Sleeping

It's been several days since I've ventured into the room that has one of those things locked up. To be perfectly honest I've been too terrified to go downstairs, let alone see what's going on in that room.

In a world with no other speaking person you find yourself pondering over things for longer than you thought possible, and I can't seem to let go of the fact that I'm sure when I went into that room he was sleeping. Sleeping? What does that mean? What does a mindless machine need to sleep for. Unless of course he's not all that mindless....

What am I saying?!? I've been surrounded by flesh eating creatures for too long. I've had little sleep, I'm rationing food, and I have no one to talk to. I'm just letting it all go to my head. But why exactly would he be sleeping. For some reason that idea seems all too unsettling. If he needs to sleep what other things does he need? How different are they from me?

I'm off to read a book, as there is little else around to keep my mind off of these things.

Sleeping?

Nope not dead. Although I was fooled at first. I opened the door with flashlight in hand, and found him lying flat on his back, motionless. I wasn't exactly sure how to tell if he was dead, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to tell from all the way across the room.

I leaned over and picked up his hand. As a note it was very cold and clammy, pretty much exactly what you would expect. Before I could drop his arm he started moving. Needless to say I didn't stick around long enough to see what he'd do next, but he did seem just as surprised as I did and just as caught off guard and confused. It wasn't really till after I locked the door again that I realized he was sleeping.

Zombies sleep, not exactly something I expected to find out.

And now, of course, he's awake and banging on the door again.

Shit!

I just woke up and realized I've still got one of them downstairs. I haven't heard from him since I've returned this morning.

Perhaps he's dead, maybe even they can't last two weeks without food. There is only one way to find out....

The world Belongs to them.

It has been a long time since I last posted an update on the state of the world, and that is because this is the first time I've seen a computer in weeks. Which, as you can imagine, is a bad sign.

I set out to get food. All was quiet and fine. I made it to the supermarket, loaded up on food and headed back. Stupidly I ran out of gas about five minutes from the parking lot. It turns out that hunger makes you do stupid things. As I debated what to do, I suddenly saw them coming out of the wood work. Wandering down the street, coming out of the doors of the neighborhood houses, some evening sitting in the parked cars.

The point being is the zombies are everywhere, casually wandering around as if it is their world. And I suppose at this point it is.

I made my way back to the supermarket, as it was closer than any other place I was familiar with, not to mention there was plenty of food. A few managed to follow me, but once I was inside I had no problem hiding from them. Stealth is definitely not one of their strong suits. I was holed up in the supermarket for, by my count, 14 days.
And although they rarely came in doors there was never a day, until today, that I didn't see at least a handful of them wandering around out on the streets.

This morning, however, I was able to take the time to siphon some gas (which is not nearly as easy as they make it out to be in the movies, and gasoline does not taste good), make my way back to my car and get home with a stock of food.

Since this was my first time to really observe the zombies, I will say that they are slow moving and meandering. Although, surprisingly, they look very casual. I know that sounds weird, but it's the best way I can describe it. It's almost as if their wandering is aimless. They are certainly not in a rush, but they are going somewhere. Or perhaps I've just been stuck inside by myself for months.

Needless to say, this world no longer belongs to humans. I can only hope there are some of us still out there. But if I've made it this far, others must have as well.

Starving

I've gone about 22 hours without eating a thing. I must go outside today, even though I'm not feeling very confident since my last attempt.

I'll report back the moment I return. And, yes, just for the record he is still downstairs and banging the walls. It seems that not much of anything stops these things. When I get back I might have to do something about him. But first food.

He is still going. Moaning and banging loud enough to be heard all the way upstairs. But it's not the noise that bothers me, it's the fear that others will hear him and come. I know that doesn't make sense, but not much of anything makes sense any more.

I didn't make if very far.

Two steps outside the front door and I found myself face to face with the man who collapsed in the backyard a few days ago. Needless to say, he didn't look well. And my attempts to speak with him were returned with illegible moans.

He was anything but quick, however I was caught so off guard he managed to catch the door as I attempted to back up into the house. He forced his way through apparently trying to bite me, and although he wasn't quick his strength didn't seem to diminish with his state of living (or dying). In a panic I abandoned the door and ran for the nearest room. Which, unfortunately, was the living room in the back corner of the house. Only one way in or out. He followed me as quickly as he could. I put the sofa between him and myself and whether out of shear determination or stupidity he came after me tripping over the sofa and tumbling to the ground. Before I even had the chance to see him get up I ran for the door, locking it behind myself.

I've only now calmed down enough to type and my legs still feel like jelly. But perhaps worst of all, even up here on the third floor I can hear him moaning, scrapping and banging the walls.

I think I'll leave the grocery trip for another day. For now I'll just rest. Although I can't imagine it will be easy to do with all that noise.

Venturing outside

So the time has come that I must go outside. I am running low on food and have to make a trip to the grocery store. It's only a fifteen minute drive away, but the world has become a ghost town and I don't feel great about what I will find outside in the world. Most television and radio stations have ceased broadcast, with a few exceptions showing reruns over and over. It turns out the Simpsons will never actually end. The internet still seems fairly active, considering the circumstances, but I don't think I'll find much in the way of people and social activity in the streets. But when it really comes down to it, I suppose I'd prefer to not see anyone than the alternative.

I do not anticipate that this will be my final entry, but if it is; farewell. If it is not I will return with food and a better sense of what is happening to this planet. Which I will promptly inform you of.

Well, I woke up this morning and the man was gone. I'm not really sure how to deal with it. I've locked all the doors, and I figure there isn't much more that I can do. Perhaps he's just wondered off and I'll never see him again. But, I don't think I'll be that lucky.

After what must have been weeks of not seeing a single person, my luck has changed. Only I wouldn't call it luck at all.

This afternoon a man came stumbling into my backyard screaming as loud as he could manage to scream. I saw him staggering around having trouble keeping himself up. And all he could say was "Help me, help me!". Before I could decide what to do he just collapsed to the ground face in the grass. He twitched a little bit and then laid motionless.

I debated going outside, but I figured the wiser thing to do was to call for help. 45 minutes of waiting and a woman stating "Due to the high volume of calls all of our dispatchers are unavailable. We will be with you as soon as possible", is when I decided 911 was no longer in service. The man still hasn't moved in all that time, so I figure there is not much I can do for him. I'm better off inside where it's safe.

So now I sit here typing this on the third floor. I have a clear view of the man from the window by the computer. He still hasn't moved. It's like he's starring at the earth.

A day or two ago I would have said that I'd give anything to see another person, now I just want to be alone. The sun is setting soon, so at least I won't have to look at him anymore.

So much for routine. I think I've locked the doors of the video store for the last time. I spent close to 14 hours there, and no one came in. No one has rented a video in over 5 days. There are thousands of over due movies and I don't think they are coming back. I guess the days of video rental are officially over, but most importantly, I don't think I'm getting a paycheck tomorrow.

At least I can sleep in tomorrow.

Alls Quiet on the Front

I realize it's been awhile since I've last posted any news, but that's because there seems to be little news to post. As I'm sure you know, the first day or two after last weeks announcement, there was some panic and several news reports of the illness. But now all seems very quiet. Eerily quiet in fact.

There seem to be less people out on the streets. Hardly anyone has come into the video store over the past week, and the few who have have said and done little. The TV and radio all seem to be running fine, but everything is a rerun. Including live shows. Yesterday I went into the grocery store and I ended up walking out without paying for anything, because I couldn't find a single soul working there.

I know it seems odd that I'm roaming the world as the human race seems to be disappearing from it. It's just nothing seems all that threatening. It's all just really quiet. I'm going to head over to the video store now. I seem to be the only one around willing to open it up these days. And none of the managers are returning my calls. Why I'm even bothering to open it? I don't really know. Routine is a funny thing.

The Actual End of the World

So here it is. I suppose I should be happy that I was right, but somehow it's not all that comforting. And if I could take back the blog for the sake of the world's health I'd probably do it.

What I'm referring to, of course, is tonight's press conference that was held at the white house. If you've been living under a rock and missed this, I've got some news for you. It ain't good. Apparently the the flu has broken loose and is rapidly spreading across the country and presumably around the world. They claim there is a vaccine, but they just can't produce it fast enough. Although, if you ask me, it sounds like crowd control "don't panic" statement. I wouldn't expect seeing a vaccine anytime soon.

Now if this doesn't sound bad enough, it gets worse. There have been about half dozen reports that patients have "after an apparent heart stoppage revived consciousness with violent outbreaks and irrational behaviour." Perhaps I've been watching too many horror films, but it sounds to me like people are coming back from the dead, and they are really pissed off about something.

In the final moments of the address the surgeon general has encouraged us to stay in doors when possible and take all precautions to stay as healthy as possible. And most important to report and isolate incidents of the flu.

Now I don't really think this is the end, mostly because I don't think I can really conceive of such a thing, but it certainly doesn't look good. And if officials have decided to tell us about it, you know they've been dealing with it secretly for months now and to no avail. If it all didn't seem so unrealistic, I might even be a little scared of the whole.

At least there's one good thing that's coming out of all this. I've finally got something to write about.

The Answer

Well, I guess that answers my question.

I suppose I can't blame anyone. I'll be back when I've got something interesting to say.

Is Anyone Even Reading This

I refer to the above title. You answer the question.

Don't worry, it turns out I'm a terrible photographer.

And even if I weren't I wouldn't have had the time to take any pictures. I've been at the video store working everyday for the past 12 days due to everyone being out sick. Now, I get sick sometimes, but rarely is it so bad that I can't get up to work 1 day let alone 12. So I've decided that I am the butt of a joke. That I am the fall guy for 5-6 of my co-workers skipping out on work and having a blast. If you don't want to do the job, then why don't you just go get a different one. Yeah, I've heard about "the economy right now", but skirting responsibility and laying it on somebody else just pisses me off.

It's not like I can do anything about it. And quite frankly I need the cash, but I figured I'd at least get it off my chest. And to be honest, it feels pretty good.

Maybe I'll just turn this blog into complaints. I mean, everyone's got something to complain about, right?

Well that didn't last long.

I've spent the past week attempting to watch several movies, but it turns out as soon as you make it work you no longer want to do it. Even if it is something you like to do. So with that I put an end to my movie review blog. Because quite frankly I'd like to get back to watching some movies.

Now I'm back to step one. Nothing to talk about and a blog to write it in.

Maybe I can just write about possible things to write about.

Or perhaps I can start taking photos.

Ha! I've figured it out! And really it seems so obvious now. Movie Reviews!

I can use this blog to review movies. I watch enough of them.

So to kick this new found purpose off, I'll take a look at an older classic film which I just conviently finished watching.....

Night of the Living Dead
1968

It's a simple enough premise. The worlds dead rise from their graves and come back as the flesh eating zombies we have come to love. In the beginning moments of the crisis the typical hysterical blond finds safety in an abandoned house in the sticks. Before long she is accompanied by a band of survivors, who become too busy fighting amongst themselves to properly defend themselves when the inevitable zombie horde comes to eat their brains.

If you are looking for any more plot I suggest you just rent the movie. Although you won't find much more there either. But what I want to talk about is how unbelievably unrealistic this whole concept is. Even if the impossible was to happen, and zombies were to be birthed (for lack of a better term) how NOT scary is that. A bunch of slow moving brain dead humans with their only weapon being teeth. How dumb of a society would we have to be to actually let that take over the world?

If you can get over that. Oh, and did I mention it was caused by some kind of rock from space? But if you can get over that I will say the human interaction and obvious racial undertones is at least enjoyable to watch. And, if you make it to the end I promise you will enjoy the resolution of the little girls story line. Because it is pretty awesome.

And my verdict is you should watch it. (I just now decided not to grade the movies. I didn't like that is school, why should I like it now). So consider this my recommendation. See it, enjoy it and if for no other reason check out where all this zombie stuff started.

And I'll be back again with the review of another movie. Till then.....

Still nothing! Another long day at work and a week of thinking, and I've still got nothing to write about. Except, I suppose, the fact that I've got nothing to write.

More people out sick today, perhaps there is some weight to this swine flu thing. And even less people coming into the store. It turns out that in this modern day in age of mail in DVD's and pirated movies video stores are a bit out dated. But it keeps me in booze and cigarettes as they say.

Off to watch a movie. With all the buzz about zombies these days I figured I'd bring home a movie and check out where it all started. Besides it's not like anyone else is renting it. "Night of the Living Dead", honestly it looks a bit slow to me.

Epiphany

Well, after a very boring and unexpected day at work. I was called in due to somebody being sick. Swine flu strikes again! So with a few days of thinking, and one really long and really boring day at work, I've come to realize that you can't just have a blog about nothing these days. No one just wants to hear what you're thinking about any more. You've got to give them something new and different.

Here's the catch though. I'm not sure what that thing is.... yet.

But at least now I know that I'm looking for it.

The Begining of the End

So it is official. I said the world would end before I started a blog, and here we are: at the end of the world. Seriously though, I’m not sure why I even started this. I suppose you can only listen to people talk about something for so long before you have to try it yourself. It makes you realize why people do bad things……

And now of course that it has begun I’m already having writers block. Suffice it to say here I am, with a new digital presence, here in the 21^st and half century, and if you find anything I say at all interesting or, dare I say, amusing then perhaps you’ll find your way back again soon.

And I promise I’ll get a little better at this in the mean time.