Twenty Four Hours To Go

The stillness of the ocean increased Linc Boyd’s uneasiness. This time of the morning usually saw waves hitting the wooden posts of the pier. It was like the water knew what was to happen. He placed his green jacketed arms on the cross bars and waited. He was early for a reason. His fate may be quick and he wanted to savor the sights and smells of the Atlantic one more time.

“Hella morning fer swimmin. Water’s calm. Nice breeze passin o’er.”

Linc didn’t bother turning around. The  low country South Georgia accent of Elwood MacEver was unmistakeable. Linc pulled a white envelope out of his blue jeans back pocket.

“I don’t have all the of the money, Mac. Here’s a thousand.  I can get another thousand, maybe fifteen hundred by tomorrow. I need another day.”

Mac breathed deeply. Linc turned around, expecting the worst. Mac had his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. His face was expressionless. His beady black eyes were impossible to read. Mac leaned against the corner of the pier and licked his tiny, chapped lips.

“Know why I do errythin’ in person? No ‘puters, phones or paperwork?”

Linc figured it was so he could kill people with his bare hands for entertainment value. Curiosity and elongating his own life made him play along.

“No, Mac, I don’t.”

Mac smirked. He avoided smiling. It was an effective smirk. It made Linc move a step closer to hear what the man would say next.

“Mosta these ole boys walking the street can’t lie to a man’s face. I hate bein’ lied to. It’s the worst. Even worse than not repayin’ on time the money you’s sposed to.”

Linc just wanted it to be over. This was the lowest moment in his life. He felt entitled to a quick resolution. He raised his arms and shook his head incredulously.

“I’m not lying, Mac! I’m in over my head! At least I gave you a thousand!”

Mac removed his right hand slowly. It appeared that he had something in his pocket that had weight. His thin lips curled, revealing missing teeth.

“Put yer dang arms down and lower that mouth.”

Linc gently layed his arms back on the pier. Fear was crippling his judgement.

“You gotcher 24 hour deadline. Get fifteen hunderd by tomorrow. You owe me two more on top. I’ll look past the extra two if you do sumpin for me. Then, bidness is done.”

Linc’s eyes bulged and he choked on his own spit.

“What kind of something? Look, I have gambling debts but I’m not a crim…I mean I don’t do stuff that’s …”

Linc was scared to say the wrong thing. Mac’s reputation was viscious. He smirked again and joined Linc on the pier rails, looking out over the ocean as the sun rose.

“Calm down or this ends bad, right now. You don’t think I lookedcha up, do you? You’re a dentist. You got that office next to the Mac Donald’s.”

Elwood MacEver felt more embarrassed than insulted. Talking about his vanity made him feel small and hurt. He never mixed business with personal.

“How much you charge to fix teeth like mine?”

Linc wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. He reached his clammy hands to Mac’s worn face and looked at a set of jagged and missing teeth.

“Come to my office tomorrow morning at this time. It’ll just be us for two hours. I’ll give you fifteen hundred dollars, work on your teeth and call it even.”

This is my response to Ms. Debra Elliott ‘s challenge “24 Hour Deadline”. She writes here: http://www.debragrayelliott.blogspot.com/ . I challenged Jordan : http://awriterslead.blogspot.com/ 

Today’s song is an excuse to play The Ramones. I should play the Ramones every day. The video, which was made 10 years after the song, has a young Courtney Love in the background. The audio doesn’t work so here’s a blander video version of I Wanna Be Sedated, with it’s opening line, twenty twenty twenty four hours to go.

Good Enough

Before your read this blog post, look deep inside your soul, find a mirror, then get over yourself.

I am anti-plastic surgery, especially for women. I just don’t understand why people drop thousands of dollars and end up looking worse in the long run. In writing another entry for 30 Days Of Shamelessness http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/30-days-in-the-hole/ or as I have rechristened it, since i am not following the meme’s rules, Humble Pie, I am finding ideas I didn’t realize I had.

I live with 4 women, I write about that and them a lot. Vanity is a reality in this house. We never leave for things on time because someone is redoing their hair, applying mascara, or changing their shirt. I will never change my wife and three daughters’ minds by telling them how beautiful they are, they will still fidget and fix. What I hope I can convince these curious chicks is, they will never feel pressure from me to perfect themselves.

Read this celebrity article: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/kate-winslet-rachel-weisz-form-anti-cosmetic-surgery-225321529.html Three women, Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, and Rachel Weisz say they’ll never have cosmetic surgery to look younger, regardless of the pressures of Hollywood or the entertainment industry. I don’t know if I believe them nor do I think they’re anything more than opinionated and refreshing. The aspect of their story that they are European shouldn’t be ignored. Another woman from across the pond, Helen Mirren, is changing people’s attitudes about women being considered “sexy” even though she’s deep into her sixties. She too, has never had plastic surgery. Maybe the British, and other non Americans’ view is something us self absorbed Yanks should think about. All of those women either have children or are influencing young women. What if more American celebrities said this, “You’re Perfectly Imperfect”?

Some of you, especially men, are reading this and saying “c’mon dude, you can’t tell me you wouldn’t mind your wife getting a nip and tuck .” Yes I would mind. To do that, you are giving in to someone else’s opinion about what you look like. Two posts ago I posted beach pictures of me and my family. I go to the gym 4 days a week. I don’t eat great, but I eat okay. You see the gut I have. I’m short, thick waisted, and far from perfect. Every ounce of fat I have is in my abdomen. I have never once, seriously thought about blowing 5 large on liposuction. 

I know there are some women reading this, saying “I’m so flat chested, no man will ever be attracted to me” or “I can’t get rid of this fat here or there”. That’s vanity and that’s alright. I happen to think the woman I’m married to and my daughters are drop dead gorgeous. I know I’m supposed to think to think that or I’m a major jagoff but I think that and say so. I just don’t want any of them to ever feel pressure to “fix” anything. My teenage daughter goes to school with girls who have parents that have done things to themselves in a doctor’s office. What message is that sending to their girls?

I’ve never seen a boob job that looks better than the real thing. Every facial surgery I’ve ever seen on women at my gym makes them look scary and unnatural. After reading that article, I find Kate, Emma , and Rachel even more attractive because inside, they get it. That radiates beauty.

I intentionally excluded pictures of people in this post. I wanted you to read more words not stare at t & a, especially fake t & a. If you are reading this and thinking I’m full of bs, fine,j just know that I think you’re good enough – Male or Female. 

This is number 21 “express a strong feeling” from 30 Days Of Shamelessness”. Yes, I’m jumping around because I’m punk rock like that.

Today’s song is from Sarah Maclachlan. Her Good Enough is more about emotional strength and inner beauty, but the message gets out. Here’s Good Enough: