So you want to make my day?

There I sit being polite,cooperative and listening in the ILS Quarterly meeting and I am blind-sided by Jill telling me that someone in the Office of the Secretary of State is editing our ILS blog postings, correcting grammar, adding pictures and other stuff that makes it better... I was almost ready to blow the building up, I have calmed down since and am not interested in getting the proper amounts of stuff to make mayhem happen, leave it all to the next earthquake or volcanic erruption.

I really think that helpful editing is like the defensive player tipping a beautiful spiral pass.... it isn't going to hit the target, not the way the passer intended.

So, OSOS, I think I am off of the library blog business - I really thought that a blog of institutional library folks with challenges, successes, passions and problems would be read by others in the library community, just because. Not everything can be entertainment nor entertaining, many of the blogs I read are just about what the author thinks worth writing or posting. And they go from awesome beautiful pictures to heart wrenching sadness and the Blues at their blueist. I know that when I did something worthy (not often as I should have hit it out of the park) I want to record it, I don't think I need to know who read it, nor why (they could just be trying to understand English from America) but I don't need anyone to edit my postings to their own direction.

Well, I am not going to do more than think there are an amazing number of fools and foolishness in the World, and continue to pretend that I am not one of them... I can fool myself most of the time.

There are good days and there are bad...

There are really, and I wonder why the day felt so wrong and so bad. I got to ride my motorcycle to work, that was a good thing although the promise of rain awaited the afternoon and evening. I had four bins of mail and two boxes of books, so it was two trips up and down the steps but that wasn't a problem. Maybe the email with the announcement of the resignation of one of the other library keepers bothered me or started the darkness descending. The crew showed up, and worked well, the patrons showed up and bothered everyone - but that is their job and they do enjoy it. Still I guess it is the feeling of alone, in the midst of peopled plenty. There was that very formal and threatening Memo from the Communications Officer of the Office of the Secretary of State, all about blogs and their proper use and the destruction of your life if you misuse a blog or the State Owned equipment and Heavens won't help you if you actually say something that isn't in accordance with the Office. Sam Reed is a better man than the memo, but he does get protection and loses my support because of it. Those two items could have been my weights dragging my Will down... Will being my grandfather's, and mine and potentially my grandson's secret name. Everyone should have a secret name.

There were other things in the email but I wasn't picking up on anything that didn't have to do with my support of the library, I was too gloomy. I guess looking at Time magazine and People magazine during processing and finding out that I hadn't made the 100 most influenza people or BEAUTIFULL people for the year bothered me. All I know about beauty is that it begins and ends in the heart, and grows as it is shared, and I like to think that influence can't be measured by polling data, money raised, ad campaigns won - influence is butterfly effects and finding out that something one did or said had a good result somewhere beyond the scope of the originator.

I told my wife about Socrates today, it was part of a discussion she was listening to and she wanted to know why he was important - since she hadn't heard of him before. Yesterday, I processed and linked many of our new books and two about the start of the Revolution had come in, Lexington and Concord and Paul Revere's Ride. I told the inmate workers to look up Samuel Whittemore, and they did and read about him. I would get to tell the story one more time as I rode the bus from the dock to the parking lot where the Trusty Triumph waited, wet with the afternoon downpour. The rain - which broke for my time on the road going home and I was mostly dry but very happy when my wife opened the garage door for my motorcycle. By the time I had some hot bean soup warming me up I was a happy man again, blest as always. Wonder if I will ever go back to work?

AHSA have you met them yet, shooting?

Ah, something good to send one's fellow Americans. And no, I don't think they are telling me the truth about many things; they haven't sponsored any hunts, shoots, range building, high school rifle teams, repealing of any gun control laws nor listed the politicians that are for the total 2nd Amendment. So, they aren't my answer to the coming reasonable discussion - but I know some voters that would not like to see Pro-Gun Pro-Obama on the same bumper sticker everywhere.

A thought: the POWER of ONE is important to remember. If you teach one child the four rules of firearms safety - it is a win for the Gun. If you take one person and teach them how to get sight alignment, sight picture, pause, focus on front sight, caress the trigger and hit the target as aimed upon. That is one more win for the Gun. I don't care what size the firearm, air gun, spring launch, number and caliber of the round - safety, respect and proficiency in personal technique, one hole in the target from one bullet launcher and one shooter that ONE is a win for the Gun.

One gets Blest, but never feels Blessed ... still

I really don't do well enough for accolades, nor award nominations, I am still just hanging out or hanging on. But I do like being me too much to be someone else. So, name six things I am extremely grateful for (knowing that if the government finds out they will try to take them away?)

1. God
2. Family
3. Love
4. Friends (all two of them that didn't go shooting with me - today)
5. Good people everywhere - many more than bad people anywhere
6. Earth - Man's personal Garden of Eden (don't mess it up, folks)

The second award is named the Lemonade Award. Hmmm, maybe when life hands you lemons, you learn to make lemonade or lemon pie. It's just a matter of perspective. I do know this, no matter how large we feel our problems are, there is someone somewhere who has it so much harder. The world doesn't end when we are given a problem to overcome. No, life goes on...



The Lemonade Award tells me to pass it on to 10 other bloggers that show attitude and/or gratitude.

Ah, I lifted the above picture and text from Little Drops since she tagged me; and I thought I was picked for my sour disposition - and I don't add sugar to much in my life after reading Sugar Blues. But some folks read between the lines, peek behind the curtain, or expect more from me than I could ever deliver - in spite of the History of Earl.

I can pick ten with attitude and/or gratitude, my daily visits are there for a reason - they have both:

SailorCurt
Jeffro
Brigid
BBWolf
Ambulance Driver
Wyatt Earp
Sensible
Marianne
Old NFO
Bullet slinging Bookmarm... Breda

not that I would ever tell them they have been tagged or selected, but those that never visit my blog have ways of knowing who has linked and when and where. They all deserve these two awards and would, if they weren't doing such incredible creative stuff, play along.

It's the reload time that kills me...

No, I am not talking about putting in another clip or magazine and continuing to shoot down swarms of zombies, I am thinking about only having ten or so years left and using up so much of it checking favorite blogs to find out if there is something worth reading. If I mentioned you in my Visits for Daily Thoughts I find what you write interesting and I want to come back and read some more - well Blogger knew my pain, going and waiting for the reload and then finding nothing new, sigh. So they allowed me to pick favorites to follow, then gave me a cool thing that tells me there is a new post and when it went up, and clicking on it I go straight to the post, which means I could miss a few since some bloggers put up lots to look at almost on top of each other.

Turning on the television to catch the news and weather - I get more commercials than news and weather - and if you pay attention (DON'T!!!) you will notice much of what they call news is to get you to watch = a movie, television show later, television series, an interview where you will learn about (whatever). I am not going to change the world, but I can pick and choose what I participate in, like I can choose the Caravan or the Trusty Triumph to roll on to work today. I should try doing exercises every time a commercial break shows up, see how high my pulse rate will get during an hour and the calorie burn, estimated would be. Reading Time magazine yesterday I found a writer (?) using a treadmill while she worked - I just stand up at my workstations and type on my feet and then flee to help workers and patrons without the scooting back the office chair - just a step away. My able (?) assistance is just a quick step away from the computer. No waiting for my lumbering to my feet, getting all the fat into motion - I must remember that although I will weigh less up on the moon, my mass will be exactly the same and the vacuum is cold and totally unbreathable. Remind me to get back to some Physics in the near future... how much time is left to read, retire, retrain to re-me'd me?

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.

Dazy two back on the job, going to day three...

One would think that they missed me, they were politely absent Friday but Monday they poured in to see if we have anything new, have I heard about the latest Cormac McCarthy, and would you please get me all the DSHS addresses in Seattle. I walked down to the dock and ran into one of my better patrons, young man had just been released and was walking up the road I was walking down. He has to go get his check cashed, he was supposed to have a bus ticket, but being a guy and his ride over an hour away he was walking to the bank- about three miles from where they land the ferry he got off. I was supposed to cancel his reserves when I got to the library - but I will do that when I find his name on the Release list.

Rumor had it that I had cancer, won the Lotto or had a breakdown. But they missed me (seven days), the crew isn't really tuned up yet either, but today we should get more done and find all the changes I have to make happen before Friday when my supervisor returns, and next Monday when the Program Manager and my Supervisor will be bringing a Communications Officer from the Office of the Secretary of State for an orientation visit. Seems we are still looking for help on BROADCASTING our story. The Institutional Library Services blog has gone live - you can find us at: Well, imagine that, I went looking in the Washington State Library webpages and couldn't find our button to push.... and there are blog buttons here, and blog buttons there and one wonders who is in charge of blog buttons and why they can't be in one place? as well as other places. Ah, I ain't perfect - looking at my link in the library links on the left I notice my creative spelling Institutioinal Library Services always was more "i" in my life than others wanted to share.

It would be nice if the thousands of library people wanting to find out about institutional library services knew where we are, but then I couldn't find the button and I work in that blog, sigh. Well, in home email is again the offer of donation of books to our libraries, will have to respond.

State Library has picnic, please come...

I spend way too much time with electronic noise, and except for inmate patrons I am not a very social fellow, but I was invited to the State Library picnic/barbecue in the parking lot of our building in Tumwater. So I am getting paid to put eighty plus miles on the road on my motorcycle on a beautiful day, some days are just perfect even when you don't deserve them. I ride and enjoy and get to introduce myself to the new receptionist, who doesn't want to give the biker guy an electronic pass to wander the building with (smart young woman), but I am rescued by Leslie that remembers me from my younger years and working in that building.

I go to the fourth floor looking for a computer I can use to add a small blog to the Institutional Library Services blog site (it is protected from search engines right now, but Spambots find it constantly to add their enlightened comments to our posts - how much trash is out there floating?). I get to use the program manager's computer, under my signature, she will worry that I might see something - I have kept nuclear targets secret, I think I won't tell you what her office looks like - only she knows where everything is, and having worked beside her she really does have it all filed properly and accessible. Anyway, I knock out something about Library Soloists and am content - if some wanderers want to read it and leave a comment, feel free, it works just like a blog but search engines can't find us, stealth librarians? I finish and kind of log off and go wander the building, saying hello and seeing what has changed, stopping by the free public computer access to check on the blog sphere and leave comments behind.

Then it is time to turn in my electronic pass and find the food and the library folk. Really, this is the largest group of human beings I have interfaced with my real wrinkled red face since Church on Sunday, except for the inmate library patrons, and them I get five days a week. I enjoy taking pictures, there is a long legged red haired lady, I get her in a typical Brigid pose, in every picture she is in you can't see her face, and I didn't plan it that way - she has a really great smile. Catching up on what is going on in everyone's lives (back from Hawaii, been sick and what is happening, how are the grandchildren) and listening to nonsense about the coming election. As part of the Office of the Secretary of State (Washington's) we are involved deeply in elections. I will vote is more than just a declaration, it is a duty and I encourage everyone, everywhere to get out and vote. But it was interesting to find that many library workers and librarians aren't quite like Breda - but then we knew that didn't we? After I had a well stacked hamburger and salads and fruits and vegetables, they had a cake walk and door prizes and games, fun times.

I had to ride off into the sunshine, go ride the ferry to the island, move the mail, and turn off the library lights until next Monday (when I will be replaced because I have jury duty) and ride the ferry off the island. I stopped at a small barbershop, talked to the barber about his hunting (I pass his shop and always notice he takes time to go hunting every year and I wonder why I don't know how to take time to do those kind of things). Since his third wife is Alaskan (don't ask me how that came up) we had to talk about Sarah Palin, and Mike has it exactly right. We compared her to a modern Teddy Roosevelt and her effect on the election in general - polarizing is a good word to burden her with, goes with energizing... well, I have a hair cut, didn't let him trim the eye brows, and wonder if the good smelling stuff will last through the mowing of the lawn tonight, but figure my wife will love me anyway as long as I work at it.

Lots of name dropping and links in this, I am shameless -- a sad state of affairs, I should have had something besides the grass cutting to share with Tam, but no gun stuff today, sigh. Although, I once was stirring up hornets's nests like her t-shirt story. Got to love the idea, although I thought Berkley had a really nice shop for buying and playing D&D stuff when I went through there on one of my jaunts to assignments in Asia to improve Democracy's security and defeat the godless commies. Too late to save Cambodia - one of those inconvenient truths about the Domino Theory. Of course, not everything toppled, but then they aren't democracies everywhere either.

Contact! Hello, Mom!

I printed out a letter for my mother today, and tonight she contacted me on Skype.com , which is really nice free video realtime conversations. Perfect for my wife and mother to talk to each other, and I love talking to my absent son when he is in exotic locations working for the NAVY. Yeah, I know, I don't do cellphones but I like to talk on Skype.com - the most I ever say in a year to my brother seems to be on Skype.com - he is a talker not a writer.

My mother is a writer, a weekly letter for years to everyone, and all her poetry, but she is more alone and although she wants to read my blog she is a bit timid in finding it - although my brother set it up as the default on her Safari, she just doesn't use Safari enough to find it. She writes and she reads Email, and will, use the Skype.com but the next step to Safari isn't in her ability. I guess we, my mother, wife and I, will become extinct because we didn't adapt to changing technology - although my wife is on the telephone with her family in Korea, and we have heard from our son in Hawaii tonight (I didn't since I was hosting my mother on the computer in the Computer Cave). It has been a wonderful Sunday, contact with those far away and so close in our hearts, email from my sister and shooting at the range after church - life is good.

I just can't do it all, not to the level I should...

When I mentioned my girl friend and wife in the same sentence, it must have bothered some people, but if I can keep my girl friend and wife in the same person it shouldn't bother anyone but her. I only have to remember half as many special days and buy half as many perfect gifts to goo over if there is only one. Women are awesome as girl friends, great as wives and special as mothers of our children, but then lose it a bit when they shift from mothering departing son to smothering present husband (I know what is stupid and dangerous and wasteful and habit forming and unhealthy - honest! I have a mother and she told me all that before and drove me out to find a girl friend so I could do all that stuff without being reminded), THANKS, MOM!

There is a post at Tam's that talks to Appleseed and two points of view, one from a participant, Breda, and one from a professional frowner PDB (I couldn't leave my comment there so left it at Tam's place, I am so incompetent).

Anyway, Breda's experience reminded me that I was going to get back to spending more time and effort in my rifle marksmanship. So I look into getting a Garand, and decide to go CMP and get one from them - lower cost and it will shoot better than a sixty year old deserves and I can pretend my father, that used one in WWII, would approve my purchase and shooting it. Although, he tried to bring an M1 Carbine home, but left it in an Amnesty Box when he returned to the United States and sanity. I still have his pistol belt and bayonet from that time and era, and the Japanese military saber he brought back. Trade it all in for the return of my father, but then that last trip is one way.

Coffee stop today, if anyone were driving north on I-5 at the Scattercreek Rest Stop, from 10am to 2pm, I will be there or be square - which I always was and will ever be. Amen.

Where was I? well, on the other side of disconneted

I was up a bit early and running through the mornings tasks, wanting to be a better me, concentrating. I have coffee and measurements are done, going to devotions and I turn on the computer, just a check of a favorite blogger - that looks like what I read yesterday! Must be sleeping in, hmm. So needing to feed my desires, check blogger number two, well that isn't new either - refresh the screen - that was quick and the same thing.... now I am starting to panic - I had just checked them before bed - only five hours ago -- they don't owe me time and postings just because I woke a little early. Don't you hate it when there isn't anything new? After the sixth blogger checked I am in a whirl, I need to get a grip and then the screen goes mostly white with a message about being disconnected from the internet.

It was time for devotions, connect the modem, go read the Bible and pray, the internet fix is on the way... so when does an addict admit he has a problem? Never if he wants to wallow in his addiction.

So I go back and find, some of the bloggers haven't posted anything new since I checked on the other side of my sleep, sigh. See above, but then a couple have and I wander the thoughts placed on screen - theirs to mine - and leave a note about how I thought about hunting, and it isn't like the other comments but then different is worth leaving tracks to prove one passed by...

Seems I have just lost one computer...

I have lost the ability to connect with Blogger on one computer, so I can't post, read comments or start my security software - which seems to have been penetrated. I have disconnected it and will disconnect this one shortly. It must be those Chinese or Terrorists or fool Hackers that don't love me. The games play well on this computer.

Isn't technology without knowology just grand? Time for breakfast gruel and Olympic sports from Canadian Broadcasting on Cable, Later...

Depression about my lack of discipline...

I am such a slug, and I turned on the computer again this morning (didn't last night and you didn't miss me, did you?) and I am behind again. But I have this monster to get off my back and onto the page.

In the mail I get an offer of ten days of trial of the World of WarCraft (now that is tempting - but I have played other games against those on-line warriors and would rather fight Germanic Barbarians with the Roman Legions - and you know how that worked out - only good in The Gladiator). I also got my chance to add to the millions of dollars supporting the Candidate Osama, sorry - Barack Obama and Dino Rossi. Both of them are saying it is time for a CHANGE! For those that aren't from the Great Northwest, Rossi is the Republican candidate for Governor. I also get an envelope from the AARP for Life Insurance Enrollment - but I hadn't asked for them, do plumbers knock on my door? Nope.

Anyway, back to my depression with my disappointing me - the sad lack of discipline and loss of control of my life. Clara Hart has some real things to feel bad about and needs encouragement and I have my little angst, mine is nothing but it is mine. But I was reading Bear on a Bicycle and his note struck me as part of my problem. I seem to be concentrating on my failures, instead of the positive things I do - like I did get out of bed this morning opened the blinds and have taken my medicines (which I start cutting in half again, every other day) and made the coffee. I left a positive message at a blog that I have enjoyed for years for the blogger. Sometimes we need a reminder that we mean something to the world - they seem to ignore my wishes so well. I was telling my program manager (yes, I am part of the programmed) that the stories we need to tell the Legislature are the ones about inmates that leave our libraries and become good citizens. But then good citizens don't get in the news too much, do they? And I guess if I were jailed with Martin Luther King, Jr. during his protests and struggle I might share that, but being just a thug and a bad one that was caught and punished for it - that doesn't get aired until you are sitting in the rocker at the old folks home. Well, this morning in the email was a letter with a name I didn't recognize and was about to be deleted - like I would ever answer the people needing my help with their new found wealth and banking troubles.

"Hey Earl.

I worked for you for a few years at MICC. (I was the black gentlemen in need of a serious haircut!!!! HAH!!) You may be hard pressed to remember me as I got out in 2001, and never went back. (I attached a couple pictures to help you remember). I changed my name. As crazy as this sounds, I was just having a big old belly laugh about some of the times I had in that library. The petty things some of the prisoners were overly concerned with. I wanted to thank you for a few things.

First.. thank you for treating everyone fairly. You treated all of us the same. Like human beings, despite whatever acts we may have been involved with. I was in prison for seven years and you were the ONLY staff who behaved in a consistently civilized manner. You also didn't take any crap and I respected you for it.

Thank you for George R.R. Martin... who proved to me that fantasy fiction did not have to be silly. Until meeting you I wouldn't read any fantasy (being convinced that they were all bad Dungeons and Dragons sessions run amuck). I have been married for four years. My wife loves George Martin now and I have shouted his praise whenever it was appropriate. You were someone I looked forward to talking to everyday. In a place that was... less than hospitable. I took our discussions on adult relationships to heart, and I searched very hard for my wonderful wife, and have tried to be the best husband in the world for her.

Keep up the good work. Some of us do become rehabilitated. I am a 1/3rd shareholder in a company that produces web sites. I am also the sole proprietor of my own music publishing company, which has actually got some big projects on board to make me some money. The books you helped me to get on inter-library loan gave me the knowledge to make a living. Thanks for al your effort. I usually was way over the limit in my number of borrowed books. I want you to know I read every single one. It wasn't a waste. Thanks.

(I read your home page after googling your name). I am proud to have learned a few things from you. You may be having a bigger impact on peoples lives than you know. Maybe next time I'm in Tacoma we can get a cup of tea (I don't drink alcohol at all) and you ca meet my wife and kids. I've told her all about you.. the one nice guy in a land of jackals.

The best to you and yours,"

Well, that fits what I was saying about my focus, and what the Institutional Libraries needed in support. Of all the things I got from the Soviet Union, you with the AK's and SKS's have your treasures I have mine - I got one piece of Tactical Doctrine, remember I was a serious warrior for years and I studied. But the piece I thought was worth keeping was "Exploit Success, forget about the rest" I'd give it to you in Russian - but I never learned that, just German & Korean - one really must be able to talk with one's allies. Focus on the positive and enlarge what is working well, and remember that although one can be replaced - there would still be the void of who you really are and that makes all the difference.

ABC of me, thanks to Breda,

I know there isn't anything of interest in me worth writing but since my choice was about the Lotto tickets or filling in my blanks for the world, the small part visiting I thought I would follow Breda, fine pistoleeress that she is (why yes I made that word up, but so have hundreds of others before me-it is a perfect noun for Breda, even if she is several hundred rounds behind me in shooting - I do have years on her). Anyway, although Breda gave me the idea, the Armed Canadian convinced me to spend the time.

Airborne, Army, Awful -- oh, accent, you didn't notice but I will drop a y'all on ya, along with yens and youse guys. But that is just playing, I speak like the television news fellows and color my speech with emotion when riled, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania then North Carolina.....

Breakfast, yes, daily, old fashioned oatmeal nuked in microwave, raisins, crushed walnuts and almonds, 2% milk, mixed with medications and black coffee. Wife spoils me on weekends with eggs and such.

Chore I don't care for - wasn't that why it is called a chore? Trapping moles comes to mind, I don't take any pleasure in it, and have to be really pushed to go out and set the traps. But have done it before and will do it again, but would rather reach a negotiated settlement (but have more faith in winning the Lotto).

Dog or cat - have had both in our home over many years, we gave up - since my wife and I have two very different ideas of the place of animals in our world, and different methods of training the poor humans taking care of the animals - we gave up after giving up my son's dog. Too much heart break. I would love to have a harrier to jog with and my wife wants a toy something to smother with maternal love.

Essential electronics, my computer - did I mention I have three, two set up and one backup and I don't want to live inside them, but seem to sometimes too often?

Favorite Calogne? Whatever she is wearing that I only notice when I get nearer her neck - oh, for me? Old Spice after shave - no one ever gets that close to my neck that they would care and I don't wear it often. That bottle has been in this house about eleven years now.

Gold or Silver - I like both, have rings in various amounts, but really cold steel stirs me much more than gold or silver. Although I do think the real American Silver Dollar was a great coin to have in one's pocket.

Handbag? I wear a backpack for local motorcycling, or a messenger bag on my bicycle, but handbag, that is too metrosexual and young for a throwback like me - handbag? I am old but I am not dead.

Insomnia; I have been known to sleep through rocket attacks, my wife likes to stay up late and I like to get up early - but we both have different reasons for staying awake - and always a problem that we just haven't the best solution for --- yet.

Job title - officially: Library Associate, or hidden: Library/Archival Paraprofessional level 5 or personal one: The Library Keeper.

Kids: Had one lost one, had another and he grew up. The best reason for Earl and KC was the kid. Wish we could have been better bumblers, but still feel blest.

Living arrangements? Home in suburbia, married long time. If it needs adjusting my wife will let me know - loudly or with deafening silence (guess which is worse?).

Most Admirable Trait - I don't think I have one, or any that stand out - I think my two friends might have an answer to that but I don't want to get too proud of any of me - I do know the dark side.

Naughtiest Childhood behavior - escaping, broke out of my playpen by breaking the slats, jumped out of a second story window when I was four or five, ran away from home to join Castro in Cuba against Batista (the mountains slowed my progress to a halt and a retreat - it was only a three speed English racer and the night was dark), breaking into my home when my father locked me out as a teenager (was so proud of my son when he did the same when his mother locked him out).

Overnight Hospital Stays - only one, my first major motorcycle accident put me and my concussion in the hospital for recovery and observation. Lovely motorcycle and fool boy meet steel guard post - post wins!

Phobias - isn't that something you fear foolishly? Only long legged redheads that think I am something.... everything else I fear righteously. You can get killed out there.

Quotes - "You could be wrong, you've been wrong before."

Reason to smile - pure joy in the wonder of others and love and laughter.

Siblings - Sister, brother, sister and they are all doing well differently and the best they can beautifully.

Time I wake up - from 4:20 am early work day to seven am if I don't need to work for pay that day.

Unusual talent or skill - none, I am normal but broken in well.

Vegetable I refuse to eat - I am an omnivore - it is all food if it doesn't bite first, that makes me happy, I once didn't like lima beans and wax beans but then met C-rations and learned how bad they truly could be.

Worst habit - tapping on something or clicking a pen - I never notice. No matter what Breda says, Procrastination is an art, not a habit and I will perfect it one day when I get around to it.

Yummy stuff, watching a perfect Combined Arms attack or defense destroy a worthy enemy in combat. You either do know what I meant or you haven't ever been there, and both are fine.

Zoo animals I like most, human beings wandering the zoo, all the other animals should be free where I could enjoy missing them by my clumping along gracelessly. But we do visit zoos, sometimes, and watch the polar bears wear their fur off in frustration. Which might be why Animal Planet is so much more fun than the zoo.

See, it was interesting for me, but a bit boring for y'all. Bye!

Electronic Death ...

Playing computer games makes me happy that electronic death is reversible, going back to where one saved it, or just starting over since the pattern wouldn't change with a new character. Building Civilizations and throwing Nukes would never bother a real gamer - there weren't any real people in those cities. Kind of like watching an actor in "High Noon" get killed, he would come back to die again in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and many times between the two. Yeah, electronic death is so unreal there isn't a tear shed for the departed Master Elfen Ranger/Monk/Thief from some fairy forest- fifteen games later you don't even remember his name.

I mentioned several blogs back about the death of honey bees, and that my unscientific mind linked their going with the arrival of cell phones and GPS satellites. I now add the HDTV signals that will consume the band lengths with even better deluxe time wasters. I really think the pounding of the digital signals wasn't as harmonious as the analog radio waves were, kind of like listening to the BASS on the little lowered Honda Civic beside you at the stop light - if it never changes someone is going to die from road rage. I am probably wrong but want to blame something I recognize for the disorientation of the honey bees.

I recognize the disorientation because I want to accomplish certain things every day, and instead my good intentions suffer an electronic death. I turn on the computer, turn on the television and get lost in blogs, emails, infomercials or breaking news, weather and traffic reports. I guess I am fortunate that I don't like telephone conversations and refuse to live linked to a cell phone. When I jog I think, I don't drown my mind and body out while listening to music - maybe language instruction and drills would be worthy, but I jog with my thoughts of long legged red heads or some adventure never lived, aliens never met and millions never needed. But really, the computer and television when turned on suck all my discipline away like alcohol does to that first layer of the brain - control. I can listen to music and function, but for some reason I cannot watch without giving myself up to interacting with the medium presented. Time slides right along and I have lost a little bit more of my life.

Nice thing about the blogs and emails, they will be waiting when I have the right time and I have accomplished my goals for the day. So allow me to apologize, sign off this blog and now, and go get my motorcycle ride in for all the best reasons. To live one must disconnect from the electronic digital noise turning my brain and life into mush. Outside, there is weather to experience, people to meet and greet, go ye forth!

Problems with blogging are keeping me up...

I am, and I think therefore I 'really' AM, and I blog (verb) so y'all know I AM. Just remember I ain't the Great IAM, I always will. Yesterday was a bad day, spilled fuel on my motorcycle, left the receipt in the machine, rode off to work and other minor failures too numerous to mention. The calendar called me to the Institutional Library Services blog, another presentation to THOSE IN CHARGE next week on my time and their dime. It only exists on Wordpress and is totally private, even when we want to invite other Library Keepers from ILS they have trouble getting in and on and being so amazed at the good work. But I am getting my fill of being protected for my own good.

Wasn't Mayor Daley, of the noble Chicago dynasty, challenging me to get my gun and meet him with his in the street for a shoot out? I saw it twice on the telly and felt he thought we had to settle our differences that way. I wasn't interested, he wouldn't stand a chance against an old former paratrooper with one of Browning's finest designs built by a formerly wonderful arms manufacturer (given to me by wonderful loving wife for my birthday long ago). He knows that good law biding folks won't be coming anytime soon, he has disarmed us for his protection - although I do understand some criminals are still walking around armed and he might watch those times he goes out into the streets, but he has personal body guards doesn't he?

I fell asleep on the ferry ride away from the prison, the horn woke me and I was startled into getting oriented and off the boat before it returned to McNeil Island, I was so gone that I left my backpack with helmet and rainsuit on the boat. It had to be treated like a potential explosive package - thanks to quick radio call and my response they held it for me until I could return for it and get my chastising for making their shift less smooth than they wanted it. In Iraq the engineers would have blown it up, righteously. I couldn't have ridden my trusty Triumph down to pick it up, since I wouldn't have been wearing a helmet, so I accepted the ride in a big GM truck like the one that almost rode me down last week. Better driver and happier ending since I got my gear and rode on home. The State is certainly watching over me.

I have a anxious wife, she knows exactly how long it takes me to get there, the garage door is open and she hovers. We greet and go on in and start catching up, restoring links and covering our domesticallity. I am in for a treat, Vietnam noodles, cooked by the Korean lady love. I also get sliced cucumbers in vinegar with sesame seeds (the perfect Summer cooler) and a mug of coffee. All so welcome and totally undeserved for my wife has ripples in the harmony of our universe. She is still looking for closure on my going out and meeting two guys I don't know from anywhere for dinner on Sunday. (In Korean society if you don't have a proper introduction by people of responsible manner you are not to be trusted - ever!) Well, Sailcurt is out of here today, safe voyage, and Big Bad Wolf is so busy he hasn't written on his blog and I am okay being me mostly alone; cutting the grass, riding the bike and shooting straight all for the best reasons. But it calls me to my ripples in my harmony of our universe. The blogs that die along the way...

Skywriter was great, I looked forward every day to what wonder I would find on her blog - then something ugly came along and she said good-bye. I believe she is fine and I know she never knew I existed but I have faith that she will be rewarded in Heaven no matter what happens on Earth. About the time I start following the War on Terror in the Sandbox and various military and supporting military bloggers I find that those same stupid (did I call them stupid? they just stopped reading this) officers, that I would never follow in combat anywhere (because they don't ever lead and never know the price and can't count the cost), those officers still wear the uniform and stomp out life where ever they can't stand it. Ka-BOOM of Gravedigger fame - written by an officer not like the other ones, is dead and destroyed - only in the blogging universe. I know now why bloggers steal real blogs for archiving, since they can really disappear from the cyberspace - they are only binary code when looked at very closely. Being a prayer I honor his request and will continue to pray for him, the Gravediggers and City Girl, just because it is right and I can do no more. I also hope the fool (read stupid) officer that kicked over the switch gets smarter or sent off to a corner where he (or she) can't hurt real combat operations. But I am too much a paranoid pessimist to put any faith on that happening.

Well, only sixty minutes and one mug of coffee, black, to get my mind back to empty and greet the remainder of the day, oh and I have to go, someones are out there waiting for me. I may get a chance to greet the last of the returning 4th of the 2nd ID, but they might get in early and the evening commute may get in my way. As long as they get back safely and rejoin America at the Mall well, God Bless'em All.

My mother wants a letter and...

I am on the blog instead, better get focused (AGAIN?), devotions, letter, bill paying (1st of the month, last half of the year for real people - first half of the year for my State Government's budget) and breakfast and physical exercise (jog, body weight boring reps, hot shower and shave).

Oops! Coffee

Don't trust them enough do you? they die for you.

Just when I thought sanity had returned I am reminded that STUPID still wanders the world striking out in petty spite. And what part of Reason remains to be found in your life?

For all those of many nations that stand to fight for what I believe in, to defend their loves against the coming darkness, that feel alone and so lost in the battle --- remember that I would be there if I could, that I am here when you get back, and that I am not only one, I am legion... God bless all your best, exploit success and discard the rest, All the Way!

I'd introduce you but...

You get an offensive but interesting blogger - self-centered, profane and vulgar but very smart and often amusing - that writes something about a young boy dressed and expressed and then distressed. And you follow a fellow that looks at the world, repeats his view graphically in four panels, that really does know the why of the young kid above and wouldn't trash him for his minor flaws in talent and technique. They do need to meet each other, but they won't, for diamonds in the rough cling to grease and clay, not each other. And I am very cautious about sponsoring the meeting of a person to another - in Korea you assume all kinds of responsibility for their future contacts when you do that.

Updated as I went for the morning heart jog, I thought about drawing a picture of a skateboarder poised on the top of a chalkboard, below which stood a formal, nose in the air, school marm with her mouth open into which was dropping some black ink - from the skater's pen and ink bottle in his hand. In my mind it was a perfect picture of many things, for I think both of these bloggers are self-centered - her because she is smarter and shows her superiority so well, except for the cute character flaw of cussin' (and America forgives that so well). And him, the skater that knows where his center of balance is as he flys through the air at all times, otherwise he will not have that skateboard to cushion his arrival at solids in conjunction with the reality of gravity and physics. But by the time my jog was finished I realized that all bloggers are self centered, we really do think what we have to say is worthy and I am always hurt by how little my family pays attention to my wonderful mind on these pages (but I will get over it, honest). When I get back and am still sweating gently, I read that I have been read and was graciously noticed, which like most of my blessings I don't deserve but get anyway. Thank you very much.

About the skaters, I still believe that they are there for our opportunity to live in space in zero g's, but what do I know? The picture is my son when I was off "Saving Saudis from Saddam".

Morning has broken

I check email, some blogs, and change my blog a bit. Yesterday went well at the presentation, we have permission to build the blog and will be open for business as soon as the new Communications Officers are on board. I went to lunch with the blog building crew and then rode fearlessly home along I-5, stopping at the Triumph dealer to see if my parts had come in and listen to the motorcycle lady talk about: what they had, she has done and that I wasn't old. Yes, she was good looking and checked for the status of my parts; so I can't hold it against her that she is too kind. The various models of my size motorcycle, 800 cc, call to me to try them out.

I have been thinking about spending the money the George in his goodness gave me. I could save it for gasoline, my shirts have frayed much from washing and ironing over the years, I lust for a powerful pocket pistol (those things I lust for are too often safe from me, procrastination piles await such). I am taking notice of the dew damp grass, will attack it later after drying, the edging out front could start after devotions, breakfast and exercising. My wife is still sleeping, she sleeps hardest in the morning and I sleep hardest immediately after going to bed. I wonder if it was a life full of get your rest while you can, for something wicked this way comes to wake you abruptly. Rockets and rackets, red glares.

Nice thing about today, the weather is warm and wonderful, most of my work is done or can be delayed, the Azaleas and pink dogwood are in color and bloom against the massive dark and light greens of the forest behind the fence. Birds are out and about, bumble bees have buzzed me as I lay on the ladder to get a shot from below, then set the ladder up to get a bird's view of the yard. The wooden shoes from Wisconsin via Holland slipped on easily and walked the yard collecting damp clippings, better them than my toes and then the kitchen. Second mug of Black Coffee, it is time for devotions and betterment, may our world be more beautiful and our time to appreciate it longer.