tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390163550704088962024-01-26T00:10:31.290-06:00The Story TellerMax M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-81955197724517269892024-01-16T21:37:00.001-06:002024-01-16T21:37:41.671-06:00Rage<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjjg3F6OvzkyeXvNdjlSG34DIK6-zu4ixilRFQXAJCQmNLfNCGdaXkVho1LF3fFwBvDO7bc4u0_qAIv_XvCm9A_mEombUYNhxcAi-ecvdzChZnIicQxLLxHqp611HpEEjr4UazCwttxQfzQPDLgc1M6f8hZ9D1xSvfe74zza9m7wstbpInS-RkrAWlcpj/s596/IMG_2994%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="335" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjjg3F6OvzkyeXvNdjlSG34DIK6-zu4ixilRFQXAJCQmNLfNCGdaXkVho1LF3fFwBvDO7bc4u0_qAIv_XvCm9A_mEombUYNhxcAi-ecvdzChZnIicQxLLxHqp611HpEEjr4UazCwttxQfzQPDLgc1M6f8hZ9D1xSvfe74zza9m7wstbpInS-RkrAWlcpj/w225-h400/IMG_2994%20(1).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 21px;">So there's this picture of a boy. He's between seven and thirteen years old. He has a very simple smile; that I just want to slap off.</span><p></p>
<span style="font-size: 21px;">When I see this boy my first instinct is rage. Full unapologetic pure rage. To say I want to rip this kid to shreds is an understatement. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21px;">My rage builds and I want to charge at this boy but I can't. He's just a photograph, a memory of the past.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21px;">I hate him. I hate him! I HATE HIM!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21px;">I want to walk away but now he's in my head and when I close my eyes that simple smile is all I can see and I'm enraged once more. I want to destroy this child.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21px;">All I can do is cry. The pain is too great and my anger is more than justified but what does that say about me? What kind of monster am I for wanting to attack a child? Even if that child is me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5-BOkMBP25Pr3GeDawV7RjOWAuVaxW15lc2x-mr-AOknSwG1ns4OWoWB8-k4m25TIJib75lJXn2h1B7GGeQoL5V4KOHkdfl8gnq36TaDYfwp8vKJnaJozuSy8eReqFfWliBgrLpl_WNPuMC0Cflf1VIJDyYWHAhjdjDWguIgzoH-yp6p4j0BbHe0Zf2x/s596/IMG_2994%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_240116_213205_813.sdocx-->Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-33200380021958416332022-10-10T17:12:00.005-05:002022-10-10T17:17:13.142-05:00Attempted Abduction<p> </p><p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe_0MvTJcINGShVWqb6ATUms6YG_wqZxp4vqF66w0ILQ7MZJb33_BkzhF5GbyhkVxrsHoMbkSnxo0Cw1mimrQAhIyb53rHoBMlmhAScSxJR0TE3RlR1vTyJATno7PSB8su1SUirGcrtZnWYEaf8q0Aw0eJDt_-7LDRX9AMz_UTTY0nJdwb9HVPh_53A/s261/slender.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="193" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe_0MvTJcINGShVWqb6ATUms6YG_wqZxp4vqF66w0ILQ7MZJb33_BkzhF5GbyhkVxrsHoMbkSnxo0Cw1mimrQAhIyb53rHoBMlmhAScSxJR0TE3RlR1vTyJATno7PSB8su1SUirGcrtZnWYEaf8q0Aw0eJDt_-7LDRX9AMz_UTTY0nJdwb9HVPh_53A/s1600/slender.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><br />Last night there was a failed attempt of my abduction. Usually when
they come I never know it until they return me. I am paralyzed, my
body unable to move except for my eyes. I see them as shadow figures
as they remove whatever it is they place on my head to keep me from
moving. I attempt to scream but my vocal chords and mouth betray me.
Only muffled screams can escape.<p></p>
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
This is the moment I am awaken by my wife, telling me I was having a
nightmare, except the nightmare was indeed, very real.</p>
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
For some reason, whatever they normally do to paralyze me and keep me
from remembering what happened to me did not work this time. I woke
up, eyes wide open, and could see a single shadow moving down the
hallway toward my bedroom.</p>
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
The entity was tall and slender and had a nervousness to him. I was
about to scream for my life when he quickly raised his long bony arm
and pointed something at me. My body instantly froze. I was unable
to make a sound. The only part of my body still working freely was
my eyes.</p>
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
I tried desperately to focus on the entity but all I could see was
his shadowy silhouette. I managed to glance over to my wife and see
she was sound asleep. Try as I might, I could not move.</p>
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
The entity paced back and forth. He was making clicking sounds, the
kind that dolphins make, as he spoke into some type of handheld box.
I can only assume he was telling something that I was awake and that
I could see his shadow. I could hear muffled transmitted clicking
sounds coming from the device as he stopped pacing, facing my
bedroom, and looking right at me.</p>
<p align="justify" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
He threw up his hands in defeat and faced me from the hallway, never
crossing the threshold into my bedroom. He pointed his hand at me
and vanished. My body was released and I fell back into deep
slumber, unable to woke up from nightmare after nightmare, a parting
gift from the entities.</p>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-1465876274419295392018-09-23T12:28:00.000-05:002018-09-23T12:28:22.088-05:00Owl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV03uYeXfERTB6KZ5ZtHmLlTKf82mEH4bhMfkbnXeJgNksRy9hDy3Q1S44KalHtvQLwomamyO_7hJ3c8xrferrx2cMPwa63MBUeB2CwRCr7xHUUzo6vcbmXeNl6VOvDKyk7EYkPfQFSc0Y/s1600/tea+party.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV03uYeXfERTB6KZ5ZtHmLlTKf82mEH4bhMfkbnXeJgNksRy9hDy3Q1S44KalHtvQLwomamyO_7hJ3c8xrferrx2cMPwa63MBUeB2CwRCr7xHUUzo6vcbmXeNl6VOvDKyk7EYkPfQFSc0Y/s320/tea+party.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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“Don’t,” she pleaded with tears in her eyes, “please don’t do this, please!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You’ve been asking for this all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now shut uuaah…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fear filled the air as the predator has now become the prey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The lady said no,” a new voice growled, breaking the silent fear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A bird swooped down from the rooftop, flying behind the new prey, receiving its master’s blade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prey fell to the ground without a sound.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Guess no one ever told him not to fuck with a short girl,” the hooded girl said before taking a sip of her cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would run away and forget what happened here if I were you.”</div>
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“Is he,” the victim sobbed as she looked up slowly, fear freezing her in place.</div>
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“No,” the hooded girl snapped quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I never kill.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a short pause, looking to her left then to her right, she added, “but they are hungry.”</div>
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She took another sip of her cup.</div>
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“Who are you?”</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Owl,” she answered softly, taking a last sip of her cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now fly.”</span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-37519012946337083882018-08-14T20:00:00.001-05:002018-08-14T20:00:08.740-05:00Sushi Bar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VktefQR7kQmJqfjrGKPRa7DYyqAaIdBmT29BVhKKdphMSc4D6HEW1c4j0V0zMMTTXetvNy6IUOzqQ1PEV_15oXK-ZiGqG6AMMhJQZuoxRTWwxXDcCgbXoU0yq67NwuJu5U8ljjbXf4Su/s1600/sushi+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="806" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VktefQR7kQmJqfjrGKPRa7DYyqAaIdBmT29BVhKKdphMSc4D6HEW1c4j0V0zMMTTXetvNy6IUOzqQ1PEV_15oXK-ZiGqG6AMMhJQZuoxRTWwxXDcCgbXoU0yq67NwuJu5U8ljjbXf4Su/s400/sushi+bar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div data-contents="true" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="4q7l" data-offset-key="5j2mc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5j2mc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5j2mc-0-0"><span data-text="true">I went to a sushi bar, excited to get fresh cut fish, like they make your plate right in front of you. I ordered the tuna and the chef slapped a large slab of red meaty fish on the table and began to cut away.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="4q7l" data-offset-key="560dd-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="560dd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="560dd-0-0"><span data-text="true">"What is that," I asked.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="4q7l" data-offset-key="3rm5n-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3rm5n-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3rm5n-0-0"><span data-text="true">"Tuna," the chef replied, confused by my question.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="4q7l" data-offset-key="9t31j-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9t31j-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9t31j-0-0"><span data-text="true">"That doesn't look like Bumble Bee," I said.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="4q7l" data-offset-key="d0ri1-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d0ri1-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d0ri1-0-0"><span data-text="true">And that's why I'm no longer allowed in a sushi bar.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-45848683266484540792018-08-13T05:27:00.000-05:002018-08-13T05:27:33.623-05:00Calvin Hobbes Time Traveler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72G_9q3OAEbjUFthyGnkLGv1SosuY1QggrEIKXL-0cysXhwevgVcZywGKM4T18i9lvi1DJwFvM-vTpJ4Ny8pOnhaDeduTDKWbjW88cP3CG0eGzbjYi9D4xfdxZVpkbzbOt379ctxs-IbJ/s1600/Clock+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72G_9q3OAEbjUFthyGnkLGv1SosuY1QggrEIKXL-0cysXhwevgVcZywGKM4T18i9lvi1DJwFvM-vTpJ4Ny8pOnhaDeduTDKWbjW88cP3CG0eGzbjYi9D4xfdxZVpkbzbOt379ctxs-IbJ/s320/Clock+Cover.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">We
have failed our mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the last
of myself that has been sent back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
time we have been sent back to the beginning of our mission, we were able to
obtain the object we were sent to obtain, along with the knowledge needed to
save our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time we attempt to
return home we are drawn to this timeline.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When
the first of us was stranded here he landed from a different time than the
second one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second one landed
earlier than the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waited,
hiding for eighteen months, for the arrival of the first of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two met, discussed the details of the
mission and realized there will be others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We needed to be able to communicate with each other in some way, in case
we were not able to find the current one of us before time took its course.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There
can not exist more than two versions of oneself at one time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one of those versions is your younger self
then any self that appears after is up for elimination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time will not allow a third to exist for very
long.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
have studied all the post from my previous selves and have brought back copies
for the other selves to find and post them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can not save our world by going home so I have decided that the only
way to save <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> future is to change
your past.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">After
I am gone my complete writings will be posted for the world to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully I have made enough changes to the
timeline that my future does not come to pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully she is safe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
do not have much time left before I too disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the last of myself to be sent back and I
am the first to arrive in your timeline. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My name is Calvin and this is my story…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-44039046642229499072018-04-16T02:05:00.001-05:002018-04-16T02:06:06.056-05:00Remembering my Grandma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDIhIw5rj4H40Hf-VHZ5mTBtMzZn_8zVCWtNSJgaOhhtxc51zr_li3LXGPiieWsqEPawA_z59MtUSIBuV7WEvxB64y8OdF2q-1GwU7cX_iJJM_UadMZo3gUmADPHaX9E9aVMBG3xEG9R7/s1600/20141102_145143%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="620" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDIhIw5rj4H40Hf-VHZ5mTBtMzZn_8zVCWtNSJgaOhhtxc51zr_li3LXGPiieWsqEPawA_z59MtUSIBuV7WEvxB64y8OdF2q-1GwU7cX_iJJM_UadMZo3gUmADPHaX9E9aVMBG3xEG9R7/s200/20141102_145143%257E2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
did not know her as well as others but she knew me better than most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her name was Grandma or Grandma Margaret, no
other name was allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her word was law
and her law was enforced swiftly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Respect
was always demanded by her but given willingly because no matter how much you
hated her as you rubbed a newly red area, you still loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take it from a 7<sup>th</sup> grader who had
to get a checkup for school, had to strip down to my underwear, and she walks
in because they were short staffed that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought I was too old to strip in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smack I got proved me wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She let me know that I was never too old to
get smacked for being disrespectful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Part
of her law was that she controlled the television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At certain times of the day, even if she was
in another room, the TV had to be on certain shows because she could still hear
it, no matter what she was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeopardy,
Wheel of Fortune, and the news were non-negotiable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least we could learn something from
watching the boob tube.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1IWZ387hT1s2SqqwNExGNcsL1I9qV5pzvPx5qM8FMs-DwGp6SJtsG7N4aNJtV7GyHLp0iIW1jOWL7GjlyTKWPxoltg96kWS9cNCwb8TiS3y75jTYFMZdcwxNyOrAvrMsNppwVK23WI-Y/s1600/flair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1IWZ387hT1s2SqqwNExGNcsL1I9qV5pzvPx5qM8FMs-DwGp6SJtsG7N4aNJtV7GyHLp0iIW1jOWL7GjlyTKWPxoltg96kWS9cNCwb8TiS3y75jTYFMZdcwxNyOrAvrMsNppwVK23WI-Y/s200/flair.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
also had her fun side. The California Lottery, Married with Children, and Cops
were all okay to watch but her true vice was wrestling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WHOOOOO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s right, Nature Boy Ric Flair was one of her favorites and the fire
he generated when he was in the ring consumed us all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more he bled the better the excitement
that filled us all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
was always firm, attempting to make you a better person, while doing what all
grandparents do, slightly spoiling you whenever she could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being
a nurse in a hospital, large paperback novels were abundant and she never said
you can read it when you’re older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reading the newspaper was encouraged and if you did not read it yourself
she would read you articles she felt was relevant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
If
the weather was good, meaning it was not raining, unless you were doing
homework you needed to go outside and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To this day, I still think it was an excuse to kick us out of the house
so the adults could have some kind of peace of mind, however brief it may be.<o:p></o:p></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR3gthmFNJruJ-vN5B2z448xs5o7XodGbYvaOhDO-7CmWSH7ZpAfrM_Xivofac9G6Yt-wMgpmePeq8v17OKaWDpwKMQhULwkhSTckPG0rOgIB0ujZFBr4PzDKhKyYS98v9IZyldJbpQh-/s1600/La-ChanclaG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="620" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR3gthmFNJruJ-vN5B2z448xs5o7XodGbYvaOhDO-7CmWSH7ZpAfrM_Xivofac9G6Yt-wMgpmePeq8v17OKaWDpwKMQhULwkhSTckPG0rOgIB0ujZFBr4PzDKhKyYS98v9IZyldJbpQh-/s200/La-ChanclaG.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
poem Footprints was always somewhere in the house, usually in the restroom, so
that you would read it over and over and never forget that you are never alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
had her plants and that was the one thing you never messed with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you did, you knew you were getting the
chancla, if you were lucky, or the belt, depending on how badly you messed up
her plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQZZp_xp5NsfgNLKSPWx0LbHqDUihnXx39PWHp59rXGz5Bq6rocgbljDeWXCuOjIl-Nasdv8TsUPj4EIthNJVsgywH9wZ1Vjs4OlwyDbkyOAebSkjgb8oTKyg2jTh9nw1N3SI-Egmy0EH/s1600/vw+bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQZZp_xp5NsfgNLKSPWx0LbHqDUihnXx39PWHp59rXGz5Bq6rocgbljDeWXCuOjIl-Nasdv8TsUPj4EIthNJVsgywH9wZ1Vjs4OlwyDbkyOAebSkjgb8oTKyg2jTh9nw1N3SI-Egmy0EH/s200/vw+bug.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
was a speed demon in her little red bug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We could hear her coming from blocks away and as a kid, sliding around
in the back seat, being thrown into the side of the bug from centrifugal force,
was the best thing ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head slammed
into the window a time or two but it was worth it for that need for speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, myself, am a spawn of that speed demon,
and when I begin to chase that speed, the same grin comes across my face that I
use to love seen on hers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
was a tiny lady but the love she had to give was bigger than giants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had many grandchildren and great
grandchildren and each child was special to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew what they needed and she was not
afraid to tell her children how to take care of her grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
aunts would say I was difficult to shop for because I did not like a lot of
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She used to say I was very
simple yet very complex, always calling me “simply complex.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite that, she always knew if it pertained
to Star Wars, Aviation, or books, including comic books, that was all I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
use to send my mother money for me to spend every time there was a book fair at
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She use to send me books that no
one wanted anymore from the hospital, filling my personal library with Robin
Cook, Tom Clancy, and Michael Crichton books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She made sure I was never without something to read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
an adult, I take all of these and many other memories with me everywhere I
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She molded me into the man I am
today and who I tried to make my child to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can still hear her harsh soft voice, feel her firm tender touch every
time life hits me hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
may be one of many, but she did her one true job, to make sure I could survive
whatever life throws my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To know I
have to do what needs to be done, but no matter what, she will always love me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
touched many lives in her own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
matter who were are, each of us have our own special memories of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were mine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-13673775789571874312018-03-08T18:50:00.002-06:002022-07-18T11:08:53.237-05:00Pre Op Surgery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A_OUI9KsR93NXbvhCP7Wpn0HSLlVcf2sfIHMUTtV0cE0RzSS2ZMJG8Y55wxgePoaLXBR_K_NUr-3bZ0ZVcgzMZJfVgYflGG_qsUPVHBHHyXYX-nh_QwlOZAXqx87mix_sk2l4jYJe7SU/s1600/alien+doctor.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="324" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A_OUI9KsR93NXbvhCP7Wpn0HSLlVcf2sfIHMUTtV0cE0RzSS2ZMJG8Y55wxgePoaLXBR_K_NUr-3bZ0ZVcgzMZJfVgYflGG_qsUPVHBHHyXYX-nh_QwlOZAXqx87mix_sk2l4jYJe7SU/s200/alien+doctor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
So I had surgery on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. The following is a true story.<br />
<br />
"Have you ever had surgery before," a nurse asked as she was inputting my information into her computer.<br />
"Yes. Once, on my back, three years ago," I answered slowly as the morphine began to kick in, taking away the pain pulsating throughout my back.<br />
As another nurse continued to get me ready for my surgery she stopped at my right calf.<span class="text_exposed_show"><br />"What about this scar," the second nurse asked. "What was this surgery for?"<br />"That's not from a surgery."<br />The first nurse stepped over to look at my leg as well. Both nurses looked at me as if I was just caught with my hand in the cookie jar.<br />"Sir, that's a surgical scar," the first nurse began to scold. "It looks like a botched surgery at that. We need to know all your past medical history."<br />"It's an alien surgery. I went to sleep with nothing wrong with my leg and woke up six hours later with that, just as it is."<br />The nurse looked at me as if I just lost my mind.<br />"It's true. That's also why you guys keep drawing so much blood from me, the aliens are using it to clone me."<br />"Okay then," the nurse said, going back to her computer without missing a beat. "Are you allergic to any medication?"<br /> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/surgery?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stlukeshospital?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/aliensurgery?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/alienabduction?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/aliens?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/thetruthisoutthere?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/clones?source=feed_text"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></span></a></span>Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-6011525233206379502018-01-09T07:39:00.001-06:002018-01-09T07:39:30.342-06:00A Hole in My Leg
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AtnwSST5ZcDcbx97tRpqL69YW_jq4xv11jdh8FJYjruqV1AeJEFUiWO7u24_iiHV0J-TpBaYaHd-VV_FeAE4fZpd8PVKXaOoxJzdTSwopXG14OV7Icg73gHdpy9CnQH7tpIdULWnfPxq/s1600/alien+surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AtnwSST5ZcDcbx97tRpqL69YW_jq4xv11jdh8FJYjruqV1AeJEFUiWO7u24_iiHV0J-TpBaYaHd-VV_FeAE4fZpd8PVKXaOoxJzdTSwopXG14OV7Icg73gHdpy9CnQH7tpIdULWnfPxq/s320/alien+surgery.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Aliens
exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are different species
fighting each other for the right to control this planet and most humans have
no clue about what’s going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those
innocent humans who are abducted, they are used as lab rats, having implants
put in them without their knowledge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“There are
a handful of rebel humans who know the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We fight the aliens where we can, but it’s not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have the power to paralyze us, taking
pieces of us while we sleep, or outright killing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know all of this because I am one of those
warriors, and they found me last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It was
like any other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got in bed,
pulling the covers over me tightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
heater is not working properly so I was trying to get as warm as possible on my
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not long before I passed
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I woke up, my blanket was
missing, my bedspread had small traces of blood and there was a round scab on
my right calf about an inch round.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“The scab
was black and hard, as if it had been on my leg for weeks, not hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to peel the scab off slowly and to my
surprise it came off in one piece, almost like a band aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see that the hole went about a
quarter of an inch deep, give or take, and was cone shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked like someone had removed the calf
meat surgically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too perfectly
round.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Uh, why
are you telling me all of this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m just
trying to explain why I’m not coming into work this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-85086402687119011092017-12-23T06:18:00.002-06:002017-12-23T06:18:56.403-06:00Elevator Car #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer3QOPAgpJYIqvr_iyajihJ-We7bsyH7yffIE-Zx8N4kggBS8cjuvoc4nxTKs1q1hRqBBZ0kMnrw6DJEqsl2eLGHHtcYA_DrVsk71I0T0pM9f5M9WeJBuhfRgKef76IF6eJYTlAqvYlgG/s1600/PhotoGrid_1514023629081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer3QOPAgpJYIqvr_iyajihJ-We7bsyH7yffIE-Zx8N4kggBS8cjuvoc4nxTKs1q1hRqBBZ0kMnrw6DJEqsl2eLGHHtcYA_DrVsk71I0T0pM9f5M9WeJBuhfRgKef76IF6eJYTlAqvYlgG/s640/PhotoGrid_1514023629081.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
barely escaped with my life last night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elevator
#3 tried to eat me alive.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When
I first saw it, I noticed the elevator door was wide open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was walking slowly toward the elevator, expecting
the door to close well before I got there but it stayed open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There could only be one of two reasons for this,
either the elevator was put in independent mode or something was in the track,
keeping the elevator door from closing properly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
looked down at the track and seen it was clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stepping inside, the door started to close quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The image of a Venus flytrap popped into my
head and I put my arm in the doorway to trigger the safety feature of keeping
the door from closing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much to my horror
the door kept moving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Panic
set in and I put my entire body in the doorway, trying to get out of the
elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set my feet against the wall
and pushed with all my might, finally opening the door enough that I could step
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I broke free the door slid wide
open once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“What
the hell was that,” I asked myself out loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It had to be a fluke.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
set one foot into the elevator and the door began to close quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped backward, out of the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door flew open once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“No
way,” I laughed to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Being
the idiot I am I reached a hand across the threshold and the door began to
close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled my hand back, snapping
the door wide open once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With more
laughter I teased the elevator, waving a hand back and forth across the
threshold, making it excitedly close the door, only to pull my hand back,
making it open up in frustration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You
put your left foot in,” I teased, sticking my foot over the threshold, “you put
your left foot out,” pulling it out of the way of the closing door. “You put
your left foot in and shaking it all about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
laughed harder as each time a body part crossed the threshold the door tried
closing faster than it had before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
enjoying myself, feeling cocky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You
put your big butt in and you shake it all… OH SHIT!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
slipped and fell to the floor as the door began to slam close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scrambled toward the door, my life flashing
before my eyes as the image of a Venus flytrap filled my mind once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Luckily
I was able to get my head and shoulders through the opening before the door was
able to completely close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door
slammed into my chest and open just slightly before it tried closing
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It repeated this process over and
over, trying to chew me up before swallowing me whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
kept pulling myself forward as the door opened and closed, tenderizing my
body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally I was able to get to my
feet and jumped out of the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
door opened wide, taunting me with its small victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stared in disbelief at my own reflection in
the back of the elevator, wondering what the hell was going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
elevator door slammed closed quickly and dropped down to the first floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have sworn I heard a dark metallic laugh
as someone stepped into the elevator on the first floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It finally got its meal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-40663463020479869842017-12-06T08:24:00.001-06:002017-12-06T08:24:15.045-06:00Two Points of View<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyYO9XAFGO6D3p9E5MQl-solCqOqwTnb-SJL14kAUGyZ12l7iCGmExCPnJXyoS7069AOcO_4Nyya7J24b6G4hqpWvIVLloreOmFn95SVAYEJ7R8UWcALYsm-na6mmH-EXtkGlFwM-YJyn/s1600/puddle-jumper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyYO9XAFGO6D3p9E5MQl-solCqOqwTnb-SJL14kAUGyZ12l7iCGmExCPnJXyoS7069AOcO_4Nyya7J24b6G4hqpWvIVLloreOmFn95SVAYEJ7R8UWcALYsm-na6mmH-EXtkGlFwM-YJyn/s200/puddle-jumper.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I hate the rain. It’s cold and sad. I’m getting soaked, stuck in this stupid
rain, and it’s all <i>her</i> fault. Look at her!
She doesn’t even care how miserable I am. If she would have listened to me we would be
riding the bus home instead of walking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Oh how I love the rain. I love jumping in the puddles and making the
water splash, it’s so much fun. I’m
sorry big brother, but mom says you have to stay with me no matter what. I know you wanted to ride the bus but I
wanted to play in the rain instead of riding in that big old stinky bus. I wish you could have as much fun as I do in
the rain. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Oh look, here comes
another puddle.</span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-584648106658471192017-02-08T12:56:00.003-06:002017-02-08T12:56:49.437-06:00Capping my pen<div data-contents="true">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="5nb1s-0-0">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eYjyA4uekREfr9SITZLU7D4xMJKVRflLkbvyuygC5gFfKRQxvGX8tDY30fAb-Ssu3s2-LVxpq4Dl-wopXhQZYMZxA_JgvAe_C0Q3japh7NnypGx_lEIDFtkRpEHtRdiGoMyb0NEQQVon/s1600/pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eYjyA4uekREfr9SITZLU7D4xMJKVRflLkbvyuygC5gFfKRQxvGX8tDY30fAb-Ssu3s2-LVxpq4Dl-wopXhQZYMZxA_JgvAe_C0Q3japh7NnypGx_lEIDFtkRpEHtRdiGoMyb0NEQQVon/s200/pen.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5nb1s-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5nb1s-0-0"><span data-text="true">It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing I will no longer be writing on a regular bases. Something has happened medically and I am unable to write in the same manner.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="3jcci-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3jcci-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3jcci-0-0"><span data-text="true">From time to time, if I am able, I will post something small, but do not expect much.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="bdfuq-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bdfuq-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bdfuq-0-0"><span data-text="true">I am redesigning my quotes and free verse in hopes to rekindle the fire in my brain. I have put careful thought into the design, the wording, the font, the colors. I just hope you can feel what I am trying to portray.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="af1sr-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="af1sr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="af1sr-0-0"><span data-text="true">I have thought long and hard on this and it is not a decision I came to lightly. It is just something I am no longer able to do.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="3k0h3-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3k0h3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3k0h3-0-0"><span data-text="true">No more is more sadden my this announcement than myself. I love the written word and to give it us is painful indeed.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="5flpt-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5flpt-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5flpt-0-0"><span data-text="true">If you wish to know why I am no longer writing, send me a message and I will tell you, I owe my fans that much, but I do not wish to disclose it publicly.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dbojs" data-offset-key="91j35-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="91j35-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="91j35-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank you for your support and understanding.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-20841442418034510252016-10-29T02:39:00.002-05:002016-10-29T02:39:43.569-05:00Hunting in the Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T4JpvG4AA7jAYT_FRU-oAhDwccC2TTrFSXtS2e0d7iDk_UgdGd6SBQYP20TzkJuHkMjMDKiRod0lUPdzrT5yZZq5Coa4wCyn_4LngxFwbyD-qtcBM_JKrHYgeVaYccvjsAQn9pXpiS4u/s1600/evil+wolf.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T4JpvG4AA7jAYT_FRU-oAhDwccC2TTrFSXtS2e0d7iDk_UgdGd6SBQYP20TzkJuHkMjMDKiRod0lUPdzrT5yZZq5Coa4wCyn_4LngxFwbyD-qtcBM_JKrHYgeVaYccvjsAQn9pXpiS4u/s320/evil+wolf.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I have danced with demons, faced Death and laughed in
his face. I have fought with things not of this world or realm. I have lived in
the darkness my entire life and I have made it my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there is something new in the darkness
and for the first time, I am alarmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I am not afraid, yet, because I do not know what it
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is surrounding
me slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is cutting me off from the
rest of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is stalking me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is on the hunt for I have now become its
prey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I am not emotional nor do I feel depressed but I am
cut off from the world, being consumed in this new darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-66992051579738481732016-10-11T01:51:00.000-05:002016-10-11T01:51:04.028-05:00Searching For Peace - From The Story Teller book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-lZlKCcTSI_28gL5mUXhGggY-A2adbcPnGf3c0QCC6ij_30TeBM4JYBjQX-KVXCPWeBKXdAeQt2h0-0gAsOm14KgfxlMLZvBMleZXfNCWn1quwjuHLzb1BqN9PDWavUtrTTyWvc34h2i/s1600/streetlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-lZlKCcTSI_28gL5mUXhGggY-A2adbcPnGf3c0QCC6ij_30TeBM4JYBjQX-KVXCPWeBKXdAeQt2h0-0gAsOm14KgfxlMLZvBMleZXfNCWn1quwjuHLzb1BqN9PDWavUtrTTyWvc34h2i/s640/streetlight.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Kids can be so cruel.’<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Forgive them father for they know
not what they do.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Revenge is a dish best served
cold.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Vengeance is mine, so sayeth the
Lord.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘But you can hurt him; break him
like he broke you.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘He has fear in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need to do this.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Shut
up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just shut up!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Bu…
bu… I di… d… didn’t say…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
punched Sonny across his jaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not
want to hear Sonny speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not
even want to hear Sonny crying but Jerry knew he could not stop that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Still
don’t remember me do you, you sorry piece of shit!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
pushed the barrel of a .45 semi-automatic pistol into the side of Sonny’s head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I
ought to blow your sorry ass away right here, right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Please,
I’ll give you anything you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ju… ju…
just don’t hurt me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Who
would have guessed that big BAD ASS Sonny Flores, Captain of the football team,
would be cryin’ like a little girl?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
hit Sonny in the back of the neck with the butt of the pistol. Sonny fell
forward into a puddle of dirty grimy black water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two of them were standing in a dark alley
behind Murphy’s Bar in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Detroit</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bar was located in a rundown area on the
“wrong side of the tracks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
alley was completely dark except for the single light mounted over the back
door of the bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The light shined on the
two men like a spotlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry and
Sonny were the only things visible in the alley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Both
men grew up in the ghettos of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Houston</st1:place></st1:city>,
attending the same schools since elementary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny was the cool guy that everyone wanted to hang out with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry was the fat kid that Sonny use to pick
on and make cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence why Sonny became
the cool kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As
they got older teasing and calling Jerry names was not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Sonny always had four guys hanging
around him, “yes men,” Sonny decided to get more aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">One
day during seventh grade gym the five boys cornered Jerry in the locker
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry tried to run but Sonny
tripped him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry fell hard on the tile
floor, cutting his arm on an open locker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
boys laughed and walked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny got
the taste of blood and wanted more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whenever Sonny got the urge to inflict pain he would go looking for
Jerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys would beat Jerry on his
body, making sure never to hit his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
use to tell Jerry that if he ever told anyone Sonny would kill him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Sonny would beat Jerry so bad that Jerry
use to wish he was dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry learned
to hide the bruises and pain very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">By
the time high school rolled around Jerry had slimmed down a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eighty-five pounds to be exact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry also grew to the height of six foot
even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer was the only relief Jerry
got from Sonny and his goons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
always had to leave for the summer and his “yes men” were lost without their
leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry thought that this year was
going to be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He himself was
different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
would not have a fat kid to push around anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact Sonny was going to have to look up if
he wanted to talk to Jerry face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">First
day of school was always the worst for Jerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny figured he had three months of ass whippings to dish out and he
wanted to get it all done on the first day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">At
school Jerry tried to stand up for himself but that would only make Sonny
angrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, since Jerry was taller
and skinnier, it was not as much fun for Sonny as it use to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Most
of the year was better for Jerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny
and his goons only beat up Jerry once a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jerry would fight back now of course, but he was always outnumbered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Since
the beatings were not as frequent or as bad as before Jerry was able to make a
few friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His friends would tell
Jerry to stand up for himself and how they would back him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Sonny and his goons showed up it became
a different story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They talked big but
when it came right down to a fight they would disappear, leaving Jerry alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
decided to go back to teasing Jerry mostly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would trip Jerry in the cafeteria, causing Jerry to drop his food
tray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In gym Sonny would try to pull
down Jerry’s shorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few times he
succeeded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mental torture would get
worse as school went on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
wished that Sonny would go back to the beatings every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, at least, Jerry knew how to deal with
and no one would ever know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny,
however, was having too much fun tormenting Jerry and was not about to stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Senior
year rolled around and Jerry had met a girl over the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had moved from <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Hampshire</st1:place></st1:state> and was a knockout, the
hottest girl in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was Jerry’s
neighbor and for some unknown reason she like Jerry very much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Two
weeks into the school year Sonny decided he should have the hottest girl in school
not Jerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny tried embarrassing
Jerry in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the more
Sonny tried the more she felt sorry for Jerry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
week of Fall Semester finals Sonny had enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His popularity was beginning to go down because Jerry was not as
affected anymore by Sonny’s cruelty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny decided time came for Jerry to really suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
was always the last person to leave the locker room during gym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny waited till everyone left the locker
room and locked the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry thought
he was alone so he never seen the bat coming as he got to the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
room began to spin and Jerry touched his forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His nose was broken and bleeding badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry looked up to see Sonny holding a metal
bat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry’s eyes grew large as Sonny
swung the bat at Jerry’s jaw, breaking it upon impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
wanted to break Jerry’s jaw first so that Jerry could not scream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny continued to beat Jerry with the bat,
swinging with all his might.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">WHUMP!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CRACK!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">With
every blow Jerry’s bones were breaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny made sure to hit Jerry all over his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His ribs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The last blow was to Jerry’s testicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pain was so severe that Jerry began to black out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
dropped the bat and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny grabbed Jerry by the hair on his head
and dragged him to the showers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny
handcuffed Jerry around the shower stall, facing the wall and forcing Jerry to
stand on his broken legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
yanked down Jerry’s gym shorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went
back and grabbed the bat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny came
back and tied a gag around Jerry’s mouth, tying it tight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain in Jerry’s jaw increased with the
pressure of the gag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Without
warning Sonny shoved the handle of the bat into Jerry’s ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry screamed, despite his broken jaw, but
the screams were muffled by the gag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny pushed until the lip on the bottom of the bat was inside Jerry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
then yanked out the bat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He swung with
all his might at Jerry’s hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cracking of Jerry’s fingers as the bones broke was a deafening sound to
Jerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny took two more swings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One at each of Jerry’s knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weight of Jerry’s body fell as his knees
were broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
turned the hot water on full blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
did not take long before the water was scolding hot and burning Jerry’s
skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His body began to go into shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry passed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">No
one ever saw Jerry again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwljLI2ZzQNAFHChbBiIyF38bwjNG_uOyZS9vyVDPkxF3NVQnl9NtdAabSSl_josIQwNPWAABZK8x20jLi27Wh5wel0HEkxEDmYwcNWiQ_r2JJ2tbEkWJALk9TUd-SRaKs61vdlgY4bOD/s1600/shadow+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwljLI2ZzQNAFHChbBiIyF38bwjNG_uOyZS9vyVDPkxF3NVQnl9NtdAabSSl_josIQwNPWAABZK8x20jLi27Wh5wel0HEkxEDmYwcNWiQ_r2JJ2tbEkWJALk9TUd-SRaKs61vdlgY4bOD/s400/shadow+boy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Kill him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shoot him in the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried to kill you.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Thou shall not kill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vengeance is mine, so sayeth the Lord.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Where was God all those years when
he was killing you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DO IT!’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Aaaah!”
Jerry screamed as he put both hands to his ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just shut up and leave me alone!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sonny
looked at the man holding him hostage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny had no idea who he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
man seemed to be going crazy and Sonny saw a chance to run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
noticed Sonny was trying to get up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
pointed the gun back at Sonny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Don’t
you move you sorry piece of shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re
not going anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the fuck did you
follow me here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huh?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did I ever do to you for you to hate me
so much?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Look
mis… mister, I swear I don’t know you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sonny was trying to suck up his tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I think you got me confused with someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you let me…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“The
hell you don’t know me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took fifteen
reconstructive surgeries and four years in rehab to heal the damage you did to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of you I can never have
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m going to die a virgin
you sick fuck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to be left
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just couldn’t stand for me to
be happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All because I was FAT!!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
kicked Sonny in the gut, making Sonny double over and fall back into the dirty
water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You
ruined my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You killed me before I
ever had a chance to live!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Jerry,”
Sonny murmured, “you’re Jerry?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“That’s
right motherfucker,” Jerry shouted as he kicked Sonny again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I thought I was rid of you for good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you show up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t you just leave me alone?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘You know he won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shoot him in the
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death is the only answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the only chance you have at peace.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Yea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death is my only chance at peace.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Jerry
you weak ass pussy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You aint got the
guts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why you are a loser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always have been and always will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your girl realized that after you left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fucked and laughed at you for the rest of
the school year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Shoot him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He deserves it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After everything he did to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come on, you know you want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just pull the trigger and it all ends.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUw_8Xn0v_WhV2MKb0MmTz3FExkitH8atXtHieewWItAvaubx7vLlqNxVEboF-ith4W4VzPVQDn9B_vEwT6JSbq5jAH_he3yq1MvlzOlbSoNW-7q1YUGjpaGwgyei64dWNH8tov5hYdSx/s1600/alley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUw_8Xn0v_WhV2MKb0MmTz3FExkitH8atXtHieewWItAvaubx7vLlqNxVEboF-ith4W4VzPVQDn9B_vEwT6JSbq5jAH_he3yq1MvlzOlbSoNW-7q1YUGjpaGwgyei64dWNH8tov5hYdSx/s640/alley.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shut up!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jerry turned to his left and pointed the gun at the shadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why can’t you just shut up and leave me
alone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just leave me in peace!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Who
the fuck are you talking to,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny
began to stand up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jerry I’m going to
take that gun and shove it up your ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just like old times.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonny was
laughing as he walked toward Jerry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jerry
snapped the gun back in Sonny’s direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Do it Jerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kill him!’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘No, death is not the answer.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">‘Don’t listen to that pussy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why Sonny beat you up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be a fucking man and kill him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DEATH IS THE ONLY ANSWER FOR YOU JERRY!’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Just
leave me alone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I ever wanted is
peace and quiet!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Losers
never get what they want Jerry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">BAM!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Thump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">BAM!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Finally
peace and quiet is found as a lone figure departs into the shadows… smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-65637598959300730402016-10-05T13:52:00.003-05:002016-10-05T13:52:56.652-05:00Her Footprints<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdK1fUHX3KG5-txpJ4kFW9lLl1710n6pJc5dStAZRIhmpVKAQCXQtGAqIZ4TnECstxtJdlRqxX6p-1IxSv7f3DbRPFf8Eijxomq-uNwSZQUao7P6V0KzE_mVCGTlViFe1zjrHnbwoyyiN/s1600/footprints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdK1fUHX3KG5-txpJ4kFW9lLl1710n6pJc5dStAZRIhmpVKAQCXQtGAqIZ4TnECstxtJdlRqxX6p-1IxSv7f3DbRPFf8Eijxomq-uNwSZQUao7P6V0KzE_mVCGTlViFe1zjrHnbwoyyiN/s320/footprints.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0in;">
One night I dreamed a
dream.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I was walking along the
beach with my Lord.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Across the dark sky
flashed scenes from my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
For each scene, I noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
One belonged to me and one
to my Lord.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
When the last scene of my
life shot before me,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I looked back at the
footprints in the sand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
There was only one set of
footprints.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I realized that this was
at the lowest</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
And saddest times of my
life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
This always bothered me</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
And I questioned the Lord
about my dilemma.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
“Lord, You told me when I
decided to follow You</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You would walk and talk
with me all the way</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
But I’m aware that during
the most troublesome times of my life,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
There is only one set of
footprints,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I just don’t understand
why, when I need You the most,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You leave me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
He whispered, “My precious
child, I love you</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
And will never leave you,
never, ever,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
During your trials and
testings</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
When you saw only one set
of footprints,</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
It was then that I carried
you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
The year I lived with my
grandmother she had this poem, so famously printed over surf and sand, hanging
in the one place where everyone in the house would see it, the restroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone went there and everyone read it
before they left the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a constant
reminder for our day to day lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
When I came back home to Texas
this poem followed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother had a
copy of the same picture hanging in our restroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bookmarks of it were everywhere and I had one
as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I would read it, I would
think of my grandmother and all that she taught me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
But just like footprints
in the sand, the surf of time would slowly erase the prints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This happened when my grandmother took her
last breath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
I was not fortunate enough
to spend as much time with my grandmother as some of my other cousins did but I
can recall all the time that I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was so much strength, so much wisdom in this tiny lady, and she shared it with
everyone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
Discipline was never
lacking in my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoppins and
scoldings were plenty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even at the end
of her life I witnessed this when she was talking to one of my cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That fire burned bright when she scolded her
for picking on her younger brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
smiled and laughed and that fire was directed at me for laughing at my cousin,
burning me like when I was a teen, but this time I was grateful for it.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVOuLc3p321IMoxJE2FjQmrz50AmCIGWkn_qXtj7lYfKodnqMLI7kRncyg1WRFY9tNg51WWd-BXm2NPU5eO8YLl1SlfHMHPFB6TAv42KWJtvUYbIckuqK8Eb-ssh_-NYmkAJGXG-Q5Rdv/s1600/20141102_145143%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVOuLc3p321IMoxJE2FjQmrz50AmCIGWkn_qXtj7lYfKodnqMLI7kRncyg1WRFY9tNg51WWd-BXm2NPU5eO8YLl1SlfHMHPFB6TAv42KWJtvUYbIckuqK8Eb-ssh_-NYmkAJGXG-Q5Rdv/s320/20141102_145143%257E2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Grandma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
“I’m sorry grandma,” was
my reflex response, but the reason for my sorrow was not what it once would
have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sorry for I knew I
would never hear those scoldings words of wisdom again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just stood up from the table, gathered the
dirty dishes and gave her a kiss on her cheek before heading to the kitchen
sink.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
I can remember ever
whoopin I received from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
spoon, every flip flop, and every switch beating I took for my misactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every scolding that followed those
disciplines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may have been a large
young man, but I was never too old to be whooped, as long as she had the
strength to do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
At the time each
discipline had always been filled me with fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, I smile and laugh as I can feel my grandmother’s warmth and love with
each stroke of discipline.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
Now I know that when times
are hard, when the floodgates of grief open up over missing her wash over me, I
can read this poem and know she is with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her footprints will always be with me.</div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-77459956936236107502016-10-04T06:51:00.004-05:002016-10-04T09:55:42.011-05:00Clowns!!!<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">With all this over
reactions to the Clown stuff going on, here is a little story I wrote in
December, 2015.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRwvshxWc_XqrfQhZ7o_qvuTpaQ7Mm7vammONLAH7jfum_LWS4Z1Gal5nO8-pK7Dz8HwG2DqBNSa36ze7KXCxVSOoklX8uVmIXXqddZy6PfEB9zz_EzaHEbc-bHebTJ5Fngpy-DI4rP6b/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRwvshxWc_XqrfQhZ7o_qvuTpaQ7Mm7vammONLAH7jfum_LWS4Z1Gal5nO8-pK7Dz8HwG2DqBNSa36ze7KXCxVSOoklX8uVmIXXqddZy6PfEB9zz_EzaHEbc-bHebTJ5Fngpy-DI4rP6b/s320/shoes.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">You're in an office
building at night. No one else has access, just you. You're sitting on the
toilet doing your business when all of a sudden you hear the door to the
restroom open. Your heart skips a beat as your entire body stiffens in silence.
You can hear soft footprints shuffle closer as the tips of two really large
long red feet stop in front of your stall. You are unable to see through the
door cracks. The only thing visible are the large red feet and the yellow with
blue pokadots baggy pants. What do you do? </span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Max M. Power<span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-67285563966401377932016-09-14T15:18:00.001-05:002016-09-14T15:18:33.572-05:00An Open Letter <p dir="ltr">I wrote this six years ago today. Still I have no agent. Not sure if that's good or bad. </p>
<p dir="ltr">"Dear Literary Agent,<br>
I have been searching high and low for you, looking everywhere I can for you. I hope to capture your attention and hold it with my written words. I promise you, good or bad, I will stir something up inside you, just ask anyone on the list of people I give you to ask, I have paid them well to speak highly of me. ;)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Forever Yours,</p>
<p dir="ltr">A Writer."</p>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-29236290791699138932016-09-11T07:56:00.000-05:002016-09-11T07:56:00.230-05:00Der Baron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpROr0FR0V_nZyfAH-QhHiRfez1F6JT8bHNtcCzALOM1Sltgxwyj88vYAMC-vnhPvb4NmR0d9z6qYxx1z3fn0o7K2ARMC5zwWVcP1rtFLjSgsEyCHRBr1IVkd2eo8Ludvo3DxPcpmq6cw/s1600/WWI+Ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpROr0FR0V_nZyfAH-QhHiRfez1F6JT8bHNtcCzALOM1Sltgxwyj88vYAMC-vnhPvb4NmR0d9z6qYxx1z3fn0o7K2ARMC5zwWVcP1rtFLjSgsEyCHRBr1IVkd2eo8Ludvo3DxPcpmq6cw/s320/WWI+Ace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
sirens began to scream, that could only mean one thing, he is returning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Quickly
I gulp down the warm dark brew that remained in my hard glass mug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slamming it down on the table, I wiped away
the residue from my mouth as I ran toward the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other lads, coming from whatever they
were just doing, were running toward the same place I was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
jumped up quickly, kicking my feet out in front of me, my right foot, then my
left, testing the rudders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed the
stick in front of me, swinging it round in a circle in front of me, making sure
it was free of obstruction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Contact,”
I yell, letting my mechanic know I’m ready for him to cranky my propeller.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">With
a hard yank down, the magnetos catch on the first try, causing my whole craft
to shake as the engine sputters roughly before I push the throttle forward
slowly, trying not to flood the engine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The wind generated by my propeller is slapping me in the face with cool
air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
push the throttle forward all the way and away I go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pull back on the stick just in time to see
a silhouette of three wings flying high overhead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My comrades and I bank to the left, giving
chase.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In
a matter of minutes we are within reach, anger building as he taunts us, flying
in a circle, waiting for us to catch up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
hear the sounds of guns firing as the first pilot engages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fired too quickly and our joint enemy
pulls up into a loop, firing as he reaches the top, smoke puffing out of the
engine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have sustained our first casualty
of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">One
by one I witness my fellow lads fall from the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time things will be different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Round
and round we fly, circling each other, but unable to hit him as I fire my
guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he is toying with me as I
can hear him laughing at me as he passes over me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Circling
back around, he fires on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Direct hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bail out, floating down to the ground as he
salutes before rolling a barrel roll and flying off into the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Someday
I’ll get you, Red Baron!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-74277967574804784582016-09-10T01:34:00.001-05:002016-09-10T01:34:05.324-05:00This is NOT a fake story<div data-contents="true">
<div data-block="true" data-editor="d8a19" data-offset-key="90i07-0-0">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7VAkd59W4nubMgTBiorZDV9KhZaPCJzeFVdfYu_ACb9FXnAKJrjd6ATVt63wQdZjZCJpUxsAHV1CP-fCoUTc4YSv3YmpiC7FMhQhA1Ki8VFrflx8eJPYmetrXhuQ_QfCLiXEScI7nSzA/s1600/_20160910_011537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7VAkd59W4nubMgTBiorZDV9KhZaPCJzeFVdfYu_ACb9FXnAKJrjd6ATVt63wQdZjZCJpUxsAHV1CP-fCoUTc4YSv3YmpiC7FMhQhA1Ki8VFrflx8eJPYmetrXhuQ_QfCLiXEScI7nSzA/s320/_20160910_011537.JPG" width="160" /></a></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="90i07-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="90i07-0-0"><span data-text="true">Turns out I have a target on my back and it's coming from Google. So if all of a sudden you can no longer email me or get ahold of me in any way that relates to Google you know why.</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="90i07-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="90i07-0-0"><span data-text="true">They have already shut down my apps. Problem is, Google thinks I can't live without them. They don't know me very well do they?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="d8a19" data-offset-key="8ukq0-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8ukq0-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8ukq0-0-0"><span data-text="true">And I thought the Clintons were bad.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-35581452999171518762016-09-03T04:21:00.001-05:002016-09-03T04:21:36.706-05:00I am a Gray Jedi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UiHgdjyEM12RpUlQWar753RfNHeiRybcK23yXd4eVdxcIZpqlfSOX1v0_MyOVMF9m85-XvwL0XKozZspSY8qwAUEKqVTeJCBes7KCjflrcwsf7PxgXyiDZCL1EiCl8YDuEm1upD0ZNXz/s1600/grey-jedi+duel+lightsaber.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UiHgdjyEM12RpUlQWar753RfNHeiRybcK23yXd4eVdxcIZpqlfSOX1v0_MyOVMF9m85-XvwL0XKozZspSY8qwAUEKqVTeJCBes7KCjflrcwsf7PxgXyiDZCL1EiCl8YDuEm1upD0ZNXz/s200/grey-jedi+duel+lightsaber.png" width="105" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">What does it mean to be a
Jedi?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it doesn’t mean what you see
in the movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t mean I can
move things with my mind or make people do things they don’t want to do with
mind tricks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Is there some belief that there is
a mystical power that guides us, encourages us in matters of right or wrong,
surrounds us and even though we can not see it, we can feel its presence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that’s what the rest of the world calls
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I have studied most major religions
in the world and have come to the conclusion that they are all basically the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same Gods known by different
names based on different religions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
all major religions there are different sects, breaking off into smaller parts
because they believe slightly different than everyone else, so too is it with
Jedi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In every major religion you have
those that are calm about their beliefs and you have those who are extreme,
believing that all should believe as they do or face death; the light and the
dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is a third, one who can
walk on both sides and not be harmed, in the Jedi Order they are called Gray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In the beginning of every religion,
all are Gray, living in balance of the positive and negative emotions that live
within us all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere along the way
there was a split, diving people into extremist, even Jedi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLwR0iPLeCeY5GyZVIt009j_Nj2rZp9Qa-mCPnWwjvhq5X3yZvY1ryEmyPmBweRoJGjOBXHPaYWNOodR0TaQm0IYrprEuIVKQYKHPvq8-Ho158WkIq1sr5D0BhdpLvOACkMe3UWLPC6WG/s1600/Jedi.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLwR0iPLeCeY5GyZVIt009j_Nj2rZp9Qa-mCPnWwjvhq5X3yZvY1ryEmyPmBweRoJGjOBXHPaYWNOodR0TaQm0IYrprEuIVKQYKHPvq8-Ho158WkIq1sr5D0BhdpLvOACkMe3UWLPC6WG/s200/Jedi.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The light side believes they are
not extremist but when you believe in an all or nothing concept of life then
that is an extremist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dark side
believes in the same concept, just on the opposite end from the light and in separating
themselves from the rest have chosen to give themselves a different name,
Sith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite what you call one another,
Jedi, Sith, or Gray, it is still the same belief, just like in any other
religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Jedi Code</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no Emotion, there is Peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no Ignorance, there is
Knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no Passion, there is
Serenity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no Chaos, there is
Harmony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no Death, there is the
Force.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbwnvSUevSYaHWNrNJ-I75ohxhrfSMSqftTvX9NZ3DllHOYY8bj1HKXuOcKSn7Xkt_qdun4rzvUzIWB9oEgIOgbRKsVV4M7sN7RMMayK_l9jyCsliP6Ag6WPPiOpaVg72CowXaaJQ-Sz8/s1600/Sith.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbwnvSUevSYaHWNrNJ-I75ohxhrfSMSqftTvX9NZ3DllHOYY8bj1HKXuOcKSn7Xkt_qdun4rzvUzIWB9oEgIOgbRKsVV4M7sN7RMMayK_l9jyCsliP6Ag6WPPiOpaVg72CowXaaJQ-Sz8/s200/Sith.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Sith Code</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace is a lie, there is only passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through passion, I gain strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through strength, I gain power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through power, I gain victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through victory, my chains are broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Force shall free me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Can you see the extremism?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No this, only that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t give you a choice really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I chose to be a Gray Jedi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6SFvFrYxOATuLIjBUKb5v7iO1ZcYCL6ofXBf__tm_EuWskKB2relL93Unh-yTRVfTmTXf-7uX8A3YXNcBVVnmx3U8th_3IAy93crAoXVRqSOCZrgxEktZ89KSjbacaE8Ymo36HOM9deT/s1600/Gray+Order+Code.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6SFvFrYxOATuLIjBUKb5v7iO1ZcYCL6ofXBf__tm_EuWskKB2relL93Unh-yTRVfTmTXf-7uX8A3YXNcBVVnmx3U8th_3IAy93crAoXVRqSOCZrgxEktZ89KSjbacaE8Ymo36HOM9deT/s200/Gray+Order+Code.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Gray Code</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must be both dark and light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will do what I must to keep the balance, as
the balance is what holds all life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no good without evil, but evil must <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> be allowed to flourish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is passion, yet peace; serenity, yet emotion; chaos, yet
order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a wielder of the flame; a
champion of balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a guardian of
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a Gray Jedi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I have always felt I was something
more than what Christianity said I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have always felt there is something more to our universe than what the
Bible, Quran, or Shruti have to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have always felt that my soul belonged to another time period, I have always
felt I was Samurai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Return of the Jedi was the first
Star Wars movie I seen and I knew I wanted to be a Jedi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was told the Jedi were bad because the
Force was really magic and as a kid that was crushing to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I grew up I still wanted to be a Jedi, I
believed in their philosophy more than any other religion.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The Jedi Religion was first
discussed in 2001, but it was tainted with people trying to do the things in
the movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it became an official religion
in 2011, I too laughed but was glad at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was no longer the only one who wanted to be
a true Jedi.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I, however, still lived with fear
in saying I am a Jedi while being surrounded by Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the Bible, I studied for a long time,
but I still wanted to be a Jedi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
I lived in fear and that fear was beginning to take over, and I knew that was
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Jedi should not have to hide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I am a Jedi of the Gray Order, and
I will no longer live in fear of telling anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be laughed at and poked fun of, but
that will be no different than any other time growing up as a Jehovah’s
Witness.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOJCqDurBYR9jBHPaItJvvEEajFiWNy6McsPfu6B99AltCY9YKItLC9ayKgHfvjpCXB45dKGrimCCxEQ0YLNPviuURsd0IZD-KmR5fVhex5fuuRu5wrs7DUCt8UW9W5bYcVooAtmqPqgn/s1600/Gray+Jedi+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOJCqDurBYR9jBHPaItJvvEEajFiWNy6McsPfu6B99AltCY9YKItLC9ayKgHfvjpCXB45dKGrimCCxEQ0YLNPviuURsd0IZD-KmR5fVhex5fuuRu5wrs7DUCt8UW9W5bYcVooAtmqPqgn/s400/Gray+Jedi+Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span> </div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-72989386696170740302016-08-21T06:21:00.002-05:002016-08-21T06:21:49.000-05:00Alien Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqeChCrARTbOWZ0Kt6mEnMBaemgTlo-1eKCZZjhWIDCjqFiVdvoo40jn9p5eMiF_m3kp0cCFaoXw4Vb13P_mzsQUw12mKv1IqO5ntqvxdl9X4ixI0OtpUd5cjMfdlUI_khY4EBobprSiY/s1600/Alien+abduction+-+Grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqeChCrARTbOWZ0Kt6mEnMBaemgTlo-1eKCZZjhWIDCjqFiVdvoo40jn9p5eMiF_m3kp0cCFaoXw4Vb13P_mzsQUw12mKv1IqO5ntqvxdl9X4ixI0OtpUd5cjMfdlUI_khY4EBobprSiY/s320/Alien+abduction+-+Grey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There was a pounding in my
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a sledge hammer against a
metal door, trying to break it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unlike a normal headache, this pounding was coming from the outside in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone or some, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thing</i>, was trying to get inside my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I woke up, holding my head in my
hands, as if trying to brace myself from the impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach began to rumble, yelling at me
over the meal I had before going to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I took a deep breathe, letting it out slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took another then another, I did not want
to get sick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The fog surrounding my head was
beginning to burn away and I lifted my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s when I saw them, two gray aliens with a mysterious look on their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I tried to scream out but one of
the aliens threw up his hand and my screams became muffled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other alien grabbed both of my ankles and
flipped me over, off of the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My feet
hit the floor as the alien let go of me and grabbed the rest of the blanket,
throwing it over me, wrapping me up in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I started thrashing about, trying
to kick my way out of the blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aliens
began to drag me out of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
started kicking even harder, hitting one of the aliens, causing him to let go
of the blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the distraction I
was able to free myself from the blanket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I started crawling away but the
aliens reached back and grabbed me again, dragging me out of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struggled more and more but there was
nothing I could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since my voice was
still muffled my stomach began to scream in protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The aliens looked back at me as my
stomach growled at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A worried look
passed between them before looking up in the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were ready for pick up and time was of
the essence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">They continued to drag me further
out into my front yard so that I was clear of the large pine tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach continued to yell at them and their
fear was growing more intense with each gurgle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN7K5JQzIyyfgAJmM41VO9wYe_qTRfmFiSCACsE2-C5V_pWLUjyCUhfoMFaMDKbTIK4CIo4QrfUQx3_tuwqqPYhvnykzsGVGgMDec3VymjS_JyLAMost04D7j8EKmH_smrju3nFV68ce5/s1600/anal+probe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN7K5JQzIyyfgAJmM41VO9wYe_qTRfmFiSCACsE2-C5V_pWLUjyCUhfoMFaMDKbTIK4CIo4QrfUQx3_tuwqqPYhvnykzsGVGgMDec3VymjS_JyLAMost04D7j8EKmH_smrju3nFV68ce5/s320/anal+probe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">One alien looked back at me and
images began to flash in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Images
of a dark room filled my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The room
contain a single metal table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
see myself laid out on this cold table, fear in my eyes, my ass lifted up in
the air slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two aliens stood
behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was checking my
restraints as the other lifted a shiny metal cylinder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no mistaking what was about to
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“OH HELL NO,” I shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This surprised me as well as the
aliens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their shock they dropped my
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I rolled to my left, up
onto my feet, facing the aliens, ready to tackle whichever came near me first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A bright light lit up my yard,
freezing me in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could no longer
move but that didn’t stop my stomach from continuing the fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used the only weapon I could wield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My ass cheeks flapped in the wind I had just
created, the foul smell hitting all three of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Instantly the light turned off and
the aliens looked at me, anger clearly visible on their expressionless
faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one alien who had shown me
the images of the probe sent a new image in my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would now be stuck on Terra because I
had just wasted their fuel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Is that all,” I said,
laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wait here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I walked back into the house and
went to my kitchen cabinet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed
two glass mason jars with the lids and came back outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I handed them both a jar before turning
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They looked at me puzzled and
could not see that I was about to pull my own finger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I released the second bomb of the
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They quickly opened the jars and
captured as much of the fumes as they could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The light filled my front yard once again, blinding me, then turning off
just as quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I could see again,
both aliens were gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Turns out that aliens abduct people
and anal probe them because they really are harvesting farts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They act as fuel for their spaceship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-21128895159458654352016-08-05T05:07:00.001-05:002016-08-05T05:07:06.245-05:00My Book Signing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7OWGVPIQQSMcPEz6arfgsLeCfN0Tx-RARRn9Jip2nZ6OPPu65Lta4oa8HwAgYjKLQEzviYLrOLIJ-8MSujUOJ31ZVRWf5SaadPbkx7_jzFPGEbG8S3dnoLYlYzgRUxOVbuy6NT9Jnn11/s1600/book+signing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7OWGVPIQQSMcPEz6arfgsLeCfN0Tx-RARRn9Jip2nZ6OPPu65Lta4oa8HwAgYjKLQEzviYLrOLIJ-8MSujUOJ31ZVRWf5SaadPbkx7_jzFPGEbG8S3dnoLYlYzgRUxOVbuy6NT9Jnn11/s320/book+signing.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_4n-j fsl"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_4n-j fsl"><span style="font-size: large;">December 03, 2016</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_4n-j fsl"><span style="font-size: large;">1pm to close</span></span><span class="_4n-j fsl"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="uiGrid _51mz"><tbody>
<tr class="_51mx"><td class="_51m-"><div aria-hidden="true" class="_6a" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
</td><td class="_51m- _51mw"><div class="_xkg rfloat _ohf" style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<div class="hidden_elem" id="u_jsonp_6_s">
<div class="_6a">
<div class="_6a _6b">
<span style="font-size: large;">Glow Worm New & Used Books</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="_5xhp fsm fwn fcg" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">311 Main St, Spring, Texas 77373</span></div>
<div class="_5xhp fsm fwn fcg" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="_5xhp fsm fwn fcg">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOPeukrJAbIrUP9_OmapHNPEYDjFHjE3EKDsa83Nsi_l3tNAGwXUGICowe-yAg7NnzU2gR3XhH4QZn5vi-YmcAmyEwkb2lrpXRK5rvdO6XcfTCDFL8RN-iVv5ToeJVWVR_exptmGqvvTs/s1600/OTS.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOPeukrJAbIrUP9_OmapHNPEYDjFHjE3EKDsa83Nsi_l3tNAGwXUGICowe-yAg7NnzU2gR3XhH4QZn5vi-YmcAmyEwkb2lrpXRK5rvdO6XcfTCDFL8RN-iVv5ToeJVWVR_exptmGqvvTs/s320/OTS.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="_5xhp fsm fwn fcg" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="_4n-j fsl"><span style="font-size: large;">Come join me at this amazing little book store in Old Town Spring. Get your holiday shopping done while enjoying a great atmosphere and good food. </span></span></div>
<div class="_5xhp fsm fwn fcg" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="_4n-j fsl"></span><span class="_4n-j fsl"><span style="font-size: large;">I will be signing my books as well as giving away some goodies. I will have 5 copies of each one of my books but if you want to reserve a copy please email me before November 1st.</span></span></div>
<div class="_5xhp fsm fwn fcg" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="_4n-j fsl"><span style="font-size: large;">Can't wait to see you there.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-42500932022760196292016-08-01T04:40:00.001-05:002016-08-01T04:40:25.703-05:00I'm Batman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JDVC6FcyCyvJkLnrKZ9LWPUIg7fO5lo5-H7Kxolv3d-grXJ0hkPHp5kcVfIyWoBgEHH6OmjZa5RhoH0qXtUi8QmMpwLaKpTpwUPKSg-YFyGsVeFF2WkLukOvgo8SXG5yIpDVw_G9IbMP/s1600/batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JDVC6FcyCyvJkLnrKZ9LWPUIg7fO5lo5-H7Kxolv3d-grXJ0hkPHp5kcVfIyWoBgEHH6OmjZa5RhoH0qXtUi8QmMpwLaKpTpwUPKSg-YFyGsVeFF2WkLukOvgo8SXG5yIpDVw_G9IbMP/s320/batman.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I only knew him as Batman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was an overweight hairy homeless man with
a thick beard who wore a pair of blue jeans, with a rope for a belt, and an old
gray shirt with the Batman logo across the chest, the yellow shinning bright
despite the holes in the shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He had a blue tarp that he used as
a blanket at night and as a cape during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a break from reality long before I met
him but that never stopped him from having an uplifting attitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Batman was a proud man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never accepted money or food without
trying to do something to earn it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
would walk up and down Main Street in downtown, saying hello to everyone he
passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Hello citizen, I’m Batman,” he
would always say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I would always give him my hand to
shake but he never took it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
afraid to touch another person for some reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I would see him every Saturday
morning and I always looked forward to seeing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought he would always be there until one
day he wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After three weeks of not
seeing him I started to ask around if anyone knew what happened to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took another week before I got my answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">During the week as people were
getting off work Batman was patrolling Main Street, as he always did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw someone was getting mugged at knife
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without thinking he sprang into
action, yelling at the man to stop as he ran toward him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mugger stabbed Batman before running
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died the hero he always claimed
to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While Batman may be some actor in a
costume in a movie, to me, the real Batman was a large fat homeless man with a
thick beard and a huge heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I miss Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-20176137118463330662016-07-29T02:51:00.002-05:002016-07-29T02:51:21.272-05:00It's a bird, it's a plane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULwWu9Lk669K9OvC63FT_1Nd_vdqh2RlPnhxON89t0r9TXcR_PpaygHxtuffl8Sd3ugkrStmbOZFzEWtEbEL1UbkqM0NRUjAsuaxksAuunmjX3xQUjJRDP7Jxroniw_kkLpCkDSvbNnFT/s1600/youth-superman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULwWu9Lk669K9OvC63FT_1Nd_vdqh2RlPnhxON89t0r9TXcR_PpaygHxtuffl8Sd3ugkrStmbOZFzEWtEbEL1UbkqM0NRUjAsuaxksAuunmjX3xQUjJRDP7Jxroniw_kkLpCkDSvbNnFT/s320/youth-superman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The air was cool and calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only wind came from the whooshing speed
of the blur flying by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it a
bird?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it a plane? No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Superman!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The little four year old boy
stopped running around in a circle and placed his hands, balled into little
fist, on his hips and puffed his chest out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Dun da dun,” could be softly be
heard humming in the air as he hummed Superman’s theme song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Up, up, and away,” the boy shouted
as he jumped into a run, his balled fist above his head as he ran, no, flew,
around in circles in the front yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A car drove up and a man got out,
walking toward the chain link fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
boy stopped suddenly, his hands going to his hips once more, his feet rooted
firmly to the ground, shoulder length apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He watched the man in uniform walk closer and closer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The dogs next door began to bark
loudly as they ran toward the man, their mortal enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fence kept them from ripping him to shreds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Have no fear citizen, no harm will
come to you,” the boy stood taller, his chest puffed out as far as his small
framed skinny body could allow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll
protect you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“And who are you,” the man asked
with a smile on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I’m Superman,” the boy
boasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m faster than a speeding
bullet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m more powerful than a
locomotive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can leap tall buildings in
a single bound.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Thank you Superman,” the man said
as he placed the mail into the boxes for the whole block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You better put some clothes on before your
mother gets mad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The boy looked down at
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His bright dark red rain boots,
his red underoos, a white bath towel he had just pulled off the clothes line,
wrapped around his neck, tied and retied as he ran in circles in the front
yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The sound of a screen door slammed
shut snapped the boy back to where he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With his super hearing he could hear footstep after footstep as they
approached the backyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“THOSE ARE MY GOOD TOWELS!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Up, up, and away,” I said quickly,
fear in my voice, as I flew around in circles, hoping to escape the wrath of my
mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-79774212248355775132016-07-19T04:28:00.000-05:002016-07-19T04:28:28.702-05:00Alton Sterling<div dir="ltr">
There's a lot of talk about Alton Sterling being shot by the police. Was he murdered or was it justified? From what I've seen and I'm speaking from personal experience, this was justified.<br />
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina Houston was flooded with New Orleans refugees. A lot of the criminal element came as well, turning some parts of Houston into a literal war zone.<br />
I am a Commission Security Officer in the state of Texas and at the time I was working for Blue Moon Security, a company who thought they were a private police force. I, however, did not follow orders well, because I would have to remind my fellow officers that we are <i>SECURITY</i> and not police officers.<br />
I was assigned to one of these war zones and on my second night there we had a bad encounter.<br />
My supervisor, a former police officer who had been fired from his department, showed up to walk around with my partner and myself. We went straight to one of the "hot spots" and sure enough a local dealer was dealing.<br />
The dealer knew that if he stood on the street then he wasn't on our property and legally we couldn't arrest him. This little detail escaped my partner and supervisor.<br />
They stepped into the street and stood on both sides of him, with me staying on property, blocking him from coming onto our property.<br />
Words were exchanged, tempers flared up by all three of them, and an audience was beginning to form.<br />
"Sarge, he's not coming on property, let's just call the cops and report him so we can keep patrolling."<br />
My request fell on deaf ears. The dealer shoulder checked my partner as he attempted to walk away and the fight was on.<br />
My supervisor joined in, trying to take the dealer to the ground. I seen someone else start toward the three and I blocked him.<br />
"Everyone stay back," I shouted as the three fell to the ground, rolling around in the street.<br />
The rolled to the other side of the street and I walked over, watching like a wrestling referee, making sure no one else jumped in.<br />
I was not going to get involved because these idiots over stepped their boundaries. But I also wasn't going to let something bad happened to them either.<br />
I saw something that made me end the fight. I pulled my gun and put it to the dealer's head and shouted, "Don't fuckin move, drop it!"<br />
Everyone froze and my supervisor said to put my gun away but I held it to his head and yelled, "I said drop it!"<br />
At that point the dealer opened his hand and my partner's gun fell to the ground. During the struggle he was able to grab the handle and pulled the gun almost all the way out and my partner or supervisor didn't know it.<br />
The point is he was pinned to the ground but his arm was still free enough to grab a gun. I'm thankful I didn't have to pull the trigger.<br />
Just because someone is pinned to the ground on his back doesn't mean he is subdued. He was a threat and could have killed both officers. The same is true of Alton Sterling. It's easy to judge from the comfort of your cell phone but having been in this situation I can say it's not always so cut and dry.</div>
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1339016355070408896.post-53748165289981030692016-07-19T04:27:00.003-05:002016-07-19T04:27:39.291-05:00Get In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBWx-TgNdvDwMFSAHR0SfSA9JajVCOZOGuSm2-8lV5Uf2FxxO_b7jYkKZp1aayjlp_K0Vwf2ovbZljsG2yGmBOy-m6jTCsLNo81QqF7TjSIipnVbrwb_jgQ7HUukOsIzyPfAOK-NS7O4k/s1600/get+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBWx-TgNdvDwMFSAHR0SfSA9JajVCOZOGuSm2-8lV5Uf2FxxO_b7jYkKZp1aayjlp_K0Vwf2ovbZljsG2yGmBOy-m6jTCsLNo81QqF7TjSIipnVbrwb_jgQ7HUukOsIzyPfAOK-NS7O4k/s320/get+in.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">That’s how it all started, I got
in, no questions asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you trust a
friend with your life you tend not to ask questions until it’s too late.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I got into the passenger seat,
laughing to myself, thinking this was a prank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The tires screaming as they spun in place before throwing us forward
told me otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Hey man,” I shouted in protest and
fear, yanking my foot completely in before the doors slammed itself shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“No time to explain,” he said,
staring at the road ahead of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
yanked the wheel quickly, not losing any speed, turning so hard I was thrown
into my door with a hard thump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Seatbelt,” is all he said as he tried to correct the car, keeping us
from rolling over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I quickly yanked my seatbelt down
and snapped it into place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I braced
myself as the next turn was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You got your gun on you?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Of course,” I grunted through
clenched teeth as he made the turn.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Superman or Reba?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Superman,” I answered, bracing
myself for the final turn out of the neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing the light for the main road was still
red my heart began to beat faster.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Slow down,” I shouted, “slow
down!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He made the turn, narrowly missing
the two vehicles crisscrossing the intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Horns were honked but we were gone.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Sit back down,” he said, looking
over at me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I was bracing for an impact to the
point I was half way standing up in my seat.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“You want to tell me what the fuck
is going on,” I said, panic filling my voice.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">He motioned to the back seat with a
nod of his head.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s play time.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Looking in the back seat I seen an
AK-47 and an AR-15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a box with
spare magazines and three boxes of ammunition for each.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Load up,” he said as he honked his
horn, letting other drivers know he was plowing through another red light.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“What happened,” I asked, more
shocked than anything else.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Just load up and don’t distract
me.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I seen the highway coming up and
from the lane we were in it looked like we were able to head south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything bad always happens south.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Fine,” I said, reaching for the box
and pulling it to the front, resting it on my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I only have one spare mag for Superman.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Bug out bag,” is all he said.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I glanced to the backseat once
again and all I saw was the two rifles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked to the floorboards and found a small black duffle behind my
seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbuckling my seatbelt I reached
over my seat and pulled the bag over to the front.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Unzipping it I seen two fifty round
boxes of ammunition for my pistol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyone who truly knows me knows I only carry one size, a .45mm.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I guess it is play time,” I said,
dropping the bag on the floor at my feet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I separated the spare magazines
from the box and began loading the AK rounds first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First rule of thumb, always make sure the
other guy is ready first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the AK
is his signature rifle I made sure my friend was ready to go when we got to
wherever it was we were going.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I loaded what I assumed would be my
magazines and put the box on the floor board next to the bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel the tension coming from my
friend as we continued to barrow down the highway at ninety miles per hour,
weaving in and out between cars.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Are you going to tell me who we’re
going to play with?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“They shot the skinny bastard,” is
all he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was all he needed to
say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s how I ended up in this
jail cell.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Max M. Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776628789747492650noreply@blogger.com0