Have you ever read something by H.P. Lovecraft?

Lovecraft was an urban explorer himself. He liked exploring old houses especially. In his books I've read descriptions of the old places which bring poetry to them I envy (as a writer and explorer myself). Anyone who has explored an old house, especially those who have explored many of them and still love finding yet another, will treasure reading Lovecraft's short stories.

I knew about his books for a very long time but thought they were too gruesome and frightening for me. I think that would have been true while I was still a young woman of high school age. But, now that I am nearing 50 and a seasoned explorer... they seem more like stories I've heard before. This is no fault of H.P. Lovecraft.

His stories were horrifying, terrifying and gruesome enough at the time he wrote them. But, like an old house, we have become weathered to horror, especially when it's in fiction. Lovecraft read horror, modern people see it in movies, which is far different than reading it in print.

The Rain at Night by Darla Darling

I love the rain at night.

The sky is so dark and slick looking. Just a little thunder and lightening. The big storm has passed and now the rain just soaks down from the sky.

I like the raindrops running down your bare skin. You’re so white in some places.

Your hair is plastered to your scalp and you are wet right through now. I bet you’re cold too.

“Pirouette boy!” I call out to you.

Putting your arms over your head you turn a circle around. I can see the mud squishing between your toes.

“On your tippy toes, like a ballerina!”

“Now hop a bit, put a bit of a skip into it!”. I laugh quietly. There is humiliation and then just plain meanness. You won’t like it if I’m laughing at you. But, there isn’t a lot sexy about a naked man hopping in the rain. The rain itself though…. I love the rain at night.

You’re cold, wet and I think your lips look on the blue side of pale. Another minute…. but not more than that.

I pull a hot towel out of the dryer and bring it with me out into the rain. I get a few photographs of the rain, the darkness and your wet skin. This is the turn on for me. Not your suffering, or your humiliation. Those are the things you want. I wanted the sensation of the rain, the sensuality of the drops running down your skin, through your hair and your breath in the night sky.

I’m quick, snap, click and a small adjustment of your pose for a last photo of your wet face up close.

I wrap you in the warm towel and lead you to the sliding glass door and the heat and light of the indoors.

I stay outside, by myself and play in the rain. I photograph the sky, up there far into the darkness. How far can the camera see? How many raindrops will be in the photo, captured in that blink of a lens?  I want to catch the rain on film before it’s all gone.

You come out, all dry and warm now. You’re wearing your rain coat this time and under it I know you will be dressed in your soft flannel workshirt and worn jeans. Your feet are in Wellingtons now, shiny with rain.

I love your smile as you wrap me up in a big hug and the worn, old quilt from our bed.

“Come inside now.” You say. Your voice is soft, almost a whisper for a man. It’s sexy and you’re warm and sexier now too. I don’t mind leaving the rain behind.

Originally posted to Sex Kitten, October, 2014.  Hot Flash Fiction Friday: The Rain at Night

A chilly night, after a tough day and you've been looking forward to time with a good book and a steamy, hot bath. You've got the place to yourself so you can take your time for a good, hot soak. Maybe even a scented candle, one of those aromatherapy candles someone got you last Christmas. Everything is perfect, you're starting to feel better already... You set your shampoo. conditioner, lotions and potions within easy reach and you make sure the big, fluffy towel is right there so you can wrap yourself up later.

It's peaceful, warm and the room is just pleasantly thick with steam from the hot water. You dip in a toe to check the water but, something is there. Something is touching your toe and brushing against your bare foot. Eeeek!

It's the creepy rubber duck!

There it floats, bobbing on the water, smiling with it's weirdly sewn up beak. The odd bubble trailing after it, possibly an air leak or some other gas leaking out of it's rubbery body. The veins in it's head seem to be slightly pulsing, like a mad scientist experiment never fully switched off. It's vacant, black eye holes seem to follow you as you back out of the room.

Where did that thing come from!!! Well, Amazon actually.

I found a selection of creepy rubber duckies. Although these rubber ducks may not like to be called duckies. There are glowing skeleton rubber ducks. There are zombie rubber ducks. For those who want a variety, there are an assortment of Halloween rubber ducks. Or, there's this guy, the black and white rubber duck which mysteriously just appears out of nowhere like a bad ghost you can't get rid of.

Rubber Ducks you Don't Want Haunting your Dreams

Not only are they creepy and scary enough... but they glow in the dark. Possibly radioactive? Ghastly, spooky radioactive rubber ducks for Halloween, or your nightmares...

> It’s official…Canada rocks! And Canada Post has the stamps to prove it! Five-stamp series features Canadian flag, including Biggest Living Flag ever recorded Jan. 14, 2013 WINNIPEG (MB) – Canada

Source: 2013 Canada Stamp Issues | Stamp Bears

The Red Green Show started by comedian Steve Smith with a shoestring-budget, on public television. It was the story of a bunch of men, Canadian misfits centred around the Possum Lodge. Red Green, his nephew Harold, and the guys enjoyed doing what men do when women aren't around.

Keep Your Stick on the Ice - Steve Smith (as Red Green).

International Possum Brotherhood

"Quando Omni Flunkis Moritati." - When All Else Fails Play Dead

Steve Smith

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Steve Smith's television career started with Smith & Smith based in Hamilton, Ontario.

Smith & Smith, was a sketch comedy series starring Steve and his wife, Morag Smith. The episodes were written and produced by Steve Smith. Peter Keleghan, who would later become Ranger Gord, on The Red Green Show was part of Smith & Smith too. Smith & Smith won several awards including the Iris Award at NATPE '85 in San Francisco.

Steve Smith, along with Pat McKenna, won the 1998 Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series. Steve starred in, produced and co-wrote The Red Green Show, with Rick Green.

Rick Green

Rick Green is a Canadian comedian, satirist, writer and science fiction fan. In the 70's Rick Green was a member of the comedy group, The Frantics.

In 1989, Green wrote and hosted TVO’s speculative fiction news magazine series Prisoners of Gravity. He took on the name, Commander Rick for the show.

Rick Green joined Steve Smith to co-create The Red Green Show. He wrote & performed in the show, his character was the bumbling outdoors man, Bill. If there was a bucket Bill would step into it. If there was a rope Bill would get caught in it.

Rick Green co-wrote and illustrated books, DVD’s, CDs and more for the Red Green Show.

"If the women don't find you handsome, they can at least find you handy."

Red Fisher: The Original Red Green

This is just how I remember him when I watched the show as a kid. I can still remember the sound of his voice.

The character of Red Green was loosely based on Bernard Herbert "Red" Fisher (1914 - 2006), an American sporting goods retailer, U.S. naval and Coast Guard officer, newspaper columnist, poet, sportsman and Canadian outdoors television icon from 1968 to 1989 on CTV.

When he moved to Canada in 1963, he launched what would become a popular radio talk show program, The Red Fisher Show which moved to television in 1968. The Red Fisher Show was Red Fisher and his guests talking about their adventures, fishing, hunting and generally trekking through the woods, lakes and streams. It was as much a talk show as an outdoor sportsman’s show. The show's TV set was dubbed "Scuttlebutt Lodge, the Tall Tale Capital of the World"

The shows were shot with an old style 10mm video camera on location in the real, great outdoors. The show also promoted nature conservation, game preservation and the "catch and release" mentality when those were still new ideas to sportsmen. Red Fisher was a devoted conservationist who believed fishing was all about camaraderie and having fun with friends while enjoying the outdoors.

The show featured many famous guests including Members of Canadian Parliament and NHL stars. They were all invited to the Skuttlebutt Lodge. Red Fisher also wrote a weekly column, Outdoor Topics, which was read in over 180 newspapers. In 1971, his first book of poems, 'Poems Of Our Great Outdoors', was published. Red Fisher would give each guest on the show a copy of his book of poetry. Red Fisher published 3 volumes of poetry (two in 1971 and the third in 1981).

Red Fisher died in Chatham, Ontario at the age of 92.