Book 1 Chapter 11

                                                                              I

                                                               Book one / chapter 11

4:30    

                      

     CALIFORNIA DESERT JACKRABBIT                  

                             

                On my break, besides going to the bathroom; I saw a new Jackrabbit sitting in the desert.  I drank some water out of our silver water bucket and now feel ready to start this second to last chapter.  Boy! As they say, it "Never ceases to Amaze" me how Rabbit's have such big ears. 

               I again went to the bathroom over there in the far northeast corner of our fenced in two acres, on the other side of Jack the big Shed.  As I went pee I could smell all three of the Quail Companies out there in the desert behind the Sheds.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.

            Looking at my outline I see how in this chapter I still have a little bit to write about the American Southwest.   I want to keep working hard because I've only got about two more hours of sun.  The shadows are really starting to lean away from me over here on the Patio.  

     

                  "OLD SPANISH TRAIL"                                                     CALIFORNIA

       

         I really do like this good map showing the three "Routes" of those old early 19th century "Spanish Trails."  My Encyclopedia says New Mexico Traders, like that guy Antonio Armijo for  example; came out here in the "Fall" season.  Max the Hummingbird just went zooming bye.      

          Daisy and Millie one time were in the living room and saw a tv show about New Mexico. It says here, the Traders from New Mexico stayed out here during the cold Winter.   They traded    wool blankets made by Native and Spanish women in New Mexico for hides.  I smell Sage.           

          At this time of year, in Spring; the Traders from New Mexico formed into "Caravans" to return to New Mexico.   They also "Herded" along Horses and Mules bought in California.  Ah!  My right nostril just picked up Libby's scent and that makes me feel good for some reason.  

                 

          JEDEDIAH SMITH (1799-1831)                                    "OLD SPANISH TRAIL"                                                                                                                                         ARTWORK BY FREDERICK REMINGTON

            

              One of Mr. Steve and his mom's favorite Artists is Frederick Remington.  Daisy says Mr. Steve has a whole big File devoted just to things about him.  My Encyclopedia says he's famous for his many "paintings, drawings and sculptures" of the 19th century "American West."

              This Encyclopedia has a Frederick Remington painting he did of the Explorer Jedediah Smith.  And a black and white drawing he did shows what it looked like in the 1820's when those New Mexico Traders came out here to California.  Fannie and Freddie just flew bye.

           I notice how, in Frederick Remington's drawing of the Old Spanish Trail; Mules are used to carry what look like heavy loads on their backs.  The man guarding them looks kind of like an Indian.  I think he has one of those old "Blunderbuss" guns slung over his left shoulder.    

      

                                     MOLLY THE MULE / LIBBY IN BACKGROUND

         

               I'm still smelling Libby over there in her Corral, and that makes me remember how she and Molly the Mule were such good friends.  Hey God!  It's too bad we have to die.  I suddenly really miss Molly's totally unique scent, and know for sure Daisy does too sometimes. 

                This is so interesting.  My Encyclopedia says, in the early 1830's; men from New Mexico  stole Horses and Mules from California.  A few times the Los Angeles "Ayuntameinto," or "City Council;" sent "Posse's" after them."  My Spanish Dictionary says "Alcalde" is "Mayor." 

                   I guess an L.A. Mayor José Antonio Carillo ordered a posse under Antonio Ignacio Avila to chase down Horse thieves trying to escape back over to New Mexico.  In Spanish "Ladrone" is a "Thief."  Back in those days Horse thieves were just brutally killed from what Dais heard.           

                                                              

                                                     DON JOSÉ ANDRES SEPÚLVEDA(1801-1875)

                        

               Daisy says Mr. Steve and Mr. Ralph talked about how the longest road in Los Angeles is called "Sepúlveda" Boulevard.  It's named for a 19th century Mexican "Californio" family, and my boss and his family have driven on that road many times over the years.  Dawn's barking. 

           My Encyclopedia shows a man named "Don" José Andres Sepúlveda.  In the late 1820's and early 1830's he was "Regidor"in Los Angeles, was really rich and owned a lot of land called "Rancho San Joaquin."  This Spanish Dictionary says how Regidor means "Councilman."   

           It says here Don José Andres Sepúlveda had "great herds" of Cows on his Ranch, and in 1833 the California Governor José Figueroa told him to send a posse to catch Horse thieves.  In Spanish the "Title" of "Don" means "High Class."  They killed all of those Horse thieves.            

             

                                                        "WEST LOS ANGELES"        

                      

              I'm  looking at a map showing a "section" of Sepulveda Boulevard over in "West" Los Angeles.  The caption says Sepulveda Boulevard is "forty two" miles long.   Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph his old girlfriend Emily for a time lived near Sepulveda Boulevard in West L.A.

           The map of  West L.A shows how Sepulveda Boulevard runs past the College campus of U.C.L.A. where Miss Emily works.  You can see, next to it on the east side; is the "Veteran's" cemetery where Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Sandy's father is buried.  Heathcliff just crowed.  

           Sepulveda Boulevard runs "generally" in a north-south direction I guess.  The south end is in the city of "Long Beach," the north end "terminates" in Mission Hills; right near to the San Fernando Mission and Mission Cemetery Dais says.  I smell the new baby Cholla cactus.

                                      

                                                   DON JOSÉ ANDRES SEPÚLVEDA

PAINTING BY HENRI JOSEPH PENELON              

              

                  A painting shows a young "Don José" riding a Horse, and the caption says he was Mayor of Los Angeles for a time.  I guess, he was known" for "flashy" clothes, "elaborate" parties; and "artful" saddles for his many Horses.  I really like the hat he's wearing in the painting.

            Before there was such a thing as a Car or Truck, Horses, Donkeys, Mules and Burros had to "Transport" people and do work.  Daisy says some people enjoyed watching as Horse Thieves were hung and strangled slowly.  Sometimes the bodies were used for "Target Practice."   

             My boss and his dad, because they were involved in the "Gaming" Industry and "Know the Numbers;" never gamble.  But it says here Don José Sepúlveda did and lost his money.  So in 1864, during the American Civil War; he had to sell his Ranch to a man named James Irvine.

                

                                                 SUSAN                                                               YOLANDA

         

                  Libby's walking around slowly near the back of her Corral, along the fence where the dirt Primavera Road goes bye.  I'll bet my boss's sister Susan is happy this is Spring, because now she can ride her Horses more.  Mr. Steve's Sister-in-Law Miss Yolanda rides Horses too.

             I remember that one warm morning when Mr. Steve was watering the Mulberry trees, and talking to Mr. Mike about his mom Miss Phyllis's miniature Horse "Nakoma."  There are people here in Pinon Hills who keep Horses for riding.  Frida and Diego just now flew bye.

            Dais told me one time Mr. Steve talked to Miss Susan at work about the city of "Irvine," where her friend lived for a few years I guess.  Irvine was named after that man James Irvine who bought all Don José Sepúlveda's land.  A little Lizard ran bye out there in the dirt.   

                            

                           STEVIE NICKS                                         "IRVINE MEADOWS"

         PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                                                                                                                                                                                 

                 

               One time Miss Harriet was given the assignment of writing a review of FLEETWOOD MAC at "Irvine Meadows" Amphitheatre.  I guess it's a concert stage built at the bottom of a tall hill on which the audience sits to watch.  Mr. Ralph said he's been there "a few times."

            According to what Dais heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph, Irvine Meadows is built on land which had been on Don Jose Andres Sepúlveda's Rancho.  And, the city in "Orange County;" where Irvine Meadows is located; is called "Irvine."  I can smell some older Mesquite.

           Mr. Steve was told the first band to play at Irvine Meadows, in 1981; was Tom Petty and the HEARTBREAKERS.  A surprise guest Singer was FLEETWOOD MAC'S Stevie Nicks.  Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, METALLICA and the GRATEFUL DEAD have played there. 

              

                        "THE URANTIA BOOK"                  THE GRATEFUL DEAD                                

            

              Mentioning the GRATEFUL DEAD, who are from San Francisco; makes me think about "The Urantia Book."   It tries to unite "spirituality and science" and, as I wrote earlier; that guy Jimi Hendrix was influenced by its ideas.  Jerry Garcia of the GRTEFUL DEAD read it.

            Hey Lord!  I guess, besides Christianity; that Urantia Book has ideas from other religions too.  Dais heard Urantia's emblem is "Three Circles" representing, "infinity," "eternity" and "universality."  Urantia deals with man's origin, meaning of life; and place in the universe. 

                 One time my boss and Mr. Dave talked about this "Jazz Fusion" band called WEATHER REPORT.  A while back our boss bought, and then resold; a copy of The Urantia Book.  And the guy who bought it said WEATHER REPORT songs are "influenced by The Urantia Book.

                                   

RHINOSEROUS                                               WATER BUFFALO     

                             

              For many years the land Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre is built on was used as a place called "Lion Country Safari."  Daisy heard Mr. Steve call it a "Game Preserve" or "Wildlife Sanctuary." The Animals who lived there were the ones who now only live in Africa I guess.  

           One time in the mid-1970's on a really hot day, Mr. Steve and Miss Sandy went to Lion Country Safari; where you drive your Car through to see Rhinos, Giraffes, Zebras and other things walking around.   One time a huge Rhino pressed his nose hard on a side window.

              Daisy and Millie heard our boss tell Mr. Randy one time, when he was up front watering the Mulberry tree; on that hot day he and Sandy visited Lion Country Safari she fainted from the heat.  But Mr. Steve caught her before she fell down.  He carried her to the cooler shade.

      

                                                    "HAMMERHEAD" SHARK    

           

              My boss usually goes by this one rule his mom taught him, "A place for everything and everything in it's place."  Unusually, he left a "Sledge" hammer sitting over there; next to Moe the far right Shed.  He used it the other day and must've forgotten about it Daisy thinks.

               Oh what the heck!  I'm not scheduled to write about "Hammerhead" Sharks now but I feel like mentioning them now too; and photos in my Encyclopedia shows how their heads look like a hammer.  Daisy says that Guitarist Jeff Beck did a song called "Hammerhead."

            The caption below the pictures says the unusual shape of a Hammerhead Shark's head is called a "cephalofoil."  One time Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his sister Susan there are about ten different types of Hammerhead Sharks.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral.

  

"HAMMERHEAD: SHARKS

                    My boss told his sister Susan, who has gone Diving in different parts of the world; the biggest Hammerhead Sharks can grow to be over twenty feet long.  Like many types of Shark, Hammerhead's will eat other Sharks; even Hammerheads.  I can smell Libby over there. 

               The "most common word" used to describe Hammerhead Sharks Mr. Steve thinks is "agile."  The shape of their head allows them to "turn on a dime" or change direction even if going fast.  Two or three Motorcycles just zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road.  

               Boy!  Today I ended up writing more about things like Sharks than I'd planned but that's okay because, as Daisy says; my books aren't "Set in Stone."  I can "Improvise" as I go along, or learn about things as they come into my mind.  That sledge hammer is heavy. 

              

                                                             SHARK "SENSES"    

                  

                 I like when Encyclopedias have diagrams, and one shows all the Shark parts.  It also shows how, beyond the five physical "Senses" people and Dogs have; Sharks also have others "adapted" to water.  A flock of Birds in the late afternoon sky are flying toward the east. 

               My boss told Mr. Randy Sharks have little holes or, "pores" on their noses; which "can detect even slight electrical currents living things emit."  I guess "Ampullae of Lorenzini" help them "hone in on prey" to kill and then eat.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.

           Hammerhead Shark's head shape helps them see more, and they have more ampullae pores to "Sense" things even buried in sand.  Mr. Mike says it's like a "metal detector.  Fish have "Lateral Lines" on their sides to sense movement; and Sharks use theirs to "feel its prey."   

                  

           1914 "DETROIT ELETRIC"                                        2014 "TESLA"

                  

                 For some reason writing about Sharks picking up their prey's electrical impulses makes me think about electric Cars.  Daisy told me a lot more people drive them now and there's even a company named after that guy Nikola Tesla which makes them.  A Lizard is running bye.

            I guess, back in the early years of the "Automotive Industry;" steam and electric Cars competed with "Internal Combustion" motor vehicles.  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows a 1914 electric motor Car made in the city of Detroit.  That was the first year of World War I.     

               Dais says Mr. Steve's customer said, once Cadillac invented an "electric starter" in 1912; it was the "beginning of the end" for electric Cars.  Before that internal combustion gas motors needed "Hand Cranks" to start, which was hard; and dangerous too.   Heathcliff crowed.   

                                       

          JACK, MOE, MANNY                          

                                                              

         Well, back to writing about Mormons.  I've mentioned how a Mormon man built our three Sheds Manny, Moe and Jack.  And, as I've also said before; Mr. Steve thinks most Mormons he's met seem like "hard-working" and "basically decent" people.  A little Lizard just ran bye.

          For a while in Illinois things went okay for Joseph Smith's Mormons, but then other people began to not like them again so; the L.D.S. had to start an "Armed Militia."  Mr. Steve thinks militia's "have been important" in U.S. history and "probably always will be."  I smell Sage.  

        Wow!  I guess Joseph Smith and his brother were killed by an angry "mob" who broke into a jail and killed them.  Mr. Steve thinks "Vigilantism," or when people "take the law into their own hands;" has also been important in America.  Some people just "love to hate" he says.      

                                                                                                               JOSEPH SMITH KILLED (1846)

                             

            Boy!  The original Mormons sound kind of like the Jews.  No matter where they went in the first half of the 19th century other people didn't like them and even killed them.  Wow!  My Encyclopedia says a "Governor" in Illinois once called for their "complete extermination."    

            Hey Lord!  As You know, Mr. Steve says the way Mormons were treated in the mid-1800's is kind of like how Jews have been treated for centuries in Europe and Russia.  His dad talks of life's at times "harsh realities" and even "harder choices."  Heathcliff crowed over there.   

                 As I wrote in chapter one, Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha as a little girl once said; "Uncle Steven, it's just not fair that life is not fair!"  Daisy says there's no sense thinking life should be fair because then "you'll just be disappointed a lot."  Hey God!  I sort of want life to be fair.  

                

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR      

                                 

        Wow!  It says here that in 1832, twenty nine years before the American Civil War, that man Joseph Smith correctly predicted Slavery would cause the North to fight against the South.  And he was right about it starting in South Carolina too.  Ah!  I smell the Twin Joshua trees.

        Hey God!  Joseph Smith sounds like that little hunchback Homer Lea who, in the early 20th century; correctly predicted "Global Warfare."  But it sounds like Joseph Smith was more like Nostradamus or one of the Old Testament Prophets.  Jack the Jackrabbit just zoomed bye.  

        Mr. Steve thinks war seems more common than peace.  Homer Lea, as a College Student at "Stanford" University; researched the fact that in the last 3,500 years there were only about 200 years of "Partial" peace.  I'll learn a lot more about "Stanford" over the next three days. 

                     

HOMER LEA (1879-1912)            

                    

                  I just thought of how that little hunchback Homer Lea may have been dropped as a baby.  He grew to be only five feet tall and weighed less than one hundred pounds.  Yet he wrote two books on military history that influenced people like that Russian guy Vladimir Lenin. 

              Homer Lea died two years before World War I but, in 1909; accurately "Spelled Out" the overall strategies, main combatants and particular events of the two world wars.  I'll write about it in my three books.  A small Sparrow carrying a long twig just went running bye.      

              My Encyclopedia says, after Joseph Smith was killed by that angry mob in 1844; a man named Brigham Young became the second L.D.S. "President."  That's like Joshua taking over from Moses.  The College that Actor Johnny Whittaker went to, B.Y.U.; is named after him.  

                              

                                                   BRIGHAM YOUNG (1801-1877)       

                   

             B.Y. U. stands for "Brigham Young University" and I notice how Brigham Young had an unusual beard with no mustache.  After the "Vigilantes" killed Joseph Smith, he decided to move the Mormons west; beyond the area of the United States.  I can smell a Lizard nearby.

           What happened in Illinois to the Mormons was "The straw that broke the Camel's back" or the "Last Straw" so to speak.  Brigham Young decided the Mormons would have to find an area where they could "Live in Peace."  Samson and Delilah flew are flying to the east.

            Daisy heard some Mormons near us have relatives back there in "Utah."  Oh wow!  This Encyclopedia calls Brigham Young the "Mormon Moses."  Aha!  I see a Lizard  drinking water from our steel water bucket over there near the sliding glass door going into the dining room. 

          

                          "OREGON TRAIL"                                                           MORMON "TREK"    

                     

               I wrote before how how in 1847 Brigham Young led many Mormons, some pulling their own wagons; to Utah which at that time was a part of Mexico.  That was the second year of the Mexican Warm and many died along the way from what Daisy heard.  A Crow squawked.  

            A map shows the route, called the "Oregon Trail;" people took in the mid-19th century if "migrating" west.  The Mormons followed the first section in getting to "Utah."  The Lizard is running out into the dirt, and going bye the new baby Cholla cactus; which I can now smell.

           In 2001, on his trip to St. Louis; it was very foggy so my boss couldn't see the "Missouri" River from the top of the  "Gateway Arch."  In 1847 Mormons stayed close to, or "followed;" the Missouri River in moving west.  But instead of going to the coast they settled in Utah.      

                            

      JOHN C. FRÉMONT (1813-1890)                           "KIT" CARSON (1809-1868) 

                      

             I wrote earlier how John Charles Frémont and Kit Carson helped take California and New Mexico from Mexico in the Mexican War.  "Frémont" stayed at the San Fernando Mission.  It says here in my Encyclopedia Brigham Young knew of his earlier explorations of the west.  

            Because he's studied it so much Dais thinks my writing about the Mexican War will be important in impressing Mr. Steve.  In 1846 U.S. and Mexican armies "met" in a "series" of battles up in northern Mexico.  The following year the Americans "invaded" Mexico itself.  

            Mr. Steve will really like me if I do a good job on the Mexican War today and the Civil War tomorrow.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran around the northeast corner of the house, at the far end of the Patio to my left.  I can see my good collection of things to chew on over there.

                   

      "MEXICAN WAR" (1846-1848)            

                       

           My Encyclopedia says the Mexican War began in 1846, about fifteen years before the American Civil War broke out.  The first fighting was in northern Mexico, south of Texas.  Ah!  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye right and I notice Freddie is carrying a dead Lizard.

           Hey God!  I wrote earlier how many 19th century Americans really believed in "Manifest Destiny."  They thought You "wanted" the white people of the U.S. to have all the land between the two coasts, from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans.  I can smell that one older Juniper bush.

           It says here, in the 1840's the U.S. "offered to buy" the American Southwest from Mexico.  Like Texas and New Mexico, California had few "Mexican" citizens living up there.  Mexico's Government was "weak and "divided" so couldn't sell that land taken from Spain in 1821.   

                             

       "MEXICAN WAR" (1846-1848)          

        (THREE "THEATERS" OF WAR)           

                       

               It says here in 1844 James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson's friend; was elected President and wanted to "acquire all the land west of the Mississippi River."  When Mexico refused to sell the Southwest he was unhappy.  There's a big road in Sylmar called "Polk" Daisy's heard.   

              Mr. Steve and his father think, in 1846 President Polk purposely sent American troops into "Disputed" land between Texas and Mexico; hoping the Mexicans would "Throw the first Punch" so to speak.  And they did by killing some American Soldiers.  I can smell Libby.

             Daisy heard Mr. Steve's father joke Mexico was like a Fish that "went for the bait" and was "lured" into a war they couldn't possibly win.  Right away, President Polk got the American Congress to "Declare War" and send more troops to northern Mexico.  A Crow just cawed. 

                        

                                                   "PEARL HARBOR" / HAWAII

                                                                (DECEMBER 7, 1941)  

                      

         Mr. Steve's dad thinks President Polk "tricked" Mexico into war.  And, in 1941; President Roosevelt may have "provoked" Japan's attack which forced all the "Isolationists" like Joseph    Kennedy and Charles Lindbergh to support a war.  I'll learn more about it in my books.               

        Oh!  Two of the Pigeons are walking around up there on the Patio roof above me.  I didn't even notice them fly in, and now can see their shadows moving on the ground; out there in front  of the green Arborvitae bush's.  That big Dragonfly zoomed bye and I heard it coming.                 

         Dais says Mr. Steve's father thinks, "to a certain extent;" what happened in 1846 was sort of like when a big guy knows he can easily beat up a small guy or girl.  So he does something to    purposely "goad" them into starting a physical fight.  A slight breeze just came floating in.                                 

     "LILITH"              

                           

           Oh! The chimes are ringing and I do hope that's You Holy Spirit and not my bad Angel Lilith trying to trick me the way a Mockingbird does to other Birds.  She hasn't been around at all lately, not even in my dreams.  I love breathing in fresh afternoon air through my nose.            

       My boss thinks, for much of history some males enjoyed violence "for its own sake."  But nowadays you need a "good excuse," like "revenge or self-defense;" to do it with what they   call a "clear conscience."  The two Pigeons are now flying away out into the back desert.             

           It says here James K. Polk was the second U.S. President to be "photographed," and it was with his wife "Sarah" I notice.  My boss read she was a "loyal" partner just like his mom is.  She and her husband are both described as "serious," and "averse to frivolous activity."                                                                      

                                         JAMES K. POLK (1795-1849) WITH WIFE SARAH 

                  

          The caption underneath the picture of President Polk and his wife describes her as a good "industrious helpmate" whose "opinions he valued." I've mentioned before how, in Mr. Steve's family; there have been some females like that too.  Rudy the Roadrunner just ran bye.  

          One morning my boss told Mr. Mike about working in "Dark Rooms," like the one at the "San Fernando Sun" Newspaper.  He also had his own Darkroom in one of his bedrooms at the house on Hagar Street.    I smell the new baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.

          Mr. Steve told Miss Susan at work "Photography" was invented in 1820's France.  But, it was not like today where you just "Point and Shoot" he said.  The "Lens" had to be left open or what's called "Exposed" for a really long time, to "Imprint" an image on a piece of glass.   

                         

"DÉJÀ VU" (CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG)

                                

            My boss told Mr. Mike about this "Chemical Process" called "Sepia Toning." It's what you do in the Dark Room in order to make a black and white print look older than what it is.  I heard Mr. Steve mention that Los Angeles band CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG. 

            "C.S.N.Y." had a 1970's album called "Déjà Vu" my boss said, where the picture on the front was Sepia Toned.  Mr. Mike remembered that album and liked the song about the girl with blue eyes he said.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying over Libby's Corral going east.  

             From what Mr. Steve said, sometimes old photographs "yellow with age" so that "look" is "associated with being old."  And at times, like on that C.S.N.Y. album for instance; you try to give prints an "antique feel" by Sepia Toning.  Andy's over there sniffing the air for danger.     

                   

       JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767-1848)                 JOHN / JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

                  

                 I wonder if Mr. Steve knows the first President to be photographed was John Quincy Adams?  His father John Adams was one of the "Founding Fathers" and second U.S. President.  They were from "Massachusetts," near to where Mr. Steve's sister Susan and her son's live.    

             Mr. Steve says "one reason" people look "grim and unhappy" in 19th century photo's is because it took a long time to make an impression on glass.  So the subject had to stay still for a long time too or the image would be blurry.  Dawn's barking and I smell Blinky over there.     

             Back in the 1800's, because the person being photographed had to stay still for a long time; there was a tool to help them.  It was a long wooden or metal "bar" that was put behind the person's back and head to "keep them rigid."  It was hard to smile for a long time. 

      

JACK THE JACKRABBIT        

                                                

                   Oh!  Jack the Jackrabbit is standing over there in the dirt, and I'll bet he smells me over here on Elvira.  It's weird to see him so still.  As I wrote this morning, that Tongvan lady at the San Fernando Knights of Columbus Hall said in Tongvan a Jackrabbit is called "Shu' iit."  

            Many years ago, way before he moved up here in 2005; Mr. Steve met an older Mormon man.  Even then he thought the "Salt Lake City" area in Utah was getting too "Developed."  Mr. Steve told him he and his parents think Sylmar's getting "congested" and "overcrowded" too. 

            Jack just tore around the northeast corner of the house, at the far end of the Patio; to my left.  I kind of went "Off Topic" but, I'll go back to learning about the Mexican War later in this eleventh chapter.  But now I think I'll write more about Mormons and things like that.   

                                    

    MORMON TEMPLE (SALT LAKE CITY)                                    UTAH                                                              PHOTO BY DANIEL HEWETT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                              

             Hey Lord!  My boss boss got invited to a Mormon "Baptism" over there at the "Temple" in Phelan.   A teenage brother and sister wore all white and got dunked in the water just like how Your Cousin John the Baptist did with You in the Jordan River.  Boy!  I'd like to be baptized.

             Oh wow!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a huge Mormon Temple and the caption says it's in "Salt Lake City."  Boy! It must've taken so long to build it.  In 1985 Mr. Steve and the people in his Tour Group felt so small when they were all inside of "St. Peter's" in Rome.

            What the heck!  Even though I'm not scheduled to do it now, I just feel like writing about a guy named Steve Young; who was a really good left-handed Quarterback in Football.  And he's also that guy Brigham Young's Great, Great, Great Grandson too so, that's interesting.    

                                   

                                 B.Y.U.                       STEVE YOUNG                  S.F. 49ER'S

                

           My boss and Mr. Randy talked about Steve Young, who's in the "Hall of Fame" just like Doug Flutie.  He played at B.Y.U. in College and for the San Francisco "49er's" in the N.F.L.   I    notice how he's left-handed, which makes me think I'm probably right-pawed in writing.              

      Daisy heard in 1985 Mr. Steve met this guy who saw Steve Young, before he was in the N.F.L; play an L.A. "Express" game at "Pierce" College.  He was in the "United States Football League" or "U.S.F.L." for short.  The Express lost to Doug Williams' Arizona "Outlaws."            

           The U.S.F.L. "only lasted a few years" my boss said, so Steve Young went to the N.F.L.; and played for the 49er's.  My boss drew the Express and 49er's logos, and was told Steve Young had to "buy his way out of" his U.S.F.L contract.  Doug Flutie played in the U.S.F.L. too.                                                                            

STEVE YOUNG (U.S.F.L. / 1983-1985)    

              

        A picture of Steve Young shows him when he played for the L.A. Express.  I notice how the Express' uniform's primary color is black and their secondary colors are white, red and silver.  I think, from the picture at least; Steve Young looks like he would be a really friendly person.         

        I guess the Express was low on money so, one time; Steve Young had to play Running Back because the other ones were hurt.  Another time, the Express Players "Chipped In" to pay a Bus Driver; who had threatened to quit unless he got paid.  Dawn's now barking over there.                

      That game at Pierce College was unusual I guess because, the Express usually played their "Home" games at the L.A. "Coliseum."   That's next to  the "Natural History Museum," where    Mr. Steve and his mom had their Art Exhibit.  Hearing Dawn's voice makes me feel good.                                             

   BOB LEMON (1920-2000)

                         

          I've mentioned how back in the 1950's the Cleveland "Indians" were Mr. Steve's father's favorite Baseball team.  He liked a Pitcher named Bob Lemon, who was born in San Bernardino to our south; and fought in World War II.  Mr. Steve did art for a lady who knew his family.        

         Dais says the thick leather gloves Mr. Steve uses to "Play Catch" are called "Mits," and I want one; even though I'm already good at catching things with my mouth.  Hey!  If we invent a  Dog Mouth Mit, maybe we could make money?   My boss has right and left-handed Mits.             

         A man told Mr. Steve Bob Lemon was rare because, after World War II; he was what they call an "Infielder."  But, the Indians "converted" him to Pitcher; and he made the Hall of Fame.  After he stopped playing Bob Lemon then "Managed" some good Major League teams.                                                      

CHICAGO "WHITE SOX" UNIFORMS (1977) 

                            

           I just thought of how, back in 1977; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock visited their Uncle Marty's family in New Jersey.  They went to "Yankee Stadium" to see New York "Yankees" play the Chicago "White Sox."  On a really hot and humid day the White Sox wore all black.               

          My boss is interested in sports uniforms so I'll learn about it in my books.  In 1977 the White Sox at times wore "Cutoff" pants, which was "as bad as" girl Baseball players during        World War II having to wear skirts he says.  When you slide you get scratched and cut.                 

            Uncle Marty's family lived in "Morristown," New Jersey in 1977, because he had a job with "I.B.M." or "International Business Machines."  In the late 1960's Mr. Steve's Uncle Marty was a "Medic" in the Vietnam War.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the northeast.                                                                

UNCLE MARTY               

                      

           I've mentioned how Mr. Steve and his father are the oldest of five kids.  Daisy heard one time that guy Uncle Marty is Mr. Steve's father's youngest brother, and his other two brothers    are named "Gil" and "Casey."  Their sister's name is "Lydia," and her family lives in Belén.    

           Daisy says, after he came home from the Vietnam War; Uncle Marty used his "G.I. Bill" to get an "M.B.A." College Degree from "Harvard,"  M.B.A. is short for "Master of Business      Administration" according to what Dais heard.  Mr. Peabody also went to Harvard too.                

           In 1977 Bob Lemon Managed the White Sox.  A man once told Mr. Steve there have been many good Baseball Players from the "Inland Empire."  Bobby Bonds and "Dusty" Baker are    the most famous but I guess there have been many others who "never made it" as they say.          

                       

  DUSTY BAKER                                            BARRY BONDS            

                      

           Dais explained to me what "Baseball Cards" are and says our boss has a lot of them and those things called "Comic Books" too.  Boy!  I'd really like to read the Comic Book about that    man who has the powers of a Bat.  We have some scary-looking Bats who live around here.           

         One dark moonless Summer night that ugly Bat landed on the Patio ceiling.  Daisy and I called our boss who shined that amazing "Flashlight" on  it.  I was so terrified the first time Mr.  Steve turned on the Patio lights out here because I had no idea such a thing was even possible.     

          We have things around here that look scary but really aren't, like Potato Bugs.  We had never seen or smelled a Bat before, but Dais was so good at not showing how scared she secretly  was inside.  You could tell how Mr. Steve was at first kind of surprised too to see a Bat.                            

"BROWN" BATS        

          

           Boy!  Bats have such sharp little teeth.  Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter studied Bats and, on the Coffee Table in the living room; is a clear heavy "Resin" ball with this real "Brown Cave  Bat" inside of it.  I guess Mark Ritter made and then gave it to my boss many years ago.               

            If a Bat bit Daisy she has thick fur for protection but I only have short hair.  Bats kind of look like flying Rats and their faces remind me of a monster.  Mr. Steve thought that "mixed up" Bat was "old and senile" because of how gray it was, and how weird  it was acting too.                  

          Tomorrow I'll learn how, in 1940's "Battle of Britain;" some tall "Radar" towers were used by the British during World War II.  I'm temped to write about it now but better not.  Way up there in the high blue late afternoon sky a flock of Birds is flying toward the northeast.                         

           "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" (1940)                    RADAR                           RADAR TOWER  (1940-1941)                                                                      

            Even though I'll mainly learn about radar tomorrow, I will say right now how I guess it was first "Developed" by studying Bats.  Bats make "High Pitched" sounds, which shoot ahead of them; and then bounce back into their really huge ears.  The Monarch Butterfly flew bye.        

           Daisy says, without even having to see what's in front of them, Bats can already tell the "size and distance" something is away.  Wow!  She saw a tv show that said Dolphins and Whales use "Echo Location" sounds in water the way Bats do up here in the air.  Heathcliff crowed.         

           When I took my second big break after chapter eight Daisy was laying on the Driveway next to our Truck Rex.  I've mentioned how Rex is what's called a "Chevrolet" and so were my    boss's two 1968 Chevelle's.   Andy and Helen are both standing near their burrow's entrance.                                  

HARLEY EARL (1893-1969) 

(1951 BUICK "LA SABRE")       

                     

           Tomorrow I'll learn about Cars and World War II Ships called "Corvettes."  But I'll write a little bit about this man named Harley Earl now, who my Encyclopedia says "designed" Cars    for "General Motors."  My boss's brother Rock worked for "G.M." for over thirty years.             

           A picture shows Harley Earl pointing at his 1951 Buick "La Sabre.  When his son became a Race Car Driver back in the early 1950's, he "Designed" the Corvette "Sports Car" for him to use.  A little Sparrow carrying a long skinny twig in its mouth just now went running bye.            

        Oh!  Harley Earl went to College at "Stanford" like that guy Homer Lea.  I'll learn about Stanford tomorrow when I write about Football Players named Jim Plunkett and John Elway.    In the 1980's Mr. Steve's brother Sam played Baseball against John Elway in High School.                                            

  LEE IACOCCA / MR. STEVE'S PARENTS  

                         PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                                        

                   

         I just thought of those two guys Lee Iacocca and John DeLorean.  In the 1960's they designed Cars the way Harley Earl did, Lee Iacocca making the "Mustang" for Ford and later    in the early 1980's successfully running the entire "Chrysler" Corporation.  I smell Sage.             

            Harley Earl "brought beautiful cars to the masses" it says here.  During the 1950's his "designs," like the Bel Air's" and "Cadillac's;" had big "Tail Fins" so Mr. Steve's friend Frank  joked they "looked like Space Ships."  Mr. Steve jokes "beautiful is a subjective thing."                

             Before working at G.M. Harley Earl designed some "Custom" Cars for rich people like Actors in Hollywood.  He put his dad's "Coach Bodies" on Cadillac "Chassis" Mr. Frank said.  It says here how Harley Earl really liked how that World War II "P-38" Airplane looked.             

                                        

1919 PIERCE "ARROW"         

("PETERSEN" AUTOMOVIVE MUSEUM)            

PHOTO BY CARLTON PHOTOGRAPHY                  

             

            Oh!  I guess Harley Earl designed Cars for Actors Mary Pickford and husband Douglas Fairbanks.  In the mid-1980's Mr. Steve, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen went to "Sales Meetings" at  "Pickfair;" their house in Beverly Hills.  I'll write about that house on Saturday in book three.    

             Daisy heard Mr. Frank talk about a purple 1919 "Pierce Arrow" Harley Earl made for Actor "Fatty" Arbuckle.  It's at the "Petersen Automotive Museum," and in the picture I really like how it has four pure white tires.  A Train whistled faintly way out there in the desert.              

            1919 was the year after World War I, and that huge "Spanish Flu" pandemic was going on.  All of a sudden I just thought about how the Basketball "Lakers" use purple as their main color and white and yellow as secondary colors.  Mr. Mark in Hawaii really likes purple.               

                     

 TÚPAC SHAKUR (1971-1996) / "BIGGIE" SMALLS (1972-1997)    

            

         Daisy heard a "Rapper" named "Biggie" Smalls was shot leaving the Petersen Museum, and some think it was "In Revenge" for the killing of another "Hip Hop" Singer named Túpac    Shakur.  Mr. Randy laughed when my boss called Daisy "Biggie" Córdova that morning.             

         From 1994 through 1997 there was a west coast, east coast "Rap Music Feud" Mr. Steve was told.   One time he talked about it with a customer in "Kentucky" who also knew about that long 19th century "Hadfield and  McCoy" feud.  "Rapping " is kind of talking Daisy says.           

          I'm kind of tempted to write more about those guys Túpac Shakur and Biggie Smalls but I'd better just wait and do it according to schedule.  "Tupac's" mom was in that group called the "Black Panthers" from what Daisy heard Mr. Mark say one time.  Heathcliff just crowed.            

  

         DAWN                                   BLINKY                                     ROSIE         

         

         Oh!  What a coincidence.  Just when I mentioned that guy Biggie Smalls, I hear Dawn barking over there next door; which makes me think of how Mr. Steve called her Big Shorty" while little Blinky is "Short Biggie."   I smell some of the Beavertail cactus's around here.             

          Even though I can't see them, I can smell Blinky and old Rosie standing next to Dawn.  Ah!  Daisy barked up there in the front yard but it's just her "Obligatory" non-alarm guarding   bark to let Mr. Steve we're watching things.  A Motorcycle zoomed bye out in the desert.              

           Mentioning Lee Iaccoca a minute ago makes me think of my boss's ex-girlfriend Emily.  She works in U.C.L.A.'S "Athletic Department" but before that her job was to "Raise Money" to fix the "Statue of Liberty" in New York Harbor.  And I guess her boss was Lee Iaccoca.                           

                            MISS EMILY                                             STATUE OF LIBERTY                                            

          Two of my boss's three girlfriend's, Emily and Harriet; came from "Ashkenazi" Jewish families.  Their relatives, maybe to escape the bloody "Pogroms" in eastern Europe; came to the U.S. for "a better life."  I've mentioned how Miss Emily grew up in "Long Island" New York.      

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell him mom in the 1980's part of the project to "Refurbish" the Statue of Liberty was to also repair "Ellis Island."   It's where poor Jewish and Italians families entered America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.   Mr. Rick's family was one of them.     

        Mr. Steve thinks "it's likely" Miss Emily and Miss Harriet's families came to America through Ellis Island, which is in "New York Harbor."   Wow!  That means they were so lucky in getting to see the Statue of Liberty.  Two orange boy Finches are really fighting over there.                 

2012 JEEP "LIBERTY"    

           

         Dais heard Mr. Steve talking to one of his few remaining "Jeep" customers about a Car they named "Liberty." That Parts Manager said they "stopped making them" two years ago in    2012, the year before I was born.  Daisy thinks she heard they're now called "Cherokee's."           

           I'm tempted to look up the Cherokee Indian tribe, which I'm scheduled to find out about when I study 18th century "Colonial" America.  Daisy saw a tv show about them, and how they  were called one of the "Five Civilized Tribes;" and even had their own "Writing System."            

          The Parts Manager said in the U.S. Liberty's were "assembled" in Ohio, outside the U.S. in Egypt and Venezuela.  Mr. Hussein at "Coffee & Cream," who's from Egypt; knew about that assembly plant.  In a poor country it "provides good jobs for some of the people" he says.                       

      WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)           

PAINTING BY JOHN TAYOR?             

          

           What the heck!  I'm still thinking about that "Rap" Singer Túpac Shakur, who I guess some people say is still alive.  In 1996 "Túpac," only twenty five; was killed in Las Vegas in a        "Drive Bye" shooting.  A Train just whistled faintly way out there in the desert to my left.             

           A tv show said Túpac liked "Reciting" dialogue from Shakespeare's plays, and he was planning on being an Actor in "King Lear" had he lived.  Abraham Lincoln liked Shakespeare a lot Dais heard.  For many Shakespeare's language is "too flowery" Mr. Steve told his mom.          

             On Saturday I'll learn about that "27 Club," or Musicians who died at the age of twenty seven.  Dais says it seems like most of them, like Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix; died of drugs or "too much partying" as Mr. Steve calls it.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.             

                      

              SUN TZU (544-496 B.C.?)                      NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527)      

                                                                                                                                              PAINTING BY SANTI DI TITO

    

            My boss and Mr. Mark talked about how Túpac read Machiavelli's "The Prince,"  and "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu.  Mr. Steve and his father read both of those books.  I'm going to be finding out more about them over the next three days.  Libby just neighed over there.               

            In 1991 Túpak Shakur was "beaten up" by the "Oakland" Police on October 17th Mr. Steve read, and that date is also his brother Rock's birthday.  I guess, Mr. Mark's wife  "Kim"    grew up in the city of Oakland.  Someday I'd like to hear some of those Rap songs.                       

            Dais heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with Mr. Grant.  He told him in 1970 Túpak Shakur's mom "Defended" herself when put "On Trial" for "Attempted Murder."  Mr. Steve tells people "It's just as ridiculous to think Tupac is alive as to believe the same about Elvis."                   

TÚPAC SHAKUR WITH MOTHER     

                              

         The caption, below one of the two pictures showing Túpac Shakur with his mother; says she's holding his Niece.   Daisy can sort of tell Mr. Steve admires Tupac's mom based on how he talked with Mr. Mark about her.  She sounds like "a really strong person" Dais told me.               

          My boss told Mr. Grant Túpac's mother was able to convince a "Jury" to "Acquit" her in that 1970 trial.  And at the time she was pregnant with Túpac, and I'll bet inside of her he picked up or absorbed her strength and character.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.              

          I guess Mr. Steve and Mr. Grant talked about how, back in 1970; Túpac's mom did what that guy Adolph Hitler did in 1927.  He also "Turned the Tables" on the "Prosecution" and used the Court as a "Platform" to get out of a death sentence.  I'll learn about it tomorrow.                                                           

               "BLACK PANTHERS"                        

                                          

           In book three on Saturday Dais has me scheduled to write about this 1960's group called the "Black Panthers."  My Encyclopedia calls them "militant" black people who carried guns to protect themselves from the Oakland Police.  Tupac's mom was also in the Black Panthers.           

        A picture in my Encyclopedia shows two Black Panthers outside of their office holding guns.  Boy!  I like the "Beret" hats they're wearing, and would definitely wear a good royal blue one.  A small flock of Birds is flying toward the northeast way up there in the afternoon sky.         

         Mr. Steve read Tupak Shakur's mom named him after Túpac Amaru II, an 18th century "Incan" leader who fought the Spanish down there in "Peru."  In my books I'll learn about how Francisco Pizzaro from Trujillo conquered the Incan's in the 16th century.  I smell Mesquite.       

                                   

   TÚPAK AMARU II (1738-1781)      

             

       This painting shows Túpak Amaru II, and the caption says in Incan his name would be "Shining Serpent."  I like the big gold medal around his neck.  Daisy says Mr. Steve has killed      Rats with a "Halbred" type spear  similar to the one he's shown holding in the picture.                 

          Ugh!  After the Spanish in Peru captured Túpak Amaru he was then "executed" by being "drawn and quartered."  That means his arms, legs and head were cut off; in the same way in the 13th century the English killed Scotland's William Wallace.  A Crow is squawking.              

         Andy's over there guarding the entrance to he and Helen's burrow, and now he's sniffing the air; to see if Goliath the Gopher Snake is in the area.  I know Cher the Cat would also like to eat a small baby Squirrel too.  But, they would first have to get past Andy; and Helen too.                                                

HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS              

                

          Mr. Steve doesn't know a lot about "Rap" or "Hip Hop" music, but Mr. Mark does and sometimes they talk about it.  Mr. Mark likes a Biggie Smalls song called "Hypnotize," which is  partly "Sampled" from this 1979 song called "Rise."  I smell some of the Arborvitae trees.           

         Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Mark he has a vinyl record by a Los Angeles band called HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS.  They play a lot of trumpet and horns on their      songs from Daisy's heard and that's the album with that song Rise on it.  Dawn's barking.            

           One time my boss told Mr. Rich he likes "Rock bands with horns," like early CHICAGO or 1980's OINGO BOINGO he said.  Dais told me over the years, just to see their reactions; Mr.  Steve has played people CHICAGO'S song "25 or 6 to 4."   I like Dawn's reliable voice.                

                          "MEXICAN WAR (1846-1848)      

         

          Well, I kind of got off topic but now it's back to writing about the Mexican War.  Ah!  I just noticed Helen standing next to Andy at the mouth of their burrow.  Dais is right in joking they're starting to smell like each other the way some older couples begin to look alike over the years.      

         In 1846, even though the Americans were pretty sure they'd win the war, it turned out to be harder than they thought I guess.  It says here "critics," like John Quincy Adams and Abraham   Lincoln; didn't like the war.  They thought it an "attempt to create more slave states."                 

     Mr. Steve's father jokes the Mexican War should be called the "Invásion Estado Unidos a Méjico," or "Invasion of Mexico by the United States."  It says here the first "campaign" took    place in northern Mexico below Texas.  All four of the Pigeons are flying toward the east.              

           

             SANTA ANNA              ULYSSES S. GRANT          JEFFERSON DAVIS                 

 PAINTING BY MANUEL PARIS                                                                                                             

                                                                                   

             Men who later fought during the American Civil War, like Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee for example; "gained experience" in the Mexican War.  Jefferson Davis, later President of the "Rebel" Southern "Confederate" States; was a Soldier.  Frida and Diego flew bye.  

             I just thought of that guy Antonio López de Santa Anna, who Daisy says Mr. Steve's dad thinks "they should make a movie about."  Wow!  My Encyclopedia says he was "in and out" of power eleven times in Mexico!  And in 1846 he was again the highest leader of Mexico.   

            Santa Anna is described as a "political opportunist" who could be "either a liberal or a conservative" depending on which way the "political winds were blowing."  He was "whatever he "needed" to be at "any given time" my boss's dad jokes.  I hear Sparrows chirping.

                                                  GEORGE STEINBRENNER / BILLY MARTIN                       MR. RICK                                            

                     

                   Daisy heard Mr. Steve and Mr. Rick talk about a guy named Billy Martin, who played for and then managed the New York "Yankees."  The Yankee's Owner "hired and fired " him as Manager five times.  Mr. Steve told him about "Santa Anna" and his "eventful" life.  

            My boss told Mr. Rick about going to that game at Yankee Stadium in 1977.  I guess Billy Martin was the Yankee's Manager then.  A caption below a picture of George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin describes them as having had a "tempestuous" and "love-hate" relationship.  

             If he had not died in a Car Accident Mr. Steve thinks "It's entirely possible" Billy Martin would've been hired again to be the Yankees Manager for a sixth time.  Billy Martin also played for the Yankees back in the 1950's.  Max the Hummingbird just zipped bye going north.  

           

                                           BILLY MARTIN / REGGIE JACKSON (1977)

           

             Mr. Steve says some guys seem to like to fight, and Billy Martin was one.  In 1977, the year my boss and his brother visited back east, he tried to fight Reggie Jackson in the "Dugout." A customer in Northern California told my boss Billy Martin was originally from "Berkeley."

              I guess many white people now living in Berkeley are thought of as being "Liberal" or "Progressive."   But, in growing up; Billy Martin's Italian family were "Conservative" in their way of thinking.  In "Social" views Billy Martin was a "Traditionalist" my boss heard.  

             The Parts Manager told my boss Billy Martin's real first name was "Alfred." But his Italian Grandmother used to always say "bello" when she'd see him, and from what it says here in this  Italian Dictionary; that means "beautiful."  Eventually his name became "Billy."

 

                                                                           RUSH   

       

             Daisy says on a tv show "Geddy" Lee, the bass player and Singer in the Canadian band RUSH; said his name is actually "Gary."  I've never heard any RUSH songs, but Daisy says Mr. Steve likes their "Introductions" to songs.  I just now noticed a Lizard standing on the wall.

             I guess as a kid growing up in Canada Geddy Lee's mom, a "Holocaust Survivor" with an accent; used to call her son and it sounded like "Geddy" instead of "Gary." Oh!  That Lizard just scampered down the wall and then ran out in the dirt.  I smell some old Mesquite.

            Someday I really want to hear RUSH'S song about Mark Twain's character Tom Sawyer.  Daisy says she and Millie heard Mr. Steve tell that kid Jason he can't do "Fills" nearly as good as RUSH'S Drummer Neal Peart.  Some Ducks are quacking but Daffy and Daisy are louder. 

    

BILLY MARTIN ARGUING WITH UMPIRE

   

           Because he was small and had a big nose other boys "Bullied" Billy Martin as a kid.  But he would fight anyone "At the Drop of a Hat" as that old saying goes.  Mr. Steve says most kids are bullied at one time or another, and he had to fight a kid for calling him "momma's boy."

           A picture of Billy Martin in this Encyclopedia shows him arguing with the Umpires, and you can tell he's mad because of how he's pointing his finger.   As a teenager Mr. Steve umpired little kids at S.I.B.L. so says he has some "empathy with sports officials."  Libby whinnied.

          I guess Billy Martin never changed.  Dais saw this tv show that said one time he even got in a huge, gigantic "Brawl" at a Bar.  Oh!  I just now noticed another little Lizard standing on the wall, near the sliding glass door going into the main dining room right next to the kitchen.  

    

BILLY MARTIN (OAKLAND "A'S")

          Mr. Rick mentioned Billy Martin also managed the Rangers, Tigers, Twins and even Mr. Steve's favorite team, the Oakland A's.  Mr. Steve liked how the A's were the only team whose      Manager and Coaches at times wore white hats.  The Lizard is dong some of those pushups.         

         Berkeley, where Billy Martin is from; is kind of near the Bay Area and has a big College there.   Our boss has drawn the logos of all the teams Billy Martin has managed Daisy told me.    That little Lizard just ran down the wall and then ducked behind the steel water bucket.              

           One time Dais and Millie heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with a customer who likes Heavy Metal music.  Mr. Steve told him about JUDAS PRIEST'S song "You Got Another Thing Coming" representing Daisy.  He chuckled when told she runs like a German "Panzer" Tank.   

                        

JUDAS PRIEST      

                

                Daisy's told me about this other good JUDAS PRIEST song Mr. Steve likes called "The Hellion."  And in using my English Dictionary I see how the name hellion is defined as being, "A troublesome or mischievous person."  I wonder if JUDAS PRIEST is named for Judas Iscariot? 

          Mr. Rick heard Billy Martin described as being a hellion one time.  And he thought that was an "appropriate" name for him alright, because it seemed like every few years you'd hear a story about some trouble he got himself into Daisy says.  The afternoon sky is so pretty.

        Well, back to the Mexican War.  I guess Santa Anna was in "exile" in Cuba when it broke out in 1846, but went back to Mexico and "made himself" President.  In 1836 ten years before, he'd won the battles of the "Alamo" and "Goliad;" but then lost in Texas's independence. 

                                            

       THE "ALAMO"                   

                                        

                Over the next three days I'll learn about 1836 when "Texas" broke away from Mexico and for nine years was its own "Independent" country.  But I can find out a few things about what is now called Texas before then too.   Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.

             My Encyclopedia says, just like in New Mexico to the west; the Texas region was first explored in the mid-16th century by Coronado.  But in 1836 "few" Spanish, who were by then called "Tejanos;" lived there.  I can smell some of the Arborvitae trees trees right now.  

             When Mexico revolted and kicked out Spain in 1821, the Texas area became part of the new country.  Then Texas "threw off" Mexico in 1836, and became part of the U.S. in 1845; the year before the Mexican War started.   Dawn's barking and I smell Blinky next to her.

         

JACOB DE CÓRDOVA (1808-1868)    

          

                 Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled to learn about a man named Jacob de Córdova now, I just kind of feel like doing it now.  One of Mr. Steve's Nephew's over in Texas is also named "Jacob" too.  Daisy heard he's interested in things like "Politics." 

                 This Encyclopedia says, in the 1840's; Jacob de Córdova was a Texas "mapmaker" and "land agent."   For nine years, from 1836 through 1845; Texas was an independent "Republic" but wanted to be in the U.S.  That man named Sam Houston really "praised" his maps.

             It says here Jacob de Córdova's "16th century" ancestors were some of those Spanish "Sephardic" Jews forced to leave Spain in 1492 after the "Reconquista."  They "relocated" to  "Jamaica," where that Musician Bob Marley was from.  Libby just whinnied over there.    

                 

 "CARIBBEAN" SEA         

          

                  According to what it says here, from the 1500's all the way through the beginning of the 19th century Jacob de Córdova's family lived on the island of Jamaica.  In 1834, he started and then ran a Newspaper there called the "Daily Gleaner."  It's now just called "The Gleaner."  

             In 1939, when he was thirty one years old; Jacob de Córdova made a trip to the city of "New Orleans."  He talked with people about the newly independent "nation" of Texas, then decided to visit and see it for himself.  He liked it a lot so sent for his wife and young son.   

                 Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his mom on the phone he read Jacob de Córdova's wife was a huge influence on him.  Mr. Jacob thought there was opportunities in independent Texas, and eventually even became a Politician there.  Heathcliff crowed, which makes me feel good.

              

 TEXAS          

             

              Wow!  That guy Jacob de Córdova must've been really smart because it says here how he could speak not only English; but was also "fluent" in French, German, Spanish and Hebrew. Oh!  It says here his mother died giving birth to him.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.  

           From 1845 through 1856 Jacob de Córdova "mapped and sold" land in Texas; and "laid out" and "developed" the city of "Waco."  His wife "insisted" he leave space for Schools, Parks and Churches; so he did.  Theodora just now went running bye out there in the dirt. 

          Daisy heard Mr. Steve say to his mom how one of his customers in Texas told him a Dam near Waco is named after Jacob de Córdova.  And there's a place south of "Fort Worth," on the "Brazos" River; called "Córdova Bend."   Boy!  I'd love to have something named for me.    

     

   AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

 

               The Parts Manager said, by the time of the American Civil War; Jacob de Córdova had a lot of land.  But, "on his wife's insistence;" he didn't "Foreclose" when people buying land from him couldn't make the payments during the war.  "Waco" is an Indian name it says here.  

            In 1846 the first battles of the Mexican War took place in Northern Mexico.  From what it says here, Santa Anna "dispatched" an army up there to "meet" the Americans; but they "lost" three big battles.  Two Crows are fighting over something way out there in the desert.

            "Hostilities" ended in Mexico's "bloody" revolution against Spain with the signing of that "Treaty of Córdoba" I mentioned earlier.  But, I guess from then until 1846; all of the different Mexican "factions" argued a lot and at times even killed each other.  I smell Penstemon.       

                                                                                     ZACHARY TAYLOR (1784-1850)    

                                                               

         American General Zachary Taylor did good in the "Northern" campaign of 1846.  He "defeated" the Mexican Army in three battles, then in 1847 beat Santa Anna himself.  Mr. Steve used to tutor a kid named Zachary Daisy heard, and they talked about Zachary Taylor.                

            Zachary Taylor became President in 1848 because of the Mexican War, and I guess is the only U.S. President from "Louisiana;" but was a "non-political Whig."  Mr. Steve still has a few  customers in Louisiana.  By Zachary Taylor's time you can tell photography was better.                

           Oh!  Zachary Taylor died on Mr. Steve's birthday of July the 9th.  I guess a "Whig" is a "derisive" British "term" for a Scottish "Cattle Driver" or "whiggamor," but American Whigs  weren't like their English "namesakes."  Derisive means to "Make fun Of" something.                                                                                      

                ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1846)                       

                                

          In 1846 in Washington D.C. that guy Abraham Lincoln "represented" Illinois as a Whig "Legislator" in the "House of Representatives."  Whigs "evolved" into the "Republican" party, which Lincoln was in 1860 when he became President.  Four U.S. Presidents were Whigs.           

           John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln were "critics" of President Polk for starting the Mexican War.  They thought, it was a war fought for land "that would later become States        which allowed the enslaving of black people."  I smell Libby over there in her Corral.                 

          Oh!  Samson and Delilah just flew in from the desert and landed on top of Manny the far right Shed.  Samson's huge wings stretch way out there and, he's got a little dead Snake hanging down from his mouth.  Raven wings are big so you can often actually hear them flapping.                                                                     (MEXICAN WAR)                ULYSSES S. GRANT                 (AS PRESIDENT)                     

                                (1846-1848)                                       (1822-1885)                                             (1869-1877)                                            

                         

        Twelve years after the Mexican War Ulysses S. Grant did good in the Civil War so, like Zachary Taylor; was elected President.  This is an interesting quote by him, "The Mexican War was the most unjust war ever waged by a stronger nation against a weaker nation."                      

            I'll bet my boss Mr. Steve knows that quote by "Grant."  Boy!  But, if not hopefully he'll be proud of me for finding it.    I can't wait to see his reaction when he realizes I learned to read and use all of these totally amazing pens and pencils.   A Motorcycle went bye in the desert.          

           Daisy and Millie one time were laying on the big rug in the Hallway outside of Mr. Steve's office.  They heard him and his dad discuss how Grant, as a "Field Commander;" was good at    "Strategy," "Tactics" and the "Logistics" of war.  That means "Supplying" an army.                                                     

ULYSSES S. GRANT AND FAMILY      

                 

       Tomorrow in book two I'll write about Ulysses S. Grant so, will find out about his wife "Julia" too; because Mr. Steve thinks she was a really huge influence on him.  She believed and    supported him when no one else did.  Samson and Delilah finished eating and flew away.              

        It says here Grant fought in the Mexican War but then, trying to support his family; he "failed" at everything he did until the Civil War.  Mr. Steve told his dad Grant was considered    to be a "Loser."   But he didn't care so long as his wife and kids trusted and respected him.          

           Mr. Steve told his dad some say Grant was an "Alcoholic," but in his "Memoirs" he wrote the only time he drank "to excess" was when he was "bored;" or "Julia wasn't around." He did  not want to disappoint her I guess.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping up there.                                  

MEXICAN WAR          

(NORTHERN CAMPAIGN / 1846-1847)              

                    

          A map shows the Mexican War's "Northern" campaign.  It's interesting how the first two battles were fought a few days "before" the U.S. "officially" declared war.  The blue lines on the map show where General Taylor went, and the red lines show the Mexican movements.                 

         It says here those first two battles of 1846, at "Palo Alto" and "Resaca de la Palma;" were fought in "disputed" territory on the Texas-Mexico border.  I notice that was near the "Gulf of    Mexico" coast.  Mr. Steve knows this family from what is now the city of "Brownsville."               

       The "bloody" Battle of Palo Alto was fought on May 8, 1846, when General Taylor's men "pressed" the Mexican army.  Then, the following day; the two armies again "engaged" in the      "Battle of Resaca de la Palma."  I hear a Crow squawking faintly out there in the desert.            

             

BATTLE OF "PALO ALTO" (MAY 8, 1846)       

ARTWORK BY CURRIER & IVES                  

                     

          My Spanish Dictionary says "palo alto" means "tall tree," while "resaca de la palma" is  "riverbed of the palm tree."   Looking at the Mulberry tree makes me think how glad I am for    tree shade on hot days.  Daisy says Mr. Steve's parents have Palm Trees in their front yard.          

          At Palo Alto General Taylor I guess "skillfully" used his "Flying Artillery" to kill a lot of Mexican Soldiers.  Those fast-moving cannons, pulled by Horse teams; were a "big factor" in his victories.  I just noticed two white vapor trails way up there in the high blue afternoon sky.           

           I'll bet my boss Mr. Steve knows that another name for Zachary Taylor's Flying Artillery is "Horse Artillery."  That means "lighter" in weight cannons, pulled around by Horses; to be      "Positioned" on a battlefield "faster than usual."  Ah! I can now smell Libby over there.                                                            "NAPOLEONIC WARS" ERA "GUN CREWS"                      NAPOLÉON I (1769-1821)                               

                    

          It says here 1840's Armies were still being influenced by that guy Napoléon Bonaparte.  This morning I wrote about how he "took advantage" of the French Revolution's chaos to make himself  Emperor of France.  In all of his early 1800's wars he "perfected" Flying Artillery.          

           A painting shows a "Napoléonic" era "Gun Crew" being used in battle, and I notice how the Horses are being whipped.  I've written about how Dawn next door lost most of the sight in    her left eye after being hit with a belt.  Ah!  I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie right now.                   

           In 1846 General Taylor at times used cannons "in support of" the cavalrymen on Horses.  Looking at Libby over there makes me think about how Genghis Khan's 12th century Mongols    rode Horses.  And a few centuries before that so did "Attila the Hun" and his Warriors.                

                                                                                            "CAISSON"  WAGON                    

                          

            A picture shows the "carriage" Wagons Horses pulled in 19th century warfare.  Another name for them is "Caissons," or a "Limber" in slang.  Dais told me Mr. Steve has a miniature      Caisson Wagon sitting on the divider between the kitchen and dining room, to my right.               

            I guess Horse Artillery was the "precursor" to modern "Self-Propelled Artillery."  And, in Napoléon's time; that meant "light, fast moving and firing" cannons which were "wheeled"     into position.  The words "mobile" and "agile" are also used to describe those cannons too.         

          Mr. Steve's father studied how, before the "Napoléonic Wars" of the late 18th and early 19th centuries; cannons were heavier.  Crewmen walked alongside, or rode on Caissons; which held the things necessary to operate cannons.  Napoléon's "crewmen" rode on the Horses.                                                               FRENCH "GUN CREWS"                NAPOLEON "CROWNING HIMSELF"        

                                                                                                                                        PAINTING BY JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID

                

        Napoléon's army was called "Le Grande Armée."  Mr. Steve says, like Spain's Francisco Franco later, even though he was a Dictator and Tyrant; Napoléon wasn't Anti-Semitic like most  Europeans then.  This painting shows him "crowning himself"  as the French "Emperor."            

          Dais heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph on the phone Napoléon was five foot six inches, which was "average" then.  I guess "Short Man's Complex" is when small people "Overcompensate"    for being short by extra toughness. Oh!  I wonder if that guy Billy Martin was like that?               

        As a kid Mr. Steve built miniature military figurines of Napoléonic era Soldiers wearing colorful uniforms.  One was a British "Dragoon" on a Horse but, they were all destroyed in that  big 1971 Sylmar earthquake.  My right nostril just picked up Libby's totally unique scent.                                                                          

  MEXICAN WAR CAVALRY            

      PAINTING BY CHARLES M. BARRON                         

                                              

           A good painting shows an American Dragoon using a sword in trying to stab and kill a Mexican Dragoon during the Mexican War.  Dragoons are, "heavily-armed Cavalry units, some  equipped with spears."  Daisy says Mr. Steve has some sabers and spears in his office.                  

           I just thought about how, in 1939 at the beginning of World War II; "Poland" still had Cavalry units in their army.  But, unfortunately; that didn't work against German Tanks, which simply ran right over them.  Mr. Mike called them "hamburger meat" I noticed.  Ugh!                 

             Dais heard Mr. Steve and his father talk about Horses one time.  My boss thinks Horses in combat were "most likely" first used to pull "Chariots."  But, later they were "trained" to be ridden the way Attila's Huns, Genghis Khan's Mongols and 19th century Comanche's did.                               

"ASSYRIAN" CHARIOTS            

                  

          Seeing Libby over there makes me think of Horses pulling Chariots.  I sure do wish Molly the Mule was still alive.   I've mentioned how, within our two fenced in acres; we have statues      representing ancient China, India, Mesopotamia and Egypt.  Dawn's barking over there.              

        Oh what the heck!  Since I'm thinking about it now I might as well write about Horses in war.  Besides, I can always learn more about this subject in my other two books too.  I think I'll    write about some of the last ever Cavalry "Charges" in history, a few from World War II.            

        My boss read the last "successful" Cavalry charge was probably in 1898 at the "Battle of Omdurman" and Winston Churchill, who was twenty three; took part in it.  He was a member    of the "21st Lancer" Regiment in 1898.   "Lance" is another name for a spear Daisy told me                                                               

WINSTON CHURCHILL (1898)             BATTLE OF "OMDURMAN" (SUDAN)  

                                                                                                                                  PAINTING BY HARRY PAYNE

                  

         It says here things like "machine guns" and "barbed wire" made "full frontal assaults obsolete" in World War I.  In that war Horses were mainly used to pull things like wagons and    cannons around.  Smelling Libby right now suddenly makes me remember Molly's scent.             

           On Saturday I'll learn about the country of "Poland."  So of course I'll read about what happened in 1939, when "Nazi" Germany and "Soviet" Russia attacked Poland; "triggering"      the Second World War.  Andy's over there sniffing the air to make sure there's no danger.             

       When Germany conquered Poland in 1939 it was the first use of those "Blitzkrieg" or "Lightning War" tactics.   A big part of Lightning War is using fast and mobile "Armor," which means Tanks.  Mr. Steve's father has studied what the Germans did in defeating Poland.                                                         

POLISH "CAVALRY"        

(WORLDWAR II / 1939)              

             

         A photo shows Second World War Polish Cavalry charging, and in a painting you can see Polish Soldiers attacking a German Tank.  In both images they're swinging swords, which were    also totally obsolete by then.  I guess in 1939 the Polish military had some Lancer Units.                

       Ugh!  The painting shows a poor Horse getting run over by a German Tank.  Wow!  The Polish Soldiers look so brave as they attack the Tank, and one is even throwing his spear at it I notice.  But it didn't do any good as Tanks are made of really hard steel which is very thick.         

         It says here, even with what happened in 1939; there were still a few cavalry charges later in World War II.  In January of 1941 Italian "mounted units" went against the British in Africa,  a year later Italy's cavalry "confronted" Stalin's Soviet troops in Russia.   Dawn's barking.                                   

U.S. CAVALRY         

(WORLD WAR II / 26TH "PHILIPPINE SCOUTS")

                                                           

           Over the next three days I'll learn about the history of the "Philippines." During World War II the Japanese invaded on December 8, 1941, the day after their surprise attack on Pearl    Harbor.  A photo from then shows an American Soldier in the Philippines riding a Horse.             

         The caption below the picture of the American Cavalryman says, in 1942 the U.S. twice used Horses in "desperate" but "futile" attempts to "repel" the "Imperial" Japanese invasion    forces.  Heathcliff just crowed over there, and I can smell Blinky, Dawn and old Rosie too.            

      My Encyclopedia says the first time American Cavalry "confronted" the Japanese in the Philippines was January of 1942.  And they did it again just a few months later in April.  It    says here the British, in March of 1942; used cavalry units when Japan invaded "Burma."                                       

 HORSE-DRAWN ARTILLERY                         ENTERING PARIS (JUNE, 1940)        

                    

       The Second World War Nazi Germans are known for their amazing use of "Motorized" vehicles like Tanks and Airplanes.  But, they also used millions of Horses to pull wagons, artillery and things like that.  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just sprinted bye in front of the Sheds.            

      Well, back to learning about the Mexican War of 1846-1848.  Daisy says Mr. Ralph has studied that war, so knows how chaotic things had been in Mexico since the time of independence from Spain in 1821.  Political parties were "disunited" and often fought and killed the other.        

      So in 1846, when Santa Anna came back from "Exile" in Cuba and tried to put together armies to meet the Americans; he at times had a hard time doing it.  And he even had a little bit  of trouble trying to unite the Politicians Dais heard.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.                                                                

           MEXICAN CAVALRY UNITS (1840'S)                 ANTONIO LÓPEZ DE SANTA ANNA (1794-1876)                                                                                                                                                          PAINTING BY PAUL L' OUVRIER      

                           

            Santa Anna was influenced by Napoléon and arrogantly called himself "Napoléon of the West" Mr. Ralph said.  He "patterned" his armies uniforms on Napoléon's "Grand Army."  I've mentioned before how Napoléon was also conceited, even "Crowning Himself" Emperor.             

          Daisy says Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph Santa Anna's men looked good, but in the Mexican War used obsolete "Muskets."  Some American units, like the "Texas Rangers;" were equipped  with modern "Rifles" and "Colt Revolvers."  I really like the Mexican Cavalry helmets.               

        I guess, another "Factor" in the U.S. winning the Mexican War was; their troops were better trained and more reliable too.  Santa Anna forced some poor men to join the army so "At first Opportunity;" they deserted," or ran away.  They kill you for doing that Dais says.                                                                

    2014 MITSUBISHI "LANCER"         

                       

            Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve sell Baseball caps with "Lancer" logos on the front.  I guess Lancer Cars are made by a Japanese company called "Mitsubishi."  Daisy one time saw a  girl driving one and noticed how they're kind of small in size just like our little Car Barny.           

          One of Mr. Steve's Mitsubishi customers told him over the years the Lancer model has been made and sold under a few different names.  And at times it was American companies, like  "Dodge" and "Chrysler" for example; who sold them.  Dawn and Blinky are both barking.          

          That Parts Manager said Lancers have been built since 1973, which was the exact same year my boss graduated from Sylmar High.  Well, it's back to learning about the Mexican War.  I just noticed Blackbeard and Anne Bonny flying directly over Libby's Corral over there.                                                                             

AMERICAN ARMY        

(MEXICAN WAR / 1846-1848)     

       PAINTING BY CHARLES M. BARRON                   

                              

          I notice how, in a painting of Mexican War era American Soldiers; they didn't even wear helmets.  Daisy told me in his office our boss has a gray "Kepi" style hat like those worn in the    American Civil War.  He got it in 1977 when he and his brother Rock visited Gettysburg.              

          Daisy says Mr. Ralph read "Gunpowder" was  invented in China in the 9th century A.D., but was only used for "medical purposes;" or "Fireworks." Daisy jokes that I'd be a bad Soldier because of how afraid I am of thunder and lightning.   I smell Alpha Company out in the field.     

         Gunpowder was first used in warfare about 1000 A.D., and by the 1200's the formula had spread all the way west to Europe.  Mr. Steve's dad is surprised the Chinese didn't realize what    they had, "given their long history of clever and creative killing in war."   Dawn's barking.           

                                  

    "SMOOTH BORE" VERSUS "RIFLED" GUN BARRELS         

                                         

          A diagram shows the difference between the first "Guns," whose barrels were "smooth" inside; and later "Rifles" where spiraling grooves were carved in there.  That makes the bullet    go straighter with way more accuracy.  Europeans thought of that good idea in the 1400's.           

            Back in chapter seven I wrote about "Cement" and "Concrete," and will learn a lot more about those things over the next three days.  I can't wait!  I'm also looking forward to finding out more about all of the different building materials such as "Stone Blocks" and "Bricks" too.         

           I just thought of that tall round brick building in Baltimore, called the "Phoenix" tower. Over the years one of the things Mr. Steve and a customer there have discussed was that tall 19th century "Shot" tower used for making bullets.   Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.             

"PHOENIX" TOWER

(BALTIMORE, MARYLAND)

PHOTOS BY KIM HAIRSTON

        

         A picture in my Encyclopedia shows how modern Baltimore has grown around that old Shot Tower in Maryland.  The caption says, as I wrote earlier today; the Phoenix Tower was the    tallest "structure" in the U.S. at the time of the American Civil War.   Dawn's now barking.       

          I guess, until the early 19th century bullets or "Shot" was made by climbing up high; to drop soft "molten" pieces of lead into "Vats" of cold water way down below.  The gravity makes them get rounder and rounder on the way falling down.  Molten means soft hot like liquid.           

         My Encyclopedia says that big "circular" Phoenix Tower is 234 feet tall.  Built using red bricks, its walls are four feet thick at the bottom; and "taper" to only 21 inches at the very top.  I just now glanced up and can see Libby over in her Corral, and she's looking in this direction.       

                        

            LIBBY                                                           HORSE RACING       

                    

          Daisy says that Parts Manager in Baltimore told Mr. Steve about this Race Horse named "Phoenix Tower," and a "Skyscraper" in Houston, Texas with the same name.  In the actual city of Phoenix in Arizona, and over in China; there are also "Phoenix Towers."  I smell Sage.             

           I guess the name "Phoenix" comes from an ancient Greek story of a Bird in "Phoenicia" who dies, but then "regenerates;" or comes "back to life."  Rising "from the ashes" of its dead    body, it then gets to have a new life.   That lady Edith Hamilton wrote about it Daisy says.            

          Two Pigeons just flew in from the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.  I think it's Fred and Ethel but, it's always kind of hard to tell the difference between them and Lucy and Ricky.  Some of the Ducks are quacking, and as usual Daffy's voice is a lot louder than the others.                                                                   "PHOENICIA"                                                      "CARTHAGE"                                                                         

           A map of the "Mediterranean Sea" shows where ancient "Phoenician" Ships sailed for trading with other peoples.  Dais says Mr. Steve read our name "Córdova" might be Phoenician "in origin."  The four Pigeons just now landed up there on the Patio roof right above me.             

           I've mentioned before how for a time "Carthage" was ancient Rome's biggest "Rival," and fought those three big "Punic" wars.  In one war that guy "Hannibal" marched Elephants    over the "Alps"  mountains from Spain to Italy.  Carthaginians were Phoenicians I guess.             

            My Encyclopedia says ancient Phoenicia "began" in the eastern Mediterranean Sea area where modern "Lebanon" is located, where the Phoenix rising from the ashes story happened.    Dais says Egypt, Japan, China and Arabia have similar "Phoenix Stories."  I like Pigeons!                                                              

   "PHOENIX RISING"                                  HERODOTUS (484-425 B.C.)     

                     

        That guy Herodotus, who I've mentioned before; said the Phoenix was red and yellow.  Daisy heard to some people it symbolizes the "sun, rebirth and immortality."  She says I should  be like a Phoenix in rising above the challenges and obstacles that I've been given.  I will!             

           Aha!  I knew I was being watched.   A little Lizard is standing on the wall over there but now ran down the wall when it noticed me looking at it.  Hey God!  One good "Silver Lining" in  me living homeless out there in that field is I cans often sense when I'm being "Observed."           

            I'm still thinking about guns.  A "rifled" barrel gun is way more accurate than "smooth-bore" muskets, which the German's invented in the 1400's.  Way back in 1519, that guy Córtez's Spanish Soldiers used those smooth-bore "Arquebus" guns to kill Aztecs down in Mexico.                                                                                      

16TH CENTURY SPANISH "CONQUISTADOR"

(HOLDING AN "ARQUEBUS")

ARTWORK BY NORMAN MILLER         

                 

           I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve's "possible" relative, back in 1693; took part in the "Reconquista" of New Mexico.  A list of his possessions said he arrived in New Mexico with an    Arquebus.  A  painting shows a 1500's era Spanish Soldier holding one over his shoulder.              

           The Spanish first came up from Mexico to "Settle" New Mexico in the early 1600's but, in 1680; the Native people rebelled and killed many "Colonists."  Mr. Steve thinks it's "likely" the  Indians allowed a few survivors, hoping they'd warn other Spaniards.  A Raven croaked.              

       Unfortunately for the Indians in New Mexico, the Spanish came back up north thirteen years later; and took back the region "By Force" as they say.  Dais jokes that's just a nicer way    of saying they probably killed many Indians.  The Pigeons flew back out into the desert.                                                                 "IBERIAN" PENINSULA                                                                        "RECONQUISTA"                                                                                                                                                                                   PAINTING BY MARIUSZ GÓRSKI

                    

        The Spanish word "Reconquista," or "re-conquest;" is what the seven century long taking back of the "Iberian Peninsula" is called.  Those Muslim "Moors" had "conquered" it in the 8th century A.D.  One Muslim area was that "Córdoba" region I've mentioned.  I smell Sage.             

       A painting in this Encyclopedia shows Spanish and Moorish Soldiers swinging swords at each other from the backs of Horses.  Oh!  There's a "severed" Spanish head hanging from the    Muslim guy's saddle.  Christians and Muslims really hated each other back in those days.             

     Boy!  You can really tell, by the mean looks on their faces; how both of those guys in the painting want to stab and kill each other.  The Spanish Reconquista ended in 1492 when King      Ferdinand  and Queen Isabella finally "evicted" the Moors.  I like the smell of Sage!                                  

                   "SCYTHIAN"                      "MONGOL"                         "SAMURAI"                                                                                                              

          I'm scheduled to learn about the history of female Warriors on Saturday, but sort of feel like mentioning them now too.  Earlier I wrote a little bit about those ancient Greek "Amazons." Daisy heard that guy Herodotus said how the "Scythians" had females fight alongside men.         

          That guy Genghis Khan used female Warriors in his 13th century Mongol armies, and he allowed women to compete in the three "Manly" Sports; archery, Horse riding and wrestling.  I  wrote in chapter seven about that girl Samurai Warrior named Tomoe Gozen.  I smell Sage.         

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his mom how, because his High School girlfriend Sandy's mom was a Nurse; she knew males and females are different "Physiologically."  So, girls "in combat" have some  "health risks" males don't have she thought.  Heathcliff is crowing over there.                                                      

                          RUSSIAN WOMEN (SOVIET UNION / SECOND WORLD WAR)                                                  

             Daisy saw this tv show that said Russian girls fought the Germans in World War II, and some were even those "Snipers."  The U.S. military is "recruiting" more females now I guess.  In the Second World War the Nazi Germans killed about twenty six million of the Russians.              

             I guess Sandy's mom said males produce way more "Testosterone," so their bones get a lot heavier and stronger too.  In doing "Load-Bearing" tasks most men are able to carry heavier Backpacks over longer distances.  Lifting thirty five pound artillery shells is also easier too.          

          Because of testosterone, male's hearts and lungs "develop" more Sandy's mom said; so their "Aerobic" capacity is greater.  And, the "Average" woman has about sixty percent of what they call the "Upper Body Strength" of the average man.  I can smell the Aborvitae tree.                                                                     

                  ISRAELI WOMAN (1948)                    

                  

           My Encyclopedia says In 1948, three years after the "Holocaust" where six million Jews were killed by the Nazis; the "United Nations" created the "modern country" of "Israel."  The    Arab countries of Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria immediately attacked.  A Crow cawed.        

           Because it was a matter of "Life and Death," back in 1948 even Jewish girls were needed to fight too. It says here in Hebrew "Medinat Yisra' el" means "State of Israel."  I know Blinky,  Dawn and Rosie are standing near the fence because their scents just floated in over here.             

            Even though I'm actually not scheduled to write about all the wars modern Israel has had since 1948 until tomorrow, I can mentioning a little bit about that first war now too.  Hey God!    Did You cause Israel to be "Reborn" after two thousand years?  I'll bet You did alright.                             

ISRAEL'S "WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE" (1948)   

                                        

           Wow!  A painting in my Encyclopedia shows one of those German "Me-109" World War II Fighter Planes but, instead of "Nazi" markings;" it has Jewish logos on it!   I've mentioned      before how the letters "Me" is short for the name "Messerschmidt."   Heathcliff crowed.              

           It says here, in 1948 "out of necessity" the Jews got those Me-109's.  A man on a tv show said to prevent the "baby from being strangled in its crib."  As that old saying goes, "Beggars      can't be choosers."  My bad Angel Lilith has supposedly killed babies asleep in their beds.            

        Sandy's mom thought "most" women are at a "physical disadvantage" in some things.  Their smaller hearts "need to pump more blood" because of this thing called "Hemoglobin,"        which is what carries "Oxygen" to the body.  Frida and Diego are flying toward the east.                                                                               BLACKBEARD (1680-1718)                   ANNE BONNY (1697?-1782?)            

PAINTING BY JEAN-LÉON GÉRÔME                                                                                                                                                          

                 

          Oh wow!  Just as I'm thinking of girl Warriors who should I see?  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows flew bye, and even from way down here on the Patio I see the white hole where Blackbeard's left eye used to be.  I've said how Mr. Steve named Anne after that girl Pirate.         

           Hard labor, not eating consistently and not getting enough "Calcium" and "Vitamin D" are all part of "Combat;" and so is losing sleep and "anxiety" Sandy's mom said.  All can cause  a loss of female "Hormones," which means the girl's bones might get thinner. I smell Sage.           

       Sandy's mom thought some of the worst "effects" of females in combat, "occupational hazards;" may not "show up" until later.   Dais heard Mr. Steve tell his mom she said at times a  girl won't be able to have babies after fighting in a war.   Oh!  That would be bad alright!                       

          "DRONE"                                                    "EXOSKELETON"        

       

           A tv show Daisy saw said someday Soldiers might wear "Exoskeletons" on the outside of their bodies to give them more strength.  Earlier I wrote those "Drones," which my boss thinks will someday "dig tunnels" and be used "under the water" too.   I smell Libby over there.            

         "Technology" can have two sides my boss thinks.  That "Software Program" called "Pro Tools" used to make music is good, but actually playing instruments is better; even if that means it isn't totally perfect.  Daisy one time heard about this other thing called "Auto Tune."                 

      "Bionic" means, "Biological capability enhanced by technology" my English Dictionary says.  Daisy heard, at a 1980's Boxing match; our boss took pictures of an Actor who played the    bionic "The Six Million Dollar Man."  He was a fan of Mr. Bobby the Boxer Daisy heard.             

                                            

 "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS"          

  ("TALÔS" DEFENDS CRETE / 1963)          

                            

          One day my boss was watering the Mulberry tree in the front yard as Mr. Cliff told him about a military program developing "battery-powered" exoskeletons called "T.A.L.O.S."  That  stands for, "Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit."  The big Dragonfly just zoomed bye.               

          Dais saw a movie called "Jason and the Argonauts," which was based on the story from ancient Greece.  That guy Ray Harryhousen created the monsters in it, like this giant metal God "Talôs who protects the island of "Crete."  Edith Hamilton wrote about that story Dais heard.     

          In the movie, which I guess was made in 1963 when my boss was eight; Talôs tries to kill Jason's men.  Dais says that one band BLACK SABBATH have a song she thinks I'd really like    about an iron man just like Talôs.  Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha likes that song too.                                                             

     THEODORA            

                                  

           Oh! Theodora the Thrasher Bird is standing in her favorite Creosote bush over there to the left of Jack the big Shed.  The late afternoon sky is so beautiful above the eastern desert to      my front.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other as usual; are flying toward the east.               

           All of a sudden I'm thinking again about weapons and things like that.  Someday, when I get over my fear of being trapped; I look forward to seeing all the different things my boss has in his office.  Daisy told me he has knives, swords and spears he's collected over the years.               

         I guess, before "Rifled" gun barrels; people knew an "arrow fired from a bow" is more accurate if you twist the feathers on the back.  Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Sandy shot bows and  arrows back in the 1970's.  I smell the new baby Cholla cactus, which makes me feel good.                                           

     "M1" RIFLES                

                                                    

         During the Korean War my boss's father used those "M-1" rifles I wrote about earlier.  But, for more "Fire Power;" he preferred the "B.A.R." like the ones that 1930's Gangster Clyde Barrow used.  I've mentioned before how B.A.R. stands for "Browning Automatic Rifle."             

           Whenever Mr. Steve and his brother Rock would visit their relatives in New Mexico they at times shot guns because some of their Uncles and Cousins had them.  Boy!  How could anyone have even thought of how to build such an astounding thing like a gun?  I smell Mesquite.            

          I just thought about those old Arquebus guns.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his father they must've had a "tremendous kick" because you had to fire one using a "Stand" or "Monopod."  Arquebus's "must've been more like a cannon than a gun as we think of them" he said.                                                                                                         GONSALVO DE CÓRDOBA (1453-1515)                                       

PAINTING BY ENRIQUE DUARTE                       

              

         I looked up Gonsalvo de Córdoba.  It says here, as a "General" for Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand; he led Spanish armies in battle.  I guess his nickname was "El Gran Capitán," which means "The Great Captain."  There's a long white vapor trail up in the high sky.                

          A painting shows Gonsalvo de Córdoba holding up his sword in "directing" his Spanish Soldiers to shoot Arquebus's.  Wow!  The caption below the painting says Gonsalvo de Córdoba  was one of the "greatest" Generals "of all time."  Ah!  The afternoon air is clear right now.          

        Wow!  General de Córdoba was one of the first to "effectively" use firearms in war.  He "influenced" Napoléon and his English "rival" the Duke of Wellington too.  In 1693 Antonio de Córdova, who may've been our first relative in New Mexico; had an Arquebus Dais heard.                                           

  THE BEATLES                                                  FANNIE AND FREDDIE

     

           Fannie and Freddie are flying toward the southwest.  Dais says some people call Crows and Ravens "Blackbirds," and told me that band the  BEATLES have a good song from 1968 about a "Blackbird;" where in one section someone whistles.  Daisy really likes whistling.             

            In the painting of Gonsalvo de Córdoba I notice right away how some of the Soldiers are wearing helmets.  When we go in the living room on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons I see all the different helmets my boss has.  Oh!  Benjamin the black Cow Bird just flew bye.                 

            One time my boss and his dad talked about how, by the late 19th century; some thought wearing a helmet showed "Cowardice."  But, in World War I when "Machine Guns" could kill   thousands in a few minutes; everyone changed their minds.  I'd want a helmet in a war.                                                                                     HELMETS                 WORLD WAR I         GERMAN INFANTRYMAN                     

                          

          A drawing shows the types of First World War helmets.  Many began the war with either short or tall "Crests," to "deflect" or "buffer" sword blows; but then it became obvious the use    of swords was "outdated."  Mr. Steve has a few World War I helmets in the living room.             

          Well, it's back to the Mexican War.  My Encyclopedia says, at the "Battle of Resaca de la Palma" on May the 9th, 1846; there was vicious "hand to hand" fighting and I guess some of the Mexican Soldiers even "drowned" in the Rio Grande River.  Boy!  I'd sure hate to drown.            

          The "Battle of Palo Alto" took place the day before Resaca de la Palma.  It says here the Mexican cannons were "obsolete," and had such "low velocity" at times the American Soldiers under General Taylor were able to "dodge" the cannon balls.  Dawn's barking over there.                                                                                                                   THREE TYPES OF "ARTILLERY"                            

         

         The difference between the three types of "Artillery" cannons, the "Gun," "Howitzer;" and "Mortars;" is "Trajectory."  That means the "Angle" at which their cannon balls or shells fly through the air toward the enemy lines of Soldiers.  A good diagram shows it right here.          

         Guns often have longer "barrels," and shoot bigger "Shells" at a horizontal or "flatter" trajectory.  Howitzers usually have shorter barrels and propel smaller "Projectiles" at a higher    or more "Elevated" trajectory.  Theodora just now flew away from her Creosote bush.                 

         It says here a Howitzer's "projectile" falls at a "steeper diagonal angle of descent."  Mr. Steve's father's job during the Korean War was "Spotter," looking through binoculars and then giving the guys firing cannons information.  Howitzer's use what's called "Plunging" fire.                                                

        KOREAN WAR 105 MM "HOWITZER"    

                                    

         According to this one  Encyclopedia, the Howitzer cannon was invented in 17th century Sweden.  But since then many countries developed them, and in the American Civil War the 12-pound "Napoléon" was used a lot.  Daisy says Mr. Steve has a miniature Napoléon cannon.          

           During the Second World War, when Nazi Germany fought Soviet Russia in the biggest in scale war ever; both sides used Howitzers "effectively."   That means a lot of people died.  In the First World War plunging fire often worked well by coming down on those long trenches.             

          Looking at the diagram, you can see that a Mortar shoots the cannon balls at the steepest angles.  The caption calls the "ascent" and "descent" of the projectile almost vertical or straight up and down.  The cannon ball is "Lobbed" and drops on you from higher above I can see.                                                                               

                 AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SIEGE "MORTAR"                    

                                    

         Wow!  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows a Union Mortar used in the American Civil War.  The caption below the photo says the projectiles "lobbed" by Mortars back in the 1860's      weighed over two hundred pounds each.  Oh Boy!  That's a really giant bullet alright!                 

         That hunchback Homer Lea thought an important part of man's history, from throwing rocks to modern Artillery that shoots over the horizon; is the "evolution" of man's ability to kill  "more people accurately from greater and greater distance."  Samson and Delilah flew bye.         

         All of a sudden I'm thinking about that band Dais told me about called the BREEDERS.  She saw a good Video for one of their songs, about a cannon ball rolling around.  She thinks I'd    really like how at the beginning of that song the girl does a weird "droning" style of singing.                     

   BREEDERS        

     PHOTO BY MARISAL GESUALDI             

      

           Oh!  What a coincidence that, just when I'm thinking of that band the BREEDERS; I smell the Twin Joshua trees out there in the eastern desert.  Daisy told me the BREEDERS, who  are mainly from Ohio; have twin sisters in it.  Mr. Steve thinks they're pretty I guess.                    

          Daisy says Mr. Steve played drums along to the BREEDERS' song "Cannonball," and thinks the girl Bassist and boy Drummer work well together.  On that song the Drummer starts    out by playing the "Rim" of his snare drum, and a cymbal stand.  Heathcliff just crowed.             

           Earlier I mentioned that band from Bakersfield KORN'S song "Freak on a Leash."  In the Video a bullet goes flying around totally "Out of Control," causing a lot of damage; but it barely misses all the people as it goes along.  A flock of Birds is flying bye going eastward.                  

KORN

          Someday I really want to hear that KORN song about the bullet.  Daisy told me she thinks the first part of the song is good, but not as good as the second hard rock half; after the guy sings in a very unique way.  Mr. Mark one time called it "beat boxing" from what Dais heard.               

        Hey Lord!  I guess one of Mr. Dave's old Motorcycle Shop customers told him some of the members of KORN now really believe in You like Daisy and I do down here on Earth.  Dais says part of KORN'S Freak on a Leash Video is a really good cartoon.  I smell Andy over there.           

         KORN spell their name with the "R" backwards, because they worked at a toy store called "Toys R Us."  In the Video a cartoon Policeman accidentally fires his gun in tripping, the bullet    shoots out of the cartoon and flies into the real world.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.            

  

 KORN ALBUM "FOLLOW THE LEADER" (1998)

     

           Dais thinks that the best part of KORN'S Video for Freak on a Leash is when the Singer orders the bullet to go back into the cartoon where it belongs.  As the bullet does what it's told to  do the song is what Mr. Steve's customer called "Nu Metal."  Libby neighed over there.                

           Mr. Dave said he really likes the "dissonance and distortion" on Freak on a Leash.  My English Dictionary says that dissonance means, "Any inharmonious  combination of sounds or    musical notes;" or "Lack of harmony."  Two of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral.         

           KORN'S song Freak on a Leash was on a 1998 album recorded in "North Hollywood" Mr. Steve was told one time.  Miss Harriet lives in North Hollywood.  Daisy says Mr. Steve and Mr.    Dave like the "snare" drumming and "high hat" work on the first half of Freak on a Leash.          

CARLOS SANTANA                                              ROCK / JUDY        

      

         1999 "Financially" was a bad year for my boss, but he now associates that year with the Carlos Santana song "Smooth."  A picture shows Carlos Santana in a Minnesota "North Stars"  Hockey jersey.  That's what they called when my boss and Mr. Mark worked for the "Kings."     

          I guess, now that Hockey team is called the Dallas "Stars," and my boss's brother Rock and his girlfriend Miss Judy sometimes go to their games.  One time on the phone Mr. Steve's      brother told him Miss Judy really likes Carlos Santana's guitar playing.   Dawn's barking.           

           Mr. Steve's 1999, the year KORN'S Freak on a Leash came out; was a "stressful" year of "worry and anxiety" he says,  But he'd "temporarily" feel better whenever he heard that new      Carlos Santana song Smooth; especially his "soulful" guitar playing.  He felt Rhéma.                   

             

                         PRINCE                                                              MR. MARK (SONS TAJ AND DYLAN)

                                

           Mr. Mark and that guy Prince are both from the "Upper Midwest," Mr. Mark from the State of "Wisconsin;" Prince from nearby in "Minnesota."  Both are "multi-instrumentalists" in making their types of music.  Daisy told me one time Prince has a song about the year 1999.         

            Prince's song is "Celebratory" in thinking of the year 2,000 A.D.  So, even though many of the people felt like "Partying" Dais says; in 1999 that was the last thing our boss was thinking of doing.  He went into a total shell like a Crab who feels threatened out there in the Ocean.         

            Daisy says Mr. Steve admits, because he was an "Idiot" and trusted someone he "should not have;" he eventually lost all of the money he'd saved up.  He says it was "definitely one of his most embarrassing and humiliating moments in his life.  But he was mainly mad at himself.              

      

"DORA"  ("WORLD WAR II / 1942)

                   

         Well, back to learning about cannons.  I'm looking at the picture of that giant German cannon "Dora."   The caption says it was used in 1942 against the Russians at "Sevastopol."        Tomorrow I'll write about the 19th century "Crimean" War "Charge of the Light Brigade."        

            Boy!  My Encyclopedia says Dora's "barrel" was over one hundred feet long.  In the First World War the Germans had that other huge cannon "Bertha," used to shell Paris.  Oh!  I see Samson over there stripping the skin from a Snake he caught for dinner for he and Delilah.          

         Dora, from twenty nine miles away; "launched" shells weighing seven tons "each." The   "deafening roar" of the explosions was "terrifying," and as I wrote before; that means we could hit Littlerock from way over here in Pinon Hills.   Delilah's looking at me, and so is Andy.                                                         

   FORT SUMTER (MAY 12, 1861)         

PAINTING BY CURRIER & IVES         

                                      

          Abraham Lincoln became President in late 1960 and then seven of the "Slave" States, led by South Carolina; "Seceded" or withdrew from the U.S.   On May 12, 1861 "Fort Sumter" was bombed to start the Civil War.  Oh!  My boss's Sister in Law Yolanda's birthday is May 12th.      

         Joseph Smith "correctly predicted" the Civil War would start in South Carolina over the issue of Slavery.  In the painting of Fort Sumter getting bombed, you can tell how it's out there in the Harbor of "Charleston;" South Carolina.  Boy!  It would be scary to be bombed in a war.      

          I just thought of my boss's "G.M." customer in the city of "Sumter."  The Parts Manager" is named "Dean," his "Assistant" is "James;" and over the years they've discussed things that have to do with the American Civil War.  Samson and Delilah are now sharing the Snake.                         

THOMAS SUMTER (1734-1832)   

PAINTING BY REMBRANDT PEALE           

           

        The town where Mr. Dean works, and Fort Sumter too; are named for that man Thomas Sumter.  My Encyclopedia says, as a General in the Revolutionary War; he fought the British.  I  guess, after the war was over; he then became a Politician and did a few other things too.              

     Boy!  It must be so great to have something named after you, the way South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Georgia did with Thomas Sumter.  Speedy Gonzalez just zoomed out into the back desert through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate.  He left dust behind.             

          In 1861's "Siege of Fort Sumter" mortars were used to "lob" or drop shells into the fort, which eventually forced it to surrender.   You can see from the painting how shells were coming in from many angles to hit the fort out in that Harbor.   Samson and Delilah just flew away.                                                              ROBERT ANDERSON (1805-1871)                     P.G.T. BEAUREGARD (1818-1893)                                                                                                                     

       The Civil War is called the "Brothers War," mainly because sometimes families had men fighting on both sides.  The man bombing Fort Sumter, P.G.T. Beauregard; took a class at "West Point" from Robert Anderson who was in command inside of Fort Sumter.  I smell Sage.              

           President Lincoln's wife Mary had relatives who fought for the Confederacy.  Her State of  "Kentucky," which allowed Slavery; never left the Union so had people on both sides.  A flock of Birds way up there in the now late afternoon sky are moving together toward the north.              

        Before I go back to writing about the Mexican War, I just feel like mentioning this other famous big, giant cannon.   It was used in 1453 by the "Ottoman" Turks to destroy some parts of "Constantinople's" thick wall.  Two Motorcycles went bye out there on Primavera Road.                                                             

"SIEGE OF CONSTANTINOPLE" (1453)

          

        In 1453 the Turkish "Sultan" Mehmed II used this twenty seven foot long, sixteen ton cannon to blow holes in "Byzantium" Constantinople's until then "impenetrable" walls.  It shot  fifteen hundred pound balls.  Wow!  That would definitely cause a lot of damage alright.               

          The Ottoman Empire was on the losing side in World War I, but in 1453 conquering the Byzantine Empire cut off the East's "Trade Routes" to Europe.  So that then made Christopher    Columbus's idea more attractive to Ferdinand and Isabella.  And they did get really rich.           

           Daisy saw a tv show that said, in the 5th century A.D. the original Italian Roman Empire ended after about a thousand years.  "Germanic" tribes invaded and some 4th century bloody    civil wars had already weakened that western part of the empire.  Heathcliff just crowed.                                           

                 "VISIGOTHS SACK CITY OF ROME" (410 A.D.)                

                     

          The "original" Roman Empire began in Italy and ended up conquering a giant area.  It seemed so "Invincible."  But the caption below this good painting says it shows some 5th century "Germanic Visigoth" invaders "plundering, looting and pillaging" the city of Rome itself.            

           After the civil wars the Roman Empire was divided into three parts.  And then, when the part in Italy was gone; the only part left was the eastern part started by Constantine the Great    near the Black Sea.  Oh!  Freddie suddenly swooped down and killed this little Lizard.                  

           In 1985, my boss's Tour Group saw that bridge near the city of Rome; where Constantine won the famous battle.  He then converted to Christianity and established his "Capitol" city of    Constantinople near the Black Sea.  Fannie and Freddie are flying away with their Lizard.                                 

      CONSTANTINE I "THE GREAT" (272-337 A.D.)       

              

         Hey Lord!  It would be so great to use Mr. Peabody's Time Machine to go back and see the vision You gave Constantine the Great up in the sky.   Even though, Daisy and I don't need to see something like that to believe in You.  We already believe in You no matter what anyway.              

         The Emperor Justinian's Christian "Eastern Orthodox" Byzantine empire was about two centuries after the time of Constantine I.  His wife seemed really brave.  Oh wow!  Just when I      mention Queen Theodora I see our Theodora running bye right in front of the three Sheds.          

     My Encyclopedia says that, in the 4th century A.D.; Constantine I "renamed" the city of "Byzantium."   From then on it was called "Constantinople," and two centuries later that other  Emperor Justinian had regained a lot of the old Roman Empire.   Andy's sniffing the air.              

       

   JUSTINIAN (482-565 A.D.)        

                                               

          A map shows in yellow and light orange how much of the old Roman Empire "Justinian" was able to get back before he died.  The original Italian area fell in the 5th century A.D.  Boy!  You can really tell by the map in the Encyclopedia how the "Mediterranean Sea" is big.                

          In the painting the Empress Theodora is "scolding" her husband Justinian for not having enough courage.  On the map I see how his armies even reconquered the southern part of Spain, "Andalucia;" where that city of Córdoba is located.   I smell some of the Arborvitae trees.            

     But from Justinian's time on, "Little by Little" the Byzantine Empire got smaller and smaller;" and was especially true after the "Rise of Islam."  That guy the Prophet Muhammad started his religion in the 7th century A.D.  Boy! I beginning to really like how Blinky smells.               

                 MEHMED II (1432-1481)                                SÜLEYMAN (1494-1566)                     

                                               PAINTING BY GENTILE BELLINI                                                                                             PAINTING BY TITIAN                                                             

  

          This one Encyclopedia says, by 1453 when Mehmed II took Constantinople; the city was the only thing left of the "once proud" Byzantine Empire.  The Ottoman Empire, in what is now  the country of  "Turkey;" had been trying for many years to take it.  I can smell Creosote.           

            In my books I'll learn a lot about the 16th century, mainly because my boss and his father think the "Renaissance" and "Age of Discovery" were important.  Max the Hummingbird just    zoomed bye.  I heard him coming from far away when he was going through Libby's Corral.        

        One person who I'll learn about on Saturday is another Ottoman Turkish Sultan named Süleyman "the Magnificent," who lived after the time of Mehmed II.  Wow!  The Sultan's wore really big hats back then in those days.  I wonder how I'd look in one of those tall hats?                                     

"HAGIA SOPHIA" (ISTANBUL)   

      

          Hey Lord!  In 1453 Mehmed's men killed a lot of people, and destroyed Constantinople's buildings.  But, they were so impressed by that giant Church Justinian built for You; they just      knew they would feel guilty if they burned it down.  So they converted it into a "Mosque."          

       It says here in 1930, or two years before my boss's father was born; Constantinople was "officially" renamed "Istanbul."  Today that "Hagia Sophia" Mosque is now a Museum.  Cher    just jogged bye, with Andy watching her closely; and is holding a dead Mouse in her mouth,         

         Back in 1985 Mr. Steve's Tour Group saw the inside of both "St. Peter's" Basilica and the "Pantheon" in Rome.  A Turkish man my boss met one time joked how he was "jealous" about that.  Mr. Steve told him he's jealous of him because he's been inside of the Hagia Sophia.                                               

  COLUNBUS' "FIRST" VOYAGE (1492)

      

           I guess, in 1492 one reason Christopher Columbus was able to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to "sponsor" his first voyage was because of Constantinople's fall in 1453.  A Lizard is standing on the wall over there near the sliding glass door.  I can smell it now.             

           Taking Constantinople the Turks blocked the "Trade Routes" from Europe to the "Far East."  Mr. Steve's mom studied how in those days the only way to "preserve" meat before it got rotten was to put it in salt.  "Spices' like pepper "disguised" the taste of "Meat gone Bad."           

           Mr. Steve's dad thinks Columbus "must've been brave."  It turned out his idea was right but he "Miscalculated" how big the Earth was at the end of the 15th century.  And, besides that;  he also didn't know there were two really huge "Continents" in between Europe and Asia.                                                                 

                     ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)                    

                       

         My Encyclopedia says a German Philosopher named Arthur Schopenhauer, who I guess Mr. Steve studied in College during the 1970's at C.S.U.N.; lived after the time of that one other  German guy Immanuel Kant.  Boy!  It sort of looks like he really needs to get a haircut.                

       It says here "Schopenhauer," an "Atheist;" is the "philosopher of pessimism."  He said many "Truths," like Columbus's notion of sailing to the Far East;" went through three "stages"  before being totally accepted.  In the first stage the idea was "ridiculed" or "Made fun Of."         

          Schopenhauer's second stage has the true idea "opposed," often with "violence."  But, in the third stage; that very same idea "comes to be seen" as what he called "self-evident."  I guess  Schopenhauer's writings influenced later people, like Nietzsche and Albert Einstein too.                                     

  FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE      RICHARD WAGNER        ALBERT EINSTEIN         

                       (1844-1900)                           (1813-1883)                            (1879-1955)                                                       

          

           Nietzsche and Einstein were German like Schopenhauer.  And so was that one Composer Richard Wagner who it says here Schopenhauer's ideas influenced too.  The Russian Writer Leo Tolstoy, who wrote that one really long book called "War and Peace;" liked Schopenhauer.          

           Oh!  This is interesting how, according to my Encyclopedia; Schopenhauer thought music was really important in life down here on Earth.  I wonder if my boss knows this Schopenhauer    quote, because if he doesn't hopefully he'll be proud of me for finding it.  Boy!  I can't wait!          

          Schopenhauer said, "The effect of music is much more powerful and penetrating than is that of other arts, for these others speak only of the shadow, but music of the essence."  I wonder why he used the words "shadow" and "essence?"  I wonder if he ever had a sense of Rhêma?               

MEXICAN WAR (1846-1848)

     

           Well, back to the Mexican War.   In May of 1846 General Taylor beat the Mexican army  at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.  In September the "Battle of Monterey" was fought, and it  says here for the first time Americans faced "urban combat;" or "house to house" fighting.         

         I guess, it was during this period those "Texas Rangers" committed a few "atrocities."  After taking the city of Monterey, the next fighting wasn't until February of 1847 when that guy  Santa Anna returned from exile to lead an army up north.   Two of the Pigeons are flying bye.      

           The "Battle of Buena Vista" was fought on February 22 and 23, and in looking at my list of names I see how Mr. Steve's father's birthday is on the 23rd.  Grandma Córdova was born on  the 24th, Dalton on the 11th; and Mr. Rich on the 16th of February.  Heathcliff just crowed.                                            

   BATTLE OF "BUENA VISTA" (FEBRUARY, 1847)          

                                                                                          

         According to my Spanish Dictionary "buena vista" means "good view." Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Miss Harriet's birthday is February 19.   Speedy Gonzalez just used the right vertical  slot on the side of the gate to zoom out there into the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.          

        Daisy says one time Mr. Steve and Mr. Ramon the Auto Mechanic talked about that guy Santa Anna and how, he may've admired Napoléon Bonaparte; but he wasn't nearly as good a      military leader.  There's dust floating in the air around the gate where Speedy went bye.               

           I guess, from what Daisy's heard; Mr. Ramon up on the Highway is married to that smart girl named Guadalupe.  They have three kids.  Hey Blessed Mother!  It would be so great if You    were ever to come down to Piñon Hills, the way You did in the 16th century; and then in 1917.                     

(FIRST FLAG)                  IWO JIMA (FEBRUARY, 1945)             (SECOND FLAG) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  PHOTO BY JOE ROSENTHAL

       

            As I've said a few times, I'll mainly learn about World War II tomorrow.  But I kind of feel like mentioning how, the famous "flag-raising" at the "Battle of Iwo Jima" took place on      February 23 which is Mr. Steve's father's birthday.  Heathcliff crowed again over there.                

            My Encyclopedia has a map of where the island of Iwo Jima is located.  And it also has the famous image of the six Marines "erecting" the American flag up on "Mount Suribachi."  I  guess a mount must be just another name for the area up on top of a big high mountain.               

          Oh!  The "iconic" picture taken up on Mount Suribachi was actually the "second" flag-raising of February 23rd.  Earlier some Marines had "captured" and "occupied" the area.  A    good picture shows a Marine holding an M-1 Carbine "protecting" that smaller first flag.                          

                             

MR. STEVE'S FATHER / SAMANTHA (WASHINGTON D.C. / JULY, 2008)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

       

             I just thought of how, back on the 4th of July in 2008; Mr. Steve's family visited the city of  "Washington D.C."  One place they went to was that "Arlington" cemetery, but they also saw the big statue or "Iwo Jima Memorial."  All four of the Pigeons are flying over the Sheds.             

             That guy Audie Murphy is buried at Arlington cemetery.  I'd like to see that giant statue based on the famous picture of the second flag-raising on Mount Surobachi.   As I wrote earlier    this morning, "D.C." is just a shorter way of of saying the full name "District of Columbia."        

            Mr. Steve's brother Rock and his two sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob live in between the cities of "Dallas" and "Fort Worth."  But, the actual city they live in is also called Arlington; just like where the Washington D.C. cemetery is located.  A little Lizard ran bye out there in the dirt.          

BATTLE OF "IWO JIMA"

        

            Wow!  My Encyclopedia says, twenty two thousand Japanese Soldiers fought in the thirty five day battle for Iwo Jima; and only two hundred and sixteen "survived."  A lot of them killed themselves rather than surrender.  I can smell the little baby Cholla cactus over there.                   

          It says here American forces "suffered" twenty six thousand "casualties" themselves in "taking" the island of Iwo Jima.  I've mentioned before how casualties means Soldiers "killed,    wounded or missing in action."  Two Motorcycles zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road.        

         The Battle of Iwo Jima began on February the 19th which, as I've mentioned before; is Miss Harriet's birthday too.  I just noticed Samson and Delilah flying over Libby's Corral, and I can see how a limp Snake is hanging down out of Samson's mouth.  Boy!  I love learning.              

                    

IRA HAYES(1923-1955)    

     

          One of the six Marines who helped put up the second bigger flag on Mount Suribachi was an American-Indian from Arizona named Ira Hayes.  It says here he was "Pima," from near the "Gila" River.  Daisy and Millie one time heard Mr. Steve and Mr. Dave talk about Ira Hayes.      

           I notice how Ira Hayes died in January of 1955, six months before my boss was born.  Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter who died caught a "Gila Monster" Lizard near where Ira Hayes was from.   Daisy told me how that Gila Monster ended up living with Mr. Steve for eight years.         

         This is interesting.  A Native American named Charles Charlo, from the "Salish" tribe in the State of Montana; helped raise the first small flag on Mount Surobachi.  Anyway, I'll come    back to World War II later but; now I still have to learn more about the 19th century.                                                       

ANTONIO LÓPEZ DE SANTA ANNA (1795-1876)

      

         This Encyclopedia says in 1836, ten years before the Mexican War; that guy Santa Anna won the "Battle of the Alamo" but lost the war at the "Battle of San Jacinto."  In my books I'll    learn about that war; when Texas became an "Independent" country.   Dawn's barking.               

        Mexico "broke away" from Spain in 1821, Texas broke away from Mexico in 1836; and were a "Nation" for nine years.  In 1845, a year before the Mexican War; Texas was "Annexed" by the United States under President Polk.  I can smell little Blinky standing next to Dawn.          

           It says here, at Buena Vista General Taylor used his Artillery "more skillfully" than Santa Anna.  Wow!  In that battle Santa Anna's army "outnumbered" General Taylor's forces twenty    thousand to only four thousand.  Libby's over there walking around slowly in her Corral.                                           

WILLIAM J. WORTH (1794-1849)

        

           An American Officer named William J. Worth did well in the Mexican War.  It says here he was a "pacifist" Protestant Quaker, and pacifists don't usually want to fight in wars; but he    fought in three wars in the early 19th century.   Andy's over there guarding their burrow.             

               The Texas city of "Fort Worth" was named after William Worth.  In 1977 Mr. Steve and his brother Rock drove bye New York City's "Worth Monument," in "Worth Square."  In 1995 Mr. Steve's brother Rock took him to this place called "Gilley's," which is in Fort Worth.            

           William Worth fought in the "War of 1812," when the British burned the "White House" in Washington D.C.   He later took part in the "Second Seminole War" down there in Florida.  In a few minutes I'm scheduled to learn about this Seminole Indian Chief named "Osceola."                                                     STATE OF TEXAS                                     ROCKY JR. / ROCK / JACOB            

                                                                                                             STEPHANIE / RICH / CRISTINA

            

          As I've mentioned, Mr. Steve's brother Rock, and his sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob; have lived over there in in Arlington, Texas since 1994.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Miss Babette he still has a few customers left in  Texas.  Oh!  I just picked up the faint scent of a Lizard around here.         

        Losing at Buena Vista in 1847, I guess that guy Santa Anna and the survivors in his army; retreated back down to Mexico City.  They would "Live to fight another Day" as that old saying goes.  Tomorrow I'll look up and learn about the World War II "Evacuation at Dunkirk."            

        In 1845 Texas had been added to President Polk's "expanding" U.S. but Mexico would not "Recognize" it.  My English Dictionary says that "annexed" means; "to incorporate or add into  something larger."  Oh!  A tiny little Lizard ran bye out there in the dirt near the Patio.                              

AUSTRIA "ANSCHLUSS" (1938)   

           

          In books two and three I'll write a lot about the two 20th century world wars, and the years in between.  Adolph Hitler, and Franklin Roosevelt; "came to power" in 1933 and Hitler    began to "defy" the "Treaty of Versailles."  That treaty blamed Germany for World War I.          

              Hitler annexed his country of "Austria" in 1938.  It's called the "Anschluß Österreichs," or "Anschluss;" which means "joining" in German.  As I mentioned earlier, King Ferdinand III of  Spain, in the 12th century; annexed the city of Córdoba for the Kingdom of "Castille."            

            A picture shows Hitler in his three-axled Mercedes "entering" his native country" of Austria.  Another photo shows the Austrian people "wildly cheering his return," and I notice how most of them are girls.  Two Motorcycles zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road.                                                  

    FREDERICK II (1712-1786)         

PAINTING BY ANTON GRAFF                       

                   

          I might as well mention the 18th century German "Prussian" King named Frederick II, who's called "The Great;" and influenced Napoléon.  I guess Prussia is a German State located    in eastern Germany.  Adolph Hitler really admired King Frederick from what Dais heard.            

         Dais has me scheduled to learn about King Frederick II, "Friedrich" in German; in my books.  He was called The Great, like Alexander and later that Emperor "Constantine I."  Ah!    Alpha Company's scent just now came floating in to me on a slight breeze from the desert.           

          My German Dictionary says "Der Große," or "Grosse;" means "The Great."  It says in my Encyclopedia King Frederick's nickname was  "Old  Fritz" or "Der alte Fritz" in German.  I guess in the German language two s's together must be  represented by the one letter "ß."                    

    CONSTANTINE I  ("THE GREAT" / 272-337 A.D.)    

                                                

           Hey Lord!  Mr. Steve and father think, besides You and Saint Paul; Constantine I and his mother "Helena" are  the most important people in Christian history.  Daisy says, in 1985; the    Tour Group saw what's left of a big giant statue of Emperor Constantine.   I smell Creosote.         

       Lord!  Before Constantine Christians were "Persecuted" by Emperors like "Nero" and "Diocletian" but, after Constantine; non-Christians were persecuted in Your name.  Dais thinks  You helped Constantine win the battle near that bridge outside Rome.  A Train just whistled.       

         Oh!  This Encyclopedia says Constantine I was born in February and died in May, and as I've mentioned; those two months are important in Mr. Steve's family.  Anyway, I'll learn more    about Constantine I.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping up there in their nest.                                              

 "MARIGOLDS"  ("SPRING FLOWERING")     

PHOTO BY S. SAMPSON                

               

           Ah!  A breeze just blew in the scent of Marigold plants out there in the desert behind the Sheds.  I remember that time when, as my boss watered the Mulberry trees; Miss Susan told him "Native" plants in our area have adapted to the "extremes" of this weather.  Dawn's barking.      

          Thank You God for such great weather today, because last year it was colder on this first day of Spring.  Smelling Marigolds right now makes me remember the first time, when I was in    that field homeless; I first smelled them.  I can smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie over there.               

          Miss Susan said that Marigolds have "Daisy-like" flowers and are "drought-tolerant;" so live more than one year.  Dais agreed with her that Rabbits don't like their taste.  Well, it's back to  writing and learning more about the Mexican War that happened back in the 1840's.                              

      MEXICAN "INFANTRY"           

(MEXICAN WAR / 1846-48)      

         

        A good painting in this Encyclopedia shows some of the uniforms worn by that guy Santa Anna's "troops" during the Mexican War, and I notice they didn't wear helmets.  I'd definitely    wear a hat like those in the painting if my boss ever got one.  A Motorcycle zoomed bye.                

         When Santa Anna refused to give up after the Battle of Buena Vista in Northern Mexico I guess President Polk decided to just go ahead and invade Mexico by taking Mexico City itself.  A Crow is squawking faintly way out there in the eastern desert.  I like how Marigold smells.           

         This Encyclopedia says in 1847 American troops were "sent by sea" from Texas and, on March the 9th; arrived near "Veracruz" on Mexico's eastern coast.  It would be America's first ever "amphibious military landing."  The city of Veracruz was started by Cortez in 1519.                                                  

              "NORMANDY" LANDING               

("D-DAY / JUNE 6, 1944)     

                PAINTING BY SIMON SMITH                        

                                                         

              I guess an amphibious landing in war is when Soldiers get off Boats to attack a beach.  In book two I'll learn about World War II's amphibious landings, the biggest of which was "D-    Day" in June of 1944.   But many of them were in the Pacific Ocean against the Japanese.             

               A painting shows American Soldiers coming out of "Landing Craft" on D-Day.  You can really see how all the Germans defending those French beaches were trying to kill them.  Dawn    is doing her obligatory bark over there, and I smell Blinky and Rosie standing next to her.            

             From France in 1066 A.D. William the Conqueror's "Norman" army invaded and then conquered England from across the English Channel.  Daisy heard back in the Spring of 1951    Mr. Steve's father made a Korean War amphibious landing, but it was not during a battle.          

                       "GALLIPOLI" (WORLD WAR I)     

                                   

        This morning I wrote how Winston Churchill, England's "Prime Minster " in World War II; was "fired" in the First World War for his for "disastrous" idea to amphibiously assault the    country of Turkey at that place called "Gallipoli."  Frida and Diego just went flying bye.              

         In 1847 the American army sailed south and, to everyone's surprise; landed what's called "unopposed" on the east coast of Mexico.  It says here the invasion force "went ashore" near the area where Córtez and his men had landed back in 1519.  I smell some Beavertail cactus.              

      Hey Lord!  Córtez named that area "La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz," which my Spanish Dictionary says mean's "The Rich Town of the True Cross."  Then he and his "Conquistadores" marched inland to the west.  They fought some big battles against the local Native tribes.             

                                           

    MEXICO-UNITED STATES WAR (1846-1948)      

                           

             I love this good map of the "Theaters" of the Mexican War.  Blue arrows show where in March of 1847 the Americans sailed from Texas, coming ashore near Veracruz to attack what by then was a pretty big sized coastal city.   The afternoon light is starting to get a little darker.

            This Encyclopedia says how in 1519 Córtez's Spanish Soldiers "battled their way inland." They wanted to get to the Aztec city "Tenochtitlan," which Córtez later built Mexico City on top of.  Back then in 1847 the Americans had a few battles on their way to take Mexico City too. 

            Before the Americans could move to the west toward Mexico City, they first had to take Veracruz  because they couldn't leave it "in their rear."  It was bombed "into submission," and civilians were killed in the "Siege."  My boss's dad called it "Collateral Damage" one time.         

       

  CORTEZ'S ROUTE (1919)                                            "TENOCHTITLAN"           

                                                                                                                                                                   PAINTING BY DEAGOSTINI

          

           This other map shows the route Córtez, and later the Americans; took in 1519 and 1847 to conquer the Aztecs or Mexicans.  Boy!  I like the painting of "Tenochtitlan," the Aztec city built out in the middle of a big Lake.  I can hear Crows fighting and squabbling out in the desert.

           I just thought of that guy Zachary Taylor.  Because he won all those battles in northern Mexico in 1846, he became a "War Hero;" so was later elected the American President.  I see Libby walking around slowly at the back of her Corral which goes along Primavera Road.    

           My Encyclopedia says, as President; Zachary Taylor "grazed" Horses on the "White House" lawn.  He died on July 9th, Mr. Steve's birthday.  In book three the day after tomorrow, I'll write about people born on July 9th; like O.J. Simpson, Tom Hanks or Jack White.    

                                

                      ZACHARY TAYLOR         WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON        HERBERT HOOVER 

                      (1784-1850)                                     (1773-1841)                                    (1874-1964)                               

       

               Zachary Taylor wasn't the only American President to keep Animals at the White House.  My boss read William Henry Harrison's family had a Goat there, and in the late 1920's Herbert Hoover's family even kept two Alligator's as pets.  Smelling Libby makes me feel good.                 

        Blackbeard and Anne Bonny landed on the clump of Joshua trees to the right of Manny, above Andy and Helen's burrow.  Blackbeard, using his beak; is stripping the skin off of a little    Gopher Snake.  Oh!  He just ripped the head off and swallowed or kept that part for himself.       

         President Polk picked General Winfield Scott to lead the "second phase" of the Mexican War in 1847.  His "invasion force" would land on Mexico's east coast, then march inland to take Mexico City and get Santa Anna to "Sue for Peace" as they say.  Libby just whinnied.                                                                                   

                                                  WINFIELD SCOTT (1786-1866)

                    

           The caption below a picture of General Scott says "politically," like Zachary Taylor and Abraham Lincoln in 1847; he was a "Whig."   As I've mentioned before, in the early 1850's the Whigs became "Republicans."  Andy's giving his mean look to Blackbeard and Anne.       

           Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying away, Blackbeard carrying their prize to a better area to eat the Gopher Snake.  I remember that morning when Mr. Steve joked "To the victor belongs the spoils."  Daisy says maybe spoils means food or other valuable things like that.

           In 1847 General Scott's army came ashore, and then for twelve straight days his cannons "besieged" or bombed the city of "Veracruz;" until it finally surrendered.  In 1519 Córtez had named that area "Vera Cruz" or "True Cross."  Why is Veracruz is just one word now?

                    

                                                      19TH CENTURY "VERACRUZ"     

                                          

                A black and white drawing shows how close Veracruz was to the Ocean.  It says here, once General Scott took Veracruz he moved inland, over "generally" the same "route" Córtez used way back in the 16th century.  Finley the orange boy Finch just flew bye right now.

            Daisy heard in College at C.S.U.N Mr. Steve did a "Research Project" about this guy named William Wing Loring.  He was from "St. Augustine" Florida, "San Agustin" in Spanish.  "Loring" was with General Scott, and was later a "Rebel" General in the American Civil War.  

           My Encyclopedia says St. Augustine is the "oldest continuously inhabited" European city in what is now the "Continental" United States.  The Spanish established it way back in 1556.  As I wrote earlier this morning, "Santa Fe" over in New Mexico was set up in the year 1607.    

               

WILLIAM WING LORING (1818-1886)   

                

           William Wing Loring, a Soldier for fifty years; was wounded three times in the Mexican War.  He lost his left arm in the final battle for Mexico City itself and a Civil War picture shows  it missing.  He died on December the 4th, which is my boss's Niece Stephanie's birthday.               

           Mr. Steve told his dad, at fourteen; Loring joined the Florida State "Militia" to fight in the "First Seminole War."  And in 1836 he ran away from home to fight in Texas against Santa    Anna's Mexican army.  I can smell the baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.              

          I guess Loring's father "chased him down," forcing him to go back home.  So, later he fought in the "Second Seminole War" with William Worth who; I've mentioned the Texas city of "Fort  Worth" is named after.    Loring was a twenty one year old "Second Lieutenant."                                                                                          

  OSCEOLA (1804-1838)       

              PAINTING BY GEORGE CATLIN                           

                                       

         My Encyclopedia says, in the "first half" of the 19th century; there were three "Seminole Wars" in Florida.  In the Second one William Loring fought against that one "Seminole" Indian  Chief "Osceola."  Boy!  I really like the good hat Osceola's wearing in the painting of him.           

         Dais heard Mr. Dave say Chief Osceola was "brave."  In the 1830's Seminole Indians and "runaway" black Slaves "hid deep inside" the thick  Florida "Swamps," where it was so hard      for the government to find them.  Like our two acres, the swamps was their "Sanctuary."             

         In 1995 Mr. Steve and his friend "Armando" visited Florida, and one place they went to was William Wing Loring's hometown of St. Augustine.  There they saw "Fort Marion" where    Chief Osceola was held as a prisoner for a while.   Rudy the Roadrunner is jogging bye.                                    

                          "FORT MARION"                                MR. ARMANDO WITHWIFE PAT                     (FORMERLY "CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS")                                                                                                                   

          

          In St. Augustine my boss and Mr. Armando heard in the 17th century the Spanish built "Castillo de San Marcos," now Fort Marion.  A picture shows how it would look to a Bird.  For a few years, in the mid-18th century; the British controlled what is now Florida and that fort.         

       As I've said before, "Castillo" is "Castle" in Spanish, while San Marcos means "Saint Mark."  My Encyclopedia says Fort Marion is the "oldest and largest masonry fort" in the U.S. Mr. Steve's mom's Cousin and best friend Miss Beatrice family's last name is Castillo too.            

          Fort Marion is made out of "Coquina," which I guess is a type of "Limestone" found in the Ocean near St. Augustine.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Mike "when wet" coquina is "easily sawed"      into big sections and when it dries; it gets really hard.  That Dragonfly just zoomed bye.                                          

SEMINOLE WARS (1818-1858)

        

        According to this Encyclopedia, the three Seminole Wars took place from 1818 through 1858.  The Americans fought to "remove" Indians and those runaway Slaves who fought with      them from Florida.  A lot of Native people died during those three "difficult" wars I guess.          

           In 1813 Andrew Jackson beat the British in the "Battle of New Orleans," and would later be elected President.  He led Soldiers like a young Loring in the First Seminole War, in which that guy Chief Osceola fought.   Osceola was eventually captured, and later died of disease.          

         "Florida" is Spanish for "Land of Flowers."  This Conquistador named Ponce de León gave the area it's name in the early 16th century.  It says here the Spanish "controlled" Florida    until the mid-18th century when the British "acquired" it after the "Seven Years War."                                                     

      JUAN PONCE DE LEÓN (1474-1521)               "FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH"                      

                                                                                                                                 PAINTING BY LUCAS CRANACH THE ELDER

           

        My Encyclopedia says, in1 1513 Ponce de León and his Spanish Soldiers were the "first Europeans to set foot on mainland North America."   The idea of a Fountain of Youth goes all      the way back to when that guy Herodotus mentioned it in the 5th century B.C.  I smell Sage.        

          A tv show Dais saw said Ponce de León went to Florida "in search of the fabled Fountain of Youth."  But my boss, and Mr. Ralph; have read that story only appeared years after he died.  Boy!  Whoever finds that special water spring could maybe live forever and never get old!            

           Daisy heard Miss Susan at work say she had a customer in "Punta Gorda" Florida, where a drinking fountain is called the "Fountain of Youth."  Punta Gorda, which means "Fat Point" or "Fat Tip;" is a beach town south of "Tampa."   My boss and Mr. Armando visited Tampa.          

   "FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH"                                              FLORIDA                 

PHOTO CREDIT WAYMARK                                                                                                                                                             

          Miss Susan's Punta Gorda Parts Manager said "people have been drinking water from a "well" or spring" since the late 19th century, "the fountain was built in 1926."  He joked that in Florida there are "a lot of elderly retirees" now living there.  All four of the Pigeons flew bye.       

           I guess, Mr. Steve has a customer named "Larry" in the city of "Augusta;" in the State of "Georgia."  He's a Parts Manager at a "Cadillac" / "Buick" dealership and one time my boss told him he was doing art for a black lady who's what they call" Gullah."  I smell Mesquite.

       The Gullah lady told Mr. Steve where she grew up in Georgia is a "black nation within a white society."  She said some black Slaves were taken to the South in the 17th and 18th century  to work on the "isolated" coastal islands off the southern coast.  Dawn's barking right now.               

"GULLAH" CULTURE

           I guess, partly because those black Slaves were "Cut Off" from the "Mainland;" over the years they "developed" or "evolved" a west and central "African-Influenced" culture.  And of    course it was blended with the dominant white southern culture.  A Lizard just ran bye.               

        The area now called Gullah is near the seacoasts of three southern States.  Gullah people still have their own "Language and Customs."  Mr. Steve told her about the "Basques."  They      discussed how "Spanglish" was  invented in 1955, which is the same exact year he was born.        

      Daisy thinks Mr. Steve enjoys talking to that Parts Manager Larry and his "Assistant" named "Scott."  My Encyclopedia describes their city Augusta, "established" by the British in    1736; as having had a "long and "eventful" history.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.                                   

PRINCESS "AUGUSTA" OF SAXE-GOTHA (1719-1772)

PAINTING BY JEANE-BAPTISTE VAN LOO

             

           Augusta was named after a German "Princess" who married a "Royal" Englishman.  This Encyclopedia says, "through the Prince of Wales;" she was the "Duchess of Edinburgh."     Because Daisy's favorite color is red she'd like that Princess's dress but I like the gold areas.       

            It says here during the American Civil War the Rebel Government "stored" a lot of the "gunpowder" in Augusta.  It was sent out to all the Rebel armies from there.  My boss told Mr.    Larry how William Wing Loring visited the Augusta region a few times during his lifetime.          

          Daisy has heard Mr. Steve and Mr. Larry talking about Augustus's famous "Master's" Golf Tournament.  Mr. Larry has bought "Buick" golf hats.  Many famous Golfers, like Arnold Palmer,  Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods; have played in it.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.             

                           

"MASTER'S" GOLF TOURNAMENT  

                                             

            Dais and Millie heard Mr. Steve tell that man Mr. Larry he likes the green jacket the winner of "the Master's" gets to wear.   They've talked about how my boss's favorite team the      Oakland A's primary color used to be bright green.  Now they wear "Forrest" dark green.           

               One time the Assistant Scott told my boss about this big 1916 fire which burned down a lot of Augusta.  1916 was the second year of World War I, and the year before the United States    entered that giant war.  Daisy says there have been some big fires here in California too.               

               Mr. Steve and Mr. Larry discussed a German "Volkswagen" Car called a "Golf," which in 1974 replaced that other small "Beetle" Car.  In 1974 Mr. Steve and his friends from Sylmar,  because of the high cost of gas; were "Car Pooling" to Valley Junior College.  I smell Sage.                               

         FIRST "VOLKSWAGEN (1936)                              2014 VOLKSWAGEN "GOLF"                   

            

              A picture shows that guy Adolph Hitler riding in the first Beetle he ordered built.   My boss and Mr. Larry talked about how the Golf , unlike the Beetle's rear "air-cooled" engine; has a front motor.  Hitler, an Artist; sketched generally what he wanted the "Bug" to look like.           

            The Golf Car has had many "Body Styles," and names too; and is one of Volkswagens best selling Cars.   Oh!  What a coincidence!  Just as I'm reading about how one the other names the Golf has been is "Rabbit," Jack the Jackrabbit just zoomed bye out there in the desert.          

         According to what Daisy heard our boss talking about in the living room with that Gullah lady he did art for, Gullah people use a material called "Sweet Grass" to "weave" beautiful and  really useful watertight "Baskets."  Dawn's barking.  Oh!  And now so is little Blinky too.             

  

GULLAH "SWEETGRASS" BASKETS

                                                                                                                                                                    PHOTO BY JEANETTE CONRAD

  

           Daisy says Mr. Steve showed the Gullah lady a book about Native California history.  In the book there's information about "Pottery" and other things like that I guess.  Mr. Steve told  the lady about he and his parents being "Tour Guides" over at the San Fernando Mission.           

          According to what Dais heard in the living room that day, Mr. Steve and the Gullah lady talked about the "Girl Scouts."  My boss told her how his mom led all of those troops and one of  the things they did was make "Crafts."  I wonder if I could learn to make baskets to sell?             

       Tomorrow I'll learn a lot about the State of Georgia, mainly because it was so important during the American Civil War.  Also, in 1971 Mr. Steve went on one of his father's business trips to "Atlanta."  He walked, or took some Taxis and Tour Buss's; all around parts of the city.              

JAMES BROWN (1933-2006)   

      

           Mr. Steve and the Parts Manager Larry one time talked about that Singer named James Brown.  He was from Augusta, and is considered one of the most "Influential" Musicians  of all time Daisy heard.  She says she thinks he was "just as good" a Dancer as Michael Jackson.          

           Dais and Millie saw a tv show that said James Brown  left "a lasting impression" on later Artists.  Wow!  In the caption below his pictures he's called the "Godfather of Soul and Funk."    That guy Larry said James Brown has a "Star" down on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame."            

            My boss read James Brown's last words before dying were, "I'm going away tonight."  He was born in 1933, which was the year after Mr. Steve's dad "Came into the World" as they say;    and just two years before Mr. Steve's mom was born in 1935.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.                                                  

"OREGON" TRAIL (1846)                       WM. WING LORING          

      (ROUTE IN 1846)                                           (AT TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR)

     

          When the Mexican War began in 1846 I guess that guy William Wing Loring was in the U.S. Army.  His Regiment of "Mounted Rifles" was "Escorting" Settlers to the west coast over the "Oregon Trail."  This good tv show Daisy saw described it as an "arduous" journey.               

          A map shows how the Oregon Trail started in the State of "Missouri," then went all the way out west to what was then called "Oregon Country."  Loring's Regiment was "Reassigned" to General Scott's 1847 invasion force.  The slight smell of Juniper just came floating in.             

          In 1847 Loring's Regiment "landed" near "Veracruz" with General Scott's forces.  But unfortunately, their Horses all drowned coming ashore so; they were "Reduced" to being just      "Foot Infantry."  Even without their Horses they still fought in all of the different battles.                           

SANTA  ANNA "REVIEWING" MEXICAN TROOPS

    

            It says here, after "returning from exile" in Cuba; Santa Anna then became Mexico's "Presidente."   Ten years before, in 1836; he'd been Mexico's leader at the time of the "Battle of the Alamo."  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the east.           

               When General Scott in 1847 "re-traced" Córtez's route to Mexico City; Santa Anna met him in a series of "hard-fought" battles.  Santa Anna had lost a leg fighting the French, and in 1847 his fake leg was captured at the "Battle of Cerro Gordo."  Heathcliff crowed over there.

               Some people call "post-independence" Mexico the "Age of Santa Anna," He was "in and out of power" eleven times.  Daisy and I heard Mr. Steve's father joke that time "someone should make a movie" about Santa Anna.  Some of the Hens are clucking happily over there.

               

                                                BATTLE OF THE "ALAMO" (1836)

                                                                                                          

             About ten years before the Mexican War Santa Anna killed all the Texans at the "Battle of the Alamo."  My Encyclopedia says he also "slaughtered" captured Texans at "Goliad," but then that guy Sam Houston caught him by surprise at "San Jacinto."  Dawn's barking.

            I've mentioned a few times how my boss's brother Rock, and his two sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob; live back there in Texas.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph his Uncle Marty's family lived over in "San Antonio" for a few years.  That's the city where the Alamo is located.

           All of a sudden I'm hearing that good GENESIS song "Musical Box," which is one of my favorites songs partly because of the flute in it.  Flute is also why I really like CANNED HEAT'S song "Goin Up the Country." Even though they don't use flute, DEVO'S my favorite band. 

                        

                               GENESIS                                                         PHIL COLLINS

                                                                                                                                                      PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

             

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve say he read GENESIS'S Drummer Phil Collins is interested in the Battle of the Alamo, and even has a collection of things having to do with that subject.  Dais says in his office Mr. Steve has a replica 19th century saber.   I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie.

          Boy!  It's interesting how, many of the American Soldiers who fought together in Mexico; were later "opponents" during the American Civil War.   William Wing Loring met Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee during the Mexican War.  Andy's over there sniffing the air. 

           When the American Civil War ended in 1865, even though they had fought each other; Union General's Grant and Sherman both  recommended Loring to the "Khedive" of Egypt.  At that time Egypt was a part of the "Ottoman" Turkish Empire.  I smell some Penstemon.    

                                                                             "GIZA" PLATEAU                            PRESIDENT GRANT VISITS EGYPT                                                 

         

             In the late 1870's, when he was still working for Egypt; William Wing Loring gave the then ex-President Grant and his wife a tour of the Giza Plateau and those three pyramids.  In a picture Loring is at the very bottom front of the group.  Grant is a little bit behind him.

             Loring fought in the 1876 "Abyssinian War," the same year George Custer and his 7th Cavalry were all slaughtered in the "Battle of the Little Bighorn," or "Greasy Grass" as the Lakota Indians call it.  A little Wren carrying a long twig went running bye out in the dirt. 

             Daisy says Mr. Steve's Uncle Marty and his family for a little while lived in the Texas city of "San Antonio," where what remains of the "Alamo" is located.  Mr. Steve wishes he had visited them there before they moved.  Miss Emily visited the Alamo from what Dais heard.  

           

             W.B. TRAVIS (1809-1836)                 JIM BOWIE (1796-1836)        DAVID CROCKETT (1786-1836)

         

             The three most famous "defenders" of the Alamo in 1836 were William Barrett Travis, Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett.  Mr. Steve, along with other knives; has a few different types and sizes of "Bowie" knives near the fireplace in the living room.  A Train just whistled.

             Daisy heard that Singer David Bowie, even though he's from England; took his "Stage" name from reading about that guy Jim Bowie.  His real name was David Jones. but he didn't want people mixing him up with the MONKEES Singer I guess.  A Lizard just ran bye. 

                  I just thought of how the American Civil War is called the "Brother's War" because sometimes members of families, like President Lincoln's wife Mary for example; had men on both sides.  And friends from the Mexican War fought each other.  I smell Andy over there.

                          

                                                   APPOMATTOX ( APRIL 9, 1865)   

                                                                                                                                        PAINTING BY ED VEBELL

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A painting shows that guy Robert E. Lee, "wearing his best uniform;" surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at the end of the Civil War.  The caption below says Grant is wearing a "dirty    uniform," and George Custer is standing behind Grant against a wall.  Heathcliff crowed.            

           Oh!  I just noticed how the caption says it "depicts" April the 9th, and in looking at my list of dates I see how that's also Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Miss Emily's birthday too.  I'll learn in way more detail about the period at the end of the Civil War tomorrow.   Hens are clucking.         

              Daisy heard Mr. Steve's father say, "Who knows how things might've been different if not for the Mexican War."  California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico "might still be part of Mexico if not for that war" he told my boss.  The orange Monarch Butterfly fluttered bye.   

                                                      

  "PEARL HARBOR"        

(HAWAII / DECEMBER 7, 1941)     

         

            My boss's father thinks there have been three times when the U.S. "set things up" for a war against what was "perceived" as a weak opponent.  The Mexican War is the first example    of  a stronger nation "maneuvering" a weak country into a fight he said.  I smell Juniper.             

            Daisy saw this tv show that said, at the end of the 19th century the U.S. declared war on Spain after an American Ship "mysteriously" blew up down in Cuba.  Mr. Steve's dad thinks      "it's possible" the U.S. used that as a "convenient" excuse to go to war.  It was an easy win.          

           In August of 1964, in the "Tonkin Gulf;" North Vietnamese Boats "engaged" with some U.S. Warships in a "minor skirmish."  The American Ships went into an area they knew would    get the North Vietnamese mad.  That guy President Johnson used this to "escalate hostilities."                

                                 ULYSSES S. GRANT            MEXICAN WAR                         (1840'S)

        (IN REAR / 4th U.S. INFANTRY REGIMENT)                                              (POST MEXICAN WAR)

                    

               The caption under Mexican War pictures of Ulysses S. Grant says he was in an infantry regiment from his home State of Missouri.  I see he didn't have a beard like he did in the Civil War or as President.  Boy!  I really love how those shoulder epaulets look on a uniform.  

           Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this Grant quote about his Regiment being sent in 1846 by President Polk into that "Disputed" territory? "We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it."  Heathcliff is crowing over there next door.

           General Scott's American Army finally captured Mexico City in late 1847, and with the "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo" in February of the following year "hostilities officially ceased." The U.S. "acquired" what is now the "Southwest."  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies.

                             JOHN QUINCY ADAMS                HENRY DAVID THOREAU               ABRAHAM LINCOLN                                                                

             As I wrote earlier, John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln were totally against the Mexican War.  They and that Writer Henry David Thoreau thought President Polk "trumped up" that war as a way to add more Slave States into the Union.  My boss's dad agrees.

             On my outline I see how the next thing to write about is that Mexican War military unit made up only of Mormons.  As You know Lord, Mr. Steve says some Protestants and Catholics don't think Mormons are real Christians but he does.  A flock of Birds is flying to the east.  

                This morning when I wrote about what happened out here in Alta California during the Mexican War; I mentioned the "Mormon Battalion."  They were "Volunteer" L.D.S. who, from mid-1846 through 1847; were "Stationed" in Southern California.  I smell Andy over there.  

   

MORMONS MARCH TO UTAH 

      

                   In the early 19th century; that guy Joseph Smith began his new Mormon religion back there in New York State.  But by 1847, because they'd been persecuted wherever they went; the  Mormons decided to move out west to Utah.   A Lizard scampered bye out there in the dirt.

                 Young Mormon "Missionaries" used to come to our house.  They sat in the living room and talked with Mr. Steve.  One time I even went in there with Daisy but only felt comfortable with the front door wide open.  That one guy complimented my boss's  mom's paintings  

              Mr. Steve and those Missionaries discussed how, in 1846 Brigham Young agreed to send a "Regiment" of five hundred Mormon Soldiers to help the U.S. in the war against Mexico.  That regiment was called the "Mormon Battalion."  The late afternoon sky is so beautiful now.               

                                                                                                                            "MORMON BATTALION"           

                                                     

            This Encyclopedia says in 1846 the Mormon Battalion, along with women who cooked and cleaned; marched from Utah east to the State of "Iowa."  Then they went to Missouri and from there walked all of the way out here to California.  They stopped over in New Mexico.

               Mr. Steve and those two Missionaries talked about how the Mormon Battalion is the only unit in the history of the U.S. military "composed entirely of one single religious entity."   At that time my boss said, Brigham Young needed to "get along" with the U.S.   Dawn's barking.

            I guess it's about 1,100 miles from Santa Fe in New Mexico to California.  So, in 1846 the Mormon Battalion walked over 2,000 miles in 1846.  Mr. Steve's family drove to New Mexico a few times.  It says here, crossing Arizona; they ran into a herd of wild Cattle with some Bulls.  

    

                     FEMALE BULLFIGHTER                          "RUNNING OF THE BULLS" ("PAMPLONA," SPAIN)

      

                I wrote earlier how there are now girl Bull Fighters now too.  My boss told Mr. Randy he  and his father don't understand why, "for fun;" people in "Pamplona" Spain run in front of Bulls  out there in the streets.  Mr. Steve and his dad both think it's "dumb" to do that.

            When the Mormons met the wild Cows in 1846, Bulls charged and wounded and killed a few Mules.  Daisy heard, because the Bulls wouldn't stop trying to stab the men and Animals; they had to be shot.  Boy!  I'll bet it would hurt so much to be "Gored" by a Bull's horn. 

             Someday I'd really like to smell a Cow or Bull.  Daisy has and tells me they have a really strong and distinctive scent.  I just glanced up and see Alpha Company of Quail using the two vertical slots on either side of the gate to go out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds. 

 

PLUTARCH(49-119 A.D.)

                Seeing, and now smelling Alpha Company; makes me think of how that lady I mentioned this morning told Mr. Steve about "alpha" being first letter of the Greek alphabet.  She also said that guy Plutarch associated alpha with the Moon and wrote about that letter.  I smell Sage.

            Daisy says that lady seemed like a really smart person.  She knew how the letter alpha is used in things like Physics, Chemistry and Math in general "to represent certain concepts."  Mr. Grant is aware of the alpha letter mainly because he knows about "Encoding" for computers. 

             Wow!  According to what it says in this one Encyclopedia, Plutarch wrote about so many things; but was also a Priest at the "Temple of Apollo" at Delphi too.  So I wonder if he had to pay for a Sybil Priestess to predict his future?  It might be one of those "Fringe Benefits."  

                                        

                                   "LEWIS AND CLARK" EXPEDITION (1803-1806)

        

              Oh wow!  I wonder if my boss knows what it says here in this Encyclopedia?  The "Guide" who led the Mormon Battalion from New Mexico to California was Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.  His mom was Sacagawea, the "Shoshone" translator for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 

           It was a really "difficult" march when those Mormons traveled from Santa Fe out here to California.  Their goal was to "link up" with the American troops already in San Diego, under that guy General Kearny; who I mentioned this morning.  Heathcliff's Hens are clucking.

           Daisy and Millie saw a good tv show about the Mexican War, and the man said Stephen Watts Kearny is "important to the history of New Mexico and California."   I mentioned before how, in 1846; he had led an American army out to California.  I smell that Penstemon bush.

             

                                                    STEPEHN W. KEARNY  (1794-1848) 

       

                 It says here Stephen W. Kearny fought, and was wounded in the "War of 1812;" when the British burned Washington D.C.  Later, he was in charge of protecting some "Oregon Trail" Settlers.  William Wing Loring worked under him "escorting" people out west Dais heard.   

             Stephen W. Kearny's Nephew was also a Soldier during the Mexican War and, just like William W. Loring; took part in General Scott's invasion of Mexico.  They both fought in all of the battles down there.  General Kearny's Nephew was later killed during the Civil War.  

                 After the Mormon Battalion arrived in California they served under General Kearny.  A  Mormon lady told Mr. Steve they were "relieved" they "didn't have to see combat," and were "involved in building projects" during their "Occupation Duty."   Heathcliff crowed. 

    

                                      SAN DIEGO                                              PLAQUE HONORING MORMON BATTLION                                                                                                                              ("FORT MOORE" / LOS ANGELES)

                   Daisy says the Mormon lady knew a lot about "Building Materials," like wood, stone and bricks for instance.  Daisy heard her say, back in 1847; members of the Mormon Battalion built a nice "Courthouse" down there in San Diego.  Dawn's barking and I can smell her.

                   My boss and Mr. Dave in New Mexico talked about those "Adobe" bricks made of straw and mud.  Mr. Steve told him the Mormon lady said the San Diego Courthouse was the first use of "Kiln-Fired" bricks out here in California.  Oh!  Now brave little Blinky's barking too.

              One time on the phone my boss told Mr. Dave about that pretty "Kumeyaay" girl who I mentioned this morning.  Like Mr. Steve and his brother Rock, she also worked at the "Viejas" Indian Casino; to the east of San Diego.  She knew a lot about the subject of "Pottery."  

   

                                                      CALIFORNIA INDIAN POTTERY

                                                                                 ("SAN FERNANDO" MISSION)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

   

                 In 1993, when he and his brother worked at the Casino; Mr. Steve had some nice talks with the pretty girl.   He gave her an 11×14 copy of a picture he took of San Fernando Mission pottery for he and his mom's Art Exhibits like the one at Capistrano Mission.  I smell Sage.

             Daisy says Mr. Steve and the Kumeyaay girl at times discussed the twenty one "Alta" California Missions.  Like my boss, she had walked around the grounds of a few Missions; like "San Diego" Mission.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye above Libby's Corral over there.   

            When the Spanish first came up here to Alta California, way back in the 18th century; they called the Kumeyaay Indians "Degueños."  I've mentioned how the word "alta" is Spanish for "upper," while "baja" means "lower."  Andy's sniffing the air in guarding their burrow.

                                       

                                                          MISS JULIANNE / MR. DAVE

   

             Daisy and Millie were in Mr. Steve's office one time, and heard him talking on the phone with Mr. Dave.  Mr. Dave told him how really talented his wife Julianne is in making what they call "Ceramics."  She even sells some of her things to people back there in New Mexico.

          I just thought of how some people call Mr. Dave "Drummer Dave."  Mr. Steve says he can play different styles of music, and has been in a few bands like that one called RECKLESS.  Like Stephanie's Rich and Samantha's Rick; Mr. Dave can be described as being very "Handy."

             That one Mormon lady told Mr. Steve, the Mormon Battalion helped build "Fort Moore;" overlooking downtown Los Angeles.  I guess there's only a "Plaque" there now.  Back in 1847 a few members of the Mormon Battalion helped people dig deeper wells for water she said.

                                                                                                                           "MORMON" ROCKS                                                            

                                           PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                                                                                                                  PHOTO BY HAROLD W. MAY

             

                 To the east of Piñon Hills are those unusual "Mormon Rocks."   Daisy heard they're  "Rock Formations" created over millions of years, and are made of what's called "Sandstone."  I heard Mr. Mike say that we're kind of near that big "San Andreas" earthquake "Fault."  

             Daisy's seen Mormon Rocks, and we heard Miss Susan say their "pock-marked" round shape with all of it's holes and small caves; was created by years of "wind erosion."  Some of the giant rocks are slanted from the "Uplift" of two "Tectonic Plates."  Libby just whinnied.

                After the Mexican War the Mormon Battalion went back to Utah, having lost twenty two people who died from either "injury or disease."  Mormon Rocks wasn't named until 1851, and Daisy heard today couples take wedding pictures in and around them.  I really like Libby.

                                                                             "TEN COMMANDMENTS" BOULDER

("LOS LUNAS," NEW MEXICO) 

                 Mr. Steve and those two young Mormon Missionaries who came to our house talked about that giant eighty ton boulder back in New Mexico.  That's the boulder which has, in  "Hebrew;" the "Ten Commandments" chiseled onto it.  Donald and Daisy are quacking over there.

                 I wonder who carved the words on that humongous Rock?  I guess some think, not my boss; it may've been created by one of those "Lost Tribes" of ancient Israel.  Daisy saw a tv show that said some early Americans, and Mormons; thought maybe Indians were the lost tribes.

           Those Missionaries were so interested when my boss told them that Mormon lady said her family think the boulder on the Los Lunas mountain may've been made by a guy in the Mormon Battalion on the way to California.  "Los Lunas" means "The Moons."   I smell Mesquite.

           

                      "RECONQUISTA"                               COLUMBUS / ISABELLA, FERDINAND

               

                  I just thought of how, in the 8th century A.D.; those North African "Moorish" Muslims conquered a lot of the "Iberian" Peninsula.  Then, little by little until the end of the 1400's; the Spanish fought bloody wars to push them slowly back down into North Africa.  I smell Sage. 

                 My Encyclopedia says in 1492 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella finally agreed to let that guy Christopher Columbus try his idea of sailing west to reach the "Orient."  That was the year the Spanish beat the Moors in that "Reconquista."   Columbus lived in "Córdoba." 

            Once King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella controlled all of Spain again they made it a law that Jews and Muslims had to become Catholic or leave, and some did "Convert" but most did not.  Many moved to other areas, but many places didn't want them either.  Sage smells good.   

        

                                                  JEWISH EUROPEAN "EXPULSIONS" (MIDDLE AGES)

    

                A good map in my Encyclopedia shows how many times during the European "Medieval" period the Jews had to move around.  Hey God!  They're kind of like the Mormons in that way I guess.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other as they fly along; are moving to the east.

           Mr. Steve's dad thinks it might've been a Jew "pretending" to be Catholic in New Mexico who carved on the giant boulder.  He even thinks there "could very well be" Jewish or Moorish blood in our family.  A "Converso" is a Jew or Muslim who became Catholic after 1492.     

       Daisy saw a tv show about how many of the Spanish in the New World were "fanatics" in looking for gold.  Since early in the 1500's there were "Rumors" of a wealthy Indian tribe called  the "Muisca" whose Chief covered himself in gold dust.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.          

              

             "EL DORADO"                                 1978 CADILLAC "EL DORADO"    

PAINTING BY J. FUCHS                                                                                                                                                                              

                                     

         Daisy and Millie were in Mr. Steve's bedroom and saw a tv show about how in the 16th century the Spanish in the New World, like Ponce de Leon; may've looked for the "Fountain of Youth." They also searched for a city of gold called "El Dorado."  I smell Beavertail cactus.         

         One time on the phone my boss and Mr. Grant chuckled at the "ridiculously huge" Car called an "El Dorado" Mr. Steve used to drive.  His father gave it to him and it "would not be      economical" now with the high gas prices.  There are wispy clouds up in the afternoon sky.          

        My boss saw some 1980's concerts, like DEF LEPPERD and David Lee Roth; because a Review Writer he knew named "Steve" worked for the "L.A. Times" Newspaper.  He was really tall and "fit well" in Mr. Steve's El Dorado.  So Mr. Steve drove him to those concerts.                                             

     SIR WALTER RALEIGH                             SIR FRANCIS DRAKE      

                                    (c.1553-1618)                                               (c.1540-1596)                                                         

          In my books I'll learn about two English guys named Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake.  They fought the Spanish in the 1500's, and I guess Walter Raleigh also looked for that place El    Dorado; which my Spanish Dictionary says means "The Golden."  Frida and Diego flew bye.       

        Oh!  My Encyclopedia says "Sir" Walter Raleigh was "beheaded" by Queen Elizabeth I.  Back in those days that was a pretty common thing to have happen to you in England from what Dais has heard.  Queen Elizabeth's father King Henry VIII had many people's head cut off.         

        That Spanish Explorer Coronado's 1540's expedition to New Mexico was in part a search for those "Seven Cities of Gold."  He never found them and it's because "they never exited" my boss thinks.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping up there in their nest near the roof.                

PRE-SPANISH NATIVE CALIFORNIA

       (TRIBAL "REGIONS" AND "LANGUAGES") 

           

                I just thought of how the "Serrano" Indians had been living up in our area for hundreds of years when the Spanish first showed up in the 18th century.  One translation of Serrano could be "Mountain People" from what a lady told my boss.   Heathcliff just crowed over there.

           On the map of the different Native California groups and languages, Mr. Dave's "Hupa" tribe almost near the Oregon border I notice.  My boss has a collection of maps in the house, and also in Jack the big Shed too.  Daisy told me Mr. Steve's father also likes looking at maps.

           According to the map one of the light purple or "Lavender" areas is where the Serrano Indians used to live.  That older Shoshone man at the Phelan Library said Serrano Indians call themselves "Takhtam," or "The People."  Many Native groups call themselves that I guess.

    

                                                           "SERRANO" INDIAN

      

                The Shoshone man, who married a Serrano lady Dais heard; said the Serrano name for Chief, or "Clan Leader;" is "Kika."  That man told Mr. Steve back in the 18th century, when the Spanish first showed up; the Serrano village was called "Muscupiabit."   I smell Sage.  

             Alpha, with Angeline and her babies near the back of the pack; are right now streaming around the northeast corner of the house at the far end of the Patio over there to my left.  All the new babies are scurrying along learning how to keep up with the group.  They're so cute!

             I just thought of "Serrano High School" over there in Phelan.  I remember the morning Miss Susan told my boss it's a part of the "Snowline" school district, and in 2014 has about two thousand Students "Enrolled."  I can still smell the scents Alpha Company left behind.    

    

                                                       "SERRANO" HIGH SCHOOL  

  

               Serrano High School's "Mascot" is a "Diamondback" Rattlesnake.  Mr. Steve did a line drawing of their logo, which looks like the professional Baseball team in Arizona.  Their "Color Scheme" is red, black and white Daisy noticed, Serrano High's is blue, yellow and white. 

           Because royal blue is my favorite color, Daisy thinks I'd like the uniforms Serrano High Players wear when they play sports.  I guess, like the Oakland A's; their two "Secondary" colors are yellow and white.  I've mentioned a few times already how Daisy's favorite color is red.

           Miss Susan, who ran our "News Plus" local Newspaper before that guy Don Fish Jr.; one time told my boss good Athletes went to Serrano High.   Daisy heard one is a Basketball Player named Jamaal Franklin.  Mr. Steve took pictures of  Jamaal Wilkes back in the 1980's.

                      

             JAMAAL FRANKLIN              CALEB CALVERT                             AARON LONG                                     PHOTO BY KEVORK DJANSEZIAN                                         PHOTO BY CHIVAS USA                                                 PHOTO BY TROY WAYRYNEN               

                                          

       Miss Susan said two Serrano High Soccer Players are professionals, Caleb Calvert last year at age sixteen became the youngest Player in "Chivas USA" history.  Aaron  Long, another former Serrano High Student is also a good Soccer player.  A little Lizard just ran bye.                  

        This Spanish Dictionary says Chivas is the word for a "Goat."  Miss Susan told my boss about Jilon Van Over, who went to Serrano and was an Actor in a movie about the 19th century "Hadfield and McCoy" war.  I'm scheduled to learn more about that "Feud" tomorrow.             

         Daisy and Millie one time saw a good tv show about Snakes who live up here in the High Desert.  One type, which Mr. Steve has never seen on his walks up and down Primavera Road; are "Banded King" Snake.  That guy Mark Ritter had a few of those over the years I guess.                

                  RATTLESNAKE                                    KING SNAKE EATING RATTTLESNAKE

                                                                                                                                                        PHOTO BY DAVID NORTHCOTT

  

          Daisy was right because my Encyclopedia says King Snakes sometimes eat Rattlesnakes.   They're "immune" to Rattlesnake venom, and kill like those giant South American "Boa's" and  "Anaconda's;" by "constriction."  Mark Ritter said "Baja" King Snakes can be six feet long.      

          There are three "populations" of King Snakes I guess, here in "California," over there in "Arizona;" and another one down in "Mexico."  Oh!  Because survival is at times really hard, King Snakes will kill and eat other King Snakes for food.  The late afternoon air is so fresh.          

      Someday I really want to read our local Newspaper "News Plus."  Daisy says Mr. Steve thinks Don fish Jr. is doing a good job selling "Display" advertising in it.  In the mid-1980's Mr.  Steve, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen sold display ads in the "Hoop" and "Goal" Magazines.              

            

                                    "GOAL"                     (1980'S)                      "HOOP"

       

         One time my boss and Mr. Mark remembered selling advertising at the Forum in those sports Magazines.  Daisy says "Goal" was the Ice Hockey Kings version, "Hoop" the Lakers        "publication;" both sold as the "Program" at the games.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.       

               Daisy says in 1984 Mr. Steve first met Mr. Mark and that lady Miss Helen who died.  Mr. Mark has read the New Testament's "Book of Revelation," which I'll learn about over the next three days.  Theodora the Thrasher Bird just jumped up into her favorite Creosote bush.  

            Over the years Mr. Steve has known some "Culturally" Jewish people, like Miss Harriet's family; who did not "Practice" Judaism.  He's also met what they call "Lapsed" Catholics and Mormons too.  Theodora sure does like that one Creosote bush near Jack the big Shed.     

                                                                                                  

                                                MR. GRANT ( HOLDING "MIGGIE)

            Mr. Grant's family are "Non-Practicing" Jews.  Hey God!  My boss met that nice man from the "Arab" country of "Jordan," who didn't think Israel had the "right" to be a country.  Daisy told me how Mr. Steve politely "agreed to disagree" with him on that one subject.  

            I just thought about how, in 70 A.D.; the ancient Roman's put down or "Crushed" the  Jewish rebellion or "Uprising" over there in Israel.  Hey Lord!  That was almost a century after You died.  Theodora jumped down from her bush and is now running out into the desert.

           Daisy saw that tv show about the Roman Emperor "Vespasian" and his son "Titus," who stopped stopped that Jewish revolt I wrote about earlier.  Then they forced the surviving Jews to leave Israel in one of those forced "Diaspora's" I've mentioned before.  Dawn's barking.     

                   

"MASADA" FORTRESS (74 A.D.)

                                                                                                                                                  PAINTING BY IGOR DZIS

              

          Daisy heard, in 1985 when Mr. Steve's Tour Group visited Masada; the  Guide Haim told everyone about all of the different Diaspora's.  I've mentioned before that's why a lot of Jews are now spread out, or "Dispersed;" to other areas.  I just picked up Blinky's unique scent.

          I just thought of how my boss and his father say "it's possible" our family might be part Jewish or Moorish blood.  That Spanish city of "Córdoba" is described in my Encyclopedia as having been for centuries "cosmopolitan," which means many types of people.  I like Blinky. 

         Hey Lord!  Daisy told me a tv show said how "Christianity" is a "made up" religion by the "Flavian" family of Rome.  Some think they created a less "Militaristic" version of "Messianic" Judaism.  A "Pacifistic" Messiah would make it much easier for Rome to control the Jews.

    

"FLAVIAN" ROMAN EMPERORS (1ST CENTURY A.D.)

   

               Hey Lord!  Vespasian and his son Titus conquered Israel in 70 A.D., and some believe they then had Christianity created as a "Political Tool."  They say Your Ministry is a "Coded" way of describing Titus's military campaign in 70 A.D.   Anyway, I'll come back to this subject later.

           I guess God, "Passover" celebrates when You helped the ancient Jews escape slavery over in Egypt.  If I could time travel I'd go smell that guy Moses, who You told to lead the Jews out of Egypt; and then back up there to Israel.  I can smell a Lizard somewhere around here.

            Boy God!  It's too bad the ancient Jews got You so mad that You made them "Wander" in the "Sinai" desert for forty years.   Aha!  I just noticed a Lizard over there standing on the wall near the sliding glass door going into the dining room.  It's now doing some Lizard pushups. 

         

                CHARLTON HESTON (MOSES)                 MODERN MIDDLE EAST                                                    

          Mr. Steve's father always wanted to visit Córdoba in Spain, and also Egypt's Sinai area; but now he's too old to do it.  Tomorrow I'll learn about the different wars Israel has had to fight since its creation back in 1948.  So I'll be finding out a lot more about the Sinai Desert then.         

            Hey God!  As You know, one time a man explained to Mr. Steve's dad how "Shavuot" is when many Jews celebrate You giving them the "Torah" at Mount Sinai.  He said the meaning of Torah can be the "Teaching" or the "Law."  Now that one little Lizard ran out into the dirt.  

            Daisy told me the man said some Jews mean the first five books of the Old Testament as the Torah, while others define Torah as being all twenty four books of the Hebrew Bible.   Others would say the "totality" of Jewish teachings are the Torah.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

                             

"SEPHARDIC" JEWS (SPAIN)

        

            My Encyclopedia says the Jewish "Passover Seder" ritual celebrates the Jews "Exodus" from Egypt.  My boss was told that was when Jews began to think of themselves as a "specific, particular group of distinct people."  Two of the Pigeons are flying toward the northeast.

            This Hebrew Dictionary says "Seder" means "Arrangement," and Mr. Steve reminded his father how those Seder ceremonies end with everyone saying; "Next year in Jerusalem."  Mr. Steve has attended meals for a "Feast" Jews have during "Passover."  Heathcliff just crowed.

           Hey God!  As You know, in 1985 up on the "Temple Mount" in Jerusalem; my boss and his dad were told about that final statement of a Jewish Seder ritual.  It says here Muslims call the Temple Mount "Haram el  Sharif."  Now the other two Pigeons are also flying bye too.

     

     "GATEWAY" ARCH                

(ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI)           

             

            Writing about Jewish things makes me think of Mormons, and how in 1847 they "picked up" and move way out west.  Daisy says Mr. Steve wishes in 2003 it hadn't been so foggy when he was up on St. Louis' "Gateway" Arch, as he'd hoped to see the "Missouri" River.  I smell Sage.

                  This Encyclopedia says the 1847 Mormon "Pioneers" moved along on the north side of the Missouri River.   On the south side "Pacific Northwest bound" non-Mormons moved.  North of the Gateway Arch is where the Missouri River "intersects" the huge "Mississippi" River.  

            It says here, once Brigham Young's Mormons got to Utah they immediately "set to work" building a country of their own.  They hoped that they could live in a place where no one would try to kill them.  My boss told his mom one time most Mormons seem like hard workers. 

                                     

"NATIVITY"    

ARTWORK BY JEREMY SCOTT       

         

             Hey Lord!  Heathcliff just crowed over there next door, which makes me wonder if when You were born any Roosters crowed in happiness.   A "Nativity" painting in this Encyclopedia shows a Chicken near You when You were a new baby.  I hear Heathcliff's Hen's clucking.

             I just thought of that one 16th century French guy Nostradamus, who could predict the future.  Daisy told me a tv show said his whole first family died of the "Plague" so, in shock; he just walked around Europe helping sick people as a Doctor.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

            Because Nostradamus never caught any diseases when going around France after his wife and children died; You must've protected him God.  That's what Daisy thinks and I do want to agree with her on that.   Miss Sandy's mom the Nurse said walking can be "Therapeutic."  

                    

 MICHEL DE NOSTRADAMUS (1503-1566)

           

           Mr. Steve did that research project in College on the 14th century "Black Death" plague, which may've killed half the population of Europe from 1347 through 1351.  So, they were still having big plagues in the 1500's; when Nostradamus lived.  He later started a second family.

          One time Mr. Steve's mom met a French girl who described herself as being a "Flâneuse." That means a girl who likes to walk around "observing" things.  A "Flâneur" is a male who does that.  My boss kind of does that too when he walks around out there in the eastern desert.             

           Hey Stanley!  That guy Nostradamus must've had a Guardian Angel just like you, who also watched over him.   After all, look how he was able to be around sick people who even died and yet he didn't get sick!  The four Pigeons are all flying over Libby's Corral going east.

    

                                                    "MOTHER" TERESA (1910-1997)

 

          Dais told me of a Catholic Nun called "Mother" Teresa, who worked in India helping the poor sick people.  She lived to be eighty seven and in all those decades never caught a disease so    maybe God, like Nostradamus; You protected her.   I smell some of the Arborvitae bushes.            

             Writing of Nostradamus walking around reminds me of a quote by that Baseball player Yogi Berra, "If you don't know where you're going, you might wind up someplace else."  I said this morning how Yogi Berra was born on May 12th like Mr. Steve's Sister-in-Law Yolanda.

        My Encyclopedia says Nostradamus remarried a lady named "Anne," and they had six children; settling in the southern French town of "Salon de Provence."  Nostradamus's second    wife was a "good partner, who gave him "space to work" my boss thinks.  Daffy's quacking.        

CLOUDS FROM ABOVE

             Hey God!  As You already know, both Dais and I have at times wondered what it would be like to clouds from above the way You do.   There are times around here when the clouds are    so thick they almost seem solid and you could even walk on them.  Frida and Diego flew bye.        

            Right now there are some skinny clouds way up there in the now late afternoon sky, and seeing them is making me feel so good.  You can really tell, judging by the way the shadows are    leaning away from me over here on the Patio; it's getting late in the day.  A Train whistled.           

           I just glanced up and notice, out in the desert behind the Sheds; there are starting to be more Birds flying back and forth.  They're looking for food and that reminds me of how Daisy      and I are getting kind of hungry.  Andy's over there sniffing the air, and is now looking at me.                    

"MOON / SUN" PLAQUE  

                  

           Someday when I overcome my fear of being trapped in an enclosed area I really want to see the white and gold Sun / Moon plaque at the far end of the hallway.  Dais told me Mr. Steve    bought it at a "Garage Sale."  He likes things having to do with the subject of "Duality."              

             Daisy thinks the sleeping white Moon on the left and waking gold Sun on the right makes the two necessary parts come together to make one whole.  It's sort of like the Yin-Yang logo in having two sides.  Fred, Ed and Ted the Sparrows are flying bye out there in the back desert. 

            Hey Blessed Mother!   My boss says it's starting to look like he's destined to be single for the rest of his life, which is okay because "more often than not" he actually prefers being alone.  If he does someday have another girlfriend that's good.  But if not that's alright too he says. 

     

  PIGEONS ON PATIO ROOF      

         

             Oh!  I just noticed, because the Sun is now all the way over on the west side of the house; Pigeon shadows moving out in the dirt.  They must've flown in from the west so I didn't see them come in and land up there on the Patio roof above me.   Heathcliff just crowed over there. 

             Dais says Mr. Steve admits he's "weird," the "Exception to the Rule" so to speak.  Many people would "rather have a bad relationship than no relationship at all" he's noticed.  Over the years Blessed Mother, people have "felt sorry" for Mr. Steve in being alone; but he likes it. 

           When people try to "Set him up" with girls, my boss tells them he really appreciates their concern but is seldom lonely because he always has plenty of work to do.  Daisy says he's always working on one thing or another.  That's probably why we haven't had any snacks today.

                       

GRANDPA / GRANDMA TRUJILLO     

         

          Hey God!  Grandma Trujillo always said, "If God wills it."  My boss once joked with Mr. Hussein in Sylmar he's "starting to say that too" and Mr. Hussein, believing in Islam and that phrase "Incha allah; just says "If it's meant to be."   Insha Allah means "If God wills it."

          As You know Lord, Sister Rita Joseph  told my boss the best way to ask You for something was to go through Your mother.  She said, "Most sons will not refuse a request from their mom.  Mr. Steve knows the story of You making more wine at a wedding because Your mom asked. 

          My English Dictionary says the word "intercede" means to "plead on behalf of another." Daisy says back in Your day Lord it was very embarrassing to run out of wine at a wedding, and that's why Blessed Mother asked You to make some more; which You did.  Dawn's barking.

                                                                                               "SERMON ON THE MOUNT"                                                       

               

                  Hey Lord!  One time Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with his mom, and they  remembered how in 1985 the Tour Group visited the "Mount" where You told people about the  "Beatitude" teachings.  It's on the north side of the "Sea of Galilea."  The Pigeons flew away.

            I guess Lord, the "Tabgha" area is also where You miraculously multiplied five loaves of bread and two Fish to feed the big crowd who was there to hear You speak.  If I could time travel I would definitely go back to see You do that.  And I would want to eat some of that food too!

           Mr. Steve's dad, in 1985; got permission for Father Mahan to "Say Mass" in Israel.  One was at that Church of the "Holy Sepulcher" in Jerusalem; but the place Mr. Steve and his mom liked best was a Church dedicated you up there Saint Peter.  It's near the "Sea of Galilee."

      

CHURCH OF THE "PRIMACY OF SAINT PETER"

             Hey Lord!  I guess Mr. Steve's group went to three Churches in Tabgha.  Dais heard one is on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee where, after You had died; You came back to visit Your twelve Apostles and tell Peter he was to be the leader.  A small Lizard just ran bye.

             Father Mahan said Mass Lord in that "Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter," and Mr. Steve "Took Communion;" which he hadn't done for a while before that trip to Israel.   I guess after Your "Resurrection" You appeared to Your Disciples three times?  Heathcliff crowed.

             Lord!  It was on the site of that Church where You forgave Peter for "denying" he knew You three times on the night of Your arrest.  The Church is built over the rock where You might have shared food with Your Apostles.  That Church was built in 1933 by Franciscan Priests.

                   

             ADOLPH HITLER (1889-1945)             FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

                                      PAINTING BY BRUNO JACOBS                                                                                        ARTWORK BY GREG GROESCH                 

  1933       

               My boss thinks 1933 was important, Adolph Hitler became Germany's "Chancellor" and Franklin Roosevelt was elected U.S. "President."  From then on they were "linked" together like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.  Mr. Steve's father was born in 1932, his mom in 1935.

           That Church for Saint Peter was built over 4th century A.D. ruins.  Dais heard how Pope John Paul II, who my boss took pictures of in 1985 and 1987; visited that Church in 2000.  Lord! The Latin name for the rock in the Church is "Mensa Christi," or the "Table of Christ." 

            I just thought again of that guy Nostradamus.  Mr. Steve says some of the things that he predicted seem to have come true, but on other things he was wrong.  Nostradamus said there'd be three "Anti-Christs."  It seems like he described Napoléon and Hitler as the first two.

               

                           ANCIENT BATTLE                MEGIDDO                          RUINS

                                                                                                                                                     PHOTO BY CAROLE RADDATO

         

            In 1985 Mr. Steve visited the ruins of "Megiddo," in Israel's "Jezreel Valley."  Since the ancient days, because it's a "Trade Junction;" there have been many big battles fought there.  Even that guy Napoléon won a famous battle there in 1799 against the "Ottoman" Turks.  

           Daisy says the tv show said Nostradamus's third Anti-Christ will wear a blue "Turban."  The man on the tv show also mentioned how the New Testament's "Book of Revelation" talks of an "Anti-Christ."  Hey God?  I wonder if the Devil would be considered an Anti-Christ?

           The tv show mentioned how in the ancient world the area where Israel is now was often right in between two powerful Empires, sometimes Egypt and Persia.  So Megiddo was located in a valuable area which could control the "Trade Routes.  Heathcliff's Hens are clucking.

       

ANCIENT "TRADE" ROUTES

                   

                Daisy heard Mr. Steve and his father talking about how, when they were at Megiddo in 1985 the guide Haim said it was a "junction" between Africa, Asia and the European region.  He said the Book of Revelation says Megiddo is where the "world might end."  Heathcliff crowed.

           Because the Megiddo area was a junction between cultures, there has been many bloody battles fought over that land.  Mr. Steve thinks the "Poland" area has also often been unlucky in being "between" powerful states.  Israel brought Judaism, Islam and Christianity into contact.  

           The tv show said Nostradamus predicted his own death the night before he died.  He told his family, "You will not find me alive at sunrise."  Oh darn!  I just noticed that I forgot to write a few more things about "Delphi" back in ancient Greece, and those girls called "Oracles."  

 "DELPHI" RUINS      

           

              Daisy says the person payed the Pythia or Sybil to predict their future, but because they also talked in code; you had to "Interpret" what the "Prophetess" said.  I heard Mr. Randy say "talking in tongues" or “gibberish.”   Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just now went flying bye. 

             It says here, before making any predictions the Oracle went into an "altered state;" or a "trance."  Daisy told me people go into what they call "Mind Altered States," when they drink alcohol or take drugs; which is why I don't want to do those things.  A Train whistled faintly.  

            Before going into the Priestess' chamber, you saw carved up high on the walls the words "KNOW THYSELF" and "NOTHING IN EXCESS."  Daisy told me you were supposed to keep those words in mind when "deciphering" the Pythia.  Some Kings "misinterpreted" the words. 

           

"KNOW THYSELF"     

        

          Dais thinks you should follow the words at Delphi even if you're not going to an Oracle.  I want to be more patient, as at times I make decisions too quickly.  My boss has been described as being "measured," which is just like Daisy; so I'm working on being more of that way too.           

           If I know Daisy, which I do; she wouldn't think it too excessive to be petted for twenty four hours.  When Mr. Steve says "lay down" or "roll over," she follows his order fast because of how much she loves being petted.  Dais loves it when Mr. Steve combs and cuts her thick fur.     

           It's hard for me to not want to do things "in excess,” but Daisy's better at being moderate. I really think I'm coming to know myself way better, and don't make nearly as many mistakes as I used to.  A small group of what look from here like Sparrows is flying over Libby's Corral.

 MANUEL BENITEZ ("EL CÓRDOBES") 

                

                When Dais has the urge to "Herd" or corner me, I easily get away like the Bullfighter El Córdobes dodging a Bull; but eventually I let her catch me so we can "Play Fight."  We wrestle back and forth, and you might think we were mad because we growl.  Heathcliff crowed.

        Daisy noticed how in Football sometimes the big "Defensive Linemen" do what they call "Bull Rushing" the Quarterback.  She's pretty good at doing that.  After a while, even though I    have more "Stamina;" it becomes obvious that Daisy has a big advantage "On the Inside."          

            Even though she's old  Daisy still has neck strength, and knows how to use her weight as "Leverage."   She's "Well-Grounded" and "Sure-Footed" so pushing against her when her feet are planted is like pushing a tree stump.  Our boss jokes she could be one of those Linemen. 

    

  HENRY VIII (1491-1547)

  PAINTING BY HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER 

         

            Mr. Steve told Mr. Mike one time how Dais at times reminds him of the famous painting of England's King Henry VIII from the 16th century.  And, in looking at that portrait I see why.  I just now glanced up in time to see Cher the Cat slinking behind Manny the far right Shed.

           Just like Martin Luther and John Calvin, Henry VIII "broke" from the Catholic Church, but didn't do it for "Theological" reasons.  He just wanted to get a divorce from his first wife for not having a boy baby, but the Pope wouldn't give him permission.  Andy's watching Cher.

            Daisy says in England King Henry's new religion was called the "Anglican Church," but here in America they're called "Episcopalians."   My boss and Mr. Phillip one time talked about how, if he didn't like you, Henry VIII just had your head cut off.   Andy's sniffing the air.   

          

MARY TUDOR (1516-1558)    

     

           Hey Lord!  It says here Henry VIII's time was called the "Tudor" era.  Henry VIII killed many Roman Catholics I guess, but when his Catholic daughter called "Bloody Mary" came into power later in 1553; she "executed" Protestants.  Two Crows are squawking out in the field.    

           The 16th century was a violent time, in the 1500's Ivan "The Terrible" ruled over Russia.  That little hunchback Homer Lea, who wrote about military history; believed; "war, hate and violence much more common than peace, love and understanding."  I smell Andy over there.

           My boss heard this one alcohol drink called a "Bloody Mary," which has tomato sauce in it so is red; was named after England's Queen Mary I.  Mr. Steve has attended Protestant mass or "Services."  Samantha and Cristina's Lutheran school also had a Church too Daisy says. 

   

  MR. STEVE'S BEDROOM

   PAINTINGS BY STELLA CÓRDOVA

 

             Hey Lord!  Dais told me, high above Mr. Steve's drums way up on the fifteen foot tall wall below the ceiling; Mr. Steve hung that "Crucifix" that shows You dying.   Someday I'll see it.  Daisy says sometimes it makes her kind of sad because it's pretty realistic in showing You.

             Also in Mr. Steve's big bedroom are two of his mom's paintings.  Daisy says they're huge in size, one hung on the south wall; the other on the west wall right above our boss's bed. Both  were a part of those different early 1990's Art Exhibits that I've mentioned a few times.   

            I guess, besides those two bigger paintings; there are two smaller four foot tall paintings in my boss's bedroom.  Daisy likes the one of a flying "Sea Gull," but that other Dog Millie liked the one behind Mr. Steve's drums of the "American Indian."  Dawn's barking over there.

       

    QUEEN ELIZATH I (1533-1603)

 

          Daisy says a King or Queen can be a "Tyrant" or "Dictator, so can do whatever they want.  My Dictionary says a Dictator has "absolute or unlimited power."  Henry VIII "beheaded" his second wife named Anne Boleyn, who it says here was that lady Queen Elizabeth I's mother.

          Queen Elizabeth I, following Queen Mary; went back to being a Protestant like her father Henry VIII so also had her enemies "eliminated."  Daisy heard Mr. Steve's father say one time "Most rulers have to constantly watch their back."  Samson and Delilah are floating bye.

          Henry VIII "mounted" enemies heads on pikes, or hung them from the bridges; to warn people not to do bad things in his Kingdom. Oh!  This Encyclopedia says King Henry's "final words" before dying were, "All is lost.  Monks."   He killed a lot of Catholics Monks I guess.

                                             

                                                  VLAD "THE IMPALER" (1431-1477)

                                                                   PAINTING BY AMBRAS CASTLE

    

            I'll learn about Vlad "The Impaler" tomorrow, but just looked him up now too.  It says here he "executed" his opponents by "skewering" them on wooden spikes, and his name "Vlad Tepes" means "Vlad the Impaler."  Boy!  I love the hat he's wearing in the painting of him.    

            Vlad the Impaler was a 15th century "Count" from this place in the "Balkans" called "Wallachia," an area later called "Transylvania;" now "Romania."  He fought the "Ottoman" Turks and "may have" impaled sixty thousand people.   I guess Rick Steves visited that area.

           Someday I want to see that movie "Dracula," about the man who turns into a Bat; then flies around looking for blood to drink.  Daisy says he sleeps in a coffin, and comes out only at night.  If Dracula bites you, and drinks your blood; then you turn into a "Vampire" too.                                    

                                     "IMPALING"                                    "HORROR" MOVIES (1930'S)

                                

          Ugh!  A picture shows that impaling is sticking a wooden stake through a person's body and then "planting it" in the ground.  It looks so painful, especially because Dais told me it "took a long time to die."  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving south.        

             Daisy's so lucky!  She's seen "Horror" movies, and told me about the one where a real  Mummy from ancient Egypt comes back to life.  Another one was about a creature who lived in a water of a "Lagoon."   I can't wait to see the movie about that monster named "Frankenstein."

             My Encyclopedia says that movie Dracula was based on a late-19th century novel written by a man from Ireland named Bram Stoker.   I guess, he noticed Vlad the Impaler's family's last name was "Dracula."  I'll learn a lot more about Horror movies over the next three days.                       

 BRAM STOKER (1847-1912)                        MR. PHILLIP                

                

          My boss and Mr. Phillip have talked about Henry VIII, and Bram Stoker too.  They also discussed that really smart man "Sir" Thomas More.  It says here, "among other things" he was a Lawyer; and in 1516 wrote that first "Utopian" novel I've mentioned before.  I smell Sage.        

          "Utopia" means "a good place" in Greek, "Dystopia" is "a bad place;" and usually they "refer to the future."  Being Catholic, Thomas More "opposed" many of King Henry's actions    during the Protestant Reformation.  So he was one of the people who had his head cut off.           

           About four centuries after Thomas More, in 1932 or year my boss's dad was born; that guy Aldous Huxley wrote his now famous Dystopian novel "Brave New World."  But, instead of describing a possible good future world;  it's about a possible "bad place."  Sage smells good.                                            

              SIR THOMAS MORE (1478-1535) AND FAMILY             

      PAINTING BY HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER           

  

             I guess, at first Henry VIII didn't realize Thomas More's book Utopia was a "Critique" of his rule; but when he did just had his head cut off.   Like Aldous Huxley in the 20th century,    Sir Thomas More used "Fiction" to "challenge the thinking" of his society.  I smell Sage.            

            Boy!  I suppose it's better to die quickly with your head being cut off, rather than being burned slowly the way us Catholics used to do to people back in the 1500's.  Daisy told me a tv      show said strangling to death is also pretty bad too.  Ugh!  I hope I'm brave when I die.                

             Dais and I have wondered if, for a short time; a "Decapitated" head is still "Conscious" at the bottom of the basket it falls into?  Daisy says some dead Chickens keep on running around trying to escape even after their head has been totally cut off.  Oh!  I hope to never see that.                                  

                                                    "ALICE IN WONDERLAND"

                                                                 (QUEEN OF "HEARTS")

                   

           Daisy told me about this one good movie called "Alice in Wonderland," and in it a really mean Queen yells "Off with his head"" if she gets mad at you.  Over the next three days I'll be finding out a lot more about 19th century "Victorian" England.  Daffy's quacking over there.      

           I just thought of how even though she's old Dais is still very strong so, if there was such a thing as a "Dog Olympic Games;" she could win a gold medal in wrestling.  We should invent a Dog Olympics, to maybe make some money.  We could even call it the "Córdova" Olympics!    

          Even though Mr. Steve handles all our money and never gambles, I'd risk money to bet on Daisy winning in a wrestling Olympics.  And, even though Daisy heard that it's very illegal; I'd  represent us in running and bet on myself!  I'm confident I would win us some money! 

     

RUGBY   

PHOTO BY BRENDAN MORAN   

          

          There's a sport called "Rugby," and Mr. Steve jokes Dais would be good at it.  When we wrestle she knows how "use her weight" but, if she gets too much of an “Upper Hand;” I just jump back and dart quickly "Out of Range" as they say.  Samson and Delilah flew bye. 

          Daisy's teaching me how to get just the right "angle," so you don't waste energy getting to the correct spot.   After our fake fights we feel good.  Dais heard at Sylmar High, Mr. Steve used to play "Raquetball" and "Handball;" and says some of the best players were "overweight."  

           Good Handball players instinctively know "Positioning;" and where to be when the ball comes bouncing back "off of the wall" my boss says.  So, they don't need to run as much; while they can keep you running all over the place "reacting to" their shots.  They "Visualize." 

    

                                           CAL RIPKIN JR. (BALTIMORE "ORIOLES")

2,632 

       

             Mr. Steve and his brother Sam one time talked about how Athletes like Mr. Bobby the Boxer lose "Foot Speed" in getting older.  So, they have to "Adjust" in adapting to "changing circumstances."   Daisy saw a tv show about this Baseball player named Cal Ripkin Jr.

             I guess the tv show said, in 1995 playing for the Baltimore "Orioles; Cal Ripkin broke Lou Gehrig's record of playing in "Consecutive" games.  Lou Gehrig played in 2,131 games "In a Row," while Cal Ripkin "Started" 2,632 games without missing one.  I smell Penstemon.    

            Cal Ripkin set his record over nineteen years, so "had to be in good shape and play with injuries" my boss says.  On "Defense," being slower; before each pitch he used "Experience" to "position" himself.  I'm almost done with this chapter, but first I have to write about sports.

   

LOU GEHRIG (1903-1941)    "BABE" RUTH (1895-1948)

            

           Lou Gehrig' family were "poor German immigrants."  During the "Roaring" 1920's and 1930's "Great Depression" he played "alongside" Babe Ruth on the New York "Yankees;" and his nickname being the "Iron Horse." Ah!  Libby's scent just floated into my right nostril.

         I've mentioned before how in 1928, or year before the Stock Market "crashed;" Grandpa Trujillo began moving luggage for the "Santa Fe" Railroad Company.  Then, for fear of losing    his job; over forty years never missed a day.  Lou Gehrig thought in the same way I'll bet.            

       Grandpa Trujillo, like Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripkin, worked when sick or injured.   Daisy says over the years Mr. Steve has also had jobs where he never missed a day.  And some of those  jobs lasted a few years.  In giving job recommendations he always stresses "Dependability."                                               

  KOBE BRYANT / MICHAEL JORDON

           

             Mr. Steve says it's "now rare" for an Athlete to play "for only one team" the way Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripkin Jr. did.  But Daisy heard the Basketball player Kobe Bryant is doing it on the "Lakers."  The Monarch Butterfly just went fluttering bye in front of the three Sheds.   

             Sometimes Dais jokes, at her "advanced" age; it's better to work "smarter" rather than "harder."  I guess, there are one hundred and sixty two games in each Major League Baseball season; so what Cal Ripkin Jr. did was "impressive" Mr. Steve thinks.  I like Dawn's voice.    

      Mr. Steve was told Cal Ripkin Jr. was lucky he has a "Tight-Knit Family," his brother "Billy" a teammate on the Orioles, and for a while their dad was their Coach. Daisy heard Mr.    Steve tell his mom he's done line drawings of some Orioles logos.  I smell Andy over there.                    

          

BILLY / CAL SR. / CAL JR. RIPKIN

                              

           A picture shows Cal Ripkin Jr. with his dad and brother.  Boy!  Orange is a good color, and I better understand why our Auto Mechanic Mr. Ramon, and my boss's mom; like that color so much.  A Train just whistled faintly way out there in the northern desert to my left.                   

               The L.A. "Dodgers" Baseball team for a long time were from "Brooklyn."  In 1958 they moved out here to Los Angeles but, before they built "Dodger" Stadium; had to play at that big "Coliseum" Football Stadium.  I'll write more about it in my 12th and final chapter.            

              Mr. Steve, in 1985; saw the original "Colloseum" in the city of Rome.   During the 1930's President Franklin Roosevelt spoke at the L.A. Coliseum my Encyclopedia says, and right after World War II General George S. Patton also made a speech there too.  Heathcliff crowed. 

        

                             L.A. COLISEUM                                              1936 "BERLIN" OLYMPICS

       

        In book three I'll write about the 1936 "Berlin" Olympics, so will find out about Jessie Owens of course.  This Encyclopedia says he "set" or "broke' records for running at the L.A.        Coliseum downtown during the 1930's.  Andy's over there guarding their burrow entrance.        

          That College "U.S.C." play Football games at the Coliseum while U.C.L.A., where Miss Emily works; have theirs at the "Rose Bowl" in Pasadena.  Both places were built in the 1920's.  My boss joked with his brother Sam people were small then, based on the smaller seat sizes.         

          Back in the 1960's the "Rams" Football team played at the Coliseum.  In the 1930's when they wore leather helmets, they were "based" in "Cleveland;" their colors red, black and white.  In 1946 the Rams changed their uniform colors over to "navy," or dark blue; gold and white.                          

                            "CLEVELAND" RAMS                 1940'S               "LOS ANGELES" RAMS

              

             Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his brother Sam about working for Miss Thelma at the "San Fernando Sun.  In the 1980's sent him to "Elks Lodge," where Richie Valens did a concert back in the 1950's; to see a presentation by a representative of the L.A. Rams.  I smell Mesquite. 

             The man said the Rams were the "first Football team to have logos on their helmets," as one Player "volunteered" to paint yellow Ram's horns on the leather helmets.  But, because the paint would "chip off," he had to re-paint the horns after each game.  A Lizard ran bye.

             I notice in the 1940's Football Players had no protective "Face Masks," which "didn't become common until the late 1950's" the man from the Rams said.  In 1949, a year before the Korean War; the "N.F.L." began using plastic helmets with emblems "baked" into them.  

                                               

    ROMAN GABRIEL (1960'S)

            

              A picture taken back in the 1960's shows this Los Angeles Rams' "Quarterback" named Roman Gabriel.   Besides noticing how the Ram horn is white on his helmet, I also see how he      only has one skinny bar for a face mask.   Daisy says Mr. Steve has a Hockey "Goalie" mask.       

            My boss and his brother Rock played "Street Hockey" as kids, and in the living room is that Goalie stick given to Mr. Steve in the 1980's by the Edmonton "Oilers" Goalie Grant Fuhr. He broke it in practice and gave it to my boss, who repaired it.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.  

            I remember that morning when Mr. Steve sold things to the guy from Canada, who liked the Edmonton Oilers; so my boss gave him some pictures he took of the Oilers.  One was Grant Fuhr posing, holding his white, blue and red mask.  I can smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies.

     

  GRANT FUHR   

 

           Dais told me Mr. Steve carefully removed the tape from Grant Fuhr's "CCM" stick, then with wood glue repaired the broken blade.  He "re-taped" it to look as "Good as New."  I guess    Edmonton is a big Canadian city up there in the Canadian "Province" called "Alberta."              

         That man who likes the Oilers said before they were in the "N.H.L," or "National Hockey League;" they were the "Alberta" Oilers of the "W.H.L." or "World Hockey League."  In 1979    the Oilers, and three other W.H.L. teams; were added into the N.H.L.  I smell Penstemon.           

           What the heck!  I can write about Hockey now even though it's not on my outline here. Another city in Alberta is "Calgary," whose Hockey team is called the "Flames" Daisy heard.  I remember how that morning my boss and that man talked about big Canadian "Rodeos."   

JACQUES PLANTE (ALBERTA "OILERS")

      

             Mr. Steve has a Goalie mask, and one time talked with his brother Rock about Jacques Plante; the first Goalie to wear a mask.  A picture of him in his later years shows him wearing an Alberta Oilers uniform and holding a mask.  Rudy the Roadrunner is jogging bye.

             Jacques Plante is from the French-Canadian Province of "Quebec," which I'll find out about on Saturday when I write about the names "Dionne" and "Dion." Back in the 1980's my boss took pictures of this guy named Marcel Dionne, who then played for the L.A. Kings.    

            Mr. Steve's brother Rock, and his sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob; play on a Hockey team in Texas.  I guess Jacques Plante played for the Montreal "Canadians."  Montreal is city in Quebec and Dais heard the "Brooklyn" Dodgers had a Minor League Baseball team there for years.  

                             

   JACQUES PLANTE        

   (MONTREAL "CANADIANS" / 1959)        

                

                  I guess, until the 1970's most Hockey players didn't wear helmets, and some Goalies still  didn't wear masks.  The caption says in 1959 Jacques Plante was "hit in the face" so wanted to wear a mask.  That big Dragonfly just zoomed bye and is now going out into the back desert.

           Two old pictures shows Jacques Plante in 1959, one without a mask and another one with that first "primitive" one.  Daisy told me nowadays Goalies wear "elaborately painted" masks.  My boss told Mr. Rich, who does "Pinstriping;" some of those masks are "works of art."

           Daisy heard about Bill "Cowboy" Flett who, in the late 1960's; played for the Kings.  He was one of the first Players to wear a full beard, and also one of the last to "adopt" a helmet.  A long slowly extending vapor trail is crisscrossing another vapor trail way up there in the sky.   

                                              

   BILL "COWBOY" FLETT

   

              A picture of Bell Flett shows when he was on the Oilers.  Until the 1970's Players were allowed to use sticks with very curved blades, Bill Flett one of them.  This made his one hundred mile per hour "Slap" shot unpredictable and dangerous for Goalie, so they changed the rules.

             One time at a Kings game a Bill Flett slap shot was "deflected" into the crowd; and a guy "made the bad decision" of trying to catch it my boss says.  It hit him in the mouth, he lost teeth and bled all over a towel the Usher gave him.  And a kid picked up the puck and ran away.

             Mr. Steve and his brother talked about this other Player named Bobby Hull.  Daisy says he was on the Chicago "Blackhawks" and had a slat shot even harder than Bill Flett's.  I guess, one time my boss and Mr. Grant talked about the legal concept of "Assumption of the Risk."     

                        

BOBBY HULL ("SLAP" SHOT)

   

            Because of "Liability" the N.H.L. made it illegal to use very curved sticks.  Daisy heard, on the back of every sporting event ticket is an "Exculpatory Clause;" which means you can't sue the team if you get injured while attending a game.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.

            I just thought of Wayne Gretzky, called "The Great One;" who many think was one of the best Players in history.  He won many championships with the Oilers, but in the early 1990's came to play for the Kings; turning a losing team into a winner.  Daffy's quacking over there.

            In 2014 athletic equipment is "color-coordinated" with "team colors," which was not always so; there being just one version.  Mr. Steve was made fun for being the only kid wearing white Baseball shoes.  The Oakland A's owner Charles Finley believed in color coordination.   

                                     

                    JERRY CHEEVERS                   1970'S       GLENN HALL / JACQUES PLANTE            

    

            Boston "Bruins" Goalie Gary Cheevers drew stitches on his mask where he was hit.   There used to be only brown leather "Goalie Leg Pads," now there's every color, and a picture    shows Jacques Plante wearing them when on the St. Louis Blues.  I like the Blues uniforms.         

               I heard that man who liked the Oilers say many Canadians "were not at all happy" in Wayne Gretzky leaving Edmonton to play for the Kings.  But it revived" interest in Hockey in      Southern California my boss thinks, as the Kings were a bad team.  A little Lizard ran bye.          

             Wayne Gretzky "wasn't the best skater or strongest player" the man said, but was very smart.  He "positioned himself well" and at times seemed to have eyes "in the back of his head."  Two Motorcycle's went zooming toward the north right now out there on Primavera Road.          

  

OILERS                             WAYNE GRETZKY                             KINGS    

  

               The Canadian man said his "favorite" Oiler was not Wayne Gretzky, but this other guy named Mark Messier.  I guess in the 1980's Wayne Gretzky broke many "Scoring" records.  I guess he helped the Oilers win five "Stanley Cup" championships in his time in Edmonton. 

            Wayne Gretzky "seemed to have this sixth sense for being in the right place at the right time" the man said.  He "seemed to know in advance what the puck would do, and how it would bounce when it landed" on the ice.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying toward the east.  

           "Because he was so good at avoiding being hit," Wayne Gretzky "rarely got injured" the man told my boss.  With "good timing," he "seldom got checked hard," and positioning himself behind an opponents net; he could move left or right depending on the play.  I smell Sage.

        

WAYNE GRTEZKY (AS TEENAGER)

          

            Wayne Gretzky had "quick hands" and "deftly" used a stick.  When we watch cartoons on Saturday mornings I see that stick Grant Fuhr gave my boss, and also those two "regular"  Hockey sticks he bought at one of those Garage Sales.   Libby just whinnied over there.

            One Hockey stick Mr. Steve retaped in navy blue, the other one in pink, which is not a usual color.  When he lived in Sylmar he gave a pink taped stick to a girl.  Pink now symbolizes the fight against "Breast Cancer," which my boss's Sister in Law Yolanda "beat" he says.

            The pink stick is for a right-handed "Shooter," so the left side of the blade curved.  The other stick is a left-handed stick, where the right side of the blade is curved; and Mr. Steve is able to use either one to shoot.   Two of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral over there.

    

 ROCK / JUDY

             Daisy says Mr. Steve told his brother Rock, who plays Goalie on his team in Texas; he "feels more comfortable shooting left-handed like Wayne Gretzky.  But for some reason he feels better "driving" golf balls right-handed.  Rock and his girlfriend Miss Judy like Ice Hockey.  

             When Wayne Gretzky came to the Kings they became a winning team, which they had not been for a long time I guess.  They changed their colors from purple, yellow and white like the Basketball Lakers; to black, silver and white.  In 1993 the Kings won the Championship.

             Mr. Steve thinks Wayne Gretzky "saved" Hockey in California.  Once the Kings did good, the  Anaheim "Ducks" and San Jose "Sharks" came into the N.H.L.; and there's now even a team in Phoenix, Arizona.  That one boy Finch Finley is sitting over there by himself.

      

   OAKLAND "SEALS" 

                                                                                                                               

              In the early 1970's the Oakland A's owner Charles Finley bought the Bay Area Hockey team the Oakland "Seals."  He changed the team colors from blue, green and white; to green, yellow and white like his Baseball team.  Mr. Steve colored their logo in both color schemes.

              As one of those "Gimmicks" Charles Finley had the A's wear white shoes, and the Seals wore white; and sometimes green skates.  I guess the Seals were never that good and did not win any championships.  The combined smell of Alpha Company just came floating in to me.

             Oh!  This is supposed to be the end of chapter eleven but I just noticed I forgot to write a few things about the "Rams" Football team.  Originally in Cleveland, they were here in L.A. for a long time; and are now located back there in the city of St. Louis.  Finley looks so lonely.  

                 

    "RAMS" UNIFORM HISTORY          

          

           Dais heard Mr. Steve say, over the years the Rams have used "Navy" or dark blue as their primary color; and at times my favorite color "Royal" blue.  I guess, gold and yellow have been "interchanged" as their secondary color; with white used too.  Daffy's quacking over there.

           Mr. Steve says at the San Fernando Elks Lodge the Rams "public relations man" brought two old leather Rams helmets for his presentation.  One was red from the 1930's Cleveland era.  It's getting later in the afternoon, and I only have maybe one more hour of sunlight left.  

            The man from the Rams gave out cassette tapes on the history of the Rams, which Mr. Steve told his father he still has.  Mr. Steve's father has also been to many meetings at the Elks Lodge in San Fernando over the years from what Daisy heard.  A Lizard went running bye.   

               

         LOS ANGELES                        RAMS                            ST. LOUIS                   

            

            Mr. Steve thinks, in his "Subjective" opinion; white horns on the Rams' helmets look the best as it makes the lined up Players resemble real Rams "ready to charge."  As a kid he had a royal blue plastic Rams helmet with white horns on it.  Mr. Steve's mom liked how it looked.

            A few years ago my boss told his mom about this big 1960's Rams "Defensive Lineman" named Merlin Olson.  He was part of the "Fearsome Foursome" who's job it was to stop the other teams offense.  A Motorcycle went bye on Primavera Road and left dust floating.

            In 1968 Mr. Steve and Mr. Rick went to the Coliseum to see Merlin Olson's Rams play the Pittsburgh "Steelers."  And, because Mr. Rick's family were from Pittsburgh he wanted the Steelers to win, but they "lost badly" my boss says.  Andy's over there looking at me.  

            

    "FEARSOME FOURSOME"      MERLIN OLSON        "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE"           

(THIRD FROM LEFT / 1960'S)                                                                   (ON RIGHT / 1970'S)                          

                                                    

         Dais heard Merlin Olson, who died; was a Mormon from a small town in Utah. After a fifteen year "Hall of Fame" career in which he missed only two games, he became an Actor; and was on Miss Sandy's parents favorite show "Little House on the Prairie."  Heathcliff crowed.     

           Mr. Steve met a man who went to College with Merlin Olson at "Utah State" University,  and says he was as "honest and forthright" then as later.  Merlin Olson used to tell kids never to lie and "always be on time and prepared."   He and his wife named "Susan" had three kids.        

     Sister Rita Joseph would have liked Merlin Olson Daisy thinks, as he was a "Lifetime Learner."   In College he was a three time "Academic" All American.  In 1968 Mr. Steve bought a "Program" at the Rams, Steelers game.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the east.            

                       

                                        (1960'S)          PITTSBURGH "STEELERS"        (1980'S)

   

             The Steelers are still Mr. Rick's favorite Football team, and now also my boss's brother Sam's favorite team too.   Over the years Mr. Steve has shown that 1968 Program to people, to show them the old Steelers uniforms.  Since the 1970's they've worn their current uniforms.

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve and Mr. Rick talk on the phone about the Steelers being the only N.F.L. team to have a logo "only on one side" of their helmets.  Back in 1968, the yellow on the    shoulders looked like a cape so it's called the "Batman" jersey.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.        

          I guess, Merlin Olson died of cancer and suspected it was from being "exposed" to this thing called "Asbestos."   In that job Mr. Rick's company did inside Edwards A.F.B. they had to "carefully remove" big metal doors with asbestos in them.  A Train whistled over to my left.         

   

"BIGHORN" SHEEP 

PHOTO BY STEVE PRICE                                                                                                             PHOTO BY STEVE YEAGER

          Dais says groups of Rams, or "Bighorn" Sheep; live up in the San Gabriel mountains to our south, but they're getting "fewer and fewer" Miss Susan says.  A man my boss met said when boy Sheep fight for girl Sheep they "really do ram their heads together."  I smell some Sage.        

         Wow!  This is the end of chapter eleven so, only one more to go; and I'll have to hurry as the Sun is going down.  Judging by how the shadows are leaning away from me right now, I'd      say it's almost six thirty.  So far I've been able to keep to my schedule of one chapter per hour.     

          Thank Everyone up there, and thank you too Elvira and my blankets down here.  I feel so fortunate to be alive and able to appreciate the moment more, and maybe it's because of doing this huge project.  Heathcliff just crowed and I think it's giving me a feeling of "Rhêma."