A tornado tore through...

When it comes to big holidays, the aftermath is like a tornado tore through your home...after your company has gone, gifts opened, etc. The place looks in shambles no matter how hard you try to keep up. And all that is on top of your regular chores! LOL! I can now actually see my livingroom floor now.;) I do little by little as I won't wear myself out like I have in the past. The older 2 kids still have a week left before going back to school...that is when I'll be able to do more and get my house back to somewhat normal household. That will be when I probably start taking all the Christmas decorations down. For now it's sifting through all the boxes, plastics ect. to see what gets recycled and what is garbage. But I've got my older daughter's birthday this weekend to worry about. Then I have a month before my youngest daughter's birthday.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got at least one thing you wanted to get. Even though I enjoyed my Christmas, I didn't get what I wanted. It was only two things...one that was less than $200.00 and a Gothic Charm School book but instead I got about $300.00 worth of stuff that my dh likes or we could use for the house. Of all the Christmases we've had together (about 10) this year he was clueless. Ah well, perhaps next year he'll get back on track and do better. He even forgot stocking stuffers this year for me. But my kids are happy with what they got and it will take a while before they get their own rooms organized and have figured where they are going to put their stuff in their room. :)
As much as I love the different holidays, I am usually glad when it's all over. :) Now I can start thinking of next year! :D

Merry Christmas all!

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, happiness and prosperity now and in the coming year.

Death in the family

Sorry I haven't posted for a bit...would have been sooner but my grandmother just passed away from lung cancer but she did live a long life. She died at 89 yrs. old. From what I was told I was the only grandchild of hers that would send pics, cards, etc. to her and keep in touch. My aunt told me that my nanny spoke of me often and spoke of a special bond we shared. Thankfully she died peacefully while she slept and all of her children were able to say goodbye to her. She was the last of my grandparents to cross over. So now I won't be able to get anymore letters/cards from her. Makes you appreciate those that are still here with you as you never know how much time you have with them.

Happy Halloween!

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe and happy Halloween!

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Once a year, on this day is Talk Like A Pirate Day. And only a few days ago I found out they announced that they will be doing a Pirates of the Caribbean 4!
So to help us landlubbers or those with no sea legs ;) here are some words and/or saying of pirates to help you get into the mood. Perhaps you can even dress up as one today. :D

* Ahoy: Hello!
* Avast: Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"
* Aye: Yes
* Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over."
* Arrr! - This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin. "Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "I'm enjoying this beer," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr!
* Black spot: to be 'placin' the black spot' be markin' someone for death.
* Booty: treasure
* Buccanneer: a pirate who be answerin' to no man or blasted government.
* By the Powers!: an exclamation, uttered by Long John Silver in Treasure Island!
* Bilge rat – The bilge is the lowest level of the ship. It’s loaded with ballast and slimy, reeking water. A bilge rat, then, is a rat that lives in the worst place on the ship.
* Bung hole – Victuals on a ship were stored in wooden casks. The stopper in the barrel is called the bung, and the hole is called the bung hole. That’s all. It sounds a lot worse, doesn’t it?
* Davy Jones' Locker: the bottom o' the sea, where the souls of dead men lie
* Doubloons: pieces of gold...
* Gentlemen o' fortune: a slightly more positive term fer pirates!
* Grog – An alcoholic drink, usually rum diluted with water
* Jolly Roger: the skull and crossbones pirate flag
* Keelhaul: a truly vicious punishment where a scurvy dog be tied to a rope and dragged along the barnacle-encrusted bottom of a ship. They not be survivin' this.
* Landlubber: "Land-lover," someone not used to life onboard a ship.
* Lass: A woman.
* Lily-livered: faint o' heart
* Loaded to the Gunwales (pron. gunnels): drunk
* Matey: A shipmate or a friend.
* Me hearty: a friend or shipmate.
* Privateer: a pirate officially sanctioned by a national power
* Scallywag: A bad person. A scoundrel.
* Scurvy dog!: a fine insult!
* Shiver me timbers!: an exclamation of surprise, to be shouted most loud.
* Sprogs: raw, untrained recruits
* Swashbucklin': fightin' and carousin' on the high seas!
* Thar: The opposite of "here."
* Walk the plank: this one be bloody obvious.
* Wench: a lady, although ye gents not be wantin' to use this around a lady who be stronger than ye.

There is a site just for this and you can find it at http://www.talklikeapirate.com/
Have fun!

I Found Another Blog Giveaway

There is another blog giveaway over at this blog...
http://pfatt.blogspot.com
There are some great stuff there to win and I believe the draw is on Sept. 8th so there is still a week to go so pop on by their blog and enter.

Skull Book Giveaway

The Giveaway is for one of his Skull Book Lights: What arcane tome is this? Perfect for a cluttered spell crafter’s desk or witches bookshelf, this ancient tome with a aged skull and battery operated flickering tea light candle is nice for anytime or your Halloween display. Each one is OOAK and may look slightly different than the pictures shown here. Each one is crafted with great attention to detail.
So of course I will throw my name in the hat as it were and try to win this. If you want a chance to win, pop on over to here...
http://www.grimvisions.com/giveaway/skull-book-giveaway
Contest Ends: Sept 13th 2009, 12 Midnight PST
He has wonderful work you can see for yourself besides this wonderful skull he did for his giveaway!
Good luck to all who enter! :)

Happy 119th Birthday Mr. Lovecraft

Lovecraft was been born August 20th 1890 in Providence, Rhode Islands and died March 15th 1937. He liked the atmosphere of 18th century and thought that 19th century was kind of barbaric. Lovecraft has written 67 stories between 1905-1935. Lovecraft was an American sci-fi, horror, and fantasy author most famous for giving us Cthulhu. Cthulhu is a cosmic entity who first appeared in the short story "The Call of Cthulhu." He/She/It/Whatever is represented with an octopus head, dragon-like body and wings, and a human caricature.
Lovecraft has had a huge impact in our modern culture. Arkham Asylum in the Batman series is based off of a sanitorium in one of Lovecraft's stories. Not to mention, that 3 of Metallica's songs (The Call of Cthulhu, The Thing That Should Not Be, and All Nightmare Long) are based off of Lovecraft's literature.

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die"
- H. P. Lovecraft

Decided on a Costume

As you see in the picture here...this will be the costume I'm going to try and put together. (Instead of buying online.) So between now and Halloween I'll be scouring the thrift stores, dollar stores to find the bits I need to complete this costume. I already have the stocking but they are purple and black stripes. The makeup is easy, thankfully. I don't like using masks because it is too hot and I find a little hard to breathe in and I also don't like slathering alot of makeup on my face. (Especially when I have little ones who like to give me hugs and kisses alot. LOL!)
During this time I will also be on the lookout for things I need to put together costumes for my older 2 kids. Haven't decided on the youngest yet.

Give-away at...

http://kingofmicestudios.blogspot.com/2009/08/little-blog-love-back-atcha.html

Here she has a lovely little box to give away (pictured here). Just comment on what makes you smile. You can get an extra two entries...just follow her directions and you can get a total of three. You still have time to put your name in the hat as it were before the draw! Good luck all!

Twin Deaths...Coincidence?

On 2002, Seventy-year-old twin brothers have died within hours of one another after separate accidents on the same road in northern Finland. The first of the twins died when he was hit by a lorry while riding his bike in Raahe, 600 kilometres north of the capital, Helsinki. He died just 1.5km from the spot where his brother was killed. “This is simply a historic coincidence. Although the road is a busy one, accidents don’t occur every day,” police officer Marja-Leena Huhtala told Reuters. “It made my hair stand on end when I heard the two were brothers, and identical twins at that. It came to mind that perhaps someone from upstairs had a say in this,” she said.

DAG Treasure Hunt

I'm usually not lucky enough to win anything and when I do it is very rare. Well this is one of those times! I entered the DAG Treasure Hunt. Many blogs were in on it with each one giving away a great prize of their own creation. The pic you see here is the one I won! Yay! So because I won I'm going to give a little plug for her blog.

http://www.wendysbrainchild.blogspot.com/ is her blog. You can also view her artwork at www.artbywendy.net
Thanks so much Wendy and I look forward to receiving the prize!

Poe Coincidence

In the 19th century, the famous horror writer, Egdar Allan Poe, wrote a book called ‘The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym’. It was about four survivors of a shipwreck who were in an open boat for many days before they decided to kill and eat the cabin boy whose name was Richard Parker. Some years later, in 1884, the yawl, Mignonette, foundered, with only four survivors, who were in an open boat for many days. Eventully the three senior members of the crew, killed and ate the cabin boy. The name of the cabin boy was Richard Parker.

Gothic Charm School

Browsing the net I'm always looking for different sites that deal with anything gothic. I found a lovely site called Gothic Charm School ( http://gothic-charm-school.com ) Jillian Venters has a blog that people write in and she answers dealing with goth...whether those who aren't goth but are asking questions about it or those who are who are unsure about a gothic topic. There are those from the very young (teen years) to those who have been around for a while longer (like myself).
She talks about different categories such as holidays and special occasions, growing pains, clubbing and concerts, being fashionable, mannerly and and social are among several topics she talks about. She answers letters on her blog but also brings up discussions/topics of her own. :) Check it out...you might enjoy it. :)

Happy Canada Day!

A happy Canada Day to all our wonderful Canadians! Stay safe and have fun!

Drinking Contest Results in Alcohol Poisoning

In Moscow Russian man died after winning a drinking contest. He consumed several pints of vodka and all five contestants had to receive hospital treatment for alcohol poisoning. "The competition lasted 30, perhaps 40 minutes and the winner downed three half-liter bottles. He was taken home by taxi but died within 20 minutes," said Roman Popov, a prosecutor pursuing the case in the town of Volgodonsk. The prize for winning the drinking contest was 10 bottles of vodka, reported the London Telegraph. However, the Itar-Tass news agency says Volgodonsk police are charging competition officials with involuntary manslaughter. Russians frequently down about a quart of vodka at one sitting, but last year 40,000 Russians died of alcohol related illnesses.

After drinking all that...makes me wonder if they still wanted the prize!

Happy Birthday To Me

Yes, I'm now 39 years old now. Where does the time go! I remember twenty years ago I thought 39 was old! LOL! Now that I'm there it doesn't seem to be though I have alot of gray hair to show for it. My dh came home from work around 3 am or so and stayed up to decorate and blow up balloons and wrap a few gifts for me. So I woke up to find balloons littered on the floor which the kids love and are having a blast with them. LOL!

Great Cakes!

I was browsing the net and found a blog with great ideas about wedding cakes. They are pretty amazing! :D The picture you see on the left here is from the site. I don't know who made the cake or took the pic but I love it!
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/03/sunday-sweets-undead-wed.html

Noyades

The term is “Noyades" (French, noyer, to drown.) A means of execution adopted by Carrier at Nantes. It refers to drowning as many people at once...they have even taken 90 or so priests, stuffing them in a flat-bottom water craft and then scuttling it so the boat sinks–water pours in and everyone screams and gasps for air. See Wiki for more. It doesn't have to be priests though when using this technique. They say that Nero, at the suggestion of Anicetus, drowned his mother in this same manner.
It happened during the “Reign of Terror” which was fifteen months after The French Revolution.
Those being drowned were considered to be enemies of The Revolution and the noyades were primarily used against the religious factions that upheld monarchy rule.
Jean Baptiste-Carrier, who was responsible for helping to set up the tribunals to punish enemies of The Revolution, is said to be responsible for drowning 2000 people under his own command alone. The condemned suffered further humiliation in that he had them tied to their “ships of doom” naked.
Lastly, the noyades spawned the term “underwater marriages.” This is where they would couple up a priest and a nun, tie them together and send them to their watery grave. “To death do us part” was very quick.
The drownings were also referred to as 'republican baptisms'

The Horror Survival Guide

*When it appears that you have killed the monster, *never* check to see if it's really dead.
*If you find that your house is built upon or near a cemetary, was once a church used for black masses, had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house, move away immediately.
*Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.
*Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.
*If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, or if they speak to you using a voice which is other than their own, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. NOTE: It will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared.
*When you have the benefit of numbers, *never* pair off and go it alone.
*As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.
*Never stand in, on, above, below, beside, or anywhere near a grave, tomb, crypt, mausoleum, or other house of the dead.
*If you're searching for something which caused a noise and find out that it's just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.
*If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.
*Do not take *anything* from the dead.
*If you find a town which looks deserted, it's probably for a reason. Take the hint and stay away.
*Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you're doing.
*If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are of the female persuasion. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.
*If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, get away from them as fast as possible.
*Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.
*If your car runs out of gas at night, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help.

Source Unknown

Cannibal on Trial in Germany

KASSEL, Germany - A German man awaiting trial for murdering and eating an acquaintance has conceded cannibalism "will only lead to problems," the London Mirror said Monday. Prosecutors allege Armin Meiwes, 41, killed then ate computer analyst Bernd-Juergen Brandes, 42, after the pair set up the death-wish meeting over the Internet. Police found Brandes' mutilated and partially eaten remains. Most had been grilled on a barbecue. Meiwes, who goes on trial next week, denies the murder charge. But prosecutors say the case cannot be considered assisted suicide even though Brandes agreed to be killed. Meiwes said he is writing his memoirs from prison, adding: "I don't recommend that people follow my example. It's not a good lifestyle."

To all the mummies

I just want to wish all those mummies out there a Happy Mother's Day. I won't be able to spend it with my mother as she lives hundreds and hundreds of miles away and would cost way to much for us to visit. So I did make sure to send her a card earlier. My kids made something at school for me and my dh got me some flowers and a card. I decided to make turkey for supper today as I have been craving it for the past two weeks. LOL! Hope you all have a great day!

Frankenstein nearly came true!

In 1803, Italian physicist Giovanni Aldini ran electric current through the newly dead body of murderer George Forster.

The prison record states that "on the first application of the process to the face, the jaws of the deceased criminal began to quiver, and the adjoining muscles were horribly contorted, and one eye was actually opened. In the subsequent part of the process the right hand was raised and clenched, and the legs and thighs were set in motion."

One witness reportedly died of fright, but there was really no cause for alarm. If Forster had returned to life, the prison planned to re-execute him — after all, he'd been sentenced to "hang until he be dead."

American Ghost Hunter

I always love a good ghost story. I love to read about them and watch them on t.v. This is the official trailer for the feature film, "American Ghost Hunter". Produced by those who bring us Paranormal State which I try to watch every Monday night. :) I love the show so I'm really looking forward to watching this movie when it comes out. :D

Gothic Tinkerbell

GPD

GPD is what is called Great Pumpkin Day. For one day a month on the last day of the month I do something geared towards Halloween. I even have a binder just for Halloween.
For April's GPD I began to look over the net for ideas for costumes. I haven't decided what I want to dress up as. Last year I wanted to dress up as a ghost but couldn't find what I needed to put it together.
My son has decided he wants to be a bat. So I looked online to get some ideas I can use to put it together. It's a fairly easy costume to do so that won't be a problem. I just have him wear all black, attach black wings to his arms and give him bat ears with some vampire teeth to finish the costume off.
My older daughter hasn't figured it out yet. She probably won't decide till the end of September when we go to the store to check out the costumes and our youngest is only 3 so we will probably find something when my other daughter chooses.

My Grandmother

I guess it will be a matter of time...I mean...she is about 89 yrs. old. She had lived through so much in her life. Right now she is staying with one of her daughter's family as her health was slowly declining purely due to age.
Today I received news that my grandmother had fallen and broken her pelvis. Though not only does she have to deal with that but druing a routine x-ray to her torso, they found a mass in her lung about 5.5 cm. in diameter. A ct scan confirmed it. She has lung cancer. I guess it seemed to bother me more than I thought. After I heard the news I was in a foul mood. Angry and snapping at people till I finally broke own. I didn't cry long...only a few minutes or so before it passed. I just hope she doesn't suffer too much. All I can do is offer up my prayers for her and wait till I hear the news that she has passed on.
Despite the fact I was never fond of her as a child who didn't seem to care or treat me very well, she is the only grandparent I have left.

Earth Day

Yesterday was Earth Day. Created in 1970, it is a global day of observance of the need to protect the earth. Now...it's not just for this day to do our part to help the earth but every day. This day reminds us to do our part throughout the year to make the earth a better place to live in. Once people realize how simple it is to conserve at home and on the go it can quickly become a way of life.
Here are some things you can do...tips to help you.
First...smart shopping. Buy what you need and not what you want. Borrow or rent things not normally used that much. For instance, when I had a garden in my back yard, I borrowed neighbours tools/machines to till the soil. I didn't have to spend hundreds/thousand dollars just to buy something I would use twice a year. Also buy used items from garage/yard sales and thrift/second-hand stores.
Second...simple savers. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Use aerators on faucets and shower heads and weatherstrip windows and doors. I know one person who put a brick in their toilet tank so it would use up less water!
Third...transportation alternatives. Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation to get where you need to go. When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure.
Fourth...food choices. Choose local and organic foods that are in season and support local food producers. Some even choose to eat less meat.
Fifth...washing and drying. Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry. I found cold water works just as well as warm or hot water. If you don't have a clothes line outside or its winter, set one up in your basement or an area of your home that isn't used much. (like a spare room)
Sixth...heating and cooling. In the summer, set your thermostat to 23°C or 24°C and In the winter, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C. Also install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats.
Seventh...close to home. Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible.
Eigth...bathroom basics. Take short showers instead of baths and close water taps while brushing your teeth.
Ninth...careful cleaning. Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products and make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water. You can find these recipes on the web.
Tenth...don't discard. Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash. Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers.

So there you have it. Some ideas you can bring into your own household. Just like how important to keep your own home tidy and clean...it's just as important to keep the earth tidy and clean as best as possible.

Please...that sun is too bright!

Yes folks...with spring finally here we are finding that the days are getting longer and in the mornings the sun comes up earlier and earlier. Now...I don't know about anyone else but I am a light sleeper. I can't have it noisy nor can I have light. I refuse to have those eyecovers because I don't want to have to keep lifting it up to peek at the time. My dh sleeps on the couch mostly because he snores and I can't get a wink of sleep because he is so loud. So not only did I need something for the bedroom but for the windows in the living/dining room.
So...first thing is first. I need to find something for the living/dining room. The local fabric store had a going out of business sale. I found lovely crushed velvet curtains in a burgandy colour. Regular price for one panel was $75.00 but was on sale for only $25.00. I couldn't pass it up. So I took them all. (there was 5 panels left) Now four of them were the same colour. One wasn't. It was more of a purple colour so I though that it would be long enough that I could cut it in two and after some hemming I'd have curtains for my own room.
They work great for keeping the light out and look great. Though because the one in my bedroom was cut short, I don't think it looks as good as I had hoped. So for now...I will keep them because they keep the drafts and the light out well. Perhaps one day I can find a good deal like that again but this time I'll keep them long.

What is Goth?

This is a funny question...why? Because of what I have found out there pertaining to this. Some out there will argue it's just the music...some will argue its how one dresses and others it's a state of mind. There are even different themes out there I have found...Victorian, Punk, Emo, Egyptian, Cyber, Christian, Vamps, Fairy...the list goes on and on. And there are actually people who fight and argue over this. I'm happy to have it all under one big umbrella of "Goth". Makes things quite simple for me. LOL!
What had drawn me to goth? Probably it first started with my love for Halloween. Then when I hit the teens...like many out there...started wearing black an so on though I didn't dress too much like a goth, I liked some of the music and alot of other things that goths liked. As I got older I wasn't into the goth scene as much till the goth in me was almost non-existent. The last 5 years I slowly started back...getting more black clothes, etc. I used to dye my hair but I had started getting gray hair sooner than most and it was frustrating having to colour often and doing root touch ups. But at times I take the plunge and dye it again. (Will do it again soon). Now remember...just because people dress all in black doesn't mean you call them goth. ;)
Some people don't care for labels...it doesn't matter to me. Some say I am goth, others don't. I don't wear black every day but I do love the colour. I don't listen to all the music some say a goth should listen to...I love all kinds but that is because I'm such a music lover. ;) (Not saying those who don't listen to all kinds are not a music lover) Some goths like the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, John Keats, Lord Byron, and others who lamented the pains of lost love and the inner wounds inflicted by a cruel society.
I've actually found on the net someone posted a list of 175 types of goth! LOL! I know it's hard to categorize everyone into one category but for me it's just easier to put them under the category "Goth". You will always have people with their opinion of what is or isn't goth. Some say you are happy or you don't wear black all the time or don't wear black nail polish so you are not goth and other crazy things like that. LOL! Personally...I'm just myself and if they call me goth then fine. I don't really care.
When people see those who look goth are actually afraid of us when they don't need to be. People like that need to put aside the stereotypes and not be unsettled by how we appear. As the saying goes...you can't judge a book by its cover. Like anyone else...we want to be treated respectfully. Goths are usually very interesting to talk to, and I think hearing our perspectives on society and life can be both challenging and stimulating.