Chess Champion

"Would you like to play a game of chess?" He asked.
"What?" I responded.
"Would you like to play a game of chess?".
"Chess?" I thought, "why would I want to play chess?"

With a smile on his face he tossed a pawn up in the air and caught it as if to say "look what I can do". At this point I didn't see I had much choice in the matter so I agreed to play, "just one" I said.

It was an aquard situation really, I didn't even know his name. Who did he think he was anyway, asking me a complete stranger to play a game of chess! It was aquard sure but I wasn't about to wimp out now. The 64 square battle field was set. I gritted my teeth, gave him a cold hard stare and made my first move. Things when down hill from there, he captured piece after piece wiping out my entire army leaving me with but a bare king. Everything after that was a blur. He was as smart as a whip. A champion.

I could have shrugged it off as a blunder but no, I was simply outplayed. Outplayed by the best no doubt. He had nerves of steel and a mind of metal.

Milkshake To Go

Seventy seven some odd days ago on February the twenty eighth during day light hours a mamouth GreyHound bus pulled up to a curb. A curb in a town called Crossfield.

Prior to this event of monumental proportions I, along with my kid brother Jeremiah, partook on the seven billion mile hike from a basement called home to the desolate bus stop. Each carrying a piece of luggage that seemingly increased in mass the further we traveled made the journey all the more painfull. Our arms literally burst into flames. . . except they didn't. They just really hurt. Before Jeremiah turned to go back home he offered a milkshake. I had an entire miniute or two before the scheduled arrival of the bus so off we went across the street to the Burger Barron. Impatiently pacing from the window to the counter were Jeremiah stood ordering the milkshakes of coldness I couldn't help but think, what if? What if I miss the bus? What if I already missed the bus? What if. . . my blood ran cold. The bus was there.
Waiting.
"The bus is here!" I stammered.
"Then GO!" Jeremiah shrieked, "go!".
So I, milkshakeless, went. Waving the right to look both ways before crossing, I walked speedily across the street to the bus. Finding my luggage unstolen and intact I handed Mr. Bus Driver Man my ticket and boared the bus. Milkshakeless.
Just as Mr. Bus Driver Man was about to kick the bus into hyper drive a tinted figure approached the bus, with a milkshake in each hand.

Long story short: I enjoyed sucking the cold, pail white innards of a cardboard cavity through a straw all the way to Calgary (home of the metal-minded chess champion). All thanks to the kindness and gererosity of my kid brother, Jeremiah. Thanks a million. And one.


Milkshakes.

String of Burrs

One day during the month of April I knocked on a door. The door never opened. So I turned and let my feet do some walking. I stepped from the heat of the city pavement to the cool shade of a nearby river bank.

Navigating my way along the rivers edge I soon came to find a suitable place to sit. It was then, observing the reflections of the water, that I came to the realization that I was no longer interested in sitting. So I walked. I walked, and walked some more, untill the unthinkable happened. I saw a burr. It was the size of an olive, if not bigger. Picking this monster burr from its thin dry branch I noticed another and another! Fascinated by their clinging ability I carefully pressed them together side by side one after another, forming a string. Of burrs.

Haveing stripped the branches of all it's burrs the frantic search for another tree began. With a single strand of burrs in hand I strained my eyes searching high and low. Miniute after miniute went by and still nothing. Where have all the burr trees gone? Dissapointed, I reluctantly gave up the search for that next tree of clinginess and stepped out into the sun. Looking at my sad string of wasted effort I decided to push forward and reminded myself that life must go on. Then BAM! Right in front of me, an entire world of burr bearing trees!

So, like a kid in a candy store, I ate all the burrs. No, wait. That's not right at all. What I did was I reinforced that weak little strand of burrs and built a huge hulking necklace! Then my cousin came home from school and let me in the house. : )

Earn, Spend and Save

A very long time ago when I was still a pre-graduate attending high school I wrote this:
" After completion of my public schooling and obtaining a grade twelve education my greatest ambition is to become a professional artist. Ever since I could maneuver a pencil I valued drawing alongside my three brothers, naturally striving to out perform them. Recently, I enjoy putting as much detail as possible into my pictures, which can easily take hours to accomplish. Samples of my illustrations have been exhibited in such public locations as the Melita library and the RCI library. Presently my intention is to attend a three year illustration course at Sheridan College which is located on the outskirts of Mississauga, Ontario. I would very much like to have an occupation doing what I enjoy which is why a professional artist is well suited for someone such as myself. "

Things have changed since then. Not much mind you but yes, they have changed in such an unpredictable way that not I nor anyone else could have foreseen. It is true. No longer do I intend on attending this three year illustration course of which I spoke. Sad, I know but please, I mean not to mislead you. For I indeed still have great interest in the art of illustration. Yes, in fact I hope to attend a one year Art Fundamentals course at Sheridan College! Having already been accepted for a September start my chances are looking rather good. With much anticipation I, untill then, will continue to work on my "work for a year" plan. Earning, spending and saving.

You Should Write a Blog

Greetings everyone.
I am here today to talk to you about my brand new convertible, sorry, my mistake, my brand new Ontario Drivers Licence. Yes. I have an Ontario drivers licence now.

I was quietly minding my own business here at the computer today when Mr. Uncle Brian came down from the up-stars and violently threw two evelopes in my face. "You have mail" he screamed "It's about time it arrived!". I turned and looked only to see him stomp up the stairs in a wild rage. Now, in his absence I proceded to open the larger of the two face-scaring envelopes. My third attempt at breaking it's seal (with the aid of a trusty pair of 'Lamplough' black handled sissors (made in italy)) proved successful. It's contents reviled the much anticipated information from Sheridan that I had been waiting for. Deepy disapointed in the lack of a time table I moved on to the second envelope.
I opened it. Being an envelope of standard size and make I found the six inch blade of a near by letter opener to be sufficent. Inside, as you may have now guessed was my brand new Ontario drivers licence! My smile widened for it was all that I had imagined it to be: my lumber jack beard, holographic images, my new style signature, the official alphanumerics and of course the shine of it's durable plastic coating. This card being mine in all it's purpleness will now live out the remainder of it's life within the confinements of my wallet.

Now. For the many multitudes of you who don't know, what you have just read is a copy of a recent e-mail I sent to my parents and brothers. The response of my eldest brother (Mr. Krig) included these words: "You should write a blog, that was a great e-mail. :D" an invitation of sorts. So that my friends is the real reason as to why I am here. Welcome to my blog.

That is all.
Benjamin.

ps. This message may or may not contain exaggeration or sarcasm.