Musings

Okay, so you know how you fall down a random internet hole at like 11 p.m. because you’re just going to check one thing (famous last words), and then suddenly you’re reading about haunted vending machines and goat-headed cryptids? Yeah, that happened to me last night. Again. Which brings me to today’s ramble: some of the weirdest, creepiest, and straight-up what-the-heck urban legends from around the world. These are the kind of stories that make you double-check your closet before bed or give side-eye to any antique doll with too much… personality.

Let’s start with Japan, because wow, do they know how to mess with your head. There’s this legend about a thing called the Kuchisake-Onna, or “Slit-Mouthed Woman.” She’s this ghostly woman who wears a surgical mask (which honestly wouldn’t raise many eyebrows these days), and she’ll stop you on the street and ask, “Do you think I’m pretty?” If you say no—bam, she kills you. If you say yes—surprise! She takes off the mask to reveal her mouth has been slit ear to ear, then asks again. Say yes again? She still kills you. Say no? Yup, you guessed it—dead. Moral of the story: maybe just… run?

Meanwhile, over in Iceland, they have the Huldufólk, which literally translates to “hidden people.” These are elf-like beings who supposedly live in rocks and lava fields, and Icelanders take them very seriously. Like, rerouting-road-construction serious. There was a whole thing in 2013 where a highway project got delayed because people believed it would disturb the elves. I kind of love that, though—respect the mystical lava elves or suffer the consequences.

Then there’s the Philippines, home to the Manananggal, which is a shapeshifting, vampire-like creature that looks like a normal person by day, but at night it literally rips its upper torso from its lower half, sprouts wings, and flies around looking for pregnant women to snack on. I’m not making this up. Apparently, the way to defeat her is to find her severed lower half and sprinkle salt or garlic on it, so she can’t reattach and dies when the sun comes up. Note to self: always travel with seasoning.

Oh, and let’s not forget The Black Volga from Eastern Europe. This one’s weirdly modern and very Cold War paranoia-core. In the 60s and 70s, there were all these stories about a sleek black car—sometimes driven by Satanists, sometimes the KGB, sometimes just a straight-up vampire in a nice suit—that would abduct children right off the streets. You can tell this legend came from a time when everything was suspicious and nobody trusted the government or fancy cars. Honestly, I still don’t.

Here’s one that got under my skin in a weirdly specific way: The Bunny Man from Virginia. No, not cute. This guy wears a rabbit costume and chases people with an axe. Why? No idea. There’s a whole backstory involving an escaped mental patient and some dubious asylum history (very urban-legend-y), but the important part is: people still report sightings near a place called Bunny Man Bridge. And like, I want to laugh, but also I definitely don’t want to go there at night. Or during the day. Or ever.

Random fact for you: Did you know that fear of mirrors actually has a name? It’s called spectrophobia, and it’s often linked to legends like Bloody Mary (you say her name three times in a mirror, and she shows up to absolutely ruin your night). I read awhile back that the fear can even stem from the idea that mirrors are portals to another world. Which—yep, totally checks out.

Anyway, there’s something strangely delightful about these stories. They’re spooky, yeah, but they also give you a peek into what different cultures find creepy, and that’s kind of fascinating, right? Like, I’ll take a haunted phone booth over taxes any day. And it’s weird how some legends, no matter how bizarre, manage to survive across decades—or centuries. Maybe we just really like being scared. Or maybe, just maybe… that doll you thrifted actually is watching you.

Sleep tight tonight. And maybe don’t answer any masked women who want to chat about their appearance.

I’ve always been a sucker for a good quote. You know, those little nuggets of wisdom that make you go “huh, never thought of it that way.” So, I stumbled across this quote from John Barrymore recently and it caused me to sit down reflect a bit. The quote is: “A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.” I’ve been mulling it over for days now and figured I’d share my thoughts with y’all.

So here’s the thing — I love how this quote totally flips our usual thinking about aging. We’re always obsessing over gray hairs and wrinkles (guilty as charged, I check for new ones EVERY morning), but Barrymore is saying that getting older isn’t really about your birthday candles or crow’s feet. It’s about what’s happening in your head and heart.

I mean, think about it. We all know that one 74-year-old who’s taking up skateboarding or planning their next adventure, right? And then there’s that 25-year-old colleague who’s already given up on their passion because “it’s too late” or “what’s the point?” According to Barrymore’s logic, guess which one is actually “older”?

Last weekend, my neighbor Ted (who just turned 81!) told me he’s taking up oil painting. Meanwhile, I’ve spent THREE DAYS putting off learning how to make sourdough bread because “I should have started years ago.” Talk about a reality check!

What I find super interesting about this quote is how it connects to our mental state. When we’re dreaming up new possibilities, our brains are literally working differently than when we’re dwelling on regrets.

I’ve been trying to apply this to my own life lately. Instead of thinking “I wish I had traveled more in my 20s and 30s,” I’m shifting to “Where do I want to go next?” It seems simple, but wow, it changes EVERYTHING about how I feel.

I’m curious – where in your life have regrets started creeping in? And more importantly, what dreams can you dust off and put back on the shelf where they belong?

(P.S. Starting next week, I’m finally getting back to learning the piano, something I dropped quite awhile ago. Never too old, right? Drop a comment if you want updates on my inevitable finger blisters!)

You ever notice how urban fantasy just kills it with the whole brooding, morally-gray anti-hero? I don’t know about you, but when I’m watching or reading anything that involves a magical underworld dripping in moody, neon-glow darkness, I’m almost always rooting for the character who’s teetering between “I’m trying to be a good person” and “I might incinerate this whole shady town today.” And when that character happens to be queer? Even better. Give me all the ethically-compromised chaos and moral ambiguity—queer edition, thanks.

So yeah, let’s chat about the queer anti-hero and why this archetype just works so well in urban fantasy. First off, I think queer characters (especially anti-heroes) fit so perfectly into the genre because, for one, urban fantasy already thrives on the whole “outsider” vibe. Think about it: hidden magical societies, complicated family dynamics, convoluted political rivalries between supernatural creatures… It’s all about being misunderstood or rejected by broader society—something that queer folks, historically, can definitely relate to. From the get-go, these characters already feel like they don’t completely belong, and that creates a killer setup for some serious anti-hero material. They’re not here to follow the rules of the magical realm; they’re here to crush boundaries, maybe break some laws, and absolutely question every single “moral” line the world’s drawn for them.

I feel like characters like Magnus Bane (from Shadowhunters) embody this so hard. I mean, Magnus is one of my favorite immortal bisexual warlocks ever—if someone came up and said, “actually, he’s the only immortal bisexual warlock,” I’d be like “yep, that checks out,” but you get the point. He isn’t a bad guy, but he’s definitely not what you’d call pristine either. He’s spent centuries doing some things in life that are… questionable at best (understandable after, like, 900 years—who wouldn’t dabble in dark magic once or twice?). His charm and strategic moral flexibility make him much more engaging than a character who’s all sparkle and light.

And there’s something cathartic in watching these characters mess up, grow from it, but still remain a little messy—because, let’s be honest, perfection is boring. Seriously, if I had to sit through one more fantasy show about a “chosen one” who selflessly protects their group without ever getting morally dirty, I’d—well, you get the picture. Magnus isn’t trying to be the “paragon of good,” but he’s also not the villain—and that sweet spot in-between? Chef’s cred—wait! No! I was about to break Rule #12! See, now even I’m an anti-hero. But back on track…

Another favorite? Lestat from Interview with the Vampire. Queer vampire shenanigans AND moral ambiguity galore. For me, Lestat epitomizes the anti-hero trope because he’s unapologetically selfish, chaotic, love-hungry (literally), and complicated. What’s lovely about his character (if we can say that about someone who spikes his human drinks with blood like a Supernatural frat boy) is that he’s not bound by the same moral limitations we typically assign to heroes. And when you set him in the backdrop of this haunting New Orleans atmosphere—a place that already carries so much history and energy—it feels electric to watch him. Sensory-wise, the setting is vibrant, full of music, the smell of old wood in French mansions, and, of course, a ton of blood. Lestat, like many queer-coded anti-heroes, thrives in that in-between space where rules and norms start to blur.

And let’s not forget Constantine. Sure, he’s canonically bi in the comics (feels like the TV shows had some work to do here, but that’s for another day). Still, he totally nails that self-destructive anti-hero thing. He’s always a step away from total collapse, but you root for him anyway. He’s rude, he’s bitter, he’s haunted by his past actions—literally. But he’s what? Still managing to deal with demonic powers while chain-smoking and looking cool. The amount of “I probably shouldn’t help, but dammit, I will” energy is off the charts with him. What’s wild about Constantine is that his flaws make him real. He’s always in this liminal space of redemption, where he’s constantly trying to right his wrongs, but it’s obvious those wrongs won’t just… go away. They cling to him. That’s some relatable content if I’ve ever seen it.

I think the place where a lot of these anti-heroes live—that gray moral territory—is where a lot of queer folks sometimes end up, too, by necessity. It’s not to say queerness itself is about moral ambiguity (duh), but the experience of being “othered” forces you to re-evaluate systems, rules, expectations. Urban fantasy anti-heroes are typically outcasts not because of anything they did, but because those in power (or the structure of society) made them so. That’s where the genre really connects with the queer anti-hero. They don’t reject norms because it’s fun—they reject them because those rules didn’t serve them to begin with.

Queer anti-heroes aren’t out there seeking glory. They’re trying to survive in worlds that want to push them into certain boxes—and when they stand up and say, Nah, I’m doing this my way, it’s a satisfying, rebellious kind of energy that makes you root for them. Plus, let’s be real—who doesn’t love watching these morally complex, often dramatic characters just absolutely wreck giant power structures with a flick of their hands? Sign me up.

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You know when someone boldly announces, “You can’t do that,” and it hits you like an inflatable pool float—that suddenly loses air and just droops? Yeah, that. I think we’ve all been there, right? Like, maybe you’re telling your friend about your brilliant plan to start a llama farm in Bali or run a marathon after not running, like, ever, and BAM—someone swoops in with all the negativity. You’re left wondering if they have some secret insight from the universe or if they’re just, I don’t know, projecting big-time? Enter Sheldon Cahoon’s little gem: “When someone tells you that you can’t do something, perhaps you should consider that they are only telling you what they can’t do.” Ehhh, nailed it, right?

Honestly, sometimes when people tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t do something, that says waaaay more about them than it does about you. I know, I know, that sounds a bit armchair-psychologist-y, but stick with me here. It’s like they can’t help but reflect their own personal roadblocks and doubts onto you. And truth bomb: humans have a bad habit of assuming that what they couldn’t achieve—or didn’t even try to—must be impossible for you as well. Newsflash: you’re not living the same story as everyone else, so take their fears and just, I don’t know, free them like toast crumbs in the wind.

I’ll admit, it took me a while to figure this one out myself (ugh, late bloomer). I used to get super bummed out when someone told me I couldn’t do something. Cue the mental montage of me frowning at my computer racking my brain WHY?! But then one day, it hit me like a rogue soccer ball: these people weren’t psychic; they were just bad at imagining possibilities outside of their own experience. And, I guess, that’s kind of comforting in a weird way, right? Like, it’s not that they’re standing in some parallel reality where they know you’re doomed. They just… can’t see beyond their own limitations. Kinda makes me feel bad for them, in an empathetic “you should really believe in yourself more” kind of way, you know?

Quick detour—who is Sheldon Cahoon anyway? Seriously, I Googled him because, heck, I don’t chit-chat about quotes from random authors without knowing who they are. Turns out, he’s a leadership and training expert. Not a LOT of details out there (couldn’t find his llama farm aspirations—not judging). But his take on other people’s limitations affecting your possibilities? It’s pure gold and exactly the kind of thing that makes you want to scribble it on a sticky note for your bathroom mirror, or tattoo it on your left arm…whatever works for you.

Anyway, back to how this shows up IRL. You’ll notice this all the time, especially when you’re trying something new or super ambition-y. Everyone’s giving you looks, unsolicited advice (“Maybe you should just stick to what you’re good at!”) or, my personal favorite, the passive-aggressive “I’m just being realistic. I’m looking out for you.” Thanks, buddy, but a little side of belief in me would’ve been more helpful with that serving of realism. I mean, remember how everybody thought the Wright brothers were totally nuts for thinking they could fly? I bet there was some guy named Carl back in the day who was like, “Nah fam, humans aren’t meant to fly.” But here we are, booking flights like it’s no big deal for our next long weekend.

Not to dump on people sharing their “well-meaning” doubts, though. Anxiety is contagious, and sometimes people genuinely think they’re saving you from crashing and burning. They’re trying to be protective, but those vibes? Kinda draining.

Listen, at the end of the day, nobody really knows what you are capable of but you. Sure, people can give advice, but it’s advice based on the way they see the world—through the glasses of their past experiences and struggles where the lenses are smudged with smears of “can’ts” and “won’ts.” You’ve got your own shiny prescription, and if you don’t rock those specs proudly, well, Kyle from accounting is gonna keep reminding you of the ways he failed.

Alright, guess I’ve rambled on enough for a single post. The takeaway? When someone throws a bucket of “I can’t” onto your dreams, don’t take it personally. Just let it roll off your back and kick some metaphorical llamas (in Bali or wherever), because their limits don’t define yours.

Catch ya in the next round of deep thoughts and coffee-fueled rants!