Gabriel's Tell A Tale Emporium

Depression has never been more real to me until recently. It sucks your will to do anything. Getting up in the morning is a chore. Work is irritating when it's not keeping you busy. The hours drag and drag. Studying is next to impossible. Your family and friends get on your nerves with the smallest comment. They try to make it better for you but no words or actions help to fill the ache that engulfs your entire mind and body. You try to lose yourself in material possession by buying things to make you feel better. That little hit of serotonin in your brain means the world. It doesn't last though. It passed by as quick as it came. At times the pain becomes unbearable. Your eyes well up and you fight just to hold back the tears as you stand in line at McDonald's or in a public washroom. There are good moments though.  There are times when things almost seem normal again and life goes on. Life is always worth living and exploring, but I finally think I understand what it means...

 Allahu Akbar Written: Feb.25/15 for an English class Posted: Nov. 15/ 15 By: Gabriel Janas  *All rights reserved to the author*  Foreword : In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on Paris, France (on November 13, 2015), the bombing of a funeral in Baghdad, Iraq (on November 13, 2015) , the bombing in Beirut, Lebanon ( on November 12, 2015), and the student massacre at Garissa University College in Kenya (on April. 2, 2015) I have been troubled by feelings of grim despair about the state of the world.  I have long ago given up watching or reading the news as it can drive any sane person to bouts of depression with all the atrocities human beings continuously commit on one another.  Just like 9/11, some news is inescapable regardless of the precautions taken to avoid any such news at all.  I found myself pondering a great many things in my grim thoughts today.  I wondered if the world was gearing up for another massive world war....

Cultural Practices vs. Government Laws In the past two years the use of hookah, which are water pipes used to smoke flavored tobacco or herbal molasses, has been a hotly debated issue all over the province of Alberta.   On November 7, 2013 an amendment was passed to Bill 33, which originally prohibited smoking in public places and workplaces, banned retail displays and advertising of tobacco products, and prohibited the sale of tobacco products in university campuses and stores that have a pharmacy in them, to include the ban of smoking tobacco like products in public places and vehicles.   The government of Alberta has been trying to crack down on smoking for the past six years but the new amendment has proven to have a strong cultural impact on people of Middle Eastern decent living in the province.   The use of hookah is a common and accepted cultural and social practice in many Middle Eastern cultures that dates back hundreds of years.  ...

Smoaked Out- Ch.5 December. 12. 2012             What a crazy two days it's been.   The good thing about crazy days though is that I get to write in you more often!   Now where to start?   I guess the most logical place would be the phone call to Mr. Steele that I made last night.             I was sitting at my desk while going through the list of names in Mrs. Queen's notebook when I noticed something odd.   Just to be sure my hunch was right I ended up cross checking with some recent news reports on the web.   As always, my hunch turned out to be right, well at least in my mind.   Picking up the phone I quickly dialed Mr. Steele's cell number to share the news (I only have his number for 'work' related purposes...nothing more.   Plus, he's way too old, and married, and ew).      ...

Smoaked Out-Ch.4 December. 5. 2012 Good evening/ morning Diary,             You know how I said before that work's been pretty boring lately?   Well, I take that back.   The last two days were actually quite interesting.   What happened you ask?   Well let me tell you.   For the past few days I've been doing some extracurricular work, particularly on the subject of Ms. Queen's accidental money mishap.   As luck would have it, or skill in this case, I found something.   With Mr. Steele coming back from his trip the same day, I decided not to waste any time in telling him...and hey I may even get a possible promotion because I'm so good at what I do (Not only was that not the case, but I almost got fired in the process!).             Walking into Mr. Steele's office later that evening I quickly grabbed his at...