An Influenster Tale: Hey Mom, Where's My Dr. Scholl's VBox

My 16 year old high school track star is both disappointed and excited at the same time because Influenster sent me a VBox containing a free pair of Dr. scholl's Active Series insoles.

The insoles are designed to help relieve and prevent pain from workout injuries like plantar fasciitis, runner's knee and shin splints.

I do a lot of walking in both everyday life and when working out. At times, the hard cement causes my knees to hurt, as well as my right hip.

I gave the insoles a try for a few weeks just to make sure my review of them was fair.

The first day was killer on my feet. I guess they just weren't use to a different type of insole support.

After the first day, things got better and I have not experienced any pain in my knees or hip since wearing them.

Now I do want to be honest and note that if you have any callouses on the bottom of your feet and you wear your insoles on a daily basis, your feet are going to hurt. It's best in my opinion to wear them only when you workout.

Now that I've said my peace, I should share one final note:

My 16 year old was so excited to see my pair of insoles, that he now wants a pair for running. The problem is I can't find them here! So how can he get a pair of his own?

I'm sharing his photos with my insoles here, and yep he was really that excited! Thanks Influenster and Dr Scholl's for this really cool and insane freebie!

Sifilia B By the Insane Poet and Insane Writer

My head was already throbbing as I entered the doors of Bellagio in Las Vegas. I had already contracted the first symptoms of Sifilia B; a man-made bacterial virus capable of mass extinction, and it was spreading throughout my body like wildfire.

The pain only became worse as I stumbled through the crowds of people, not knowing the catastrophe that was coursing within my veins.

Then it hit me, a spin sharper than any blade, pierced inside my head, causing me to fall on the hard cold floor of the hotel room.

I couldn't see straight, but at that moment I could barely see anyways. I blacked out without a thought of the disaster that awaited my awakening.

I don't know exactly how long I had been out, but now there were people all around me. Not good. I wanted, I needed to get away from them before it was too late. They had no idea how big this virus was. This hotel and it's people were in grave danger.

At first, I was angry with myself for risking their lives. I didn't even know why I was there to begin with. Then I remembered.

I had been tracking the woman. She'd checked into the hotel a few nights ago I'd been told and she was the cure. Only one problem. Somebody had lied. The woman had checked into the room alright, but it wasn't her.

Now I had to start all over and these people were about to die. It was as simple as that, the poor fools. People were starting to shout.

"What the hell is that?" Someone asked.

"Get back!" Another one shouted. And so it had started.

I tried to get up, to get away from them, but the room wouldn't stop spinning and it felt as if some force was holding me down. Maybe if I warned them.

Get away from me. You're going to die. Get away! My mind was shouting the words, but my mouth refused to form them.

A woman kneeled  down beside me, their face inches away from mine. Are you crazy? Get away from me! Again, my mouth refused to form the words. But she refused to budge. Instead she leaned even closer and before I knew what was happening she kissed me.

I tried to move, but my body refused to allow it. Question after question raced through my mind. Who was she? Why would she do such a thing? Hadn't she heard the shouts from the guests of the hotel to get away from me.

My mind continued to try and comprehend what I could not understand. And then suddenly, the throbbing stopped.

The Sale by the Insane Poet

It's almost eleven 'o' clock and we still haven't found the zoom a2 effects pedal I've been wanting for months now, but mother keeps assuring me we will.

We've been to almost every, what mom calls "rummage sale", in town and only one last one in the newspaper draws her attention.

After about fifteen minutes of driving and desperate hoping, we pull up to a big white house and an open garage where the sale was taking place.

Mother and I get out of the car and walk up to the sale. "This is kind of fun, isn't it?" She says.

"More like embarrassing." I grunt. I walk up to a man; about fifty, sitting in a white lawn chair next to the garage and ask in a soft voice, "Do you happen to have any acoustic effects pedals?"

He laughs and in a sarcastic tone says, "You're going to have to speak up son. I'm an old man you know."

I speak loudly and stern this time. "Any effects pedals for a guitar?"

He chuckles then gets up and walks to the back of the garage. He comes back with the pedal I had been wanting. It was perfect! Then I stared at the price tag, my hopes crumbling, my dreams diminishing right before my eyes. I couldn't afford it and I knew my mother certainly couldn't. "I don't have enough money for it, I'm sorry."

I watched the old man think for a moment then hand the pedal to me. "Put it to good use." He smiles.

Who is the Insane Poet

If you haven't already noticed, some of my recent posts have included by the Insane Poet in the title.

The Insane Poet is actually my 16 year old son who has taken an interest in writing and following in my footsteps.

While the posts do contain his own work, they are currently edited by me. I will however, be including his Bio on my blog for those who are interested in learning more about him and his writing.