Not too long ago, by some conversational equation I cannot recollect, I was talking to my husband about Hillary Duff. Overall, I’m pretty neutral in regards to yet another one of Disney’s former pop princesses. Her music is essentially what you expect it to be, pop spun of the finest sugars that the children from the “It’s a Small World” ride could gather. In fairness, I always had a soft spot for her song “Do You Want Me”. I suspect it’s because even with me coming into middle age I still clearly recall what it feels like to be a 13 year-old girl who knows, that everything is so painfully important, and nothing more so than the affections of a boy.

Anyone who read Ellen Evert Hopman’s article on female druids here at The Magical Buffet knows that this isn’t any fly by night Pagan, but a knowledgeable expert on all things Druid. Her book “A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine” lives up to the high standards I feel she set with her article. Not only is Hopman a Druid priestess extraordinaire, but a master herbalist. She is such a big deal that she serves on the Grey Council and is a professor of Wortcunning at the Grey School of Wizardry. With “A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine” she combines all her specialties to great effect.

10 Questions with Peggy Levitt; Author of God Needs No Passport: Immigrants and the Changing American Religious Landscape

My last post for October was going to be my super awesome interview with Peggy Levitt, but it looks like she will be kicking off November instead. What could cause me to bump one of the interviews I’m most proud to have done? The spat of concerned emails sent to me about Pinkerton Academy’s Diversity Week. Weird, yes? If you agree, you’ll be clicking in right about now.

Just the other day I received an entertaining, and intriguing, email from friend, artist, Buffet supporter, and dude that does our art, Will Hobbs.

Hi All,

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) my coworkers and I are growing Moustaches. That’s right, we’re bringing the Mo back because I’m passionate about tackling men’s health issues and being proactive in the fight against prostate cancer. “But, Will…” you may say, “You already have a full beard!!!” That’s right. But, imagine how ridiculous I’ll look when I shave it into a sweet and trashy Mo. So, help me help the cause, and I’ll send the top donor the clippings, suitable for framing! That’s right! My beard goes to the top donor*.

*Not for use in witchcraft, please.

Ever notice how the faithful seem to see the Virgin Mary everywhere? Trees, food, etc. I’ve found that despite my lack of faith, I seem to see Sarah Palin everywhere. I just want to buy my copy of The Advocate and bam, I see Sarah Palin all over the magazine section. I turn on the television to get all the news in thirty minutes, and bam, all I see is Sarah Palin. I go shopping for new frames for my glasses, and every frame I touch seems to say, buy me, you’ll look like Sarah Palin (which politics aside, physically, she’s a hottie, so perhaps not so bad). In the end I bought round wire rimmed frames. To further prove my point, a clever friend of mine emailed me this…

Here it is, another actual final report from a real paranormal investigation group! This one is particularly fun because it’s from the Northern New York Paranormal Research Society’s investigation of the Plattsburgh, NY Air Force Base gymnasium. That’s right folks, the same investigation I went with them on, the same one I wrote about just the other day. I thought you guys might enjoy a little compare and contrast, so refresh your memories by reading my write up about the investigation. Then continue on to the NNYPRS final report.

“This is the coolest thing I’ve ever touched'” I said. My husband responds with, “I think I may be insulted.” “No, see?” I ask as I toss him Roger von Oech’s Ball of Whacks. After a moment with the Ball, he agreed with me.

…or How I Spent My Saturday Night.

After a long, hard week Jim and I hit the road north. Our destination was Plattsburgh, NY. We were heading north for our first paranormal investigation, thanks to the invite we received from our friend Merrill, President of the Northern New York Paranormal Research Society. That evening we would all be checking out the Plattsburgh Air Force Base gymnasium…but first, Ponderosa and some planning.

I talk gaming with Steve Kenson. Read, learn, enjoy,