author

Traitor- Torn in Two

Torn

Torn in two I ask myself

what did I do?

Not knowing how or when or why

but just cry

enjoyed the conversation at first

but now it hurts

and hurts and hurts…

Feel like I turned into a traitor

I’m now a stranger

not knowing the reason behind it all

did my soul call?

I ask myself what did I gain?

A heart that pains

and pains and pains…

Slowly see myself fade away

self, please stay

answer these questions for me, then go

I want to know.

Wishing to know, and hope I try

but slowly I die

and die and die…

– Dreams of a Blue Moon

December 24, 2017 0

The Frog Princess- Truth

via Image Writing Prompt #39

‘Are you a frog or a prince?’

‘A princess actually.’

‘I was just kidding I didn’t expect you to talk.’

‘Why not?’

‘This is not real!’

‘Define real’

‘Anything that is tangible. Anything we can use our senses to identify’

‘I beg to differ. There are intangible things that are real too. Things we know in our minds which cannot be clearly conceptualized’

‘Such as?’

’The truth’

‘Is the truth real?’

‘It depends. Is it my truth or your truth?’

‘My truth, of course.’

‘Your truth is real for you but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s real for me’

‘Give me an example’

‘Flies, to me, taste good. This is the truth I reached have used my sense of taste. I don’t think you would prefer flies over whatever you had for breakfast this morning’

‘Why isn’t there one truth for us all?’

‘Because that means we have to conceptualize things the same way, but we don’t have the same senses nor do we share the same thoughts.’

‘How is it that we need to use our limited and subjective senses to conceptualize and define our personal intangible truth, and then hold onto it without questioning the lack of logic behind our theories? If we need to define the truth with our senses does it mean that our senses are superior to the truth?’

‘It means we are blessed with the tools to think but what we do with these tools are entirely up to us. Some people use these tools to live their days and some use these tools to find out more about what we are doing on this world and the truth we all seek.’

‘Do all living creatures seek the truth?’

‘Some already found their truths and are living happily’

‘What truth should we be looking for?’

‘A good truth to start searching for is why you stopped to talk to a frog? What truth are you coming from?’

‘Ah but that is not the question here, princess. The question is why do you consider yourself a princess where I can clearly see you as a frog’

‘Is that true?’

‘It’s true for me’

‘If I see myself as a princess then that’s my truth regardless of what you see’

‘You are a frog’

‘And you think so because you see that using your subjective biased and limited sight?’

‘Yes’

‘And you are basing your theory on your subjective, biased, and limited senses?’

‘Yes’

‘Then, my dear child، you have learned nothing’

December 20, 2017 0

The Man Who Buried

Bury

He was known to bury his feelings. A great actor with a greater teacher. A teacher who taught him that when you were born and cried, your mother wasn’t there to hold and comfort you, for she abandoned you. A teacher who taught him that being bounced from foster home to another only meant friends changing and never settling in. A teacher who taught him that he is not wanted, a dog when families required puppies.
So it went on… a child living everyday wishing it was his last and not feeling anything because, come to think of it, why would he want to feel anything?
So he buried a piece of himself.
When He turned 18, he was given the opportunity to leave the home and find his way in the world so his teacher encouraged him to do so, just to slam every door in his face. It was difficult to find a job, any job, so he looked some more. Persisted and chose to bury all feelings of disappointment when he was turned down at interviews. Until he found a job that required him to work night shifts moving truckloads of trash away from civilization.
So he drove all the way out every night, and buried a piece of him.
His life got better: the orphan boy who could. Many people invited him to their homes, it was a way his teacher showed him what he never had growing up but he still looked with curiosity. He buried all feelings of longing and envy.
His teacher taught him that there is a person out there for you when he met his girlfriend, then he found out that things can only get better… just to get worse. So all he did was bury a relationship before it ever became anything.
He buried his hopes and dreams of a family when he buried his heart.
The more he learned, the more he grew.

The more he grew, the more he buried.

July 13, 2017 0

Illusion

Illusion

He made sure that what he portrayed was just an illusion. He made sure that when he chose his next victim he would have things set out in order. The car, the shoes, the clothes.
His name was Jack Carter, a professional illusionist who, in some ways, beats the best illusionists of this time. The only difference is he doesn’t make a big show to flaunt his skills, he makes sure to hide them.
What he does is plain and simple. He moves to a new town after researching his victims and starts stalking her. He watches her every move, studies her actions, likes and dislikes, her social circle, and other important points that help his attack.
He plays with his food before devouring it, makes sure that the temperature is just right, that the woman he chooses is ready to sell her soul to him. Of course, this courtship offer takes a few months but he’s been getting better at his illusion.
Either that or women are losing their sight.
He entered the town Chistal and drove to the East side in his black minivan: a car he once researched was the most used car around the eastern coast. He parked next to the conventional white piquet fence and watched as a woman in her early fifties walks out of the house for her daily walk.

7:05 a.m, right on time dear Mrs. Robbins, he thought.

Jane Robbins was very attractive for her age. A tall, polished businesswoman who recently got divorced after a 25 year marriage. He stepped out of the car, making sure that his shoelaces are tied and started walking behind her, giving her just enough space to not realize that the illusion was about to start.
She power walked for the next few blocks and he started to gain speed. Only when she decided to take a bit of a break did Jack start his jog; he needed to break a bit of a sweat to compliment his act.
He walked up to Jane out of breath. He knew that he looked very attractive with his black shorts and blue t-shirt, he also wore his fake Cartier watch especially for this encounter.
He treaded softly, approaching the bench with a big smile on his face. “Hello beautiful, nice day isn’t it? Do you mind if I sit down?”
Jane never knew what happened, never had a chance.
By the end of the year, she woke up one morning looking for her fiancé and found him gone, along with every penny she had.

June 25, 2017 0

The Bridge

Writing prompt 240

He sat on the rail of the bridge watching the people cross, waiting for his next victim.

He didn’t know that he was being watched, followed from the second he stepped out of his house. He didn’t realize that there is someone who wanted to prove his methods were not up to par, not meticulous enough. He didn’t know that during his last attack, the single slip up was the reason he was now hunted.

Once a hunter, now hunted.

Hunted because he let the girl scratch his face and the police found the evidence of his DNA underneath her fingernails.

And now, he was no longer part of the group. No longer welcomed.

Watching, he was being watched. Planning, his death was being planned, schemed.
The next day, newspapers read “the Bridge Serial Killer was Found Dead Beneath the Bridge.”
How ironic.

June 22, 2017 5

Decision Day

Pursue

A Re-post

He stood by his desk thinking of the decision he just made and finally followed through after being so reluctant for the past 15 years. It took him 15 years to take this step and when he finally did, it didn’t feel the way it should. He wasn’t happy, he was ecstatic.

He looked at the picture of his wife and two boys and wondered how they would take the news. He didn’t know that today was the day. He didn’t know that today he would set himself free to pursue his dreams. He didn’t know that on his way to the water cooler he would deviate and pass by his boss’s office to inform him.

He stood by the glass door of the office knowing exactly what he wanted. Everything was clear to him. Everything he did up to this point in his life was clear in his head and he saw exactly where he needs to be next. He wasn’t emotional and he didn’t have a plan. Nothing specific happened to trigger the decision, it was just time.

Time. Oh how much time he wasted doing something he didn’t enjoy.

He had enough. He had enough with putting on his suit every morning and driving the same route. He had enough of thinking “what if” and “when will I?’ It was enough procrastination. He procrastinated his life for the past 15 years and it was time for it to end.

He always knew what he wanted to be and do at an early age. His passion for the kitchen led him to come back from work everyday and cook, regardless of the workload he carried. He only felt alive with the chef’s knife in his hand, cutting vegetables and stirring pots on the stove. He had a calling yet ignored it for so long thinking that his pay was more important than his dream. He planned to start a small restaurant when he retires but couldn’t go on one more day. This was it. This was the day he chose to change his life. This was decision day.

He knocked on the door and waited for the answer. He walked in and very calmly explained his decision. The boss nodded, stood up, and gave him a hug. The boss knew him too well. He saw him in the company’s last barbecue dinner and how his eyes lit when he was grilling the burgers, how laid back and comfortable he looked in the apron. He knew he would be losing one of his best employees soon and he was right.

He walked back to his desk and saw he didn’t have many “personal belongings” to pack. He took the photo frame, his keys, and mobile phone and started walking. He was never one of the team, he was always a guest that never clicked in. One step, two steps, three steps, he smiled. Four steps, five steps, six steps, he turned and looked at the office, everyone was busy working on their computers or talking on their phones. He grinned. Seven steps, he started removing his tie thinking how cliche. Eight steps, nine steps, 10 steps, he throws the tie in the bin and reaches the elevator. He presses the down button and waits.

The elevator arrives, he walks in and turns. This would be the last time he walks into a corporate building and he gladly presses “G”. He knew that this was the best decision he ever made.

May 10, 2017 3

Choosing a Linkedin Photo

Linkedin is a a business oriented social networking service. People use it to display their CVs and have recruiters (or headhunters) approach them for employment opportunities or even to network with people in similar fields. Companies also can create their page and share news, articles, and any other important issues. Some people use it to share their experiences and post articles they wrote in hope someone might listen to them. Like any other social networking service, Linkedin gives the opportunity to post a photo of yourself.

Being a member of the Linkedin community for a few years, I have come across many photos of people I know (and people I don’t know) that make me wonder what they were thinking when they chose to upload their photo. Well, I then decided to scroll down the list of People You May Know and be struck with disbelief. Since this is a professional social networking site, I thought that people would care about their image; I mean, their profiles are open for recruiters and maybe their future bosses.

I came up with the following tips:

1- Selfies using any Snapchat filters are not acceptable. Do not, under any circumstances, believe that anyone would recruit you if you have dog ears or a flower halo above your head. Even if you think you look cute, this is not the right picture. I could even say that selfies are not acceptable because the angle is all wrong and shows that you did not take the time nor effort to have a professional picture taken.

2- A cartoon drawing of yourself is not OK unless you are the artist and are trying to show your talent.

3- A picture of yourself sitting behind a huge desk just makes you seem desperate. Don’t top it off acting like you’re busy writing something either. It’s so obvious.

4- A picture of you caught in mid-laugh. This is not Facebook and it may be one of your favorite but keep it for your social group only.

5- Do not post a picture of yourself behind a billiard table. Do not post a picture of yourself with any weird background such as the kitchen (unless you’re a chef), or in a party, or on vacation with the beach behind you. You want to seem like you are at work, wearing work clothes, and getting work done. If your work is associated with healthy living and yoga, for example, a picture with some tress in the background may be alright. But if you have nothing to do with nature, stay away from it.

6- Look approachable. Post a picture that makes you look approachable. A nice smile goes a long way. You don’t want your picture to resemble a mug shot nor an adult dating service profile pic.

7- Do not post a picture with you wearing a cowboy hat (or any kind of hat). Do not post a picture with sunglasses, people want to see your face.

8- I’m not 100% sure of this point as it may go either way. I have seem a few pictures with the person holding a camera and another listening in his headset. I think it’s a smart thing to be done, that is, showing people what you do; but some recruiters might not appreciate the obviousness. This should be taken carefully, I wouldn’t feel so keen about a bank teller holding money in his hands.

9- Make sure the picture is clear and your face shows: stay away from shadows. Don’t use a picture with you covering your face with your arm, nor a picture with you looking away.

10- Do not use your children’s pictures. Again, this is a professional networking site, people will want to see what you are doing not how old your child is. You are NOT trying to get your children employed so keep them out.

11- If you choose to post a picture with something that identifies your current job, go ahead but know that you are not your job. You have a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities that are deeper than any job can provide. Plus, when or if you leave your job, you don’t want to forget to change your picture or you’ll end up looking desperate. Don’t wear your uniform in your picture either (for those who have uniforms in their jobs).

12- Do not post yourself bowling, ice skating, playing soccer, playing with your pet tiger, eating out with your friends, or doing what you do in your spare time. You are supposed to portray how you are at work, not out of work. People want to employ you, not date you.

13- Keep your image right side up. Yes, some people have their pictures sideways. Would you ever submit your CV with your picture printed sideways?

14- Don’t just crop your face from a group picture and settle for that. This just shows that you’re lazy. Also, don’t post yourself with someone else, it confuses people as to which one you are.

15- Make sure your image isn’t so much of a close up nor too far to be unidentifiable. You want people to recognize you, half a face is not identifiable.

16- Do not post a picture of a logo unless you are a company. Do not post a picture of your shoes, bag, sunglasses, or cup of coffee. Again, this is not Snapchat.

These are just a few pointers I came up with after paying attention to the different Linkedin profile pictures, you can also go through your list of friends and can easily identify the best pictures that portray strength, confidence, and reliability. Stay away from photoshopped images that look nothing like you and try to present yourself professionally.

Remember, you don’t want to resemble any funny high school yearbook pictures, you should know better now than what you knew at 18.

My profile pic? I still didn’t find one that I’m happy with so wish me luck.

July 2, 2016 0

Demons

652851_N71Qb4Dd

(From Dreams of A Blue Moon by Bedoor Khalaf)

Darkness along with broken pride

as the glass of water breaks

seeing the wrong, not seeing the right

as bones in their graves shake.

Chaos around yet not a way

to change the angel’s mind

for the person that once has been a saint

will be a traitor to all mankind.

Will not care less to what others feel

since everyone has done him wrong

will cause harsh pain and torture on

those with a heart that longs.

Nowadays love is a sin

and only sinners love

roses turn into weeds

crows created from doves.

Pain and violence the only words

known to the human race

painted masks and hypocrites

stained on people’s face.

Angels turn to demons as

they realize life is unfair

but what stunned them most is the fact

that love no longer cares.

June 22, 2016 0

Roald Dahl: Simple or Complex?

img_4621-1

After watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over 70 times in the past 3 months and memorizing it by heart, I have come to question reality as I saw it. Things are no longer as simple as they once were and, interestingly enough, I have come to believe that chocolate is made by oompa loompas.

Dahl’s amazing creativity is evident in his children books (of which I read just a few) and come to question whether the books were written as a good fiction or do they carry in their pages something of a deeper nature? Although Dhal isn’t a psychologist, I must respect the fact that his experience does give him validity to be an observer and storyteller. How so? Firstly, Dahl portrays five children and their respective parents in the book. I found out that Dahl had up to 9 different children who were to enter the chocolate factory with Charlie. By choosing to stick with five, Dahl decided to shine light on the gluttonous Augustus Gloop, the competitive Violet, the spoiled Veruca, and the television addict Mike Teavee. It could be safe to say that Dahl chose these five characters and personalities because he saw them as the most destructive to children. It could also be safe to say that Dahl may have encountered people in his childhood (or later life) and got so shocked by their personalities that he believed they should be punished.

One of the issues that Dahl was criticized over was the fact the the antagonists are the “bad” children. Although the children were portrayed as stereotypes of how-kids-should-not-act, their parents were also portrayed as reasons behind their characters. So whose fault is it that Augustus keeps getting chocolate whenever he feels like it? Is Dhal trying to enforce parents into taking responsibility over their children’s negative personality traits or is he placing the blame on Willy Wonka. Also, who gave Willy Wonka the right to discipline these children (and their parents) by using different sadistic punishments such as being blown up into a blueberry and getting the juice squeezed out or by being pulled in the toffee maker after being shrunk in size? Yes, the children should have learned their lessons but does Dahl really tell readers (and viewers) how to best act?

Is Roald Dahl Charlie or Willie Wonka?

The five golden tickets that were sent out to people around the world were sent to find an heir for Willy Wonka’s factory. In the story, the children didn’t know what the prize was but were happy just to enter the factory. What about you? Where would your golden ticket take you and what would be the grand prize? Many people work hard to go on vacations but how can that vacation be turned into a prize (and thus a lifestyle?) The golden ticket takes you to two places: one is temporary and is a test and the other is the grand prize. We should strive to make sure that we do not get sidetracked by the “chocolate” along the way and concentrate on getting the real deal.

But did Charlie even get sidetracked or did he live his experience vicariously through the other four and was just lucky enough to be the last man standing? So is that the way Dahl thinks we should win life?

Is Willy Wonka’s factory a representation of life?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp’s sarcastic comments gives it a little more humor for adults while children watch the plot unknowingly, nodding at Johnny Depp explaining that “everything in this room is eatable, even I’m eatable! But that is called “cannibalism,” my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies.” Is this a Dahl comment or Tim Burton’s twist on things? So, just as the movie has a different perceptive level suitable for adults, Dahl may have entrusted his book to hold some philosophy over children personalities, dealing with the antagonist within us, and the best way to fix bad children is through punishment.

What I prefer to question is where my golden ticket would take me and would I be the end winner of the grand prize.

Simple? No, Roald Dhal was more complex than a few children’s books and would surely get his philosophies and life wisdom and ideas into children’s books.

June 22, 2016 0

Bedoor Bluemoon

Everyday writing to expose the soul

Tag