Endings - 55

In a daze he set down the phone,

took up pen and paper

then frantically began to write his list.

Knowing this day to day world

was about to end,

he searched his mind

for life’s projects left undone

and people who needed to know

the clock was ticking.

How would he say his good-byes?

__________________________

Monkey Man is about to join the world

of the gainfully employed.

Details are being finalized and dates are being determined.

I know this will dramatically effect

my ability be stay in contact with the blog world.

I hope to find a suitable balance as I know many of you already do.

Cheers!

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55

hosted by Mr. Knowitall.

For more 55's pay him a visit -

Mr. Knowitall.

________________________

Or if you want yet another challenge

write a Sunday 160.

Like a text message, the Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces)
Keep on schedule - post Sunday
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site
Visit at least one other Sunday 160

___________________

I promise I will read your 160 and post a comment.

I will admit I'm lazy Sunday mornings lazy, so please be patient

What the Hell Wednesday - Now THAT'S a Fan.

(For those who came here to read my One Shot Wednesday....it follows this post.)

As many of you may know from some of my past posts, I am a huge football fan. But after reading this story, I have come to realize that I am a piker compared to some.

Man accused of break-in to watch football

DES MOINES, Iowa - A woman had to move out of her own home recently because a man allegedly moved in without permission. Ronta Rasheona Epps, 38, has a no-contact order against Freddrick Cleaven Little, 35, a resident of the YMCA downtown. She told police that despite the protective order, Little took up residence at her home to watch professional football playoffs on her television.

Epps said she had to move to a motel. She told officers Sunday that she had complained about Little staying at her house previously, but when police went to the door he refused to answer.

Officers again went Sunday night and saw Little through a window. When Little refused to answer the door, an officer opened it with a key Epps provided.

Little was found hiding in an upstairs bathroom. He was arrested on charges of third-degree burglary and violation of a no-contact order. Police said he is on probation for attempted burglary and now is being held without bond.

So I'm thinking at some point these two had some kind of relationship going, but I am putting that aside for now. I am trying to allow my imagination to do a bit of open field running with this one.

One fine Sunday down at the 'Y' Freddrick is watching his favorite NFL team when...BOOM!....the TV in the rec room gives up the ghost. Out of frustration Freddrick (let's call him Freddie) goes for a walk and passes by the window of one Ms. Epps. In the window he spies a very large television screen displaying the game he so desires to watch. Feeling sorry for the poor, cold fan Ms. Epps kindly lets Freddie in to warm up and watch the rest of the game.

The only problem is Freddie turns into the guest from Hell and just won't leave. It seems there is always more football on or Sportscenter or NFL Live or something else in the never ending stream of sports television. Ms. Epps, needing sleep and sanity, moves out of her own home and calls the cops.

I love how the cops peek in the window to catch Freddie eating chips, drinking beer there had to be beer involved and watching TV....still. They let themselves in with a key provided by Ms. Epps but still have to drag the guy out of the bathroom to get him out of the house.

What I want to know is, what exactly did the police say when they were at the door to make Freddie run to the bathroom. "Open up! It's the police. We're here to arrest you for excessive use of sports channels."

No matter. I am sure Freddie would be quite happy in the slammer were he could watch all the TV he wants. As opposed to being at the 'Y' where you flip on the TV to watch your game of the week, get only static and firmly pronounce to the world, "What the Hell?" Before heading out to mooch TV off some innocent victim.

5 X 10 - A One Shot

Shoulders hunched,
back bent
under the weight
of seemingly endless hospital bills,
he stood with glazed eyes
staring without focus
at the nothing life had become.

Gone.
His love of 43 years.

Gone.
The house of love they built.

Gone.
His happiness.

Gone.
His energy to make a new life.

Now he stared at his past,
rolled down the door,
clicked the padlock closed
and walked away.

His life reduced to a five by ten storage space.
__________________________________

Follow this link for more One Shot Wednesday poems.
__________________________________

Sunday 160 - Justice

The final decision will be revealed

in fourteen days.

No longer a battle of words,

eleven will decide.

If there’s to be justice,

it will be anyone but the Jets.

_____________________

For the original Sunday 160

 post click here.

If you wish to take the challenge, here is a quick look at the rules:

1. The Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces).

2. Keep on schedule - post Sunday.

3. Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.

(Be sure to mention you have posted a 160)

4. Visit at least one other Sunday 160 writer.

____________________

55 - Get Back the Passion

Gazing deeply into the depths of her beautiful yet empty eyes

he saw the embers of fire smoldering in her soul.

All she needed was the right spark

to get those long dormant flames of passion leaping to life.

Then she would feel again

and release herself from the bondage of what life had become.

___________________________

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55

hosted by Mr. Knowitall.

For more 55's pay him a visit -

Mr. Knowitall.

________________________

Or if you want yet another challenge

write a Sunday 160.

Like a text message, the Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces)
Keep on schedule - post Sunday
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site
Visit at least one other Sunday 160

___________________

I promise I will read your 160 and post a comment.

I will admit I'm lazy Sunday mornings lazy, so please be patient

What The Hell Wednesday - Stupor Hero

This week we find ourselves back in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where bumper stickers like "Keep Portland Weird" and "Friends Dont' Let Friends Drink Starbucks" proliferate. Self proclaimed independent thinkers all.

Well, it appears the home of Grunge has started a new craze - Superhero Mania. Check out this story as taken from a European news source. 

"Superhero" Guardian of Seattle Breaks Nose - But Won't Stop Fighting Crime

The masked crusader, who likes to call himself the Guardian of Seattle, got into a little local difficulty and had his nose broken while trying to protect his beloved city.

And the incident has prompted police to urge him and other self-styled saviors to hang up their capes before anyone gets seriously hurt.

‘Does Superman get his ass kicked?’ one detective – quite fairly – asked. ‘These people should not be called superheroes.’

Phoenix Jones – who parades around wearing tights, a mask and a skin-tight rubber suit with a bulletproof vest – was hurt while bravely (or stupidly) trying to break up a fight with a man who was armed with a gun.

But he insisted his injury won’t put him off fighting crime.

‘If police aren’t here, criminals feel free to run wild in my city,’ the father of two said. ‘And I’m not going to stand for it.’

Mr. Jones insisted he endangered his life ‘with a reason and a purpose’ and claimed he and other caped crusaders all had a military or martial arts background and knew what they were facing.

His eight other colleagues revel in the monikers Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88 and Penelope.

He is often driven around the city by a mystery woman; she doesn’t bother with superhero garb.

Just what we need....another gang. I mean really, that's what this equates to as far as I'm concerned. "Wait! Why so serious, Monkey?," you ask. Okay, you're right I'll lighten up and get back to my usual sarcasm. How else can I get that feeling of superiority?

First, what is the difference between vigilantism and Superhero behavior other than insanity wearing a costume? There are a bunch of these idiots vigilantes losers 'superheroes' running around, not just Mr. Jones....I love that. And did you check out those names??? Does Thunder 88 hit people with his piano? Does Catastrophe wear a mounted feline backside on his head? Get it 'Cat-Ass-Trophy'. Then there's No Name who doesn't include creativity among his not so super powers.

But don't worry about these guys and gals, they have backgrounds in martial arts and the military which makes them impervious to bullets and knives or whatever else real criminals have in their arsenal. Reminds me of the movie Mystery Men or that not so new flick Kick Ass.

The story says that Jones has two kids. Can you imagine the first time Daddy shows up in the living room wearing the costume shown in the photo below? Those kids must have looked at each other and said "What the Hell?" Upon which the Guardian of Seattle promptly washed out their mouths with soap.

Phoenix Jones (L) and No Name (?)

preparing to shoot bad guys with their fully loaded fingers.

Good luck guys.

Happy Birthday

My Baby Girl

Turns 18 today

Happy Birthday, Monkey Girl

Sunday 160 - Diggin' In

Tiny holes littered the landscape

as if an epic war

of miniature proportions

had scarred the ground.

Wildly digging,

the army wished for maps.

Stupid squirrels.

_____________________

For the original Sunday 160

 post click here.

If you wish to take the challenge, here is a quick look at the rules:

1. The Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces).

2. Keep on schedule - post Sunday.

3. Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.

(Be sure to mention you have posted a 160)

4. Visit at least one other Sunday 160 writer.

____________________

Baby it's cold outside - 55

A friend in Wisconsin

said snow has been falling heavily

and is nearly waist high.

The temperature

is staying below freezing

and the icy north wind is increasing.

His wife has done nothing

but look through the kitchen window.

He says that if the weather gets much worse,

he may have to let her in.

________________________

 

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55

hosted by Mr. Knowitall.

For more 55's pay him a visit -

Mr. Knowitall.

________________________

Or if you want yet another challenge

write a Sunday 160.

Like a text message, the Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces)
Keep on schedule - post Sunday
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site
Visit at least one other Sunday 160

___________________

I promise I will read your 160 and post a comment.

I will admit I'm lazy Sunday mornings lazy, so please be patient

What The Hell Wednesday - Suspicious Bagel???

While this story originates from Florida and took place in Boston, it could have just as easily happened anywhere in the world where paranoia pulses through the populous like greed in the veins of a bank CEO. The story, written by Miami NBC correspondent Todd Wright, rises to the occasion and slices to the center of the real issue of Bagels on a Plane.

Florida Professor Arrested For Having A "Suspicious" Bagel On A Plane

A Florida professor was arrested and removed from a plane Monday after his fellow passengers alerted crew members they thought he had a suspicious package in the overhead compartment.

That "suspicious package" turned out to be keys, a bagel with cream cheese and a hat.

Ognjen Milatovic, 35, was flying from Boston to Washington D.C. on US Airways when he was escorted off the plane for disorderly conduct following the incident.

Monday's incident is another example of other passengers essentially becoming the authority on terrorist activity on planes.

Recently, passenger complaints have resulted authorities taking action against innocent passengers who went to the bathroom too often on a flight and who were just being annoying.

In the hyper-sensitive world of flying, sneezing too often could get you kicked off a flight and questioned by the FBI.

Milatovic, who is a mathematics and statistics professor at the University of North Florida, was minding his business when other passengers turned into super sleuths. Passengers reported hearing strange noises coming from a plastic bag. State police said later that the bag contained a set of keys, a bagel with cream cheese, some other small food items, a hat and a wallet.

When confronted by the US Airways crew about his "suspicious package," Milatovic got on his cell phone. The crew asked him to hang it up and sit down. When he refused, he was cuffed.

Milatovic was also charged with interfering with the operation of an aircraft.

What I think is the biggest surprise here is that NO ONE WAS DRUNK OR ON DRUGS!!! Isn't that amazing? This is just a case of busy bodies at work. Now I don't no what Prof. Milatovic looks like, so I can't say this was a case of profiling, but really...the jingling of keys being a "strange noise". Someone clearly has it in for people of Eastern European heritage. Or they just can't stand the idea of cream cheese on a bagel. Personally, I like a little schmeer.

I also love the list of other suspicious activities that can get you removed from an airplane - sneezing, peeing, being annoying - what's next making unnecessary eye contact? It's going to sound like the back seat of the family car every time you get on a plane. "He's looking at me." "She touching my side of the seat." "Are we there yet?" Passengers are now the authority on terrorist activities and the REAL authorities take them for their word. Crazy.

But what kills me is why does the professor make a cell call when all he had to do was politely ask them to look into the bag so they could see the contents where harmless. Prof was just as guilty as annoying rat, tattle tale person who started the whole bomb bagel rumor to begin with. "But I could have sworn the cream cheese was C4...REALLY!!"

I can just picture the bomb squad carefully taking the paper bag off the plane, opening it up to find a bagel and bunch of miscellaneous personal items. They probably rolled their eyes and said "What the Hell?"