gain a level of respect in a field without throwing bad thoughts and behavior into the mix. I can certainly sympathize that there are those who are frustrated by seeing others who may, or may not, be manufacturing results, overlooking the obvious to create positive results, or even posting less-than-professional results as sure-things.

When in doubt, throw it out. This is a good place to start. But there is also the idea that when in doubt, find a way to prove or disprove it. Isn't that what we're after? I've seen too many people who desperately want to believe that something is... when it isn't. I don't know of any other field that has grown at the rate that this field has... and with it comes growing pains.

I'm not perfect. I've done my share of grumbling over evidence that seems to be less than perfect. I've gotten angry over the way I've seen people treat each other in the field. But I hope that I never judge someone else without realizing that anything I put out there will be judged as well.

So, here's my unasked for advice. Act like the professionals we want to be. Create standards that you or your group are willing to be judged on and then hold yourselves to the them. By putting yourselves above the norm than you're going to elevate the field. Leave the anger, back-biting and stabbing to others and put yourselves in a place where your results will be seriously considered. We're not in this to prove that we can end this race ahead of anyone else. Are we? We're here because we want to further the field.

Want to join me?

Ghost in the Machine: Top Paranormal Searches of 2008

2008-12-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

From: - Yahoo! 2008 Year in Review - Yahoo! Buzz

It seems that this year everyone decided to use the Internet to search for some of the most legendary creatures of history. Crytozoology anyone? But then, it's more than that. The Internet is feeding the "I want it now" psyche of the public's need-to-know. Check out Yahoo!'s Top Paranormal Searches of 2008. How many of these have YOU searched for?

2008-12-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

2008-12-23T05:20:00.000-08:00

Mumler... If you've read up on spirit photography at all then you've most likely heard the name before. He was at the beginning of spirit photography with the phantom images he was commisioned to take. Most paranormal enthusiasts discount his work as a double exposed film, his images nothing more than an elaborate hoax. But in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one photography instructer is using ghost hunting to teach photography. Read this great article from Minnesota Public Radio. I've included the broadcast below, but for anyone interested in spirit photography it's worth it to see the actual article... what do they say? A picture is worth a thousand words.

Question for the week...

2008-12-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

I've been out of it lately between a flu bug and two different storms and Christmas shopping, but I saw on the news that the Ghost Hunters Franchise has signed on for it's sixth season. Ghost Hunters International is on to their second season and they are even coming up with a new show... Ghost Hunters: The Next Generation (sounds very SciFi, of course).

Question: Between these shows and Paranormal State and Ghost Adventures (along with all the others that the Travel Channel repeated show) what is everyone's take on whether this amount of exposure helps or hurts the Ghost Hunting field?

I'm not looking for criticism on a particular show. I'm talking about whether you think that this much of a focus on the field of research is good or bad. Recently, a Rhode Island group tried to get access to a historic house in Salem, Ma. They were denied because they didn't feel that it was respectful to the house and it's former occupants to bring in Ghost Hunters. This is despite the fact that the house and Salem (as a city) tread heavily on the whole "witch" thing already.

So, let me know what you think (but be respectful, please.)

Happy Hour Guys hit Jameson's Tavern

2008-12-18T04:16:00.000-08:00

This is the first I've seen of these guys, but it does seem they could become habit forming...

The Search continues...

2008-12-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

One of the things I do for Maine Ghost Hunters is research. Usually, the research involves looking for pre-existing information on an upcoming site. Sometimes, it's post-investigation follow up on information we received during an investigation. This is where my writer skills and my genealogy skills come in handy. I've done enough of both over the years that I have a good idea of where to start. Here's a few tips.

As with anything start with the known and work to the unknown. If it's a public location there is usually information available readily. Just keep in mind that NOT ALL INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET IS FACT. Except, of course, for my blog! :)

But I'm not kidding. I start with the little facts that I do know. I keep a file on each location and start putting everything into it. Worry about sorting it later.

Look for town histories. Books, journals. The library can be a wonderful source of information. Most of them have a selection of local histories and family histories available. Granted, it isn't like Googling something. You actually have to read the text instead of searching for a word. But you can be amazed at what you can find.

If it's a public location and it's been around long enough a good source can sometimes be to look at old Postcards. There's a ton of sites on the web that offer them and they can actually give good clues as to what the site was like earlier or even, if you can narrow down the time that the activity started, then you can find interesting facts. I have one location that I am researching which has actually burned several times over the years. The layout and look of the building has changed every time that the building was rebuilt. This could prove helpful when trying to determine whether there are structural issues at play. Another instance would be those times when ghosts are spotted in strange places. A baby in a tree? Could be that a building was lost to fire, or even moved. Got a ghost that walks through a room, but appears to be walking on his knees? Most likely residual. But the strange visualization could have been the result of a structural floor change.

Don't forget your historical society. Most of them will be happy to help, especially if you give them enough to go on. Also, a small donation doesn't hurt and is respectful of their time. They have a passion for what they do (the same that we do) and most are more than happy to share their passion. Recently, I was looking for information on a soldier from the Civil War. I contacted the local historical society and they were more than willing to help me out.

Listening. Sounds simple, but chances are that there is someone out there who has the information that you need. This doesn't always mean it's correct, but it's always a good place to start or give you clues to another place to look.

Of course, this is by no means comprehensive. Anyone who has done research will tell you that it is often a maddeningly, frustrating endeavor. But coupled with scientific evidence it can mean the difference between a complete picture and a ghostly image.

What's in your Ghosthunter Stocking?

2008-12-05T04:27:00.000-08:00

According to Patricia Marin from the D.C. Ghost Hunter Examiner (And President of R.I.P, Research and Investigation of the Paranormal) there are a some great new gadgets out there that are perfect for the Holiday Gift Guide for Ghost Hunters. They range from the generous Santa on down to the conservative Elf-giver.

I already posted the first on my Ghost Hunter Gift List.

1. A pair of warm socks to keep my tootsie's warm when the temps drop. (Yes, I know that my expectations are on the low side.) I had also added a plastic, industrial-strength baggy to house my shoes after I step into the unseen chicken-cow-horse leftovers that one can't see well in the dark.

And now on my for my second.

2. A set of nice dowsing rods. They don't run too high on the expensive side and I wouldn't say that they are the definitive host hunting tool. But they are a tool. And I'm up for anything that helps me explore.

So, skip on over and check out Patricia Marin's list and if you want to add to my list then post a comment and we'll keep the list running. Got your eye on a Paranormal Puck? A night vision Camera? Let me know and maybe Santa will read the list and grant your wish.

Okay, I admit it...

2008-11-30T05:56:00.000-08:00

I watch that ghost show on the Travel Channel where they spend all their time aggravating the spirits. Mostly, I sit there and wait for the hosts to get what they deserve. I know, I know... bad karma on my part. But I think that, like all things in life, good intentions bring good results.

Anyway, I did pick up something very interesting on the show the other night. Greyfriars Bobby. It's a cemetery in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. And it's very intriguing. I've added it to my places to visit list. How could I not. It's filled with unusual stones and macabre figures. There are over 400 tombs and stones in the cemetary, poltergeist activity, and a dog statue that watches vigilantly over the cemetery.

Want to know? Check out these links...

http://www.poisoningpigeons.com/Photos/Greyfriars_Kirkyard.html
http://www.ghastlyghosthunter.com/greyfriars_kirk_night.html

The trials of being a newbie...

2008-11-25T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of NCIS. McGee on the show is called Probie because of his probational status with the team. That's what I feel like... the probie.

Now, that's not to say that this isn't an incredible experience. An opportunity of a lifetime. Think about it, how many people watch the shows on the travel channel and SciFi and wish they could sit in a dark room and look for evidence of an existence beyond death? And I get to do it with a great group of people. Really, I couldn't ask for a better group to work with... they took my addiction to hanging out in graveyards to a new level...

But with any new endeavor there is a learning curve. For me, it's workin with the evidence. I have the camcorder, the dvr and the camera. It's going through the evidence that is my challenge right now. Luckily, I'm up to the challenge. Tonight, I'm working with Wavepad and doing my first work with listening to the audio. I must confess, I'm one of those that listens to the audio evidence on the Ghost Hunters show and very rarely can hear what they do. But, as I said, I'm learning and enjoying every minute of it.

So for now, just call me Probie...

Investigation last night...

2008-11-24T04:31:00.000-08:00

Last nights investigation went well. Extremely nice couple and a beautiful house. They've put a lot of loving care into the place and it shows. Since it was a smaller space and there were so many of us I took a ton of picutres and focus on trying the reflective photography method... or at least, what I understand of it, so far. I was in a room with a very large mirror and and at one point I was standing in the doorway of one room and shooting into the next and into the mirror.

Since I haven't gone through any of the evidence I can't say yet whether I got anything. We shall see.

2008-11-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm busy getting ready for an investigation tomorrow, but I ran across an article on reflective photography. After much Gooooooooooogling :) I found some very interesting information. But I'm still lacking in the specifics. If anyone who reads this has more information on the mechanics of it, I'd love to hear them. Or read them... whichever works better.

Email: teaganoliver@yahoo.com

or post a comment and we'll start a little "get to know" session right here on the blog.

Strange Maine: Phippsburg Cemetery: Stories & Mysteries

2008-11-20T04:29:00.000-08:00

While doing research I ran across this article on the Phippsburg area. It's an old post from StrangeMaine, dated August of 2006, but it caught my eye because it was talking about Sebasco Estate. This part of the North end of Casco Bay is still, very much a remote territory. Most like it that way. And Sebasco Estate is a grand lady with a glorious past who remains vigilant in her watch over the harbor. Enjoy.

Strange Maine: Phippsburg Cemetery: Stories & Mysteries

2008-11-19T02:10:00.000-08:00

Are you old enough to remember the Disney movies Escape to Witch Mountain and Return to Witch Mountain? I am. And Disney has decided to try again to entice a whole new generation of paranormal savy kids with an upcoming movie Race to Witch Mountain. The effects have come a long way and with The Rock it's sure to have a funny line or two. It won't matter, I too much of a sentimentalist not to realize that I'll be in line with my kids when this one hits the theaters.

Did you know?

2008-11-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

That there are four Revolutionary Sites listed for Maine?

The National Park Service lists four official sites for the Revolutionary War in the state of Maine.

Fort Western, Augusta
Fort O'Brien, Machias
Fort McClary, Kittery
John Paul Jones Memorial, Kittery

Of course, these are only the ones that are part of the park service. Know of any more unofficial sites? I love to know...

So, why does this interest me so much when this is supposed to be a paranormal blog? Well, with so much focus on the Civil War and their last remaining vestiges... what about Revolutionary War activity?

The search for something more...

2008-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

I can't say much about the investigation that I went on last night. But I do want to say that it struck a really big chord with me. Not because of something that happened during the investigation, but because I found a family that was unlike any that I had seen in a very long time. They liked each other. No... don't laugh at that. I mean it. They liked each other. The good, the bad, and all the other. That was remarkable. They sat around the table and told stories and shared their lives with us and they had such incredible hearts that I felt graced to be with them. They were looking to us for answers. Answers that may still come as we go through the evidence. But I learned more from them. I learned that they were a family that wasn't afraid of what was beyond this life. They embraced it. I found a family that gathered themselves together and took care of their own. Something that doesn't happen much in this fast-paced me-me world. And they treasured, even revered the past.

If you ask me what my reasons are for doing paranormal investigations I would tell you that part of it is because I want to know that there is something else beyond this world. I'd like to think that all our knowledge and all our love and energy doesn't completely disappear when we move on. I think, in a way, I want to know that people will remember me the way that this family remembers their loved ones. Maybe the answer to that is to treat my life now as they do... treasure those around me. Gather them close and revere those that have gone on.

Maine Ghost Hunters

2008-11-07T03:54:00.000-08:00

Kathy from Maine Ghost Hunters has posted a great blog about our adventures at Kenniston Hill in Boothbay.

Check it out here!

(click on the blog link at the top)

Cape Cod College Paranormal Lecture Series

2008-11-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

December 19, 2008
Cape And Islands Paranormal Research Society's
Cape Cod Community College Paranormal Lecture Series
Presents CAIPRS, Investigator
Nancy Jenkins
presenting
Sleep Paralysis, Dreams and the Paranormal
The world of Sleep Paralysis is an experience shared with many people and most do not relate the experience to spare the ridicule of others. This lecture will answer many questions for those who have had this occurrence. This will give some answers to the dream state, what sleep paralysis really is and how the paranormal plays a major role. Learn about the elements that create seemingly real visitations, which brings dread with the unknown.

http://www.caiprs.com/CCCC%20Lectures.htm

2008-11-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

I was never a huge believer in orbs... energy bundles, whatever you want to call them. But it only took one visit to this small family cemetery to convince me that there is a possibility of more. I could give you the whole bunch of the photos, but there were two things that actually really stood out about this early evening investigation. 1) all activity happened only around this one stone. Nothing around the 20 or so other stones in this lot. 2) It was after the sun had started to go down over the large hill to the west. There was no reflection coming through the trees, nothing to generate fractured light. 3) I'd never seen one that was blue before. Only white. And 4) It only happened around my daughter. The only picture where these energy bundles are visible are only when she is in frame. I think that there was some sort of connection that they found with her. Perhaps because the stone contained the names of young women who had died. They found her a kindred spirit. Regardless, despite a constant hum of traffic from the highway, there is a real sense of calm within this forgotten landscape. I've been here a few times in the years since I lived in this town and humbly hope that they will not be forgotten. Perhaps they sensed this...

2008-10-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

More publicity for Maine Ghost Hunters...

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=218951&ac=PHnws

2008-10-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

I'm going to post this really quickly. I don't know how long it's going to be up, but if you want to see the latest in publicity for Maine Ghost Hunter. This is from the Journal Tribune Weekend edition... check it out http://www.journaltribune.com/specialsection.html

GhostGirl.

New gadget and Christmas lists...

2008-10-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I've made the leap and just bought a digital voice recorder. Now, I tend to have a hard time with stuff until my daughter sits down and tells me how to get the stuff off of things like cameras or phones... hopefully, I won't have a hard time with it. I am slowly building my arsenal. Oh, I still want to focus on my photography, but it's a damned sight hard to do when it's a night time investigation. And my camcorder doesn't have night vision, (but then, I don't without the help of contacts or glasses). Either way, I am working on putting it all together. On my Christmas list is a digital thermometer because, frankly, after the Kenniston Hill investigation I was extremely intrigued by the changes in temperature. Especially in light of the fact that it was happening right around my feet. Maybe Santa will be nice and stuff one in my stocking... along with another pair of thick socks and some mitties! Those would come in wickedly handy for those cold, Maine investigations.

By the way, want to see just what it was that was swirling around my feet during the investigation at the Kenniston Hill Inn in Boothbay Harbor? Check out the Maine Ghost Hunters video @ http://gallery.me.com/yahyah24#gallery Look for the on that says KHI and disregard my rather unnatural posture in the chair. It was darned cold on my butt.

Anyway, I guess I should start a Ghost Hunters Christmas list and see how much I can come up with... Anybody got anything that they'd like to have Santa bring them?

2008-10-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

The Paranormal Enthusiast side of me appears to be taking over a large part of my brain lately. I was in New Jersey this weekend for the New Jersey RWA conference and directly across from my hotel was a cemetery. A large cemetery. Huge, in fact. Believe me, I was sorely tempted to pull out my flashlight and go investigate, but my roomies held me back. Well, that and the major 6 lane highway I would have had to traverse in order to get there. And since I'd already had a hard time getting across that road on my way in... I wasn't up for another trip of chaos. So, I contented myself with a view of the cemetery and much time speculating over just what could be happening there. By the way, the cemetery had no headstone and it went on forever... must be extremely confusing for anyone trying to find their loved ones.

So now, after the seven hour trip home again... I'm going to have to satisfy myself with checking out areas in my own back yard. I've no doubt that I'll have quite a bit to report on...

GhostGirl.

First Nighttime Investigation!

2008-10-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

I am sooooo supposed to be getting ready for my lecture at NJ RWA this weekend. But I wanted to take a moment to talk about my first night investigation with MaineGhostHunters at the Kenniston Hill Inn in Boothbay, Maine. By the time I arrived, this beautiful Inn was lit up by sparkling lights. Set high up on the hill, it is a stately, old farmhouse with a gorgeous porch that makes one think of rocking chairs and soft summer evenings. This was not a soft, summer evening. This was a 30 something degree October evening in Maine. Could have snowed if it had wanted. But that didn't dampen our enthusiasm. I won't go into great detail yet since they are still working on the evidence, but I will tell you that it was an experience that I don't think I'll ever forget.

If you get the chance and want to stay in a real Maine treasure, check out Kenniston Hill Inn and tell Diane that you heard from GhostGirl. that she might just have some spirits lingering about!

Check it out!

2008-10-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

This is an overview of the investigation I was lucky enough to be invited on last Sunday after the KOD Retreat. Evergreen Cemetary was extremely fascinating. And huge! And it was nice to know that there are others out there who share my interest in traipsing through old cemetaries and talking to dead people... my thanks to www.MaineGhostHunters.org for inviting me along.

Busy Sunday

2008-10-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to invited along on an investigation in Portland yesterday. It was a great chance to get to know some fellow enthusiest and to try out my investigating skills. The cemetary that we went to was HUGE! I haen't seen any that big except for the one on the NJ turnpike that takes up both sides of the highway. It would be easy to be lost in a place like that. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything to do recordings with, but I had my trusty digital, 35mm and camcorder with me. So far I haven't found anything. Some weird stuff happened with my digital camera, but I am very optimistic that once the 35 mm comes back there will be something on it. I always have the best results with that old camera.

2008-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Today was the open house at the Old Brunswick High School. It's one of the last chances to step into one of the most prominent buildings left in Brunswick. One that has seen considerable history since it was open. But in more recent years, it's sat mostly empty. A decaying piece of history that held such a tight rein over the community. I've passed by that building on an almost daily basis for years. Taking the kids back and forth. And each time I watched as the building slipped further and further away. My mother and father both went to High School there. I had a good idea of the it's past and the stories that it held. But there were a few more to add to the collection as I passed through the halls today with so many other, looking for just a brief glimpse of what it had been.

You're probably asking what this has to do with a paranormal blog, but Old Brunswick High School is no stranger to paranormal occurrences. I've blogged about the spectres before, the supposed Mimi who roams the hall and the very real tragedy of two deaths that happened in the parking lot when the tailpipe of the car they were sitting in filled with snow and the young woman and her boyfriend died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Those tales were told today. There were a lot of kids who were there laughing and chatting and looking for Mimi. But I got a very real sense that there was more then one entity in that building today. Some of them residual, some of them real, all of them very strong.

I've talked about my theory of a memory tape on this blog. When emotions or events are so strong that they leave behind a recording that will replay itself. If emotions are energy and if by being involved in emotional events causes energy, then the energy has to go somewhere. I theorize that it imprints itself into a timeline of sorts, hanging about until the right conditions or the right amount of energy can cause the memory tape to play. Sort of an "Is it Live? Or is it Memorex?" deal for those of you old enough to remember those commercials.

Anyway, as I took the tour with the kids I met up with a lot of people and listened to a lot of stories about what happened in the school. A man in the auditorium told me about how there were games played on the old wood floors and the plays and dances that were held. Another talked about how when they would all file into the room for assembly, the seniors last to enter and the first to depart. And how they all couldn't wait to be Seniors so they could have the privilege. There was the man who talked about the rivalry with Morse and how they would paint the rock out front blue (Morse's colors) when they won just to get to the Brunswick players. And there were the friends of my mother who stood there and remembered being in home room with all the others.

I was standing in front of the old entry, the one with stairs that rose up away from the entrance on Spring Street. They were cordoned off so as to keep people out of the areas that were not safe. But just putting your hand on the banister was enough to be able to feel the current of energy running through the building. If a building is made up of wood, stone, brick, mortar, etc and is constantly subjected to energy around it, then it stands to reason that they would resonate with this energy. I felt it when I touched the cannons in Gettysburg, a low vibrational hum that made my hands tingle. It was there today in the walls of Old Brunswick High School.

I'm sure that there are many who would discount my theories as irrational ramblings, but if you've ever walked into a room and known instantly by the feel that there is tension then you've felt this same kind of energy. It doesn't go away.

Just as an aside, I spoke with a gentleman who works for the town and has a workshop in the basement of the old school. He told me a story of how they had left on a Friday night and had locked all the doors and made it all secure. Only to return on Monday to find all the lockers open and the doors open. I tend to believe him, or at least believe that he believed it.

So, there is your theory and your ghost story for the day. I only hope that when the school is finally torn down that those memories continue to live on in the people who loved it so well.

2008-09-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

Perhaps, I have a natural attraction to Salem. After all, my relatives first landed in Salem from England in the 1700's. But since Halloween is so close I thought that I would take this opportunity to talk about the town that the Travel Channel listed as #4 of their scariest places of the US.

Between February 1692 and May 1693, over 150 people were arrested and accused of witchcraft from Salem, Massachusetts and the surrounding towns that included Danvers and Peabody. They were believed to have started when two girls were caught having "fits" by the Reverend Parris. After they were looked at and could find no medical reasons for their behaviour they were believed to be betwitched. When questioned further they accused three women of bewitching them. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and the young woman who lived in their house and took care of them. A woman by the name of Tituba. All three women where somewhat outcasts from the small religious colony.

By the end, there were 19 executions and 1 pressed to death. Giles Correy was pressed with weights upon his chest for refusing to admit a plea in his case. He was 80 years old when he died.

While these are gruesome facts that have been attributed to everything from young women intent on revenge to a bacteria found in the harvest that could have caused epileptic like problems, there is another side to Salem.

Salem is a quintessential New England town with the Custom House overlooking the harbor and rows of houses tucked and tightly in together. There are cobblestone streets and windows with bulls eye glass. There are lots of churches and narrow streets and if you go in the Spring there are lots of flowers. If you go at Halloween, the town takes on a festival feel with people walking the streets in outfits that they would feel strange in any other time of the year. You can take a trolley shuttle around town and learn about the history. Or just choose to walk. Everything is close by. If you like art you can check out the Peabody Essex Museum or take a walk a few blocks and find the Witch's Dungeon museum for something a bit more morbid.

I've been to Salem many times over the years. Both with school trips and with my family. The city never ceases to amaze me. I love the bizarre spectacle and the quieter, almost Puritan feel. I wrote about Salem in The Three Truths of Katie Talmadge because there was no place else that I could possible place it.

She had no idea how long she’d stood with her face turned to the cold spray of the ocean and the sting of the wind. She only knew that every part of her body was strained, stretched taut and stiff until she was sure the slightest movement would break her in two.
She was a fool.
The water kicked up sending a flush of water off the wooden pilings along the breakwater. Her pants were damp and her sneakers were soaked, but she didn’t care. She was doing her own form of penance, forcing herself to withstand the elements in hopes that it would take away some of the anger and frustration coursing through her.

I wrote this scene after one particular trip to Salem with my daughter. We had boarded the trolley and were set to take the tour when the tour operator turned and looked at me and said "You've been here before." I was quite shocked. It had been at least three years since my last visit and I have no idea why she remembered me. But Salem has that kind of feel for me. A familiarity. A return to something I've known, but forgotten. If you get the chance to go to Salem, either for the macabre history or the sheer beauty of it... it's worth the trip.

Off the Bookshelf...

2008-09-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Paranormal expert Jeff Belanger has a new book out. This in itself is not strange, the man is extremely prolific. But what is surprising is that this time his target audience is much younger. Who's Haunting the White House? is written for ages 9 and up. He's taken his love of history and stories and combined it with his love of the paranormal. Wrapping all of it together in a package sure to entice any kid with a ghostly interest. I should know. I've got a 9 year old of my own who is interested in ghost hunting.

To tie it in with his Ghostvillage site, Jeff has created a new site geared just for kids. http://kids.ghostvillage.com/ . There's all kinds of information on there about explaining ghosts to kids and how to approach the subject with kids. What I found particularly interesting was a section with lesson plans for using ghosts to teach history. It was created by Chris Balzano, an expert in his own right.

Got kids interested in Ghosts? Check it out.

just for fun!

2008-09-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of Most Haunted. Not because I agree with how they do their investigations, but because I love the history of places that I will never get to visit in this lifetime. Also, the interactions between Yvette, the crew and the guest psychics makes for lots of laughs. This last week the Travel Channel showed the investigation of Oxford Castle. It was interesting, but the best part was during the seance, table tipping episode in the basement. During the melee, Stuart puts out a comforting hand to Leslie to help her out since she's startled. And, well.... check it out for yourself.

2008-09-05T04:21:00.000-07:00

So, I've been off for awhile trying to get things going again. I expect to pick back up and get some interesting topics going again.

Got anything you'd like to chat about? Let me know. I'm always up for a good paranomal discussion. Got a podcast that your really like? Again, let me know and I'll do a review for my on Pod discussion.

In the meantime, join me a host of other paranormal peeps at http://www.myparan.net It's a great new website that just started up and they are offering a hangout place for ghosthunters and para hunters alike.

Check it out for yourself.

On Pod... ParanormalPodcast.com

2008-08-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

I love it when I find a new podcast to listen to while I'm writing. Especially, one involving the paranormal. And it just so happens that I came across ParanormalPodcast.com while doing research and I've become hooked. Host Jim Harold covers topics ranging from UFO's to Urban Legends and his recent guest have included multi-published author, S.E. Schlosser who writes the SPOOKY states series, Philip Imbrogno, a UFO researcher and Larry Flaxman, the President of ARPAST.

Jim Harold was nice enough to let me pick his brain for a bit. Here's what he had to say...

Q. What made you decide to do a podcast on the paranormal?

A. I've always been fascinated with the paranormal and have a broadcasting background so it was just a natural extension to do a podcast on the subject. I grew up watching "In Search Of" and from an early age was interested in books about the Bermuda Triangle and other phenomena. I sincerely enjoy interviewing guests on their various theories of the paranormal. I have just always thought that there is more out there than we can explain with our limited knowledge of the universe. When I ask a question, I am really interested in the answer. I am a listener just like everyone in the audience only I have a mic in front of me. Getting feedback from all over the globe is just a kick. My favorite was someone from China who listens to the show while walking his dog! China, imagine that!

Q. You have a wide range of guests. Is there a particular part of the paranormal that you're more interested in?

A. I guess the two topics that fascinate me the most are life after death and the UFO phenomena. These are really two of the great mysteries of humankind. My approach is to give every theory a fair hearing whether I personally believe in it or not. As I have mentioned on the show, I believe that paranormal phenomena exists --what's behind it? I don't know. I also believe some of what is claimed to be paranormal phenomena is perfectly explicable, but there is a percentage that isn't and, I think, very real.

Q. Who would be your dream guest?

A. A real live space alien -- if one exists...that would sure boost the old download numbers! Seriously, it would be great to find out who they are, what their interest in earth is and what insight they could give us. Another would be to interview someone from The Great Beyond...but I don't see that happening.

Q. And, what have you got coming up in the future that you want everyone to know about?

A. We are determined to keep the content coming on at least a weekly basis, so stay tuned we have something coming up in many different topic areas - UFOs, symbolism, more Roswell stuff...I have some ideas for Halloween that are still in the formative phase but it may involve some video. We are looking to have a psychic reading on the show. I would just ask everyone who is a fan of the Paranormal Podcast to please spread the word to their online and offline friends.

GhostGirl., thanks for the opportunity to talk to your readers about the Paranormal Podcast!

And, my thanks to Jim for letting me interview him. Want to know the specifics on how to listen in to ParanormalPodcast? Here they are...

Who: Jim Harold, host of ParanormalPodcast.com

What: Offering insight and interviews with some of the most knowledgeable and interesting Paranormal experts.

When: New podcasts weekly!

Where: http://www.paranormalpodcast.com/ and you can follow him http://www.twitter.com/ also.

Want your own ParanormalPodcast banner for your site? Check out his website for more info! http://www.ParanormalPodcast.com

On Pod...

2008-08-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

They have a slightly off-kilter sense of humor, kind of a boyish charm translates into great interviews with interesting people. Darkness on the Edge of Town Radio was one of the first podcasts that I started listening to because their range of guests is far reaching. They also have extremely open minds (or at least they do on the podcast). Dave Schrader and Tim Dennis broadcast somewhere out of Minnesota and have a very professional podcast. They can be subscribed through Planet Paranormal and iTunes. Season one included guests such as Adam Blai (who I've talked about before on this blog), John Zaffis and Jason Hawes. Season Two includes the recent interview with Ciaran O'Keefe, Tiffany Johnson and Mary Ann Winkowski of Ghost Whisperer.

WHO: Darkness at the Edge of Town Radio

What: Paranormal Podcast, available from Planet Paranormal and iTunes

When: Live Streaming every Saturday night from 10pm to 12am central time

Where: www.DarknessRadio.com and also available to subscribe from Planet Paranormal and iTunes.

2008-08-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I had to post this one for my cousins in the Asheville, NC area. For anyone who's interested, check out Haunted High School.

Question for the day...

2008-08-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Is there a difference between sensatives and psychics?

I'm working on an article and would love the feedback. The idea here is that I've heard both terms bantered back and forth. Some look at the term psychic as a common term that would cover any number. And some feel that sensative is too broad a term to denote or specificy anyone with specific abilities.

So, what do you think?

David Wells, Dining with the Dead

2008-08-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Windham Restaurant was a great setting for the dinner and talk given by former Most Haunted member, David Wells. Dining with the Dead was offered through The New England Ghost Project and their partnership with Circles of Wisdom. The evening started in the upstairs dining room where I had the pleasure of sitting with a very nice couple from NH. We had a wonderful dinner (chicken Bianco, highly recommended) and then Ron Kolek introduced David Wells, as well as, Gavin Cromwell, a Welsh psychic who also made the trip. David Wells was easily as engaging and friendly as he appears to be on television. His humor was contagious as he talked about his own path to dealing with his evolving abilities. He offered exercises to help us focus and center ourselves and suggested that we use the techniquest to welcome, but also protect anyone who may use their abilities for ghost research. And he also talked at length about his experiences with the show and even some of his more humorous and scary moments.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was intimate and inviting and very enlightening. It took me hours to drive there and I didn't get home until after 1am. I am still catching up on sleep, but I'd do it all again to hear him speak.

On Pod...

2008-08-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

In the first of my posts about paranormal podcasts I'm chosing one of my favorites. Ghost Chronicles. Ron Kolek and Maureen Wood have been teaming up along with the members of The New England Ghost Project for quite a few years. I've even had the pleasure of hearing them speak in person at the New England RWA Conference. But what makes their podcasts work is that they not only have the knowledge and the experience, but they have great personalities that work well together... at least most of the time. Even their edgy banter makes for interesting listening as they take on topics of paranormal in the New England venue. Recent guests have included the likes of author, Jeff Belanger from GhostVillage.com and Mark Nesbitt of the Ghosts of Gettysburg fame. Past topics have included: The Lizzie Borden House, Haunted Cape Cod and Islands and even the group from Paranormal State.

All in all... it's a great listen. Ron's role as skeptic is rivaled only by Maureen's sensativity and ability to trans-channel. Want a good chill? Check out the podcast Episode 5 - November 29, 2006 - America's Stonehenge aka Mystery Hill

Now for the specifics:

Ghost Chronicles can be found at GhostVillage.com: HERE

Check out their podcast archive: HERE

Hear them live every Friday night from 10 PM to Midnight EST on www.toginet.com

Just in Case... (Xposted from Teagan Blog)

2008-08-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

you don't have a teenager who's into vampire books you may be out of the loope when it comes to the big event happening this weekend. This is the last in Stephenie Meyers books trilogy about a teenage vamps and the young women who love them. My daughter was practically in orbit the other day when we watched the trailer for the upcoming movie. And for those of you who haven't seen it. Check it out...

And just in case you haven't gotten enough of tempting bite of Edward and Bella you can check out TwilightLexicon.com for the latest information.

As for me? I'll most likely be at Borders on Saturday night with a group of teenage girls waiting for the release of the book. Maybe I should invest in earplugs? Just kidding.... really.... sheeesh!

What do you think?

2008-07-31T05:17:00.000-07:00

Evidence of a haunting? Or evidence of paranormal activity?

Anyone who watches GH, GHI or even Paranormal State has heard the words haunting and paranormal bantered around greatly over the course of a television season. You know the drill, it comes down to the last few minutes of the show.... that moment when they reveal to the client whether or not they believe a place to be haunted. But to my way of thinking there is a difference between a haunting and paranormal activity. Haunting, according to the online dictionary www.merriam-webster.com/ a haunting is listed as:

transitive verb1 a: to visit often : frequent b: to continually seek the company of2 a: to have a disquieting or harmful effect on : trouble b: to recur constantly and spontaneously to c: to reappear continually in 3: to visit or inhabit as a ghostintransitive verb1: to stay around or persist : linger2: to appear habitually as a ghost

And paranormal means:

: not scientifically explainable : supernatural

— paranormal noun

— para·nor·mal·i·ty \ˌpa-rə-ˌnȯr-ˈma-lə-tē\ noun

— para·nor·mal·ly \-ˈnȯr-mə-lē\ adverb

So, why am I questioning it? Because it's kind of like using obscure language in a contract that is used to confuse or even placate a person. Don't get me wrong, I understand why the difference between the two is used when describing the evidence to a client. But I think that unless they understand that paranormal activity does not necessarily mean spirit/ghosts/haunting then that needs to be clearer. The term "paranormal activity" is so broad a term that it could encompass any number of things.

So, what is your take on HAUNTINGS versus PARANORMAL ACTIVITY?

Happy Birthday to me...

2008-07-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

My Birthday isn't until a few days into August, but I'm indulging myself with a trip to New Hampshire on August 4th to hear David Wells (from Most Haunted fame) as he joins the group from the New England Ghost Project at The Windham Restaurant for a night of Dining with the Dead with David Wells. Should make for an interesting evening. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Think you have what it takes to be a ghost hunter?

2008-07-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Then check out this article originally posted on the The Globe. Jan Gregory, founder of Vancouver Paranormal talks about how the crush of shows vying for the coveted GH viewers are giving an unclear view of what it takes to hunt ghosts. And how those who head out for the search may not be quite as prepared as they think. There is no shrieking and running from her investigators... find out more HERE

On Pod...

2008-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I like to listen to podcasts while I write. The background news is a great form of white noise for keeping my writing moving forward. I don't always catch everything, but often, if the topic is intriguing enough I will listen to a podcase again just to see what I missed. Starting August 2nd, I'm going to be highlighting a different paranormal podcast every weekend with links on how you can download the podcasts to listen for yourself. Stay tuned.... for more paranormal podcast information...