Pen No Lies

Daily writing prompt

List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

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Of the books I’ve read, there’s always been one that I refer to as the book that turned me onto reading. That’s Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card. I believe it was a required read in middle school, maybe freshman year of high school. Before this assignment I never thought to read for anything more than school work.

This book brought me to a different place. I was able to paint my own picture of the events that were unfolding amongst the words. I couldn’t help but turn leaf after leaf until I had finished the book before the rest of the class. Orson Scott Card and Ender’s Game, for me, unlocked the potential of the pages.

The second book that transported me to a different time and place, and introduced me to a new author, was The Devil’s Punchbowl, by Greg Iles. I grabbed this one off the shelf when I was overseas, and it was exactly what I needed at the time to aid in my escape from reality for a few hours.

The latest book that has had an influence on my mindset, is The Subtle Art to Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson. I had this on my list for quite some time but have only just gotten to reading it recently. Again, it couldn’t have been a more fitting time to come across a much needed read, albeit for a different reason.

Daily writing prompt

What quality do you value most in a friend?

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It’s hard to name one single quality that defines a “friend.” If I had to narrow it down, I would say that I look for individuals that are genuine. I find there to be a lot of influence in today’s society, especially with the advent of social media, which has bred a slew of people who do just that, influence.

With so much information out there and videos describing how one should act in a certain situation, or condoning the actions of someone in another, it can be difficult for one to maintain their own. Their own thoughts, their own morals. To find and mesh with a person that has been able to sift through all the nonsense and maintain their individuality, and sanity, is a rare feat; one that can be likened to enjoying a finely aged wine.

Daily writing prompt

What jobs have you had?

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I’m not sure that I qualify as a Jack-of-all-trades, but I’ve had jobs across the board.

Right out of high school I did stone work for a company that installed kitchen sinks and countertops. I hopped around from menial job to menial job until I joined the military, where I was responsible for scheduling flights and ground training events, among other duties. According to my resume, I have a couple years’ experience with construction framing, but the job I enjoyed doing the most was tree work.

I worked for a larger company that maintained the rights-of-way for the states’ power and transmission lines. While the job did bring some controversy with it, it was the opportunity to be outdoors and to see the beautiful state that I was living in that really made the job what it was. From hiking through the woods, to riding four-wheelers, to operating the various forms of equipment required to get the job done, there was seldom a day to regret.

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever broken a bone?

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Of all the things I’ve done that could’ve broken my bones: skateboarding, snowboarding, sports, multiple car accidents…it was a friendly battle that led to a cracked rib.

I was still fairly fresh in my enlistment, maybe a year and half in. I was living in a barracks room with two other junior Marines, all of us new to this life, and all of us able to get along and live together. The booze flowed regularly, and almost endlessly. Between that and the attitude that came with going through training, we often sought to test our new found skills on each other. Or maybe it was just being young, drunk, and rowdy. Also a possibility.

Anyway, one particular weekend afternoon my roommates and I were celebrating another victorious week of work when things took the usual turn. As one of my buddies and I tried to best the other, it was me that lost the upper hand. Shame.

After a bout of grappling I got thrown backwards and met the sideboard of my bunk with a thud of my head. Not out, but nearly, I lay on the ground thinking it’s over. I lost. More work to be done on my end. Just as those thoughts cross my mind, so does this sharp sensation of pain.

Turns out my roommate was trained well, as he went to finish the job by dropping all is his weight onto the left side of my back. Pop! Hard to breath. In an instant I knew he had broken at least one of my ribs. I go against everything the pain tells me and trust that he is right when he says he didn’t. Smart.

I went another couple weeks of physical training, five to six days a week, with this sharp pain coursing through the left side of my body. At times I was sure I was having a heart attack. No fool, it’s just radiating pain, which I would find out when I finally got a CT scan, that revealed that I had indeed broken a rib.

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Daily writing prompt

What public figure do you disagree with the most?

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Most of ’em. This isn’t me saying that I can’t hear other peoples’ opinions, or that everyone else is wrong. I just find that when a person becomes a public figure, most of what they say appears to be pandering to the biggest audience for the most likes and positive head nods. Especially these days, when this “Cancel Culture” is still running strong.

If one were to express their own opinion, which may go against the majority, you’re out. Every thing that goes against the popular vote or opinion seems to be automatic grounds for dismissal from life.

You think for yourself? Cancelled.

Daily writing prompt

What was the last live performance you saw?

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Slayer! Slayer! Slayer! It was a trifecta; opening was Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus was to fill out the middle of the show. I believe it was a Black Friday, and I was in the midst of a Turkey Day drunken haze. No matter, my brother, one of my buddies, and I were going to the show.

Rowdy.

We had pre-gamed the whole ride down, and as we were waiting in line to get into the venue. The energy was high as we conversed with the Old Heads about the hay day of thrash metal. Then some punk comes along trying to make his was to the front of the line. Nope! Meet the side of a trailer, kid. That almost got us booted before we even got through the door.

Now, from what I remember of the first two bands, the show was excellent. Everything I imagined a show of such magnitude would be. Then THE band starts their intro. A black veil falls over the venue as the Kings of Thrash make their way to the stage. At the same time, I’m pushing and trudging through the mass of stench to secure my spot in the ever sought after Pit.

As my brother and buddy followed me down, I just couldn’t wait and was off in the mix. It didn’t take long for them to join, and the chaos that ensued was fast, hard, and fucking awesome! Until my brother got hit and was on the hunt for blood I attempted to calm him down as we walked to the concession to get a beer.

On our way up to the bar, we were guided to the front door by a couple of ushers. Little did we know they were escorting us outside, not to be permitted to return for the rest of the show. What the hell just happened? No use, we can’t get back in. We’ve been relegated to waiting for my buddy, our ride, in the lobby of a Chili’s. Drunk, cold, confused, and a little pissed off.

Now, I really don’t know why we were kicked out. Best guess is that they had there eyes on us since the first incident outside. I let it go. What I can’t let go, and what, honestly, gets me laughing my ass off, is that I think I’m the one who punched my brother, and set this whole chain of events in motion.

It wasn’t done purposefully, that I’m aware of. He was my older brother, and had put me through some serious shit when we were younger. Maybe this was my subconscious finally having had enough. This is it! Now’s the time to get in a shot or two for all that crap I got growing up. Thump! Fist to the face!

Daily writing prompt

What is your career plan?

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I have had this appreciation for the mind since I took my first psychology class in high school. What makes us tick? Why do some of us act one way, while others act another? Is it the introduction into society that eventually warps the mind of some, or are people truly born with this disconnect somewhere in their brain that enables a different operating system to take control?

Those are just a few questions I’ve had and I want to pursue answering. What that exactly means for career options, I’m not entirely sure. I’ve looked into forensic psychology, one-on-one counseling, group counseling, addiction counseling. I’ve taken a step toward…something, by obtaining my Peer Recovery and Support Specialist certification.