I have been having a great time...

Took my much better than I half to Idaho, to support my shooting in an Appleseed. Had a great time and will give you the official version about it in the After Action Report. I would like to blame the whole thing with the M1 Garand on Breda, or the one day Appleseed on Tam, but really I just wanted to shoot a fine rifle and have a relaxed weekend with the friends from RWVA and my wife. My shooting needs improvement, but the rest is better than I deserve. Thank you all.

I tried to check on my blog while at the motel but found that there was a phrase that wasn't deemed appropriate for the innocent public. Which makes me wonder when they are going to put that protection on my television - I could lose forty pounds by not sitting in that recliner fattening like steer on a feed lot.

After Thanksgiving, a picture from a cartoonist...

His post about Thanksgiving. Yeah, and you are looking at pictures of Black Friday sales and the intruders at the gala White House event, where is America?

Name the three things you are most thankful for...

That seems to be a theme of Thanksgiving every year at her home. What are you most thankful for? and I have been mulling that over in my mind for a few days.

The first thing I am very thankful for is LOVE. God is Love, the Love of God, greater Love hast no man than he lay down his life for another, the Love between a man and a woman, the love of parents for children, the love of family, love of your clan, tribe and country. I am so thankful that Love is such a wonder and so powerful that the government can't create it, tax it, hoard it, issue it only to special interests and has absolutely no ability to regulate it. I am very thankful for Love, knowing the more I give away the more I will have, knowing that I am loved no matter how undeserving, knowing that the little gentle touch given in love will stay with a stranger longer than the cold and misery and hunger of the moment. Thank God for Love.

I am thankful for Life, think about that miracle - sure everyone one you know has life, is a life, lives a life -- but that life is so complex in the chemicals, the flow and function the living with a future and a past a continuous stream to ---- yeah, sure you are an accident, of a male and female of your species mating and reproducing, getting you started and then raising you to release point and that life walks out and joins another and the new life continues - and bumps into other life and together lots of lives can build pyramids, cities, space exploration, and they can mess with it and mess it up and they can destroy life. Always choices, but still the ease and joy of life is more than one life can truly understand, what a wonder. Don't you want to be the best in your life, with your life and for other lives? It is a gift to you, and other things help shape it, ruffle it and mar it, but it will always come back to you and your responsibility to live it the best you can, again, thank God and your parents, family, teachers, friends and the environment for Life.

Finally, I am, I am thankful that I am. God is the Great I Am, but at some point I am and I am thankful for that. Don't want to preach and be theological, but I am. I get to get up every morning knowing that I am, and make my mark upon the world, little marks, ugly marks, beautiful marks, flying by marks, heard by others marks, tracks in the sand, fingerprints on time, but I am and only because I am can I use the two gifts above. So thank God that I am.

Hope y'all have a wonderful Thanksgiving - not so much the holiday, bird and family, friends, fools and football -- but the moment in your I am, to use your life, in love to be Thankful, it can't get any better than that. Do Thank God.

Yes, I can fool myself part of the time, some of...

or all of the... America once was a great producing country. Now consumption seems to rule, when did that happen? WWII before our entry, during and after America made stuff for the world and the conflict, it poured out for the best of reasons. Victory.

More good dreams last night, will buy Lotto tickets today, just in case it is my time. But most of my life has been very good to me so I don't expect anything more than the participation in the best form of taxation of the poor and mathematically challenged.

I am a sly fellow, I have my wife's attention and it does seem that she is traveling to Idaho with me Friday - how do I know without a direct question or conversation - she asked if she should take the gas burner for cooking on in the mountain wilderness of Idaho. I laughed and told her I would take her to restaurants to eat. Honest, I don't know everything about Idaho, but it is beautiful country with the nicest people and not in a hurry to pave country roads. We should have a good time.

The Appleseed, Revolutionary War Veterans Association, is changing servers - they can't keep up with demand on the old one and as the number of people participating grow and keep checking in the need for more speed and memory do also. I haven't signed up for anything in 2010 yet, I will want to instruct, and shoot, and travel and meet good people - that seems to be a reason to practice my dry fire and maintain my rifles and ammunition stores. Although I sometimes think there are lots of people that have done an Appleseed - there are over 300 million Americans currently, and 20,000 participants in 2010 doesn't seem like enough, but I probably have the figures wrong.

Breakfast is over, devotions always on going, and I have run out of words ... maybe.

I do wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, especially those with all too little that probably know better than I what they are so thankful for. When I was younger, broke and kind of stupid I was always thankful for the long almost un-smoked cigarette butt in the sand filled can outside the bank... it never tasted right, but it was what I had. It did make me thankful for getting older, making money and lessening the stupid enough to quit smoking tobacco. Thank you hard working producing people out there, growing crops, carrying freight, founding families and our futures... and those of you just consuming conspicuously... well, Macy's will love you and the Robb Report is full of foolish gift ideas.

Just a feeling of disquiet in my mind...

Dreams last night were good, happy and then when I wake I remember that except for three of the people all the others were dead, very alive and funny in my dream but all very dead in my morning. It was about cars, and junk and cleaning it all up. I have breakfast, delay and don't jog to the mechanic's - wife drops me off. He tried to give me the bill for replacing calibers, but I had asked for a belt and a tensioner, and he realized that I was me not someone else. I did find the new belt and parts working well, but I expect in a couple of thousand miles or so the squeal will come back, the one I never hear but drives everyone around me mad. Well, I am fat this morning, must be the hormonal balance and lack of great exercise - only my fingers are flying over the keyboards, I do need work. Time to clean up and close up the Library by Wednesday, I have a Thanksgiving to share with my wife, places to go this weekend, including a place to sleep - and shooting goodness! Ah, yes, I get to shoot on Saturday, and will be giving it my BEST SHOT, making each one count. Big 5 Sports had two military rifles for sale - early bird specials, an M1 Garand for $499 and change and a Mosin-Something for $69. I am so many firearms over my limit that I only noted that they were being offered, didn't get out my deck chair and sleeping bag to get in line. Now, I do feel better, I share my cluttered life, the cup is labeled "Bubi" for those that don't expand the picture, which is very big - and one has to be a practicing German to catch that. Off to work, to save the world...

Looking through the jeweled face shield....

I turned my Caravan over to the mechanic for his professional care, jogged home and got on the Trusty Triumph for going to work, the rains have broken off the attacks until later. I do carry the rain suit in the back pack, but I always hope I won't need it. The day's work is busy, the other library branches announce closures for various vacation days for the holiday. By evening it is raining consistently and I have choices to make. Going outside the fence in the wet darkness the officer in tower three says "who is that?" and when I respond "Earl from the Library" she comes back with "Have a Happy Holiday" --- yep, the young lady (no, I really don't know what she looks like or who she really is) that told me what she really thought of me is having a much better relationship with me now. I am so adorable, not, but I smile because I kind of hear laughter in her voice and it will be the holiday soon. When I get on the ferry after walking the quarter mile in the rain I put on the rain suit and prepare myself to ride in the rain, homeward ever homeward. Little beads of water to peer through, bejeweled face shield and the night lights of the night life - Monday evenings are so dead, the Mexican restaurant is empty but the lights on. No major leaning on the wet roads, but I am dry to my shoes and warm and happy - it is me and the motorcycle. Lucky me, the wonderful wife has the garage door open, waiting my return and I put the motorcycle up and then start pealing the layers of protection off. Good to be home, dry and safe - is life really this simple? Yep.

okay, I have about had it with writers that never...

Look folks, grow rabbits, chickens and other little animals that reproduce rapidly... learn how to dry, salt and can... and teach and work together to survive... I love the rugged individual mountain man type, but he normally had at least one Native American woman taking care of him through the Winter... and two wouldn't have been hard to keep either. And Daniel Boone brought whole families with him, if the species is to survive, one needs two sexes, sex and Reproduction and Raising of Young - I am tired of this wonderful book where the number of cattle, pigs are the only source of protein and the calorie count by rationing is already down to 1200 per day. Chickens have always before modern groceries and stupid town improvement ideas (like no birds in the backyard) been a staple source of eggs and more chickens - this William R. Forstechen has never lived on his own resources nor thought through his society after the collapse well enough. He does like, most Leftist idealists, think that taking from the farmer and providing security in exchange is fair, taking all the medicines and rationing the remainder, and many other ideas for the survival of his book and his society are good things. Sigh, I will have to finish reading the book, but it is taking him too long to clear the railroad tracks, the highways and get the country moving again, one would think we are all going to wait on some one from the government to help us. Everyone get out there and plant some potatoes, the day the problem starts - get some chickens and learn to work together on your problems and for some reason his people can't wash in cold water and they stink. I have washed in cold water, know how to heat it, and only stink when I am in a hurry to get dirtier. Oh, do I have to finish this book?

Finished at 10:59 PM, what an ending, Mexico takes back the Southwest, China gets the rest of the west of the Rockies and Florida dies off... I really don't like the story, but then the Road takes place after... Because if the United States goes, you think that any of those fine countries like Zimbabwe will become a superpower, or Somalia? Yemen? Albania? don't forget ducks, geese and goats... potatoes, squash, and lots of hard work after the televisions are gone.

Yes, it is supposed to be this dark in the night...

But something isn't right, oh, the digital clocks are dark, too. The power must be out, sigh, luckily one isn't worried about no light in the bathroom - things don't really move when I am not watching, it will all be there. There is reflected light over Tacoma in the cloudy sky, so it is a local outage, as I listen to the rain and the wind and the trees blowing down. Where did we put the emergency matches, candles and lamp? touch the wall the hallway is clear, I didn't leave the vacuum in the way last night. Find the matches beside the knives and the pistols, emergency stuff, now where are the candles - I like them on top of the book cases, since I can reach them, but she doesn't and the only ones I find in the dark are the two on the dining room wall beside the large mirror, I light them and go back to bed - civilization and security has been re-established in this home for tonight. This is my punishment for not finishing "One Second After"?

We sleep deep, the room and whole house are cooler than the bed, don't you love comforters and quilts? But after eight (why so late? no cows to milk, silly) we crawl out and remake the bed and start our day. Every room I enter I slide my had to the wall to flip the switch, and that is futile. Being the guy I offer to go get coffee and doughnuts, and I go. Down the road I find the crew replacing the light pole and find 22nd Avenue blocked on both ends, but I drive around to escape and get to the Safeway. Priorities: a bottle of wine, doughnut holes, muffins and two large black coffees and two medium hot chocolates, drive back home disregarding all the barriers to stop my driving on 22nd Avenue - just hoping hot lines don't drop on my Caravan while there. Home to the quiet.

We aren't really Americans in the suburbs today, nope. I use the front door to leave and enter my home - real Americans go in through the garage door, don't they? The house is still silent, no television, no music, no noise from the refrigerator, furnace nor fans. I turned on the gas fake fireplace, and it is warming the family room so we can stare at the blank High Definition television set - Sony makes fine products. My wife adds sugar and creamer to her coffee and I open the muffins and make a mess, but dampen my hunger. Ah, now how does conversation go? what can I say that will fill the voids in my mind, our hearts and our lives? Not to worry, one of the things that comes to mind is that for forty-one years we have cared about each other - no it isn't an anniversary, just thinking of how long our together has been. My wife going down that memory lane reminds me that we have to do some more work on the grandparents books for the grandson, and she gets the album of my son's baby pictures out, and then starts putting the grandson's pictures beside certain of the son's shots - they could be the same baby, or at least related. It is good to have the distractions off, the background noises and listen to each other and drink coffee and hot chocolate. Prep for church, includes Earl's opening the garage door to take the Cadillac out for my wife, and then closing the door - since he is the tall fellow with the short lady.

Off to church in our separate directions, I told her to go south first so she won't see the repair crew and have to turn around. All about giving thanks this week, and so I do, I make the coffee for after the service, talk and greet help move stuff and worship, no choir today the director is away. The power is back on when I get home - and I can sink into the recliner and watch football that is left (we are three hours behind the East Coast). The wind is still stirring leaves, more trees to fall.

There are wonderful people on this planet, thank the Lord.

And one you will NEVER see on the news...



John G's wife said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.

He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.

This, my friends, is worth sharing.. Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we're doing over there is making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.

J. Gxxxx U. S. Navy
Please remember all those who are serving today through out the world to keep us safe and free during this holiday season!


I proudly stole this from NFO, if you visit you might notice I took editorial liberty and cut the stupid away, what is left is Love, and that I share with you.

Yep, it is Friday and I am outta here...

Worked well today, had demands on my time and better performance from my library clerks, who were processing new materials into the collection and shipping ILLs to the wrong addresses, customs forms for returning borrowed books to Canada (government doesn't really know how to expedite movement - just hinder it). Other demands were from my Program Manager and another Librarian - getting our processes in shape, now if I can only get time to read what I have filed away so well. That will be a challenge.

In the new books was one I borrowed, "One Second After" by William R. Forstchen, and I was into reading it hard and fast and then started to think about it. An EMP hits America and the culture falls into problems immediately - no pumps for moving water uphill and no cars that work unless they don't have electronic ignition and everything stops and what will we do now. And MARTIAL law is declared by some kind of authority figures. Now I did have to stop and get my breath, but when the writer talked about removing a clip from a pistol, I sighed.

In my grandfather's day, he put water into the kitchen for my grandmother (which embarrassed her since none of her friends had that much lazy), and I know that a one cylinder engine was used with belts to operate many things in his shed, making a pump to move water would have been easy. And if my grandfather could do it, how many lawn mowers are waiting for their chance to move up in the world. Oh, yours has computer circuits? not mine. A small diesel engine to produce electricity could be built by local mechanics - not everything needs a college education. And this whole idea that someone has to be in charge, and we will bow to the martial law thing - kind of stupid, town meetings and talking about the priorities and getting people moving to get stuff happening and sharing instead of hoarding and looting - most of America isn't sitting waiting on the next government handout, they build and work and adapt what they have and want to what they can. But then if you can't twitter one's life away, there is no reason for living any how. What would Oprah do?

Just for fun, what would you lose if a massive EMP hit America? No computers, calculators beyond abacus and sliderule (yes, I have both and know how to use them just need practice, ha, ha), no telephones, my cars are door stops, but the Trusty Triumph has no computer circuitry - an earlier model. No radios, but the piano is still working, the wooden flute, most of my tools aren't powered by electricity so I can still saw and drill and hammer. My cameras are gone, but the lighters still work. All the firearms and ammunition still work and there is a lifetime of old people's clothes in this house, with lots of extra blankets and combat boots. Need more traps for catching soup thickeners; mice rats and moles just aren't at the top of my list.

Put up on the dusty shelf of yesteryear...

I went to the garage to hit the treadmill and Healthrider, forty and ten minutes respectively and respectfully. I noticed the trophies on top of the tool cabinet, my trophies, the bowling one is a real joke, the pistol ones were for being the best that day on that range against all comers... or so I would tell it. They, like me, now sit off to the side of the world, just gathering dust. They were good times with good people long ago and far away.

I have been nibbling at next year, getting to sixty-too old to do it much longer, and wondering what that will bring. I met the retired doctor, running in his shorts and rain jacket on a windy forty degree day, coming back from his CrossFitness workout, beat up and smiling. He is retired, has time for that fun stuff. My fun stuff this year has been shooting or going to Appleseeds for one thing or another, mostly to help others shoot better and improve my own shooting and life. Meeting a lot of great people on that journey, to include the famous Fred. I signed up for a one day shoot, just to go shoot my target twenty-two and my M1 Garand and enjoy the people and the day. I have to send out emails to start the preparations for the last Shoot Boss Castle Rock, Washington Appleseed, December 12 & 13, then Christmas and suddenly a New Year, when I will continue to gather dust upon the shelf of America. We haven't even dates for Castle Rock next year, nor Yakima, looks like Idaho has more planned now than Washington does, possibly because they are ranges at rifle clubs that have to lock in a schedule. I want to go to Montana for a Rifleman's Boot Camp with long distance shooting, I would like to visit Boomershoot in March, again, not ready to use optics but willing to help and listen to the talk and see the shooters and spot if one needs me. See, no solid plans except for seeing our grandson on his first birthday in Hawaii.

What do I know for sure? Well, smiles look good on everyone, they look beautiful on women with good hearts that smile all the way to their eyes, and Love really does make the World go round - but since that is a Theological discussion I will take it with me to think about.

The Appleseed on December 12th & 13th will be honoring the Constitution of the United States of America, the one every great citizen reads every year in complete amazement when considering what the Federal Government has been up to, okay, maybe you aren't amazed, but you do read it don't you? You have memorized the Preamble to the Constitution - you do know what a Preamble is? They once thought every child should not be left behind, and they all had to know it, you are probably too young. Well, nevermind, just don't put that Constitution and its amendments on a dusty shelf, use them or lose them - law, rights, government are just like your body in life, if you don't use it, you lose it. Smile, God loves you even if your government doesn't - your government doesn't have a heart.

For those that think the dark has nothing to offer...

Looking good, and growing and growling at me...

Windy and wild... going to bed child...

Western Washington's Winter Weather Worsens. Don't you love 'W's? A warning about suicide in my work email today, it is getting darker outside earlier. But the day has been lonely, but pretty good in the results, so will try and do much better tomorrow after a hot shower and deep long sleep. The only major ripple in my universe seems to be the critical comments from one of the shooters at my first Appleseed. And tomorrow, after thinking about it, I will likely give it the due consideration it deserves and try to improve my next, possibly last Shoot Boss. But tonight the hot shower and the warm bed. Good night, all.

Where is that good health bill now?

Play on my name, of course. William being Bill and my good health being my responsibility and not having posted for a bit. I am breaking free, of my addiction to the television and the internet. I haven't wondered what the President is up to, he is in China soaking up universal health care. Or pretending all is right in America, buy more of our bonds, good as almost gold. If you are going to buy gold - buy cases of twenty-two Long Rifle instead, that and needles and pins are proper trading materials for the coming collapse. Speaking of good health, yesterday morning my blood pressure was 110/70, heart rate 39 bpm.

I have returned to the almost daily grind of jogging, making the time seems to be the most fun. there isn't enough in my day now and I wish for that winning Lotto ticket so I can quit working and get on with my health requirements. But I can find an hour here and there, it will add up. Was thinking of buying my girl friend a copy of YOUNGER NEXT YEAR FOR WOMEN and if I had any money I wasn't investing in ammunition on the 19th of November (National Ammunition Day). I would buy her a stylish heart rate monitor from Polar, pink fizz is the proper color. Send it all with a message about when she gets the animal brought out in her, call me. Okay, I am not going to do that, but it is Wintering time, November has really arrived and one starts to stir crazily. For anyone still with me, do read and believe Doctor Lodge and his message about your body's hard wiring to hunter-gatherer (its evolutionary, Doctor Watson) and start moving, seriously moving.

Yes, I did jog between rain drops yesterday, then walked to the dock, and thought pleasantly of a tough body weight workout when I returned home - they won't allow me chin up bars in the Library (worried about law suits and L&I claims?) rather have me die of heart and mind problems - but there was gusting winds and white caps on the Sound, so the Still Harbor schedule was in effect in the day, and that slows me down. Seems the violent weather does more than take the pretty leaves from the trees and bring the firs flying or crashing down (my yard is a mess needing piled and off to the compost pile). So I spent an extra hour waiting on the slowly moving ferry. As I waited I met and talked with a young man about education - he works for a non-profit guiding adults to educational opportunities and had been talking to the inmates that have some mind left that know they have to do better. He was with one of my favorite English teachers, she once had me briefing her classes on what was in the library to help them prepare papers for her work. She and I talked about budget cuts, she having seen that the Librarians were going to lose jobs again. Happening ever since I got into that field - is anyone reading out there? words on paper?

Well, I did get home, an hour and five minutes later than normal for Monday evening, but I did get home safely. Soup and salad and look at the junk mail. In bed by eleven oh seven. What a life! Oh, for any still pretending I am not paying attention, if your joints and such don't like pounding on the road jogging gently, swim, really do lap swimming, great conditioning exercises - but you have to swim like the sharks are coming - cause they are.

Quiet Sunday, for many reasons...

Started with CBS Sunday Morning, instead of jogging, I learned the Army is hiding all its great combat art instead of showing it on the Internet, in a museum, or giving tours of it hanging in the Pentagon when they display a bit of it. They could sell a coffee table book of it, easily. I also found out that my resistance to electronic tethers means I don't really appreciate the joy of over 200,000 apps for iPhones, Blackberrys and such, yep. And because I don't appreciate them I also miss out on the mobile restaurants in LA, which twitter their location and my GPS could find me a great meal if I just wanted to be locked into the electronic chains. I am almost sure that those devices aren't going to make it into THE ROAD, the movie about the end of Humanity - one or several people at a time. I did like the reviewer's comments - a wonderfully made movie, but because it was about the end of the mall and Twitterverse he couldn't recomment it. That was kind of the line I use when I recommend to my patrons why they should read it - there is no sex in it, no cops, no drugs and no reason for not rebuilding Humanity - but the loss was too great.

Television off, breakfast consumed and prepared for choir practice and church service, done had coffee and cake with one of my two friends. Off to the range for rifle shooting, working on the .22s, good enough day, only two pistols and three rifles on the range. One rifleman had a beautiful Austrian rifle, they do know how to build them. Talked with him a little and then packed up and went to find a haircut, got it, but she kept moving my Mentat Eyebrows out of the way of her clippers. Got back home to cabbage and wild rice and coffee, then my workout and saying good bye to my wife on her way to her revival. I have Sunday Night Football on but switched to Afghanistan and EOD on 60 Minutes, and I wonder why I have cable but then remember that it serves my wife better than it does me. I go out to the garage to hit the treadmill for thirty minutes of cool down, kind of and listen to Country Music. See I can multi-task.

Just observing you understand...

I went to work and was called a new name and went out and earned it in the early rain, the work day was fine until I found out that my supervisor thinks I made a totally incorrect hiring against her wishes or command - I don't remember the command but she does so it must be so. I am so old, I need to look for another job this weekend and un-employment is over ten percent. Not to worry, I am almost ready for retirement or the grave.

I drove home quickly and cleaned up, put on a tie, armed myself mightly, and took my wife to her function for the care givers of Fort Lewis, and you know they are mostly women - yep. So I met the women she is most happy working with, the bosses she wanted me to meet and husbands and boy friends of same. Not as many men as women by any count, don't you know? I got to talk motorcycles, politics and old wars while we drank and ate snacking foods. Nice people my wife works with - then the DJ started playing dance music of one kind or another. Well, the women went out to dance and the men kept talking war, politics and motorcycles.

Now I am of the understanding that in the 1940 war years, if you could dance as a man with a lady and not look like a clod about it, you got to put your arm around her without having to fight her brothers or getting stomped by her father and uncles. Now, just observing mind you, if you could find the rhythm and the smoother moves just getting out on the dance floor and doing it would get you way too close to lots of lonely wildly moving women. Remembering always they not only don't dress for your appreciation (they dress for other women's approval) they also don't really dance for you either. But it doesn't matter, they still look just fine, if you dance with them that is your bonus but don't ever forget that your eyes always tell, not just in poker.

And my only real advice, never forget who you brought - and the why, and you don't dance for anyone else but her - she will hear about how lucky she is that you aren't afraid to get out there and whatever you were doing in public... you don't have to hear it, but she does. Oh, how quickly one forgets to be ancient and a relic.

Well, I ran out of helpers today, so hired two more...

First inmate worker in the door wanted to talk to me without anyone around, so he did and told me that he had broken his glasses and couldn't see well enough to work, and something else that I can't share. But I thanked him for what he had done and told him to go back to his unit. He will be waiting six weeks for replacements, but might be leaving McNeil Island before then. Still I had four of six inmates on the call out for testing show up, three passed the test, two were very interested and had worked in other libraries and I received recommendations from their Library Keepers. The one that didn't pass the test was one I would have been willing to work with, but he will get a job somewhere soon enough. After the interviews were over I contacted the Job Center, and told her who I would like to hire, she called and said they would be on tomorrow's call out and she was putting the paperwork in my box to get started on terminating the inmate that can't see now. Then I went back to work with two, and one had to leave so I was left with one - and the library work doesn't stop. Did the Greeks have that problem in Alexandria in the Great Library - not enough workers, money, scrolls and books, not enough questing minds?

Michael Jackson worked himself to death...

My wife wanted to see "This is it" by and with and all about Michael Jackson, and so we did. I am sure having worn myself out while watching the performance that he worked himself to death on those stages. I think four of the ladies on stage with him were of note and that was it. We paid only Senior rate so it was worth it.

The other reasons to go to the movies, popcorn, we passed on. But the previews were interesting. Disney continues PC cartoons "The Princess and the Frog". Robert Downey Jr, looks like he is trying to act greatly again in "Sherlock Holmes" oh, Jude Law, is in it - I had missed that - it should be almost Steampunk. The last and best movie of science fiction, created with science fiction is "AVATAR" and except for Hollywood predictability it should be a great ride, and one can only hope everyone remembers that it is just a movie. We already know how race relations work on the evolutionary scale in humans, with another biology they think to find a difference? Still I already have room in my budget for the movie, the DVD and watching way too much.

I have been picking at my wounds again...

That one left over from Vietnam, about this time every year I pick on it running it over and over in my mind. It is Veterans Day, Mister Vu from the Law Library is one. And I am also and have mentioned it before, but I feel like everyone is - so it isn't special, but it seems to be growing unique.

They had a tribute to the veterans on McNeil Island yesterday, the lady that has been working on it really out did all expectations, and from one to three o'clock there were food and thoughts (guest speaker) for the veterans to share. I missed it, the same way I became a veteran - I served, the impatient patrons of my library, the one man show has to be there -- like the life one leaves to go out in service to the Nation in War, you have to leave normal and find the acid that will etch upon your life things that will only be you and the band of brothers and sisters that were there then.

I hadn't done much in Vietnam, the war was winding down, and the first position and unit I was assigned to was pulled and the colors sent back Stateside, the short-timers were sent back, too. Those like myself were given new units to join and continue the fight - or another unit to pack up and send back. I had ten months on Firebase Phoenix and as I was departing they got to pack up. I still remember the infantry platoon that came to the firebase to provide security, skinny worn young old men, they should have been boys. One asked if he could use our shower - an oil drum with a showerhead, and a powder canister to burn diesel in for hot water, I showed him how to light it up for that shower. I watched in amazement as the slicks brought all their mail in - they had been piling it up until they got to a basecamp and they had been out long. Not everyone is in the same war, but they serve.

My war wound was in the return to the United States, fly forever across the Pacific and land in Washington State - I don't know if it was McChord Air Force Base or Sea-Tac Airport, it was dark and we loaded buses to go to Fort Lewis and process out. At the post we unloaded, lined up, were briefed and taken for measuring and paperwork check, then we were given a really great Steak dinner with ice cream and pie for desert. I do know I have seldom have had anything in military dining to match that meal, but I was alone with strangers and I have always remembered it was all dark of the night stuff and any conversation was just above whispers. We got to nap/sleep somewhere and then shave shower and dress in the new class A uniforms with all awards decorations, rank, name tag. We were given our records (sealed) orders to next assignment and a thirty day leave with an airplane ticket to closest major airport home. Quietly loaded on civilian buses and dropped off to catch our flights.

There was one stop on my way back to Pittsburgh airport, must have been Chicago or Minneapolis and many people got up and off there. One woman, her daughter and hovering husband approached me. The lady leaned towards me and said they wanted to thank me for my service in Vietnam. I was stunned, the tough guy the veteran of whatever had just been wounded, and I never said anything as my mind tried to put my time in Vietnam with this lady and her family. She didn't know, she couldn't understand and I wasn't ready to live among civilized society I guess. So among the millions of Americans, the media, the hippie culture and the 'me first' folks - one lady reached out and touched me through all my armor and I will always bear the scar. I wish I knew she knew that was the best welcome I would receive for years for my service. That is the thank you that has always meant the most and I pick at it every Veteran's Day.

The totally artful self portrait I share is what I thought of me, in the mirror upon the shower behind our personnel bunker in Vietnam, I was that much of a mess.

Okay, Happy Birthday, MARINES!

Probably one of the few things I am jealous of the US Marine Corps is that they really know how to celebrate their birthday - the Army has buried its under Flag Day I think, and for some reason they don't know how to party.

So today, for a force that began in a tavern, Happy Birthday! from a former paratrooper, who was always glad to be shot at along side you, wouldn't have wished it any other way.

Just keeping you posted...

Seems our Program Manager is caught in Florida, flight grounded by high winds which we shan't name. She has to catch a later flight this week. The rains will be here, although they say Thursday will have a break. The rains come in bands like waves upon the beach and I did jog and walk yesterday but then was well soaked in the evening drive. I have lost, last week, one of my better workers to the Chain Bus, he had to move on to Monroe Corrections Complex. That made me short, and sure enough one of my other better workers has two afternoons of group counseling to attend every week before the end of December, and yesterday they had the Veterans Banquet - yes, we have Veterans inside our fences that are in State issue serving time, we also have them in Corrections Officer uniform and admin - there are Veterans everywhere - just not as many as there were at the end of the draft in 1973. The Republic of Korea, Israel and Switzerland still have almost universal military service for various reasons.

I had attended for eighteen weeks Infantry OCS at Fort Benning, GA, in the Fall of 1967. Got pretty close with the rest of the platoon. Years later as a First Sergeant I was running the streets of Fort Bragg and saw one of my platoon mates, now a Major in Special Forces and we talked in his office. He had once been visiting a Federal Prison on some mission or other, and had run into one of our platoon mates in the administration of the institution and they talked and caught up, then the administrator, called on a telephone and they brought in a prisoner, who just happened to be one of our platoon mates. Strange, no guarantees of how well you will do, just because you had a chance it all comes back to what you choose to do and act.

Back to reality of today, I had best take out the garbage and get ready to run, have to make better choices, my wife told me no early retirement - I have to keep on keeping on... but the government wants my tax contributions, so I already know. Do remember to honor the service of our vets tomorrow - from this vet it is embarrassing to see free meals and such, but tears flow when the children who I hope never know war say thank you. Their future has always been what it was about, we don't want to dwell on our past.

Hey, Old Timer...

I am very aware of how near retirement and impending doom I am, but I was walking down to the dock in Steilacoom when a bright red BMW pulled off the road and stopped. I walked up and leaned towards the open window, hoping it would be the mythical long legged red head looking for guidance. It wasn't but was a young soldier with sunglasses perched on his head and three metal qualification badges on his digital Desert Camo Uniform, he leaned towards me and asked "Hey, Old Timer, would you like a lift?"

As soon as "Old Timer" came out I was thinking Gabby Hayes and cringing internally in denial. I had just slipped in the movie of my mind from leading man, the hero, to comic relief sidekick, how had that happened? I kind of smiled and told him the walk was my exercise and thanks for the offer, as he sped off I hoped he just wanted to be nice and show off his ride - not that he thought I really needed a ride, I hadn't been limping nor lumbering on. I was enlisted for the Vietnam War in 1967 and stuck around through other military operations to including Desert Shield and Storm in 1990 and '91. But I started putting that life together with riding my motorcycle up behind a car waiting at a stop light, and reading the Memorial tribute in the window, of a young man, born in February of 1991, when I was getting prepared to invade Iraq with the French, that died in our current wars in 2009, he hadn't gotten to nineteen. So in honor of those Veterans, the "Old Timers" everywhere I will tell you about Samuel.

He was born before the turn of the Century, the Eighteenth Century, and grew up big and strong and joined the King's Dragoons to fight in wars on the Continent, against France or Spain. After the first little war he came home and everyone admired the fine Calvary saber with the gold inlay and shining sharpness -- asking how he had come by such a fine saber. He said modestly that a French officer had no further use for it and he had. His military career had gone on and the places would change but Samuel didn't for he went to the sound of the guns. In one of the many wars against France he rode off and came back with a fine pair of horse pistols,matching French pieces. When asked to tell the tale about that, he again replied that the French officer having no further need for them had given them up to him. He couldn't go on being a gallant dragoon forever, so he settled down to a small farm and small wife, raising crops and children and getting old. His years were wearing and he limped a little and later a lot, but there was no quit in him.

On April 19th, 1775 with the country rising up in arms to stop the British regulars Samuel Whittemore took up his musket, his horse pistols and cavalry saber and went out to do battle for his family and neighbors. He took up a strong position behind a stone wall about a hundred and fifty yards from the road and began to fire upon the advancing British redcoats. His fire was effective for they sent a squad of flankers to eliminate the position believing there were several rebels there. Samuel got several shots off from his musket before he had to pick up the pistols, and he got two shots off wounding with one and the other, he was drawing his saber when one of the regulars shot him in the face, taking away part of his jaw. the others quickly bayoneted him about a dozen times and left him for dead, then hurried back to the marching column, not wanting to be left behind in the coming darkness with the rebels everywhere.

Samuel's friends and neighbors came out after they left and went to see what they could do, expecting to find him dead, but they found him trying to re-load. They got a door off a home, laid Samuel on it and took him to Doctor Tufts. They begged the doctor to save him, but the doctor said it was too late, they asked him to try anyway and he did. When he finished he did tell them quietly that Samuel was going to die, he was seventy-eight years old. The doctor was correct Samuel Whittemore died, eighteen years later - scared horribly but always proud of his service to his adopted country and sure that he would do it again if called. A very dangerous old man, the oldest combatant on the field that day.

So the next time you see someone old and almost ancient, smile before you call him "Old Timer", it would be kinder to ask if he could help you -- for he would be glad to be the leading character in the movie of his life.

If you really understand the gun control point...

I am sorry that so many people were killed and wounded at Fort Hood, Texas today, they didn't deserve to be shot up like that. An Army officer did it (but we won't condemn officers) and doctor (but we won't condemn doctors) a shrink (but we won't condemn those that treat mental illness) a Muslim (but we won't condemn Muslims) with semi-automatic pistols with extra loaded magazines (but we won't condemn the firearms nor the bullets). In Texas, home to the Alamo, mythical Lonesome Dove, and cowboy culture there is Fort Hood (named for a fine Rebel general) with signs posted at all the gates that the Commander doesn't permit Concealed Carry and doesn't honor the state's permit to carry, that all weapons are locked up without ammunition, that all personal weapons are registered and locked in quarters or unit arms rooms unless given permission to use them in recreation. Nope, what happened today is what is the weakness in the argument that gun control means fewer deaths and destruction - in Texas that had the Texas Tower shooter, there are points of total gun control where potential victims abound. If those in the processing center had only made it to Indian Country they could have been carrying a weapon with at least twenty rounds as they wore their reflective belt, but they were being protected by foolish words and policies that don't bear the name of the commander, only his title.

Just looking at the morning news.... rain... here?

Oh, yeah, the weather for November may be a bit late but it is coming in today, the National Weather map has washed us out with floods and rain. So I drive the Caravan, and walk to the dock directly. As I walk I find a doe about fifteen feet from me, looking at me like I am crazy - she is in the middle of a condo apartment complex and she thinks I am crazy. Well, I do start talking to her, she doesn't know I have my hunting license, but she is kind of stringy, not much on the thighs at all - must be on one of those strange American model diets. But, like real females in my life, as soon as I start talking she turns her head away and starts strutting off to find a finer male... I really ought to take time off and go hunt - the barber in Steilacoom had his shop closed up for deer one weekend and elk another. Well, the walk was good, the work fine. The rains and the wind started beating on Washington and about 11:00 AM the announcement was made that the Still Harbor schedule was in effect.

Still Harbor is on the North side of McNeil Island, a nice harbor, and the seals love it. So because of the fear of getting stuck on an island with terrible weather -- a lot of people left. After lunch the announcements of what was closed, classes canceled, and there was only the State Library (ME!) open for business. Two very packed periods, but the last one was light, but until Recall I was there. The weather did let up a bit, and the ferry came back to normal operations by the time I was leaving, still for only a minute or the afternoon I was still there helping the inmates prepare for re-entry to the community.

I did notify the entire State Library that if they were coming to visit me that the ferry schedule was changed and I attached a copy of it. But no one ever comes, I am always reminded of that famous short story about an outpost, watching the frontier for the enemy, and because the commanders don't come out to visit, inspect nor reward the guards --- the guards feel more friendly to the constantly advancing enemy that at least know he is alive... it will be Veteran's Day soon, don't forget all those that you have sent out to those frontiers to watch and war on our enemies.

Wandering, copying and posting for y'all...

I really liked this. Since I really hadn't thought about where Laconic reply came from. I learn so much from the internet and am missing breakfast. Thanks to J. Huff.

Tired out, and time to go to bed...

and I don't do half enough, I have to admire the rest of y'all, EnergizerBunnies all. Anyway, I have turned in my title for my Story on Saturday Night - really live. At the Antique Sandwich Company in Ruston, Wa. Oh, you wanted that linked, go Google it, I want you to show up and buy a five dollar ticket and enjoy good coffee, excellent strange local pies and such - and an evening of Storytelling. My story is "Hey, Old Timer" and it starts out all about me and then moves on to the important main character. Good seats at 7:00 PM.

I have to go shower, my wife's fine example of twenty minutes on the treadmill while I napped the supper away (difficult to keep my eyes open) made me go out and test the machine for forty minutes - yes, it can still bear my weight, the Country Music is more Rock than I like, but did enjoy the distraction from the blank wall in front of me... just me, the music and my mind... dangerous combination. Good night, y'all.

You know, the LIBRARY KEEPER....

Seems I got way off track and left the library guy behind in the dust, but I have just finished the second day of work in November and it was a great day. Cool to cold and clear so I burst out of the house and jog around forty minutes and come back to my breakfast, then I prepare to face the world as mild mannered Earl and get my tie tied right and put a scarf over it and the leather jacket on top of that - I am going to ride the Trusty Triumph to work, that was what I was born for... yes, I did put out the garbage, and I waved at the garbage pickup man as I jogged by him, but I was born to ride the Triumph, it is a fine ride going deeper and recovering smoothly and laughing in joy. I walk down to the dock, passed by a prisoner mobility transport team, one of my patrons has been out to see a specialist.

As I walk into the Corridor I see one of the inmate bakers with a big tray of cheese cake pieces heading out to feed the audit team I think. As I get closer he signs to me and asks me to take the piece closest to me, so looking at the lady escorting him with the money box - and she is nodding her head in agreement -- I take a piece of the best looking cake I have seen. And hurry off to eat it in the workroom before I move the mail, and it is good, all over my fingers but I will lick them off, but it is good. And I hear knocking on the library door, it is the Associate Superintendent and all the audit team, waiting for me to open up so they can look.

I open, invite them in, and give them my best briefing of how wonderful I am and how important the library is to the inmates and the mission of education and all our capabilities. Ask if there are questions, get none and congratulate myself in public on another fine briefing. They leave to get their lunch and a piece of that cheese cake that I return to before taking the mail down. Mail back up and l open a letter from a book shop in Seattle:

To Earl Dungey: Nov 1, 2009

A former inmate, who worked in your library, came into my
bookstore and spent $50 on SF and a few other things. He said
he was sending the books to you (I did not catch his name,
sorry). He made me think, a bit, of you and your needs. He
was very pleasant. -- tallish, dark hair, a bit of a gut, has a four
year old daughter...
He made me want to help out, when he said you might be
able to take hardbacks....I asked for your address.

Can you take hardbacks? I get a lot of surplus hardbacks.
(Can you provide a tax exempt number for me, too? This is
not absolutely necessary, but I thought I would ask, anyway.)

I can provide mysteries easily, and thrillers, in hardback,
but can also provide lots of other kinds of books. Even
hardback SF Books. I have a fairly large store, with lots of
surplus generated -- books I don't want to take in are often left
behind. So, this includes nonfiction of all types. Send me a
letter back, with your needs, and I will be glad to help out.
Can do a limited number of specific titles; some bestsellers
begin to pile up, for example, and I can send those, too.
Also, of course, if you want to buy specific titles for your
library, would be happy to oblige. Give you a good price!
This is my email, storeindistrict@yahoo.com, but I sometimes
miss the emails; send it again if I don't respond.

Sincerely,

Nice Lady in
Seattle WA 981??

I sent an email off to the other Library Keepers and our leaders, since answering this letter with more than a thank you is echelons above my capacity - although I do seem to be the person so many of my former workers want to contact about things and donations do seem to show up from inmates, family, interested folks and others. Still this letter needs answered by someone higher than a lowly library keeper. I was very happy to receive it, and only change the addresses and real name to protect the nice lady and paste the intent all over my blog.

My supervisor was chosen as the Employee of the Quarter, and written up very nicely, and as another of the staff said "it was about time the two of you were recognized for your work". No, there aren't two of her - just does twice as much as she should have to, make all those dwindling budget dollars last a little longer... I suggested to our party girl, that this was a perfect reason for a Winter Holiday party - she is working on it.

Well, we were open and the books started moving, legally and otherwise, the alarm at the gate kept going off - the new guys making sure they had something for themselves.

I got two calls, and I answered in my most professional voice (I am wearing a tie, ya know?) "Washington State Library branch at McNeil Island Corrections Center, Earl speaking, may I help you?" or something very close... and on the other end is "I'm ____________ from Tower Three, and I wanted to apologize about what I called you." I hadn't know that was tower three, but if I remembered which was tower four (it has the armory) I could have figured it out. Anyway, we had a good talk about that incident and a little better understanding of who each of us were, and how we aren't going to be mistaken for fools in the future. She made sure it was clear that no one was making her apologize, and I made it clear that I didn't want an apology, I just wanted what was not normal conduct looked at and fixed. She had been sure I was mocking her, and I was sure I wasn't doing anything but being completely out of touch with what was supposed to be happening. She also didn't know until this week that I had been upset at being outed as a jackass. I lived through it but....

The second call was from another Library Keeper that had attended a meeting for communications, her interest being the Institutional Library Services blog. Her concern was that a portion of the new rules for social networking, individual personal blogs which mentioned the bloggers working with the Office of the Secretary of State must comply with the new rules. Since I often make dark mention of stupidity, foolishness, or downright mean conduct on my blog I might not be looked at favorably. I calmed her fears a bit, the only mention of risk to my job was for working on State Owned Equipment and this is my machine, and the intent was to keep the twittering for political reasons to a minimum... and I don't tweet, twitter nor twitch. I have no idea what to do on Facebook, and we cannot access any of the social networks at work. So I won't worry about my blogging, I can bore a few folks some of the time, I can bore lots of the folks lots of the time, and then once in a bit, I can be entertaining... I do notice that once the independent bloggers are corralled and the safe guards and laws laid down - the joy of blogging is gone, and the input for posting good stuff about our libraries dries completely up. But we aren't here to be happy, are we?

I ride the Trusty Triumph home to a fine meal, coffee and my only opportunity to tell my mother what happened today at work. The full moon shining down on me was a nice touch with the Autumn chill, but it has been such a good day I didn't want to ruin it. Thanks, Lord, and all those that participated to make it possible.

Full Moon tonight? Howling anyone?

Would love to tell you about my Appleseed Shoot at Castle Rock, but my wife says I need a shower and to get some rest. I don't complain, I had roast turkey, stuffing and trimmings for dinner after the drive home. I leave you with Kelly and his M1 Garand, don't you know he was having more fun than most? Well, I do, take my word for it he had two great days shooting his M1A and M1 Garand, and he was still smiling when he downsized to his Ruger 10/22. The young fellow knows how to have a good time.