Okay, now I am really ill....

I don't believe in Zombies, although people tied to their televisions, cellphones and such may be closer than I want to realize. Still today when I went to check with my doctor he had other specialists listed to see about how to improve me. Sigh, and my mother loves me the way I am, except for the far away and apart stuff. Anyway, my doctor wants me to see a Cardiac Specialist and get a Brain scan - anyone that knew me as a Drill Sergeant and Senior NCO would immediately know the doctor was trying to find a heart and mind - which were removed in my first NCO Academy for my future professional growth. What my doctor and I talked about is confidential, but really I wasn't buying it and probably won't anytime soon without something else changing.

I walked down to the dock today, like most days, and a bright red BMW pulled over and stopped and the window powered down, so I stuck my head down and around (hoping for that beautiful long legged red head of my mythology -- it wasn't) it was a sharp looking soldier with three metal proficiency badges above his left pocket and sunglasses on his head "Hey, Old Timer, would you like a lift?" Which is not the way to sell me a refrigerator in the Artic, Old Timer? do we know each other? "No," I answered, "I do this for the exercise and thanks for the offer." He drove off, I hadn't even been limping or anything but he was looking out for me. Ladies, he was a keeper if you could catch him... like I would know what a keeper was today.

The only other thing of note today was that I called BlogTalkRadio to make may opinion known on Gun Nuts Radio: Self Defense hosted by Breda of Library, Guns and Bacon fame. So I chatted and no one paid attention to me, and then I called and was nicely thanked by Caleb - but I probably sounded like an old man when I asked why he hadn't shot in his latest self defense opportunity - his answer was correct - the threat was gone so he didn't shoot. I also wondered but didn't ask why he was a target of the fool with the knife, what made him a potential victim? Still, since he threw his coffee at the perp I thought that was the first good move, getting his pistol out next was second, and not saying "put your hands in the air" was the third good non-move.

Okay, almost time to go get the hot shower and get to bed, I am so far behind in work and will crack the whip tomorrow. Since another doctor has my Thursday afternoon tied up in his office and lab. Can't wait to find out about the Brain Scan, I know there must be a good picture of my mind somewhere.... blank slate of course... I did get three green ball caps to use as Shoot Boss this weekend, two are perfect colors, no sewing on them yet. But the color becomes me... I hope.

sometimes small town guys go farther than one thinks...

I have always called Ligonier Valley my hometown, but I didn't live in the town and was living on Darlington Road along side the Loyalhanna Creek that cut through the Chestnut Ridge that lay West of Ligonier Valley. I left for college and then adventures with the military service of my country and its best intentions. So I think having been elsewhere and seen and done a bit I can pretend to be a ex-resident expert on small town boy goes far.

I was thinking of that at the memorial for my friend and brother-in-law, William Gerald Leibel, Jr (Jerry), today. He kind of stayed home while I was wandering but then I realized that he had traveled to England with my sister to visit their daughter in her Air Force service, had gone to Colorado for the Renasiance Fair wedding of my brother's son, gone to Hawaii to visit and attend the wedding of my son in the Navy and in love, he did get around.

The minister said kind and good words about Jerry, and knew we all cared very much about Jerry and knew he couldn't catch more than we were sure Jerry was a very good man - in a fight, in a family, in his role as father - all a very good man. But they, my sister and her daughters picked a perfect place to say good-bye, it had a long white sand road to get to the park, the creek was perfect to the jumping fish and the dolphin, the breeze was cooling and the day was fine and we remembered Jerry and our lives with him. My mother had written her memories and I and my sister read them and shared our thoughts about her memories, good thoughts.

As I thought about how small town boys leave and travel, and that Jerry really hadn't, I looked a second time and realized he wasn't frozen in that place nor our hearts, but was going out with his daughters and wife, and his son-in-laws, and grandchildren into their futures. Kind of always there, a solid reference an anchor when you wanted an expert opinion - well, their dad would have done it this way, or would have said this about that, or not said anything at all unless it was 'do you need any help?' That part of Jerry that he gave away with his love will go on into our future, and we will be happy to pass it on, wherever the road leads us.

I have to help reorganize this home...

My wife bought a new refrigerator/freezer for her stuff in the garage and that shifted this stuff and this other stuff and now we can bring the Korean Cabinet out to the garage and get more space for a chair in the guest room. And we don't need to do it now but soon, so I moved it this morning, I have enough that I should have done that I haven't done.

Among the things in the cabinet that we haven't looked at forever are the games, boxed games, cards and such. I come from a Canasta playing family that hasn't passed on to the next generation but in the Army I learned Spades, Hearts and Bridge (before Bill Gates was introduced to it). I also learned not to play poker nor Blackjack for money (Vietnam flashbacks).

Anyway the Stratego game, Uno, Global Pursuit and many others have been exposed to the air again. And the really important, RISK games - I had all three versions, have been known to play multiple boards and universes. I had a birthday in Germany and my wife invited my crew and friends and their girl friends and wives - lots of food, drink and fine looking ladies - and the men got the Risk boards out and we played the night away. There were some upset women, but what can I say? These were the days before electric gaming in one's pocket, we had to carry playthings in the tracks and back packs.

Just when you think you are hot, some game comes along and shows that you're not.

My vision is shorter than the depth of the view...

Holiday time and the world isn't as it should be, mankind looking at the ground instead of the heavens, missing the wonders. Personally, Home Depot and my wife's displeasure are upsetting my harmony with the Universe - and she won't allow me to blow the whole thing up. Nice lady is my wife. That is the woman not telling my mother the truth about her terminal cancer (which she doesn't have, but my aunt told my mother it was so - so it is). There are real sad things out there, tragic and at the same time wonderful events in the near and more distant future. Sure enough one of my brothers-in-law told me off in an email - as I rippled his harmony in his Universe (I refuse to live in his, although if he were within a thousand miles I could get to him on the Trusty Triumph and beat him up). Well, it wouldn't be worthy of my real skill and fading powerful muscles and deadly techniques - and why would I want my sister to think badly of me? There are enough problems with Earl that she doesn't need to remember the terrible fellow I was, and could become again. At church I was charmed by three beautiful young women that weren't paying any attention to me, when they smile the world is brighter - come to think of it those little children's smiles and laughter were a wonder, too. I was told I was really sounding good in the choir today, I think I said thank you - they have no idea how little I know what I should sound like, when and where, only when the director cuts me off am I on cue. As the Pastor gave the sermon on Advent, John and the future now long past I started working on a Christmas story, or my Christmas story for this year and season. Being that I told my lonely mother that she should write one for this year and of her being all alone this Christmas, another dear friend of hers died yesterday. As I get older I do notice the passing of those that were always around. Some so young and some so old and all of them loved, not enough to keep inside one's heart but wrapped around oneself like a soft warm blanket of goodness.

In my personal artist library, an artist leaves...

Today I find that Gus Arriola has passed on, I grew up on his comic strips and always thought that Political Correctness destroyed him since Mexicans couldn't be the way he drew them. But I might have been wrong. I own and recommend, if you can find it, Accidental Ambassador GORDO: the Comic Strip Art of Gus Arriola, by Robert C. Harvey and Gus Arriola. And if you can't find it I give you this link, the best ones keep getting away, but they do make a difference. My life was so much better, Gracias, Gus.