Two sentence horror stories

I have fallen in lust with "Two Sentence Horror Stories" The idea was started on a forum I tripped into. The thread began with a request for horror stories in two sentences. I loved the idea and really liked some of the stories which were posted.

Not even my eyes move when the scalpel cuts into my chest beginning the autopsy and sending brutal slices of pain through me.

I look to heaven, searching for God, and say, “You hit like a girl.”

Black Dog

The Black Dog: If you had to risk your life, twice, in order to save one person ... a child ... from a horrible and painful death -- and there would always be injury to you, and pain... would you do it? ... 


I think that there are many people who would do this... if there was no doubt in your mind that the child would die if you did not respond. We are not talking about running into suicide. The first battle you have to get through is with a large black dog. If you win that fight, the dog will show you where a serial killer has the child, just before the killer has done any serious damage to the child. Then you have to get the child away from him. That might be easier than the dog… might be harder, but That is the deal. Are you still game?

What about the next time? How about the next? What about the fourth time? Remember that you could die, the chance is there twice You are fighting for your life, as well as another's each time ... so there will always be pain each time... what about the fifth time?... could you look at the Black Dog across the street, ready to lead you to another killer who has another victim, and walk the other way? That is the question for my next novel... The Black Dog

Howling Darkness Complete

I finished the novel, Howling Darkness this week. It is a young reader's novel, similar in taste to the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. I wrote this book for my grandson, Stephen, and I plan on writing another for his sister Christina.

Writing this type of novel is challenging and fun. It certainly isn't easy and after looking at R.L.Stine's biography and list of works on wikipedia, I have a lot of respect for the man. I am also toying with the idea of making my own series of books, the collection being called Dark Watch.  Stine publishes through the Scholastic Corporation. I'm not sure that this is the way to go with the Dark Watch series, though I doubt there is any reason not to.

Currently, the book idea I have for Christina's novel is not really a Dark Watch type novel. For one, I think it might be a trilogy. And two, it might be a little more young adult reading, rather than young readers. The title is HEX and I've completed the first chapter. It promises to be a fast thriller, full of vampires and scary monsters.

Dad Talk: ADHD -- Starting Out

When I was growing up (the 1965-1975 era) ADHD and ADD were called Hyperactivity Disorder. Schools and neighbors treated this diagnosis as one-step-up from taking the short bus to school. It was a Learning Disorder, a Behavioral Disorder, but most of all it was a Psychological Disorder.

I don’t know how many hours I spent talking to psychologists as a child, but it was quite a few. I don’t blame them for anything. In that period of history, we simply didn’t know any better. Ritalin was prescribed by doctors without the clarity of why it made a difference in the behavior of hyperactive children. It was also common to hear from a doctor that the child would ‘grow out’ of her hyperactivity after puberty. Some doctors today still believe this fallacy.

The 1980’s brought little change in this area of treatment, except for some brave souls who changed the name from Hyperactivity Syndrome to Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD). There were a few good insights, but not much research going on.

The 1990’s were brilliant with research. A whole new perspective on ADD, and ADHD was being described by researchers and the results of their tests. More attention to the Physiological aspects of the condition (rather than the perceived Psychological aspects conjured up in the 60’s and 70’s), was focused on.

Being a dad, growing up with this condition, as well as facing treatment for a son with the same condition, I have had to learn quite a bit about treatments, and parenting. I was required to Un-Learn even more. I started with all of the anger and frustration that came from the treatments of Ritalin and the 70’s (if the child is a little too active, dope him up). I also had clear memories of the ostracizing treatment a child feels from teachers and other parents when he has a Hyperactive diagnosis. I didn’t want my son going through the same experiences, and for a long time I refused to have my son on any treatment for his ADHD.

It was only through the work of a very patient doctor and a great deal of research on my part, that I changed my fears into experience and knowledge. I hope that this book, in which I expand on some of those experiences, helps you to make clearer decisions with your children.

Let’s start out with…I’m not a doctor. I’m not a psychologist, psychiatrist, or even a witch-doctor. I don’t even have a snake oil cart. All I am is a Dad, who has done a great deal of reading on this subject, raised children with this condition, and still deal with the condition as an adult. I rely strongly in this book on the research done. and continuing to be performed, by some very intelligent people, all of whom I truly hope I give proper credit to with citations.

·  Kelly, Kate; Peggy Ramundo (2006). You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! The Classic Self-Help Book For Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. New York, NY: Scribner. pp. 11–12. ISBN 0-7432-6448-7.

·  Hallowell, Edward M.; John J. Ratey (2005). Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder. New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 253–5. ISBN 0-345-44231-8.

·  Lane, B. (2004). The differential neuropsychological/cognitive profiles of ADHD subtypes: A meta-analysis. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64, Retrieved from PsycINFO database.

·  Barkley, Russell A. (2001). "The Inattentive Type of ADHD As a Distinct Disorder: What Remains To Be Done". Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 8 (4): 489–501. doi:10.1093/clipsy/8.4.489.

·  Milich, Richard; Balentine, Amy C., Lynam, Donald R.. "ADHD Combined Type and ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type Are Distinct and Unrelated Disorders". Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 8 (4): 463–488. doi:10.1093/clipsy/8.4.463.

·  Murphy, K., Barkley, R., & Bush, T. (2002). Young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: subtype differences in comorbidity, educational, and clinical history. The Journal Of Nervous And Mental Disease, 190(3), 147-157. Retrieved from MEDLINE database.

·  Bauermeister, J., Matos, M., Reina, G., Salas, C., Martínez, J., Cumba, E., et al. (2005). Comparison of the DSM-IV combined and inattentive types of ADHD in a school-based sample of Latino/Hispanic children. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry, And Allied Disciplines, 46(2), 166-179. Retrieved from MEDLINE database. 

Excuses Maintain Victim Mentality

When we allow our excuses to succeed, we allow our futures to be limited. Too often we believe that an excuse is temporary -- that it excuses a current outcome, or temporary setback by illustrating a temporary limitation. Leadership Expert Christopher Avery, PhD, and Leaders such as Former Quarterback Steve Young, strongly disagree with this thought process.

The single most important quality for success in any venture is opportunity. When we successfully use excuses for our current setbacks and failures we nurture a Victim Mentality, which sets up limitations against opportunities in the future. We literally set up road blocks against our own success by using excuses.

Stanford University, with Steve Young offer a brilliant lecture series which describes this problem, as well as offering my solutions in the areas of performance, and negotiation.

Christopher Avery offers an amazing live lecture, which focuses on Leadership, and how to step away from the Victim Mentality, which strangles our futures. 

WTF Did you just Say?

I heard one of the Republican candidates, in a quick blurb, say that he wanted to restore the original glory of the United States, by bringing back “In god we trust.” How stupid was that?

First of all, the office of President doesn’t have the power to make that change.

Second, the change was made based on the meaning of the Constitution – which pits him against the Constitution of the U.S.

Third, to exactly what ‘Original Glory’ is he referring? The Founding Fathers? That group of slave owners who wanted to be free?

The only good thing we can say about our history is that we have consistently learned and grown from our mistakes – most of the time in spite of ourselves. We didn’t always feel that some of our best changes were very good at the time – for example, when Lincoln freed the slaves. A large group of good Christian folk didn’t feel that was a good move.

This nation should pay closer attention to what is being said by these guys, because what they are saying is about as Christian and Good as burning crosses on Sunday.