A Freaky Halloween

 A Harrowing Halloween Night by Mel Dawn

“Trick or treating is for kids,” said my best friend, Tony.

“That’s me,” I replied. “Besides, we get free candy. And it’s fun.”

“Well, I’ll go with you, but I’m not dressing up. And I’m not going to the doors.” 

My teen friend was a jerk sometimes but I just ran with it.

This year I was going as a witch. Kind of a boring Halloween costume, but on the other hand, I enjoyed doing traditional Halloween rather than being a princess or super hero.

“Let’s go!” he said, heading to the door.

I just shook my head. For someone not inspired by Halloween, he was eager to head out.

We headed out, near the end of the kids’ trick or treating time. This was the time that the young adults headed out for fun, before they went to their parties.

I felt kind of silly standing at strangers’ doors, asking for candy. It was just like being a kid!

I’d done the last house on the block and walked back to where Tony was standing, eating some of the candy I had collected.

And that’s when I heard screaming from the middle of the road.

We turned and watched as a group of people dressed up as werewolves chased after some random humans. But then they were tripped and fell to the ground. The zombies soon swooped in and started chowing down.

“We need to get out of here,” said my friend.

We ran down the street, past a vampire drinking the blood of a princess, except she seemed to be enjoying it.

“It’s as if people are being changed into their costume characters,” I called out to him.

“You’re right,” he said. “I’m glad I don’t go for that costume nonsense. I knew that nothing good would ever come of it.”

We hid behind some bushes and watched the chaos on the street.

A dragon breathed real fire. It ran down the street, setting every car on fire. At least not people.

We saw a little girl run around meowing like a cat. It sure sounded real.

Super heroes were running around, trying to help. 

It wasn’t long before the streets cleared of normal humans. The smart ones had headed indoors. The ones who had been wearing costumes were now unwillingly acting out their roles.

There was a snake rolling down the street. A man was trying to fight it off. 

A small fairy was floating through the air, causing mischief. It giggled as some pumpkins barrelled through the bushes where the teenagers were hiding.

“I think we need to go home,” I said.

Tony laughed. “Aww, but this is the most fun I’ve ever had.”

But we never made it back home. It was a mess outside. As if nothing could get worse than that quarantine we’d had, or that crazy election, or all those forest fires. And then no power or utilities for months. 

I felt bad for the kids. All they wanted was to finally get out and have some fun this month.

“At least it’s our common creatures. It’s a fair fight,” I said to Tony, as we had moved ten feet and huddled behind a laurel bush.

“I hear sirens, so help is coming.”

And then we saw it. It was coming down the street. What could possibly be the worst thing from horror movies?

This creature was ten feet tall and from any of several science fiction movies. It was black all over and had ten arms and legs. It hissed at a bird in a tree, opening its mouth wide. And inside its mouth was another mouth, that opened wide and displayed some extremely sharp teeth. 

Venom dripped out of its mouth. It trickled down to the ground. 

The ground sizzled, and a big hole opened up.

“What did you say again?” Tony said to me.

“What can we do?” I whispered to him.

“We need to just get out of here, go home. Let the cops handle it,” he whispered back.

We crawled past the bushes and over to the next house. 

I cautiously peered out. The alien was walking in the opposite direction to us. But then, a big gap in its backside opened up. Suddenly, about ten more little aliens dropped down to the ground. They scattered every which way,

I heard screaming as they gobbled up their victims.

And then there was rustling coming from under the bushes.

One of the creatures ran out.

I held my magic wand in my hand. Somehow I felt that hitting it would not do much.

But I tried away. “From creature to cat,” I proclaimed in a smug voice. Might as well try a magic spell while I was here.

And the alien baby turned immediately into a cat.

“Wow!” said Tony. “Can you restore things back to normal?”

I stood up and walked confidently out into the middle of the street.

“Every creature, be restored back to human!” I commanded. “Every dead human, come back to life.”

And then a bright neon green flash flew through the air.

What was chaos got restored back to normal.

Tony came out, amazed. “Super!”

I laughed. “Let’s go home. The police will be here soon, but I have no intention of talking to them.”

“Yah, don’t want to be questioned. I’m getting kind of tired. And my stomach is upset from eating all that candy.”

The streets were a mess as we carefully walked down the sidewalk. The former vampire was tending to his girlfriend, stopping the blood from oozing, while they waited for the ambulance. 

The former fairy lay in the street, her leg broken.

The former dragon was using a fire extinguisher, trying to put out the flames of their own car.

I nodded. Things were going back to normal.

Well, except for the zombies. There were still zombies. The people who had been killed or eaten by the creatures. I guess my magic could only go so far.

The End.

Our Adventure – Ingonish Beach, Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

A Fictional Short Story by Mel Dawn 

Last March we had to put ourselves into lockdown which can be stressful when you’re dealing with an irate spouse. Now it’s months later and we knew we had to give up our summer trip to the USA. But where to go? It had to be somewhere within driving distance from Ontario. Neither me nor my husband have ever been to Nova Scotia. But where? We wanted to avoid hoards of tourists. We finally settled on Ingonish, Cape Breton at the northern end of Nova Scotia. 

Often when you travel you must make sacrifices in comfort and in activities, particularly when you’re on a tight budget. Our car is small though, so we could only fit a few pieces of luggage and a cooler in the back. 

Ingonish is a harbour on the northeast part of Cape Breton Island. Before we even reached our hotel we got distracted by a ton of activities. We would definitely not be bored here.

But after driving several hours, both me and my husband were grumpy. That’s what happens when you get older. You just can’t tolerate things as well as you did when you were younger. You get tired more easily, and muscles start to ache. 

Nova Scotia is definitely unique. Coming from Ontario, we do have plenty of lakes, but aren’t close to the sea where you can smell the salt air. Nova Scotia also feels more like a community where people can slow down. People actually chat to strangers on the street, though wearing their masks of course.

Really, I wouldn’t have been able to think of a better vacation spot, unless we’d been able to get away to Portland, Maine this year, but we couldn’t. 

We were both exhausted, so decided to check into our accommodation first. I had expected some rundown motel where we’d have to bring our own towels and soap, but was pleasantly surprised.

And if you tire of hanging out in your room, there’s a spa where you can get the best services, and also a golf course where you can get fresh air and exercise at the same time.

Since we were here for a week, we didn’t try to rush around and do all the things in one day. After all, the point of a vacation is to relax and enjoy yourself. Surprisingly, my husband even agreed!

We spent the rest of the day wandering around. There were some wonderful views of the sea from here. 

Usually you stay at a motel and get stressed out, but the sheets and pillows were comfy, and our room was quiet so we got plenty of sleep.

By the end of the week we actually decided to stay a few more days. After all, it wasn’t like there was anything pressing back at home. It was great to actually spend some time with my husband, without all those stressors of life in the way. By the time we returned home we felt like newlyweds once again!

Review of Scripted.com – Caveat Emptor Says Scripted Client

I used to be a freelance writer for Scripted.com for nearly two years. Back then, I posted a review on my blog about Scripted; somewhat favorable, with a few pitfalls. I’ve written over 200 articles for their clients, mostly in the travel and software categories. Several years ago I was at the EMP Christmas party in Seattle, and imagine my surprise, when I ran into one of my Scripted clients! Peter is a software company marketer who has ordered over 100 articles in the past year on Scripted. 

Unfortunately, his experience with Scripted was worse than mine. He only agreed to provide his first name, Peter, and the fact that he works for an accounting software provider. He said until the account was settled, he didn’t want to go public. We discussed our experiences with Scripted. 

It began at the Museum party. We were complimenting each other on our geeky Doctor Who costumes, when he asked me what I did for a living. I told him that I wrote for about 20 different content mills, as well as having an assortment of private clients. When I told him that I wrote software articles, his ears perked up. He asked if I’d be interested in writing privately, as he’d signed up for a content mill last year, and it had been a big disaster. 

I asked if it had been Scripted.com and he said it had been. We both compared experiences and discovered we each had a negative experience – me from the point of the freelance writer – him from the point of the client seeking content for a company blog. 

He asked for my story first. I told him I’d originally started out in the travel category, until a Scripted editor had repeatedly emailed me asking to apply for the software category, as there were a lack of writers on that end. I was hesitant to do it, as I do not possess an English degree, but only two college certificates in writing, and one in IT. After a while, it was clear they wished to work with me, so I signed up. I received the majority of my work through the software category at Scripted.com. The clients loved my pitches, and my articles. My work would come back from the editor with a minimum of edits, which told me I was on the right track. Imagine my surprise when my queue suddenly dried up, yet other writers told me there was plenty there. I had a rating of 96/100. One of the editors told me that 96 meant that my writing wasn’t good enough to continue receiving the specialty topics. 

“How ridiculous,” Peter told me. “You’re a great writer! I never saw any errors on your work.”

What’s worse was that they never paid me for the 17 articles that were complete, but awaiting review. According to their terms, if an article was rejected, they’d still pay you 50%. I continued to work on other articles, and I repeatedly tried emailing support to get payment for the $1200 they owed me. I contacted the BBB and the IRS. 

This was after two years of supposedly being such a great writer, and after one year, when they asked me to apply for the software category. Not once did I ever have an email or note from with feedback. Why was my Specialty writing so good for six months, then at another moment not good enough? Not once did I ever receive any feedback on my writing, nor any word that they’d changed the ratings system. Also note that I do not possess an English degree. We’re talking about working for seven or eight hours on an article that paid $40 to $80 at most. It was slavery wages at best. I sincerely doubted anyone with an English degree would even write for that low.

“How ridiculous! Here I am paying for my great articles, while you're being bullied. What a scam!” said the software client.

I agreed. What kind of fly-by-night operation is Scripted.com anyway? 

“What kinds of articles did you write, that ultimately ended up being rejected, and you were’t paid for?” he asked me.

I told him how I had written software articles. Ten best accounting software packages. How to find the best software for your small business. A favorable review of the latest cloud accounting software.

“Those were my articles! And I never rejected them! I paid for them!” After a moment of excitement, we realized what a small world it was! After I finished my end of the story, he gave me his.

“Originally we needed about 100 articles for our accounting software blog. The owner of the business gave me the budget. We’d heard about Scripted before. Some comments were favorable, some were not. For some reason he seemed hesitant in placing a note on the blog searching for writers. I signed the contract with Scripted and we were on our way. The first 20-ish articles went well. They were delivered in a timely manner. Any revisions were done within a week. I favourited a writer called “Mel”, who I now realize was you. But for some reason, you suddenly disappeared. They told me you were not available. The other writers were terrible. I gathered you had simply moved on. I started rejecting the articles the new writers wrote. Eventually, I asked for a refund for the unused portion of our account, but Scripted refused. As of now, we’re in limbo, and likely will have to write off $5000 worth of funds for articles never delivered. That’s a lot of cash when you’re a small business.”

I told him it didn’t make much sense to me either, particularly since all my clients had loved my work. 

“So, I never received my remaining articles, due to an assortment of issues. No one was grabbing them from the queue. I accepted some of the pitches, and then never heard anything back again. The articles I did receive were poorly written. I was frustrated that I couldn’t work with only Mel, who was a great writer. Instead, I was being directed towards terrible writers. Scripted took all of our money at the beginning, and never delivered what they promised.”

Essentially, Scripted took the client’s money, and did not deliver the last set of articles that he had been promised. Not only that, but they took off with the money, and never paid the writer, who was me.

“It was a terrible experience. Normally we worked through email, but soon they stopped answering my emails. I had to resort to calling the company. Several expensive phone calls later, we decided to write it off,” concluded Peter.

We drowned our sorrows in drink after that.

The January after that, Peter contacted me via email. He asked if I could provide him with a list of articles that I written for him. I sent it off. We both sorted through the list and figured out which ones he had never seen before, and which ones he had seen, but that I had never been paid for. 

I told him I was willing to give them to him, but he wouldn’t agree. He sent me payment, for which I was grateful.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he told me. “I can’t believe they treat their writers like slaves. I’d never have dealt with a content mill if I’d known they treat their writers with insensitivity, abruptness, and as slaves.”

I told him it wasn’t his fault, and that the majority of companies I worked with were great. Both of us are still waiting for promises from Scripted.com that have never been delivered. Caveat Emptor. Buyer Beware. Cave Vendit. Seller Beware. 

Disclaimer: This happened to me over a decade ago now. But the rules are still the same: Be extremely careful before signing up for an online content mill, and be wary when giving any sort of personal or financial information!

3 Ways Your Cat Can Kill You

by Mel Dawn

By now everyone has watched Tiger King and has discovered that humans can be even more deadly than tigers. Everyone loves cats with their charming expressions, soft fur and playful antics, but did you know that your sweet domestic cat can kill you too? 

Cats have descended from a long line of ferocious wild cats. Here are just a few ways they can kill you.

1. You can die from cat scratch fever, also known as Bartonella henselae bacteria. Cat's claws contain a wide variety of bacteria. When you get scratched by a cat, the cut swells up. This is your body trying to fight off the infection. Normally, the cells do what they are supposed to and your cat scratch is healed up in a day or two. But sometimes more dangerous bacteria have been harboured by our cat's claws and the next thing you know, you are suffering from blood poisoning. Generally a trip to the doctor for antibiotics will clear this one up. Other than that, your immune system will fight off most types of bacteria that live on your cat's claws. 

2. About 3/4 of the world's population is already infected with toxoplasmosis. This bacteria lives harmlessly within cats and is found in their feces. Us human slaves clean cat's litter boxes. It can also be acquired from cat butts. If we humans do not wash our hands we can pass it into our bodies. Toxo can take up residence in our brains. Most of the time it maintains a happy balance in our bodies and nothing happens. Other times it can turn us into crazy cat loving old lady freaks. At its worst, our brains turn to mush and we go completely crazy and die. (Just kidding, LOL!) Toxoplasmosis is really only dangerous to people with compromised immune systems, and even then it's common enough that most people have built up immuity against it. 

3. The third way our cats can kill us is if they die first. Leaving us tortured humans behind, pining for our furry beloved. We get so lonely, that we can't handle it any more. Can life continue? Can we continue on without our beloved? I'm sure every cat owner has thought of this after Fluffy or Whitey has died. It can certainly be difficult to live on without our beloved furry beasts. The best solution for that is to adopt a cat from a rescue cat organization!

Disclaimer: This article is mainly written for humour and not to be taken seriously. But if you are concerned about the health of you or your cat, seek the advice of a doctor or veterinarian. 

A Guide to How a Dog's Comfort Affects Sleep & Behaviour & How to Fix Dog Insomnia & Irritability

By Mel Dawn, Author of Just One More Purr 

Click Here to Buy Book

The Impact of a Good Night’s Sleep Among Dogs

Every creature on the planet requires a good night’s sleep to recharge and feel happy and alert for the day ahead. While we seem to focus a lot on our own sleep needs, often we forget that our dogs need a good night’s sleep also. Has your dog ever woken irritable and on edge? Have they barked a lot during the day, chewed on things they shouldn’t have, and generally been a nuisance? In a way they’re like young children who didn’t have a good night’s rest. Dog sleep is just as important for them too. 

Not only does a dog suffer when they don’t sleep well, but their human owner does too. This can frustrate and annoy the pet owner and make them wonder why their dog is behaving badly throughout the day. And unfortunately, many pet owners abandon their pets instead of trying to find a solution like they would if their own human children weren’t sleeping well at night. 

You may think you’re doing your best to help your dog sleep at night. But are you really? Have you placed big dog beds in a quiet spot in your home? If you have more than one dog, each should have their own bed. Yes, they may decide to sleep with the cat, but it’ll be because they want to. 

A dog really needs a quality memory foam dog bed, or if you have a smaller breed, a memory foam dog sofa for the living room. These types of beds support their bodies, as well as keeping their spinal columns in alignment. A dog’s spinal column is just like a human’s. If it ever goes out of alignment, it’s a costly visit to a chiropractor to get it fixed, as well as pain medications. It’s best to prevent this condition from happening in the first place. 

Buying a high-quality memory foam dog bed today means that money can be saved in the future. A dog who sleeps well is a healthier dog. It’s just like when humans don’t sleep well, eventually it leads to health conditions and expensive medications. They might even lose their jobs at work, or have their relationships affected by people who don’t understand.

So, why not ensure your dog gets a good night’s sleep by buying them a good doggy bed!

What Are Typical Dog Sleeping Habits?

In order to find the best dog beds for your family you’ll need to have a good understanding of your dog’s sleeping habits. For example, a large dog that rolls around a lot will need a larger dog bed, while a smaller dog would be happy with a dog’s couch. Let’s learn a bit more about choosing the best dog beds for large dogs and smaller breeds too. 

You’ll need to observe your dog over the next several nights. What kinds of sleeping positions do they have? They may sleep on their right side or their left side. Some dogs like to sleep all curled up in a ball, much like a cat does when they sleep. Some dogs like to sleep all sprawled out on their tummies, while others sleep on their back with paws in the air. If your dog sleeps with you in the bed, do they sleep on the end? Or perhaps they like to snuggle right up to you in spoon position?

When you observe these patterns, see if there is a reason for them. For instance, a dog with an old dog bed too small for them may sleep curled up. A larger dog may favor one side because he doesn’t like the tough hard exterior shell of a dog bed. A bed may be too hard so a dog may sleep on their tummy.

You’ll also need to observe their behavior regarding their dog beds and their dog sleep. Does your dog sniff their bed and then go and sleep somewhere else? It may be stinky!

Did you know they have waterproof dog beds? You can place a clean dog blanket on top, then remove and wash once a week. As dogs age they may experience small accidents. In order to keep your home smelling fresh, you can easily wash their blankets and not have to worry that urine smells will permeate your waterproof dog bed.

If your dog paws their bed or circles it several times, it may be time for a new dog bed. It may not be soft enough for them. 

If your dog has a really good sleep in their bed, they may have the right one. But if they seem to continually wake, this is a sign that not only is the dog bed in a busy part of your home, but that perhaps they need something a bit more comfy.

Why We Need to Focus On Dog Sleep Importance

We’re always worried about our own sleep but we forget that our beloved pets also need to sleep well too. While cats naturally sleep 16 hours a day anywhere, dogs have certain needs that must be met. Dogs can suffer from poor sleep, just like humans can. And it’s not simple to tell a sleep-deprived dog to stop chewing your slippers, stop barking all day long, or to not pee on the floor. They are simply acting out because they’re not feeling 100%. So, how do we ensure that a dog has a good night’s sleep?

It can seem simple to let a dog sleep on your bed at night. But they’ll only get as good a sleep as you do. If you tossed and turned all night, chances are your dog will too. The best solution is a large pet bed. 

If your dog sleeps well at night then you will too! And you’ll both be able to live happily together. Your dog will adapt to your schedule, so they’ll be ready for a walk once you get up in the morning, and ready to go to bed at night when you do too. 

A pet bed should be placed in a quiet spot away from the busy traffic of your home. Dogs don’t need to have their own rooms – after all they love to be with their humans – but one of the best dog beds can be placed against the wall where no one will trip over it in the night should they get up to use the bathroom. 

If your pooch is one of the smaller breeds, a dog pillow will be just right. Otherwise, a luxury pet bed will help them to sleep at night. You may be surprised to hear that some of the best are memory foam pet beds, after all, memory foam is great for the human spinal cord too!

With a soft comfortable pet bed that supports your dog’s body your dog will be able to have a good night’s rest. And nothing is better than having a happy and healthy dog so you can make the most of your days together. 

How a Dog Sofa More Than Complements Your Living Room Decor

The first thing you may think when purchasing a dog couch is whether it complements your living room decor, but your first consideration should really be your dog. If you have an elderly dog, you may need a special old dog sofa for them. After all, when your dog is happy then you will be too!

Have you ever bought something for your cat, only for them to turn their noses up at it? So, back to the store it went. The same goes for dogs.  When you buy them a good dog’s sofa, you want it to be soft and comfortable, but also to be supportive of their body frame.

The best dog sofa will give your pooch a comfortable sleep, during night or day. They’ll wake up refreshed and ready for a new day with you. They shouldn’t be waking up with aches and pains, so why would you make them sleep on an old blanket or that cat bed the cat no longer wants? 

Just imagine the look on your dog’s face when you open up that box. It’s a large dog sofa for them! They’ll be so excited to try it. Don’t be surprised if at first they seem to be sleeping a bit longer in it. They’re just trying to catch up on their rest.

So, besides the best dog sofa, what should you look for in a dog couch? For one, ensure it’s the right size for them. Not only do you want to choose based on width and length, but also depth. A lighter dog doesn’t need as much depth as a heavier dog. A bigger dog breed needs greater thickness so it doesn’t feel like they are sleeping on the hard floor.

Most of the dog sofas on our site come in colours to complement any type of decor. A dog sofa will fit well with your living room suite, like it’s a part of your room. And your dog will love how they can hang out with the family while they take a well-deserved rest from being a dog all day long. 

How to Choose the Best Orthopedic Dog Bed for Adult Dogs

If you’re ready to toss out your dog’s old blanket or doggy bed, now is the time to find the best dog bed to help your dog get a good’s night rest. As dogs age they can have trouble getting to sleep, just as humans also suffer from insomnia. Whether you have an adult dog, older dog, or special needs dog, they need a comfortable dog mattress that supports and comforts their body. Your dog may be a small, medium, or large dog breed but they can benefit from an orthopedic dog bed. 

You may never have heard of orthopedic dog beds before. But they are much better than simply allowing your dog to sleep on the floor. After all, they suffer from sore joints and muscles just like we do. And they are members of our family. So, good orthopedic pet beds are a necessary luxury for them. Besides, you’ll save on vet bills in the longterm, just like when you feed them a healthy diet!

The orthopedic pet mattress is gaining in popularity. Most pet owners want their dogs to be happy and comfortable when sleeping, with as few disturbances as possible. While some owners allow their pets to sleep on their bed at night, a dog may wake you up, or you may wake them up. Then, no one gets a good night’s rest. 

But if your dog has a good orthopedic pet mattress, you can tuck it into a corner of the room where they can have a good sleep.

If you’re wondering how to choose the best orthopedic pet bed mattress, or orthopedic pet sofa, it’s important to choose one that fits your dog’s breed size: small, medium, or large. Too small and your dog may ditch it for the floor. Too big and your dog may not feel secure. 

Measure your dog at rest to have an idea of which orthopedic dog bed to order. Then check the dog bed measurements. 

Some pet owners also like to coordinate a pet’s bed with their room decor, but this should be second to finding the right size for your pup.

When your dog has their comfortable orthopedic dog bed they may never leave it again! You may be a bit jealous of their memory foam pet bed and want to get one too!