My Daily Bedlam and the Ghosts of the Lost Regiment

I have fallen quite behind on my blogging lately.  I have also fallen behind on my blog reading.  The world of haunted and dark blogs I usually keep up with has been lost in the fog of chaos that is my life.  This is not surprising since I can hardly keep up with the laundry and making sure I have all my clothes on right side in lately.  It is my goal over the next few weeks to pull things back together and start keeping up with things again, but I offer my apologies in the meantime. 

Several things have kept me away from my blog over the last several weeks.  One of the largest things was Haunted Chattanooga.  I have been working slowly on this book for History Press for a while and procrastinating with all the power in me.   The deadline was this month and all my procrastination caught up with me.  I had to write the book.  Thank God Amy Petulla of Chattanooga Ghost Tours is my co-author, because she saved me on this one.  She was organized and knew the ghost lore of Chattanooga like the back of her hand.  Besides writing her own portion of the book, she helped me pull my portion together in a way that actually made sense.  So I've been buried in ghost stories, but unable to write here.   A few other things have slowed me down a little.  My dog had puppies, which has kept me very busy, and I'm pregnant and the waves of morning sickness have been bad enough for me to take a few months off work to lay in bed and wonder why I thought having children might be a good idea. 

I've met my deadline now and I'm feeling a little better and I'm determined to catch up.  I want to catch up on my blog writing and reading.   For now, here is a small taste of Haunted Chattanooga in the form of one small tale from Lookout Mountain.  There are many, many ghost stories from Lookout Mountain, but this is one of my favorites.

It is not surprising that the Civil War left its fair share of ghosts behind on Lookout Mountain.  Many battles and skirmishes were fought in the mountain's massive shadow.  So many men died in the mountain's shadow that the soldier's sorrow has left an imprint in the stone. One of the more famous ghost stories of the mountain is a about a group of Union soldiers that got lost while fighting in the skirmishes at the base of the mountain. They became so lost that they wandered away from the battle to the other side of the mountain. They had already seen combat, so as they wandered the mountain they lost blood, food and morale. This was only made worse when members of their group began to die. Unfriendly locals helped pick off the gang of lost men, driving them deeper into the woods and further into a state of panicked madness as they realized that they might not ever make it off the mountain alive. The last that was seen of this lost regiment, there were only seven Union soldiers left alive. They were last seen in Blanche, Alabama, heading up the mountain. Residents of the area still say that they see the ghosts of the regiment, however. They say that they hear the soldiers’ ghosts crying out in the night. They say that the ghosts of the lost regiment still wander the mountain, trying to find their way home.

When adults act like children....

I admit it: I can act like a child sometimes (Maxine can attest to this). Ultimately, though, I put on my big girl panties, take a deep breath, and approach the problem like a rational (grown up) person.

SO WHY CAN'T EVERYONE ELSE DO THE SAME DAMN THING????

Lawyers (and law students) are particularly guilty of behaving childishly. You see them bickering within briefs, participating in pissing contests at your local bar (generally these are not literal pissing contests although it would not surprise me), and stabbing each other behind their backs. Recently, I've been hit by the crazy train. Let me tell you something: I don't deal well with cray-cray. Most the time, I tell someone they are acting that way, and let's just say the crazy hits the fan. This most recent time, however, it's just not that easy to tell someone they are bat-shit crazy, because I'm afraid she might take her billyclub and break my kneecaps. Why you ask? Because she's assumed the role of child and mother (and no, this is not my mother we are talking about).

I deal even worse with someone who presumes to tell me what to do, especially when they are NOT my mother (and Maxine can tell you I don't like taking orders from her either). Especially when she goes behind my back and involves people in an effort to force me to bend to her will. Newsflash: coming to me first would have been the best idea. If I don't immediately answer your emails, it's because I'm trying to figure out a way to tell you that you're a fucking lunatic. A followup email is the correct gesture, not an email to people in charge of stuff telling them of my plans that have not been verified and that you have in store for me. Just so you know, I've contacted those people in charge, because I don't give a fuck about someone else's opinion of me (although maybe I should). Before it's all over, I will out you and your craziness, and you will hopefully learn your lessons: (1) to communicate in a non-crazy manner; (2) to check before you assume; (3) to not fuck with me.

If you are in a position of power, then so be it. I, however, am NOT your minion. I am not your Igore. I am NOT your Bonnie. And I am not your bitch.

Turning To Crime

A few weeks ago I found out that, after coming third in Nottingham Writers' Club autumn short story competition, I actually won the winter one. The brief was to write a crime story with the theme of 'Identity'. Judging the competition was author Stephen Booth who has written a series of crime novels.

I have to admit that, when I submitted my entry, I wasn't sure if it would appeal to an established crime writer. My story was based on a lone hit-man rather than being a conventional cops versus criminals tale. As it turns out I must have done something right.

Stephen Booth has written several novels set in Derbyshire so, living on the Notts/Derbys border, they are of particular interest to me. Descriptions of familiar countryside and the mention of real place names gives his stories an extra edge. His two main characters are a sergeant and constable rather than inspector and sergeant and so the action is centred at a lower level in the police hierarchy than many other series such as Morse and Frost. If you like crime or fancy a change from your usual genre then I recommend you give these a try.

The Ghosts of Fort Morgan

The Fort Morgan area has become a vacation spot.   Its beaches sit overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and tourists come from all over to watch the  Dolphins and dip their toes in the sand.  The sands of Fort Morgan carry an older, forgotten history, however. Most tourists will never know that the sands they play in were once soaked in blood.  

Fort Morgan began construction in 1812 and was finished in 1834 and was widely regarded as the "finest example f military architecture in the New World."   The fort was constructed in a unique star shape that made it easier to defend.    Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines sat on opposing sides of Mobile Bay and acted together to close the Bay off and defend the waters.

Fort Morgan saw heavy fire during the Civil War.  I was used defensively by the Confederates and was also a starting point for blockade running ships.  The Union took the Fort during the Battle of Mobile Bay.  After Fort Gaines fell, Union soldiers laid siege to the fort an set the wooden parts of the fort on fire.  Many men died in this battle and the Confederate soldiers did not meet happy ends.

It is not surprising that this old Fort has more than its fair share of ghosts.  It has a long history filled with war and fire.  The old barracks are said to be one of he most haunted portions of the fort..  In 1916 or 1917 a prisoner hung himself in the barracks.  According to local lore, you can still hear the hanging man cry late at night.   He is not alone in his sorrow.  During the Civil War, a bomb went off in the fort and several men met a horrible fiery death.   The bomb went off in a room with a big fireplace and they say you can still hear the men screaming at night.

The final ghost comes from an unconfirmed story of woe and sorrow.   They say that some time in 19th a young woman was drug into the fort by unknown men.  The woman was beaten, raped and murdered.  According to legend, she still wanders the Fort looking for justice. 

Oddly, I've been to the beaches at Fort Morgan on many occasions, but never visited the old Fort.   I hope to fix that mistake this summer on my visit.   The very shape of the old fort seems to lend itself to ghosts stories and call to spirits to stay and linger.   I can't believe I missed this little gem.

Casey Anthony Trial; Edition 1

Since this is one of the biggest trials in recent years, I'm going to be watching the proceedings and outcome with the eyes of a hawk, particularly because this case may result in a death penalty and has already opened with enough drama to comprise an entire Lifetime movie. I admit it: I already think this woman is as guilty as sin. However, I can also see her family as accomplices, and I think they are all shady as hell. I think after this case, charges will be levied against the grandparents; I think the prosecutor is just waiting because he doesn't want to screw with the jury's prospective of his witnesses.

That being said, I can also analyze this case from a purely intellectual standpoint, and I realize the state has to prove all elements beyond a reasonable doubt for this woman to be found guilty of murder. This is a tough burden, and if there is any doubt in a juror's mind, they CANNOT convict her of capital murder.

Which is why I think it's shitty the defense has claimed in their opening statement that Caylee Anthony died in an accidental drowning. It's shitty...and genius. By the time this child's body was found, the level of decomposition was certainly to the point that a drowning death would be impossible to determine. (If I'm not mistaken, you'd need lung tissue to show that, and I doubt a good sample of lung tissue remained to make this determination.) Then defense raises allegations that Casey Anthony was sexually assaulted by her father from the age of 8, which goes to show why she acted erratically in the time period after her daughter's disappearance.

All in all, this is a great opening argument. You cast doubt, you throw stones, you shift blame. You point fingers at everyone. You make the jurors feel sorry for the defendant. You confuse the issues. One fact remains, however:

This little girl is dead. Her body was dumped like trash in the woods. The meter reader found her. Regardless of whether or not her death was accidental, her mother lied to protect her own ass for SIX MONTHS and refused to identify the location of her child, or even that she had died. This little girl was treated, by all accounts, as a meaningless piece of garbage.

A lot of questions are going to be posed during this trial, and I'm not sure how the defense is planning to answer them. If this death was accidental, why did they not call authorities? How are they going to introduce anything about this accidental death without Casey Anthony testifying (which I think will be critical as to whether she receives the death penalty or not--they are now going to HAVE TO put her on the stand)? Why did authorities find duct tape over the child's mouth and nose? Why were searches found on Casey Anthony's computer regarding "neck breaking," "chloroform," and other ways to murder someone? And how the hell does the defense expect someone to believe that someone who has been sexually abuse would react to her daughter's death by going out to the clubs and pretending everything is all right? (There are plenty of sexual abuse survivors out there that I'm sure are shaking with rage over this defense as I type.)

This is the case of the decade. I predict the jury will find her guilty of murder and sentence her to life in prison. Regardless, it will not ever bring Caylee Anthony back, and that is truly tragic.

Legal Jargon 101

Something I was unaware of before I went to law school were "terms of art" (which, ironically, is a term of art, just so you know) related to the practice of law. Phrases people throw around on television and in everyday life are actually critical words in certain opinions, briefs, and issues. What others also don't realize is that the law assigns a certain meaning to words, regardless of what you intended them to mean. Unfortunately, my first run-in with the phrase "term of art" arose during a class with a teacher who was incoherent, if not completely hilarious, and he swiftly disposed of my questions with mockery and the Socratic method. The rest of my teachers automatically assumed I had wikipedia-ed it (my bad) and never explained it to me. It literally took me months to understand the concept, because EVERYONE ASSUMED WE ALL KNEW. Getting into law school does not mean you automatically gain secret insight to the field of law. So, in order to help all you would-be litigators out there, here's my list of those phrases and my own special meaning to them (I wouldn't suggest you use these in your legal documents with my particular definition assigned, just FYI)....consider them my own "terms of art"(ful creativity)....they may just be torts.

1) Double Jeopardy--when the person on Jeopardy answers the daily double correctly.
2) Negligence--an act committed while wearing sexy lingerie.
3) Consideration--a lovely peppercorn. (Some may get this; others may be used to widgets.)
4) Common law--law that everyone knows.
5) Perpetuity--when a person intentionally stiffs a waiter.
6) Retainer--something lawyers wear to keep their fees straight.
7) Begs the question--when a lawyer raises a rhetorical question in a whiny tone of voice.
8) Juris Doctorate--what pre-law students want to obtain.
9) Juris Doctor--what law students actually get.
10) Tort--arises when someone hits you in the face with a dessert.
11) Starre decisis--that painting by Learned Hand.
12) Fair--what comes to town once a year.
13) Unduly prejudicial--a piece of evidence that calls someone a dirty name based on their race, ethnicity, religious background, gender, or sexual preference.
14) Balancing test--what you do when studying for the Bar. (Ex: should I drink or should I study?)
15) En banc--the cleverly named bank down the street.
16) Voir dire--that expensive designer suit you just bought.
17) Dictum--a dirty name for opposing counsel.
18) Fertile octogenarian--an 80 year old woman with her eggs on ice.
19) Overfishing--when a lawyer demands too much stuff during discovery.
20) Interstate commerce--those damn tollbooths on the highways.

Any additions?

And the Free Kindle Goes to......

A few weeks ago, when my first novel, Death's Dream Kingdom, came out, I said I would give away a free kindle to the person who helped me spread the word about the book's release.   I have to say that one person really went above and beyond to earn the kindle.   Mishy of Haunted Antique Store (http://www.hauntedantiqueshop.blogspot.com/) tweeted, facebooked, put it on her blog, and distributed it in her newsletter to over 3000 people.  Wow.  Thanks Mishy!  The kindle is yours.  I will be emailing you to get your address so I can send it to you!  I appreciate everyone else who participated and thank you all for everything you did to help.  I wish I could give a kindle to all of you!

Buy Death's Dream Kingdom Now!