Esoteric foot cramps

Thought this title would make for an interesting "search". Esoterica, esoterical, eso-this and that.... New catch phrase for a struggling field. Paranormal has been beaten to death and regurgatated so much that renaming it might be just what the doctor ordered?

Where do I begin with this one? I've grown up with weird shit going on all around me and it was just normal until I was told by a friend "how fucked up that is". Shadow people and Sasquatch was just part of living in Northern Michigan. We knew where not to go at what time of day. It was really no different than a kid growing up in the city who was told by his parents to not even try to cross main street at 5:00 p.m. We were told not to be in the woods after dark and if those things show up in your room again tonight, use this flashlight and they will go away. Simple rules to live by, or so I thought. I will one day soon start from the beginning and try to explain to the best of my ability what is was like being me as a child to present day. This is just a peek and really,,, just me getting my feet wet in the Blog thing. Never thought I would do this, but I need a vent and I refuse to get back on facebook or myspace....more on that later! Sooooooo,,,,,,,,,,,anyway.

Enter the age of technology,,, the PODCAST! I've learned over the years that I'm not alone in this world. People outside of my family that I don't even know have been seeing the same shit that I have! "You're kidding me" I thought to myself. So, I like many submersed myself in this shit,,,, everything I could get on my iPod, I did. Mysterious universe was my first podcast about 5 years ago now. I then found The Paracast, EERIE Radio, Simply Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Paratopia. I found myself talking to others, sharing my stories and encounters with any forum that would listen. I probably over did it,,,, but due to my compulsive nature it's all or nothing. I've since then learned that this is a very sensitive field to say the least. You don't want to come across as somebody that claims to have answers ( which I don't ) nor do you want to be a know it all,,, that is better left up to those who "do" know it all.... ( that was a jab ). Everyone wants to be heard, everyone wants to be different or special. There are seats on the bus for those kids. Everyone once in awhile you find someone that has a story that is so eerily like your own it seems to good to be true. More on that later, I'm wandering here.

Through out the years it just seemed like everyone was just throwing shit left and right, the more people that listened the better. MORE, MORE, MORE..... what a hungry bunch we are in the field of paranormal. Then when the attention was achieved,,,, people started reeling back, now there are to many people at this party. It was becoming some what like a cult. Everyone seemed to have their favorites or that which the subscribed to. A "belief" if you will that fit into their little piece of the world. Did I mention Cult?
It was crazy,,,it was like a drama filled soap opera. From my angle my days started revolving keeping in touch with the field. I had my podcast lined up for the entire week. I had my days planned out mostly Wednesday nights to watch UFO hunters, Destination truth and ghost hunters. Fridays were great for playing the drinking game while watching ghost adventures. Everytime dip shit said "dude" you drank. Had a good buzz going generally by the half way point of the show.....

I know, I know, UFO hunters? Ghost hunters,,,,DT? Well.... it's like this I'm a big boy now, I know bullshit when I see it, I also know what I've seen. These shows are "entertainment" however there are grains of truth that can be seen and studied. It's kind of like keeping up what going on in a not so good friends life. You know? You watch it, you grumble and bitch about things that are incorrect and so on. That helped me realize what I knew and how I stood on certain things. God knows all the forums on the paranormal were picking this shit apart. Which for me is why I would watch it because I wanted to know what the hype was about. I don't have time to lock myself up in my house and read every book on the subject known to man. Again like I said earlier.... " I know what I've seen". Everything else to me is just "comparative". If it's disinformation then I want to witness it. I want to see if I can hold my own here, I've seen things on these show that seemed believable and then found out the rest of the story. I can admit when I'm wrong, it's a good thing. I work with 37 other people Monday through Friday. Some have the same interest, most watch these show with an innocent mind. So I watch these shows, research the forums sort the corn from the shit if you will and when the subject comes up, I can explain to them better what is really being said or not said. You see?

What happens now is you get on the forums and we all know that guy,,,the guy that has 20,000 post and has been a member for 3 years! Yep a real fuckin' expert here. This guy has the answers and is ( to their credit ) fucking book smart. These people have dates, times and events memorized. If someone doesn't bring up something in a post that he/she can elaborate on. This person will cleverly put something in that sets the stage up. The fish bite and this giant turd rolls up his/her sleeves and lets it all hang out...... douche bag! ; ) That may be a little harsh, I'm not taking away from this persons knowledge, I just question the intent. It's sometimes a rehearsed comment waiting for the right trigger.

Well now all this shit has come to a head now. Dave Biedney has left The Paracast. Can't say that I don't blame him. Dave was prickly sometimes, but god damn it the dude knew what he was talking about. Was he always right? Not my place to say. Did I agree with him? Absolutely not, at least not all the time. He told it like it was, for that I respect the man regardless of my own opinions. I feel like his own forums turned on him to a certain degree that however is my own opinion. I will say this much I still listen to The Paracast,,,but it's not the same. I love Gene but I can't help but think the ship is sinking. I hope not, I think The Paracast needs to be around and needs to stay relevant.
Jeff Ritzman,,,another casualty of this field. I use the term loosely here. He just had enough of the shit, and how it consumes your life. He and Dave were great friends and the shit storm between Paratopia and The Paracast caused them a friendship. I think Jeff extended an olive branch out on his departure speech from Paratopia. I hope all is well. I have had the pleasure to talk with Jeff and Jeremy on skype some time ago. Great guys, power house's of knowledge and like myself nothing short of a wealth of "strange shit" in their lives to talk about. A great friendship and bond never happened between us,,,I think there was respect though. I certainly have respect for them. I'm sure they both get their share of copy cats who are looking for a cyber buddy. I know I came out of the gates strong when I heard Jeff's stories. So many of the things I grew up with are identical to what Jeff has talked about. Hell he probably thinks I'm just making shit up. I wish I was. It's all in your presentation and approach I suppose.

Anyway,,, got a little off track. The bottom line is that this phenomenon is out of control, it has taken itself back I think. Maybe things were getting too close for comfort and the trickster if you will shook up the snow globe of anomosity and ran to the hills. I suspect things will have to settle down again and new shit is going to have to move into the light if this is ever to get its legs back. We've all talked about the same shit with just different words for long enough. It's all the same,,, you can lay some taffy, and sprinkles on a turd all you want,,,,it's still a fucking turd!

~A