Just A Touch

Hey all,

Sorry again from the gap in posting. My focus has been hit and miss this past month. Anyway i wrote another poem, about basically having sex. A romanticised sex, but sex none the less. In truth it was kind of hard to lay it out there without being to graphic, but still conveying the thoughts I had as I was writing this. Anyway thanks for sticking with me.


Just A Touch


A soft caress on palest cheek,

Brushing lips with fingers seek.

From your mouth to cupping chin,

Promises stirred deep within.

Trailing down your silky spine,

The faintest touch in tracing line.

Your curving hips and slender waist,

Each supple part it's blessings graced.

Sweetest breath blows in my ear,

Murmured promises as you draw near.

My hands run through your flowing hair,

As my eyes are captured in blue-green stare.

Our mouths grow close to aching kiss,

Anticipation an agony of bliss.

When they touch, my heart gives way,

A kiss that last 'till end of days.

In that touch we find each other,

Exploring parts of new found lovers.

Her hand runs upon my chest,

Urgent needs in finger's request.

I pick her up and walk to bed,

All in a language left unsaid.

Careful moves and subtle brush,

Have given way to passion's flush.

Quicker then to fill our needs,

My heart is yours as reason concedes.

Whispers gone to lusty cries,

As what we have reaches it high.

Collapsed together, arm in arm,

Cocooned in love and free from harm.

I brush your cheek just one more time,

A moment so perfect in sublime.

All this came from just a touch,

I never knew I could feel this much.


End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Hey all,

Caught Hellboy 2 this past Sunday and I think something is wrong with me. I liked it! I am use to hating so many of the movie I want to see, but there have been some surprising strong films this summer, with Wall-E, Iron Man, Wanted, and the Hulk all worthwhile.

Anyway onto Hellboy 2. As a big fan of the first Hellboy, and director Guillermo Del Toro (who made last year's fantastic Pan's Labyrinth) I had big hopes for the film and it didn't disappoint. Hellboy 2 stars Ron Perlman as the titular character, a demon raised by man to hunt monsters for the secret government organization, The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. With his teammate, Abe Sapien (character actor Doug Jones), an empathic merman, and girlfriend, pyrokenetic Liz Sherman(played by Selma Blair), Hellboy must stop the Prince of the elves from declaring war on humanity for what it's done to the Earth. Along with new field leader Johann Krause (who is basically a containment suit of ectoplasmic gas, they have to find the Prince and stop him from reactivating the Golden Army, an ancient mechanical goblin made army that is unbeatable. In what is such a far reaching and fantastical premise, the movie keeps it down to earth.

Del Toro does a fantastic job in casting. Ron Perlman is probaly the best actor in the world at emoting and acting in heavy prosthetics. He brings an everyman's approach to Hellboy, the supposed demon of the apocalypse. You feel his need to be accepted by an unaccepting world that fears him, and for his love of fellow "freak" Liz. Blair brings her fiery temper and a breath of normalcy among the chaos. Her and Perlman have very solid chemistry. Krause is also a welcome bit of comic relief in the smug and pompous role as field leader. Voiced by Family guy creator Seth McFarlane, he walks a fine line between jerk and hero very well.

The other great thing about this movie is the physical effects. Del Toro is a genius at creating the monsters that inhabit this world and bring them to life. Hellboy, Abe and Krause look incredibly like their comic book counterparts. The other characters that populate the world are just as intense and diverse. Particularly the Angle of Death that shows later in the film. The fact that all these characters are real and on set, not CGI makes it a unique film experience.

That's not to say that there weren't some things i didn't like. There is a bit of a sequence where Hellboy fights a monster while holding a baby that stretched the rules of believability in this film, as well a some questionable wire work in some of the fight sequences. But truthfully those are minor complaints. Hopefully Del Toro will get the chance to direct a third installment of the franchise after finishing the Lord of the Ring prequel (The Hobbit) that he is slated to direct.

I really liked this film. I have become a particular fan of both Del Toro and Ron Perlman, and I recommend this film completely. Check it out, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Close My Eyes

Hey all,

Bit of a poem I been working on for a week. I don't know if I captured what I was going for, but I think I am done with it. Jason had asked if I could do a poem about a nightmare, so this was my effort. Maybe it was good, maybe not. I am not sure how I feel about it. I'd love some feedback. I'll try to post again on Friday with some new Flash Fiction. Thanks!


Close My Eyes


Close my eyes and fall to dreams,

Though nightmares plague in silent screams.

Toss and turn in fitful sleep,

As mind wanders from the restful deep.

All my fears played out so real,

Nighttime frights together congeal.

And when I wake from sweat soaked slumber,

No escape from all that life encumbers.

The things that plague my resting state,

Like fear and love and doubt and hate,

Still surround me all alone.

It feels as if this is all I've known.

Chased by demons of my id,

Whose true nature cannot stay hid.

My conscious deep bubbles to light,

Giving life to unearthly fright.

And again I wake to haunted thought,

At the twists and turns which mind has wrought.

I wake from each with a jumping start,

Has my mind fallen apart?

Another vision lies in wait,

Just close my eyes and welcome fate.

Nightmares ride the trails of mind,

I fear what images the dark will find.

Fleeting dreams, can't find peace.

Another night, I have no release.

Now I lay my head to bed,

And pray for once the sleep of the dead.


End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Hancock

Hey all,

Went to see Hancock over the holiday weekend and I have to say I was a little disappointed. Hancock stars Will Smith as John Hancock, an amnesiac who awoke in a hospital with superpowers. With powers similar to Superman, such as flight, super strength, and invulnerability, Hancock is alone in the world. Such as so he has turned to drinking and has become lonely and despondent. Still driven by a need to help people, he usually helps them in a way that causes wanton destruction and is pretty reviled by most of the city of Los Angeles.

That all changes when he saves Jason Bateman's life, an ad executive who believes in Hancock and wants to change the public perception of him. In an attempt to prove to LA how much they need him, Hancock agrees to enter rehab and go to prison for the damages he caused the city. Bateman assures Hancock that in a few weeks the city will be clambering for his return to combat the growing crime left in his absence. The big twist is how Hancock will relate when he discovers that he isn't the only one of his kind, and that he may be losing his powers.

There is a lot I should like about Hancock, and while it's not a bad movie, it leaves so much on the table. In basic terms, this is about a drunk asshole version of Superman, and I never felt like they capitalized on that. What happens when the Man of Tomorrow just doesn't care? Introducing a counter point to his powers to seemed kind of fruitless in the end as well. I don't want to drop any spoilers, but the confrontation at the end isn't so much a fight as it is a choice. I really would have rather seen them explore the ideas of a drunken hero with unlimited powers, and what consequences that has. Or what a person with the abilities that Hancock has does in a prison that can only contain him if he lets it?

The love interest in Charlize Theron angle should have been played up more. The triangle that forms between Theron, Bateman, and Will Smith's character doesn't get fleshed out enough. I would have really liked to see some drama in that department.

To be fair, Hancock is a summer popcorn flick, the kind Will Smith is his best at. It's fun and funny and you can spend a lot worse ways at the theatre. I would still recommend Iron Man or the Incredible Hulk for your super hero fix before this, but it's not a bad movie. It's like I said, I wish they just would have plunged a little deeper.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Concert Time: Rancid!

Hey all,

Wednesday night one of my all time favorite bands came in concert, Rancid. Almost 10 years ago I saw Rancid perform at the Van's Warped Tour, and it was weird to kind of come full circle. Rancid, for me, has one of the best and deepest set lists in punk rock. Having been together in various forms for about 20 years, they have some great content to pull from, and they did not disappoint.

First a little back story. I got tickets for the show some time back with the intent of catching the show with my pal Bill. Unfortunately he couldn't attend after I got the tickets so I was gonna go with by brother, who also couldn't go. I pretty much ran through my friends list and struck out. Even Edwin, my co-worker, who was going to go canceled at the last minute, so I ended up catching the show alone. Kind of sad I know. I at least managed to turn a profit on the extra ticket. The show was sold out and I scalped it for a slight bit extra. It paid for the gas to the show at any rate.

My thinking was that I already paid for the tickets, there is no reason why I can't go by myself and have some fun seeing one of my favorite bands. So I did and I had a lot of fun.

I missed most of the opening act, The Riverboat Gamblers, to start with. I ended up working late and left straight from the store (luckily I had an extra change of clothes for just such an occasion!) The part of their show I did see however, was pretty good. I may do an I Tunes search later to see if I can find any good stuff out there.

Rancid fucking owned though! Starting off the show with Fall Back Down, they cut through almost their entire And Out Come the Wolves album. With especially scorching versions of What I Think About You, Ruby SoHo, Journey to the End of the East Bay, and Olympia, WA. They also hit some great tracks off of Let's Go, including one of my favorites, Sidekick. Doubly impressive was them playing tracks from their Operation Ivy days, a treat I wasn't really aware that they did at shows any more.

I had two slight complaints on the overall show. One, is they didn't play Dope Sick Girl or my favorite song, Red Hot Moon. But those are minor, playing so much else I shouldn't complain. The second was the encore. They came back out and only played one song. Mind you, it was a scorching version of probably their biggest hit, Time Bomb, but I was kind of hoping for a few more tracks. Maybe it was just because I was so into it.

All in all I had a blast and would love for them to come back in concert after the release of their next album in September. Oh! I almost forgot to mention me accidental punching a girl in the face.

Yeah, I felt kind of bad about that. The show was playing at The Marquee, not a huge venue but good sized and it was packed to the gills with people. As they started playing Knowledge I was pumping my fist in their air to the beat. Unfortunately, I was pumping it a bit more out than up, and accidentally hit a girl in the face. Of Course I immediately apologized, but honestly she was like don't worry it's cool. Then she walked towards the bar. Thank God for impaired judgement! I quietly moved to another section of the floor, and finished the show.

I had a ton of fun and I can't wait until my next show!

Thanks for reading!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Wall-E

Happy July all!

I caught another movie this past weekend, Disney/Pixar's incredible Wall-E. Wall-E was simply put, incredible. As I write this now I think that it is the best animated movie that I have ever seen.

First off, is the animation. What Finding Nemo did for CG colors, this movie does in spacial effects. The sheer depth and technical skill in the animation is unsurpassed. The color spectrum, textures, and depth and perspective is deeper and more advanced than I have ever seen. The main characters, a small dilapidated robot (Wall-E)and the more advanced scouting robot (EVE) portray more pathos and emotions in a simple look or gestures than many human actors are even capable of.

The story is that of Wall-E(Waste Allocation Load-Lifter, Earth Class), the last robot left on an abandoned Earth, charged with the task of cleaning up the waste and refuse left behind after man's exodus from an Earth to polluted to keep populated. All the other robots have broken down over the 700 years he has been on the planet, and Wall-E is lonely. He has taken to collecting items of interest to learn about humanity, especially from an old VHS copy of Hello, Dolly! that teaches him of love and companionship. Wall-E is thrown for a loop when EVE (Earth Vegetation Extractor()arrives on Earth, in search of viable life signs. Wall-E falls in love with EVE, and is devastated when she is recalled to space after finding a small plant. Wall-E stows away on the shuttle that returns, and embarks on an adventure that will affect the entire human race.

Wall-E has been accused of being a bit preachy in its message. That we need to concentrate on the environment before this kind of damage becomes irreparable, as well as the ill effects of mankind's increased obesity levels and reliance on technology. I think that's to harsh a criticism. I felt Wall-E did send a message, but in such a way as to not distract from the story. In the film humanity has turned into a society totally reliant on robots, traveling on hover chairs, having no responsibility. All in all a society of sloth. Wall-E is the spark that ignites the change on their culture.

My favorite part of the film was the character development. With two main characters with almost no vocabulary, the ability to tell a compelling story through expression and body language is amazing. Wall-E tells his story on his face and in his actions, creating such a fully realized character, who utters maybe 3 different words the entire film. Yet everything is so effortless. EVE's transformation from aloof robot to a true friend and companion of Wall-E completed along the same limitations, yet you truly feel bad for these characters during their struggles. Hell, the final sequence alone is a truly heart wrenching moment.

Wall-E gets my highest recommendations. Please go check out what I feel is not only the best Pixar film to date (yes better than Toy Story and Finding Nemo!) but perhaps the best animated feature of all time. It's that good.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Wanted

Hey all,

In accordance with yesterday's post on my comic book pick of the month, today I wanted to post on the film adaptation of Wanted. Wanted stars James Macavoy as Wesley Gibson, the same loser we knew and loved from the book. His girlfriend is a nagging bitch, his best friend is sleeping with her, and he has to take anxiety pills to keep from having a breakdown at his loser office drone job. Wesley hates his life, until he meets Fox, played by Angelina Jolie.

Fox tells him his dad was a super powered assassin with killer reflexes, speed, and incredible abilities with guns, like being able to shoot any target or bend bullets around space. They both worked for an organization of assassins called The Fraternity, who have been deciphering an ancient form of communication to determine what targets fate wants them to kill. Except one of their members have gone rogue, an agent named Cross, and only Wesley has the skills to take him down.

In correspondence with the book, they spend the first third of the movie on Wesley's transformation from schlub loser to desensitized killer. Honing his abilities and learning about his father's past and the past of the Fraternity. After this point the film really breaks away from the book, though not in a bad way. Wesley begins learning his craft and attacking targets, until he finally gets his chance at cross, except that there is more to the mystery than seemed before, and ultimately it leads Wesley to a showdown between himself and the Fraternity, and the people who trained him. Including Fox, who Wesley has feelings for.

For being such a fan of the comic, it was hard for me to truly keep an open mind. They really downplayed the super hero and costume angle that the book had, focusing on a more grounded approach to these individuals unique powers. Macavoy is great as loser turned hard ass Wesley, and no one plays tough kick ass girls like Jolie, who really amps up her sex appeal and tough as nails approach. Morgan Freeman plays the head of the Fraternity and really brings a level of respect and credibility to the fantastic stunts and over the top environment.

While the middle and end of the book don't match the movie (except the fact that Wesley goes against the Fraternity, Wanted stands as its own film through the most of it. As the product of a pure piece of action and adrenalin, Wanted delivers. The effects and things they do in the gun play are inventive, akin to watching the first Matrix film. The movie moves at a breakneck pace, keeping the dark humor and action at a constant. If you like action movie and just want to be entertained for 2 hours, Wanted hits the mark.

I liked Wanted, though not as much as the book, I still recommend you check it out.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Word Balloon: Wanted

Hey all,

This month's edition of the Word Balloon is dedicated to the comic book series, Wanted, published by Image from Top Cow Studios by writer Mark Millar and series artist J.G. Jones. Wanted is the story of an office drone loser, Wesley Gibson. He hates his life and himself. He lives in a "shitty" apartment with his girlfriend, who is sleeping with his best friend. Wesley knows that this is happening, but he is to much of a "pussy" to do anything about it.

When Wesley is approached by a character named Fox, he learns of the truth of his life. His father was the world greatest super powered assassin, The Killer, and he was killed. Wesley now inherits his father's powers, enhanced speed and reflexes, as well as his deadly skills with all weapons. After embarking on a journey of training with Fox, in which Wesley is desensitized to violence and turned into a take no shit stone cold killer, he leaves his old life behind, breaking up with his girlfriend and killing his best friend to join The Fraternity, a league of Assassins.

The Fraternity have killed all the world super powers and run things from behind the scenes. Having used their extensive powers, including time travel, mind control, science and magic, the populous knows nothing of super heroes or the Fraternity's power. The Fraternity has divided its leading councils into continents, and Wesley becomes the right hand of North America's council leader. When Australia's council head, Mr. Rictus, decides that he wants more, he sparks a war between the villains.

After Wesley's boss is killed, and he and Fox are targeted for death, Wesley heads to council headquarters to take on Rictus and the assassins under his control. Ultimately, the book ends with a great twist, and one final confrontation that Wesley may not have the ability to overcome.

Wanted is a dark book, it's not about the good guys winning or the bad guys losing, its about what happens to one man when suddenly he can do anything he wants without consequence. Wesley is a villain, and though you root for his victory, you find yourself cheering a guy who kills indiscriminately, a man who has lost his moral compass. Yet underlying, there is still a small part of the man he use to be there, and the books final confrontation brings those feelings to the front. I've read that Wanted is a super villain version of Watchmen, and while I wouldn't say that, it IS an interesting look at what would happen to a person who has no culpability.

I particularly enjoyed the homages to many of Marvel and DC's great villains through the book, blending the dark and deranged with the funny and absurd very well. Characters like Mr. Rictus (a combination of The Red Skull from Capt. America and the Joker) or Fox (basically Catwoman with a gun) as well as the darkly funny, Fuckwit (a Bizarro version of their Superman hero) Shithead (a walking pile of feces modeled after Batman villain Clayface, or Johnny Two-Dicks ( based off Batman villain Two-Face but who's other personality is in his penis). Even the heroes who they have dealt with, the Batman and Robin heroes think they have been actors in a cheesy TV series or that the Wonder Woman character thinks she is an actress all have a homage to an earlier incarnation of their own characters.

I liked Wanted because its a darkly violent adult book that pulls no punches. You see super hero comics from the other side of the veil, the villains and a peak into their motivations, something we don't see enough of in comics. Often the villains are the most interesting characters, but who get the least amount of development. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any fan of action adventure. Check it out, Mark Millar and J.G. Jones Wanted, from Image Comics and Top Cow Studios. The entire six issue run, plus the behind the scenes source book is available in both soft cover and hardback trade paperbacks. With the release of the movie adaptation (who's review I will post tomorrow) the book should be available at most book dealers. Thanks for reading!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Time: Rewind: The Forbidden Planet

Hey all,

June's installment of the rewind will highlight one of the great science fiction classics of all time. The 1956 MGM film, The Forbidden Planet, starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, and a neophyte Leslie Nielsen (in a very straight laced role).
The basic plot is that a team of astronauts, led by Nielsen's Commander Adams, is dispatched to a distant planet to discover why communication has been lost. When he and his crew arrive, they discover that all of the settlement's inhabitants have died save two, Walter Pidgeon's Dr. Morbius, and his daughter, Altaira, played by Anne Francis. Altairia has never met another person before save her father, and is curious about the newcomers. Morbius, though, has made a discovery that he has no intention of sharing. It concerns an alien race that left behind it's technology, and wiped itself out overnight.

What I loved about Forbidden Planet, is that unlike so many of the sci-fi films of the 50's, this one never comes across as a "B' Movie. The effects are top notch, especially considering the time and abilities of movies in the 50's. This film also introduces Robbie the Robot, one of the most iconic and well known movie props of all time. The craftsmanship and effects are really apparent in the film, MGM spent fortune on props and animation, Robbie alone cost $125,000, the most expensive prop ever made up until that time. The final battle with the monster of the id was animated in by one of Walt Disney's top animators.

It's truly the first sci-fi film driven by plot. You could make an argument for The Day the Earth Stood Still or any number of other films from the time, but Forbidden Planet is the first one that paints an epic picture. Combining elements of sci-fi, action, romance, psychology, animation, and history, Forbidden Planet delves into a deeper pool than the other films of it's genre.

I remember the first time I watched it, about 2 years ago with my Dad, who had seen it when he was a young boy, and being amazed at what 50 year old effects looked like, and how well they held up. What the filmmakers had managed to craft was the first timeless movie about the future.

Forbidden Planet influenced many other sci-fi staples that we enjoy today, particularly Star Trek, who borrowed the plot outline for several episodes. As well as shows like Space: Above and Beyond and Joss Whedon's Firefly, using words or locales from the film in their shows. Robbie the Robot was reused in several other MGM films, proving to be so popular that he even ended up on The Twilight Zone. He also stared off against his next generation counterpart in the Robot from Lost in Space for 2 episodes.

That being said, the only slightly dis-jarring part of the film is seeing Leslie Nielsen, an actor symbolic with screwball comedy now, playing such a serious character, as the dashing hero and love interest. Once you get past the typecasting, Forbidden Planet won't let you down. I challenge you not to be impressed with the monster of id attacking the ship or cracking down the wall, and consider the struggles of not having computer animation to make the shot for you.

Please check it out, from 1956, MGM's Forbidden Planet.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Under a Dead Sun

Chapter 23
Part 2

Billy threw himself at Root.

The impact drove the breathe out of Billy's already battered body, landing atop the one armed Sheriff with a huge huff of exhaling breath. Billy tried to catch a quick breath when Root suddenly clubbed him in his already bleeding ear.

"Arghhh!" Billy coughed out a bellow of pain as Root drove his knee hard into Billy's midsection. Hurt and dazed, Billy fought to stay conscious. Root reared his foot into Billy's chest and flung him backward. Billy's head cracked against one of the support railing on the roof and his vision filled with stars. Root pulled himself up, blackened and bleeding, the gruesome hole wear his arm use to be burned and flaking.

"Billy, you don't understand. The only way for us to be safe is to die. Those creatures set upon me and I can feel it changing in me. The beasts have to die, so that others can live. Your going to turn into one of those things, trust me. I already blew up some of them, now I'm going to take care of you.

Billy watched dazed as Root fixed the stick of dynamite in his teeth and reached into his pocket for a box of matches. Striking one off his belt, he raised it to the wick in his lips.

Then the thunderous roar filled Billy's ears.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

One Final Cut

Hey all,

Been a long time since I did a poem and this is one of several I have been fumbling with for the last few months. Definitely a retreat to my earlier darker works, I hope that I can post the next poem, a love poem, soon. My intent is to get some flash fiction posts up as well as my movie and book recommendations over the next 4 days. I have a lot to write about and I really want to make up for lost time. I'd love some feedback on the poem, probably not my best work though. I was at a very dark place in my work life last week so that's where the dark overtones sprung in.

Don't take the suicide overtones to seriously. Mostly this was a sensationalized attempt to take some of my self doubt and anger and depression and channel them into something that I could safely express. Thanks for reading.


One Final Cut


A single cut of verdant red,

Two more cuts until I'm dead.

Blood runs bright in flowing stream,

To die a death of somber dream.

Trailing pooled to crimson stain,

A second cut to absolve the pain.

Twin led paths across my wrist,

Vision paled, a hazy mist.

So deep, so slow, life pumping free,

Though broken heart did first kill me.

The world grows thick through my eye,

Yet still another cut ahead does lie.

Hurt and doubt I feel no more,

Blood red path walked unto Death's door.

Lowered head now lost all prayer,

Shuffle from this loveless lair.

Close my eyes to await the end,

So tired, deeply, my soul can't fend.

One final cut to pierce the veil,

Leave my life and fade to pale.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Get Smart

Hey all,

Sorry for the gap in posting again, my store finally sold and I am getting transferred to a new one next week, there I will have more managers and hopefully a bit better balance in my personal life. Let's see though, shall we?

Anyway, My roommate and I caught Get Smart, with Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, and Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson today. Overall, I had a good time, but I wouldn't call it a great film. There were many aspects that I did enjoy, and some that I didn't. Let's start with the good.

Casting this film is a challenge, Both Don Adams and Barbara Felton are such iconic TV characters that you really need actors who can convey both the comedic timing of the duo, as well as the underlying romance that percolated through the series. Adam Arkin as the Chief and Dwayne Johnson as super Agent 23 were perfectly cast in their roles as well. The humor, while never over the top, makes you laugh and keeps it entertaining. I can't think of an actor other than Carrell who can skirt the line between serious and silly and better. I'll say this too, Anne Hathaway got uber-hot real fast!

The bad about the film is that I never felt like it reached a good balance. Was it comedy or action? I know you have action/comedy films all the time, but Get Smart for me never decided what it was first. Movie like the Rush Hour series, which blends the two so well, is clearly an action movie with comedy. Get Smart never defined itself as a comedy with action, which is what it should be. It seemed perpetually between the two. My roommate thought that Agent 99 is a little frosty through the film, though I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt in trying to flesh out her role as the veteran versus Smart's rookie status, and her battle between her frustration with him and the attraction she feels towards him.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of redeeming qualities in the film. Carrell is channeling a dead on Don Adams, with just enough flair of his own. Hathaway brings that 60's vibe from the TV show to the modern day with her persona and styles. The last action sequence with Smart on a runaway car is both funny and suspenseful.

All in all, Get Smart is a fine distraction for 2 hours, there are other better films out there, but Get Smart is a fun distraction that will entertain you.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Diet Riot

Hey all,

I thought today that I would drop a quick update on how the week of no meat, chicken or fish went. As you may have read, my roommate and myself agreed to go vegen for one week in an attempt to de-toxify our systems. I can honestly say that this is the longest period I've gone without eating a hamburger, let alone any other type of meat. I can't say that it has been hard, but there have been urges and cravings that have struck. I just take each day one at a time, and I ended the week on Monday, no worse for wear.

In fact, Jason cast doubt on my ability to continue the trend for one month, a challenge I agreed to. I will continue this diet, supplemented by some daily vitamens for an additional three weeks. My only challenge will be on the occasions that we go out to eat, but I think I am up to the task. The hardest thing has been swearing off carbonated and sugar beverages. I have limited myself to mostly regular and flavored water, as well as fruit juices, though I am allowed to splurge on an occasional Powerade or HI-C at work or the movies. Take into consideration though that a year ago at this time I was drinking 4 or 5 medium cokes at work, and several cans a day, I think I have come a long way into curtailing that intake and having more healthy alternatives.

I did say that I would be off this limitation by the time I gear up for my vacation at the end of July. Th ebottom line is trying to find a better balance in my diet and in my choices. I have also noticed that on this diet, I eat out much less and therefore and saving some much needed cash. At any rate, 2 and a half more weeks and I'll be ready to go.

Have that Fool's Gold Sandwich ready!

BTW My Spellcheck is acting up again, any errors rest entirely on me.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: The Happening

Hey all,

Caught two movies this weekend, the second was M. Night Shymalan's The Happening, with Mark Walhburg and Zooey Deschenal. I have to say that I really hated this movie. From premise to casting to effects, I was disapointed. M. Night has not had the most successful box office results from his last few films, though I enjoyed Lady in the Water and The Village moe than the critics did.

With The Happening, I just couldn't get into it. The premise is that plant life in northeast America strikes back at humanity with an airborn infection that overrides man's ability to self regulate the behaviors that prevent us from killing ourselves. Walhburg is a high school science teacher who flees Philadelphia with his slightly estranged wife, played by Deschenal, and his best friend and his daughter. I had a had time buyng Walhburg as a science teacher first, a guy who has a history of playing tougher characters, I never bought his as the thinker. I'm a fan of Deschenal, but she was against type in this movie as the introverted and troubled wife. She is better at playing quirky and outspoken characters. Even the ancillary characters are poorly fleshed out, I never really developed a bond or rooted for any of them.

The twist, the benchmark of the M. Night film, is that there really isn't a twist. Tack on the R rating, which really wasn't that distrubing to begin with, and I was wondering just what the intent was. The movie came across as preachy as self important, and I just didn't like it. I got the message, we need to listen and cure the damage that we are doing to the Earth, but it was so ham fisted in presentation that you dn't really asorb anything.

I also just wanted to say that there are a few CGI scenes that honestly I thought belonged on a Sci-Fi orginal movie. Poor cut and paste efforts, if you happen to see the movie look particulary in the lion's den clip. I just expect more from a real Hollywood movie, and from it's writer/director.

At any rate, skip The Happening.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk

Hey all,

Caught two new movies this weekend, the first of which was The Incredible Hulk, with Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt. Not exactly a sequel to the 2003 film by Ang Lee, it's also not a stand alone feature. I really liked Hulk, where the first film really didn't "Get" the type of vibe that the Hulk fans were looking for, director Louis Lettier and co-writer Edward Norton do.

Combining the big screen action and CGI of the first film, with the guilt ridden man on the run motif from the beloved 1970's TV series, this new hulk finds a great balance. Norton does pathos and anger better than almost any other actor working today, playing characters with deep psychic flaws so perfectly, and as Bruce Banner he finds a perfect vehicle for his talents. Norton brings a real feeling of helplessness and regret to the role, and you really feel for this guy who can't control what's inside of him, and who is tormented by his missing love, Betty Ross (Tyler).

The supporting cast is great too. Tyler never feels like a damsel in distress ad brings a toughness to the role. A combination of brains, devotion and beauty she really makes you believe that someone could love Bruce Banner, despite what has happened to him. William Hurt as General "Thunderbolt" Ross is also a great casting choice, as the obsessed Army general who wants to capture Banner and turn him into a weapon. Tim Roth, the Hulk's opponent, plays a crack military officer assigned to take down Banner. After his first tussle with the Hulk, he becomes obsessed himself at the thought of beating the Hulk, going so far as to undertake treatments to become the ultimate soldier, and when that fails, undergoing the same treatment that cursed Bruce Banner to turn into the Hulk, he becomes the Abomination. In my mind, Roth may have been a bit old to play the role, but it's not so bad that it's truly distracting, just a bit off putting.

I really enjoyed the fight between the Hulk and the super soldier version of Roth, it almost made you beleave that one man could have a chance versus the monster.There was just such a good balance between action and character development in this version. The whole film Banner is adamant that he doesn't want to control the Hulk, only cure himself, then to find that in the end, control is the only thing he may be able to have.

I've read that there is still some bad blood between Norton and the executives at marvel Studios over the final cut of the film. I do hope that they can resolve their difference and gear up for another Hulk film. Or better yet as The Incredible Hulk has on screen ties to this summer's other Marvel film Iron Man, have the Hulk be the threat in an Avengers film. Anyway you look at it, you can't go wrong with The Incredible Hulk, it's a fun summer popcorn movie that has a little more to offer than most. With the recent slate of box office disappointments, I was glad to see something good come out. Go see it!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Rocket's Race

Day 11

While this day dawns, one step closer to the end, this entry is far more about the events of day 10. The day I started drinking. As I have been as white bread and straight laced as a person could get in this day and age, I have never turned to drink or narcotics to fill the empty parts. Last night I determined that if this was to be my final days, shouldn't I experience all positives? Shouldn't I determine for myself the possibility that I could be stuck to far up my own ass?

With that thought in mind, I headed to a bar. Not a TGI Fridays bar, or something you would see on an NBC sitcom, but a real bar with real drinks and real people. As I paid my cover charge and worked my way to the bar keep, I inhaled the acrid smoke and the smells of age and decay. The smell of regrets, a smell I had just learned to recognize.

I slipped the bar keep a $50 and told him to send me around the world, any type of drink, as long as it wasn't the same as before. I remember the first few drinks, and the last one, but the 6 or 7 hours between are pretty fuzzy. I remember stumbling from a cab, and lurching into bed, my clothes covered in my own filth, but I don't remember what it was like to be drunk. That loosening of inhibitions that comes with inebriation. I just remember drinking more, and feeling worse than I did before. I remember being sick all over myself, and I remember feeling ashamed when I woke up this morning.

Maybe alcohol isn't the answer for me. then again, maybe I should have tried moderation. But when life is staring you between the eyes, it's all or nothing. I haven't got time to do things halfway anymore.

I did leave last night with a chuckle though, after my first beer, the bar keep gave me a cigarette. Having never smoke or drank until that point, what did I have to lose? As I took a coughing drag off the smoke, one of the waitress looked at me and said,

" Honey, you shouldn't that habit. It could kill ya."

I smiled and said,

"It wouldn't be the first thing to do so...."

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Di-Vinyl and Food for Thought

Hey all,

Saturday night saw my best friend Jason, his girlfriend Autumn, and yours truly down at a place called Red Hot Robot for the celebration of the store's 1 year anniversary. As I've blogged previously, all of us are huge into this small urban and vinyl art toy phase, and any opportunity to have some fun, check out some new merchandise, and get a free beer is welcome for me.

While we were down there, a representative from The Phoenix New Times, our underground and pop culture paper, was there covering the party and taking pictures. Jason and Autumn both posed for shots as well as me, though the main reason I got picked was my kick ass t-shirt. It says Hopeless Romantic Seeks Filthy Whore. Very funny and very provocative, I always get a nice range of applause or disgust while wearing it. For that reason alone its my favorite shirt. We picked up some goodies, including 2 new dunnys that Jason and I needed, as well as some new items, called Fatcaps. I've posted a picture of them above, but they are close to dunnys. except the head has been replaced by an aerosol nozzle. Sort of a reiteration of the urban graffiti culture these toys originally sprang from.

After the party we headed to George and the Dragon, an authentic English pub located downtown. I tried a new dish, called a Cornish Pastie, as well as indulging in an old favorite, the Scotch Egg. A Cornish Pastie is a sort of pie, stuffed with diced meat, onions, and potatoes. Vegetables, like corn, carrots and peas may or may not be added. Researching the pastie, vegetables often indicate inferior quality in Europe, though are marketly accepted here. Mine had no vegetables, though it was served with a large helping of mashed potatoes and peas. All in all I liked it a lot, though not as much as the Scotch Egg. Defiantly want to head back and check out some more of their fare, as well as trying some new dishes from a Filipino restaurant that Jason was telling me about.

I should mention as well, a dish I rediscovered recently. Called a Monte Cristo, a sandwich made from ham, turkey an Swiss cheese, served with fruit preserves on a powdered sugar in battered or fired bread. Basically a French Toast sandwich. Different regions serve it in different manners, and different quality. I recently went to a small sandwich shop, called Which Wich, that serves them on a toasted roll sprinkled with powdered sugar, with ham, Swiss cheese and grape jelly. While it is not as good as some I have had in the past, it has been years since I had one and I loved it. It may sound an odd blend of tastes, but I assure you, the sweetness of the sandwich blends the tastes wonderfully. Check one out.

I'll be back on tomorrow with some flash fiction, thanks for reading!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Diet Riot

Hey all,

It's been kind of a crazy week, but with two straight days off after today I plan on doing some serious posting. The first thing I'd like to note about is a bit of a deal I have going on with my roommate. Both of us have agreed to cut out meat, chicken, and fish out of our diet for 1 week. We also limit our cheese and milk intake, keeping it soy of fat free, as well as any and all soda, even Sprite. We have both been off caffeine for a while now, except what you get in the occasional piece of chocolate, so that should make quitting those drinks easy.

It has been a long time since I went without some kind of meat or chicken though, at any rate it should be a fun challenge. Simply buying groceries was kind of sad as so much of what I would normally buy (on those rare occasions I do go to the store pop up) was full of meats and chicken. Now, we are not going off them permanently, just 1 week to see what we can do to detoxify our system a little bit. I can say that on day 1, I ate a salad (no chicken) some apple slices, and 2 bowls of cereal. I also snacked on some carrot sticks while writing this and tossed them back up. Kind of sad, 1 day without meat and I am throwing up vegetables!

As this is a minor setback, I still plan to finish this out. When I set my mind to finishing something, I like to follow through to the end.

Tomorrow I plan on posting about the sweet vinyl toy party we went to as well as some new food for thought. Thanks for reading!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Rocket's Race

Day 7

Hey all, it's me, Rocket. In my waning days of life I want to grab every experience that I can. One of the things I had always dreamed about, but never got was a tattoo. For me, a tattoo represented confidence, strength, dynamism, you know, pretty much all the things I'm not. Today that's gonna change. I had thought alot over the years of what I was gonna get f I ever did get the courage to get inked, but after my diagnosis I knew. There was only one tattoo that meant anything anymore.

I went down to the parlor and rolled up my sleeves. I handed the guy a wad of cash and told him what I wanted. He asked me a bunch of questions about this being my first tattoo and was I sure that this what I wanted. I told him yeah, even if I did regret it, it wouldn't be for long. He kind of looked at me funny, but started anyway.

Strangely I wasn't nervous about the pain or the feelings that were about to come. Dying really puts all that in perspective you know? All that stuff about the pain and the needle feeling good was shit though. It hurt. Some friends had said they liked the feeling that came with the experience. I don't know.. I didn't feel it. The only thing about the pain that I did like was the sense of focus I got, almost a level of clarity. Sort of like concentrating all of my being on controlling the experiences of one place on my person. It was an interesting concept that I felt I should explore more. What the body can feel. What the body can endure. How far can one person push themselves. I intended to find out.

As the artist finished up his work I looked down to see the end result. Three numbers staring back at me in bold black print. 8-21-2008. The day I was supposed to die.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Under a Dead Sun

Chapter 23
Part 1

Root advanced on Billy, the blackened stump of his arm hanging at his side. Billy looked at Root's face, twisted in anger. He wasn't even sure how Root was upright, or even what the hell Root had been talking about.

"I cured my infection Billy... I can cure you too. See if I kill you, then you wont become one of them. I'll just put a bullet in your head. Then I'll save Katee."

"What the hell did you do to yerself Root? What happened up there?"

"I died Billy. Now its your turn."

Billy crouched on his feet, head still ringing from the explosion. He wiped the blood from his mouth, though his ears still trickled blood. He had heard what the Sheriff had said, though everything still rung in his head. He didn't see his pistol, and looked to Root as he clutched another stick of dynamite. Billy spared a quick glance behind his, but didn't see Katee. looking back to Root, he balled his fist up, and prepared to launch himself at Root, and the dynamite.

"God, I don't know what yer plan is, but keep Katee safe for me."

That's when Billy threw himself at Root.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Assorted Nuts

Happy June all!

Another month down in 2008, seems like time is just moving on this month. Today is just a general update to let you all know what's going on. First off, I work at a McDonalds and it is being sold to a franchise owner (I work for corporate McDonalds) so there has been a ton of drama going on at the store. Between fighting the fires of dissension at the thought of the sale to my boss being on a cleanliness warpath, they are just quickly breaking me down. Doing the best I can as it is, it's weird to think that in like 3 weeks, I will be at another store with a new team of managers, after a year and a half I have mixed emotions about it.

On one hand, I welcome the change and the challenge of a new locale, on the other my comfort level with my expectations here are really good. I guess it will be a mixed blessing. We will see how it goes.

On the Flash Fiction front I have mapped out the next few installments of Rocket's Race as well as another 2 chapters of Under a Dead Sun. I think I am getting close to the end of that series, maybe another 8 or 9 installments, I have the last chapter done in my head, but it's filling in the gaps that I want to get to. I also have another flash fiction piece I am writing specifically for Jason. I really I want to give him a few options to look at for possible pencilling.

Poetry is pretty stale, I have 2 inklings worked out, but my early attempts at them have not panned out the way I hopes. I do intend to dedicate a solid day next week to working on my posting. Probably Tuesday or so next week, after these initial inspections.

In terms of pop culture, Lost has easily cemented itself as perhaps the best show on television ever after that season finale. The show has really pushed the envelope in terms of episodic content and expectations from a TV show. I cannot wait for the fall and the return of Lost, as well as Heroes, Pushing Daisies, and Battlestar Galactica. Which by the way had a really slow buildup this season, but I think we are going to get big time payoff once the next season rolls around.

The XBox is also still seeing it's fair share of action, specifically in the games Mass Effect and the Penny Arcade game, On The Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness. Should be winding down Mass Effect within the week, so that will be one less distraction!

I did watch the excellent documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, about 2 men who develop a rivalry over having the world record score in the 1981 classic arcade game, Donkey Kong. The two men, upstart lovable loser Steve Weibe against the world champ for the last 23 years, Billy Mitchell. The story is a total tale of nerd devotion, but by about 20 minutes or so into the film, you really start to root for Weibe, and want to see if he can beat the master, Mitchell. Mitchell knows every trick in the book and uses them to keep Wiebe at a disadvantage. It was really interesting. You should check it out.

Anyway, stay tuned for further updates. I'll try to post again tomorrow.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Time : Rewind: Rear Window

Hey all,

For this month's edition of the rewind, I wanted to highlight a great film by Jimmy Stewart. this month would have marked his 100th birthday, and I found it fitting that we placed the spotlight on him. Stewart made many fantastic films, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life, Destry Rides Again, The Naked Spur, The Flight of The Phoenix, Harvey, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (with John Wayne), Philadelphia Story (with Th esteemed Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn)as well as his team ups with directing great Alfred Hitchcock. The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rope, Vertigo and this month's choice, Rear Window.

Rear Window stars Stewart as a photographer with a broken leg who is stuck in his house and to pass the time he has taken to observing the lives of his neighbors out his rear window. As with all of Hitch's film, the movie is rife with suspense and mystery, and at the heart of it all a murder. But is the murder for real, or just the product of Stewart's over active imagination after being cooped up for so long. The entire movie takes place in Stewart's apartment, yet it never feels cramped or enclosing. Hitch worked well in this medium, after having used it with Stewart before in Rope.

Accompanying Stewart is his girlfriend, played by the incomparable Grace Kelly. Kelly starred in 5 movies in 1954, the year this picture was released, one directed by Hitch, Dial M for Murder, and Country Girl, the film for which she won an Oscar. Though not my favorite collaboration between Kelly and Hitch (I'd have to give that to To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant) this films stands as one of Kelly's best, and as my favorite Stewart film.

Stewart, in a wheel chair, has taken to observing the goings on of his neighbors from his window. An action photographer by trade, Stewart combats the boredom by using his binoculars and camera to spy on the neighborhood. When he and his high society model girlfriend (Kelly) and home care nurse (played by actress Thelma Ritter) observe some suspicious activity by one of the neighbors (played by a sinister looking Raymond Burr) they come to believe that Burr has murdered his sick wife. They resolve to catch the killer red handed, though the plan could place all 3 of them in danger.

The film is full of Hitch staples, it's funny and suspenseful, with witty dialog and great characters. Even the other neighbors that Stewart is spying on have great dimension and depth. You see the whole film as if you were Stewart, but you never feel confined by this limitation, it added to the mystery of the film. Hitch is truly the master of setting and location, whether the expanse of the French Riviera or the confines of a New York City apartment.

I know I recommend a lot of Hitch films, its tough not to look at a great actor or actress of 30's, 40's, 50's or 60's and find their best movie that wasn't directed by Hitch. When writing this article, I looked at some future choices, like Ingrid Bergman and Kelly herself and found that my favorite films of theirs also involve Hitch. At any rate next month will target some new fare. In the meantime, you cannot go wrong with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. Check it out!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Hey all,

In actuality I caught the new Indy about 5 days ago and am just now getting my thoughts down on the movie. I think part of the reason I waited so long is that I am about to give this film, of which I love the franchise so much, a bad review. I mean Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my top movies of all time, and the subsequent films, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade are both top notch. I found this film to be lacking.

Truthfully, its only lacking in one area, but its a big hole. Let's start with the bad. Its the story. I can buy Indy fighting Commies in the 50's, it ages the series to meet the actor, and I am fine with that. I am also fine using the alien theme as an homage to the old sci fi films that prevalted the 50's cinema. I was fine with Indy having a son, and with the character progression in the movie. It was the story itself that I found lacking. Several times through the course of the film you are watching action on the screen and wondering what the hell George Lucas (the main script writer) was thinking. A few that really killed me were Indy surviving a nuclear blast in a refrigerator (that flies through the sky post blast, rolling down a hill end over end violently) all without so much as a limp. Shia LeBeouf swinging through the jungle like Tarzan, and the prevalence of cutesy animals, monkeys, gophers, that seem to pop up for no real reason. Also I felt Indy gave into to the Communist demands a little easy a few times, I didn't see the sense of resistance that he had when up against the Thugees of Temple of Doom or the Nazis in the other films. It just took Indy into a world that I didn't feel was as viable as the one set in the earlier films.

Things I did like. Harrison Ford is great as Indiana Jones. A little older, a little slower, but still believable as the great action hero. Shia is solid as Jones son, and Karen Allen is a welcome addition, a little older as well, but just as equal to the task of standing up to Indiana Jones. Cate Blanchett is a solid villain, if a bit hammy, but I think her over the top performance lends some credibility to the belief that a pushing 65 Indiana Jones can still keep up with the younger set.

I would have liked to see more practical effects in the film, but I supposed that is a bit wishful thinking with the prominence of CGI effects being so much more cost effective, but that was one of the things I loved about the earlier films. The sense that it felt real, where Crystal Skull never quite gets that feeling.

Overall, I was disappointed with the latest outing. I hope the positive box office lends to a fifth installment of the venerable franchise, I would love to see them address some of the story errors and really send Indy out with a bang. All in all I would wait for a rental.

End of Line.
Gerrad

Word Balloon: Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

Hey all,

May's installment of the Word Balloon will feature a great all ages book by writer and artist David Peterson, Mouse Guard. Mouse Guard is a bi-monthly series published by Archaia Studios Press that is centered on an intelligent colony of mice set in the middle ages. The mice of the Mouse Guard are sort of an all purpose soldier for the colony, acting as pathfinders, escorts, military support, and border guards against all sorts of predators, snakes, owls, and so forth.

The first volume of the series, recently collected in an excellent hardback, titled Fall 1152, compiles the first six issue mini series, about 3 mice of the guard who start off to find a missing grain peddler, and get embroiled in a plot to over throw the Queen of the colony. What I love about Mouse Guard is it's all ages feel, that never seems to be talking down to the audience. The author approaches the book in such a way adults and children can get behind the character.

He manages to make each mouse its own character, Lieam the fresh faced recruit, Saxon the bold swordsmen, and Kenzie, the leveled headed thinker. Even in the ancillary characters, like Gwendolyn the colonies matriarch, or Celanawe the Black Axe, as the mythic hero long thought dead. The book has its own unique look in a strange 8 X 8 square book form as opposed to the standard comic size, but Peterson uses the format to accentuate the panels in his book, opening the book to more of a wide screen appeal by focusing on bigger panels to tell the story, really limiting the decompression of the dialog. It keeps the book moving and dissolves everything else into the essence of the story.

The book surely has some influence from Jeff Smith's seminal book Bone, but it finds it's own voice and it's own unique style. Mouse Guard deals in intrigue and danger in a much more real world venue than Bone does. Disbarring anthropomorphic mice, the book has a real undertone.

Mouse Guard has quickly grown into one of my favorite titles every month. Do yourself a favor and check out Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 volume 1 by David Peterson and Archaia Studios Press.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Rocket's Race

Day 3

Hey it's me, Rocket. So, I quit my job today. I figured that if I only have 3 months to live, I am not gonna spend it behind some desk, shoveling order forms for crap that people pay for and don't even need. I am going to seize all the opportunities in life that I missed out on, all the things people dream about doing, starting with quitting this job.

I know I am not the only person while at work who fantasises about quiting in a spectacular fashion. You know the fantasies, storming up to your boss and calling him a prick. Telling him to take his stupid fucking job and his shitty little power trip and shove it up his ass. Or better yet, finally telling one of those customers who ride your ass what you really want to say to them. The ones that are just such total asses that you want to call them every name in the book, and probably a few that aren't, and just unload on them. That's what I did today.

The look on my bosses face as I am shouting at a customer on the phone. My co-workers expressions of shock as I reel off a list of obscenities so foul that even I didn't know what I was capable off. The best part of the day was the feeling I got after going at my boss. My boss was always one of those people who made sure you knew that he was in charge, always dug at you a little bit, not enough to be out and out an asshole, but the perception was always there. It felt so good to relive my self of the stress and anxiety and the years of bottled up rage that I had held deep inside. I wasn't even aware of how angry I really was for wasting so much precious time with something that I hated so much. I didn't even realize how unhappy I was until I was finally done.

I walked out of that office with a small cardboard box filled with my few possessions under my arm, my face aglow with a smile. My whole body felt more free than I had felt in years. A smile beaming from ear to ear, and it seemed the weight of the world had risen from my shoulders. And for the first time in a long time, I felt alive. Truly alive.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Rocket's Race

Day 1

Hi. My name is Ted Covina, but my friends call me Rocket. I was never the quickest guy, always slow to decide and even tempered. I think it was their way of teasing me, calling me Rocket. But I didn't mind.

I have worked at the same job for 15 years, behind a desk filling out shipping assignments for a mail order catalog. I've never sought a promotion or transfer, I just move ahead with the cards I have been dealt. My friends had urged me in the past to get out and try new things, but I never did. Eventually they stopped asking. I didn't date much after high school, and not much even in school. I had my work and my friends, and that seemed like enough.

Mostly everything just seemed like to much effort, I just lived my life and never rocked the boat. Relationships always seemed to crumble around me, friends or family, I never really saw a happy ending. Or a point to all that work. In the back of my mind I always thought I would have the time and desire one day. To change the rut that I was in. I just needed a push, a symbol that it was finally my turn.

Today I got that sign. You see, I learned today that I have 3 months to live. I am going to die. Some kind of brain cancer that has aggressively rooted into my skull. If I start chemo the doctors say I can increase the amount of time I have left, but I don't want to spend my last few months bed-ridden, kept alive by machines and facing difficult treatment everyday. I am going to face the days I have left on my terms, new terms.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I am going to seize it in the time I have left. Do all the things that I never had the courage to do. Ted Covina dies today, Rocket Ted is now born.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Under a Dead Sun

Chapter 22

Sheriff Root peered from behind the water trough. When the people inside the hotel had advanced on those monsters, he had ducked back in his office. It had been a tough choice, to help those escaping the hotel, or keep his word to the survivors in the saloon. Ultimately Root grabbed the guns and ammo and opened the front door. The spare cartridges were tucked in a ruck sack over his shoulder and he tucked several pistols into his belt.

Root made it into some cover behind a water trough about halfway down the main road before he was close enough to join the fight. By the time he had gotten in range though, most of the fighting was over. Ducking into a near door, he realized it was just a matter of time before the beasts finished with the dead, and then they would turn to him. Root risked another glance at the balcony of the saloon, trying to catch the eye of the boy Oates. If he could provide some cover fire, and if Root was really lucky, he may be able to make the saloon.

Root tried to catch Billy's attention, but the boy seemed in shock from the screams coming from the hotel. Root himself steeled his hearing to the sounds of the women and children, of the horror going on inside the hotel. It was to late for them, but it might not be to late for the rest of them. He backed into the doorway as the screams finally grew quiet, the only sounds the shuffling of the beats within and on the streets, eating the dead. Root glanced out again, in a last attempt to gain Oates attention. That's when he heard another scream, a woman's scream. Coming from the saloon. Billy ran back inside, and Root watched as the creatures began to converge on the new sound. It was then he realized he might be to late.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

More Mania!

Hey all,

Wow......just wow. I am totally overwhelmed right now. Considering I have worked pretty much 16 days straight, you would think that the slow creep of exhaustion would have caught up with me, yet I can't put down the damn 360. I polished off Halo 3 the other day and am now hip deep in the greatness that is Mass Effect. If GTA 4 is to much action game for its own good, then Mass Effect is to much RPG for it's own good. I literally spent 3 hours just walking around talking to people. I went 3 hours without firing a shot or getting caught in a firefight. The worst part, I didn't even realize. It's a broad range RPG that I am still feeling out well over 10 hours into the game. I have basically done the prologue, and I have been playing a long time.

I'm looking forward to getting into the meat of the story now, but my starting points are very, well varied leading of the home world, I am considering getting the strategy guide for it, not to make sure I get all the bonuses, but to make sure that I spend my time wisely and get the most out of the game. RPG's are really the only genre that makes me feel compelled to wring every nuance out of.

Looking at the dreadful posting rate this month I am going to be hard pressed to hit my 15 post minimum this month unless I get on some kind of guideline. Tomorrow I am going to try to get another Dead Sun chapter posted, and flesh out the next flash fiction post for the week's end. I also want to really sit down and work on a poem concept I have been toying with, but no promises on that one. Stay tuned for further updates.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: The Call

Part 2 (of2)

My voice welled up, thick like a frog had lodged in my throat. I somehow managed to croak out a hello, but I was to surprised to do much of anything else. A hundred questions welled up in my mind. Where had she gone, why had she left, why had she said those things to my brother, why did she hurt my Dad, and more frightening was what did she want.

The conversation was a stiff an uncomfortable one, Mom never really answering any of the questions I managed to ask her, she just evaded them with a disingenuous syrupy sweet falseness that just made me more angry. She told me lies of abuse and neglect on my father's part, and denied the foul things she had told my brother. She was happy now, living with the love of her life, being soiled and pampered in ways that my Dad never did. She blamed us all, even me for not being there in the house anymore. For not caring enough.

It was my fault that she left she said. It was every one's fault but hers.

Tears trickled from my eyes and I shuddered with a silent sob. She closed the call saying I love you, but I simply hung up the phone and slumped to the floor. All the things she had said had hurt me, finally breaking inside. I swore then she would not make me cry again, I would be strong for my brother, for my father.

My 21st birthday was the last time I ever cried for my mother. And the last time I ever will.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Mania!

Hey all,

Posting has been really spotty this month and I am sorry. I am still committed to 15 posts a month and I am going to have to pick up the creative juices to get this in line. My work week has been pretty much 7 days this week and I am also caught smack in the middle of Xbox 360 mania, picking up Halo 3, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed and Grand Theft Auto 4. I have only touched 2 games and I am hooked. GTA 4 is almost too much game, too much open world and too many choices. They also upped the feel, control and realism in the game. You actually have to put time and effort in stealing a car and the cops are much more dogged.

Halo 3 continues its excellent saga in what is shaping up to be a great game. I'm early into both games and if I can stay focused in GTA 4 then I'll be in great shape. The plan for continued posting is part 2 of The Call this week, as well as a column. I'd also like to get back to another poem or introspection piece, we will see. Anyway, thanks for reading!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Iron Man

Hey all,

Sorry for the slight gap, I have just been exhausted after work this week and haven't had the energy to get around to posting. I did catch Iron Man a few days ago though, and I thought I was past due at putting my review up.

Iron Man starts Robert Downey, Jr as Tony Stark, a billionaire playboy weapons manufacturer who is attacked in the Middle East during a weapons demonstration. A terrorist organization captures him and forces him to build a weapon for there group. After seeing weapons that he created for the US military being used for terrorist activities, he decided that he can't allow that to happen. Instead of creating a missile, he creates a weapons suit that has two purposes. The power source acts as a conduit to keep shrapnel from the explosion that lead to his capture from sliding into his heart and killing him, as well as providing a means of escape.

As Tony returns to America, he begins to understand the truth of his business real enterprises, selling weapons under the table led by his friend and business partner Obadiah Stane, played by Jeff Bridges. Ultimately his armor designs are stolen by Stane, and lead to a fight between Stark's sleek Iron Man, and Stane's powerful Iron Monger.

Along the way Tony is helped by his assistant and quasi love interest Pepper Potts, played great by Gwynth Paltrow and Col. James 'Rhodey" Rhodes, his liaison to the government. Casting all around is spot on for this movie, Bridges goes from the kindly father figure to menacing threat very convincingly, Paltrow rides a fine line between the tough assistant and the love lorne girlfriend. I like that there relationship doesn't really get fleshed out, the questions in there relationship is what made it work.

Director Jon Favreau also leaves plenty of teases for future Iron Man films, such as Rhodey looking at the spare Iron Man suit and saying next time. As in the comics he plays War Machine, similar to Iron Man. They also planted the seeds for future storylines, such as Iron Man's most famous story, Demon in a Bottle, about Stark's drinking problem, and what a man with the power of a tank does when he is to drunk to control himself.

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure that they could pull off a good Iron Man movie, but I think they knocked it out of the park. Casting, plotting, pacing, were all in line. There were a few moments that I thought defied believability (for a comic book movie that is) but they were few and far between. I am wholeheartedly recommending that you check out Iron Man. Oh, and stay all the way through the credits for a really great tease!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Under a Dead Sun

Chapter 21

Billy flattened himself against the train top as the locomotive surged around the curve. The train had been gaining speed steadily since right after he and Root had split up. He wedged his boot into the roof railing and turned around, hauling Katee up behind him.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled, wondering how someone so slight could be so tough. Katee graced him with a grateful smile, somehow still beautiful despite the conditions they were in. Katee's face was flecked with blood and dirt, and her thread worn dress was torn and bloody. She had ripped the side of her skirts open, to allow more freedom of movement, and Billy caught a glimpse of her thigh as she hoisted herself up. Once she was safely on the roof, she rolled to a crouch and drew her pistol.

"How you holding up Katee?"

"I'll be a fuckload better once Root gets the damn train under control, Billy. You reckon he made it to the front okay?"

Root had made a break for the front of the train after they had reached the roof. Billy and Katee had stayed back to give him time, and prevent the dead from gaining an advantage. Katee had dropped down to sever the rear cars and now they were headed to the front, to reunite with Root , sever the remaining cars and blow the tracks behind them.

Billy knew that it wouldn't stop these things, hell, he wasn't sure anything short of a bullet to the brain would stop them. There were to damn many and to damn hard to kill. But it would buy them time, and at this point that would have to be enough.

As Katee and he started towards the engine, the were blown back by a deafening blast, Katee hit the deck hard, the wind knocked from her lungs. Billy managed to keep a grip on the roof rail as he was thrown back. Billy looked up, blood in his ears and mouth, and he saw Root, once mild banker turned small town sheriff, dangling a bloody stump for an arm, his face blackened and torn from the explosion. He held another stick of dynamite in his hand.

"Don't worry Billy..... I took care of my infection. I'm going to make it safer for everyone, starting with you.

Billy looked about for his gun, head still ringing, and didn't see it anywhere.

"Shit."

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Wedded Bliss!

Hey all,

As promised I wanted to put down my thoughts on my brothers wedding. Being asked to be the minister of the wedding at first seemed like a far fetched idea, mostly that my brother was just trying to save some scratch and not pay someone. The more I got into the idea the more I began to like the idea.

The wedding was a pretty simple affair, nothing overtly fancy or elaborate, just low key and relaxed. The ceremony itself only went about 15 minutes. I prepared a sermon written by myself, talking of the meaning of marriage and the symbolism of the wedding ring. I included a reading by an anonymous writer, as well as a second reading using a slightly re-written version of my poem, One Final Endeavor, rewording bits to be more marriage centric. Everybody says the sermon was great and very touching, though I doubly anyone would say that I sucked to my face, especially at the reception! My brother and his wife were happy though, and that is what mattered to me.

I did get a small burst of the giggles during the sermon, as the photographer knocked over a plaster vase during the reading of the vows, I had to stop for a minute and couldn't get going as the absurdity of the moment just compounded and I kept giggling. I did reign it in pretty quick but everybody kind of chuckled at the same time so I think I am okay.

It was a bit of a surprise to my new sister-in-law's parents that I was the minister. It seems no one ever told them that I was performing the ceremony and apparently they are a bit strict and don't approve of online ordination. I heard the tail end of the conversation and my brother defended me pretty fiercely, so I have to be glad he liked it. He did mention that they thought I did a good job, so I don't know.

My brother also diffused what could have been a volatile situation for me, his relationship with my Mom is pretty strained, there is a lot of bad blood in our past, and while I try to leave the past behind me, Gregg is still pretty raw, even after all these years. Mom and his wife, Tracy, don't get along either. She was upset with him for not really greeting her when she got to the ceremony (though I told her he was just busy with pre-wedding duties) and that she got cut out of Gregg's life story during the DJ's presentation of the events leading up to marriage. Gregg pulled her up after the father and daughter dance and said something to her. That gesture meant a lot to me, simply on the grounds that I am the one who has to deal with the fallout of any snubbing on his part. That saved me a ton of grief. I also thought it was really classy how they split up the father daughter dance. Tracy's sister never got that dance at her wedding, as her father originally disapproved of her choice in a spouse. So during the dance Tracy stepped aside and let her sister get her dance with her Dad. A really sweet moment.

There were some other good moments, seeing my Dad so happy and emotional was really special. Dad, Gregg and I have a very special close bond that I have a hard time explaining to others, we really came together during the divorce, and Dad was such a pillar of strength and support that I felt lucky to have him then. Dad must have been torn apart after the marriage, but he was always there, always supportive, he was our hero. Dad coming home was extra special.

I still can't wait until Gregg develops the instant camera pictures, as his best man, Joe, and I decorated his car. His wife is 6 weeks pregnant (I actually think its 8 by now...) so we put a bunch of condoms on the car with a gift tag that said better later than never. I also put astroglide all over his door handle. Classy I know.

I am really happy for my brother. Things are starting to shape up for him, and I couldn't be prouder of the kind of man he is turning into.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Assorted Nuts

Happy May all!

These past few days have been packed full of activities that I can't wait to get posting on. Spanning from my brother's wedding, to working at the comic book store for free comic book day and helping to raise funds for a great charity, there has been a lot going on. I also am dreadfully behind on posting more flash fiction, including part 2 of The Call and some more fun in the Dead Sun world. I also expect to catch Iron Man (which I have been hearing very good things about) so I am sure to be bursting with great updates over the next few days.

I was especially happy to have my Dad back in town from Ohio. I miss him a lot and it always kills me to see him leave.

I promise tomorrow will have all the wedding details, stay tuned!

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: The Call

Part 1 (of2)

It had been a long day at work and I was tired. As i walked into my apartment, I found it empty, my roommates still at their jobs or classes. I started my usual post work routines, emptying my pockets onto the night stand and stripping off my work clothes. I threw the whole pile into the hamper and headed for the bathroom to shower. I figured a quick shower would help wash the day I had off me and give me time to get on the computer before my roommates showed up.

As I lathered over the soap, I began to reflect on things that I hadn't really let myself think about too much. It had been 10 days since my mother had ran off with that guy she met on the Internet and things had been hard. My brother had taken a lot of my mom's ill will before she left and Dad fluctuated between sadness and anger at the situation. I turned the water a little hotter, and tried to crowd these thoughts out of my head. It had been rough for all of us, but more so for them. We hadn't seen or heard from her since that day at the airport when Dad and me had confronted them, and the surreal chase that followed before they lost us on the freeway.

After toweling off I brushed my teeth and freshened up. My roommates had mentioned going out for my birthday tonight, I was turning 21 and a little bit of fun may be just what the doctor ordered. After finishing up in the bathroom I headed into my room and turned on my computer. As it booted up I proceeded to get dressed and as I was buttoning up my shirt, I heard my cell phone ring. I didn't recognize the number, but I thought it may be work related so I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hi honey...happy birthday."

It was my mom.


End of Line.
Gerrad!

Word Balloon: Preacher

Hey all,

April's edition of the Word Balloon features another great series from DC Comics Vertigo imprint, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's epic tale Preacher. Spanning 66 issues, as well as a small series of one shots as well as a limited series, Preacher is the story of a man, Jesse Custer, who was raised by a horrible Grandmother and his violent backwater cousins to be a man of God. When he is possessed by a supernatural being called Genesis that kills his entire congregation, he is driven by his own sense of right and wrong to begin a journey to literally find "God." Genesis is a being divided by pure good and pure evil, the offspring of an angel and a demon, that gives Jesse the "Word of God," the ability to command people to do what he says.

Driven by his own sense of right and wrong, his journey to find God, (who fled Heaven after the birth of Genesis) he encounters many strange beings and people, such as the patron Saint of Killer (the Angel of Death) the holy organization The Grail, and his own twisted family. Jesse is joined on his journey by his spurned girlfriend Tulip O'Hare and a hard drinking, hard living vampire named Cassidy.

Writer Ennis and artist Dillon take what is a far reaching concept and blend it into a mix of humor, violence, perversion and insight into the relationship of the religious into today's lifestyles that really works. There is a lot of Preacher that is over the top, but the series is balanced by taking a stark look religion and how we view it today. It continues to look at concepts like the preservation of Christ's bloodline, the importance of messiahs, and even looks back at the impact of Vietnam and the battle between liberal and conservative views. Feminism and America's obsession with celebrity also get deconstructed. Other topics such as drug use, immigration, homelessness, and redemption and responsibility also get analyzed. The series is far reaching in it's topics of appeal.

Preacher takes heavy influence from movies, particularly the westerns of John Wayne, John Ford and Clint Eastwood. The Alamo and Monument Valley serve in the story, and Wayne himself is sort of Jesse's spiritual guide, a conscious for Jesse's journey. The Saint of Killers is almost a direct homage to the films and characters of Eastwood and the movie the Wild Bunch. You can also draw reference to books like Holy Blood, Holy Grail, which popularized the idea of Christ having children, which also influenced the Da Vinci Code.

Preacher was the first book that really opened my eyes to the quality of independent publishing, despite being published by DC. Books from its Vertigo imprint really carry a different appeal than any other comic being published. Vertigo says that this book is unlike anything else being made. Preacher, along with books like Neil Gaimen's Sandman, really started the modern trend of what comics could achieve. It is a complex series, that I wholeheartedly recommend. Start out with Volume 1 and 2, Gone to Texas and Until the End of The World. That will be enough to hook you until you move onto volume 3, Proud Americans, where the story gets really good. There are currently 9 volumes in print, including Ancient History, collecting all of the one shots and the Saint of Killers mini series.

Preacher has been optioned for both a television series and a movie, and at last check was headed to HBO as an hour long series, with each issue being 1 episode. It will be a very tough series to adapt that could go either way, though I sincerely hope that Ennis has a hand in keeping it true to the series roots.

Check it out, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's magnum opus, Preacher, published by DC Comics/Vertigo.


End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Leatherheads

Hey all,

Caught an early matinee yesterday of the George Clooney, Renee Zellweger film Leatherheads. The set up is that Clooney is an aging pro football player trying to keep the game from going under. After his team gets disbanded, he hatches a plan to get college football star and World War 1 hero John Krasinski (Jim from the Office) to go pro early by guaranteeing both him and his agent a huge cut of the gates. Zellweger plays a journalist assigned to Krasinski by a newspaper to fetter out the real story behind his World War 1 heroics. Zellweger is torn by her attraction to both men and by her desire to get the truth. Ultimately, the final game comes down Clooney, and the old ways of playing the game, versus Krasinski and the new rules of legitimized football.

The were elements of this film that I really liked. The overall feel of the movie was very classic, like a film made in the 30's or 40's, taking its time with pace and plotting, the subtle humor mixed with the obvious. It was set in the 1920's and had maintained that world very well. They didn't rush the plot or hammer in any of the details of the movie, they let it develop at it's own pace. Clooney, who doubles as director, was definitely influenced by the films of Cary Grant and Clark Gable and the sort of comedies they made. Krasinski was great too, his character is not the hero that everyone thinks he is, but you still root for him to win, and the wrong actor can really affect how that comes across.

That being said I do think the film ran a little long and dragged in some areas. If you are not a fan of classic films or a die hard Clooney fanatic you may want to wait for DVD. I don't think it ever really captures the heart of the audience though, falling just a bit short straddling the line between comedy, romance and storytelling. It takes a bit of each, but doesn't maximize on any certain one, which for me has the film come up a bit short.

This film is not like most movies in the theatre, it's a throwback movie and I am glad to see more like these made. I can't say it was a great film, but I did like it. Check it out.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Assorted Nuts

Hey all,

I know it's been a few days since my last post, but I wanted to update you on what I have been working on. In about a week's time I am due to host my brother's wedding ceremony. That's a lot of responsibility, especially coming up with material to talk about as the bride and groom don't want anything overtly religious. That being said I have been working towards creating a wedding outline documenting what I want to say and the structure of the wedding to follow so that we have a good idea of what to do.

The couple doesn't want to say a whole lot in the ceremony, so its up to me to fill in the blanks so to speak. They didn't want to read their own vows or light a candle, just simple actions that will take up to 20 to 30 minutes. I am nervous about being able to fill the time, but I am feeling good about what I have written, I may post some excerpts after the wedding next week.

Other than the wedding I have been keeping busy at home, helping Jason with inks on his project when I can (filling blacks, nothing that requires great ability unlike him) plotting out my next flash fiction article, and looking where to go on my next installment of Dead Sun. I did catch Leatherheads, the movie with George Cloony and Renee Zellweger That I will post on this weekend. Also before the end of month I'll post my next word balloon column.

Anyway, I have a lot of excited stuff going on, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: The Reunion

Chapter 3 (of 3)

I awoke slowly, a slight filter of light creeping through the slat in the blinds. A smile crossed my face as I remembered the night before, the night with Emily. After 10 years of regret, a few simple hours had turned my life around. I rolled over, casting my arm to fall over her sleeping form.

When I found empty sheets, I sat up. Still bleary from the night before, I looked around my room. Her clothes still lay strewn about the room, cast aside in a fervent urgency that both of us had succumbed to. I stood up, pulling a rumpled sheet free from the tangle in the bed and wrapping it around my waist.

I softly crept from my bedroom and into the hallway. My entire body felt alive, feeling the strands of carpet on my feet and the cool breeze of the air condition raising goosebumps on my skin. As I reached the end of the hall I stopped. Caught against the breaking dawn, Emily stood framed in the patio doorway. Clad only in my white dress shirt, the breaking sun framed her in a glow of orange and red. The oversized shirt was nearly translucent in the burgeoning light, casting her body in shadow. I watched silently as she took a drag from a cigarette, her hair rustling softly in the morning current. She never turned around, just staring into the morning, her arm perched on the frame of the door, one foot bent slightly. That picture, Emily aglow in my life, set against the dawn, burned deeply into my heart.

I turned around and walked slowly back to my room, not wanting to break her reverie, not wanting to ruin a perfect moment. I laid down on the bed, pulling the covers against my skin and drifted back off to sleep. I had all the time now, life was perfect.


Later that morning I awoke and read the note she had left for me. We all had regrets she said, and her regret was that I had waited 10 years to tell her something she had always known. I had broken her heart those years past, and now she had broken mine.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Movie Review: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Hey all,

Caught Forgetting Sarah Marshall today, the newest comedy from the Judd Apatow team of 40 Year Old Virgin and Superbad fame. It stars Jason Segal, of How I met Your Mother, Kristen Bell of Veronica Mars and Heroes, and Mila Kunis of That 70's Show. It's a pretty simple plot, Segal plays Peter, who is in love with Sarah Marshall, played by Bell, who is a famous TV cop on a Law and Order type show. He does teh music for the series, but is caught off guard when Bell breaks up with him to be with another man, a rock star. Peter is torn apart by the breakup and between unmanly fits of sobbing and failed one night stands, he decided to take a trip to Hawaii to forget Sarah. Unfortunately the hotel he has chosen to stay at is the same one that Sarah is staying at with her boyfriend. Instead of leaving, which would make him look like he's running away, he stays. Eventually he creates a connection with the desk clerk played by Kunis, but when everybodys imperfections come out, he has to decide of he can really forget Sarah Marshall.

Like all of Apatow's movies, this film is a balance of raunchy and heart, that I think does a pretty good job at keeping the humor going, unlike Knocked Up that I felt got a little to heart heavy during the film. Segal is great balancing the crushed boyfriend who was dating out of his league, and as a comedic leading man. Kristen Bell nails the television celebrity who thinks she knows what she wants but who doesn't know. The casting choices were solid and I like that Bell was doing something outside of her normal acting zone. Some of my favorite bits were in the casting of bit parts, like Billy Baldwin and Jason Bateman as Bell's crime partners, who got some great one liners. Also the sub-plot of Segal's character writing a Dracula rock opera was so ridiculous you had to laugh. I will warn you, despite some photographed boobs, you do get some uncomfortable penis shots, made all the funnier by the audience reaction to them. You can hear the collective groan from the audience. Also look for a really funny sub-plot with jack McBrayer of 30 Rock as a man who has trouble consumating his marriage with his voraciuos bride.

There were some areas of opportunity in the film, particularly in the running time. I felt several scenes could have been condensed or eliminated to keep the narrative pace a bit faster. Also while a pretty funny film, I still feel that many of the comedies Apatow have produced need to continue to focus on the comedy and let the heart rise from that, like in 40 Year Old Virgin or Old School, sometimes it can feel a bit forced.

Overall I recommend the film as a pretty funny movie. If you liked any of the previous films I listed from Apatow, you will certainly like this.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: The Reunion

Chapter 2 (of 3)

Emily and me fell fast into conversation, almost as if 10 years hadn't passed. We talked of college and careers, about the welfare of common friends and our families. She told me of a failed attempt at marriage and even more failed attempts to break into music. I talked of working at a job I was trapped in and my own failed attempts towards becoming a writer. We talked of relationships won and lost, of the places we had been and of the sights we had seen. The best times were the moments of shared laughter or the brief spark of a light touch that came when our hands brushed.

Other people came and talked to us that night, but I only remember Emily. As the evening wore on and we shared drinks, those brief touches became electric the longer they lasted. All those years of pain and heartbreak seemed to melt away when I was with her. We talked of everything, though my thoughts turned dark reflecting on our last meeting together. Recalling the choice I made, my greatest mistake. Though even that thought couldn't last now that I was with her again.

It was easy to fall into that same routine, to fall under the same spell that once held me so completely. Before I was ready, the night had already grown cold and the party had dwindled to just a few stragglers and us. We sat at that table, looking into each other's eyes, quiet for the first time all evening. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, neither not knowing what to say. The same as all those yeas ago, when I had chosen to walk away, the words unspoken laying between us. When my courage had failed and I let her walk away without telling her everything. Yet here I was, caught in the same fear that haunted me 10 years ago.

Finally, Emily stood up and peeled her name badge from her chest and let it fall the floor wordlessly. She rounded the table as I stood up, peeling my own name off, flicking the sticker off of my fingers. She at me and held both my hands, drawing me in close, into a kiss that exploded like a thousands suns, sweet and burning, extinguishing all around me. As we pulled apart, I whispered what I had had been to afraid to say those years past.

"I love you Emily."

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: Under a Dead Sun

Episode 20

Billy stared straight down the barrel of Boon's pistol. Instinctively, Bill ushered Katee slowly behind him, shielding him from Boon. Katee still clutched the old Navy revolver she had picked up from Deke, but Billy slowly slid his pistol back into his holster.

"Take it easy Tom, we gotta stay together."

"FUCK THAT SHIT OATES! Did you see what the fuck just happened? He had his fucking throat ripped out and he got up and tore into that other fucker like those things outside! I'm not letting any of you come at me."

Billy grimaced as he watched Boon circle over by the remains of Barry and crouch down to pick up the scattergun, the whole time never lowering his gaze, or his pistol, from Billy.

"Boothe didn't stop until Barry blew his head out with this scattergun, and that exactly what the fuck I'm gonna do to you. Exceptin' I'm not gonna make the same mistake he did, I'm gonna.."

Before he could finish the sentence, the remains of Barry Crouch, suddenly sunk his teeth in Boon's ankle. Boon screamed letting off a shot that missed Billy by inches. Boon looked down at Barry tearing into his ankle through his long johns and emptied his pistol into Barry's back. The beast jerked with each shot but tore more ferociously after each wound.

"FUCK!"

Boon tried to maneuver the shotgun into position but before he had a chance there was another shot fired and Boon feel backward, a bullet in his head. Billy looked behind him to see Katee clutching the revolver in both hands, the barrel smoking, with a look of determination on her face. She fired another round into the head of Crouch, his body jolting still in a pool of brain and fluids.

"Get that fuckin' scattergun Oates..."

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Assorted Nuts

Hey all,

Thought I would throw in some background on the stuff I am doing this week. I felt like writing some more flash fiction but I didn't want to feel compelled to continue my zombie western saga all the time. I have been a bit influenced by my friend Danny's blog about writing semi-autobiographical stuff in a fictionalized environment. I promise I am by no means done with Under a Dead Sun, I just want to continue to find personal inspiration and satisfaction in what I do and not limit myself to one particular story. Throughout this week I will finish part 2 and 3 of The Reunion as well as Chapter 20 of Dead Sun, so stay tuned. Oh and let me know what you think about the new mini story. I'd love the feedback.

End of Line.
Gerrad!