Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all tortured followers of Scribe of the Eastern Shore. Visit my Friend Mark Walker at : http://overdaedge.blogspot.com/

sorry for being a no show

I got sucked into Facebook. Back to let you know that my co-written book on Salisbury will be coming out next quarter from History Press. 200 photos. Something for you guys to read while waiting for More Ghosts of the Eastern Shore this fall!

Hey! Read Over da Edge Blog by Mark Walker!
Later.....

First Hunt -- Poplar Hill's haunted halls

OK, again, sorry for the hiatus. A lot happening. I went on my first serious investigation of a haunted house last week. It was the ancient Poplar Hill mansion downtown Salisbury. I followed the Maryland Ghost Hunter Society around as they set up elaborate cameras and other recording equipment, then went from room to room trying to get the spirits to communicate or manifest themselves in some way. Society members scanned the 9000 square foot mansion from basement to attic, getting some interesting items including a large bright orb in the attic, but the motion cameras and electromagnetic meters were silent.

A psychic was brought in to try to communicate with the departed and she had a sudden, violent episode where the spirits of runaway slaves overtook her and wailed through her that they would be found out.

Being a good Christian fellow, I prayed a lot before going in, and felt no fear at all, even in the depths of the dark basement, unlit and close. I am waiting to get the results from the audio recordings and this will make a good chapter in my next book.

On a sour note, some prim lady from the city took umbrage at the fact that a psychic was plying her trade on the property and investigations have been suspended for now, since the property belongs to the city and apparently a secretary can control the workings of the entire city government, so further results may have to wait until the tail stops wagging the dog at the mayor's office.

Meanwhile, next Saturday I'll be off to Furnacetown with another group of investigators and we'll see what turns up then!

A hunting we will go! (Ghost hunting, that is)

Well, as the summer cranks up, so does my work and I have decided to try to boost my posting on the old blog here. Hang on to your hats!

First, I am doing a new photo book on Salisbury and badly need uncollected pre-1980 photos with Salisbury landmarks or buildings in them. Drop me a line if you have any to share. Don't have to be famous or professional, just readily identifiable. Thanks!

Second, I have encountered two paranormal groups cris-crossing the Shore. First is the Maryland Society of Ghost Hunters, led by Rodney Whittaker. I found out they are doing a hunt at Poplar Hill in Salisbury so I wangled an invite from the curator, bless her heart, and will report what goes on if I survive! That's June 26. The second group was the Salisbury Paranormal group, led by Mike Dean. Mike and his two partners have already done videos of the Pocomoke Forest and are going back there in July. They have asked me to come along. I couldn't resist. So while the economy tanks, the war goes on and gas edges higher, I am going ghost hunting!

Too long ago!

I am sorry its been so long since I wrote up something, but have been caught up in three shows, got a contract for a new book and just life in general. Wish I had something profound to say, but too much bad stuff going down. GM bankrupt, Chrysler bankrupt. Gasoline on the rise. I have one vehicle from each of these two once proud companies so I hope they survive. Meanwhile, its a stormy night on the Shore. Say, if anybody has any photos of Salisbury to share, let me know!

Rainy days and Sundays

More April Showers today. I guess we can use them to bring the water table up a bit more. Say, just wanted to let folks know that the Fair Share bill passed in the Senate, but that doesn't let Norm Conway off the hook because it failed in the House. The Governor will sign it, so all non-AFSCME state employees can expect to have their pockets picked by the increasingly socialist agenda coming from Annapolis. Sigh....


In other news, author David Poyer will be speaking at the Writer's Bloc meeting on May 16. Be sure to come and see him. I am re-reading his first novel, the Shiloh Project and its pretty good. He shows a good flair for military hardware.

Stop by on May 9th and see members of the Bloc at the Westside Heritage Festival. We'll be under a tent somewhere. Finally, I have met with the Maryland Ghost Hunters Society and they are planning more investigations here on the shore. Drop me a note if you are having some serious problems or have some stories to tell.

You want politics, you gottem!

Trying to have a wonderful Easter weekend, but stupid stuff just keeps coming around. Stupid stuff 1: Maryland House Bill 298, the supposed "Fair Share" act. You see, some years back Governor Parris Glendening, after being influenced by AFSCME, a union that some (but not a majority) of state employees belong to, got legislation to enact collective bargaining. I was on the fence about it. The measure was defeated, but the governor caved in to special interests and signed an executive order calling for an election to see which employee association would speak for all employees. Though a minority percentage of employees, AFSCME won the rights. Now, years later, they want to collect a "service fee" from non-AFSCME members to supposedly fund their efforts. This is a rotten bill with no cap on fees, no oversight, no consideration for employees who belong to another group, nothing. Hundreds of calls flooded in. Norman Conway is the head of the House of Delegates Finance Committee. He has refused to listen to the people that elected him and plans to ram this bill down everybody's throats in order to keep his chairmanship. I think its a shame. I will not forget in November 2010.

OK, then we have pirates. I understand the US Navy is forbidden to attack them if they have hostages under the rules of engagement. I am afraid we will cave in to their demands, and every US ship will be a target. Why can't we have a coalition force to attack the Somali pirate bases and wipe them out? They'll just keep doing it. We stopped the barbary pirates in 1800, let's stop these new thugs, or at least issue letters of marque so that privateers can do it for us.

I hope everybody has a happy Easter. I'll be in the play Who Will Call Him King of Kings at Emmanuel Wesleyan Church on Shamrock DR. Salisbury tonight and tomorrow. We need to do a lot of praying as a nation this Easter weekend.