Perhaps my earliest of all Christmas memories was the year of the “Ball-Headed Baby Jesus.” It went a little something like this… “And what do you want for Christmas, little girl?” Santa asked me as I stood several feet away from this bearded, fat man I had grown terribly afraid of, and I said nothing. He asked again, and I clutched my mother’s leg, hiding behind her. “I bet I know what Mama wants for Christmas this year!” He said…
Atop of Mt. Crumpit Drive lies a cave fit for, well, a Grinch! With the help of Vacasa, the vacation destination specialists, the ghastly green goblin we’ve all grown to love has chosen this holiday season to open up his residence for ten days only! From December 13th-23rd, the Grinch has opted to vamoose in order for a few curious and adventurous guests to share in his grinchy grotto this Christmas! Now, first things first, keep in mind this is…
I recently visited Salem, Massachusetts, on a bright and sunny October day. If you know anything about this charming New England town, you can only fathom that I came right at its bustling and peak season. Essex Street was mobbed with people, most of whom sported their own individualized styles of tall and pointy hats. While my behind-the-wheel husband coasted down the street at a snail’s pace, weaving in and out of the masses, I had the pleasure of…
“We’d be happy to have you!” read the email from US Ghost Adventures, but having received a formal invitation, I have to admit I got cold feet. “If we pull up and I feel any kind of bad juju or something, we’re bailing!” I informed my husband, as I reluctantly followed him out to the car. I knew right away that my visit to 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts would be far different from any other historical home…
Along a small stretch of Old North Carolina Highway 86, between Prospect Hill and Hightowers, sits a miniature metropolis masterpiece. Shangri-La is the pixie-sized stone town that evolved from the creative mind and artistry of Henry L. Warren, a retired tobacco farmer. Warren began creating the small village back in 1968 using blasted rock from his property, designing and constructing each piece himself. It was said by those who knew him that as long as Henry had a cigarette and…
Williamsburg, Virginia Originally founded in 1632, Middle Plantation emerged into one of America’s first planned cities after being petitioned as the new capital location of the Virginia Colony from Jamestown. This new city would be renamed in honor of England’s reigning monarch King William III. The newly proclaimed Williamsburg quickly flourished, becoming the central hub for political, economic, religious, and social aspects of life in Virginia. Being the home to the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg earned quite the…
As the birth month of American writer Edgar Allan Poe draws to a close, I thought it particularly fitting to pay homage to one of my all-time favorites. The Romantic-era author’s but mere forty years of life tells of an orphaned youngster, an academically excelling student, an army soldier, a highly-respected literary critic, an instantly successful poet, and a heartbroken widowed husband rumored to have struggled with addiction issues. Contrary to his troubled times, Edgar Allan Poe was known as…
To everything, there is a season… And I totally stick to this. Completely. Meaning, I’m the type that doesn’t even want to think about Christmas (the decorations, the carols, the movies, even shopping) until well after the turkey has been carved. This year, I passed a house with a roof trimmed in lights and a decorated tree proudly displayed in the front window. It was October. A little excessive, don’t ya think? But this is socially acceptable. Someone puts up…
An actor. A poet. A writer. A tour guide. A storyteller. A paranormal investigator. Denny O’Rourke considers himself an “old soul” and a “Renaissance man of sorts” as he likes to have his hands in a little bit of everything, now adding to the list, a podcast. But there’s a little more to Denny, or “D.C.” as he’s known on his paranormal podcast, than meets the eye. Basically, he sees dead people. According to Denny, it…
“You’re going to the beach with us. Period.” This came from my father in a firm and direct tone. “Please, Dad! No! I’ll do anything! I promise! Anything!” When he disregarded me, I knew my pleading would get me nowhere. I took a deep breath and tried the calm, cool, and collected approach. “Dad. I really think that you and Mom are just overreacting.” He said nothing. I took this as a good sign. “I already explained that all this,…