Category Archives: Supernatural

Banner, Balboa, and the Curse of the 13th

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Friday the 13th Musings — February & March Edition

It’s the first Friday the 13th of 2026. The month is February. So far it’s been quiet and no major issues. This is the first of three Friday the 13ths this year, which makes it a very special year — or at least a very interesting one.

Peace reign in the home as Banner and Balboa cat nap

February

The universe behaved.
The cats behaved.
Even the weather behaved.

Suspicious, in hindsight.

And then, on February 23rd, Mother Nature apparently remembered she had a reputation to uphold. She dumped a heavy, wet, back‑breaking load of snow on New England and buried us all. A Friday‑the‑13th vibe… just arriving fashionably late.

The dig out begins following the blizzard of 26

March

March didn’t bother with subtlety. It wasn’t even Friday the 13th yet when I woke up to no service on my cell phone. I’d been hacked. Again. These things happen — I shared the whole sad tale in my March 11 post — but apparently March was just laying the groundwork.

Then came Thursday, March 12, when the cats decided to contribute their own brand of “help.”

Banner makes his get away

First, Banner strolled over and hit the delete key at the exact, precise, worst possible moment of a data transfer. I took that as a sign to step away and wait for a quieter, cat‑free moment.

He claims he was framed.

But Balboa had other plans. He emerged from his afternoon nap full of energy and mischief, and in short order he destroyed four — or was it five — mice.
Not the fuzzy, long‑tailed kind.
The kind I actually need to use with my computer.

By the time he was done, I had a small graveyard of plastic mouse parts and one very proud panther‑cat.

Friday the 13th

And then came the big day.

Friday the 13th started quietly enough. We even managed to wrestle Instagram into submission — successfully, I might add — which should have been my first clue that the universe was saving its energy for something else.

Feeling productive, I decided to make a quick grocery run. Lasagna was on the menu for Saturday, and I needed ricotta cheese. While I was there, I grabbed a couple of small extras. Total bill: $19.00.

Until my card was declined.

I had checked my balance before leaving the house. Plenty of money. No reason for drama. Yet there I was, standing at the Hannaford checkout with a perfectly good grocery order and a very uncooperative debit card.

Since I had to drive right past the bank on my way home, I stopped in. And that’s where the real Friday‑the‑13th twist revealed itself:
the bank had accidentally printed — or attempted to print — two replacement cards when mine was hacked. So they canceled the one I was using. The one in my wallet. The one I had just tried to use to buy ricotta.

Which means, of course, that I now get to go through all my auto‑payments and update the card number… again.

Two Down, One to Go

So that’s February and March. A quiet start, a snow ambush, a hacked phone, feline sabotage, and a bank‑card fiasco — all before we even reach the halfway point of this “special” year.

We’ll see what November brings.
Stay tuned… the calendar isn’t done with us yet.

 

Magical Thinking and Affirmations ✨

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Turkey Dreams and Wishful Thinking

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving—full plates, full hearts, and maybe a nap so deep you dreamed of winning the lottery or finally mastering sourdough bread. Holidays have a funny way of stirring up gratitude and imagination. And sometimes, those dreamy thoughts feel like little sparks of possibility.

Be Careful What You Wish For

We’ve all heard the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” It’s not just a cautionary tale—it’s practically a cosmic rulebook. Witches, for example, believe that any spell cast (good or bad) comes back threefold to the caster. So if you’re going to send energy out into the universe, make it good, make it kind, and maybe make it sparkly. After all, who wouldn’t want three times the joy instead of three times the chaos?

The Law of Attraction (With a Wink)

The law of attraction is basically the universe’s version of a mirror: what you focus on, you get more of. Think of it like ordering from a cosmic menu. If you keep saying, “I’m stressed, I’m broke, I’m unlucky,” the universe hears, “Ah yes, one extra-large serving of stress with a side of bad luck, coming right up!” But if you focus on abundance, gratitude, and possibility, suddenly the menu shifts to health, wealth, and happiness specials.

Affirmations: Your Daily Spells

Affirmations are like mini incantations. Say them often, say them with conviction, and watch how they shape your mindset. Try lines like:

  • “I attract opportunities that make me shine.”
  • “I am worthy of abundance and joy.”
  • “Good things return to me threefold.”

Pair those affirmations with visualization—picture your goals as vividly as you can. It’s like sketching out your dream life in neon colors.

Action: The Secret Ingredient

Here’s the catch: magical thinking isn’t just about daydreaming. You’ve got to stir the cauldron yourself. Take consistent action—learn the skill, chase the opportunity, send the email. The universe loves a co-creator.

Final Spark

So as we move from Thanksgiving into the season of twinkling lights and new beginnings, remember: your thoughts are spells, your affirmations are charms, and your actions are the wand that makes it all real. Cast wisely, cast joyfully, and may your blessings always return threefold.

 

 

Desert Wings & Coal Mine Shadows

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More Creepy Cryptids

Have you heard of the Van Meter Monster? Another flying menace. Is it similar to The Tombstone Thunderbird is Arizona? Could they be the same creature? 

🦅  The Tombstone Thunderbird vs. The Van Meter Monster

In the dusty pages of American folklore, two winged beasts flap their way into legend: the Tombstone Thunderbird of Arizona and the Van Meter Monster of Iowa. Though separated by over a thousand miles and a decade in time, both creatures share eerie traits—massive wings, bulletproof hides, and a knack for vanishing into myth. Let’s dive into their stories and explore what makes each cryptid so captivating.

🌵 The Tombstone Thunderbird: Wild West Wonder

Date: April 26, 1890
Location: Tombstone, Arizona
Witnesses: Cowboys and prospectors
Legend: A giant bird—possibly featherless, with leathery wings like a pterodactyl—was allegedly shot down by six men and displayed against a barn wall. Its wingspan? Said to be 160 feet. The photo of this event? Never found, yet many swear they’ve seen it in old magazines.

In 1886, the Tombstone Epitaph (Arizona) published a ...

internet

 

Sensory Snapshot: Imagine the dry desert wind, the scent of gunpowder, and the awe of seeing a creature larger than a blue whale sprawled across a barn. The tale is stitched with Old West bravado and a hint of false memory syndrome—where vivid imaginations conjure images never truly seen.

🕳️ The Van Meter Monster: Coal Mine Cryptid

Date: September 29–October 3, 1903
Location: Van Meter, Iowa
Witnesses: Town doctor, banker, teacher, and other respected locals
Legend: A nine-foot-tall creature with bat-like wings, a glowing horn, and a sulfurous stench terrorized the town for several nights. Bullets bounced off it, and it emitted blinding light. Eventually, two creatures were spotted near an abandoned coal mine and sealed inside.

The Van Meter Visitor Greeting Card

Internet

Sensory Snapshot: Picture a quiet Midwestern town jolted awake by beams of unnatural light, the acrid smell of sulfur hanging in the air, and the thud of shotgun blasts echoing through the night. The Van Meter Monster feels more alien than avian—part devil, part dragon, part mystery.

🔍 Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Tombstone Thunderbird Van Meter Monster
Wingspan Claimed 160 feet (likely exaggerated) Large bat-like wings
Appearance Pterodactyl-like, featherless Half-human, glowing horn, red eyes
Bulletproof? Allegedly shot and killed Immune to bullets
Smell Not mentioned Overwhelming sulfur stench
Setting Desert frontier Small-town coal mine
Legacy Photo legend persists Annual festival celebrates sightings

🧠 Folklore or False Memory?

Both legends thrive on the tension between belief and skepticism. The Tombstone Thunderbird’s tale is tangled in memory distortion—many claim to have seen a photo that likely never existed. The Van Meter Monster, meanwhile, boasts multiple eyewitnesses and consistent descriptions, yet no physical evidence remains.

🎪 Cryptid Culture Today

Van Meter hosts an annual festival celebrating its monster, complete with games, paranormal talks, and themed treats. Tombstone, ever the theatrical town, keeps its Thunderbird alive through ghost tours and Wild West reenactments. Both creatures have inspired books, podcasts, and cryptid merch—perfect for curious collectors or folklore fanatics.

Whether you’re drawn to the desert drama of Tombstone or the eerie glow of Van Meter’s visitor, these legends remind us that mystery thrives in the margins. They’re not just stories—they’re invitations to wonder.

 

🌑 The Black Cat Paradox

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🐾 Whiskers of Legend: Cats in Folklore and Myth

They slink through shadows, curl into sunbeams, and stare into souls with eyes that seem to remember something ancient. Cats have long held a place not just in our homes, but in our stories—woven into the myths and mysteries of cultures across the world. From divine protectors to spectral companions, here are some of the most enchanting legends surrounding our feline friends.

Balboa – Photo credit Deb Neumann

☘️ Nine Lives and Irish Luck

The idea that cats have nine lives is more than just a comforting cliché—it’s a whisper from the past. In Irish folklore, cats were believed to possess supernatural resilience. Some tales speak of the Cat Sídhe, a spectral black feline said to haunt the Scottish Highlands and Irish moors. It was no ordinary cat—it could steal souls before they passed to the otherworld, unless distracted by music or riddles.

The CAT NIGHTS begin! 🐱 A rather obscure old Irish legend said that a witch could turn herself into a cat eight times, but on the ninth time (August 17), she couldn’t regain her human form.

Perhaps this eerie ability to dance between worlds gave rise to the notion of nine lives: a creature too clever, too slippery, to be claimed by death just once.

🐱 Bastet: Egypt’s Divine Guardian

In ancient Egypt, cats weren’t just pets—they were sacred. Bastet, the feline goddess of home, fertility, and protection, was often depicted with the head of a lioness or domestic cat. Bastet guarded  households from evil spirits and disease, and her presence was so revered that harming a cat—even accidentally—was punishable by death. Egyptians believed cats had a spiritual connection to the divine, and their graceful movements were seen as echoes of Bastet’s own celestial dance.

242 Cat Goddess Bastet Stock Photos - Free & Royalty-Free ...

🧙‍♀️ Witches and Familiars

During Europe’s witch trials, cats—especially black ones—were cast in a darker light. They were said to be witches’ familiars, magical companions that aided in spellwork and mischief. Some believed witches could even transform into cats to roam unnoticed. This fear led to centuries of superstition, where a black cat crossing your path was considered a bad omen. Yet in other cultures, black cats were symbols of prosperity and protection. In Japan, they’re thought to bring good luck, especially to single women seeking love.

Black Cat Stare photo credit Deb Neumann

🌑 The Black Cat Paradox

Is the black cat a harbinger of doom or a guardian of fortune? It depends on where you ask. In Celtic lore, black cats were often seen as guardians of hidden treasure. In Scottish tradition, a strange black cat arriving at your doorstep was a sign of prosperity. But in medieval Europe, they were feared as agents of the devil. Today, black cats still straddle the line between superstition and affection—misunderstood, mysterious, and utterly magnetic.

 

 

 

Whether lounging in sunbeams or prowling through moonlight, cats remain creatures of contradiction—both wild and domestic, feared and adored. Their legends remind us that magic often wears whiskers and walks softly on velvet paws.

Have you ever had a cat that felt just a little too wise? Share your stories below—I’d love to hear about the feline folklore in your life. 🐾✨

 

 

Your Cat is proof that you are loved by forces beyond your understanding… (Edgar Cayce)

 

Blep- photo credit Deb Neumann

Are Aliens visiting Earth?

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 Aliens? Really?

Well no, according to the eminent physicist Stephen Hawking. “If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn’t turn out well for the Native Americans,”  Link

May be an image of text that says 'Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for November 08, 1989 SOU WAS READING ABOUT HOW SPECIES ARE BEING PUSHED TOWARD EXTINCTION BY MANS DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. SOMETIMES I THINK THE SUREST SIGN THAT INTELLIGENT LIFE EXISTS ELSEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE 15 THAT NONE OF IT HAS TRIED το CONTACT US. ets @1HsAaheSyncir Sgne-Cate'

Calvin & Hobbes

The Phoenix Lights

Are the Phoenix Lights UFOs? They are unidentified and they are flying so I guess they are UFO’s. The first sightings showed up in March of 1997 over the southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada. There were two distinct events involved in the incident: a triangular formation of lights seen to pass over the state, and a series of stationary lights seen in the Phoenix area.

Illustration from USA today

Hudson Valley UFO’s

Lets leave the southwest alone for a minute and head east, Long before the Phoenix Lights in 1997, the Hudson Valley in New York State was having their own run of unidentified lights. During the summers of 1983 and 1984 the Hudson Valley was plagued by sightings of a gigantic craft, black as the sky, rimmed with bright lights in white, red, or green. It would drift over towns with a steady hum, witnessed by many. It traveled over the Taconic Parkway, Westchester county and parts of Connecticut. The UFO was seen by hundreds of  eye witnesses. 

The object was described as extremely large, 300-400 yards wide. Often described as triangular with a series of lights. As I read this description all I could think of was the Phoenix Lights. 

0095052 Granger - Historical Picture ArchiveUFO: LUBBOCK LIGHTS, 1951. <br />Flying formation of lights photographed by Carl Hart, Jr. on 30 August 1951 in Lubbock, Texas.

The FAA and law enforcement blamed local pilots flying in formation but witnesses said is was 1 large craft, not a series of planes and traveling too slow  for a plane.  It couldn’t be a formation of helicopters because they would make a lot more noise than  this craft.

For more details I recommend reading “Night Siege” by J. Allen Hynek, Philip J. Imbrogno and Bob Pratt

Conclusion

So what is the truth about the fantastic light formations in the sky above the Hudson River Valley? Were they aerial stunts performed by sophisticated pranksters? Or did the flying objects come from somewhere beyond the stars?

Maybe Calvin’s got the right idea

I’m with Stephen Hawking. I don’t think I want to be around to meet our Alien Neighbors.  Its fun in Science fiction but I can think of so may things that can go wrong in real life .