Mini Man - A True Ghost Story

In light of it being Halloween, I've decided to tell you a story I've told few people.  Because it's scary, unbelievable, bizarre, and true.  And it happened to me when I was around 11 years old and we lived at our 452 south main street house. 

I had my newest best friend over for the night.  I'm sure we talked and giggled for a while before we fell asleep, but I can't remember.  What I do remember is waking up in the middle of the night for no good reason.  As I looked around the room I spotted a figure on my desk, right beside my bedroom door.  Have you ever been so scared that you couldn't move?  Yeah, I was that scared.  For what I was looking at was a miniature man (maybe a foot tall) with a business suit on holding his briefcase in his hand.  And he was perched upon my desk just hanging out, looking at me.  As I looked at him and he looked at me I heard my brother call out to my mom from his attic bedroom (when there are 4 kids in a small house, we had to get creative with bedroom spots).  "Mom, help me.  Mom, I need you,"  He moaned.   

What a crazy night it was turning out to be!  First I get a visit from mini man and then my brother (who is probably around 15 years old at this time) was calling out for mom!  How was I supposed to get up and walk past the small business suited man to get to my mom?  She needed to know that Dan was calling for her, and since I was the one to hear him, I was the one with the responsiblity to let her know.  But I couldn't move! 

He kept calling for her.  So I resolved to help him out - who knew what crazy happenings were going on up on the third floor!  Lord knew there were crazy happenings happening on the 2nd!  I steeled my nerves, hopped out of bed, and ran past my mini man through the bedroom door, down the hall to my parents bedroom.  Phew!  I made it!  He didn't reach out for me!  He didn't whack me with his briefcase!

I woke mom up and told her Dan was calling for her.  She kinda shrugged me off.  I went back to my room, running past the ghost for the 2nd time, hopped back in bed (I also didn't want the sharks under my bed to attack my legs as I was in route to the safety zone).   

I don't remember anything beyond that.  I don't know if mom ever went to check on Dan.  I have my heavy suspisions that she didn't.  And the business clad mini man ghost left after I returned to my bedroom that night.  I never saw him again.  And Dan doesn't remember ever calling out for mom. 

I swear on my little life that this is a true story. 

Judging A Book

Okay, I've got to get this off my chest.  I've been carrying this secret around with me for far too long.  It's eating me alive. 

I judge books by their covers.

Yes!  It's true.  Shocking and very politically incorrect - I know.  I know what you're thinking.  You'd never judge a book by it's cover.  You would give the jacket a chance and read the back cover (or inside cover) before ever allowing any conclusions to be made about a book.  You do not profile book covers. 

But I do.  Some book covers make my face go red with embarrasment, some make me go red with anger, some bore the crap out of me.  In my estimation and opinion, there is no excuse for a poorly designed book cover.  It makes or breaks the book.  An author must be very picky in her choice of design.  Because people like me will judge a book by it's cover.  And if she wants money, she'll want to entice a potential reader visually before intellectually.  I won't touch a book twice if I don't like the cover. 

And if you get me to pick up your book and I enjoy the cover, you better have a good title.  I hate bad titles.  And there is no excuse for a bad title unless the author is a bad writer.  Because if a writer can't interest me with a title, there's little hope the rest of the book will. 

Have you ever browsed through a library or bookstore just reading titles?  There are some pretty wacky ones out there.  I like wacky titles.  I'm currently reading a book entitled the Neddiad - How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization by Daniel Pinkwater.  Some titles anger me, take for instance a book I found in the grief and bereavement section called, Grieving: A Beginner's Guide by Jerusha Hull McCormack.  I almost snorted with derision in my favorite bookstore when I saw that book.  A beginner's guide?  Do you graduate to the intermediate level once you're finished?  Some book titles are too flowery or dramatic in a beautific way - makes me wonder what kind of crap is on the inside (but not enough to make me actually read it).

Yes, the author has a big responsiblitly that exceeds just the content between the covers.  If the author wants a reader, she must match the creative effort of her writing with a creative cover and title. 

Because I'm out there.  Judging.  (and secretly wishing I had the oppertunity to write a book with a crappy title and book cover.)

Baseball Rant

I hate how the world series interferes with my favorite TV shows.  Who watches baseball anyway?  It's so boring!  I'd rather watch golf on TV than baseball!  Each inning takes forever, each game takes forever, the world series is 7 games - 4 games too many, and the stinkin' season is almost all year!  I could understand the long drawn out process if the game was actually interesting, like hockey - another ridiculously long season - but baseball?  My shows are finally back on after the summer break, I'm really getting into the new story lines, when I'm forced to put viewing my favorite shows on hold for a few weeks.  WHY?  Because the stupid world series must be televised.  I can't even stand looking at the players - most of them look ugly in their outfits.  I mean really, men shouldn't wear tapering pants - it's hideous.  It's almost tights-like. 

I guess I better stock up on books - any suggestions?

Autumn Is Here

I can't sleep.  So I'll write.

You should see our yard - it's beautiful.  Although the grass and driveway are mostly under cover of fallen leaves, most of our trees are arrayed in red, yellow, green, and orange finery.  When the sun shines through them it's like looking through stained glass.

The season is changing.  Fall is here.  And it's another reminder that time is constantly moving foward, no matter what it leaves behind. 

We took our hummingbird feeder down today - our hummingbird long gone, on his way back to Mexico.  I remember when he arrived.  It was the same week Spring came.  In that one week the weather warmed, the leaves broke out, the flowers bloomed, the grass turned green, and our hummingbird arrived.

I remember clearly.  It was the week in between Michelle's death and her funeral.

I remember taking offense to the new life that sprung up.  It didn't seem fair. It didn't seem right.  It was not a reasonable exchange.  Or a valuable peace offering.  It was a little too late.  And a little too early. 

Six months ago.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Confirmed - Sort Of

I talked with the pediatrician on the phone today.  She said that is sounds like we have the swine flu.  I asked if we should bother getting vaccinated, she said yes, when we're healthy of course.  I'm still not sure.  I don't want to get this again - it really sucks, but then again, we will have some immunity to it.  Sounds like there's a shortage of the vaccine anyway. 

I have a prayer request my friends.  I need to be better by Tuesday, 2pm.  I have a job interview and right now I can't even think straight.  This is the first job interview I've had since looking for a job.  Hubby's been scoping out Craig's list for possible job listings to send my "resume" to.  I send my "resume" out on occasion, never thinking I'd hear back from any place.  I don't look good on paper.  And up until this point, nobody's contacted me.  Yesterday my nap was interrupted when the office called.  I'm lucky I sounded coherent.  Please pray that I am better by tuesday and that I don't give my potential employers and their family's the swine flu.  That's probably not a good way to get off on the right foot.  However, it would leave a lasting impression - 7 to 10 days worth.

Tissues are becoming a scare commodity here in our house.  The garbage can is overflowing with used ones.  Little Miss has resorted to hoarding her tissue box - she had a melt down this morning when one of us used a tissue from her box.  Piles of laundry are waiting to get done, and for some reason I can't smell the Yankee candle I have burning, but I can smell the foul smell coming from our fridge.  The hours tick by slowly.  I haven't been outside this house in days.  I'm starting to get a secondary infection: cabin fever.  Getting sick like this is always very humbling for me. 

Swine Flu? I Hope So.

Most of you probably know (because I'm sure you are all amoung my 33 friends on facebook), that me and the family are under the weather right now.  Little Miss, again, brought the bug home with her and shared it with the rest of us.  You should see our house right now!  (and smell it too - someone needs to clean!)  I asked Little Miss if I looked pretty today, she shook her head no.  "You need a bath," she told me.  I really did. 

I know that many of you friends are suffering a similar ailment.  Do you think it could be the swine flu?  I sure hope so, then the dilemma of vaccination would be moot.  I can't tell you the last time I had a fever (before today that is).  My body temperature stays at a cool & steady 77 degrees, even when I'm sick.  Hurricane EE finally fell to the bug today.  Thankfully, Hubby isn't as symptomatic as the rest of us.   Hopefully he'll stay that way.

Tomorrow we must find the energy to decontaminate the house.  Open up some windows - send the bug to our neighbors (sorry Trina - close your windows girl).  We need to change the sheets, clean the bathrooms, switch out the toothbrushes, do the dishes.  I'm going to have to drink a couple cups of coffee tomorrow morning.  I don't know how we'll get any of these things accomplished!