Category Archives: Stories

Cousin Katie

Art, mur, Random, Reasons for Things, Stories

Alone for the holidays is a comfortable place to be. Energy spent on showing interest in the lives of strangers is a tedious tradition. The few blood relatives I actually enjoy talking to are just as disinterested in forced socialization and wear the same type of mask I have on at family pow-wows. The only person I ever connected with outside of my immediate family was my cousin from Florida. She was older than me and possessed an unapologetically big personality, just like her dad. In an extended family where I always felt out of place, Katie showed me a different approach to growing up. Continue reading Cousin Katie →

Worst Date

Book, Daily Life, mur, Random, Reasons for Things, Stories

I should stop being nice and just listen to my gut when it tells me not to go on a date. It’s a different feeling than just not wanting to go out. Part of being introverted involves feeling like your home is the only safe place on earth. Those days happen perpetually and can’t be predicted. Part of getting to know myself is discovering the line between anxiety and introversion. We all have layers of stress affecting our psyche in a myriad of ways. The only universal truth is that too much of it is bad. Continue reading Worst Date →

NES Classic

Art, Daily Life, First Impressions, Games, mur, Rants, Reasons for Things, Stories

As silver linings go, the muted gunmetal gray of an NES Classic is pretty sweet. My gut told me to purchase one when it was available and I did. Also had a great $15 of sushi for lunch. Then I returned a call that shattered my dreams all over the low-pile corporate carpeting. Sigh. At least I got something valuable for my time. Even if I don’t have a TV to play it on. I’ve rigged an old computer monitor to give me video but without the classic video game music it’s not the complete sensory experience I require for a full flashback experience. Continue reading NES Classic →

Suicidal

Art, Book, Daily Life, Future Plans, mur, Quick Thoughts, Rants, Reasons for Things, Stories

One statistic I read said that people who talk about committing suicide are less likely to do it. Successfully, at least. This was after Wade died and I made a vow to not be one of those vapid, narcissistic assholes that brings up suicide every time emotions run high. I did enough of that as an early teenager to last forever. I’d scream at the top of my lungs about unfairness and how much I wanted to kill myself. I probably really felt that way at the time. Back then, I felt everything to such a high degree I can’t remember what’s real sometimes. Continue reading Suicidal →

Nothing Left

Book, Daily Life, First Impressions, mur, Rants, Reasons for Things, Stories

This time last week, I was celebrating my chance to work at a company I love. Today I was told having marijuana in my system makes me ineligible to work. I knew this ahead of time. That’s why I used a system cleanse to flush myself out before peeing in a cup. This method has worked for me before. Many times. Apparently 1 out of 4 is the statistic I needed to watch out for.  Continue reading Nothing Left →

Liquid Truth

Art, Book, Daily Life, mur, Random, Reasons for Things, Stories

It’s not complacency, accepting the truth. Knowing what reality looks like is a sound business strategy. It means accepting the good with the bad. You can’t have everything so measure what you need. There are truths that will change during your lifetime. If you really want the unceasing flow of change to move in your direction, fight realities that aren’t solid yet. Don’t lament the unchangeable. Even that will change eventually, just not at a pace you can work with. Continue reading Liquid Truth →

Inking Feeling

Art, First Impressions, mur, Reasons for Things, Stories, Yoga

I’m ready for work on Monday. A shock to my system akin to cold water, sometimes chilly water is the only way to do it. There’s a river in middle Tennessee that fills an old cast iron tub with ice cold water. To the brim. Nearby there’s a small sauna, big enough for maybe a dozen people if everyone gets friendly. If you’re lucky there’s a eucalyptus brew in the air. Great for curing that sniffle. Continue reading Inking Feeling →

Fixation

Art, Daily Life, First Impressions, Future Plans, mur, Quick Thoughts, Stories

I live in Seattle. Technically (and financially) that’s been true since January. It just didn’t feel real until now. On Wednesday night I told a very personal story on stage to a small, attentive crowd. About 20% of the crowd consisted of people there to see me. It’s absolutely amazing – in less than a year I have friends in Seattle. I was even surprised by someone who didn’t tell me they would be there. That’s the biggest audience I’ve ever drawn for anything, including my wedding. A sure sign that I not only live in Seattle but I fit in better than I ever did in Memphis. Continue reading Fixation →

Wham, Bam, Thank You Sir.

Art, Book, Large Events, mur, Smut, Stories, Yoga

Driving east, I’m oddly at ease. Bryan is the most honest man I’ve ever met and he’s in his element on a night like this. Confidence soothes my nerves. I have every right be apprehensive. As transformative moments go, this party has potential to make the Top 5. Not that I keep track of that sort of thing. (Puberty, Yoga, Prozac, Storytelling, Driving alone across America – if you do keep track of that sort of thing.) Tonight is a friendly gathering of kinksters at my leather daddy’s house. Four days ago I texted Marten, “If you wanna tie me up Saturday night and make me a party favor for select guests it would make my weekend ;-)”  Continue reading Wham, Bam, Thank You Sir. →