Oh You Need To Involve the Pups...Do You?

So Critty used the freaking dogs. She had to use the freaking dogs, didn't she? She won't wager, because she's too scared, but she had to go to the cuteness of the puppy-love. Fine. I'm going there too.

Take this, Auntie Critty and Cousin Jolie. Hey, Cousin Jacoby, you tell them that you want to shred the shirt because you're a secret Pistons fan....so take this! I can play the puppy game too! And Scott says...well....I'm sure you can guess from his body language.

Puzzle Pieces

No explanation. Just read and let me know how you feel.

I walked out unsteadily into the salty night and leaned my face toward the breeze. Tonight, I would become independent. Tonight, I would take my first kill without the help of my father. Tonight, I would make myself worthy. I would be the kind of monster that I could accept, the one that chose her path, the one that decided it would be better to not take human life. The one that turned her back on her nature and opted for an alternative lifestyle.

I raced through the trees, feeling breathless but exhilarated. I stalked through the thick wood animalistically, sniffing, searching. Shortly after, I found the perfect prey. A big bear with her cubs.

She reared violently and stood for a protective attack but I didn’t want her, I wanted her children; I wanted their innocence and wonder. I wanted what my new life now denied me. I wanted their blood to warm my veins and my vacant heart.

I made quick work of the mother, draining her completely, and turned toward her nest, searching for the one that had fascinated me, the innocent one that I in turn wanted to capture. There was one cub that caught my attention, one that I wanted to take in hopes that I could somehow seize some of him and infuse it into me.

He caught my eye because he was bathing his siblings with his tongue, far more protective of them, far more aware of them, than should be expected. None of them realized that their mother would not return for them. He was a sweet cub, attentive, the big brother of the group, and for the simple fact that I wanted him, wanted to take him from their lives, I didn’t think I deserved to exist. I was still monstrous, but it was a level of monstrosity that I could sadly accept.

When he was nearly asleep, I cradled him and hugged him to me. His face, all eyes with a bit of nose and snout, was peaceful as if he knew what I was going to do to him, but was kind enough to allow it. I’d chosen him because I honestly wanted his sweet innocence to be transferred back to me, wanted to recapture my own childhood virtue.

I wanted that sweetness of innocence again, the vulnerability that comes with being too young to understand life.

I dipped my head toward the young cub’s neck and fed on him messily, internally thankful that he didn’t notice. I could feel his blood streaming down my throat, but I’d been so chaotic with this hunt that some of it had splashed across my face. I mentally noted that I would need to be more careful, more aware of a clean kill.

The blood again was warm, so musical, as it flowed through my body. I almost felt complete.

A twig snapped, jerking my attention from my feeding. My head shot upward and my preternatural eyes scanned the horizon, finding nothing at first, but then I looked to the left, into the darkness of the trees and saw a silhouette standing there, watching me. The bear cub was dead, still cradled in my arms, as I sat cross-legged on the chilly ground. The chill didn’t affect me as much; although I didn’t like the cold, it was a constant, dull reminder of my new arctic nature. I could feel a rivulet of blood dripping slowly from the corner of my right lip to my chin. My long hair clung to one of my cheeks, glued there by the bear’s blood. I must’ve looked fiendish to the human eye.

Friendly Wager?

When Scott and I first got together, we, like normal couples, discussed our love for our sports teams. He was a diehard Raider fan, of course, as well as a Pistons fan. He didn't really have a preference of baseball teams, but seeing where he was from Michigan, he usually just rooted for the Detroit Tigers.

I put an end to that quickly by insisting that he convert to a Red Sox fan. This conversion came at a price, however. He would become part of the vast Red Sox nation (actually I believe the year he became a fan is the year that they broke away from the curse and won the World Series), but I had to become a fan of one of his teams. There was no way in hell that I was going to be part of Raider Nation (that only happens once a year when the Raiders play the Chargers) and seeing where I hadn't followed the Celtics since the 80's during the Laker wars, I adopted the Pistons as my team.

I can hear Christy hissing through her teeth. Seeing where the Pistons have dropped Game 1, a wager is of course in her best interest. So what'll it be Christy? If the Celtics take the series, what do you want? And when the Pistons advance, what do we want? Shall we place a friendly wager?

Manny Being Manny

Last night, we hosted a few friends (one of them being a diehard Orioles fan and self-proclaimed Yankee hater) and the topic of Manny Ramirez came up. Seeing where it was a game against the Orioles that Manny caught a ball in left, high-fived a fan and chucked the ball into Cora, who had the heads-up throw to first to get the double play, Seth was a little miffed. He doesn't really respect the whole "Manny Being Manny" mentality, doesn't really understand the goofiness of the dude, or the drive, or the determination. We wasted an hour or so discussing it with no one really giving up their stance. One of the things we talked about was Cal Ripken and how he embodies old school baseball.

Before I continue, for all of Red Sox Nation, sign onto http://www.sethmarko.blogspot.com/ and give him shit about his post. Please, leave him as many nasty comments as you wish. The more, the better.

Moving forward, I came across an article where Manny's teammates were talking about what kind of player he is. I'd like to quote Curt Schilling (for the full article, go to: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8142840?MSNHPHMA).



Everyone always think the most talented players — the Cal Ripkens of the world — are just gifted. It's the exact opposite. They are gifted. But they work harder — in a lot of cases, twice as hard — as everybody else. That was the personality who came to mind for me with Manny — Cal. Cal took a hundred groundballs every day — every day. Manny hits and he's in the video room as much as I am, watching video.



There you go, Seth. In your face.

Hawaii Here We Come!

YAAAAAAY!!!!!!! We finally booked our tix (again) today and I cannot tell you how excited I am! A little less than a month and we'll be lounging on the beautiful beaches of Kauai, hiking volcanoes, snorkelling, tanning, wandering through jungles....I cannot wait! Sometimes you need an escape from life and I'm very happy that ours is hanging on the horizon.

Summer's Knockin'

Summer brings so much happiness and excitement, so much activity....so much promise. I miss our time on the open water with the sun beating down on us, the ridiculousness of Ed skimming over the wake at breakneck speed, our picnics, or just lulling around in the bay and swimming in the warm surf.

So summer's knockin' and I'm ready to answer.

I Am Sad

Just recently, we received news that some very great friends of ours - people that we have respected and emulated - are separating. We're taking the split road in the sense that we cannot judge and we cannot take sides. Thankfully, for me, I became friends with them both at the same time so my loyalty is where it should be: in limbo. I can see both sides of the tale and I advise where I'm allowed, and yes, I can really see both sides of their coin.

This upsets me for many reasons. The first is that this was one of those couples that I hoped Scott and I would be like....I'd met them when they were just as in love as I was (despite me not wanting to admit it). They were so loving, sweet, happy and exuberant. I remember thinking, upon first judgment, that I wanted to have what they had.

Coming from a family where my parents have a strong loving marriage, coming from a background where values were revered, I felt that for the first time in years I'd seen a marriage that might come close to that. So I am sad, mainly because they represented that for me. I suppose I felt all warm and fuzzy inside whenever we were around them.

They made me feel like a part of their family, they made me realize how important that love and respect on a familial level is.

Soooooo...

Scott: I don't say I love you enough but I love you more than I could ever put into words, and I'm a word whore which means I'm speechless.

Christy and Livia: I miss you so much and sometimes I really feel that I've left a part of me behind when I think of you both. I'd LOVE to drag you to a crazy deserted island somewhere! Not in a dirty way...

Mom and Dad: You've both given me an amazing base for my life and I could not ever really thank you for the lessons that you've taught, the strength that you've instilled and the honesty that you always give.

Jen: You rock. Plain and simple. You inspire me.

Di: I get it. I really get it. Your courage is incomparable.

Sara and TJ: No words except "I'm proud".

I love all of you, my friends and family. You know who you are. Sometimes I don't say it enough...sometimes I don't show it enough....and I suppose that is my lesson for this week.