Brad's story

     It’s always the quiet ones, they say. 
     He chose them with an accuracy that marveled the most brilliant of investigators.  The only pattern was that there was no pattern.  He chose at will; at a moments notice.  Today, it was a large, round-like figure with dark eyes that drooped sadly; yesterday, Brad’s choice had been one of perfection: slim, groomed and enticing.  He cared not what they looked on the outside; just that they were there at the time he felt like mangling, killing, torturing.
     And no two mutilations looked alike – ever.  Again, no patterns would present themselves; just gruesome holes throughout their flesh.  His aim was spectacular in everyway.  One shot was all some needed to complete his vengeance against them.  Sometimes, though already dying, he shot them over and over; dismembering them and scattering their parts over a vast range of scenery.  It was random; which is why it was disturbing, disgusting, thoroughly unbelievable that such a man existed.  Pieces were everywhere; sometimes you couldn’t walk without stepping on the rotting flesh strewn about.  Most people exclaimed that they could never eat again, once seeing the utter destruction that lie screaming up at them:  He killed me!  I did nothing and yet he took me apart, piece by piece, for his own satisfaction; his own evil intent.

     Looking back, Brad foreshadowed his own mental and moral demise with cleverly placed comments; subtle comments that would prove to be deadly. 
     “Guns are cool,” he said.  “I wish I lived somewhere that I can just go outside and start shooting.”
     So why didn’t they see it?  Why didn’t they finally catch on?  Was it his inviting smile, his demure attitude, his quiet but competitive nature that hid his inner struggle; a struggle between good and evil that waged with vengeance in the deep pockets of his soul?  At what point was it too much for him to fight this evil temptation?  And why did he give up such a gallant fight?  Why did he succumb to such visions of death and destruction?

     Nobody knew – and nobody had a chance to find out.  Brad was long gone when they had finally found his apartment.  It was the first sign of just how demented he had become: the first pieces of mutilated flesh discovered were scattered around his living room, kitchen and bedroom.  He wasn’t worried about keeping anything clean anymore; inside or out.  He was addicted to the violence; to the destruction of innocence; to the power it all gave him.  And he knew they were getting close to finding him out.  He disappeared.  Into the woods, into the city - they didn’t know.  But he would surface again when his need for killing was too much; that they did know.  They hoped to be ready. 
     Heed this warning for your own safety:  the next time you open up your vegetable drawer in your refrigerator and you pull out a potato, be careful to look at all sides.  You might find a piece missing, then you’ll know that Brad, The Killer Potato Man, was there – and will be back to finish the job.  He must finish; he’s a bloodthirsty soul.  To save your potatoes, bake them, mash them or fry them immediately.  It’s the only thing that can stop Brad from killing anymore.  It’s the only way to save their soul – and nourish yours.

     And one more thing…

     If you are not careful, you can fall into the same fate as Brad.  I urge you not to get hysterical if you do find a mangled potato.  The madness that results in the disbelief of such behavior breeds the type of vengeance that now consumes Brad’s life.  Two of his recruits have recently been identified:  Tina, The Terrible Onion Mutilator, and Racinda, The Bell Pepper Mangler.  Are you the next enemy of vegetation? 

For everyone’s health, we hope not.

This post brought to you by Spud Shot - the Potato Gun of the future.  Look for it whereever toys are sold. 

 

What a world!

This is going to be short.  I just have to say how cool it is that just under (or over - I don't know the exact year) 100 years ago communicating with our neighbor took hours, days, or weeks!  Now, we can "connect" with someone on the other side of the world in seconds!  How cool is that?  Really, how cool is it to live in the world today, when communication is so easy!  I know that the world isn't a great place right now - but when has it ever been?  Even when Jesus walked the earth, there were tyrannts and wars and unrest.  We just have to focus on our own little worlds.  If we can do what we can (use what God has "equiped" us with) to make our little piece of the world a better place, then who's to say we can't make this world, right now, better than before?  It could happen.  Okay, so these aren't original thoughts but they are thoughts nonetheless that come from the heart at this very moment in time - come from my heart.

Another Day Closer

So, I'm closer to my vacation but it's still over a month away!  I will not do this again next year - no way.  I am already planning my first vacation for 2005 for April or May.  Waiting until September to go on vacation is way too long.  I don't want to work (not even the simplest tasks), give skin care classes (which I enjoy), teach ballroom lessons (which I really enjoy) or do anything that requires brain cells - and I've been this way for the last month, at least!  Plus, my roommate is bearing the brunt of my restlessness.  It's hard when you live with someone who gets the summers off and you don't.  Don't get me wrong; she deserves it.  She is  a great teacher and I know that teachers are so underpaid and overworked.  But it's still hard to deal with it.  I am excited for my vacation, though.  It will be fun, relaxing and stress-free (mostly).  The whole reunion thing is pretty weird but I will get to see my friends and that's all that matters.   I will also get to spend four days on the beach - by myself (mostly).  I so need to just sit on a beach somewhere and just veg.   And I'll get to visit my new nephew, Hunter, too.  That will be great!  

My writing is coming along - slowly - but it's coming.  I like my course and the instructor that was assigned to me.  She has been very encouraging to my writing; and has been critical when she needs to be.  I just hope that one day I'll be able to touch somebody with the many stories that are floating around in my head.  I'm still not sure what genre suits me best.  I hope to find out over the next year or so.  I really miss writing; it really was what I should have majored in but if I wanted my parents to help with tuition I had to compromise.  So in comes Journalism and out goes Creative Writing.  Oh well, journalism has served me well.  I am still interested in Publications work and hope to find a job in the next couple years that will utilize my skills and challenge me to make them even better.  But for right now, I like my job and the flexibility it gives me to pursue my interests and dreams.  I know that I won't work here forever and if I'm to have a career, I need to realize this and do something about it.  It will be hard if, two or three years from now, I have to leave here.  The people are wonderful and the ministry is growing so much - and in so many exciting ways.  But I want to contribute in other ways and that just isn't possible right now.  So I am content where I am for the moment:  I have a full-time job with benefits, am on salary, work with great people in a great atmosphere, I'm serving the Lord and His church and I have time to pursue my interests like writing and learning how to run a business.  I also have my health when so many around me are ill (mentally, physically, etc.).  I need to count my blessings much more often than I do.  So what if I'm not married and don't have kids yet?  Both are things that are desires of mine but God's timing is much better.  I'd rather be single and happy and pursuing God's will than married, unhappy and being misled.  So life is pretty good for me, isn't it? :-)