Author ///Mystery, Horror, Paranormal
Barbara Watkins
Is a House Always a Home?
Is a house always a home? Is the grass always greener on the other side? I think not! I think
it is like experimenting with a recipe. Sometimes you do not always follow the directions,
(you end up putting in ingredients other than what's called for) but ultimately the finished
product is delicious!
To make a house a home I believe you have to throw in a mixture of love, respect, happiness,
and a cup running over with a feeling of security. You cannot forget memories, (some
good-some not so good) they have to somewhat balance out each other, or you end up with too
much of a bad taste...!
Above all the most important ingredient is your own personal touch. Everyone's recipe for
making their house a home will be different, but as for me, the ingredients above made for a
fine cuisine.
A look at the mysterious Ica stones
The mysterious Ica stones - truth or fiction? Supernatural phenomenon or is it a hoax?
In 1966, a man by the name of Javier Cabrera, a local physician, received a small-carved rock
for his birthday by a local native. The first thing he noticed was the fact it looked ancient.
When the doctor showed interest the natives continued to bring him more. Some of the
stones seemed to clearly depict drawings of dinosaurs, triceratops, stegosaurus, and humans
riding on the backs of flying pterodactyls. Examination of the stones show grooves that bear
traces of layers containing natural varnish, created by bacteria over thousands of years.
The original resting place of these stones is unknown. Since these stone do not contain
organic material, they cannot be dated. So, what are we to believe? We need a rigorous
scientific investigation of these stone. Nevertheless, we need not dismiss the possibility of
supernatural phenomena being involved. After all, it is now a huge part of the scientific
discussions between many
qualified scientist and researchers. If found to be true it would change our history as we
know it of human life on earth!
How to know if your house is haunted
The year was 1965, some 42 years ago, but I remember it like yesterday - my first encounter
with the unknown. My family and I (mom, dad, and older brother and sister) had settled into
our new home on 839 Agnes Street. Excited to have my own bedroom I could not wait to see
it. I did not feel uncomfortable right away, it was not until bedtime that I began to feel
anxious. I crawled into bed and kissing my mother goodnight, she closed the door. I had
closed my eyes when I felt the presence of someone, or some thing, sitting down on the foot
of my bed. Opening my eyes, I looked to find nothing there. I threw my blanket back and
could see the indention on the mattress as if someone were sitting there.
After an hour of my mother assuring me that I had been dreaming, she tucked me back into
bed. I remember curling up into a ball at the head of my bed and starring at the foot of my
mattress. Although the strange occurrence did not happen again that night, it did many
times
after. I would get up many nights and sleep in the corner of my closet because I did not feel
safe in
my own bed.
A few months after we moved in, my father was killed in an accident at work. Shortly
afterwards lights began to go on and off, doors would open and shut by their-selves, and often
we were awaken by strange voices. Items would disappear only to reappear somewhere else. I
saw several apparitions of an old woman dressed all in black, moving about the house, on
more than one occasion.
I would wake to see her standing over my bed just starring down at me. My mother would try
desperately to make some kind of logic out of what was happening. We were frightened to
stay but could not afford to move. Over the years, we would learn to accept whatever was
there and tried to ignore it the best we could.
It has been many years since we lived there and the events have had lasting affects on all of
us.
The evolution of Horror movies
As a small child, one of the first emotions we express is fear. Fear of the dark, afraid to look
under our bed, and fear of the unknown is not only terrifying but also exhilarating.
The horror movies of today have evolved in that earlier horror flicks contained much less
blood and gore. One of the classics, 'House on Haunted Hill' starring Vincent Price debuted
in 1959 and terrified audiences without showing any gory details. Instead, the director
played on our fear and let the audience use their own imagination. The master of horror
Alfred Hitchcock knew how to manipulate and shock his audience by merely using camera
angles and special lighting, creating eerie shots of terror that panned in and out quickly on
his subjects. Who can forget the original ‘Psycho’ (1960) or 'The Birds' (1963) they are still
horrifying to watch.
I have just mentioned a very small fraction of yesterday’s classics, but I think you get the
idea.
In 1999, Mr. Night Shyamalan Sixth Sense debuted and received rave reviews from
audiences and critics alike. Although Shyamalan opted to include a few explicit scenes of
gore, but for only minor seconds, it still possessed much of the same elements as its counter
classics. The same classic style of the past can be said about M. Night Shyamalan's 2001
'The Others'.
Again, I have mentioned just a few of what I personally feel will stand the test of time as far
as horror classics go. I remember the first time I saw the original 'Halloween' it was 1978 and
just into a few minutes of the movie I was hooked. John Carpenter used our childhood fear
of the boogeyman, and one of the most celebrated holidays of the year to entice our
underlying insecurities in the fear of the unknown and the supernatural. I was hooked!
However, I must say and I think many would agree the director could have left out much of
the slice and dice scenes, and it would have still been a terrifying horror flick.
Oh well, each to their own. One thing for sure there is plenty of horror flicks to choose
from, and with such an enormous variety, one is sure to find a favorite.
How to buy health insurance in your state
Research! Research! Research! Research the health insurance companies in your state by
comparing their quotes side by side. Health care costs on the United States rose 6.9% more
than double the rate of inflation. The most important factor is to find the right plan. The
amount of costs and coverage depends on if it is an individual plan or family plan. Check
with your employer and find out who their provider is to discuss the different options that
may be available.
Over one third of uninsured adults have trouble paying their medical bills. Currently the
high costs of any type of medical treatment can be overwhelming, but without some form of
insurance coverage, it could mean the difference between life and death.
Low-income families should check with their Department of Social Services to find out if
they are eligible for assistance. Medicaid and MC for kids are available in Missouri if you
meet the criteria.
Halloween in light of past cultures
Our Halloween trick-or-treat customs actually descended from a belief that the family dead
would bring gifts or so called goodies to the children upon their temporary return from the
other side. If you stop to think about that, it makes quite a bit of sense. Gifts, food, and
sweets are still a standard method today when it comes to attracting our children to other
holidays such as, Christmas and Easter.
Our celebration of Halloween rituals are relics of the pagan, or what was known as All
Hallows Eve, later Christianized as "All Saints." Feast of the Dead was known as the time
when the (crack between the worlds) would open up letting the spirits pass through. At this
particular time, the ghosts of the dead could join their ancestors at the feast. They could
communicate with the living, leaving with them premonitions and omens too come.
In Ireland, grave mounds were known as (fairy hills) and were said to open up just for the
occasion. Most believed it was impossible to keep the fairies underground on Halloween.
These so called fairies were simply referred to as pagan spirits. The church insisted they
were demons and were abroad on Halloween.
Another term for the ancient pagan priestesses, whose business was to communicate with
the dead, were also referred to as witches. Black cats, broomsticks, and bats were all familiar
tools commonly associated with the witch.
In most recent times, our holiday known as Halloween has become a heated topic in some
churches as well as schools. Some feel Halloween is enticing our children to follow a devil-
worshiping crowd. I must say when I see my grandchildren dressed in those pirate and ninja
outfits it frightens me tremendously! Okay, now I am just being sarcastic! However, I feel
with such disturbing and realistic worries of our world such as war, disease, famine, maybe
we should be focusing more on what affect these perils will have on our children, and less on
a holiday that has been celebrated for centuries known as Halloween.
Is a house always a home? Is the grass always greener on the other side? I think not! I think
it is like experimenting with a recipe. Sometimes you do not always follow the directions,
(you end up putting in ingredients other than what's called for) but ultimately the finished
product is delicious!
To make a house a home I believe you have to throw in a mixture of love, respect, happiness,
and a cup running over with a feeling of security. You cannot forget memories, (some
good-some not so good) they have to somewhat balance out each other, or you end up with too
much of a bad taste...!
Above all the most important ingredient is your own personal touch. Everyone's recipe for
making their house a home will be different, but as for me, the ingredients above made for a
fine cuisine.
A look at the mysterious Ica stones
The mysterious Ica stones - truth or fiction? Supernatural phenomenon or is it a hoax?
In 1966, a man by the name of Javier Cabrera, a local physician, received a small-carved rock
for his birthday by a local native. The first thing he noticed was the fact it looked ancient.
When the doctor showed interest the natives continued to bring him more. Some of the
stones seemed to clearly depict drawings of dinosaurs, triceratops, stegosaurus, and humans
riding on the backs of flying pterodactyls. Examination of the stones show grooves that bear
traces of layers containing natural varnish, created by bacteria over thousands of years.
The original resting place of these stones is unknown. Since these stone do not contain
organic material, they cannot be dated. So, what are we to believe? We need a rigorous
scientific investigation of these stone. Nevertheless, we need not dismiss the possibility of
supernatural phenomena being involved. After all, it is now a huge part of the scientific
discussions between many
qualified scientist and researchers. If found to be true it would change our history as we
know it of human life on earth!
How to know if your house is haunted
The year was 1965, some 42 years ago, but I remember it like yesterday - my first encounter
with the unknown. My family and I (mom, dad, and older brother and sister) had settled into
our new home on 839 Agnes Street. Excited to have my own bedroom I could not wait to see
it. I did not feel uncomfortable right away, it was not until bedtime that I began to feel
anxious. I crawled into bed and kissing my mother goodnight, she closed the door. I had
closed my eyes when I felt the presence of someone, or some thing, sitting down on the foot
of my bed. Opening my eyes, I looked to find nothing there. I threw my blanket back and
could see the indention on the mattress as if someone were sitting there.
After an hour of my mother assuring me that I had been dreaming, she tucked me back into
bed. I remember curling up into a ball at the head of my bed and starring at the foot of my
mattress. Although the strange occurrence did not happen again that night, it did many
times
after. I would get up many nights and sleep in the corner of my closet because I did not feel
safe in
my own bed.
A few months after we moved in, my father was killed in an accident at work. Shortly
afterwards lights began to go on and off, doors would open and shut by their-selves, and often
we were awaken by strange voices. Items would disappear only to reappear somewhere else. I
saw several apparitions of an old woman dressed all in black, moving about the house, on
more than one occasion.
I would wake to see her standing over my bed just starring down at me. My mother would try
desperately to make some kind of logic out of what was happening. We were frightened to
stay but could not afford to move. Over the years, we would learn to accept whatever was
there and tried to ignore it the best we could.
It has been many years since we lived there and the events have had lasting affects on all of
us.
The evolution of Horror movies
As a small child, one of the first emotions we express is fear. Fear of the dark, afraid to look
under our bed, and fear of the unknown is not only terrifying but also exhilarating.
The horror movies of today have evolved in that earlier horror flicks contained much less
blood and gore. One of the classics, 'House on Haunted Hill' starring Vincent Price debuted
in 1959 and terrified audiences without showing any gory details. Instead, the director
played on our fear and let the audience use their own imagination. The master of horror
Alfred Hitchcock knew how to manipulate and shock his audience by merely using camera
angles and special lighting, creating eerie shots of terror that panned in and out quickly on
his subjects. Who can forget the original ‘Psycho’ (1960) or 'The Birds' (1963) they are still
horrifying to watch.
I have just mentioned a very small fraction of yesterday’s classics, but I think you get the
idea.
In 1999, Mr. Night Shyamalan Sixth Sense debuted and received rave reviews from
audiences and critics alike. Although Shyamalan opted to include a few explicit scenes of
gore, but for only minor seconds, it still possessed much of the same elements as its counter
classics. The same classic style of the past can be said about M. Night Shyamalan's 2001
'The Others'.
Again, I have mentioned just a few of what I personally feel will stand the test of time as far
as horror classics go. I remember the first time I saw the original 'Halloween' it was 1978 and
just into a few minutes of the movie I was hooked. John Carpenter used our childhood fear
of the boogeyman, and one of the most celebrated holidays of the year to entice our
underlying insecurities in the fear of the unknown and the supernatural. I was hooked!
However, I must say and I think many would agree the director could have left out much of
the slice and dice scenes, and it would have still been a terrifying horror flick.
Oh well, each to their own. One thing for sure there is plenty of horror flicks to choose
from, and with such an enormous variety, one is sure to find a favorite.
How to buy health insurance in your state
Research! Research! Research! Research the health insurance companies in your state by
comparing their quotes side by side. Health care costs on the United States rose 6.9% more
than double the rate of inflation. The most important factor is to find the right plan. The
amount of costs and coverage depends on if it is an individual plan or family plan. Check
with your employer and find out who their provider is to discuss the different options that
may be available.
Over one third of uninsured adults have trouble paying their medical bills. Currently the
high costs of any type of medical treatment can be overwhelming, but without some form of
insurance coverage, it could mean the difference between life and death.
Low-income families should check with their Department of Social Services to find out if
they are eligible for assistance. Medicaid and MC for kids are available in Missouri if you
meet the criteria.
Halloween in light of past cultures
Our Halloween trick-or-treat customs actually descended from a belief that the family dead
would bring gifts or so called goodies to the children upon their temporary return from the
other side. If you stop to think about that, it makes quite a bit of sense. Gifts, food, and
sweets are still a standard method today when it comes to attracting our children to other
holidays such as, Christmas and Easter.
Our celebration of Halloween rituals are relics of the pagan, or what was known as All
Hallows Eve, later Christianized as "All Saints." Feast of the Dead was known as the time
when the (crack between the worlds) would open up letting the spirits pass through. At this
particular time, the ghosts of the dead could join their ancestors at the feast. They could
communicate with the living, leaving with them premonitions and omens too come.
In Ireland, grave mounds were known as (fairy hills) and were said to open up just for the
occasion. Most believed it was impossible to keep the fairies underground on Halloween.
These so called fairies were simply referred to as pagan spirits. The church insisted they
were demons and were abroad on Halloween.
Another term for the ancient pagan priestesses, whose business was to communicate with
the dead, were also referred to as witches. Black cats, broomsticks, and bats were all familiar
tools commonly associated with the witch.
In most recent times, our holiday known as Halloween has become a heated topic in some
churches as well as schools. Some feel Halloween is enticing our children to follow a devil-
worshiping crowd. I must say when I see my grandchildren dressed in those pirate and ninja
outfits it frightens me tremendously! Okay, now I am just being sarcastic! However, I feel
with such disturbing and realistic worries of our world such as war, disease, famine, maybe
we should be focusing more on what affect these perils will have on our children, and less on
a holiday that has been celebrated for centuries known as Halloween.
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| Reviews & Synopsis of each book below. |
| Barbara Watkins Author |
| Click on the book covers to order now through Amazon! |
| Copyright 2008-2010 Barbara Watkins |
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