GOOD GUYS FINISH LAST

GOOD GUYS FINISH LAST

To tell you the truth, I think I was in a state of shock. It almost seemed surreal as 2 police cars and an ambulance came screeching to a stop right in front of my house. For a moment it almost seemed as if everything was happening in slow motion.

I just stood there like a deer in the headlights. My eyes fixated on the flashing lights on top of the patrol cars, it was almost hypnotic. Fortunately I came out of it just in time to see that the lead two officers had drawn their guns and were screaming commands at me. I looked down and realized that I still had my gun in my right hand. My 1911 .45 caliber pistol was still hot and the slide was locked back, indicating that I had somehow emptied all 7 rounds. The whole thing seemed like a dream.

Still standing there wide eyed and astonished at the recent turn of events, I complied with their command and set my gun down on the hood of my car and then went to my knees. I started to explain what happened but my voice was drowned out by the siren and the officers repeated orders for me to lie down, face down with my hands to my sides.

The minute I complied with their wishes, the bigger guy grabbed me by the left wrist and pulled it behind my back, while snapping a handcuff on me. In one fluid motion he quickly grabbed my other wrist and expertly preformed a similar maneuver. With a quick glance up I could see his partner covering me with his pistol while the other officers were shaking their heads after taking the pulse of the guy that lay bleeding by the curb. Needless to say after eating a whole clip of 45’s there was no pulse to be found.

Things were looking pretty bad for me about now, but to put things in perspective, I really should start at the beginning. I really am a good guy, a law abiding citizen, in fact I can’t even remember getting a traffic ticket since I was a teenager.

It all started fairly innocently a few days ago, when I had taken my girlfriend out to dinner. We had an enjoyable and uneventful dinner and were standing in line at the club next door for a few drinks when all of my problems started. I was minding my own business while digging thru my wallet looking for a twenty dollar bill to pay the cover charge.

I hear a voice from behind us in line making a rude comment about my girlfriend. I turn around and look down the line in disgust to determine who made the comment, but everyone seems to be just talking among themselves.

A few minutes later we had worked our way forward in the line and could hear the loud music from inside. Suddenly, I feel a jolt from behind me as a rather large guy bumps me with his shoulder. I could tell by how hard he hit me and the fact that he didn’t turn to apologize that this was an intentional attack. Guys don’t need a body language expert to translate that statement.

Well, I’m as nice as the next guy, but it was evident that this was the same guy that made the rude comment and now he was physically harassing me. I thought about what had transpired for a second and contemplated letting it go unchallenged, but after all the guy was a jerk and I didn’t want to look like a weakling in front of my girl friend.

He hadn’t taken two steps past me as I in turn called him a few choice names of my own, and gave him the one finger salute. Well it was evident that this guy wasn’t one to let by gone’s be by gone’s and he immediately turned on his heels and shoved me backward with both hands. I could hear my girlfriend urge me to just walk away, but the fight was already on.

I had no formal fight training but everyone that knows me, knows I have a short fuse, and this son of gun had just lit it. Well, no sooner then I had I put my hands up in a defensive position, sasquatch throws a big haymaker right at my head. I partially blocked his punch but still managed to catch half of its force right above my ear.

At about that point my adrenaline kicked in and I answered with a 3 punch flurry, the viciousness of which seemed to surprise Mr. Tough Guy. At first he reeled back a few steps but then charged at me with his head down and tackled me to the pavement. By this time everyone in the line had formed a circle around us and a few of the bouncers from the club had managed to pull us apart. The head bouncer said he was going to call the police, so I took that as notice to get out of there and walk back to my car.

Just as we were about to get back into my car, a black S.U.V. pulled up and stopped right next to us. The tinted window rolled down and my assailant gave me a menacing look. I have to admit that I took a certain amount of joy in seeing a trickle of blood from the guy’s nose. He said something I couldn’t make out and then started laughing hysterically as he waived a black object at me. At first I thought it may have been a gun, but then it struck me that it was a wallet, my wallet. A quick but frantic pat on my back pocket confirmed that the bastard had indeed taken my wallet. Complete with cash, credit cards, and drivers license.

Well, as soon as I got home, and had a drink to calm my nerves, I decided to start contacting my credit card companies. I first checked my accounts on line and discovered that the jackass with my wallet was already out running up quite a bill on my credit cards. My girlfriend wisely urged me to call the police, but I didn’t want the hassle. I struggled to think about what else was in my wallet that was now in this guy’s possession. I was up half the night doing damage control before I finally fell asleep around 4 A.M. I was certain I would have to endure a case of identity theft, for the foreseeable future.

I slept in the next morning and woke up still feeling a little sore from last night’s workout. Coffee cup in hand I walked out into the driveway to get the morning paper, only to find my empty wallet, cut up and laying next to the newspaper. The only thing left in the wallet was a picture of my girlfriend and I, with my half of the picture cut out. In my mind, this guy was a sicko and was making this thing personal.

I could only assume that the mental midget I had the fight with, intentionally left my wallet there to send me the unmistakable message that he knew where I lived. I have to admit that it was an unsettling feeling knowing that some half baked criminal, that had a bone to pick with me, knew where my house was.

The next day and a half went without incident, but I was convinced that I hadn’t heard the last of this guy and had decided to carry my home protection gun, just in case. My girlfriend stopped by briefly on her way to work around 5pm to see how I was doing and drop off some dinner she had made for me.

After she left I decided to stay home and watch T.V. when I must have fell asleep on the couch around 11 o’clock. Around 2:30 in the morning I awoke to what sounded like someone trying to open my back door. (it’s funny how you can sleep with the television on but still hear a house sound that is out of the ordinary).

I was still groggy with sleep, but remembered that I hadn’t gone thru my usual routine of checking all the doors before dozing off for the night. My girlfriend doesn’t approve of guns so I had left mine in the nightstand next to my bed. I make a quick dash for the bedroom to retrieve it, and as I left my room I noticed a shadowy figure looking in the front window.

Outraged and with gun in hand, I threw open the front door only to see the same unmistakable black S.U.V. parked directly in front of my house. At this point I was both frightened and enraged. I must have surprised the intruder, as he then made a bee line for his car, shouting threats and obscenities the whole way. I raised my gun and leveled the front sight on his center mass, but then took my finger off the trigger and lowered it to the ground.

I couldn’t bring my self to shooting an unarmed guy running away (although the urge certainly crossed my mind). Just as the guy reached the front passenger door he turned and shouted that I had no guts. He reached inside his vehicle and spun back towards me. This time I was sure it wasn’t my wallet that he had in his hand and by instinct fired what I thought was one or two shots at him. I watched as his car window fractured, bullets ricocheted off his vehicle, and his body slowly slumped to the ground.

One of the neighbors must have called the cops, after hearing the commotion, because they were there in minutes. Now, I find myself being read my rights and then handcuffed and alone in the back seat of a police car. I have to admit I’m afraid. I don’t think I did anything wrong. There are a thousand thoughts rushing thru my mind as we pull away from my house. I’m an innocent victim, and I didn’t start this thing but now I’m facing possible jail time. I guess it goes to show you that some times, even the good guys finish last.

Please feel free to contact me at: pooritalianboy@gmail.com

P.I.B.

GET RICH QUICK

GET RICH QUICK !
“Millionaire Businessmen and Investor wants to share his secrets of success”
I’ve always been enamored with the newest fads of “Get Rich Quick” schemes. Frankly I’ve had enough trouble using the “get rich very slowly and painfully” method. To me, its kind’a like a weight loss program, everyone wants the results, but we all want them right now, without putting in the effort and time. Sure, someone in the world has lost weight by just eating Subway sandwiches, but that doesn’t mean it will work for me.
In my experience, the only ones that get rich quick, are the fella’s selling the rest of us poor slobs the “secret programs, books, seminars, home based business programs, and C.D.’s”. I have to hand it to most of them, they are astute marketers. These guys know exactly what buttons to push in their advertising and info-mercials to get “Joe Average” to the point where he is willing to forgo a cold case of beer for their “secret advice”. They follow a time tested formula to reach and entice Mr. Average, who is sitting up channel surfing at 2:15 in the morning, to whip out his credit card and order.
The advertising, web sites, and promotional materials are usually well designed to get your attention, and entice you to act quickly. Most offer a minimum of facts and details until after you commit. The offer is also usually for a limited time, or only for limited number of lucky applicants. (Remember, these guys are often master marketers, snake oil salesmen, and pitchmen). In many cases you still have all your warning lights and buzzers going off, however its not hard to convince yourself that “its worth a try” (its almost like Las Vegas gambling ..you know you will probably loose, but the chance of winning draws you in like a moth to a flame).
The rich/ultra successful guy, television spots are replete with fancy cars, boats, beautiful people, and mansions. The underlying message is: Just send me your $99.95 and you will have all this great stuff also. They will interview a few alumni from their course that have made it big, as if to infer; if this guy can do it, so can you. (and you can accomplish this all in only 10 or 12 hours a week, working from home in your jammies).
These get rich quick guru’s seem to be predominant in real estate, stock, and direct marketing. (aka pyramid scheme). The truth is they have a very willing audience to pitch to. The average “ham and egger”, gets up early every day and puts in his average 40 to 50 hour work week and brings home a pay check every Friday. At the end of the month, when he is done paying bills, there never seems to be much left to save or spend freely. Everyone secretly desires to get off the subway and onto the “gravy train”.
Deep in every American’s heart, is the desire to strike off on his own, to be an entrepreneur, to shed the bonds of an hourly pay check, to achieve the American dream.(and to be honest with you, I think every one should at least take one turn at bat and swing for the fences).
Every one sends in their money or 3 equal payments of $119.95 and then waits anxiously by the mailbox for their package to come in. Meanwhile, our mindset is that we might as well turn in our two weeks notice at work because everyone on the commercial said they were able to leave their full time jobs with all the easy money that this new system would bring in.
We figure we can’t go wrong because there is a satisfaction guarantee. When it does arrive we can hardly wait to tear open the box and begin reviewing the C.D’s and printed material. Some of the material is instructional and some motivational. (like a placebo).
The truth of the matter is that some of the people who try the program actually do succeed to one level or another. Unfortunately the “Top Earners” are usually the first ones that get in, or those that have the largest down line organization. (friends and acquaintances)
The basic concept is that almost everyone can sell their family members, do a few presentations or house parties, and close a few friends, and then they quickly loose interest. In many cases each new “associate” makes a few sales but also had to purchase a small level of stock inventory that usually ends up in the garage covered with cob webs. With each new associate that churns thru the revolving door, the parent company makes money.
In closing, I would say that it’s almost always worth being curious and taking time to investigating a new opportunity. I would recommend that you thoroughly do your research and ask for references of people who have succeeded in the organization. (not just the few trophy examples on the web site) Bottom line is that there are some great new opportunities out there that can generate significant wealth, but there are also a lot of scams. So, I wouldn’t rush to quit your day job until you are convinced that you have a viable and long term business opportunity in place first.
Please feel free to contact me at: pooritalianboy@gmail.com
P.I.B.