And the Rain Came

We asked for it, we needed, but we weren't prepared for it like this! Starting last Thursday afternoon, it began to rain like it's never rained before! It rained non-stop until well after New Year's Day. The streets were flooded and the drainage systems were backed up from all the water. In fact, a couple of people couldn't even get here on Monday. My sister, Jan, mailed me pictures of her house, and it looked like it was sitting on top of a river. In fact, the water was so high, her neighbor's car was floating on the water! Tony lost his power over the weekend for an entire day, and the rest of us seemed to escape any peril. Now we're gearing up because it's supposed to rain again in a few days. I advised my sister to buy a boat!

Although we had a soggy New Year's here, I hope you all were able to enjoy last weekend with your family and friends. It was pretty low key at our house, as we rang in the New Year by watching the Twilight Zone Marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel (my favorite thing to do every New Years). Oh, and after all the holiday shows, Mike decided to celebrate the New Year by doing the following:




Carl Ballantine

We all had a slight scare Wednesday as we found out that our good friend, Carl Ballantine, was rushed to the hospital and was believed to be suffering either a heart attack or a stroke! Happy ending though, as it turned out that one of the medications that Carl takes was causing his potassium levels to increase, which caused his heart rate to increase as well. The doctors have decided to keep him a couple of days for observation, but he's doing very well. When I spoke to Robert Baxt last night, he was happy to report that Carl was complaining about the lousy room service at the hospital and cracking jokes with the nurses. I'm very happy that things worked out so well. If you'd like to email Carl a get well note, email them to me at sales@hocus-pocus.com, and I'll make sure he receives them.

Here at the shop, we're running faster than before; you'd think Christmas is still around the corner. The New Year promises a ton of new merchandise, and we've already felt the impact the first week of January as evidenced by the new items on the web site. The biggest problem we're having is room; we're running out of it. I remember when we first moved into this building about ten years ago, I thought it would be more than enough. Now, we can barely move from one department to another! We keep putting off the prospect of moving to a larger location, however, we've torn down walls, built racks, and even a second story loft. Who knows; we might just have to start looking at the realities of moving to a mega-space. Oh, the thought of moving all this again just doesn't appeal to me.


Marvin Burger, AKA, the Buma.

As a kid, there was absolutely no place to buy magic in Fresno. When I was about 12 years-old, my parents found a place in San Francisco called House of Magic. That's where my real magic education began. The owner of the shop, Marvin Burger, affectionately known as Buma, took me under his wing, and I learned about all aspects of magic, current and antique. There was nothing like a visit to Buma's shop. It's there where I met guys like Pete Biro, Emil Clifton, Martin Lewis, Woody Woodward, Tommy Cooper, Vic Kirk, and of course, the incomparable Paul Chosse! You never knew who would walk in the door! There was no greater influence on my life as a child, and the House of Magic was beyond compare. It had a vibe about it that was unequalled! After Buma passed away, his son, Mark, took over and ran the business until just a few weeks ago. I was very sad to hear that, after almost 40 years, the House of Magic closed its doors forever. It may be the end of an era, but what great memories I'll always have.

Until next time,

Paul

Happy New Year!

Well, Christmas is over, the tree is gone (it had a very short stay in the den this year), and I promised Max next year that we'll have the biggest tree we've ever had. That gave him something to look forward to. I hope all of you enjoyed your time with your family and got everything you wanted for the holidays. For me, the best gift was having my entire family together, albeit short, it was a great visit and a fun time.

As I sit here and write this, it's hard to believe the year has already come and gone. I can't remember a year passing as quickly as this one has in my entire life! Now it's time to make those resolutions that we all dread. I'll be keeping mine to myself for the most part, but I will share with you that as I grow older, the more important things in life like family stick out and become more of a reality for me. Hence, I'll be taking more time off this year to spend with loved ones and friends.

I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your gifts, well-wishes, cards, and emails during the holiday season. It really means a lot to me to come to work in the morning and see such happy, positive and cheerful messages. I also want to thank all of you for making this year the biggest and most successful in the history of Hocus Pocus! It is your continued support that drives us and keeps us motivated to be the best magic shop we can be. I promise that 2006 will be an even bigger year for us and a more exciting one for you!

May your New Year's Eve be happy, safe, fun-filled, and joyous!

Until next time,

Paul

Happy Holidays!

Well, we made it! Tomorrow the festivities begin on Christmas Eve. We'll be going to my mother in-law's for Christmas Eve lunch and then later we'll be going to my cousin's house for our annual Christmas Eve party! After the celebrations, it's off to bed until Christmas day! We'll go to my mother in-law's for breakfast, and everyone will open their gifts there, and then we'll go to my sister's house where we'll all enjoy a nice Christmas dinner. Of course, everyone will be there, and more gifts will be shared and a great time will be had by all... I'm extremely happy that all my kids will be together this year as it is harder to keep them together the older they get.

Meanwhile, the Christmas tree saga has a happy ending. I mentioned that while we are remodeling our house, the tree spent most of its time on the front porch. That is, until last week. Now, it proudly stands in the den. Max, my son, decorated the tree all by himself this year, and I must say that he did an outstanding job! Of course, since the tree went up, Max's first question was, "Where are the gifts?" Have no fear; the next day they began to magically appear... Today, it is covered and surrounded by gifts, and Max couldn't be more excited!

It's been Christmas here at the shop as well as there have been more new products arriving than ever! I'll give you a little hint: there are some great new products that will be announced in January to kick off the New Year, so stay tuned!

Believe it or not, the shipping department is still buzzing today getting out those last-minute packages and orders. It really has been the busiest Christmas season we've experienced here at Hocus Pocus. Again, we have you to thank!

No matter how you celebrate your holidays, remember the most important thing is the time spent with family and loved ones. Don't let the holiday rush and the little things stand in the way of spending valuable time together.

Thank you to everyone who have sent us your holiday cards and gifts! It really added an extra touch of excitement everyday! I want to leave you with a touching email I received from Randy Schostag:

Paul

Thank you for the contributions that you have made to our community during 2005. I believe that Hocus Pocus has raised the bar and set a tough standard for others to follow. Here's wishing you a very Merry Holiday and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Randy Schostag

Thank you very much, Randy! Your words mean a lot to myself and everyone here at Hocus Pocus.

On behalf of all the Hocus Pocus family, I wish you the very best holiday this year!

Until next time,

Paul

Ho Ho Ho!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you go. Well, it's just around the corner now; less than 1 week away before Christmas, and we certainly feel it here. The phones are a-ringin' off the hook, the email inbox is full, the answering system's going haywire, and the shipping department is going nuts! In fact, the shipping department has been staying late in order to make sure all orders go out in a timely fashion just in time for the holidays. Moreover, most of us are in the shop earlier to make sure your orders make it to you on time. This guarantees you the best customer service anywhere!

Last week, we promised you updates and pictures from the first annual Hocus Pocus Christmas Party, but we can only deliver the update. Unfortunately, Mike got snowed in at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite during a show Saturday and could not attend the party. And, since he also had the camera with him, there are no pictures to share. But I can tell you that everyone had a great time at the Golden Chinese Restaurant. Good company and great cheer were had by all, I'm happy to report. I guess we'll just have to do it again next year...



The beautiful Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite - a great place to get snowed in.

Christmas Tree Update:

You may remember that last week, I spoke about finally picking up a Christmas tree for the Gross household. Well, we finally picked one up on Monday, but our painter had other plans. So, on the front porch it sits to this day, but not for long. It will be up tonight, guaranteed! And you know what that means: my son Max will be circling the tree like a shark looking for presents. He'll be poking, prodding, investigating, and bribing us to tell him what they are. We'll never give in, though.

Well, gotta go. The phone's are ringing and the emails are piling up.

Until next time,

Paul

Only 2 Weeks Left!

That's right -- only two weeks are left before Christmas is officially here. Where the heck did this year go? Every Friday, I feel like Monday was just beginning, the year's whizzing by so quickly! Part of the reason it seems to go so quickly is due to the fact that this season is the busiest we've ever encountered. We've even scheduled and extra UPS pickup specifically for the month of December, making it a total of three per day in order to get the boatload of packages out the door!

The Post Office says that you should make your final shipments by the 10th this year, which is earlier than it's ever been. But fear not, for if you need, we have overnight and next day air services available for your shopping needs. Thank you all for your overwhelming support this entire year. More holiday goodies are appearing daily on the website, so make sure you check it every day to see what's new and hot!



Where to put the tree? Seems to be the million dollar question this year at the Gross household. If you remember, I mentioned a few weeks back about the major remodeling going on. There's hammering, painting, tile guys, floor guys, electricians -- you name it, and the furniture is everywhere where it isn't supposed to be. Max's room is in the living room, the living room is in the music room, the kitchen is in the dining room! ARRRRRRRRRRGH! Rest assured, however, we WILL be clearing a space this weekend for the very special Christmas tree. Now, the only problem is finding the boxes with all the decorations...

Dean Dill Update

I spoke to Dean yesterday over the phone, and he is now home. He sounded to be in good spirits, considering both his family's and his condition. He has at least another month or so before he is out of his body cast, and then it's physical therapy for awhile. Because of you and your generous efforts and thoughts, Hocus Pocus has raised a large sum of money for Dean and his family. Dean is very touched by the huge outpouring of support through your emails, well wishes, and donations. If you wish to donate, you can do so by clicking here!

This weekend will be the first annual Hocus Pocus holiday dinner. Everyone will be there so watch for the pictures to appear next week on the blog!

Until next time,

Paul

Dean Dill

Dean Dill

This week's letter will be different than most. For those of you who do not already know, Dean Dill, his wife, and son were involved in a massive automobile accident in Las Vegas earlier this week. Although massive injuries were a result of the crash, Dean reported that they are all lucky to be alive. Dean has suffered the worst with multiple broken bones and is expected to stay in the hospital for a time. According to the news I received yesterday, he will be in the hospital for at least another 10 days to 2 weeks before being released. Because of his injuries, it will be many months until Dean is able to get back on his feet. I have to tell you that in all my years in this business, I have never met a nicer, unassuming, and honest person than Dean Dill. We wish nothing but the best of wishes for a speedy recovery for Dean and his family. If you want to write Dean, you can do so by emailing him at:

intmiracle@deandill.com

The holidays are a-happening around here! It's been go, go, go non-stop since the end of the month of November like no other year prior! As fast as your orders are coming in, we are shipping out. In fact, the shipping department has had to come in early for most of the week so far to accommodate the shipping load! Have no fear; all orders will go out in plenty of time.

In other news, we hired another sales representative, Jeremy Avery. He will start here full-time on the 9th of December and be a permanent part of the Hocus Pocus family! We can't wait to have him. Make sure you make him feel welcome by introducing yourself when calling us. Jeremy is a very charismatic person and his specialty is in street magic!

Also, we will begin another tradition here at Hocus Pocus! I've decided that the first annual Hocus Pocus Holiday Dinner will begin this year. Formally, I mean. We used to have an informal little party at the shop, but this year, Betty and I have decided to make it a more eventful evening by taking the entire staff out for dinner and drinks to celebrate what a fantastic year we've had. Of course, plenty of pictures will be taken and shared with you here, so look forward to those...

Please remember that as the holiday season has officially arrived, try to take it easy when possible between all the shopping and performing, and try to email Dean Dill and his family to wish them well.

Thank you to all of you who have sent in your Thanksgiving stories. I had a blast reading them, and they sure brought back some memories for me. Have a safe and fulfilling weekend.

Until next time,

Paul

Turkey, turkey, turkey!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed spending time with all of your family and friends. We had a great time at my mother in-law's house, and we ate, ate, and ate some more! Thankfully, my mother in-law had a 22 lb. turkey, so there were plenty of leftovers for us all to take home. There's nothing like that day-after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich, which can only be enhanced with my sister's clam dip and chips!

This morning, Betty was up bright and early, taking advantage of the Day After Thanksgiving Sales! I don't know how she does it, fighting all the crowds, but she always comes away a winner!

Speaking of holiday shopping, the phones are ringing off the hook and every couple of seconds, my email notification sounds off! It looks like it's going to be a bright holiday season here at Hocus Pocus! Thank you!

With that said, I'll cut it short, but before I do, I want to say thank you all, for your tremendous support and holiday wishes.

Until next time,

Paul

Giving Thanks

Pass the turkey and don't hog the gravy! Yep -- it's that time of year again! Thanksgiving is just a few days away! What happened to the months of October and November? They went by so quickly, I couldn't believe it. Almost as if I blinked and it was over!

I don't know how you spend your Thanksgiving, but for the Gross household, we'll be going to my mother in-law's as always. There'll be plenty of turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and all sorts of appetizers. And of course, how can I forget her yalanchi and suberage? They're to die for, both these Armenian delicacies! My sons, Max and Cole, will fight over who gets the wishbone. I don't have to tell you, but you probably know that Max wins out every time. There will be so much food, even after we're finished it won't look like the food was even touched! My mother in-law swears she'll never cook so much again, but she always manages to outdo herself every year. Don't forget, as you sit down with your family, friends, and loved ones, to give thanks for all you have.

For me personally, I'm thankful for my loving wife, Betty, who supports my every endeavor 100%. I'm thankful for my four children, who are all healthy and happy. I'm thankful that my needs are met on a daily basis, and I'm thankful for each and every Hocus Pocus supporter, who enables me to make a living doing what I enjoy the most! I thank you!

So don't overeat (yeah, right), and toast to your family, and if you want, email us and let us know how you spend your holidays! I always enjoy hearing from you.

So, on behalf of myself and the Hocus Pocus family, I wish you the very best of Thanksgivings.

Until next time,

Paul

We Salute You!

Today, as everyone knows, is Veteran's Day. We wish to take a moment and thank all the men and women who have given so much to guarantee our freedom! With great respect and honor, we salute all veterans, past, present, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to insure we live safely and securely! Thank you, all!

Busy is the key word here at Hocus Pocus! If you've been keeping tabs on our web site, you'll see exactly what we mean! Mike took a short vacation and was gone for three days, but you wouldn't have known as he took his laptop with him and continued to update the site in his absence! You can check out the photos below and see that it wasn't all work for Mike:


A view from Mike's room.


Monterey, California


Mike's Hotel, the Monterey Beach Hotel


Alexander Valley


Criss Angel Mastermind DVD, Volume 1

Hooray! After many long delays, the Criss Angel Coin in Soda Can finally arrived on Tuesday! The shipping department had to arrive extra early to guarantee shipping a little over 300 pre-orders along with the orders placed that day for the long-anticipated DVD! It was quite a feat, and all packages went out without a hitch! If you haven't yet ordered this DVD, we have plenty in stock for immediate delivery!



If you are looking for holiday effects to add to your shows, make sure you check out the Hocus Pocus Holiday Section located here! You'll find lots of great effects and even some new ones like "Forgetful Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Christmas Presents!"

We keep saying it every week, but the holidays are fast approaching! Here are a couple of sneaky ways to give hints to those who are wondering what to get you:

1. If you're a member and have a wish list, why not print off a copy and leave it in a conspicuous place?

2. You could always ask for a gift certificate for Hocus Pocus!

Rest assured, we'll take good care of all who call to make sure they make the best selection possible!

Last week, I told you that we were undertaking a major remodeling of the Gross family household, and this week it began in full force! Ripping up carpet, tearing down walls, and removing kitchen cabinets have insured that Betty and I will be going out for dinner this week! The entire process will last until the end of January/beginning of February, and I just keep telling myself how great it will look when it's all done!

Keep yourself busy but remember to have a lot of fun in the process! Have a safe and happy weekend.

Until next time,

Paul

Only Two Months Left!

As I sit here and write the blog today, I look at the calendar and realize that we are only a couple of months away from the end of this year and the beginning of a brand new year! This year seems to have raced faster than any other. My dad always said, "The older you get, son, the faster the years pass by," and he was right! Before you know it, it will be "Pass the turkey," and then the Christmas carols begin.

This week has also zipped by extremely fast. Lots of new items hitting the door every day, and as fast as we put them up, more and more come in! Do yourself a favor and check out the Skeleton Mental Energy Transfer pocket watch on the site. Only 12 have been made exclusively for us at Hocus Pocus, and we've already sold 8 of them. The only way to get yours is to pre-order it today, because as soon as we sell out, it will disappear forever from our site!

Also, we just received long-overdue reprints of some of the best magic books ever printed: Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz, Smoke and Mirrors by John Bannon, and Seance by Scott Moore-Davis! If you've checked out eBay in the past few years, you'll undoubtedly remember copies of Seance going for upwards of $500.00! Wow!

One more thing I'm proud to carry is something called the Old Lady Illusion. When we first viewed the demo video, we couldn't believe our eyes! I am convinced that if you ever wanted to add a quick-change illusion to your show, this would be a great way to start! This effect is perfect for all types of audiences, whether you perform for children or adults, and it is a guaranteed applause-getter! If you don't believe me, click here and watch the online video for yourself! That's what I really like about this business: looking for unique and different magic effects that cannot be found elsewhere.

I enjoyed being on the Mike on the Mic Program on Magic Broadcast this week with Mike Giusti. Thanks to the listeners for the great comments and questions. There was one person in particular who sent me and Mike a very heartfelt letter, and I told Mike the very next day that receiving that letter was worth the entire broadcast! Support the Magic Broadcast and help it continue to grow. Check it out here!

This weekend starts the major remodeling of the Gross household. What once started as wall painting has turned into a major ordeal, and for the next two months, or possibly longer, I will update you as the process continues. There may be some inconveniences, but I know the payoff will be worth it, and I look forward to the beginning of this project!

Until next time,

Paul