Monday, December 31, 2007

Blue Balls from London chapter 5

They have a nice Apartment, I make the usual pleasantries nice place ECT, and then we begin again to more small talk. " You want something to drink" Marcy asks
"Yes Thank you " I reply.
She makes her way to the fridge and grabs me a beer in the mean time Stacey turns on some music "Goldfrapp ok?" She says " fine with me “ I replied.

It's clear they are the seductresses there timing, smooth, flawless it's exciting but also kind of eerie you know like when you watch a scary movie the Vampires ease there victims into a false sense of relaxation then they fuck em up it's kind of like that I try to make eye contact with Barry but Stacey has him in her power he cant take his eyes off her.

The song starts a mellow number it adds to the dim lit living room and to the now heightened sense that there is nudity coming, you don’t know when, but you must be ready for it. Stacey makes her way towards Barry and they begin their own Conversation.

Marcy stands in front of me holding a beer with a shrewd look on her face she starts.

"So ". She begins " I forgot to ask how long are you in London?"
(Looking back I should have kept the conversation on her cause this Question would come back to me as the deal or no deal breaker.)
I respond " 4 days then I'm traveling to visit more friends in Paris”. (ARGHH YOU IDIOT!!! WHY DID YOU SAY THIS!! )
Stacey and Marcy make eye contact and I swear you can see the night unfold with just that glance.

Marcy gently faintly , touches the side of my face " Let me show you something." She whispers.
As if on cue without any hesitation as though they had planned there moves Stacey takes Barry by the hand "C'mon you, let these two get acquainted." She snaps out
And they make there way out .

Music Playing wea re still we know what's going to happen I can see here make the choice to let me in suddenly in the Background we hear Stacy moaning followed by Barry .
That was all we needed to hear .

Our eyes meet this is part, I know I can play , she leans in we kiss , short soft kisses the kind that say " Hello I'm nervous about this but if you act right we can proceed further " I oblige this is what I was made for ..

I take control slowly stroking her hair letting her know I will take my time until she feels comfortable we Kiss again this time longer, I feel her let go she takes control holding my head, slowly and softly opening her mouth to see if I will catch her vibe I'm there, she wants to feel embraced not just fucked by a stranger.

We kiss in this fashion for hours it seems, I only take the lead if an advance is given, by this time she has straddled me I hold her firmly she begins to grind finally another chapter .

Thursday, December 20, 2007

BlueBalls From London chapter 4

So on and on the night goes by and not a bite yet a lot talk but it’s all in passing.
Finally I’m introduced to some more ladies Lets call them (Stacey and Marcy) and they are just what doctor ordered Marcy is hot sandy brown hair ample cleavage not a lot of make up and above all she’s wearing a Cowgirl hat Yee fucking Haw

By this time my need to seal the deal has met it’s zenith, I take this time to reflect I don’t know what the fuck was wrong with me I couldn't’t calm down that night.
Amsterdam reaped it revenge my Confidence was my undoing I found a place to gather my senses took several deep breathes and returned to the battle by this time I could sense Barry was in Mack Attack mode he sensed there was a disturbance in my force and like any good wing man would do he covered for me until I could get my shit together,I could not let his diligence go to waste.

I smile and re-entered the conversation again, it starts off with the same questions which by this time I'm at peace with myself I am refocused my mission is clear. I set my attention to Marcy I flip the Balddee interrogation and presume to question her instead Let the interest in Marcy conversation begin (I’m such a jerk)
I ask her to dance Cowgirl, is a great dancer so this time I give a lot more this is a One on One game, Barry and Stacey have abandoned us that is the sign for hey there probably gonna fuck tonight what say you and I give it a go?

After dancing to what seemed the longest mix in history I get a tap on my shoulder its Stacey.
" Let's get out of Here! " she yells out.
I smile leading Marcy ahead of me we make our way back to the bar I turn to Stacy with a shy smile I ask
" What's the Plan."
"Finish this first. " She says
She grabs her shot glass and slams it, we all follow suit after the slamming of beverages we make for the door. We say our goodbye's, nice to meet you, catch you later , to various people head for the stairs and.

Finally were out of the Club we clear the clutter of hang abouters and get to a space where we can formulate what I hope in details a someone riding me hard evening.
I light up a Cig and repeat my previous unanswered question
" What's the Plan.? "

Stacey is the navigator so I ask her while I smile at Marcy
"Our Place” she says .

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Blueballs from London chapter 3

I make my ways downstairs and I can hear the music pumping in the distance, I let Barry take the lead it’s clear he has hunted these halls before.
I take his signals and I snap out of my day dreaming game face on.

We enter, and it’s loud bodies moving in a hypnotic excuse the cliche but trance we make our way thru the crowd and set up shop close to the bar. Barry knows a gang of people and it feels like the first 2 hours consist of me shaking hands, Nodding hello and giving kisses to various girls, who all tell me they Loooovve Barry he’s such sweetie ect all this is fine but which one of you can I bend over is all I kept thinking, calm yourself Man I thought this isn’t Amsterdam the time will come be patient she hasn’t been spotted yet.

I do a lot of talking I explain what I do for a living, what lead me to visit Barry, how long have Barry and I been buddies , a lot of wasted conversation but what are you gonna do ?
I mean don't get me wrong I like the friendly conversation but not right now !

Nothing good can come from this and in my experience the general outcome of these conversations usually ends in lets go somewhere after the Party not to Fuck mind you It leans toward the I want to learn more about You area which is fine as well but I’m on mission. Someone must get done!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

chapter seventeen

Bel or Satchel looked at everybody else and spoke, “What do we do now?”

Balddee had two fists rolled on the desktop of Dirty Orpheus’ desk. His brow furrowed then relaxed as he looked up at the rest of the group, “We need to separate. It is the only way to find the creature.”

The other member’s shoulders sank. Pedro, ever the inquisitive cat, toyed with a piece of paper that had fallen on the floor. He flipped it open, then scratched at Dirty’s leg.

“Not now Pedro.”

Pedro continued to scratch, lifting the piece of paper up; Dirty sighed then picked it up.

He read through the letter twice before handing it to Balddee, “This must’ve been where the creature came from.”

“Who the fuck is Bob from Pequot Lakes?”

The group left the office and walked through the dark hallway to the cleaning room where, with the help of Pedro's cat vision, they discovered the small trap door though they did not open it.

“Well, this explains something.” Balddee said, his dark complexion tying knots in the muted light.

“It gives us somewhere to put it.” Dirty offered.

A pause fell over the group until Bel or Satchel spoke, “But it doesn’t change anything; we still need to separate to draw it out.”

Balddee sighed then spoke: “Everybody go to an office, not your own. If this thing wants us to be friends it’s better if we’re not close to things that make us feel comfortable-- keep your wits about you.”

The group broke and Satchel or Bel stumbled into Dr. Gonzo’s office toying with a boom box liberated from one of the intern’s desks. On the event of the creature’s appearance, the play button was to be pressed and the creature attacked.

The window looked out towards the East, the rain continued to fall in great sheets onto St. Paul. The Cathedral stood as a mirage; an unreachable safe haven. The office was quiet, peaceful. Any other afternoon this tranquility would’ve been a welcome sound from the muddle of noises and exclamations that littered the hallways of BMC headquarters. But now Satchel or Bel wanted it back, all the noises and happy rage.

“Dirty!” Balddee’s voice carried, “Everybody to Marlon’s office.”

Blueballs From London Part 2

So with all that said I met up with my buddy lets call him (Barry) short background on Barry. His family moved to London from the Caribbean when he was 8 that's all you need to know, we meet up at a watering hole near his Apartment or is it Flat?

Hugs and greetings are exchanged I am happy to see him (Look at that ole B-love has a kind streak) we shoot the Willie Bobo you know, when you ask about families, work, ECT then I get to the point.
I explain my reasons for visiting and what I hope to accomplish he laughs shaking his head.
He pulls out his phone and checks his calendar “ we will give this a go you free tonight“ he says .
Barry is the perfect wing man fearless and confident always keeping his eye on the hunt, while I tend to go for a GQ Smooth look he has the Urban Downtown Chic thing going on, he could fit in where ever we counter balance each other perfectly .

I’m informed that were heading to Bloomsbury tonight to a little house gathering and if that don’t work The End ((that’s a Club in case you were wondering)
I wont talk about the house gathering cause it was just a Meet and Greet there were a lot of people there but it would take a lot of work to get one of ladies there to drop her trousers, and I have a mission to accomplish the best thing about Barry is he is Plugged in to the Club scene he used to do a lot of Promotion work for a lot of Clubs in London so he’s that person who walks past the line and they let him and his entourage right in while you stand there looking like what the Fuck.

And in a nutshell that’s what we did.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Blueballs from London

I wake up from a brisk nap turn on the old I-pod and take in the sounds of Sweetback Gaze is the track of choice for me as I roll into London.
This is a hard town, it’s very expensive so one has to be very careful about what you do and where you spend your money.
Amsterdam was a great groundbreaker and I had high expectations for London, For one I could speak the Language which is a plus and I have one of the faces that work when traveling abroad and as fucked up as this sounds I don’t Look American so I can pass for any various ethnic group as long as I keep my mouth shut I get in where I fit in depending on where you go this is important. (But that's a different STORY)
So I begin my ritual hotel check in secure my luggage and shower.
This trip will be different I have some friends who live here so even though I like to run it solo an experienced Wing man helps, especially here.
Unlike other cities London competes with itself to PRESSINING LEVELS to provide as many different SCENES if you will, in various spread out areas it’s like New York in that sense, there may be tons of dance Clubs Lounges ect in Brooklyn, but THEE Club to be seen at is in Manhattan Club BLAH BLAH BLAH.

London is like that plus ten but that’s my opinion. The Underground events are where I want to hang my hat on this trip and this is the Place to find it but to know where it is, you have to know someone, specially if your visiting cause getting to the right one on the right night is crucial remember, I’m on a mission and this trip.
I want to shoot my load on an Underground Club girl.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Sexing up Europe Prt 6 Amsterdam

Not looking like Thor played to my advantage, I'm being hunted, but the huntress has yet to make herself known several hour go by and I excuse myself to go to the bathroom. I ask where and Jen say's " I'm going to go as well, I will show you"
Which means they all get up to go.
Naturally there is a line for the women's restroom and I stand with them we joke around it doesn't matter where you go in the World there's always a line for the Ladies Room.
I wait with them joking the whole time as they enter I make my way to the men's room.

Upon exiting I see Jen the sweet booze has kicked in now this is where my experience pays off.

If you have never read one of my Blogs know this.
When it comes to women, a smart man knows that for all the compliments, smiling,
Cool pick up lines you think you have in your Mack Daddy arsenal the Women, decide if your going to get laid all you have to do is show them that your not an idiot.
Show that you have restraint and respect and the world is yours. That’s the twist to my story no I didn't talk 3 chicks into sleeping with me, yeah it would of made a better story but it didn't happen.

Jen Steps out of the ladies room followed by Olga and Jill who smile and pass me by this is there stamp of approval.
Jen gets closer waiting to see what my intention is I switch from nice guy to nice guy who wants to punish her doggy style.
I pull her close so that she can feel my bulge, I can feel her breath, I can hear her mind race with thoughts as I grind into her, and I stroke her hair we kiss.
A door has been opened.

Sexing Up Europe prt 5 Amsterdam

So here I am ..
With three local ladies the best thing to do in this situation is bide your time talk to all three.
Especially Olga, seem disappointed that you can’t communicate with her.
Give them all Equal and respectful attention then shift.
"You all look so lovely tonight, " I said with a friendly smile on my face.

Mind you I have now complimented them on their outfit and they have been sitting with me drinking for at least an hour.
Olga leans over to Jen
" We come here a lot but rare is it that we do this?" She says
"This? " I retort.
" Yeah sit with a tourist and drink ". She exclaims
I laugh
“Am I making you uncomfortable? " I say
" No your Cool." She replies with a smile

I knew all this would play out so I reserve myself, the music and liquor start to kick in and the dancing begins I ask Olga first. She smiles and accepts, I give her the safe space dance but show a fraction of my moves.
Naturally her girls are watching we smile a lot and briefly we do the fake couples partner dancing this is the safe way to feel the other person out.
We dance thru 4 songs she starts to loosen up Jill shows up with Olga's drink they slam it down and in typical College girl fashion yell out a woo then all hell breaks loose.

Sexing up Europe : Amsterdam part 4

Like I was saying ..
I was stepping out thanking them for the conversation Jen, who initially started the conversation asked, “Where are your friends?”
The games afoot.
I gave a faint smile “I 'm alone.” I replied
" Why?" she said with a puzzled look on her face
I looked past her to my table and bit my bottom lip real quick to let her know something was not working out she turned around to see what I was looking at.
" Is that your table? " she asked.
" Yeah" I said
"I'm such a tourist I see some people checking it out I should head back ."
Jill and Jen laughed.
“I asked them if they would care to join me.”
They translate to Olga who smiled and said " yes. " And with Olga’s permission we left the bar and headed to my table.

Sexing up Europe Amsterdam prt 3

I smile and respond in kind I ask the usual tourist question, about what to see, what clubs to go to. Her English is great strong accent better then any attempt I would make to speak her dialect, which I apologize for emphatically, this takes all of them back and they appreciate the fact that I feel bad for not speaking the National Language.

I pace my self I don't compliment their attire until a few more silly questions about where to buy music Clothes ECT. They all toss in there 2 cents only one didn't speak English so there was a lot of translating which I enjoyed cause that kept the conversation going much longer which is what I wanted.

I apologized again beginning to make my way out of their spot since I don't recall there names lets call them Jen, Jill and Olga “cause she didn't speak English”
They were all very lovely, very tall, thin and busty, they were female and they had a pulse and I had a mission.

Sexing Up Europe: Amsterdam prt 2

Exhale...
Man is their anything better then smoking with a good cup of Coffee?
Yeah checking out the uber tall women, as they walk by there are several steps one must take to have a successful hunt.

Step one: Dress to Impress
I don't mean where a suit but I prefer the casual seal the deal look nice slack well-polished shoes look nice. That may not matter to you but in this situation my time is limited so I have to be successful in my mission.
Hooverphonic is playing the mellow ambiance of the track sets my mind in motion.

Step two. Know the terrain
By that I mean know where the freak Places are and plan accordingly in this case because of the music I changed my plan.
I wanted to find a place that played this mellow Ambient music so I went in and struck up a conversation with the Coffee barrister after 20 minutes of each of us trying to communicate I found a place that kicks off around midnight The Zebra Lounge.

After a hearty dinner my hotel reserved a table for me (which I recommend you do)
Zebra is what you would expect a Lounge to be a lot of red in the decor. Another bonus a nice crowd the best part about being a tourist is that I don't look like Thor, so for the local gals I was a side order of Deliciousness wrapped up in Hugo Boss.

I sat at my table sipping on my drink watching, getting the feel of the crowd smiling politely at everyone as they make there way past me several hours pass the music changes from very mellow ambient to a tad more upbeat.
I make my way to the bar when I see three lovely ladies in there advertisement clothes short dresses cleavage front and center. I excuse my self as I enter there midst, I order a drink and one leans over. “Where are you from?” a door has been opened.

Sexing up Europe part 1 of 6 Amsterdam

I love traveling .
I sit back in my leather chair enjoying the finer aspects of First Class I wish I could smoke on the Plane, but those days are gone. I sit back with my nasty Airline Scotch and sift thru my travel brochures planning my Second Annual Trip thru Europe .

Unlike your average tourist I go to Europe not to see the sites, (done that) but to lay as Much Pipe as humanly possible that's right! I go all the way to Europe to whore it up !
Why not go to Vegas you may ask Because I'm rich and I can afford 4 Months of attempting to bed as many European Chicks as I can . Is it Shallow, is it vile, is it a sign of a man with NO class what so-ever Yes ! YES ! and hell Fucking YES !!
So sit back As I take you on a trip, back pack with me as I Try to plant my Pole in Europe .

Our First Stop Amsterdam

What better place to begin my hunt for sweet European tang then in a city where Maryjane and other hallucinogenic items flow in abundance. Amsterdam is an upscale Tijuana.
Your Freak flag can fly here, this is confidence building town 101 the sad part is when you start in a place that's so free the rest of the places I plan to visit will seem like a monastery, I wont name Hotels or Clubs in any of my tales
( because I don't get residuals for free advertisement plus when I go there this year I dont want anyone FUCKING up my plans !)
So where was I ..oh yeah
My excitement could not be contained the cab ride took forever!!!! I sat in my seat twitching , the sites and thoughts of plugging some 6 foot Blonde Chick was more then I could stand .
We pulled up to Hotel ( blah blah ) I check in secured my room and after a quick shower I hit the streets. I was a hunter my confidence, oozing from my pores if ever a man gave off the I wannna sex you up vibe it was me how can I make you understand .?? ah !
Ya know that opening scene in Saturday Night Fever where John Travolta is strutting with the paint can .
That cocky bastrard was me fortunately it was 9:30 ( there time of course) so I had a lot of time .
First stop an Amsterdam Coffeshop

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Sigur Ros

Sigur Ros - Hvarf and Heim

This is the first year I feel no more intelligent than I did the year before.

I've always prided myself on my knowledge, intellect and wit, but this year I feel that I haven't grown as a person. Perhaps this hangs on moving back to Minnesota; perhaps this is due to a third year of being in transitionary point in my life- but somewhere the smarts were lost.

In a way, I appreciate that this may be due to lack of stimulants I surround myself with; a condition based in no small part on the frigid cold. I am well aware there are options afforded to me here that I choose not to take advantage of. However, no matter the intellectual books that I consume nor the writing that I do I am not bettering myself.

My Mom celebrated her fifty-eighth birthday two weekends ago and I made her a Harry Potter meal complete with Quidditch Players Pie (okay), treacle tart (didn't work), liquorice wands (pretty good), Hogwarts Pastry Puff (not in the book, but wicked good) and butterbeer (to be avoided).

It was a fine day. Friends, family and copius amounts of wine. Throughout it all I had Sigur Ros' new double album Hvarf and Heim on. It paired perfect with cooking, the heavy clumps of snow falling from the sky and relaxation.

Sigur Ros is a fine band; some of their music is as beautiful as I've ever heard. In many ways they are a band that should be compared to classical music more so than any rock and roll or electronica; sweet symphonies that bring the listener to appreciate more and augment the circumstance that they find themselves in.

That said, they are also a difficult band to make it through an entire album of. The viscosity of movement in their songs makes it difficult to listen to an entire 60 to 70 minutes as the moments that they help describe change at a more rapid pace.

Taken in small doses such songs as the reworked live Staralfur and Vaka sound stark and beautiful. Likewise the movie like fairy sounds that begin and conclude I Gaer work very nicely. However, the entire album is likened to French Silk pie; something that is so incredibly delicious but impossible to eat more than one slice.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

chapter sixteen

Peter “Pete” pRatchetpeels prised up his buzz buzz with the following pronouncement: “Department of Practise and Legality of the Fifth Realm of Crapcago, member pRatchetpeels replying.”

“Pete, it’s Dirty. I need help.”

“Vouschafe a moment’s reprieve; my mugga-joe, made monstrously a twinkle ago, is making my maw muddled. There’s a sit-a-plop. Now pray tell the nails and nunnery of your need?”

“There is something here killing people in my office. Whatever this thing is it's been turning people into these living corpses that are trying to kill us.”

“Lying Coupses?”

Dirty dug through his desk drawers demonstrating abundant dexterity in finding the Disseminating Word Book. “A Crank Creepo.”

“Right,” replied Mr. pRatchetpeels. “The Crank Creepo Creator: narry malicious nor mean in nature, the Crank Creepo Creator compulsively needs companions. To hatch this task, the Crank Creepo Creator torrents the spirit with traipsings of the most tantamount intimacies throughout a lifetime.”

“This thing is making us feel happy to death?” Dirty demanded.

“So it seems.”

“Okay, well how do we make it stop from creating new friends?”

"Why would you not want a comrade?"

"Because, Pete, we want to stay alive."

"Right." More tickity tackitys tickled acrost Peter “Pete” pRatchetpeel's type type. “Ah ha! Your devoir: A vial of a virgins vital fluid, the commiserations of comedy and an olive branch.”


“Fuck. We don’t have any of those things.” Dirty eyeballed Satchel and Bel considering if either was un-plucked.

“Something else! Bribe the brute with your being, then subdue the savage with sweet sing-sing for two minutes and sixty-six seconds, finally the fellow will follow you to the chiffonier, firkin or coffer of your finding.”

Dirty’s cerebellum cycled through small spaces that could house the monstrosity.

“An accidental idea of paltry consideration. The subdued beast shall proceed anon, though the singer should grasp the two minutes and sixty-six seconds is all the space that the spell will last.

“Thanks Pete. Thanks a lot. That could help us.” Quiet consumed him then Dirty continued, “Look if I don’t talk to you give my love to Lilly Liverroot.”

With that he broke off the buzz buzz. “This is going to take crackerjack timing.”

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

chapter fifteen

Balddee’s shoulder hurt from where the desk had dug into him. He constructed the new barricade with little help from the rest of the group then pulled a smoke and rested.

Then, an explosion from the break room.

“Mule.” Balddee said, his hand crushing the cigarette out.

Baldee rushed down the hall to see Mule’s leg rip at the ankle, the foot still nailed to the floor, and follow the rest of the body being folded into the Shredder Commando. His nose smelt burning flesh as
Pedro stood on the counter, a spent match laid on the counter giving off smoke.

What looked like an exploded cannister of propane mixed with the remnants of Dead Gonzo. Balddee walked over to the Shredder Commando and hit the kill switch. He spoke with his back to the group in the hall, “Best not to come in here.”

Balddee lit another cigarette, the last in his pack. “What can we do to stop this bad guy.”

“Shouldn’t the bad guy have a better name?” Satchel or Bel questioned.

“Yeah, we don’t even know who the bad guy is.” Bel or Satchel continued. There was no response except the burning of Balddee’s cigarette.

“I suppose I could try to call Crapcago?” said Dirty Orpheus, looking in the dark at the rest of the group.

“No good.” Balddee remarked, “All the phone lines are out.”

“No.” Dirty said, pushing his glasses up higher on his nose, “The mirror I use doesn’t work with phone lines. It’s, well, it’s complicated.”

“Do you think that it could work?” Satchel or Bel asked.

“I have no idea. They’re not the most forthcoming with information. That’s why all my articles sucked.”

The group fell silent. Dirty spat out, “Well, somebody could’ve at least said they kind of didn’t. Come, on. The phone is in my office.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Brenda

Brenda is the picture of what real men envision a woman to be. Her emerald colored eyes glisten in the sun, her hourglass curves are a sight to behold, subtle thighs and taunt perky breasts.
Ahh to see her, there is not a man alive who cant envision her firm thighs wrapped around him as you bring her closer to ecstasy, fantasies of nostalgic Poster Girls of days gone by like Rita Hayworth, Sophia Lauren, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Page spring forth.

Yes Brenda was blessed with looks but as we all know(with exception of yours truly) no one is perfect. So is the case with Brenda.

Our story starts in a College Campus in Kansas
(Yes Brenda is Corn fed I get the jokes now shut it and keep reading.)

Her upbringing was the kind that Britney Spears should of had, firm yet fair parents make all the difference especially when you have a kids who's ass is so beautiful it could make a Bulldog kiss a Hound.
There were guys always after her and she knew how to get what she wanted without whoring it up, when your a beautiful women the world is a vampire, around every turn there is a pariah waiting to suck the youth out of you Brenda knew this.
She knew her biggest mistake would be to open her legs for just Pleasure she knew there was more to her then just getting a high paying job in Kansas.

Fortunately for her old Brenda was pretty smart and Computers were her things, it turns out there was an internship at BLAH BLAH BLAH (Please note no Companies will be mentioned in this piece because I don’t get any residuals)

So the good thing about this internship is aside from learning at BLAH BLAH BLAH it pretty much guarantees you a high paying position in the Company and above all, the headquarters are located in a Major Metropolitan City, which Brenda had always wanted.

It sounded to good to be true there was however one tiny little problem she had to beat out 1000 other students to be accepted and above all else to even be considered you have to get a perfect score on there Entry Level Examine which, if you passed, it set you up for the big money once your internship is over so you can imagine the pressure.

She knew she had everyone at her Campus beat but her faith in the Force was not enough she got wind of the only person who stood between her and BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Phillip Thorn despite the cool name Phil was a hot mess, he looked like he just slept in his clothes the night before, he could pass as an extra from Pirates of Caribbean just overall scruffy looking, never seen with anyone, not that popular not even with the Nerds. Despite his unsavory appearance simply put.
Phillip is the guy you will one day end up working for. And part of his plan to becoming the next Bill Gates is to get a spot working for Blah Blah Blah.
He will not be denied.

chapter fourteen

“Who needs a drink?” Mule asked looking at the bloody corpse of Harmon that Balddee had just savaged. When nobody answered and more to justify needing the drink Mule continued, “Well there is more alcohol in this break room place.”

“Don’t go on your own.” Dirty Orpheus remarked standing in the doorway.

“I won’t,” Mule said, “Harmon should be in his office, put the rest of them in there too. I’ll take Pedro. He can’t help anyway.”

Pedro, the cat, went along with Mule and they walked down the corridor towards the break room. No words needed to be exchanged between either of them but for good measure Pedro ran his claws along the wall so that they would know their way back.

They entered the break room and saw the corpse of Dr. Gonzo. Mule looked on, “I completely forgot about her.”

Pedro took a more cautious approach, knocking a jar off the counter down onto its' head.

“Well, if she is going to turn it doesn’t look like she’s there yet. I guess we’ll have to,” Mule paused, looking around the room before continuing. “I guess we’ll have to dispose of her."

Pedro, ever the helpful cat, rubbed himself against the industrial sized Shredder Commando that Dirty Orpheus, in a freak moment of drug induced paranoia, had purchased from Worst Lie. “You’re a sick fucker, Pedro, but God bless you.”

Mule removed a cleaver, the only real knife that was in the office and lopped off Dead Gonzo’s leg. He pressed the power button, there was a slight whir before nothing. Frustrated he pressed the power button again: nothing. “Fuck. The building doesn’t have electricity.”

He sighed and slumped down taking a greedy final glance over Dead Gonzo's body.

Pedro examined the Shredder Commando then flicked a switch that caused the shredder to come to life and Mule to comment, “Who the shit builds an emergency power source into a paper shredder?”


Re-energized, Mule picked up the leg again and began shoving the foot, then calf and thigh into the Shredder Commando. A fine pink cloud came off as the shredder did its’ work. Mule lopped off the other leg, then the right arm. He began whistling, taking pride in his work. Pedro looked on in his typical disinterested fashion.

Then something unexpected happened and out of it came pain. Mule looked down to see Dead Gonzo’s remaining hand clutching onto a take-out chopstick that had been shoved through his foot, nailing him to the floor.

He attacked with his other foot crushing it into Dead Gonzo's nose and sending the remaining torso, arm and head flying across the break room.


Dead Gonzo responded by throwing a ceremonial serving platter that connected with Mule’s head, sending him back onto the Shredder Commando.

Woozy, blood dripping down over his eyes he felt the back of his shirt suck into the teeth of the shredder, making it so that he couldn’t move.


Dead Gonzo began the slow and tedious process of crawling across the floor. Pedro attacked but Dead Gonzo was expecting it and hit him mid-flight, sending him sprawling through the air.

It arrived at Mule as his lower back was grabbed by the teeth of the shredder. Reaching up Dead Gonzo grabbed Mule by the groin, twisted, pulled and castrated.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

LCD Soundsystem, Tegan and Sarah

LCD Soundsystem -- Sounds of Silver

Tegan and Sarah -- This Business of Art

Angst for the memories...

It's been a weird week... it's been a good week... it's been a week... The older I get in life the more I have embraced the ideology: it is not a party unless I'm there. Egocentric at best but at the same time it has allowed me to accept many of the sliders and curveballs that life has thrown at me or at the very least, deal with them.

Madison is a tough city no matter how you approach it. With friends it is an occasion for a hangover and trouble on all fronts. With family it is an emotional needle, a tool designed to help you but first it must break the skin. I found out about dead uncles, raped aunt's, sleep walking grandfathers that walk into the room eating pie. And yet this was extreme quality time with my Mom where the two of us connected on that level of people that love each other.

I had no intention of going to Chicago. A friend of mine, (well sister of a friend) wished me Happy Thanksgiving and so I went- I was of course a day late. There was no itinerary or rough plans it was just to be there. I had high intentions for my eventual return but now they're all gone and some other city must discover itself on my horizon.

Plangents bray loud and new directions must be taken. I've been lying low at work for calling in sick, last weekend, mildly praying I'm discovered so they fire me, scared to death they will. I've been missing Chicago for the memories which is at once beautiful and wrong. An old friend of mine instructed me to get over it move on, which feels like the vomit I left somewhere on State Street. But she is most likely right...

How do you choose the parties? Is it the people, the place or the possibilities?

When I go to the record store I need to have an album in mind or else I make an unwise option (see: Orange Peels). I picked up LCD Soundsystem only because it was on Pitchfork’s picks list. James Murphy cannot sing. His lyrics aren’t really fantastic. But the sound is… wow… It is an album you listen to as a soundtrack to life.

You start by pressing play and the disc spins Get Innocous! to be modest your start playing at five then, by increments, the song is eventually turned to eleven. It is a listener’s album giving itself to you in movements. Someone Great, All My Friends, New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down make a day, a trip, a life flow by in such color that living experience are augmented and your life seemingly improves.

Other Reviews
Pitchfork, Metacritic

I had wanted to pick up Tegan and Sarah’s new album The Con off of reviews by the Current, however I couldn’t remember the name. Therefore I ended up picking up This Business of Art, from 2000 and their first album.

I am a fan of Ani Difranco. That said I am a fan of Ani Difranco and don’t understand why their needs to be more people trying to steal her sound. I love where Tegan and Sarah ended u; the songs that I have heard from The Con sound fantastic. But I've been disappointed with this album and have yet to make it all the way through.

I left Chicago on a Monday, stabbing North to the Sota. That day I did achieve the hangover I so richly deserved. And so from the Northside to Wisconsin I listened to one song. Wash, rinsed and repeated; wrong song, right chord.

New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down
LCD Soundsystem

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

chapter thirteen

“Light ‘em!” yelled Harmon.

The Molotov cocktails, constructed out of the bottles from Mule’s desk, sprung to light; their blue alcohol burn illuminating more light than the office had seen in hours.

Dead Remo crawled through the broken doorway and onto the top of the desk. Dead Johnny and Dead Chuck came through next while Dead Todd remained in the hallway, not quite knowing what was going on.

“Throw!” Harmon commanded and three Molotov cocktails arced through Mule’s office, connecting with the corpses. A high-pitched shriek scared through the office: Dead Remo’s body howled in pain.

“Again!” Harmon said and the remaining bottles of alcohol were lit then thrown.

The corpses tried to retreat but were too flustered by the pain to go through the door.

Harmon walked towards them, his Kent Hrbek special crashing down into the chest of Dead Remo, who let out a guttural sigh, its’ doll like eyes rolling back then flipping over white. He moved towards Dead Johnny and repeated the process, the sickening thud of its’ rib cage cracking reverberated through the four cornered room.

“C’mon Balddee, help me move the desk so he can finish off the two in the hall.” Mule said, grabbing an edge of his desk.

Harmon walked into the hall, alone. The cold grip of Dead Todd reached around Harmon’s ankle forcing him to his knees. In a reflex, the ash bat swung through the air crashing down upon Dead Todd. Harmon struggled to his feet and whacked him again but Dead Chuck incisors sunk into Harmon’s thigh.

With a gasp of pain, Harmon turned his natural upper cut swing into the jaw of Dead Chuck, the piece of flesh that had been gripped between Dead Chuck’s teeth ripped from Harmon’s leg as the corpse broke away. Harmon brought the bat above his head and the deathblow fell down through the chest of Dead Chuck all the way to the office carpet.

Harmon winced in pain, leaning for support on the bat, the remainder of the group looked at him. A smile crept onto Harmon’s face as he indicated his leg. “I guess there is no sense in me trying to cover this up.”

His legs buckled and he sunk to his knees. Grabbing the bat by the barrel he offered the handle to Balddee. “You know what you have to do. Make it quick.”

Balddee accepted the bat and raised it up before crashing it into Harmon’s skull. The bat splintered from the effect.

“Broken bat single.” Mule said, “He would’ve liked it that way.”

Balddee took the splintered handle of the bat that remained in his hand, driving the handle through Harmon’s chest.

Cats

Half in, half out.

Ready to party, ready to crash, ready for the crush.

Pasts and pasts of pasts.

Lakeview is crisp on a late Fall after the first snow has melted. The truck could be parked closer to the redline, but this is an important part of the trip; the front of an old place to rest and reside.

The legs walk down Waveland. Redeyes from the night before drink it all back in. Welcome feelings flush in, wash out, leaving unresolved messes of: is this it or was this just some stopping off point.

The train drags on and phones don't work in the underground nor does the brain remember which station to get off on. The sick realization: “This might be a metaphor for it all...”

It plays like a greatest hits album as old haunts are stumbled through and old contacts are remade, touched. True happiness; fearful loathing. Insisting to friends that they must have vodka and juice. Comrades not missing a play from the deck. The happy couple making out on the couch then retiring to bed. A firm stance at the window, observing the construction across the alley, remembering all those evenings looking East, off a fire escape, towards the lake and Wrigley Field.

Sick realizations that drinking has become too much of a crutch when the sun comes without a hangover. More trains, more drinks, shots of V.O. line-up in front of text messages finally placed and sick results ensue. A friend writes a scathing message to another friend and another phone sighs an apology and maybe a surrender: I'm sorry, I understand why you did it, I did it too.

Screams, like a victim, erupt through the halls of 440 Plaza as a sober lawyer tries to deal potent law advice but has been humbled by the recent discovery of a projector that produces an image that humbles his recent purchase of a 48 inch, high def, plasma screen. A poor Russian from Brooklyn seeks directions and is accosted by derelict dogooders trying to help him find Dearborn then absconds.

The epiphany of being surrounded by that sweet happiness of a hug from half a dozen people at once. Final embraces as they leave to meet their boyfriends, for work, back to their apartment. And a redline train is boarded that makes every single construction stop.

Can I make everybody love me; is everybody capable of happiness? The waves of lake Michigan continue to crash. The great wheel of life rolls and everybody’s life continues to crash into its' rocks. I drank it all down and loved them all... it is a good run...

Monday, November 19, 2007

chapter twelve

“Balddee, you fuck-moot! You built the fucking barricade the wrong way!” screamed Mule, running up next to Harmon who stood holding the Kent Hrbek special, watching the four corpses knock over the cube walls that were in front of them.

Harmon’s grip around his bat tightened. “We need to fall back.”

“No! We have to fight them. If not now, when?” exclaimed Balddee.

“I don’t believe this is a fight we can win. We outnumber them but they’re stronger, we still don’t know for sure how they die and we don’t have any weapons.” Harmon said, grabbing Balddee’s forearm, easing it back down. “We’ll hole up in Mule’s office while we think of a way to take them all out.”


Harmon held the bat aloft while the rest of the group retreated into Mule’s office. Once inside they moved Mule’s desk to barricade the door aware, this time, of which way the door swung. As they moved the desk bottles of alcohol dropped out from the desk.

“Mule,” Satchel or Bel commented, “You might have a drinking problem.”

“Yeah, well I aim to change that real fast.” Mule said, removing the top of a bottle of whiskey and taking a heavy pull.


A hollow thumping sound began as the door creaked but did not give. Balddee leaned his back into the desk and did his best to keep it flush with the door.

Harmon looked around the room, “What do we have and how do we stop them? Mule, do you keep any weapons in your office?”


“Why, in fuck’s name, would I keep a weapon in my office? We posted a fucking sign saying that guns were fucking banned on the premise.”


Dirty Orpheus, sprawled against the back wall between Satchel and Bel. “We could make Malotov Cocktails out of all of this booze.”

Harmon looked over at Dirty, “Good idea. Use your socks for wicks and get started.”


“Wait,” Mule exasperated. “Do you have any idea how long it takes to amass a collection like this? I am aware that our lives are in mortal danger but maybe we should all consider that a good secondary plan. There must be something else we can do. What about the emergency exit plan that Maxey was looking for?”


“No good,” Balddee said, leaning into the desk to force it back against the door.

“That emergency exit was out of Dr. Gonzo’s office.” Harmon spoke, “She reinforced that wall so she could hang up all the pictures of her cat. Besides we would have to go through those guys in the hall just to get there.”

“Well, this just fucking sucks.” Mule said, holding onto a bottle of Johnny Walker Green which Dirty snatched forcing one of his dirty socks into the mouth.

The door began to give way. “How much longer can you hold the door?”

Balddee grimaced from where one of the desk drawers was digging into his back and looked at Harmon with a face of rage, “Not much.”


The top of the door exploded and the savage fury of the dead peered in.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Regina Spektor, Sonic Youth

Regina SpektorSoviet Kitsch

Sonic YouthDirty

It is interesting how much darker it is here than Chicago. It is eerie how the blackness blankets you; not in an uncomfortable way but in a way that things jump out at in unexpected shadows. These are welcome fiends when the coldness is setting in and the only light comes from the fire station kitty corner the park.

This is not unlike Verizon Wireless. Recently I switched over to a new plan and was screwed over by them accusing me of not paying my bill. Not being one that enjoys talking on the phone I opted to pay everything all at once via my credit card.

Thus, dear reader, you must imagine my shock when I went online to pay this month and showed another negative balance in excess of one hundred dollars. Ergo, cursing myself, Verizon and any other name that immediately sprung into my mind I re-allocate the necessary funds only to watch the negative balance move in excess of $250. My concern level is raised to orange and a well placed call is made to Verizon where I’m informed that I’m over by $250. This is better than owing but… fuck’s sake! Who puts a fucking minus in front of balance!!??!!?

Speaking of anxiety, I had a pretty bad attack last Sunday night while trying to go to bed. Sleep deprived, the brain fills with images of everything that you’re not going to do with your life; your eyes close and a feeling that if you do go to sleep you’re not going to wake up. I tried walking around, tried stretching, relaxing, tried to feel my pulse. After two hours I put my headphones on and accepted it; if this was the end then I might as well go out to good music (current album of choice to die to: In Rainbows by Radiohead). Eventually, as was the case of Wilbur, sleep and I finally found each other.

After falling in love with Regina Spektor over Begin to Hope I had great expectations for her first album Soviet Kitsch. And, in a way, I feel bad for reviewing it as Begin to Hope had already hit me on both the sonic and personal level. Meaning that there was no way that Soviet Kitsch would ever be able to measure up.

This is not a bad album. It captures her left hand piano, right hand playing a drum and body screaming into the mic. Track 8, Your Honor, might be one of her better songs of all time and her voice is there throughout the album capturing melodies and then releasing them in unforced gestures leaving the listener giddy with excitement and rewarded for their anticipation. This album is nowhere near as good as Begin to Hope however it still is a fine album.

Other Reviews:
Pitchfork, Metacritic

Marking their ten year anniversary as a band Sonic Youth released the album Dirty. An album that has it all: epic overtures in Sugar Kane, the 1992 ready made single of 100% and JC a song dedicated to their murdered friend and roadie Joe Cole.

Listening to this album again it is interesting just how much Sonic Youth influenced what came out of and into the 90’s. I now prefer Thurston to Kim although that might be an anachronistic punch in the balls at suffering Courtney Cox for too long. A good album and an important album for anybody locked into a serious music collection.

Other Reviews:
Pitchfork

100%

Amy Winehouse legitimately and physically scares me. But this song has been in my head since the woman died in the Phoenix airport on her way to rehab. The story really isn’t that funny but… well yeah…

Rehab

I dragged my Ma to Lars and the Real Girl over the weekend and while that movie was enjoyable this movie also looks excellent. The final line with shenanigans slays me.

Juno


Thursday, November 15, 2007

chapter eleven

Inside of Remo’s office the corpse of the former occupant felt itself reanimate. There was a strange sensation that it couldn’t move certain parts of its’ body and there was the intense need for human flesh.

Dead Remo opened its’ eyes and saw Chuck Funk, beginning to sit up, somebody it thought was Johnny Bookreport was there too though he had a giant hole where a face used to be, also there was another individual who no longer had a head but still made random gesticulations of profanity.


Dead Remo looked down at its’ waist and noticed that its’ legs were missing. “This is going to be a bit of an issue.” It announced to the group, surprised by how low and masculine its’ voice had shrank.

“What do we do now?” Dead Chuck Funk asked, speaking for the rest due to the fact it was the only other one capable of parable.

“We need a plan.” Dead Remo said, noticing that the detached legs were starting to move as well. To motivate the troops it asked them, “I ask you, is this a job for intelligent men?”

Dead Chuck Funk, also aware of movie quotes, spoke next, “Well show me one and I’ll ask him.”

Dead Remo pulled itself up onto the desk, thankful again for the amount of attention it had paid, during the living life, to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s work out books. It picked up a dry erase marker from underneath the white board and started to jot down a ‘To Do’ list which included but was not limited to:

  • Turn remaining part of the office into Living Corpse
  • Go to Costellos for a/several drink(s)
  • Turn the entire bar of Costellos so they're dead like me
  • Take over St. Paul
  • Take over the world as evil dictator and rule with iron fist
  • Repent
  • Turn legit

“Now can everybody see the rough schematic that I’ve drawn? I apologize for the crudeness of it, I wasn’t able to draw it to scale.”


“They don’t have eyes.” Dead Chuck quipped, ever helpful.

“Right. Well, can they hear anything?”

“How the fuck should I know?”

“Okay, fuck it, we’ll have to go to Plan B. We’ll just go out and kill everything, then take over the entire world, after a quick stop at the local just down the street for nourishment.”

Their plan fell on problems though as both of them lacked real hands to open the door with and so elaborate communications with the other two corpses’s began. After much work, the door was opened and the pile of cubes that had been in front of them was knocked down.

And then there in front of them was a virtual smorgasbord of human flesh.

Monday, November 12, 2007

chapter ten

“What the shit did you do?” Satchel or Bel asked.

A smoking revolver was held at point blank range above the slumped body of Marlon Maxey. Marjorie looked up and fired a wild shot into the group.

Hit, Balddee slumped down to the ground, a trail of blood following him down the pierced drywall.

Mule picked up a stapler and threw it at Marjorie’s head. She ducked, squeezing two more rounds off that went wide of the group; an emergency light popped sending sparks flying onto the floor.

Harmon rushed Marjorie with the Kent Hrbek special causing her to fire a round into the floor and move from behind the desk. She rushed the group, a dagger flashing out of her waistband.

“Stop her!” Dirty Orpheus shouted.

Mule threw a chair in the way of Marjorie, clipping her legs and causing her to trip. The gun flopped down first discharging a round that shot up and threw her skull, sending brain to the ceiling. Bel or Satchel screamed.

Marjorie lay prone, skull and brain matter raining down from the ceiling as it lost its’ stickum and followed the course of gravity.

“You okay, Balddee?” Satchel or Bel asked him.

“She just grazed me.”

Harmon sighed, “We need to trust one another. This is a shitty experience for everybody but we need to know we’re not trying to kill each other.”

Harmon bent and picked up the magnum. Dirty Orpheus, who had been staring at the hole in the back of Marjorie’s skull changed his view to the gun in Harmon’s hand. “Why do you get to carry the gun? You’ve already got a bat. Are you trying to take all of the weapons?”

The rest of the group looked over at Harmon. Balddee spoke next, “Maybe it would be best if nobody had the gun.”

“But we need the gun.” Harmon said. “We could use this to stop them.”

“We don’t even know if there are anymore of them. I know it is best to assume that there will be but,” Mule paused and looked over at the slumped body of Bad Mother Coitus’ attorney at law, Marlon Maxey. “But I think for now it would be best if you… you know.”

“This is a mistake.” Spoke Harmon, then looked closer at the gun. “It’s empty anyway.”

A rustling sound came from somewhere out by Remo’s office and the group raced back to their barricade.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

The Ike Reilly Assissnation, The White Stripes, The New Pornographers

The Ike Reilly AssassinationWe Belong to the Staggering Evening
(reviewed)

White StripesIcky Thump
(reviewed)

New PornographersChallengers
(reviewed)

Our 300th post and also our third year of existence, it’s been a long hard battle full of… well full of almost nothing whatsoever. Many failed ideas, many failed spin-offs, many weeks and months with no posts whatsoever but, well, we’re still sorta here I guess.

Jr. had a lady over on Saturday thus Burton and I stabbed out into the ether to cause the mayhem that two bulls with no social agenda could cause. The natural cause and effect of this lead us first to Best Buy then to Sears to buy a replacement belt for his vacuum.

We tried to recall what it was that we did in the old days, which naturally lead us to the bar. Majors on a Saturday is not the sort of place that would immediately lead one to think of the Ike Reilly Assassination, but Burt and I did our best to reincarnate it.

We had no intention of going for the drinking cycle (having at least one drink with whiskey, scotch, rum, vodka and gin) but some paths are best stumbled upon. For our part we did our best: rum and Coke into Grey Goose martini’s, Burt flirted with the waitress enough to stuff our olives with blue cheese, (her idea, Burton is allergic to blue cheese and broke into hives- the waitress just thought he was drunk) then off canon for a brandy Manhattan. The night was a wash so we finished it off with rum and Cokes before coming home to wine, scotch and a shitty movie.

It was a similar to the new Ike album. Ike has been one of my favorite artists for the past ten years, reminding me of the second coming of the Clash at points. We Belong to the Staggering Evening does not disappoint but it doesn’t do enough to move him along as an artist; he created Salesmen and Racists and then has let the rest of the albums piggyback off it. This is a good album to have on a random mix but not one to immediately grab for.

It’s been a week where I’ve felt like a social vampire feeding off whatever emotions are the most immediate. Always needing that thing that just isn’t quite there; that social interaction that fills my hunger for somewhere that stories come from. Through all of this the work of Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair has helped but left me starving.

The ‘Stripes album resonates off these feelings. The Bob Dylan-esque titled track 300 M.P.H Torrential Outpour Blues and Rag & Bone bring the album to life while Conquest seems to bury it. They will never be a band to sit down with and listen to their entire catalog in one sitting, but it is good music. I'm all but certain I will like this album more as it gets more spins.

To battle the week back I went to Barnes and Nobles to return a book, work on a screenplay and the next serial story that you will have to sit through in the next couple of months. Neither of them are coming easy, the screenplay because it’s just starting and is about a demon, an angel and a depressed man and the new serial story cos it requires me to work eyeball to eyeball with my computer. But it was liberating to work surrounded by people with my headphones on and to finally figure out where all the high school girls hang out at.

That said, there are few finer ways to break out of a funk then The New Pornographers Challengers. Typically New Porno albums hide poppy beats to betray depth in lyrics, a spirit that they don’t completely abandon with song like Myriad Harbour. However with this album they bring in some of the pathos from their solo careers with songs such as Failsafe and Adventures in Solitude. This is their best album since Mass Romantic.

Long effing article…

Finish it off with one of my favorite songs of all time: Broken Social Scene’s Anthems for a Seventeen-Year Old Girl.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

chapter nine

Ellen woke to the familiar feeling of having all of her appendages wrapped in tight leather straps and immobile. There was an unfamiliar throbbing in her groin area, but it was quickly dismissed by her shock to see the entire office darkened with only dim red lights running around the ceiling.

“How long did I black out for?” She asked herself, at once scared and thrilled that she had knocked herself out long enough that the rest of the office had left for the evening.

Outside her office muffled voices congratulated themselves on a well built barricade. It must still be Barricade Monday, she thought before filling her lungs and yelling, “Would someone kindly come and get me out of this. I know I put myself in this but apparently I need help getting out.”


The voices ceased to speak and there was shuffling from the hall then her door creaked open. Satchel or Bel looked into her office and ducked back out, re-closing the door.

This time the voices consulted each other in whispers which she couldn’t make out but could still hear. Ellen felt the need to justify herself, “Look it’s no big deal. It’s just a little bondage. It’s better than yoga. In the future this is what everybody is going to be doing. But, I can’t seem to cut myself free would somebody help me?”


The door to her office opened again. Balddee, Mule and Harmon walked through while the interested eyes of Pedro the Cat, Dirty Orpheus, Satchel and Bel looked on.

“Ellen?” Mule asked, eyeing her with a more intense interest than he had given her in the past.


Ellen rolled her eyes, “I know, I’m naked. They haven’t made clothing flexible enough for me to wear in this contraption yet. When they do, believe you me I will wear clothes when doing this.”
Nobody moved to help her so she continued, “There isn’t a computer in this office which has not been tainted by something far worse than this. Now if somebody would cut me down I would actually like to do some work.”

Balddee never took his eyes off of Ellen but Mule and Harmon exchanged a glance. “Do you think it's her? I don’t think the real Ellen would want to do work”


“There really is no way we could know?” Harmon answered back, turning his eyes to look at Ellen again.


“What do you think that we should do with her? We don’t know if she’s turned.”


Ellen bit her lip to stop herself from yelling then said in a crisp voice, “Look, all of you. I have told you I don’t give it up to people at work. It is something that must be earned.”


A noise recoiled from across the office and all the heads turned in response. Those that had been standing in the hallway scrambled into the office, then shoved their way against the wall opposite the apparatus that Ellen had put herself in.
“What the shit was that?” Ellen asked.

“Gunshot.” Balddee said, “Better go check it out. She’ll have to wait.”

chapter eight

Dr. Gonzo had never killed anybody before, at least not in a physical sense. Her hands shook as she tried to light the propane gas to bring the hotplate to life.

“Tea” She breathed, cursing Mule, again, and his stupid method of squirreling away liquor in places that nobody, including himself, would ever be able to find it.


She sang “la, la, las” to herself in lieu of having somebody else to talk to. “Alone”, she sighed at the end, to no one.

She bent over the hot plate to light the cigarette Balddee had given her. She thought about the sick sound of the blade slicing into the body of Dead Simon #2. She reminded herself how much rage she had swung the blade down with, the ease with which it had rendered the skull.

She tilted her head back gazing at the red emergency light, blowing smoke towards it. The thickness of the cloud ballooned then disappeared into the environment. She caught the faintest whisp of a delicious memory sharding its’ way across the dreamscape of her mind, but calmed herself as the tea kettle began to wheeze.

She lifted the heavy pot off the hotplate pouring warm water over the tea bag. She had always considered this to be bruising the tea but, at that moment, she was too tired not to multi-task.

Visceral feelings returned to her senses from far away, welcome memories. She was at the Innjoy surrounded by her closest friends. In her mind it is summer in the city with a pink sun setting behind Café Gelato across the street; a warm breeze slipped through the door of the bar leading out to Division Street.

Everybody was around her and listening to her stories. An incredible person stood next to her feeding her one liners, cigarettes and tequila. Music played in the background and she felt as though she was going to go dance.


The cup, filled with her still steeping, bruised tea fell from her hands and crashed onto the floor. She glanced down at it, surprised by the tinkling, inappropriate noise before letting the memory warm over her body again.

There was a coolness on her clavicle and, with almost a gentle nature, her face was pushed down onto the hotplate. The smell of burning skin and hair filled the room followed by a snapping as her neck broke and her body dripped to the floor.

Her lips curled into one final, beautiful, living smile as her clothes absorbed the spilled tea.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Stars, The Orange Peels, Radiohead

Albums Purchased

StarsIn Our Bedroom After the War

The Orange PeelsSquare

Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton
Knives Don’t Have Your Back
(purchased for my sister)

Radiohead - In Rainbows
(reviewed)

A big week of Evites, DJ’ing for a party of one and hospitals. Friday was a good chance to visit with old friends that I have not seen or, in truth, talked with in quite some time. They are, for the most part, well and in fine health and spirits. I attempted to do some class of dance, dance revolution-esque thingy on the Wii which lead to large gesticulations, low scores and further disgraces to my family.

Saturday night was my sister’s birthday, something she's been celebrating for the past several years. The party was highlighted for me on two points: The first was me rolling my ankle on seasonal décor (a pumpkin) but still playing through the pain to compete in an admirable fashion in the high skill game of bean bags and the second was my Thoreau like determination to turn myself into a recluse.

To the latter point I excused myself from the bonfire in the backyard and, despite my sister’s previous warning against the action, removed the spaghetti of cords from the back of her stereo to play my music. The Stars, In Our Bedroom After the War, provided an excellent drunken party for one. Top to bottom it is nowhere near as satisfying as the bands main group Broken Social Scene, but tracks like The Night Starts Here and Bitches In Tokyo keep the album going and a night of sipping keg beer on a broken wheel moving ever forward.

I justified picking up the Orange Peels album Squares by putting myself in the mind of a teenage boy. Boys will buy the odd newsworthy magazine along with, in accordance with their hormonic make-up, magazines of more inferior repute. For instance they might buy something like Barely Legal and Super Suckers of the 70s and supplement the purchase with a magazine the likes of Time or Guns and Ammo. Such was my purchase of the Orange Peels; the music snob in me was embarrassed in myself for having the last several new albums I've picked up being Canadian in origin.

At their best, the Orange Peels have an almost My Morning Jacket feel: clean sounding, plucked electric guitars in major keys overlay bland, early sixty lyrics. At their worst… it’s a tough album.

I did go to the hospital, something I do not enjoy or do often, where a barrage of x-rays informed me my foot was not broken. I celebrated by sitting on the back porch with the lights off, an accoutrement and the knowledge that there are few finer conversations to be had then with the album In Rainbows. This is an album too personal to play in front of others; it is an intimacy that only translates to your self.

Radiohead’s In Rainbows is a difficult album to just jump to a track on. It has standout tracks that I find myself looking forward to but not skipping through the aesthetic to reach. There is not a real “radio” single off this album and my hope is that with their shunning of a record company they’ll extend that to radio stations as well.

The only reason this album was not worth the wait is that I wish I would’ve had it in my life earlier. For some reason it has felt like a bad luck week where nothing has went right. But this album has been a shiny spot and, after all, isn’t that what music is here for?

Two tracks off of the album...

Jigsaw Falling Into Place



Videotape

this is one for the good days…
…no matter what happens now
I won’t be afraid
Because today has been
The most perfect day I’ve ever seen

chapter seven

Marjorie looked over at Dr. Gonzo with a new found respect; the blade from the paper cutter still quivered from the deathblow Dr. Gonzo had driven through Dead Simon #2.

“We need to get them all into Remo’s office.” Mule said, looking down at all the dead bodies and carnage that littered the main hallway in the office. “If they came back to life Todd and Remo could too.”

“I need to get something from my desk.” Marjorie said, her stare having moved away from Dr. Gonzo towards the mess of blood that now Rorschached the floor.

“Everybody leaves in pairs now, but we should only leave if we have to.” Commanded Harmon, “We know where everybody is now and we don’t need anybody turning into one of these.” He paused and gripping the Kent Hrbek special tighter poking the body of the corpse next to him. “We don’t need anybody turning into one of these things.”

Dr. Gonzo, coming to grips with everything said, “I’ll go with you. I need something, anything. I can’t be here anymore. I don’t want to stare at these bodies.”

“I’m going to go to my office.” Marlon Maxey said. “I think that the previous owner of the building left information in the transfer of sale on a second emergency exit. I’ll just be across the hall, you’ll hear me if something comes after me.”

The majority of the group fretted in front of Remo’s office deciding how to erect a barricade; the entire group figuring that Remo would’ve had the best idea. Dr. Gonzo and Marjorie walked down the hall until they hit the intersection one path leading into the break room, the other towards Marjorie’s desk.

“Go grab whatever it is that you need from your desk.” Dr. Gonzo told Marjorie, “We’ll be able to see each other if something happens and besides, this way we’ll be able to get back to everybody faster.”

Marjorie nodded her consent and found her way in the emergency lighting to her desk. She removed a sheet of paper from the top right drawer, a seven inch blade from a file cabinet and a magnum from the planter in the corner. In the dull light she wrote:

Stacy.

Things have turned bad here fast and I don’t know if I’m going to make it out. I don’t know who is behind all of this but I don’t plan on finding out. There must be somebody here doing this and… if this is the only way that I’ll ever be able to see you again then I’ll have to do this. There has been so much blood already. I don’t want to be the next one.

If I don’t make it out of here… Well, you know I love you. I really was looking forward to our date tonight. It would be easy for me to give up now… I love you, and either here or somewhere down the road I’ll be waiting for you.

Love,

M.

She folded the note and left it underneath the phone on her desk; a sound, like a dish breaking came from the break room. She gathered herself up and let out the briefest of sighs then walked down the back hallway, tracking her first kill.