Book 11

I am jumping right back into the story.  

So I do what Kirke tells me to do and head for the underworld, make a quick stop on the way, and talk to the prophet she told me about.  I attract the souls, and first one up is Elphenor, the dummy who fell off the roof right before we left Kirke's island.  He tells me that he really wishes to have his body recieve a proper burial.  Then the prophet comes along and tells me my destiny, which is to return home, and be reunited with my family, but if I screwed up, it could take a much longer time for me to follow my destiny.  Oh, and he also told us how Poseidon was ticked of that we stabbed his son Polyphemus in the eye, and that he was punishing us.  After the prophet left, I spoke with my mother, who died waiting for me to return, and some old war buddies like Agamemnon (who was killed by wife).  Then I saw Tantulus who was being punished in the underworld by having a task he could never complete.  THATS ROUGH!  All the sudden, all these souls come around asking for news, and it is time for me to go. 

I want to go into a little detail about this Tantulus thing.  No one deserves that kind of punishment ever.  Let me clarify.  Tantulus is surrounded by water and fruit, but whenever he reaches for it, it stretches away from him, leaving him starving.  Also, another guy named Sisyphis has to push a rock up a hill, but whenever it gets to the top, it rolls back down.  I think this tells you a little something about Hades.  But, is it his job, or is he truly just a creep?  Personally, I think it is a little bit of both.  He is the Lord of the dead, but he does not need to torture for eternity.  He needs to take a chill pill.  But, I guess the job suits him, a crazy job for a crazy guy....

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This is Tantulus trying to reach the food and water.  So sad.

Book 8

Ok, Ok, yes I cried.   But I mean, he was singin' bout the Trojan War and all, and I could not hold it back.  Alright, time to once again start at the beginning.  So King Alkinos called an assembly to see if I could be helped in returning home, which it turned out, I can.  After, he took me to a festival where they had tons of sporting competitions and other things.  At one point, when a man was singing of the war, I could not help but shed a couple tears.  Then came the sporting part of the party.  I was just coming to this party to chill out and have a good time, but then this guy challenged my abilities, so I had to show just how athletic I can be.  This really shut the guy up!!! You shoulda' seen the look on his face.... So anyway, then the King tells all of his best men to start giving me gifts and then we go to another party.  Then another guy starts singing about me and Achilles, and I cried again, not gonna lie.  And this made the King a lil' suspicious of me, so I told him a bit about myself.  WOW.  That was a lot of stuff!

It is just amazing to me how nicely I was treated while I was with the King.  Even with the help from Athena, it is just amazing.  They offered me food and celebrated with me without even knowing my name or my intentions.  They even gave me gifts, still not knowing who I was.   But why?? I think it has something to do with pleasing the Gods, and if it does, the Gods are quite pleased.  I wanna even take that one step further and ask myself which God, and if I were a betting man, I would put my money on Hestia, Goddess of Hearth.  But even if it had nothing to do with Gods, those people were just geniunely good people.  If I ever go on vacation, that is exactly where I am going.  Put that in my good idea folder.

www.mlahtanas.de/Greeks/ Mythology/Odyssey.html   This is me competing in the games and proving that guy wrong!

Book 5

OK, so alot has happened in the last 20 or so days.  The grey eyed Athena talked to Zeus, and convinced him into letting me leave this island.  So Zeus sent his home boy Hermes down to tell Kalypso that it was time to let me go.  Kalypso reluctantly agreed because she did not want to anger Zeus.  So Kalypso gives me some wine and bread, lets me build a raft, and boom, I am off the island.  After seventeen days of sailing, I finally spot land, but at the same time, Poseidon returns home from his vacation in Asia and spots me.  He does not want me to get to land, so he sends some storms after me.  But right as I am about to drown, the goddess Ino swims up, gives me a magical veil so I will not drown, tells me to ditch the raft and swim, and so thats what I do.  I swim for two days, then long story short I break a few bones and end up on land, and that is where I am right now.

Alrighty, so now that I am off the island and have had a chance to reflect, I have to admit I have been doing alot of thinking about what Kalypso said about why she was more appealing then my wife.  And in reality, she is.  But why??  Well, this is what I came up with.  One, Kalypso is just too perfect.  Perfection may sound quite good, but in reality, you dont wanna end up with it, trust me.  Second and most important, I love Penelope, and one beautiful girl cannot spoil that.  Oh, and the fact that no matter how long I am with her, I will still not feel like I am at home, which is something that cannot be changed.  Eh, doesnt matter.  IM FREE.

This is me swimming to shore for the first time in 20 years.

www.dkimages.com/.../ Unassigned-44.html

Book 4

I AM SO ANGRY!!!!  How dare those suitors plot to kill my son.  W.E, it does not matter anyway.  If he is my son, which he is, he will kill them.  Every last one.  And if he doesn't, then when I return, I surely will.  OK, so quick recap.  Telemakhos, my boy, went to go visit my ol' war buddy Menelaus.  He talked to Menelaus who told him of me being stuck on this god for saken island.  Meanwhile, back at home, those stupid suitors were planning to ambush and kill my boy.  But Telemakhos will have the last laugh.

Alright, so I wanna talk about these suitors, I mean, what the hell is up with them?  Do they actually think they should be in power? What have they ever done, uhhhh nothing.  I think the name of the game is jealousy.  Each one thinks he is deserving, and is jealous of my boy because he happens to be the true deserving one.  I think they are afraid.  Afraid that they will find news of me, and I will return, and then, OH MAN! Those suitors would be in BIG trouble.

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this is my boy at the feast with Menelaus

Book 3

So, once again, here I am.  Not much is happening over here in the cave, but across the sea, a lot of action is taking place.  My boy, Telemakhos, is busy looking for news of me, and started his journey by going across the sea to the town of Pylos, to talk to my old war buddy Nestor.  The people of Pylos were very kind, and invited my boy and his crew to all of their daily festivities.  After, Nestor told him all he knew of me, how when he turned his ships back, I decided to stay and fight with Agamemnon.  Other then that though, he knew very little of my whereabouts, so he sent my boy to go visit my other ol' pal Menelaus. 

So in my opinion, I mean, do not get me wrong or anything, Nestor is a GREAT guy, but he could not have been less helpful.  He knew absolutely nothing of me or of my whereabouts since he had last visually seen me.  I think my son was also disappointed by his information, but he handled it like a gentleman, just like his old man woulda.  The one thing I do applaud Nestor for is telling my boy to go visit Menelaus.  I would think he would have some juicy information for Telemakhos.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go praise Athena for all of her amazing help over the last while.telemachus_585x440_01.jpg 585×440 pixels

Just some of the festivities my boy recieved at Pylos.

Book 2

Alright here I am again, starting on my way home.  But my son, oh my son, was busy rallying the people in his first major public speech since, well, ever!  And as of right now, the boy has just begun his journey to the unknown to try to find me.

So what I really wanted to say is, my son is beginning to act just like me, and I am lovin' it.  He stood up and faced his people as if he were their king, which in a way, I guess he is.  He was very clear in his words, saying that he needed a ship and a crew, that I was still alive, and that those damn' suitors are gonna recieve hell from me and the gods.  How dare the man called Antinoos argue with my son???? That man, will recieve extra punishment, I swear to the gods.  Speaking of gods, Athena has been a huge help to my son, but honestly, I don't know how much longer he is gonna need it.  Which brings me back to my point that my son is turning into a leader, just like me.  I think that it is absolutely amazing how my son has been fatherless for so long, and yet he still turning out to be a great leader like myself.  That tells you a little something about destiny, doesn't it? Telemakhos WILL be the next great leader of our people, and you can quote me on that if you like.

                                This is my son giving his speech.

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Book 1

Finally, I am gonna be going home.  The gods have finally spoken and have finally had pity on me.  I AM GOING HOME, AFTER YEARS OF CAPTIVITY, I AM GOING HOME!!!!!!  Oh, and by the way, in case you missed it, I was kidnapped by a nymph on my way home from war.  In that time, my son has been protecting the home and taking care of my wife.  And those good for nothing suitors mooching off my family and trying to steal the love of my life, wow this is a nightmare!  But a very short time ago, the Gods talked and decided to help me escape my captivity.  They sent Athena to go talk to my son and go start the process.

So, back to the start; my captivity.  I mean, don't get me wrong, the nymph was a nice girl, but I would much prefer my amazing wife and son.  Speaking of my son, what a kid!  He never lost hope in me, been protecting the home, and now he is going to go out on a journey dedicated to find me.  After Athena talked to him, I think he began to make the transition from boy to man.  God bless that kid on his journey, and god bless my lovely depressed wife.  Oh, and when I get home, you suitors out there are gonna wish you had never ben born...

                                                   www.legion-fourteen.com/images.html

This is a photo of me on my way home! As, you can see, Poseidon still is not being to kind, but he is not a problem for now.