Actors

 Actors pretend, but don't we all?

What's different, but how far we fall

Pretty Litter

 I don't think

 that pretty woman 

will be as excited

about that

kitty litter

as she currently

appears to be.

Ads

 What do you want me to buy?

I'll do it 

The flashing stripes and bars

Shameless

But attractive

Labor Day Sale?

The poos-daying union member in me righteously grumbles "Aye."

(Proud union member, and I chose to attend every union meeting, from Philly to VA B, bitches)

These ads though, got me opening my wallet, checking for my motorcycle learner's permit, and closing that leather bad boy up, because I'm not contributing to capitalist chaos.

Consume

Procreate

Emancipate customers

Fine

 Totally fine.

Am I solely focusing on the negative critique, the loudest comment that resonates within the soul, or am I rightly justified in being annoyed that I'm the butt of jokes amongst the lady folk?

Suck it up, butternut.

Legends of the Trail

Theme: Journey
Conflict: Man vs Self
Intro: Leaving the office after a PDI, build into talking to a carrier, carrier counsel,
Story: one of a battle, struggle at first, recall advice from legends, conclude with guidance allowing positive outcome
Extra: include a twist somehow...maybe discuss 3996 and calling a supervisor, dropping the hammer on the supervisor, discipline in office, them getting in trouble
Outcome: exoneration, relief, protagonist turning into a legend


ABACABB - (A-5) (B-10)(C-8)

I was so pissed off.
I left the room, fuming at the bosses,
my hands were clenched tight, in frustration and self-doubt.

I can't believe that
I was being dumped on again
for some silly nonsense.

 "Oh, God.  Please help me.

Everything is going wrong in my life.

It's falling apart.

I have nothing to show for it."

"You will be alright. 

Follow the trail set before you

left behind by the others passing by."

I escaped from my personal hell
when I saw her, a fellow messenger in blue.
I begged her to stop and pleaded for assistance.

"Wha--- What do you mean?

I do believe they're trying to kill me.

What are you saying?

All they want is to see me fail."

"Like I said before, 

follow the trail set before you

left behind by the others passing by."

The heroine in blue pulled me into a corner, 

out of sight of the evil eye, and

she looked clearly into the windows of my soul.

"I feel so lonely.

All I want to do is work and go home.

How do you do it?

How do you deal with the bullshit?"

She soon fed me the tales of sweet triumph and bitter defeat

of lessons learned every day over several lifetimes, 

the same lessons that all messengers discover.

"Breathe, and listen well. 

Follow the trail set before you

left behind by the others passing by.

The guardians of the great clock, 

with their white hair of wisdom 

have walked thousands of miles, 

on roads so faraway from home.

The Messengers come day and night, 

basking in both blinding and fleeting light, 

suffering through knees that pop and shoulders that creak,

to bring comfort to those who await.

Without these brave men and women, 

the world will slow and

messages of import will be lost."

I was beginning to understand, 

this gig is about service and sacrifice, 

and it's bigger than individual pain.

"Swallow that feeling

of loss and despair because we're all here

doing the same thing

 and you are surely not alone.

Do what you must to  

 survive evil, wicked rulers above

 who instruct us without knowledge.

Every morning, we get dressed,

in tattered cloaks and true suits of armor that 

have passed the daily testament of nature's fury, 

The Messengers
are the only souls who walk and ride boldly, 

where no ordinary mortal will go,

into foreign lands that share kindness with no stranger.

 We have all been there.

Pay close attention to the examples

you see before you

and your life will get easier."

"You need to be tough, 

and don't let them break your spirit

This job is hard enough, so please take care."

They have ignored the calls to kill the messenger, 

fended off attacks from the four-legged foes and winged beasts from above, 

and followed the commands from the incompetent into certain doom.

To me they said, "Follow the trail before you, left behind by others passing by."

~

The legends of time's trials have guided me and taught the ways of success, and they told me to keep pressing on, and so I shall.

To me they said, "Follow the trail before you, left behind by others passing by."

Enjoyable

 After boom-boom,

"Enjoyable,"

Monotone drone

Well damn,

Ain't that a kick in the head

Peace

 I'm struggling to find my peace again.  All I feel is an inner turmoil, one that seeks to find balance while afloat in a rowboat poised delicately stop stormy seas. 

I read this helpful bit about stoicism, and I remember this gem from today's sermon: there are temptations and distractions all around you.  Find what you need, and don't become overly-invested emotionally.  What really roils is our perception and judgement of any scenario.  We can't control everything, but we can control how we react to whatever trigger is out there.

I'm drying out.  Boozin and snoozin set me on a course for steady losing.  The first day of quitting is always the worst.  Grumpiness abound.  Maybe I enjoy the pain of quitting.  Who knows.

Done with the sauce for August.

Wish me luck.