What was I reading and recommend...

Not that one should read what I do, and never for the reasons I would find but I was so upset with Richard Stark and Mickey Spillane (who really didn't write that book The Goliath Bone) that I went back to the Library and borrowed two of their "Books to Go".

I have been reading Walter Mosley for a few years now, Easy Rawlings and other big bad boys from LA's darkside. I find fine fellows doing the best they can and I read and enjoy, knowing two things - they are only literary characters and there really aren't any such people and problems in the world. Are there? Now I really believe that Walter Mosley can write very well, and that he knows a thing or two about real people and how to build and tell a story. I do not read his Science Fiction, I admire that he tries to write it because he thinks he should - but it will probably never sing to me (more like the fingernails on the chalk board).

The First Leonid McGill Mystery: THE LONG FALL was what I have just finished, enjoyed and recommend and since marketing is everything there is a second book titled KNOWN TO EVIL, same central character. I give you a bit of totally unimportant philosophy from the author and central character - about libraries, of course. You didn't think this book was about tough guys and crime did you?

"Librarians are wonderful people, partly because they are, on the whole, unaware of how dangerous knowledge is. Karl Marx upended the political landscape of the twentieth century sitting at a library table. Still, modern librarians are more afraid of ignorance than they are of the potential devastation that knowledge can bring." Leonid McGill's thoughts as written by Walter Mosley (who has been wrong before, but I couldn't prove he isn't close to right this time).

I almost wish I hadn't linked to Amazon.com about the book, too much from the author and reviewers. I read in hope of discovery to make my mind dance, and this one did just fine, lots to chew over and am looking forward to the next book.

Retirement Seminar today... are you going?

My wife went clamming yesterday, and I get the benefit of the seaweed clam soup while I watch the Olympics on NBC. She is getting ready to go again today - with a better rain coat (mine for my motorcycling)it is good to share.

So I am going to Foss High School to listen and learn, and then the salesmen and women will attempt to get me to think I am not ready, cannot be going into retirement without their particular services and help managing my finances and life. Just like the government, give up something so we can help you. My mother and father raised me as a dependent with the intent that I would break free and be better than they could imagine - why doesn't the government use that model? I would have voted for my father for his strengths and my mother for hers - but they would allow me my own adventures and toil in this world of woe. As long as I would sing about it.

Our goals, targets, must be identified -- our preparation for the shot consistent - the distractions blur out of the moment - focus and engage the target in your life.

If you say you are going to do something...

go do it.

I found the range, I had all four of my pistols, I still think Grandfather's Bull Dog is his - and I have only so much .32 rimfire around the house.

Not too many shooters, it was Friday afternoon lunch time. I blazed away like I know what I was doing. My best pistol to work on refining it all is the Ruger, the one I will carry the next time I need to take out all the bad guys (not very likely but one should never say never...) is still my wife's gift to me, the Colt .45, hits what I aim at and that was what keeps me coming back. I have to hold high left of target with my Micro Compact by Springfield - it must be the backup gun or the one I'll need when they are too close to extend my arms and aim? The 9mm is for those times you really aren't going to shoot anything but feel that one must carry something to be a full free citizen of these United States of America, as described in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the same, no matter what the judges say, they have been wrong before.

I know, the target isn't anything to brag about, but I did need to get out and get exercising again, and all those hits on the two NRA targets are mine, sigh. I will get better, one of these days. Oh, yeah, it was raining and I only practiced two hand and primary hand, but it was just to get me out and started, and the pistols dirtied up a bit, so I could clean them.

Dream and virtual worlds...

Received an email from the other jefe this morning, his business is building up, always ready for more, his daughter is part of his motivation and success, glad to hear good stuff. If you need window washing/cleaning or auto detailing in my area let me know, this guy will deliver.

I woke this morning from a dream, met one of my high school classmates in it. He was horribly scared, had mechanical hands and arms. I could see through his skull and knew that part of his brain was missing. He had been injured when a train had blown up and burned in a derailment in the South. I was glad to see him and that he was getting around and well. He stood up when he met me and we talked, then sat back down. We talked around everything, like men do, no commitment. We were about finished and I felt that something was missing, and I had to hug him, I am not a hugging person, and I reached out in my dream and I did hug him, not for him with the scars and wounds and who he is now -- no, I had to hug him for how much I needed to be a better me. Felt good, part of being human I don't practice enough. Dreams, don't bear much reality, this person in real life has been dead for many years, good to think about him, felt good to meet him, but he has been gone to his reward. Maybe I needed his visit more than he needed to get out.

We watched Women's Figure Skating last night, and thought all the ladies were - very young, all wonderful, but ranked well by the judges. I thought the Japanese lady used too dark themed music - all the stuff from the monster horror films of the thirties, powerful but dark, with costume of red and black I was picking up a vampire theme. I like the old video shots of the skaters from when they were kids and competing, makes it easier to understand how they can do the most beautiful perfection. I noted that Canadian women rule in Hockey - still.

I have finished reading the Richard Stark books, and I keep thinking he doesn't know as much about firearms as I do, then I think again and maybe I don't know anything about the guns in his book that he does. Still the stories flow well, they don't have to reflect reality. I have started a recent Mike Hammer, and it is too heavy, Mike is like me, way too old, but since he is carrying a Colt .45 with one in the chamber, six in the magazine, and the hammer down - he is set in his ways, really. And to think the author mentions that he has been competing in pistol shooting and winning awards and acclaim. From the little I glean from outside the competition among pistoleroes he doesn't take is competition tools to work. It did make me put range time with my heavier pistols on the schedule for today. From The Goliath By Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins: "... I worked the prison library, and all I did with my spare time was read. They usually didn't bother with loners like me." Ah, and I thought no one understood prison libraries, but the authors did. Thank them very much.

Last errant thought to nail up for consideration, my mother loves house buildings and plans and listening to people tell about their homes, so my sisters could explain their farms on FarmVille to her. I know they are busy, but everyone with time to waste on building virtual farms should have time to explain the reasons they put the Eiffel Tower on potential crop land, have a schoolhouse or a library, and such. They don't need to, I will add that stuff to my weekly letter this weekend.

Well, time for stuff that matters in my world, hope things are going very well in yours, literally, figuratively and virtually... have a really good one!

Thor's Day

Ever wonder if the germanic tribes had much influence on England beyond the change from Angle land to England? Of course not, just looking at the names of the days of the week, only one had a Latin beginning.

I am still working myself into sync with the new laptop, and it is exhausting, much easier to go exercise, jog or dig up dirt for future gardening. Much.

I wander the internet looking for stuff and find that one must DO SOMETHING to become a national celebrity, no hope for me - I don't admit to doing much, at least right now. One of my two friends was on National television, since the Olympics is next door, skiing is a passion and the camera caught their party having a fine time. It all matches my thought that sports should be about enjoying and lauding the efforts of the competitors -- not about money. Jenna Bush (Married name already forgotten) was the reporter - kind of cool.

Well, time to go and lick my wounds - helps in healing don't ya know?

The Real Rulers of Washington State took charge...

Today, against the wishes of the people, the Governor signed a bill overthrowing democracy in Washington State - she had been elected on the third re-count by King County so she knows how to rule. She needs money and can't convince the representatives of the people, by a two thirds vote to raise revenue. So she takes action to save the helpless of the state by raising taxes on them... we must all be helpless, they constantly do whatever they like in Olympia. So the only way to get back at them (the powers that would be) is to ride the gravy train of benefits for those that can't do it on their own (ALL of US) and don't work and buy stuff.

Since I am now on a fixed income I have become a steady customer of the tax advantage of the Post Exchange on Ft Lewis. not that there is much I need to buy. Watching local news one restaurant owner had to close two of his high end operations and let fifty employees go and find away around no smoking within twenty-five feet of the doorway to his public business. So he built a smoking lounge for his invited guests for cigar folks, and for five hundred a year he will provide quality storage. Doesn't he need some small business stimulus money? at least a tax advantage for still having a business open.

All the sunshine must have tempted the bikini barristas into fool stunts, like taking out the garbage in thong and pasties. Local news coverage couldn't find the guilty lass, but were asked to leave by lovely ladies wearing more and hoping for customers not news coverage. One local houseperson of the female gender (not being safe to assume housewife would suit her concept of self) did say that it was terrible that the children could see them working hard, in a non union shop, depending on customers with tips. The newsperson of the same gender did also think it was a bit too much, but then she only got one barista (at another Coffee stand) to talk to her on camera (and she put a Northface fleece jacket on to do the interview - although she made lattes with her normal attire on for the camera's recording) no children must watch the evening news?).

Oh, well, I know that I must become a better person, otherwise I will fatten up into someone that can't do all he wants to, nor even as much as he must. Bad enough being un-employed, but to become an un-employed obese person would be terrible - what would the Census think of me? I did hear that there is a school without teachers for next year, the School Board firing the lot of them, and that is okay with Washington DC, it isn't a Presidential election year. Maybe I could teach...

My father had a crystal radio set once...

now I am sitting at the German student desk typing a blog entry and sending it to Blogger Central - wirelessly. Well, maybe it was Ted Spain that had the crystal set, but for sure I am so far beyond my ability to build this laptop, I was barely able to find the information about my internet service and that I had all the connections to go wireless in my own home. And I know this is a sensitive keyboard combined with all the integrated ads for software and services I will never need nor use, nor want informed about. I will plod on.

MyCrow Economicks....

Putting papers away and I saw some numbers and thought:

I buy something for a hundred dollars in Pierce County, Washington, and pay $9.30 in sales tax, I paid with my Universal Credit card which I already have a balance due upon, and the APR for the privilege is 21.99%, which means another $21.99 cost to the something that in one year, maybe gathering dust somewhere in the home, where my mortgage rate was APR 4.75%. Now if I were smart enough to know that Lotto tickets aren't really a retirement investment, I should be smart enough to know credit cards are only to be used and paid off immediately, and still should be free (no annual fee), since the card company charges the business owner for each transaction and I paid that hidden charge, too.

But I probably need new brains for figuring that out when the BUY button is pressed in my programmed life of easy, sexy, hot and have to have.... humans are so simple.

I did well and then...

I thought I had control of my day, yesterday, and then my wife said kapshida and I switched into helpful mode, I hoped. It was good to surprise me with getting out and doing stuff. I dropped her off at the Madigan Child Development Center, and went to the Credit Union to deposit much of my IRAs and their growth. Talked to a lovely young lady (wearing an engagement and wedding band - and I never used to check) about how nice it is to save for the future, so it is there when one needs it, and how fast the future finds us -- READY or NOT, here it comes! Paid off my last automobile loan. Only one mortgage remains between me and the other five percent of America that aren't owned by their debts, but are owners of all they will.

I did eventually mail the letters and cards out, find the proper windshield wipers for her car, put them on, go shopping for a laptop computer, raise blackberries, have an A&W Rootbeer freeze, thought about stopping for a Mocha at a bikini bottomed Latte stand, Went to the Garden Center for fertilizer - no chicken manure found - bought an axe and a shovel, work gloves and spray attachment (I have duties, dreams and lots of good intentions). Then I parked and watched the kinder playing at the Center as I waited for my working wife. I was fine, I was in her car listening to the Blues from Sirus XM radio, and the Sun had been gracing us all day - the kids were far enough away that I couldn't hear them but the joy was in their running around the playground. Many of their parents are off in Afghanistan and Iraq - wish they were here, wish they were here. The children grow so quickly while one is away. I was always amazed as a young soldier returning from long times overseas - at how much the children grew, and how little the soap opera plots had changed while I had been gone doing great and grim things for the world.

I also accomplished finishing the filing of our income tax return, my wife's question is where is all that money we earned last year - my dear, it would take a life time to find it, let it go, let it go. Next years filing will be an even bigger adventure, keep good records now!

Dreams were of motorcycle trips, family and things unremembert, why can't I use a t instead of ed to make it past tense? It is slept, kept, lept, wept -- hmm, microsoft dictionary doesn't like lept - and it doesn't like microsoft either.

The only important thing about this morning, a boil burst on my forearm, and tons, okay maybe many grams of pus were expelt (expelled), I now have a crater that reminds me of Mount St. Helens, wash with warm water, swab gently with alcohol and slap a large bandage over the wound and potential future problem... I feel fine, but hope the body only needs my prayers and patience. My medical knowledge isn't curing much. But then I have always loved the story of Hugh Glass, which isn't a story as much as real Reality History. I do think the Arikara didn't like him much - I do think that.

Well, back to the life of Earl, since it isn't raining nor snowing I have ground to prepare for gardening.... turn that soil.

Time for breakfast been up since four ammmmm.

I did write a letter to my mother, didn't play on the computer, now the day awaits my attention, dreams were all military. Y'all be good out there, don't bump into me, just wave and call my name. If I am paying attention I will get to you, next.

Not that critical, but the motorcycle won...

Today I went riding after Church, the Sun was out, the sky so blue, Mount Rainier on the East, the Olympics in their ragged snow covered glory in the West and Earl on the Trusty Triumph. I mapped my route, for the dates from 21 June to 30 July, based on where I want to be and such, it is more flexible than it should be, but you know things happen

Down to the turn around and back at you...

One doesn't get to see oneself cruising away or coming back, unless one has a coach and form and technique gets one extra points - or you are an actor, or public speaker hoping to be ruler of all that were surveyed (votes are only survey results)... so I was interested in what would come from having my wife take the action shots - and she seemed to have some button pushing problems, or the battery got weak? Still this is kind of cool.

Not currently available? Hmm, wasn't that good anyway.

My wife videos Trusty & Earl departing...

Earl is the man in the full face helmet, smiling. We are still experimenting with the video stuff but I have seen the future and we can't keep up. I do like the reflector belt around the backpack, my wife likes the straightened right turn signal (thank you maintenance man - I hope you get most of that labor fee). The new windshield changed the sound of my helmet a bit, but it does very nicely in wind buffeting. I talked briefly to a Rocket III rider as he removed his coveralls - he has been up to 103 mph, but that bike is still too big for me - and that kind of speed is faster than this fellow would want to go while touching the Earth, flying faster would be just fine.

Can't see this one either, again, this was just a test.

If everyday becomes Saturday, when do I get a...

Friday night? You know, the first party night of the weekend.

I took the recommendation of Frank James and went to see The Book of Eli, one of those movies my wife would want to see only if I recommended it. Having seen it, enjoyed it mostly - the only thing is that you do really want to see it one more time for the reasons only revealed in its end - how does one miss so much, and then you realized you have been programmed to accept certain values and you don't see what you haven't been programmed to accept. Way to go Mister Washington, another fine movie and I noted who was producing it, it will give me much to think about.

Since I would have had to purchase a second ticket to watch it again, I left, you know the popcorn can cost more than the ticket? The more you eat the greater their profit, the more the State gets in revenue - go see more movies folks.

I was on the Trusty Triumph, brown leather jacket and short of a rifle - haven't figured out how to haul a rifle around, but I will. I went off to the local Triumph dealer for a windshield, the sales lady was talking way too much, but they do that to sell you stuff, they had what I wanted and I offered to test ride their machines while they worked on mine - but they weren't jumping on that one, sigh - I wouldn't have gone beyond the Harley-Davidson dealer's place. Tomorrow at two I will get it all taken care of, more preparation for life on the road. This is only a trip across the country, stopping frequently to smell the roses and say hello to people that are anchored in reality, their reality not mine and visit. Anyway, it was a great afternoon for the ride, except for all the cars in my way on their way to their Friday Night!

My assignment for this evening was to watch my wife's soap opera, the Merry Widows, so she would know what is going to happen next (she had her Bible Study Cell to visit). Since my choices were that or Smackdown, or NCIS I watched her show. Soap operas are culturally based, it wouldn't work on an American family, different rules about marriage and blood and honor in Asia.

One bothering thought about the movie, The Book of Eli, why are the shooters pandering to the writers racking a round into the chamber to set up a notch higher anticipation moment. I noted it three times, don't they have an already loaded firearm? I don't use a safety much, don't chamber a round unless I am preparing to shoot, but in places where I walked in Condition Red, there was never a racking a round into the chamber for effect, it was always pull the trigger and hit the target. There never is enough time in one's life to rewrite one's mistakes - if you can't do it right the first time no one is giving you a 'do over'. I became very adverse to making any noise in places where I expected to shoot other living creatures, now if I am just trying to make sure someone knows I am EARL and am not an ugly Ogre or Strange creature of darkest imagination - I would probably break into "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", that announces many things most of which no one needs to worry about.

Staying up too late for skating...

Past midnight in my home when we turned off the tape delayed Olympic coverage - and I could just get my passport and ride my Trusty Triumph North to see them myself, except Vancouver looks much too big for small town fellow like me. I suspect the silence I have listened for from one part of the Northwest would mean that someone went off to see for themselves. Kind of cool. I wake later in my morning, there were dreams of issuing .45s from the Arms Room, and I didn't need people getting in my way while I did it. That does date me a bit, although I carried a modern pistol, I don't own one and the Colt has been calling me for some attention and shooting. It starts as a frosty Friday here, clear brilliant blue skies hold no heat from yesterday's Sun, we will try again. It will be clear until Sunday, then cloudy but dry until Wednesday, when the rains will pour out the Pacific's future upon us. Plans for today, plans posting, map making, shopping at the Triumph dealers and appointment making and changing. Should I grow a beard again, maybe I should ask my wife - she has an opinion. The question in my mind about Daniel and other prophets is how all those faces got on the Heavenly beings they say they saw in their dreams, and then the flower pot produced a six blossomed bad boy. I think I have it.

Just in case, YOU Don't Believe In GW....

I went for my jog, didn't get any data, but it was about forty-four minutes. The picture is why the Canadians want more control over their weather conditions for the Olympics. They should be completely open by Saturday - and this is on the shady side of the house, and there was an ice skim on the bird bath this morning. This is February.

Wishlists, while jogging wish harder...

I was looking around and thinking of stuff I need, for various things I want to do - I want my sister to get a motorcycle and ride to Tennessee with me (her idea, but it is so right it got added to my list). I need a windshield for the Trusty Triumph, so I go shopping on line, I think I need a laptop with wireless access to keep contact with the Internet - I went through cigarette withdraw problems (nothing I needed medicine for, just getting rid of eight years of wasted Earl trying to be cool) no need to agonize over where the next chance to get on the internet is going to happen. I would tell you about my son's experience trying to contact someone special in Hawaii with lack of cell phone coverage and no internet cafes to visit while he and I were road tripping Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota - by the time we found Minnesota he was back in touch - but he wasn't happy about how primitive the Wild West was in June of 2004.

Of course, I must really only look hard at needs, it is true that after retirement the consumption drops off quickly. Although American Rifleman covered a fine long distance shooting tool made by Savage (I have told you that my Savage target rifle is excellent - single shot 22LR and all) I need one: Long Range Rifle well, that goes on the wishlist for after I win the Lotto, which is right on schedule for the day after I die and get to Heaven. Isn't everything a government conspiracy? Or shouldn't it be?

You know, at a hundred dollars for twenty rounds of ammunition, that would be the perfect rifle to take to the Boomershoot, but Deadmen don't really get to shoot there and I win the Lotto only after I get to Heaven. Running around the internet looking for dead snipers I found lovely things done by people that probably don't yodel, but their stereotype says they should. Thank you Stephen P. Halbrook, I will have to reserve judgment on Attorneys now.

Waking up to forever Saturdays...

Hmm, I thought it would be strange not getting a tie on daily, but I ironed all my work clothes - shirts and trousers - then hung them up in the closet and haven't worn any of them since, and I was thinking of cutting down the number of ties in the closet to just the ones I would potentially use, I could start dressing up for church, since I haven't been since I dressed up for work. I am going to wear more shorts around the house, I have time and it is there for my use, what to do with it?

I did look at some notebooks (nope) and laptops (likely) but although I really have the money I haven't a need yet - I am convinced it would be more interesting to stop at public libraries to post blogs from the road. Would anyone really know I was gone? Not an important question; some would note. some would not. If the Census ever gets around to counting the number of people that wouldn't know nor care would be awesome.

I would like to tell you I am getting stronger and faster and better looking every day, but it wouldn't be true. I am not into my fitness cycle yet - still fighting the Hibernation days of Winter - and it isn't the weather that makes one feel that way, just the extra weight and lack of foraging movements. My wife says don't play too many games on the computer - smart enough to qualify that so I can play one, once in awhile. Ever look into social networking? I am convinced that women are the people linking and men don't too much. Blogging and forums depend on what you are interested in and following, but Facebook convinces me that I don't miss much if I were never there. And no, I don't have any idea about the other things like U-tube, My Space, but then I don't even carry an iPod, cellphone, and still don't have a laptop and wireless service. When I was considering, recently, writing my mother letters like I once did - I didn't even think I was going backwards - she hasn't answered an email in forever, leaves no comments on any of my blog posts, and I wonder if she is just pretending to read the ones my sister gets for her on her laptop. I don't know, she would do anything to engage her visitors, I will have to check when I visit.

I have to start locking in my plans for 2010, now that almost every day is Saturday. On NBC, the Today show was coming live from the Olympic site, except I live in the same time zone as the Olympics and it wasn't that dark outside my windows - you don't think they assume we are stupid in the West, and it isn't important enough to have real live coverage? Nah, they bought every broadcast right to the games and then do such a poor job of showing the Olympics. I can't get anything on Korean or Canadian television covering the games and events, really. I haven't tried the Spanish but don't think it would be different. I shouldn't complain, it is only a couple of hours up the road and I have all these Saturdays to fill.

One great thing about Saturdays, I get to go on a longer jog before I worry about cutting the grass or cleaning the yard, if it warms up just a bit more the ladies will start coming out to play. It is 48 now, may get warmer with a little sunshine, and I have done my first part of the thirty reps of the basic three, time to hit the road, Jack! Will work on my Summer ride schedule 21 June departure from Spanaway, Washington returning around the 30th of July or so. I need to post a map and lay the route in -- always knowing that the best battle plans are destroyed by the first contact with the enemy - adapt and overcome.

Back from the gentle jog, more gentle than jog. I did find a shiny penny and a long legged blond that smiled at me or the man that wasn't behind me - she didn't laugh, three heart walkers out, lots of dogs confused by my greeting them like my long lost puppy. Was singin Onward Christian Soldiers to myself, the rhythm was right the words easy - taking so little thought. Time on the road 1hour1minute50seconds but who is counting? Oh, the Polar watch is counting. On to the second set of 30x3. Shooting anyone?

Retired enough, go to the National Parks!

I took myself off the computer and took my wife out to see Mount Rainier today, had a nice time and look forward to many more. We were asked to pay fifteen dollars for the car to enter the park, and then the lady asked if we were over sixty-two (this one I will claim proudly) I gave her a twenty and two ID cards and my wife and I have Lifetime Passes to the wonders of America's National Parks. Later as I wandered around I found they didn't really want me and my potential for violence - but by that time the vehicle and the terror were well inside the park enjoying the snow and wildlife and awesome views. The picture is of a poster in one of the windows of officialdom in the park. Sigh, and I thought that rule had changed, but I have been wrong before. Yes, this is February, but the wheels of justice are slow... and who could trust a newspaper to get it right?

Valentine's Day and I was dragged kicking and

screaming to so much foolishness. Okay everyone look up Proverbs 31, those that don't have to look it up because they know what it says can no longer play. Seems like the old married couples of my wife's church needed reminding, romancing and reflecting on being old married folks, I was invited for the potluck and supposed to absorb the good Baptist fun, sigh. They had a couple of games to play, as couples and we did, did well because she and I trust each other and don't have to speak to communicate.

It did get me to thinking, since 1 Timothy, chapter 3 was their guidance for being an upright man, but that is really about being a deacon more than husband. My version of what kind of man a woman should seek and find is:

Producer -- must work and make things: an increase of product my example was Jacob working for Laban increasing his flocks.

Provider -- must take his produce and provide for family and community, I like old Ruthless Boaz for that example.

Protector -- defends the community and his neighbors, and I like Abraham for that example, even trying to save sinful cities.

Partner -- willing to share life, in love and with trust - knowing that one is only part of the greater couple - Xerxes and Esther came to mind.

Parent -- There are lots of examples, but the one pair I like to look at is David and Bathsheba, and once one gets by all the folly and drama - they produce Solomon.

I have little idea of what women look for, there are biological imperatives and the current cultural ideals, but it also seems to me that in American media the idea that women don't need a man, that marriage isn't forever or can't be trusted to last, that one has to have sex without the reproduction, the whole system is doomed to failure if the current media's "everybody knows" is a guideline for success.

I do know that my opinion should not be taken as expert, especially about romance and women, I studied war and was lucky enough to find a woman that really loved two things about me - large nose and I kept my promises. Too many great years with the lovely lady - I don't know much but I sure do love my life and my wife.

It isn't really Winter everywhere...

Yeah, some of us lucky folks get to swim and play. Nice kid, real nice.

From inside the fence: a Nice Little Friday story

The other day, I asked the five CRCC library clerks: If life is a game of chess, which piece are you, and why? I thought their responses were interesting.

One said he doesn't play chess, so he doesn't know. One said he is the King, because the King just sits around all day doing nothing and everyone protects him. Another said he is the Queen because the Queen can go in any direction it wants. Another said he is the Knight because the Knight is strategic and can attack by surprise. And one said he is the pawn, because if I make it to the other side, I can be whatever I want.

Thanks to Mel!

Assistant Librarian
Washington State Library Institutional Library Services
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center
PO Box 769, Connell, WA 99326

Gray cold wet Winter got you down?

I am not really responsible for the beauty before you, I just opened the shutter, took the picture, cropped it, colored it and posted it. Still need nails, wood boards and a real reason to continue to build my stable on FarmVille, no time, must address real life this morning.

I got a cake, card and steak dinner out with my former girl friend (now my wife) and enjoyed my first evening of under employment terrifically - don't worry Obama, I will make sure I am counted in the Census and the Unemployment figures, just so you know. Now to look as good as my wife's indoor garden delights I have to exercise and sweat, why don't plants get fat? Life isn't fair, it is just awesome.

I can't convince my sister that a motorcycle momma is a great thing...

She is way too practical, but I think the motorcycle would be practical and enriching. If I weren't so old I would get myself one and ride across the country a couple of more times before I expire. Being twice as old as I feel and twice retired and cast off as useless extravagance by the ones in the know at the Office of the Secretary of State I have decided to find an appropriate ride for the person they saw burdening the State. I went shopping for a rocker for my front porch so I can watch the Sun pass me by, and the world drive into and out of their garage, the last walking couple having heart troubles with the male member of the pair. Anyway, I found the perfect ride for the front porch, most excellent craftsmanship and a wonder, just lovely. And if we were paying attention we would notice this isn't a government jobs program, I need to win that Lotto don't I? Nah, I should go visit and get sized for one, and think long and hard about it. One for the younger father and mothers out there, and storytime reading is demonstrated and worthy of note. Rock on! Thank you, Hal Taylor of Hartwood, Virginia.

You haven't seen the Eagles flying lately...

I have been looking, I loved watching the dawn patrol of a pair overflying the rocky beach at McNeil Island, flocks of birds would burst into the sky as fast as they could, not wanting to be slow, alone and so tempting and the eagles would ignore the foolish masses and continue their patrol. Now we have lots of ducks and flock flying beach birds, and the geese remain courting and nesting and hissing at humans too close.

Well, I am very relaxed, not much I can do about things and this morning I had a terrific idea, I should start a business for me and the first part is easy - define the need and design the organization to accomplish the solution. Yep, that started all kinds of wild flights of imagination, some very good ideas and they will survive and get built upon. Count was clear, but they then did picture card count, too many new faces coming in, too many leaving and so breakfast was delayed and the crew came in as they could and we started working. It was a productive day, I de-frosted the old refrigerator and watered the tree with ice and cold water. Because of all the stress of tomorrow being the end of employment for about twenty-five staff in the Library, the State Librarian had an eleven o'clock memorial to their memory - well, that was kind of what I thought it was sounding like - I was imagining the helmets on rifle butts with boots and Taps playing, I have seen them too often, and eleven is a magic number for remembering the dead and the end of war. So I wrote a pretty positive message, mentioning that I hadn't died, wishing everyone well and thanking them for the opportunity to serve and highlighting that those that never got to work in the institutions don't understand their importance, which is true of most real work, only the workers understand. It was well received and commented upon by many, piling on is what I call it, but it lifted some spirits.

I picked up some mail, mostly the new books for processing and a couple of papers and magazines. When the patrons came to browse I got a surprise - one of my thorns in my side (kind of) gave me a request and an Appreciation card, I am sure they get them from the Chapel, the printed message was: May the Lord always return to you the kind and thoughtful things you do. Thank You "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." JUDE 2 KJV

and he had written: "Earl, You've always been very helpful, and respected us all. I really appreciate all the years you dealt with the many questions, and library concerns I had. Even when you told me NO, you kept a smile on your face. Now you can be a full time NRA and a learning Democrat. Best wishes in the free world, you earned your release. Thank you, his name"

Many the political conversations, about the news, about his problems trying to keep up with his growing daughter, and her care and problems over these many, many years. I shook his hand, and several others saying their good-byes. May they only remember the best things about me and the library. I closed out the day with about thirty new arrivals to register, shipments in from a closing camp and regular rotation the biggest group I have ever had to register, and I made it - glad I use nine digits to type and don't look at the keyboard. Day done, I check and see my replacement will be coming on the 11 o'clock ferry tomorrow, we will sign over keys and I should be able to answer a few questions. Turn off the computer system, and the lights, lock the door and call it a night. Actually it is still daylight. I had light while walking to the dock this morning and I have light when I drive home, Summer is on the way.

As I walk the pier to the floating dock and the ferry back an eagle swoops over me in the direction I am going, as I notice and lift my head he does a hard left and flys off to a long branch on a tall tree hanging over a cliff, and watches over his domain. The Eagles are back, or it is a great sign, but it is all good.

Recommended reading...

I have just finished reading The Honour and The Shame : Bravery Has No Rules by John Kenneally VC, and he has gone on so there won't be a sequel, and since it is his autobiography and a true story it won't become a movie any time soon. First, this is the last book I check out from my library, my privileges expire on Friday, and I would have loved to have met this man back when, but then he is my father's generation. Well written. all the surprises are that he lived so long and so well with all his faults and a wonder that Britian doesn't still rule the world, but paying attention to the government demobilization and rationing long after the war's end I know that too much meddling was the problem and it has only increased. Off my soap box, the story is quick to read - for those that paid attention to WWII and know what Century it was central to... you should enjoy this refreshing tale from the point of view of someone that didn't think he was the most important person on the planet, but was doing the best he could when it counted. I didn't get to the pictures until after the end and was looking at a different man than I had imagined but when they are going to war, they all look so young, truly young. Hollywood makes you believe they are old, but seldom can they cast the soldiers with real actors, look at the extras - the paras in Saving Private Ryan were the correct age, all the squad with the mission were way too old. Old soldiers never die, they just write a story and fade away.

Well, I snapped yesterday...

They hit me about one every two minutes and the last one asked for me to take the magazines off my desk so they wouldn't get stolen. The man that asked me that was over forty, thinks he is mature but is not going to be a cop and tell another criminal not to steal a magazine from the library staff desk. I picked the magazines up, threw them into the workroom and told him it was stupid to worry about magazines being stolen by someone stupid enough to want to steal them.... then I closed the door on the library and went back to work, undisturbed. Bunch of babies and I need to get away from them. For some reason he actually thought that it would be my fault if someone else stole those magazines. Blame the victim for the acts of the criminal? It goes along with New York City deciding that it would be too dangerous to have the trial, take it somewhere else, we couldn't be responsible enough to provide an island of sanity and safety in the Hudson River - I might be expecting way too much, but they should try don't you think, not surrender to the forces of madness and evil? But then Bloomberg is in charge isn't he? Nevermind. I am closing the library this afternoon and riding to the sub-Capital for my final briefing on the darkness outside of the light of government employment, if nothing else I get a motorcycle ride out of it, a chance to stop at Cabela's or Fort Lewis. What I need are nails and wooden boards for building my stables on FarmVille on FaceBook - and since that is only virtual, I must need virtually nothing - blood pressure was 113/69 with the heart beat of 44 per minute, life is good then you're gone.

In the news, in my home anyway...

I run across the news that the North Koreans are flying off to China to talk to their elder brother about the coming 6 power talks - yeah, I know it isn't on your television - but SecState Hillary has her people on it. Anyway, as I watch the video and see the VIPs piling into Limos, I notice that the worth of Communism as an economic engine is plain to see. The limos are made by a Democracy (Germany) and a world famous Corporation (Mercedes). The jet aircraft they were unloading from looked French to me, but I looked it up and find out that it is made by Communist China - they make commercial jets? Yes, they do. My wife wonders why North Korea spends all its time making bombs, and I mention that no one would know they existed if they didn't make something more dangerous than the neighbors. Funny, Japan and Germany could make the biggest bombs in a couple months, but know the cost to the Nuke Club (Guns or Butter?) and get on with business. Iran doesn't have the same reason as North Korea to be a bully, they do have oil and goats, they also don't a real worried neighbors since America is defending Iraq and Afghanistan and there is always an Israeli hot button to push. Just give us a couple years of really bad diplomacy and we could have a very nice end to the economic problems of America. One Last World War, anyone?

It must be Springtime

Fog rules the Sound, and muffles my purring down the road on the Trusty Triumph, I think of 'little cats paws' and enjoy the cool dark quiet. While anxiously thinking that some of those other fools aren't running their lights and may be running the traffic lights, one does pay attention to more than the chance of falling over on the bikes, one must look for the drivers that never see little old me... I don't think Winter is done with us, but have seen geese flying North, the cry for Snow from British Colombia for the Olympics (please pray or just send this way). But our daffodils are on parade, will have to really work the beds later this year, but all my early morning falling out for formation and report in OCS at Fort Benning brought this picture into mind and I share. Just Remember, those flowers won't get out of the way when Winter snow returns, they will just bow down a bit and hope to rise again with the thaw. Must be a life moral to that picture and my post.

Well, I would tell you about the SuperBowl...

but I fell asleep during one touchdown drive and the NFL owns all the rights to words and pictures about that broadcast so we haven't anything to say they couldn't charge me for. For an old guy without a job in five days I should have paid attention to the Go Daddy.com commercials, but the President is happy with ten percent unemployment, the Governor thinks adding to the State's burden won't be noticed and there weren't any endearing commercials that I will remember tomorrow, since I don't remember any I want to share now -- what does that tell you about how far out of step with Mainstream Media I have become. Maybe I should hit the treadmill and get the calories burned a bit. Yeah, if you can't get invited to Miami to play the game, burn about forty minutes worth where one's at....

Sunday and the rain isn't enough...

Communion Sunday, the pastor speaks about supper and the original sin about eating forbidden fruit, he knew where he was going. After the service two cookies a cup of coffee and talking to my friend about one thing or another - he was looking at the stock market and the winner of the SuperBowl, something about 74% of the time it mattered. I have a motorcycle to ride and am not paying a lot of attention, but where to go? I could go visit my other friend, but it is SuperBowl and there might be a crowd there, or not there at all, and there are other places to ride my Trusty Triumph past the Harley-Davidson dealership, which I still do. Only serious travelers are riding bikes today, it does have the potential for soaking the unwary riders. Thick gray to almost black big bad clouds billowing across the sky, Mount Rainier is hiding. I take off to Ruston Way and cruise nicely, the sports bars will do very well today. One lone sailor on the water - about thirty-four footer with sails set and sailing, not a football fan? They are players not watchers, or they are picking the game up on satellite television? Sailors at play for sure. I am having a great ride and turn through the tunnel to Ruston and then make the right towards the home of one of the Corrections Officers that would spend some ferry ride time and visit me in the Library periodically. He talked about laying a lot of concrete every Summer and I could look at his place, he was cleaning his second story deck off when I rode up, he came down and invited me to park in the back and he would show me his place. He showed me the cottage he had built to live in while working on the house, his home and his antiques and the picture album of what they started with, a burned out home, to the beauty that they are living in now. The threshold of the cottage has the date 1983, so it has been a real journey - if he worked faster he could be a contractor, but he takes time and a lot of loving care and one home in a life time is plenty. A beautiful home, a real work of art - okay, craftsmanship (art is in the eye of the beholder).

So what is new, in the world?

Here it didn't really rain, so I drove the minivan to work and home, listening to the GPS tell me to turn left, and then recalculating. My wife is at Bible Study so I listen to the WORLD NEWS, and find out there is a terrible snow storm in the EAST, and still they don't blame Al Gore (but my sister, in North Carolina, said they had already closed the school for the day - morning email), there seems to be a need for the World to know that the Governor's wife is upset about her husband's romantic trip to Argentina, so she talked to Barbara Walters (who has written a book about all her own affairs) for later broadcast - thought I would pass on that one, there was a courts martial of two officers for having troops in danger - although I was sure that President Obama was Commander in Chief and had authorized the surge and continuing to support his objectives in Afghanistan, somebody has to fight and fighters don't always win, sometimes they do lose. Didn't anyone brief Obama that the Macedonians, British, Russians have all departed Afghanistan after covering themselves with gore and glory? He probably thought that Charlie Wilson chased the Russians out with our weapons, shouldn't believe everything that comes out of Hollywood, kind of like blaming the Soviets and Chinese Communists for arming the Vietnamese (they were serious about winning, weapons just helped). Is Obama serious about winning in Afghanistan? I don't think so. Oh, yeah, the Toyota CEO bowed and apologized for his company - and the Americans had to have that explained to them - they all want large tort claims or ritual suicide or both. Put your life in neutral, you are running it too fast. Person of the Week should have been memorable -- it was a woman wasn't it? Something about a movie maker, Hurt Locker? Should have stuck, Hurt Locker is on my list of movies to see or own. Speaking of women in the news.

Well I wasn't really, she was, but Farmer Frank did a nice write up about women shooting (Women and Guns, a New Perspective), and I ran across a fine story about a young lady that attended an Appleseed and is now working on teaching rifle marksmanship and American Heritage. I passed that on to one of my favorite working librarians since the young lady is also from Ohio (which is a bigger state than some folks think). Anyway, the point of this post is I am getting so much more of what I am living for from the wild and free Internet, and bloggers than the highly paid news corporations and talking heads. Thank you folks, you make life very worth living.

It is official AT&T is abandoning me, too...

So soon there will no longer be a wmearl@att.net. And my first web presense will disappear. William Earl Dungey , what was I thinking... It Evaporates with changes in their business models. cyberslain... so soon.

It's raining, it's pouring the T.Triumph is roaring...

It wasn't raining on Monday morning, just a damp road, so I rode. It was raining on Monday night, but I don't soak up water, so I rode. My wife had used my van on Monday, and I rode in the rain on Tuesday to meet my replacement, and show her the library. Still lightly raining in the evening and back I went, knowing that hot seaweed soup and coffee to wrap my dampened cool around would be waiting. Wet roads waiting for me Wednesday and the next big meeting with the Program Manager, the CUS, the incoming Library Keeper and myself would be at eleven - so I rode, straight to the dock and two dollar parking for the bike, and just made the ferry. Crew and inmate patrons are testing the new library lady - just like students in Junior High school when a substitute shows up, testing just testing. Those that knew her before stop and chat, she and the program manager work on her work schedule two libraries sixty miles apart, keeping both open each week. The local IT guru shows up and takes one of the online computers out of the office and library, leaving three library staff to share one computer - that won't work forever. But I will be alone again today, and only six more workdays await my attention. The meeting took place, no issues but lots of good exchange, the new schedule has been produced - starting the sixteenth (like you need to know) McNeil Island Corrections Center (Camp) branch library will be open from 11:30 AM to 7:45 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM on alternating Fridays. The other branch library has her attention on Monday, Thursday and alternated Fridays. She works hard and fast and lives between the two locations and this assignment has cut sixty commute miles off her normal day from where she has been working (listening to the mileage of commuters makes me wonder if this is California North sometimes). The crew is a bit disgruntled, she doesn't wait to want and start changes, and I am just smiling. The library will be open and will do well. I expect the entire crew to be gone by October, but she will be getting and training replacements, and there are some hidden former workers in the population that might come back to work for her.

I got a card of farewell and thanks from some of the reading club - there are several reading clubs - nothing formal but they have worked with me for more good stuff and sharing the news about books. But it is nice to have the card and thank you messages for my retirement, something to look at while sitting in that rocking chair on the porch. Damp this morning, the Trusty Triumph calls, needs fuel on the way to work, and the walk to the dock awaits to wake the memories of Spring in Pennsylvania woods (sylvania!) although I expect that real cold and snow will return before the end of March - just to remind us not to pay attention to Al Gore's fears and Nobel prize efforts. Only one thing to fear, really fear in life, all else is so much noise about nothing.

White Colors

And so before the yellow sun of spring

the white of snow does fly,

and winter seems to last too long,

still coming white from all the sky.

And snow of winter

covers all the grass so green

it makes a pretty view to see

and cautions white so keen;

but I like snow so well

for as a child I had none,

so I played snow games

with my children, I would run

and ride their sled to kingdom come,

And it was worth all the joy

to see my children play

each girl, each boy,

upon the snowy ground

and all my dreams

of all my winter's

full of whitening beams

Oh! That is true

No greater white it seems!

-- Melba Dungey

January 30, 2010

Good news, there is a plan for my replacement...

Yes, I know I am unique and can't really be replaced, but since I always thought my big effect on the library was opening the doors daily - I am glad to see there is someone coming to open the doors after my last day. The Last Days of Earl are now, yesterday I counted ten, today it is nine remaining. I haven't really counted down since the year in Vietnam, but I seem to be again.

I have been trying to send Fax reports on time, but I have trouble with one number at one building in the current time and space. When I asked if anyone else was having trouble with that number there were a few, most didn't, and everyone wanted to tell me that their fax was receiving. Logic told everyone where I was trying to reach that it must be Earl's problem, but go look at the machine and reset it - which they did and I still couldn't reach them, but I faxed otherwheres just to make my point - I exist and I was trying. Then I went home to stew about it and quiver in fear when I had more reports to fax on Monday. "Couldn't sleep at all last night!" going through my head.

Monday I show up, check my email, find it is my fault for sending reports to where they shouldn't go any longer, did start sending them again to the correct place, no joy. Same response, not only the Governor, the Deputy Secretary of State, the State Librarian and the Human Resourses gurus -- all think I am so off the A list, the Fax machine isn't accepting my calls either. Just to prove it was my fault I was told to fax other libraries, so I did and the mighty words, "If you receive this email LS" were printed in my fine block hand. Yes, they received them, and they emailed and still the Fax and all those fine folks above me are trying to work me into a frenzy. So, I backdoored the mission - adapt and overcome! I found someone on the inside that would work with me, truest weakness in all fortifications is the discontented, disloyal or very helpful person on the inside of the defense. I asked her to find me another Fax machine that didn't know me and my fax to call, and she did and I faxed and all six pages went through without a ripple, when the blade is pointed and the edges sharp it slides and glides through living material.

I may no longer be on the A list, and all, but I still have some ability to be dangerous in the world of my mind.

I rode the Trusty Triumph yesterday and watched the rains pour out all afternoon and evening, and damply rode home - yes, I was still smiling, it was only water and would dry away soon enough. At home I find leaving the minivan worked well for my wife, who had a magical problem (it disappears when confronted with the threat of male mechanics) and she used my ride to get to her work, the babies loved that but didn't even know. Her car worked for me and the husband that had been asked by his wife (my wife's friend) to look at it. Are we sure that machines still don't think? have a soul and feelings? What are those computer chips up to when we go off to sleep?

Disconnecting from the web... sticky thing isn't it?

Among my wife's fears is losing me to the Internet, or computer games. So my farm on FarmVille is now terminal, it was interesting but never real. No dog, no guns, no taxes, no weather -- I didn't do more than break the links on my side of the net, and same for the one on FaceBook, I was there and still am virtually, but consider my visiting dead. I have seen the farms of those that started but couldn't maintain an interest in FarmVille, the plants wither and do nothing, although the game will call your friends back to help you out, they are often too sad to visit.

I remember when I stopped online banking, it was when I couldn't log on, my password was blank as I typed it, I couldn't remember my high school name and I didn't want to go and ask at the bank to connect again. I was very secure in protections against my using my accounts, so I just went back to checks. That works pretty well for me, no complications in writing a check yet. Maybe I should get a real dog when I come back from my motorcycle trip.

Another item to disconnect from, email ads for Sales at Target, and many other businesses that I had purchased something from, turn them off one by one. Silence in the email boxes would be interesting.