Day 233; 334 days of photos
Moving on
Part two of two
“First off he’s replacing mom. Second, this trollip is going to take him for a ride.”
“Mom’s been dead ten years. Replacing her would have been him getting married the day we buried her.” Charles retorted.
The glass clinked again. “She’ll spend all his money. They’ll travel all the time. You’ll never be able to pin dad down. He’ll retire in a couple years and it will be good bye dad.”
“I’d rather think your dad would want to be a homebody. All he has done is travel. I can see him planting a garden and sending us pictures of his latest crop.” Brad suggested.
“Please,” she scoffed. “Slu-tina will have him a baby who will be younger than Cole and if we ever went to a party it would be – here’s dads new wife, she’s barely out of diapers and this is our sibling who IS in diapers.”
“Sis, you watch way too much t.v.” Charles added.
“It happens every day. Gold digger.”
Charles chimed in with, “that’s a good song.” He hummed it for a little while. “Great! Now I have an ear worm.”
“Let’s forget about your dad’s new girlfriend and get busy celebrating your birthday.” Brad tried to change the conversation.
“Your dad is coming to dinner isn’t he?”
“He said he would. But I’m sure that’s if slut-puppy will let him.”
“We know nothing about this woman. Let’s get to know her before we tare her down. What you seem to be forgetting is, he’s our dad. Look at what he does for a living. Do you really think our super logical, analytical dad is going to choose someone to jeopardize that?” Charles spoke.
“Oh, please. What candy coated fairy tale are you living in? All a woman has to do is wag her tail in a man’s face and he’s hooked.”
“Sis, that’s a little offensive.” Charles spoke.
“What time is your dad supposed to be here?” Brad asked.
“It isn’t like he’s going to walk in on us. If he was anywhere in side a country mile, Cole would be screaming.”
“She does love her grandpa.” Brad smiled.
“This is really about you isn’t it? You are daddies little girl. You have always been the apple of his eye. And you feel threatened by the prospects of a younger woman in his life?” Charle’s voiced.
“Save your babble for your clients.”
“How do we even know how old she is?” Brad asked.
“I’m speculating this twits age. Why else wouldn’t he tell us sooner?” The bottle hit the countertop harder this time. “They are secretly married. He’s transferred all his money to joint accounts. He’s deeded her his house.”
“You should write a book.” Charles suggested.
“Just think about it, why didn’t he tell us sooner.”
“Honestly, I think it’s cool that dad has waited to tell us. It’s hard getting attached to someone then having that person leave. Then you are being disloyal to dad if you want to be friends with her.” Charles spoke.
“I’d say to avoid this conversation.” Brad voiced.
There was a moment of silence, “sis please tell me this isn’t about money.” Charles asked.
“That’s our money. Our inheritance. Why should some money grubbing whore get it?”
“That isn’t our money. Dad has been at the same job for 35 years. He’s earned everything he has. It’s childish to think any of it is ours.” Charles spoke.
“So I’m childish?”
All three of them froze in their spots as George entered the room carrying Cole. He sat her on the bar stool beside her dad. Then kissed her on the forehead and tapped her nose. She smiled and wiggled her nose like a rabbit. He kissed her on the forehead again. “I love you baby girl.”
“I love you too, grandpa.” She smiled.
George took an envelope out of his back pocket. It was very pink and filled the room with a sweet smell. He tossed the envelope toward Kelly. “Happy Birthday,” and he left.
Cole asked in her sweet little voice, “mom what’s a prosta-tot?”
The end
*Author’s note. I had an old satchel under my night stand; covered with 20 plus years of dust. It contained page after page of stories I had started. This is one example.
Day 232; 334 days of photos
Growing up, I loved snapping pictures. I spent every spare dollar I had on film. My old pictures weren’t that great. The work of a child. But I found a few that I’m going to share. I have no idea what kind of camera I used.
With over a thousand pictures on my phone, I guess that bug never left me.
Coreopsis 24 c
Sarah stopped abruptly. “Oh my.” In a hall way to her right, she saw Michael leaning up against the wall.
They started walking toward him. He was not leaning against the wall. Instead he was leaning against a set of double doors. The position of his body reminded her of a rag doll. Those big blue eyes were wide open. His penis was erect and blue.
Floria was curled up in the floor against the opposite wall.
King James, Queen Rao, and Juliah walked into sight. They suddenly stopped looking at the same mess.
“Daddy, you’re back.” Paul’s gleeful voice called from behind Orion.
He spun around turning Paul around before he had time to see his mother lying in the floor.
“I brought you a present.” Orion told him.
“What?” Paul smiled. “Not at all aware that his father was trying to hide something from him.
“I’ll take you and show you young one.” Rao ushered him down the hall.
“I will be out in a few minutes as well.” Orion smiled.
Floria stretched, yawing.
“Waking up might be beneficial to your well being.” Orion calmly spoke.
She cocked her head gazing at him. “My five days are up already?”
“Explain!” James roared.
Floria set to rocking back and forth. “No,” she pouted.
Jack handed Sarah a smelling salt tube. She walked over breaking it under Michael’s nose. He coughed, falling to his knees. He caught himself with his hands, screaming.
Juliah jumped. She had never heard him scream so. He wouldn’t stop.
“Ice pack.” Sarah looked at Jack. He ran to get one. When he returned they sat Michael up against the wall. Jack put the ice pack over his swollen genitalia. Michael tried to hold it in place but his hands were shaking too violently. “Juliah, your sweater.” Sarah used it to wrap the ice pack around Michael.
“Oh.” He looked up to see Floria sitting across from him. “You!”
“Someone had better be explaining something.” Juliah stormed.
Michael looked around him. Jack (Dr. Carter) was squatting by his right side; Juliah and King James were standing behind Dr. Carter. Sarah was kneeling on his left side; Orion was standing behind Floria, who was across from him.
Michael shuttered then looked up at Juliah. “I did what you told me too. I was guarding the door.” Everyone could tell by the sound of this voice that he was in great pain. “Anna went in and out a couple times. Then this lady came by demanding entrance. I wouldn’t let her in. She started screaming at me. Anna opened the door and told me it was okay. She closed the door behind them. I don’t know how long they were in there before this one came out laughing.” Michael paused gathering his thought. “She just kept laughing then knelt before me,” he groaned. “You know.”
“No, we don’t know.” Orion frowned. “Explain.”
“I felt a pinch. That’s all I remember.”
Floria started laughing.
Day 231; 334 days of photos
Growing up, I loved snapping pictures. I spent every spare dollar I had on film. My old pictures weren’t that great. The work of a child. But I found a few that I’m going to share. I have no idea what kind of camera I used.
With over a thousand pictures on my phone, I guess that bug never left me.
My last weight loss journey: keep on learning
The Obesity Code by Jason Fung
I just finished listening to this book. It made a lot of sense. We aren’t designed as humans to eat all the time. If you think about it, there are very few animals in nature that eat all the time. With the help of Google, I found four.
We should eat when we are hungry. But the food industry has programmed us that we need to eat three meals per day. Or three meals with two snacks. Maybe six tiny meals works for you. Or should you just graze all day?
And let’s face it, food is just as addictive as some drugs. I remember Bill Clinton (when he was president) wanting caffeine to be labeled as a drug and Americans had a melt down. The human body needs fuel. We have to eat. We don’t need chips, cookies, ice cream or cakes. They are so delicious! The new buzz word around food is ‘bliss point’. Foods are designed to hit that ‘bliss point’ so you’ll crave more. Buy more. Eat more.
Now days; because Big Brother wants to make a buck, food is ultra processed. Making it cheaper to make. Unless you or someone you know grew it, Lord only knows what we are eating.
Fung talks at length about how all diets work; in the beginning. Then we plateau. Been there. Done that.
He is an advocate of fasting. And explains how fasting will look different for different people. But that at the end of the day; fasting is good for us. Slapping a one size fits all sticker on health doesn’t work.
He does suggest that we should feast. Life is full of special occasions. Enjoy them. We can’t feast every day.
If you get some time, I highly recommend you check out The Obesity Code by Jason Fung.
On a personal note: September 9th, I stopped drinking pop (soda or Coke depending on where you’re from). I was never a fan of the full sugar ones. But all those artificial sweeteners aren’t good for us either.
Day 230: 334 days of photos
Growing up, I loved snapping pictures. I spent every spare dollar I had on film. My old pictures weren’t that great. The work of a child. But I found a few that I’m going to share. I have no idea what kind of camera I used.
With over a thousand pictures on my phone, I guess that bug never left me.
Moving On
Part one of two
The silence was filled with a gurgling sound. The sound liquid makes when being forced out of a bottle by air. Quickly it was followed by the splashing sound of liquid filling a glass. Then came the plunk of a bottle being set on a hard surface. After a second or two of silence, there was the gentle clink of a glass being sat on the same surface.
“Well Charles, I’m soo sorry you missed lunch with dad. You missed a real treat.” From the tone of Kelly’s voice and the way she strung out so, it had been no treat at all.
“Lunches with dad are usually a little intense but what did I miss?” Charles asked.
“Well,” the glass clinked against the countertop again. “Dad wanted to tell us both. But he understood why you couldn’t make it.” She said understood in kinda of a sideways manner. To indicate that maybe dad was put off by Charles not being there but understood. “He wanted to inform us that he has a…..” there was a moment of silence before Kelly spat it out. “Girlfriend.”
“Really?” There was a hint of excitement in Brad’s voice.
The frigerator door opened and closed.
“Yes, they have been seeing each other for almost a year now. He thought it would be better to wait and tell us once he thought they might be getting closer. As he put it.” There again was that hint of distain. “How can you seem excited about this?”
“I think it’s great your dad is dating.” Bradley chimed in.
“I thought you were on my side?”
“Honey, I’m always on your side. I just happen to disagree.”
“Mom has been dead ten years. Dad deserves to be happy. Get out there and mingle. I’m excited about the prospect of meeting the woman that was able to get him to look up.” Charles spoke.
“Thank you Charles.”
“So what’s the big deal? Dad has met someone?” Charles shrugged.
“I’m sure she’s a little prosta-tot; just graduated from college with her ass cheeks hanging out. I’d bet she’s a social worker,” Kelly changed the tone of her voice to a squeak; “I just really want to help people and I want world peace. Giggle. Giggle.”
“I’m a social worker.” Charles puffed.
“This isn’t about you Charles.” Kelly snapped.
“What did your dad say about her?” Brad asked.
“Nothing.”
Brad wanted to know, “what questions did you ask?”
“Yeah, maybe dad didn’t give extra information because you were disinterested?” Charles questioned.
“Your dad is never very forthcoming with information.” Brad volunteered.
“That’s true. But what did you say?” Charles asked.
“Okay.” Kelly was very flip about it.
Brad was shocked, “okay? That’s all you said was okay? I’m amazed honey. You are never one to mince words.”
The glass clinked against the counter, “this is true. I guess I was in shock. And the more I think about it, the madder I get.”
“What’s the real problem here sis?” Charles asked.
*Author’s note. I had an old satchel under my night stand; covered with 20 plus years of dust. It contained page after page of stories I had started. This is one example.
Day 229: 334 days of photos
Growing up, I loved snapping pictures. I spent every spare dollar I had on film. My old pictures weren’t that great. The work of a child. But I found a few that I’m going to share. I have no idea what kind of camera I used.
With over a thousand pictures on my phone, I guess that bug never left me.
Coreopsis 24 b
“I guess we should finish the tour?” Jack nervously suggested. “The royal family should be back soon.”
“Sure.” They started walking again. Sarah stopped staring at the stone structure before them. “Have we made a complete circle?”
He laughed, “I never could fool you. We exited through the east wing, went around the back, and we are going to reenter through the west wing. This statute is on each end of the palace.”
“Okay. Who is it?”
“Queen Magdalene, she was the first monarch for the House of Morian.”
“She was very beautiful.”
“Yes, she was.”
Jack opened the door for her. She looked around the area that lay before them. The walls where covered with paintings. “Who are these people?”
The first painting they came to was of a crowned man, dressed in all his finery. “This was King George, Rao’s father.” Across the hall was a picture of a woman in all of her royal attire. “This was Queen Margaret, Rao’s mother. You are staying in her quarters. You know,” he smiled. “You are the first person to sleep in there since the Queen Mum died.”
“Thank you makes make me feel safe.” She smirked.
“You don’t believe in ghosts do you?” He played.
“Yes as a matter of fact I do.”
The next painting they came to was of Juliah the night of her 22nd birthday party. Across from her was a painting of a man. Sarah couldn’t help but stare at it. He looked so happy. His broad shoulders and full chest couldn’t be hidden under his gray suit. “Who is that?” She asked. “He looks a lot like Orion.”
“But?”
She got right upon the painting examining it. “That is Orion.” She gasped.
“Shocked?” Orion was standing in the hall beside of them.
Jack bowed. “Is the week already up, sire?”
“Yes.” Orion answered dryly.
Orion now, was a shell of the man that was in the painting.
“When was this taken?” Sarah asked.
“Fifteen years ago.” He stood next to her admiring his former self. “I had just graduated from college. I miss him.” He sighed.
“How was your trip?” Sarah asked.
They started walking down the hall.
“Long.” He stumbled through his mind. He had rehearsed this question a hundred times over the past week. Somehow he had to ask her.
“What?” she asked.
Jack was confused. He knew he hadn’t heard Orion ask anything.
Orion stopped causing everyone else to stop. He took a deep breath. “I overhead Floria telling Paul that my illness was all in my head. Is that possible?”
“Yes it is possible. I have had two cases of this during my practice. For the patient, the mind thinks the body is ill when it’s not.”
“Could that be what’s happening to me?”
“In all honesty, I don’t know. If you want to, I will help you find out.”
They started walking again, without saying a word. Orion led them down one hallway after another. He was lost in thought.
She turned to Jack mouthing, “where are we going?”
He shrugged his shoulder.
