“the intervening substance through which impressions are conveyed to the senses or a force acts on objects at a distance.”
Medium is what a psychic or tarot reader is called. Although, more recently tarot reading, pendulums, and runes are advertised in some groups online. The going rate varies all over the place.
I enjoy reading tarot cards but don’t feel comfortable enough to charge people. I like runes too. Pendulums are pretty enough but I’ve never used them for what supposed to be used as. But would I call myself a medium. Nah.
But then I decided to look up what dictionary.com had and there was the site that Fandago blogged about in his entry. Apparently, it’s been around since 2012. Who knew?
I agree with Fandago about WordPress forcing blocks on the writer and making writing less satisfying here. Who wants to have frig around with their new format. So yeah, I did some looking around., too! Thanks, Fandago.
But then I remembered a show I used to watch named Medium. 2005-2011 Suburban mom Allison DuBois attempts to balance family life with solving mysteries using her special gift. The dead send her visions of their deaths or other crimes while she sleeps. The show was created by Glenn Caron. Her co-stars were Patricia Arquette, Miguel Sandoval and Jake Weber.
My mind wandered to the poem I’m working on for Johnny.It’s still in draft mode. Originally I wanted rhyme but the more I look at it, rhymes would minimize the anger and sadness that consumes us like the shroud of fog.
Dense fog shrouded the ships in harbor like my grief resisting moments of joy. It wasn’t his time to die, he was only 13 But like the ship’s mate, death said ahoy.
This is a picture of Stonington Harbor, where Johnny lived with his Dad.
As I thinking about the picture, and memories we shared there. I remembered the song The Foggy Dew.
“One good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to the others.”~ unknown
“A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life, to be thankful for a good one.” ― Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
I’m truly happy I found my guy.
We’re approaching our 12th anniversary on Halloween.
The Crain’s Wedding
Hear ye Hear ye, the wedding is today Pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, bales of hay Spread out in such colorful array Orange and yellow festive bouquets A raven on his perch studying the fray
Town crier “let us begin this Halloween wedding, Yay” We gather in a circle and hold hands without delay Our dear Robin Hood and Marion vow love this day Crowds of well- wishers yell hurray! Hurray! Knights swirling their swords in mock play
Fair maidens tease with their fan sway Knights hoping the party will soon get risqué Arthur proclaiming lets partake of thy fabulous buffet Friar Tuck toasts Drink up, be merry, pass the cheese tray Let the music begin, get this party under way Because soon it will be somber All Saint’s day!
“If we allow ourselves to stay amazed and astounded at the vibrant instants of every day and do not feel ashamed of admitting to being speechless or dumbfounded sometimes, we can uncover unsuspected sparkling gems hidden in the nooks crannies of our mind.( “Skyward, over and above”.)” ― Erik Pevernagie
I was listening to another pissing contest among our politicians which led me to this ramble.
I think the word dumbfounded is another one of those compounds I love to ponder. Only this one seems to make sense. It is like finding dumb. Like finding you are at a loss for words (completely amazed and astonished). At that very moment I was officially and irrevocably dumbfounded. There was no way to for me to explain what had just happened.” ― J. W. Lord
I feel fantastic, bombastic,
Ecstatically astounded
How a girl can really lose her brain
I feel surrounded, confounded
Emotionally dumbfounded
To think you've nearly won your game
Playing catch-up again. We were in Maine with family, taking a much needed mental health break.
Questions:
When was the last time you tried something new? How did that go for you?
The something new for me was drinking with the granddaughters. I hadn’t done that with them before. It felt awkward at first because as a grandmother or even as a mother because you don’t see them in your mind’s eye as adults. Once, I got past the creepy feel, we had a ball. Conversation was good, margaritas were tasty but this woman should have stopped at one. But stubborn as I am I didn’t want to be the light weight drinker of the crew. I decorated myself in vomit shortly after we dropped the girls off but thankfully I rose the next day with no hangover.
What’s the most sensible thing you’ve ever heard someone say?
Follow your heart, it will never lead you astray.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
51, it was a very good year.
Lastly, I’ll be doing one “Halloween” themed question per week during October. Those who don’t observe the holiday are welcome to answer or to ignore it as they wish.
Fun CREEPY Halloween Question:
Have you ever seen a ‘fresh’ corpse (aka dead body)?
Yup, I have several times. The image stays in your mind for some time.
Scratchy, itchy, moldy straw stuffed in places that hurt Crows landing on my outstretched arms Arrogantly squawking in my ear, pecking at my hat Raw winds with chilly temperatures freezing my tush Even the farmer has abandoned me in the field Caw, caw, go away can’t you give me moments piece Rotted vegetables left under my dangling feet Over my head the sun shines brightly but isn’t warm Why, farmer did you leave me here withering
We took a car load of stuff to my family (granddaughters and son) in Maine. It was great going home again. I’ve missed them immensely with all the stuff happening. My doctors were adamant about me being quarantined with all the tests. Fine, we made it through the first batch. I have a little bit before they begin again, and hopefully everything will be fine. No everything will be fine. I refuse to think otherwise. Letter c, I will not let you win.
It was interesting going to dinner with the two oldest granddaughters and having margaritas. I’ve had wine with the oldest granddaughter last year when she visited at a restaurant in NYC. It felt awkward at first to me. Most grandparents don’t ever see themselves drinking with the grandchildren. But this time was with both girls at a Mexican restaurant near them named El Rodeo.
I chuckled because when I visit my Navy son we usually go to El Rodeo by where he lives. Both make exceptionally good margaritas. The food is good but not five star like the drinks.
The girls and I enjoyed our dining and drinking experience while Vic patiently endured. Three women together and drinking, it is hard to get a word in. Vic graciously drove their inebriated selves home and then took us back to the hotel.
Not having my gallbladder has made drinking interesting though, I have less of a tolerance for consumption than before the surgery. Or maybe my liver is more sensitive now. Who knows. Not that I drink heavily or even daily but I do enjoy the occasional indulgence.
Anyway, the lime margaritas were wicked good while I had them but they soon departed, making quite the mess all over me inside the car. Nope, I didn’t even make it to the room. Nor did Vic get angry at me. I’m so lucky to have such an awesome husband.
Luckily, no headache or leftover reactions once I did reject the margaritas. I was surprised that I didn’t have the reflux I’ve been cursed with since this all began. I’m really curious about that since my food was spicy too.
My granddaughters found that quite amusing. Needless to say… they laughed a lot. It was a memorable night and hopefully, we’ll have many more but this Grandma will probably skip the alcohol. Although, I did have a drink with my son two nights later and no consequences but that drink was very weak compared to El Rodeo’s. We’ll see, I know better than to say never.
It was simply awesome not thinking about my health just enjoying good conversation with my loved ones. No politics, no religion, no health, or death conversations. It’s been a very long time since that has happened especially since Johnny’s passing.
I did hear the chimes ringing at your Dad’s Johnny. Annie has puppies, you would have been so excited. Dad’s okay. Mom’s getting another tribute for you on her truck in pink since the moose destroyed the other one. Yup, Mom’s truck collided with a moose. Truck survived the moose didn’t.
Oh yeah, Debbie got a bear up in the Forks. She was quite pleased. Your Dad and Debbie are going to have matching bear skin rugs. Dad was beaming telling us all about it especially telling Deb it was only a short way to the bear when it was a lot longer. But you know how your Dad is, he enjoys yanking people’s chains. He always did yours. You were missed immensely. It’s hard to believe your birthday is just nine days away. You would have been 15, nagging for a learner’s permit and working on the truck you bought non-stop. We love you, Johnny so much. No, it doesn’t get easier with out you. The pain is always with us. I saw your sisters, they miss you too.
I was sad to see so many of the trees missing their leaves. I was looking forward to the colorful leaves but Mother Nature had other plans. She came through with sixty mile hour gusts and knocked a lot of the leaves off the trees.
Eddie Van Halen passed away today. He lost his battle with the letter c. He wasn’t Hendrix but he was good. I loved what he could do with his instrument. I decided to write a tribute poem using his song titles.
silenced guitar strings strum damn stillness shatters my ears right now in a pitter patter array running with the devil spread out like dirty movies that once mourned sinners swing
silenced guitar strings strum a vibrating whisper why can’t this be love finish what ya started fore they make it about a little guitar or drop dead legs.
silenced guitar strings strum in a simple rhyme, Pretty woman… I’ll wait for the ice cream man… eruption dances the night away in atomic punk until death, really got him in a house of pain
RIP in Eddie Van Halen
On a happier note, I was notified one of my poems was published today in Black Poppy Review.
My album choice came about because I was going through another box of papers. I uncovered my mother day letters that Amanda emailed while she was in college. They were summaries of her year from each Mother’s day to the next. I cried and laughed as I re-read those printed out emails from so very long ago. Which led to me to recalling her unusual entrance into this world and what was happening in our lives.
I had stage 4 cervical cancer and it had spread to my uterus. She was supposed to be delivered by c-section so they could remove everything at one time. Except, she decided to come earlier than her due date by eleven days. And when we were at the hospital, the doctor discovered she had flipped so her entrance was feet first. Her breech was kind of like a foreshadow of her life, she’s off and running once her feet hit the floor even forty years later.
Bet you’re trying to figure out what this album has to do with my story. My first husband, her dad was a huge fan of Waylon and wanted his daughter named Amanda. I agreed because knowing she was definitely going to be the light of my life.
She was indeed a force to be reckoned with our Amanda, with white blonde hair and blue eyes that sparkled like raindrops on a sunny day.
The letters I read earlier were also signed, the light of your life, always Amanda. That hasn’t changed much but than that’s always true of a youngest child in a parent’s eye much to the chagrin of the older siblings.
“I may be crazy, but it keeps me from going insane.” Waylon Jennings
I’ve held it all inward, God knows, I’ve tried But it’s an awful awakening in a country boy’s life To look in the mirror in total surprise At the hair on my shoulders and the age in my eyes
Amanda, light of my life Fate should have made you a gentleman’s wife Amanda, light of my life Fate should have made you a gentleman’s wife
It’s a measure of people who don’t understand The pleasures of life in a hillbilly band I got my first guitar when I was fourteen Well I finally made forty, still wearing jeans
Amanda, light of my life Fate should have made you a gentleman’s wife Amanda, light of my life Fate should have made you a gentleman’s wife
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as one of the founding pioneers of the Outlaw Movement.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with one of the darker periods of Waylon’s life. It happened like this. “In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings’s first recording session, and hired him to play bass. Jennings gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight in 1959 that crashed and killed Holly, J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens.
Before their performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly chartered a four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza airplane from Dwyer Flying Service in Mason City, Iowa, for himself, Jennings, and Tommy Allsup, to avoid the long bus trip to their next venue in Moorhead, Minnesota. Following the Clear Lake show (which ended around midnight), Allsup lost a coin toss and gave up his seat on the charter plane to Ritchie Valens, while Jennings voluntarily gave up his seat to J. P. Richardson, known as The Big Bopper, who was suffering from the flu and complaining about how cold and uncomfortable the tour bus was for a man of his size.[30][31]
When Holly learned that his bandmates had given up their seats on the plane and had chosen to take the bus rather than fly, a friendly banter between Holly and Jennings ensued, and it would come back to haunt Jennings for decades to follow: Holly jokingly told Jennings, “Well, I hope your ol’ bus freezes up!” Jennings jokingly replied, “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes!
Later that morning, Jennings’s family heard on the radio that “Buddy Holly and his band had been killed.” After calling his family, Jennings called Sky Corbin at KLLL from Fargo to say that he hadn’t been aboard the plane.[34] The General Artists Corporation promised to pay for first-class tickets for Jennings and the band to attend Holly’s funeral in Lubbock in exchange for them playing that night in Moorhead.[35] After the first show, they were initially denied their payment by the venue, but after Jennings’s persistence, they were paid.[36] The flights were never paid,[37] and Jennings and Allsup continued the tour for two more weeks, featuring Jennings as the lead singer.[19] They were paid less than half of the original agreed salary, and upon returning to New York, Jennings put Holly’s guitar and amplifier in a locker in Grand Central Terminal and mailed the keys to Maria Elena Holly. Then, he returned to Lubbock.[38]
In the early 1960s, Jennings wrote and recorded “The Stage (Stars in Heaven)”, a tribute to Valens, the Big Bopper and Holly, as well as Eddie Cochran, a young musician who died in a road accident a year after the plane crash.
For decades afterward, Jennings repeatedly admitted that he felt responsible for the crash that killed Holly. This sense of guilt precipitated bouts of substance abuse through much of Jennings’s career. ” ~
Later that morning, Jennings’s family heard on the radio that “Buddy Holly and his band had been killed.” After calling his family, Jennings called Sky Corbin at KLLL from Fargo to say that he hadn’t been aboard the plane.[34] The General Artists Corporation promised to pay for first-class tickets for Jennings and the band to attend Holly’s funeral in Lubbock in exchange for them playing that night in Moorhead.[35] After the first show, they were initially denied their payment by the venue, but after Jennings’s persistence, they were paid.[36] The flights were never paid,[37] and Jennings and Allsup continued the tour for two more weeks, featuring Jennings as the lead singer.[19] They were paid less than half of the original agreed salary, and upon returning to New York, Jennings put Holly’s guitar and amplifier in a locker in Grand Central Terminal and mailed the keys to Maria Elena Holly. Then, he returned to Lubbock.[38]
In the early 1960s, Jennings wrote and recorded “The Stage (Stars in Heaven)”, a tribute to Valens, the Big Bopper and Holly, as well as Eddie Cochran, a young musician who died in a road accident a year after the plane crash.
For decades afterward, Jennings repeatedly admitted that he felt responsible for the crash that killed Holly. This sense of guilt precipitated bouts of substance abuse through much of Jennings’s career.” ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waylon_Jennings
Do you remember the Dukes of Hazzard? My son’s used to beg to stay up later on a school night to watch that show. Waylon was the narrator or balladeer as he liked to be called. Shortly after that time In the mid-1980s, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Nelson, and Jennings formed a successful group called the Highwaymen.
I’m editing some of my Halloween poetry and I like to get in the right mindset with dark classical music. Now I know the prompt says favorite but I don’t really have a specific artist because I love many different genres. The icing for me on the response was favorite and at this time of year I listen to a lot of dark classical music because Halloween is my favorite holiday.
This poem’s prompt said, you could only use the word contest in the title. In the poem itself you couldn’t use the words: contest, party, fear or Halloween. The other perimeter was it must have aa, bb, cc, dd, etc… so basically rhyming couplets with a minimum of 4 quatrains.
Elderly witches stirred bubbling pots Younger witches tied magical knots Black cats sharpened their claws Differences set aside as darkness draws
Gravestones groaned and shifted Caskets creaked when lifted Vampires rose from a murky home Their thirst will be sated as they roam
Ghosts howled and swirled in the mist Anxious for the opportunity to assist Owls and Ravens added conspiring sound Zombies impatient to get around
So many evil urges refuse to be reined in May the most significant demon win Purple smoke swirls, witches fly into the sky Quicker than the blink of a cat’s eye
Vampires flapped their wings to follow suit Zombies marched slowly in hot pursuit So preoccupied with their sweet treats Victims were easy prey on the streets
ABOUT MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE
“For over two decades, composers Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka have been known as Midnight Syndicate, creating symphonic soundtracks to imaginary films that facilitate a transcendental and adventurous escape into the secret dimensions of the mind’s eye. To many of their fans, they are horror music pioneers brewing a signature blend of instrumental orchestral gothic music and movie-style sound effects. To others, they remain the first “haunted house band” that forever changed the Halloween music genre and became a staple of the October holiday season. Still others, know them for their contributions to the use of music in the roleplaying and board game industries.”
The road is long With many a winding turn That leads us to who knows where Who knows where But I’m strong Strong enough to carry him He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
So on we go His welfare is of my concern No burden is he to bear We’ll get thereFor I know He would not encumber me He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
If I’m laden at all I’m laden with sadness That everyone’s heart Isn’t filled with the gladness Of love for one another
It’s a long, long road From which there is no return While we’re on the way to there Why not shareAnd the load Doesn’t weigh me down at all He ain’t heavy he’s my brother
He’s my brother He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother, he ain’t heavy
Oops my original post wasn’t what Jim was looking for in the prompt. I didn’t have enough coffee, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The Hollies are a British rock group best known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. The band originally was formed by Alan Clarke and Graham Nash who were childhood buds. But Nash left six years later to form Crosby, Stills and Nash.
There are different stories on how the group was named . I like the one that says it was a tribute to Buddy Holly.
Karen and Richard’s voice’s together were exceptional but like many artists during that time they struggled. Richard with Quaaludes and Karen with anorexia nervosa. Musicians didn’t have easy, the stress was ludicrous. I’m sure some of it was self inflicted but they weren’t alone.
“Herb Alpert asked Richard to re-work a Bacharach/David song “(They Long to Be) Close to You“, which had first been recorded in 1963 by Richard Chamberlain, and Dionne Warwick the following year. Richard Carpenter decided the song would work as a standalone piece, and wrote an arrangement from scratch without being influenced by any earlier recordings.” ~ wiki link is posted above.
I’ve heard Chamberlain and Warwick’s version, I prefer the Carpenter’s version. Same as I prefer their version We’ve Only Just Begun.
I never understood at the time why the album A Kind of Hush wasn’t certified Platinum. I thought it was an awesome album. Though I did prefer Herman Hermit’s original version A Kind of Hush Allover the World Karen did an exceptional cover.
My two ultimate favorite songs were Only Yesterday and Rainy Days and Monday.
After long enough of being alone Everyone must face their share of loneliness In my own time, nobody knew The pain I was goin’ through And waitin’ was all my heart could do
Hope was all I had until you came Maybe you can’t see how much you mean to me You were the dawn breaking the night The promise of mornin’ light Filling the world surroundin’ me When I hold you
Baby, baby, feels like maybe Things will be all right Baby, baby, your love’s made me Free as a song, singin’ forever
Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me Tomorrow maybe even brighter than today Since I threw my sadness away Only yesterday
I have found my home here in your arms Nowhere else on earth I’d really rather be Life waits for us, share it with me The best is about to be And so much is left for us to see When I hold you
Baby, baby, feels like maybe Things will be all right Baby, baby, your love’s made me Free as a song, singin’ forever
Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me Tomorrow maybe even brighter than today Since I threw my sadness away Only yesterday (only yesterday, only yesterday)
Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me
Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old Sometimes I’d like to quit Nothin’ ever seems to fit Hangin’ around Nothin’ to do but frown Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
What I’ve got they used to call the blues Nothin’ is really wrong Feelin’ like I don’t belong Walkin’ around Some kind of lonely clown Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Funny, but it seems I always wind up here with you Nice to know somebody loves me Funny, but it seems that it’s the only thing to do Run and find the one who loves me (the one who loves me)
What I feel has come and gone before No need to talk it out (talk it out) We know what it’s all about Hangin’ around (hangin’ around) Nothin’ to do but frown Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Funny, but it seems that it’s the only thing to do (only thing to do) Run and find the one who loves me
What I feel has come and gone before No need to talk it out We know what it’s all about Hangin’ around (hangin’ around) Nothin’ to do but frown Rainy days and Mondays always get me down Hangin’ around (hangin’ around) Nothin’ to do but frown Rainy days and Mondays always get Me down
Container gardening is what I do in New Jersey to grow my herbs and veggies. In spite of the warmer than normal temperatures and the blasted squirrels we’ve had a productive growing season. The squirrels are a nuisance when it comes to letting things ripen naturally on the vine. I’m always having to pick ahead of time because they steal the fruit or veggies when their perfect.
I was hoping that they wouldn’t be as prominent in Las Vegas as they are here but unfortunately that’s not the case. They’re a nuisance there as well. GRRRRR
A friend was commenting on my Halloween decorations. She thought they were pretty but didn’t envy the packing them away after. The good news is they actually fit into 6 rubbermaid containers nicely. I chose the rubbermaid containers to discourage spiders and mice from nesting when everything goes in the crawl space. Now you’re probably thinking mice will chew plastic. Yes, this is true but I saturate lots of cotton balls with peppermint oil and promptly seal the containers. When I unpack each year, there’s a faint trace of peppermint left with my decorations. I know that a lot of sources note that peppermint oil isn’t effective but it has worked very well with my containers especially since there’s no food source either for them.
I read today to discourage mosquitoes, ticks, spiders from getting on your skin to wear Vicks around your ankles, wrists, and neck. I’m curious if putting open containers of Vick’s with my decorations as well would also be helpful once I put everything in storage when we move. It would take longer to dry out. Eucalyptus oil, cedar leaf oil, nutmeg oil, petrolatum, thymol and turpentine oil and adding peppermint oil to mix for good measure. I’m going to give it a try, I don’t care if my decorations gain an interesting new aroma when I unpack them again.
Finally, there seems to be song about everything on YouTube.
lyncrain 