National Sandwich Day

Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here – 

Keeping my paws on the nuts of the world!

.

Friends – this is an awesome day – National Sandwich Day!  Sandwiches are so varied in how you can make them – what bread, what meats, hot or cold, grilled, pressed, open or closed, condiments, toppings – sigh – let me slow down.  The options are out there my friends.  Do you know how the day got started?

English history says that John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich.  He was a heavy gambler and would spend hours at the tables in London’s gambling halls.  In 1762, he created the sandwich by putting meat between two pieces of bread.  This allowed him to stay at the tables longer to gamble.  Thus, the sandwich was made.

And do you know what Elvis Presley liked on his sandwiches?  Peanut butter, banana and bacon (sorry Bacon) and then it was grilled.  It does sound interesting in a round about way.

And do you have a Subway restaurant in your area?  Today if you buy a sub and a 30 ounce drink, you get a free sub to share.  Now that sounds like an awesome way to spend today.

 

Boo! H.H. Holmes

I know you are asking yourself who in the world is H.H. Holmes and why is he being featured on my 31 Days of Spook?  The name sounds so plain and innocent.  But I assure, it is not.  You see H.H. Holmes is the common name of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes (who was actually born Herman Webster Mudgett – try to figure that out huh?)  H.H. Holmes is considered America’s First Serial Killer.  Does the name sound innocent now?

Most people that want to become a doctor go into the field hoping to prevent death. H.H. Holmes went to school to become a doctor to help him out more in causing death and destruction.  Let’s start from here and let me explain to you what H.H. Holmes actually did.

It starts out in 1886 in Chicago.  H.H. Holmes built a hotel right in town near all of the fair activities.  In the time that he was building it, he often brought in different construction crews to add things and then fired that crew afterwards.  Again the next day hiring a different construction crew to work on something else at the hotel.  That way, not one construction crew or person knew of the intricacies of the hotel.  What intricacies?  Well like 100’s of windowless rooms, doorways that opened into brick walls, stairways leading to nowhere, doors that opened from the outside and don’t forget the fun rooms.  The rooms that had soundproof walls and gas lines in them to asphyxiate the guests.  Or rooms that had walls covered with iron plates and blowtorches to incinerate guests.  Or the secret hanging chamber… or the basement where he would dissect, strip the flesh off guests and then sale their bodies to medical schools.  What a host huh?

The hotel was nicknamed the Castle by the people of the area and it was three stories and a block long.  The name of the actual hotel was called the World’s Fair Hotel.  Yep, you guessed it.  The hotel was right there in the same area of the World Fair in 1893.  Just think of all of the innocent people coming to  Chicago for the World’s Fair.  They see this nice, new hotel and check in thinking they are safe… and then they are never heard from again.  Thus in the end, the hotel was then called the Murder Castle.

In the end, justice was given to H.H. Holmes.  He was eventually caught and although he claimed to have killed 27 people, it is actually thought the count could be well over 200 people!  What’s even more interesting is that H.H. Holmes is even linked to the likes of Jack the Ripper.  Some people even think that they may be one and the same.  H.H. Holmes was actually in London during the killings of Jack the Ripper.  And of course, Jack the Ripper was actually a very clean cut killer – some believe that he had a medical background.  With all of the killing that H.H. Holmes did, I would think he would fit that bill.  Do you?

Picture Mugshot from Wikipedia

 

National Sandwich Day

Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here – 

Keeping my paws on the nuts of the world!

.

Friends – this is an awesome day – National Sandwich Day!  Sandwiches are so varied in how you can make them – what bread, what meats, hot or cold, grilled, pressed, open or closed, condiments, toppings – sigh – let me slow down.  The options are out there my friends.  Do you know how the day got started?

English history says that John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich.  He was a heavy gambler and would spend hours at the tables in London’s gambling halls.  In 1762, he created the sandwich by putting meat between two pieces of bread.  This allowed him to stay at the tables longer to gamble.  Thus, the sandwich was made.

And do you know what Elvis Presley liked on his sandwiches?  Peanut butter, banana and bacon (sorry Bacon) and then it was grilled.  It does sound interesting in a round about way.

 

31 Days of Spook – H.H. Holmes

I know you are asking yourself who in the world is H.H. Holmes and why is he being featured on my 31 Days of Spook?  The name sounds so plain and innocent.  But I assure, it is not.  You see H.H. Holmes is the common name of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes (who was actually born Herman Webster Mudgett – try to figure that out huh?)  H.H. Holmes is considered America’s First Serial Killer.  Does the name sound innocent now?

Most people that want to become a doctor go into the field hoping to prevent death. H.H. Holmes went to school to become a doctor to help him out more in causing death and destruction.  Let’s start from here and let me explain to you what H.H. Holmes actually did.

It starts out in 1886 in Chicago.  H.H. Holmes built a hotel right in town near all of the fair activities.  In the time that he was building it, he often brought in different construction crews to add things and then fired that crew afterwards.  Again the next day hiring a different construction crew to work on something else at the hotel.  That way, not one construction crew or person knew of the intricacies of the hotel.  What intricacies?  Well like 100’s of windowless rooms, doorways that opened into brick walls, stairways leading to nowhere, doors that opened from the outside and don’t forget the fun rooms.  The rooms that had soundproof walls and gas lines in them to asphyxiate the guests.  Or rooms that had walls covered with iron plates and blowtorches to incinerate guests.  Or the secret hanging chamber… or the basement where he would dissect, strip the flesh off guests and then sale their bodies to medical schools.  What a host huh?

The hotel was nicknamed the Castle by the people of the area and it was three stories and a block long.  The name of the actual hotel was called the World’s Fair Hotel.  Yep, you guessed it.  The hotel was right there in the same area of the World Fair in 1893.  Just think of all of the innocent people coming to  Chicago for the World’s Fair.  They see this nice, new hotel and check in thinking they are safe… and then they are never heard from again.  Thus in the end, the hotel was then called the Murder Castle.

In the end, justice was given to H.H. Holmes.  He was eventually caught and although he claimed to have killed 27 people, it is actually thought the count could be well over 200 people!  What’s even more interesting is that H.H. Holmes is even linked to the likes of Jack the Ripper.  Some people even think that they may be one and the same.  H.H. Holmes was actually in London during the killings of Jack the Ripper.  And of course, Jack the Ripper was actually a very clean cut killer – some believe that he had a medical background.  With all of the killing that H.H. Holmes did, I would think he would fit that bill.  Do you?

Picture Mugshot from Wikipedia

 

National Sandwich Day

Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here – 

Keeping my paws on the nuts of the world!

.

Friends – this is an awesome day – National Sandwich Day!  Sandwiches are so varied in how you can make them – what bread, what meats, hot or cold, grilled, pressed, open or closed, condiments, toppings – sigh – let me slow down.  The options are out there my friends.  Do you know how the day got started?

English history says that John Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich.  He was a heavy gambler and would spend hours at the tables in London’s gambling halls.  In 1762, he created the sandwich by putting meat between two pieces of bread.  This allowed him to stay at the tables longer to gamble.  Thus, the sandwich was made.

And do you know what Elvis Presley liked on his sandwiches?  Peanut butter, banana and bacon (sorry Bacon) and then it was grilled.  It does sound interesting in a round about way.

And do you have a Subway restaurant in your area?  Today if you buy a sub and a 30 ounce drink, you get a free sub to share.  Now that sounds like an awesome way to spend today.

 

31 Days of Spook – H.H. Holmes

I know you are asking yourself who in the world is H.H. Holmes and why is he being featured on my 31 Days of Spook?  The name sounds so plain and innocent.  But I assure, it is not.  You see H.H. Holmes is the common name of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes (who was actually born Herman Webster Mudgett – try to figure that out huh?)  H.H. Holmes is considered America’s First Serial Killer.  Does the name sound innocent now?

Most people that want to become a doctor go into the field hoping to prevent death. H.H. Holmes went to school to become a doctor to help him out more in causing death and destruction.  Let’s start from here and let me explain to you what H.H. Holmes actually did.

It starts out in 1886 in Chicago.  H.H. Holmes built a hotel right in town near all of the fair activities.  In the time that he was building it, he often brought in different construction crews to add things and then fired that crew afterwards.  Again the next day hiring a different construction crew to work on something else at the hotel.  That way, not one construction crew or person knew of the intricacies of the hotel.  What intricacies?  Well like 100’s of windowless rooms, doorways that opened into brick walls, stairways leading to nowhere, doors that opened from the outside and don’t forget the fun rooms.  The rooms that had soundproof walls and gas lines in them to asphyxiate the guests.  Or rooms that had walls covered with iron plates and blowtorches to incinerate guests.  Or the secret hanging chamber… or the basement where he would dissect, strip the flesh off guests and then sale their bodies to medical schools.  What a host huh?

The hotel was nicknamed the Castle by the people of the area and it was three stories and a block long.  The name of the actual hotel was called the World’s Fair Hotel.  Yep, you guessed it.  The hotel was right there in the same area of the World Fair in 1893.  Just think of all of the innocent people coming to  Chicago for the World’s Fair.  They see this nice, new hotel and check in thinking they are safe… and then they are never heard from again.  Thus in the end, the hotel was then called the Murder Castle.

In the end, justice was given to H.H. Holmes.  He was eventually caught and although he claimed to have killed 27 people, it is actually thought the count could be well over 200 people!  What’s even more interesting is that H.H. Holmes is even linked to the likes of Jack the Ripper.  Some people even think that they may be one and the same.  H.H. Holmes was actually in London during the killings of Jack the Ripper.  And of course, Jack the Ripper was actually a very clean cut killer – some believe that he had a medical background.  With all of the killing that H.H. Holmes did, I would think he would fit that bill.  Do you?

Picture Mugshot from Wikipedia

 

31 Days of Spook – Story Submission

Hello my spooky friends.  Thank you so very much for staying with me during my 31 Days of Spook. Have you been enjoying the stories, the thrills, the things that go bump in the night?   Today, we have another guest story submission.  This one is from my friend Bree.  Do you know her?  She’s Reilly and Denny’s mom.  If you don’t know them, you have so got to visit their blog.  They are great.  And personally, I don’t think those pooches take a bad picture – I’m just saying.  Please make it a point to visit my friend Bree – tell her that Bacon sent you.  This is her tale – enjoy my friends!

“When I was very little – only 4 years, we lived in London in a very old house. One morning I woke up and was very sick and feeling very scared but then this little old lady came into room and sat on the bed talking to me. She told me some wonderful stories in her soft Scottish accent and she would sing to me too – and lull me to sleep. Every morning she would come and visit. She was very small only about 4′ 5”, had grey/white hair pulled back tightly and wore a little cap like the the one Andy Capp wears. She also had a little white pipe – like the one Popeye had. She wore a long black skirt with big pockets on the front of it, big brown lace up boots and had layers of sweaters on. She smelled of lavender and even to this day I still think of her when I smell it.

My Mom came in one morning and asked me who I was talking too. I didn’t know her name so I pointed to her and said, “Grandah”. Mom looked around and couldn’t see anyone and yet there she was sitting on the end on the bed.  Whenever any of my brothers or sister was sick she would appear and we always knew she was about the house because we suddenly would smell the lavender. Our Mom too smelled the lavender but never saw or knew who Grandah was until one day she showed us a very old photo of our great grandma and it was her!  She had been dead for over thirty years and yet there she would come visit us when ever we were sick and we knew she would make us feel better.”

 

31 Days of Spook – Story Submission

Hey my sweet friends.  Today, we have another guest story submission.  This one is from my friend Molly.  Do you know her?  If you don’t, you are so missing out on a very sweet and entertaining pup.  Please make it a point to visit my friend Molly – tell her that Bacon sent you.  Here’s her story submission – I hope you enjoy.  Try not to get too scared my friends 🙂

HALLOWEEN TALES FROM SPOOKY LONDON POND SQUARE

As it is ‘Shocktober, we thought today we’d bring you a story from bizarre spooky London. So heading off to Pond Square, Highgate we will recount the story of the ghostly chicken.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was a politician, a writer and a philosopher who also dabbled in some well, unusual scientific experiments when he wasn’t hamming it up. He was a pioneer in the theory that refrigeration might be used as a means of preserving meat. On a bitterly cold January morning in 1626, Bacon decided to put his theory to the test by purchasing a chicken, having it slaughtered and plucked. He then proceeded to stuff its carcass with snow. Opps looks like this chicken just got a licking. Such a fowl way to die!  Ironically Sir Francis Bacon caught a severe chill as a result of his experiment and was taken to nearby Arundel House (a poultry excuse for a hospital) where he was placed in a damp bed and he died shortly afterwards from suffocation.

Ever since then, there have been frequent reports of a phantom bird, resembling a plucked chicken, that appears from nowhere and races round the square in frantic circles, flapping its wings and noiselessly clucking away. What is a haunted chicken called? A poultry-geist! Terence Long was crossing Pond Square late at night in 1943 when he heard the sound of horses hooves and the low rumble of carriage wheels. Suddenly, a loud raucous shriek, split the silence, and the ghostly chicken appeared before him. It then proceeded to run frantically around and then vanished into thin air. In the 1960’s a motorist whose car had broken down encountered the same apparition. Fearful that the bird may be harmed and in need of help he approached it, only to have it disappear when he turned away. A courting couple in the 1970’s, had their ‘peck’ on the cheek interrupted by the chicken who suddenly dropped from above landing next to them. In recent years, however, sighting of the featherless phantom have been few and far between and it might just be possible that its restless spirit has finally ’gone to the light, and accepted it’s part in the scientific breakthrough for which it gave its life. Cluck , cluck where did I pluck this from, is it a load of cock & bull I hear you say? Finger lickin good!

 

Bacon’s Tales of Terror

 Welcome my friends to Bacon’s Tales of Terror!

I make it a point of mine to surf everywhere possible for something that is spooky… something that is scary… something that keeps us on our hooves, paws or toes.  This month on the 13th, I’ve come across an actual sign that was posted in London Underground by the Mayor.  I couldn’t pass this up.  I had to share.

So the next time you see someone on the rail that doesn’t quite look “naturally”, perhaps you should do a double take to see if they are still there.  Happy Spooks my friends!

 

Rolling Stone – WOW

 

 

Really Bashful?  Bashful is MIA from his travel to Misaki’s.  I got my issue of Rolling Stone magazine today (hey, I’m a happening pig that likes to read) and guess who is on the cover?  Bingo – that Bashful of mine.  Apparently while he was in London, he got interviewed.  Shaking my piggy head.

So maybe this tells us where he is now.  Living large with royalty and rock stars?  Bashful, if you are reading this.  You get your rock hiney here right this instant.  You have obligations waiting for you. If you are not home by this weekend, I will send authorities out to get you.