Random Thoughts on a Friday the 13th

Things I Used to Be Afraid Of

1. Spontaneous combustion - not just the sudden conflagration of a pile of newspapers in the closet but of my own body. As a kid of maybe 8 years old, I was seriously worried I might spontaneously burst into flames. I must have seen this on an episode of "Wonder Woman" or "Six Million Dollar Man."

2. Getting stuck in purgatory - I was a good Catholic kid so naturally I was concerned I would go to Hell if I was bad (forget about Santa not giving me presents, I feared the Devil). Worse was learning about purgatory or limbo. To assuage my worries, my mother assured me that would not happen to me since I had been baptized. So naturally, I became worried for all of those babies who had not been baptized.

3. Botulism - in the 70s there were some outbreaks of botulism linked to canned mushrooms which marked my psyche forever. To this day, I still examine every centimeter of a can of anything and refuse to purchase or use a can that has even the slightest indentation. So technically, this is one thing I am still afraid of.

4. Dolls coming to life - not to terrorize me a la "Chucky," nor for adventures a la "Toy Story," but to chastise me for not taking them into bed with me. For this reason, I would tuck all of my stuffed animals and dolls under the covers each night and make sure that they each had a turn to be next to me.

Random Thoughts on a Friday

Setting 4 Things Straight for the Record About Friday the 13th

1. Tonight is the opening of the Friday the 13th remake - or reimagining, if you will (that's what they call the new BSG). The original movie did not feature Jason or anyone in a hockey mask and in fact, Jason was not the killer at all. The movie introduced Jason a la Michael Myers at the very end and that's what led to the multitude of sequels.

2. The new Friday the 13th movie is actually the 12th in the series which means, logically, there really needs to be a 13th. Will that one be the one to finally end the franchise?

3. The appearance of Jason in the final frames of the original movie were intended as a joke but the next director who took on the franchise insisted he be included in the sequels.

4. The fim's original title was Long Night at Camp Blood. Ooh, scary...

Random Thoughts on a Friday

Is this a regular feature? Should it be? I am a listmaker and I have a tendency to think in terms of productivity, hence the end-of-the-week listing of things in my head.

1. Today is Friday the 13th (oooh! scary!). People who are afraid of this day are said to be afflicted with paraskevidekatriaphobia. They won't drive their cars or use anything mechanical; they won't make important plans for the day, like weddings or big meetings. Some people say it dates back to Christ whose 13th disciple betrayed him and led to his crucifixion (which was on a Friday). Others date it to the ancient Egyptians who associated 13 with the unknown realm (12 being the number of realms on earth) and to a story in Viking lore about the god of mischief, Loki, who was not invited to a banquet of the gods at Valhalla - and yes, he was #13.

Statistically, it's not anymore dangerous or deadly than any other day of the week or month. No, seriously, it's not so go ahead and schedule your wedding on that day. Just don't invite me...

2. M. Night Shyamalan's new movie "The Happening" opens today and while I was not a big fan of "Signs" or "Lady in the Water" and I guessed the secret to "The Village" not long after I read a Margaret Peterson Haddix novel, I do look forward to his hubris. He once had the gall to say he was a better filmmaker than Spielberg. Um, "Schindler's List," anyone? "Close Encounters?" Um, no.

3. I'm guest blogging at Teen Book Review next Wednesday, 6/18, and I'll be giving away...something! I'll let you know next week but in the meantime, check out the blog. Jocelyn gets some great authors and does some amazing reviews! I don't think she actually sleeps...or else she's figured out how to read while she snoozes!

4. I hate having a cold during the summer. It's completely unfair. It's hard enough to curl up with a hot cup of tea in SoCal during the winter because the sun still shines most of the time, but the summer? When everyone is outside and the days are superlong? Forget about it. I'm trying to pretend I'm perfectly fine and maybe my cold will get bored and leave.

5. Thursdays just aren't the same without LOST. HH and I are going through withdrawal. I suppose I could read or something, huh? I mean, it's not like I have to watch television...or do I?