This week we'll introduce you to Scott Gruenwald, one of the reporters on Travel Channel's Paranormal Paparazzi airing Fridays, 7 p.m.
Comic books, tree forts, video games, hide and seek, action figures ... catching frogs? These may be things you would use to describe the average fifth grader, or myself. You see, I’m a player.
Hold on a minute.
When I say player, I mean I live to play - from the moment my Batman alarm clock wakes me up to when I rest my head at night in a fort made of couch cushions. I love life and playing keeps me young. When I was asked to do the Paranormal Paparazzi project I jumped at the opportunity. Well, I went home and asked my wife. With general concern, she asked about leaving my current job. When I told her how much money I'd be making (not much), she simply said, "bring extra socks." So, off I went on this whirlwind adventure, and what an amazing ride its been.
Now, kidding aside, I have been investigating the paranormal for decades. I have been to many haunts and seen many things. From the halls of Linda Vista Hospital to the crawlspaces of Wolfe Manor, my "hobby" has freaked me out at times. I’ve been grabbed, pushed, kissed, whispered to and, of course, been touched in my bathing suit area. (Not as pleasing as it sounds.)
Facing my fear of the dark, I spent the night in an asylum with only a candle, recorder and some snacks. That was the night that changed my life in the paranormal. To this day I have never recorded screams so loud that I actually had to cover my ears. I believe that, as humans, we control the path of communication. It is really up to us to figure it out.
Paranormal stimulus seems to be a working method for myself. Trigger objects ... cool; period clothing ... OK; nudity ... um sure. But the fact that we may be scary with our $10,000 blinky light thingies, swinging about? Not so much. I use things that everyone is familiar with: bell, compass, reading material (Note: all under $5) work perfect for my group.