Book 3 Chapter 11, Part 12

                                                                              III                                                                                                                                                                                                 (Book 3 / Chapter 11)   

5:30

                          

THE TWINS      

                   

              As I went pee I looked at the Twins out there, which made me feel grateful for our lives.  Only two chapters to go so, thank Everyone up there for helping me get through this hard day.  Oh!  A breeze blew in the Twins' scent, making the chimes ring; which gives me energy.    

            Smelling the Twins makes feel good, knowing some things haven't changed.  Boy!  It will be so weird tomorrow when Heathcliff doesn't crow to start our day.  Hey Heathcliff!  Thank you again for all those other days which we'll never, ever forget.   No way!  Never!  Ugh! Ugh!

            I'd say it's about five thirty in the afternoon judging by how far the shadows are leaning away from me sitting over here on Elvira.  Oh!  Cher just jogged bye and she has a dead Mouse hanging from her mouth.  I can't wait to have dinner because seeing Cher makes me hungry.

    

MR. STEVE'S PARENTS

PHOTO BY RODERICK CÓRDOVA

           All of a sudden seeing Cher reminds me of our Chief and his parents sitting back here on the Patio that time.  As they talked Cher was sleeping on top of Moe, and when Heathcliff crowed Mr. Steve's mom said that reminded her of growing up in Belén.  Mr. Steve's dad just nodded.      

       I remember how Mr. Steve's mom told him he was so lucky to be able to wake up every morning to Heathcliff's voice.  Hey God!  As You know, she also told him he should always thank You for giving him even such small "gifts of grace."   Andy's over there sniffing the air.                 

        Boy!  It's so hard to believe no more Heathcliff around any more.  Hey Heathcliff!  If you might just happen to be up there mind-reading me right now I want thank you again for being such a good Rooster and let you know we all really do appreciate how good of job you did.                    

                                    MAGGIE CÓRDOVA                                             DAISY CÓRDOVA   

                                                                                                                         

                   All of a sudden, for some reason  I just thought about the two Chinese-themed statues up there in the front yard.  Boy!  The late afternoon air is so clear and fresh again today, and the chimes ringing up there is filling me with good feelings.   Frida and Diego went flying bye.

             I can't believe this is chapter eleven already, because at the beginning of the day I would never have thought I could make it this far.  Thank Everyone again.  I smell the new baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt, and see Andy sniffing air because he watched Cher just go bye. 

            Way out there in the northeastern desert a Train whistled faintly, which also gives me a good feeling.  It's hard to believe some don't like the sound of Trains and find their noise kind of annoying.  But not us over here, and especially today for me sitting right now here on Elvira.   

    

  VIEW FROM MR. STEVE'S OFFICE                          LATE AFTERNOON SKY              

 

           Hearing that Train whistle now reminds me of the morning our boss was watering the big Mulberry tree up there in the front yard.  He told Mr. Mike how he considers himself so lucky to have such a good view from the big window in his office.  That same Train whistled again.             

           I just noticed a small Lizard standing on the wall near the sliding glass door going into the dining room over there.  That reminds me of when we heard our boss tell Mr. Mike likes it when  Lizards stand on the glass of his big office window.  The little Lizard is doing some pushups.         

          Boy Everyone up there!  I can't believe this is the second to last chapter of what turned out to be long books, but I really have to keep working hard because the sunlight will run out in only about two more hours.  I can smell the big Mulberry over there.  That makes me feel good.           

 

      "THRASHER" BIRDS                                    "WREN" BIRD IN CHOLLA   

PHOTO BY JANNA PAUSER                                                                                                                                                                         

              I just glanced up, and see Theodora and her new boyfriend standing in the branches of the Mulberry tree; which doesn't have any leaves yet.  They look so happy, screeching with each  other.  They're both pointing their beaks up into the air which I thinks shows their happiness.      

            That Wren Bird is standing out there in the patch of Cholla cactus's where it's making this years new Spring nest.   Dawn's again doing her sad howl, which I now know for sure is to      tell everyone Heathcliff is gone forever.  Oh wow!  I again hear Heathcliff's Hens cackling.            

             Hey Heathcliff!  If you just might happen to be mind-reading me right now, and it turns out we're allowed to go up to Heaven if we deserve it, or there's a special Animal Heaven; Daisy    and I look forward to smelling you again.  I smell Blinky over there.  The Wren flew away.            

                    

"FLAMENCO"

   

                  Oh!  I just noticed that I missed a few things about "Flamenco" music in chapter ten, so will just have to do it now instead.  Boy!  I'm  sure glad I caught it because this is book three and these are the last and final two chapters.  Seeing the clouds in the sky makes me feel good.  

           My Encyclopedia says the end of the girl Flamenco Dancers' dress is called a "Train."  In Spanish I guess they call that area the "Bata de Cola."  From what I can figure out in using my Spanish Dictionary, Bata de Cola would be translated to mean, "The end of the Dress."

            One time our boss and Miss Susan at work talked about how his mom, growing up back in New Mexico; used to do some Flamenco dancing.  Daisy says she still talks about those times with her Cousin Beatrice over in Pico Rivera.   She also did Flamenco dancing too I guess.     

  

GIRL WITH "CASTANETS"

 

            Oh wow!  Dais would love the dress this one pretty girl is wearing in a good picture of a Flamenco Dancer.  And she has a big giant red flower in her hair and I notice she's holding those wooden castanets in her hands.  To this day Flamenco dancing is popular in New Mexico.

            According to what it says here in my Dictionary castanets are, "A pair of small, hollowed-out pieces of wood clicked together in the hand in time to the music."  This is interesting.  I guess "castanet" comes from the Spanish word "Castanea," or "Chestnut;" which is wood.  

           That Roma lady knew about "Palmas," a type of hand clapping Flemenco Dancers do as they dance.  She told Mr. Steve she thinks Flamenco music "blends three things," Roma, Spanish and even Arabic.  Rudy the Roadrunner is jogging bye with a dead Lizard in his mouth.

  

RONI BENISE

                 Mr. Steve told the lady about a Guitarist named Roni Benise, who's originally from the State of "Nebraska;" but now lives out here in California.  He used to play electric guitar in some bands but now only plays acoustic guitar.   Two of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral. 

             Dais saw a "BENISE" concert on tv, and says he plays songs with good Dancers in them.  She and Millie heard our boss and his mom talking about that guy Mr. Roni.  I guess she and Mr. Steve's father also saw the concert and really liked it a lot.  Libby's looking in this direction.

            According to what Daisy heard our boss tell his mom that time, Mr. Roni's music is a mix or blend of Flamenco with Argentinian "Tango" and Brazilian "Samba."  Mr. Eber at work has called his music "Nouveau Flameco."  I've mentioned before how Mr. Eber is from Brazil. 

     

MR. EDDIE "SPAGHETTI"

              Over the last three days I've talked about Mr. Eddie, who was born without any arms; but is not lazy.  He tries to make money by wearing those fake arms and playing drums.  Ah!  In thinking about Mr. Eddie and imagining his singing is giving me a good feeling of Rhêma.

            Daisy and Millie heard our boss tell Mr. Eber at work about Mr. Eddie, and he explained what a "Busker" Musician is.  Mr. Eber, who says there are "Street" Musicians in Brazil; read Roni Benise was poor when he first came out here to California.  So he busked for money. 

         Mr. Eber read Mr. Roni did a few different things to make money, like cleaning pools the way Mr. Steve's brother Sam does for a job.  Daisy says she's pretty sure I would really like Mr. Roni's songs because of how much I like to dance.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye.

  

"SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO" MISSION

PAINTINGS BY STELLA CÓRDOVA

                 Mr. Steve told the Roma lady Roni Benise filmed a Video at the Capistrano Mission.  I've mentioned a few times how his mom did paintings of that Mission, for the Art Exhibit they had there.  One painting shows Mr. Steve's Nephew Jacob, as a kid; holding a white Pigeon.

                  I guess, at first Nightclub owners didn't want to hire Roni Benise to play; because they didn't think Latin type rhythms would "Sell."  Daisy says his songs are influenced by music from all over the whole world, like Cuba and Sri Lanka for instance.  He has African sounds too.

             Daisy thinks, if I were ever to see that guy Roni Benise play; I would probably like all of the Dancers the most.  I'll bet Roni Benise has definitely gone back there to Spain, just because of the type of music he likes best.  I wonder if there's such a thing as Heavy Metal Flamenco? 

         

"SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO" MISSION      

        

                   In my three books I've learned about some of the twenty one "Alta" California Missions.  Other than the San Fernando Mission; Mr. Steve and his mom know more about the Capistrano Mission than any other.  The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving east.

             Mr. Dave noticed how, when you go to Capistrano Mission you see it's located right in the middle of modern things; like Cars driving around and business's all around it.  San Fernando Mission is like that, and so are the ones in San Diego and Santa Barbara.  Dawn's barking.

            Mr. Steve and his parents have at times thought about how, when you go to a Mission; you sense the past blended in with the present.  Mr. Steve's mom loves to walk slowly all around the historic area, which they say is California's oldest "Residential" neighborhood.  I smell Sage.

        

 FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA (1713-1784)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA        

        

          Dais heard Mr. Dave tell our boss one of his old Motorcycle Shop customers in Texas said what's left of the "Alamo," back there in Texas; is totally surrounded by a modern city.  It says    here Father Serra "said Mass" in the Capistrano Mission Church.  I smell Blinky over there.       

           I guess the only thing left of Capistrano's Church are "ruins," from when that really huge 1812 earthquake happened; and over forty people were killed inside when the walls "collapsed." The Video that guy Roni Benise did was filmed in the ruins.  I smell Rosie next to Blinky.              

        Capistrano Mission began in 1876, the same year the Revolutionary War started; and the "Declaration of Independence" came out.  Oh!  The very first vineyard ever to be grown in Alta  California was down there at the Capistrano Mission.  Frida and Diego just now flew bye             

         

                CALIFORNIA INDIANVILLAGE                 FATHER LUIS JAYME KILLED

                                          PAINTING BYMARY LEIGHTON THOMSON 

        

                Daisy says Mr. Dave knows about the "Acjachemen" Indians, who were living in the San Juan Capistrano area when the Spanish first "Colonized" Alta California.  The Spanish called them "Juaneños."  Mr. Dave once read about their villages of "Panhe" and "Putuidem."

           In book one on Thursday I mentioned how, in 1775, those "Kumeyaay" Indians killed a Priest near the "San Diego" Mission.  Mr. Dave said he once met this Acjachemen guy who told him all about that "mini" revolt in San Diego.  Some of  Indians became Catholics too.     

           The Acjachemen people called Putuidem their "Mother Village," which probably means it was their capitol.  Wow!  People first came into the Capistrano area about nine thousand years ago.   I guess there were about two hundred thousand people in California way back then.   

     

RICHARD EGAN (1842-1923)

                  Daisy says our Chief's mom read about an Irish man named Richard Egan who, in the late 19th century; was kind of like the "King of Capistrano.   It says here he came to America as a "ten year old" orphan.  Oh!  He fought for the South during the American Civil War. 

             I guess, three years after the Civil War, that man Mr. Egan came out here to California, bought land in San Juan Capistrano; and became it's "most important citizen."  Wow!  He knew five languages, and "quickly" learned Spanish.  Few spoke English back then in those days.

            Because the people in that area knew he was "firm but fair," Richard Egan became the area Judge and many other things too.  Everyone "respected his decisions" and totally trusted his opinions as being the smartest person around.  Finley and Fanny just flew bye right now.   

                                

                 "RAMONA"                           HELEN HUNT JACKSON (1830-1885) 

          

                Oh!  Helen Hunt Jackson, who wrote that book "Ramona" about Native Californians of the late 19th century; came to Richard Egan for help.  A Priest would not help her do research until Mr. Egan "vouched for her."  Daisy's Guardian Angel is also named Ramona too.

            Mr. Steve and his parents, when Tour Guides; read about how people like Richard Egan helped restore what were then mostly ruins at the Missions.  He started to rebuild Capistrano so those who followed him had something "to build on" Mr. Steve says.   I can smell Libby.

            I guess, from what Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Dave, Richard Egan had a lot of land and one of the things he grew were Olive trees like the one's that used to cover parts of Sylmar.  One time, in 1818; San Juan Capistrano was "looted and sacked."   Libby's now looking at me.

                                                    SWALLOW                               ME-262                         SWALLOW NESTS                                            

                  I just thought of the dream I had last night about those "Swallow" Birds, who go every year to make nests at Capistrano Mission.   In book one I mentioned how a girl told our Chief if you dream about a Swallow it's a sign of good luck.  But, with Heathcliff gone; I wonder.

            Back on Thursday I mentioned how that very first "Operational" World War II Jet was nicknamed "Schwalbe," or "Swallow" in German.  Hey God!  Daisy thinks me dreaming about those Swallows is a sign of good things to come, and I kind of want to believe her on that idea.

            Daisy heard our boss tell his Niece Samantha about San Juan Capistrano, and how she and her boyfriend Mr. Rick should take the "Amtrack" Train to San Diego.   It goes along the beach so you have beautiful scenery as it goes along.  They could have lunch in Capistrano.

  

BING CROSBY                                               PAT BOONE   

    

            Daisy says our boss's mom's Girl Scout Troop's sang a song called "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano."  Bing Crosby did it in 1940, and Pat Boone sang it in1957; the year Mr. Steve's brother Rock was born.  Millie really liked that song from what Dais told me. 

            Mr. Dave said  one of his Motorcycle Shop customers told him his parents met Pat Boone and two of his daughters walking on "State" street in Santa Barbara.  They were really friendly and nice.  Ah!  Again for the third afternoon in a row the afternoon air is so clear and fresh.

               There are starting to be more Birds flying back and forth over the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Which reminds me how hungry I am right now, and I'm sure Daisy up there is also thinking of dinner.  But, in the back of my mind God, I still keep thinking about Heathcliff.

                            

                                    "FATS" DOMINO                                          HURRICANE "KATRINA"

            Mr. Dave has read about that guy Pat Boone, who in the 1950's used to cover songs done by black Singers; such as "Fats" Domino and "Little" Richard for example.   Mr. Ralph told our boss in that huge hurricane "Katrina" Fats Domino's family lost their house.  I smell Sage.

            I just thought of how Mr. Steve moved up here in the sweltering heat of August in 2005. Hurricane Katrina was flooding New Orleans at the same time; where Fats Domino lived.   Dais heard he "lost everything," and at first they even thought he and his family had drowned.

           That guy Elvis said Fats Domino was the "real King of Rock and Roll."  The BEATLES really admired him a lot too.  One of Miss Susan's Louisiana customers said Fats Domino was one of those "French Creoles;" his first two real names even being "Antoine Dominique."   

   

FREIGHT TRAIN IN HIGH DESERT

       

              The faint sound of a Train way out there in the northeastern desert just whistled.  For some reason hearing it kind of gives a good feeling, a feeling of belonging sitting here on Elvira. And smelling Bonnie and Clyde's baby's sleeping up there in their nest is also reassuring.    

             Dais heard Mr. Dave and our boss talking about how, in the 1950's; Pat Boone would do songs by black Musician's.  And then, his "sanitized" versions became much more popular with white audiences Mr. Dave said.  One of Mr. Steve's customers jokingly called it "vanilla."

             Mr. Dave and our boss talked about how, in the mid-1950's; Pat Boone for a time was as popular as Elvis.  In fact Mr. Dave said, in 1955 Elvis was his "Opening Act" in concert.  Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how our Chief was also born in 1955 too.    

                                                                                                                                 SPEEDY GONZALEZ                                                                      

                 Oh my God!  Just as I was about to mention how Mr. Dave told our boss Pat Boone did a song about Speedy Gonzalez who do I see?  Our Speedy just used the right gate slot to zoom out into the back field behind the Sheds, and then disappeared.  Andy was watching him run bye.

            Hey Lord!  Mr. Dave read Pat Boone and his wife and daughters are Christians just like us.  Our boss told Mr. Dave he once did artwork for this old lady who said she went to the same Church in Van Nuys as Pat Boone's family.   Blackbeard and Anne are flying to the east.

            Mr. Dave chuckled remembering how, back in the 1990's; Pat Boone did an album where he covered some Heavy Metal songs.  Mr. Steve has never heard it probably wouldn't really like it anyway.  But, you never know and, I think I would want to hear it just to see if I liked it.      

   

DORIS DAY 

  

                Over these last three days I've talked about that one lady Doris Day, who was a famous Singer but then used to rescue us Animals over there in Chatsworth.  I love the hat she's got on in a good black and white picture of her when she was young.  A little Lizard went running bye.

             Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave the lady from Pat Boone's Church in Van Nuys told him Pat Boone and Doris Day prayed together.  Hey God!   Mr. Steve will always remember how nice Miss Doris was when he and his friends talked to her on the phone.  Daffy's quacking.

             Mr. Ralph read Pat Boone said he was the Great-Great-Great Grandson of that one guy Daniel Boone, who my Encyclopedia describes as being a "pioneer" and "frontiersman."  He was one of the first American "folk heroes."  Now some of the other Ducks are quacking too.

    

DANIEL BOONE (1734-1820)

PAINTING BY CHESTER HARDING

         Daniel Boone is "associated" with the State of "Kentucky."  It says here how, in 1775 he and others "blazed a trail" through the "Cumberland Gap;" in crossing those "Appalachian"      mountains.   He fought in the Revolutionary War and was captured by "Shawnee" Indians.          

         Wow!  Daniel Boone had ten brothers and sisters, and he and his wife "Rebecca" had ten children themselves too.  Daniel Boone is known for taking some white settlers to the area now      called Kentucky, to start the town of "Boonesborough."  Oh!  His family were "Quakers."            

          I guess Boonesborough was "one of the first English speaking settlements on the west side of the Appalachian mountains."  Until then the thirteen original British colonies were only along  the east coast.  A small flock of Birds is now moving steadily together toward the northeast.                                                   

                   EARLY ROADS TO THE WEST                 

                   

                 I like the map of early roads expanding westward at the end of the British colonial period and beginning of the American era.  I notice how Daniel Boone's long route going into Kentucky is called the "Wilderness Road."  Ah!  The afternoon air for the third day in a row is great.

            The map shows how Daniel Boone, and all the settlers he led to Kentucky; first had to go to the southwest along the eastern side of the Appalachian mountains.  Then they turned toward the northwest to cross a gap in those same mountains.  Thank you God for making the air.

            Hey God!  I'm so glad I'm down here in Pinon Hills right now, and don't have to walk a long way and get tired the way the Dogs with Daniel Boone's group probably did back then.  In sitting here on Elvira I feel so good breathing in all the fresh afternoon air.  Dawn's barking.   

   

2014 CHEVROLET "TRAVERSE"

                  I notice this Encyclopedia uses the word "traverse" to describe what Daniel Boone and those late 18th century people did.  They crossed over those Appalachian mountains.  Daisy says our boss's "G.M." customer down near San Diego told him about a Car called "Traverse."

            Dais heard the Parts Manager say a Traverse is big and has three rows of seats.  He told Mr. Steve they used to be built back there in Tennessee but now are assembled up there in the State of Michigan.   A line of Ants is going bye on the other side of Miss Emily's coffee table.      

           The reason why Daniel Boone was trusted to lead the settlers to Kentucky is because for years before that he'd hunted and scouted the area.  After the Revolutionary War he became one of those "Surveyors" I've written about.  George Washington also had that job when young.   

                  

                        JONATHON SWIFT                        LORD BYRON             JAMES FENIMORE COOPER

                                   (1667-1745)                                                   (1788-1824)                                                (1789-1851)                                                                                                                                         PAINTING BY THOMAS PHILLIPS                              PAINTING BY JOHN WESLEY JARVIS 

             

         Daniel Boone must be famous, because it says here Lord Byron wrote a poem about him.  James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 book "Last of the Mohicans" is based on "events" in his life.  A    line of those Grease Ants is marching along on the other side of Miss Emily's old coffee table.       

        Oh!  This is interesting how, when Daniel Boone traveled and explored what was then the "western" wilderness; he carried with him a copy of Jonathon Swift's book "Gulliver's Travels.    Hey God!  I guess he also had a Bible.   I'd want one too if I could only have a single book.            

       Mr. Ralph told our boss he read Daniel Boone used to carve his name into trees and cave walls.  Mr. Steve told him on Car trips to New Mexico as a kid, he carved his name in a cave; and on later trips re-carved it so it wouldn't erode away.   He thinks it may be "erased" by now.                                        

"CHEROKEE" INDIANS 

                                            

               Daisy and Millie watched a good tv show with our boss about those "Cherokee" Indians I've mentioned before.  The man said what this Encyclopedia talks about too, how Daniel Boone had much contact with the Cherokee and "Shawnee" tribes in his lifetime.  A Train whistled.

            It says here the name Cherokee means "Those who live in the mountains."  Hey!  That's just like what the Spanish called the "Serrano" people who have lived up here in our area of the High Desert all these hundreds of years.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; flew bye.

           Cherokee's call themselves the "Tsalagi" people.  Oh!  It's interesting how they're one of those East Coast "Iroquoi" tribes.  Dais says our Chief told Mr. Dave about a smart Iroquoi man he bought and sold a few things to one time.   He was someone Mr. Chris introduced him to. 

  

FLOCK OF BIRDS

      

             A flock of Birds is flying bye and that makes me think of earlier today when the sky was much lighter.  For some reason I just thought of how Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca had ten kids.  Samson and Delilah are flying over Libby's Corral and moving toward the northeast.

            Dais told me there's a pretty girl named Rebecca who lives near Mr. Mike and his mom Miss Phyllis's house.  But most people, except for her parents Mr. Mike says; call her "Becky."  The scent of the clump of Joshua trees near And and Helen's burrow just floated in to me.

           The man on the tv show mentioned what it says here, how Cherokee's were good "hunter and gatherers;" as well as "farmers."  Since the mid-18th century the British had "declared" the area west of the Appalachian mountains to be "Indian Land."  A Train whistled faintly.  

    

 MR. "DRUMMER" DAVE                             SEQUOYAH (c.1770-1843) 

                                                                                                              ARTWORK BY ALI EMINOV

   

            Mr. Dave saw the tv show about Cherokee's, and liked the section about that smart man named Sequoyah; who this Encyclopedia says "created" a Cherokee "written language with an alphabet."  A painting shows a picture of Mr. Sequoyah.  I love his hat, and his pipe too. 

            That man Sequoyah must've been smart alright because he's called a "polymath" here.   And I know that means someone, like Leonardo da Vinci or Benjamin Franklin for example; who's smart about a lot of things.  Oh!  Benjamin the Cow Bird just went running bye.

           A "Chickasaw" lady Mr. Dave once met knew all about that Cherokee alphabet.  She said Saguoyah was also called "George Guess" or "George Gist."  Oh!  I wonder if we could invent a written language only for us Dogs?  But, before that I first have to know English better.   

                                                                         "TRAIL OF TEARS" (1830'S)        

PAINTING BY ROBERT LINDNEAUX     

    

                 Unfortunately for the Southeast Native people, gold was discovered in Georgia in 1829.  So, like that guy Andrew Jackson for example; wanted their land.  That's why, when he was the President; they did all those what my Encyclopedia calls "forced removals and relocations."    

             Boy!  When I look at that painting of the Indians who had to leave the Southeast and go to Oklahoma I feel sorry for them, and I notice how there were some Dogs with them too.  They had to walk all the way out west to the other side of the Mississippi river.  A Train whistled.   

            The tv show on the Cherokee's said they lost about four thousand people on the "Trail of Tears" march's over to Oklahoma. Eleven thousand "Chocktaws," "Chickasaws," and "Creek" Indians died during those 1830's "treks."  Mr. Dave knows about what happened then. 

     FLOCK OF BIRDS     

     

                  I just glanced up to see another flock of Birds going bye up there in the late afternoon sky.  That suddenly makes me think of that girl Miss Debra, who our boss went out with for a while.  She was part "Comanche" Indian and read about the different Trail of Tears.    

             My Encyclopedia says about one hundred thousand Indians were taken to "Oklahoma Territory," having to survive "sickness, exposure, malnutrition and disease."  Two Motorcycles just zoomed bye going north on Primavera Road.   I see the dust they left behind rising.

            Probably because of the Trail of Tears, the Cherokees in Oklahoma sided with the South during the Civil War.  Daisy says not only did Cherokees use bows arrows and spears, they even used blowguns; like the one our Chief has in his office.  And they threw tomahawks too.  

                               

2014 JEEP "CHEROKEE         

            

            All of a sudden I just thought of that one Car called a "Cherokee," which I've mentioned before is one of those "Jeeps."  Ah!  A nice breeze just came in from out there in the field behind the Sheds.  And with it also came in the scent of Charlie Company and their new babies.     

           As I said before, during the Revolutionary War, that guy Daniel Boone fought against the Shawnees; who were allies with the British.  Wow!  He was captured by Shawnees during that war but ended up being "adopted" by them.  Boy!  They must've come to really like him.

           It says here two of Daniel Boone's sons, and a brother; were killed by Indians during his lifetime.  Daisy says the tv show on Cherokee's said the men's jobs were to hunt, fight and make "political" decisions.  Women farmed, tended children and made "social" clan decisions.  

                                     

  DANIEL BOONE TV SHOW                                MR. RANDY                   

        

                I remember the morning when our boss and Mr. Randy talked about a "Disney" tv show about Daniel Boone.  They both kind of chuckled at how the Actor wore a "Raccoon Skin" hat, when in real life Daniel Boone never wore one.  I would though if someone gave it to me.

            Miss Susan at work read the reason why Daniel Boone wore a Raccoon hat on the tv show is because the Actor Fess Parker had worn one earlier when he played Davy Crockett.  But, as I wrote before; in reality Davy Crockett probably never wore one either.  Dawn's barking.

           The tv show about the Cherokee's called Daniel Boone the first American "Frontier Hero Legend."  But, toward the end of his life he lost a lot of money on land in Kentucky; so his family had to move to the State of "Missouri."  One time our boss and Mr. Bob talked about that.  

    

"CHEROKEE" WARRIOR

          Mr. Dave said Cherokee's were "skilled in making war."  Daisy heard they were kind of like Japanese Samurai Warriors, or the Vikings; in "prizing courage and honor."  I guess, in Mr.  Steve's office is a throwing tomahawk like the clubs Cherokee's threw really accurately.                

             I just thought of when Mr. Steve's Nephew's Dalton, Austin and Sammy Jr. used the blow gun to target practice back here.  I mentioned how Cherokee's used blow guns just like the ones   some Indian's use down there in South America.  Boy!  Dawn has such a pleasant voice.                

           Oh!  I just noticed how I still have a little bit more to write about Capistrano Mission. It's a good thing I noticed it because there's not much time left today.  If Dais and I could time travel we'd want to go back and see Mr. Steve and his mom's 1993 Capistrano Mission Art Exhibit.                                                                                    FRANCIS DRAKE (c.1540-1596)                  HIPPOLYTE DE BOUCHARD (1780-1837)                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A painting shows a "Frenchman" wearing good shoulder epaulettes named Hippolyte de Bouchard, who led the raid on Capistrano in 1818.  Mr. Steve thinks he, like Francis Drake; was a "Pirate" but called "Privateers" so wasn't hung.  You can also call him "Hipólito" too.  

           The caption below Hippolyte de Bouchard's painting says he worked for "Argentina" in 1818, so his raid was "sanctioned."  Queen Elizabeth I gave Francis Drake permission to be a Pirate in the late 16th century.  He sailed here to California and called it "New Albion." 

           It says here Trains made it to the Capistrano area in 1887, the first "Depot" built in 1894.  Mr. Steve heard roof tiles from the Mission ruins were later "salvaged" and used to rebuild that depot.  "Disrepair" is the word used to describe how the Mission looked back in those days.

               

          SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO "TRAIN DEPOT"                                            "METROLINK" 

         

               Daisy and Millie one time heard our boss tell his mom how he met a person who took the Metrolink Train from Los Angeles to Capistrano.  His wife and kids, and his sister's kids too;  really liked it and want to do it again.  Wow!  I can't believe this is already chapter eleven.  

                It says here the "Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe" company sent Trains to the Capistrano area first.  Daisy says Huell Howser did a good episode about San Juan Capistrano.  Theodora flew in, landed near Moe; and then ran and jumped up into her favorite Creosote bush.

           In 1974, when he was one year out of Sylmar High School; "Amtrak" Trains started going down there to the Capistrano area Mr. Steve told his mom.  And now those Metrolink Trains take people there too from what Daisy heard.  Oh!  A Train whistled faintly over there to my left. 

 

HIGH DESERT BUNNY RABBIT

     

                I just noticed a Rabbit a Bunny Rabbit standing out there in the desert behind the Sheds. It better be careful because that new Hawk has been hanging around here a lot today.  Yup!  The Rabbit hopped away and went underneath this bushy Creosote bush near the back fence.

            Boy God!  I can't believe I've finished ten chapters today, considering how in the back of my mind I'm still thinking about Heathcliff being gone.  I could not have made it this far without Everyone's help up there, so Thank You Guys so much.  A  Motorcycle went bye out there.   

           Oh!  And if you just happen to be up there mind-reading me Heathcliff then thank you too because I feel as though you've been helping me too.  Libby's scent just came floating to me over on the Patio, and that makes me feel good.   Ah!  The mid-afternoon air is so clear right now.

                                    

LATE AFTERNOON SKY

                           

             Another Motorcycle zoomed bye on Primavera Road.  The scent of that clump of Joshua trees near Andy and Helen's burrow just came floating into to me over here on Elvira.  Andy's sniffing the air and being alert for any danger to he and Helen's babies sleeping down there.

            Oh!  All of a sudden Vivaldi's song "La Primavera" just came into my head.  It's giving me a feeling of energy to finish these final two chapters of this last book.  Hey Heathcliff!  Thank you for helping me out today, if you were up there looking down on me here in Piñon Hills.

           While I was going pee after chapter ten I saw Charlie Company's older generation already teaching the babies.   Showing by example, the babies are taught to scratch the ground; maybe digging up buried seeds.  Alpha and Bravo Company's babies probably learned it by now.  

               

                    ANTONIO VIVALDI(1678-1741)                                               GENESIS     

   

                  Hey Mr. Vivaldi!  If you can hear me up there I really want to thank you so much for the song you wrote about Spring.  I'm right now feeling that uplifting spirit of Rhêma right because of your song in my thoughts.  Two more Motorcycles just went bye out there in the desert. 

           Ah!  Now all of sudden GENESIS'S song "Musical Box" flowed into my thoughts, which is also making my spirit lift.  My right nostril just picked up the blended scent of Blinky, Dawn and Rosie coming from just on the other side of the fence over there.  I really like those guys.  

           Wow!  Seeing the floating dust left behind by those Motorcycles out there in the desert, at the same time smelling Dawn, Blinky and Rosie is reminding me of last Summer.  I fell so lucky right now because I have food, water and shelter.  And I have some to love and feel loved too! 

                                    

                                                      CARLOS MONTOYA (1903-1993)

                            

                I just thought of that time back in the 1970's when Mr. Steve and his friend Chris saw Carlos Montoya play guitar at "Busch Gardens" in Van Nuys.  That night, because the audience was kind of small; they got to sit right near Carlos Montoya as he played.  Daffy's quacking.  

             Daisy says, as our boss and Chris watched Carlos Montoya play; they "Couldn't believe their Eyes" so to speak.  The "Dexterity" in his fingers was incredible.  I've mentioned how Chris joked after the first song he was going to quit playing guitar, but he was just kidding.  

             Mr. Steve was told Carlos Montoya is now known as the Musician who "transformed" Flamenco music into a "separate" musical style.  Dais heard our Chief tell Mr. Dave he used his right picking hand to sound like a snare drum.  His finger movement was unbelievable.   

                

                   BUDWEISER BREWERY        "BUSCH GARDENS"          BIRD SANCTUARY 

PHOTO BY CRAIG BAKER                                                                                                                                                                                               

                   

         I've mentioned before how the actual gardens at Busch Gardens were next to a tall beer "Brewery."  It's the tallest building in the San Fernando Valley, and has been called the "world's  most modern" Brewery.  Mr. Steve and Sandy walked around Busch Gardens a few times.            

       When our boss and Chris saw the Newspaper ad that listed "Carlos Montoya" at Busch Gardens it didn't seem possible it could be the "Real" Carlos Montoya.  But, it was alright; and  turned out to be totally amazing.  They even got to say hello and then shook his hand too.              

        Daisy says when Mr. Steve thinks of  Busch Gardens he not only remembers the times he and Sandy walked around looking at the beautiful flowers and different Birds, but also how he    and Chris saw Carlos Montoya; who told Chris to "practice."  Dawn's barking.  I like her!           

              

        T-BONE WALKER                     JIMI HENDRIX              STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN        

                    (1910-1975)                          (1942-1970)                                (1954-1990)                                                                                                                PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ                                         PHOTO BY DAVID PLASTIK

          

             When Mr. Steve saw Stevie Ray Vaughan play he thought of Carlos Montoya.  Stevie Ray Vaughn played behind his back like T-Bone Walker and Jimi Hendrix, who Daisy says could also play with their teeth too.  Mr. Mark joked how they "came out of the womb with a guitar."           

         T-Bone Walker died on March the 16th, which is also our boss's sister Susan's birthday.  The caption below a picture of him says he was one of the first to use the  electric guitar to play    Blues louder.  Oh!  Finley and Fanny just flew bye again, and still seem to be really happy.            

          I guess, T-Bone Walker was born in Dallas like Stevie Ray Vaughan; but died out here in Los Angeles.  I've said how our boss's brother Rock and his sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob live in "Arlington," near Dallas; and where the brothers in PANTERA  grew up.  Dawn's barking.                                  

             STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN (JEFF BECK BEHIND)         

                                

            Boy!  It's too bad that guy Stevie Ray Vaughan got killed in the Helicopter crash.  Daisy says our boss is grateful to have been able to see him, and Jeff Beck; play in that concert he and    Miss Harriet saw in late 1989.  I can smell Blinky, Dawn and Rosie standing near the fence.          

          Our Chief told Mr. Dave about he and Miss Harriet seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Beck at the Sports Arena downtown.   Stevie Ray Vaughan's band DOUBLE TROUBLE was the "Opening Act" for Jeff Beck.  Smelling Dawn, Blinky and Rosie is making me feel good.                

         Daisy heard, at that 1989 concert Jeff Beck's band had no Singer; it was just music only. And, like the DOORS; the guy who played keyboards also played the bass parts.  The Drummer had earlier been in that band MISSING PERSONS according to what our boss told Mr. Dave.                     

CREATION                                                         LIFE FORCE    

        As You know God, our boss thinks You give some people "natural ability" to do certain things a lot easier than others.  But, they still have to practice too; or "the gift might go away" he says.  That one morning last Summer Mr. Randy jokingly used the term "Use it or lose it."           

          Stevie Ray Vaughan must've practiced for hours to play so well.  Mr. Dave says he "makes his guitar talk as a second singer" in his band DOUBLE TROUBLE.   He "interfaces" with it as  an "extension" of his body, or "a third arm."  Linda and Blue Boy just went flying bye.                 

        Our Chief told Mr. Dave Stevie Ray Vaughan plays "better" behind his back than most people do in front.  In order to do a "stunt" like that you have to be able to "visualize," and Dais noticed he does often play with his eyes closed.   I wonder if I could run with my eyes closed?                                                                                                          LARRY DAVIS (1936-1994)                           STEVIE RAY VAUGHN                

                                                                                                                                              PAINTING BY MICHÈLE RAIS

                                     

             I guess that guy Larry Davis originally wrote Texas Flood in 1955, the year Mr. Steve was born.  Oh!  It says here he was born on December 4th, just like our boss's Niece Stephanie too.    Texas Flood is described here as being a, "metaphor for a possibly failed relationship."                  

          Mr. Dave thinks Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar "solos" on his 1984 version of Texas Flood are some of the best ever.  Dais says he starts out slowly, gains speed; and then slows down again  in the middle.  After that he plays behind his back, still singing; until the end of the song.               

           I guess, on some electric Blues songs; a "Call and Response" technique is used.  Dais says the way Stevie Ray Vaughan sings a line, and then answers it on his guitar; is so totally amazing.  She and Millie both agreed that his talented singing is just as good as his guitar playing.                

   

     WILLIE NELSON                    S.R. VAUGHAN                        BRIAN MAY         

PHOTO BY GARY MILLER                                                                                                                                                                                                     

   

            Over the last three days I've written about how some Guitarists, like that guy Brian May of QUEEN for example; think of their guitar as female.  Willie Nelson considers his old guitar to be male.  Mr. Dave read that Stevie Ray Vaughan thought of his guitars as being female too.         

           Mr. Rich heard Stevie Ray Vaughan's old Fender "Stratocaster" guitar is a 1962 "neck" on a 1963 "body."  Because the "pickups" are from a 1959 version, Stevie Ray Vaughan called it "his 59;" and referred to it as being "his wife."  Jimi Hendrix also played Stratocasters too.         

        "It's obvious" Mr. Dave said, Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar is old; the paint partly "worn off" from "years of youth"  I guess, he had another guitar named "Lenny;" his wife's name in real life I guess.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying over Libby's Corral.            

ROY ROGERS / TRIGGER / DALE EVANS                               RORY GALLAGHER                  

     

           Before the economic recession Mr. Dave had a Motorcycle Shop customer in Texas.  He was from "Oak Cliff," part of  "Dallas;" and where Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmy  grew up.  He said Stevie Ray Vaughn's very first guitar was an acoustic "Roy Rogers model."      

          Mr. Dave's customer liked that Irish Guitarist Rory Gallagher.  Our boss told Mr. Dave about he, Miss Sandy and their friends seeing him play at the "Whisky A Go Go."  Daisy says      Mr. Dave's customer said Stevie Ray Vaughn used to tell people he was "from" Oak Cliff.             

         Daisy says Miss Sandy noticed how "worn" Rory Gallagher's Stratocaster looked.  Mr. Dave's customer told him, when he was nine Stevie Ray Vaughan's Roy Rogers guitar "matched" his "Cowboy" themed bed blanket.  I just love these three blankets Mr. Chris got for me!                      

    CONSTELLATION "ORION"                                    "SOLAR" ECLIPSE             

       Even though we're glad it's Spring after a cold Winter, Daisy and I will miss seeing the Constellation "Orion" in the night sky.  Daisy heard our boss one time talking with a customer    who was originally from England.   A Motorcycle went zooming bye out there in the desert.          

        Daisy says the Parts Manager knew a lot about Astronomy.   He told our boss QUEEN'S Brian May not only built his red guitar with his father, they also built a telescope together too.  I  guess Brian May, who Dais heard is so smart in Astronomy; studies those "Solar Eclipses."          

         Mr. Steve's customer read that Brian May gets the same Rhêma type feeling of inspiration looking at the night sky as he gets from some music.   When the Parts Manager said Brian May doesn't like modern lighting our boss joked he'd like it here in Piñon Hills.  I smell Mesquite.           

"STAR WARS"

             According to what Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Rich talk about, Brian May of QUEEN really likes those "Star Wars" movies I've mentioned before over the last three days.  He knows a lot about Outer Space because of his advanced schooling.  There are thin clouds up in the sky.      

           Mr. Dave read Brian May does not think the "celebrity lifestyle" is good for a person.  He saw what happened to QUEEN'S Singer Freddie Mercury, who Dais says ended up dying young.  Rudy, who must've been under Moe; ran through the right gate slot to go out into the field.           

          The shadows leaning away from me are getting longer because the Sun is over on the west side of the house behind me.  Considering how I've been thinking about Heathcliff dying, I can't  believe it's already after five in the afternoon.  A line of Ants is going bye down on the floor.          

   

GENESIS 

(EARLY 1970'S / "NURSERY CRYME"- 1971)

   

           Oh!  All of a sudden I'm hearing GENESIS' song "Musical Box," which makes me feel so good; and is filling me with Rhêma type energy.  I've said before how Mr. Steve has been playing that song for people for years, just to see their reaction.  Boy!  Thank You God for music.              

         Someday I'll be able to hear that entire 1971 GENESIS album "Nursery Cryme," which I've mentioned before is our boss's favorite work by them.  I can't wait to hear that one song Dais told me about called "Return of the Giant Hogweed."  Mr. Steve was in 10th Grade in 1971.         

       Brian May says he liked the "tones" GENESIS' Guitarist Steve Hackett got on the three totally different solos he did on Musical Box.  Daisy noticed how, back in the early 1970's; Steve    Hackett wore those black-rimmed glasses our boss wore as a kid.   That was the style then.            

       

    STEVE HACKETT                                                   EDDIE VAN HALEN

                                                   PHOTO BY COLIN MCCLOUD                                                                                                                      PHOTO BY MARIO MARANO                                                         

           I've mentioned before how it was that guy from Pasadena Eddie Van Halen who, in the late 1970's and early 1980's; "Popularized" the use of the two-handed "Tapping" technique.  On the song Musical Box Eddie Van Halen noticed Steve Hackett doing it.  Dawn's barking.               

           Daisy says in the early 1970's when Musical Box came out on the Nursery Cryme album Steve Hackett, and sometimes Mike Rutherford too; sat in chairs when playing up there on the    stage.  A Train whistled faintly way out there in the desert to the northeast.  I like Dawn.               

           One time our boss and Mr. Rich talked about tapping, or using both hands on the neck of the guitar.  Mr. Dave read Guitarists have been tapping since the late 1940's, or right after World War II; and was then called "hammering" or "hammer on" technique.  Libby whinnied.                                       

  JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750)                       "SWITCHED ON BACH"          

        

          In my books I've learned about some of the different Classical music Composers.  Mr. Steve read Steve Hackett first "tapped" in the early 1970's when he tried playing that Bach song "Toccata and Fugue" I've mentioned before.  Libby has such a nice pleasant voice I think.            

            Someday I'll hear "Switched on Bach," which in the early 1970's used "Synthesizers" to play Bach songs.  As I've said before, Mr. Steve first heard it in 9th Grade at Alemany High.  His  Art Teacher Judy Baca, who is associated with making wall murals; played it for her class.           

            Dais says Mr. Dave read Eddie Van Halen as a kid noticed Jimmy Page tapping on LED ZEPPELIN'S 1969 song "Heartbreaker."  Then he saw Steve Hackett doing it on "Musical Box" and "Giant Hogweed."  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying toward the west.                        

FANNIE AND FREDDIE

           Seeing Fannie and Freddie go bye right now suddenly makes me think of yesterday when they also went bye in the afternoon, and were also moving toward the the Sun going down on the other side of the house.  Boy!  I feel so good right now.  Thank Everyone for Your help today.       

         Ah!  Hearing JETHRO TULL'S "The Third Hoorah" all of a sudden is now also making me feel good and want to dance.   Daisy says our Chief likes Bach's song "Bourrée," which a tv    show said JETHRO TULL do in their "jazzy" and "progressive" way.  Dawn's barking.              

       I guess the man on that one tv show said Bach's Bourree influenced the BEATLES song about the Blackbird.  Jimmy Page's acoustic introduction to LED ZEPPELIN'S "Stairway to Heaven."  Max and 99 just went zooming bye, and I could hear them coming from my right.              

         ROY SMECK (1900-1994)                                              WISHBONE ASH                 

  

          I guess the Magazine article Mr. Dave read talked about Roy Smeck.  My Encyclopedia calls him the "Wizard of the Fretboard," or the "master of stringed instruments."  One of the      instruments he played was a "Ukulele," which I've mentioned before over the last three days.       

         From what it says here, back in the 1930's when Mr. Steve's parents were born; that man Roy Smeck used "two-handed tapping techniques" on "various" instruments.  Daisy says our      boss told Mr. Dave he has a 1970's vinyl WISHBONE ASH record.   Andy's sniffing the air.          

        Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave he's heard one of WISHBONE ASH'S two Guitarists at times used his fretboard like a keyboard the way Eddie Van Halen did.  Mr. Dave and our boss    discussed Eddie Van Halen's playing on that song "Eruption."  Leo and Cleo flew bye.                  

              

QUEEN  I (1973)

 

          Over the last three days I've mentioned Mr. Steve's favorite QUEEN album is their first one, and over the years he's played it for other people; so he could see their reaction.  That one    song "Great King Rat" is on that first QUEEN album.  I smell the Joshua trees near Andy.          

          Mr. Dave told our boss an old Motorcycle Shop customer, himself a Guitarist; said he was told Brian May tells other people QUEEN was influenced by the BEATLES, the WHO and LED ZEPPELIN.  There are two crisscrossed vapor trails up there in the late afternoon sky.                  

         In that Magazine article about the history of tapping Brian May said, in 1977; he saw this Guitarist in a Texas bar doing two-handed tapping.  He asked the guy where he got it and the guy told him from ZZ TOP'S Billy Gibbons.   Brian May tapped on QUEEN'S song "It's Late."               

   "LASERIUM"                                               JOHN MAYALL BAND 

   (LASER IMAGES" / 1970'S)                                               (RANDY RESNICK IN UPPER RIGHT)    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Doug talking about the 1970's when Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter worked for "Laser Images."  During those years there was a guy who also worked there    named Randy Resnick.  Ah!  I love taking in big breaths of fresh air through my nose.                   

           From what Dais heard, Randy Resnick was a talented Guitarist who in those days was in that guy John Mayall's band.  I've written about the 1960's English Musicians, like Eric Clapton for exampe; who began their careers in John Mayall's "Blues" bands.  A Train whistled.               

           I guess, by the mid-1970's John Mayall had moved his family out here to California.  One time our boss and Randy Resnick talked about music, and Randy Resnick was a friendly person who seemed to like teaching to a receptive audience the way Mr. Steve does.  I smell Sage.             

 

AFTERNOON HIGH DESERT

          Over the years Mr. Steve has read about, or spoken with; people who say Randy Resnick was also two-handed tapping back in the 1970's.  He was adding what Mr. Dave one time called    "layers and dimension" to a song.  I love how the desert behind the Sheds looks right now.            

         Mr. Steve has been told Frank Zappa "admired" Randy Resnick's guitar playing, and so did his friend Captain Beefheart too I guess.  A few years ago Mr. Steve was told Randy Resnick and his family now live over in France.  And he learned how to play the saxophone I guess.           

         Dais says our boss told Mr. Doug he never "had a chance" to see Randy Resnick play, but knows he must be really good just from what he's heard and read all of these years.  A really long line of Ants are right now marching bye on the Patio floor near Miss Emily's old coffee table.                 
   

        JEFF BECK                                         EMMETT CHAPMAN

          One time Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter talked with Randy Resnick about a guitar-like ten stringed instrument called a "Chapman Stick."  It was made by a guy named Emmett Chapman and is held straight up and down or vertical.  Jeff Beck tried playing one back in the 1970's.         

          Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave a "Stick" is like a guitar with "only a neck," and "in effect;" is like always tapping.  A Train just now whistled faintly, way out there in the desert; to    the far northeast.   Andy's sniffing the air, to make sure Cher or Goliath aren't around.                 

           I guess Mr. Steve, going to C.S.U.N. then; told Randy Resnick he and that girl Susan saw Emmett Chapman play his stick at the campus "Pub."  Mr. Steve took Miss Sandy to the Pub a    few times.  Miss Susan, who liked dancing; went to that "Renaissance Fair" with our boss.            

  

HARVEY MANDEL

          Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Doug it turned out both he and Randy Resnick shared July the 9th as a birthday.  Back in the 1970's, when our boss and Mark Ritter were talking with him; Randy Resnick told them about this Guitarist named Harvey Mandel.  Daffy's quacking.              

           Years later Mr. Steve found out that Harvey Mandel, in CANNED HEAT; did hammer on tapping.  Mr. Steve told Randy Resnick about that good barbeque he went to in Topanga Canyon where he got to meet Bob Hite of CANNED HEAT.  Ah!  I can smell some Oleander flowers.         

          I've said a few times how I love CANNED HEAT'S song "Going up the Country," because of the singing and flute playing.   Mr. Steve also found out it was Harvey Mandel who played the distorted guitar on "Let's Work Together," his favorite CANNED HEAT song.  I feel good.           

            

         DANCERS FROM INDIA                                             HAWAIIAN DANCERS           

                

            Daisy noticed how female Flamenco Dancers move their hands when dancing.  She says our Chief thinks in some dancing, like over in India or Hawaii for example; hand movements are at times meant to "send signals or give messages."  Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye right now.    

            Oh!  Pictures show Indian and Hawaiian girls dancing, and the caption says what Daisy told me too that one time.  Girl "Hula" Dancers over in Hawaii wear skirts made out of grass.  I would definitely wear clothes like what the girls have on in the two Encyclopedia pictures.  

            I was supposed to write about this Play called "The Nutcracker" yesterday when I wrote about Russia and Christmas.  It's actually a "Ballet" Dance performance.  Dais said one time she and Millie saw it on tv and she told me Mr. Steve said it's always shown in December.

       

"BALLET" DANCING

              

            Daisy and I decided to insert The Nutcracker right here once I realized my mistake.  She says our boss's mom likes that play but, as I've mentioned a few times; Mr. Steve doesn't usually like "Musical" plays or movies that much.  A Train just whistled faintly over to my left. 

            Yesterday I mentioned that one lady from San Fernando named Marge Britt.  She really knew a lot about the history of The Nutcracker Ballet I guess.  Daisy and I can tell that our boss kind of misses talking to her, and a while back had a "pleasant" dream about her he said.

           Over the years Mr. Steve has known a few women or girls named "Margorie," which of course is what Marge is shortened down to.  I kind of like how that shortened name sounds, and I might name someone that this Spring.  Hey Miss Marge, our boss really admired you a lot.   

         

BILL HANDEL WITH FAMILY

        

              Over the last three days I've mentioned that guy Bill Handel, who has a Radio show on "KFI;" which our boss has listened to for a long time.  He even called in those times to ask questions on his "Legal Advice" show.  I guess Bill Handel's wife is named Margorie e too.

             Ah!  This is a good time to write about the "Olive View" Hospital down there in Sylmar.  Over the last three days I kept missing it on my outlines.  I wrote in book one on Thursday how Bill Handel's mom worked at that Hospital for while.  I'll just come back to the Nutcracker. 

            In my three long books I've written how Mr. Steve's father, with the help of people like Mrs. Britt and that man Bill Garcia for example; did things in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley.  One was getting Olive View rebuilt.  Shadows are getting longer it seems.

                                                              FEBRUARY, 1971       "OLIVE VIEW" HOSPITAL      AFTER BEING REBUILT                                                                                                 

         Daisy and Millie saw a good tv show where the man talked about Olive View Hospital.  It began in 1920 as a "Sanitarium" for people sick with that thing called "Tuberculosis."  That was two years after World War I, a year after the "Spanish Flu" pandemic" I've written about.           

         According to Dais, Tuberculosis is when you have a really hard time breathing.  For a long time I guess it was thought California's "Mediterranean" climate with its sunshine and fresh air  was good for Tuberculosis.  Boy!  The afternoon air is so clear again for the third day in a row.     

     The tv show said, since the period right after the Second World War; Doctors have those drugs called "Antibiotics" to "treat" Tuberculosis.  Mr. Dave read that guy "Doc" Holiday, who  fought at the "O.K. Corral;" had "TB."   A group of Birds is flying over Libby's Corral.                                        

     "VETERAN'S MEMORIAL" PARK

     (SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA)

          PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

        

                Ah!  A slight breeze just brought in the pleasant scent of the Twins, which is giving me a good feeling; and making me really appreciate being here on Elvira.  I can also smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping up in their nest near the Patio roof.  I wonder what Dais is doing?

            One time our boss and Mr. Dave talked about Olive View Hospital, and also "Veteran's" Park.  Mr. Dave has hiked around up in the foothills near there, while in High School our boss, Miss Sandy and their friends walked on the trails above Veteran's Park.  Dawn's barking.

           As I've said before, Mr. Dave was told there are ghosts in the hills above Olive View.  I just thought of how there used to be a lot of olive trees down there in Sylmar, and how in Latin the name "Sylmar" would be translated to be "Sea of Trees."  Andy's over there sniffing the air.  

                           

THE "TWINS" 

 

            Ah!  A slight breeze just brought in the Twins' scent, and now the chimes are starting to ring a little bit.  I can also smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping up there in the nest near the Patio roof.  Smelling the Twins makes me remember going pee after I finished chapter ten.  

           I just thought about the park where the Veteran's Hospital used to be before the big 1971 earthquake.   That "Century Art Gallery," where Mr. Steve and his mom showed their Mission artwork; is also located in Veteran's Park.  Boy!  The afternoon air is so clear and fresh.

          Daisy says the the tv show mentioned, in 1962 when Mr. Steve was seven years old; one of the first San Fernando Valley "Open Heart Surgeries" was done at Olive View Hospital.  Since 1992 Olive View has been "affiliated with U.C.L.A., where Miss Emily works.  I smell Sage.    

       

CALIFORNIA WILD FIRE      

        

              One time our boss and Mr. Doug talked about a 2008 fire which burned some what they call "Outbuildings" of Olive View.  2008 was also the same year that giant storm Miss Susan calls the "Whopper" happened in December.   Mr. Steve tells people how that was a "scary" time.

             In my three books I've written about that July 2008 trip our boss's family took to visit  Washington D.C., the year President Obama was first elected.  Dais told he he still has two years left to be President, so then they'll hold another national election.  I see Libby over there.

             Daisy heard Miss Babette one time tell our boss tv shows like "Mission Impossible" and "Emergency" were filmed at Olive View.  And she also read, in the 1980's; that one guy Sylvester Stallone of the Rocky movies used parts of the Hospital for some scenes.  Libby smells good.         

                           

                        "ZOOT SUIT" RIOTS / 1943                               "DODGER" STADIUM

   

              Daisy told me the tv show that talked about Olive View Hospital also mentioned "Chavez Ravine" too.  I've written about how Dodger Stadium was built there, after all of the people were "Evicted" using that "Eminent Domain" idea.  A Tuberculosis Hospital was there too I guess.

           Chavez Ravine is also one of the areas where those "Zoot Suit" riots broke out during the Second World War.  That's when white Sailors with billy clubs went around beating up Mexicans wearing one of those fancy Zoot suits.  Daisy says our boss has a few billy clubs in his office. 

           In my three books I've written about "Elysian" Park near Dodger Stadium, and how it's a part of the area called "Griffith Park."  Mr. Steve's brother Rock, when in College at C.S.U.N.; was a Camp Counselor there.  Mr. Ralph calls Griffith Park "L.A.'s Central Park" Dais says.

                                                                              "GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY"

      

         Earlier today I learned so much about New York City and Central Park.  The reason Mr. Ralph compared it to Griffith Park is mainly because both are nature surrounded by a modern    city made of concrete Dais says.  That one Observatory is also located in Griffith Park too.           

         One time Mr. Steve's mom also compared Griffith Park with Central Park.  Daisy says she told our boss it was kind of like an "oasis in the middle of a big desert."   The tv show said that    Hospital down there in Griffith Park began in 1902, and had Tuberculosis patients too.                  

        Dais told me how the man on the tv show was given a tour of the current Hospital facilities near Dodger Stadium.  Mr. Steve's parents saw that show, and his mom says she "would like" to  walk abound their beautiful grounds someday.  She loves places like "Descanso Gardens."            

                   

     "LASERIUM"     

  

                Writing about the things having to do with the Griffith Park area is making me think of that company "Laser Images." When our boss, Mark Ritter and Randy Resnick worked there in the 1970's they did the "Laserium" show up at the Observatory.  A Train whistled faintly.

            Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Doug, who saw the Laserium show I guess; talking about Mark Ritter and what a unique person he was.  According to what Dais says, in the 1970's Miss Sandy and her girlfriends liked when Mr. Steve took them to see Laserium.  I smell Creosote.

            A while back Mr. Steve bought and sold some things to a man who used to work at that "Greek Theater" I've talked about.  It's near the Griffith Park Observatory, and where our boss and his Nieces Cristina and Samantha saw the Avril Lavigne concert.  A Lizard just ran bye.  

                     

           THE MOVE            

            Well, back to writing about that Ballet the The Nutcracker, which my Encyclopedia says was written in the late 19th century by that Russian Composer "Tchaikovsky."  I mentioned him yesterday when I wrote about that British band the MOVE.  A Train just whistled faintly.

            I've said a few times how the MOVE began in the 1960's, in the mid-1970's becoming the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA.  Like BLACK SABBATH, they're from "Birmingham" in England's "Midlands" area.  Boy!  Smelling Andy over there is kind of making me feel good. 

            Daisy told me about the MOVE song about the Brontosaurus Dinosaur, and their albums "Message from the Country," and "Shazam."  Mrs. Britt died but Mr. Steve remembers playing  her the MOVE songs with Classical music.  One was that song "Cherry Blossom Clinic."      

       

                                  ("NO ANSWER" / 1971)                    E.L.O.                ("ON THE THIRD DAY" / 1974)                    

    

                  Our boss and Mr. Doug talked about how Mark Ritter, once Mr. Steve played them for him; liked the MOVE and later ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA.   Like our boss Daisy says, his favorite E.L.O. album was their first 1971 "dark non-commercial" album.  I smell Sage. 

             Hey Lord!  As I've said a few times, someday I really want to hear that one E.L.O. album called "On The Third Day."  Mr. Steve likes it a lot, and over the years has played it for people who like Classical music; to see their reaction.   Samson and Delilah are flying to the east.   

             I guess, Mark Ritter was impressed how the final version of the MOVE was mainly just those three guys, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan.  And the first version of E.L.O. was too. Many Musicians replaced Roy Wood in the later years when they became the most popular. 

   

    "LOOKING ON" (1970)        "MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY" (1971)          "SPLIT ENDS" (1972)     

THE MOVE 

               Yesterday in book two I wrote about how Mr. Steve liked all of the last MOVE albums,  I guess, as he listened to them he would do black and white ink drawings of the different logos and images on them.  He did a big 11 x 14 collage which copied the images on "Split Ends."

           Our Chief told Mr. Dave one time how he'd like to meet any of the three members of the final version of the MOVE, or what became E.L.O.  Mr. Steve says he has a vinyl record of Roy Wood's "post E.L.O." band WIZARD.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying toward the east.

          Someday I really want to hear those good MOVE and E.L.O. songs Daisy's told me about, especially the one which uses part of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."  Mrs. Britt said the MOVE were "very clever" in how they used it in their song.  She also liked Cherry Blossom Clinic.     

  

                                                 ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)

           

                    Well, that lady Marge Britt was right.  She told our boss Tchaikovsky wrote "Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy" based "on a bet."  And he composed it using a "sequential musical note scale" she said, which is just exactly what it also says right in this one Encyclopedia too.

             Daisy says The Nutcracker has a lot of Ballet dancing in it, and the story is about a girl named "Clara" who gets a toy in the shape of a little Soldier.  It's actually a tool for taking nuts out of their shells, but Clara's brother carelessly breaks it.  Our boss has a nutcracker.

            Andy just ran out into the desert so Helen took over guarding their babies at the entrance going down into their burrow.  Ah!  I see this little Lizard standing on the wall over there, near to the sliding glass door going into this back dining room.  I can now smell the Lizard.

 

"NUTCRACKERS" 

                A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows three nutcrackers shaped like toy soldiers.  It says here how that guy Tchaikovsky wrote The Nutcracker in 1892 but it "wasn't popular" in Russia and was kind of one of those "Flops."  That Lizard is now looking over at me.

             That Lizard is missing its tail but, as I've mentioned; Lizards can get their tail bitten off and then a new one will just grow right back.  Oh!  Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny just now flew bye.  Daisy says our boss has this little miniature Nutcracker Soldier in the kitchen.  

                 Because it's getting later in the day, the shadows are now leaning away from me sitting over here on my couch Elvira.  Libby's walking around over there in her Corral, and Cher is slinking bye right now.  Some long thin clouds are hanging high over the eastern desert.  

                                   

                            VLADIMIR LENIN (1870-1924)            CZAR NICHOLAS II (1868-1918)

              This is interesting.  My Encyclopedia says, after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 when the Communists under Vladimir Lenin overthrew Czar Nicholas II; Russians who "fled" over here to America brought The Nutcracker play with them.  That little Lizard's now gone.

         Hey Lord.  I guess, The Nutcracker is associated with Your birthday; even though Mrs. Britt and our boss think You probably weren't born in December.  Mrs. Britt joked how she just needed an "excuse to celebrate."  Mr. Steve doesn't celebrate that much any more.                         

             It's too bad that lady Mrs. Britt died because Daisy and I would have like to smell and meet her.  Mr. Steve and his parents remember her and her husband John as being good, decent-hearted people.  In his mind Mr. Steve can still almost hear her very distinctive laugh.                    

   

"BALLET" DANCING COUPLE

  

          According to Dais, part of the The Nutcracker is about this girl called the "Sugar Plumb Fairy," who dances with her boyfriend who's a Prince.  They have so much talent and the music    really fits that kind of dancing I guess.  Oh!  I smell one of the new Spring Sage plants.               

            It says here some Russians "settled" in San Francisco, and in 1944 "produced" their own version of The Nutcracker.  As I've written, 1944 was an important year in World War II history as a lot of very important things happened in that year.  I can see Libby over there.                        

         Mrs. Britt knew that, since 1944; many American towns and cities have done versions of The Nutcracker during Christmas Season.  Hey Lord!  As You know, Daisy thinks the best thing about The Nutcracker is how happy it makes you feel.  Boy!  I really do want to see it.                                                      

                                                  "NEUHAUSEN," GERMANY

                    

             Mr. Steve's mother once met a German girl who told her about this big thirty foot tall Nutcracker statue in the city of "Neuhausen."  Mrs. Britt knew about that statue, which I guess is standing on the outside of a Museum.  Samson and Delilah are flying to the north.  

            Mrs. Britt says one reason why The Nutcracker is so popular is because in the first scene a kids are needed as those "Extras" I've written about.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve has known people who were Extras in movies and other things like that.  I'd like to be an Extra!

            Because kids are already needed anyway, the people "Organizing" the Ballet can just use a few of the local ones who happen to live in that community.  So of course everyone wants to go see it.  Hey Lord!  I don't care when You were born, I just like dancing and celebrating.  

         

"THE NUTCRACKER"         

                              

              I guess Mr. Steve has been to a few productions of The Nutcracker.  Usually he doesn't like Ballet dancing all that much but sometimes it's okay he says.  Dais and Millie liked the part when that one girl Clara helps all the Toy Soldiers beat some Mice in this big fight.  

             Hey Lord!  Our Chief thinks another reason why so many towns and cities "put on" The Nutcracker at Christmas is because it can raise money.  He says, now that he lives up here in a small town he more appreciates the idea of "keeping money in the community."  Me too!

             As You know Lord, Mr. Steve gives to "Charity" at Christmas instead of giving gifts to all his family.  He doesn't like how Your birthday has been turned into a "Commercial" Holiday but willingly pays to see Nutcracker productions.  His mom also likes seeing them too Daisy heard.

     GIRL SCOUT COOKIES                                  MR. MARK / KARMA        

 

               One time our boss and his mom talked about those annual Girl Scout cookie sales Daisy's told me about.  They both always look forward to buying cookies, keeping some but also giving away some too.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving eastward.

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his Niece Samantha how for the last few years he's given Girl Scout cookies to that homeless man Mr. Mark.  I've mentioned before how he and his little girl Yorkie Dog Karma live in the desert just outside of Phelan over there.  A Train whistled faintly.

           Mr. Steve told his Niece he still remembers when her Grandma's Girl Scout troops would sell cookies outside of the Von's grocery store down there in Sylmar.  He also buys candy when a school or organization has fundraisers.   Mrs. Britt used to be involved in Girl Scouts too.

                                  

    THEODORA          

                            

                Aha!  I knew I was smelling Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny.  They're standing over there on one of the dad tree branches on the Mulberry tree.   Oh!  The big Monarch Butterfly that's been hanging around here for the last three days is fluttering bye, and is right now flying out into the desert.

           That lady Marge Britt said it was really "challenging" to do a good job in producing The Nutcracker.  Mr. Steve says, even though he doesn't really like Ballet dancing that much, he can appreciate how hard it would be to do alright.  Finley and Fanny flew out into the desert. 

           Our boss told Mrs. Britt the 1970's Boston Bruins Hockey team used a Hard Rock version of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, called "Nutty;" as a theme song.  One of Mr. Steve's customers in Rhode Island told him about it.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

         

                                             BOBBY ORR / 1970's BOSTON "BRUINS"

                

             Back in the 1970's when Mr. Steve, his brother Rock and their friends "Followed" N.H.L. Ice Hockey; the Boston "Bruins" had really good teams.  Everyone could tell that guy Bobby Orr was one of the best players in history.  He was a "great skater" our boss told Mr. Ralph.

           A picture shows a member of Mr. Steve's favorite team the Oakland "Seals," in light blue instead of green; trying to take the puck from Bobby Orr.  I see why our boss thinks it was more dangerous to play sports in the past.  None of the players are even wearing helmets I notice.

           Over the last three days in these long books I've learned so much about sports and things like that.  I just thought of Charles O. Finley, who owned the Kansas City, and later Oakland A's; or "Athletics."  Boy!  The afternoon sky is so beautiful right now and everything smells good. 

              

                          SEALS                          CHARLES O. FINLEY                        ATHLETICS     

 

               Dais thinks, as Mr. Steve does too; that man Charles O. Finley was an interesting person.  Being Irish, all his teams' primary color was bright "Kelly" green.  I've written about how, as a  "Gimmicks" his teams wore white shoes; or skates.  Now the A's wear dark "Forest" green.

          Our boss told his mom back in the 1960's and 1970's Mr. Finley was thought of either as a "clever innovator" or "non-traditionalist nut."  Mr. Steve jokes "maybe both."  But some of his ideas in Baseball, like "color coordination" and the "Designated Hitter;" are now normal.   

          I guess, until he injured his knee; Bobby Orr was one of the best Hockey players ever.  As a "Defenseman," which is not usually a high "Scoring" position like "Forwards;" he was so fast he could be great at "Both Ends" of the ice.  I see a long white vapor trail up there right now.

               

                                                                       "THE GOAL"

PHOTO BY RAY LUSSIER                                                                                                                                                                            

                   Mr. Steve has a customer in the State of Maine, but who grew up in Massachusetts near where his sister Susan lives with Dalton and Austin.  That Parts Manager, who's also fifty eight like our boss; is a Boston Bruins fan.  Oh!  I can now smell Goliath the Gopher Snake.

            Photos of Bobby Orr show him scoring a famous goal in 1970, when Mr. Steve was fifteen and in 9th Grade at Alemany.  The one on the left is called "The Goal" according to the caption, is one of the most "well-known" images in "New England" sports history.  I see Goliath.

            Andy's over there guarding the entrance to their burrow, and I can just tell by the way he looks that he's ready to fight Goliath again.  But Goliath is under Moe so is far away right now.  I know Helen's down there too, also ready to fight if it becomes a necessary thing to do. 

                                                                                                         

                            BERNIE NICHOLS                     (MID-1980'S)                 MARCEL DIONNE                              PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

             Dais says our boss told that Parts Manager in Maine he took pictures of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1980's.  And he even sent him some of the pictures he took back then.  I guess, that man's brother and his kids really liked a guy named Bernie Nichols; who was on the Kings.

             According to Daisy, Mr. Steve also sent that Parts Manager a picture he took of that one other King's player Marcel Dionne.  That's mainly because he mentioned how his wife's family were originally from that Canadian Province of "Quebec."  A Train just whistled.   

            Mr. Steve and the Parts Manager have talked about a story "behind" that photo of Bobby Orr's famous goal.  By how he looks right now over there near Moe, you can tell Goliath is not a threat to Andy and Helen's babies down there.  The Train whistled faintly again out there.   

                                

PIGPEN          

                 

             Oh my God!  Pigpen the Gopher is looking at me from his hole near the Mulberry tree.  I guess he doesn't even know yet that Goliath is close bye over there.  Ah!  Now I can smell Pigpen because his scent is so strong and just came up into both of my nostrils right now.   

           That Parts Manager thinks the Photographer who took the famous picture of Bobby Orr flying through the air was "smart" and "lucky."  I guess Bobby Orr scored his "game winning" goal against the St. Louis "Blues."  Oh Oh! Goliath's tongue just picked up Pigpen's scent. 

           I've mentioned before how, in Hockey; the Championship team wins the "Stanley Cup."  It says here in 1970 the Bruins and Blues were tied at the end of "Regulation" time so had to play one of those "Overtime" periods.  Oh no!  Goliath is slowly waking up right now.

    

                                                          MURRAY BANNERMAN

                                        PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                                         

                                                                                                                      

           I've mentioned how Hockey Photographers take pictures through holes in the glass.  When he took his famous picture of Bobby Orr, the Photographer wasn't supposed to be using the hole he took his picture through.  Daisy says our boss has drawn the Bruins and Blues logos.

          From what that Parts Manager says, the Photographer assigned to the hole was out getting a beer when Bobby Orr scored his goal forty seconds into overtime.  So, he missed it and got mad when he came back holding his beer.  Mr. Steve has never really liked how beer tastes. 

          In 1970 the guy who passed the puck to Bobby Orr on the winning goal was named Derek Sanderson.  I guess Derek Sanderson was good on "Face Offs" and was also a great fighter too. Oh good!  Oh good!  Pigpen just ducked back down into his hole so now can be a lot safer.

         

                                                              DEREK SANDERSON

             I guess, in 1972 Derek Sanderson went to play in a new rival league to the National Hockey League.  It was called the "World Hockey League" or "W.H.L."  Just like the A.F.L. in Football was created to compete against the N.F.L., it was the same thing in Ice Hockey too.   

         Wow! This W.H.L. team paid Derek Sanderson 2.6 million dollars a year, making him the highest paid athlete in the world at that time.  I guess Athletes make way more now.  Goliath just crawled through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go into the desert.

        That Parts Manager in Maine told Mr. Steve Derek Sanderson lost all of his money and was even homeless for a while.  But now I guess he's doing way better and sometimes even goes to the Bruins games.  The Parts Manager said Derek Sanderson drank too much alcohol.     

               

 THE VENTURES      

                                                                             

          I'm still thinking of the Nutcracker.  A few years ago Mr. Steve met a guy from the State of Washington who said the VENTURES did a version of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.    Daisy    heard our boss say, as a kid; he drew the logo on the VENTURES Drummer's bass drum.             

       The man from Washington told our boss about a Museum near where he and his wife and kids live.  It's in a town called "Leavenworth," and is dedicated to things having to do with The    Nutcracker Ballet.  A Train just whistled faintly way out there in the northeastern desert.              

       I'm really looking forward to someday seeing the little miniature figurine of the Nutcracker Soldier Dais says is sitting on the divider between the kitchen and the dining room over there to my right behind the sliding glass door.  Dawn's barking and I can smell her and little Blinky.                                   

   "CELESTA"             

                              

               From what Daisy heard our boss and his mom talking about, that lady Marge Britt knew about how Tchaikovsky used a musical instrument called a "Celesta."  I guess the Nutcracker was the first Ballet to use one.  Mrs. Britt says its "heavenly" sounds make her feel happy.

            Daisy thinks a celesta kind of sounds like a bell.   Mr. Steve told his mom he noticed one being used in "Harry Potter," the movie he took his Nieces Samantha and Cristina to one time.  Looking into the field behind the Sheds, and seeing Birds flying around; makes me feel good. 

          A few years ago our boss met this lady who knew a lot about the history of those celesta's, and said in 1957 that guy Buddy Holly used one on his song called "Every Day."  She told Mr.      Steve some call celesta's "Bell Piano's."  I smell Charlie Company out there in the desert.             

   

  BUDDY HOLLY                     JETHRO TULL                   STEVIE WONDER

  

         It was on a Saturday morning when that lady came over to our house, so Dais and I sat in the living room with her and our boss.  He told her of my fear of enclosed areas and I let her pet    me.  She said how JETHRO TULL, and also Stevie Wonder too; used celesta's in some songs.       

         The lady said, in the song "Maggie May;" Rod Stewart's band the FACES had a celesta in it.  And EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER used one on that "Tarkus" album.  Daisy heard Mr. Dave say he really liked the mandolin on Maggie May.  I can't wait to hear that song someday.     

          I guess celesta's come in a few sizes, but all have smaller keys than regular piano's.  For a long time there was an "Upright" piano at Mr. Steve's parents house.  Samantha used to play it but now it's over at the house where Stephanie, Mr. Rich and Cristina live.   Dawn's barking.                                                          BEACH BOYS                          BEATLES                             ROLLING STONES                                                                                                                                                 You could kind of tell our boss learned from that lady as they sat in the living room.  She knew of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker play, and said the BEACH BOYS, BEATLES and ROLLING STONES used celesta's on some songs.  I can see Andy over there and he's sniffing the air.            

          Daisy and I both noticed how that lady agreed with Mr. Steve when he told her he thinks the BEACH BOYS, BEATLES and ROLLING STONES now partially symbolize the "zeitgeist"  or "spirit" of the 1960's.   Boy!  Seeing and smelling Andy is making me so happy to be alive.        

           The nice lady told our boss her husband and father "would agree" the "waltanschang" or "world view" of powerful people has played a big role in history.  She brought up Stalin, Hitler    and Mao Zedong.  Two Motorcycles just zoomed bye out there in the desert behind the Sheds.                                            

      AFTERNOON DESERT      

                      

            I have to keep on working hard because there is only about two more hours of sunlight left in the day.  That sunlight is coming from behind me, as I look to the east from over here on    Elvira.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there sleeping soundly in their Spring nest.             

        I remember how that lady was interested when our boss told her about Bobby Keys, and how he was the saxophone player his Aunt Lydia used to tell them about.  She said he was in the ROLLING STONES and Mr. Steve thought she was simply mistaken.  But she wasn't at all.         

         As I said yesterday in book one, when they would visit New Mexico Mr. Steve's Aunt Lydia would say one of the ROLLING STONES was from Belén.  It turned out Bobby Keys mom was    her friend.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the northeast.                           

     BOBBY KEYS /KEITH RICHARD                         BOBBY KEYS / MICK JAGGER

                

         Bobby Keys wasn't one of the five main members of the ROLLING STONES, but he and a trumpet player traveled with the band for their concerts.  On their records his most famous solo was on that song "Brown Sugar."  I just picked up the scent of the new baby Cholla cactus.          

       For a time Bobby Keys father worked in Belén for the "Santa Fe" Railroad; like Grandpa Trujillo did.  But when his parents broke up his mom "Lucy Keys stayed in Belen and he and his brother went with their father to "Lubbock," Texas.  Buddy Holly was also from Lubbock.           

         I remember the lady telling our boss, about a century before the celesta, in 1761; that guy Benjamin Franklin built a musical instrument called a "Glass Harmonica."  My Encyclopedia calls it a "Armonica."  I smell the strong scent of Mesquite coming from out in the desert.

                           

                                                                         BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790)                                                                                                                                                                                                        ARTWORK BY ALAN FOSTER

                                                       

               A black and white drawing in my Encyclopedia shows Benjamin Franklin playing one of his Armonica's.  And I notice how he's wearing some of those old-fashioned shoes with buckles on them.  Ah!  Theodora just flew in and landed on her favorite Creosote bush near Jack.

            I guess, an Armonica is a "series" of "rotating" glass bowels; that make the musical notes through "friction."  The bowels are turned by a foot pedal that Benjamin Franklin is using in the picture.  Friction means "rubbing objects;" in this case with the person's fingers.

           All of a sudden I just thought about Pigpen's scent.  Daisy had a bad dream where she was chased by a giant Gopher with huge teeth.  So, she ran in the garage and hid in her area between the refrigerator and utility room door; which she would defend "To the Death" as they say. 

              

        "ARMONICA"               

                            

           Dais says one time our boss and Mr. Dave talked on the phone about Benjamin Franklin's Armonica.  On tv Mr. Steve saw this good "Demonstration" of an Armonica, where a pretty lady played Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.  Theodora just now ran away.

           I guess, from what it says in the caption below the picture of that Armonica; it was mainly after 1761 that Benjamin Franklin's Armonica became popular.  That was eight years before the Spanish came up here to "Alta" California.  Fred, Ed and Ted flew over top of the house.

              Oh!  This is a good place to talk about that Huell Howser episode I was supposed to write about yesterday but missed on my outline.  Daisy says Huell Howser visited a place in the city of "Claremont" called the "Folk Music Center."  It's a store and museum all in one Daisy says.

       

"FOLK MUSIC CENTER"

("CLAREMONT," CALIFORNIA)

    

        Our Chief talked with Mr. Rich one time about that Huell Howser episode on the Folk Music Center.  Daisy says they not only sell a lot of different types of musical instruments, but is a place where you can take music lessons and attend small concerts too.  Dawn's barking.             

          This nice lady whose parents started the Folk Music Center in 1958, when Mr. Steve was only three years old; gave Mr. Huell a tour.  Two brothers who are those "Luthiers" I've written  about, demonstrated things that make unique sounds.  Some were from the Aztecs I guess.            

           Daisy says of course the brothers mainly work on "stringed" instruments, but there are a lot of interesting percussion things at the Folk Music Center too.  Huell Howser called the Folk    Music Center a "place of learning."  A little Lizard went running bye out there in the dirt.                               

GEORGE HARRISON / RAVI SHANKAR

 

                  Daisy says our boss and Mr. Rich talked about how a brother at the Folk Music Center played him one of those Indian "Sitar's" the BEATLES George Harrison played.  He said sitar means "seven" in "Sanskrit," which is how many strings there are on it .  I can smell Andy.

            Considering all of the unique musical instruments the lady and two brothers showed and played for Huell Howser, it's surprising they didn't have one of Benjamin Franklin's Armonicas Dai thinks.  Boy!  I sure wish I could all of a sudden hear Heathcliff's voice one more time.  

           One of the Folk Music Center's customers made beautiful sounds just rubbing his hands around a round metal bowl.  Dais says Mr. Huell called it "meditative" and "soothing," and that customer told him you can use sound for "healing."  Oh!  Maybe that's part of Rhêma? 

          

SOCRATES (c.470-399 B.C.)

  

            Huell Howser told a brother at the Folk Music Center it was a "place of learning." The guy then said that old saying.  I've written how, before dying Socrates may've said, "The more you know, the more you know you don't know."   Mr. Steve and his dad believe that idea. 

           Mr. Huell was shown one of those little "Ukelele's I've written about.  The brother said over there in Hawaii the name ukalele means "dancing flea;" which I guess is how Hawaii's King described a person's moving hands in playing it.  Dais says our boss told Mr. Mark about that.

           Our boss told Mr. Ralph, who also likes watching Huell Howser's tv show; he's been to the city of "Claremont" where the Folk Music Center is located.  It's about thirty miles to the east of downtown, and Huell Howser said it was "right off of the #10 Freeway.  Daffy's quacking.   

  

                       "CASSELL'S" MUSIC                                           "WAYNE'S WORLD"

   

                   According to what Dais and Millie heard Mr. Huell say on that episode, when the lady's parents first started the Folk Music Center back in 1958; it was in between two other business's in a building.  That's like "Cassell's Music" down there in San Fernando.  I smell Mesquite.

             I wrote before how a few scenes from that 1988 movie "Wayne's World" were filmed in
Cassell's."  Mr. Steve told Mr. Rich, who's bought things from Cassell's, he's never seen Wayne's World but would like to someday because he's heard about it.  A Train just whistled faintly.

            Now Cassell's has its own building to sell musical instruments but as a kid Mr. Steve, his brother Rock and their friends went their first location in the "San Fernando Mall."  Back then they were just one section of a store that sold other things like furniture.  A Lizard ran bye.

  

                                THE "SIMPSON'S"                                                "HOWELL HUSER"    

 

                  Over the last three days I've talked about that one cartoon called the "Simpsons," which shows the life of that family.  Even though Mr. Steve has never even seen the Simpson's, he says it "must be funny" because of how many years it's been "on the air."  Libby just neighed.

            Daisy and Millie heard our boss and his Niece Samantha talking about how there was a character on the Simpson's based on Huell Howser.  But in that cartoon he was named Howell Huser which Dais, and me too; think is so funny and clever.  Libby's scent floated over here.

            I guess, from what Dais heard our boss tell his mom one time; some people make fun of Huell Howser's totally upbeat and positive personality.  He can be totally amazed at some of the simple things in life.  I can't wait to see the Huell Howser episodes Daisy's told me about.     

                                                    NANCY CARTWRIGHT                                   C.S.U.N. SCULPTURE                                                      

               I've written about that girl Nancy Cartwright, who does the voice of that one kid "Bart Simpson;" and also some other cartoon characters too.  Mr. Steve and his Niece Samantha saw her do that "Stand Up" speaking performance at C.S.U.N.  Frida and Diego are flying bye. 

           Mr. Steve and Samantha talked about the time they walked around the C.S.U.N. campus, before seeing Nancy Cartwright; who was very friendly when they shook her hand and met her.   Andy's over there sniffing the air.  Someday I'd really like to walk around C.S.U.N. too.

          Hey God!  Thank You again for Elvira.  Thinking of her somehow makes me feel a little bit better about things on this kind of sad day.  Dais, like myself back here; has been up in the front yard thinking about Heathcliff, and says to thank You God for giving me this book to write.                                                                     

                                           LOUIS XVI (1754-1793)                  MARIE ANTOINETTE (1755-1793)

PAINTING BY JOSEPH-SIFFREIN DUPLESSIS                                                                                                                                         

         Oh!  I guess that girl Marie Antoinette took lessons on how to play Benjamin Franklin's Armonica.  Hey!  I wonder if a Dog could learn to play the Armonica because, if so; maybe we      could make money doing concerts for the public.  You know, I think it might just work.                 

           I've mentioned before how Marie Antoinette, and her husband King Louis XVI; both had their heads cut off during the French Revolution's "Reign of Terror."  Someday I really want see that small "Guillotine" sitting on the divider between the kitchen and this dining room.                

           Dais told me our Chief met an older French lady who knew a lot about European  history.  I guess, she thought it ironic how France "Went Broke," in part; by helping the U.S. break away  from England.  Those American ideas then made their "Common" people want freedom too.                                                    

    "NORTH AMERICA" IN THE 18TH CENTURY                 

                       

          Over the last three days I've written about how, after Christopher Columbus accidentally found the "New World" in 1492; European countries competed for it.  And, in the 18th century    France, England and Spain had wars against each other.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.                 

         For most of the 18th century Spain, France and England fought each other, and  a good map shows the lands they killed each other over.  I can see how the French had a huge area; but only fifteen thousand people to populate it so no wonder they lost.  A Train just whistled.               

          According to that French lady, the French Monarchy under Louis XVI was already in kind of bad "financial" shape even before the American Revolution.  But helping the thirteen colonies "Broke the Bank" as they say.  The French and English really hated each other back then.                                                                

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN           

    PAINTING BY DAVID MARTIN                        

                  

     The lady thought Benjamin Franklin, as Ambassador to France; "tricked" Louis XVI's Government into helping America.  He "exploited" their hatred  of the British, who had beaten    them in North America; so they wanted "revenge."  Oh! Benjamin the Cow Bird ran bye.             

         Motorcycles went bye out in the desert on Primavera Road and I can tell there are three of them by the dust raised by their wheels.  Glancing to my right I see good old Libby over there in  her Corral, as usual walking around slowly and cautiously.  Seeing her makes me feel good.          

         I just thought of how lucky the U.S. was in the early 19th century when Napoléon needed money.  So he sold us all of that land in the "Louisiana Purchase."  But, unfortunately for all the  Native Indians; they were "Displaced" and lost the land they'd had for thousands of years.           

MR. PEABODY / SHERMAN

                      

         Dais thinks, if he could borrow Mr. Peabody's Time Machine; our boss would want to go back to the end of the 1700's.  And in France, he'd want to see that guy Robespierre; who was a    part of France's leadership during that Reign of Terror period.  Andy's sniffing the air.                

        Our Chief, if he could time travel; would also want to meet Napoléon Bonaparte too.  He could see for himself what a "Charismatic" person he was said to be.  Mr. Steve one time told his mom he would like to time travel back to ancient Rome and meet the younger Julius Caesar.        

          I just thought of that little Guillotine on the divider between the kitchen and dining room over there to my right.  A little Lizard is standing on the wall, near the sliding glass door going      into the dining room.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping in the nest near the roof.            

                                  

       "EXECUTION" OF KING LOUIS XVI

      (JANUARY 21, 1793) 

                           PAINTING BY GEORG HEINRICH SIEVEKING             

                          

          The caption below the painting of King Louis XVI's "decapitated" head being "displayed to  the "cheering" mob says he "miscalculated."  He made a mistake by helping the U.S., and he  ended up up getting he and his wife's heads cut off.  Thousands died in the "Reign of Terror."      

         One time Dais and Millie were in the living room and saw a good show about Guillotine's.  This Encyclopedia says it was invented in the 18th century by Dr. Joseph Guillotine, "intended" to be a more "humane" way to "quickly" execute someone.  Blackbeard and Anne flew bye.         

       The tv show had a part about a "Bavarian German" man named Johan Reichhart, whose family for eight generations had been "Executioners."  He started working for that "Weimar"      Republic after World War I, and later killed for the Nazis.  He used a Guillotine to do his job.                      

                     JOHANREICHHART (1893-1972)                

              

       The caption below a picture of Johan Reichhart says how his nickname was the "Head Hunter."  He fought in the First World War and then became a Butcher for his job.  He invented a smaller "portable" Guillotine which he could take on a Truck "to wherever necessary."             

          Wow!  It says here, after World War II; that man Johan Reichhart was "retained" by the "victorious" Allies to execute Nazis.  Daisy says the man on the tv show mentioned how he "took great pride" in his ability to cut a person's head off "quickly and efficiently."  I smell Sage.           

          Mr. Steve's father met this man who was also from "Bavaria," and told him about Johan Reichhart.  He said Johan Reichhart killed "over three thousand" people for the Nazis, and he     "died peacefully" in one of those Retirement Homes.  Hitler's big house was in Bavaria.                                                                                                 ANGELINE WITH BABIES                                 

              

          Charlie Company, using both gate slots; is now coming back in from the desert behind the Sheds.  I can tell it's them just because of how big in size Chosin is.  Oh!  I just noticed Angeline    standing in the field with her babies.  Ah!  Now they're rejoining the rest of Alpha company.         

         Big Chosin and all the adult females are herding their babies underneath Moe so they can rest and decide where to go next.  It's pretty amazing Daisy thinks, how fast baby Quail learn to  keep up with the rest of the covey.  If they don't they might be killed and eaten by something.       

          It's a good thing Cher or Goliath aren't around right now.  Up in the slowly darkening sky this flock of Birds is moving toward the northeast, and all four of the Pigeons just now flew over Libby's Corral over there.   Ah!  All of a sudden I'm hearing Beethoven's song "Fur Elise."          

                    

                         MOZART (1756-1791)                                 BEETHOVEN (1770-1821) 

               PAINTING BY BARBARA CRAFT                                                                                     PAINTING BY JOSEPH KARL STEILER             

 

             This is kind of interesting how it says here both Mozart and Beethoven wrote songs using one of Benjamin Franklin's Armonica's.  I'd like to hear those songs and wonder if Mr. Steve has ever heard them?  Frida and Diego just now flew right over Libby's Corral over there.

             Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  The "Harmonica" everyone knows, where you blow into it while using your hands to cover up certain air holes; wasn't invented until 1821.  So, that means it was about seventy years after Benjamin Franklin's "Glass Harmonica."       

          Seeing Frida and Diego makes me think about how, when they visit us; you can just tell Mr. Steve's parents are friends.  Daisy says our boss noticed, in that Play the Nutcracker; the Sugar Plumb Fairy and her Prince show "great respect" for one another.   I see a Spider over there.

WHITE SWAN

PHOTO BY COLTON BERGER

                Daffy's quacking, which reminds me of another Tchaikovsky song I look forward to one day hearing.  It's called "Swan Lake" and according to a tv show Daisy and Millie saw it's part of a Ballerina dancing show.   The Spider's gone and that's good as I'm afraid of Spiders.

             In the story about the Lake some girls are turned into pretty white Swan Birds by an evil Magician; whose daughter is an all black Swan.  Boy!  I'd like to smell a Swan, some of which I guess have very loud voices, but other who never talk at all.  All have really long necks.

             Swan Lake starts out slow but then gets louder.  One time Daisy heard our boss's mom say she prefers the soft parts, while Mr. Steve likes the louder section; which seems influenced by Richard Wagner and maybe Bach too he thinks.  Daisy says a flute is at the beginning.   

                         

NEW YORK "STOCK EXCHANGE"

                  I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how, back in the late 1960's and then early 1970's; Mr. Steve's father had his school for Stockbrokers.  He knows how a "Black Swan Event" is when something "Unpredictable" happens in the Stock Market.   I smell Sage.

             From what Dais heard, the reason it's called a Black Swan event is because until the late 17th century Europeans used to say there was "no such thing as a black Swan."  But then, this Dutch man saw some in Australia.  That guy Mark Ritter knew about those black Swans.

             Black Swan events are "Extreme," and Mr. Steve's father thinks sometimes people use it as an excuse to justify their "not predicting it."  That's called "With the Benefit of Hindsight."  I guess, a "Gray Swan" event is when something "Less Rare" happens in the area of economics.  

                                

                 THE SWANS                 

               One time Daisy heard our boss talking to a Parts Manager in New Jersey, where Mr. Rich is originally from; and that guy told him about a 1980's band called SWANS.  I guess Mr. Steve has never heard any of their songs.  His customer called them "experimental" Dais says.  

          SWANS are from New York City, and that Parts Manager described them "ever changing in sound and types of music they play."  He said they may've influenced NIRVANA.  Speedy just ran through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the back desert.   

           The tv show mentioned how real Swans can be "aggressive," and fight hard in defending their territory.  And they're a lot bigger than Ducks Dais says, so their beaks could probably hit you really hard.  If we do ever happen to see Swans we can't eat any food on their land.   

                                               

SUNRISE IN THE DESERT            

            

                   Libby just whinnied over there, and for some reason that suddenly makes me think of the time Dais and I heard her as the Sun was coming up.  Oh!  And that other time we were also here on the Patio smelling some Joshua trees.  I smell the Joshua trees near Libby's Corral. 

            I'm still thinking of Christmas.  Dais says Millie liked the second part of the Nutcracker when happy things like dancing start.  I guess, there are actually a few different versions of that Play; but the one Daisy and Millie saw on tv was based on Tchaikovky's original ideas.        

            Hey Lord!  As You know, that lady Mrs. Britt said the Nutcracker is actually a "secular" Ballet and not religious.  Mr. Steve says in different communities they at times substitute the local forms of dancing for Ballet.  Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny just flew bye right now.

  

                        "SALSA" DANCING                                             "SCOTTISH" DANCING

        

             That lady Marge Britt told Mr. Steve she once saw the Nutcracker with "Salsa" dancing. Mr. Steve told her a girl once said she saw a version with Scottish dancing.  And over in Hawaii where, Mr. Mark lives with his family; they even do Hula dancing rather than Ballet.  

             Mr. Steve thinks one reason the Nutcracker has become so popular in America is because people feel hopeful when they see it.  And it must make everyone feel friendly too, by sharing in the enjoyment of dancing.  I really kind of feel like dancing right now for some reason.

             Daisy and Millie both really liked how in The Nutcracker that girl character Clara seems so smart.  She helps the Toy Soldiers win the battle against the Mice by shrewd strategy, and she makes us females look good.  I can't wait for my boss Mr. Steve to think I'm smart too. 

             

"MALOCCHIO"        

             

              Boy!  I wrote a lot about that Ballet the Nutcracker.  There turned out to be a lot more to say than Dais and I planned.  But now it's back to my outline and I can see the next thing to write about is that "Malocchio" hand gesture I've mentioned a few times over the last three days.

            I just thought of that guy Ronnie James Dio, who sang for RAIBOW and then BLACK SABBATH.  When he was in BLACK SABBATH, he "Popularized" the "Devil's Horns" hand symbol now associated with Heavy Metal.  "Dio" is a such a good Singer Daisy thinks.

           Mr. Steve and Mr. Dave one time talked about how Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the Singer in BLACK  SABBATH.  He began to make the Devil's Horns up on stage and I guess from then on a lot of people started doing it.  Us Dogs can't do it because all we have are just toes. 

                  

                                               RONNIE JAMES DIO (1942-2010)   

                 

               I've said before how, in Italian the Devil's Horns hand signal is pronounced "Ma-loike;" and that way of forming your hand into that signal has been done for centuries.  The Persians, Greeks, Romans and even the later Ottoman Turks used that hand gesture.  I smell Sage.

              Dais says it's not just us who think "Curses" could be a real thing.  That Roma lady told our boss how, "for many centuries;" Mediterranean or Middle Eastern people have worn "neck medallions" to "ward off" the "evil eye."  Sometimes Cher looks at us in a very mean way.  

            The lady said sometimes, when you're not looking or don't know it; a person will look at you in a mean way with "bad intentions."  Those medallions around your neck are in the shape of the palm of a hand representing a "shield."  Frida and Diego are flying toward the east.

            

"HAMSA"       

           

                 The lady said some people call the image on the medallions "Hamsa."  It might represent the Arabic word for the number "5," or maybe the five fingers of a "protective" hand.  Speedy Gonzalez right now just zoomed through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate.   

            There's a story that says the Hamsa symbol, called the "Hand of Fatima;" actually refers to the Prophet Muhammad's daughter.   Even though he didn't take pictures of Ronnie James Dio making the Malocchio, he showed that lady the ones he did get.  Daffy's quacking.

            The lady said, when you see someone "has mean intentions" against you the Malocchio is "flashed" to "reflect" the intentions back.  But, if you don't see the person; the medallion will be "automatically able to send back the bad ideas to that person."  Boy! I really like Daffy.  

               

       "LONGHORN" COW                                   TEXAS "LONGHORNS" FANS

     

                Fans of a Texas College, where Mr. Steve's brother Rock lives with his sons; also use the malocchio hand gesture, but to symbolize the big horns of Texas Cows.  I've mentioned before how someday I want to smell a Cow, Goat or Pig.  Daffy has such a nice voice over there.    

           Daisy says, because Mr. Ramon the Auto Mechanic up on the Highway likes orange; our boss wants to buy him an orange Coffee Cup with the Texas "Longhorns" logo on it.  Orange is that College's primary or main color.  Miss Debra, who our boss went out with; likes orange.

           I wonder if we could maybe think of some paw gestures able to send signals or symbolize a secret message?  We kind of do that with our different barks.   Rudy the Roadrunner right now just used the left vertical slot on the side of the gate to run out into the back eastern desert.      

                                                 

                 DAVE BLUMENKRANTZ               

                                          

                Yesterday I mentioned that Photographer named Dave who Mr. Steve used to know.  He lived in Africa for a while, and Daisy says he took some  good pictures of "Kenya" and that other country called "Uganda."  A small flock of Birds is flying toward the east way up in the sky.

            Dais heard, the reason our Chief got permission to take pictures of Dio at the Forum was because at the time Mr. Dave's mom worked for Dio's wife "Wendy."  I've mentioned before how Mr. Mark, back in the 1980's; sold Wendy Dio some advertising.  A Train whistled faintly.

            Just like our boss and his mom had Art Exhibits in the early 1990's, I guess Mr. Dave has had his photography "Shown" too.  And one of the places people came to see his pictures was an exhibit held in the building at the "Watts Towers."  Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet went to it.

  

                "WATTS TOWERS"              "SERGEANT PEPPER'S" (1967)         SIMON RODIA (c.1879-1965)       

   

                 All of a sudden I just thought of that man Simon Rodia, who built those "Watts Towers," and whose image was one of the ones behind the BEATLES on their album cover.  I've mentioned before how Marilyn Monroe and Aldous Huxley's pictures are also in it to.  A Train whistled.

               Yesterday I wrote about the collage of people in the background of the "Sergeant Pepper" album.  Writer Edgar Allen Poe and Boxer Sonny Liston, who lost those fights to Muhammad Ali; are in there too.  Rudy just now used the right gate slot to jog out into the back desert.

           I remember our boss and Mr. Chris, who's from Watts; talked about those Watts Towers.  Mr. Chris admires Simon Rodia and thinks it funny how, as he built them for those thirty years; a lot of people made fun of him for using "junk to make art."  Now they're a "Landmark."

    

SERGEANT PEPPER'S ORIGINAL COLLAGE

        

          Dais says our boss and his Niece Samantha talked about that 1967 BEATLES album.  He told her how, at first Hitler's image was going to bein in it but; then they decided against it.  Mr. Steve told her that he has a vinyl record of "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band."  

             One time our boss and his brother Rock talked about Mr. Dave the Photographer, and how in the 1980's he spent time over there living in East Africa.  Our Chief still has those letters and photos he sent from the country of "Kenya."  Over the years he's shown them to people.

          I guess, Mr. Dave the Photographer mainly lived in Kenya; but at times he also went to the country of "Uganda" too.  Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about this really mean Dictator named Idi Amin.  Two Crows are fighting over something out there in the desert behind the Sheds.

              

IDI AMIN (1925-2003)      

             

                 From what the man on the tv show said, no one knows for sure but; that guy Idi Amin's government might've killed half a million Ugandans and other groups from 1971 through 1979.  They described Idi Amin as having been, "One of the most brutal despots in history." 

             Daisy says Idi Amin's Soldiers used big sledgehammers to kill anyone who opposed him.  Sometimes, "Just for Fun;" they would throw people into the Nile River and watch as Crocodiles ate them alive.  Idi Amin saved the heads of his enemies and some say even ate them too.

            During the period when Mr. Steve took photos of Ronnie James Dio, Mr. Mark sold some advertising to Wendy Dio.  Their company "Niji" productions put ads in the Lakers and Kings programs, and Indoor Soccer Lazer's and String's Team Tennis too.  Dawn's barking.

                                                                      

                                                         RONNIE JAMES DIO 

                                                                                              PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA     

            

                      I've mentioned before how "Dio" means "God" in Latin.  Daisy says our boss told Mr. Dave Ronnie James Dio, who died about four years ago, was from an Italian immigrant family who lived back east near his sister Susan.  Oh!  Bees are flying around near the Sheds.

              Daisy heard the Devil's Horn hand gesture is now associated with Dio more than anyone else.  It's too bad he died so young Mr. Steve says.  Daisy told me one time she and Millie listened to our boss playing drums to this really good Dio song called "Rainbow in the Dark." 

              A while back Mr. Steve made one of his Frames for this lady from Texas.  Both she and her husband graduated from that College where the sports teams are called "Longhorns," and the fans use the Devil's Horn hand gesture too.  Benjamin the Cow Bird just ran bye.

       

LEON THEREMIN (1896-1993)

              

                   Oh!  Seeing Benjamin go bye makes me remember I forgot to write about this musical instrument from the 1920's called a "Theremin."  I was supposed to write about it after I wrote about Benjamin Franklin's Armonica, but missed it on the outline.  So I'll just do it now.  

              It says here this Russian man invented the Theremin, which is described here as being, "one of the first electronic musical instruments."   Daisy saw a tv show that showed how you play Theramin's by waving our moving your hands in front of or around it.  Daffy's quacking.

              I guess, from what it says here; that Russian man Leon Theremin was an Engineer and also one of those Inventors like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla.  Dais told me by moving your hands in front of the Theremin it makes all different types of "eerie" sounds.  I like Daffy.

                                              "ELECTRO THEREMIN"                              BARBARA BUCHHOLTZ PLAYING A THEREMIN

                                                                                                                                                                        PHOTO BY STEFAN MENNE

                    

                   Daisy says the tv show talked about how now there's a newer more modern form of the Theremin called an "Electro Theremin."  It can also be played or controlled without having to touch anything.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying over Libby's Corral and moving east.  

             According to what the man on the tv show said, the Electro Theremin "mimics" the same kind of sounds the older Theremin does.  And those sounds are kind of "spooky" Daisy told me.  Frank Zappa was influenced by a 1930's Musician Edgard Varese's use of a Theremin. 

             The BEACH BOYS song "Good Vibrations" has an Electro Theremin on it, and so does LED ZEPPELIN'S "Whole Lotta Love."  Brian Jones used it on ROLLING STONES albums.  Mr. Steve thinks BLACK SABBATH might've used one on part of "Children of the Sea."  

                                    

"DESERT WREN" IN "CHOLLA" CACTUS PATCH      

                   

            Oh!  I see that little Wren inside the Cholla cactus' behind the Sheds.  Daisy says as a kid our boss drew the University of Texas Longhorns logo.  She thinks, because of their long horns which could stab you from far away; it would be hard to fight one of those Texas Cows. 

            I really do wonder sometimes what a Cow or Bull would smell like.  Daisy says they have totally unique, kind of strong; scents alright.  Speedy just ran through the narrower left vertical slot on the side of the gate but left behind some floating dust lingering slowly in the air.  

                 Oh!  Seeing the picture of the Texas Longhorn makes me suddenly think of that tv show Daisy and Millie saw.  It was about 19th century African "Zulu" culture, and their famous King named "Shaka Zula."   Andy's over there alertly guarding the entrance to their burrow. 

              

SHAKA ZULU (1787-1828)              

ARTWORK BY ANTHONY MWANGI                          

                  

               Dais says that guy King Shaka was known as a Warrior, and when leading his men into battle they went into what they called their "Buffalo Horns" formation.  I can tell Andy is now totally comfortable with me being over here on the Patio so much.  I kind of like that.

             It says here how "Impi" in Zulu means "war units" and, Daisy says Zulu's used clubs but mainly had spears and shields.  She says our Chief has a spear kind of like the ones the Zulu's used back then in the 1800's.  A small little Garter Snake is crawling into the back field.

            I wonder if our boss knows that the Zulu "stabbing" spear is called a "kiwa."  Oh!  It gets its name from the sound made when a spear tip is "retracted," or pulled back out of; the person who was stabbed.  I really hope God, when I die; it will not by being stabbed to death.      

               

"BUFFALO HORN" FORMATION         

             

                  It says here the Zulu's "goal" in battle was trying to "encircle" an opponent.  A diagram shows the enemy in pink and the Zulu's in blue, and I can see why they called it a Buffalo Horns formation.  I've mentioned before how the African Buffalo's are really, really dangerous.

            I guess there were three sections to that Buffalo Horns formation.  The "Chest" is where the "Front Lines" are, and the "Loins" are reserves which can be "deployed" for "exploiting" a success; or "reinforce" any part of the battlefield.  Fred, Ed and Ted just now flew bye.

           The "Horns" of the Buffalo Horns formation tries to go around the sides of the enemy.  A few times over the last three days I've learned about how, since ancient times; armies have tried to "Flank" an opponent in battle.  I just picked up Libby's scent from over in her Corral.  

                           

  "ZULU" WARS (LATE 19TH CENTURY)           

PAINTING BY CHRIS COLLINGWOOD                      

                

              If the Horns units of the Zulu's Buffalo Horns formation can get on the side of an army then they might even be able to surround them and create one of those "Killing Zones" that I've written about.  Then you have a pretty good chance an enemy force can be "Annihilated."

             A painting shows a late 1800's battle between the Zulu's and British soldiers.  Daisy told me the tv show said the Zulu's Buffalo Horns formation was very effective against all of the other African tribes, so Shaka Zulu created a big Kingdom.  That was in the early 19th century.

             The problem for the Zulu's I guess was, they didn't have modern weapons like guns and things like that.  So, when the British showed up and wanted their land they did good at first but ended up losing.  I guess our Chief used to have a replica white British 1800's "Pith" helmet.  

                        

           "THE TROOPER"                               "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE"

                                             ARTWORK BY DEREK RIGGS                                                                                              PAINTING BY RICHARD CATON WOODVILLE JR.                                                                              

                

                  Over the last three days I've mentioned some of the different songs done by that British band IRON MAIDEN.  I guess, when they play their song "The Trooper;" the Singer wears a red British uniform.  Back then in the 19th century men's shirts were called "Blouses" too.

             I guess, the red uniform IRON MAIDEN'S Singer wears is from the 1850's at the time of the "Crimean War;" and that one famous charge of the "Light Brigade" Rudyard Kipling wrote about happened.  There's a small little Garter Snake just now crawling out into the desert.

             Dais says IRON MAIDEN'S mascot Eddie, who looks exactly like her bad Angel; wore a red uniform on the "Sleeve" of the vinyl record for The Trooper.  In concert, IRON MAIDEN'S Singer also waves a big "Union Jack" flag.  Daisy loves red uniforms, like Underdogs.

              

STRYPER             

                   

                Our boss and Mr. Dave talked about how that Christian Metal band from Orange County called STRYPER covered IRON MAIDEN'S song The Trooper.  It's "Harmonizing" guitars are really good too.  Boy Lord, someday I really, really want to hear some STRYPER songs.

           Mr. Steve thinks the "galloping" bass on a lot of the fast-paced IRON MAIDEN songs was probably influenced by some DEEP PURPLE and UFO songs from the early 1970's.  Samson and Delilah are flying over Libby's Corral.  Libby's watching them go bye from down below.

              I really look forward to someday hearing all of those good DEEP PURPLE LE songs I've been writing about in my three books.   And I can't wait to hear  BLACK SABBATH and LED ZEPPELIN'S songs too.   I can smell the baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.  

  

     DEEP PURPLE        

       

            In my books I've mentioned a few times that one 1972 DEEP PURPLE album "Machine Head."  Many people know the hit songs, like "Smoke on the Water" or "Highway Star, but have never heard "Pictures of Home" from that album.  Daisy says it's a great album alright.

           Our boss told Mr. Rich he likes to see people's reactions when they hear Pictures of Home for the first time. He thinks it's "every bit as good" as Highway Star in its fast-paced and catchy melody and "high of level musicianship."  Two Motorcycles went bye on Primavera Road.

          Mr. Steve thinks it's interesting to see people being very impressed by Pictures of Home's great organ and guitar solos, but then be "totally blown away" by the surprising bass solo at the end of the song.  There's some dust now floating up into the air out there in the back desert.  

  

BURNING OF "MONTREUX" CASINO

(DECEMBER 4, 1971)

               Boy!  I can't wait to someday hear all those good DEEP PURPLE songs Daisy's told me about, especially "Smoke on the Water."  I've mentioned before how that Casino in Switzerland burned down on December the 4th.  And that's Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's birthday too.  

            One time our boss and Mr. Rich talked about that song Smoke on the Water, and how it begins "in layers" as Mr. Rich said.  Ritchie Blackmore starts it out with the famous riff, and the left-handed Drummer Ian Paice plays only the High Hat.  A Train whistled faintly out there.

           Daisy says at the start of Smoke on the Water Organist Jon Lord plays along to that main guitar riff and the Drummers High Hat.   After a few bars of the introduction, the Drummer now begins to hit his Snare drum on the downbeat.  The four Pigeons are flying towards the east.  

               

  RITCHIE BLACKMORE

              Daisy says when the bass comes in on Smoke on the Water "all the cylinders are firing" as Mr. Dave joked one time.  Everyone playing the main body of the song sets it up for the Singer Ian Gillain to begin.  That Dragonfly went zooming bye and I heard it coming from far away. 

             Mr. Dave read Ritchie Blackmore, who now plays guitar with his Singer wife; said the riff on Smoke on the Water is his own "inverted interpretation" of the beginning of Beethoven's "5th Symphony."  He jokes "I owe him money" Dais heard.   I can smell Beavertail cactus.    

            That song Pictures of Home starts out with a good drum solo.  I guess RAINBOW'S song "Stargazer" also does too.  Our boss and Mr. Dave both said when they first heard the beginning of Pictures of Home they couldn't "visualize" exactly what Ian Paice was doing to achieve it. 

                               

DEEP PURPLE 

 

          Boy!  I can't wait to someday hear all those good DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW songs Daisy's told me about.  She thinks I'll like the singing and playing on "Child in Time" from 1970, and "Stargazer" from the mid-1970's.  As a teenager Mr. Steve drew DEEP PURPLE'S logo.        

          Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Rich he thinks Ritchie Blackmore's guitar solo on Pictures of Home is "as good or better" than the ones he did on Highway Star and Smoke on the Water.  But a lot of people have simply never heard it.  The organ and bass solos are "pretty good too."          

         I've mentioned how there were four versions of DEEP PURPLE, but the one our boss likes the best was the second group; 1969 through 1973.  Those were the years when they did the "In    Rock, "Machine Head" and "Fireball" albums.  Ah!  I like how Beavertail cactus smell.                

   

  DRAGPIPE                             2003 ALBUM                              MR. RICH     

  

            I can't wait to someday hear Mr. Rich play guitar on that DRAGPIPE album he was on.  I've said a few times over the last three days how all of the members of DRAGPIPE were from      New Jersey.   Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying over Libby's Corral.                 

       Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Rich how over the years he's "gotten a kick out of" seeing people's reactions when he played them that song Pictures of Home.   I guess, as usual all of the    Musicians play really good; and the singing is great too Dais thinks.  Daffy's quacking.                  

          Hey Lord!  I just thought of how our boss and Mr. Rich try to follow that guy "Big Daddy" Roth's rules in how they deal with people, like "Be on Time," "Play it Straight."   They do try to "Pray, Read and Study," or "Ask for guidance and strength."   They believe in being thankful.              

ED "BIG DADDY" ROTH (1932-2001)

         Our boss told Mr. Rich about all of the models he'd built as a kid being destroyed by the 1971 earthquake which hit their house on Hagar Street.  Some were miniatures of the "Custom    Cars" and Motorcycles Big Daddy Roth built in real size.   Andy's sniffing the air over there.        

           I just now thought of that welded metal Dragon sculpture Mr. Rich made for us sitting up there near Mr. Steve's office window.  Someday I'll see the coffee cup he painted for our boss in    Big Daddy Roth's style.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve drew the "Rat Fink" as a kid.         

        Mr. Rich knows about IRON MAIDEN'S "Eddie" mascot, who's Daisy's bad Angel.   She says Mr. Steve told him once about this Irish "paramilitary" group, called the "Ulster Freedom    Fighters;" who also used Eddie as their mascot too.  A Train whistled faintly to the north.             

              

CAR BOMB                                                      UNITED KINGDOM

("BELFAST," NORTHERN IRELAND)                                                                                                                    

           

         Our boss and Mr. Phillip talked about a time called "The Troubles," when Irish Catholic "Nationalists" fought Irish Protestant "Loyalists;" and thousands died.  My Encyclopedia says it was a period of "sectarian violence."  There were "car bombings, riots and revenge killings."       

        In 1921, when Ireland became "independent of England after centuries of conflict;" the "Northern Ireland" stayed a part of the U.K.  But Catholics there wanted to be in Ireland.  The bloody Troubles era lasted from the late 1960's until 1998.  Andy's sniffing the air over there.   

        Dais says our boss's father met a family whose relatives were members of the "I.R.A." or "Irish republican Army."  In the 1920's some were in this other group called "Sinn Féin;" which means "We Ourselves."  They wanted to have all of the political power for themselves.                

   

    MR. PHILLIP                                                               U2                 

    

         Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Phillip talking about a song by that Irish band U2, called "Sunday Bloody Sunday;" about a day in 1972 when British troops "fired on" an Irish crowd of "nationalists."  It says here thirteen people were killed, seventeen wounded.  I smell Sage.             

          Mr. Steve told Mr. Phillip he's only heard a few of  U2's "anthemic" type  songs, and even those he's never listened to really closely.  But he "can see why" they'd be "really good" in one of those big Arena concerts.  His brother Rock, and girlfriend Judy; saw them play in Dallas.            

         According to what Dais heard, our boss admires how U2's Singer "Bono" tries to help the poor, like over in Africa for instance.  Hey Lord!  I guess that guy Bono is Roman Catholic just    like us, so also wants to believe in Your ideas the way we do.  I'm still thinking about Africa.                              

       "GATLING" GUN               A-10 "THUNDERBOLT II"              "NOSE" CANNON

 (1893)                                                           ("WARTHOG")                                                      (A-10)             

                      

                    Daisy says one thing the British had against the Zulu's was some of those first machine guns I've written about.  But, they also had good rifles with long sharp bayonet blades; which are used as stabbing spears.  The Zula shields were not effective against bullets Dais told me.

            A picture shows Richard Gatling with his first version of what are now thought of being "Machine" guns.  It's interesting how his original idea of "Rotating" barrels fired "In Sequence" is still used to this day.  Daffy's now quacking and talking to all of the other Ducks over there.

            I wrote about those Planes nicknamed the "Hog" or "Warthogs."  In the two Iraq wars they were the "Monster" to any surviving Iraqi Soldiers.  Their terrifying nose cannon is based on the same exact "principle" Richard Gatling thought of way back in the mid-19th century.

 

JIMI HENDRIX (1942-1970)

           One time our Chief and Mr. Mark talked about a 1969 Jimi Hendrix song that was called "Machine Gun."  Daisy heard it was about the Vietnam War, and Mr. Mark says Jimi Hendrix    "simulates" the different sounds of a battlefield.  Two Crows are fighting out in the desert.           

         1969 was the year before Jimi Hendrix died I guess, when Mr. Steve was fourteen; and in the 8th Grade over there at St. Ferdinands.  That was he and his classmates eighth and final year in "Elementary" school.   Many of them then went to Alemany High School in Mission Hills.        

         Mr. Mark told our boss there are a few different versions of that song Machine Gun, some short and some long.  Daisy says Mr. Mark, who plays guitar and really admires Jimi Hendrix;    described the guitar riffs on Machine Gun as being "percussive."  I smell Andy over there.           

 

     UNIVOX "UNI- VIBE" UNIT      

                  Mr. Mark and our Chief talked about this thing called a "Uni-Vibe" unit, a foot pedal operated device; which I guess Jimi Hendrix used on that song Machine Gun.  He played that song at that famous "Woodstock" festival.   A flock of Birds is flying bye way up in the sky. 

             I've written before about Mr. Rich knowing a lot about all the different things used with guitars.  Dais heard him call the Uni-Vibe a "phase shifter."   He told Mr. Steve it was created in Japan, and originally intended to "emulate" the sound of those "rotating" Leslie speakers. 

            Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave one time talking about the Video made to accompany Jimi Hendrix's song Machine Gun.  It shows a lot of black and white scenes from the Vietnam War.  Boy!  I'm glad that war ended just in time for Mr. Steve not to have to go fight in it.         

                                   

13TH CENTURY "MONGOL" WARRIORS        

                

                   Daisy told me about how that tv show on Zulu societies said Shaka Zula used terror just like those guys Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan did.  But, instead of being on Horses like the Huns and Mongols; Zula soldiers were "Foot Infantry."  Dawn's barking over there.

            One time Dais heard our boss talking on the phone with his brother Rock and they were remembering being kids down there in Sylmar.  I guess Mr. Steve once built and painted some of those miniature figurines of Zulu and British Soldiers.  Hearing Dawn makes me feel good.

            According to Daisy the figurines of a Zulu Warrior and a British Soldier were some of the ones destroyed in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake.  But, as I mentioned earlier; our boss has a spear which is similar to the ones the Zulu's used back in the 1800's.  I want to see it someday.

                          

FLAG OF "KENYA"           

                   

                  Daisy says our boss noticed on the tv show how the Zulu's logo of a shield with "crossed spears" behind it is kind of like the flag of Kenya he has hanging on one of the bookshelves in his office.  Mr. Dave the Photographer sent him that flag when he lived over there in Africa.  

             On the coffee table in the living room is this miniature metal spear, with colorful beads wrapped around the shaft.  Mr. Dave also gave that to our boss, and over the years some of the people who have come to our house have admired it.  Frida and Diego just now flew bye. 

            I'm still thinking about the Malocchio hand gesture Ronnie James Dio did in his concerts.  I've written about Mr. Steve being allowed to take pictures of Ronnie James Dio at the Forum that one time.  And it was because Mr. Dave's mom worked for Wendy Dio in those days.

                   

RONNIE JAMES DIO WITH  BLACK SABBATH              

      PHOTO BY FIN COSTELLO                            

                           

          My Encyclopedia describes the Malocchio hand gesture as the "Index" and "Little" fingers being "upright," while the thumb is "clasped against the two middle fingers."  I just looked up and see two long white vapor trails up therein the afternoon sky.  Dawn's barking.

         Oh!  I wonder if I could figure out a good Dog paw gesture?  Then I could have our boss or Mr. Grant fill out the paperwork to get the right to use it.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve and Mr. Grant know about submitting "Patent" requests and other things like that.   

         It's so interesting how Ronnie James Dio said he first saw the Malocchio as a kid, when his Italian Grandmother used it to "Ward Off" evil spirits.  If Daisy and I could do a Malocchio we would use it to scare away our Bad Angel's Lilith and Eddie.   Now Blinky's barking. 

                                                      

                                                          RONNIE JAMES DIO

                                                                PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                                                                         

             Oh!  This Encyclopedia says that guy Ronnie James Dio was born on July the 10th, so is one of those "Cancers" like our boss.  It says here, as I mentioned earlier; the Malocchio hand gesture has been used for centuries to "ward off" people's "Evil Eye."  I smell Sage.

            I guess the Malocchio goes back at least to to ancient Egypt, because it's shown on "Tomb Art."  Dais jokes about how it might be kind of like "Knocking on Wood" for good luck.  I know for sure if something would give us good luck we'd be totally willing to at least try it out. 

            Ah!  Was that an earthquake?  I think I might've maybe just felt a little bit of shaking as I sit and work here in the Patio on Elvira.   If it weren't so late in the day and the sunlight slowly getting less and less I'd hide everything and run up front to see if maybe Daisy felt it too.

  

 "SYLMAR" EARTHQUAKE

(FEBRUARY 9, 1971)

   

               Over the last three days, in what turned out to be really long books; I've learned so much about bad things like earthquakes and storms.  I hope to never be in a big earthquake like what happened back in 1971 down there in Sylmar.  Two Crows are fighting out there in the desert.

            I just thought about that San Fernando family whose Dog "Alcindor" may've saved the mom's life on the morning of the Sylmar earthquake.   He was acting up so she "called in late" to work, so was not there when a section of "Olive View" Hospital collapsed.  I smell Mesquite.

           As I've said before, that lady's son "Al" was in our Chief's class at St. Ferdinand's; and she was a Nurse who worked in an area where people died in 1971.  Al's family lived next door to that one Actor Johnny Whittaker's family.  All four of the Pigeons flew over Libby's Corral.

            

       "GREAT DANE"                                                           ROSIE                        

                          

             I wrote how "Alphonso's" Dog was a "Great Dane" like Rosie next door.  Ah!  What a coincidence that just as I happen to be mentioning Alcindor the Dog I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie over there.  Boy!  It's hard to believe there will be no Heathcliff's voice tomorrow.

           When they were growing up Al, and their friend "Paul;" made our boss and their friends laugh Daisy says.  I've written about some of the things Paul did back then, and how Al had two  younger brothers; named "Larry" and "Phillip."  Andy's over there sniffing the air.  

           Larry was the same age as Mr. Steve's brother Rock. I guess he was a really good guitar player.  But, in Mr. Steve's subjective opinion; he concentrated too much on playing lead and not enough on rhythm.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying bye right now.

                 

OZZY OSBOURNE (BLACK SABBATH)

      

            When Ozzy Osbourne was fired as BLACK SABBATH'S Singer, with the help of his now wife named "Sharon;" he started all over again with that good band I've mentioned before.  That was the band with Randy Rhoades in it.  Donald and Daisy are both quacking over there.  

            Mr. Steve was told one time that guy Larry tried out, or "Auditioned;" to be the Guitarist in Ozzy Osbourne's band.  But, of course; Randy Rhoades ended up getting the job instead.  Oh!  A Train whistled faintly just when I was thinking of that Ozzy Osbourne song about a Train. 

            Hey God!  As You know, Daisy and I kind of think You used that girl Sharon to be Ozzy Osbourne's worldly Guardian Angel.  You had our boss rescue us.  I know what it's like to have no hope, maybe like how Ozzy Osbourne felt when kicked out of BLACK SABBATH.

                     

   OZZY OSBOURE WITH FAMILY          

                    

             Hey God!  I guess that girl Sharon Osbourne forced Ozzy Osbourne to "get over it" and stop feeling sorry for himself.  She became his Manager and helped him in his "Comeback."  If not for here Daisy thinks, Ozzy Osbourne might even have died of drugs and alcohol.

            Mr. Steve thinks Sharon Osbourne seems like a smart business person.  He told Mr. Dave, who knew that Guitarist Larry; he's wondered if the tryouts for Ozzy Osbourne's band was one  of those crowded "Cattle Calls."  Sharon Osbourne's dad managed that band the MOVE.             

             As I've written about before, a Cattle Call is what people jokingly call it when a lot more "Applicants" show up for only a few "Job Openings."  So, as happens in Capitalism; it all boils    down to "What will the market bear" as Karl Marx said.  And that can be "Cheap Pay."             

                                       

"LAKER" GIRLS" (1980'S)           

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                       

               

             In the 1980's Mr. Steve took a few pictures of the Laker Girl Cheerleaders.  He was told the annual "Tryouts" of pretty girls did sort of resemble a big herd of Cattle alright.  Sometimes a few hundred talented dancing girls showed up to apply for only about twenty or so jobs.                                                                                                                                                                                                I've learned a lot about that guy Karl Marx over the last three days.  He wrote about how if an "Employment Market" will not "Bear" paying low wages, like if a person has a "Unique Skill" or there's one of those "Unions;" the Employer has to pay more.  I smell old Sage. 

            As I've said a few times before, in 2014 there are approximately three hundred and thirty million "Americans;" five percent of the world's population.  Our boss told Mr. Grant his father says only twelve percent of the "Workforce" are now Union members.  Ah!  I love Sage!  

               

                     STEEL WORKER                                       SOCIALISM / CAPITALISM                        

                                        

          Over the last three days I've learned how Karl Marx believed the Industrial workforce were "exploited" by the few people with money, or "Capital."  The only way the "excesses" of    Capitalism could be fought was by workers "banding" together.  A Train just whistled.                  

            Karl Marx's 19th century "Proletarian" workforce was made up of millions and millions of poor people.   The "Bourgeoisie" controllers of Capital had plenty of people they could "take    advantage of" and often "work to death."   I wrote about those different Robber Barons.              

           Daisy says one time our Chief told his brother Sam he thinks Cheerleaders, even the more "glamorous" ones; are "grossly underpaid."  He was told, the 1980's the Laker Girls were paid    fifty dollars for each of the then forty one "Home" games.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.                                                        

  PAULA ABDUL ("VAN NUYS" HIGH SCHOOL)         

                              

                   Even though Cheerleaders aren't paid very much, there's always the "One in a Million" chance someone in "Show Business" might see them and give them a better job.  Daisy saw a tv show that said a Jewish girl named Paula Abdul had that happen.  She was a "Laker Girl." 

             Daisy says Mr. Steve was interested when a lady from Wrightwood he sold things to told him Paula Abdul was born in the city of San Fernando.  She also said Paula Abdul's family for a time lived in North Hollywood where Miss Harriet still lives. I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

             I wonder if there's such a thing as a Dog Cheerleader?  If there is I think I could maybe a good one because of how much I really do enjoy dancing my Irish jig.  I'll bet Dawn would also be a good Cheerleader too, but not Daisy, Blinky or Rosie; because of their personalities. 

            

MISS EMILY                                            MISS HARRIET

                      

            I guess that tv show said Paula Abdul's father was a Jew born in Syria.  And her mom's family were "Ashkenazi" Jews like Miss Harriet and Miss Emily's families.  Speedy Gonzalez is using the vertical slot on the side of the gate to run out there into the back eastern desert.

           Over the last three days I've learned so much about Jewish history, and how important Jews have been since all the way back in ancient times.  Hey God!  Did You make it so Jews have at times been used as those "Scape Goats" I've written about, to test them?  Dawn barked.  

           As I've said a few times before, Mr. Steve's father thinks it's possible some New Mexico Cordova's are "at least part" Jewish.  Our boss told Mr. Dave, when his dad was growing up; some people used special knives to kill Sheep, and didn't work on Saturdays.  I smell Sage.

    

  "DIASPORA'S"

 (JEWISH "EXPULSIONS / RESETTLEMENT")

                   I really love looking at maps, like this good one that shows all the different times since the 11th century A.D. when communities of Jews had to leave an area.  I've written before how  "Diaspora" is when people are "scattered or forced from a homeland."  Sage smells good.

             Looking at the black arrows on this map I see how in 1492, when Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand beat the Spanish Muslims; many Jews moved eastward.  Some even went back to Israel I notice.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying toward the east.

            The map only shows all the Diaspora's that happened during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance period.  In 1492, the year Columbus made his first famous voyage; some of the Jews left Spain for Italy.  A Train just whistled faintly way out there in the northeastern desert. 

  

              FLAVIUS VESPASIANAS                   "ARCH OF TITUS"                    TITUS VESPASIANUS  

(9-79 A.D)                                              (ROME, ITALY)                                         (39-81 A.D)  

      

                 Over the last three days I've written about the "Jewish Revolt" that happened from 66 through 74 A.D.  That was when that guy "Vespasian," and then his son "Titus;" crushed the Jews in "Judea" and then forced the biggest Jewish Diaspora of them all.  Dawn's barking.  

            Daisy heard our boss and his dad one time talking about their 1985 trip to Italy, when they saw that "Arch of Titus;" which showed a Jewish "Menorah" being carried as "Booty" in the city of Rome in 74 A.D.  Vespasian and Titus were the ones who built the "Colloseum."

            Mr. Steve's father remembers as a kid some people in "Jarales" ate dinner with candles burning.  In 1492 Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand told the Jews and Muslims to be Catholics or leave Spain.  Some just pretended to convert but secretly practiced their old religions.     

        

"SEPHARDIC" JEWS IN SPAIN

      

                 I just thought of those "Sephardic" Jews.  I've mentioned before how Sephardic means "Spanish Jews."  Even though I'm not Jewish I'd wear one of those little round hats.  Daisy told me she and Millie heard our boss tell his mom he still has the one's he's kept over the years.   

            Mr. Ralph read this good Magazine article which said some "Converso" Jews who were pretending to be Catholic decided to migrate to Spain's New World Empire in the 1520's.  But then in the 1570's the "Inquisition" arrived in Mexico City.  Two Crows are fighting.

           "Nuevo" Mexico began in the early 17th century, so our boss thinks it "likely" some of those "crypto" Jews went there to avoid the Inquisition.  I've mentioned before how our name "Córdova" or "Córdoba" was on the list of "suspect" names.  Crypto just means "hidden."   

                                                     

         PAULA ABDUL ("LAKER GIRLS")           

                                 

            The lady from Wrightwood told our boss Paula Abdul was a Cheerleader for Van Nuys High School before being a Laker Girl.  She already knew Marilyn Monroe went there too when Mr. Steve mentioned it.  Finley and Fanny flew bye and sound so happy to have each other.

            I guess, back in the mid-1980's; Cheerleaders did not get paid for all of the time they had to practice; which I'll bet was a lot.  But, like Daisy says; at least they got to eat the really good food served in the Press Lounge before each Laker game.  Oh!  That makes me hungry.  

           I've mentioned before how in those days sometimes "Booths" were set up in the different Malls or places like that.  Then the Salespeople, like Mr. Steve, Mr. Mark or Miss Helen; would "Man" them in trying to get sales "Leads."  Sometimes the Laker Girls would go there too.

          

PAULA ABDUL

           

              Daisy says the tv show talked about how that girl Paula Abdul, who was not just a good Dancer but also a Singer too; was seen by one of Michael Jackson's brothers at a Laker game.  He got her a job with him and then, because she had talent; she did good.  Dawn's barking.

            Mr. Steve was surprised when the lady from Wrightwood told him Paula Abdul went to College at C.S.U.N. like his family.  And when she mentioned "Astoria" Studios in Queens, New York; he told his sister Susan worked there too.  That was when she worked for Bill Cosby.

           The lady said Paula Abdul, like Mr. Steve's mom and Nephew Mathew; was an "Honors Student;" which of course means you get high grades in school.  That's what I would want to be if I ever get a chance to go to school.  Blinky, Dawn and Rosie's scents just now floated in.         

        

       CLAIRE ROTHMAN                                    TONY DANZA / DICK VAN PATTEN

                                                                                                                                                                       PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                    

                 The lady from Wrightwood said it was that Claire Rothman, the Forum's Manager in those days; who originally wanted Paula Abdul to be a Laker Girl.   Daisy says the tv show talked about some of the other entertainment things Paula Abdul's done.  Boy!  Blinky smells good!

            According to the lady, who also went to Van Nuys High School too; Paula Abdul and that Actor Dick Van Patten give those "Guide Dogs" I've mentioned  to help blind people.  Mr. Steve showed her the picture he took of Dick Van Patten in the 1980's.  A Train just whistled. 

            Little Blinky's now barking over there, which for some reason is making me feel kind of good right now.  I see Libby walking slowly around her Corral.  The strong smell of the clump of Joshua trees in the southeast corner of our fenced in two acres just came floating in.   

             

LAKER GIRL TRYOUTS      

            

                 Mr. Steve and the lady talked about how the Laker Girls are the most "Prestigious" of all the different sports dance teams.  But they aren't paid very well.  I guess the "Pool" of girls who wanted to be a Laker Girl during Paula Abdul's tryout numbered about seven hundred.   

                 Daisy says Mr. Vic the Videographer one time heard the man holding the tryouts to be a "Raider" Cheerleader joke, "Maybe we should make these girls pay me for the privilege?"  The guys around him all laughed.  Blackbeard and Anne are now flying in toward the northeast.  

                 Mr. Steve told the lady the market does not bear making the Cheerleaders pay to do the job but, if the people conducting the tryouts thought they could get away with it; they might try to do it.   Look at that "Pay to Play" system the L.A. bands worked in during the 1980's.

          

                            ROBBIN CROSBY (RATT)                                   TAWNY KITAIN

             

                 Over the last three days I've mentioned that 1980's band from San Diego called RATT.   Earlier today, when I wrote about O.J. Simpson; I mentioned how RATT'S Guitarist Robbin Crosby's High Scholl girlfriend was named Tawny Kitaen.  Ah!  I smell Blinky over there.  

            The lady from Wrightwood mentioned Tawny Kitaen, so our Chief told her about RATT.  She said on the WHITESNAKE Video Paula Abdul was hired to coach her dancing but did not have to do that much because Tawny Kitaen was already really good.  Dawn's barking.

            Daisy told me on the WHITESNAKE Video you can really tell how talented a Dancer that girl Tawny Kitaen is.  She does a gymnastic somersault from the hood of one Car right onto the hood of another Car.  And another time she spins around in a circle on the Car hood too.   

                              

DAISY              

                

                    I wonder what Daisy is doing right now?  What would I do if she wasn't around to help and encourage me in doing these three really long books.  I'm now kind of glad we didn't go in the house to watch cartoons this morning because I wouldn't have gotten as much done.

             Dais says, when our boss and the other Salespeople set up booths at the different places; they would show videotaped highlight films of all the different teams who played at the Forum. That was to attract people to fill out cards for ticket drawings.  A Train just whistled.

              The main purpose in having people fill out those cards was to get "Leads."  Later all the people could be called to see if they'd be interested in buying Season Tickets or Advertising.  On some days players or Cheerleaders would also go to the Malls to "Meet and Greet" fans.

               

   SPEEDY GONZALEZ         

PHOTO BY IAN MERRL                

             

                    Speedy the Squirrel is standing in the dirt over there near Manny.  It's always kind of weird to see him not running around fast the way he usually does.  Oh!  There he goes running out into the back desert by using the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to do it.

             When the Laker Girls had to go to the Malls, based on what they said to each other; Mr. Steve thinks they weren't getting money to pay for gas the way he was.  Sometimes, those Malls were kind of far away.  Mr. Steve thinks Cheerleaders make less than "Minimum Wage."    

             Randy Rhoads, who'd been in QUIET RIOT until then; got the job or "Gig" with Ozzy Osbourne.  Ah!  One of those Black Widow Spiders is going behind the milk crate right near the sliding glass door over there.  That milk crate has a lot of cut up pieces of wood inside it. 

                      

"BLACK WIDOW" SPIDER

   

                   Mr. Steve doesn't use the Fireplace but keeps a lot of chopped up wood around anyway.  I've mentioned a few times how, if our house ever loses all its power; we can make some fires to cook, boil water or maybe even keep warm too.  I'm glad that Black Widow is gone.

             Boy!  It's too bad Randy Rhoades died in that Airplane crash back in 1982 because who knows what he would have accomplished Dais says.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave he now feels lucky that he and Sandy saw him rehearse and play when he was QUIET RIOT'S Guitarist.

             I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Mr. Steve thinks that guy Randy Rhoades was one of the best guitar players he's ever seen play in person.  Daisy says, it seemed like he and Ozzy Osbourne made a good team.  But now, only his music is left of him.  

         

                                                           RANDY RHOADES (1956-1982)

  

             Daisy heard our boss and his brother Sam talk on the phone about how unfortunately, no one will ever know what Randy Rhoades would've done if he had lived longer.  I've learned a lot about that "27 Club" in my books.  Randy Rhoades was only twenty six when he died.   

             Boy!  I wonder what it would be like to be a "Legend?"  It would probably be both good and bad I'll bet.  Randy Rhoades died in 1982, when Mr. Steve was twenty seven.  Daisy's lucky because she's heard some of the Ozzy Osbourne songs Randy Rhoades played on.

            Oh!  What a coincidence that a Train just whistled right when I was writing about Ozzy Osbourne.  One of his most famous songs with Randy Rhoades was about a Train, and Dais says it's really good alright.  I just now noticed Cher slinking around behind the three Sheds.

             

"FREIGHT" TRAIN 

    

              Mr. Steve thinks one reason Ozzy Osbourne likely hired Randy Rhoads was because he was good at playing rhythm and lead too.  Even though he's never seen AC/DC's Angus Young play in person, he's seen the film and knows he's the same.  The Train whistled again.   

              A guy from Glendale one time told our boss Randy Rhoads was a really good Classical Guitarist.  Mr. Steve, Sandy and their friends only got to see him play the electric guitar.  Daisy and Millie saw a Video and noticed he sometimes played one of those "Flying V" guitars.  

             Dais says our Chief's brother Sam told him Phillip, Al and Larry's younger brother; had died.  They later heard Larry was also dead so only Al, and hopefully their pretty sister; are the only ones left.  In High School I guess Mr. Steve's sister Celina who died dated Phillip.  

                                                       OZZY OSBOURNE / RANDY RHOADS (EARLY 1980'S)      

PHOTO BY LARRY HULST       

                                                                  

             I guess Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads became friends, and were a good team in not only playing live; but also in writing songs too.  Mr. Steve thinks Ozzy Osbourne is lucky his wife Sharon came along.  Hey God!  Was it You who helped Ozzy Osbourne to survive?                         

          Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have three kids, and Daisy says the son seems kind of smart like his mom.  Daisy saw him talking on tv, and told me you can tell he knows about history and things like that.  Frida and Diego flew bye and are now going over Libby's Corral.                         

      At Valley Junior College Mr. Steve and Sandy met that guy "Jim," who knew QUIET RIOT'S Singer Kevin DuBrow.  Both lived in Van Nuys near Valley College.   I've mentioned how our boss, Sandy and their friends saw QUIET RIOT play a few times in the mid-1970's.                         

QUIET RIOT

( "VALLEY" COLLEGE)

  

           Daisy says our boss told Mr. Dave one time about seeing QUIET RIOT play that concert on the grass at Valley College.  Even way back then in the mid-1970's you could tell how Randy    Rhoads was "A cut Above" as they say.  All four of the Pigeons are flying toward the east.           

           I guess Mr. Steve's friend Chris, who also played guitar; was impressed how such a young skinny kid could play so well.  Even though QUIET RIOT didn't have as good of songs as they'd have later in the early 1980's, Randy Rhoads was already really good.  Dawn's barking.                 

     Our boss told Mr. Dave about seeing QUIET RIOT rehearse, when Randy Rhoads was casually "Noodling" the lead part from QUEEN'S song "Great King Rat."  It was between songs so he was just talking to people as he "Killed Time" so to speak.  Now Blinky's barking too.          

                                                            QUIET RIOT AT GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY (MID-1970's)           

               

           Mr. Steve one time heard Randy Rhoads say how he liked that band MOUNTAIN'S song "Mississippi Queen."  He complimented Alice Cooper's two Guitarists, and Mick Ronson when    he was in David Bowie's band SPIDERS FROM MARS.  I like hearing Blinky bark.                      

           Daisy says our boss told Mr. Dave he once had a dream in which he ran into that guy Jim  from Valley College.  They sat out on the "Cuad" the way they did back then and had a pleasant  conversation where Mr. Jim asked him about Sandy, Chris and David.  I smell a Joshua tree.        

           In that one dream Mr. Steve and Mr. Jim remembered seeing SUPERTRAMP at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.  They reminisced about the QUIET RIOT Halloween night concert at  the "Workman's Hall" in Pasadena.  In that dream Mr. Steve also hugged Miss Sandy I guess.     

          

 HALLOWEEN        

            

       Oh!  Mentioning Halloween makes me think of writing about bands influenced by that holiday.  I've missed that subject a few times on my outlines, when learning about "Shock" or      even that scary "Goth" Rock.  So, I can just finally do it right now; here in this section.                

          Mr. Steve's customer told him about a 1980's Detroit Metal band called HALLOWEEN.  He said he "didn't really care for Hard Rock;" but heard about them because his brother knew    them.  I guess sometimes they even wore costumes and put on scary white makeup too.                  

          Dais says Mr. Dave one time told our boss there have been a few different bands using the name HALLOWEEN.  Mr. Steve mentioned how a guy he met a few years ago said there's even a another 1980's Heavy Metal band from Germany.  But they spell their name HELLOWEEN.               

HELLOWEEN   

      

            Dais says the guy told our boss how that German band HELLOWEEN are from the city of "Hamburg."  That was the "Port" city bombed by the Allies during World War II, and where  the BEATLES played and got practice before they were famous.  Two Pigeons flew bye.                 

           Mr. Dave described HELLOWEEN to Mr. Steve as a "Power" Metal band; and said the songs he's heard by them had good "hooks and riffs."  They're "catchy" he  said.  Now the other two Pigeons also flew bye too, moving together toward the getting darker eastern horizon.            

        In 1988 HELLOWEEN "got to play" at the "Monsters of Rock" festival in Donington, England.  Mr. Dave read on "the same bill" was KISS, IRON MAIDEN and MEGADETH.  Mr.  Steve remembers it was on August the 20th that year, which is also his mom's birthday too.         

    

GRANDPA / GRANDMA TRUJILLO

 

          Over the last three days in what turned out to be really long books I've mentioned a few times how Grandma Trujillo's birthday was on Halloween.  So that's why she used to joke that    "gave her permission" to celebrate "twice as much.  Boy!  She was so lucky to have that.               

           It would be so great to be able to wear a good costume and then walk around from house to house getting good things.  I've mentioned before how we never even get one kid coming to our house on Halloween, because of the fence and gate up there on the road.  I smell Sage.                    

          To be in a band might be so great, and as a Heavy Metal Dog band we would probably get a lot of attention at first.  But then, just like Daisy says; we'd have to practice a lot because the  novelty of the gimmick would wear off.  I really think a Heavy Metal flute band would work!                                \                                                

    RIKI RACHTMAN                 

                  

          In book one on Thursday I mentioned that guy Riki Rachtman.  In the late 1980's and early 1990's, he "Hosted" that tv show "Headbanger's Ball;" which was a big part of the Heavy Metal scene here in Los Angeles then.  I can smell the new baby Cholla cactus over there.              

            Daisy says our boss did one of his "Name Frames" for a guy who went to "Grant" High School.  Mr. Steve told him Miss Harriet, Mr. Doug and Samantha's boyfriend Rick too; all went there.  Riki Rachtman went to Grant when Miss Harriet was a Student there Dais heard.              

           The guy told our boss how Riki Rachtman likes N.A.S.C.A.R racing, Skateboarding; and also Wrestling.  In 1995 his tv show was "abruptly canceled without warning," a "casualty of Grunge" that guy said.  Smelling the baby Cholla is making me feel kind of good right now.                  

             RANDY RHOADS / KEVIN DUBROW                                 "MUSONIIA" SCHOOL OF MUSIC                                                                                                                           

          In the 1970's that guy Jim told Mr. Steve Randy Rhoads' mom "Dolores" had a "Music School" in North Hollywood called "Musonia."  I guess, Randy Rhoads liked teaching kids to play guitar.  Over the years Mr. Steve and his parents have know women named Dolores.              

       Many people think it was Kevin DuBrow who started QUIET RIOT but, it was actually Randy Rhoads and this one bass player named "Kelly.  They did it in 1973 and Kevin DuBrow,    who  died a few years ago; was "Recruited" to be their Singer.  I smell some Juniper.                     

           Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Doug one time how a lot of people didn't like Kevin DuBrow that much, but he was always friendly to him and Sandy.  He was born in late October of 1955,    or about three months after our boss.  Mr. Steve occasionally thinks about that sometimes.            

  

                                              (1970'S)                   QUIET RIOT                      (1980'S)                                         

                                                                                                                PHOTO BY ABEL ARMAS LI

     

           Daisy says our Chief met a guy who went to a 1977 concert at "Glendale College" where QUIET RIOT opened up for VAN HALEN.  I guess, Mr. Steve and Sandy were invited to go to it but; went to her family event instead.  Later that year was our boss's trip back east.                       

           The guy who did go to that concert said Randy Rhoads enjoyed "imparting" information to others, just like his mom at her school.  I guess that school was started by his family way back  in 1947, or just two years after World War II had ended.  I'd like to start a new school!                  

           I've written before how Mr. Steve was told that guy Eddie Van Halen was the opposite of Randy Rhoads in being "Secretive."  One time, Randy Rhoads supposedly even asked him for      advice; and was disappointed when he wouldn't tell him.  Frida and Diego just flew bye.                

  

EDDIE VAN HALEN (TWO-HANDED "TAPPING" / 1984)

PHOTO BY EBET ROBERTS

        I've written how one guitar playing "Technique" Eddie Van Halen made popular was "Tapping."  In the early 1970's, like on that song "Musical Box;" he supposedly saw GENESIS'S Steve Hackett do it.  Donald and Daisy are quacking, which makes me feel really good.                  

            Earlier I wrote about how, at the Forum in the 1980's;  Mr. Steve saw some band "Sound Checks."  Because he, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen worked at an office across the street, he would    walk over to the Forum which he often did anyway.  I see a long white vapor trail in the sky.         

       In 1984, as usual standing in the circular walkway which divided the upper area of the Forum from the "Loge" or lower area; our boss saw Eddie Van Halen tapping during the Sound Check for the VAN HALEN concert that evening.  And he also did parts of "Eruption" too.          

          

THE FORUM      

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA           

              

          Daisy heard our Chief and Mr. Dave talking about VAN HALEN and how, when he was young; at times Eddie Van Halen turned his back on the audience because he didn't want other Guitarists to see what he was doing.  Dawn's barking.  And now so is brave little Blinky.               

           As I've said a few times over the last three days, Mr. Steve likes teaching others as long as they're a "Receptive Audience."  In that way he's probably just like Randy Rhoads I'll bet.  I just now saw Rudy use the wider right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go into the desert.             

         Randy Rhoads was friendly to our boss and Sandy.  I guess his mom played in Marching Bands at U.C.L.A. and started a "Scholarship" at C.S.U.N. in her son's name after he died.  Mr.  Steve's parents did the same for Hispanic or Latino students at Mission College for a while.         

                                                                         QUIET RIOT (1980'S)                          

          Daisy heard our Chief tell Mr. Doug, even though it was Randy Rhoads who started the band; he told Kevin DuBrow it was okay to keep on using the name QUIET RIOT after he went over to Ozzy Osbourne.   Boy!  I sure wish I could hear Heathcliff's voice just one more time.       

         I guess, a later version of QUIET RIOT became a success in 1983; the year after Randy Rhoads died.  That was when our boss, Mr. Grant and Miss Emily were still in Law School over    there in Van Nuys.  Hey God!  Thank You for giving us good memories of Heathcliff.                      

            Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how Mr. Steve prefers music created on instruments, rather than programmed on a computer.  But, from what he's been told; fewer    and fewer kids are learning to play musical instruments.  I'd love to learn to play a flute.                                                                   MR. RICH                                                   RUDY SARZO

                                                                                               PHOTO BY DANIEL LARSEN

                     

           Our boss's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich, who played guitar in DRAGPIPE; grew up in New Jersey.  His family came to America from Cuba after Fidel Castro took power in 1959.  A Freight Train way out in the northeastern desert just whistled faintly over there to my left.           

         When QUIET RIOT finally did become successful in 1983, their bass player was named Rudy Sarzo.  Mr. Steve heard him say in an interview his family, like Mr. Rich's; came over from Cuba in 1961 and settled in Miami.  For a time he and his brother also lived in New Jersey.           

         The failed "Bay of Pigs" invasion also happened in 1961, the following year the "Cuban Missile Crisis" took place; and in 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated.  Mr. Steve was six in 1961, his brother Rock four.  Smelling that new little Cholla cactus makes me feel good now.                        

       RODNEY BINGENHEIMER / KISS            

                                            

         A few years ago our boss met a guy who told him he and his girlfriend once saw QUIET RIOT play before Kevin DuBrow became the Singer.  I guess that was down in Hollywood, at      "Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco" Nightclub.  Mr. Steve met "Rodney" one time.                

          Daisy heard in the 1970's that guy Rodney Bingenheimer knew a lot of famous people, and was even called the "Mayor" of the Sunset Strip.   I guess, Mr. Steve met him in the late 1990's;    and felt a "sense of sadness" about him.  He wasn't famous like he had been in the 1970's.             

          I guess our boss and Miss Sandy never went to "Rodney's" but Mark Ritter did.  He said it was kind of small and at that time they played English "Glitter" Rock bands like T-REX and the SWEET.  The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the northeast.                 

     

     T-REX                                                                   THE SWEET    

                   

           One time our boss told Mr. Doug he met a girl who went to Rodney's in the mid-1970's.  It must've  been about the same time Mark Ritter was there, based the music playing on the loud    speakers was also Glitter Rock.  She said that building was later used as a "Karate" studio.          

          Someday I look forward to hearing T-REX'S song about the gong, and the SWEET'S  song about that barroom.  I'm still thinking about Randy Rhoads.  Mr. Steve was told his mom gives    money to young kids who want to go to C.S.U.N., where he and his family went to College.            

       Our boss heard Rudy Sarzo say he taught kids at Randy Rhoads mom's school, and so did another Guitarist named George Lynch.  STEPPINWOLF'S bass player took piano lessons from Randy Rhoads' mom I guess.  One of the guys later in MEGADETH taught there too.                                                     

    SUPERTRAMP            

                    

          I've written before about that guy "Bernard," who rented a warehouse from Mr. Steve's family.  He "Tunes" and works on pianos and all other keyboards.  I've mentioned how, for a few years; he worked for that band SUPERTRAMP and even got to travel around with them.             

           In the dream about Mr. Jim our boss thanked him for giving him the ticket when they saw SUPERTRAMP play their "Crime of the Century" album at the Santa Monica Civic. Mr. Steve drove his first Chevelle.  It had a good Stereo in it so Mr. Jim really liked that Daisy says.              

          Even though some say Santa Monica Civic has bad sound, it sure sounded crystal clear on the night of that SUPERTRAMP concert Mr. Steve says.  Mr. Bernard was not working for them then.  There are two long crisscrossed vapor trails way up there in the sky right now.                             

2014 HONDA "CIVIC"        

         

          Mentioning the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium makes me think of the Japanese "Honda" company, which makes a Car called a "Civic."  Mr. Phillip is the Parts Manager at that Honda    dealership.  The last time he talked to Miss Harriet she said she was driving a Civic I guess.          

         Dais heard that Civics, which have been around since 1972; are smaller sized Cars but Mr. Phillip told our boss one time how since 2000 they're even smaller.  As with so many other Cars,    the same vehicle is also sold under other names; and even other brands.  A Train whistled.            

     One night Dais and Millie saw an interesting tv show about a really smart Japanese man named Soichiro Honda.  Wow!  It says here he's called "Japan's Henry Ford."  He was born in a  small village, his dad one of those Blacksmiths; and his mom was a really talented Weaver.            

      

SOICHIRO HONDA (1906-1991) WITH WIFE SACHI

       

           Daisy says you can really tell that man Soichiro Honda, who started the Honda company after World War II; had obvious trust and respect for his wife named "Sachi."  Another Honda    Parts Manager told our boss people who've met them notice it right away.  Dawn's barking.         

            The tv show said Soichiro Honda and his wife were both Pilots, and he even trusted her to be coordinated enough to be a "Test Driver" for vehicles he designed and had built.  Their son      also ended up being a good Engineer too in making Race Cars.  I smell Blinky over there.              

           It says here Soichiro Honda worked around his father and was interested in bicycles.  At the age of fifteen he went to Tokyo and got a job as an "Apprentice" for the "Toyota" company.  Hey!  Those two American Wright brothers were also interested in working on bicycles too.          

                                            

"TYPE D" MOTORCYCLE (1959)  

                          

           Daisy says the man on the tv show said during World War II the factory Soichiro worked at got bombed.  It says here that happened in late 1944, about a year before those Atomic bombs  were dropped on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki.  Mr. Steve has drawn all the Honda logos.            

           After the war that guy Soichiro Honda had to "Pick up the Pieces" and then start all over again.  But, with his wife's help; he started this company that made small motors which could be put on bicycles so you didn't have to pedal.  They started in a really small wooden "shack."          

           I guess, eventually Soichiro Honda's company "evolved" into making actual Motorcycles.  In 1959 they opened the first dealership in the U.S., and ended up outselling even the American    companies like "Triumph" and "Harley Davidson."  I smell Libby over there in her Corral.         

              

1963 HONDA "T360"      

            

          One time our boss and Mr. Doug, who knows a lot about small Post Second World War Cars; talked about the first Car Honda made in 1963.  It was actually a little Pickup Truck called the "T360."  Daisy says Mr. Doug told our Chief how they the driver was on the left side.              

           On the tv show Soichiro Honda said he got his interest in machinery from his father, and his "determination" from his mother.  Oh!  This is a good quote by him, "Success represents the  1% of your work which results from 99% that is called failure."   I smell the baby Cholla.             

          It says here in this Encyclopedia those Honda Civic Cars are made using a "transverse" engine "configuration."   And I guess that means the motor is mounted sideways instead of from  front to back.  Smelling that new baby Cholla cactus is making me feel good right now.                  

               

"TRANSVERSE" VERSUS "LONGITUDINAL" ENGINE 

                 

       This diagram shows the difference between Cars having an "In Line" or "Longitudinal engine "set up."  The caption says the engine's "crankshaft axis" is "perpendicular," which I'm  pretty sure means from side to side.  I sure wish all of a sudden I would hear Heathcliff.                

         I guess, it's the power coming from the motor that turns the crankshaft connected to the wheels; which makes the Car move.  It says here many of those "front wheel drive" vehicles use    the transverse system.   The first transverse configuration Car was in Germany in 1931.                

          Dais heard one of our boss's other Honda customers say how transverse systems are used on many smaller lighter weight Cars.  But, in order to save "interior space;" even some "heavily  armored" combat vehicles use transverse set ups.  Frida and Diego just now flew bye.                    

    

MR. PHILLIP

          Over the last three days I've mentioned Mr. Phillip, and how he's originally from Wales.  Mr. Phillip is a Parts Manager at a Honda dealership, in a town to the north of New York City;    called "Rensselaer."   I smell the new baby Cholla cactus and that makes me feel good.                 

         Dais heard our boss and Mr. Phillip talk about how Rensselaer is a Dutch name from the 16th century, when the Dutch first settled the region in 1609.  It's located on the east bank of the "Hudson River," across from "Albany; the New York State capital.  A Train just whistled.            

          Mr. Phillip said there's a 17th century Fort built by the "Van Rensselaer" family in town.  I've written how the Netherlands and England, even though they were both mainly "Protestant" Christian after the "Reformation;" had a few wars in the 1600's.  Andy's looking at me.                

  

"RENSSELAER," NEW YORK

            On a map you can see how that big Hudson River divides Rensselaer from Albany, in the same way the Mississippi River goes right between Minneapolis and St. Paul up there in the State of Minnesota.  Daisy heard that there are a lot of trees around Rensselaer.  Libby whinnied.          

           My Encyclopedia says Rensselaer was originally named "t' Greyn Bos," which is Dutch for "Green Bush."  Mr. Phillip says there's another town near them that still has that name.  I      just saw Rudy run through the right vertical gate slot to go into the desert behind the Sheds.        

           Because of those 16th century wars between the Netherlands and England the Rensselaer area "changed hands" a few times.  It began Dutch but, by the 18th century; was English.  I've    mentioned before how New York City down there was originally called "New Amsterdam."                            

HENRY HUDSON (c.1565-1611)

ARTWORK BY SEVERINO BARALDI                                                                                                                                      

                 

           Dais and Millie saw a tv show about that Englishman Henry Hudson, who explored what is now the east coast of the U.S.; and also to the north up in Canada.  Many places, besides just  the "Hudson" River; are named after him.  That giant Hudson Bay is also named or him.             

           Boy!  In looking at this painting of Henry Hudson I notice he's wearing one of those puffy round things around his neck.   I really do believe we should go into business making and selling  them for all of us Dogs and Cats.  Or maybe that style will even come back for people too.             

          This Encyclopedia says what Mr. Phillip told our boss.  Henry Hudson, then working for the Dutch "East India Company;" claimed the Rensselaer area for the Netherlands.  A good map shows how, on his second trip for England; he discovered Canada.  A Train just whistled.              

  

                                       AMTRAK                           RENSSELAER           POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE                                

            According to what Dais heard Mr. Phillip say, Rensselaer has a Passenger Train that goes to and from New York City to the south.  Because of that Rensselaer is called a "Hub" city just    like Belén in New Mexico.  There some really good schools in Rensselaer Mr. Phillip said.              

            Mr. Phillip told our boss the "Clock Tower" at Rensselaer's red brick "Amtrak" Railroad Station is "well known" now to many people in New York State.  Dawn and Blinky are barking    over there, and I can smell them and also Rosie too.  Smelling them makes me feel good.                

          Rensselaer, just like where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives in Connecticut; has a lot of trees around it I guess.  It's probably like Wrightwood near us, which also has a forest around it up in  the San Gabriel mountains.  Andy's over there sniffing the air in guarding their burrow.                

s new york.jpg” style=”width: 450px; height: 360px;” /> 

RENSSELAER

(EARLY 20TH CENTURY)

          Dais heard Mr. Phillip tell our boss, some of those big factories were built in Rensselaer in the mid-19th century.  Many of them had to do with the "dye" industry he said.  A small flock of Birds is flying in perfect formation over Libby's Corral and moving toward the northeast.            

      In the 17th and 18th centuries, like during that "French and Indian War;" there were a "number of times" when British troops were "stationed" in Rensselaer Mr. Phillip said.  In the    19th century factories were built in Rensselaer.  Many were involved in the "dye" industry.          

        One time our boss and Mr. Doug talked about the really creative things his wife Susan did before she died.  Besides all the crafts she did, I guess Miss Susan dyed and colored things made of cotton and wool.  All of a sudden I just thought about Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter.            

                                                              

THE DICKIES           

                                                                                                   

           Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how Mark Ritter and Mr. Doug knew the guys in that band from the Valley the DICKIES.  They have that funny song "You Drive Me  Ape You Big Gorilla."  I guess that guy Kevin DuBrow knew the DICKIES Guitarist.                    

          That time in the mid-1970's when Mr. Steve, Sandy and their friends saw the DICKIES at the Whisky a Go Go; the Singer wore a rubber Gorilla mask when they did that song about the    Gorilla.  Oh!  I wonder if they have some masks for Dogs?  If not, we should invent them.              

         Ah! This good breeze just brought in the scent of the Twin Joshua trees out there, and now the green and gold chimes are ringing.  Hey Holy Spirit!  I hope that's You again trying to make me feel better about Heathcliff dying and, if it is You thank You so much for doing that.                 

                       

         MOODY BLUES                                                  BLACK SABBATH          

                                                  

            I've mentioned before how the DICKIES do some "fast-paced" versions of other bands original songs, like the MOODY BLUES "Nights in White Satin;" or even BLACK SABBATH'S "Paranoid."  I'm really, really looking forward to someday hearing those two good songs.             

          Boy! I can't wait to someday hear that song Nights in White Satin, which Daisy says has that famous flute solo in it.  Because the Sun is now on the other side of the house, behind me; the shadows are now leaning away from me or toward the east.  I love how flute sounds!                      

         Wow!  This day is going faster than I expected.  Because of Heathcliff dying, I would have never thought I'd be able to actually finish this third and final book; but it looks like I will.  So, thank Everyone up there so much for really helping me, especially on this kind of sad day.                      

               THE DICKIES                                               "STUKA" DIVE BOMBER

          Dais says the DICKIES, like our boss's friend Mark Ritter;  had a weird sense of humor.  Their album "Stukas over Disneyland" shows a World War II German Stuka, flying above the    ears of Mouse Mickey; ready to dive bomb the happy people down below.  A Train whistled.       

        One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking with Mr. Doug about a weekend when they saw QUIET RIOT one night and the DICKIES on the next.  Oh!  Samson's chasing another Raven with Delilah flying behind them.  I'll bet it's a boy Raven who tried to steal Delilah.           

          I can hear some of Heathcliff's Hens over there clucking, and that makes me think about how from now on we won't be able to take for granted hearing his voice again.  Tomorrow will be one of the weirdest days in all of history!  I can now smell the Twins out there in the desert.           

   

KEVIN DUBROW (1955-2007)

   

            I guess Kevin DuBrow, like our boss in 2007; was just fifty two when he died.  When our boss met him in the 1970's he was living at his mom's house in Van Nuys.  Mr. Steve and Sandy    got to go to a few "Backyard" parties during those years when they were at Valley College.           

             According to what Dais heard, QUIET RIOT'S first two albums were made in Japan and Kevin DuBrow later admitted they weren't very good.  Mr. Steve gives him credit because he was determined to be successful.  And after Randy Rhoads quit it must've been discouraging.              

           Someday, I want to hear QUIET RIOT songs because Daisy thinks Kevin DuBrow was a good Singer.  Our boss was told his favorite Singer had been Steve Marriot of HUMBLE PIE.  Dais says Mr. Steve still has some HUMBLE PIE vinyl records, and one is of their concert.            

                       

    HUMBLE PIE          

      (RIGHT REAR / STEVE MARRIOT)            

                   

          Dais one time heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about that band HUMBLE PIE.  I guess they did that "Live" album Mr. Steve has, and he likes a song called "Thirty Days in the Hole."  The  Singer is really good alright according to what Daisy and Millie heard a few times.              

           I hear a Jet going bye way up there in the high blue sky, and in looking up I see how there are a few puffy clouds up there too.  Two Crows are fighting, and yelling at each other; out there behind the Sheds.  I wonder if the name HUMBLE PIE means something over in England?          

        I guess, before he was HUMBLE PIE'S Singer,  Steve Marriot was in that 1960's "Mod" band the SMALL FACES.  Our boss, as a kid; one time bought one of those 45 R.P.M. records of their song about a park Daisy heard.  I can smell the Twins and that makes me feel good.              

                                                                                     SMALL FACES                                        

  

            In looking at a picture of the SMALL FACES, I notice they're all wearing nice suits and ties so; maybe that's why they were called Mods.  I guess, Mr. Steve for many years had to wear suits and ties; but not any more Dais says.  Now he mostly just wears ordinary clothes.                  

           Mr. Steve was told the SMALL FACES were "Managed" by that girl Sharon Osbourne's father, who did the same for the MOVE; and BLACK SABBATH too.  I can't wait to someday hear all of those different BLACK SABBATH songs.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.                  

           That one guy Peter Frampton, who I wrote about when I learned about those things called "Talk Boxes" on Thursday; was in HUMBLE PIE but then went "On his Own" as they say.  He did that mid-1970's "Live" album I mentioned in book one.  I smell a Creosote bush.                     

       

                          PETER FRAMPTON                                                "TALK BOX"                                         

 

          Someday I want to hear someone sing through one of those Talk Box's, because Dais told me it's a filter to change your voice.  In a picture of Peter Frampton I notice how he's playing one of those "Les Paul" guitars I've written about.  I see a vapor trail up there in the sky.                    

         One time back in the 1970's Mr. Steve's friend Chris noticed how Peter Frampton's Les Paul's had three of those things called "Humbucking Pickups" on the body.  I guess most of the    electric guitars only have two of them.  Boy!  I just kind of like how Les Paul guitars look.             

         Daisy says our Chief, and Mark Ritter; were working at "Laser Images" when that live album by Peter Frampton came out.  A lot of people liked it a lot so it sold millions of records.  I  wonder what a Dog voice would sound like if howled through one of those Talk Box's?                  

 

"LASERIUM" 

            One time our boss told Mr. Dave about Mark Ritter, when they worked for Laser Images near the Van Nuys Airport.  During that period he, Sandy and Mark Ritter saw this band called FRAMPTON'S CAMEL at the Santa Monica Civic.  Dawn's now barking over there.                    

           Our boss told Mr. Dave FRAMPTON'S CAMEL was Peter Frampton's band before that now famous live album.  He read FRAMPTON'S CAMEL made their album at "Electric Lady," the 1960's New York City Recording Studio built by Jimi Hendrix.  I smell old Sage.                      

            I've mentioned before how, until the late 1960's; most people bought "45 R.P.M." records with only two songs on them.  But then, bands started making "33 R.P.M." Albums with about    ten songs on them.  All four of the Pigeons are flying together toward the northeast.                           

CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL    

             As a young teenager Mr. Steve bought a few "Single" records by that band from the Bay area called CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL.  Daisy thinks some of their songs sound    like C.C.R. would be from down there in Louisiana.  Frida and Diego just now flew bye.                

        Back in the 1960's our boss and his friends noticed right away how C.C.R., unlike most other bands in those days; put two good songs on their "45's."  The BEACH BOYS, BEATLES    and ROLLING STONES did that too I guess.  Ah!  I can smell the baby Cholla cactus.                  

          The shadows are now leaning further away from me over here sitting on Elvira.  I'm sure Daisy likes the Sun now being all the way over there on the west side of the house, because heat    makes her Arthritis feel better.  That Monarch Butterfly is fluttering bye over there.                      

       

 STEPPENWOLF

            Mr. Steve had STEPPENWOLF'S song "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" on one 45 record.  As I mentioned the day before yesterday, in 1968 the term "Heavy Metal" was used STEPPENWOLF'S Born to be Wild.  And it is a really Hard Rock song Daisy says.               

          When Mr. Steve and Sandy broke up, all of his 45's were at her parents house.  So, after thinking about it; he decided to just let her keep them.  At first he didn't like that but now Dais    says he's glad he did it because they had a lot of pretty good memories listening to them.               

           I guess, in all the times he went to games at Dodger Stadium; our Chief only caught one Baseball.  In 1977 he and Sandy stood below the left field "Foul Pole" as the Dodgers took their pre-game "Batting Practice."  A Train just now whistled faintly over there to my left.                              

          1970'S L.A. "DODGERS"  (30 HOME RUN HITTERS)        

(REAR- STEVE GARVEY, REGGIE SMITH / FRONT- DUSTY BAKER, RON CEY)

             Dais heard our boss tell his mom on the phone one time how, during Batting Practice that guy Dusty Baker who's right-handed; hit a high fly ball right toward Mr. Steve and Sandy.  Mr.    Steve could tell it was going to hit the Foul Pole directly above them.  I can smell Libby.                 

        I guess our Chief saw a group of kids running towards where they thought the ball was going to go so they could get it.  They all thought it was going to land further away, so flooded or swarmed right past he and Sandy.  But, it hit the tall Foul Pole; and came straight down.               

         Mr. Steve was holding a binocular case in his right hand so, when the ball bounced off a seat; he grabbed it with his left hand.  Two kids tried to catch it too but, our boss didn't drop it;    and they were really disappointed about that.  Libby's over there looking in this direction.            

         

   "FOUL" POLE       

                  

           Wow!  A  color picture shows one of those Foul Poles, and I can see how they're really tall alright.  I guess, Foul Poles are there to make it easier for the "Umpires" to judge if a hit ball is    "Fair or Foul."  The ball our boss caught hit the three foot wide "Mesh" net on the side.               

         Mr. Steve told his mom Sandy was impressed how he plucked that ball out of the air and didn't drop it.  And, so were those kids who swiped at it too; even giving him one of those "High  Five" cheers.  He knew it was "bang-bang" and had only one chance to get a bouncing ball.          

          Dais says our Chief gave the Baseball to Sandy and never got another one even though he went to lot of other games at Dodger Stadium.  But, he doesn't care; "No big Deal" as they say.    I'm so lucky to have my valuable collection of balls and logs that I can chew on for fun.                          

FLOCK OF BIRDS                                                           MR. RANDY          

      

          A Train whistled faintly way out there in the northeastern desert.  That's now making me remember earlier this afternoon when that flock of Birds flew toward the north as another Train whistled too.  All of the shadows are getting fainter and are really leaning away from me.               

         I remember that one beautiful morning last Summer when our boss was watering the big Mulberry tree over there.  A Train was also whistling.  He and Mr. Randy talked about Baseball,  and how going to a Dodgers game in 2014 is more expensive than in the 1970's and 1980's.            

        Mr. Steve got some old Dodgers ticket stubs to show Mr. Randy, whose eyes got wide when he saw the prices.   In 1988, the year Kirk Gibson hit his famous World Series home run against the A's; a regular season game on "Field Level" cost eight dollars.   I smell Andy over there.                          

MR. DAVE (CAULDRON)        

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

   

          Over the last three days I've mentioned that other Mr. Dave, who lives in San Fernando and was the Singer in that 1980's Hard Rock band CAULDRON.  I've mentioned how he now is a Gardener working for the city of San Fernando.  And I guess he sometimes "D.J.'s" too.            

           I've written how, toward the end of the period when our boss's father bought the Dodger season seats; the family was not as interested anymore.  So Mr. Dave of CAULDRON used to buy some of the eighty one games.  At that time he had his own Landscaping business Dais says.          

          During the final years of Dodger season seats Mr. Dave would buy twenty five games and so would that guy Jim.   Mr. Jim had a Pet Shop over in Lake View Terrace,  near to where Mr.    Bobby's parents live.  That guy Patrick Swayze and his wife's Horse ranch is near there too.         

                 

DODGER STADIUM               

    

          Daisy says you can tell, by the way he and Mr. Randy talked about the 1988 World Series; Kirk Gibson's amazing home run really made an impression on our boss.  Hey God!  Was it You  who caused Kirk Gibson to do what he did?  Mr. Steve's parents were there when he did it.           

     As You know God, Mr. Steve doesn't believe You "Intercede" in things down here; or the physical world You created.  But he joked with his mom one time, "If there was ever a time" he    suspected You did, it might've been back then in 1988.   Two of the Pigeons are flying bye.              

        I remember our boss telling Mr. Randy, in the 1970's and 1980's all eighty one games were "priced the same."  Now the exact same seat "fluctuates in price" depending on the "quality of    the opponent."  And the difference "can be huge" from what his brother Sam has told him.               

  "BE BOP RCORDS"                  MISS HARRIET              MUSIC CONNECTION

       

           I just thought of how, on that night Kirk Gibson hit his big home run; Mr. Steve was with Miss Harriet on one of her assignments for "Music Connection" Magazine.   Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Dave about it.  They were in Reseda at "Be Bop Records," near the "Country Club."       

         Our Chief told Mr. Randy how, as he saw Kirk Gibson his game-winning home run on the tiny black and white tv the Bartender had behind his counter; he was in "total shock."  I wrote    about it on Thursday in book one.  Max and 99 went zipping bye and I heard them coming.          

         Hey God!  "In an instant" Mr. Steve says, even though it was only the first game he knew or felt the "highly favored" A's were going to lose the World Series; which they did alright.   Kirk    Gibson, who was injured; didn't play for the remainder of that World Series.  I smell Sage.           

                

"GAZZARI'S                                                SAM KINISON    

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA          

           

          I've written how Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet first met Mr. Dave in the late-1980's, when CAULDRON played at the "Whisky a Go Go."  CAULDRON also played over at that one other  Hollywood Nightclub "Gazzari's."  In the late 1970's VAN HALEN played there a lot I guess.       

        Gazzari's is where our Chief took pictures of that Comedian Sam Kinison, who I wrote about yesterday in book two.  Daisy says Mr. Steve told his Niece Samantha about him, and how  he would start out talking calmly; but then explode and start yelling.  Daffy's quacking.                

         Mr. Steve told his father how much more expensive Dodger tickets cost now.  Mr. Randy used the word "exorbitant" that one morning I remember.  Mr. Steve's dad mentioned that one    saying supposedly said by Karl Marx, "What will the Market Bear?"  That's Capitalism.              

                               

  TACO BELL                                                     MCDONALDS 

      

         Over these last three days I've learned about some of the "Fast Food" restaurants.  One time our boss and Mr. Grant, who I've mentioned knows a lot about computers; talked about      what's called "Dynamic" or "Variable" pricing.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.        

         A while back this machine called a "Kiosk" was installed at the McDonalds over there in Phelan.  It allows the customer to place their order without having to go to the counter.   But no    one even used it, sensing all the employees would become unnecessary; and lose their jobs.           

       I guess, eventually they took away that kiosk, but Mr. Grant and our boss both think the "Writing is on the Wall" as that old saying goes.  Because the bad half of Capitalism makes a lot of people greedy, all of the Fast Food restaurants will convert to "Automation."  I like Sage.         

    

CAPITALISM

           In these three what have turned out to be long books I've mentioned a number of times Mr. Steve's father's school for Stockbrokers.  He thinks that someday, in the "name of making      money;" Fast Food restaurants will put in kiosks to "lay off" workers.   Dawn's barking.              

             Dais told me how our boss's dad believes, once the only way to order food in a Fast Food restaurant is through a kiosk; "then" that Dynamic or Variable pricing "will be implemented."    The same thing will happen in Banks so  the "Tellers" will also lose jobs too.  I like Dawn.             

          Mr. Steve's father thinks, once there are no human beings "to complain to;" the price of anything on the menu could change from "day to day."  Mr. Grant one time joked how it could even be different from that "same exact morning."  Boy God!  Thank You for those chimes.                                   

"2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY" (1968)

 

           I can't wait to someday see that movie "2001 A Space Odyssey," which I've written about in these three books.  One part of it was showing that smart computer named "Hal," who was      even smarter than all of the humans.  Daisy told me Mr. Grant used the word "prescient."            

           One thing I'm really looking forward to is hearing all of those good Classical songs in 2001 A Space Odyssey.  And I also want to hear all of those other songs Daisy's told me about because      then I'll get that uplifting spirit of "Rhêma" I've been writing about.  Daffy's quacking.            

         Well, according to my outline for this third and final book; it looks like it's back to writing about music.  I have to keep working hard because there's maybe only an hour of sunlight left in the day.  I can smell the clump of Joshua trees over there near Andy and Helen's burrow.                                                                                                            RANDY RHOADS                     

                     

          One thing Mr. Steve and Sandy noticed about Randy Rhoades in the 1970's was how long his thumbnail was.  He also had a "Shag" haircut which, according to what Daisy heard; was a    popular style back in those days.  Oh!  I wonder how Dais would look in a Shag haircut?               

            Boy! Dais is so lucky because she's seen pictures of when our boss was young and had long hair and beards.  All I know is how he looks now that he's old.  I've mentioned a few times over    the last three days how he thinks he's now very ugly and takes "horrible pictures."                        

         Daisy says Mr. Steve and Sandy saw QUIET RIOT play on that one Halloween.  Boy!  It would be so great to wear a good costume, like a DEVO yellow suit; and go to a party.  Ah!  The    strong scent of Charlie Company just came blowing in on breeze from out in the desert.                 

      VAN HALEN          

                                                     

        In the late 1970's there was kind of a competition between Randy Rhoads and that guy Eddie Van Halen.  I've mentioned a few times in my books how Eddie and Alex Van Halen grew    up down there in Pasadena, just like the Baseball player Jackie Robinson.  I smell Sage.               

           Mr. Steve one time told his brother Sam he hasn't been to Pasadena or Glendale for many years, but still occasionally talks on the phone to people he knows who live there. Fred, Ed and    Ted just flew over Libby's Corral.  Libby herself is standing over there near the north fence.         

          Dais says our Chief has at times tried to play along to some of VAN HALEN'S songs over the years.  A Train just whistled faintly to my left out there in the northern desert, and for some    reason that makes me feel good.  A Motorcycle is going bye out there on Primavera Road.                

ALEX VAN HALEN     

         

         Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave one time talking about VAN HALEN'S Drummer named Alex Van Halen.  He's powerful and has this one unique drum kit with four of those big    kick or bass drums on it.  That for sure has got to be an all time world record Dais says.                

             According to Dais, VAN HALEN have this song our boss likes called "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love."  I guess in the 1980's QUIET RIOT, and Randy Rhoads in Ozzie Osbourne's band; were very successful.  But not nearly as successful as VAN HALEN ended up being in the 1980's.          

             It would be so interesting to time travel back to the 1980's to see when there were a lot of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands playing in Los Angeles.  Some were those "Glam" or "Hair" bands.  I suddenly smell the baby Cholla cactus beginning to grow over there in the dirt.                                                                    "ROXY" RESTAURANT / "RAINBOW" NIGHTCLUB                      

                      

          Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's, when our boss went with Harriet on some of her review assignments for "Music Connection" and "Bam" Magazines; they saw bands at some of    the different Nightclubs in Hollywood.  The Dragonfly zoomed bye.  I heard it coming.                  

          One of the Nightclubs Mr. Steve and Harriet went to was that place I've mentioned before called the "Roxy" Theater.   I guess it's right next door to that Restaurant called the "Rainbow," where MÖTORHEAD'S "Lemmy" goes to.  A Train whistled faintly over there to my right.          

         This one Encyclopedia says how the Roxy Nightclub was originally built back in the 1930's during the Great Depression.  But, it became the "Roxy" in 1973; and the first band to play there was that guy Neil Young's band CRAZY HORSE.  I can smell Theodora's Creosote bush.                 

                BOB MARLEY                             GENESIS                                FRANK ZAPPA                                                                        

        Wow!  Way back in 1974 GENESSIS played at the Roxy, so most likely played "Musical Box,"  And, according to what it says here; in those days Bob Marley and the WAILERS did a      concert there too.  Oh!  Frank Zappa's band MOTHERS OF INVENTION played there.              

       Mr. Steve has been told some Comedians have done shows at the Roxy, like that one guy Richard Pryor for instance.  Mr. Ralph says he's pretty sure Robin Williams performed there a    few times too.  Finley and Fanny just flew bye, and then went out into the back desert.                   

        It says here how the RAMONES, and Bruce Springsteen's E STREET BAND; have done concerts at the Roxy Theater.  Daisy says our Chief was told one time how KORN filmed a Video there.  I can smell Libby, who's right now over there walking around slowly in her Corral.                                       "ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW"                                     MEATLOAF                             

       

          Oh!  This is kind of interesting how, in 1974, when it was one of those Plays; "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was "performed" on the Roxy stage.  It was in the following year that it    was made into that movie I wrote about before.  The Singer MEATLOAF was in that movie.        

           Mr. Dave told our boss he saw this tv show about that guy MEATLOAF.  It said he grew up in "Dallas," near Arlington where Mr. Steve's brother Rock lives with Rocky Jr. and Jacob.    MEATLOAF was living in Dallas in 1963 when President Kennedy was killed I guess.                    

        I wrote about the 1970's, when Mr. Steve was going to College over at C.S.U.N. and also working at Laser Images.  That's when he met that girl Susan who really liked the Rocky Horror Picture Show movie.   The shadows are longer in leaning away from me over here on Elvira.         

      

"RENAISCANCE FAIRE"

          Dais says she'd like to go to that "Renaiscance Faire" the way our boss and that girl Miss Susan did back in the 1970's.  So would I and I'd want to wear a costume that looked like the way Dogs dressed back in the Middle Ages too.  Daisy heard you can buy big Turkey legs to eat.           

         I just thought of how Mr. Steve doesn't like the taste of beer anyway but, when he goes to places that serve alcohol; he now seldom drinks even the "Shot" of whisky followed by water he's done in the past.  And, that's usually true even if he isn't the one driving according to Daisy.         

        Daisy heard our Chief talk about how anyone can go into the bar at the Rainbow, but the one at the Roxy is private.  Guys like the BEATLES' John Lennon, the WHO'S Keith Moon; and Harry Nilson made it famous.  Blackbeard and Ann Bonny are flying toward the northeast.             

ANTHRAX

        I can't wait to someday hear more "Thrash Metal" songs.  I guess, there are four main bands from that category, ANTHRAX from New York City, METALLICA, MEGADETH and      SLAYER from out here in California.  Daisy says Thrash Metal is often very "fast-paced."           

          A New Jersey customer told our Chief ANTHRAX'S rhythm Guitarist, who has a unique beard; is married to MEATLOAF'S daughter.   I guess, she's a Singer too like her father; and is  in this band with her husband.  The Parts Manager heard that they had a son together.                  

       Our boss told Mr. Dave he's only heard "a few" ANTHRAX songs.  They seem to be songs "influenced" by BLACK SABBATH, MÖTORHEAD and JUDAS PRIEST, but also those "fast  paced" RAMONES Punk songs.   And he also hears that one German band ACCEPT too.             

     

"ANTHRAX"   

   

         In my books I've learned about "Biological and Chemical" weapons, like the gas that blinded Adolph Hitler at the end of World War II.  Right after those two "World Trade Center"  buildings were destroyed in 2001 there was an "Anthrax Scare."  A Train whistled faintly.            

            Being a Nurse, Miss Sandy's mom studied the subject of "Bacterial Infections;" which is what Anthrax is.  She told our boss and Miss Sandy "anthrax" comes from the Greek word for    "coal," which is how the black blisters look.   I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.              

        Right after "9/11" some envelopes were sent to people in Washington D.C. with anthrax powder in them.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve and his father talking about it, and I guess there were      five people who "inhaled" or breathed it.  They died and almost twenty people were "Infected."                      

               (ON LEFT)                 MR. STEVE'S DAD              (IN MIDDLE)                     

          I've written how, before he was sent over to South Korea to fight the war; Mr. Steve's father thinks he and some of the other Soldiers at "Boot Camp" were used to as "Test Subjects" for either biological or chemical experiments.  Dawn's barking.  I like how Blinky smells.              

           As I've mentioned a few times in these books, all major countries have secret biological and chemical warfare departments.  And so does the United States, some thinking it was someone in ours who did that Anthrax attack back in 2001.  At least that's what Dais heard one time.         

            My Encyclopedia says after World War II the U.S. "acquired" all of that really valuable information those Japanese Doctors like that guy Dr. Ishi had "accumulated."  I wrote before how they used Chinese prisoners to do experiments.   Well, back to writing about music.                

                              

  ADRIAN BELEW                                                 MISS HARRIET         

       

           When Mr. Steve and Harriet saw Adrian Belew at the Roxy he used his yellow guitar to make weird sound effects and tones; some of Animals or even machines.  Jimi Hendrix "Used"    "Feedback," Adrian Belew "Played" feedback "Melodically." That's what Mr. Steve thinks.        

         I guess, not only did Adrian Belew make weird guitar sounds; he used "Techniques" like sliding the pick on the strings, tapping and bending the neck.  He was in Frank Zappa's band for a while.  And then later, he also played in KING CRIMSON; and TALKING HEADS too.             

     Oh!  This is a good place to write about that one 1990's Los Angeles band called RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.  Dais heard Mr. Dave tell our boss how, back in the year 2000; they played their very last concert.  And it was held down there at the "Olympic" Auditorium.                                              

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE      

        PHOTO BY NIELS VAN  IPERSON                   

                      

           Yesterday when I learned about the history of U.S. "Labor" I was supposed to write about RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE but missed it.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave he's only heard one of their songs.  But he noticed how the Guitarist seemed to be playing Feedback melodically.             

         According to Dais, Mr. Dave does know many of the different R.A.T.M. songs, and thinks their Guitarist is really good alright.  I guess, like our boss's Uncle Marty; that Guitarist went to  College at "Harvard."  A flock of Birds is flying to the north up there in the afternoon sky.            

           R.A.T.M.'S Guitarist Tom Morello, like Adrian Belew; makes unusual sounds.  Mr. Dave says he does Police sirens, bombs falling; and a D.J. "Scratching."  Dais heard Eddie Van Halen make the sounds of a bellowing Elephant, and called his whinnying Horse sound "Trigger."                                 

BUDDHIST PROTEST (SOUTH VETNAM / 1963)

PHOTO BY MALCOM BROWN          

           

            Mr. Dave says in 1991 R.A.T.M.'S first album was made at that Recording Studio in Van Nuys I wrote about called "Sound City."  Daisy heard the picture they used on the cover was that one Monk Thich Quang Duc burning himself up on purpose.   Ugh!  It must hurt to burn!            

       I guess that guy Tom Morello, besides being a Musician who does some good "Guitar Effects" on "Rap-Metal" songs; is also one of those "Social Activists" I've mentioned before.  He  really hates some things about Capitalism Dais says.  All four of the Pigeons are flying bye.           

            The rage in the band's name is meant to be against the Capitalist machine.  But Mr. Dave said he heard people jokingly say the band's anger was against a Van that always broke down so  they destroyed it with sledgehammers.  It wasn't dependable at a time when they were poor.                                  

TOM MORELLO         

PHOTO BY SEAN RICIGLIANO        

              

            Our boss told Mr. Dave about the "Wobblies."  Mr. Dave read Tom Morello's a member of that "Labor Union," which I learned about.  As I said yesterday in my second book, Wobblies is just a nickname but the actual name of that Union is "Industrial Workers of the World."          

          From what Dais heard, Tom Morello has read some of the things that guy Mumia Abu-Jamal wrote from his Pennsylvania Prison.  And, as a Socialist; he totally agrees with him about  some of the bad things in our society.  There are two crisscrossed vapor trails up in the sky.          

          Mumia Abu-Jamal, who I mentioned earlier this afternoon in writing about the "Black Panthers;" seems like one of those "Anarchists."  I wonder if he, or Tom Morello; have read or    heard about that lady Emma Goldman?  I wouldn't be surprised if they know about her.                   

                  KARL MARX                    GEORGE ORWELL                CHE GUEVARA                                                                          

           Mr. Dave read that Tom Morello has been influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx, George Orwell and Che Guevara too.  So, he's obviously studied or read about the history of Socialism    versus Capitalism; or things like that.  Boy!  I really wonder if a Dog could play the guitar.            

           As I've said a few times over the last three days, Mr. Steve and his father think someday there might be another economic depression.  Since World War II, the U.S. has had the biggest "Middle Class" in history but; the gap between rich and poor widening.  I smell some Sage.          

         Mr. Dave read Tom Morello's father's family are very important in the early history of "Post-Colonial" Kenya.  His dad even fought the British during the 1950's "Mau Mau" rebellion and was Kenya's fist "Ambassador" to the United Nations.   The Dragonfly zoomed bye.               

                     

        AFRICAN NATIONS                                                   KENYA                          

                                                                                                     

           It says here, until 1890 the area now called "Kenya" was ruled by an Arab "Sultan; but the British came in and "things changed."  I guess some of the tribes welcomed the English, but  not the "Maasi," "Kambo" and "Kikuyu" groups.   Tom Morello's father was Kikuyu.                

           Oh!  This in interesting.  In 1915, the second and one of the bloodiest years of World War I; the British "officially" took away all the "Land Rights" from the Kenyans.   I'll bet they just    conveniently used the chaos of the war to cover or distract from how they stole the land.                

           After the First World War finally ended in 1918, I guess a lot of the lucky British Soldiers who had survived went down there with their families to live in Africa.   But, after World War II ended in 1945 the Kenyans wanted their land back.  And they were willing to fight over it.                     

   "MAU MAU" REBELLION (1952-1960)              JOMO KENYATTA (1894-1978)                                                                                                        

           Daisy says our boss was surprised when Mr. Dave told him Tom Morello's "Great Uncle" was Jomo Kenyatta, who led Kenya from 1963 until he died.  Boy!  I kind of like the hats shown  in these two good pictures.  And I'd definitely wear some clothes like they're wearing too.              

            Our boss told Mr. Dave in New Mexico how Mr. Dave the Photographer lived in Kenya so knew about the Mau Mau "Uprising," and all the bad things that happened.  It says here "over ten thousand" people died, and many were tortured.  Kenya gained independence in 1960.            

            Mr. Dave and our Chief talked one time about how, back in the 1980's; that Heavy Metal music became popular in L.A.  But, eventually there were almost too many bands "Competing."   In fact, I  guess that's the main reason why "Promoters" put in that" Pay to Play" system.           

                                   

KARL MARX (1818-1883)         

        PHOTO BY JOHN MAYALL                                

                                                

             As I said before, it was Daisy who explained to me how Pay to Play means the band has to "Purchase in Advance" tickets to their concert, and then resell them.  So, like Karl Marx said;      "What will the market bear?" And, in the 1980's; the music market bore having Pay to Play.        

          It was in the late 1980's when Mr. Steve and Mr. Mark in Hawaii met that guy "Robert," who played guitar; and worked for the company that put on Pay to Play shows.  I've mentioned    how Robert's last name is also "Wood" like Mr. Mark's.  The Pigeons are flying bye.                      

          Someday I'd like to hear some of the songs Mr. Mark and Mr. Robert did when they called themselves the WOOD BROTHERS.  "Creative Image Associates," or "C.I.A.;" was the name of the Promoters Mr. Robert worked for back in the 1980's.  A Train just whistled to my left.                                                                  GUNS N' ROSES                 

       

            I guess, many if not most of the 1980's bands who had to be involved in that Pay to Play system did not like it at all.  But some, like GUNS N' ROSES; were able to be successful with it.    The scent of that clump of Joshua trees over there near Libby's Corral just floated in.                    

           One time that guy Mr. Robert went on "MTV" as one of those "Spokesmen" for the Pay to Play system.  Mr. Steve admired how he explained logically that, in Capitalism; "Supply and    Demand" is important.  In his own words he basically said what Karl Marx might say.                  

           Dais says our Chief visited Mr. Robert at his office in a tall building right across the street from the Rainbow Bar and Grill and Roxy Theater.  He noticed how all of the "Hair "bands were beginning to look the same then.  The "Look" became more important than the music.                                    CAULDRON              

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                   

                

           Daisy heard another band who did okay under the Pay to Play system was CAULDRON from San Fernando.  And that's because I guess, all the members had a big "Network" of friends and family who were willing to buy the tickets.  Frida and Diego are flying bye right now.             

         All of a sudden I just thought again of that band VAN HALEN.  Someday, I'm hoping to hear some of their songs Daisy told me about.  One is about jumping, and another has to do with  the Central American country called Panama; where that really important canal is located.          

            I just noticed Andy over there guarding the burrow entrance.  He's now sniffing the air to make sure Goliath and Cher aren't somewhere around.  I can tell by how he's now acting he just picked my scent coming from way over here sitting on my comfortable couch Elvira. 

III

(Book 3 / Chapter 12)

6:30 

                                                  

                                                                     GENESIS

                 

                 One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking with Mr. Dave about GENESIS.  Back in the early 1970's their Singer Peter Gabriel played flute while using his right foot to hit a bass drum.  In fact Daisy says, he did it in one section of my my favorite song "Musical Box."

             I've mentioned before how another thing which gave early 1970's GENESIS an unusual look up on stage was how sometimes the Guitarists sat down while playing.  And their Drummer Phil Collins is also left-handed too.  Andy is now looking over here in this direction.

             Boy!  I can't wait to someday hear all of our boss's favorite GENESIS album "Nursery Cryme."  Musical Box is on it but the song I really want to hear is the one about a giant Hogweed bush.  Dais says our Chief told Mr. Dave Steve Hackett used tapping on that song too.   

                                                                           

                                                                PHIL COLLINS    

                                                               PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA   

                 

              I've mentioned before how our boss one time took pictures of GENESIS'S Drummer Phil Collins.  That was in the late 1980's and by then he had his own band.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave how he wishes he could've taken pictures of Phil Collins playing drums but, oh well.  

             I'm still thinking of that band VAN HALEN.  I wrote about how their first Singer named David Lee Roth does Martial Arts moves, like spinning back kicks; up on stage.  And it was that guy Benny Urquidez who taught him to do them in the way he used to do in his fights.

             I guess Mr. Dave knows Mr. Benny and, back in the 1980's even lived for a time in the same house as his brother "Smiley."  Like our boss, he also knew Benny's Brother in Law Blinky, and his wife Lilly too.  Fred, Ed and Ted are flying to the southeast right over Libby's Corral.

                              

          BENNY "THE JET" URQUIDEZ                  LILLY / "BLINKY" RODRIQUEZ

                

            As I've written, Benny Urquidez went to "Grant" High School and was a really famous 1980's Kick Boxer.  His sister and her husband "Blinky," who had five kids; were fighters too.  Oh!  My right nostril just picked up the scent of Blinky, Dawn and Rosie over there. 

           When Mr. Steve knew Benny and his family he sometimes went their "Jet Center" Gym near the Van Nuys Courthouse.   At times it was to take pictures but at other times it was just to visit Blinky.  Hey Lord!  I guess Mr. Blinky's Christian and allows no "Cussing" in his gym.

           Mr. Blinky was the tv "Color Commentator" for Kick Boxing "telecasts" at the Palladium in Hollywood, and hired Mr. Steve to go as a Photographer.  Daisy says one time our boss went to the Sylmar "Juvenile Hall" to take pictures of Blinky's wife Lilly.  She did an "Exhibition."   

                        

                                                                                          DAVID LEE ROTH (1984)     

                        

               Our boss told Mr. Dave about seeing VAN HALEN'S Sound Check at the Forum back in in 1984.  On that tour they did their new song called "Jump" so David Lee Roth got to jump and do all the different things Mr. Benny taught him.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.

               Daisy says one time our Chief talked with Mr. Ralph about how the Jet Center was one of the best Gyms either one of them had ever been to.  Both have been to a few L.A. Gyms over the years.  It had really good equipment compared to some of the other Gyms I guess. 

              I've written about how, in the late 1960's; Mr. Steve's father was a "City Commissioner" who worked downtown.  Mr. Steve remembers fondly the "Main Street Gym," where his father dropped him off sometimes before going in to work.  Now only Daffy is still quacking.

                                                       

                                              HOWIE STEINDLER (1904-1977)

                          

            On the days he spent at the Main Street Gym Mr. Steve's dad gave him money for lunch, and asked a man named Mr. Steindler to "please keep an eye on him;" as he watched the Boxers train.  Our boss was told never to leave the Gym, which was near that "Skid Row" area.

            I guess Howie Steindler ran the Main Street Gym, and knew right away he didn't have to worry about our Chief "Wondering Off" so to speak.  He was in his early teens, and at that time did everything his parents ordered him to do; "Without Question."  I smell some Juniper.

            The Main Street Gym was what they call an L.A. "Institution" for many years, since its beginning way back in 1924.  Wow!  So that means it's been around since before the "Roaring 20's," 1930's "Great Depression;" and World War II as well.  I feel pretty good right now. 

           

 "MAIN STREET" GYM 

     

              Many famous Boxers, like Muhammad Ali for example; have trained down there at the Main Street Gym.  But most fighters who work out there are young and working their way "Up the Ladder" as they say.  I can see three long vapor trails way up there in the high sky.

             Sadly, I guess that man Howie Steindler was killed in 1977; the same year of Mr. Steve and his brother Rock's trip back east.  That was also the year the famous U2 Pilot, Francis Gary Powers; was killed when his Helicopter crashed near the Sepulveda Dam.  Dawn's barking.     

            Some people think Howie Steindler was killed because he at times carried a lot of money.  That's what Mr. Steve's friend Ralph thinks, and so does Mr. Gary; the Boxing Historian from San Fernando too.  Mr. Steve thanked Howie Steindler in a dream one time Dais says.

      

                           ROCK Y BALBOA                                            ROCKY / "BUTKUS"

          

               Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Gary talk about that movie "Rocky."  I guess, even though the movie is "Set" in Philadelphia; some scenes were filmed at the Main Street Gym.  Mr. Ralph said the famous Boxer Roberto Duran was hired to play the part of a "Sparring Partner."

            Some think Rocky Balboa's movie "Trainer" was based on Howie Steindler's personality of Howie Steindler.  It was Daisy who heard about our Chief watching those "Quarry" brothers, "Jerry;" and his younger brother "Mike."  Both were strong, and punched really hard.

             Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how our boss, and his father; think cultures and families are "Products" of their history. Many people from Ireland, ever since that huge mid-19th century "Potato Famine;"  have had to be very tough.  A Crow is cawing.   

    

                                JERRY QUARRY (1945-1999)              MIKE QUARRY (1951-2006)

                   According to what Daisy heard our boss say when talking to Mr. Gary, Mike and Jerry Quarry were good "counter punchers."  And seeing them "close up" was "very impressive."  I guess both Quarry brothers were friendly, and even talked with Mr. Steve sometimes.

            As I mentioned yesterday in book two, Mike and Jerry Quarry, who both died; were Irish but grew up here in California.  Sadly, just like Mr. Bobby did; they ended up with brain damage from being Boxers.  All four of the Pigeons just flew bye, and are now moving to the east.

          Daisy heard Jerry Quarry was older, and bigger in size; as a "Heavyweight."  I guess Mike was a "Light Heavyweight."  Mr. Steve was told Mike was born in Bakersfield and is buried in a town near there.   Buck Owens, and that band KORN; are also from Bakersfield too.

    

FLOYD PATTERSON / JERRY QUARRY

                The caption below a picture of that guy Jerry Quarry fighting says his nickname was the "Bellflower Bomber," and from 1968 through 1971; Nat Fleischer's Ring Magazine named him "most popular" Boxer.  Mr. Steve's dad liked his courage. Bellflower is here in California.                   

            According to what Mr. Ralph thinks, Jerry Quarry was "unfortunate" in fighting at the same time as a lot of great future Hall of Fame level Heavyweights.  So, he was "Overshadowed" by guys like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.  Blackbeard and Anne landed on Moe.

           Blackbeard's tilting his head to the side so he can see me with his one good eye.  And now they're both scanning the ground below them; just hoping to see a Lizard or Snake to capture and eat. Oh!  Now they just lifted off and are flying over the top of the house going west.

JERRY QUARRY / MUHAMMAD ALI

             According to what Daisy heard, when Jerry Quarry fought Muhammad Ali he got some really bad cuts on his face.  But, he wouldn't give up and wanted to keep fighting; even when the Referee decided to "Stop the Fight."  A Train just whistled faintly over there to my left.                 

           George Foreman, who annihilated Joe Frazier and looked so unbeatable at the time; says now that back in the early 1970's he avoided or "Ducked" Jerry Quarry.  That's what Mr. Ralph read in this Magazine article one time.  Dawn and Blinky's scent just floated over here.                  

            Mr. Ralph thinks, one reason why George Foreman might've avoided Jerry Quarry is because of how he knocked out Ernie Shavers; who I guess is now considered to have been one of the hardest punchers ever in Boxing history.  Dawn's barking.  I really like Dawn!    

                                                             

                                                              ERNIE SHAVERS   

              

            Dais says one time, in the mid-1980's; Mr. Steve met Ernie Shavers at some fights down there at the Forum.  He was very friendly, and even walked around with Mr. Steve; who wanted to introduced him to some of his customers.  Our boss introduced him to Miss Helen I guess.

            In the early 1970's, when Mr. Steve was in High School; the Light Heavyweight champion was named Bob Foster.  He was from New Mexico, held the championship for years; and was one of the best Light Heavyweights in history.  He was unbeatable as a Light Heavyweight.  

            One of the fighters Bob Foster beat, and knocked out; was Mike Quarry who I guess was hard to knock out and had what they call a "Good Chin."  But Bob Foster landed one of the best "Left Hooks" ever and Mike Quarry "Went Unconscious."  It was a "Picture Perfect" punch.    

             

                                                                      BOB FOSTER

        

             Wow!  My Encyclopedia says Bob Foster "successfully defended" his Light Heavyweight championship fourteen times in a row.  Our boss and Mr. Gary talked about how, even though he was skinny; he was a powerful puncher.  The Monarch Butterfly just went bye right now.

             I guess, Bob Foster's regular "Day Job" was as a New Mexico "Deputy Sheriff" officer.  He was six foot three but only weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds.  A right-hander, he had really long arms Dais says; and our boss said his "stiff" left "jab" was pretty good.

            When he fought Mike Quarry Bob Foster landed one of the most "devastating" punches in Boxing history.  It knocked out Mike Quarry "cold" and Bob Foster was worried for a while he might've even killed Mike Quarry.  But Mike Quarry ended up being alright I guess.

        

                           BOB FOSTER / JOE FRAZIER                                   BOB FOSTER / MUHAMMAD ALI IN BACKGROUND

    

         Wow!  It says here, after he retired from Boxing; Bob Foster was elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame.  But, I guess he just couldn't  beat Heavyweights according to what Daisy heard.    Cher just went through the right vertical gate slot to go check things out in the back desert.          

        In the early 1970's, when our boss was back in High School; Bob Foster lost to both Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali too.  One picture shows him getting hit by Joe Frazier's left hook,      and in another one he's been knocked down by Muhammad Ali.  Cher's scent just came in.           

         Mr. Steve and his father admire Bob Foster because, unlike many "Entertainers;" he had another way to "Make a Living" when he retired.  Dais says our Chief admired whenever he met people in hopeful bands like that.  Mr. Dave, CAULDRON'S Singer; was one of those.                   

                                                   DRAGONFLY                                                             HORNET                                                       

            Aha!  I knew I was hearing something coming from my left and it turns out to be that big Dragonfly which has been hanging around here for the last three days.  Daisy's been seeing it too up there in the front yard.  The Dragonfly is now flying over Libby's Corral over there.

            Seeing the Dragonfly makes me suddenly think of that other Bug called a "Hornet." I've never seen one but Daisy has and says they sting like Bees.  She and Millie heard Miss Susan tell our boss they're related to these other flying Insects called "Wasps" and "Yellowjackets.

           A while back Dais and Millie saw this tv show about Hornets and things like that.  It said Hornets make their nests out of chewed up wood.  Another time, they watched a Huell Howser episode about one of those "Aircraft Carriers" I've written about; called the "Hornet."    

    

                              USS "HORNET CV-12                                               HUELL HOWSER

                 Daisy told me how the USS Hornet is now a museum docked up there in the San Francisco Bay.  It says here it was built during World War II and saw a lot of combat in the last part of the war in the Pacific Ocean against Imperial Japan.  Two of the Pigeons just now flew bye.

            In one of those "Bird's Eye" view photographs I see how the Aircraft Carrier Hornet has a "Diagonal" Landing Strip."  Mr. Dave in New Mexico, who I've mentioned before served on a Navy Aircraft Carrier; knew that the Hornet was also used in the 1950's Korean War.

           Mr. Dave also said the Hornet was used in the Vietnam War  too.  My Encyclopedia says it was an "Essex-Class" vessel with the nickname of "Grey Ghost."  Oh!  I guess, in 1969; it was the Hornet that picked up the "Apollo 11" Astronauts when they got back from the Moon.

  

                                                                                 BATTLE OF "SHILOH"  (1862)    

                                                 PAINTING BY RICK REEVES                                                                                                                PAINTING BY THURE DE THULSTRUP

                                             

             Over the last three days I've written about the American Civil War.  And one of the battles I've mentioned a few times took place at that place called "Shiloh." General Grant's Union men, in a bloody two day battle; beat Rebel troops under that guy Albert Sydney Johnston.                 

               At the Battle of Shiloh, one of the areas where the most vicious fighting took place was in what the Soldier's later called the "Hornet's Nest."  And, I guess that was mainly because of the way the bullets sounded as they were zinging all around.   Oh!  That would be so scary!

           Daisy says there's a Basketball team called the Charlotte "Hornets."  Mr. Steve one time faxed a copy of the line drawing he did years ago to one of his customers in North Carolina.  His kids made copies of the original and colored them, and also the other ones sent later too.    

                                                                                                    

      KOBE BRYANT / MICHAEL JORDAN                "MUGGSY" BOGUES (CHARLOTTE "HORNETS")

                                       

              Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Grant how, for a few years Harriet's father bought Season seats for the Clippers; when they played down at the "Sports Arena."  Mr. Steve and Harriet one time saw the Charlotte Hornets play.  I guess that guy Michael Jordan now owns them. 

            In that game the Hornets had a five foot three inch tall Player named "Mugsy" Bogues. Just like Doug Flutie in Football, he was a short but great Basketball Player.  One of Mr. Steve's customers in Baltimore told him Mugsy Bogues was a really good Baseball Player too. 

            During pre-game warmups Mr. Steve kiddingly told Harriet Mugsy Bogues was a "Ball Boy" who the Hornets had felt sorry for and gave him a job.  She thought that was nice of them to do, but laughed when he "Started the Game."  Ah!  The evening air is so clear right now.  

                             

       HIGH DESERT SUNSET       

     

                  I really do have to keep working hard because it's starting to get darker and darker but, just like the the last two days; I won't waste any time.  But today I'm doing it thinking how in the morning there won't be Heathcliff.  I know for sure Dais is up there thinking the same things.

             One time our boss was talking with Mr. Frank, who knows so much about the history of Cars and things like that; about vehicles which have used the name "Hornet."  Daisy thinks it's a good name for a Car because real Hornets can sting.  You're such a loyal couch Elvira.

            Mr. Frank told our boss he read in Hemmings Magazine the name Hornet was first used for a Car way back in1905, right at the beginning of Automobiles.   Dais says one of Mr. Steve's    Dodge customers told him there might be "Hornet vehicles" again.  Andy's looking at me.             
   

1953 HUDSON "HORNET" 

                 I guess Mr. Frank read how, in the 1930's during the Great Depression; the British made a Car using the name Hornet.   And after World War II this company called "Hudson" built a Hornet too.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Frank has rebuilt or restored 1950's Cars.

             Daisy heard Mr. Frank use the terms "step down design" and "dropped floor plan" to describe those big 1950's Hudson Cars.  Mr. Steve told him one of his customers said Hudson's "low center of gravity" made them good for racing.  A small flock of Birds is going bye.

             Mr. Frank said the Hudson company "later became" that "A.M.C." organization I've written about before.  Ah!  The evening Spring air is so clear again today so thank Everyone if You're all giving us a gift of grace.  Seeing the baby Cholla cactus makes me feel good.

"HUMBER HORNET MALKARA"

                     According to what Daisy heard Mr. Frank say, from 1958 through 1961 the British made a "mobile missile launcher" called Hornet.   He said the Hemmings article called it a "pioneer" but in those days missiles were attached to wires.  Now they don't need wires anymore I guess.

             Our boss and Mr. Phillip talked one time about that Hornet missile launcher.  Because the wires were only abut a mile long the range was small but, "within that zone;" any tank or thing like that was "in danger" Mr. Frank said.  A Lizard ran bye out there in the dirt.

             Dais says our boss and Mr. Phillip talked about the Hemmings article, and how it said in the 1960's the same company that had made a Hornet before World War II; "resurrected" the name.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flew over the desert behind the Sheds.

                            

                                              1970'S "ECONONICAL" VEHICLES                                                 

                                        (L TO R / CHEVY "VEGA" / A,M.C. "GREMLIN" / FORD "PINTO")                                                                                                                                                                                 PHOTO BY JULIA LAPALME                                                                                                                                                                         

 

             Our boss and Mr. Frank talked about that "American Motors Corporation," or just "A.M.C." for short.    In book one on Thursday I wrote about a few of the bad 1970's Cars, like the A.M.C. "Gremlin" for example.  A Train whistled faintly way out there in the desert.

            As I've said before, because of the gas shortages of the 1970's American Car companies made Cars that got good mileage.  The Gremlin was one of them, and so was the Ford "Pinto" and Chevrolet "Vega;" all bad vehicles I guess.  I smell Charlie Company out in the field.

           Two Motorcycles just went zooming bye on Primavera Road and are now going toward the north.   It's getting darker but I can still see the dust they left behind floating above the desert out there behind the Sheds.  Dawn's barking, and I smell her, Blinky and Rosie over there.

               

                           1973 A.M.C. "HORNET                           "MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN"

              

               Mr. Frank and our boss talked about the A.M.C. "Hornet," which I guess was made in the 1970's.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve say a friend of his named "Martin" had a 1973 Hornet right after High School.  An A.M.C. Hornet was used in a stunt in one of the James Bond movies.   

            Like our Chief's dad bought Mr. Rick's 1968 Chevelle for him, when he was in 12th Grade at Sylmar High; Marin's dad bought him a 1973 Hornet.  I guess, Mr. Frank joked A.M.C. had "nice looking bodies" on their 1970's Cars; it was the "guts" that "were bad."  I smell Sage.

            Daisy heard our boss's Dodge customer tell him those 1970's Hornet's were in some ways "experimental."  He said they were "platforms" to try out new "alternative" ideas, such as in using different types of fuel for example.  A flock of Birds are moving toward the northeast.    

    

2006 DODGE "MINI HORNET"

(PROTOTYPE / NEVER MARKETED)

   

               According to what that one Dodge Parts Manager told Mr. Steve, a few years ago Dodge was going to "bring back" the name "Hornet" for "use on one of their vehicles."  But, then the economic recession we're in happened; so it was totally cancelled.  Boy! Sage smells so good.

            I guess, from what Dais heard that Dodge Parts Manager tell our boss that time; the new Hornet was scheduled to have been one of those "Compact" Cars I've mentioned a few times over the last three day.   In fact, it was even called a "Mini Hornet."   Daffy's quacking.

           Daisy's told me a few times how sometimes, even though you're small in size; you can still do big things.  She told me about that tv show she and Millie watched with our boss about that Chinese girl named Ng Mui.  In this Encyclopedia I notice how her other name is Wú Méi.       

                                  

 NG MUI / WÚ MÉI (DATES UNKNOWN)       

            

             The caption below a picture of Ng Mui says she lived in the late 17th and early 1700's.   According to Dais, and this Encyclopedia too; she might've been a Buddhist Nun.  Daisy told me she heard our boss tell Miss Babette over the years he's bought and sold Chinese blades.

             I was supposed to write about Ng Mui yesterday but it was one of the things I missed on the outline.  Many things are not known about that girl Ng Mui, not even the exact years when she was born or died.  Cher jogged bye holding a dead Lizard firmly in her mouth.

            It sounds like Ng Mui had a hard life, because her parents may've been killed when she was young; and then later the "Shaolin" Temple where she lived was destroyed.  Daisy says one story is about how her father may've been a General.  I smell Cher and her Lizard.

   

FRONT YARD 

                    It says here Ng Mui was a Nun, but also a "warrior" who is now "associated" with the Martial Arts.  The tv show called her "Five Plum" or a five petal flower.  I just thought of the two statues up in the front yard.  One is that Warrior Monk, the other the seated Buddha.

              I guess, probably because she was one of those Orphans; Ng Mui became a Nun.  Daisy says besides praying a lot, she also learned about "hand to hand" combat; when a small person is fighting a bigger person.  I wonder what Dais is doing up there in the front yard right now.       

                  I guess, that girl Ng Mui is now associated not only with the Shaolin fighting style; she influenced "Wing Chun" and "Wudang" too.  Wow!  She was the "founder" of the "Wûméi Pài Martial Arts form.  Mr. Steve and his brothers learned that "Tang Soo Do" system as kids.

   

                      "GREEN HORNET"                BRUCE LEE (1940-1973)              "GAME OF DEATH"                                  

       Wow!  I just love the masks Bruce Lee and his boss the "Green Hornet" are wearing in a good color picture of them.  The caption says it shows them in their 1960's tv show, about their      fight against crime.  I'd definitely wear a mask like that, especially if it was in royal blue.              

      Another photo shows Bruce Lee standing next to that Basketball Player Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar.   It's a scene from a 1978 movie they were in.  A painting shows Bruce Lee holding those  "Nunchuku," or "Nunchucks."  Daisy told me our boss has Nunchucks next to his drums.            

        One of Mr. Steve's customers up in Washington said he and his wife and kids saw that guy Bruce Lee's Seattle gravesite.  They were there for a relatives when someone pointed out Bruce    Lee's grave.  Some of the Ducks are quacking but, as usual; Daffy's voice is a lot louder.                                                                JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE                             

           Mr. Dave told our boss one of his Motorcycle Shop customers up there in Washington told him he and his kids saw Jimi Hendrix's grave.  He grew up in Washington but, as I've written      before; became famous over there in England.  Hearing the Ducks is making me feel good.            

        I just thought about Jimi Hendrix's three piece band called the EXPERIENCE, and how their Drummer named Mitch Mitchell was born on July the 9th just like Mr. Steve.   A Wren flew in and landed on one of the big boulders around the bottom of the Mulberry tree over there. 

      Daisy says our boss thinks Bruce Lee was probably influenced by that girl Ng Mui in his Martial Arts style.  Someday, Daisy and I really want to see that tv show he was in the  "Green Hornet."  The strong scent of the Twin Joshua's just came floating in from the desert.                     

 "BUCKETHEAD"                                                          MR. RICH       

                                                                                                                      

        Oh!  Mentioning those nunchucks Bruce Lee used makes me think about this Guitarist called "Buckethead," who Mr. Rich thinks is "very talented."  As one of those "Gimmicks" he      wears a bucket on his head like a hat, and covers his face with a mask I guess.  I smell Sage.          

          Dais heard Mr. Dave and our boss talk about how, as "part of his act;" Buckethead uses nunchucks.  After the original GUNS N' ROSES broke up, he was in the band for a while Daisy    heard.  LED ZEPPELIN'S Jimmy Page and Kirk Hammett of METALLICA think he's good.      

           I guess Buckethead's "Headgear" is from that restaurant "Kentucky Fried Chicken," or just "KFC" for short.   Mr. Rich knows about Buckethead, who I guess is really tall; so people    joke he should play Basketball in the N.B.A.  But Mr. Steve says just being tall is not enough.           

            "BOOTSY COLLINS                                                  MR. MARK                   

PHOTO BY JEFF HAHNE                                                                            

                     

          One time our boss and Mr. Mark were talking about that guy Buckethead, and how he's a good friend of "Bootsy" Collins; one of Mr. Mark's favorite Bassists.  Hey God!  I guess Bootsy    Collins really believes in You and even calls You "The One."   Cleo and Leo are flying bye.            

       Mr. Mark has talked to Bootsy Collins, and says he's friendly; describing him as being a "funky" Bassist.   He was in James Brown's band, then PARLIAMENT FUNKKADELIC; who I wrote about.  That Bassist Flea from RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS admires his playing.                 

          Daisy says our boss told Mr. Mark he met a lady from "Claremont," where Huell Howser saw that "Folk Music Center" I wrote about in chapter eleven.   She said Buckethead grew up in Claremont but was from "Huntington Beach."  Mr. Steve has been to Huntington Beach.                            

      LATE AFTERNOON OVER THE HIGH DESERT

                    

          Mr. Dave told our boss Buckethead, who I guess likes Horror movies; has a song on this game called "Guitar Hero."  Daisy thinks I would probably like how at times during his concerts Buckethead moves like a robot just like DEVO used to do.  Blackbeard and Anne flew bye.           

           Dais says "virtuoso" is the word Mr. Rich used to describe Buckethead's guitar playing.  He played on albums by Iggy Pop, and SYSTEM OF A DOWN'S Singer Serj Tankian.  I just now picked up the really strong scent of Charlie Company coming from out there in the desert.            

          The sunlight in getting dimmer and dimmer, you can barely see the shadows; all are now leaning away from me over here on Elvira.  Two Motorcycles went bye going north out there in    the desert and I heard them coming from far away.  The sound is fading fast right now.                 

  

 FATHER DAMIEN                 DOROTHY DAY                MOTHER TERESA  

                                       (1840-1889)                                            (1897-1980)                                              (1910-1997)                                                                                     

"MOSAIC" BY TYLER ORSBURN                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

           I guess that lady from Claremont, who's Catholic like us; told our boss her family knew Buckethead's father.  She said "for years" he was "Athletic Director" for "Damien" Catholic      High School in the city of "LaVerne."  Our boss said he's been to that city "a few times."          

         One time Dais heard our boss and his mom talking about Father Damien, who that High School is named after.  This Encyclopedia says he was from "Belgium," but was sent to work out in Hawaii.  Daisy thinks Father Damien sounds kind of like that one lady Mother Teresa.              

          In the 19th century Father Damien worked among those "Lepers" I've written about, just like Mother Teresa helped India's poor.  Hey Lord!  That Catholic lady Dorothy Day, who Mr.      Steve's father admires; since the 1930's Great Depression helped Your "Least of These" too.                                                                            "HAWAII"                                   

PHOTO BY MARK WOOD                                                                                                                                                        

                    

           Father Damien, who died of Leprosy; worked with Lepors on the island of "Molokai," the "fifth largest" island in the Hawaiian chain.  I guess Mr. Mark has had articles in his Newspaper "The Big Island Reporter" about Molokai.  The big Dragonfly just zoomed bye right now.            

       Below the map of Hawaii the caption says Molokai was formed from two volcanoes, and about 1.5 million years ago the north side fell into the Pacific Ocean in a giant landslide.  Daisy    heard Mr. Mark says Molokai is not as "touristy" as other islands.  I can smell Mesquite.             

        Daisy heard Mr. Mark tell our boss on Molokai they do "Cattle ranching," and also grow "pineapples and sugar cane."  It says here how "Moloka' i  'Aina Momona" means the "Land of  Plenty" in Hawaiian, and they pray to the Goddess "Hina" on Molokai.   Daffy's quacking.                      

      "KUNG FU"

      (MID-1970'S)

       

                 Dais told me about a tv show about a 19th century Shaolin Monk who walks around the American West.  He plays flute; and always tried to be peaceful; even when others tried to fight him.  But, he knows how to fight and can even redirect or deflect spears thrown at him.    

             According to Daisy, in the tv show the Chinese man sometimes meets mean people who want to fight.  What the mean people don't know is that he's like that girl Ng Mui in being able to use leverage and quickness to overcome greater physical strength.  Dawn's now barking.

            One time Dais jokingly called me "Little Grasshopper," because on the tv show when the Monk was a kid in China and being trained; that's what the older Monks called him.  Mr. Steve took pictures of the Actor who played Little Grasshopper's brother at a Boxing match I guess.   

 

LATE AFTERNOON HIGH DESERT

     

          The Sun is going down to the west, or behind me sitting here on Elvira; so I have to write fast in order to get to everything on this book three outline.  I know from when Daisy and I put    together my outlines I still have more to write about music and Boxing too.  I smell Sage.               

         One time Dais heard our Chief and Mr. Rich talking about living down there in Sylmar.   Mr. Steve told him, back in the mid-1980's after he left VAN HALEN; that one Singer David Lee Roth started his own band.  Oh!  Heathcliff's Hens are clucking, and sound happy again.              

      Daisy says our boss told Mr. Rich David Lee Roth used to ride one of those "Chopper" Motorcycles I've written about.   He also told him how it was Mr. Benny who taught him all of      those martial art stage moves he used to do.   The four Pigeons flew over Libby's Corral.                                           

   DAVID LEE ROTH       

                                                                                                                                                                                PHOTO BY TAYLOR PLAYER            

           

                 I've written before how David Lee Roth grew up in "Pasadena," which is to the south of Sylmar.   Daisy says he can jump really high and do good spinning back kicks.  Two Motorcycles just zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road, which left behind a slowly rising cloud of dust.  

            Our boss told Mr. Rich some people in Sylmar, in the mid-1980's; saw David Lee Roth at the Liquor Store near where he, Steph and Cristina live.  He was sitting on his Motorcycle eating a hot dog.  And he was very friendly too, unlike his reputation for being kind of arrogant.

           Daisy heard David Lee Roth was "fired" from VAN HALEN, but the two brothers say he "quit."  Mr. Phillip uses the words "axed," "canned" or "sacked."  Mr. Steve thinks "everyone seems to have been bickering a lot," so VAN HALEN may've been "better off" anyway.   

                  

    DAVID LEE ROTH / STEVE VAI

         PHOTO BY NEIL ZLOZOWER

             

              I guess, the reason why people saw David Lee Roth in Sylmar was because the Guitarist in his new band, Steve Vai; lived in Sylmar.   So, being from Pasadena; David Lee Roth probably rode his Motorcycle north on the #210 Freeway over to Sylmar.  Frida and Diego flew bye.

             Hey God!  Daisy and Millie saw that tv show about Steve Vai, and noticed he did a good song about You.  Mr. Mark did his own version of "For the Love of God" too according to what Daisy heard that time.  Some Crows are fighting over something out there behind the Sheds.      

            Mr. Rich knows about Steve Vai who I guess, like himself; was originally from back east.  Steve Vai went to a school where he learned to read and write music.  Mr. Steve saw the band he was in with David Lee Roth play a concert at the Forum one time.   I smell Andy over there.

   

              STEVE APPLEFORD                          1978 "EL DORADO"                         STEVE APPLEFORD'S BOOK

    

              Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave one time about seeing, in 1988; David Lee Roth's band play at the Forum.  He went with that guy Steve Appleford, who wrote the good book about the ROLLING STONES.  Ah!  I love breathing in fresh air through my nose.  Thank You God!

          Our Chief drove to the David Lee Roth concert, and Steve Appleford is tall, so it was good in those days he was driving his "floating Boat" he jokes.  That was the huge "El Dorado" his dad "Handed Down" to him.  Mr. Dave laughed in talking about the price of gas in 2014.

          In 1988 I guess Steve Appleford, working for the "L.A. Times;" was sent to review David Lee Roth's concert.  Dais heard our Chief tell Mr. Dave he was impressed when Steve Appleford called in and "Dictated" the review from a phonebooth at the Forum.  Dawn's barking.

                                                                                               MR. EDDIE                                                     RICK ALLEN                                                           

           Over the last three days I've written about Mr. Eddie, who was born without arms; but still has the courage to try to make money over there in Phelan by playing drums and singing.  I  would really like to meet Mr. Eddie and know for sure so would Dais too.  Daffy's quacking.         

           Daisy told me our boss and Mr. Phillip one time talked about how he spells his last name "Allin," while DEF LEPPARD'S one-armed Drummer spells his name with an "e."  That's sort    of like how you can spell our last name either Córdova or Córdoba.  I like Daffy's voice.                

         That time when Mr. Steve got to see DEF LEPPARD down at the L.A. Sports Arena was another one of Steve Appleford's L.A. Times review assignments.  Mr. Steve has discussed that      concert with Mr. Eddie a few times.  And Mr. Steve told him he admires he and Rick Allen.                    

                                                            FRANK ZAPPA (1940-1993)                                                                                      

         The other day our boss talked with Mr. Mark about Mr. Mark's son for a time going to High School over there in the Antelope Valley.  Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart did too back in the 1960's.  Littlerock, where our Chief's brother Sam's family lives; is also in that area.            

          Mr. Steve thinks Steve Vai was smart to learn to read and write music, because when he was eighteen he moved out here to California to work for Frank Zappa as a "Transcriptionist."  Then, a few years later I guess; he got to play guitar in his band.  The Dragonfly whizzed bye.      

         One time Daisy heard our Chief talking on the phone with Mr. Rich, and they discussed Steve Vai living in Sylmar.  Daisy says our boss told Mr. Rich he's pretty sure, maybe in 1989; he  saw Steve Vai's business on a list of "Members"  for that "Pace" company.  Dawn's barking.        

       

STEVE VAI    

     

             Mr. Steve did one of his frames for a guy, who it turned out grew up in Sylmar; and had as a kid worked at this drive through Dairy Mr. Steve's family always went to.  That guy's family lived near Steve Vai's house.  He mentioned Steve Vai had a "unique three-necked" guitar.

             Daisy says that man told our boss Steve Vai and his wife, who he met at the music school where he learned to read and write music; had two sons.  Daisy heard for a time Steve Vai's wife played bass guitar in that girl band VIXEN, who I wrote about in book one.  I smell Blinky.   

            That guy from Sylmar, who's sisters worked at a restaurant named "Tlu Tlu's; said Steve Vai and his family are all really friendly and nice.  It's slowly getting darker as the Sun gradually goes down over the western horizon behind me on the other side of the house.  I like Blinky.   

   

HONEY BEE

              The guy from Sylmar also told our boss Steve Vai's family moved over to "Encino," near where Mr. Steve's father used to have his school for Stockbrokers.  And one of the things he does now raise Bees.  Daisy says a while back our Chief sold things to a man who raised Bees. 

              Mr. Steve thinks David Lee Roth was good in that concert at the Forum, but the songs weren't as good as VAN HALEN'S songs.  But, you could tell Steve Vai is a great Guitarist in his "Technique."  Daisy noticed how he uses those "Whammy Bars" I've mentioned before.

             Dais one time heard Mr. Rich tell our boss about Steve Vai's "Ibanez" guitars.  One was called "Jem," and it has twenty four frets instead of twenty two.  On the body a cut out handle allows Steve Vai to swing it around while still playing.  Mr. Rich called it a "monkey grip."    

                       

                                                                                                                        IBANEZ "JEM" GUITAR                                                                                                                                       PHOTO BY C. FLANAGAN  

               

           Mr. Mark has a Steve Vai Jem guitar.  Dais told me when Steve Vai swings it around he kind of looks like one of those windmills.   And, in some songs at the David Lee Roth concert; he  "Tapped" like Eddie Van Halen.  I just noticed the new Hawk fly bye with a dead Lizard.             

              I guess, from what Daisy heard; Ibanez is a Japanese company.  They began way back in the year 1908, or six years before World War I first started.  The only companies who sell more     guitars than Ibanez are Gibson and Fender, companies I've written about in my books.                 

           Dais says our Chief and Mr. Rich talked about Ibanez being the first company to "mass produce" seven and eight string guitars.  And the seven string version, the "Universe;" was also  designed by Steve Vai too in 1988.  It's "low end tones" were later used in KORN'S songs.                      

             "WEST SIDE STORY (1961)                                            JIMMY PAGE                              

          On the tv show Steve Vai said he was "influenced" by the music in that movie "West Side Story," and later by Jimmy Page's guitar on LED ZEPPELIN'S song "Heartbreaker."  The man on the tv show described Steve Vai's guitar playing as being "highly individualistic" I guess.         

        Mr. Mark read Ibanez began making electric musical instruments in 1957, the  same year Mr. Steve's brother Rock was born.  As I mentioned earlier this afternoon, when I wrote about    the Folk Music Center; a "Luthier" "works on stringed instruments."  Daffy's quacking.             

       In 1908 the Ibanez company was named after a Spanish Luthier named Salvador Ibáñez.  Dais says that guy from Sylmar told our Chief how Steve Vai's family lived on a Cul-de Sac like    Hagar Street.  The scent of Theodora's Creosote bush floated into to me here on the Patio.                   

"CREATION"

    (THE "SPARK OF LIFE")

                   

            Hey God!  As You know, someday I really want to hear Steve Vai's song "For the Love of God," which Dais says he played one time with a full orchestra.  She and Millie thought he made his guitar "talk," the way I guess Stevie Ray Vaughn used to do.  Mr. Mark called it "art."           

          I guess For the Love of God is one of those "Instrumentals," without any singing.  Steve Vai uses one of those "Universe" guitars in it, and as You know Lord; Daisy told me it's a really    good alright so that's why I want to hear it.  The Twins scent just came floating in to me.               

           Based on the tv show Daisy saw it seems like Steve Vai is influenced by, or at least aware of; that one "Urantia" book I've mentioned a few times over the last three days.   I guess, he even named a song for a term from that book.  Boy!  Smelling the Twins is making me feel good.           

             

"THE URANTIA BOOK"

   

         Hey God!  As You know, Dais heard our boss and Mr. Mark talking about The Urantia Book one time.  I guess, kind of like a "Father Figure;" the Author's talk about You as being the  "Creator and Upholder" of all reality.  And that means both "spiritually" and "physically."         

            Dais heard our boss and Mr. Mark discuss Mr. Mark's version of Steve Vai's song For the Love of God.  Mr. Mark read Steve Vai used an Ibanez "Universe" guitar on that song, and later gave it to that guy Prince; who I've mentioned Mr. Mark admires.  I can smell some Roses.           

          Mr. Steve told his dad, who knows about The Urantia Book but has not read it; he thinks many people like it because it combines science with Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Shinto and Confucian concepts.  Ah!  Now I also smell the new Spring Oleander flowers too.                             

"THE HEALED SOUL"

   

          Our boss told Mr. Mark he's done line drawings for people of logos having to do with the subject of "Healing."  One was an older lady who explained to him how "triangles and circles"    symbolize "unity, wholeness and illumination."  Boy !  I feel so glad to be alive right now!             

        Daisy heard our Chief tell Mr. Mark that lady knew the Urantia emblem is three circles representing "infinity, eternity, and universality."  She was also aware The Urantia Book deals    with man's "origin, place in the universe; and meaning of life."  A Train whistled faintly.               

           The lady said in some cultures an emblem of three circles represents "mind, body spirit."  I guess, she was originally from up there in San Francisco, and liked Jazz music; so knew about    that band SPIRIT.  She saw SPIRIT'S baldheaded Drummer play even before SPIRIT.                         

                    SPIRIT                                                   JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

(RANDY CALIFORNIA FAR LEFT)                                                                                                                

    

          I've mentioned that band SPIRIT in my books.  Dais heard Mr. Mark say their Guitarist Randy California played in Jimi Hendrix's band when he was only fifteen, before Jimi Hendrix    went to England and got famous.   His Stepfather, Ed Cassidy; was SPIRIT'S Drummer.               

         Our Chief told Mr. Mark how, as a kid in the 1960's when everyone had long hair; he and his friends noticed Ed Cassidy's shaved head.   He was also twenty years older than the rest of      SPIRIT.  Daisy heard SPIRIT did a song called "Urantia," and another one titled "1984."            

        Daisy heard Randy "California" was a nickname given to him by Jimi Hendrix, because there was another guy in the band named Randy too; who became Randy "Texas."  Hey!  They    could have been Randy 1 and Randy 2 like DEVO's Bob 1 and Bob 2, or our two Bella's.               

                                       

RANDY CALIFORNIA   /   JIMI HENDRIX    

       (1951-1997)                                   (1942-1970)      

   

        Mr. Mark read Randy California, when he was fifteen; first met Jimi Hendrix in a New York City Guitar Shop; and they became friends I guess.  From what Dais heard, Jimi Hendrix    liked teaching things to a receptive audience the way Randy Rhoades did.  I smell Mesquite.        

         Daisy says Mr. Mark and our boss talked about how Randy California died at the young age of forty five.  He was in Hawaii, and went swimming at the beach; when one of those strong    "Rip Tides" suddenly came in.  He saved his twelve year old son but was drowned himself.           

           It's getting darker and darker, and I can see from my book three outline I still have more to write about that guy Steve Vai; and also other things having to do with music too.   Mr. Mark    said Randy California's body was "never found."  Oh!  I'll bet it was eaten by some Sharks.                   

        MISS EMILY                        "LONG ISLAND"             STEVE VAI / PIA MAIOO

  

        I guess Steve Vai, from an Italian immigrant family like Mr. Rick's; was probably raised  Roman Catholic.  Like Miss Emily, he grew up on New York City's "Long Island;" from what      Dais heard Mr. Rich tell our boss.  I can smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies asleep up there.              

           According to what that tv show said, dreams have influenced some of Steve Vai's songs.  I know for sure, if I were ever to try to write music; my dreams would most likely have a part to      do with it.  A Train just whistled really faintly way out there in the desert to the northeast.            

          Mr. Dave read, when he was only five years old; Steve Vai had one of those "Epiphanies" I've written about.  He tapped a piano key, then the one to its left which made a lower sound; and the one to its right which was higher in tone.   I'll bet it was one of those "Aha" moments."           

                                                   KORN                                                                      LIMP BISKIT       

          

         Mr. Rich told our boss, in the late 1990's; that seven string Ibanez "Jem" guitar Steve Vai designed was used by KORN'S Guitarist.  And Daisy heard, it was also played on songs by this    other "Nu Metal" band called LIMP BISKIT.  KORN are from over there in "Bakersfield."         

         Dais heard our boss and Mr. Mark talking about that Jem guitar's "cutaway" handle on the upper body.  I mentioned earlier how Mr. Steve noticed, in seeing him play; Steve Vai at times swings it all around.  Rudy ran bye in front of the Sheds, carrying a dead Lizard in his mouth.       

      I guess, from what Mr. Rich told our Chief; Steve Vai replaced that Swedish guy Yngwie Malmsteen as the Guitarist for a band called ALCATRAZ.  And he was also in WHITESNAKE.   He played on some PUBLIC IMAGE LTD., ALICE COOPER and MOTÖRHEAD albums.                          

SAN FRANCISCO 

("ALCATRAZ"  ISLAND)

           Yesterday I wrote about that island out in the San Francisco Bay called "Alcatraz," which was used as a prison for all those years.  It's where Al Capone was sent to for a while, and where  those American Indians held their demonstrations in the 1970's.  A Train whistled faintly.             

        According to what Daisy heard Mr. Rich and our boss discuss, Steve Vai had a recording studio right at his own house down there in Sylmar.  Hearing the Train right now makes me feel  good because it seems familiar.  Mr. Steve is so lucky because he's ridden in some Trains.               

         Mr. Dave read Steve Vai, who's Italian-American; tells people how, as a kid growing up in "Staten Island" in N.Y.C; he was influenced by the music in that play and movie called "West      Side Story."  I can smell that new baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.                     

  

       DEEP PURPLE                                               RITCHIE BLACKMORE

                                                                                                                

           Mr. Dave read Steve Vai as a kid was heavily influenced by the guitar playing of that guy Ritchie Blackmore.  Like a lot of people, he was impressed by Ritchie Blackmore's very melodic  rhythm playing; and precise leads.  Smelling the baby Cholla cactus is making me feel good.        

          Daisy heard Mr. Rich one time talking about how DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW didn't need two Guitarists because of Ritchie Blackmore.  He mentioned his "measured" and "precise" playing, and called both bands "proto-metal.  Boy!  I sure do wish I could hear Heathcliff.            

       BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN are the "pioneers" of Heavy Metal Mr. Dave thinks.  Mr. Steve would add BLUE CHEER and STEPPENWOLF to that list.  Dais told me how there's a dirt road near us called "Pionero," or "Pioneer" in English.                                                    

    RITCHIE BLACKMORE  

                                                                                                                                ARTWORK BY PAUL KING                     

 

         One time Daisy heard our boss tell his Niece Samantha's boyfriend Mr. Rick he wishes he had seen Ritchie Blackmore play back in the 1970's with DEEP PURPLE.   Daisy told me he has  this "Pilgrim's" hat with a buckle on it I would really like.  Wow!  That does sound good.              

         I've mentioned before how DEEP PURPLE'S name is from this song Ritchie Blackmore's Grandma played on the piano.  Mr. Rich talked about the "daylight between notes" in Ritchie      Blackmore's "phrasing.'   All four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral, moving east.                  

         Steve Vai, associated with Ibanez; said his first "real" guitar was a Fender "Stratocaster" like the one Ritchie Blackmore used.  Mr. Dave read Ritchie Blackmore joked about how he likes  ABBA'S songs.  Boy!  I can't wait to someday hear some of those good ABBA songs too.                                     

GENESIS (EARLY 1970'S)

     Our boss told Mr. Dave of a tv show he once saw that said it was in 1986 when the Ibanez company changed the "Pronunciation" of its name.  Until then the Spanish pronunciation was      used I guess.  GENESIS' two main Guitarists both "Endorse" Ibanez guitars Dais heard.              

       Daisy also heard Mr. Dave talk about how the Ibanez company don't just make "stringed" musical instruments. They also build "Effects," "Accessories" and "Amplifiers" too he said.  Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet saw Adrian Belew use Ibanez guitars when they saw him play that time.  

      Now I'll write about this other company that makes guitars.  They're called "Guild" and I forgot to write about them yesterday.   Dais saw a tv show about Guild and heard our boss talk with Mr. Rich about it.  Guild began in 1952, three years before Mr. Steve was even born.             

            

                                         1950'S  ("GUILD")                  GEORGE BENSON              1980'S ("IBANEZ")   

    

           That guy George Benson, who I've written about before; also plays Ibanez guitars Daisy heard.  And in the 1950's and 1960's he used to play Guild guitars too.   I've mentioned how Mr.  Steve and Sandy saw George Benson play a concert at that place called the "Greek Theater."       

         The tv show said the Guild company began in the "Manhattan" area of New York City, near New Jersey where Mr. Rich grew up.  Since then it's moved a few times to places like New    Jersey or that other city called "Philadelphia."  In 1995 "Fender" bought the company.                

          Mr. Dave said one of his old Motorcycle Shop customers told him Guild is located here in Southern California now.  He also heard that the Guilt brand may be bought by that "Córdoba" company I wrote about yesterday in my second book.  I can smell the Twin Joshua trees.                 

PETER, PAUL AND MARY

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

        I've written about Miss Emily's job raising money to "Refurbish" the "Statue of Liberty.  It was her who got our boss that photography job taking pictures of PETER, PAUL AND MARY at the "Universal Ampitheatre."  Finley and Fanny just flew bye and seem to be so happy.                

        Dais says Mr. Dave's Motorcycle Shop customer also told him how, in New York City's early 1960's "Folk" music "Revival" scene; many of the Musicians played acoustic Guild guitars.  It    was then those guys PETER, PAUL AND MARY first came up I guess.  Dawn's barking.               

    Hey!  I wonder if Bob Dylan, when he went to live in New York City from his hometown of "Hibbing" Minnesota; played Guild acoustic guitars?  Mr. Dave said how Guild began making    electric guitars in the 1960's.  I can smell little Blinky and Rosie standing right next to Dawn.             

ERIC CLAPTON                         JOE WALSH                           BRIAN MAY        

       

          Those guys Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh and Brian May are mainly known for playing electric guitars.  But Mr. Dave's customer told him they use Guild acoustic guitars.   And, so does Tom      Petty too I guess.  Cher just used the right vertical gate slot to go out into the back desert.            

        Dais says Guild even began making electric bass guitars, and the guy in the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE used them.  Jerry Garcia played some Guild electric guitars when our boss saw that  one GRATEFUL DEAD concert back in the late 1970's.  Andy's over there looking at me.              

        Mr. Dave's customer said, back in 1972; Guild were the first to make acoustic guitars in a "Cutaway" design.  Mr. Rich says that makes it "easier to reach the higher frets," at the bottom of the neck.   Now almost every guitar making company has copied that good idea I guess.                                                 

BATTLE SHIP "BISMARCK"    

     

         It says here "Dreadnaught" is the "body style" most "associated" with acoustic guitars.  It was first first used in 1916 by an American company called "C.F. Martin."  But sales were bad so it was "retired," ironic because it's the shape now most commonly used.  Daffy's quacking.           

        This is sort of interesting how the name Dreadnought comes from that big type of Battleship "introduced" in 1906.  The giant Nazi Ship "Bismarck," which I've written about; was an even      larger form of a Battleship than that.   I wonder if the first Dreadnaught guitars were big?         

      I just thought of that DEF LEPPARD concert at the L.A. "Sports Arena."  Our boss got to see it because he drove Steve Appleford to it, so he could write his review for the "L.A Times" Newspaper.   Boy!  It's so amazing how DEF LEPPARD'S Drummer plays with only one arm.        

                                         RICK ALLEN                                              EDDIE SPAGHETTI

                 Over the last three days I've mentioned Mr. Eddie who was born with no arms but still plays drums and sings along to pre-recorded music with the vocals deleted.  Mr. Steve really does admire him a lot and always gives him money.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye.

            Dais says our boss has told Mr. Eddie about that DEF LEPPARD concert, and how that guy Rick Allen played.  One of his customers, who also plays drums; read Rick Allen say he's had to either "adapt or die."  Oh!  I wonder if he knows about the ideas of Charles Darwin?

            I guess, the Parts Manager said Rick Allen admitted; since the accident he has to "think ahead" more and cannot be "clever."  Mr. Phillip from Wales has used that word too, which is how people from Britain mean to "show off technical ability.  A slight breeze just came in.

 

"FIVE PIECE" DRUM SET     

     

                 Our boss and Mr. Dave have talked a few times about DEF LEPPARD'S Drummer and how his new "Electronic" drum has four of those pedals.  That allows Rick Allen to use his left foot do what his missing left arm used to do.  Andy's over there looking in this direction.

            I guess, Rick Allen's four pedals make the sound of a Hi-Hat, and Snare, Bass and Tom drums.  The Parts Manager read in that Magazine article how Rick Allen now just concentrates on "keeping time."  Hey God!  Dais thinks You made it so Rick Allen has good friends.

            According to what it said in the Magazine article, Rick Allen says he now also plays at a "slightly slower pace;" which has made the songs better.  Our Chief says maybe that makes their already good songs sound more "melodic."  I really want to hear DEF LEPPARD songs. 

    

JOHN BONHAM (1948-1980)

  

                  Mr. Steve's customer told him when Rick Allen came back after his accident, to show the band he could do it; he played LED ZEPPELIN'S song "When the Levee Breaks.  I've written about that song.  Mr. Dave and our boss think that would be pretty impressive alright.

                 From what the Parts Manager read Rick Allen says he now "needs," and is more open to; "constructive criticism."  Daisy is that way with me too, and I like it when she gives me advice; because I know she has my best interest in mind.  Frida and Diego just now flew bye.     

                   It's too bad that Drummer John Bonham drank himself to death by using alcohol.  That's what our boss thinks.  And the WHO'S Keith Moon also probably did something similar I guess, but Mr. Steve was told neither one was playing drums well at the time of their deaths.  

           

KAREN CARPENTER (1950-1983) 

   

                Over the last three days I've written about that girl Karen Carpenter, whose singing Mr. Steve's mom really likes.  But, as her brother said; she "considered herself a drummer who also happened to sing."  The BEATLES John Lennon really complimented her singing voice.

            Mr. Dave read a 1970's poll once "ranked" Karen Carpenter higher than John Bonham as a Drummer, which made him angry.   But it's "comparing apples to oranges" Mr. Dave said. One was a "powerful Rock Drummer," the other a "Jazz type Drummer" with a fine touch.

            To see their reaction, for years Mr. Steve has played a videotape of the Carpenters in 1968 playing a song called "Dancing in the Street."  They can't believe how talented she was at singing while playing the drums too.  She has a "very precise and light touch"  Mr. Dave thinks.

                

                                    MEGADETH                                                             GUNS N' ROSES

         

             Writing about David Lee Roth makes me think about how that guy Benny Urquidez also taught GUNS N' ROSES Bassist, and MEGADETH'S Guitarist; about Martial Arts.  But I guess they didn't jump around and do spinning back kicks up on stage.  That's what Dais says. 

                 I just thought of that other Gym our boss used to go to in North Hollywood, where  back in the 1980's Boxers who worked for that "Ten Goose" company trained.  It was in a house on a "Cul de Sac" like Hagar Street in Sylmar.  A flock of Birds is flying to the west way up there.

             Dais says our boss hasn't been to North Hollywood, where Miss Harriet still lives; in a long time.  Mr. Ralph have talked about the different Gyms around Los Angeles, and I guess Mr. Ralph has been to the Jet Center and Ten Goose Gym too.  A Train just now whistled faintly.    

    

FRANKIE DUARTE / BERNARDO PINANGO

(FEBRUARY 3, 1987 / THE "FORUM")

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

   

               That Boxer Frankie Duarte worked out at the Ten Goose Gym.  Mr. Steve took the picture of his fight at the Forum, which ended up being used in a few Magazines; and now some internet websites.  Dan Goosen even had that same exact image made into a really big painting.

           Daisy told me the picture of Frankie Duarte, who's right-handed;  shows him throwing an overhand right and preparing to throw a straight left.  His opponent is backing or leaning away from him.  Boy!  I really do think we could make some money starting a Gym for us Dogs.  

           Mr. Ralph used to go to the "Hoover Street" Gym in South Los Angeles, where that guy Carlos Palomino trained.   I've mentioned how Carlos Palomino, who was born down in Mexico but grew up in L.A.; graduated from College.  A Train just whistled faintly out in the desert.  

CARLOS PALOMINO

    

                Daisy heard our Chief one time talking with Mr. Ralph about when Carlos Palomino had a fight against this other Southern California "Welterweight" Boxer named Armando Muñiz.  I just glanced up in time to see a small Garter Snake.  It's crawling out into the back desert. 

            I guess, when Carlos Palomino fought Armando Muñiz in 1977; it was the first time in Boxing history two College graduates fought for a "World" title.  A Welterweight Boxer weighs between one hundred and forty and one hundred and forty five pounds.  I smell old Sage. 

           Carlos Palomino, who our boss met and who knows Mr. Bobby; won that fight and later became World Champion.  Our boss also met and shook hands with Armando Muñiz too.  A few times it was at those "World Boxing Hall of Fame" banquets Mr. Gary helped organize.     

     

ROBERTO DURAN / CARLOS PALOMINO (1979)

                Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Gary one time talk about those World Boxing Hall of Fame banquets, which were held at a big Hotel near "International" Airport.  I've mentioned how Mr. Gary was an official for the Hall of Fame for many years.  Andy's over there looking at me. 

              I guess, Carlos Palomino lost to that guy Roberto Duran in New York City; at Madison Square Garden.  He won the World Championship at "Wembley" Stadium in London, where that band QUEEN did their famous concert in 1985.  I just now picked up Andy's scent.

          Carlos Palomino, who served in the Army; got a degree in "Recreation Administration" from Long Beach State.  Armando Muniz, now a Teacher; studied "Business Administration" in College.  Carlos Palomino was in a few movies, and tv commercials too; according to Dais.      

                                                

                        ROY ROGERS /DALE EVANS        "TRIGGER"      CEMETERY ("APPLE VALLEY")                        

                                                                                                                     PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                Seeing Libby walking around slowly over there in her Corral suddenly makes me think about that guy Roy Rogers.  I've mentioned before how, later in life; he lived over there with his wife and kids in "Apple Valley" near "Victorville."  Mr. Steve went to their cemetery.

           Daisy says one time our Chief told his mom about the cemetery in a mountain where Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans are buried.  He went there for that funeral and says it's in a nice peaceful setting.  I just thought about our little cemetery on the south side of the driveway.

          Oh!  That new Hawk just flew bye, and was looking at me over here sitting on my couch Elvira as it went past.  Andy's over there sniffing the air, just to make sure Goliath or Cher aren't around to threaten their babies.  Bonnie and Clyde's babies are sound asleep up there.  

                                                                                                        

                                 OSCAR DE LA HOYA      JOHNNY TAPIA

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                

             I'm still need to write more about Boxing.  In 1989 Mr. Steve and his father and Nephews went to the "Resurrection" Gym in East L.A., to see a kid named Oscar De La Hoya train.  This New Mexico Fighter named Johnny Tapia was also there.  Both became World Champions.

           Mr. Ralph told our boss Oscar De la Hoya later bought the Resurrection Gym; which was once a Church.  This was after he got a Gold Medal in the 1992 Olympics.  As a "pro" he won ten world titles, in six weight divisions; and fought against twenty world champion Fighters.

           Like the guys in that band LOS LOBOS, I guess Oscar De La Hoya also went to Garfield High School too.  Daisy heard that Oscar De La Hoya retired as a Boxer, and is now one of those  "Promoters" I've written about.  Mr. Steve says Oscar De La Hoya seems like a smart person.

                                                                  

                                                         ART ARAGON (1927-2008)   

        

                 According to what Dais heard, Oscar De La Hoya's nickname was the "Golden Boy," but the original Boxing Golden Boy was that guy from Belen Art Aragon.  He came to California in the 1950's and became famous.  Mr. Steve's parents knew his family back in New Mexico.  

           Art Aragon used to joke about how he was the "Pocho" the Mexicans "loved to hate," as he often beat their Fighters.  One time our boss and his father talked about him wearing an all gold robe and gold trunks.  All four Pigeons flew over the Patio and are now going eastward.

          Daisy told me, in the 1950's Art Aragon became one of those bad guy "Heels" I've written about; who people pay hoping to see him get beat up.  I've mentioned before how our boss heard Muhammad Ali was influenced by that Wrestler "Gorgeous George."  Daffy's quacking.   

              

              "OLYMPIC" AUDITORIUM                              ART ARAGON (RIGHT)                                                                     

            Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Gary one time talk about how Art Aragon fought in some famous fights at that downtown "Olympic" Auditorium I've written about.  In the 1950's he was mainly what they call a "Lightweight."  Andy's now looking at me over here on the Patio.

           I guess at first Art Aragon, unlike Gorgeous George and later Muhammad Ali; didn't like  being hated and getting booed and screamed at.  But then he realized he could make some money by being the Heel.  Andy's unique scent just now came floating in to me sitting on Elvira. 

          After he retired Art Aragon started a "Bail Bonds" business, and Mr. Steve and his father visited his office at the "Van Nuys Courthouse;" near Benny Urquidez's gym.  Daisy heard Art Aragon joked a lot and always got Mr. Steve's father to laugh.  They often talked about Belén.     

                              

                         MARILYN MONROE                                   JAYNE MANSFIELD

          

            I guess, in the 1950's pretty girls like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield went to Art Aragon's fights; and Mr. Ralph heard an Actor named William Holden first called him "Golden Boy."  Art Aragon converted to Judaism in order to marry his wife.  I can smell new Sage.

           That guy Audie Murphy, the most "Decorated" American Soldier in World War II; was a friend of Art Aragon.  Daisy told me a "Bail Bondsman" lends money to people in trouble with the law, in order to be able to get out of jail.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the east.

          Both Art Aragon and Audie Murphy acted in a few different 1950's movies from what Dais heard our boss one time talk about with his father.  Speedy Gonzalez just whizzed through the right vertical gate slot.  Boy!  No matter how many times he does that it still amazes me. 

    

   TOMMY CÓRDOVA / FREDDIE ROACH                    MANNY PACQUIAO /  FREDDUE ROACH     

PHOTO BY HOLLY STEIN                                                                                                                PHOTO BY MARK J. TERRILL

    

          Well, now I have to write about the Boxer from New Mexico named Tommy Córdova, who lived in Albuquerque.  He fought in the 1980's, and one of his most famous fights was against a    guy named Freddie Roach; up there in Las Vegas.  A Motorcycle just went zooming bye.                

         I guess Freddie Roach, who's now one of those "Trainers" I've written about; lost a "Split Decision" to Tommy Córdova that time back in 1984.  Daisy says Mr. Ralph described that fight  as being a "slugfest."  One of Tommy Córdova's nicknames was "War Machine" Dais heard.       

        Mr. Gary one time talked with our Chief about Tommy Córdova, and his two brothers who were also Boxers.  Another one of Tommy Córdova's nicknames was "El Torito," which would be translated to be "The Little Bull;" or "The Baby Bull."  Now another Motorcycle went bye.                     

                                                             "REFEREE" RICHARD STEELE            

      

                The Referee for Tommy Córdova's fight against Freddie Roach was Richard Steele, who had been a Boxer too at one time.  Daisy heard our Chief and his father remembering meeting his one time in Las Vegas.  I guess he's been the Referee in a lot of really famous fights.

            In the early 1990's Richard Steele's main job was as what they call a "Pit Supervisor," or "Pit Boss;" at the "Golden Nugget" Casino in Las Vegas.  When Mr. Steve and his father spoke with him that time he asked "Are you related to Tommy Córdova?"   They told him no. 

            Even though he was from New Mexico, Tommy Cordova's first professional fight was here in Los Angeles in 1983; at that "Olympic" Auditorium downtown.  He was known as the "Road Warrior" and often fought in "hostile territory" Mr. Gary said.  I hear Heathcliff's Hens. 

                

                                             BOB FOSTER                                                        MR. RALPH 

          

              Daisy heard Mr. Ralph call Tommy Córdova an "aggressive" Boxer, his fighting style  being "non-stop attacking."   For a time one of his Trainers was that guy Bob Foster, who I've said before was also from New Mexico too.  Max and 99 just now went zipping bye.

              I guess from what Dais heard Mr. Steve's dad say. Tommy Córdova "almost had to be overly aggressive;" as he "was not good fighting going backward."  He was small in size, being one of those "Featherweights" I've mentioned before.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.

              Mr. Bobby knew who Tommy Córdova was, and told others he thought he was a "tough fighter."  Both ended up having to take punishment in order to get "on the inside" to land their own punches.  Boy!  I love how everything smells this late in the day when it's getting darker.   

    

HORSE RACING      

         

                Dais and Millie one time heard Mr. Steve talking with his father about Tommy Córdova and how, because of his small size; for a time he had a job as one of those Jockey's I've written about.  Way out in the northeastern desert I hear the faint sound of a Train whistling.

                  Mr. Steve's father did the taxes for a man from New Mexico's family, and he knew some of the members of Tommy Cordova's family.  He said Tommy Cordova joked, he got hurt more in being a Jockey than he ever did as a Boxer.  That's a joke because he got hit a lot Dais says.

             I just thought about how some think Jockeys, "Pound for Pound;" are some of the best Athletes.  Because they have to be small and light in weight, it's so "amazing" Mr. Steve thinks; how they can control those huge Race Horses.  Ah!  I smell Libby over there in her Corral. 

                                                                                                   BOBBY CHACON       

               

          Over the last three days I've written about Mr. Bobby.  Like Art Aragon, for a time he was the "Pocho" who some Mexican Boxing fans "Loved to Hate;" because he beat a lot of Mexican Fighters.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are now flying toward the southeast.             

          I've mentioned a "Pocho" is a "Hispanic" or "Latino" person who doesn't speak Spanish.  I guess, when our boss took Mr. Bobby to talk to Elementary school kids; waiting in the parking lot were Mexican parents wanting to meet him.  He was like one of those "Celebrities" again.       

         Our boss told Mr. Bobby, when signing an autograph; say something more than just putting down your name.  He showed him a picture he took of Pat Quinn, the Hockey Kings Coach back in the 1980's.  Daisy told me Pat Quinn wrote on it, "Top of the morning to you Steve."               

          

    WITH WIFE VELERIE           BOBBY CHACON      WITH JIMMY LENNON SR.

         All of a sudden I just thought about how Mr. Bobby's wife "Valerie" killed herself, in part because Mr. Bobby wouldn't retire from Boxing.  They were together since when they met at San Fernando High School, and had three children together.  Mr. Bobby must've been so sad.              

        Over these last three days I've mentioned how the ancient Greeks used to say sometimes in life "Comedy and Tragedy" are interrelated.  And, because Mr. Bobby has brain damage from      Boxing; that is sometimes the case with him.  A Crow just caused faintly out in the desert.             

      Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his father about what happened at a Gas Station in Sylmar one time.  An older man walked up to our Chief and asked, "Aren't you Bobby's friend?"  Mr. Steve  said he was so then that old man reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.                

                         

HIGH DESERT SUNSET

  

          The older man at the Gas Station pulled a business card from his wallet; then showed it to Mr. Steve.  On the back Mr. Bobby wrote "Stay in School, Bobby Chacon;" so they chuckled as the man was obviously past going to school.  Mr. Bobby's nickname was "Schoolboy."                   

        Boy!  It's too bad Mr. Bobby's wife Valerie ended up committing suicide, just like Ernest Hemingway; and that other guy in NIRVANA Kurt Cobain.  She'd noticed how Mr. Bobby was    having to take way more punches because he'd lost speed.  The Twins scents just floated in.           

       As I've written before, when Mr. Bobby was World Featherweight Champion back in the 1970's; he was better at moving "around" the ring.  But then later in the 1980's, as World Super  Featherweight Champion; he "took more punishment."  That's what Mr. Ralph called it.                

WARREN ZEVON (1947-2003)

         One time Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Ralph talking about how, back in 1987; that guy Warren Zevon wrote a song where Mr. Bobby is mentioned in the chorus.  Wow!  It would be so great for my name to be used in a song.  And Mr. Steve would probably be proud of me too.          

         Dais says our boss told Mr. Ralph about that one time back in 1978 when he saw Warren Zevon totally "booed off the stage" by a GRATEFUL DEAD crowd.  That was the concert on the "U.C. Santa Barbara" Football field.   His sister Susan went to that College for two years.             

           I just thought of how that guy Bennie Urquidez  went to "Grant" High School down there in Van Nuys near Valley Junior College.  I've mentioned a few times that his sister "Lilly," who    was also a "Mixed Martial Arts" champion; married to Blinky.  Oh!  Blinkys's barking.               

   

  THE "JET CENTER" (VAN NUYS)

              

           Daisy and Millie heard our Chief and Mr. Ralph one time talking about Benny Urquidez's gym, or what Mr. Ralph a "Training Facility."  It's a "Cut Above" most other gyms from what    Mr. Steve says.  He's been to a lot of the different L.A. gyms over the years so know about it.         

        One time, after they visited with Art Aragon, Mr. Steve and his dad stopped bye the "Jet Center" to visit Mr. Blinky.  Mr. Steve had been there before but not his father, so Mr. Blinky        gave them a tour of the gym.   Bravo Company is going bye out there in the back desert.                

      I've written before about how some of the Comic Books have been made into movie, like "Superman" for instance.  From what Dais says, some Actors have trained at the Jet Center and one was the girl who played "Cat Woman" in a "Batman" movie.  I smell Blinky over there.            

                       MICHELLE PFEIFFER                                           CHUCKNORRIS

            I guess, another Actor who worked out at the Jet Center was Chuck Norris, who was also a Mixed Martial Arts Champion before he became an Actor.  Grandma Trujillo used to think he  was "so handsome."   She loved the way some men looked when wearing Cowboy hats.                  

           Mr. Benny only lost once in his professional career; is in the the "International Sports Hall of Fame."   Mr. Gary the Barber once called him a "pioneer" in ""full contact fighting arena,"    especially in the "field of kickboxing."   Frida and Diego are flying over Libby's Corral.                

           One time our Chief and Mr. Rich talked about MEGADETH'S Guitarist Dave Mustaine, who also trained at the Jet Center.  Like Ozzy Osborne and David Lee Roth were kicked out of their bands; Dave Mustaine was "Booted Out" of METALLICA.  I smell some Mesquite.

                     

                                                                                                         MEGADETH    

                     

                 Daisy heard Mr. Rich call MEGADETH, METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX the "Big Four" of "Thrash."  Dais says that guy Dave Mustaine is a good guitar player but also has kind of a unique "gruff" voice too.  I just picked up the strong scent of the Twin Joshua trees.

          Someday one song I definitely want to hear is that MEGADETH song called "Symphony of Destruction."  Dais says our boss really likes it so now does Mr. Dave who had not heard until our boss told him about it.  The faint echoing sound of a Train just came in from my left.

         Because our Chief and some of his friends liked some Heavy Metal bands like BUDGIE, BLITZKRIEG and DIAMOND HEAD, they also liked early METALLICA when they were just playing good "Covers" of those bands.   All four of the Pigeons are flying toward the east.            

MARCHING NAZIS

      

            That song Symphony of Destruction seems to be about how Politicians can, and often do; manipulate people the way  Aldous Huxley and George Orwell warned against.  At least that's what Daisy thinks.  The lyrics made Mr. Steve think of the Nazis from back in the 1930's.

           Many years ago our Chief made a Video where he played Symphony of Destruction over a section of the 1935 film "Triumph of the Will."  Mr. Steve's brother Rock had a machine where you could combine music and video images.  A flock of Birds is going bye up there in the sky.

            I guess, from what he and his brother Rock talked about one time; Mr. Steve picked one of the big marching scenes from Triumph of the Will and matched it up to MEGADETHS song.  Others have noticed how well the lyrics seem to match the visual images from the old film. 

                                            "TRIUMPH OF THE WILL"                         LENI RIEFENSTAHL (1902-2003)

              A picture shows the three American High Jump winners at the Berlin Olympics, and I notice how one of them has the first name of "Cornelius."  I remember Daisy telling me about our boss's customer down in Louisiana with that first name too.  A Train whistled faintly.             

             Our boss's father thinks it's "ironic" that, when he returned to to the U.S. in 1936; Jesse Owens was ignored by President Franklin Roosevelt.  Mr. Ralph read during the Olympics Jesse Owens wore German made shoes.  And that company is called now "Adidas" and "Puma."

             Mr. Steve and Mr. Ralph one time talked about how, when he got back to America; that guy Jesse Owens didn't do good.  In 1936 most white people, including the "Liberals;" thought black people inferior.  Andy's over there sniffing the air to see if Cher or Goliath is around.   

                                             

                                                             THE FORUM (1984)    

                                                                 PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA          

                                                                                                    

             I've written before how our boss, Mr. Mark and that lady Miss Helen all worked at the Forum in Inglewood for a few years in the mid-1980's  Their office at first, in 1984; was on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and 18th Street in West Los Angeles.  That Lizard is gone.  

            The Sales Office where Mr. Steve, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen worked in eventually moved to right across the street from the Forum.  One time our Chief and Mr. Mark were remembering how they sometimes ate at the "Sizzler" restaurant nearby.  A Train just whistled faintly.

           One "Fringe Benefit" of working right across the street from the Forum in the 1980's was the ability to watch bands do their morning "Sound Checks."  In an almost empty Forum Mr. Steve saw the CARS do a sound check in 1984, BOSTON in 1987, and AEROSMITH in 1988.

       

                THE CARS                                  BOSTON                                   AEROSMITH

    

            The CARS, BOSTON and AEROSMITH are all from "New England," where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with Dalston and Austin.  But each band all sound different; an example of how one "environment" can produce different results.  I smell Roses again, which I really like.                                                                                                                                                                                                I've written before about how, when Mr. Steve would visit New Mexico as a kid; his Aunt Lydia would tell him one of the ROLLINGSTONES was from Belén.  He would tell her how the ROLLING  STONES were from England.  Thank You so much God for making flowers.

           My boss knew his Aunt was not a liar and years later, in the late 1970's, felt happy when it "dawned on him" she had been referring to that saxophone player Bobby Keys.   I wrote about it on Thursday in book one.  I remember when Dais explained what an "Aha" moment was.   

             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               As I wrote the day before yesterday in book one, it turns out Bobby Keys, while not one of the five "regular" members of the ROLLING STONES, traveled with them on tour; as did this trumpet player named Jim Price.   Boy!  I can really smell those rose bushes over there.

           It's interesting how Bobby Keyes was born in Belén, but when his parents broke up he and his brother went to live in "Amarillo" Texas with their father.  Their mom Lucy Keys, stayed in Belén; which is where she later became Aunt Lydia's friend.   Frida and Diego just flew bye. 

           Daisy told me one of our Chief's favorite ROLLING STONES songs is about brown sugar, and on it Bobby Keyes plays a really good saxophone solo on it.  I can't wait to someday hear the sound of musical instruments I've never heard.  Wow!  I'm almost done with my three books!   

           

                                      THE CRICKETTS                                               CLARENCE CLEMONS

                                                                                                                                                                                       PHOTO BY PETER PAKVIS

                 Daisy and Millie heard our boss and his mom talk about how Bobby Keys grew up in Amarillo, where that other guy Buddy Holly was from too.  Daisy thinks the solo Bobby Keys did on "Brown Sugar" is good.  Mr. Dave says it's "as good as" Bruce Springsteen's saxophonist.   

            Mr. Steve has told his parents about that "Aha" moment when he realized who his Aunt Lydia had been talking about, one of those "Epiphanies" I've written about.  He was so happy, but had always known his Aunt Lydia was not lying.  Two of the Pigeons just flew past.

           One time our Chief and Mr. Dave talked about how, watching band "rehearsals" is very interesting.  It's better than watching one of those Sound Check Mr. Steve thinks.  I've mentioned before how, back in the mid-1970's; he and Miss Sandy got to see QUIET RIOT rehearse.    

                             

                                                                     STATUS QUO  

      

             I've written before how Mr. Steve was told QUIET RIOT got their name because they misinterpreted something a British guy in that band  STATUS QUO said.  I guess, he said "quite right," but it sounded to them like "quiet riot."   I smell the Oleander bushes over there.

            Daisy says one time she and Millie were in our boss's bedroom and watched a segment by that one lady Mary Beard about ancient Rome.  Mr. Steve worked on one of his projects and he always likes listening to Mary Beard.  She used the word "bloke" to describe a male Dais says.

            Over the last three days I've written a few times how sometimes people who speak the same language; but have different accents; are misunderstood.  Boy God!  Thank You so much for the way smelling the Oleanders right now is making me feel.  I'm grateful to be alive.   

    

MR.PHILLIP

 

            One time our boss told Mr. Phillip, whose from "Wales;" how QUIET RIOT got its name.  Over the years they've discussed band names which sound like "Contradiction in Terms," IRON BUTTERFLY and LED ZEPPELIN being examples.  Mr. Phillip worked for "Honda." 

           I guess to the band, the idea of a quiet riot somehow sounded good to them so that's how QUIET RIOT got its name.  Our boss has told Mr. Mark, Mr. Dave and Mr. Rich he and Miss Sandy were so lucky to have seen a young Randy Rhodes.  Samson and Delilah just flew bye. 

           When Randy Rhodes left QUIET RIOT to go play with Ozzy Osbourne's new band that guy Kevin Dubrow the Singer was very depressed our boss heard.  "Who wouldn't be" depressed when such a great Musician leaves your band Mr. Steve says.  Boy!  Too bad life isn't fair.                                                                                                             QUIET RIOT (1983)    

   

              I guess, from what Dais heard; Kevin Dubrow was down for a while but "regrouped." He  put together a new version of QUIET RIOT, which in the early 1980's made that one famous album "Metal Health."  I wonder if Mr. Kevin knew about that one Nietzsche quote?  

             Boy!  It's too bad Randy Rhodes died in that Plane crash in 1982.   Then Ozzy Osbourne was really really depressed Dais heard.  After Randy Rhodes died Ozzy Osbourne, and his wife "Sharon;" had to "Pick themselves Up" just like Kevin Dubrow did.  It was so hard I'll bet.

             Daisy heard that after Randy Rhodes was killed Ozzy Osbourne use a few different good Guitarists.  One was named Zakk Wylde.  Mr. Rich down there in Sylmar says Zakk Wylde did a version of the "National Anthem" which was "just as good as the one Jimi Hendrix did."

ZAKK WYLDE

  

                One time our boss and his mom talked about how most people look way different as they age, and he's now "unrecognizable" from when he was young.  But that guy Zakk Wylde really looks different from when he was a kid.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral.  

            Daisy and Millie heard our boss and Mr. Rich talk about Zakk Wylde and how, now that he wears a beard; he's totally changed from when he was in Ozzy Osbourne's band.  I guess Ted Nugent also did an "Interpretation" of the National anthem too.  A Train whistled faintly.   

            Mr. Steve says he saw Zakk Wylde when young but hadn't seen him for years, so when he saw him with a beard he was kind of surprised.  Dais says another Guitarist he had never seen with a shaved head and a beard was Kerry King from that "Thrash Metal" band SLAYER.

 

SLAYER (KERRY KING)

PHOTOS BY BRIAN LEW

            

            I've mentioned before how METALLICA, MEGADETH SLAYER and ANTHRAX are called the "Big Four" of Thrash Metal.  SLAYER are from an area of L.A. called "Huntington Beach."  Mr. Steve used to have a customer there who sold Ford vehicles like our Barny.  

                One time our boss and Mr. Rich talked about how some Hard Rock bands use what they call Nazi "Iconography."  The "S" in SLAYER, the two S's in KISS'S's logo, and also AC/DC's lightning bolts are all S.S. "Sig" Runes used by the Nazis.  Iconography means images.

           A few years ago Mr. Steve traded some things with a guy who also went to concerts on the Sunset Strip in the 1980's at places like the Whisky A Go Go or Gazarri's.  He told him about a band called BRUTE FORCE, who used Nazi colors and imagery.  Dawn's barking over there. 

NAZI "S.S. LIGHTNING RUNES"

             Our boss told Mr. Rich how it's not because they're Nazis that bands or other forms of entertainment use what's called "Nazi Chic."  It's just that the Nazi's had such "great looking" logos and uniforms which now symbolize "excessive power."  Two Crows are fighting. 

            SLAYER have a song called "Angel of Death."  Daisy heard our boss was told it's about that Nazi S.S. Doctor Joseph Mengele.  And that SLAYER album was called "Reign of Blood" I guess.  Ah!  Way out there in the northern desert to my left this Train just whistled faintly.

            Mr. Steve, because he drew one of the Nazi Eagle logos as a kid; noticed how SLAYER'S emblems resemble Nazi Eagles.  And Daisy and Millie saw some of them and totally agree with him on that, and so does Mr. Dave I guess.  Those two Crows are still yelling at each other. 

  

SLAYER'S LOGO 

   

            When Mr. Steve was in College at C.S.U.N. he met a pretty girl who was studying what's called "Graphic Arts."  One time in the Oviat Library she said, "Is it just me or is there a lot of Fascist imagery in popular culture entertainment?  Mr. Steve told her she was not wrong.   

                  Mr. Steve told that girl he's seen Fascist imagery in things since he's been a kid, and most people don't realized what it is they're looking at.  All they know is it seems to convey the idea of "Power" and "Force."  A flock of Birds way up there in the darkening sky is going bye.

                 Because he's been doing line drawings of logos for years Mr. Steve tends to notice things like emblems more than most other people.  Sometimes, as a way to shock or offend; there are a few Entertainers don't even try to disguise wearing Nazi things.  The Hens are clucking.

                             

KEITH MOON                                         BRIAN JONES       

       

                  Mr. Steve told Mr. Rich how one times, as a "Farce," the WHO's Drummer Keith Moon and Vivian Stanshal of the BONZO DOG BAND dressed up in Nazi uniforms.  Keith Moon even put on a Hitler mustache.   Oh!  That new Hawk is flying bye with a dead Lizard in its mouth.

           According to what Daisy and Millie heard our boss tell Mr. Rich that time, Brian Jones of the ROLLING STONES wore an S.S. uniform to cause a lot of controversy; especially because it showed him stepping on a doll with his big Jack boots.  Andy's over there sniffing the air.

           Daisy says our Chief told Mr. Rich he thinks, because Hitler rose from being one of those homeless "Drifters" to almost conquering the world; many people are "fascinated" by him.  He designed much of the Nazi imagery.  He had an "instinct for symbolism" Mr. Steve thinks. 

                      

                                                        THE "WALL" (PINK FLOYD)

   

           Mr. Steve thinks the "Goose-Stepping" hammers in that one band PINK FLOYD'S movie "The Wall" was obviously influenced by the Italian and German parades under Mussolini and Hitler.  China and North Korea's military still use Goose Step marching to impress people.

          Just because PINK FLOYD uses Fascist imagery doesn't make them Nazis our boss says.  It just conveys the idea of symbolic "Lock Step" thinking like what Aldous Huxley and George Orwell warned against.  And marching hammers is a good visual image conveying power.

         One time a girl told Mr. Steve she heard David Bowie was a Nazi.  He told her those rumors were probably not true.  In the late 1970's he said, David Bowie lived in Germany; and like many other people; was "fascinated" by Adolph Hitler.  Andy's looking at me over here on Elvira.

                  

DAVID BOWIE (1976)  

         

             Mr. Steve read, back in 1976; David Bowie supposedly gave the Fascist arm salute while standing in a convertible Car.  Later he told people the Photographer simply caught waving at some people at the Airport.  Pigpen just stuck his head out of his hole near the Mulberry tree.

            David Bowie was most likely not a Nazi Mr. Steve thinks, but he did read some of the things he said back in the 1970's, like "Hitler's overall objective was very good, and he was a marvelous morale booster.  I mean, he was a perfect figurehead."  Pigpen is looking at me.

            It did not help David Bowie our boss thinks, that in the photo from 1976 he was wearing black clothes, as that was the way the British Fascists used to dress in the 1930's.  And since the 1920's Benito Mussolini's "Black Shirts" have been well known too.  Ah!  I can smell Pigpen.  

  

                                                         OSWALD MOSLEY (1896-1980)

       

             I'm looking at a picture which shows this British man named Oswald Mosley.  From what the caption says, he was one of the "leading Fascist leaders" in England during the 1930's; and I notice he's wearing black.  Mr. Ralph read David Bowie's mother was an admirer of Mosley.

           Because of how the world had gone in the previous centuries with "Colonialism," Hitler thought the British in their racist thinking were his "natural allies" in many ways.  But, most of the English disagreed with him on that.  Pigpen just now went back down into his hole. 

          Mr. Ralph read, while living in Berlin David Bowie bought a desk used by that guy Joseph Goebbels; the Nazi Propaganda Minister.  But that does not mean he was a Nazi Mr. Steve says. The "Nazi Memorabilia" market is "huge."  And most of the people "are not Fascists."

       

         NAZI PARTY RALLY                                             NAZI'S MARCHING           

            

           One time Daisy and Millie listened to our boss as he talked with Mr. Ralph.  He told him about a time in College at C.S.U.N. when the class watched Leni Riefenstahl's movie "Triumph of the Will."  Way out there in the desert to the north a Train just whistled really faintly.  

           After watching Triumph of the Will Mr. Steve went out in parking lot with this guy from his class.  The guy had obviously been totally blown away and kept saying "Wow," or "That was amazing."  Then, he shook his head and said reflectively; "Boy, it's too bad I'm Jewish."

          Over the years Mr. Steve has bought and sold things on the Nazi Memorabilia market.  He still has knives and things like that in his office.  Daisy says that he's been told the annual Nazi Memorabilia market is "well over one hundred million dollars."  I can still smell Pigpen.    

     

                                  IGGY AND THE STOOGES                        LEMMY (MOTÖRHEAD)

    

                 Before the economic recession I guess our Chief had a customer in Michigan who was a "Collector" of Nazi Memorabilia.  He said the STOOGES Guitarist also has a big collection of things like that.  They talked about how MOTÖRHEAD'S Lemmy collects Nazi things too.

           Daisy told me that, in his office on one of his bookshelves, Mr. Steve has things like knives and models that are Fascist-themed.  And he has a lot of books on Fascism on that one bookshelf too I guess.  I can hear two Crows fighting out there in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.

           Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph David Bowie was one of the few people in the early days of "M-TV" who pointed out there were no few black music Videos shown.  From what our boss says, in those days black Artists were only shown really late at night.  Andy's looking in this direction.

 HIGH DESERT SUNSET

             Mr. Steve thinks in his subjective opinion "if hypnotized" many people, even Asians and Latinos; would admit they don't like seeing too many black people in entertainment.  This was especially true back in the early 1980's.  Mr. Dave said he thinks our boss is right on that.     

            David Bowie once called Adolph Hitler the "first Rock Star" because he was the first person to speak at what would now be called "Mega-Arena" level.  And some of those big events the Nazis put on at Nuremburg went far beyond an Arena.  I can smell Andy over there.

            A few years ago Mr. Steve saw a show about the band MÖTLEY CRÜE.  One of them said their goal was to always try to be "bigger, louder and faster" than anyone.  Well Daisy says, that is pretty much what the Nazis used to say too.  They put on perfect "Rock" type events.

                                   

MICHAEL JACKSON "HISTORY" TOUR (1995)

              Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking with Mr. Ralph about how, back in 1995; that guy Michael Jackson did his "History Tour."  It was so obvious he was using Fascist imagery a lot on that tour I guess.  All four of the Pigeons just flew over Libby's Corral moving east.  

             Mr. Ralph used the word "blatant" to describe the Fascist imagery Michael Jackson used on that 1995 tour.  You could tell he wanted to "Project" power and did it in part by using black, white and red; as well as having the statues look Fascist.   Libby's over eating her hay and oats.    

            I guess Mr. Steve admits he's no expert on "Rap" or "Hip Hop" music.  But he told Mr. Ralph how, "to the best of his knowledge;" no Rap or Hip Hop bands have used Nazi imagery.  Even though they're mostly black Musicians they would "appreciate power symbolism" too.

 

                 "HEGELIAN DIALECTIC"                      FRIEDRICH HEGEL (1770-1831)

                                                                                                                      PAINTING BY JACOB SCHLESINGER

     

                Over the last three days I've written about that late 18th century German Philosopher Friedrich Hegel.  Karl Marx used his "Dialectic" formula or method to predict the workers or "Proletariat" would overthrow the "Bourgeoisie" ruling class.  I like how Libby smells. 

           I wrote about how in College a girl in one on his classes, using Hegel's Dialectic; correctly predicted a band like HEART would be popular in 1977.  When driving around New York City in 1977 their song "Barracuda" came on the Radio.  Mr. Steve knew she had been right.

           Shock and imagery of power is still used in today's entertainment market.  I've written about "Shock Rock" that has existed since back in 1950's.  Using Hegel's Dialectic, our Chief thinks you can predict that a Hip Hop artist will use Fascist or even Nazi imagery someday.

                                                 

ADOLPH HITLER (1889-1945)   

     

         Adolph Hitler was a bad man and a failed Artist.  But, as I've shown in these three long books; he definitely "Had an Eye" for "Aesthetics," such as how he slightly twisted the swastika logo at an angle on the flag to give it a sense of action or movement.  Daffy's quacking.                  

            I've written about how Hitler had others propose designs for uniforms and "insignias." But he had "the final word" and often made slight changes.  He did that with the SS lightning "Runes" and the "Totenkopf" emblems.  The four Pigeons are now flying toward the north.

           In German Totenkopf  means "Death's Head," even though one time this German girl told our boss the more correct word would probably be "Todeskopf;" except there is no such word in German.  I see Andy over there guarding the burrow.  Ah!  His scent just came in to me. 

      

"2ND LIFE" HUSSAR REGMENT  

   

            Daisy told me Millie thought Totenkopf logos resemble the "Skull and Bones" emblems 17th and 18th century Pirates like Blackbeard put on flags.  Hitler put in on the front of black SS hats to intimidate.  Boy!  I like that man's mustache and would definitely wear a hat like his.

            I like the picture of that 19th century German Soldier in the furry hat with the Totenkopf on the front.  Hitler's use of the Totenkopf seems another  example of taking a "Familiar" idea and merging it with a modern idea.  You "update" them for your own particular use.

           Hitler spoke of "Lebensraum" or "Living Space" in his book "Mein Kampf," because he knew the old historical concept of "Drang Nacht Austen" or "Move to the East;" was familiar to many Germans.  He was an Atheist who used "Christian Symbolism."  Dawn's barking.

                                                                                                                                                                            LIVING COLOR

                                                               PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                    

            I wrote about the time in the late 1980's when Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet went to one of those "Meet and Greet" events at the "Tower Records" in Hollywood.   That black Hard Rock band LIVING COLOR, who are from New York City; were there.  I like hearing Dawn.

           Daisy says LIVING COLOR'S song "Cult of Personality" is a phrase originally used to describe Stalin.  But it's also "applicable" to Mussolini, Hitler and Mao too.  Mr. Steve's father thinks someday an American Politician may try it if there's ever an economic recession.  

          Mr. Steve thinks Michael Jackson in 1995 was trying to create a Cult of Personality.  He once met a guy from Ireland who joked that band U2 "seem to have been influenced" by those huge Nazi Party Rallies.  That new Hawk flew bye carrying a dead Gopher in its mouth

                     

                        QUEEN ELIZABETH I                                   QUEEN ELIZABETH II

                           THE  DARNLEY PORTRAIT                                                                                                PHOTO BY ALASTAIR GRANT                   

          

                 I just thought about how England is still a "Monarchy," which means it's led by either a "King" or "Queen."  Right now it's that nice lady Elizabeth II who, as "Head of State;" is only a symbolic "Figurehead."  She's not as powerful as Elizabeth I was, and seems nicer Dais says.  

             England was on the winning side in World War II but, as I've said a few times in these books; were losers in having to give up much of its "Colonial" empire.   The advantage they had because of the world's most powerful navy was gone.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.

           That pretty girl Princess "Diana" married Queen Elizabeth's son "Charles," and they had two sons.  It's too bad she died so young in that bad Automobile accident over in France.  I wrote before about how she was for years involved in the "Anti Mine" movement around the world.

1.            

                                         PRINCESS DIANNA (1961-1997) WITH SONS

 

              Daisy says sons seem different, the older "William" "down to earth" and "responsible."  The younger brother "Harry" at times seems "arrogant and cocky" our Chief thinks.   I wrote about how Princess Diana and Mother Teresa died within just a few days of each other. 

            Hey Mother Teresa!  If you just happen to be up there mind reading me right now I want to tell you Daisy and I feel bad your death was totally drowned out by Princess Diana's.  In that way you were like Aldous Huxley dying on the same exact day President Kennedy was shot.  

           I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Tolkien's friend and fellow Writer C.S. Lewis also died on the day President Kennedy was assassinated.  And it's weird how the GERMS Darby Crash killed himself on the day John Lennon was killed.  I smell Mesquite.   

                

      DIANA / CHARLES                                           CATHERINE / WILLIAM        

  (1981)                                                                                                (2011)           

      

             Daisy told me when Royalty gets married it's a big event where the girls wear beautiful dresses and the guys are in nice uniforms.  I really like the Napoleonic era uniforms many of the Soldiers escorting them in their Carriages wear.  Blackbeard and Anne just flew bye.

             I've mentioned before how, even though he never wears anything with writing on them; our Chief has a lot of T-shirts, Jerseys and things like that in the two hallway closets.  He bought and sold things like that over the years.  A Train whistled faintly way out there in the desert.  

            One time our boss and Mr. Dave talked about how Princess Diana's youngest son Harry went to a costume party wearing a Nazi armband.  But he really isn't a Nazi Mr. Steve thinks, he probably has sort of a strange sense of humor.  I can really smell the flowers next door now.

    

PRINCE HARRY

 

             Mr. Steve thinks Hitler knew the value symbolism and that guy Prince Harry probably simply wanted to get attention. Nowadays Nazi logos are "underground cool, and often people don't even know what they're wearing.  Michael Jackson used to like wearing arm bands.   

                One time our Chief and Mr. Phillip talked about that guy Prince Harry wearing the Nazi armband.  Mr. Steve told him he's bought and sold Nazi armbands.  They also talked about how, in 1976; LED ZEPPELIN'S Jimmy Page wore a lot of Nazi-themed clothes in the concerts. 

            In 1976 Mr. Steve bought two black LED ZAPPELIN T-shirts showing the four members on the front, with Jimmy Page's picture showing him wearing a Nazi hat.  A few years ago he sold one of those shirts to one of those "Skinheads" I've mentioned.  Leo and Cleo flew bye.

      

JIMMY PAGE (1976)    

                  

            Once some of the other High Desert "Neo-Nazis" saw that T-shirt, which our boss sold for sixty dollars; they wanted to buy the other one.   But our Chief, who bought the T-shirts for only fifteen dollars in 1976; doesn't want to sell it right now.  He's been offered one hundred dollars.

           Dais says not only did Jimmy Page wear that black Nazi hat in 1976, he also wore knee-length "Jack Boots" like the ones Hitler's brown-shirted "Storm Troopers" used to wear. 

          I've mentioned before how "SS" just stands for "Schutzstaffel," or ""Defense Corps" in German.  The Storm Troopers were called "Sturmabteilung;" or "SA" for short.  In 1934, in the "Night of the Long Knives;" Hitler used Heinrich Himmler's SS to kill off the SA leaders.  

   

                              HIMMLER / HITLER                            HITLER REVIEWING THE SA

 

            According to Mr. Steve, references to or use of Nazi terms is still used in Popular Culture entertainment.  That guy Ted Nugent wrote a song called "Storm Troopin."  And the RAMONES did "Blitzkrieg Bop."  BLÜE ÖYSTER CÜLT had a song called "Dominance and Submission."

           In my books I've mentioned how the "Swastika" is now associated with evil because of the "Holocaust."  But since ancient times it's been used by many cultures like the Celts.  Buddhists and Hindus both use it, and it was in a Christian Church were Hitler first saw it as a kid.       

          Someday I want to see that movie "Star Wars," where the villain "Darth Vader's" army were called Storm Troopers.   Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny just zoomed bye and are going out into the back desert.   Oh!  And now Theodora and her new boyfriend went bye too.

             

                                                                    "STAR WARS"    

       

            Dais and Millie both thought in Star Wars the villain Darth Vader shiny black helmet is obviously meant to look like one those German "Coal Scoop" helmets.   "Stahlhelm" means "Steel Helmet."  A small flock of Birds is going bye way up there in the darkening sky.

            Our boss told Mr. Dave one time how over the years he's seen Punk and Heavy Metal fans with Nazi influenced tattoos.  Daisy says James Hetfield of METALLICA has a guitar with one of those "Maltese" or "Iron" crosses on it.  I can hear Heathcliff's Hens clucking over there.  

             MOTÖRHEAD'S "Lemmy" sometimes wears an "Iron Cross" medal like the ones Hitler earned in the First Word War, and he also wears Nazi hats too from what Dais says.  I just looked up in time to see a Garter Snake crawling out into the back field.  It used the right gate slot.         

       

                                                                     "LEMMY" KILMISTER OF MOTÖRHEAD

 

               Our boss doesn't think Mr. Lemmy believes in the Nazi ideas but, like many people; just thinks the Nazis designed "cool" looking logos and uniforms.  Daisy thinks Lemmy would be so  impressed if he ever saw our boss's military hat and helmet collection.  Dawn's barking.

           Mr. Dave says he once saw Lemmy wearing Cowboy boots with Iron crosses on them, and has seen him with Totenkopf Death's Head symbols on SS hats.  When Mr. Steve met him down at the "Rainbow" restaurant in Hollywood he noticed he smoked a lot.  I can smell Blinky.

          Dais told me Millie noticed some Hard Rock bands like MOTÖRHEAD, BLÜE ÖYSTER CÜLT and MÖTLEY CRÜE use the double dot German "Umlaut" accent in spelling their band names.  It's not for the pronunciation, it "just looks cool Mr. Dave said.  Blinky smells good.

   

NIKKI SIXX      MÖTLEY CRÜE        MICK MARS

        

            A guy Mr. Steve met at the Sylmar Library saw a MÖTLEY CRÜE concert and noticed Bassist Nikki Sixx wearing a red armband without a swastika.  Guitarist Mick Mars' hat had a skull and bones logo like a "Totenkampf" or "Death's Head" emblem on it.  I smell Sage.   

               It says here the "crooked" or "twisted" cross may've first been seen in India, in what are called "Sanskrit."  Daisy saw a tv show which said that Singer Madonna used a swastika image on stage to be "provocative" and "push the envelope" so to speak.  Sage makes me feel good.

          Dais says the tv show about "Shock" Rock said Marilyn Manson's "color scheme" is red, black and white; and in Videos he wore Nazi type hats.  Mr. Dave saw how BLACK SABBATH'S members at times used black, red or white musical instruments.  I'm so glad we have Sage!

                                            

                              MARILYN MANSON                                      ROUGH CUTT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

        

           Back in the late 1980's our Chief took pictures of that band ROUGH CUTT at the Forum.  One of their Guitarists had a guitar painted in desert camouflage brown with a black swastika on it.  This was the same pattern used by Erwin Rommel's "Afrika Korps" in World War II.

          In the 1970's our Chief saw BLUE ÖYSER CULT play a few times, and still has some of their vinyl records.  The first time he and Sandy saw them with friends was in 1974; down at the Hollywood Palladium.   They had never heard of "B.O.C." then and were impressed by them.

         At that first BLUE ÖYSTER CULT concert Mr. Steve and his friends thought it was kind of like that movie "West Side Story."  Of course Mr. Steve watched the Drummer and one time Mr. Dave he was good.  But what he remembers best was how talented the lead Guitarist was.

                                                                                            BLUE ÖYSTER CULT

     

            One time our boss and Mr. Rich talked about how BLUE ÖYSTER CULT at times used three Guitarists like Mr. Rich's band DRAGPIPE.   I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how Mr. Rich is from New Jersey, while B.O.C are from New York City.  I love Sage!

           Daisy says our boss told Mr. Rich how one time, when they worked at "Laser Images;" he and Mark Ritter towed a laser down to the "Long Beach Arena" so B.O.C. could use it in their concert.  That was the tour where where they had and played a song about "Godzilla."

          Mr. Steve heard some of the members of B.O.C. are Jewish, yet use black, red and white as color schemes on their album covers and have a logo that looks kind of Fascist.  Daisy noticed it right away.  A small flock of Birds high up there in the darkening sky is flying bye right now. 

                                 

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT ("SECRET TREATIES")      

        

            Daisy told me about the B.O.C. album "Secret Treaties," which has that one song I wrote about yesterday called "Flaming Telepaths," on which our boss thinks he can hear lead Guitarist Buck Dharma's Jewish influence.  B.O.C.'s logo looks like the Nazi's flag.  Dawn's barking.

           The picture on the front of Secret Treaties shows the band standing around one of those "Me-262" Nazi Jets Dais told me.  Another song on that album is "Dominance and Submission."  The shadows are now really leaning away from me pointing toward the east behind the Sheds.

          Our Chief told Mr. Rich he thinks Buck Dharma is one of the best lead Guitarists he's seen in person, his "melodic" leads are so good.  Dais told me Millie really liked the BLUE ÖYSTER CULT song about not being afraid of that "Grim Reaper."  I think I would be scared anyway.     

        

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT  

   

           Because so many people "Resonate" with powerful, even "Megalomaniac" imagery; our boss thinks Hitler will always have an ongoing "Legacy."  Our boss told Mr. Rich Buck Dharma uses a white "SG."  I've mentioned that "Gibson" guitar a few times over the last three days. 

          Our boss once read a description of Buck Dharma's lead on Dominance and Submission as being "searing."  Daisy says it is pretty amazing alright.  I guess, there are now people all around the world who have come to associate the phrase Dominance and Submission with Hitler.

            Mr. Rich down in Sylmar thinks that one English band the CLASH were "The Beatles of Punk."  One of Mr. Dave's old Motorcycle Shop customers  told him some of the CLASH, and a band called the DAMNED; came from a band called LONDON SS.  That's Nazi influence.

                                                                     THE CLASH   

 

            I've never heard any songs by that band the CLASH.  Daisy has.  One time her and Millie listened to a song called "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"  And she told me, they also have this other really good song called "Rock the Casbah."  I so want to hear that song someday.  

           Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how our boss Mr. Steve thinks that the better Guitarists can almost "instinctively transition" from "rhythm to lead" and back easily.  It looks easy but isn't at all I guess.  A Train whistled faintly way out in the northern desert.

           Mr. Steve was not lucky enough to see Jimi Hendrix play the way Mr. Doug did, but can hear how he was a great Guitarist.  He didn't need a second Guitarist in his bands.  Ah!  Thank You God for how the air is so clear right now, which makes me glad to be alive down here.  

  

                                                   STEVIE RAY VAUGHN  (1954-1990)                                           

                                                                                                                                                 PAINTING BY MICHELE RAIS

  

               Our Chief told Mr. Rich the best Guitarist he's seen is Stevie Ray Vaughn, with Brian May a "close second."  Eric Clapton was not as "impressive" as Stevie Ray Vaughn or QUEEN with Brian May.   But he told Mr. Rich, it was "quite obvious" why Eric Clapton is so famous.  

          Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE goes back and forth from rhythm and lead and also gets good "distorted tones."  Our Chief told Mr. Dave he used to play along to "Looks that Kill" and "Knock Em Dead Kid."  Mick Mars has a painful bone disease which makes him hunch over.         

         One band Mr. Steve saw play a few times was X, whose Billy Zoom is another Guitarist who can make going from rhythm to lead as if it's "second nature."  He makes it "Look Easy" as they say.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are moving together toward the northeast.

                                                                     

                                                                   BILLY ZOOM

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA            

         

            The band X are from Los Angeles, Mr. Steve saw them play three times; once from up on stage.  That was at the "Reseda Country Club," where he used to also take pictures of Boxing at. So he saw "up close" how amazing Billy Zoom is.  Ah!  I can small our neighbors flowers. 

            Over the last three days in my long books I've mentioned a few times how Mr. Steve likes "Three Piece" bands of bass, drums and guitar.   But he also likes a lot of bands who have two or three Guitarists too.  BLUE ÖYSTER CULT at times had three guitar players up there. 

         Someday I really want to hear that ZZ TOP song about drinking beer, and also that other one I wrote about called "La Grange" too.   Like the BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, Mr. Steve first saw ZZ TOP play at the Hollywood Palladium as one of those opening acts.  Flowers smell good.      

                                                              THEN                                ZZ TOP                               NOW

            Daisy heard our boss, Miss Sandy and their friends saw ZZ TOP in 1974.  Soon after he and his friend Chris bought their album "Tres Hombres;" Spanish for "Three Men." Mr. Steve likes that song beer even though he doesn't raise Hell and has never liked the taste of beer.

                Mr. Steve read how QUEEN'S Brian May uses a metal coin instead of one of those plastic "Pics" I've written about.  Both times our boss and Miss Sandy saw QUEEN play it was obvious how good Brian May was.  At the Forum that Irish band THIN LIZZY opened up for them.

           Brian May and his father built his red girl guitar, and from what Daisy says he gets some unique and unusual sounds out of her that don't sound like a guitar.  Some of QUEEN'S songs are those "Anthems" I've mentioned before.  Fred, Ed and Ted are flying toward the east.   

                      

                         WITH HIS CHILDREN                BRIAN MAY                               CUSTOM GUITAR

              

          Our Chief told Mr. Dave he gave that kid Jason a dime to use instead of a pic.  He liked it a lot I guess, because it gave it a different sound.  One of Mr. Dave's Motorcycle Shop customers told him one time how Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP has at times used coins to play his guitars.

          It's interesting how that guy Brian May calls his custom built red guitar the "Old Lady."  I just thought of how in 1990 our boss and Miss Harriet saw Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jeff Beck play that concert down at the "Sports Arena."  Andy's over there sniffing the air right now.

         Someday I want to hear some of the songs by that 1960's band the YARDBIRDS.  It's hard to believe Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page at one time or another played guitar in that band.  For some reason our boss says, in 1990 Jeff Beck seemed a bit "distracted" that night.

                        

                                                                                                   THE  YARDBIRDS     

             (JEFF BECK ON LEFT / JIMMY PAGE THIRD FROM LEFT)     

            

           Dais says our boss has an old YARDBIRDS vinyl record.  He played it for Jason who liked how on the song "Heart Full of Soul" Jeff Beck makes his guitar sound sort of like one of those sitars I've written about.  Speedy Gonzalez just now ran bye in front of the Sheds. 

       Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet saw the Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jeff Beck concert down at the Sports Arena.   That's where, a few years before; our boss and that Writer Mr. Steve saw DEF      LEPPARD play.  Speedy left behind some of his scent which just floated over to the Patio.             

        In the late 1980's Miss Harriet's father bought season tickets for the Basketball "Clippers," so Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet went to a few games at the Sports Arena.   The Clippers, at that    time; used to play all of their "Home" games there.   Dawn's over there barking right now.                        

         SPORTS ARENA                                               MR. STEVE WITH MOM  

 (DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES)                                            (NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM)

         Throughout my three long books I've talked a lot about the different "Art Exhibits" Mr. Steve and his mother had back in the early 1990's.  Boy!  I can't wait to someday see those four    paintings Mr. Steve's mom did hanging in his bedroom.  And I also want to see his office too.        

           Mr. Steve and his mom's art spent that whole year at the "Natural History" Museum next to the Sports Arena, near where the "Coliseum" and U.S.C. College campus is located.  I looked up in time to see Benjamin running bye the Sheds.  It's getting darker so he blends in more.          

         Daisy told, me when our boss wants to show people an example of a Guitarist being able to go "smoothly and fluidly" from "rhythm to lead and back;" he plays them Stevie Ray Vaughn's song "Scuttle Buttin."  I guess it's one of those "Instrumentals."  A Train whistled faintly.                  

                                                                      STEVIE RAY VAUGHN / JEFF BECK

            Boy!  It's too bad Stevie Ray Vaughn got killed in that Helicopter crash. Thinking about it right now is making me think about how Heathcliff won't be around any  more.   Oh!  I just now  noticed I forgot to write about that L.A. Punk band X.  I smell Libby over eating her hay.             

            One time our boss and Mr. Dave, who also saw them play; talked about how X's music is kind of like 1950's "Rockabilly" in a modern Hard Rock form.  Daisy heard John Doe, who sings and plays bass; was then married to the girl Singer "Exene."  Libby has such a good scent.  

           Daisy says John Doe and Exene's voices "blend together" in good harmonies.  Mr. Dave said he really admired how good X's Drummer "Bonebrake" is.  On just a small drum kit he can keep a steady consistent "In the Pocket" beat.   And his "Fills" are really good too I guess.                                              

                  

                                                                      THE BAND X  

               Mr. Steve thinks, "as talented as everyone is in X," it's Billy Zoom's unbelievably good guitar playing that "gives them the edge."  And seeing him play up close that time at the Country Club was "amazing" he's told Mr. Dave and Mr. Rich before.   He "makes it look so easy." 

              As I've mentioned before, the city of "Reseda" is located in the western part of the "San Fernando Valley."  Mr. Steve's sister Susan's Condominium nearby, in "Tarzana;" was destroyed in the 1994 "Northridge" earthquake.  She later got married and moved to Connecticut.

            Rockabilly music, through guys like Gene Vincent and early Elvis; began in the 1950's.  I guess our boss likes their songs but prefers the harder rock way Billy Zoom plays it.  One time a "Reviewer" said Billy Zoom's guitar playing was at times like being "punched in the gut."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             BILLY ZOOM / TOP JIMMY (1955-2001)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

 

                    One time Miss Harriet got an assignment from "Music Connection" Magazine to go see a Singer named "Top Jimmy" play at the "Palomino" in North Hollywood.  Dais says Billy Zoom helped him out that night by showing up to play guitar.   A Train just now whistled faintly.

           Daisy heard our Chief tell Mr. Dave Top Jimmy was one of X's "Roadies."   He sounded a lot like Jim Morrison but, even though he was born in 1955 like Mr. Steve; ended up dying young of alcoholism.  I've mentioned how Miss Harriet and her mom lived in North Hollywood.

            You know God, so many people die every day, and so do Dogs and Cats too.  But every time today that I think about death I can't help but think about Heathcliff.   According to what Daisy heard, VAN HALEN'S Singer David Lee Roth wrote a song about Top Jimmy one time. 

                                              

       HIGH DESERT SUNSET       

            

          Our boss and Mr. Dave talked about this documentary movie about the Punk scene in late 1970's L.A. called the "Decline of Civilization."  Part of that movie was about the band X and in that part you can see Top Jimmy with them.  Donald and Daisy are quacking over there.     

         Top Jimmy died because of drinking too much alcohol, Jim Morrison from drugs.  They, Janice Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix; were called by a man on this tv show to be like "flares" who "burnt out early."  At least Heathcliff had a long life, at least a long life as far as Roosters go. 

        I just thought about how the DOORS got their name from the title of Aldous Huxley's book "The Doors of Perception.   And he got it from a phrase in that British Writer William Blake's  early 18th century poem.   It's getting darker, and I sure wish I could hear Heathcliff again.      

                                          WILLIAM BLAKE  (1757-1827)                                             THE DOORS                 

PAINTING BY THOMAS PHILLIPS                                                                                                                                     

                   

           Mr. Dave read about when Jim Morrison went to U.C.L.A., where Miss Emily works.  He studied film making but since a kid had read a lot of "Literature," which is how he knew about William Blake.  I've mentioned before that Jim Morrison admired Friedrich Nietzsche.

          Oh!  Goliath is crawling under Moe the Shed, and is what in the darkening time looks from here like a dead Rat.  Because of the time of day it is there are now a lot of things around here looking for food.  Andy's over there staring at Goliath and keeping a close eye on him.  

          I just thought of those German words our Chief told Samantha about.  My Dictionary says “Shadenfruede” means "to take pleasure in others misfortune.” Daisy and I aren't like that, but are more like the phrase "Gemoitlich zuzamen;" or "a warm feeling around each other."

          

                    SHERMAN / GRANT                                             JACKSON / LEE

               

                I just thought about how Daisy and I make a good team, like in the Civil War when Grant worked with Sherman and Lee was "Stonewall" Jackson's boss.  We're like what many think the "Yin and Yang" logo represents.   She's always predictable while I'm at times not so much.

           Sometimes Daisy calms me down when I get too excited but, at times I get her “fired up!” when she's tired.  We try to help each other and are always there for each other Daisy and I and that's why we're best friends!  Thank all of You Guys up there for helping me down here!

         Mr. Steve seems to think it's funny to call me “Chaos” and Daisy "Order,” which I think I get; even though I'm way better at controlling my emotions and being disciplined now.  In fact, I think writing these three long books has helped me a lot.  Thank Everyone for my good life.  

                                                                                              

        CAIN AND ABEL                                               ROMULUS AND REMUS   

                    

            Because Mr. Steve thinks most things in life are dual in nature, he reminds others that, while there are positive stories about two individuals cooperating; there are other stories about the opposite.  In the Old Testament that guy "Cain" killed his brother "Abel."  I smell Sage. 

            Daisy says in one of her episodes that British lady Mary Beard talked about how, in the story of ancient Rome's "Founding;" one brother "Romulus" killed his brother "Remus."  Mr. Steve has known people who were friends until they became "Roommates."  Sage smells good.

           Sometimes those who are the closest to you are the ones who can do you the most harm.  A person's children can give you the greatest pleasure in life, but they can also give you the most pain too.  Oh!  All of a sudden I just thought about our boss's 1985 trip to Italy and Israel.

            

CITY OF ROME   

  

                  I've written about how, in 1985 Mr. Steve took his Time-Life book on Rome and walked around the city.  He visited a Museum with a lot of what they call "Busts" or what my Dictionary says is; "A sculpture of a person's head and shoulders."  Andy's over there sniffing the air.

            Sitting on the table in the front dining room are some busts I notice, one of that Roman Goddess "Diana;" another one of Mozart.  Near the living room fireplace is a bust of that guy Abraham Lincoln.  Mr. Steve's father bought that one many years ago from what Dais heard.

           In ancient Rome a leader had to always keep "Looking over your Shoulder" as they say, as there was always someone trying to kill you.  Mr. Steve noticed in that Museum with those busts how many of the different Emperors were assassinated or died violently.  Andy smells good.  

                                                             "WILD" BILL HICKOCK (1837-1876)     

         

          I guess being an Emperor in Rome was sort of like being an Old West Gunslinger like that guy "Wild" Bill Hickock.  There was always someone around who hoped to kill you.  But instead of wanting power it was "Bragging Rights" on being better than you were using guns.

         Because he was probably addicted to gambling Mr. Steve thinks Wild Bill hickock made a big mistake in taking a chair at a poker table with back to the door.   So he didn't see the guy who shot him come in the saloon.   He was holding that "Dead Man's Hand" of "Aces and Eights." 

        Another thing Mr. Steve noticed in walking around that Museum in Rome was how often it was the "Praetorian Guards," who were supposed to be protecting them; who ended up killing a lot of the Roman Emperors.  A Motorcycle just went bye out there on Primavera Road.
                                          

                        CALIGULA (12 B.C.-41 A.D.)                        TIBERIUS (42 B.C.-37 A.D.)

     

             Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph one time a lot of people, like Emperor "Claudius" for example; were poisoned through their food and drink.  That's why they often had those "Food Tasters" Slaves.  The Praetorian Guards killed "Caligula" and possibly "Tiberius" too.

             I've said before how Mr. Steve and his father both say it seems like in history "peace, love and understanding" are not as common "war, hate and intolerance.   Daisy says Caligula had the Grandson of Tiberius killed because as a possible threat to his throne.  I can smell Mesquite. 

            Boy!  It would hurt so much to be stabbed to death with a sword, which is often how you were killed back in the ancient world.  Yesterday I wrote about Emperor "Nero," had that Slave kill him because the Praetorian Guards were on the way to do it.  Mesquite smells so good.

                          

                                                               NERO (54-68 A.D.)   

        

            Yesterday I wrote about the Emperor "Nero" who, either killed himself or had a Slave do it for him; because he heard his Praetorian Guard was on the way.  His last words were; "What an artist dies with me."  He killed his own mom, who was the one who poisoned Claudius.   

           I guess, almost all of the ancient Roman Emperors were at times "Cruel," but some like Nero and Caligula seemed worse.  Nero burned alive all those Christians as scapegoats for that time the city of Rome burned.  Max and 99 just zoomed bye and I didn't hear them coming.

       Boy Lord!  Those early Christians must've been screaming so much as they burned when Nero "impaled" them and then set them on fire.  He supposedly used their burning bodies as his "Torches" to what my Encyclopedia says "light up the night.  Ah!  I'd hate burn to death.             

     

ROMAN CRUCIFIXION 

      

            Hey Lord!  If anyone knows how the Romans were experts in inflicting pain it was You.   It seems like that guy Pontius Pilate killed You more for "Political" reasons than anything else.  He just wanted to "Send a Message" to the other Jews not to cause any trouble by rioting.

            I just thought of how Caligula's father "Germanicus," a famous General; was poisoned.  And then for a while Caligula had to go live out on that island of "Capri" with that crazy guy Tiberius; who probably had his father killed.  So he saw "First Hand" extreme cruelty.

           A few years ago Mr. Steve met an older Italian lady who said it's possible it was Caligula himself who killed Tiberius by strangling him.  Some say one of the Praetorian Guards used a pillow to smother him to death.  The shadows are now really leaning away from me over here.

                                 

TIBERIUS (42 B.C-37 A.D) 

                When he was living out there on that one island of Capri, Caligula saw Tiberius's cruelty "First Hand," or "Up Close and Personal" so to speak.  Tiberius threw people off this tall cliff so they'd die on the jagged rocks below near the Mediterranean Sea beach.  Dawn's barking.   

            If the people survived the rocks men in Rowboats bludgeoned them.  The Italian lady said "at first the common people" in the city of Rome "liked Caligula."   But he got sick, went into a coma; and came out really mean Dais heard.  He used "Fear and Intimidation" from then on. 

           The Italian lady said, "For amusement;" Caligula had people kill themselves at banquets, and killed his own relatives.  But, "in the end" she told our boss; "he angered his own Praetorian Guard so was "butchered" by some of them.  That lady Mary Beard talked about that too.  

                                      

                                                      JULIUS CAESAR (100-44 B.C.)

           Boy!  I've learned so much about Julius Caesar's eventful life, like him conquering those "Gaul's" in what is now "France."  He even has the month of "July" named after him; and the medical procedure called a "Caesarean Section" too.  He knew that girl "Cleopatra."

           If Mr. Steve could time travel Daisy and I are pretty sure he'd want to go back to ancient Rome and talk to Julius Caesar.  He once noticed that Julius Caesar died at the age of fifty six, the same age as Adolph Hitler.  He accomplished so much in his half a century down here. 

           I've said before how Julius Caesar was killed on March the 15th, which is called the "Ides of March."  Mr. Steve's sister Susan was born on the 16th.  Daisy says a customer told him about a Jazz Rock band from "Illinois" called the IDES OF MARCH.  Leo and Cleo just flew bye.

                    

          IDES OF MARCH           

     

                Daisy and Millie heard that band IDES OF MARCH'S hit song called called "Vehicle," which has horns on it similar to CHICAGO songs like "23 or 6 to 4."  It came out in 1970 when Mr. Steve was in 10th Grade at Alemany High School.  I smell Libby eating over there.

          That Parts Manager told our boss the IDES OF MARCH began in the 1960's, and got the band's name from Shakespeare's old play about Julius Caesar.  They were one of those "One Hit Wonders" I've written about.  Their song Vehicle made it to #10 on the "Billboard" charts.

          From what his customer told him that time, in 1970 IDES OF MARCH toured with LED ZEPPELIN.   And, in that year they opened up for JIMI HENDRIX and that girl Janis Joplin; a few months before they both died.   Birds are zooming around out there in the back desert. 

   

JEAN-LÉON GEROME         

       

            I just thought of how Romans enjoyed violence for entertainment, even calling it "Blood Sport."  I'm looking at the painting by that guy Jean-Léon Gerome where the winning Gladiator is asking the audience if they want him to kill his beaten opponent.  I'm glad I live now.

           Boy!  In the painting the Gladiator has his foot on the other guy's throat, holding him in place so he can stab him through the throat if the crowd wants him to do it.  I've written before about the ancient Roman saying, "Give him the Boot."  Andy's over there sniffing the air.

          Daisy's probably right when she says "Gladiatorial Games" were like modern Boxing, but way worse.   Our Chief, his mom and Samantha saw that Jean-Léon Gerome art exhibit up at the "Getty Museum" that time.  Mr. Steve's mom thinks "Gerome" was a great Painter.   

   

HEINRICH HIMMLER (1900-1945)

           Hey Lord!  Over the last three days in these long books I've found out how life can often be good and bad  Wow!  I'm looking at that quote bye Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Nazi Police.  I've mentioned before how SS just means "Schutzstaffel" or "Protection Squad."  

          It seems like war, hate and intolerance have often been more common than peace, love and understanding Lord.  That quote by Heinrich Himmler sounds like what the Spanish Inquisitor Torquemada or the Mafia's Murder Inc. leader Albert Anastasia would say.  I smell Sage.

         That Italian guy Machiavelli said it was more effective for a leader to be feared rather than loved.  Caligula one time thought the Gladiator Games were not bloody enough so changed the rules for more bloodshed.  The Italian lady said Caligula "took cruelty to a different level."   

              

"ALTA" CALIFORNIA

                   

           It's getting darker now, and in looking at my outline I see I still have to write a few things about "Alta" or "Upper" California.  I've mentioned a few times how the Spanish colonized our area in the late 18th century.   That new Hawk flew bye holding something dead in its mouth.

          After that 1821 revolution Alta California became part of "Mexico," until 1848 when the U.S. acquired the region after the Mexican War.  Gold was discovered in Northern California in 1848 so by 1851 we were an American state.  I smell Charley Company behind the Sheds.

          Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about California which said a man named Benjamin Davis Wilson was important in our State's history.  My Encyclopedia says he was originally from the State of "Tennessee."  He came to California twenty years before the American Civil War.  

                                                                                        BENJAMIN DAVIS WILSON (1811-1878) WITH SECOND WIFE

         

               I forgot to write about Benjamin Wilson yesterday when I wrote about that guy General Patton.  Benjamin Wilson was going to China but decided to stay in California.  When his first wife named "Ramona" like Daisy's Guardian Angel died; he remarried.  I smell Mesquite.

          Benjamin Wilson and his second wife ended up being George Patton's Grandparents.  In 1851 Benjamin Wilson was elected Mayor of L.A., after the Civil War in 1865 he became a State Senator.  Eventually he owned a lot of land in California and became very rich I guess.  

          All of a sudden I just thought about Benjamin Wilson's Grandson General Patton, who I wrote before died in a mysterious way almost as soon as World War II was over.  Even though the Soviet Union had been our ally in the war, he wanted to attack them.  Daffy's quacking.

 

GEORGE S. PATTON (0000-0000)

 

      Oh!  "Mount Wilson" in "Pasadena," near where Jackie Robinson grew up on "Wilson" Avenue; is named after Benjamin Wilson.  That Observatory where Albert Einstein visited, and a Pasadena school called "Don Benito;" is also named him too.  Mesquite smell so good to me.     

          

                                      BENJAMIN DAVIS WILSON (1870)                                       

                                                                                                 

             Daisy heard the man on the tv show says how for a few years Benjamin Davis Wilson was head of "Indian Affairs."  Unlike many other white men who held that job, he must've been nice to the Native people as his nickname was "Benigno;" Spanish for "Kind."  Dawn's barking.

             Mr. Dave read about Benjamin Wilson and said, even though most Native Californians respected him; one shot him with an arrow; which Mr. Benjamin "carried" in his shoulder until he died.  Mr. Steve's father knows people who have pieces of metal still inside of them too.

            Benjamin Wilson was, back in the 1850's before the Civil War;  what the Spanish called "Alcalde" of  San Bernardino.  Daisy heard how the title Alcalde is the Arabic word for "Village Chief" so; you could say Mr. Steve is kind of like our Alcalde I guess.  But we like it like that.

  

  LARRY CASTILLO / SON CHRIS           "BIG BEAR"                            BEATRICE CASTILLO                      

          I just thought about "Big Bear Lake," a "Resort" town where the Castillo's had the cabin Mr. Steve's family visited.  Daisy told me the tv show said Benjamin Wilson "explored" and later owned that land around "Big Bear."  The town is up in the "San Bernardino" mountains.             

       Daisy and Millie heard our boss tell Mr. Dave "Serrano" Indians, like the ones who lived near us over here in Piñon Hills; have been in the Big Bear Lake for a few thousand years.  Mr.    Steve was told movies like "Gone With the Wind" have been filmed there.  I smell Mesquite.        

        I guess, at one time those big huge "Grizzly" Bears lived in the mountains of Big Bear but Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave he was told the last one was killed way back in 1908.  But they still have those "Black" Bears over there.  Smelling Mesquite right now makes me feel good.        

                             "GRIZZLY" BEAR                                                  "BLACK" BEAR                         

              

        From what Daisy heard, Bears usually live in forests and mountains like the ones to our south.  Boy!  If a Bear ever invaded our land it would be hard to fight it, because all Bears have    way bigger and sharper claws and teeth than Dais or I do.  We'd just have to do our best.              

            Daisy and Millie saw a tv show which showed this Grizzly Bear tossing a big Deer around where the man described it as looking like a "Rag Doll."  I've never seen a Rag Doll but Dais has and told me they're very light in weight.   Bears are really strong and good fighters too. 

                 According to what Dais heard, Boxers like Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and this other guy named Shane Mosley have trained in Big Bear for their fights.  And so did Fernando Vargas who's from the city of "Oxnard."      

  

 HIGH DESERT SUNSET

PHOTO BY STEVE SHAMES

            Looking over at our water bowl near the sliding glass door makes me think of how those "Lakota" Sioux Indians say "Water is Life."  We're in a drought but Dais and I are so lucky to be able to drink water any time we want with no limit.  A small group of Birds are flying bye.

       

           WILLIAM MULHOLLAND (1855-1935)                  "CALIFORNIA" AQUEDUCT

            Over the last three days I've learned about that man William Mulholland, who in 1913 oversaw the building of that Aqueduct near us taking water down to Los Angeles.   The city could not be as big as it is if not for Mr. William our Chief says.  

                Because his father beat him, I guess Mr. William ran away from home in "Ireland" and joined the British Navy; arriving out here in California after the Civil War.   He 

            Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Randy that, if there ever is a big natural disaster; we can at least try to catch Fish in the Aqueduct and also get some water.  I noticed how Mr. Randy thought that was kind of funny.  We have that fire pit our boss will cook food in if there's ever a need. 

   

                       "OPENING" CEREMONY (1913)                       "SYLMAR" GATES 

   Aqueduct  built  1913;  same year Sylmar changed name from Morningside. 

       Mr. Steve dug a pit fires there.  We could cook the Fish. We  love  taste  Fish! 

 water in Aqueductcoming  northern California;  "Owens Valley."   two hundred and fifty away.  

  

       Oh!   want to thank you  Stanley.   watched over me for three days but today more it seems; 

      Lilith, even though you haven't been around for three days you might as well not show up when I'm this close to finishing my three books.  It's late in the day Lilith and I "can see light at the end of the tunnel" as they say.  So there's no chance I'm going to be lazy at this point.

         Mulholland building of  Aqueduct  huge.  later"adviser"  "Panama Canal" "Hoover Dam" 

     Mr.  thinks Mulholland most likely used gravity to move water  going downward.  probably studied how Roman engineers moved water i Franciscan Priests  built Aqueducts 

       

       1877 when Mulhalland came  LA  nine thousand people.  by 1913 one hundred thousand peopl forty four square miles

     By 1920 LA "encompassed"  three hundred and sixty square miles five hundred thousand  because of the Aqueduct.  Sylmar where  water enters LA  

 

      Because Mr. Steve grew up in the Northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley he knew all about the Los Angeles Aqueduct even before moving up here.  

      in 1913, in Sylmar, when William Mulholland "officiated" the ceremony opening up the Aqueduct, he just said "take it" when the water gates were opened. 

       The Doobie Brothers. from northern California  song  "China Grove."   good guitar and piano .   Doobie Brothers sing good.

      looked at a Doobie Brothers album cover.  It showed them in 19th century clothes riding in a Stage Coach.     The pictures were taken in Sylmar; near the Aqueduct.                                                                       

 one of the pictures on that Doobie Brothers album cover showed them under a part of a Freeway which had collapsed two years before in the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake.  same section also fell over in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.                          

  Hey Lord!  As you know, someday I want to hear that song by the DOOBIE BROTHERS called "Jesus is Just Alright."  Dais says it's so good.  Our boss told her and Millie that for a while the    DOOBIE BROTHERS were like the GRATEFUL DEAD in having two drummers.                                            

 BYRDS did a version of Jesus is Just Alright.  And so did that Surf band the VENTURES.  Eric Clapton covered it too. And then there was a Christian Heavy Metal band called STRYPER who played their heavy interpretation of it.           

   STRYPER.  They're from "Orange County" and in the 1980's were a Heavy Metal Hair band that wore all black and yellow suits as a gimmick.   STRYPER'S musical      instruments were also black and yellow.                                                         

   STRYPER had the same "color scheme" as the professional sports teams from Pittsburgh.  But the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates also used white with yellow and black.             

   Mulholland.  Down in Los Angeles they even named this road after him.  But then, toward the end of his life, a disaster happened when one of his Dams broke and killed people.                                                                      

      Mr. Mark, who worked with our Chief but now lives over there in Hawaii; before that lived with his family "Green Valley."  It'sat the end of  "San   Francisquito Canyon."                                                                            

   in 1928 the Dam at the top of San Francisquito Canyon broke and drowned or killed over six hundred people before it stopped all the way down at the coast of  the Pacific Ocean.  That Dam was named after Saint Francis.                                                     

 

   after the water flooded out of San Franciquito Canyon it "rampaged" through the towns of "Valencia" and "Newhall."  The water then went all the way down to the     beach;  a coastline which is over fifty miles away!                                                                                 

   historian named William Karl said; "The history of California in the 20th century is the history of a state inventing itself with water."   I'll bet he thought, like Mr. Steve, that drought       has had a huge influence on mankind's history.                                                                                     

   he thinks it was probably a long drought in the 9th century A.D. that destroyed the powerful Mayan Empire down there in Central America.  And in ancient Egypt      the Old Kingdom was ended by drought.                                                                                                         

    California is the eighth biggest economy in the whole world!   And a big part of that is our method of moving water from one place to another.  Mr. Steve says that       improvements were made from 1970 through the 1990's.                                                                     

    Mr. Cliff, who fought in the Vietnam War, is interested in the subject of "Meteorology."  He says California's population doubled from 1970 until the year 2000.  And      during that period it rained more than usual.                                                     

     Mr. Cliff says the last one hundred and fifty years have been "wetter" in California than usual.  And California is known by scientists to be "subject to unpredictable weather patterns."   For most of the Southwest's history he says the climate has been much drier.                                   

       In fact Mr. Cliff says, there have been "dry spells" or "mega-droughts here that have lasted about one hundred years!  That means the drought we're in now could be at just the beginning.                                                                                    

    Just like you can study the "rings" in trees to see weather patterns, Mr. Cliff says "core samples" from way down deep in the ground prove that the Southwest once had a drought in the 9th century which lasted for nearly two hundred years!                                

     From what Mr. Cliff told our boss, in the 1200's there was another drought here in California that was one hundred and fifty years long.   Both Mr. Steve and his friend Cliff think they need    to collect all "runoff" rain a lot better here in California.                                                                    

    Our Chief and his friend Rick know about taking salt out of water.  In Israel and also over on Catalina Island Mr. Steve visited "desalination" plants and thinks someday California will have    more of them.                                                                              

   Mr. Cliff says California's water system is built around melting snow but if there's less snow to run off then there's also less water.  He thinks you need to reward people's good behavior in    saving water instead of punishing them for not doing it.                                                                     

 Mr. Steve and his friend Rick know about "reverse osmosis;" which means cleaning and then re-using sewer water.  Daisy told me what sewer water is and that sounds kind of gross. But our  boss says it works really good and you can even drink it.  Yuk!                                                         

   If you cleaned sewer water you could "recover" eighty percent of it our Chief says.  Mr. Cliff says there hasn't been any "new water" for billions of years.  We're now still drinking the same   water that the Dinosaurs drank he says.                                                                                                

    So Mr. Cliff jokes we're already drinking sewer water!  It's just that through the millions of years nature has purified it on its own.  Boy, writing about water sure makes me thirsty.   I see      the bucket of water near  sliding glass door.                                                                                  

 Mr. Cliff says in Southern California there are a lot of these areas called "Watersheds."  Those are low areas where rain collects.  For thousands of years the Native Indians here set up their villages close to them so they could get the water and things that live around them.                       

 

"WIYOT"S CHILDREN (GABRIELINO VILLAGE OF "SA-ANGNA)

PAINTING BY MARY LEIGHTON THOMSON

    Mr. Steve says the Priests at the Spanish Missions also knew about and used the natural Watersheds.  And so did the people who lived here after Mexico broke away from Spain.  But       now paved roads and concrete covers so much of modern California.                                               

       That guy Mr. Cliff agrees with our boss.  Los Angeles seems to have no interest in adapting to the natural Watersheds any more.  Today "Dams," "Culverts" and "Channels," and a lot of    cement, have been used to try to control nature.  But now we're in a really big drought.                 

       Mr. Cliff thinks Los Angeles should create more water catching areas and also study how the Indians used their knowledge of the way Mountains, Canyons, Wash's and also what they call       "Aquifers" were "interconnected."                        

       definition of an Aquifer is; "permeable underground rock that can contain or move groundwater."  And I guess that "permeable" means spaces in rock       where water can sit or move through.                                         

  Mr. Cliff says, one hundred years ago in "Pomona Valley," the Fruit growers worked with the local government to build these areas called "spreading   grounds" that allowed surface water to sink down into the Aquifers below.  More people should do that too he thinks.                                 

                  IMPERIAL VALLEY

 

 during the Winter the "Imperial Valley" and Arizona's "Yuma"  District, produces ninety percent of the vegetables for the United States.  So, if anything ever happens to   our water supply it's "bad news" he says.                                                                                                                                            

    A while back our Chief met an older man at the Phelan Library.  He told Mr. Steve about this guy named Charles Hatfield.  In 1915, right after the Los Angeles Aqueduct was opened, he was  hired by San Diego to make it rain because they were in a drought like the one we're in.                  

CHARLES HATFIELD (1875-1958)

 

  Charles Hatfield claimed he had a secret formula of chemicals that could produce rain.  He and his brother set up a tower east of San Diego and shot something up  into the sky.  Some people now call it "cloud-seeding."                                                                     

     Whatever that guy Charles Hatfield did worked.  In fact, it worked too well.  What they call a "downpour" happened and thirty inches of rain fell on San Diego.  Fifty people died   so everyone was really mad at Charles Hatfield.                                                                                                                    

 I guess Charles Hatfield had to "get out of Dodge" as they say because there were those who wanted to kill him.  He never got paid.  Boy, too bad we couldn't find out what he did because      we could maybe make a lot of money.                                                                                                    

  I just looked up "Operation Popeye" which was an attempt by the United States military to create rain during the Vietnam War.  It lasted from 1967 through 1972; when Mr. Steve was in    the eleventh grade at Sylmar High.                                                                                                        

   This is interesting.  Just like that man Charles Hatfield, the U.S. military used cloud-seeding to to make the "monsoon" season longer so it would turn the dirt roads used by the Viêt Công and North Vietnamese into "quagmires."  Here's a map of it here in this Encyclopedia.                                             

  

    The supply roads the North Vietnamese were using were called the "Hô chi minh Trail."  This is because the leader of North Vietnam at that time was a man named Hô chi minh.  For      many years he had been one of the most respected leaders in Vietnam.                                             

 From what it says here the U.S. cloud seeding, just like Charles Hatfields, worked too well.  It did make the rainy season longer.  A few years ago Mr. Steve met this nice man from Vietnam.     He said relatives drowned because of Operation Popeye.  I just looked up Hô chi minh.              

 

HÔ CHI MINH (1111-1111)

     I guess Hô chi minh was a famous Communist leader.  Even back when Vietnam was a French colony called "Indochina" he was a leader.  He fought against the Japanese and in 1954 helped    slaughter the French at the battle of "Dien Bien Phu" which I wrote about yesterday.                                                                                                                                                                                          Even though France had been conquered by Hitler's Germany in 1940 after the war they wanted their colonies back.  But in Vietnam the people fought against it and kicked the French out.      Later Mao tse-tung in China helped Hô chi minh fight the Americans.                                             

  It says here that once the United States left Vietnam in the mid-1970's the North Vietnamese renamed the city of "Saigon."  It's now called "Hô chi minh city."  Hô chi minh died in 1969 so     he wasn't around to see that happen.                                                                       

   Mr. Steve thinks weather patterns have often influenced human history; sometimes for good and sometimes for not so good.  After the last Ice Age ended about ten thousand years ago people then moved down into North and South America.                                                                                 

 One person who benefited from good weather were the Vikings in the 8th century.  When it warmed up it allowed them and their Long Ships to travel all the way to the area off of Canada    and also down rivers all over Europe and other places.  But then it got cold again.                                                                                                                                                                 

    Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  It says that Charles Hatfield and William Mulholland are buried at the Glendale "Forrest Lawn" cemetery.  Our Chief knows of other people who are buried there.  A Lizard is standing near the tree.                                                                                 

   When our Chief and his friend Mark worked for the sports teams in the mid-1980's they knew an older lady named Helen Graham.   She was also a salesman; or a "saleswoman." And Helen    Graham died and is buried at Forrest Lawn in Glendale too.                                                             

 Even though she wasn't on my outline I feel like writing about that lady Helen Graham.  Mr. Steve says she lived in Glendale and worked right up until she died in her 80's; not because she    had to work but because she wanted to work.                                                                                        

    lady Helen Graham, just like the Nuns at Saint Ferdinands and many of the other older ladies he's known, made a big impression on him.  She    was one of the most "conscientious" people our boss has ever known.                                               

  Helen Graham graduated from U.C.L.A. where Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Emily works.  She was an "Alumni" and used to buy season seats for U.C.L.A. Football games at the Rose Bowl.       Her mind was still good right up to the time she died our Chief told us.                                            

   In the last years of her life Helen Graham couldn't "get around" as easily.  She was over six feet tall, about an inch taller than Mr. Steve.  But she wanted to attend Football games. She only could stand up for about ten hours per day so "rationed" that time.                                                        

   Helen Graham had a bad back so needed someone to take her to the U.C.L.A. games.  Mr. Steve at times took her because she could hold onto his arm as they walked; the way President     Franklin Roosevelt did with his son to hide that he had polio.                                                            

     On the day of a Football game Miss Helen laid on her back until Mr. Steve called her from Sylmar to say he was on his way. Then, she got up so when Mr. Steve showed up at her house in   Glendale they just left right away for the game.                                                      

   Dais says our Chief told her and Millie the seats at the Rose Bowl were too small.  He joked the Rose Bowl must've been made when people were much smaller or maybe it was designed for  midgets.  Mr. Steve says it gets hot sometimes at the Rose Bowl.                                                        

    At times our boss thinks about Helen Graham.  He remembers how logical and intelligent she was even though she was "up in age" as they say.  One time he had a dream where he met Helen  at that house in Beverly Hills "Pickfair."  They hugged each other and talked.                                                                                 

  As I mentioned yesterday in book two, Pickfair was the big mansion built by those Silent Movie Actors Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Mary Pickford.  Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was in that movie called "The Gaucho;" for which U.C.S.B. sports teams were named.            

                      

    

                                                  DOUGLAS FAIRBANAKS / MARY PICKFORD AT "PICKFAIR"                                                                              

   Pickfair was the first house in Los Angeles to have a swimming pool built in the ground.  Mr. Steve's brother Sam has a pool cleaning business in Littlerock and that area.                                                                               

 Wow!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this!  It says here Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford made some of their Silent Movies up here in the High Desert.  And the first movie they ever made for their own company was a movie about Zorro called "The Mark of Zorro."                                 

     As I mentioned, close to where Mr. Steve's friend Rick lives with his wife Linda, that other Silent Movie Actor named William S. Hart had his house in Newhall.  Now it's a nice Western Museum I guess.  They used to even have some Buffaloes and Peacocks there.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

     Oh my God!  When movies had sound that man John Wayne made a few movies up near Apple Valley where that guy Roy Rogers and his family lived after they moved from Chatsworth down in the San Fernando Valley.                                                         

      A lot of famous people visited Pickfair over the years; like Albert Einstein, H.G. Wells, and even President Franklin Roosevelt.  That's what Mr. Steve told us.  Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh also went to some of the gatherings there.                                                                                     

   Well You Guys, I'm glad I wrote about Helen Graham.  Dais says Mr. Steve admired her a lot.  Hey!  Was it You Guys who made me all of a sudden think about Helen Graham?  You know I       really want to meet her up there in Heaven.                                                                                         

Mr. Steve says Michael Jackson is buried at the Glendale Forrest Lawn.  He said that cemetery has replicas of Michelangelo statues, a stained-glass window of Da Vinci's "Last Supper" and a big painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.                                                          

      Wow!  A lot of famous people are buried at the Glendale Forrest Lawn cemetery.  Actors like Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor and two Marx Brothers are there.  Oh!  Larry from The Three Stooges, writer Louis L'Amour and Walt Disney are there.                                          

     man who ran Glendale Forrest Lawn was made fun of by Aldous Huxley who thought it was very ridiculous to have artwork and things like that in a cemetery.  But Mr. says he sort of likes it and doesn't mind it at all.                                                  

    Our boss has been to many cemeteries.   He's seen Marilyn Monroe's grave in Westwood and a bronze statue of Joey Ramone in Hollywood.  In 2008 he visited "Arlington" National Cemetery   in Washington D.C. where this guy named Audie Murphy is buried.                                                    

AUDIE MURPHY (1925-1971)      

          

 Audie Murphy was one of the most "decorated" soldiers in World War II.  Born in Texas, he later lived in California.  His father abandoned he and his eleven siblings    and their mother died.  So, like Annie Oakley, he hunted to make money.                                        

   Audie Murphy sure killed a lot of Germans in the Second World War!  And after the war he became an actor.  He even "played himself" one time.  But he developed a gambling habit so lost most of his money.  Mr. Steve thinks "Sports Betting" is a dumb thing to do.                                           

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY     

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA          

                                                                        

After World War II Audie Murphy got married and they moved out here to California.  He raised Race Horses and raced them at Del Mar.  He and his wife "Pamela" had two children.   

    It seems like a lot of people die in plane crashes; the singer John Denver and the Boxer Rocky Marciano too.  Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly were killed in 1959 and that guy Audie Murphy died in a plane accident in 1971.  

   

AUDIE MURPHY AND FAMILY 

 

     After Audie Murphy died his wife got a "clerk" job at the Veteran's Hospital in "Sepulveda" near Sylmar.  Mr. Steve has been there with his father who goes there all the time.  Mr.  Steve's     father got to know Pamela Murphy and says she was a good person.                                                 

    Our Chief says until she died Mrs. Murphy was an "advocate" for ex-soldiers. But to some people she became a "nuisance" so they tried to fire her.  But Mr. Steve's father and some other   veterans made such a big "stink" about it that she was re-hired.               

 A few years ago our boss met a lady who told him her mother had been a pilot during World War II.  That lady's mom and about one thousand other females worked here "stateside" so the   men could go "overseas" to fight against the Germans, Japanese and Italians.                               

   That lady said after the Second World War her mom and the other female pilots weren't even given what they all "Veteran" status.  This means that they are "ineligible" for the same benefits that the male pilots got.                                                     

      To this day I guess, the U.S. Army, which runs the Arlington Cemetery, doesn't allow those female pilots from World War II to be buried there.  They were called "W.A.S.P.S." or "Women  Airforce Service Pilots."  Mr. Steve thinks that's wrong.  Me too!                                                       

  Yesterday when I wrote about the Vietnam War I forgot to write about this one girl name Dickey Chapelle.  She was a "Journalist" who was killed in Vietnam.  At that time she was out     "in the combat field" as what they call a "War Correspondent."                                                       

                                                                 DICKEY CHAPELLE (1919-1965)                                     

 

   Wow!  That girl Dickey Chapelle must have been brave.  Not only did she go into "harms way" and get killed by Shrapnel in Vietnam; she started as a Reporter in World War II.  There     are two pictures of her here in this Encyclopedia.                            

   Oh!  Mr. Steve will be interested in this. According to my Encyclopedia the last words Dickey Chapelle said to the Priest giving her "Last Rites" in this picture were; "I guess it was bound to   happen."                                                                               

   Well, I didn't intend to write so much about females in or around the military but that's okay.  I've done that so many times over the last three days I'm used to it now.  But right now I'll go back and finish up writing about cemeteries our boss has spoken about.                                      

      in times of war Dais says Mr. Steve told her and Millie that the prettiest cemetery he's ever been to was the "Fort Rosecrans" cemetery down in San Diego.  It'hs up on this tall hill called "Point Loma" and  overlooks San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean.