Monday, October 12, 2009

Elvis's Hair Up For Auction... Perhaps he'll be a diamond someday.

I'm going to be a diamond someday!

A Chicago auction house is putting a clump of what it claims is Elvis Presley's hair up for auction on October 18th. The auction listing for the hair from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers can be found here.

John Reznikoff of University Archives, a leading expert in celebrity hair authentication, says the sample “appears to match the hair in my collection [from the same Army haircut] in coarseness and color. This is more than likely a genuine lock of Elvis’ hair short of a DNA test (often inconclusive) proving otherwise.” The only comparable amount at public auction was sold in 2002 for $115,000. Celebrity hair collecting has exploded into a multimillion dollar industry.

The hair is just one of many highlights of the Gary Pepper Collection of Elvis Presley Memorabilia. Early in his career, Presley befriended Gary Pepper, a young man with cerebral palsy, who ultimately became a close friend and the president of one of the King's first fan clubs, allowing him to amass a significant collection of personal effects gifted to him from Presley himself. Untouched for over three decades, this special collection will be offered for sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Sunday, October 18th, 2009 with a public exhibition October 15th through 17th. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South.


Celebrity hair has been used to make diamonds in the past. Check out Life Gem. It's actually pretty interesting how they do it.You can see a diamond created from Beethoven's hair here.  And, it's rumoured that there will be some Michael Jackson Diamonds created in the near future ....

The Elvis hair clump with be auctioned with other Elvis memorabilia on Sunday, October 18th.



For more information, please contact Mary Williams at 312.280.1212 or by email at marywilliams@lesliehindman.com

Other

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Handcrafted Memorials ... You'll Be Outstanding in the Field : )



I came across Leyda, Burrus and Metz Monument Company in Burlington, Iowa's page and was "WOWED". The company was formed in 1892, making it one of the oldest monument companies in the Midwest. Ron Dixon is highlighted on the site and his work is fabulous.

If you want your life "etched in stone" he's the guy : )

Check out some of his work. I've put a few pictures up to show you!
P.S. You can have him start working on your masterpiece while you are still breathing : )

Monday, August 17, 2009

Widow selling husband's tomb above Marilyn Monroe

It's kind of sad .... that we have come to this. One person's misfortune is another person's fortune ...

An American widow is selling her husband's burial spot directly above film legend Marilyn Monroe so that she can pay off her mortgage.

Elsie Poncher has put an advertisement on eBay to auction off the tomb in Westwood Village Memorial Park, Los Angeles.

"Here is a once in a lifetime and into eternity opportunity to spend your eternal days directly above Marilyn Monroe," says the advertisement."

"In fact the person occupying the address right now is looking face down on her."

The burial plot is currently occupied by the late Richard Poncher, described by his widow as an entrepreneur who bought two tombs from baseball player Joe DiMaggio, Monroe's ex-husband, as the pair were divorcing in 1954.

Monroe died at the age of 36 in 1962. Poncher died at the age of 81 in 1986.

Elsie Poncher said she would move her husband's remains over one spot into a crypt intended as her final resting place if the sale is successful, and she would be cremated instead when the time comes.

Bidding for the plot opened at $500,000 and had reached $2.5 million by Sunday. No one from eBay was immediately available to comment on the bidding process or to give more details.

Poncher told the Los Angeles Times that she hoped to raise enough money to pay off the $1.6 million mortgage on her Beverly Hills home.

"I can't be more honest than that," she told the newspaper. "I want to leave it free and clear for my kids."

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Miral Fahmy)

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Michael Jackson's Ghost on Larry King????

Wow , can you believe Michael Jackson’s ghost made an appearance on Larry King over the weekend?! Yeah neither can I.

Check out this video from a CNN special about Neverland Ranch. As the camera looks down the hall you can see a flicker of “something” towards the end. Is this Michael Jackson?

You decide.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

And for All You Buffy Fans ... Courtesy of Suicide Blonde


Source: Suicide Blonde (Great Photos)

The Book of Threes ... A Fabulous Blog!!!!!



I came across this site courtesy of the Washington Post article on the concept that death's, birth's, weddings, etc. always happen in three's. This was bought to light with the death of McMahon, Fawcett and Jaackson. (or course since them, there has been Muldan, McNair .... (and I'm sure someone else)). Do you count the three's in order of their importance or the higher their celebrity? How do you count the three's? There's a great article and lots of posts on three's in life, how do you count the three's, etc.

The whole site is on "The Rule of Three" ...... read it ... you'll love it!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Farrah Fawcett Dies at Age 62

Best known for her gorgeous flowing hair and smile and that great red swimsuit; and stint as one of Charlie's Angels, Farrah Fawcett has died at the young age of 62.

  • "After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," Fawcett's longtime companion Ryan O'Neal said via a statement. "Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world."

The news is already filled with stories, accolades and rumors about her, so here is a light video of Farrah with Joe Namath back in the old day!

News Links for more info:

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I SEA DEAD PEOPLE ... Wonderful Resting Placing

Okay, this may seem a little quirky or strange, but I am so enamoured at this idea, I have to share. Check out The Neptune Memorial Reef ; which is an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional funeral and cemetery burial that we have all come to know so well.

This resting place is under water where there is still life ... so it can make death more of a celebration of life. Think about it, it is life after life. You are giving after leaving this earthly plane. There are currently over 100 souls there now. This reef not only provides an extraordinary eternal resting place for the departed, but it was constructed to regenerate life in the ocean. If you are a beach lover you can appreciate the fact that we take a lot from our environment while we live. Here's an opportunity to give something back.

The reef is located 3.25 miles east of Key Biscayne in Miami, FL - GPS coordinates N25ยบ 42.036', W80ยบ 05.409' - the Reef is the largest man-made reef ever conceived. Over 16 acres of barren ocean floor is being transformed. The first phase is a classical recreation of the Lost City, 40 feet under the sea. The natural surroundings in which the structures were placed have produced a marine habitat to promote coral and marine organism while creating the ultimate ‘Green Burial' opportunity.

A recent marine study conducted by the Department of Environmental Resource Management [DERM] concluded that marine life around the reef has gone from the zero to thousands in two years. In addition to providing a permanent legacy for those who loved the ocean, the Neptune Memorial Reef is attracting recreational scuba divers, marine biologists, students, researchers and ecologists from all over the world. And, believe it or not, there is no charge to visit the reef.

Recent marine monitoring study conducted in December 2008 by DERM (Department of Environmental Resources Management) revealed that 1625 fish of 35 different species were observed in 14 different fish counts at different locations within the NMR vs. 1027 fish of 29 different species in March 2008. An increase of over 60% in only 9 months!"

With 6 rings and 8 "spokes", the completed project will cover 16 acres of the seafloor, 3 ¼ miles off Key Biscayne in 45 feet of water.
With 6 rings and 8 "spokes", the completed project will cover 16 acres of the seafloor, 3 ¼ miles off Key Biscayne in 45 feet of water.
Think of it this way .... if you always wanted to retire in Florida, you can do it for free after the first installment : )

Friday, June 12, 2009

Sandler All Wood Coffin Kit ... It's Real and Available at Amazon.com!

WOW... Amazon does have it all! A Casket Kit for the whole family to make! If nothing else, read the reviews : )


This Casket Kit is designed for those that wish to use a solid wood casket. No metal is used in the construction or assembly of this kit. Perfect for many faiths with a NO METAL requirement, this solid pine coffin kit has an assembly time of 30 minutes with only a hammer and wood glue required for assembly. Each piece slides into the next, interlocking and creating a sturdy and handsome finished casket. Although we implore the use of wood glue in all of the joints, product testing without glue resulted in a surprisingly strong casket supporting a load of over 200lbs. Included in this kit are all necessary wood panels pre-cut and pre-sanded, rope handles, and a detailed instruction sheet.

Here is one of the reviews ... Priceless!

By the "angry kid"

"So, being dead for the last 100 years, lets just say I've had my fair share of chances to try out the latest and greatest in coffin technology. I've easily spent ten times this much on a coffin that ended up being not even half as comfortable. I may be dead, but that doesn't mean I can't be picky about the conditions in which I lay. I find this all wood coffin kit is really classy and yet understated. Occasionally, this bad boy gets me some hot looks from the dead chicks who see me laying in it. Also, being that the world is now in a "Green" kick, I find that using sustainable materials such as the wood used in this coffin is more "with the times". This coffin is like the Prius of coffins, sans the smug. So, I gave this coffin 5 stars, and to all of my deceased homies, would highly recommend giving it a shot. It might be a bit tough to assemble yourself when your hands rotted away almost a century ago, but it's not that bad. There are plenty of other coffins I wouldn't be caught dead in, but this one more than does the trick. I wouldn't give this coffin up over my dead body. "

For more coffin furniture, click here.

Monday, January 05, 2009

William Fuld ... Inventor of Ouija Board ... Interesting


If you dare .... : ) Interesting website on William Fuld; inventor of the Ouija Board. Had no idea he was a Baltimore native ... if you have the time check out the site!

Sunday, January 04, 2009

This would be my luck ... Man Wins $10M Lottery The Day He Dies


DANBURY, Conn. – On the day that Donald Peters died, he unknowingly provided financial security for his wife of 59 years and their family.

Peters bought two Connecticut Lottery tickets at a local 7-Eleven store on Nov. 1 as part of a 20-year tradition he shared with his wife Charlotte. Later that day, the 79-year-old retired hat factory worker suffered a fatal heart attack while working in his yard in Danbury.

On Friday, his widow cashed in one of the tickets: a $10 million winner which, in her grief over her husband's death, she had put aside and almost discarded before recently checking the numbers.

"I'm numb," Charlotte Peters, 78, said at Connecticut Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill.
Donald Peters usually bought the tickets for 10 weeks at a stretch, so the winning ticket he bought Nov. 1 for the Dec. 2 drawing was among several that Charlotte Peters put aside as she, their three children and two grandchildren coped with his sudden death.

"I was in the grocery store and I had it checked and they told me I was a winner," she said. "I had no idea how much it was."

She said she thought she had won $6 million but was surprised to learn from lottery officials she'd won $10 million.

Charlotte Peters has 60 days to decide whether to take a $6 million pre-tax lump sum payment or stretch the winnings into 21 yearly payments of almost $477,300 each.
She does not yet know what she will do with the money.

"I've always wanted a Corvette, but I don't think I'll buy one. I'll stick to a small car. I might go to Mohegan Sun," she said, referring to the casino in Connecticut. "I'm going to go home and sit and think."

The Peters children think their father would have appreciated the irony.

"He'd be very mad, he just passed away and she won a lot of money," said Brian Peters, one of the couple's three children. "He'd say, 'Figures!'" (Source)

Saturday, January 03, 2009

My Wonderful Life ... Need help with your exit strategy?

Death has certainly gone tech and it's not a bad thing. There's a new FREE site called: My Wonderful Life aimed at the baby boomers who want to plan their own funeral otherwise known as an "exit strategy" (I love that term : ))

Created by Sue Kruskopf and Nancy Bush this site lets you plan your music, readings and photographs. The info is password protected and only available to selected friends and family. The site will also allow you to tell your survivors where your key documents are (i.e., will, insurance, etc.) "How To" info is available such as budgeting, writing your own obit and it also gives creative ideas to make your funeral more personalized.

Think outside the box and you'll love this site.