Alcohol

Mind Afire

April 5, 2012

mind afire doused with gas

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Ambitious Diet

March 25, 2012

much younger wife serves spicy meals and strong drinks

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Female Beverage

March 6, 2012

she kept drinking and the phone stopped ringing

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Bobby Brown – The Whole Truth

February 28, 2012

Before presenting what Bobby Brown allegedly said and did, I must explain this book was originally conceived as an autobiography and author Derrick Handspike, according to his account, hung out with and interviewed the singer for a year, diligently wrote the book, and later squirmed as Brown and his advisers delayed final preparations for publication.…

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Just One More

February 20, 2012

said have drink come on let’s party least one more now no one listens so exhorts himself

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Whitney Houston, 1963-2012

February 14, 2012

one beautiful as whitney houston who made star spangled banner soar and moved heaven singing i’ll always love you may harbor soul broken as man in gutter and seek relief same way To watch Whitney Houston sing the National Anthem before the 1991 Super Bowl, please click here

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The Right Room

February 9, 2012

first time on puerto vallarto tour quite hungover stand at basin looking into fright woman pops up behind and says sir are you aware this is women’s years later long sober at bakersfield movie women enter one says what’s guy doing in here leaving rapidly forget to say heat intoxication

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Middle of River – Part 2

January 11, 2012

(This vertical prose has been rewritten in horizontally and posted on July 24, 2012.) stay out of american river kids in neighborhood often told there’s undertow you can’t see branches either here read today’s newspaper another boy’s drowned still couldn’t stay out of water nor could other kids swimming whenever wanted never meeting danger until…

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Drink Vacation

January 1, 2012

had too much last night or wouldn’t have left underwear stacked in motel rushing to early mexico city flight * * * proud had attracted beautiful senorita in loud bar but regretted smile disappeared shortly before she did

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Nightmare Returns

December 26, 2011

many years vowed never would again but defiled mouth and head convinced really had awakened

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Tijuana Taxi Ride

December 16, 2011

american drunk in tijuana night lumbers into taxi and in spanish asks for senoritas and marijuana fine says cabbie few minutes later american admits really wants cocaine cabbie reminds not what said then silently drives way out and says here’s best place for you american enters and thinks goddamn that guy dropping me where there’s…

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Deadbolt Rules

December 11, 2011

(This vertical prose was rewritten horizontally and posted September 22, 2012.) hell of hot day fishing in thin mountain air sun scorched harold and he drank too many beers didn’t matter he caught no fish he had to return to rat hole room at rear of house in bad area rusty deadbolt jammed and impatient…

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Proper Rest

November 6, 2011

father died from drink but also suffered arising early carlos avoids that asleep all day mother ironing his clothes

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Table Top

November 2, 2011

shag carpet reached through invisible table top shattering wine glass

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Buried Drinker

October 31, 2011

i don’t drink anymore and neither does the man who quit shortly after they buried him

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Criminal Justice in Islam

June 23, 2011

In blighted but affordable east Bakersfield old bank transformed into new mosque hosts annual Islamic Conference where keynote speaker Main Al-Qudah, PhD in Islamic law and imam at large mosque in Houston, steps to podium. He’s slim, stern, middle-aged, dressed in suit and tie, and resembles prosecutor as power points to screen bearing principles of…

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Education of Ulysses S. Grant

May 30, 2011

I loved this wonderful horse that cost twenty-five dollars but when the owner brought it to our house my father said it wasn’t worth more than twenty and that’s what he offered. The owner wouldn’t yield and left but I so earnestly urged my father to help he gave me confidential instructions and ordered me…

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Shooting Baskets in Dreams

December 10, 2010

Generation after Hal moved from two small dingy rooms connected to old house in battery-stealing part of town, he thought dreams had disappeared so was saddened to see himself there shooting baskets. Old friend sat behind and watched errant shots. Damn ceiling’s too low to shoot right. Friend should’ve agreed but only stared as Hal…

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Golf Course Braces for Wild High School Reunion

October 1, 2010

Sacramento, CA – Officials at scenic Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, which stretches along the American River east of town, issued an emergency decree this morning after police informed them that a (publicly-unnamed) suburban high school, notorious for its rowdy alumni, plans next week to attack the links with ten foursomes celebrating forty years of parole…

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Poe at the Gentleman’s Magazine – Part 11

August 20, 2008

Edgar Allan Poe, despite working for Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine, seemed not to understand the implication of my being William E. Burton: I paid ten dollars a week, more than sufficient compensation starting in June 1839, and expected him to be a dutiful and deferential editorial assistant.  I realized many readers considered Poe brilliant, particularly after…

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