Book 1 Chapter 12

                                                                                                      (Chapter 12)

                                        COGNITO, ERGO; SUM / WHY ME?

6:30 

     

                    

"SPARK OF LIFE" / "CREATION"        

MICHELANGELO BUONORATTI ("SISTINE " CHAPEL)             

                         

              Wow God!  I can't believe this is chapter twelve and I have only one more hour to go and then my first book will be finished.  Boy!  I'm starving because Mr. Steve didn't give me not even one snack at all today.  But, that's okay; and I'm not complaining or anything like that.

          I wonder if there will be any more of that delicious Spam meat mixed in with the dry food for dinner later? And I sure do hope there are some good cold leftovers too.  But now I have to keep on focusing on my work and finish up this very first book.  Heathcliff just crowed. 

         The evening sunlight is flowing over the top of our house from the west.  And judging by how all of the shadows are totally leaning away from me sitting over here on my couch Elvira; I'd say it's about six thirty.  Ah!  The chimes hanging from the Patio roof are ringing.

       

"SPIRITUALITY"

          

             Is that You coming in on the breeze to check on me Holy Spirit?  I sure hope so but like Dais jokes; we both have a tendency to be some of those "Wishful Thinkers."  Wow!  It's hard to believe I'm actually beginning to write this last and final chapter of my first of three books!

            Well Everyone up there, after I say a quick prayer; I'll finish this book.  I've learned so many new things so far today and hopefully it will be the same for the next two days.  In really looking forward to dinner I think that will motivate me to keep on working really hard.

            Helen's taking a break from being with their new babies, and is standing next to Andy at the entrance to their burrow.  Seeing them right now is suddenly making me feel so happy to be here sitting on you Elvira.  Oh!  Helen just now ducked quickly back down into the burrow.   

      

CALIFORNIA "HIGH" DESERT

   

               Looking to the east, at the desert beyond the three Sheds; make me think about how the first eleven hours of this day has shown me that I can learn to read and write.  And I really enjoy it when I learn new things I never knew.  But I still have about one more hour to go yet.

              Helen is now down there in her and Andy's burrow and I'll bet she's feeding all of her and Andy's new Spring babies.  Andy's looking at me over here on the Patio and probably can't even believe I've been back here all day.   And he's likely wondering where Daisy's been too. 

          Oh!  Cher the Cat just slinked underneath Jack the biggest Shed on my left.  She better not even think about trying to eat one of Andy and Helen's babies.  I can really tell that Andy picked up Cher's scent and is now ready to fight because of his what they call "Body Language."

      

                                                                                     NIKOLA TESLA (1856-1943)

                    All four of the Pigeons just flew in from the back desert, and then went over the top of the house; going toward the southwest.  That makes me think of how that guy Nikola Tesla liked Pigeons, and even nursed injured Pigeons Dais heard.  A Train whistled faintly to my left.

              Boy!  I'm so tempted to write about Nikola Tesla right now but, I'd better just wait and do it tomorrow in book two; as Daisy and I agreed to.  But, I think it would be okay to say some things about him now too.  Nikola Tesla was originally from that one area called "Serbia."

             Albert Einstein's first wife Maleva Marik, who was really smart too Dais says, was also a "Serbian."  In the field of "Electricity," Nikola Tesla is now totally associated with "Alternating Current;" or "A.C." for short.  The other type of electricity is "Direct Current" or "D.C."   

                   

                                                                                        2014 TESLA "MODEL S"    

         

                   Daisy and Millie one time saw this tv show about a company in Northern California that makes electric Cars.   And, according to what it said in that tv show, the company is named after that guy Nikola Tesla.  Boy!  How great it would be to have something named for you.

             From what Dais heard, the "Tesla" company started in 2003 and their first electric Car was sold to the public six years later.  She says our boss told Mr. Ralph on the phone one time he used to know someone from "Palo Alto," Spanish for "Tall Stick."  Heathcliff just crowed.

            Mr. Steve one time talked with a customer near Palo Alto about "Stanford" University, which is located there.  In November of 1769 the Spanish under Gaspar de Portolá were the first "Europeans" to see the "San Francisco" Bay.  The late afternoon air is so clear right now.   

          

                       "PORTOLA EXPEDITION"      GASPAR DE PORTOLÁ (1716-1786)     "OHLONE" VILLAGE               

                                                                                                                    

                 As I've said before, in 1769 that guy Father Serra helped establish the first "Mission" up here in "Alta" California; where the city of "San Diego" is now located.  Then, later in the year, Juan Gaspar de Portolá led a group of Spanish Explorers northward.   A Crow is cawing.   

            This Encyclopedia says, in late October; Portola's men stayed at an "Ohlone" village.  A few days later, from up on hills; they looked down on what is now the San Francisco Bay.  I guess Palo Alto was named for a really huge "Redwood" tree the Spanish called "El Palo Alto."  

           Mr. Dave in New Mexico, who himself is "Hupa" Indian from Northern California; knows about the Ohlone.  In 1769, the Ohlone's who lived on the San Francisco Bay "Peninsula;" were "Chiguan" and Aramai" bands of the "Ramaytush."  Frida and Diego are now flying bye.   

                                                 

                                                           1914 "DETROIT" ELECTRIC 

                Earlier I wrote about how when "Automobiles" first came out motors run by electricity competed with "Internal Combustion" engines.  In Detroit the "Anderson" Car Company built 13,000 electric Cars from 1907 through 1939.  That's what this one Encyclopedia says here.

             For a while, in order to start an internal combustion motor; you had to use a "Crank" tool which could at times be dangerous.  But, once "Cadillac" made a "Battery" for the Car to carry around; electric powered Cars went "Out of Fashion" so to speak.  Heathcliff crowed.

            Daisy and I were standing there when Mr. Randy and Mr. Steve were talking about that company named for Nikola Tesla.  At first I thought I heard it wrong when Mr. Randy talked about Cars who drive themselves around.  But it's true and they're coming out really soon.        

                                             

L.A. "MEMORIAL" COLISEUM

   

                     Well, according to my outline I still have things to write about the stadium in downtown Los Angeles called the "Coliseum."  I've mentioned it and the "Colosseum" in Rome a few times in this first book.  Andy is sniffing the air and I can tell his nose just picked up my scent. 

                     Looking towards the east behind Manny, Moe and Jack the Sheds I see a very beautiful evening sky over the desert.  A Sparrow flew bye and I'll bet it's like me in getting hungry.  Boy!  I can't believe how fast these last eleven hours went but and now only one hour left to go.  

             One time Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with his mom.  I guess they were remembering that one year long Art Exhibit they had in 1993 at the "Natural History" Museum next to the Coliseum.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying over Libby's Corral.

           

LIVING ROOM ("CHAPEL BELLS")

                    

                 As I've said before, some of the artwork from the Art Exhibits my boss and his mom had in the 1990's is hanging on the walls inside the house.   People who come over compliment always compliment Mr. Steve's mom's big painting.  A Train whistled faintly way out in the desert.   

           I wonder if we'll go in the living room to watch cartoons on tv the day after tomorrow?  If so I'll just have to postpone writing book three until Sunday, which is okay because, as Dais says; there's no rigid deadline or timetable for these three books.  A little Lizard went running bye.  

          Because I'm afraid to go all the way down the hallway, I've only seen the artwork in the living and dining room on that side of the house.  I've sniffed inside the kitchen a few times so  will be able to go in there pretty soon I think.  Daisy says I'm ridiculous for being so afraid. 

                       

                                                          MR. RALPH / SON RORY

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA        

          

             Daisy and Millie heard our boss talk with Mr. Ralph on the phone.  I've mentioned how Mr. Ralph was born down in "Mexico City," went to "San Fernando" High School; and is now working for the city of "Los Angeles."  Andy's looking in this direction and sniffing the air.

              Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph his dad was "granted" a "License" from the 1984 Los Angeles "Organizing Committee" to sell things with Olympic logos on them.  Mr. Steve and his family still have coffee cups and things like that from back in 1984.  Heathcliff crowed over there.

             The mascot for the 1984 Olympics, from what Daisy heard; was "Sam the Eagle."  My boss gave a coffee cup to Mr. Ralph with him on it and, over the years Mr. Steve has bought and sold things from that "Summer" Olympics.  His family were also able to attend many events.   

      

"SAM" THE 1984 OLYMPIC EAGLE

  

           Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about the 1984 "Summer" Olympics.  I just thought of how Mr. Steve's father and brother are both named "Sam," and I guess some people, like her      boyfriend Rick for instance; calls his Niece Samantha Sam.   Two of the Pigeons flew bye.             

           I just glanced to my right at the sliding glass door going into the dining room near the kitchen.  Just inside, hanging on a wall near that divider separating that dining room from the      kitchen; is a big framed poster of Sam the Eagle.  I've seen it from out here on the Patio.               

              Mr. Steve and his family, including relatives from New Mexico; saw many events in 1984.   My boss told Gary the Barber he and Emily saw Boxing matches at the "Sports Arena" near the Coliseum.  Over the next three days I'll find out about some of the 1984 Fighters.

                    

                                                      "MAX" THE HUMMINGBIRD             

                                                                   PHOTO BY TOM GREY

        

           Max the Hummingbird just whizzed bye and I heard him coming from my right over there near Libby's Corral.  Boy!  His girlfriend 99 still isn't with him and this is already late in the day.  I'll bet Daisy is right in thinking that she's most likely to busy getting a nest ready.

           I guess Mr. Steve told Mr. Gary his father "felt good" his family, including relatives from New Mexico; got to see the Olympics in person.  Daisy says Uncle Marty and his family even flew in from New Jersey.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Gary is kind of like a Boxing Historian. 

                Looking at the eastern horizon behind Manny, Moe and Jack makes me think of how cold it was at this exact time last year on the first day of Spring.   Oh!  Dawn's barking just as I smell the clump of Joshua trees above Andy over there.  That's giving one of those Déjà Vu feelings.                  

                                                      1984 L.A. SUMMER OLYMPICS

        

            Many of the events for the 1984 Olympics took place at the "Coliseum."  Dais heard Mr. Steve's parents got to see the "spectacular" opening and closing ceremonies there, which is the word Mr. Gary used one time Dais told me.  The late afternoon air is so fresh and clear. 

            Daisy says Mr. Steve took a lot of pictures at the 1984 Olympics.  I guess the Americans had a really good Boxing team that year.  Many of those Fighters, "Amateurs" in 1984; even ended up becoming World Champions when they "Went Pro" after the Olympics were over. 

            Earlier today I wrote a little bit about that Mexican-American "Mural Painter" named Judy Baca. She was Mr. Steve's Art Teacher in High School at Alemany.  Daisy says Mr. Steve's parents have met her a few times.  Back in 1984 she was hired to do an Olympics mural.    

                                                                                       

                                                                                      JUDY BACA 

                                                               ("THE GREAT WALL")     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                  I just thought of that long six block long mural in the "Flood Control Channel" in Van Nuys.  It's called the "Great Wall," is near "Valley Junior College" which my boss and Miss Sandy went to; and Judy Baca supervised its painting in the 1970's.   Heathcliff crowed.

            Daisy says another name for a Flood Control Channel is a "Wash," and Mr. Randy says we have some of those near us up here in the desert.  Mr. Steve and his mom visited the Great Wall mural, which is what's called "Street Art."  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye.    

                  One time on the phone my boss and his mom talked about Judy Baca and how the Great Wall is near "Grant" High School where Miss Harriet and Samantha's boyfriend Rick went to.  So did Mr. Doug and that Kick Boxer Benny Urquidez too.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.    

         

                                                             "HITTING THE WALL"

                                                                                                          MURAL BY JUDY BACA

               I guess for the 1984 Olympics Judy Baca herself painted a mural on an "Overpass" from the #110 "Harbor" freeway.  Daisy saw it on a tv show, and says it's a picture of a girl Runner winning the race; with downtown L.A. in the background.  Boy!  I'd like to win a race!

                Mr. Steve has never seen Judy Baca's mural but Mr. Ralph likes it.  He hopes it doesn't get "Tagged" which means someone writing on it in black spray paint.  Politicians "probably won't repair it" if that happens he said.  "Most people don't care much about art" my boss thinks.

          Well, now I'll write about the Baseball "Dodgers" franchise which, until the late 1950's were the "Brooklyn" Dodgers, but "Relocated" out here to Los Angeles. But there was no good stadium so, from 1958 through 1961; they had to play the games at the Coliseum downtown.                    

                                              L.A. COLISEUM "AS A BASEBALL FIELD"

      

             Daisy says a few years ago Mr. Steve did artwork for a man who as a kid sold peanuts at the Coliseum for Dodger games.  He thought the Coliseum "was never intended to be a Baseball stadium," but was "designed for Football and Track and Field."  Libby just whinnied.

             I guess that man said the Coliseum was a "terrible place" for Baseball, and the Players said it was "so hard to see the ball" sometimes.  Plus, he told my boss; the "dimensions" of the playing field were "totally ridiculous."   Samson and Delilah are flying over Libby's Corral.

            The man told Mr. Steve at the Coliseum "it was only 251 feet from home plate to the left field fence."  That's "way too short" and it was at times really easy for some of the Players to hit home runs.  Mr. Steve jokes "Hank Aaron would've hit one hundred home runs in a season."

           

                                                                   WALLY MOON

         

                Daisy says that man told Mr. Steve how Wally Moon "adapted" his swing to hit home runs at the Coliseum.  Even though he was left-handed, he hit really high "vertical" fly balls to left field.  So, what would've normally been "routine" outs; became "short home runs."

            The caption underneath a picture of that guy Wally Moon says his home runs became known as "Moon Shots."  That man not only was left field too short, it was really hard to hit home runs to right field too because it was 440 feet away.  That's a long way Daisy heard.

            Oh wow!  This is interesting.  According to what it says here, the Dodgers "made it" to the 1959 World Series; where their three home games "drew" or "averaged" an "attendance" of about 90,000 people for each game.  My boss Mr. Steve was only four years old in 1959. 

   

   COLISEUM AS DODGER'S HOME FIELD

    

             Over the years when he's been at the Coliseum my boss has tried to "visualize" what it must have been like to "convert" it into a Baseball field.   But, eventually "Dodger Stadium," built only for Baseball; was built.  A long line of Ants is marching bye on the Patio floor.

              From 1977 through 1989 Mr. Steve's dad bought season seats for the Dodger's when it was a "Deduction" on his taxes.  And in those years the games were played at Dodger Stadium,"  which is "so beautiful" Mr. Steve's mom said that time.  They went to four World Series.

              Because Baseball has been important in Mr. Steve's family's life I'll learn about it over the next three days.  I'm pretty good at catching a ball in my mouth!  Hey!  Maybe we should start a Baseball team for us Dogs, and possibly even make some money while having fun too.

  

                                                   FLAVIUS VESPASIAN (9A.D.-79 A.D.)

                    I just thought of how in1985 Mr. Steve's St. Ferdinand's Tour Group walked around the "Colosseum" in the Italian city of Rome.  As I've said before, it's real name is the "Flavian Ampitheater."  Cher the Cat just jogged out into the back desert and Andy's watching her. 

               The Colosseum in Rome is named for that Emperor Flavius Vespasian.  I wrote about how he and his son "Titus," whose "Arch" in Rome my boss saw in 1985; "Crushed" that big Jewish Revolt that happened back in 70 A.D.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.      

                  When "Nero" killed himself "Vespasian" was in Israel so had to leave "Putting Down" the Jewish Revolt to his son Titus.  And Titus ended up being the one who took that big fort up there on top of "Masada."  Hearing Donald and Daisy is making me feel pretty good.

  

                                                                "DODGER" STADIUM

    

                     As I wrote earlier, in order to get all the land to build Dodger Stadium; the city of Los Angeles "took it" from poor Mexican-American people.  I guess that area is still called "Chavez Ravine."  Rudy the Roadrunner jogged bye in front of the three Sheds holding a Lizard.  

              Daisy says one time Mr. Steve and Mr. Grant talked about how, when the government wants land you own they use what's called "Eminent Domain" to "Acquire" it.  That's a nice way of saying, "whether you like it or not;" Mr. Grant joked.   You have to sell it to them.  

              My Encyclopedia says in 1943, during World War II, some white Sailors "stationed" or "based" in in Chavez Ravine; "went on a rampage" in beating up black and Mexicans.  My boss thinks they were just "looking for an excuse to be violent."  Frida and Diego just flew bye.  

                                        

                                                      "ZOOT SUIT" RIOTS (1943)   

                   

              In 1943 the Sailors "beat with clubs" anyone wearing those fancy "Zoot" suits I wrote about.  Pictures show two Mexican guys whose clothes have been "forcibly stripped off."  There are some guys my boss says, like Vikings;  who "just like to fight  and have fun doing it." 

            Dodger Stadium is located to the northeast of downtown Los Angeles, and I guess it's still a "beautiful" stadium Mr. Steve's mom says.   But the families "Evicted" from Chavez Ravine were really angry and Mr. Steve's dad has met some of them.  They still hate the Dodgers.  

            Just like those Mexican families never forgave the Dodgers for what they did, there are still some people from Brooklyn who never "Got Over" the Dodgers leaving the east coast.  Mr. Steve had a customer in New Jersey whose family are some of those.  They felt "Betrayed."  

  

                                                         DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

           One time as he watered the Mulberry tree my boss told Mr. Randy his father bought two houses in "Porter Ranch."   They had to be "relocated" because the #118 Freeway "was coming through."  Those houses were forcibly sold to the government through Eminent Domain.  

           Mr. Steve was there when, in the middle of the night; those two big houses were moved by Truck from Porter Ranch over to "Mission Hills."  It "wasn't easy" but they got them to the lots on which they were going to be "Set Down."  Mr. Steve's dad fixed and then sold them.  

           Hey God!  Dais thinks our boss is now grateful his father is the way he is even though he can be kind of "hard to deal with" at times.  There's that saying which goes, "Once a Marine, always a Marine."  A small flock of Birds is going bye way up there in the late afternoon sky.

  

"WESTERN" WALL (JERUSALEM)

 

                I just thought of how in 1985 Haim the Tour Guide in Israel said that "Wailing Wall," where Jews still pray; "is all that remains of the Second Temple;" which had been built by King Herod but was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.   Heathcliff just now crowed over there. 

           During that 1966 "Six Day" war, Haim said Israel "took the area" near the wall back from Jordan.  I guess they "Bulldozed" down the houses of poor Muslims living there.  Pictures in my Encyclopedia show how that Jerusalem praying wall was built of big limestone blocks.

          So, I guess in 1966 it was sort of like when the people in Chavez Ravine got "Displaced" by Eminent Domain so Dodger Stadium could be built.  But the people in Israel got no money and became "Refugees."  Daisy told me how that guy Tom Petty has a good song about refugees.

   

                       MR. STEVE'S FATHER                                       ROCKY / AMBER

              ("KOREAN" WAR / HANDS IN POCKETS)                                             (ARLINGTON, TEXAS)

       

           One of Mr. Steve's dad's disappointments is that Mr. Steve does not share his talent for, or interest in; "Business."  My boss, like his mom; would rather do things which "don't make a lot of money" he says.  Rocky Jr. and Miss Amber in Texas seem to be "good in business."               

         Mr. Steve's father believes that, in a "Capitalist" society which often worships money; the making of money is often "All Important" or "Paramount."  In the late 1960's and early 1970's he had that school for stockbrokers.  Boy!  I really want to learn more about business too.            

           When his father bought those two houses in Porter Ranch he was taking a "Big Gamble" so to speak.  But he's never been afraid to "Take Chances" as they say, his gambles "Calculated Risks" where the "Odds" are pretty good "In his Favor."  He doesn't really like to gamble.

  

BENJAMIN

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE SMITH

 

                Oh!  I just glanced up from doing my work in time to see Benjamin the Cow Bird use the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to run out into the eastern desert behind the three Sheds. And now, he it just lifted off; and is flying away.  Boy!  Cow Birds are fast runners.

              Mr. Steve and his friends made money too on those two houses his father moved from Porter Ranch to Mission Hills.   His dad insisted the "Contractor" who "Set" those two houses "Down" use them as his workers.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt.

              They couldn't do all of the work but, as long as they did a good job doing things like painting; the Contractor was willing to pay my boss and his friends ten dollars for each hour!  I guess that was a lot of money in the 1970's.  Wow!  Only eight hours for eighty dollars!

            

    "SILVER LAKE"  (RESERVOIR)     

         

                  The next thing on my outline to write about is that one city near Dodger Stadium called "Silver Lake."  Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve talking with his father about it one time.  It's a town built around a water "Reservoir."  Smelling the baby Cholla makes me feel so good.

            Daisy heard Mr. Steve's parents knew a family who lived in Silver Lake for a short time.  So, his father read about a German Jewish man named Herman Silver; for whom that area was named.  He came to America from "Hamburg" and Mr. Steve's dad admired him I guess.

           My Encyclopedia says that guy Herman Silver came to America in the 1840's, and ended up living in the State of "Illinois."  That's where he met his wife when he chased down this letter  that had been blown out of her hand by the wind.   Two of the Pigeons are now flying bye.     

            

HERMAN SILVER (1831-1913)         

                 

              Daisy heard Mr. Steve's father say Herman Silver was six feet tall, which is also how tall Mr. Steve is too.  Because he'd been sick so much as a kid he stayed at home and read books.  He eventually became a Lawyer and was also a Rabbi I guess, according to what Dais heard.

           From what it says here, Herman Silver helped "raise troops" to fight the Confederacy in the American Civil War.  In the early 1850's he "supported" that other guy John C. Fremont for President, and in 1860 was a "Republican" like Abraham Lincoln.  I smell Libby over there.

           Herman Silver's family moved to Southern California in the 1880's, both "for his health" and a job with the "Santa Fe" Railroad Company.  In the 1870's they'd lived in "Denver," as he worked for the "U.S. Mint" and ran a Newspaper.  That's when he became a Rabbi too.

                                   

DENVER ("COLORADO")      

                 

                In 1958 Mr. Steve, his brother Rock and their parents lived in Denver.  The only memory my boss has of it is being bundled up sitting in the back seat of a idling warming up Car.   His mom was scraping ice off of the windshield as his dad shoveled snow from behind the Car. 

           This Encyclopedia says once here in Los Angeles Herman Silver helped build a railroad from downtown, to what is now East L.A.'s "Boyle Heights;" near Dodger Stadium.  Grandpa Trujillo worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for over four decades.  A Train whistled faintly.

           Wow!  Herman Silver was "President" of the L.A. "City Council," and barely lost in his run for "Mayor" one time.  He "campaigned against vice, liquor and municipal ownership of the water system."   In 1902 he was "appointed" to the "Board of Water Commissioners."   

                             

  (NOVEMBER, 1913)     CALIFORNIA  AQUEDUCT            (SYLMAR)                       

               

           A Train whistle to my left, or the north; makes me think about that water Aqueduct which goes by our house about three miles away.  That man William Mulholland, who knew Herman    Silver; built it in 1913.  The late afternoon shadows are leaning away from me pointing east.       

          I mentioned earlier how in November of 1913, the year before World War I broke out over there in Europe; William Mulholland finished that Aqueduct he had built.  The ceremony to first "Open the Floodgates" and let in the water to Los Angeles was in Sylmar.  Heathcliff crowed.      

         That water "Reservoir" in Silver Lake was built in 1906, seven years before the Aqueduct to L.A. was completed.  I guess, Herman Silver died in 1913, his wife soon after Daisy heard.  Mr. Steve says that some older people "will themselves to die" when their "life partner" is gone.                         

"BIRTH OF A NATION"                                    D.W. GRIFFITH (1875-1948)  

          

           In 1910, or four years after that Reservoir was built; movie studios set up in Silver Lake.  "Director" D.W. Griffith, who I'll learn about tomorrow when I write about his movie on the      "Ku Klux Klan;" was one of them.   A little Wren with a twig in its mouth just ran bye.                 

           Daisy says at first movies had no sound, like the ones made around Silver Lake.  She saw a tv show about "Silent" films.  The "Keystone Kops" were filmed there, and a "Cowboy Actor"    named Tom Mix did too.   Heathcliff crowed over there, and some of his Hens are cackling.          

        On the day after tomorrow in book three I'm scheduled to find out about Cowboy Actors, one being William S. Hart.  Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet, and also his mom; visited this Museum  in "Newhall" which used to be his house and ranch.   I just thought of that guy Roy Rogers.                                             ANDY GRIFFTH SHOW                               "FRANKLIN" CANYON LAKE

                       

        Daisy heard one time Mr. Steve's mom took her Girl Scout Troop on a "Field Trip" to this place with a Lake in Los Angeles called "Franklin Canyon Park."  It's where the opening scene  from the "Andy Griffith Show" was filmed.  The ROLLING STONES took pictures there.          

        I mentioned this morning how my boss's mom's friend Mrs. Lindsey was also a Girl Scout Leader too.  Her husband played "Goober" on the Andy Griffith Show.  Someday I want to see    that show because Daisy and Millie thought it was funny alright.  Andy's looking at me.               

       Mr. Steve heard from the 1930's into the 1950's Silver Lake was an "Architectural Center" where some famous houses were built.  His sister Susan, who studied "Interior Design" back in    College; also read about that subject too.  Libby whinnied, and now I smell her over here.                                            

                                                        LOS ANGELES DODGERS

                                             (FOUR PLAYERS WITH 30 HOME RUNS / 1977 SEASON)

                       

             I'm still thinking of Baseball, and how from 1977 through 1989 my boss's father bought season tickets for the Dodgers.  They had good teams, with a lot of the same Players during those years; one time having four guys hitting over thirty home runs.  A Trains whistled faintly.       

            The name "Dodgers" comes from people in Brooklyn dodging "Trolley Cars."   In 1958, when they moved out here to California; they just kept that name.  The Basketball "Lakers" did the same exact thing, as they were originally from "Minnesota," or  the "Land of Lakes."

            Mr. Steve was only three years old in 1958, his brother Rock one.  As I've said a few times before, their parents moved from New Mexico to California "for good" in 1960; and that's when they bought the first house down there in Sylmar.  A Motorcycle went bye out in the desert. 

               

                                      JACKIE ROBINSON / BRANCH RICKEY  (1949)                                   

                                                                                                                      

            In 1949 the Brooklyn Dodgers were the first professional Baseball team to have a black Player, that guy Jackie Robinson.  That was only four years after World War II, and one of their owners was a man named Branch Rickey.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.

            A picture in this Encyclopedia shows Jackie Robinson with Branch Rickey signing that very first contract.  It says in 1949 Branch Rickey was the Dodger's "General Manager," or just "G.M." for short.  Boy!  The late afternoon skyline to the east is so beautiful right now.

           1949, the year the Dodger's hired Jackie Robinson; was one year before the Korean War began and the year after Israel became a nation.  It was also around the time that Mao Zedong and his Communists won the long civil war and took over control of China.  I smell Sage.

   

                                                         BRANCH RICKEY (1881-1965)

         

            According to what it says here in this one Encyclopedia, I guess that guy Branch Rickey played in the "Major Leagues." He was on the St. Louis "Browns" in 1914, the same year the First World War broke out in Europe.  I'll learn about the St. Louis Browns in my books.

           The caption below the photo of Branch Rickey says when young he also played Football.  I notice how, in 1914; there were no logos or letters on the front of the hats the way they do now.  Daisy says our boss told someone how, as a kid; he drew the St. Louis Browns' different logos.

                Mr. Rick read Branch Rickey as a Baseball "Executive;" was the one who thought of the idea of "professional" teams "developing" players in a "Minor League" or "Farm" system.   In "Adelanto," a town near us; there's a "Triple A" team.  They have a beautiful little stadium.   

                                                               BATTING HELMET 

PHOTO BY CHARLES CONLON

  

              This is interesting.  I guess, even though some "Batting" helmets had been tried before; it wasn't until 1953 when they became "common."  And it was Branch Rickey, then the G.M. for Mr. Rick's favorite team the Pittsburgh "Pirates; who was the person who had that idea.  

               A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a member of the Pirates' wearing an early helmet.  It  looks like the black and white photo was "Painted," the way my boss used to do; but it's sort of hard to tell.  all four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and she looking at them. 

              I notice how the word "innovator" is used to describe that man Branch Rickey.  He fought in the First World War I guess.  Mr. Steve's father once met a man who said Branch Rickey was his son's Basketball Coach.  As a Coach he was "firm but fair" like Grandma Córdova was. 

    

                                      MOHANDAS "MAHÁTMÁ" GANDHI (1869-1948)

PHOTO BY MARGARET BOURKE-WHITE

    

                  Hey God!  It says here Branch Rickey was jokingly called "Mahátmá," because of how "religious" he was.  Over the next three days I'll learn about one Indian guy Mahátmá Gandhi.  Boy!  I'm so, so tempted to do it right now but; I'd better just wait and be more disciplined.

              I can say now how the caption below the picture of Mahatma Gandhi says Mahátmá, in the "Sanskrit" language; means "Great Soul." Dais says our boss's parents really liked a movie about "Gandhi" and someday I hope to see it.  A flock of Birds is moving to the northeast.

             Speedy the Squirrel just zoomed out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  He did it by running through the right vertical slot or opening on the side of the gate, so now only dust is floating in the air.  Andy was keeping a close eye on him as he went running by the burrow.  

          

  JACKIE ROBINSON (1919-1972)

             

              From what I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy that one morning when they were up there in the garage, Jackie Robinson was a really good "Base Runner" in Baseball.  A good photo shows him "Sliding" into a "Base."  Mr. Randy said that sliding is "a lot harder than it looks."

              Jackie Robinson must've been a fast runner just like me.  If I played Baseball I'd run fast from base to base but I'm not sure how easy it would be for a Dog to learn to slide with four legs.  Oh! It could be that, maybe; we could start our own Baseball league and make money?

             My boss told Mr. Randy Jackie Robinson did really good for the then Brooklyn Dodgers.  They were even "World Champions" in 1955, the year Mr. Steve was born; when they beat the New York Yankees in the "World Series."  But, the team moved to Los Angeles anyway.

                                                       JACKIE ROBINSON (U.C.L.A.)

   

            According to what it says in this one Encyclopedia, Jackie Robinson was an "all-around athlete" in College at U.C.L.A.   Wow!  I guess he played in four different sports; so that means he must've been really good at sports alright.  Not too many could do that Daisy's heard.

            I notice how, in the photo of Jackie Robinson playing Football at U.C.L.A.; the Players were wearing helmets with no protection for their faces.  Goliath just just crawled out into the back desert and Andy's giving him a mean stare as he watches him.  A Train whistled faintly. 

           You can see how Andy is a good guard for he and Helen's new Spring babies.  He's still staring at Goliath disappearing into the desert, and even let out one of those barks Squirrels at times do.  It doesn't seem like Cher or Goliath know yet that Andy and Helen have babies.  

        

                             DICK BUTKUS                                                BARRY SANDERS

             I liked when Mr. Steve gave me that nickname "Juke," after seeing me easily get away from Dais when she tries to "Herd" or "Corner" me.  He told his brother Sam on the phone I remind him of that "Running Back" named Barry Sanders.  He was "hard to catch" too.

             As I said before, Mr. Steve jokes if Daisy were a Football player; she'd be like that guy Dick Butkus.  Even though she's old, Dais still has plenty of power in her shoulders; which and I feel when we wrestle.  I think Daisy would look pretty good wearing a Football helmet.   

            Mr. Steve knows Daisy's powerful because of that time she accidentally "Bowled" him over when she came around the corner but couldn't stop in time.  He told Miss Susan how it was kind of "like being hit by a small train."  I can now smell the scent Goliath left behind.

       

2014 NISSAN "JUKE"      

       

                  One time Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking with one of his "Nissan" customers about a Car called "Juke," so he told him about me.  Oh!  My English Dictionary says "juke" means "a type of dance, or the ability to change direction in a very short time."  Yup!  That's me alright!

                I guess those Jukes have only been out for four years, since 2010.  From what the Parts Manager told my boss they have one hundred and eighty eight "Horse Power."  I  guess, even though they're considered one of those "S.U.V.'s; Jukes are kind of small in size Dais heard.

                 Daisy's told me about Mr. Steve's Stereo equipment he plays music on, but one time she and Millie saw a tv show about an even more astounding machine called a "Juke Box."  It will automatically play the music.  Mr. Steve's parents used them when they were growing up.  

                

                         JUDAS PRIEST                                                            ROXY MUSIC

     

             This morning I wrote about how that kid Jason who plays guitar asked Mr. Steve which songs could represent Dais and I.  He picked "You've Got Another Thing Coming" by JUDAS PRIEST for Daisy and ROXY MUSIC'S "Virginia Plain" for me.  Both bands are English.  

             Right now all of a sudden I'm thinking of Dais running and hearing that one song You've Got Another Thing Coming.   Mr. Randy jokes when Daisy "goes into her trot she moves like a little tractor or a German Panzer Tank."  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the east.

             Oh!  I'm now hearing the flittering oboe that guy from ROXY MUSIC plays on Virginia Plain.  An oboe almost sounds as good as flute but, the more I think about Virginia Plain; the more I'm beginning to also like oboe's too.  Dais told me ROXY MUSIC wears good clothes.     

                                                     

                                                                      MISS EMILY   

                              

                   Writing about Jackie Robinson makes me think of how Miss Emily works at U.C.L.A. in the Athletic Department.  Her job is to raise money for the College, and from what Dais heard our boss tell his mom, she's "really good at it."  Miss Emily grew up in New York City.  

             Mr. Steve went with Miss Emily to Pasadena for Football games at the "Rose Bowl" in Pasadena, which I guess is near where Jackie Robinson grew up.  Back in 1980's Mr. Steve took pictures for that guy Mr. Joe's "Crown City" Boxing club in Pasadena.  Heathcliff crowed.  

            Our boss  likes a quote by Branch Rickey, "Luck is the residue of design."  Daisy thinks that probably means you have to be "prepared so if a lucky break happens you'll be able to first recognize and then take full advantage of it."  Max the Hummingbird just zoomed bye.

MAGGIE / DAISY PLAYING

             Daisy thinks our "play fighting” is "good practice," just in case someone ever tries to invade our two acres and we have to be mean "For Real" as they say.  And we would be mean too because we both want to defend our boss.  Oh!  Dawn and Blinky are both barking.

             Mr. Steve jokes Daisy and I's "mock fighting" might be like an "unemployed" Musician who has to what they call "keep up his chops."  That means to practice on your instrument so if a paying job or "Gig"  does come up you're ready.  Blinky has such a good scent I think.

            One time my boss and Mr. Randy loaded our Truck Rex so they could go to the Dump.  And I remember how Mr. Steve said he heard a quote by a man named Louis Pasteur, "Luck favors the prepared mind."  A flock of Birds is flying toward the east way up in the sky.

                                                    

                                             LOUIS PASTEUR (1822-1895) WITH WIFE

           

             Mr. Steve's father has read about that French guy Louis Pasteur.  He thinks, just like himself; he's lucky he had "a good partner" who's opinions he trusted and respected.  Louis Pasteur is known for things he discovered in the 19th century having to do with medicine.

             I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy Louis Pasteur and his wife had five kids but only two of them survived.  Back in those days a lot of children died when young and many women, like in our family for example; "Died in Childbirth."  Andy's still watching the back gate.  

            Well, back to writing about the Baseball.  In the years Mr. Steve's father bought Dodger season tickets they were still "reasonably priced."  Now my boss says, it seems like the current Dodger owners are "greedy."  They "overcharge" for everything "from parking to food."

                 

                                           KIRK GIBSON / DENNIS ECKERSLEY

                                                               (1988 "WORLD SERIES")

                  

            One time Daisy and Millie were in Mr. Steve's office and heard him talking on the phone with Mr. Rick about Baseball.  He said his family were "lucky" in those twelve years they had  season tickets the Dodgers made it into four World Series.  Frida and Diego are flying bye. 

                 In the 1988 World Series the Dodgers played the Oakland "A's," my boss's favorite team.  I guess the A's were highly "Favored" but lost four games to one in one of the hugest "Upsets" in history Daisy heard.  I've mentioned a few times before how A's is just short for "Athletics."        

         Mr. Steve thinks, "going into" that 1988 World Series; the A's were "a better team" in all  "Categories."  But they lost, which goes to show there's more to team competition than how the    things "Look on Paper" so to speak.   Two Crows are fighting out there in the back desert.                     

RON CEY /  DAVY LOPES / BILL RUSSELL /STEVE GARVEY

           For most of those years of having Dodger season seats the same four guys played the "Infield," a rare thing.  "But now" Mr. Rick thinks, "because of big money;" that will "never      happen again."   Until the mid-1970's Baseball players were "not well paid" my boss says.           

             My boss and Mr. Rick talked about how, during those years; Dodger fans just "took it for granted that the same four guys were "on the infield."  But, "looking back on it" Mr. Steve    says; that was "astounding."  Nowadays most teams have a "Revolving Door" of Players.            

            In addition to seeing the same four players on an infield, my boss says his family were "fortunate" to experience the "phenomena" of "Fernandomania" in 1980.  That was when this    kid from Mexico named Fernando Valenzuela came in as a "Rookie" Pitcher.  I smell Sage.           

FERNANDO VALENZUELA

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

 

             Mr. Steve's mom liked Fernando Valenzuela, who did great in 1980.  Because he was a "thinking" or smart Pitcher some didn't believe he was so young, as some rookie Pitchers rely on pure "velocity" and "physical ability;" but not "Fernando" I guess.  Heathcliff crowed.     

             Daisy heard Mr. Rick use the word "cerebral" to describe the way Fernando pitched in 1980.  He was sort of like a good "Chess" player who tried not to get into predictable patterns, moving the ball around and changing speeds.  A little Lizard ran bye out there in the dirt. 

               That 1950' Musician from Pacoima Ritchie Valens real last name was Valenzuela, until his Managers shortened it.  He and his mom are buried near where Mr. Steve's parents have their "Crypts" at Mission Cemetery.  Another little Lizard is standing on the wall behind me.

                                                             

     WAYNE GRETZKY                                              TOM BRADY                    

              

             Mr. Steve thinks Fernando Valenzuela, like Wayne Gretzky or Tom Brady; aren't the best "Natural" Athletes but partly make up for it in  "Positioning" and "Timing."  And the way Daisy does, they work "smarter rather than harder."  That's what my boss thinks I guess.

            In the 1988 World Series the Dodgers beat the A's, and in the first game, which my boss's parents were at; a famous "Event" in Baseball history took place.  This guy named Kirk Gibson hit a "Dramatic" home run to beat the A's best Pitcher, a big surprise.  Dawn's barking.

            Daisy says in 1988, in the 9th and possibly last "Inning" of that first game; the A's had a one run lead with Dennis Eckersly "On the Mound."   As a "Relief Closer;" he'd been "almost unhittable" that season my boss told his brother Sam.  I smell Alpha Company around here.  

                                              DENNIS ECKERSLEY                                                          KIRK GIBSON                  

              

              Daisy heard, in 1988 all the A's needed was one more out in the 9th Inning to win that first game at Dodger Stadium.   But then Kirk Gibson, who was "Injured" so not expected to play; came "Off the Bench" to "Pinch Hit."  Hearing Dawn's voice makes me feel good.  

             I guess, Kirk Gibson "limped" on two bad knees towards the "Plate" to hit on the night in 1988.  My boss and Mr. Rick talked about how you could tell he was hurt Dais told me.  Now Blinky's also barking over there next door, which is giving me a really good feeling too.

             That Pitcher Dennis Eckersly got two "Strikes" on Kirk Gibson, but Kirk Gibson then kept on "Fouling Off" pitches to just "Stay Alive."  You could tell he was in pain by how he was  swinging his bat.  Two of the Pigeons flew in and landed up on the Patio roof above me.

                             

PIGEONS ON PATIO ROOF

      

                It's hard to tell which two Pigeons landed up there but I think it's Lucy and Ricky.  I'm still thinking of the 1988 World Series, and that first game when the A's were playing against the Dodgers.  With the Sun behind me, I see the moving shadows from the Pigeons out in the dirt.

            Mr. Steve's dad thinks, Kirk Gibson's "at bat" in fouling off all those good pitches; is a "metaphor" for life.  He kept "Putting Off" or delaying his "Bad" reality as long as he could, in hoping his "Luck" would change; which it did God!   Boy!  Hearing Pigeons cooing is nice.

           Daisy heard the Dodgers, like the A's; had "Scouted" their opponent so "Knew" that on certain "Pitch Counts" Dennis Eckersley always threw a "Back Door Slider" to the left-handed Hitters.  It meant his pitch would "Tail" or "Fade" away low and outside.  I smell some Sage.

   

DENNIS EKCERSLEY / KIRK GIBSON (1988 "WORLD SERIES")

         Mr. Rick read how Kirk Gibson thought of the pre-game "Scouting Report" on Dennis Eckersley.  He knew, or "guessed" what pitch was coming and sure enough; it turned out to be a  slider low and outside alright.  Kirk Gibson then hit a Home Run to win that first game.              

            At first Kirk Gibson's hit didn't seem like a home run but the ball just kept on going and going to right field.  When it flew over the fence everyone "Went Crazy" as they say, it was as if a miracle had happened and "in a way" my boss says; it "sort of did."  I love Pigeon voices.         

           Because there had been a Dodger runner on base Kirk Gibson's "Dramatic" Home Run won the game.  As he limped around the bases with fifty thousand people cheering it was obvious to everyone that both of his legs were hurting.  I can smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies.                                           

                                              1988 WORLD SERIES  (OCTOBER 1988)

                      Daisy says as Kirk Gibson "circled the bases" after hitting his now famous Home Run he was "pumping his fists" in the air.  Mr. Steve told his dad one time how Dennis Eckersley was "in total shock" at having given up that home run.  The Pigeons are flying away right now. 

                 Hey God!  Did You cause that guy Kirk Gibson to hit his home run.  Or, was it just like Branch Rickey and Louis Pasteur said about how luck is the "residue of design;" or it tends to "favor the prepared mind?"  That one big Dragonfly just whizzed bye going to the north.     

                On the night Kirk Gibson hit his famous home run at Dodger Stadium in 1988, I guess my boss and Miss Harriet were in "Reseda."  They had an assignment to see a band at a place called "Be Bop Records" for Music Connection Magazine.  Some of the Duck's are quacking.

        

 "BE BOP RECORDS"                                                     MISS HARRIET  

 

                Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Rich, in the 1980's Be Bop Records sold vinyl records and things like that; and at night bands played there.  According to what Mr. Steve told his mom, the  man who owned Be Bop Records was "a good artist."   He sold the "Posters" he created.   

           Most of the Musicians who played at Be Bop Records were not that well known.  In fact, Mr. Steve doesn't even remember the name of the band he took pictures of on that night in 1988.  But JANE'S ADDICTION, LOS LOBO'S and a guy named Henry Rollins performed there.

              Tomorrow in book two I'm scheduled to write about this Artist named Judy Chicago, who I guess now lives in "Belen."  A while back my boss was told that Be Bop Records owner's wife is a friend of Judy Chicago.  I'm tempted to write about Judy Chicago now but will just wait.

        

   1988 WORLD SERIES

   

                 In 1988 Mr. Steve, and almost everyone else too; were convinced the A's would beat the Dodger easily in the World Series.  But they didn't win, and Kirk Gibson's home run "Took the Wind Out of the A's Sails" as they say.  A Train whistled faintly over there to my left.

              Mr. Steve does not gamble, but in 1988 says he was "so overconfident" Oakland would win the World Series; he "stupidly accepted" a $100 bet when his friend Mr. Armando jokingly suggested it.  When Kirk Gibson hit that home run he began to regret it.  Heathcliff crowed.

            "Very seldom" Mr. Steve thinks, is one team "far better in every category" than their opponent.  In 1988 the A's won 104 games and lost only 58, the Dodgers barely made it into the "Playoffs."  Hey God!  Did You make the Dodgers what's called a "Team of Destiny in 1988?"    

   

                                          JOSE CANSECO, DON BAYLOR, MARK MAGUIRE, DAVE PARKER

PHOTO BY RON RIESTERER

                   My boss and his brother Sam talked on the phone about how the 1988 A's were such a good "Hitting" team.  They had four really "Powerful" hitters and a good "Pitching Staff" who could go along with them.  Andy's over there sniffing the air and looking in this direction. 

                  That game where Kirk Gibson hit out his home run started in the late afternoon so my boss and Mr. Armando watched the first few innings on tv at Mr. Steve's house on Hagar Street down there in Sylmar.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew out into the eastern desert.

               One reason why Mr. Steve was willing to take Mr. Armando's bet was because early, in that 1988 World Series game; an A's Player named Jose Canseco had hit a "Grand Slam" Home Run.   So, on his way to go pick up Harriet he was confident.  I can hear Dawn barking.  

          

      "MOTOCROSS" MOTORCYCLE RIDER

       

               Someone on a Motorcycle just went bye out there on Primavera Road and now I barely see the dust he or she "Stirred" up.  Boy!  It's late in the day and I'm getting hungry now.  I'm going to have to hurry because I can tell I don't have that much sunlight left for today.   

              On the night of Kirk Gibson's Home Run, before the band he and Harriet were there to see at Be Bop Records' played, Mr. Steve watched the game on a tiny black and white tv this one guy had brought that night.  It was not at all like watching a regular-sized color tv I guess.

              Dennis Eckersley is in the "Hall of Fame," and in 1988 when he was brought in to pitch in that 9th inning Mr. Steve thought the game was "Over."  As the "Closer," he'd been really  "Dominant" in that season; having "Saved" 45 games.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.   

              

                                                              DENNIS ECKERSLEY (CLEVELAND "INDIANS")

         

                   Before he played for the a's Dennis Eckersley, who grew up in Northern California; was a really good "Starting" Pitcher for other teams like the Cleveland "Indians."  I mentioned how, as a kid; Mr. Steve's father's favorite team was the Indians.  I can smell new Spring Sage.

               In Be Bop Records Mr. Steve watched on that tiny tv as Kirk Gibson kept fouling off Dennis Eckersley's pitches.  And when Kirk Gibson hit, what turned out to be a Home Run; he was kind of "Relieved" because it looked like a "Routine" fly ball out.  But it sure wasn't.

               Knowing in advance what the Scouting Report had said, when Kirk Gibson swung at Dennis Eckersley's pitch; he only used the "Top half" of his body because his legs really hurt.  It didn't look like, especially on that little tv; he hit the ball hard.   But it "Kept on Going."  

DENNIS ECKERSLEY (OAKLAND "ATHLETICS")

     

                   Mr. Rick used the phrase "shut down" in describing Dennis Eckersley in 1988, but in that World Series game he lost.  In the locker room afterward he was not one of those "Sore Losers," admitting he failed "doing my best" and gave Kirk Gibson credit.  I smell Sage. 

            On that night, as he watched Kirk Gibson running around the bases; at first Mr. Steve says he "was not sure he had seen what he thought he saw" on that little tv.  A "sinking feeling" came over him, and he had this "bad feeling in the pit of my stomach."  Heathcliff crowed.     

               Even though Kirk Gibson's Home Run ended only the first game of the 1988 World Series, I guess my boss took it as a "Bad Omen."  Kirk Gibson didn't even play for the rest of the World Series yet the Dodgers still won.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying toward the east.

                 

                            MR. ARMANDO (1994 / ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA)

   

            After Kirk Gibson hit his Home Run Mr. Steve took pictures of the band he and Harriet had been sent to "Review" at Be Bop Records.  He says, "in a daze;" he "felt like a zombie going through the motion" of doing his job.  Theodora just went running bye in front of the Sheds. 

            When the Dodgers won the World Series, because he's a "nice person;" Mr. Armando did not "hold him" to the bet my boss says.  He told his brother Rock he was "let off the hook" for being so dumb.   Two Motorcycles just went zooming bye out there on Primavera Road.   

            Mr. Steve and dad, because they were in the "Gaming" industry; don't gamble and tell people it's dumb to buy "Lottery" tickets.  Even though he won his bet in the 2012 Super Bowl,  my boss considers "Sports Betting" to be "almost a legal scam."  I smell Alpha Company.  

                       

       AC/DC            

                          

             On that night Kirk Gibson hit his home run Mr. Steve says he was "stunned and wasn't sure if his eyes were deceiving him."  As at other points in his life, like 1999 for example; he was "Thunderstruck" like that one AC/DC song.  A little Sparrow carrying a long twig ran bye.

              As Kirk Gibson limped around the bases after his home run, my boss says he "knew in his heart of hearts" the A's were going to lose that series.  They beat the Dodgers in the 1975 World Series but their loss in 1988 "almost seemed pre-ordained."  Libby just whinnied.  

             In "looking back on it," Mr. Steve thinks he "should've paid" Armando on that bet, because he was "such an idiot."  But, it just "goes to show" he says now; at times "emotion overcomes logic" when making some decisions.  Benjamin the Cow Bird just flew bye. 

              

                                                                                                            AUSTRALIA 

          

                  All of a sudden, mentioning that band AC/DC; I just thought about the "Continent" of Australia where they're from.  I mentioned before how Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter visited the "Galapagos" Islands and Australia before he died.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye.

            Because Mark Ritter was interested in "Geology" and "Reptiles," going o the Galapagos Islands and Australia was his "Heaven on Earth" Mr. Steve said.  Daisy says he and Mr. Doug often remember Mark Ritter and his unique "Sense of Humor."  Heathcliff just crowed.

            In Australia Mark Ritter took pictures in the same "Slide" format my boss used in 1985 in Italy and Israel.  Daisy says our boss and Mr. Doug have "Prints" made from those slides.  In Australia Mark Ritter saw "Uluru" mountain, which he compared to New Mexico's mesas.     

            

                            HUMAN MIGRATION PATTERNS        AUSTRALIA            "ULURU" MOUNTAIN

         

                "People" began in Africa about 100,000 years ago, then over 80,000 years "Migrated" all around the whole world.  A good map in this one Encyclopedia shows the directions they went to eventually end up everywhere.  They made it to Australia about 40,000 years ago I notice.

                A picture shows what the caption says is an "Aboriginal" man holding two spears, and in the background is that big Uluru mountain.  The British got to Australia in the 18th century and call Uluru "Ayers Rock."  Mark Ritter once told Mr. Steve it's made out of "Sandstone."  

                My Greek Dictionary says the name aboriginal is a combination of the two words meaning "most" and "new."  For years Mr. Steve's father prepared taxes for an Australian family who of knew a lot about the aboriginal people who have lived there for centuries.  Dawn's barking. 

               

                                                                                                         "BOOMERANG"

             

                    A diagram shows how a thing called a "Boomerang" works, which Dais says you throw  at something and, if you miss; it circles around and comes back to you.  Mr. Steve had one but gave it to this kid for his birthday.   Mr. Dave in New Mexico knows about Boomerangs.

            The Aboriginal man in a photo shows him about the throw a spear with a Boomerang in his other hand.  Daisy saw a tv show that said some think the Aboriginal people are "primitive" but had to be smart to figure out how Boomerangs work she says.  I like their face paint.

            I guess, according to this one Encyclopedia; the time when all those different "Ice" Ages were happening is called the "Pleistocene" era.  As I've said a few times already, after the last one in about 10,000 B.C.; people came to North and South America.  I smell Mesquite.

    

2014 SUBARU "OUTBACK"

       

                 Dais says before the economic recession our boss had a few "Subaru" customers but now has only three left.  Subaru has a Car called the "Outback," which is what they call the big huge desert area in the center; or middle of Australia.  Boy!  The late afternoon air is so clear. 

               Mr. Steve had to draw the Subaru logo a while back Daisy heard, and she thinks I'd like its royal blue color.  Dawn's barking, and I'm smelling Theodora's Creosote bush; just like that late afternoon last Summer.  Oh my God!  And now a flock of Birds is flying toward the east too.

          A Subaru Parts Manager told our boss what it also says here in this Encyclopedia.  Subaru is a Japanese company that began in 1953, the year Mr. Steve's father was "Discharged" from the Marines; and then got married.  The Outback Car has been built since 1994 I guess. 

   

      "PLEIADES" STAR CLUSTER            "SEVEN SISTERS"                      ORION / PLEIADES

                  It says here in Japanese "Mutsurabosi" means "Six Stars," which refers to the Subaru emblem with the six Stars from the "Pleiades" Star Cluster in it.  It's interesting how the name Pleiades is Greek and "may refer to a story about seven sisters."   A little Lizard ran bye.

             Oh!  Because now only six of the seven Stars of the Pleiades Star Cluster are visible, the Subaru logo has only six Stars in it.  I guess in Greek "plein" means "to sail," so that Star group might have something to do with going around the Mediterranean Sea.   I smell Penstemon.  

                    Just like the Orion Constellation, you can only only see the Pleiades Stars in Winter up here in the "Northern Hemisphere."  My boss says the Pleiades Stars are the most "easily visible to the naked eye."  I see my rubber ball collection, to my left; at the far end of the Patio.   

               

                                                                                          "BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD"

                 ARTWORK BY MIKE JUDGE        

     

               Writing about Australia where AC/DC are from makes me think about that cartoon Dais told me about.  I'd really like see it someday because it's about these two teenagers who are lazy and sometimes do bad things.  And they really like Heavy Metal music according to Daisy.

                Daisy says that kid "Beavis" always wears a T-shirt with METALLICA'S name on it, and his friend "Butthead" has an AC/DC shirt.  When they think something is funny they laugh in a very unusual way I guess.  A small Garter Snake just crawled out into the eastern desert.

           I guess most of the time those guys Beavis and Butthead just lay around watching tv, and when they hear Hard Rock music they do that "Head Bang" type dancing and even make the "Malocchio" hand gesture  too.  AC/DC'S Guitarist head bangs while playing his guitar.

  

                                                                             AC/DC   

               According to Daisy, Mr. Steve thought it was kind of funny when Beavis and Butthead go break things after listening to AC/DC'S "high energy" songs.  Dais said Mr. Dave was laughing when he said one time how AC/DC gets you "pumped up."  Samson and Delilah flew bye.  

          Daisy says Beavis and Butthead are not very smart, so that's why girls aren't attracted to them she thinks.  That other Dog Millie noticed how, if they like something they say, "Cool."   I was supposed to write about Beavis and Butthead tomorrow but it's okay to do it now too.

          One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with a Parts Manager in Florida, who was originally from the South American country of "Ecuador."  Ecuador's name is because it's located near the actual "Equator I guess.  Boy!  I'll bet it gets hot in that country. 

              

                                                                                                         MIKE JUDGE   

   

                   I guess that Parts Manager told Mr. Steve about Mike Judge, who drew those two guys Beavis and Butthead.  Mike Judge was born in Ecuador too but his family moved up here so he grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   Mr. Randy likes watching Beavis and Butthead.   

                  Daisy heard our boss's customer say Mike Judge now lives in Texas.  Somehow it came up that Mike Judge was born on October 17th like his brother Rock, and in 1962 like his brother Sam.  Boy!  Smelling the fresh air and seeing Andy over there is making me feel so good.

            Mike Judge seems smart Dais thinks, because he not only drew Beavis and Butthead, he did their voices and a lot of other things having to do with the "Production" of cartoons.  I guess the Parts Manager said Mike Judge and his wife have two pretty daughters.  I smell Sage.  

                    

"JAI-ALAI"

    

        One time Mr. Steve told his brother Sam that Ecuadoran customer in Florida liked this indoor sport called "Jai-Alai."  It's a game where the Players catch, and throw a ball against a    big wall; using a basket hooked onto their right hand.  Daisy says Players wear a helmet.              

           My boss talked with Parts Manager in Florida about 1988, when Kirk Gibson hit his home run.  Mr. Steve says he sort of "Jai-Alai'ed" or "flung" it out of Dodger Stadium.  Knowing what pitch Dennis Eckersley was going to throw, he "didn't need to hit it hard."  Libby neighed.           

          Daisy heard Mr. Steve used to play a game called "Hand Ball."  He says he was never very good at it and usually lost because of his "inability to visualize" where the ball would land on the ground after his opponent bounced it off the wall.  Hand Ball and Jai-Alai are similar Dais says.             

    "HAND" BALL     

              

          Daisy says on the phone one time Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph the best Hand Ball Players he ever competed against were "overweight."  But, they "knew where to position themselves" on      the court so "didn't have to use a lot of energy running around."  A little Lizard ran bye.              

      My boss says, when he played Hand Ball against his friend Alex; he'd "run around just "reacting" to Alex's "ball placement" off the wall.  But Alex seemed to know where his ball was  going to "rebound" to "on the way" to the wall.  So, he just "stepped into a general zone."           

         I guess the Parts Manager in Florida said Jai-Alai "originated" in the "Basque" border region "between" Spain and France.  It's where the "Pyraneese" mountains are located, and in    the 18th century that guy Father Lasuen was from.  I'll learn more about Basque's history.           

               

SPAIN (VARIOUS "REGIONS") 

    

           I like when maps have little flags that show you the different areas, and I notice how the red, white and green Basque flag is near the top of this map.  The flag of "Andalucia," where the city of Córdoba is located; is green and white.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just flew bye.            

          Dais heard Basque's, and these other "Catalan" people too; want "Independence" from Spain as their cultures and languages "are not Spanish."  On the map Catalan is "Cataluña."  Daisy told me Mr. Steve's parents like when Rick Steve's visits Spain on his travel tv show.           

         Writing about Jai Alai makes me think of this old tool used by Native people's called an "Atlatle."  Mr. Dave has talked about Atlatle's, used for helping a person throw spears with a lot more power.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying over Libby's Corral.                

                     

     "ATLATLE"        

                   

           Daisy told me a person can throw a spear hard but, with one of those Atlatle's to propel the spear like a Jai Alai basket; you can gain power to more easily kill an Animal being hunted    or an enemy in war.   Ugh!  It would hurt so much to be hit with a spear or even a arrow.              

           Dais told me our boss used to get those "Bales" of hay like Libby eats, then stand it up to use for practicing stabbing with a spear or sword.  I guess sometimes he put a round "Target"      made of "Cardboard" on the bale, to shoot or throw things at.  A Train whistled faintly.                

           I just thought of how sometimes Dais likes to wrestle, but at other times she isn't "In the Mood" so gives me her low "Leave me Alone" growl.  When that happens I usually just come back here to lay down on you Elvira, which always makes me feel good.  Heathcliff crowed.                             

MAGGIE / DAISY CÓRDOVA

               

         When Dais wants to be alone she rests in the garage on her Barney the Dinosaur blanket Mr. Chris got for her.  On really hot days we rest in the trench we dug out along the north side of the house, to take advantage of any cool breezes funneling in from the desert.  I smell Sage.          

             I'm looking to my left at my collection of things to chew on.  For some reason chewing on things just feels good on my teeth, but Daisy doesn't chew unless she has to; because it hurts her sixteen year old teeth.  So, she saves chewing only things that are worthwhile; like food.  

            At times I get sort of "Carried Away" in gnawing, tearing and shredding things so, my boss takes them to the Dump in our Truck Rex.  I hate when that happens.  I can't wait for these three days to be over so I can chew on that new green rubber ball I'm saving as a reward.

    

DAISY / MAGGIE

 

            Daisy and I have strong jaws!  I still have sharp teeth but hers are duller, but she still has power in her bite; and Mr. Steve calls her "Vise Grip" or "Clamp"  and jokes how she might be "part Pitbull."   Cher, with Andy watching her; ran bye holding a dead Mouse in her mouth.  

            Hey Elvira!  It's hard to believe when my boss first tried to put me on you I jumped off  "like a scalded Cat" he said.  He was starting to get upset with me for being so afraid but, back then; I had no idea what something like a couch was.  But now you're my favorite place to be.

           Mr. Steve admits at times he's been what his father calls "Hard-Headed," and the "Truth be Told" as they say; I have a "tendency" to be "Stubborn" too.  But once Dais showed me how nice it is to lay on you Elvira; I changed my mind.  That Dragonfly just zoomed bye right now.

  

          DRAGONFLY       

                         

                   Boy!  I'll never forget how good it felt when Mr. Steve opened up the sliding glass door to my right and saw me and Dais sitting on you Elvira.  He was so happy and came out here to hug and pet me, saying over and over, "Good girl!  Good Maggie!" I know what "Stay" means.

             I can't wait to see how my boss reacts when he realizes I wrote these books.  It's kind of  embarrassing to admit but, I was just as scared of those amazing "Hoses" when my boss tried to cool me down with water.  That was last Summer on one of those really "Scorching" hot days.

            How could anyone have ever thought of making such an amazing thing like a hose, or be able to control water.  Daisy's told me about those "faucets" in our house, and now I don't even get scared anymore when water gets onto my face!  Max the Hummingbird just zoomed bye.

                

                                                          "CALIFORNIA" AQUEDUCT

                   

            I just thought of the Aqueduct near us, which takes water down to Los Angeles.  Because my boss says it's good to "try new things, even if you're afraid;" I'm thinking about learning to swim but that's not for sure yet!  It would be embarrassing to sink but my boss would save me.    

           Mr. Randy that time used the phrase "comfort zone," which for me Elvira is back here on you.  Someday I won't be afraid to go all of the way down the hallway for fear of being where all four "Cardinal" directions are blocked off as my escape routes.   Andy's looking at me.

            I remember that morning when my boss watering the Mulberry tree up there in the front yard.  They talked about the ditches called "Acequias" back there in New Mexico.  Mr. Steve's mom said sometimes she's had "nice dreams" where she remembers growing up in Belén.

  

                                                                 "ACEQUIAS" DITCHES (NEW MEXICO)

               My boss told his mom he's also had dreams about ditches near Grandpa and Grandma Trujillo's house.  I guess the water for those ditches, which Grandpa Trujillo used for his garden; comes from that "Rio Grande" River.  "Acequia comes from the Arabic word for ditch.

            I'll mainly learn about New Mexico's ditches tomorrow, and how even before the Spanish came in the 17th century; Native people "Diverted" Rio Grande River water.  Grandpa Trujillo had a vegetable garden.  He and Uncle James were "expected to maintain" their Acequias.

           Hey Blessed Mother!  Belen's Acequia ditches, the biggest system in the whole State; was named after You.  It covers over twenty miles and goes from Belén in the south all the way up to this place called "Isleta" in the north.  Mr. Steve and his brother Rock have visited Isleta. 

                                           

ROADRUNNER WITH LIZARD

             Oh!  Rudy's over there with a wiggling Lizard, and may wonder why I haven't chased him today.  I'm a fast runner who doesn't tire like Daisy does.  Mr. Steve jokes how I might be a "part Kenyan," because I can run for a long time; even though I much prefer "Sprinting."  

           The African country of "Kenya" produces long distance "Marathon" runners.  My boss's brothers ran in an "Annual" race called the "Los Angeles Marathon" and Mr. Steve and Harriet drove them back afterward.  Rudy just body-slammed the poor Lizard so now will eat it.

           In my books I'll learn and write a lot about the "Continent" of Africa.  Daisy told me, our boss has known a few guys named "Dave" in his life; not just Mr. Dave in New Mexico.  One is a "Photographer" who lived in Kenya for a few years and sent Mr. Steve some pictures.

                                     

                                                           MR. DAVE                                         KENYAN  CHILDREN

                                                                                                                                                     PHOTO BY DAVE BLUMENKRANTZ

     

               Daisy heard our boss and his brother Rock talking on the phone one time and they were remembering how they met Mr. Dave and Mr. Armando.  I guess, while in College; Mr. Steve's brother worked with them at a Griffith Park "Summer Camp."  Daffy's quacking over there. 

               Mr. Steve's brother Rock, like Mr. Steve, his sister Susan and mother; all went to College at C.S.U.N.  And so did Mr. Dave and Mr. Armando too according to what Daisy overheard our boss say on the phone one time.  Mr. Steve's Nephew Mathew is now going to C.S.U.N. too.   

          I'm supposed to write about the history of "Marathon" tomorrow but feel like mentioning it now too.  According to what it says in this Encyclopedia, in 490 B.C.; the Persians "invaded" Greece.  And the Greek armies "met them" at a "Harbor" area  called Marathon.

   

BATTLE OF "MARATHON" (490 B.C.)

PAINTING BY PETER CONNOLLY

  

            After the Greeks beat the Persians at Marathon a Runner named "Pheidipides" ran about twenty four miles to the "City-State" of "Athens to "Announce" the "Victory."  But, too bad; he then died.  My boss thinks it might've been a "heart attack" or "total exhaustion." 

           Two thousand years later, in 1896, "influential" people decided to "resurrect" the ancient Greek Olympic Games.  The "organizers" of the first "Modern" Olympics liked the idea of a "Long-Distance" foot race, so called it a "Marathon."   Two of the Pigeons are flying bye. 

           In 1896 they put the distance of that Marathon race at about twenty six miles, because that was the "approximate" distance the messenger Pheidippides ran back in 490 B.C.  I can run for a long time too but I'm not sure if I could go that far.  But, I would do it for my boss.

                  

        "PHEIDIPPIDES RUN" BACK TO ATHENS  (490 B.C.)

 

              A picture in my Encyclopedia shows that guy Pheidippides running back to Athens to "announce" the win over the Persians.  Before he died he said, "Nikomen;" or "We Win!"  A shoe company called "Nike" is named after the Greek Goddess of "Victory" Daisy heard.

              Dais says Mr. Steve has a bronze miniature Greek Helmet.  Wow!  I guess, even before the Battle of Marathon; Pheidippides ran about one hundred and fifty miles in two days.  He ran all the way from Athens to "Sparta" to ask if they would help fight the invading Persians.

             Over the next three days I'll learn about the ancient and modern Olympic Games and so of course will find out about foot racing.  Littlerock, where my boss's brother Sam lives with his family; is about twenty seven miles from Piñon Hills.   It would be really hard to run there.  

                                                

                                                              HERODOTUS (484-425 B.C.)

    

             Mr. Steve's father read the Historian Herodotus "may not have mentioned" that guy Pheidippides in writing about the Battle of Marathon.  But even so Dais thinks, what he did was still totally amazing and courageous  A cool breeze just came in from the back desert. 

             I have to keep working hard because it's starting to get darker.  Over the next three days I know Dais has me scheduled to learn about some of the different things about those ancient Greek "City-States."  So that means I'll be talking about that smart lady Edith Hamilton too.

             Hey Barry, Robin and Maurice!  Thank you guys for being such good blankets ever since my boss bought them from Mr. Chris.  Combined with you Elvira, Barry, Robin and Maurice are a perfect team in making me not worry about being homeless or other things like that.

      

                                                                "REX" THE TRUCK

             Dais used to have a big green blanket but one morning Mr. Steve threw it on the trash in Rex's bed and took it to the Dump.  It was getting "ragged" as they say but Dais was so sad to lose such a good loyal friend.  Now she has her comfortable Barney the Dinosaur blanket.    

             That Barney the Dinosaur blanket, which Mr. Chris also got us, is in that space near the utility room door; next to the refrigerator in the garage.  Boy!  How could anyone have created those "Washer" and "Dryer" machines to automatically clean and dry blankets?  I smell Sage.   

            Hey God!  At times I still occasionally have that scary nightmare about something trying to eat me but, Daisy calms me down if I thrash around.  I always feel better when she's nearby so thank You for having her be my best friend.  My boss's father at times has bad dreams too.                                               

THE "TWINS"

   

          Both of my nostrils just picked up the scent of the Twins out there in the desert, which makes me good.  For some reason that makes me want to believe this is going to be the best year of our lives.  I remember that one morning when Mr. Randy said "Hope Springs Eternal."           

            I've gotten a lot done today but there are still some things left to write about in this final chapter of my first book.  I can tell writing three books is going be harder than we thought but that's okay as I'll just "Buckle Down."   Today it's "Down Hill From Here" so to speak.                

              That morning we heard Mr. Randy use the word "Castoff," which is what I was when my first owner dumped me in that field.  My life was bad, often in fear and always hungry so thank You God for sending that nice lady to feed me as a Guardian Angel.  Dawn's barking.  

 

"LAWRENCE OF ARABIA"

          Dais says in that movie about T.E. Lawrence he adopts those two Arab orphan boys who were his Servants during World War I.  We've both also sort of been adopted too by our boss Mr. Steve she tells me.  All four of the Pigeons are now flying over Libby's Corral over there.              

       Hey God!  I'm glad I'm here in Piñon Hills with Dais and Mr. Steve now, and at times it seems almost "Too Good to be True" as they say.  Mr. Steve is more than just our boss.  In my      English Dictionary a "Surrogate" is defined as being , "A substitute in place of something."         

       Lately Daisy's been calling Mr. Steve our "Chief" I notice.   Hey God!  Is life just "Pure Random Chance" without any purpose or "Rhyme or Reason?"  As You of course already know, I really want to believe You do things for a reason and maybe I'm here to help my boss.                                         

                                                                     "CREATION"

                                                               MICHAELANGELO ("SISTINE" CHAPEL)    

                                                                                 

             Hey God!  At times I'm still frightened and jumpy but, at least now I'm never lonely and have renewed hope; as Daisy's taught me not to fear the unknown as much as I used to.  I really do "Fit In" over here so thank You so much for that.  Dawn and Blinky are both barking.

             Dawn, Blinky and Rosie are also lucky to have each other as friends who help each other in guarding their land.  Blinky's kind of small in size but, more and more; his voice is beginning to sound very attractive to me somehow.  I think he'd probably be a very good partner.  

            Mr. Steve's father told him and his brothers and sisters if a person has "just one good friend in a lifetime they're lucky as many don't."  Mr. Ralph read Isaac Newton, the "Father of Physics," said he never really wanted friends.  They "distracted him from his work."  

                 

      ISAAC NEWTON (1643-1726)        

              

            Mr. Steve thinks maybe another reason why Isaac Newton didn't want friends was he "didn't really like human nature."  He "saw a lot of bad in people" so, may have just "preferred to be alone most of the time."  Boy!  I love the wigs people wore back in the 17th century.             

                A "Classic Philosophical Question," since ancient Greece has been; "Is human nature basically good or basically bad."  Isaac Newton may've said bad but my boss thinks it's "a little bit of both."  The British Philosopher Thomas Hobbes thought most people primarily bad. 

                I guess "Sir" Isaac Newton found "Three Laws of Motion," which I'll learn about. He may have thought about "Gravity" by seeing an apple fall from a tree.   Lord!  It says here he was born on December 25, even though my boss says that probably wasn't Your  birthday.

   

                                               MILEVA MERIÇ (1879-1948)  / ALBERT EINSTEN (1879-1955)

      

           That German man Albert Einstein, and his first wife Mileva Meriç from "Serbia;" knew about Isaac Newton's ideas, and in the early 20th century added to them.  In my three books Dais has me scheduled to learn about "Einstein's" two wives.  Heathcliff crowed over there.

           Oh!  My Encyclopedia says Albert Einstein was born on March the 14th, two days before Mr. Steve's sister Susan's birthday.  And he died in April of 1955, or three months before my boss was born.  I remember that day when Mr. Randy said we should "thank our lucky stars."

           Hey God!  As You know, Daisy and I kind of want to believe that the three Stars of Orion's belt are our "Lucky Stars" but, we won't see them until next Winter.  Boy I can't wait!  As Daisy sometimes says to me, it's always a good thing to have something to "look forward to."

                    

"SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO" MISSION

PAINTINGS BY STELLA CORDOVA

       Someday, I want to see the white and gold Sun / Moon "Plaque" on the wall next to the bathroom entrance.  It hangs above Mr. Steve's mom's painting of the "San Juan Capistrano"    Mission.   Mr. Steve's Nephew Jacob was used as a model in another one of her paintings.             

            As You know God, Daisy and I are happy You sent Stanley and Ramona down here to be our Guardian Angels.  Dais thinks sometimes, like maybe with Mr. Steve for example; You can use actual people as the Guardian Angels.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.  

                Earlier I mentioned that Mexican girl Miss Maria, who cleaned my boss's parents house and took care of Grandma Cordova when she was old.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve's mom call her a "God-Send" who still helps them a lot.  I can smell the new baby Cholla cactus over there. 

          

                      (INTERIOR)                 SAINT FERDINAND  CHURCH         (EXTERIOR)

                                                                                                                                                                                                PHOTO  BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

             Daisy says Mr. Steve's parents "found" Miss Maria through St. Ferdinand Parish, and now she also works for their neighbor's "Loren" and "Alice" too.  Daisy thinks most likely one reason is because Miss Maria is "Trustworthy" and "Dependable."  Heathcliff just crowed.

             My boss's parents down there in Sylmar have come to see Miss Maria as a daughter.  In a way Mr. Steve thinks, she's sort of a "replacement" for his sister Celina who died; as his parents consider her "Invaluable" to their family now.  Samson and Delilah are flying to the east.

             At "Our Lady of the Angels" Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles Mr. Steve, his father and Mr. Ivan attended "Mass."  Mr. Loren the neighbor did some unbelievable "Tile" work on the floors inside of the Cathedral.  The smells of late afternoon are making me feel happy.  

                     

                                       "OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS" CATHEDRAL

                                                                                                     PHOTOS BY BOBBY GIBBONS          

                                                                                                                                                        

                I guess, from what Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his mom, "Our Lady" is the third biggest Cathedral in the whole world.  Back in 1985 their Tour Group visited the "Pantheon" and "St. Peter's" Basilica in Rome and both are large in size too.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.

              My boss drove his dad and Mr. Ivan downtown on that Sunday morning to attend Mass.  Mr. Ivan is Protestant but wanted to see a Catholic ceremony, and was very impressed I guess.  The "exterior" of Our Lady Cathedral is "non-traditional" Mr. Steve told his mom one time.    

                Not only did Mr. Loren do some of the tile work at Our Lady, he also put tile on the floors at Mr. Steve's parent's house.  Like Stephanie and Samantha's boyfriend's Rich and Rick;  Mr. Loren is very, very talented too when it comes to things like that.  It's getting a little darker.    

   

                                                 LOS ANGELES "MUSIC CENTER"

                 Mr. Steve says Our Lady Cathedral is where the "Hall of Administration" parking lots at one time were.  He and his dad, when visiting Mike Antonovich; used them.  Over the years Mr. Steve used to park there whenever he went to see different things at the "Music Center." 

                 Daisy heard Mr. Loren likes reading that 19th century Writer Henry David Thoreau, and I'm looking forward to someday reading "Thoreau" too.  Mr. Steve joked with his mom how he and I are like Thoreau who said he, "Marched to the beat of a different drum."  I smell Sage.

           I guess Mr. Loren lived in Mexico so speaks Spanish.  He and his wife Alice have three kids and, from what Dais heard; both are the type of hard-working and basically decent people our boss and his father like.  Mr. Loren, like my boss's brother Rock; really likes to "Fish."   

            

                                                           MR. STEVE'S PARENTS

                                                                ("UNIVERSAL" STUDIOS)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA         

    

                Daisy overheard our boss tell his mom Mr. Loren did tiling on a fountain at "Universal Studios."  Mr. Steve's Niece Cristina had a birthday party at that Italian restaurant in Universal Studios a few years ago.   Boy!  Mentioning food just made me feel kind of hungry right now.

                For some reason I just thought of those "Hopi" Indian "Kachina" Dancers.  Dais says our boss told Mr. Dave he has an Indian "Tom Tom" drum in his bedroom, and a miniature little Kachina Dancer on one of the bookshelves in his office.   I guess Kachina means "Teacher." 

           Who knows God?  I might be dead by now if You  hadn't brought me here so You might say my life is a sort of “Redemption” or; "Salvation."  I've been given a second chance to begin again and want to believe it was You who did it.  Boy!  What a beautiful late afternoon it is.

       

LIFE, DEATH, REBIRTH

           Mr. Steve has read about how life often "unfolds" in the three "phases" of "rise, fall then renew;" or the "Cycle" of life, death and rebirth.  In "Close Quarter Combat" the "correct" or  "proper" bayonet-stabbing technique is "thrust, develop, recover." Develop means twist.             

           My Dictionary says a "Bayonet" is a "blade attached to the end of a gun."  Dais told me  me Mr. Steve has some bayonets.  Most are just replicas but he does have a real American Civil    War "Enfield" Bayonet that he bought in "Gettysburg" hanging on the wall of his office.             

             Even though a bayonet is meant to be a spear-like "Stabbing" weapon on the end of your gun I can see how, if necessary; Enfield bayonets could also be used as a "Slashing" sword.  Up in the afternoon sky a flock of Birds is flying over Libby's Corral.  She's looking at them.

                  

                                           CIVIL WAR "UNION" INFANTRY SOLDIERS 

                                                                      ("ENFIELD" BAYONETS)

                                                                            

             A picture shows two Civil War Soldiers and attached to the end of their guns are Enfield bayonets.  You can see how they could be used to stab like a spear or slash like a sword.  Ah!  I see Freddie chasing and yelling at a boy Crow who may be trying to steal Fannie from him.

            Mr. Steve joked I've been given what the ancient Roman Teachers used to call a “Tabla Rasa,” or Latin for “blank” or “Clean Slate.”  But Daisy told me it won't mean a thing unless I "take advantage" of my good fortune.  Thank Everyone up there for Daisy being around.

            I wonder God why I survived when so many Dogs don'?.  I was "self-pitying," but not now as our boss doesn't like to find blame for life's unfairness; and thinks those who expect life to be fair will be "disappointed."  His Niece Samantha said, "It's not fair that life is not fair."   

           

                                             PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884-1972)   

          

             Mr. Steve says he's made mistakes in his life and "all were his own fault."  Daisy says his dad likes a picture of President Truman showing a sign on his office desk that says, "The Buck Stops Here."  A line of Ants is going bye on the Patio floor near Miss Emily's coffee table. 

             It's okay to make mistakes Dais thinks, as long as you did the best you could with what you had to work with at the time.  And you have to learn from your mistakes.  Like Mark Twain may've said, no one ever learns anything new from being kicked a second time by a Mule.

             President Truman, like J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis and Ernest Hemingway; fought in the First World War it says here.  Before that I guess, like Ulysses S. Grant; he "failed" at a few different "business ventures" but didn't give up and even became President.  I smell Sage.  

                           

                                          HARRY S. TRUMAN (WORLD WAR I)    

               

              Another photo shows President Truman sitting on a Horse during the First World War.  It says here, in 1918; he led an artillery unit in the "Meuse-Argonne" offensive which "fired some of the last shots of the war."  Andy's over there sniffing the air to see if any danger is around.

          Hey God!  My boss one time on the phone told Mr. Randy both President's Truman and Grant were "lucky they had supportive wives who believed in them."  I just thought of how Mr. Steve went to Catholic school for much of his education.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.           

         Mr. Steve thinks usually, at a private "Parochial" school like St. Ferdinand's; the kids get a better education than at a "Public" school.  Lord!  Students at St. Ferdinand's were so lucky in being able to go to Mass every day before school.  Even though they sometimes "Ditched."  

     

                                                    "ROMAN CATHOLIC" NUNS

      

           I've mentioned how Nuns like Sister Rita Joseph, in full black “Habits;” were Mr. Steve's Teachers.  He and his  classmates at times "gave them grief" but he fondly recalls these "decent" women in their "Layers of Veils."   They resembled Penguin Birds, or “Piñguinos” in Spanish. 

           Daisy and I have wondered what a Penguin would sound or smell like.  "Imagine" a Bird that can't fly up in the air but seemingly flies under water Dais says.  Boy!  Penguins must be so good at holding their breath for a really long time, which I don't think I'd ever be able to do.  

          Mr. Steve thinks Penguins seem to be an example of what that man from England Charles Darwin described as "Natural Selection."  You "Adapt" to a particular environment in order to survive in that specific area, which Charles Darwin called "Evolution."  Heathcliff crowed.

         

                                         "BRITISH" ISLANDS                                      

       

            My boss and Mr. Rick talked about the very "capable" Nuns at St. Ferdinands, some of whom were "Scotch-Irish."  They're all dead but "still alive in their memories" Mr. Steve says so, in a "philosophical" way "they live."   And, like Dais said that time; now in our minds too!  

            Hey Lord!  Nuns like Sister Rita Joseph taught my boss and his classmates about that "Golden Rule" You mentioned, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  To me and Daisy that sounds like a really good rule to follow.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies.           

            Sister Rita Joseph used to say following that Golden Rule is often "more easily said than done," especially in a society "that often seems to worship money so rationalizes bad conduct."   She mentioned in Spanish "dos caras" or "two faces" one time Dais says.  Heathcliff crowed.                                                              

                                                                       MR. RICK

   

           My boss told Mr. Rick he regrets some the "dumb" things he did as a kid, and if he ever sees Sister Rita Joseph again he'll apologize.  As a kid, because of "Peer group Pressure;" you pretend to ignore what adults say but, "In the End;" they turn out to be right.  I smell Sage.   

           Hey Lord!  I guest "Repent" means to admit guilt and take responsibility for things you do wrong.  At St. Ferdinands, Mr. Steve did "pranks" and "mischievous" things; like shooting "Spit Wads" by using pens as the blowguns.  This sometimes caused the Nuns to get mad. 

           Dais says Mr. Steve one time talked with his friend Rick about what's called "Corporal" punishment.  That means Teachers are allowed to hit the Student, and has been a normal part of "Instructing" since the beginning of civilization from what Daisy heard.  Heathcliff crowed.

                                         

                                                             "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN"

                I just thought of how Slavery, like physical punishment; has also been around since the beginning of civilization too.  This one Encyclopedia shows a mean man whipping a Slave on the cover of that 1850's book "Uncle Tom's Cabin."  Daisy says our boss has a copy of that book. 

            Sister Rita Joseph at times carried a long wooden stick to point things out but, if also used it to "Swat" a Student too.  One time, shooting spit wads at the bathroom roof; my boss and his friends didn't hear her coming and got "Busted."  The late afternoon sky is so pretty now.        

             I'm getting the "Hang" of using pencils and these "Felt" pens.  Daisy showed me how to push the ingenious little button on the back of the "Ballpoint" pens, so the part with the ink goes in and out.  I've mentioned before how Henry David Thoreau's family used to make pencils.  

                                                             

                              "BIC" PEN                                                                PENCIL

                

       

               Daisy also found these other "Bic" type pens, which I guess are like the ones Mr. Steve and his friends used as "Blow Guns."  You can take the ink cartridge out and then the outside is hollow.  Today has made me completely realize just how totally amazing pens and pencils are. 

            I guess that time Sister Rita Joseph caught Mr. Steve in the bathroom, as soon as he shot the spit wad to stick on the ceiling; he could see by the "Look" on his friends faces that he was in trouble.  He then turned around and saw Sister Rita Joseph.  She had been behind him.                

            Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Rick, who was not in that bathroom; it's a good thing Sister Rita Joseph didn't have her pointer with her.  She might've hit Mr. Steve's leg with it as they'd been    caught "Red-Handed."  But, she just stood there with her hands folded in front of her.                            

                                                                     DAISY / MAGGIE IN FRONT YARD      

                 

              I'll bet Daisy is like me in being hungry, especially as we haven't even had one snack  today.  If I wasn't back here on the Patio finishing this first book, I'd most likely be with Daisy near the driveway in front of the garage.  I sure hope we have some Spam meat tonight. 

             On that day in the bathroom at St. Ferdinands Sister Rita Joseph looked at Mr. Steve and then glanced up at the ceiling.  She then said; "I hope you boys realize you'll be on detention and clapping erasers for a month."  Andy the Squirrel is guarding their burrow entrance.

             Dais says school classrooms used to have "Chalkboards" for writing on so, at the end of each day; the "Erasers" had to be cleaned of chalk.  And that was punishment for shooting the spit wads.  My boss told Mr. Rick one time he cannot believe how stupid he was as a kid.       

         

                                                     "ALEMANY" HIGH SCHOOL 

                                                                (SECOND NEWER CAMPUS)   

           

                  In 1969, when he was fourteen, Mr. Steve graduated from St. Ferdinands and then went to "Alemany" High School in Mission Hills.  I've mentioned how it's also a "Parochial" Roman Catholic school too.  So, because of that; my boss started High School in the 9th Grade.  

           Daisy told me, back in those days at Catholic schools; Coaches and Teachers were allowed to "Swat" Students with wooden paddles if they "Acted Up."  A Coach at Alemany, who also was the Spanish Teacher too; had a thick wooden paddle with holes in it.  A Crow cawed faintly.

           I guess that Coach called his paddle "Hermanito" and those holes made it hurt more when you got a swat.  I've mentioned how in Spanish "ito" means "little" so the paddle's name would be translated to be "Little Herman."  Blessed Mother!  I'm glad our boss doesn't hit us.

      

                                                            MR. STEVE'S PARENTS

PHOTO BY RODERICK CÓRDOVA  

     

           One morning my boss was watering the big Mulberry tree up there in the front yard and I heard Mr. Randy say he believed in the idea, "Spare the rod, spoil the child."  Mr. Steve told him his parents "spanked" but never "beat" them.  His sisters were "hardly spanked at all." 

           Because he now admits he did some bad things, my boss thinks he deserved to get swatted by Sister Rita Joseph and later the Coaches at Alemany.   If I ever have some babies, I would not want to hit or bite them really hard as a punishment; unless I had to.  Heathcliff crowed. 

           All of a sudden I just thought about that guy named "Cheech" Marin who, like my boss, his mom, brother Rock and sister Susan; went to College at "C.S.U.N."   I've mentioned how that's just short for "California State University at Northridge."  I smell some Mesquite.                          

                 C.S.U.N. SCULPTURE                                              "CHEECH AND CHONG"

       

          I guess that guy Cheech Marin, whose mom worked at Alemany; also went to C.S.U.N.  The C.S.U.N. campus is located about fifteen miles west of Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley.  Daisy heard that Cheech Marin's twin sisters went to Alemany High in the early 1970's.

        Daisy says Mr. Steve and his mom talked about the pleasant memories they have from C.S.U.N. Cheech Marin was part of a "Comedy Team" with a guy named Tommy Chong.  Mr. Steve knows for sure that his parents wouldn't like the comedy of "Cheech and Chong" 

          According to what Dais heard Mr. Steve tell his mom, Cheech is just a nickname and is short for "Cheecharónes" which are pieces of "Deep Fried" Pig.  Mr. Steve's mom, like his Niece Stephanie and Sister in Law Yolanda; are really good Cooks.  And so is Mr. Rich too I guess. 

                 

                                              CHEECH AND CHONG'S FIRST ALBUM

                

           I guess "Cheech's" real first name is "Richard" and I know one thing, writing about him is making me think about how hungry I am. My boss told his mom he thinks Cheech created a "composite" character of guys from the San Fernando Valley.  He knew some guys like that.   

          Mr. Steve told his mom one time he and Sandy, when they were at Valley College; went to visit Mark Ritter at his house in Burbank.  They listened to the first Cheech and Chong album and laughed.  At that time my boss and Mark Ritter were both working at Laser Images.

         Someday I'll be able to actually hear some of the music I'll write about over the next three days, so thank You God for Daisy having such a good memory.  Boy!  It's been a year now and still I can't quite get over my fear so, of course; my boss and Daisy are getting frustrated.                                                       

  MOLLY  /  LIBBY      

   

         Smelling Libby right now makes me think of that time Mr. Steve's parents visited us and petted her and Molly's noses.  Daisy's right in saying you can our boss's parents "treasure" each other with "trust and respect."   Mr. Steve says they'll be together "until the day they die."          

         Dais thinks Mr. Steve's parents are "Role Models," his old Dog Lady is mine because she was a good guard and lived to be nineteen years old.  Like the South Korean lady said that one    time, Lady is my "worthy" ancestor.   All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral.        

         I know one thing, and Daisy would agree; if we borrowed Mr. Peabody's time machine we would go back to the 1980's to meet Lady and Mr. Steve's Cats Mookie Wilson and Miss Foot.      I've never smelled a Pit Bull or Doberman Pinscher which is what Lady was.  I smell Sage.                                                                 

LADY CÓRDOVA / MR. STEVE

            Daisy one time heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with his brother Rock back there in Texas.  They remembered Lady, and what a good Guard Dog she was in defending Mr. Steve and his land.  Fred, Ed and Ted the Sparrows came in from the desert and flew over the house.           

         Hey Lady!  If there's such a thing as a Dog Heaven up there I know you're for sure in it.  I'd really appreciate it if you could think of me down here; and maybe even help me a little bit    too over these next three days.  Heathcliff crowed and hearing him makes me feel happy.              

           As you know Lady, I want to be like you in how dependable and reliable you were in being a friend to our boss.   Daisy and I do admire you because, being Pit Bull and half Doberman; you could've been vicious and mean.  But you weren't because our boss didn't want you to be.             

  

            MOOKIE WILSON                      MISS EMILY                              MISS FOOT                                                                                                                  

           I just thought of how Miss Foot and Miss Emily's Cat "Mookie Wilson" were different in personalities, kind of like me and Daisy.  Miss Foot had that extra toe, and claw; on each foot.      Miss Foot was a "Lap" Cat, Mookie Wilson only let Miss Emily and our boss hold him.                

          Daisy heard Mr. Steve and his sister Susan remember how "Mook," as Miss Emily called him; didn't want anyone to touch him; and would even scratch and growl.  But Miss Emily could come into a room and just go pick him up with no problem.  The Dragonfly just flew bye.             

          Mentioning that guy Cheech Marin makes me think of how Mr. Steve's mom has "passed on" her New Mexico influenced green chile "Chicharrónes recipe to her family.  Mr. Julio at work, and Mr. Ralph too; say their mom's made  chicharrónes.  A Train whistled faintly.                                              

SPAIN  

  

           Mr. Ralph told our boss how chicharrónes "originated" in Andalucia Spain, but now are made in all the areas the Spanish went to in the world.  I like looking at the map of Spain, and    seeing that city of Córdoba makes me so proud.  Someday I'd like to smell a real live Pig.              

             I thought about raising a Pig but Daisy thinks our boss wouldn't want to do it even if we could make money selling some of the meat.  Besides she told me, how could we butcher the Pig if it ever became our friend?  Ugh!  The word "Butcher" sure doesn't sound very pleasant.          

            Daisy told me about a funny tv show called "Green Acres," where one of the "Stars" is a really smart Pig named "Arnold Ziffel."  Mr. Steve was told Pigs are "as intelligent" as Crows, and some people even keep them as "Pets."  Daisy and I are also pets too and we like it.

       

                                                 ARNOLD ZIFFEL  ("GREEN ACRES")  

 

           I'll bet Arnold Ziffel could teach me a few things.  Dais says he knows how to change the tv channel and operate a Stereo.  Wow!  That one morning my boss and Mr. Randy remembered how for much of their lives there were only three big "National" or "Network" tv channels.         

            Daisy says Arnold the Pig can read and write, and goes to school with other kids on the School Bus.  He not only has his own books, he has one of those "Back Pack" containers I want.  I've mentioned before how Grandma Cordova used to drive a School Bus back in Belén.               

           Kids in our area raise Pigs in a group called "4H."  If my boss would let me raise a Pig or Goat I think I'd join 4H too, because it sounds like fun but as Dais says; feeding a big Pig "can't  be that cheap to do."  Samson and Delilah are right now both flying toward the northeast.                                                                                          FRANK ZAPPA(1940-1993)                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                     I guess in 1967 that guy Cheech Marin tried out as a Singer for Frank Zappa, who grew up in the "Antelope Valley;" near where my boss's brother Sam's family lives in Littlerock.  Mr. Steve read Frank Zappa died on December 4th, his Niece Stephanie's birthday.  I smell Sage. 

            Daisy heard Mr. Ralph say those chicharrónes are now made in countries as far away as the Philippines.  They're called  "chicharrónes de puerco" and this one Spanish Dictionary says "puerco" means "pork."  Two Motorcycles just zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road.                

           Mr. Steve, in 1972; transferred from Alemany over to Sylmar High for 11th grade and it was while there he and his friends first heard that yellow Cheech and Chong album.  Daisy told me, to this day our boss still has a vinyl record of that album.  Heathcliff crowed over there.

           

                                                               CHEECH AND CHONG

       

           Mr. Steve and his friends laughed when they heard that first Cheech and Chong album in 1972.  They all knew guys from the northeast Valley who were just like Cheech's character.   For a time some Mexican-Americans really did hang "Dingo" balls on the interior of their Cars. 

                At times my boss says he cringes thinking of what an "idiot" he was when young.  But, he now realizes it's normal to be stupid when you're so young.  You think you "know it all" he says, when in fact, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" as that old saying his dad likes goes.                                                                                                                                                                                          Everyone has to try to "overcome parts of their character" my boss thinks.  He admits he did some dumb things when young and is proud of his brother Rock in Texas who overcame his "Bad Temper."  They at times "bickered and fought" when growing up he tells people.      

      

                                          MR. STEVE'S BROTHER ROCK (WITH "ETHEL")

 

                When a father is mad at his son for doing something dumb Mr. Steve tells him to think of himself at that age.  One time he and Rock, "as embarrassing as it is to admit now;" fought over  mayonnaise on a sandwich!  Ah!  A nice late afternoon breeze is making the chimes ring.   

           Daisy says our boss's brother has a "Chihuahua" girl Dog named "Ethel," who travels on the Plane when they come from Texas to visit California.  Mr. Steve says it's now funny to think that they actually fought over a sandwich.  Young boys think they're smart but they aren't.           

        Some people think my boss is sometimes too "Cynical" or "Skeptical" but he's learned to keep that "Tendency" on what's called a "Tight Leash."  Dais thinks that's one reason, "More    often than Not" as they say; he prefers to be alone.  But he has Daisy and I for friends!                  

  

                    THE KINKS                                                                OASIS                          

          I guess the KINKS, OASIS and CREDENCE CLEARWATER have brothers in the band who often fight.   Mr. Steve's customer in the State of Georgia said the brothers in the BLACK    CROWS "bicker."  The sisters in HEART, and brothers in SPARKS usually "Get along."            

        One time my boss told Rock's daughter Stephanie he admires how her father was able to learn how to control his temper.  He thinks that it's "partly" due to having kids but, also maybe the "softening" influence of decent females like their mom or girlfriend Judy.  I smell Sage.                                                                                                                                                                                         Growing older sometimes makes one "reconsider" things that seemed so important earlier in life my boss thinks.  What they call "Priorities" change and I know, when I was young; I was  always overly concerned about getting my fair equal share of the food.  But not anymore.                                               

BENJAMIN THE "BRONZE COW" BIRD      

                                      PHOTO BY STEPHANIE SMITH                                              

                                                                                                                     

                I just thought of Sister Rita Joseph, and that other time when I was on Elvira looking at Benjamin the Cow Bird over there too.  Oh wow!  Now I also smell Sage.  As I've said, Sister Rita Joseph was like Grandma Trujillo driving her School Bus in Belén; in being firm but fair.     

            Daisy says our boss one time told Mr. Ralph on the phone how Sister Rita Joseph was the first person who told him to "Never stop Learning."  She was also the first person to explain the difference between "Sympathy" and "Empathy" and "Subjective" versus "Objective." 

            Sister Rita Joseph said never be too "timid" or afraid to ask questions. Mr. Steve recalled that when his mother told him the same thing when they got lost in West Los Angeles.  When he was young he thought asking for "Directions" seemed weak.   But not anymore I guess.

                  

                                                                                         "CHER" THE CAT   

                                                                             

           Cher just used the left vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the desert behind the three Sheds.  She didn't even notice Benjamin.  Oh!  Benjamin just jumped down and is now running around the northeast corner of the house at the far end of the Patio to my left.

           Sister Rita Joseph and Mr. Steve's mom think admitting you need help does not make you look bad.  And he and his parents now are not afraid to admit when they were wrong.  It's okay to go ahead and change your mind if it turns out something you thought was true wasn't.  

           My boss told Mr. Dave he remembers two 1980's songs called "Teacher, Teacher."  One was a British "Pop" song by ROCKPILE, the other one was a harder "Southern Rock" song by .38 SPECIAL.  I see, and now smell too; Alpha Company out there in the back desert.

      

                           ROCKPILE                                                                  .38 SPECIAL

           

                   Mr. Dave, who's a good Drummer; like our boss enjoys teaching kids to play drums.  He calls ROCKPILE'S song Teacher, Teacher "catchy," which Daisy totally agrees with.  Mr. Dave has played with the band REDBONE and this other guy named Spencer Davis too I guess.  

            ROCKPILE'S music is described as "Power Pop," while .38 SPECIAL  were "Southern Rock;" as they were from the State of "Florida."  Ah!  Out there in the dirt near the new Cholla cactus two Lizards are chasing around.  It might be a boy Lizard trying to get a girl Lizard.

           It's amazing how Lizards can run so fast in what they call "Spurts," and then "Stop on a Dime" as they say.  Mr. Randy jokes Lizards need good "brakes."  They can be as still as a rock, totally frozen; and then accelerate to top speed like one of those skinny "Dragster" Cars.  

                                                   

                                                                         FLORIDA                             

                

             I mentioned earlier how Mr. Steve and his friend Armando, in 1995; visited Florida and drove around in a "Rented" Car.  One time in driving around the city of "Tampa" that song by .38 SPECIAL called Teacher, Teacher came onto the Car Radio.  I can smell some Mesquite.

             From what Daisy heard our boss tell his brother Rock one time; Mr. Armando's sister lived in Tampa with her husband and both were friendly and "obviously highly intelligent."  Mr. Steve and Armando stayed with them one night.  I'd say only half an hour of sunlight is left. 

            After driving around Tampa on Florida's west coast, my boss and Mr. Armando drove across Florida to visit that old city of "Saint Augustine;" on the east coast.  I mentioned how, in 1565; "San Agustin" was established.  That was on the northeast coast of what's now Florida.   

                                                                                                  TAMPA                           FLORIDA                "SAINT AUGUSTINE                           

                                                                                                                                                  PAINTING BY MICHAEL WARREN

                                                                                                                                                       

                   In looking at the map, I can see how Tampa is on the west coast of Florida; or "Gulf of Mexico" side.  St. Augustin is to the northeast of Tampa and faces the big "Atlantic Ocean" to its east.  Boy!  It's starting to get slightly cooler as the Sun goes down to the west behind me.

             Dais says, in driving to St. Augustine my boss and Mr. Armando went bye this other big city called "Orlando;" where one of the "Disneyland's" is located I guess.  Once in St. Augustine, they got a Hotel Room near the water' and then took a Wagon ride around.  Dawn's barking.

            That city in New Mexico called "Santa Fe" began in 1601, so this Encyclopedia says St. Augustine is the "oldest continually inhabited European settlement" in the "contiguous" United States."  That man William Wing Loring the Soldier was from St. Augustine.  I like Dawn. 

       

                                                                 PEDRO MENÉNDEZ DE AVILLÉS (1519-1574)

 PAINTING BY MARK MENÉNDEZ

   

             It says here a Spanish Explorer named Pedro Menendez de Avilés gave St. Augustine its name because his Ships "sighted land" on the "Feast Day" of that guy Saint Augustine.  In 1565 his "forces began to establish a permanent settlement."  Ah!  Now Blinky's barking too. 

                  That man Mr. Pedro was St. Augustine's first Governor, then for about two centuries the city was the "Capitol" of Spanish Florida.  But then, in 1763; the British "took possession" of the entire Florida area.  Boy! I think I'm starting to really like how little Blinky smells.

            According to what it says here, the English only controlled what they called "British East Florida" for  twenty years; and it was "returned" back to Spain in 1783.  In 1819, what is now the State of Florida; came into the U.S. when Spain "Ceded" it to us.  I smell Mesquite.

                     

                                     CIVIL WAR                                                               EGYPT

                                                  WILLIAM WING LORING (1818-1886)

   

           I just thought of that man William Wing Loring, who was from St. Augustine and our boss studied in College at C.S.U.N.  He was a Soldier for fifty years in the 19th century, and Dais told me about Mr. Steve's "Fictional" story he wrote based on his life.  A Train whistled faintly.

           Mr. Steve told his Niece Stephanie how Mr. William was born on December the 4th just like her.  I've mentioned how Frank Zappa died on that same exact date too.  For some reason hearing that Freight Train right now is suddenly making me feel so grateful for our lives.

           Based on what he did in College, Daisy says Mr. Steve wrote a fictional version of Loring's life.  But everything in it was true because Loring led an eventful life.  Over the next three days Dais has me scheduled to find out about all of the things Mr. William did over fifty years.

    

                                                U.S. GOVERNMENT "CAMEL EXPERIMENT (1850'S)

 

                  In the 1850's, or years just before the American Civil War;  the American Government did that "Camel Experiment."  William Wing Loring took part in a Camel caravan from Texas out here to California.  Some of the Ducks are quacking but as usual Daffy is way louder.

            When in Israel in 1985 Mr. Steve rode that Camel before he and the Tour Group from St. Ferdinand's had lunch near the ancient city of "Jericho."  He told his mom, who's kind of afraid of Horses; he "doesn't think he would want to do it again."  He's "much too old" he jokes.   

                One time when they were in the living room Daisy and Millie saw a tv show that said in history Camels have been really important.  It was Camels, who can carry really heavy loads; who did all of the work when people moved things from one area to another.  I like Daffy.

                           

2014 DODGE "CARAVAN"

     

         Daisy told me the tv show on Camels said, for a few thousand years; "Camel Caravans" were "vital" to humanity.  She heard one of our boss's "Dodge" customers call a Car called a      "Caravan" a "minivan."  A flock of Birds is going east up there in the later afternoon sky.           

         The customer told Mr. Steve some Caravans, which "have been around" since 1984; are now used as "Taxi Cabs."  They've "gone through had five generations" with a "total of thirty    six models" Dais heard him say.  A little Sparrow carrying a twig in its mouth just ran bye.          

          When our boss and Mr. Armando were in Tampa, they drove past a Stadium used by the "Buccaneers" N.F.L. Football team.  Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about those 17th century      "Pirates" one time that said Buccaneer is just another name for a Pirate.  I smell Juniper.                      

                                                        TAMPA BAY "BUCCANEERS"

             

            Mr. Steve says some sports teams use gold or silver as their secondary uniform colors but the N.F.L. Buccaneers are unique in using "Bronze" or "Copper."  Their current primary color is red but was orange.  I've mentioned Daisy's favorite color is red while mine is royal blue.         

            In Tampa Mr. Steve and Armando were amused when they saw a few of those Alligators just laying around Golf Courses, near to where people lived.  I'd be afraid to see a Crocodile or an Alligator, but would be curious to smell them.  Ah!  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye.          

             Because his family is from "Pittsburgh," Mr. Rick likes that city's sports teams.  Daisy heard the Baseball "Pirates" are called the "Bucs," short for "Buccaneers;" and some people just call them the "Buccos" I guess.  Crows are fighting about something out in the desert.

      

               17TH CENTURY "BUCCANEERS"                               "BLACKBEARD"

                                                                                                                                                                PAINTING BY JEAN-LÉON GÉRÔME

       

            My Encyclopedia says the name Buccaneer is "derived" from the French word "boucan" or "meat."  In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, at the time of Pirates; the guys who cooked the meat were called "Buccaneers."  A good painting shows some Pirates "smoking a pig." 

            I guess the word Buccaneer is the "Anglicized" version of the French word "Boucanier." Boy, the painting makes me hungry even though it's kind of sad that Pig has to be the food; so gets its whole body "Impaled" on a "Spit."  Ugh!  I'd hate to be eaten by something.  

           Daisy says in 1995 our boss and Mr. Armando drove bye the New York "Yankees" Spring Training facility in Tampa.  In 1977, with the Chicago "White Sox" wearing all black uniforms; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock saw them play at "Yankee Stadium."  I smell Andy over there.

    

                                     N.Y. "YANKEES" SPRING TRAINING FACILITY

                 

              Someday I'd like to see a real Baseball game, which Daisy says is not as exciting as the Football, Basketball or Ice Hockey games.   Over the next three days I'll learn about the New York Yankees and their history against the Dodgers franchise.  Libby just now whinnied. 

              During the years when his father bought season seats for the Dodgers my boss's family saw them play the Yankees in the World Series a few times.  They also got to see some of the famous Cincinnati "Reds" teams with Peter Rose and Johnny Bench.  I like Libby's voice. 

           I guess Mr. Steve and Mr. Rick saw the Pittsburgh Pirates play at Dodger Stadium a few times, once seeing the Pirates' Willie Stargel hit a home run completely out of Dodger Stadium to right field.  Oh!  Two orange boy Finches are fighting over something near Libby's Corral.    

                                 

                                              "PITTSBURGH "PIRATES" / OAKLAND "ATHLETICS"

      

             The Pirates are in the "National" League, my boss's favorite team the A's members of the "American" League; so rarely play each other Daisy heard.   But a good color picture shows an A's baserunner sliding into second base against the Pirates.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.

             Boy!  I'm more than halfway through this final chapter of my first book, but it's now beginning to get harder and harder to see because of the Sun going down over there on the other western side of the house behind me.  Hey God!  I love the feeling of learning new things.             

             Sister Rita Joseph used to tell her class; "There are no dumb questions.  If you ever stop asking questions, or learning; your brain will begin to atrophy and die.  Your brain is the most important muscle you have so exercise it!"   Two Pigeons flew bye going toward the north.   

   

                                                                           PIGEONS  

     

            Daisy jokes we're what Sister Rita Joseph used to call "lifetime learners,” or "perpetual students."  Yup!  That's us alright!  Hey God!  I'm never going to stop learning no matter what and I know for sure Dais feels the same way because we definitely want to please our boss.            

        I sure hope You'll keep Daisy around for a long time God.  She believes, like our boss, in what Socrates said; "The more you know the more you know you don't know."   Mr. Steve told    Miss Susan down at work he's had a few times in his life when he realized how true that is.           

          Because of the drought and water being scarce; it's harder for Squirrels to find water.  So, even though Mr. Steve puts water in the Bird Bath; to get "Moisture" they eat tree roots which is bad because the tree dies.  Last Summer Squirrels killed that tree and Mr. Steve was mad.                                                                 

                                                                CHRISTIANITY

                                                                                                                                                                   I guess Sister Clara Joseph, who had a more "low key" personality than did Sister Rita Joseph; was Mr. Steve's 7th Grade Teacher.  "Both were intelligent" my boss told his mom that one time when they were visiting us.  Samson and Delilah are moving toward the east.                   

            Sister Clara Joseph told her class in life there are often, "more things to be unhappy about than to be happy about."  So she said, "if for no other reason than those around you;" at times it "becomes necessary" to make a "conscious effort" to be happy.  Heathcliff crowed.                                                                                                                                                                                            When Mr. Steve is unhappy, so he won't effect others; he stays to himself in thinking of what Sister Clara Joseph used to say.  He also doesn't want to "put on" an act.  As he gets older my boss finds he doesn't need the company of others nearly as much as when he was young. 

                                                                                                               HIGH DESERT SUNSET         

                                                                             

            The Sun is going down on the west side of the house so it's getting dimmer and dimmer.  I'll have just enough time to finish this first book and then we'll eat which will be my "Reward" for all of the hard work I've done today.  A Train just whistled out there in the desert.   

            Daisy says Sister Clara Joseph was also the one who said, because so many things in life are dual in nature; "Disappointment is just the other side of the coin to fulfillment."  And "both are normal" so, "at times everyone gets depressed but; the key is not to stay depressed."               

            Mr. Steve tries to stay even more busy when he feels sad and because he's always got a few "projects" going at once he never runs out of things to do.  One of the things he does now is  working on all of the drawings his mom "Colors."  She colors in order to "Stay Busy."  

  

                                                                                                         DRAGONFLY 

                

           That big Dragonfly just zipped bye right now.  I heard him coming in the dark from over there to my left at the far end of the Patio, which is the northeast corner of our house.  I wasn't sure if it was him or Max the Hummingbird as both sound kind of similar from far away.  

           I guess Sister Clara Joseph said, "At times if you're not depressed then you wouldn't be normal because loss can be painful but unavoidable."  At times things are "beyond your control so there's nothing to do but pray, persevere and simply work through it."   Heathcliff crowed.

            Hey!  That kind of sounds like Reinhold Niebuhr's "Serenity" prayer, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."  Mr. Steve's mom really likes that prayer I guess.  And now so do!   

                                

                 REINHOLD NIEBUHR (1892-1971)     URSULA NIEBUHR (1907-1997)

                            

           Mr. Steve read the original Serenity prayer was, "Father, give us the courage to change what must be altered, the serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know one from the other."  Daisy says Reinhold Neibuhr's wife was smart too.  Andy's looking at me.

               Sister Clara Joseph said, when things are bad you "pick yourself up" although it might be really hard.  She told her 7th Grade class life is not always "peaches and cream," and liked that saying; "Time heals all Wounds."  But Sister Clara Joseph would say "most" wounds.                  

            I heard our Mexican Worker "Esteban" tell my boss a Spanish saying, "No hay mal que dure cien años" or; "Nothing bad lasts for one hundred years."  Dais thinks that might also just mean how "Nothing lasts Forever."  Mr. Julio, who does the embroidery; knows that saying.    

              

                                                                              "ST. FERDINAND" CHURCH  

PHOTO BY STEVE CORDOVA                

         

            Mr. Steve's parents, and the Nuns at Saint Ferdinands; believed you should never ignore misfortune "hoping it will go away."  It's like getting drunk to avoid problems Mr. Steve jokes. It's better to just go ahead and "Face" bad things and "Deal With" them as best you can. 

            "Change" is a never ending part of life.  Mr. Steve was told this Chinese saying, "When the winds of change blow you can bend with it or be broken by it."  He says there are some other religions who have some similar beliefs which help to "Cope" with life's many  difficulties. 

            I guess, Buddhists say you should try to live life "Traveling" on the "Middle Road;" or "Middle Path."  Mr. Steve's father appreciates that saying, but knows how sometimes that's hard to do; or "Easier said than Done."  All four of the Pigeons went flying bye right now.

    

                                                                                            "BELIEF" SYSTEMS

    

              A Chines man told my boss traveling in the Middle Path means, "when things go well be grateful but don't get cocky;" because with good comes the "Proportionate" potential for equal amount of bad.  Speedy Gonzalez just went zooming bye right in front of the three Sheds.

             Daisy heard Buddhists also say, when things "Go Sideways;" don't get overly depressed because buried within those bad times can be the "Possibility" of a "Silver Lining" so to speak.  Looking at the eastern horizon I see a lot of Birds over the desert.  That makes me feel good. 

            Hey Lord!  Just as Christianity's "Golden Rule" isn't unique, other religions also teach about good coming with bad and vice versa.  And, like it said at "Delphi;" be "moderate" and "know yourself" are "Universal" ideas my boss and his dad think.  A small Lizard ran bye.

        

FAITH / HOPE / LOVE

  

               Hey Lord!  My boss thinks most people seem to have an "innate" need to hope.  Even the religions who believe in many Gods get comfort believing there's a life beyond this "Temporal" existence.  I want to believe in "Higher Powers" in the Universe like You Guys up there.  

           1999 was one of Mr. Steve's worst years and he jokes it was an "Annus Horribilis" which is Latin for a "Horrible Year."  I'm so glad I have a Latin Dictionary because I've already used it a few times today.  Back in 1999 my boss lost almost all of the money he had saved up. 

          During that terrible year 1999 Mr. Steve thought of his dad saying it takes a lot of time to build a wall "brick by brick," but "a short time to destroy it."  A "silver lining" from 1999 my boss jokes, he's now an "expert at making top ramen noodles taste good."  Daffy's quacking.   

                        

                                                                                                              PRINCE

                         

                  My boss told Miss Susan he was "glad he was single" in 1999.  For many people it was a time for hope, as the last year of  the "Millennium;" but it was a "survival" year for him.  Dais told me once how that guy PRINCE has a song which talks about "partying like it's 1999."

            The "last thing" Mr. Steve says he felt like doing in 1999 was partying, and he stayed at  home with friends like Mr. Mark visiting him more.  In the "long run," with his old boss Steve Banks help; "things worked out" for my boss.   Frida and Diego are flying toward the east.          

            Daisy says Mr. Steve eventually told his parents about 1999 but for years was ashamed at how dumb he'd been.  Mr. Steve felt "obligated" to say something at Steve Banks' funeral.  I've mentioned how a Jewish cemetery he's buried at is across the street from "Mission" cemetery.

                                           MR. STEVE'S PARENT'S "CRYPTS"                    RITCHIE VALENS GRAVE      

    ("MISSION" CATHOLIC CEMETERY)

            

           Mr. Steve's family visits the Mission cemetery to clean Grandma Trujillo and Samantha's mom Celina's graves, and see Mr. Steve's parents Crypts.  Mr. Rick's son "Gino" and Grandma Córdova are also buried at Mission cemetery.  Mr. Bobby likes going to Mission cemetery.

             In 1989 Mr. Steve worked for this company called "Pace;" now "Sam's Club" owned by "Walmart."  His sales job was to "Sign Up" business "Members."  Two customers were, "Eden Memorial" where Steve Banks is buried at; and Mission Cemetery right across the street.  

            One time for Pace Mr. Steve went to "Lake View Terrace" to sign up this  guy named Patrick Swayze at he and his wife's "Egyptian" Arabian Horse Ranch.  He was an Actor and I guess died.  He was very friendly but my boss told his mom he "smoked a lot of cigarettes."  

          

          PATRICK SWAYZE (1952-2009)                     GROUCHO (1890-1977)                       LENNY BRUCE (1925-1966)

                          WITH WIFE                                            WITH BROTHERS                                      WITH FAMILY

                                                                                                                            

             Mr. Steve was told those Comedians Groucho Marx and Lenny Bruce are buried at Eden Memorial Jewish cemetery.  My Encyclopedia has a picture of the "Marx Brothers" and I notice it's a black and white photo which has been "Painted."  Mr. Steve used to paint "Prints."

             Groucho Marx died in August of 1977 like Elvis Presley.  In their rented Car my boss and his brother Rock were back east.  Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis' deaths were "Overshadowed" by President Kennedy's death, and Groucho Marx's death was "Lost in the Shuffle" too.   

             In the 1929 "Stock Market Crash," which started the Great Depression; Groucho Marx lost all of his money.   He joked, "I would've lost more but it's all I had."  A Jewish "Mourning Ritual" is called a "Shiva," according to what Daisy heard this lady tell our boss one time.  

    

                                                                                               "THE WALTONS"    

  

             Daisy told me recently Mr. Steve has been watching this old 1970's tv show called "The Waltons" while eating dinner.  Sometimes he watches the "People's Court" as he eats.  I guess the Walton's is about a big family living during the hard times of the Great Depression.

            According to what Dais says, at times that tv show The Waltons deals with the subject of "mortality."  And it shows how a poor family, working together as a team even when they don't always get along; can survive.  Two of the Pigeons just flew in from the eastern desert. 

           Mr. Steve told his mom on the phone one time how, during the 1970's; he never really did watch The Waltons but likes the "Re-Runs" now.  In 1972 though, he did get to go meet the Actor who played the part of "Grandpa Walton."  Miss Sandy's parents liked The Waltons. 

        

                                                                     CANNED HEAT

            Mr. Steve transferred from Alemany High School to Sylmar High in 1972 and met a girl named "Colleen."  Her family knew CANNED HEAT'S Bob Hite so, knowing he had a Car; she invited him to a "Barbeque" in "Topanga Canyon" where Bob Hite lived.  Dawn's barking.

           I guess that barbecue was at Grandpa Walton's house.   Sometimes, Mr. Steve barbecues meat on that "Hibachi" thing over there near the sliding glass door going into the kitchen dining room.  It's starting to get darker but I don't have that much more to do on this book. 

           Smelling a barbecue brings back memories to Mr. Steve.  At that one barbecue in Topanga Canyon my boss was introduced to a "Southern Rock" band called BLACK OAK ARKANSAS.  Mr. Randy lived in Arkansas and Mr. Mark's relatives did too before moving to Wisconsin.

  

                                                           BLACK OAK ARKANSAS

    

             I guess, in the 1970's; BLACK OAK ARKANSAS were successful.  Daisy says our boss and Mr. Dave talked about that barbecue in Topanga Canyon.  Mr. Steve's brother Sam, and Stephanie's boyfriend Rich too; are really good at barbecuing from what Daisy's heard.  

            My boss thinks "Nothing lasts Forever" so BLACK OAK ARKANSAS is an example of how "fleeting" fame can be.  They were "Popular" today, "Out of Fashion" tomorrow.  My boss thinks many Entertainers "have to be careful not to become a parody of themselves."

            Very often Entertainers have a short "window of opportunity," one exception being the ROLLING STONES Mr. Steve says.  "Non-Current" bands sometimes become what they call "Nostalgia Acts," who "Barnstorm" in order to make money.  Two Crows are fighting.

               

                                      THE BAND                                                  DRAGPIPE                                MR. RICH

                  I just thought of my boss's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Mr. Rich, or "Richie" as many call him.  He was one of three Guitarists in that New Jersey Heavy Metal band DRAGPIPE.  A small flock of what look like Pigeons from way down here on the Patio are flying bye.

                 Some Hard Rock or Heavy Metal bands have one Guitarist while others use two.  In the 1970's BLACK OAK ARKANSAS had three guitar players just like DRAGPIPE did in 2002 when their album came out.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Rich is a good "Handyman."

                 Dais one time heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with Mr. Dave in New Mexico, and I guess they discussed DRAGPIPE.  They're described as "Alternative," Sludge" or "Nu" Metal;" and "Stoner Rock."  Mr. Steve told him their album has some "really good" songs on it. 

                                 

                                                                                                  DAVID LEE ROTH

               I just thought of that band from Pasadena VAN HALEN.  My boss told Mr. Dave, when he saw VAN HALEN; he thought there was "something familiar" about Singer David Lee Roth.  Later he realized his "Stage Act" was very similar to BLACK AOK ARKANSAS' Singer.   

               Entertainers, especially Athletes; have to know "When to Quit" Mr. Steve thinks.  His friend Mr. Bobby, and Muhammad Ali; were brain damaged and part of it may be because they fought for too long and "took some beatings."  Cher just jogged bye holding a dead Mouse.  

              My boss thinks some bands "risk becoming a caricature of themselves in a cabaret act,"  which Dais thinks means they become kind of a cartoon character.   He was sad in hearing this band called WASP were still doing the same "Over the Top" performances.  I smell Sage.

      

                                WASP                                                                  TWISTED SISTER

            Daisy says our boss thinks some "Shock Rock" bands, Alice Cooper being an exception; should just do concerts without those costumes they wore when young.  "Theatrical Pomposity" as a gimmick is okay Mr. Steve thinks, but not "indefinitely."  A little Lizard waddled bye.

            "If an audience comes to hear a band play certain songs" from when they were young it doesn't matter what the band members are wearing my boss thinks.  He says most people, like himself; "get uglier with age so you have to accept it."  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye.

           Mr. Steve thinks teenage "angst" and "alienation" doesn't look good when you're old.  It's normal to rebel against your parents or society but, if you're still doing it when you're old then something might be wrong with you.  Maybe you should even go get some "Counseling." 

                                        

                SPIDERS FROM MARS                                                DAVID BOWIE

   

              I guess Mr. Steve thinks one reason that English Singer David Bowie stopped being his "Ziggy Stardust" character in the SPIDERS FROM MARS era is he "didn't want to become typecast."  Now he's "aging gracefully" his Niece Samantha says.  I can smell Penstemon. 

             Back n the early 1990's Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Harriet witnessed what he calls the "demise" of those Heavy Metal "Hair" bands.  I've mentioned how they worked together on her assignments, mainly covering the local L.A. "Club Scene."  Ah!  I feel so good right now. 

            "Grunge" bands like NIRVANA and PEARLJAM, in the early 1990's; replaced those Hair bands.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Rich it "seemed like the flick of a switch or blink of an eye," one style of Hard Rock "In;" the other "Out."  It's all about "making more money" Dais says.  

                   

                              WARRANT                                                        ROUGH CUTT

                                                                   PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

             

            My boss told Mr. Rich, who was in that band DRAGPIPE; "almost overnight;" it seemed Hair bands were "eclipsed' by Grunge music.  One minute bands like WARRANT and ROUGH CUTT were "heroes."  But the next minute they were "Old News," treated like "garbage."

            Like most people, when things are going good Musicians tend to think it will last forever.  As long as you're making someone money you're fine but, when you stop you're "Out the Door" so to speak; what Mr. Dave called "cold-blooded."  Libby's walking around her Corral.

            Mr. Steve says it's sad when he hears about Entertainers who at one time made a lot of money but now don't, but have no other "Skills" besides entertaining.   In 1997 Mr. Steve met a Guitarist from that band called RATT.  Years later he ended up being homeless I guess.

  

                                                                                                                  RATT

    

         The guy Mr. Steve met was RATT'S blond-haired Guitarist named Robbin Crosby, who said he was from the San Diego area.   Mr. Steve is about six feet tall so he had to be six feet four he told Mr. Dave one time.  Dais noticed how RATT and Robbin Crosby spelled their names.     

                   My boss was sad when he heard Robbin Crosby became a drug addict, lost his money; and died.  He told Mr. Steve he grew up in "La Jolla," which my Spanish Dictionary says means; "The Jewel."  I guess Mr. Steve told Robbin Crosby he "drove through" La Jolla one time. 

             It was at a Van Nuys "Rehearsal" studio, in 1997 he thinks; where my boss met Robbin Crosby.  It was kind of near that Recording Studio "Sound City," and Mr. Steve's pre-recession customer "Galpin" Ford.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral over there.

  

                                                       "SAN FERNANDO" MISSION

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA           

 

                  Daisy says Robbin Crosby asked Mr. Steve if he "knew" the Valley.  Mr. Steve said yes and told him about he and his parents being Tour Guides at the San Fernando Mission.  Robbin Crosby then got really interested and said how he "wanted to see the Mission" someday.

           Mr. Steve gave Robbin Crosby a business card and said call if he wanted a tour of the San Mission, but he never did and now my boss knows why.  Oh!  I think I'll add Robbin Crosby to the growing list of Souls I already pray for every night before going to sleep.  I smell Sage.

           According to Dais, our boss was surprised to find out he and Mark Ritter had read books written by Robbin Crosby's dad Henry Crosby.  Mr. Steve told Robbin Crosby he and his mom and dad read his dad's book "El Camino Real," the "Royal Road" in Spanish.  I feel good.    

      

      INDIAN CAVE ART ("BAJA," CALIFORNIA)                         EL "CAMINO REAL"

            I guess that guy Robbin Crosby was surprised my boss also knew about another book his father wrote on "Indian Cave Art" from down there in "Baja," California.  Mark Ritter, who studied "Petroglyphs;" also read that book too.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.    

           The Royal Road was that Highway coming north from Baja California and then coming up here and running through Alta California.  New Mexico also had a "Royal Road" coming up all the way from Mexico City.  Jack the Jackrabbit just sprinted bye in front of the Sheds. 

           When Mr. Steve told him about his mom Robbin Crosby said his mother is also a good Painter too.  It turns out, as a kid; Mr. Robbin walked around the "Capistrano" Mission with his parents a few times.  Two Motorcycles just went zooming bye out there on Primavera Road.   

   

                            HOLMES / ALI                                                   BERBICK / ALI

    

           If a Musician "Stays too long at the Party" as that saying goes, they don't get "Physically" hurt.  But in Boxing that is not true because, as that guy Muhammad Ali found out in his last two fights against Trevor Berbick and Larry Holmes; you get "Hit" hard.  I smell new Sage.  

           A word often used in entertainment is "Transient," which my Dictionary defines as being "temporary;" or "passing quickly."  I guess most Entertainers get "One Shot" at being a success so at least Muhammad Ali was a three time "World Champion."  Dawn's barking over there.      

          Muhammad Ali was one of the best Boxers of all time but took terrible beatings in those last two fights.  Daisy told me Larry Holmes even yelled at the Referee to stop because he didn't like hitting a defenseless person.  Mr. Bobby also has some "Brain Damage" from Boxing.

                           

                              SANDY KOUFAX                                       JIM BROWN

                                                                                                                                                                        

             Mr. Steve thinks Sandy Koufax and Jim Brown are two examples of Athletes who "knew when to retire."  Many Athletes have to be "dragged kicking and screaming" from their sport he told his brother Sam one time.  The late afternoon air is so clear and makes me feel good.

             Daisy and Millie heard on a tv show this saying about going after the "Brass Ring" and my Dictionary says brass is "A metal combining copper and zinc."  The tv show said in "Slang" "Brass" means "High-Ranking Officials."  Theodora just went running bye over there.  

             Someday I really want to see that tv show called "The Waltons," which Dais says Millie thought was so good.  Mr. Steve's parents, and Miss Sandy's too; enjoyed it a lot.  Mr. Steve got to shake the hand of the man who played Grandpa Walton at his barbecue that one time. 

    

                                                                                                  THE WALTONS  

   

            Daisy thinks one reason people like that tv show The Waltons is it's a "Family-Oriented" themes and stories.  In one episode the oldest brother "John Boy" tells his sister when she was depressed, "Self pity is like quicksand and will suck you in if you let it."  I smell Mesquite.

                 I remember that morning when Miss Susan used the phrase "traditional family values" in describing The Waltons.  She remembers how, back in the 1970's; people "made fun of" The Waltons as being too "Corny."  There are a lot of Birds now flying over the eastern desert.

           The Waltons have this boy Dog named "Reckless" Daisy says.  Earlier I wrote about that Korean War Horse with the same name, and also how Mr. Dave in New Mexico played drums in a good band called RECKLESS too.  Heathcliff crowed and his Hens are clucking happily.

 OUR HOUSE  

             Being too afraid to go all the way down the hallway in our house I'm "missing so much" Daisy keeps telling me.  In addition to not learning new things I'm missing out on some extra food because our boss gives her food off of his plate as he eats.  Wow!  That would be good. 

             I just thought of my boss's bad year 1999, and how he at first "tried to blame others" and "make excuses" for his "bad decisions."  He only felt sorry for himself for a little while and now takes "Full Responsibility" Daisy heard him tell Mr. Ralph one time.  Dawn's barking.   

                  On the front of her refrigerator down there in Sylmar I guess Mr. Steve's mom has a paper saying, "The decisions you make determine the life you lead."  For a long time my boss didn't think much of it.  But he does now in reflecting back on how stupid he was in 1999. 

            

                                                FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE (1844-1900)

         

            Mr. Steve's mom also had Friedrich Nietzsche's saying posted on the refrigerator, "That which does not destroy me only makes me stronger."  Boy!  That guy Nietzsche had a pretty big mustache I notice in a picture of him.  I smell some of our neighbors Beavertail cactus.

            When "things go bad" you just have to "work through it" Sister Rita Joseph told her class, but my boss's dad joked one time; that's "easier said than done."  Dais heard our boss tell Miss Babette for him hard times are "often made a little easier" by listening to music.  

            Sister Clara Joseph told her class to "Act" happy, even when you're not; "for the sake of those around you."  My boss has a hard time doing that so stays to himself more.  The "older he gets" Mr. Steve told his mom, "more often than not;" he "actually prefers to be alone." 

                                    

                                                     PIÑON HILLS / PHELAN (2009)  

                    

            In 2005 when my boss first moved up here to the High Desert the economy wasn't as bad as it got in 2009, and to this day the American economy has not come totally back I guess.  And, we're in this water "Drought" too now so a lot of people are worried.  Heathcliff crowed.

            Daisy says Mr. Steve is not rich but we're still "better off" than most of the other people and Dogs in the world.  With much of the world living in what's called "Abject Poverty," the three of us don't have to think about getting food and water.   A Train whistled to my left. 

                When Mr. Steve told people he was moving up here many said they'd go visit him but only a few have.  This is mainly because he now lives so far away and the cost of gas for Cars is now so high.  We really like it when Mr. Grant comes over to visit us with his blind Dog Miggie.

              

                                                                       JONATHON SWIFT (1667-1745)   

               

              Mr. Steve always carries books in his vehicles, in case he has "time to kill."  Daisy says right now reads "little by little" a "Biography" of that "Anglo-Irish" Writer Jonathon Swift.  I guess, from what my Encyclopedia says; he was born in Ireland but often lived in England.

              Jonathon Swift, a Protestant "Anglican" Cleric;  lived during the same period as that guy Sir Isaac Newton.  Mr. Steve and Miss Susan at work, who converted to Christianity; talked about how most Irish are "Roman Catholic" like us.  Frida and Diego are flying to the east.

              Daisy says our boss told Miss Susan Jonathon Swift was smart, and may have been the "greatest satirist in history."  Mr. Steve gets the impression he "didn't think highly of human nature."  Satirists "make fun of people with them realizing it" from what Daisy's heard.

                                                                                      "GULLIVER'S TRAVELS"                         

   

           Dais and Millie saw a good cartoon movie called "Gulliver's Travels" which is based on a Jonathon Swift book.  Like Thomas More and Aldous Huxley, Jonathon Swift created fictional worlds to "ironically" make people think; very often in "Humorous" ways.  Libby neighed.  

           It says here Jonathon Swift was a "Dean" in that "Church of England King Henry VII started in the 16th century.  I guess a Dean is kind of like a Priest, and besides his books he also wrote poems, essays and pamphlets too.  I smell Bravo Company of Quail out in the desert.

               Just like Nostradamus had to disguise his predictions in the 1500's because of the Catholic "Inquisition," Jonathon Swift had to be careful not to insult or make powerful English people mad at him.  He knew Henry VIII had Sir Thomas More's head cut off.  A Lizard ran bye.

      

                                                                                RAY HARRYHAUSEN (1920-2013)

           I guess, from what Daisy says; that guy Ray Harryhausen who I wrote about earlier; one time worked on a movie based on a Jonathon Swift book.  "Anglican" is another name for the Church of England, but over here in America; they're called "Episcopalians."  I smell Sage. 

          Mr. Steve says  Aldous Huxley criticized his 20th century English culture, but didn't have to worry about being "Executed" for saying the wrong thing.  I just thought of how in "Alice in Wonderland" the Queen of Hearts always ordered heads be "Lopped off."   A Train whistled.

          Daisy says Gulliver's Travel's is about a man who sails around the world on a Ship and at times gets stuck in totally amazing places.  In one of those lands he's a "Giant," but in another place he's tiny and is even turned into a little girl's pet.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.

                 

                                                             "GULLIVER'S TRAVELS"

                According to Dais, in Gulliver's Travels that guy Gulliver helped these little people called "Liliputians" win a war.  But, at first; those Liliputians are afraid of him and even tie him down to the ground.  But later he becomes friends with them and even helps them win that war.

          In the story, the Liliputians "Mobilize" for war, all their "Ambassadors" going back and forth on "High Level Negotiations" as both sides armies' prepare.  The "War Issue?" "Which is the "proper end of a boiled egg to crack open first," the big or small end?"  Dawn's barking.

          My boss thinks Jonathon Swift's story of the "Big-Enders" versus the "Small-Enders" is meant to tell people war should not be entered into for silly reasons.  In both the 17th and 18th centuries Protestant England warred against Catholic France.  I can smell some Creosote.

    

                                                            LOUIS XIV (1638-1715)

PAINTING BY HYACINTHE RIGAUD

              I guess, during Jonathon Swift's life France's leader in wars against England was that guy King Louis XIV; who's associated with "High Heel" shoes.  I like the black wig he wore.  He was born and died in September which is the same month of Miss Maria's birthday too.            

             Some think, at the end of his life Jonathon Swift was a "Misanthrope;" or person who "hates humanity."  Like that other British Philosopher Thomas Hobbes, he may have believed "Human Nature," in most people; is primarily bad.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's chicks.  

            Mr. Steve thinks "many if not most" people have the "Capacity" for good and bad.  He's seen both in people and told Mr. Grant one time he completely understands the joke about "no good deed going unpunished."  People he's lent money to have "disappeared" a few times.

          

                                                                    FRANK ZAPPA

  

            I just thought of how that guy Frank Zappa grew up in the "Antelope Valley," near to where my boss's brother Sam's family live.  He at times seems to have disliked humanity, often making fun of people; sometimes saying most people were idiots.  Andy's looking at me.  

            A guy my boss lent money to is paying him back "Little by Little" as part of "Alcoholics Anonymous."  Mr. Steve keeps this notebook listing the "Restitution" payments for the guy to show his "A.A." group later.  Daisy says A.A. uses Reinhold Niebuhr's "Serenity Prayer." 

            Hey God?  As You know, sometimes my boss just tells people he gives money to they don't have to pay him back.  But, he makes them promise to help someone else someday; and think of him when they do.  So, maybe he jokes; this will help him on Judgement Day in Your eyes?

         

                                                             "LAS VEGAS" (NEVADA)

  

             It was Mr. Steve's mother and the Nuns at Saint Ferdinands who told him to help others and then tell them to later help others in his name.   Back in 1993, when it was over one hundred degrees; Mr. Steve and some of his family visited "Las Vegas."  Their Car "Broke Down."

            On the #15 Highway going into Las Vegas is the town of "Henderson."  That's where the Cadillac Mr. Steve was driving stopped.  Because he drives in the right-hand lane he just guided the Car over the side.  Libby's watching the four Pigeons flying over her Corral right now.

            Daisy says in 1993 our boss's mom, brother Rock; and Niece Stephanie were also in the Car.  No one had one of those "Cell" phones yet but luckily, about two hundred yards away; was a "Housing Tract."  Mr. Steve crossed that area and then had to climb over a fence. 

        

                                                      "SERPENTINE" BELT SYSTEM

     

                 Our boss, one morning as he watered the big Mulberry tree up there in the front yard; talked with Mr. Cliff about Cars.  I guess in 1993 the "Concept" of a single "Belt" on a motor was pretty new then.  One "Serpentine" belt replaces the multiple "Individual" belts. 

                  I guess that type of belt broke on Mr. Steve's dad's Car so, in order to call the "Auto Club;" he needed to jump over a fence and then go to a house.  Luckily Dais says, the lady who answered the door believed our boss and let him in to use her phone.  I smell a Joshua tree.    

                 Mr. Steve thanked the lady and offered to pay her but she said no.  He told her he'd help someone in her name and she smiled and said "okay."  In blazing hot weather Mr. Steve hiked back over to the Car.  He cut the palms of his hands on the top of the fence he climbed over. 

                                                      MR. MARK WITH DOG "KARMA"

             I just thought of how Mr. Mark the homeless man named his "Yorkie" Dog "Karma."  He really likes the BEACH BOYS' song "Good Vibrations." Mr. Steve read the BEACH BOYS Drummer, who he met as a kid; shares December 4 as a birthday with his Niece Stephanie.

            When Mr. Steve got back to the Car in 1993 he found only his brother Rock there.  It was kind of a relief when told everyone else had gotten a ride into the Hotel.  So they both just had to go ahead and wait until the Tow Truck arrived on that one "extremely hot day" he says.

           Most people don't associate Las Vegas with Mormons Mr. Steve says.  But since the mid-19th century they've been involved in things having to do with the State of "Nevada." Daisy has me scheduled to learn about some of that history tomorrow when I write my second book.   

          

  "LATTER DAY SAINTS"       

      

             In 1993 it turns out a Mormon family saw the Car broken down so stopped in their Van and offered to take Mr. Steve's mom and Niece into town.   Mr. Steve's mom really wanted to pay that Mormon man but stopped offering when he said, "Help someone and think my family."

            Hey Lord!  Mr. Steve's mother promised that one Mormon man she'd help others "In his Spirit," and has.  Daisy thinks she wants to believe what You said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Andy and Helen the Squirrels are near the entrance to their hole.

            Mr. Steve says, very often that secular saying "What goes around comes around" is true; but not always.  Sometimes "darkness wins" is how he described it to Mr. Randy one time on the phone according to Dais.  Helen went down into the burrow while Andy guards above.

    

                                                         KENNETH HAHN SR. (1920-1997)

 

            Cars breaking down is why this a Politician named Kenneth Hahn Sr. worked on getting "Emergency Call Boxes" put on the side of Highways in Los Angeles.  Mr. Steve's father knew him and says he "did a lot of good."  Cell Phones have made Call Boxes obsolete Dais says.

           I guess "Kenny" Hahn's son and daughter are also Politicians, and Mr. Steve thinks of him when he drives bye one of those old Call Box's.  Daisy one time told me what a "Pay" phone "Booth" is, and how Mr. Phillip calls cell phones "Mobile" phones.  Andy's sniffing the air.   

          Mike Antonovich, that L.A. County "Supervisor" who Mr. Steve's dad worked with over the years; knew Kenny Hahn and helped him "do good things" my boss's dad says.  Daisy heard he rescues Dogs so we'd vote for him.  Hey!  Maybe someday Dogs will be allowed to vote.  

                 

                                                                                                    "CRUCIFIXION"  

            

           Hey Lord?  Is there a place called "Purgatory," where you go if you aren't bad enough to go to Hell; or good enough to make it up into Heaven?  Sister Rita Joseph believed that a "Good Act" might also help you too if you're Soul is ever stuck in Purgatory.  Heathcliff crowed.

           Sister Clara Joseph told her class "part of human nature is selfish so you should try to force yourself to think about other's welfare."  I'm so lucky Daisy's not what they call "Self-Centered."  Daisy told me how a few years ago our boss met an older man from "India."  

           That Indian man is "Hindu," and described to our boss how, at a "Puja" ceremony it was important to "get the correct vibrations."  I guess, "Prasad" is the "Holy" food Hindu's eat at those Puja's; and a "Mantra" is like our Christian prayers.  I can smell Alpha Company.

     

                                                                        BEACH BOYS 

   

             I guess that Indian man knew, beside the teachings of his own religion; about Judaism, Christianity and Islam too.  And he said he liked the "sound" of the BEACH BOYS song Good Vibrations, even though it's not really about the concept of "Karma."  I smell Mesquite.  

            Daisy heard the Indian man say mantras make him "feel better and take solace" when sad.  Praying makes me feel calmer too somehow.  As a matter of fact Blessed Mother, right now I think I'll say a quick Hail Mary before finishing the final chapter of this first long book.    

           The Indian man said he prays to the "Elephant-headed God Ganesh," and I notice again the "Swastika" logos on the painting of Ganesh.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye, and left some dust lingering up in the air.  It's starting to get darker, the shadows getting harder to see.

    

                                                                       "GANESH"       

            Besides 20th century German "Nazis," swastika logos have also been used by Hindu's, Buddhist's; and even in Greek and Roman art.  Mr. Dave says "Pueblo" Indians put swastika emblems on pottery.   This Encyclopedia says Ganesh is called the "Remover of Obstacles."   

            An "Arti" is a Hindu ceremonial offering to the Gods, done through the use of fire so; when a relative dies you go through thirteen days of Pujas.  At times I feel sad, or what I guess is called "Melancholy;" but hen God I just think of my "Good Fortune."  Heathcliff crowed.

            For some reason I'm suddenly hearing in my head that AC/DC song "Thunderstruck."  I feel the sense of uplifting "Rhêma" inside of me right now, which gives me energy for finishing this last chapter of my first book.  Dawn, Blinky and Rosie's scents just came in over here.      

  

                                                AC/DC                                                              MAGGIE CÓRDOVA

     

            Dais says AC/DC have a song called "Stiff Upper Lip," which might be about how, when things go bad; you have to try to "Put on a brave Face" as they say.   Daisy thinks someday, in seeing Angus Young play guitar and dance; it will make me dance.  I'll do my Irish Jig!

            At times our boss plays drums along to AC/DC songs, and told that kid Jason he likes the simple basic "Back Beats" their Drummer's play; and admires their ability to "sustain" a beat "In the Pocket." Sometimes from here on Elvira I can hear him playing.  Dawn's barking.

       I can tell drums are loud, especially those round and flat metal "Cymbals" I mentioned before.  Daisy knows I'm really afraid of loud sounds, like in those scary "Thunder Storms" we    sometimes have around here in Piñon Hills.  But I'm way more afraid of the "Lightning.                                                CAPTAIN JAMES COOK (1728-1779)  

PAINTING BY SIR NATHANIEL DANCE-HOLLAND

             

             I just thought again of that one big island "Continent" of "Australia" where AC/DC are from.  It's also a "Country" too and, because it's so far from the other continents way out in the Pacific Ocean; it has unique Animals.  Australia was part of the British Empire for a while.  

             My Encyclopedia says a British man named Captain James Cook, in the 1700's; sailed to and "explored" the "Pacific Ocean."  Mr. Mark told my boss he was killed in Hawaii and visited Australia.   Seeing a flock of Birds moving together toward the east makes me feel good.

            Captain Cook "mapped" many areas in the Pacific Ocean, and Mark Ritter took a book about him to Australia that time.  This tv show Daisy saw showed these amazing hopping things called "Kangaroos."  They look like giant Rabbits and are Australia's "National" symbol.   

 

                                                                                                          KANGAROO

             Wow!  This picture shows a baby Kangaroo sticking out of a "Pouch" attached onto his mom's stomach!  Daisy said the tv show mentioned how Kangaroos use their tail "not only" for "balance" but "also as a kind of third leg."  Mr. Steve used the word "Tripod" that time. 

             This is interesting.  The caption below the picture of the momma Kangaroo calls babies "Joeys."  It says here Kangaroos were first seen by Europeans in the late-18th century when that guy Captain Cook's Ships sailed there.  The four Pigeons are flying toward the northeast.

            I guess Captain Cook's wooden Ship hit "jagged" coral in the "Great Barrier Reef."  So they had to make repairs in Australia.  Oh!  Before being sent out to the Pacific Ocean, Captain Cook explored the "St. Lawrence" River over there in that "Eastern" part of Canada.  

                   

                                                                SPANISH "GALLEON"

           

          By the mid-18th century the British "Royal" Navy knew Spain, for over a century; had been sending "Treasure" Ships from the Philippines to the west coast of Mexico.  So they sent out men like Captain Cook to "Check Out" the Pacific Ocean.  Heathcliff just crowed. 

          It was in the second half of the 1700's when Captain Cook's Sailors "charted" the Pacific Ocean.  And it was also in those decades the Spanish were colonizing "Alta" California through the Mission system.   This Dictionary says that charted means to "make or draw" maps. 

         Captain Cook named the islands now called Hawaii the "Sandwich" islands.  Daisy says the tv show talked about another unique Australian Animal called a "Duck-billed Platypus,"  which is a "Mammal" that lays eggs and has a flat "Beaver-type tail.  Two Crows are squawking. 

      

                                                                      PLATYPUS     

             

                 According to my Encyclopedia Platypus's are one of the few "venomous" mammals, as they have really sharp claws or "spurs" on their back feet.  Dais told me about it and if I ever do see a Platypus I'll have to remember that.  I wonder what a real Platypus would smell like?  

            I'm still thinking of AC/DC, who I guess don't really need incredible Drummers to play what Mr. Dave called their "Anthem" songs.  He said Progressive Rock bands like RUSH and KANSAS have "great" Drummer's.  Their "Fills" between the sections are "exceptional"  

            Mr. Steve plays drums just for the "Fun of It" as they say, and one time Daisy heard him play along to a band called the CARS.  Someday I want to hear that AC/DC song about the girl named Rosie, who our Rosie is named after.  It's "energetic and happy-sounding" Dais says.

                       

                                                                        ROSIE    

                                

            Daisy thinks that AC/DC song, "A Whole Lotta Rosie;" might be about a big in size girl named Rosie.  The lyrics say she, "ain't exactly pretty, ain't exactly small."  I smell Rosie, which makes me think right now of how, even though she's a "Great Dane;" she's shriveling away.    

            My boss likes how AC/DC use "pauses," or "stops and starts" and "drops;" to "create a sense of anticipation."  There are two brothers in AC/DC, Malcolm the older brother who plays "Rhythm" guitar; and Angus who plays rhythm and "Lead."  Both are "Jockey" size.

            With the Drummer and Bassist, Malcolm helps create the "Foundation" or "Bottom" of AC/DC songs.  Daisy told me our boss used the phrase "steady platform" to describe Malcolm Young's playing.  Angus's lead guitar gives the songs "color and energy" Mr. Rich thinks. 

     

                                                                               "PIT BULL" / "TERRIER"    

                                                                                                                               PHOTO BY CUPPYUPPYCAKE      

                           

           Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie, and boyfriend Rich; have a gray boy "Staffordshire Terrier." His name is "Angus" like AC/DC'S Guitarist, and his best friend is a girl named "Betty."  From what Daisy and Millie heard, Angus and Betty are both really nice and aren't mean at all.  

                Daisy says Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave he met a guy, who was about six feet tall like himself; who was introduced and shook hands with the two brothers from AC/DC.  He "estimated," or guessed; they were about five feet five or six inches tall.   Samson and Delilah just flew bye.

          They might be small but Malcolm and Angus Young play with power!  I really want to hear the song where AC/DC begin with an earie ringing Church bell, just like BLACK SABBATH do when they start their song "Black Sabbath."   Black Sabbath begins with the sound of rain.   

                                       

                                                                                                 HORSE RACING   

         

          My boss has been told, and "has a tendency" to believe; "Pound for Pound" Jockeys are the "strongest" Athletes.  Seeing them up close controlling big powerful Horses running "at full speed is impressive."   A Train whistled faintly way out there in the northern desert to my left.     

            Seeing Horses race is a "smaller version" of "Stock" Cars "flying around a track" in a "N.A.S.C.A.R" race Mr. Steve told his sister Susan.  I've mentioned how N.A.S.C.A.R stands for the "National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing."  Some of the Ducks are quacking.  

            Auto and Horse racing "loses something on tv" my boss thinks.  Ice Hockey for him is the same way.  Unless you're there you can't fully appreciate a Race Horse's power, or a Race Car going two hundred miles per hour.  Mr. Steve's second "S.S." Chevelle went 125 m.p.h.   

            

                  DANICA PATRICK                                          SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY                   

              I just thought of those girl Race Car Drivers Danica Patrick and Shirley Muldowney.  On tv, Dais and Millie saw Danica Patrick race one time; and I guess some criticize her because she doesn't win enough.  Daisy jokes how our boss just likes looking at how pretty she is.

              Mr. Steve tells people Danica Patrick must have some skill.  They wouldn't let her race at such a dangerous high level, in two different types of racing; in two different types of Car.  Up in the sky our four Pigeons, Lucy and Ricky and Fred and Ethel; are flying to the northeast.    

              When our boss and brother Rock visited their Uncle Marty and Aunt Josephine in San Diego during the 1970's, they saw Horse Racing at "Del Mar; or "Of the Sea" in English.  I can tell I'm going to need all of these Dictionaries over the next three days.  Heathcliff crowed.

      

                                                                      "SEA WORLD"

     

              One time my boss told his mom about going to "Sea World" when he and Rock visited their Uncle Marty and Aunt Josephine in San Diego.  They would spend the whole day walking around Sea World.  I guess, the first Napoleon's wife was also named "Josephine" too.

              The name "Del Mar" could also mean "By the Ocean" in Spanish.  Mr. Steve has seen "beautiful sunsets" over the Pacific Ocean from the beaches in Del Mar.  Mr. Ramon the Auto Mechanic, whose favorite color is orange; says he loves some of the sunsets around here.  

              All of a sudden I just thought about how the name "Sylmar" means "Sea of Trees" in Latin, and in the early 20th century was world famous for "Olives."   Mr. Steve's parents still have some Olive trees on their property down there.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.  

    

 "BARREL" RACING

         Mr. Steve and his father one time talked about how people gamble or "Bet" on Horse Racing.  They also discussed that "Barrel Racing" I wrote about earlier this morning.  When at   the Del Mar Horse races Mr. Steve bet two dollars on each of the nine races on that day.              

           I guess in Horse Racing you can bet that a Horse will "Win" the race, but you can also gamble that Horse will either "Place" or "Show;" which means finishing second or third.  Mr.    Steve didn't follow Horse Racing so just "bet on the Jockey" he says.  Heathcliff crowed.              

           Listed first in the Del Mar Jockey "Standings," my boss bet on the nine Horses this guy named Howard Grant rode to Show.  Daisy heard seven times he at least came in third, so Mr.      Steve won fifty one dollars.  I've mentioned before how "De" or Del" can also mean "from."        

          

    MOLLY / LIBBY       

            

          Smelling Libby right now makes me remember Molly's scent, and think of the "Sacred Feminine" concept.  Hey Blessed Mother!  I think our "Sixth Sense" has helped Daisy and I in guarding our land.  My boss joked Molly "had a sixth sense for people who rubbed her nose."     

             Daisy jokes, "in her old age;" she "feels it in her bones" before weather changes.  Our boss thinks a female's “intuition,” or "Hunch's;" is one reason why males "often find it hard to live without them."  Males tend to want things to be more "logical" and "rational" he says. 

            Mr. Steve thinks many times “two opposites can create one whole.”  I remember when Mr. Mike joked about how "sometimes" females can “civilize” males, often by by acting as their “sensible conscience.”  I noticed how he even mentioned that one tv show The Walton's.

   

                       WINS "HEISMAN"                   DOUG FLUTIE                       WITH FAMILY

    

           Hey Lord!  I remember that Saturday morning when, instead of watching cartoons; we  watched that tv show about Doug Flutie.  Someday I really want to see a Football game on tv.  My boss saw his Nephew Mathew play Football for "Paraclete" against "Serrano" High.

           Doug Flutie's family is Christian "Roman Catholic" just like us Lord, which is another reason I like them.  Often called "Undersized," Doug Flutie became a great Quarterback; and his wife seems smart.  Two Motorcycles went zooming bye out there on Primavera Road. 

           Mr. Steve thinks, an example of a females' "influence" are televised Football games.  If a Player notices a camera pointed at him he smiles, waves and yells; "Hi mom!" or "It wasn't me mom.”  In a "Parade," Samantha couldn't resist waving at her Grandma as she went bye. 

   

                                     ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865) WITH FAMILY

              Abraham Lincoln liked that poem which said, "The hand that rock's the cradle is the power that rules the earth."  It says here he said, "All that I am and all that I will ever be I owe to my mothers."  His first mother "died young" according to what it says in my Encyclopedia.    

                   Daisy says a tv show said President Lincoln's father was kind of mean, and thought it a "Waste of Time" learning to read and write.  But it's a good thing he didn't believe him because of what happened later in the American Civil War.  Boy!  I wonder who my parents were?

              Hey God!  My mother and father is who I'd also want to go back in time to meet.  And if I know Daisy, which I do; I'll bet she would want to smell that French girl Joan of Arc because of how brave she was when they burned her alive.  Ugh!  Burning up would be so bad I think!  

                                                                           MOTHER NANCY HANKS LINCOLN              STEPMOTHER SARAH JOHNSTON

                                             (1784-1818)                                                              ((1788-1869)

                   

                  On the tv show about Lincoln it said his real original mom died when he was nine, so his father got remarried; and it was his new "Stepmother" who "encouraged him" to learn to read and write.  Daisy thinks President Lincoln had trust and respect for both of his mom's.  

             I've mentioned how that lady Sister Rita Joseph said there are "only" two types of people in the world, from any group, race or culture; “decent” or “indecent.”  Talking about "Hanging Around" indecent people, she said "good crowd;" / "bad crowd."  A Lizard just ran bye.

            A joke saying Sister Rita Joseph liked was, "Lay with Dogs, get fleas."  Daisy and I don't have fleas but, even if I did get a flea; I'm very accurate at using my hinds legs to scratch any of my different areas.  And, besides that; I'm getting pretty good at using my sharp teeth too! 

                                              MR. JULIO WITH DAUGHTER MABEL

            One time Daisy heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Julio about going to Saint Ferdinands.  He told Mr. Julio how Sister Rita Joseph believed it was better to be alone than to "associate" with "indecent people" who "engage in bad behavior."  Libby just whinnied.

            Sister Rita Joseph said, "You're known by the company you keep so keep good company or stay to yourself."  Mr. Julio told our boss this Spanish saying, "Dime con quién, y te dice quin eres."  And that means in English, "Tell me who you're with, and I'll tell you who you are."  

             I've mentioned how Mr. Julio grew up in the area of Mexico near to the border between San Diego and Tijuana.  He was "Amnestied" by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and my boss says he's a "reliable hard working and basically decent person."  I smell Andy over there.   

     

                                                   MR. JULIO WITH WIFE ROSARIO

   

            Mr. Julio told my boss a Spanish saying, "Mejor solo que mal acompañado; or "Better alone than with bad company."  As I've said before, my boss kind of "Expanded" on Sister Rita Joseph's idea about people being either "Decent or Indecent."  Julio's wife is "Nicaraguan."    

           Sister Rita Joseph's "decent people" are "flawed, imperfect individuals," who "normally have a conscience," and "try to do the right thing;" but "don't always."  Sister Rita Joseph said, "We all have the capacity for decency and indecency."   The shadows are getting darker.               

       Daisy says our boss thinks those in Sister Rita Joseph's second category are “basically" indecent because, they usually don't have much of a conscience; but sometimes do what's called    the "Right Thing."  Heathcliff crowed and hearing him makes me feel good right now.                                                                                      

FEMALE CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE

     

           Dais says Sister Rita Joseph told her class no group has a "monopoly on right or wrong."   There is "no such thing as a perfect person" my boss thinks but, like his dad; is thankful the females in our family have been "good helpmates."  I like the sound of Heathcliff's voice. 

           This older man once joked with Mr. Steve that the quickest way to "tame a frontier or wilderness is to bring in a population of basically decent women."  He thinks that's because they "don't easily tolerate indecency around young children."  I smell Theodora's Creosote bush.  

           In 1848 "Gold" was discovered out here in Alta California, so the giant "Gold Rush" was triggered.  It was an "all male environment" for a while so there was a lot of violence and things like that going on.  People were really greedy so "without conscience" even killed others.

   

                                                                                        "THE OLD PROSPECTOR"

PAINTING BY ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ

            Dais says the man told Mr. Steve in the mid-1850's the "mayhem and anarchy" ended in California "about the same time" as women from back east started coming here more and more. That one joke phrase, "His better Half;" did not come "out of nowhere" my boss thinks.   

            In their own lives Mr. Steve and his brothers and sisters are fortunate to have been raised and influenced by their mom's basic decency.  Their father admits that marrying her was one of the "best decisions" he ever made.  Oh!  Right now I'm imagining her very unique scent.

           By what's called "Osmosis," my boss's parents over the years have "Bonded" and kind of "Melded" together.  One time, Mr. Steve's father's friend Mr. Ivan described them as being; "At one With" each other.   Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye, moving to the east.

              

                                                         "HADRIAN'S WALL"    

PHOTO BY OLI SCARFF                       

              

             In the 2nd century A.D. the Roman Emperor "Hadrian" had "Legionnaires," in what is now "England;" build a long wall.  Mr. Phillip knows about it and says some say it was to guard the northern border from Scottish "Barbarians."  Donald and Daisy are both quacking.

            Mr. Phillip says other's think "Hadrian's Wall" was a "Fortress" to house Soldiers for "Offensive Operations."  Mr. Steve thinks it might've simply been a way to establish a border, and maybe charge people money for going through it.  That area has had a bloody history.  

            Dais says our boss met a lady who told him, besides digging up military things which you would expect near Hadrian's Wall; Archaeologist's have also found women and children's things too.  Oh!  Freddie's chasing a boy Crow.  And Fanny's following them and yelling loud too.

        

                                                  CÓRDOVA FAMILY (LATE 1970'S)      

    CELINA (HOLDING "CHINO") / MOM / SUSAN / MR. STEVE   

ROCK / DAD / SAM JR.

 

            I guess the lady who knew about Hadrian's Wall had two kids and she and my boss, even though he's never had children; agreed one of the most difficult things to do in life is raise kids.   Our boss "respects those who have" he says.  He and his siblings "are very fortunate."

           Mr. Steve's dad jokes someone should write a "manual" for raising kids.  Hey!  That may not be such a bad idea!  It could be a book kind of like that one famous 16th century book "The Prince" by Machiavelli, and maybe; someone could even make some money in selling it. 

           "Just as there's no such thing as perfect kids, there's no such thing as a perfect parent" my boss thinks.  "How do you know when you're giving too much guidance or not enough, too much strict discipline or not enough; even too much love or not enough?"  I smell Sage.

  

                                                                     PARENTING          

          

             Mr. Steve has seen how "raising kids can be a humbling experience," even though he's never done it.  He and his siblings were "hard to raise" at times he says, so their parents just "did the best they could with what they had to work with at the time."  Libby neighed.

             I've mentioned before how my boss thinks, unless you're a genius; life is often "Trial and Error" in learning from mistakes.  He's proud of how his brothers and sisters have all been good parents.  And his Niece Stephanie and boyfriend Rich are good parents to Cristina too. 

            Two individuals in a relationship can "weather almost anything" my boss thinks, as long as they have "trust and respect."  Hey Lord?  Daisy heard our boss Mr. Steve mention how You talked about a house built on top of  "sand."  Boy!  That would be kind of bad alright.

                    

                                                   "SERMON ON THE MOUNT"

         

           Hey Lord!  Our boss's parents knew it was not enough to have a good "image" of a parent in "showing up" or making the "obligatory" appearances on all the "right" occasions.  They did not want to "Give the Impression" of being good parents.  A little Lizard went running bye.  

           Mr. Steve's father was his Baseball Coach for two years, his mom his sister's Girl Scout leader; and both influenced other kids as "Good Examples."  Daisy and I really do like it when Mr. Steve's parents drive all of the way up here from Sylmar to visit us.  Dawn's barking.

           In a certain way, Daisy and I sort of want to think of our boss's parents as Grandparents. Oh!  For some reason I just thought about that man Julius Caesar again, and how he was killed just like President Kennedy was assassinated two thousand years later.  I smell Arborvitae. 

          

                                                 JULIUS CAESAR (100 B.C.-44 B.C.)    

                                                                                                                                    PAINTING BY T. SCARPELLI

   

           This Encyclopedia says some Roman Senators  didn't like Caesar being a "Dictator," so stabbed him to death.  He ignored his wife Calpurnia's "premonitions" when she said don't go to work so "Paid the Price."   Mr. Steve has a knife like the ones used to kill Caesar Daisy says.  

           I guess, on his way to the Senate one of those "Fortune Teller's" even warned Caesar to, "Beware the Ides of March" which means March the 15th.   I've mentioned a few times how my boss's sister Susan's birthday is the 16th. And Mr. Ralph was born on March the 17th.

          Daisy heard in one of Shakespeare's "Elizabethan" plays Julius Caesar's last words were, "Et tu, Brute?"  And in Latin that is probably translated to be, "And you too Brutus?"  Brutus was supposedly his "good friend" and "benefactor" according to this one Encyclopedia.

         

                                                                                 BILL HANDEL WITH FAMILY

                      

             On many mornings Mr. Steve listens to that guy Bill Handel on the Radio.  And every year on March the 15th he mentions the Ides of March and makes a joke out of Caesar's possible last words.  Andy's over there sniffing the air to make sure Goliath or Cher aren't around. 

            Daisy says IRON MAIDEN have this "Instrumental" song called "The Ides of March."  My boss likes songs with no singing, but also songs with no musical instruments too.  That band STEELEYE SPAN from England has their really good "Acapella" song  called "Gaudette."   

             Besides those knives or "Daggers," like the ones used to stab Julius Caesar; Dais told me our boss also has a really heavy replica "Gladius" Sword.  It's like the ones Roman Legionnaires or Gladiators had.  Mr. Steve's knives, swords and spears have not been sharpened I guess. 

  

                                                ANCIENT ROMAN "SEIGE" ENGINE    

             My boss has a miniature Roman "Siege Engine" or "Catapult" sitting on the divider between the kitchen and this dining room.  I see it when the sliding glass door is open.  It says here in this one good French Dictionary that a Siege Engine is also called a "Trebuchet."  

            Someday, "if it doesn't cost too much," Mr. Steve says he might buy a Roman "Peelum" Spear like the ones used back then.  In one of corners of his office, he's got a few types of Spears leaning against the wall; according to what Daisy says.  Andy's sniffing the air over there.  

            Oh!  All of sudden I'm hearing METALLIC'S "Enter Sandman."  Daisy saw this tv show that said, in a concert; the Singer was accidentally burned on stage one time.  Mr. Steve used to know someone who did "Pyrotechnics," so knows just how dangerous that could possibly be.    

             

METALLICA

     

             Hey God!  Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Dave how METALLICA'S Singer "must've had a Guardian Angel looking over him" the night he got burned.  I'm so glad I have you Stanley!  It's getting darker so I may not be able to finish all of this first book today, but I'll sure try. 

             Mr. Steve liked METALLICA even more after he found out they're current bass player's last name is "Trujillo," just like his mom's "Maiden" name.  Daisy heard Trujillo is a name, like Córdova; which is "Derived" from a really old city in Spain.  Raven's are croaking faintly.

            "Trujillo" is located in an area of central Spain called "Extremadura." I guess Hernando de Soto the Explorer was originally from Trujillo.  In the 16th century, the "Reconquista" over; guys like de Soto often became "Conquistadors" in order to "Escape Poverty" so to speak.   

                                                            

                                                   FRANCISCO PIZZARO (1471-1541)

   

             In the 1530's Francisco Pizzaro, also from Trujillo; conquered the "Inca" Indians down in South America in the region now called "Peru."  I guess de Soto "Served" under him.  Boy! It's too bad how, just like the Aztecs in the early 1820's, the Incan's got totally slaughtered.

         This Encyclopedia says, like Córtez up in Mexico, Pizzaro's men had Horses and guns; their  "hand weapons" and "shields" were metal!  Mr. Steve thinks what we now define as being "Atrocities" was "common" in history, the 16th century being "no exception."  I smell Sage.       

              My boss thinks during the 1500's "many if not most" Spanish, "didn't consider Indians  humans with a Soul;" so it was "easy to kill them like vermin."  But some Priests like Father Serra, who did think they were "primitive;" in their minds tried to help them.   I like Sage.  

          

GRANDMA / GRANDPA TRUJILLO

                                                                                                                        

           Mr. Steve's Grandma Trujillo died in June of 2001.  In the late 1990's she was brought out here to California to live with Mr. Steve's parents and for a while lived at their house.  But when she died she was living in one of those "Retirement Centers" that I've mentioned before.  

           Daisy says, even though Grandma Trujillo only went to Eighth Grade; she was really good at "Math" like Mr. Steve's father.  Grandpa Trujillo died in the mid-1970's after working at the "Santa Fe" railroad company for almost fifty years.  Someday I might learn some math.  

           All four of Mr. Steve's Grandparents, hard-working; survived the  Great Depression of the 1930's even though they were all raising kids.  And, because both Grandma's were the way they were; the families survived my boss's father says now.  Boy!  I want to be strong too! 

                                                                   

                                                                         GRANDPA / GRANDMA CÓRDOVA

     

            One time Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with that girl Susan who he taught to be a Salesperson.  Her mother died in a Retirement Center too I guess.  Our boss told Miss Susan he's "proud" of how, at an older age; she "learned to be a really good salesperson."

            I guess Mr. Steve told Miss Susan, "I don't know what's worse, having your mind go out with your body still strong; or your body getting worse while your mind is so sharp.  We've had both in our family."  I can smell the baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.

            Mr. Steve and Samantha cleaned out Grandma Trujillo's room at the Retirement Center. This "Filipina" Nurse said "You'll be happy to know Mr. Steve your Grandma Lupe watched on tv her shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune the night before she died."  He was so happy.

            

                                                                               

            At the time of her death Grandma Córdova's mind was "back to being a baby," but her body had "kept going and going like the Energizer Bunny" my boss told Miss Susan.   Daisy says Miss Susan thought that was funny.   In the garage is Grandma Trujillo's old "Wheel Chair."

           Even if she was "Confined" to a wheel chair Grandma Trujillo was always able to make it to the "Bingo" games.  She used to tell Mr. Steve he should go on "Jeopardy" and "win a lot of money."  Goliath the Gopher Snake, with Andy watching; crawled out into the back desert.

           Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave his Grandma Trujillo died on the same day as "Blues" Musician John Lee Hooker.  And he says, that was also the same exact day this one Actor named Carroll O'Connor died too.  Ah!  A Car or Truck is going bye bye out there on Primavera Road. 

                                               JOHN LEE HOOKER(1912-2001)                       CARROLL O'CONNOR (1924-2001)   

    

            Oh!  I notice in my Encyclopedia that John Lee Hooker's birthday is August 22 while Mr. Steve's mom was born on the 20th.  And, I guess he was two years older that Grandma Trujillo; who was born back in 1914.  1914 is the same exact year the First World War began.

           Carroll O'Connor played Archie Bunker in a tv show called "All in the Family," and he and his wife Edith who's his conscience; live in "Queens," New York.  In 1977 Mr. Steve and his brother Rock were in Queens.  Mr. Steve talked to Carroll O'Connor on the phone once.

           Mr. Steve's sister Susan worked as a "Set Decorator" on tv shows, like for that guy Bill Cosby twice; the first time here in Los Angeles.  For the second "Reincarnation" of the show she worked in Queens at the "Astoria" Studios.  A flock of Birds is flying bye toward the east.  

  

                              BILL COSBY SHOW                                                        ROSEANNE                                              

                 Daisy says another tv show our boss's sister Susan worked on was called "Roseanne."  I guess the Bill Cosby Show and Roseanne are about two different families.  I'm still thinking of Mr. Steve's family and how lucky Daisy and I both are in now having a family to be in too. 

            All four Grandparents were able, honest people; who were not lazy and led by example.  My boss told Miss Babette he remembers how clean his Grandma's kept their houses, Grandma Trujillo saying, "It's one thing to be poor, another thing to be dirty."  Heathcliff crowed.

            Grandpa Trujillo, through years of moving "Freight" around Trains; was really strong Mr. Steve says.  He had what some people call "Blacksmith's Arms" and even three kids at once couldn't come close to beating him in "Arm Wrestling."  Dais still has really strong legs too!

 

                                                  "SANTA FE" RAILROAD COMPANY

           For almost fifty years Grandpa Trujillo's job for the Santa Fe Railroad in Belén was to load or unload and carry the passenger's "Luggage."  I've mentioned how that famous black Baseball Pitcher "Satchel" Page also did that same job too as a kid.  I smell Mesquite.

           Mr. Steve likes "Blues" and another type of music called "Boogie."  I guess John Lee Hooker played both, and inspired Jim Hendrix, AC/DC and LED ZEPPELIN to play "heavier" more "Hard Rock" forms of Boogie music Mr. Steve thinks.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.    

          At times my boss plays drums to ZZ TOP'S 1970's song "La Grange" Daisy says.  She told me he thinks La Grange is a louder, "faster-paced" version of John Lee Hooker's song "Boogie Chillin."  I've said before how my boss prefers more aggressive versions of different styles. 

            

                                 THEN                                   ZZ TOP                                    NOW

     

             ZZ TOP is one of those "Three Piece Power Trio" bands Mr. Steve likes.  METALLICA is "Thrash Metal" and I'll always remember when, on his Boombox; he played their song "Enter Sandman."  Daisy told me METALLICA have a song about the Constellation "Orion."     

            Daisy says if I weren't such a big Chicken about going all the way into our house I could see the short "Video" movies bands make to go along with their songs.  I guess Enter Sandman is about this one boy having a nightmare.   I'm so glad I haven't had any bad dreams lately.   

           One reason I like Enter Sandman is because every night before we go to sleep both Daisy and I recite the same prayer Metallica put in their song, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take, Amen." 

       

                                                               "ENTER SANDMAN"    

              

             Daisy says in the Video for Enter Sandman, the boy who prays has a Nightmare where his bed is in the road and a big giant Truck is coming.  He wakes up just in time to run away as fast as he can before that Truck has a chance to run over him.  It's getting kind of dark now.

             I empathize or identify with the boy in METALLICA'S Video because I "sleep with one eye open" too.  I've been what's called a "Light Sleeper," ever since living homeless out in that field.  I admire Dawn and Blackbeard sometimes because they both only have one good eye.  

            This morning I mentioned how one of my worst dreams is when someone is trying to break into our land.  I bark and bark but no sound comes out, so I kind of panic and try to bite the invader; but then my teeth break out.   Whew!  I get nervous in just thinking about it.

                                       

                                                                          COYOTE    

            Hey God!  As You know, when I was homeless I had to be careful not to accidentally get eaten by Coyote's.  But with Your help of course, no one is going to make a meal out of me if I have anything to say about it; which I do.  Boy!  It's starting to get way cooler right now.

            When out in that awful field I had to always be "One step Ahead" as they say!  I won't be caught “Flat-Footed!"  No way!  Ugh! Ugh!  Daisy says that skill of following my instinct can be now changed over to helping our boss by "keeping an eye" on this two and a half acres.

            I'm so glad God that I don't have to worry or have "sleepless nights" as much as I used to.  Mr. Randy noticed how much calmer I am, and that's mainly because I have a place where I'm wanted and needed; and can love and be loved.  I'm not as "Fidgety" as I was before. 

             

           SWIMMING DUCKS                                       "BOTTLENOSE" DOLPHIN         

      

              For a time after I came here I was more "Nocturnal," in sleeping during the day and staying awake at night, but now I'm more normal.  Daisy heard Ducks sleep while swimming in line. They do it by only "having half of their brain alert" and "one eye open" she says.  

             According to a tv show, Dolphins out in the Ocean can at times swim around with half of their brains asleep too.  Daisy told me there is "nothing cuter" than seeing baby Ducks following their mom around wherever she goes.  Baby Quail are kind of like that too I've noticed!    

            My boss jokes, like Ducks and Dolphins; I could be an example of what that man Charles Darwin described in his theory of "Natural Selection."  It could be that I've "Inherited" from my parents "Traits" which have helped me to survive.  Ah!  Daffy's quacking over there.

                 

            CHARLES DARWIN (1809-1882)                VOYAGE OF THE "BEAGLE" (1836)         

                            PAINTING BY GEORGE RICHMOND                                        

                                                                                

            Hey God!  I guess Charles Darwin, one of those "Agnostics;" wasn't sure if You existed, but his wife and ten kids did.  Like my boss, he thought Science and Religion could "Co-Exist" and not be "Mutually Exclusive."  He "might've" liked that "Urantia" book my boss thinks.       

           As You know God, my boss Mr. Steve wants to believe You created the physical Universe about fourteen billion years ago.  Then You gave men "Free Will" to do good or bad without You "Interceding."  But Daisy and I both think it must've been You who's been helping us.   

            My Encyclopedia says, after sailing around the world on that Ship the Beagle, Charles Darwin wrote about the "Survival of the Fittest" through natural selection.  That idea was used by political leaders like Adolph Hitler in the 20th century.  I'll learn about it in my books.

     

                                                      EMMA DARWIN (1808-1896)

DRAWING BY GEORGE RICHMOND

      

            I guess Charles Darwin's wife "Emma" was a "devout" Christian whose "opinions he valued highly" and "trusted and respected."  He described her as, "so infinitely my superior in every moral quality, my wise adviser and cheerful comforter."   I really like her haircut.  

             Darwin wife, his "Cousin;" was a year older than he was.  My boss read he "deferred" to her in "decreeing" what their large family would do or not do.  People who knew them said she "heavily influenced" her husband.   The four Pigeons are now flying over Libby's Corral.

             Looking at the horizon makes me think of how Darwin liked the Psalm of David, "The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim his handiwork."  Oh!  It's sad how only two of Charles Darwin's ten kids "lived to adulthood."   Smelling Libby makes me feel good.

                          

                                                                    THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1824)  

PAINTING BY REMBRANDT PEALE                  

                           

            As You know God, "Deists" like that guy Thomas Jefferson don't believe in the idea of "Pre-Destination."  They don't think, no matter how many "Good Acts" you do n life; it does not matter if you were already "Doomed to Hell" beforehand.  I don't like that either!  

           My boss thinks, through Darwin's theory of Evolution; life is left to progress in whatever direction Natural Selection takes it.  He says, from his office window; he sees every day proof of things that have adapted particularly to our area.  Dawn's barking over there next door.

           Sometimes at night Dais and I wonder if any other Planets have life on them?  Hey God? Are we alone in the Universe You created?  Mr. Steve thinks in such a huge Universe, the "Odds Are" as they say; there's "most likely" life out there in the "incomprehensible vastness." 

       

                          THE UNIVERSE                                                       U.F.O.'S

                        

            Daisy would really like to meet an Alien from outer space but not me unless our boss was with us.  But, what if the Aliens just decided to "abduct" and do experiments on us?  I'd try to bite any Aliens who came down here to Piñon Hills and tried to take us on their Space Ships.    

            Hey God!  As You know, Mr. Steve said You created the Universe about fourteen billion years ago; through that "Big Bang" theory.  But, he and his dad wonder if maybe that was a way of describing when, in the Book of Genesis;" You said; "Let there be light?" I smell Sage.

            This Encyclopedia says Charles Darwin was friends with Aldous Huxley's Grandfather. He's described as being a "devoted" husband and father; who "put his family's welfare ahead of his own."  Mark Ritter who died, being interested in Reptiles; read a lot about Darwin.     

                                         

                   EMMA / SON LEONARD                         DARWIN IN OLD AGE                                   

          Mark Ritter, after returning; told our boss about the "Galápagos" Islands where Charles Darwin went to in the 1830's on that Ship the "Beagle."   For five years Darwin collected things from wherever they sailed to on that long voyage.   I see Alpha Company behind the Sheds.          

            It says here, once Darwin got back to England, he then spent many years studying all of the things he's collected on his trip from places like Australia and the Galápagos Islands.  Then he "developed" his idea of "Evolution" through "Natural Selection."  Sage smells so good.  

           Because I don't know if I can swim, the idea of riding Boat in a big Ocean is kind of scary to me.  It says here, in England Darwin studied "Finch" beaks from Birds he got had collected in those Galápagos islands off of the northwest South American coast.  A Train whistled faintly.    

     

                                                                             "GALÁPAGOS" FINCH BEAKS    

 DRAWINGS BY CHARLES DARWIN       

        

              I guess that guy Mr. Darwin noticed, on each of the Galápagos Islands; the Finch's had different shaped beaks.  He came to believe, to get the food; they had "Evolved" or "Adapted" on each island differently.  Some needed long beaks, others short stubby beaks were better. 

                  According to Darwin's ideas on Natural Selection, in order to survive up here in this part of the High Desert; all the Birds, Lizards and things like that have adapted to this environment.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.  As usual; Daffy's totally unique voice is way louder.

             When in the Galåpagos Island Darwin, and Mark Ritter; saw an underwater-swimming "Sea Bird" called a "Cormorant."  Because they evolved with no "natural predators" in their "environment" to eat them; it wasn't necessary for them to fly.  Oh!  That's like  Ostrich's. 

            

                        "CORMORANT"                                                          "PENGUIN"

    

                   I guess, just like those Penguins; Cormorants swim in a way that it "seems like they're flying underwater" Daisy says.  She says that tv show said on the Galápagos Islands the only Iguana in the world that gets food from underwater lives there.  Mark Ritter studied them.  

            Mr. Steve jokes with people how, since he hasn't had a "date" with a girl for a long time, and never goes to the movies anymore because he doesn't like going alone; in a way watching the  Birds from his office is his "form of entertainment."  I like watching Birds!  So does Daisy.

           Since my days living homeless in that field I've always been cautious about Hawks because they have really sharp claws or "Talons."  If we see a Hawk circling around, so it can't see us; Daisy and I come back here to hide under the Patio roof.   I'm sure glad we have you Elvira.      

  

                                                 HAWK                                                              EAGLE

       

            One time, as he watered the Mulberry tree' Miss Susan told Mr. Steve "Eagles" used to live around here.  Even Hawks won't fight them Daisy heard.  A century ago "Grizzly" Bears lived in our local mountains, but now even "Black" Bears are "quite rare" Miss Susan said.    

            I like having a fence around our two acres.  Except for "Yogi" or "Smokey" the Bears, I wouldn't want to meet a Bear.  But if I ever do Daisy told me, freeze like a Lizard or Rabbit; and resist the temptation to run because the Bear will chase me down and they're fast runners.  

            My boss told Miss Susan, at the San Fernando Mission in the early 19th century; Bears were forced to fight Bulls "for entertainment and also so some people could gamble."  The last Grizzly Bear in California was killed in the 1920's.  Frida and Diego are flying to the east.      

                                  "GRIZZLY" BEAR                                                      "BLACK" BEAR                   

          

           Hey God!  That one Shoshone man over at the Phelan Library told my boss, before the Spanish came to California in the 18th century; some Native groups "revered" Grizzly Bears.  Like Coyote's and Crow's, they saw You're spirit inside of them.   A Crow just cawed. 

           I guess the Spanish, and later Americans; saw the Grizzly Bears as being "In the Way" of "Progress."  Mr. Steve told his friend Mr. Frank, who's originally from Mexico; of those bloody Bull versus Bear "Death Matches" between Grizzly Bears and Bulls.  I smell Penstemon.

           As I've said before, Mr. Steve and his father think the love of violence seems to be a really big part of human history.  The ancient Romans slaughtered thousands of men and animals for the entertainment of the "Masses" at the Colosseum in Rome.  The bloodier the better!

       

                                                       MEDIEVAL "BEAR BAITING"

          

                 Oh wow!  A good black and white picture in this Encyclopedia shows what the caption calls Middle Ages "Anglo Saxon" England "Bear Baiting."  I guess that means, instead of a Bear fighting a Bull; Dogs are sent in to fight the "chained" Bear.  Ugh!  Bears have claws!

               We've never seen a Black Bear because they mainly stay up in San Gabriel Mountains to the south of us.  The town of Wrightwood to our southeast still has some Black Bears according to what Daisy heard Miss Susan say one time.  Daisy heard not all Black Bears are black.

           This morning I wrote about 1846, the first year of the "Mexican War;" when Americans like "Kit" Carson and John C. Frémont took Alta California from Mexico.  They then "Set Up" the "Bear Flag Republic," their flag with a picture of a Grizzly Bear on it.  Dawn's barking.    

                                    

                 JOHN C. FRÉMONT (1813-1890)                      CHRISTOPHER "KIT" CARSON (1800-1868)

         

          Miss Susan says, from the 1849 Gold Rush until the 1920's; California Grizzly Bears were "Hunted to Extinction."  In 1911 she told my boss, the "current California flag was adopted;" but in that same year "Monarch," the Bear "depicted" on it; actually died.  I like Dawn.          

           I've mentioned before how, in the late 1960's through the mid-1970's; my boss's dad had  a school for Stockbrokers in that San Fernando Valley city of "Encino."  He taught his Students about what they call "Bull" and "Bear" markets.  Some Crows are squawking faintly.  

                Daisy told me about how, when the "Stock Market" does good and rises then that's called a "Bull Market;" but if it does bad and goes down then it's referred to as a "Bear Market."  In his office Mr. Steve has a little metal statue of a Bear fighting a Bull Dais says.  I smell Sage.  

           

                          HORACE GREELEY (1811-1872)                         BULL / BEAR

                  In my three books I'll learn about this 19th century man named Horace Greeley, who my Encyclopedia says was "publisher" and "editor" of the "New York Tribune" Newspaper.  He's also known for being one of those "Abolitionists."  Boy!  He didn't get haircuts I guess.

             Mr. Steve's father read that Horace Greeley, after reading about the Bull and Bear fights out here in California; was the first one to refer to "Bull and Bear" economic markets.  A Lizard was on the wall doing some pushups.  But now it ran down the wall and went behind Elvira. 

             According to my outline, I need to find out a little bit about that one English lady Queen "Victoria;" but will come back to Horace Greeley.  Charles Darwin, Horace Greeley and many other famous people lived during her long "Reign" over "Britain."  I smell Beavertail cactus.   

                     

                      QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-1901)                      VICTORIA'S FAMILY    

                                                                                                  PAINTING BY FRANZ XAVER WINTERHALTER

         

            My Encyclopedia says Queen Victoria's birthday was May the 24th, which is also my boss's parents "Wedding Anniversary."  She and her husband "Albert" had four daughters but then he died.  Mr. Steve thinks they seem to have really trusted and respected each other.              

         Over the next thee days I'll learn about some of the different English Kings and Queens. For most of the 19th century Queen Elizabeth "ruled over" the huge British Empire where they said "The Sun Never Sets."  "Imperial" England had "Colonies" everywhere, like in India.         

         During the "Victorian Era" this Writer named Rudyard Kipling wrote "Short Stories" about the British Empire.  19th century England's really powerful Navy, and the benefits of the    "Industrial Revolution;" allowed it to "Dominate" much of the world.  Heathcliff crowed.                          

 RUDYARD KIPLING (1865-1936) WITH WIFE CAROLINE

       

          Wow!  It says here Queen Victoria's empire was the world's biggest since the time of that guy Genghis Khan who I wrote about earlier today.  From the 18th century, through the end of    World War II; their colony in India was called the "Raj."  Rudyard Kipling wrote about it.          

           After the Second World War India "gained its independence" and that one guy Mahatma Ghandi  was very important in doing it.  I guess one of Rudyard Kipling stories about the Indian Raj is called "The Jungle Book."  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; just flew bye.   

          One time Daisy and Millie saw a good cartoon based on The Jungle Book.  It says here The Jungle Book was actually a "series" about India, where Rudyard Kipling and his family lived.  I guess those stories are "told by" some of the different Animals who live over there in India.

                                           "BALOO"                                                    "SLOTH BEAR"

   

                Daisy says in The Jungle Book there's a Bear named "Baloo," and the Bears who live in  India are called "Sloth" Bears.  I joked with her about kind of resembling a Sloth Bear but, she didn't like it because sloth means to be lazy; which she definitely is not.  I smell Mesquite.  

           Mr. Steve really doesn't like singing in movies, and thinks it's often "Corny" but; knows he's in the minority on this issue.  So, he's at times he's watched "Musicals;" because others like them so much.  Daisy told me about how The Jungle Book has some really good songs in it.

           According to Dais, that Bear Baloo is so friendly and is a really talented Singer too.  Boy!  I really want to see The Jungle Book cartoon someday.  Speedy Gonzalez, with Andy watching; just ran at full speed through the right vertical gate slot to go out into the eastern desert.     

                                        

                                                                                                DAISY CÓRDOVA                    

         

             You know, in looking at pictures of Baloo and a Sloth Bear; they kind of resemble Daisy in some ways.  I wonder if Dais could be a good Actor like Baloo?  Probably not, because she does not like to "Pretend;" and is more what they call  "Grounded in Reality" as they say.   

            Besides that, Daisy doesn't like dancing or howling like Dawn and I do.  Hey!  If Dais and I were a singing team we could maybe make some money to give Mr. Steve.   Or, because we both like to howl anyway; it could be that Dawn and I would be an even "Better Fit" so to speak. 

            One time my boss and his dad were talking on the phone and discussed how the Chinese word for "Crisis" is composed of two characters.  One means "Danger," but the other character is a way of conveying the idea of "Opportunity."  It's now beginning to get kind of dark.

                                          

                                                LEE IACOCA / MR. STEVE'S PARENTS           

            

             My boss read what he thinks would be an "appropriate epitaph" to put on the front of his parents crypts, "They did the best they could with what they had to work with at the time."  Boy God!  I want to always do my best even if I fail.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.     

             I guess Sister Clara Joseph said being happy doesn't mean "everything's perfect," with no problems or "things to overcome;" because "good comes with bad and vice versa.  Sadness and misfortune is as much part of life as happiness."   Heathcliff just crowed over there.

             One morning when he was out here working my boss told Mr. Randy how Sister Clara Joseph joked "loss comes with the territory."  It's part of life's "job description" she said.  The Shoshone man at the Phelan Library said "life without disappointment" is "impossible."  

             

                                                                        "DUSK" 

                              

           Daisy says the Shoshone man also said in life all you can do is try to, "Deal with things the way you find them" and then "move forward one moment at a time."  That kind of sounds like part of the ideas in that Serenity Prayer.   I never feel sorry for myself anymore.  No Way!

           Mr. Randy one time joked, "Everyone's a victim of something at one time or another." It's important to fight the normal "tendency" to look for  "scapegoats,” or blame others when things go bad my boss thinks.  And "Nepotism," or favoritism; is totally normal too he says. 

           The older he gets Dais thinks, the less Mr. Steve likes being around other people.  He had to chuckle when a man named Don's wife said, "I know why you and Don get along.  Neither one of you is exactly the life of the party.  Gregarious is not a word to describe either of you."  

                   

                                                                                                   EARLY EVENING    

                                                                                                                    

            I guess my boss admits, "at this point" in his life; it would be "ridiculous" to say he's "Happy-go-Lucky."  In fact, that lady Miss Phyllis even called him "non-demonstrative" and "buttoned-up" around strangers.   Hearing Heathcliff crowing makes me feel so good. 

           Mr. Steve enjoys talking to older people like Miss Phyllis and jokes that he's not exactly a "Spring Chicken" anymore either.  Oh!  I wonder if any of Heathcliff's Hens will have some new baby Chickens soon?   I'll bet Daisy is getting really hungry the way I am back here too. 

           Boy God!  What would I do without Daisy?  Ugh!  I don't even want to think about it as it would be so terrible to be without her around to guide me.  Even though one reason I'm writing my books is for later generations of our family, I also want to impress her up there too. 

          

"THREE MUSKETEERS"      

           

                 I felt so great that time my boss Mr. Steve joked about us being the "Three Musketeers" like in that famous book.  Dais says we definitely should "have each others backs," just like the real Three Musketeers.  Those three guys were "All for one, and One for all" as they say!

            This French Dictionary says "Tous pour un, un pour tous;" is how you'd say that.   All of a sudden I'm hearing that CANNED HEAT song "Goin Up The Country," and imagining the flute and singing is making me feel good and happy to be sitting here.  I like you Elvira.

           Someday I want to hear other CANNED HEAT songs.  Daisy says our boss used to play along to "Let's Work Together."  Another really good CANNED HEAT song is called "On The Road Again" Daisy says, and she knows for sure that I would really like the singing on it.

               

      BOB HITE / J.L.HOOKER / ALAN WILSON                                      1971

               

            Mr. Steve heard Bob Hite and Alan Wilson of CANNED HEAT were Historians of Blues music and both admired and played with John Lee Hooker.  My boss was shown Bob Hite's big collection of Blues records at his house in Topanga Canyon.  Andy's sniffing the air over there.

            When Mr. Steve met Bob Hite the middle area of his usually long beard had been shaved off because of a chin cut from an Auto accident.  His nickname was the "Bear" and my boss says that was a "pretty good name" for him alright.  He was kind of "built like a stocky Bear."

           CANNED HEAT played at that one famous 1969 concert near the town of "Woodstock," which I guess is in "Up-State" New York.   Someday I'll see that "Framed and Matted" 11 x 14 color "Print" of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock hanging in Mr. Steve's bedroom.  I smell Sage.

         

                                           JIMI HENDRIX                           WOODSTOCK                HIPPIES AT WOODSTOCK

PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ                                                                                                                                                                                  

                 Our boss showed Mr. Dave that picture of Jimi Hendrix playing at Woodstock, and told him how it was given to him by his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Mr. Rich; who played guitar in that band DRAGPIPE.   It's getting darker with each passing so I have to work fast.

             I've mentioned how after World War II, in "Operation Paper Clip;" German Scientists were "relocated" here to America.  Mrs. Gunther who built our house in 1989 was married to a former "Luftwaffe" Pilot who worked at Edwards A.F.B. over there.  Heathcliff crowed. 

            Before she did another German lady who lived around here was named Miss "Helga," who Miss Susan knew.   I guess she and her husband were both good Artists, moving up here to Wrightwood in 1971; when our boss was in 10th Grade at Alemany.  I smell Andy over there.

           

                              "FOUR SEASONS" GALLERY ("WRIGHTWOOD," CALIFOORNIA)  

               

              I guess that lady Miss Helga helped operate an Art Gallery up there in Wrightwood and in 1996 Mr. Steve and his mom "Showed" some of their work there.  Miss Helga was born back there in "Stuttgart, Germany.  She and her husband were also very good Photographers.  

                  Mr. Steve's parents bought our house from Mrs. Gunther in 1994, and he bought it from them in 2005.  That lady Miss Helga, besides being an organized Artist; seemed like she was also a very good "Business" woman too my boss thinks.  Fannie and Freddie just flew bye.  

             Until she died Miss Helga "Framed and Matted" photos, with a really nice man named Mr. Ouimette taking over for when she was gone.  Daisy heard, working out of his garage; he's the one who framed and matted that 11 x 14 color print of Jimi Hendrix.   A Train whistled.   

                                                                             

                                                                  JIMI HENDRIX (1969)

       PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ       

                                 

        Since Mr. Rich gave it to our boss Daisy says, a few people have offered to buy that Jimi Hendrix print; but he would never sell a gift.  Someday, I really want to hear all of those 1960's    Jimi Hendrix's songs Dais told me about.  His Drummer was born on July 9th like my boss.         

             I'm still hearing "Goin Up The Country," and that makes me feel so good.  Daisy heard CANNED HEAT'S Singer Alan Wilson died at the age of twenty seven, so is in that "27 Club;" which I'll learn about on Saturday.  Boy!  How could his unique voice ever be replaced?

           One morning, as he watered the Mulberry tree up there in the front yard;  Mr. Steve and Mr. Randy talked about CANNED HEAT.  Daisy says that guy Bob Hite sang some of their songs and also sometimes played one of those harmonica instruments.  I smell some Creosote. 

                

                                                             HIGH DESERT "DUSK"

PHOTO BY MARK PEACOCK         

         

          Boy God!  I can't believe how I'm almost done with this first book, and that gives me such a good feeling of accomplishment.  I'm now really, really hungry and know for sure that Daisy's up there starving too.  It's getting almost too dark to write but I'm determined to finish.

           I now better understand when Dais talks about the idea of “Trial and Error,” or what our boss one time called a "Learning Curve."  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's father doesn't believe in "Magic Potions," or  "Silver Bullets."  The air is getting cooler little by little now.

          Knowing that there are few "Shortcuts" in life, Daisy says our boss thinks there are times when others with "Experience" can tell or show you something; to avoid big mistakes.  But it's normal to fail in life anyway.  Boy!  I can't wait to see what Mr. Steve has for our dinner. 

            

                                                                                    TED WILLIAMS (1918-2002)    

              

             Mr. Steve's dad thinks only those who "never try anything" avoid failure.  He failed a lot and so has our boss too Dais says.  Our boss and his brothers played Baseball so know that when a Hitter gets three hits out of ten "At Bats" he's considered good.  A Crow is squawking.

             Daisy told me how in Baseball that guy Ted Williams, in 1941; was the last professional Hitter to finish a season with his "Batting Average" above .400.  So, that means he didn't get a hit in six out of ten at bats.  Now there are a few Crows out there cawing in the desert.  

             Mr. Steve's father, according to what we heard him say; thinks you often "learn more in losing than winning."  Salesmen know, "In order to increase your success rate, it's necessary to increase your failure rate."  I can tell that those Crows out there are fighting over food.

    

                1927 NEW YORK "YANKEES"                       LOU GEHRIG / "BABE" RUTH                                                                                 

             Some people think the 1927 New York "Yankees" was the "greatest" Baseball team in history, mainly because their "Murderer's Row" hitting "Lineup;" which included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.  Even that team lost forty four times in the "Season."  Libby just whinnied.

             Daisy says our boss's father thinks, in today's "Competitive" Capitalist society; what's called the “End Result” or "Bottom Line" is often "all that matters."  But Sister Clara Joseph said, "At times, even in defeat the effort itself can often be as beneficial in the final analysis."

             One time Dais and that other Dog Millie saw a tv show about Buddhism where the man said, "Oftentimes the journey itself, in good and bad, can be the destination because you learn in the process."  Hey!  That kind of sounds like what that lady Sister Clara Joseph also said too.

  

                                                                                                         BOSTON

               

              Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with his father, discussing "Peace of Mind."  Mr. Steve told him of this 1970's song with that title by a band called BOSTON, who Dais thinks I would really.  Mr. Steve saw BOSTON do a "Sound Check" in the 1980's.

             Over the years our boss has played the first BOSTON album for people, just to see their reaction; amazement in the case of that kid Jason who noticed "every song was good."  Daisy heard Mr. Steve, who's "tried" to play all of those songs; use the words "very melodic."   

             Mr. Steve's dad gave him a book he bought in the mid-1950's, after he left the Marines.  It's called "Peace of Mind," was put out in 1946; and was written by a Jewish "Reform" Rabbi named Joshua Loth Liebman.  My Encyclopedia describes his book as being "self help."  

                  

 JOSHUA LOTH LIEBMAN (1907-1948)       

             

             Wow!  My Encyclopedia says that guy Joshua Loth Liebman graduated from College at the age of only nineteen.  Mr. Steve says he "combines" old "Religious" ideas with more modern things like "Psychoanalysis."  Like Sister Clara Joseph, he said stress is "normal" in life.

             Joshua Loth Liebman's book came out in 1946, the year after World War II; just as the world was realizing the "scale of the holocaust."  I'm scheduled to learn about the Holocaust in book three.  That band IRON MAIDEN have an album called "Peace of Mind" Dais says.

            Oh!  Daisy might like this one Joshua Loth Liebman quote, "Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasure for long term values."  Wow!  That's what she told me on my second big break about us getting no snacks at all today.  Bonnie and Clyde just flew in.

              

                               STYX                                                          THE "UNDER WORLD"                     

           

           For some reason I just thought of that band Dais told me about called STYX, who are from the city of "Chicago."  They're named for that River Souls had to cross in ancient Greece,    before they got to the "Underworld" of "Hades."  That lady Edith Hamilton wrote about it.         

              Daisy one time heard our boss talking on the phone with Miss Babette about this STYX song called the "Grand Illusion."  It's about how, what society measures as being the greatest      success may not be what it seems I guess.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the east.            

        Just because you become famous or rich does not guarantee happiness.  Like Sister Rita Joseph used to tell her class at St. Ferdinand's, "Beware of what you ask, because you just might get it in the form of a curse."   Boy!  The darkness is making it harder and harder to see.                   

                                                                                      "GREAT WALL" (CHINA)

                Hey God!  I can't believe I'm almost through with book one, which turned out to be hard. Daisy says a tv show said, "The Great Wall of China was not built in a day."  Mr. Steve's mom used to say that about Rome, and joked a long trip was just "one foot in front of the other."

                 Mr. Steve's father jokes it "takes a long time to build a wall brick by brick."  But the wall can be "destroyed in a short amount of time."  Dais heard, in 1999; our boss lost almost all of the money he had saved up because of what he now describes as being "some very bad decision."

            I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve likes talking with older people, so he can possibly learn from them; sometimes their "Trials and Errors" give you ideas.  He believes many people, "but not all" he jokes; can teach you something "you didn't know."  Heathcliff just crowed.

      

                                                    "THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE"

                 I just thought of that old story about the over confident and arrogant Rabbit who lost a foot race to a Turtle.  He was so "Cocky" about beating the Tortoise" and took too much "For Granted" in goofing around.  So the Turtle proved the saying, "A steady pace wins the race."

          Hey God!  I can't wait to hear that song "Turn, Turn, Turn" again.  I guess it was written in the 1950's by Pete Seeger, but the electric version I heard on my boss's Boombox was done in    the 1960's by the BYRDS.  There are a lot of Birds flying around behind the three Sheds.              

            I mentioned how Musicians like Bob Dylan, in the early 1960's; admired "Folk" Singers like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.  This one Encyclopedia calls Pete Seeger a "social activist" who wrote songs about "poverty."  He was around during the 1930's "Great Depression."

  

                                        PETE SEEGER (1919-2014) WITH WIFE "TOSHI"

                                                                              

            Daisy saw a tv show that said Pete Seeger, who died earlier this year; was married to his Japanese wife named "Toshi" for sixty years.  Over the next two days Daisy has me scheduled to write more about Japanese-Americans like Dr.'s Oda and Sakaguchi.  Heathcliff crowed.         

            According to what Dais heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about on the phone, it wasn't just Bob Dylan and the BYRDS who appreciated Pete Seeger's music.   Mr. Steve was told that guy Bruce Springsteen also liked Pete Seeger's songs too.  I really like Turn, Turn, Turn!

           My boss once met a lady who saw an early 1960's concert where Bob Dylan played with Pete Seeger.  Bob Dylan at first was an "acoustic" Folk Musician, but he witched to "electric" guitars; which got some people really angry.  I guess his real name is Robert Zimmerman.

  

                      BOB DYLAN                        ROGER MARIS (ON LEFT)     KEVIN MCHALE (LEFT REAR)

                                    (MID-1960'S)                                ( EARLY- 1960'S / N.Y. "YANKEES)          (MID-1980'S / BOSTON "CELTICS")                                                           

            I guess Mr. Steve and a customer in Wisconsin one time talked about how Bob Dylan, Roger Maris and Kevin McHale are all originally from "Hibbing," Minnesota.   I'll learn about all of them in my three books.  Back in the 1980's our boss took pictures of Kevin McHale. 

           Daisy likes this 1960's Bob Dylan song called "Like a Rolling Stone," which she says has good music and poetry lyrics in it.  It's now getting pretty dark back here, but it's good timing as I'm almost done with this last chapter of book one.  I can hear Finch's chirping happily.  

           One time Dais heard our boss and Miss Susan, who he taught to be a Salesperson; talk on the phone about Bob Dylan.  Miss Susan is about the same age as Mr. Steve.  She knows a few of Bob Dylan's songs are are about the "Passing of Time," and how often "Love can Fade."

     

                       PETER, PAUL, MARY                             MARY TRAVERS /  MIKE FARRELL

                                                                                    ("UNIVERSAL" AMPHITHEATER)

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

       

            I guess one time my boss's girlfriend Miss Emily, raising money to repair the "Statue of Liberty;" got him a Photographer job at the "Universal Amphitheater."  It was an event for the "A.C.L.U." or  "American Civil Liberties Union." I'm getting good at looking up words.  

            Dais says, at that A.C.L.U. event those 1960's Folk Singers PETER, PAUL AND MARY were there; and were very friendly and nice.  Actors from tv shows were there too, like one of Doctors in that Korean War period show "M.A.S.H."   Mr. Steve's dad was in one of those.  

           Someday I want to hear that one Pete Seeger song about the hammer Dais told me about. She says PETER, PAUL AND MARY have a really good song about a Dragon.   Anything having to do with Dragons, Monsters or things like that interest me because my boss knows about it. 

                   

                                                                     THE BYRDS

                                                                              

             All of a sudden I'm hearing the BYRDS version of Turn, Turn Turn again.  Daisy warned me about how some bands have weird spellings to their names and the BYRDS were one of them. Boy!  It's really getting pretty dark now and is harder and harder to see things back here.

             Hey God!  As You know, my boss and his parents think it's clever how Pete Seeger used that Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes prayer in a song.  Daisy and I think those words are a good way to end this book.  Oh!  Heathcliff crowed over there, which makes me feel good.

            "To Everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven.  A time to plant and a time to sow, a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time to dance and a time to mourn, a time to speak and a time to keep silent, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for peace and a time to make war, and a time to be born and a time to die."  (ECCLESIASTES 3:1-2) 

             

          EPICTETUS (50-135 A.D.)       

              

                  Well Everyone!  The final thing to write about today is that Greek Philosopher named  Epictetus, and Reinhold Niebuhr.  My Encyclopedia says that for a long time Epictetus lived in the city of Rome.  He was a "Stoic" who those guys Will and Ariel Durant wrote about.

             I like how Epictetus, "born a slave;" thought, "No man is free who is not the master of himself."  Daisy, who thought that quote would be a pretty good way to finish this first book; saw a tv show about ancient Greek Philosophers and things like that.  Heathcliff crowed.

            Epictetus thought you have accept what happens in life because you have no control over any "external events" anyway.  But, everyone is responsible for "their own actions;" which they can control through their "Self-Discipline."  I smell Alpha Company out in the back desert.

   

REINHOLD NIEBUHR                URSULA NIEBUHR                HELMUT NIEBUHR   

                      (1907-1997)                                      (1894-1962)                             (1892-1971)                                       

  

          I just thought of Reinhold Niebuhr's "Serenity" prayer.   It's interesting how his wife "Ursula," and brother "Helmut;" were also Protestant Christian "Theologians"  too.  Speedy      Gonzalez just zoomed at full speed through the right gate slot to go out into the desert.                 

           Reinhold Niebuhr had another prayer, "Live one day at a time, enjoy one moment at a time, accept hardship as a pathway to peace, take this sinful world as it is and not as you would    have it."  Mr. Steve and his parents now believe in those ideas.  Heathcliff just crowed.                  

             Daisy heard Sister Rita Joseph used to tell her class, "nothing guaranteed;" so you have to "try to make each day productive."  Hey God!  Thank You for giving me my opportunity to do something no other Dog has done before, except maybe Mr. Peabody.  I feel lucky right now.        

                  

 HIGH DESERT SUNDOWN

          Well God!  I'm finally finished with book one.  It took a lot of work, and now I know how much more work is going to be needed over the next two days but; I'm actually looking forward to it.  I promise Everyone I'll keep on working really hard and not be lazy or undisciplined.          

        Ah!  Daisy's barking, and I can also hear my boss whistling to call us to dinner; which is great because I'm starving.  I'll hide all of my materials but I can't wait to come back tomorrow to write my second book.  I'm kind of tired but, like Daisy jokes sometimes, in "a good way."       

         If You Guys just happen to be up there mind reading me right now, I do hope I did a good enough job; which partly happened because of all Your help.  Thank Everyone and I'll be back    in the morning at 7:30 to "Do it Again" as they say.   Heathcliff just now crowed over there.