tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63309782024-03-12T19:19:47.112-07:00The Amazing Siper-Mans™The Unpredictable Adventures of Brian BridgesSir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.comBlogger1069125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-14904038367843524332017-03-01T18:59:00.001-08:002017-03-01T18:59:11.153-08:00Lanny was a bastard.A man in my hometown died this week and a lot of people are saying he was a legend and giving him high praise. The man's name was Lanny. His death makes me wonder if other people knew a different Lanny than me, because in my experience, Lanny was a bastard. I wanted to post this on Facebook, but I figured it was a bad idea, since his family members and friends (if he truly had any) might see it and find it offensive. But I've got to get it out of my system, because I'm genuinely a bit upset, thinking about it all.<br />
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Lanny used to stay at our hotel because he was allegedly friends with the General Manager at the time. He always expected our biggest suite for free because of that reason, and he was always a pain to deal with.<br />
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Eventually, I became the GM of the hotel, and sure enough, along came Lanny. But there was a new sheriff in town and this sheriff was NOT about to give him our executive suite for free. Lanny settled on a regular room with a discounted rate. During his time with us, he brought in a bunch of his horrid children, and they made the weekend a nightmare. Here are some of the things they did just off the top of my head. There may have been more that I've forgotten, since this was a couple years ago.<br />
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They made a mess in the pool room, (we even found a muffin in the filter,) they argued with other guests, we got multiple noise complaints about their room, there was puke on the bed, a cigarette hole burned through the bed sheets (in their non-smoking room), the room itself was trashed, they hoarded way too much breakfast food, left a mess in the breakfast room, Lanny himself stayed in there way after its closing time, and finally, when I'd had enough, I asked him to leave and he never paid his bill. I said this man may never stay in our hotel again, and I put him on the 86'd list. He was unquestionably one of the worst guests I ever had.<br />
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The text of his gofundme page to help support his family doesn't say much about him other than that he was a legend, he helped people, he had a lot of charisma, and he could "make anyone feel like [they] were his best friend." I want to say that making people FEEL like they're his best friend is not the same as being a best friend. That is just called shmoozing, or "how to win friends and influence people" (which he failed to do with me), in order to get stuff he wanted. It's not a quality, it's a weapon.<br /><br />Maybe he did help people. And maybe there was a side to him that I never got to see. My question is why? Why didn't I get to see it? Why did I have to watch him be a bastard and take advantage of me and my staff? I suppose somehow I will have to forgive the man, even after his death. And to those who knew him and are giving him high praise, perhaps you knew him differently, I don't know. But my message is this. In your time on this Earth and in your interactions with other people: Don't be like Lanny. Don't be a bastard. Treat people with kindness and respect. And don't do it to gain something in return or to ask favors like a free executive suite that you can trash. Do it for real, expecting nothing in return. That is how you can make best friends. Not make people FEEL like they're your best friend.<br /><br />My apologies to anyone who may happen to stumble upon this and disagree with me. But that was my experience and I am going to try to treat people better than Lanny treated me. When I die, I really don't want to be remembered the way I remember him, and it does honestly break my heart that he didn't leave a better impression for me while he was alive. It's a shame. If anyone has any better stories about the man, or any redemptive qualities, I would be happy to hear them. Surely he had a good side? I'm sad that I never got to see it.Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-87093778808778358662016-10-26T20:53:00.000-07:002016-10-26T20:53:10.984-07:00My Grandpa BobI had a conversation with my Grandpa Bob, this evening, about his time in the Navy during World War II. He was a junior in high school at the time, and he got his A-1 draft notice, so he and his friends decided to join the Navy rather than get sent off to Germany or someplace.<br />
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He got through the various stages of training camps and ended up on the coast of Louisiana I believe? He said it was terribly hot with endless mosquitoes, and then every day around 4pm, there would be sheets of heavy rain like you wouldn't believe.<br />
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Eventually, he was shipped out to Perry Island, which I believe is now Sarushima, Japan? Their luggage, however, was accidentally sent somewhere else, so they were left with just their carry bags. The island stationed people who were fleet replacements, and some of the guys had been waiting there for a year and a half, hoping a boat would come by and take them somewhere. He said it was very boring. They walked around, looked for seashells, and went swimming a lot, because there just wasn't anything to do there. It was only 14 feet above sea level, so some of the guys made jokes about tidal waves coming in and wiping them all out.<br />
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After that, he happened to make it onto a ship and went to Okinawa, Japan. The place they landed was the aftermath of a battlefield. One of the first things he saw was a couple of dead bodies that were rotting and had ribs sticking out. He said the smell of the place was unbelievable. It reminded him of a time when he was a kid and he used to walk to school. There was a farmer whose cow had died and was left lying there. So every time they walked to school, they smelled that rotting cow along the way.<br />
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There was a place there that had several tombs where the Japanese buried people. They had opened some of them up and mounted some guns in there so they could look out and shoot at the enemy. Grandpa Bob's brother-in-law was one of the men on a ship that had to fire back at them, and he said when they would fire into the tomb and there was the explosion, you could see the bodies of the Japanese people flying through the air like tiny rag dolls. The other thing my grandpa noted about the place is that there was ammunition littered all over the ground. Even live grenades. He assumes gear got too heavy so soldiers began shedding it as they went.<br />
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At one point they found a shelter that was covered in rubble and he found a Japanese bayonet that was stuck in the ground. A vehicle had come down carrying some American soldiers who had stumbled upon a booby trap and they were injured. One of the guys had some string with him, so Granpda Bob tied it to the bayonet and used that to pull it out of the ground from a distance, just in case it, too, was booby trapped. It wasn't, so he got himself a nice souvenir. He carried it for a long time until, unfortunately, his bag got x-rayed later at a checking point, and they confiscated it from him. I guess they weren't supposed to bring weapons home.<br />
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After that, they were shipped to Manila, in the Philippines. When they arrived, the town had been destroyed. The Japanese had wiped them out. The civilians there had all moved up into the hills. He said they were so hungry and the kids were all skinny with distended stomachs. He was certain they had to have parents somewhere, but the kids were all running around like they didn't belong to anybody. He said there was a civilian man who picked one of them up and pleaded in poor English grammar, something to the effect of, "Joe, please help us, you see my kids is hungry." My Grandpa Bob believed it to be some random kid, but the people were so desperate they would try anything. He said there were pesos and paper money scattered all over the ground. The Japanese had flown over and dumped them by the bundles because the Filipino economy was ruined and all the money was worthless to them now. My grandpa picked some of it up as a souvenir as well, but it, too, was lost somewhere along the way.<br />
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After that, they traveled on a flat bottom ship to the Subic Bay. Along the way, they saw a lot of monkeys and exotic animals. They had several petrified potatoes on-board the ship, so they threw them at the monkeys because... Well, because that's what young guys do, they like to throw things.<br />
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My memory is a little hazy about this part, but I believe this is when they rescued some Chinese soldiers and took them aboard the ship. There were a whole bunch of them in a ship about as expansive as a football field. Unfortunately, with its flat bottom on the wavy sea, it was so rough, that all the Chinese men got seasick and they ended up having to hose them all down and the whole floor, because there was so much vomit in there.<br />
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Eventually, they ended up sailing back home through Pearl Harbor. There were 13 of their ships sailing together in the fleet, and he said the worst part was when the storms hit. It would be daytime, but when they entered into the storm, it would be as black as night. The waves were 30 feet high, and he said it was like riding up and down hills the whole way. The worst place to be was up in the conning tower. He said you knew you were entering a storm when the ship would rock so violently that all the pots and pans in the galley would come crashing to the floor and get strewn out into the hallway, and the cook would be so mad, trying to gather them all back up.<br />
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On the topic of the ship's cook, my grandpa said it was a lousy job. They would have to be up at 4am, preparing to feed all the men. They would eat beans in the morning. He said one time, the cook had made these beans the night before, and he woke up that morning and set them out for the men when they would come in. Unfortunately, the electrician on board had messed with the wiring and somehow managed to reverse the polarity of the fan in the range hood, so rather than sucking up air through the vent, it blew it out. The cook turned it on, and it blew all the dust and debris from the vents out onto the beans and all into the kitchen. Grandpa said the cook had a temper, and he was so angry that he began punching a metal screen until his knuckles were bleeding.<br />
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Funny thing about the mess deck is, for some reason, the tables were designed to slide with the rocking of the waves. They were hooked to a spring, so they would slide over and the spring would pull them back. So the sailors would be sitting on the benches, which were fastened down, but then their table would slide out and they would have to hold onto their trays until the table came back to its position.<br />
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Over all, the war was a terrible experience at times, but he says he was fortunate that he never had to get into the heat of it. Most of the places he visited had already seen their fighting, and he only witnessed the aftermath.<br />
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This isn't a super high quality photo, but this is my Grandpa at a reunion with his shipmates. He's on the right in the navy blue polo and my Grandma Trudy is in the pink behind him.<br />
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<br />Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-37261752715289646512016-09-29T20:37:00.000-07:002016-09-29T20:38:51.375-07:00Divorce Is The WorstIt's easy to act like my marriage is in the past, but sometimes I wonder if it will ever stop haunting me. A recent relationship crash brought about an awareness that I am still highly affected by the loss of my wife. And since that time, I have been plagued by reminders, particularly in these last few weeks.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-SiuoHlqVY/V-3cPBkUGZI/AAAAAAAAnNA/mpJQ56vcTe0_ZKywN81sfuPgomzrB-GKQCK4B/s1600/dark_house_by_gothikaradium-d3hsaxt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-SiuoHlqVY/V-3cPBkUGZI/AAAAAAAAnNA/mpJQ56vcTe0_ZKywN81sfuPgomzrB-GKQCK4B/s200/dark_house_by_gothikaradium-d3hsaxt.jpg" width="200" /></a>This year I had to move out of the house we lived in, with the hopes of escaping some of the depression that loomed there. Way too many memories. But the process of moving required me to dig through a lot of old stuff, which wasn't a fun time. Even though I live in a new city now, I still get super depressed if I stay in that house for too long, when I'm visiting or working.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxPQylEhSCI/V-3b_WgWODI/AAAAAAAAnM4/UCOP37hvgvkVDgvx2dN8-n_j4JHoD6engCK4B/s1600/CthR54IXYAAFVvq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxPQylEhSCI/V-3b_WgWODI/AAAAAAAAnM4/UCOP37hvgvkVDgvx2dN8-n_j4JHoD6engCK4B/s200/CthR54IXYAAFVvq.jpg" width="200" /></a>More recently, Netflix announced that a new Gilmore Girls season was in the works and would be released this year. That, paired with stumbling upon every Gilmore Girls DVD set when I was packing up, unearthed a lot of memories, because Gerie was <i>extremely</i> into the GG show for the longest time. I've probably seen every episode 10 times, whether I wanted to or not, just because she liked to have it playing in the background while she worked around the house.<br />
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Then I found out she had recently replied to an old email from my sister-in-law last month, out of the blue, because she'd been going through old emails apparently, and for some reason decided to reply after three years.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq-ndoZ5Yis/V-3df8B8KuI/AAAAAAAAnNc/-EdhnAQni08FCtAf3RrTDPa4s4MCKiO2ACK4B/s1600/ace_cow_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq-ndoZ5Yis/V-3df8B8KuI/AAAAAAAAnNc/-EdhnAQni08FCtAf3RrTDPa4s4MCKiO2ACK4B/s200/ace_cow_s.jpg" width="200" /></a>And then my dog got out, and she contacted me again because her phone number was still on his collar and somebody had called her about it.<br />
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Then last night I happened upon a movie I hadn't seen in ages, which had strong emotional ties to my marriage, and that brought back a lot of memories.<br />
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Also last night, I had a vivid dream about getting back together with Gerie, because apparently in the dream, she hadn't married somebody else. And I awoke rather distraught.<br />
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Then today I stumbled upon a short film that, when I watched it, reminded me of what my whole marriage had felt like with surprising accuracy. Maybe I was reading into it, but nevertheless...<br />
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That's a lot of stuff to get hit with this year, after thinking it was all behind me. It would feel good if I could say everything was with great purpose and all these chaotic memories were resurfacing for a reason. But it's frustrating to think it's more likely just several painful coincidences and none of it means anything.<br />
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I am still grateful we don't have to share custody of children. I don't know how people cope with that. It sounds like more than I could bear. Divorce is the worst, man.<br />
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<br />Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-68808553381327163252015-07-06T23:37:00.003-07:002015-07-06T23:37:24.257-07:00Nothing New Under The Sun<a href="https://asktheblindpastor.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/hands-reaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://asktheblindpastor.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/hands-reaching.jpg" /></a>I've never asked a girl out. Most everything I've done in my life, in regards to socializing, has been passive, reluctant, apathetic, or any other such adjectives that aren't synonymous with putting myself out there.<br />
<br />I dated a girl for a year when I was about twenty years old. But we met through a church event and the way we began hanging out together was through other friends of ours. I never directly asked her.<br /><br />I had a couple long distance female friends with whom I talked online, but nothing came of it. It was just long distance conversing.<br /><br />Eventually I got married, but even that girl was one with whom I worked, and I never actually "asked" her out. She bailed on me a couple years ago, which was very sad.<br /><br />Afterwards, I was determined to be done with it all until I happened upon a girl who knocked all my walls down. It's not that I was opposed to the idea of another girl in my life, I just didn't see how it could be a good decision. But she thwarted all the arguments I'd made with myself. Everything I had feared about ever having a relationship again was put to rest.<br /><br />So for the first time in my 28 years on this planet, I directly extended an invitation to her. I feel it's safe to say, it was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I mean, I knew I had insecurities, but they've never been so apparent as when I made this offer. It was terrifying.<br /><br />I'm not so concerned about rejection. I've been shut down and had girls walk out on me enough times in my life that I've grown accustomed to it. It's mostly fear that she might not like me and be put in the tough spot of either politely telling me no or else saying yes and hating every moment of it. And I know how awkward it is to be in that spot. I've had girls ask me out when I really wasn't interested. It's an unpleasant position to be in and it pains me to think I may have put her there. But I have no idea how to let her know I would enjoy hanging out with her, other than to set the offer on the table.<br /><br />Anyway, it's done now. No take-backsies. Yes, it could blow up in our faces. But it could also mean we'll have a lot of fun. Can't know unless we take the plunge.<br /><br />And thus ends a post about the same experience all people have struggled with since the beginning of time. I'm just a people having a hard time with typical people things. But onward we march, regardless of the trials.<br /><br />That's all.<br />
<br />Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-40838607644585911872013-12-06T02:34:00.000-08:002015-07-06T23:38:52.900-07:00Google Cam Cinema<a href="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/google-maps-grand-canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/google-maps-grand-canyon.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a>What if you made an interactive short film with a Google Street View style camera, where the viewer could freely look around through the entire movie. It would be like one of the cut scenes from Metal Gear 4 where you can drive the little robot cam around as the guys in the station have a conversation. Except this would be live action.<br />
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You would have to have one man on camera, and all the mics would need to be internalized somehow, so no boom operators. No crew of any kind, really, since all angles need to be visible. The director would probably have to be the camera man.<br />
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Obviously the cinematography would be limited, and mostly left up to the viewer. You could cut between shots and scenes, and even camera placement, but angles would be in the audience' hands. For the sake of avoiding disorientation, it would probably be best to have one continuous camera shot per scene.<br />
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The camera, of course, would have to shoot video and link every angle in every frame together pretty seamlessly for looking around. It might take quite a bit of processing power to stream it all at once. And you would need some type of software to run it, with controls for looking around, for playing, pausing, stopping, rewinding, and fast-forwarding, etc. It would also probably need a pre-recorded auto-pilot mode that looks around for the audience, if nobody wants to control the camera.<br />
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It's likely too much work with too little reward right now, but maybe someday.<br />
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Edit: Wow, it's actually happened. Not a feature film, but the camera does exist!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zU95-wX0xJo" width="560"></iframe>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-91644029616625344692013-11-20T03:19:00.000-08:002013-11-20T03:19:07.438-08:00Characters vs. ActorsDo you ever see characters in TV or movies that you really like, but when you see interviews of the actor or see them play other roles, it kind of ruins it for you?<br />
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<a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131101085427/marvelmovies/images/thumb/6/62/Thor_DarkW.jpg/1024px-Thor_DarkW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131101085427/marvelmovies/images/thumb/6/62/Thor_DarkW.jpg/1024px-Thor_DarkW.jpg" width="320" /></a>For example, I really like Chris Hemsworth playing Thor. The beard, the hair, the voice, the mannerisms--but when I see him in other roles, I get rather bored with it. I can't take him as seriously. I think it's due, in part, to the fact that he looks like a college student. Thor looks like he wants to rule a kingdom. Hemsworth looks like he wants to attend a frat party.<br />
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This one is pretty obvious, but I found Ledger's characterization of The Joker to be much more fascinating than any of his other roles. The Joker had such a charm and twisted charisma that he made Ledger's other performances bland by comparison.<br />
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The role of the 10th Doctor gave David Tennant so much freedom to take what I think is his own natural personality, and magnify it to almost caricature-like levels of himself. He was allowed to switch fluidly between his goofball delightfulness and his doomed-Earth seriousness at any given moment. His hair had a mind of its own. His fashion style was silly yet debonair. To me, seeing Tennant in his other roles is like watching watered-down versions of the Doctor.<br />
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I don't actually mind Rainn Wilson as an actor or as himself--but it feels, to me, like Dwight Schrute has far more depth to his personality than Wilson has. There are so many absurd levels of Schrute, from his nerdiness, to his dedication to agriculture and tradition, to his delusions of grandeur with karate, police work, protocols and love-making, and even to his day-to-day cartoonish antics. Rainn Wilson is an intelligent level-headed guy, but Dwight Schrute is an entire complex and interesting world of personality.<br />
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This, I believe, is what actors should be about. Inventing characters that people <i>want</i> to watch. Even if a story is bland, solid characters really help to give it some life. But even an awesome story can be ruined by bad to mediocre characterization.Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-38749524140974389282013-11-18T02:46:00.001-08:002013-11-18T02:46:05.562-08:00"Clouds" by As Cities Burn<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-L9o_E3xPH8" width="560"></iframe>
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Is your love really Love?<br />
Is my love really Love?<br />
I think our love isn't Love,<br />
Unless it's Love to the end.<br />
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Is your god really God?<br />
Is my god really God?<br />
I think our god isn't God, <br />
If he fits inside our heads. Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-4447478665584773652013-04-24T02:19:00.003-07:002013-04-24T02:24:17.036-07:00<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-7b7c73ad-3b56-0cc6-2e46-24dc97b97fe1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stranger Danger</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By Brian Bridges</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 1</span></div>
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The company’s New Years Eve party was in full swing. Jack had never
felt better. It was as if his life was finally taking a positive turn.
Up until now, things hadn’t been in his favour. Adopted by abusive
parents, out on his own by the age of 16, no known family anywhere, and
anybody he considered to be friends had come and gone, usually taking a
piece of him each time. It wasn’t until he got hired on with this
company that he met some people who truly seemed to care about him.
Honest people who were not just looking out for themselves. Being around
them gave him a sense of security and made him feel like he was a part
of something. It was a welcome change from his lonely and isolated past.
A welcome change indeed...</span></div>
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“Jack, catch!” Jack looked up to see his co-worker, William, tossing a
peanut his way. Instinctively Jack went to catch it in his mouth, but it
hit him in the cheekbone and bounced under a chair. The group laughed
and William tossed one to the next person. William was studying to be a
psych major. He insisted his name only be pronounced William, rather
than Will or Bill, because William sounded more professional. He wanted
people to take him seriously when he took on his career in psychology.
He was also Jack’s new closest friend. William and Jack had just clicked
when Jack started working with him, and it wasn’t long before they were
hanging out on weekends, playing video games or playing pool at the
local sports bars. </span></div>
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“Mind if I sit down?” Jack looked up again. It was Miss Melody Belle
Leary. Jack’s heart skipped, “Hey! Yeah, sure! When did you get here?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Just now. Have I missed anything?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Nothing yet,” Jack smiled.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Careful, Jack,” William cut in, “She’s quite a catch! I hope you have
better luck with her than you do with peanuts!” A few people laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Peanuts?” Melody gave Jack a smiling quizzical glance. Jack was embarrassed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Hah. It’s nothing. How are you?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Melody Belle Leary started working at the company about the same time
as Jack. She was, he believed, the prettiest girl he had ever met. Over
the course of their working together, they had gone on a couple outings
with co-workers, but Jack hadn’t worked up the courage, yet, to ask her
out on an official date. However, he had been planning it for a week
now, and told himself tonight would be the night. ...Maybe.</span></div>
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As the evening went on, the co-workers played games, watched some TV,
ate food, and did all the usual party activities. The countdown
eventually began and the corks flew at midnight. Jack felt like he
finally had a real family.</span></div>
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It wasn’t until around 1:00am that people started leaving. Jack and
Melody were walking to their cars and with one deep breath, he summoned
up all of his courage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “See you later, Melody!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Yeah, later, Jack!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“...Hey! Erm--actually--so are you doing anything tomorrow night? Or I
guess tonight, technically? The night of January 1st?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Melody smiled, “Nope, no plans. Why?”</span></div>
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Jack tried to keep his voice from wavering, “I don’t know. Do you wanna
do something? Dinner maybe? I know Brad, the manager at Amedeo’s
Italian Cuisine. If you like Italian, that is. Yeah? No?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Melody showed no sign of hesitation, which was a relief, “Yeah! Yeah, that’d be fun.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Cool. When would you like to meet?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Whenever. Just text me.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Okay,” Jack started walking backwards to his car, and gave a wave, “I’ll see you then, then!”</span></div>
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“Yeah, see you then!” Melody waved back, and each turned to go their
separate ways. Jack smiled and made a joyful hop off the curb before
getting in his car.</span></div>
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The thoughts of Melody and dinner that night were the only things that
kept his mood up driving home. The night sky was a hazy gray, with no
stars, no moon. The air was thick with fog and cold as ice. This was the
part Jack hated most. Leaving his friends--his family--behind. It was
always hard. Even leaving work each day was a challenge. His life alone
at home was dreary. His neighborhood was sketchy. His house was run
down. There was little or nothing to look forward to at the end of each
day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jack let out a sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You look nice!” Jack said, greeting Melody at the restaurant. It was an understatement. She looked amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Thanks!
You too.” She said, stepping up onto the sidewalk in her green dress
and tan jacket. Her arms were clasped together, purse in one hand, and
she let out a shiver. Jack was quick to open the door for her.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ve never been here!” She said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“It’s one of my favourite places. I come here at least every other week, I think.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jack led the way up to the bar counter, ignoring the, “Wait to be seated” sign.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“There’s Mac,” He said, then hollered out to the man behind the
counter, above the noise of the crowd, “Hey Mac!” The tall bald man
stood upright and turned around to face them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Oh...” Jack stammered, “Sorry--I thought you were someone else!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“No worries.” The man said. Jack felt a little silly now. The man
looked just like his usual bartender from behind. Jack tried to steer
around the awkward moment, “Would you like to sit at a booth? That’s
probably best, huh?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Sure, yeah,” Melody smiled, “Whatever you want is fine.”</span></div>
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Jack waited for a greeter to approach and let her direct them to an
empty booth. When their waitress finally came he said, “Hey, are Brad or
Mac working tonight?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The waitress replied, “Uhh--Sorry, who?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Brad? The manager?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Oh. Sorry, I don’t know. Umm--I’m kind of new here. Would you like me to find out for you?”</span></div>
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“No, no. It’s fine. He usually gives me a discount, but it’s no big
deal.” Again, Jack felt silly. They placed their orders and began
talking about work, and recapping the New Year’s party, and eventually
got into more personal things such as their likes and dislikes, hobbies,
and amusing anecdotes. Jack was just starting to feel like the date was
going well when he suddenly knocked over his drink. It ran across the
table and right into Melody’s lap! She let escape a suppressed scream
and quickly moved to the very edge of the booth’s seat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Whoa!” Jack exclaimed, frantically looking for a solution, “I’m so sorry!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“It’s fine,” Melody said, reassuringly. They managed to get it all
dabbed up and resume their evening, but by this time Jack felt so
embarrassed and insecure, he could scarcely enjoy himself. It was one of
the only times he looked </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">forward</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
to going home. Here he was, trying to make a good impression, trying to
show her he had connections, trying to be a cool guy. Instead, he had
mistaken a stranger, made himself look like a cheapskate, and also come
across as a clutz. Awesome. What a wonderful first date.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> They finally left and Jack sulked all the way home.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 3</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
It was a new day. Perhaps a second chance. Jack’s spirits had risen
from the night before. Things would get better from here.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He
had gotten up early but still managed to be a couple minutes late for
work. Fortunately he didn’t have to open that morning. He walked inside
and made his way to his desk.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Morning, Paul.” He said to the man in the lobby as he passed by. The man turned to look at him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Excuse me?” He said politely. Jack jumped.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Sorry! I thought you were my co-worker.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Sure, maybe if you worked here.” The man replied.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack was a little confused and just assumed it was a joke. He gave a
polite laugh as he walked into the back room. What on Earth? What a
strange coincidence, to have this happen twice in less than 24 hours.
This man, too, looked just like his co-worker from behind. The face also
had a similar resemblance, but it was off. It was not as symmetrical as
Paul’s.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“What’s up, McJackerson!” William said as Jack walked over to his desk.
It was ironic that William called everybody by nicknames since he
insisted they use his full name.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “How was the d-a-t-e?” He spelled out each letter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Kill me.” Jack said, “Just get it over with.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “That good, huh?” William grinned.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “That good. It was humiliating.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “What happened?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack let himself drop bonelessly into his office chair, “I went in
trying to be date savvy, and came across as awkward, a cheapskate, and a
clutz.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Ouch.” William grimaced, “I told you it was too early. You’ve gotta
build up some self-confidence first, man! You’re so down on yourself all
the time, and looking for fulfillment in a girl isn’t the answer.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Sometimes William’s studying to be a psych major made him annoying. Not
really. But he did tend to give out lots of advice as to how people
should behave and what was wrong with them--even if they never asked his
opinion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I know,” Jack said, “And I think you ought to diagnose yourself for
once and realize you’re crazy. A girl like this comes once in a
lifetime, and I’m not going to lose her just to ‘figure out who I am’.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Suit yourself,” William said, “But don’t say I didn’t warn you! I
think you should just let her go, swear off girls for a while, and
decide what you want to do with your life.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack let the conversation end there, and turned to get some work done.
William was fun to hang out with, but when it came to girls, he was kind
of a killjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack didn’t talk to Melody that day, since work was very busy for some
reason. It was unexpected so soon after the New Year. The other odd
thing was Jack kept seeing that man around the workplace, the one who
looked like Paul. Was he really working there? Why hadn’t anybody
mentioned it? In all the busyness, Jack didn’t remember to ask about it,
but he wondered on the way home that afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
He sulked again on the gloomy drive back to his house. William’s advice
on letting go of Melody just made him grumpy. This was supposed to have
been a good day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 4</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Since
his contact with Melody was null that day, he decided to call her up
after dinner. He was still in a dull mood from the date and his
conversation with William. Melody’s voice appeared on the other line,
“Hello?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey, it’s Jack.” He said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey, Jack. What’s up?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Nothing much. We didn’t get to talk today and I just thought I’d see how you were.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh, uhh--I’m fine. How are you?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fine,” Jack said with a sigh, “I’m bummed that I made last night kind of lame.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What? You didn’t have a good time?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah, I did, I just--I don’t know. It was a little embarrassing, I guess.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Melody laughed, “Oh, you mean the drink? Don’t worry about it, it was an accident!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I still feel dumb.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What
can we do to cheer you up?” Melody asked, “Do you want to come over?
Maybe we can make up for last night. We could watch a movie or
something?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Suddenly Jack’s mood brightened, “For real? Yeah! I mean, sure, that’d be great!”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay, just give me like twenty minutes to get ready. Do you want to just watch something on streaming, or rent a movie?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Whatever, streaming I guess.” Jack didn’t want to waste any time running errands.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Cool, I’ll see you in a bit.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay, see you.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Twenty minutes felt more like an hour to Jack. He quickly grabbed his
things and jumped in the car. He had been to Melody’s house once before
when he gave her a lift to work, since her car had been in the shop. It
was only about five or six minutes from where he lived.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Upon his arrival, he dashed up the stairs to her apartment and gave a
couple knocks on the door. There was no answer. He rang the doorbell.
Footsteps sounded inside. The door opened and Jack was very surprised to
see a young lady wearing pajamas. She looked similar to Melody but not
nearly as pretty.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “May I help you?” The lady asked.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Uhh--” Jack gave a glance past her into the house, “Is Melody here?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Who?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Melody? She invited me over to watch a movie?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m sorry,” The lady said, “You must have the wrong place.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jack gave her a confused look, “Umm--I don’t think so. Apartment 23, right? I’ve picked her up for work from here.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m sorry,” The lady said again, “There is no Melody that lives here.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack pulled out his phone, “Hold on, let me call her real quick...” He
quickly navigated to her name in the recent calls list and hit send.
There was a pause and he heard the dial tone. Suddenly a ringtone
sounded from the pocket of the lady’s pajamas! She pulled her phone out
and answered it. Jack heard her voice say hello two times, once in front
of him, and once through the receiver of his phone.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Uhh--” Jack stammered again, “Why do you have Melody’s phone?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
The lady, hearing his voice both in person and through her own
receiver, looked up at him with a surprised and hostile expression, “Is
this a joke? How did you get my number?” She said.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “This isn’t your number, it’s Melody’s. I just talked to her like twenty minutes ago.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The lady backed up a ways and said, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jack stepped forward to glance in through the doorway and said in a raised voice, “Melody? Real funny, Mel!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Sir, leave now, or I’m calling the police.” The lady shut the door in
his face. Jack stood there speechless and confused. Was it a practical
joke? It had to be...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
He waited around for quite some time until he got too cold and went to
his car. Another 15 minutes and he decided to give it up and go home. If
it was a practical joke, he wasn’t laughing.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 5</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Any annoyance Jack had with William was gone. Right now he was his best
friend and Jack needed to make sense out of things. Maybe they could go
out for late-night beers and drink away this crappy day. It was already
late, but Jack didn’t care. William probably wasn’t in bed anyway. He
slumped onto the couch and scrolled through his contacts. Reaching
William’s name, he hit send.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> A voice sounded on the other end, “Hello?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Dude, so the weirdest thing just happened. I called Melody since it
was so busy today and we didn’t get a chance to talk--And she asked if I
wanted to come over and see a movie. So I...”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The voice on the other end cut him off, “I’m sorry, who am I speaking to?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack held his phone up in front of him and checked the contact. It was
William’s name and photo. He put the phone back to his ear and said,
“It’s Jack.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m sorry?” The voice said, “Jack who?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Jack Small. Did you lose your phone contacts?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m sorry, I do not know a Jack Small. You have the wrong number.” The voice said and hung up.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack sat there, bewildered at first, and then annoyed. Why would they
plan to do this? It was a dumb joke. What, were they in high school now
or something? He called William back. The same voice answered, “Hello?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It’s not funny anymore, dude.” Jack said, “Sorry, but I’m just not in the mood right now.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Who is this?” The voice said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It’s your mother! Just hand William the phone already!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Please stop calling me,” Said the voice, and hung up again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack gave up. It wasn’t worth it. If they wanted to play stupid games,
he wouldn’t give them the pleasure of his cooperation. He tossed his
phone down, got up, and went to bed.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 6</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
The next morning, Jack was determined to have a better day! ...After he
told off his co-workers for their lame prank, that is. He got in his
car and drove to work. The sky was bluer this morning than it had been
all week. There were even some puffy clouds, which was unusual for
Winter in the city. It was still cold, but the colour seemed to give at
least a bit of cheer to the day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack parked his car in his usual spot and got out. He went through the
employee door and rounded the corner. He was about to greet the
secretary, Linda, when he abruptly froze. It wasn’t her. This new woman
had the same colour hair, and same style clothing, but the face was
wrong, just as with the other mistaken identities he’d seen lately.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “What--is going on?” Jack said, staring at her.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “May I help you?” The woman asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Where’s Linda?” Jack replied, still frozen in place.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Who?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Linda! The secretary!” Jack was growing impatient with this whole thing--and admittedly a little frightened.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m sorry, there’s no Linda here. Are you sure you’re at the right place?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Yes, I’m sure I’m at the right place!” Jack said and stormed past her
into the back room. He heard her protests calling behind him that, “He
wasn’t allowed back there.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
As he proceeded to his desk, he looked around and was stopped, yet
again. Where was everybody? Every single person in the back room
resembled one of his co-workers, but they were all different people.
“Okay!” Jack finally shouted into the air, directing his remarks to no
one in particular, “It’s a really funny joke! Hahah! Good one, guys! You
can come out now!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The back room went silent and everybody was staring at him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “William?” Jack shouted, “Melody, Paul, David, I’m fooled, okay? You got me!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Nothing. One of the people, the one who resembled David the sales
engineer, approached him, “Sir, you’re not supposed to be back here.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Oh really? ‘Cause I’ve been working here for six months now.” Jack said, sarcastically.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” Jack replied and walked through the
next doorway to his desk. He was halted, once more, as he stared at the
man sitting in his chair. It was him. A bad impersonation of his own
self. Jack walked up to him, “I would like to have my chair back,
thanks.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Who are you?” the fake-Jack asked, looking up.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m the real Jack, and I would like my chair back now.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The fake-David approached from behind, “Sir, if you don’t leave now, I’m going to call the police.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Good!” Jack spun around and exclaimed, “Call the police! Let them sort this out!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fake-David
was already dialing on the nearest phone, looking at Jack out of the
corner of his eye, “Hello?” He said, “Could you please send an officer
over to 247 W. Tanner Street? There is a man here making a scene and we
would like him removed from the premises.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
He proceeded to give dispatch the standard information they requested
and Jack stood there, arms crossed in a defensive position. The
fake-Jack had slid the chair back a ways to get some distance between
them.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> It wasn’t but a couple minutes before two officers arrived. Jack was sitting in a chair in the lobby when they walked in.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “We got a call about somebody making a scene?” The first officer said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fake-David
and fake-Jack immediately came into the lobby, “He’s right over there,”
fake-David said, “He keeps going on about how he works here, and
refused to leave when we asked him.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The officer approached Jack, “What’s your name, sir?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Jack Small.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Do you have any ID on you, Jack?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jack pulled out his wallet and handed his license to the officer, who looked it over.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Jack, if these people have asked you to leave, you need to leave. Otherwise you’re trespassing.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I
work here!” Jack said, “I’ve worked here for six months, my desk is
right in the back room there, and something really weird is going on!
All of these people look like my co-workers, but none of them are. I
wanted to believe it was some crazy practical joke, but it’s not like my
friends to let things go this far. I don’t know what’s going on.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Do you have any proof that you currently work here? Any documents, anybody to vouch for you?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Probably,
yes!” Jack said, walking into the back, “Check with bookkeeping or
something, I should have tax forms with my name on them or paycheck
stubs, or </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">something</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
officer requested for the search, which was granted, but they found no
mention anywhere of Jack’s name. Jack went to his desk to look for
personal effects but there were none. Only photos of fake-Jack with his
fake-coworkers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With
no sign of his belonging there, Jack was escorted off the premises. He
walked, bewildered and fearful, to his car and just sat inside for quite
some time.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I need a doctor,” He finally said to himself, “I must be losing my mind. Maybe I’m dreaming. Maybe I’ve gone crazy.”</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jack started up the car and pulled out of his parking space. Was it his parking space? He didn’t know anymore.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 7</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
It took about ten minutes to get to the walk-in clinic. Jack came here
on a semi-regular basis for check-ups. His foster parents, emotionally
abusive though they were, did care about physical health and had
instilled in him a habit of keeping up with regular exams.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Inside, Jack walked up to the counter, “I’m here to see Dr. Luttmer. I don’t have an appointment.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
The secretary paused as she scanned her computer for a moment,
“umm--I’m sorry,” She said, “I don’t have a Dr. Luttmer here.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Do you know when he’ll be back?” Jack asked.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “No,” Said the lady, “What I mean is, I don’t have a Dr. Luttmer in my system. No one works here by that name.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jack’s skin began to crawl. Without a word, he turned slowly and walked
away towards the exit doors. The world suddenly started to feel a whole
lot bigger and a whole lot colder. He pulled out his phone and started
dialing everybody in the contacts. Old friends, acquaintances, people
from his childhood, even people he didn’t like. None of them responded
to their contact names, and none of them knew Jack. Finally Jack dialed
up one last resort. His own mother, whom he hadn’t talked to in maybe
six or seven years.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> A voice answered, “Hello?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Mom? This is Jack.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I’m sorry, who is this?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Jack. Your son.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “You must have the wrong number. I don’t have a son named Jack.”</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
The phone lowered. His thumb slowly hit the ‘end’ button. His eyes
stared ahead at nothing. His mind was spinning and his heart was racing.
Perhaps it was some cruel trick from God. Perhaps he had really lost
his mind. He didn’t know. Whatever the case...</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He was alone.</span></div>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-58843668134507446052013-02-26T05:47:00.000-08:002013-05-10T11:39:21.804-07:00Frantic DrummingA collection of songs with frantic drummers..
<BR><BR>
Arctic Monkeys - "Brianstorm"<BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aOB4EJezQC4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
The Blood Brothers - "Set Fire to the Face on Fire"<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pA9ruPqj930" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Franz Ferdinand - "Well That Was Easy"<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eC0ARxupfXM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Arctic Monkeys - "Balaclava"<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cps1gDanc4g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Showbread - "The Dissonance of Discontent"<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m1Bu9UySSfY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Klaxons - "Magick"<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cDqNcCuFIzE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Dropkick Murphy's - "Famous For Nothing"<BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sDmqB_WLNAY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Gogol Bordello - "I Would Never Want To Be Young Again"<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nQ3GN2EZlcU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Children 18:3 - "Mock The Music" (Rapid Drumming kicks in at 1:17)<BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V-eDphgQUOI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
Demon Hunter - "Not I"<BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RITUV-F3zAw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-32628894838542201242013-01-30T01:31:00.000-08:002015-04-12T21:08:18.531-07:00Tag Team VocalistsLos Campesinos! - "Death To Los Campesinos!"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MpUViv00u5Y" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - "Home"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DHEOF_rcND8" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Of Monsters and Men - "Little Talks"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ghb6eDopW8I" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Lightning Love - "Bobby Thompson"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lnZZFnmQ858" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
The Decemberists - "Yankee Bayonet"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BwgpSBsQYCU" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
The Decemberists - "The Wanting Comes In Waves"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WfKhydixkeA" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
The Pogues - "Fairytale of New York"<br />
<i>(Hurray for Irish music and really bad teeth!)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j9jbdgZidu8" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Delafé y Las Flores Azules - "Rio por no lorar"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bJ2VyJjBzn4" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
fun. - "At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be"<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hqSF-4o754" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
The White Stripes - "It's True That We Love One Another"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-ne6c3v1dwk" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
The Rumjacks - "Green Ginger Wine"<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CavBowAr_G4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
Dropkick Murphys - "The Dirty Glass"<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oiTm1qwP3qg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
The Dears - "The Death of All The Romance"<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ty41BuLsc1A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
Norma Jean - "The Opposite of Left and Wrong"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GQ9DAkJEcsQ" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Project 86 - "Six Sirens"<br />
<i>(Trade-off vocals are mostly in the last quarter.)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nd38G-PKVhc" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Showbread - "Mouth Like a Magazine"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RPviF7Wp_bw" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Oh Sleeper - "In All Honesty"<br />
<i>(Trade-offs are mostly in the chorus.)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7_QMi2tDkxk" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Oh Sleeper - "In The Wake of Pigs"<br />
<i>(Trade-offs are mostly in the chorus.)</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/76BjSbTYcVQ" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Emery - "Inside Our Skin"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7yYFwMB5_h4" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
The Blood Brothers - "Lazer Life"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3p2HmPBt318" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Deepspace 5 - "From the Outside"<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SlD4A_KZqfA" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
Father Murphy - "We Know Who Our Enemies Are"<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XsbmfUj63yM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-7210149717796730512012-11-06T06:48:00.000-08:002012-11-06T06:48:52.735-08:00Because it's your DUTY!I had to replace our toilet seal over the weekend. Contrary to popular belief, and much to my grave disappointment, a toilet seal is not an adorable sea-dwelling animal who lives in your bathroom.Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-8151242964655984562012-04-27T00:30:00.000-07:002012-04-27T00:30:20.084-07:00My Observations On Story Telling<b>I wrote this on a forum and thought I would throw it in here because I can. It's about story telling.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't have much writing experience but comics/graphic novels are something I want to do, and therefore I have made a number of observations about story telling. These are things I've learned both by listening to authors and analyzing stories.<br />
<br />
First, and I believe most important, are characters. You can have a mediocre story, and if the characters are well developed and the dialogue is believable, you can at least hold your audience' attention. Perhaps even receive their praise!<br />
I first observed this while watching "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (NOT SHYAMALAN'S.) Some might disagree, but I thought the story idea was mediocre and cliche. The use of the four elements, an Asian fantasy world, factions at war, kids saving the day, it's all been done a thousand times. What made the series #1 on my list was, the characters were solid. They started out well-developed, with individual personalities, but on top of that they all transformed as the seasons went on. Watching Aang become a savior, Socka awkwardly become a leader, Zuko become a humble good-guy, Aang and Katara fall in love--those things made me love them. They held me in that cliche world.<br />
<i>(Side note, the idea might have been cliche but the story telling and plot twists were excellent.)</i><br />
<br />
SO! Characters. Huge. I began looking at my other favorite stories and seeing the same thing applied. If we love the characters, we will care what happens to them. If a red shirt dies in Star Trek, no one bats an eye. But when Jean Luc Picard was assimilated into a borg, it became one of the most remembered two episodes in the entire Star Trek franchise. People knew him. People cared.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The next point is about surprises. This is something I read from an author but I can't remember who. :(<br />
He said, think of your favorite story and it will likely have an unexpected and satisfying twist. If not a twist then maybe some hints leading up to a climactic reveal. (The more the merrier, I say!) A character betrays someone, a hero steps in, a plan fails. Whatever the case, it needs to satisfy the audience. If something happens outside a character's nature, the readers <i>might</i> accept it but they might say, "No, it doesn't make sense!" So the surprise should have clues leading up, to suggest the twist or reveal is plausible. Not beyond the realm of possibility.<br />
<br />
<b>(spoilers ahead)</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>In the remake of the Italian Job, their heist failed, so they had to use their method at the beginning of the movie as a plan B.</li>
<li>In Psycho, the hotel guy was not only a killer but he also had a split personality.</li>
<li>In Jaws, they drop hints about the shark's size, until finally the guy, dumbfounded, comes out and says, "We're gonna need a bigger boat." <i>(such an awesome moment.)</i></li>
<li>Same with Hitchcock's "Birds". He spends half the movie developing characters and dropping hints that something is wrong with the birds. Finally things spin out of control and the suspense is <b>huge</b> as the lady walks by the jungle gym full of them.</li>
</ul>
<b>(end spoilers)</b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I like humor. Even my favorite depressing/serious stories have humor in them. I believe it's a necessity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Competition and struggle are important. Characters do well with situations to challenge them and goals to work towards. It's a sure way to bring out their personality traits. Sure, if you're <b>great</b> at developing characters, you can have a story about people in a room talking and still captivate the audience. But struggle is generally the easiest way I think, to bring out personality. Challenging the characters' morality is good too. Morality is something the audience can identify with. Play with your character's emotions. Make them feel and the audience will feel with them.<br />
<br />
<br />
An interesting story is less important than the list above, but obviously it's a good way to get readers to pick your book/movie off the shelf of 100 others. Nerds are suckers for Marvel Team-ups, giant monsters, bears vs. sharks, Hulk vs. Thing. Society follows trends, vampires, zombies, ninjas, pirates, etc. When people hear a plot summary they should want more.<br />
Engaging opening scenes are also good. You want to hook readers from the start.<br />
<br />
<br />
Consider using contrasts. Hero vs. villain, love mixed with loss, laughter paired with sorrow, opposite beliefs in contention with each other, etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I guess that's about all I've got for now. Those are things I try to consider when I write. Mostly it takes practice.<br />Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-21067370529021447852012-03-26T17:31:00.000-07:002012-03-26T17:33:04.274-07:00These questions are too big for meIs the purpose of everything in the long run to glorify God because it is right and just and appropriate?<br />If so why?<br />Is it fitting and just because of rules He made or is that just the way things exist?<br />Either way, why?<br />
Does God ever get bored or antsy? Is Him being glorified truly satisfying and fulfilling to Him?<br />Is it just us and the realms of the invisible or are there other worlds, other reasons, other stories?<br />It ties into the questions of does God exist in time? Or is he outside time, or did he create time, or is time even real?<br />
Where did God come from or has never not existed? If he's never not existed then how and why is that the way it is?<br />If I even had the answers to these questions and if I could understand and comprehend them, would it change the way I live?<br />
Would it change the way I am?<br />Obviously I don't have power or I would
be able to answer these questions, so if I'm powerless why am I here,
it all circles back to the start...Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-70167162033313762522011-12-20T10:19:00.000-08:002011-12-20T10:21:02.710-08:00A caution to Christians<div style="color: yellow;">
<b>Sin that's left unattended grows and spreads like a poisonous weed.</b></div>
<br />
If you hold onto your pride, if you blame other people, if you try to hide it, if you make excuses and try to rationalize it, if you harbor it, if you deny its existence and don't admit you have a problem, if you work around it and don't deal with the issues, if you abandon your commitments, if you don't confess your faults, and if you don't kill the sin 100%, then <b style="color: yellow;">it will get worse and worse.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: yellow;">The longer sin thrives, the easier it becomes for you to commit more sin.</b> The more you make excuses, or cover it up, or deny it, the easier it will be to do those things in the future. Eventually you will twist and contort yourself into a <b style="color: yellow;">monster</b>. You will be prideful and <b style="color: yellow;">drive your friends away</b>. You will become hard like stone and <b style="color: yellow;">nobody will be able to help you change for the better</b><span style="color: yellow;">.</span> You will blame everyone else for your problems. Issues will never get resolved. You will break people's hearts. <b style="color: yellow;">Your kids will learn from your actions</b> and your sin will spread into their lives as <b style="color: yellow;">they begin to act just like you</b><span style="color: yellow;">. </span>Harboring sin will destroy their lives, and that sin in their lives will destroy your grand-children's lives, unless the Lord intervenes.<br />
<br />
In the end it will always bite you back. <b style="color: yellow;">"Your sins will find you out."</b> Nobody wants to be friends with a prideful person. Nobody likes fake people who pretend to have perfectly happy lives. Nobody wants a friend who blames them. Nobody wants a friend who always makes excuses and justifies his/her mistakes. Nobody wants to be around a person who never apologizes or asks for forgiveness. Nobody wants to be with a person who won't follow through with his/her commitments.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: yellow;">Always strive to kill the sin in your lives.</b> Take on the embarrassment, let go of your pride, stop making excuses, admit to your faults, and change who you are. <b style="color: yellow;">People will love you and respect you.</b> Your children will learn to do right and their children will learn to do right.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: yellow;">
<b>And remember--the longer you wait, the easier it will be to keep putting it off.....and the more it will poison you and everyone around you.</b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2008/027/7/3/Mutated_Plant_Monster_by_FritoFrito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2008/027/7/3/Mutated_Plant_Monster_by_FritoFrito.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-23003920929024878082011-12-02T13:38:00.001-08:002011-12-02T13:49:45.835-08:00Latest Comic - "Saving Planet Zor'rok"My latest comic.<br />
(It is also available on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150404965753621.365562.502238620&type=1&l=52c989ca0c">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/114270919549310996618/albums/5681281928681697601">Google+</a>, and <a href="http://conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3314934&postcount=160">Conceptart.org</a>)<br />
<h2>
"Saving Planet Zor'rok"</h2>
<img height="640" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/386234_10150404965883621_502238620_8672965_1867623511_n.jpg" width="488" />
<img height="300" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/385520_10150404966003621_502238620_8672966_576337005_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="244" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/374200_10150404966068621_502238620_8672967_853336007_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="277" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/380054_10150404966138621_502238620_8672968_1858398123_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="285" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/378601_10150404966183621_502238620_8672969_1247700292_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="272" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/393250_10150404966218621_502238620_8672970_808692453_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="279" src="http://hphotos-iad1.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/386408_10150404966273621_502238620_8672971_1538142686_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="284" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392100_10150404966353621_502238620_8672972_1683524737_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="303" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/382653_10150404966413621_502238620_8672973_633822714_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="274" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/391983_10150404966493621_502238620_8672974_788671676_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="205" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/392040_10150404966573621_502238620_8672975_492081252_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="210" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/387721_10150404966643621_502238620_8672976_1381569936_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="216" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/388550_10150404966723621_502238620_8672977_1614054813_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="197" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/381388_10150404966788621_502238620_8672978_271958629_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="287" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/374061_10150404966823621_502238620_8672979_1850066955_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="266" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/378691_10150404966903621_502238620_8672980_476416822_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="268" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/389802_10150404966993621_502238620_8672981_1358448430_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="214" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/374704_10150404967068621_502238620_8672982_279152257_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="202" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/386747_10150404967118621_502238620_8672983_182993196_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="210" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/388736_10150404967178621_502238620_8672984_1145514925_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="209" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/385040_10150404967273621_502238620_8672985_1067166012_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="640" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/380146_10150404967293621_502238620_8672986_349464429_n.jpg" width="640" />
<img height="640" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/384296_10150404967298621_502238620_8672987_1860451331_n.jpg" width="640" />Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-48050313460243145802011-11-05T02:24:00.000-07:002011-11-05T02:30:06.882-07:00I used to really be into "the future" of technology when touch screens were new, keyboards became smooth and silent, and everything started going digital.<br />
<br />
However, my opinions have changed over the last year or so. There are some technological advancements I would hate to go back on, mostly ease-of-use (but still customizable) things, such as gmail. And gmail. In fact, I'm not wishing technology would go back in time necessarily, I've just learned that I prefer some things to be less digital and more physical than I used to.<br />
<br />
I applaud Wacom tablets and software like Painter and Photoshop, and in many cases they can save a person much pain and suffering. But digital painting will never be the same as the tactile feeling of a pencil in your hand, smudging charcoal around, or seeing each physical brushstroke slowly evolve into an image on a canvas. And digital software can't replace the feeling of scribbling down doodles, ideas, or phrases onto sticky notes or paper scraps, and pinning them to your wall.<br />
<br />
I really admire the advances in cellphone and slate technology, but I really would prefer to clack away on a keyboard and click the buttons on a mouse than to poke and swish around a touchscreen. I've daydreamed about owning a kindle, but I never have because I want my books lined up in a shelf where they won't get deleted. I want to see their illustrated covers when I pick them up. I want to let people borrow them if need be. (Though I do wish physical books could have a good search feature.)<br />
<br />
I love having all my music organized in a media player so I can access any genre, song, or band at any time, but I still buy CDs because I like the physical presence. I like artwork, I like their names lined up in my shelf, and again I like saying, "Have you heard this? It's awesome. Here, take it with you, go listen to it."<br />
<br />
I enjoy technology. I'd just like to appreciate the tactile and tangible things in life and give them the credit they deserve.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.daemonsbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Kindle-vs-books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="388" width="392" src="http://www.daemonsbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Kindle-vs-books.jpg" /></a></div>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-87041668762523865062011-06-08T07:37:00.001-07:002011-06-08T07:37:38.266-07:00"The Whaler" by Thrice<br />
<br />
My lover's arms,<br />
they beg me to stay.<br />
But I know the storms,<br />
they will sweep me away.<br />
<br />
My daughter's eyes,<br />
they are two tiny seas,<br />
whose water will rise<br />
and then run down her cheeks.<br />
<br />
"Father where do you go,<br />
so far out upon the sea,<br />
when are you coming home to me?"<br />
"Darling why do you leave,<br />
as the north wind begins to blow?<br />
Will you be coming home to me?"<br />
<br />
The boat and the blade,<br />
they are all that I know;<br />
the sea calls my name,<br />
and so I must go.<br />
<br />
And while they still sleep,<br />
I slip out through the door;<br />
but how can I leave,<br />
with my anchors ashore?<br />
<br />
"Father where do you go?<br />
It's farther than I can see,<br />
when are you coming home to me?"<br />
"Darling why do you leave,<br />
as the north wind begins to blow?<br />
Will you be coming home to me?"Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-80866285439299740532011-03-28T00:15:00.000-07:002011-03-28T00:15:33.179-07:00It's not uncommon for people to dislike Christianity because of the way they've seen alleged Christians behave. While this is understandable, it's also foolish and misguided.<br />
<br />
If you want to know what Christianity is you should read the four gospels and get to what Christ was like. Then you'll have a legitimate appreciation or dislike of Christianity.<br />
<br />
If you base your view of Christianity on people who call themselves Christians but act like wretched people, that's as silly as saying you hate Christianity because of the way Muslims or Buddhists act. Because if people don't look like, act like, represent, or even want to be like Christ, then how are those people Christians? They can call themselves that all they want but if you don't see Christlike behavior in their lives then you are wrong in forming an opinion of Christianity based off of those people.<br />
<br />
Look at Christ instead.Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-42975474217451499392011-03-05T06:27:00.001-08:002011-03-05T06:27:26.831-08:00Billy Talent<br />
<i>"White Sparrows"</i><br />
<br />
Today I walked down our old street<br />
Past the diner where we'd meet<br />
Now I dine alone in our old seats<br />
The cold wind blows right through my bones<br />
And I feel like I'm getting old<br />
But I wish I was getting old with you<br />
I held your hand when we took shelter from the rain<br />
She laughed as we picked out our children's names<br />
<br />
White sparrows fell from heaven and carried her away<br />
Black arrows cut the strings of my heart, I kneel and pray<br />
<br />
Her clothes hang in the closet still<br />
The phone sits on the windowsill<br />
And every time it rings it gives me chills<br />
My heart just stopped when I was told<br />
Doctor, doctor, on the phone<br />
Said my love was never coming home<br />
I hold your casket gently walking to the grave<br />
Dark clouds eclipse the sun won't shine again<br />
<br />
White sparrows fell from heaven and carried her away<br />
Black arrows cut the strings of my heart, I kneel and pray<br />
<br />
They gave her one more day<br />
To say the words I couldn't say<br />
I'm crying in pain, crying in pain<br />
<br />
And I'm not looking for answers<br />
No, I'm not looking for answers<br />
But dear God, why did you choose her?<br />
<br />
White sparrows fell from heaven and carried her away<br />
Black arrows cut the strings of my heart, I kneel and pray<br />
<br />
They gave her one more day<br />
To say the words I couldn't say<br />
I'm crying in pain (crying in pain)<br />
Crying in pain<br />
Our love will remain<br />
I'm crying in painSir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-88825563514772505082010-12-18T03:24:00.000-08:002010-12-18T03:24:50.798-08:00Well kids, the swimming pool green walls are forever gone. They will be missed. But only by me. And not really because the new walls look twenty times better. But the green walls DID give the house uniqueness and personality! In fact I've never seen such walls in any house before, so that was something. Now they're red and tan. Ba-ding!<br />
<br />
Christmas is right around the corner and then it will quickly become 2011. Weird. Fall seemed to pass very hastily and my wedding is approaching. I once read that if you don't wear your seatbelt and you hit something at 20-30mph it doesn't seem very fast, but if you picture yourself hitting a brick wall on a bicycle at 20-30mph it really gives you a new perspective on the effects of that speed! That doesn't really have anything to do with my wedding.<br />
<br />
Why isn't the guy from Man v. Food dead yet? I think he throws up after every challenge. That's gross.<br />
<br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XqIWPvCgi9g?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XqIWPvCgi9g?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-32908748724803719192010-11-24T18:47:00.000-08:002010-11-24T18:47:06.031-08:00We are so stupidly helpless when the power goes out. Unless we want to use gas at risk of explosion or poisoning, then if the power goes out nearly everything we use becomes next to worthless. Can't charge cell phones, can't get communication through TV, radio, or computer (once the batteries die anyway,) can't use heating, heat blankets, space heaters can't even heat up things like rice packs 'cause they need a microwave, can't use electrical lights, can't shower with hot water, and can't wash clothes. Basically we'd need to start fires to get anything useful done.Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-91500568517289940102010-11-07T04:55:00.000-08:002010-11-07T04:55:57.985-08:00<b>This is all one sentence.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Romans 1 (New American Standard Bible)<br />
<br />
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>You said a mouthful, Paul.</b>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-16453935827634988972010-10-23T23:36:00.000-07:002010-10-23T23:36:31.297-07:00Tonight was pumpkin carving time again. I decided to display the past 3 carving events since I have the pictures.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2+ years ago</span><br />
<br />
My Spider-Man, Ben's Abstract, and Kristen's Scary Face.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSumZsJLI/AAAAAAAAAMU/qLMfFKuQW6M/s1600/oldold01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSumZsJLI/AAAAAAAAAMU/qLMfFKuQW6M/s400/oldold01.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSv-DlFAI/AAAAAAAAAMg/AQxg98tPZJ0/s1600/siperpunkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSv-DlFAI/AAAAAAAAAMg/AQxg98tPZJ0/s400/siperpunkin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last year </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Megan was... excited.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSt7k8XuI/AAAAAAAAAMM/DZIL39pztU0/s400/meginsane.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSuAxuPHI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/-ysye13CWzY/s1600/megthoughtful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSuAxuPHI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/-ysye13CWzY/s400/megthoughtful.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>My Guy w/ Hair In His Face, Megan's Freak, and Gerie's Sailing Ship <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSvMil8FI/AAAAAAAAAMY/qW0sig_MPc8/s1600/oldthreepunkinz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSvMil8FI/AAAAAAAAAMY/qW0sig_MPc8/s400/oldthreepunkinz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This Year</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Pirate, Megan's Hello Kitty, Derek's Jack Skellington, and Gerie's Goldfish</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSvXSq8KI/AAAAAAAAAMc/lY3Iel__xQo/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Vu4KWx2JT_k/TMPSvXSq8KI/AAAAAAAAAMc/lY3Iel__xQo/s400/pumpkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-4703185039217356252010-09-22T22:54:00.000-07:002010-09-22T22:54:57.103-07:00I'm going to take a bunch of embarrassing pictures of people. Then I'm going to host a blackmail exhibit. You better come buy your photo before somebody else does!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v133/236/58/502238620/n502238620_113177_8523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v133/236/58/502238620/n502238620_113177_8523.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330978.post-90762021989404997412010-09-16T23:29:00.000-07:002010-09-16T23:29:03.376-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.trailershut.com/movie-posters/Thor-Movie-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.trailershut.com/movie-posters/Thor-Movie-Poster.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br />
So the new movie about my Aunt is coming out: Thor. The fact is, I don't think there is a way to turn Thor into a "believable" live action movie. The Dark Knight and Iron Man were fictional over the top physics defying movies, but they tweaked them just enough that the suspension of disbelief held the audience in the stories, even though they were far fetched. The Joker seemed kind of real, he wasn't just a cartoony guy with makeup. He felt like a psychopath. Iron Man's technology was too far out there but at the same time we could almost see it happening in today's modern world.<br />
<br />
I don't think Thor, however, will have that ability to take a fictional world and make it down-to-earth enough that the audience buys it. The story is just too comic-bookish. Therefore, my hope is that instead of them trying to make it believable, they focus instead on believable character personalities, believable conflicts within the silly story, and some AWESOME Asgardian warfare. If we can't identify with the story, I want to at least identify with the characters and their problems, and I want to see some serious godlike beings lay the smack down on some seriously huge bad guys.<br />
<br />
I want to see this.<br />
<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TDr57ajoTlU?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TDr57ajoTlU?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Sir Brian The Manlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17861353913585405608noreply@blogger.com0