Entities-R-Us Book is on Amazon!

Check out Terri’s new book: Entities-R-Us Book is on Amazon!.

On ASD and “AUTISM and the GOD CONNECTION” by William Stillman

   

      Since April is Autism Awareness Month what better time to comment on a book which not only offers a unique perspective on autism but also bristles with paranormal overtones.  AUTISM and the GOD CONNECTION by William Stillman is such a book.

     Before I get into my commentary on Bill’s book however, I would like to give you a brief and hopefully simplified overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder, usually identified by the acronym ASD  (for the sake of brevity I will use ‘ASD’ when referring to autism throughout the remainder of this article).

 ♦ Autism Spectrum Disorder ♦

     As I said, I’d like to keep this simple and present some key points of ASD under the assumption that many of you who read this are either totally unfamiliar or know very little about autism.  I’m giving you this sort of  ‘introduction’  not only as a lead into my commentary about Bill Stillman’s book  Autism and the God Connection but also because many of you will know someone or someone who cares for someone on the autism spectrum sometime throughout your life.  

     According to the CDC:  Currently, ”It is estimated that an average of 1 in 110 children in the United States have an ASD.”* I use the word ‘currently’ as it seems stats on ASD are ever-changing .   Simply stated ASD is a neuro-biological disorder involving  impaired social interaction, significant difficulties in understanding verbal and nonverbal communication, and exhibiting repetitive and challenging behaviors.  It has no cure.  Children with autism will become adults with autism!  No definitive cause for ASD has  been determined although genetics does  play a role but as many as 100 genes may be involved.  Symptoms  should manifest before 3 years of age but unfortunately diagnosis usually occurs a few years later.  Mental retardation can co-exist with ASD but is by no means always the case.  On the average 41 % of children with an ASD exhibit an Intellectual Disability meaning an IQ below 70.* Early intervention is the key to positive outcomes for children on the autism spectrum and the earlier the intervention the better.    Children with ASD show a preference for structure and predictability and frequently respond well to treatment based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.  Something I would like to bring to light here is that although many of us like a predictable, daily routine, we usually do not overreact  if  we circumstantially and periodically need to deviate from our daily routine.  Not so with many folks with ASD.  Sometimes even a slight change in their normal schedule can have devastating effects!  Children and adults with ASD  are not going to accommodate us so we need to accommodate them to the best of our abilities.   There are many more facts and detailed explanations concerning autism throughout the lifespan which I will not go into here.   However there is something I would like to add.  As noted ASD commonly presents with 3 core deficits sometimes called the “Autism Triad.”  In addition to impairments in communication, impairments in social interaction and repetitive and limited interests and behaviors we might add a fourth, sensory processing disorder or sensory sensitivities.  Many times individuals with ASD exhibit significant tactile, olfactory, and especially visual and auditory sensitivities.  New research indicates that there appears to be a preponderance of gray matter in those parts of the brain responsible for processing visual and auditory stimuli.  Many of us exhibit some sensory sensitivities perhaps to fluorescent lights, certain types of  noise, or even the way our clothing rubs on a certain part of our body to name just a few.  In someone with ASD, however, these sensations are much more pronounced.  In fact so pronounced it can cause a person to be extremely restless or even engage in aggressive behaviors until they obtain some relief from the irritating stimuli.  When I was designing or consulting on designing a productive learning environment for adults with ASD, sensory sensitivities were always in the forefront of consideration.  This leads to the question: Is it possible that many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder could also present with ‘special sensitivities or heightened  spiritual or ‘paranormal’ perceptions?’ 

*(Source http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html).  

♦ Autism and the God Connection – a book by William Stillman ♦

     William Stillman is an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome and has published numerous books on Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Bipolar Disorder to name a few.  In addition Bill has appeared on national television and writes a column for the quarterly magazine The Autism perspective and is active in the autism self-advocacy movement.  Through his autism workshops and private consultations he offers a unique perspective on autism through his humanistic point of view.  I have attended Bill’s presentations and they have touched me deeply as well as taught me something about myself in the process.

     Autism and the God Connection copyright 2006 is the first book in Stillman’s Autism and the God Connection trilogy which includes The Soul of Autism & The Autism Prophecies et al. 

   Autism and the God Connection is a ‘must read’ for many of you who are not only interested in autism but autism and its possible connection to psychic phenomena and paranormal encounters.  Although Stillman approaches these events from a mostly spiritual perspective, through his travels as a private autism consultant for people on the spectrum and through the willingness of people to share their sometimes unusual experiences while caring for someone on the autism spectrum he has compiled some compelling stories of clairvoyance, telepathy, spirit communication and connections, aura perception, and ’hauntings’   Bill supplements these experiences with some of the finer points of his humanistic perspective on autism.  He explains it in a way that inspires and brings to light the unique attributes of people with autism and also discusses the awakening of his own spirituality.  Bill proposes that the senses of people with autism “vibrate at a frequency different from most.”  which in turn makes them highly sensitive and emotional beings.  Stillman also infers that autism may be more a “gift” than a hindrance given the sensitive, spiritual nature of people on the spectrum.

   It is understandable that raising a loved one with autism many times cultivates an atmosphere of confusion,desperation–and even hostility.  The last thing a parent wants to hear is that their child is a ‘Godsend’ or spiritual prophet!  Although Autism and the God Connection seemingly implies that, at the same time it offers another perspective on a profound and sometimes mysterious disorder.  Perhaps just a flicker of light and hope in the darkness.  

   Whether you are caring for someone on the autism spectrum, interested in learning a bit more about ASD, a Psychic or paranormal enthusiast or are looking for some illuminating  and spiritual food for the soul this book will fit your needs.

If you feel a loved one that you care for may be experiencing psychic phenomena or spirit communication or encounters,  I’d love to hear your story, of course confidentiality will be respected.  You can e-mail me at: grandpajoe2@verizon.net ~JJA

Commentary on HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS A Practical Guide by Joshua P. Warren

   

     

      You’ve finally decided  you’d like to go find some ghosts but  need some basic pointers on paranormal investigation including what equipment you might want to bring along, and oh,  how about a good explanation of just what an entity is?  Well just grab your copy of HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS -A Practical Guide by Joshua P. Warren and you’ll be ready to conquer any haunted house or  apparition filled prison, well…partly.  In my humble opinion, the written word is no substitute for actual physical participation in a paranormal investigation with an experienced team or individual, but that’s another article for another time.

     HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS et al copyright 2003 is the creation of Joshua P. Warren.  Warren is the founder and president of L.E.M.U.R.  a paranormal research team and has made numerous appearances on TV and radio networks.  Unlike the authors of the other paranormal books I’ve reviewed, I have never met or spoken with Mr. Warren.

     The contents of the book adequately support the title.  The book is layed out in two sections.  The first section touches on everything from entities to naturals in addition  to a wide range of  paranormal phenomena and terminology  and Warren convincingly presents all topics in a balanced fashion for the most part.  His commentary and analysis go a bit deeper than just superficial explanations and this presents for an interesting, informative read.

     The second and final section of HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS deals with the ‘Whys, Wheres, and Whats’ of ghost hunting including something on just about every common piece of para-equipment extant.  Joshua continues on with the logistics of an investigation and some pointers on strategies if  you in fact,  find paranormal activity.  Last but not least Warren cleverly includes examples of a “Ghost Research Log, and an Interview Form for Owner/Resident in the appendices and a list of “Equipment Resources.”

     Overall HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS - A Practical Guide would be a welcome addition to any novice  para-investigator’s library.  However I must caution the reader that Warren makes a few controversial statements which are a bit biased and which some readers may take offense to:

[1] He lends a somewhat more credence to orbs than is currently fashionable.

[2] He asserts that it is perfectly ethical to charge for services (investigations) as long as payment does not influence the integrity of the work.

[3] He states that: “…many professional psychics are frauds.”

     If you can get past a little biased thinking the book is a good primer for the beginning paranormal investigator. ~JJA

Upcoming Posts in Voices of October: 

~ Book Commentary on Autism and the God Connection by William Stillman – something a bit different…

~ Transcript of my interview with a local newspaper.

~’Augmentative Spirit Communication’

 

Commentary on GHOST EXCAVATOR Unearthing the Drama in the Mine Fields by John G. Sabol Jr.

    

    

      If you’re tired of the ‘same-old, same-old’ in books about the paranormal; bored with reading compilations of case files and personal encounters; have begun questioning the applicability and validity of the current investigative methodologies then you might want to read GHOST EXCAVATOR Unearthing the Drama in the Mine Fields, Copyright 2007 by John G. Sabol Jr.  This book definitely stimulates the gray matter in addition to weaving a ghostly tale exemplified by the ethnic and cultural history of the Mahanoy area. 

     The author, John Sabol, has an impressive list of credentials and has been involved in paranormal investigation and research well before some of the self-proclaimed ‘leaders in the field’ had even seen the light of day.  I spent some time visiting with John in his home in Mahanoy City in Eastern Pennsylvania the black heart of the  hard coal fields . We discussed his latest book, along with his experiences, fieldwork and methodologies.

     GHOST EXCAVATOR et al is Sabol’s first book and is basically in two parts.   Through skillful use of vivid imagery Sabol successfully paints a picture of the “haunted” landscape of the anthracite fields of eastern of Pennsylvania in the first part.  Delving deep into the origins of the local folklore and urban legends as a function of ethnic struggles and survival in this harsh environment.   I was born and raised about 15 miles from John and can truly relate to what he imparts. I experienced  a childhood much like he did growing up amid the culm banks and the remnants of coal breakers and abandoned deep mines.  While trying to remain unbiased as I write this I must say that Sabol was no longer the sole owner of his  experiences and subjective interpretations, as I read this book  they became mine also, as memories resurfaced and crystallized.  In his descriptions and perceptions of this stark landscape Sabol sets the stage for the second part of his book.

     Borrowing from the fields of archeology, ethnography and anthropology  Sabol attempts to construct a new and fascinating multidisciplinary methodology of ghost research, and here is where things get a bit confusing.  this section of the book is fraught with new terminology, acronyms, and labels that  John has created to introduce and explain his theory.  Perhaps a degree in one of the disciplines mentioned above would be  helpful.  I emailed John concerning the complexity of this section of Ghost Excavator…and he obligingly replied that he appreciated my honesty and that sometimes he forgets that he is not lecturing to a college class–or something along those lines.  Nevertheless, John has gone where few authors go and even fewer succeed that is:  proposing a unique research methodology of paranormal investigation that  probes deeper into haunting phenomena than just the “Horizontal sweeps and Ghost watches” that are the standard of most investigators.

     You will either love or hate this book–and if you’re somewhere in the middle after the initial read–read it again to make a final determination. I read it three times.  If I label a few other books I’ve commented on, ‘paranormal fast food,’ than Ghost Excavator et al is exotic dining for the paranormal connoisseur–but you don’t always have to like what you eat. ~ JJA

You might want to visit John Sabol’s C.A.S.P.E.R. Research Center @ http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeoqapc/ghostexcavator/index.html

On Animal Hauntings, Psychic Canines and things that go bump on the deck

The following stories are presented as strictly subjective personal experiences and not as documented paranormal events.  All events portrayed here can be attributed to imagination, coincidence or other natural causes. ~ JJA

     I had never given much thought about animal spirits or animal hauntings even though I’ve  had many finned, feathered, and furry family members throughout my lifetime.  A few strange occurrences over the past few years have caused me to rethink my position on the possibility of visitations from some dearly departed pets.

∞ MANDY ∞

     About 5 years ago we lost our beloved dog, Mandy to natural causes.  Mandy was a Giant Alaskan Malamute bred with timber wolf and weighed in at 171 lbs. at the time of her passing.  The average lifespan for this breed of dog is from 10-12 years.  Mandy lived to the ripe old age of 15.  I insisted that Mandy be buried in our back yard along with a number of our other deceased pets.  Our soil is very rocky and crisscrossed with large tree roots which take a chainsaw to cut through.  Needless to say it took me most of a morning to dig a grave large enough to accommodate a very large dog in addition to a litter of  fifteen of her favorite stuffed animals-her babies, as we liked to call them.  After putting the finishing touches on her gravesite I felt Mandy was where she would want to be–peacefully at rest in the back yard–or was she?!

     Our deck runs the entire width of the house and Mandy liked to spend many a day pacing back and forth from one end of the deck to the other, the floor boards constantly creaking and groaning.  To make a long story short, a week or two after Mandy’s death I began hearing what sounded like the floor boards on the deck squeaking repetitively–the same sound they made when Mandy used to carry out her relentless march.  I kind of brushed the sounds off as my imagination.  A few weeks later Mandy came up, for whatever reason,  in a conversation between my wife and I.  I said to my wife, ‘You know, I would swear it sounds like her (Mandy) walking back and forth on the deck sometimes.’  “I hear that to,” replied my wife.  We both looked at each other and laughed. 

     I don’t know when it is we both stopped hearing (or imagining) the sounds of Mandy walking the deck as we never really mentioned it to each other again.  At twilight on warm summer nights, I occasionally go to the backyard to watch the bats perform their aerial displays and watch the fireflies rise from the grass.  Sometimes I”ll think I see what appears to be a dark, moving shadow near the tree where Mandy is buried–guess I’ll never really know.

∞ COCOA ∞

      Cockatiels are interesting birds–sometimes you absolutely adore them and other times you think  some big black crow you caught in the backyard would make a better pet! No matter, I talked my wife into letting me buy one (a cockatiel not a crow!) for my birthday back in 2004.  She was mostly yellow in color with some highlights of peach and white.  We named her Tiki.  Prior to purchasing Tiki I had taken a liking to cockatiels because a friend of ours had a grey male named Cocoa.  Cocoa was about 13 years old and had been given to our friend by someone who basically just didn’t want the bird anymore.  Male cockatiels learn to talk easier than females do and Cocoa  was definitely a verbose bird! 

     Tiki settled in to our household with some difficult moments at times mostly because of being weaned prematurely.  After having Tiki for a year or so our friend asked if we could take Cocoa for a brief period while she painted the first floor of her house.  Of course we agreed and she promptly delivered Cocoa and cage (and mysteriously everything else that belonged to Cocoa-including  a spare cage)) to our house a few days later.  Cocoa being a male and Tiki a female–well you  know how it goes–they took to each other immediately.  As I mentioned previously, Cocoa had quite the vocabulary.  He could whistle “Up on the Housetop” in its entirety and from everyone saying “Hi Cocoa” over the years, he could say “Hi Cocoa” as clear as it could possibly be!  Tiki learned “Hi Cocoa” in no time and would use it throughout the course of the day–and appropriately at times.  So you had one bird saying hi to itself and another bird saying hi to the other bird–quite the circus!  The birds could  not leave each other’s sight without raising a nerve racking ruckus!  A year later our friend told us she really didn’t want Cocoa back ( Hmm-like we hadn’t figured this out by now!).  Needless to say there were too many issues with the two birds and we really didn’t want to keep Cocoa either but we agreed to house him until she could find him a new home.  A short time later Cocoa moved in with a school teacher and over time we would hear that he was doing well and his new owner loved him dearly.  Cocoa lived almost another 2  happy years before taking wing for bird heaven or wherever it is that deceased birds go-if they go that is.

     Getting back to Tiki, she had adjusted well to Cocoa going to a new home thank goodness as we had some concerns since they were so attached to each other.  Although Tiki continued to whistle fragments of “Up on the Housetop,” which she had learned from Cocoa, she stopped saying “Hi Cocoa” completely after a few weeks.  We did not hear it again until one day, not long after Cocoa had passed on, Tiki out of the blue suddenly said “Hi Cocoa”  My wife and I both looked up at her cage and noticed that she was sitting on her perch staring off in the opposite direction almost as if she was looking at something.  Tiki repeated this several times and then abruptly stopped.  Over the course of the next few months Tiki would verbalize “Hi Cocoa” occasionally for short periods.  My wife and I both wondered if maybe…just maybe, Cocoa was paying a visit from the ‘other side’ when Tiki would display this behavior.  Of course it could  have been due to spontaneous recovery of the verbal behavior– obviously a more worldly explanation!  Whatever the cause Tiki has not repeated this for a long time now but you never know…

∞ BOONIE ∞

     This is a little bit different from the stories above but since I’m on the subject of animals and possible paranormal phenomena I thought I should include it here.  Boonie is one of two of my cherished NewFoundlands and I’m happy to say: ‘alive and healthy!’  I’ll briefly relate what happened:  While lying in bed watching TV the other night with Boonie also on the bed and asleep at my feet (yes, the 160 lb. NewFy not only sleeps in our bed but he and his brother are also giant lap dogs!) I began thinking of how attached I am to these dogs–probably more attached then I’ve ever been to any other pet I had.  I know that NewFoundlands have short lifespans relative to other dogs and I was thinking how much too short that is.   I began getting myself upset thinking about what I would do if and when something happens to them–all this while I was staring expressionless at the television.  Suddenly Boonie, who had been fast asleep and snoring, crawled up on to my chest, his two front paws on my shoulders, looked at me with the saddest expression I’d ever seen and then began kissing my face incessantly!  Did Boonie sense what I was thinking–and was this his way of consoling me?!  It does make one wonder… ~ JJA

Commentary on Jeff Belanger’s book – The Ghost Files – Paranormal Encounters, Discussion, and Research

                                         Jeff Belanger is no stranger to the world of paranormal phenomena.  He is not only an author of numerous books on the subject but also happens to be the founder of Ghostvillage.com,  purported to be the most popular paranormal website extant.  I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff in April of 2009 during a TAPS “Beyond Reality Event” at the Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire.  I found him to be personable and intelligent yet surprisingly humble.  I enjoyed our chat following one of his presentations and promised to buy at least one of his books. 

    Needless to say I have read 4 of  Jeff’s books since we met including the one I’ve just completed, and the subject of this commentary:   THE GHOST FILES  Paranormal Encounters, Discussion, and Research. Copyright 2007.

     I found this book entertaining, interesting and informative to say the least and I could have probably read all 200 + pages in one sitting but chose to make it last.   The content of the book adequately supports the title.  If you’re like me,  then it seems you are never satiated when it comes to reading about people’s personal encounters with the ‘other side’ and Belanger includes plenty of these subjective occurrences!  Selected from the archives of Ghostvillage.com, Jeff recounts the personal experiences pretty much verbatim with little if any editing adding a bit of insight or food for thought at the end of each.  Belanger also includes chapters on a wide variety of topics such as psychics and spirit communication to name just a few,  including some history on their origins and evolution.  He occasionally intersperses some personal encounters in these chapters to supplement the particular subject.

Although Belanger’s GHOST FILES offers no groundbreaking methodologies or new research in the area of paranormal phenomena and I would list it under the genre of ‘Paranormal Fast Food,’ it does provide a good, entertaining read for the ‘paranormal junkie’  who enjoys reading about personal encounters and general paranormal subject matter.   I found it a pleasurable read and I also read research papers and books on Quantum Theory.

    So if you want an interesting and entertaining read without having a PH.D. and a Thesaurus at your fingertips, definitely get yourself a copy of Jeff Belanger’s THE GHOST FILES …  As with the other books I’ve read by Jeff–I wasn’t disappointed. ~ JJA

In the Woodlands of Northeastern Pennsylvania – A Discourse on Deer Hunting, Nature Spirits, and Altered States of Consciousness.

 

  Frankly I am no stranger to the forest lands of Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Being an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman I have spent many a day tramping through the woods on my way to somewhere-or nowhere at all.  The woodlands have always been my friend, an ever-present retreat from the stress of this fast paced life.  Ever-changing yet always the same.  A place of wonder and beauty-of loneliness and decay.

     Early December in Northeastern Pennsylvania ushers in the Buck hunting season once again.  The forests are an ash grey pruned by the cold November winds and sometimes whitewashed by new fallen snow.  Most of the birds have long gone to wherever it is they go but the Chickadees always remain, flitting from branch to branch and complaining loudly about one thing or another.  Their gray, white, and black colors blending well with the somber forestscape.

     This day began for me like countless others in the Pennsylvania deer hunting season.  I was up in the wee hours of the morning and into the woods before first light.  It was a cold, crisp December morning  and the leaves crackled under my feet as I attempted to settle in to my spot.  My back planted firmly against a tree, I sat motionless waiting for the first hint of light to peek over the treeline signaling the dawn of a new day.

     This year I had chosen a new location from which to hunt my prey and I had been coming here for three mornings now.  There was nothing particularly different about this area from any other place in the general area.  Most of the woodlands around me are second-growth forest, the old growth forest timbered out over a century ago when the land was raped and layed to waist by the ravenous timber companies.  The giant White Pines that once covered the ridges, valleys and swamps quickly fell victim to the axe and saw ultimately becoming ghosts of their former selves in the many sawmills on the banks of swift flowing streams–the drone of the mills echoing endlessly through the hollows and draws of the Appalachians.  What remained now were mostly leaf-bearing trees with  a white pine here and there like  solemn sentinels- reminders of the former grandeur of the Northeastern PA forests.  But the past is the past; what is done is done–or is it?

As the forest slowly came into view weakly illuminated by rising sun-a reversal of evening twilight-I thought I noticed movement among the trees. ‘Wait! There it was again!’  As a seasoned game hunter my senses have been trained to go into hyperdrive at the slightest indication of movement or noise.  Vision becomes finely tuned zeroing in and focusing on the area of movement. Auditory processes do the same, head cocking and turning towards the determined direction of noise.  Tactile sensation heightens immensely as hands slide quickly over the firearm instantly locating trigger and safety simultaneously.  The weapon is gripped firmly but delicately in anticipation.   No, these movements weren’t deer-or any other animal or bird or insect for that matter.  At first I attributed it to a trick of the light but, as I’ve made clear, Ive spent much time in the forest and movement such as this I had never experienced before.  It was subtle but all around me.  Very small shadows blocking out the light between branches and scrub.  I remember cracking a smile, free associating and laughing to myself, ‘Wraiths, faeries hmm.  I have invaded the woodland realm of …’   The movement seemed to dissipate but every once in a while I thought I saw it again although not as frequently.

     The sun had almost completed its slow ascent above the treeline within view.  I settled back against my tree in anticipation of my long vigil.  As I scanned the area, my head moving slowly in a semi-circle I suddenly felt extremely relaxed, as one with the forest.  I noticed every tree, upright or fallen and an overwhelming realization washed through me.  I remember thinking how beautiful this all is, this whole earth-the woodlands and streams.  How fortunate we are to have all of this within our grasp.  I had been relaxed in the woods before-but not like this!  I became cognizant of something else; I didn’t feel like it was me–or it was me thinking this (Very difficult to explain), yet I sensed something–something very old.  As I processed these newfound feelings the beauty around me seeming to course through my veins; to the very depth of my soul, a question suddenly materialized and was brought to the forefront of  conscious thought: ‘WHY!  With all of this beauty around us; here for us; why can man not live harmoniously with nature–with each other?!  What is so difficult about it?!  The absurdity of it was suddenly crystal clear to me.  It had never been so clear before.  Emotions welled up inside me as images flashed through my head.  In what must have been a few seconds, I visualized what seemed to be every war that man had ever fought for thousands of years–from the beginning of recorded time.  I saw man fighting man; swords thrusting, guns firing, explosions and mayhem–and I wept as the eternal question “WHY?” repeated itself over and over.  As the tears subsided and the visions faded along with it went the feeling of inner peace which I had experienced previously.  I began to feel my old stressed-out self again.

What had happened?!  Had I psychically connected with The Memory of Trees from Celtic folklore?  The Celts considered trees to be sacred and repositories of memory, lore and the presence of spirit-beings-or was it an Elemental’s cruel joke?  First imparting on me a sense of well-being and one with nature; then telepathically implying:  “Now here is man, see what he has done!” 

I returned to the same area for two days after my experience this past December of 2009.  Nothing unusual happened again.  I will be sure to return to those woodlands this spring and many times thereafter.  I will never forget the day I wept;  the day the forest wept-for all of us. ~ JJA

“Once there is a certain degree of Presence, of still and alert attention in human beings’ perceptions, they can sense the divine life essence, the one indwelling consciousness or spirit in every creature, every life-form, recognize it as one with their own essence and so love it as themselves.”  (From:  A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle 1999)

The Pocono Hall Encounter – A personal account of paranormal activity

Disclaimer:  The events in this article were experienced by me and another co-worker and are documented, to the best I can recollect, in the sequence they happened.  However, dates and times may be imprecise.   For reasons of confidentiality some  names of people and places may be fictitious or eliminated completely. Nothing has been added or implied to add drama to the content.- JJA

♦INTRODUCTION♦

I believe in ghosts.  I have experienced strange occurrences in my life, whether they have happened randomly or I have actively pursued them, I know what I have seen, heard, and felt.  I believe in ghosts because I believe in myself. – JJA

     As far back as I can remember I have never denied the existence of ghosts.  I don’t recollect ever uttering the words ‘There are no such things as ghosts.’  I sat in fascination around the campfire listening to ghost stories with my fellow cub scouts;  On Saturday nights I waited in anticipation for ‘Chiller Theatre’ never once being afraid to go to bed after watching a few hours of zombies, vampires, and all forms of ghouls and ghosts. As I grew a bit older my friends and I would share the urban legends of our area and even embark on hunts  to possibly get a glimpse of one of the undead that was thought wander the local railroad bed.  Even as a pseudo-intellectual in college I remained open-minded about paranormal phenomena even though it really didn’t concern me one way  or the other whether there was an afterlife or not.  Afterall, I was young and invincible and death just wasn’t in the cards for me-yet!

  In 1981 I was employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at White Haven Center, a state institution for mentally retarded individuals it was there that I would have my first encounter with paranormal phenomena forever changing my perception of reality.

The history of a site is a primary component of any paranormal investigation or experience and should always be included if available.  I have included the history of White Haven Center which is available on-line.  You will notice that White Haven Center was once known as Pennhurst State School Annex.  You may remember the name Pennhurst as the abandoned institution  from  some of the popular ParaTV shows where some of the episodes of those shows were filmed. White Haven Center was an annex of that facility.  You can view the Pennhurst site  @ http://www.opacity.us/site30_pennhurst_state_school.htm

♦WHITE HAVEN CENTERS HISTORY♦

  White Haven Center was originally a Tuberculosis Sanitorium which was opened during the first week of August, 1901, with a Superintendent, a cook, and three patients.

It was located on a fairly level stretch of ground about halfway up the mountain, on what had been a farm. The buildings consisted of a farm house, which was fitted up as a kitchen, dining room and sleeping quarters for the employees, and a large barn, which was converted into a “pavilion”, with accommodations for forty patients.

The original purchase of 215 acres was later increased by a gift from the Coxe Family of Drifton PA.,of $800.00, which brought the final acreage up to about 265.

Year by year new buildings were erected from August 1901 until March 1902, seventy-one patients were admitted at an average cost of $5.42 per patient, per week. From 1901 to 1941, the total number of patients treated at White Haven was 25,335, with an annual average of 617.

In 1907 one of the first training schools to provide those who recovered from Tuberculosis with means of livelihood was established at White Haven. In 1909 the first class was graduated and consisted of five nurses. From 1909 to 1942, White Haven graduated 275 nurses.

Jefferson Medical College accepted the gift of the Sanitorium, complete and outright in 1946 and operated it until March 1, 1956, when the diminishing number of Tuberculosis patients made it mandatory to close the Sanitorium.

It was accordingly sold to the State of Penna. to be used for the care of the Mentally Retarded and starting March 5,1956 was known as Pennhurst State School Annex #2, a sub-division of the Institution at Spring City, Penna. with over 463 patients between the ages of 16 to 60.

When the State of Penna took over White Haven, March 5, 1956, as a Pennhurst Annex, it was a school for the Mentally Retarded. It’s first day of operation was two days later and 30 patients were in attendance during the week, as working patients, getting the site ready for occupancy. These patients came from Pennhurst, where they spent the week-ends.

The first permanent patients to arrive at White Haven, totaled 25, on March 23, 1956. This grew to a capacity of 463 by the end of the year.

During the 1960′s the name of the Institution was changed from Pennhusrt to White Haven State School, and in 1962 was amended to White Haven State School and Hospital; and in 1961 was divorced from Pennhurst to become independently under State Supervision.

The new addition to the Institution, the first of three phases of construction was put into operation when the first assignment of patients, 37 patients, were transferred from the old site May 28, 1964.

On November 15, 1964, White Haven had a total of 528 patients. There are six residential buildings currently in use at the new site and each is set up to house up to 160 patients each. Many new departments have been added to White Haven since January 1, 1964, and has since changed its name to White Haven Center, which it still is called today.

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/AFSCME2334/hist.html

♦THE ENCOUNTER♦

         My career at White Haven Center as a Mental Retardation Aide began sometime in 1981.  I started on 2nd shift and eventually was able to move to day shift.  In 1986 we were blessed with our first daughter, Dominique.  After a 6 month maternity leave my wife had to return to work.  Since I had the option of working  the graveyard shift so as to be with my infant daughter during the day I eagerly did so.  

In order to comprehend just where paranormal activity was experienced, an explanation of the layout of  the facility and buildings is in order:  White Haven Center is composed of  8 residential buildings, 5 of which were operational, each housing about 80 to 90 mentally retarded adults at that time.  Each building or “Unit” is composed of 4 wings or sections with designated with the letters A, B, D, and E.  Each Section  housed approximately 20 + adults.  The sections included a large living area, a bathing area, and 3 dorm areas radiating off of a central hall.

Click on the Section diagram below to enlarge:

 

 

 

 

 

     The names of each residential building or ‘Unit’  were as follows: Hickory Hall, Hemlock Hall, Pine Hall, Penn Hall, Pocono Hall.  Upon transferring to 3rd shift I was assigned to Pocono Hall, Section D.  My duties then included the care and habilitation of the mentally retarded adults living there.  As in most places of employment, the graveyard shift is usually minimally staffed and this was the case at White Haven Center.  The Section where I worked included me in addition to one, and sometimes two coworkers, Roger and Robin (for the sake of confidentiality I will use their first names only).  They had both worked in Section D of Pocono Hall for a few years prior to my joining them so I was the proverbial “new kid on the block.”  As conversations go, one thing led to another and Robin suddenly stated “just want to warn you now, some strange things go on in this section.”    ‘What do ya mean?’ I replied.  ”It’s haunted” Robin answered laughingly.  Robin indicated, with Roger supporting him, that they had experienced the radio suddenly turning on and/or off,  the smell of cigar smoke wafting through the section at different times, unexplained shadows and lights and objects that were put in one place suddenly ending up somewhere else.  Although I found it intriguing I didn’t give it a second thought and went about the everyday business of doing the job.

     Depending on the activity levels of the residents you could end up with a lot of ‘down time’ on 3rd shift, this was the case in the section I worked in.  After attending to the needs of the individuals residing there and other related duties from 1 am until about 5 am was kind of quiet time in the section.  Me and my coworkers would usually sit in the center hall so as to monitor the 3 dorms or sleeping areas which radiated off the center hall.  Robin normally sat on a small couch positioned on the outside wall of the right dorm and I typically sat on a chair directly across from him or against the outside wall of the left dorm.  Again an explanation of the physical  layout is necessary.  The walls in the center hall are block tile about two thirds of the way up and the last third is wire reinforced double pane glass framed in stainless steel.  This was done back in the day to capitalize on the available natural light.  A few weeks after working in the section I began noticing behind the partial glass wall of the right dorm–which I faced when sitting in my chair on downtime (that’s downtime-not “Deadtime) what looked like small pinpoints–and sometimes pea-sized balls of white light which seemed to streak rapidly from right to left near the ceiling of the  dorm.  These globes of light did not appear one at a time  but en masse.  Thinking it was just my eyes playing tricks on me or light reflections due to the double-pane glass I ignored it and didn’t immediately mention it to anyone else.  I would find out later  that others also see or have seen those light anomalies.

     Time passed and at one point I remember standing in the center hall with Robin when all of a sudden the radio went off.  Robin looked at me smiling and said “See!”  Checking out the radio I took note that it was not a clock radio with any way of setting it to go off and on automatically.  It was a small, cheap ’Boom Box’ type combination radio/cassette player.  “Happens all the time” Robin remarked.  ‘Maybe a short’ I replied.  “Okay, if you say so” Robin said sarcastically. ‘Do you ever see streaks of light in the right dorm?’ I asked Robin.  “You see those too huh?” he laughed.    ‘Thought it was my eyes.’ I answered.  “I told you Joseph, things go on in here!” Robin said. (You knew you were on Robin’s good side when he used your full name when addressing you).

     Months went by and I found the conversations between Robin and I  leaned more and more towards ghosts and the sporadic unusual occurrences in the section.  Then the fun stuff began to happen!

     Normally, upon arriving in the section we split the duties. If there were 3 of us on shift in the section two of us would make rounds and do a bed check while the remaining worker would clean wheelchairs, fold laundry etc.  On this particular night at the beginning of the shift Robin and Roger were doing bedcheck while I was gathering up wheelchairs to clean.  The overhead fluorescent lights were all blazing brightly as Robin and Roger proceeded from dorm to dorm with their supply cart in tow. When doing rounds you would usually parked the supply cart in the center hall outside the dorm you were checking and take the supplies that you needed from it accordingly.  This night the cart was parked outside the rear dorm door while I was still in the center hall.  Suddenly I heard a rustling noise.  Turning towards the source of the noise I saw 2 packs of  Attends (adult diapers) seemingly fling themselves up and out of the top nook of the supply cart and onto the floor.  What was unusual about this was that the supply cart has 2 shelves a lower and upper.  The lower is just a flat area while the upper is kind of a well, meaning there is about an 8 inch deep recessed box on the top to prevent the supplies from falling off the top of the cart.  The packs of Attends appeared to be lifted up and out of the cart rather than just falling off.  As I walked over to the cart I heard Robin exclaim from the rear dorm “What was that?”  ‘The diapers just jumped off the cart by themselves!’ I answered excitedly.  Robin and Roger were already coming out of the dorm as I reached the cart.  I demonstrated to them what I had seen.  They both looked at me perplexed.  Apparently something this dramatic had never happened in the section before.

     A week or so following the supply cart event something else happened within a few feet of the previous occurrence.  This time involving a substantially heavier object.  In the center hall on the right side of the doorway into the left dorm was a heavy square wooden table.  It was about waist high and measured a about 24 in.x24 in. supported by straight wooden legs at each corner.  An old office desk chair was pushed under it–the swivel kind with arms and on wheels.  As long as anyone now working in the section remembers that chair was always in the same position relative to the table and no one ever used it (the chair).  Robin and I were in the center hall early in the shift and once again all the overhead fluorescent lights were on.  Suddenly we heard a loud noise, sort of like a banging sound.  We immediately looked in the direction where we thought the noise originated and saw the office chair suddenly fly about 3 feet backward away from the wooden table where it had been anchored for so long.  ‘Holy shit did you see that?!’ I exclaimed loudly.  “No way that could happen!” Robin replied nervously “That chair has been there forever!” he continued.  From that time on things were about to get even more interesting.

     We felt that we had reached a point where it was time to seriously take a hard look at what was going on and possibly entice whatever-or whomever it was to show us more.  As I mentioned previously, I wasn’t into paranormal investigating at the time but had enough common sense, had read enough, and had taken a few Parapsychology courses in college to have a primitive grasp on what we might want to do.  I brought in a Sony microcassette recorder with voice activation which I had stuffed in a drawer at home for starters.  We set it up in the most logical spot-the table outside the left dorm door where the chair had moved.  I set the recorder on voice activation so I didn’t have a ton of tape to review and ’cause I really didn’t think we’d hear anything on it anyway–and we didn’t.  Of course we only ran the recorder for 2 nights and then gave up on that aspect.  I also didn’t have a clue about running it through an audio editing program to reduce noise and boost the gain or maybe we would have heard something!

     Once again common sense ruled and we thought: ‘ if it could move the chair and diapers why can’t it move something we ask it to?’  We found a small non-aerosol plastic spray bottle and set it on the solid wooden table where the previous activity had taken place.  You have to understand institutional construction of not only buildings but furniture as well.  It is built strong and built to last.  The table was probably solid oak, and although plain, very functional as it sat solidly on the floor.  The floor was huge granite block tile with NO give whatsoever, believe me!  After setting the spray bottle on the table we shook, kicked, and banged the table repeatedly and the spray bottle remained standing.  I pushed the bottle with my hand and it slid on the table rather than falling over.  It would definitely take a deliberate act to actually knock the bottle on its side.  We slammed doors and ran back and forth in front of the table to make sure nothing could move it.  Then we made this simple statement: “If you’re here knock this bottle over, okay?”  I think we may have repeated the statement again, then we settled in for the night.

Robin was sitting in his usual spot–the loveseat against the outside wall of the right dorm, while I was planted in my chair against the outside wall of the left dorm and on the other side of the doorway from the oak table with the bottle standing like a miniature sentinel-waiting.  The night dragged slowly on, the exit lights above each dorm door casting an eerie red glow in the center hall.  Eventually both Robin and I dozed off.  Suddenly we heard a distinctive ‘thump.’  Me and Robin both looked at each other across the center hall.  ‘What was that?!’ I said.  “Don’t know.” replied Robin, still groggy.  We both got up and began checking the dorms.  Robin stopped abruptly and pointed at the oak table.  “Look!” he exclaimed.  I immediately turned in the direction he was pointing and froze!  The spray bottle was lying on its side on the tabletop. That was the noise we had heard.  The bottle had fallen over like a telephone pole and lay on its side almost in the same spot it had been standing upright.   ‘Oh (expletive deleted)!’ I exclaimed loudly.  ‘It knocked it over!’  Robin appeared a bit more calm than I was I suppose because he knew that something was in the section all along.  “You know if we tell anyone about this they’re gonna think we’re crazy.” he said.  ‘Hey, I’m happy knowing that we know!’ I replied. 

     I remember going home after work that morning feeling all kinds of emotions.  Satisfaction, confidence, excitement, and a little scared all at the same time.  Although always open-minded about the paranormal, I  finally had my own experience to solidify my beliefs.  Now I could say, without a doubt, that something was going on; that life after death is not so farfetched afterall!  I was off the next 2 days so I had lots of time to sort this out before returning to work.  It wasn’t the end–yet…

     Upon returning to work a few days later and making my rounds in the dorms that night, I began getting feelings of apprehension and at times, it was almost overwhelming.  I felt like something was there–always watching me.  I would make my rounds and try to ignore the feelings.  These feelings persisted at work for a few weeks and I never relayed them to Robin so as not to have him think I was just downright scared.

♦THE APPARITION♦

     Some time had passed now since the spray bottle event and the foreboding feelings I had seemed to have dissipated (or else I got used to them).  We tried the spray bottle thing on a few more occasions with no results.  Nothing unusual happened but we still caught glimpses of the streaking globes of light in the right dorm.

     One particular night Robin was off and the person filling in for him was off on break somewhere.  It was late and I was in my usual chair ready to settle in.  Things were excessively quiet that night as I put my head back on the chair to rest.  Some time passed, I don’t know exactly how long, and I heard some noise, specifically banging and thrashing coming from the left dorm.  Noise emanating from the left dorm wasn’t an unusual occurrence as there was an individual in that dorm who was sometimes a bit restless at night and the bedrails, being metal, made a lot of noise if you happened to make contact with them.  However, the ruckus this night seemed to be a bit different.  I had just lifted my head in anticipation of checking on the individual.  I had turned my head towards the left dorm door which was to the rear and left of where I was seated.  Suddenly I heard what sounded like quick, short footsteps (no one who resided in this section was ambulatory–all were wheelchair bound individuals).  The footsteps stopped abruptly.  What I saw at the threshold of the dorm door appeared to be a  cloaked figure between 5 & 6 ft. tall.  For what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a few seconds, the figure stood there and appeared to look from side to side.  IT wore a black–or very dark brown cloak with a full hood that extended out over its forehead and the sides of its head so that you couldn’t see a face at all–just darkness where a face was supposed to be!  The apparition began to move again.  It proceeded out of the dorm and turned right.  Now I realized that it would pass directly in front of me and also became cognizant of the fact that I couldn’t move–whether it was from pure unadulterated fear or something deliberate, I found myself held against the back of the chair.  The figure continued on its path taking very short but quick footsteps (which I could hear the entire time) almost like a women walking in high heels.  As it passed in front of me it hesitated for a moment and turned its hooded head towards me.  I felt the coldest chills course through my body like I never felt before or have felt since that night.   I was close enough to put my foot out and trip it if I had a mind to.  As close as I was, I could still not make out a face when the apparition looked in my direction.  It  continued on through the open bathing area doorway and  the sound of the footsteps just stopped!   Suddenly I was able to move again and the intense chills were only a lingering coldness which quickly dissipated.

     In the remainder of my time in Pocono Hall, Section D the apparition never appeared again nor did any objects move.  The radio would still turn off periodically and as I said before, the lights still appeared in the right dorm and that brief wiff of cigar smoke was ever present.  Once again time passed and one of the occupational hazards of my job, the heavy lifting, eventually took its toll on me and I ended up needing an operation which necessitated me being off of work for a few months.  In the interim I transferred to day shift.  Over the years I’ve talked with Robin who still works in Section D and he hs told me that the usual still occurs.  I do miss it.

♦SOME THEORIES♦

     Now with some experience in paranormal events behind me and over a decade to think about just what occurred in Pocono Hall, I’ve formulated a theory or two of my own.

     Why did many of the events occur in the same general area i.e. the  left rear of the center hall?  Back in the day when it was determined that a resident’s time on this earth was limited they were put on 24 hour supervision–or a “Death Watch.” As a matter of protocol the particular person’s bed was moved from their dorm to the center hall so he/she could be monitored by the limited staff on 3rd shift.  Where in the center hall was that bed usually placed?–why in one of the rear corners of the center hall of course.  The reason for this location being that the bed would not interfere with the doorways leading out of the center hall into the bathing area and the dayroom which were in the front of the hall.  Many a resident passed away in their beds in the center hall or not only Pocono Hall but all of the residential buildings.  Back then we were responsible for preping–or “Bagging & Tagging” the body for the mortician.  This was  done on a gurney also in the center hall.  Once the body was bagged it sometimes layed on the gurney covered with a sheet for a few hours–or until the mortician could send someone to pick it up the next morning.  So, as you can clearly see, if there is any truth to the theory that  a person who has passed on is sometimes trapped or hangs around in just that location where he/she died then the place of activity makes perfect sense.

Regarding the cloaked apparition:  I have no clue what that could have been!  Some things I can say concerning it are: it appeared to have solid mass as I did not detect any transparency-it seemed as solid as me or you!;  Although its appearance invoked some fear in me and if having a feeling about something holds any water at all I can say that when it paused and turned to look at me, aside from the temporary paralysis and extreme chills I experienced, I sensed no malicious intent whatsoever.  What I did sense was…well…perhaps curiosity-or maybe even…”get a good look at me now cause this is the last time you’re going to see me.”

♦EPILOGUE♦

     This was my first encounter with the paranormal and something I will never, ever forget!  In the years following the event life went on as life does.  I married raised a family etc. etc. and the significance of what I experienced in Pocono Hall on that night took a back seat for awhile–but not for long.  Years later I became interested in doing investigations and helping people understand their experiences or enlightening people on the subject whenever the opportunity presented itself. – JJA

  One night while watching a particular episode of one of the well-known ParaTv shows I suddenly exclaimed loudly to my wife, ‘Why the F$%# are these things always wearing cloaks and hoods when they appear for God’s sake?!!’  Who knows, maybe its the fashionable uniform for inter-dimensional travel.

    

    

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pocono Hall Encounter – A personal account of paranormal activity.

My first paranormal experience coming soon to Voices of October

Watch for it on www.twitter.com/Joeandrasi93  or check this page.

Personal Narrative

Disclaimer:  I am not responsible for the content of this article containing any mindless rambling; repetitive statements; or delusional thinking-give me a break, I’m gettin’ old!

      I was born Joseph John Andrasi to a family of modest means in the city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania right smack in the middle of the anthracite coal fields.  My father was an easygoing, hardworking man; my mother was an incorrigible critic!  I had a childhood rich in adventure with many friends in a  great neighborhood.  Across from and within clear view of my home was the Hazleton #40 Shaft coal breaker a massive black edifice which was lit up like a skyscraper at night.  As a child I spent much of my time with my friends searching for fossils in the exposed slate and shale of the many strip mines in the shadow of the breaker. There was also an abandoned slope mine not far from my home meaning the site of what was once a fully operational mine until about 1956 complete with all of the buildings intact , the mine cars and the open entrance to the shaft itself which my friends and I spent many a day on our explorations into the bowels of the earth unknown to my poor mother.   The mines flooded in the 1950s and brought an end to deep mining in the area–strip mining became the norm. Huge dragline shovels as big as houses  were always nearby, and like mighty dinosaurs they continuously ate away at the desolate moonscape they had created. Many times at night the operators would allow us to come aboard and watch as the huge buckets rip into the earth under the intense lights mounted on the boom of the machines lending a surreal otherworldly feeling to the bleak, boulder strewn landscape. These dragline shovels continue til this day to carve huge craters in the earth although a project to reclaim the forlorn landscape was started years ago and has made some headway.

     Like all kids, I lived for Christmas but Halloween was also one of my favorite times of the year.  Like a coven of witches me and my friends met on the street corner to begin our night of trick-or-treating. (or in coal cracker slang ‘Halloweening’)  Back in the day we were able to trick-or-treat for two nights, mischief night and Halloween night.  Jack-O-Lanterns  glowed on almost every porch and most people welcomed us and filled our bags with treats (or the Jack-O-Lanterns ended up in pieces on the street). Of course it was harvest time and we did our share of raiding gardens at night. Dressed in black we resembled a covert team of military operatives rather than a bunch of kids illegally partaking of the fruits of the earth! 

     I could go on and on about my childhood but it would take volumes to cover.  All I can say is that is was a wonderful time of my life.  It definitely had a touch of ‘The Goonies’ in it and I miss it immensely! 

     I grew up in the late 60s early 70s and yes I had hair down to my ass, a Psychedelic room in my basement complete with strobes and color organs all in time to the music of Led Zeppelin, Creme, and Iron Butterfly among many! The ‘PEACE’ sign was my only form of social greeting in those turbulent years–oh, and sometimes the middle finger especially to figures of authority.

 Over the years I worked a various jobs from house painting to microfilming; from ice cream making to brick making.  In 1974 I applied and was accepted to a liberal arts college about 25 miles north of my home.  I dormed there for 4 years majoring in Psychology-and actually took 2 parapsychology courses seldom offered in other colleges.  It just so happened that the head of the Psychology Department and another professor of mine were professional ghost hunters-not something that you were fond of advertising back then.  Although I was always open-minded about the paranormal my true interest in it would not peak until decades later.  The college itself was an interesting place to live.  The campus was small and many of the main buildings were huge Victorian houses which had been the residences of the elite from back in the day when coal was king in northeastern PA.  Even many of the residence halls had once been private homes that are architectural wonders today.  The woodwork and immensity of these homes was truly amazing!-to think that people lived like that.  Grand staircases made of polished oak and cherry wood that ascended openly 3 or 4 floors; huge fireplaces with walk-in hearths-and yes, they had their ghost stories.  Of course then I attributed them to drinking too many spirits–and then seeing  many spirits-although my best friend would check under her bed every night because she claimed a little girl in Victorian dress appeared at the foot of her bed on more than one occasion.

After graduating from college in 1978-with a degree in Psychology and American Beer Drinking I lived at home and worked briefly in a brick factory close by.  After being laid off I procured a job working with juvenile delinquents and then with people with mental retardation.  Thus began my career in the field of developmental disabilities, a field which I would remain in for the next 30 + years.

In 1981 I began working part-time for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a state institution for mentally retarded (the politically correct term these days is ‘state center for developmentally disabled’).  This is where I was to have my first encounter with the paranormal but that will be discussed in an upcoming article. In the course of my employment I worked myself up from aide to supervisor to directing an adult autism supports program on site; chairing 2 statewide workgroups involving assistive technology for people with developmental disabilities; developing the first statewide resource brochure for people with significant communicative challenges; leading a crisis intervention team; screening the entire population of people who reside in state centers for autism and becoming the lead of the autism specialty team on site.  The last few years of my job much time was spent traveling between the 5 PA state centers to chair meetings and participate in seminars.  The remainder of my time was occupied sitting at a computer coordinating statewide meetings, participating in live meetings and videoconferencing.  Needless to say, the politics and pressure eventually wore me down and I ended up retiring in December of 2008-a bit earlier than anticipated. 

After sitting at home for 9 months and driving my spouse insane–oh that reminds me, a few minor details I failed to mention:   In 1983 I was married and had 2 lovely daughters. In 1997 I was divorced and remarried again in 2007. OK, back to driving my wife insane: in this 9 month time span I joined a TAPS family group in the area.  My involvement was brief though as I soon returned to gainful employment which began to clash with the group’s investigation schedule,  for that and a few other reasons I bowed out gracefully. I had been independently investigating paranormal phenomena for a few years prior to 2007 and also did some consulting and referrals to paranormal groups when necessary. Continuing on, I began working at a private WhiteWater franchise doing campground maintenance among many other things.  Although the pay leaves much to be desired it pays the mortgage and the work is all outdoors which I absolutely love! A bonus is I get to go whitewater rafting as many times as I want–free!

I’m a simple guy who likes peace and quiet at this point in my life.  Being a simple guy, I enjoy the simple things in life:  fishing, hunting, camping, photography (other than paranormal), I read voraciously just about anything that catches my fancy but I’m especially partial to all that’s paranormal, civil war history, WWII history (my dad was in the invasion of Normandy), autism and much much more.  I am a connoisseur of fine handguns and an excellent at combat handgun courses (well, I used to be-the eyes are  aging rapidly) Just a note related to the gun thing: I grew up playing army, cops etc.-and yes, we pointed toy guns at each other constantly and to my knowledge none of us grew up to be mass murders or serial killers.-there, got that off my chest! 

I live with my wife -Tammy, stepdaughter- Kerry,  2 NewFoundlands-Boonie & Koda,  yellow cockatiel – Tiki, cat – ‘FatCat’, and a dwarf hamster Japeto.

Hope I didn’t bore everyone too much. I  promise that in the future I’ll talk more about–oops I forgot-not to worry it’ll come to me!

THE END