Ever had one of those days? When every sound grates on your ears like fingernails on a chalkboard. Icy spiders crawl up and down your spine and your face becomes a twenty-four hour wince. Your eardrums feel like scraped rawhide. The smallest noise becomes a harsh, primal hiss that beats on your drums like a heathen savage -- breathing threats in your ear -- a buzzing humming dread of a nameless fear that grows inside your head. Defense is your new favorite word.

Sometimes life goes martial on you.  ¶ 9:37 PM