What is a Philanthropist?

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
 For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
 For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
 For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
 People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
 As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”
― Sam Levenson

What is a Philanthropist?  That's easy.  A philanthropist is someone who practices philanthropy.  Ok, that was a cheat answer.  Now here is one that will actually explain what I just said.

PHILANTHROPY (as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary of the American Language)

phi·lan·thro·py

n. pl.phi·lan·thro·pies

1. The effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations.

2. Love of humankind in general.

3. Something, such as an activity or institution, intended to promote human welfare.

In a nutshell, a philanthropist is someone, who through acts of charity, shows a helpful kindness to their fellow mankind.  Whether by donating money, possessions, their time and sometimes it can even be as simple as kind words.

No matter an individuals situation, everyone can use a little philanthropy in their life.  However, there are those that can use it more than others.  One simple charitable push, can be the spark that propels someone towards a brighter future.  Our lives can be controlled by unfortunate circumstances if we allow it to happen.  Some may accept what appears to be and never realize that with just a little effort, the 'appears to be' is just one of many options.  There is so much potential in every human life that so many never get the opportunity to experience.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
― John Holmes

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan

I've recently been introduced to an organization that is trying to create that spark in individuals through a very original approach.  The organizations name is Christmas 14.  You can check out what they're all about here:

http://christmas14.com/

But basically, this is a brief description of what their goal is.

The Christmas Fourteen project was established to change just a little part of our world. It is our goal to help facilitate placing students, who wouldn’t normally be able to afford it, into an accepted and participating martial arts program.   To impact the lives of those that might not normally be able to experience the gift of martial arts. To help provide the world with strong, responsible, productive, driven, and disciplined people that possess the necessary elements of integrity: all the qualities that breed success.

Through the aid of participating martial arts academies and the philanthropy of others, Christmas 14 will change lives and the futures of deserving individuals who may not have otherwise had the chance to meet their fullest potential.

Christmas 14 was created by Sean Patrick Flanery, actor and Black Belt Martial artist.  His determination to help others achieve more from life is seen in not only his Twitter feed ( @seanflanery )  but in his blog as well ( http://www.shineuntiltomorrow.com/ ).  His compassion for helping others has developed him a following , affectionately known as the Twempire.  Sean's Twempirians have, through him, banded together supporting one another in reaching what many of them believed to be "unobtainable goals".

In support of Sean's efforts, a fundraiser was started to help raise funds for Christmas 14.  A T-shirt was designed by the creator of Sean's Internet fan page ( http://www.twempiriansunite.com/ ) and on Twitter ( @twempirians)  The shirt sells for $25 and $15 of each shirt sold goes directly to the Christmas 14 project.  

There is a problem though.  There is a 100 shirt minimum on the sale.  At this moment, 55 shirts have been reserved.  If the goal of 100 shirts is not reached by August 11th, there will be none sold.  All the orders already placed will be cancelled and the project gets nothing.

So what I'm asking is that anyone reading this blog, go check out Christmas 14.   Read Sean's blog.  Take a look at the Tshirt pictured below.  If you like it...Click the link  http://teespring.com/twempirians   If you think it's a good cause...Click the link http://teespring.com/twempirians .   If you believe we can help make a difference in a deserving but less fortunate individuals life.... Click the link and please buy one.  

I Was Late Today

I was late for work today.  Not the first time, nor will it be the last.  Or so I assume.   I mean we all have those days where we drag a little slower.  We take a little longer getting ready.  Hit the snooze once or twice.   But eventually we get going.  We get our showers and get dressed.  Maybe have that cup of coffee.  Heck, some of us even give our loved ones a kiss goodbye and tell them we'll see them later.

As much as no one likes to think about it, we really can't make promises that may actually be out of our hands.  We never really know what the day will bring.  We never REALLY know if there will be a later.

I was late for work today.  I know I said that already but I didn't say why.  On the same route I take to work everyday, there was an accident.  I wasn't involved.  It happened almost two hours before I got there.  It involved a woman, age 38 and a man, age 22.  They too were probably just on there way to work, or maybe to a friends.  I don't know, but it doesn't matter where they were headed.  What matters is that they didn't get there.  The young man rear ended the woman's vehicle when she apparently came to a stop in the middle lane of traffic for reasons that are still being investigated.  Her vehicle burst into flames.  She was pulled out and given CPR by a passerby but was pronounced dead at the hospital.  The young man was also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Two individuals that both woke up this morning.  Who may or may not have taken a little longer.  Who may or may not have had that cup of coffee.  Who may or may not have had the chance to kiss their loved ones goodbye.  One of which, who will not see them later or ever again.

A tragedy that regardless the cause, could happen to any of us.  No one knows when they wake up in the morning, if that will be their last day.  If the words spoken to a loved one will be the last words.  It takes tragedy for most of us to see this.  I saw it all too clearly this morning when I drove past the burnt out shell of a vehicle in the middle of the road.  Sure, I was late for work today.  But I'm still able to write about it and that makes being late the least important aspect of my day.

Some day...Somehow...all of our lives come to an end.  Grab hold of your loved ones when you see them.  Tell them how much they mean to you.  Don't let the unimportant things control your life.  Focus on what matters.  Don't be afraid to do things while you still have the opportunity to do them.  We tend to think that the opportunities will always be there.  What we forget is that we won't. 

http://www.nbc40.net/story/22910003/driver-killed-in-parkway-crash

A New Star

A new star to shine
In the sky at night.
Dancing in the heavens
Shining so bright.
A woman of structure.
A woman of class.
A woman full of talents.
My favorite...her sass.
Her wit....beguiling.
Her presence...well known.
She shared herself freely.
Her beauty was our own.
Her star will shine brighter
On her loved ones below.
Giving them comfort
And letting them know.
That even in daylight
When they can't see her here.
She will always be with them.
She will always be near.
Someone locked in your heart
Will be felt, even unseen.
She is with us now and forever.
Sweet, beautiful BadassColleen.

A Modern Day Fonz

I read an article online today that got me thinking.  The article was actually an interview with Sean Patrick Flanery.  Mr. Flanery was asked several questions in almost a word association fashion and he gave his responses with his usual honest candor.  One of the responses he was asked for was in reference to his friend and fellow actor, Norman Reedus. 
Anyone that is familiar with the duo of Flanery and Reedus, known as Flandus to their fans, would not be the least bit surprised to the complimentary nature of Mr Flanery's reply.

(Whole interview found here..  http://www.nylonguysmag.com/catching-up-with-sean-patrick-flannery/  )

Norman Reedus
A dear friend. My boy sat Mark McGwire down with his hellacious swing & he cracked a fast ball outta the park & over the center field fence with his role in The Walking Dead. He’s riding a one-handed wheelie with that character. Its killer. He’s Fonzie. He’s a stud.

Comparing Mr. Reedus to the one and only legendary Arthur Fonzarelli, is quite a compliment indeed.  The man, played by the fabulous Henry Winkler, is an icon.  As I was growing up, there wasn't a soul that didn't know who the Fonz was.  That charismatic smile, and the sound of a single syllable was forever branded to the character, thanks to the talents of an incredible actor.  I mean...who didn't try to turn things on with the bang of a fist?  Ayyyyyyyy...I know I did.

Mr. Reedus has given that same empowerment to his role of Daryl Dixon on AMC's The Walking Dead.  A show based off of a comic book, that has grown to be one of the most popular television series on cable AND regular television.  The role of Daryl Dixon was not even in the comic book series, but thanks, once again, to the talents of an incredible actor, the role has exploded into a television phenomenon.

As far as Mr. Flanery's assessment comparing his friend to a modern day Fonz, some may say he is biased due to the friendship he has with Mr. Reedus.  I obviously agree with his assessment, but I decided to provide a few visual aides to bring more light upon the comparison.



VISUAL AIDE #1

THE SALUTE

The Fonzie Thumbs up and the Reedus Salute are both equally synonymous to their presenter.  A gestured greeting of good will that fans adore.





VISUAL AIDE #2

THE MOTORCYCLE

I'm sorry, but not many would disagree to the coolness factor going on here.  Guys want to be like them and girls wanted to be riding on those bikes behind them.

VISUAL AIDE #3

THE SHADES

No explanation required :-)

VISUAL AIDE#4

TONGUE PORN

Again....... No explanation required.

VISUAL AIDE #5

WHAT WOULD THEY DO?

Well I don't know about you... But I don't know of anyone walking around in a shirt that says "What Would Vanessa Do?"  Face it...you are beyond cool when you land on mass market clothing wear.

VISUAL AIDE #6

RICHIE CUNNINGHAM

Of course the cool "bad" guy has the goodie goodie side kick and best friend

And this leads me to last, but not least....

VISUAL AIDE #7

SEAN PATRICK FLANERY

See.....this right here is all the proof anyone could ever need.  Sean IS Norman's very own Richie Cunningham. :-) (No comments about the Goodie, Goodie sidekick part.  Y'all know what I mean.)

There you have it.  Right before your own eyes.  Visual proof that demonstrates how Norman Reedus's portrayal of Daryl Dixon has earned a pretty solid comparison to the equally amazing portrayal of The Fonz played by the forever infamous Henry Winkler.  Both amazing actors who not only play/played their role...but own it as well.

A Skeptics Holiday.

There is a small chance that my house has a visitor.  But with that said, I've never SEEN anything directly supernatural.  At least not that I would testify to in court.

My house is about 50 years old and obviously had previous owners.  As far as I know, there were no untimely deaths on the property.  I'm not willing to investigate that because truthfully, that would creep me out if I found out that there was.  However.... occasionally lights flicker.  Our cat freaks out sometimes and comes flying up from the laundry room with his tail puffed out.  The smoke detector goes off for no reason but the batteries are perfectly good.  The attic is a place I will not go, but simply because there is no electric up there.  And even though my husband will deny it, he said he saw a strange shadow in the basement once.  He jumped when he saw it but shook it off and says it was nothing now.

None of this is conclusive that there is something supernatural in my house, but even if there was, it's harmless.  We have been here for over 10 years and nothing has ever happened to give me reason to worry.  Not at my house.

My husband and I were driving home from the movies, the back way, a few years ago.  It was dark and my husband was driving.  I, of course, was staring down at my cell phone not paying any attention to where we were.  Out of nowhere, I had one of those creepy feelings you get when you think someone is looking at you, but this felt different.  I'm not a "sensitive" person and I don't have any clue how to explain this but I immediately looked to my left and said to my husband "What the hell happened at that house?" 

Keep in mind that it is dark and I don't even recall if I could see the house I was referring to.  My husband then looked to his right and said "Yeah I know, that house always gives me the creeps.  The guy that lives there is scary looking."  It turns out we were talking about two different houses that were basically across the road from one another.  We realized this later and when I told him that I was talking about the house across the street, he told me that no one lived there and there had been a fire.  And of course, there were fatalities in the fire.

That was it for me.  I couldn't let that house go out of my head.  Abandoned and creepy?  Plus the story behind it?  I wanted to go back and see that house in the daytime.  Don't ask me why but I really wanted to. 

I was home alone on my day off and for the fun of it, I decided to ask for some advice from my resident possibility.  (Yes I know I'm weird)  So out loud, basically to myself, I asked if I should go there.  Should I go back and look at the creepy house in the daytime or just forget about it?  I waited a minute and of course...nothing.  So I asked again.  If you think I should not go back there....Give me a sign. 

RINNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!

My phone rang.  No big deal except the phone in the room wasn't in it's cradle.  So I went to answer the bedroom phone, but the phone stopped ringing by then.  That phone has a Caller ID on the handset, so I checked to see what number called.  666666666666666.   O......K?   I picked up the phone to try and hit *69 to see if the caller ID was broken and as soon as I hit the first button, it started dialing random numbers after that.  Same thing happened the next few times I tried as well.  That phone was broken for some reason.  Strange? Yes.  But a sign from beyond?  Pfffttttt.  I'm too much of a skeptic for that.

So I grabbed my digital camera and got in my car to head back to my creepy house.   It wasn't too hard to find in the daylight, because once it caught my attention, I got a good idea where we were.  When I found it, I drove past it and turned back around to park across the street from it.  I wasn't there that long but I took a picture of it and gave myself the creeps sitting there, so I left.

Now...remember that I said I'm a skeptic right?  About a mile up the road from my creepy house, my car radio turned on.  By itself.  As in, I was alone and I didn't turn it on.   I pulled over and called my boss at the time, who was also interested in supernatural possibilities.  He thought it was pretty freaking cool.  But then again...he wasn't the one in the car.  Later that same night, my husband and I were out and stopped at a convenience store.  He ran inside and I stayed in the car...alone...and guess what?  The radio turned on again.  No lie.  I turned it off.  My husband came back out and it never happened again.

When I finally convinced the skeptic in me to take over again, I looked at the picture I took of my creepy house.  My abandoned...no one lives there...someone died there....my phone at home told me no to go....my car radio became an automatic....creepy house.  The photo is below.  Please take a good look at the window in the first picture before looking at the second.  Tell me if you see what I outlined in the picture below it.  Because the skeptic in me took a brief vacation and I'm wondering if it was worth it.



Oh by the way.... I still do not go by that house very often if I can avoid it.  And my bedroom phone started working fine again ...out of the blue...about 6 MONTHS LATER.

I Remember...

I remember freeze tag
And playing on the swings.
I remember telephones
That were cups attached with strings.
I remember playing outside
til it became dark.
Our parents never worrying about strangers in the park.
I remember playing Red Light, Green Light
 In each others yards.
We used tape recorders to remember things.
Not flash drives and SD cards.
Record players and cassette tapes.
Saturday morning cartoons.
Hide and seek and jungle gyms.
 Or just running all over town like wild little loons.
We didn't have cell phones
for our parents to track us down.
We knew to be in when the street lights glowed in our safe small town.
Horror was a flashlight underneath a tented sheet.
Ghost stories told at sleepovers simply could not be beat.
Board games and a deck of cards
meant hours of friendly fun.
And family nights were special.
Each and every one.
I remember so many little things that my daughter will never see.
But someday she'll say the same of her daughter.
She'll remember just like me.

Hello Herman

Hello Herman...
Don't be sad.
It's not you're fault
You have no dad.

Hello Herman...
Play your game.
I'm sure you know
Real life is not the same.

Hello Herman...
Let your sister go play.
You didn't know
It would turn out that way.

Hello Herman...
Kids are cruel
I'm sorry they pick on you
So much at school.

Hello Herman...
You bought a gun.
You have the power
To make them run.

Hello Herman...
You enjoyed each shot.
They all deserved
What they got.

Hello Herman...
Now they see.
How very human
You can be.

Hello Herman...
Your story has been said.

Hello Herman...
Now you're dead

   -V.Blood

Life's Reach

The world is a chaotic place
That often does not make sense.
We live our lives day to day
With little recompense.
 Unless you count the little things
That tally in the end.
A life lived to its fullest
Is worth more than you can spend.

The family that surrounds you
Your friends count in that too.
The mark you leave behind
Represents all that once was you.
One life touches so many
It affects those near and far.
 May your life's reach
Extend beyond the farthest distant star.
                                    - V. Blood

Final Thoughts (Walking Dead Fan Fic- Spoiler Alert-)

The Governor looked down at Merle as the bullet left the chamber of his gun.  Even with only one eye, Merle could see how much evil lurked inside that man's soul.  Pure unadulterated evil.  Merle tried to prepare himself for the final death blow to his head, but when he saw the Governor's aim lower to his chest, his eyes widened with the momentary shock of knowing the repercussions.  "I'm not going to die" the thought echoed in his mind as the bullet struck Merle's chest.  "At least not completely". 
Merle's body fell to the ground and gasped against the last breaths of life, as the Governor stood over him with a smirk of satisfaction on his face.  "No one would ever expect you to beg Merle" he half chuckled down at his once loyal soldier. "Not Merle.  You're the strong one."  Quickly the Governor kicks Merle's side as he clings to the last moments of human life. "Now that little brother of yours is a different story"  He leans over and whispers into Merle's ear to be sure he is heard.  "I'm going to make him beg for death"
Merle growls out as he tries to thrust his sword arm toward the man threatening his brother, but a white flash of light blinds him as his human life fades into darkness.  The world around him disappears and the sound of the Governor whistling as he walks away, is the last thing he can hold onto.
The darkness was cold and empty but Merle's thoughts somehow remained.  "I'm going to turn"  The thought kept running circles in his head. "When my body dies, I'm gonna be one of them freaks."   The realization that he'll soon turn into the exact thing he'd been fighting so hard against, was nothing compared to the anger knowing that the Governor had killed him purposely in a way to cause it.  "If I get my hand on him I'll.....I'll..." As if on cue, Merle felt an overwhelming wave of hunger rush through his dead body "I'll EAT him"
Without any command from Merle, he felt his body begin to move into a standing position and work its way toward the door.  "Now hold up" he thought to himself as his body pushed against the door til it opened.  "I didn't tell you to go no where"  When the door was fully opened, the scent hit him.  Blood.  Fresh human blood.  It was everywhere and his body wanted it.  "Oh god" his mental stomach turned at what he knew was coming.  Slowly his body trudged across to a body of a young boy.  "Please be dead.  Please be dead."  Merle repeated over and over as his body dropped down to his knees next to the boy.  He wasn't dead. 

The boys injuries were serious but the terror was still in his eyes as he saw Merle leaning over him.  "No!!!!!" the boy shouted "Dad!!!!  Help!!!!!!"
Merle watched as his own hand dug into the boys stomach and the attached blade ended his cries.  He tried to mentally stop his body from fulfilling the insane hunger, but Merle had no control.  His head lowered and without a moments hesitation or remorse, he began to devour the carnage before him.   "GOD DAM YOU GOVERNOR!!!" he screamed out in what was left of his mind.  "GOD DAM YOU TO HELL!!"  As hard as he tried to ignore it, he knew how much his body was enjoying the taste of it's meal.  Like a starved animal, his hands tore through the tender human flesh.  Skin broke way to muscle which gave way to organs and they all fulfilled the hunger, but for only a moment. 
As his teeth gnawed at a piece of chewy muscle, the scent of something else caught his new senses attention.  Another human.  Fresher.  Still alive. 

His body responds by looking up to see the human standing directly in front of him.  Letting go of the now dead flesh dangling from his teeth.  "Daryl?" his mind slowly registers who it is. "No!!  Not my brother"  As his body stands, Merle yells louder in his head.  "Shoot me!!!"  Daryl recognizes his brother immediately and is overcome with grief at what he sees. 

As Merle moves closer to him, Daryl takes a step back and Merle fears that his brother won't put up a fight. "Don't just stand there and cry like a little girl.  DAMMIT, kill me!!!  Grow a set of balls!!!"  Merle's lifeless body moves even closer and Daryl pushes him away.
Merle feels the hunger for human flesh increasing in his body as it moves toward his brother again.  "Dammit baby brother.  You promised.  We PROMISED"  Daryl shoves his brother away even harder as tears begin to fall from his eyes.  Merle has a brief moment of satisfaction at the open display of grief his brother can't seem to control.  "I knew that Michonne bitch was full of shit.  My brother is gonna mourn me."  As he moves in towards his brother once more, he can see some of the fight returning to his younger brothers eyes.  "That's it baby brother.  Kill me.  It's alright.  JUST DO IT" 

With a reaction based solely on instinct, Daryl's blade shoves into Merle as he shoves him down to the ground.  "That's it Baby brother.  It's all you now.  You have to do it."  Daryl hesitates another second as he prepares himself for what comes next.  His brother is gone and he knows what he has to do.  "Don't feel guilty.  I'd do to you if it was the other way."  Merle's thoughts grow foggy as the hunger in his body consumes what little bit of him is left "I love you Daryl...now man up and kill me" 

. 

 

 

As though he had heard his brothers thoughts, Daryl reaches up with his blade and plunges it down into his brothers skull. Not just once but over and over until he is sure the promise he had made to his brother was fulfilled.  When he pulls the blade out the last time, Daryl falls back onto the ground and cries.  "Goodbye Baby brother" a whispered thought blows out into the wind as Merle leaves the world, finally at peace.

 

 

 

 

 



The Light Fades

The light fades but the wick still burns.
The world moves slower but it still turns.
You fight the current of a thrashing sea.
You fight for a stronger will to be.
Holding on to those who hold you tightly back.
Surrounded by love, something you'll never lack.
Whenever you feel the flame give way to darkest night.
Reach out your hand and step into our light.
We will always be here to brighten your day.
To offer you strength in any way.
Even the bravest soldier has moments of doubt.
You are not alone. If you need, call out.
We give to you, no more than you give to us.
You'd offer your flame and expect no fuss.
So accept the fact that we are here.
We give you support because to us, you are dear.

Blink

Life is but a blink of the eye.
We are born and we will die.
No one knows how long the blink will last.
If it will be long.  If it will be fast.
Don't waste a moment on regret or doubt.
Live in the moment. Never forget what life is about.
Our time is undetermined.
Waiting for tomorrow is unwise.
You go to bed thinking Someday.
But someday you won't rise.
So take hold of each moment and cherish them today.
For tomorrow isn't guaranteed.  The end could possibly be, only a blink away.
                                   - V. Blood

Merle Dixon Fan Fiction: The In Between: Part 2

The pain was excruciating as the saw tore into the flesh of Merle's wrist.  The only thing keeping him attached to the conscious world, was his desire to exact revenge on those that had forced him to disfigure himself in such a way.  "I'll fuckin tear him to pieces." he yelled as the saw began to scrape against the bone.  "I'll rip him limb from limb"  Merle paused for a second as another wave of nausea emerged in his throat.  Taking a deep breath and releasing it with an agonizing growl, he continues with the tortuous mutilation needed to free himself of his restraints.  "I'm gonna find Daryl and we'll mess that cop up. And his pet Afro-American"  A jolt of pain shoots through him as Merle manages to crack through the first of the two large wrist bones.  So far, the belt was keeping the blood loss to a minimum but that didn't matter to the hungry mob on the other side of the stairwell door.  As soon as the first drop of Merle's blood hit the rooftop, it was like a dinner bell had gone off.  Any second now that chain holding them in the stairwell was going to snap and Merle was determined to not still be there when it did.

His head started to spin as he feverishly fought with the hand saw to finish his task.  Staring down at his half attached hand, Merle started to feel detached from what was taking place.  His mind started to drift as visions of the pre-apocalyptic world started to flow in as quickly as his energy was flowing out.  Young Daryl looking up at him whenever he was about to head out on the road again.  "Stupid kid.  I ain't got time for your little snot nose followin me around."  He recalled yelling back as he would walk out the door leaving his younger sibling alone.  Weeks would go by, sometimes months before Merle would swing back home and Daryl would be right back up his ass again.  "Go away" he'd shove his brother down on the floor.  "I'm not here to play with you."  No matter how hard he'd push that little shit away, he'd keep after Merle whenever he could.  And just like every other time, Merle would leave.  It wasn't until their mother went and burnt herself up smoking in bed that Merle had to deal with his little brother more.  As the only living relative, Merle was all Daryl had left.

SNAP...went the second bone and the new wave of agony reels Merle back to the present.  "GOD DAMMIT!!!!!"  With one more violent shove of the saw, Merle's hand falls to the rooftop and he is free. "Hallelujah" Merle's eyes immediately look up toward the sky "Not giving you any thanks"  Oh hell no.  I did this without your help."  He waves the bloodied saw at the sky. "I did this.  I ain't owing you nothin!!"    He throws down the saw and pulls himself up shakily to his feet.  Quickly he grabs a few tools and a rag from the tool bag and presses it tight over the wound before making his way to the stairwell on the other side of the roof.  The door opens and Merle looks back to the other door where the rotted arms were still fighting to get at him.  "Kiss my ass freaks!"he yells over.  "Nobody is eatin Merle Dixon."  He steps into the stairwell and moves cautiously down the steps as the door closes behind him.

Merle Dixon Fan Fiction: The In Between-Part 1

The hot Georgia sun beat down on Merle's back as he stretched and struggled to reach the small hand saw just beyond his fingertips.  The sound of hungered groans forcing him to push himself harder to the point that he literally felt his shoulder begin to dislocate.  Looking up toward the door, he could see the rotting fingertips wedging their way out onto the scorching rooftop.  "You ain't gettin' me!" he yelled. "You hear me?  I'm nobody's dinner!"
The growls grew louder at the sound of Merle's voice and he jumped  propelling his body the small distance needed to latch his fingertip over the handle of the saw.  "Alrighty now, that's it.  Come to daddy"  Merle's face lights up victoriously as he maneuvers the saw toward him.  "No dead freaks gonna get me."  He grasps the handle and slides back out from under the water pipe he was handcuffed to.  "Wait til I get my hands on that pig." he growls as he sits up and moves the saw over the chain of the handcuff. "Leave me here like an animal tied on a leash? I'll put him on a leash and tie it to the back of my bike.  A nice drive through downtown Atlanta will show him not to mess with me."  He smiles at the thought and begins to move the blade of the saw back and forth across the chain. 
After a few moments, Merle's smile fades away when he realizes the chain is unaffected.  He glances back up at the stairwell door and a set of deadened eyes peer back through the still chained doorway.  "What are you lookin' at?" Merle yells as he tries even harder to cut himself free of the handcuff.
The sun's heat combined with the extra effort begin to take its toll on Merle as his vision blurs for a second.  With his free hand, he rubs his eyes until his vision clears.  "I told you freaks.  I AIN'T SUPPER"
The door rattles loudly as even more of the undead begin to press against it from the stairwell.  Merle's eyes race around the rooftop and then back over to the contents of the tool bag spilled on the ground.  "Think Merle"  He bangs the palm of his free hand to his forehead as he tries to think of an escape plan.  "Think Dammit!  You ain't going out like this....THINK!"
The saw still in his grip, knicks across Merle's forehead and gashes a small line into his skin.  "SHIT!" he scowls and drops the saw at his side.  He rubs his hand against the warm trail of blood he feels rolling down his face and laughs.  "Stupid piece of shit saw"  He looks at the blood on his hand and then down to the saw. "Sure.  Now you'll cut." he shakes his handcuffed hand causing it to rattle against the pipe.  "You won't cut the god dam cuff but you'll cut me."
The growling from the stairwell intensifies in response to the added noise from the rattling chain.  Merle looks at the nearby threat and his eyes move over to his hand locked into the cuff before looking down to the saw.  "You'll work on me...but not the cuff"  He shakes his head as he looks back up at the doorway again. "No" still shaking his head as he looks around the rooftop desperately as the idea formulates in his head.  "What else choice do I got?"  he questions himself out loud.  "Sit here and be a freak buffet?"
As if on cue, a loud bang comes from the doorway as it is pressed aggressively from within the stairwell.  Several arms grabbing wildly into the free rooftop air as the increasing crowd of undead tries to force down the barrier between them and their meal.  "Ah hell no!" Merle exclaims as he quickly unbuckles his belt and begins to pull it from the loops of his worn jeans.  He runs through his plan in his head as he tries to remember all the survival skills he's learned in his lifetime. 
He takes one last look over at the doorway before solemnly nodding his head with defiance in his eyes.  "You aren't finishing me"
Swiftly, Merle wraps the belt around his forearm and straps it tight to cut off the circulation to his restrained hand.  Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out a small wallet and puts it into his mouth before biting down hard.  He laughs insanely to himself when he notices the discoloration of his fingers and realizes the similarity to the fingers trying to claw their way through the stairwell door and into his skin.  "Ain't that a bitch?" he chuckles through clenched teeth as he lifts the saw and presses it to his numbing wrist.

The Visitor

When first I felt the icy chill
I moved away from the window sill.
The coldness followed me across the floor.
Perhaps a draft from yonder door.
But something inside me knew I was not alone.
I felt a shiver down to the bone.
My eyes darted from left to right.
Expecting to see something in my sight.
Down the hall I heard a sound.
My heart jumped as I turned around.
The room down there had been so long shut.
A distant memory that had been cut.
The door knob turned all by itself.
My knees were shaking.  I doubted my health.
No one was in there. Not since he had passed.
Memories long forgotten were returning fast.
A whispered voice rang through my head.
I tried to tell it that he was dead.
 But he kept talking as the door gave way.
And my eyes watched as I began to sway.
 The brightest light blinded my eye.
When I hit the ground, I thought I would die.
When I came to, I was in my bed.
 Not the one I've been using but the one we had shared instead.
I never mentioned what happened to a single soul.
But from that day forward, my heart no longer had a hole.
                                     -V. Blood

Sorry

A simple word.
   Yet often misunderstood.
An easy word.
   Not always used when it should.
A meaningful word.
   It makes you think.
What brought it about.
   What event does it link.
A hopeful word.
   When it is believed.
A desperate word.
   When something lost needs to be retrieved.
A helpless word.
   When nothing else can be said.
An unforgiving word.
   When what you love is dead.
                             - V. Blood

The Reflection

As the girl looked into the mirror
All she could see
Was the world and everything
Around the reflection.
Even though the reflection was me.
                             - V Blood

The Mist

The Mist swept up around the room.
It's sense was eerie. It warned of doom.
I felt it's grasp around my soul.
Pulling me down into a darkened hole.
Urge to run. Urge to take flight.
Yet it drained my energy and took away my fight.
My being cried and screamed in vain.
My struggle was ending as my body gave into the strain.
A voice then echoed throughout my mind.
The last coherent thoughts it did find.
This can't happen, it started to scream.
It was vaguely familiar, or so it seemed.
It suddenly became clearer than when it began.
Crying, You can't leave. We had a plan.
You promised to love me til death do us part.
You said nothing about leaving right at the start.
If you leave me now, what will I do?
I shall become nothing if I lose you.
Slowly as your tear rolled down my cheek,
Other senses I began to seek.
For if I could feel your tear and hear your voice,
Then with Life or Death I may still have a choice.
I focused on you, on every word.
You were the sweetest sound I've ever heard.
You took hold and pulled me through,
The darkest Mist I ever knew.

                       - V Blood 1998

When Will It Be Over?

A day.  A night.
The hours all blend.
The pattern continues.
When does it end.
When does the waiting come to a halt.
How does it seem endless.
Is that my fault?
I tried to stay focused.
I tried to stay strong.
But the wait kept on growing.
It became much too long.
I found myself aching
For that familiar sight.
The sound of the music.
The feeling of fright.
Not knowing what was coming.
Or who soon would be lost.
I felt my heart chilling
And not from the cold winters frost.
I'm not alone in the madness.
I'm not the first who has said.
When will the wait be over?
When will we again see The Walking Dead?

Dr. Seuss...Sean Flanery Style

He means what he says.
He says what he means.
He sees what we write
And reads the in betweens.
So say what you mean
And mean what you say.
Take charge of your life.
The Sean Flanery way.
Don’t make excuses.
Don’t make it too easy to quit.
Tell everyone what your goal is.
Make a big deal of it.
Shout it from the rooftop.
Promise it to a friend.
This will keep you honest.
Your ambitions they’ll defend.
So get up off your bottom.
Step away from the couch.
Look yourself in the mirror.
Stand up straight, don’t slouch.
Ask yourself one question.
And answer this one true.
Who is going to start this?
I think the answer’s….you.
—————————— @TheLadyBlood

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own, and you know what you know.
And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
————————- Dr. Suess