Today I’m going to share with you my most brilliant solution for rescuing manhood from its modern day, metrosexual, skinny-pant-wearing, latte-drinking, urban-hipster evolution. That solution is called the Mancave Coop.
This type of concept has begun popping up in different urban areas around the United States. Just to be clear, I came up with it first. And by merging the idea with the model of the fraternal organization of old, I’ve taken it up a notch. So what exactly is the Mancave Coop?
First, let us assess the evolution of men over the last few generations using myself as an accessible example.
My two sons don’t know jack about fixing cars or hunting. They know how to use basic tools like hammers, saws, drills. My youngest is pretty good with a compound miter (he hasn’t cut off any body parts or anything). And both my sons can mow the lawn and yet they can’t fix the mower if it breaks (although they could probably find a video on youtube showing how to fix the mower…and they could order parts from Amazon).
Personally, I can muddle around with engines. I can figure out how to fix simple things. I can change my oil. When I was a kid, my dad and I rebuilt a ‘67 Camaro. I know how to frame, sheetrock, and rough out the basics of electrical and plumbing. I’ve remodeled four or five homes over the years and painted several more. I can stretch a fence if you give me some time to muddle around with it. But I can’t weld. I can’t sweat pipe (I’ve done it once twenty years ago). I don’t own a surface planer, a jointer, a drill press, a bench grinder, or a scroll saw, and I don’t have any real experience with said tools.
My father on the other hand, can pretty much do everything I can while also fixing most engines. He has a rancher/farmer knowledge of just about every manhood skill. He’s a much better hunter than me. He can weld pipe in a pinch, pull a windmill, palpate a cow, break a horse, and train up a damn fine hunting dog.
Now my father’s father could completely tear down and rebuild just about any tractor. He could tell when to harvest by the smell in the air. He could build a house from the ground up with basic tools. He could hear quail chittering in the brush from a hundred yards away. And he sang in the church choir.
Thus has been the evolution of manhood. Thus is the need for the Mancave Coop, a judgement free zone where men can learn the fading skills and dying arts of being a man. Need to know how to smoke a turkey? Need to quietly figure out how to assemble a basic tool box? Embarrassed you don’t know how to fix a leaky toilet or replace a flat tire? Want to become a master woodworker or welder? Want to spend weekends fixing up a go cart with your son or daughter? (Girls like getting greasy too.)
That’s my idea for the Mancave coop. Take an old storage unit facility. Add a commons area and a concession stand. Rent those units out to men looking for a private space of their own. But not just a space to be lazy, watch TV, and bad mouth their women. Nope. These mancaves would be places of education and communal sharing of skills. The shared language would still be grunting, farting, and beard scratching. But younger men would also find a place to share, learn, and grow along side older men—all for the betterment of mankind. Feel free to spread the word.
At the Desk This Week
I’m mostly done with my most recent rewrite of Episodes 1, 2, and 3 of Season 3 of The Green Ones. These episodes are really coming along at this point. The characters and their relationships are growing rich and believable. I’m liking their inner motivations and quirky mannerisms. They are growing on me. That’s a key sign that everything is clicking.
The main tension I’ve had to go back and live into is how it would feel to be forced to fake your own death as a teenager leaving parents and siblings behind. While on the one hand, these characters are escaping violent and dangerous enemies in order to protect their loved ones, they are also certainly doing harm to their loved-ones. I want that tension to blossom in these characters who are also just recently coming to grips with their abilities and the truth of the multi-verse. Talk about teenage angst!
This week the below bonus content describes the general rules of “shifting” within my Schism 8 World. Shifting is the term most often used for crossing telepathically between universes in the multi-verse. But shifting at the micro level is also responsible for telekinetic abilities. Most characters don’t understand the science of all this, but now you will! Occasionally, a story includes a character who understands all this stuff even better than I do. When that happens, I have to interview real life scientists who can help me grow my understanding of the human mind and the possibilities!
The Green Ones: The Rules* of Shifting
[Click here to start at the beginning.]
*[If you ever read a violation of these rules in one of my stories, let me know! Sometimes I forget the rules while I’m in the heat of the moment.]
The rules of shifting more generally:
1.) The twitch virus is necessary. As one of the fundamental elements used in the creation of the multiverse, it arranges/codes human DNA in such a manner as to be able to receive the frequencies of the multiverse. Twitch infection almost always comes with immediate ability to micro-shift as the human body begins to vibrate in between the universe frequencies. This vibration manifests itself most simply as telekinetic ability. One is simply harnessing the power from micro-shifting between universes and focusing it on matter within a single universe. It happens accidentally for those infected with the twitch until they learn to control the ability.
Since the twitch also results in rapid cell death (greatly due to the process of micro-shifting and the wear and tear it creates on the body) and rapid cell mutation, much of a trained twitcher’s telekinetic energies must be employed on a subconscious level to maintain cell integrity. Thus, their focus is divided and muddied. It is extremely rare that a twitcher at this level ever discovers their sixth sense or the ability to macro-shift/twine telepathically.
1b.) the initiating of micro-shifting is not possible without at least two doppelgängers due to the need to triangulate between universes. Learned TK pathways (including abilities) can often be maintained in the absence of living doppelgängers, depending on how strongly the twined TK signature imprint was established while the gangers lived.
2.) At least incidental exposure, if not full genetic exposure, to the lost gene is necessary to macro-shift (also known as twining). With the lost gene, the second element of creation, twitchers are able to focus their gifts better. With a natural gift or training or combination of both a twitcher can learn to macro-shift or twine telepathically with a doppelgänger. For everyone save Evie Buckner (De Novo and Relic Hunters Series), this is the only way to cross over or shift between universes.
2b.) Without a doppelgänger in a universe, shifting to that universe is not possible.
3.) Neither the Twitch retro-virus or the lost gene are transferrable via shifting. Thus doppelgängers are not given the twitch, or immortality from the alpha/prime.
4.) Only the consciousness shifts. The body of the prime or alpha-ganger is left behind in a coma/vegetative state. Establishing stasis with the appropriate medical equipment is the preferred method for twining for longer periods of time (anything longer than several minutes).
5.) Due to two consciousnesses fighting over the same reality, shift confusion is almost universally experienced. “Shift daze” varies from person to person and shift to shift depending on the experience, training, and strength of the consciousnesses involved.
6.) The only “cure” for shift daze is recall of the shift event. Over time, gangers develop mental tricks and devices to assist in their mental pickup of shift recall. Shift recall allows for both consciousnesses to cohabit a single reality without dissonance.
7.) Two physical bodies are not allowed in one universe at once. The results are not known for sure if this universal law were to be broken. (Or whether it is possible to break.)
8.) After a doppelgänger is fully twined and awoken to the multiverse, simul-shifting is possible but not automatic. Simul-shifting is the supreme skill of an advanced TK master. It takes either natural gifting, training, or both. Simul-shifting allows for one consciousness (the prime) to be present in more than one universe. Thus, when simul-shifting the body is not left behind in a coma state. Simul-shifting lends the non-prime doppelgängers a shadow effect, or TK signature imprint, when it comes to both the twitch and the lost gene. This effect is still not totally understood, but it results in some non-prime gangers maintaining some degree of TK abilities despite the apparent absence of the prime consciousness.
9.) Doppelgängers (non-prime) can manifest telekinetic abilities when twined telepathically with a ganger. But due to their lack of awareness, manifestation rarely occurs until the shift recall event. Sometimes stress can force an early manifestation. In those cases the recall event usually follows soon after due to shift-reality dissonance.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read these scenes of Boundaries, Season 2 of The Green Ones. I’ll be publishing FREE daily scenes from The Green Ones until…I die…or something terrible happens. Seriously, I’ve got over 100 scenes written so far, and I’ll be writing more until the story reaches its natural ending. You are totally welcome to read the entire story for FREE! If at any point you decide you would rather finish the story in ebook or print format, just click the buttons below and you can do that as well. If you enjoy reading the serial releases, BUT you would also like to support me as a writer (my kids need wine!) please subscribe to my premium content for bonus scenes, exclusives, and insider access to my process. And of course, I’d be grateful if you would share this post with any of your reader friends who you think would enjoy The Green Ones. Happy reading!