Friday, December 31, 2010

Enter, the key players...

Okay, so here are the key players in this blog, aka The Family.

You'll probably hear about them, so I thought I'd introduce them.


Enter...



So, this is my mom, aka Mother. She’s kind of the center of this craziness. She did spawn my brothers and I, so… yep, she has to be crazy. She keeps the craziness fun though.

Her place in the asylum… she’s the one who keeps us all together. She's the one always walking around barefoot, like the hippie she is, telling us to love, not fight.

Her superpower… courage. It might not seem like much when you’re thinking superpowers. But it is. This is a woman who is both courageous enough, and crazy enough to walk outside into a field of flowers with no shoes on, even though she’s deathly allergic to bee’s.


Enter...


So this is my Dad, aka Parental, he’s kinda on the outskirts of the asylum. He likes to hang in his own room, do his own thing. A gypsy I guess. But he’s always the first one there when someone needs something.

His place in the asylum, wanderer. He’s the guy that wanders around, muttering to himself and trying to find spare part off anything so he can turn his toaster into an Army Tank, crazy part? Give him enough time and you just might see that tank go past your window.


Superpower…well, heart. He cares a little more than he should I guess. Sometimes I don’t think he keeps enough of himself for himself. He’s the carer.


Enter...


This is my older brother Daniel, aka Brother. He’s the hot-headed member of the family.

I guess his place in the asylum… he’d be our resident psycho. You know, that one you wouldn’t voluntarily cross. Has to use plastic forks at meal time and still manages to turn them into shivs. As brothers go, he’s not that bad. I mean, I know a lot of brothers that are worse.

His superpower… charisma. I’ve never met anyone else in my life who could talk people to their will like he can. It’s a talent, for sure. (He’s also a pro Poker player)


Enter...


Okay, now we have, Johnny, aka The Kid. He’s my little brother, a pain in the ass sometimes, sure. But he’s a great kid. Now, I know he gets really sick of my mother and I and our unremitting need to act like dickheads, but I think really he loves that about us, even if he does complain.

His place in the asylum, stop-out. He’s the guy who is forever getting day release, and no one knows how. Maybe he’s bribing the warden, I don’t know. But for every minute he spends in the asylum, he spends one somewhere else. Where? Well, no one is quite sure. I think the important part is, he always comes back.

Superpower… music. So, technically, not a superpower. But from the day this kid picked up his first guitar, it was all he thought about (Until he got a girlfriend, but y’know, boys *sigh*) He can pick up a song from just listening to it a few times. If that’s not talent, I don’t know what is.


Enter...


This is Tracy, aka Shorty. (Best Friend) She’s a lifer. Self committed I guess. She doesn’t have to be here, she’s crazy, sure. But if she tried she could pass for sane. She does all the sane things that normal people do. You know, get married. Have a good job. Save money for a house. Plan for kids. She’s the one who has everything worked out. So it makes no sense that she’s here, right? Wrong. She’s here for me. Sometimes I don’t know why she stays, but I’m always glad she does. Truth is, I really don’t know what I’d do without her.

Her place in the asylum, prankster. Yep, she’s the one who’s always got something up her sleeve. You always want her on your side on games night. She makes everything interesting. She’s the one who swaps everyone’s medication around on a Friday night because she doesn’t like the scheduled movie. She makes the things that don’t seem like they could be interesting, the most interesting things of all.

Superpower… distraction. Now, I know you have a question mark flashing above your head right now, don’t you? But let me explain. Shorty is the one you chase down the corridor if you’re having a crappy day. Why? Because she’ll find a way to distract you with whimsy. She’s the one you go to because you need relief from the world. If only for a second.


Enter...


This is Chantelle, aka Telle. There was a time when I thought she was too crazy, so much so in fact, that I didn’t really give her a chance in the beginning. I think one of the smartest things I’ve done in my life is give this girl a chance to enter my heart. Because now, she’s crawled in, curled into a little ball and taken one of the biggest parts.

Her place in the asylum, eccentric. She can make anything amazing. You give her a paperclip, she’ll amuse you, and herself for hours. You draw some lines on a page, she sees a wonderland. She sees the world in a way most people only wish they could. You can often see her wandering the hallways of the asylum mewing, or barking, making the days more interesting, and not even noticing.



Superpower… sincerity/integrity. She is the only person I’ve ever met in my life who I can honestly say is non-judgmental. She takes every person for who they are, no matter what. I know I’ll never meet another person like her, and I’m glad for that. She’s an original, a one of a kind. The rarest of them all. You never need to be anyone else around her, all you have to be is yourself. There is a relief in that, that’s like nothing you’ve ever felt.


Enter...


So this is Natasha, aka Satan. She’s one of the newer members to the permanent asylum line-up. In the beginning I think she was dragged in, but now I think she’s grown to like it here. Doesn’t stop her from wanting to escape though.

Place in the asylum, escape artist. She’s the one who spends her days and nights planning the perfect escape, says a big farewell. Escapes for a few days and gets thrown back in three days later. Whether she gets caught or comes back by choice no one is really sure. I guess you could say she’s a glutton for punishment. She knows she’s crazy, but she loves making people believe she’s not.


Superpower… brains. She’s got all the brains. Knows she could escape for good if she really wanted to, but something pulls her back. She makes the plans.


Enter...


This is Blake, aka Blakus, the husband of the Best Friend. So, guilty by association? He doesn’t really choose to be here. But it’s kinda like jail. There's no trouble getting in, the problems will come when he wants to get out.

His place in the asylum, conjugal visit. He’s not a permanent fixture. Just an occasional drop in. But he does have the right kinda crazy to stay. He’s part of the yellow army (luckily that’s not like a gang or something) and he may just be the worlds most hectic dancer.

Superpower… confidence. So, in an insane asylum, confidence isn’t something you often see, but this guy has it in spades. I don’t think I know anyone who is more comfortable being themselves than he is. It’s something a lot of people wish they had.


Enter...


This is Jessica, aka JessJess. So it got to confusing for people having two Jess’s so, we renamed newcomer Jess, JessJess. She’s the girlfriend of the Kid. She spends a lot of time in the asylum, so she became an honorary member.

Place in the asylum, unintentional comic relief. So, she is a person with the natural ability to make people laugh. She’s not blonde, but with the things she says, sometimes you gotta wonder. She is kinda the epitome of a ditz. She says things without thinking and all you can do is laugh.

Superpower… laughter. So, I don’t really know how to make laughter into a suitable superpower. All I know is, since this girl joined the asylum there has been a lot more laughter. Maybe she means it, maybe it’s a natural thing, I’m really not sure. All I know is, life is a lot more interesting with JessJess in it.


Enter the mascots!!!


Napolean, oldest and most trusted mascot. At almost thirteen years old he’s a veteran member of the asylum. He’s been around almost from the beginning. He’s always stuck around, even though he’s probably had better places he could be.

Place in the asylum, Wiseman. Maybe it seems silly (well, it is an insane asylum) but if there were someone in the asylum you’d want to talk to, or get advice from, it’s him. It might seem ridiculous to try to get advice from a dog, but really, who better?

Superpower… unconditional love. People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life like loving everybody all the time and being nice. Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.


Enter...



This is Peek-a-boo aka Peek. She’s might be small, but don’t be confused, she is the boss. She’s had a hard life, and at times I’ve wondered if the asylum is the best place for her. But after three years together, I know that the asylum is the only place for her.

Her place in the asylum, shining star. She can brighten up any day. She’s had a hard life, being run over by a car, while she was pregnant. Crushing her pelvis. Almost being killed several times over by vets. It’s been challenging for her, to say the least. But through everything, she’s always been the worlds happiest dog (as long as you don’t put her near children)

Superpower… comfort. She’s the toy you wanna cuddle for warmth, or contact or just so you know you’re not alone. Maybe it’s strange, but one cuddle from Peek and the darkness of a room doesn’t seem so overwhelming.


Enter...


This is Shikari-Sha-Gon aka Kari. Scaredy cat. Afraid of his own shadow. Won’t walk on grass or dirt. Hates water. Mud. Bugs. Spiders. People. Strangers. Most members of the asylum. Raw foods.

Place in the asylum, comparison. So, basically, Kari is a crazy as they come and he knows it. Good thing is, everyone else knows too. And one thing everyone agrees on, no one in the asylum is crazier than Kari, which is comforting to many.

Superpower… entertainer. Watching Kari run away from his own shadow is one of the most enjoyable past times in the asylum.


And lastly, enter... me


So this is me, Jesyka aka The writer. Maybe the craziest of all. Why? Well, I’m the volunteer. I’m the one, who strange as it is to believe, chooses to be here. Maybe I’d still be here, even if I chose not to, I don’t know. I don’t think I ever will. So why do I stay? Well… I love that feeling. You know the one, that feeling that maybe, just maybe, this is really where you belong.

My part in the asylum? I guess I’m not really sure about that… only time will tell. Sometimes I’m the instigator, sometimes I’m the peacemaker. It’s like the roll of a dice with me.

My superpower… I’m not sure yet. Maybe writing. Along with being the volunteer, I’m the story teller. I document. So that’s what I’m doing… I’m telling the story.

The story of my life in the asylum… aka My family.




"Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about."
Oscar Wilde

A New Year...

Okay, I'm going to keep it light and simple.

This is a blog.
I plan to update this blog... once a week-- er, make that fortnight.
It may or may not be of any interest.

I think that's about it for now... short and... well short.

I hope everyone is having a good New Year.



"A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That's why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet."
Truman Capote