As Otto was watching the evening news, he was shocked to see that the headline story was about a psycopath killing a random victim in Castle Apartments. Otto couldn't believe it, he had no idea that happened earlier today in the same building he lives in. He slept until 2:45 and spent the rest of the afternoon playing Play Station so he was completley isolated from the tragic event.
"Holy shit, that could have been anybody losing their life today. That could have been me, easily. It happened so close to home.", Otto thought. He noticed the news reporter mention that the reason for the murder was unknown. "Wow, no reason, no reason at all", Otto pondered to himself, "I wonder if anything is for reason in this world. I mean does anybody really fully understand why things happen the way they do." Otto tried to find reason for his own life, why and how had he gotten to where he is today? He knew his own history of course, but why did his history exist the way it did? He couldn't honestly find a true reason for why things were the way they were. Nobody really knows. All we really know for certain are the experiences we have in a single lifetime on earth. "If there's anything my experiences have taught me," Otto thought, "it's to live in the present, have an open mind, love yourself, and love other people."
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Se7en
Otto's alarm goes off loudly, blaring The Magnificant Seven by The Clash. It is exactly 7 a.m. and Otto has some business to take care of today--he's importing lots of new product. Throughout this period of Otto's life, he has actually become a pretty successful drug dealer. Today he has decided to try kick his business up a notch by attempting to smuggle in 77 pounds of cannabis by way of air drop deep in the national forrest. Through talking to his higher-ups in the drug supply chain, Otto managed to find a connection in Canada that could drop very large amounts of marijuana moderatley close to where he lived. Even better, he could get it for a price that gives him the potential to make 7 million dollars if he pushes all the weight off right. Otto wants to have a lot of money just like everybody else, so he sees his opportunity and decides to take the risk.
Otto estimates the whole operation to take at least seven hours, since it takes about three hours just to get to the national forrest alone. He has borrowed a huge pick-up truck with a bed cover from his friend. It was the best possible drug smuggling vehicle Otto could find. When he got to the national forrests he drove 17 miles down a small unpaved road that went straight into the forrest. He used his GPS to give the Canadian pilot his coordinates and within 7 minutes, 7 large bails of Canadian cannabis were sitting at his feet. A rush of adrenaline suddenly hit Otto, he had to get all this weed out of here and back to his house a.s.a.p. He prayed he wouldn't have to talk to any park rangers or cops. It worked, the whole way home Otto didn't run into a single problem. This helped reaffirm his faith in God.
Otto broke up the bud and put it into duffel bags that he could carry into his apartment without looking too conspicuous. As he brought in the last bag, he felt very accomplish and ecstatic about his earnings to come. He relaxed by smoking a 0.7 gram joint and calling some of his customers to let them know of his new product. Otto finally felt like he was on his way to big time success for the first time in his life. Otto knew he was about to be rich as hell, and it was a great feeling.
Otto estimates the whole operation to take at least seven hours, since it takes about three hours just to get to the national forrest alone. He has borrowed a huge pick-up truck with a bed cover from his friend. It was the best possible drug smuggling vehicle Otto could find. When he got to the national forrests he drove 17 miles down a small unpaved road that went straight into the forrest. He used his GPS to give the Canadian pilot his coordinates and within 7 minutes, 7 large bails of Canadian cannabis were sitting at his feet. A rush of adrenaline suddenly hit Otto, he had to get all this weed out of here and back to his house a.s.a.p. He prayed he wouldn't have to talk to any park rangers or cops. It worked, the whole way home Otto didn't run into a single problem. This helped reaffirm his faith in God.
Otto broke up the bud and put it into duffel bags that he could carry into his apartment without looking too conspicuous. As he brought in the last bag, he felt very accomplish and ecstatic about his earnings to come. He relaxed by smoking a 0.7 gram joint and calling some of his customers to let them know of his new product. Otto finally felt like he was on his way to big time success for the first time in his life. Otto knew he was about to be rich as hell, and it was a great feeling.
Takin' it easy in Fiji
It was an average and ordinary day for Otto, he was in his lazy boy with a bowl of Captain Crunch, high as hell watching Travel Channel. A program came on about the far away islands of Fiji in the South Pacific, and immediatley Otto was completley consumed in watching the show. He watched in awe and was amazmed that such a beautiful and magnificant place existed on planet earth. The pictures he was seeing on his television were breathtaking and almoast unbelievable. The brilliant turquoise water, the perfect white sand beaches, palm trees, lush jungle, and amazing wildlife that Otto didn't even know existed. He was sold five minutes in, Fiji was the place for him. All he really wanted to do in this moment was go to Fiji, it was all he could think about. He kept imagining himself in different scenarios there. Maybe he would get a sailboat and sail throughout all of Fiji, or maybe he would reuinite with Jane and take her on a trip there, the possiblilities were only limited by Otto's imagination. He was getting unbearably excited as he watched this show and dreampt about finding himself there one day, and then commercials came on. He became entrigued by the commercials, they seemed different to him now. "Look at all these people trying to convince me to buy all this shit I won't ever need, why do we allow this? Don't most people want to be able to watch a show without having bullshit products forced in their face every ten minutes? What kind of a country is this that I live in? We live to consume shitty things that people on T.V. convince us we need. Man, fuck this, I'm moving to Fiji next chance I get.", Otto told himself. Just then a commerical came on with a very familiar face. It was Kindra Lee, Otto's next door neighbor. Otto was pleasantly suprised and thought how cool it was that he was watching someone he knew personally on T.V., until he realized she was trying to comvince him to buy fake eyelashes. Then the show about Fiji came back on and he was lost again in a world thousands of miles away.
I want to get away, I want to fly away
Otto was soaring through the sky, gliding like an eagle coasting on the wind currents. He was completely care-free and felt the utmost content for who he was and where he was. It was the most amazing feeling Otto had felt in his entire life. For a while he didn't even realize he was in a dream, he was just there in the moment of his dream. Part of Otto didn't want to know he was dreaming, he wanted the experience to be a reality, and for a moment it was almost as if it was. As Otto discovered his ability to control his flight and was swooping side to side and upside down through the sky fanatically, he realized it was all just a dream and the amazing feeling began to fade. As Otto became more disappointed that he was only dreaming, he began to loose control of his ability to fly altogether and started in a downward spiral to the earth below. Otto saw the ground coming at him fast and was filled with fear. Just as his face was an inch from smashing into the dark surface of earth, he was jolted awake. Otto sat up to recollect what had just happened in his mind.
"What the hell was that", Otto said to himself in astonishment. Questions ran through Otto's mind, "Did that really just happen? Why did that feel so real? I wonder if that dream means anything?" Feeling overwhelmed, he laid back down and closed his eyes trying to get himself back to the incredibly stunning place he just was. He focused very hard and tried to recall the images and feelings, but it wasn't nearly as fulfilling. Somewhat disappointed and puzzled, Otto got out of bed feeling anxious. It was 6:30am and things felt strangely still and eerie. Otto felt like it was a perfect time to alter his state of consciousness since it seemed to be in a strange place already from the peculiar dream he had just awaken from. So he got out his bong and proceeded to get super high.
Otto was shooting for Pluto this time, just seeing how high he could actually get. After Otto had depleted his entire supply, he was pretty much on Pluto or perhaps it was Neptune, it was hard to tell. Really he was anywhere his mind could take him. All of the confusion and anxiety Otto had felt just minutes before had completely disappeared and it was if he was in a whole other world now. The external and material world that most humans dwell in was suddenly gone. The physical world just didn't concern Otto at all anymore, he was lost in his own world of consciousness and thought. The only things that mattered in this strange moment of his altered mind, were the things he had inside him. All of his thoughts, feelings, and just his true and absolute self could exclusively be focused on. It was like looking at himself in the mirror but from another perspective. The feelings of utmost content that Otto had experienced in his dream had returned in this moment. Otto had never been this high before, it was a very surreal experience. Otto was feeling great about life and all of the sudden he just wanted to go out and experience things and people in the world around him.
So he put on his sunglasses and walked out the door without any destination in mind. When Otto saw the clinic across the street, he thought about how he had never been inside. He'd always wondered what it was like in there, so he just walked inside. There was a young woman at the reception desk with a name tag that read "Clara Kate Holloway". She looked friendly so Otto didn't hesitate to engage her in conversation. "Hey Clara Kate, how's it going? I've never been in here before so I was just wondering what it's like in here. Pretty nice clinic you run here. My name's Otto by the way, Otto Vandersloot." "Sir, are you under the influence of drugs right now? Your eyes are bloodshot red.", Clara Kate replied coldly. "No, I just have allergies. Anyway, I'm gonna go talk to someone else now, see ya." Otto couldn't stand the negative energy radiating out of Clara Kate, he had to get away from it immediately. So he just started walking down the hall. "Um, excuse me, where do you think you are going?", Clara Kate's obnoxious voice rang out. "I have to visit my friend, he's very sick.", Otto replied quickly and walked around the corner.
He noticed an open door, so he walked in and found a man lying in a bed looking very confused. "Is this real life?", the man asked. "I can't tell my dreams from reality anymore." "Yes, this is reality", Otto told the man, "Tell me about your dreams, I'm interested." And so this man, who was Christophe Moreau explained his dreams to Otto and Otto told Christophe about the one he had the night before.
"What the hell was that", Otto said to himself in astonishment. Questions ran through Otto's mind, "Did that really just happen? Why did that feel so real? I wonder if that dream means anything?" Feeling overwhelmed, he laid back down and closed his eyes trying to get himself back to the incredibly stunning place he just was. He focused very hard and tried to recall the images and feelings, but it wasn't nearly as fulfilling. Somewhat disappointed and puzzled, Otto got out of bed feeling anxious. It was 6:30am and things felt strangely still and eerie. Otto felt like it was a perfect time to alter his state of consciousness since it seemed to be in a strange place already from the peculiar dream he had just awaken from. So he got out his bong and proceeded to get super high.
Otto was shooting for Pluto this time, just seeing how high he could actually get. After Otto had depleted his entire supply, he was pretty much on Pluto or perhaps it was Neptune, it was hard to tell. Really he was anywhere his mind could take him. All of the confusion and anxiety Otto had felt just minutes before had completely disappeared and it was if he was in a whole other world now. The external and material world that most humans dwell in was suddenly gone. The physical world just didn't concern Otto at all anymore, he was lost in his own world of consciousness and thought. The only things that mattered in this strange moment of his altered mind, were the things he had inside him. All of his thoughts, feelings, and just his true and absolute self could exclusively be focused on. It was like looking at himself in the mirror but from another perspective. The feelings of utmost content that Otto had experienced in his dream had returned in this moment. Otto had never been this high before, it was a very surreal experience. Otto was feeling great about life and all of the sudden he just wanted to go out and experience things and people in the world around him.
So he put on his sunglasses and walked out the door without any destination in mind. When Otto saw the clinic across the street, he thought about how he had never been inside. He'd always wondered what it was like in there, so he just walked inside. There was a young woman at the reception desk with a name tag that read "Clara Kate Holloway". She looked friendly so Otto didn't hesitate to engage her in conversation. "Hey Clara Kate, how's it going? I've never been in here before so I was just wondering what it's like in here. Pretty nice clinic you run here. My name's Otto by the way, Otto Vandersloot." "Sir, are you under the influence of drugs right now? Your eyes are bloodshot red.", Clara Kate replied coldly. "No, I just have allergies. Anyway, I'm gonna go talk to someone else now, see ya." Otto couldn't stand the negative energy radiating out of Clara Kate, he had to get away from it immediately. So he just started walking down the hall. "Um, excuse me, where do you think you are going?", Clara Kate's obnoxious voice rang out. "I have to visit my friend, he's very sick.", Otto replied quickly and walked around the corner.
He noticed an open door, so he walked in and found a man lying in a bed looking very confused. "Is this real life?", the man asked. "I can't tell my dreams from reality anymore." "Yes, this is reality", Otto told the man, "Tell me about your dreams, I'm interested." And so this man, who was Christophe Moreau explained his dreams to Otto and Otto told Christophe about the one he had the night before.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Jane
It was a beautiful bright sunny day and Otto felt like taking his old soft tail Harley-Davidson for a cruise. Everybody was outside today just enjoying the nice weather, and Otto was people watching left and right as he cruised down streets at a casual speed. He was especially noticing lots of happy couples together, as well as families with young children. It brought back memories for Otto that seemed like lifetimes ago to him now.
First he was reminded of his old girlfriend, Jane. As much as Otto tried to forget about her, he couldn't help but think of her every once in a while. He had feelings for Jane that seemed unlike anything he had ever felt before. Even when he was with her and he first discovered those feelings, he had trouble putting them into words. But Otto knew what he felt was real and that the feelings were something very special--they seemed to be ingrained in his memory forever, how could they not be? Jane was the most amazing person Otto had ever met, he just felt so instinctively connected with her. He understood everything about her, and she understood him the same way. Otto and Jane had this common understanding of each other without really even striving for it. Otto was pretty certain that he truly loved Jane and he had a good feeling that she felt the same way about him. Otto and Jane spent two short but wonderful years together when they were in high school, and when Otto was 17 and Jane was 16, her parents moved her family to Ghana. Her parents were doctors on a mission to provide medical aid to thousands of children suffering from malaria there, so at least her reason for leaving was somewhat understandable for Otto.
He figured she would move back in a few years when she became independent from her parents, but she never did. Otto knew that Jane had an insuppressible free willed spirit so there was nothing he could really do to make her come back. Jane just loved to adventure and experience new things all the time, so Otto figured that's what she was doing. He never knew where she went from Ghana or if she ever left. He had no way of getting in touch with her, and so all he could ever do is wait. Jane often expressed disgust for politics and culture in America, so Otto doubted her ever coming back. He wanted so bad just to be with her anywhere in this world. It killed him to think that he was missing out on life with her, but he always kept the thought of them reuniting one day in the back of his mind. He thought about seeing her again like it was something that he knew would actually happen one day. In this strange and puzzling world, it was hard for Otto to find ideas he could truely believe in, but the idea of him and Jane and love was definatley one of them.
As Otto continued to cruise the streets in his Harley, he ran through all the memories he had of Jane in his head. With the wind in his face he reminisced on moments with Jane. He remembered the dumb arguements they would have sometimes and thought about all the things he could have done better. Then he thought about all the times they had made love. He remembered all the times in his bed and all the times in her bed, and that one time on the lakeshore when they laid on the sand and looked up at the stars all night. He remebered the jokes they shared, and the engaging conversations they could have about almost anything. He just remebered the positive things, which seemed to outweigh the negatives by far. With a smile on his face Otto squeezed the clutch and threw the throtle back on his Harley and took off down an empty road. He had no idea where this road would take him, but he didn't care, Otto was just enjoying the ride and the present moment he was in.
First he was reminded of his old girlfriend, Jane. As much as Otto tried to forget about her, he couldn't help but think of her every once in a while. He had feelings for Jane that seemed unlike anything he had ever felt before. Even when he was with her and he first discovered those feelings, he had trouble putting them into words. But Otto knew what he felt was real and that the feelings were something very special--they seemed to be ingrained in his memory forever, how could they not be? Jane was the most amazing person Otto had ever met, he just felt so instinctively connected with her. He understood everything about her, and she understood him the same way. Otto and Jane had this common understanding of each other without really even striving for it. Otto was pretty certain that he truly loved Jane and he had a good feeling that she felt the same way about him. Otto and Jane spent two short but wonderful years together when they were in high school, and when Otto was 17 and Jane was 16, her parents moved her family to Ghana. Her parents were doctors on a mission to provide medical aid to thousands of children suffering from malaria there, so at least her reason for leaving was somewhat understandable for Otto.
He figured she would move back in a few years when she became independent from her parents, but she never did. Otto knew that Jane had an insuppressible free willed spirit so there was nothing he could really do to make her come back. Jane just loved to adventure and experience new things all the time, so Otto figured that's what she was doing. He never knew where she went from Ghana or if she ever left. He had no way of getting in touch with her, and so all he could ever do is wait. Jane often expressed disgust for politics and culture in America, so Otto doubted her ever coming back. He wanted so bad just to be with her anywhere in this world. It killed him to think that he was missing out on life with her, but he always kept the thought of them reuniting one day in the back of his mind. He thought about seeing her again like it was something that he knew would actually happen one day. In this strange and puzzling world, it was hard for Otto to find ideas he could truely believe in, but the idea of him and Jane and love was definatley one of them.
As Otto continued to cruise the streets in his Harley, he ran through all the memories he had of Jane in his head. With the wind in his face he reminisced on moments with Jane. He remembered the dumb arguements they would have sometimes and thought about all the things he could have done better. Then he thought about all the times they had made love. He remembered all the times in his bed and all the times in her bed, and that one time on the lakeshore when they laid on the sand and looked up at the stars all night. He remebered the jokes they shared, and the engaging conversations they could have about almost anything. He just remebered the positive things, which seemed to outweigh the negatives by far. With a smile on his face Otto squeezed the clutch and threw the throtle back on his Harley and took off down an empty road. He had no idea where this road would take him, but he didn't care, Otto was just enjoying the ride and the present moment he was in.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Mugged
The sun was just beginning to rise on a cool March morning, and Otto was making his way home, still feeling a little drunk, after just being released from the police station. The night before a police officer saw Otto running down Sunset terrace at about 3 A.M. extremely intoxicated and howling loudly like a werewolf. Otto had been up all night drinking heavily with his friend Scott. The officer wasn't sure if Otto would be a threat or not, so he just played it safe and took Otto to the station to sober up in the holding cell. By about 6:45 they figured he was good to go, even though Otto was still feeling buzzed but could at least speak coherently now. Otto was completely exhausted from the alcohol and lack of sleep. He wanted to get to his bed as soon as possible, so he cut through behind the Sawmill Theater.
Just as Otto rounded the corner of the theater, he came upon a homeless encampment in between the shed and the theater. Three rough-looking men quickly hopped up and surrounded Otto. "We want everything you got", one said as he flicked open a switchblade knife by his side. "That's right, everything! Now empty your pockets and give me your jacket and boots", another one said. "Alright fine, here you go, take it all", Otto said agitated but calmly. All he had in his pockets anyway was a lighter, some gum, and two dollars, so he wasn't too upset. He was more upset about it taking up time that could be spent in his bed.
In any other circumstances Otto probably would have put up more of a fight, but he just didn’t have it in him at the moment. As the homeless men quickly gathered their few belongings and scurried off, Otto felt pity for the men. He thought about how much better his quality of life was compared to theirs, which was fairly new to Otto because usually he preoccupied his mind with how much better other people’s lives were compared to his. So in the end, being mugged turned out not to be such a bad experience for Otto after all. From that point on, whenever Otto was feeling down on his life, he just thought about those homeless men who desperately robbed him of his lighter, gum, and two bucks and just laughed.
Just as Otto rounded the corner of the theater, he came upon a homeless encampment in between the shed and the theater. Three rough-looking men quickly hopped up and surrounded Otto. "We want everything you got", one said as he flicked open a switchblade knife by his side. "That's right, everything! Now empty your pockets and give me your jacket and boots", another one said. "Alright fine, here you go, take it all", Otto said agitated but calmly. All he had in his pockets anyway was a lighter, some gum, and two dollars, so he wasn't too upset. He was more upset about it taking up time that could be spent in his bed.
In any other circumstances Otto probably would have put up more of a fight, but he just didn’t have it in him at the moment. As the homeless men quickly gathered their few belongings and scurried off, Otto felt pity for the men. He thought about how much better his quality of life was compared to theirs, which was fairly new to Otto because usually he preoccupied his mind with how much better other people’s lives were compared to his. So in the end, being mugged turned out not to be such a bad experience for Otto after all. From that point on, whenever Otto was feeling down on his life, he just thought about those homeless men who desperately robbed him of his lighter, gum, and two bucks and just laughed.
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