Books I Love

February 4th, 2010 § 7

I always love a good book recommendation. At least three quarters of my favorite books were brought to my attention by a direct recommendation from a friend. The fine people behind the scenes at Subtle Dig were kind enough, per my request, to put together a mini-side bar in the bottom right corner of this page listing some of my favorite books (you have to click on the full entry to see it). Each book I list below is available through a quick click.  In full disclosure, the books are hooked up through an Amazon affiliate account so there is monetary incentive behind the widget. If you’re thinking, “I fucking hate this guy. I don’t’ want him to see a penny,” that’s cool. Feel free to skirt around and buy the books below on your own.

Let’s get to the good stuff:

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Fate

February 1st, 2010 § 13

When I was twenty-one, I split my palm open with a box-cutter.

Not on purpose, of course.  I was cutting the straps off a bundle of flyers during my night job at a newspaper plant, and the knife slipped. As soon as it happened, though mostly painless, I knew I was in trouble. I walked over to the boss to tell her before heading to the bathroom to bandage myself up.

A short drive to the hospital and an hour later, I was lying in a bed waiting to get stitched up. A drunken, grubby man was in the bed across from me fighting off the doctors and nurses. I knew he was drunk because I could smell the alcohol. That, and the incoherent slurring. He had a large gash on his forehead, and did not like the medical staff poking and prodding him to see where else he hurt. Four cops were eventually called in, one to pin down each limb. They laughed when he said he had been beaten up for no reason while trying to sleep.

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Raleigh: Part 2

January 28th, 2010 § 19

At twenty years old, neither girl was legally able to get into any bars. They knew of one bar, however, where the manager sometimes let it slide. The bar was covered in second rate graffiti like you might see in an after-school special. Walking past the windows it was clear the place was empty, Wednesday night after all. The two girls walked up to the bouncer. They stuck their tits and asses out, played with their hair and took their voices up to a higher pitch. The bouncer said it was fifteen dollars cover and, once inside, penny beers all night long. He asked for ID. The girls flirted harder. The bouncer offered indifference. He said he’d ask his manager if he could get the girls in.

A forty-ish black gentleman noticed us from inside the bar. He was sitting alone at the bar, seemingly the only patron. Before the bouncer returned with the verdict, the guy came over to us. He told us he’d just won the lottery. He pointed to his scuffed runners, “jus bought dese today. Cash. Two hundred bones.” Next he lifted up his gold chain, “and dis right here cost me ten large. Bought it today too. Tell you what,” he rubbed his knuckles against his chin, “y’all come inside and drinks is on me all night long.”

“Aren’t drinks only a penny?” I raised an eyebrow.

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Raleigh: Part 1

January 22nd, 2010 § 28

The cell phone alarm blared its shitty digital melody. Every time I hit snooze, it came back with exponential vengeance. The default Verizon ringtone was beginning to blend into my nightmares, whether it was waking me up as an alarm or announcing a call before Jeff came through on the other end telling me to hurry the fuck up and get to wherever I was going. I sat up in bed and waited for the hangover symptoms to take hold – dry mouth, burning eyes, mild pounding in my head. Not too bad.

I picked out some fresh clothes from my suitcase. The hotel floor was littered with wet towels outside the bathroom. Charlie and Greg had made it up for a morning shower; it was Greg’s first shower in a week. Jace was inside the bathroom plucking his eyebrows in the mirror.

“Jace, get out. I need a quick shower.”

“No way dude, I’m about to shower. And I’m using the last towel. Too bad, you should have woken up sooner.” He slammed the door in my face, giggling until the sounds of running water drowned it out.

I pounded a fist on the door, “Well hurry the fuck up then.”

“Don’t count on it. I’m shaving my legs too.”

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