Street Fighter is Better

Entry 01 10:12pm

"Ken Masters!?" "Here." "Chun li!?" "Here!" "Josh Gomez!?" "..here.." I lifelessly responded half asleep while thinking about playing Street Fighter III. It's been an official week now and I'm starting to feel more in tune with my surroundings. "Ryu...uh..Ryu...um...Gee I'm sorry Ryu, I can't pronounce your last name..." "Don't worry about it...I'm right here..." The teacher seems to know his stuff. But I wonder if he ever played Street Fighter III. Everyone knows Ryu has no last name. Psh. What an idiot. But hey I don't blame him. I overheard him talk about his accomplishments earlier. Apparently he has 2 Doctorals and 5 Masters. That explains his lack of knowledge for one of the greatest fighting heroes in history. "Edmond Honda!? Is Edmond Honda here!?" Suddenly this big guy with a donut in his mouth comes running through the door while waving his hands in front of him as if he was trying to say hello while violently waxing his imaginary car to claim his rightful self. "HERE!!! RIGHT HERE!!!" Sometimes I wonder. How do schools attract these kinds of people? I mean, do they really make it? But then again. What If I don't make it. Here I am labeling everyone that walks in but what have I been labeled as to these locals? I'm the foreigner here. I don't say 'Ya'll' and I don't drink much sweet tea with lemon yet. I'm just the strangely, somewhat tanned, Californian with a weird accent. "Dhalsim Patel and DJ?? Are you two here?" "Here" "YA! RIGHT HERE YA!" Hmm...They shouldn't be sitting together.

2 hours in class and I can feel my head bobbing back and forth from lack of energy. Why does school make it so difficult to pay attention to a person with so much knowledge. I usually don't have this problem at conventions or sales presentations, but school??? "Ok break time! Please come back in 10 minutes to assign learning teams!" were the words the multiple doctoral bearing sensei used to wake my video game infested mind up. I walked outside and bumped into Dhalsim by accident. I swore I felt a Yoga Flame coming out of his mouth but instead a warm and welcoming, "Oh, you're Josh correct? Nice to meet you! I noticed by your shoes you're from out of state right?" This guy was either checking me out or studying psychology. "Yep. How'd you guess?" I said with a nervous chuckle. "Well most people don't wear vans around here. So I just figured. Hey, join me for a cigarette?" Here comes the Yoga Fire. "No thanks! I quit awhile ago." Whoa wait. Wait just a second. Freeze the frame please!!! Did I just say NO to a cigarette??? Maybe this change was good for me than. "Thanks anyways but hey, I'll see ya back in class!" And we waved goodbye as if never to speak again.

"Ok class! It's time to assign learning teams!" The sensei said with such extra electrifying enthusiam. This is the part where I regret saying no to a cigarette since I got nervous for the first time in a while. Well, more like the first day of high school. The Street Fighter hating teacher began to number the students 1-4. "One, Two, Three, Four, One, Two, Three..." And I got lucky number 3. Damn it. Looks like I'm teaming up with Dhalsim, Ken, and Honda over here. We warmly greeted each other and re-aqcuanted with Dhalsim. We talked about where we came from and to my surprise Ken was extremely fascinated with California. "WOW! Have you been to beverly hills??? I hear it's AMAZING!!!" I questioned my thin but solid knowledge of Street Fighter characters seeing that Ken may have at least visited once judging by his appearance and self inflated bubble around his head. Dhalsim apparently used telekinesis to communicate with his peers since he doesn't even own a computer at home and much less a 'text-friendly' phone. And Honda was still busy waving hi to us like a metronome on speed and crack. I have an eerie feeling about this class. But hey, the experience might be worth a whirlwind kick. I just wish I couldv'e joined Chun Li's team...

Roseheart Genesis

Entry 00 - 6:45am

The sound of an extremely annoying static from my alarm clock was provoking me to punch it's "clock" out this morning as I woke. I also realized that I have awaken to a long awaited dream. I've wished for hours on end for a new beginning. And finally....yes...FINALLY the day has come! I have a new life and it's time to rush to my new job. Everything was so surreal to me as I dressed. Laughing hysterically like a mad man, I pressed every ounce of energy upon one SINGLE breath of life. And facing the sun glistening window, I let out a big long breath of relief. Only one thought raced through my mind and it was that the past is behind me and the storm has ended.

I rode in the passenger seat to work eating my cup full of Cherrios. Yes...my mother is driving me to work. "Mom, please don't embarrass me in front of the vice president!" I told her. She laughed and smiled. "I'm glad you're home mijo." I usually can't stand too much time with my own Mother, yet this was one of those moments that I forgot existed. My once numb soul has began to beat a rythme of life again. But yet, the entire ride to work was rumbled by my past. Thoughts and memories raced through my mind filling my head with doubt and fear that the same thing may happen here. All the scars and wounds began to burn and throb inside of my chest like thorns were growing out from me. Endlessly covering my body with a thick and sharp outer coating keeping the new away from me. My skin was tearing apart to make room for this thorn infested creature I've managed to chain within. I could feel myself screaming inside of my mind and suddenly I controlled it. Something new had linked into my will.

This is a new season in my life. This is a new beginning. Who I am today never existed yesterday. I still have wounds...and fascinating enough, my body has built inside a new heart for me. It's not the same withered, dead, and dry handful of crap. It's created a heart much similar to that of a rose. I....AM....MADE...OF....THORNS...

8:25am....It's time to walk into the first day of work...

~End~