Addendum to Goal Post: Always I Forgot to Schedule Something

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

So, I realized I forgot to schedule a holiday, animal, or any type of post for today and next Sunday.  Found a note under my desk reminding me to find a Halloween-like animal post, but clearly I forgot.  I might try to post one for next Sunday, but that brings me to the whole ‘Addendum’ thing.

Yesterday I posted about trying to get some Darwin & the Joy Path writing in or maybe tinker with ‘Phi Beta Files’.  That didn’t happen because an unforeseen, but unsurprising, incident occurred.  I can’t go into any more details about it, but those who have been following my blog for years can probably figure out the arena.  Anyway, I had to spend most of my time yesterday handling the crisis, including while I ran errands and went to the park for fresh air.  There was no way I would get any writing done and it looks like this might be a norm for a while.

This is making me wonder about my whole weekly goals thing.  I’ve been keeping them simple for a reason, but even that’s getting tough.  Not that I’m taking an emotional beating any more because shit happens.  Working in education, having a special needs son, being in a contentious situation with my ex-wife, having some chronic health issues, and paying too much attention to the news really takes a toll on the nerves.  I am glad that I can slip into positive, oblivious, and child-life mode for Darwin pretty easily, but I still need time and energy.  My general goals are taking a hit.  Not that I’m going to stop posting them, but I’m wondering if I should be even more generalized.

I’m also emotionally battered due to yesterday.  The situation wasn’t pretty and lasted from about 10:30 AM until 8:55 PM.  As weird as it sounds, ‘Have I Got News For You’ on CNN helped get things settled.  Just going to have to trust me on that since I can’t go into details in public.  Anyway, today is going to be Pokemon with my son at one mall before the storm and then at the bigger one for a 2-5 event during the storm.  We both need to get out and have some fun as well as soft pretzels.  That isn’t giving me much time to process though, especially the feeling of helplessness because I’ve tried everything to prevent the current situation with no luck.  Now, I can’t do anything to really put an end to it or minimize the damage.

Looks like it’s a good thing that I forgot to post because I needed the odd vent.  At the very least, I will try to finish the December posts, including the ‘2025 review’ because it’s going how I expected.  I’ll add to it if need be though.  Well, this was a nice rant while my son got himself ready.  Glad I noticed the missing post.  Going to be a long and rough road ahead, which means this song seems appropriate:

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Goal Post: Writing On The Back-Burner

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Hate to admit that I wasn’t able to get any writing done once the week started.  Finished chapter 4 of Darwin & the Joy Path and that was it.  I had hoped to start on chapter 5, especially after things took a weird turn.  I couldn’t muster the energy after work on the days I didn’t have my son.  Tried to work on the ‘Phi Beta Files’ too, but I could only stare at the notebook for about an hour before I realized I was still awake.  Yeah, it wasn’t my greatest week as an author.

This also throws me off for today.  While it is my weekend, I don’t have my son today, so I could do some writing.  At best, I can do the first two sections of chapter 5, but I might only get one done.  The reason for that is because I do want to get fresh air, errands, and Pokemon in before my son is back.  We also have a Nor’easter hitting late tonight and lasting until Tuesday morning.  Figures that this bastard of a storm hits exactly when I get my son and leaves right when we’re back at school.  I try not to take this personally, but this seems to always happen to me.

An alternative to working on Darwin & the Joy Path is tinkering with ‘Phi Beta Files’ a bit.  I keep trying at work, but I never have a moment where I’m alone.  Feels rude to put on my headphones and write, which is weird because I have no problem reading.  Guess it’s less of a jolt to put down a manga than a pencil when someone decides to start talking to me.  Anyway, I have to consider this idea since the rain is only taking off on Tuesday and will be back for the rest of the week.  That means, I could get writing in on some weeknights because I can’t do much outside of the house when the roads are turning into rivers.

I have to admit that there’s another reason I couldn’t get to the book.  A character who was supposed to be a secret enemy traveling with Darwin and friend lost the secret thing.  I don’t know why I thought this jerk could turn anyone against Darwin, especially an established friend.  Funny thing is that while Darwin knows he’s not a good person, he is still working with him since they’re stuck together.  The naivety is rising up since he figures them being in the same situation and wanting to reach the same goal means they are going to be decent allies.  I still need to stare at the ceiling fan and consider how this is going to work as the story progresses.

In other news, I finished all of my Lego sets and posted most of them on my Instagram.  I have a pile of jigsaw puzzles that I’ll start in on when the time comes.  Right now, I’m just so tired because work was crazy.  Things on the parenting front was crazy too.  I don’t think I had a single day where I wasn’t crawling into bed due to stress and exhaustion.  It wasn’t even like I was getting bad sleep.  Yet, I hit the snooze 3 times yesterday morning when I hit it maybe once while still getting out bed.  Maybe the weather going from warm to chilly is draining me.

Another event that I have to tackle is my son having a fundraiser for a big school trip to Disney World.  It’s with the chorus, so they will get to perform too.  The method is strange since I’m used to chocolate and candle sales.  Apparently, those only net the students 40-60% of the money for whatever they are trying to do.  This thing called ‘Snap! Raise’ gives them 80%.  You apparently collect email addresses of people who are sent donation codes or links.  This allows the person to donate, but they can also post the codes/links on their social media to get others to do so.  We have to get the list by Tuesday and then we’ll figure out how this works.

I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to post the code/link on my blog or just stick with Facebook.  This feels risky since it’s so public and the post will stay out there long after the fundraising is done.  Yet, it could probably reach more people than my Facebook page can do since I rarely get interactions there.  Can’t say I’m surprised about the use of social media, but it certainly favors people who are highly active.  Honestly, I’ll be happy if this can shave off even $100 from the final amount that I have to pay.

Next week is going to be messy due to the weather.  It does look like the storm is mostly stopping by Tuesday afternoon, which means I can risk the lingering cold on Wednesday and Thursday.  That would mean no writing until the weekend.  Needing to go to bed so early to have energy for work really kills my evenings.  We’ll have to play a bunch by ear going forward.  For all I know, I’ll get to do some book writing on Monday when the storm is at its worst and my son decides to work on his own stuff.  Don’t we love how we can’t plan things due to weather or the machinations of other people.

Goals of the week:

  1. Sleep!
  2. Parenting.
  3. Work on Darwin & the Joy Path.
  4. Stay dry.
  5. Stay warm.
  6. Stay sane.
  7. Tinker with ‘Phi Beta Files’.
  8. December posts.
  9. Accept that the rock songs I grew up with are now part of a 4-CD classic rock set, which I still can’t bring myself to buy.
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Ghost Month: Doppelganger

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Doppelganger

I’ve used a fantasy version of this in my stories.  For fantasy, these tend to be shapeshifters who copy a person and try to replace them.  At the very least, they take the form while occasionally copying all memories as well.  This makes it difficult for a person to notice the switch, which is why they are as dangerous as mimics.  None of that matters here because real-world doppelgangers aren’t that.

These are ghostly copies of living people right down to their mannerisms.  They aren’t always solid, but their features are clear.  Some stories have them speaking and interacting with their surroundings, which increases the confusion on them being the real person or the fake.  They are said to try to tempt and trick their targets into harmful actions either for their own entertainment or to replace them upon death.  This means they are dark and malevolent spirits that need to be avoided.

It’s that last part that has them listed as a death omen, which is similar to the banshee.  A key difference is that the doppelganger means the person viewing it will die and it might have a hand in the event.  Banshees typically only warn of a loved one dying soon and aren’t responsible.

An interesting aspect of doppelgangers are that they have no shadow or reflection.  This could be due to them not so much being a copy of a person, but a mirror-image.  They have no reflection because they are the reflection.  I couldn’t find much on this idea beyond a few suggestions.  Mostly it was that lack of a soul means it wouldn’t be shown in mirrors similar to a vampire.  The whole mirrors/glass are portals to the soul idea means such creatures wouldn’t register.

One has to wonder if they would really count as a ghost since they might lack a soul and don’t come from the deceased.  Yet, they are considered a death omen, which tends to be a ghostly role.

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Poetry Day: Shrieking Skull of Necrotalis Plains

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Castlevania Giant Ghost

(A creepy tale that I can’t remember the inspiration for.  Given the time period, it could have been a nightmare.)

An open plain
Never crossed by man
Home to ghosts
And every form of ghoul
Slavering for flesh

 

One such beast
Is the Shrieking Skull
A floating horror
Lacking limbs and trunk
Embraced by putrid light

 

Found among the trees
Known for their poison sap
They hang in the sunlight
Empty eyes peering
At the ground below

 

A fleshless jaw
Permanently dropped
Releases a shattering shriek
Heard for many miles
Paralyzing all nearby prey

 

It pierces what it eats
Directly through the brain
With a needle spine
Bloating with swallowed meat
And powdered bone

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Ghost Month: Banshees, Wraiths, and Revenants

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Banshee

Time for a triple because these three are all ghosts that I feel are similar.  Can’t put my finger on why I feel that way, but I’m going with it in order to include more types of ghosts this month.

Banshee

I think most people have heard of this ghost even if they don’t realize she counts as one.  In some stories, they are fairies, which means they are up for debate.  Now, a banshee is a long-haired woman who screams and wails.  They come from Irish folklore with their role being that of a death omen.  If you hear a banshee, it means someone in your family is going to die soon.  Many even believed that every family had their own banshee instead of their being one for the whole country.  Other tales say that she can only scream while combing her hair.

As with any folklore being, there are different accounts.  Some have the banshee as a towering woman while others have her as a short old hag.  Some have her solely in gray or white while others say she wears green beneath a gray cloak.  Her eyes can be red from all the crying or she has a generally horrifying face.  It seems the only consistencies are her wailing and being a death omen.  Keep in mind that hearing her scream does not kill you like some modern fiction says, but it just tells you death is coming for someone.

Wraith

Wraith

These guys originally come from Scottish folklore where they are considered evil and dangerous spirits.  Wraiths are commonly described as flying beings with black cloaks and skeletal features, but there are tales of them being patches of deep darkness.  In all versions, they have glowing eyes.  They have the power to steal souls, curse victims, and cause emotional pain to those they make contact with.  Before anyone says it, they are probably what the Dementors of ‘Harry Potter’ are based on.  One can see how the Nazgul of LOTR are based on the wraith as well . . . I mean, they are called Ringwraiths.

Now, there are two ways that wraiths are created.  One is through black magic where they are conjured either by accident or on purpose.  They creators tend to be evil, but some stories say they appear when someone tries to gain immortality using dark magic.  It can be they either become the wraith or birth one that will terrorize them.  The second method of creation is that they are spirits with unresolved issues, but they are unable to satisfy their desires.  Being unable to find closure, they transform into a soul-stealing wraith that is fueled by dark emotions.

Revenant

Revenant

The last one is strange because it’s unclear if they could even be considered their own type of ghost.  Being found throughout Europe, many argue that revenant is nothing more than another word for undead.  That means, stories use the term for vampires, zombies, wraiths, and other undead.  So, it’s unclear if there was ever a unique revenant category that may have evolved into something else.

An interesting thing I found was that revenants typically were described as being revived corpses, which makes me think of zombies.  They don’t eat brains or flesh, but merely haunt the living.  Some are sent after specific people while others terrorize a town through attacking or spreading disease.  One can see vampires in that description too.

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I am with Teri Polen at Bad Moon Rising, Today

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Today I’m with Teri Polen at her Bad Moon Rising feature. This is the tenth year for this feature and the following graphic contains a list of …

I am with Teri Polen at Bad Moon Rising, Today
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Teaser Tuesday: Big Girl Talk

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

(I always enjoy this scene from War of Nytefall: Lost.)

“I need more ribbons!” Lost shouts from behind Lou. Covered in colorful bows, the grumbling ogre is about to move when his legs lock. “You can’t get them, so I’ll send those tiny guards. They look fast. Can you bring me some paint too? Pink and yellow would be good for these horns. Need to make them look nice and pretty to match the rest of my room. We’re going to make you look very colorful. Oh, I can put a powderpuff tail on the back of your pants. Why would I want that?”

“Excuse me, but can I have my bodyguard back?” Nadia asks from the doorway. Receiving nothing more than a blank stare, she marches over to the bed and leans over the girl. “If you are to be a guest here then you must ask permission to take other people’s things. No offense, Lou, but you know what I mean. Now, please return his dignity and clean him off, so he can return to his post. I can’t believe the one who turned you never taught you to be more mature. You appear old enough to understand how an adult should act.”

With a pout, Lost takes off all of the bows and hands the ogre his shirt, which no longer has its sleeves. Seeing Xavier enter the room, the girl gently shoves Lou aside with one hand and jumps to land on the noble’s shoulders. She is immediately yanked to the floor by Kai, who keeps a tight hold on the collar of her shirt. Unable to slip out of his grasp, Lost casually punches the spymaster in the shoulder to sever his arm. She frees herself from the dangling limb and is about to throw it to the ground when she sees that Xavier is glaring at her. Muttering an apology, she gives the body part back to Kai and goes to sit on the edge of her stolen bed looking like she has been thoroughly scolded. She only looks up to wiggle her fingers at a guard, who stacks two dressers on top of each other and pushes them into the corner.

“Everyone keeps mentioning being turned, but I don’t know what that term means,” Lost explains, her sadness slipping into the minds of the guards. Not wanting to get in trouble, she frees them from her control and pulls her knees against her chest. “All I wanted to do was have some fun in my new home. Unless you’re going to send your own daughter away and make me sleep on the streets. I really believe I’m your child since we have the same hair and our noses are kind of similar. By the way, I heard you talk about killing me after taking my memories. That might not be a good idea because I never even met this Clyde. At best, you can visit an old gnomish couple near a town called Vorgabog without raising suspicions.”

“This raises more questions,” Xavier mutters under his breath. Putting out a hand to stop Kai from drawing an enchanted sleeping dart, he takes a seat next to Lost and awkwardly pats her on the shoulder. “Much of what you say doesn’t make any sense to us. I don’t understand how these gnomes fit into your past unless one of them made you. If that is the case then they should have told you that turning is when a vampire bites a mortal and transforms them. The truth is that it couldn’t have been me because I would have remembered you like I do with all of my beloved children. You see the dwarf over there? That is Kenneth Decker, who I created on a battlefield in the Northern Continent’s mountains three hundred and twenty-four years ago. My memory is that good and I have no recollection of you.”

“Maybe it only works on those you bite.”

“That is what I’m saying.”

“Well, that’s not how you made me.”

“How else would I have sired you?”

Lost blushes before briefly controlling Decker and Kai, the pair leaving the room and closing the door behind them. “I’m sorry nobody ever explained this to you. When a mommy and daddy fall in love or simply want to give in to their primal urges, they do something called sex. You put your thingamajig into my mommy’s whatchamacallit, the wrestling match of procreation happened, and I plopped out about eight months later. The gnomes found me after mom abandoned me and became my adopted parents, which I’m thankful for. I didn’t know I could make vampires by biting, so maybe I should go back home and turn them. They’ve done so much for me that I should repay them. Why are you and my step-mommy staring at me with your mouths open? I’m not lying.”

Pick up the rest of Lost’s first adventure and the mayhem that ensues for .99 cents!

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Reviewing. Part 1: Why Review?

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

A book with no reviews is dead. I recently read that statement in a blog post by an indie author about the scarcity of reviews. The blogger also …

Reviewing. Part 1: Why Review?
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Ghost Month: The Ladies

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

White Lady

I started from THIS SITE and went hunting from there.

First, the lady ghosts all get their colors from the dresses that they wear:

White Ladies

These are the most common type of lady ghosts.  They are typically associated with women who died from a broken heart, betrayal, or suicide.  The cause is usually a male lover or a tragic accident surrounding a happy event such as a wedding.  White ladies are found all over the world.

Gray Ladies

Not as common as the white ladies, there are quite a few around the world.  The most famous one is in Willard Library in Indiana.  She is described a kind and benevolent, so these ghosts aren’t seen as dangerous.  There are stories where they are connected to a death caused by family conflict.

Lady in Black

Ladies in black have a much more infamous reputation.  They are connected to feelings of grief and mourning due to their clothing, but they are also seen as spirits of vengeance.  It is said that they were women who were killed unjustly.  So, they are said to attack or cause fear in those they meet who are morally compromised.  This is why they can also be connected to justice.

Red Ladies

Similar to the White Ladies, these ghosts are connected to love-based tragedies.  In this case, they tend to be jilted lovers who were killed.  Most stories have them die by an act of passion or rage.  Now, some of the Red Ladies aren’t from a jilted lover story, but were simply very vain in their life.  A third category of stories has these ghosts coming from women who lost a baby and were either killed or simply died right afterwards.  So, these will be searching for their lost child and may even attack if provoked.

Blue Ladies

This is where I get surprised because I didn’t know the ghosts went beyond the first four colors.  They aren’t as common and have very specific stories such as one who died during childbirth.  Interestingly, the Blue Lady of ‘The Story Inn’ in Indiana gets the name from her eyes instead of her dress.

Green Ladies

As you can easily guess, these are female ghosts who wear green dresses.  At this point, I think we can also assume that most lady ghosts are created by heartbreak.  It is either the betrayal of a lover or the death of a child.  Now, green ladies are typically found in Scottish castles.  There is one mentioned in France who has no face and another in Hawaii, which is occasionally described as more of a Japanese kappa.  Kappa is a turtle-like water demon.

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

This is a single ghost who wears a brown dress who is found in Norfolk, England.  She is supposedly the spirit of a woman who was locked in her rooms after being caught having an affair.  Some versions of the story having her be tricked or her lover’s wife had something to do with it.  Either way, she was locked up in Raynham Hall where she couldn’t even see her children.  Upon her death, she began haunting the place.

The Purple Lady of Rio Grande Depot

Another category with a solitary member, this is the ghost of a woman who was hit by a train.  The story goes that she got in an argument with her fiancée and her ring was thrown onto the tracks.  She hurried to get it back and was hit by the train.  Now, she wanders the depot and will occasionally be heard singing.

Beige Lady of Virginia Hotel

Just like the last two, this is a lady ghost with a specific story of heartbreak.  This time, she was a woman waiting for her fiancée to arrive by train.  Not sure why the last two all involved trains.  The man never showed up and nobody knows why.  So, the woman threw herself out a window to her death.

The Pink Ladies

I didn’t expect this color to be on the list, but I had to make them last.  I feel like seeing a pink ghost would be amazing and not as scary as the others.  Now, they aren’t always wearing pink like the other colors.  Many reports have them as pink mist shaped like a woman and drifting around.  The most famous is in Grove Park Inn, North Carolina where she is either in a misty form or a full ballgown.  The story goes that she was a young woman who was at a party and fell off a balcony.

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Questions 3: Spooky Season

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

There is a more ghost-specific Q3 coming at the end of the month, but I thought of some interesting seasonal questions.  Let’s dive right into it.

  1. Why do you think some people like being scared?
  2. Why do you think October was picked as the month for spookiness?  (Alternate: Why do you think Halloween and Samhain were put here?)
  3. What is your favorite spooky monster?
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