the acting bug

OK I was in the drama club, and loved stage when I was in High School. Left it behind as I grew up and moved to other things. Well this last weekend I was right back on but in front of a camera. Shot a great short that I wrote and helped produce, as well played one of the main parts in the film. Really I forgot how much fun it is to act, something I want to do more of as much as I love directing being in front of the camera was a blast. Look forward to showing all of you this one. As part of my dreams making movies is one of them and this will be my third shoot. Two shorts and a trailer for a full length I have written and want to film. I am also working on two more films, another short and Episode one of Pinkerton's. I have to say one of the funnest things from filming was working with a good friend Tim, and some great cast members who did this for free. Thanks for the fun and look forward to so much more from my production company Bag of Holding production's

This is not about fame and money

I have been in the paranormal for over twenty seven years now. Have been approached nine times for paranormal TV shows, and one show on Big foot. Turned them all down but one My Ghost Story and I did that one more because a good friend asked me to do it. I have never ever done anything for the fame; I have done many of the things I do because I love what I do. It is that simple; as I reach my forty second birthday I am working on the next step in life. One of my hero’s is Glenn Beck, he worked hard to get where he is today. At my age he was still just trying to make a living, now he is the owner of his own broadcasting company, host to a radio show with over eight million listeners each day. An all new way to bring his media to the world; I think of what he did and I am just blown away. I started jsut two years ago Gronter Films, this was going to be me doing something I love Horror films. Shot my first movie with two good friends and well it was not as great as I would of liked it but it was a start, now I move to Bag of Holding Productions. This is my dream one year from now to have my own office, to do nothing but make films not just horror (under Gronter Films) but make movies and series that the whole family can watch. I have never done this for the fame, or the money. If that was the only reason I did I would be there by now. No my reputation and my integrity mean more to me then some check. I see people get into the Paranormal only because they want to be the next Ghost show, or paranormal expert most of them fail with in the first two years. I love what I do, and as I look back it all started with a podcast Residual Haunting live. Now Residual Haunting Revived going into its seventh year has never been about how many listeners we have but how much fun me and two of my closest friends have each week. We have invited to local cons and I am now going to one of the largest geek cons in the world. Not because I have forced my way in but because we have taken what we love and shown our passion for it. We also have never lost the most important thing that many do; we still love it. It has not become a job it is just fun. I started Bag of Holding Productions because I do not want to beholden to anyone but God, my family and myself. I never ever want someone to say “well if we had some nudity in there it would help it sell” Nope not going to happen. If someone came to me today and said we will give you ten million for your script or two million for you to direct it I would take the two in a heartbeat. Don’t ever give up on your dreams, and never sale your soul for fame. To many people walk down that road and later regret it. When asked by some if I could do anything different today or change something I did in the past I tell them nope because the fire I walked through to get here has made me who I am today. Be proud of what you have done, and let your pride show. No matter what enjoy the climb and when you get to the top (nowhere near it myself) you can look down and say because of God, friends and hard work I got here. No one pulled me up but there were many who kept telling you to never stop. So this last week I have seen so many great friends help be kick Bag of Holding Productions off the ground, and I am going to do all I can to never let them down. We have climbed this mountain together and even though I sometimes can see the top through the clouds I am not there yet. Thank you all of you who have supported me, and all I have meet over the years. The best is about to come and look out Glenn someday you will ask me to interview you.

Life change

This time last year I was getting ready to make one of the biggest decisions of my life. I was two days away from a gastric bypass. Scared OH YEAH, I had for the last two weeks been on a limited liquid diet. I had already dropped 48 pounds in the six months before. IT was hard, and there were days I was saying I just don't want to do it. As of today I have lost 220 pounds I went from a 56 inc waste to a 36 inch. I can walk five miles and not pass out. I sleep better, have a bit more energy and love it. So sitting one year after surgery I have to say it was well worth it.

Not green just cheap

SO I have been taking the bus now for a few months to work. Now I am not doing this to save the environment, or to make a stand for global warming. I am doing this because well I am a cheap bastard. To fill my truck up each week cost around sixty bucks, my work pays for a bus pass as part of being an employee so since taking the bus I am saving around two hundred bucks a month just in gas. Now that in it self is a good reason to take the bus, but there are a few extras one I get to take a nap on the way to work and on the way back. I have also done a lot of reading, watched a few movies and have meet some very interesting people. For anyone that is a nice way to get to work and time to get some important things done; hold on there are a few drawbacks, I know shocker. First I ride the express bus from home to downtown, it is always packed and anyone who has gotten on a bus knows there is not a lot of room. Next buses are not built for comfort. I can live with that, its really only a forty minute ride. My big issue with the bus is well lets face it SMELLS! Public buses are never known for having that new car smell. IN fact I think they come with "HOMELESS GUY SMELL" now I am not saying there is anything wrong with homeless people my heart goes out to someone who is down on their luck and having some hard times. Each day I get on these buses and say to myself WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SMELL! Lets look at the cost of what 2.35 per person and over five bucks for the any express you would think just think they could afford a few air fresheners, maybe two or three hundred air fresheners for each bus. I will keep taking the bus because well I am a cheap bastard but maybe just maybe I will spend a few extra bucks a week from what I am saving on gas and buy some air fresheners and hand them out to the bus drivers.

Starting once more

SO I will be honest, I really suck at blogging. Its not that I don't want to do it, I just find something else to do other then blog. So what have I been up to since my last post? Well lets see, I went under the knife almost a year ago and had a gastric bypass. Biggest steep I have ever taken in my life, since then I have lost over two hundred pounds and sixteen inches around my waste. So strange some days to look in the mirror and say hey that is me! I have am starting to do more filming and really trying to start a production company trying to write (as you can see with this blog trying is the word there) doing all I can to be a better husband, dad, and friend. Still talking to myself in the dark looking for ghost, and finding that walking is really not that bad when you are down 200 hundred pounds. Working on a new short winter solstice at the Office, and a full length horror film Slow Drain. So here is to hoping my dreams can come true someday. If you want to know more about my ghost hunting head over to my website http://www.wasatchparanormal.com and once I get my production website up I'll let you all know.

Reflections of the St. James Hotel Cimarron New Mexico

As I pulled up to this tan Adobe hotel in the small town of Cimarron NM I could almost hear the whip and chains of a Stagecoach coming to a stop just up the road. The St. James Hotel (originally called the Lambert Hotel) part of the Santa Fe Trail was a stop of famous names from the Wild West. With Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, Annie Oakley, and Clay Allison, and many others sleeping and well shooting their way into history; I crossed into the lobby wishing I had a colt .44 on my hip. A bobcat and one of the largest Buffalo heads I have ever seen greets you, with furniture that has been a part of the hotel since it opened back in the late eighteen hundreds let me know this was going to be more than just a stay in a hotel.
The feel of this hotel is that of the past, long hallways with rooms and community bathrooms really not much has changed from its heyday boasting as one of the most elegant hotels west of the Mississippi. No Television in your room, and the wireless internet really only works in the lobby. This Hotel really is a place to escaping into the past, and brush the modern world off you like dust at the door. Some of the rooms are just beds, but all made to help you rest. My wife and I stayed in Room twenty three the Waite Phllips Suite, a King size bed with a mattress to die for; a little sitting room off from the bathroom and an old fashion claw foot tub; but each room holds its own little feature to make it unique.
Around every corner not only did I find more to explore but a place to just sit and talk, hang with friends, or just enjoy the peace and quiet. The hotel has two floors each with their own walk tour down history; on the walls are pictures from the hotel, and the town of Cimarron’s past. A long stairway leads to you the second floor, where you can spend time playing cards in the poker room, or sit in the hall next to T.J’s room one of the past owners who was shot only to died three days later from his wounds. His room number eighteen is known by the staff as the most haunted spots in the building, they keep it locked at all times and no one is allowed to rent it out. Many of the staff will take whiskey up to the door and down a shot in honor of his loss. Each room still are open with a key, showing signs of the hotels past, with a Transom Window hand panted with scenes of the Wild West; just adds to the home feel to this hotel. Time has taken its toll on this hotel, but I felt it only added to the charm and love you could feel from its walls.
The Bar and restaurant is just off the lobby, offering food that is an authentic taste of New Mexico. A fire place in the middle of the restaurant, rifles hanging from the wall, its hard wood floors; painting’s hang from the walls of the gunmen from the west. The bar is not just a place to get a beer, but is a full bar, and could be called the town hall, with the mayor, and town Sheriff talking to guest and town members over a beer. Bewared Drunkenness is prohibited but a good time is required by all. Really how could you not in this place where the staff is not just nice but have just as much fun as you. When you eat in the restaurant be ready for real food, not some small portion but steaks that could be a side of beef, chicken full of flavor and plump. All made with the same care and love you feel from all the staff. I look forward to heading back soon, just to relax and enjoy the company of some new friends. When you’re looking for some time away from all the madness going on these days it is worth the trip to relax, enjoy the hospitality, make some new friends, and maybe if you are lucky meet some ghost from the past.

First part of the St. James Chapter

Here is the first paragraph to the first chapter to the St. James Hotel. SO much has happen the first night I think I could write a book just on it. I am so looking forward to one more night at the St. James Hotel and I have to tell you it is so worth the drive. I love this place the history, the energy and well the food is fantastic. I am telling you next time you want to do a road trip head on down to New Mexico and check this place out. I really cant say anything bad about the place other than they serve Pepsi not coke, and we all know how I feel about that. SO here you go the first Paragraph to St. James Hotel

I sat in the hall, recorder in hand watching red flowered wallpaper peal from age, asking one of past owners J.T who supposedly haunts the hotel “Did you play poker with any gunslinger?” as the corner of my eye registers the slightest movement. I was alone on the second floor there was no way I could be seeing what was now walking down this historical hall towards me, a man dressed in chaps, boots, and spurs. I forced myself not to blink for the fear of this moment being missed; a spiritual apparition strolling from history so clear I could see his spurs spin with each steep! I found myself holding my breath and my eyes moving with each of his ghostly steeps. As he passed in front of me I fought the urge to stick out my foot only stopping myself with the knowledge that I may trip him and end up dead at his fast hand and gun I was sure still hung from his hip. Slowly I watched him dissipate as the one light burning down the hall faded into him. My adventures this weekend were sure to be full of excitement. Yes I could think of no where better to begin my paranormal exploration of one of the most historical states in the Wild West New Mexico.