My discharge from the Army got me shipped back to the United States.  I got off the ship  at Jacksonville Florida.  I wanted to live in a large city, but not a military city like Jax.

I arrived in summer and Gainesville was 60 miles south-central from where I  landed.  Well I was given my walking papers, and I left with my pockets literally full of money credits (what paper money was called).  I also had a back pack full of exotic gold coins.

I got out of the service without any bad habits.  Lots of screwups were around me in the army,  It’s a wonder they didn’t get me killed.  Most of them spent whatever merit bonus or pay on wives, women or happy juice.  It was all the same , if it was spent, the merchant had it and you didn’t.  All five years I was in we went from one battle to another and plundered several hundred towns.  Mostly all the valuables human and portable things were gathered up and sold to merchants who transported same to big places like Gainesville for high profit sales.

So I was surely not really rich when I got out.  Really rich was something more than what I could carry in my back pack and pockets.  I got out with most of my pay and plunder bonsus’ and a vast knowledge of guns  and explosives.  My head and pockets were full.

I rode surface trolley into the town of Jax.  Then I found a bus South to Gainesville.  I knew Gainesville was called ‘Hog City’, it was a FREE ENTERPRISE CITY, there were few police and little taxation.  The main tax was one credit to enter in the city.  Once you were in you were in,  a citizen of sorts.  Some places you had to own land to ever be part of a community.

On the bus south a blond girl got on at Lake City, one with long curly hair, she looked rather clean.  I noticed her hands were worked — like maybe in some laundry and older than her body, which looked very young.  We didn’t speak at first.  I was not looking to score a woman.  Her breasts were small and her hips were pleasant as was her face, but I was not needing someone else to spend my money, or run off with it.  Shit like that happens.

So I’m looking out the window at the scenery trying not to think about how easy she would  probably be, when she stuck out her hand, like a man, and says, “Dorothy Peters”.  So I stuck mine out and said, “Les Eller.”  Her hand was sweaty, “Nice to meet you,”  she said.  I didn’t say anything more.  I had plenty of bad experiences with little girls, but never on a bus ride.  You never knew what her game was.

Well she kept up the questions about where I lived, grew up.  What I did for a living?  Did i grow up with both my parents.  All sorts of questions, a little breathless.  There was something she wanted from me.  I was evasive and didn’t really answer her questions, but I liked her.  Most women I didn’t even want to talk to, but she was really young.  I began to wonder what she needed.

Finally we were almost to the town entrance and the collectors were getting money from the vehicles ahead of us, when she said, “Mr. Eller I don’t have the entrance fee.  I will stand good for the credit.  Anything at all, a verbal indenture.  I have to get away from the place where I was.  I wouldn’t mind being your slave.”

That was startling, I knew the current value of slaves most places and one credit didn’t buy any kind.  I thought she must be desperate or not really understanding slavery.

“Are you running away from a master?” I asked.

“No, I’ve been considered in the township of Lake City  as indigent and so I’ve spent two years at work for the city.  After my sentence i had bummed and had been given small change to ride the bus.  If I had stayed overnight I would have washed vehicles for another two years.  Slavery would  be less confining.”

“Not necessarily so.  Have you considered what someones slave is”?

“Of course, I haven’t been jailed all my life.  I’m an orphan.  Lots of orphans become slaves.  There is no one to help us.  We are kin to no one, no one cares.  We are in the family of no-one.”

Our vehicle stopped and I fidgeted in my backpack for a piece of wire, which I wound around her pretty neck — three circles.  She bent her head toward me to help.  After I finished I said, “So your already my slave, agreed?”

“Yes.”

Later a man with a n official badge on his cap came and collected the toll for me and my new slave.  Slaves are only one-forth credit, so I got back change.  A very small man who had heard me talking to the girl said when we were getting off at Millhopper Blvd and Urban Street, “Listen mister if I were you I’d have her on a leash when you get off the vehicle or they may think you two are trying to beat the tax.”

“Thanks buddy”  I nodded at him.  I had a strap in my pack and tied it two her neck wire.  After we were off and going down the street the little man came running up and said,  “Hay buddy if you want to sell that girl I’ll give you three credits right now”  I don’t know why I made the decision,  but I said, “No I think I’ll keep her.”

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To read 2 more parts to this story from the point of view of the Dwarf  and the Orphan Dorothy go to:

http://thedwarfman.wordpress.com

http://orphandorothy.wordpress.com

For other stories of Ray Cates read: http://unsightlyteeth.wordpress.com   The links are directly after the story.

Comments are welcome here, and you can contact the writer at: rcates2@cox.net  or fax him at: 1-352-629-1573

Posted: November 25, 2009

I’ll take another round turkey, a heaping pile of mashed potatoes and a mound of stuffing.  I’ll go for seconds, maybe thirds, on yams and cranberry.  I’ll make room for a slice of pie or three, and then it’s on to dessert and a plate full of Sleepers for Week 12:

QUARTERBACK

Alex Smith (San Francisco) vs. Jacksonville – Projection: 21-35, 220 yards, 2 TD
Smith didn’t look great on Sunday against Green Bay, but still threw for 227 yards and 3 TD.  Jacksonville ranks 25th versus the pass, so another solid performance is a high probability.

Vince Young (Tennessee) vs. Arizona – Projection: 13-21, 155 yards, 1 TD, 5-35 rushing
Young is not an exciting fantasy option, but it’s surprising how little it takes to get double-digit fantasy points from the guy.  With just 116 passing yards in Week 11, Young was still good for 14 fantasy points thanks to 73 rushing yards and a passing TD.

RUNNING BACK

Justin Forsett (Seattle) @ St. Louis – Projection: 13-71 rushing, 5-31 receiving, 1 TD
Even if Julius Jones returns from his bruised lung, Forsett has more than proven his worth in Seattle, and will get his touches.  The Rams are 28th in the league against the run, so this will probably be the last week Forsett qualifies as a “Sleeper”.

Jamaal Charles (Kansas City) @ San Diego – Projection: 14-65 rushing, 3-11 receiving, 1 TD
Against a tough Pittsburgh D, Charles still found a way to be a viable fantasy option by catching a 2-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel and returning a kickoff for 6.  San Diego is 21st against the run, so Charles could have another solid day.

Danny Ware (New York Giants) @ Denver – Projection: 9-51 rushing, 3-24 receiving
When the Giants travel to Denver for a Thanksgiving night showdown with the Broncos, Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle) will not make the trip.  With Brandon Jacobs (leg) a bit hobbled, the door could swing open for the Giants’ number three back.

WIDE RECEIVER

Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay) @ Atlanta – Projection: 5-67 receiving, 1 TD
Bryant had 1248 yards and 7 TD just one season ago.  After battling injuries for much of this year, he’s healthy and could start to build a rapport with Tampa Bay rookie gunslinger, Josh Freeman.  It doesn’t hurt that Atlanta is 29th against the pass.

Earl Bennett (Chicago) @ Minnesota – Projection: 7-84 receiving
Over the past 3 weeks, Chicago’s leading ypc receiver (12.8) has a modest 15 grabs for 177 yards.  Not exactly a trend that would suggest a big game versus Minnesota, but here we go again, putting up the bucks for a guy who always fails to deliver a TD.  This could be the week…

Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis) @ Houston – Projection: 5-72 receiving
Over the past 3 weeks, Garcon is tied with Roddy White for 13th in the NFL in WR targets (28).  Over that span, he has 14 catches, 218 yards and 1 TD, including 108 yards last week.  By the way, he has Peyton Manning throwing him the ball.

TIGHT END

Jermichael Finley (Green Bay) @ Detroit – Projection: 4-39 receiving, 1 TD
How can I not go with Finley (again)?  He’s owned in less than 20% of fantasy leagues, yet, per game, is outperforming Jason Witten, Jeremy Shockey and John Carlson, all of whom are owned in more than 75% of leagues!  Plus, here comes Detroit.

KICKER

Dan Carpenter (Miami) @ Buffalo – Projection: 2 FG, 2 PAT (1 FG 40+)
It’s time to see if Carpenter can be a cold weather kicker.  Safe bet, the Montana alum will be fine, and the Dolphins will get him into range at least twice against the Bills.  Carpenter has scored 74 (real life) points thus far in 2009, and has a big leg.

DEFENSE

Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay – Projection: 17 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 Int, 1 fumble recovery
The Buccaneers have shown flashes of ability on offense, and there could be some again on Sunday.  That said, Atlanta is averaging 2 sacks and nearly 2 takeaways per game, and Tampa will really be no match at home.

Illustration by Varick Rosete

Being an artist/designer/illustrator can be extremely demanding. Deadlines to meet, plans to be made, sketches to create, all while creating your own brand of flavor and style. Keeping up with the daily hustle of life and then keeping up with the world of social networking sites, personal web pages, blogs, Facebook, and MySpace seem to be more and more of an essential tool in an artists arsenal of methods to promote, sell, and display the hard work we do. With having all that said, I love to find an artist who truly keeps an updated website or blog. It’s very time-consuming(take it from me) to juggle all these things at once. So I wanted to give a hats off to local designer/illustrator/cool dude -Varick Rosete. Varick is a killer designer and illustrator. His portfolio is very impressive and he has really thrown down some killer work. You can find Varicks art work in several shows from time to time throughout the year here in Jax. If ya see the mans name on a flyer for an art show, get your ass out there and check it out. The guys got mad skills on many levels. Theres many out there who keep a regularly updated blog but, Varick really is on top of it!! Stop by his site from time to time to check out whats going on in his world, his picks for killer designs/illustrations, and a good place to find inspiration.  I have included links to his one of a kind blog and his website. Add the man to your favorites son! Keep up the killer work Varick! You sir, are the man.-bg

V as in Vulture- The blog of Varick Rosete

Varick Rosete- Website/Portfolio/Bio

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Jacksonville, Florida. ©Calvin Palmer 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Zeiss Planar T* 1,4/50, ISO 400, 1/125 sec, f/2, Canon 40D

This next item comes courtesy of  Clown, a friend of the site, and since I get to wear the big boy pants today because Fetch is on the road all day, I’m posting as I please. So let’s take a quick look at the current Pomeroy Ratings. Click the photo below to enlarge.

LOL Kansas

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, Fetch’s beloved Jayhawks are not only rated 25th, but they are a few spots behind the 0-1 Jacksonville University Dolphins of the Atlantic Sun conference. To be fair, the Dolphins’ only loss is to Florida State, who Pomeroy currently has rated 2nd, behind the Texas Longhorns (who throttled Iowa last night by 25 points).

So thanks again to Clown, for bringing this caveat to our attention today.

B.
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It’s all about timing.

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Next level hip hop live performance.

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The NeverMan

Tired But Good

Soulbuilder

Find out more about this band from Jacksonville @ klobsong.com

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My best luck has been with blind girls. Not a little blind or sight impaired but totally in the dark.

When I saw the girl on the Gainesville train I was traveling to ‘Hog City’ from Jax from a look-see of cheapo slaves, a bruised lot. The container being disposed of had 2,500 in it and some had trouble standing up. Some of the wretches were sick and most buyers were totally turned off. Some were bummed out because they didn’t speak our language. Those are aspects in my favor (as a slum dog of the slave trade). I even heard Ros a trader from Atlanta say, “The whole China lot has the ’stinks’.” The importers sold me first pick of the first thousand. My shipment to Gainesville was in three double sized trucks heading toward Hog City (Gainesville). I could have gone with the trucks, or on a truck, but if I had I wouldn’t have met Les Eller on the train.

Les got on at Jax, probably from a troop ship, he looked discharged. The girl, who was most interesting, got on at Lake City. The girl was a young blond, stunning I thought, but she didn’t seem to notice me. Well girls did notice me, but stayed a distance away from ‘the ugly, wrinkled dwarf’.

She had no success in begging the money and I planned to step in at the last-minute and offer the toll, for a written indenture — slave dealer that I am I carried blank ones with me. But I’m so much a figure of fun for most young girls that she probably would have bolted and gone in for prostitution, rather than submit to me.

I was amazed when she offered to be the ex-soldiers slave for passage money, amazed. So I tried to be the soldier’s friend and gave him some good advice, about leashing her, to save him toll money, and then on the street offered him a large profit on the girl — she was a good-looking piece.

As a slave most women don’t kill themselves quickly after a dwarf buys them.  But they often DO kill themselves. It’s not very pleasing that women would rather be dead than have to sleep with you.

I had one of my truck drivers follow this Les fellow and as I guessed Les had little or no money.  He rented a metal container to sleep in with the girl, that’s the very cheapest place to sleep in the whole city.  I sent Les a note about a sit-down at my slave establishment, and my shop on Urban Drive and Millhopper  is impressive.  I keep a better quality of male and females out front, but my place is known for cut-rate flesh. 

Maybe Les thought I still wanted to buy the girl when he came to my office.  Of course I did, but he just stood there after I offered him a chair.  I said,  “I have many more women, foreign-born females, than I could ever vend in my store.  So if I can help you get a choice location would you buy women from me and sell them on the street, all day, every day?”

“Sure,” he said, “if their good-looking things that people will buy.  Do I need a license?”  Well he didn’t know about lawless Hog Town.

“No, none of us has to buy a license here, we just pay the toll when we come in or out of Gainesville, and that’s the tax.  It’s one credit, and that’s high, but it’s better than government with its hand out all the time.

If you stay in the city, and never leave, you are tax-free for life.”

I sent him over that night to see the place.  One of my slave men went with him to show him the jewelery corner.  What I didn’t tell him about the area is that I had another slave seller there for two years, until he was murdered early one morning.  Twenty slaves saw it done and they were still standing there two hours later when someone came by and told me, and I got over there.

That’s Gainesville for you, no law and order and one of the corner jewelers did it.  They don’t want girl flesh vended in front of their shop.  So some old paper seller has a plywood thing set up there now.  He was an easy one to run off.  I sent Roscoe my man, around that very night to tell him that someone was going to castrate him tomorrow.  That’s all it took, and Les and I became in charge of the jewelery corner.  Of course I never went there.

_________________________________________________________

Send comments to Ray Cates at rcates2@cox.net

Fax him at: 1-352-629-1573

For links and another story go to: http://unsightlyteeth.wordpress.com

Thundermugg by Madeleine Peck Wagner

[You know, you're gonna have branding run amok when you've got a multiple-authored blog. I'm Rob Middleton, the newest contributor here, and ear cream is my term for my audio product. (Think interviews + podcasts kinda stuff.) I'm an abstract painter working locally, a regular reader of The Outer Box, and now I'm going to be helping out with frequent interviews. Making art and talking to people are the things I do to try to understand life. Finally I can combine them both!]

The first local artist I spoke to for The Outer Box was Madeleine Peck Wagner. By clicking the play button below the fold you can listen to the entire 49-minute interview in your browser. (49 minutes? I know, we got a bit carried away!) You can also download the mp3 for listening later. There are time-stamps for various topics covered, a partial transcript, and more images of Madeleine and her work. [Above image, Thundermugg, was supplied by the artist.]

Madeleine Peck Wagner:
Artist Hates Purple

I told Madeleine that would be the headline. To understand what it means you have to let the audio file fully load and then click to a little more than halfway in.

MPW: Yeah. I mean, it comes down to ideas of authenticity. And just really of interest. I think most of the work here in my home and the collection that I have with [tattoo artist] Nick [Wagner, Madeleine's husband. See http://www.nicktattoo.com/], it’s artists that we know and love and have a relationship with and even if we don’t know them, we’re not friends with them, we have a reason for collecting or having this piece beyond the purely aesthetic. Although that — I won’t lie, aesthetics are a large part of what interests me [RM: Sure.] for my personal collection, not necessarily as a blanket statement for what interests me as art.

RM: I just think it’s really complicated… [MPW: Oh God!] …when you really delve into what draws you to a piece of art. It’s not just, uh, not just the looks, not just who it is, [MPW: And the ideology...] how much it costs or who else likes it…

RM: … We can talk more about Richard Warholic. … The thing that I wanted to bring out that you’ve mentioned he said in your artist statement, he talks about “the beauty of impermanence”?  [MPW: Mm-hmm.] And I think that’s really something I like and feel when I’m viewing an original work of art is that someone made this, and we’re all impermanent, and this work is impermanent… I was recently at a talk at MOCA. It was the Joan Mitchell talk a few weeks ago. [MPW: I missed that.] Someone said… [hems & haws] — I don’t wanna say anything offensive, but — They were talking about the importance of impressing upon young artists using the correct techniques so that there works don’t degrade. And that they’re having, you know, some problems conserving, like, early, some of the Jackson Pollack’s that he did without even priming the canvas, and you know, paint’s flecking off… And as a painter and not a collector, I’m smiling and thinking, Good! You know? It’s dynamic, you know. He’s dead and his work is still changing. And someday his works will possibly deteriorate also. And I know that they’re looking at it from the standpoint of a museum and a collector and “Why would you buy something that… ?” Um… But I mean, nothing’s permanent.

MPW: No. And, I think, for myself — and I can only speak for myself — at a certain point, using a lot of archival materials spoke to a sort of a false hubris and I really was not comfortable not just spending the money but even sort of engaging in the act with Belgian linen and the finest oils, because I understood where I was and my level of importance and sort of understanding that what I’m doing then, and what I’m doing now is still very much a growing pattern and a growing event so I don’t — I don’t assume that anyone will want my work forever. Now, what I have done is I do take steps now to make sure that they are as stable as they can be within the realm of reason for what I’m interested in doing. I mean, I like to use oil on paper and I don’t want to prime my paper. So, I, what I do is I coat the back with a gel medium so that effectively plasticizes it and renders it stable — it stops it from being too unstable. But I don’t want to interrupt the surface of the paper because that’s very…

RM: Important, the interaction…

MPW: Important. So, I mean, when you get sort of the halo around the oil, I don’t consider that a flaw, that is more interesting to me.

<– 15:25 … Jumping Ahead … 20:40 –>

RM: She wants a pony.

I like to keep things simple.  Sometimes we can take a simple truth, or a simple task , and we can overcomplicate it to the point that the truth is never understood and the task is never preformed.  I think this is why Jesus always kept things simple.  His responses to the difficult questions were often simple, to the point, and usually suprising.  When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus simply said to love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.  He took a complicated law and simplified it by saying when we love God and each other we will keep the entire law. When asked about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus kept it simple. He asked whose image was on the coin.  Jesus even simplified His mission on earth when He said He came to do the will of the Father.  I’m in danger off overcomplicating the point I want to make now. So I will digress and get to the point.

Christianity was never meant to be as complicated as we make it. Jesus never asked anyone to start a new religion. He never asked anyone to join a orginization. His invitation has always been “follow me.” You cannot follow Christ by observing. You follow Christ by doing. The prophet Samuel once told King Saul of the old testament that God does not delight in his offerings as much as his obedience. “To obey is better than sacrifice ( 1 Samuel 15:22).” We can bring offerings, we can lift our hands in worship, all which is pleasing to God. But what He desires most in our lives is our obedience.  Without obedience there is really no worship. When we follow Jesus we are moving from religion into relationship.

Jesus said that He was the good shepherd and that His sheep know Him and follow Him. They follow Him because they know His voice (John 10:1-15). Have you heard the voice of God lately?  Maybe you’re like me. I spent the earlier part of my life trying to tune God out. When He would say “follow me”, I would quickly close my Bible. I would stop praying, and then I would find excuses not to be in church and not to participate in worship. What was I afraid of? I knew that following Jesus was going to require adjustments in my life and my way of thinking. I can say without a doubt that when I am following Jesus that life is much more fulfilling. There is nothing like being in God’s will. Deciding to follow Jesus is not a one time decision, it is a choice we face everyday. Have you heard his voice lately?

“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”- Luke 9:23

done

Holy Sh*t!

That pretty much sums up my feelings to week 11 of the NFL so far.  The AFC North collapse in unbelievable fashion with the Steelers losing to the mighty Chiefs, the Bengals losing to the mighty Raiders, the Browns losing to the mighty Lions and the Ravens losing to the highly impressive Colts.  And that is only one division!

Things got crazy in other places with the Redskins holding the Cowboys to 7 points with half a team, the Bills beating an improving Jacksonville and the Giants trying their hardest to throw a game away.  Yes it really has been a special weekend.

Lets start with the AFC North, out of the 4 teams that lost only Baltimore can have any pride in itself since they at least lost to an unbeaten team.  If you ever wondered about the importance of Peyton Manning then watch this game.  Yes he throw a couple of INTs but when he was in the red zone the Colts came away with TDs and not field goals something Baltimore failed to do.  The Bengals managed to give up 10 points in 33 seconds which defies logic.  Pittsburgh managed to allow the Chiefs to score 27 points and Cleveland scored hundreds but still lost with no time remaining.  This game proved yet again how important Troy Polamalu is to the Steelers, he actually defines what an MVP player means to a team.  He plays they win, he doesn’t play they lose to some awful teams.

After watching the Colts beat the Ravens I settled down to watch the Chargers destroy the Broncos.  Three points struck me from this game, 1) Simms is only on rosters because of who his father was 2) McDaniels likes to try his luck, which is something I don’t have a problem with and 3) Orton truly is the leader of the offense, as soon as he stepped onto the field the whole attitude of the team changed and he was unlucky not to get some points on the board before the rookie fumbled on the goal line.  Denver needs Orton fit for Thursday or they are going to get thrashed again.

Yes I really did enjoy the NFL this weekend and I think we could be in for an even better game tonight between the Titans and the Texans.

Dando sequência ao sucesso absoluto de “Crepúsculo”, Stephenie Meyer lançou “Lua Nova”. Se os leitores que se apaixonaram pelo lindo casal Edward e Bella esperavam ver os dois juntinhos protagonizando mais momentos românticos, se decepcionaram, a princípio. Neste volume os leitores são testemunhas do dolorido afastamento deles. Cada livro ganha um título e uma imagem que possuem um significado por trás da história. Como o próprio título sugere, “Lua Nova”, é a fase considerada mais obscura do astro, representando o momento mais sombrio da vida de Bella, a perda do seu verdadeiro amor.

A protagonista está prestes a completar 18 anos e a família de Edward prepara uma festa especial para ela na mansão em que moram. Tímida e desastrada, ao abrir um dos presentes, Bella machuca o dedo em uma farpa de papel e acaba sangrando. O que termina provocando uma grande confusão. Jasper, por ser o mais novo transformado e “vegetariano” da família, ao sentir o cheiro do sangue de Bella se descontrola e fica sedento. Transtornado com a situação e por ter achado que estava colocando a garota constantemente em perigo, Edward toma a decisão de mudar-se com a família, abandonando Bella.

Achando que seria mais fácil abandonar a menina, tornar mais fácil a partida, e para que ela pudesse tocar a vida adiante com mais facilidade, ele resolve revelar a ela que não a ama. Mas o que aconteceu foi justamente o contrário, Bella fica desolada e não consegue seguir adiante, chegando até mesmo a perder o contato com os amigos.

Quatro meses se passaram desde a partida de Edward. Vendo que a filha não conseguia ter a vida normal de volta e cansado de ver a menina tão apática, Charlie, que desde a perseguição de James, já estava irritado com Edward achando que ele estava fazendo a filha sofre, ameaça a filha de mandá-la para Jacksonville para viver com a mãe, Rene. Ao se dar conta do efeito que a ameaça de Charlie faria para a sua vida, Bella reage tendo um acesso de fúria. Emocionado, por acreditar que a filha realmente está gostando de morar com ele a em Forks, Charlie repensa a sua decisão e permite que a filha continue lá, mas com uma condição: desde que ela volte a sair com os amigos.

Esforçando-se para mostrar uma reação de melhora, Bella vai ao cinema na companhia da colega de classe Jessica. Ao sair do cinema, Bella vê um grupo de homens que a chamam para perto de um bar. Relembrando o que viveu no primeiro livro na cidade Port Angeles, Bella vai de encontro ao perigo, mas a voz de Edward em sua cabeça a repreende veementemente. Ela fica confusa com isso e acaba desistindo da idéia.

Na ausência de Edward, Bella procura conforto na companhia do amigo de infância, Jacob Black. Compra duas motos velhas e Jacob, como tinha habilidade para mecânica, as conserta. A garota então passa as tardes com ele em La Push e ele promete ensinar ela a pilotar. Após as motos ficarem prontas, os dois as levam para à praia. No caminho eles observam Sam Uley pular do penhasco com alguns amigos. Bela fica surpresa e ao mesmo tempo empolgada com o que viu. Jacob promete levá-la para pular o penhasco um dia, apesar de não entender direito o súbito interesse da amiga em esportes radicais. Jacob confessa que acredita que Sam faça parte de alguma quadrilha.

Mike convida Bella para ir ao cinema e ela leva junto Jacob. Mike estava com alguma virose e acaba transmitindo-a para a garota. Jacob acaba tendo reações estranhas no seu corpo, achou que também estivesse ficando doente. Mas o seu pai, Billy, sabe o que está acontecendo. Ao transformar-se em um lobisomem, ele precisa manter isso em segredo, até mesmo de Bella que não entende o afastamento do amigo. Jacob informa a Bella que contraiu mononucleose, o que a deixa completamente pirada, pois o período de recuperação da doença é longo, de um mês e ela via no amigo o suporte para continuar seguindo em frente.

Sentindo-se sozinha e entediada com a distância de Jacob, Bella decide ir para a clareira onde esteve com Edward em “Crepúsculo” e acaba deparando-se com Laurent que no primeiro livro demonstrou-se tão solícito, revelou estar com pensamentos muito escusos. Sedento e sabendo que os Cullen não estão por perto, Laurent decide acabar com a vida de Bella. No entanto, aparecem alguns lobos gigantes que o perseguem, levando-o a morte e salvando a garota.

Duas semanas se passaram desde que Jacob havia dito a Bella que estava doente. Ela continuava ligando para a casa dele atrás de notícias e também para ver se conseguia falar com ele, mas Billy sempre dizia para ela que o filho não podia falar. Um dia, então, Bella resolve ir visitá-lo e o vê andando com o grupo de Sam Uley. Inconformada com o pouco caso que ele faz da saudade dela, ela o enfrenta e cobra explicações. Eles acabam se desentendendo e brigam. Jacob tenta fazer as pazes e dá indiretas a Bella sobre o seu segredo. A garota então descobre que Jacob é um lobisomem e ele revela que no dia em que Laurent tentou matá-la, ele defendeu-a e agora estão caçando uma outra vampira ruiva. Bella fica desesperada ao descobrir que a vampira é, na verdade, bastante conhecida, Victoria, a parceira de James que inconformada com a sua perda, quer vingança e o seu alvo é a garota. Para fazer com que Edward sinta na pele o que ela sentiu e ainda sente, a perda do seu verdadeiro amor, já que ele foi o assassino de James. Bella então junta as peças do quebra-cabeça e entende que não era Laurent que estava a sua procura, mas sim Victoria, que de um jeito ou de outro, consegue sempre escapar dos lobos.

As férias de primavera chegam e enquanto os lobisomens estão a procura de Victoria, Bella mais uma vez sentindo-se sozinha e abandonada, agora não apenas por Edward, mas também por Jacob, decide pular do penhasco. Ela quase se afora em uma forte corrente de água, mas Jacob, mais uma vez, a salva.

Paralelo a isso, Alice tem uma visão de que Bella se joga de um penhasco e não consegue sair da água. Desesperada com a situação que a amiga estava passando, voa para Forks. Quando chega lá, descobre que Jacob conseguiu salvá-la. O que a deixa aliviada e ao mesmo tempo frustrada, pois em suas visões ela não viu a presença dos lobisomens.

Rosale, confiando cegamente nas visões de Alice, que sempre foram meticulosas, revela a Edward que Bella morreu. Desesperado, ele liga para a casa dos Swan para confirmar a informação. Neste momento, estão na casa, a garota, Jacob e Alice (escondida de Jacob). Ele atende o telefone e Edward, disfarçado se identifica como Carlisle e pergunta por Charlie. Jacob então responde que o policial está no enterro.

Edward sem saber que Charlie estava no enterro de Harry, um amigo que morreu de parada cardíaca, está convicto de que a sua amada morreu, então decide que não quer continuar vivo e vai até Volterra, na Itália procurar pelos Volturi, para se suicidar provocando os temidos vampiros.

Alice entra na sala, para espanto de Jacob e pergunta o que Edward disse ao telefone. Jacob conta e Alice disse que ele mentiu, que não era Carlisle. Diz a Bella que Rosálie havia revelado a Edward sobre a visão incompleta que ela teve, que ele estava crente que Bella morreu e, com isso, partiu para a Itália para se matar. A garota fica complemente transtornada porque sabe da reputação dos Volturi e não consegue acreditar que Edward conseguirá sair vivo dessa.

Alice e Bella não pensam duas vezes, partem para a Itália para tentar salvar Edward, chegando a tempo antes de acontecer o pior. Após enfrentarem a incrivelmente poderosa vampira Jane, os três juntos tiveram que conversar com Aro, um dos Volturi, que fica fascinado com o poder tanto de Alice quanto de Edward e quer a todo custo que os dois juntem-se ao grupo de vampiros dos deles. Porém, nenhum deles aceita.

Quando retornam para Forks, um impasse é travado: Jacob exige que Bella tome um partido: fica ao lado dos vampiros ou dos lobos. Edward confessa para Bella que sempre a amou e sentiu na obrigação de mentir para poder preservá-la e fazer com ela seguisse a sua vida normalmente sem correr nenhum tipo de risco.

Bella perdoa o seu amado e ele promete que nunca mais partirá e nem deixará ela sozinha. Ela então comenta que sem ele corre ainda mais riscos. Edward a pede em casamento, mas Bela não aceita, pois sente-se ainda muito nova para um casamento.

Bella não deixa de pedir a Edward que a transforme em vampira também, mas ele, como sempre, rejeita a proposta. Mas ao final do livro há uma votação entre os Cullen para decidirem se ela deverá ou não ser transformada, haja vista que os Volturi fizeram uma ameaça sobre a humana ter muito conhecimento sobre a sua espécie.

“Lua Nova” deixou um gostinho de quero mais e um suspense no ar, nos prometendo um bocado de emoção que acontecerão em “Eclipse”.

Confesso que em alguns momentos achei o livro muito parado, muito descritivo e até mesmo cansativo, por outro lado tem muitas revelações e agitos, principalmente nos confrontos entre os lobisomens e os vampiros e com a chegada dos Cullen à Itália. As vezes comparo “Lua Nova” a um monitor de batimentos cardíacos, cheio de altos e baixos. Uma calmaria… em seguida um pico… uma calmaria… em seguida outro pico. Mas como um todo, o livro é muito bom.

Tenho uma amiga que amou “Crepúsculo”, mas não gostou tanto assim de “Lua Nova”, segundo ela, porque idealizou o amor de Edward e Bella e, como Jacob se aproxima muito da garota, deixando claro, para bom entendedor, que os seus sentimentos não são apenas de amizade, ela passou a odiar Jacob. Mas eu, particularmente, adoro Jacob.  Acho, inclusive, que gosto mais dele até mesmo em detrimento do “meloso” e “perfeitinho” Edward. Para mim, o jovem lobisomem é muito mais interessante e mais próximo do “real”, apesar do jovem vampiro ser um fofo. Além de tudo, um triangulo amoroso apimenta qualquer romance, seja ele de ficção ou baseado em fatos reais. Haja vista que Bella é humana e seus sentimentos se afloram com muito mais naturalidade que os seres sobrenaturais.

No dia 20 deste mês estréia a adaptação para o cinema do livro “Lua Nova”. Vem sendo muito esperado pelos fãs e promete ser mais um sucesso de público e críticas. Vamos aguardar para ver!

Planning on doing any home improvements in the new year? Remodeling Magazine’s 2010 Cost vs Value report is out for Jacksonville: http://bit.ly/costvsvalue

Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida. ©Calvin Palmer 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Leica D-Lux 3, ISO 100, 1/400 sec, f/6.3.

Miss “Inependent” is turning one this week, and although I heard she was walking, I was surprised by how mobile she already is. Not just walking, but running! This bitty thing made me work! I had so much fun chasing her around in Ortega and Avondale. While I love going into a family’s home to photograph them on their turf, I also have enjoyed exploring our historic neighborhoods on recent sessions.

Many thanks to Let Them Eat Cake! for letting us make a bit of a mess!

I love how you can glimpse Mom and Dad watching attentively from inside and outside the bakery window.

Share this…   …and a few more pics from this session will be on the JMP Facebook page ().

Want some excitement in college basketball this week?

Too bad.

Only one non-tournament game features ranked teams, and it’s Minnesota  Butler.  Yuck.

Duke is on a path to play UConn for the NIT Tip Off title in the Garden Friday night.  Two days before that, Arizona State and LSU will put up respective tests before falling in the semis.

None of e games were on the staff’s schedule, because we didn’t know what the results would be.

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