Well...

Shylok’s Arbitrary Curio Shop

“Everything is available here.  And everything has it’s price.”

Somewhere in a populous city, as you walk down an unassuming street wondering where in the world you can find whatever it is you’re looking for, you suddenly notice an unassuming shop you’ve never seen before.  There’s no sign designating a name.  Just an “open” sign on the door.  The windows are dark and you can’t see inside.  Yet you can’t help yourself; your curiosity gets the better of you.  You open the door and walk in.

Welcome to Shylok’s Arbitrary Curio Shop.

The shop is loaded from wall to wall and ceiling to floor with all kinds of things.  There are rows and rows of shelves and bins filled with all sorts of items from nick-knacks to tools to books to... whatever!  Pretty much anything that you’re looking for is available here , both magical and non-magical.  There are no weapons though (“The mind is the only weapon a true warrior needs”, is a well known Shylok quote).  Patrons aren’t sure, but they feel the shop must be bigger than it appears to be from the outside to hold as much stuff as it does.

Previous patrons all say that Shylok himself waits before revealing himself; giving patrons time to look around.  When someone has found something that interests them, Shylok is suddenly there, ready to talk about whatever it is that has piqued their mind’s interest, and to make a deal.

Shylok himself is a mystery.  He is a man, but other than that you really can’t tell anything about him.  He is bald with pale skin.  The most aware among his customers notice that he actually has no hair anywhere on his body, including eyebrows.  He’s taller than a dwarf, but not as tall as an elf.  He has an even, baritone voice that has no discernible accent.  He wears a plain grey tunic that goes to the floor, with wide sleeves that he keeps his hands in, crossed in front of his body, until it’s time to make the deal.  There are records of encounters with his shop dating back to longer than any being could naturally live.  Yet Shylok seems to never age. When asked direct questions about himself, he gives very indirect answers.  Asked how old he is he says, “Old enough to have acquired all these items.”  If asked where he is from he simply replies, “Not from here.”  He does not have a significant other and tells people who inquire, “The shop, and the needs of it’s patrons, are my one true love.”

The shop is not actually named Shylok’s Arbitrary Curio Shop.  Truth be told, no one really knows the name of the shop.  Someone at some time just started calling it that and the name stuck.  If asked, Shylok simply replies, “I am Shylok, and this is my shop.”

Most of the time, Shylok is happy to buy or sell his items for money or things.  But there have been reports from some who say that sometimes... when it’s a particularly special, unique or personal item... Shylok will trade in the abstract; Some claim to have traded dreams; some claim to have traded memories; some have traded passions.  People also claim to have received these same things as payment for items sold to the shop.  One man, burdened with night terrors, sold a locket to the shop in exchange for a week’s worth of peaceful sleep.  “I’ve never slept that well again”, he said forlornly.

Most patrons have never been able to set foot into the shop again.  They leave and then return the next day only to find a brick wall; or the shop that actually resides in that spot.  Owners of those shops always claimed to have been open they day Shylok’s shop was in their location, and always have customers who will back that claim. Those lucky enough to find the shop again always find it somewhere else.  On another street, or maybe even in a different city altogether.  But it always looks the same, or so they say.

Does Shylok’s really exist?  Maybe it’s just a tale that has taken on a life of it’s own; A fable told to kids that has grown to something more.

Or maybe... One day... You’ll be out tying to find that one particular item... And you’ll turn a corner...

We are playing Tapestry for the first time. The 12-sided die is the die you roll for the science track. We have already dubbed it "Bill Nye The Science Die."

The Recent Realization That Completely Took Me By Surprise

“I’ve made the decision.  I’m giving up on dating.”

I made this proclamation to a friend sometime in the very early 2000s.  I was tired of everything that went with dating, or trying to get dates, and had gotten to a point where I, quite frankly, just didn’t give a damn anymore.  I was happier being alone, relationship wise.

My friend scoffed at me, and as I told others, they did too.  But for the past (approximately) 14 years, that’s been the story.  There really was no one I actively wanted to date.

So it came as quite a shock to me when one night a couple of months ago, as I was out at a bar with a group of friends, it became clear to me that I really wanted to ask one of them out on a date.

[This, BTW, is not the realization this blog post is about.]

I did not react well to this.  Remember a few months ago when I was making Vaugebook posts about frustration and falling into old mental traps?  Well, now you know why.  I had so many questions I couldn’t answer.  Where did this come from?  Why was this suddenly happening?  I was happy not being in the dating scene, why would I suddenly want to screw that up?  Why her?  I didn’t really consider how she would feel.  I was 99% sure she wasn’t interested.  In fact, I think I would’ve been more worried if I asked her out and she actually said yes!

A week later, I travelled to New York City to visit a couple of friends of mine.  While there, I discussed my recent revealation.  They had become engaged a couple of weeks before, so I took their view of my situation with a huge grain of salt.

But as I spent the day with them, and watched them together, I became aware that I wanted exactly what they had.

That connection. That emotional bonding. That love.

[This, also, is not the realization this blog post is about.  Stay with me here.]

I got on the train home and began thinking about everything and every emotion, past and present; what had led me to where I had been and to where I was now.  And somewhere between Harlem and Greenwich, I discovered the truth.

The truth was that, during all those years, I had wanted to date.

I had wanted that connection. That bonding. That love.

The problem was, during that time and up until recently, I didn’t love myself.  Truth be told, I down right loathed myself for most of that time.  And because of that, I didn’t think I deserved to be loved by anyone.

So when I would meet a woman who I thought was special, I would think to myself, “Too bad I don’t want to date anyone”, and put it out of my mind.

This is the revelation this blog post is about.  The revelation that, “I don’t want to date anyone”, was really my brain’s way of saying, “You don’t deserve anyone’s love.”

And once I realized that, everything going on fell into place.

I love myself now. I’m ready to date. I’m ready to love someone else now.

But, most of all, I’m ready to accept that someone can love me the same way.

Wrestlemania 41 Night Two predictions

√ Woman's World Championship Triple Threat Match: (c) Iyo Sky defeats Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. Iyo has been pretty much ignored by the other two competitors leading up to this match, which will continue during this match too. Iyo pins Rhea so the "Rhea can't beat Iyo" story can continue. Plus it also keeps the "Bianca has never been pinned or submitted at Wrestelmania" story going too.

√ Sin City Street Fight: Drew McIntyre defeats Damian Priest. The sad part is both of these guys desperately need a win. But I think Paul HHH has decided that Priest is not main event worthy and with this loss will be dropping back down to the mid card. If this match opens the night, then maybe Priest wins. But I don't think so.

√ Intercontinental Fatal Four-Way Match: Dominik Mysterio defeats (c) Bron Breaker, Penta & Finn Balor. It's time to move Dom up. He's still great on the mike and his in ring work has improved greatly. Either Dom pins Pinn Balor or Balor hits his move on Penta only for Dom to attack him and steal the pin. This leads to the break up of the Judgement Day and gets the title off of Bron without him losing so he can move up the card.

√ Randy Orton Open Challenge Match: Despite who his opponent is, Randy is taking the win here. The next PLE is taking place in St. Louis, Randy's hometown, so he'll be challenging the winner of Rhodes/Cena there. Rumor is his opponent will be the returning Rusev (thanks for the spoiler Big E) or maybe Solo Sikoa. I hope it's not Rusev. He should return on the RAM or SAM and certainly shouldn't take a loss in his return match.

√ Logan Paul defeats AJ Styles. Short and to the point, Logan hasn't won in quite a while and AJ, nearing the end of his career, can take the loss. My prediction for who's in the Prime bottle this year is Karrion Kross.

X Woman's World Tag Team Title Match: (c) Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defeat Lyra Valkyria and a mystery partner (most likely Becky Lynch). I don't think Becky is coming back full time, which is why I'm picking the champs to retain. I suppose they could do a thing where Becky is just "filling in" for Bayley and then Bayley becomes the co-champion. But I think the champs win with Shenanigans which makes Aldis put the match on the SAM with a suddenly healed Bayley and they win them there.

√ Undisputed WWE Championship Match: John Cena beats (c) Cody Rhodes. This match will be loaded with shenanigans. But Cena winning is the much more interesting option. Then he takes on Randy at Backlash (in Randy's home town), then CM Punk at Money In The Bank (c'mon, this HAS to happen). I'll be honest, I have no idea what they'll do with Cody afterwords, but I'm intrigued to find out. Also, Cody got pretty boo'd on Smackdown by the Las Vegas crowd. Curious to see if that will continue tonight.

dealing with the worst case scenario

your condom breaks

you feel a lump on your breast

your friends are ignoring you

you’re stranded on an island 

you got rejected by a crush

you get into a car accident

you got stung by a bee/wasp

you got fired from your job

you’re in an earthquake

your tattoo gets infected

your house is on fire

you’re lost in the woods

you get arrested abroad

you get robbed

your partner cheated on you

you’re on a ship that’s sinking

you fall into ice

you’re stuck in an elevator

you hit a deer with your car

you have food poisoning

your pet passed away

you fall off of a horse

you or your friend has alcohol poisoning

you have toxic shock syndrome

your house has a gas leak

Have a ball with Baal!

Why do you trust the biggest liar in our existence(satan)and why do you support murder of our innocent children??? Oh well at least you will get yours in hell ,FOE KEEP PUSHING BAALS AGENDA DECEIVED ONE.... OTT TV SCRIPTURE REALITY.

This is beautiful.

So incredible. 😍

Music & Memories

I’m always amazed at how songs become attached to moments or people in your life.

I hear Born To Be Wild, and I remember a road trip with a friend so she can check out a job possibility in Massachusetts.  When that song came on we cranked the radio and belted out the chorus at the top of our lungs.

Gimme Three Steps makes me think of the boss who was always amazed that the song was based on a real story.  He would mention it every time the song would come on and excitedly go on and on about it.

I hear Charlie Daniels, or Run DMC, or Mary J Blige and I think of the special women who have been in my life.  If it wasn’t for them I never would’ve given these styles of music a fair chance.

Whenever Dream On plays, I remember trips to Hampton Beach with friends.  We would always end the trips standing on the beach singing that song.

I could go on and on and bore you with songs and the memories associated with them, but I won’t.  But if ever a song comes on, and I get a little smile on my face and maybe even give a snicker, you know why.

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