I love paranormal shows. Give me a night of programs about people searching for the Yeti over a popular sitcom any day. Recently, of course, those sort of programs have become more and more common lately, probably due to Halloween.

Recently, I took this a step further and went with my boyfriend to see a scary movie. "Paranormal Activity' was made on a particularly low budget, is filmed so that it's supposed to be realistic. I won't spoil the plot, for anyone who wants to see it, but suffice to say that it was realistic enough so that I was freaked out, and continued to be a bit on edge for the next few days. There wasn't any blood or gore in the movie either, which will totally turn me off of any movie. At its heart, the movie was like an old-fashioned ghost story, which was awesome. I could totally see someone telling this story to a group of kids all gathered around a camp fire, giggling and covering their mouths.

What was particularly interesting was the different ways my boyfriend and I reacted to the scariness. During the movie, I was much more afraid. Loud noises, unexpected images, you name it, I jumped. The very few times I attempted camping as a kid, it was the same way with ghost stories. My boyfriend, however, seemed unimpressed by the movie, but afterward, was visibly more frightened. We were walking back to his car, and I could tell he was more on edge. He suggested we not talk about the movie for a few days after, so he could calm down.

We've still not discussed it, and I can't tell if it's because he's frightened, or because he's forgotten.

Happy birthday Monday to Martha Pierce, Suzette Smith, Kaycie Hamilton and Ramon Louis Walker Sr., all of Denison; Alison Hightower, Jessica Adams, Xa´Layjah Cleveland, Willie Stevenson, Linda Wadford, Jack Walker and Don Kinsey, all of Sherman; Robert Garvin and Virginia Heath, both of Whitesboro; Kathleen Hamilton Bradburry of Debary, Fla.; Betty Cassell of Pottsboro; Garrett Ragan of Bells.

Happy anniversary Monday to Robert and Sue Burk of Whitewright, 63 years; T.J. and Ina Williams of Luella, 60 years; Ronnie and Linda Barcheers of Sherman, 25 years.