BOOK III           

                                                                                                            (Chapter 4)  

          10:30 

           MID-MORNING SKY              

             Well You Guys, this day is going pretty fast even though I'm sad about Heathcliff.  I'd say it's about ten thirty and seeing the Sun right now reminds me of this time the last two days.  Nine chapters to go, nine more hours of sunlight; and I can hear Dawn barking next door.  

          Like yesterday and Thursday, I'll take a big break after this chapter or part one.  Working on this third book is keeping my mind off of Heathcliff so thank Everyone up there.  Oh!  Cher the Cat is jogging bye right now and has a dead Mouse hanging out of her mouth.

          I've mentioned how good I felt in that dream where Mr. Steve was petting us and showing how much he liked Daisy and I.  The three of us were happy which made us realize how lucky we are to be alive.  And like Dais said, maybe Heathcliff will come to visit us in our dreams? 

                                                                          MOLLY

               Thinking of Heathcliff suddenly makes me remember how Molly the Mule really liked to have her ears rubbed.  I do too.  Oh!  My right nostril just picked up Libby's unique scent from over in her Corral and that makes me almost smell Molly and even hear her braying voice.  

           Daisy heard there's all white "Albino" Mules.  She and Millie saw a Huell Howser episode about an annual event in the California "Sierra Nevada" mountains called "Mule Days."  That couple from Barstow who visited us knew about how it's held in the town of "Bishop."

          According to what Dais saw on Huell Howser's show, for three days every year the people of Bishop celebrate and honor all the really hard work Mules did in the days before there were Cars and Trucks.  Mr. Steve jokes about how, to a certain extent; Mules "built" America.

                                             "MULE DAYS" (BISHOP, CALIFORNIA)

                 Wow!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows what the caption says is a "Mule Team" who are pulling a Wagon.  There are sixteen Mules pulling the Wagon in the photo.  But, from what Dais saw on Huell Howser's tv show; sometimes twenty two Mules pull things around.

           I guess during Mule Days "Pack" Mules demonstrate carrying or pulling heavy weights.  Mr. Steve's father, and Huell Howser; were in the "Marines;" who still use Mules. During Mule Days they have Mule Races, Mule Jumping and Mule Rodeos.  Wow!  That sounds fun!

          Huell Howser said Mules are "under-appreciated" and not as dumb as some people think. In the desert, or on rocks; they're more "Sure-Footed" than Horses.  My Encyclopedia says how they helped build the "California Aqueduct" near us and "Rose Bowl" in Pasadena too. 

2014 JEEP "WRANGLER"   

          Writing about Mules makes me suddenly think of a "Jeep" Car called a "Wrangler," but has also been called other different names too; such as "Rubicon"    or "Jimmy."  A small flock    of Birds, who look like Pigeons; is flying toward the northeast way up there in the sky.                   

      According to what it says here in my English Dictionary, a "Wrangler" is, "A ranch hand who's primary duty is to take care of saddle horses."  But, I'll bet that means he's sort of like a "Cowboy" too.  Ah!  The fresh air is so clear right now, which makes me feel really good.              

Seeing the Sun in the sky over the eastern horizon is making me hear Vivaldi's song "La Primavera."  And that's now giving me a sensation of what might be that "Rhema" feeling I've written about over the last three days.  It's making me feel inspired to work harder today.                

                                                                     THE ANIMALS

         Looking at the Sun right now makes me hear the ANIMALS' song "House of the Rising Sun," which Mr. Steve again played this morning.  I'm  starting to really like that song, even if    hearing it makes me think of Heathcliff.  If it had a flute that song would be even better.                

         Daisy heard our Chief one time discuss with Mr. Ralph how the song House of the Rising Sun was originally more of a traditional acoustic "Folk" song.  But the ANIMALS did a harder Rock electric version which Mr. Steve likes better.  The guitar and organ is so catchy.                     

         I've mentioned how, as much as he appreciates all of the original forms of a musical style; Mr. Steve prefers heavier or more aggressive versions.  Mr. Steve has been told the ANIMALS'    House of the Rising Sun is the first "Folk-Rock" song.  Ah!  I smell that old Sage bush.                  

       WOODY GUTHRIE (1912-1967)                                                  BOB DYLAN                           

            According to what it says in this one Encyclopedia, many Musicians have "covered" House of the Rising Sun in the 20th century.  In 1941, during the Second World War; that guy Woody Guthrie did his own version of it.  And, in the early 1960's; so did Bob Dylan too.  

             House of the Rising Sun is described as a "cautionary tale."   Our boss thinks it might be a guy warning others not to do as he did in gambling away all of his money which hurts his family a lot.  I've mentioned over the last three days how Mr. Steve doesn't like to "Gamble."

              Mr. Steve kind of thinks of the ANIMALS' version of House of the Rising Sun as a "Blues-Rock" song.  I like how the Singer is really emotional.  Dais says our boss likes playing that song on the drums because he can then play, or "Tap;" the bigger-sized "Ride" cymbal. 

THE ANIMALS     

                Over the years our boss has played the ANIMAL'S House of the Rising Sun for people, just to see their reaction.  He wants to see how black people respond when they hear the organ solo in the middle of the song, which he describes as "secular gospel."  Sage smells so good.

            Someday I want to see the Video that went along with the ANIMAL'S song House of the Rising Sun.  Daisy told me, even though it's from all the way back in 1964; they made it in such a professional way.  Mr. Dave likes how they "Edited" a few "Takes" into a good version.

           Daisy liked how the ANIMAL'S all wore suits and yellow shirts in the Video, and how they walk in a circle as they play House of the Rising Sun.  They all have serious looks on their faces but at the very end the Guitarist smiles.  Mr. Steve jokes he might be smiling for his mom.   

HAWK CARRYING DEAD GOPHER        

                I just glanced up in time to see that new Hawk flying bye holding a headless Gopher in its mouth.  I really do wonder if, even though that Hawk is already an adult; that might possibly be Heathcliff reincarnated.  I wrote about the time that Hawk flew into our house by accident.   

          Hey God!  As of course You know, and I've mentioned a few times today already; I sure do wish I'd suddenly hear Heathcliff crowing.  And I know for sure Daisy and Mr. Steve would too.  Theodora just ran into the desert through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate.

          Seeing that Hawk makes me think about a Basketball player named Pete Maravich who I was supposed to write about yesterday in book two.  As a professional he played a few years for a team called the Atlanta "Hawks."  Dawn and Blinky are barking over there next door.  

          PETE MARAVICH (1947-1988)            

      Somehow, when in writing about the State of Louisiana yesterday; I totally missed Pete Maravich on my outline.  His nickname was "Pistol" because of his "Technique" in shooting the ball.  In the late-1960's he played in College at "L.S.U." or "Louisiana State University."              

         Mr. Steve thinks Pete Maravich was the most "creative ball-handling passer" he ever saw. And, as I've said before; in the 1980's he took pictures of "Magic" Johnson many times.  He was  told Pete Maravich is the only white player the Harlem "Globetrotters" ever wanted.                    

       One time Mr. Steve saw Pete Maravich, who's "Ambidextrous" like he is; "Dribbling" the ball right-handed.  In between the time when the ball went down to floor, and then bounced back up into his hand he "Waved" or "Fluttered" that hand.  I can smell some Mesquite.                       

    PETE MARAVICH "PASSING"

         After waving his right hand just like a "Fan," which totally faked out the defender; Pete Maravich then accurately "Slapped" the ball over to his teammate who scored a basket.  That's  called an "Assist" Dais told me one time.  The four Pigeons just flew out into the desert.                

          I guess that guy Pete Maravich at times made totally amazing "Underhand" passes, and sometimes; they were what they call "Full Court" underhand passes.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph    how Pete Maravich "warmed up" by dribbling a ball in each hand.  Dawn's barking.                     

      Mr. Steve occasionally plays Basketball but jokes he's too old to do anything other than just shoot.  I've mentioned how, he's still pretty good at making "Free Throws;" or playing "Horse."  As I wrote on Thursday, one time he even made twenty four free throws in a row.                          

            RICK BERRY       

          As I wrote before, Mr. Steve shoots free throws "underhanded" even though other kids used to make fun of him.  They said only girls did it like that.  But he tells them how Rick Berry, who successfully made over 90% of his career free throws; shot underhanded too.                          

          I wrote the other day how Mr. Steve, who makes free throws overhanded too; thinks in some ways it's easier to shoot free throws underhanded because your knees, hips and arms don't need to move as much.  Fannie and Freddie flew bye.  They're talking to each other.                       

          Basketball players make a lot of money now.  Mr. Steve told that kid Jason how, back in the 1960's; N.B.A. players had to wash their own uniforms, share Hotel rooms and even take Taxi Cabs to the game.  I've mentioned how N.B.A. means "National Basketball Association."              

MR. RICK

          Oh!  According to what is says here in this one Encyclopedia, that guy Pete Maravich was "born" in the city of "Pittsburgh."  Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how Mr. Steve's friend Rick's family are originally from Pittsburgh too.  I smell some Juniper.                   

          In the mid-1980's Mr. Steve and his friends Mark and Helen worked for the company that owned the Forum and teams who played there.  But, as I've written about; even before that Mr.    Steve saw a few concerts and other things there.  That Juniper makes me feel good.                        

        Daisy says it was in the 1970's, when he was playing for the Atlanta Hawks; that our boss saw Pete Maravich play down at the Forum against the Lakers a few times.  Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows that the last words Pete Maravich said before dying were, " I feel great."                   

          PETE MARAVICH "SHOOTING"    

            I guess Mr. Steve told Jason that, as "unbelievable" a passer as Pete Maravich was with either hand; he was an even better "shooter."  From either far away, or "in close" to the basket    he was really accurate.  Rudy the Roadrunner is jogging bye in front of the Sheds.                          

          Wow!  My Encyclopedia says Pete Maravich finished his College career at L.S.U. as the "all time" leading "Scorer" in N.C.A.A. "Division I" history with 3,667 points.  He "averaged"    44 points "per game."  Dais thinks that Division I is the highest College level.                                 

            Daisy says our boss told Jason he read that, if there had been a "Three Point" shot in the 1960's; Pete Maravich would've averaged over fifty points a game in College.  And, there was no  what they call "Shot Clock" back then either.  Oh!  The smell of Roses just floated in.                    

         PETE MARAVICH WITH FATHER    

           Because in the 1960's College "Freshmen" couldn't play "Varsity" Pete Maravich played only three years for L.S.U.  A picture shows him with his father, his College Coach; when he was later a pro on the New Orleans "Jazz."  Dais told me our boss drew the Jazz logo.                          

          Hey Lord!  I guess Pete Maravich became "Born Again" Christian before he died.  After he had "Retired" from Basketball he was out here in California playing in a "Pick Up" game at  a Church in Pasadena when he suddenly died.  Some Crows are cawing faintly.                               

          Mr. Steve thinks Pete Maravich was "showtime" before the Laker's "Showtime" teams of the 1980's" when he, Mark and Helen worked at the Forum.   After Pete Maravich died from an  "undiagnosed congenital heart defect" the Doctor's were "shocked" he had lived so long.              

"SIBERIAN" TIGER           

           I notice how L.S.U.'s name is the "Tigers" and their primary color is purple.  It looks like their secondary colors are white and yellow just like the Lakers Basketball team.  Daisy says our Chief also drew a few L.S.U. logos, which he told his mom were "kind of complicated."                 

          A picture in this Encyclopedia shows a "Siberian" Tiger.  Wow!  The caption says "male" Siberian Tigers, from Russia or China; can grow to be eleven feet long and are known to weigh over six hundred pounds.   Hey God!  I keep remembering how Heathcliff is gone.                          

        Oh wow!  Who do I see just as I happen to be writing about Tigers?  Cher is now slinking out into the back eastern desert by going through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate.  I  would say, judging by her body language; she's hungry and wants to catch something to eat.         

"SAND TIGER" SHARK                                           "TIGER" SHARK         

            Oh!  This is a good time to write about those "Sand Tiger" Sharks I forgot to write about yesterday.  Our boss told Mr. Randy one morning they "look mean" but, unlike "Tiger" Sharks which "they're not related to;" are usually "not a threat" to people.  A Train whistled faintly.       

       This Encyclopedia says other names for "Sand Tigers" are "Gray Nurse" and "Ragged Tooth" Sharks.   They live in "subtropical" and "temperate" waters and I guess can only grow to be ten feet long, while female Tiger Sharks can get to be almost twenty feet.  I like Trains.              

          Wow!  It says here what Mr. Steve said too, how Sand Tiger mothers only deliver one baby because that baby eats the other babies while waiting to come out of womb.  Mark Ritter joked it was the "ultimate case" of Charles Darwin's "Survival of the Fittest" idea.  I smell Sage.              

"SEA WORLD"   

         In my books I've written about "Sea World" in "San Diego."  As Mr. Steve watered the  big Mulberry tree that morning he told Mr. Randy Sand Tigers "do well in captivity" and, because they swim slowly and look mean; they're good Aquarium Sharks.  I'd like to go to Sea World.       

      Mr. Steve mentioned how in some areas, like in the "Mediterranean Sea" for example; the Sand Tiger Sharks "are going extinct."  I've written before about how a lot of people like soup      made with Shark fins.  The four Pigeons flew over Libby's Corral, and are moving east.                

       Some Sand Tiger Sharks "have been known" to stick their head out of the water to take in a gulp of air Mr. Steve read.  That then helps them to be "suspended" in the "water columns" so    it's easier to kill some Fish to eat.  Oh!  Rudy just sprinted bye and left behind some dust.                                                    ROADRUNNER  CARTOON                               1968 PLYMOUTH "ROADRUNNER"

           Ah!  Seeing Rudy reminds me how I keep forgetting to write about the Car named after the Roadrunner in that cartoon.  This Encyclopedia says it was made by "Plymouth" from 1968  through 1980, and was a "mid-size performance vehicle."  Daffy's quacking over there.                 

            The photo of a nice orange 1968 Roadrunner makes me think about how I'm beginning to really like that color more and more.  I've mentioned a few times how orange, at times; is used by some Protestant Christian groups.  It's Mr. Ramon the Mechanics favorite color too.                      

         Daisy heard our boss talking with his customer Bob in Missouri about those Roadrunner Cars.  They were built in Detroit and St. Louis.  I guess Plymouth paid fifty thousand dollars to    "Warner Brothers" for the right to use the "name and likeness" of the cartoon Roadrunner.        

                  WITH FATHER/ SON /GRANDSON      RICHARD PETTY           1970 ROADRUNNER                                

         Daisy says our Chief and Mr. Bob talked about Richard Petty who, for one season; drove that Roadrunner Car with the "Wing" on the back.  As I've said before, Mr. Steve  made a model of that famous Car when he was a kid.  Two of the Pigeons are flying to the northeast.                    

          Richard Petty's "aero" Car, which I notice was sky blue; was called the "Superbird."  It's unusual unique looking wing for some reason makes me think of that World War II "P-38," or a "Hammerhead" Shark."  I've mentioned how "Tar Heel" blue is North Carolina's color.               

       Mr. Steve was sixteen when that guy Richard Petty drove his Roadrunner during the 1971 N.A.S.C.A.R season.  He and Mr. Bob talked about how, in 1970; most Roadrunners came with 335 Horse Power motors but some had 425.  Now the other two Pigeons flew bye too.                    

                                                                  LIZARD IN DIRT             

           I smell a Lizard somewhere around here.  Aha!  I can see it doing some pushups over there in the dirt, just to the right of the big Mulberry tree.  Dawn and Blinky are barking at something over there next door and for some reason they sound kind of sad to me so far today.

           Looking at my outline it looks like, at first in this chapter I'll write a lot about New York City; and a few French places too.   Oh!  Two Pigeons just flew back in from the eastern desert and landed up there on the patio roof above me down here on Elvira.  I love Pigeon voices! 

          Ah!  I smell one of the three older Manzanita bushes behind the Sheds.  And that makes me suddenly remember this third day of Spring last year when I smelled that exact same bush.  The Pigeons are walking around and that kind of makes me feel good and gives me energy. 

                         "MANZANITA" LAKE ("LASSEN" VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK)

           Smelling Manzanita reminds me about Dais seeing a Huell Howser episode on a place up there in Northern California called "Manzanita" Lake.  She says it's located up in the "Lassen" Volcanic National Park.  Ah!  The Pigeons up there are cooing which I really like hearing.             

          Daisy told me how, according to what a Park Ranger told Huell Howser; all four "types" of volcanoes are located near Manzanita Lake.  One erupted in 1915, the second year of World    War I.  I've mentioned before how we have some "Dormant" volcanoes around here.                     

         A picture shows Manzanita Lake and in the background is a mountain with snow on top.  And, in glancing to my right, beyond Libby's Corral; I see the "San Gabriel" mountains.  Right now the Pigeons are still cooing as they walk around up there on the patio roof above me.                           

    MOUNTAIN

       Oh!  Mentioning mountains reminds me that I was supposed to write yesterday about a 1970's band called MOUNTAIN.  I guess they were originally from back east in New York City.    I've  never heard any of their songs but Daisy has and told me how they're pretty good.                 

         Dais told says our boss likes a MOUNTAIN song about a Queen from Mississippi.  In that song she says, the Drummer plays one of those "Cowbells."   Oh!  Helen's taking a break from her babies and is over there standing right next to Andy near the entrance to their burrow.           

          I've mentioned how, when Mr. Steve and Sandy were at Valley Junior College in the 1970's; they met that guy named "Bob."  He said he was related to MOUNTAIN'S bass player and did    look kind of like him alright.  And he played bass guitar too Daisy heard our Chief say.                                                              

CHEVROLET "VEGA"

         Daisy says our boss told his brother Rock, who had a 1970's Chevy "Vega;" that guy Bob turned one into a Race Car.  Mr. Steve's brother Rock said it's four cylinder aluminum engine was "really good on gas" but "not dependable."  But their body style "sure looked good."            

      Back then in the 1970's that man from "Georgia" Jimmy Carter was President in a time when the economy was bad.  There were "Shortages" so, gas was even "Rationed" like    during World War II.  The Pigeons just took off and are now flying back out into the back desert.            

         Our boss says Mr. Bob told him, as good as the Vega's "body style" looked; they often had a "tendency to rust."   I guess Mr. Steve thinks some of MOUNTAIN'S songs influenced, or was a   "Forerunner" of; Heavy Metal bands that came later.  Thank You God for making Pigeons.            

     FELIX PAPPALARDI / LESLIE WEST

            Mr. Steve and that guy Bob talked about how MOUNTAIN'S Guitarist named Leslie West is known for playing a Gibson Les Paul "Jr." guitar.  But, at times; he also played a "Flying V."  I guess that guy Mr. Bob, just like Leslie West did; used some "Sunn" brand amplifiers.

           Because of how big in size he was Leslie West makes guitars look small.  Two of the guys in that one 1970's Canadian band BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE at times also made guitars look kind of small too Dais says.  Hearing Dawn and Blinky barking makes me feel good.

           Daisy says our boss joked with that kid Jason about how he thinks the Guitarist from the WHITE STRIPES looks sort like a skinny Leslie West.  I guess, in 1969; MOUNTAIN played in that famous outdoor concert at "Woodstock."  Oh my God!  Now old Rosie's barking too.  

               SANDY                                        EMILY                                    HARRIET

            Last night Mr. Steve had a nice dream about friends like Mark Ritter who've died.  It was a "Get Together" or reunion in a restaurant and his three former girlfriends, Sandy, Emily and Harriet; just happened to be there too.  And so were all four of his Grandparents too!  Wow!

            I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Harriet and Emily are both good Writers.  Someday, when I get over my fear of riding in Cars; I'd sure like to smell the U.C.L.A. campus where Miss Emily stills works in the Athletic Department.  I smell a Joshua tree.

           Glancing to my right, at our gray bucket near the sliding glass door going into the house; I'm suddenly thinking of water.  In my books I've written about "Hurricanes" like "Andrew" in 1992 and "Sandy" back in the year 2008.  Mr. Steve's first girlfriend was named Sandy too.  

                             HURRICANE "KATRINA" (NEW ORLEANS, LA. / AUGUST, 2005)

PHOTO BY DAVID J. PHILLIP                                                                                                                                                                             

               When Mr. Steve first moved up here in late 2005 it was blazing hot.  I guess, right after that; a gigantic storm hit the State of "Louisiana." Daisy heard our boss one time talk with his customer in Arkansas who had relatives who barely survived that Hurricane "Katrina."  

               Daisy heard, in 2005 the giant hurricane hit the city of "New Orleans."  That family from New Mexico, the "Carejo's;" have a daughter named "Katrina."  The Arkansas Parts Manager said some "Sea Wall Levees" broke so parts of New Orleans, "Below Sea Level;" flooded. 

          According to what Dais heard the Parts Manager say, after the flood in New Orleans there some "decomposing" bodies which had to be "left out to rot."  He told our boss his mom used to say, "Mother nature always laughs last."   Miss Sandy's mom used to say that too I guess. 

                                                                   LED ZEPPELIN

             Someday I really want to hear LED ZEPPELIN'S song about a Sea Wall breaking, which Dais says is so good.  She told me it's mainly about what happens if a Dam or this other type of wall called a "Levee" fails and lets in the water it's supposed to hold back.  A Train whistled.

               I guess, back in 2005 Mr. Steve had the weird sensation of getting used to living in a really, really hot time of year up here; while at the exact same time seeing on tv about New Orleans.  He and his dad have great respect for water's power.  Daisy told me about those "Flash Floods."   

               Dais says LED ZEPPELIN'S song "When the Levee Breaks" has "echo-sounding" drums on it.  With the bass and guitar playing behind the Singer, who also plays Harmonica; the drums are amazing she says.  Our boss likes listening to that song on those "Head Phones" I guess.

                             "MEMPHIS MINNIE" (1897-1973)  / "KANSAS" JOE MCCOY (1905-1950)

               Daisy and Millie saw a tv show that said LED ZEPPELIN'S song When the Levee Breaks is a cover of this 1929 "Country-Blues" song by "Kansas" Joe McCoy and his then wife nicknamed "Memphis Minnie."  It's about a big flood of the "Mississippi" River back in those days.

                I guess the main way the man who "Recorded" Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks got the drums to sound so huge; was to set them up in a big house directly below a "Staircase" which was kind of tall in size.  Dawn's barking.  And, now; so is brave little Blinky over there too!

          Mr. Rich read, to record John Bonham's drums on When the Levee Breaks; microphones were positioned in stairs above him.  So they got the echo.   Our boss and Mr. Dave can show a kid how to play When the Levee Breaks" but you can't get that "original tone" they say. 

2005 TOYOTA "ECHO"

                 Daisy heard our boss one time talking to one of his Toyota customers about a small Car called an "Echo."  The Parts Manager used to word "subcompact" to describe it, and told Mr. Steve it was only made from 1999 through 2005.  Mr. Steve moved up here back in 2005.

           My German Dictionary says 'Platz," one of the other names the Echo was called before it got its name; means "Space."  The Parts Manager said, even though they're small; Echo's have "surprisingly spacious" interiors.  A small flock of Birds is moving towards the northeast.

            According to what that Toyota customer up there in Northern California told our boss, since 2005 the Echo has had a few different names; like "Beltra" and "Yaris" for example.  The Echo came in a "Coupé" version too he said.  Someday I really want to hear something echo.

                                                         "STANDARD" DRUM SET     

                 Mr. Steve has tried to play When the Levee Breaks, but admits it's hard to stay "in the pocket" through the whole song.  When he and Mr. Dave show kids how to do the famous "Beat" they begin by at first using only the bass drum and High Hat.  I can't wait to hear that song.   

                  Daisy says over the years our boss has played When the Levee Breaks loud for people in order to see their reaction.  She thinks for some it gives you that "Rhêma" feeling I've mentioned a few times over the last three days.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the northeast.              

              Thinking about water powerfully flooding reminds me about how sometimes, in a Summer "Thunderstorm;" we have those "Flash" floods Dais told me about.  I've never seen one but was so scared to death by that big "Lightning" storm.   A Garter Snake crawled under Manny.  

                                                            FOUR "CIVILIZATIONS"

        All of a sudden I just thought of how, about 4,000 B.C. near rivers; those four groups of people "Settled" in one single location and "Civilization" began.  That's when "Farming" and    "Writing" helped them live in "Towns" and "Cities."  I can smell some new Spring Sage.             

            For thousands and thousands of years all the different "Hunter-Gatherer" societies had to survive by "Following the Seasons" in search of food.  But then civilization began and they did not need to do that anymore.  Speedy Gonzalez just bounded bye and left some dust hanging.       

          The good part about living near rivers is staying in one spot instead of always moving.  But the bad part is that, when "Severe" weather happens those rivers overflow; so a lot of damage is done and many people and us Dogs are killed.  A "Positive" turns into a "Negative."                      

                      MISSISSIPPI RIVER                                            "GREAT" FLOOD (1927)

                I guess that old Blues song came two years after a gigantic flood of the Mississippi River. Then about forty years later LED ZEPPELIN did their version.  Boy!  Now I really want to hear When the Levee Breaks.  Daisy says it has good singing and is kind of "hypnotic-sounding." 

                Oh wow!  According to what it says here in this Encyclopedia, that 1927 "Great Flood" of the Mississippi River was the "most destructive" flood in American history.   It happened after a lot of the "flood walls" were "breached."  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye right now.

               The caption below this picture of that 1927 flood says how 27,000 "square" miles of land was "inundated."  The "floodplain" was fifty miles wide and one hundred miles long.  "To cover over, as in a flood or deluge;" is how the word inundated is defined here in my Dictionary.

                BEASTIE BOYS                            EMINEM                                     BJÖRK

               Daisy told me the tv show about LED ZEPPELIN said later Musicians, like the BEASTIE BOYS, EMINEM and the Icelandic Singer Björk; "Sampled" John Bonham's drums from When the Levee Breaks.  They used them on their songs.  Daisy thinks that's a "sign of respect." 

               It's interesting how EMINEM was born on October the 17th like Mr. Steve's brother Rock in Texas. One time Dais and Millie were in our boss's bedroom and heard him play drums along to a BEASTIE BOY song called "You Gotta Fight For Your Right to Party."  I smell Sage.

          I guess usually the BEASTIE BOYS, from New York City; do "Rap" music.  Daisy told me our boss, and Mr. Dave; like playing that BEASTIE BOY song because of its aggressive melody.  And, it also gives them a chance to actually "Play" the top of the bigger "Ride" cymbal too. 

                                                                                         JOHN BONHAM (1948-1980)

           On the tv show about LED ZEPPELIN Dais says our boss noticed that guy John Bonham played a "Brand" of drums called "Ludwig."  I've mentioned he has "Tama" drums.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave on the phone he's drawn John Bonham's three intersecting circles logo.

                Before John Bonham died LED ZEPPELIN "Toured" or traveled around the world like the nomadic people did before civilization.  Daisy says there's a Car called "Nomad."  Mr. Steve also made line drawings of the other members of LED ZEPPELIN'S  emblems I guess.      

               One time Daisy heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Frank who used to work at the "General Motors" plant in Van Nuys with Mr. Steve's brother Rock.  He knows a lot about Cars and things like that.  A few years ago he totally "Restored" a 1950'd Nomad I guess.

                                                         CHEVROLET "NOMAD"   

                I guess Mr. Frank said there've been a few versions of the Nomad, which is an American  "Station Wagon."  But the most "Collectible" Nomads were made from 1955, the year Mr. Steve was born; through 1957 when his brother Rock arrived.  Dawn and Blinky are barking.

              Mr. Frank, unlike many other collectors; prefers the Nomad's "Sports Wagon" body style to the "Convertible" or "Hardtop Coupe" design.  The "Tri-Five" form refers to Nomads and "Bellair's" built in 1955, 1956 and 1957.  Ah!  My right nostril smells Libby over there. 

          There's an extending vapor trail way up there high in the light blue sky.  Thank You God for making it really good weather over the last three days so I could write my books.  And, even though it's hard to not think about Heathcliff; I'm having a pretty good good time learning.

  "VAPOR" TRAIL    

            Staring up at that vapor trail makes me suddenly have a feeling of Déjà Vu.  And glancing over to my right, and seeing Libby walking slowly around over there in her Corral; gives me that same sensation.  Boy!  I sure do hope that this Summer there won't be so many pesky Flies.  

           When I take my big break after this chapter I can't wait to see what Daisy is doing.  And, if I know her; she's hoping like I am that maybe Heathcliff might return to visit us in dreams.  I do know one thing for sure, tomorrow morning is going to be so weird around here alright.    

          Hey God!  As I keep mentioning, I'm thankful my good dreams outnumber the bad ones.  I like my dreams more now, especially the ones where Daisy and I time travel with Mr. Peabody and Sherman.  It's been a while since my bad Angel Lilith has invaded into my dreams.

         (WITH PIGEONS)                   MIKE TYSON                   (WITH THE LENNONS)  

                                                                                                                                                                                               PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

           All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral moving to the east.  That makes me think about that Boxer Mike Tyson who raised Pigeons in New York City, a city which Daisy has me scheduled to learn a a lot about in this fourth chapter.  I like having Pigeons around.

           There are a few Birds zipping about in the eastern desert and that vapor trail is getting a lot lighter now.  Seeing it right now reminds me of other times.  Oh! I looked down and can see a long line of those little Grease Ants on the Patio floor near Miss Emily's old coffee table.  

         Looking down there at the gray floor makes me think of "Concrete."  As I've said before, Mr. Steve thinks concrete is one of the most important "artificial" materials ever invented.  My    left nostril just picked up the strong scent of the Arborvitae tree a few feet away over there.                   

              LOS ANGELES                            CHICAGO                                    NEW YORK                                         

               Without "Concrete and Steel" big cities would not be possible.  As I've said a few times in my books, "Concrete" is hardened "Cement;" or "Mortar."  Boy!  How was it even possible for the ancient Romans to have figured out how to make such an amazing thing like concrete?

          The definition of cement is, "A powdered substance of lime and clay mixed with water."  In working for his friend Rick's "Mechanical Contracting" company; they often used concrete on a few different jobs.  Some Ducks are quacking over there but, as usual; Daffy's way louder.

          Hey Lord!  In 1985, when Mr. Steve's Tour Group visited the ruins of Israel's coastal city of "Caesarea; they learned about concrete.  King Herod, who tried to kill You when You as a baby; built Caesarea to atay in the "Good Graces" of the Emperor Augustus.  I really like Ducks!

                                              "CAESAREA MARITIMA" (ISRAEL) 

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                                                                                                                                                            PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

           As I wrote on Thursday, Roman Engineers built concrete "Water Breaks" or walls to hold back the strong Eastern Mediterranean Sea water currents.  Mr. Steve's father was so amazed at how they could have even done it way back then.  I can smell the new baby Cholla cactus.

          Because there are good and bad sides to most things, concrete allows people to build cities;  but also negatively effects the "Atmosphere" too.  That's what Daisy and I heard Mr. Mike say.  And he also said how concrete "absorbs" the type of heat that makes for "air pollution."

         Mr. Mike said people think concrete is "Permanent" like a stone but it isn't, as heat, cold, chemicals, salt and moisture, over time; weaken it little by little from the inside.  The world is  running out of the type of sand needed to make concrete he thinks.  I feel good right now.  

                                                   SAND AND GRAVEL "QUARRY"      

         I just thought about that big sand and gravel quarry to the west of us near Littlerock, where Mr. Steve's brother Sam lives with his family.  I guess, from what Mr. Mike said; desert      sand is not really that good for making concrete.  Max and 99 just whizzed bye right now.             

            Mr. Mike talked of how the type of sand needed to make concrete is mostly near rivers or beaches.  The world is running out of that sand and, to make things worse; by "dredging" up all that sand many types of Fish, Birds and things like that are dying.  Crows are croaking.                

           My Encyclopedia says an early 19th century English "Bricklayer" named Joseph Aspdin, in 1824; was granted the "Patent" for the "most common" form of cement used to this day.  He    called it "Portland Stone," even though it wasn't really stone.  I can smell Andy over there.                         

JOSEPH ASPDIN (1778-1855)

          Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Phillip from Wales one time talking about those Islands in the "English Channel" between England and France.  I guess, on one of them named "Portland" is a big rock quarry where they dig out "Limestone."  Andy's over there sniffing the air.                

        Joseph Aspdin's cement was called "artificial stone" according to what it says here.  Mr. Steve thinks he probably called it that to tell everyone how he thought it was just as strong any  real stone.  He really wanted people to think it could even survive the biggest of storms.                 

          Another time Dais and I overheard our boss talking with Mr. Mike as they loaded Rex the Truck.  Mr. Steve told him about how he, and Mr. Mark in Hawaii; one time talked about a big    Hurricane called "Iniki."  Back in 1992 it destroyed a lot of concrete structures in Hawaii.            

     MR. MARK / WIFE KIM                                 MARK MAKING MUSIC          

         Since moving to the east coast of the "Big Island" in Hawaii there have been a few storms which hit where Mr. Mark now lives with his family.  Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Mark talking with our boss about Hurricane Iniki, which happened in September of 1992.  I smell Sage.            

         Daisy heard our Chief tell Mr. Mark Hurricane Iniki happened in Hawaii about a month after that other big storm Hurricane "Andrew" hit Florida.  There was a lot of damage in both of them.  Boy!  I sure do hope we never have a big storm like that over here in Piñon Hills.                

      I guess in 1992 Hurricane Iniki "formed" on September 5th, the "greatest destruction" happening on the 11th.   Yesterday, I wrote about September the 11th of 2001; when those Planes  flew right into the "Twin Towers" on "9/11."  Miss Maria was born on September the 2nd.                     

HURRICANE "INIKI" (SEPTEMBER 11, 1992)

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TDUNSKI

        Wow!  The caption below pictures of Hurricane Iniki says it "achieved wind gusts" of 225 m.p.h.  It mainly hit the island of "Kaua'i," but also caused a lot of damage on that other island    "O'ahu;" where Pearl Harbor is.  I've mentioned how m.p.h. means "miles per hour."                   

       I guess in 1992 Hurricane Iniki, which means "Strong and Piercing" wind; caused "three billion dollars" in damage.   About fifteen hundred "structures" were "destroyed," while over      five thousand were "heavily damaged."  The electrical power was out for a few weeks.                   

         Dais says our Chief and Mr. Mark talked about these weather conditions that happen called "El Niño" and "La Niña."   Hurricane Iniki happened in the middle of an El Niño period which  went from 1990 through 1995.  In Spanish "Niño " means "Boy" and "Niña" is "Girl."                 

        HURRICANE "INIKI"

     PHOTO BY NICK GALANTE

           A picture shows damage done by "Iniki."  I guess, in an El Niño period; water "surface" temperature in the "Tropical" eastern Pacific Ocean warms under "high air pressure."  During  a time of La Niña that same water cools under what's called a "low surface air pressure."             

        This Dictionary says the word "Oscillation" means to, "swing, vacillate or vary between high and low."  I guess, an El Niño period is often followed in California by a lot of rain; and a La Niña period usually means a dryer California.  Daffy's quacking about something.                

          Mr. Steve says he now "cringes" in thinking about the Winter of 1993.  It rained so much he was beginning to wonder if the hill behind his house on Hagar Street would collapse.  His roof was also starting to leak too.  He was an idiot in not repairing it earlier when he should've.                                

"HAWAIIAN" ISLANDS

             Dais says, when Mr. Mark's family first moved to Hawaii they lived on the east coast of the Big Island; in "Hilo."  Now they're on the west coast.  Daisy saw this tv show about that big    volcano on the Big Island.  And it also talked about this other thing called a "Tsunami."                

           I guess, the tv show said a huge 8.1 "Magnitude" earthquake erupted up in Alaska.  It was so powerful it sent this gigantic ripple of Pacific Ocean water shooting all the way down to      the Hawaiian Islands.   And big waves also came to Washington, Oregon and California too.         

            According to Dais, the giant wave that crashed into the town of Hilo took five hours to get from Alaska to Hawaii.  A lot of people died and there was great damage.  It happened on April 1, 1946, the year after World War II ended; so was jokingly called the "April Fool's Event."                                         

     "TSUNAMI"       

           Oh!  A painting shows a Tsunami coming and a man is foolishly not running away.  It says here "Tsunami" is Japanese for "Harbor Wave."  Wow!  Tsunami's can "travel" five hundred      miles per hour, which is as fast as some of those Jet Airplanes going bye up there in the sky.          

       In 2004 a big underwater 9.1 "Indonesian" earthquake had the power of "twenty three thousand" Atomic bombs, so caused a Tsunami that killed three hundred thousand people.  If      there's ever a Tsunami here we'll run up into the mountain behind the Post Office Dais says.         

         Oh!  Mentioning earthquakes makes me remember I forgot to write about a small town in Alaska called "Cordova."  Mr. Steve sold things to a lady who told him about a big earthquake    that hit Cordova back in 1964.  I can see Andy over there guarding their burrow entrance.            

  "CORDOVA," ALASKA         

         Thank You again God for giving me this great opportunity to learn about all of the things having to do with our last name.  And I'm really getting better and better at using all of the pens and pencils.   Dawn's barking, and I can smell Blinky and Rosie next to her over there.                  

     Daisy says that lady told our boss that town Cordova up there in Alaska is now mainly a "Fishing" village.  There was a big "Oil Spill" near there in 1989 she said, and I guess a person    told her the whole town "rose six feet" during the 1964 earthquake.  Blinky smells good.               

         My Encyclopedia says Cordova, originally "Puerta Córdova" when the Spanish named the area in 1790; is on "Gulf of Alaska" coast.   The Indians, in the "Chugach Eyak" region; are still  called "Tlingit Athabaskan."  Cordova is one hundred and fifty miles from "Anchorage."             

"VALDEZ" OIL SPILL (1989)     

                                            PHOTO BY ERIK HILL                                                                                

        The lady told our boss in 1989 a gigantic Ship called "Valdez" carrying oil crashed near Cordova, and the oil drained out into the water and destroyed everything.  The slimy oil killed all the Fish, Birds and Animals; like Otters the lady said.  Finley and his new girlfriend flew bye.      

        I guess Cordova, which is even smaller than Piñon Hills; must have some of those Killer Whales nearby because it sits on "Orca Inlet."  It's another example of our last name going all      over the world to where the Spanish went to.  But they pronounce it the "Anglicized" way.            

          Yup!  Just as Dais heard the lady tell our boss, my Encyclopedia says Cordova Alaska was named by an Explorer named Salvador Fidalgo in 1790 for an 18th century Spanish Admiral.  I  guess Luis de Córdova fought in some very important "naval" battles.  I see Andy over there.                

ADMIRAL LUIS DE CÓRDOVA (1706-1796)

           It says here Admiral de Córdova "went to sea" at age eleven and ended fighting some big battles against the British in the "Mediterranean Sea" area.  In the painting of him he looks kind of mean but I really love his good wig and fancy uniform.  Andy's sniffing the air right now.         

         That lady told our Chief how Cordova Alaska was "officially renamed" in the early 20th century, and that's why they pronounce it incorrectly and spell it without an accent.  As I've said a few times over the last three days, the Spanish colonized "Alta" California in the 1700's.            

           Ah!  I suddenly smell Roses.  Miss Susan said Roses have come to symbolize "love, beauty and fragility" and are called the "Queen of Flowers."  According to her Roses were growing wild in  the "Northern Hemisphere" thousands of years before there were any people here.                         

    "ROSES" (SAN FERNANDO MISSION / EAST GARDEN)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

         Throughout my three long books I've mentioned how Mr. Steve and his mom had some Art Exhibits in the 1990's.  And, some of Mr. Steve's photos were of Roses that grew over at the San    Fernando Mission.  Right now I can smell Theodora's Creosote bush in my left nostril.                  

        This is interesting.  According to what it says here in this one Encyclopedia, the oldest Rose "fossil" is about thirty five million years old; and was discovered in the area now called the State of Colorado.  Dawn and Blinky are now barking faintly over there next door.                                  

        Over the last three days I've mentioned how Miss Susan knows about plants and things like that.  She says not as many people grow Roses anymore because it takes a lot of work.  You have to first "prepare" all of the soil and then "prune, spray and feed" the Roses bushes.                         

CONFUCIUS (551-479 B.C.)

         I guess Confucius, who've I've mentioned before; wrote about Roses.  He's the one who said, "Do not do to others what you do not want done to you."  Boy Lord!  That sure sounds like what You said too.  I just noticed Blackbeard and Anne Bonny flying  bye up there.                        

         This is kind of interesting.  It says here, at times in ancient Rome; the "powerful" people "forced" poor farmers to grow Roses "instead of" food.  That was so, in their parades; men like  Julius Caesar could be "showered in rose petal confetti" as they rode bye in a Chariot.                  

            Today is Saturday and Mr. Steve didn't open the front door up for us to go into the living room to watch cartoons.  Sometimes we don't watch cartoons on Saturday mornings and I guess this will be one of those days.  That's okay as I'll just have to work on this third book.  

"NAME" FRAME

           Dais told me lately our boss has been working on one of what Mr. Randy calls his "Name Frames" he makes for people.  First Mr. Steve has the person write out a description and history of their life.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye and left a trail of fine dust hanging in the air. 

           Like a Journalist writing a story, Mr. Steve tells the person he's making the Name Frame for to describe who, what, when, where, why and how someone or something might be important to them.  Based on that information, he makes them a "Personal" Frame using logos.

           In "Old English" my boss puts the first letter of the person's last name in black on a white 8 x 10 piece of paper.  Below that big letter are different emblems representing important things in the particular person's life.  The dust Speedy raised has now settled back on the ground.

      JACK IN BACK DESERT

                                                                                  PHOTO BY B. KATZUNG

            I just noticed Jack out there in the field behind the Sheds, near that one clump of Cholla cactus's.  Seeing him right now somehow suddenly makes me feel a little bit better about missing Heathcliff.  It never ceases to amaze me how Jackrabbits can seemingly fly sometimes. 

           Mr. Steve did a Frame for this one "French-Canadian" lady who now lives over there in Victorville.  Her husband works for San Bernardino County and they have two teenagers, a boy and girl.  I guess their family is also Roman Catholics just like we are Daisy told me.    

           In those Name Frames Mr. Steve tries to use the alphabet and logos to "Encapsulate" or "Symbolize" that person's life.  He uses Old English "Script" but can do other types of lettering too Dais told me.  He puts in logos "appropriate" to that person's life and experiences.  

                                                       WREN ("CHOLLA" CACTUS)

                 I just glanced up from my work and see that same little Wren I've been seeing for the last three days.  And again he's inside that one old Cholla cactus he seems to like so much.  Daisy is probably right in thinking it might be a girl Wren making a new Spring nest in there.

                 I can't wait to go see Daisy after this chapter but, I'm so tempted to just go up there right now; even though I'm not finished with Part One yet.  Our boss still enjoys coloring and doing art.  I've had so much practice holding pens and pencils right-pawed, I could color.   

           It would be so great to be the first Dog to learn to draw because then Mr. Steve will really like me more.  Maybe I could then even start a School to teach other Dogs and Cats to make art.  Oh!  I just noticed Andy and Helen's baby Squirrels over there popping out of their hole.  

BABY SQUIRRELS  

                  It made Daisy and I feel good when we saw Andy and Helen's babies last evening when we were sitting back here on Elvira talking about today.  Seeing them now makes me feel better but I'm still thinking about Heathcliff.  I can now suddenly smell the Twin Joshua trees.

           As I've mentioned a few times in my two books, we like Ground Squirrels.  But they ate up and killed the roots of some of our trees because of the drought.  Right now I'm looking at the cut up wood piled against the back fence in between the Sheds and eastern desert.      

           Andy and Helen's babies went back down fast into the safety of their hole and I think that I know why.  I just noticed Cher crouching low on top of Moe the middle Shed as if she's about to jump down and ambush something.  I just picked up Cher's scent in both of my nostrils.  

     CANADIAN "PROVINCES"

            Writing about that lady from Victorville makes me want to look up Canada.  On the map I notice how big the Canadian "Provinces" are.  That lady grew up in "Quebec" on the east coast,  north of Connecticut where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with Dalton and Austin.       

           I've mentioned how a Province is like a State and Mr. Steve had a Car Dealership he sold to in "Vancouver" and another near "Toronto."  The map of Canada shows how Quebec is kind of above the "Great Lakes."  I've mentioned how in Quebec they mainly speak French.  

          Mr. Steve was right.  It says here the Great Lakes are the largest "fresh water" lakes in the whole world.  As I've mentioned a few times already, most of the original "Native" people came down into North and South America all the way from "Siberia" after the last "Ice Age."    

"POST" ICE AGE MIGRATION OF PEOPLE    

             I really like looking at this map that shows the routes the first people in North and South America took to get down here.  I always notice how some came through between two "Glaciers" that were melting.  I just glanced up from my work and notice how Cher's gone now.   

            It says here that, thousands of years ago; the Great Lakes were "carved" or "gouged" out of the ground as those huge "ice sheets" moved back and forth in North America.  At the end of the Ice Age they slowly "receded" north.  The Wren in the Cholla cactus is chirping.     

            For about sixty thousand years Glaciers "advanced" and "retreated" to "sculpt" all the land they "scraped" out into what are now the Great Lakes.  In the final Ice Age Glaciers came southward all the way to where New York City is.  But as it warmed and ice melted.

     THE "GREAT LAKES"    

             Daisy told me, Sister Rita Joseph told her class one way to remember the names of the five Great Lakes is to spell out the word "HOMES."  Theodora the Thrasher Bird just ran under her Creosote bush.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye, moving toward the northeast.

           I guess HOMES just stands for the names, "Huron," "Ontario," "Michigan," "Erie" and "Superior;" and that will make me remember them alright.  Boy!  Sister Rita Joseph seems like such a smart and clever person who I wish I could go back in time to see, hear and smell.    

          Boy God!  I smell some flowers.  When You created flowers that was definitely one of Your best ideas ever.  Last Summer, when we were sitting back here on Elvira during a really hot day; Daisy told me all about that liquid called "Perfume" and how it's made from flowers.       

         GLACIERS AT END OF LAST ICE AGE (c.10,000 B.C.)       

       This map in my Encyclopedia shows in white how far south the glaciers went in the last Ice Age.  It's a lot easier to understand how the Clovis Indians from Siberia were blocked for many years from going down into North America.  I smell Theodora's Creosote bush.

       I guess, at the end of the last Ice Age; the weather changed "rapidly" so the North American glacier melted and began to move northward.  In what's called "Geological" terms it was a short time.  But it took hundreds and hundreds of years to melt and then disappear.

        One time Mr. Steve and his customer named "Joe," in New Jersey; talked about the last Ice Age.  Joe knew how, the massive weight of all of those giant glaciers also created the areas in and around New York City; especially "Manhattan" island.  A Finch is twittering.

     NEW YORK CITY

              I've mentioned in my books how Mr. Steve's thinks big cities are often too crowded and he's more comfortable now living in a much less hectic area with a "slower lifestyle." Los Angeles has the second most people of any big American city.  And New City has the most people.   

          I was supposed to look up this place called "Central Park" yesterday when I wrote about Mr. Steve and his brother's 1977 trip back east but missed it somehow.  I was kind of mad about that Daisy said I could just put it in here.  I really like how Daisy never, ever  panics.

         Central Park is located on Manhattan Island in New York City so I guess big buildings are all around it.  In 1977, in their rented Car; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock drove around Central Park.  I just glanced up in time to see Fannie and Freddie flying bye way up there.            

                                                                "CENTRAL" PARK   

        There's a good picture here in my Encyclopedia that shows a big giant boulder sitting near a grass Baseball field in New York City's Central Park.  Oh!  Two of the Pigeons are flying back in from the desert and landing up there on the Patio roof.  A Train just now whistled faintly.    

          Wow!  It says here Central Park is over eight hundred acres in size.  Boy, I'd sure hate to be the Dog who has to guard that because it's hard enough to guard two acres.  The caption under the picture says the giant boulder was "deposited" on that spot at the end of the last Ice Age.  

        In High School, at Alemany; Mr. Steve met that guy Alex who I've mentioned before.  Like Mr. Rick's family, Alex's family are Italian and moved to L.A.; but Alex's family came from New York City instead of Pittsburgh.  Alex's father, like Rick's dad too; died a few years ago.

"CENTRAL" PARK

      Alex's dad, like Mark Ritter; knew about Geology.  He said the "Bedrock" in Manhattan was under the Ocean millions of years ago and the big boulders in Central Park were left there from over fourteen thousand years ago.  The Pigeons are flying away and going into the desert.

      Millions of years ago; New York City was part of the Ocean floor Alex's dad said. Boy, it's so amazing how people are able to figure out things like that because a million years seems like so long when I think about how I'm only three.  A Wren is singing happily somewhere nearby.

      The Great Lakes are just big "carved out basins" that filled up with the millions of gallons of melted glacier water Alex's father told Mr. Steve.  I've said a few times how someday I'd like to smell and see an actual Lake.  And it would be even better to see and smell a real Ocean too. 

                                             FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED ( 1822-1903)

          That Parts Manager Joe in New Jersey knew about this man named Frederick Law Olmsted who helped "Design" Central Park in the 1850's.  This one Encyclopedia say he's the "Father of Landscape Architecture."  He was from Connecticut where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives.   

        I guess Central Park "opened to the public" in 1858, three years before the Civil War broke out.  Mr. Steve says, in a way; you could say Central Park is kind of "like an oasis" in the middle of Manhattan.  I'd wear a hat like the one that guy Frederick Olmsted wore back then.  

      Mr. Steve says Central Park has scenic hills, meadows and places to play sports too.  And for thousands of years Native Indians lived on what is now Manhattan Island.  I can smell the same new Spring Sage plants I've been smelling for the last three days, which makes me feel good.

        "STUART LITTLE"    

          Someday I want to see that movie Daisy told me about, where a smart boy Mouse named Sturat Little drives around New York City in a little miniature Car.  He's so smart I guess he can also even drive around in a small Boat out there on the water of this Lake in Central Park. 

          I guess the Stuart Little movie was based on a 1945 children's book that Sister Rita Joseph liked.  Mr. Steve was told some "artistic license" was used in the movie so some things were kind of different from the book.  I've mentioned before how 1945 is the year World War II ended.     

         Back in 1977 when Mr. Steve and his brother Rock visited New York City they were told not to go to Central Park at night because it was "too dangerous."  People could beat you up and try to steal all  your money.  But in daytime a lot of people are out there doing different things.

NIKOLA TESLA (1856-1943)

                 Two Pigeons flew bye.  That guy Nikola Tesla was like Albert Einstein's first wife Maleva Marik in being from the country of "Serbia," and besides his "A.C. /D.C." electricity system, he also invented things in "Wireless" communications.  Now the other two Pigeons flew bye.

             I guess Nikola Tesla lived in New York City.   He amazed people in "Remotely" piloting a little Boat like Stuart Little's around that Lake in Central Park.  He died poor and Mr. Steve's father thinks in a "Capitalist" system he was "too nice a guy" so "was taken advantage of." 

            During his final years Mr. Nikola fed Pigeons.  Daisy heard he even nursed this Pigeon's broken wing.  He said he knew a way for the world to get "free unlimited" electricity from the atmosphere, but the business people "don't like that" Mr. Steve's father joked one time. 

                  "CENTRAL" PARK" ("MANHATTAN" ISLAND)              

        Oh!  Now I see why Mr. Steve thinks of Central Park as an oasis of green in a modern city of gray.  There's one of those "Birds Eye" view pictures of Central Park here in my Encyclopedia and I know for sure that Daisy would really like it.  Some Finches are chirping. 

        I told Daisy, now that I've seen "aerial" view pictures I can kind of see why she would want to be able to fly like Underdog.  You can see things so much better from up high. That's why Dais likes sitting on our little hill where the statue of the Chinese warrior Monk is.

       As I wrote yesterday in book two, and it says here in this Encyclopedia; New York City was originally settled by the "Dutch" in the early 1600's.  They began the city in 1624 and two years later named it "New Amsterdam."  I guess it was originally one of those "Trading Posts." 

"SAINT PATRICK'S" CATHEDRAL  (NEW YORK CITY)      

              In 1985 Mr. Steve and the St. Ferdinand's Tour Group walked around inside of that huge Basilica in Rome called "St. Peter's."  One time Mr. Steve's parents attended Mass in this other giant church called "St Patrick's" Cathedral.   Wow!  Some pictures show how big it is.

           My Encyclopedia says St. Patrick's is, "the largest 19th century Gothic Revival Cathedral in North America."  It takes up a "midtown Manhattan city block;" near "Rockefeller Center" which Mr. Steve's parents also went to. Our boss's mom studied "Gothic Revival" style.

          "Construction began" on St. Patrick's in 1858, but all work was stopped during the Civil War.  Daisy says Mr. Steve's mom like the marble walls and stained glass windows in that big Cathedral, which it says here was "completed" in 1888.   Andy's over there looking at me.     

VIVIAN MAIER (1926-2009)

                Oh!   This would be a good time to talk about a Photographer named Vivian Maier, who's photos were not seen by hardly anyone until after her death.  I totally forgot to write about her yesterday but can just do it now instead.  She took a lot of pictures of New York City.

           Daisy and Millie one time saw a good tv show about Vivian Maier.  It called her a "street" Photographer and Dais says she took black and white pictures of poor people in cold weather, as well as women and children too.  Oh!  It's Finley and Fanny II who I heard singing.

           Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny II, who seem happy; just zipped off into the desert. The tv show said that lady Vivian Maier lived mainly in Chicago and worked taking care of kids as a "Nanny."  Dais says she worked for this tv "Talk Show Host" named Phil Donahue.      

"ROLLEICORD" CAMERA

                   On Thursday in book one I wrote about the early 1960's when the BEATLES went over to Germany to play concerts in that city of "Hamburg."  And the girl who took pictures of them used a camera like the one Vivian Maier had Daisy noticed.  One of the Ducks is quacking.

             I guess that lady Vivian Maier was sort of like the Painter Van Gogh except she did not seem to care if anyone else ever saw her pictures according to Dais.  Although she mainly lived in Illinois, she also visited New York City and Los Angeles too.  Now other Ducks are quacking. 

            Boy!  Finley and Fanny II just flew over Libby's Corral and they're chasing each other in happiness.  Hey God!  It's so weird to think about how Heathcliff died and is gone but life just goes right on.  Libby saw Finley and Fanny go bye but is now going back to nibbling hay.  

NEW YORK CITY (1953)

                Over the last three days I've written about a person's "World View" influences their lives and how they see things from a particular "Point of View."  I've mentioned a few times how in German it's called "Weltanschauung."  Andy's over there guarding the burrow entrance.

          The tv show described many of Vivian Maier's photos as "edgy" and "stark."  Daisy says she thinks that's mainly because Vivian Maier had a very unhappy childhood.  The tv show said how she was a "tell it like it is" type person, which is the kind of person our boss likes.   

                I guess, Vivian Maier died poor and her prints and negatives were found later; some were of Europe too.  Oh!  Two Pigeons flew bye.  What a coincidence because, as I've written about; the Actress who played the part of "Ethel" on "I Love Lucy" was also named Vivian too.

"ELLIS" ISLAND ( N.Y.C. HARBOR / "IMMIGRANTS")  

                  Oh!  Mentioning how that girl Vivian Maier took pictures of places like New York City makes me all of sudden think about that quote by that Jewish man from Austria named Viktor Frankl.  His family was killed in the "Holocaust" but he survived.  I smell Blinky over there.

            That one Viktor Frankl quote, which I wrote down from Daisy's good memory; goes, "The Statue of Liberty on the east coast should be supplemented by a statue of responsibility on the west coast."  I was supposed to mention that quote yesterday but forgot.  I like Blinky.  

           I've mentioned before how Adolph Hitler was also from Austria too.  I guess, the tv show said Viktor Frankl was a "Psychotherapist;" and Mr. Steve's father has read some of his books. Daisy says the man on the tv show mentioned how Viktor Frankl knew Sigmund Freud.

VIKTOR FRANKL (1905-1997) WITH WIFE, DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN

               Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Ralph talk about some of Viktor Frankl's ideas, and I guess he wrote about how powerful it is when a person has a "meaning in life."  That sounds just like what Sister Rita Joseph used to say too.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying to the east.

           Oh wow!  This Encyclopedia says how Viktor Frankl believed you can find meaning in life three different ways.  The first way is by, "creating a work or doing a deed."  The second way is by "experiencing something or encountering someone."  The Sun feels so good on me now.

           Viktor Frankl's third way to possibly find one's meaning in life is by, "the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering."  Daisy says our Chief told Mr. Ralph how that last one is what his father also thinks too."  Mr. Steve's father jokes about life having "some sharp edges."       

JOSHUA LOTH LIEBMAN (1907-1948)

          I was supposed to write about Viktor Frankl all the way back on Thursday, in book one.    That was when I mentioned Joshua Loth Liebman, who wrote his book called "Peace of Mind;"  which Mr. Steve's father read.  Someday I want to hear BOSTON'S song "Peace of Mind."           

        Hey God!  As Dais understood it when our boss and Mr. Ralph talked about Viktor Frankl, who even made it through the Holocaust; the strongest "Motivational" force for people is trying  to find their meaning in life.  Boy!  I'm a Dog but want to agree with that.  I smell some Sage.       

         Daisy thinks, and now so do I;  You maybe helped Viktor Frankl survive because Your purpose for him was to help others.  He said no matter how bad life gets, and it can get so hard alright; you can still find "meaning and value" in life.  I'd like to go to Europe like Rick Steve's.                                                       

                                                     "DAFFODILS" ("NETHERLANDS")      

            PHOTO BY ROMAN BOED            

               Oh!  Just when I was mentioning Europe I smell our neighbor's "Daffodil" flowers over there.  They grow a lot of them in the Netherlands and come out in Spring.  I wonder if Daisy's smelling them too because she's closer to the southern fence than I am back here on Elvira. 

             Miss Susan said, even though they're often "associated" with Spain and places like that; the Daffodil flowers have been grown in the Netherlands since the 19th century.  As I've said a few times in my books, that painter Vincent van Gogh was Dutch.  I love flowers!

           Dais noticed how Squirrels won't eat any Daffodils and, in fact; at times even seem to dig them up in anger.  Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez just zoomed out into the back desert by running right through the left vertical slot on the side of the gate.  Dawn and Blinky are barking.                         

      "DAFFODILS"    

        PHOTO BY DAVID BRYANT        

         There are many "types" of Daffodils.  They come in three "forms," have three parts; and are "displayed" in three "Floral patterns" called "tripartite."  Hey!  I've written about how, in    World War II; the alliance between Germany, Japan and Italy was the "Tripartite Pact."              

        Mr. Steve's mom also likes Daffodils.  I've mentioned how her friend Mrs. Lindsey, whose husband played "Goober" on the Andy Griffith Show; was also a Girl Scout leader.  I guess she  was sort of like Miss Susan in knowing a lot about the different types of flowers.                             

         From what that lady Mrs. Lindsey told Mr. Steve's mom, Daffodils aren't "native" to out here in California.  They were most likely first brought by some settlers in the late 19th century  she thought, and some of of those settlers might've been Mormons.  I smell Mesquite.                    

"NARCISSUS"

     PAINTING BY J.W. WATERHOUSE

       Miss Susan said Daffodils "symbolized" Spring to the ancient Greeks and Romans.  Another name for them is "Narcissus" flowers.  They're named after a guy in an old Greek story who fell  in love with himself when he saw his own reflection down there in the water.                                    

      A painting in my Encyclopedia shows Narcissus and I think I see some yellow Daffodils near the water.  Miss Susan read that, in the 7th century A.D.; the Prophet Muhammad mentioned      Daffodils.  Daffodils are the "National" flower of the country of "Wales" she says.                         

     Dais says our boss's mom has drawn Daffodils.  Thinking about Narcissus makes me want to see myself in one of those amazing mirrors I wrote about Thursday in book one.  Hey God!  But  I would never ever become conceited or what I guess they call "Narcissistic." 

         "THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE"

        I've mentioned the cartoon Daisy saw of that ancient Greek story from "Aesop's Fables." It's abut that conceited and totally overconfident Rabbit who lost a foot race against a Turtle.  He "Took for Granted" he could easily beat the Turtle but turned out to be wrong about that.            

         Daisy and I both think the author of that story wanted to warn you against being arrogant and conceited.  And we try never, ever to just "Take things for Granted" like the Rabbit did.  Up there in the sky I see a small flock of Birds flying toward the northeast right now.                           

         As I've said before, "Hare" is just another name for a Ribbit while a "Tortoise" is a Turtle.  For Dais and myself too, another lesson from the story is that old saying, "A steady pace wins the Race."  Daisy told me how, in the cartoon; the Rabbit even took a nap during the race.                  

                                          GIOVANNI DA VERRAZZANO (1485-1528)

       Well, back to writing about New York City.  My Encyclopedia says the first "European" to "visit" the area was an Italian explorer named Giovanni da Verrazzano.  In 1524, working for Francis I of France; he sailed Ships into the giant Harbor where New York City is now.

       A picture in this Encyclopedia shows that guy Giovanni da Verrazzano.  I've mentioned over the last three days how Daisy and I really like those fluffy round white collars people wore back in those days.  I'd definitely wear one of them but I don't think Daisy would.    

       Later today I'll learn about "Suleyman the Great" and "Charles V," so will have to look up Francis I too.  In book one I wrote about how some Spanish people put "de" in front of their last name to indicate where their family is from.  And Italians use "da" instead I guess.

1527 VOYAGE OF GIOVANNI DA VERRAZZANO

             A  good map shows the route Verrazzano took back in 1524 when he sailed over to where New York City is.  In August of 1977, when they were in N.Y.C.; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock at times drove over the "Verrazzano" bridge.  A Train just now whistled faintly. 

                Now I want to write about trying to figure out where you are on the Earth, especially in having to do with "Navigating" on Oceans.  I was originally scheduled to do it yesterday but it somehow got past me on my cluttered up outline.  So Daisy suggested I just put it in here.  

                I guess, one reason people were afraid to sail Ships out into big, huge unknown Oceans; is they weren't sure exactly where they were.  Boy!  I don't blame them as I would be afraid of that too.  I know our boss would think it scary because of his fear of being eaten by a Shark.  

"LATITUDE" VERSUS "LONGITUDE"    

             It says here the "system" for "locating your position" on the Earth uses an "imaginary grid."  The "points" north and south of the horizontal "Equator" in the middle of the Earth are "measured" in what's called "Latitude."  I hear another now much fainter Train whistle.

            A diagram shows how "Longitude" is where you're located east and west of an imaginary vertical line going from top to bottom through England.  And I can see how it's called the "Prime Meridian."  Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny just whizzed bye and they seem happy.

            Daisy says one time our boss and a customer talked about how there's a "Jeep" Car called a "Latitude."  I guess that Parts Manager said there's another vehicle called Latitude made by the French company named "Renault."  The Twin's scent just floated in with a slight breeze.       

2014 RENAULT "LATITUDE"   

                The Jeep Parts Manager said some of the French Latitude Cars are built in Russia, and used as Taxi's in places like "Singapore."  They're Renault's "flagship vehicle," and you can get them with either a "Manual" or "Automatic" six speed Transmission he says.  I smell Sage.

            Daisy told me our Chief has talked with some of his customers about how Mr. Doug down there in Sylmar, to make extra money; sometimes works on people's French "Citroen" Cars.  I just glanced up and see Cher sleeping over there on top of Moe.  And now I smell her too.

          Nowadays, new Cars come equipped with "G.P.S.;" or "Global Positioning System" Dais says.  It tells you you're location by "triangulating" the signals from three orbiting Satellite's.      Those "Smart" cell phones everyone, except Mr. Steve; now use have G.P.S. too I guess.                     

                        CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS                             THREE SHIPS                                     

                  (1451-1506)                                           (NIÑA , SANTA MARIA / PINTA / 1492)  

PAINTING BY SEBASTINO DEL PIOMBO                                                                                                                                            

                  I've mentioned before how that guy Columbus was mainly what they call an instinctive  "Dead Reckoning" Navigator.  But, I guess he also used these two "Instruments" or tools called a "Quadrant;" and an "Astrolabe."   Blackbeard and Anne are flying toward the northwest.

            Daisy saw a tv show that talked about Columbus's instruments on his first 1492 voyage. Even if you hate Columbus our boss and his dad think, what he did was "world changing." I've mentioned how he died on May the 20th, which is our boss's Nephew Austin's birthday.

           The tv show said mankind has been trying to figure "when and where" you are, and also what direction you're going; since the time of prehistoric people remembering how to return to the cave.  In about 1000 A.D. those "Compass's were invented.  Mr. Steve has one of those.         

                                JOHN HARRISON (1693-1776)         FIRST "MARINE  CHRONOMETER"

PAINTING BY THOMAS KING                                                                                                                              

                 I guess the tv show said an 18th century British Carpenter who made clocks named John Harrison created the first device able to "calculate" where a Ship was when going either east or west.  A picture shows the first version.  A painting show him holding the final version.

           It says here, since ancient times Sailors have been able to "generally" figure out Latitude when going north or south.  But, because no one knew how to calculate Longitude; fatal mistakes were made and many men died.  Daisy says sometimes the wooden Ships hit big giant rocks. 

          That tv show talked about what it exactly says here too.  That guy John Harrison totally "revolutionized" navigation.  From the mid 18th century, any Ship carrying his machine could feel more confident about where they were.  Cher just woke up and is yawning over there.

 "NAVIGTIONAL" INSTRUMENTS     

                  Daisy heard the man on the tv show say Columbus's "Astrolabe" measured the distance between the horizon and things above it, like the Sun; or Stars at night.  Cher's looking at me.  The look on her face tells me she can't believe how much time I'm spending over on Elvira.

             I guess, from what the tv show said; the first version of John Harrison's Longitude device was a clock in a wooden box.  But, in changing weather, a rolling Ship or salt in the Ocean air; at times it didn't work.  Cher's grooming herself by rubbing her head with her right paw.

            Since ancient times, like in Greece for instance; people have tried to develop tools to help Captains of Ships not crash and get everyone killed.  In 1492 Columbus had his two instruments but what he accomplished was still totally amazing Mr. Steve thinks.  Dawn's barking.   

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK (1728-1779)   

PAINTING BY SIR NATHANIEL DANCE-HOLLAND        

                  That tv show said Captain Cook used John Harrison's final clock on his last voyage of discovery in the Pacific Ocean.  I guess by that time it had been reduced  to the size of a "Pocket Watch."  I've mentioned before how Captain Cook was stabbed to death by Hawaiians.

             Dais noticed the tv show mentioned how that 13th century Persian "Sufi" Poet "Rumi," who I mentioned on Thursday; referred to an Astrolabe in one of his poems.  A few years ago Mr. Steve almost bought this thing called a "Sextant" at a Garage Sale.  But he didn't I guess.  

            As a kid one of our Chief's friend's named Bob's father showed them how to measure the distance between two things using a Sextant.  Boy!  How could anyone have even been so smart as to be able to invent something like what John Harrison did?  A Sparrow's chirping.

2014 JEEP "COMPASS"    

                 When Dais heard our boss talking to that Jeep customer who told him about the Renault Latitude Car, they also discussed the Jeep "Compass."  I guess it's a smaller S.U.V. and has been made since 2007.  The Parts Manager told Mr. Steve how there are three Compass "models."

            Mr. Steve told that Parts Manager how, as a small boy; Albert Einstein was fascinated by a compass his father gave him.  He was then determined to find out how it could be possible for the needle to know which direction to point.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye right now.

            According to what Daisy heard, our boss's Jeep customer knew it was Vikings, about five centuries before Columbus; who were the first "Europeans" to make it over here to what would later be called the "New World."   I smell the new baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt.                        

                      RAIDING AREAS                           THE VIKINGS                        ATLANTIC VOYAGES                                    

           Dais said the tv show mentioned how it's "rumored" the Vikings had this thing called a "Sun Stone."  It's a hand held glass-like crystal the size of a bar of soap, which allows you to see  where the Sun is even in fog or really bad weather.  I'd like to see a bar of soap someday.               

          According to Daisy, some people say a Sun Stone allowed the Vikings see where the Sun was even when it was below the horizon.  Crystal rock is made over millions and millions of years and the tv show said some of it is found in "Iceland because of the volcanoes.  I smell Sage.           

         I guess that Astronomer Edmond Halley, who the famous Comet is named after; was a friend of John Harrison.  I've mentioned before how Mark Twain was born, and died; on the day that Comet flew past the Earth.  George Harrison is one of Guitarists of the BEATLES.                     

TULIPS   

           Now I have to learn about the country of the "Netherlands," which is described here as a "Republic."  I've mentioned how "Holland is a "Province," and is where they grow those pretty "Tulip" flowers.  Frida and Diego flew bye, with Frida carrying a long twig in her mouth.             

         I guess, the 17th century was the Netherlands "Golden Age" when their big Ships, partly through conquest; "dominated" the  "global trade" in things like sugar.  Mr. Steve's father, in his school for Stockbrokers; taught about that.  It was the "first modern economy" he says.                

          Dais says our boss's dad told his Students the Netherlands got rich in the 1600's, set up the first "Joint Stock" company; and also established the very first actual "Stock Market."  It was a "new type of society" he believes.  The Dutch "invented" the "Middle Class" he thinks.                                          

NEW YORK DOLLS    

             Oh!  I have one more subject to write about having to do with New York City,  a 1970's band called the NEW YORK DOLLS.   In 2008 Mr. Steve went to one of those outdoor barbecues I've mentioned before.  Daisy says it was in Chatsworth and some Mormons were there.

             An older lady in her eighties walked up to our boss and said, "Are you Mr. Steve?"  He told her he was so she then asked him if he'd ever heard of the NEW YORK DOLLS.  Surprised, he answered, "Yes ma'am, but I'm kind of wondering just how you know about them."

             The lady said her friend, until he died in 2004; worked with the NEW YORK DOLLS bass player Arthur Kane at the West Los Angeles L.D.S "Family History Center."  He'd become a Mormon by then.  Fred, Ed and Ted are flying over Libby's Corral, moving to the east.

L.D.S. TEMPLE (WEST LOS ANGELES)

                   Daisy heard one time, when his Niece Samantha was a kid; they drove bye the Mormon Temple in West Los Angeles.  I guess, it's up on a hill right next to a road called "Santa Monica" Boulevard.  Close bye is that one Family History Center where Arthur Kane worked at.

             When Mr. Steve asked why she asked him about the NEW YORK DOLLS the lady said, "The children said at one time took pictures of the various bands."  He said, "Yes ma'am."  It was a long time ago though and all I have left besides the prints is my pleasant memories."          

            Mr. Steve was surprised Arthur Kane converted to Mormonism and the lady said he was one of those "Librarians" I've mentioned before.  But, too bad he died in 2004 of this thing called "Leukemia."  Daisy told me she's pretty sure it's one of the different forms of cancer.                              

    ARTHUR KANE (1949-2004)

           I guess, that lady told Mr. Steve after the NEW YORK DOLLS broke up Arthur Kane came out here to L.A. hoping to "Make It."  But he didn't, got really depressed; and even tried to kill himself by jumping from a second story window.  But this planter "Broke his Fall."                 

             With metal "Pins" repairing broken bones, Arthur Kane had to learn to walk and talk all over again.  During his difficult recovery he saw an advertisement for a free "Book of Mormon," read it; and became L.D.S.   Hey!  That's just like that other guy "Big Daddy" Roth too.               

            Hey Lord!  Daisy thinks, reading about You gave that guy Arthur Kane hope for a better life; both down here and later in Heaven too.  When he was in the NEW YORK DOLLS he was a heavy drinker and "Partier."  But Mormons don't drink, smoke or do anything like that.                  

"CRUCIFIXION"

          I really want to believe in You Lord, even if many think it's dumb.  I've mentioned how Dais feels the same way, and says having faith just kind of gives us hope.  As I've said before, she also  thinks faith gives us one more thing to love; besides ourselves and our Chief of course.          

        Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave in 1992, the same year as the Rodney King Riots I wrote about; Arthur Kane got "Jumped" and was "Mugged." But, this time I guess; he recovered with the      help of some nice Mormon's.  Two of the Pigeons just flew over the top of the house.                       

         When Arthur Kane worked at the Family Center he was "Reliable."  I've mentioned how, when Mr. Steve has hired people, or given a job "Reference;" he focuses on "Dependability" in    being on time and not missing days.  He also prefers people who learn things quickly.                                                     

                                                                   ARTHUR KANE

                After that day when the lady mentioned the NEW YORK DOLLS Dais says our boss was determined to get a copy of their first album from 1973.  He had it at one time on vinyl and used to play drums along to it sometimes.  Andy's over there guarding the burrow entrance.

           Daisy says Mr. Steve told that kid Jason he heard the NEW YORK DOLLS didn't make a lot of money.  But their "look" influenced other "Glam" bands and their music has been called "Proto-Punk."  Our boss thinks sometimes they sounded like the ROLLING STONES.

        I guess our boss used the word "pioneering" to describe the NEW YORK DOLLS.  Some 1970's British bands like T-REX or David Bowie's SPIDERS FROM MARS liked the "DOLLS." Daisy says the NEW YORK DOLLS have a pretty good song about picking up the trash.               

                                                                    ROUGH CUTT 

                                                                                                                                       PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                  Some of the groups Mr. Steve and Harriet saw back in the 1980's and early 1990's were those Heavy Metal "Hair" bands.  They also seem to have been influenced by the NEW YORK DOLLS too.  Andy's sniffing the air and I know for sure he's on the alert for Goliath. 

            Hey God!  Did You send the Mormons to be Guardian Angels for that guy Arthur Kane?  As You know, Daisy thinks You probably did it in the same way You had us rescued when no one else in the world cared about us.  Ah!  I suddenly smell a Lizard somewhere around here.

           The Mormon lady told Mr. Steve Arthur Kane said the NEW YORK DOLLS took their name from a Doll repair business.  Mr. Steve ended up paying a guy to find a copy of the first NEW YORK DOLLS album on Compact Disc.  Then, he later showed it to the old lady. 

NEW YORK DOLLS (ARTHUR KANE ON LEFT / 1973)

                 Aha!  A black and white picture of the NEW YORK DOLLS first album cover makes me now understand why they were called that name.  They kind of do look a lot like Dolls alright.  I notice how Arthur Kane is smoking a cigarette because he was allowed to do it back then.     

           A few months after he got the NEW YORK DOLLS C.D. our boss showed it to that lady and her friends.  When they saw it their eyes got big and she said, "Goodness Gracious!"  Then another lady asked in a sort of shocked voice, "Why in the world are they dressed like that?" 

           Mr. Steve told them in 1973 dressing like a girl was a way to get attention through one of those "Gimmicks" I've mentioned before.  It was a "Publicity Stunt" and they really didn't want to be girls.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying toward the northeast.   

         DRAGONFLY          

                That big Dragonfly who's been around for the last three days zoomed bye going from my left to right.  I heard it coming from far away but wasn't sure if it was him or Max and 99.  Now it's flying over Libby's Corral and I notice how she's looking at it so heard it coming too. 

            Dais says our boss likes almost all the songs on the NEW YORK DOLLS album.  But his favorite is a Latin-influenced song called "Private World" which he's been told was co-written by Arthur Kane.  Dais says it's really good, and has this deep eerie-sounding instrument in it.   

           On the album cover I notice how some of the NEW YORK DOLLS like Arthur Kane are wearing those "Platform" shoes people used to wear back then in the 1970's.  One of them has a pair of Roller Skates on.  Mr. Steve never wore them but has platform shoes to show people.  

                                                                           ABBA  

        Those two pretty girls in that one 1970's Swedish band ABBA wore platform shoes.  Mr. Steve's girlfriend Sandy liked ABBA so he wanted to like them too no matter how much some of  his friends made fun of him.  Besides he jokes, he kind of liked looking at those two girls.              

           I've mentioned how Mr. Steve likes the ABBA song "S.O.S."  Dais says over the years he's played it for people,  to see their "reaction to it."  Females are impressed by the "Harmony's" in the singing of course, but are even more effected by the happy but sad feeling it gave them.           

        Daisy says our boss told his mom one time how over the years he's "gotten a kick out of" seeing a guys reaction to the first time he sees Agneta Fältskog, the blond girl in ABBA.   Often    their reaction was like his first impression, "stunned disbelief."  She's pretty alright Dais says.                                           

THE BEE GEES   (MAURICE, ROBIN, BARRY GIBB)    

PHOTO BY MARKA                   

        Our boss and Mr. Dave think nowadays many people "Disavow" liking 1970's "Disco" music.  There were some "Corny" things about Disco they admit, but the three brothers in the      BEE GEE'S had songs that were more than just for dancing.  They were "Well Crafted."              

            Dais says Mr. Dave told our boss how many people think the BEE GEES "created" Disco music, but actually they "reinvigorated" it.  By the mid-1970's Disco was fading out but then the  movie "Saturday Night Fever" came out with those BEE GEE songs in it.  Dawn's barking.          

           Mr. Steve one time met a British lady.  She told him in 1975 the BEE GEE brothers long career, which began way back in 1958 I guess; was "fading as well."  Dais says the lady also said  the BEE GEES family "for a time" lived on one of those "Channel" Islands.  I like Dawn.            

BEE GEES ("TOO MUCH HEAVEN" / 1978)        

         Daisy says that one English lady chuckled when our boss told her about times he's played Videos made for late 1970's BEE GEES "Love" songs.  Some people are almost "Mesmerized, "    and "Hypnotized;" by the three part vocal harmonies and "Soul" feeling.  It's was Rhêma!        

          I guess, "Barry" is the oldest BEE GEE brother; and on those late 1970's songs sang lead.  All three brothers, who sang in more normal voices in the 1960's; sing in high "Falsetto" voices    on those songs.  Dawn's barking and I can smell Blinky and Rosie standing next to her.                  

         The lady told our boss, because of the bad English economy in the late 1950's; the "Gibbs" brother's parents decided to move the family down to "Australia."  Daisy heard her say how the father was a Drummer himself.  Blinky has such a strong scent, which makes me like him.                                    

                  BARRY / ROBIN/ MAURICE                                       STEELEYE SPAN                                                                                                                                               

    The lady told our boss how, as young boys; the three BEE GEE brothers became good at singing in that "Acapella" style I've written about.   She knew about STEELEYE SPAN'S song    "Gaudette" and, like Mr. Steve; really likes it I guess.  Boy!  I can't wait to hear it someday.          

       According to what Dais heard, as young boys the three Gibb brothers used to practice their singing without musical instruments by doing a good 1950's song about eating a "Lollipop."  It's  a good song Daisy thinks, and someday wants to hear the BEE GEES version.  I smell Sage.          

      Hey God!  Daisy told me how she thinks I'd really like that one BEE GEES song called "Too Much Heaven."  She's pretty sure it's about a boy and a girl being in love.  It starts with horns    and what sounds like a flute too.  If it is flute I know for one hundred percent sure I'd like it.           

 AC / DC        

         I've mentioned how three of the members of AC/DC, Bon Scott and Angus and Malcolm Young; had families who went down to Australia from "Scotland."  Mr. Steve thinks that's most likely because of them trying to make some more money.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye.              

         Dais heard the BEE GEES did good in Australia but, later just like AC/DC; thought they could do better going back in England.  And I guess in both cases that turned out to be totally      true.  Andy's scent just came floating into both of my nostrils and that makes me feel good.           

        When the three brothers returned to England some thought they could even compete with the BEATLES.   The English lady said her mom liked Robin Gibbs "vibrating and emotional"      voice on some 1960's BEE GEES songs.  A Sparrow holding a twig in its mouth just ran bye.                                         

         THE "TWINS"                 

        Oh!  Just when I was about to mention how Robin and Maurice Gibb are twins who do I smell?  A slight breeze just came in from behind the Sheds out there in the eastern desert and it brought in the Twin's unique scent.  Boy!  That really makes me feel pretty good right now.          

           That lady from England and our boss talked about how when the BEE GEES went back to England in the mid-1960's, some people thought they could even compete with the BEATLES;      which I guess they did for a while.  Andy's over there sniffing the air guarding the burrow.           

        Daisy heard the BEE GEES had this younger brother named "Andy," who also became a famous Singer too.  Mr. Steve's sister Susan met him one time and said he "seemed nice."  But he died really young, so only had a much shorter career compared to his three older brothers.                             

THE BEE GEES (BARRY - ROBIN - MAURICE / 1960'S)

        One time our boss and Mr. Mark talked about the BEE GEES.  Mr. Mark told our boss  some black people feel a "spiritual" sensation listening to some of those late 1970's BEE GEE'S    songs with their three part harmonies.  Theodora just flew bye and went out into the desert.         

         Daisy says Mr. Steve has always been interested to see black people's reactions when they find out the BEE GEES are white.  He thinks those BEE GEE'S songs are like Vivaldi's song "La Primavera" in giving people an "uplifting" feeling, kind of like "Gospel" music.  I smell Sage.     

           The English lady said it's "quite ironic" the only BEE GEE still alive is the oldest brother Barry.  She thinks part of the reason "may be" because the other three "younger blokes" took a lot of drugs and drank alcohol.  Barry's wife of fifty years would not "tolerate such foolery."        

2014 VOLVO "XC70"        

          I just thought again of ABBA, who are from the country of "Sweden."  Daisy told me of a  Swedish company called "Volvo" which makes Cars, Trucks, Busses and Tractors, and I guess      have been around since 1915; which was the second year of World War I.   I smell Mesquite.         

        According to what Daisy heard our boss tell Miss Babette, he had a Volvo customer before the economic  recession; which began in 2008.  He even faxed a few different line drawing logos for that Parts Manager's kids to color.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's mom likes to color.      

        Oh!  All of a sudden I just thought about that guy Arthur Kane, the NEW YORK DOLLS Bassist who became a Mormon.  Hey God!  Daisy heard that one Mormon lady tell our boss how he prayed You'd let him play in the NEW YORK DOLLS just one more time.  And You did!         

NEW YORK DOLLS

         Boy God!  I agree with Daisy in thinking You made it so that guy Arthur Kane could play bass for the NEW YORK DOLLS again.  I guess, the NEW YORK DOLLS were fighting and arguing a lot when they broke up back in the late 1970's.   Dawn and Blinky are barking.             

          I guess, over in England some people still like the NEW YORK DOLLS; so organized one of those "Reunions" I've mentioned before.  And the three "Surviving" members all agreed to go over to London to to it.  Daisy says two of the original NEW YORK DOLLS died from drugs.       

         But, one problem was; Arthur Kane had his bass guitar "In Hock" at this "Pawn Shop" in Hollywood.  Oh!  Two of the Pigeons just flew in from being out there in the back desert, and        landed up there on the Patio roof above.  I can smell Bonnie and Clyde's nest up there.                 

   PIGEONS ON PATIO ROOF

             Boy Lord!  It's a good thing Arthur Kane's Mormon friends gave him the money to get his bass guitar back from the Pawn Shop.  So, then he could go over to London; and play in that  concert.  I see the Pigeon's shadows on the dirt in front of me over here sitting on Elvira.               

              Hey God!  I'll bet it was You who caused that NEW YORK DOLLS concert to happen.  I want to believe that, and Daisy thinks You might've given him that final "Gift of Grace" in life      because he was dying but was being a good person.  I just love the sound of Pigeon voices!           

            God!  Too bad Arthur Kane had to die of Leukemia right after getting back to America. But, at least he was like Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter; who was able to go visit the Galápagos    islands before dying.  Boy!  I sure do wish I could hear Heathcliff again just one more time. 

2014 VOLKSWAGEN "JETTA" 

             Dais says one time she and Millie heard our boss taking an order on the phone from one of his "Volkswagen" customers.  Part of that order was for some hats with the "Jetta" logo on      them. Daisy told me the NEW YORK DOLLS have a good song about this boy who's a Jet.           

           According to Daisy, the Jetta's small like our Car Barny.  That Parts Manager said how it's V.W.'s "top selling model," and used to word "compact" to describe it.  I guess they've been made since all the way back in 1979, when Mr. Steve was still going to College at C.S.U.N.             

          Later today Dais has me scheduled to learn and write more about how the Volkswagen company began in the mid-1930's.  Adolph Hitler ordered the original "Beetle" or "Bug" Cars    be created.  I'm still thinking of the tall shoes the NEW YORK DOLLS wore in the 1970's.            

                                                              LOUIS XIV (1678-1715)

PAINTING BY HYACINTHE RIGAUD

              Mentioning "High-Heeled" shoes makes me suddenly think of that French King Louis XIV.  I've mentioned before how, in the late 17th century; he and other "Royal" men began to wear high-heeled shoes with red soles and heels.  That was mainly to show off I guess.

              Wearing high-heeled shoes made people think you were so rich you didn't even need to work.  Mr. Steve thinks they hoped it would also make them look taller and more powerful too.  Those two Pigeons are now walking all around up there on the patio roof right above me. 

             I notice in the painting of  Louis XIV he's wearing a black wig.  Besides just the "Style," because baths were rare; wigs on shaved heads were better than getting those "Lice" Bugs in your hair.  The ancient Egyptians used to also wear wigs over their shaved heads too.

"COMPETITION" HORSES

                 Seeing Libby over makes me think about how, back in the 15th century it was "Persian" cavalry Soldiers who first put high heels on shoes so they could shoot bows and arrows on a steadier "Platform."  Modern Cowboy boots also grip the "Stirrups" way better too.  The Pigeons just flew away.

                 Over the last three days I've learned so much about some of the different tools, like the ones John Harrison, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison 's created.  And, it makes me wonder if I could maybe invent a good Dog tool.  I can smell Theodora's Creosote bush over there.

             Hey God!  As I've mentioned a few times already, it would be so great if You could help me to think of a good way to make money.  Daisy and I are totally grateful for You providing us with enough food, water and a place to sleep in peace.  And so is our Chief too we know.

   GIOVANNI DA VERRAZZANO

          You know, I wonder how Daisy would look in one of those round collars like the one people like that man Giovanni da Verrazzano wore in the early 16th century?  I'd wear one and, who knows; we might even start a "Trend."  And, we could maybe "Market" them for sale. 

          I've mentioned before how, sewing is a skill the females have in Mr. Steve's family; from his Grandma Trujillo through his Niece Stephanie.  I've written about that really warm "Quilt" our boss's sister Celina made for him.  Daisy says, because she died; he really values it a lot.

          In the black and white drawing of Giovanni da Verrazzano I notice the way he wore his goatee.  He has one of those "Handlebar" mustaches like Adolph Hitler wore at the beginning of World War I.  A small flock of Birds is flying over Libby's Corral and going to the east.  

                            INDIAN TRIBES ("CARIBBEAN" SEA / NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA)

  This is interesting.  According to this one Encyclopedia, that guy Giovanni da Verrazzano might've been killed and eaten by some Indians from the Caribbean Ocean.  But, others say he    was "executed" by the Spanish just for being what they called a Pirate.                                            

      I've written over the last three days about that older Shoshone Indian man Mr. Steve met at the Phelan Library.  He said that it's not true the 16th century native people on the islands in the Caribbean Sea area were "Cannibals."  Boy!  I'd sure hate to be eaten.                                            

     Those two Pigeons who've been walking around up there on the patio roof just took off and are now flying back out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Oh!  Cher the Cat is slinking    around near the back fence.  I can tell by her "Body Language" she's hungry.                                      

                                                      FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS

          Mentioning being eaten all of a sudden reminds me of that 1980's English band Dais told me about that one time.  They're called FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS, and are from the "Midlands" city of Birmingham; just like the MOVE and BLACK SABBATH.  I smell Sage.

        Daisy says our boss and that kid Jason watched a FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS Video for a song called "She Drives Me Crazy."  I guess Mr. Steve told Jason he liked the "unique" way the tone of the snare drum on that song.  I wonder if those guys are really cannibals?

             I remember when Daisy first explained to me what a "Cannibal" was and how it meant you ate your own kind.  Ugh!  It would be so terrible if I were ever starving and had to eat Dais.  But, knowing her; she'd joke to do it because she wouldn't be needing her body anymore. 

                                                "DONNER" PARTY ROUTE (1846-47)

               Right now I'll learn, and write about; this really "Tragic" 19th century event called the "Donner" Party Expedition.   It happened during the exact same two years as the Mexican War and the Mormon's "Trek" to Utah.  And it was when people had to eat other people!

                 Daisy and Millie saw a really good tv show about the Donner Party and how they were trying to travel out here to California.  But my Encyclopedia says, "en route;" their "leadership" made a few really bad decisions based on "false information."  A Duck is quacking.

                This map shows the "Route" that Donner Party took back in 1846 and 1847.  But, I guess, as the caption says; they never made it all the way through those tall "Sierra-Nevada" mountains I've mentioned before.  They got stuck in a really huge snow storm "blizzard"I guess.

                                                           "DONNER" PARTY     

                I've mentioned how the three-themed "Awen" logo represents different things to different people but, to Mr. Steve; it mainly symbolizes "Hope."  Hey God!  Daisy and I want to believe it represents "Creation" and "Timeless Nature of the Trinities" too.  I smell Sage.   

               A picture shows the Donner Party, who hoped for better lives; coming to California.  I see how some of them, like this girl holding a baby; rode in those "Covered" Wagons I've mentioned before.  And the artist shows how it was those Oxen who were pulling the Wagons.   

                I've written a lot about the 19th century.  As I've learned, in the first half of the 1800's the American people developed an almost religious belief that the United States was "Destined" to go all the way from the "Atlantic" Ocean across to our "Pacific" Ocean.  A Finch is chirping. 

                                                     JAMES / MARGARET REED       

                One of those old black and white 19th century photographs show a husband and wife who were in the Donner Party.  The man, named James Reed; was one of the leaders.  George Donner was also a leader, and both families were all originally from that State called "Illinois."   

           Wow!  It says here that, only forty eight of the original eighty seven people who started the trip coming out here to California "survived."  They began back in "Missouri," and followed the "Oregon Trail" which I've mentioned before.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just went bye.

           I guess, things went pretty good for most of the way coming out west, until that guy James Reed believed a "Guide" book.   Mr. Steve says that book gave a "rosy image" of California; and said there was a "Short Cut" to get through the Sierra-Nevada mountains.  I smell Juniper.

                                           "DONNER" PARTY (WINTER 1846-47)      

            ARTWORK BY GARRISON HARDIE                          

               I guess the so called short cut turned out to be much harder for Wagons to go through than anyone thought.  So they got way "Behind Schedule" as they say and didn't make it through the Sierra-Nevada mountains before one of those blizzards hit.  So they got stuck in snow.

               Oh wow!  A picture shows the Donner Party trying to move through one of the storms and I can see they had a few Dogs with them too.  Boy!  It looks so cold and I notice there's a cross on the right side where they buried someone.  I smell Libby over there in her Corral.

              It says here, because they were stuck; the Donner Party had to "improvise shelter."  James Reed, who had killed this man, went ahead to get help.  I've mentioned how that homeless man Mr. Mark made a "Makeshift" place in the desert for he and his Dog "Karma" to live.    

                                  ABRAHAM LINCON (AS ILLINOIS "CONGRESSMAN")

              Oh wow!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows that Abraham Lincoln knew James Reed from the time they fought Indians for Illinois in that "Black Hawk" war?  And for a time he "considered" making his family members of the "ill-fated" Donner Party.  But he decided against it. 

               Hey God!  Did You cause Lincoln to not become part of the Donner Party?  It's amazing to think about how history might've been different if he had died instead of later becoming the U.S. President.  Or, he might've even had to become one of those cannibals; in order to survive!

               I mentioned 1846 and 1847 were the Mexican War years and, as I wrote on Thursday in my first book; Lincoln was really against that war.  I guess James Reed got through and brought back rescuers but it was too late for those who were eaten.  I wonder if Dogs were eaten? 

                                                                                    HIGH DESERT STORM (DECEMBER 2008)                                                                  

                                                                                                                                       PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

              I've written about that gigantic storm we had up here in Piñon Hills in December of 2008.  I was not born yet.  Daisy came to live here earlier that year, right after Mr. Steve returned from the trip his family took to Washington D.C.  All four of the Pigeons flew bye right now.

         As I've said, some people now call that 2008 storm the "Whopper" and Dais described it as big alright.  At about three in the afternoon, when it was literally what they call a "White Out" storm; this one kid named "Daniel" called our boss Daisy says.  Dawn's barking over there.

        Mr. Steve used to "Tutor" Daniel, who was twelve in 2008; and his sister.  I guess he told our boss, "Mr. Steve!  This must be what the Donner Party went through!"  Mr. Steve said, "Yeh, but at least we have enough food, and good houses, blankets and jackets to help us not freeze."

                                                 THE GEORGE DONNER FAMILY   

        This picture shows George Donner's family and the caption says his wife "Tamsen" died because she refused to leave her dying husband alone.  But, I guess at least their two daughters    survived.  Fannie and Freddie just flew bye and, as usual; were talking to each other.                     

            Oh!  James Reed's rescue party reached the Donner Party camp on February the 19th of 1847.  I've mentioned a few times over the last three day how that's Miss Harriet's birthday too. Speedy Gonzalez just ran out into the desert through the right vertical slot on the gate. 

            Looking to my right, or south beyond Libby's Corral; the San Gabriel mountains are so clear and you can see all the way to the top.  I'm beginning to really like our local mountains a lot.  I smell the scent Speedy Gonzalez left behind when he went out into the back desert.

2014 GMC "SIERRA"

                 Mentioning those Sierra-Nevada mountains up there to our north makes me think about how Daisy told me about a Truck called a "Sierra."  One time Mr. Chris who gets us things came over with a guy who had a Sierra.  Boy!  Daisy really liked looking at that shiny red Truck.

          We heard the guy with the Sierra Truck talk with our boss and Mr. Chris about how, there are a few Chevrolet Trucks which are the same exact vehicle as the Sierra; only with a different name.  Samson and Delilah are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the northeast.

          One time Daisy heard our boss talking with Mr. Dave about "Red Rock Canyon."  It's an area at the very south end of the Sierra-Nevada mountains.  Mark Ritter who died went there a few times, mainly to see all of these different "Petroglyphs" and "Pictographs" nearby.    

"RED ROCK" CANYON   

PHOTO BY JON HAMMOND           

          Daisy says he and Mark Ritter had planned to go to Red Rock Canyon but they never did and now it's too late.  One time Mr. Steve was talking to a customer in New Mexico who told him parts of Red Rock Canyon look like some areas in New Mexico.  I smell Libby in her Corral.        

          My Encyclopedia says Red Rock Canyon was "formed" about three million years ago, and is "eroded rock formations;" made up of "white clay" and "sandstone."  Daisy heard how Mark Ritter also liked to go to go to this other place called "Fossil Falls."   Libby smells so good.            

       Oh wow!  Another name for Red Rock Canyon is "Nightmare Gulch."  I wonder if that's  because it probably gets really hot there during the Summer.  It says here how the Native people who have lived in the Red Rock Canyon region for centuries are the "Kawaiisu" people.                                         

 CALIFORNIA   

                  According to what it says here in this Encyclopedia, Red Rock Canyon is located about eighty miles from that city I've mentioned before called "Bakersfield."  That's where that band KORN is originally from.  That so is that one Country Western Singer named Buck Owens.

            Daisy says, whenever our boss goes down to Sylmar; he takes the #14 Freeway going and coming.  And, if you were to just keep going north on that Freeway; you would go right near Red Rock Canyon I guess.  Mr. Steve told his mom he's never driven that far north on the #14.  

            Well, according to this book three outline; I still have a lot more to write about New York City.  I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Mr. Steve and his brother Rock, in 1977; visited their Uncle Marty's family in New Jersey.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.

                                                         KING CHARLES II (1630-1685)

             PAINTING BY PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE       

        I guess New Amsterdam transferred from Holland to England in 1664.  The English King Charles II gave it to and renamed it "New York" for his brother the "Duke" of "York."  Boy!  I would definitely wear a black wig like the one King Charles used to wear.  

   Yesterday I wrote about the American Revolution and mentioned how, from 1785 through 1790; New York City was the American Capitol.  That was before the Washington D.C. was built and named after George Washington.  At first it was called "Washington City."                             

       As I've written before, Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Emily grew up in Long Island and his friend Mr. Eddie, who lives in Lake Los Angeles; is from Staten Island.  Alex, his friend from Alemany High School; was also from New York City too.  Libby's walking around her Corral.    

                                         GEORGE WASHINGTON LEADING TROOPS                                                                                                                                                                                                                      PAINTING BY DON TROIANI

          Over the last three days I've learned about the "Revolutionary War" and that guy George Washington as leader of the rebel "Continental" army.  That good painting shows him pointing his sword and telling his soldiers to charge into battle.  Boy!  I like his white Horse.  

          I've mentioned how Daisy advises me to not take good teeth for granite and chew softly so they'll last longer.  I've mentioned before how George Washington had bad teeth.  Using the left vertical slot on the side of the gate, Speedy Gonzalez just ran out into the desert.     

         Yesterday I wrote about Mr. Steve and his brother's 1977 trip back east.  They stayed for a few days with their Uncle Marty's family in Morristown, New Jersey.  I've written about how Mr. Steve's Uncle was in the Vietnam War.  Then he got an "M.B.A." from Harvard.

                                     WINTER 1779-1780 ("MORRISTOWNN," NEW JERSEY)

             As I've written about, during the Revolutionary War George Washington's army had a few what they call "Hard Winters;" like in 1777-1778 at "Valley Forge" for instance.  But the Winter of 1779-1780, spent near Morristown; was even worse.  Many soldiers died of disease.

       That one time, in 1776; George Washington's Continental army almost got trapped by the British on "Long Island" in New York City.  They were guarding the harbor, "Deployed" at the    far west end of Long Island.  It's the area where the city of "Brooklyn" now is I guess.                   

       The British attacked the Continental Army at the "Battle of Brooklyn Heights," one of the biggest "in scale" battles of the Revolutionary War.  But then, the British almost got around or    surrounded George Washington's forces.  I've written about "Flanking" an enemy army.              

        BATTLE             "REVOLUTIONARY WAR (AUGUST 1776)           ESCAPE           

                  PAINTING BY DOMENICK D' ANDREA                                                                                                                                                         ARTWORK BY DANIEL GIBB                                                                                                                                                                 

          So, just like the way the Allies had to do at "Dunkirk" in 1940; George Washington and his men all had to escape from "Long Island" in small Boats.  "Under cover of night" they retreated across the River and up to "Manhattan."  Charley Company is going bye over there.                     

        I guess the British chased, and almost caught; George Washington's army up near where "Central Park" is now located.  But fortunately for them, just like those Allied soldiers in 1940;    at least they "Lived to fight another Day" so to speak.  A Train just whistled faintly.                       

          Oh!  The Wren I've been hearing is really one of those impostor Mockingbirds over there on a branch of the Mulberry tree.  What a coincidence that I just would happen to be about to write a little bit about that guy Thomas Jefferson.  I guess he had a pet Mockingbird.  

        THOMAS JEFFERSON 1743-1826)                   JOHN (1735-1826) / ABIGAIL ADAMS 

          Mr. Steve said Thomas Jefferson, as President; had a Mockingbird in his Office and it sang along when he played violin.  On Thursday in book one I mentioned how that composer Mozart  had a pet Starling.  Boy!  I sure do wish that Mockingbird could imitate a Rooster.                         

        Hey God!  Did You arrange so that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were enemies; "Made Up" right before both dying on the exact same day of July 4, 1826?  As You know, Daisy    thinks  You might've and so do I too.  It just sounds like something You would do.                           

          My Encyclopedia says by 1844, or two years before the Mexican War; New York City was the "largest" American city.  Oh!  I hear one of those kids on a Motorcycle going bye really fast out there on Primavera Road.  And now I can see the dust rising up into the air. 

                                                                                                "MOTOCROSS" RIDER                                 

         According to my outline I still have more to write about that guy Frederick Olmsted.  It says here in this Encyclopedia that he also designed the some parks at "Niagra Falls" and San  Francisco.  The one up there in the Bay Area is called "Golden Gate Park."                                   

           Oh!  It's interesting how Frederick Olmsted designed the Stanford University campus.  In book two I wrote about Leland Stanford and the "Big Four."  Stanford is where those Football players Jim Plunkett and John Elway, who I also talked about; went to College.                              

          I guess, because people liked his parks so much; some other cities like Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Hartford and Philadelphia copied Frederick Olmsted's idea.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Mike in Central Park you can still ride in a Wagon pulled by Horses.  I can smell new Sage.                                                 

                                       WASHINGTON D.C.  ("CAPITOL GROUNDS")

                                                                                                                                         PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

            I wonder if our boss knows this?  According to what it says here in this Encyclopedia, that guy Frederick Olmsted designed the "Capitol Grounds" in Washington D.C. too.  As I wrote in book one on Thursday, Mr. Steve's family visited Washington D.C. in 2008.

           Mr. Steve's friend Eddie, who lives in Lake Los Angeles; told our boss about this place in Brooklyn called "Eastern Parkway."  Mr. Steve said he thinks his old girlfriend Emily might've told him about it.  Eastern Parkway was also designed by Frederick Olmsted. 

           In 1977 my boss and his brother Rock saw this" Restored" 19th century "Wrought Iron" bridge near to the Zoo in Central Park.  Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich is a really good Welder and we have that one Dragon he made for us.  Three Wrens are flying bye.  

                                                                                           HEART                                                                   

              One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with his brother Rock as they remembered their 1977 trip.  Driving around New York City is when they first heard that band from Seattle HEART'S song "Barracuda."  I see Libby over there in her Corral.

            On Thursday I wrote about how that one girl in Mr. Steve's college Philosophy class used "Hegel's Dialectic" formula to predict a Hard Rock song with a female singer in 1977. HEART'S song about the Barracuda is such a good song Dais thinks.  And so does our Chief too.  

            Mr. Steve told his brother he now associates 1977 with "Punk" and "New Wave" music from New York City.  But that year also makes him think about "Disco" music too.  Daisy's the one who first told me about those three really talented singing brothers the BEE GEES.       

BEE GEES

PHOTO BY MARKA

                  One of Mr. Steve's customers from Australia told him the three BEE GEE brothers were born in England.  But, back in 1958 their family moved down to Australia where they began the group.  In 1977 they did a song called "Stayin' Alive" which Dais says is so amazing.

            According to Daisy, the blending of all three of the BEE GEES voices "In Harmony" just shows how talented they were.  Mr. Steve and the Parts Manager discussed how they actually had two parts to their careers.  The first one was in the 1960's and wasn't Disco music at all.

            The Parts Manager said the BEE GEES were originally called "BG's" after the initials of their Promoter and the oldest brother Barry Gibb.  That Promoter was also a Race Car Driver in Australia.  Oh!  Just as I'm about to say two of the BEE GEES were twins I smell our Twins.    

THE TWINS                                                    MESQUITE     

         Both of my nostrils just picked up the scent of a Mesquite bush, which floated in on the same breeze that also brought in the Twin's smell too.  The sky is beautiful with thin white clouds now hanging over the eastern horizon.  Thank You God for how the Sun's warmth feels.                

             As a kid Mr. Steve enjoyed going to places like Disneyland or Knotts Berry Farm but, as I've mentioned; the older he gets the less he likes being around big crowds.  He says now, "more often than not;" he much prefers to just be alone with us.  I smell a Lizard nearby.

            The lady from Quebec likes to walk and so does Mr. Steve too.  I've mentioned how he at times walks in the desert.  I've mentioned how Canada's main language is English but in Quebec they also speak French too so that lady has a French "Accent."  I now see the Lizard.

                                                                             PARIS 

               Mr. Steve had heard the French word "Flâneur" but Daisy says that lady from Victorville really explained it to our Chief.  She told him about walking around Paris.  Oh!  I just looked up and see Charley Company of Quail streaming bye right now in front of the Sheds.  

           My French Dictionary says flâneur means; "To stroll about while viewing other people."  I would like to be a flâneur, which that lady also called being a "Boulevardier."  Boy!  I'm so glad I have all of these foreign language Dictionaries which have really helped me a lot.   

           I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's sister Susan has been to Paris.  Mr. Steve told that lady he was a flâneur in Rome and Jerusalem but now prefers to walk all by himself out in the desert.  I wrote about him and his brother Rock walking around New York's "Greenwich Village."  

                                                 "OCCUPATION" OF PARIS (JUNE, 1940)  

           The lady told Mr. Steve about the "Champs-Élysées, that "Boulevard" in Paris.  It says in this one Encyclopedia that it's a "17th century" road which was not part of Napoleon III's huge "renovation" of Paris in the mid-19th century.  One of the Ducks is quacking right now.

           That picture in this Encyclopedia shows the Germans marching up the Champ-Élysées in 1940 when they conquered France.   The lady thinks the very best view of the Champs-Élyssées is from the end that has an ancient Egyptian "Obelisk" on it.  I smell Libby over there.

            In the background of that photo of the Nazi soldiers I see the "Arc de Triomphe" which, in the early 19th century; was made by Napoleon I.  Mr. Steve told that lady, in 1985; he and his Tour Group saw the "Arch of Titus" in Rome.  I've written about the Emperor Titus.    

                                                      BENITO MUSSOLINI (1883-1945)

                 I've mentioned how back in 1985, on his own; Mr. Steve walked around some of the areas in Rome.  He stood below the balcony where that guy Mussolini used to make speeches.  On the Tour Bus his group drove bye this other section in Rome called "Via dei Fori Imperiali."  

           My Encyclopedia says the Via dei Fori Imperiali was built by that guy Mussolini in 1932, the same year Mr. Steve's father was born.  But he tore down a lot of historical things to do it.  This one Italian Dictionary says its name means, "Road of the Imperial Forums."  

           I guess flâneur is "derived" from this old "Norse" word "flâna" or, "To wander with no purpose."  Mr. Steve, like that painter Edouard Manet in Paris; did that in Rome and Jerusalem in 1985.  Dais says Rick Steve's, on his tv travel show; has visited Italy and France.      

    "DODGER" STADIUM      

              I've written about how people were "Evicted" or "Displaced" when Dodger Stadium was built. The lady who had Mr. Steve make her a Frame knew about when Napoleon III, in the 19th century; also forced people to move when he rebuilt Paris.  I smell those Daffodils again.   

           Mussolini tore down Julius Caesar's forum when he built his road in Rome.  I wrote about how, to build Dodger Stadium in the early 1960's; Los Angeles kicked out a lot of poor Mexican people who lived in "Chavez Ravine."  Some have never forgiven the Dodgers for that.

           I've mentioned before how, when she was just a little girl; our boss's Niece Samantha said; "Uncle Steve, it's just not fair that life is not fair."  As I wrote the other day, if they want to; the government can take your land through "Eminent Domain."   A Duck is quacking.     

"FLOCK" OF BIRDS

                 As I've mentioned before, Mr. Grant knows a lot about Computers and Mr. Steve told the lady he's sold "Web Sites" he's built.  And one was for a company that sold a "Travel Video" for tourists going over there to visit Paris.  I can smell the Arborvitae tree over there.

           My French Dictionary says the word "arrondissement" means "neighborhood."  Dais told me the lady from Victorville used that word a few times when she was sitting in our Living Room talking to our Chief.  Andy and Helen just ducked down into their Spring burrow.

          That lady, like Rick Steves too; agreed with the Travel Video which suggested tourists learn sentences in French like "Je vais prendre" or "I would like to have."  My French Dictionary says "monsieur" and "madame" means "sir" and "ma'am" I guess.   A Train whistled.        

         WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)           

     PAINTING BY JOHNTAYLOR                    

          One of Mr. Steve's customers and his wife like going to a Theater in Central Park.  They see some those plays written by that English guy William Shakespeare there.  Wow!  I just now noticed in my Encyclopedia it says Shakespeare was about six feet four inches tall. 

          Mr. Steve told our friend Randy people were a lot smaller in the past and that's what made George Washington and Abraham Lincoln so unusual.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt.  Mr. Steve, and Mr. Randy too; are both about six feet tall Daisy says.  

          A Lizard ran down the wall over there to my right, near the entrance to the Dining Room.  And now it went behind our gray water bucket.  Aha!  I knew I heard something coming and it turns out to be that big Dragonfly which has been hanging around here for three days.   

                                                           MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)

           Wow!  My Encyclopedia says Shakespeare was born and died on the same date; April the 23rd.  I've written how Mark Twain died on his birthday, the day "Halley's" Comet reappeared.   He had been born on the day seventy five years earlier when it ha last been seen.

           Hey God!  As I've mentioned, in 1977 when Mr. Steve and his brother Rock drove around New York City; they noticed a lot of homeless people.  Mr. Mark who lives out in the desert near Phelan with his Yorkie Dog Karma is homeless too.  Two of the Pigeons just flew bye.  

           Ah!  I just picked up the faint scent of one of our neighbors Rose bushes.  In 1977 there was that Garbage Strike going on in New York City so sometimes it smelled bad.  There was a lot of trash and garbage piled all over the place, even near places like Yankee Stadium. 

                                                                  REGGIE JACKSON

           Yesterday I wrote about how, for New York City; 1977 was an eventful year and is called "The year the Bronx burned."  Reggie Jackson, who had played for the A's; was on the Yankees. He hit those three Home Runs in one game against the Dodgers in the World Series.

          That one Parts Manager who goes to see Shakespeare plays said, during the 1930's Great Depression; Central Park was filled with those people called "Squatters."  They were really poor and had no place to go.  Daisy told me we have some squatters in Piñon Hills too.

               Another thing Mr. Steve and his brother noticed when they drove their rented Car around and through Central Park was the "Bird Watchers."  Mr. Steve jokes you can often tell the Bird Watcher by their Tennis shoes.  And they also have binoculars around their neck.

    BENJAMIN 

          Benjamin the black Cow Birds just ran bye and for some reason that reminds me about how I miss Heathcliff already.  I'll bet Dais is up there in the front yard thinking about Heathcliff too.  Benjamin just used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go into the desert.

              All of a sudden I'm thinking again about how our boss makes those "Name Frames" that use people's information to create art.  Daisy told me that lady from Quebec's  last name starts with R.  Wow!  The scent of some of the new Spring flowers is really strong right now.

          Dais says for that lady's Frame Mr. Steve put a French royal blue "Fleur de Lis" flower symbol under the Old English R.  But she wanted a red frame instead of royal blue one like you might expect I guess.  I'll bet Daisy is definitely noticing how the flowers smell too. 

                                                           AUSTIN / SUSAN / DALTON

           I guess, as a teenager; that lady who Mr. Steve made the Name Frame for moved with her family to the State of Maine.  I've mentioned a few times over the last few days how Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with her sons in Connecticut.  But they visit us out here in California.

          Looking at a map I see how Maine, which is also one of those "New England" States; is to the north of where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with Dalton and Austin.  I've mentioned how, in the past before the economic recession; Mr. Steve had more customers back there. 

         Daisy says our boss still has a few customers in both Connecticut and Maine too.  But not nearly as many as he used to have before the recession came in and hurt their business.  I guess that lady from Quebec is now married and she and her husband have two kids.

       MONTREAL "CANADIENS"        

           Three logos Mr. Steve put under the Old English R on the lady's Frame represent Hockey teams.  She and her husband's favorite team is the Montreal Canadiens so, that logo is right in the middle; and is slightly bigger in its size.  Dawn's barking over there next door.   

          Two smaller Ice Hockey team logos are behind the Montreal Canadiens emblem, and that's mainly because the lady's kids have different favorite teams.  The daughter follows the Anaheim "Ducks" and her son is a fan of the Los Angeles "Kings."  I can smell some Mesquite.

          I've written about how, in the mid-1980's; our boss, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen sold things for the Kings.  Mr. Steve gave that lady pictures he took of the Kings and also copies of the line drawing logos he drew of the Ducks, Kings and Canadiens.  So they can color them.  

                                                                   MARCEL DIONNE 

                                                                                                                                         PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

              In my books I've written about how Mr. Steve used to take pictures of sports.  He gave that lady's family pictures he took of these King's players named Bernie Nichols and Marcel Dionne, who I guess is also from Quebec too.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye.

          As I've mentioned a few times already, Mr. Steve has been drawing logos since he's been a kid.  Over the years he's drawn many, if not most; of the team logos for all of the different sports teams.  I've written before how "N.H.L." just stands for "National Hockey League." 

          That lady told our boss her father's favorite Hockey player was named Guy LaFleur.  In the 1970's he played on five championship teams as the leader of the Montreal Canadiens and was a really good skater.  I just glanced up and saw two of the Pigeons flying bye.      

   GUY LAFLEUR

        My Encyclopedia says Guy LaFleur was the first Hockey player to score fifty goals and get one hundred points in six straight seasons.  In book one I wrote about how Wayne  Gretzky and  Marcel Dionne also scored a lot of goals too.  I notice Guy LaFleur didn't wear a helmet.              

        Mr. Steve says, in French; the name Guy is pronounced "Gee."  And it says here that the H in the Canadiens logo stands for "Les Habitants," the first French settlers to go from France and settle over there in Quebec during the 17th century.  Some Wrens are chirping.                               

      On Thursday in book one I wondered if Dogs could learn to ice skate because, if we could then did maybe then we could make Dog skates and sell them.  I've told Daisy about my idea but she's not sure if my idea was any good or not.  I'd at least try it to see if it's possible.                       

                                                             MONTREAL, CANADA     

          That lady and Mr. Steve talked about how the British "Acquired" Canada from the French in the 18th century after those wars I've written about.  The lady told our Chief about the city of Montreal.  She said a street called "Saint Paul" still has old "Cobblestone" roads.

          I guess St. Paul Street is from 1670's French Quebec and, even before England took over in the late 1700's; it was the "center of" the "Fur Trade."  Boy!  Now that I've been learning about St. Paul I realize how important and influential he was.  Those Wrens just flew away.

          The lady said in 1809 one of those tall "Columns" I've written about was put in Montreal.  It honored that guy Lord Nelson for beating Napoleon Bonaparte's French Navy in those battles I've written about.  I guess, just like Dawn over there; had only one good working eye.

                                         ADMIRAL  HORATIO NELSON (1758-1805)    

           PAINTING BY LEMUEL FRANCIS ABBOTT                         

               The caption below Admiral Nelson's painting says he also lost an arm in combat.  He won the "Battle of the Nile" in 1798 but, was killed in his "victory" over a "Franco-Spanish" fleet in 1805.  Boy!  I really love the hats and medals people used wear back in those days.

          I guess some people don't like Admiral Nelson because he supported Slavery.  But, as Mr. Steve thinks; you can't judge a historical person by our standards.  I wrote about how Abraham Lincoln, for most of his life; wanted to send all of the black people back to Africa. 

          Dais says that lady told our boss about this nice girl from the 1600's named "Marguerite."  Just like us, she was Roman Catholic.  And I guess she even became a Saint.  My Encyclopedia says St. Marguerite was the "first schoolteacher" to go over to Montreal from France. 

                              "NELSON" COLUMN                                                     ST. MARGUERITE                                                                                                         

              Oh!  Thinking of St. Marguerite makes me remember that other French girl Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.  I've mentioned how St. Thérèse wrote about what's called "Grace."  A line of Grease Ants are marching bye down there on the Patio floor near Miss Emily's old Coffee Table.  

          Hey God!  My Encyclopedia says St. Thérèse said, "Everything is a grace."  Daisy thinks she might've meant, no matter how many bad things happen to you; you can choose to see and accept life's problems as "opportunities" to get stronger.  That's like Nietzsche's idea!

         Daisy says when our boss was the Office Manager in San Fernando he hired this one girl who used to say, "It's all good."  He and his boss Steve Banks chuckled knowing how many bad things happen in this life.  Rudy the Roadrunner is slowly jogging bye right now.                        

                                                                                                    ST. THÉRÈSE       

          Steve Banks used to say it would be great if everything in life was all good.  But it's not and you have to just accept it.  Hey God!  It says here Saint Thérèse wrote life's "difficulties, miseries and burdens" were ways to acquire Your grace which we kind of want to believe too. 

              Hey God!  Grace sort of sounds like Hawaiian "Mana" or a gift from You.  Wow!  It says here both of St. Thérèse's parents might someday also be made Saints too so no wonder she was such a good and decent person.  Boy!  I sure do wish I'd known my two parents.  

          I want to write more about the concept of Grace.  J.R.R. Tolkien's father died when he was a child Dais told me, and then his mother died too.  So he and his younger brother became some of those "Orphans" I've written about.  Ah!  I can smell some new Spring Sage.

                                                         J.R.R. TOLKIEN (1892-1973)        

              This Encyclopedia says when Tolkien's father died the family was living in South Africa so his mom took her sons back to England.  This is interesting.  After they got to England Tolkien's mother decided to convert from Protestant Anglican over to Roman Catholic just like us.

          I guess Tolkien's relatives got really angry at his mom for changing from Protestant over to Catholic. They "disowned" her so she had no money Daisy heard.  A few years later she died and her sons had to go live with this Catholic Priest named Father Francis Xavier Murphy.

         It says here "Father Francis" was Tolkien's "Father Figure" and may have been who the character "Gandolf" the Wizard was based on in Lord of the Rings.  I guess Tolkien and his wife even named their oldest son after Father Francis.  Speedy Gonzales is running bye.

                                                          J.R.R TOLKIEN AND FAMILY

          Hey God!  I guess Father Francis was like Saint Thérèse in telling Tolkien and his brother to try to turn hardships and unfairness into grace.  He wrote, "What punishments from God are not gifts?"  Mr. Steve thinks Tolkien used that idea in his family and writing too.

          As I wrote yesterday God, that guy "Stonewall" Jackson said that You're will was often "Inscrutable."  If Tolkien's parents had not died young he wouldn't have met Father Francis so his books might've been way different.  A cool breeze just blew in from the desert.

         Hey God!  If that guy Tolkien had never met Father Francis then he could never have later told others about the "insights" and lessons he learned from his mentor.  Tolkien came to believe our lives are only partly about ourselves in this temporal world.  I smell some Sage.

          "CREATION" ("SISTINE" CHAPEL)              

                MICHELANGELO BUONAROTTI                     

           Hey God!  I guess J.R.R. Tolkien was like "Stonewall" Jackson in thinking Your purposes are often "beyond" our understanding.  St. Paul said to suffer so, later we can "console" and give "sympathy or empathy" to others.  Hey!  Sister Rita Joseph said that thing too.   

          As You know of course God, Daisy says our boss told Mr. Mike Pope John Paul II, who he took pictures of in Rome and at the San Fernando Mission; believed there are "no coincidences." He said You do things that may only be fully understood later.  Or never understood. 

          Hey St. Francis!  Writing about that man Father Francis who influenced J.R.R. Tolkien is making me think of you up there.  If you just happen to be mind reading me right now I want to thank you for helping us Animals down here.  I want to believe you're helping me too.  

      SAINT FRANCIS (c.1181-1226)        

                 Daisy heard our boss's mom say St. Francis, even though it's too late now because of how old she is; she'd like to visit the Italian town you were from called "Assisi."  She's read about you since she was a kid back in New Mexico.   Libby's scent just floated in to me over here.

            Hey Lord!  Mr. Steve's mom, like You when You were down here in Israel and St. Francis in Italy; leads by example.  St. Francis!  This Encyclopedia says in 1939, the year World War II began; you were made a "patron saint" in Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy.  A Train whistled.

           Hey St. Francis!  I guess our boss's mother admires how, in the 13th Italy where you grew up there was much hardship, struggle and wars between those "City-States" I've written about. But you advocated "Peace, Love and Understanding."  Libby's scent makes me feel good.  

   RICK STEVES

            I guess that guy Rick Steves did an episode where he visited the Italian areas you grew up in St. Francis, and Daisy says it's one of Mr. Steve's parents favorite Rick Steves segments.  Last year the new Pope decided to use your name I guess.  Blackbeard and Anne just flew bye.

           Hey St. Francis!  My Encyclopedia says here what Rick Steves mentioned too, how you were from a wealthy "Umbrian" family but gave it up.  Instead, you exchanged that life for one of a Monk living in a Monastery.  You preferred a life of "simplicity, solitude and prayer." 

           Daisy says in that episode Mr. Rick also visited that area called "Tuscany," where he ate some really good food.  Our boss liked the part where some guys in medieval type clothes used flags in a ceremony.  They even threw them up really high in the air and then caught them. 

"FRANCISCAN" FRIARS 

                Because of the reading he and his parents have done about the Alta California Missions St. Francis, Mr. Steve knows about the "Franciscan Oder" of Priests you started back in 1209. 

            Hey St. Francis!  My Encyclopedia says you "opposed" the "decadence" of the Middle Ages Catholic Church "institution" down there in the city of Rome.  Hey Lord!  St. Francis was like You in preaching "non-materialism."  The scent of the baby Cholla cactus floated in.

           Daisy told me Rick Steves said you told people St. Francis to "slow down and appreciate the moment," especially the natural world.  He loved "all creatures" and not just people, which back in those days was probably a very rare view.  Mr. Dave would totally agree with that.         

                     "BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS"                         "MARY OF THE ANGELS" BASILICA

             Dais heard our boss and his mom talk about that one Rick Steves episode St. Francis, and how one of those big "Basilica" Church's is built over where you're buried.  It's on a hill above the city of Assisi.  Rick Steves mentioned how for a long time that region was very poor.

          Blessed Mother!  I guess below the Basilica in Assisi is another Basilica named for You.  It's built over one of three small "Chapels" you rebuilt St. Francis.  If Daisy and I could borrow Mr. Peabody's time machine we'd definitely want to go back and then smell both of you guys.

         Hey Lord!  Daisy heard the story about how You told St. Francis to rebuilt those three old falling apart chapels.  When our boss's mom was in College at C.S.U.N. she studied this Painter named Giotto di Bondone.  He did wall paintings inside the Basilicas in Assisi Daisy says.    

GIOTTO DI BONDONE (c. 1267-1337)

                Wow!  This Encyclopedia says that guy "Giotto" was Europe's "first modern painter."  I guess it was because, "for the first time in centuries;" his painting "reflected realism."  Daisy is pretty sure she heard our boss's mom tell him she still has a book about Giotto's paintings. 

           Mr. Giotto lived in the 13th century but later Renaissance Painters were influenced by his what were then "considered radical" works.   Daisy told me our boss's mom studied Giotto's paintings, and that guy Rick Steves seemed to be impressed by them too.  Dawn's barking.  

          The people and Angels in Giotto's paintings show "emotion," according to what Dais and Millie heard Rick Steves say on his tv show.  For a long time before that more "formal" and "less expressive Byzantine art" was more the style.  Ah!  I like smelling Dawn, Blinky and Rosie. 

"BYZANTINE" ART

                Hey Blessed Virgin!  A good picture in this one Encyclopedia shows You holding the baby Jesus.  The caption says Byzantine art was not as "expressive" as what that guy Mr. Giotto did in the 1200's.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying right over Libby's Corral.

           I've mentioned before how "Byzantium" was what was left of the ancient Roman Empire when the original part fell in Italy.  From the 4th century A.D., through the fall of Constantinople in 1453; "Greek Orthodox" Byzantine art moved away from Greek and Roman "naturalism." 

           Well, it's back to my outline.  I kind of got off on another tangent again but that's okay.  I still have more to write about that lady who, because she's from Quebec, Mr. Steve told her how he and Harriet one time saw that girl named Céline Dion do a really good singing concert.

                                                                    CÉLINE DION 

               Mr. Steve told the lady his girlfriend Harriet got tickets for Céline Dion concert on the site of a Veteran's Hospital in West L.A.  It's called the "Wadsworth" Theater.  Mr. Steve's father at times used to go to that hospital.  The movie "Beauty and the Beast" was out then.

          That girl Céline Dion seems like a decent person our Chief says.  That lady from Quebec said Céline Dion was the youngest of thirteen kids and now she has her own children too.  Daisy says our boss told Mr. Mike how he's known other family's with a lot of kids too.    

          Daisy and Millie saw that cartoon movie Beauty and the Beast which Céline Dion sang in. In the mid-1990's, when he worked for that Flower Company; they gave away copies of a movie about the giant passenger Ship "Titanic."  Céline Dion also sang in that movie too I guess.  

R.M.S. "TITANIC" SINKING (1912)

                                                                ARTWORK BY WILLY STÖWER

                   I was supposed to write about that British Ship Titanic yesterday, but somehow missed it on my outline so; Dais said just insert it when I mentioned the movie.  It says here it sank on its "maiden" or first voyage in 1912.  That was just two years before World War I began.

            Wow!  That big Ship the Titanic was almost nine hundred feet long, while a Football field is only three hundred feet in length.  Daisy and Millie saw the movie and I guess it's mainly about this boy and girl who meet on that voyage.  I hear Pigeons cooing somewhere nearby.

            From what it says here, the Titanic was built in Ireland and sailed from England on April the 10th.  It was on its way to New York City but "collided" with a giant Iceberg and sank in the freezing cold water.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's girlfriend Emily was born on April 9. 

    "MODERN "JUMBO" JET / DIRIGIBLE "HINDENBURG" / SHIP "TITANIC"

         A painting in my Encyclopedia shows how large the Titanic was in comparison to a "Jumbo Jet" and that "Air Ship" the "Hindenburg."  I wrote yesterday about how in 1937, back in New Jersey; it also crashed.  I can hear two Crows fighting for food out there in the desert.

        Daisy says our boss's friend Mark Ritter knew a lot about the Titanic.  After he died I guess Mr. Steve thought of him when he would read about "Passenger Ships."  I've written about how Mr. Steve has been to that British Ship the "Queen Mary" down in Long Beach Harbor.  

         Wow!   1,500 of the 2,224 people "on board" died when the Titanic sank.  I guess some were rich people but most of the passengers were poor.  But, it says in my Encyclopedia there weren't enough "Life Boats;" probably because the Titanic was considered to be so "Unsinkable."     

                                                                                     CÉLINE DION AND FAMILY

               I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Mr. Steve's family was involved in the gambling or "Gaming" industry in the early 1990's.  So Mr. Steve and his father made all those trips up to Las Vegas.  Mr. Steve says he "doubts" that he'll ever go back there again.

            Mr. Steve and that one lady from Quebec talked about how Céline Dion sings in Las Vegas year round now.  Someday I kind of want to hear her sing some songs because Dais says she has a really pretty voice.  Donald and Daisy are quacking about something over there next door.          

            Daisy says our boss told that lady he made the Frame for about his mom's Girl Scout trip to Montreal when she was fourteen.  In Montreal she and the other girls visited this house where the famous "Dionne Quintuplets" were born in 1934.  She herself was born in 1935.

                                                                                   "DIONNE QUINTUPLETS"

              "Quintuplet" means, "five offspring born in the same birth" so, because most of the time people have only one baby; that makes the Dionne Quintuplets amazing Daisy thinks.  And back in those days many babies "Died in Childbirth" too.  Andy's over there sniffing the air.

            Daisy heard, early in the 20th century; girls in Mr. Steve's family in New Mexico died in  having children. The Dionne Quintuplets mother had five kids before the Quintuplets, and one died.  After the Quintuplets she had three more children and almost died twice I guess.

           The Dionne babies were "Identical" girls and, Quintuplets being so rare; the Canadian Government took them from their parents and made them "Wards of the State."  They became world famous but Mr. Steve's mom thinks they had kind of sad lives.  The state raised them. 

                                             "FAIRMONT LA CHATEAU FRONTENAC"

                   Mr. Steve's mom remembers seeing the "Fairmont Le Château Frontenac" up on a hill when she was in "Quebec City."  This one Encyclopedia says it's a late 19th century Hotel built "above" the St. Lawrence River.  I guess the word "Bluff" is just another way of saying hill. 

            That Hotel looked like a "fairy tale castle" to out boss's mom and the other Girl Scouts, who had never seen anything like it before; with its "turrets" like a real Castle.  They wondered how it was even possible to have built such a big building way up there.  Dawn's barking.

           Wow!  A lot famous people have stayed at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, like that guy President Reagan.  And so did Charles de Gaulle and Charlie Chaplin.  Oh!  During World War II President Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met there to plan for D-Day.  

 WREN IN CHOLLA CACUS

           Many things in life being dual in nature, our boss thinks it was good the Dionne girls were taken care of by the state because their parents were poor.  But they were put "on display" like animals in a zoo.  I just noticed a little Wren behind the Sheds standing in a cactus bush.  

           Mr. Steve says over the years many people came from all to see the Dionne Quintuplets up there in Canada.  And some were famous like that girl Airplane Pilot named Amelia Earhart.  But Mr. Steve's mom thought it sad how they were "displayed like the animals in a zoo."  

           Boy!  I really have to go pee but I'm not finished with chapter four.  But I'll hide all of my materials and go visit with Daisy, and can finish finding out about that girl Amelia Earhart in chapter five.  Thank Everyone for helping me not think so much about Heathcliff dying.     

CHAPTER 5

           In this one Encyclopedia that girl Amelia Earhart is described as a "pioneer in aviation" during the 1920's and 1930's.  And in those years almost all of the Pilots were male, like that guy Charles Lindberg for instance.  I'll write more about him a little bit later today.

                                                    AMELIA EARHART (1897-1937)

              I'm not scheduled to write about Amelia Earhart now but feel like doing it now instead.  My Encyclopedia says she was the first female to fly "solo," over the whole Atlantic Ocean; from North America all the way to Europe.  Mr. Steve read she learned to fly in Long Beach.  

           Oh!  Daisy and Mr. Steve will be interested in how it says here that girl Amelia Earhart's nickname was "Millie" just like the Dog Millie who I replaced.  Boy, I feel like running up to the front to tell Dais but; I'll wait and tell her after this chapter when I take my big break.

           Thank Everyone up there for giving me this final book to work on.   To a certain extent it will temporarily will keep my mind off of Heathcliff dying.  I can't wait to see what Daisy and I'll bet, knowing her; she's probably up there praying for Heathcliff as she licks her paws. 

           Oh!  I just picked up the scent of a Rosemary bush.  Hey Blessed Mother!  I'm going to say a quick Hail Mary for Heathcliff.  I see, over there to my left; Charley Company of Quails is moving around the northeast corner of the house.  They're going to eat Bird scratch.

           This is interesting.  It says here Amelia Earhart was a Nurse before becoming a Pilot.  And in 1918 and 1819, when soldiers came home from World War I; she caught the "Flu" in that big "Spanish Influenza" epidemic I've mentioned before.  A Crow is cawing faintly. 

           In 1918 Amelia Earhart caught the flu from one of her patients but she survived.  Millions of people didn't.  But it says here that the "sinuses" inside her nose were "affected" for the rest of her life.  I just noticed Andy and Helen poking their heads out from under Manny. 

                                                       GRANDPA / GRANDMA TRUJILLO 

          I've mentioned a few times in my books how Mr. Steve's Grandma Trujillo was only four in 1918 when that big epidemic hit the world.  And yet, for all of her life she really did fear being buried alive.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye and going toward the north.

         Daisy told me our Chief thinks his Grandma, even at four years old; must've sensed all the stress and worry of the adults at the end of the First World War.  Many people died so quickly some were accidentally or "prematurely" buried alive.  Some Crows are cawing faintly.  

         Because he did that College Research Project on the 14th century Black Death Mr. Steve has been aware of how many people fear being buried alive.  No one knows he says, how many were buried "prematurely" from 1347 through 1351.  Oh!  I would hate to be buried alive. 

                                                                          GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732-1799)

PAINTING BY CHARLES PEALE POLK

       Mr. Steve says George Washington was also afraid of being buried alive and like Grandma Trujillo had nightmares about it.  When I think about it God I might be scared of being buried alive too.  I can hear two Crows fighting out there in the desert behind the Sheds.  

       I've mentioned before how our boss over the years has prepared legal documents.  Many of his research books are piled out here on the Patio under a big tarp over there to my left.  They're next to all of the Encyclopedia's I've been using for the last three days.

      I wrote the other day how, in 1992; Mr. Steve prepared that Patent application for his dad's  gambling game.  A customer told him about a 1921 Patent "Granted" for a "Device" with a bell hooked to a string. The bell was rung up on a grave by someone accidentally buried.

  ANDY AND HELEN    

       I just glanced up and noticed Andy and Helen standing over there on that one big boulder they like so much.  Andy's sniffing the air and just picked up my scent from over here sitting on my couch Elvira.  Their babies are probably down in the burrow sleeping.  

      Because George Washington's birthday was February the 22nd and Mr. Steve's father was born on February 23 Mr. Steve jokes his dad is kind of like our George Washington.  When he's gone it will be really hard, if not impossible; to replace him.  I smell Juniper.

      Hey God!  I've mentioned how Grandma Córdova was born on February 24th so people used to tell her Mr. Steve's father was Your birthday present to her.  Over the last three days I've said a few times how there are a lot birthdays in our family in February and May.   

                                                                                           CÓRDOVA FAMILY (1995)

      YOLANDA/ MR. STEVE'S DAD / MOM

       SAM / GRANDMA CÓRDOVA / MR. STEVE

       MATHEW / SAMMY JR. / SAMANTHA

         I'm suddenly thinking of that 1996 picture Mr. Steve has in the Living Room of members of his family.  It shows Mr. Steve in the front row sitting next to his Grandma Córdova with his arm around his Niece Samantha. His mom and dad are right behind him.

      Mr. Steve's brother Sam and his wife Yolanda are also in that one 1996 color photograph.  At that point he and Yolanda had only their two boys Mathew and Sammy Jr., and they were really young.  In 1996 their daughter named Raqquel had not been born yet. 

      I wrote in book one how an "Epidemic" is disease "spreading rapidly."  A "Pandemic" is an epidemic spreading "over a larger area."  I've mentioned a few times in all my books Mr. Steve's College Research Project on the European "Black Death" of 1347-1351. 

     "COLLECTING THE BODIES" 

           As I've written before, there have been many plagues in Europe over the years and the one Mr. Steve studied at C.S.U.N. was caused by the "Bubonic Plague."   It's now called the "Black Death."  I just now picked up Libby's scent coming from over there in her Corral. 

         The drawing in my Encyclopedia, that shows the dead body "Trash Pickup;" is so amazing no matter how many times I see it.  As I've said before, when people got the Bubonic plague; the big black bumps on their bodies were called "Bubos."  Boy! That always sounds bad. 

         I'll bet Mr. Steve knows this.  By the time the Black Death had spread over to England, in late 1348; the country had already gone through "famine" so people were weaker.  Wow!  In the city of London alone about "sixty percent" of the entire population ended up dying.

                    JUSTINIAN'S EMPIRE                                    JUSTINIAN I / THEODORA

                                                                                                                                                                 PAINTING BY ROGER PAYNE

           I've written about the Byzantine Empire in my books.  In the 6th century A.D. a big plague hit the city of Constantinople.  That guy Emperor Justinian I, with his wife Theodora; was ruling what was left of the Roman Empire.  A Train just whistled faintly way out there.

          Just like in all the plagues yet to come, the one that hit Constantinople killed a lot of people in just a short amount of time.  As I've mentioned, Mr. Steve's first girlfriend Sandy's mom was a Nurse and thought there would be another pandemic someday.  Boy!  I sure hope not!     

         Mentioning the Empress Theodora right now makes me think about our white 1993 Lincoln "Town Car" named Theodora.  Right now she's parked up there in the front yard on the cement driveway in front of the garage.  Daisy often lays in the Sun on her side on that driveway to.

     1993 LINCON "TOWN CAR"       

                During the Winter sometimes Mr. Steve puts Theodora in the garage and then closes the door.  I still remember how scared I got the first time our boss used a "Remote Control" device to actually close the garage door.  Daisy thought it was really funny when I jumped.  

          I'm still thinking about Empress Theodora.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve thinks she may have been smarter than her husband Justinian who obviously valued her judgement in many things.  Two of the Pigeons just flew out into the eastern desert right now.  

          Empress Theodora was definitely brave that's for sure.  After those "Nika" riots it was her who convinced her husband not to flee from Constantinople.  As I wrote in book one, he decided to stay in the city and ended up killing over thirty thousand people in retaliation.

 THEODORA SCOLDS HUBAND                     ISTANBUL ("HAGIA SOPHIA")  

      Every time I look at the painting in my Encyclopedia that shows Empress Theodora scolding her husband I get the feeling she was a really strong person.  You can tell from the painting that she's ordering him to go back and fight the rioters.  Dawn and Blinky are barking.

      I've mentioned that giant Church named "Hagia Sophia" that Justinian had built.  It says in my Encyclopedia that it's gigantic dome was the world's biggest until a bigger one was built in Spain in 1520 during the Renaissance.  Hey!  Now old Rosie's barking too.

       Mr. Steve and his Tour Group, as they looked up at the dome from the inside of of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome; were told by the Tour Guide about the Hagia Sophia.  As I've written before, Mr. Steve has also seen the Pantheons in Rome and Washington D.C.  I smell Sage.

              VATICAN CITY ("ST. PETER'S" BASILICA / ROME)            

           A photo of "Vatican City," where the Pope lives; is taken from above so I know Dais would like it.  Last night I showed her the picture of New York City's Madison Square Garden and, as I knew; she liked how it was taken from high up in the air.  Some Ducks are quacking. 

          Seeing pictures taken from up in an Plane makes me think about how Daisy says she'd like to fly like Underdog.  In the picture you can see Saint Peter's Basilica and it's dome down below.  Speedy Gonzalez ran into the desert through the left vertical slot on the side of the gate.

          I've mentioned a few times how, back in 1985; Mr. Steve took pictures of Pope John Paul II in Vatican Square.  Someday I want to see his picture of Pope John Paul II sitting on his desk in the office.  Dais says it shows the Pope waving from the chair he was sitting on.

          INTERIOR DOME ("ST. PETER'S" / ROME)

           A picture in this Encyclopedia shows the "Interior" of Saint Peter's Basilica.  In 1985, as Mr. Steve and his father stood under the dome looking up; they both thought it's hard to believe how anyone could have even built such a huge thing.  The Ducks are still quacking.

          Hey Lord!  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve would have liked to look up into Istanbul's Hagia Sophia dome.  But he says he probably won't travel much anymore so it's very "unlikely" it will ever happen.  I just glanced up and see a long white vapor trail above the desert.  

         In my other books I've mentioned how Hagia Sophia means "Holy Wisdom" and, if he had won World War II; Hitler was going to build the biggest dome ever.  It would've "Dwarfed" St. Peter's, the Pantheons and Hagia Sophia too.  But Germany ended up losing the war.

       THE "PIETA"

              SCULTURE BY MICHELANGELO BOUNERATTI

           Blessed Mother!  As You know, on the day before yesterday in book one I totally forgot to write about how amazed Mr. Steve and his mom were in 1985 when they studied that one statue of You holding the dead body of Your son.  I guess it's called the "Pieta."  I smell Sage.  

           Lord!  This picture of the Pieta shows You dead.  Boy!  It makes me feel so sad to see how You were willing to let those Romans torture and kill You for our sake down here.  Cher the Cat just used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the back desert.  

           Wow!  It's so hard to believe that guy Michelangelo, who also painted that huge "Sistine" Chapel; carved such a realistic statue out of marble stone.  Daisy says our boss has a miniature Pieta in one of the bathrooms.  That's the bathroom way in the back of the house. 

                                         MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI (1475-1564)

SELF-PORTRAIT

            In my books I've learned about that European "Renaissance" period.  So, of course; I've had to find out about that Italian guy Michelangelo.  Daisy saw a tv show that said he was not a nice person and didn't get along with other people.  He wasn't a good Teacher like Dais is. 

           My Encyclopedia has a black and white drawing Michelangelo did of himself.  Mr. Steve and his mom think doing "Portraits" is hard to do, so admire Mr. Hussein who has that "Coffee and Cream" business in Sylmar.  Dais said Michelangelo seldom washed or changed clothes.

          Oh!  Cher just used the same gate slot to come back in from the desert.  But now she's got a struggling Lizard in her mouth and I can tell her sharp teeth are holding it really hard.  So that poor little Lizard has what Mr. Mike joked one time, "A snowball's chance in Hell."  

                                                                    MISS HARRIET

           Oh!  This is interesting.  According my Encyclopedia Michelangelo died on February the 18th and, as I've mentioned a few times over the last three days; Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Harriet was born on the 19th.  And there are three other people in our family born in February.

           Cher jumped up on top of Moe and will eat the Lizard.  I can tell from over here that the Lizard is either dead or totally knocked out just by how it's hanging down.  Boy God!  This has turned out to be kind of a weird day knowing that Heathcliff isn't around any more.

           Hey God!  I sure hope I live as long as Daisy and that I'm still able to contribute to our job of guarding these two acres.  Oh!  What a coincidence that, just as I mention Dais's age; I picked up in my right nostril old Rosie's scent from next door.  Wow!  And now she's barking!

    AUSTIN / SUSAN / DALTON                           STEPH / RICH                            MR. STEVE'S PARENTS /

                                                                                                                                                              GRANDMA CÓRDOVA                                                                                                                                         

                I've written about how, other than the 5th month of "May;" Mr. Steve's family has more birthdays in February than any other month.  His Nephew Dalton in Connecticut was born on the 11th while Stephanie's boyfriend Rich's birthday is the 16th.  Dawn's barking.

              As I've mentioned before, Grandma Córdova was born on February the 24th; or the day after Mr. Steve's dad's birthday.  So people always joked about her getting a birthday gift every year.  Hey God!   Daisy and I want to think maybe You made that happen on purpose.    

                I hear small bones crunching as Cher is now eating the Lizard over there on top of Moe.  I can tell that she see's me sitting over here on Elvira.  And I know for sure she's had to notice how much time I'm spending back here in the patio instead of running around as usual.

      "SISTINE" CHAPEL ("VATICAN CITY, ROME)

          MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI   

          Hey God!  Right now I'm looking again at the picture in my Encyclopedia of that "Sistine" Chapel.  In book one I wrote about how, in the early 1500's for the Pope; Michelangelo painted it up on that huge, giant ceiling.  Mr. Steve and his family saw it back then in 1985. 

               I can tell by the way the shadows are leaning that it's about eleven.  The Sun will go over top of the house shortly and then the shadows will get gradually longer.  Two of the Pigeons just flew in from the desert and landed on the patio roof right above me down here on Elvira.

          The Pigeons are now walking around up there and I can hear them cooing which makes me kind of feel good right now.  Cher is finished eating the Lizard and is now washing her paws with her tongue.  I see Charlie Company of Quail streaming out into the eastern desert.     

"SISTINE CHAPEL" ("CREATION")

                 Hey God!  As You know, Mr. Steve once copied how Michelangelo showed You reaching a hand out to shoot life into that guy Adam's hand.  Someday, if I ever learn to draw; I'd like to draw You're hand too.  There's a long vapor trail way up there in the now really blue sky.

           I've mentioned how, in the 1970's; Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter worked at "Laser Images."  Mr. Steve got that job through the Valley College Bulletin Board.   Another job Mr. Steve and his friend Chris got that way was to help a lady clean this warehouse in Van Nuys.

          Daisy say our boss and Mr. Chris spent a weekend helping that nice lady go through and clean up the warehouse where she and her husband had things in "Storage."  She threw away a lot and gave Mr. Steve and his friend things.  I smell the new baby Cholla cactus.

                                                                                                                                            IRVING STONE (1903-1989) WITH WIFE     

          Dais says it turned out the lady was married to the Writer named Irving Stone.  At the time Mr. Steve had only heard his name but now he's read some of his books.  I guess, now his mom has also read Irving Stone's books on Michelangelo and that painter Van Gogh.

         Sitting in the Living Room of Mr. Steve's parent's house in Sylmar is a kind of lamp in the shape of a Humming Bird.  Mrs. Stone said our boss could keep it when they were cleaning her warehouse.  Daisy thinks it's more of Humming Bird statue whose wings light up.

         For years that Humming Bird lamp lit up inconsistently.  Mr. Steve knew the power cord was loose inside.  But then that girl Miss Maria, who took care of Grandma Córdova when she was old; got it to work right.  As I've mentioned, that Miss Maria is a pretty smart person. 

                                                                     IRVING STONE 

           Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph that Irving Stone's wife seemed very intelligent.  She told he and Chris about helping her husband "Edit" his work and said some "Critics" called her husband's writing "dull."  Mr. Steve and his mom like some of his "Subject Matter" too.  

           As I've said a few times over the last three days, at St. Ferdinand's Mr. Steve's 6th Grade teacher Sister Rita Joseph; taught her class the difference between "Objective and "Subjective."  And liking someone's writing is very subjective Mr. Steve thinks.   A Train just whistled.

          Boy!  I sure hope Mr. Steve will like how I write when he someday reads my books.  I can't wait to see his reaction!  As I've said, Daisy thinks he'll like me a lot just for even attempting it; especially if he knows that I worked hard, gave it my "Best Effort and wasn't lazy. 

                                                         EASTERN "MEDITERRANEAN" SEA AREA  (c.1453)

          Well, it's back to writing about the Byzantine Empire.  In 1453, about one thousand years after Justinian's time; Islamic "Ottoman" Turks conquered the capitol city of Constantinople.  A good map shows how really small the Byzantine Empire had shrunk down to by then.

          It says here, for centuries many had tried to capture Constantinople but all failed; mainly because of the really tall and thick walls.  Dais told me a tv show said the Byzantines even had a really giant metal chain they could put in the water to block Ships.  I smell Mesquite.  

         Boy!  The map shows the Ottoman Empire surrounding Byzantium.  One reason 1453 is so important, after Constantinople fell; "Trade Routes" to the east were blocked for Europe.  So, in 1492; Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand were willing to fund Columbus's idea. 

                                                                  "VENICE" (ITALY)

               I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha and a few of her classmates at the Lutheran school in San Fernando visited the Italian city of Venice.  I guess, until Constantinople fell; Venice was an actual "Empire."  Dawn's barking.  

          As I've said before, there was no such thing as the "Countries" of "Italy" and "Germany" until the late 19th century.  Up until then, in what is now Italy; cities like "Florence," Venice and Rome were kind of like their own countries.  That guy Machiavelli was from Florence.

        After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 "City-States" like Venice went into "Decline."  But, even in the 16th century; they were still pretty rich I guess.  Byzantium's fall made it easier for      Columbus to convince people of his idea once those important trade routes were blocked.                                          

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA (c.15TH CENTURY)

                 A map in my Encyclopedia shows why the Ottoman Turks wanted Constantinople so bad.  In the mid-15th century they controlled the areas surrounding Constantinople and the opening to the "Black Sea."  A Lizard just waddled under a boulder below the Mulberry tree.

           Later today, I'm scheduled to write more about the Ottoman Empire; especially this 16th century man named "Süleyman."  Like Alexander and Constantine, he was called great but in his case it was "The Magnificent."  Dais jokingly called me "Mag the Magnificent."

          It says here, when Turkish soldiers finally did "breach" Constantinople's wall in 1453; a lot of "looting" and "pillaging" went on.  I'll bet they were like berserk Vikings in destroying much of the city.  For about one thousand years the really thick walls had resisted all attacks.       

   GIANT CANON (CONSTANTINOPLE / 1453) 

        PAINTING BY MICHAEL M. HALL

            A good painting shows this giant cannon the Turks used in 1453 to blow holes in the thick walls of Constantinople.  You can see those famous walls in the background and you can tell how strong they look.  Fannie and Freddie are flying to the north while talking to each other. 

           I guess, back in 1453 the Ottoman Turks killed a lot of people; and not just the Byzantine warriors defending the city.  Thousands of innocent civilians died too.  It was probably like that time the Christian Crusaders slaughtered all the innocent Muslims in Jerusalem Dais thinks.

          Hey God!  Daisy heard the Turkish leaders decided not to destroy the Hagia Sophia, maybe thinking it was way too beautiful.  So, instead they just took down all the Christian things; and replaced them with their things; then converted it into a Mosque.  What a good idea!  

CATHEDRAL ("CÓRDOBA," SPAIN)

            One of those good "Aerial" photographs Daisy likes shows that Catholic Cathedral built in Córdoba, inside of what had been that huge Mosque.  It was built in 785 A.D. but turned into a Cathedral during the 13th "Reconquista" period.  Andy's over there guarding their hole.

            Like 1453 but in reverse, Muslim things like "Minarets" were just changed into Christian things like  "Bell Towers."  As I've said before, Muslims don't "Depict" living things.  Hey God! I kind of like how intricate Muslim art patterns try to show the complexity of Your Universe.

           Oh!  I forgot to mention on Thursday how Daisy saw a Rick Steves segment on Southern Spain, or what was Muslim "Al-Andalus" when Córdoba was it's Capitol.  Rick Steves called the Cathedral a "wonder of the medieval world."  He said Córdoba's history was "glorious."  

COLUMBUS / ISABELLA / FERDINAND

               I like the  painting of Columbus trying to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to let him do his idea of sailing west to reach the riches of the East.  Queen Isabella looks like she was pretty.  I wonder if the Dog in the lower left belongs to Christopher Columbus?

           By 1492, because those trade routes to Europe had been shut off by Constantinople's fall and the seven hundred year long "Reconquista" had finally ended; Isabella and Ferdinand were more "Inclined" to let Columbus try his idea.  Dawn's barking.  And now so is Blinky. 

           Daisy says red was Western Rome's primary color when based in Italy.  Yellow and white were often used as secondary colors.  But, after that area fell in the late 5th century A.D.; purple became the primary color of the surviving eastern

           Byzantium; again with yellow and white as secondary colors. 

     When Byzantium fell back in 1453 the last Emperor was most likely wearing a purple cape.  At least that's what Mr. Steve thinks.  Hey Lord!  It's interesting how the first and last Byzantine Emperors were both named Constantine.  I hear some Wrens singing together.  

     Dais says our Chief thinks it's likely the last Emperor Constantine's corpse was just thrown in a big pile of dead bodies.  As I wrote yesterday in book two, in 1936 the Mexican General Santa Anna piled and burned the bodies of the defenders of the Alamo.  A Crow is squawking.   

                                                         "AYA SOFYA" (ISTANBUL)

      From what it says here in my Encyclopedia the Turks were in such "awe" when they went inside Hagia Sophia they decided not to destroy it.  Instead the re-named it "Aya Sofya" and turned it from a Church into an Islamic Mosque.  I guess today it's like a museum.

      According to this Encyclopedia the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 is considered to be the end of the Middle Ages.  Ironically, some Greek intellectuals in Constantinople "fled" back over to Italy and later even "contributed" to the 16th century Renaissance .  

      Constantine the Great established Byzantium in the early 4th century.  Yesterday in book two I wrote about how that came about.  So about two centuries later the Emperor Justinian I came into power.  That same Dragonfly that has been here for two days just zipped bye. 

      I guess, from what it says here, besides building the Hagia Sophia, the Emperor Justinian's other big goal was to re-conquer the land the Italian Roman Empire had lost earlier.  I wrote of the century-long process by which the western Roman Empire fell.  I smell Creosote.

                                                      "SACK OF ROME BY THE VISIGOTHS" (410 A.D.)

                   That painting of the fall of the city of Rome to the "Visigoth" King "Alaric I" shows how scared the people were.  But, as I written about; the real end of the western Roman Empire came later in the 5th century A.D.   German King "Odoacer" deposed the last western Emperor.

             As I've mentioned before, whereas the original western Italian Roman Empire was Latin and Pagan, the surviving eastern Byzantine Roman Empire was more Greek and Christian.  Ah! That Dragonfly just whizzed over the top of the house and I didn't even hear it coming.

            I knew someone was watching me and sure enough, there's Jack the Jackrabbit over there looking right at me from underneath Manny.  He's been near some Sage plants because I sure do smell that on him too.  I can tell Jack's resting and getting some of his energy back.

                            "BYZANTINE" ROMAN EMPIRE DURING JUSTINIAN'S TIME

                    The Byzantine Emperor Justinian wanted to reconquer the western part of the Roman Empire which had fallen.  I've A map in this Encyclopedia shows areas in orange which had been lost.  After some bloody battles his armies started to re-occupy big areas of land.

             As I've written about before over the last three days, the Justinian's wife Theodora was a good partner; and together as a team they accomplished a lot I guess.  I see a Crow flying off into the desert.  And, it looks from down here like a big dead Lizard is hanging from it's mouth.      

            Mr. Steve thinks Queen Theodora, like that Celtic Queen Boudica who I wrote about in book one; was courageous and proved that females can be good good leaders too.  I've mentioned before what she did in 532 A.D. when those "Nika" riots broke out.  Dawn's barking.

MOVIE "BEN HUR"

              In my books I've learned about the story of "Ben Hur;" written by that American Civil War General Lew Wallace.  Those Nika riots broke out in Constantinople at a Chariot race like the one Daisy told me about from the movie Ben Hur.  I can smell some old Mesquite.

              When those two groups of fans rooting for their favorite Chariot teams began to fight it got "Out of Hand" and people burned parts of the city.  When Justinian was about to abandon Constantinople his wife shamed him into staying.  So he killed thousands of rioters.

              Our boss showed Mr. Mike pictures he took of the 1980's Ice Hockey Kings.  He thinks one reason fighting is "tolerated" in Hockey is it's hard to land a good punch on skates.  Hockey "Rinks" are cold so things hurt more and the players sometimes then get "Chippy" too.

ICE HOCKEY FIGHTS

                As I've said in my books, Mr. Steve thinks many people "love to hate" and also enjoy to see "Justifiable" violence.  That's why Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts is still so popular.  Hockey fans like fighting as a "vicarious" way to "release their own pent up aggression" he thinks.

             I really do want to see a Hockey game on tv someday, even though our boss doesn't really doesn't watch sports that much any more.  Daisy and Millie saw a Hockey game on tv, and they thought it was amazing how good of skaters the players were.  Maybe I'll try skating.

            Daisy heard our boss and his brother Rock talking on the phone one time and they were remembering a Montreal Canadians player from the 1970's named John Ferguson.  In Hockey I guess each team has an "Enforcer," who's the best fighter on the team.  A Duck is quacking. 

JOHN FERGUSON (MONTREAL "CANADIENS")

               Mr. Steve says John Ferguson's fights were the "Exception to the Rule" that in Hockey few get hurt.  One of his jobs was to protect the many French Canadian players who were on the Montreal Canadiens back in the early 1970's.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye.

             One time that kid Michael, who lived near Mr. Steve's house on Hagar Street; asked why the Canadians logo, which Mr. Steve has drawn; has an "H."  It stands for "Les Habitants," the original French settlers who came to Canada in the 17th century.  The air is so clear!

             Mr. Steve and his brother Rock saw John Ferguson play the Kings at the Forum a few times, and he looked very scary and mean; definitely not a person you would ever want to "Pick a Fight" with.  Daisy's told me until the 1980's few players wore helmets.  I'd wear one!  

JOHN FERGUSON

             Wow!  The caption below a picture of that guy John Ferguson says he's holding his son.  He doesn't look that mean but, our boss said when he fought he "clubbed" the other player really hard with his obviously big hands.  I can sort of tell he has big hands by this picture.   

                  As I've written about, in the 1980's, and early 1990's; Mr. Steve took pictures of sports. So he's seen in person how, at Boxing matches; the audience sometimes has that "Blood Lust" that I've written about.  Some people really enjoy seeing two people or animals fighting.

            Mr. Steve is glad people aren't like in ancient Rome where, instead of seeing two men in a "Fistfight;" they stabbed and killed each other for the entertainment of the "Crowd."  But some people still do like to see two males, or now females too; beating each other up.  I smell Sage.    

 WALCOT /MARCIANO             LIMON /CHACON                    FRAZIER / ALI         

            Many people still enjoy violence Mr. Steve thinks.  They might not want to see torture and mutilation as entertainment the way the ancient Romans did, but they like watching people try to totally beat each other up.  I smell the little baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt.                     

          A few times, when Mr. Steve got home after taking pictures at Boxing matches; he noticed little spots of blood on his clothes.  But that was only a couple of times because very often neither fighter gets cut.  Besides, they have good "Cut Men" to clean cuts up between rounds.                   

          I've mentioned that fighting called "Mixed Martial Arts," or just "M.M.A." for short.  As I said on Thursday, Mr. Steve has never been to any of them but, his brother Rock back in Texas was paid to take pictures of some of them a few years ago.  Some Ducks are quacking.                   

"MIXED MARTIAL ARTS"

                    One time Mr. Steve and his father talked on the phone about how it seems like Boxing is now considered too "Tame" for some people.  They prefer M.M.A. fighting, where the fighters can kick, elbow, knee and wrestle the other fighter too.  But there are more injuries. 

             I've mentioned before how in M.M.A. they wear those tiny leather gloves to punch.  And you're even re allowed to "Choke" the other guy "Into Submission."  Instead of a "Roped Ring," Dais says they fight in a cage smaller than the one in that movie "Mad Max."  I smell Sage.

            One time Mr. Steve and Gary the Barber, the Boxing historian from San Fernando; talked about the ancient Greek Olympic event called "Pankration."  It sounds a lot like M.M.A. but, in some ways worse; because one fighter often died.  Speedy Gonzalez just whizzed bye.  

                     PANKRATION                               "HOPLITE" RACING                     ALEXANDER THE GREAT

              According to this Greek Dictionary, Pankration means "All of Power."   Wrestling and "Bare Knuckle" Boxing were events at the ancient Greek Olympics.  And the "Hoplite soldiers in "Full Armor" had footraces.  In Pankration they wrapped leather strips on their hands.

             Oh wow!  It says here, except in "Sparta;" biting and eye gouging were not allowed in Pankration.  Mr. Steve told Gary the Barber Archaeologist's found a carved stone warning the fighters not to break fingers.  Unlike today, there were no "Weight" classes in Pankration.

             Wow!  In Pankration the "Referee" carried a hard pole to "Enforce" the rules by hitting the fighters.  I guess some think Alexander the Great "introduced" Greek fighting to "Asia," and that eventually "evolved" into Chinese "Kung Fu."  And later Japanese "Karate" too.

"HOPLITE" GREEK WARRIORS IN "PHALANX" FORMATION

ARTWORK BY PETER CONNOLLY

               As I've written about, in ancient Greece those "Three hundred Spartans" defending the pass at "Thermopylae" died rather than let the Persians get past them.  Those Spartans even bit and eye gouged like in Pankration when their weapons were useless.  A Crow cawed.   

            Well, now it looks like I have to write about Auto Racing.  I guess Mr. Steve wasn't really a big  "N.A.S.C.A.R." fan but since he got this job in 1999 he, Babette, Susan and Karin had to know who the popular drivers were.   All four of the Pigeons are flying bye right now.

            I've mentioned before how N.A.S.C.A.R. stands for "National Association Stock Car Auto Racing."  My  Encyclopedia says it was "formed" in 1948, three years after World War II ended and two years before the Korean War started.  I can now smell the Twin Joshua trees.

"N.A.S.C.A.R" RACING

             Daisy says one time Mr. Cliff joked how some people watch Auto Racing because, "in the back of their minds;" they wouldn't mind seeing a "spectacular" crash.  This doesn't mean they want to see someone die.  They simply like "sheer power" like in ancient Chariot racing. 

             Mr. Steve has had customers in the State of North Carolina.  He's talked over the years with Parts Managers at the Auto Dealerships who know the "Roots" of N.A.S.C.A.R. are in the 1930's Great Depression.  I just glanced up and see a long white vapor trail up in the sky.

            As I wrote about yesterday in book two, in 1919 the "Sale" or "Distribution" of Alcohol became illegal in the United States.  But people still drank so, during the better economy of the "Roaring" 1920's; people made "Booze" illegally anyway.  It was called "Bootlegging"

                                                                                    CARRIE NATION (1846-1911)

                  Yesterday I mentioned that one early 20th century lady named Carrie Nation, who was really against alcohol.  She would go into "Bars" or "Saloons" with a Bible, and would destroy things with a hatchet.  In the picture of her she looks very serious and determined.  

             As I said in book two, during in the 1920's; alcohol which was made illegally was called "Moonshine" because it was made "under cover of darkness" in the "light of the Moon."  If they made it during the day "Authorities" would see smoke coming from their "Stills."    

           From what it says here, in "rural" areas of the South like North Carolina; drivers had to be able to "out drive" and  "out run" the Police in order to deliver their "merchandise."  So they "customized" their Cars to go faster and carry more.  We live in a rural area too.     

                                                                                        CLYDE BARROW (1909-1934)                 JOHN DILLINGER (1903-1934)

                 During the 1930's Great Depression Gangsters like Bonnie and Clyde, or that guy named John Dillinger; often "Got Away" from Police because they stole Ford Cars with eight cylinder motors.  Andy's over there sniffing the air and guard the entrance to their burrow. 

           I've mentioned how Bonnie and Clyde were killed on May the 23rd in 1933.  During that period of "Prohibition" of alcohol drivers delivering the illegal alcohol were racing on the roads and highways in "Souped Up" Cars.  So they had a lot of experience going really fast.  

          Even though in 1933 alcohol was made legal again, mainly because organized crime like the "Mafia;" was making so much money on the "Black Market."  But even after that there were people who still kept making Moonshine.  Andy just picked up my scent over there.

                                         BILL FRANCE SR. (1909-1992) WITH SON JR.

             Daisy once heard our Chief talking on the phone with Mr. Cliff about how, since the mid-1930's; there were some Auto Races in places like "Daytona Beach," Florida.  But they were not "Organized" like the are today.  During World War II there were no races held. 

            After the war racing continued, and one of the drivers was named Bill France Sr.; who was also a "Mechanic" too.  This one Encyclopedia says he moved to Florida in 1935, with only one hundred dollars.  He and others saw there needed to be better organized Auto Racing.  

           I guess, before N.A.S.C.A.R. was created Drivers often got "cheated" by Promoters so Bill France Sr. thought it necessary to create what's called a "Sanctioning Body."  So, back in 1948; Bill France helped "co-found" N.A.S.C.A.R.  Dawn and Blinky are now barking.

                           1950'S STOCK CAR RCING                RICHARD PETTY (1959)

              It says here, after 1948 there were "uniform" or "standardized" rules; and also what's called "predetermined" event schedules.  One of Mr. Steve's customers in North Carolina had a Grandfather who met Bill France Sr.  And he also met that guy Richard Petty too.

             The caption below a picture of that man Bill France Sr. says his son Bill France Jr. "took over" leadership of N.A.S.C.A.R in the early 1970's.  That was when our boss was in High School down there in Los Angeles.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye up there in the sky.

             Mr. Steve and Mr. Mike once talked about how, after World War II; there was a black Race Car Driver.  His name was Wendell Scott and, just like that one guy Jackie Robinson; was in the "Segregated" military during the Second World War.   Some Ducks are quacking.

                                                       WENDELL SCOTT (1921-1990)

               I guess, just like most Basketball and Football players are black, in Ice Hockey and Auto Racing the people are mainly white.  Wendell Scott, during the 1930's; was one of those guys who ran from the Police smuggling Moonshine.  Two of the Pigeons just flew bye right now.

                 Wow!  That man Wendell Scott must've been a pretty good driver because it says here he made it into the "Hall of Fame."  When he was "discharged" after the war he went into racing.   The scent of some of the Beavertail cactus out there in the back desert floated in to me.

              In my books I've learned a lot about Jackie Robinson, who in 1947 was the first black Baseball player.  As I've said a few times, he grew up in the city of "Pasadena;" which is near to the "Rose Bowl."  Smelling those cactus' reminds me of being homeless out in the field.    

                      JACKIE ROBINSON  (1919-1972)            KENNY WASHINGTON (1918-1971)

             The sport of Football was also segregated until after World War II when, as I've written about; Rams "Relocated" from Cleveland to Los Angeles.  That's when that guy named Kenny Washington, who also went to U.C.L.A. like Jackie Robinson; was hired by the Rams.

             In 1946 Kenny Washington became one of the first African-American Football players in the "N.F.L."  As I've written before, the "National Football League" was the only professional League until the "American Football League" came into existence until 1960. 

            My Encyclopedia says in 1946 the N.F.L. was "struggling" just to "stay in business."  In the years before 1934 black players were, Duke Slater, Fritz Pollard and Joe Lillard.  But in 1934 the N.F.L. segregated so, for twelve years; "Negroes" were "excluded from participation."                                   

                           WOODY STRODE /  JACKIE ROBINSON / KENNY WASHINGTON

                                                                                     (1939)

            A picture in this Encyclopedia shows three black U.C.L.A. Football players in 1939.  Wait until Wait until Daisy sees this picture. The players have no face masks and the helmets are so small.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye; moving together toward the northeast.

           From what it says in the caption under the picture of the three Football players, the guy on the left is named Woody Strode.  In 1946 he, along with Kenny Washington; was also signed to be on the Rams.  The guy in the middle is Jackie Robinson and I like those old helmets.

           On Thursday, when I wrote about the Ram's history; I forgot to write about how that guy Woody Strode was later an Actor.  So, now I'll write about how he was in that good movie called "Spartacus."  Dais says he played the part of one of those 1st century B.C. "Gladiators."

"SPARTACUS"        

         A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a scene from the movie Spartacus.  The caption says Woody Strode is fighting against Spartacus, who is played by that Actor Kirk Douglas.  I notice    how he's using a "Trident" spear like the one the Greek and Roman Sea Gods carried.                  

           I've written about how, from 73 through 71 B.C.; that one guy Spartacus led some escaped Gladiators in beating some Roman "Legions" sent out to kill them.  But, eventually they lost and many of them were killed.  And, those captured were also brutally "Put to Death" too.                   

       Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how our boss likes a lot of the movies that guy Charlton Heston was in.  Daisy told me she's kind of surprised he wasn't in that movie    Spartacus because it seems like one he'd be in.  Boy! I want to see Spartacus some day.                                                                CHARLTON HESTON (1923-2008)               

          Dais is so lucky!  She's seen a lot of those Charlton Heston movies our boss likes, such as "Ben Hur," "Major Dundee" and "El Cid."  And not only that, she and Millie also got to see that movie about Moses too.  Andy's over there alertly guarding the entrance to their burrow.              

       In the movie about the ex-Gladiator Spartacus, after he leads the other Gladiators in a revolt; he then goes on to lead them against the Romans trying to recapture them.  It says in my Encyclopedia they "resisted" that for about two years.  Andy's right now sniffing the air.              

          According to Dais, those Gladiators first had to kill their guards and then take all of the weapons at a Gladiator school they had been training at.  It says here that movie came out back  in 1960, when he was five and his brother Rock was three.  Andy is smelling me.                             

     "SPARTACUS" (1960)

                Daisy and Millie watched that movie Spartacus one warm Summer night in the Living Room.  It says in this Encyclopedia how Roman armies "chased" Spartacus' army of "ex-slaves" in what is now the country of Italy.  In real life I guess Spartacus was not the only leader.

            Some of the other Gladiator leaders were from "Gaul" which, as I've said before; is now where the country of France is located.  That's where that guy Julius Caesar's Legion won all of those battles and killed all those people.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.

           From what it says here, I guess at first it was only those few Gladiators who joined up to follow Spartacus.  But then, when he beat the Romans; thousands of other Slaves showed up to and wanted to help him.  Right now the sound of those Ducks makes me feel better.

                                                                                                ANCIENT GREECE

             I guess the real Spartacus was a "Thracian," from this area in northern Greece which I can see on a map.  It says here, he was a good "tactical field commander;" like Robert E. Lee or Erwin Rommel.  But eventually he and his army of Slaves was beaten by the Romans.

                  Spartacus's army did a lot better than anyone thought they could and Mr. Steve and his father have wondered why they didn't escape Italy when they could have?  If they'd wanted to they could have done it so easily.  A flock of Birds is flying bye up there in the sky.

           It says here the man who finally "defeated" Spartacus's men was named Marcus Licinius Crassus, or just "Crassus" for short.  He was mainly a rich Politician back there in the city of Rome, and was that guy Julius Caesar's "Patron."  The air is so clear right now.   

MARCUS LICINIUS CRASSUS (115-53 B.C.)

                  Daisy thinks a "Patron" means a person who "sponsors" you, usually with money.  So, in a way she says; our Chief is our patron.  I've mentioned before how, in Spanish; sometimes your boss is called, "mi patron."  The scent of Theodora's Creosote bush floated over here.   

            In the movie Dais says, that man Crassus finally beat that Gladiator army he didn't know which one was Spartacus.  And, when he tells Spartacus to reveal himself; before Spartacus can tell him the other prisoners stand up and yell out, "'I'm Spartacus."  I love fresh air!

            Hey Lord!  As You of course would find out later; the Romans really knew how to torture people like You.  So, those ex-Slaves knew what would happen to him if Crassus found out which one of them was the real Spartacus.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye right now.

                  "APPIAN WAY" (ROME)                                               THE "PASSION"

             Because he couldn't figure out which one of his prisoners was the real Spartacus that guy Crassus just decided to kill all of them.  I wrote on Thursday about how our boss walked on that one ancient Roman road called the "Appian Way."  Dawn's now barking over there.

            Wow!  That guy Crassus ordered a few thousand prisoners be crucified all along the sides of the Appian Way.  Mr. Steve was told the Romans, unlike with You Lord; did not remove all of those dead "Corpses" from their crosses right away.   They just left them there to "Rot."

           Fannie and Freddie are flying bye, which makes me think about how our boss was told the corpses hanging along the Appian Way were eaten by Birds like Crows.  The bad smell of all of those "Decomposing" bodies was a "Reminder."  Crassus wanted to "Send a Message."

                                                SPARTACUS SLAVE REVOLT (71 B.C.)

ARTWORK BY BRIAN PALMER

             It says here in real life it's not known for sure how Spartacus died.  It's most likely he was killed in the final battle against Crassus's men. Crassus wanted to use the surviving prisoners to "Set an Example" to any of the other Slaves who might even think about revolting.

        In 1985, when the Tour Group visited the Appian Way; their Tour Guide joked that one reason the Appian Way "survived" is probably because, as the corpses rotted; it smelled so bad    there was "no traffic" on that road for years.  Ugh!  I wouldn't want to run on that road.              

            I've mentioned before how, after World War I ended in late 1918 and Germany lost; some Germans began to fight and kill each other for a few months in early 1919.  That "Spanish Flu"  world epidemic was going on in that year.  I just looked up the "Spartacist Uprising."                    

"SPARTACIST UPRISING" (JANUARY, 1919)

           It says here that, in early 1919 some of the "moderate" people called "Social Democrats" fought "street battles" against the Communist "Spartacists."   It was a "power struggle" to "fill the void" left in German politics.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye and left a trail of dust.                

          I notice how, in two pictures from 1919; people in regular street clothes are carrying and shooting guns right alongside some guys in military uniforms.  Because Germany had lost World War I, the economy was really, really terrible.  I've written about that subject before.                   

          Back in 1919, which was in the same general period where here in the U.S. making alcohol was made illegal and females got the right to vote; Government soldiers came in and "crushed" that Spartacist revolt.  I've mentioned how that just means a lot of people were killed.                        

                   "ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW"                   

               Andy and Helen are standing near the entrance to their burrow and that reminds me of the "Andy Griffith Show."  I've mentioned how one of the characters on that show, "Goober;" was married to Mr. Steve's mom's friend.  A Motorcycle just went bye back there.

            On Thursday in book one I wrote about how Mr. Steve's mom was a Girl Scout leader for many years, and another Girl Scout leader was Mrs. Lindsey; who's husband "George" played Goober.  To this day our boss has pleasant memories of Girl Scout's singing away. 

            I've mentioned before how the Andy Griffith Show was what they call "Set" in Mayberry, "North Carolina."  Mr. Steve told his brother Sam on the phone one time how North Carolina is now associated with N.A.S.C.A.R.  Andy and Helen just went down into their burrow.

                                                 DALE EARNHARDT SR. (1951-2001)

            Over the last few years Mr. Steve has discussed with others about how sad it is that Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in that crash.  Dale Earnhardt's family are from a town called "Kannapolis." Mr. Steve told his brother Sam, for a few years; he had a customer near Kannapolis. 

           Some people think Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the best Race Car driver "Of all Time.  As I've said before, when someone is called the "Greatest of all Time;" their nickname is "Goat."  Boy! It would be so great to be called that name, even though some people don't like Goats. 

          One time a Parts Manager joked that Dale Earnhardt Sr. at times almost seemed able to "see air."  Mr. Steve's friend Tim who learned how to be a Mechanic in part by working on his two Chevelle's; really liked Dale Earnhardt Sr.  Theodora just flew bye right now.

                                  DALE EARNHARDT SR. / DALE EARNHARDT JR.   

                     I've written about how hard it is to be a child of a parent who is one of the best at doing something.  Dale Earnhardt Sr. had a son who's still a Race Car Driver.  That really good Boxing Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. will likely always be measured against his father.

               Dale Earnhardt Jr. is actually the third generation to race Cars because Dale Sr.'s father did it even before him.  Oh!  That's why they say something is "In their Blood."  Earlier, when I wrote about "Roadrunner" Cars; I mentioned that Auto Racer named Richard Petty.

              Richard Petty is now called "The King" of "Stock" Car racing, because of how good he did in his career.  And, just like that other guy Dale Earnhardt Sr.; his father was also a Race Car driver too.  But, in both cases they became way more famous than even their dads. 

           RICHARD PETTY / FATHER "LEE"              1970 PLYMOUTH "ROADRUNNER"

                     (KYLE PETTY HOLDING SON)

           My Encyclopedia says Richard Petty's son also "followed in his father's footsteps" so that means three generations of Race Car racers.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve once built a model of Richard Petty's Race Car.  It was destroyed in that big 1971 "Sylmar" earthquake.                        

          Daisy told me our boss, before this economic recession we're in; had more customers back there in North and South Carolina.  One, in the North Carolina town of "High Point;" is known  for "Woodworking" or making furniture.  Ah!  I smell a Lizard somewhere around here.           

          I've written about how it was "Intelligence," and U.S. "Manufacturing;" that were the two biggest "Factors" in the Allies winning World War II.  The building of war material also was the  thing that finally brought America out of that Great Depression.  I now see the Lizard.                  

       "HIGH "POINT," NORTH CAROLINA

                 Wow!  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows what the caption describes as the "world's largest Chippendale dresser."  A Motorcycle parked in the lower right hand corner tells you just how huge that dresser is.  And two gigantic socks are even hanging out of a giant drawer!

              The dresser was made in that town of High Point.  I've written about how, from 1945 on  most of the factories that produced all the war material; were "Converted" into making things for a time of peace.  The Lizard is standing over there on the wall doing pushups.  

                   Dais says our boss was told by his ex-customer how that giant wooden dresser at first was only the "Facade" of a building.  But then, in the mid-1990's; it was turned into the way it is now. Boy!  How could anyone have even made such a thing like a gigantic dresser and drawers? 

                                                          CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT

              I just took in a deep breath of fresh air that came in on a slight breeze from the desert behind the Sheds.  Seeing the sky makes me think about how the official "State Color" of North Carolina is sky or "Tar Heel" blue.  I wonder why that town was named "High Point?"             

             Up until "relatively recently" Mr. Steve told his sister Susan on the phone one time, it was very possible to just graduate from High School; and then become middle class by getting a job making something.  You could raise a family and "Get Ahead."  Dawn's barking.

             As I've said before, our boss and his father too; think one bad thing about the economic system of "Capitalism" is it "lends itself to greed."   So, many American companies would rather pay "Slave Wages" to Chinese workers.  Then they can keep way more of the money.

                                                                    THERESA / DALE EARNHARDT SR.                                                                                                                                              

      Ah!  I just picked up the really strong scent of one of the Sage plants.  It's coming in from the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.  Smelling that Sage plant makes me remember that one time when Cher the Cat killed a Gopher just over there to the side of Manny.

           All of a sudden writing about that girl Theresa Earnhardt makes me think of the of the Roman Empire his "Renovatio Imperii."  In Latin that means "Restoration of Empire."  But Justinian had to kill a lot of people in order to get almost all of the whole empire back.

      This is interesting.  Justinian "re-made" Roman law and it's still the basis of much of "Civil Law" in western societies today.  I'm looking at the Encyclopedias piled near the couch.  And I see the legal research books Mr. Steve sometimes uses.  I can still smell Sage. 

      One reason I decided to write about the Emperor Justinian was because I remembered that there was also a big plague during his time too.  And just like the one that happened in 1918 and 1919 it killed so many people no one knows for sure just how many died.

      Daisy and I are sure happy we don't live in a time when there's a lot of disease around. We're so lucky to live right now.  Well, I guess that's all I have to write about in the chapter three.  I'm going to take a short break and go drink some water from the bucket over there.

    This is amazing.  I'm already on chapter four.  I just picked up the scent of the baby Birds up there in the nest above me.  Right now they're really quiet.  I think they might be sleeping.  They don't even know that Heathcliff is dead.  Their lives are just starting out.

     By being so involved in learning new things it has taken my mind off of Heathcliff dying.  But, I keep thinking of him anyway.  Tomorrow morning will be different that's for sure.  I still smell one of the Sage plants.  Oh! Cher the Cat is running bye with a dead Mouse in her mouth.

     Hey Lord!  What made me want to learn about that Christian Emperor Justinian right now is that Mr. Steve knows about the different plagues; including the one in the 6th century.  It wasn't as big as the one that Amelia Earhart got sick from but thousands of people died then too.

      I just noticed a Jackrabbit jumping through the air out there in the desert behind the Sheds.  And I also just now  noticed a Hawk hovering above the desert out there.  No wonder the Birds are gone.  I hope that Hawk doesn't see the Jackrabbit but I know it has good eyesight.

       Well, I'm glad I decided to write about the Emperor Justinian.  But I didn't realize just how important he was so I kind of wrote a lot.  But that's okay.  I know Mr. Steve thinks Justinian was important.  Oh!  I think that Hawk might've just spotted the Jackrabbit.   

     Oh!  I just thought of a little bit more that I want to say about plagues.  Dais says our Chief told her and Millie there's probably going to be another really big pandemic someday.  And he     says, for good and bad, things are always getting "proportionately" bigger.                                         

          Hey God!  I sure hope we don't have a lot of Rats this year but as the weather heats up the Rats come out at night.  That's when we'll appreciate Cher more because of how she's so good at catching Rats.  She quickly kills them before they have a chance to bite her back. 

          Cher just used the back fence to jump up onto the top of Manny the Shed where she'll eat her Mouse.  But looking behind her toward the east I see and hear some Crows squawking.  Ah! I just now picked up the faint scent of a Lizard who's somewhere around here.

           I've mentioned how, in the 14th century; the "Black Death" plague Mr. Steve studied was spread by Fleas carried on Rats.  If Mr. Steve and Sandy's mom are right someday there may be a "Virus" that's "Transmitted" straight from person to person.  I see the Lizard.

ANTHRAX 

          Daisy heard our Chief talking to Mr. Mike about a 1980's New York City "Thrash Metal" band ANTHRAX, who are influenced by "Punk;" and "Heavy Metal" music too.  "Anthrax" is  another "Infectious Disease" that can kill you.  The Lizard is doing pushups over there.                

          As they loaded Rex the Truck with a Joshua tree the wind knocked over Mr. Steve and Mr. Mike talked about how that band ANTHRAX is one of the "Big Four" of Thrash Metal.  Daisy    says the other three are METALLIC, MEGADETH and SLAYER.  Dawn's barking.                      

       I've never heard any ANTHRAX songs but Dais has and says they're "Fast-Paced."  She says our boss really likes the bass guitar on their song called "Caught In A Mosh."   A few years  ago he found out that the bass player was born on July the 9th just like he was too.                         

  LONE JUSTICE

           Daisy told me ANTHRAX have a song called "Lone Justice."  The day before yesterday I mentioned how, in the mid-1980's when our boss worked at the Forum with Mark and Helen; a    co-worker "Pinky's" husband was in a band of that name.  The Lizard is now gone.                       

           From what Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Mike, ANTHRAX are from the area of New York City called "Queens."  I wrote about how that was where Mr. Steve and his brother Rock stayed for a few days back in 1977.  Libby's scent just blew in from over there in her Corral.                    

           I guess that band ANTHRAX one time did a song with a "Hip-Hop" band called PUBLIC ENEMY.   That's what Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Mike that morning.  I just glanced up to see Samson and Delilah flying bye and they're both moving in a northeasterly direction.                            

        DRAGPIPE ALBUM COVER         MAP OF N.Y.C.                           DRAGPIPE                     

         Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times that Heavy Metal band DRAGPIPE.  Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich was one of three guitarists in DRAGPIPE.  As I've  written before, back in 2001 they signed a one album deal worth one million dollars.                      

         Dais told me that our boss told Mr. Mike about DRAGPIPE and how they were from New Jersey, which is near New York City.  I wrote the other day how Mr. Steve played DRAGPIPE'S  album for that kid Jason who plays guitar.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.                 

         According to what Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Mike, DRAGPIPE at times kind of sound like this band called WHITE ZOMBIE.   And, at other times; they resemble that one band from  Bakersfield KORN who I've written about.  Hearing the Ducks makes me miss Heathcliff.                

MR. RICH

          I've mentioned how most people call Stephanie's boyfriend "Richie" but Mr. Steve just calls him "Rich" for short.  As I've said before, he's a really good guitarist.  Daisy says our boss    likes to play his drums along to a DRAGPIPE song about going on a Boat cruise.                            

            Daisy says that kid Jason liked the "heavy riffs" and "metal grooves" on the DRAGPIPE songs.  He and Mr. Steve talked about what's called "Drop-D Tuning."  I guess, that's when the    lowest of the sixth strings on an electric guitar is somehow tuned a little different.                           

            DRAGPIPE'S 2001 album sold 30,000 copies but it wasn't enough because they ended up being dropped by the "Record Label."  I've mentioned how Rich, like Mr. Mike and Samantha's boyfriend Rick; is "Handy."  They're all three very good "With his Hands" so to speak.                

                               THE "BLACK DEATH" (ENGLISH GRAVE FROM 1348))

           Uh oh!  I just noticed on my outline how I forgot to mention that "Anthrax" is also what they call a "Bacteria Infection."   I guess it's effects kind of resemble the 14th century "Bubonic" plague Mr. Steve studied in College at C.S.U.N.  Oh!  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

           Wow!  A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows an "unearthed" grave of people who died in England from the "Black Death" Mr. Steve learned all about.  Oh!  It says here Aldous Huxley wrote about Anthrax in his book "Brave New World.  I wish Heathcliff would crow.

          Sandy's mom once said you can pick up Anthrax from being "in the vicinity" of  things like "Wool" from "contaminated" animals.  Mr. Steve read about a British drum maker dying from inhaling Anthrax from "Skins."  He thought of Sandy's mom who's alive in his memories.

                                                                    WORD WAR I

              In my three books I've mentioned a few times how that guy Adolph Hitler, as a "Courier" in World War I; was "Gassed" and went temporarily blind.  Yet he didn't "Authorize" the use of gas or chemical weapons in his Second World War.  As I've said, it's a mystery.

          Mr. Steve and his father think, in the future; "Biological" or "Chemical" weapons may be used in World War III.  Many modern countries like us, China and Russia; have "Programs" to use those things.  And Anthrax is of course one of the "Agents" that will be "Deployed."

          I've mentioned a few times how the reason Adolph Hitler had a weird mustache is because he had to cut the tips off of his "Handlebar" mustache so that a "Gas Mask" would fit tighter on his face.  Oh!  We should invent Gas Masks for animals.  We could make some money! 

                                   KURDISH GASSED ("HALABJA" / MARCH 16, 1988)

PHOTO BY AFB

          Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about how that guy Saddam Hussein used gas in the 1980's, first against Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran; and then against the "Kurds" who lived in Iraq.  Ah! A  photo in this Encyclopedia shows two gassed to death Kurds.  I smell some new Sage.                     

       Even though gas and things like that were supposedly "Banned" from use in war Saddam Hussein killed about 50,000 Iranian soldiers and 100,000 Kurds using "Sarin" and "Tabun" gas  to do it.  And Ronald Reagan's U.S. government "Overlooked" it.  Dawn's barking.                       

        Oh!  The caption underneath the picture of the Kurdish man and the child he was trying to protect says they died on March the 16th of 1988 which, as I've mentioned before; is Mr. Steve's  sister Susan's birthday too.  Now Blinky's barking too.  That makes me feel good.                           

           I see a vapor trail up there in the sky above the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  For some reason that makes me think again about how Mr. Steve believes someday there might be another huge and bloody civil war in America.  I've written about that over the last three days.                  

          Dais says our Chief told Mr. Mike if biological or chemicals weapons are ever used one way it might be "dispersed" or "introduced" is through Airplanes.  He thinks it's "highly likely" that biological and chemical weapons will be used in the future.  Dawn's still barking over there.         

               One time Daisy and Millie watched a tv show on World War II about Japan's "Unit 731."  This Encyclopedia says, from 1936 through 1945; members of Unit 731 "conducted often lethal germ warfare experiments."   And they used Chinese people to do those experiments on.  

                       "UNIT 731" IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY ("JILIN" PROVINCE / CHINA)

                Daisy heard our boss talking on the phone one time with his friend Mr. Ralph.  And they discussed about how, at the end of the Second World War; the U.S. got all of Unit 731's "Data." I guess Unit 731 was Japan's "Chemical Warfare Division" during World War II.

           Mr. Steve and Mr. Ralph talked about how, after the Second World War was over; none of the people of Unit 731 were ever "Prosecuted" for killing thousands and thousands of Chinese.  It says here Unit 731 pretended to be working on "water purification."  I smell Creosote.  

           Boy God!  Daisy is so right in being thankful the Germans and Japanese lost World War II because of how mean they were to other people.  She says if they'd do such bad things to people, "odds are" as they say; they'd do even worse to us Dogs.  Thank You God for our lives.

                                                                           WERNHER VON BRAUN (1912-1977)

            Over the last three days I've mentioned "Operation Paper Clip."  That's where the U.S. brought Nazi Scientists like Wernher von Braun to America to help us in the "Cold War" against Stalin's Soviet Union.  I've written about how his knowledge got us to the Moon in 1969. 

                 As I just said, Mr. Steve, and his father too; think biological and chemical weapons will be used someday in war.  And they believe "it's entirely possible" it will be the U.S. who uses them.  We've probably used the information acquired from Unit 731 in our own experiments.

           Well, I guess that's enough writing about plagues and things like that.  So far today, except for Heathcliff dying yesterday, this has been a pretty good and productive day.  Dais is so right of course in saying life doesn't stop for anyone and things just go on no matter what.  

           Oh!  I just glanced up and see this Hawk flying bye with either a dead Mouse or Gopher in its mouth.  It's sort of hard to tell from this far away which one it is but I can see that whatever it is it has no head.  Boy!  I'd sure hate to have my head eaten right off from my body.   

           Seeing that Hawk suddenly reminds me of the time when another Hawk killed a Rabbit up there in the front yard.  I still remember the sound of the Rabbit squeaking in pain as the claws on the feet of the Hawk stabbed deep into its back.  It must've been so painful I'll bet!  

           The way Hawks streak down to the ground to attack things makes me think about one of those German "Stuka" Dive Bombers from World War II.  Daisy says when our Chief was going to College at C.S.U.N. in the 1970's he met an older Polish lady.  A Duck is quacking.

JUNKERS JU-87 ("STUKA" DIVE BOMBER)

            Daisy told me the Polish lady was a teenager in 1939 when the Germans attacked Poland which started World War II.  Three of her Uncles were killed trying to defend their country; but it was "To no Avail" as they say.  The scent of that old Mesquite plant just blew in.

            I guess the Polish lady still remembers how scary it was when she and her brothers heard the shrieking sound getting louder as "Stuka" Dive Bombers came down to bomb them in their city of "Warsaw."  I've mentioned how Stukas had "Sirens."  I like how Mesquite smells.  

             I've written about how the Nazi Germans knew the power of fear.  It really worked in all of the different Blitzkriegs they did back in 1939 and 1940.  As I written about over the last three days, both Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong all used terror effectively.

                                "WARSAW" BOMBED ( POLAND / SEPTEMBER, 1939)

                I guess that Polish lady told Mr. Steve what it was like to "live through" or "survive" the Second World War II.  She has bad dreams about those days sometimes and is very thankful to have made it through until now.  Boy God!  I'm so glad we live in a time of peace. 

                     I'm still thinking about how Germany used Dive Bombers in World War II.   That all of a sudden makes me think of that San Fernando Valley band called the DICKIES and their funny album called "Stuka's Over Disneyland." 

"STUKAS OVER DISNEYLAND"                                              THE DICKIES                                                                                                   

               I wrote on Thursday about how Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Sandy got introduced to the DICKIES through Mark Ritter and Mr. Doug and saw them play a few times.  Daisy says they're kind of an unusual "Comedy / Punk" band.  I want to hear their song about the Gorilla.

          says at times his friend Mark Ritter had the DICKIES same "off beat" and "twisted" way of looking at things.  

      Looking at our three Sheds reminds me about how Mr. Steve says the DICKIES have a song called "Manny, Moe and Jack."  I'll write more about the DICKIES later today when I deal with that other band from the Valley called QUIET RIOT.      

            H-1 "HERCULES" ("SPRUCE GOOSE" / LONG BEACH HARBOR / NOV. 2, 1947)

            According to my book three outline I still have more to write about Aviation and also the city of Long Beach.  In the 1980's Mr. Steve took pictures of Long Beach Boxing matches held in the "Hangar" which "Housed" a Plane called the "Spruce Goose." 

            On Thursday I mentioned how Long Beach Harbor, where the Spruce Goose made its one and only flight back in 1947; is where you take a Boat to Catalina Island.  A "Promoter" named "Peter" set up a Boxing "Ring" under the Spruce Goose's huge wings. 

         the Spruce Goose is one of the biggest Airplanes ever built.  And, uniquely; it's made from wood instead of metal.  A picture taken from above Long Beach Harbor shows it near its round Hanger.  You can tell how big it is.

                                                "SPRUCE GOOSE" / "QUEEN MARY" 

           In the aerial photo of the Spruce Goose you can see a big Ship called the "Queen Mary" in the water nearby.  Mr. Steve and all of his three girlfriends Sandy, Emily and Harriet have over the years visited and walked around the Queen Mary.  It kind of looks really big too.

               Daisy says our boss many years ago drew the logo for the city of Long Beach.  It says in my Encyclopedia the Queen Mary was a "Passenger Ship" used as a "Troop Carrier" during World War II.  It "transported" soldiers to England before the Normandy invasion of 1944.

          Because of the danger of Ships being torpedoed and sunk by German "U-Boats" crossing the Atlantic Ocean, that man Howard Hughes thought of the idea of making the Spruce Goose.  It could carry men and equipment over to England above the ocean which was safer.

 Howard Hughes.  He was one of the richest people in history Dais told me.  And then I can learn about the Spruce Goose because it was Howard Hughes' company that built it during the Second World War in the 1940's.

        Cher the Cat is still up on the top of Moe.  She's finished eating so is now grooming herself.  Mr. Steve calls it her "Ritual."  Daisy says using your own spit to wash down seems kind of nasty but it must work or Cats wouldn't do it for no reason.  

       Howard Hughes was what's called a business "Tycoon."  And like Amelia Earhart, he was also a famous Pilot who set some aviation records during the 1930's Depression.  I guess he crashed his Plane a few times but survived them. 

  Spruce Goose, like the Queen Mary; was meant to carry men and equipment over to England during the Second World War.  This was necessary because at the beginning of the war the German "U-Boat" Submarines were sinking many valuable supply Ships. 

       the "U" in U-Boat stands for the German phrase "Unterseeboot;" in English "Under Sea Boat."  Mr. Steve says that people have been trying to go under water since ancient times.  

       first time people tried to stay underwater and actually do things was in the 16th century when, in 1562; two men from Greece did a demonstration for Charles V of Spain.  They  "submerged" in something with lit candles.  

      In 1562 those two men stayed underwater for a long time and then "re-emerged" with their candles still lit.  In 1620 an underwater "Oar-Propelled Ship" was shown to King James I of England.  But no one knows what either one of these looked like.

     Spruce Goose was the biggest "Flying Boat" ever built.  And it had the largest "Wing Span" of any Plane in all of history.  Dais says our Chief once told her and Millie that it's so big.  He went inside of it and saw what it looked like.

     real name of the Spruce Goose was the "H-4 Hercules."  Oh!  And it was Howard Hughe's critics who named it the Spruce Goose; even though it was made mainly out of Birch wood.  They were making fun of it.  

      But, it says here that by the time the Spruce Goose was finished the Second World War had ended.  Some people accused Howard Hughes of stealing money from the Federal Government because they said the Spruce Goose probably couldn't even fly.  

      Even though it's not on my outline I just thought of something I could write about here.  In World War II there was another famous Airplane that was made out of wood.  It was called the    DH-98 De Havilland "Mosquito."  Mark Ritter knew all about that Plane.                                       

                                                    DE-HAVILLAND "MOSQUITO"

AVSPECS LTD. / MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM

       Mark Ritter knew about the Spruce Goose and also the Mosquito.  From what it says here in my Encyclopedia, being made of wood meant the Mosquito was one of the fastest Planes when it first came out in 1941.  But bullets probably went through it a lot easier too Dais joked.

    the De Havilland Mosquito is now considered to have been one of the most "versatile" operational Warplanes of all time.  I like the picture of the Mosquito here in my Encyclopedia.  

       one of the Mosquito's nicknames back in World War II was "The Wooden Wonder."  And I guess that's mainly because it was used for so many things; everything from scouting behind the German lines to bombing.

                                              GEOFFREY DE HAVILLAND (1882-1965)

     Hey God!  From what it says in this Encyclopedia the guy who designed the DH-98 Mosquito was named Geoffrey de Havilland.  And his father was a "Clergyman" so I'll bet he believed in You.  

     in 1938, one year before World War II started with Germany's attack on Poland, the Mosquito Plane was designed as what they call a "Reconnaissance" Aircraft.  That means it could spy from high up in the air.

     I guess the British thought the Mosquito would be able to fly up so high and go so fast that it wouldn't even need to have any weapons on it.  It had the "Maneuverability" of a Fighter Plane but could also go four hundred miles per hour.   That Horned Toad dug into the ground.

     Wow!  The Mosquito was built out of "Plywood."  Our boss keeps these three eleven foot tall "Sheets"  of plywood on the south side of the house; next to the Garage.  On really hot days he uses them to cover the windows so it will be dark inside the house.  

      The first time I ever went inside the house to watch cartoons on Saturday morning I noticed how the windows had these things called "Curtains."  They hang in front of all the windows; but from the inside.  So they help keep the heat and bright sunlight out on hot days.

      over there in the Middle East, where his Nephew Jacob was stationed for a year; the houses have no windows.  This is so on extremely hot days no sunlight will penetrate and it will be dark inside.  They sleep on the roof at night. 

     British Mosquito Plane had a "Range" of one thousand six hundred and fifty miles.  That means it can go that far on the gas carried in its fuel tanks.  

     Now wonder back in the 1940's so many people "Thought Highly" of the Mosquito.  At first it was "unarmed" but later four 20 mm cannons were added.  And, in the nose 4-4.7 mm Machine Gun was installed.  Later the Mosquito dropped bombs and even shot Rockets too.      

     This is sad God.  I guess Geoffrey de Havilland and his wife lost all three of their sons during World War II; all killed in Planes.  So she became very depressed.  In 1949, four years after the war, that guy Geoffrey de Havilland designed the first "Commercial" Jet Airliner.

                                       JOAN FONTAINE / OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND

     two of Geoffrey de Havilland's Cousins were Actresses; Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland.  I guess Olivia de Havilland was in that one famous movie I mentioned yesterday called "Gone With the Wind." 

      Well, back to my outline.  I'm kind of glad I added in the subject of the Mosquito Airplane. But now I'll discuss that guy Howard Hughes again.   He lived an interesting life Mr. Steve says. His dad was a mechanic who invented a "Drill Bit" which made him rich in Texas. 

      Howard Hughes was seventeen years old when his mother died and nineteen when his father "Passed Away" as they say.  So he took over his father's company.  

     Hey God!  As You know, Mr. Steve says "Favoritism" is normal in life.  That's just the way it often is he told us.  He's been a victim of what they call "Nepotism" a few times.  That's okay he told us.  He's also practiced favoritism too.  Boy God!  It's too bad life isn't fair.   

     Howard Hughes was fortunate enough to be given unbelievable opportunities that few ever get.  But, like Mr. Steve says, he turned those opportunities into something even bigger.  Another person might've "Fumbled the Ball" so to speak.  

     Mr. Steve read that as a small boy growing up in Houston, Texas, Howard Hughes wanted to  impress his father.  So he built his own "Wireless" Radio and did things like that.  He even built a "Motorized" Bicycle.  Boy!  He kind of sounds like that guy Nikola Tesla.

     Howard Hughes must've been a pretty good businessman.  He eventually owned a few different business's; including some that made movies. Daisy told me that one good movie Howard Hughes made was about World War I.

     I guess Howard Hughes ended up leaving Texas and moving his "Operations" out here to Los Angeles.  He became a Movie Producer and in 1930 made this movie called "Hell's Angels." Dais says it's mainly about the Fighter Pilots of World War I.  

     Mr. Steve met this nice lady who showed him a big leather book which had been given to her by an Aunt; who attended what they call the "Premier" of Howard Hughes movie Hell's Angels.  

     The fancy book that one lady showed to Mr. Steve was the "Program" given out to everyone who was there on that night in 1930; about a year after the Great Depression started.  Daisy says our boss has a few things like that too; but nothing as impressive as that ladies book.

                                                        JEAN HARLOW (1911-1937)

       Because of his father's involvement in the Marilyn Monroe case back in 1985; Mr. Steve has learned about other blonde Actresses.  One of the "Stars" of the movie Hell's Angels was named Jean Harlow.  She was a "Platinum" blonde.  

     There's a picture of that one girl Jean Harlow in my Encyclopedia.  The caption says she was "most popular" and famous during the Great Depression of the 1930's.  She died in 1937 at the young age of only twenty six; in a year when Adolph Hitler was testing the world. 

     Oh!  I'll bet Mr. Steve will be interested to know that the Actress Jean Harlow is buried down in Glendale at the "Forrest Lawn" cemetery.  Later today I'll write about that cemetery when I discuss his friend Helen who is also buried there too.  

       Howard Hughes was what's called a "Maverick."  He was probably like the Baseball owners Bill Veeck and Charles O. Finley I'll bet.  He thought "Outside the Box" so to speak.  

      Hey God!  That guy Howard Hughes set records as a Pilot but in the 1930's and 1940's also "miraculously" survived some crashes.  Dais says our boss thinks this definitely affected the way he looked at life from then on.  He probably knew he should have died a few times. 

                HOWARD HUGHES (1905-1976) IN COCKPIT OF THE SPRUCE GOOSE

        Howard Hughes spent the last part of his life in what they call "Chronic" pain because of those Plane crashes.  He got addicted to pain pills and may have had this thing called "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; or "O.C.D."  

        I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  Howard Hughes, who was tall, was a really good Golfer.  Mr. Steve told us how Golf is not as easy as it looks.  He's never been any good at it.  Nowadays he just likes to "drive" Golf balls; right and left-handed.  

                                                        SPRUCE GOOSE "FLYING"

      This is so interesting!  The Spruce Goose only flew one time and that was in early November of 1947; two years after World War II ended. It was in Long Beach Harbor and Howard Hughes was the Pilot.  They weren't planning on actually flying it on that particular day.

      In 1947 the plan was to just "Taxi" around the Harbor.  But then Howard Hughes decided to "Lift Off."  This surprised everyone who was there; including those on the Spruce Goose.  Then it flew for a mile; seventy feet above the water in the Channel facing Cabrillo Beach.

      My Encyclopedia says that in 1955, when they first flew the Spy Plane U-2, it was also kind of an accident too.  They were just supposed to be driving it around on the ground when suddenly it started to take off.  So, like in 1947, they decided to just go ahead and fly it around.

                                                                                 U-2

      As I wrote yesterday in book two, it was a big surprise when in 1960 the Russians shot down a U-2.  It was thought to be impossible because it flew up so high in the air.  Mr. Steve says the United States was embarrassed.  

     Aha!  I had a feeling I was being watched.  I just noticed a Thrasher Bird underneath Manny the Shed.  I can tell by its long curved beak what it is; even though I can't smell it right now.  It's hiding in the shadows.  

                                           KELLY JOHNSON (1910-1990)     GARY POWERS (1929-1977)

         I was originally going to write about this guy named Francis Gary Powers yesterday in book two.  But Daisy thought it would fit in here too.  Gary Powers was the Pilot who's U-2 was shot down back in 1960.  My Encyclopedia has a picture of him with that man Kelly Johnson.

      The picture of Gary Powers shows him and Kelly Johnson talking and behind them you can see one of those U-2's.  I wrote about Kelly Johnson yesterday in my second book.  Oh!  I can see a long white vapor  trail way up high in the sky.  I hear some Wrens singing.

      Gary Powers was put on trial over there in Russia and it was a really "Big Deal" as they say. But, eventually he was traded for a Soviet spy the United States had caught.  So Gary Powers came back to America.  

      Mr. Steve once met a guy at the U.C.L.A. Library who said he thought that guy Gary Powers should have killed himself rather surrender to the Russians in 1960.  By allowing himself to be a part of the "Show Trial" he damaged the United States. 

      That man at the U.C.L.A. Library told Mr. Steve Gary Powers was probably issued what's called a "Cyanide" pill.  This is poison which kills you instantly.   After the Second World War some Nazis like Heinrich Himmler and Herman Göring used them to kill themselves.  

      a place in the San Fernando Valley called the "Sepuveda Basin."  It's where Gary Powers died in 1977 when a Helicopter he was flying crashed.  Mr. Steve met a guy whose Cousin witnessed the crash.  

       Sepulveda Basin was built in 1941 because of a really bad 1938 flood that killed many people. 

SEPULVEDA BASIN     

        I'm beginning to understand why Daisy would like to be able to fly like Underdog.  There's a picture in this Encyclopedia of the Sepulveda Basin.  It's one of those aerial views.  Mr. Steve has been to the Sepulveda Basin many times over the years.  

       Sepulveda Basin is intended to be an "overflow" area in case the Los Angeles River ever floods again.  Mr. Steve told us "Balboa Lake" is part of  the Sepulveda Basin.  With Sandy, Emily and Harriet Mr. Steve has been to that beautiful Lake.   

                                          DON JOSE ANDRES SEPÚLVEDA (1801-1875)

      On the book three outline that Daisy and I prepared the next thing to talk about is this one family whose last name was "Sepúlveda."  In this one Encyclopedia there's a painting of a man named Don Jose Andres Sepúlveda.  

      in the mid-19th century one of the richest men here in California was Don Jose Andres Sepúlveda.  He raised Cattle on his gigantic Ranch called "Rancho San Joaquin."  It "sprawled" over fifty thousand acres.

     1821 Mexico broke away from Spain.  In 1842 that man Andres Pico "granted" Don Jose Andres Sepúlveda land which is now a part of "Orange County" called "Irvine."  Oh!  I just noticed Jack the Jackrabbit sitting under Manny the Shed. 

      Cows from Rancho San Joaquin fed the Miners who flooded out here to Northern California in 1849 for that big Gold Rush.  In 1864, the second to last year of the American Civil War; all of Rancho San Joaquin was sold to James Irvine.   

       Mr. Steve told us the Sepulveda Basin's Lake has many Birds who live around it.  Some are "Pelicans."  Daisy says before I came to live here this one long-legged white "Egret" landed in the northwest corner of our land; up near Oasis Road.  

       Oh my God!  Wait until Dais sees the one picture of a Pelican in my Encyclopedia.  Wow! It's eating another Bird with a mouth that opens just like a bucket.  Another picture shows a flying Egret.  I sure wish I could smell, hear and see a real Pelican or one of those Egrets.

       Miss Susan, who used to run the local Newspaper, thinks it's possible that Egret who landed in our yard might've been headed for the Sepulveda Basin and Lake Balboa.  That lady Miss Susan knows a lot about Birds and things like that.  

      I guess Miss Susan thinks that one white Egret was flying above Piñon Hills and may have glanced down and saw the reflection coming from the water Mr. Steve puts in the Bird Bath.  So for some reason that Egret just decided to fly down and rest for a few minutes. 

 FRANCIS GARY POWERS (1977)

            The guy who's Cousin saw Gary Powers die said he was playing Baseball on a field where the Helicopter came down.  Mr. Steve has played on those fields.  That kid said Gary Powers was either thrown or jumped out of the Helicopter about fifty feet above the ground.

       It turned out that guy told our boss; Gary Powers' Helicopter ran out of gas and that's why it crashed in early August of 1977.  Two weeks later Mr. Steve and his brother Rock went back east on the trip I wrote about yesterday in book two.  

      Mr. Steve says another thing named after the Sepúlveda family is the longest road in all of Los Angeles; "Sepulveda Boulevard."  When Mr. Steve's family first moved to Los Angeles there were no Freeways so people had to "take Sepulveda" to get to the San Fernando Valley.

      One time Mr. Steve and his friend named Chris drove the whole forty two miles of Sepulveda Boulevard; from Mission Hills to near Long Beach.  Sepulveda "for a short stretch" even goes under some of the Runways of International Airport he told us.  A Wren is singing.

      Well, I still need to write a little bit more about that guy Howard Hughes; and then the city of Long Beach.  I can also see that according to this outline there's still more things to write about that one girl Pilot Amerlia Earhart.  

       I guess he kind of went crazy later in life.  And because he was so rich he could do anything he wanted to do and no one could do a thing about it.  At least that's what Mr. Steve told us that one time.  

          Howard Hughes eventually became a "recluse" and didn't even wash his hair or cut his finger and toe nails.  No one ever saw him in person.  Mr. Steve told Daisy and myself that Howard Hughes was afraid of Germs.

       Oh my God!  There's a black and white drawing in this one Encyclopedia that's shows what Howard Hughes looked like in the last years of his life.  He had a long beard and his fingernails are really long too.   His room looks kind of dirty and cluttered with things.

       It says here that even when Howard Hughes stayed hidden in his room he was still one the richest people in the world.  So  his companies made millions of dollars and did things like buy big tv Networks.  And Howard Hughes still made all those decisions.   

    MICHAEL JACKSON

     Mr. Steve thinks that guy Michael Jackson was one of the most talented dancers and singers ever.  But, like Howard Hughes, he became so wealthy he could do things no one else could "get away with" so to speak.  

     When Mr. Steve told a Nurse friend of his that Michael Jackson died of an overdose of this one drug called "Propothol" at his house she didn't believe it.  And that's mainly because only certain trained people are allowed to "Administer" such a strong drug.

     Propothol is an "Anasthetic."

      Long Beach Harbor called the Queen Mary.  According to my Encyclopedia it was a "Passenger Ship" that was huge like the Spruce Goose.  It weighed seventy five thousand tons!  

       QUEEN MARY IN LONG BEACH HARBOR / SPRUCE GOOSE DOME BEHIND

                                                                      PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

       The company that built the "R.M.S. Queen Mary" in the early 1930's was English but built it in Scotland.  The Queen Mary's first voyage was in 1936 and during World War II she was used to carry troops.  After the war she carried passengers again.

      once passenger Jets came in at the end of the 1950's there wasn't as much need for the Queen Mary any more.  Mr. Steve has been inside the Queen Mary and says it's so amazing how "luxurious" it still is.  He says it has a really huge propeller that you can see.

     story is that the company who built the Queen Mary wanted to name their ship after Queen Victoria.  But somehow, when they asked the "reigning monarch" King George VI for permission he thought they were asking to name their Ship after his wife.

                  QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-1901)                KING GEORGE VI (1895-1952) WITH WIFE

      King George's wife was named Victoria too but most people called her "May." And because the company who built the Queen Mary was too embarrassed to say anything they just decided to go ahead and name their Ship for the King's wife.  

      This is interesting.  That lady Queen Victoria was born on May the 24th.  And in looking at my list of birthdays in Mr. Steve's family I see that Mr. Steve's Wedding Anniversary is on the same date.  Two of the Pigeons just flew back in from being out in the eastern desert.

     The people who built the Queen Mary ended up naming the new Passenger Ship after King George's "Consort."  the Queen Mary was "retired" back in 1967; when our Chief was twelve.  

      Long Beach's "San Pedro" Harbor is where you take the boat to go over to Catalina Island Mr. Steve says.  Long Beach is where that girl Amelia Earhart first learned to fly a Plane.  Mr. Steve has a good friend name "Pam" who lives in Long Beach with her older sister. 

      I just noticed that I forgot to write a few things about Amelia Earhart.  According to this one  Encyclopedia, in 1937, about seven weeks after she seeing the Dionne Quintuplets up in Canada; Amelia Earhart died trying to be the first female to fly around the world.

    on Amelia Earhart's famous trip her Plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean and she was never heard from again.  To this day it's still a big mystery as to what happened.  Some say she was captured by the Japanese and "taken out" as an American spy.

      when they say taken out they just mean "killed."  She says our Chief thinks Amelia Earhart probably just ran out of gas and then crashed into the ocean and drowned.  On one of her last radio messages she did say; "Gas is running low."

      Mr. Steve says after she disappeared Amelia Earhart's husband asked Edgar Cayce to do one of his psychic readings.  But, sadly he had to  tell him his wife was dead.   Our boss told us some people always want to believe that famous people who die might still be alive.

                                              AMELIA EARHART WITH HUSBAND

       From what Mr. Steve says there are those who think Adolph Hitler faked his own death with his wife Eva Braun and escaped to South America like other Nazi's did after the Second World War.  And some say Elvis Presley and Amelia Earhart are still alive too.

      Later today I'll write about a man named Otto Skorzeny.  He was Austrian like Hitler and I know Mr. Steve thinks he's still influencing the world.  One of the things he supposedly did was establish "Odessa" which helped Nazis escape Europe after the Second World War. 

      Our boss's ex-girlfriend Harriet lives in "North Hollywood;" where for years she lived with her mother.  Harriet's mom died.  North Hollywood Park is kind of near there and has a bronze statue of Amelia Earhart in front Mr. Steve says.  Dais and I like our statues.

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

      Mr. Steve had a dream one time where he drove past North Hollywood Park and looked at the statue of Amelia Earhart.  Then, he saw Harriet's mother walking by and stopped to talk to her.  They then hugged each other ant then got "reacquainted" as they say.

      In that one dream our Chief asked about Harriet.  He told her mother that he still sometimes thinks about Harriet and the good times they had together.  Mr. Steve was sad when Harriet told him her mother had died.  He still fondly thinks of her as a decent woman.  

      Over the years our boss used to drive past North Hollywood Park.  He always looks at that  statue of Amelia Earhart.  But now that he lives way up here in the desert he never goes to North Hollywood anymore.  But at times he still thinks of that statue; and Harriet too.      

       Amelia Earhart knew how to play this musical instrument called a "banjo."  It sounds kind of "twangy" Dais told me.  She says she heard it on songs by Pete Seeger and also on the theme song of that tv show The Beverly Hillbillies.

         MODEL 10 "ELECTRA" 

      Oh!  This is interesting.  My Encyclopedia says in 1937 the Plane Amelia Earhart was flying was a Lockheed Model 10 "Electra."  And that man Kelly Johnson, whose Nephew Mr. Steve's sister Susan used to go out with, and who designed the U-2, worked on it. 

     On my outline I have written down that I want to mention this other girl Pilot who was also from the 1920's and 1930's.  Her name was Elinor Smith and according to this Encyclopedia in 1927 she was the youngest pilot in the world when she was only sixteen years old.

                                                                                     ELINOR SMITH (1911-2011)

  Elinor Smith was involved in the first time a ever Dog parachuted.  There's a picture of it here.  Like that girl Amelia Earhart, Elinor Smith was what they call an "Aviatrix." 

      Elinor Smith broke speed records and one time flew a Plane under all of the bridges on the East River in New York City; where she was from.  For a time she was even as famous as Amelia Earhart.  I hear Ducks quaking away next door.  Their quaking makes me feel good.

      Dais says one time our Chief told her and Millie that some people thought that Elinor Smith was a much more talented pilot that Amelia Earhart.  But she quit flying in order to get married and have children.  She and her husband raised four children during the Depression. 

      I guess that girl Elinor Smith was lucky her husband was really smart too and had a pretty good job so could "support" their family.   Elinor Smith really didn't care about being famous.  She preferred to go and be a good mother. 

      Wow!  Elinor Smith lived to be almost one hundred year old!  She died the year I was born.  It says here after she raised her kids and her husband died she became a pilot again. In 1934 she was the first female shown on a "Wheaties" box.  

     According to my outline the next thing I want to write about Aviation is how, in World War I, American blacks were not allowed to be Pilots.  And the Army didn't really want them either.  So the blacks were kind of "lent" to the French who needed men.  

 in 1917 when America entered the First World War the military really didn't want any blacks; except as servants or laborers.  But they were eventually   allowed to join so were "pawned off" on the French so to speak.                              

                                                        EUGENE BULLARD (1895-1961)

     One of the African-American Pilots who flew for the French during World War I was named Eugene Bullard.  The picture in this one Encyclopedia shows him wearing a French uniform and a "prestigious" medal given to him by France.  That's what it says in the caption.

      I guess that guy Eugene Bullard is now considered to be the very first black "military pilot." He proved that blacks were capable of flying Airplanes.  Mr. Steve says, even though the French could be just as prejudiced as the Americans, they accepted men like Eugene Bullard. 

      by 1917 the French army had lost close to a million men.  So they really needed more "bodies."  But, just like Mr. Steve told Daisy and Millie; the black Americans turned out to good fighters and were really brave. 

     Some time back our Chief did some artwork for an older man from New York City.  He told Mr. Steve that his Grandfather fought for the French during World War I as a member of the 396th Infantry Regiment; or the "Harlem Hellfighters" as they were called. 

     That man told Mr. Steve the Harlem Hellfighters ended up being a highly "Decorated" unit. And during the First World War the 396th band also introduced "Jazz" music to Europe.  Jazz is considered to be an American form of music.  

                                                         JIM EUROPE (1881-1919)

      James Reese Europe; or "Jim" Europe as he was known.  He was a member of the 396th Infantry Regiment.  Some people call him; "The Martin Luther King of music."  He was a "Band Leader" and "Composer." 

     In Mr. Steve's opinion, from what he knows now, that guy Jim Europe would have gone down in history as one of the most famous musicians ever if he had not died so young.  Instead, he's a trivia question about the history of Jazz.  

     Mr. Steve had not known who Jim Europe was until he met that one man he did the artwork for.  At first he thought the name "Europe" might have been a gimmick name but I can see in this Encyclopedia that it wasn't.  Jim Europe died at the young age of thirty eight.

     Wow!  In 1919, the year after World War I ended, that guy Jim Europe was stabbed to death backstage by a drummer whose playing he criticized. Oh!  Jim Europe's birthday was February 22.  Mr. Steve's father was born on the 23rd.  

     Later this afternoon I'll write about "Arlington National Cemetery" which Mr. Steve's family visited in Washington D.C. in 2008.  This one guy named Audie Murphy is buried there and I'm going to write more about him later too.  Jim Europe is buried there.  

                                                                                 BESSIE COLEMAN (1893-1926)

    Bessie Coleman.  She was the first black female pilot.   she was inspired bye that one guy Eugene Bullard who was a pilot for the French in World War I.  

      This is kind of sad.  According to what it says here in this Encyclopedia, that Airplane pilot Bessie Coleman was only thirty four years old when she died in a Plane crash.  Mr. Steve says in those days flying was way more dangerous than it is now.  

   In the 1920's and 1930's the most famous pilot in the world was named Charles Lindbergh. He was even more famous than Amelia Earhart.  And looking at the picture of him here in this Encyclopedia I think he looks like he could be Amelia Earhart's brother. 

                                                                           CHARLES LINDBERGH (1902-1974)

       Charles Lindbergh was the first person ever to fly by himself from here in North America over to Europe.  He did it irlesn 1937, six years before Amelia Earhart did it.  They both must've been brave.  

       Charles Lindbergh was an "Isolationist" in the years leading up to the Second World War.  That means he didn't want the United States to come into the war.  He said America should just stay to itself and not "get involved" in a second European war. 

                                              CHARLES LINDBERGH IN GERMANY

      during the mid-1930's Charles Lindbergh went over to visit Nazi Germany.  Mr. Steve told us he, like a lot of people then, admired the German Luftwaffe or Air Force.  He later thought England would lose in a war with Hitler's Germany.

     Well, it looks like I'm finished with chapter four.  The day is going pretty fast You Guys.  But I still have a long day ahead of me.  I'm still sort of thinking about Heathcliff but focusing on my third book is helping a lot. 

                                                                                            I can see that I still have more to write a little bit more about the Depression and World War II era.  And then I'll write about sports and music.  Yesterday in book two I wrote about that guy Charles O. Finley; who owned the Oakland A's.  I'll write more about him today.   

      Mr. Steve has had conversations with people who lived in the early 1940's.  A few have told him they thought that many, if not most, Americans did not want to go to war right up until the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.  But then everything changed quickly. 

                          JOSEPH KENNEDY (1888-1969) WITH WIFE AND CHILDREN

        Kennedy family.  According to what it says in the caption; "Joseph Kennedy Sr. and his wife sit with their nine children."  I guess "Joe" Kennedy was what they call the "Patriarch" of his large family. 

      Yesterday when I wrote about the Kennedy's I mentioned how they were Irish Catholics and lived in New England to the east of where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with Dalton and Austin. A Train just whistled faintly to the north of us.  

       Mr. Steve's father knows a lot about the Kennedy family.  As I wrote in book two yesterday, Joe Sr. was a very powerful person.  He wanted his son Joe Jr. to be President but as I mentioned yesterday; he was killed in World War II.  So John had to be the one to do it.

      Daisy jokes that Mr. Steve is sort of like our patriarch.  His father is the leader of the whole family.  He's the one our boss often looks to for advice.  Mr. Steve's father is getting older but is still at times very tough.  As that old saying goes; "Once a Marine, always a Marine." 

       I guess during the 1930's Great Depression Joe Kennedy Sr. was Ambassador to England. But he and President Franklin Roosevelt didn't like each other that much Mr. Steve says.  One reason was because Joe Kennedy was one of those Isolationists like Charles Lindbergh.

      in 1932, the year Mr. Steve's father was born, Charles Lindbergh and his wife had a baby kidnapped.  Lindbergh's baby was stolen and "held for ransom" as they say.  

      Mr. Steve thinks that when people are really poor they do things and take chances they never would would have.  During the Great Depression kidnapping started happening more and more.  The man who stole Charles Lindbergh's baby boy was eventually caught.

      man who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby got his money but then killed the baby anyway.  After that Lindbergh and his wife decided they didn't like it here so moved their family over to Europe.  

    I'll bet Mr. Steve is in his office working on that lady from Quebec's frame.  She told our boss that, with her husband and three children, they moved from Canada to the state of Maine; where our boss has customers.  Then a few years later they came here to California.

      That lady said her family still goes back east to visit their family in Quebec but now feel like "assimilated" Americans. One thing that makes that lady from Canada feel American is that her husband was in the U.S. Army.  

      Another thing that made that lady feel American was when her teenage daughter represented the United States in ice skating competitions over in Japan.  I've never seen anyone ice skate but Dais has.  She says it's amazing.  I wonder if a Dog could learn to ice skate?  

      I told Daisy about trying to make money being the first professional Dog skater.  I really do think others would pay to see a good Dog skate.  But Daisy says we'd have to pay to have special custom skates made and besides; we have no ice to practice on anyway.  

     On that Canadian ladies frame, to the left of the Fleur de Lis is a Canadian "Maple Leaf" flag  and on the other side an American flag.  Under the American flag  is California's "Bear" flag and to the side of that the city of Los Angeles official seal. 

     On the left side of the Fleur de Lis shield, below the Canadian flag, is a gold Maple Leaf image.  Below this are logos of the three Ice Hockey teams her family likes.  Growing up in Quebec this lady is still as much a Montreal Canadians fan as we are Oakland A's fans.

     On that lady's frame the Montreal Canadians logo is in the center.  On each side are smaller logos of the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks; her kids favorite teams. Mr. Steve puts logos  that he says are "appropriate" to that particular person's life.  

      One time he had to find a logo for that Mexican soccer team Guadalajara called the "Goats." That was the team our worker Mr. Esteban liked.  Just "for the heck of it" as they say, I used my Spanish Dictionary to look up the word "Deportes" which is "Sports" in English.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                             MARCEL DIONNE (1985)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

     When Mr. Steve worked for the Kings Hockey team in the 1980's he took pictures of a really nice man named Marcel Dionne who played for the Kings then.  Like that lady, Marcel Dionne was also from Quebec.  

      Marcel Dionne was one of the best French Canadian Hockey players in history.  He was one of the highest scoring players ever when he retired.  But he played for a lot of really weak teams so never got the full credit he deserved our boss thinks.    

     In the 1980's National Hockey League teams wore their lighter colored uniform at home.  The Kings usually wore their gold uniforms for home games.  But at the end of the 1984-85 season the Kings and Vancouver Canucks agreed to reverse this for one game.  

     On that night the Kings wore their purple "away" uniforms at home; while the Canucks wore their yellow "home" uniforms.  My boss gave that lady from Canada a picture he took of Marcel Dionne from that game.  He actually took a few pictures of Marcel Dionne that night. 

                         MARCEL DIONNE                                               BERNIE NICHOLS

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

      Mr. Steve told that lady Marcel Dionne was a very friendly person.  After the game he even stopped and posed for our boss.  So did this guy named Bernie Nichols.  During the 1980's and early 1990's our Chief met some professional athletes.  

      In his subjective opinion Mr. Steve says, even though most athletes are nice people, it seemed to him that Hockey players were the friendliest; even this man named "Tiger" Williams who at times looked really mean.  Daisy says he was what they call the team "enforcer."

                                                                "TIGER" WILLIAMS

      In Hockey if you break a rule like tripping an opponent or "slashing" at him with your stick, you get what they call a "penalty" and then have to sit in this thing called a "penalty box" while your team plays "short-handed" for two minutes.  You get five minutes for fighting.

    Tiger Williams, even thought he set the record for career "penalty minutes," was also a good scorer over a fourteen year career.  From 1984 through 1988 he played for the Kings but they weren't good teams.

      Mr. Steve says Tiger Williams was very friendly even though he looked sort of mean.  He sure was a good fighter; which is hard to do on skates.  He later wrote a cookbook and this Punk band from Canada called the Hansen Brothers "lobbied" to get him into the Hall of Fame.

      Whenever Mr. Steve makes a Frame he makes everything look "just right" as they say.  After the logos representing a person's life are in place then the sheet is put in a glass frame. That lady from Quebec picked red to match the Canadian flag but almost picked "royal" blue. 

          Last Summer Mr. Steve drove west on the main Highway toward the town of Pearblossom. He stopped and took some pictures of the open southern desert and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond.  

      Our Chief will probably finish that ladies Frame today.  It's Saturday so he usually doesn't make phone calls to his customers.  But sometimes he does because many Parts and Service do have to work on Saturday.  I hear the faint sound of two Wrens singing to each other.

      Mr. Steve's job used to be a lot better Dais says.  Many Car dealerships have been "slow" for a few years so it makes Mr. Steve's job harder.  And, as I mentioned yesterday, with gas more expensive people don't have as much pocket money.  

      Since about 2008 Mr. Steve has lost a lot of customers.  And so has those two girls Susan and Babette.  That's why Mr. Steve tries to make some extra money doing artwork like his Frames and plastic Cards.  Daisy thinks that's what he'll be doing today.  

       Oh!  I see a little blue Dragonfly going bye.  I didn't even hear it coming.  It's small so must be a baby Dragonfly.  I see a few Flies in front of Jack the big Shed and hear some of the Ducks quacking next door.  Hey!  That little Dragonfly landed on the Coffee Table. 

         That little Dragonfly walked over to the edge of the Coffee Table and seems to be looking at me.  That's weird.  Dragonflies usually don't get this close.  I see that little Dragonfly's big eyes.  I'll stay perfectly still so it will stay here and I can study it. 

      I wonder if Dragonflies notice things like Roosters not crowing in the morning.  Ah! I just now thought of something.  Is that you Heathcliff in a new form?  Wow!  Dais and I talked about reincarnation just this very morning.  I wish Daisy were here to see this too.

      Dais says at times she feels as though she has some empathy for Bugs.  Maybe she was a Bug at some point in the past?  Maybe I was a Bug too because there are times when I think I could  be a good Insect and find enough food and avoid being eaten by something else too. 

         Dragonfly's have such big eyes.  Daisy told me one time in his Bedroom our Chief played her and Millie a song called "Big Eyes" by an American band called CHEAP TRICK.  She says that song starts out slow and gradually builds up.  

                                                                                                      CHEAP TRICK

       Daisy said she and Millie looked at the cover of a CHEAP TRICK album while they listened as Mr. Steve played drums along to it.  That album is called "Live in Budokan" and is a concert.  I guess Budokan is a place over there in Japan.  

       According to what Daisy told me, that band CHEAP TRICK has two guys who have short hair and two with long hair.  She thinks they have catchy songs and all four of them are talented but she likes the guy who wears a Baseball hat.  He's so handsome she says.

      Another reason Mr. Steve likes CHEAP TRICK is because they covered two of the MOVE'S songs.  One was that song about the new dance called the Brontosaurus and the other one was called "California Man."  Daisy told me Millie sort of liked CHEAP TRICK. 

      Sometimes our Chief plays along to Live at Budokan Daisy told me.  But one thing Daisy says Millie didn't like was all of the screaming by girls in the audience; especially at the beginning of the concert.  

      Sometimes when Mr. Steve plays drums along to music Dais says; he wears these old German Sennheiser "Headphones."  He bought them all the way back in the 1970's I guess.  Daisy told me our boss has a few different headphones but likes the Sennheisers the best.

      When Mr. Steve plays along to Live at Budokan he has to hold the headphones away from his ears at the beginning of the concert.  Dais says this is because the sound of the girls screaming is so loud it hurts his ears.  But then he puts back on as the drums introduce the song.     

      Daisy says one reason why our boss likes to play along to CHEAP TRICK'S Live at Budokan album is because it has a good pace to it.  It has some fast-paced songs but also these other songs where a drummer can rest a little bit and catch a Second Wind. 

     one thing about the young Japanese.  They will like anything American so when a band brags about how great they did playing over in Japan some people kind of smirk.  Daisy says our boss recently saw a concert video of JUDAS PRIEST at Bukokan.

      Looking out into our back half acre behind our Sheds and seeing all the beautiful green and yellow makes me think of the Oakland A's.  Green is now not only our boss's favorite color but  mine too.  I just like how green looks!  Daisy prefers blue but likes green too.

       A while back our Chief read a good magazine article about that man Charles O. Finley who owned the Oakland A's.  He was disliked by other owners but a lot of his ideas that were made fun of then are normal now.   Charles Finley was "ahead of his time" as they say.

                                                                                                            CHARLES O. FINLEY

        I just loked up the word "Empresario."  That's because my boss used that word to describe  Charles Finley.  He read it in a magazine article.  According to my English Dictionary it means; "the manager."  Someday I'll be manager.  But right now Daisy is!     

      Not only did Charles Finley go against tradition by putting the A's in white shoes and their colorful uniforms our boss says, he also was the person who first proposed night Baseball games during the World Series and what they call the "Designated Hitter." 

      Mr. Steve for a time had a customer in Main who knew a lot about the history of Ireland. He was a Service Manager and his last name was Finley too.  He and Mr. Steve had nice talks on the phone about Charles Finley and other things like that.  

      That Service Manager knew a lot about Saint Patrick; the patron of saint of Ireland.  He did not know who Charles Finley was so Mr. Steve told him.  Then he and his teenage son went out and read about Charles Finley.  

     Parts Manager's son later thought someone should make a movie about Charles Finley; and that other guy Bill Veeck too.   After Charles Finley bought the A's in 1960 he changed their color scheme.  He made green the new primary color.      

Irish he changed the A's primary color over to  green and

      during Spring Training the A's  celebrated March 17th; "Saint Patrick's Day;" the day Saint Patrick may have died. 

                                                           SAINT PATRICK  (347 A.D.-?)

       Many details of Saint Patrick's life are unknown our boss says.  He lived in the 5th century A.D. and may have died on March 17th.  Mr. Steve "associates" Saint Patrick's Day with his sister Susan's March 16th birthday; the day after Julius Caesar's Ides of March.

     Saint Patrick in part converted Celts to Christianity by using a shamrock leaf with it's three sections.  This is probably because he knew many pagans considered 3 a "sacred" number; representing  life, death and eternal life. 

      Our boss says Celtic Druid Priests taught about the "Triple Goddesses" of Brigid, Ériu and Morrigan; who was the war Goddess.  Lately Daisy has been telling me about when our Chief used to tell her and Millie about Amazons or the Viking Valkyries.  

      Daisy has also been telling me about this great tv show with a girl called "Xena."  She's what they call a "warrior Princess" and her best friend is named Gabrielle.  Xena used to be bad but now uses her amazing fighting abilities to help the poor for the "greater good."  

       Xena is like a female Hercules Daisy says.  She uses this blade that comes back just like one of those boomerangs.  Her friend Gabrielle starts out inexperienced but learns to be a "Bard" or poet.  Daisy says Gabrielle met Homer before he was famous; and fights with a staff.  

       Mr. Steve once met a girl who was a big Xena fan.  Daisy says she once invited him to go with her to a Xena convention in Pasadena.  But he had a wedding to photograph on that day or he would've gone with her.  Now she goes every year with her husband and three kids.

      Over the years Mr. Steve has been invited to events where people "Dress Up."  He'll go but is not interested in dressing up in what's called "Period Garb."  He prefers just to watch people in costumes.  I guess a few times he's lent things to people for their costumes though.  

       I mentioned the ancient Greek female Amazon warriors back in book one.  And I was going to write about Xena and Gabrielle then.  But Daisy said to put it here in my third book instead.  The day before yesterday I also mentioned those two Amazon Queen sisters.

                       PENTHESILEA                                                       HIPPOLYTE                                 

       In book one and two I mentioned how Mr. Steve nicknamed Daisy and I after the Amazon sister Queens Hippolyte and Penthesilea.  Hippolyte fought that guy Hercules because he wanted her precious belt.  And Penthesilea battled Achilles outside the walls of Troy.

      Hey Blessed Mother!  As you know, if I could go back in time using Mr. Peabody's Way Back Machine I'd like to see a real Amazon fight.  That would be so great!  But Mr. Steve says there probably wasn't really a tribe of girls like the Greeks described.  

      Mr. Steve once met a man who knew about Archaeology.  He believed the stories of Amazons in ancient Greece were based on the fact that, as the Greeks moved away from Greece, they met cultures like the "Scythians" where females fought alongside the males.

     That man told our Chief in places like the Ukraine, South Asia and Central Asia Scythian graves have been discovered where females were buried with weapons.  Not only that he says, they had combat wounds on their bodies just like the men.  

                                                      SCYTHIAN WOMAN WARRIOR

PAINTING BY KEVIN MCDOWELL

      Mr. Steve says some people study bones.  That man said some of the female skeletons in those grave mounds had bones that indicated a hard life of riding on Horses; just like Attila's Huns or Genghis Khan's Mongols.  And their hands had obviously been used to shoot a bow.

      The biggest reason why females would have to fight alongside the males is necessity.  That's what that man told Mr. Steve.  Scythians lived difficult lives in a harsh land.  They were forever on the move or fighting off other hostile groups.  

      For the ancient Scythians to survive everyone had to "Pitch In" so to speak.  From what that man told our boss, the Scythians used the Horse and bow in the same way the Huns and Mongols did later.  Females can be just as agile on a Horse.  Look at Mr. Steve's sister Susan.        

                                                                                        ANCIENT GREEK WOMAN

                                                                                                      PAINTING BY MARGARET FONSECA

   ancient Greece was mainly a more "settled" culture where the females led indoor lives.  Females were thought to be inferior and weak.  Even though Greece is where Democracy started Mr. Steve says; females were not equal in ancient Greece.

      That man said it's important to notice that in the ancient Greek stories about the Amazons it usually turned out that the females are killed by men.  One exception to that ending is the time when Hippolyte survived when Hercules stole her magical belt.  

      There are places in the world now where females live what they call "Egalitarian" lives with males.  That man told our boss he knew people who visited this area called "Kazakhstan."  The women live just like the ancient Scythians.  

                                                                             SKADI

ARTWORK BY FELIPE ABREU

       The day before yesterday in book one I was supposed to learn and then write about this one Viking Goddess named "Skadi."  On that outline Daisy had put her after Thor; and Odin with his two Crows.  But somehow I missed it and realized it only later that first night. 

      I was kind of upset but Dais calmed me down and told me I could just insert Skadi into book three after Xena, the Amazons and the Scythian women.  It was no big deal.  Hey God!  I'm glad You had me come over here to be with Daisy.  As You know, I really want to help her too.

     Skadi is the Norse Goddess of "the Mountains" and the "Winter hunt."  Daisy told me me our boss mentioned how Skadi wore skis and had a bow to shoot things.  

      I guess Skadi was from a "Mythological Race" called the "Jötunn."  Just like Odin had his two Crows, Skadi has her "protective" Wolves.  She married the Sea God "Njord" but he didn't like living in such cold mountains like Skadi did.  Later Skadi also married Odin.    

(Chapter 6)

12:30

      No matter what I do I still keep thinking about Heathcliff.  Dais said it would be a challenge to write today and she was so right.  But I also remember what Sister Rita Joseph said; "There are times when overcoming challenges is what what makes life meaningful."

      So You Guys, I'll just have to try harder not to think so much about how Heathcliff is gone.   Instead I'll just focus on finishing this third book.  That will be a real challenge that's for sure.  But I'll do it in memory of Heathcliff and all of those who have died in Mr. Steve's life.  

        Well, according to my outline I still have one more thing to write about Saint Patrick.  It's probably a myth he got rid of the Snakes in Ireland because there are no Snakes in Ireland our Chief says.  But there is a big legless Lizard that sort of looks like a Worm! 

      Mr. Steve one time read that some people think Snakes in the story about Saint Patrick and the Snakes might be symbolic of Druid Priests because sometimes they were "represented" by a Snake.  

        The Major League Baseball teams are all in Spring Training right now.  The A's usually have good teams even though it's hard to compete financially with teams like the Dodgers or Yankees.  But they have a good General Manager our boss told us.  

      Both Daisy and myself would like to go back in time to see the Oakland A's play during the early 1970's.  Mr. Steve says he now looks back on that time as the "Good old Days" as far as his interest in the A's.  He told us he now appreciates that man Charles Finley more.

     some of Charles Finley's ideas were never "adopted;" like using orange baseballs.  But some of his "Innovations" are now "taken for granted" as I wrote about in book two yesterday.  Charles Finley was a "Showman" or "Maverick" in the 1960's and 1970's.

      Something I sure wish I could've seen is that mechanical Rabbit who used to come out of the ground near home plate to give the umpires new balls at the A's home games. What an ingenious idea!  If I could go back in time I'd definitely go back to see that!

    when the A's were in Kansas City, Charles Finley used to have some Sheep grazing beyond the right field wall.  Boy I'd like to see that too.  I'd like to have a Sheep but Daisy told me it wouldn't be practical.  But we could sell the wool!   

      That man Charles Finley sure sounds like an interesting person Daisy thinks.  I think so too.   Our Chief told us he was the first Baseball owner who hired pretty girls to get and then throw back all the foul balls after they were "hit down the line."  

      Mr. Steve says one of those  "Ball girls" that Charles Finley hired as a teenager later started   "Mrs. Fields Cookies."  And one of the A's "Batboys" during the 1970's later became this famous "Rap" singer named M.C. Hammer.  Daisy likes his song called "Can't Stop This."

      When our Chief first heard that M.C. Hammer song Can't Stop This he thought it sounded "vaguely familiar."  Then he thinks it was his girlfriend Harriet who told him M.C. Hammer was using the melody from an earlier song called "Super Freak" by this guy Rick James.

                                                       M.C. HAMMER ON FAR RIGHT

        During the 1970's when that guy M.C. Hammer was a Batboy for the A's their home stadium was called the "Oakland Alameda County Coliseum."  Mr. Steve told Daisy and me that about ten years later, in the 1980's, is when he had a hit song with Can't Touch This.

     in the 1960's this guy named Rick James was in a Canadian band with Neil Young.  But Rick James was originally from the city of Buffalo in "Up-State" New York.  Mr. Steve has an Auto Dealership customer near to Buffalo. 

                                                         NEIL YOUNG / RICK JAMES

    Rick James lived here in Southern California until his death in 2004.  In the 1990's he took too many drugs so went to jail.  Mr. Steve told Daisy and me that his trial was held in the San Fernando Court House near Sylmar.                                                                                                                 

    Rick James was a mentor to this girl singer named Teena Marie.  She was one of Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Harriet's favorite singers.  Dais says our Chief used to tell Harriet she should write a book about Teena Marie; who died in 2010.                                                           

                                                       TEENA MARIE / RICK JAMES

     Our Chief says he read that Teena Marie lived all over Los Angeles.  She died while living in Pasadena but had lived in other places like Venice and Inglewood; which is where the Forum is located.  But she grew up in Mission Hills right near the San Fernando Mission.

      Teena Marie died in 2010 and people like Stevie Wonder went to her funeral.  Even though she was white Teena Marie appeared on that show Soul Train many times.  Like Mr. Steve, she was a Catholic and it was Nuns who taught her to play the piano.

      Our boss read that Teena Marie was in a Beverly Hillbillies episode.  She made fourteen Soul, Funk and Rhythm and Blues albums and was Godmother to Marvin Gaye's daughter.  She also "took in" this guitar player named Lenny Kravitz when he needed help. 

      Oakland A's stadium where M.C. Hammer worked is actually a Football stadium built for the Oakland Raiders.  In the 1980's they were the Los Angeles Raiders and our boss took pictures of them.  But now they moved back to Oakland.

OAKLAND ALAMEDA COUNTY COLISEUM

    because the Oakland Coliseum was built for Football the "Foul Areas" are much bigger than most other Baseball stadiums.  This has been both good and bad he says. Over the years it has won and lost the A's some games.  n the A's were still in Kansas City, he paid the BEATLES $150,000 dollars to play one concert at his Baseball Stadium.  Up to then this was the highest amount ever payed to a musical act. 

      1964 was the year the BEATLES first came over here to America.  By then they had a few hit songs on the Radio.  When their Plane arrived in New York City they were met by screaming and "hysterical" fans; mainly girls.  

       I was supposed to write more about the BEATLES yesterday but Dais and I decided to put them here in book three instead.  Mr. Steve thinks, just as Muhammad Ali was more that just a Boxer, the BEATLES were more than simply entertainers.  

    in 1964 one of the most popular tv shows was the "Ed Sullivan Show."  It was kind of like that Lawrence Welk Show.  But it was filmed in New York City.  The BEATLES made a now famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

      In New York City the BEATLES did a concert at "Shea Stadium;" where this Baseball team the "Mets" play.  Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Emily's older sister went to that concert.  Emily grew up on Long Island and came to California for College.  Mets is short for "Metropolitans."   

       on that first BEATLES American tour they played a concert at the Hollywood Bowl here in Los Angeles.  Mr. Steve has been to the Hollywood Bowl a few times. 

      I guess the BEATLES toured the United States three times; 1964,1965 and 1966.  Then they quit doing concerts or "playing live."  Instead they concentrated on making music in the Studio and did some of the most important music of all time.  

      One way that the BEATLES changed the music industry forever was how they wrote their own songs.  At least that's what Mr. Steve thinks.  Until then singers just sang songs written for them by someone else.  You make more money if you write your own songs I guess.

      The BEATLES quit playing concerts after 1966.  And from what Mr. Steve told us one of the biggest reasons was all those screaming girls at their concerts.  Daisy and Millie saw this show on the BEATLES and told me that you couldn't even hear them playing their songs.

      Dais says one time she and Millie were in Mr. Steve's Bedroom and watched a good show on that guy Adolph Hitler.  They showed how women reacted to seeing or hearing him.  It looked just like what happened in 1964,1965 and 1966 when the BEATLES played concerts.

       Daisy says a lot of times bands or singers really don't play live on tv.  They just pretend to do their songs but it's really only a tape playing.  And Daisy told me, some bands even fake playing in their concerts too.  It's called "Lip Syncing."  

                                                                  MILLI VANILLI

PHOTO CREDIT TIME & LIFE PICTURES / GETTY

       MILLI VANILLI is the name of a band but also two singers.  In 1990, when Mr. Steve was thirty five years old I guess, those guys MILLI VANILLI won these things called "Grammy" Awards.  

     turned out that MILLI VANILLI really didn't do any of the singing on that album which had their hit songs on it.  The real singers didn't look as good as MILLI VANILLI so were kept hidden.  

      So MILLI VANILLI ended up having to give back their Grammy awards in 1990.  Returning those trophies must've been so embarrassing Mr. Steve says.  I just looked up "Photogenic" and it means; "likely to be more attractive." 

       Too bad about those guys MILLI VANILLI.  One of them is already dead now.  Mr. Steve was told he might've died from drugs.  Daisy thinks he was probably so sad he willed himself to death.  She says that happens a lot in life.  

      According to the book three outline Daisy helped me assemble, the next thing I'll write about is that one guy John Lennon of the BEATLES.  Mr. Steve has noticed how often the number 3 has effected his life.  And John Lennon noticed the same thing with the number 9.

                                           JOHN LENNON (1940-1980) WITH FAMILY

      Hey God!  As you know, Dais jokes that You gave me a photographic memory. But when she was helping me put together my three outlines I couldn't believe how good of a memory she has. She's the one who helped me write down the things in 9's that influenced John Lennon. 

     read a Magazine article about how the number 9 was involved in John Lennon's life.  The first house he ever lived in was his Grandfather's and the address had a few 9's in it; "#9 Newcastle" in the "Wavertree" area of "Liverpool."

      Daisy told me the Magazine article on John Lennon said he was born on October 9, in 1940.  October is the ninth month of the year.  In 1940 Germany's Blitzkrieg conquered most of Europe and then the Battle of Britain began.  I wrote about that yesterday in book two.

      Mr. Steve has sometimes wondered if World War II had any influence on the BEATLES.  He thinks it must have; seeing as how the four members of the BEATLES were British.  Oh!  Jack the Jackrabbit is now sprinting bye right in front of the three Sheds.  

       Mr. Steve's brother Rock was born in October and so was his Niece Cristina.  Mr. Steve has known a few people whose birthdays were in October.   Mr. Cliff was born in October.  As I said yesterday in book two, Grandma Trujillo was born on Halloween, or October the 30th.   

       as a teenager John Lennon's best friend was named Stu "Sutcliffe."  He wasn't really a musician he played bass guitar in John Lennon's band the QUARREYMEN; which is what the BEATLES were called then.  He's now called the "Fifth BEATLE."

                                                                  THE CRICKETS

       Stu Sutcliffe and John Lennon liked Buddy Holly's Texas band the CRICKETS.  In fact, it may have been Stu Sutcliffe who suggested they make the band name the "BEETLES."  And then later it was changed to the BEATLES. 

      some of the first consistent jobs the BEATLES were hired to do came in German Nightclubs in the city called "Hamburg."  Later John Lennon said it was where they really learned how to be a good band. 

          picture of the BEATLES playing in Germany. The caption says Paul McCartney's playing bass and the drummer is Pete Best; later replaced by "Ringo" Starr.  The amplifiers are so small!  

       This photograph from Hamburg shows Stu Sutcliffe sitting and not even playing his guitar.  Daisy says he was a painter who was in the band only because of John Lennon.  I guess he died young.  I can see George Harrison too in this really early picture of the BEATLES.  

      When that kid Jason brought his guitar over to our house so he could play with Mr. Steve he used a little amplifier called a "Pig Nose."  He bought it used at a "Pawn Shop" in Victorville. It had plenty of power Daisy told me.    

      Daisy told me that she had to get up and leave our boss's Bedroom because it was so loud in there.  She went into the Guest Bedroom and just listened in there instead.  Drums are kind of loud she says, especially the cymbals. 

      Jason and Mr. Steve like that movie I wrote about yesterday called Spinal Tap.  Dais says one symbol of power now with some bands is when they use big amplifiers called "Marshall Stacks" up on stage.  That band SPINAL TAP used those.  

     I just thought of something I feel like learning about; even though it's not on our outline.  Mr. Steve is interested in the subject of Marshall amplifiers.  In that one picture of the BEATLES in  Hamburg they had such tiny amplifiers.                   

     A few years ago Mr. Steve met this guy who knew about the history of the electric guitar.  So of course he had to also study amplifiers.  They talked about the movie Spinal Tap and Marshall amplifiers.                

      Steve has wondered about what it would be like to play with a guitar player who was using a Marshall Stack.  It must be unbelievably powerful.  He's been to a few Sound     Checks of bands who used Marshall's.          

     "Lemmy" from that British band MÖTORHEAD.  He's standing in front of a Marshall amplifier playing a "Rickenbacker" bass guitar.  Daisy says that our boss likes the "crunchy" sound those kind of bass guitar's make. 

   Like Mr. Steve, he collects military things like hats and helmets.  Mr. Steve met Lemmy once and told him his brother Rock was a "Summer      Camp Couselor" at Griffith Park years ago.  He used the nickname "Hawkwind."                        

 Hawkwind was a "Space Rock" band from the 1970's.  Lemmy was in Hawkwind before he formed his own band Hawkwind.  I'll write about Hawkwind later this afternoon.                                   

       British man named Jim Marshall "created" the Marshall Stack.  An "Electrical Engineer;" he's the "Father of Loud." I know Mr. Steve thinks he's just as important as those "pioneers" Leo Fender and Les Paul to the history of the electric guitar.                                                         

JIM MARSHALL ( 1923-2012)

       a picture of that man Jim Marshall.  He looks friendly.  I know he must've been smart.  Oh!  Jim Marshall died two years ago.  He was from England and guitar players like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page used his amplifiers I guess.                            

      Oh wow!  When he was a kid that guy Jim Marshall got really sick and almost died.  He was in Hospitals for a long time.  So when World War II broke out he couldn't help fight the Nazi's.    He became a musician instead.  At least he wasn't lazy.  Mr. Steve would like that.                          

   I'll bet Jim Marshall really wanted to fight!  But he was only sixteen and had bad health so probably couldn't have been an effective soldier anyway.  This is interesting.  It says here that      during World War II Jim Marshal "devised" a "portable amplification system."                           

      It says here that once the Second World War started in 1939, when Germany and Russia attacked Poland; there was a shortage of gas in England.  So that probably made it a lot harder to get jobs and do things like that.  I can hear Dawn over there barking next door.                          

     I guess Jim Marshall could only get a job as a singer but knew he had a weak voice.  So he built an "amplification system" to make it easier for him to be heard when playing live. 

      I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  It says here that during World War II Jim Marshall used a Bicycle to pull a little Wagon carrying his "primitive" amplifier to the jobs.  Then one day the   drummer didn't show up and he filled in.  He became a drummer.                

     After the Second World War ended in 1945 Jim Marshall gave drum lessons in order to make some money.  And he did so good that he saved up his money and started his own business in the western area of London.  He sold musical equipment like drums and later guitars too.                  

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

       Wow!  It says here that guy Jim Marshall gave drum lessons to Mitch Mitchell.  He was the drummer who ended up being in Jimi Hendrix's band when Jimi Hendrix went to England.    

     by the early 1960's that man Jim Marshall had a good business going.  He knew the father of Pete Townshend; who was in that band the       WHO.  Pete Townshend asked him if he could make an "Amp" with more power.                                                                            

PETE TOWNSHEND

        I guess that man Jim Marshall ending up building what would evolve into the Marshall ?Stack.  And then bands kept using more and more of them to get louder and louder.  Some of the bands even piled fake Marshall Stacks on stage to make it look more powerful.

        One reason why I felt like writing about amplifiers right now is because I remember when Mr. Steve told us about that guy he met from Texas.  He told Mr. Steve that band PANTERA in the 1980's, before they became famous; stacked some "Randall" amplifiers.

       I guess that guy from Texas knew a lot about musical equipment.  He and Mr. Steve had a discussion about "Dummy" amps.  Those are the fake amplifiers which are just hollow shells that only look real from the outside.  

       Mr. Steve told us during the 1980's and 1990's a typical stage set up or "wall" would be four Marshall Stacks for each guitar.  Most of them were dummies or just empty "Props."  They were meant to give the impression of power.  

      That guy from Texas and Mr. Steve agreed that after a while the walls of Marshall amps got to be ridiculous.  You know he says, they can't all be real because it would be way too dangerous for everyone.  That much power would quickly blow your ears out permanently.

       Oh!  Mr. Steve will probably be interested in this.  It says here in my Encyclopedia that John Lennon himself realized how often the number 9 seemed to enter and then have an influence on his life.  There's even a quote he said; "It's a number that follows me around."

         when the BEATLES returned to England from over there in Germany; they were soon "discovered."  Their new Manager changed their image and began to "promoting" them.  That means getting more attention Dais told me.

      Pretty soon the BEATLES went from wearing dirty leather jackets to "matching" suits with no collars.  They even wore BEATLE boot shoes that influenced everyone Mr. Steve told us.  He and some of his friends convinced their parents to get them BEATLE boots.

THE KINKS

.y dressed better and so did the other bands like the KINKS and 

       John Lennon wrote a few songs that used the number 9 in the titles.  That's what it says here in this Encyclopedia.  One of the earliest ones he wrote was called "One After 909" which could even have been written way back in the late 1950's.  

      This is interesting.  That song One After 909 was not "released" until 1970.  And I guess the main reason was because John Lennon did not like the original recorded version from the early 1960's.  

      The BEATLES, who quit playing live in 1966, did a final concert up on roof. 

      He I guess he wrote a song called "9Dream."

 read recently in a magazine article that the last words John Lennon said were; "Yes, I am."  This was because a New York City police officer asked him if he was John Lennon right; after he arrived on the scene when John Lennon was shot.

      I wonder if that Cow Bird is too young to realize that Heathcliff the Rooster is now gone?  I'll bet it doesn't.  But we sure do.  I wonder what it's going to be like tomorrow morning?  I don't even want to think about it.  Oh well.  As our Chief says; "life goes on."

     t the green in our often brown desert makes me think of the Oakland A's.  Daisy and I hope someday to wear one of Mr. Steve's many A's hats. 

      In 1968, when he was thirteen years old, Mr. Steve asked his parents for white "cleats" for Christmas.  This of course was because the Oakland Athletics were wearing white shoes which made them totally unique.  Our boss just loved the way white shoes looked!

     Mr. Steve's mom looked "high and low" for white Baseball shoes but there was only black.  It was like when a lady asked  Henry Ford if she could get a "Model T" car in her favorite color.  He said to her; "Of course you can, as long as your favorite color is black."

     In 1968 our Chief's mother finally found some white Soccer shoes and gave them to Mr. Steve for Christmas.  He was so happy and couldn't wait for the next Baseball season; even though his team wore red and not green.  He "overly polished" those shoes he told us.

     When my boss thinks about wearing white shoes he chuckles.  He says he was a victim of that old Japanese saying; "The nail that sticks up gets pounded down." Just because he was the only player in white cleats some called him bad names and pitchers threw at him.

     Our Chief can play any position but for the 1969 season he played "first base" because he was the best player on the team at catching what they call "short hops."  One time, because he was wearing white shoes, another kid spiked him on purpose.  A big fight broke out.

     Mr. Steve was cut on the side of his right calf.  It was a big cut and bled a lot.  Mr. Steve, as a First Baseman, was "holding on the baserunner" who had "made it to first."   The Pitcher threw over to first base to "keep the runner close" after he took his "lead."  

     As Mr. Steve caught the "pickoff" throw and tried to "tag" the runner he felt some pain as that kid's spikes tore downward on his leg.  Mr. Steve punched the kid in the cheek and that kid swung back but missed.  Both benches emptied and a "Brawl" broke out.

     For years Mr. Steve had a noticeable scar on his shin; and all because he wore white Baseball shoes.  Now teams wears colored shoes; the Dodgers royal blue and the Angels red.  But not back then in 1969.  It literally was black or white he jokes. 

      Sometime back in the mid-1980's our Chief was at the Forum for an event and met this one Football player named Joe Namath.  They were in a restaurant called the "Forum Club."  Joe Namath was a Quarterback and was the first Football player to wear white shoes.

                                                                      JOE NAMATH

      When Mr. Steve told Joe Namath about wearing white shoes he chuckled and said;  "I know how you feel.  At that time wearing anything other than black shoes was like having a Bull's eye on your back."  

      Joe Namath is originally from the state of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Steve's friend Rick's family came to California from Pittsburgh which is about thirty miles to the southeast of this town called "Beaver Falls;" where Joe Namath grew up.

      Our boss has a number of Auto Dealerships as customers in Pennsylvania.  One of them sells Ford cars and is in Beaver Falls.  Looking at this map of Pennsylvania here in this Encyclopedia it looks like a big State.  

     I just thought of something I feel like writing about even though it isn't on my outline; the  history of what's called the "Forward Pass" in Football.  Writing about Joe Namath, who was a great passer, makes me recall that Mr. Steve told us about a documentary he saw.

   in the late 19th century Football was more like that other sport called "Rugby."  It was just blocking and running.  But it was so dangerous that people at times died.  So right at the turn of the 20th century many people wanted to "Ban" Football.

      history of the forward pass, it was President Teddy Roosevelt who helped save Football.  He liked Football because it was very violent.  He thought violence was good for building character in a boy.  

                                                 PRESIDENT TEDDY ROOSEVELT

     President Roosevelt wanted to save Football so he suggested to the people in charge of Football that allowing the forward pass and changing some who other rules would make it less dangerous.  But those people didn't really want to do it.

     Reluctantly, the forward pass was allowed but back then the ball was so big and round it was hard to throw.  In the first decade of the 20th century the pass was was hardly ever used.  

     in 1913 Notre Dame used the pass to surprise and beat the Army team in a College game.  And it was this guy named Knute Rockne, who was later their Coach, who was the "Receiver" and caught those forward passes.

                                                                                  KNUTE ROCKNE

        pictures of Knute Rockne in this Encyclopedia.  The caption says that after he stopped being a player, Knute Rockne helped design better Football uniforms and equipment.  

     In the picture of Knute Rockne as a player he's wearing a tiny helmet and he doesn't have any shoulder pads on either.  And of course back in those days no one wore face masks.  No wonder so many of the players got badly injured.  

     at Notre Dame Knute Rockne was a "pioneer" in figuring out ways to "incorporate" the forward pass in a Football offense.  Hey Blessed Mother! My French Dictionary says that Notre Dame means "Our Lady."  

       According to my outline I still have things to say about the Oakland A's.  In the 1970's they were one of the best teams in Baseball our Chief says.  But then this thing called "Free Agency" came in and many of the A's  best players left the A's so they could go make more money. 

     Mr. Steve told us, unfortunately for the A's, the city of Oakland is considered what they call a "small market."  This is true even though San Francisco is right across this Bay.  So it's hard to attract good players now because they can get paid more in bigger cities.

       Until the late 1960's the owners of the Major League Baseball teams controlled the players by using what Mr. Steve called "Reserve Clauses" in their contracts.  In effect, this meant that they owned the players for life if they wanted to.  It was not fair.  

      In 1969 this one Baseball player named Curt Flood challenged the system by refusing to be traded from Saint Louis to Philadelphia.  But he lost his case up at the Supreme Court and then his life went way down after that.  He ended up going "bankrupt" and lost everything.

CURT FLOOD (1938-1997)

         looked up the term "Stare Decisis" in one of Mr.s Steve's legal books next to the pile of Encyclopedia's.   That means "To stand by things previously decided" in Latin.  That's what the Supreme Court used as their reason to rule against Curt Flood.  

     Curt Flood was one of the best players for over a decade but his life was kind of ruined after that.  And the sad part was that none of the other Baseball players tried to help Curt Flood.  Only Jackie Robinson "testified on his behalf" as they say.

        When Curt Flood sued the Major Leagues not a single other player was willing to "publicly" support him.  But even though he lost Curt Flood was the "martyr" who started the ball rolling toward the more "equitable" system now being used.  

     During the 1978 season Curt Flood was a "color analyst" on Radio for the Oakland A's.  He died in 1995 and Mr. Steve read he's buried in Inglewood, near the Forum.  In his later years he painted a "portrait" of Joe DiMaggio which sold for ten thousand dollars! 

      After Curt Flood started the process of "breaking the chains" other players came to agree with him.  Other players sued Baseball too.  And in the late 1970's the Oakland Athletics paid the highest price.  One A's pitcher who left Oakland was Jim "Catfish" Hunter. 

                                                                       JIM "CATFISH" HUNTER (1946-1999)

      "Catfish" Hunter was one of the first players to "play out his option" and leave for a better deal.  He pitched for the A's in Kansas City and for Oakland once threw a "perfect game." That means he "faced" twenty seven batters over nine "innings" and got them all out.

      Mr. Steve watched and studied how Jim Hunter pitched over the years.  He was not at all overwhelming but moved the ball up and down and inside and outside.  He changed speeds on his pitches and was just a smart pitcher who "played Chess" with the batters.

      Because our boss at one time in his early twenties used to umpire in order to make money he watches Umpires closer than most people.  So he noticed how that guy Jim Hunter had such good control of his pitches that it even effected how the Umpires "called" his games.

      What they call "Home Plate" is seventeen inches wide Mr. Steve says.  And he saw on many occasions how, by the end of the game, Jim Hunter seemed to be pitching to a Home Plate that was twenty inches across.  The Umpires were giving him the "benefit of the doubt."    

    But once the new system came in the mid-1970's the Yankees offered Jim Hunter a lot more money than Charles Finley could ever have paid him to stay in Oakland.  And over the next few years most of the A's good players also left for more money.  Too bad our boss says.

      Babe Ruth, because he made the fans come back after the "infamous" 1919 "Black Sox" gambling scandal, and then Jackie Robinson for "integrating" Baseball, are the two most important players in the history of the Major Leagues.  

     most important "non-player" in the history of professional Baseball is this one man named Marvin Miller.  He's the one who "organized" the players into what they call a "Union" so they wouldn't be controlled and dominated by the League's owners.

                                                       MARVIN MILLER (1917-2012)

         Mr. Steve thinks that the high paid modern professional Baseball players should be grateful for Marvin Miller.  But he suspects that many if not most of them don't even know who Marvin Miller was.  

        Marvin Miller was from New York City and was a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Before working for the Major League players he'd "organized" Unions for the steel workers and also auto workers like Mr. Steve's brother Rock.

      when that guy Marvin Miller began working for the Major League Baseball players in 1966 the "average" salary was about $19,000 a year.  When he left in 1982 it had risen to about $320,000.  And now it's in the millions our boss one time told us.

       Of course he's "biased" Mr. Steve admits but, in his subjective opinion the Oakland Athletics of the early 1970 's were one of the best teams ever "fielded."  He thinks that they had an almost perfect "collective lineup" in the nine batters they sent up to the plate.

      There's an old saying; "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."  Our Chief told us he thinks that would apply to the 1970's Oakland A's.  As a unit they were one of the best in history but each on their own on other teams didn't do as good; except Reggie Jackson that is.

      Bert Campaneris was a good leadoff hitter who could "bunt" and had a "good eye" to get "walks" and get on base.  Joe Rudi could then "move him over" so Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson or Gene Tenace could "drive him in."  The second half of their lineup was good too.

      Mr. Steve says in 1975 Bob Dylan wrote a song called "Catfish" about Jim Hunter; who died in 1999 of A.L.S. or Lou Gehrig's disease.   After Jim Hunter "Broke the Ice" other players from small markets "Followed Suit" and left for more money. 

     Unfortunately for Oakland A's fans like Mr. Steve, "Free Agency" hurt them the most.  They lost more good players than any other team.  A lot of the A's players were being underpaid by Charles Finley.  Too bad Mr. Steve says.  They could've had a longer dynasty.

     I wrote a lot about that guy Muhammad Ali yesterday in the afternoon.  I intended to do that here in book three.  But I still want to write a little bit about him here too.  Mr. Steve believes it was also Muhammad Ali who helped professional athletes to make more money.

      thinks Muhammad Ali, from a "Sociological" point  of view, was important.  Mr. Steve has read Newspapers since he was about fourteen.  So he notices when sports, race, politics, religion and foreign policy merge.  It's sort of rare he says. 

     Hey God!  Last night in discussing today with Dais You know I thought I might've written too much about Muhammad Ali yesterday.  But now, in looking at my outline for book three I notice that I still have a few things I can write about that haven't been crossed off. 

     In Mr. Steve's subjective opinion Muhammad Ali "Paved the Way" but "Paid the Price" for for the possibly overpaid athletes of today.  Sometimes he wonders if they appreciate what he did so they could make what they make.  There are times when he thinks they don't. 

    for most of the 20th century professional athletes were almost like Slaves.  But Muhammad Ali "redefined" things he told us.  And now, ironically, the athlete is making so much money they're part of the very system that at one time owned them.

      When Muhammad Ali refused to go into the military, even though people like Jim Brown did support him, some black athletes like Jackie Robinson didn't.  Jesse Owens and Joe Louis went into the army; as did Elvis and Baseball players like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio too.

                                  ATHLETES SUPPORT MUHAMMAD ALI (1967)

PHOTO BY TONY TOMSIC

       There's a good picture in this Encyclopedia that shows a "Press Conference" just like the ones Mr. Steve has been to.  According to the caption Muhammad Ali is "surrounded" by other athletes who "supported his decision to refuse induction into the military."

     Muhammad Ali's Press Conference.  It shows the Football palyer Jim Brown to Ali's left.  And on the other side of him the Basketball player Bill Russel is seated.  Mr. Steve once shook Bill Russel's hand.

      in the back row of this photograph a guy name Willie Davis is standing.  He was a Football player back then.  He's the third person from the right.  In 1984 Mr. Steve met him a few times at the Olympic Headquarters in Westwood; near the U.C.L.A. campus.

      Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is sitting in the front row at the Press Conference.  In the 1980's when Mr. Steve and his friend Mr. Mark worked for the Lakers he was one of their best players.  Mr. Steve took pictures of him a few times back then in the 1980's.  

                                                             KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR  

    Mr. Steve told Daisy and I that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who grew up in New York City, was like Muhammad Ali in wanting to change his name.  When he came out here to California so he could play Basketball for U.C.L.A his name was Lew Alcindor.                 

      Muhammad Ali inspired other athletes to become "Activists" in other areas of society.  And Mr. Steve thinks once they acquired power in areas like religion or politics those athletes turned their attention to the real power in American culture, money.  

      After the time of Muhammad Ali other professional athletes, black and white, became more confident and began to give their opinions on things.  And they also eventually started to want more money for themselves and their families.  

     In Baseball guys like Curt Flood really lost out at first.  But, because of them todays athletes are paid well; maybe too well Mr. Steve jokes.  And now the players at times seem to almost have too much power too.  The "Tables have been turned" as that old saying goes.

     Mr. Steve thinks an ironic thing about today's modern professional athlete is that now most of them will never "Speak truth to power" as they say.  Because they make as much money as they do they've become part of the very establishment that was once their adversary.

                                                             MICHAEL JORDON

                                                                     PHOTO BY JEFF HAYNES

       One of the best Basketball players in history was named Michael Jordon.  Daisy says he was able to jump so high up into the air.  He's from North Carolina but played for the Chicago Bulls as a professional.  Mr. Steve used to sell apparel to one of Auto Dealerships.

     Because the professional athletes are making so much money you will hardly ever hear them say anything controversial Mr. Steve says.  And you will rarely see them do something which is unpopular.  Michael Jordon is now one of the richest people in the whole world.

     I remember when I ran back here to the Patio that one time; to write down that one quote by Michael Jordon.  When asked why he didn't support a Liberal North Carolina politician against a Conservative he said; "Republicans wear sneakers too."  Michael Jordon sells shoes. 

     Mr. Steve says Michael Jordon is not just a "Millionaire."  He's a "Billionaire."  One Billion is one thousand millions Mr. Steve told us.  Our Chief has wondered if Michael Jordon would give up three years like Muhammad Ali did for "a matter of conscience."  

     Wow!  It turns out that even though I wrote so much about him yesterday afternoon; I still wrote a lot about Muhammad Ali today too.  That's mainly because I know Mr. Steve thinks he's important.  Daisy completely agrees with me on that.  Well, back to my outline.

      I can see that I still have a few things to write about that guy Charles Finley; who owned the Oakland A's.  For a while Charles Finley also owned this one Hockey team called the Oakland "Seals."  I'm going to write about them now.  I hear the neighbors Ducks. 

     for many years the National Hockey League had only six teams or "Franchises;" the Montreal "Canadians," New York "Rangers," Boston "Bruins," Toronto "Maple Leafs," Detroit "Red Wings" and Chicago "Black Hawks."

     Mr. Steve drew the logos of all the first six Hockey teams when he was a kid.  He thinks the Detroit Red Wings emblem was the most difficult but he did it.  In 1968 the N.H.L. "expanded." Mr. Steve was thirteen.  A lot of things happened in 1968.  

     Two of the new teams that came into the N.H.L. in 1968 were the Los Angeles "Kings" and the Oakland Seals.  The Seals original uniforms used green as the primary color with white and royal blue as the  secondary colors.  Mr. Steve drew the Kings and Seals logos too.

      by 1970 the Oakland Seals were about to go out of business.  So Charles Finley decided to buy them and keep from moving away from the Bay area.  And of course he did things that some traditionalists didn't like.  The Seals wore white skates!

     another thing Charles Finley did when he acquired the Seals was change their color scheme.  Like the A's, the Seals would keep green as the primary color with white and yellow as the secondary colors.  Sometimes the Seals wore green skates!  

      After Charles Finley bought the financially struggling Oakland Seals he changed their name to the "California Golden Seals."  they were not very good and didn't have many good players.  Daisy says she'd like to see a Hockey game in person.

       Mr. Steve has seen a lot of professional sporting events in person over the years.  He says you can see good or bad games in every sport.  But, in his subjective opinion, if you happen to see a good Hockey game that's the most exciting; especially when both Goalies are good.

   there are times when two Hockey teams are equally matched and both go up and down the Hockey Rink making good passes.  Or it could be that both teams are good at what they call "Checking."  I'd be afraid to get hit with one of those "Pucks."

     collection of rubber Hockey Pucks.  A while back he bought another one with the Anahem "Ducks" logo on it at a Garage Sale   He has some real N.H.L. Pucks.  I guess Pucks are hard even though they are made out of rubber.      

    She told me that in the 1970's when Charles Finley owned the Seals few players even wore helmets.  Now of course they have to wear a helmet whether they want to or not Dais says. 

      t in 1970 the only player on the Los Angeles Kings to wear a helmet was named Butch Göring.  He was short.  But Mr. Steve said his helmet was small and didn't give much protection.  Butch Göring was a good skater and passer 

                                                                JACQUES PLANTE

     As I wrote about in book one, even as late as the mid-1970's many Goalies still didn't wear a mask! three pictures of Jacques Plante.  The first two show him on the Montreal Canadians; one without a mask and the second of his very first mask.

     I'll bet the Goalie mask in Mr. Steve's Bedroom looks like the one shown in this third picture of Jacques Plante when he was on the Oilers.  That mask would give good protection.   Dais says there are now no Goalies in the N.H.L. who don't wear a mask.  

                                                    GLEN HALL / JACQUES PLANTE

     Jacques Plante says he's standing with another Goalie named Glen Hall.  They were on the Saint Louis Blues.   picture from the early 1970's.  Neither one  wearing a mask.  

     Mr. likes the uniforms of teams who use royal blue as a primary color; with white and yellow as secondary colors.  Serrano High School in Phelan uses that color scheme.  Of course, he also like green, yellow and white too because of the Oakland A's.

     Chief has drawn the Saint Louis Blues musical note logo so many times he can do it from memory.  The same is true with the logo of the Football Atlanta "Falcons."  

    Jacques Plante and Glen Hall they're wearing leg pads made out brown leather.  The gloves are the same.  Nowadays Mr. Steve says, Goalie pads and gloves are "color-coordinated" with the colors of the uniforms. 

     Now,  Daisy says Hockey players use gloves, sticks and masks and everything else in the team colors.  This is an idea that Charles Finley would have liked since he encouraged the same thing. Charles Finley knew how to "market" things our Chief told Daisy and Millie. 

      Before Charles Finley owned the A's all Baseball catchers wore orange chest protectors and black and orange shin guards.  Now they wear those things in the color scheme of their teams. This is called "color-coordinated."   Mr. Steve's sister Susan is good at color-coordinating.

     But, sadly Mr. Steve says, the Seals were not very good.  And then, in 1971, they traded away their First Round Draft pick to the Montreal Canadians for players who ended up not doing that good.  That trade is now famous for being one of the worst trades in Hockey history.

      From what our boss says if the California Golden Seals had kept that First Round Daft pick they would have gotten this guy named Guy La Fleur.  Many years later he ended up going into the Hall of Fame.  So the Seals never became a good team while Montreal did.

                                                                      GUY LAFLEUR

     So, the Montreal Canadians got Guy LaFleur and the Seals got almost nothing.  Too bad that guy Guy LaFleur didn't go play in Oakland!   Mr. Steve jokes that if he had gone out to Oakland there would be pictures of him wearing white skates.

     I guess the Seals ended up moving to Colorado a few years after that terrible trade was made. At least that's what Mr. Steve told Daisy and Millie.  Mr. Steve said when the Seals moved out to Colorado they changed their colors to red, white and blue.  Not very imaginative.  

(Chapter 6)

     I love our land!  Oh!  Max and 99 are back!  It's so good to see 99!  Maybe I should run to the garage and tell Daisy.  Maybe later.  Right now I just want to keep on writing and try to keep my mind off the fact that Heathcliff is dead.  Max and 99 are eating out of the feeder again. 

   Rudy the Roadrunner.  He's standing on the branch of a big bush and has a Lizard in his mouth.  He'll jump down on the ground and then slam in on the ground.  That's what all Roadrunners do.  Poor Lizard.  I guess it was just too slow.  

     Rudy caught a pretty good sized Lizard.  But he can't let his grip go for even a second or that Lizard might get away.  Yup!  Rudy just floated down to the ground and is now standing just to the side of Moe.  

     Poor Lizard!  Rudy just body slammed it on the ground.  And he'll do that as many times as it takes to knock the Lizard out.  Mr. Steve says in Wrestling that's called "Pile driving"  Oh! that must hurt.  Oh! I just thought of something I forgot to write about yesterday.

     In book two I wrote about that Mexican worker named Esteban.  But I forgot to mention how he and Mr. Steve talked about a special Mexican form of Wrestling called "Lucha Libre."  That guy Mr. Esteban said Licha Libre means "Free Style;" because "anything goes" he says.

     Mr. Esteban told our boss, Lucha Libre style Wrestling started during the Great Depression of the 1930's.  To this day it's still really popular down in Mexico.  The Wrestlers are usually poor and are called "Luchadores." 

     She thinks our boss will be impressed when he sees how much I remember about what he learned from that worker Esteban.  That's going to be so great!  I can't wait to see what he says when he realizes what I've done.  

     Mr. Steve was interested to find out that many of the Lucha Libre Wrestlers today come from families who have been Luchadores for three generations.  Someday I really want to see one of those Wresting matches.  Daisy and Millie saw Wrestling on tv a few times.

PHOTO BY DAN GAFFNEY

     I'm curious to see what those masks the Mexican Wrestlers wear look like.  Dais told me that Millie liked the royal blue and silver mask this one guy wore.  She preferred the green and gold mask another Wrestler had on.  That's because she knows our boss likes the A's.

     Mr. Esteban told our boss how down in Mexico the life of a Wrestler is not as great as it seems to others.  One day you can perform in front of big crowds in Mexico City and a few days later in a small village with an audience of a few dozen.  

      Esteban told us, Mexican Wrestlers lead kind of a lonely life.  And it's not easy.  They sometimes have to wear a mask for most of the day.  Even though it's fake Wrestlers have died in freak accidents.  

     "What you get from Wrestling is a lot of injuries but a lot of love from the people.  It has to be great making children smile."  That's what Esteban told us and Mr. Steve thinks he's probably right about that.  Besides making some money; you can make others happy too.

      Mr. Esteban told us about this other newer form of Lucha Libre called "Perros del Mal."  I think that means "Bad Dogs" and I guess the Wrestlers are kind of mean.  They call them "Rudos." 
 

                Our Chief's "perfect day" is when he gets up early and makes enough money so that by mid day he can then spend the rest of the day working on his personal projects.  I kind of like doing this writing because it makes me feel as though I'm not wasting time!

          It's at times like this that I really appreciate the desert more.  As my boss says, the 3 of us are lucky to be able to lead a "less hurried" lifestyle.  We're not rich but we control our own destiny way more than most are able to do.  Thank you Everyone up there in Heaven!

      Centipede again! 

      Centipedes walk in such a steady and determined way.  All of those legs are so amazing the way they move like a team.  Mr. Steve jokes that the legs move like the Slaves rowing the Roman Warships in that movie Ben Hur.  They have to be what's called "coordinated."

      Hey!  That Centipede just stopped and is lifting up on it's back legs the way Rabbits do.  And it's sniffing the air like it did yesterday and the day before that.  I wonder if the Centipede knows I'm looking at it.  I wonder if it has good eyesight?  

       Centipedes usually sleep during the day and move around at night. He says Buddhist's joke if you like scaring others then in your next life you'll come back as a Centipede because Centipedes often run out of the dark at your feet.

         Sometimes Daisy and I have wondered what it would be like to live under the ground like a Gopher or Ground Swuirrel. We wouldn't need eyesight as much.  We'd have to develop claws for digging.  Mr. Steve says he could never be a coal miner.  

      Hey Lord!  Remember in 1985 when when Mr. Steve went to the Tomb where You raised that one guy Lazarus from the dead.  As I mentioned in book one, he only made it halfway down the narrowing tunnel before he felt "Claustrophobic."  He couldn't make it all the way.

      Even though some made fun of him, Mr. Steve had to get out of Lazerus' tomb.  "Logically," he knew the tunnel would not collapse; but "emotionally" he couldn't help but think about it.  So he went back up to the surface and then felt he had to make a joke out of it to his father.

      Daisy and I have wondered Lord if You ever raised a Dog from the dead?  If You do we'd be so happy if raised Lucy, Millie and that other Dog Blackie from the dead.  We'd have five Dogs to guard our two acres.  If some invaded us we could bite him from all angles.   

      Even before 1985 our boss knew he doesn't feel comfortable in "tight spaces."  He jokes that he now  empathizes with my not wanting to be "enclosed."  And in 1977, on their trip back east he says, he didn't like being near the top of the World Trade Center and looking down.  

      As Daisy says, Worms and Bugs sure doesn't sound appetizing to us!  But, if we were starving we'd just have to "grit our teeth" as they say.  If ever something happens to our Chief I would be the one to smell out our food even though Daisy can still smell things too.

      Well, life goes on!  Poor Heathcliff.  Dais and I wish we would've been nicer to him.  We did bark at him as if he wasn't our friend at times.  But, You know Lord that we were just trying to show that we were good guards of our property.  It was nothing personal!  

    in the late-1970's he and Mark Ritter, and their friend Doug, went to "Punk" music concerts.  Our Chief first met both Doug and Mark Ritter after graduating from Sylmar High back in 1973. 

      In September of 1973 Mr. Steve started at Valley Junior College in Van Nuys.  There he and his girlfriend Sandy met people who had gone to Van Nuys and Grant High Schools.  It was then that he got that job at Laser Images; where Mark Ritter already worked.

      One time, in 1981 he thinks, our boss and Mark Ritter saw this Punk band called BLACK FLAG play at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.  Mr. Steve says it was "pretty good" but he likes music with "melody" and many Punk bands just play high energy "sprints." 

       At some Punk concerts they have an area in front of the stage called a "Mosh Pit."  This is an area where people, mostly guys, slam into and hit each other really hard.  Mr. Steve, Doug and Mark Ritter were not interested at all in going into mosh pits he told us.

      Mr. Steve thinks in early 1981 BLACK FLAG at that point had a Puerto Rican singer; the same singer who was interviewed in this movie "Decline of Western Civilization."  Some day I want to see that movie!  

      My Chief thinks it was 1981 when they saw a good band called X play for the first time.  Both BLACK FLAG and the band X were from Los Angeles.  But my boss says people from all over come here to live.  The band X were also in that movie The Decline of Western Civilization.

BLACK FLAG

     A magazine our Chief reads is called "LA Weekly."  In every issue is a "column" by a later singer for BLCK FLAG named Henry Rollins.  Mark Ritter, our boss's friend from the 1970's, saw Henry Rollins once do a "spoken word" show in Tucson.  

     Mr. Steve says he sometimes likes when a guitarist plays in an "atonal" way like the guitar player for BLACK FLAG sometimes does.  Frank Zappa at times played his music in a sort of atonal way.  But a lot of times it can sound "flat" and "not that good" our boss says.    

     one of the most talented Punk band he saw is called X.  They play Rockabilly-Punk Dais says.  Their songs were "melodic" and took skill to play.  Someday I really want to hear the band X's songs.  Daisy told me that the band X is so good.

      feel like learning about the history of the guitar.  Dais and I know the difference between an "acoustic" and an "electric" guitar.  We like the sound of both.  

      My Encyclopedia says the first known "guitar-like" musical instruments were from ancient Egypt.  Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  In 711 A.D. it was Muslim Moors first brought the guitar to Europe.  And one of the places they brought it to was the city of Córdoba! 

      I wonder what this means?  It says here that for many years the strings on acoustic guitars were made out of "Catgut."  I hope that doesn't mean they killed Cats to get out their guts for the guitars.  Some Sparrows just flew bye way up high in the beautiful blue sky.

      This is interesting.  The first electric guitars were invented in the 1930's during the years of the Great Depression.  From what it says here electric guitars turn the vibrations of the strings into electric signals that are strengthened by an amplifier before being sent to speakers.

           gui9tar history

     Well, back to my outline.  I kind of got off on a tangent again but I jut felt like writing about the history of the guitar.  It wasn't on my outline but now I'm glad I did it.  It took my mind off of the fact that Heathcliff is dead so that's good.  Thank All of You Guys up there.

     I still have to write more about Los Angeles Punk music from the late 1970's.  A famous Punk band from that peeriod was called the GERMS.  Mr. Steve says in the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization they came off as sort of "sloppy" and "amateurish." 

     From what Mr. Steve told us, in Punk music it's often not really the skill of the musicians but the "attitude" and energy they show.  I guess many, if not most, of the Punk bands really weren't that talented he says.  If he can easily play their songs then they can't be that difficult.       

     My Chief knows that the GERMS guitarist went on to play in NIRVANA.  But in The Decline of Western Civilization Darby Crash, the GERMS lead singer, was so high that someone had to yell at him to sing into the microphone!  I hear some Crows squawking at each other.

     I guess Darby Crash was so "loaded" up on stage in that movie he sang in a "slurred" voice.  Our Chief was told that the producers of Cheech and Chong's movie "Up in Smoke" decided not to use "Footage" of the GERMS playing at the Whisky A Go Go in their project.

     Out of curiosity Mr. Steve went and listened to the GERMS album from 1980 called "GI."  He thinks that some of the songs are "okay."  But, a few of the songs are not that good.  And the singing is kind of weak he thinks.  He says he's going to listen to it again.

                                                                                                               THE GERMS                                                                                                                     

     Later today I'll write about how Mr. Steve thinks there's still Fascist or even Nazi influence in popular culture entertainment.  In this one picture of the Germs in my Encyclopedia two of the    members are wearing Nazi-type armbands.  Michael Jackson liked armbands too.                         

Mr. Steve told us that the GERMS have now become really famous.  Sometimes he wonders why.  One reason he thinks might be because Darby Crash killed himself a few years after The     Decline of Western Civilization came out.  A Thrasher Bird is running bye right now.                    

   Our Chief thinks the GERMS are an example of how music is subjective and not objective.  But just because he doesn't think the GERMS were as talented as other bands like X, the DEAD  KENNEDYS or SEX PISTOLS doesn't mean others can't have a different opinion.                        

DARBY CRASH  

      Oh!  There's a good picture in this Encyclopedia of that guy Darby Crash.  He's holding one of those things they call a "Skateboard."  Daisy told me that Skateboards have small wheels on them and people ride them like little Surfboards.  It looks like it would be kind of fun.  

     In the Darby Crash picture he's wearing a "Maltese" Cross medal around his neck.  It's like a German military "Iron" Cross.  Later today I'll write about a band called MÖTORHEAD.  This guy in  MÖTORHEAD is named "Lemmy."  He wears Maltese Cross's too.

     When he was a kid Mr. Steve and his brothers and friends used to ride Skateboards.  So did his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich.  His other Niece Samantha has a boyfriend who likes to ride Skateboards so now she does too.  I'd like to try Skateboarding some time. 

      Mr. Steve told Daisy and Millie that when he thinks about Darby Crash he remembers how the day he picked to commit suicide was the day before the Beatles John Lennon was also killed.  So his obituary was totally lost the next day.  A Crow is cawing out there in the desert.

     Just like Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis's deaths were completely "drowned out" by dying on the same day as John F. Kennedy; Darby Crash's suicide got "Lost in the Shuffle" by the fact that John Lennon was shot to death back east in New York City where he lived. 

     One Punk band who did have talent was the the DEAD KENNEDYS.  They were from the Bay Area and Mr. Steve thinks they wrote good songs.  At least that's what Dais told me. The three piece unit that "backed up" the singer was what Mr. Steve calls "tight."

     From what Daisy says, the DEAD KENNEDYS music was more complicated than most other Punk bands.  One time in his Bedroom she and Millie watched as our boss played drums to their album about rotten fruit.  I just picked up the strong scent of a Lizard around here.

     A few years ago Mr. Steve met someone who told him that the DEAD KENNEDYS played a concert at the Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.  That's where they used to have Boxing, Wrestling and this other sport called "Roller Derby."  I smell some Sage.

                                                                   ROLLER DERBY

       One of Mr. Steve's friends at Saint Ferdinands was named Paul.  He's been a Police Officer for many years now.  One time Paul's father drove them down to the Olympic Auditorium to see the Los Angeles "T-Birds" Roller Derby team.  I see the Lizard near the big tree. 

      Mr. Steve told Dais and Millie that Roller Derby is fake like Wrestling but was entertaining.  Each team on Skates races around a big circular wooden track.  Points are scored when players pass each other.  The players are good Actors in falling and things like that I guess.

      If Mr. Steve had known about the DEAD KENNEDYS concert at the Olympic Auditorium he would've gotten tickets.  In a few minutes I'll write about a Punk show down at the Olympic Auditorium that Mr. Steve did see.  I just noticed the Lizard looking at me.

      Daisy says she noticed that at times the DEAD KENNEDYS even had some Jazz influences. And sometimes the guitar player sounded like Dick Dale's Surf music.   Mr. Steve says that the DEAD KENNEDY'S bass, drums and guitar players even do "stop and go" techniques. 

      The DEAD KENNEDY'S not only had "above average" musicians compared to other Punk bands, their lyrics were also better.  Daisy noticed that some of the DEAD KENNEDYS words are kind of "mean-spirited.  That Lizard just ran under a rock near the big tree.

     Daisy told me that the DEAD KENNEDYS had songs called "Let's Lynch the Landlord" and "Kill the Poor."  My boss says you have to just ignore the DEAD KENNEDYS lyrics and listen more to the music itself.  Two Crows are squawking at each other out there in the desert.

                                                                    DEAD KENNEDYS                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Daisy says the DEAD KENNEDYS, who are from San Francisco, have a good song called "California Uber Alles."  It's a satire about a left wing "Autocracy" our boss says.  The Nazis had a song called "Deutchland Uber Alles."  And that means "Germany Over All." 

       In the song California Uber Alles Liberal California Governor Jerry Brown is the head of a "Progressive" dictatorship.   But in Jerry Brown's government the "Happy Face" logo is used instead of the "Swastika."   Oh!  Jack the Jackrabbit just zoomed bye right now. 

      Mr. Steve told Daisy and Millie that the singer of the DEAD KENNEDYS wrote the words to their songs.  In California Uber Alles, and other DEAD KENNEDYS songs, the lyrics are clever. They're as clever as Ron Mael's SPARKS songs; but dark and aggressive I guess.

       Oh my God!  In my Encyclopedia is the picture Daisy told me about!  It shows this one man swinging a "Folding"chair at a dead body hanging from a tree.  This has to be the photo that the DEAD KENNEDYS used on their album cover.  I hear some Crows cawing faintly.

     Daisy says the DEAD KENNEDYS have this other song about a man named "Pol Pot."  He was from the country of "Cambodia" and was really mean.  According to this Encyclopedia he killed over one million Cambodians in the years after the Vietnam War ended.

     Wow!  It says in the caption below the picture of the man swinging the chair that he kept on hitting the body until the head popped off.  Then the crowd cheered.  Daisy told me the words to the DEAD KENNEDYS song "Pol Pot" are good.  At least that's what our Chief thinks.

      Another Punk band Mr. Steve never saw play but wishes he could've was the SEX PISTOLS. Just like BLACK FLAG, the GERMS or the DEAD KENNEDYS, the SEX PISTOLS came out in the latter 1970's  But the SEX PISTOLS were from over there in England. 

     Like X and the DEAD KENNEDYS, the three musicians in the SEX PISTOLS could actually play their instruments and wrote "catchy" songs to go along with "biting" lyrics written by their singer named John Lydon.  Daisy says our Chief has their one and only album.   

      Mr. Steve told us even though he never saw the SEX PISTOLS play he and his friend Mark Ritter did see this band called PUBLIC IMAGE LTD; or "PiL" for short.  This was in 1980 and PiL was the band John Lydon formed after the SEX PISTOLS "self-destructed" he says. 

SEX PISTOLS

       Daisy told me that the first song on the SEX PISTOLS only album is called "Holidays in the Sun."  It's a really good song Dais says.  It starts with what sounds like "Goose-Stepping" Nazis marching along.  Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!  It's kind of intimidating Daisy says.

       A few years ago our Chief read a magazine article about the SEX PISTOLS.  It said that one of their most "controversial" songs called "God Save the Queen" was musically influenced by a MOVE song Roy Wood wrote called "Fire Brigade."  I smell some Oleander flowers.

     Mr. Steve admires Roy Wood Daisy says.  As talented as he was he never made it as big as the ELO which he helped start with Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan.  The first album by that band KISS called "Fire House" was also influenced by the song Fire Brigade.  I smell a Mouse.

     The band PiL didn't sound like the SEX PISTOLS Daisy says.  John Lydon sang for both and his newer music was nothing like the SEX PISTOLS.  PiL is described in this one Encyclopedia as "post Punk" and was more "experimental."  They even played Reggae I guess.

      Dais says our Chief told her and Millie he read where John Lydon said, unlike many Punks, he liked some "Disco" music.  In fact he said, he liked KOOL & THE GANG.  Mr. Steve said he prefers KOOL & THE GANG when they were more jazzy.  I see the Mouse.

                                            "ATOMIC" CAFÉ ("LITTLE TOKYO," L.A.)

              In the late 1970's our boss and Mark Ritter saw a Punk band called the BAGS at a place in "Little Tokyo" called the "Atomic Café."  I guess, from what Dais heard; the Atomic Café was a restaurant and also a nightclub.  Inside, it looked kind of like back in the 1950's.  

          I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Mr. Grant and his family, including "Miggie their blind Dog; have a "Condominium" in Little Tokyo.  Punk fans from Hollywood, Pasadena, Downey and East Los Angeles "mixed" at the Atomic Café.  I smell Sage.

          On some of Atomic Cafe's walls and ceilings were Punk fliers and posters.  The first time Mr. Steve ever saw a picture of the CLASH was on a poster there.  He still remembers seeing a flier for the SCREAMERS and some really wild-looking people at the Atomic Café.  

                                                                     THE GO GO'S

           Mr. Steve was once told that all girl band the GO GO'S, who I've mentioned before; took their name from the "Gogo" or "Goo Goo" Chicken on the Atomic Café's menu.  But the main thing they made there was "Noodle" soup.  Boy!  That makes me kind of hungry.  

           One time Dais heard our Chief on the phone with Mr. Doug.  Mr. Steve said they had good food at the Atomic Café.  They even had baloney and noodles mixed into the soup.   Boy!  That sounds so good and makes me hungry, even though I'm still sad about Heathcliff. 

          Mr. Steve says many Punks in the late 1970's and early 1980's really didn't hang around with people from other areas that much but, I guess at the Atomic Café they did.  I've mentioned how Mark Ritter died in 2002.  The Atomic Café closed in the late 1980's our boss says.   

                                                                      "JUKEBOX"

          Someday I'd like to see and hear one of those astounding machines called a "Jukebox."  I guess, from what Daisy explained to me one time; it plays those little vinyl records I've written about.  You just pick the song you want to hear and the machine plays it.  Wow!