Lost 7-6, 6-3 to Mohammad Z. Who is deceptively good. 6'4", thin, agile, gets everything in and hit all kinds of passing shots. Additionally we were on the super slow court so very few free points on my serve. And he was a drop shot master which tires me just enough that I start missing.
Next day played owner Steve and won 6-2, 6-2. Once again on the super slow court. Steve just doesn't have the agility. Also hit more unforced errors. But also I changed my grip. Instead of double continental backhand and trying to switch to continental/western forehand, I just used a continental/eastern forehand on both sides. So a Jimmy Connors backhand. Think it was the first time I used it in a match. It worked well. Going to stick with it for a while even if I have a bad day. Great for hitting on the run and ROS was really good too. Also EF grip much better on forehand if I have to go one handed. Trying to avoid going one handed on backhand unless absolutely necessary and then it's pretty much just a back spin lob unless at net.
On serve tried a eastern forehand grip on deuce court and continental grip on ad court. And my serve was better in the deuce court. After a while started hitting ad court close to an EF grip also. Think that's what I'll do in the future.
Also played with NRG for the first time. Previously thought NXT much better but NRG was plenty good enough.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
"We're just full. That's all." She replies. "Tummies are full." She whispers.
They lay this way for an hour or so as it gets colder. Then they start shivering from the cold. And finally start crawling towards each other. Gathering in piles, bunched together to stay warm. So they lay, falling in and out of sleep. Like they were drugged. I walked around them, observing them. Every single one was the same. Shivering. Staring off into the distance. Not talking. Not making eye contact. I could hear howling outside. My stomach growled. Worse I was very thirsty.
"Hey. Is there water anywhere?" I nudged one of them with my foot. No response.
I raised my voice, "Hey junkie. Is there water anywhere?"
"The fruit is full of water my friend." He said with a dreamy smile, still staring off into the distance.
"Just the fruit then is all you eat?"
An almost imperceptible nod of assent.
"Who brings it?"
"The lady."
"Bit older, straight black hair. Parted in the middle?"
"Yes. Lady Sarah. She brings it. She found each of us in the forest and brings us to safety."
"Doesn't ever turn anyone away huh?"
"Never...." he falls asleep.
I'm not like these people. I knew it. This lady knew it. That's why she turned me away. I walk around the group again looking for Natasha. But she isn't here.
Night it is but the moon shines so bright. I'm cold. I too want to shiver. It would be nice to snuggle up. But I'm not one of these people. I lightly kick her again.
"Hey! Just the lady brings it? No one helps her?"
"No." she whispers half asleep.
Other than the high open windows, there is only one exit from the room. Large double doors which are closed. They are locked but move a bit when i pull move an inch outwards. I yank on them repeatedly with all my might. They do not react to the considerable noise and the doors break loose of the flimsy lock in less than a minute opening into a long hallway which i walk down passing many closed doors on each side, dim light from sconces,
At the end of the hall the lady stood waiting with a drawn crossbow.
"You're not one of my people."
"One of your drug addicts?" I ask.
She scowls. "I only protect them and keep them happy. Better than the death which awaits outside. What are you doing in here? How did you get in?" she asked.
"Just trying to not die. Why didn't you try to save me?" I ask.
"I've learned that some people can't be saved. If you could you'd be in there sleeping with the rest right now. But instead you're breaking down doors and who knows what else in the night. Such people don't live for long."
I dart forward while ducking to the side. The crossbow bolt skims my cheek. I yank the weapon away from her.
"Where is Natasha?"
"Sleeping peacefully."
"What game is this you're playing with the drugged fruit?"
"I'm saving their lives!"
"From what?"
"There is a creature in these woods that kills all who travel through here. The only chance at survival is to stay here. So many have died because they wouldn't stay. Finally I took this drastic measure ten years ago. But I've learned that it doesn't work with some. Those I don't welcome in."
"Those you let go on to die."
"As opposed to what? Let them come in and have them potentially overreact like I think you're going to do?"
"Lady have no fear. I wish you no harm and think it a noble deed you do for these simple folk. You are correct though in that I certainly have no wish to hide here from this creature. There is simply no possibility of that happening. I would greatly appreciate though if you could tell me more of it."
"It roams at night searching for prey. Nothing lives here outside of this house. For it finds everything. Finds all living creatures and kills them. Nothing lives for as far as I've seen. But men like you always think they can defeat it."
"If nothing lives, wouldn't it starve?" I ask.
"Hmmph! How would I know? During the day it's safe outside. But there is nothing alive. Some have attempted to stay outside near the house at night and they almost brought ruin upon us all. It killed them and tried to enter the house."
"But what is it?"
"It's a horror. Somewhat like a man but larger and grotesque. It kills with it's bare hands. The few corpses I've seen were not hardly eaten. Except while they still lived."
"I don't understand how people come here. But once here they cannot travel far enough away to escape it. Somehow these people just appear here. And I try to save those I can. These poor people. They never know where they come from. I give them something other than a horrific death. I don't suppose you remember how you came to be here?"
"I...."
"You don't know, do you? And isn't it funny that you never thought about the fact that you don't know before I mentioned it just now?" she asked.
I didn't know. So I reached within myself to find it and to my shock it wasn't there. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under me. I reached for the memories and they weren't there. Somehow I was here but my memories were not.
I mused... "I feel as if... my memories just don't matter. I'm me. As I've always been, day after day. Situations change and change and change till the situations just don't matter anymore. Like I've lived for so long the particulars just don't matter.... Now at least that I try to remember, it seems this way...."
"So you think you've lived for some incredibly long time then? Centuries at least? How could you know this?" she asked.
"How could I know it without actually remembering it.... I don't know. Perhaps I've been enchanted and that is the thought put there to make me continue along my way despite not remembering...." I said.
She smiled and said, "It could be that you're enchanted. But it's a sort of dead end to say that magic did it. Whenever something doesn't make sense we can say that. It may actually be true. Or it could be a lazy way to explain anything we don't understand."
"Is this just how the others also feel?" I asked.
"They generally don't describe it quite the same. They just say they don't care to remember. But perhaps it's the same idea at its heart." she answered.
"Before or after you enchant them with the fruit?" I asked.
"I carefully interview each before I give them the fruit." she answered while looking at me warily.
"Is that where Natasha is? Being interviewed?"
"She is sleeping."
"And afterward they don't care much about anything. Not much of a life." I said.
"If I don't, they never believe me! They always try to leave eventually. They come here with some enchantment on them. No idea who they are. Not even realizing that something is wrong. I can't just let them go off to their deaths just because I can't successfully reason with them. Maybe eventually an answer will be found for them. Till then I try to keep them alive." she said.
"I feel as if I have nothing to fear from this creature. I don't know why but I don't think it can defeat me."
"You look strong, but nowhere near strong enough. Can you fight really well?" she asked.
I looked at my hands. And took a couple experimental shadow punches. I seemed.. OK at it. But hardly amazing. I lightly punched a wall. It hurt somewhat. Nothing special there.
"Stay a few days until you figure out what is so special about you that you can defeat it. Make yourself comfortable in the last door in the hall on your left. I must sleep now. Goodnight."
I walked down the hall wondering why I got a room while the others shivered huddled together on the ground. I wasn't sure her story added up. The room had the same very high window. Some moonlight shone through and after a few moments my eyes adjusted. There was a bed with a large chest at its foot. Some indistinct pictures on the walls and a small bare table with a single chair. I was wary of getting in the bed and relaxing. I couldn't see in the room as well as I would have liked. And I didn't trust this lady. So I slipped under the covers fully dressed and laid there for a while. Then got back up and investigated the chest. It had more covers and most surprisingly a very small sword. I waved it around some. It didn't stir any memories. It was small, not pretty, but it seemed good for swinging very fast back and forth. As much as the lady feared me it seemed unlikely that she would arm me. In such an otherwise bare room it seemed unlikely she wouldn't know it was here.
I slept back under the covers with my clothes on and the small sword. There were two things to think about: my current situation and my curious lack of memory. It was so curious because I felt relatively unconcerned about it. Surely I should care a very lot about not remembering who I was or anything at all about my life. Yet I felt vaguely happy about it. It seemed as if I wanted it to stay that way. I should be trying to remember but somehow couldn't quite make myself try. Additionally I did need to understand my current situation better. Surely drugging these people and leaving them huddled together on the floor day after day wasn't the best solution.
I got back up and put the chair up against the door knob. If nothing it would give me some warning. Back in bed once again. I could not decide if the lady was lying. I wanted to go back over the conversation but wasn't sure if I was remembering it correctly. Exactly what was her expression when she asked how well I could fight? Was she really thinking about me fighting the creature or simply sizing me up as a threat to her. As much as I was enjoying not remembering my past, going over my conversation with her only annoyed me. Perhaps remembering my life, my identify could help me. I tried to remember my first moments with Natasha wandering through the forest....
They lay this way for an hour or so as it gets colder. Then they start shivering from the cold. And finally start crawling towards each other. Gathering in piles, bunched together to stay warm. So they lay, falling in and out of sleep. Like they were drugged. I walked around them, observing them. Every single one was the same. Shivering. Staring off into the distance. Not talking. Not making eye contact. I could hear howling outside. My stomach growled. Worse I was very thirsty.
"Hey. Is there water anywhere?" I nudged one of them with my foot. No response.
I raised my voice, "Hey junkie. Is there water anywhere?"
"The fruit is full of water my friend." He said with a dreamy smile, still staring off into the distance.
"Just the fruit then is all you eat?"
An almost imperceptible nod of assent.
"Who brings it?"
"The lady."
"Bit older, straight black hair. Parted in the middle?"
"Yes. Lady Sarah. She brings it. She found each of us in the forest and brings us to safety."
"Doesn't ever turn anyone away huh?"
"Never...." he falls asleep.
I'm not like these people. I knew it. This lady knew it. That's why she turned me away. I walk around the group again looking for Natasha. But she isn't here.
Night it is but the moon shines so bright. I'm cold. I too want to shiver. It would be nice to snuggle up. But I'm not one of these people. I lightly kick her again.
"Hey! Just the lady brings it? No one helps her?"
"No." she whispers half asleep.
Other than the high open windows, there is only one exit from the room. Large double doors which are closed. They are locked but move a bit when i pull move an inch outwards. I yank on them repeatedly with all my might. They do not react to the considerable noise and the doors break loose of the flimsy lock in less than a minute opening into a long hallway which i walk down passing many closed doors on each side, dim light from sconces,
At the end of the hall the lady stood waiting with a drawn crossbow.
"You're not one of my people."
"One of your drug addicts?" I ask.
She scowls. "I only protect them and keep them happy. Better than the death which awaits outside. What are you doing in here? How did you get in?" she asked.
"Just trying to not die. Why didn't you try to save me?" I ask.
"I've learned that some people can't be saved. If you could you'd be in there sleeping with the rest right now. But instead you're breaking down doors and who knows what else in the night. Such people don't live for long."
I dart forward while ducking to the side. The crossbow bolt skims my cheek. I yank the weapon away from her.
"Where is Natasha?"
"Sleeping peacefully."
"What game is this you're playing with the drugged fruit?"
"I'm saving their lives!"
"From what?"
"There is a creature in these woods that kills all who travel through here. The only chance at survival is to stay here. So many have died because they wouldn't stay. Finally I took this drastic measure ten years ago. But I've learned that it doesn't work with some. Those I don't welcome in."
"Those you let go on to die."
"As opposed to what? Let them come in and have them potentially overreact like I think you're going to do?"
"Lady have no fear. I wish you no harm and think it a noble deed you do for these simple folk. You are correct though in that I certainly have no wish to hide here from this creature. There is simply no possibility of that happening. I would greatly appreciate though if you could tell me more of it."
"It roams at night searching for prey. Nothing lives here outside of this house. For it finds everything. Finds all living creatures and kills them. Nothing lives for as far as I've seen. But men like you always think they can defeat it."
"If nothing lives, wouldn't it starve?" I ask.
"Hmmph! How would I know? During the day it's safe outside. But there is nothing alive. Some have attempted to stay outside near the house at night and they almost brought ruin upon us all. It killed them and tried to enter the house."
"But what is it?"
"It's a horror. Somewhat like a man but larger and grotesque. It kills with it's bare hands. The few corpses I've seen were not hardly eaten. Except while they still lived."
"I don't understand how people come here. But once here they cannot travel far enough away to escape it. Somehow these people just appear here. And I try to save those I can. These poor people. They never know where they come from. I give them something other than a horrific death. I don't suppose you remember how you came to be here?"
"I...."
"You don't know, do you? And isn't it funny that you never thought about the fact that you don't know before I mentioned it just now?" she asked.
I didn't know. So I reached within myself to find it and to my shock it wasn't there. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under me. I reached for the memories and they weren't there. Somehow I was here but my memories were not.
I mused... "I feel as if... my memories just don't matter. I'm me. As I've always been, day after day. Situations change and change and change till the situations just don't matter anymore. Like I've lived for so long the particulars just don't matter.... Now at least that I try to remember, it seems this way...."
"So you think you've lived for some incredibly long time then? Centuries at least? How could you know this?" she asked.
"How could I know it without actually remembering it.... I don't know. Perhaps I've been enchanted and that is the thought put there to make me continue along my way despite not remembering...." I said.
She smiled and said, "It could be that you're enchanted. But it's a sort of dead end to say that magic did it. Whenever something doesn't make sense we can say that. It may actually be true. Or it could be a lazy way to explain anything we don't understand."
"Is this just how the others also feel?" I asked.
"They generally don't describe it quite the same. They just say they don't care to remember. But perhaps it's the same idea at its heart." she answered.
"Before or after you enchant them with the fruit?" I asked.
"I carefully interview each before I give them the fruit." she answered while looking at me warily.
"Is that where Natasha is? Being interviewed?"
"She is sleeping."
"And afterward they don't care much about anything. Not much of a life." I said.
"If I don't, they never believe me! They always try to leave eventually. They come here with some enchantment on them. No idea who they are. Not even realizing that something is wrong. I can't just let them go off to their deaths just because I can't successfully reason with them. Maybe eventually an answer will be found for them. Till then I try to keep them alive." she said.
"I feel as if I have nothing to fear from this creature. I don't know why but I don't think it can defeat me."
"You look strong, but nowhere near strong enough. Can you fight really well?" she asked.
I looked at my hands. And took a couple experimental shadow punches. I seemed.. OK at it. But hardly amazing. I lightly punched a wall. It hurt somewhat. Nothing special there.
"Stay a few days until you figure out what is so special about you that you can defeat it. Make yourself comfortable in the last door in the hall on your left. I must sleep now. Goodnight."
I walked down the hall wondering why I got a room while the others shivered huddled together on the ground. I wasn't sure her story added up. The room had the same very high window. Some moonlight shone through and after a few moments my eyes adjusted. There was a bed with a large chest at its foot. Some indistinct pictures on the walls and a small bare table with a single chair. I was wary of getting in the bed and relaxing. I couldn't see in the room as well as I would have liked. And I didn't trust this lady. So I slipped under the covers fully dressed and laid there for a while. Then got back up and investigated the chest. It had more covers and most surprisingly a very small sword. I waved it around some. It didn't stir any memories. It was small, not pretty, but it seemed good for swinging very fast back and forth. As much as the lady feared me it seemed unlikely that she would arm me. In such an otherwise bare room it seemed unlikely she wouldn't know it was here.
I slept back under the covers with my clothes on and the small sword. There were two things to think about: my current situation and my curious lack of memory. It was so curious because I felt relatively unconcerned about it. Surely I should care a very lot about not remembering who I was or anything at all about my life. Yet I felt vaguely happy about it. It seemed as if I wanted it to stay that way. I should be trying to remember but somehow couldn't quite make myself try. Additionally I did need to understand my current situation better. Surely drugging these people and leaving them huddled together on the floor day after day wasn't the best solution.
I got back up and put the chair up against the door knob. If nothing it would give me some warning. Back in bed once again. I could not decide if the lady was lying. I wanted to go back over the conversation but wasn't sure if I was remembering it correctly. Exactly what was her expression when she asked how well I could fight? Was she really thinking about me fighting the creature or simply sizing me up as a threat to her. As much as I was enjoying not remembering my past, going over my conversation with her only annoyed me. Perhaps remembering my life, my identify could help me. I tried to remember my first moments with Natasha wandering through the forest....
Monday, February 27, 2017
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
"We're just full. That's all." She replies. "Tummies are full." She whispers.
They lay this way for an hour or so as it gets colder. Then they start shivering from the cold. And finally start crawling towards each other. Gathering in piles, bunched together to stay warm. So they lay, falling in and out of sleep. Like they were drugged. I walked around them, observing them. Every single one was the same. Shivering. Staring off into the distance. Not talking. Not making eye contact. I could hear howling outside. My stomach growled. Worse I was very thirsty.
"Hey. Is there water anywhere?" I nudged one of them with my foot. No response.
I raised my voice, "Hey junkie. Is there water anywhere?"
"The fruit is full of water my friend." He said with a dreamy smile, still staring off into the distance.
"Just the fruit then is all you eat?"
An almost imperceptible nod of assent.
"Who brings it?"
"The lady."
"Bit older, straight black hair. Parted in the middle?"
"Yes. Lady Sarah. She brings it. She found each of us in the forest and brings us to safety."
"Doesn't ever turn anyone away huh?"
"Never...." he falls asleep.
I'm not like these people. I knew it. This lady knew it. That's why she turned me away. I walk around the group again looking for Natasha. But she isn't here.
Night it is but the moon shines so bright. I'm cold. I too want to shiver. It would be nice to snuggle up. But I'm not one of these people. I lightly kick her again.
"Hey! Just the lady brings it? No one helps her?"
"No." she whispers half asleep.
Other than the high open windows, there is only one exit from the room. Large double doors which are closed. They are locked but move a bit when i pull move an inch outwards. I yank on them repeatedly with all my might. They do not react to the considerable noise and the doors break loose of the flimsy lock in less than a minute opening into a long hallway which i walk down passing many closed doors on each side, dim light from sconces,
At the end of the hall the lady stood waiting with a drawn crossbow.
"You're not one of my people."
"One of your drug addicts?" I ask.
She scowls. "I only protect them and keep them happy. Better than the death which awaits outside. What are you doing in here? How did you get in?" she asked.
"Just trying to not die. Why didn't you try to save me?" I ask.
"I've learned that some people can't be saved. If you could you'd be in there sleeping with the rest right now. But instead you're breaking down doors and who knows what else in the night. Such people don't live for long."
I dart forward while ducking to the side. The crossbow bolt skims my cheek. I yank the weapon away from her.
"Where is Natasha?"
"Sleeping peacefully."
"What game is this you're playing with the drugged fruit?"
"I'm saving their lives!"
"From what?"
"There is a creature in these woods that kills all who travel through here. The only chance at survival is to stay here. So many have died because they wouldn't stay. Finally I took this drastic measure ten years ago. But I've learned that it doesn't work with some. Those I don't welcome in."
"Those you let go on to die."
"As opposed to what? Let them come in and have them potentially overreact like I think you're going to do?"
"Lady have no fear. I wish you no harm and think it a noble deed you do for these simple folk. You are correct though in that I certainly have no wish to hide here from this creature. There is simply no possibility of that happening. I would greatly appreciate though if you could tell me more of it."
"It roams at night searching for prey. Nothing lives here outside of this house. For it finds everything. Finds all living creatures and kills them. Nothing lives for as far as I've seen. But men like you always think they can defeat it."
"If nothing lives, wouldn't it starve?" I ask.
"Hmmph! How would I know? During the day it's safe outside. But there is nothing alive. Some have attempted to stay outside near the house at night and they almost brought ruin upon us all. It killed them and tried to enter the house."
"But what is it?"
"It's a horror. Somewhat like a man but larger and grotesque. It kills with it's bare hands. The few corpses I've seen were not hardly eaten. Except while they still lived."
"I don't understand how people come here. But once here they cannot travel far enough away to escape it. Somehow these people just appear here. And I try to save those I can. These poor people. They never know where they come from. I give them something other than a horrific death. I don't suppose you remember how you came to be here?"
"I...."
"You don't know, do you? And isn't it funny that you never thought about the fact that you don't know before I mentioned it just now?" she asked.
I didn't know. So I reached within myself to find it and to my shock it wasn't there. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under me. I reached for the memories and they weren't there. Somehow I was here but my memories were not.
I mused... "I feel as if... my memories just don't matter. I'm me. As I've always been, day after day. Situations change and change and change till the situations just don't matter anymore. Like I've lived for so long the particulars just don't matter.... Now at least that I try to remember, it seems this way...."
"So you think you've lived for some incredibly long time then? Centuries at least? How could you know this?" she asked.
"How could I know it without actually remembering it.... I don't know. Perhaps I've been enchanted and that is the thought put there to make me continue along my way despite not remembering...." I said.
She smiled and said, "It could be that you're enchanted. But it's a sort of dead end to say that magic did it. Whenever something doesn't make sense we can say that. It may actually be true. Or it could be a lazy way to explain anything we don't understand."
"Is this just how the others also feel?" I asked.
"They generally don't describe it quite the same. They just say they don't care to remember. But perhaps it's the same idea at its heart." she answered.
"Before or after you enchant them with the fruit?" I asked.
"I carefully interview each before I give them the fruit." she answered while looking at me warily.
"Is that where Natasha is?"
They lay this way for an hour or so as it gets colder. Then they start shivering from the cold. And finally start crawling towards each other. Gathering in piles, bunched together to stay warm. So they lay, falling in and out of sleep. Like they were drugged. I walked around them, observing them. Every single one was the same. Shivering. Staring off into the distance. Not talking. Not making eye contact. I could hear howling outside. My stomach growled. Worse I was very thirsty.
"Hey. Is there water anywhere?" I nudged one of them with my foot. No response.
I raised my voice, "Hey junkie. Is there water anywhere?"
"The fruit is full of water my friend." He said with a dreamy smile, still staring off into the distance.
"Just the fruit then is all you eat?"
An almost imperceptible nod of assent.
"Who brings it?"
"The lady."
"Bit older, straight black hair. Parted in the middle?"
"Yes. Lady Sarah. She brings it. She found each of us in the forest and brings us to safety."
"Doesn't ever turn anyone away huh?"
"Never...." he falls asleep.
I'm not like these people. I knew it. This lady knew it. That's why she turned me away. I walk around the group again looking for Natasha. But she isn't here.
Night it is but the moon shines so bright. I'm cold. I too want to shiver. It would be nice to snuggle up. But I'm not one of these people. I lightly kick her again.
"Hey! Just the lady brings it? No one helps her?"
"No." she whispers half asleep.
Other than the high open windows, there is only one exit from the room. Large double doors which are closed. They are locked but move a bit when i pull move an inch outwards. I yank on them repeatedly with all my might. They do not react to the considerable noise and the doors break loose of the flimsy lock in less than a minute opening into a long hallway which i walk down passing many closed doors on each side, dim light from sconces,
At the end of the hall the lady stood waiting with a drawn crossbow.
"You're not one of my people."
"One of your drug addicts?" I ask.
She scowls. "I only protect them and keep them happy. Better than the death which awaits outside. What are you doing in here? How did you get in?" she asked.
"Just trying to not die. Why didn't you try to save me?" I ask.
"I've learned that some people can't be saved. If you could you'd be in there sleeping with the rest right now. But instead you're breaking down doors and who knows what else in the night. Such people don't live for long."
I dart forward while ducking to the side. The crossbow bolt skims my cheek. I yank the weapon away from her.
"Where is Natasha?"
"Sleeping peacefully."
"What game is this you're playing with the drugged fruit?"
"I'm saving their lives!"
"From what?"
"There is a creature in these woods that kills all who travel through here. The only chance at survival is to stay here. So many have died because they wouldn't stay. Finally I took this drastic measure ten years ago. But I've learned that it doesn't work with some. Those I don't welcome in."
"Those you let go on to die."
"As opposed to what? Let them come in and have them potentially overreact like I think you're going to do?"
"Lady have no fear. I wish you no harm and think it a noble deed you do for these simple folk. You are correct though in that I certainly have no wish to hide here from this creature. There is simply no possibility of that happening. I would greatly appreciate though if you could tell me more of it."
"It roams at night searching for prey. Nothing lives here outside of this house. For it finds everything. Finds all living creatures and kills them. Nothing lives for as far as I've seen. But men like you always think they can defeat it."
"If nothing lives, wouldn't it starve?" I ask.
"Hmmph! How would I know? During the day it's safe outside. But there is nothing alive. Some have attempted to stay outside near the house at night and they almost brought ruin upon us all. It killed them and tried to enter the house."
"But what is it?"
"It's a horror. Somewhat like a man but larger and grotesque. It kills with it's bare hands. The few corpses I've seen were not hardly eaten. Except while they still lived."
"I don't understand how people come here. But once here they cannot travel far enough away to escape it. Somehow these people just appear here. And I try to save those I can. These poor people. They never know where they come from. I give them something other than a horrific death. I don't suppose you remember how you came to be here?"
"I...."
"You don't know, do you? And isn't it funny that you never thought about the fact that you don't know before I mentioned it just now?" she asked.
I didn't know. So I reached within myself to find it and to my shock it wasn't there. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under me. I reached for the memories and they weren't there. Somehow I was here but my memories were not.
I mused... "I feel as if... my memories just don't matter. I'm me. As I've always been, day after day. Situations change and change and change till the situations just don't matter anymore. Like I've lived for so long the particulars just don't matter.... Now at least that I try to remember, it seems this way...."
"So you think you've lived for some incredibly long time then? Centuries at least? How could you know this?" she asked.
"How could I know it without actually remembering it.... I don't know. Perhaps I've been enchanted and that is the thought put there to make me continue along my way despite not remembering...." I said.
She smiled and said, "It could be that you're enchanted. But it's a sort of dead end to say that magic did it. Whenever something doesn't make sense we can say that. It may actually be true. Or it could be a lazy way to explain anything we don't understand."
"Is this just how the others also feel?" I asked.
"They generally don't describe it quite the same. They just say they don't care to remember. But perhaps it's the same idea at its heart." she answered.
"Before or after you enchant them with the fruit?" I asked.
"I carefully interview each before I give them the fruit." she answered while looking at me warily.
"Is that where Natasha is?"
Monday, January 16, 2017
What are dream houses?
Ones that disobey the natural laws in some fashion. Infinite rooms. Alive. Full of ghosts.
Follies. Ones that disobey common sense. Spiral stairs that wind up and up and up. Stairs without railings. Rooms with dangers. Creatures of any kind. Pitfalls.
Labyrinths.
Trapdoors. Secret passages. Secret rooms.
Beautiful.
Ones that disobey the natural laws in some fashion. Infinite rooms. Alive. Full of ghosts.
Follies. Ones that disobey common sense. Spiral stairs that wind up and up and up. Stairs without railings. Rooms with dangers. Creatures of any kind. Pitfalls.
Labyrinths.
Trapdoors. Secret passages. Secret rooms.
Beautiful.
Monday, January 2, 2017
She kept her distance from him, making sure he was always more than an arm length away. More if possible. She tried to avoid encouraging him in anyway; not accepting help, lest he see it as a quid pro quo as they always did. And he just wasn't her type at all. She hoped they reached civilization soon so they could go their separate ways.
He tried to squash his sense of wonder. Something about these fruit trees just seemed amazing. There was so much fruit on them. So big and it looked so good. He never really had liked fruit. But looking at them made his mouth water like it would for unhealthy sweets. But they were in a strange place. And perhaps it was too good to be true? Surely something would not want them to eat this fruit? Perhaps something was guarding this grove and just waiting to jump out? Perhaps the fruit was poison?
His expressions of wonder were lost on Natasha, who was completely uninterested in the endless huge trees teeming with succulent fruit.
"Do you think we should try the fruit?" he said.
With a practiced distracted smile she replied, "I'm not hungry." Also she couldn't reach them. He was much taller and probably could jump up and grab one but she wasn't going to accept anything from him.
He stared at her in bafflement. "Your mouth doesn't water just looking at them?"
She sighed.
"No."
He was hungry and maybe being paranoid about the fruit. But it didn't hurt to wait a bit.
They continued to walk for a while through the closely spaced trees, peering futilely ahead. They were almost on top of the house before they saw it. At first it seemed just a normal house. Made of some type of dark wood. Rustic. Nothing special. Looked old and the wood was very dark, possibly rotting. But as they came up to the edge of the steep hillside it sat on he realized it kept on going back through the trees and onwards as the ground dropped sharply downwards. As far as he could see, the house sprawled ahead. A jolt of fear went through him then, for this was an unpredictable place. Where perhaps anything could happen.
"Let's go in." said Natasha happily.
"Are you sure?" he replied.
Natasha hurried to the front door without replying.
"Doesn't this seem all a bit strange to you?" he asked.
She laughed. He wanted to stay alone with her. Too bad. Thankfully she could now get away from him before he tried something. She quickly ran forward and knocked hard upon the plain door.
It occurred to him that maybe he should run away now. While he had a chance. But the door quickly opened from within. Here now stood a middle aged rather good looking woman Lots of makeup. Well dressed red business suit. She looked at Natasha with delight.
"Well who do we have here?" said exclaimed.
"Hello!" Natasha said with a smile. "Can you help me? I have been lost in this woods. Could I come in?"
"Well certainly young lady! Please do come in." The lady stepped back and motioned her in. Natasha didn't hesitate. He moved forward.
"And who's this and where do you think you're going?" the red business suit lady said shrilly.
"I'm with her. We've been lost in the forest."
"He's not with me! I don't know him!" Natasha exclaimed.
She looked on him with suspicion. "Why don't you be on your way?"
"Huh? We've been lost together in these woods. Can you help us?"
"He's not with me. Leave him outside please." said Natasha.
"Goodbye!" The lady said with a large fake smile, shutting the door in his face.
He stood for a moment speechless to have been treated so. There was nowhere else to go. He started walking the house's perimeter. Along the front there were windows every 20 feet or so but up high such that he couldn't see through them. And hopefully no one could see him sulking along. After many minutes he finally came to the front edge and found that the ground sloped downwards very steeply. To try to follow along would be very dangerous. He would have to try to wedge himself along the edge of the house to stop from falling. He could see that still there were the high windows. Except they ran parallel to the ground, which meant that on the steep slope they weren't so high when ten feet away. In fact they were then level with his eyesight.
He carefully worked his way down the hillside by this house that seemed to go on forever. As the sun set it was quickly becoming dark and very cold. Despite his exertions he was quickly shivering and there was no end in sight of the dangerously steep hillside. He noticed a window had no glass. He took a daring run and jump and grabbed the ledge and pulled himself up. Peering inside the floor was about ten feet down and there were people all huddled together. The room seemed to be no warmer outside. They huddled together for warmth.
He was noticed and they cheerily said hello and to come down to warm up and eat. He carefully lowered himself to the ground.
Introductions. They offer him the fruit he saw outside on the trees.
How did they get here? Do they just eat the fruit? Why don't they leave? Here, try the fruit!
It doesn't seem such a great place to stay. It's very cold and you don't even have blankets. Sadly we have no choice. We are trapped. But we have each other. And this fruit is really quite good.
During the day you don't try to leave? There are creatures out there that will kill you. You can make the best of it in here or you can die. I was OK out there. You were lucky. There are ghouls. Corpse-like men. It's a horrible fate to be caught by one. In here we have each other. We make up games. We have love. And this fruit is very special. It seems we never get sick. Stay a while with us.
How do you know what happens to those who leave? The windows are up so high. We know! Many of us have ventured outside. Some managed to make it back. Some did not.
"How does the fruit make you feel?"
She stares not understanding. "What do you mean?"
"Other than full, do you feel different after eating it?"
She shrugs. "No."
They start passing the fruit around but I didn't see who brought it in.
"Who goes outside to get the fruit?"
Another laughs and says, "we don't know!"
They eat the fruit ravenously. The juice streams down their faces. They lick the it from their hands. They literally moan with pleasure as they eat. Each one is perfectly round and as large as a softball. They're all done within 5 minutes. And they sit back. They lay back on the floor. They use each other as pillows. Then become still but with their eyes still open. Almost as if in a trance.
I stand and watch them. They lay without moving, Without sleeping. I try again to talk to the young lady who said they feel no different after eating it.
"Are you sure you don't feel different after eating it?"
It doesn't appear she will answer she says nothing for so long.
"Did you hear me?"
"We're just full. That's all." She replies. "Tummies are full." She whispers.
They lay this way for an hour or so as it gets colder. Then they start shivering from the cold. And finally start crawling towards each other. Gathering in piles, bunched together to stay warm. So they lay, falling in and out of sleep.
He tried to squash his sense of wonder. Something about these fruit trees just seemed amazing. There was so much fruit on them. So big and it looked so good. He never really had liked fruit. But looking at them made his mouth water like it would for unhealthy sweets. But they were in a strange place. And perhaps it was too good to be true? Surely something would not want them to eat this fruit? Perhaps something was guarding this grove and just waiting to jump out? Perhaps the fruit was poison?
His expressions of wonder were lost on Natasha, who was completely uninterested in the endless huge trees teeming with succulent fruit.
"Do you think we should try the fruit?" he said.
With a practiced distracted smile she replied, "I'm not hungry." Also she couldn't reach them. He was much taller and probably could jump up and grab one but she wasn't going to accept anything from him.
He stared at her in bafflement. "Your mouth doesn't water just looking at them?"
She sighed.
"No."
He was hungry and maybe being paranoid about the fruit. But it didn't hurt to wait a bit.
They continued to walk for a while through the closely spaced trees, peering futilely ahead. They were almost on top of the house before they saw it. At first it seemed just a normal house. Made of some type of dark wood. Rustic. Nothing special. Looked old and the wood was very dark, possibly rotting. But as they came up to the edge of the steep hillside it sat on he realized it kept on going back through the trees and onwards as the ground dropped sharply downwards. As far as he could see, the house sprawled ahead. A jolt of fear went through him then, for this was an unpredictable place. Where perhaps anything could happen.
"Let's go in." said Natasha happily.
"Are you sure?" he replied.
Natasha hurried to the front door without replying.
"Doesn't this seem all a bit strange to you?" he asked.
She laughed. He wanted to stay alone with her. Too bad. Thankfully she could now get away from him before he tried something. She quickly ran forward and knocked hard upon the plain door.
It occurred to him that maybe he should run away now. While he had a chance. But the door quickly opened from within. Here now stood a middle aged rather good looking woman Lots of makeup. Well dressed red business suit. She looked at Natasha with delight.
"Well who do we have here?" said exclaimed.
"Hello!" Natasha said with a smile. "Can you help me? I have been lost in this woods. Could I come in?"
"Well certainly young lady! Please do come in." The lady stepped back and motioned her in. Natasha didn't hesitate. He moved forward.
"And who's this and where do you think you're going?" the red business suit lady said shrilly.
"I'm with her. We've been lost in the forest."
"He's not with me! I don't know him!" Natasha exclaimed.
She looked on him with suspicion. "Why don't you be on your way?"
"Huh? We've been lost together in these woods. Can you help us?"
"He's not with me. Leave him outside please." said Natasha.
"Goodbye!" The lady said with a large fake smile, shutting the door in his face.
He stood for a moment speechless to have been treated so. There was nowhere else to go. He started walking the house's perimeter. Along the front there were windows every 20 feet or so but up high such that he couldn't see through them. And hopefully no one could see him sulking along. After many minutes he finally came to the front edge and found that the ground sloped downwards very steeply. To try to follow along would be very dangerous. He would have to try to wedge himself along the edge of the house to stop from falling. He could see that still there were the high windows. Except they ran parallel to the ground, which meant that on the steep slope they weren't so high when ten feet away. In fact they were then level with his eyesight.
He carefully worked his way down the hillside by this house that seemed to go on forever. As the sun set it was quickly becoming dark and very cold. Despite his exertions he was quickly shivering and there was no end in sight of the dangerously steep hillside. He noticed a window had no glass. He took a daring run and jump and grabbed the ledge and pulled himself up. Peering inside the floor was about ten feet down and there were people all huddled together. The room seemed to be no warmer outside. They huddled together for warmth.
He was noticed and they cheerily said hello and to come down to warm up and eat. He carefully lowered himself to the ground.
Introductions. They offer him the fruit he saw outside on the trees.
How did they get here? Do they just eat the fruit? Why don't they leave? Here, try the fruit!
It doesn't seem such a great place to stay. It's very cold and you don't even have blankets. Sadly we have no choice. We are trapped. But we have each other. And this fruit is really quite good.
During the day you don't try to leave? There are creatures out there that will kill you. You can make the best of it in here or you can die. I was OK out there. You were lucky. There are ghouls. Corpse-like men. It's a horrible fate to be caught by one. In here we have each other. We make up games. We have love. And this fruit is very special. It seems we never get sick. Stay a while with us.
How do you know what happens to those who leave? The windows are up so high. We know! Many of us have ventured outside. Some managed to make it back. Some did not.
"How does the fruit make you feel?"
She stares not understanding. "What do you mean?"
"Other than full, do you feel different after eating it?"
She shrugs. "No."
They start passing the fruit around but I didn't see who brought it in.
"Who goes outside to get the fruit?"
Another laughs and says, "we don't know!"
They eat the fruit ravenously. The juice streams down their faces. They lick the it from their hands. They literally moan with pleasure as they eat. Each one is perfectly round and as large as a softball. They're all done within 5 minutes. And they sit back. They lay back on the floor. They use each other as pillows. Then become still but with their eyes still open. Almost as if in a trance.
I stand and watch them. They lay without moving, Without sleeping. I try again to talk to the young lady who said they feel no different after eating it.
"Are you sure you don't feel different after eating it?"
It doesn't appear she will answer she says nothing for so long.
"Did you hear me?"
"We're just full. That's all." She replies. "Tummies are full." She whispers.
They lay this way for an hour or so as it gets colder. Then they start shivering from the cold. And finally start crawling towards each other. Gathering in piles, bunched together to stay warm. So they lay, falling in and out of sleep.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Played owners son and won first set 6-0 and lost second 7-6. Think the primary issue is that my legs got tired and I stand to upright. Need to get lower. Try to have legs twice shoulder width apart even. Need to practice that. Along with continuing to use a super heavy practice racquet (17 ounces at the moment while just using 12.5 in matches). And double continental grip. Tried the topspin forehand a lot last night and just too many unforced errors. Think flattening it out with double continental is probably better for me. Although maybe with better footwork that wouldn't be the case, who knows.
Also want to eventually add in ankle weights when practicing with ball machine. And the wall may not be as fun but in some ways it's better than a ball machine.
Also want to eventually add in ankle weights when practicing with ball machine. And the wall may not be as fun but in some ways it's better than a ball machine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)