Just wanted to start with a little fun Sherlock to kick the year off right.
So, here we go. First off: an announcement!
Calling all Vendors, Psychics & Paranormal Groups Saturday, September 30, 2017 11 am to 6 pm
ParaX presents: Behind the Veil 2
Psychic/Metaphysical/Paranormal Fair At the East Brunswick Elks Lodge 21Oakmont Avenue, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
A day of fun for the public to kick off the fall season, filled with Psychic readers, unique merchandise, lectures, food, local artists and authors on the subject of ghosts, witches etc. Vendors & a helper receive free admission with their paid 6 foot space, chairs supplied, but you must provide your own (6 ft.) table. Half price space if you are approved to be a lecturer. A raffle, just for Vendors! You will receive directions and a final flyer via, email. We will also provide the website and facebook links, so you can help us advertise. We look forward to having you!
Yes, we are doing the expo again. If anyone is interested, please let me know and I will send you a form.
The end of last year was a total wreck for me. First, in October, I had to give my presentation to the Red-Headed League of New Jersey on "Arthur, Sherlock, and the Supernatural." I believe it went well. It was also the group's 40th anniversary. Here is a picture of the cake:
And here are some of the goodies that were given out (including the Sherlock protection pouches with the 221B house key. (Those were from me.)
And here I am, with a microphone threatening my personal space.
I was not feeling well that evening, and I look it. However, I received many kind remarks on the lecture, pouches, and free Fate Magazines provided by my publisher.
Next up was the Expo. Great vendors but low turn-out. We saw areas for improvement and are addressing them for the next go-round. Still rather ill, tension was made worse by friend Bob's sudden illness. (He was going to do a lot of my tote and carry for set-up.) He made the show, but my sister Diane really came through for me. She helped set up the night before, attended the show, and stuck around to help break it down. My Jeni, Keith, and other friends also pitched in. I also got to meet Bruce Tango, father of Dave and one of the folks from "Ghost Hunters".
Yup. No matter who you are, sooner or later you get to push the wheelchair. Mostly that fell to Bob or my sister, bless their hearts.
After that, I really fell ill to exhaustion, chills and fever,,, and I still had the holidays to sludge through. By the time New Year's Eve rolled around, I was whipped. It has only been the last week or two that I've started to come alive.
I managed to finish an article I was doing on an investigation of White Hill Mansion, and get to posted off to my publisher. It should either be in the next Fate issue, or posted on their web site (the jury is still out on that one.) Meanwhile, my article "Missing Mabel" - about the first dean of Douglass College - is in the current issue :
'Tis a mystery, this one...a spooky mystery!
Ellen and I also did a third cemetery crawl. I'm falling behind on those, so allow me to share the first adventure in Newark, NJ.
Mount Pleasant cemetery reminded me a bit of Green-wood cemetery in Brooklyn. I think that is primarily due to the ornate gate. Unlike Green-wood, there was no welcoming bathroom. At our age, Ellen and I LIKE welcoming bathrooms very much. Still, we persevered.
It had the typical Victorian greco-roman designs. The tomb on the bottom looks like a cremation was being carried out, but it's only a cloud.
This is a tribute to a fireman. It was extremely tall, and very difficult to shoot.
There is the occasional Celtic cross...
...and we have the typical urns, spheres, and pointy needles. Ellen compares them to a part of the male anatomy...over and over... We also have a cut-off column on the left of the last shot. Life cut short, as it were.
There is a nice, little receiving vault...
as well as the individual graves of the wealthy. Ellen liked this grave in particular because, right next to this memorial...
...is the humble stone of Peter Rankin, "A Faithful Servant". Touches the heart strings...poor Peter.
I was certain that we would be in a doubtful part of town. Newark doesn't have the best of reputations, but we were fine. Actually, the biggest threat came to the bottom of Ellen's car. There were branches, disappearing pathways, ruts, bumps...the tombs were pretty but the general upkeep failed to impress. If you decide to do a crawl there, rent a junker for the day.
That's it for now. Next time I'll do the other Newark crawl, and a spell to rid yourself of the influences of unwanted people, so you can start the year with cleaner, happier energy.
Be well...and avoid the plague running rampant in New Jersey!
