I live in southern Illinois. The middle of nowhere. There’s not much in the way of dramatic subject matter to shoot around here. Once spot looks pretty much like the rest. The difference is in the small details. And in the weather. There’s not a lot to recommend this place, but we do have four […]
A True Ghost Story for Christmas: Abigail of Montauk Point Lighthouse
Montauk Point Lighthouse, c. 1796, Montauk, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York It’s a curious phenomenon that people who live far from the ocean are obsessed with lighthouses. Here in southern Illinois, my mother collected lighthouses. At an art fair a while back where I sold my wares, the only prints I sold were two […]
Roaming the night in Mt. Vernon, Indiana on the trail of Black Annie and a haunting ghost story from my childhood
MT. VERNON, INDIANA IS A RIVER TOWN. Set on the Ohio river near the place where it is fed by the Big Wabash River, its past and present depends heavily on river traffic. It’s a warm autumn night, but the breeze from the river puts a chill in the air as I get out of the pickup […]
Pouring through the absinthe options because what else would be a goth’s drink of choice?
MARK TWAIN SAID IT BEST … “sometimes too much to drink is barely enough” It seemed like a good idea at the time. I was experimenting with the absinthes available in the United States, and thought “why not write a review of what’s out there. And why not write it will drinking it?” Seven or eight years later, […]
Prithee WGN’s Salem, forgive me, for I confess I was wrong
In which the author issues a rare apology When I heard that WGN was making a series based on the Salem witch hysteria, I was skeptical. Then I saw the previews. I decided on the spot I’d rather eat my own swill than watch it. The events that happened at Salem were horrifying. The more […]
So I got stoned and ended up watching the debate …
I had a fresh buzz on, realized it was time to eat and was just about to sit down with it when I remembered … the debate. It was just starting and I only intended on giving it a few minutes. I finished supper and was working on a beer, when I started getting into […]
