Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 403

Alaskan Silver Storm

  Wynton liked conducting business at parties.  It caused his prey to be relaxed, and easier to manipulate.  He hated it when his plans were interupted, or thrown off completely.

The party was set for the next evening, everything was in place.  Even the gifts were delivered early and at a special table.  Sometimes men’s plans are effected by the unexpected.  No one plans it, it just happens.

During the night, a storm began. Lightning hit St Louis’ place, a fire started, and spread quickly.  Before they could put it out, the entire place was a complete loss.  

Wynton’s gift was up in flames. Edwin’s carefully planned base of operations for St Louis was gone.  St Louis was left with nothing to show for all the work he had put in getting it ready. Now, they all would be forced to start over.

Things like this have a way of accelerating your plans.  Each of them was tired, frustrated, and anxious. The patience they had felt days before was gone.  

Impatient men do crazy things.  They try to force normal to come back in a hurry.  When the business is already dangerous, this causes extreme consequences to set in.  Three phone calls happen in the hours after the blaze.  One of them could be deadly.

Listen to the effects of Calls to Action in next week’s Alaskan Silver!

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Pastel, Porticlese, And Plane Rides

   

Sometimes we make assumptions. We assume that we know what to expect, and then surprises happen.  This silly little story, and it’s designed to be silly, has a point.  We discover at times, that what we thought was random and unproductive, turns out to be a very specific path to our future.  I hope you enjoy this little farce, and that it gives you a smile to go through your day.  

Lilly Caruthers piloted a blimp. She traveled from New York State to Toronto every November. Once there, she would eat at her favorite restaurant, and shop at all the stores she liked.  

Once finished, she would make the return trip. Upon her arrival home, she would plan next year’s trip. Lilly Caruthers had been doing this since she was 59 years old. 

Lilly was now 83. She also was extremely rich, and tremendously bored. This year, Lily decided to do something totally different. The question was, what would that be? So she consulted her crew.  

Her pet rabbit named Stewart, and her assistant, Porticlese Nova Junior. The nineteen year old took his Dad’s position once he retired last year. He was allergic to rabbits, so Porticlese sneezed a lot.  

Stewart reminded Lilly of a tall man with whiskers, and Porticlese reminded her of a rabbit. His Father hadn’t looked like a rabbit, he had looked like an actor she knew. This made her laugh often for the first six months of Junior’s employment, until it began to bore her.  

Lilly needed a change, but still hadn’t decided what. So she went shopping for a new hat. Hats soothed Lilly, except for gray ones, they just made her angry.  

Lilly didn’t own anything gray, for that reason. All of her clothes, and every other item in her life, was a pastel color. Pastels made her happy, which gave her an idea.

She asked her smart phone to call the nearest person named Pastél. It found a lawyer named George Pastél. Lilly thought of all lawyers as great legal minds, arguers of brilliant cases.

George wasn’t, he spent most of his days reviewing contracts for a television network. He was almost as bored as Lilly was. They met for lunch, Lilly was instantly impressed with the forty five year old. 

This wasn’t because he was entertaining, instead she saw in him a kindred spirit. A fellow member on the S.S. Boredom in need of rescue. Lilly decided to change her life, George’s, and those around her.

She sent a text, rented a car, and bought a private plane. The trip Lilly had planned was to long for her blimp. She was about to attempt something new, and required new transportation.

The next morning, Lilly announced to her new lawyer, old pet, and young assistant, that they were taking a trip. “We are traveling to Calcutta, Monaco, and Okinawa.” “What are we going to do there?” Porticlese asked.

She smiled, “Live my boy, live. We are going to conquer new territory, claim new opportunities, and establish the starting point for future escapades. All while making a fortune. Pack as little as possible.”

George thought she was crazy, but he didn’t care. It was an adventure, and before retirement, he wanted one. He put his house up for rent, quit the television company, and bought a red sport coat.

Porticlese purchased two months worth of allergy medication. He also bought books about the cities they were traveling too. Lilly stocked up on rabbit food for Stewart, hired a pilot, a stewardess, and bought a new dress to match her new hat.

Connie Vance was her pilot. Like George, she was forty five. Lilly had plucked her from flying planes for a freight company. Her nineteen year old daughter Heidi came along as the stewardess.  

Porticlese spent a lot of time talking to Heidi. George caught himself conversing with her Mother every few minutes. Lilly smiled as she read an article on the Prince Of Monaco.

Upon arrival in Kalcutta, Lilly bought a cricket team. They spent a week enjoying the city, and then, cricket team and all, set course for Monaco. That night, Lilly got sick from eating something that didn’t agree with her. She spent the next few days in the hospital.

Connie and George visited every day. Stewart kept her company in his cage beside of her hospital bed. They both enjoyed watching old movies. While there, Lilly had another visitor, the Prince.

The two of them had went to college together. She convinced the Prince to host a charity cricket game between her team and the best team in Monaco. The winner would win a hundred thousand dollars for their favorite charity.

By the time of the game, Lilly was better. It was so successful that each charity received two hundred thousand dollars. On a totally unrelated occurrence, Lilly’s team got so much press that a businessman offered to buy the team.  

She refused, and instead, bought a yacht. Lilly gave the captain instructions to meet them in the harbor near the Okinawa air port, on the day they were scheduled to return home from Japan.

In the mean time, Lilly’s cricket team played another expedition game, this time against a Japanese baseball team. Each attempted to win by playing their own sport. Lilly advertised it as a Sports Battle Royale, selling the rights to the local networks.

George negotiated the contract for her, and she bought Stewart a Japanese rabbit girlfriend, Hattie. Porticlese proposed to Heidi after Lilly’s team won the game. Lilly announced that she would have a press conference the next morning.

That night, she had her little crew come to her hotel room. For the first time since they had met the one woman hurricane, she looked tired. “Hello Dears. Come in, come in.”

George spoke first. “Lilly are you okay?” She took his hand. “Yes dear, I’m just tired. It’s been a long, and grand adventure. I’m 83, I can’t do this every year anymore. It’s time to semi retire.”  

Porticlese smiled. “Well, one thing for sure, this trip may have been unplanned, but it was successful.” Connie laughed. “It wasn’t unplanned though, was it? Lilly smiled. “No dear, it wasn’t.” 

“Everyone assumed that I was an old eccentric who did things with no purpose whatsoever, so I let them. I may be eccentric, but I’m also someone who believes in purpose.”

Lilly went on to explain that her blimp trip every year was part of a charity drive. She raised awareness of local charities along the way. Her shopping sprees were actually purchases for needy children. This ‘vacation’ was just as plotted out.

“George, I have a confession to make, I know your Grandmother. I promised her to help get you out of this rut you’ve worked yourself into. Porticlese, I promised my nephew, your Father, that I would find his son a nice girl to start your life with. Connie and I met on vacation, and she looked as bored as I was. Heidi was a smart entertaining girl who seemed lonely.”

George hugged Connie, as she showed off her own engagement ring. “So you played matchmaker? What about everything else?”  

“I needed someone to run my business enterprises, this was a test. One both George passed with flying colors. He will run the business, while training my great nephew Porticlese to take over one day.”

“What will you do?” “Connie asked. Lilly’s eyes twinkled. “Me, Stewart, Hattie, and the baby rabbits will take the yacht home to New York. I’ve got a blimp to sell, and a motorcycle to buy. I’m 83, I need to lead a slower pace now. I’m thinking a road trip cross country will be more relaxing.”  

After announcing her new CEO, and his VP at the press conference, Lilly hugged her friends. As she set sail on the yacht, they waived goodbye. She yelled to them from the boat. “Remember George Pastél, don’t be gray, be purple, or blue, or any other color, it’s far more exciting!”

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iPainting Sunsail

  

Today we share our new iPainting, “Sunsail”, available now.

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PruittWrites Facebook Page

Alaskan Silver Planning A Party

  While last week’s events were happening, St Louis was getting settled in his new place.  He was planning to open a small restaurant filled with music. The kind of place where people come to listen, talk, and make new friends.

It was the perfect backdrop for his line of work, musician/supposed gun for hire/U.S. undercover agent.  St Louis had to meet all of his contacts in the same place, without suspicion.  This would fit the bill, and allow him to enjoy his Grandmother’s recipes every night.

He figured he had a year and six months before the Pick Axe men wanted him to strike. So he had to establish his credibility with all sides.  His handler had instructed him to reveal his identity to his contact only when absolutely necessary.

His first party was booked by Wynton Strand. A man who did not like newcomers, even those he was forced to hire.  St Louis had been highly recommended, and it wasn’t that Wynton didn’t trust him.  It was something else. 

For all of Strand’s arrogance, or because of it, he was infuriated that he had to rely on someone else.  This was a man who wanted to be the only sportsman in the arena, fighting, clawing, and winning, with no help whatsoever.  He was smart enough to know better, but he still didn’t like it.

His consolation was that one day, he told himself, he would be powerful enough to not require anyone. Until that point, the Octopus would use anyone he needed too.  Even if it meant throwing the Mayor a birthday party.  

“Wait till he gets my gift.”  Strand smiled at his plan. The perfectly gift wrapped package was as much for himself as it was for anyone. Soon the Mayor would tell him everything, whether he wanted to or not.

Find out what happens at the party in next week’s Alaskan Silver!

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Support Group

  

Support those who support you. Too often, we can be so overwhelmed with our own issues, that we fail to notice what others are going through. If we’re not careful, we will fail to be present for those who are always there for us. 

Ashley and I are going through a transition right now, but so are several of those we care about. It would be very easy to develop tunnel vision, yet that wouldn’t be fair to all those who support us.

I’d like to share three ways to be present for those you love. First, mentally review your most recent conversations, and interactions with them. Did they seem okay? Were they worried about something, or seem depressed?

Second, follow up. Whether you noticed anything or not, ask how they’re doing. Don’t pry, merely be available in case they need a shoulder, or a sounding board. They may not want to talk about anything, just to see that you are engaged in their lives.

Third, and most importantly, don’t share your opinion unless asked. If asked, remember to be kind. While you would never intentionally hurt anyone, keep this in mind. You will say it once, but their brain will replay it over and over. Without question, people need our ears and our hearts much more, than our words and thoughts.

It isn’t a referendum on the quality of our advice. They will invite your input, but your love will do far more than anything else could. Be present for those you love, let them know they are as precious to you, as you are to them. Support those who support you. Love, listen, and stand with them.

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iPainting Preparing For The Concert

  Continuing with our musical theme from last week, we give you “Preparing For The Concert”.

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PruittWrites Facebook Page

Alaskan Silver Intruders

  Harriet stood at the window with a gun in one hand, and an iron skillet in the other.  One was for the man she had just shot outside, the other was for his partner.  The man who was breaking through the door.  

He waited a second before entering the room, expecting to wrestle his opponent to the ground, or shoot it out. What he didn’t expect was a cracked temple as the woman used her other weapon.  By the end of the night, two assailants lay huddled in the living room floor of Carl Lafayette’s home.

One was bleeding from his leg, and the other from his face.  Soon, Carl and Pin arrived to cart them off to jail. Normally Carl would have been home, but he and Pin were keeping a close eye on their prisoner, the Frenchman.  It had taken fifteen men to transport the giant to jail, and they weren’t about to take any chances.

“Harriet, where did you learn to shoot like that?  Why did you have a gun on you anyway?”  The lady smiled as innocently as she could.  “A friend taught me, and gave me the gun.  You see, where I come from can be a very dangerous place.  You have to be prepared for anything.”

That hadn’t completely satisfied them, but they were content to let it go for now. She had saved Carl’s family from a very bold attempt by the Pick Ace men.  Harriet excused herself to her room. 

Once there, she wrote a letter to Edward Mallory.  She wasn’t happy with the night’s events at all.  It wasn’t the outcome that bothered her, but that her hand had been tipped so early.  This wasn’t a trap, as she explained in the correspondence, it was a fact finding mission.

Someone very intelligent had figured out that she was more than she said.  Since she had only been there a matter of hours, they had to have only guessed. This meant that their opponent was smarter than they thought.

Edward wasn’t as much in the shadows as he had hoped.  This letter had to reach him soon.  “Does this mean your other interests are also exposed?  If so, where do we go from here?”

Find out where that is, in next week’s Alaskan Silver!

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Retooling

  Retooling yourself and old ideas isn’t a new concept, Walt Disney was brilliant at it. You’re familiar with familiar fairy tales in his movies, but do you remember the Mickey Mouse Club? If so, what version? There have been five of them.  

The first was a theater based club from 1930-1935, it had over one million members. The second came about to raise money to help build Disneyland in 1955. The third and fourth incarnations were in the seventies and the nineties. 

The 1989-1995 edition had future Hollywood personalities that are household names today. They included Justin Timberlake, Brittany Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell. The latest was a 2015 South Korean television show. 

The point is, at different intervals, Disney took an idea and reused it. Trends and children changed, old things that once worked grew out of date. Rather than holding onto the past, they evaluated and updated what would work. Disney discarded what was no longer applicable, and used what still was.

I’m currently in such a state myself, just recently going through a career transition. While I can’t control every facet of this experience, there are a few things I can do. I would like to share them with you, in hopes of helping you through a similar transition. 

First, and foremost, I seek counsel. As a Christian, I believe in prayer, I ask for God’s help as I walk this road. Also, I talk to my Pastor. His perspective not only gives me direction, but inspiration. In addition, I’ve spoken to experts in my industry, and others who’ve faced this same thing.

Second, I do not allow my emotions to be my engine. Some days you will feel emotionally on fire, other days you’ll feel as if all your energy was drained out. We should not deny our emotions, but we can’t allow them to be our director either.  

Talk to someone you can trust about what you’re feeling. Address your fears, concerns, and questions. We are human, and these things are natural. At the same time, they shouldn’t control our decisions, we should.

Thirdly, I’m reinventing myself, in a career sense. I’m exploring my options, discarding what doesn’t work, and attempting to implement what will. In my career I’ve went from IT work, to customer service and human resources. In addition to that, I’m a writer and artist.

I don’t know what the next phase of my work path looks like yet, but I know this. My best job is still ahead of me, and I’m pursuing it. Along the way, I’m brushing off old ideas that still have some life in them, and introducing myself to new audiences.   

You can too, if you’re willing to do something. It takes a willingness to try something new. Being brave enough to streamline what still works, while eliminating what no longer does. Knowing that your ideas are tools that are meant to work for you, but do not define you.

If a tool is damaged, a craftsman repairs what he can, and replaces what is no longer viable. That does not mean that you are no longer valuable, only that you are facing a new challenge. Where you are in life is not your destination, it’s only your current location.

Much like the Mickey Mouse Club, our lives can touch generations, span countries, and have many formats. If, like me, your in transition, then you’re on a grand adventure. They can be challenging, even scary at times, but also incredibly exciting.

We need some new things in our lives to make them interesting. Plus, like treasures in jewelry box, we can accent the new, with classic pieces that retain their value. Our circumstances effect us, but they don’t determine our relevance.  

No matter where you are, or how old you are, you have something to offer. It may mean learning a new skill, or reconfiguring an old one. M I C Key Mouse gave way to malls and music videos, but more than one generation loved it. You may trade an old mouse eared hat for a shiny new look, and that’s okay. Start preparing today, to introduce yourself to the next phase of your journey.

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Acrylic A View From The Apartment

 

  PruittWrites newest acrylic, “A View From The Apartment” is available now.  If you would like to purchase a print, or the painting itself, email pruittwrites@gmail.com today.

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iPainting The Cellist

  While I’m not a musician, I am a fan of music.  The shapes, colors, a history of the instruments fascinate me.  Today we present “The Cellist”.

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