Unusual Post for this Blog, but it is Honest!

As we speak, well, really as of yesterday, the Official start of Comic Con International 2007 started; which means that the film school started also. But we must confess and be honest about some things. First of which, I would have loved to have gone to the four day film school. BUT that wasn’t my whole motivation. In truth, I was selfish and wanted to go to the con because the con is just exceptionally cool. I really love to be at the comic con. My sin—I asked God to open up avenues in which I could go to the con. Being one to work and let God bring the victory, I sent out a massive email to all of our old friends and family announcing the publishing victory of my Book, in hopes that I could sell enough to make the trip. Not just for me, but for my whole family. I did the calculations. Now, I’m not completely corrupt. I really did want my family to have a vacation, and I really did want to go to that four day film school, but with out a doubt, my motives had a reasonable percentage of selfishness. It says in the Book of James that we ask and don’t get because we want to be selfish with what we pray for. I have tremendous faith that if I pray and ask, do the work, then God will bring the victory. This formula is one that I derived from the scripture. However, one must take all the scripture in consideration. God was faithful to me and my prayers according to his word. He glorified himself in my presence and I am in awe! Would I have liked to go to Comic Con? Oh yes, and wanted it badly, but I went to it the wrong way. I wasn’t honest with myself and with God. My heart was revealed, and God faithfully (according to His word) answered my prayer, thus my love for God! You see, if I didn’t know the word, I wouldn’t be resolved. I would be angry and blame God for not making it happen. But we live the fruit of our labor. There were promises of books being bought, and so forth, that never came through, and I see how God has worked on my heart through that. I am undeniably selfish, and for some reason, keep falling into this trap of thinking that I am the center of the Universe (egocentric). The brothers and sisters who told of buying my book has life issues also, and I forget this. I work hard at not being so egocentric, and it is tough. For instance, this whole post so far is all about me…huh…

Say anyway, if you get Satellite 191 (G4) then you can watch live coverage of the con. Otherwise, go to the site www.comic-con.org and keep track of what is going on. It is intense as to how much stuff is going on there. The programming, panels, and special events are all consuming, but there is also an art show followed by a Sunday auction, and the floor. So many con exclusive action figures, comics, posters, toys, DVDs, and countless other freebies and cheap stuff give away with buttons, magnets, mini-mags, sample comics, game collectors cards, catalogs, and anything else that can be given away to try to sell their product. I said earlier in a previous post that you can literally get 10 to 20 lbs. of this stuff. That is four or five grocery bags full of free stuff. It is fantastic. And, then, if you bring a couple of hundred dollars spending money, you can get, again, countless self published graphic novels and first run self published comics. That is the real selling point for me. I love it that these guys and gals (that’s right, women too. There are few things cooler than a woman who is into comics. THE thing is Christian women of course are much cooler, but comic book chic’s are way cool too) are out there getting it done; writing, drawing, copying and coloring their own mags and selling them at the cons. They are gettin’ ‘er done, through pure passion! Fantastic! Okay, then, Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, and all the rest have these huge set ups that can be seen way across the massive convention floor. I mean these display’s are so very cool, it just gives you a sense of awe. I mean, I’ve been to Vegas, and this way is cooler, subjectively speaking of course. I think comics and movies are way cooler. Oh yes, the independent film competition is also there. There is also Artist Alley, comic stores come and bring massive amounts of back issues, and if you need a certain issue of your collection, then are are for sure to find it there. These venders that set up also have all the rare cool toys they sold as we were kids, still in packaging and so forth. Awesome! I’d like to get an original Shogun Warrior from the late Seventies, and I usually end up browsing for one every time I’m at a con.

Well, so I didn’t make it; sadden somewhat, but spiritually refreshed ( I know that sounds weird, but it is true). If my friends that said they would buy 20 copies of my book, through me instead of through the internet (better deal for all of us, and totally legal and ethical. Plus, I can sign each one of them and thus making them more personally. But I don’t have to sign them, only upon request), then I can make the Columbus Writers conference coming in August, which by the way has classes in poetry, and script writing for screen and television, and the classes don’t run against each other, and I could go to them all that I want to go to. It would be awesome. Honestly, I don’t know how Hollywood would take one of my scripts, but I think that I need to be tried. We gotta get some righteousness in what is being put out in television, and I got some real beautiful concepts and ideas. Plus, I have so much to say through my poetry. I want to hone my skills and be incredibly effective. What is weird—I have searched my heart and realize that , even facing total rejection, total popularity, or even right in between, I still want to do this for God, Literally. I spend much prayer time wrestling with my selfish motives, but when it comes down to it, I just want to please God and make Him proud of me. He has done more for me than anyone couldn’t possibly compete with. Most of all, my creation and conversion, but also saving my life and giving me a second chance in this life; a second chance that many people just don’t get. I get a recharge, and reboot as it were, and I am not going to waist anymore time seeking out my “self” of wants and materialism, and I say this completely unapologetically. I would like to now show several poems The first one is what I just got done talking about. The second one is a prayer. I usually don’t share my most intimate prayers to God with anybody. Pray in private (in a closet as it were) and not on the street corners so as to get accolades. I share this prayer from inspiration for what I sense is the Holy Spirit. I share this prayer because I have great faith that the style in which I pray pleases God. Also, I make no apologies for my prayer. It may make you feel a little uncomfortable, but I ask that you keep to it. Here is my first poem:

Up the Hill

I’ve been to the

Hill, but not up

the Tree. I’ve

been to the

Mountain, and

there set free.

And now my prayer poem…

All Myself?

(A Prayer)

By command I say:

Father, hallowed

is your name, Your

Kingdom come, Your

will be done, on earth

as it is in heaven. Give us each day, our daily bread and forgive us

our sins, for we ourselves

forgive everyone who

is indebted to us,

and lead us not into

temptation. Thank you Father for your willingness to know me, me of all

people, not special in

anyway, at least not

anything that somebody

else isn’t doing.

You are so very perfect!

I am so very imperfect.

You are so very pure!

I am impure…

You are so incredibly Beautiful!

I am homely…

You are so extremely powerful!

I am weak…

You are so righteous!

I am unrighteous…

You are immeasurable!

I’m 6 foot 3 inches at 275lbs

k

You are eternal!

I have fifty, maybe sixty good years, then, hopefully a long stay with you…

You are the Creator!

..and gratefully made

me in your image!

You rule and lead!

I love to follow you!

I love you my God, my Creator, My Father, my

Master, my friend, my

hope, my joy, my inspiration.

I thank you, thank you for My family, my friends, my ability to learn, my

car/house/hot & cold running water/ electricity/food/Peace in this country, thank you for Church, thank you for love/ beauty/ romance, thank you for Art and music, and dance, and poetry, and really well written essay’s and novels.

Thank you for Sci-Fi movies, and the popcorn and sodas that go with them.

Thank you for my future, my past,

and today. Thank you for my child, and wife, and dog! Not necessarily in that order!

Mostly, thank you for you. I love you k Father. I love you with all my heart. I love you with every

fiber within my being. I love you first, and last. I love more

than anybody, or thing, or spirit,

or myself. To serve you is an honor, to obey you is privilege.

To call myself Christian is my

greatest dream come true. I give you my heart today, I give

you my will today, I give you my life today. I will walk and live according to your will and according to your slightest whim.

Please, bless the lives of all that I know. Please, enrich the

lives of all that I have ever met, and the people that they know.

Please answer the prayers of all those who pray for the sick, and for children, and for peace, and for hope, faith, and love.

Please let the world know that I am yours. Please let the world know that I walk with

you. Please let the world know

that you are real, and beautiful, and giving, kind, and merciful,

through my testimony and example.

I pledge my life to your cause and

to your leadership. I pledge my heart to be merciful as you

command. I pledge my will to represent you the best way

possible.

I rely on your mercies, your kindness, your graciousness, your gentleness, and I have great fear and respect

for your power, your justice, your wrath, your indignities, and your righteous Judgment, based on

your word, and your love through Christ.

Thank you for the blood of Christ, and

the body of Christ, and the suffering

of Christ. Someday, I hope that you honor me with more opportunities

to unite with Christ, as I have these

past several years in suffering. Also,

thank you for your healing, and giving

me a second chance to recreate my life and move forward from

my NDE (Near Death Experience), and the ability and mental/emotional/

spiritual/physical strength to reinvent myself as a person, as a father, as a husband, as a brother to fellow Christians and a brother to my brothers

, and as a son

i

Please my Father, I can only hope that someday I can

follow in my Master’s

foot steps and suffer the way he did at death. I know that

He died for me, so that I will not have to, but the privilege

would be my greatest honor. I love Christ and will do anything

for him. Please do not ask me to

sacrifice any other person in my life as I am scared of persecution in the form of their lives.

I obey and will consider it honor

when people will say all kinds of bad things against me for my

dedication to you. I obey and will strive to serve you even if my life is at stake.

I am grateful that I have Jesus’ example to resist sin even to the point of death. I only hope that I can make you proud.

I only hope that I please you with my life. I only hope that

you will welcome me with open arms on that great, and terrible day.

It is hope that on that day, as the world begins to crumble and collapse, and the flood of fire comes down, and when the angles are gathering up your people, and those that have slept for untold years of which to you belong, will rise and come to you in the air, and us to follow, then in honor kneel before you as all mankind will either by will or force, and to faithfully know that my name is in the book of life and that the ultimate reward of spending forever with you is fulfilled, I will rejoice in you, I will love in you, I will exist in you, I will be perfect in you, I will be righteous in you , I will be pure in you, I will be beautiful in you, and I will be Powerful, in you. I will walk in the new earth in you and love those around me in you and be incorruptible in you and sing to you, worship you, love you, praise you, bow down before you and kiss your feet and hug your ankles and cry the inexpressible bliss that can only come out through tears and weeping.

In faith I know that you will see me, in faith I know that you will welcome me. In faith I know that you will pull me up to you and hug me as the prodigal son. In faith I know that you will place me with all those that didn’t give in to the world and its temptations. In faith I know that you will allow me to dwell with those who have also given their soul to you in Yashua Christos. I know in faith that in all your power and glory, and greatness and magnificence you will make room for me and my family who love you with all our being!

In faith I run to you in open arms of love and passion. By faith I run to you away from what this world has to offer. By faith I will know that I am truly home and where I belong. By faith I will no longer be a foreigner in a foreign land. By faith I will stare and glare at your greatness until I am blind with your divinity. By faith I will bathe in the company of those that have sacrificed like I have and will make a place of great endless joy.

In hope all these things will come to us who have turned away from the evil one and run to you. In hope these things will come to those who detest this world and what it has to offer you.

My Father I have one question to ask, simply: Why me? What is in man, especially this man that you would acknowledge him.

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly being and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet…”

Such love and compassion from someone so great is beyond my understanding. It is beyond my ability to grasp and apply to mind.

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high, I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child in my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.”

Only that I would have what David expresses to you in this psalm, my master, if only. It truth I have set my sights to fathom the heavens and the earth as to your dwelling and our future. In honesty it is that I confess my preponderance to the stars and scriptural “heaven” against what I can see and what I cannot see. It truth I confess that I seek understanding of galactic proportions, with a willingness to understand it all. This my Father bring in to me fear that this may be my downfall for it was understanding that brought the downfall of Eve, and thus myself in Adam: thus I beg that you hedge me in from seeking knowledge as my idol and my god as to not seeking you and your heart and Spirit. It is that I want to know what and who you are

in this physical world and if your heaven is our heaven and if your shoal is our shoal?

My never ending desire to seek you out and come to understanding beyond my ability is my fear that I may THINK myself out of your grace and follow the deceit of the evil one; for I know that he desperately hates me and wants to trick me into my own demise and thus taking from you the victory over this world though your Son whom I love beyond words.

So, my prayer is that you please lead me my Father in my desire to understand you and rely on your word and creation to know you: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely , his eternal power and divine nature , have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Forever do I want you, forever do I need you, forever do I love you, forever do I wish to please you, forever do I desire you, forever do I serve you, and forever do I rely on you, for the hope of salvation.

It is in true love, and my response to your gift through Christ in

which I pray, and it

is in Yashua Christos’ name that I come before you, and pray, and exist, and serve and

live my life.

Amen. P

So, that is my two poems that I wanted to share with you. With that prayer, I could have gone on, but I figured that at some point I needed to stop…

Two New Poems

Here is a poem I wrote to my best friend last year. I never showed it to him, but I wanted to share it none the less. Then, after that is a poem that I had published in the local paper. I get published in the local paper almost every month, and its cool. Anyway, enjoy...


Oh my inconsolable!


Oh my inconsolable! What have
I done? Why so miserable; what

devastation? Rich regret and
sinking remorse…What small

sin has separated me from my
chief comrade? What transgression

and trespass has caused so great
a chasm between my fraternal
bosom kindred spirit?


‘twas the evil of mammon! The
corruption of greed! For ‘tis I,

a sycophant of the soul, an
ingratiating fool whose request

for opulent tidings quenched
my brother’s thirst for our
amity…


I am sickened and in shame, and
furthermore I mourn. What have

I done? What distasteful thing
have I done but for a quest for
something so small and temporary
a matter…

I have betrayed my best friend!

Please old chum, hear my penitent
cry! Cry mercy I beg that you would

offer an opportunity to trust me
again! I agonize in compunctious

angst, with glittering hope, that one
day, again we will ride in battle
together.

I plead for the sake of our years
of fellowship and our years

engaged against our mutual enemy,
whom, I know, I had favored that

holiday eve, like a whore at the
temple gate, confused by months

of narcissistic impurity of the spirit
when I bathed with Caesar.

My repute, my reproach, my remorse,
my curse…I plead my brother,

whatever pain that my betrayal did
bring, what caution it must have
instilled in your outlook at my

worth in your life? What trepidation
you must feel? It must hurt twice that

of the norm, that I, your close compadras
would betray you to such a degree.

Please silence your silence! I beg, please
not to let your hidden words berate

my ignoble soul. If only, may hope
give birth, if only, may hope

find a ledge on the cliff, in only,
hope would find the words in you!

Perchance…perhaps…peradventure?
Let my contrition be on my sleeve, nay

not a sleeve, but a sign, a billboard,
that I have changed, and by my yes

being yes and my no being no, I will
not ever repeat my crime. Never will

I allow money to come between us
again! Never I say, never!

AND

On an Ordinary Day

Full Greatness and Glory on this great Earth
to a single day of HIS humble birth

God and virgin did then combine
to make the Master of life that’s mine

Thunder and lightning across the ground
and justice and judgment to me astound

Depths of ocean inside the sea
to tips of clouds all silvery

And simple little birds up in the sky
or reading a poem by Robert Bly

Perhaps reading a bit of Paradise Lost
or not so white teeth perfectly flossed

Spotting a landscape by Claude Lorrain
or watching TV the candidates campaign

On PBS at six the BBC news
And remembering my daughters terrible two’s

I could go on, such things to say
of what I ponder on an ordinary day.

Saturday...

Today is going to be quite a Saturday. I have been spending much time this week watching Free Speech TV, BBC, and other truthful, non commercial news sources that show the horrors of what is going on in IRAQ. Did you know that the Iraqi death toll is now over 700,000 people? That’s genocide. Well, there is much more to be said, but I’m saving all of that for my Next book, which has now become the complete focus for my summer projects. I know, I said I had all of those other projects to do, and I still do, but this has to come first. It has become quite obvious that the social justice that only Christianity can bring about must be exposed for the truth that it is. Jesus wasn’t just the savior of the world, but also a bringer of great social change. The early Christians had a phrase called PAX ROMANA (it wasn’t theirs exclusively). This literally means Roman Peace. There was a period in history, from about 27BC to 180AD in which there was minimal expansion of the Roman Empire, and relative peace in the area. The Christians believed that this was due to the Birth of Christ, and the prayers of the saints. That is roughly 200 years of peace. There is much more to be said in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Romana about it, although, after reading it, I think that it is a little skewed. I’m sure that Caesar Augustus would say that he started a political trend that brought the peace. It is always a matter of perspective. I happen to believe in the whole Pax Romana thing myself. I think that the most powerful force on this earth is the will of Christ, who, in the Glory of God has the ultimate authority in all things. IF we, as Christians set ourselves against the dark forces of this world, we would surely make an impact. I do think that the fear of persecution is so strong that there are few who are willing to make radical changes. This must change. This must pass before us and never come back again. I think, speaking from my own corruptible heart that we are too much in love with this world. Our love for our lives, and the lives of those of us we love, is so strong, that we are not willing to sacrifice them for the sake of the Cross of Christ. We are not raising our children to understand that they may very well be in a world that will kill them for their faith. As this Autocracy that we live in continues to grow, and the police state that we live in now becomes more and more evident to the public, the stronger stance we as Christians will have to take against it. We cannot let our freedom of expression to preach God’s truth, to live God’s will, and to share God’s faith with others, to be taken away. I read an article, that there is a bill in congress that either is coming up, or currently being debated, that says preaching from the pulpit that homosexuality is sin, will be considered a hate crime, and thus against the law. Regardless of how you feel about homosexuality, preaching that sodomy is sin is a matter of faith. I understand the stand point. If Christians get to say that sodomy is sin, the KKK will be able to say the bible indorses slavery, because Paul taught how to be a better slave--But our ability to express our relgion, based on the bible, in this country should not be taken away, especially since our Christian solution to the issue is to pray and love all people, no matter what sin they have in their lives--Although this is a total leap for biblical purest, it still could be made a case. So, it seems, that someday, one of my books, or essays, or articles, may put me in jail. So be it; but am I raising the my daughter to understand these things? I hope so. She does understand what happened to other Christians in other parts of the world in other times throughout history. Right now I am not forcing it upon her that she will grow up and be killed for her faith, but this is not far from where we are at now. You say that isn’t the case? Well, not more than 60 years from now, several types of Christians were being stuffed in ovens, along with others of ancestral faiths for not denouncing their God. In fact, JW’s were the forerunners for persecution in Germany, and this country at the same time. JW’s were being lynched, castrated, and physically abused by people in this country, just for their faith and their lack of willingness to go to war. IN THIS COUNTRY! Don’t think that as fascism grows our rights as Christians will not disappear. Oh, don’t be deceived. There are Church of Christ preachers that think that George Bush is an honest man. It is this kind of simplistic, inexcusable naiveté that will bring about our heaviest persecution. The lack of spiritual discernment of some, will indeed bring about persecution for those who maintain their divine obligations. It is simply whether or not we conform. I ask myself, what have I already conformed to that I don’t have the right perspective about that is leading me down a wrong path. Several months ago, I had started asking my spirits Father to show me “Truth”, and not perception, in not so many words. I started asking that HE open my eyes to what is really going on this world, and what it is that I need to be praying for (paraphrasing, I do not remember the exact words it was that I prayed on that day I started). I have become overwhelmed by what I have been shown. It has all come so quick and straight up, that sometimes I need to dumb down and watch Disney channel with my daughter so as to give my mind and heart a break. I can’t imagine what is going to happen when all those orphans in Iraq, who had to watch their parent being blown to bits in front of their faces, are going to do when they grow up. They will be haters of this country. They will experience, and are now experiencing, vast amounts of PTSD, ADHD, Depression, and out right psychotic rage. I feel heart broken for all those people.

Don’t get me wrong, yes, I feel heart broken for all the children who have lost parents in this country too. In fact, I feel the same for all children around the world. I think that we forget to love the people of the world, especially when we are at “war” with them, regardless of the wars legality.

I digress: I am spending this day fully focused on my new book. I am just editing and revising J&M16. There is stuff in there that I want to get rid of, and there is stuff in there that needs some tweaking. Since I started asking God for truth, my focus has changed. I realize that Christians can make significant changes in this world. Not just in prayer, our most powerful weapon, but also in passive non-resistance to the workings of this world. Our only resistance to the evils of this world is merely to draw closer to Christ. For so many years, I have worked hard inside my heart and mind to say that there is a gap between the “world” and the “kingdom of God” (aka the church), but now I see that we as Christians must be in the world, but not of the world. This earth must be a foreign land to us. This world must be a place that we don’t fit in, in order to gain our greatest hope of joining God eternal. We must learn not to love this world. We must learn not to love this life more than we love Christ (John 17!)

Well, after much thought and consideration, and an overwhelming sensation I had today, I have finally decided on a summer project; although I had to go through some different considerations:

1. First I wanted to work on developing, prewriting, and rough drafting some pilot’s for episodic television. This is still a strong consideration, considering that I can’t just focus on one project at a time.

2. Then, I wanted to work on my graphic novel called “The Image”. It is a totally cool concept, but, I haven’t been able to get past the concept part. My research and prewriting considerations have given me a hard time to deal with a plot. It is very character driven, but the plot should be strong. I WILL do some pre-writing on this, but I am having a dickens of a time figuring out what to do with this project.

3. BUT, Recently, I have felt moved to write a Graphic Novel and Movie Script adaptation to C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”. I think that this is a powerful book, that could work powerfully to soften hearts and open up hearts and hopefully lead hearts to a better and secure relationship with God; whether that includes conversion or just a push to a strong faith and a passionate relationship with the Father.

So, I decided to go with number three. This is what I “Feel” strongest about. That’s right, I am going on my emotions! There is nothing wrong with having a little passion in a subject matter.

Although I do have some really cool ideas for some episodic television, and have been studying on how to write a script, I would really like to do this adaptation. If enough people buy my book, and perhaps even send some donations, I would really like to go to the four day film school at the International Comic-con in San Diego July 25-29. Today was the last day to pre-register. Although I was expecting a miracle, I might just have to be patient and do it the Lords way. Regardless, I feel that this would not only benefit me as a creator, but also benefit my family, and my service to God, in creating Movies and Television with true spiritual undertones, or even blatant spiritual themes, all of which I want to use to glorify the Father through Yashua Christos, as well as open up minds and hearts so that the Spirit can work in powerful ways. God can use just about anything to bring people to him, and I believe that it is my responsibility to use my talents to serve HIM in this manner. However, if I don't raise enough money to bring my family (wife and child) then I won't go. My family is first over everything. Although my wife deperately needs a vacation where her and my daughter can just sit on a beach and chill. I can envision my daughter playing in the water while my wife is reading her book or doing her puzzle book, relaxing and having fun. Our lives have been deary for the past 7 years, and I am detirmind in the Lord to make things better...

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe in personal evangelism and sharing one’s faith with their neighbors and strangers! But I have great dreams as to influencing masses of people for Christos. Regardless of the misinterpretation of Matthew 28:18-20, in which people justify their own responsibility to work to convert the world, which is not the context of this scripture, there is still plenty of evidences, biblically speaking, that demand we talk to our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers about God in Yashua’s name (English it is Jesus, but this is so abused by Satan and the world, that I have resorted to using the Name of Christ in the original Aramaic/Greek/Hebrew (it’s one of those), so I say Christos, Yashua Christos. Even to the point that my prayers are answered specifically when I pray in that name. It is trippy. Good night I love GOD! Anyway…) So, we all must be prolifically, and abundantly, and evidently PROUD of our God and Father, in Jesus’ name. More so, I want this to affect an addiction to mine, through Yashua, work in writing, artistry, and multimedia productions.

Oh, and please read the previous post, I’d like to get some feedback!

Newest and brightest stuff!

I am glad to announce this: http://www.lulu.com/content/288626 Go there and check it out, it is my new book! Plus, here is an essay that I received an A on in Writing class.

P. Allan Frederick
ENG 151
Prof. M. Wolfe
Obesity Final Draft
30 May 2007


It is commonly publicized in the media that the majority of Americans are overweight. Just in memory, I understand the number is around 60% and most of those are obese; an “epidemic” I’ve heard it described. There is an entire fitness industry, worth $1.6 billion annually (ask.com), focusing on loosing weight. Why are we so fat? I qualify as an obese person, therefore, I should have some license to discuss this matter. What should I do in consideration? Should I ask my government for help? Should I ask my employer or healthcare provider? Or should I just stop eating so much and join a gym. There is a stigma with being an overweight person, which can be painful. What should I do under such scrutiny? Should I ask a mental health professional for help? All good questions, some of which I intend to explore.
I want to start with personal responsibility. As I was discussing this topic with a friend, he unashamedly took responsibility for his own weight issues. At one time he was the model of perfection in physical fitness, now however, he is overweight. In essence he says HE is responsible for his condition. He says the reason anybody is overweight is because they put the food in their mouth, and hence they are overweight. This is hands down the truth, in probably the majority of the cases. I know I myself will eat the occasional sweet or burger. But I don’t think it is so simple. There are too many variables to consider. Yes, I am responsible for putting food in my mouth, but, who is responsible for what is available to me, and what the food is made of?
Here is what I mean. When I walk into a grocery store, I am exposed to a vast array of food. Usually, the first food I am exposed to is the produce section; if I follow the outer isle around the store, the theme of fresh foods continues. Produce usually goes to bakery or meat, then dairy, and so on. As a person who wants to loose weight, I know that most frozen food consist of preservatives that are not necessarily so healthy for you. To me and my family, this is understood common knowledge. To many people, this is not an issue, or even a care. Granted, I love fish sticks, frozen dinners and frozen veggies, but there is a reason why these items have a long shelf life, and it is not just because of the fact they are frozen, or so I understand it. My Mother-in-Law believes these “preservatives” are doing the same things to our bodies as they do to the food we consume. Well, this does make sense to me, but I have never read anything on the issue either way.
However, be it on a website, magazine, television program, or radio, I have become convinced that there are artificial additives to FRESH foods, which DO go into our bodies; those additives being growth hormones. It is a nasty little habit that has been approved by our government. The theory is sound. If you add growth hormones to your farmed meat animals, they will grow bigger, and produce better and bigger meat, poultry, and dairy. I have had beef NOT from the grocery store, and to me, it doesn’t taste as good as what I am used to. I have grown to love the meat I eat, the poultry, dairy, and produce that is in the grocery store; these are what I put into my mouth.
As I recall, our bodies absorb these growth hormones. We all accept that our produce and grains are exposed to insecticides, but it is not common knowledge that our produce and grains, which are fed to our livestock, are grown with those hormone additives. And, in as much as we get our nutrients from our food, so do we get these hormones. It is like injecting growth hormones into our bodies. I believe, from everything I have read, heard, and watched, it is a valid reason why we are gaining weight.
Another reason we are overweight is the socialization of fast food. I’m coming home at the end of the day, and I have a choice: bring home some burgers or cook and clean. Although cooking may have better health benefits, it is just not as convenient. We are bombarded with television commercials about fast food, and now we are to think since they serve salads, we can eat there and not feel guilty or in truth, gain weight. The real truth is they fill their salad dressings full of sugar. Even dressings that don’t have sugar in the food isle in the grocery store, has sugar in the dressings at the restaurant. My nine year old has to do her homework, I have to do my homework, both my wife and I struggle with physical illnesses that causes fatigue and chronic pain, she is tired from working all day, and we have to choose. The fast food alternative is seemingly a better choice. In the end it isn’t. The Mcleading fast food restaurant puts tons of salt and sugar in the food they serve, so our palates become conditioned to wanting more. Moreover, it is more expensive to eat fast food, a poor alternative to a healthy diet, and habit forming. If I can cook at home, I should. Even with the fresh isle pumped full of growth hormones, and so forth, it still would seem to be a better alternative. Or so I’m told.
In fact, I have been told many things over the years as to how to slim down and stay down. I have been told to eat brown rice with skinless chicken and steamed vegetables. I have been told not to eat rice because it is a carbohydrate that will turn to sugar in my body. Over the years of my life, there have been passing fads on loosing weight. First, thirty years ago, it was calories; so sugar free became the big trend in mass food marketing. Then, it was fat that was bad; don’t eat fat of any kind. Although I was eating no sugar, no fat foods, I was still overweight. Then, recently, it was carbohydrates that were bad. So all those healthy nonfat, low calorie items I was buying at the grocery store now needed to have no carbs. SO, now I need to eat foods that have no sugar, no carbs, no fat, and now nothing that has preservatives or growth hormones. What am I suppose to eat now, Air? Air doesn’t really solve the problem, and isn’t very filling.
The problem with trying to loose weight is no matter what, you must eat. Something that we all have in common, is in order to live, we must eat. We have been raised differently as to what to eat, how to prepare food, what time of the day we should eat, what type of self imposed restrictions should we have, and so on? If, like me, you come from a family of overweight people (only on my fathers side), chances are you will be fat. It is similar to alcoholics and drug abusers. If it is in the socialization of the family environment, then your chances are greater that you will follow in those foot steps. I also believe that genetics play somewhat of a role. There can be no doubt that there are people who can eat anything they please, and as much of it as they please, and still maintain a trim figure. Then, like me, there are those who gain weight just from watching the food channel on television. But, I return to personal responsibility. Being genetically enabled to eat whatever and how much ever food we want is not a license to gain weight. We are still responsible what goes in between our lips.
There is a produce industry gaining momentum which is becoming more frequent in some grocery stores, and it is Organic Food. Organic food is food which is not pumped full of hormones and preservatives and special insecticides and so forth. Organics are grown naturally. However, the main hindrance in buying organics is the price. Sometimes the prices for organic foods are double non-organic, or more.
What are the solutions? I think eating organic food is perhaps the alternative. There are organic meats, grains, produce, and diary. This includes chips, cereals, soups, and just about anything that could come otherwise. Again, the serious issue is the price. As the FDA controls the food industry, I wonder how much responsibility the US Government is willing to take. Here is where you may think that I am getting paranoid. But please take all this into consideration. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration, the Government sanctioned organization over seeing the Food and Drug industries, much like the IRS does for our taxes) and its upper management is filled with professionals that used to work for pharmaceutical companies and food industry professionals. They, the upper management, still continue to have a relationship with these individuals. My understanding is everybody knows everybody, they are all in the same circles, and they all maintain personal and professional relationships. They are a close nit group of people. This, along with the nonsensical truth that the Food industry is making people fatter, the FDA has declared Obesity as a disease. The Drug companies can’t treat a “syndrome” with prescription drugs, only diseases. So, the friends of the drug industry, who are also the friends of the food industry, are allowed to create drugs to cure obesity, or even worse, their drugs are manufactured to address the results of obesity: heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, etc. So, in review, the FDA, who are friends of the Food and Drug industry, allow the food industry to make bigger and fatter products, which in turn make us bigger and fatter, which in turn create a need for us to spend more money in the drug industry. It is all about money. This is a tight nit “boys club” that is making money off of our health. By the way, it is my understanding this is not a national secret, and if you know where to look, this can be verified by yourself; probably some online work. Again, organic fresh food seems to be the way to go.
I think if they wanted to, the Government could totally change the obesity “epidemic” in this county, or at least seriously curb it by creating a federally funded weight loss political and social environment. It could safely be said that the FDA and the industry they serve are too large for the Executive branch to take on. It would take all three branches of the Government to possibly affect the current condition we are in. However, there are ways of going around these things. One of which would be Legislative programs constructed to benefit the American public.
How about a tax break or refund for people who register themselves through their healthcare provide as obese, and lose weight and meet their weight loss goal? That might provide an answer. How about not charging sales tax on Organic food? What about giving the Fitness clubs and organizations (Weight Watchers, Curves, Gold’s Gym, etc.) huge tax breaks for success? I know that these organizations thrive on us NOT loosing weight and staying in perpetual need of these companies, but if we made it more cost efficient to create success, then they might become more successful. How about increasing the mandate for public schools to offer only low-carb, low calorie meals for all students? Why not, they will not allow peanut butter on the school premises if only one child has a food allergy. Childhood obesity can be just as dangerous as a food allergy. Why not have computer generated item by item tracking systems of what your child is eating in school? Again, this leads us back to the FDA’s plan to make a fat country which will rely on pharmaceuticals for life. But this could be combated. It wouldn’t’ harm children of any size and shape to eat a low calorie, low carbohydrate diet. How about Organic Growers be given tax free profits? Or, how about putting on a fat tax on fast food, both on drive through/over the counter sales, and wholesale; this would provide income for the Organic Growers to get their tax benefits? How about having stars do PSA’s (Public Service Announcements) on tackling obesity and/or eating organics? Why not have annual tax refunds for anybody who can prove that they lost weight and went down to their ideal size? This of course would have to go through the health industry, which would provide more income for the health industry. The goal would be to provide a way to shift the money’s put into our getting fatter, into our staying thin.
Many people eat excessively due to unattended emotional needs. They feed the heart with comfort, and that comfort comes in the form of food. Food can be a good friend. It makes you feel good. It gives to you without making any conditions. It doesn’t complain, it doesn’t fight back, it just gives. It gives and makes you feel better (not to all people). So, we eat. If we are lonely, we eat; if we are bored, we eat; if we are angry, we eat; if we are down, we eat; we eat, we eat, we eat. Surprisingly, those emotions rarely make us want to get up and exercise. The truth is, exercise boosts our endorphins, and that makes us feel better. It just doesn’t come naturally to some people. Many times, as children, when we are feeling these emotions, we are fed to make us feel better.
With this in consideration, perhaps, along with eating organic food, we need some therapy. We need to be taught, or given tools to learn how to not feed our emotions with food, but to deal with our emotions. We must be given the tools to deal with the stresses of life and process our feelings. This doesn’t come naturally either.
Lastly, the solution to loosing weight, other than eating organic food and taking therapy, is exercising. It is good old fashion getting off your butt and get moving. I take several small walks with my dog everyday. If I didn’t, I would be much worse off. However, I know that I personally have to increase my exercise in order to take off the pounds. Regardless of how much hormone induced foods, or fast food I eat, if I don’t exercise, I’m finished. Exercise makes you feel better, it boosts energy, and it activates our brains and imaginations. One problem that many face is that they have indulged in being obese for so long, it has affected their wellbeing to the point where their health is not permitting an active life, and they are barely able to exercise at all
In conclusion, living a life of obesity may be due to a combination of reasons, and combinations of excuses, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. It may take baby steps, slowly switching to organics, income permitting; slowly stopping the fast food habit, which would allow you to buy organic food; slowly figuring out your emotional dependencies on food, and slowly starting to exercise. It will take hard work, but I know that I’m up to the challenge. I say, don’t judge the fat person, for they have a lot going against them. In fact, befriend an overweight person, you just might be the influence they need to change their life, and become the person they want to be.

Update...

Update…

Well, I just started my new quarter this week. I received my grades from last quarter. I earned a 4.0. I am very excited. I also received last week my sample/waiting for approval copy of my “September Blue” chapbook. I am self publishing through lulu.com. You can order a copy now, I think…Just search the book title or my name under P. Allan Frederick. You should find it. If not, look under ID 288626. I still haven’t approved my book yet, and that may not allow you to buy one. They are $11.00 on Lulu, but if you pre-order through me, I’ll sell them to you at $8.00 plus shipping. But that means that you will have to send me about $9.50 before hand. I’m not giving out my address, so the discount is for my friends and family who already have my mailing address. However, I ask, that if you are able, to buy it through Lulu.com. I will have copies at the Arts in the Park festival here in Flatwoods on the 14th of April (two weeks!). The festival is looking to be pretty awesome. Of course our main concern is the size of the crowd, but we are blitzing for the next two weeks, and we’ll see what happens. I of course will do my annual update and fill in for the haps of the festival. I am feeling a little frustrated about it. It started out about poets, but now, the feeling in the club is to get a big crowd for having a big crowd’s sake. We have four or five musical acts, a handful of people that want to do a reading, and hopefully some artist who will show up with their wares. I have a feeling that next year we will have to find somebody who’ll be simi-pro organizer who can really bring this thing to a head, and make it really awesome. It builds momentum every year, and we can only hope that this year will be amazing.

What I would like to do though, if offer an annual workshop to the public, that is not a club meeting, nor a special outdoors event. See, April was declared National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets. They publicize events all year, and coordinate many themselves. So, I’d like to just do a workshop, in maybe the library, or even someday an extension of the April event, maybe in the senior center next to the park. I don’t know, we’ll have to see.

Well, that’s it for now.

Possible final draft??

ENG 150
Professor J. Jones
Assignment: Short Story
Second Revision
P. Allan Frederick

Prince Lion and the Monster

I could but scarcely believe what my eyes beheld as I pulled open the ancient, massive wooden hatch. The howling, reeking beast towered over me. Its rancid stench filled my nostrils as I trembled from the dreadful mien on its face. I could hardly stand as I held my spear with as much courage as I, Prince Lion, could muster. I pulled my shaking arm back, ready to launch my lance into its face, when, to my great astonishment, it stopped its ferocious roaring and sniffed at my head. I paused--was it possible that this massive mountain of a creature could be pacified? Then, without notice, it sat on its hind haunches. Foul breezes wafting from its mouth blew in and out as it stared at me with a look of expectancy. Confused, I lowered my spear and stood, looking back at its relaxed face. It appeared as though this “watch dog” would let me pass after all.
Its eyes, nose and mouth looked like those of a man, but with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Fur, or perhaps filthy hair, surrounded its face like the petals of a hideous flower. Its body was a gigantic mound of scales and hide in the shape of a wild bull. Its color was pitch but for its face, which was scarlet like blood. Its steaming, giant, black hooves were double my girth and height. Its pungent odor would prevent any type of surprise it might gain on its foes, or should I say victims; however, its size would make up for any need of surprise. I slowly started to walk around it, heading towards the great massive door.
“HOLD!” it roared.
I froze in my tracks.
“You may not pass,” said the great monster. “You must solve the riddles three, before you journey this tunnel free.”
I looked at it and felt a slight tinge of fear come back. Solving riddles? I hadn’t expected a game of wits to come from such a terrifying creature.
“What are these riddles?” I boldly questioned.
“The first,” it responded, “goes like this – Round as a ball, but flat as a board, altar of the lupine lord. Pearl on black velvet, face of a man, bringing brilliance like the candle can. What is it?”
I repeated the riddle in my mind, rushing to solve this quandary. Quickly, it came to me.
“I know what it is that you describe; ‘tis the moon which you speak of!”
“Well done, young Prince. You’ve done one, now two is next, time for the other for you’ll be vexed.” It had a creepy, bitter smile that covered his yellow teeth as it spoke. Still, with each word and each breath, putrid foul gases rose through the air in the domed chamber that we were in. I looked, and just past this rank living thing was the smaller tunnel that I wished to gain access to. I feared that this overwhelmingly massive animal would best me in this war of words. I needed a back up plan, and needed one quick. Was I up to solving these puzzles, while coming up with a plan? I needed to find its weak spot; I knew that it had to have one.
“Wind through feathers,” the hideous beast snorted, “gallop through clouds.
This fabled creature makes Perseus proud. What is it?”
“Perseus, Perseus, Perseus…” I thought to myself. Where had I heard that name before? Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit me! The Greek hero of the days of old -- he rode the Pegasus!
“I know what it is that you are thinking of, Giant…” I answered. “It is the Pegasus that you speak of!”
The huge brute let out a diminutive nervous growl. “I see that I face a learned man this night. But I don’t fear; as the keeper of the gate, I’m always near. But still there is one riddle left. One for sure you’ll never get.”
I didn’t like that little growl. The beast had started showing signs of nervousness. It was erratically wagging its bushy, bristly tail. Its keen round eyes were slightly bulging. It was evident that he was not used to people winning. I figured that this next riddle would for sure stump me, but there was always hope. I thought of our patron saint; Brother Bugglebee of Southforkton, in all his grace, would surely guide me by his spirit, bless his dead soul. Still, I did not see the creature’s weakness.
“I must warn you, Lion Prince, that if you do not solve this riddle third, I will eat you like a broken bird.”
“But if I win, you’ll let me pass?”
“That is the tradition. In all my years of this slavery to the Grand Master, only once had I failed him. That one man who passed is now the new Grand Master, who spared my life. In his pretentious pomposity he concluded that no man was his equal, so he continued to let me live and serve as his humble watchman. BE AFRAID!” he roared with exploding bits of spittle, rancid fumes, and ear-splitting bell tones cracking my skeletal cage to near powder. The cavern filled with flaming funk as his front pig iron hooves sparked the cold stone floor. His countenance still had that eerie revolting smirk that could blind a seeing man and revive a sick man only to die upon its gaze.
“I am a hero,” I said to myself, “and this conflict is not beyond me.” Still no weak spot and one riddle left. “What is your last riddle for me, my gargantuan friend?” He was opening his mouth to speak, and I peered my head forward into his gaping maw, and I saw it. I saw what I wanted. It had an infected tooth. This orange pumpkin was bleeding with bits of bone wedged between its black gum. One throw to the tooth should be all that I need to distract it enough so that I may pass. All I needed to do was make it through the eye-burning, nose-wrenching, and bone-rattling gasses that seep out its mouth like poisonous pit snakes ejecting their venom at their foes. “Be it my man half or lion half, I’m braver than both!” I thought to myself. It was at that time that I had to act.
“I’m ready for your final riddle, oh proud creature!”
“Then my final riddle is this: what type of bird would I eat?”
“What?” I asked in a nary-mannish squeaky voice.
“Bird, my young Prince, what kind of bird would I eat?” He glared at me with fiery globes fixated on me like burning bushes. Bird, bird, bird…bird I thought. “What was it I had seen in his teeth?” I asked myself. Bones, but wait, was it bones? I had to look again. There was something about those bones and his teeth that made it seem like a wrong question.
“Well, young Prince? What is your answer?”
As he spoke, I looked again into its mouth and saw what I remembered seeing earlier: Molars! It was molars, with sticks stuck in them, not bones. With his bull body, he had to have been a tree eater, and not a meat eater!
“You would want me to name a bird if you will, perhaps the goose, or chicken or swill? Perhaps you would like me to mention the eagle, vulture, or hawk, but then we would have to have engaged in combat. I know for sure that it is trees that you eat, perhaps even eating flowers as your treat. If that be so, then the bird I know, ‘tis the flower, Bird of Paradise!”
The beast roared with echoing madness making bits of dust, gravel and stone fall from the domed chamber. “You are right, young Prince, you are right. I said that I would let you pass, but my master would have my head. Perhaps we could strike up a deal instead.”
“I know what it is that I can do for you, my friend, with my spear. Not gouge your eye or stab your foot, but to solve your tooth ache and severe wretched breath!”
“Um, I have bad breath?” it whimpered. “None have told me this. Why have not all those who have tried to pass told me this?”
“Perhaps it is fear that stops them?” I answered cautiously. After we discussed the matter, he opened his mouth; I took my spear and wedged out the stick and weeds from his teeth and gums. The behemoth let out a slight whimper. I took the sticks and greens in my hand, held them high, and he smelled them.
“Oh, the stench! The shame!” he roared. “A great many thanks to you young Prince Lion; perhaps you do deserve to pass this beast anyhow, regardless of my master’s wrath! And pass you shall.” He looked at me in a strange yet not alarming look of affection. “It seems that we must now say our goodbyes. I must warn you, though, my prince, I am but the first obstacle in your way. There are many creatures and traps that are in your path, some more dangerous than I…perhaps I should wish you luck as well, although you will need more than luck!”
I looked at him and smiled, “At least I have made a friend thus far my behemoth brother. Perhaps my good luck has already started?” I made way past the monster as he bowed in my wake. I entered the increasingly narrowing tunnel, and heard a loud howling shriek. I turned my head back to my new enormous friend. He just smirked and shook his head.

First Draft of Narrative Short Story for class...

ENG 150
Professor J. Jones
Assignment: Short Story
First Draft
P. Allan Frederick
February 7, 2007

I could scarcely believe what my eyes beheld as I pulled open the ancient aching wooden hatch. The howling reeking beast towered over me. Its rancid stench filled my nostrils as I trembled from the dreadful mien on its face. I could hardly stand as I held my spear with as much courage as I, Prince Lion, could muster. I pulled my shaking arm back, ready to launch my lance into its face, when, to my great astonishment, it stopped its ferocious roaring, and sniffed at my head. I paused -- was it possible that this massive mountain of a creature could be pacified? Then, without notice, it sat on its hind haunches. Foul breezes wafting from its mouth blew in and out as it stared at me with a look of expectancy. Confused, I lowered my spear and stood, looking back at its relaxed face. It appeared as though this “watch dog” would let me pass after all.
Its features looked like a man but with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Fur or perhaps filthy hair surrounded it face like the petals of a hideous flower. Its body was that of a bull, but like a gigantic mound of scales mixed with hide. Its color was pitch but for its face, which was scarlet like blood. Its hooves were twice my size, and I a man of great girth and height. Its pungent odor would prevent any type of surprise it might gain on its foes, or should I say victims; however, its size would make up for any need of surprise. I slowly started to walk around it heading towards the great massive door.
“HOLD!” it roared.
I froze in my tracks.
“You may not pass.” said the great monster. “You must solve the riddles three, before you journey this tunnel free.”
I looked at it and felt a slight tinge of fear come back. Solving riddles? I hadn’t expected a game of wits to come from such a terrifying creature.
“What are these riddles?” I boldly questioned.
“The first,” it responded, “goes like this – Round as a ball, but flat as a board, altar of the lupine lord. Pearl on black velvet, face of a man, bringing brilliance like the candle can. What is it?”
I repeated the riddle in my mind, rushing to solve this quandary. Quickly, it came to me.
“I know what it is that you describe, ‘tis the moon that which you speak of!”
“Well done, young prince. You’ve done one, now two is next, time for the other for you’ll be vexed.” He had a creepy bitter smile that covered his yellow teeth as he spoke. Still with each word and each breath putrid foul gases rose through the air in the domed chamber that we were in. I looked and just past this rank living thing was the smaller tunnel that I wished to gain access to. I feared that I would still not pass this war of words that this overwhelmingly massive animal, if you can call it that, had yet to reveal. I needed a back up plan, and needed one quick. Was I up to solving these puzzles, while coming up with a plan? I needed to find its weak spot; I new that it had to have one.
“Wind through feathers,” the hideous beast snorted, “Gallop through clouds.
This fabled creature makes Perseus proud. What is it?”
“Perseus, Perseus, Perseus…” I thought to my self. Where had I heard that name before? Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit me! The Greek hero of the days of old -- he rode the Pegasus!
“I know what it is that you are thinking of, Giant…” I answered. “It is the Pegasus that you speak of!”
The huge brute let out a diminutive nervous growl. “I see that I face a learned man this night. But I don’t fear, as the keeper of the gate, I’m always near. But still there is one riddle left. One for sure you’ll never get.”
I didn’t like that little growl. The beast had started showing signs of nervousness. It was erratically waging its bushy, bristly tail. It keen round eyes were slightly bulging. I was evident that he was not used to people winning. I figured that this next riddle would for sure stump me, but there was always hope. I though of our patron saint, Brother Bugglebee of Southforkton, in all his grace would surely guide me by his spirit, bless his dead soul. Still, I did not see the creature’s weakness.
“I must warn you Lion Prince, that if you do not solve this riddle third, I will eat you like a broken bird.”
“But if I win, you’ll let me pass?”
“That is the tradition. In all my years of this slavery to the Grand Master, only once had I failed him. That one man who passed is now the new Grand Master, who spared my life. In his pretentious pomposity he concluded that no man was his equal, so he continued to let me live and serve has his humble watchman.”
“BE AFRAID!” he roared with exploding bits of spittle, rancid fumes, and ear splitting bells tones cracking my skeletal cage to near powder. The cavern filled with flaming funk as his front pig iron hooves sparked the cold stone floor. His countenance still had that eerie revolting smirk that could blind a seeing man and revive a sick man only to die upon its gaze.
I am a hero, I said to myself, and I am up to this. Still no weak spot, and one riddle left. “What is your last riddle for me my gargantuan friend?” He was opening his mouth to speak, and I peered my head forward into his gapping maw, and I saw it. I saw what I wanted. It had an infected tooth. This orange pumpkin was bleeding with bits of bone wedged between its black gum. One throw to the tooth should all be that I need to distract enough so that I may pass. All I needed to do was make it through the eye burning, nose wrenching, and bone rattling gasses that seep out its mouth like poisonous pit snakes ejecting their venom at their foes. I’m as brave as any man, or half man in my case, could be, I told myself in my mind. This was it, this was the go time.
“I’m ready for your final riddle oh proud creature!”
“Then my final riddle is this, what type of bird would I eat?”
“What?” I asked in a nary-mannish squeaky voice.
“ Bird my young Prince, what kind of bird would I eat?” He glared at me with fiery globes fixated on me like burning bushes. Bird, bird, bird…bird I thought. “What was it I had seen in his teeth?” I asked to myself. Bones, but wait, was it bones? I had to look again. There was something about those bones, and his teeth that made it seem like a wrong question.
“Well young Prince? What is your answer?”
That time I saw what I thought. Molars! It was molars, with sticks stuck in them, not bones. With his bull body, he had to have been a tree eater, and not a meat eater!
“You would want me to name a bird if you will, perhaps the goose, or chicken or swill? Perhaps you would like me to mention the eagle, vulture, or hawk, but then we would have to have fought. I know for sure that it is trees that you eat; perhaps even eating flowers as your treat. If that be so, then the bird I know, ‘tis the flower, Birds of Paradise!”
The beast roared with echoing madness making bits of dust, gravel and stone fall from the domed chamber. “You are right young Prince, you are right. I said that I would let you pass, but my master would have my head. Perhaps we could strike up a deal instead.”
“I know what it is that I can do for you, my friend, with my spear. Not gouge your eye or stab your foot, but to solve your tooth ache and severe wretched breath!”
“Um, I have bad breath?” it whimpered. “None have told me this. Why have not all those who have tried to pass told me this?”
“Perhaps it is fear that stops them?” I answered cautiously. After we discussed the matter, he opened his mouth, I took my spear and wedged out the stick and weeds from his teeth and gums. The behemoth let out a slight whimper. I took the sticks and greens in my hand, held them high, and he smelled them.
“Weeeooooo those smell bad. The shame I feel. Thanks to you young Prince; perhaps you do deserve to pass after all.” We said our farewells and good bye’s as he let me pass. A few feet into the tunnel -- I heard a wail from deep within the bowls of this cave. I knew that my adventure had just begun!