Vegas Vacation - An Embee Williams Adventure

I awoke groggily, uncertian of the day or time. Hazy sunshine drifted through the dingy vertical blinds hanging on the window. Somewhere a siren sounded. I groaned and tried to rise. I looked down at my hand. It was pink and fuzzy and held a half filled bottle of Jack Daniels. What? In fact I was wearing a pink bunny suit!! Ears and all!! What did I do last night?

I remember arriving in Vegas and checking into my hotel. I walked the strip. Did some gambling. Took in some clubs. Bunny suit? Why would I be wearing a bunny suit?

I got out of bed and tripped over something on the floor. Cursing, I twisted to see what I fell over. It was a girl. A girl dressed in a skimpy silver bangled outfit and high heels. Oh my God, it was a hooker! There's a hooker asleep on my floor and I'm in a fucking bunny suit.

"Okay, remain calm." I grabbed the hooker's shoulder and gave a shake. She didn't stir. She must've been doing some really good stuff, I thought. "C'mon ... uhh," shit,. what was her name. "'Uhhh.. mam. Please wake up. You have got to go. I'll pay you for your time." But what I got for my money I don't remember.

The prostitute still didn't move. It was then I saw a small trickle of blood coming from her nose and mouth. "Oh shit! The bitch is dead. Oh Shit!" I started pacing. I heard the police siren again, closer this time. Were they coming for me? Fuck!!

"I've got to get out of here." I glanced around to take inventory of the room. My watch, wallet, car keys and cell phone were on the dresser, the dead hooker was on the floor. There were two glasses filled with melted ice and amber liquid on the nightstand next to the bed. A roach smoldered in the ashtry. I walked over, picked it up and sniffed. I don't smoke pot, I thought. Shrugging, I took a hit off the still lit joint and continued to take stock of the situation.

"Okay, Embee think. You have got to get out of here before the cops get here or the cleaning crew comes for the room. I need time to think." I snapped my fingers. The Do Not Disturb sign! I searched frantically for it. It was nowhere to be found. Finally, I opened the door and saw it hanging from knob. A maid turned from the down the hall. "Can I get you anything sir?"
"No thank you. I'm fine.
"Okay, I'll come to clean the room soon."
"No hurry," I blurted out. "I mean I'm relaxing and enjoying my vacation. Would you happen to know the time."
"9:30."
"Thanks." I slipped back into the room.

How was I going to get out of a hotel with a dead hooker without being seen? How did the hooker end up dead on my floor anyway!! One thing at at a time. How to get out? I sat on the bed and thought. I took a swig from the warm whiskey and thought. I took another hit from the joint and thought. I had it!

I grabbed my luggage, leaving one bag in the room. I opened the door and glanced up and down the hallway. No one. Good. I turned back into the room and looked at the hooker on the floor, "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."

I waited through an interminably long elevator ride to reach the lobby and walked to the front desk. "Leaving us so soon, Mr. Williams?" The too chipper clerk asked.
"Yes, I've got to cut my vacation short. Emergency back home."
"Well, we hope to see you back at The Beaches Casino on your next visit."
"Thank you." I handed the clerk my credit card and paid for the room.
The clerk asked for the room key. I started to hand it to him and said, "Oh I forgot a bag. Let me go back to the room, grab it and I drop off the key on my way to the garage."
"I can call a bellhop for you, sir." The damn clerk smiled.
"No! Uhh, no thank you. I could go back upstairs." I turned and started for the elevator.

I propped the dead hooker up on my hip and threw her arm around my neck. "God, dead people weigh a ton.." I started back down the hall. The couple in room 1405 were leaving their room. "Morning!" they loudly greeted me. "Great morning, ain't it."
"Morning," I whispered. "it would be a nice day except for the hangover. My friend here," I nodded toward the dead hooker I was dragging down the hall, "is still sufferring."
"Yeah," the business man next door ageed. "She looks dead on her feet."
*************************************
Will Embee make it out of the hotel with the dead hooker? Who killed her? And why is he wearing a pink bunny suit? These questions and others will be answered in the next installment of Vegas Vacation - An Embee Williams Adventure!!

I Know We Will Be Married

When I met you for the first time you had yourself a man
But I fell in love anyways - against my better plan
Now I'm the kind of guy who would borrow, beg or steal
So before I go much further tell me, "Is your love for real?"

For I know we will be married - The invites have been written
I booked the hall yesterday - Please tell me you are smitten
I hired a photographer and baked the wedding cake
But not checking with the bride might be my big mistake

Now I could send you flowers, but he would send bouquets
I could give your hours, but he would give you days
I don't know how much longer I will sink before I swim
So please tell me that you're leaving - even on a whim

For I know we will be married - By Sandra Day O'Connor
If you don't want her as the judge she could be the Maid Of Honor
A Rabbi, Priest or Reverand - it's all the same to me
But I'll make a foolish bridegroom without a Bride To Be

So tell me that you love - through thickest and through thin
Just tell that you love me - if it only means in Sin
Tell me that you love me and it will be all right
We'll get married in the morning
And fight throughout the night

You're The Only Woman

You ask me why I love you, as I look into your eyes
I tell you you're the only woman who can make me smile
I thank you for bringing meaning into my little life
I tell you all these tender things and that I want you for my wife

Cause you're the only woman who can make me feel this way
I'm so glad we met
Yes, you're the only woman who can brighten up my day
Meeeting you I won't regret

Holding hands and walking, just talking on the beach
I want to tell you everything, but the words seems out of reach
But still you are right near me, lying by my side
You fall into a peaceful sleep and I watch you for awhile

You're the only woman who can make me feel so glad
I'm so proud you're mine
Yes, you're the only woman, and now life it ain't so bad
Everythiing is fine

(Eight Bar Bridge)

Our life together will be one majestic grand parade
While other loves grow cold and die you know our love will not betray
I can't wait til forever to start eternity
I want you always by my side, you know I want you here with me

You're the only woman, who can make me feel this way
I do love you so
You're the only woman, who brightens up my day
I just wanted you to know

No Regrets

Spoonfed morality and beliefs
Forks In The Road - Left or Right?
Jackknifed on a hairpin turn

Every decision draws you nearer to who you are
Every choice closer to destiny

There is no wrong
There are no false steps

There is only you and who you choose to be

Live in the moment
By the moment
For the Moment

Table your doubt
and Fill you Glass

Drink full of Life

No Regrets

Armor

The Soul does not change
The innocence of Birth remains
Covered in the costumes of years

Dreamer, Artist, Architect
The Soul does not Change
We are as We were as Children
Laughing in Joy and Inspiration

Endless Loves we knew in Younger Days
Connections do not sever
Instead are buried 'neath the coverings of Life
Protections from Misdeeds of Betrayal and Lust

Chisel away the Leaden Armor of Lifetimes
To find our
        True Self

Old Poem

I am posting an old poem I wrote many, MANY years ago. I wish I could say that I found it in a box while cleaning out my attic. But sadly no, all the writing from my teens, twenties and thirties is gone; lost to many moves across three states.

Why this poem came back to my consciousness? Damned if I know, but something tells me that I need to share it. So here you are:

I watch you walk down the street
Your red hair blazing in the sun
Bouncing merrily in tune with your graceful stride

And I realize then that I love you

Not because you are the most beautiful
Nor because you are the smartest
Not even because of what you give me

But simply because you are you
And you take pride in that

The time you take to show me you world
The time you take to get to know mine

That is why I love you

And why I always will

Giving Thanks

The last few years have been a roller coaster ride for me dealing with a miasma of emotions. Even with everything, I have found I have a lot to be thankful for.

I am very thankful to be alive. Due to my earlier mental state it was touch and go for awhile. I am also thankful I am healthy with two arms, two legs and my five senses functioning well. The only afflictions I suffer from are the ones caused by the disease called "getting older." Even though I now creak and groan when I sit down or stand up my spirit is still twenty something.

I am grateful I found a therapist I feel comfortable with that gives me that "safe place" to go to and deal with any issues that may arise.

I am also thankful I have a roof over my head and a stable job at a good company. I am very appreciative that I have the opportunity to grow with AT&T and enjoy the people I work with.

I am blessed to have my writing return to me. After not having written anything for five years, I thought the talent was gone. A few months ago the words returned with a force, giving birth to poetry, short fiction and one novel that I am starting to write. My muse further blessed me by branching out to music and I have written five songs with the help of a great little program called Garage Band.

I am thankful for my friends, both old and new. It was because of their compassion, understanding and encouragement that I found my way back from the precipice. My old friends Andrew, Austin and Troy have been invaluable to me with their giving natures. My new friends Kat, Tommy, Root Beer Dave and Afro Dave gave me a new group to hang out with at our Thursday Evening Get-togethers. (for those not mentioned, please do not take it as a slight. You all are very important to me)

I encourage all of you who read this to make a list of all the things you are thankful and grateful for and share it with your loved ones. Encourage them to repost and share their own lists.

Pay the good things forward and watch the changes it will bring. I wish everyone a happy healthy 2008 filled with passion, peace and joy.

Let's make 2009 a year to remember. One where we achieve beyond our wildest dreams. And remember ...

Live with an Attitude of Gratitude.

Historic yes but still the same old, same old

Yesterday I joined close to 140 million other Americans and voted. I walked into the both, pulled the curtain and pushed the lever. In one way the election is historic - An African-American is now President elect. I am so proud that this crazy experiment called democracy once again proved it works. President-elect Obama's victory also validated my belief that you can go as far as your dreams, hard work and faith can take you.

On January 20, 2009 we will witness the start of a new beginning for the United States. Not only for it's citizens but also how we are perceived in the international community. For too long our place in the world has been viewed as elitist and imperialistic. I believe that with the election of Senator Obama the international community will no longer see us as the bully on the playground but simply as just another kid on the monkey bars.

Still, as historic as last night's results were, this morning I wake up to the same old, same old. FOX is already stating that taxes will go up, Government will grow and McCain was the better choice. The Mass Media, both CNN and FOX are concentrating on the race issue or non-issue as it affected this election and how it will effect the Obama Presidency. 

Two bulletins greeted me on my MySpace account this morning. One stating that Obama is not black but half white and half Muslim. I wasn't aware that religion was an ethnicity or race. That same logic makes Bush and McCain half white and half Christian.

The second bulletin aligns Obama with the Anti-Christ. It references The Book of Revelation as it's proof of this. And points to this as the beginning of the End of Days. The bulletin claims again that the President elect is Muslim and states that the Anti-Christ will be Muslim. In fact, nowhere in the Book of Revelation does it mention the geographical area where the Beast and Dragon are spawned from. In fact, the term Anti-Christ is not mentioned anywhere in the Book of Revelation. It is only mentioned in First and Second John and then only in reference to those people who do not accept Jesus as the Christ.

In addition, there were amendments being voted on in three states that would Constitutionally define what marriage is. In Arizona, California, and Florida the measures all received over 50% of a YES vote. In Florida, Amendment 2 is now law gaining the requisite 60% agreement. In Arkansas Initiative 1, which bans gay couples from adopting children or becoming foster parents also received over 50% of a YES vote.

I hope that those that voted for these additions to their state constitutions read the propositions. Nearly all of these propositions did not single out same sex unions, but instead defined a broader group of people. Unmarried people. Civil Unions. The passing of these propositions will not only take away rights from same sex couples, which I believed the were designed to do. But also will take away rights from couples that are together but not married. Common-law marriages are a thing of the past in these states.

If you do not believe in the institution of marriage but are in a committed relationship. Too bad, so sad. Out of luck.

If you are seniors who choose to live together for companionship but not get married because it would affect your Social Security benefits. Oh well ...

This is not only about tax benefits. It also affects health benefits as well as information that can be granted. Under the HIPAA laws, doctors may not talk to your life partner about your health issues without your permission.

While the results of the Presidential election show this country is starting to grow and reach it's promise. The problems of racism and prejudice and "morally right" are still present in our society.

They will not go away overnight. But we are moving in the right direction.