HOT, it is so hot today...

As I woke from my nap on the ferry going to work, I saw Mount Rainier shining with snow covered slopes reflecting the bright sunlight. So I thought about you, wanted to call you, send you an email, knock on your door and take you up on my motorcycle for a run up the mountain. This day was made for such lovely foolishness.

I didn't get your attention, you didn't ride with me, and I was one of the hard working, law abiding, responsible tax paying citizens - I went to work, finished the addition of the new purchases, got the crew organized for the changes in their jobs for next week, started on the list of recommended purchases for the new budget, and helped some people find information they had to have - I was visited by one Corrections Lieutenant, and then the weekly Friday staff visitor/inspector team - which I hold is a very good way for the lone staff working only with inmates to feel a part of the institution is around and in contact.

Finally, it was time to head back to real life, where I don't have to watch the clock, check email for requests and answer a telephone or two. Home where I will be safe. And I get to ride the Trusty Triumph to get there, one stop at Office Depot for some photopaper for the printer, my wife wants better pictures to send to her family of Keegan and his parents, okay. It is a good day for the motorcycles, one chopper is waiting beside me at a light and he comments on my bike (so much lighter than his) but it is my ride so he doesn't dis it because it isn't a Harley...

After picking up the photopaper, into the backpack, and back on the road being so cool as I ride. I notice at one light a silver CTS behind me, looks kind of like my wife's, but the license plate number isn't right, but the lady does have silver white hair. It couldn't be my wife, unless she stopped at her friend's for a haircut, or the market for Korean food. The light changes and I roar off, okay it is a meeker meow not a real roar, but I am across the intersection and switching into the next turn lane, and the lady is keeping up with me. For a couple more miles that car is stalking me, too much traffic for a real getaway, but I finally take one turn she doesn't and I am looking forward to the smooth S-curve that I would pay for to do twice (and you know how cheap I am). Finally, I am home, and put the motorcycle away in the garage. It was my wife, and she only recognized me because of my bent right turn signal and the airborne wings. I must have really looked cool, so not Earl.

Abstinence works it really does...

Abstinence implies the willful avoidance of pleasures... yep, that it does and it works for me. I am working on this irritation in my mind because of the mainstream media (which haven't a soul nor moral bone in its body) which seem to have Sarah Palin as a target of their wrath. Doing it by pointing out Bristol as proof of foolishly believing in the better behavior of humanity. I wish Bristol and her child all the beauty in love and life possible and I know that she is a much better person than they will ever be.

My mother made me believe in abstinence, there were still virgins at the wedding ceremonies when I was growing up and old, seemed to be fewer each year, but at a certain age I realized that it wasn't as important as love and commitment in a marriage. But I do believe in abstinence -- really it is critical and I want to point it out.

Abstinence is the only cure for addiction to tobacco, drugs and alcohol that ravage one's life - if you don't smoke, drink or shoot up, snort or swallow those things that you will not suffer anything more than better health, and that could be very good.

For me there isn't much more pleasure than a great shot, bullet striking target in exactly the point preferred and planned, and only my practice of Abstinence has allowed flaming fools to survive to be totally stupid another day. Handgun registration, gun control and all the laws in that flaming fools of the Left and Right pass to prevent my potential criminality have no effect on my better behavior - I practice Abstinence in my use of firearms, legality be hanged it will never match my will. I am one of the GOOD GUYS!

And last just for those that assume that Abstinence has to do with SEX, I close with why I don't say anything to that hot young lady over there - between sixteen and twenty-two, American, showing lots of well displayed skin, tasteful tattoo or two, enough makeup for make out, and in general a fine figure of a woman that would arouse my male interest. First, I really think I am one of the GOOD GUYS!, second that young lady could be as young as 13 - my eyes aren't that keen, third that young lady may have taken up a commercial enterprise and I am way too cheap to pay for something I think should be part of romance, fourth the government in its intelligence may have made a policewoman go out of uniform and under the cover to catch sexual solicitors and just general dirty ol' men -- and I am one of the GOOD GUYS! or so I think.

Lastly, I want to thank Gustav Klimt for his art and appreciation of the beauty of women --- and for not being my model of better male behavior. He was a very fine artist.

Movie Review...

Well, Sunday afternoon's motorcycle ride had me meeting my ideal romantic interest at about eighty miles an hour, she in black leather on a black Japanese street racer, and I on my Trusty Triumph, she was young, slender and brunette and so lucky I am so old and very married. She waved and I answered, she was going South and I was headed North and I won't tell you what road we were on, she might be a reader of this blog (yes, I still have illusions of greatness). She did fit my pattern of women I pay attention to, but then I went to the movies today with the woman that was and still is all I ever need to pay attention to...

The movie is Fighting and I thought it was a great date movie, but then my date is usually sleeping in SciFi movies or ones with long dialogue and Elizabethan English. My date was once one of the most dangerous women I knew, but only in the most gentle manner - not one to wield blades nor blast bullets but certainly a bone breaking bruiser of improper unlady-like refinement. The story-line is a fairy tale, nice views of the grime of New York where the tourists aren't going, where people are probably carrying illegal guns but that wasn't in the story too much. Anyway, she liked the movie and all the story and all the action and that is high recommendation from her side. I loved the movie, don't know any of the actors and could care less about the director and camera guy --- except this was the first movie that by the last fight had my body twitching in response to the fight on the screen - and when I caught myself on the second block and combination I started laughing at myself - but really appreciated how difficult that was to achieve - I am not the kind of guy that gets reacting to movies like I was there - I can read to that level but not just watch, until today. If you never fought upclose and terribly personal since school yard bullying - well, you might not get it, but this movie dragged me onto the floor better than most. So if you can catch the matinee, get a military or Senior discount and aren't out getting the fields planted while the sun shines and the rains hold off a bit - it is worth the look. I will be buying it in DVD one day, just that kind of a movie that I will want to see again.

Easter in the Great Northwest, and my heart...

It is raining on Easter and the Sunrise in its glory is behind the clouds. Don't you know it is beautiful above the clouds and beyond the bounds of Gravity and Earth's grip? So often one has to be a pilot to see the beauty of our home -- far from the grit and grime of our lives. It rains here on Easter. A cool refreshing rain, turning the grass and moss into a gleaming green, rich and alive. The flowers are blooming, birds courting and flying off to safer nesting areas. It is Easter and I am reminded that Spring is a new beginning, to get started on that harvest for the returning Winter. We are blest with the opportunity to do it again, to do it even better; it is time to be about Love's business.

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.

I received my renewed Concealed Pistol License...

and no matter what the anti gun crowd says - no child has been shot, not one suicide in this home, and I have never been involved in a gun fight in the street, at the Mall nor during someone else's road rage. Of course, I respect life and fine shooting and good weapons of many kinds, that and the fact that more good things are done with the firearms than what the criminals do with them.

Today is the first day of Spring, 80% chance of rain, highs in the fifties - yes, that is motorcycle riding weather for Earl. No, I don't put on my rain suit until I have soaked to the skin, then I put on the rain suit. Work was fine, ordered the last of the books, correctly and then thought someone was telling me I had done something wrong (but it was shotgun management style - blast away -- a little birdshot bursting everyone's bubbles) and I had to learn how to submit my travel for the conference and that is all new - this being an old man is so frightening when they add easier software to help me. Okay, I am not scared, but don't like looking like an idiot to the computers - I have seen the Terminator in action, and I felt like an idiot while I played with the entries and the computer kept telling me I was wrong I couldn't go back in time - and I am looking at the machine thinking I almost wish I could.

I got two good rides in today, the rain hit before I woke, while I worked in the library, and before I left to ride home- I even saw the SUN, briefly between gray towering clouds pushed by high winds and sea gulls. Still I get a nice feeling that after a few more wicked weeks of Western Washington's Winds and Waves (the ferry slams into the floating docks!) it will really be Spring and more fun than I deserve. My vacation time has been approved for the Boomershoot!

Only one last thing to write about, opening the door to the house, seeing my wife cooking in the kitchen and her smiling and telling me that I have to take CPR training - cause her heart isn't working very well today. She got leveled, went to her doctor and then on to work, and her blood pressure is high and the results of her other tests aren't back yet. But she wants me to worry about her coming heart attack - okay, dear, put it right there beside the other stuff on the procrastination pile. I did tell her to put the salt shaker back down and don't add any salt to the dinner, there is enough in the meat naturally. I do know CPR, just don't certify frequently.

You did notice I haven't written about the President and World Shaking events? Notice that this starts with something seemingly important (the 2nd Amendment and Concealed Pistol License) and gravitates right up to the only thing that is critically important in my life - hot coffee, nice steak and vegetables and my loving wife. Yeah, I know what I might lose sleep over.

Time for the week's end...

Okay, if I don't forget I will be married about thirty-seven years tomorrow, okay, exactly thirty-seven years. I only became aware of the date tomorrow as I picked up a card in the mail box from my sister and her husband, saved! I still remember sadly the day my son came up and got my attention after dinner and a long day and said "Dad, Mom says happy anniversary." how small could I get, don't know but I wasn't a very big guy in my mind that day.

I was riding my motorcycle through the freezing cold this morning and smiling and thinking and knowing that I have achieved real status in the world, I am steampunked! Wearing a leather coat, heavy harness ring boots, Duck Bib Overalls, gauntlets, Infantry Blue knit scarf (knitted by my girl friend), wrist compass, flashlight, Zippo, couple knives, riding the Trusty Triumph and faithfully following Victorian mores - I am steampunk. Then I found out that only I understood it and everyone else was just fine with me being Earl. Ah, well it was a thought and like most art one has to understand it to get it and be got. The girl friend is gone, I married her and have to remember where to get the flowers, card and time to spend with her. It isn't on this Internet...

Scout Sunday here, and where you are, too...

So I get up early to attend the Men's Breakfast at the church, where we have invited the Scouts and their leaders. It is nice to make breakfast in the company of men and talk over coffee - about politics, foolishness and life in general. The scouts arrive and we eat and talk - I wonder where the Bobcat rank went in the Cub Scouts - some kind of Tiger Cub replaced it? I was a Cub Scout, and helped my son's den when he went through the Cub Scouts in Korea.

The best part of my morning was knowing that I am still charming the ladies. Rod told me that his grand-daughter has a special wish for her birthday. I bit and asked what that was. Grace, the charming five year old, wants a helmet so she can ride with me on my motorcycle. The long legged redheads are safe for a few more years - I have a whole new group of ladies to charm, and you don't have a motorcycle yet? Well, you have been warned, guard your daughters well.

Willie's Wednesday

I finished up in the library, left it ready to open on Friday, most of my work will be waiting on my return Monday. I am going off to learn, to study, to challenge myself and perhaps to shoot. Big storm coming in this weekend - a real tree toppler, power outages and terror. But I am off to do what I have to do. As I do, and y'all fix the financial crisis with the Congress and the coming Car Czar (why do we pick up Russian Imperialism? Weren't they overcome by Communists?). Anyway, the important story that I leave you with - isn't written by me but is so real to those that have been, Tale of Two Wars, from the Sandbox, of course. Take care out there, someone loves ya.

There are signs everywhere, I should prophesize??

I got up this morning and hit the scales, naked (don't visualize, please! it isn't polite), and I was 186.5 pounds (ain't an ounce of truth in that number), so I did it again, and was 189.0 pounds, same lie different verse, then 191.5 pounds was my high (nothing changed except time), and when the last time I got on the scale it was 186.5 pounds I decided to quit weighing - the numbers aren't really important - especially if they aren't true and you don't believe in them. So I didn't bother finding out what the blood pressure was today. Had my breakfast and got out the door to find a package from Freds in RAMSEUR, NC 27316 --- all night it had been waiting for my attention. Cool, my Marine shooting jacket (now have two to shoot twice as much), and a t-shirt that Defines Rifleman, wonderfully and has SHOOTING the only sport endorsed by the Founding Fathers, along with advice on shooting skills and TARGETS, lovely targets, lots of lovely targets. So I check it all out, and go back outside to move the garbage to the curb and put on jogging shoes, pick up the hand weights and go jog. Constuction on the short route, I back up and take the longer one. I think about riding my motorcycle last night - dark and cool, and if I am on the motorcycle and dry - that is always Cool. When I got home the lights were on, the garage door shut, I made the turn around and rode up the drive to the landing strip. Shut the machine off and back up a bit, and looking over my shoulder notice the door is open, my little garage door opener works on sound of purring Trusty Triumph and I am welcome in, to soup and salad and a kiss and a smile. About the signs everywhere? don't worry about the minutia, keep that little garage door opener working and happy --- She doesn't fear me falling on my bike, having seen that several times - what she may fear is the day I don't get up and lift it back on its wheels and ride home to her. Better do some more pushups.

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.

Carrying a weapon today, and why not? I did...

I see that why one carries a weapon is a current topic, and Concealed Carry Permits are trigger words - cute, huh? So since I was carrying a weapon today, with nary a thought about shooting someone - why did I do it?

Well, I am well trained in weapons, to the degree that once men of judgment appointed me the EXPERT on combat pistols, and rifles. So I would organize my classes, conduct practices, and qualification runs until all the soldiers were qualified. I haven't written a book nor run competition ranges, but I have trained soldiers for combat and that is enough.

Since I had the power of weapons in my hands I had to come to a philosophy that met the requirements of when to use the weapons and why it would be the right thing to do. I have that philosophy, and I know when I will use the weapons and take life. But my thoughts aren't public, and I think it is much too serious, taking life, to throw out for others to chew upon and judge me and my actions in situations still to come. I won't allow you to judge me on my actions in the past that you don't know about - you will have to trust me, as I do you.

I have said in the past that I didn't want to carry a weapon that I wasn't going to use - because it is heavy and a bit of a bother. Restrictions of carry being the most annoying, most of my life being trusted and unrestricted with weapons and ammunition I find the Gun Free Zones stupid and unbearable - why do I suffer fools in positions of power? Because I don't pay much attention to fools and don't live my life by their stupidity.

Recently I have begun to carry a weapon for the belief that I should as a responsible adult. I should love my fellow man, should help render aid to the hurt and unfortunate, that I should support good government, that I should smile and be polite. Yes, as a responsible adult I should be a good citizen and I should be prepared to do what I can to help in all emergency situations and to promote good citizenship in our youth and make the world a better place to live and love.

You should carry a weapon, you should know how to render first aid, you should know how to fill sand bags, you should be willing to step up and bring peaceful resolution to stupid confrontations, you should be polite and make the day brighter for us all. I trust you will prepare for the worst and bring about the best, really I do trust you, you are a responsible adult aren't you?

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!

What are dreams made of?

It has been a rough day; too much anxiety and restless feeble fears, the work was huge, the pace meaningful and most is done. I was caught by The Aboves in my lapses, the fax machine didn't connect even once, the telephone kept getting busy signals and the internet alone made me linked. So I close shop and head for home, thinking of girl friends - isn't that what men are always supposed to be thinking about? If they only knew the truth...

Roads were dry, I could have been going home on the motorcycle, but didn't take it to work today. I talked with another motorcyclist, has had his for two years and now has a thousand miles on it, since he only rides in the Sun, and you don't want to know how infrequently that happens up here. I have a long ride on Saturday, no girl friends there, going around Mount Rainier, poker run and barbeque. I drive to my home, and open the garage door and see that I am alone - ever wonder why I would think about girl friends? I don't get dinner tonight, have to fast for the blood work tomorrow, the final check. Still I notice my wife has done wonders and there is a picture I will share.

She has always worked, and even in our ancient aged condition she continues. And some people are blest to have the perfect profession that fits them - Joy in the Job! Meet my wife and her passion. And if you don't know that she is beautiful, you aren't looking at her heart and have missed the best part of my life.

Mother's Day ... or really passing (or paying) forward

My wife came from a strong family, father and mother, one brother, four sisters, all married and had families and have done okay - or well. I am sure success isn't measured in how many times one finds themselves in the news or hiding under their jacket as they go into the courtroom or jailhouse for testimony or treatment. It also doesn't seem to be in how many gold coins one wins or piles up in cool dusty caverns for Tom and Huck to find.

There was a Latte stand that had one of my co-workers stumped, the woman in the car in front of her had paid for her Latte. Random act of kindness and paying forward - Oprah just loves those people, and her audience will gush when she points it out and it rolls along so well. I think we have been watching 'Paying forward' during the entire history of humanity, from the farmer planting the last of his corn to bring the next crop even while his children are eating meager dried jerky and berries from last year, to the parents that carefully watch and encourage adventure and some success and failures in their children - knowing that perfection doesn't teach much about real life. As modern world connects us electronically and the government and media make us fear all the Strangers, the little random acts of kindness become significant - they are outside the norm, for today's society at least.

My wife finally found the perfect job, child care and it absorbs the 'grandmothering energy' that she is blessed with. Part-time, four hour days five days a week, and with infants and pre-toddlers. When I was in the third grade, I thought it was terrible that Soviet children had to be put in giant nurseries while their mothers slaved for the great god of Communist equality and efficiency. I liked my mother at home waiting for my return with my siblings. Ah, today's American mothers are slaving away for the lesser god of Consumerism 'one up on ya' and waste. I am taller now than then, too. Now I only pity the lost Romanian childhoods, and those children in care of the heartless government programs and employees that are only there for the paycheck and the social time with their co-workers. Mothers, grandmothers and those teachers and tender touching child care workers are all paying forward and giving generously to the next generations. And they only do it for the smile, the riveted look of wonder, for the laugh as tickled for the joy in those first steps, first words and growing strength and intelligence of the young pups. Hug them well and often, both the children and the women in motherhoods - they pay forward and I am only a guy in awe

What is picked up and what got left behind...

Monday was a good day, my foot was bad but better, my attitude positive and work went well for such a small crew. There are rumbles of things getting done. I went home and didn't turn on the computer, I already knew what was in the email and could answer it later. So I spent time with self, thoughts and worn wife watching wrestling. Wondering if the Divas get the same pay scale as the male wrestlers. She slips gently to sleep so softly snoring. I get the dishwasher loaded and soaped up then push us off to bed and better sleep under downy comforters - such little old people.

Dreams of military and large family and I get so much younger there, a celebration and a toast - and my parents disapprove of my using water to toast with - so I decide to show everyone what a drunk I can be after toasting with wine and then pouring much more alcohol upon it. I woke, because that was so not my parents, not me and definitely so young - but I did recognize that fool drinking to drunk to prove something, he was destroyed somewhere along my way.

I take my morning medications (I take everything at once - short memory) and putter around making coffee and weighing self and taking blood pressure. Then I start to unload the dishwasher and put stuff away, I could leave it for my wife - some of the stuff only she knows where it goes - but I have time and will like being thanked for it later. I notice the strange spoons, not part of the sets we have been given or we purchased, not belonging but with our stuff now. As I do coffee cups I notice the variety and the marking from different places and times far away and so long ago. Even from Grandmother's after I returned from Vietnam, but I think professional military types pick up coffee and beer mugs along with strange ways of looking at life. I know I drank lots of hot tea with honey and lemon from the beer mugs - not being a beer drinker, not being an alcohol drinker at all most of my life.

I sent my first HERO mug from McNeil Island to my son in Iraq, he complained about lack of ceramic mug for coffee - or what the Navy says is coffee. I got myself another later, I liked helping the war effort and it was just another item he could leave behind as he packed out to return to normalacy, if one ever does. We leave a lot behind, moving quickly between postings and operations and deployments and detachments. We miss some of our loved one's best moments, we are there for the other times, and it is like that dance sometimes too close and sometimes too far away, but we dance and leave behind a touch, a look and make a memory.

Gosh, I found another, one long legged redhead...

Armed and dangerous - actually I hope she is a very nice young lady with a good heart. I only ran into her because I went looking for Alien II targets at The Glock FAQ where I had been sent by the idea I would shoot a Postal Match from the Conservative UAW Guy. Like I need an excuse to go and shoot some targets.

I spent time with my wife doing administrative duties (getting a new ID card) sharing the laughter at the movies watching Leatherheads, and I got jealous that Mr. Clooney gets to ride old motorcycles with sidecars and call it a business expense. I read the write up in one of the weekly new magazines and I don't really need people being shot up and bleeding to feel entertained and enlightened. Then I felt guilty enough to cut my lawn completely and lend my mower to my neighbor so he could do his, and I raked the clippings and trash so it looks pretty good now. We are preparing for Spring and Summer and work makes my wife appreciate me a little more (she will miss me when I am gone).

I wander the blog sphere reading and commenting and thinking about what is worthy and why it doesn't match the evening news, maybe because what I find worthy is unique to me and those few somewhat like me, but always not exactly like me. Well, my jog has been gently run and it is time for the shower and slow down, maybe a little glass of wine while watching foreign films.

The one I brought to the dance...

Once long ago in far away Germany I lived in Nurnberg, was an Operations Sergeant for a great Artillery Battalion of the 1st Armored Division Artillery. The days were long, and full and I get to go home and have a fine dinner with my wife and son, then go sit in the easy chair and read or watch the news. Life for me is always better than I deserve. So I am sitting in comfort and about to zone into mellow when my four (working on five) year old son comes up beside me to get my attention. Being the great father I was, periodically, I turned to him and asked what was up. He said "Dad, Mom said to tell you Happy Anniversary!" So busted...

This is the woman that took her money and bought me my first Colt .45, the one I still load up and take to war. The woman that kept the hearth and heart fires going and sent prayers and love when I was away doing creative destruction for Democracy. This is the lady that I take to dances and would fight for at the drop of a hat, and don't ask to dance with her unless you are willing to fight me, of course she would want to dance once in a while - even with the guy with two left feet and no sense of shame nor rhythm. Rumor has it I could score points by taking the day off from work and my priorities and spend it on her and us. Sometimes Rumors are true. Bye! God, have I been blest for thirty-six great years... plus the three and a half before we wed.

Heart Healthy... alive in love...

Thump, thud, thump, thud, the heart beats on
pushing blood all day long, be it weak or very strong,
surging blood moving on, beats the heart as it sings the song.

a heart in motion, yet quiet and still --
it feeds the body, soul and will.

All too soon the music seems to stop,
heart beats cease and pressure drops,
the body dies as Life steals away,
taking Soul and Will to their Eternal Day.

Loves and lives are saddened in pain
so soon only warm memories remain.