Setting An Example
Apr 10, 2012 13:03:07 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 13:03:07 GMT -5
Thursday, Apr 5, 2012
Personal power and control are issues for you now, and if you take too much power (i.e. are manipulative and tyrannical) or too little power (i.e. are overly passive and easily victimized), then you will become embroiled in power struggles with others.
My cell phone is ringing. It has been for the last five days now. Apparently my drive and persistence must be hereditary because my father hasn't given up despite my not answering the phone other than to tell him I don't want to speak to him. He's heard one of two things, either that Jenny asked to be released from FGA and he wants to know the circumstances about her departure or that Dianna dumped my ass. Neither of which I am particularly keen to talk about. Especially the latter; not since I made a romantic gesture last Saturday and had it thrown back in my face. Since I got my boombox and played her God awful favorite 'Big & Rich' song and stood on her front lawn so she would get some idea of how much she means to me. Since she appeared in the window with a frown on her face and a boy stood beside her. Since they closed the curtain and left me red-faced and humiliated, imagining my girlfriend fooling around in her bedroom with some rebound fling. Damn it's like being in high school all over again. I'm almost twenty-six years old, I'm supposed to have matured past the stage where this petty crap happens.
The weather isn't doing much to brighten my mood either. My cell starts ringing again as I look up at the overcast Santa Barbara sky. The clouds are blocking out the sun, there's a breeze blowing in from across the ocean and those factors combined are making me regret not putting on a jumper this morning.
Blaine Harrison
What do you want?
I finally relent and answer my cell; as much as I enjoy the 'Feist' song that acts as my ring tone there's only so long I can go without answering the phone. I lean down across the black metal rail, my left across the top of it as I hold the phone to my ear with my right.
Neil Hanson
I taught you more manners than that, Ben.
Blaine Harrison
Sorry, father.
Neil Hanson
That's better. Now would you care to tell me why Jack Zellor rang me to tell me that you got his daughter fired from FGA?
Blaine Harrison
I didn't get her fired...
Deep breath.
Blaine Harrison
...she quit.
I can hear my father's frustrated sigh on the other end of the phone. The slushing sound of his bottle of light beer can be heard as he takes a sip; I can tell he's trying not to lose his temper with me, he slurps loudly when he's in some way frustrated.
Neil Hanson
Son ... What happened?
Blaine Harrison
I don't want to talk about it.
Neil Hanson
Tough luck. What the hell happened, Ben?
Blaine Harrison
I mean it, I don--
Neil Hanson
DON'T--
I appear to have made my father angry. I stand up from my leaning position and head back indoors into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. On the bed there's a packed bag; I'm jetting out to Atlanta later this afternoon in preparation for the PSW show this weekend.
Neil Hanson
--don't tell me you don't want to talk about it, son. When one of my oldest friends rings me to tell me that one of my sons, my flesh and blood, is responsible for making that sweet girl go home in tears--not only that--but you get fired from her first real promotion ... then I'm going to need an explanation.
Blaine Harrison
I didn't get her fired!
Neil Hanson
Fine, she quit because of you. Why? Why did Jenny quit? The last I heard, the last that Jack heard she was loving it in FGA. Why would she up and quit without warning?
Because I held her up against the wall by her throat until she went blue in the face. No, she's not the victim here. If she hadn't have been a traitor and betrayed me like she did then she'd still be my valet and still have the job she 'loved'. I'd still be going out with Dianna and life would be good right now. Instead I take solace in the fact that I am still the FGA Heavyweight Champion, that this weekend I get my first chance to become the PSW Champion. Professionally I'm doing fine. But Jenny had to try and ruin my personal life. She decided to blur the lines between personal and professional and that I cannot abide. She brought this on herself.
Blaine Harrison
She betrayed me...
My father laughs, almost choking on his beer.
Neil Hanson
She what?
Blaine Harrison
She betrayed me!
Neil Hanson
She told your girlfriend that you cheated on her and you got dumped. So you got angry and held Jenny up against the wall by the throat! Is that about the long and the short of it, Ben?
I'm a little taken aback; I'm guessing that my father knew all along what happened. Jenny probably told her father who told mine, or she told mine. Either way he has a good grasp on the activities of that fateful night.
Neil Hanson
I'm ashamed of you, Ben. Right now I am embarrassed to call you my son! Is this how I raised you?
Blaine Harrison
No, father...
Neil Hanson
I raised you better than that! And I told you last time that you should never raise a hand to a woman. So what you're going to do is you're going to call Jenny and apologise. You're going to grovel, get down on your knees and beg for her forgiveness. Plead her to come back to FGA and be your valet again.
Blaine Harrison
Yes, father...
Neil Hanson
And Ben...
Blaine Harrison
Yes, father.
Neil Hanson
Don't be such a fucking dumbass in the future.
He says as he hangs up the phone. I toss my cell down onto my bed beside the bag as I contemplate my father's words. He made a lot of sense. Perhaps I overreacted. I'll think this over for the next few days before I decide exactly what to do. There's a PSW show and my match against Jacques Mercier next week that require my full attention.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Your personal magnetism is strong and you attract appreciation, affection, and attention at this time. Feelings of love, a desire for beauty, and the urge to be creative are strong. You beautify your surroundings and pay particular attention to your appearance. This is a good time to treat yourself or do something fun just for you.
The scene opens in Monroe Township, New Jersey at Oak Tree Elementary School where I have been invited to be part of careers day. Apparently the head teacher is a wrestling fan and since FGA is one of the top local promotions he thought he'd extend an invitation to ask me to speak in front of the third grade class. Fine, anything to be of service to the community. But the talk is done, the kids are outside playing or eating their lunch, whatever. And I have found my way to the school's gymnasium - a large room with few windows found only at the highest point on the wall. They let enough sunlight in, but I find it more than a little depressing, just how musty the room is. The grey breeze block walls, rickety wooden gymnastic equipment and dodgeballs. Bloody dodgeballs.
Blaine Harrison
Spring Breakage. What a show!
I say to the cameraman who is accompanying me. He is holding a camera and it is recording so it's not nearly as weird as first perceived. I walk around the gymnasium for a moment, dressed in a pair of black suit pants and a purple shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The matching black jacket is slung over a chair in the teacher's lounge. And of course I'm carrying the FGA Heavyweight Championship over my right shoulder; it is the whole reason I was invited to the school today.
Blaine Harrison
Sean Fallon and Johnny Brave opened the show with a slobberknocker, beating seven shades out of one another until the ... better man prevailed as the victor. Then the fans were, in hindsight, treated to the spectacle of Michael Tomkins and Micky O'Reilly in a ferocious street fight. Then to top of the show, the fans in the FGA universe were treated to a technical master class as Preston Blake and I went toe-to-toe to prove to one another who is the better man.
I smile to the camera as I pat the title belt.
Blaine Harrison
It was me. I got the 'finest technical wrestler in FGA today' and I made him submit in the middle of the ring. You'll have to forgive me for being especially proud of that. It's one of the high points in my professional wrestling career. Right up there with capturing the PSW Tag Team Championship, having my own official line of merchandise and, of course, becoming the FGA Heavyweight Champion.
I will, one day, add PSW Champion to that list. It just didn't happen this time and the less said the better.
Blaine Harrison
Unfortunately for all the fans in attendance at 'Spring Breakage', they didn't get to see Jacques Mercier in action. Nic Venum...
I roll my eyes. Involuntarily, of course.
Blaine Harrison
...got released from his contract and left 'The Renasance' without a competitor. On the bright side I don't think any of them wanted to see Nic Venum's lard ass get tossed around that ring and beaten in under a minute. It's not fun for anyone any more. You, Jacques, were, of course in attendance in Salem. I've heard the reports from backstage that you got in a scuffle during my match...
The side of my top lips rises to signify disgust at the behaviour of Mercier and Scott.
Blaine Harrison
You're obviously not a man who lets his action in the ring do his talking for him. I'm not taking anything away from you as a competitor, Jacques; hell, you did what I couldn't and beat Scott Reave. You defeated Micky O'Reilly. You even notched up a victory over Asro Kast and those three victories are enough to secure you some respect in my eyes. You've qualified for a title shot, a shot at the belt on my shoulder.
I point at the title belt and smile once again.
Blaine Harrison
Your road to redemption--that's what you called it, right?--well it's set you on the right path that's for sure. Putting your heart and soul into your performances in that wrestling ring, that's what I preach, Jacques. Hard work and determination will get you most any place in this world. Hell, ninety percent of life is just showing up. It's those of use who give the extra ten or twenty percent that get things done. It's why guys like me and, to some extent, Michael Tomkins have held this belt. It's why guys like you and Preston Blake get shots at this belt. I take nothing away from you as a competitor, Jacques...
Pause.
Blaine Harrison
I take issue with your behaviour outside of the ring, however. Your backstage scuffle reeks of behaviour unfitting of a champion! Let alone the FGA Heavyweight Champion! Your condoning and promoting drug use in one of your promos. That, Jacques, is despicable! It's behaviour and antics like that that drag down the whole face of professional wrestling. You're a taint against the name of FRONTIER Grappling Arts. You're a negative influence on any kids who may be watching you. And you want to be the FGA Heavyweight Champion? According to the rules, you may have earned a shot at me and my title, Jacques, but you don't deserve it! You don't deserve to be the man of the hour, the face of the company ... Michael Tomkins brought enough ill repute upon this promotion and this title belt he used to hold by his antics at 'Spring Breakage'--don't worry, Jacques, you weren't the worst behaved animal in the zoo that night!
My smile is long gone as I continue talking about 'The Rogue'.
Blaine Harrison
That honor goes to 'The Rogue', who finally lived up to his name as he stuck a knife in the fans' backs. It's moments like that which could ruin a childhood--when Tomkins took that steel chair and assaulted his opponent after the match was through, after he realigned with his old mentor.
I spit on the floor in disgust. Don't worry, I'll clean it up later off camera.
Blaine Harrison
A scourge, the pair of you. But, Jacques, you have your shot. There's nothing I can do about it; I'll take all challengers when they've qualified for a shot. I'm a fighting champion. I'm bringing pride, honor and prestige to this title belt. Raising it from the depths of Tomkins' reign. And this coming week in the Monroe Township Community Center, the site of my humbling defeat to the hands of Scott Reave, I will redeem myself and this belt! Your drive, your passion, your desire. Bring every tool in your arsenal, Jacques. You will need it if you have want any chance at being the one who pries this belt from my possession. I'll do what I always do, I'll put my heart and soul into my performance and I will defeat you, Jacques Mercier. This week, the 'Metal Heart' will shine...
I lift the FGA Heavyweight title off my shoulder and hold it above my head as the cameraman signals to me that he's no longer recording. I breathe a sigh of relief as I drop the belt back down onto my shoulder, thinking ahead to the next time consuming commitment I made to an autograph signing session somewhere across town. It's just taking time away from my prep for my match, but I'll be ready. One hundred and ten percent.
Monday, April 9, 2012
[/b]Personal power and control are issues for you now, and if you take too much power (i.e. are manipulative and tyrannical) or too little power (i.e. are overly passive and easily victimized), then you will become embroiled in power struggles with others.
My cell phone is ringing. It has been for the last five days now. Apparently my drive and persistence must be hereditary because my father hasn't given up despite my not answering the phone other than to tell him I don't want to speak to him. He's heard one of two things, either that Jenny asked to be released from FGA and he wants to know the circumstances about her departure or that Dianna dumped my ass. Neither of which I am particularly keen to talk about. Especially the latter; not since I made a romantic gesture last Saturday and had it thrown back in my face. Since I got my boombox and played her God awful favorite 'Big & Rich' song and stood on her front lawn so she would get some idea of how much she means to me. Since she appeared in the window with a frown on her face and a boy stood beside her. Since they closed the curtain and left me red-faced and humiliated, imagining my girlfriend fooling around in her bedroom with some rebound fling. Damn it's like being in high school all over again. I'm almost twenty-six years old, I'm supposed to have matured past the stage where this petty crap happens.
The weather isn't doing much to brighten my mood either. My cell starts ringing again as I look up at the overcast Santa Barbara sky. The clouds are blocking out the sun, there's a breeze blowing in from across the ocean and those factors combined are making me regret not putting on a jumper this morning.
Blaine Harrison
What do you want?
I finally relent and answer my cell; as much as I enjoy the 'Feist' song that acts as my ring tone there's only so long I can go without answering the phone. I lean down across the black metal rail, my left across the top of it as I hold the phone to my ear with my right.
Neil Hanson
I taught you more manners than that, Ben.
Blaine Harrison
Sorry, father.
Neil Hanson
That's better. Now would you care to tell me why Jack Zellor rang me to tell me that you got his daughter fired from FGA?
Blaine Harrison
I didn't get her fired...
Deep breath.
Blaine Harrison
...she quit.
I can hear my father's frustrated sigh on the other end of the phone. The slushing sound of his bottle of light beer can be heard as he takes a sip; I can tell he's trying not to lose his temper with me, he slurps loudly when he's in some way frustrated.
Neil Hanson
Son ... What happened?
Blaine Harrison
I don't want to talk about it.
Neil Hanson
Tough luck. What the hell happened, Ben?
Blaine Harrison
I mean it, I don--
Neil Hanson
DON'T--
I appear to have made my father angry. I stand up from my leaning position and head back indoors into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. On the bed there's a packed bag; I'm jetting out to Atlanta later this afternoon in preparation for the PSW show this weekend.
Neil Hanson
--don't tell me you don't want to talk about it, son. When one of my oldest friends rings me to tell me that one of my sons, my flesh and blood, is responsible for making that sweet girl go home in tears--not only that--but you get fired from her first real promotion ... then I'm going to need an explanation.
Blaine Harrison
I didn't get her fired!
Neil Hanson
Fine, she quit because of you. Why? Why did Jenny quit? The last I heard, the last that Jack heard she was loving it in FGA. Why would she up and quit without warning?
Because I held her up against the wall by her throat until she went blue in the face. No, she's not the victim here. If she hadn't have been a traitor and betrayed me like she did then she'd still be my valet and still have the job she 'loved'. I'd still be going out with Dianna and life would be good right now. Instead I take solace in the fact that I am still the FGA Heavyweight Champion, that this weekend I get my first chance to become the PSW Champion. Professionally I'm doing fine. But Jenny had to try and ruin my personal life. She decided to blur the lines between personal and professional and that I cannot abide. She brought this on herself.
Blaine Harrison
She betrayed me...
My father laughs, almost choking on his beer.
Neil Hanson
She what?
Blaine Harrison
She betrayed me!
Neil Hanson
She told your girlfriend that you cheated on her and you got dumped. So you got angry and held Jenny up against the wall by the throat! Is that about the long and the short of it, Ben?
I'm a little taken aback; I'm guessing that my father knew all along what happened. Jenny probably told her father who told mine, or she told mine. Either way he has a good grasp on the activities of that fateful night.
Neil Hanson
I'm ashamed of you, Ben. Right now I am embarrassed to call you my son! Is this how I raised you?
Blaine Harrison
No, father...
Neil Hanson
I raised you better than that! And I told you last time that you should never raise a hand to a woman. So what you're going to do is you're going to call Jenny and apologise. You're going to grovel, get down on your knees and beg for her forgiveness. Plead her to come back to FGA and be your valet again.
Blaine Harrison
Yes, father...
Neil Hanson
And Ben...
Blaine Harrison
Yes, father.
Neil Hanson
Don't be such a fucking dumbass in the future.
He says as he hangs up the phone. I toss my cell down onto my bed beside the bag as I contemplate my father's words. He made a lot of sense. Perhaps I overreacted. I'll think this over for the next few days before I decide exactly what to do. There's a PSW show and my match against Jacques Mercier next week that require my full attention.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Your personal magnetism is strong and you attract appreciation, affection, and attention at this time. Feelings of love, a desire for beauty, and the urge to be creative are strong. You beautify your surroundings and pay particular attention to your appearance. This is a good time to treat yourself or do something fun just for you.
The scene opens in Monroe Township, New Jersey at Oak Tree Elementary School where I have been invited to be part of careers day. Apparently the head teacher is a wrestling fan and since FGA is one of the top local promotions he thought he'd extend an invitation to ask me to speak in front of the third grade class. Fine, anything to be of service to the community. But the talk is done, the kids are outside playing or eating their lunch, whatever. And I have found my way to the school's gymnasium - a large room with few windows found only at the highest point on the wall. They let enough sunlight in, but I find it more than a little depressing, just how musty the room is. The grey breeze block walls, rickety wooden gymnastic equipment and dodgeballs. Bloody dodgeballs.
Blaine Harrison
Spring Breakage. What a show!
I say to the cameraman who is accompanying me. He is holding a camera and it is recording so it's not nearly as weird as first perceived. I walk around the gymnasium for a moment, dressed in a pair of black suit pants and a purple shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The matching black jacket is slung over a chair in the teacher's lounge. And of course I'm carrying the FGA Heavyweight Championship over my right shoulder; it is the whole reason I was invited to the school today.
Blaine Harrison
Sean Fallon and Johnny Brave opened the show with a slobberknocker, beating seven shades out of one another until the ... better man prevailed as the victor. Then the fans were, in hindsight, treated to the spectacle of Michael Tomkins and Micky O'Reilly in a ferocious street fight. Then to top of the show, the fans in the FGA universe were treated to a technical master class as Preston Blake and I went toe-to-toe to prove to one another who is the better man.
I smile to the camera as I pat the title belt.
Blaine Harrison
It was me. I got the 'finest technical wrestler in FGA today' and I made him submit in the middle of the ring. You'll have to forgive me for being especially proud of that. It's one of the high points in my professional wrestling career. Right up there with capturing the PSW Tag Team Championship, having my own official line of merchandise and, of course, becoming the FGA Heavyweight Champion.
I will, one day, add PSW Champion to that list. It just didn't happen this time and the less said the better.
Blaine Harrison
Unfortunately for all the fans in attendance at 'Spring Breakage', they didn't get to see Jacques Mercier in action. Nic Venum...
I roll my eyes. Involuntarily, of course.
Blaine Harrison
...got released from his contract and left 'The Renasance' without a competitor. On the bright side I don't think any of them wanted to see Nic Venum's lard ass get tossed around that ring and beaten in under a minute. It's not fun for anyone any more. You, Jacques, were, of course in attendance in Salem. I've heard the reports from backstage that you got in a scuffle during my match...
The side of my top lips rises to signify disgust at the behaviour of Mercier and Scott.
Blaine Harrison
You're obviously not a man who lets his action in the ring do his talking for him. I'm not taking anything away from you as a competitor, Jacques; hell, you did what I couldn't and beat Scott Reave. You defeated Micky O'Reilly. You even notched up a victory over Asro Kast and those three victories are enough to secure you some respect in my eyes. You've qualified for a title shot, a shot at the belt on my shoulder.
I point at the title belt and smile once again.
Blaine Harrison
Your road to redemption--that's what you called it, right?--well it's set you on the right path that's for sure. Putting your heart and soul into your performances in that wrestling ring, that's what I preach, Jacques. Hard work and determination will get you most any place in this world. Hell, ninety percent of life is just showing up. It's those of use who give the extra ten or twenty percent that get things done. It's why guys like me and, to some extent, Michael Tomkins have held this belt. It's why guys like you and Preston Blake get shots at this belt. I take nothing away from you as a competitor, Jacques...
Pause.
Blaine Harrison
I take issue with your behaviour outside of the ring, however. Your backstage scuffle reeks of behaviour unfitting of a champion! Let alone the FGA Heavyweight Champion! Your condoning and promoting drug use in one of your promos. That, Jacques, is despicable! It's behaviour and antics like that that drag down the whole face of professional wrestling. You're a taint against the name of FRONTIER Grappling Arts. You're a negative influence on any kids who may be watching you. And you want to be the FGA Heavyweight Champion? According to the rules, you may have earned a shot at me and my title, Jacques, but you don't deserve it! You don't deserve to be the man of the hour, the face of the company ... Michael Tomkins brought enough ill repute upon this promotion and this title belt he used to hold by his antics at 'Spring Breakage'--don't worry, Jacques, you weren't the worst behaved animal in the zoo that night!
My smile is long gone as I continue talking about 'The Rogue'.
Blaine Harrison
That honor goes to 'The Rogue', who finally lived up to his name as he stuck a knife in the fans' backs. It's moments like that which could ruin a childhood--when Tomkins took that steel chair and assaulted his opponent after the match was through, after he realigned with his old mentor.
I spit on the floor in disgust. Don't worry, I'll clean it up later off camera.
Blaine Harrison
A scourge, the pair of you. But, Jacques, you have your shot. There's nothing I can do about it; I'll take all challengers when they've qualified for a shot. I'm a fighting champion. I'm bringing pride, honor and prestige to this title belt. Raising it from the depths of Tomkins' reign. And this coming week in the Monroe Township Community Center, the site of my humbling defeat to the hands of Scott Reave, I will redeem myself and this belt! Your drive, your passion, your desire. Bring every tool in your arsenal, Jacques. You will need it if you have want any chance at being the one who pries this belt from my possession. I'll do what I always do, I'll put my heart and soul into my performance and I will defeat you, Jacques Mercier. This week, the 'Metal Heart' will shine...
I lift the FGA Heavyweight title off my shoulder and hold it above my head as the cameraman signals to me that he's no longer recording. I breathe a sigh of relief as I drop the belt back down onto my shoulder, thinking ahead to the next time consuming commitment I made to an autograph signing session somewhere across town. It's just taking time away from my prep for my match, but I'll be ready. One hundred and ten percent.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Your competitive, aggressive, and/or sexual energies are stimulated, and your temper is apt to be aroused also. Patience, especially with family members, is in short supply.
It's two days since the PSW show and I've arrived in New Jersey ahead of my FGA match this Wednesday. But I've also had time to think about what my father said last week and I realise he may be right. Which is why I'm currently in my motel room clutching my cell phone, pondering the ramifications of my actions. I need to do it.
Blaine Harrison
Swallow your pride, Ben...
I dial the number. Or, I start to before I chicken out and think it might be a suitable time to check my Facebook or Twitter or maybe play Angry Birds. Any of the thousand distractions that my phone allows.
Blaine Harrison
I need to...
I say to myself as I start dialling again, searching for Jenny in my phone book. Fortunately I didn't delete it in a fit of rage. My finger hovers over the green call button for what seems like an eternity before I finally 'man up' and press it. My pride is almost swallowed. It takes a moment before she answers.
Jenny
Hello.
Blaine Harrison
Hi, Jenny--
Jenny
Go fuck yourself, Blaine!
She says angrily before hanging up on me; I can only assume she deleted my number, which is why she answered it in the first place, because she sounded pleasant enough until she heard my voice. I 'place' my phone down on bed, watching in horror as it bounces off and hits the wall behind it. I extend the olive branch and that insufferable bitch doesn't even have the courtesy to hear me out. Fuck her. At least I tried. Now I have a match to prepare for.[/i]
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