Graz didn't do it......he was just in the area.

2007-03-03T02:16:00.000-05:00

Magic

Still feeling a kiss days after it happens. The mind hearing a voice say words that days ago entered an ear and went straight to the heart. Eyes closed, seeing a smile that caused another face to break into a grin. Still feeling a touch on the hand hours later. Hearing a song that transports a moment from the past to the here and now. Dreaming a dream that seems ready to come come true. Feeling the vibration caused by a connection that resembles something electrical. Imagining how much better anything could be given the chance.

This isn't "Harry Potter" type magic...not "Charmed" type magic. It's not even "Bewitched" magic.

It's even better.

2007-01-22T23:38:00.000-05:00

She smiled her "really happy to see you" smile as I approached and she said "Hello". I opened my mouth to greet her with a cheery "Hello, beautiful!", but closed my mouth against something else that was going to come out instead.

That was the only that stopped me from opening my mouth and completely letting everything out. How it felt as if I was dying inside because I wanted to hold her so frikkin' much. How her smile makes the blood pound in my chest. How her laugh chases the clouds from my thoughts that had been there for almost a week. How I see her face in my mind's eyes just before I fall into the darkness of sleep. How her face was there again just before I open my eyes to the light of the next day knowing I will face it seeing her but not being with her. How the thought of her makes me smile even though the same thought brings a feeling of painful longing. I stepped closer as she bend forward to get something from her bag. Her hair was pulled up, giving me a glimpse of that mole on the back of her neck that I can barely restrain myself from kissing everytime I see it. A step closer and I could smell the fragrance that pulls at me as if it were a hook that had buried itself in my chest and she was reeling in the line attached. I stopped right in front of her as she looked up. Her face inches from mine, I wanted to make that small, but infinite distance disappear and press my lips to hers. I searched her eyes for the shadow of a dream I could make come true for her. I imagined for a moment how much more beautiful her eyes would be if they held tears of happiness that I had caused. I looked down, seeing her hands that I wanted to enfold in mine while bringing them to my lips to kiss the fingertips. Looking back up at her face, I opened my mouth to say "I want to make your life better than you have ever dreamed it could be. I can't promise you the world, but I can promise to bring you one of the loveliest pieces of it that I can find everyday. I want to be completely yours no matter what obstacles I'll face. I want to make it so any obstacles you face for me are more than worth it. I want to temper any pain you may ever have with even greater joy. I want you to be the center of my life and part of everything that radiates out from it. I want to love you like I know that I can. I want to laugh and talk for hours about nothing as we can and have, feeling as always that we've just discussed the most important subject in the world. I want to make your body feel the most pleasure that you've ever known and then make you feel even more. I want forever with you".

I looked into her eyes and said "Hi, beautiful! How was your weekend?"

2006-11-29T19:23:00.000-05:00

Do The Same continued...

Jake walked into the bedroom after toweling himself off in the bathroom. He threw the wet towel on top of the clothes overflowing from the hamper. He grabbed a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a black Harley t-shirt from the pile of clothes that he had folded, but left on the top of his dresser instead of placing them in the drawers. After pulling the shirt over his head, he turned with the thought in his head to put the clothes away. He grabbed a few pairs of socks from the top of the pile, opened the top dresser drawer and stuffed them down in the mound of socks threatening to spill out onto the floor. He shoved that drawer in, pulled it back a small amount and then holding the multicolored hill of socks down, got the drawer to fully close. He continued putting the rest of the laundry away mindlessly.

After finishing, he walked out to the kitchen and poured himself more cola into his plastic cup from earlier. He turned automatically, grabbing the bottle of Jim Beam from the counter, twisted the top off and tilted the bottle over the cup. Just as the brown tinted liquid was about to cascade over the lip of the bottle and into the waiting cola, he stopped himself. How about taking a break from stuff today, Jake? He thought that taking a break was likely a very good idea, so he put the bottle down on the counter and screwed the cap back into place. He opened the freezer, broke off a piece of the built up frost and dropped it in his cup with a plunk.

He took his drink to the living room, turning on the television as he passed and made himself comfortable by laying down on the sofa. Grabbing the remote, he started surfing through the 60 some channels that the local cable company offered. As he scrolled through the channels, a familiar scene crossed the screen. He released the pressure that his right thumb had on the remote button, re-applied it to the button directly below the first button and then stopped when the t.v. went back two channels. "Stand by Me" was playing on one of the movie channels. As he was watching Vern and Gordie run for their lives on the train trestle, his eye grew heavy. He opened them wide for a second, trying to focus on the movie, but less than a minute later, his breathing had slowed to a soft snore.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Jake looked into the mirrored wall around the tan leather upholstered booth where he was seated, he saw that the smoky haze that was filling the night club distorted his reflection into an otherworldly image. The smoke formed a wispy mesh that reflected the lights that were pulsing red, yellow, white and blue in time with the loud, crashing music. He saw his face awash in colors, but his features were blurred and muddled. He grabbed a glass with his outstretched hand and brought it to his lips to drink. Just before his lips touched the rim, he looked at the glass in wonder. In his hand, the heft of the glass was considerable, but to the eyes, it was an impossibly thin crystal, with a cunningly etched design of knives, spears and swords that connected and wrapped around each other. He turned the glass in his hands, his eyes following the line of serpent-like weapons as they wound their way completely around the glass. After spinning the glass around in his hand numerous times, he brought it closer to his face, trying to closely examine some of the details of the carvings. Passing the glass under his nose, he caught the scent of the scarlet liquid that filled the glass, but seemed to barely move, even with the twisting and turning of the chalice that it was in. It's smell reminded Jake perfume of the sweet pears laying on the ground after they fell from the tree in the summer sundrenched backyard of his family home. The smell was very sweet, but a person could also vaguely detect the very slight taste of the rot that was already breaking down the grainy flesh of the pears. Feeling his mouth start to moisten with saliva, he brought the glass to his lips. Opening his lips and tilting his head back, glare an overhead light caused his eyes to narrow as he felt the drink wash over his teeth. As it toughed his tongue, a heat began to spread through his mouth and down his throat. The taste began so sweet that it made his teeth begin to ache, but it quickly turned as bitter as gall. His throat contracted and jerking his head down, was barely able to keep from spewing the foul mouthful across the table where he was seated. He tilted his head down and parting his lips, allowed the fluid to drain back into the glass. As he was spitting the last bit of drool from his mouth, he spied a icon on the glass that he didn't notice before. Not believing that he could have missed it during his close inspection of the designs in the glass, he stared in wonder at the skull and crossbones that appeared in the midst of the snaking line just below the rim. Giving up all appearances of politness, he filled his mouth with saliva and spit forcefully onto the blue-grey carpet next to his seat. Looking to his left and front, he glanced about to see if anyone was paying him any interest. The club seemed nearly empty, with only a few people sitting at the bar which had every surface covered entirely with small broken bits of mirrored glass. It also had a brass pipe that ran along the entire edge. Sliding out of his seat, he walked to the closest corner of the bar. Leaning on the brass rail, he saw a women behind the bar at the far end. Raising his hand, he called to her over the music. "Excuse me, miss...please, down here!" She turned and began walking the length of the bar towards the end where Jake stood. As she approached, Jake could see that the lights and smoke haze were having the same effect on her face. He could make out the shapes of her lips, nose and eyes, but they were blurred as is he was looking at her through a veil of water. She stepped in front of Jake, but to Jake's amazement, he still couldn't see the details of her face, even with her being only a couple of feet from him. Jake rubbed his eyes and looked again. Her visage was no clearer. Nervously licking his lips and pointing back towards the booth he had just left, Jake asked the women (girl?) if she had made his drink. Saying nothing, she turned her head in the direction indicated by Jake's hand, turned slowly back towards him and then suddenly bent down to reach under the bar. After a few moments during which Jake could hear objects falling to the floor behind the bar where she stood, she stood back up just as quickly and handed Jake a scarlet filled glass that looked exactly like the one he had left at his table. Jake looked down at the glass in his hand and this time could readily make out the skull and crossbones symbol etched into it. Dropping the glass as if it burned his hand, it fell, hitting the brass rail before it struck the floor and shattered with a loud explosion. Sidestepping quickly to avoid getting the splashed contents on his legs and feet, Jake nearly fell over a high backed, black leather stool that was next to him against the bar. As he caught his balance, he looked back to the bartender. Again in her hand was another glass, again filled with the scarlet liquid. Jake backed away and turned, looking for an Doorter spinning in a complete revolution, he saw the dim red letters that spelled exit at the oppsite end of the bar. Walking rapidly, trying not to break into a sprint, he headed towards the promised point of escape. As he walked past the back of the people seated at the bar, they one by one turned towards him. Feeling a shiver, he gasped as he saw that they too had not distinct facial features. Forgetting any idea of a calm journey to the door, he began to run. Before he had taken any more than 2 of his long legged running bounds, the music stopped so abruptly that it seemed to slam through his ears and into his brain with the resulting silence. Every light in the place appeared to turn and focus on him. Rounding the corner of the bar at a dead run, Jake flung himself at the door. Though it looked to be made of solid oak, the door splintered as Jake's shoulder struck it. As his feet touched the concrete just on the other side of the opening, Jake felt a sickening lurch in his gut as he saw that the ground broke away less than 2 yards from where his foot touched down. Falling sideways in an attempt to keep from going over the edge, Jake felt his right elbow crunch onto the hard surface which was followed by a brilliant flash of pain traveling through his arm, up through his shoulder and into his brain. Bright lights traveled across Jakes closed eyelids as he gathered his right arm to his torso. Squeezing them tighter, the light slowed it's motion on his eyelids.

Jake opened his eyes to find that the blinding light was still there. He lifted his head slightly and was able to get his face out of the beam of light. After a few seconds, he was able to see the television on the other side of his living room. As he sat up he saw that the ray of light was the from late afternoon sun shining in through the window behind the sofa, covering the throw pillow where his head had just been resting in bright, hot light. Shaking off the quickly fading images of his dream, Jake wiped his sweating brow. As he reached out to the catch-all basket on the coffee table, he felt a sharp pain in his right elbow. Drawing his arm back quickly to his side, the pain disappeared. Gingerly touching the elbow with his left hand, he searched for the point form where the pain emminated. Feeling not even a small amount of tenderness, he worked the joint in his elbow. Although he could still feel a ghost of pain when he first did that, it had become no more than a memeory by the third time he moved his hand up and down. Reaching back to the basket on the table, he extracted a month old pack of Marlboros from under the 2 dozen pens , 10 or so lighters and a large stack of mail that the basket held. He lit one, coughing slightly as he exhaled, then drew a deeper drag, letting the acrid smoke burn in his throat and lungs. Exhaling, he felt the last little scraps of the dream drift away on the breeze of his conscious thoughts.

To be continued....
© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-09-19T23:49:00.000-04:00

Do The Same continued.....

The water felt like burning hot needles piercing his neck and shoulders as he stood under the shower head with his eyes closed. He was making a concerted effort to relax his body which, in itself, was defeating the purpose. When the water finally started to get cold, even with him turning the faucet all the way to the hot side, he stopped leaning against the shower wall and turned the water off. Opening the shower curtain and grabbing a towel, he began to dry himself. As he stepped over the side of the tub, he bent over to dry his feet to avoid getting the bath mat wet. He lifted his right foot, ran the towel over it and his big toe found the small tear at the edge of the towel. Nearly falling into the vanity across from the tub/shower, he caught himself on the corner of the sink. "Battin' a thousand here today, ain't we, Silver?", he muttered with exasperation as he looked at his reflection in the steam-misted mirror over the sink. He contemplated the person looking back at him for a moment. He saw the brown eyes that could turn green if he was feeling mischievious and the scaar under his left eye from a long ago, unfortunate meeting with a baseball bat. He thought for a moment about the nose he considered too large, then averted his glance, wiping his face with the towel. The good mood he had when he pulled into his driveway seemed at that time to have not been with him that day at all. His mind replayed bits of that morning's conversation with Katie.

Yes, it had solved the dilemma that he would have had to face soon, but he would have preferred to have been able to have made the choice himself. It wasn't that he felt that he would have picked her over Shelly when it came down to it, nor did he know if he would have chosen Shelly. At times, he even thought that he really didn't feel that either women was The One. And thinking that, he also felt somewhat selfish.

Shelly was also from the area, but had more of a small town air about her. Unlike Katie, she had no children. Of course, she was just out of childhood herself at 19 years old. And she did have a tendency to act that way at times. She was definitely more demanding of Jake's time and when she got it in her head that Jake was not spending enough time with her, she would begin hinting for him to correct this situation. If Jake took too long to get the clue, she would begin acting like a petulant child until Jake pulled all the stops and lavished her with the attention that she wanted. Usually after a couple days of nonstop togetherness, she would be appeased and return to the normal routine of seeing Jake for few hours a couple days a week and spending time with her girlfriends the balance of the time. She lived with a high school friend who was a party girl and on a night out would make a circuit of the local clubs. Their favorite activity when clubbing was to keep score of the number of guys that they could get to buy them drinks in an evening, winner paying the cab fare home at the end of the night. Shelly's roommate, Chris, was engaged to a Marine that was in Iwakuni, Japan at the time and even though she flirted heavily during her and Shelly's nights out, Jake knew of no time that she had been unfaithful to her fiance.

A month and a half before, Jake had spent a week as Squadron Duty NCO. While on duty, Jake couldn't leave the base for very long as there was a four hour on- four hour off duty rotation. So, when the Friday came that ended his rotation, he had been somewhat disappointed that Katie had plans to be out of town with her mother on a visit to family in the western part of the state. Feeling somewhat out of sorts with this, Jake went out for the night, but avoided his usual haunts. He drove his brown, '72 Nova to avoid parking his bike in front of bars where he wasn't known and there may be a risk of it being damaged. After bar hopping for a couple hours, he found himself on the north side of town in a dance club called the Shangrila. He made straight for the U-shaped bar on the opposite side of the doors, sat down on the lone empty barstool near the corner of the U and ordered a bourbon and cola when one of the three barmaids finally made her way to his end.

As he sat, looking at the scenery (dozens of women in their tightest little black, red, blue or green dresses) and drinking his mixed drink, he figured that he wouldn't be there very much longer than the 2 drink minimum. He had just ordered his second when a girl with long brunette hair with frosted highlights wearing a skin tight yellow and black striped dress walked by on her way to the restrooms just behind Jake. As she passed, she glanced at Jake momentarily, turned away, then turned back catching Jake's eye. She gave Jake what he sometimes called the "play your cards right" look which consisted of prolonged eye to eye contact and a smile. As long as the girl held the eye contact for more than 3 seconds, Jake knew he had a chance to at least get a phone number from her. This girl held eye contact with Jake for the entire 15 feet she had to walk to get past the corner and to the ramp heading to the ladies room.

Jake began to see that there could be a change of plans as far as him leaving after the drink he had was finished. When she walked back out of the restroom, the girl gave a sideways smiling glance at Jake and moved back into the crowd. Jake watched her as she made her way to a raised table on the edge of the dance floor where there was a blonde girl in an equally tight white dress. On the table in front of each of them was at least 3 drinks apiece. As she sat, the girl in the yellow and black leaned over to her friend and said something in her ear. As she stayed leaning over with there heads next to each others, the blonde looked over the brunette's shoulder searching the end of the bar where Jake was seated. As her eyes swept the end of the bar, Jake could see her lips mouthing the words "which one" and as she her eyes caught Jake's, they stopped for a moment and then she quickly looked away. He then watched the girl in yellow and black sit down with her back towards Jake.

Jake occasionally glanced towards that table for the next 20 minutes without being obvious about it. He noticed a few different guys coming up to the table, talking for a moment and then returning with a couple drinks in their hands. They would each sit there for a few minutes and then leave always followed by giggles and eye rolling from the two women. Jake also saw the blonde looking his way a few times, but he didn't make extended eye contact with her.

Soon, the blonde stood up and made her way towards Jake's side of the club and looking directly at him, walked by into the ladies room. Jake considered going to the brunette to speak with her while she was alone; divide and conquer, that sort of thing. But before he could pick up his drink and make his way over, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"I think you should buy a drink for my friend and I", she said loudly over the music, "She's been waiting for you to come over there and talk to her. You do want to talk to her, right?"

"Sure, I'd like to talk to her, but it looks to me like you ladies have yourselves set up well in the drink department. So really, I see no need for me to buy you drinks that you'll probably won't drink before closing", Jake replied with a grin. "How about if she brings one of those five drinks she has in front of her and come here to talk to me herself?"

"Fine then, your lose. There's plenty of guys in here that are waiting to buy us drinks!", she shot back haughtily and turning away in a huff, walked back to the table where her friend was waiting.

Jake took a long drink from his glass, figuring that after that exchange there was no point in sticking around any longer when he saw the brunette pick up one of the full glasses in front of her and start to rise from her seat. The blonde grabbed her arm with an angry look on her face and began to say something to the brunette. From where Jake was sitting, he could see the brunette cut the blonde short and pulled her arm away, turning to walk towards Jake.

Jake measured her progress towards him and as she came around the corner of the bar, Jake turned in his seat to face her.

She approached Jake and leaned in to say in his ear, "Hi, my name is Shelly. I was hoping you'd come to our table and talk to me. But, my friend Chris thinks you have an attitude."

Jake took Shelly's hand saying, "I'm Jake. Yes, I do want to talk to you and No, I don't have an attitude."

"Why don't you want to buy us...or me a drink then if you want to talk to me?"

Leaning back to look into Shelly's hazel eyes, Jake replied, "You both seem like you have more than enough drinks and it seems to me that buying the two of you a drink is a one way ticket to a brush off."

"It's not like that! You make it sound like we're using those guys! We're not... it's just that everyone of them either uses a really lame line on us or says something really crude about threesomes. It's their own fault that they get a "brush off!"

Jake gave her an appraising look for a long moment and then said, "I tell you what...if you are still here talking to me when that drink you have now is finished, I'll buy your next one."

"Deal!"

For the next hour and a half, they made small talk but without the normal searching for words. Within 5 minutes, Jake had stood up and offered Shelly his seat and although she demurred for a second, she sat down at Jake's insistence. Shortly after, Jake finished his drink and asked Shelly what she preferred. She began to tell the barmaid her order and then stopped suddenly. "Hold on for a second..stay here."

She walked to the table where her friend was now sitting with a guy and after whispering in the Chris' ear for a moment, picked up one of the drinks from the table and came back to Jake.

Sitting back down, she winked at Jake and said," You still owe me a drink, but there's no sense in wasting these ones."

"This smoke is starting to burn my eyes", said Shelly later while waving her hand in an attempt to clear the cigarette haze that was hanging heavily throughout the bar. "How about we step out side for some cleaner air?"

Jake plunked some bills on the bar for a tip and began to lead the way through the throng of people milling between the doors and the bar. After the first couple of steps, Shelly grabbed his hand and allowed him to clear a path towards the exit.

When outside, after stopping once for one of Shelly's beverage benefactors to try talking her up, they strolled over to Jake's car and leaned on the hood. They continued their chat for awhile longer.

The door to the Shangrila swung open with a bang allowing the music to blast out into the parking lot. Jake and Shelly both looked up to see Chris walking towards the opposite end of the lot with the tall, dark, unintelligent looking guy that had been at the table with her following. Jake could hear him saying, "Aww, come on! I'll pay for the room!" as the Lenny-looking guy staggered sideways and almost fell over a parking curb. Chris stopped, pushed at the 'Lenny's' chest and shouted, "No! I said, No!"

Jake stopped Shelly as she started to stand and turning, strode over to where 'Lenny' was trying to kiss Chris. As Jake got to within a few feet of them, he hollered, " Hey!". 'Lenny' turned towards Jake quickly and off balance and tried to focus on the interruption. Chris took advantage of 'Lenny's' distraction to shove him forcefully away. Stepping backwards in an attempt to regain his balance, his right foot caught the edge of the parking curb sending him, arms flailing, to the asphalt. He landed on his back with a "Ommph" as the air was knocked from his lungs.

"Let's get you out of here before gets his second wind", Jake said with a toss of his head in the direction of 'Lenny'.

"Yes, please", said Chris, giving a frightened look at 'Lenny' as he was rolling to his stomach, trying to push himself up with his hands. He was gasping, trying to catch his wind and trying to talk. But the only thing Jake could hear coming out of his mouth was something like, "Hugna, hugna".

When they made it back to the car, Jake let both women in through the passenger side door. Shelly slide to the middle of the front seat while Chris clambered in, closing the door behind her. Jake jumped in behind the wheel, started the car and pulled out of the spot turning to head for the opening leading to the boulevard. Just before he turned onto the street, he looked into the rearview mirror and he caught sight of 'Lenny' being helped to his feet by two guys while a third shook his fist at the Nova.

Accelerating into the surprisingly heavy late night traffic, Jake turned to Shelly and Chris, smiled and asked, "Who's up for some greasy food at The Waffle House?"

Shelly and Chris looked at each other, then Shelly looked back at Jake and said, "Sounds great!"

To be continued...

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-09-15T18:16:00.000-04:00

Do The Same continued....

Kathy was standing nervously next to the couch when Jake turned back around from closing the door. She was chewing on a lock of her shoulder length, curly, auburn hair. Glancing at her as he walked past towards the kitchen, Jake remembered meeting her one night a few months back. They both had been sitting with friends at a local country bar called the Opryhouse. She had caught his attention because of her hair and the open manner she seemed to have with the entire room. After a couple of helpings of liquid courage, Jake decided he wanted to meet her. He had turned from the table where he was seated with his friends, stood up, turned and found himself face to face with her.

Surprised, Jake stuttered for a moment trying to recover before she cut him off by saying, "I saw you looking over at me and smiling for the last 15 minutes, so I'm taking that as meaning that you really want to dance with me."

"Well, that wasn't quite what I had in mind, but, sure, I'd like to dance with you" he grinned, "I have to warn you though, I've been told I look like I'm having a seizure when I'm dancing! So if you embarrass easily, we may just want to sit this out until they play a belly rubbin' song. I'm not too bad at those."

She laughed and said, "Well, Mister Man, I DON'T embarrass easily! And if you're as bad a dancer as you're saying you are, but still have the guts to get out on the floor, then I must say that I'm more impressed with that than if you were a regular Twinkle Toes."

"If we're gonna dance, then how about you not say anything like "Twinkle Toes" when referring to me ever again, please" Jake growled in a feigned mad tone of voice.

"I'll make no promises!" Katie called back over her shoulder as she made a beeline for the dance floor.

Jake and Katie danced with each other for the rest of the evening.....including the slow songs that Jake had hoped would be played. He was attracted by her forwardness, her quick retorts to his teasing comments and, not least of all, her piercing blue eyes.

They had been dating since that night. One of the things that Jake liked about the relationship was that Katie never made any demands for his time when they weren't together. More than anything else, this was due to her busy life. Katie was "Mama" to a blue eyed, blond haired, 2 year old little girl named Melissa. A night or two a week, Katie was able to get her sister who lived with her or her mother to watch the little one. All other nights, Katie was at home being mommy.

Early on, when they first began to date, Jake had asked Katie to attend a Friday night show featuring a few local bands. Katie declined to go because her sister and mother both had other plans for the evening. Jake had offered to pay for a babysitter for Melissa so that Katie could go out anyways, but when he said as much, Katie looked at him as if he had just handed her a dog turd.

"Nobody watches Melissa except my family", she said, enunciating each word as if she thought that Jake was not right in the head. "I do not leave my child with strangers."

So unless Jake came to her house when she had no sitter for Melissa, there were many nights that Jake was left to his own devices. And that usually involved his buddies, beer and bars in some form or fashion.

Grabbing a plastic cup from the cupboard, Jake called towards the living room, "Do you want a soda, coffee or anything?"

"No thanks."

After pouring cola into the cup from the 2 liter bottle left on the counter from the night before, Jake added a splash of bourbon that was left in one of the bottles that was also left on the counter.

"Might as well get it over with..." muttered Jake as he headed back to the living room. He was beginning to imagine that Katie had found out about Shelly or one of the others and was here to tear his head off. Or even worse, she was pregnant. But Jake immediately dismissed that last thought as they had used birth control everytime they slept together...and even when they didn't really "sleep".

When he stepped into the room, Katie looked him in the eye for a moment and then turned away quickly. She walked to the couch and sat down. Jake walked over and sat next to her and Katie jumped back up as if she had been bitten by a snake.

"Don't make this harder than what it already is, please" she said as she stepped over to the chair and turned. "I don't know any other way to say this so I'm gonna just say it. I'm moving to Maryland to be with Merrill. He'll be here tonight to help me pack" she said quickly, then sighed and sat in the chair.

Jake had heard of Merrill, but didn't know him. Merrill was Melissa's father. Jake knew that the breakup between Katie and Merrill had hurt her deeply, but she had never told him much about it, except that Merrill had moved home to work in his family's business.

"I really care about you, but he's Melissa's daddy and I still love him. I'm sorry, I really am" she said in a pleading tone.

Jake sat quietly for a long moment before speaking. "I'm sorry too" he said, not looking at her."How did this all come about?" he asked.

Mistaking his tone for something else, she came over to him and grabbed his hand. "Please don't be angry. I didn't want to hurt you, please, you have to believe me." Jake looked at her and saw tears filling her eyes with one lone tear tracing a line down her left cheek. "I'm not angry, I'm not. Don't worry." He wiped the tear, leaned in and softly kissed her cheek.

When he did that, she sobbed and threw her arms around him. She squeezed him tightly, holding on for a few seconds. She then jumped up from the couch and ran to the door. She swung the door open and stumbling slightly, she went down the steps crying, leaving the door open.

Jake heard her car engine rev to life as he stood and tried to follow. He got to the door just in time to see the sun twinkle off of her car's rear window as she drove away.

He wasn't lying when he said he wasn't angry......in fact, he wasn't quite sure what he felt. A twinge of hurt and a little bit of jealousy, but what was muddling up his emotions was that he was surprised to feel a small bit of relief.

To be continued.....

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-09-06T01:30:00.000-04:00

Do The Same continued.....

Much later that morning Jake was on two lane blacktop heading towards his house on the other side of town. The sunlight made bright patches spread out on the old grey road between the cooler, tree shaped shadows. The air smelled of pine. Except for the occasional swarming cloud of gnats that hit Jake's sunglasses and face, the ride was like gliding along with the warm wind. But Jake wasn't paying attention to the sensation like he normally would have done. He was thinking of that morning and the night before with Joy.

It wasn't that she had caused him to start falling for her, or to make him want to be with her investing his emotions even though she had been a very attentive lover to him, especially that morning. After Jake had poured himself a cup of coffee, he sat back down at the table. She had come back out to the kitchen from the bedroom a few minutes later, still smelling of soap and warm skin. She was also still undressed and not at all too shy to sit on Jake's lap facing him.

"The movers are supposed to be here by 1 o'clock and I have just a little bit more packing to get done, but I think we have time for a nice goodbye, don't you?" she said pressing herself to Jake's chest as she moved to bite his ear. From there, they eventually both ended up in the shower, exploring each others bodies until the water that was steaming when they started was nearly ice cold. Afterwards when they were in her bedroom dressing, Jake asked her why she had approached him. "Your bike was prettier than the others" Joy said with a sideways smile.

Laughing, Jake asked again, "No, really, why did you pick me?"

"Well, I do like your bike, but you were also the only guy that wasn't staring at me as you and your friends pulled up" she explained. "And when you did look at me, your eyes seemed....I don't know.....kind."

"Is that how you pick out the guys you that you're gonna mess around with.....nice bikes and kind eyes?" Jake said jokingly.

Joy turned back towards the stack clothes on the top of the chest of drawers from which she was selecting an outfit and said in a voice so low that Jake just barely heard, "I've never done this kind of thing before. Ever."

Turning back towards Jake, she continued with eyes that seemed pleading, "I love my husband, I really do. He's good to me and he works hard to make a living for us. He's stable. But just for one night, I wanted to see what it was like with someone not so stable...someone...I don't know, dangerous I guess is the best way to put it. I had planned to meet someone in the bar just for that reason last night and after seeing how those guys in the bar acted like I was a piece of meat, I had talked myself out of doing anything like that. I was leaving for home when you pulled up. But then you looked at me. And it seemed as if you were seeing me as a person. I wanted someone who looked like bad boy, but I didn't want someone who would just treat me like a piece of dirt. And you didn't do that."

Walking over to Jake, she took his face in her hands and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Thank you for last night and this morning."

"You're welcome. And I have to say, thank you right back" Jake said as he hugged her.

As he left Joy's house with her waving to him from her garage, he started his ride home in a good mood. But within a few minutes, what Joy had said to Jake started him thinking of her husband, away in California, unaware that his wife had spent the night living out some kind of bad boy fantasy. That's what you get for being boring, dude. Women say they want a nice, regular guy, but when they get one, they end up screwing around on him when they get bored, Jake thought to himself. He vowed then and there to never be that boring guy that women cheat on when they need some excitement in their lives.

As he drove along though, Jake still couldn't get Joy's husband out of his mind. He realized that he felt sorry for the guy and started feeling some guilt about the entire thing. As much as he reasoned with himself in that he had nothing to feel guilty about, he couldn't quite shake the feeling.

"Well, I hope the guy never finds out...for his own sake", muttered Jake under his breath.

He rounded a curve in the road and twisted the throttle as he pointed the bike down a long, straight stretch with nothing but trees on both sides. Gathering speed, he chased the thoughts out of his head with the deafening roar of the exhaust pipes, the wind rushing past his ears and making his eyes water behind his sunglasses.

By the time he pulled into his street, his mood had brightened considerably. A few houses down from his, he could see a car in his driveway. He recognized it right away and knew exactly who owned it. Katie had come for a visit. As he turned into his driveway and around her car, he could see her sitting on the front porch steps. She turned her head towards the sound of the motorcycle as he rode into the yard. Turning off the engine, Jake smiled, waved and said, "Hey there, how long have you been waiting?"

Katie without returning the smile or the wave answered, "An hour or so. Well, maybe two or three hours."

Leaving the helmet on the bike after removing it from his head, Jake walked up the steps towards the front door, bending down to kiss Katie's cheek. Standing back up straight next to Katie, he unlocked the door, turned slightly towards her and put his arm down offering her a hand. Taking his hand, Katie stood and turned to face Jake.

"We need to talk. I have something I need to say to you", she said looking him directly in the eyes.

Knowing right away that it likely wasn't going to be a good talk, Jake nodded and motioned for Katie to enter the house. As he turned to pull the screen door closed, he shook his head and swore sofly.

To be continued....

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-09-02T03:41:00.000-04:00

Do The Same continued...
See earlier posts for beginning

Tink-tink-tink-tink-tink......

Jake was trying to figure out what that sound was when he opened his eyes. He couldn't see anything, but he knew his face was under a pillow as he lay there in bed. He could smell the flowery scent of fabric softener which made him wonder who had used that on his laundry. Hell, he couldn't remember the last time a bottle fabric softener or those dryer sheets had even been in his house. Right about then, a little glimmer of a thought started pushing the last, dark tatters of sleep from his mind.

He rolled from his stomach to his back, dragging the pillow from his face as he went. Looking at the ceiling fan making the tinking noise it confirmed what he had already figured out. He wasn't in his own bed. Glancing to his left, he saw the space on the bed next to him had the covers pulled back and there was still an indentation in the pink paisley covered pillow on that side. He stretched, kicking his feet out from under the blanket and in one quick movement brought himself to a sitting position with his legs hanging off the side of the bed. He spied his jeans laying in a ball on top of his black Harley t-shirt. Poking his feet through the openings of his boxers and his jeans, he pulled them up over his waist as he stood. The t-shirt then went over his head and he walked around the foot of the bed. He leaned his head to the left at the doorway, peeking out into a small living room.

Seeing no one, he softly padded out. He moved the sheer curtain to the side and looked through the side glass of the front door, searching for his motorcycle. He then remembered squeezing it into a moving box filled garage last night. He walked across the sparsely furnished living room towards the kitchen. As he stepped on the linoleum, he began to hear the sound of water running in a shower coming from the short dark hall that jutted off from the back of the kitchen. He quietly pulled a chair out from the white farmer's style table in the little dining area just at the edge of the linoleum.

He could smell coffee, but didn't want to get caught "rummaging" through someone's cupboards to find a cup. Yeah, he had just slept with her, but going through her stuff seemed.....too forward. He placed his elbows on the table top and rubbed his face and eyes with both hands.

Mike had volunteered to make the beer run last night, but remembering how long it had taken him the last, oh, forty times he had went by himself, Jake had washed his hands, changed his clothes and climbed into Mike's little red Ford Fiesta for a run to the little corner store/ gas station on the next street over. They picked up a case of beer and as they were pulling out of the parking lot, 3 motorcycles went by the corner heading towards Jake's street. They followed the bikes into Jake's driveway. As they pulled in behind them, Mike said "I know Pete and Tank, but who's the other guy?" Jake squinted through the dirty windshield and after a second said "Flippin' cool! That's Big Doug. I ain't seen him in a couple few months."

"Gentlemen, good timing! We just went for beer, but if I'd known you were comin', I'd picked up two more cases" Jake called over the roof of the car.

"Who the fuck you callin' gentlemen, asshole?" hollered Big Doug from underneath the scarred, black half-helmet he was pulling off his head.

"Shit, sorry....my mistake, ya bunch of rif-raf!" returned Jake.

"Now that's more like it!' crowed Big Doug dropping his helmet as he walked towards Jake. He grabbed Jake, beer and all, locking him in bearhug. "How ya been, lil' bro?" asked Doug.

"I'd be doin' a lot better if ya'd let me go, ya' big sumbitch! Damn it, you're gonna shake up the beer if ya don't quit!"

Pete and Tank walked over and relieved Jake of the cardboard box of beer that he was holding just before Big Doug let him go. After handshakes all around, they clumped up the steps into Jake's house.

An hour later, with the case of beer gone, Jake, Pete, Tank and Doug got the splendid idea that going to the bar would be a good thing to do. With Mike following them in his car, they headed into town, stopping at the first bar on the way in. After a couple of beers there, they left that bar, revving their engines on the way out of the parking lot. Four bars later, they pulled up in front of Dirty Larry's. Dirty Larry's was a punch palace type of strip club. Dark and dirty, even the video games in the place showed scars of past drunken battles. As they pulled up, turning and backing their bikes up, still sitting in the saddle, so that they would face out, a blonde approached Jake before he could turn off the ignition.

"What would you say to a sexual experience that could conceivably change your political views?" she asked Jake.

Jake laughed and said two words, "Get on."

That's how Jake ended up where he was that morning. He remembered the girls name was Joyce? No, Joy. That sounded right in his head. She had told him before they fell asleep lying on each other that she was moving to California at the beginning of the next week to be with her husband who had received orders to a Camp Pendleton a couple months ago. She had stayed behind to tie up the loose ends as they intended to make it a permanent move. His four year hitch was up in a year and they were both born and raised in San Diego, so it was really them just going home.

He heard the bathroom door scrape on the jam as it opened. He could smell the sweet smell of lavander soap carried on the steam as it rushed out of the door and into the hallway.

She walked into the hallway wearing a thick yellow towel around her chest and she had a sea green one wrapped like a turban on her head. She was adjusting the yellow towel as she walked into the sun-lit kitchen.

"Oh, you're up! Do you want some breakfast? I can make some eggs and toast", she asked.

"Nope, thanks though. But I would kill for some coffee." Jake said as he glanced towards the floor, trying not to look her up and down.

"Coffee's already made, you coulda got some."

"I didn't know where to find a cup. Besides, I just sat down out here a minute ago. I hadn't really even thought that far."

She stepped over to him and kissed his lips, running her warm, moist hand along the left side of his neck. "Over the sink on the right side. Milk's in the fridge and there's sugar right in front of you. Spoons are in the drawer right in front of the microwave." With that she turned towards the bedroom and pulled the end loose from the towel around her body, giving Jake a look at her smooth rear end as she walked through the door, closing it as she went through. Jake stood, walked to the sink, opened the left cupboard, closed it, opened the cupboard on the right side and grabbed a cup.

To be continued.......

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-09-01T17:47:00.000-04:00

Do The Same continued....
See earlier posts for beginning

Jake headed right for the fridge in the small kitchen in his house after he got home from work. There had been plans to expand the kitchen space along with adding on to the master bedroom in the small ranch style home he had bought with Dana, his soon-to-be-ex-wife. After she moved out, those plans fell by the wayside. He figured there was no sense in doing anything to the place now. He didn't cook much, except when he was trying to impress a date, and unless he had company staying the night, he found himself sleeping on the overstuffed couch in the living room with the TV flickering infomercials all night. Lately though, he always had sleepovers or he stayed at Katie's or Shelly's place....whomever it was that was recieving his attentions that night.

Opening the door to the icebox, he pulled out beer from the scant contents of the shelves. A twelve pack of beer with 9 left in it, a couple bottles of hotsauce, mustard, a nearly empty bottle of ketchup, something he couldn't really remember in a plastic covered bowl and a pack of brown edged bolonga sat scattered over the 3 shelves. He opened the freezer door to find a wall of ice with a small dug out section that held an empty icetray and an almost full bottle of Jim Beam. He grabbed the fifth and set it on the counter. Popping the top on the can of brew, he took a swallow that drained half of can. He then opened the Jim Beam, took a two gulp shot and chased it with the rest of the can of beer. Belching, he tossed the can towards the garbage, missing completely so the can bounce-rolled down the hallway. He snagged another beer from the fridge and wandered back toward the front of the house.

He planned to spend the night at home, working on his Panhead Harley in the front bedroom that he semi-converted into a workshop after Dana moved out. He took a bit of perverse pleasure in knowing that she would totally freak if she knew he had all of these motorcycle parts on her carpet that she had dragged Jake around town to find, comparing colors that looked the same to Jake for days. Of course he had a clean tarp down to keep the dirt and grease from creating a stain, but Dana would have lost it anyhow. He took a sip of beer, considered putting it in a cool cup, realized it wouldn't have a chance to get warm and set it down on the dresser. Dana would have spazzed also about chancing the water ring on the wood finish, but Jake couldn't give a shit about a blemish in the dresser. He snorted a bit thinking Dana would blow a gasket just because he had two motorcycles. When they were together, she had forbid any talk of him buying another bike. Likely not because she was afraid he would get hurt, although that was her story. Jake though it was just another area where she knew he would get female attention and there was no way she was letting that happen.

He eyed the frame he had leaning against the closet door, thinking of how it was going to look when he finished cutting and welding it into what he saw in his head. Jake was one of those people that can see the results of the finished project before it's even started. He wasn't ready for cutting yet anyhow, so he turned his attention to the heart and soul of the bike. The Panhead engine that was in pieces spread out on the long, makeshift plywood shelf he had set up along the wall. He grabbed the flywheels that had been giving him fits for the past couple of days. He just was not getting them perfectly true. He had them to the point where most Harley mechanics would stop calling them good enough, but that wasn't good enough for Jake. He bagan loosening the crank throw nut and......

"Yo! Kimosabi!"

He hung his head for a second, shaking it, then turned towards the door and hollered, "Yo, yourself! Get yer ass in here...you know where the beverages are. That is, unless you brought some for once."

He heard clunking footstep go into the kitchen and moment later a psssht of the poptab. A nearly bald head popped into the doorway. "What's up, man?" asked the mouth just before it swallowed more beer. "Not much, just tryin' to get these stinkin' flywheels right".

Mike walked into the room holding the beer and the bottle of Beam that Jake had left on the counter. "Which woman is comin' tonight?" asked Mike.

"None that I know about" said Jake, "I'm figuring for a night off".

"Aw, man" whined Mike, "I was hopin' Shelly was gonna bring that one chick back over".

Mike was married, but he and his wife were "on a break". Not necessarily to her liking, but Mike wanted the marriage to be done.....kinda. He wanted to see other women, but other women didn't much want to see him. It wasn't that he was a ugly guy really...it was that he was just...weird. Like the Kimosabi thing. Kimosabi. Hi, ho Silver. Get it? Freaking ha ha. Jake was just glad that the name hadn't caught on with anyone else.

Mike's wife was the first, well.... only woman that had given Mike a piece of ass, so Jake figured that was the reason Mike didn't completely burn his bridges yet. Mike was afraid he wouldn't get another women to go out with him, much less sleep with him. Lately Mike had been coming over when he knew Jake had one of his female friends visiting, asking them to bring a girlfriend to meet him the next they came. Shelly had brought a friend by Jake's once, not to have her meet Mike, but because Shelly and her were going to a club that evening and she wanted Jake to tag along with them. Mike had been pretty blatant and rude, trying to be suave with sexual innuendo. All he accomplished was to have Shelly and her friend skidaddle out of there toot sweet.

Jake knew that when he had moved out for those couple of weeks while Dana got her things together to move back to Ohio, Mike had made many overt sexual comments to her, cumulating in him trying to kiss her one night when he was half in the bag. Dana had told him this, the only reason likely to try to get a jealous reaction from Jake. For that reason, Jake knew he would likely have to make a choice concerning Katie and Shelly. He could see Mike running his mouth to one of them about Jake's other female friends hoping that spilling the beans would give him a free pass into their pants. But, Jake did like Mike. He wasn't really a bad guy, all in all.

Mike took a swig of the bourbon, wincing hard as he swallowed. "Ahhh.....good stuff!", exclaimed Mike. "Hey! Don't be pounding down that whole bottle and then puking it up like you did last time. Fuck, I hardly got 2 shots out of the sumbitchin' bottle!" Jake warned.

"Hey, I can hang, man!"

"Right, right...just leave half that thing for me this time".

Mike offered the bottle to Jake from the seat he had taken on the bare mattress on theother side of the room. Jake walked over and snatched the bottle from Mike's hand. He took it back over to the work bench, grabbed his beer and took a nice, long pull. He set the bottle down on the bench, grabbed his beer and finished the rest of the can chasing the burn of the whiskey. He was beginning to feel that wonderful warth spread from his closely shorn scalp, down his neck, down across his chest and shooting down his legs to settle for the moment in his knees. Well, I'm gonna stay out of the bars and away from the girls tonight, but there's nothin' wrong with catchin' a buzz, he thought.

"Looks like we're gonna have to make a beer run here pretty soon" said Jake with a grin.

To be continued....

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-08-30T23:51:00.000-04:00

Do The Same continued....
Go to earlier posts for beginning

1988
He felt like his spit-shined boots were melting around his feet. Sergeant Major Conti was in rare form that day. The squadron had fallen into formation ten minutes earlier in their pressed utilities and Friday inspection boots. The commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Whipstock was slightly late getting out to pick which platoon he was going to inspect that morning, so the Sgt Maj wanted to make sure that none of his Marines became restless standing at ease in formation. So he did the first thing that came to mind. Four count pushups.

In Sgt Maj Conti's mind, Marines could never do enough pushups. And you'd better be sounding off loudly with the count, otherwise he'd tell the squadron that he lost count and would start from the beginning again. That July morning with the North Carolina sun, already scorching even though it was just over the pine trees lining the Marine Corps Air Station, had seen the Sgt Maj lose count seven times before he allowed the formation back to an upright position. He was just about to get his jarheads doing some mountain climbers when the Colonel stepped in front of him and asked for the report.

"All present and accounted for, sir!", bellowed Conti. Jake was never more glad to see the CO than that moment.

Jake had nearly missed formation that morning. He knew he was pressing his luck and would one day soon miss a formation if he didn't chill out a bit. He had been busted once before when he was stationed in Okinawa. Even though he was married then, his wife was back home in the States as he was on a one year unaccompanied tour. He could have brought her over for much of that year, but the costs of the paperwork, flight and immunizations was so much that they decided she should stay home. So, being somewhat lonely, he slowly fell into a routine of partying heavily out in Kinville, or Sinville as the Marines stationed at Camp Hansen called it. After one night of getting rip-roaring drunk, Jake missed the cattle car to the Major Generals Honor Guard ceremony of which Jake was to be one of the Honor Guards. He lost some pay and was restricted to base for thirty day for that goof and had to listen to a speech from his platoon commander on how what Jake was doing was immoral. Jake had really done nothing that he felt was immoral. Well, there was that cruise to the Philippines , but it would be hard for a saint to not fall under the charms of some of those Filipinas in Olongapo City. After being away from Dana for 4 months by then, it was like seating a starving man at a table covered in plates of sizzling steaks and expecting him not to eat. And that had been six month's after the point he had started having doubts about his marriage...mostly the fidelity of his wife.

Jake didn't want a repeat of that whole deal, especially since he had worked so hard to overcome that mistake, even to the point that he had been promoted meritoriously to the rank of Sergeant not quite a year before. Even with that honor guard ceremony deal, he had still made E-5 in 3 1/2 years....much quicker than 99% of the people who didn't have a single blemish on their record. But much had changed since his promotion. He and his wife had split after she had a jealous fit for no reason. His platoon commander and non-commissioned officer in charge had insisted he take the responsibility of being the Platoon Sergeant 8 months ago. No instead of working in the shop, paperwork, discipline of the platoon and more paperwork filled his workday. He hated it deeply.

Jake heard the CO tell Sgt Maj Conti that he would inspect the Motor transport Maintenance Platoon that day. Jake groaned inwardly. So much for a quick inspection of the platoon conducted by himself with Corporal Ferry taking notes. He quickly checked the toes of his boot to make sure they hadn't been scuffed too badly by the Sgt Maj's little physical training session. He also glanced down at his camouflage utilities. He had ironed them last night when he got home from work, but he was in too much of a hurry to get out on the motorcycle to take a ride to do a very good job. After that he had stopped over at Katie's because he had promised her he would. He hadn't planned on staying long. Somehow he had found himself at the bar with her. They drank until 11 pm, then he took her home. She wouldn't take the getting up early for work and threw herself at him when he tried to leave. Well, what's a guy to do. Although she showed some of her red-headed temper, he did leave her place by 1 am. He rode home thinking he could still get 5 hours of sleep if he went right to bed when he got home and didn't leave for the base until 0630. Formation was at 0700 and with a 5 minute ride to the base, he could be there with time to spare. Unfortunately, Shelly was there waiting for him. Cursing himself for letting her see where he stashed his hide-away key one night when he had left his keys at home and let her drive. She wanted his attentions also. And she was very persuasive about it. When Jake finally looked at the clock as he laid his head down to go to sleep, the blood red digital display stared back at him with the numbers of 3:57am. Not a good day for Chief Warrant Officer, "Gunner" Johns to blow off formation....at least not for Jake anyway. He usually looked good in uniform with his lean, 6'2" frame, but that day he looked - unkempt.

Lt. Colonel Whipstock, followed by the Sgt Maj, stopped in front of the platoon as Jake snapped to attention. Jake called his platoon to attention and snapped a crisp salute as the Colonel executed a left face with pop of his heels. "Motor Transport Maintenance Platoon ready for inspections, sir!" Just raising his voice for that report started a rattling in Jake's right temple that he though he had beaten by taking a couple of Goody powders on his way to the base. Colonel Whipstock looked Jake up and down and said,"Very well. Post!". Jake took his place on Sgt Maj Conti's left as the Colonel stepped to the beginning of the first squad. He felt the first trickle of sweat beginning to make it's way down from between his shoulder blades. He also hoped that he wouldn't start stinking of the large quantity of alcohol he had consumed last night.

"Platoon! DisssMissed!" Jake performed an obligatory about face and started making his way in the shop to get a cold drink when Sgt Maj Conti walked up to him. "You look like a shitbird there, Silver" Conti said, not at all trying to hide any of the disdain in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Sgt Maj" offered Jake, wondering just when this torture was going to finish. His headache had gone from a tapping in his temple to a thudding across his entire scalp. "Sorry my ass. You'd better square your self away, Marine. I helped you get those stripes, I can help take them away just as easily! Next time, that moustache better be trimmed to regulation and put a damn blade in your razor before using it! You missed spots all over your neck!" With that, Conti turned on his heel and walked toward the Admin building leaving Jake to curse vehemently under his breath, "Damn it, I gotta knock this shit off". But something he didn't want to admit inside him was enjoying the fact that he was seeing two women at the same time and also having an occasional night of fun with other women he met in bars. He hadn't had this much attention from females before in his life.

He dated a couple girls in school, in fact, he married one of them. He had dates to the school dances, but was never one of the guys that many of the girls in his class passed noted about. But after putting on a good bit of muscle in basic training and buying the Harley (and buying into the biker attitude as well), he now found himself propositioned regularly by very attractive women. Single, engaged, even married women had went for rides with Jake. And rode Jake afterwards, for that matter. He knew deep down he was looking for Her, but until she showed up, he was enjoying himself immensely.

To be continued....

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved

2006-08-30T23:42:00.000-04:00

Do The Same

"What is a life?"

This was the question that slid out of Shane's mouth while they were staring into one of the 6 televisions soundlessly casting flickering scenes of various sports into the bar.

Intending to ignoring another of Shane's questions from left field, Jake lifted his beer bottle almost to his lips before he stopped and set the brew back down.
Realizing he may have caught Jake's attention, Shane continued.

"Is it all of the things you've done in your life....good or bad? Or is it what you set out to do with yourself back in the day before shit got so deep?" He followed the last word with something like a snort as he always did whenever he cursed. He was like an elementary school kid trying to be cool and funny by swearing, unable to control his giggle afterwards.

Lifting his beer again, Jake said, "Well, I guess it's what you've done, mostly, that everybody figures is your life". As an afterthought, Jake added, "Or who you've done, maybe". Swallowing the last, nearly warm swallow of beer from his bottle, Jake thought that his answer sounded not quite.....right.

Jake slid his empty bottle to the edge of the bar and reached in his pocket for his wallet. Sliding another twenty out, he motioned for Michelle as she stood by the waitress opening in the bar. "Can I get another couple cold ones here, sweetie?"

Jake Silver was a decent looking guy, nowhere near movie star good looking, but he had always been able to attract attention from the female persuasion with his easygoing way and a grin that hinted greatly of a young man's mischievousness. He had been married twice. Once when he was just out of high school and was far from home in the Marine Corps. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. The second time was 11 years after the first marriage failed, which in itself was amazing. Not that he married again, but that it took so long for it to happen. It wasn't that it took him that long to meet a women that wanted him to marry her, he had been engaged (well, never officially, just the fanciful planning of a few women) 3 times in that decade before he met his second wife. What made it amazing is that Jake had a problem with saying "No" to women that he cared about. And the term cared about was truly what it was......he never completely fell for any woman until his second wife.

Shane Waters, on the other hand, was one of those guys that had the type of looks that drew women to him from across the room, street, or bar. If they didn't know him. Shane hadn't had that affect on women when he was in high school, or before then. This began when his complexion cleared, his braces were removed and he was talked into getting contact lenses by his older sister. But there was still a problem. Shane still thought of himself as that kid that the popular girls didn't even know existed, much less take the time to look at him. When a women wasn't put off by his extreme social idiosyncrasies and thought his shyness was cute, she would be eventually chased off by Shane's pathological need for reassurance in the relationship. He could and did have beautiful women throw themselves at him regularly, but he still imagined that they were just playing a big practical joke with him as the fall guy, no matter how much any of them or his friends tried to convince him otherwise.

Michelle placed a cold beer in front of each Jake and Shane. As she started away, Jake was debating with himself about ordering a shot of bourbon, but by the time he finished the debate, Michelle had moved off to another couple of male customers who, like Jake and Shane were spending that sunny Saturday afternoon in a dimly lit bar. Jake reckoned that was probably for the better that he didn't start now with the shots.

He was still trying to get things straight in his head after being so nonchalantly dumped by that girl he had been dating. The strange part of it was, he hadn't really even cared that much about her. She had been more of a distraction, which is what he wanted....no, needed at that point. He had made the mistake (although, for the life of him, he still wondered if it was truly a mistake) of falling for Mandy, a friend from work. A married friend. And after the way his second divorce went down, getting involved with a married women was the last thing he could bring himself to do, even though Mandy had unwittingly taken over most of his deepest heart thoughts. Jake hadn't crossed that line with Mandy. Talking, joking around, having a couple drinks after work with or without her husband ahd been the extent of it to that point. But in many ways, Jake wanted it to go much farther and at the same time, knew it had to stop. He had felt that elusive click with Mandy. They just got each other. He could make her laugh until she was gasping for air by being his normally hidden goofy self and she could bring that out in him in a seconds time. He just felt open with her. Except for the way he truly felt about her. About that, he wouldn't let himself open up about to her because he didn't want to be "That Guy".

Although, he had been more than willing to be "That Guy" a time or two in the past.

To be continued.....

© 2006 RMG All rights reserved.

2006-08-19T04:51:00.000-04:00

The group pic I neglected to get....

nbsp;

2006-07-23T15:53:00.000-04:00

Terry, Gibbs and some bald headed guy

2006-07-23T15:52:00.000-04:00

Bases loaded

2006-07-23T15:51:00.000-04:00

Ump that really blew a call

2006-07-23T15:48:00.000-04:00

Gibbs, Terry and Srini

2006-07-02T18:35:00.000-04:00

Grad Party, Pig Roast and Jam!

Getting the party started!

2006-07-02T18:34:00.002-04:00

Southern Steel Band

2006-07-02T18:34:00.001-04:00

More jammin'

2006-07-02T18:34:00.000-04:00

Wireless guitar cords are great!

2006-07-02T18:33:00.000-04:00

The grad and her boyfriend

2006-07-02T18:32:00.000-04:00

Some folks jammin' with some guy who couldn't find his locks for his guitar strap and had to sit on a cooler.

I'll find 'em eventually.

2006-05-22T01:46:00.000-04:00

Zeus maxi-relaxin'

2006-05-18T19:14:00.000-04:00

People sometimes well and truly suck.

I know I haven't posted here in a very long time. Forgive me. Even now I'm only posting because I'm in shock at how much people suck. Ready for a silly story? Okay....here goes......and ISIANMTU (I Swear I Am Not Making This Up for you non-Dave fans)...

About a month or so ago, I started dating a person. This dating could be described best as mostly casual. We had talked about it letting it progress at it's own pace....mainly because she was just getting out of a long term relationship and I've been working some pretty long hours. Also, I was also going slowly because she's only 27 years old, but seemed....wait, let me emphasis that....seemed to have something of a head on her shoulders. I emphasised this as it will come into play later in this story.

Last Friday I left work and went to a local pub where they have karaoke every Friday. After being there for a very short time, I recieved a text message from this girl that I have been dating....we'll call her....um...Niwi....short for Nitwit. So, anyhow, Niwi texts me asking where I am. I sent a reply and told her was at the Pub. She called then and asked me to get a table for her, her girlfriend she was bringing, and myself. I did thus, and took the liberty of ordering them a beverage. While waiting, I told a friend (we'll call him Dumas for now)that I had been talking with before the phone call to come to the table, as Niwi's friend was single and I knew he hadn't had much in the way of dates lately. He did and Niwi and her friend arrived. We all chatted, had some drinks and fun was had by all. Dumas talked to Niwi's friend, but when it was time to leave, it was apparent that they really didn't hit it off well. I left with Niwi and her friend. Dumas stayed for last call.

Fast forward to yesterday. Shortly after I get to work, Niwi calls me. She wants to know if there was any possibility that I would be getting out of work early to meet her at a local restuarant that also has a bar with Wednesday night karaoke. I told her that the earliest I would be able to leave would be 11 pm, but that I would meet her then if she wanted. She told me that if she decided not to go, she would text me or call me.

I get off work at 11ish and head to this place. I walk in and stop by the bar to order a beverage. As I'm waiting for my beer, out of the corner of my eye I see Dumas walk past behind me heading away from the restrooms towards the tables. I spoke his name loudly and was surprised when he kind of ducked around a group of people and continued on in the direction he was going. So, I got my beer and headed in the direction he went. As I rounded the end of the bar, I saw him sitting next to Niwi at a table with Niwi's friend Maya that had introduced Niwi and I, and Maya's boyfriend (who, incidentally I had introduced to Maya, even though I didn't really know him). I walked up to the table and was greeted warmly be all there and recieved a kiss and a hug from Niwi. I sat on the end of the table not wanting to have everyone play musical chairs. Small talk ensued, drinks were consumed.

It became apparent shortly that the waitress assigned to our table wasn't in the right career and I went to get another round for the table. Because that's the kinda guy I am. As I was getting up, I noticed that Niwi's body position was such that it seemed as if she had her hand on Dumas' thigh. As I walked towards the bar, I ruminated on this for a moment....then dismissed it as my mind playing tricks on me. I ordered the round and returned to the table.

Holy crap! Niwi had her hand on the small of Dumas' back.

Wait, this could still be innocent. Really, it could...like maybe she was sticking a "Kick Me" sign there for a really good practical joke and just was off target....really off target it soon became apparant.

I sat back down and took a swig of my beer. I then said to myself, "Self, this couldn't possibly be happening......could it?" For that, I had no answer.

I stood up, excused myself to see a man about a horse, just to give myself a moment. Upon my return, lo, what do my eyes behold? Niwi and Dumas are now making out!

Holy stab in the back, Batman! I sat down in my chair heavily. After they finished taste testing each others lunch from Tuesday of last week, they commenced to talking with one another as if I wasn't 1.58742 feet away. Nobody at that table even seemed to act as this thing just happened.

Just then, our errant waitress stopped by...earning her the $10 tip I left for her just by that moment in itself. I ordered 2 beers for myself. She brought my beers quickly...I think noticing the look on my face....a mixture of dumbfoundedness and disbelief with a spritz of ire. I sat there drinking my two beers....one in each hand.

When I finally felt like I would be able to find my way out of the place, I stood up and turned to Maya and her boyfriend and bid my adeiu. Maya asked me, "What? But it's still early! Why are you leaving?" My reply was, "That's probably the most idiotic question I've heard in 20 years or more." As I turned to leave, Niwi jumps up and motions for me to give her a hug. I sidestepped her, dismissed the hand Dumas had proffered for a handshake and made my way out the door.

BTW, if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm pronouncing Dumas as dumb-ass....just so you know.

As I drove home, I found myself repeating the phrase "That did not just happen.......that did not just happen."

As a matter of fact, I just repeated it now.

2006-02-02T02:49:00.000-05:00

Me...or some semblence there of..

2005-08-13T02:51:00.000-04:00

If you're reading this,
and you're one of these people, I sure could use a bit of a loan.

2005-07-17T01:40:00.000-04:00

Too bad these are now banned.

Man, I loved playing with these as a kid.

Especially throwing them as high as possible and then getting out of the way before they came back down.

2005-07-15T13:29:00.000-04:00

Scooter

This little guy was stepped on by his mother. He has some nerve damage and couldn't walk at the beginning of this week. He is now able to stand a little, but gets around mostly by "scooting" on the floor, hence his name.

He goes home this weekend.

2005-07-08T11:23:00.000-04:00

New Car

2005-07-08T11:22:00.000-04:00

Old truck

2005-06-28T22:37:00.000-04:00

The boys and me.

2005-06-15T16:29:00.000-04:00

My knee and belly with Zeus getting in the action.

2005-06-15T16:07:00.000-04:00

MY SONS....DAMN I'M GETTING OLD

My oldest in the cap and gown, and #2 son being Joe Cool with his hands in his pockets. The little one isn't mine.

2005-06-15T15:59:00.000-04:00

NOT A GESTURE THAT I LIKE TO SEE FROM THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD

2005-05-26T14:27:00.000-04:00

Do chips come with it?

2005-05-05T01:31:00.000-04:00

I CALLED MY FRIEND RON...

....last night. Out of the blue. Ron spends the winter in Hawaii and the summer in Ohio running his ice cream shop. It's May now and that's when he usually opens up for the summer.

Ron has been my friend for going on 5 years now. He's also my ex-wife Amy's friend. I know it was difficult for him to continue being a friend to Amy and I both during our break up and subsequent divorce, but he was able to do it and not choose sides. That, folks, is a friend. Better still, Amy and I have been able to develop a good friendship in the past couple years.

We chatted about a few things.....the trip I had planned for this weekend to Ohio and him and I getting together for a drink or four.

About 10 minutes into the conversation, he asked if I had spoken to Amy's sister Marisa in the past week or so (Marisa and I are also still friends after the split). I told him that I hadn't. He became very quiet for a moment and then said " Man, then I need to tell you that last week Amy went in to see her doctor.......and they found tumors on her ovaries and uterus".

It was at least a minute before I could catch my breath. He continued by telling me that they were planning to perform a complete hysterectomy to remove the tumors. When I was able to speak, he suggested that I call her to let her know that I will be coming to town this weekend and ask her to meet me for a chat.

He remembered that in the past, when Amy had problems with her migraines and the endometriosis, that I was usually able to calm her and help her work through the pain. So his thinking was that I could help now. I agreed and we hung up after he promised that he would call me today.

This morning, Marisa called both to tell me about what was going on with Amy and to let me know that she had been taken to Metrohealth hospital in Cleveland last night because she begun to hemorrhage. I told her I was coming down Friday night after my shift ended. I also asked her to keep me informed of what was going on.

Marisa called back after I got to work to let me know that they moved up the hysterectomy to when they can stabilize her enough to do it. They also found cancer on her cervix, another tumor deep within her intestines, and another tumor that has grown since last week. Marisa told me that she doesn't think that I should wait until Friday to come down.

I don't think so either. So I won't wait.

Even though our marriage is over and we will never be romantically involved again, I still love her. Not a romantic love, but when you love someone deeply enough to marry them, then I think that you will always have love for them in your heart. For good or bad, they have become a part of who you are...and her son will always be like he is my son also. I helped raise him for more than four years. I'm worried for him, also.

But I'm scared shitless for Amy.

I need to get to sleep to get up to go in the morning.

I'm not having much luck with that right at this moment.

She's only 28 years old.

2005-04-29T01:35:00.000-04:00

BRILLIANCE.....SHEER BRILLIANCE

(Thanks to Mr. Fishair)

2005-04-27T02:06:00.000-04:00

WHY CAN"T MY JOB DO THIS?

"Hello, boss....yeah, I'm really not feeling good today...."

"What's that? I may already be a winner?"

2005-04-27T02:03:00.000-04:00

A GOOD PLAN

Hey, where's that Mercedes that you brought in duty free for me?

2005-04-25T02:07:00.000-04:00

A REGULAR DAY

I woke up late this morning to a regular day. My phone was ringing....it was Mom. We chatted for a bit while I got a cup of coffee and sat down in front of the computer. While I was talking to Mom, I checked my e-mail. A couple joke e-mails from Mom and Dad...probably from Dad. They were a bit off color. Another from a friend that I haven't read yet. I was still a bit groggy. I was up a few times last night. Bailey decided to sneak through the gate and was trying to be sly so he could sleep where someone (meaning human...not the 2 other dogs)was so not to be alone. I don't know if other Springer Spaniels act like this, but if Bailey saw a lap, he would be in it. Just laying his head back and looking up with this total look of adoration. I don't think that there has been a time that Dennis has sat in his chair without Bailey jumping up there. So he slept with me last night.

I ended my call with Mom and started to check some of the forums where I am subscribed.

A start of a nice lazy Sunday.

Dennis, Cody and I buried Bailey at 2:30 this afternoon.

I was just getting ready to get another cup of coffee when Zeus the boxer decided he needed to go out. I let him out the back door to go out in the fenced area. Bailey liked to go out the side door to the open part of the yard. This wasn't a problem, he stayed in the yard and was always back to door in a few minutes. Zeus would run if he went out that way. Bailey never did. So outside went Bailey also.

For some reason, Bailey went to the road. A car or truck hit him. The vehicle never stopped.

Never came to the door to tell anyone Bailey was hurt.

Nor did the 10 or so other cars that slowed down to go around him while he lay in the road bleeding.

Cody was across the road at his friends house and saw Bailey in the road through the front window.

We tried to get him to a veterinary E.R.

But Bailey had a seizure on the way. He's had those in the past. Before, we've had medication that helped him.

He died in Dennis' arms.

I think that's where he would have wanted to be in the end.

After we buried him, I cleaned up the seats of my truck. We had wrapped him in blankets but they didn't stay on very well.

I went back out later to his spot.

You see, I forgot to give him his golf ball. The one he loved to run and get when we hit it for him. He's gonna need it.

I just don't know how to tell Zeus and Tidy this.

2005-02-15T01:37:00.000-05:00

OKAY

I haven't been here in a long time.

I wish I could say that it's because I'm leading such an interesting life, that I don't have time for this thing. That part about not having time is true. Mostly. But the interesting life part is complete fiction. Just so you know.

As far as V.D. goes, I don't feel any more blue about being single on that day than I do on Arbor Day, April Fools Day, or the second Teusday of next month. And there has been Valentines Days that I was in a relationship that was going bad, and hated trying to play nice for the day.

If you are in a relationship that has true affection, then it should be shown everyday. And I don't mean with candy or flowers strictly........it's amazing the amount of emotion that can be shown in a gaze or a simple touch. Gifts are nice, but if they are given just because of a date on the calender, then I'd rather skip receiving or giving.........the intent is wrong.

The preceding rant may stem for a call I received on my way to work. Seems the girl that I was dating decided today would be the day for her to start talking to me again. (Still have no idea why she wasn't talking to me in the first place.) After listening to her ramble for the first 2 minutes of the call, I politely (at least I tried to do it politely) told her I was busy and would call her back later. I'm thinking April 1st would be a good day to make that call.....kill two birds with one stone.

(Sorry PETA)

(Not really)

Also, I got a call from my ex last night..........she just happens to be single again.........is it wrong of me to be suspicious?

Other than that, Happy Valentines Day to all!

2004-11-04T01:10:00.000-05:00

HOPE

I voted for John Kerry.

I truly hope that I was wrong.
I hope that the folks that voted for Dubya were right.
I hope that President Bush will do at least some of the things that he promised.
I hope that I will still have my job in four years.
I hope that my sons will not have to go to fight in a war that I believe was started by people that have no clue how to properly finish it.
I hope other parents children will not die in that same war.
I hope that Iraq doesn't become the re-run of Vietnam that it seems to be heading towards.
I hope that more effort will be directed to capturing the main person responsible for 9/11- Osama Bin Laden. Just the fact that he is still free makes another attack more possible.
I hope that people torn apart by the contentious nature of this election will be able to get past those hurt feelings, and mend relationships.
I truly hope that Dick Cheney is not the person really running things for the profit of himself and his friends.
I truly hope that politics will become a matter of facts, not rhetoric.
I truly hope that people are making themselves informed and not just parroting the old "Liberals have overrun the media, anything the media says are lies meant to force liberal views on all people"- "Conservatives just want to force their religious views on the world" Both of which I believe for the most part are wrong. Not to say that there isn't folks like that on both sides of the fence.
I hope the Democratic party gets it's head out of the sand and realizes that some of those votes for Dubya were from Democrats, and that it has lost it's way as the moderate's party.
I hope that the Republican party realizes that the separation of church and state is still very much needed and should not be worked out of the Constitution, or become disregarded. And that the taking of human life, whether it be from abortion, war, or execution, is still killing. It should only be done as the very last resort.
I hope that we aren't going to be saying "Oh, crap" after our country has been led down the path that we are all heading in the next four years. Because this is definitely going to be an administration that can make or break our children's future.
I hope that this bandying about of the charge of non-patriotism stops being leveled against people that have views that don't follow someone else's.

And finally, I truly hope that there is another beer in the fridge, because I think that I just drank the last one.

Oh, and Dave Barry for President in '08!

2004-10-05T01:44:00.000-04:00

DUSTING OFF THE COBWEBS

Wow. Haven't been here for a bit. Every once in a while, I've come across things that I thought would be great things to post here. Web sites. Jokes. Cartoons.

The only thing I haven't found is time to post here.

Well, that's not true. I've had time. I've just had other things that needed to be done with that time.

I have had some time that I have gone through the whole introspection thing.

You know.

Serious life questions.

Are things supposed to be this way?

Is this all there is?

Am I going to be single forever?

Are the hairs growing on my ears as noticible to everyone else as they are to me?

Why aren't all toilet seats heated?

Do the people that pick their noses at the stoplight have a greatest picks row on their dashboard?

Well, I have no answers for these important questions.

So, until I find the answers, I will continue to search.

Another question:

What the heck am I trying to say in this post?

2004-08-07T01:15:00.000-04:00

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student,
pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has
a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to
be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and
roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howizzitor. He is 10 or
15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working
or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field
strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can
recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and
use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can
apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or
stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without
spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of
fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens
full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but
never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own
clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water
with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition
with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like
they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that
is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the
pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering
and death then he should have in his short lifetime.

He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat
and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate
through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning
desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand,
remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out,
far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying
the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the
American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration
with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in danger,
doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls
us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.. A short lull,
a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.......

Prayer Wheel

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

Prayer : When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer
for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air,
and for those in Iraq. There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.......
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine
or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

2004-08-06T01:22:00.000-04:00

I'M HERE POSTING AGAIN

But it will still be somewhat minimal for a bit. I have been taking on extra work so that I really shine for a promotion that I am trying to get.

I will try to post something here once a day from now on.

Or not.

2004-08-06T01:19:00.000-04:00

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU THINK

From Fortress Boston to '1984'
Bucks County Courier Times

In high school as I read "1984," my English teacher, Stephen Walker, said fear of falling victim to random violence would usher in George Orwell's frightening vision and undo America.

This was the late 1970s and climbing murder rates gripped most major cities. Big-city crime worked its way into sedate suburbs, too, where people were always surprised that "it could happen here."

Walker said that, like terminal cancer, in the future everyone would know someone who was the victim of life-ending crime. Then, government would be handed sweeping powers to snag the killers before they snuffed us.

Life would be harsh. Only those with credentials could travel and only to certain zones at appointed times. Cameras on street corners and satellites in orbit would monitor everything that moved from city to city, town to town, block to block.

Neighborhoods would be gated. When the bad guys figured a way to penetrate the gates, walls would go up. When walls failed, armed military tanks would guard neighborhood entrances.

I imagined a hulking green tank with its gun aimed toward the windows of Manor Elementary School as it sat at the entrance to Levittown's North Park section, where I grew up.

Over the years, I've chuckled at that. Unthinkable.

But then I spent last week in Boston at the Democratic National Convention amid oppressive security.

Fear of sudden death on a large scale was in complete control in Beantown.

From the gun-toting sentinels atop overpasses, to the barb wire and fences and concrete barricades, to decontamination trailers and endless demands by security people to produce credentials and identification, Walker's view of an America that had freely surrendered its liberties for the sake of security was for real.

Harsh? You have no idea.

One evening, as I left the FleetCenter where the Democrats gathered, I mistakenly walked 10 feet beyond the entrance to a fenced area that corralled the idling hotel shuttle buses.

As I turned around to walk back to the entrance, I was stopped and questioned by a plainclothes security man who was monitoring the area.

He asked for identification and to see my convention credentials.

Even though everything checked out, he forbade me from walking through the entrance to the buses, he said, "because you already walked past me."

When I told him he was being unreasonable, he instantly called for backup.

I took off, running through a maze of fences and concrete barricades that led to a busy street.

I continued to run, looking back to see if I was being chased.

A couple blocks later I stopped, out of breath, heart pounding.

What the hell was I running from? I hadn't done anything wrong.

Heavy-handed security pervaded Boston.

The tedium of constantly standing in lines, going through checkpoints and metal detectors, producing ID, constantly being eyeballed by cop after cop put people on edge.

Tempers flared throughout Fortress Boston - if not from the unprecedented lack of coveted convention floor credentials for delegates, then from the daily experience of intimidating hyper security.

Philadelphia Mayor John Street, trying to soothe frazzled nerves, led the Pennsylvania delegation at breakfast in a calming chant of "Lower your expectations."

Even leaving Boston was a nerve jangler.

At Logan Airport, I forgot to take my laptop from its case before sending it through the X-ray scanner.

I was immediately pulled aside while a guard called out "Bag search! Bag search!"

I was told to produce identification. I was questioned.

Both the laptop and case were taken from me, examined and swabbed. The swab was placed in a high-tech device that sniffs for trace amounts of explosives.

They assumed I had a bomb.

I figure we're only one or two attacks on the scale of Sept. 11 - or one nuke - from Walker's America, huddled in fear.

Then it's only a matter of time before you might find yourself running through the darkened streets of a strange city, dodging traffic, out of breath, heart pounding - and you've done nothing wrong.

J.D. Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@phillyBurbs.com. His opinion column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Are we there yet?

2004-07-12T20:53:00.000-04:00

ANOTHER TEST

Wackiness: 70/100 Rationality: 50/100 Constructiveness: 46/100 Leadership: 64/100

You are a WEDL--Wacky Emotional Destructive Leader. This makes you an anarchist. You don't give a damn. When push comes to shove, you just forget about it--it's just not worth the heartache. What this means for others is that dealing with you can be aggravating, because they find they can't get you motivated about things they care about. What this means for you is that you are happier, calmer, and saner then they are on their best days.

You are near-immune to criticism, and those who know you well acknowledge and respect that. You may come across as lazy, but the truth is that you find little to get worked up about. Regardless, you have slews of friends, because they are fascinated by your world view, jealous of your lifestyle, and drawn to the fact that you are hilarious to be around.

You are a pillar in a sea of hot-bloodedness. You have a sweet tooth.

I do not have a sweet tooth.

2004-07-12T01:48:00.000-04:00

This is who Southern Steel Band is opening for in September.....I hope they knock their socks off!

2004-07-12T00:59:00.000-04:00

VACATIONS

You know how you think that when you take time off from work, you will be able to spend so much time doing things that you enjoy.

Like posting on this here blog.

Ain't happenin', is it?

I have so much that I want to post right now....but I'm too busy relaxing.

Ya know, like running around doing this, that, or the other.

Helping SSB get some gigs in Ohio. Helping with a graduation party.

Relaxing stuff.

I still have a week of vacation to go.

I'll remember to relax soon.

2004-06-26T02:40:00.000-04:00

SMILES

My friend's wife has a band. They played at a bar tonight (last night?) and I jumped up on stage and sat in for a few songs. The thing is, I was talking to a girl before that and I thought that we were kinda clicking. Well, two songs into the set, a young lady came up and made a song request. She came to me and asked if we could sing a country song by Garth Brooks called " In Another's Eyes". Well, I know the song and have sung it before so I said "Yes, we'll play it" and smiled at her. Well, the girl I was talking to got mad at that and left, but not before her friend came and told me that she was mad at me.

Huh?

Well, after talking to two fantastic ladies later in the evening, I was told that me smiling at the requester was a no-no. That me smiling at her was akin to something like making out with her right there in front of the other girl. Well, now I know. So, maybe next time I won't smile at the other girl.I never knew my smile had that power.

But next time, maybe I should go ahead and make out with her.

Her boyfriend or husband might have had some issues with that though.

2004-06-22T01:51:00.000-04:00

BRAIN BAKE

I think that I cooked my brain.

It goes wonderfully with early peas and a nice cabernet sauvignon.

No, not really....at least I don't think it does.

Anyway, Sunday morning, I went golfing. The sun came out and I figured that I would get some sun on my head. It had been pasty white after the shave job. After that I worked on sanding a truck that my friend Dennis is getting ready for his son.

In the sun.

I ran Monday morning with no hat or shirt.

In the sun.

Yesterday afternoon my head started getting somewhat tender to the touch.

I might be wrong, but I think I should have used some sunscreen.

So now instead of shining like a street light, it shines like a stop light.

If I don't shave it tomorrow, it'll look just like a fuzzy peach.

I wonder if my brain has taken on the form of a peach pit.

Naw, it's probably more like an apple seed in a 55 gallon drum.

2004-06-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

IGNORE BUTTON

That's right.

The IGNORE BUTTON

Everyone has one. It is target specific. Some folks are just more practiced in the deployment of it.

Most married guys have it set on automatic. Game is on, beers cold, chip bowl is full. Kicking back enjoying the show.

From the other side of the house: honey can you come here for a sec?

Man: Glug.....boy, great game!

From the other side of the house: honey, I need your help!

Man: Hmmm....beers getting low.......

Right next to Man's ear: I SAID I NEED YOUR HELP!

Man: SPPPPPHHHHHHttttttttt........

And the guy is laying on the floor soaked in beer and covered in half chewed chip fragments, wondering why he just got hollered at.

But there is other times that the Ignore Button is used. When dealing with Trolls on an internet bulletin board. When you have politicians speaking. (Fill in other reasons here).

Then there is when someone is mad at you for something and they handle it by hitting their Ignore Button with your name on it.

I really hate it when someone stabs their Graz button. Especially if I don't know the reason for it being utilized. Shoot, I do stupid things all the time. Let me know what I did wrong. I will apologize. Really, it's easy for me. I have practiced it many times. At least say why I'd be wasting my breath speaking to the person.

But, when that happens to me for what I think is no reason whatsoever, I just return in kind. I will then hit my corresponding button.

Although, when the person that has me on Ignore thinks that I have suffered enough and takes me off Ignore, it's usually too late.

Because when I hit my button for that person, I jammed a screwdriver in 'er and drove it in to the hilt with a hammer.

That sucker ain't comin' back out.

2004-06-18T01:07:00.000-04:00

STRESS

Ahhh, yes. Stress. The feeling of wanting to braid a persons nose hairs to their eyebrows and play Beethoven's String Trio #1 in Eb using those hairs while playing Wipeout on their skull.

Career choice is the biggest factor for stress in a person's professional life. Those prestigious jobs with the great salary are usually the positions that have the greatest amount of stress as a condition of employment. I am petitioning Webster to change the definition of prestige in his book to What you trade for your sanity. He hasn't answered me yet.

I started off life as a mechanic. That's not to say I was born with wrenches in hand, that would have been painful for Mom. It's just that as far back as I can remember, I have always taken things apart to see how they work, and then re-assembled them. The re-assembly part of that started out kind of badly, but I did get better with age. This is a very good thing, because Dad would get slightly upset when he'd get home from a long day at work, and something was in pieces on the garage floor. I was usually the next thing in pieces then.

What I'm trying to say is that I have always been very good with my hands, and visualizing how things work. Give me a load of lumber and I can, and have built a house. I have built machines with my hands that can create photo quality printing on cardboard. If it's electrical, I can wire it. If it's brick, I can build a wall. If it's pipe, I can make it flush.

Er, toilet.....flush....well, you get the picture.

The thing is, every job I've had, I've become a supervisor of some level or another. This is where the stress rears it's pimply, misshapen head. For those who haven't been a boss or supervisor before, let me tell you, it's not the great deal that you may think. It's not telling everyone what to do and then hitting the coffee pot.

There's also doughnuts involved. Wait, no, not really.

It's like being a pre-school teacher. Getting everyone to play nice and not steal each others milk. Then you have to get them to color inside the lines. There's other things also, but at least they're potty trained.

I think.

So, with all of this goofy stuff that I deal with, I decomstress on my way home from work. I turn up the stereo in my truck and drive the backroads home.

Fast.

Er..not really that fast, Mom.

(Psst....don't tell my Mom, but kinda fast.) :)

2004-06-16T01:35:00.000-04:00

Productivity Enhancement

Thanks to Dave Barry's Blog.....and Lee Foster.

2004-06-16T01:23:00.000-04:00

TESTS
Your results may vary.

Graz, you exhibit an even balance between left- and right- hemisphere dominance and a slight preference for visual over auditory processing. With a score this balanced, it is likely that you would have slightly different results each time you complete this self-assessment quiz.

You are a well-rounded person, distinctly individualistic and artistic, an active and multidimensional learner. At the same time, you are logical and disciplined, can operate well within an organization, and are sensitive towards others without losing objectivity. You are organized and goal-directed. Although a "thinking" individual, you "take in" entire situations readily and can act on intuition.

You sometimes tend to vacillate in your learning styles. Learning might take you longer than someone of equal intellect, but you will tend to be more thorough and retain the material longer than those other individuals. You will alternate between logic and impulse. This vacillation will not normally be intentional or deliberate, so you may experience anxiety in situations where you are not certain which aspect of yourself will be called on.

With a slight preference for visual processing, you tend to be encompassing in your perceptions, process along multidimensional paths and be active in your attacking of situations or learning.

Overall, you should feel content with your life and yourself. You are, perhaps, a little too critical of yourself -- and of others -- while maintaining an "openness" which tempers that tendency. Indecisiveness is a problem and your creativity may not be in keeping with your potential. Being a pragmatist, you downplay this aspect of yourself and focus on the more immediate, obvious and the more functional

2004-06-14T01:53:00.000-04:00

BZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Well, it's that time of year........Kojak time!

2004-06-11T02:11:00.000-04:00

A LEGEND

Ray Charles 1930-2004
Posted by Hello

2004-06-08T01:43:00.000-04:00

MORE ANSWERS

Some good questions here.....so let's get started!

First, Con asked these questions:

Graz! Better late than never...

Questions:
1. Betty or Veronics? And why?
2. Counselor Deanna Troi or Dr. Beverly Crusher? And why?
3. Eowyn or Arwen? And why?

If you think about, the choices reveal a lot about a man.
Con

Number 1: I would have to say Betty. Reason? Betty didn't get much attention, even though she's very pretty. And when she did get attention from Archie or Reggie, they were on the rebound from Veronica. Also, Veronica had Daddy's money and used it to control her guys. I can make my own money, thank you very much.

Number 2: Counselor Troi. I didn't watch Star Trek-TNG much, but I do have a thing for dark haired women. So, that's my only reason. Sorry, I don't have a better one than that.

And, Number 3: Arwen. See the dark haired thing above. Plus, she gave up immortality for her love of Aragorn. Not that a women should have to give up everything, but the fact that Aragorn tried to get her to live out her life in safety, she chose her love of him over all other things.

Next!

1. Creamy or Chunky?
2. Superman or Spiderman?
3. Maryann or Ginger?
punky brewster

And, now for the questions posed by the beautiful and vivacious Punky Brewster.

Number 1: Depends on what I'm using it for. Oops, sorry.

lemme pull my mind out of the gutter....here, that's better

I usually buy the creamy type. It's just because it's easier to spread, because I do like eating peanuts, cashews,and I really love smoke house almonds.

Number 2: I like Spidey better. He's haunted and is a reluctant superhero. He's not as strong as Superman, nor can he fly. But, he has used some ingenuity to help himself out. And, he still takes care of his Aunt May.

And Number 3: Definitely Maryann. Ginger used her body to get what she wants. Especially on Gilligan. Then she left the poor guy high and dry. Plus, she was too wrapped up in herself. Confidence is good. Confidence is very sexy. Narcissism is not an attractive quality in my book.

So, I don't know what these answers say about me.

Maybe I shouldn't wonder, either.

The results may be scary.

2004-06-06T14:48:00.000-04:00

HOLIDAYS TO REMEMBER

Just when you thing the holiday season is slowing, then you see this.

By the way, tomorrow is Chocolate Cake Day and Tuesday is Name Your Poison Day.

Umm, none for me thanks.......unless you consider beer poison.

If so, yes, please!

2004-06-05T03:17:00.000-04:00

FIRST SET OF ANSWERS

I get to exact my revenge! Er I mean I get to ask you questions!!

1. What's your biggest fear in life?

2. What's your biggest aspiration?

5829. What do you think is the meaning of life?
MeL

Alright....lets see here....

Number one: My biggest fear in life is hurting someone that cares for me, either through an unconscious act, or a misunderstanding in something that I said because I didn't take the time to make sure that my meaning was fully understood.

Numero dos: My biggest aspiration is make the woman with whom I end up spending my life with feel what real love can bring.

And finally, 5829: Simple. The meaning of life comes to you in the dark hours in the middle of the night, when you are laying next to the person that you love, and realizing that you love them so much, that you would give all that you have, all that you will ever have, the very next breath in your body, to try to make it so that person, the one that gives you the feeling of perfection when you are laying next to her and holding her, never ever feels a moment of pain or sadness. And whispering to her "I love you" even though you know she can't hear it. But you have to say it because you can't hold it in.

Oh, and using the word "Boing" in as many conversations as possible.

2004-06-05T02:00:00.000-04:00

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Well, MeL posted this in her blog and I asked my questions, so I guess I will post it also, as asked........

I want everyone who reads this to ask me 3 questions, no more no less.
Ask me anything you want and I will answer. Then I want you to go to your journal, copy and paste this allowing your friends (including myself) to ask you anything.

So, go for it....or not.....and I promise to be brutally honest....or not so brutal.......depends on the questions.

I will be brutal with myself in answering, not those of you asking said questions. I'm not a jerk.

That is all.

2004-06-05T00:49:00.000-04:00

I CAN BE A REBEL TOO

This pretty much sums up the "Nice guy-Dangerous guy" phenomenon that I tried to get out on my May 11th and May 12th posts.

Nicely done, Con.

2004-06-03T01:44:00.000-04:00

DUMB CRIMINALS

Stuff like this is why that will never be an oxymoron.

2004-06-03T01:21:00.000-04:00

"SOMEONE TO DANCE WITH"

I heard this on a movie the other day. Don't remember which movie it was, some made-for-TV junker.

That doesn't matter though. The girl character in the movies made the statement that she wouldn't mind growing old as long as she had "someone to dance with" when she did grow old.

Hmmm, makes sense. That pretty much sums up the way I think about it.

But for me, I hope that it's someone who will dance with me in the deli section if the mood strikes.

Oh, and who will make sure I take my Geritol.

2004-05-31T22:55:00.000-04:00

MEMORIAL DAY

Summer is upon us. Backyard barbecues. Sitting on the deck, enjoying the breeze and marveling at the warmth of the sun hitting our winter weary bodies. The smell of freshly cut grass as your neighbor mows his lawn. The sounds of kids riding their bikes, excitement in their voices because they know that summer vacation is right around the corner.

The endless possibilities that summer brings to life again in the part of our souls where optimism reigns king.

We must remember the reasons for having a Memorial Day. A person is becoming part of the reason everyday, not only in Iraq, but in the military installations around the country. Today, a raw recruit was woken up for his first day in boot camp, with the drill instructor yelling in the dark pre-dawn, and that person is wondering "What did I get myself into?"

For that young person, I hope what they got themselves into is a rewarding experience that brings them pride, honor, and a sense of accomplishment. I hope that you will have the opportunity to remember the pride and honor that you felt wearing your uniform. And also remember those who don't have that same ability.

While part of this day's purpose is solemn and sad, the other part of it is for us to enjoy the day to it's fullest. This is the thing that people also must bear in mind. If we don't make it a day to have fun and laugh and play, then what those men and women died for is lost.

They gave so we could have.

Don't refuse their gift.

"Blessed are those who can give without remembering, and take without forgetting."
-- Elizabeth Asquith Bibesco

2004-05-23T03:00:00.000-04:00

A MAY WEDDING

I attended a wedding reception today. I went because I made the promise that I would. I only knew about three or four people there, because it was work related, which is the only reason I was invited.

Things did not bode well when I arrived at the VFW hall where the reception was to be held. The power was off. The only bright spot was that the bar was serving ice water, orange juice, and beer. Three guesses as to which beverage I chose. And the first two don't count.

I mingled, a lot of "Hi, I'm Rick. I work at the same place as Tom and Jean (the parents of the bride). I sure hope that the lights come on soon."

Well, the lights did come on about 2 hours later, and the party started. Somewhat.

There were no "single" woman there. Which was fine. Surprising, but fine, none the less. I tried to talk to some of the gentlemen there, but all I got was monosyllabic answers from most of them. So, I made the rounds and left at the earliest possible moment.

Weddings do make me ponder a couple of things though. First is how much the couple is in love at that very moment.

Then, I can't help but wonder, "Do they know what they're doing?".

Because that person who seems so perfect right then, may be the 3am snore next to you in bed a few months down the road.

Was this person worth the effort you put into doing that chicken dance?

2004-05-19T00:15:00.000-04:00

Reunions

Hi,

You are invited to the Firelands High School Class of 1983 Reunion!

Want to join us for Memorial Weekend get together?
Just show up May 29th, 2004 at Church Street Bar and Grill.

Decisions, decisions.

I got this e-mail recently. At first, I thought, heck yeah, sounds like a good time. Now I am having doubts.

It's not that I don't want to see the people with whom I graduated. Nor is it that I don't want them to see me.

I'm just worried that they will be old.

I haven't attended any of the reunions so far. Not the 5 year, 10 year, 15 year, or the 20 year. The closest that I came was the 10 year pre-reunion at this same club as listed above. (It's owned by a guy in my graduating class.) But, family committments precluded me from attending the actual reunion. And the other reunions, work or the fact that I lived very far away kept me from attending them.

So, except for the occasional chance meeting, I haven't seen most of those people since graduation day. So, I don't know what to expect.

My other quandry is should I try to get a date for this thing, or go stag.

Yeah, that's what I need. A first date while I'm nervous about seeing people that I haven't seen in 21 years.

Should be good for a laugh. Or a complete melt-down.

Maybe I should just go stag.

2004-05-18T00:14:00.001-04:00

Pedius-Oraliuos

Well, it's that time of my normal cycle again. I'm developing Pedius-Oraliuos again. In laymens terms, that's foot-in-mouth disease. I get it at random intervals.

Sometimes, I will be talking to someone and I say exactly what is on my mind. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I say things that I don't want to let out, or in a way that I didn't want to say it. This is bad, because when there is a female of the women variety that I am interested in, I either come off as pushy, or as an jerk, or both. Plus, I then practice the fine art of kicking myself in the posterior repeatedly until I feel I have been sufficiently punished for saying something really dumb.

There is a certain truth to telling someone that you're interested in them romantically right out and as soon as you have figured it out. But, if you jump the gun, or say it in the wrong way, it will not work out the way that you hope it will. There is something to be said for keeping a bit of mystery about things.

But, no. Not me in my foot-in-mouth times. I just have to get weird and say things with out thinking it through. Stupid thing is, I haven't really even met the person that I am interested in now. Not in the traditional sense anyway. Cryptic, I know. But I am not tasting my tootsies right at this moment.

I wonder if I should start chewing Dr. Scholls now.

New, out of the package, of course.

2004-05-15T00:26:00.000-04:00

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

Sorry. Tension breaker. Had to be done.

You can take your hands down from over your ears now. Wait, what am I saying. I can take my hands down from over my ears now. I'm done screaming.

I am so frustrated right now. Met a seemingly nice young lady yesterday. Talked to her for a few minutes, we seemed to click a bit, and I asked her to have a drink with me. Seemed like a good plan at the time. Little did I know.

Okay, picture this. Nice little Irish pub. Table off to the side a bit. Not quite dark, but the lighting is soft. Some music, not loud, but not too low. My first thought was,"Good, she showed up". That's always a question, ya know. I walk up to her, and say "Quick, drink your drink, and let's get out of here before the guy you're with gets back". ( I know that's lame, but I was nervous, so give me a break.) That got a snicker, so I thought that the date was starting off well. I ordered a drink, an Irish car bomb, which is a Guinness with a shot of Baileys dropped in it, ala a Boilermaker. I think that there is something else in there also, but I'm getting off the story.

So, the conversation starts. We made small talk until the waitress brought my drink. And, then, WHAM. She tells me that she had been at this place with her ex-fiance. "Really" I asked jokingly, "Is he here now?" She says "No, but he brought me here after he bought me an antique sideboard at the shop a couple of blocks over." This was an indicator of things to come.

The next 35 minutes she went on and on about all the things that he had bought for her. Ad nauseum.

Next thing I knew, I had a pressing engagement to attend to. Not sure what it was yet, but I'll think of something. But, on the bright side, I met a living, breathing definition of "vapid".

At this point, I'd become a monk if the pay wasn't so low.

Wait. Monk?

Monk=no possibility of lovin'.

Forget I said that.

2004-05-13T00:24:00.000-04:00

FRIENDS

Ok, another serious post. I'll try not to make a habit of this.

What am I saying? This is mine, I can do what I want.

NEENER, NEENER

Anyhoo,

I was talking to a really great person last night, and she got me on the subject of my friends. I have to say, I have some really outstanding friends. Some that have stood by me when I have been very down and out. Some of them have been my friends for many years. Some have only been my friends for a few years. But they have all been there for me when I needed it. And I hope that I have been there for them. Lord knows that I have tried.

But, they say you can tell a lot about someone by the friends that they keep. I hope that people see the friends that I have and judge me by them. I can't say enough about them.

But, alas, I must try to say enough about them in a hundred words or less. Not a lot of space here.

I have some good friends. There are also some folks I have met on the net that may become good friends. Time will tell.

It is a rich man that can say he has true friends.

"One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible."
-- Henry Brooks Adams

But, it is possible, Hank.

2004-05-12T00:56:00.000-04:00

NICE GUYS

Well, where I was going on my last post is where I am going to attempt to go on this one. Wish me luck.

You see it all the time. Nice girl with an asshole of a guy. He treats her really badly. Sometimes I just want to pull the girl aside and tell her, "He's not gonna get any better, so cut your loses, and find a decent guy".

But I know that it wouldn't change anything. So, what's the use?

I know this though. When I'm in a relationship, I try to treat the object of my affection with respect. Golden Rule. (And that's not do unto others before they do unto you, Wisenheimers.) Flowers. Nice deeds for no reason. Surprising them in your birthday suit. Singing to them in public. Ok, some women don't like those last two. But some do.

So to all those ladies who are wondering where the nice guys are, I have one with me all the time.

I'll introduce you to him if you ask me nicely.

"Doubt of the reality of love ends by making us doubt everything."
-- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

2004-05-11T00:44:00.000-04:00

I was around a couple today that is one of those pairs where one of the people is very much in charge, and the other just goes along with everything to make the "boss" happy. I think most folks know the type I'm talking about.

I think some parts of these kinds of relationships have to do with the human psyche. The desire to have something that we can't truly possess. For most people, you telling them they can't have something makes them want it even more.

You know the deal. Person "one" puppy dogs person "second". "Second" is just nonchalant about the whole thing.

Sometimes the "second" is really a control freak, and realizes that they can control "one". So they control everything. I don't know.

I have been in situations like this on both sides of the teeter tooter. I have been the puppy dog, and the nonchalant person. When I was the nonchalant person, as soon as I figured out that the match was not what I wanted, I was honest with the girl, and ended it so that maybe she could find a guy that would be really interested in her. It's the honorable thing to do. After all, I want to be able to look at my reflection in my lime jello. You know, the jello with the grapes that aren't normal grapes?

What are those things anyhow?

Ach, whatever. I just want a lady that will be my partner. Partners trade off taking the lead. Not being the boss. Just leading when the other partner is a little unsure. And always doing what's best for the other. Even if it's inconvenient.

Or makes your arm go to sleep.

2004-05-09T23:37:00.000-04:00

Well, did something today that I haven't done in a long time.

Worked on a hotrod truck.

(Cue the Tim Allen style grunting. Cause I can't figure out how to spell it, or I would)

Man, the smell of the gas, the load roar of the engine. That used to be all that I wanted to do in life. Besides being a rock star. And a racecar driver. A famous actor. A brilliant doctor....wait....where was I?

Oh, yeah...working on the truck. I rebuilt the carb on it and was really happy that I remembered how. The thing fired right up when we put it on. So, chalk one up for me.

Now, if I could figure out how to keep a relationship running well, ya know, fixing things when I over rev it, my life would be so much easier.

Do they have an AAA for this kind of thing?

2004-05-09T23:11:00.000-04:00

Well, it is late on Mama's Day. I hope everyone at least called their Mom. Also, if you know a mom or a wife of a servicemen, do something nice for them. This is a day that is even harder on them than normal, which I know is very hard to begin with. So, if you can, try to make that persons day a bit brighter.

"You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by."
-- Sir James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937), British writer

2004-05-07T03:15:00.000-04:00

Ok, serious for a minute. Short minute.

I read something tonight that has contributed to my disillusionment in the basic premise that people treat others with respect. I won't mention here where I read it because I feel that, in a way, it would be an invasion of privacy.

It is becoming more and more apparent that treating others as a feeling being is no longer the norm, but the exception. Guys lying to women for no other reason than to build up their seemingly damaged ego. Not to mention their damaged brain. WTF dude?

I have been treated badly at times by women in my life. One of them nearly destroyed me, and who I am as a person, because I began to wonder if there was something wrong with me, and if there was, I could see no point in continuing. When you deliberately mis-lead someone in matters of the heart, you are committing one of the cruelest injuries to them that can be imagined. What you are doing is attacking their soul. The essence of that person. And then, when they do meet someone that is sincere, and honorable, they might pass that person by because they are afraid to get hurt again. Thus, you are hurting more than just one person by being a creep.

I was fortunate to have people that helped me when I was hurt like this, but it still makes me livid when I see others treated in this fashion.

I wish I could say something to these folks to help, but I'm afraid it would open wounds that are just beginning to close. But, for them, I wish peace.

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-Helen Keller

2004-05-07T00:36:00.000-04:00

Ok, little bandwidth issue.

Any pics I post will be here temporarily.

2004-05-05T21:57:00.000-04:00

May is Fungal Infection Awareness Month.

All I can say is, it's about time someone realized this is a big problem.

2004-05-05T21:49:00.000-04:00

Some people really love their pets.

2004-05-05T20:12:00.000-04:00

Now this city council is thinking.

2004-05-05T20:10:00.000-04:00

Another horrid nail gun accident. Will they never learn?

2004-05-05T01:42:00.000-04:00

I hope everybody is as excited as I am about the upcoming International Tuba Day. It's on May 7th for those who forget such important dates.

2004-05-05T01:35:00.000-04:00

Guys, if you are going to get into a fight with your lady, be careful of what you mount on you walls.

2004-05-03T02:35:00.000-04:00

OK.....whether you were interested or not...this is me.

LINK

Little less hair now, add a Fu Manchu.....but it's me.

This was about 5 years ago, so give me a break.

I'll put a more recent one on here when I either find one, or have another taken.

2004-05-02T12:16:00.000-04:00

I got this link from Dave's blog, and I made this same comment there. So, sue me, I liked it.

But, really, if it had been me making it, I would have had to make it a bobblehand doll.

He is der Gropenfuehrer.

2004-05-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

Priceless.

I love those commercials.

And making fun of them.

So do these guys.

2004-04-27T00:30:00.000-04:00

I am really bothered today, tonight, whatever it is now.

My integrity was questioned tonight. And from a person I really like and respect.

Wow.

This bothers me.

Because I have plenty of integrity.

Even when I'm hiding something, I have integrity.

So there.

2004-04-26T01:29:00.000-04:00

I'm taking the lead from alex, who's blog is in my links. I think that this is a site with good intentions, so help if you can.

2004-04-25T02:48:00.000-04:00

I don't think that I made a good impression on my blind date. She left after about an hour.

But, the night wasn't a total lose. Shot pool, did Jaeger Bombs, and generally had a good time. Got to meet some people which is always good.

So...silver linings.

Just waiting for the lightening strike now.

2004-04-21T02:59:00.000-04:00

Blind dates.

Blind dates can be a good thing and also a bad thing. They can also be a lame attempt for ratings.

I have been on a couple blind dates before. The last one I went on resulted in me getting married, and then my heart ripped out and stomped on. But this post is not about bitterness. Nor am I bitter about my divorce. These things will happen.

No, this is about blind dates themselves.

For example, I can recite the first 10 minutes of conversation of a blind date. It go pretty much along these lines......

" Hi, (insert date's name here). Nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you. (Insert matchmaker's name here) told me that (he/ she) thought it would be good for us to meet."

So, you're a (insert occupation here)? Interesting. How do you like being a (insert job title here).

That's pretty much is the way the conversation goes for the next 10 minutes.

The thing about blind dates is that they always go one of three ways.

1. You both end up being interested enough to set up a second date. ( This rarely happens.)

2. You both end up completely confused about how in the hell and all places such, your mutual friend thought that the two of you had a chance in hell of hitting it off.

3. One of the people is interested in the other, and the non-interested person thinks that the other is some form of stuff that is found on toes.

I brought this up because I was set up on a blind date for this coming Friday.

I just hope I'm not toe nail lint come Friday night.

2004-04-15T01:19:00.000-04:00

SYLLABICATION: ser·en·dip·i·ty
PRONUNCIATION: srn-dp-t
NOUN: Inflected forms: pl. ser·en·dip·i·ties
1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. 2. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries. 3. An instance of making such a discovery.

Serendipity. Serendipity. Serendipity.

This is a cool word. I think that I have been waiting for serendipity for most of my life. 'Specially when it comes to relationships. I always think when starting a relationship:" This might be the one." It has never turned out to be true. To paraphrase Toad the Wet Sprocket," Something's always wrong". Me, her, her mother's sister's aunt. There is always a wrench in the works. Many times I don't figure this out till I'm wearing the wreckage of the relationship like a dumped bowl of spaghetti on my head.

Well, Serendipity...come on...I'm waiting......still waiting........um, still here.

Listen, I can wear a weird hat if it'll help you spot me. Leave me a voice mail with a place I can meet you if your schedule is too full. E-mail me a web link?.......eh?........

Sigh.

Well, ya know where I am if you have something for me. Just leave it by the door if I'm not there. Unless you need a signature.....

2004-04-14T00:40:00.000-04:00

I just realized something.

I'm a sucker for a pretty face and a sweet smile. 'Specially if the person that they are attached to is a nice person. 'Specially times two since I am single at this moment.

I am referring to something I did today for a very pretty and sweet girl. Suffice it to say it was something that I know that I wouldn't have done for a guy. And no, get your mind out of the gutter...it wasn't anything like that.

Sometimes you just have to follow your heart.

Even if it leads you somewhere you know that you shouldn't be.

2004-04-11T15:02:00.000-04:00

This was not my first thoughts were of when I read the term "cornhole".

2004-04-08T02:19:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to learn more about posting and linking stuff by keeping this blog. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Another reason that I am doing this is because I am a dork by nature, and this may be a good outlet for some of the goofy stuff in my head. Maybe get some of my comedic timing honed. Yeah...thats it......have my wit razor sharp.

Cause right now, according to some folks in authority, my wit's as sharp as a yam.

2004-04-08T00:58:00.000-04:00

I love it when you find out about healthy activities that are also lots of fun.

I just might live forever.

2004-04-07T13:17:00.000-04:00

Ok, having image problems.

I'm also having problems posting pictures on this thing too.

2004-04-07T02:22:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in a couple of days due to moving and my computer acting up after the move. I would like to say that I have stored up some really good posts, but if I did I'd be lying.

You'll just have to deal with it. Bleh.

One thing about moving. You never realize that you have so much crap until you have to move it. I got up Sunday, and thought that I'd be done in 4 hours at the most.

9 hours later I was......that was a day in my life I will never get back, damnit. That erks me.

Little lesson from your Uncle Graz.

You don't need that much crap.

Unless it's really neat electronic stuff...or goes fast.....or makes a lot of noise..... or looks cool....

2004-04-03T20:06:00.000-05:00

OK, added comments to this thing.

Flame away!

Or, feel free to stroke my ummm.....ego....ego....ego, damn it!

2004-04-03T19:18:00.000-05:00

Ok, I've been busy for a few days. I would say that I haven't had time to post anything, but really I have . I've just been spending too much time at Dave's blog to come here and post. Priorities. And partying.

You just have to enjoy what you have . Don't sweat the small stuff. Remember, what you get for a long life is old.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present!

Now if I could just find out where to exchange these gifts........

2004-04-01T01:44:00.000-05:00

Inspirational thought of the day: Take time to notice the little things. The sun shining in your window at the start of spring, the sound of kid's laughter while they're playing, the smell of your shirt right after it comes out of the dryer, a bikini on a lovely young lady.......sorry about that last one......wait a minute, no I'm not....hey, it's my inspiration I'm talkin' here!

Yeah, Bikinis......

2004-04-01T00:49:00.000-05:00

Have you ever met someone that just strikes something in you, and you think; " Ya know, if I asked her out, we'd probably hit it off."? Well I know a girl like that. But, in the present situation, there is not much of a chance that I can ask her out. It's kinda related to my real job. I look at her and talk to her, and notice that there seems to be something there?? I don't know, but I do abruptly stop talking to her at times, because if I don't, I will ask her out. That would be ok, but there is the work thing, and the way the harassment situation is, it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

So, until the situation changes in some form or fashion, I'll just smile and speak of pleasantries while talking to her. And try not to stare at her like some sort of stalker. There is a fine line between admiring from afar, and being a sick perverted oogler.

Hope that I haven't crossed that line yet.

Meh.... I could wax romantically poetic here, but I won't. I'll just continue to wax sarcastically frenetic.

2004-03-30T04:36:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, yes. Another day dawns. As you may have noticed, I don't sleep much. But, that is for another time.

I was out this (last?) evening in an establishment that can be best described in the terms of 'Meat Market'. Whilst I was enjoying an adult beverage, I noticed a comely young lady looking at me with what I thought was a 'come hither' look. SO, being the gentleman that I am, I came hither. Smiling brightly. And thinking of my most charming opening phrase, I asked her her name. Much to my chagrin, she said "But you already know my name, and I know your girlfriend".

At that point I tried to explain that I was now single, and that I was interested in her.

At that point she went on about how she thought that my ex-girlfriend and I were what she thought was the perfect couple.

Needless to say, I made a hasty retreat.

Just goes to show you that what you may think is an invitation to heaven, may be an invitation to revisit hell. You just gotta check the R.S.V.P. address at the bottom of the card to determine the difference.