Okay, I saw the Dove Evolution video this morning on the Today show–very interesting. Here’s a link to the Dove site if you’d like to check it out. (Wait for it when you go to the Dove site, it will play automatically.)

Hope everyone out there has a great Friday the 13th! (Anyone planning on watching a few Jason flicks? Hmmm?) Me–well, I’m planning to take a trip to the pumpkin patch, to drink a couple of nice glasses of Vampire wine, and yes, to watch some really, really scary movies.

In honor of this oh-so-special day, I thought I’d post a few Friday the 13th facts:

1. “Lizzy Borden uttered a total of 13 words at her trial.” (Woo–um, not woo, just seems odd.)

2. According to Smithsonian Magazine “fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month.” (I can completely believe that!)

3. “Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper (although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).” (Never noticed that–and I have several Tarot decks–I’m just not observant enough!)

4. “Trisadekaphobia is the technical name for fear of Friday the 13th.” (Ha! I knew that one!)

5. “13 knots in a hangman’s noose.”

6. “13 feet which the guillotine blade falls.”

7. “There are 13 steps leading to the gallows.” (Okay, I’m starting to see a trend here…)

Anyone else know any interesting Friday the 13th Facts? (Like the fact that, so far, I think there have been 11 Jason -hockey-mask horror films, and my favorite is number–oh, heck, who am I kidding? I’m a glutton for punishment and I LOVE THEM ALL!)

Yay! I am so excited! Here’s the cover (that I really, really like!) for Secrets, Volume 18: Dark Passions (featuring my werewolf erotic romance, The Wolf’s Mate):

The Wolf’s Mate is the second installment in my Wolf’s Call Trilogy. The first tale, Bite of the Wolf appeared in Secrets, Volume 15.

Many of you may have heard this tale (if one can call it that) before, but it’s fun, so I thought I’d post about it. According to legend, if you are an unmarried woman, then on Halloween night, you should take a candle and sit in an otherwise dark room. Gaze into a mirror. Eventually, you will see the face of the man you are to marry (so the story goes). If, unfortunately (very unfortunately), you are fated to die before you wed, you should see a skull reflected in the mirror (not very cheery, huh?). Apparently, this legend was once so popular that greeting cards about it began appearing all across the U.S.

I couldn’t wait any longer..I had to get my decorations out, had to start gearing up for the big day…Halloween.

At the side, you’ll see photos of a few of my favorite decorations. When I was younger (yep, back in the day when I still lived with my parents–the kiddie and teen years), I prided myself on having the scariest house on the block. I wouldn’t decorate until Halloween–I’d start early in the afternoon and work until just before dusk. I’d use the standard tricks–lots of fake spiderweb, a scarecrow armed with a glowing machete (Okay, to be perfectly honest, sometimes I’d use two scarecrows–one was the real, stuffed variety and the second was a replica knight in shining armor that I’d cover with a sheet and fit with a “Jason” mask–trust me, it scared the kiddies!). To spice things up, I’d also borrow one of my brother’s remote control cars. I’d put a grusome mask over the car, hide the new tiny monster in the shadows and spiderweb on the porch, and wait until an unsuspecting trick-or-treater approached my house. Then, showtime! I’d send my car monster racing across the porch–just as the trick-or-treater stepped on the hidden scream mat (you know the type, it’s a welcome mat you step on that will scream at you). The trick-or-treaters would unvariably scream in return. Ah, the fun.

What about you? Does anyone have any Halloween memories to share?