WWC / PFC Reminder

Second day of my mini-vacation is a Tuesday... and we all know what that means, don't we? Oh, yes - that means it is time for the Weekly Words Challenge, presented by the uber-scary cupcake wrestling Tink of Pickled Beef!

This particular week she decided on the words FOUND and CURVE.

Now, when I initially thought about this when she announced the words last week I thought I'd have serious problems with the word FOUND - but just hours later it struck me what I needed to do for that word.

That's why I ended up with a little bit of a different approach to that one this week. I will use those pictures to tell a little story... a picture story if you will - NOT to be confused with the Picture Fiction Challenge.

Well, it's getting late over here - so for once I'm cutting right to the chase. Here are my pictures for this week:

Back in '91 when I was living in Florida, I had a second job working the night shift at a McDonald's restaurant. One night, just after 1AM, as I walked to my beat-up, good-for-nothing Pontiac Fiero, I FOUND something on the ground next to my car on the parking lot. It was a $100 bill. Ecstatic I bend down and pick it up off the ground, looking left and right hoping no one saw me...

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As I unfolded the neatly folded $100 bill, to put it into my wallet, I FOUND that it was not a real Benjamin Franklin I held in my hand. It was much too short - the mid-section of the bill was completely missing. My fingers could also feel that the texture was not that of money, but that of plain old paper...

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I turned the piece of paper I had thought was money over, and FOUND these encouraging words.

Now... I don't understand how this church thinks they are going to recruit members by deceit and by pissing the average Joe off so badly he feels like calling them up and tell them to go to a place far far away from Heaven. Still... the damn thing cracked me up - and I still carry this piece of paper in my wallet.

PS. I blurred the final four digits of their phone-number - just in case you guys thought of calling them up just to give them a piece of YOUR mind on my behalf ;)

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The headlights of my car sweep the CURVE of the street at night.

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Same street, same CURVE. Coming from the other direction, daytime.

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BONUS PICTURE:
I FOUND this view beautiful, and figured I'd share it.

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So that completes my contribution the the Weekly Words Challenge this week. I'll be back again with more picture for your viewing pleasure next week. Then we'll be showing off pictures representing the words WOOD and METAL. That's going to be interesting!

Tomorrow is the day you should post your Picture Fiction Challenge. Don't forget!

You have until the 22nd to post your entry, if you can't make it by tomorrow - but after that I'm not keeping up with the links to your contributions.

I'm so excited and eager to read what you all have come up with. I hope this thing will turn into a successful little monthly exploit into the creative minds of us bloggers.

Happy blogging, and good luck with your creative writing!

Mini-Vacation: Day 1

As I woke up on the first day of my "mini-vacation" from work, I thought I was going to enjoy this week to the fullest...

Well, to be honest, the first day didn't start off all that good. I'm not saying anything disastrous happened or anything - it's not like it's going to make all that much of a difference - nor is it that I was surprised by any of the two things that happened first thing in the morning. I knew they were coming... though I kind of wished they didn't have to present themselves so clearly right off the bat during those days off that I was looking forward to.

That's a lot of words to get to the point, isn't it? Wanna get to the point? Shall we? Allrighty, then - here goes:

My cellphone called out to let me know I had a new text. I was not yet out of bed, enjoying a day of sleeping late. I reached my hand out and took the cell off of the nightstand and pressed the middle button, which would allow me to read what was sent to me... I almost knew what it was before I saw the words:

'NOW I'M ON MY WAY. ON THE BUS RIGHT NOW. 24 HRS OF BOREDOM AHEAD OF ME. I HOPE I SURVIVE THE FLIGHT. IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!!! TAKE CARE WHILE I'M GONE AND KEEP WORKING OUT!'

So. That's it. She's gone. Out of my life for the next four months, at least. Maybe I'll never see her again... one can never know for sure. For so long... I really thought she was The One. I would still want her to be that. I feel so lonely already now that she's gone, but I need to move on with my life and start looking at other girls.

Bye bye, sweet one. I do hope you have a wonderful time over there. And, I know you don't want me to be longing for you, so I'm gonna have to let you go. I hope you don't forget about me - I know I will never forget about you.

So... I lay in bed for another fifteen minutes. Sent a reply - wishing her all the best, and that I would send positive vibes her way, and that the flight was going to be smooth. She is terrified of flying - I wish I were there to hold her hand and comfort her...

After a while I got out of bed. I made my standard pot of coffee, and just as I sat down in front of the computer with a freshly brewed, hot cup of java the phone rang.

"Hello?", I answer the phone. Caller ID was unknown to me.

"Hi. Is this R.E.H.?"

"Yes, that would be me."

"This is Morgan. I am a union representative, and I thought I'd call you up and have a chat. I understand you know about the situation at your work."

Oh, that's just great. First day of vacation, and now the fucking Union wants to let me know I'm going to be fired. I'm not sure I made this clear to you people who don't know how things work over here. The Union are involved in EVERYTHING that companies do. Businesses can hire people to their hearts consent, but when it comes to salaries, insurance, work environment, work hours - and of course the firing of staff. Then the Union steps in and have their say... they are supposed to protect the employee - I feel very protected during this phonecall.

"Yes, I do."

"So you have received the notification that they are cutting down on staff and that, as it works, you are the last employee hired with a full-time job - which sadly means that according to rules you are the one who will be let go."

"Yes, I understand how it works."

"Do you have any questions you would like me to answer. Regarding your future."

"Not really. Are there any benefits available to me? I didn't do anything wrong, and from what I hear when a company lays off people like this, there is some form of financial security for a month or so?"

"The company you work for do not offer anything like that. However, if you need to go to a 'job search' group, to get started looking for a job - they are willing to pay the $3.000 such a class would cost. Are you interested in signing up for that?"

Another thing that irritates the hell out of me in this country is what this guy just suggested. For some reason, they believe that people are so utterly incompetent and stupid that they don't know how to apply for a job. There are classes that teach this. When you're unemployed, the unemployment office has a habit of forcing these classes on you - I've attended a few of them back in the days when I was unemployed... many years ago. They are completely worthless.

"No, I don't think I need that. I could use the $3.000 to keep my own finances in check until I do find a job, however."

The idiot had the nerve to laugh about that, as if I'd been joking. I was dead serious - give me the god damn money! It's not like I deserve to be fired... I haven't done nothing wrong. Now if the Union are supposed to have the employee's back... why the hell am I being offered junk in return for the wrong doings my job are doing unto me?

And, I pay these shitheads about 80 bucks a month - so they will keep me safe at my job.

Well, if I didn't - there would be no unemployment benefits if I can't find a job, so one better pay that money just in case something like what just happened does happen.

Oh, well...

The rest of the day has been better. I went to the gym again. Worked on legs and I also atempted to find that sixpack behind the flab on my belly. Tried a couple of new machines on both muscle groups.

I have always used this particular machine for my stomach muscles. There was this other one that I didn't quite know how to use, and I didn't think it would be any good anyway. Well, I took the time to study it and figure out how to operate the damn thing... BOY! was I wrong. That thing locked on my muscles and made me squeal like a baby trying to do the sit-ups. I'm going to be hurting badly tomorrow... I'll be using that one from now on.

Oh, and just to let you know I am not completely hung up on The One... I saw this chick at gym today - she was so freakin' hot I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She had dark hair, a pretty face and a body so perfect it should be on display in a class-room where they teach the human anatomy... the female human anatomy. I hope I will see her there every time I go - she must be new. If I do - I promise, I'll work up the nerve to ask her out...

After the gym session, I spent a good 15 minutes in the sauna. I love the sauna.

Funday Sunday: "Zombie Baby"

Oh, dear!

I couldn't withhold this one any longer. This scene is from one of the funniest movies ever made... no question about that! And, which movie is that?, you ask. Well, the answer to that would be Brain Dead, aka Dead Alive, which really was the break through movie for Peter Jackson. Yes! That same Peter Jackson who brought us the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and the remake of King Kong.

For those unfortunate enough to have missed this brilliant and completely whacked movie, I will just give you a little introduction to the scene. I won't go into great detail (watch the whole film if you haven't seen it. I guarantee you will laugh your socks right off!).

Lionel, our main character, has found a baby zombie. Yes, you read that right - that's a zombified infant child. Now, Lionel is a nice guy, you know... so of course he decides to take the child down to the park in a stroller. This is (as if you couldn't have guessed) a recipe for disaster... especially when you know jack-all about taking care of babies.

Now... this is not a scene for the faint of heart. I don't know why I offer a warning here - but some people seem to have a problem with these kinds of things... blood and gore (which however is not present in this clip), and violent behaviour towards cute little (zombie) toddlers.

Darn it! Take it for what it is... pure entertainment! Enjoy!

Oh... only three more days to go on the Picture Fiction Challenge. Wednesday is when you should post your contribution... but you do have until the 23rd to make the deadline if you're short on time. Don't know what this is? Need to refresh you memory? Take a look right HERE.

Until next time...

Tired Ramblings

Well, I didn't really know what to write about today - plus, I'm tired (and I wanna go to bed). So, I thought I'd just blog about a few random little things that aren't really deserving of a full post anyway.

Next week should give me plenty of time to blog. Next week I have sort of a mini-vacation. I had a few vacation days left, and now work has "forced me" to take those days off. So, the four days I was originally scheduled to work next week have been scrapped, and I will enjoy a full week off.

I can hardly wait! It'll be like a preview of life post-working-there. Those will be the days! Hehe...

During this time off, there's one thing I'll have to do that is certainly not fun. I need to wash my windows in the apartment. See. During the winter I don't see the sun much. When I get up and go to work... it is dark. When I get off work and go home... it is dark. The other day, I was home and the sun was shining bright. I looked out the window, because it was so beautiful out there... and GOOD LORD! Those windows were as mucky as the windshield of a four-wheel drive after a long ride through the mud.

And... I want to take this opportinity to thank Knight over at Knight's Knacht-Up Ramblings for choosing me to be her "blogentine" on Valentine's Day. Thanks, sweetie - you brought brightness to a dark and lonely day ;)

Isn't that thing nice?

And, speaking of Knight and her blog. I saw this thing over at her place a while ago, and I've been meaning to post about it. I copied the link and all, and then I forgot all about it - until now.

It's like a meme kind of thing, only it isn't. There is a site on the web where you can enter your birthday, and find out what song was playing on the radio back in those days. Yes - the number one hit on the day you were born.

So, while I was crawling out of my mother's womb, greeting the world with ear-shattering cries - The Partridge Family were singing "I Think I Love You". Yeah, baby!

I think that'll do it for today.

Tomorrow is Funday Sunday again, and I'll try not to be quite as raunchy as I was last week ;)

Work That Muscle!

I realized something today... don't ever slack off from gym for an extended period of time! It is pure terror when you return.

Because I had been working a lot, and I was pre-occupied mentally by thoughts of The One leaving for Asia, myself about to lose my job and adding to that the simple fact that I came down with a cold. Albeit a mild case of the sniffles, but enough to make me feel that going to the gym would be too strenuous for me - and subsequently not exactly be a healthy option. I am a strong believer that if you carry a virus in your system, working out is not going to be beneficial. Thus - I haven't been going there for two weeks. Oh, don't get me wrong - I wasn't sick for two weeks... laziness played a part in this.

I went today. I had hoped The One would go there with me, but she couldn't find the time. I agreed to meet my cousin Andy there instead - because I felt I really needed to get back on track with my work-out program.

Now, I did feel a little tired all day today because I haven't slept really well for quite some time. I have felt like that before, and the gym usually makes you feel so much better once you get started.

Not today!

Today was so hard and I didn't feel like I had an ounce of strength in my entire body. The weights I usually do seemed to weigh about twice as much as they used to. Not only was it much heavier... I didn't have the mental strength either - you know the part when your brain takes over and keeps yelling at you "you can do it! ONE MORE!!!". Instead - that same reptilian brain of mine would shout "Fuck that's heavy! NO WAY you can do this!", and I would give up.

I ended up using the same weights (I'm too much of a man to take any off) - but I had to succumb to the pressure and do less repetitions. Focused mainly on the pecs and the biceps today... those are the muscles that also strengthen a man's ego.

I was completely worn out after today. I took a rinse-off in the shower and climbed to the top bench in the sauna and sat down. I spoke to my cousin about the possibility of me moving away in the future. We talked about The One and her leaving, and we talked about a get together of cousins I'd been planning for later this month... which now looks like it won't happen.

We also talked about the fact that I had no strength at all left in my body after my two week leave of absence at the gym. Yeah, I carried a virus and all... but seriously - today was like it was the first time in my life I went to a gym.

Now, later. I'm thinking about how important it is to keep working on those muscles, and how quickly they start to decay if not being trained on a regular basis. And, I'm also thinking the brain is a muscle.

Here's where it gets interesting!

It's really very similar to working out at a gym - and equally important that you work out that muscle inside your cranium: The Brain.

If ever you decide to do some research on creative writing you will find that the one advice that you will continue to come across time and time again is this:

WRITE. WRITE. WRITE! ... and then WRITE some more!

If you do that... soon enough you will find that writing comes easily. Words start appearing on the page without you feeling like you have to coax them out of the deepest parts of your brain. They just flow out of your fingertips and onto the keyboard as easily as it is to think, fantasize and daydream.

And, does this not apply to all forms of brain functionality?

I'm thinking... my recent situation with The One, my job and everything. If I continue to think about these things and actually work on: A) Getting over The One. B) Accept the fact that she will not be here to smile that wonderful smile at me. C) Really focus on what it is that I want to do with my life, and D) Be happy!

Will my brain not after a while be able to do all these things naturally? Resulting in me feeling good about myself, and not have to force happy thoughts into my brain?

But, I would have to keep doing this on a daily basis. I could start easy... with the "Be Happy" part. Sitting down for fifteen minutes every day - repeating in my head "I am happy, I am happy". I can do them in tens. Ten repeats, then I can relax a little... and let that happy feeling wash over me. Do another ten "I am happy"'s and rest.

Yeah... this last part is stupid. But, think about it seriously. If you focus on making your brain think in a certain pattern, and experience a specific mood... would it no become easier and easier, and you would feel happy and content with your situation without much effort after a while.

I am going back to the gym on a regular basis from now on. No more slacking.

I am also looking to find a good work-out schedule for that twisted brain of mine.

Be My Valentine...

So, it's the day of love and caring. The day we spend with the partner, our dearest of friends... and I'm sitting here in front of the computer, asking y'all to be my Valentine.

Don't feel sorry for me though. My Valentine's Day plan may not have come through for me, but it's not all bad.

As I mentioned, I had hoped to spend this night with The One. Turned out she was going out to dinner with her co-workers (on freakin' Valentine's?!!) to bid farewell. So, if I was going to see her, I had to do it yesterday.

Things went very well. I didn't give her the box of chocolates I had stashed away in the glove compartment of my car. The opportunity just wasn't there. I still have it in there, as I may see her tomorrow again... she just loves chocolate, hehe.

We just sat and talked for almost four hours. It has been a very long time since we've done anything like that. It was after midnight before we said goodbye, and I had a full 11 hour day ahead of me at work.

She didn't know I was going to be laid off. When I told her she was almost shocked. She couldn't believe they would do that - it didn't make sense to her. I told her they were looking to cut down on staff.

"Yeah, but why you? They can't let you go... especially since [a certain co-worker] has quit. Why didn't they offer you her position?"

"They want to get someone else. It's a management position. They don't want me doing that"

"But you know it better than anyone else over there. Why hire someone who wouldn't know how it works?"

"Don't ask me. But you know how they handle things at my job. They shipped you off to another city, when clearly you were the one who held things together. Look at what happened after that"

And, that is the truth. Our store has gone down hill ever since she was relocated to another store. I believe this is a big reason why she quit that job and is now going on this trip instead. When she worked at my job, she was very determined and driven - working many a late night to show everyone how much she wanted the job. She even hinted at that during our conversations last night. She wants to be at the store I work at.

I also did tell her that I might pack up and leave the country.

"For how long?", she asked. Actually looking worried.

"Well, I don't know. Possibly for good. I wouldn't have plans of a return if I go."

"Yeah... but, when are you coming back home?"

"That would be home. I would live there."

"No... you can't do that. You have an apartment here. Your car. What about us going to the gym?"

"Well, all that I would have to leave behind. So, you should just pack up and come over there with me, and we'll go to a gym over there". This is a joke, of course. Still, I would be sincere if it were even remotely plausible.

She looked at me for a while.

We didn't talk too much about it after that. I did assure her that more than likely I will still be here when she comes back. I have decided this for myself, that if I do decide to make the move - it'll probably be at the end of summer or even towards the end of the year. This seems like the best way to do it... that way there's plenty of time to get organized and plan ahead, as well as enough time for friends and family over here to adjust to the thought of life without me (in their immidiate surroundings).

In the end, we had a very pleasant evening yesterday. I didn't give her any box of chocolates. I didn't even tell her out straight that I love her. I didn't feel any of that was necessary. I did let her know how much I was going to miss spending time with her while she was gone. I did let her know how much I'm going to miss her making me laugh the way she does, and how I feel so at peace with the world when I'm with her. With her - nothing else matters. There is nothing that bothers me, or makes me feel sad. Not when she is like this - that girl that I once fell so deeply in love with. When she is that girl, no one else makes me feel so good deep down in my heart. I don't even have to speak to her... just sitting there, watching her - and everything is fine. And the world is a wonderful place to be.

The one thing that's hard for me right now is the emptiness. I had been working so hard to overcome those feelings - especially after all the bad things that happened between us. Now, just as she's about to leave... all her loveable qualities are back. The coldness and sometimes bitchy attitude is completely gone, and I'll remind you that the lovable qualities is who she really is... I know this from the three years we've known eachother. A few months of uncharacteristic behaviour does not make her that person.

I would want every day to be like last night. I'm blown away once again... desperately in love.

Yeah... it's Valentine's Day. I have a friggin' right to feel blue today. All this mushy love talk is not what you'll have to suffer through on a daily basis. Nope - not at Ramblings of a Madman you don't.

But. Today I'm alone. I won't even eat that box of chocolates I still have in the glove compartment of my car, as I might meet her tomorrow, and may still want to give that to her then.

I still have you! You, the blogging community - my faithful readers. So, I ask of you:

Please, be my Valentine today.

WWC / The One Update

Time flies when you're havin' a blast, huh? Tuesday already, and it's time for the Weekly Words Challenge again. This week the words are MOTION and SUSPEND.

As if you didn't already know, it is the wonderful "fish-thighed" klutz Tink of Pickled Beef who provides the words for us all to play with.

Well, before we go on to the pictures, let me start by replying to a question Beautifully Profound asked in the comments the other day. She was wondering whatever happened with The One, and why I haven't been writing about her lately... so I thought I'd update you all on recent events.

As I've mentioned, she's leaving the country. She's going to Asia to travel around over there, and won't be back for three or four months. Obviously, before making such a trip, there is a lot to deal with - vaccinations, pass-ports, subletting the apartment and of course getting a plane ticket and doing lots of planning. She decided on this trip pretty quickly, and would so not have much prepared in advance.

I'm not much part of those plans. And, for some reason she doesn't seem to be too willing to let me know what's happening.

To be honest. I'm thinking this sudden "escape" she's doing, is the result of some sort of crisis. I've thought for the longest time that she's not quite been her usual happy self. And, as I mentioned, as soon as she made the decision to leave, that happy easy-going style of hers re-appeared. I was happy to see that.

We've not seen much of each other, but we have texted back and forth a little. Funny thing is that she finds a way not to let me know too much about when she's leaving, or how things are going. Nor did I find out from her that she's resigned from her job, after originally she told me she was taking a leave of absence, and that she would still have her job when she got back. Apparently, they had declined her request, after they initially had told her they wanted to keep her. So - apparently she decided to quit. And, I found this out through other people, instead of from her.

Is she even planning not to return at all? Why the secrecy?

And, on top of it all - I will be losing my job. I am also considering moving away - back to the States. I'm going to try and get together with her before she leaves. I don't know if this is something I should do... but here's what I'm hoping to do:

On Thursday (Valentine's Day) I'm going to try to meet up with her. I'm going to buy a box of Valentine chocolates, and maybe fix up something nice to eat. I want to remind her that I still love her, and tell her that maybe I won't still be here when she comes back. I need to get that out there, I believe, so that if she does "want me", she will have a good opportunity to let me know that, and maybe I'll wait for her return. I'm probably just grasping at straws here, but I still don't fully want to let her slip out of my life. And, it's increasingly looking like she might.

So, enough of that for today... you're all waiting for my WWC pictures!

My ceiling fan's blades are in MOTION

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Cars in MOTION on the highway

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A drop of water SUSPENDed in mid air

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Floodlights SUSPENDed above the bandy stadium

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There you have it. WWC week number 7 of the year 2008.

Next week we will be playing with the words FOUND and CURVE. Curve should be fairly easy, but Found is going to be really tough... I'm completely blank for now - but I'll get a picture or two for that one too!

Now... in the meantime - read up on the latest chapter of Rubicon Heart, if you missed it yesterday!

And, don't forget the Picture Fiction Challenge, which is due on the 20th of February!