Personal Experience - Tumblr Posts
Two's Company, Three's...well, You Get The Picture
Here's another freaky thing about me in the tool department. I have three Vas Deferens. Yup, three as apposed to the normal two. When I was 25 I had my first vasectomy. After a vasectomy the sperm count should shortly diminish to 0. Mine didn't. After many specimens, the urologist said he should have another look see. Oh, joy! Sure enough, during an exploratory he found a third Vas Deferens which puts me at 0.05% of the population (1 in 17,500,000).
Now here's the funny part. When I was giving specimens I used the little black plastic containers that photographic film comes in. As a professional photographer I had plenty of them, so why not, right? One day I was doing my running and stopped at Thrifty Drug to drop off some film. Next I stopped off at the Springfield Clinic to drop off my specimen. As I was walking a way from the lab counter the technician called to me and said "Mr. Gentry. Did you know there is film in this container?". I never went back to Thrifty Drug. ~ Trabue Gentry
How I Went To Concerts
I've never paid for a concert. Not once. I usually went up to the back entrance and said to the guard very authoritatively "You! I don't want anyone w out a pass getting through that door. Understand?!". They never questioned me and would always say "Yes sir!" and let me in. Once I was in I'd start barking meaningless orders to everyone. The roadies thought I was w the stage hands union or the stage hands union thought I was w the promoter, or the sponsor, radio station or family member etc. etc. And I'd play the part for each situation. "Oh yeah, he was a good lad at home. Mum sent me along to keep the little wanker out of trouble.". One time someone grabbed me thinking I was the MC and made me introduce the bands. Always got to watch from the wings though. Had a lot of fun and usually partied w the bands afterward, and still no one knew who I was! ~ Trabue Gentry
A Little Birthday Mixup
My parents couldn't exactly remember when I was born and my birth certificate was lost. So, until my early teens when my parents finally ordered a copy of my birth certificate (I was born in Bloomington, IL so no, I'm not Normal...Ohhh, Google it :-) we celebrated my birthday in cycles. One year the on the 24th, the next on the 25th and the next on the 26th. Then the cycle would start all over again.
When I was 17 I had to have my birth certificate for some reason or other so I spent $2.50 (a lot of money back then) to get a reproduction of my birth certificate from the Bloomington, IL courthouse. Low and behold, I was born on June 26, 1952 at 1:00 AM.
Trabue Gentry Television Interview On November 14, 2006 Walko Music Robbery
"(He) warned him not to do anything stupid. Warned him not to call the police until after he was gone."
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 rebroadcast of WICS Channel 20 News report on the robbery at gunpoint of Trabue Gentry's music store, Walko Music, located at 1120 S 2nd St., Springfield, IL Interview w Trabue Gentry.
Trabue Gentry Television Interview On November 14, 2006 Walko Music Robbery
"(He) warned him not to do anything stupid. Warned him not to call the police until after he was gone."
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 rebroadcast of WICS Channel 20 News report on the robbery at gunpoint of Trabue Gentry’s music store, Walko Music, located at 1120 S 2nd St., Springfield, IL Interview w Trabue Gentry.
This picture was taken when I was 19 years old, circa 1971. I was working at SG Wright Advertising when the staff photographer needed volunteers to do a shoot for stock photos. Our receptionist and I were happy to do anything to get out of work for the day. The jacket was not mine and I had very long hair which had to be tucked under the jacket. I found this package on a rack in Target's pharmacy, circa 2002. I was never aware that was me until that moment even though I'd been buying this product for years. Then I remembered the shoot. I even remember the stupid flower we were holding. Such a loving couple. No one would have guessed we actually hated each other. ~ Trabue Gentry
Of Agoraphobia and Pogo - More on my early battle with Agoraphobia
Pictured above is the adorable cartoon character, Pogo, by Walt Kelly with a balloon quote appropriate to this story. There truly is no greater enemy than one's own self, as any good and learned agoraphobic will advise you.
I loved the newspaper comics. They’re easier reading for dyslexics and those w ADD. Besides, they have pictures! I loved Beetle Bailey, Our Boarding House and, my favorite, Pogo. I subscribed to the local newspaper which was delivered right to my door each day. But getting to the comics was a problem. It meant that I had to go outside. Oh dear. But I wasn’t daunted. I was determined and became creative.
Step One, Getting to the newspaper: I would stand w my back to the front door, reach for the door knob behind me and open the door. Being careful not to go to far, I would step out backwards until I could grab the newspaper, quickly step back inside and close and lock the door. Walla! I had my newspaper w the least amount of anxiety possible. I couldn’t look at the front page or any of the other sections, only the comics section, soooo…
Step Two, Getting to the comics: To solve this problem I would roll the rubber band off the newspaper, keeping the newspaper rolled up, and then thumb through the edges until I found the distinctive borders of the comics section. I would then pull and hold on to the comics section as the rest of the newspaper unrolled and hit the floor. Wow! I had my comics and little damage done to my fragile nerves. I’d gather the undesirable sections off the floor and throw them away, then indulge myself in my comics. Whew! ~ Trabue Gentry
The Boogie Man
This is not fiction. This is a true story that happened to me. This sort of thing, and much worse, goes on all over the world every day. We’re supposed to protect our children, not abuse them.
I think the most amazing thing my father did for me was to teach me to be unmaterialistic. When I was 12, dad told me to clean my room. But I was busy doing kid stuff. A little later he told me once more. But still I was busy doing kid stuff. The third time did the trick. He ordered me to remove all personal items from my room leaving only my furniture, clothes and school materials. He then ordered me to take all these silly materialistic things down stairs and outside to the burn barrel and set them on fire. I learned not to be materialistic as I watched all my model cars, books, fan magazines, National Geographics, records, drawings, carvings, bug collection, indian arrow head collection, museum souvenirs, transistor radio, photographs, post cards, pen pal letters…all those those material things that I “thought” were important to me, go up in smoke. I also quickly learned to become very philosophical that day. And yes, my room was spotless and much easier to take care of after that. It was that day that I found out the boogie man didn’t live under my bed. He was married to my mother.
Footnote: Unfortunately, my father was a cruel and sadistic man who thoroughly enjoyed his perversion. What I find unbelievable is that I truly loved him and did everything I could to gain his approval. ~ Trabue Gentry
How I Ended Fist Fights Before They Started
I've never been in a fist fight but when I was in school I was always being challenged by some guy or another because I was a skinny geek. I always managed to somehow talk my way out of it though. For example, one guy was determined to beat me up after school. Sure enough, as I was leaving school He stopped me and a crowd began to gather. I loudly announced so that both he and the crowd could hear me "Go ahead and beat me up. But I won't defend myself because I know you'll win. Of course when everyone sees you beating up on a guy half your size who isn't defending himself everyone is going to think you're a jerk. So go ahead. I'll just stand here. Let's get it over w.". He danced around me acting tough and trying to provoke me but I just stood there. Pretty soon everyone started getting embarrassed for him...and for themselves, and one by one they all walked away. He got embarrassed and quite trying to provoke me. Out of that we became close friends.
Please reblog or inbox this to anyone you know that's having trouble w being bullied. And ff you're being bullied yourself and need someone to talk to, feel free to inbox me. ~ Trabue Gentry
The Story of Reville Ordenbacher
I just remembered perhaps my most embarrassing spoonerism. I’m not actually sure how I could forget the experience except that the ADHD got its hooks into me again. Anyway, one day last summer, Amanda and I were at Pease’s Candy Store to buy a sleeve of Neccos.
I passed by a row of dispensers that contained exotic flavors of jellybeans. One of the dispensers was labeled popcorn. I was intrigued and asked the sales lady if I could sample one just to find out what a popcorn jellybean would taste like. She kindly obliged me and generously served me up three popcorn jellybeans. To my surprise, they did taste just like buttered popcorn and actually weren't half bad. I remarked to the lady “These are really good! They taste just like Reville Ordenbacher popcorn!” Upon finishing my statement my spoonerism hit me right between the eyes.
Of course I meant to say Orville Redenbacher, but exactly how does one explain such a glaring faux pas. I was like the proverbial dear caught in the headlights. There was a horrifyingly moment of awkward silence during which I wanted to grab my clothes and run out the door. But I gathered what wits I had left about me and proceeded to stuff my foot in my mouth a second time. “I’m sorry. I meant to say Reville Ordenbacher.” Amanda looked at me in dumbfounded and humored awe! I knew I’d screwed up…again but the stress of the first mistake caused me to go into an unbreakable cycle of frustrating dyslexia. I simply couldn't think of the correct way to say his name. The sales lady just stood there confused and feeling, perhaps, as awkward as me. I tried to explain to her that I had dyslexia but I couldn't think of the name of the condition that has been w me my entire life.
Amanda finally helped to straighten out the tidy little mess I had made for myself. When we left the store I felt as though I was being led back to the nursing home that had prematurely given me an afternoon pass. ~ Trabue Gentry
Putting My Best Foot Forward
I had the exact same style of boots when I was nineteen. They were very expensive. I loved them. I always took very good care of them as I do everything I own. One weekend when I was out of town visiting a friend, two juveniles broke into my house, destroyed it and stole some of my belongings including my boots. I was heart broken. My boots went out of style before I had enough money to buy another pair. It’s great to see they’re coming back in style even though they may only be available for women. Actually, I do wear certain women’s shoes because of the shape and size of my feet. I have small, slender feet.
I used to wear Adidas Monicas exclusively for bicycle riding because they fit in the clip so well. They were extremely supple and very comfortable. I don’t like shoes and only wear them if I am going someplace that requires me to wear them. For the last ten years or so I have been wearing generic women’s deck shoes size eleven made in China. They are cheap and flimsy. They feel as close to being barefoot as possible. I would wear other tennis shoes if I could find something stylish that fit me properly and weren’t so expensive. There is little point in spending a lot of money when I don’t spend a lot of time in shoes. ~ Trabue Gentry
When We Make Love...
Our love making is incomparable to any sexual experience I have ever had. It is unique. Every other experience has always been an individual one, two individuals simultaneously fucking each other's bodies, nothing short of assisted masturbation. When I am inside you I transcend my sense of individuality to a state of consciousness where I awake to the overwhelming realization that we are not only one w each other but that we are one w the universe. It produces an incredible sense of thrill, danger and even indecency as I feel I am encroaching on sacred territory; that I might even touch God. When I come inside you it is like experiencing the creation of the universe and our unity is complete. At that point I transcend to an even greater realization and understanding that we are not only the universe but that we are God itself. For that moment I no longer exist. I am you. I am the universe, I am God. I am pure love. This is what you do to me. ~ Trabue Gentry
One time my psychiatrist looked me in the eye and without even hesitating she said: don't worry you're too old to have ADHD.
I was a minor
Warning: mention of kidnapping, lack of consent, personal painful experience of the victim.
I usually don't write anything on a blog, just enjoying someone else's creativity or thoughts, but today I need to talk it out. I was almost kidnapped. Right in the city center, by the subway, in full view of people.
Evening, about six or seven in the evening. I'm waiting for a subway sign so we can go to the tea room together (he's late). A guy about 20-something years old comes up to me and starts saying something about his friend's wedding (I didn't really listen, I just quietly put my wallet deeper), after he came closer, starting to be interested in me more openly. I politely refused and started writing and calling my friend as soon as he would be there. He was still far away, so he told me to just get away from this strange guy. But I only had time to put my phone in my pocket when they grabbed me and started dragging me towards the roadway and parking spaces.
I screamed, fought and called for help. People around just looked at it. I tried to hit as hard as I could, but he was much stronger and held on tight. I begged and screamed "Help!" ,"I don't know him, first time I've seen him, please, help!", "Let me go!", but it was ignored by both him and the people around.
At some point, I pushed off from him with my whole body, hitting him in the chest, grabbed my bag and ran in the other direction from the subway.
I'm safe at home now. But my heart is beating like crazy, because I realize that I might never return to my family again.
I do not know if it was a bride theft, but in any case it is a kidnapping, or rather, an attempted kidnapping. I couldn't tell my family about it, but I'm still going through this experience.
I'm sorry to write this, thank you for reading it.
“I don’t swing that way”
— Dean Winchester, at the most inappropriate and irrelevant of times
Hiding in assassins creed is like breathing.
After a time you don't even notice you are doing it. And if you can't you panic. And it is one of the reasons you are still alive.
i dont play assassins creed, but is this like the entire plotline or something??
My father at least bought the meat chickens and can testify that after a certain point they couldn't move and we had to watch them and tell one of my brothers if we saw one flipped over and we would always lose a few before they could be taken to be butchered.
congrats to the ARAs who got facebook to ban animal sales. shortly before then, many rare heritage chicken breeds were getting much needed attention to save the breeds thanks to various agricultural facebook pages highligting them. but now, with the ban of animal sales on facebook, those heritage breeds have become damn near impossible to find again. guess what that means? the breeds will begin dying out again. people will go back to hatcheries who mass produce unhealthy chicken breeds in horrible conditions. folks will always buy chickens, but now instead of buying them from ethical breeders on facebook they’ll be supporting a terrible industry, woohoo.
hope y’all are proud.
Day 3
day 3: a memory
I had trouble thinking of this one. People tends to remember sad things over others, I do remember sad days far better than good memories. But I'd like to share a crazy memory. It was a year before my high school graduation, I signed myself up for a school play under the “stop human trafficking” champaign. I also signed myself up for the script writer and director. The chaos started there; the people in my class had literally no respect against each other. They rarely followed my instructions as a director, they did everything as they wished. I made a mistake in choosing the main actress and only realised that when she started causing trouble around the group. She had an argument with the main actor, with the setting crew and with literally everyone. It was such a huge mess. Despite the chaos inside our group, we managed to at least get the third prize. I was aiming for the first place with our script but we had to make do with that. Not to mention, I had to rewrite the script countless until the competition day drew near. Seriously, that gave me a lot of headache as the organiser. I've learned my lesson there too. What a crazy experience.
Anyways, I hope whoever’s reading a great day. Sending love to everyone.
~Melody~
day 6
30 days writing challenge
day 6 : single and happy
“Nobody can love you more than you can love yourself.” I think this is so true. We don’t need someone to feel full and happy. After all, you’re the one responsible for your happiness. Of course, sometimes I feel like I want a girlfriend or a boyfriend, since I'm also a teen and all. Besides that, I do believe what I mentioned above. Plus, my past relationships brought nothing but headaches for me. Well, being single means freedom, less headache, and more time to invest in yourself. Single or in a relationship doesn't’t really matter when you’re happy. I enjoy my own company and my standards are kinda too high. Also, I do believe self love is the best love you can give yourself.