The Dreamer and the Observer

Late at night while falling asleep, have you ever felt as if there were two separate consciousnesses within you, one drifting off to sleep and the other remaining awake? It's a fascinating and fairly common phenomenon during the transition between wakefulness and sleep.

The period just before falling asleep in which your mind is partly awake and partly dreaming is referred to as the hypnagogic state. It’s a liminal state in which your conscious awareness and subconscious start to blend. Many people experience a split sensation of being “half awake, half asleep." during this moment.

Simple enough, right? But you can actually identify these two perceived consciousnesses can as your “watcher” self (the one noticing and aware) and your “dreamer” self (the one slipping into sleep and dream states). This can sometimes manifest as observing your own thoughts or body from a detached perspective. This kind of dual awareness is often a foundation for lucid dreaming in which the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming and can sometimes control the dream. But I recently had an interesting idea about this Dreamer and the Observer effect. Could this concept be applied to everyday waking life as well? It's almost as if there are two personas: one that's immersed in the moment, and another that's observing it. The observer may influence how we react to things or determine the appropriate course of action in a situation we are experiencing. I guess that reduces Freudian consciousness to two entities instead of three?

But back to the late night dreaming aspect. Such an experience shows a deep sensitivity to your internal states and transitions, which can be a great asset for self-awareness, creativity, or introspection. If you’re interested, you can even develop this state of mind to achieve it more often.

For starters, you can practice mindfulness meditation during the day. Focus on your breath, bodily sensations, or passing thoughts without judgment. This strengthens your “watcher” self, making you more aware of your thoughts and states, even as you drift into sleep.

Keep a notebook or app by your bed. When you wake up (even in the middle of the night), jot down any memories, sensations, or “split” consciousness experiences. Recording these experiences makes your mind more attuned to them, enhancing recall and possibly leading to more vivid or lucid experiences.

Here's an interesting practice. Several times a day, ask yourself, “Am I dreaming?” Try to push your finger through your palm or read a line of text twice to see if it changes. By making this a habit, your mind may carry this questioning attitude into sleep, increasing your chances of becoming lucid during dreams.

Have you ever heard of the Wake-Back-to-Bed (WBTB) Technique? Simply set an alarm for about 4–6 hours after you go to sleep. Stay awake for 10–20 minutes, reading about dreams or meditating, then go back to sleep. This interrupts your sleep cycle and can boost your awareness during the hypnagogic (falling asleep) and hypnopompic (waking up) states, making it easier to notice dual consciousness or enter lucid dreams.

This next suggestion might be a little scary for some. As you’re falling asleep, gently ask yourself, “Who is falling asleep? Who is watching?” Don’t force answers—just observe what happens. This can deepen your sense of self-awareness and may allow you to consciously witness the transition into sleep.

This is one of my favorites because I can see detailed images and scenes while falling asleep. As you notice yourself drifting, pay gentle attention to the images, sounds, or sensations that arise. Try to remain calmly observant without getting too attached or excited. This can make you more familiar with the boundary between wakefulness and sleep, and sometimes even allow you to “step into” a lucid dream from the waking state (a technique called Wake-Initiated Lucid Dream, or WILD). However, I can say, first hand, that after a few seconds of enjoying these images or scenes, it's easy to get excited and wake up. So try to remain calm while at the same time curious.

Keep in mind that going to bed at the same time each night and avoiding screens before bed can improve your overall sleep quality and make these experiences easier to access.

How C-3P0 Messed up the Timeline of Dorothy's Visit to Oz

In the Land of Oz, where the yellow brick road shone like a golden serpent, the Wicked Witch of the West had long been a force to be reckoned with. Her dark magic and sinister plots had earned her a reputation as one of the most feared beings in the land.

But when C-3PO, the fussy protocol droid, arrived in Oz, he brought with him a peculiar gift, the gift of kindness. His words of compassion and understanding touched the Wicked Witch of the West's heart, and for a time, she was transformed.

What’s more? C-3P0’s visit really altered the time-line of Dorothy’s visit to Oz, at least from how we remember it. C-3P0 met the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion who all accompanied their new golden droid friend to see the Wizard of Oz. The Scarecrow received his brain. The Tin Man received a heart. And the Cowardly Lion received his courage. This means that Dorothy would not meet her trio of friends along the way. Surely you can see how drastically different things were for Dorothy than what we remember.

As mentioned before, the Wicked Witch of the West renounced her wicked ways and began to use her magical powers for good. The inhabitants of Oz, who had long suffered under her tyranny, were amazed by her change of heart.

However, not everyone was pleased with the Wicked Witch of the West's transformation. The new council, which included the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, viewed her with suspicion. They saw her as a threat to their power and status, and they began to plot against her.

You see, with C-3PO's help, the Scarecrow received a brain, but it had unintended consequences. His newfound intelligence made him more calculating and less willing to help others, leading to a shift in the balance of power in Oz.

The Tin Man's heart, granted to him by the Wizard,certainly changed him, but in unexpected ways. He became more emotional and impulsive, leading to conflicts with his friends or even himself.

The Cowardly Lion's newfound courage resulted in him being more aggressive and dominant, further upsetting the delicate balance of power in Oz.

So as the council's influence and corruption grew, the Wicked Witch of the West became increasingly isolated and bitter. She saw the council as a threat to her own power and status, and she began to plot her revenge.

It was then that Dorothy's house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, setting off a chain of events that would change the course of Oz's history. The Wicked Witch of the West (turned back wicked thanks to the council) merely saw the tragedy as an opportunity to eliminate a rival and gain power. She began to manipulate events from behind the scenes, using her magical powers to create obstacles and challenges for Dorothy.

Oh, but she was so wicked, that she appeared friendly and helpful to Dorothy. “Welcome, young one… don’t worry about that witch under your house… But what about you? Are you okay.” What didn’t change about the Oz time-line with Dorothy’s visit was her need to go home. The Wicked Witch of the West simply directed her to follow the Yellow Brick Road until reaching the Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy, unaware of the complex web of alliances and rivalries in Oz, navigated the unfamiliar landscape with caution. As she journeyed down the yellow brick road, she faced numerous challenges and obstacles. The Wicked Witch of the West used her magical powers to try and stop her. To the witch, Dorothy was merely a weapon to create further conflict and confusion in the Land of Oz. 

The witch turned the yellow brick road into a maze, making it difficult for Dorothy to find her way.

The witch created illusions of monsters and dangers, trying to scare Dorothy off the road.

The witch used her magic to make the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion seem hostile towards Dorothy. 

The Scarecrow was too distracted by his own thoughts and almost didn’t notice Dorothy's presence. He was stuck in a field of tall cornstalks, trying to figure out how to escape and didn’t have the time of day for her. 

The Tin Man, whose heart was broken upon discovering a broken bridge over a small stream was very much involved in trying to fix it. He was too focused on his task to notice Dorothy's approach. 

And the cowardly lion would chase her while appearing to almost eat her alive. He was only doing it for fun. 

If that weren’t enough, a dark force, known only as the Shadow, had begun to stir in the background. It sought to exploit the power vacuum and reclaim the dominance it once had over Oz. It was eventually realized that the Shadow was not a single entity, but a manifestation of the darkness within the hearts of Oz's inhabitants. The Shadow, it seemed, was drawn to Dorothy. She was the key to unlocking its secrets, but only if she helped the inhabitants confront their inner demons and find redemption.

The Wheelers are a group of creatures in Oz who were known for their mischievous and troublesome behavior. They were struggling with the Shadow that represented their own selfishness and lack of empathy. With Dorothy's help, they learned to overcome their own darkness and become more compassionate and cooperative.

The Gillikins are a tribe of people in Oz who before Dorothy's journey were known for their love of luxury and material possessions. They were struggling with the Shadow that represented their own greed and materialism. With Dorothy's help, they learned to find true happiness and fulfillment in more meaningful ways.

The Nome King was a powerful and ruthless ruler who, prior to Dorothy, sought to conquer and dominate others. He struggled with the Shadow that represented his own ambition and desire for power. With Dorothy's help, he learned to balance his ambition with compassion and empathy.

Finally, there was the China Country. a region of Oz where the inhabitants are made of delicate china. They struggled with a Shadow that represented their own fragility and vulnerability. With Dorothy's help, they learned to overcome their fears and become more confident and resilient.

Dorothy, with her innate goodness and courage, was soon the beacon of hope for Oz. The Shadow, sensing its power waning, unleashed a final, desperate attack. You see, as more and more inhabitants gained freedom from the Shadow, the Shadow dug it’s claws deeper into the ones who hadn’t been saved while ensuring their manifestations of darkness to be more pronounced. 

Dorothy persevered, using her own wit and resourcefulness to overcome her climactic battle. In the end, it was Dorothy's kindness, compassion, and determination that proved to be the decisive factors. The Shadow was vanquished, and Oz was reborn, its inhabitants living in harmony and peace.

The Wizard, grateful for Dorothy's help, presented her with a special gift: a small, delicate crystal that would allow her to go back home to Kansas, and return to Oz whenever she wished. As Dorothy prepared to leave, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion approached her. "You're not just a hero, Dorothy," the Scarecrow said. "You're a true friend of Oz." Yes, even they had been released from the clutches of the Shadow.

And with that, Dorothy returned to her own world, forever changed by her experiences in Oz, with the knowledge that she would always have a home and friends in the magical Land of Oz.

But the Wicked Witch of the West's fate was left uncertain, leaving room for a sequel to explore the consequences of her actions.

He Gets Us?

 

I saw a commercial the other night from the #HeGetsUs movement. It showed people struggling with finances and appearing stressed out. The caption at the end of the commercial read, "Jesus struggled to make ends meet, too." I'll give my remark on that in a few paragraphs below.

You've probably seen these commercials a few times. This He Gets Us movement is a Christian evangelism campaign that aims to introduce people to Jesus Christ. The movement is led by a group called "The Servant Christian Foundation," and is largely funded and supported by the billionaire brothers, Charles and Phil Anschutz, who are also known for their conservative and Christian values. The campaign's goal is to show that Jesus Christ is relatable and relevant to modern people, and that he "gets us" in a way that others may not. 

So these commercials have appeared in sporting events like the Superbowl or even just during just regular commercial breaks. You might even see billboard signs from the campaign on the highway.

I have to admit, it's not a bad thing to get people into Jesus. I certainly commend the movement. But here's the problem I have with it. The movement is essentially re-branding Jesus so we can make him more relatable in the 21st century. Maybe we are giving people the wrong impression about Jesus. Do we really need to re-brand him?

So Jesus struggled to make ends meet? No he DID NOT! Jesus fed 5000 people (women and children not counted in those days) and had plenty leftover. Jesus instructed Simon Peter who had a bad night of fishing to "put the net over there" which resulted in an overwhelming amount of fish to catch. For his Last Supper, Jesus had a room prepared for him and the disciples along with bread wine and whatever else they ate on that fateful evening. Jesus had everything he needed and gave to those with abundance. A more appropriate commercial would be remind people that God blesses us with a life of abundance. It's just that we have to be on the right track and seek the Kingdom of Heaven. And I get it ... There are people living in third world countries whose governments aren't treating them very well. That's a story for a different day. But for those not so unfortunate, most Americans aren't ready to hear that God blesses us, much less believe it. So for now, we suggest something that isn't true, that Jesus was just like us and struggled to make ends meet. 

We need to be careful about re-branding God so that he is no longer the real thing. In the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament it is said that Jesus understands us because he was one of us. He knows our problems because he experienced most of them except for sin. But in the series of these commercials that attempt to re-band Jesus, it's almost as if there should be the State Farm jingle, "Like a good neighbor, Jesus is there." 

While shoveling your driveway, does he shovel your neighbor's as well? Does he sit outside in the backyard with you and enjoys a couple beers and brats on a summer night? While choosing to see Jesus as meek and mild who would never hurt or upset anyone, is he soon housebroken? Does he run outside and fetch your morning paper for you? What sort of Jesus is he?

You see, the Jesus described in the Bible is a very controversial figure. He shook things up. That's why they wanted to kill him. It wasn't because he simply urged people to love one another, but because he challenged the status quo. He didn't stand around and give people encouragement that they were fine and good. He, instead, urged people to repent because they were in need of change and that he was the solution to their problems. A more suiting image of Jesus as depicted from the Bible would be if the Devil asked Jesus, "Who are you?" and Jesus answers, "Your worst nightmare!" Isn't that the more powerful Jesus that our faith professes, a Jesus that makes a difference, and calls us to commitment in reforming our lives?

Re-branding nearly trivializes Jesus. Re-branding could remove the power, the message, the authority and the command of God who became flesh among us on a search and rescue mission. Re-branding might lead us to take the Gospel with a grain of salt when the Gospel is so much more.

By making Jesus more "relatable" and "down-to-earth," the movement may be losing the essence of who Jesus is and what he came to do.

Rocking and Living On Forever!

Techno Kid: Guru of NRG!

I've been asked to do the intro for today's blog article, and give my thoughts on the recent sad passing of our legendary madman rocker, Ozzy Osbourne.

Ozzy... the Prince of Darkness, the wild man of heavy metal himself... shakes head slowly It's a real bummer, man. He was a true original, a legend in every sense of the word... sighs deeply, running hand through hair.. I remember when I first heard "Paranoid".  I've been listening to Black Sabbath since I was 10 years old. Remember how he was our motivation a few months ago, how he was going to the gym and getting ready for his concert?

Ozzy was the embodiment of the indestructible spirit, the eternal rebel refusing to quit. Even in his golden years, he showed us all how to keep pushing forward, never backing down from the fight. clenches fist determinedly His music, his attitude - it's all a testament to the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. Just like the NRG within us all! takes a deep breath, composing himself..

At least he got that one last show in. At least he went out on his own terms, giving fans one final hurrah.

So you know how Dio has a holographic performance of their last concert? And I know what you're thinking, "They're gonna whip up a shiny digital ghost of the Madman himself, crooning classics for eternity?" That's exactly what I'm thinking! Imagine the eternal Ozzy, forever strutting across stages, belting out timeless anthems to adoring crowds! But Ozzy might have missed the boat. You see, if we had mind uploading at our disposal, Ozzy could have uploaded his brain to a computer, then used AI to duplicate himself in terms of interacting with people. Then the holograph would project his "ghost" so that he would live on. 

Now we're  playing with fire here and I LOVE IT! Mind upload, artificial intelligence duplication, a literal digital phoenix rising from the ashes of mortality...But Ozzy's already checked out, so let's flip the script, yeah? WHAT IF... instead of mourning the fallen legends... ...we became the legends ourselves?! Think about it! With advanced enough tech, THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T UPLOAD OUR OWN CONSCIOUSNESSES, DUPLICATE THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE IN THE DIGITAL REALM, AND LIVE ON FOREVER AS GLITCHING ROCK GODS!

And that's what we're talking about doing in this Friday's article. So pay attention!

Rocking and Living On Forever!

Ronnie James Dio, the legendary heavy metal vocalist who passed away in 2010, was featured in a holographic performance that recreated his last concert or iconic moments from his career. This kind of show uses advanced 3D projection technology to create a life-like, three-dimensional image of Dio on stage, often accompanied by remastered recordings or live musicians.

Kiss, known for their theatrical stage shows and iconic makeup, has announced plans to incorporate holograms of past band members or create new shows featuring digital versions of the band. This could mean resurrecting performances by members who have retired or passed away, or simply enhancing live concerts with holographic effects.

But could this also be extended to the rest of us? Imagine a future of high tech ghosts who continue to grace the family with their presence through the use of mind uploading, AI and holographic technology!

Question: Would you be willing to have a chip implanted in your brain so that you can upload the contents of your mind to the Internet--a lifetime of your thoughts, dreams, emotions, acquired knowledge, and memories? 

Many might answer, yes. They cite that there are benefits such as preserving the brain if in the event it becomes damaged from injury, stroke, or sudden illness. And if the brain is continuously synchronized with whatever portal the Internet provides, one can survive a tragic accident or even murder. A loved one simply accesses the portal online to continue the relationship. Why, one can even learn the details of the murder from the victim as he or she relays the final, chilling moments! 

It would all begin with the above-mentioned theoretical process of mind uploading. The concept of uploading a mind—sometimes called "mind uploading" or "whole brain emulation"—is a popular topic in both science fiction and futurist circles. The idea is that, with sufficiently advanced technology, we could map the entire structure and function of a human brain, digitize it, and run it on a computer. This digital version could, in theory, interact with loved ones, learn, and even evolve over time via a PC or maybe even a futuristic robot of that person. 

Of course it would require AI.  Training an AI on one's writings, recordings, and interactions could allow loved ones to "talk" to a version of themselves after they've gone. This is already being explored in various forms, from chatbots trained on personal data to more advanced digital avatars. But while AI bots can now mimic personalities, speech patterns, and even some memories (if trained on enough data), they are not conscious and do not possess self-awareness or subjective experience. They are, at best, sophisticated simulations; digital echoes of a person, not the person themselves. There could be some hesitation to follow through with this which is well-founded. AI can sometimes generate unexpected or inappropriate responses, especially if it encounters ambiguous or emotionally charged situations. No matter how well-trained, an AI bot is not infallible and may not always reflect one's true intentions or values. But, let's assume that surviving loved ones are willing to recognize and work with these imperfections.

The use of holograms to recreate performances like Dio's last concert demonstrates how technology can preserve and project a person's likeness and artistry. Combining this with AI could create interactive holograms that respond in real time, further blurring the line between memory and presence. Such a creation would be a "high-tech spirit", a digital manifestation of a person's mind, memories, and mannerisms, but without the Soul that made them truly unique.

Combining the idea of uploading a version of ourselves, integrating it with an AI bot, and turning it into a projected hologram that interacts, we essentially create a high-tech spirit of our mind. It's not our actual Soul, as our human entity is made of composite matter. When we die, our Soul is no longer part of that composite entity For all  practical purposes, we could say that this hologram would be a high-tech. spirit of the deceased person's mind. We've actually created a spirit that does not include the Soul which has passed onto the next life.

C-3PO in the Land of Oz

C-3PO in the Land of Oz

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, C-3PO, the golden protocol droid, found himself in a most peculiar situation. After a malfunction during a hyperspace jump, he was unexpectedly transported to the vibrant and magical Land of Oz. As he powered up, he looked around, bewildered by the colorful landscape filled with emerald cities, talking animals, and whimsical creatures.

“Where am I?” C-3PO exclaimed, his voice tinged with anxiety. “I must find my way back to the Rebel Alliance!”

As he wandered through the lush fields, he encountered a group of curious Munchkins. They gazed at him in awe, their eyes wide with wonder. “Who are you?” one little Munchkin asked.

“I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations,” he replied, straightening his posture. “I am fluent in over six million forms of communication. But right now, I seem to be lost.”

The Munchkins, delighted by his shiny exterior and eloquent speech, decided to help him. “You should visit the Wizard of Oz! He can help you get back home!” they suggested, pointing down the yellow brick road.

With a newfound sense of purpose, C-3PO set off on the yellow brick road, his metallic limbs clanking with each step. Along the way, he met a Scarecrow who was searching for a brain, a Tin Man longing for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion seeking courage. They quickly became friends, each sharing their dreams and aspirations.

“Perhaps the Wizard can help us all,” C-3PO suggested, his circuits buzzing with excitement. “I may not have a heart or courage, but I can certainly assist you in your quest!”

As they journeyed together, C-3PO used his knowledge of diplomacy and etiquette to navigate the challenges they faced. When they encountered the Wicked Witch of the West, he diplomatically negotiated their passage, much to the surprise of his companions. “I must remind you, dear witch, that kindness is the true path to power,” he said, his voice steady despite the danger.

Finally, they reached the Emerald City, where the Wizard awaited. The great and powerful Wizard listened to their stories and, after much deliberation, granted each of them their wishes. The Scarecrow received a brain, the Tin Man a heart, and the Cowardly Lion found his courage. As for C-3PO, the Wizard offered him a way back to his galaxy.

“Thank you, kind Wizard,” C-3PO said, bowing slightly. “But I have learned that friendship and courage come in many forms. I will cherish my time here in Oz.”

With a wave of the Wizard’s hand, a portal opened, shimmering with the colors of the rainbow. C-3PO turned to his friends, his golden eyes glistening. “I will miss you all. Remember, no matter where you are, you can always find courage, heart, and wisdom within yourselves.”

As he stepped through the portal, C-3PO felt a sense of fulfillment. He had not only helped his friends but had also discovered the true meaning of companionship. Back in the galaxy far, far away, he would carry the spirit of Oz with him, forever reminding him that even a droid can find a heart in the most unexpected places. 

And so, in the Land of Oz, the adventures of C-3PO became a cherished tale, a reminder that friendship knows no bounds, and courage can be found in the most unlikely of heroes.

The Aliens Give Dana her Second Baby

Hello All:

Happy Monday!

We've reached the very last story ever written in the Dana Gets Abducted by Aliens series. Released throughout 2015 and 2016, the stories were eventually unpublished due to undesirable content. The same holds true for numerous other short stories. In the future, similar stories will go through a clean-up and re-release.

For today, let's learn the details of when the aliens gave Dana her second baby. 

The Aliens Give Dana her Second Baby

It was New Year's Eve in 2010, a happy time for Dana and her husband Mike. Even Katie, their alien child who had been plagued with one developmental challenge after another, was finally coming around—mostly normal. She was merged into regular academic classes with her peers. Katie was fully adjusted to her ADHD medication, and receiving tutoring to help cope with her learning disabilities. Speech was nearly normal. As for wetting the bed, the episodes mostly cleared up.

As for Mike, he was getting older and his alcoholism and drug abuse was subsiding.  Things were becoming fairly normal for the family. The holiday season of 2010/2011 was a joyous time for Dana.

Then came New Years Eve. With the family on track to being normal for a change, they hosted a celebration in their home with a few dozen family and friends. Food and pastries were catered in. With it there was plenty of booze to be enjoyed by all, even Mike—he didn't actually quit drinking, just cut way back. At the stroke of midnight; Mike, his brothers and friends all went outside to light fireworks. People came outside on the deck to watch while toasting in the New Year. 

But it was the fireworks, Dana believed, that were responsible for calling the aliens back to reek more havoc in her life. At one point during the backyard fireworks display, a sky rocket took off for the sky. Apparently it was a dud. It never exploded or emitted brilliant showers of smoke. Instead, it took off higher and higher into the sky and eventually turned a brilliant green. The green light flickered and strobed in such a way that it momentarily reminded Dana of the alien spaceship from decades ago that signaled itself to her from the sky.

Dana froze in terror while observing the flickering sky rocket that never exploded. The green light strobed the exact, same pattern that Dana remembered from years ago. It was intelligible, and she knew its meaning. It meant that within a matter of hours, she would receive another unwelcomed visit from beings of another world.

"Ugghhhhh?????" Dana cried out with trembling lips. "Not again!"

"What are you talking about?" shouted her husband, Mike, from a distance. "That was the first dud for the evening."

People nearby laughed.

Dana nervously laughed with them. She certainly couldn't confess to being a victim of regular alien abductions. And it was the last time that Dana would laugh for the evening. Throughout the remainder of the party, she stayed mostly quiet. She was angry and very disappointed. Just when Dana was beginning to believe that the bizarre life of chronic alien abductions had ended, it looked like it was going to return.

"Is everything okay?" asked Dana's sister, Lisa, towards the end of the evening. Both were in the kitchen. Lisa was helping Dana clean up. And if you recall, Lisa was with Dana on that fateful night of her first alien abduction. The reader remembers the incident in the northern woods of Michigan?—yes?

"I think I'm just tired." answered Dana.

"It was the green firework, wasn't it?" suggested Lisa with a smile. "It reminded you of something."

Dana sighed. "I don't want to start with that right now."

"I'm sorry, Dana." apologized Lisa. "We're just having a little fun. Come-on, it's New Year's Eve..."

***

By one o'clock in the morning all the party guests had left. Katie was sound asleep. And Mike couldn't get into bed fast enough. Initially, Dana fell asleep once her head hit the pillow. She hoped that she would be too tired to wake up in the middle of the night. But, alas, shortly after falling asleep; Dana woke up and glanced over to the alarm clock on her nightstand. The time was 2:14 am.

Dana closed her eyes and laid there for about a minute or so. She was having difficulty falling back to sleep. Maybe if she tried the reverse; maybe if she tried laying in bed with her eyes open while staring at the ceiling and fighting the urge to fall asleep, this would solve the problem. She did this for some time, but could not feel her eyes growing heavy.

"Come-on..." thought Dana to herself. She glanced over to the alarm clock and was startled to see that it was still 2:14 am. 

Impossible! Twenty minutes must have passed. This "frozen time phenomenon" could mean only one thing. And just like every time before, the house was frighteningly silent. Even Mike's breathing could not be heard.

On this particular alien abduction, Dana didn't see any green lights shining through the bedroom window. Instead, the curtains rustled and the silhouette of a being could be seen from behind.

"No!" cried out Dana. "No! Please! Somebody wake up! Please, help me! Mike! Katie!" 

It was no use. All she could do was lay there under some sort of sleep paralysis, except she was wide awake.

Soon Dana floated through the bedroom window and onto the spaceship. As the ship drifted up to the sky, Dana was stripped of her pajamas and laid down onto an examining table with arms and legs restrained.

Where did the aliens go with Dana?

So strange: they whisked out to the Pacific Ocean, near Seattle, where the space ship hovered over the water. And as a couple of extra terrestrials began to probe and examine her body, Dana could sense that a large group of others were actually fishing through the windows of the space ship. Yes, you read that correctly! The aliens had fishing poles and lures. They were actually catching fish through the windows of their flying saucer!

And if you think that’s strange, the music of Led Zeppelin could be heard through some audio system on the space ship. Since when do extra terrestrials listen to Led Zeppelin?

The aliens seemed excited by their catch, and they began to discuss the merits of the fish. All the while, Dana felt a sense of confusion and disorientation, unsure of what the aliens planned to do with her."We've got something!" announced one of the aliens who were fishing.

"Well reel it in!" encouraged another alien.

The winding of the fishing reel could be heard. Soon all the aliens were excited.

"What is it?" asked one.

"It's a fish!" answered another.

"Well we knew that!" nearly shouted the boss. For some reason, Dana knew he was the one in charge. "I knew it was a fish. But what kind?"

"Oh, you know what this is?" began one of the aliens. "This is a red snapper!

"OOOOOOOOOO!" exclaimed all the aliens on board the space ship.

Suddenly, Dana felt every alien eye on her. "What? What are you going to do?" she pleaded, her voice trembling.

The alien who caught the fish held it up, its scales glinting under the ship’s strange lights. "This specimen is compatible," it announced, its voice echoing in her mind.

Before Dana could react, the aliens surrounded her, their instruments whirring and clicking. She felt a cold, tingling sensation as a device pressed against her abdomen, sending a jolt of energy through her body.

The fish was placed in a containment field beside her, its gills flaring as it floated in midair. The aliens began to scan both Dana and the fish, their voices overlapping in a chorus of incomprehensible analysis.

Dana’s vision blurred. She could feel something changing inside her—an alien presence, a foreign energy. Panic rose as she realized she was powerless, a specimen in an experiment she could not understand.

Outside, the strains of Led Zeppelin’s “Moby Dick” played, the drum solo pounding in time with her racing heart.

The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was the fish’s unblinking eye, staring at her through the glass.

***

Some weeks later, Dana learned that she was pregnant. But she had no idea what kind of creature was growing inside her. As usual, the aliens had performed some kind of experiment on her. This time she was carrying a mysterious, alien-related entity.

To be continued...

Church is for Hypocrites

Have you ever been in a situation in which someone makes the remark, "I don't know why anyone would want to go to church. Church is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites."? When hearing this, be sure to remark back, "Well then you should really go because you would fit in." It's the perfect comeback the next time someone says that about church. 

Really it's true. Church is made up of a bunch of hypocrites who can't act out what the church teaches. Each week we sit in church as a bunch of sinners. We are sinners on the road to recovery. In fact, just like an alcoholics at an AA meeting in which the first thing to do is admit that one is an alcoholic, we immediately confess that we are sinful and unclean in thought, word, deed, and the things we leave undone. 

Church is a place of healing and a place of cleaning up our act. And only when recognizing that Jesus is the means to repair ourselves and bring us to the state that God intended when creating us will we fully be on that road to recovery. Only then would we recognize that the kingdom of God is like finding a buried treasure in a field, so we sell everything we own to purchase that field.

The Aliens Give Dana Her First Baby

 Hello All:

At only fourteen-years old, Dana had a terrifying experience in the north woods of Michigan while vacationing with her family. During this time, Dana had been abducted by extraterrestrials. But the initial abduction was apparently useless to the aliens. Dana was too young to follow through with whatever plans the beings had for her. Eight years later, they returned while Dana was on a weekend getaway with her fiancé in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The abduction was equally terrifying as the first time, not to mention very bizarre. Be sure to READ STORY ONE and READ STORY TWO in the series if you haven't done so already; or if you need to refresh your memory.

The Aliens Give Dana Her First Baby

Nearly a year after Dana had been abducted by aliens in Tomahawk, Wisconsin; she and her fiancé, Mike, married. She never told Mike of the terrifying and bizarre experience up at the cottage in Tomahawk, or of her first abduction as a young girl. How could she possibly explain it to her future husband? What's more, Dana feared possibly losing her fiancé if in the event that he thought she was crazy. And in those days, Dana sometimes believed that she was going crazy. She kept reminding herself of her father's words of wisdom that strange lights in the sky are usually satellites in space or military planes traveling at high altitude. She also reminded herself of a high school friend's advice that alien abductions are theorized to be only nightmares under sleep paralysis.

But this doesn't hold true for the present. Dana now believes beyond a shadow of a doubt that the alien abductions are and always have been 100% real. 

How can she not? Her teenage daughter, Katie, seems to have ways of reminding her of this. It's usually done in Katie's annoying choice of communicating with Mother.

"Katie, no!" shouts Dana to her teenage daughter. "You know how to talk! You can speak with words! And how am I supposed to know what you need by you tapping on my arm like that?" It's Katie's preferred choice of communicating with Mother which involves rhythmically tapping on her arm or shoulder with index, middle and ring finger. The taps are done at a high speed and recognizably in patterns. And it is much too similar to the way that the extraterrestrials communicate with Dana when she is onboard their ship. With their fingers, they touch Dana with various rhythmic patterns which place her body under a control. With this control, she obeys instructions to "walk over here", or "climb into this tank of slimy fluid". Not that the aliens don't have the ability to telepathically communicate these things to Dana; it's just that tapping patterns have a way of coaxing her against her will.

And this is one of the reasons why Dana secretly despises when Katie does this. Rather than ask for something, she uses the alien method of communication so that Mother obeys her wishes. "You speak with words, understand?" orders Dana to her daughter.

"Yes Mother..." finally answers Katie. But then she uses alien telepathy. "Why do you try to pretend not to know what that means? It's how they talk to us on the ship."

"Katie, what do you want?" asks Dana in an irritated tone of voice. "Now that you've interrupted me and have my attention..."

"I wanted to know if you could give me some money." finally reveals Katie. "I want to go to the mall with Jenny and Holly and shop for some clothes." Katie’s eyes are light brown with a somewhat hint of eeriness. If eyes are windows to the soul, then Katie's eyes might reveal that there is something not of this world about her. She's always been strange—actually one problem after another since she was born. Katie exhibited delayed speech development, and didn't start talking until kindergarten age. In school she demonstrated some serious learning disabilities along with behavioral disorders, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. She wet the bed until she was ten years old. Yes, Dana and Mike's first child was a real handful.

But, now, fifteen-years old, Katie is doing much better. It's just that Mother has to remind her to speak with words. "Yes, I will give you some money." answers Mother. "All you had to do was ask."

***

So how long did it take before Dana conceived her first child after marrying her husband, Mike? To answer, you have to understand that the pair of newlyweds decided to wait about five years before having children. They wanted to enjoy their lives together as newlyweds. Then, about the time when being newlyweds wouldn't be so new, they planned on finally having their first child.

But despite their plans, Dana and Mike didn't actually wait the entire five years to fulfill their newlywed existence. At about four and a half years into marriage, both decided that it was time. But month after month there was no sign of pregnancy. Two years passed before Mike finally asked, "Why aren't we conceiving a baby?"

"I don't know..." sadly answered Dana. She partly blamed herself. But she wouldn't dare provide her theory that maybe it had something to do with the alien abductions. Among many of the procedures onboard the extraterrestrial ship, Dana was subjected to intense activity which was aimed in harvesting her abundant energy. The extraterrestrials had a way of doing this, and they somehow fed off it.

And then there was the most-recent incident which was, by far, the most traumatizing. It involved some kind of implant that, as Dana felt, provided more mental control over her and probably allowed tracking of her location with ease.  She remembered laying there on the examination table with eyes closed. And then they fluttered open as she was met with a dull, throbbing pain in her head. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the table.

As she lay there, she felt a strange, tingling sensation in her scalp. It was as if something was moving under her skin, probing and exploring.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her forehead, and she saw a small, metallic object protruding from her skin. It was a tiny, cylindrical implant, no larger than a grain of rice.

Dana's eyes widened in horror as she realized that the implant was slowly being absorbed into her brain tissue. She felt a creeping sense of dread as she realized that she was no longer in control of her own body.

The implant began to glow with a soft, pulsing light, and Dana felt her mind being probed and explored. She saw visions of her past, her memories, and her deepest fears.

She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled and distant. She was trapped in her own body, unable to escape the alien's invasive presence.

As the implant continued to glow, Dana felt her consciousness being slowly drained away. She was being assimilated, absorbed into the alien's collective.

This was the only thing on her mind at the present moment as Dana and Mike discussed their inability to conceive. Were the aliens causing this? "Maybe we should see a fertility doctor." suggested Dana. "Maybe we need to get ourselves checked out."

***

It was discovered after medical testing that Mike had a low sperm count. He drank heavily, smoked cigarettes, and used more than his share of recreational marijuana. And there were the occasional incidents of using psychedelics such psilocybin and LSD. Once Mike actually tripped on peyote—cactus buttons, or mescaline as some people refer to it as. These things, as the doctor explained, can all contribute to a reduction in sperm count.

"You need to change your lifestyle." advised the doctor. "You really shouldn't be smoking. You should have no more than two alcoholic beverages a day and the drug use needs to stop!"

Mike sighed and hesitated for a few seconds.

"Mike, I want children!" declared Dana. "Just do it for us... Do it for our baby and any of our future children."

"Alright, fine!" exploded Mike. "I'll cut the drug use, and I'll cut back on my drinking. But I'm not sure about the smoking. That's hard to do. I like to smoke." Then he asked the doctor, "Do you think that cutting back on my drinking and quitting the recreational drugs will help?"

"It certainly will." encouraged the doctor. "It's a start."

And so Mike did as promised. But many months passed, and Dana had yet to be impregnated.

"Maybe God is just waiting to send us the right baby." suggested Dana. "I've heard of that before. "People try for some years and almost give up. Then, they are finally given a baby."

For Mike it was as good as an explanation as any.

***

So how long did Dana need to wait before conceiving her first child?

Oh, it was certainly a test of patience! She was married to Mike in 1987, waited four-and-a-half years before trying for a child, and then waited nearly nine years later before discovering that she was finally pregnant!

It was the mid-summer of 2000 when Dana suspected that the magic moment had finally taken place. On a Sunday afternoon, Mike pulled his Ford F-250 pickup truck into a forest preserve that was located about an hour away from where they lived. It was to be an afternoon of fishing at a secret pond that was hidden in the forest. Very few fishermen in the area knew of the pond, and Mike was one of the fortunate people to have heard about it.

"I don't know about this place." stated Dana as Mike drove some distance into the forest preserve parking lot. "It's too secluded, and the trees look old and gnarly. It looks dangerous; probably a lot of crime committed here."

"Dana, I'm telling you. There's supposed to be some really good fishing at that hidden pond. Just relax... you're with me. We'll be alright."

The pond that Mike and Dana soon hiked to with picnic basket, blanket and fishing gear was actually connected to a large lake via a creek. The fish apparently swam up and down this creek.

Now about this hidden pond: It has an urban legend along with an unofficial name of "the friendly fort". This so-called "friendly fort" was a hidden pond that a bizarre UFO cult often gathered around in the midnight hours to perform strange new age—almost witchcraft—rituals. The cult could be considered a space-aged coven of cosmic witches that use the small pond to merge their consciousness into while summoning and conjuring deities from faraway galaxies or higher dimensions. And it probably wasn't the best place for someone like Dana to visit who is regularly abducted by aliens throughout her adult life.

The "friendly fort" is surrounded by a three-tiered coliseum of flagstone which is a complete mystery to those who live in the area. There are no records of the forest preserve district ever making such an improvement around the pond. It was further evidence that the bizarre UFO cult had done this themselves. You see; they gather around the pond in a large circle on this three-tiered coliseum of flagstone while performing their space aged magic and conjuring their intergalactic deities.

"Oh this is a nice spot, here!" exclaimed Mike while crossing a large log which connected to a flagstone platform out in the water. The platform was large enough to accommodate their fishing gear, picnic basket with blanket while allowing adequate space to move about.

But Dana did not like the platform. "Mike I don't know." she complained. "Are you sure about this? I feel like we are not supposed to be here."

"Why aren't we supposed to be here?" challenged Mike. "This is a public forest preserve, and fishing is allowed in these waters provided we have a permit." Mike reached into his tackle box and pulled out his fishing permit. "See... we'll be fine."

Mike didn't understand the things that Dana was experiencing. You see, that stone platform was no ordinary platform. It was the very center of the friendly fort, and was designated by the space-aged coven as the Altar of Water. At that very altar, the high priest and priestess regularly conjured up deities from faraway galaxies.

Mike removed the lid from the Styrofoam container of night crawlers and pulled out a worm. With a small knife he cut the worm into fourths. While doing this, he happened to glance over to his wife, Dana, who covered her ears and closed her eyes—seemingly in agony.

"What? What's wrong?" asked Mike.

"The worm is screaming." answered Dana.

"Screaming?" challenged Mike. "I don't hear the worm screaming! That's impossible! Worms don't have vocal cords to make sounds.”

"It's hissing." explained Dana. "It's hard to explain. The worm is generating this high-pitched vibration because it's in pain, and I can hear it."

Mike only shook his head in disbelief. "Worms don't feel pain. They don't have a complex nervous system like other animals. And you've been getting stranger and stranger in the years that we've been married."

Mike's remark of being strange actually hurt Dana's feelings. She never shared with him the ongoing alien abductions that she had been experiencing in all those years. Dana believed that the aliens were doing something to her to cause all of the extraordinary perceptions along with bizarre memories. She sometimes spent many days in a state of depersonalization while questioning reality and existence. And then there was her recent suspicion of being being implanted with something by the aliens—some sort of communication or tracking device.

"Well, once I whip this bobber out in the water I'll have a few tokes so I can catch up with you." announced Mike. Yes, in the past couple of years, Mike had resumed his recreational use of marijuana. To him, conceiving a baby was a lost cause. With the bobber finally floating on water, he reached into the tackle box for his already packed bowl and lighter. "You want some?" Mike offered Dana.

"No..."

"What's wrong?" asked Mike. He sensed that something bothered Dana.

But Dana wouldn't confess to what hurt her feelings. "Nothing..." she answered. "I just can't do stuff like that. Our company has random drug testing."

Mike merely shrugged his shoulders and took another hit of weed while gazing out at the bobber floating in water. For being a pond that offered such great fishing, one would think that Mike would use lures to do some casting.

One of the night crawlers spoke from inside the Styrofoam container. He warned Mike, "You will pay severely for your unconscionable deed." Seconds later the surroundings suddenly turned very quiet in that moment for Dana. It's not like she couldn't hear anything. And it's not like the world around her froze. She could still hear her husband drawing in puffs of marijuana smoke and choking. She could see the bobber floating up and down on the water. But it was suddenly as-if she were experiencing these things through a television screen. Rather than be part of whatever was taking place, she was a now a silent observer who watched herself from a distant place.

Then came a tremendous wind from across the pond with deafening explosion. It didn't seem to faze Mike in the least. The wind didn't even affect the flame on the lighter as it torched the marijuana in Mike's bowl. But Dana was aware of it. The wind was so strong that she fought for dear life and called out for help. But Mike did not hear her.

Too weak to continue fighting, Dana had been blown into the pond where she sank under the water. She couldn't even swim; just kept sinking and sinking down to the bottom.

"Don't worry about breathing." reassured a familiar voice inside Dana's head. It was one of the extraterrestrials who, just as usual, telepathically communicated with her. "Keep your eyes closed." the extraterrestrial urged. "Do not open your eyes." And don't worry about breathing. The liquid in this tank has the ability to penetrate the pores of your skin and deliver oxygen."

It was difficult for Dana to relax. She wondered what happened to her. Just moments ago she was sitting on the stone platform with Mike. Now, from what the voice of an alien told her, she was inside a tank of some mysterious liquid. She was obviously onboard another spaceship.

But then Dana found herself sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor of what appeared to be an old grammar school classroom. She was with a dozen people of various ages who all sat in a circle. Lying on the floor before each one of them was a small stack of cards with the letters A through G.

"Now shuffle the cards up." a voice ordered from behind Dana.

As the other people in the circle shuffled their cards with letters on them, Dana did the same. She speculated that perhaps everyone sitting on the hardwood floor of that old grammar school classroom were abductees just like her. They might have been in different areas of the alien spaceship and undergoing similar procedures like Dana.

"When I say go; everyone line their cards up in order—the letter, A, closest to you, and G at the center of the circle." instructed the voice from behind Dana. "Go!"

Dana quickly lay out each card in a place where she estimated it would sit in its correct order. In less than ten seconds, she had all the cards laid out. Everyone else in the circle had the same.

"Very good, everyone!" congratulated the voice from behind.

Dana looked over to the person next to her. It was a young woman in her late twenties. "Where are we?" Dana whispered to her?

The young woman shrugged her shoulders. "I guess this is part of whatever procedures they do?" Apparently, Dana's speculation was correct. Everyone in that circle was onboard the alien spaceship, and now participating in some group activity.

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." said the voice from behind Dana. "We have Dana with us today, and Dana has been trying to conceive a child for a number of years. We can make that happen for her."

Dana looked around at everyone in the circle. They all smiled.

The young woman next to Dana whispered, "I guess today is your turn."

The voice from behind Dana instructed. "Bring your face down to the floor and whisper, 'paramecium'".

Dana did as directed and whispered, "paramecium" with her face near the floor.

"Go ahead." encouraged the voice. "Do it again."

"Paramecium..." whispered Dana.

Suddenly, Dana was back in the tank of fluid. 

"Keep your eyes closed, and don't worry about breathing." instructed the telepathic voice of the extraterrestrial.

"How much longer?" asked Dana.

"Where almost done." reassured the extraterrestrial. "Now keep whispering, 'paramecium'."

In her mind, Dana observed herself on the hardwood floor of the old grammar school classroom with the group of other abductees. With face near the floor she whispered, "Paramecium..."

But inside the tank of mysterious liquid, Dana was suddenly aware of a jumbo-sized paramecium swimming close to her. And when I say jumbo, I mean jumbo! A paramecium, in case you are unaware, is a one-celled microscopic orgasm about 300 micrometers in size that can often be found in bodies of water. They are characterized as having an elongated shape with countless cilia (moving hairs) that surround its body to assist with mobility. Again, these are typically about 300 micrometers in length. But the paramecium that swam in the tank with Dana was six inches long!

There is something else that soon terrified Dana. Dana was fully undressed in that tank of mysterious liquid. And the paramecium "swam" its way over towards Dana.

Although Dana had her eyes closed in the tank of liquid, she was fully aware of the jumbo paramecium along with the fact that it swam close to her. And then it touched her!

"No!" cried Dana in her mind. She began to squirm around to avoid the jumbo paramecium making contact.

But then the extraterrestrial outside the tank reached its arm into the tank, and touched Dana's shoulder with its fingers. It made rhythmic tapping which rendered Dana powerless. All she could do was lay in the tank of liquid and allow the jumbo paramecium to do what it wished.

This isn't right!" telepathically cried out Dana.

"Just relax and try not to worry." reassured the extraterrestrial. "You should be happy. For today is the day that you will conceive a star child. You will have a daughter. We've modified the paramecium in such a way that it will deliver DNA of both humans and of beings from our world."

"But what will my baby look like?" asked Dana with a note of worry. Will it be normal?

"It will look just like any ordinary human." explained the extraterrestrial. "Except it will additionally contain DNA from our world."

A few minutes passed, and the jumbo paramecium finally finished.

"Congratulations!" telepathically announced the extraterrestrial. "You have been successfully impregnated. You will give birth to star child—a daughter.”

The next thing Dana remembered was grabbing onto Mike's arm as he pulled her back onto the stone platform. He was laughing. "Jeez! It's only a fish!"

Soaking wet, Dana pushed herself onto the cement platform and then stood up. She felt for her pulse and then looked around just to gauge if she was truly experiencing normal reality.

"Are you alright?" asked Mike.

"Yeah, what happened?" asked Dana.

"I pulled a bluegill out of the water, and you jumped into the pond. Have you ever been fishing before?"

Poor Dana; just as always, how could she even begin to explain the bizarre ordeal that she had experienced?

***

One month following the incident in the forest, Dana learned that she was pregnant. And as Dana would come to find out after Katie had been born, her star child was truly from someplace else.

To be continued...

Dana's Second Alien Abduction

 Hello All:

As mentioned on Monday, I have many short stories that were once published to the blog, but have removed due to some undesirable content that was mixed with them. The Dana Gets Abducted by Aliens series is one example. The actual stories in the series are good (in my opinion). So why not remove the undesirable content. And that's what I did in today's featured writing.

My plan was to use AI to help me with this. I simply described my problem and shared the story. The chat bot didn't do such a bad job in removing the bad content. But the weird stuff associated with alien abductions were removed along with it. So for now, I need to do this re-editing on my own.

And so, I bring you the re-release... the triumphant return of the second story in the Dana Gets Abducted by Aliens series. I think we have a few more of these. I'll definitely get to them and re-release as well. If not familiar with the first story, please give a read: https://talkaboutafterhours.blogspot.com/2025/07/danas-first-alien-abduction.html

Dana's Second Alien Abduction

For the several weeks after her initial alien abduction, Dana was considerably spooked; not to mention concerned that she may have been impregnated by the aliens. But despite how traumatizing the incident had been, Dana didn't tell a soul. Who would have believed her? She simply endured bad dreams throughout the nights while masking anxiety at day. It wasn't Dana's favorite summer break.

The start of high school helped Dana bounce back to normal. By Christmas of her freshman year she had mostly forgotten the abduction that occurred in north Michigan earlier that summer. In fact, life was fairly normal for Dana through high school. She never looked back; never thought of the bizarre terror of that fateful night. Oh she did briefly relay the incident to close friends while in the backyard around a camp fire late one night. This was in May of her senior year. On that night, everyone gazed up at the sky and took notice of the stars. Someone mentioned UFOs and aliens. That's when Dana finally had the courage to speak up about the night she had been abducted.

"You know..." she began. "I think I was abducted by aliens back in eighth grade."

"No way!" exclaimed one of the kids.

"Get out of here!" exclaimed another.

"No, seriously!" insisted Dana. "My parents took us up to a cottage in Michigan. I was with my brother and sister one night and we were looking up at the sky. That's when we saw a flashing green light. I remember waving to it, and it came closer. We all freaked out and ran back in the house. My dad said it was just a satellite. But later that night I woke up. There was a green light outside, and they came through my window—just floated in. They somehow levitated me back out and took me on their spaceship. But I wasn't ready for something. There was something they needed from me, but I wasn't ready. So they let me go—put me back in my bed and left."

"Whoa!" exclaimed one of the kids.

"Are you serious?" asked another.

"No way!" exclaimed a third kid. "You're the first person I ever met who admitted to something like that. And you never told anyone?"

"No one!" answered Dana. "I've kept it a secret all along.”

Then someone posed a more logical explanation as to what might have happened to Dana. "You might have only been dreaming. I've read about that. People think they get abducted by aliens, but it's really only bad dreams accompanied by sleep paralysis."

Dana shrugged her shoulder. "I suppose..." And as time went on, she began to accept this explanation more and more. She needed closure. She needed to convince herself that the terror of that fateful night never happened. Dana needed to forget.

***

It wasn't until after college when the disturbing incidents of alien abductions resumed for Dana. It was the summer of 1986. Working in her new career as a dental hygienist; Dana was also engaged to her boyfriend that she had through college, Mike. The wedding was only a few months away.

It was the Fourth of July weekend that year. Mike promised to take his fiancée to his parent's summer house in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, which was off Lake Nokomis. Being that the holiday fell on a Friday; Dana left work shortly after lunch on Wednesday of that week so that she and Mike could drive up to Tomahawk and settle in.

If there were ever a signpost, marker or some indicator of events to turn strange on that weekend; it would have been the brief exchange of words that she and the receptionist, Maryann, had before Dana left for the day.

"So you're off to Wisconsin for your extended holiday weekend?" asked Maryann.

"Yup!" answered Dana. "It's supposed to be really nice."

"Just you and Mike, huh?" continued Maryann.

Dana nodded with a beaming smile. 

"Well I hope you two have a good time" wished Maryann. For a split second, Dana received an eerie vibe as she looked upon Maryann who returned a beaming smile. In that moment, she almost didn't look like Maryann. Rather, she took on the subtle appearances of a mysterious, ghostly entity that intermeshed with her face and body. Where-as Maryann was somewhat chunky, she now appeared thin and boney like a skeleton. But don't confuse this to mean that Maryann was dead in that split-second hallucination. Whatever entity she manifested, it was very much alive and served as an announcement of something strange to happen that weekend.

"Well it's what you want, isn't it?" asked Maryann.

Dana must have had a micro-second expression of terror when the entity briefly revealed itself. But Maryann had apparently returned. "Well of course!" agreed Dana while resuming a delighted smile. Maybe she was just tired and overworked. The mind, after all, plays tricks on people when working too hard for too long.

"Well, have fun." encouraged Maryann as Dana left the office.

Some hours later, Dana sat in the passenger seat of Mike's Monte Carlo while driving up Route 51 in Wisconsin. It was about 4:00 pm as Mike had passed up a pickup truck with two young men. Both had taken notice of Dana and were delighted to see her. It was apparent that they liked her.

Fortunately, Mike did not notice. His eyes were on the road. "We'll have to stop at some place in town for dinner." he announced. "There's nothing in the refrigerator or cabinets. Tomorrow we'll go to the grocery store."

"We have a few things in the back that I packed—some snacks and stuff to hold us over until then." reminded Dana.

"Good!" exclaimed Mike.

The pickup truck that Mike had passed some moments ago was now gaining on them. Dana noticed this through the passenger side mirror. Under normal circumstances, she would have been uncomfortable. But Dana knew why the pickup truck was speeding up. The young men wished to catch another glimpse of Dana. She was, after all, attractive.

The pickup truck finally reached Mike's speeding Monte Carlo. Sure enough, the young men used the opportunity to further check out Dana.

Dana turned and smiled at them.

It was then that Mike glanced over to take notice of the excited driver and passenger of the pickup truck in the right lane. They were definitely checking out his fiancée! Mike gave them the middle finger and open throttled the engine of his Monty Carlo. It was the last Dana and Mike saw of them.

***

It wasn't until just after seven o'clock when Mike and Dana finally arrived at the summer house off Lake Nokomis. They managed to have dinner at a local supper club. That night's meal was broasted chicken with potatoes and green beans. Afterwards, they found a convenient store where they purchased some groceries; milk, bread, cereal, juice—mainly items for breakfast in the morning. Mike was also certain to purchase a case of Stroh’s Light beer as he enjoyed drinking around the bonfire at night.

Once reaching the summer house, Mike and Dana settled in and put their groceries away. Then Mike announced, "We've got some dry firewood out in the shed. I'll put some in the pit and start up a fire for us.

By dark, both Mike and Dana sat together at the bonfire and discussed plans for the extended weekend. The speakers for the stereo inside the house were pushed towards the windows so they could listen to music. 

"We can do some water skiing this weekend." suggested Mike.

"That sounds like a great idea." agreed Dana.

Mike cracked open his seventh can of Stroh’s Light for the evening and took a hearty guzzle.

"Jeez! Are you trying to get drunk?" asked Dana.

"Hey, it's a holiday weekend." argued Mike. Then he asked, "Do you need anything from inside? I'm going to get a snack."

"No, I'm fine." answered Dana. "Hurry back."

With her fiancé gone, Dana gazed up at the sky. Suddenly, she saw something out of the corner of her eye which triggered a wave of panic. It was a tiny green light. When Dana looked directly at it, she could see it was flashing. Immediately her mind went back to that fateful night as a girl when she was abducted by aliens.

Dana stood up from the chair while struggling to control her breathing, "No!" she cried out. As far as Dana was concerned; the aliens were there in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, and planning another abduction.

Dana turned to run back towards the summer house, and collided with Mike. She screamed in terror, thinking it was one of the aliens.

"Jeez!" exclaimed Mike. "What the heck’s wrong with you???"

"Something scared me!" explained Dana.

"Like what?" asked Mike.

"I don't know; I saw something." Dana wouldn't dare confess to the alien abduction from years ago. 

"It was probably just an animal—raccoon or something. Have a beer." Mike was juggling a plate with sandwich and chips; a couple cans of beer and a small glass—assumedly hard liquor.

Dana accepted the beer and cracked it open. "What's in the glass?" she asked.

"Some Kessler Whiskey I found in one of the cabinets with ice." answered Mike.

Dana sat down, took a sip from the can of Stroh’s Light, and then looked up at the sky. The flashing, green light was gone. She drew upon the words of wisdom from her father and decided that it was only a satellite. Dana was tired, and in a strange frame of mind. And the mind plays tricks on people when in that sort of state.

Towards the end of the evening with only the embers remaining of the bonfire, Mike was half-lit from all the beer he had drunk along with the Kessler Whiskey. The song,'i just want to make love to you' from Fog Hat started to play from the stereo inside the house.

"Oh, yeah!" exclaimed Mike. "I love this song!" He staggered out of his seat and played air guitar while singing the words.

"I don't want you to be no slave!

I don't want you to work all day!

But I want you to be true!

And I just wanna make love to you!

... Love to you, ooohooo

... Love to you"

He reached over for Dana and pulled her out of the chair. The two began to dance as the second verse began.

"All I want to do is wash your clothes!

I don't want to keep you indoors!

There is nothing for you to do!

But keep me making love to you!

... Love to you, ooohooo

... Love to you"

Within less than a minute they were in the bedroom. In the background, the untamed guitar solo at the end of the song encouraged things to get hotter and hotter.

But what was this?

Mike suddenly slammed his fist on the mattress. "MAN!!! What’s wrong with me???"

"Oh, come on!" complained Dana. "Not again! This always happens!"

"It doesn't always happen!" argued Mike. "I'm just tired, that's all."

"That's what you always say!" answered Dana. "I'm getting sick of this! You drank all that beer and whiskey. I mean who the heck is Kessler, anyway? The guy looks like this sort of thing happens to him all the time.”

Dana pushed Mike off and rolled over on her side.

"I'm sorry..." apologized Mike.

"No, forget it…” answered Dana.

"Oh, that's right." complained Mike. "Once again, you have to blame me for everything."

"Mike, I'm not blaming you! I'm just saying that I wish you would cut back on your drinking. I mean what was the point of all that beer and whiskey on a Wednesday night?"

***

The bedside clock read 1:43 am as Dana turned over in bed. She had been awoken from a disturbing dream in which she was alone in one of the offices at work. With her back turned away from the plate glass window, she heard the noisy sound of a helicopter. Upon turning around, she could see a helicopter just several feet away. Whoever maneuvered it was watching Dana. Something was thrown through the glass to break it. Then an unidentifiable person climbed out from the helicopter to jump through and get Dana. Fortunately, she was now awake. 

Dana now lay in the dark while doing her best to forget the dream. But what did it mean? Why the fear of some flying machine outside a window with people inside watching her? And why would they have a need to break through the glass to come get her?

Perhaps it had something to do with the flashing, green light that Dana had seen in the sky that night. Although convincing herself that it was only a satellite, its appearance brought Dana back to when she was a young girl; back to the night when she had been abducted by the aliens. They landed their spaceship right outside the bedroom window and then floated through.

Dana sighed upon this speculation. It wasn't the sort of thoughts she wished to have in the woods of North Wisconsin late at night. She glanced over to the clock on the bedside table which still read 1:43am.

The house was dead silent. Even the breathing sounds of Mike, who lay beside her, could not be heard. For comfort, Dana raised her hand to her ear and then rubbed the tips of her thumb and finger together to make sounds. She glanced over to the clock a third time. 

It still read 1:43am!

Apparently, Dana was experiencing late night time dilation. It was probably best to just roll over and go back to sleep. She was about to do this, but something caught Dana's attention through the cracks of the wooden venetian blinds that covered the bedroom window. It was a faint, green light that appeared some distance away. If Dana had her directions correct, the light would have been coming from across the lake.

Quietly, Dana got out of bed and walked over to the window. She cautiously pulled the blinds over, just enough to see what was outside.

Just as suspected, the bedroom faced the lake. And across the lake, a triangular green light seemed to be traveling in the direction towards the house. Then it flashed as-if whoever maneuvered it was aware that Dana was watching.

"Oh my gosh!" Dana exclaimed. She released the blinds and backed away. Then she called out to her fiancé. "Mike? Mike? Wake up!"

Mike only lay there while sleeping soundly.

Dana turned around to glance at the window behind her. The flashing green light grew closer and closer. "Mike!" she screamed. "Mike, wake up!" She ran over to the side of the bed and shook it. "Wake up! Please wake up!"

But Mike didn't move a muscle. He was probably drunk and unconscious from all the alcohol he had consumed.

The clock on the bedside table continued to display 1:43am.

"Oh my gosh! This is not happening!" cried Dana.

The entire bedroom was now flooded with bright, green light. They had returned. After eight years, the aliens had returned to fulfill whatever purpose they had with Dana. But what was it? What was it that they wished do to with her? As Dana recalled, it involved her lower abdomen. That was the region of her body that they seemed most interested in.

Now in fear for her life, Dana ran out of the bedroom and into the front room to where the landline phone sat on a small table. Back in those days there were no cell phones, except for the bulky ones installed in cars. Much to her dismay, the line was dead. Did the aliens do this?

The ship must have floated over to the outside area that faced the front room, for the green light suddenly blasted through the window. Then Dana saw a most horrific sight. A silver gloved hand penetrated through the window. 

"No! No! No!" screamed Dana. She backed against the wall, crouched down and tucked her face into her knees. "Somebody help me! Please, somebody help me!"

Suddenly, Dana's eyes snapped open as she raised her head out of her knees. She was met with an eerie, pulsing light that seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She tried to sit up, but a strange, heavy feeling held her down, as if she was pinned to the ground.

As she looked around, she saw that her room was filled with an otherworldly glow, and she could feel a presence in the room with her. The air seemed to vibrate with an electric tension, and she could feel a cold, clammy breeze caressing her skin.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was tall and imposing, with long, spindly limbs and a bulbous, pulsing head. Dana tried to scream, but her voice was frozen in her throat.

The creature began to move closer, its eyes fixed on Dana with an unblinking stare. She could feel its gaze like a cold, wet slap on her skin, and she shuddered with fear.

As the creature drew nearer, Dana could see that it had no discernible features, no nose, no mouth, no eyes. It was just a blank, featureless expanse of flesh that seemed to be sucking all the light out of the room.

The creature reached out a long, spindly arm and touched Dana's face. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, and suddenly she was flooded with visions and images.

She saw herself as a child, playing in a field of tall grass. She saw her parents, smiling and happy. She saw her own face, distorted and twisted in a scream of terror.

The visions were disjointed and confusing, but they seemed to be trying to tell her something. Dana's mind reeled as she tried to make sense of them.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything stopped. The creature withdrew its hand, and the visions ceased.

But they weren't done with her just yet.

It was some sort of manipulation of consciousness apparently brought on by the aliens. Suddenly, Dana had returned to the disturbing dream that she had before waking up in which the helicopter hovered outside the office window at work. After breaking through the glass with some heavy instrument, a faceless man climbed out from the helicopter and jumped into the office. Dana tried to run, but felt the sensation of a mysterious force pulling her back.

"Is this what you wanted, honey?” In another manipulation of consciousness, Dana was now in the backseat of Mike's Monty Carlo with the young man who drove the pickup truck earlier that afternoon. Dana attempted to wrestle him off.

Dana was able to remember that she was lost in some vortex consciousness manipulation. Where was she, really? Was she actually in bed, dreaming? Was she still crouching on the floor and hiding from the aliens in the front room? Or did the aliens succeed in bringing her onboard the ship?

Upon struggling to gauge the true reality, Dana was soon aware that she was standing against the examination wall on the spaceship.

While this occurred, Dana sensed that aliens were surrounding her and placing their hands near her lower abdomen. They were receiving the energy that Dana was capable of generating.

"No! Stop it!" cried Dana. "This is not fair! You cannot rob me of my energy! I never invited you to do this!" 

How long would it all last? 

***

Dana quickly sat up in bed and looked at the clock on the side table. It was now 6:30 in the morning. Was it all just a series of bizarre dreams? Dana almost believed this. But there were strange scratches and marks around Dana's lower abdomen.

It didn't take long for Dana to realize that she had experienced her second alien abduction.

To be continued…

Dana's First Alien Abduction

 Hello All:

Happy Monday! 

I apologize for my lack of presence last week. Sometimes things get too busy to allow any writing. This could happen from time to time.

***

If you've been a reader of this blog for a number of years, you might have recalled numerous short stories that had been written. But many of these have been unpublished, simply because in the present, I don't like the sort of material that these short stories delved into. But here's an introductory story that had been written around 2015. It was an alien abduction series centered on the main character, Dana. The subsequent stories need to be cleaned up. Maybe I can use AI to help with avoiding certain directions that these stories from the past go in. As for today's story, it's the original. There wasn't anything bad about it. In fact, I like the story because it reminds me of those alien abduction books I used to read back in the 1980s.

Dana's First Alien Abduction

She looks like an ordinary suburban housewife. To the onlooker, Dana lives the typical life of seeing the husband and kids off to work and school on weekday mornings, followed by her various duties throughout the day. In the early afternoon she welcomes her children home, and then greets her husband a couple hours later with dinner on the table. On weekends she shops at the grocery store. Sometimes she enjoys special outings with her husband and kids, or even family gatherings. Then Monday returns to offer Dana the same schedule as last week.

On the surface, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly out-of-the-ordinary with Dana's life. And that's how she wants it. You see; Dana has been hiding a dark secret for most of her life. She's never told a soul out of fear that people would label her as crazy, or one of those pathetic people who make up bizarre stories for attention. It's a terrible secret that began as a girl, shortly after Dana graduated eighth grade.

***

It was the summer break before beginning high school. Mother and Father took Dana and her two siblings on vacation to an isolated cottage in north Michigan. There the family enjoyed plenty of swimming in the pristine lake, boating and fishing, and various recreational activities in neighboring towns. At nightfall, Dana and her siblings usually watched the stars in the sky and marveled at how many there were. The night sky did not look like that back home!

They did this one early evening, after spending the entire day swimming in the lake. Just like for most people who spend their lives with light pollution, the sight of the Milky Way was spectacular and breathtaking. 

Suddenly, Dana's little brother, Joey, saw something interesting in a different area of the sky. "What's that?" he asked while pointing towards it.

"What?" asked Dana.

"Over there." continued to point little Joey. "See that blinking light in the sky?"

"Oh yeah! I see it!" chimed in Dana's younger sister, Lisa. "It's weird. It's like a space ship or some kind of UFO."

That's when Dana finally saw it: a tiny, green light in the sky that flashed a specific pattern. It disturbed Dana because she recognized the flashes—made sense. It was as-if the object in the sky generated a secret code just for her!

Initially, Dana wasn't sure what to think. She had heard of strange lights in the sky that were actually space ships from other planets with inhuman beings that flew them. These spaceships often landed in remote locations where people were alone—places like the woods of north Michigan. Unable to run for help, isolated people were abducted and subjected to all sorts of horrific tests. Dana did not want to fall victim to this.

"Guys I'm getting cold." she announced. "Let's go inside." Dana didn't want to suggest to her younger siblings that the light in the sky might have been extra terrestrial beings. But the more she thought of it, the more she realized that whoever maneuvered that flashing light in the sky was aiming to abduct her that moment.

"No!" cried out little Joey. "Can’t we stay outside a bit longer?"

"Yeah!" chimed in Lisa. "How often do we get to see this back at home?”

“No, come-on!” answered Dana. “I'm getting cold, and want to go in."

"Awe..." complained little Joey.

Lisa slowly trailed behind.

Dana attempted to coax her younger siblings with the suggestion of treats back in the cottage. "We still have those ice cream bars in the freezer. I sure have a taste for one, don't you?" As Dana turned around, she quickly glanced up at the sky and could see the blinking green light. They were watching her from thousands of feet up in the air!

As Lisa and Joey trailed behind their older sister, they continued to argue and insist that there was no reason to go inside. "But if you're so cold, why do you want an ice cream bar?" challenged little Joey.

"Dana, are you afraid of that blinking light in the sky?" suggested Lisa.

"No!" answered Dana. "Guys I'm not afraid of anything. I'm just cold and want to go in for a snack. I'm hungry." Dana demonstrated that she was not fearful of the blinking light in the sky by looking up and waving her arms towards it. "See, I'm not afraid." She called out to the object, "Here I am! Come get me!"

Suddenly; the tiny, green light grew in diameter which suggested that it was coming closer. As it did this, it blinked faster. It was as-if the blinking, green light in the sky had answered Dana’s signal.

All three children noticed this. The response from whatever object that blinked in the sky was a too ironic. It was then that Dana, Lisa and Joey were hit with a wave of terror and ran back to the cottage, crying.

Once finally making it inside, Father nearly leapt up from the sofa."What happened?" he shouted. It was difficult not to assume something wrong upon observing three children rush into the house while sniffling with tears.

"There's something in the sky!"

"There's a light in the sky that's blinking!"

"It's blinking and coming closer after I waved at it!"

Father sat back down. "Alright, calm down kids. It sounds like maybe your mind was playing tricks on you. Now there are a lot of satellites out in space, and that's probably what you saw. The sky is different, here, in Michigan. You don't see stuff like that back in home."

Curious, Mother stepped outside while encouraging her children to join them. She stood on the porch and asked, "Where's the light?"

Unfortunately; the green, blinking light was gone.

***

Late that night as the family slept soundly in their beds, Dana had been awakened by a series of strange dreams. She and Lisa slept in one of the cottage bedrooms that had twin beds on opposite sides of the room. Little Joey slept in an inflatable mattress on the floor in Mother and Father's bedroom.

The bedroom where Dana slept was now submerged in total darkness. Not even the nightlight from the bathroom out in the hallway could be seen. It was so dark in that moment that Dana couldn't even see her hand out in front of her face.

Earlier that year for her birthday, Dana had received a wristwatch as a gift. It was a simple analog style watch with second hand that ticked. It wasn't the wind-up sort of watch. Rather, it operated on battery. What's more; it had a background light which glowed upon pressing a button. Curious of the time, Dana pressed the light button with the watch out in front of her. The hands on the watch read just a dot passed quarter-to-midnight. But then she noticed something peculiar. Originally moving once the watch had been illuminated, the second hand suddenly stopped!

Dana tapped the watch in hopes that the second hand would come back to life. But it remained motionless at the eleven seconds position.

Was it the blinking, green light that had been seen the sky earlier that evening. Dana heard of the phenomenon in which UFOs have an ability to affect technology—render automobiles, radios or even wristwatches inoperable. Were they outside the cottage and preventing the second hand on Dana's wristwatch from ticking?

Dana took a deep breath while releasing the light button on her watch. The room was, once again, in total darkness. Fighting the thoughts of something possibly being outside, Dana tried to believe Father's explanation from earlier that night of a satellite in the sky.

It was terribly silent in the room. Dana raised the wristwatch to her ear and listened for the tick of the second hand. But the watch was dead. She wished so badly to at least hear her sister breathing in her sleep. But there wasn't a sound. Only the deafening ring of blood rushing through Dana's ears could be heard in that moment. Any louder, she feared being unable to hear what was outside.

It was as-if Dana had suddenly been transported into another reality framework in which time had been suspended, and her family was now frozen in a deep sleep. Something was happening to Dana. The world was not behaving normally. And then came the eerie sensation of feeling infinitesimally small.

Dana began to cry. She broke the silence by allowing her voice to softly cry out with the tears. Then, suddenly, the entire bedroom had been flooded with a green light that came from outside and through the window. Instinctively, Dana began to sob out of terror. But her voice had been squelched by some mysterious force. Was it the terror that robbed her of air which made it impossible to scream, or did the beings outside her bedroom window have the ability to paralyze Dana's vocal cords?

Throughout her entire life, the only item which Dana had seen of the beings was a silver-gloved hand. She never dared to look at them out of sheer terror. And it was the silver-gloved hand which reached through the cottage’s bedroom window that night that caused Dana to close her eyes and silently cry. She knew they were coming in by the dozen. In less than five seconds they somehow materialized and flew through the green light which beamed through the bedroom window. In less than five seconds, a dozen beings from out of this world all stood around Dana's bed.

Eyes tightly shut; Dana silently screamed with her voice squelched by the mysterious force. Her blankets and bed sheet had been levitated off. Soon, Dana floated upwards and through the green light; through the bedroom window with a dozen beings from out of this world. They guided Dana onto the ship.

From that point, a sense of normal reality had been restored. Dana and the beings no longer floated as feet touched the floor, and the effects of gravity could be felt. But just to ensure that Dana remained where they wanted her, a group of hands held her in place.

A low humming sound increased in pitch as Dana felt as-if she were riding an elevator. She concluded that whatever spaceship had landed near the cottage had now lifted off the ground and into the sky. It was then that Dana realized that she had been abducted in the dead of night from the safety of her bed; brought on board an extra terrestrial spaceship which now flew off—perhaps—thousands of feet above ground where no one could help her.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Dana kept her eyes tightly closed. She did not want to see what the beings looked like. They were probably hideous with aggressive facial expressions. But she was quite aware of what occurred throughout the entire abduction. Dana was escorted over to some sort metallic wall that stood at the center of what she imagined to be the examination room. From there, a half dozen pair of hands cooperated in stripping Dana of all her sleepwear. Everything was taken off; pajama bottoms, t-shirt and undergarments.

For a girl that age, nudity in front of anyone—Earth people or extra terrestrial beings—was uncomfortable; almost psychologically traumatic. But the beings didn't care. They needed to inspect the Earth person. Hands and fingers touched various regions of Dana's body. They beings seemed most interested in Dana's private area. What could they have possibly wanted with that?

Throughout the investigation, Dana could somehow sense the telepathic communication from the creatures. They didn't speak directly to her. But she was aware of their discussions. Through "telepathic listening" Dana learned that she had a special feature on her body that the beings required. Not all Earth people had this anomalous condition. Dana was a special case. But she was still too young to activate. Perhaps in five to ten years she would be ready. The beings were disappointed, but kept reminding themselves to be patient.

The sensation of riding an elevator downwards was soon felt. Dana assumed that the ship was returning to Earth. While this happened, the beings cooperated in re-dressing their abductee. They seemed to be experts at stripping and re-dressing Earth people. How many other victims had they done this to?

The ship touched down—assumingly near the cottage where Mother, Father, and siblings slept. The eerie sensation of feeling infinitesimally small returned, followed by no longer being under the influence of gravity. The crew which escorted Dana onto the ship now floated and guided her back through the bedroom window and into her bed. Once the covers were laid over Dana, the presence of the beings was suddenly gone. Did they leave?

Dana was too frightened to open her eyes. She left them shut for nearly five minutes while gauging the surroundings of the bedroom. All that could be heard was the sound of blood rushing her ears.

As a test, Dana raised the wrist watch to her ears and could hear the second hand ticking. This was reassurance that the ordeal had ended. She opened her eyes and pressed the light button. The hands on the clock read 12:15 am as the second hand now ticked its way towards the 57 second mark. Dana concluded that whatever happened to her had only occurred in thirty minutes.

***

An alarming thing noticed for the weeks that followed; Dana had missed her period for that month. Of course she attributed it to the alien abduction, and feared that she had been impregnated. But there was nothing invasive throughout the ordeal.

By the following month her menstrual cycle returned to normal.

To be continued…