The Ghost Had an Early Check-Out LAUNCH PARTY

[Haldis]

The Ghost and Mr Pinkerton

[Jordan]

These titles are great guys!

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

The Ghost Gets Fit!

[Johanna]

Hahahahaaaa!!! What absolutely hilarious titles you guys have come up with! LOLOLOLOL! There's certainly plenty of variety for Josh to choose from if she ever wants to write a third book for the series. :-D :-D :-D

[Susana]

Johanna wrote: "Hahahahaaaa!!! What absolutely hilarious titles you guys have come up with! LOLOLOLOL! There's certainly plenty of variety for Josh to choose from if she ever wants to write a third book for the se..."
Let's hope she does. I love Nick and Perry, and I do not think two books are going to be enough... ;)

[Goge]

The Ghost said yellow is new black

[Calathea]

Goge wrote: "The Ghost said yellow is new black"

You bet it is! :-D

[Calathea]

Now, that our boys arrived in Los Angeles (and it should be around New Year's, yes? since it was shortly before Christmas when the last book ended), what do you think their New Year's resolutions are?

My guess: Nick wants to make Perry eat healthy and Perry wants to make Nick smile more.
What are your ideas?

[Elena]

Calathea wrote: "what do you think their New Year's resolutions are?

My guess: Nick wants to make Perry eat healthy and Perry wants to make Nick smile more.
What are your ideas?"

Perry wants to paint a lot, especially beaches and the sea, and maybe have some of his paintings in an art exhibit (sorry, not sure if it's the right term in English).
Nick wants to keep Perry away from new investigations, but he knows it's a lost cause, so he'll settle for being there the next time Perry puts himself in a dangerous situation.

[Calathea]

Elena wrote: "Nick wants to keep Perry away from new investigations"

Oh, yes, I can see that. Nick definitely has this protective streek. And Perry will have a wonderful time painting, I think. :-)

[Haldis]

Perry's New Year's resolution is to become the best amateur sleuth in the world. .....ok, not true. He resolves to find no more dead bodies in his tub. Any place else is fair game.
Nick's resolution is to keep Perry away from dead bodies.

[Susana]

I guess Nick's resolution is try to keep Perry safe... While Perry's resolution is get in as much trouble as possible (not consciously, of course)

[Calathea]

Oh, I see how this is going to be: Perry, the troublemaker, and Nick, the long-suffering protector. :-D

[Trio]

poor Nick, I hope Perry makes it worth his while ;)

[Johanna]

Calathea wrote: "Oh, I see how this is going to be: Perry, the troublemaker, and Nick, the long-suffering protector. :-D"

LOL.

[Johanna]

Trio wrote: "poor Nick, I hope Perry makes it worth his while ;)"

*let's cross our fingers* :-)

[Johanna]

I think both of them probably want to do their best to spend as much time together as possible — spending their time loving and eating Froot Loops (Perry) and commenting about the Front Loops (Nick). :-D

[Calathea]

Johanna wrote: "spending their time loving and eating Froot Loops (Perry) and commenting about the Front Loops (Nick). :-D "

Ha! I wonder if the Froot Loops will still be a thing with Nick coocking good food all the time. ;-)

[Jordan]

I want Froot Loops now!

I think Nick will want to teach Perry to cook perhaps, in an attempt to get him to eat better.

Perry... he’ll want to make new friends, maybe dragging Nick with him in an attempt to get Nick some new friends too. Or to help him smile more.

[Johanna]

Calathea wrote: "Johanna wrote: "spending their time loving and eating Froot Loops (Perry) and commenting about the Front Loops (Nick). :-D "

Ha! I wonder if the Froot Loops will still be a thing with Nick coockin..."

True. :-)

Also, the sneaky autocorrection had changed Froot Loops to Front Loops! LOL. I can’t even say how many times that has happened with Lanyon (—> Canyon) and kidlings (—> killings). :-D

[cat]

"The Ghost and the Missing Box of Fruit Loops"

(wish i had thought of 'the ghost and mr. pinkerton'. maybe 'the ghost and the feisty ocelot'?)

If Nick and Perry get a house, I can see Nick's resolution being a weekend contractor, working to fix up a care-worn historic just the way he's always wanted a home of his to be. Gleaming hardwoods, flagstone patio with massive grill set, finer details like crown molding.

I can also see Nick making Perry's resolution for him, earning him a tolerant sigh at the best of times and one of those unfriendly looks as Nick gets more dogged: better nutrition and an asthma friendly exercise routine.

[Loretta]

Nick's resolution is to make sure Perry gets whatever he needs when he needs it.

Perry's resolution is to expand his horizons and show Nick that Perry can be what he needs.

[Calathea]

Loretta wrote: "Nick's resolution is to make sure Perry gets whatever he needs when he needs it.

Perry's resolution is to expand his horizons and show Nick that Perry can be what he needs."

Awww, that's so sweet. :-)

[Calathea]

cat wrote: "'the ghost and the feisty ocelot'"

That one made me snort. :-D I mean, the feisty ocelot is in L.A. too, right? So it could be possible. ;-)

[Calathea]

What do you do when you find yourself with some time on your hands and don't know how to spend it? You tell a story, of course!

Have you ever seen a ghost? Tell us the story! You didn't? Just make one up! Have fun! :-)

[Susana]

Okay, so this happened some few years ago, I went with my friend to this place at Madrid, it is called the Palace of Linares and it is known to be one of the most haunted buildings in Spain. It is also open for public visits so... My brave friend and a not less courageous me went there to laugh at the ghosts...Let me just say that the place is scary. It is freezing cold in there, and all the time I spent inside the building I kept having the sensation that I was been looked at. I kept looking over my shoulder because I felt chased... I did not laugh at all in all the time I spent there, and the only thing I wanted was to leave the place at once. The feeling grew more and more oppressive as we moved further into the building, to the point where I could stand it any longer, so I told my friend I was not feeling well and I was going to wait for her outside. It was even worse, because I had to make the way out on my own, and the feeling of being observed grew more intense. When I was to leave, I looked once more over my shoulder and I swear I saw a shade moving in the high mirrors on my back. A shade moving when I was standing alone and still next to the front door....
I will never laugh at ghosts again... And I will never go to a haunted building... One experience is enough!

[Anne]

Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I once took a ghost tour there and in one of the cellars we felt the cold spot where a ghost lingered. I guess our guide was so good she managed to make us all believe and feel. Or perhaps there really was a ghost?

[Calathea]

Susana wrote: "Okay, so this happened some few years ago, I went with my friend to this place at Madrid, it is called the Palace of Linares and it is known to be one of the most haunted buildings in Spain. It is ..."

O.M.G.! That's so creepy! And you went there voluntarily!? O.O
I would have been scared to pieces! *hair stands on end*

[Calathea]

Anne wrote: "Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I once took a gho..."

*squeek*
If you get cold feet in your appartment regularly, does it mean a ghost cat is lying on them? *asking for a friend*

[Susana]

Calathea wrote: "Anne wrote: "Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I on..."

LOL!

[Susana]

Anne wrote: "Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I once took a gho..."

Anne, I was in Edinburgh and went to one of those visits... Was it the room the the ghost of the little girl? Because I swear I felt the cold spot as well...

[Anne]

Calathea wrote: "Anne wrote: "Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I on..."

Tell your friend it is very likely a cat ghost. I mean, what else could it be?

[Anne]

Susana wrote: "Anne wrote: "Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I on..."

I believe it was. Well, if you felt it too....

[Johanna]

Susana wrote: "Okay, so this happened some few years ago, I went with my friend to this place at Madrid, it is called the Palace of Linares and it is known to be one of the most haunted buildings in Spain. It is ..."

Yikes! You're much much MUCH braver than I am...!!! What a great story that visit made, though.

[Johanna]

Susana wrote: "Anne wrote: "Edinburgh’s Old Town is partly built on top of an even older town, so there are lots of basements and catacombs underneath, that allegedly are home to many ghosts. My daughter and I on..."

Also went to one of those underneath the Old Town ghost tours while in Edinburgh, but didn't stumble in any ghosts or cold spots. Maybe it means I'm ghost resistant?! I sure hope so!! :-)

[Johanna]

I used to be in girl scouts for quite a few years and during those years heard dozens of creepy ghost stories while sitting around the camp fire. And what was it with us that we always tortured ourselves by sneaking into the woods in the middle of the night while camping? And creeping around in the darkness hand in hand for a while we managed to provoke ourselves into panicked, scared state. During those nightly adventures I swear I thought I saw every scary thing one could ever imagine lurking in those woods. For some reason my imagination never got wild with ghosts, but... werewolves. OMG, those werewolves! :-)

[Haldis]

Mr. Pinkerton looked up, startled as the vague image of a man stepped out through the wall in the mystery section alcove of Ye Olde Bookstore. The man staggered forward a few steps and then collapsed, landing face down and fading out of site, but not before Mr. Pinkerton noticed the handle of a knife protruding from the man's back.
A choked sound drew Mr. Pinkerton's attention away from the now empty floor to Geoffrey, the bookstore's owner, as he stood, white faced and gasping. Geoffrey looked over to Mr. Pinkerton.
"D..d..did you see th..th...that?"
"Meow", confirmed Mr. Pinkerton.
"Well," said Geoffrey, sounding more like himself. "That's not something you see everyday."
No, Mr. Pinkerton thought. No it was not.

[Susana]

Haldis wrote: "Mr. Pinkerton looked up, startled as the vague image of a man stepped out through the wall in the mystery section alcove of Ye Olde Bookstore. The man staggered forward a few steps and then collaps..."

I love this 😃

[cat]

I was traveling through New Zealand with a group of students as part of a study abroad program. Two of of my fellow students, both from different backgrounds and had met as part of this trip, started talking about the 'presences' they felt. They both said they felt the presence of a young girl in Turangi, and both refused to continue a guided visit of a supposed haunted house in Dunedin.

Interesting, but this is the one that got me. We were in the middle of nowhere in South Island in a huge old house. No electricity, but we had use of a fireplace and flashlights at night. This is a classic haunted house setting. Isolated. Lots of creaky noises. A group of students in a cabin.

No electricity and a fireplace? Storytelling time! As the night wears on, this is when they start talking about their experiences with sensing presences and various personal experiences. It's great atmosphere! I'm digging it. (This is also when I find out that 'the witching hour' in many Southeast Asian cultures is 3AM, not midnight)

"So," one asks, "do you sense anything here?"

They both look at the kitchen/dinning area. "There's a man. He doesn't understand what we're doing here."

That statement isn't all that threatening... until you have to go to the communal bathroom in the absolute black in the wee hours of oh-dark-hundred. And of course the kitchen/dinning room is right across from the bathroom.

shivers

[Karen]

"Face-dancers" conjured via late-night mutual self-hypnosis by a group of us in a friend's live-in/photo studio Chelsea loft in 1977. :)

Presences, in the sense cat describes above but nothing so clear. More benign or regretful than scary, like a strong sense of my father's presence in certain areas of my yard or his (next door). I think these particular "ghosts" are the persistence of memory enhanced by sensory experience of place.

[cat]

I tend to the skeptical side, myself, but I have an uncle who studied parapsychology and had a Ph.D in zoology. We have a copy of his book... which is a bit difficult to follow as it was written in academic lingo. "Ghosts" are created through something to do with time paths? I should probably take another crack at it.

He did take my mom to a seance in a haunted cave, something she only remembers vaguely as she was eleven at the time.

[Antonella]

Thank you for sharing all your scary stories.

I grew up in a 18th century palace where I had to climb 112 steps to reach our rented flat (no elevator). Especially in the evening I wasn't happy to go home on my own. The first few floors had weak lights and high ceilings, they had been once the noble floors and were occupied only during the day because now they were the town council offices. I don't think that I felt a presence, but for sure I played games with myself like: ''If I'll reach the gate in the middle/any other particular spot, I'll be safe''. I became very quick climbing the stairs ;-).

[SamSpayedPI]

Barbra wrote: How fascinating...much more scope for imagination than growing up in a brand new suburban neighborhood. :-)

Unless that brand new suburban neighborhood is [duh duh DUM] built on an ANCIENT INDIAN GRAVEYARD .