Monday, September 22, 2008

Devil in a blue dress with a fish face

Because we are all adults now with more and more pressures being put on us each day, my group of friends has resorted to desperate measures to enforce regular social activity upon us. This is only after realizing that "we'll see you when we see you!" actually meant, "we'll see you only when I pull out a Dorito whose cheese-powder pattern reminds me of your bone structure".

The first event of what is being called The Adventure Series was, of course, getting pounded by Nature's version of Mike Tyson. The second took place on Friday night, changing the series' title to Let's See Who Can Die of Hypothermia First, as we all met downtown for the Halifax Ghost Walk.

We started up on Citadel Hill, Halifax's old fort to defend our city from zombies and ugly people in the 18th century. This is a fact. Or, if nothing else, a much more interesting twist on an otherwise unremarkable historic fact. I make history sexier. Today, the fortress still stands as one of the most popular parks in Canada and a safe haven for gay hustlers and the old, lonely men who love them ever so much.

I think we all remember when my friend realized what he was worth on an evening run...

So there we were, listening to the first tales of woe and misery. At least I assume that's what we were listening to because I was too distracted by the number of cars driving by at that time of night, each driver no doubt thinking, that's the biggest group of prostitutes I've EVER seen! Plus Nick and I were busy seeing how many different intros to Janet Jackson songs we could beat-box. As it turns out, if you can do one, you can do 'em all.

Oh. And it was cold.

My favourite story was the one about the wedding dress (did you know that the white wedding dress tradition started in Nova Scotia?) that killed the grooms of whoever was getting married in it. Well, it only killed twice but I guess when it comes to a murderous wedding dress, that's more than enough to set a precedent.

It was my favourite mainly because when the story ended in a haunting chill of something along the lines of, and then it sank to the bottom of the sea - its final resting place, Nick blurted out: "It was probably a Vera Wang. That's the only kind of dress that can kill with every sashay".

The tour ended down on a wharf on the waterfront with a story about a man who died mysteriously just hours after claiming to have had the devil appear to him. Now, this isn't East Coast enough for a Halifax Ghost Tour so of course, the devil appeared to him in the form of a Halibut. For those of you who aren't familiar, a halibut is this:
Spooooooooooky...right?

In all fairness, it was a fun night if for no other reason than it brought us all together again, shivering in a cluster in order to retain body heat and to sneak some second base when others weren't paying attention. Plus $10 each for two hours was a pretty good deal.

Event three is coming up on Saturday when we drive out to the country to do the haunted corn maze. I've done the non-haunted corn maze twice before, once breaking in only to get lost for three and a half hours, but that's a story for another time. So I can expect the same but with costumed actors running around like serial killers just to make sure that the corn maze sees more heart attacks than ever before.

Oh. And it'll probably be freezing.

29 comments:

nancypearlwannabe said...

That halibut would definitely be spooky, if it started a rousing rendition of "Who Let The Dogs Out" every time you walked past it.

JL said...

The devil wears sneakers. Halibut doesn't. Not a true story.

But whoa about the wedding dress! That shit's scary, like in a getting married kinda way.

The Dutchess of Kickball said...

Holy crap (or carp) I am totally going to have nightmares about the devil halibut!

Rachel said...

so now I have a little gay crush on Nick.....

Kyla Bea said...

That's amazing - this post has vaulted me forward to the end of next month. These are such fall moments and I want it to be Halloween already!

The regular social activity, especially if it's silly and scary, is an amazing idea!

Marie said...

I finally get it. This is why men don't want to get married. They are afraid of the wedding dress. Makes sense now.

Kez said...

Yay for blogworthy adventures!! Sounds hilarious.
My friend and I once attempted a bunch of adventures...one time we went to see a male strippers revue, then we went to see the female strippers, then we tried some crazy dim sum in a Chinese restaurant...then we kind of gave up. Glad to see you're persisting...and yes, now you think I'm weird.

Lyla Lou said...

Bwahahaha. Fish. Very scary.

Side note...your word verification is asking me to type the word vvadge. Seriously.

Matt said...

Making history sexy is a nobel feat.

and halibut are delicious...

and...

Thats all I got right now

Kristen said...

I love what Nick said about the wedding dress!

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Brilliant.

Oooo and I love ghost-y things too.

Áine Caitríona said...

I forced a friend of mine to do the Ghost Walk last year and yes, it was cold as old shite. Well, not really, but you know. My favourite part was the profile in the window of that church at Grand Parade. Gives me the heebie-jeebies every time I walk by it...

Paula said...

Man, is this the kinda thing it takes to get you to go out??? All someone needs to do is invite me out for a drink and I'd be at the bar in a heartbeat!

Ben said...

Nancypearlwannabe: Fish kinda scare me to begin with. No one-hit-wonders necessary.

JL: I think it's a very real warning against commitment.

Dutchess: Aahahaha pun! Nicely done.

Rachel: Don't we all? He's far more dazzling than I'll ever be.

Kyla: I'm so with you. Fall makes me want to be outdoors nonstop. Even more than summer.

Marie: You got it! This one, first wedding dress ruined it for everybody.

Kez: Hahaha I have to DO things in order to have blog material. So sad for me :)

Lyla: Ahahahahahaha my word verification is so me.

Matt: Blech. Fish. Blech. History.

Kristen: He's all quotables, all the time. I will bring more of him to the blog.

Aine: See, I'm more creeped out by the black window on Jubilee...

Paula: I know...but I live in the 'burbs now. Getting out for drinks without pricey cabs is difficult. And I am growing to be increasingly lame.

Laurel said...

Hey Ben,

The ladies and I did the Citadel Hill ghost tour a couple years ago. FANTASTIC -- the best $10 I have spent in the city.

I stumbled across this website the other day. Cool to see Halifax has some ghosts with unfinished business. I think the halibut story is on this page as well.

Check it out!

http://www.grimundertakings.ca/

Heather Rose said...

History(sexy or no)+Demon-Posessed Halibut(so not sexy)=strangely intriguing post.

Áine Caitríona said...

OK, I've looked for that window and can't find it. Either I'm blind, it doesn't exist OR my own soul is so black that it looks normal to me.

Word Perv said...

My sister wore the same dress her best friend wore for her own wedding. They have since both divorced and they burned the dress in a very elaborate ceremony. Can't say I blame them...

stoogepie said...

I was afraid of wedding dresses and halibuts (especially the demon-possessed kind) long before reading your post but now you have confirmed all my suspicions, my friend. I owe you one.

catherinette said...

Perhaps the freezing cold weather will scare away the scary ghosts. Then again, maybe not...

Carolyne said...

That definetly made history a little more interesting.
So, in your expert ghost tour experience, would you recommend going on one? I was thinking of doing it with Kyle and some friends, but I clearly want your opinion first. Especially because if you thought sucked, then he would never want to go. Such a follower.

PS - love Nick's Vera Wang comment!

Kate said...

Gay Boyfriend is always making me do these sorts of things. Phht. I'd rather just go to the gay bar.

c.watson said...

Halibuts are the evil fish of the sea, everyone knows that. And every city should have a place to fight off the undead, that's just good city planning.

Narm said...

Hell yes for Monday Zombie references. Thank you for protecting us from the grips of the undead. And halibut. And zombie halibut.

Andy said...

Be sure not to wear the murdering wedding dress on your wedding.

Or even better, just wear a tuxedo that'll make everyone jealous of Newf.

Megkathleen said...

I hope "I make history sexy" is featured on your business card - it is quite impressive.

Angela said...

I love Halloween and everything spooky about it! Ghost tours are absolutely awesome. I did a ghost walk in San Francisco and it. was. a. blast. I'm sure I would have had fun at this one, too, even though I'm pretty sure that a halibut is NOT the devil in disguise.

Alexa said...

can you get drunk while going through the haunted corn maze? perhaps you can drink hot toddy's? those you keep you warm and happy!

leighfellows said...

ok... so i was going to invite myself to the corn-maze excursion... but now that i think about it, i REALLY don't think i want to scream my lungs out that badly :S
yikes.
PS. tell Nick that i heart him, and that Vera Wang's ARE that deadly.

Ben said...

Laurel: It was fun, wasn't it?? Halifax history is seriously cool when sexied up with ghosts :)

Heather: Here I am, pushing the boundaries of blogging!

Aine: Hahaha the house is hard to pick out but once you find it, it sticks with you.

WordPerv: That must've been a smashing moment for them. Like something right out of the movies...

Stoogepie: I'm here for you, buddy!

Carolyne: It was very nice for something different. I mean, you can spend $20 on the movies or you can do the ghost tour for a change. I recommend it!

Kate: Haha not our gay bar...it's seedy and has syringes in the toilets.

C.Watson: I'm glad you agree! Should I get you in touch with a local realtor now or later?

Narm: DEVIL halibut. God...a halibut could never be a ZOMBIE. How silly of you.

Andy: I'd rather my loved ones be jealous than dead, anyway.

Megkathleen: I'm thinking about starting up my own training program for people interested in the profession.

Angela: That's exactly what the devil WANTS you to think.

Alexa: I was thinking about it but I think I'll be delirious enough with all the children running about.

Leigh: Definitely come if you want to! It's on Saturday night. I'll call you with details.