Walking in the dark and wet...

Update, just an update...

Nothing important here, people are hunting or harvesting or working their tails off (think that phrase comes from the old days of horse drawn stuff) and I am pretending to catch up to the things on the internet, I am so behind, older and fat and that is my fault.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is out of ammunition, and that can't be a good thing. Still I put in my order for ammunition, on September third, and yesterday, October nineteenth, it was delivered to my door by the friendly folks at Federal Express (FedEx for those in the know). I looked for all the stereo typical Gun Loving fools stuff, didn't find the cases of beer, or trash barrels of empties, no Confederate Battle Flags nor patches, I do have, hanging on the wall in the Computer Cave a Bennington flag from the fine efforts of General John Stark and company (it is just beautiful). And the Green Mountain boys were there with their flag, which has a whole different type of being Green.

And to really check on this Redneck stuff, I am again reading James Webb's Born Fighting : How the Scots-Irish Shaped America, yep, I do like to look that over periodically. Our family oral tradition is that the Dungeys left Ireland for England during the struggle between James II and William, and the evidence is that one of William's soldiers (from the Dutch?) settled in Kent and they married good English women ever after until they departed for America, Australia, and other points in the the British Empire. I go with the oral tradition, cause you got to believe family and it would explain my love of fighting and the Williams that keep cropping up in the male names.

Almost time to rejoin Humanity, have breakfast, unpack and store ammunition, exercise and jog (I have been so slack) and be a better fellow than you would ever know --- or try to be.

It is a Library, so of course it is quiet, kind of...

Had to tell an inmate not to bring his coffee into the library, no food nor drink allowed. He thought if he told me I should have a sign that he could stay with his coffee. Nope, I am a cranky old man and I want the rules obeyed. He put the coffee in the hall outside, then worried that someone would steal it.

I have been training the clerks in their new jobs, getting books processed and keeping things moving, not as fast as normal but trying to stomp out the little fires before they get to be big ones. This morning, because some inmates may have been outside the fence in civilian clothing, there was a total RECALL, Lock up, and Picture Card Count. That was a three hour exercise in making sure no one is missing, no one was missing but I was about three hours behind. I have some real workers so they came in as soon as they could and we caught back up.

On the work email was more of almost total silence. I had mentioned a couple days ago (Monday?) that it didn't seem like any of the other branches were open - not true, they piped up when they caught up enough to check the email. I had over nine hundred circs on Monday, 730 on Tuesday, and about 330 today - only open a few hours today. I need those books processed and linked before I go ordering new book carts for this month - not that they have a budget amount for me yet, but I can build the cart if I know what I have already.

Finish the June reports tomorrow, order supplies and try to get more done since I have only four and a half years left before I retire on Social Security and go find another job to keep me solvent.

What are you going to do when they close MICC?

One of my patrons asked me that on Monday night, thinking I would worry about losing my job, I smiled and said "I guess I will have to find another one, just like I found this one." But the buzz is that the State of Washington is broke and going to close up many things and everyone is going to be in terrible trouble. KING 5 News breaks the story about McNeil Island Corrections Center being offered up by the Senate, so it must be true. Of more import to me is the number of VIPs from the Department of Correction that are coming to look around - what are they looking for? They weren't here before?

I think the entire ECONOMIC CRISIS is manufactured to get people frightened, obligated to the government, and staring into the lights of the oncoming train wreck. So I am not worried and lifting some great thoughts from a lady I decide to iron my shirts, one of which is pink, but mostly blues and watch Serenity not that I identify with any of the heroes and heroines but I really do believe that males must engage in combat in order to succeed in reproduction - one isn't supposed to happen without the other - ask Darwin. I am so happily broken into my mold. Y'all be good for the best of reasons, no one from the government messes with the good folks, they don't need much attention.

Don't nudge me ugly tonight...

Just got back from the hospital and read my mother's letter about how bad the world that is leaving her behind and alone is... and she is right the world is a terrible place - Mankind hasn't been evolved enough to become angels and is adapting his environment just enough to cleanse the rest of the lifeforms off the planet -- life just doesn't go the way it was supposed to, does it?

I am stuck in Hosea and keep coming back to the current world and a deep sigh is my only appropriate response - I can't change anything, Time magazine hasn't the guts to say the schools should teach moral behavior. Heavens, Time magazine hasn't had a moral position for a long time, just one that will sell magazines and ad space.
The current crisis isn't due to Disney, ABC nor Time magazine, how did we get to the point that anything that happened to a few was the problem of the remainder to fix and cure.

We haven't fixed the Drug Crisis, the Solitary Parent crisis, the Unwanted children crisis, the last crisis and the next crisis --- none of them have been solved, fixed - seems we lived through them, or didn't, if we lived we moved on to the next one.

I have changed and deleted about five paragraphs tonight and am spinning wheels and burning nothing... the Blues are banging out in the house tonight, nice that if I can't be positively creative I am not going to that terrible destructive person inside me... Good Night, and God bless.

Just a minute while I put the fire out...

seems I have been thinking about improving myself so the last years I spend on Earth are worthy, but then I was busy and couldn't get around to it... Americans are so busy they watch ninety minute movies in three hour blocks with the other ninety minutes taken up with commercials for things they aren't going to buy soon anyway oh, but I do watch the evening new on two different networks to make sure my plans fit the world's or the way the MSM reports the world's - neither of my grandfathers would recognize that world view but they didn't get HDTV, did they? Speaking of things I am not going to buy, snake oil medicine men surround the terrorists from the Middle East and Banking & Wall Street, I have to worry about breathing, liver problems, ED, women that may become pregnant, high blood pressure, joint pain when playing badminton (not one of my activities), and why the Lavitra woman doesn't think I am her man... I remain so confused

In our ease and need for speed of transmission we shorten words to IMF, IBM, NBC, CBS, Sex (instead of reproduction - if they taught reproduction in school instead of sex would it make a difference?), do we shorten everything for time, or because we can't spell those longer words? I remember listening to the English broadcast on shortwave from the former Communist China - all the visiting VIP (see what I mean, I can't spell Very Important People) were given the entire title 'The Vice Chairman of the Super Committee on Small Subjects in Large Palaces for Historical Continuity and Community' lovely long flowing titles instead of VCSCSSLPHCC as we know her now

well, I was supposed to warm up some soup for my dinner, my wife left me for social obligations and happiness and I sank into making up chamber flags, re-packing my range gear box for the Caravan, and reading a book and watching Godfather II and burning my soup on the range... luckily my wife returned and smelled the almost baked soup--- she says she doesn't dare leave me alone -- see what a smart woman I married? and she wants more insurance on me and the house... well, that last isn't really true but should be.

Earl goes to the Gun Show in Puyallup...

Looking for Hispanic Gangsters buying weapons for the Drug War in Mexico. Didn't see any.

Looking for rifles that I just had to have. Didn't see any. Did see many that were beautiful, but they wouldn't be lonely for long, and I am still dancing with my own thank you.

Went looking for peace and quiet, but the Gun Show isn't the local library - large crowds of people packed like PETA wouldn't do to your beef still on hoof. Yes, I thought that mooing and horns would have worked. Met one of the Corrections Officers from McNeil Island and talked crowds, military shooting (1903 through M1) and reloading.

Didn't find any ATF agents in undercover clothes working the crowd for Obama - the things I don't see when I am looking. Did see lots of Pro Gun and Anti-Obama bumper stickers, didn't see any from American Hunters & Shooters Association - they didn't even have a table. The number of Friends of the NRA having dinners and raffles were as numerous as the counties of Western Washington - except I don't think I saw King County nor Seattle - but sometime I think there are only dead voters there and all the workers commute in daily - but I have been wrong before.

Did watch a gunsmith mounting a scope (I still haven't got one and am interested), did see some nice leatherwork for all the stuff I NEED (okay I don't need) but it was so good. Did think that for my motorcycle I could get a scabbard and a carbine - then thought about how that would work the next time Gravity grabs me, my bike and my inattention... nope. Gravity Rules! Still another day and a half to go.

You didn't make my day, did you???

Gosh, don't mess with the grumpy old guy in the corner.

Well, I should look like this, went to work and found no supervisor, no computer internet access, no outgoing telephone service - so I was back in the days of card catalog, typewriter and stubby pencils. Amazing how bound to technology I am, sigh, all because (RUMOR ALERT!) because an inmate hacker got on a computer that his supervisor wasn't watching closely enough. He is now in the Hole and if I knew his name he would never get anymore library support, but I won't ask his name - just send him all the oldest programming books I can find.... not really, his being a dangerous fool is too close to my own affliction - we could be cousins, but I don't play with computers.

My personal problems are growing but my praying is getting louder and more often so I think it will work.

Sunday Stills, well I am rocking...

I am working at an Appleseed shoot this weekend and traveling the distance and bearing the Winter weather's brunt. Since I don't really have photography as a talent nor skill I just give you my best portrait of who I think I am and what I am doing with my life - seeing Don Quixote and I have so much in common - too many books, too old and too honorable in the best way. I guess in some ways this is an excellent picture of me, it doesn't look at all like my father, it looks more like my grandfather but then not really - it is just the me that you can see. Go gently out there, from the Bible and Gun Clinging Community of Earl.

Pushin' Spring...

Another frosty morning, but I look for signs of Spring anyway, my brother-in-law sent a picture of a crocus blooming in North Carolina, but I look for squirrels bounding along the trees and fence in back, and they aren't there. I check Facebook and find a cousin going on a biker charity food drive, temperature in the forty-so area, has Goldwing and good intentions, in Arkansas. I spend my time before the wife awakes deleting old emails, lots of old emails until I get down to the savers, two different accounts - and I have two work emails, too. How does such a recluse get so connected? although I don't dance on Facebook like some folks do, I did add books read to this year, I delinked some websites, finding one gone before I got there... every once in awhile I have to remind myself that real life is only imitated on the Internet, virtually friends and family are never going to take the place of reaching out and holding someone's hand or - not me! - giving someone a real hug. The vibrations and jello-like wiggles and bounces of a friend with a deep belly laugh are so much better than the ROFL mark on my screen. And although she may be the latest Swimsuit model on the beach, she is only two dimensional while that bank teller wearing her best revealingly (so daring and darling) can produce a smile if I get my act together and tease her just for our moment counting my money (three dimensions, warm and fragrant).

Okay, I am convinced, time to exercise, hit the road work, the motorcycle maintenance, shower and off to visit the Capital of Washington State and the Natural Resources Building for a briefing and a new challenge. Life is good, then they pull the plug and it gets better.

Good sleep, bp is good, and I can share...

I admire the efforts some bloggers put into food, the pictures and recipes one can almost smell the love and warmth. So as I was called to breakfast in my home and I looked at the scrabbled eggs with cheese, sliced tomatoes, and toast, the aroma of fresh ground coffee and the Korean music in the background I thought about getting my camera and sharing. But the telephone rang, I lost my lady love to the instant communications monster, and I reverted to the savage brute that only she can sooth. I cleaned my plate (I haven't eaten slowly alone since OCS) and took the picture and took my coffee and ran, back to the computer cave to share, sigh. It really was so beautiful and the coffee is awesome.

Who do you wanna be when you grow up?

I want to be just like Walt Kowalski, except for the beer and the bad language... just like him.

Okay, let's wrap this year up and get to bed...

Don't think that will happen too soon, but soon enough. My wife is out praying the old year away, thankful for many blessings and asking for those that need a few more special ones. I got the email, my sister is a grandmother again - another boy, Garrett Michael, 8 pounds 8 oz, 20 1/2 inches long. I could find remembering his birthday easier than I do his two brothers. That makes my sister and brother-in-law too grandparent-like for hanging around with, but they are both better people than I and I could love them, but I am a guy and you know that wouldn't work...

I worked today, some great work with the crew, some great response to my supervisors that try to keep me from failing to perform, sigh, they have so much to worry about. I have closed last (2008) years statistics down and am prepared to record the circulation and important stuff we will be doing in 2009, provided the folks with the big bucks and responsibility have enough money to keep a prison library open. The possibility of budget shortfalls make the rumors fly that many of the inmates will be getting out earlier - only a rumor. The slick inmate that tried to walk out of the prison and onto a ferry boat a couple nights ago, is still the subject of conversation. Seems someone hadn't locked a door, and he got out of the fenced area through two total control areas without an ID badge, on the dock waiting for the ferry in a crowd of visitors his state issued shoes called undo attention to himself - and he was busted. I have always been aware of the difference between the truth and the published account - having been rescued from a burning home that I walked out alone from... still it was an embarrassing moment for Department of Corrections. An extra five years for trying is normal.

I have to make another pot of coffee, the Blues are blasting through the home, and I am alone - where are all those lovely lonely women that I read about -- actually I am reading Breakout and you might understand where part of my problem with military dreams comes from, but this book makes the last couple of snow days into big nothing... very big nothing. I don't have trouble with military dreams, stopped hitting my wife in the middle seventies as I got farther from Vietnam - in my sleep, folks.

Well, it will be a great year next, for me and for thee. More motorcycling (safely), more shooting well, and helping others get over being afraid of the gun and the gunny (not that Gunny ever cared about being loved - fear worked well when in a hurry). Fresh coffee and Blues without commercial interruption, thinking good stuff. You know what Country music is? Blues with a twang. You know what Gospel is? Blues with the certainty of Divine intervention. You know what Heavy Metal is? music that didn't get me here... ah, well, probably can't hear its frequency. Sixty-one going on forget-about-it. Do have a great year, God loves ya, and the world is beautiful when viewed properly... look at the Universe outside geopolitical boundaries - it is awesome.

Remember to be Thankful , for those that serve...

A C-141 cargo plane was preparing for departure from Thule Air Base in Greenland, and they were waiting for the truck to arrive to pump out the aircraft's sewage holding tank. The Aircraft Commander was in a hurry, the truck was late in arriving, and the Airman performing the job was extremely slow in getting the tank pumped out. When the commander berated the Airman for his slowness and promised punishment, the Airman responded, "Sir, I have no stripes, it is 20 below zero, I'm stationed in Thule, and I am pumping sewage out of airplanes. Just what are you going to do to punish me?"

butlerwebs.com/


Thanks to my mother for reminding me to be thankful for all the wonders and the works. This is never the day to be alone, reach out and touch someone, somewhere, somehow - we are not going to be alone in saying thanks, in giving thanks nor earning a heartfelt thanks. Thanks. Especially to the Rogue Gunner where I gleaned the idea, never alone.

Just thinking

Three weeks of three days at McNeil Island Library, all Monday Tuesday and Wednesday - then I go off the island for: two days of Thanksgiving, two days of Institutional Library Services conference and training, and two days of Instructor Boot Camp (for training Riflemen). That will drive me half-way through December and almost into January and I will have not met my goals for that year when I look back from sixty-one wondering where it went this time.

I could go back and read all my posts and figure out if I did anything, thought anything or made the world a little better. Or I can just feel I did; remembering a smile teased from someone, some quiet evenings finished with some wine and cheese, the morning jog with the dogs and the heart walkers, the walks to the dock getting my mind ready for the work day, the great rides on the Trusty Triumph and the general awesome beauty of the world, women and wonders when I open my eyes and really look. But then, how much time does one have to look back and reflect.

That was about enough, and I have exercises and jog to do, breakfast gruel with banana this morning, take the vitamins, go face the day, books to order, books to weed, reports to prepare and information to find and as the things I haven't anticipated are suddenly in my work flow keep it all moving so it doesn't get jammed up, piled up and pushed aside. I should learn to tango, since all my choir rehearsals have produced a little appreciation for the notes I should be hitting and the way melody and harmony might actually be something I will understand in a few more decades. Do I have that long?

I have made a decision, about Christmas giving this year - I, William Earl Dungey, being of sound mind and such have decided that I have too much and it has gotten in my way and I will be giving much of it away to the Food Bank, Goodwill Industries and other places where it can do more good during the coming year. And because I think something special should come from all my financial blessings I am making a cash contribution to Project Valour-IT. I know you are all going to be busy, trying to get the Economy running right again, and tying up the year with ribbons and lights, and bringing joy to children and young excited folks - I will try to make sure my family, relatives and friends are represented in a small gift for those that we have sent far away to risk and lose so much - they gave so much and can't be ignored by the promise of a Holiday Season and the New Year - they deserve to be the center of it. Make sure there is room at your table, in your heart and your life - for all those that need a touch, a hug, some of your talent and time, just a quick smile and a hot mug of cheer with the music of life. Go gently and do good stuff, we will be better for it.

I don't understand memes...

Gimme 5...

5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago

- Working as a newly hired Library Assistant on McNeil Island Corrections Center
- Missing my son off in the Navy in Spain
- Missing my father off to Higher Realms
- Singing badly in the church choir
- Trying to be a better man

5 Things on My To-Do List Today

- Clean the gutters and the roof before the next Pineapple Express
- Dumping the old blinds and one old coffee table
- Exercise vigorously, and like it
- Finish two books
- Take cool pictures of self in Rifleman gear

5 Snacks I Like

- Apples
- Melons
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Asian Pears

5 Things I Would Do If I Was A Millionaire

- Not tell anyone about it
- Give money away
- ten acres with shooting range, swimming and hound and little animals
- travel and tell you about it
- Continue working in the prison library

5 Places I Have Lived (for various lengths of time)

- Minnesota where I was born
- Ligonier, Pennsylvania where I started becoming me
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where I was young and foolish always
- Korea where I met my better be better half
- Firebase Phoenix for far too long

5 Jobs I Have Had

- Ticket taker at the movie theater
- Dishwasher
- Rifleman and Machinegunner
- Primary Jumpmaster on a flight with a jump refusal
- Leader of small fine units

5 People I Tag to Answer

All those that read these words that haven't every looked at their life enough (not five, hmm?)

Different week at the Library...

Should have known it would be different this week, the signs were there in The News Tribune's frontpage. The prison has been on a two day lockdown over the weekend, when I get on the island, Monday, I am told that there won't be normal movement and the Library will be searched when they get done with the Hobby Shop, no stone unturned. So about twelve Corrections Officers come into the library and start searching through the fifteen thousand items on the shelves and in the cabinets and drawers, looking for contraband (tobacco, weapons, drugs, tattoo guns and inks, alcohol of strange variations). Hours later, they haven't found anything and are off to shake down the chapel. I had worked around them, answered their questions, shown them about the hiding places for barcodes and sensitive strips, demonstrated the security gate and exchanged "my thieves are better than your thieves" stories with the officers. The poor officer that had to search through some of the piles of cardboard packing material wondered how I was going to pass the inspection before the pre-ACA audit. I wasn't. It didn't help that nothing was where it should be, books in strange directions as they marked their searches, the floors trashed and chairs everywhere. I put much back but was moving mail and requested ILLs and answering email and reporting to my supervisors far away that it was happening - no reply. Outside the rain has been very heavy and constant, fears of flooding are building with the increase in rainfall. I go home to spend Veterans and Remembrance Day with my wife.

Wednesday, I return, it is still raining hard and I don't walk to the dock - my exercise thoughts have run away - at least something is moving, I don't seem to be. I have a crew and we start to clean up, catch up (socialization is mandatory), I mention the coming inspections and between everything else normal, getting the books for F-unit (Segregation and IMU) and sending ILLs out and answering the email we get ready to open after lunch. The inmate patrons surge in, having been kept out of the library for days, the two hours are hectic but rowdy and normal and then three inspectors show up, the Interior Captain, the Fire Captain and one other man from Headquarters, and they hit me hard. Daisy-chained surge protectors, unauthorized extension cords, not clean, not in compliance and not prepared for the audit next week. It is especially painful because this isn't the first time I have been told about the daisy-chained power cords - and I haven't fixed it. My bosses have told me to get DOC supply to provide, DOC says that they will, and no one has - but I haven't been vocal enough about the problem, so it is mine. The inspectors tell me to get everything fixed they would be back in three hours - it is the end of my day, I close down and say good-bye to the crew and slink home a failure again, except we did get the books to F-unit and served the patrons for three hours.

I sleep on my problem, I can sleep pretty well when I need to. When I wake I go through the morning events and pray harder, and leave my sleepy wife. I stop at a hardware provider and pick up two surge protectors of longer length and a face plate for a double socket. I get to the island and find the crew and lay out a plan, we work together and rewire the computers, rerouting cables and pitching ideas back and forth until it is done, recycling old cardboard, reorganizing storage, discarding hot trash, and destroying old worn, torn books, cleaning shelves and floors. Restoring organization to the library. We are aided by the sure knowledge that we aren't going to be open today. The Law Library is moving from upstairs to downstairs across the hallway from us. That means shelving and big giant books with lots of laws and tiny print. Too much for the normal Law Library clerks they have borrowed more inmate workers for the shift and no movement to the Law Library or regular Library by inmates is allowed. Sure enough the return promised by yesterday's inspectors does happen, and they are pleased to see we have improved everything they found, except the shelves aren't dusted yet - we would work on those cleaning things, washing the legs on the chairs and such - more to come tomorrow.

I am still working the computer, answering email, book and music requests and then comes an offer from our Program Manager to put in our ideas for our quarterly conference, and the other Library Keeper chime in, they have good ones. Then as the inspection team has departed and I have to send an email off about the better results to the Fire Chief, and I have talked to my Liaison, the Associate Superintendent for Programs about the ACA readiness and what I need to do and could us -- I stop and think about what I would like to discuss at the quarterly conference - and I write "I would like to talk about how little support I get in my work." or something like that. I am such a whiner, I do reply it to all, and I go to eat lunch. We continue to move hot trash and dirty rags out to the lower compound and back gate, do more cleansing of the library and shelf reading and organization - then it is the end of the day and I can look around and smile. If we can just steal a buffer and some wax and polish tomorrow we can really fix it up right. Well, I don't really mean steal, I mean borrow one just for the day. When I check the email I find two other Library Keepers that would like to say Amen to my comment or discuss the lack of support, and the Program Manager that would like me to tell her, in private, what I mean. I am such a whiner, but then all my buddies that help me get through the day, every day at work are all inmates, felons and you know what kind of guys they are. One of my crew is getting out just after Christmas this year. Telling the Program Manager means the Supervisor isn't in the discussion and that can't be good. Well, will sleep on that one tonight - they won't be ready to open my library tomorrow either.

Friday Update: Still not able to open, we went for the shining of the tile floors, cleaned it first moved all the furniture, secured wax and applicator and laid it on, four or five coats in some spots, it will dry firm by Monday, and we will put the library together again and open that afternoon and evening. Not too much traffic from other branch libraries, nor ILL requests, I made sure the overdue notices were printed and distributed, and moved mail and looked at books to buy. A nice quiet day, the crew and I were helped by a porter that secured the wax for us - favors, I get favors - just because... did stop over at the Law Library to see how they were coming along, they will be open by Monday if they don't get locked down again. Since it costs a lot of overtime for the special searches and lock downs, I don't think it will happen unless there is a real security threat.

From the Big Bad Wolf...

The Bookworm Award...

Rules:Pass it on to five other bloggers, and tell them to open the nearest book to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences. The CLOSEST BOOK, NOT YOUR FAVORITE, OR MOST INTELLECTUAL!


Okay I will play, the book beside my left elbow as I stood at my computer reading is:
(well, just guess)

"The response to the call for the minute men was remarkable. This was a touchy point, since it meant that the regimental commanders, in allowing the minute men to organize themselves and elect their own officers, would actually be giving away not only one-quarter of their strength but also many of their best fighters. In view of this, the active support that the regimental commanders gave to the reorganization is one of the best indications of the strength of the minute man concept."

from "The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution" by John R. Galvin

Now to five bloggers that may read and respond, well

My sister teaching in high school Just a Math Teacher not very original title but she writes about her work well.

Little Drops into the pool of Life, whose Friday funnies are great and what she cares about shows in her other postings.

North View Diary which I automatically reversed to Northview Dairy, which isn't far from totally wrong since there are real cows on the property. The words are worth the read and the pictures are awesome.

The Breda Fallacy.. Breda is working on nail polish and sharing right now, but she works as a real librarian in a real library so she probably reads when they let her out.

Oops! one would think I don't read any men's blog so I give you - Wyatt Earp from Support Your Local Gunfighter, I don't know for sure that he reads, there are rumors.

Honey do, and of course I will... to the best of my...

One of my workers asked if I had a honey-do list waiting for me this weekend, and I never do - I build my own procrastination pile and play around it avoiding my duties - or so I will say so. Today was different, there is the installation of the bright beautiful vertical blinds. The crew will call around eight am and tell us what time they should arrive. Yes, I am old and hired experts to install the blinds, and we were told that for eighty dollars they would take down the old sets and take them away. I even went to the ATM to get a hundred to cover it and then looked at the job.

First I have to move the furniture from around the windows in six rooms - I can do that, and did. Then I looked at taking down the curtains where they were hung, and did that and put them into the laundry basket for washing. All that is left is taking down the old horizontal blinds and I start doing that. Now, there is likely an easy disconnect system that has been holding the blinds up for the last thirteen years, but I am better at destroying things than creating them - I am excellent at killing people in bunches and breaking stuff - they paid me well for that for years. Anyway, short story I have all the blinds down and before the last one dropped to the floor overcome by my efforts and gravity I think I figured out the quick disconnect. But I don't have anymore to practice on to prove it.

My mother called and gave me a welcome break, she wanted to talk about some man that yelled at her and made her feel terrible. I asked if she wanted me to beat him up or take him out - but she is much too good a Christian Lady for her to think that was a good idea. My theory about men that abuse women is that they are cowards, that is why they bully and beat on women - because they know they are afraid and want to be strong and tough - they do need to get a new point of view - as they eat dirt after a real man tries to whip them into shape (jellyfish-like works for me). I don't think my beating them up will change them, just confirm in their mind they need to hide their abuse better or they will get beaten again. Anyway after we discussed all the better stuff about her life and mine and caught up on everyone around us and whatzup (no, we didn't talk politics - we have real lives) I promised pictures of the new improved home in the mail - I have the before pictures already, love digital cameras with lots of memory. Gave her my love and took hers for me and my wife, who is out doing church stuff - where is she going to find community service time? Some days I hardly see her.

Once, long ago and far away in Oklahoma, my commander asked how my wife was, and I had to tell him I didn't know. There is a lump in the bed when I wake up to get to work, and when I come home at night there is a meal waiting for me and the clothes have been washed, but I don't dare waste any sleep time checking to see what is under that lump in my bed, but the next time I get a day off from being a Drill Sergeant I will check and find out if she is still speaking to me.

I did love being in the Army and Airborne and importantly useful in trying situations, but I love my wife and my ability to slowly work through the short remainder of my existence on Earth much more. Smooth Jazz is playing loudly and it is time for lunch and to check my mail.

Tuesday, not only the garbage is going out...

My wife made brownies last night, I had one (ah, the only sign of discipline lately) and recommended she take the rest to work to share - not that her co-workers need more food, but there are more of them to share the bounty. I couldn't ever get fat if I shared more, and I am such a loner. At work we are replacing battered and broken books with the almost new donations, which is so cool, fourteen so far.

Discussions about the election in the library, the WHITE vote, and what my opinion is about them. My conclusion was that Obama could be voted in as President even if the die-hard White Supremacists vote otherwise (just not as many totally stupid people as the government thinks there are - never have been). Then I offered my opinion that Obama looked much better as a candidate over McCain until he picked Biden (same ol' Democrat politician that thinks so little of me and the rest of the common folk). And I wasn't leaning to McCain until he picked Governor Palin for his VP, which meant CHANGE and some kind of contact with the common folk. Not that I like his interview explaining that Sarah Palin needed a wardrobe because she and her husband weren't rich - the way it came out sounded like a slur and I don't think he meant it that way - Count them, folks, most of America isn't rich we like it that way - the idea of being a middle class society is the great leveler. I know why macaroni and cheese is a staple at a family table, it is cheap food if you start from the basics. I know why we went to the public library or bookmobile so much - four kids that read can't be bought enough books to fill their idle minds - which weren't. And the kicker was that half my presents for Christmas and birthdays were undergarments, socks and some outer clothes, purchased on sale and saved (if I didn't grow out of them first, but a younger brother could always use them then). But I knew we were middle class like everyone else seemed to be, and I was so happy being me.

The vote for Governor is really ugly here, those that would like Rossi, from the GOP not quite a real Republican (difficult to sell Republican values on this side of Latteland - they like them on the other side of the Cascades). There isn't any real hope for his success, although Re-elect Rossi bumper stickers have been passed around, the feeling is that King County will continue to manufacture missed votes and voters until they out number the first two ballot counts. I am proud that several of the Counties in this State had the same count each of the three counts - solid American value there - just not enough voters and money to overcome Seattle and King County. But what is saddest is the ugliness of the campaign ads on television and the amount of paper I have been steadily recycling to help save a few more trees from the Asian market.

Seems to me that all the politicians and the media want me to believe that certain people and certain policies and regulations will get me out of this terrible crisis that certain people and certain policies and regulations have gotten me into... but I am the one with the high blood pressure, the flabby fattening body, the goals that I haven't met yet - Biblical, professional, personal and popular - and ALL the KING's MEN and ALL the KING's HORSES couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.... hmm, must be a real message there.