Pesky Alan Strikes Again

    I usually have a slow paranormal period around my house after Aunt Belle goes home from a visit. The ghosts romp and play for an entire week before she arrives, continue during the time she's here and, I assume, take a break to renew their energy after she leaves. I had quite a few sightings and interactions leading up to her arrival; not really anything since she left last Saturday. However, whenever I have a slow paranormal week here, I can always depend on my friend Angela's resident ghost, Alan, for a blog post. He pretty much behaves these days, at least when I'm over at Angela's house. I hear he can get a bit more troublesome when she's alone. However, I always use the threat of bringing back that "psychic bitch" who scares him (Aunt Belle) if he bothers me too much. So he's really just been a pesky tease lately.
   Angela did tell me that he was pouting the other day. Always interested in his antics, which I didn't think Alan knew (see below), I asked her what he had been doing. Seems there is a toy in her daughter's room that has a sound on it like a rooster crowing. Alan began making that rooster crow early every morning. At first, Angela didn't hear it. But her husband did. Then one morning, Angela caught the sound.
   "What is that?" she asked her husband.
   "I guess somebody around here's got some chickens. That darn rooster has been crowing every morning this week." Angela said he truly thought he had been hearing a real rooster.
   "This is the first morning I've heard it. They aren't allowed to have chickens here in our part of town."
   Later that day, she found the source: the toy. She disabled it so Alan couldn't turn it on again, thus the pouty ghost.
   We are having our Psychic Development Classes at Angela's house, so she doesn't have to have a babysitter. Her daughter naps in the afternoon while we meet. Last Friday, we were getting ready to do our end-of-class meditation, and I saw Alan, watching us from the kitchen.
   I mentally said: Behave yourself.
   He didn't answer, so I was somewhat on guard. This made it impossible for me to relax enough to go deep into my meditation. I was aware of Angela, sitting beside me, Amanda lying on the floor, and Floyd over on the loveseat. I continued to relax, hoping I'd find that wonderful place in my subconscious if I waited a while longer.
  Then Floyd started to snore. Well, that was all right; we'd heard him do that before.
   But I could also sense Alan prowling around the room, although he didn't come very close to me … at first. Floyd continued to snore; I sensed Alan a little closer, but didn't want to open my eyes.
   Then the couch shook! That opened my eyes, but I didn't want to bother the others, so I telepathically shouted : Gosh darn you, Alan! Behave! But I was laughing about him getting one over on me.
   Next, Angela burst out laughing loudly, and everyone came out of their meditation. I'd shut my eyes, but I reopened them. So did Floyd. Amanda popped up off the floor.
   "I couldn't help it," Angela said in between her chuckles.
   "I'm sorry," Floyd apologized, thinking she was laughing at him. "I tried, but I just drifted off."
   "No," I denied. "It wasn't you." Angela's laughter was contagious, and Amanda and I both joined in. Floyd just flushed with embarrassment.
   "Did you feel Alan shake the couch?" I asked Angela.
   "Yeah." She shook her head. "And it really wasn't you, Floyd."
  "Darn you, Alan!" I yelled aloud, but somewhat quietly so I wouldn't wake Angela's daughter.
   "Alan's the one who woke you, Floyd," Angela said. "First he came over here beside me and was acting like he was gonna poke me at my third eye. I told him to quit that. Then he moved over to Trana and acted like he was going to poke her on the nose."
   "That would have been a bad idea," I said in a warning tone.
   "That's what I told him," she said. "So I said, 'If you want to do something, go wake up Floyd,' and he did." Of course, since everyone was meditating, she and Alan were communicating telepathically, as we both can do with paranormal entities.
   "I thought I woke up because you two were laughing," Floyd said.
   "Nope," Angela told him. "It was Alan."
   It was so funny, and did release some tension and stress, as meditation is meant to do, that I decided not to threaten Alan too much. I did tell him he should remember being banished out by the mailbox for several days, if he decided to interfere with my classes too much. I imagine he could tell my heart wasn't in the threat, though. I kept giggling at his antics.
   We had another class this week, and as soon as I went in the door, I was anxious to tell Angela about writing this, my Saturday blog post. But guess who met me before I could say anything and crawled all over me, very clearly letting me know by his really strong energy that he was there? Yep, Alan. And he said: I already know what's in  your blog! You wrote about me.
   "Angela," I said through my laughs. "Your darn ghost has been over at my house. He was watching me write my blog."
   She said, "He does travel around." And we both shook our heads as I told her what was in the blog.
   Alan didn't dare mess with our meditation that day. He stayed away, perhaps because this was a very deep, soul travel meditation.
   However, now when I feel a ghost in my office, I won't know if it's Alan or my own Martha, who "lives" in this room. Once in a while another ghost will pop in, but not often. I'll have to stop and tune in if I want to figure out the identity of any paranormal visitor. Normally, I won't bother to do that, though. When I'm busy, I usually just flick my fingers at the pesky ghost and it has to leave.
   Angela has a blog herself, and she does great product reviews. She's honest with them, and will tell you if a product works; if not, why. Her Misadventures of a First Time Mom blog is very well worth a follow at: http://www.misadvmom.com. I may have told you she also designs my book covers. She's awesome with digital manipulation, so I can't brag about her enough. I can't wait to show off the Dead Man Hand cover, but so far, she's only teased me with glimpses. Which is fine, because she's an artist and we both understand what it means not to release our work until we ourselves are satisfied with it. The cover should be available for my next blog, though.
   I've been finishing up the newest set of true ghost stories: Ghost Hunting Diary Volume IV. I'm even dropping titles in the e-file for Volume V. So many tales, so little writing time. Dead Man Hand is just about ready to go, also, so I'm sure I'll meet my self-imposed deadline of having the two books up the first week in September. Can't wait to hear what y'all think of them!
   I've also noticed a doubling of the number of hits on my blog, so welcome to all the new readers! Hope I'm sufficiently scaring you. J
   In the meantime, happy hunting and ….
   Boo!
   T. M.

Predicting the Paranormal - NOT!

  The longer I mess around in the paranormal world, the more certain I become we will never understand it, let alone predict it. Friday night, August 17, was another unpredictable night, and not a satisfying sample of paranormal activity.
  I'd venture to say I've been to Dry Creek Cemetery at least three dozen times, if not more. I've gone during the day and at night. I've been out there in all the moon phases. Never once have I experienced the same type of activity, so what made me think I could predict we'd have a fabulous "hunt?" Well, we'd been having great ones out there lately, except for that one ….
  Friday night the activity was nada. Nothing. Rather boring.
  We did see lots of flitting shapes and misty figures. A couple darker figures actually appeared here and there. That was cool in a way, since my Psychic Development Class folks were along and could practice their growing gifts. However, one of these days I'll learn not to get excited about an upcoming visit to a paranormal place or predict what will happen.
  What initially got me excited was a looming Aunt Belle visit. I'd known for a couple weeks when she would arrive, and those are always wonderful ghost hunts. Had been, anyway. Also, knowing ahead of time when she planned one of her monthly trips gave not only me, but other group members a chance to decide how to show off to our senior sensitive. All of us were eager to take her to Dry Creek, where we had been so successfully communicating with the ghosts and spirits. Let her see how we could ask them yes or no questions and they would turn on one of the flashlights on the ground in response. Or not turn it on, for a no. We had this on DVD already, from two other trips there. My "Ghostly April Fool's Parts One and Two" blogs document one of those. A clip from that "hunt" is on YouTube at: http://tiny.cc/ba9ls. Aunt Belle watched the DVD's, and she, too, couldn't wait for dark to visit our favorite local haunt.
  We enthusiastically discussed what we just knew would happen. We always got great communication at Dry Creek. We always talked with a few of the same spirits, whom we were starting to consider friends. We thought they considered us friends in return. We couldn't wait to get a new DVD, this time with Belle chatting with our friendly ghosts. We enthused about how great it would be to have Aunt Belle's, Angela's and my abilities all combined this night. How it would be a great investigation.
  Pride goeth before a fall, and all that.
  The weather forecast forewarned of thunderstorms, full of winds, lightning and possible hail. It didn't appear, though, that these storms would reach us in time to ruin our ghost hunt. We should have remembered what happened a few weeks prior, when we ended up staying over at Dry Creek after dark in the face of looming storms. That night, the ghosts and spirits absolutely refused to "talk" to us via the flashlights. In fact, they hardly even materialized at all that evening.
  This Friday night, as we watched the lightning and thunder off in the distance, not one of the three flashlights on the ground flickered. The emf laid there, its one small light burning, mocking us. The new beach ball didn't move a scant inch. All we did was wipe sweat and watch the non-activity.
  Nada. Nothing. We begged, we pleaded, we said pretty please. We even turned the camera on, hoping they would be more inclined to appear and chat on film.
  Nada. Nothing.
  We saw lots of bats. The mist moved out of the woods, but from a different direction this visit. We heard a few names and phrases from the other dimensional entities. We watched numerous spirits play hide and seek with each other and totally ignore us, except once in a while, one of us would hear a giggle or snort of laughter. A few spirits slipped and mentioned their names, but I'd be willing to bet, given the overall lack of responsiveness to their visitors, they didn't mean for us to hear.
  We packed up and left after two hours. The storms didn't hit until early the next morning, just like they had never reached us that other trip when we didn't experience a bit of activity at Dry Creek. I haven't watched the video camera film yet. I suppose I will, even though I imagine it's a dud. There's always hope something will pop in. Examining evidence is one of those dreary parts of investigation, unless we make an infrequent catch.
  If there's any conclusion possible about this, it's never to plan a trip to Dry Creek with storms in the near vicinity.
  Or … never try to foretell how a paranormal investigation will go before we get there. Those pesky paranormals are totally unpredictable!
  I've been hard at work on Dead Man Hand and Ghost Hunting Diary Volume IV. I'm chasing a self-imposed deadline of the first week in September, as well as taking time out to hunt an illusive ghost now and then. In the meantime ….
  Boo!
  T. M.

Orbs or Dust?

  A great debate in the paranormal investigating community: Is there such a thing as an orb? Or are they all just dust specks or flying insects?   I'll admit, when I first started taking pictures in haunted places, I was totally excited to get "orbs." But with experience, I soon realized most of this was dust. In fact, I need to get my butt over to my web site and update it, deleting some of those photos there, although there is an orb or two in some. What I've found with certainty is that once we would walk through an area, then turn back and take a picture, the air would be full of "orbs." Nope, it was dust kicked up by our footsteps. I got out of my car once down at our deer camp immediately after I'd driven down the hot, dusty driveway and snapped a pic. Yep, full of round dust particles.
  But … what about the orbs we see with our own eyes? I have watched orbs playing around in trees, a pretty blue one comes to mind. I've seen them fly through the air, clear enough to know they aren't bugs. I've found orbs teasing around my feet, perhaps a passed-on pet. Sometimes they show up on film; most of the time they do not. Still, I'm in the faction that believes orbs are real, though rare and not easily distinguished as a ghost or sprit versus dust.
  Probably the most undisputed evidence I have of the reality of orbs came one night when a group of us were investigating a cemetery high on a hill overlooking Ft. Worth. Every one of us saw a green flash of light at the rear of the graveyard, and a couple saw the green ball of light. A moment later, headlights climbed up the road to the cemetery. A voice from a nearby tombstone said to those of us who have psychic hearing ability (which I do possess): Cops. The cops are coming.
  It darned sure was a cop! We identified his car when he pulled under the security light in the parking area. He was nice about it, though, when he found out we were ghost hunters. It seemed he also believed.
  "I'll tell you why I came up here," he said. "I didn't even know y'all were here. But I was driving past on the road below this hill when I glanced up and saw a bright green flash up here. Then this green ball of light took off into the sky. I thought kids were playing with fireworks, shooting off a Roman candle. But I only saw the one ball fly into the sky, and it didn't explode."
  An orb. Though not all members of our group had seen the ball of light, he had. We did all see the flash, which does accompany the appearance of an orb once in a while.
  There doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason as to whether they appear on a digital photo or a 35mm one. I've caught them on both my personal 35mm cameras and those little throwaways, as well as digital.
  During our drive home from Minnesota in June, I took a few pictures with a throwaway. I'd  purchased that camera when I forgot my digital on a trip to Houston and got called out on two investigations. I was just snapping to finish off the film so I could get my vacation pictures developed when we got home. Sis and doggie were sleeping in the back seat, and I turned around to get a shot. However, at that second, hub swerved into another lane and I wobbled. This is what showed up in that photo:

This is what showed up in the next picture about five seconds later, when the car smoothed out:

  Orbs in the first one? Since Sis is highly sensitive, I think some of them are. She was probably having a nasty dream and needed some protection from the bad visuals. Just my active writer's mind opinion, of course, which is what the bulk of the reasoning as to paranormal events boils down to: opinion.
  I found another photo on that roll of film that is interesting. It's from one of the Houston investigations. If you've read extensively about paranormal photos, you know sometimes things show up later in photos that were definitely not there when you first examined the picture. The mist on the left of the stairwell was not there when I picked up these photos at Wal-Mart One Hour. It's there now:

  As I mentioned to some folks recently, I can take hundreds of photos and never get a hint of anything paranormal. But something does show up now and then. To have two interesting photos on one roll of film, especially from a throwaway camera, is definitely something to blog about.
  Montana Surrender is being featured on the Kindle Romance Blog. I'll be Facebook-ing and Tweeting. Feel free to join me in spreading the word, and do check out Donna Faz's site. It's a good place to find interesting reads:

http://kindleromancenovels.blogspot.com/2012/08/montana-surrender-by-trana-mae-simmons.html?showComment=1344728658564#c6704859258312078797

  Happy shooting!
  Boo!
  T. M.

Flashlight Flickers

  If you'd told me a year ago I'd be chatting with a flashlight, I'd have helped you call the little men in the white coats. Even as long as I've been deep into the paranormal, I never had a hint something like this would occur. The things we find as we continue to prowl around in our haunts are always fun and new!
  This phenomena has been totally consistent, not just a one-time, odd incident. Counting back, we believe last night was the fifth time several of us had experienced this, and we don't believe it will be the last. Truth be told, and the real, honest truth, we talked with the entities at Goshen Cemetery again last night through some special twist-on flashlights we carry. Of all our communication devices, the ghosts and spirits seem to like these the best of all. They show us they are right there with us by turning on one or more of the flashlights on the ground at our feet. We ask questions, mostly ones with a yes or no answer, and they respond by turning on the light for a yes, leaving it dark for a no. We've used up to three flashlights at once, and sometimes we get responses on more than one at the same time. I'll be writing a lot more about this particular "hunting" trip, as well as this phenomena on other occasions, in upcoming diaries. I'll just hit a couple highlights here.
  First, of course, I'd like to tell you about my latest e-book. A reader sent me a Facebook message and wanted to know why she couldn't get Town Social, one of my sweet romances, for her Nook. Turned out, it was my fault! I hadn't checked the "distribute to Barnes and Noble" box at Smashwords, believing at the time I would upload directly there myself. Which I forgot to do when I got involved in finishing Dead Man Hand and the next volume of diaries. My bad! It's up now, and you can find it at:  http://tiny.cc/6xbliw. Enjoy!
  Now back to what you are probably reading this blog for: This past Friday night, August 3, was a perfect night to chase down some ghosts. I'd been promising my Psychic Development Class members to take them to Goshen when I felt they had progressed enough to be prepared for this cemetery. Goshen can hurt you if you aren't careful out there, and I'm vigilant about not taking friends into danger. But when they realized it would be Full Moon Friday, they pleaded with me to go that night. They'd done well with their class work, and I knew they would cooperate safety-wise, so I agreed. I didn't know until we had been at the cemetery for a while, and my friend Amanda mentioned it, that this August was also a Blue Moon month. There will be a second full moon on August 31. This, of course, makes both moons a special time to communicate across The Veil.
  As I say, I don't take any chances with Goshen. We did two protection meditations before we left the house. Since we had three greenhorns, who had nonetheless passed the requirements for me to include them, I also talked with everyone for a while, letting them know Goshen might not be a fun trip like Dry Creek. As a surprise to Angela, I told everyone that she and Timmy were to be considered my next in command, since Belle wouldn't be with us. Timmy has always considered himself a go-to for any problems, as he has been involved in the paranormal nearly as long as I have. The group understood they were to immediately go to Angela or Timmy if they had any problems and I wasn't close by.
  When we arrived at the cemetery, each and every one of us put on a protection packet. Knowing I would have a somewhat larger group than I usually take with me, I'd made up a dozen new packets. I put one on myself, then handed out packets to Angela and her mother and father, Gloria and Bryan. Timmy always carries his own packet, which I made for him ages ago, and I passed out packets to Sarah and Floyd, and their son, Isaac. Amanda also accompanied us this trip. This was a first-time experience for Bryan, Isaac and Amanda. They were all excited to be included, especially Isaac, since his birthday had been the previous day. He considered being accepted on the "hunt" as a late present. Goshen at night was also a first-timer for Sarah, Floyd, and Gloria. They'd been to other haunted locations, but not Goshen. Timmy, Angela and I would be keeping a close eye on the somewhat newer rookies to the paranormal world, keeping in mind we were all at that stage once ourselves.
  Friday's moon was gorgeous, what I sometimes call a harvest moon. It didn't rise until around nine-thirty. Well, it had to have risen a little before that, "snuck up on us," I guess, because by the time I noticed the new light falling on the cemetery, it was high off the horizon. We'd already had one great session with the flashlights, talking to two ghosts, one named Sam, the other Walter. We moved to a different area, and hardly even got a flicker, not even any attention to the ball Sarah had laid down. We did, however, find a nest of ants and walked through a sea of uncut grass, ending up with those nasty sharp prickle-burrs all over our socks and pant legs!
  We gathered our equipment and moved again. Right after we set up the flashlights and EMF meter again, I noticed the light in the western half of the graveyard. I glanced through the trees and saw that beautiful moon. How had we all missed it rising? We deserted the spirits and took some pictures and videos where we wouldn't be blocked by treetops.
  Our abandonment didn't seem to bother our spirits, who flashed the beams to show their presence as soon as we re-gathered around the equipment. This time, Jane came with the men. She was a bit shy, and when she turned on the flashlight, it didn't burn as brightly as for the men. In fact, Sam's communications lit up the beam the brightest. He seemed to have a crush on Amanda, since he said a couple times how pretty she was. Thus, I think he was showing off for her! She loved it when he actually answered her questions using the flashlight.
  In fact, everyone got responses to what they asked this night. The experienced investigators among us found that unusual, since previously, the spirits and ghosts would choose only one or two with whom to communicate. Full Moon Friday Night, they paid attention to each and every person in our group. Perhaps it was the full moon. Perhaps it was Goshen. When I asked everyone afterwards if they enjoyed themselves, each person answered with a resounding yes.
  I'll report more on the conversations we had in an upcoming diary. One thing that I made note of, however, was the lack of any EVP spikes, whether the meters were on the ground or being carried. I have no idea why this happened, since we've always had numerous EVP showings at Goshen. The lack of interest in the small ball was consistent with what we experienced at Dry Creek, though. We did catch a few temperature drops with the infrared thermometer, but only down to the low 70-degrees area. We've had those cold spots measure into the low 30's at Goshen before.
  So it was a different type of night. Nearly everyone saw a few things: misty movements and full-bodied shapes, and we felt vindicated when another person would confirm exactly what the one had seen. We only "talked" to three spirits and one ghost. The spirits were quite chatty, and I helped the ghost, a woman, cross over. The pretty full moon made it a nice walk for her!
  Hope my Nook readers enjoy Town Social. Dead Man Hand is rocking towards a great, explosive ending, I already have a few stories set to go for the next volume of diaries, and just have to pick and choose the rest out of a slew of possibilities.
  Take care, stay safe, and…
  Boo!
  T. M.