OldmanBlurtsOut

The two soldiers grabbed Anita dragging her to her feet and forced her to watch the carnage below as Miguel and his men attacked the valley.

After hearing Mary Jane scream, Bud turned to see Miguel’s men draw their machetes and begin attacking their family throughout the valley. They were ruthless in their efforts and began gathering up all of Mary Jane and Bud’s children and grandchildren to be hauled off to their compound to ultimately be sold off in the States at a huge profit. Even so, Miguel had been true to his word and stopped his men from attacking the hill where Mary Jane and Bud resided, leaving them and their court safe and sound.

Meanwhile, not too far off in the distance, the sound of helicopters could be heard. Anita’s people were beginning to land where the King and his court lived. They were armed with flame throwers and began lighting up the kingdom. Unlike Miguel, they were not so inclined to leave the King and his court alone and quickly had burned the entire kingdom, including the King, to the ground.

Anita managed to escape her captors as they were heading back down the mountain to meet Miguel at the compound. She made her own rendezvous with her people, filing her report and informing the agency of the loss of Juan and all she had witnessed.

As Bud and Mary Jane watched Miguel and his men carry off their family they had no idea they were now King and Queen. His father had warned him one day the humans would attack just as Bud’s uncle had been laid to rest. Bud, however, never thought this day would come. Miguel and his people had always been good to Mary Jane and Bud bringing them food and water and insuring they received the right amount of sunlight. Being marijuana plants, how could Mary Jane and Bud know the only reason Miguel and his people were ever kind to them was to make a profit in harvesting their family and selling them to the highest bidder?

Mary Jane and Bud continue to live today in their valley. They produce many children each year and have come to accept the fact their children will be harvested by the humans to be sold off to a nation who likes to talk a great talk about a war on drugs but continues to look the other way.

Links to Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, and Chapter Four

Author’s Note:

The idea for this story came to me as I was reading an article in a local newspaper about the legal sale of synthetic marijuana discussing how the community should ban its sale. This brought to my mind the discussions of whether or not marijuana itself should be legalized. The amount of taxes which could be raised by legalizing marijuana would be enormous. And although, I believe it to be a safer drug than alcohol, I know it can still be a dangerous drug if used for example while driving. I know it is a gateway drug to other more dangerous and deadly drugs and I do not believe legalizing it would stop this from being the case. In fact, I believe the legalization could lead to more wide spread use of other hard core drugs and could teach our children that drug use is an acceptable behavior. Truthfully, if I had to vote today on this issue I do not know how I would vote though I do lean more toward keeping it illegal. What are your thoughts?

Two strangers, Juan and Anita, were hiking in the mountains approaching Mary Jane and Bud’s valley. They were carrying weapons of their own and had been trained well for missions such as these. They had been posing as husband and wife vacationing but they were really following the activities of the one known as the Godfather. One might think they were there to help Mary Jane and Bud but they were just as much their enemy as they were Miguel’s.

As Juan and Anita reached the summit looking out over the valley they found a rock formation where they would be hidden but could oversee the entire scene. They positioned themselves lying on the ground, setting up their rifles and scanning the area through their high powered scopes. They had no intention of firing their weapons but they knew they needed to be ready for anything. Their mission was only to observe but their line of business had taught them to always be prepared.

However, Juan and Anita had not noticed the two soldiers who had been tracking them. As they lay there on the ground, the soldiers approached from behind, weapons drawn, pointed at their heads. One of the soldiers said, “Buenos Dias señor, please don’t move, gently toss your weapons to your side.” Juan and Anita heard the unmistakable sound of a cartridge being loaded into the chamber of a rifle and tossed their rifles away. The other soldier quickly picked up the weapons and moved back behind them.

Juan and Anita turned to face their enemy and Juan said, “What do you want with us? We are just here on vacation, hiking and hunting small game for dinner.”

The lead soldier replied, “Do not take us for idiots. We have been tracking you for weeks. The game you hunt is by no means small.”

Anita noticing the lust in their eyes smiled and said, “If you have been following us then you know we have had many opportunities to take out Miguel. We have only been observing. Surely, capturing us can be of no use to your cause.”

“There you are mistaken señorita,” the soldier said as he smiled back at her. “You are very attractive and I’m sure you will be able to satisfy many needs among the troops. Your partner is also very useful because his death will provide a signal to begin the attack below.” As he said this, he pulled his trigger and shot Juan in the head.

To be continued…

Links to Chapter One, Chapter Two and Chapter Three

“Bud, I’m frightened.”

“Don’t worry, my love, everything will be okay.” Bud was actually worried himself as he looked out over the hoards of men approaching their valley.

“But, look at all those men Miguel has with him. Why are they here?”

“I’m not sure. He has never had so many with him. But you know, he has always been good to our family bringing us gifts of food and water.”

“Yes, but why do they carry so many weapons?” Mary Jane could see Miguel’s men were armed to the teeth with rifles, pistols, machine guns and machetes.

“Hopefully they are just passing through,” Bud said as he pondered the situation remembering tales of the past.

“You know he was part of the assault on your uncle and his family. No one survived that massacre.” Mary Jane remembered the tales told around the kingdom of a time not too long ago when the entire land was under siege. Bud’s father had been able to negotiate a settlement of peace and mutual benefit. This also resulted in Bud’s father becoming king instead of his uncle.

“I know, but Miguel was only a boy at the time and he is now under the control of my father.”

“Miguel being under the control of the king does not ease my mind. You know how your father can be.”

Bud began to respond but turned to look behind him toward the mountains as a gunshot rang out. Just then, Mary Jane, looking in the opposite direction at the men approaching on the far side of the valley exclaimed, “Oh my God! Bud… NO!!!”

To be continued…

Links to Chapter One and Chapter Two

Continued from Chapter One…

“Your Majesty, Miguel and his men are entering His Royal Highness’ valley.”

“Excellent! That is good news.” The king turns to face his long time friend and counselor and sees the look of shock and disgust in his face. “Don’t look at me like that; you said the timing was right.”

“Yes, your Highness, but Miguel…”

“Don’t even start, they have their orders not to even touch my son and his bride and to leave his court alone.”

“Forgive me your Highness, I misspoke, I’m sure you are right. My only concern is how much control does he really have over those men of his?”

“They know good and well Miguel is under my control and if they wish to remain living on the high life of wealth and leisure they had better follow orders.”

“Yes, your Majesty, my mind keeps thinking back to the old days when greed was less of a factor and we were appreciated.”

“You dwell too much in the past. All of those hippies are now chasing after the almighty dollar and love and peace and all of that sentimental garbage is just a fuzzy memory. Remember, that was also the time when my brother and his entire family were wiped out with no regards to the future. Miguel understands the importance of this mission. He will get the job done and we will thrive because of it.”

To be continued…

Once upon a time, in a land filled with beauty and magic, upon a hill covered in a carpet of color, lived a beautiful young maiden named Mary Jane. Mary Jane spent her days looking out over the valley dreaming of falling in love, longing for the day when she would have many young children of her own. Although she was happy living in such beauty and knew one day she would have so many children as far as her eyes could see, she was lonely and anxious for her life to begin.

One glorious sunny day, on the tails of a strong and steady wind, the perfect weather for flying a kite, a handsome young prince named Bud happened along. He was instantly stunned by Mary Jane’s beauty and settled down next to her. They had long conversations filled with laughter and cheer. It was love at first sight, the kind of love which spreads and grows and is never ending.

As the years passed, Mary Jane and Bud would sit upon the hill, holding hands and gaze out over the valley. As far as the eye could see, their offspring spread throughout the land. They would smile at one another for they truly had one big happy family. Mary Jane’s dreams had been realized.

Then one day, off in the distance, they saw the Evil Godfather appear on the far side of the valley with many others carrying weapons…

To be continued…

Last night I happened to look down at a list of the days of the week. Now, this wasn’t any old list. This list was a little different. You see, I had been working on renaming the days of the week to use in my novel. As I was perusing the list, it dawned on me these names of the week have a unique meaning to the common dieter. As you know, I don’t like to use the word diet because I know diets don’t work. It takes a lifestyle change. So, if these names of the week sound all too familiar, then maybe you’re on a “diet.”

The Dieter’s Weekly Calendar

Moandae ~ The dae you wake up feeling good and then realize you have to go to work and you promised yourself to start your diet, again.

Duecedae ~ You’ve made it through and have stayed on your diet for two whole daes!

Witsdae ~ Todae you’re beginning to come to your wits end but you realize you have to keep your wits about you if you’re going to stay on this stupid diet.

Thirstsdae ~ Oh, yeah, you remember you’re also supposed to be drinking water throughout the dae.

Frieddae ~ The night you get to go out on the town and devour fried shrimp, fried mushrooms, fried cheese, French fries, hushpuppies and let’s not forget the onion rings you had for lunch todae.

Sityoursdae ~ The dae you sit your butt on the couch and veg out in front of the tube. Of course, the use of the word “veg” is not being substituted for veggies; you’re sticking to chips and dip. Hey, the chips have corn in them, that’s a veggie!

The Dae of the Sun ~ I know you’re seeing the word Sundae. And since you’re going to “start” your diet tomorrow, you might as well have one. I’ll take mine with hot fudge.

Today is my birthday. Here's a video a made a while back.

I think Tracy Lawrence gets the point across pretty well. Just can't see taking pills for stuff like losing weight. Never helped me, I just gained more back when I'd come off of them. Hope you enjoy Pills by Tracy Lawrence.

I hope you enjoy my #haiku #poem on this rainy day.

Rain

Cleansing, Peaceful, Drops

Relaxing My Soul Throughout

Quiet, Gentle, Fall

Visit Oldman’s Poetry Corner

Not saying I don’t have a lot to cry about. Once you reach the half century mark of life, there are whole bunches of things in ones past which could set a man to crying. But, at least for the moment I’m not in tears.

In the formative years of my life, just a mere young lad, I grew up being taught this life’s lesson. Big boys don’t cry son, it’ll work itself out. I know the real lesson is one which both boys and girls must learn: “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain” ~ some wise old philosopher who goes by the name Anonymous.

Being ripped away from my extended family at the age of eleven when my dad was transferred out of state, and then being ripped away from my immediate family at the age of fifteen when I was too rebellious doing drugs and skipping school and had to be sent away to a “school,” helped me to face this life’s lesson and learn that it is okay if big boys cry.

I learned I had a feminine side. I learned it was okay to hug someone you loved, even if it was a guy. I learned it was okay for me to walk down the street with my arms around a guy friend. ~ I know, about this time you’re asking yourself, “Is this guy fixing to tell us he is gay?” ~ No, I’m not gay.

So, as I grew older, got married and had some kids, I found I could sit down and cry and it was okay. I never hid this fact from my son or my daughter because I wanted them to learn, it is okay to show and share your feelings. Not saying there were a lot of tears over the years, for most of this time was a happy and prosperous time.

Then all the trouble leading up to the divorce hit. (I was married for 17 years.) Then after the divorce I found myself in a deep depression for years in which I could cry at the drop of the hat and often did. You can’t imagine what it was like through this while having to work on 9/11 and wait on customers balling my eyes out. That was one of the worst days as I’m sure it was for many of you.

But, I really don’t want to go into all of the nuances of my depression. Let’s just say for the moment, it took a lot of strength and faith to pull me out of my depression.

And now, let’s get back to the present. Tuesday is Valentine’s Day and I don’t have a Valentine and I’m fairly bummed out about it. It’s a stupid holiday; at least that’s what I try to tell myself. It’s a holiday made by all of the florists, candy makers, and greeting card people to make some money, right? Valentine’s Day, the true Bah, Humbug holiday!

Yep, that’s my thoughts on the holiday. I’m not saying there are not people in my life which I love dearly. I just don’t have a girlfriend and I see no prospects for the immediate future. I want someone in my life, but at the same time I am happy with my life. I want someone I can put my arms around and hold. I want someone I can see in person on a fairly regular basis and doesn’t live hundreds of miles away. ~ My marriage was the result of a long distance relationship and I don’t want to go through that type of pain again. Though, I know it is possible for a long distance relationship to work, I’m still afraid of the pain because I’m not convinced.

I know I don’t get out often but I also don’t want to be out on the town. Like long distance relationships, I’ve found relationships which start in a bar aren’t long lasting either. I do get out in public; I work, shop and go to church. I just don’t think I’m that appealing to most women. I’m older, fat and don’t have the strike ‘em dead smile I had when I was younger now that I have broken teeth in my mouth. So, my only hope is some blind, crazy woman is going to fall in love with me when I dazzle her with my charm, Lol.

So, I guess I should be crying. But hey, I am happy. I’m no longer depressed. I enjoy my life even though it can be monotonous at times. You know, get up, make coffee, play on the computer, go to work, come home, eat, read and go to bed. I do some other stuff in there but that about sums it up. I have some pretty good friends and a family who loves me. All in all, it’s a pretty good life, and it is Satisfied Staying Single Day,

So, I know I’m bummed and a little sad but hey, Big Boys Don’t Cry.

Twenty-five years ago my family was extremely concerned for my mother who was battling breast cancer. We didn’t know if she would survive and even after the surgery the doctors were not making any promises. My mom and I have always been close, even during those times when we haven’t seen eye to eye. She is a very loving and caring woman and has always been there for me and for my siblings. I have been truly blessed to have her in my life. I know many do not have such a loving and caring mother and I am so very thankful for her I can’t even begin to do her justice.

She has been my inspiration in many areas including my weight loss journey. A few months ago she surprised me when she announced she was going to do the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk. My first thoughts were I wish I was physically able to join her on this walk. Having someone so close to you as a breast cancer survivor has always made this cause near and dear to my heart. My next thoughts were of how proud I was of her and how she had made such great strides in her own weight loss journey and was able to take on such a great challenge.

My sister had similar thoughts and feelings and decided she was going to join her. I am so proud of both of them! I am asking that you take a moment and read her story by clicking on this link. Then, if you can, Please support them as they take this amazing journey in the fight to end breast cancer! Thank You!