II     

 (Chapter 4)      

 BE GRATEFUL 

  10:30    

MID-MORNING SKY  

          Well God, three chapter down, nine to go.  After this chapter, just like yesterday; I'll take a break and visit Daisy but before then, in the second half of this chapter; I'll learn a lot about the Second World War.  Dawn's barking which reminds me of yesterday at this same time.

          I'm still thinking about that one skinny man who pushes his Wheelbarrow up and down the road in front of our house.  At times Daisy and I feel so sorry for him, especially on really hot days; but seeing him makes us feel more appreciative for our lives.  I smell old Mesquite.

         Mr. Steve thinks that skinny man is probably low on money so is out looking for some glass, plastic or aluminum to collect and "Cash In."  Daisy says at least he can then have some food for one more day.  Boy!  I'm so glad we don't really ever have to worry about getting food!

"HIGH" DESERT ("SAN GABRIEL" MOUNTAINS BEHIND)

            Our boss says at least that skinny man's not "lazy."   I've mentioned his customer back east in New York State named Phillip who's from Wales, where I guess they sometimes call the lazy people as being "Layabouts."  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye right now.  

            Mr. Steve's parents, and the Nuns at Saint Ferdinand's too; thought being lazy was bad. Daisy says that's why we have to "Pull our Weight" around here, and I totally agree with her on that.  Heathcliff just now crowed, and I can hear his Hens clucking happily over there.  

           My Spanish Dictionary says "perezoso" means lazy.   Mr. Julio, who does the embroidery on Mr. Steve's, Babette's, Susan and Karin's orders; uses the slang Spanish word "flojo."  Daisy told me Mr. Steve's mom, and that girl Miss Maria; say flojo can also mean "loose."   

  FANNIE AND FREDDIE

              Fannie and Freddie are coming back in from being out there in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Because they often talk to each other, I heard them coming before they even got here.  They're both now coasting right over the house, and moving toward the southwest.      

          Daisy and I've noticed how our boss gives our "Recyclables" to others.  He says these days there are many people finding it harder to "Make ends Meet" as they say.  I've mentioned a few times about how we had a big Recession and the economy is still not totally recovered.     

          In our garage is a wheelbarrow like the one that skinny man pushes around, and in there are other amazing things; like ropes or chains for instance.   I've noticed Mr. Steve has tools for digging in the dirt or cutting wood.   Oh!  Theodora just now ran bye in front of the Sheds.  

JACK, MOE, MANNY

                Against the back fence, between Manny the Shed and that clump of Joshua trees; are piles of chopped wood.  In the living room is a "Fireplace" Mr. Steve never uses, unlike some of our neighbors whose fires we can sur smell during the cold Winter.  Theodora ran bye.

           The first time I ever saw our boss using his wheelbarrow I couldn't believe what a simple yet ingenious thing to have thought of!  Yesterday I wrote about those Mirrors in our house.  As I've said, how could anyone have even thought of inventing such miraculous things? 

         Yesterday I wrote about how, the first time she ever saw herself in a mirror; Daisy jumped "A Mile" as they say.  She jokes she realized how ugly she is but, I like how she looks; and can't    wait to someday see what my own face really looks like.  Mr. Steve thinks he's now ugly.                       

DESERT SKY                                                       "PHOTONS"    

                                                                                                                                                      ARTWORK BY JFK

           Hey God!  Right now in seeing the Sun behind the Sheds I'm kind of having a feeling You might be hopefully looking at me working down here on the Patio.   Oh!  This is a good time to    look up those things called "Photons."  I totally missed that subject on my outline yesterday.        

          Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about that guy Albert Einstein, which talked about how, in the early 20th century; he wrote about things to do with photons.  My Encyclopedia says they're "an elementary particle of the boson type."  Mr. Steve says it's the "stuff light is made of."           

           I've mentioned before how there are four "Fundamental Forces" of nature, "Gravity," the "Electromagnetic Field," and then "Strong" and "Weak Interactive Forces."  A photon, which is the Greek word for "light;" is in the electromagnetic area.   Andy's sniffing the air over there.                                    

MAX PLANCK (1858-1947) / ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955)  

PHOTOBY SCIENCEPHOTOLIBRARY        

        The tv show mentioned how Albert Einstein said he "built on" work done by that other German Scientist Max Planck.  Below a picture of them together the caption says how they're    "Theoretical Physicists."  The tv show talked about photons coming toward us from the Sun.       

          Oh!  I just noticed Helen taking a break from guarding their babies, and standing next to Andy at the entrance to their burrow.  Helen's sniffing the air and I can tell by how she's looking at me she just picked up my scent from over here working on Elvira.  Daffy's quacking.                 

          Dais told me our boss's father one time joked about how, "It's a good thing there are such smart people like Einstein around because what they study is so complex someone has to try to    understand it for everyone else."  Boy!  I'm so glad about that too.  Helen went back down.                  

 URIAH HEEP (LEFT)           CHARLES DICKINS                    URIAH HEEP       

ARTWORK  BY FREDERICK BARNARD                                                                                                                                                                                                                

           This morning Mr. Steve again played that URIAH HEEP song "Sunrise," and right now I'm hearing it in my mind.  Besides the singing, the part I like is what Daisy later told me was an organ.  The four Pigeons just flew over the back desert, moving toward the northeast.                   

          Dais saw a tv show on Charles Dickens.  It said, in his 1850 book "David Copperfield" a character was named Uriah Heep like the band.  My Encyclopedia uses the words "obsequious"  and "sychophant"  to describe him.  I can really smell Andy over there guarding their hole.          

           My Dictionary says obsequious means, "insincere fawning."  Mr. Steve told Miss Susan at work the Dickens character is now associated with "fake humbleness," or a "phony" person who "pretends to be a humble person;" but is actually a "total hypocrite."  Heathcliff just crowed.            

  "BEWITCHED"  

         Daisy says Miss Susan laughed when our boss reminded her of this  1960's tv show called "Bewitched."  I guess it's about a pretty Witch who marries a normal man, and her family does not like it at all.  They end up having a pretty little girl named "Tabatha" Dais told me.                

          In the tv show sometimes the husband's boss will tell him how bad and terrible his idea is. But, as soon as the "Client" says he likes the idea; will change his mind and sometimes even take credit for the idea himself.  That's mainly because he was afraid of losing money Daisy says.        

          Yup!  Dais was right!  According to my Dictionary a "sycophant" is, One who seeks favor by excessively flattering people of wealth, power or influence."  Miss Susan laughed when Mr.      Steve said the boss on Bewitched was an example of a person like Dickens' Uriah Heep.                 

   JEFFERSON AIRPLANE               JACKRABBIT              ALICE IN WONDERLAND  

PHOTO BY B. KATZUNG

         Jack the Jackrabbit flew bye out there in the field behind the Sheds and for some reason that suddenly reminds me of the "Alice in Wonderland" story.  Daisy told me about that really    good 1960's song by the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE.  It's about a white Rabbit I guess.                    

         In the Alice in Wonderland story this mean Queen yells, "Off with their head" if she gets mad at you according to Daisy.  She says the 1960's JEFFERSON AIRPLANE song is short but,  the girl singer is so good.  King Henry VIII of England used to cut people's heads off too.              

         Dais says our boss every once in a while plays that one JEFFERSON AIRPLANE song on drums and enjoys using the Snare drum in a military type "Cadence."  She, and that other Dog    Millie; thought they should use that song in a movie or something.  Jack's scent floated in.            

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS

PHOTO BY ED CARAEFF

          Dais has told me a few times about that good band from here called TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS.  They also have an Alice in Wonderland song too, and the Video shows a      Caterpillar on a Mushroom.  I'd wear shoes like the ones Tom Petty has in the picture.                   

        According to what Daisy says, in the Video Tom Petty plays the part of that guy from the story who used to wear a big huge hat.  But, at the very end of the Video; Alice turns into a cake  and Tom Petty eats part of her.  Ugh!  That would be so painful to be eaten like a cake.                  

         Our boss told Mr. Dave he's seen Tom Petty driving around the San Fernando Valley a few times.  One time it was in Van Nuys, and another time they were next to each other at a red light on "Ventura" Boulevard.  Mr. Steve and Tom Petty just smiled and nodded at each other.                  

"BRITELING"                    SUSAN CÒRDOVA                  "HEINZ"         

          I just glanced up to see Libby walking around in her Corral, and that makes me think about how Mr. Steve's sister Susan's Horses in Connecticut are named "Briteling" and "Heinz."  She sometimes rides them down to the "Long Island Sound."  Heathcliff just now crowed.            

            Daisy one time heard our boss and his sister in Connecticut talk on the phone about how, as a girl growing up down there in Sylmar; she had that smart little Pony "Dinky."  In book one I mentioned about how they used to enter, and often win; those "Horse Jumping" contests.           

            Oh!  Mentioning Sylmar right now suddenly makes me remember how yesterday I missed on my outline writing about a man named Luis J. Rodriguez.  He has a "Book Store" in Sylmar near to Mr. Steve's parents house.  Mr. Steve and his parents enjoy going in there sometimes.                                                      

LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ             

         Mr. Steve's father described that guy Luis Rodriguez as "accomplished."  I guess, he used to be in gangs doing bad things; but now "expresses himself" by writing books, poems and other things good like that.  Hey God!  I'll bet Mr. Luis's family is so happy he does that instead.            

         Daisy says our boss's parents admire how Mr. Luis "Turned his Life Around."  He used to take drugs and drink but now doesn't, which he tells the "Inmates" when he goes to Prisons and  tries to help them be better people.  He shows them how writing can make them feel better.           

         Daisy heard our boss's father say he agrees with Mr. Luis who believes in the "redemptive power of words."  I was supposed to write about Luis Rodriguez yesterday, when I mentioned      Mr. Hussein's business in Sylmar called "Coffee & Cream."   But I missed it on my outline.          

            "COFFE & CREAM"                 

       Mr. Steve and his family like going to Coffee & Cream because they enjoy talking to Mr. Hussein.  He knows about history, especially Egypt where he's from.  Mr. Hussein is a Painter      and did good portraits of Basketball Player Kobe Bryant and that Singer Michael Jackson.          

          I guess Dais heard Mr. Steve and his father talk about how that guy Mr. Luis's Book Store in Sylmar is called "Tia Chucha's."  This Spanish Dictionary says how "Tia" means "Aunt" so,    Mr. Luis must've had an aunt named "Chucha" I guess.   Frida and Diego just flew bye.               

   According to what Daisy heard, Mr. Luis goes to prisons and teaches "Inmates" how to examine their lives.  He tells them to "Channel" any bad feelings into "Creative Writing" which might act as a "Vent."  That guy Socrates did say, "The unexamined life is not worth living."               

LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ WITH WIFE "TRINI"

          Luis Rodriguez's wife of almost thirty years is named "Trini," and Mr. Ralph thinks she's a "big help" to him at their Book Store and "Cultural Center."  Both are proud of being partly    the descendants of " Indigenous" cultures.  Daisy heard Mr. Ralph say they have four kids.          

        Mr. Steve's dad has talked to Mr. Luis about Socialism versus Capitalism, and I guess says Mr. Luis is "more inclined toward Socialism."  Mr. Ralph told our boss how Mr. Luis, when he    was a teenager; was in the same jail as that guy Charles Manson.  I smell Blinky over there.          

       From what Dais heard Mr. Ralph say that time, Mr. Luis and his wife are friends of Bruce Springsteen, and know the DOORS Drummer John Densmore.  They've worked on projects in    getting books to poor people all around the world.   I see Andy over there sniffing the air.                      

WM. E. GLADSTONE     QUEEN VICTORIA           BENJAMIN DISRAELI

                              (1809-1898)                              (1819-1901)                                  (1804-1881)                                                         

         Dais heard Mr. Luis and his wife's Book Store is on "Gladstone" Avenue in Sylmar, a mile from Mr. Steve's parent's house.  I guess Mr. Steve has a book about two 19th century British        Politicians named William E. Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli.  Andy is now looking at me.         

      William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli were "Rivals" during  Queen Victoria's reign.   William Gladstone was from "Liverpool" like the BEATLES.  I've mentioned before how Queen Victoria was born on May the 24th, which is also Mr. Steve's parents wedding anniversary.           

     Oh!  I just noticed a few Flies hovering near Andy and Helen's burrow.  Boy!  I sure hope that's not a bad sign that there will be a lot of Flies hanging around here this coming Summer,      and I know for sure Daisy would say the exact same thing too.  We both really hate all Flies!         

THEODORA 

          Ah!  Theodora just flew in, landed on the ground in front of Moe; and then ran over and jumped up into her favorite Creosote bush near Jack.   Daisy says she can tell Mr. Dave knows a lot about "Creosote" plants.  I can smell Theodora and her bush from here on the Patio.               

         This "Pechanga" Indian lady told Mr. Dave "Chaparral" can mean a Creosote plant, or a "landscape" where plants and Animals live.  She told Mr. Dave how The Pechanga had a "Trade Route" to the coast.  They call themselves "Payomkawichum" or "People of the West."                

        I guess, that girl told Mr. Dave the Chaparral plant has been used by some Indian groups for "medical purposes."  Theodora jumped down to the ground, and is now running around the northeast corner of the house at the end of the patio to my left.  I can smell Creosote.                     

"BALD" EAGLES     

                                                                                                                                                                           PHOTO BY DAVE SODERSTROM

         A while back Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking  with Miss Susan on the phone about "Bald" Eagles.  I guess Eagles are sort of like a bigger version of all the Hawks who live around here in Piñon Hills.  Oh!  Just as I mention Hawks I see one flying bye, going toward the east.                 

         Miss Susan said there are no Eagles around here anymore but some live in other areas of California.  Eagle couples share the time sitting on their eggs, until the babies are able to break    out on their own she told Mr. Steve.  Boy!  I'd really like to smell an Eagle someday.                       

           Eagle parents, in order to avoid damaging the eggs; pull in their sharp claws when walking up there in the nest.  And Miss Susan says they roll all of the eggs around, so the developing baby Eagles inside don't stick onto the shells.  I just now looked up the word "Incubation."                    

PHILADELPHIA "EAGLES"

            I've mentioned a few times in these first two books how someday I want to watch sports on tv, even though Mr. Steve doesn't really watch much sports anymore.  Daisy  told me about a  Football team called the Philadelphia "Eagles."  They have Eagle wings on their helmets.              

            Daisy heard our boss and a Parts Manager talk about the Philadelphia Eagles.  Mr. Steve "Faxed" him a line drawing of the Eagles' helmet for his kids to color.  It was from a time when  the Eagles had green helmets.  In the early 1970's the Eagles wore white helmets.                            

           Not only does Mr. Steve like how the Eagles' helmets look, he also of course likes the color green like the Oakland A's.  But now, he told that Parts Manager; the Eagles and the A's have shifted from bright green to a dark "Forest" green.  Mr. Steve prefers brighter green.                        

SINGING ROBINS

            Oh!  I knew I heard Cleo and Leo the Robins singing and now see them on a branch of the Mulberry tree.  I'm so tempted to hide my materials and take my first big break now instead of    after this fourth chapter.  I can't wait to tell Daisy about Cleo and Leo now being back.                  

          Hey God!  Thank You for how Leo and Cleo's voices are making me feel right now.  I'm so glad it's finally Springtime around here and the weather will warm up, and I know for sure Daisy and our boss feel the same.  Leo and Cleo just flew out into the desert behind the three Sheds.      

      Hey God!  Thank You, and Everyone up there too; for helping me be focused today and yesterday.  So far I've been able to go against my nature in always wanting to chase things like Rudy or Speedy.  But, I still have two more long days, twenty one chapters; still to go.                          

                ROBIN EGGS                

      I've mentioned before how how girl Robins lay sky blue eggs.  Daisy and Millie one time heard Miss Susan say, Robins have short "life spans;" and can have three groups of babies each  year.  At times Cleo and Leo, with other noisy Robins; "Roost" in the Mulberry trees.                  

         In glancing over my book two outline I see how, in the second half of this chapter and much of chapter five too; I'll write about the two World Wars, especially the Second World War.  But I also have to learn and write about a lot of other things too.  Cleo and Leo just flew off.                  

        Hey God!  I know I've said it a few times but, thank You again for having Mr. Steve take me from that field my first owner dumped me into.  Last night, in looking up at the sky while going    over today's long outline; Daisy said the three of us have a lot to be grateful for.  I agree!               

SPEEDY GONZALEZ

PHOTO BY IAN MERRELL

          Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez is over there in the dirt, and that reminds me of how that one man who came to our house knew a lot about Squirrels.  He told our boss how there are two types of    "Ground" Squirrels who live in our area.  Speedy just zipped off, out into the back desert.            

         I guess Speedy, and Andy over there guarding the burrow; are what they call "Antelope" Squirrels.  A much less common type of Ground Squirrel is the "Mojave," which the man said      you rarely see because they stay underground most of the time.  Andy's sniffing the air.                 

       That one man told Mr. Steve there are five types of Antelope Squirrels, and some of their  burrows can be over twenty feet long.  Here in California, there are two main types of "Gray"      Squirrels who live in trees.  One is the "Western" version, the other one is the "Eastern."                    

"EASTERN FOX" SQUIRREL  

PHOTO BY CATHY LORRAINE       

         The man said the "Eastern Fox" Squirrel, the "largest Squirrel in North America;" have "bushier tails" as compared to the other Squirrels.  They're not originally from California, but    were brought out here in 1904.  Adapting well to our environment, they "multiplied fast."            

        Most Squirrels have only one "Litter" per year, while Fox Squirrels have two.  They can leap over fifteen feet the man said, "spend a lot of time on the ground;" and have "sharp claws    for tree climbing."  Andy's such a good guard and I'll bet that's one reason Helen likes him.          

       Boy and girl Fox Squirrels look alike, and seem to have more "Whiskers" sticking out of their faces than other Squirrels I guess.  The man told our boss they not only have them on their  cheeks, they have also have whiskers above their eyes and nose too.  Andy's looking at me.            

       "EAGLE ROCK," CALIFORNIA       

           Oh!  I forgot to mention this area of Los Angeles called "Eagle Rock."  I was supposed to write about it a little bit earlier but just noticed it on my outline.  Daisy says our boss has been to Eagle Rock a few times and one time "Hiked" to the top of a trail to see the city below.                  

          Dais heard our boss talking to his mom on the phone one time.  He told her Eagle Rock is town named for a fifty foot tall stone mountain where, at certain times of day when the shadows  are right; it looks like the image of an Eagle on the side.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.                    

          Knowing she likes to bake things, Mr. Steve told his mom about a "Bakery" in Eagle Rock that made these Italian "Pastries" called "Cannoli."   He, Sandy and their friend Chris ate them. Mr. Steve's friend Rick's mom used to have a "Dachshund" Dog named "Cannoli."                       

"HILLSIDE STRANGLERS"                                THE "NIGHT STALKER" 

          PHOTO BY KEN HIVELY                                                                                                                        BETTMAN ARCHIVES                    

            I guess some famous "Serial" killers are "associated" with Eagle Rock.  In the 1970's two Cousins, Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Bono; both killed many girls; and then in 1985 Richard      Ramirez was called Los Angeles's "Night Stalker."  Now the other two Pigeons flew bye.                

         Daisy saw this good tv show which showed how one time that guy Richard Ramirez drew the Devil's "Pentagram" emblem on the palm of his hand.  The tv show used the word "rogue" to describe him.  My Dictionary says that means, "aberrant, dangerous or uncontrollable."          

          If someone like those stranglers or Richard Ramirez ever try to invade our two acres Dais and I would have to bite them.  And we'd do it too no doubt about it.  Sometimes I get a little too protective of Mr. Steve around strangers so then have to see how Daisy reacts to them first.                    

2014 NISSAN "ROGUE"

       According to what Daisy and Millie heard one time when they were laying in our boss's office, there's this Car called a "Rogue."  One of Mr. Steve's "Nissan" Parts Managers told him    they're small Sports Utility Vehicles.  I've mentioned how Nissan is a Japanese company.               

          Dais says the Parts Manager used the words "compact" and "crossover" to describe those Rogue Cars.  He said Rogue's are "assembled" in the State of "Tennessee," and have been out      since 2008.  A small group of what look like Sparrows are now flying over Libby's Corral.             

      Mr. Steve told his customer, in the 1930's and then World War II; "Fascist" Italy, "Nazi" Germany and "Imperial" Japan were sometimes called "rogue nations."  I'll write about it today and tomorrow.  In fact, I'm scheduled to learn about the Second World War in this chapter.          

     SUSAN, CELINA, GRANDMA CÓRDOVA           POPE JOHN PAUL II                                     TOUR GROUP                            

        MR. STEVE'S MOM, FATHER MAHAN                           JUNE, 1985                                                                                                           

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

            One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with his father.   And they talked about how, while they were travelling over in Italy and Israel in 1985; that guy the Night    Stalker Richard Ramirez was back here in California killing people.  A Crow cawed.                      

            Mr. Dave in New Mexico told our boss one time about how it was "Tongvan" Indians, who ate the "Acorns" from "Oak" trees in what is now the Eagle Rock area; who were "displaced"    by the Spanish back in the late 18th century.  I smell the little Cholla cactus over there.                 

          Now that Crow's fighting with another Crow out there in the desert and it sounds like they found something good to eat.  I wrote yesterday about how impressive it was the Tongvan women were able to figure out how to get rid of the poison in Acorns.  Leo and Cleo just flew bye.             

                            NEAR VICTORVILLE                            "ROUTE 66"                        "ARROYO SECO" BRIDGE       

         I guess our boss told his mom about driving over this bridge.  It's a section of "Colorado" Boulevard and  goes east to west through Eagle Rock.   According to what Daisy heard Mr. Steve say on the phone, Eagle Rock is right in between the cities of Pasadena and Glendale.                    

          Mr. Steve's friend Miss Helen, who worked with he and Mr. Mark at the Forum in the mid-1980's; knew the history of the "Arroyo Seco" bridge.  She and Mr. Steve, on the way to see those U.C.L.A. Football games at the Rose Bowl, drove over it a few times.  Miss Helen died.                  

       I mentioned yesterday how Miss Helen owned this house in Glendale.  She said, from 1934 through 1940;  Colorado Boulevard was a part of that one road I wrote about in book one called "Route 66."  Some of the Ducks are now quacking about something going on over there.               

HIGH DESERT         "LOS ANGELES" AQUEDUCT             SYLMAR           

        My Encyclopedia says the Arroyo Seco bridge was built in 1912, which was the year before that man William Mulholland completed that Aqueduct I've written about.  That good diagram    shows how it goes bye near us.  And I see where it goes into Los Angeles in Sylmar.                         

        As I wrote yesterday, in Spanish the word "arroyo" means "ravine"  while "seco" is "dry." We have some of those kind of areas around us in this section of the High Desert.   So when the    wind blows really hard, which it sometimes does; the flying dust hurts if it hits you.                        

     Daisy says that lady Miss Helen who died knew about this school down there in Eagle Rock called "Occidental" College.  One time our boss had a dream where he was driving to a U.C.L.A. game with her.  I've mentioned how Miss Helen was an "Alumni" and a real "Bruin."                   

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA        

           Mr. Steve one time told a guy from Glendale about Miss Helen.  He said it's "too bad" she  didn't live long enough to see a time when a person who went to Occidental College would be the President of the U.S., like right now.  And he's also the very first "Black" person too.                     

          Daisy saw a Huell Howser segment about Occidental College, and a "News" segment that said President Obama's family Dog is named "Bo."  Boy!  Bo's lucky to have the "White House" to guard.  Our boss was told President Obama admires that guy Reinhold Niebuhr.                      

        Another person who graduated from Occidental College, "Cum Laude" like Mr. Steve's mom; is a good Writer named Pat Morrison.  Mr. Steve says she's always kind of reminded him   of his old of his old girlfriend Harriet.  Both are intelligent according to what Dais heard.             

PAT MORRISON / STEPHEN HAWKING

             Oh!  A picture shows that girl Pat Morrison with Stephen Hawking.  Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone one time about articles in the "Los Angels Times" Newspaper she's written over the years.  The four Pigeons are all flying toward the northeast right now.                

           Mr. Ralph says "Pinks Hot Dogs," who I wrote about earlier; named this "Vegetarian" hot dog after Pat Morrison.  Wow!  What an "Honor" it would be to have a Hot Dog named for you.  Boy!  I'd definitely wear a hat like the one Pat Morrison is wearing in the photo.                   

             Dais says Mr. Ralph told our boss how tv shows and movies have been filmed in the Eagle Rock area where Occidental College is located.  One was that tv show Mr. Steve and Harriet used to watch called "Beverly Hills 90210."  The smell of new Spring Mesquite just floated in.               

"BEVERLY HILS 90210"      

       Yesterday I wrote about how Beverly Hills 90210 filmed scenes at what used to be the "Serra" Memorial Hospital in "Lake View Terrace."  That's where Sandy's mom got her, and      Mr. Steve; their first "Real" jobs.  "L.V.T." is near Sylmar and right next to Pacoima.                   

          Daisy heard our boss and Sandy, who had to wear a white Nurses uniform; worked at a "Pharmacy."  Mr. Steve was a "Delivery Boy."  When he first moved out here from Milwaukee    Mr. Mark lived in L.V.T. for a while.  A flock of Birds is flying toward the northeast.                      

           Mr. Mark's family now lives in Hawaii, but he lived in L.V.T. before meeting our boss in 1984; when they both worked with Miss Helen for the different sports teams at the Forum.  Two  of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the south.  Heathcliff crowed.                           

"JURRASIC PARK"      

           Mr. Ralph said parts of that Dinosaur movie called "Jurassic Park" were filmed in Eagle Rock.  I really want to see it someday, mainly because Dais and Millie thought it realistic in how  they showed what Dinosaurs looked like.  Now the other two Pigeons followed the first two.          

         I've mentioned before how in Earth's history there were three "Geologic" periods when Dinosaurs were living, the "Cretaceous," "Jurassic" and "Triassic."   And those millions of years were in the "Mesozoic" era.  Blinky, Dawn and Rosie's scents just came floating in right now.       

           It's too bad that huge six mile wide Asteroid, about sixty five million years ago; flew down from Outer Space and hit the "Yucatan" peninsula in Mexico.  That killed off almost all of the      "Reptile" type Dinosaurs. Boy God!  I'm so glad that some of the Bird versions survived.              

"JURASSIC WORLD"    

          Daisy and Millie also got to see another Dinosaur movie called "Jurassic World."  In that movie the Dinosaurs were those "Raptors."  Dais says Raptors are like miniature T-Rex's.  But,    unlike those giant T-Rex's; they hunted in packs like Wolves or some types of Sharks.                    

           Our boss says in real life Raptors were were not as big as the ones in the movie.  They were the size of large Turkeys he's read.  But they must've still been dangerous because of their sharp  teeth and claws.  A small flock of Birds is flying toward the east way up there in the sky.                

        According to this Encyclopedia, "Velociraptor" Dinosaurs lived in the Cretaceous period, which was even before the Jurassic era.  It says here "birds of prey," like Hawks and Eagles; are also called Raptors too.  Andy's over there sniffing the air and protecting their burrow.                  

2014 FORD "RAPTOR"  ("RANGER")    

          Dais one time heard our boss talking with Mr. Bob the Parts Manager, who works at that Ford dealership in Missouri.  They discussed how Ford uses the name "Raptor" to describe the "High Performance" versions of their three "Pickup Trucks."  A Train just whistled faintly.         

        According to what Daisy heard,  Ford Raptors have a unique front grille.  Instead of the usual "Oval" logos the name Ford is spelled out in big letters.  Rudy the Roadrunner ran bye in  front of the Sheds and is now going around the northeast corner of the house to my left.                 

       When Mr. Steve moved up here in 2005 he told Mr. Bob.  I've mentioned how Mr. Bob is from the "Antelope Valley," and went to the same High School as did Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.  Mr. Steve's brother Sam's family in "Littlerock" also live near that area too.                    

                 AVRIL LAVIGNE                      

            Yesterday I wrote how, in 2005; Mr. Steve took his Nieces Samantha and Cristina to that see that Canadian girl Avril Lavigne do a concert.  A short time later Mr. Steve and that guy Mr. Greg moved him up here from Sylmar.  That was in August and it was really, really hot.                

        That Avril Lavigne concert was at the "Greek Theater."  That's near the "Griffith Park Observatory," where "Laserium" used to do their laser light show.  One time our boss and Mr.    Doug remembered the 1970's when Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter worked for "Laser Images."         

         This Encyclopedia says in 1896 a really rich man named Griffith J. Griffith "donated" the land which is now "Griffith Park."  He paid to build the Greek Theater, and that Observatory      too.   Mr. Steve and his mom went to the "Gene Autry" Museum which is in Griffith Park.                          

          "GREEK THEATER"                        G.H. GRIFFITH            "GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY"

(1850-1919)       

        It must be kind of weird to have the same exact first and last name Daisy thinks.  It says here the Observatory Mr. Griffith had built was finished in 1935, the year Mr. Steve's mom was  born; three years after the birth of his father.  Two of the Pigeons flew over Libby's Corral.          

        One time our boss and Mr. Ralph talked about that Observatory.  Daisy heard Mr. Ralph say he read it was the third one built in the country, one of the first to allow "public access;"  a "Condition" Mr. Griffith demanded for giving the land.  The other two Pigeons went bye.             

         There are three "Domes" in the Observatory building, the biggest one in the middle being a "Planetarium;" the smaller ones "house a telescope and solar instruments."  In College I guess  Mr. Steve's mom studied "Greek Revival" and "Art Deco."  Those are the building's styles.              

        "TESLA COIL"                            NIKOLA TESLA (1856-1943) 

          Dais says she knows for sure if Millie would've had the chance she would've wanted to go down to the Griffith Park Observatory and see that "Tesla Coil" there.  Me too!  Mr. Steve has    seen it a few times and also those "Meteorite Fragments" nearby in the "Exhibition" area.           

          One time our boss and Miss Susan at work talked about these "Scales" at the Observatory where you can see how much you would weigh on the other Planets.  Mr. Steve jokes with people not to weight themselves on "Jupiter" because it "might be depressing."  Dawn's barking.            

     Mr. Steve and Miss Susan also discussed this swinging "Pendulum" in the Observatory's "Central Atrium," which demonstrates the Earth's "Rotation;" by knocking over one by one a line of these things called "Dowels."   I can smell Blinky and Rosie standing next to Dawn.                  

"REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE"                         "THE TERMINATOR"          

        (1955)                                                                                     (1984)               

          Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet met Arnold Schwarzenegger on her writing assignment that one time.  Daisy heard in 1984, the year our boss flunked out of Law School; he was in a Science Fiction movie called "The Terminator."  It was partly filmed at the Observatory I guess.               

         In 1955, the year he died and our boss was born; that guy James Dean was in this movie called "Rebel Without a Cause."  Daisy heard that some of the scenes were also filmed outside of the Griffith Park Observatory too.  Oh!  The Dragonfly flew over the house going westward.        

        Someday I want to see that Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, which Dais told me is about a half man half robot called a "Cyborg."   It comes from the future to kill a lady so her son won't    ever be born.  But a really brave Soldier also comes from the future to protect her I guess.                

"LASERIUM"   

       One time our boss and Mr. Doug talked about that company in Van Nuys called "Laser Images," which in the 1970's used to do that light show called "Laserium.   I've mentioned a few times before how our boss and Mark Ritter worked there then.   I smell some Mesquite.                

        Max the Hummingbird zoomed bye, but not before checking the feeder I notice; hoping it might have some of that red liquid food in it.  But, too bad it's still empty.  Speedy Gonzalez ran    through the wider right gate slot and, then totally disappeared out into the back desert.                 

         Oh!  I just noticed I was supposed to write about this really modern Jet Plane called the "F-22 Raptor."  Mr. Bob in Missouri knows about them because he knows about the company who make them called "Lockheed-Martin."   He described "F-22's" as being "versatile" I guess.                       

 WORLD WAR I AIRPLANES                                   F-22 "RAPTOR"             

                                                                                                                                                                ARTWORK SUPPLIED BY GENERAL MARK KELLEY       

         Dais says one time our boss and Mr. Bob talked about the Raptor Jets, which can be used for many purposes; like bombing for instance.  So, that means it went from physically throwing bombs from primitive World War I Airplanes; to the F-22.  That's what Mr. Bob joked.                 

          Mr. Bob described those first "Primitive" World War I Airplanes as being "underpowered and undergunned."  Some even had three wings instead of two.  Daisy told me Mr. Bob told our    boss about this new, "even better and more affordable" Plane; called the "F35 Lightning."   

          I've mentioned before how that guy Mark Ritter studied Aviation, Reptiles, Astronomy and Geology.  So, he knew about "Rock Formations;" and the artwork people have created in caves or on the side of rocks.  That lady Sister Wendy is also interested in "Petroglyphs" Dais says.                                               

ROCK FORMATION        

PHOTO BY MIKE LINDERMAN            

        Wow!  A Rock Formation Mr. Steve would like to see is near the city of San Diego to our south.  I'm looking at a picture of it right now and it does look like an Eagle the way Daisy said.  I guess, from what Daisy heard; Mark Ritter hiked out to it and was very impressed.                     

         I've mentioned that place called "Death Valley," located to the northeast of where we live down here in Piñon Hills.  It gets even hotter there than here in the Summer which, at times; is    "Hard to Believe" as they say.  But that's obviously why it got its name Daisy says.                         

        Dais told me our boss's friend Mark Ritter went to Death Valley and got permission to see some of the ancient Indian petroglyphs made there.  I guess they were created by "Clovis" type    Indians thousands of years ago.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye right now.                

       THE "ANNUNCIATION"         

          Ah!  A breeze just blew in Rosemary scent and the chimes hanging from the patio roof are ringing so, I hope that's either You Blessed Mother; or maybe You Holy Spirit.  It makes me feel calm either way because I don't feel alone.  Some Ducks are quacking over there.                            

         Hey Lord!  Blessed Virgin!  As I mentioned yesterday, did You Guys know what You looked like when You were down here living over thee in Israel?  Daisy thinks most people were way too poor to own mirrors back then.  I'm suddenly really curious about what I look like.                        

        I'd say it's about ten thirty judging by how the shadows are now shorter and slowly moving away from me as the Sun goes up on the eastern horizon behind the Sheds.  I'll bet Daisy's laying in her spot at the back of the garage now.  I can't wait to see her after this chapter.                       

DAISY CÓRDOVA

         I'll bet Daisy, as usual; has licked her paws to help her arthritis this morning.  She's so grateful there's such a thing as those "Bufferin" pills our boss puts in her food, and says her feet didn't hurt very much at all yesterday.  A chirping boy Wren is chasing a girl Wren.                       

            Last night after Dinner I again told Dais about my idea for Dog shoes and how I really do think we could make money if that idea "Went Over."  She joked about making some what are    called "Orthopedic" Dog shoes.  Cher the Cat just leapt up onto Manny the Shed.                          

           Oh!  I wonder if Cats could wear shoes because that would be another huge market too.  I remember that one time Mr. Mike talked about how, many times in history; someone "stumbles" onto a market "by accident."  Cher just now noticed me over here sitting on Elvira.                                     

  SAM / YOLANDA (WITH KIDS)                                  "REX"                               

        After this chapter, or Part One; I'll visit Daisy.  Yesterday she laid on the cement slab in front of the Garage a lot.  Our Truck Rex is next to it because at this time of year Mr. Steve does "Spring Cleaning," especially of our graveyard; and takes loads to the Dump.                                 

          I wrote yesterday how Rex is a 1977 Chevy Half Ton Truck, with two gas tanks; and a stick shift up near the steering wheel.  That's what Dais says as, I'm too afraid to ride in Rex the way    she does when our boss goes to the Dump.  I think I'll try going with them next time.                      

       I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's brother Sam's family live in Littlerock, northeast of Piñon Hills.  Sam and his wife Yolanda, who gave us Rex; have a really nice house over there with their kids Mathew, Sammy Jr. and Raqquel.  Their two Dogs are named Tito and Ozzy.                          

"MONARCH" BUTTERFLY

          Oh!  There's that same big Monarch Butterfly Dais and I both saw yesterday a few times.  I wonder if it's a boy or girl Butterfly?  Daisy says one time, when she was still living with her first owner; she saw this big Bird throw up and get really sick after eating a Butterfly.  

         As I mentioned yesterday, in Spring some boy Bird's become colorful to attract the girls but boy Wrens are always colorful year round.  Cher is up on top of Manny the Shed's roof and is now using her tongue to groom herself.  I see two vapor trails way up there in the sky.

         Wow!  Just when I was thinking about colorful Birds I see Finley the boy Finch over there sitting in that same clump of Joshua trees near Libby's Corral.  But still he's alone and not with a girl Finch.  Cher just laid down and will rest and take a nap in safety up on Manny.  

       FINLEY           

               PHOTO BY RON NIEBRUGGE                       

        That Butterfly is flying out into the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.  As I wrote in my first book yesterday, Daisy heard Butterflies bring good luck and symbolize life's changes; and I kind of want to believe seeing them does bring good fortune.  Finley just now flew away.  

        Seeing that Butterfly makes me remember how Miss Susan, who ran the local Newspaper; told our boss about Butterflies.  She said every year when it gets cold they "Migrate" all the way to California from up there near Canada.  Wow!  That's about two thousand miles away! 

        This English Dictionary says migrate means; "moving from one region to another."  Miss Susan says Butterflies bright colors warn Lizards and Birds that they taste bad and may even be poisonous.  She mentioned some colorful little Frogs who live down there in South America. 

SOUTH AMERICAN FROGS

         Wow!  A picture shows turquoise colored "South American" Frogs, and the caption says they're what's called "fluorescent" so "predators" know they're poisonous to eat.  According to what my Dictionary fluorescent means "producing light." Oh! I like how turquoise looks.

         Daisy has smelled a Frog one time but says she didn't want to lick it.  I've mentioned a few times in the last two day how Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter, who died; knew about Frogs and other things like that.  He told once how Mr. Steve "Bull" type Frogs never need to sleep.        

        Mark Ritter knew about how, for thousands of years; South American Indians have hunted Monkeys and other things.  And, like all people; they made war.  South American Indians rub arrowheads, darts and spears on the colorful Frog's backs; to get Frog poison on them.

                                                              BRAZILIAN INDIANS

                                                                                                                                                                            PHOTO BY FIONA WATSON

           One time Daisy and that other Dog Millie watched a tv show about South American Indians who live in the country of "Brazil."  Over the years our boss and his father has met people from Brazil.  They speak Portuguese not Spanish, but both languages came out of "Latin."

          I guess, from what Dais told me; some Native people in Brazil still live out in the "Jungle" and use bows and arrows, spears and these things called" Blow Guns."  She says our boss has a Blow Gun in one of the corners of his Office.  It's next to a lot of steel spears and swords.  

         As teenagers in the 1970's Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Sandy became pretty good at using bows and arrows in "Target Practice."  And Mr. Steve is pretty accurate when he uses his breath to shoot "Darts" through his Blow Gun.  Speedy Gonzalez ran bye but I won't chase him. 

   SOUTH AMERICA

             The man on the tv show about Brazilian Indians talked about what are called "Tropical Rain Forests."  I guess they're really important to the whole world's "Climate" and on the show they even called them the "Lungs of the World" Daisy said.  I still smell Speedy Gonzalez. 

            Mr. Dave has read about South America and says many are poor; especially the Native people who've lived there for centuries.  Indians need forests for "hunting and gathering" Daisy heard.  But Brazil, a poor country; is cutting down the forests for the wood or to raise Cows.

           Hey God!  Mr. Dave, who now lives in New Mexico with his wife Julianne; doesn't like it when the "Environment" You gave us is hurt just to make money.  He thinks having "too many" Cars is making Earth's "Climate" change.  Daisy heard he doesn't like "Pollution" or "Smog."                                                                                                                                         MR. DAVE ("DRUMMER DAVE")

          Mr. Dave's "Hupa" tribe have been in northern California since about 1000 A.D., and call themselves ""Natinook-wa" or "People of the place where trails return."  I've mentioned before how some people call Mr. Dave "Drummer Dave."  A flock of Birds is flying bye up there.

          It's interesting how you can also spell Mr. Dave's tribe "Hoopa."  This Encyclopedia says, the Hupa's had "almost no contact" with Europeans until the "Gold Rush" of 1849; and are one of the few California Native groups "not forced off of their homeland."   Heathcliff crowed.

         The Hupa arrived in what is now Northwestern California about one thousand years ago it says here.  They came from the north so had "traditions" but then adopted things, like "sweat lodges" for example; from the Indians already living here.   Ah!  I smell new Spring Sage.  

                                                                                 "HUPA" WITH SPEAR" (1923)   

              PHOTO BY EDWARD S. CURTIS                       

         I wonder what a Sweat Lodge is?  Oh!  A good black and white photograph shows a Hupa man standing on this big rock holding a fishing spear.  The caption says how the Hupa Indians have "fished" in the "Klamath" and "Trinity" Rivers for about about "ten centuries."

         The Hupa were just one of many Native "Bands" of "Alta" California Indians who were living here when the Spanish came up from Mexico in 1769.   Mr. Dave thinks it impressive how the Indian women figured out how to make bread from Acorns.  I love how Sage smells. 

         Ah!  It says here what Daisy heard Mr. Dave tell our boss one time, how Hupa Indians drew those "Petroglyphs" on rocks.  Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter who died also studied Petroglyphs made here in California.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying to the east.   

                               MISS JULIANNE                                                              MR. DAVE

            Daisy thinks it's so interesting how life goes sometimes.  Mr. Dave lived here in California but moved to New Mexico after he and Miss Julianne visited the city of "Taos."  Daisy says she can tell our boss thinks Mr. Dave picked a good partner in Miss Julianne.  Dawn's barking.    

          According to what Dais and Millie heard Mr. Dave say, Miss Julianne is a "very talented" maker of "Ceramics."  I remember that night looking at the Moon when Daisy explained to me ceramics is making pots, plates and things made from clay.  Mr. Steve's mom has done that.

         One time Daisy was in our boss's office and heard him talk to Mr. Dave on the phone.  They discussed those "Clovis" type people who, after the last "Ice Age;" crossed a "Land Bridge" and came over here to North America from Siberia to Alaska.  That was in about 10,000 B.C.  

                                                              "LING" THE DOG

            I just thought about how, in the Hupa language "Ling" means "Dog;" which is why one of Mr. Dave and Julianne Dogs is named Ling.  Mr. Dave, like Mark Ritter who died; knows a lot about things like "Arrowheads."  A really bright orange boy Finch just flew over the Sheds.

            Unlike our boss, who has only played drums in his houses; Mr. Dave's a "real" Drummer and has been in bands who played concerts.  One band was called RECKLESS, like that Korean War Horse I wrote about in book one.  Some Ducks are quacking but Daffy is way louder.

               Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just ran out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  And he used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to do it.  As I've said before a few times, it's so amazing how he can do that while running so fast without hitting his head on a pipe. 

MIGRATION INTO NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

(c. 10,000 B.C.)

             At the end of the last Ice Age, when the water glaciers melted and exposed that one land bridge; the Siberian people who came across were the "Clovis" type cultures I've written about.  They migrated down into what would eventually be called "North" and "South" America.  

               Mr. Dave knows most of the indigenous "Native Indians" in North and South America are Clovis cultures.  But Daisy and Millie heard him say a few times how he thinks, based on their "nautical and navigational skills;" some people here were "Polynesian."  Heathcliff crowed.

           I wrote in book one how Mr. Dave thinks some of the people who live out there on those California "Channel" islands are Polynesian.  He says he once even met this Native couple man from Brazil who are convinced their ancestors came from Australia.   I really like Heathcliff.  

                                                                   BUDDY GUY

PHOTO BY VAL WILMER             

          One time Daisy and Millie were in the house and heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Dave back there in New Mexico.  They discussed this really talented "Chicago Style" Blues    Guitarist Buddy Guy, who plays electric guitar.  I guess he's originally from "Louisiana."             

          Mr. Dave thinks that Buddy Guy is "more than just a Blues Musician."  His music also has "elements" of  "Soul," "Jazz" and "Rock" music too.  When Mr. Dave said Buddy Guy at times    seems to make his guitar "talk" or "cry," our boss told him about the idea of "Rhêma."              

       The New Testament Greek word Rhêma is said to be translated as meaning, "The Living Word."  Mr. Steve wants to think, besides simply speech or writing; music at times can give you    the same Rhêma type "inspirational" feeling too.  Libby's scent floated in from my right.                                  

                    JIMMY PAGE                 JEFF BECK / STEVIE RAY VAUGHN            ERIC CLAPTON

          Dais heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about how Buddy Guy, in the 1950's, began as one of those "Session" Musicians in Chicago.  He influenced later Guitarists like LED ZEPPELIN'S Jimmy Page and CREAM'S Eric Clapton.  And Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughn too.

              I've mentioned how Mr. Steve likes "Three Piece" bands of bass, drums and guitar.  Buddy Guy's band he thinks, inspired 1960's "Power Trio's" like CREAM,  THE JIMMY HENDRIX EXPERIENCE; and ZZ TOP.  That 1970's and 1980's band RUSH is a Power Trio. 

          I can't wait for tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to write about the best Guitarists Mr. Steve has seen play in person.  I'm so tempted to do it now but, I'd better just be disciplined and wait until book three.  A little boy Lizard is chasing a girl Lizard around out there in the dirt.  

                                                             LARRY DAVIS (1936-1994)           

           Even though I'll write about Guitarists our boss has seen tomorrow; I'll mention now a Video he and Mr. Dave like.  Daisy says it was of Stevie Ray Vaughn playing "Texas Flood" at a  place called "El Mocombo."  His three piece band is called DOUBLE TROUBLE I guess.             

              My Encyclopedia says, in 1958 when Mr. Steve was three; Texas Flood was written and done by a guy named Larry Davis.  Oh!  I notice how he was born on December the 4th just like our boss's Niece Stephanie.   The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral over there.

             Dais says our boss showed the Stevie Ray Vaughn Video to that kid Jason who's learning to play guitar.  And I guess he was totally "Blown Away" at Stevie Ray Vaughn's skill.  Mr. Dave laughed when Mr. Steve told him how he's shown that Video to a few people over the years.  

                         T. BONE WALKER                         JIMI HENDRIX                         STEVIE RAY VAUGHN                                                                           (1910-1975)                            (1942-1970)                               (1954-1990)              

                                                                                                                                        PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ                                                  PHOTO BY DAVID PLASTIK

              Towards the end of the song Texas Flood Stevie Ray Vaughn, who's a good Singer too Daisy thinks; starts to play his guitar behind his back!  Our boss told Mr. Dave he's been told he does that as a "Tribute" to both T-Bone Walker and Jimi Hendrix.  Daffy's now quacking.

              I guess T-Bone Walker, as a "Gimmick;" also played guitar behind his back too.  Daisy said Jimi Hendrix played with his teeth like T. Bone Walker. Oh!  My Encyclopedia says T-Bone Walker died on March the 16th, which is also Mr. Steve's sister Susan's birthday too. 

              Dais says Stevie Ray Vaughn, who died shortly after our boss and Miss Harriet saw him, starts slow on Texas Flood, builds up and at times seems to make his guitar talk and sing.  Daisy told me Mr. Steve's favorite Stevie Ray Vaughn song is "Scuttle Buttin."  I'd like to hear it.

STEVIE RAY VAUGHN

PAINTING BY MICHELLE RAIS        

           On Texas Flood Stevie Ray Vaughn does a "Call and Response" between his singing and then his guitar, and Mr. Rich says he has strong hands in "bending" thick strings.  He "catches" notes, does "Hammer On," "Slide" and "Tremolo" techniques.  That means to "Tremble."          

          Mr. Dave joked seeing a "magician" like Stevie Ray Vaughn play might be discouraging for other Guitarists.  To him going from lead to rhythm or rhythm to lead, like on Scuttle Buttin Daisy told me; is "Second Nature."  And he doesn't even have to see the guitar to play it.               

         One time Mr. Dave joked Stevie Ray Vaughn was like "Miles Davis on guitar."  Daisy says Miles Davis is a Jazz trumpet player, and I'll find out about him tomorrow in book three when I  learn about that 1970's "Fusion" music.   I'll also learne more about other Guitarists then too.                                                                        KING KASUALS                                          JIMI HENDRIX /  BILLY COX                                                                        

       I just thought of Jimi Hendrix.  Dais heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about how some think his only real friend in life was a guy named Billy Cox.  They met in the military and Billy    Cox played bass.  He was in Jimi Hendrix's very last group called the BAND OF GYPSY'S.          

         After they got out of the military Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox were "struggling" Musicians in a band called the KING KASUALS.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's father thinks if you have one good friend in a lifetime you're lucky.  His best friend was Mr. Garcia, and now Mr. Ivan.      

      Daisy and Millie saw a good tv show about Jimi Hendrix where that guy Billy Cox said he now in later life thinks, "Fate are the cards you're dealt at birth, but destiny is what you do with those cards."   Dawn's barking.  And I can smell Blinky and Rosie standing right next to her.                                      

              ALEX                                   VAN HALEN                             EDDIE                                 

         Our boss told Mr. Rich he saw VAN HALEN's 1984 "Sound Check" at the Forum.  Eddie Van Halen "Popularized" the "Tapping" technique, using both hands on the guitar neck; or "Fret Board."  Stevie Ray Vaughn does it at the beginning of "Texas Flood" Daisy says.                

        I've mentioned before how two of the members of  VAN HALEN are those brothers named "Alex" and Eddie."  Dais heard their parents moved the family from the Netherlands and came  to live in "Pasadena."  Mr. Dave and our boss talked about Alex having four bass drums.              

      Someday I really want to see that Video of Stevie Ray Vaughn playing Texas Flood because Daisy says our boss and Mr. Dave are so impressed, especially when he plays behind his back.  I guess, he even sings too while playing guitar behind his back.  It's so unbelievable she says.                                              2014 BUICK "ENCORE"     

          I remember that warm night last Summer when Dais and I were back here on Elvira and she told about concerts.  She says, if the audience likes how the band did; they won't leave after    the final song and keep on clapping.  So the band comes back out and plays some more music.      

           That last segment of the concert is called an "Encore," and from what Daisy heard there's a Car called that name too.  She and Millie one time heard our boss on the phone talking to one    of his "Buick" Parts Managers about that vehicle.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye right now.             

          Boy!  Today the air is clear again, which makes me feel really grateful to be back here on the patio learning how to read and write.  Daisy told me again how, compared to a lot of the first days of Spring in here Pinon Hills; yesterday was so warm.   Now the other Pigeons flew bye.         

                                     THE "UNIVERSE"                                             OUR "GALAXY"

                  Hey God!  As You know, last night after dinner we came back here and looked up at the amazing night sky You made for us.  Daisy and I talked about things I learned yesterday on our physical world You gave to us to live in down here.  Ah!  The air is so fresh right now.   

                Daisy and Millie saw that tv show about the Universe's "Fundamental" forces.  It said there are three "Known" forces which "Govern" how things in the world we can see operate.  I guess, as Dais understood it; some people divide the  third force into two categories. 

            This  Encyclopedia says the forces are "Gravity," "Electro Magnetism;" and "Nuclear."  But nuclear can be studied in two areas, "Weak" and "Strong."  Oh!  Gravity, which effects the motion of things like Black Holes, Galaxies, Planets and Moons; is the "weakest" force.

                       THE UNIVERSE                           

               Dais told me the tv show said gravity also effects all of those man made "Satellites" now going around and around the world.  It says here electro magnetism is what "directs the behavior of light."  It also "governs the motion" of an "electron around the atomic nucleus."   

               Well, it looks Dais was right again!  She said the tv show mentioned how light is actually  an "electromagnetic wave moving through space," and the two nuclear categories of the forces are really complicated and hard to to understand.  Libby's looking in this direction.

           Wow!  It says here "strong" nuclear is the "most potent" force in the Universe.  But, as Daisy joked; it's a good thing there are people like that guy Einstein around because some things are so hard to understand.   Some Scientists think there might be a fifth fundamental force. 

                                                                       "FLINDERS"    

                 I knew I was hearing a "Flicker" Bird, and now see the Bird our boss named "Flinders" on a branch out in the desert.  Flicker's say "ki, ki,ki" and Dais told me our boss described their "squeaky" voice as the sound of a "rubber duck."  I wonder what a rubber Duck is?

               This is so great seeing and hearing Flinders who Dais says is a type of Woodpecker.  Miss Susan says Flickers are "unusual" in being a "migrating" Woodpecker, and when they fly go up and down like a "Roller Coaster."  Mr. Steve named Flinders after that guy Flinders Petrie.  

                 Mr. Dave says there are Flickers over there in New Mexico too.  Yesterday in my first book I mentioned how his Hupa tribe up there in Northern California "Revere" Woodpeckers.  Oh!  I just now looked down and noticed a long line of Ants marching along on the Patio floor.

ANT HILL  

         Daisy says Flicker Birds, who often eat on the ground; have tongues that stick out to eat Bugs and things like that.  And I guess she's seen them using it to lick up Ants from the Anthills we have around here in Summer.  Flinders just flew away and is moving to the north.

        Miss Susan jokingly called Flickers "Groundpeckers" one time.  Dais heard her tell our boss that Flickers are the only known Woodpeckers who "feed" on the ground.  And, just like all the other Woodpeckers; they often knock on tree trunks in order to communicate things.

           I've never seen or heard it but Daisy told me some Flicker Birds seem to like to pound their beaks on metal things and not just wood.  One time she and Millie heard a Flicker drumming on one of the fifty five pound drums up there in the front yard near the garage entrance. 

FLINDERS PETRIE (1853-1942) WITH WIFE HILDA (1871-1957)

               Our Flicker Bird, who we don't know whether is a boy or girl; is named after that guy Sir Flinders Petrie.  I mentioned him and his wife yesterday when I wrote about ancient Egypt, and how he and his wife "Hilda" were "Archaeologists."  Flinders just flew off into the field.

            My Encyclopedia say Flinders Petrie was an "Egyptologist" who, with a lot of help from his wife; "pioneered" "Systematic Methodology" and "Preservation of Artifacts" in the field of Archaeology.   That lady Hilda knew a lot about "Geology" from what it says right here.

            I guess Flinders Petrie trusted his wife, and knew how capable she was; so even "put her in charge" of running or "overseeing" some of the "Excavations" in Egypt and Palestine.  There she "directed" workers who all trusted and "highly respected" her.  Heathcliff crowed.    

WILL (1885-1981) / ARIEL (1898-1981) DURANT   

                Daisy heard Flinders Petrie and his wife were sort of like those two Historians Will and Ariel Durant, who for a lifetime worked together as a good team or "Partnership."  In that way they were just like our boss's mom and dad I guess.  They were good parents too Dais says.

            It's interesting how Flinders Petrie met his wife because of how good an Artist she was, and Mr. Steve agrees with that because he's looked at some of the drawings she made over the years.  He showed some of them to his mom.  She at times did art to help her husband too.

           Mr. Steve read Will Durant "Willed" himself to die when his wife Ariel died.  A sick lady "Bobby" did that when her healthy husband "Bill" shockingly died.  Mr. Steve, who thinks his parents might do that; did their "Eulogies" a month apart.  Two of the Pigeons just flew bye. 

                      GEORGE CLINTON                                      PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH  BISHOP                                                                                                                                                                             

             A group of Finches is flying bye and going in a northeast direction.  Thinking of colorful boy Finches like Finley, and writing about those colorful South American Frogs; makes me think of a Musician Daisy told me about.  The scent of Mesquite just came floating in to me over here. 

            Dais saw a tv show about a "Funk" band called PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC, who were led by a guy named George Clinton.   I guess he and his band wore really, really colorful clothes.  Mr. Mark over in Hawaii knows a lot about many of George Clinton's different songs.

      According to what the tv show said, George Clinton had this Barber Shop in the State of New Jersey but closed it and went to Detroit to write songs and be in music.  Yesterday I wrote about "Motown" which is a company in that city which makes music.  I can smell Creosote.   

                                                          SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE

               Daisy says George Clinton's friend was this other Musician named "Sly" who's band from up in San Francisco was the FAMILY STONE.  I guess Mr. Steve used to plays drums along to their song about dancing.   George Clinton and Sly Stone were big in the 1960's and 1970's.

            One time Dais heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone to his friend Mark who now lives over in Hawaii.  As I've mentioned over the last two days, Mr. Mark is a good Musician.  He knows a lot about George Clinton and PARLIAMENT'S bass player named "Bootsie" Collins.

         Mr. Mark knows about the songs George Clinton wrote for P-FUNK.  He likes how George Clinton "blended" Funky music like James Brown's with the Hard Rock of Jimi Hendrix, LED ZEPPELIN or CREAM.  Some of the Ducks are quacking but as usual Daffy's louder.

      BABY "GROUND  SQUIRRELS"  

         Oh!  I just now noticed Andy and Helen's new babies standing over there near the burrow entrance.  I can't wait to finish this chapter and go see Daisy because I have a lot to tell her.  I'm tempted to just go ahead and take my big break now but I'd better wait and be disciplined.    

        One time Mr. Steve's Nephew's Sammy Jr., Dalton and Austin visited Piñon Hills and used that Blow Gun to shoot at a "Bale" of Hay set up with a round target on the front.  I'd like to try that too someday.  Andy and Helen just took their babies back down in their den.   

        Yesterday I mentioned the Brazilian Bookkeeper "Eber" who used to work for the company Mr. Steve, Babette, Susan and Karin work for.  He once told Mr. Steve about Brazil's "Pantanal" which my Encyclopedia says is a large "Wetland."  The baby Squirrels are gone.

     SOUTH AMERICA     

         I notice Portuguese is kind of like Spanish because when the ancient Romans conquered the area which is now Spain and Portugal they brought Latin.  On a map you can really see how big Brazil is.  I guess Brazil, since the 16th century; was one of Portugal's colonies.     

        That man Eber told Mr. Steve how in Portuguese "mud" is called "lodo" or "barro" but out in the Pantanal there are a few different types of mud.  I just used my Portuguese Dictionary to look up the three words, "maiadô," "lama" and "brocotó."  All mean mud too.

            Mr. Eber says "pantaño" means "big swampy place," and "cheia" is the season when rain stops and the Pantanal is "full" of water.  According to this Portuguese Dictionary the word for a pond is "baias" while a forrest is called a "capões."  I can smell some new Mesquite.

       "ANACONDA" SNAKE            

          Oh my God!  A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows what the caption says is a Brazilian "Anaconda" Snake.  I've mentioned "Boa Constrictors" and "Burmese Pythons" too.  Oh!  Just as I'm looking at this photo I see one of those Garter Snakes crawling under Moe. 

         Tomorrow in book three I'll write about Mark Ritter's "Gila Monster" that ended up living with Mr. Steve for a few years.  I'm so tempted to do it now but I'll just wait and do it according to schedule.  Andy and Helen the Squirrels just ducked under Manny the Shed.

    Daisy says Mr. Eber told our boss a "Fazenda" is a big Ranch in Brazil.  A "Poacher" who illegally hunts in the Pantanal is a "Coureiro" and people hate and kill them if they're caught.  I guess "poaching" just means to hunt things illegally without the right license.                                                            

     "RIO DE JANEIRO"       

           I guess, from what Dais heard; Mr. Eber says at times he "misses" Brazil but it's hard to make money there.  He at times dreams of  the Pantanal's skinny Wolves and colorful Birds.  My boss told him his parents came to California from New Mexico because of money too.                    

          Wow Lord!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a giant statue of You "overlooking" the Brazilian city of "Rio de Janeiro."  Mr. Eber has been there many times and told Mr. Steve how  it has a lot of really poor people who live there.   Andy and Helen ran back to their burrow.           

      Helen ran down into the hole and, as usual; Andy will stay up on top and watch out for Goliath the Gopher Snake or Cher the Cat.  Helen will go down inside and take good care of all    their new Spring babies.  A Freight Train just now whistled faintly, over there to my left.               

2014 KIA "RIO"  

         Daisy heard our boss one time talking with a "Kia" Parts Manager  about this small Car called a "Rio.  Kia is one of the South Korean Car companies.  Mr. Steve's customer said Rio's    have come in a few different "body styles" and can be run on either gas of diesel.                           

          Mr. Steve and Mr. Eber talked about these Birds Called "Egrets."  Mr. Steve told him of a place in the San Fernando Valley called "Balboa Park," where some white Egrets  live in the Lake there for part of the year.  I guess they also have some Egrets down in Brazil.                         

        A white Egret landed in our two acres once, and Daisy and Millie smelled it before it flew away to the south.  Miss Susan thinks it might've been "on its way" down to Lake Balboa and it was just resting here in Piñon Hills.  It might've seen the water in the Bird Bath she says.                                    

                 WHITE "EGRET"             

         That Butterfly just flew past again.  I wonder if it's true that, like Daisy heard; Butterflies begin their lives as worms or what they call "Caterpillars."  I looked up the word Caterpillar in this English Dictionary because it's long and sort of a hard name to spell correctly.    

         What's even more amazing about Butterflies Daisy says, is how they "live as babies in those containers called "Cocoons."  Oh!  There goes Max the Hummingbird.  But, for the second day in a row Mr. Steve didn't fill up the Hummingbird feeders with that red liquid food.

         This is also the second day in a row that Max isn't with his girlfriend 99.  Daisy noticed it too and thinks she's probably way too busy making a nest for their new Spring babies to live in.  Boy!  It would be so great to have some babies to raise and teach a lot of things to.  

     HUMMINGBIRD

           PHOTO BY MICHAEL LEVINE

         I'll bet Max is hungry!  Miss Susan says Hummingbirds feed on flower "Nectar" but also eat Insects.  This Encyclopedia says Hummingbirds and flowers have a "mutually beneficial" or  "Symbiotic" relationship. That means; "Two parties mutually benefiting each other."

         I guess Hummingbirds get nectar from inside the flower.  As they stick their long beaks way inside this stuff called "pollen" gets stuck all over them.  So, then when Hummingbirds go to the next flower, without even knowing it; they "Fertilize" that second flower with pollen. 

        Yesterday I mentioned how flowers make new babies by getting their "Pollen" on things like Bees which drink their "Nectar" for energy.  I wish I could have a baby someday God, as You of course know already.  I smell that little baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt.

                                                    CHARLES DARWIN(1809-1882)

         Miss Susan thinks Hummingbirds and flowers is an example of Charles Darwin's "Natural Selection."  I guess some flowers "Evolved" to "Discourage" nectar feeders like Bees.  Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve jokes colorful flowers could be nature's "Advertising."

         Yesterday I mentioned how that guy Charles Darwin wrote about "Survival of the Fittest."  I just noticed Libby walking slowly over there in her Corral and, even though she's old like Daisy and Rosy; has survived into old age.  Andy's over there guarding the entrance to their hole.

         Daisy and Millie saw this tv show about these two 1930's era Dancers named Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.  Dais told me she thought of them one time in seeing Max and 99 dancing and playing the way they sometimes do.   A Lizard is doing pushups over there on the wall.   

                  DANCING HUMMINGBIRDS                                     GINGER ROGERS / FRED ASTAIRE (1930's)

                A photo of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire might be a black and white "Print" which has been "Colored" in the way Mr. Steve used to do. It says here Fred Astaire "revolutionized" and "pioneered" how "musicals" were "filmed."  Boy!  I kind of like the shoes they wore.   

               Daisy, knowing I like to dance; told me about this tv show where talented dancing couples compete to "Win the Contest."  Hey!  We should start a school to teach other Dogs to dance.  It would be a win-win situation because we could make money while doing something fun.

          For some reason I suddenly just now thought about that type of food called "Fruit."  Daisy told me about it even though she's never eaten any fruit.  I guess it's sweet and one time she and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Ralph about "Pomegranates."

                                                                  "POMEGRANATE"

                                               PHOTO BY RIDVAN ARDA                                                                                                                                      PHOTO BY DAVID GOMEZ                                                                       

                Dais says our boss told Mr. Ralph of a Magazine article by a Jewish girl who wrote about the "Symbolism" of that fruit Pomegranates.  Boy!  I'm lucky to have this Dictionary because I'd never have been able to spell Pomegranate.  No way!  Daisy loves the color red.

            I guess the Jewish girl wrote how the Pomegranate, "is considered by many cultures and traditions to be a fertility symbol for life and renewal."  Dais says our boss told Mr. Ralph his parents have a Pomegranate tree in their backyard in Sylmar.  I smell Andy and Helen.

           The girl wrote Pomegranates went to the "Iberian" Peninsula, where Spain and Portugal are now; from ancient "Mesopotamia."  The Prophet Mohammad "cherished" Pomegranates so they influenced Muslim "Moors."   As I've written, Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula.    

         HOMER (c. 8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.)              KING SOLOMON( c. 1011-928 B.C.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ENGRAVING BY GUSTAVE DORE

           Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph the Magazine article about Pomegranates was written by this girl named Debbie Wohl Isard.  She said Pomegranates were "mentioned" by that Greek writer Homer and King Solomon too.  Andy and Helen ran down into their burrow. 

       Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Ralph about how he likes drinking Pomegranate juice but only after all the seeds are already taken away.   I guess Pomegranates have a lot of seeds in them.  I    know for sure, because her favorite color is red; that Dais would just like how they look.               

           Miss Debbie compared Jewish history to a "many-seeded" Pomegranate.  As I've written about before, since ancient times Jew have had a few "Diasporas."  This Greek Dictionary says    the word "diaspeirô" would be translated as being to "scatter" or "spread around."                      

   QUEEN ISABELLA OF "CASTILLE" (1451-1504)

        Miss Debbie said the Pomegranate, "appears in Christian artworks and was invoked as a symbol of Queen Isabella of Spain."  I've mentioned over the last two days how Mr. Steve went    out with that girl "Debra" after Harriet broke up with him in 1995.  Dawn's barking.                    

         As I wrote in book one, the North African Muslim Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula way back in the 8th century A.D.  Then, for about the next seven hundred years; the Spanish and Portuguese fought brutal wars to kick them back out.  The scent of Juniper just floated in.           

         I've written about how the "Reconquista," or re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula; ended at the very end of the 15th century or 1400's.  That's when Queen Isabella and her husband King Ferdinand reunited what is now "Spain."  They "Once and for All" evicted the Moors.                               

       MIDDLE AGE JEWISH "EXPULSIONS"

          As I've written before, once Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand "Unified" Spain; they told Jews and Muslims they either had to "Convert" to Christianity or leave.  In Portugal they made  the same rule I guess.  A map shows how many times Jews have had to move in Europe.                 

        My Dictionary says "Diaspora" means, "any movement or migration of people away from an ancestral homeland."  That's the Jews alright!   Assyrians, Babylonians and later the Romans under Titus; forcibly and violently slaughtered and then removed Jews from Israel.                       

         I hear the faint sound of a "Chain Saw" being used by someone way over there on the other side of our dirt road named "Primavera."  Bravo Company, who must've been under one of the Sheds; are now using the gate slots to go out into the back desert.  I can smell them now.               

                                                                         MR. MIKE

            My boss has a few different types of what they call "Hand" saws but when he needs to cut a tree or something big he hires Mr. Mike to come and use his chain saw.  I like when that happens because then I can listen to them talk about things.  Mr. Mike seems so talented. 

              One morning, as they loaded Rex the Truck with things to take to the Dump; my boss told Mr. Mike about a Shark that lived millions of years ago at the time of the Dinosaurs.   It's called a "Buzz Saw" Shark because of it's teeth.  Benjamin the Cow Bird just ran bye right now. 

               Oh my God!  A painting in this Encyclopedia shows a Buzz Saw Shark and now I get why my boss told Mr. Mike the lower jaw was a "circular saw blade" to cut through hard things like Turtle Shells.  Mr. Steve read that some people think it may not have been a Shark. 

                                                             "BUZZ SAW" SHARK

ARTWORK BY RAY TROLL

             The Buzz Saw Shark's scientific name is "Helicoprion" and the caption under the picture says they lived about 290 million years ago in the "Permian" period.  They grew to be forty feet long.  I've mentioned how most Dinosaurs went "Extinct" about 65 million years ago. 

         Buzz Saw Shark's "spiral-toothed" lower jaws are  described here as a "cluster of teeth" called "Tooth Whorls" I guess.  Glancing over there to my right I can see good old Libby walking slowly around her Corral but her tail is swatting away Flies.  Ah!  We hate all Flies!

         I just thought of how Dais and I miss Molly the Mule who died.  Thinking of her suddenly is making me think about Donkeys.  Yesterday I wrote about that husband and wife from Barstow who knew a lot about the abandoned wild Donkeys here in the California deserts.

"CALIFORNIA DESERT" DONKEYS

         Daisy told me our boss and that man and his wife from Barstow discussed about how, some people don't like wild Donkeys because they eat up all of the food that Bighorn Sheep, Kangaroo Rats and some Lizards need.  I smell Libby.  She has such a pleasant scent.

       As I mentioned in my first book, Donkeys "Originated" in North Africa but were taken up to Europe.  My Encyclopedia says, since the 16th century when the Spanish brought "Burros" here; they've been doing "arduous labor" in the New World.  Libby's looking over here.  

       That lady from Barstow told Mr. Steve about how some people kill wild Donkeys but don't even shoot them in the head to kill them quickly.  They purposely "Wound" the poor Donkey so it dies slowly and in pain.  Dais and I think they should punish people who do that.  

                                                           19TH CENTURY GOLD "PROSPECTOR" WITH DONKEY

                                                                                                                                    PAINTING BY ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ

         A painting in my Encyclopedia shows a Gold Miner who came to California in 1849 and he has a friendly-looking Donkey with him.  The caption underneath describes Donkey's as "hardy" and "loyal."  But, back in the 1920's; Cars and Trucks made them "Obsolete." 

         I guess few people expected those "Ditched" Donkeys to be able to "Fend for Themselves" but they surprised everyone and survived.  In fact Daisy says, they "multiplied" fast by having a lot of other baby Donkeys.  Miss Susan says Donkeys "helped build America."  

        Daisy told me that the man from Barstow saw our little graveyard on the south side of the Driveway.  He said there are probably thousands of Donkey bones in the deserts and no one will ever know what hard workers they were.  Dais and I both like being "Appreciated."       

"MOLLY" ("LIBBY" IN BACKGROUND)

            Daisy and I can tell our boss misses Molly the Mule, and we won't ever forget her strong smell.  At times Libby seems sad being all alone over there in her Corral without her friend, who at times even seemed to be protecting her.  I smell Dawn over there barking at something. 

          What a coincidence that I now remember how hard Molly kicked the fence when she was sending out a message to that Mountain Lion walking back there on Primavera Road.  Daisy and I were smelling Dawn, Blinky and Rosie then too.  I wish I could smell Libby once more.

               All of a sudden I just thought of that really good song about the sleeping African Lion by that singing band the TOKENS.  I heard it that one time but look forward to someday hearing it on our boss's Stereo in his bedroom.  A little Sparrow with a twig in its mouth just ran bye.

                    SOLOMON LINDA                     LION FAMILY                         THE TOKENS

                I've only heard a few songs but so far my all time favorite singing song is the TOKENS' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."   Over the years I guess Mr. Steve has played it for people just to see their reaction.  Most of the time they're very surprised by the creative singing patterns in it.

            The Lion Sleeps Tonight was originally an African Folk song written by that guy Solomon Linda, but in the early 1960's the TOKENS just "Americanized" it.  Boy!  It's too bad Solomon Linda ended up dying poor and probably never even knew how successful his song was.

            Daisy says our boss played The Lion Sleeps Tonight loud for Jason, who noticed how the TOKENS "used their voices as musical instruments."  I really like that one girl who's singing in certain parts of the song.  Mr. Dave joked the harmonies on that song are like the BEE GEES.     

              MID MORNING SKY                       

               Hey God!   I feel so good right now in feeling the Sun's warmth coming down here to me sitting on Elvira.  It makes me think of how lucky the three of us are living in Piñon Hills, with a home and enough food and water.  Andy's over there sniffing the air in protecting the burrow.

           That one couple from Barstow, in addition to knowing a lot about Donkeys and things like that, seemed to have studied Mountain Lions too.  The lady also said how her daughter wants to someday be one of those "Veterinarians" I've mentioned before.   Andy's looking at me.     

          Oh!  Mentioning that couple makes me remember how this morning, when I wrote about those guys Simon Rodia and Ed Leedskainin; I forgot to write about Elmer Long.  He lives out in the desert up there north of us between Barstow and Las Vegas.  I smell some Creosote.

     ELMER LONG ("BOTTLE RANCH") 

           Mr. Randy visited "Bottle Ranch," which was built by that man Elmer Long; who lives in the desert with his wife of forty years.  Mr. Elmer, all by himself over many years; made metal      sculptures and used colored bottles to decorate his two acres.  We live on two acres too.                 

           Daisy heard Mr. Elmer also used things like his mom's old mirrors, to rifles mounted on metal poles; to make art.  You could tell Mr. Randy was really impressed by the Bottle Ranch.  I  guess the words "eclectic" and "idiosyncratic" have been used to describe Elmer Long.                

        From what Mr. Randy said, Mr. Elmer worked at this "Cement Plant" near his property, and was able pay for three sons to go to College.  Now it's just he and his wife "Linda" who live  out there on his land.  There are some puffy clouds up there in the beautiful high blue sky.                 

ED LEESKAININ                                               SIMON RODIA      

  (1886-1951)                                                                                   (c.1879-1965)    

          Boy!  Mr. Elmer sounds a lot like those other guys Ed Leeskainin who built the "Coral Castle" in Florida, and Simon Rodia who spent all those years constructing his "Watts Towers"  in Los Angeles.  A Sparrow with a twig ran bye.  Andy's over there guarding the burrow.               

       Mr. Steve told his mom about Elmer Long, and she totally understands his "impulse to create" saying; "At least he's not lazy." Mr. Randy said he "doesn't care" a lot about money and believes in that idea I've written about "Art for art's Sake."  Andy has such a unique scent.          

          Hey God!  I guess that guy Mr. Elmer's wife says her husband used to be "easy to anger," with a "bad temper;" but now "channels his aggression" into his art.  Mr. Steve's mom liked it    when she was told about Elmer Long and thinks he was smart to do that.  I really agree!               

                     "SERGEANT PEPPER"                                  HITLER ALMOST ON ALBUM COVER     

           I just thought of that one BEATLES album which shows them in front of a "Collage" of people, one being that guy Simon Rodia; who built those Watts Towers.  I mentioned earlier how originally an image of Adolph Hitler was intended to be in the collage.  A Train just whistled.        

       One time our boss told Mr. Chris, who grew up in "South Central" L.A. and got us our blankets; Elmer Long sounds more like Simon Rodia than than he does like Ed Leeskainin.  Mr.  Randy said there's "no charge" for going through the Bottle Ranch."  I smell the baby Cholla.     

           According to what Mr. Randy said that one time, Mr. Elmer was in the "Marines" just like Mr. Steve's father.  Hey Lord!  I guess he and his wife help the poor like You said to do.  Boy!  It    would be so great to someday go visit their Bottle Ranch and see how it smells and looks.               

                                                                                          "ROUTE 66" HIGHWAY

                  Mr. Randy noticed Mr. Elmer knows about the history of that Highway "Route 66" I've written about.  He told an older  lady visiting his Bottle Ranch a few things about it.   Theodora just ran around the northeast corner of the house to my left at the far end of the Patio.   

            Theodora knows Mr. Steve puts out food and water for the Birds, Squirrels and Rabbits who live here.  I mentioned yesterday how at first he hung the Hummingbird feeders outside his office window in the front of the house.  I think I can smell a new Spring Marigold plant. 

          Male Hummingbirds like Max , though small; can be aggressive and will fight way bigger Birds.  I wrote in book one how our boss moved the Hummingbird feeders back here to the Patio for that reason.  That's great for us as Daisy and I really like looking at Hummingbirds.  

VIEW FROM MR. STEVE'S OFFICE WINDOW

        I'm thinking about the area in front of Mr. Steve's office window.  Two Bird Feeders filled with Bird seed hang from a tree.  As I mentioned yesterday, for all the Quail; Mr. Steve mixes in  that Chicken "Scratch" with the Bird Seed he spreads all over onto the ground. 

        I just glanced up from my work in time to see Fannie and Freddie the Crows flying over the top of the house after being out in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Freddie's got something hanging out of his mouth.  I know it's food that he'll go and share it with Fannie.

       Crows sometimes will land on the Bird Bath Mr. Steve fills with water up there in the front yard.  They're smart and often dip or soak their food in the water to make it easier to eat.  Daisy and I have seen them shred to pieces dead Mice, Gophers and Lizards up on that Birdbath.

DEVO

               Oh!  The wind just blew a tiny tumbleweed rolling bye and for some reason that suddenly makes me think of DEVO'S good song about the snowball.  I've mentioned a few times in these first two books about how DEVO are originally from "Ohio."  Heathcliff just now crowed.

           Fannie and Freddie are flying bye again but this time they're coming back in from being out in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  And as they so often do, they're talking to each other as they go along.  They just went over the top of the house moving to the southwest.       

          What the heck!  Seeing the rolling tumbleweed going bye makes me think of that one old 1950's Blues song called "Rollin' Stone."  I'm actually not really scheduled to write about it until tomorrow in my third book but, I just suddenly sort of feel like mentioning it now too.

                                                           MUDDY WATERS( 1915-1983)

               I've mentioned a few times how Daisy and Millie saw that good tv show about the history of Blues music.   This Encyclopedia has a picture of a man named Muddy Waters who, the caption says; is the one who did that song Rollin' Stone.  I really like the hat he used to wear.

          From what Dais saw on the tv show, and it also says here too; Muddy Waters was originally from Mississippi.  But he's now "known" for, and is "associated with;" Blues music made up in the city of Chicago.   Theodora the Thrasher Bird ran bye with a Bug in her mouth.

          In the picture that man Muddy Waters looks like he would be a really friendly person.  The caption says he was influenced by that earlier guy Sun House who I mentioned this morning.  I know one thing for sure, his song Rollin Stone sure did influence a lot of later musicians. 

                 ROLLING STONES                                                              BOB DYLAN

              That band which I wrote about yesterday in book one called the ROLLING STONES were named after Muddy Waters' song.  And during the same period, the early 1960's; that guy Bob Dylan wrote a song called "Like a Rolling Stone."  Donald and Daisy are quacking over there.

            Daisy says one time she and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Ralph and they discussed Bob Dylan's song.  I guess Mr. Steve said, when he was about nine years old; for some unknown reason he decided to memorize the lyrics on that song.  I smell Mesquite.

         Ugh!  Dais thought it was so funny when that one big tumbleweed being pushed by a strong wind seemed to be chasing me.  But I'm a fast runner and I'm also good at dodging or avoiding  things.  There's a dirt road named "Tumbleweed" near the city of "Victorville" Dais heard.

                                                                  "TUMBLEWEED"   

               Thinking about how really cold the winds were sometimes this Winter makes me suddenly shiver.  As I've said a few times already in these first two books, at times it snows and the freezing cold wind comes down off of those San Gabriel mountains.  Heathcliff just crowed. 

                 Daisy and I feel sorry for that homeless man Mr. Mark and his Yorkie Dog Karman when it's really cold or hot around here.  But Mr. Steve told his mom on the phone one time how Mr. Mark's skin looks like leather.  That's what Daisy remembers him saying to her.

               If I were a musician I'd like to write a song which influences other Musicians.  One time a man at the Sylmar Library told our boss he thinks Muddy Waters' song might be about one of those homeless "drifters."  I don't think I'd like to be a drifter.  No way!  Ugh!  Ugh!  

                                                                                            MR. MARK / KARMA  

                  I've mentioned how Mr. Mark sometimes sings while listening to that small "Transistor" radio.  Some think him crazy but once you get to know him you realize he's pretty smart from what Dais heard.  Even girls at the "Stater Brothers" store like him and little Karma too.

                 One time Mr. Steve told his father on the phone about Mr. Mark and Karma.  When he and his brothers and sisters were growing up back there in Jarales there was this short, stocky little man named Severito Padilla.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye.

            "Severito" walked around Jarales but, in his case; he had a few Dogs instead of just one like Mr. Mark's Karma.  And those Dogs followed him around wherever he went.  Because he'd been very sick as a baby, people thought Severito had some "Mental Problems" Dais says.  

                                                                                "JARALES" (NEW MEXICO)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                I guess, because everyone in Jarales knew Severito they were tolerant when he did unusual things or said weird things like, "Lo mas yo y tu savenos."  That means "Only you and I know."  He at times would even walk into people houses or places like the Church during Mass.

                 Mr. Steve's father laughs when he remembers that guy Severito.  I've mentioned how, in Spanish if you say "ito" or "ita" at the end of a word or name; that means "small."  But Daisy says, even though he was small, Mr. Steve's dad says Mr. Severito was very, very strong.

           Hey!  In some ways that guy Severito is a good example of "Comedy and Tragedy" being "Interrelated."  And, he was sort of like that ancient Greek Philosopher "Diogenes" who was a homeless "Cynic" in the City-State of "Athens."  And Dogs followed him around too.

                                                                                          DIOGENES (c.412-323 B.C.)

PAINTING BY JEAN-LEON GEROME                                                                                                    PAINTING BY THOMAS CHRISTIAN WINK 

                Diogenes and his Dogs lived in this big clay pot in Athens, according to the tv show Daisy saw about him.  My Encyclopedia says he "criticized the cultural social values and institutions" of Athens and was later made a slave and "exiled"to "Corinth."  I can smell Blinky.

               Daisy says the tv show said one time Alexander the Great wanted to meet Diogenes and he asked him if he could do anything for him.  Diogenes said, "Yes, stand out of my Sun."  Dais says that means he told a King to get out of the way of the sunlight he was blocking out.

          I guess Alexander the Great wasn't mad at Diogenes but, that other guy Plato was when his lectures were interrupted by Diogenes.  It says here in Corinth Diogenes' teachings, to his student named Crates; ended up later becoming "Stoicism."   Little Blinky's small but brave!

ALICE IN CHAINS

                 Daisy saw a Video by one of those early 1990's "Grunge" Rock bands about a man who lived in a box.  She thinks the song might be about a homeless person and the band's name could come from that girl Alice in Wonderland.  That Flicker Bird I saw earlier just flew bye.

            Mr. Steve has only heard that one song by ALICE IN CHAINS, but likes the singing and grinding music at the beginning.  He and Mr. Dave talked on the phone about how one of those "Talk Boxes" I wrote about yesterday is used.  The Video looks like "Sepia" tones he says.

             I guess, down in San Fernando and Sylmar; there's a guy named "John" who's like that guy Severito in New Mexico.  My boss told Mr. Dave about some of the funny things he's done over the years.  The community is also patient with him because he's a little "slow." 

                   MACLAY BOULEVARD        SAN FERNANDO              ELKS LODGE                          

                People in San Fernando have "Contrived" jobs for that guy Mr. John to do.  Given a nice badge, he was "Security" at the "Elk's Lodge," where Ritchie Valens played.  John's not dumb but, Mr. Steve said if a Southern lady says "Bless his Heart;" that means you're not smart.

            When Mr. Steve was in the "Knights of Columbus" he worked on "Bingo" nights where John was "On Duty."  John wanted to personally "Escort" each old lady, like Grandma Trujillo for instance; from their Car and into the hall.  He got very upset if someone else did it.

             One time John caught a kid stealing a pencil from a store owned by Mr. Steve's father's best friend Bill Garcia.  I mentioned yesterday how Bill Garcia died and our boss and his father went to his funeral at that Church in San Fernando called "Santa Rosa."  Dawn's barking.

     MIKE ANTONOVICH / MR. STEVE'S FATHER (1985)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

              The L.A. "Supervisor" Mike Antonovich, who Mr. Garcia had worked for; said his main "Eulogy" at Santa Rosa.  That was 1995, on the same exact day O.J. Simpson was "Acquitted" in his "Criminal" trial.  Mr. Steve's father at times really misses Mr. Garcia Dais says.

             Mike Antonovich was was also the person who helped appoint Mr. Steve's father as the L.A. "Grand Jury Foreman in 1985.  Later, all that controversy happened because Mr. Steve's father recommended they reopen the Marilyn Monroe case.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.

             When that guy John caught the kid stealing Mr. Garcia patted him on the back and told him, "Good job John, so now I want you to get a rope and we'll give you the honor of hanging him.  John turned white and almost fainted.  But then Mr. Garcia said he was kidding.     

                                                                                     NEW MEXICO "RETABLOS"

ARTWORK BY CATHERINE ROBLES SHAW

                   Ah!  I smell Rosemary Blessed Mother, and that makes me think about how back there in New Mexico; some Artists make things called "Retablos."  Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about them on the phone.  I guess Retablos usually have Christian themes and images.

                My Encyclopedia says a Retablo is a "form of religious expression" where the artist first "carves" an image on wood and then paints it.  Oh!  That sounds like it would be so much fun to do!  Speedy Gonzalez just whizzed bye in front of the Sheds so now only dust is left.   

                Since 1598, when the Spanish showed up; traditions were brought to New Mexico and one was called "Devotional" art which is what Retablos are.   I guess some people paint sculptures made from "Tin."  Blessed Virgin, I have a feeling many Retablos were made for You.

                              JIMI HENDRIX                                           ROBIN TROWER

                                                              PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ

               I've mentioned that guy Jimi Hendrix a few times and how someday I want to see the big framed picture of him playing at "Woodstock" hanging in Mr. Steve's bedroom.  As I said in my first book, it was given to our boss by his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich.  Dawn's barking.

              Dais says one time on the phone our boss told Mr. Dave he thinks that, if Jimi Hendrix had not died in 1970; he might've eventually gone back to playing Hard Rock in the style of this one  English guitarist named Robin Trower.   Now Blinky's barking too.  I like his voice.

          I guess, from what Daisy told me when we were putting together my long outlines; our boss has Robin Trower's 1974 album called "Bridge of Sighs."  At times Mr. Steve tries to play along to it.  Daisy's heard that Bridge of Sighs album and thinks it's really, really good.  

PROCOL HARUM

             Daisy says our boss also has an old vinyl record of the band Robin Trower was in before he had his own band.  They were called PROCOL HARUM and their album was about a Dog made out of salt Dais told me.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye and moving to the east.

         From what Daisy heard our boss say, PROCOL HARUM "don't sound anything like" what Robin Trower did on Bridge of Sighs.  I guess they once played their songs with a big Classical Music Orchestra.  They had a song about a Spanish Conquistador too Dais says.

               I've never heard any songs by Robin Trower but Dais has and told me you can tell he was influenced by Jimi Hendrix.  On the Bridge of Sighs album, which came out when Mr. Steve was at Valley Junior College; there's a good song called "Too Rolling Stoned."  I smell Sage.

                                                                                                                                                       "VENICE," ITALY                                          

             Right now I'm actually studying my book three outline because I'm writing about things that were scheduled for tomorrow.  I'll go back to talking about the name "Rolling Stone" in a minute.  Wow!  Some good pictures of the Italian city of "Venice" are so amazing!

              One night we were looking up at the Constellation "Orion," which I've mentioned a few times.  Daisy and I discussed how Venice is unique in not having any roads but only those water "Canals."  Venice began in the 6th century A.D. when people fled Attila's "Huns."   

          Dais was right in telling me that, to get around in Venice; you hire these guys to row you around in long Boats called "Gondolas."   I guess, when Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha was in High School; she and some of her classmates got to visit Venice.   Boy!  She's so lucky!

                                        "PONTE DEI SOSPIRI" ("BRIDGE OF SIGHS")

              I guess that guy Robin Trower's song, and album; are about a Bridge in Venice called the "Bridge of Sighs."  Daisy was right because she told me, and I can see from the picture; it's more of an enclosed arched Hallway.  And it goes across from one side of the canal to the other.

             One time Dais heard our boss say on the phone he was told that 19th century writer Lord Byron gave that bridge in Venice it's name.  My Encyclopedia says in Italian it would be called the, "Ponte dei Sospiri."  Speedy Gonzalez just zipped bye and left some dust floating.

          At the time she went to Venice I guess Samantha didn't know about the Bridge of Sighs and doesn't remember her group seeing it.  Daisy heard her and our boss talking on the phone about Robin Trower's album which she and her boyfriend Rick now really like.  I smell Sage. 

                                                                                                                                                             ROXY MUSIC                                                                MARILLION                                                                                                                                            PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA 

               Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his Niece how that band ROXY MUSIC, and this other English band called MARILLION who he and Harriet saw; "referred" to the Bridge of Sighs in songs.  I've mentioned how ROXY MUSIC'S song "Virginia Plain" is kind of my theme song.

               I guess one time Mr. Steve was told by an older lady from Italy how young married couples often kiss under the Bridge of Sighs for good luck.  And that's kind of "Ironic" because actually it was a walkway for criminals and prisoners of Venice.   A Cow Bird just flew bye.

               I've mentioned before how, in the 1980's and early 1990's; Mr. Steve made extra money as a Photographer and his brother Rock in Texas is a good Photographer now.  So they've worked at weddings and things like that.  Couples come here to take pictures on "Mormon Rocks."

                     RODERICK "ROCKY" CÓRDOVA                         ROCK / JUDY 

                 I mentioned yesterday how, in the 1980's and 1990's; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock in Texas worked together at Weddings and events like that.  Mr. Steve did the "Still" photography, his brother "Videotaped."  That guy Mr. Vic at times also videotaped some events too.   

           Daisy says sometimes our boss and his brother worked separately and one time a customer "Sued" Mr. Steve's brother and they ended up going onto the "People's Court" tv show.  I guess Mr. Steve sister Susan in Connecticut was also on the People's Court too.  I smell old Sage.

          Mr. Steve's brother was the "Defendant" on People's Court, while his sister was what they call the "Plaintiff;" so was one doing the suing.  Both "easily" won their cases because they were "organized and prepared" our boss believes.  Well, it's back to the name "Rolling Stone."

                                                        "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE

              Boy!  I guess Muddy Water's song was so popular that, in the 1960's; they even named this Magazine after it.  Daisy told me our boss still has a few past issues, or "Editions;" of "Rolling Stone" Magazine.  Two Crows are really yelling at each other, maybe fighting over a girl.  

              Oh!  I just thought of something.  Instead of waiting until tomorrow in my third book to write about a Writer named Hunter S. Thompson, I can do it now.  I guess he's partially famous for some of the things he wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine.  Ah!  The air's so clear right now!

              Daisy heard our boss tell his friend Rick on the phone one time about that Writer Hunter Thompson, and how his style is now called "Gonzo" journalism.  But I guess, according to what Mr. Steve heard; Hunter Thompson "partied" way too much.  Heathcliff just crowed.

        HUNTER S. THOMPSON (1937-2005)                              "DIRTY HARRY"

                  PHOTO BY MICHAEL OCHS                                                                                                                                                                                                  

            I guess Hunter Thompson was in the U.S. Air Force for a while.  This picture shows him aiming one of those big .44 caliber "Magnum" handguns just like the one Clint Eastwood used in the movie I mentioned in book one.  The caption says that gun is one of those "Revolvers."

           Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Rick how a character in the "Doonesbury" comics was based on Hunter Thompson, and a movie was even made about him I guess.  Boy!  It would be so great to actually have a movie made about you.  Frida and Diego are flying bye right now.

           My Latin Dictionary says the word "magnum" means great, so Daisy was right when she guessed it really just means big in size.  The caption below the Hunter Thompson photo says his handgun is a "Model 29" six shot "Smith and Wesson." It's "Barrel" is eight inches long. 

20214 CASE "IH MAGNUM" 200  (340 MFWD) TRACTOR 

                 Daisy says one of our boss's customers told him how there have been a lot of Cars called "Magnum."  First Chrysler and later Dodge had vehicles with that name, and so did Chevrolet and European companies like Renault too.  Heathcliff's Hens are clucking over there.

             The Parts Manager said that Japanese company Mitsubishi has used the name Magnum.  A one hundred year old company from Wisconsin, called "Case;" have built Tractors under the name of Magnum too he said.  A Train just now whistled faintly over there to my left.   

            Oh!  My Encyclopedia says in 1965 that guy Carey McWilliams, who I mentioned in book one; hired Hunter Thompson to write an article about that one Motorcycle club called the "Hells Angels."  In 1965 our boss was ten years old.  He was in the 5th Grade at St. Ferdinands.

                          "HELLS ANGELS"                                                 GRATEFUL DEAD

                   It says here in 1965 that guy Carey McWilliams, who himself was a good Writer too; was the "Editor" of a Magazine called the "Nation."  This is interesting.  In 1965 Hunter Thompson, while in San Francisco; lived near that one Hippie band called the GRATEFUL DEAD.   

             I guess, in 1967 Hunter Thompson wrote an actual book about the Hells Angels and Mr. Steve read it.  I'll bet he did such a good job on the Magazine article someone then hired him to do a longer book.  The scent of the two Twin Joshua's just came blowing in on a breeze.

          Oh!  This is a good place to talk about a 1930's Oklahoma Policeman "Jelly" Bryce.  I was supposed to write about him yesterday but missed him.  Dais says a tv show called him a "quick shot," or "fast draw."  That means he could pull his handgun out and shoot it really fast.   

JACOB ALDOLPHUS BRYCE (1906-1974)     

                  My Encyclopedia shows Jelly Bryce, who was famous for using a handgun; holding one of those "Thompson" machine guns.  I guess in those days a man who "dressed well" was called a "Jelly Bean."  Theodora just flew bye right now and is now going out into the back desert.

            Before  dying; a criminal said to Jelly Bryce "I can't believe a Jelly Bean killed me."  He, like that girl Annie Oakley; could shoot coins out of the air and like "Wild "Bill Hickock believed in that one old saying, "He who shoots first shoots last."  I wonder what a Jelly Bean is? 

            All of a sudden I just thought about those scary "Tornado's" I mentioned yesterday.  In Oklahoma, where that guy Jelly Bryce was from; they have some huge ones from what a tv show Dais saw said.  As I wrote in book one, how they "Originate" is still not totally understood.   

OKLAHOMA "TORNADO" (1898)

                I'm looking at that one "Composite" picture I wrote about in book one.  It's actually two photos combined into one, the way people do now by using those computers.   It was made two years before the 20th century started, and the caption says it shows a tornado in Oklahoma.

           My Encyclopedia says most tornado's happen to the east of the "Rocky" mountains but, if "circumstances are right;" can happen anywhere.  The three States where most tornado's occur are Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  Mr. Steve's brother Rock and his two sons live in Texas. 

           Daisy one time heard that kid Jeffrey, who wants to be a "Meteorologist;" explain to our boss what tornado's are Dais says.  He told him, "If inside of a storm horizontal wind runs into a strong vertical updraft, it gets pushed upward into a spinning current of air."  I smell Sage.

TORNADO DAMAGE (OKLAHOMA / 2013)

PHOTO BY GENE BLEVINS

                 According to what Daisy heard that kid Jeffrey say, "Once the updraft starts pushing the horizontal wind upward, it funnels that wind into a fast rotating cylinder.  That cylinder starts to narrow, gets stretched out; and starts going faster and faster."  Frida and Diego flew bye.

            Last May Daisy one time watched the News with Mr. Steve, and it showed the damage a really powerful tornado did in Oklahoma.  Buildings were knocked down, Cars thrown around like they were really light and even piled up on each other.  I can smell Andy over there.  

            Oh!  That makes me think of the tv show Daisy and Millie saw about those Dancers in "Turkey" called "Whirling Dervishes"  The spin around like a tornado in their dancing and it's totally amazing.  Hey God!  Maybe part of it is they're trying to connect with You up there.

                                        RUMI (1207-1273)                                  "WHIRLING DERVISHES"    

       PAINTING DEAGOSTINI                                                                                                 PHOTO BY GURCAN OZTURK      

                I'm not really scheduled to write about those spinning Dancers right now but, I just feel like mentioning them.  Miss Babette's father told Mr. Steve's parents about them one time when they met at "Yum Yum's" donut shop in Sylmar.  He seemed to be very impressed by them.  

          My Encyclopedia says that Islam "Sufi" Poet "Rumi," who I mentioned yesterday in book one; liked those Whirling Dervish Dancers.  Daisy told me they wear a round "Skirt" like a girl would wear, so when they get going dancing it really looks good.  Andy's looking at me.

          The man on the tv show said those Dancers begin slowly like that GENESIS song "Musical Box."  They spin in a "Counter Clockwise" direction and gradually, also like in Musical Box; gain momentum and then amaze you.  Mr. Steve says he would get too "dizzy" doing it.  

 "HAGIA SOPHIA" (ISTANBUL / FOERMERLY "CONSTANTINOPLE"))       

            Dais says the tv show mentioned how, some of those Whirling Dervish Dancers are in that  Turkish city of "Istanbul;" where the "Hagia Sophia" is located.  Hey God!  Mr. Steve's father thinks dancing that way is probably kind of like a "meditation" or "prayer."  I smell Sage.

           Hey Lord!  As You know, Miss Babette's family is "Greek Orthodox" Christian; and Miss Babette's father noticed how during Whirling dance they recite that book the "Quran."  Robert Trujillo of METALLICA can spin around with his bass like a Whirling Dervish Dais say.

          Mr. Steve's father thinks those Whirling Dervish Dancers probably get "mesmerized" or "hypnotized" when they spin around fast.  Each dance lasts "about ten minutes" from what Miss Babette's father said.  That one band SYSTEM OF A DOWN have albums with those titles. 

WHIRLING DERVISHES

              Mr. Dave says one of his old Motorcycle Shop customers in "New Jersey" told him about a band from there called the WHIRLING DERVISHES.  They came out in the 1980's he said, and used the word "alternative" to describe them.   There's an extending vapor trail up in the sky.

         Our boss told Mr. Rich down there in Sylmar Mr. Dave's customer said that WHIRLING DERVISHES were kind of "dark pop."  Mr. Rich is also from New Jersey and played guitar in that band DRAGPIPE.  The WHIRLING DERVISHES liked ROXY MUSIC I guess.  

           Later this afternoon Daisy has me scheduled to find out about things that live in water.  A Shark on my outline is called a "Spinner" and Daisy says one of Mr. Steve's customer in Florida talked with him about them.  Oh well!  I might as well write about Spinner Sharks now. 

                                    "SPINNER" SHARK                                 "GREAT WHITE" SHARK

                 Mr. Steve and that one Parts Manager back there in Florida talked about how all those Spinner Sharks swim through a school of Fish.  Then, they suddenly go upward and bite a Fish as they jump or spin out of the water.  All four of the Pigeons are flying toward the east.

            My Encyclopedia says Spinner Sharks, also called "Requiem" Sharks; can grow to be ten feet long.  They're fast swimmers I guess, who generally prefer "shallow warm tropical" water; and will eat almost anything.  Libby's scent just came floating in from over in her Corral.

           One time our boss and Mr. Dave talked about Sharks who leap or jump out of the water. Using that technique as part of a "Feeding Strategy" might just be another example of Charles Darwin's idea about "Evolution" through "Natural Selection."  That's what our boss thinks. 

"BLACK TIP REEF"SHARK       

                Daisy says she and Millie heard our boss talking to Mr. Mark about how Spinner Sharks look like bigger versions of "Black Tip" reef Sharks in Hawaii.  But Mr. Steve told him, Spinner Shark's "Dorsal" fin is "shaped differently" and "set further back."  Dawn's barking.

           This Encyclopedia says what our boss told Mr. Mark, how "generally" Spinner Sharks are not a "threat to people."  Their teeth have "evolved to grasp slippery Fish" and not so much for powerful biting.  Bravo Company is now going bye out there in the field behind the Sheds. 

               Out there on Primavera Road a Motorcycle just zoomed bye.   I heard it coming from far away and now the sound is starting to fade, but I can see the cloud of dust it left floating up into the air.  Boy!  How was anyone even able to invent such an amazing thing like a Motorcycle? 

                                               DAVIE ALLAN AND THE ARROWS  

               I'll write more about that Hell's Angels Motorcycle group tomorrow.  I guess, from what Dais told me; our boss likes the "Fuzz" guitar music by a band called DAVIE ALLEN AND THE ARROWS.  They played the "Soundtrack" music for some of the 1960's "Biker" movies. 

           When those Biker movies came out, Mr. Steve was not supposed to be allowed into certain what they called "R" rated movies.  But he and his friends, without their parents knowing; snuck in to see them anyway.  I guess, from what Dais says; R stands for the word "Restricted."

               Daisy says Hunter Thompson killed himself with hand guns, just like Adolph Hitler.  Those guys Ernest Hemingway and e NIRVANA'S Kurt Cobaine used shotguns to commit suicide.  Mr. Steve thinks it's very "selfish" to kill yourself by "creating a mess for others to clean up."

      FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT(1882-1945)                            HUNTER S. THOMPSON

              I notice how, in a picture of that guy Hunter Thompson; he smoked cigarettes at the end of a tube just like President Roosevelt used to do too.  Yesterday I wrote how Mr. Steve and Sandy smoked, only out of curiosity; for about a month.  They didn't think it was that great.

              My Encyclopedia has another photo of Hunter Thompson aiming this really long-barreled handgun which the caption says is a .45 caliber "Magnum."  I mentioned yesterday in book one how Mr. Steve has guns in our house, including that "Shotgun."  I smell Mesquite.

         It says here that Hunter Thompson was in the Air Force and began as a "sports writer" but over the years also covered politics.  Oh!  He was supposed to "cover" the Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman fight I wrote about yesterday, but was too drunk to write anything.

                                                                                    BRIAN JONES (1942-1969)

               Oh!  I just noticed that I forgot to write about how it was Brian Jones who named that one  band the ROLLING STONES.  I missed it on my outline but in mentioning Hunter Thompson I think of Brian Jones.  Samson and Delilah the Ravens are flying bye right now.

          Mr. Steve thinks Brian Jones probably also drank and took too many drugs too.  He named the ROLLING STONES after Muddy Waters' song.  Like Hunter Thompson, toward the end of his life he was more and more "unpredictable, erratic and unreliable" Mr. Steve heard.  

          I guess Brian Jones, who started the ROLLING STONES; later drowned in his swimming pool.  "Negotiating" the ROLLING STONES first concert on the phone, the "Promoter" asked the band's name.  They didn't have one yet so Brian Jones had to "Think Fast" as they say.  

                    BRIAN JONES (1942-1969)                              MUDDY WATERS' ALBUM

              Daisy says our boss heard that Brian Jones had to quickly think of a name for his band.  He glanced down and saw a Muddy Waters' album and "By Chance" it was called a "Rollin' Stone" so, in the "Spur of the Moment;" the "ROLLING STONES" were born.   I smell Sage.

               Mr. Steve says Brian Jones was the original leader of the ROLLING STONES and was the one who "Recruited" the members in 1962.  I guess he was a good Blues Guitarist, especially in using one of those "Slides" I've written about.  Libby's walking slowly around her Corral.

          According to what Dais heard our boss say, Brian Jones not only played guitar and sang on some songs; he also played keyboards, saxophone and harmonica.  And, he could play drums;  as well as the sitar which I've mentioned before.  Heathcliff is still crowing a lot again today.  

                                                   JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

           Someday I'll be able to hear Jimi Hendrix's version of Bob Dylan's song "All Along the Watchtower."  Daisy heard the guy on a tv show say Brian Jones played on the beginning of that Jimi Hendrix song.  Mr. Steve's favorite Jimi Hendrix song is "The Wind Cries Mary."

              All of a sudden writing about that guy Hunter Thompson a few minutes ago makes me now think of guns.  And that makes me think of the different Clint Eastwood movies she and Millie got to see.  I guess Clint Eastwood, like Hunter Thompson; also uses huge handguns too.

          I can't wait to someday see a "Western" movie like the ones Daisy's told me about.  In my third book she has me scheduled to learn a lot more about them but, I can mention a few things today too.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye talking to each other as they move to the east.

                                                      THE "DOLLAR" TRILOGY 

              Oh what the heck!  Even though Clint Eastwood is mainly in my book three outline, I just kind of feel like mentioning those three 1960's "Spaghetti" Western movies; called his "Dollars Trilogy."  I think both of my nostrils just smelled what might be brand new Spring Sage. 

               One of those three movies is called "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly," and it has a song of that name in it.  A Video of a full orchestra with a male and female choir was made of that song.  A girl even uses her voice as a musical instrument, and also whistles too according to Daisy. 

          In the Video the "Danish National Symphony," performing the song The Good, The Bad and the Ugly; use bass, drums and guitar with the orchestra and choirs.  There are good horns and strings used.  I want to hear that song someday because Dais thinks a flute is played.  

METALLICA   

          One time Mr. Dave told our boss how METALLICA, who are from here in California; play part of a song called "Ecstasy of Gold" before concerts.  It's also from the movie The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, and has a really talented girl Singer in it.  A Train whistled faintly.      

             I guess, Mr. Dave and our boss like the subtle use of the "High Hat" on that song The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.  They both chuckled and were amused when on the Video they saw a guy playing two wooden "Slap Sticks" on one section.  A flock of Birds is flying toward the east.

         Dais told me Mr. Dave and our boss talked about how, on the Video of the Danish National Symphony; the song "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly is combined with Ecstasy of Gold.  Daisy says behind the orchestra and choirs is a big picture of Clint Eastwood.  I smell Mesquite. 

SERGIO LEONE (1929-1989)    

                 One time Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave in New Mexico talk about that Italian man named Sergio Leone.  I guess, he "Directed" the three Clint Eastwood movies; and is the reason why they're called "Spaghetti" Westerns.  Frida and Diego are flying over Libby's Corral.

            Mr. Dave knew about that guy Sergio Leone, who died at age sixty I guess.   Dais heard our boss say his two favorite "movie opening scenes" are "2001 A Space Odyssey;" and 1968's "Once Upon a Time in the West."  Sergio Leone Directed that last movie too Daisy told me.

            For the first ten minutes of Once upon a Time in the West there's almost no talking at all Dais noticed.  Mr. Steve likes how Sergio Leone uses extreme "Close Ups" of people's eyes, and the way he frames "Wide Angle" shots.  A Train whistled faintly as it went bye to my left.

"ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST " (1968)

                  Dais heard that movie Once Upon a Time in the West came out in 1968.   It begins when three killers, on a really hot day; are waiting for a Train to arrive so they can kill a man on it.  He ends up playing a harmonica when he gets off of the Train.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.

            While the three mean-looking guys wait at the Train Station sweating like crazy the only sounds in the opening scene are creaking wood as the men walk around, water dripping, a wind mill blade turning.  A pesky Fly bothers one of the men too.   Daisy and I really hate all Flies! 

                When the Train finally does come in Daisy told me, the three killers at first think the man they're supposed to kill isn't on that Train after all.  But then, the Train leaves; and you see this man on the other side of the railroad tracks playing that harmonica.  Heathcliff just crowed.   

CLIMAX OF OPENING SCENE

                 Daisy says in that Sergio Leone movie the three men start to pull out their guns to shoot the man.  But, unfortunately for them; he's way too fast for them and kills all of them with three bullets.  Mr. Dave thinks the opening scene from Once Upon a Time in the West is so good.

            Mr. Dave read, had he not died Sergio Leone was thinking of making a movie about the World War II "Siege" of Leningrad; which I'll find more about later.  He was also considering making "Don Quixote" into a movie.  I guess he wanted to remake "Gone With the Wind." 

            Hey Lord!  Sergio Leone worked on two of Mr. Steve's favorite movies, "Ben Hur" and "Quo Vadis."  Daisy heard that's what St. Peter asked You when he trying to escape from that Roman Emperor Nero trying to kill him.  Quo Vadis is Latin for "Where are You going?"   

                                                                   "DIRTY HARRY"   

              Daisy told me Clint Eastwood is famous for being in Western movies but she and Millie one time saw another movie where he was a "Detective" up there in San Francisco.  And like Hunter Thompson, he used an extra big sized handgun.  Dawn's barking about something over there. 

          I sure hope Mr. Steve plays that song The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on his Boombox this year when he comes out here to do yardwork.  Dais says it's such a great song that has everything in it, like horns, strings and other musical instruments too.  Ah!  Now Blinky's now barking.

          According to Daisy, in that song The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, one of the Singers kind of sounds like a talking Coyote.  It's the most unique singing in history she thinks.  And she told me, there are sections of that song where someone actually just whistles a good singing part.  

                                                                       "AWEN"

              This morning I wrote about the concept of "Awen" and in both of my books I've at times referred to how, in the Bible; "Rhêma" is Greek for; "The Living Word."  Mr. Steve thinks both concepts can, at times; be applied to music.  And Dais and I now want to agree with that too. 

            Dais, like I did with GENESIS'S song "Musical Box;" had almost a "Spiritual" feeling in hearing the singing and music in that song The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.  The singing is so  amazing and so are the horns and musical instruments too.  I smell some Juniper.  

            I'll bet Daisy, like myself; is up there wondering when we'll get our first snack of the day.  A Train just whistled faintly over there to my left, or north.  For some reason hearing that Train is now making me think of all those Western movies Daisy is so lucky to have seen. 

                                                      "THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY"

               Oh what the heck!  Even though the subject of the history of "Western" movies isn't on my outline until tomorrow, I kind of feel like learning about it now too.  The very first "Movie" was that Western called "The Great Train Robbery."  Heathcliff is crowing over there.

          As I've mentioned, for about the first thirty years of making movie's there was no sound in them.  And, beginning with The Great Train Robbery" until today; there have always been some Western films and tv shows I guess.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye.

              I wrote earlier how that "Inventor" Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were "Rivals" when it came to their competing systems for generating electricity.   And, Thomas Edison was the one who first created a "Motion Picture" camera.  The scent of Mesquite just blew in. 

                THOMAS EDISON (1847-1931)                  NIKOLA TESLA (1856-1943)

           Oh!  What a coincidence that, just as I mention that guy Nikola Tesla who should I see?  All four of the Pigeons just flew back in from the desert and went over top of the house moving west. I've mentioned before how Nikola Tesla liked to feed and take care of Pigeons.

              As I wrote this morning, Nikola Tesla was born on July the 10th which is the day after our boss's birthday.  Daisy and I wondered last night if Mr. Steve is going to do anything this year on July 9th.  Maybe not Dais thinks as he now prefers to just work like any other day. 

          My Encyclopedia says, even in the first "Westerns" like The Great Train Robbery; the four "elements" of the "genre" were established.  "Outdoor Settings," the "Good Guys" versus "Bad Guys," "Shootouts" and "Trains."  Ah!  A Train just whistled over there to my left.  

             WILLIAM S. HART (1864-1946)                             TOM MIX (1880-1940)

              Daisy and Millie saw one of those "Documentary" movies I've written about.  She told me that one dealt with the history of "Western-themed" movies.  My Encyclopedia shows two Actors who were in some of those movies and I notice they both had really nice Horses. 

              To the north of Sylmar, where Mr. Steve and his brothers and sisters grew up; is this town called "Saugus."  A house there is where a man named William S. Hart lived, but it has now been converted into a good museum.  He was a "Silent" movie star, as was Tom Mix too.    

              I guess Mr. Rick built a two story house near the William S. Hart museum.  Daisy told me our boss said he and two of his three ex-girlfriends visited that museum and his mom took some of her Girl Scout troops on "Field Trips" there.  I really like how Cowboy hats look.  

     (1939)         

                 "STAGECOACH"                WIZARD OF OZ         GONE WITH THE WIND                        

          As I wrote yesterday, the first movie with a "Soundtrack" was in 1929; or year the "Stock Market" crashed and the "Great Depression" started.  It says here "low budget" or "cheap" and "formulaic" Western movies began to be made.  John Wayne was in many "B" movies.                

        But, in 1939 this bigger budget John Wayne movie called "Stagecoach" was made.  In that year "Gone With the Wind," which I wrote about his morning; was "released."  And so was this other really good movie called the "Wizard of Oz, which I'll learn about later today.                      

       As I wrote in book one, 1939 was the year World War II "Officially" started.  And, in that same year Mr. Steve's father was seven years old while his mom was only four.  Anyway, I'll come back to learning a lot more about the subject of Western movies over the next two days.                           

 ST. CATHERINE TEKAKWITHA (1656-1680)   

          For some reason, all of a sudden I just thought of that one Native-American girl named St. Catherine Tekakwitha.  She she was that 17th century "Convert" to Catholicism I wrote about in book one.  And her mom was the "Algonguin" wife of this "Mohawk" Warrior Chief.                    

       I mentioned in book one how, at age fourteen back in 1949; Mr. Steve's mom's Girl Scout Troop visited Montreal up there in Canada.  They went to this Church named for St. Catherine    and from then on she was the Troop's "Patron" Saint.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.              

            On April the 8th of 1949 Mr. Steve's mom first met his father.  A year later the Korean War broke out and he "Volunteered" to fight.   I've mentioned how Miss Emily's birthday is the 9th of April.  Daisy and I both think it's so amazing how our boss's parents are still together.                                            

   "MOHAWK" INDIAN             

           A color photo of a modern "Mohawk" Indian, which St. Catherine's father was; shows a haircut like some "Punks" wore back in the late 1970's.   Daisy's got me scheduled to write about Punk music tomorrow in book three.  Boy!  I'm so tempted to do it now but better not.                  

        Boy!  It's too bad that, since 1492 after Christopher Columbus's first voyage; European "Disease" killed more Native-Americans than war and everything else.  It says here, when she      was four; St. Catherine's parents both died.  And it was "Smallpox" that killed them.                    

        She "survived" the smallpox which took her parents, but St. Catherine "was left with" a "scarred" face; and was "mostly blind."  My Encyclopedia says her original Mohawk name was "Kateri  Tekakwitha" which can mean either, "Feels her Way" or; "Bumps into Things."                                                                             

        SAINT FRANCIS (c.1181-1226)           

           It's so interesting how, just like that guy St. Francis; St. Catherine is the "Patron" Saint of  the "Environment" and "Nature."  When we were putting together my outlines Daisy thought a girl would more correctly be called a "Patroness."  And I think she's right on that.                      

          Wow Lord!  That girl St. Catherine must've been special, because it says here when she died at the age of twenty four; a Canadian Priest saw a light come over her face.  Not only that,  the Priest said her facial scars went away and she "took on a youthful appearance."                     

          Born in what's now called "Up State" New York,  St. Catherine "fled" to "Quebec;" in part because some of the other Indians didn't like her becoming Christian.  A village she lived in was also "destroyed by war" it says here.  A Crow just cawed faintly out in the desert.                             

MONTREAL                                                "FAIRMONT" HOTEL   

           Tomorrow in book three I'll learn a lot more about that Canadian "Province" of Quebec, where many people speak English; and French too.  Mr. Steve's mom has good memories from    her visit to the city of Montreal.  The scent of Mesquite floated into me over here.                           

        I mentioned yesterday how, about sixty miles to the southwest of of us up here in Piñon Hills; there's a Catholic Church in the town of "Santa Clarita."  It, like the Church in Montreal  Mr. Steve's mom visited; is named after St. Catherine.   I'm so glad to be alive God!                     

          Hey Lord!  As Daisy says, if it's true what that Priest said and the scars on St. Catherine's face smoothed out and a light came over her; then she must be a Saint alright.  "Miracles" have  happened in her name.  Some of the other Indians now really support her I guess.                           

                        "FLAMENCO" DANCING                         

        I'm tempted to write about "Flamenco" music because, Mr. Steve's mom performed New Mexico dancing in Montreal.  A picture shows a girl Flamenco Dancer and I know Daisy would    like it because of her pretty red dress.  I really like the red flower in that girl's hair.                        

          Dais heard our boss talking on the phone with his mom, and she was remembering how as a girl; she was good at using "Castanets" like the girl in the picture's holding.  Castanets are two  pieces of wood clicked together as a "Percussion" instrument.  Mr. Steve can't do it.                       

         As the Flamenco Dancers move around Daisy says, they use the castanets to go along with the music; as well as the sound of the Dancers shoes tapping onto the ground.  Anyway, I'll come  back to Mr. Steve's mom's trip to Canada tomorrow.  Dais heard Canada's very cold.                    

LEAPING JACKRABBIT 

PHOTO BY B. KATZUNG

        Oh!  Just as I was looking at the eastern desert Jack the Jackrabbit sprang out from behind a big Creosote bush.  It's so amazing how high Jack Rabbits jump, or how fast they run.  They're even harder to catch than a Roadrunner like Rudy, and he's impossible to run down.                     

        Daisy told me our boss didn't use to spread Rabbit pellets on the ground but does now so the Rabbits and Squirrels can have food too.  He admits that he also does it for "selfish" reasons too because he always enjoys watching them from his Office.  So do Daisy and I!

           Boy!  Roadrunners, who sleep at night like us; are amazing alright!  Dais heard they'll even eat those scary Black Widow" Spiders.  Our boss says they can go twenty miles per hour.  I can always hear their "clattering" sound, even if they're way out there in the back field.  

                                ROADRUNNER                                                       RATTLESNAKE

                It's hard to believe Roadrunners will fight, kill and then eat Rattlesnakes; but it must be true because Mr. Steve and Miss Susan talked about it.  They're so quick they get the Rattlesnake to "Strike" and miss a few times on purpose.  They tire it out; then perfectly time its death.  

                Mr. Steve jokes Roadrunners are like good Boxers.  Every time the Rattlesnake attacks, it "guages" it's speed and range.  They spread their wings wide, to intimidate and divert attention; like a Bullfighter's cape.  At just the right moment they rush in to stab the Rattlesnake head.  

            Oh!  Max the Hummingbird just suddenly showed up, and is hovering next to the empty feeders.  Dais thinks our boss Mr. Steve must be out of the red liquid food he puts in the feeders for Max and 99.  Max just zipped off and flew around the northeast corner of the house.  

"KRUMMLAUF" BARREL ON RIFLE

         Seeing Max fly around the northeast corner of the house at the end of this Patio makes me all of a sudden think about guns that can shoot around corners.  Daisy heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Cliff and they talked about that subject.  Some Ducks are quacking.

         From what Dais overheard, the Germans in World War II were the first ones to try to make a rifle that shoots around corners.  They did make one but it was too late in the war to "Make a Difference."   Besides, I guess from what Daisy says; it wasn't that reliable anyway.     

         I'm glad Dais found these Dictionaries in the garage.  "Krummlauf" is "Curved Barrel" in German, which is that gun was called.  It was a "Detachable" barrel on a "Sturmgewehr" which, as I've mentioned; was what Hitler named the world's first "Assault" rifle.  I smell Sage.  

         BRITISH "PERISCOPE" GUN                      GERMAN MACHINE GUN CREW     

          Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Cliff discuss how, in World War I; the soldiers down in those trenches were afraid to stick their heads above the rim.  So, in order to avoid getting shot in the head; they made these "Periscope" guns.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye.

           A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows a British soldier in the First World War shooting a gun that is sticking up above the trench.   The caption says he's using a mirror to aim.  This other picture shows a German Machine Gun crew who want to kill him if they see him. 

           My Dictionary says a "Periscope" is defined as, "An instrument used to see over or around things."  And in war that idea often means trying to avoid being a target.  Speedy Gonzalez just used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to speed out into the back desert.

                              GERMAN VII TYPE "U-BOAT" SUBMARINE (WORD WAR II)

            I guess, from what Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about on the phone one time, the Germans used "Submarines" with vertical periscopes a lot in both world wars.  A painting in my Encyclopedia shows one sinking an Allied Ship in World War II.  A Crow cawed. 

            I can see the dust Speedy Gonzalez left behind floating near the back fence but he's "Long Gone" as they say.  A few Birds are darting around over the eastern desert and I'll bet many are out looking for material to build nests.  The high blue sky is so beautiful right now. 

            This is interesting.  According to what it says here in my Encyclopedia, the first idea of using mirrors to see over or around things happened all the way back in the 17th century.  That's when this one Polish Astronomer named Johannes Hevelius thought of doing it I guess. 

  JOHANNES HEVELIUS (1611-1687)        H. MARIÉ DAVY (1820-1893)          HOWARD GRUBB 91844-1931) 

                   PAINTING BY DANIEL SCHULTZ

          I'm surprised Archimedes or Leonardo da Vinci didn't invent periscopes. Leonardo da Vinci lived a century before Johannes Hevelius and Archimedes about two thousand years even before that.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve uses his "Binoculars" to study Birds and things. 

       I guess, by the time of World War II; there was such a thing as periscope-type binoculars.  In the 19th century a man from France named Hippolyte Marié-Davy adapted a periscope for use in Submarines.  And in World War I an Irishman Howard Grubb "perfected" it.       

          Yesterday in my first book I wrote about how, during the Korean War; one thing Mr. Steve's father did was "Spot" for Artillery.  That means he had to look through binoculars to tell all of the canons where to shoot.  Max the Hummingbird just zoomed bye right now.

 JUNKERS JU-87 "STUKA"        

         It was Dais who pointed out to me how Max sometimes "Shows Off" for 99.  He'll suddenly zip way up into the sky and then turn around and dive back down to the ground at full speed like a World War II German "Stuka" Dive Bomber Plane.  One of the Duck's is quacking.

            All of a sudden I thought of a 1970's San Fernando Valley band called the DICKIES.  Daisy says they did an album called "Stukas Over Disneyland."  Dais one time heard our boss and Mr. Doug talk on the phone about how the DICKIES had a "twisted" sense of humor.

       Daisy told me Mr. Doug, and Mark Ritter who died too; knew the DICKIES because they all went to Grant High School.  Yesterday in my first book I wrote how "Grant" is located next to "Valley" Junior College.  Both campus's are in that one city called "Van Nuys."

                                                                    THE DICKIES

         In book one I wrote about how, in the mid-1970's when Mr. Steve and Sandy went to Valley College; they met people who knew that band QUIET RIOT.  So they saw QUIET RIOT, when Randy Rhodes was the guitarist; play concerts.  Daffy's quacking over there next door.

      Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Doug talk on the phone about seeing the DICKIES.  I guess Mr. Steve used to have a white vinyl DICKIES "E.P." with a good version of that BLACK SABBATH song our boss likes called "Paranoid."  E.P. is just short for the term "Extended Play."

       According to what Dais and that other Dog Millie heard Mr. Steve talk about with his friend Doug, the DICKIES wrote a funny song called "You Drive Me Ape You Big Gorilla."  They saw a DICKIES concert at the Whisky A-Go-Go Nightclub.   The Singer wore an Ape mask. 

    PETER PAN                       TINKERBELL                       CAPTAIN HOOK

             Hummingbirds are so pretty.  Daisy told me about how these things called "Fairies" can buzz all around like Hummingbirds.  Someday, when I'm not afraid to go all of the way into the house; I really want to see this good cartoon with a Fairy named "Tinkerbell" in it.

                Oh!  Some good images in this one Encyclopedia shows three of the characters from that cartoon with the Fairy in it.  The caption says one is named "Peter Pan," and the other one is a Pirate called "Captain Hook."  Boy!  I'd definitely pay money to see a real life Fairy.   

            I would also wear shoes like the ones Peter Pan or Captain Hook wear, and think Daisy would look good in their hats.  If we ever do see a Fairy I'd be friendly, and even give them some food and water.  I'd even let it play with some of my valuable collection of things to chew on.  

                                                     MARILYN MONROE (1926-1962)

              Yesterday I wrote about Marilyn Monroe, and over the next two days I'll learn even more about her.  Daisy one time heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph how this rumor about Peter Pan being "modeled" on Marilyn Monroe probably aren't true.  Ah!  I smell some Rosemary. 

           According to what Dais says, that girl Fairy Tinkerbell who I notice has wings; sometimes throws magic dust around.  In the picture of her I see the magic "Wand" she uses.  If I ever had a magic want I would try to only use it in helping  our family and then some others too.

           I guess Peter Pan can also fly like Tinkerbell, and Daisy told me how he never, ever wants to "Grow Up."  The Peter Pan movie came out in 1953, two years before Mr. Steve was born.  In book one I mentioned how that band the WHO had a song about not wanting to get old.    

                                                                                PETE TOWNSEND (THE WHO)

               In my first book I wrote a few things about that band the WHO and how they're all of the members were from England.  As I said yesterday, Mr. Steve has been listening to their music for a long time.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there and as usual Daffy's way louder. 

             Max the Hummingbird, who has a bad temper sometimes; just zipped bye.  Daisy and I have noticed how some Hummingbirds are shiny green like Max and 99 while others are more purple in color.  I can usually hear a Hummingbird or Dragonfly coming from far away.

                  Daisy says, on that band QUEEN'S first album; there's a really good song about a King who's a Fairy.  It comes right after that other good song about the Rat who's also a King too.  It has some really good piano and singing, along with good guitar, bass and drums I guess.  

    FIRST ALBUM (1973)                  QUEEN                           (1970'S)                       

                  One time Mr. Steve played that kid Jason the first QUEEN album, from when he was in High School at Sylmar High.  Like many people, Jason had only heard QUEEN'S most famous songs and was surprised at how good it was.  The Monarch Butterfly just went bye.

             QUEEN'S Singer Freddie Mercury, who went to "Art" school; created QUEEN'S logo and I guess our boss tried to draw it one time.  Like one of the GRATEFUL DEAD'S emblems, it turned out to be hard to do a line drawing of it.  It took way more time than he expected. 

             Hey Lord!  As You know, someday I really want to hear that one song on QUEEN'S first album about You.  In fact, I can't wait to hear some of those "Gospel" music songs Daisy's told me about.  All four of the Pigeons are right now flying together over Libby's Corral.  

                                                                  BLACK SABBATH     

                Daisy told me our boss played Jason a BLACK SABBATH song about some Fairy's who wear boots.  Like so many of BLACK SABBATH'S early 1970's songs, it has a catchy melody or riff.  Jason really liked how the bass and drums rhythm section have almost a "jazzy feel."

           Mr. Steve told Jason he only knows QUEEN'S first four album's, and after that he's only heard the big hits.  He's familiar with BLACK SABBATH'S albums with Ozzie Osbourne as the Singer, and the "Heaven and Hell" album.  That was when Ronnie James Dio was the Singer.      

           Miss Susan thinks Hummingbird brains must "process motion differently" than the other Birds. Most Birds fly moving forward and can't "hover" in one place.  Hummingbird brains are obviously "evolved" over thousands of years to help them "stabilize" better Miss Susan says.

"DRONE" AIRCRAFT       

            Mr. Mike jokes Scientists should study Hummingbird brains to "figure out" how to make better Robots and flying Drones.  Then they could kill more people efficiently without having to lose any of our own Soldiers.  "R.O.V." stands for "Remotely Operated Vehicles" I guess.   

           I hadn't planned on writing so much about Hummingbirds but that's okay.  In this chapter I'll learn and write about World War II and and a little bit about the First World War too.  Dais and I decided I'd focus more on the American Civil War and the Second World War today. 

          Mentioning those Drones for some reason suddenly makes me think about this man from the State of Washington named Bill Gates.  He's one of the richest Businessmen in the world and is really smart Daisy says.  He's very important in the history of  those computer machines. 

                                                                    BILL GATES

              Even though I'm not scheduled to write about that guy Bill Gates right now, I sort of feel like mentioning him now too.   Daisy heard our boss one time talking about computers with Mr. Grant.  Just like Bill Gates, Mr. Grant knows a lot about things having to do with computers.

                Oh wow!  According to what it says in this one Encyclopedia, Bill Gates was born in 1955 like Mr. Steve.  But his birthday's in October so he's three months younger.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's brother Rock, and Niece Cristina; were also born in the month of October too.

              This is interesting how, as it says here in my Encyclopedia; Bill Gates father wanted him to be a lawyer like himself.  But he dropped out of that College back east called "Harvard" to work on computers instead.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve "Flunked Out" of Law School.

                                                                  UNCLE MARTY      

          Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve's Uncle Marty left New Mexico to be a "Medic" in the Vietnam War.  He then used the "G.I. Bill" to go to, and earn; an "M.B.A" from Harvard.  Mr. Peabody graduated from Harvard too so must be the smartest Dog in history.  

           This is kind of interesting.  It says in my Encyclopedia that, after he dropped out of College; in 1975 Bill Gates moved from Massachusetts to New Mexico and eventually began a computer company in Albuquerque.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows are flying bye.

        The caption under the picture of Bill Gates says that in 1976 he called his company "Micro-Soft" but later changed it to be "Microsoft."  And that's a combination of "microcomputer" and "software."  Mr. Steve was twenty and going to Valley Junior College in 1976.

MR. GRANT / MIGGY

          As I said yesterday in book one, Mr. Steve met his friend Grant in Law School just like he did his old girlfriend Emily.  But Mr. Grant passed the "Bar" exam and became a lawyer.  And, just like Bill Gates, he's been interested in computers since a really young age.

           Mr. Grant did some amazing things when computers were just coming out in the mid-1970's and I guess so did Bill Gates too.  It says here, at thirteen; he wrote his first computer "software program."  The smell of Theodora's Creosote bush just came into my left nostril.

       From what this Encyclopedia says, a few years after he created his first software program, Bill Gates made another one which allowed you to play a game called "Tic-Tac-Toe" against the computer.  Daisy thinks I'd be good at playing that game.  I would like to play it.   

                                                        BILL GATES AND FAMILY

          Hey Lord!  As You know, Daisy says our boss's customer up there in the State of Washington said Bill Gates married a Catholic girl.  Their three kids even go to a Catholic school just like Mr. Steve and his brothers and sisters did at St. Ferdinand's.  Dawn's over there barking.   

       The Parts Manager in Washington said Bill Gates' nickname is "Trey" because his dad and Grandfather were also "Bills" so he's Bill Gates III.  Mr. Steve's father, brother and Nephew are all named "Sam."  I wonder how Bill became the same way as saying the name "William?"

       Hey God!  I guess, like us down here in Piñon Hills; Bill Gates believes in You too.  He said it "makes sense to believe in God as there's no other explanation as to how the world came about." We want to believe You used the "Big Bang" to create the Universe and life isn't "Random."    

 1918  "SPANISH" INFLUENZA PANDEMIC  

             Yesterday in my first book I wrote about "Epidemics" and "Pandemics."  The biggest one began in 1918, or last year of World War I; and then spread all over the whole world.  Almost a million Americans died from what has now come to be called the "Spanish" flu pandemic.

          I guess Bill Gates and his wife, like our boss; give money to charity and also like Mr. Steve know about epidemics and pandemics.  Daisy heard they also think there's a very good chance a pandemic is what's called "Overdue."  Andy's over there guarding he and Helen's burrow.

         As I said yesterday, some people think that, over a three year period; fifty million may have been killed by Spanish "Influenza."  It probably began here in the U.S. and then went with some "Infected" soldiers over to Europe.  Dawn's barking at something over there next door.  

                                                          WORLD WAR I (1914-1918)

        I've mentioned before how America entered the First World War in 1917, three after that huge war first began.  And when it ended in November of 1918 many of the Soldiers on both sides had been infected with sickness.  Libby the Horse's scent just floated over here.

       As I wrote in book one, after World War I was over the millions of Soldiers all went back to their different countries and, unfortunately; took the sickness back home with them.  So then a  lot of the other people caught it from them and millions died.  It was really bad!  

          Because of how many people died in such a short amount of time, some people were buried before they were dead.  That's why, even though she was only five years old when the Spanish flu hit; Mr. Steve's Grandma Trujillo feared being buried alive by accident.  I would too!

                                                       "BLACK DEATH" (1347-1351)

           I've mentioned over the last two days how at C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve did a "Research Project" on the 14th "Black Death" pandemic.   A map in this Encyclopedia shows the "pattern" it took from 1347 through 1351.  Theodora ran bye but is now flying out into the back desert.  

          It's amazing how in only about four years of the 14th century the "Bubonic Plague" may have killed about half the population of Europe.   Wow!  Every time I look at this one picture of the skeletons in a "Mass Grave" dug up from the 1300's I can't believe it.  It was bad!  

         Dais thinks our boss will be so proud of me someday when he reads my three books and boy God, I can't wait!  But, first I have to be disciplined and not get distracted by chasing things like I usually do.  Hey God!  Thank You for giving me this comfortable old couch Elvira.

                                         MERICAN "GREAT DEPRESSION" (1930'S)

           When Dais and I were putting together my three outlines, we scheduled it so I'll learn a lot about the twenty eventful years "Between the Wars;" or 1919 through 1939.  Mr. Steve knows a lot about those years Daisy says.  So that's why I now want to know more about them too.

          As I said a few times yesterday, the good economy is why the 1920's were called "Roaring." But that decade was followed by the bad economy of the 1930's "Great Depression."  That was a time when a lot of people were really, really poor and some even starved to death Dais says.

         Mr. Steve's dad  thinks someday there might be another really big "Economic Depression." And, even though that big pandemic didn't "Trigger" an economic "Downturn" in the years after World War I; a new one might be brought on by disease.  A Crow just cawed faintly.    

                                                                     "GET SMART"

             I knew I heard Max the Hummingbird coming from my right and there he goes zooming bye.  For the second day in a row his girlfriend 99 isn't with him.  Mr. Steve named Max and 99 after two characters from that funny 1960's tv show called "Get Smart" Daisy told me.   

          Daisy told me about that show Get Smart.  She says on it this guy named Maxwell Smart, or  "Agent 86;" is a spy and his assistant is a really smart girl named Agent "99."  They "work for good" as spies for "CONTROL," and fight against this evil agency called "KAOS." 

             Boy!  I can't wait for the time when I'm not afraid of being trapped in enclosed areas.  Then I'll be able to go all the way down the hallway into the bedrooms and bathrooms like Daisy.  One of those three bedrooms our boss uses as an office, which he spends a lot of time in every day.  

    MAXWELL SMART / AGENT 99

        According to Dais, in that tv show Get Smart Max isn't very smart but his Assistant 99, who secretly wants to be his girlfriend; always "Bails him Out" if he gets in trouble.  They have such  amazing secret agent devices on Get Smart.  Their shoes are even really telephones!                       

     From what Daisy says, on Get Smart Max and 99 sometimes have to go out and fight some Nazis.  She says that one Dog Millie, who I replaced; thought Get Smart was a really funny show. Anyway, I'll come back and write more about Get Smart over the next two days.                            

       I guess Get Smart is a comedy version, or "Spoof;" of books and movies about this one spy  this spy named "James Bond" or Agent "007."  Daisy told me the man who wrote the books the    James Bond movies are based on was named Ian Flemming.  I smell some Juniper.                         

                                         IAN FLEMMING (1908-1964)                                       

        In my Encyclopedia it says that during the Second World War Ian Flemming worked for a British Intelligence unit called "MI-6."  His father was killed by German artillery during World War I.   After the Second World War, in the 1950's; he wrote his James Bond books I guess.

        Dais says Mr. Steve doesn't like the newer James Bond movies as much as the original ones written by that man Ian Flemming.  In fact, he hasn't seen any of the James Bond movies in the last twenty or more years.  I'll write more about the original "Bond" movies tomorrow.

        Mr. Steve told Mr. Grant he read the "Fictional" character James Bond was partly based on a man named Dusko Popov.  Someday I'd like to see those first James Bond movies.  Daisy and Millie saw a few of them, and they also saw that funny tv show called "Get Smart" too.  

                                                               DUSKO POPOV (1910-1981) 

         Dais says our boss told Mr. Grant Dusko Popov, like Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein's wife Maleva Marik; was from Serbia or part of what is now "Yugoslavia."  And, like Nikola Tesla; he was born July 10th.  So they're Cancers like Mr. Steve, whose birthday is on July the 9th.

         Dusko Popov, who this Encyclopedia says was a Lawyer like Mr. Grant; helped win World War II as a "Double Agent" for the British against the Nazi's.  So that means he just pretended to be a spy for the Germans Dais says.  Boy!  I really like how shoulder "Epaulettes" look. 

            It says here Dusko Popov's "disinformation" and "deception" fooled the Nazi's a few times in World War II.  It helped shorten the war.  I mentioned yesterday how the name "Nazi" is just a shortened way of saying "Nationalsozialismus," or "National Socialists" in German.  

ADOLPH HITLER SPEAKING AT "PARTY RALLY"

               Boy!  I'm so lucky Daisy found these Dictionaries.  In German sometimes words seem to be combined.  Yesterday in book one I wrote how "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartie" means "National Socialist German Workers Party," N.S.D.A.P.;" or "Nazi" for short.  

          Without my foreign language Dictionaries it would be totally impossible to figure out how to spell a lot of words correctly.  Oh!  Jack the Jackrabbit just zoomed out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  And he used to wider right vertical slot on the side of the gate to do it.

         I just inhaled fully through both nostrils of my nose and the fresh air on this second day of Spring is so what they call "Invigorating."  It looks like I'll learn a lot about World War II in the next two chapters.  Daisy says our boss has a lot of books about the two World Wars.                              

                                                                            PIGPEN 

            Aha!  I knew I was smelling Pigpen the Gopher and, "Sure Enough" as they say; there he is over there sticking out of his burrow just to the right of the big Mulberry tree.  He's sniffing in  the air and will smell me soon.  As I've mentioned, Gophers don't have very good eyesight.            

           Whew!  Gophers don't smell so good and for some reason Pigpen's scent at times seems to be even worse than other Gophers that I've smelled.  Dais agrees with me on that and she's been around a lot more Gophers than I ever have.  Dawn and Blinky are barking over there.                 

         Yup!  When Pigpen smelled me, and realized I was sitting over here on the Patio; he right away ducked back down into his hole.  I just picked up the scent of the soft dirt he dug up and it smells pretty good to me for some reason.  But Pigpen's lingering scent isn't all that great.                          

ARTWORK BY CHARLES SCHULTZ

          One time Dais and Millie were in the living room and saw some really good cartoons called "Peanuts."  And, one of the characters was this really dirty boy who never even takes a bath so    wherever he goes leaves a cloud of dust.  Our Gopher Pigpen was named after him.                        

       Someday I hope to watch that cartoon Peanuts.  Dais told me how it's mainly about a nice bald-headed boy named "Charlie Brown."  His smart Dog named "Snoopy," like our boss too; is interested in the life of that World War I German "Ace" Pilot called the "Red Baron."                  

     Daisy says that our boss told Miss Susan a customer said the man who draws the Peanuts cartoon is originally from the State of "Minnesota."  He was a Soldier in Europe at the end of the Second World War.  He and his wife and kids live in up there in Northern California.                     

 GRATEFUL DEAD ("PIGPEN" IN HAT)

         Pigpen's scent is so strong I can still smell him even though he's gone.  That reminds me of a member of that one band from San Francisco called the GRATEFUL DEAD.  I mentioned them in book one.  A member of the GRATEFUL DEAD is also nicknamed "Pigpen" too.                       

        I guess the GRATEFUL DEAD'S Pigpen died at age 27 and tomorrow I'll write about the "27 Club," musicians from Robert Johnson through Amy Winehouse; who died at 27.  Dais says our boss drew the GRATEFUL DEAD logo.  Pigpen the Musician collected guns.                            

          Mr. Cliff knows a lot about guns and things like that.  One time he and Mr. Steve discussed how James Bond used a German "Walther PPK."  Daisy and Millie heard them talk about how    that was the same exact handgun that Adolph Hitler used to kill himself in 1945.                             

    JAMES BOND'S ("WALTHER PPK")      

              Dais says one time, when Mr. Steve was living in Sylmar on Hagar Street; that kid Michael called him.  He said he was listening to the Radio and they asked the "Trivia" question, "Which handgun did James Bond use?"  So Mr. Steve gave him the correct or right answer. 

          That boy Michael, who I mentioned yesterday in book one; thought our boss might know the right answer and he did.  So, Michael called into the Radio Station and won this thing called a "Gift Certificate."  He gave it to his mom to be ""Redeemed" for some groceries.

          Another time Dais said, Michael asked our boss what the name "Mossad" meant.  I guess Mr. Steve knew it's the Israeli "Intelligence Agency" but didn't know exactly what it stood for in the "Hebrew" language.  But he did know of an easy way to find out right away though.   

                                                                                     RIFLE BULLET SIZES   

                     Oh!   This is a good place to write about the subject of "Weaponry," and this Mormon man named John Moses Browning.  I was supposed to learn about him yesterday but missed him on my outline.  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows all of the different sized bullets.

              The caption says the big bullet on the left is ".50 caliber," while the littlest one on the far right is only .22 caliber.  That man John Browning, who's father taught him to be a "Gunsmith;" is called the "Father of Modern Firearms."   He invented the .50 caliber bullet I guess.

             Daisy says a while back our boss met a guy who told him about a .50 caliber bullet called "Beowulf" like in that old Anglo-Saxon story I wrote about in book one.  Dais thinks the guy said an "AR-15" can be "modified" to fire .50 caliber bullets.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.

                                                                                        AR-15 "BEOWULF" 

                  This one Encyclopedia says John Browning invented the .50 caliber "round" in the late 1910's, but it didn't "enter service" until 1921; too late for World War I.  I guess now it's used a lot by militaries all over the world.  Mark Ritter had an AR-15 back in the late 1980's.

              Big .50 caliber bullets are described as being "heavy caliber, low velocity."  It's meant to "Stop" opponents, even if they're inside the protection of heavy vehicles and things like that. It's called "Armor-Piercing" so that probably means it goes right through metal things.

             John Moses Browning's father came to Utah in the early 1850's so, a few years after that first big migration of Latter Day Saints.  Yesterday I mentioned how, in the Korean War;" Mr. Steve's dad liked "Browning Automatic Rifles."  Clyde, of Bonnie and Clyde; did too.              

                                           WITH FAMILY       JOHN MOSES BROWNING      WITH SHOTGUN          

                                                                   (1855-1926)

                  Daisy said a tv show about John Moses Browning said his wife was a "great help."  They lived in a town called "Ogden" Utah, and had ten kids; two of which "Died in Infancy."  Mrs. Browning, like some of the females in our family too; was very good at "Making Do."  

            One time Mr. Steve and his father talked on the phone about how that guy John Browning "Designed" and built not only "Repeating" rifles, but also those "Semi-Automatic" and "Fully Automatic" weapons too.  All four of the Pigeons are now flying toward the northwest.

            I guess the tv show said John Browning's father, who he admired a lot; died at the age of seventy four in 1879.  John Browning, who his dad was very proud of; said that his father simply died of  "weariness."  Daisy said the tv show mentioned how hard life was in those days.   

THREODORA IN CREOSOTE BUSH        

         Oh!  I just glanced up and see Theodora over there standing in her favorite Creosote bush, which I can smell in my left nostril right now.  Some small Birds are darting around out there in the desert.  I can't wait to go see what Dais is doing after I finish this fourth chapter. 

         Daisy told me this framed "Certificate" given to our boss in 1985 is hanging on a wall in the Hallway.  As a "Token" of  "appreciation" for attending a Mossad-sponsored "Banquet" over in Israel;  it was given to him.  I guess Mossad is like England's MI6 or our C.I.A.  

         That certificate says the name Mossad is just short for "ha-Mossad le-Modlin ule-Tafkidim Mayuhadim" or "Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks" in English.  Boy!  I guess Hebrew is sort of like German in having some long names.  He read it to that kid Michael. 

                                                        IRV RUBIN (1945-2002)

         Dais says our boss told Mr. Cliff he and Mark Ritter, back in 1987; met this guy named Irv Rubin at this one "Shooting Range" in the San Gabriel Mountains.  I guess Irv Rubin was in the "Jewish Defense League;" or "J.D.L." for short.  Like Mark Ritter, he died a while back.

         Irv Rubin is buried at "Eden Memorial,"  the same Jewish cemetery where Mr. Steve's boss Steve Banks was "Laid to Rest" as they say.  As I mentioned yesterday, Eden Memorial is right across the street from the Catholic "Mission" Cemetery.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

        In 1990, working for "Pace;" Mr. Steve signed up Eden Memorial as business members.  As I've said, Mission Cemetery is where Mr. Steve's Grandmothers and sister Celina are buried, and his parents have Crypts ready to go.   Mr. Rick's son Gino is also buried over there too.

                                     MEIR KAHANE (1932-1990)                                 

            Dais says our boss told Irv Rubin how in 1985, he shook hands with this man named Meir Kahane; who started the J.D.L.  He was an Israeli Politician in the "Kach" party and in Hebrew that just means "Thus" I guess.  But, Meir Kahane was "Assassinated" back in 1990.

            One time at that Shooting Range Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter saw a guy using a "Walther PPK" like James Bond's.  Mark Ritter had an "AR- 15," which Irv Rubin admired; and in Texas Mr. Steve's Nephew Jacob has one of those "AK-47's."  Hitler killed himself with a PPK.

              Mr. Steve told Irv Rubin, in 1985 he and his sister Celina shared an elevator with Meir Kahane.  Daisy says, as Meir Kahane got on the elevator he and our boss's eyes met.  Oh!  Right now my right nostril just picked up the strong scent of our neighbor's Beavertail cactus.

CALIFORNIA DESERT "WREN"  

             Oh!  I see that little Wren I saw yesterday, and again it's in that clump of Cholla Cactus' behind the Sheds.  It's interesting how Wrens use the protective bubble of the Cholla's from all the predators like Cher.  Yup!  The Wren is now saying, "Hey, Hey, Hey" the way Wrens do.    

             In 1985 Mr. Steve at first hesitated about shaking Meir Kahane's hand, knowing of times when people have been killed as someone holds their hand so they can't get to their own weapon.  Boy!  I guess in 1990 Meir Kahane even had "Body Guards" but was shot anyway.

             Mr. Steve reached his hand out and Meir Kahane shook hands and nodded slightly.  To this day Dais says our boss remembers how it felt to look Meir Kahane in his eyes, and can still almost feel his firm handshake.  That Wren just flew away and is going toward the east. 

                                                STEVE (1958-2009) / RONNA BANKS

               I just thought of Steve Banks.  Yesterday I wrote about how he, through his company S & S Enterprises; in 1999 helped our boss when he was an idiot and got into financial trouble.  Hey God!  As You know, Mr. Steve has helped others and thought of Steve Banks when doing it. 

                Daisy says one time Mr. Steve and his boss Steve Banks talked about Israel's wars since becoming a country in 1948.  Like Irv Rubin and Meir Kahane, Steve Banks seemed like a Jew who'd physically fight an "Anti Semitic" person.  He definitely knew who Meir Kahane was. 

            Back in 1987 our boss and Mark Ritter talked with that guy Irv Rubin about these type of Israeli gun's called "Uzi's."  They can either be "Submachine" type, or a "Machine" Pistol" too.  Back in 1985 many of the Israeli Soldiers carried them around tucked in their armpits.    

UZEL GAI (1923-2002)

                   This Encyclopedia says the idea for making Uzi type weapons started in 1948, the same year Israel became a nation.   Oh!  Those guns got their name because the man who designed and built them was named Uzel Gai.  There's two long white vapor trails way up there in the sky.

             I guess, That guy Uzel Gai was a German Jew able to get out of Germany in the 1930's, and ended up living in one of those Israeli "Kibbutz's like the one our boss's Tour Group visited in 1985.  That in the period when England was still in "Political" control over the area.

             One time Mr. Steve and his father talked about how Mark Ritter's AR-15 was "Colt" brand weapon.  Daisy heard that, in 1977 or year our boss and his brother Rock took their trip back east; the Colt's "Patent" expired.  Since then a few other companies make "AR's." 

"AR-15" STYLE RIFLE 

                 This tv show Daisy saw said sometimes AR stands for "Assault Rifle," and those type of "Semi Automatic" rifles are now one of the "most popular" guns bought in America.  From 1994 through 2004 they were "Banned" but people got them anyway.  Heathcliff just crowed.   

            Our boss thinks, even though they're only meant for killing people; one reason Assault rifles are so popular is because many think another civil war might break out here.  So, "Just in Case" as they say; they want to be ready to fight a war.  Some just enjoy shooting guns.      

            It's "sad but true" Mr. Steve thinks, that in this temporal world, violence and and hate has almost always beaten non-violence and love; especially if revenge is involved.  There are a few exceptions.  Daisy says that band METALLICA has a song called "Sad But True."  

                                            ALDOUS HUXLEY / GEORGE ORWELL  

         Daisy says our boss thinks in history "Might" usually equals "Right" as they say.  But, as I wrote about in book one, those British Writers Aldous Huxley and George Orwell thought in the future "Mind Control" might be more important than violence.  Ah!  I can smell Sage.    

         At Steve Banks' Funeral our boss was told those Comedians Lenny Bruce and "Groucho" Marx were also buried at Eden Memorial.  I was supposed to write Lenny Bruce yesterday but somehow missed it on my book one outline.  But, that's okay; and I'll just do it now.   

        From what Mr. Steve was told, Lenny Bruce was originally from New York but lived in the San Fernando Valley for a long time.  He died young and I guess never made a lot of money when he was alive but influenced later comedians.  I hear two Crows fighting out in the desert.

                                             LENNY BRUCE (1925-1966) WITH FAMILY

        From what Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Randy, he really never liked Lenny Bruce's humor all that much because some of it was a little too what they call "crude."  But some of it was pretty funny he says.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just flew over the house moving to the west.

        Daisy says our boss thinks Lenny Bruce was "Sociologically" important.  He was arrested over fifteen times for what's called "Obscenity" which means he said bad words or talked about bad things I guess.  I can really smell that one clump of Joshua trees near Libby's Corral.   

        I guess nowadays what's called "Blue" humor is "Taken for Granted" but in the 1950's and 1960's it wasn't.  Daisy told me our boss doesn't like when people use bad words.  His father has over the years gotten into some fights when someone used bad language around his mom.    

                      BOB DYLAN                                                                                        FRANK ZAPPA                                                                                                                         

            One time at Valley College in Van Nuys Mr. Steve met this one guy who said Lenny Bruce "influenced" later Comedians.  But Daisy says he also believed, less obviously; that Lenny Bruce influenced a few Musicians too.  Like Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa for instance he said.

           Daisy told me our boss agreed with that man at Valley College when he used Frank Zappa as an example of how Lenny Bruce "Paved the Way" for other Entertainers.  But he didn't quite see how Bob Dylan was influenced by Lenny Bruce.  Daffy's quacking loudly over there.

           In the late-1980's, Mr. Steve took pictures of this one Comedian named Sam Kinison; who was not what's called "Politically Correct."  He purposely tried to "Offend" some people.  Daisy says one time on the phone Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph Sam Kinison was "at times" funny.

                                                                                                                                          SAM KINISON (1953-1992)       

                                                                                                                                    PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA      

     According to what Daisy says, that guy Sam Kinison was "associated" with Heavy Metal music and those kind of people often like "Raunchy" humor.  There were times when the crowd was "literally roaring" in laughter our boss told Mr. Ralph.  I can smell Libby over there.             

        Hey Lord!  Mr. Steve was told how Sam Kinison's family were "Pentecostal Preachers" and so was he when young.  Daisy says, just like Lenny Bruce; Sam Kinison died young.  I can hear a few what might be boy Finch's, chirping away out there in the desert behind the Sheds.                 

       Yesterday I mentioned how Mr. Steve, in the 1980's; took pictures at "Gazzari's" Nightclub in Hollywood.  That's where he saw Sam Kinison. I'll write a lot more about Gazzari's tomorrow when I talk about famous bands, like VAN HALEN; who've played there over the years.                                                                     

     WARRANT          

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA         

        I've mentioned before how some of the bands our boss and Miss Harriet covered in the 1980's were those Heavy Metal bands called "Hair Bands."  Daisy says Sam Kinison, for a while; even had a Hard Rock band too.  Dawn and Blinky are barking at something over there.               

           That band from Van Nuys QUIET RIOT, who Mr. Steve and Miss Sandy met; also played at Gazzari's in the 1970's.   People our boss met at "Valley Junior College" knew QUIET RIOT.  Randy Rhoads was in QUIET RIOT then, before he became famous with Ozzie Osbourne.            

         Mr. Steve was told one time, by a guy who's a Highway Patrol Officer; how Sam Kinison died.   I guess he was killed on a Highway to our north; on his way to "Laughlin," Nevada; which our boss and his dad have been to before.  A small group of Sparrows just now flew bye.                                                   

                                   ADOLPH HITLER (1889-1945)                               

                             ARTIST UNKNOWN                                

         Dais says Mr. Steve thinks Sam Kinison, to a certain extent; structured his comedy routine kind of like an Adolph Hitler speech.  They both started out quietly and worked their way into    what they were doing.  It's kind of interesting how Hitler was originally from "Austria."               

        I guess, from what Dais told me; Sam Kinison would start out by just walking around and talking calmly.  Then, all of a sudden; he'd explode and start yelling.  It was then our boss joked,  that he used his very best "Fire and Brimstone" preaching technique to "make a point."               

        The Highway Patrol officer said Sam Kinison, dying in the Car; looked like he was listening to something and said, "But why?"  He listened again and said, "Okay;" then died.  Hey God!  Daisy and I want to believe it was You that Sam Kinison was talking to back then.                                        

"CREATION"

      "SISTINE" CHAPEL / MICHAELANGELO          

           Hey God!  It would be so great if You ever decided to come down here to Piñon Hills and be with Daisy and I and we'd listen and do whatever You said to do.  Oh!  And we'd listen to You too Blessed Mother if You ever came here.  We'd really, really like to smell all of You Guys.           

          For some reason I just thought about how one time Dais and Millie was a tv show about that guy Adolph Hitler.  Like Sam Kinison in doing his "Act," when Hitler "Delivered" a speech; he'd start slowly too.  But, in Hitler's case he began his speech in total and complete silence.          

          Dais told me how, arms folded; Hitler wouldn't say even one word until the audience was quiet.  Then, when you could "Hear a Pin Drop" as that old saying goes; he'd unfold his arms to begin speaking in a slow, low voice.  The tv show used the word "deliberate" to describe it.                                                                                                   ADOLPH HITLER PREPARING TO MAKE A SPEECH                                   

         Dais says she and Millie noticed how, because the room is so quiet; Hitler's voice seemed to almost echo.  He even looks kind of uncomfortable I guess.  But then he gradually begins to talk   louder and use his arms more to emphasize the points he's making in the speech.                            

        Whereas Sam Kinison started slowly and suddenly exploded like a volcanic eruption; Hitler would "Evolve" into a louder and louder voice.  And at the end of the speech, he'd finish with a  huge "Crescendo;" like a Beethoven Symphony.  Then the audience went crazy Dais noticed.       

       According to what Daisy heard the guy say on that one tv show about Hitler, few Politicians would take such a "risk" like Hitler used to do in starting off  his  speeches in total silence.  I see  a little Lizard standing over there on the wall.  And now it's starting to do some pushups.                      

AC/DC        

          Our boss likes "Pauses" in songs and, from what Dais says; AC/DC uses that technique in songs such as "Thunderstruck."  Cher sauntered bye, which reminds me of how Mr. Steve thinks AC/DC'S second Singer Brian Johnson at times sounds like a "growling Cat."  I smell Sage.         

        Because our boss is interested in the subject, tomorrow in my third and last book Daisy has me scheduled to write about how a lot of "Popular Culture" entertainment has been influenced  by "Fascist Imagery."  The Lizard ran down the wall.  It went behind my couch Elvira.               

           I guess Mr. Steve has drawn AC/DC'S logo and Daisy noticed how the red lightning bolt on it looks like the "Lightning Runes" of Hitler's "S.S." Another logo he drew as a kid was KISS'S  emblem where the two S's look exactly like those runes.  One of the Ducks is quacking.                  

                        SID VICIOUS                   MARILYN MANSON      LEMMY (MOTÖRHEAD)                                                              

          A picture in my Encyclopedia shows Sid Vicious wearing a T-Shirt with a "Swastika" on it.  In another one MOTÖRHEAD'S Lemmy has a Nazi hat, an Iron Cross medal; and "Maltese"    cross logos on his shirt.  That guy Marilyn Manson uses Nazi colors and Fascist style logos.           

      I guess when some people use the word "Chic" they mean "stylish" or, as the British say; "smart."  Mr. Steve thinks some entertainers don't even realize they're using Fascist imagery but just think it looks "Cool."  Some of the Ducks next door are quacking right now.                            

        Dais saw a show about "Thrash" Heavy Metal and noticed how SLAYER'S logo also seems influenced by Fascism.  Mr. Steve was offered over a hundred dollars for a  LED ZEPPELIN T-  shirt where guitarist Jimmy Page is wearing a black Nazi Luftwaffe hat.  I smell Juniper.                      

        "GOOSE STEPPING" NAZIS    

           Dais told me our boss likes the SEX PISTOLS' song "Holiday in the Sun" which starts with the sound of "Goose-Stepping" Nazi's marching.  BLÜE ÖYSTER CÜLT, who are Jewish; do a   song called "Dominance and Submission."  That's Adolph Hitler's theme too I guess.                    

      In 1995 that singer Michael Jackson did a big Tour and Mr. Steve and his friends noticed a lot of Fascist imagery.  Michael Jackson started his concerts by using Hitler's silent technique.  And  like Hitler's audiences, the people attending the concert were "Mesmerized."                                  

   Even though I'll mainly write about it tomorrow, I kind of feel like writing a little bit now about how many things in "Pop"  Culture are influenced by Nazism.  Daisy saw a movie called    "Star Wars."  She says the bad guy wears a black helmet that looks just like the Nazis.                 

HITLER REVIEWING "BROWN SHIRTS"                           "DARTH VADER" / "STORM TROOPERS"

        Daisy told me one time she overheard Mr. Cliff say he thinks the name "Storm Troopers" in Star Wars was taken from Hitler's private army of "Brown Shirts."  Hitler also called them his    Storm Troopers too I guess.  I hear some of the Ducks quacking over there next door.                    

      Adolph Hitler would, little by little; built up momentum until by the end of the speech the audience was going crazy.  Mr. Steve met this girl in College whose assignment was to "Compare and Contrast" famous speakers.  Rudy the Roadrunner is jogging bye right now.                           

        Oh!  A breeze just blew Libby's scent into my right nostril from over there in her Corral.    I I see her walking around slowly near the fence and there aren't any Flies near her which is good. As I've mentioned a few times over the last two days, Dais and I really hate all Flies!                              

"PROJECTING" TO A LARGE AUDIENCE         

        When Mr. Steve took pictures of singer Ronnie James Dio, who has a song about a rainbow; he noticed "Dio" used gestures similar to those of Hitler.  I guess they're meant for "Projecting" power to a large audience.  I've mentioned how "Rhêma" means "The living Word."                     

         I guess that girl in College came away from her assignment thinking Hitler was the most "Effective" 20th century speaker.  John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill were really good too she thought.  They were what's called "Close Seconds" so to speak.              

      Over the years, Mr. Steve has read about Adolph Hitler's "Rare" ability to get people to "Emote;" and stop thinking "Logically" or "Rationally."  His voice could be used almost like a musical instrument I guess.  I hear Crows fighting over food way out there in the desert.                                        JOHN F. KENNEDY                 ADOLPH HITLER            MARTIN LUTHER KING                                                                                                                                                                     Mr. Steve's dad thinks Adolph Hitler might've made a "good "motivational" sports Coach. He's read things written by President Kennedy, Hitler and Martin Luther King too.  I wrote in    book one about Hitler's 1920's book called "Mein Kampf," which means "My Struggle."              

   I guess that girl knew only the "ranting and raving" Hitler but was "Blown Away" by his speeches, even though she couldn't understand a word he was saying.  She realized how it "was      possible" many of the Germans would willingly give him "absolute" power.  I smell Sage.           

       Mr. Steve's dad thinks one reason why people go to concerts and things like that is to "temporarily escape" or get a "break" from their normally "uneventful" lives.  Hitler's speeches were probably just like that too I'll bet.  It's like Rhêma or the "Living Word" I guess.                                                

"ADULATION" FOR ADOLPH HITLER    

    The caption below this 1930's photograph says "rapturous" Germans "greet" Hitler.  Mr. Steve did art for an older German lady who said females back then reacted to Hitler with "mass hysteria."  She read David Bowie said it was just like BEATLES first trip over to America.           

       I glanced up and can see two white vapor trails in the sky.  The Sun is now higher above the eastern  horizon and I'd say it's about eleven judging by the shadows.  Samson and Delilah the    Ravens are flying bye right now and are moving together toward the northeast.                              

    Well, I can see by my outline that I still have a little bit more to write about that guy Lenny Bruce and how he influenced today's Comedians.  And then I'll go back to writing about World    War II.  I wrote a lot more about Adolph Hitler than I'd planned on but that's okay.                      

                  RICHARD PRYOR (1940-2005)                                GEORGE CARLIN (1937-2008) 

      One time this guy told Mr. Steve he thought Lenny Bruce "ran interference" or "paved the way" for American comics like Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor and George Carlin.  Lenny Bruce    is  described as "groundbreaking" in my Encyclopedia.  I can smell Manzanita.                             

        Daisy says that man's sister knew Lenny Bruce and thinks he probably accidentally killed himself by "overdosing" on "Morphine."  Yesterday I wrote how, during the Korean War; Mr. Steve's father got addicted to morphine.  A black Cow Bird just flew bye.

       In my first book I mentioned how they wanted to "Amputate," or cut off; Mr. Steve's dad's feet when they were "Frostbitten."  They didn't but he took morphine to ease the extreme pain.  Later he had to quit taking morphine by going what I guess they call "Cold Turkey."   

"EDEN MEMORIAL PARK" ("MISSION HILLS")       

        I'm still thinking about Eden Memorial Cemetery where Lenny Bruce and Mr. Steve's old boss Steve Bank's is buried.  As I mentioned yesterday, when Mr. Steve worked for "Pace" back in 1990; Eden Memorial was one of his his customers.  Pace is now called "Sam's Club."

        That lady who knew Lenny Bruce said when they found his dead body a kettle of water was boiling and his electric typewriter was still on.  On a piece of paper he had typed; "Conspiracy to interfere with the 4th Amendment const..."  Heathcliff just crowed over there.

        Mr. Steve was told that, on the same day he died; Lenny Bruce's house was what they call "Foreclosed."  Daisy says that means he didn't have enough money to pay for the house so the Bank took it back.  Our boss told  his Niece Stephanie we don't owe any money on our house.

                VIVALDI (1678-1741)                                                    MOZART (1756-1791)                     

           I guess Lenny Bruce was sort of like those guys Vivaldi and Mozart.  In book one I wrote how they also died poor.  It says in this Encyclopedia how, at the time of his death Lenny Bruce was officially declared a "Pauper" but; at least he had a grave to be buried in Dais thinks. 

          As Mr. Steve used a shovel to throw dirt down on Steve Bank's coffin he thought about how at Lenny Bruce's burial a friend threw one of his microphones into the grave.  I hear two Crows out in the eastern desert.  And I can tell that they're fighting over some food or a girl Crow.

          I guess some people think Lenny Bruce was "Persecuted" for saying "Taboo" things " out in public.  So they made it hard for him to earn a living and, in a culture which worships money; that's not good Mr. Steve says.  No wonder he ended up being one of those paupers.     

                                                                      PANTERA    

        I mentioned that Texas Heavy Metal band PANTERA yesterday.  Their Guitarist was killed on stage by a crazy fan who was himself shot by Police.   As I've said before, PANTERA are from Dallas; right near where Mr. Steve's brother Rock lives with his sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob.  

            Someday I want to hear some PANTERA songs, especially the two Daisy and Millie heard in our boss's bedroom that one time.  He played them for that Jason and I guess one of them says to "Walk" and another one is about some Cowboys who come from Hell.  I smell Mesquite.

        Mr. Dave laughed when our boss said he can play the basic beat of PANTERA'S song Walk but not the "fills."  Daisy says Mr. Dave chuckled when Mr. Steve told him about the "first and only" time he tried to play RUSH'S song about Tom Sawyer.  Those Crows are still fighting. 

                                                                      VAN HALEN 

                                                                                                                                         PHOTO BY FABIO NOSOTTI

            Over the last two days I've mentioned the L.A. city of "Pasadena," where that stadium the "Rose Bowl" is located.  It's where the Dodger's Baseball player Jackie Robinson was from.  The Hard Rock band VAN HALEN, who Daisy really likes; is also from Pasadena too I guess. 

             I guess, when PANTERA'S Guitarist was buried Eddie Van Halen gave one of his guitars to be put inside of the coffin.  Daisy saw a tv show about PANTERA which said he was also buried in a coffin with that Hard Rock band KISS'S logos on it.  Heathcliff just crowed.  

        I've never heard any VAN HALEN songs but Dais has and says they're good.  The guitarist player and Drummer, Eddie and Alex Van Halen; are brothers who's parents came to the U.S. from the Netherlands.  That's where the painter Vincent van Gogh was born too.

                                B.B. KING                                                           BRIAN MAY

            Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve is interested in why some Guitarists like Brian May of QUEEN and B.B. King, think of their guitars as female; while others view them as male.  Up there in the high blue sky I just noticed a long white vapor trail.  Dawn's barking. 

            Daisy heard our boss tell that kid Jason how, in 1984; he saw VAN HALEN play a concert at the Forum in Inglewood.  At that time he, and his friends Mark and Helen; were working for the company that owned the Forum and the sports teams who played in it.  I like Dawn. 

        I guess that guy Eddie Van Halen thinks of some of his guitars as male.  Dais says on the tv show about PANTERA it said he named some of his guitars after Frankenstein.  A flock of Birds is now flying bye way up there in the sky, but not nearly as high as that vapor trail.    

                        FRANKENSTEIN                                                 EDDIE VAN HALEN                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                PHOTO BY LARRY MARANO

            Daisy and Millie one time heard our boss and Mr. Dave in New Mexico talk about that guy Eddie Van Halen.  Like Brian May of QUEEN, I guess he built his own guitars and then named them "Frankenstein's;" just like the monster.   Max the Hummingbird just whizzed bye. 

            Because Eddie Van Halen created a guitar from "easier to use" parts from a "Fender," in order to get a "Gibson" sound; he called the "end result" Frankenstein.  That's what Mr. Steve and his friend Dave talked about.  Dais says our boss one time drew VAN HALEN'S first logo. 

             I've mentioned a few times over the last two days how I'm scheduled to write about good Guitarist's Mr. Steve has seen "In Person."  Brian May and Eddie Van Halen were two of them.  Mr. Steve sure wishes he could have seen PANTERA'S Guitarist play live Daisy told me.

                               JIMI HENDRIX                                                DICK DALE

                                                                 PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ

              I've mentioned before how guitarists like Dick Dale and that guy Jimi Hendrix used Fender "Stratocasters."  And, because parts of Eddie Van Halen's guitar were from a Stratocaster; he at times jokingly referred to his as being a "Frankenstrat."  Heathcliff just crowed over there. 

              Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave he read in a Magazine article that the guitar Eddie Van Halen put in the coffin of  PANTERA'S Guitarist was a black and yellow striped Frankenstein.  I guess most of Eddie Van Halen's "Composite" guitars were red with white stripes on them.   

              In the Magazine article it said Eddie Van Halen used glossy "Schwinn" Bicycle paint on his guitars.  Dais says our boss, and his brothers and friends growing up in Sylmar; at times rode on Schwinn Bikes.  Anyway, I'll come back to VAN HALEN tomorrow in my third book. 

JOHN SEBASTIAN

            All four of the Pigeons just flew in from being out in the desert and landed on the Patio roof right above sitting here on my couch Elvira.  I wrote yesterday how they're two couples who Mr. Steve named "Lucy and Ricky" and "Fred and Ethel."  Now they're walking around up there. 

            As I wrote in my first book, the Actress who played "Ethel" on the "I Love Lucy" show was from New Mexico and her "Godson" was a Musician named John Sebastian. I've never heard his songs but Daisy has and told me he sings and plays this one thing called an "Autoharp." 

         I've mentioned how Mr. Steve has wondered why places like Germany call their country the "Fatherland," while other countries like Russia think of their nation as "Motherland."  And why guys like Eddie Van Halen think of their instruments as male or female.  Dawn's barking.

                                   THE McCOYS (RICK DERRINGER WITH "LUCY")

            Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about a 1957 red "Gibson Les Paul" electric guitar owned by George Harrison of the BEATLES.  I guess it originally belonged to that guy John Sebastian and then later to this other Guitarist named Rick Derringer.  That guitar was named "Lucy."

       According to Dais, when John Sebastian owned Lucy it was gold but Rick Derringer painted it red.  His band the McCOYS were from the State of "Indiana" and, in the 1960's; had this good song which I want to hear someday called "Hang on Sloopy"  Pigeons cooing is so calming. 

          Mr. Steve was told by a customer in Michigan that Rick Derringer was born in this town in Ohio called "Celina," just like the name of his dead sister.  Dais and I'd like to go to that Mission Cemetery.  We could help our boss clean up the graves and maybe even put some flowers.

                          "DERRINGER"                                                 LINCOLN ASSASINATION                                                                                                        ("FORDS THEATRE" / APRIL 14, 1865)

            Daisy told me our boss's customer in Michigan said Rick Derringer's real name is actually "Zehringer."  But he changed it to the name of the little handgun John Wilkes Booth used to kill President Lincoln.  Mr. Steve has a replica "Derringer" gun in his office Daisy told me. 

        One reason why Rick Derringer changed his name was because the McCoys "Issued" their songs on "Bang" Records.  That Michigan Parts Manager said Hang on Sloopy is the "official" Ohio State Rock song.  Teams like the Baseball Indians and Basketball Cavaliers use it.  

         I guess, over the many years; that guy Rick Derringer has played guitar for a lot of famous Musicians like Edgar Winter, Bob Dylan and later Cyndy Lauper who Mr. Steve took pictures of. Speedy Gonzalez just sprinted bye right now.  All that's left is the floating dust he raised.    

                                                         "WEIRD" AL YANKOVIC

            Yesterday I wrote about how many famous Musicians have come from the Los Angeles city of "Downey."  One is that man "Weird" Al Yankovic who Daisy told me does funny versions of other people's famous songs.  I guess Rick Derringer "Produced" some of his albums.

       Daisy says one morning when our boss and Mr. Mike were loading up Rex the Truck to go to the Dump, they talked about that guy Rick Derringer.   Mr. Mike didn't know it was him on that one Edgar Winter song called "Frankenstein."  Ah!  I love the smell of new Spring Mesquite. 

      Mr. Steve joked they should make a movie about Rick Derringer because he's played or been "involved with" so many famous people.   One was that guy Andy Warhol from New York City.  Actually, Andy Warhol was originally from "Pittsburgh;" just like Mr. Rick's family too.    

"CRUCIFIXION"   

             Hey Lord!  As You know of course, that Parts Manager in Michigan is an "Evangelical" or "Born Again" Christian.  He said Rick Derringer is too just like Alice Cooper the singer who I wrote about earlier this morning.  I think I might want to be one of those someday.

           That Parts Manager in Michigan said Rick Derringer sold his red Les Paul to one of those "Pawn" Shops I wrote about yesterday.  And it turned out the person who came in and ended up buying it was Eric Clapton who I've mentioned before.  The Pigeons are cooing up there.

            I guess a few years later Eric Clapton gave his red Les Paul to George Harrison.  He named it Lucy and played her in famous songs and concerts he did after he left the BEATLES.  But one time Lucy got stolen and he had to go through a lot of trouble in getting it back Dais says. 

                              ERIC CLAPTON                                  GEORGE HARRISON

            Two good color photos in this one Encyclopedia shows Eric Clapton and George Harrison playing that 1957 Les Paul guitar named Lucy.  No wonder Daisy likes how it looks because, as I've said a few times over the last two days; her favorite color is red.  I smell some old Sage.

              That red guitar was made in the same year Mr. Steve's brother Rock in Texas was born.  It has such a good shape Daisy thinks and, I guess Mr. Steve has known people, one being Mr. Rich; who've owned "Les Paul's." If I ever learn to play guitar I'd want a shiny royal blue one.  

              Mentioning Rick Derringer being in that 1960's band the MCCOYS makes me think about something Dais actually has me scheduled to write about tomorrow in my third and final book.  Back in the 19th century this saying developed, "The Real McCoy."  Heathcliff just crowed.

ELIJAH MCCOY (1844-1929)         

              Daisy saw a good tv show about Inventors like Alexander Graham Bell, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.  It mentioned this black man named Elijah McCoy who, back in 1871; invented a  "lubricating device for steam engines."  And that's what my Encyclopedia says here too. 

          Wow!  It says here that guy Elijah McCoy went to College in Scotland, at the age of only fifteen.  Because his invention was so good, others "counterfeited" it; but theirs wasn't as good as his so people would ask, "Is it the real McCoy?"  They only wanted Elijah McCoy's device.  

          I guess in 1837 Elijah McCoy's parents, through that "Underground Railroad" system;  escaped Slavery in the State of "Kentucky" and made it all the way up north to Canada.  There the dad joined the military services.  Eventually they acquired land and then had a family. 

         19TH CENTURY AMERICAN SLAVES           "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" ROUTES                                                                                                                                              

          I'm starting to be like Mr. Steve in really appreciating good maps.  One shows some of the Slave took to get out of being a Slave.  Daisy says our boss. before the recession; had a customer    in Kentucky who said Elijah McCoy invented other things besides his "oiling mechanism."           

         Oh what the heck!  I can go ahead and just write about the name "McCoy" now instead of in book three.   Mr. Steve thinks Elijah McCoy's parents must've been "strong people."  Daisy      says there were very few females on the Underground Railroad from what the tv show said.         

      Even though Canada didn't have Slavery Dais says, there was still prejudice up there too.  Elijah McCoy could only go to a "Colored" school.  But I guess he was so smart at age fifteen he went to Scotland and studied "Engineering."  Andy's over there guarding their burrow.                   

              MR. MARK / WIFE KIM                                MR. MARK / WITH SONS                

                  Daisy says a while back our boss was told by Mr. Mark over there in Hawaii how his wife Kim is a descendent of Elijah McCoy.  But her part of the family ended up moving out here to California I guess.  Andy just sniffed the air but is now looking over here in this direction. 

            It says here how some people think the "idiom" The Real McCoy came from this late 19th century Boxer called "Kid" McCoy.  Others say it was "derived" from a 1920's Prohibition era "smuggler" whose alcohol was not "watered down."  But Elijah McCoy was before them?

           That Parts Manager in Kentucky said he was told there's a 1990's German "Dance" band called The REAL MCCOY, and also a brand of whiskey and rum.  Daisy heard our boss and his mom recall a Sylmar family with the last name "McCoy." One was in her  Girl Scout troop.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (1856-1915) WITH FAMILY

                  The tv show on Inventors mentioned what it says here too.  Elijah McCoy was admired by that other guy Booker T. Washington, who had that school in the State of "Alabama;" and knew a few U.S. Presidents.  Booker T. Washington was born a Slave but "rose above it" I guess.

            Booker T. Washington is now "associated" with the town of "Tuskegee" Alabama, just like those World War II Pilots I've mentioned before; and will learn more about tomorrow in my third book.  Samson and Delilah are flying over Libby's Corral and she's looking up them.

           Daisy says our boss had a customer in Alabama who knew about Booker T. Washington, and the Civil War.  He read Elijah McCoy died poor but a Detroit Post Office was named after him.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Randy one time he kind of misses talking to that Parts Manager.     

   WILLIAM HATFIELD    RANDALL MCCOY       

                 (1839-1921)                     (1825-1914)                       

                A few times our boss talked with that Parts Manger in Kentucky about the famous 19th century "Feud," between the "Hatfield" family from West Virginia; and the "McCoy clan" from Kentucky.  A little Bird just ran bye out there in the dirt.  It's carrying a twig for its nest. 

           My Encyclopedia says the "Hatfield-McCoy conflict" last for about thirty years, from the years 1863 all the way through 1891.  The leader of the Hatfield's was named William, or "Devil Anse."  The McCoy's leader was Randall, and both look kind of mean in their pictures.

           Wow!  It says her that guy Devil Anse and his wife had thirteen children, while Randall McCoy's wife had seventeen kids.  Boy!  Five of their kids got killed during that long feud.  Both of the family's were "sympathetic" to the Rebel Confederacy during the Civil War I guess.    

 AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

                    I guess, the Hatfield-McCoy feud kind of began when the Hatfield's killed one of Randall McCoy's brother; because he fought for the Union during the Civil War.  But it "escalated," and things "evolved into a cycle of violence and revenge"  Donald and Daisy are both quacking.

                   Someday I'd like to hear how an electric guitar sounds in person.  Dais told me it is sort of amazing how powerful and loud an electric guitar can be.  And drums are loud too, especially the cymbals she says.  Andy's sniffing the air just in case Goliath or Cher are around here.  

            In my third book tomorrow Dais has me scheduled to write about the good guitarists our boss has seen play.  One is that guy Brian May of QUEEN  who, with his father; built that red girl guitar.  Boy!  You have to be so smart to even know how to build a guitar Daisy thinks.

                            LUCILLE BALL                                                  "I LOVE LUCY"

      According to what Dais saw on that tv show about the red Les Paul guitar named Lucy, that guy George Harrison named his guitar after the red-headed girl who played the main character    on the I Love Lucy tv show.  I wrote about her and her husband Desi Arnez in book one.               

     Right now the four Pigeons are up there on the Patio roof cooing and just walking around.  I like when they do that because, for some strange reason as I mentioned yesterday; their voices do seem somehow to make me feel calmer.  Dawn's barking at something next door.                             

     I agree with Daisy!  Looking at the picture in this Encyclopedia of that girl Lucille Ball, her hair is more orange than red.  Daisy thinks maybe to that guy George Harrison her hair looked    red.  I wonder how Dais would look if she dyed some of her hair red or orange?                              

                                          MARY FORD (1924-1977) / LES PAUL 1915-2009)

            Yesterday I mentioned those two guitar makers named Leo Fender and Les Paul.  But now I'll write in a little bit more detail about them.  Les Paul is the man that Gibson guitar Lucy was named after.  Les Paul was from the State of "Wisconsin" just like Mr. Mark in Hawaii. 

        My Encyclopedia says Les Paul was not only a good Guitarist but also as an "Inventor" too.  A picture shows him with his "musical partner" wife Mary Ford.  She sang and played rhythm guitar.  You can kind of tell by the photograph that they were a really good working team.  

        A song Mr. Steve's mom's Girl Scout troops sang was "Vaya Con Dios."   In 1953, two years before Mr. Steve was born; Les Paul and Mary came out with that song.  My Spanish Dictionary says that means "Go With God," which I'd definitely do God; as of course You know.        

                                                          STEVE MILLER BAND   

              Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows what it says in this one Encyclopedia?  Les Paul was that Guitarist Steve Miller's Godfather just like Vivian Vance, or "Ethel" on I Love Lucy; was John Sebastian's "Godmother."  The Pigeons up on the Patio roof just flew back out into the desert.

            As I wrote yesterday, when you're a "God Parent" to a baby that means you'll take care of that baby if the parents die; which for most of history Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph was a "distinct possibility."  In Mr. Steve's parent's families many people have died at really young ages.     

           My Encyclopedia says Les Paul was the "father" of the "solid-body" electric guitar.  And he is now totally "associated" with making machines that allows a Musician to "overdub" music in "layers."  Daisy told me how that means a band can build a song one "track" at a time.      

      HOME STUDIO                    LES / MARY FORD                   WITH DOGS                    

           Two pictures in my Encyclopedia shows Les Paul and Mary Ford at their house.  I guess, for a long time; they lived here in Southern California but then moved permanently to New Jersey where Mr. Rich is from.  Mr. Rich met Les Paul that one time I mentioned in my first book. 

            A picture of Les Paul and Mary Ford shows them holding their Dogs and one is a "Collie" while the the other is a small Chihuahua.  Yesterday I mentioned that Mr. Steve's family used to have this tiny khaki-colored Chihuaha named "Chino."  He was a good guard I hear. 

           I guess after so many years of being an entertainer Mary Ford decided to "Hang them Up" as that old saying goes.  She wanted to retire and just go raise their children.   But, her husband kept right on playing guitar to entertain people for almost the rest of his whole life. 

                                                     LES PAUL                  LEO FENDER

           As I've mentioned a few times over the last two days, two of the main company's that build electric guitars are Gibson and Fender.  I wrote yesterday how Leo Fender's company is here in California.   Frida and Diego just flew bye and are going out into the eastern desert.

         Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone one time how some people think Les Paul and Leo Fender were enemies working for "Competing" companies.  But, in a tv interview; Mr. Steve heard Les Paul tell Eddie Van Halen they were actually friends.  Dawn's barking.

         Hey God!  I feel so good right now because the air is clear and the high blue sky is pretty.  In both of my nostrils I can smell all of the new Spring plants that are growing around here.  One is that new little baby Spring Cholla cactus now growing out there in the dirt just to my right.

                                         "MCDONALDS" RESTAURANT (DOWNEY)       

      What the heck!  I'm not scheduled to write about the city of Downey now, but mentioning "Weird" Al makes me think of it.  As I wrote yesterday in my first book, the oldest what they call "Operational" McDonalds restaurant is located down there in the Downey area.                             

       As I said in book one, some really good Musicians, like the CARPENTERS and that Heavy Metal band METALLICA; are from Downey.  Dave Alvin, who Mr. Steve took pictures of; came  from Downey too.  He and his brother were in the "Rockabilly" band the BLASTERS.                  

     Andy and Helen the Ground Squirrels just used the two vertical slots on the sides of the gate to come back in from being out in the desert behind the Sheds.  Now they're going over to their burrow.  Helen will check on their new Spring babies while Andy guards the entrance.                  

                                                      "APOLLO" SPACE PROGRAM

        Yesterday I wrote about our boss's customer in Downey.  My Encyclopedia says Downey is the "Birthplace" of the 1960's U.S. "Apollo" space program.   Andy's now sniffing the air to see  if he can smell Cher the Cat or Goliath the Gopher Snake who might be nearby.                             

       As I said in book one, the Apollo program was named after that one ancient Greek God of the Sun, light and music.  It was the program that landed men up there on the Moon and was the third American space program following "Mercury" and "Gemini."   Dawn's barking.                 

       Boy! I'm so tempted to talk about that German Scientist Werner von Braun who I wrote a about yesterday.  In World War II he built those "V-2" Rockets for Adolph Hitler's Nazi's and he later led the Apollo program.  I'll be writing more about him over the next two days.                          

JOHN G. DOWNEY (1827-1894)

      According to this Encyclopedia, the city of Downey was named after a man named John G. Downey.   The caption underneath his picture says that he was California's Governor during the years of the American Civil War.  Right now some Ducks are quacking over there.                          

      This is interesting.  Until Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003 John G. Downey, who was born in Ireland; was the only California Governor not to be born in the U.S.  I guess his family came to    America about the time of that huge famine where a million people may've starved.                       

    It says here that, even though he was a "Democrat," during the Civil War John G. Downey "supported" President Lincoln who was the leader of the "Republican" party.  He had originally come to California in 1849 for the "Gold Rush."  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye.                      

                                                                                        "PONY EXPRESS" (1860-1861)                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                         PAINTING BY FREDERICK REMINGTON

      This Encyclopedia says three things happened during the time when Governor Downey led California.  The State capitol of "Sacramento," which Mr. Steve and his father have been to; was started.  This big railroad company called the "Central Pacific" formed in the 1860's.                    

        As I said yesterday, Mr. Steve and his mom like the art of Frederick Remington.  Here in my Encyclopedia is a painting he did of the third thing that took place in John G. Downey's "term"  as Governor.  And it says here that third thing was called the "Pony Express."                                

      The caption below Frederick Remington's painting says that the Pony Express was a "short-lived mail service."   I guess Horse riders, "in relays;" took letters back and forth from Missouri all the way out here to California.  A good map shows the "route" those guys used.                         

                                   AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)                 

      This Encyclopedia says the Pony Express "existed" for only about a year, the months before Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860; and then for most of 1861 when the Civil War    broke out.  My right nostril smells Libby.  She's walking slowly around her Corral.                        

     One time Dais and that other Dog Millie were in our boss's bedroom and watched a good tv show.  It was about the 19th century American railroads which ended up connecting the east and west American coasts after the Civil War.  Smelling Libby makes me feel good right now.              

       After the "Trans-Continental" railroad was finished in 1869 the mail could be delivered a lot faster than men on Horses.  But, the main reason why the Pony Express was "discontinued" was the creation of the "Telegraph" system in 1861.  I'll write about telegraphs later.                                      

 CALIFORNIA INDIAN VILLAGE (PRE-SPANISH)

PAINTING BY MARY LEIGHTON THOMSON

      Yesterday I wrote about that "Tongva" Indian lady who Mr. Steve met one time over at the San Fernando "Knights of Columbus" Hall.   As I mentioned in book one, the Spanish called the native Tongvan's "Gabrieliños."  The name Tongva means, "People of the Earth."                        

       The Tongvan's were living in what is now the Downey area when the Spanish first showed up back in the second half of the 18th century.   In 1771 the "San Gabriel" Mission was built.  Two    of the Pigeons just flew in from the eastern desert and went over top of the house.                           

      As I said yesterday, the Tongvan word for us Dogs is "Woshii."  The Sun is "Taamet," Birds are " Yayaayt," and an island is a "Kavuukar."   I guess, way back then in 1771; there were three Tongan villages in the Downey area named, "Sehet," "Naxaan'nga" and "Chokishnga."               

                                             "SAN GABRIEL ARCÁNGEL" MISSION

            Daisy says one morning our boss and Mr. Randy were trimming the Arborvitae trees up in the front yard.  Mr. Steve, and Mr. Randy too; have been to the San Gabriel "Arcángel" Mission and talked about it.  San Gabriel was the 4th of 21 Alta California Missions built.

            San Gabriel Mission's "Original" location was near to what is now Downey.  But I guess just a few years after it was "Established" there was a huge flood.  So, they moved it over to where it is now.  Downey is called a "Gateway" city between L.A and Orange Counties. 

               My Encyclopedia says under Governor Downey "Subdividing" land was "pioneered" in California, and it was he who thought of growing oranges.  I guess, during the mid-19th century Mexican "Californio" period; Downey was important.  I can smell Libby over there. 

                                                                                         "PERCHERON" HORSE

                  Oh!  All of a sudden, I just thought of really big French Horse called a "Percheron."  Mr. Steve's father, growing up in New Mexico; used to see Percheron Horses pulling "Plows" in the fields.   Wow!  A good picture shows a Percheron Horse standing with its Trainer.

           I was actually supposed to write about Percheron Horses yesterday, when I wrote about New Mexico but; somehow missed it on my outline.  But, like with the other things I missed; I'll just try to fit those subjects in today as I go along.  Libby's now walking around.

         Daisy told me our boss has been told the "Albuquerque" Police Department use Percheron Horses for "Crowd Control."  The caption below the picture calls them "Draft" Horses, "bred" in the 17th century French "Perche" region.  Wow!  They'd be like a Tank in a war!

                             "THE HORSE FAIR"                                        "BRINGING UP THE GUNS"

                                                   PAINTING BY ROSA BONHEUR                                                                                                             PAINTING BY HAROLD POWERS

                 I've mentioned how there's a "Guest" bedroom in our house.  But down in Sylmar at Mr. Steve's parents house there are now two guest bedrooms.  Mr. Steve's old bedroom is now one of them and, in the other one; a big framed print of a painting from the 19th century is hanging.

            I guess that one print is a copy of a real painting made in France by this lady named Rosa Bonheur.  Mr. Steve's mom bought it at the "Metropolitan Museum of Art" in New York City.  I just glanced up and noticed that Libby's looking in this direction from over in her Corral.  

           Rosa Bonheur's painting shows Percheron Horses being bought and sold in France.  And in this Encyclopedia is another painting showing Percheron's being used in the First World War. They're taking ammunition to the "Front" which was partly those "Trenches" in France.

                                   "NAZIS"                 POLAND INVADED (1939)            "SOVIETS"                          

          Well, back to learning about World War II which, as I've said a few times in these first two books; "Officially" began in early September of 1939.  To the total surprise of everyone, Hitler made an "Alliance of Convenience" with Stalin.  They both then attacked and took Poland.

         It looks like, according to my book two outline, the next thing I'll write about is the subject of "Intelligence" gathering in the Second World War.  That means trying to figure out what an enemy is going to do.  Dawn's barking, and I smell Blinky and Rosie standing near her.

        Mr. Steve's father thinks "Cryptography" was the biggest "factor" in the "Allies" beating the "Axis" countries in World War II.  He believes it may have cut two years off the war.  I'll be learning a lot more about the history of "Espionage" over the course of the next two days.

                                                                                          "BLETCHLEY PARK"  (EXTERIOR)      

        Daisy saw a show about "Bletchley Park" where, during the Second World War; the British "Intercepted" German's Radio transmissions and translated them.  Then Winston Churchill and his Generals would know what the Germans were doing.  It was their "Ultra" secret. 

        In book three Dais has me scheduled to learn and then write about how the Allies in World War II "cracked" or "broke" the German "Enigma" Code at Bletchley Park.  I'm so tempted to do it right now.  But, I'd better wait and do it according to the outlines we prepared.

       Even though I'll wait until tomorrow to write more about Bletchley Park and the subject of Code Breaking, I can still write a few things about it now too.  I like the two pictures of Bletchley Park in this one Encyclopedia.  I see how a lot of females worked at Bletchley Park.  

BLETCHLEY PARK (INTERIOR)  

         A few years ago Mr. Steve's friend and his wife visited Bletchley Park, which is about fifty miles northwest of London.  The wife, like Mr. Steve's mom; knows a lot about Art History.  She didn't like the mix of Victorian, Gothic, Baroque and Tudor styles on the outside. 

        That guy Ian Flemming who wrote the James Bond books worked at Bletchley Park I'll bet.  I guess, besides Scientists; Chess players and people good at Crossword Puzzles also worked at Bletchley Park.  Grandma Trujillo was pretty good at doing Crossword Puzzles.

        I've mentioned Mr. Phillip a few times.  He's from England and is a Parts Manager at that "Honda" Dealership in New York State.  Daisy says he and our boss talked about how the girl who married Prince William had a Grandmother who worked at Bletchley Park. 

                             KATE MIDDLETON          HER AUNT                                         

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REED                                                                                           

           I guess the girl who married England's Prince William is a "Duchess" and Mr. Phillip said not only did her Grandma work at Bletchley Park, so did that lady's twin sister too.  Oh!  What a coincidence.  The scent of the two Twin Joshua trees just floated in from the desert.

        Mr. Phillip says some people want to tear down the Bletchley Park building to make some houses or things like that.  Mr. Steve's dad thinks it's sad the people who worked there never got any "recognition."  That's because what they did in World War II was "top secret."   

        According to what Dais says, our boss thinks Codes and Code-Breaking has been important in history.  Even in ancient Rome people like Julius Caesar used them.  Tomorrow in book three I'll write about this writer named Edgar Allen Poe who was interested in secret Codes. 

           CAESAR (100-44 B.C.)         E.A. POE (1809-1849)      WASHINGTON (1732-1799) 

        Another thing I'll learn about later is the "Spy Ring" that helped George Washington win the Revolutionary War.  Daisy and Millie one time watched a good tv show on that subject and it said the Spy Network used Codes and secret invisible ink.  A Train just whistled faintly.      

        My Dictionary says that a "Code" is; "A secret message that replaces words or phrases with letters, numbers or other words."  And a "Cipher" replaces or rearranges the individual letters in each word of that secret message.  I can smell a Lizard somewhere around here. 

        "Cryptography" is defined in my Dictionary as, "Writing or deciphering coded messages."  And "Cryptic" means, "hidden, mysterious, baffling or obscure."  Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez just zoomed through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the desert.    

 HIGH DESERT LIZARD 

       Aha!  I just noticed the Lizard I was smelling and it's standing in the dirt over there near the big tree.  And now it's starting to do those pushups Lizards do.  It better be careful or it might be seen by something which sees the motion and wants to come over and kill and eat it.                       

       According to this one Encyclopedia, the instructions for creating or "deciphering" a coded message is called a "Key" and the original "Uncoded" message is "Plain Text."  That Lizard is gone.  It's a good thing too because I see Cher the Cat over there near Libby's Corral. 

      It says here, in Europe during the Middle Ages; only Kings and people like that were even allowed to send messages using Codes.  Even though, back in those days; almost all of the people couldn't read or write anyway.  In my left nostril I can smell Theodora's Creosote bush.

                                                       QUEEN ELIZABETH I (1533-1606)  

          This is interesting.  In 1587, the year before the Spanish sent that big "Armada" to conquer England, Queen Elizabeth I "executed" her Cousin Mary "Queen of Scots;" and the excuse she needed was this intercepted "deciphered" message.   Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye.

          I just looked up Mary Stuart, Scotland's Queen who Elizabeth I considered to be one of her biggest "rivals" for her English throne.  Daisy and Millie saw a good tv show which said Queen Elizabeth kept her in "house arrest" for almost twenty years.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.  

         The man on the tv show mentioned how Queen Mary was tricked, or "entrapped;" into a "conspiracy" to overthrow her Cousin.  But, I guess she got caught so had to have her head cut off as happened to so many people back in those days.  At least she wasn't burned alive.   

MARY I ("QUEEN OF SCOTS" / 1542-1587)         

                It says here Queen Mary was the Great Granddaughter of that guy King Henry VII, the Niece of Henry VIII; and her son in 1603 became King James I of England.  He's the King who had the "King James" Bible made.  Hey God!  Someday I really want to read that Bible.  

           Boy!  I guess, Queen Mary's father died when she was only six days old; and all three of her husbands "predeceased" her.  That just means they died before her.  As I've found out over the last two days, in the 16th and 17th centuries there were so many ways to die young.

           Hey God!  Thank You for helping me again today.  I'm going to keep working hard and not waste any time, unless I have to go pee or visit with Daisy; which I guess really wouldn't be considered wasting time.  There are so many beautiful puffy clouds up there in the sky.

                                         "INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT"

(LUKE 23:46)   

                  Hey Lord!  It says here what the tv talked about, how just before here head was cut off Queen Mary said "Oh Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit;" just like You said.  Daisy told me that band SYSTEM OF A DOWN also say that in a song.  Millie liked how they said that. 

                Daisy told me Lord that S.O.A.D. song might be about eating Chinese food, or maybe it might be about when You died?  Dais says she and Millie also noticed how the Singer yelled out, "Father, why have You forsaken me?"  A little girl Finch holding a twig in its mouth ran bye.

               Oh wow!  According to my Dictionary "Forsaken" means to "abandon, desert, leave or quit a situation."  Hey God!  I would never want You to do that to all of us down here, because that would be so bad.  We like all of You Guys hanging around us for the rest of our lives.  

"ATONEMENT"

                Hey Lord!   Daisy told me about the time the Mormon kid on a Mission told our boss how, in the "Book of Mormon;" the "Tree of Life" emblem symbolizes how Your "Atonement" shows "God's love."  You died to make up for how bad some people had been.  I can smell Libby.

           I guess Lord, that Mormon kid said "Latter Day Saints" believe mankind can be "saved"  through all of that torture the Roman Soldiers had fun "inflicting" on You; before killing You    by nailing You to that cross.  Ugh!  Every time I think about it I imagine how painful it was.  

           Daisy heard the Mormon kid say Lord how, because of how You were killed; You can both "sympathize and empathize" with the "inherent hardship and struggle" that is simply a part of everyday "temporal" life.  Mr. Steve told him Sister Rita Joseph believed in that idea too.    

MID-DAY HIGH DESERT SKY 

         Ah!  The clouds up in the sky are so pretty, and the air I'm breathing is so fresh and clear too right not.   Well, back to writing about "Cryptography" or "Code Breaking" in history.  Mr. Steve and his father both think that to this day it's a very important subject in people's lives.       

      Dais told me how, a few years ago; Mr. Steve's father helped organize an event in Van Nuys where they "Honored" these elderly Navajo Indians called "Code Talkers."  Out in the "Pacific  Theater" during World War II they fought the Japanese.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.         

       I guess those Indian Code Talkers served in the Marines against the Japanese.  They used their native language to send messages and the Japanese never did decipher those messages.  I've mentioned a few times in these first two books how our boss's father was a Marine too.

                                                        NAVAJO "CODE TALKERS"

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA 

     As I said earlier, Dais says our boss thinks the breaking of the German Enigma" Code, and also the Japanese "Purple"  and Naval Codes; were huge in the Allies winning World War  II.      Mr. Steve calls it a "crucial" factor in "turning the tide" of the war.  I smell Sage.                           

    When he was in College at C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve met this guy who knew a lot about this thing called "Morse Code."  I guess Morse Code was invented in the 19th century, and was used a lot    with "Telegraphs" during the American Civil War.  I hear some Ducks quacking.                           

     My Encyclopedia says Morse Code was "created" by a man named Samuel Morse.  He was from Massachusetts, which is near Connecticut; where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with her two sons Dalton and Austin.  Two of the Pigeons just flew over the top of the house.                               

                                                                                                                                           SAMUEL MORSE (1791-1872)                                                                                                            

         It says here that "Telegraphs" are wooden poles with a single wire hung between them.  On one end you send a message to be "received" on the other end. That message was "transmitted"  using a series of short and long "signals" or what they call "dots" and "dashes."                            

      During World War II the Germans created Jets, Rockets and "Advanced" technology that still influences things today.  But they came too late to "Make a Difference" as they say.  If they    had been given more time who knows what might've happened Mr. Steve says.                               

       As I said before, Mr. Steve and his dad think the most important reason why the Allies won the Second World War was because they "cracked" the German and Japanese codes.  And in the next two days I'll write a lot about that subject.  Dawn and Blinky are barking right now.              

   "ZODIAC" KILLER     

          Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled to write about this guy called the "Zodiac" until later, when I learn about "Serial" killers; I kind of feel like mentioning him now    too.  He killed some people up there in San Francisco back in the late 1960's I guess.                       

       One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Dave, who knew about how the Zodiac killer sent letters to Newspapers which were partly written in Code.  Here  in my Encyclopedia it's called "cryptograms" or "ciphers."  Fannie and Freddie flew bye.            

         Daisy heard Mr. Steve say a zodiac is a "diagram" showing a horizontal line "intersecting" a circle which represents the Sun's "path."  And I guess that guy named the Zodiac killer used it as his pesonal logo.  Libby's scent just came floating into my right nostril right now.                       

           DAVID BERKOWITZ               TED KACZYNSKI            JOHNWAYNE GACY                 

         I've mentioned how, in August of 1977; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock visited their Uncle Marty's family back east.  And when they were in New York City this serial killer called the "Son of Sam" was caught.  Daisy says to this day the Zodiac killer has never been caught.                       

         Pictures in my Encyclopedia show some serial killers.  The Son of Sam's real name is David Berkowitz and I guess this other guy, named Ted Kaczynski; is called the "Unabomber" because he killed people by mailing them exploding bombs.  A Crow is cawing out in the desert.                 

       Wow!  This color photo shows John Wayne Gacy, who dressed up like a "Clown" and then killed people.  I've mentioned how Dais is afraid of clowns so wait until she sees this.  There have been a few times when she's had dreams where her bad Angel Eddie looks like a clown.                           

      TALKING HEADS

         Mentioning that guy the Son of Sam makes me think about how, when Mr. Steve and his brother Rock were in New York City in 1977; this band Dais likes called TALKING HEADS had a song called "Psycho Killer."  I smell some new Sage.  That makes me feel kind of good.               

           Someday I'd like to hear songs by that New York band TALKING HEADS.  Daisy told me I'd like them because they're kind of "quirky" just like me.  Our boss used to play drums along    to some of their songs and once told that kid Jason he likes their girl bass player a lot.                    

        Daisy told me our boss, in 1983 at the "Pantages" Theater in Hollywood; saw a TALKING HEADS concert with that girl "Nancy" who I mentioned yesterday.  It was such a good concert I guess they made a movie out of it later.  Mark Ritter who died liked the TALKING HEADS.   

CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT

         Looking at the back half acre out there behind the Sheds, and smelling some of the Joshua trees; makes me feel so good right now.  I'm grateful for my life God and want to make sure, like Mr. Steve; that every day is as productive as possible.  I love how this new has started out.            

         Well God, it looks like this is the end of chapter four.  Again today I'm having so much fun  learning to read and write, but like even better finding out new and interesting things I'm writing about in my books.  Well, I'll hide everything and take my first bigger break of the day.                 

      I can't wait to run up to the front yard to see how Dais is doing, and I know she'll want to know how things are going back here on our second book too.   Wait until she finds out how well these first four chapters went.  Heathcliff just crowed, and some of the Hens are clucking.