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Conference hydra::dejavu

Title:	Psychic Phenomena
Notice:	Please read note 1.0-1.* before writing
Moderator:	JARETH::PAINTER

Created:	Wed Jan 22 1986
Last Modified:	Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2143
Total number of notes:	41773

1418.0. "Home Alone" by ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI (This time forever!) Mon Jan 21 1991 12:52

    
    	This past weekend, I was home alone; just me and the dog (a
    100lb-class Doberman) and the two cats. "Home", is a place I 
    bought last August -

    	A couple "funny" things happened yesterday, which is why I'm
    writing here. Amidst my doing chores, some of which required me
    to be carrying things into the Master bedroom, I noticed that the
    door would "lock" on it's own, sometimes, when I closed it behind
    me. It locks by pushing the inside knob "in" toward the door.
    
    	The door can be opened with a coat hanger wire, so I bent one
    up, opened it and continued along. I noticed that the mechanism
    was loose, so I tightened the two fasteners, bent the coat hanger
    wire back into shape, placed it back in the front closet. "That must
    have been what was causing it" I thought.
    
    	Next time I came back, the door was locked again. "Perhaps I
    banged it against the wall when I opened it the last time" (which
    I did at least once) So, I get the coat hanger, open it up, put
    the coat hanger back...laughing it off like Sylvester the Cat does
    in the Jeckyll and Hyde cartoon episode.
    
    	I came back to the room with an armload of clothes and I thought
    I heard something. The door was locked again. Now, I'm a bit spooked!
    I get the coathanger, open the door and leave the coat hanger nearby
    for the next time. I search the room and...nothing. I believe it
    was 4 times that this door was found locked, with me possible doing
    it once.
    
    	A few hours later in the evening, I was wrapping things up and
    the garbage was the last thing to be taken out to the garage. I
    left my keys on the kitchen table, believing that I didnt need
    them, as I'd left the garage door was open to accomodate me. I'd
    simply close it, and come back in through the sliding glass door.
    
    	Well, the house has "deadbolt" locks on all doors, and the sliding
    glass doors require a key-turn from the outside to move this little
    lever downward, which you can just "flip" from the inside. Luckily,
    I did not close the garage door behind me - I decided to make another
    trip out. When I returned, I pulled on the sliding glass door to
    open it, and, as you might guess from me writing about this here,
    it didnt budge. Looking through, I could see that the lever had
    distinctly *been moved down*. I'm locked out of my own house!
    
    	Now, I'm really spooked! Chills are running up and down my spine.
    After checking the top sliding glass door, the bottom exit door,
    which were both locked as I expected because I didnt go out those
    doors, it was back to the garage to get my crowbar. I had to do some 
    damage to get the sliding glass door open, but I did, and noted that 
    the -
    
    	- keys were on the table where I left them - I *couldnt* have
    	  locked myself out!
    
    	- all house doors were locked from the inside - I *was* actually
    	  physically locked out, not just "imagining it all"!
    
    	I took the Doberman into each room of that house, checked all
    closets and *nothing*. If there were living flesh, I'm sure he would 
    have been excited over it, as he typically is when a delivery person
    comes by. He's a guard dog. Then, I proceeded to fix the damage. It's 
    1:30 am. I'm going back and forth to the garage getting tools, screws, 
    drills and I keep getting these chills in my spine. The temperment of 
    the animals, however, remained "as if nothing unusual was happening". 
    
    	I fixed the door, and went to bed, sleeping with the crowbar
    on the nightstand. I figured betwen it and the Doberman...Nothing
    unusual this morning, and I'm still here to tell about it.
    
    	*	*	*
    
    	I normally dont believe in the unexplained - even when it happens
    with very tangable consequences. The only thing that bothers me
    about yesterday's events is -
    
    	- It happened when I was home alone. Those chills...Yet, I'm
    	  still here to tell about it.
    
    	- the *context* of the events was so striking! It was "stated"
    	  so clearly: "You => Out". As if "something" wants to push
    	  me out of "it's" space; the Master bedroom, the whole house!
    
    	- It caused me a lot of grief. Believe me, I was ready to use
	  the crowbar on whatever locked me out in an un-peacemaking
    	  manner when I finally got myself in.

    	One possible explanation is that the Doberman or Cat jumped
    up against the door, hitting the latch with it's paw. I've never
    seen the dog or cat do that, and that latch is sticky - it takes
    a concerted effort to pust it down all the way, which it was.
    
    	What can I do, besides carrying my keys all the time? ;')
    
    	Joe

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1418.1	Some "physical" answers.	CADSYS::COOPER	Topher Cooper	`Mon Jan 21 1991 14:13`	8
	> What can I do, besides carrying my keys all the time? ;') Hide a copy of the key outside somewhere completely unobvious. If it happens again, dust the latch for fingerprints (if you don't know how, send me mail). Topher
1418.2	Time for a change	DELREY::MILLS_MA	To Thine own self be True	`Mon Jan 21 1991 14:36`	15
	Re .0 Change the lock on your Master bedroom door to a different type than it has now. If you are locked out again once it's changed, then it's time to solicit help. Not to add to your discomfort, but I too got "chills" from your note, but you are braver than I. I would have gone in, gotten my keys and spent the night somewhere else! I'm easily spooked. Let us know if anything else happens, and Good Luck. Marilyn
1418.3	professional help	RIPPLE::GRANT_JO	dark heaven's baffling ban	`Mon Jan 21 1991 15:03`	9
	You might also have a locksmith come and check the situation out. Tell him/her what happened and see what an expert has to say about it. If there is reason to suspect foul play, .1 and .2 are on the money. Joel
1418.4	I hope I dont need "professional help" :'}	ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI	This time forever!	`Mon Jan 21 1991 16:09`	30
	Thanks for the replies, .1,.2, and .3! The Master bedroom door becoming locked is a mere nuisance, while me having to destroy part of my home to get myself back in is a major problem... Usually, I do have my keys with me at all times. What was so perplexing was that I _consciously made the decision_ to leave my keys on the table - being quite certain that the door I exited from would not and could not "lock" on it's own. It's not that type of "lock, then pull shut" mechanism. It's a close first then lock with key (from the outside) or by flipping the Lever (from the inside) type. Something must be physically moved _after_ closing for it to lock. The other perplexing part is that the Dog was asleep on the sofa when I got myself back in. There was no detectable distress on his part. I have to believe is anyone "foreign" was inside or around, he would have been going nuts. He usually barks when I'm coming up to the door before he recognizes who it is. One of the cats calmly watched from a barstool, lying down, as I wrenched my way in with the crowbar. There's also the coincidence of "me being locked out" and the probability of two mechanical mechanisms failing to give that particular result in the same day. This is crazy making stuff... I wish there was a "ghost test" that was like an "ept" - where you add three drops, shake and if it turns blue... Well...I'm headed home :'} Joe
1418.5		NOPROB::JOLLIMORE	Fish are rising up like birds	`Tue Jan 22 1991 08:39`	16
	> "lock, then pull shut" mechanism. It's a close first then lock with > key (from the outside) or by flipping the Lever (from the inside) . . > The other perplexing part is that the Dog was asleep on the sofa > when I got myself back in. Any chance the dog could've locked you out by jumping up on the door to 'see' where you went? He certainly has the weight to do it ;') > .................................... One of the cats calmly watched from > a barstool, lying down, as I wrenched my way in with the crowbar. He was probably in on it with the dog and was laughing like h*ll! :-) Jay
1418.6	I'm still here.	ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI	This time forever!	`Wed Jan 23 1991 15:37`	10
	Re .5 He probably was... ;') Well, I've only found the bedroom door locked one more time, unexplicably. Just last night. Joe
1418.7		RIPPLE::GRANT_JO	dark heaven's baffling ban	`Wed Jan 23 1991 15:53`	8
	re: .6 It's Bill Murray. ;^) Joel
1418.8	How high is the bar stool?	MOOV02::ROSE		`Thu Jan 24 1991 02:10`	17
	Joe, Is it usual to be able to open a locked door with a coat hanger? (Now, there's a skill I'd like to learn....) Perhaps there are worn parts within the lock mechanisms that respond to the vibrations of the closing doors. Or perhaps someone previously "fixed" these mechanisms, and somehow created the problems you're now experiencing. To check out your four-footed friends, you could coat the knob and latch with something like colored chalk. Then if you are greet- ed by soulful eyes coupled with yellow noses or purple paws, you could call off the ghostbusters - as long as they aren't renting you the pets. Virginia
1418.9	Try covering the latch	POBOX::CROWE	I led the pigeons to the flag..	`Thu Jan 24 1991 14:31`	16
	Hi Joe, For a temporary test/solution you may want to try the following in regards to the bedroom door: cover the door latch (you know the thing that sticks out of the side of the door and moves in and out when you turn the knob) with either masking tape or duct tape. This will prevent the door from locking. In addition, it won't `come off' unless some other person in your house pulls it off (cats/dog would leave scratches). About the sliding door -- you got me there! I can barely lock them from the inside! Let us know what's happening. -- Tracy Who with her brothers and sister used to unlock doors with the end of a spoon
1418.10	Good 'seeing' you again!	CGVAX2::PAINTER	Pray for Peace, people everywhere...	`Thu Jan 24 1991 17:36`	9
	Hi Joe, Hey, just be thankful you had clothes on when you got locked out. A friend of mine, as she says it, got locked out of her house 'without a stitch on'. (;^) Fortunately there was a blanket in the car... Cindy
1418.11	Inquiring minds want to know ....	LESCOM::KALLIS	Pumpkins -- Nature's greatest gift.	`Fri Jan 25 1991 08:08`	8
	Re .10 (Cindy): >A friend of mine, as she says it, got locked out of her house 'without >a stitch on'. ... Wonder what she had to do out there. :-D Steve Kallis, Jr.
1418.12		BTOVT::BEST_G	love is strong enough	`Fri Jan 25 1991 09:29`	8
	re: .11 (Steve K.) Maybe she was headed to the laundromat? :-) guy
1418.13	Handy car key pouch.	DWOVAX::STARK	Play hard, and excel	`Fri Jan 25 1991 12:05`	7
	re: .11, Since I usually keep my car locked, my initial thought was "where was she concealing the key ?" :-) Todd
1418.14	On the other hand, this conference does deal with magic	MISERY::WARD_FR	Going HOME---as an Adventurer!	`Fri Jan 25 1991 13:33`	6
	re: .13 (Todd) I swear! I do believe you are worse than I am! ;-) Frederick
1418.15		BTOVT::BEST_G	love is strong enough	`Fri Jan 25 1991 15:17`	8
	re: .14 (Frederick) >...I do believe you are worse than I am! :-) Hard to believe isn't it...:-) guy
1418.16	double (;^D	CGVAX2::PAINTER	Pray for Peace, people everywhere...	`Fri Jan 25 1991 23:39`	12
	Re.jokers and clowns Gosh, now I wish I could remember the rest of the story! (;^) She had us laughing hysterically by the time she got to the end of the story too! I think the car was unlocked...sorry toddy. Yep, Freddie...almost! Cindy
1418.17	it's not as strange as it seems.	REEF::MCGOWANR		`Wed Feb 13 1991 16:58`	6
	I may not be very old but I have done a lot of research on parapsychology and it isn't uncommon for things like this to happen. Do you have a fear of being locked out of your house or bedroom?? It could also be hidden anger, believe it or not, I'll explain latter, gotta go, works over....see ya tomorrow. rhonda.