ENDLESS PERCEPTIONS
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My Reflections Blog

my reflections

Ominous - THE DREAM DILEMMA

12/24/2015

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Cannot Be Controlled

Ominous - Woman walking through tunnel to light. The Dream Dilemma book cover
The ominous wooden man. The Dream Dilemma

Ominous

The basis for the video, just like the book, is the uncertain world of dreams. Deidre dreams nightly about Kelly and Dyllon's new marriage. She wishes for their happiness and this is reflected by the use of light and happy musical tones. But this mood turns suddenly ominous and Deidre is reminded that dreams cannot be controlled. Or can they?
The book, THE DREAM DILEMMA - Reflections of EL, is the continuation of the story that began in Reflections of EL: In Search of Self. Both books are part-autobiographical. 
Before you sleep tonight, see if you can figure out the riddle of the little wooden figure and solve the:

dilemma

that

cannot be controlled


Cannot be controlled. Woman lying in grass reading book

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The Other by Thomas Tryon

12/19/2015

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Murder has come to a quiet rural town in New England during the 1930s. Is it possible that children might be involved?

The story of Thomas Tryon’s exploration into the odd behaviors of the young brothers Niles and Holland Perry is both well written and well executed. The small-town descriptions were realistic and the plot twists kept me guessing but the unexpected final revelation involving the siblings haunted me for days. Tryon’s work with the 1972 movie of the same name was just as shocking and I consider both works to be classics.  



The Other by

Thomas Tryon


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The Force was Never Asleep

12/16/2015

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What is all of the fuss about the new movie, Star Wars - The Force Awakens? 
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I've only had my ticket for the last month (for the December 18th opening day showing ) so I believe that I can answer that question. Regardless, I can't give a review of a movie that I've never seen before so let's instead take a look at what all the buzz is based on.

Back in May 1977, I saw a new movie at the drive-in called, Stars Wars
 - A New Hope - Episode IV. It was advertised as a shoot-'em- up Western in outer space. Reviews were good, it was popular for months and I thought that would be it. A great movie but then again, there was a lot of other great movies. 
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As the year progressed, every child had some toy and/or model related to Star Wars. Even some adults said craziness like, "I wish I had a light saber." This is from a movie that was numbered "Episode IV". How could a movie that skipped the first three chapters be so successful? It took three years but I found out.

In May 1980, when The Empire Strikes Back was finally released, there was an adult following that shocked more than a few people. As the movie began, the same theme music as in the first installment sounded and the rolling credits again impressively stretched across the screen. In unison, the crowd gave out a
 loud and resounding "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa."  
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There were a lot of happy people who finally got their fix. Not to mention the big shocker about Luke's father (I don't want to spoil it for anyone who doesn't know).  

Return of the Jedi (May 1983) was also a good movie because of the established relationships of the main characters and the exciting resolution to George Lucas' story. Carrie Fisher's good-looks helped a bit also.
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But what didn't help episode VI was creating the furry little Ewoks. Those fuzz-balls were just too childish but I guess the kids in the audience appreciated them more then I did. 

Apparently, Lucas did something very right because even though it took another sixteen years (May 1999) before Episode I - The Phantom Menace finally premiered, young and old were still in a high state of excitement.
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Fascinating story building amazed all but there was one character that almost single-handedly destroyed the show. Yes, it was Jar Jar Binks. This creature was more than just childish; this thing was just plain stupid. He served an important function in the plot but his role should have been given to a tree or something that could keep its mouth closed. But, the movie was successful in spite of that creature's antics.

By May 2002, Attack of the Clones premiered and it was an instant blockbuster. A great love story and even greater shockers. To me, the biggest success of the movie was the decision to give Jar Jar Binks just a few lines (sorry, just a joke).

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And finally we arrive at Revenge of the Sith - Episode III, which is a truly remarkable achievement of a movie. Since its premiere on May 2005, I've seen it more than a few times but the exciting plot blended with the inevitable sadness and tragedy that Anakin must face to become his future self holds up every time.
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The story-writing decisions to connect a 2005 film to the original that premiered in 1977 must have been more than difficult. I've heard that George Lucas had a great deal of the entire story in his head from long ago. Overall, well written scripts, amazing stars, remarkable direction, stupendous musical scores and ever-increasing CGI effects have made Star Wars a memorable part of our lives for nearly forty years.

Hopefully, Star Wars - The Force Awakens - Episode VII will not disappoint but signs are good that it too will be a winner. Its actually premiering Thursday evening, December 17th even though the commercials say Friday. Rotten Tomato (movie reviews) has already given the film an average rating of 97%.  

I hate standing on long lines so I'm thankful that some theaters now have reserved seating. Along with quite a few others, I will be having more to say about this film. Oh, almost forgot. May the force be with you.

The Force

Was

Never Asleep


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My Last Job Interview

12/7/2015

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Beautiful woman on a leather chair during my last job interview

My Last Job Interview
by Lloyd A. Green

Her fingers danced feverishly across the glass section of her desk as she entered the information I had just given her. As her swan-like neck shifted to the right, so did her dark flowing hair. When it parted from its resting place on her shoulder, the smooth skin of her bare neck lay exposed to the soft overhead lighting. As her gaze lazily rose from her desk, I quietly swallowed, hoping that she hadn’t seen the heat in my face.
 
“I’ll try asking again,” the interviewer stated abruptly. “How long did you say you were at your previous place of business?”
 
It then dawned on me that I hadn’t answered her last question. "For thirty years,” I responded anxiously. “I worked with the mentally disabled as a director for residential facilities. I’ve always enjoyed the feeling that I was making a difference helping those that are less fortunate but there was always a part of me that wanted more."
 
“I see,” the interviewer said as she went back to typing on the desk.
 
For a short while, I swore there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. But instead of it bothering me, I felt a tingle of excitement. It was difficult for me not to feel a bit hot under the collar as the attractive woman spoke. I attempted to politely answer her questions but each delicate button on the front of her dress cried out for mercy as they gently resisted the surrounding material. Fantasies of supple flesh danced across my thoughts and I had to kick myself for being so weak. I needed to concentrate or I wasn’t going to get though this.
 
"What did you mean when you said a part of you wanted more?" the alluring woman asked.
 
As I was about to respond, an alert sounded from her desk. She quickly reacted with a light tap of a finger on the glass surface.
 
“Excuse me for a moment,” she said in my direction. “I’ve got to take this.”
 
“Certainly,” I quickly responded. “Take your time.” After touching the Bluetooth device on her ear, she walked away from her desk and moved to the nearest window for privacy. I was happy for the opportunity to clear my mind.
 
I closed my eyes for a second as the expensive leather bound seat lowered me further into its wicked comfort. The rich walnut walls and the dark red eucalyptus wood flooring convinced me that the company was bleeding money. Outside of the office’s towering picture windows, my eyes followed a lone crimson vehicle as it dropped through the clouds and faded from my view, close to where the interviewer was standing.
 
Her back was turned toward me and the sunlight blazed across her outline. She must have known that I can easily see her shapely silhouette through her short cotton dress, which under the circumstances wasn’t leaving much to the imagination. I wondered if this wasn’t this some sort of a tease on her part? As I shifted my position in my chair, she ended the call and returned to her desk.
 
“Sorry for the interruption,” she said with a smile. “What made you give up you previous line of work?
 
"Since my accident, I’ve never been the same so I quit that job and I began to take my writing more seriously,” I cautiously replied.
 
To my surprise, a few moments passed and she hadn’t questioned me about the accident that I had been so hesitant to bring up. I still felt as if I was in the hot seat but I breathed a sigh of relief.
 
The interviewer lowered her darkly mascaraed eyelids ever so slightly, gave me another enticing smile and made her next request.
 
“Please. Tell me about your writing.”
 
“I prefer the darker side of fiction,” I said confidently. “I write mostly science-fiction and horror stories with always a romantic angle and a touch of deception.”
 
I knew it was stupid for me to flirt with this woman but the yearning in my gut was difficult to ignore. I couldn’t resist staring into her piercing brown eyes, hoping for a similar reaction as I continued.
 
“My writing philosophy is that once the seed of an idea is exposed to its inviting surroundings and then given tender care, it will slowly grow into something superb that certain people can’t help but hold dear.” I smiled confidently at what I thought she’d see had a deeper meaning but what I received in return was an indifferent twist at the edge of her mouth.
 
“Have you ever been published anywhere?” she flatly asked.
 
“One of my short stories was published in Sanitarium Magazine,” I said quietly and exhaled heavily.
 
The interviewer quickly typed as I spoke, not addressing what I had just said.
 
“Any other interests?” she spat out mechanically.
 
“Photography and videography but those are just hobbies.” I replied quietly.
 
“You are too humble,” the interviewer said curtly.  “Your hobbies are obviously connected to your writing.” As she spoke, her eyes never left her desk. “What is this outlet called again? YouTube? Some of this material looks devilishly good.”
 
“What do you mean?” I asked, gripped by panic. Had she seen something on social media that would stop me from going this job? I’ve blown it, I thought to myself. I could only hope that she didn’t notice the pain of disappointment behind my eyes.
 
She suddenly spread her arms, lightly gripped either end of the cool flat surface that separated us and leaned forward. As her eyes bore into me, I drew back slightly, feeling like a trapped prey.
 
“I think we definitely have a place for you in our organization,” she said with a wide smile.
 
“Thank you so much!” I said exploding with unexpected excitement. “You will not regret this.”
 
As I stood to shake her hand or perhaps give her a warm hug, my chair and the platform it was mounted on were slowly being lowered into the floor. Just below me, I could increasingly hear a multitude of screams that sounded like men and women crying out for mercy. I felt an intense rush of heat quickly surrounding me and suddenly there was a pervasive and inescapable smell of charred flesh. I was about to give out a strangled cry, as my eyes shot up and stared into the woman’s blood-red pupils. Through my paralyzing fear, her jubilant words were the last that I would hear.
 
“No, thank you, Mr. Green,” she replied. “And you’re right, we will not regret this. But you might.”
 
There was only a wisp of gray smoke as that area of the floor where I once sat, was neatly resealed.

my last

job interview


2 Comments

The Green Legacy Comments

12/1/2015

1 Comment

 

Green Legacy

Comments - The Green Legacy woman peering over a river about family history
The Green Legacy. Black teenager with arms outstretched

Comments

The Green Legacy is the story of a sixteen-year-old that feels driven to go to 19th century Louisiana. Judy's plan in this paranormal tale is to do whatever it takes to gain power and influence over others. 

The music and surrounding sound effects of the trailer were carefully selected to reflect the mood of the beginning of the book. I compared Judy's frame of mind during her arrival to New Orleans to an unanticipated storm thunderously rolling into the port. Because of her encounter with a member of the Green family, the powerful theme takes on a unexpected sensual tone, which then leads to the unexpected appearance of the mysterious stranger. 

I began writing this book as a way of collecting and documenting my own family roots. I was curious how as far back I could trace my lineage. The more information I found after speaking to relatives and tracking down information on Ancestry.com, the more I realized that there was another tale forming; one which would connect all of the family stories together under one main theme. This is how the story of Judy began.

There really was a sixteen-year-old named Judy who arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of a slave manifest on March 14, 1843, as seen below (#16).
A slave manifest with Judy's name. The Green Legacy
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The love, tragedy, and unexpected surprises that Judy experiences are all tied to the betrayal she believes she suffered at the hands of one she loves. Her need for revenge spans for generations as Judy seeks satisfaction and an understanding .

Hope you enjoy reading The Green Legacy as much as I enjoyed writing it. Take a look at the trailer.

the green


More Book Info

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Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King

11/27/2015

1 Comment

 

Dolores

Dolores Claibourne book cover. Shadow opening a curtain
Claibourne

Last night, while driving home from Thanksgiving dinner, I finished the audio version of Dolores Claiborne, written by Stephen King and overall I liked the story quite a lot.

Dolores Claiborne is about a woman who stands accused of murdering an employer. She surprises everyone by freely admitting to murdering her husband many decades prior. The reasons for the old crime were masterfully woven into the present accusation in a surprising and grotesque way, as I have come to expect from King.
  
As Dolores continued telling her story and I realized that the book would really be a one-person narrative; I was a bit put off. I stuck with it though and I was not disappointed. As the puzzle pieces of the story fell into place, I became more impressed. The relationship between Dolores and Vera was very real. Regardless of their different life stations in the small town setting, they became good friends and taught each other needed lessons (good and bad) as real friends usually do.

It only made sense that Dolores wanted to come clean when the accusations were being made about Vera's death. Dolores had been holding on to her secret about her late husband's death for decades. No matter how "right" Dolores was for the actions she took, she had been tormented since the event and lived with constant guilt and the knowledge of how it affected her family. To suddenly be accused of killing her friend Vera, meant the authorities might dig deeper and try to connect prior events. Dolores was not a scheming criminal who got some kind of kick from hurting others. She was a woman trying to do right and in the end she was tired of the games. If I was in Dolores' position, I would have opened up also and let it all out.

My only point of disbelief was the kid's bank accounts. It the police were checking into whether there were insurance motives concerning Joe's death, why would they not check on bank accounts? I mean, at least ask questions about who had what money in their name or were there any recent deposits or withdrawals. Just because the bank representative had things to lose so he kept quiet, didn't mean that others could not have at least asked some banking questions.

Other than this point, Dolores' attempt at the keeping her of secrets in a small town and living with the repercussions made this a very believable situation. I applaud Stephen King for being able to successfully tackle this unique way of storytelling. In other words, I like the book and I give it four out of five stars.

To those that have not yet read the book: 
Beware the dust bunnies with their dusty teeth :)



1 Comment

Book Review - Foundation by Isaac Asimov

11/16/2015

1 Comment

 

Foundation

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I decided not to review this book until I finished reading the trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation). This is because I was trying to give the entire read a chance. At one point I almost put the book down and I will explain why.

Foundation is about a scientist named Hari Seldon who has surmised that the Galactic Empire would fall and humanity would experience a dark age for 30,000 years. Seldon found a way to shorten that time to 1,000 years as long as his plan was followed. Isaac Asimov ambitiously pulled together this rather long chain of events from previously written short stories and the finished product has its good and not-so-good points. 

Foundation does have interesting characters (like Seldon) but much of the story has virtually little character development. Instead, Asimov's use of situations like "The Seldon Plan" represents Hari Seldon. By repeatedly bringing the dead scientist's revelations and truths to civilization, the character is brought back to life so that his work can be continued. I find this to be an interesting writing technique but it’s not a true substitute when the need is to understand the man himself. Asimov again does this with others (speak of their accomplishments and its effect) but I would have preferred to know more about key people like Gaal Dornick and Salvor Hardin. 

I’ve read that the tale was originally published over time in Astounding Science Fiction Magazine, years prior to the story coming together in book form. I guess this explains why the action tends to jump to different characters and time periods as the story is evolving. Unfortunately, as soon as I became invested in an interesting protagonist, another would take his place.  As I read on, I tried not to let this bother me.

Many of the stories were intriguing (the courtroom scene was one and another was about how effortlessly a planet and its army could be made to shut down). The narration brought me to the edge of my seat but I was disappointed when the focus soon moved to another scenario. This type of writing made it difficult for me since the momentum of the storytelling kept changing. I found myself screaming for more and not getting it. Halfway through the book, the pattern almost made me stop reading. Curiosities concerning the trilogy’s fame made me continue and I'm happy that I did.

Regardless of this, Asimov is a fantastically inventive storyteller. The formation of the Psychohistorians, the Encyclopedists and the anticipation of a Second Foundation is complex and well thought out. It’s easy to understand why Asimov is considered the father of literary science fiction. Foundation was published in 1951 and once widely distributed, many standards for writing sci-fi and were set. It becomes obvious that many writers have attempted to replicate Asimov's impressive use of civilization building and historical cause and effect. 

Overall, I gave Foundation 4 out of 5 stars and recommend that others read it because of its historic significance and also because there was just enough in it to keep the reader interested. 


Endless Perceptions

1 Comment

The Mystery of Dreaming

11/12/2015

1 Comment

 
The Mystery of Dreaming. Woman floating while asleep.
Dreams often feel like another form or reality we’re experiencing. They are sometimes difficult to explain or even to remember, but we know it felt so real and vivid while we were dreaming it. Dreaming is a trance-like state during which our body and mind rest, or so it should be. Our mind doesn’t really rest, though. 

But what are dreams exactly? 

There are hundreds of different and competing theories about what dreams really are. Roughly speaking, dreams are sensations, thoughts, images and fantasies we experience while we’re asleep. According to Sigmund Freud, dreams are our window into the realm of unconscious. And the unconscious is dozens and even hundreds of times bigger and more powerful than our conscious. 

​

The Mystery

Of Dreaming

During our R.E.M. phase we are in our deepest stage of the sleep cycle. This is when our eyes start moving rapidly, our muscles paralyze and our breathing becomes uneven. During R.E.M cycle our dreams are the most vivid. 

Sometimes a dream is simply a dream – but sometimes it’s something more.

Do we leave our bodies when we sleep?

People all around the world have had some rather bizarre experiences when they are actually able to detach themselves from their bodies. You know this because you’re able to see yourself while you’re sleeping. It’s a bizarre phenomenon and nobody really knows what happens in this stage of sleep.  

Scientist have also been puzzled by this dream dilemma, and are trying to figure out the nature of this phenomenon. Is our spiritual body really leaving our physical, or is it just a form of deception, a mind trip? 

In a new study, researchers used a camera that created an illusion to participants that their physical body was at the other side of the room while they were lying in a brain scanner. They measured the participant’s brain reaction to the illusion created, to determine which parts of the brain were lit up the most. It turns out that the conscious feeling of where one’s body is stems from our feeling of ownership of our body. 

It all points to the amazing power of our brain. But there is so much yet to know. Scientists are aware that even though they can measure which parts of the brain light up, they still don’t know what exactly is going on in the brain while people are experiencing this.  

Is our brain simply playing tricks with us, or is there something more to it?

Curious about what that something more might be?

Read THE DREAM DILEMMA
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The Green Legacy on Sale

11/4/2015

1 Comment

 
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On Sale



The Green Legacy 
is available for $1.99.

Kindle Countdown 

ends 11/11/15



A sixteen year old slave named Judy has arrived in Louisiana but this ruthless psychic has an agenda of her own.
BUY NOW

1 Comment

Ivy's Envy (Want & Decay book 1)

11/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Want
​
&

Decay

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I just finished reading Ivy's Envy (Want & Decay 
Book 1) by Latashia Figueroa and gave it 5 stars. 

The author innocently grabs your attention from the very beginning and then moves you along with realistic characters on this emotional rollercoaster of lust and envy. I could not put this book down until I was finished. Look out Stephen King, you've got competition. I'm anxiously waiting to read book 2.

A disturbingly Great Find!


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  • Home
  • BIO
  • My Reflections Blog
  • Books
    • Precious Memories
    • Audition Stories
    • Castle on the Hill: Secrets
    • Beyond the Castle on the Hill
    • Reflections of EL: In Search of Self
    • The Dream Dilemma
    • The Green Legacy
    • Chasing The Dream
  • Perceptive Websites
    • STAR TREK OPS STATION >
      • The Calypso Five
      • The Flying Saucer Connection
      • Star Fleet Academy Wants You
      • Birth of Star Trek Part 1
      • The Transition - Birth of Star Trek Part 2
      • The Reviews - Birth of Star Trek - Part 3
    • Sovereign1Groove Video Mix
    • Memories of Foster Projects MLK Towers >
      • History and Heart of MLK Towers
      • In The Beginning
      • Before The Beginning
      • A Short Walk - Through Photos
      • Building a Dream
      • Welcome To Stephen Foster Houses
      • Last Walkthrough at 70 Lenox Avenue
      • Bug Spray Was Not Safe
      • View From Yesterday's Living Room Window
      • PS 170 - Across The Street
      • Playground Stitches
      • Khalil Scotts Corner
      • Vote Like It's 1947
      • Park Avenue Market I Remember
    • Within These Castle Walls >
      • Medieval Castles
      • Valuables in the Keep
      • Dressed for the Castle
      • Book Tower
      • The Wanderer
    • Star-crossed Solutions >
      • My Star-crossed Theory
      • Love-Loss Hurts At Any Age
      • First Kiss
      • First Kiss - Hot
      • Love Must End - The Story of CLANA
      • Why Are Married Men So Enticing To Single Women
      • Contrasts in Honesty
    • My Castle Treasures
    • Perceptive Friends
  • Endless Videos
    • Lloyd's Book Trailers
    • Green vs Green Movie Reviews
    • Unique Videos To-Go
  • Dog Days