Saturday, November 19, 2011

You're the Woman Who Tells the Scary Stories

Such was how I was greeted by a young student when she saw me at the Bright Lights Festival last evening in Galt Gardens. This made me laugh. She has probably seen me present on local history dozens of times but it's the ghost stories she remembers me for.

Ah, well. There are worse things to be called than the lady who tells the scary stories.

I must admit that I do enjoy telling scary stories. I also have to admit that sometimes when I work late a night typing up some of the stories people send me, it even gets me a little bit scared. I like to think I can handle anything but these stories get into your brain.

Last night I had an update on the Taber Health Centre. There was a residence beside the old Taber Hospital. Eventually the residence came to be abandoned and stood empty for quite some time. Many, many nurses reported looking out from the hospital across at the attic of the old residence and glimpsed a light on in the attic. When they looked back, the light was gone.

Staff at the Taber Health Centre also believe that the ghost who haunts the new site came with them from the old site. Because, as they say, the site seemed to have a ghost the day it opened. This ghost has my favourite name for any ghost in southern Alberta. They call him Maynard. I don't know the reason behind the name but if you have the answer, I'd love to hear the story.

But the story that interested me the most was about the Grim Reaper visting the Taber Hospital. Two ladies who were in residence in the longterm care wing would occasionally comment to the staff that the Grim Reaper had been in their room but that he hadn't come for them. On the days the ladies reported he had visited, inevitably someone in the hospital would die that night. Creepy.

Keep the stories coming.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

My Computer Talked to Me

Yes, as I type this I realize it sounds crazy. And I'm sure it has a plausible explanation. But it's also a fun story to share.

A few years ago my colleague and I were both sitting at our desks working. I was at my desk but working beside my computer (not actively using the computer at the time). All of a sudden my computer said "hello." Startled, I looked at my computer. My colleague called out (she was on the other side of a short wall), "was that your computer talking?" I told her, yes, and then we both heard it again call out "hello."

That was it. After that, nothing. Until recently.

Then just two weeks ago my computer did it again. I was logging out of my computer and after I logged out, my computer started talking. It was reciting some instructions on a computer program that I wasn't even aware was on my computer and which I never turned on (or at least I don't think I did). It kept talking for a few minutes (fortunately more my sanity, was heard by another colleague so I know it wasn't just me hearing it) telling me about buttons I should push on the computer (even though it was logged out).

I like to think it was someone in our IT department with either a wicked sense of humour or a wicked sense of timing. Or that I should more carefully read all of the instructions that come with my computers.

But I still haven't figured out what (if anything) made my computer talk to me on those two occasions. I do know it was weird. I also wish I had been smart enough the first time to say hello back. Who knows where that conversation could have led?