The Man in the Gray Suit - A Story

*This is one of my earliest stories I have written when I was a kid. I had a weird imagination back then. I am hoping by writing alot in this blog that I can find my "weirdness" again and write more stories. Please let me know what you all think of this. More early days of Gilberto's writings to come. Thanks for reading, and continue to travel through "The Chronicles of Gilberto" And now to our featured story:

The man was walking in the rain. The rain fell hard on the man’s head. His head was drenching wet and this didn’t seem to bother the man at all. He walked briskly as the trickle of water on the ground became nosily clear that the rain was falling harder than before. The man wore a gray suit with a worn out tie that had splotches of red on a white background. The tie looked like it went through a lot of wear because the tears were obviously starting to appear.

The wet weather seemed to last for days on end. The traffic on the road was light for no one wanted to be out here in the rain — no one. At least the man in the gray suit and the splotchy tie and brisk walk didn’t mind this weather. The cloud overhead cast a gloomy mood but this man looked content as if nothing in the world could bother him. Not even the cloudy skies ready to burst open with wet weather.

The man walked all around the neighborhood and in one house a little boy peeked through the curtains watching the rain fall. The boy spied on the man walking on the sidewalk wet with water. The little boy peered through the windows with hard concentration as if he didn’t want to lose track of the man. The falling harsh rains blurred the little boy’s vision. The rain seems to be picking up. Faster the drip-drops were falling onto the ground, not to mention the man’s head.

The man didn’t seem to be bothered by the rain at all. The sounds of rain were all over the place. This little town sheepishly seems not to take noticed of a man walking in such a crazy weather. The town was all nestled into their warm brisk homes, probably by a fireplace warming up. Even though the townspeople were sometimes curious whenever a stranger came into the town, but only one person took notices, thus it was this little boy peering through the window.

The little boy peered through the window from standing on the sofa. The mother, inside the house, from the kitchen hollered out, “Zach, get off the couch! If you want to sit on the couch, sit properly — and take your feet off the couch!” The sound of Zachary’s mother’s voice seem to give him a slight jump for his whole concentration was focused on this one man walking out there in the rain in high neighborhood. This was more Zachary’s concern than his feet being on the couch. So, he ignored his mother.

“BAM!” the mother’s hand came down and slapped his behind.

“You didn’t have to do that!” cried Zachary. “I was going to go ahead and get my feet off anyhow.” He jumped from the sofa and told his Mother what he saw outside. His Mother wasn’t going to believe a word he said, thought Zachary. So he tried again: “Mom there’s someone out there walking in that rain!” Sniffing, gathering his courage to bring in those tears — trying not to cry, Zachary told his Mom again. His Mom seems to ignore him at the inopportune times.

“What did you say Zach?” asked his Mother.

“I said there’s someone out there walking in the rain.” Zachary seems to be saying this rapidly, but his Mother was used to Zachary’s fast high-pitched voice. He only did this when he gets excited about something. Excitement got the better of Zach because he kept on talking in his famous high-pitched voice.

Outside the clouds started to get darker as if they were gathering for a dark meeting. The clouds merged together one by one and created such an atmosphere by crashing and blowing. These sounds were the beginning of a storm. Lighting flashed the winds picked up and the rain flashed down suddenly created mini-pools of water all over the roads. The roads looked slippery for any cars to be going on and this was wise of this town for they were not out at all. They all seem to be snuggled in their beds or sitting by a warm fire. Zachary was the only one who peered through the windows and saw this strange man in the gray suit just walking briskly across the street to the lot where he lived.

The winds picked up and blew fiercely and the lighting flashed. The afternoon seems to be pouring away to the evening. The sun just seems to disappear behind the dark clouds. Soon the sun was gone forever down the horizon. The little boy still peered out from his window trying to see the figure or shape of this man who was walking in the rain.

Zachary stared in horror as the demented figure of the man in the gray suit walked up his doorway and stopped to peer at Zachary through the window. Zachary again tried to stifle a scream as not to wake up his mother. The man spotted Zachary sitting up on that couch staring at him. Zachary ducked down as if he didn’t want the man to see who was looking at him. The man started to approach the doorway, but he kept his eyes on the window from where Zachary hid the whole time. Suddenly Zach looked at the man and very wide-eyed, the man seemed to squint at Zach with this most evil wicked stare and the man smiled at Zach.

Zachary couldn’t help but smile back. The most fake smile Zachary ever smiled to anyone. But he felt he had to smile anyway for what would happen if he didn’t smile back at the man in the wet weather just standing there in the wet rain drenching. The man smiled back and revealed sharp fangs and very ugly crooked teeth. The man’s tongue came out and started to flick in and out like a serpents tongue. Zach became even more scared as he thought of the Wizard of Oz’s evil witch and wondered if this creature could melt in the rain from the waters. But nope, the man looks immune to wet weathers. Zachary felt like he should call his mother over and to like tell her what exactly to expect the next few days. But he didn’t.

Suddenly, the unexpected happened — the man slowly started to walk towards the window Zachary peered at! Zachary becomes even more frightened that this time he didn’t give a startled scream but a deathly agonizing scream. Zach’s Mother ran into the living room where Zachary still screamed while holding on to the mm blind controls and she could hear the crashing down of the mini blinds on the wooden board where it holds the windows in place. Zach was breathing hard as if he cried out to his Mother.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” she asked Zachary with such a huge concern on her face. Zachary looked up with this wild-eyed stare at his Mom and peeked towards the mini blinds that were not closed. “Why you close the mm blinds, this weather is lovely to see from in here.” She started to get the mini blind control from Zach, but he pulled it away from his Mom.

“Don’t.”

His mother looked at him with such a strange quizzically face. “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”

The sound of the rain seems to hit the roof harder than ever and Zachary didn’t take any notice of this, but his Mother did.

“Oh dear! The rain is hitting the roof hard!” His Mother looked up at the ceiling as if the rain was going to come through the roof and land in her living room creating a pool for both Zachary and her to swim in. “How awful the rain is falling harder than ever!”

Zachary was shaking, from the cold perhaps? Not so. His Mother noticed this and questioned him. “Why are you shaking? Are you cold sweetie?”

Zachary was still holding on to that long string that attached to the mini-blinds to open them up. He actually clenched on that string tighter as if he was trying to keep it close shut tight forever and won’t let go. His Mom could see the tension on his face. His wide-eyed stare was still there and he dreamily let go of the blind and it swung back into its normal position. Suddenly the thunder rolled and the lighting flashed outside. Just for a tad bit of a second the lights flickered with the sound of the storm.

Suddenly at the door there was a loud knock and Zachary looked towards the door. The doorknob was turning. Luckily, his Mother always kept the doors locked. Zachary gave a deep cry and sighed heavily as if he were about to faint. He gathered up the courage to say, “No, Mom, don’t open that door if your life depended on it.” Zachary wanted to tell his Mom what he saw out they’re in the rain, but he didn’t want to frighten his Mother.

“Mom, don’t.”

“Now who would visit us at this hour and in such nasty weather?” His Mom walked up to the door about to turn the lock, “Hmmm... Wonder who it could be?”

Zachary pulled open the blinds faster than ever to check if the man was still standing outside his window wet from the rain. Zach wanted to see if that man was still with that sneer of a nasty smile and flicking that nasty serpent’s tongue. But in the falling rain he was not there at all. Zachary looked down at the ground where he stood just few minutes ago and saw the man’s footprints in the wet ground.

Not to anyone’s attention Zachary heard the thunder rolled and the sounds of heavy breathing behind the door his Mother was about to open. Zachary jumped from the sofa and ran to where his Mother stood. He ran so fast, that his Mother only gave a glimpse of Zachary running from the living room to the door. But it was too late, the door was unlocked and his Mother was opening the door.

The rain was falling into the house and Zachary could feel the wet rainfall into the living room. At the doorway his Mother opened the door and Zachary could see the gray coat and the red botched tie. Most of all Zachary could see the sneer and the flicking tongue. The man reached into the house and grabbed his Mother and closed the door shut. He was inside the house and he heard his Mother’s screams into the dark rainy night.

* * * * * *

Zachary just sat on the living room floor and he breathed hard. He thought this was maybe a nightmare, but his Mother was gone. Somewhere out in the storm with this strange man. Zachary didn’t know what to do. He ran to the phone and dialed a number only he could know.

“Police.” the voice on the other end sounded seldom. The voice was a male cop seemly bored with the weather and nothing to do.

“Help, my Mother is gone!”

“Calm down please sir, would you please give me your address and your name.” Zachary couldn’t believe such information was needed for emergencies. “I’m Zachary . . . I live on Willow Lane.” Zach was breathing hard at the sight of the man’s arms reaching out to grab his Mother and snatch her into the night.

“What exactly is the problem Zach?” The cop seems mild manner and he sounded patience. This was good for Zach. Zach began to explain the situation of what happened to his Mother and about the strange man.

“My Mother is gone!” cried Zachary.

“Where did she go?” asked the cop.

“I don’t know! That’s why I am calling you!” cried Zach.

“Okay, calm down sir,” the cop took a deep breath, “Explain to me what happened son.”
Zachary explained about the strange man and the cop was bewildered by kid’s explanation of such weird turn of events. The cop was disbelieving and said he will send someone down. The cop said he would send an investigator. Zachary listened to the cop’s instructions and said the investigator will be down shortly to the address that Zach provided. The lighting strike and the thunder rolled again when Zach asked what this investigator’s name was and what he would look like so he would let him in. Just about when the cop was to answer, the flash of lighting struck again and the phones went dead as the thunder rolled.

“Sir?” Zachary repeated again and again. “Sir? Sir?”

The phone went dead. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Zach didn’t realize that the cops would send a guy down right away and not that fast. Still he kept a cautious distance from the door. He stared at the doorknob waiting for it to turn. He walked up to the door and yelled out, “Who is it?!”

No answer.

“Who is it!!?” Zach yelled louder this time.

Still no answer once again.

Suddenly: “Zachary!” It was his Mother’s voice.

Zachary ran to open to door and let her in. “Mommy!” Zachary ran to hug her and he cried tears of joy. He beamed up at her and hugs her tight. The thunder rolled and the rain kept on falling. This was obvious from Zach’s Mother’s dress that was drenched with the rain. Zach stared up at his Mom and said, “I miss you, I was worried — wait a minute how did you come back?”

Zach could see the look in his Mother’s eyes — dead, lost and didn’t seem like Zach’s Mother at all. Suddenly she began to sneer and her tongue came out like a serpent,

“Come and join us Zachary!” The thunder rolled and the rain crashed onto the roof; the thunders loud crashes covered the screams of Zachary and the screeching sounds of Zach’s Mother’s voice as if she called the others to come. The rain fell and the thunder rolled as the sounds of screeching continued throughout the night. Meanwhile, the investigator came and saw the door ajar. He went in and saw Zach’s Mother.

“Did you get another one?”

Zach’s Mother replied with a hiss, “Yes.”

The investigator looked behind him as the man in the gray suit came into the house and looked about him and saw Zachary on the ground. Zachary’s face was frozen with a sneer. The lighting flashed and the rain beat on the roof loudly. The man in the gray suit with his sneer hissed and said to the two others in the house, as his tongue flickered out, tasting victory: “We should make this our nest for now. Let’s wait for the rain to settle and then we’ll move on to other neighbors.”

THE END

Cowboys - Little Boy's Playtime

Jake My Nephew as a Cowboy.

Me when I was a little boy as a Cowboy.

Like Uncle and Nephew, we both did the cowboy thing.

Imagine wearing a cowboy hat, boots, and jeans. Going out on the range, on horseback, traveling the lonely trials of the lone old west. The sun in rising in the horizon, and the keen eyes scan the land and the skies. Out in the open is a lone ranch with horses and a house with smoke coming out of the chimney. That means someone is home.

So we skittle dawdle out there and park our horses and they drink from the water that is laid out before them. We enter the house and we give our greetings to the lady of the house. "Ma'am" Tipping our hats her way and in respect we take our hats off and sit at the table. The mother made some ribs and pork and beans, and we drink merrily the drinks that are laid before us.

It is now noon, high noon and the sounds of yelling and gunshots are heard throughout the ranch. The horses screamed in surprise and the Indians are heading our way and they are shooting their arrows and guns. They came to steal the horses from the ranch. Us cowboys get our pistols out at the ready -- just being cautious and armed.

All of this is just an old west story. A playtime story of little boys and the costumes, the guns, the horses, and the good old west always lives on in little boy's dreams. I know I did. I know Jake will. It'll be a story that will live on again, and I know for the sake of stories, they will continue to inspire and make a child's world happy and fun.

Being Deaf and the Essence of Music

Around 1796 Ludwig van Beethoven began to lose his hearing which made it hard for him to perceive and appreciate music. For one thing one of the most beloved Classical composer has not always been deaf, he was born normal and created numerous pieces of music that created a beautiful world for him. Many of his symphonies spoke of vibrant tones in his stories that played out in the concert halls. Beethoven being deaf didn't stop him to continue to make many of his most famous symphonies. After being deaf, he created one of my favorite and famous piece, 9th Symphony, "Ode to Joy." When the 9th Symphony was played before audiences after it was completed, it received world renowned praises. It had a choral at the end singing praises to the native country of Austria and it had universal appeal of brotherhood. It was the first symphony to have words being sung against the background of lively music. It was a symphony within a symphony. In retrospect, it was the most musical piece of music ever written, it was a combination of vibrant colors and tones being played out and the audience was soaking it up. Only then Beethoven could hear it in his mind for it was his creation; it was the essence of music that was within him to accept that the silence world around him couldn't possibly falter his passion for creating such awesome music.

"Caroline Unger walked over and turned Beethoven around to accept the audience's cheers and applause. According to one witness, 'the public received the musical hero with the utmost respect and sympathy, listened to his wonderful, gigantic creations with the most absorbed attention and broke out in jubilant applause, often during sections, and repeatedly at the end of them.' The whole audience acclaimed him through standing ovations five times; there were handkerchiefs in the air, hats, raised hands, so that Beethoven, who could not hear the applause, could at least see the ovation gestures. The theatre house had never seen such enthusiasm in applause."*

Now I can see how Beethoven could "hear" the applause as he saw the audience waving their handkerchiefs in the air. For this is why I adore Beethoven as my favorite classical artist, his essence of music has given me inspiration to love music no matter if I can't hear it like he couldn't during his 9th Symphony performance. Now this leads to my discussion about being Deaf and the essence of music.

When I listen to music, I can hear it with the assistance of hearing aids, but music is more about just hearing it. It's about feeling it through the heart and soul. To be able to absorb those vibrations through sounds and the waves that these musical pieces creates led me to appreciate music so much more. Music is all about feeling and the effects that it creates when one listens to music. Put on Beethoven's 9th Symphony, listen carefully to how he would have heard the music without hearing it but feeling it through his soul, his heart, and most of all through the vibrations that music creates. Lovely music that fills the room with vibrant tones and colors, music that enthralls and fills the soul with beauty. Beethoven is simply this and so much more; the essence of his music and his piece of "Ode to Joy" is simply that: Joyful sounds and vibrant noise that I can feel through vibrations and emotions. For those who never really understood classical music, one has to sit and listen to Beethoven's 9th Symphony to be able to understand how not having ears that work can enjoy music in it's essence. The wholeness of music is entirely on the imagination of the listener -- to be able to imagine and feel what the composer wanted one to feel what he was going through when the piece was written. Imagine: being deaf and not hearing music, but knowing there is an orchestra in Beethoven's mind continuously being played and it's as if the orchestra has always been alive in his mind even when he could hear. That is how I hear music as well. It's in my mind, my heart, and my soul. Not all music can be enjoyed through the simplicity of hearing, but loving the sounds of Beethoven's 9th Symphony through the way the music moves you.

That my friends, is the essence of music and being Deaf in a world of sounds. A world that takes sounds for granted -- a world of music that is all around us. Either we see it, hear it or feel it -- music continues to live in each and every one of us. That's what Beethoven has done for me. Being Deaf and the essence of music don't really go hand in hand, but if you understand music through emotions and vibrations it can always and only be a part of something more in our lives. Ode to Joy! Live on, the music lives on, and that is the essence of music.

*June 29, 2008. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven
Photo Permisson: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Beethoven.jpg/180px-Beethoven.jpg

The Dark Room - A Story

The darkness engulfed me and built a black and mysterious shroud that covered me from head to toe. I tried to allow my eyes to adjust to my surroundings. I couldn't. As I sat on the floor, finding myself in this emptiness of black space; I had a feeling of claustrophobic in my surroundings. I tried to get up, but I couldn't. Something held me down. I tried to move my arms, but something cold and hard was around my wrist. This something limited my movement of my arms. I tried to move my feet, but these too, were tied down by something hard and cold. I breathed really hard trying not to panic. Waking up to this dark room, not knowing where I was panicked me a bit. My heart rate was going sky high as I gasped for breath. Not knowing if my surroundings had enough air to breathe, not knowing where I was frightened me and I felt fear crawled up my spine.

With each panic sensation in my body, I struggled to get up -- but nothing will accomplish this if I cannot see. Listening to this dark room would have helped, but the silence itself in this room was deafening. There was not one sound, not even the sound of my shallow breathing. I knew then that in this situation I found myself in, I had to calm down and chill a bit to figure out what I am to do. And that is mainly to figure out where I am. This dark room, these chains (what I figured them to be) tied me down to this place I find myself in. How did I ever get here? I wondered to myself. What is this room? Where am I? Trying to open the flood gates of my memories, even though distant they may be. I had to try to close my eyes again and open them -- hoping that this was all just a dream. Open my eyes I will, and find myself back to where I originally was. Where this was? I do not know. What I did before I found myself in this impossible situation, that I did not know either. Once again, not remembering the before that happened, began to panic my mind and my body started to shiver and shake as I began to become nervous. Still! I must be still and try to calm down and not let the craziness begin. O if the craziness does begin, the madness I will slumber into will be heart-wrenching indeed. What am I to do? WHAT am I to DO!?

Calm. Calmness began to build inside of me. Once again, I tried to see in this dark room. I was trying to figure it out where I am, by listening, by smelling, and darting my tongue to see if the air tasted different. Perhaps a little taste of the air will give me one tiny clue to what this room is. What this dark silence room meant. This place I find myself chained to. Apparently I was chained to this floor of hard concrete and cold metal. Yes, the floor is hard, and there is nothing soft about this situation I find myself in. I must, I really must calm down before madness takes a hold of me and draws me into insanity. I can't, I mustn't and I won't be mad. I have to be calm! I need to be calm so I can figure things out with a sharp mind. Calm. Calmness engulfed my body again.

Still, the darkness wrapped around me like black wrapping paper around a child's big toy. And the bows with dark blackness tied the box down like these chains tied me down. I tried to see through this darkness. The room itself, I could feel was small. How do I know if I couldn't see? I just know. I just feel it around me like this darkness I know is there because it just is. Now what am I to do if I can't see where I am? What am I to do about this situation I find myself in? I tried to recall what I did before I came here. No memory was recollected in the deep recesses of my brain. The deep and hallow halls of my memory banks could not find one iota bit of information to help me with the situation I find myself in now. All I could remember was darkness -- darkness and nothing more. O madness that starts to make me quiver with fear. Madness in my bones shook the very frame of my body. Again, I told myself, calm. Calmness reached my lips as I tried to speak out words that I didn't know I could speak. I cussed at the dark room; mainly I cussed at the nothingness around me. I shook my arms and legs, but the limited dexterity and the limited motion of my body allowed me to tense up. I felt the panic in my bones rise again. My breathing became even more rapid than ever. My breathing became hard -- what am I to do!? Anxiety was building up in me, for I hated not knowing. I hated not knowing where I was, and how I came to be here. This room had a psychological advantage over me. It was driving me insane! I was going crazy now, as my breathing became quicker with each rising heart beat. I could hear my heart make such a heavy noise, as if the burden of my soul rested there -- heavy with grief as I began to shake. I shook like the trees with weak branches as the wind shook the leaves down to the ground. I shook like these branches of a tree and shaking I wanted to just get up and run out of this dark room and find the light! Only I couldn't -- I was limited by the chains on my feet and my wrists. My body tense as my hands squeezed shut, trying to grasp at anything except these cold metallic chains around me. Suddenly I told myself, once again to be calm. Be calm! Be calm. Calmness was long ago gone, suddenly like an old friend it crept back into my body and I could feel the tenseness disappearing . . . My Body like a jellyfish felt fluid. I felt the darkness around me once again, but the darkness was my eyelids shutting down on me. That was when I gasped and dropped to the ground as the lights from the door suddenly beamed at me. I fell down in a heap, still chained, and still not knowing what was to become of me.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blinking; I was blinking for the light blinded me. The door was ajar and there were noises. There was some noise of laughter -- it was loud. The men wore white uniforms. They held sticks that were pointy and they all had this stern look upon their face. The laughter died down as another man entered the room. He wore red and he didn't have stick in his hand. He entered with that of a dignified man. I was still chained to the floor and the light shone and illuminated my position in this room. I was in a holding cell. The chains limited me because I was their prisoner. The men chattered but silenced down as the man in red entered the room. He came upon me and faced me, and looked down at me for I was lying on the ground. I figured I probably fainted, but who knows how much time has gone? The man in red with his little mustache and beady black eyes stared at my own eyes that could finally see. I gazed away from him to look around me. This room was small, a holding cell as I mentioned, and the floor was indeed cold for it was metal. A metal floor could only mean one thing. Even with the white walls surrounding me, after the light illuminated the color of these walls -- I knew that now the metal floor could only mean one thing: this was an institution. An institution for what? I do not know. But by the look of these men surrounding me in their white uniforms and sticks that they hold -- I knew it was a serious and strict institution. I was institutionalized for something. I have no clue how I ended up here, but I am sure to find out by the man in red. He spoke briefly:

"Get up!" His words were harsh and mean. There was a stable tone to his voice. The men in white laughed again. The man in red's head swerved and scanned the men in white uniforms. His stern look stared at his people -- for they obeyed and silenced themselves quickly. I got up, but it was hard and the idea that I was here have not occurred to my mind yet. The madness that was there seemed to be gone. My mind was numb from the light that poured in from the halls. I couldn't see outside for the lights were blinding me. The light seems to illuminate the situation a bit. The man in red looked at me again and strenuously yelled at me to get up. "Get up!"

I got up. I stood before this man and the men surrounding me. I finally breathed a little easier now because the oxygen was fresh from the door that stood ajar. I stared around at all the mysterious faces that stared down at me. Finally, the man in red asked me a question that was unexpected: "Are you ready?"

I mumbled something and gasped, and tried my voice again: "For what?"

The man in red was angry, he was mean, and he was impatient as he explained: "You are free to go."

"Go where?" I asked, still confused by the situation. The dark room I was in made more sense than what this man was asking me. The men in white that surrounded me and supported this man in red suppressed a laugh. But it was too late, the man in red heard it and swerved his heard once more to his people and they silenced their laughter once again, promptly and with respect.

"To hell, of course. . ." The man in red simply replied.

"But why, I am not dead, I am not yet dead. . . “Now the calmness was evaporating, the fear trembled inside of me again. I pulled at my chained feet, and I pulled at the chains around my wrist. The man in red simply and calmly just looked at me. He was still waiting for my answer. What if I told him no, what would become of me? Will I still stay in this dark room and go insane until the day I said yes? Till I acknowledge to this man in red, that yes I am ready to go to hell.

The men in white awaited my answer as well. The impatience of this man in red appeared on his face, for his stern look became even meaner. He slowly squinted and gazed at me. He reached into his jacket and pulled out one key. Just a key that was black. Dark black like the darkness that enshrouded me hours ago -- was it an hour or two ago? I do not know. Time seem to have no meaning in this dark room.

"Why? Did I die already? What is this place!?" I asked in expiation.

The man in red smirked at me and with contempt in his voice said, "Oh you don't know? You don't know what this room is?"

The laughter of the men in white had the same smirk on their faces as well. The laughter died down again as the man in red once again shushed the men to be quiet. Approaching me with the key at hand and unlocking the chains that held me to this dark room, he stood a couple of paces back and turned to reveal the door with the glowing light that illuminated the room.

"Why you are in purgatory, my friend. You have suffered and now come to the crossroads between heaven and hell. Guess where you are going? And this key that I now hold in my hand here will give you the answers." He demonstrated the key by holding it in his index finger and thumb, grasping it by the bottom tip -- the part that goes into a door. What door, and where will that door lead me, I do not know. The key was black and the man holding it wore red, while the congregation behind me wore white. I knew by the way this man was mean, how he scolded me to get up and how the laughter filled the once dark room with devious noise. I knew by looking at this man that the key that he held was for only one place and that one place I dread more than this dark room.

The man in red handed me the key and I took it in my hands. The movement was at ease now; I could move my legs and arms for I was not chained anymore. The very key that gave me my freedom in which I am able to move about this dark room. I followed the light and stepped to the door frame where the illuminated was behind me as I turned back to the men in white who still hold their wands in their hands, and looking back at the man in red -- his smirk was still there. His eyes gazed at my every move and he asked again: "Do you know where you are going my friend?"

I shook my head and silently said no. I mouthed these words, but in the back of my mind I thought to myself: Anything is better than this dark room.

Anything?

The black key I held in my hand and I walked into the light. The crowd of men in white watched me as I walked into the light. The last thing I saw was the man in red still with his smirk on his face and his eyes were menacingly looking at me as I continued to go into the light. The key in my hand started to burn my skin, but I held on, and I know this was my pain. This was my punishment for sins. This was the key that I held that will lead me to another room, and the key that I put into the door that I will face will have to be opened wit his very key. And I will be walking into the room with the same four walls of white, and the hard concrete floor and on that floor in the middle of the room will be the very same chains that held me before. Free I was for only a brief moment of time to once again use the black key to chain myself to the floor and toss the key away. Then as I close my eyes to accept the darkness once again, I will start to feel the panic raise in me as I begin to flutter my eyes open in an hour or in two hours; then I will find myself enveloped once again in darkness. The place I will find myself again will be this dark room. The very dark room that the man in red had led me into led me to believe that my sins are not repented. My insanity built up here and then, as the fears allowed me to scream and be lost in this mysterious dark room.

Ah, darkness here! Here in this room. The dark room that I find myself chained to. The darkness that is there, and chases my demons here on, forevermore!

Photo Permisson: Accessed and Copied on Web from: http://www.cybertrn.demon.co.uk/guardian/door.jpg

June24, 2008

Too hot? Then Head to the Beaches!

Today I was determined to head out to the beaches. I took my 49ers chair, some sodas and water. Few snacks as well. I even took my backback with swim wear, towel and a place to hold my valuables. Gathered all this and headed out to the PCH.

Took a drive down the One and enjoyed the vast immense view of the Pacific Ocean. Passing Laguna and headed to Aliso Beach, where there were a few people (not as crowded as Laguna and Newport). I parked there and it was like a dollar for one hour for parking. Not too bad, I thought. Then I got out of the car, gathered all my stuff and changed into my swimming gear and headed to the sandy beach.

I plopped myself and my stuff near the coast, where the waves were gigantic and wonderful to watch. It was still early in the morning and there were alot of dudes with surfboards. There were even tourists, and you can always tell, they didn't come to swim, but to take pictures and they wore clothes that seem to be fitting for walking around a mall instead of sitting down or going for a swim.

Alas, I enjoyed watching the surfers. It was interesting how good they were, and how they kept their balance to ride the waves. Alot of daring stunts as they oftentimes crashed with the waves and failed to ride it. But that didn't allowed them to not have any fun. They tried again and there was some amazing balance as the dudes hung on for the ride.

The high waves looked so beautiful. I gazed at the blue sky and saw a sea bird flying overhead. Searching for something to eat, I assumed. Sitting here, with The Godfather novel in hand, and a nice cold Dr.Pepper; I felt relaxed and content for the first time in this Summer Month. I wished that Candice was sitting next to me and enjoying the sights of the surfers and the crashing waves, and the soothing melodies of the ocean.

Here I present some pictures of my views of the wonderful Beaches near Irvine, California. In the near distance is Laguna and next to that is Newport and so on.. I just found myself here at Aliso Beach and enjoyed the wonderful relaxing atmosphere of our beautiful Pacific Oceans. In a way, this was my mini vacation and I enjoyed it. . .

Summer Blues

2pm, 88 degrees at Irvine, California. I am hanging out at my apartment at Palo Verde 8127. Outside it's a clear and beautiful day, but one step outside that door, the heat wave will grab at you and pull you all the way down to the Summer Heat Wave. The Heat Wave that will lessen someone's enthusiastic going about the day feeling. Right now, it's the Summer Blues. Candice is still at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Our two dogs are sleeping off the afternoon and I am here writing out this blog for the day. The heat is rising all over Southern California and the hot air is blowing in from the open windows. In a way it is kind of nice because it shows that Summer is finally here. It's still in the middle of June and all that is left to look forward to is Candice coming home from the East coast. Meanwhile, I am still searching for any kind of job to keep me busy. As of right now, Disney is still not in the future yet. Since the audition I was kind of disappointed, but nevertheless I am still on the search for a job.

I think with this Summer month, it is beginning to pick up the heat waves and building higher and higher with each passing Day into the lateness of June. Staying indoors and staying cool is my priority right now. Gas is expensive and the price of everything is on a constant high. Where has our summer vacations gone? With the craziness of gas prices and everything else, staying indoors seems more and more like a fitting idea: since it's cooler. Alas, the idea of going to New Mexico is still in store. Driving down to New Mexico will be expensive on gas, but it would be nice to attend a wedding. It will be nice to go to the Mountains of New Mexico and perhaps catch a hot air balloon ride soaring high over our heads.

But like Dorthy from Kansas once said, "There's no place like home." That is why the summer blues, for I miss Candice and await for her arrival back home to Irvine, California. A place where the beaches are a few miles out and that my friends, is what I plan to do sometimes to get my Summer going. As for now, I need to do so many other stuff before I go out and chill by the beach. Palo Verde Apartment 8127, the place where I am staying indoors to chill with iced teas, movies, and of course some good books to read. The ocean's waves are calling to me from Newport or Laguna, even Huntington Beach -- the waves are crashing on the sandy shores where I bet there are many people now laying and basking in the summer sun. The heat wave continues to bring in the Summer Blues. The Blues of our Pacific Oceans, and the blues of our beautiful skies, and the blues of gas prices and the blues of missing Candice. Maybe when Candice comes home she'll be able to say, "There's no place like Home." And that my friends, is Irvine, California -- Palo Verde Apartment 8127.

Photo permission: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/2203980054_343ed7a026.jpg?v=0

Well, there's always Next year...

LAKERS LOSE :-(

What happened? Where was the MVP? Kobe was MIA (Missing In Action) instead. (Check out Bill Plaschke's article in LA Times)

http://www.latimes.com/la-sp-plaschke18-2008jun18,0,5112683.column

Instead of showing up as MVP in the most embarrassing loss for Lakers fan, we got a Kobe Bryant that didn't show up. Well, the whole blame can't be on Kobe -- there was Odom that disappeared, Fisher, Gasol and some of the blame on this loss can be placed on our very own Phil Jackson who is still tied with Red for most championships. I think the Celtics were more hungry for a ring, for many of those never had one and this Finals Championship was their first. But I am not going to say what a loss for the Lakers because with what they had and what they went through to rebuild this team, and with Kobe wanting another player to fit the puzzle to continue their run in playoffs -- they got it, they had it, and it just fell apart at the very end. I think next year, yes there is always next year, they can find more pieces of that puzzle to create a new run at the championship and don't forget Celtics fans, Lakers were mainly not really put together because Bynum wasn't there. That one guy could added more blocks, added more rebounds, and it would have been a different outcome. (who knows?)



Anyway, this is just one short Blog to applaud a great series and great acting (Oscars all around to the so called injured players - P.Pierce and others). Along with their championship trophies on the mantle, there will be Oscars Trophies standing alongside. I know this sounds like a sore loser, but really, I applaud a great dramatic series and I applaud the Lakers from being "nothing" to a great caliber team to the playoffs. No one expected it, and no one expected the Lakers to face the Celtics. Of course, everyone expected the Celtics to go to the Finals, but the purple and gold had a drive that no other team had and this was from their MVP. If the Lakers add more enthusiastic players like Kobe we could have hung there and made it a tougher series. Yes, a lot of players were MIA, but the heart and soul of the team would probably hang his head and head on home and demand another trade until he got more players that he wants. Congratulations to the true MVP of the Finals -- the actors of the Celtics.



Still Kobe was probably not as hungry because he already has his shares of NBA Finals Rings. He was MIA because of his heavy hand with all those rings -- he didn't need Shaq, because he had a young and hungry team. Just that in that last game of the year, they were probably full because Kobe fed them with his own hunger and it didn't seem to motivate them. Like I said, LAKERS are still the team to beat and there is always next year!



Kobe with all those rings and Garnett, Paul Pierce with just one.. a dynasty for the Celtics? hmm.. nah, because we had that one missing piece Bynum. It would have been a whole different series.



Until next year -- now on to Football!

Link used from: LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/ 18, June. 2008. Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times

On This Father's Day...

Well, I finally made it back home to Barstow, California. Everyone always wanted me to come back for a visit. Well, here I am. I spent yesterday with my nephew Jake at his Grandpa and Grandma's house. He was so much fun to hang with yesterday. I arrived at Barstow and knew, but didn't really expected the hot heat of this small desert town. But here is mi familia. I went to visit Jake at my old home.

Here in Barstow, I came and went to dinner with my family to celebrate Larry's birthday. My Brother in Law, Daddy to Jake and husband to my sister, Christina. Such a happy family and so much in the store for Jake as he quickly grows up. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him -- bubbly personality and walking around already. Also, he loves to eat! (Reminds me of me when I was a little toddler myself)

Anyway, in this Vlog I put down today I mentioned the fact, I didn't make it at the Disney Audition -- they already had the maximum amount of people that meets the height requirement. Yes, I was disappointed, but oh well.. there are other opportunties out there. I will try to find another position at Disneyland I hope. If not, I am just going to make the best of my summer and enjoy the beaches and so forth. I will have to try to study hard for my CSETs and pass them to continue my education at UCI. Nevertheless, I am not disappointed as much, but enjoyed the experience of auditioning and trying to get in. As I continue this Vlog, I mentioned spending time with my Father on Father's Day. We worked on my car this morning and washed it and waxed it. Quality time with my Father is always a pleasure.

As I go on in this Vlog and write in this Blog about missing my one and only love, Candice, she is already settled at East coast and she will send me pics and she will be able to talk to me on Video or IM when she gets a chance. Of course, she'll have those busy days. I love her so much and miss her, but I am sure she is having a great time. I will count the days when she gets back.

Anyway here is my Vlog for today: Happy Father's Day to all the Dads. Especially mine who I love so much. Thank you for all the things you do for us. Even when we don't ask, or don't need it, you provide all the words of wisdom and give us assistance when you feel we need it. Thank you for you for being you! You are one of the greatest Dad and I am honored to be your son. God Bless you always, Your Son, Gilberto.

Continue for today's Vlog:

Oh no! Oh, Well...

Oh no! The Lakers lost the biggest lead in a NBA Finals ever! The Celtics, which I have to tip my hat off to, never gave up. The Lakers really did a great first half and Odom finally scored! He finally got his game going, but with great offense always comes great defense. That my friends, is what disappeared for the Lakers in the second half. The Green envy of the Lakers showed up and demolished the biggest lead in NBA Finals history and the Lakers just disappeared off the face of this earth for the whole second half. Actually they disappeared in the lights and glamour of Hollywood and soaked into the knots of the Staples Center hardwood floor. What was Phil Jackson thinking!? Why didn't he not tell his team something like "okay, we got a big lead, keep playing a great offense. . ." Oh, well.. what about the defense of the Lakers that disappeared!? As a Lakers fan, I am frankly embarrassed! :-(

Anyway, as I write this on Friday, the 13th of June, I think the bad luck omen as arrived a tad bit earlier for the Lakers and their fans. It was an embarrassing loss and I am going to get over it because life goes on. Oh well, life indeed has a lot of surprises in the store for all of us Lakers fans. We just need to hold them off for that one last bit of victory that could give the Celtics their Champion status up there in the rafters. For this reason I say, Oh no, but oh well.. next time! One more game in LA and back to Boston. (If LA can come back stronger than that measly effort in the second half.) Like I said beforehand, well, life goes on and it's tomorrow that my Disney Auditions will be coming up and then Father's Day. For all the Fathers out there I wish them Happy Father's Day and if you are a purple and yellow fan, don't give up, Lakers could win it again and try to win 3 straight (which has been done before). Oh well, I just hope Disney holds in the store for me is a job and a fun one at that. And if I do work at Disney, which is the most happiest place on earth, then I might just need it to get over this devastating loss and most lopsided defeat in the history of NBA Finals.

My Girl, Candice Chavez, leaves tomorrow to fly to the East Coast to work in the labs over there at Holes Creek at Massachusetts. I will miss her dearly, and I know she will do really wonderful over there. I have to say I am proud of her accomplishments at UCI and in her life. She has done so much and has worked hard, and sometimes I think I know she will be successful at whatever career she finds herself in; I just know and hope she is Happy where ever she is and I know I love her so much that whatever happens for me, I hope it makes her happy too. I wish Candice the best of luck on her journey and I know we will definitely keep in touch. I love her so much and that always and only makes the difference in my life as I go on my own journey to Disney and continue to bask in the Summer Sun of Irvine, California. Also too, congratulations to all the Grads who are graduating and much Love to all the Dads, especially mine.

Happy Father's Day Dad, I love you so much. Thanks again, for reading this blog and the others. I will continue to post my Vlogs and Blogs, as I continue to journey through the Chronicles of Gilberto during the Summer months.

Candice: I really Love you. Have a Safe Journey!

Lakers Win!

GO LAKERS

Wow! They did it! I was relieved that they finally beat the Celtics, but it's not over. It's still a long ways to go to win this series. Luckily the momentum has shifted to LA and playing at home has been great for the Lakers. I am sure they can keep on winning 2 more at home since the format of the series is 2-3-2. The first 2 at Boston was tough, since the home crowd was at their feet for the Bostonians. The Lucky Green has been infectious at home and the Lakers were just sick with green. I guess the green rubbed on the Lakers but it was actually the black and white stripe guys that rubbed a little bit on the Lakers. They were miffed! Phil was out of his Zen and was furious. But it worked because the Lakers had some great calls their way (and so many others that wasn't very good). In my Vlog on this Blog I mentioned that the Lakers won the game and inspired by Kobe's efforts to put a winning smile on Jack Nicholson and the many LA Fans -- my Smile was Great! :-D I was very happy they finally beat Boston. Still, it's going to be a tough series. We'll see how it goes from there. As I mentioned in my Vlog, the Lakers should win all their home games and go back to Boston and rob the Celtics of their Glory of many championships and rob Red of his record, and allowed the Lakers to bask in the Glow of the California Sunshine with yellow rays. Hopefully the California sun will be out in Boston and allow the Lakers to clinch a much deserved championship, only if the other players of Kobe's team can score and play solid defense. Like I said: let's see how it goes from here.

GO LAKERS!

My Nephew Jake

On January 29, 2007 Jake Michael Franks was born. One year later on January 29, 2008 he celebrated his 1st Birthday. When a baby is born in the world, we are all fascinated by the miracle of life that one can hold in our arms and be amazed by how fast time flies and before one knows it the baby is big and is able to walk, and babble. I am proud that my sister Christina Franks and my brother in law, Larry Franks had Jake and amazingly enough they are a small but Big-time loving family. When Christina and Larry got married, I was happy and I know that Jake will make our lives happy throughout his life. I am sure will grow up to be a wonderful young man. I hope he keeps his zeal and smiles, and bubbly personality forever when he grows up.

I am Jake's Uncle and I am sure he knows it and since I am here and they are over there, I am sure he knows it. I wanted to post something about my nephew because when he grows up he can be able to see this and now that his Uncle was always thinking about him. This is Jake on the right side playing the piano. Perhaps someday he will be a musician. Perhaps he will be a baseball player and love sports like his Dad. (Or me for that matter -- a fan of sports, but don't really play all that much.) So, maybe he'll be a musician like Christina and I were in band. Her playing the clarinet in elementary school band and I, playing the drums, perhaps a musician? Who know what young Jake will be interested in when he grows up.

All I know is that Jake's life will be filled with love and happiness as we can see him playing the keyboard on this film. His Grandpa Garcia loves to film Jake and you can see the joy in his filming of Jake, his Grandson. This makes me feel blessed for our little family in our lives. With every day that Jake grows an inch or two more, he will be young man on a journey of life as much as we all are on right now. The only difference is that his is just starting. And that idea only makes me smile even more.

Much love to my nephew Jake and the parents raising him. Also much love to my parents as they see how their first grandchild make them smile even the more everyday.

For Christina and Larry, Jake's Parents, wish you luck in being part of a young child's life and to be able to anticipate the many challenges that will come - especially with education and the choices this young man might make in the future. I love you and your family, and may Jake's journey be similar to all of us that has gone through so much in our lives. May Jake have his chronicles and experiences.


Wherever you are, whatever you do: I Love you Jake, my nephew.

My Second Vlog - News From Palo Verde, UCI

Hello everyone! This is my second attempt at Vlogging. As you see from my earlier posts there is a vlog that I tried for the first time. Here is my second Vlog and I titled it "News from Palo Verde, UCI." At the University of California, Irvine we live at the graduate Housing apartments of Palo Verde. Palo Verde is where my girlfriend Candice Chavez and I, along with our two dogs Shumae and Paris, reside for awhile already.

In this Vlog I talk about our two dogs Shumae and Paris. I mentioned about my upcoming auditions at Disney this Saturday. Also on the same day my girlfriend Candice will be flying to the East Coast to stay at Cape Code for a month for her research field. Should be a nice setting by the coast of the Atlantic ocean and while she is gone, I hope to be working at Disneyland.

Another thing I talk about in this Vlog is the Celtics-Lakers match up tonight at LA Staples Center. Hopefully they can sweep at home and come back to Boston and grab one more for the championship! We'll see.

At the end of the Vlog, I talk about keeping in touch with Candice either through video phone, IM, or other means. We'll see how that goes. I will miss You Candice, for I love you very much. Ah, she will gone for a month :-( But time will fly by fast and she'll be home before I know it.

Well, here it is my second Vlog: News from Palo Verde, UCI.

Thanks for watching! More posts in my Blog: The Chronicles of Gilberto will be upcoming. Enjoy your summer and congratulations to all the graduates -- Remember the key to opportunity lies in the fact that education will open many doors to your dreams. Kick back, get a good book, hit the beaches and enjoy your summer! Cowabunga! Surf's Up!

School is Out - Welcome Back Summer

Summer days are here again, and I feel like this will once again be a hot one. (And probably an expensive one - what with the gas prices and all!) Nevertheless, summer has always been an adventure filled with surprises and fun. Starting off my summer will of course be the auditions at Disney this Saturday! I am so excited about this! (I hope I can be a character, perhaps Mickey Mouse himself - who knows!)

This Summer there is going to be my cousin Regina's wedding in New Mexico in July. I think that will be fun. I have always love New Mexico. It's so beautiful out there. New Mexico is where my family is from, but I'm a born Californian. That's why I think I love Summer. The sun, the beaches, and the feel of perfect weather to be outside with a good book and a cold glass of iced tea.

Summer time is nice at night too -- the cool breeze from the Santa Ana winds, the nice skies of twinkling stars, and the big moon overwatching us. The summer nights are wonderful because its usually is the welcome guest of the hot days.

Another thing I love about summers are the movies! I enjoy going to the movies. Candice and I, hopefully we will go see a movie or two this summer. I love the idea of going to the movies and enjoying it with one you love. Its the best feeling in the world. The scent and taste of popcorn, the big soda drink to satisfy the thrist, and the loud sounds of the movie soundtracks -- its Hollywood at its best: on the Big screens during the Big holiday months of Summer.

Now school is out, summer is in and the fun begins. What does summer hold in store for me? Disney? Movies? Wedding bells ringing? Trip to New Mexico? Only time will tell. As time does fly by quickly, so does the fun. Time flies by as the fun builds up to an all time high. The closer the days get to my audition, the higher the excitement to probably get a job for the summer. For school is out, I'm officially on break from UCI till the Fall, and which is why I am looking forward to summer in hopes to work as Mickey. Oh summer time, but oh oh what about those summer nights....yes, summer is here again. Welcome back old friend.

Now how about a bike?

My First Vlog

Here it is: This is my First Vlog. For those of you who are bloggers and are new to Vlogs ... like me! I am new at this blogging and now I discovered how to make Vlogs. Video Blogs. Since the Deaf world rely on visual cues to communicate -- what better way to promote their words through the language of ASL through Video. With Vlogs, sort videos can be a diary of identity of what one wants to communicate across to an audience out there on the world wide web.
This is one of my first experiments at Vlogs and I know it probably will not come out as well, but I tried! I hope this Vlog will be something I can continue to do in the future, but I love to write. Maybe more vlogs will be on the way if I can train myself to do a professional job next time. As for now, the Vlog I give you is my first, an introduction to the Vlog blogosphere. It was fun, and I hope to do more in the future, Enjoy!

Hope that was good. Well, as I said in this Vlog in ASL was that I am basically at UCI, studying in the single subject English credential program. Hoping to teach perhaps Middle school or High School. Also, I said I went to CSDR where I graduated in 1995 and there it was my Deaf identity that I obtained and now I am hoping to someday have my name published in my own works, perhaps a book. I am Gilberto Garcia, and hopefully I can create more Vlogs as these. Bye bye.

That was my first attempt at a Vlog and this was something I thought long and hard about because since Vlogs are becoming the current trends in blogging for the Deaf world, I figured I'll try my hand at one of these. As I mentioned, more will come if I figure out how to tweak it to look better. Thanks for reading this "Chronicles of Gilberto" and I will continue to take you on the journey through the Deaf World as well as my World: The Chronicles of Gilberto. Peace and See you soon!

CSDR - Home Away From Home

CSDR - Home Away from Home

Just sitting here thinking about my past, thinking about how much time has flown by. Here I am sitting here at UCI in the Education Resource Center, eating my lunch and reminiscence about the old days. Thinking back to when I was a teen and being in a school at Riverside, California where my roots were planted and where my personality grew to become who I am today. I look at this picture and recalled - Chet, Enrique, and Brian who stood next to me and we graduated Middle School at CSDR. Behind us was our dorm, Rubidoux, and this was where I stayed -- my home away from home.

The reason it was home away from home was because Riverside was far away from Barstow, California. I stayed at this dorm Sunday Nights to Friday afternoon -- where we took buses or vans to transport us from our homes and to school where we stayed in our dormitories. This was life for me from 1989-1995. These friends I made, there people I learned from and had great enlightened conversations with. Now, I think back to where they are right now? What are they doing? As I sit here at UCI and thinking back to what I wanted to be when I "grew up." Of course, I wanted to be a writer or an actor. Things can change through the years and who I am today is due to our childhoods and what we went through as adolescents. The maturity level that we went through as a student at CSDR was due to the major independence in living in a Dorm and learning to live with others in the same room. The only negative impact of living at CSDR was missing one's family, being away from home. A lot of growing up with Mom and Dad, and siblings was greatly missed. Was my time away at CSDR worth it? In many ways I would say yes due to me learning about the Deaf-World, and learning about the language of ASL.

The connections of missing home and family due to being at the dorms at CSDR and attending school was a way to think back to the then and respect and embrace the now of my life. I am obtaining goals and learning so much at UCI, and I believed I have grown since my days at CSDR. CSDR gave me my identity as a Deaf person, who is able to achieve whatever I put my mind to. CSDR has been my home for a lot of years and I made a lot of friends. I even respected the establishment that teachers and counselors who were at the school because they were part of my experiences in growing up. To be matured at this age and think back to the past and thank CSDR for being my Home for awhile. Now living here at Irvine, California, I think that the belief that Deaf people can do anything they want -- except hear is proven true. I can't hear as much as the average person, but I do listen to the past and hear that I was once young and went to CSDR, but now I am ambitiously trying to be a teacher to be able to give back to others who have the opportunities as I do in the future at this wonderful school. I do hope they take advantage of their "home away from home."