My son is making sure he is ready...

Rohto Ironman 70.3 California He shipped his bike there, met his buddy, they looked or ran and biked over it, or are today and tomorrow - slowly of course. No hurry before the race, but you don't want to be lost or confused bad enough trying to stay hydrated and with energy to finish. Number 841 is his bib number, There do seem to be a lot of participants. Pretty place, but that is Southern California and they like to make dreams happen there.

The Xrays are here and the image is strange...

but then I don't really know what I am looking at. Looks like a balloon of something off the left side of the heart area, above the diaphragm, and I have no idea, but it was only a cloudiness last time it was rayed and now it seems to have form. Am giving them to the doctor tomorrow for him to look at and think about.

Rainy drizzle most of this day, gray skies, but I put some running shoes on and took off. Weight was 239.2 pounds this morning, blood pressure was 117/83 with a heart rate of 42 after reading more about King Saul and David. This fine jog lasted 48m11s, no money, waved at Postman Devone (once fine Howitzer Section Chief and then Gunnery Sergeant for the Charlie Cobras 2/319 AFAR). I was thinking I was going to be faster, but I wasn't just felt better on the run.

I was dressed in Dark Blue ballcap, red RWVA Instrutor sweatshirt, gray sweat pants. I do like the looks of the gray hounds that run so well on the other side of the fence from me. A speeding car blew my cap off into the ditch yesterday, disadvantage of wearing it bill forward - high speed winds do that.

I know you really mean well when you help them...

I mean we can be as wonderful a Country as President Carter thought we were, and we can convince the Rebels and the Evil One Man (or Woman) ruler to allow more Freedom and Democracy. But I give you examples of that policy of America being such an Exceptional Nation in its goodness, graciousness. No one read Blackhawk Down, no one studied the Vietnam Adventure?

It is true there were no American Forces involved in the Kwanju population census correction. But the Commander of ALL the FORCES in Korea was definitely an American, his only problem he didn't speak Korean, and wasn't a classmate of the Generals moving Korean troops in their Republic. Mr. President (Obama) you may want to defend the innnocent, but you will take responsibility for the deaths that follow your actions, and I don't think those wonderful Rebel forces know where they are going any more than you do. Even General George Washington didn't KNOW what the Congress was going to do, he had enough trouble getting pay, uniforms, food, ammunition and such from them -- and he had the British to beat, every once in awhile.

Yes, I am going to live as long as you are...

Thank you for asking. I know that I am not going to live one more day than the Lord allows. Now what I have done with all that time, I surely will have to answer for. Ah, procrastination - I just can't get it all done in time, can I?

So simple soul that I am, I give you a life hung upon the wall. Now I didn't grow up watching the Smurfs, but I thought they were mostly harmless but an interesting view of our world. So this Hunter Orange thing hangs upon my wall in several homes I have had, since about 1980 something. The Cookie Monster on top is my favorite Sesame Street character, for his love of cookies and being Blue and of few words, he is skateboarding because of my son's love of that sport. The Sun with the shades was discovered during a jog and I picked it up, don't know where the M&M Christmas thing came from, perhaps a fine gift. The candies are long gone, the fat remains? Had to have the paratrooper hanging from the chimney, I have been to St Mere and seen the bell tower, I never got hung up although I claim one tree and water landing of my many jumps, the Air Force only promises to get you close to the Drop Zone.

The quiet pensive fellow in the attic was me looking for treasures, some that I had stored but many attics were full of my grandparents' past, now it is in the storage unit somewhere. Watchman with lantern, angel not touching the earth or the floor, nurse with a needle, took my final flu shot in 1994, haven't had one since and don't think I have had the flu since either. Papa Smurf in Red for Christmas? Papa Smurf as Captain with spyglass, Cream sickle (yeah, that one is me!). Soccer, son and I played - I badly but I had enthusiasm. Brushing the teeth, something I didn't do well enough. Policeman, a Bobby actually. Candlelight to bed. Purple robes for graduation and briefcase for off to work to pay for it. Linus, can't play the piano, but do love the blanket. Torch bearer, pirate (once thought they were so cool, I was so wrong), Smurf cookie lover - still Blue! School bound with backpack of books. True Love, or Cupid in Blue. Savage of otherness, I always liked spear chuckers - the sword has only one real use the spear is better for peaceful pursuits, like leaning upon while resting. Mandatory Cowboy, for my real youth and as an important myth of America. Painter, I like to think I was gifted that way. Rolling pin, my mother and wife and making pie crust, and sugar cookies and smiles in my memory and heart. Karate Gi has meaning, too. Hiker, oh yes, one of the great social things in Germany, Volksmarching. Writing - before bloggin? oh, yeah, quill pens. German Postman. Snoopy as WWI flying ace! Mermaid, you do believe in mermaids don't you? Lass graduating from High School, one of Harry Potters flying tormentors (found on another jog). Another drummer! And English Olympic torch bearer. Smiley face compressed, still smiling. Conductor about to begin. Smurf boy checking to see if his nose is really too long. I think the Smurfette is missing a writing instrument. Just below her is a shark about to be beaten down by Smurf with major mallet. Found the shark (it is only a half of one) on a jog. The little fuzzy fellow from Star Wars was found forgotten along the road. The Smurf leaning on his shovel was from a Washington State pothole crew, the hole is still there. BARBIE! Baby! What is so plastic about many American women is there, in plastic. I don't blame Barbie so much as guys like me drooling over HOT. No, it isn't really me drooling, that is me laughing at such foolishness. Ever see the costume makeup for theater in Asia? Can't see the beauty of the people underneath, but you do get the story faster. Cooky with the clean spoon and the overflowing pan of goodness. The lovely ballerina. Under her is the Irish Smurf, hurling is a sport, better have good legs. Sometimes I think that Lacrosse and hurling had a common starter game, but then Atlantis sunk. The boy Smurf with the money bag is from Britain - since that is a Royal Treasury arrowhead. A Smurf Soldier - with halberd, almost a spear but better for fighting than leaning upon, great for striking fear. And last one of those newer cartoon characters from Asia that I don't know about, but found along the road waiting for someone to pick him up and save him. Dusting is needed, my grandmother would have shaken her head.

Maybe he was nineteen until Leyete...

Run across by my sister in Dad's papers, saved from house fire and several moves and life changes The Ancient Order of the Deep. Hmm, Dad was in the Power Squadron, maybe this had to do with that. I mean he knew Coast Guard guys from that.

Wrong! So looking up the USS Arthur Middleton
by the time I get done reading that, I continue to have greater appreciation for the floating storage units that had to accompany all these great invasion fleets. And from the log, for my father to have been there on 2 October 1944, he would have been going to Manus Island. Maybe? Never got that story either, but they did a lot of loading and unloading and practicing beach landings and such.

One story shared with the family by my mother, was because of censoring of letters my father couldn't write that they were going to land on the Philippines. So he mentioned the band that had played, and maybe marched in Albert Lea, Minnesota sometime before he left home. The band had been from the Philippines.

Never Nineteen...

My mother loved her nineteenth year - and my father said he was never nineteen. He was drafted and sent to win the war, which he did along with many others, and wanted to get back home and back to living in Liberty, which he had a much deeper appreciation of for his time away.

He kept the M1 bayonet, pistol belt, Japanese Army sabre, some letters and his Ike jacket with patches - and the memories. The last he didn't share much, with me at all until I came back from Vietnam. He was an American farm boy, which meant he could do anything to raise a crop with little or nothing. The US Army in its wisdom trained him to be a combat engineer - and he built things for much of his remaining life so it must have fit him. When he couldn't fly for money (heart attack) he went back to heavy equipment operator skills. His war started after high school graduation. That Senior year he had held a full time shift at the meat packing plant in town, school load and interest in friends and family, his brother was in Africa. His grades weren't that good. He had a major pile up with motorcycles and a bridge that got him to help evacuate the worst wounded riders - and then he collapsed and went into the hospital a bit longer than they did. His admonishment to me as I went off to join the US Army, "You aren't going to like it." and he was right, someone else had total control of Earl and I hadn't been built that way. Probably happened to him, too. He wanted to fly, but had color blindness and didn't know he might have gotten a waiver.

He got the Pacific Theater and early shared memory was that canned pineapple wasn't as good as the real fresh stuff. His first campaign was the Battle of Leyete. Memory shared after my tour in Vietnam, the beach landing was quiet and mostly unopposed, and when night fell upon them, the Japanese did also and they were mostly mad. Early memory shared was of his personal opinion that General Douglas MacArthur wasn't worth the note, and that Dad and many thousands more were on the beach long before he returned for his photo opportunity. Memory shared with my mother was that he had to work under lights and Japanese fire because an officer said that was the way he wanted it done (my father didn't object to the work, or the underfire so much as the attitude and reasoning of the officer). If I were to guess, he was probably with the beach support unit that constructed the stuff to make supplies flow to the troops going inland on the continuing attack - I don't know that, it isn't really clear.

His second campaign was in Okinawa, early shared memory was that he got a jeep and rode out on a mission and visited his cousin Lee Dungey that was in the Marines at the time. Lee was busy and didn't remember it as well as my Dad did, but I am sure it happened while my father was doing something for the Army units. After my war, he talked about April Fools day and Easter and watching the fleet and the attack. Later he talked about the Kamikazi attacks on the shipping still unloading. Some impressions never go away.

I was returned from nineteen months of my first Korean tour, in love and still young and foolish and still didn't know that my father had finished his Pacific tour in Inchon harbor (Korea Liberated!) clearing it and being the Democratic Capitalist presence that kept the Russians north of the 38th Parallel until they could get their wonderful Communist Party established for future unification of the Korean people under the wonders of Stalin's Soviet Stability. He shared that even being from Minnesota and a farmboy, he had never been as cold as he was in Korea. NEVER! He talked about big fires built of fuel cans filled with trash lumber and too many wanting to share the warmth and just still not warm. We took him and my mother to Inchon when they came to visit us in Korea on my last tour there, and he was amazed at the difference in everything, the enterprise and the energy and the fact nothing in the harbor looked the same except the tides.

He returned from the war with his memories and an M1 Carbine in his duffle bag, when he got close enough to landing he started to worry a bit about having it. Saw an Amnesty box and dumped the carbine and did what he wanted to do more than keep the gun, get home to his family and friends. He seemed to have had his priorities right. Years later as I am retiring from the US Army we are on the way to separate at Fort Lewis, Washington, and my father shares a bit more of his military life. Why were we going to Washington? It rains all the time there and is constantly gray, this from his time going through there during the war. When he came to visit in August 1995, having driven across the country from Pennsylvania, visiting family and friends along the way, it was Sunny and Blue skies beautiful. He was happy that we were happy and in our home.

Weather Channel is flying high again...

Well, do you gamble? That is when you bet something you can't afford to lose to gain something Chance, Luck, or divine intervention believes you deserve... if you can afford to lose it, it isn't gambling it is a gift and don't expect to be thanked for it. Just mentioned that, because I have had enough money to buy Lotto tickets for a long time, so I have always considered it a gift to the State Revenue collectors. Just might have a chance of winning, you know. But you have to be optimistic about your chances and what you would do if you won. Aside from finding out all the friends and family (very extended probably) and all the professional charities that are sure you have more than you need and could contribute to their causes, you will certainly give a large portion to government revenue collection agencies. I once amused myself as I jogged thinking of all the ways I could use found money - you think I wouldn't have walked off with the cash and fancy pistol found at a crime scene in "No Country for Old Men"? Yes I would have, but I would have washed all the money and put it in a dryer. Anyway, I have stopped buying Lotto tickets, no longer having an expectation of wonderful things happening because of the government picking my numbers. There are tons of wonderful things in my life, none of them came from the government except in direct compensation for working for them. Often in places that the Ruling Elite didn't want to go or send their sons and daughters. Yeah, prison libraries count. Library nightmares are so much better the battlefields, and the military hangover.

But that came to mind as I look at the current home maintenance problems, many things I left to get done later - things I didn't know were happening - more skills in destroying than fixing - and as my wife mentioned, I have said I was going to do some things and it is already almost ten years later (I want to think it hasn't been that long, but it may have been) they are so still undone. And then I look at the TaxedEnoughAlready Party, the Republicans that embraced them for the votes (in certain states), the Democrats and they are all promising things for the future, but not understanding how it will be paid for. We are a Christian nation, and we feel guilty if we don't help those that need, we are a White nation and think others aren't as good or capable (I didn't mention that some things we think are SOOO Wrong), and we are all dreamers - really. So we expect our Government to do everything, well and always for the better future. Makes it so easy for the fast talkers to make us build football stadiums, destroy old ones and build newer and better ones. Why? oh, I covered that 'dreamers'. To fight wars that we have overwhelming superiority, that we can't afford, for saving hundreds of thousands of innocent rebellious civilians with weapons (Serbia-Kosovo, Libya) and ignore the deaths of millions (Cambodia - Dafur). If you wonder about if we should be there, Bill O'Reilly thinks "If America is, indeed, a noble country" then it has to save those that can't save themselves. Does it follow that I, being a noble human being, must save the unfortunate in Waco, Texas or Ruby Ridge when the Powers That Be get out of control? I gave my cellphone to call 911 for a wife having problems with her husband, the government has ruined one of the best families on the block, retired a working law enforcement officer, and just came in like an elephant making lace...

The government had its warning when the Bush Junior financial meltdown started, it was handled wrong by him and his successor President Obama, Barack is such a great Old Testament name or Arabic name. Having seen what wonders of self control and deliberate thought are being exhibited by the government in all its goodness, I have little optimism about the future of America. I do believe in the hard working, God fearing people of America, I believe in family, I believe in Love and for that I have much hope in their future. The whole mess is going to be swept up in chaos, and those that I believe in will do like the Japanese this week, they will do the best they can to clean up, rebuild better and get back to living normally as before the interruption. Many of the dead will be forgotten and never found, many of the great and very small ones will never be forgotten. In Japan even if unknown, they will be remembered and the time they departed, they do that there.

If you have forty years to live, you think one way, if you have four months to live you live another. Governments maybe should have to die annually or such, with all their debts and such paid off? That might be an idea whose time has come? If you leave office with a debt owed by your government you go to Government Debtors Prison to work it off. (GDP?) As I have stopped telling my wife "You are going to miss me when I am gone." So will those just feeding at the trough, they will have to go Feral

Read Day by Day by Chris Muir...

Hope I spelled that right, any way, current story line - the old guy is off on adventure in Afghanistan and is now missing in action, Russian helicopter crash or something similar. His wife, mother of twins, is home and possibly pregnant, surrounded by well meaning liberal ladies.

Ah, and is the husband MIA going to come back, or not? I read fantasy and science fiction (real world is too bland or ugly?) and I picked up "Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin. It was the beginning of a series and great story, and ADULT! Yes, there is sex in it, not enough to arousal but enough to know why it happened. What was adult about it, the main hero type was executed coldly and suddenly and I was as surprised as the characters in the story, except for the ones that knew they were going to do it. Shock! How could an author do something like that? I recommended it to everyone, and there are four books out now, and in his most recent he actually took and started telling the story from Kingslayer's side, a bad man. I stopped recommending the series - seems the Author got caught up in merchandizing and his other passions and won't ever finish the three other books he said would wrap it up. Seeing in real life the best authors also pass away - I don't figure he will come back in time. I can hope, but don't really expect it.

Back to the old guy missing in the mountains - I identify a bit with him, what he does best, what he does when he isn't doing his best, and many other things - I am older, really. But I wonder if this cartoonist could actually kill off one of his creations - making this an adult comic. I wouldn't want it, but then I want all our service people to come back from the foolish fury, alive and whole - a very adult attitude. It isn't a movie, the real heroes are the ones defending the bridge, but they normally die doing it saving the tribe from annihilation. when reading the Wiki post I noticed that those that hadn't been there, who want to be known for something have said it didn't happen that way, wasn't the truth and such. Yeah, not understanding that those things that are honorable, noble and divine are so above the petty little people crying out against them.

Japanese, heroes, far flung troops, those petty little people flinging stuff at the people watching them at the zoo.... don't kill the old guy off, I would be there for the bold breasted babes, and my wife would object.

Just thought you should know...

I figure I am unraveling, just like my favorite, worn way too much sweater. Don't worry, be happy. I will not be posting as much here as I should. I will do my thinking and recording my progress on another blog. I have sixty some excess pounds to pound off, and I must get out the door and down the road for my mind as well as the body. Trust in the LORD, He makes all things and all things possible. Amen

You don't trust the MSM? well, I like this for many...

reasons. Like I understand what the Experts are saying.

Lucky you, I get Canadian Broadcasting...

Manbridge One on One, today interviewing the author of Triumph at Kapyong. Timely, it will be the sixtieth anniversary of the battle. Must be a nice group of guys, even if most of them were Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, what a name! Going to have to get the book from the Library, Kapyong, Korea. Aren't you glad the internet is really international?

Yep, my choices of subject were the 18th Birthday of WR, but she is on the range with her family doing Appleseed in Lewiston, Idaho, or so I think. I wished her well on two social networks, do you remember eighteen? When I turned such, I had draft registration only, no drinking, no voting... life was simpler.

Or I could tell you that I have gotten to the extreme point of having to move buttons on my jacket (that once I moved because I was thinner than it) back to where I still look fat but can at least close the jacket so it is more difficult to reach my firearm. I was carrying in church, my wife is working the kitchen this afternoon, so she gave me a purse to carry. Gucci? it is a fake with logo knockoff, but the men didn't worry about me carrying a purse, except one of them. One mentioned that he hadn't noticed I was carrying. Now the truth is the bag had two Bibles inside of it, and a pen. But I think it looks like a purse. I still like the idea of a bag, put pistol inside, grenades, flares, all kinds of plastic credit cards, passport, dollars and stuff! But then I would still be carrying the Bible. Think about that, in some countries they treat people carrying a Bible the same way Illinois Law Enforcement Officers treat people carrying pistols? I could get a two-fer there, couldn't I? Well, back to research on the state of war against the EVIL guy in charge in Libya. 10 Billion in gold to pay his army with, all America has is Iou's bought by Chinese Communists and other capitalist investors.

So how do you know it is almost Spring?

Other folks are shooting in Lewiston, Idaho and I am stuck cutting down the swamp grass and mushing the mole tunnels in my yard, in preparation for tonight's Ladies Bible Study. Ah, I should not complain, I will get to eat so well. But I could have flown to Hawaii, or gone to Idaho shooting pictures or something... Men and women are different. They do need to find someone of the opposite nature and pair up. Now, this is where Earl gets in trouble, as a generality: Men have more risk tolerance - willing to go beyond comfort more often than women. Women are much better able to ponder the what-ifs, as a team it works well for a future. When one dominates the pair the swing goes one way or another, and that is sad. Balance is besser.

Permanent press, drip dry, and wrinkle free!

Part of the every day is Saturday except Sunday, is no hurry to press one's shirts - although I remember long ago when the idea of a shirt needing ironing because of a leap of technology was laughable. So as part of my clean up for guests is also getting the shirts out of the clean laundry basket, I did the pillow cases, too.

Now I cannot watch television, being anti-botherME mostly, disgusted by commmercials and network news, so being a long time casualty of Vietnam and anti-war foolishness I popped "Go Tell The Spartans" 1978 into the VCR and ironed away. I do think Burt Lancaster does very well in last ditch efforts against the tide of terror. This movie and Zulu Dawn are very similar - And then he did Atlantic City (which I don't own because it isn't about war, so broken am I). I have my core Vietnam War films, this one is one of my favorites - too much truth in it. As I watched and enjoyed the story I knocked out some shirts and now to the computer cave for more cleaning and organizing. Stuff, too much stuff...

I think I have had enough, the radiation is here....

I turned off the news, nice thing about newspapers you could start fires with them when you had had enough, and some of those folks could really write and the cartoons were worthy. But the Lybia concern, and Japan can't handle the situation just drive me off - those people (both countries) need some assistance, but they have the guts, intelligence and investment to get it done right. It is probably healthier to visit the internet than the Main Stream Media. Anyway, recommended site from MIT is THIS ONE, from college scholars. It doesn't seem to have partying coeds, but does give you a nicely written update for those of us that aren't smart, nor rich enough to go there for school. I wonder, do they have a competition rifle team? Yes, they do! AWESOME. From the colony that brought you Thanksgiving and the beginning battles of the Revolutionary War (Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775) is one of the best schools and they Shoot! See, I am smiling, there is something there besides Harvard. Which has a shooting team, but I hope it doesn't shoot like the title background shows... of course it doesn't. They could use some Appleseed help, really get into it.

It isn't all green today, just Evergreen with rains...

I am late, but all you caged drivers out there, watch out for the little folks (and some pretty big ones) on two and three wheels. Turn in the ones riding crazy, but don't roll over the rest of us. Thank you, this public service announcement was from Earl and his Trusty Triumph with the Blue Battery.

Saint Patrick's Day, actually and virtually...

Ah, yes, thought I would mention it. Get in the spirit and such. My profile pictures are a rip off of the Irish costume from FarmVille, this picture is from my finished Leprechaun Cottage (that tree house extraordiare!) my younger, thinner avatar me, Rascal and Tuffy and our Dexter cow, that really chews something, the chicken I am sorry about, but game designers have no soul. Take care out there, and what is all this about the Luck of the Irish - must have been said by some English monarch.

I don't want to bother anyone...

So as I ate my oatmeal this morning, I watched the Weather Channel report on the Earthquake Disaster in Japan. That's right, the reason there is STILL RAIN in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and uppity California is that there was an accident in Japan with the nuclear power plants, explosions and meltdowns and venting gasses... and no, don't believe me because I am only looking for attention, I really only knew how to deliver tactical nuclear weapons upon targets of opportunity.

I am on facebook, ninety-nine friends that I don't really want to bother. Although the FarmVille game I keep playing (personal sandbox with toys to move around and make stories up about) encourages me to SHARE with my fellow FarmVille players - that is a good thing (about eight strong players as my neighbors) the other ninety-one folks must turn off FarmVille posts on their end in order not to be cluttered with me finding gold nuggets or needing fertilizer (if I report it, the first people that react to my report will often be instantly rewarded). Often I will go about my day on the farm without sharing any Wonderful News about how wonderful I am, which doesn't help my neighbors much. This seems to be the first time I am way ahead of Patsy in collecting anything (I always suppose she has at least sixty neighbors she has tons of stuff and collects so much faster than I) I have more gold in my Pot o'Gold (Irish theme until we switch to SPRING stuff, which we are). They don't do real Christian stuff (the internet is International you know), so instead of Easter Baskets you have Spring baskets, instead of Christmas trees you have tinsel trees. And all the town buildings you want except a small church or chapel, I grabbed some ruins that looked like an abandoned church that was the best I could do. Conspicuous consumption is encouraged, extra stuff - I like plants trees and forests, there aren't in my farm enough evergreens but the season is always now on the farm.

I don't like to bother people, so I don't call if I am needing a ride from the airport, or shelter for the night. If I come to your place too early or too late I will go away and sleep in the parking lot at the mall or on a rest stop picnic table or the grass outside your home until someone wakes up (not thinking nor having experienced fire ants - that was a fool thing to do). When I went back to the hospital for a follow up, as the PA had instructed me to, a medic looked at my paperwork and said 'well you don't have to return if there isn't a problem' so I told him I would leave if he thought I should. He changed his mind and said 'no, stay'. But I didn't want to bother anyone, don't want to be where I am not wanted nor needed. You wouldn't find me in the chambers of government in Wisconsin protesting much. I don't visit the Army Hospital much, they have more important people to care for than I.

Speaking of caring for, I had best get to working between rain bursts on the yard, my wife is hosting the Ladies' Bible Study Saturday and we have to look better. Hopeless here...

Oh, I forgot what brought this post on... sorry, didn't want to bother you. The Weather Channel Reporter, flown to Japan at great cost that is adding nothing to the search for missing and dead, to cleaning up the trash, repairing water mains, gas mains or bringing needed fuel for cooking, vehicles or just warmth in the night. Well, that was the point of my post, I am not giving you color commentary from near the earthquake,tusnami wrecked zone while staying in Western comfort level hotels near the shopping district. I do know that there are lots of real search and rescue folks out, military, volunteers and such doing the best they can as fast as they can, now if they would just get that camera man out of the way of that person on the back board that has just been found.

I have to confess...

I am not a nice guy. Good got that out of the way. Many things are happening in the world, and now that ABC and other networks, to include FOX have told me that there is a meltdown happening in the Japanese power plants, I am not taking anymore chances on dying slowly of radiation poisoning. I am going to stop taking my medications and die quick. It won't be long now.

For those that haven't been following real science, engineering or trusting the Japanese to do the right thing and only having one source for your panic, I will share a fine little blog from a man I had dinner with. In Sanity

The power plants are a distraction, the earth is unstable and needs fixing, no more large earthquakes, even small ones -- stop them now. When this is over, the dead counted, more will have died by water and things falling down than radiation. As soon as the MSM and the Xperts get Global Warming (now Climate Change) adjusted properly I want them to stablize the Mantle and those floating plates. I could get hurt.

Okay, it is still raining in Washington State...

and still reigning in Washington, DC. So there really is no longer a real reason for Daylight Savings Time. But we still suffer it quietly - are there any other bad policies coming from Washington DC? No, good, or you missed something.

No problem, I mean, there are Somali Pirates that seem to be immune from PRIVATEERS with letters of Marque to recover stolen vessels and crews. Just an idea that would work, giving the pirates North Korean counterfiet American money for ransom payment would also.

You can tell my thinking isn't on, want to blame something but can't put my finger on it. I am going to blame my medications. That should protect me from prosecution. The Arizona shooter hasn't been tried yet - do you all wonder if he is guilty? or just that he isn't in the news now.

QOTD "But I think I will make sure I have enough duct tape." Dr. J. E. Pournelle

The End of the WORLD. Biblical references abound, but if we can't get simple things like the Ten Commandments, or the Greatest Commandment, how can you be ready for it?

My wife's church is shaking, has been for awhile and will be for a bit more time. We go back this afternoon to hear the new pastor's vision, he will speak too long but I will think of change as I wait to see what his vision has.

Appleseed has had some great meetings of minds yesterday, more tomorrow, and may not go into meltdown, or may. Humans put lots of emotion into their passions - seems to be the way of our life.

In Japan they are working on recovery, they will do well. I looked up what Doctor Pournelle had to say about it, being a scientist and writer he has contacts outside the mainstream media. Remember, MSM, only wants viewers for selling commercial space on their networks, honest.


Later edit: The wife's church is going from Isaiah 60 v1-3, to Isaiah 61 v1-3. Okay, my wife's comment to me "Money, money, money all they talk about is money." I was listening to the translation in English, money didn't come through that loudly.

I am going to work on my own End of my world. I have to dig a grave (which when Mount Rainer blows won't matter a bit but I will have done better than building a retaining wall to hold it off, or drilled a hole for a LARGE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE). I will have to update the will for my wife's ease of the estate (such little piles of money, large boxes of Earl's junk). And continue to give away the stuff I really have way too much of.

INstant Communication, sticks with you how long...

Okay, the earthquake moved from New Zealand to Japan and continues to send shockwaves across the ocean, 500 mph that is never the speed of the water, that is the speed of the wave. So my wife wonders about Hawaii, I have to call my son and find out. So I get out my trusty cell phone, turn it on (no, I don't leave it on, don't check messages, don't want to bother folks so it is normally OFF). The system works as needed and I talk to my son, find out things are fine where they are, Maui and the Big Island had some effects. He is in Honolulu. My wife listens and is pleased that everyone is fine. Every disaster on television is more evidence to her that the End of the World is at hand.

The picture of my parents, as they started life together shows people I would never meet. Oh, I lived with, was raised by, loved and tolerated by, and made them proud occasionally, but the people in this picture were so much younger in every respect from my parents. They have departed, gone on to join the long line of ancestors that walked before, yet pieces of them stay - parts of my siblings' faces, mannerisms, views of life love and liberty. My father had exactly the same problem I did as a young married man, when he had a real terrible argument with his wife she couldn't go back to her parents until it cooled off. They were in South America, mine had hers in Korea -- so I guess he and I did the best we could with women that were as strong in what they believed as we were in what we believed. The rumbles were often heard, but the shock waves never did the destruction I have seen elsewhere. One of my long time ago friends came by one day, said he had lived on the same street with his wife, gone to school with her, dated and courted and until they were married and had tried to live in the same house he had no idea she was that way. I never asked, I only thought the wonder of the world is all the surprises along the journey.

The important conversations stick with you long after a moment when time stopped, the quick chatty text or voice or email, touches you but is almost instantly gone...

More signs of Spring...

The dairy ladies came by, knocking on my door. I answered without my shotgun, semi-auto rifles or pistols. They were very nice, offering: fresh, local, all natural dairy products delivered to my door, minimum order five dollars. I would give you their number or webpage but it is a local thing. Smith Brothers (didn't they make cough drops?) Farms. I kept the stuff, they did give me a sample of chocolate and two percent milk in a half pint cartons. They do sell other stuff, not all natural, chocolate milk always has sugar. Out of Kent, hadn't seen their truck in this area at all, but since the development we live in didn't exist sixteen years ago and they have been in business ninety years the old horses may have never done this route.

Which reminds me of one of the stories about my grandfather Will Dungey, he was one of the first folks to get an automobile in his area, Iowa at the time I believe, and was often praised for being a trend setter. But everyone knew he liked to tinker and make things work mechanically but the reason I mention this was his opinion of the utility of it against the horse and buggy. *Well, I could drop the reins and the
horse would still find his way back to the barn. Can't do that with an automobile."
Why did grandma blush when he said that?

Someone found me, to get in contact with my wife, through facebook, I guess NCIS will know where I am when they want me. My wife is happily talking to the lady from Northern Virginia (Alexandria area).

I went out and did some stuff, need to check the mail, but the gusts have been tearing limbs off of trees and slamming trees down with the rain, which goes from pleasant shower to thumping lumps of water, to SUN breaks! Which my wife's indoor gardening appreciate, they haven't gotten anywhere near their limit on sunshine yet.

How do you tell you are in a old couple's home?

Well, they are watching the weather channel, no matter what the worry is, the music is pleasant and they know what waits outside their door. Back to Tim Conway's tottering ol' man shuffle folks. My wife is feeling better, her dreams last night were of losing her car I wondered if it was in a super sized parking lot at the other end of a mall. Found food for the hungry on the porch this morning, one of her church lady friends had come by and dropped it off. We probably didn't hear the doorbell or it was later than we were up, she has been doing some very heavy sleeping.

Do you like the picture? I decided that would make a great refrigerator magnet, so I asked if they had one for sale - nope. Okay, they will let me use the picture, and I have it now to FedEx (Kinkos) for them to transform that into a four by four cool thing to spread about the world of Earl, small world that it is it is all mine to play in. I changed my sign in a bit on the Appleseed forum. I once had "In Love and Liberty abide." but really what I meant and it says now "In the Lord's Love and Liberty abide."

I had an email from my son and my response to a part of it proudly announced I had four good road workouts last week, pride coming before the fall. This week I will have three visits to trained medical personnel, sigh. I thought I could get away with two, and I know I can change the bloody bandages or my also medically trained wife could if she weren't ill. My father was right, both parts of the pair shouldn't be ill at the same time. Anyway, after getting a really cool visit at the Army Hospital yesterday (they still call me Sergeant Major like I deserved it) I got a telephone call about my x-ray and needing more professional evaluation. Well, I don't do cancer so I will be interested in finding out what more professional evaluations will tell me about Earl that I may not want to know.

One only gets so much time in life, and there are only so many things one has done that they can look back on and be really stand up and testify proudly about. I have a couple. Back to procrastination and reading David Weber.

Yes, it is still raining in Washington... glad you asked.

Numbers, saw three ovals with numbers on them on the back of a vehicle as I drove away from the hospital this morning. 26.2, 70.3 and some other that I didn't catch because I was driving and had to pay attention, you know how old guys get.

I smiled, thinking of the young person (they are all young) displaying his (or her) passions to the KNOWing viewers out there. Since the bottom one was the 26.2 I was clued into the other two, and thanks to my son's amazing life I actually know what 70.3 means. There isn't only hope for the better future, there are signs of real promise and like the daffodils all over if you know where to look. It is coming.

No, I am going to lay down and read my David Weber and hope I continue to heal, my wife heals and y'all are happy. Google can provide all your answers if you aren't IN THE KNOW about those numbers.

edited: I don't know the other number - but the JFK 50 was mentioned and I did think about the stir that caused when I was young and found this post about it JFK 50. People still do some interesting stuff out there.

Well, how important is retirement?

My wife visited her doctor, got medicine, can't go to work since she is infectious. Therefore she stopped and had her retirement check calculated. It isn't as bad as the twenty-five dollars a month her husband has been kidding her about for years. I am sure in 1900 a monthly retirement check of twenty-five dollars would have really been great.

Fixed income only works if the value of money isn't being manipulated by people that don't love us, sigh. They did give her a long list of documents to bring to her formal retirement application process. As the continued meltdown of the State coffers continue I will have to invest more in ammunition, tools and seed. Really, if there is a turn around in the VALUE of the dollar I will be very surprised, Very! But I am not holding my breath nor betting any soon to be worth less US dollars on it.

The Singularity is here, but did you really want it?

As discussed on the television news it is coming faster than ever... Speed of Light limited, of course.

I did catch the Parking Rage that drivers are now killing other drivers over parking slots, remembering that there are people on I5 shooting other people in Road Rage for perceived slights and bad manners or bad driving. Justification? No, but once one has a REASON for the stupidity one has control of a solution, or so we would think. But then we aren't really thinking a lot now.

So, the power surged or blew off and your computer is now not working well. The cows are still calving, the milk still needs collected, the cows must be fed, the snow is deep and dangerous. And you really want more tied to technology why? I make a cup of coffee while I wait for the computer to load my software - I don't use Skype.com too much because I have to perform and can't do all the multi-taskings of my day in front of the viewers. The human mind is quicker than the electronic processing power, we are just too lazy to harness our ability. How long does it take you to find the answer to 2 times 2, how long that calculator if you don't push the buttons? I got you Watson, I ate oatmeal and am not on the power grid, try that! (actually I wrote Wilson, thinking of Castaway - it took three views of that movie to get me to understand why Wilson's name was Wilson)

Concrete examples of why technology isn't of itself important. The government of the United States of America knows exactly how many tax paying jobs there are in America, they know exactly how many people are drawing un-employment, they know exactly how much money they have in revenues, how much they have borrowed and how much to repay, they know exactly how to get out of debt, they know exactly how many vehicles are legally on the highways, they know exactly how much fuel they are buying, they know exactly whatever they want to count. But that has little to do with their 'feel good button', and government policy is made on that 'feel good button' not facts.

Technology causes texting accidents, texting assaults and other foolishness. And they want to link you tighter to the rest of us? I like being totally afraid to ask a beautiful girl to the Prom, for fear of rejection. Had a friend who wasn't afraid to ask for me - but that wasn't cool. Miles Standish where are you now? Information overload is exactly why the Singularity won't work, as a baby with all nerves open and sending stuff to mull over to the baby's brain - it doesn't act upon most of it. Situational awareness is gone - been to a coffee shoppe with WiFi? Doesn't do political discussion like they did in the 1700s, because your linked in the net, and they do call it a net for a reason... ask those fish over there. You exchange views with someone far away, that actually could be asleep as you text or email them, if it doesn't go into the junk box - they may answer.

Technology provides tools, and I like tools, but it isn't going to change me from a fumbling old man. The speed will be too fast, or it will be too slow, and I will muddle around until I find just right. And cause someone road rage because I am not using all the capability of machines and technology they can provide. I will still love y'all even when the power goes out. Try that, Watson!

There are the important anniversaries, one forgets...

My wife mentioned that thirty-nine years ago she arrived in the United States for the first time. I have to believe that just proves how far astray I can lead good folks with better sense. She arrived as a legal immigrant, became my wife, a resident alien, naturalized citizen, mother and now a grandmother. The picture is of her still smiling seven days later, the baby gave her joy, they still do... God is good, Amen.

This is not a Quaker Oats commercial...

Up too early for no good reason, but was thinking as I was making the coffee. Thinking without the coffee is not recommended to try at home.

When I think about old empires, civilization collapsed and archeologists, and I do always because someone will be along behind us to find out where we went wrong, what took us out. And as I looked around my kitchen I knew this wasn't going to be found in the far, far, far future. And it does explain a lot about who we are. The Pastor mentioned that he could see a lot of the false gods someone spent too much time with when he visited homes. Might be why I never invite the Pastor, nah, I probably figure they have more important people to help. My wife declared as I went off to sleep last night that if she quit coughing she would be going to work today. There is silence from the bed now that I have departed. I think I will get an appointment at the Radiology Department today (was advised to about six months ago) and see a doctor. Y'all take care out there, what are you going to be leaving behind?

This is the last picture... shown...

I had an old girl friend in my dreams last night, beautiful girl from high school, don't you love how people you haven't seen in years never age? It was mostly unremarkable for many reasons, but I was comfortable with her and we certainly didn't do anything worth writing about, but I don't do dreams about other people often so I figure something is rippling in the universe from her life and lapping against mine. I could call her, write her but will probably just pray that she is fine with whatever is happening. That God is watching over her. That is probably the best thing I could do in almost every circumstance.

"Don't you care?" of course I care, "Don't you want to KNOW?" No, if I need to know I will be told, honest.

I went to church alone today, my wife is ill. The Pastor wanted to convert the heathen, or reinforce the stalwart believers. I was there for the drums and my wife's friends' husbands. And my soul to save. I would get a cuppa coffee and half a doughnut at the talk after and then go home. My wife's friend dropped off soup for her. I bought a book for a children's reading program, Where the Sidewalk Ends by Silverstein, didn't see the complete Rudyard Kipling, although they probably would have found it if I had insisted, Silverstein included artwork. But I need to re-read The Ballad of East and West, once I start there isn't much stopping will read the others that always call to me. Then I am of another generation - someone named us 'Boomers' for when we were born, but seeing what the popular kids did with all we had I am ashamed, so sorry. We could have been really great, but were more like Bill Clinton than George Washington, Adams or Jefferson. Y'all have a great day.

Must be almost Spring!! Earl is bloomin' crazy...

Just to get your attention. But there are pieces of blue skies breaking up the graying clouds, and SUN light radiating upon the Evergreen. So I threw on my daffodil-like colored hooded sweatshirt and braved the roadways of the neighborhood. Nothing humble about announcing I moved off the recliner, but it was really good to be out where the dogs bark at you.

I was stopping my total enjoyment of a David Drake SF novel, but I was having way too much fun and not enough sweat. One of these days Large Print and treadmills will be my aged adjustment to realities not visited. One of the things, which authors do and editors love is to add stuff to the mix - I don't believe that women should be in combat - not because they aren't capable but because I like my mother's view they should be sheltered from ugly. Having said that, which gets me into trouble with the PC police, I noticed the if Adele Mundy were a real person she would be close to Breda, and that train of thought made me think that Tam would be like Tovera and I was silly to think that my mother was right about women needing to be protected. She probably meant that if I were to think I should protect (not corrupt-exploit-abuse-misuse) women it would be better for me and the world.

I spent some time watching Exodus with Paul Newman yesterday - people were skinnier in the old movies weren't they? I noticed that the British were good about trying to keep the guns out of the hands of babes, since they might get hurt. Where have I heard that argument before? And Paul's character was wrong about seventy-seven minutemen at Concord in 1775, Lexington having separated from Concord many years earlier. But then he hadn't been to an Appleseed, nor studied war enough to be aware.

Back to the Sissies and good clean fun... reading. Wouldn't I like to be in the room if Breda, Tamara and David Drake were? Yeah, but at least I am in the same world.

Time is burning need to knock this out...

I have spent the afternoon watching Indochine starring Catherine Deneuve and Linh Dan Pham. I have all that stuff left over from America's experience in Vietnam, so I picked this up awhile ago and was impressed with the beauty of parts of Vietnam I never saw, and of course I was still young enough that the two ladies were very lovely. Must have paid way to much attention to the ladies - this time, they aren't as distracting, and the whole story comes through better.

I wanted to write about being content, like the old contented cow commercial, if you have all you needs met, have nothing more to achieve, no one is depending upon your best work - you can kind of rest, relax, reflect and find you manufacture a struggle - with yourself if no one else. I know I must get out and jog, but I resist, like there were something else more important. Like this post - it only is a delay of my better self re-gaining control. Put the house key in the pocket. Finish typing this and put some socks and a sweatshirt on and get out the door. Such an easy thing - but I don't have to... I once did five miles around a quarter mile track, knowing I would finish in under forty minutes. But that was back in the day when I wanted to build up my endurance, like boxers, because when you are fighting three minutes is a long, long time. Needed to fix that and so I ran, don't see any fights in my near future, three minutes is now just way too many commercials.

I did ask my wife if she wanted to sneak off to Hawaii this weekend, no answer, she isn't content. Still struggling with work, church ladies and her foot. I have patience I can wait.

Yes, I still read but they don't write for me...

Watching the old men come in to the library to find a good Western to read, that didn't have all that sex stuff in it -- I knew what they were looking for, and it was getting harder to find.

Must be a day for Davids. I go to Borders (that place looks sad) and pick up David Drake and David Weber. I drop into the Library and this exchange takes place:

Smiling library assistant, looking pleasant and waiting to be needed. Notices old guy.

Old guy notices "Do I look suspicious?"

A bit flustered still smiling library assistant "No, not at all!" hopefully helpfully.

Old guy "Well, I am still trying." and goes to pick up some reading.

Ransom by David Malour and More Guns, Less Crime by John R. Lott. Jr.

Tam had a post about the Roman Army changing over the years, and liken it to the United States military. I have a whole couple of duffel bags of my wisdom on that subject. Only two worth mentioning, if the NATION isn't going to WAR don't send your military to be changed by friction of cultural clash. Second, young men do better in a real military than in college - they take longer to learn how good it is being an adult but do it so much faster under fire and flak.

Too much in the news.. not much on the news...

Okay, I watch too much news. I really do believe that Charlie Sheen and Qaddafi have exactly the same problem, delusions of importance. No one is telling them they just don't matter, they never did. It is nice that Charlie exposes his harem - but they are just examples of California Airhead Blonds - and there are lots of better women in California. But Charlie isn't sober enough to know that. Enough! He leaked into local news coverage - this is Washington State, the weather is more important than Charlie.

Speaking of weather, it is raining here, but I started the Trusty Triumph up and am getting it ready to roll out the door, SOON! Of course, we have rain predicted all week.

Oh, on ABC WORLD NEWS, my evening fix, they are playing with MADE IN AMERICA. They went to a home, married couple, two kids and removed all that was not made in America in the home, they are also challenging the viewers to go through their homes recording what they find MADE IN AMERICA - oops, none of the recording devices are made in America - how would they do that? It is interesting, and according to the video displayed on the show - only one flower bowl was left. Then I started wondering, what happened to the books? the food? the alcohol? the tools? the firearms? What happened to the quilt from grandma? the hand made toys, the silver service from Great Aunt? Photograph albums? LP's and something to play them on? They had next to nothing, but they were a younger couple. Or editing for making the point was used. Yeah, and Diane Sawyer was shocked to think journalists don't tell the truth, or were perceived so.

I guess I would have to give up my wife, she wasn't made in America. I would have lots of foreign made items to give up. I bought many of them overseas! Before I retired I spent a lot of quality time there. There wouldn't be complete nothing in this home if they tried to only remove the MADE IN OTHERWHERE stuff. But then I want the Chinese to use an electrical grid without American Technology, Europe is on their own systems they wouldn't suffer too much without us. It is a global community, but there are AMERICAN products, for sale. The big department stores, don't buy there because they can make more money buying elsewhere, honest. There was nothing wrong with shirts from North Carolina - even the Confederacy clothed the North Carolina Rebs with factory made stuff. But recently(last fifty years) the unions, regulations and taxes make getting it elsewhere more profitable.

And won't we all be better off without a HD television? I don't even know if ABC has a radio show for news. The newspapers could make a come back!