1 | Cathy C. Hall Writes

The Beneficent Mr. Hall will say that I am a sucker for any weird and mysterious unexplained story that comes along. But honestly, that pretty much explains why I married the Beneficent Mr. Hall.

Anyway, when I stumbled onto the Before Its News website (The Muffin has been syndicated there!) and found an entire section devoted to the unexplained…well, I was in UFO, aliens, ghosts, frog marriages (Yes, frog marriages) heaven.

Just today, Friday the 13th, there were three UFO stories. Three! It really makes you wonder why we’re not falling all over UFO’s–or why one of the Junior Halls hasn’t brought an alien home for dinner yet. (I mean, as a guest. Not the main course.)

Of course, there was the obligatory Friday the 13th “get your freak on” story.

And it goes without saying that I had to read about Marilyn Monroe’s ghost caught on film.

Come on. It was the ghost of Marilyn Monroe. On film. (Okay, I’m just going to go on record to say that I don’t think that it’s Marilyn. It could be a curtain. Or a sheet. Or someone waving a curtain or sheet in front of a fan in front of a mirror. Seriously, people, I’ve seen 5th grade science fair projects with better photography than this image.)

So I suppose what I’m saying is that this might not be the most factual news source on the Internets. But you know, it is fun.

P.S. I’d also like to clear up any confusion re: The Muffin. We’re not in the Unexplained category. We’re in the la-ti-da Books section, thank you very much.

I am a serious scribbler. I mean, I am always jotting a note here and a note there. I have the most interesting notes ever. If I could figure out what my notes are about. Take this one:

67 X 0552 CVS-Socks

That is an actual note I just found on my desk. I have NO idea why those numbers are important. I kinda think I may have needed to pick up socks at CVS. But I have no idea why that note would be with my Important Writing Stuff. Was there a story in socks at CVS? Was that number the code to a website unlocking the secrets of the writing universe? I shall never know.

Last week, I came across a note where I had jotted down details from a story my friend told me. My friend (Mr. Bill) really, seriously has the most interesting stories. He thinks differently, sees the world differently. And so I’m always stopping him, saying, “Wait. You did what?” And then I write down what he did. Someday, that man’s stories are going to make me millions.

But only if I can remember what “lunch, Macon, bbq” was all about.

And so, while I stare at the 16 notes in front of me, and ponder this gem, “Blogs higher in search engines…others blah-blah-blah,” I hope you will take note of my point.