AFTER THE GUN - III

'the anatomy of a toothache’

By

b2

SMASHWORDS EDITION

PUBLISHED BY:

Bryan Byrd on Smashwords

After the Gun

Copyright © 2013 b2 publishing

Thank you for purchasing this e-book. Although you had the ability to set the price, it remains

the copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed for

any commercial or non-commercial use without permission from the author. Quotes used in

reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed. If you enjoyed this book, then

encourage your friends to purchase their own copy. They can afford it.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This is a work of creative non-fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and

incidents are most likely convenient hallucinations, but also could very well be the products of

the author’s warped imagination. In either case, all information is used in a fictitious manner and

not intended to replace history books, encyclopedias, or one’s individual responsibility to use

their head for more than a hat rack. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual

events could be coincidental, but I doubt it.

**The thoughts, words, and ideas contained in this work have not been homogenized for the

masses. While it is not my intention to be labeled as a writer of ‘Adult Content’, nor do I feel that

anything you are about to read is harmful or profane. However, I do come from a long line of

sailors. The bottom line / bottom line is that if your children are required to use the word bottom

when referring to their backside (as is mandated in my house) then you may want to consider

reading your child a Dr. Seuss book and putting them to bed prior to scrolling to the next page**

This serial anthology gets its root from a sister series, ‘Under the Gun’ which originally appeared

on the blog b2publishing. Both ‘UTG’ and ‘ATG’ are extreme forms of experimental literature

where the content is published immediately after creation. One quick run of spell check is the

only thing between the pontificator’s thoughts and the reader’s mind. There is little editing,

absolutely no safety net, and no lawyers have been harmed in the process (to date). You are

about to read the next installment of ‘ATG’ which will surely spur you to become a follower of

b2, or the member of a support group.

 

 

After the Gun

 

 

 

 

Episode 3

‘the anatomy of a toothache’

‘Look on yonder misty mountain. See the young monk meditating rhododendron forest’

– Donovan Phillips Leitch

Psychosis has its advantages. ‘Normal’ people often go to extreme lengths in order to

 

escape reality, enjoy sublime rushes of adrenaline, and fall into excitement riddled stupors

of mad joy. I get to do it all the time. Drug free.

I stopped taking my prescription weeks ago. Not sure why. Part of me just wanted to

know what I was running from. Sometimes numbing the pain just makes us more numb to

the reality we so deeply crave. ‘Pain is just a feeling’, he always told me. My experience has

been that the absence of pain does not necessarily equate to joy. Rather, feeling sun on a

cheek, even as it slowly radiates the skin; hearing another’s voice, that is incessantly

screaming profanities into your tear strewn face; knowing that all you are hearing is lies,

when all you ever wanted was to show that you care; all of these are overdue, over-rated,

and often replicated.

Things are going to be different this time. I have a plan. My resolve is solid, my

determination strong. I see the path before me, now I just have to make that first step. Make

the plan, work the plan. Make the plan, work the plan. Make the plan, see something shiny,

divert the plant, regret changing the plan, beat myself up and lose sleep because of the plan,

start working the plan again. Make the plan, work the plan. Make the plan, work the

 

plan…………….

(you have just been exposed to a heaping helping of the serial anthology known as ‘After the

Gun’. Do not be alarmed if you feel different after reading this. It is not necessarily the words,

but more that passage of time that inspires us to change, as well as causing extremely long hairs

to begin growing out of our ears. – b2)

I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME TO READ MY WORK. PLEASE TAKE A

MOMENT TO LEAVE A COMMENT AT THE SITE FROM WHICH YOU DOWNLOADED IT.

THIS EPISODE IS CHEEP; SO WHILE YOU MAY HAVE CHOSEN TO THROW ME A FEW

BUCKS, FEEDBACK IS PRICELESS!

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO LEARN OUT MORE ABOUT THE PONTIFICATOR AT

LARGE, OR THE ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF MUSINGS KNOWN AS B2 PUBLISHING, VISIT

OUR WEBPAGE AT:

http://b2publishing.wix.com/b2publishing#!home/mainPage

You can also follow me on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/b2publishing

Or drop me a note at:

mailto:b2publishing@gmail.com

(‘dream big, act swiftly…’ – b2)

 

 

RESTITUTIONS Realized - 'Making Good' in the New Year - Part 2

I couldn't help but notice that the grocery stores have moved all of the protein shakes and energy bars to the front end caps. They are obviously hoping to cash in the on the many, yet often short lived, promises to shed a few pounds before spring.

While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with using the momentum of a fresh calendar as a spring board for well intended self improvement efforts, I do share in the well publicized cynicism of February's failures to execute. Let's face it, most resolutions are doomed from the start and are rarely taken seriously by your contemporaries.

In my recent post How to make a New Years' RESTITUTION.....  we explored the idea that what we really needed was to restore what was rightfully ours to begin with: our hopes and dreams. By 'making good' the promises we had made to ourselves in years gone by we can recapture the magic and passion that lifts our souls and inspires us to live mighty.

If you have not yet I encourage you to take a moment to read the original post - Click HERE. Because before we can move forward and discuss next steps, you need to have completed your homework assignment.

Here's mine:

3 things that I need to 'make good' or restore in my life:

1. Finish gathering at least 80 of my most inspirational poems for potential inclusion in my first book - 'Find YOUR Mountaintop', uncommon poetry for everyday folks
2. Submit three short stories for publication and / or writing contests.
3. Send letters of inquiry to at least three literary agents (one lock, one stretch, and one dream).

There it is, down and dirty. Nothing complicated, nothing expensive, no long term gym memberships. Just three things that have been on my mind, kept me up at night, and have been hanging over my head for way too long.

But by simply writing them down I have taken a very important step in make them come to fruition, and therefore helping my wildest dreams come true.

Now it's your turn. Go ahead and pull out those lists. Keep in mind this is my third year doing this, your list does not need to be as long winded or have to have a cohesive theme. You may remember that list back in 2011 was quite a bit simpler:

• Find and use the farthest parking space from a building entrance.
• Use stairs and avoid escalators and elevators whenever possible.
• Train myself to do 1 'real' push up

 So take a moment, right now, to pull out your list. And if you did not do your homework, I'm not here to judge, just to encourage you to finish what you started.

You may notice something about both of my lists, then and now. I don't get into much detail about HOW I am going to accomplish these tasks or refer to any tools or partners that may be utilized along the way.

The list is merely our road map.

'If you don't know where you are going, you might not get there.' - Yogi Berra

NEXT STEPS:

• Make your list (if you have not already done so)
• don't dwell, keep it simple
• if you find this intimidating please read THIS. (go, read it now. I'll wait here.)
• Read your list out loud to yourself
• this will either help it sink in, or help you realize where it may need more honesty
• Share it with another person
• someone who will not be quick to judge or criticize (a potential accountability partner)
• email it to me at b2publishing@gmail.com  (I promise not to giggle or snicker)

That's it for today. Remember, we aren't going after a quick fix or a band-aid. This is about small, incremental, changes to daily life which can, over time, develop into healthy habits that will help you realize your dreams.


*Be sure to share any thoughts, ideas, or challenges by using the comments field below.

**If you have question that you feel may not quite be ready for prime time, send me an email at b2publishing@gmail.com.

***Also, don't forget to sign up for email updates so that you won't miss a beat - Click HERE.

But MOST importantly, 'dream big, act swiftly....' - b2

the meaning of strife.....

I embarked on a journey that took me far from my home.
Many moons I was away in search of a noble path.
Climbing rock and crossing treacherous river beds,
I continued on with blistered feet and bleeding hands.

Nothing could stop me from reaching my goal.
No one could reach me as I plodded onward into the abyss.
Days passed and my mind was lost in constant hallucinations.
Finally the destination that had called me came into view.

Just beyond a gnarly aging tree older than time,
In a dark cave lit only by the whites of my bulging eyes.
Deep in a corner sat the wisest of the wise,
Mentor, muse, guru, and saint all wrapped up into one.
Slowly his dark squinty eyes peered at me below
The ragged brim of his filthy rotting sampan.
His right cheek winced several times as he
Struggled painfully to speak his ancient truth.

I knelt before him, more to hear his faint whisper,
Than out of some pathetic attempt at respect.
He stamped his foot twice on the dusty cave floor.
Then breathed into my ear the words I was born to hear...............


"sauerkraut is your destiny......."



-b2

I can't help but wonder.....

As (my) world continues to develop at a quickening pace, I can't help but wonder.

While my soul starts to expand, despite years of contraction, I am forced to wonder.

Because my body has morphed and is becoming ever more usefull, I am struck with wonder.

When life starts to have all of the signs of opportunity that won't always be wasted, I can't help but wonder.........

What does He have planned for me next.......