RIP Richard Michael

A photographic tribute to my late grandfather, Richard Michael, who died last week at the age of 89. A veteran of WWII, he served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater at the end of the war, and was actually stationed in the South Pacific when the bombs were dropped on Japan. He went on to make a living for himself and supported his family as a self-taught electrician in the employ of General Electric and as an ordained minister in small town Pennsylvania. 

Since I was not permitted to attend his funeral today (I won't go into details, let us just say that my "family" are a rather spiteful bunch who don't like anyone who leads a different "lifestyle" that them), I have created this photographic tribute to the life of man who meant a great deal to me. It is my own personal way of laying to rest a good man, who always treated those around with nothing but kindness and gentleness. While his passing is hard, he had a good run of it, and went peacefully in his sleep, so at least I know he is no longer troubled by sickness any longer.
I will miss him very much. 

Rest in peace, Pop-Pop. 

A portrait of my grandfather during his time in the Navy. He was younger than I am now.

With my grandmother; date of photo unknown. 

Forevermore

A very Happy Birthday to the Patron Saint of Horror, Edgar Allan Poe, born this day in 1809.

Darkrose Manor - Blog Banalé

Check it out - the latest Darkrose Manor Blog Banalé has aired, featuring a cameo by your humble narrator from my cross-country journey to visit them in June of this past year! See for yourself, if you dare!

New Years

“May the New Year bring you courage to break your resolutions early! My own plan is to swear off every kind of virtue, so that I triumph even when I fall!” - Aleister Crowley

Bah, Humbug

A simple bit of decoration I threw together to decorate the tiny plot of land I call a "front yard". Originally, it was to be accompanied by a monster mud Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come prop, but unfortunately I ran out of time. It was a simple tombstone thrown together out of odds and ends: two square sheets of green foam from Lowes I got for $5 each; a length of PVC pipe cut into lengths to act as spines; some gray latex "oops" paint (also from Lowes); and some black and white acrylic paint, along with a box-cuter. I used the box cutter to cut and engrave the tombstones (no template for the shape, I did it free hand), and to engrave both the lettering as well as hollow out the channels for the PVC pipe. I glued it all together with some Gorilla Glue, then sanded down the edges of the tombstone. I filled in the lettering with black acrylic paint, then painted the tombstone with two coats of the gray latex paint. I then drybrushed it vertically with white acrylic paint to create a faux stone texture, then finally tea-stained with watered down black acrylic paint.

One of my Halloween pumpkins visible in the background.

I think it adds a rather festive touch, if I do say so myself.

Scary Kreepmas to all, and to all a good fright!

'Rotten' News

So... it appears my haunt, Elmer's Cellar, just got featured on Pumpkinrot's blog. I'm doing the best I can to stay calm and not have a major geek-out moment - but, OHMYFUCKINGGODI'MONPUMPKINROT'SBLOG!!!!

*ahem* 
Sorry about that, won't happen again. Just seriously geeking out.

Here's the link.
http://pumpkinrot.blogspot.com/2015/12/elmers-cellar-2015-haunt-video.html