Saturday, May 8, 2010

INTERNET DATING (Short Story by Barbara Roberts)

MatchU4Love Dating Service




Jason sighed. If this date were any more of a gold digger, she’d be on his lap taking out his fillings. He really needed to changed his “MatchU4Love” Profile on the “Income” line. Take off the “millionaire” entry. Yes, he owned his own company and was darn proud of it, but perhaps he shouldn’t advertise it on first dates.

Back at his desk, he told Keri, his budget manager that he’d be in “conference” and went in to reread his “Man on the Go Looking for Independent Woman” Profile title bar. “OK. Got to rework this one,” he mumbled. “I’ll leave the photo - after all, I’m tall, dark, and handsome – and humble.”

After fifty eight dates – women who were tall, short, blonde, brunette, red head, corporate investors, homemakers, childless, with children, rich, poor, he’d reached his limit for even a “man on the go.” Perhaps an image change? Perhaps a lobotomy.

He cleared Keri’s desk as he walked out of the office on his way to lunch. She looked up. Sensitive to every nuance of his walk, she inquired, “Bad days, eh, Jason?” They were attuned to each other not because they were steamy closet lovers at work, but because she was his sister. They’d been competing siblings over cookies and Mom, but now they had settled into harmonious bantering.

“Keri, I’m lost in this dating world. Help me! Help me! You are my only hope,” he did his best impersonation of Princess Leah talking to Obi-Wan. His sister put down her Excel printout and looked into his very blue but sad eyes. “You know I read all the current women’s self-help books,” Keri began in the way only an older sister can totally bore a brother to tears.

He controlled his gag reflex. “SO?” He rolled his eyes indicating if he heard any more feminine psychobabble, he would ask God to reincarnate him as a turtle.

“Well, there’s this woman who went on Tyra Banks last month. Her name is Barbara Roberts, and she wrote a book called FACE READING – How to Know Anyone at a Glance. It’s the new way to find romance. Tyra really like her. Look here,” she motioned to an open page from the book. “See, you have these facial features: Blue eyes, Square forehead line, Vertical line above your nose, Strong jaw, Good naso-labial lines,
Wide mouth, Large ears, Full cheeks. So the ones that would be an ideal match for you could be:
Blue-gray eyes, Rounded forehead line, Strong jaw and chin, Naso-labial lines that circle around the mouth,
Full, balanced lips, Rounded cheeks.

“You’ve been ‘looking for love in all the wrong places,’ my little brother. Get off “MatchU4Love,” and stop paying that gypsy at “Cupid will Deliver.” He immediately confiscated the FACE READING book from her desk, tucked it under his arm and left the office in a far better mood that he’d been in in a long time.

Patterns.

It was midnight. He had read the whole book. My face has Patterns. All I need to do is just match the Patterns in my face to the Patterns in her face!

“There might be hope,” and he turned over to face his German Shepard, Massie, who as currently take up half of his bed. “They’ll soon be someone to replace you, my girl.” He gave her an affectionate ear scratching.

Not long after, he was at the airport meeting his client, Phil. The plane was delayed, so he got his Starbuck’s caramel latte and blueberry scone and popped open his paper to wait. A woman carrying a laptop approached the seat next to him. Blue silk suit holding a cell phone. He looked over just in time to catch a “HI-nod” and went on reading the local news.

When she finished talking and started adjusting her tea bag in her cup, she tuned to ask, “Waiting for the Phoenix incoming flight?”

“Yep. My client Phil is on it. How abut you?” As they spoke he regarded her closely. She seemed awfully familiar for someone he had never met. Then his mind clicked into the facial feature composite of his “ideal” woman. Cassie. One after one, he counted off their compatible facial features from his list. In his mind he mentally he was begging God for this, but he was trying not to grovel. He was chaffing at the bit to ask if she was single and was practically salivating as he listened to her describe her normal life. When she wanted to know about his life and interests, he was incredulous. By the time Phil walked out of Gate 24, Jason had already planned the wedding and bought his tuxedo.

After he introduced Phil to Cassie, he turned to her. “Here, let me give you my card.” They both said the same thing at the same time. Cassie blushed. He smiled.

As he guided Phil into his office and passed Keri’s desk, Jason gave her the thumbs up-signal and mouthed, “I’ll tell you later.”

Well, Massie and Arnold, Cassie’s German Shepard, became a regular on walks in the park, Friday night movies at home, Saturday picnics and morning coffees. Together they watched the seasons change and laughed and talked through Christmas, Easter and July 4th.

In the Fall Jason turned to Massie before he set his alarm for work, “Massie, it’s time you start sleeping on the floor. Cassie and Arnold are coming to live here.” He thought he saw Massie smile before she rolled over and started snoring.

(c) Copyright, Barbara Robert, May, 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.facereading1.com/

Children's Spiritual Short Story

                                                        The Princess and The Gardener

Alabaster straightened his legs and shook the dust from his hands. He was hidden behind the ferns in the fountain he was planting for the emperor. At one time he had been a brave knight leading troops into battle, but his face had been burned and scarred in one siege. So, he wore a mask to cover his deformity so that he would not frighten the children and the women would not pity him. The court artist had woven the mask to resemble the face Alabaster had had before the burns. The king had given him the role of Royal Gardener for the palace. At least he was still useful to his to his liege, so he was happy.

His fingers went to rest on the hoe as he watched the scene at the far end of the courtyard. Princess Lisette was being led by her maid to a stone bench surrounded by his Glory roses. Her woven long hair was filled with sunshine. The pink silk and damask laced gown was the color of her blushing cheeks as each suitor approached her. The runners had spread the word thoughout the provinces that the Princess was seeking a husband, so men – brave and tall, short and pudgy, merchants and princes came forward. Some of the knights boasted of their conquests, others flaunted velvet jackets and laced shirts. And some became mute when they saw her beauty. She regarded all with quiet humility. Princess Lisette listened, nodded and smiled. But she refused them all.

Her father, the king, paced before her seat, “Darling, you have to accept one of them! I need an heir. Please!”

Lisette replied, “Papa, I need to find someone I love. I refuse to marry someone I don’t love.” A similar discussion between them ensued week after week. The king would shake his head and pace with exasperated sighs.

The Princess looked forlorn. She was firm, but being loving and kind by nature, she really wanted to please her father. Alabaster noted with admiration her skin, her hands and her modest smile. He had memorized each of her gowns and silently and secretly adored her.

This afternoon as he was planting the Glory red roses, he heard a quiet weeping coming from her direction. Immediately, he stopped and turned to see the Princess sighing and softly dabbing her eyes with a lace cloth. He wanted to comfort her with all his heart but was hesitant as he

was only the gardener. Then, he realized the real reason was that he was ashamed of his facial burns and the mask he wore to cover them.

So, he placed himself near her chair, but remained hidden. “My lady, I am only the gardener, but I wish to know why you weep. Please tell me the reason for your sadness.”

Princes Lisette turned to the area of the ferns to see a tall and muscular man in simple garb. His hands were large and strong, but his face was obscured by the foliage.

“Sir, for weeks my father, the King, has been trying to find a suitor for my hand in marriage. Though many men have come to me, none of them move my heart.” She inhaled a sob.

Alabaster’s facial burns had deepened his sensitivity to other’s sorrows and unfulfilled longings. In his heart he had lived a million lives in his one body, and his heart had seen and touched it all.

”My lady,” he began, “I understand the heart’s longing for pure love.“Pure love alone can satisfy. Divine Love alone can heal. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

Comforted that someone understood her inner feelings, the princess turned to him and asked, “And how is it a gardener speaks with such wisdom? Will you tell me your story and how you have come to know of such things?” And so began many conversations and a friendship between the two. Every week Alabaster would put a perfect Glory on her chair. His heart would quicken when he saw her satin gowns entering his floral cave. Sometimes they would talk between suitors. She understood his thoughts and shared his observations. And they laughed. Week after week his secret love for her grew.

“Love can heal. Love can change you. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

By fall the leaves were red and yellow canopies above the alcove. All week he would go over the words he would say to her. He reviewed her mannerisms, her smiles. And even though he told her “Love can heal,” in his own heart, he believed she could never love him. His face was burned beyond recognition, and he was afraid to be seen without his mask.

The princes from the outlining provinces had come and gone on horseback. The king was going bald from tearing out his hair, and the Queen had stopped eating for her worry over Lisette. The Princess was given an ultimatum that she must choose a husband or be banished to that outer forest with her maid.

When Alabaster brought her morning beverage, Lisette spoke up, “My friend, we have spent months talking and coming to understand each other’s inner hearts. I know you are noble and true. You voice is the one I hear in my mind when I go to sleep and when I awaken at dawn. But, Alabaster, I so long to see your face as it really is. Please show me.”

The gardener was shocked by her request and felt deep sorrow. “Princess, what we have now must be enough. I cannot show you my face as in battle it was scarred and changed. I fear that if you saw me as I really am, you would be horrified and banish me from your sight. My heart would break if I could not be your friend.”

Lisette looked at him with a firm gaze, “I know who you are inside, Alabaster. That is enough for me. Please take off your mask so that my fingers might stroke your wounds and give you comfort. Your burns must make you feel lonely, and I seek to give back to you a portion of the love you have given me.” And she became quiet and waited.

“Love can heal. Love can change you. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

So for the first time since the battle, he reached for the artificial covering over his face and carefully removed the mask. He waited for her shock and horror. He waited for a gasp or scream. And nothing came. He looked up into her deep eyes to a smiling face.

“My beloved,” she said lovingly, “Your face has become the same as the mask.”

“Love can heal. Love can change you. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

To the joy of the king and all the land, the royal gardener was wedded to the princess. The king got a wig. The country gave a huge banquet for the wedding, and the queen started eating again.

© Copyright, July, 2009. Barbara Roberts. All rights reserved. Barbara Roberts at: www facereading1.com

Abraham Lincoln's White House Cabinet

Abraham Lincoln emerged from the War Room tired and sick at heart. He had just come from the battlefield where he visited the tents of the surgeons. In his throat Lincoln could still taste the smell of cauterized flesh. His mind held the continuous image of sobbing widows in black long dresses. Hopeless, orphaned sons and daughters cried at the doors of the homes waiting for their fathers, who would never return.

Although he had surrounded himself politically with those who had opposed him and wished for his nation to be open to all men and all views, the president was acutely aware of that political incompetence meant wounded soldiers and dead men. His heart was filled with quiet grieving, and the Great War never left his heart for a moment.

“To even have a healthy son reach adulthood was a miracle of God,” he reflected. “So many epidemics of flu or cases of consumption. Even a body soaked with rain on a wintry day might be lost by nightfall.”

So that some of the city’s young bucks dreamed of the ‘battle cry’ and fighting to prove their manhood angered him deep in his soul. That the young people romanticized war gave him lingering sadness. If only they saw what he had seen. Brothers in battle together – one kneeling over his dieing loved one, intestines spread across the dirt. And no grieving, they say, can compare to a parent who has lost a son. He had Todd, and he knew what the all encompassing love of a father could be. Protective and tender at the same time.

And how cruel men and nature could be to the human flesh. Some was Fate. War was choice. He was determined to end the War as quickly as he could. Send just one son home to his Mama - one son who might never have had a chance on the battlefield. It would be worth one son - whole and well.

So much rested on the integrity and capabilities of the men he chose for his Cabinet. His leaders must be of the highest caliber. Strong, fearless and true. They must be understanding of his people, their children, and the future of a great nation. Everything was at stake now. Of the Cabinet he had chosen, some were from different states and had different backgrounds. He liked that about them. He chose them by looking closely at their military records, their letters of accommodation, and by reading their characters. He tried not to miss anything. As president he could not control much, but he could hand-select his men who would make national decisions. That was his job. The destiny of a nation at War depended on it. He must not fail his people.

When he was younger, the Illinois lawyer had met with one obstacle after another. Some eight at least, he reflected. Many elections lost. To others he seemed like a complete failure. But in each political skirmish he had learned to look at people closely and assess their nuances of personality. So their behavior or decisions would never surprise him. He knew more about some people than they knew about themselves, but he kept his own council. He studied the ancient system of physiognomy (Face Reading). Ten feet from a prospective juror or witness in a trial, he could turn the fate of a legal outcome. Lincoln could laugh and weave a good story with the best of them, but inside he had the instincts of a cougher. He looked at people and saw them – beyond artifices, fancy verbiage and fine clothes. He would laugh at a child’s story and shun an arrogant general.

Short Story by Barbara Roberts
One afternoon as his Cabinet assembled in the White House, the sun’s hot fierceness poured through the room. Men were loosening their neck clothes and removing their bulky jackets, wiping their forehead with large white hankies. All stood as Lincoln entered the room. His hands rose palms down to motion them to be seated.

“I understand that today we are reviewing the application for Lt. James McNeed, who wishes to be Secretary of the Treasury. Will those of you who have letters of accommodation, military files and written testimonials abut him, please step forward.” Lincoln seated himself behind the mahogany desk and opened his right hand to receive the papers. Letters from Generals, teachers, red wax sealed missives about Lt. McNeed were handed over. The pile was so high that by the time Lincoln had read them all, the sun was setting. The men were eager to get into their carriages and return home to their wives and dinners.

“Well,” Lincoln began, “he seems an ideal candidate form these dossiers. His war record is impeccable, and I can find no fault with anything I have read about this man. Let us meet him now, so we might to return to a quiet evening with our families. Bring Lt. James McNeed to me please.”

The side door opened, and the attending army aide ushered a man in uniform into the room. He came to stand directly in front of Abraham Lincoln. The president’s gaze was powerful and searching as he regarded the officer. Lincoln was reviewing Lt. McNeed’s facial features, as system called Face Reading, which he had learned when he was a young lawyer. It helped him to accurately read a person’s character. In his mind, Lincoln made note of Lt. McNeed's features: a dimpled chin that was short, a chin which receded back to tuck behind forward thrusting front teeth, an uneven forehead hairline, a tiny, tight mouth (that looked like a man set on a vinegar drink), strange ears which protruded out from his head at odd angles, a mouth that upturned like a joker (but McNeed wasn’t smiling), and a thick unibrow eyebrow. The president reflected that he looked like a rat. And then Lincoln remembered the words of Aristotle, the first great scholar in science of physiognomy: “If you look like an animal, you are it!” (You will have the similar temperament to that animal.)

What was curious about McNeed, Lincoln thought, was that as he answered each direct question, his eyes would shift, almost retract visibly. Then, they would become clear and present. It seemed to happen when the questions involved his military record. Lincoln had learned to recognize this eye change as “cloaking,” and he had seen it often in spies of all sorts. The president paced up and down, his head down and reflective before his men.

He made his decision and turned to the group, “Please leave us, Mr. McNeed.”

And after the man disappeared down the corridor, Lincoln turned to the curious Cabinet members and said, “I don’t want this man anywhere close to me.” Lincoln pounded his open flat hand onto his desk as the astonished group gasped and was riveted to attention. “Show me a man who is forty who is not responsible for his face.” With that he pulled in his vest and with long strides left the room.

Weeks later a news bulletin emerged from a Border state with an artist’s rendering of an escaped convict, Walter McNeed, who had been incarcerated for killing his brother, Lt. James McNeed, and stealing his military papers. The murdered brother, Lt. James McNeed had been a valiant soldier, decorated in battle. And for those who studied the facial drawing closely, the man who had stood before Lincoln had been none other than Walter McNeed.
(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts. May, 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.facereading1.com/

Sunday, May 2, 2010

More Book Reviews from AMAZON.COM on (brown) FACE READING book!

                                                     Very Helpful Book, October 13, 2009
By Jeff L. Calcara (Cardiff by-the-Sea, CA) -
Well written, and offers much clearly-presented and useful information. Highly recommended. I have studied face reading for more than twenty years and find it to be a very accurate and helpful field of study.
                                                          
                                                Fascinating and useful, September 14, 2009
By Elizabeth Doak -

Barbara Roberts provides much in this short book!! As a psychologist I find her book eminently useful, it provides me with helpful hypotheses, and is strikingly accurate.

                                                            Amazing book! Mark M., PhD, September 12, 2009
By Mark P. Malay, LMFT (Oceanside, CA)

I have been attending Barbara's face reading classes on and off for the last 15 years. Barbara consistently demonstrates a depth of understanding others and doing so with great accuracy and finese. She is warm, compassionate and nurturing to her class. This book is an extension of those qualities.

This book is the third edition I have read over the years and by far the best to date. The lay out style makes it a quick read allowing for quick uptake and application of basic concepts. Plus she includes sections with more challenges and in-depth insights. There are exercises and worksheets that engages the reader allowing for enhanced skill development. Plus she offers a little coaching on how the novitiate can approach others. Of course, the end result is a better understanding of one's self as well as others.

                                    Single folks can save time w/this knowledge!, September 9, 2009
By M. Nickell (Solana Beach) -

This books is not only incredibly helpful understanding bosses, family, friends and associates, I find it most useful for those of us seeking a life partner! This provides me w/another tool when trying to decide who is worth investing my time getting to know and perhaps better understand other's characteristics. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

                                                           Amazing Book!!!, August 26, 2009
By N. Vicente -

This book was a great read. It was well laid out and very user friendly. Barbara did a great job of making the concept of face reading something anyone can do. She is an amazing writer and I have read some of her previous work. I have gone to some of her face reading sessions and since our first meeting I have utilized this skill. I found her stories to be fascinating and I cannot wait for her next piece of work to come out. This book is truly a must have.

                                                     Facinating and informative, August 13, 2009
By Nancy Hunter -
I found this fascinating...the graphic pictures and explainations made it very easy to understand. It is fun and interesting to be able to know people better just by looking more closly at the facial characterisitcs the auther described. I started to see my co-workers differently..loved it. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

                                                               Fascinating Read, August 11, 2009
By J. L. Levin -
I loved reading this book! It was my first foray into "face reading". Barbara does a wonderful job breaking down the information with clear examples. Anyone who is interested in people and getting along with others should read it.

Current AMAZON.COM Reviews on the (brown) FACE READING book

                                                              FABULOUS!, April 10, 2010
By DeeDee -
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

The lessons I have learned from Barb's book not only in my personal but my business life have been invaluable. I use the book each day of my life for positive results. I can't wait for the next book!

                                                              A skill for anyone, April 10, 2010
By Ann L. Loth -
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

Barbara's book is well-laid out for the novice face reader. Once you start to learn this information/skill you will be so fascinated that you will want to learn more and more, and be amazed at how many areas of your life you can apply this to.

                                                                Fabulous book!, April 10, 2010
By Diane Stacey -
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

The book is fabulous. It's a book that you can use as a reference repeatedly when questioning a person's character. I highly recommend it for one's reference library.

                                                                           Great!, April 6, 2010
By Ava Pemberly (Seattle, WA) -
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

First of all, let me start by saying that Barbara is one of the nicest individuals you'll ever meet, she really cares about her work. The book is really interesting, it's set spiral notebook style, like an instructional book you get at college, she condenses all the information in about 100 pages, which is lovely, so that way your not toting around a 5 lb. book. I also love that she has diagrams and examples for every characteristic she talks about it, her book is really easy to understand. I liked it a lot!

                                                          Barbara is never wrong!, April 5, 2010
By Pond Princess (San Diego) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

I've seen Barbara on the news, on TV shows, and in person. She is consistent and correct! This book puts a really great weapon in your arsenal when you are put in the position of assessing someone. I highly recommend it.

                                                    Very useful and accurate!, April 4, 2010
By Inamakah (Valley Center, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

This book has helped me to understand people better by analyzing their facial characteristics. It is an amazing tool, and it works even better if you take a workshop with Ms. Roberts! A very fun experience, and one that I highly recommend!

Another Amazon.com Book Review about FACE READING

Practical and Insightful, October 16, 2009
By Ron Arko "Dr Ron" (Balboa, CA) -

This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

As a therapist, I use the information in Barbara's books every day. She is uniquely qualified to teach on the ancient science of Face Reading/ Profiling. This book and her previous ones are considered among a dozen of the most helpful and valuable books I have ever read (out of kazillions). This is not a toy! This is serious and accurate information that must be handled with care and respect. But having said that, I cannot imagine anyone who could not use extra help to understand others. How do I give a 6 Star rating again? Dr Ron

AMAZON.COM Book Review!

Should be read by all in law enforcement, May 1, 2010

By Andrew VanWagenen (Loudonville, NY USA) -
This review is from: Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance (Paperback)

I heard Ms. Roberts as a guest on WPYX radio in Albany, New York during a recent morning commute. She was promoing her book "Face Reading" and she confirmed a theory I had always felt. I am retired police officer and when I was a rookie almost twenty-five years ago I arrested a man that attempted to murder a female desk clerk of a motel. He stabbed her when she fought back against his rape attempt. After I arrived at the station and was in the process of "booking him" I noticed the sclera under both his eyes showing, with his right eye being more prominent. I remember wondering what he looking at on My forehead. The suspect also never seemed "connected" to how serious the crime was. When he did connect his eyes were dark, vacant,and "evil". This man plead guilty to attempted murder, attempted rape and in a plea agreement was sentenced to 8 1/4 to 24 years in state prizon. As my career advanced I noticed the "same" eye pattern in most cases of incest, child abuse, domestic violence, serious assaults, and also in drug addicts and "hardcore" alcoholics. So when I heard Ms. Roberts promoting this book and speaking of the meaning of the prominent sclera I was amazed. I ordered her book that morning and received it in a few days. I read most of the book in one sitting and was astounded at the number of other "truths" someones face showed. This book should be required reading of all new police recruits. Ms. Roberts' book teaches how to read facial features, many of which, would be very useful to any police officer or investigator.