Book 3 First Half Chapter 7

                                                                                                                         III

  OPEN SKIES ABOVE DESERT

 

           Wow!  This is chapter seven so I'm halfway done with this third and final book.  I notice how the shadows are slightly leaning away from me over here on Elvira.  The Sun is now all the way on the other side of the house, which reminds me of the last two days after chapter six.  

            Cher is sitting up on Moe grooming herself and Fannie and Freddie are flying bye.  All day long in the back of my mind I've been thinking about how Heathcliff is gone but life goes on no matter what.  Boy!  I can't wait to go up front to visit with Dais after this chapter.   

            A thin line of Ants is marching bye on the other side of Miss Emily's old coffee table.  Hey God!  It's hard to believe this will be my last day writing and I have only about six more hours to go in order to complete my three long books.  Ah!  A breeze blew in the scent of Roses.

          

                               ROSES ("SAN FERNANDO MISSION" / "EAST" GARDEN)

                                                                     PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

           

               Oh!  I smell our neighbors Roses over there next door.  I've mentioned a few times in my books how Mr. Steve had some of his photographs of Roses in the different Art Exhibits he and his mother had back in the early 1990's.  Cher just noticed me sitting over here on Elvira. 

           I think I want to be like Daisy wants to believe the blooming of our neighbor's flowers is a good omen for the year, even though Heathcliff died.   Two Motorcycles went bye out there on Primavera Road and left floating dust behind.  Cher just put her head down and is resting.  

          For some reason I just thought of those "Tulip" flowers which, as I've mentioned before; Mr. Steve's mom and Niece Stephanie used to raise.  Ah!  I just inhaled in a breath of fresh air through both of my two nostrils.   Some puffy clouds are spread out up there in the sky. 

             

   "TULIPS"   

                

                  It's too bad Heathcliff isn't around to enjoy this beautiful day but, like Daisy said earlier this morning; at least the last two days of his life were especially nice.  In many years she says, it can sometimes be really cold in the beginning of Spring.  Two Pigeons just flew bye.

            All of a sudden I just thought of what the Lakota Sioux Warriors yelled in 1876 as they rushed out to defend their women and children from George Custer's 7th Cavalry, "Hoka Hey!" or; "It's a good day to die."  Dawn's barking and I know Blinky's standing near her.    

            I just looked up tulips and my Encyclopedia says they originally grew "wild" in Northern Africa and that area now called "Turkey."  I guess they "bloom" only for about ten days.  Boy! I sure do hope God that someday I'll be able to see, smell and touch some real live tulips.  

   THEODORA 

 

            Oh!  I just glanced up and I see Theodora over there in her favorite Creosote bush near Jack.  And now the strong scent of all the little white and yellow Creosote flowers just floated all the way over here to me sitting on Elvira.  Cher is now sleeping up there on top of Moe. 

            I guess tulips start as a "Bulb" instead of a seed like other flowers and there are now two thousand different "varieties" of them.  They've been what they call "cultivated" and since the 16th century.  Ah!  Speedy Gonzalez went running bye right now in front of the Sheds.  

           As I've mentioned, the 1600's or 17th century; is now called the "Golden Age" of "Dutch" history.  The "Netherlands" had colonies, like New York City for example; around the world.  In parts of the Netherlands, like "Holland;" tulips became money and a symbol of wealth. 

                  

                                                    THE "NETHERLANDS" ("HOLLAND")

                                                                                               

           My Encyclopedia says tulips were "introduced" to Europe in the late 1500's.  A picture of Holland shows rows of them in front of those "Windmills" I wrote about in learning about that guy Don Quixote and that town of "Solvang" here in California.  I can smell some Juniper.

           When she was in College at C.S.U.N. in the 1980's Mr. Steve's mom learned about tulips. Between 1634 and 1637; an "Obsession" with them "Took Hold" in Holland.  I guess many of the people there even began to treat their tulips as if they were a precious metal like gold.

           Oh!  The Dutch "Tulip Market," in 1637; "crashed" in 1637 so everyone lost their money.  Mr. Steve's dad was a "Stock Broker" and had that school for Stock Brokers in the late 1960's and early 1970's.  I've mentioned how the first "Stock Exchange" was in the Netherlands.

       

            1930'S "GREAT DEPRESSION"                              N.Y. "STOCK EXCHANGE"

   

          Mr. Steve's father, who told his Students about what he called the 17th century Dutch tulip "craze;" thinks someday there might be an economic depression.  I've written about how, back in in 1929; the U.S. Stock Market went down.  I really like the smell of desert Juniper.

           I guess, just like that 17th century tulip market collapse; the 1929 Stock Market crash was the "signal" for a "slide" into a big economic depression my Encyclopedia says.  Mr. Steve's dad thinks the U.S. is getting too much in debt.  That may "come back to haunt us" he believes.  

          In 2014 here in America; our "Economy" is still kind of in a "Recession" that began back in 2008 before I was even born.  And as Dais says, here in California we're also in a "Drought" too.  Cher just woke up, jumped down onto the ground below; and is now slinking away.

   

NEW YORK CITY

                Over the last three days I've learned about some of the different American cities, like New York City; which our Chief and his brother Rock visited back in 1977.  I'm looking at those two "Birds Eye" view pictures in my Encyclopedia.  New York City is surrounded by water.

            I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve's dad believes, unless they figure out an economical way of filtering salt or waste; there will be wars fought in the future over water.  Drinkable water may someday become even more valuable than gold.  Libby just whinnied over there.  

            Looking at our water bucket near the sliding glass door makes me think about how we're in a drought, which is why we can't waste even one drop of water.  I just noticed a small Lizard standing on the wall over there and now it's starting to do pushups.   I like how Libby sounds  

                                                                                   17TH CENTURY            NEW AMSTERDAM              "PALISADE"                                        

                                    ARTWORK BY  ALFRED FREDERICKS                                                                     ARTWORK BY AUGUSTINE E. COSTELLO

          

                In 1977, when their Uncle Marty took Mr. Steve and his brother Rock to see those two "World Trade Center" buildings; they also went over to New York City's "Financial District." Our boss's parents have also been there too.  Boy!  The air is so clear again this afternoon.  

          I guess, the main road where New York City's big Financial District is on is called "Wall" Street."  My Encyclopedia says it was where, in the 17th century; the Dutch built this "Palisade" wall separating themselves from the Native Indians to the north.  Andy's sniffing the air. 

          A good old 1600's map of what is now "Manhattan" in New York City shows when it was called "New Amsterdam" by the Dutch.  At or around that wall the Dutch traded with Indians in "outdoor markets" it says here.  Ships landed at a "port" on the east end of the wooden wall.                       

         "WALL" STREET                                    MODERN NEW YORK CITY

PHOTO BY TAGGER YANCEY                                                                                                                                                                

        One time Dais heard our boss talking with his dad about how New York City has come to symbolize "Capitalism."  That's one reason that guy Osama bin Laden bombed those two tall      buildings in 2001.   Where the Dutch east-west Palisade used to be is now big buildings.              

         Mr. Steve's mom liked the "Neo-Classical" and "Art Deco" architecture of the buildings in that Financial District.  And she noticed the ancient Greek "Ionic," and Roman "Corinthian;"    topped columns too I guess.  Bonnie and Clyde's babies scent just floated down to me.                    

       Daisy says our Chief's mom also noticed how all the sculptures and statues up in the Greek "Pediments" were of modern workers.  They weren't like the things the ancient Greeks used to    put on buildings like that big "Parthenon" Temple.  Thank You for my life down here God.                 

                        "TRINITY" CHURCH                                    GEORGE WASHINGTON                       (BUILT 1698)                                                                                                              

PHOTOS BY TAGGER YANCEY

                Mr. Steve and his mom one time talked about a Church in New York City.   Daisy heard, when visiting the Financial District; our boss's parents walked over to "Trinity" Church.  On the way they admired the bronze statue of George Washington near this other famous building.

            I guess, for a century and a half after it was built in 1698; Trinity Church was the tallest building in New York City.  But now it looks short compared to all of the other big buildings that surround it.  Two Motorcycles just zoomed bye going north out there on Primavera Road.

           When they went to Trinity Church Mr. Steve's parents also saw where that one Founding Father Alexander Hamilton is buried.  He was killed in that "Duel" against Aaron Burr in 1804, and is called the "Father" of the U.S. financial system in my Encyclopedia.  Dawn's barking.

                                                             

ALEXANDER HAMILTON (1755-1804)

PAINTING BY JOHN TRUMBALL

      

             Daisy and Millie one time were in our boss's bedroom and, as he worked on something; they all watched a good tv show about the Founding Fathers.  It mentioned what it also says here in this Encyclopedia, how Alexander Hamilton was one of those orphans.  I really like Dawn.

           The tv show said Alexander Hamilton's funeral was held at Trinity Church.  I guess he had been born in the "West Indies" but, as a kid; went to New York City, where he did good because of how smart he was.  Mr. Steve's mom liked Trinity Church's "Gothic Revival" architecture.

           Oh!  I guess during the Revolutionary War Alexander Hamilton, as a Soldier; was George Washington's Assistant and "commanded an artillery unit."  Later, when George Washington was the first President; he was the "Treasury Secretary."   I smell the baby Cholla cactus. 

       

                            AARON BURR (1756-1836)                  BURR-HAMILTON DUEL (JULY, 1804)

LITHOGRAPH BY JAMES VAN DYCK                                                                                                                                                              

   

                A good picture shows Alexander Hamilton being shot by then American "Vice President" Aaron Burr in that famous 1804 duel.  It happened in July and was held on the west bank of the Hudson River, in "Weehawken" New Jersey; the State Mr. Rich is from.  Daffy's quacking.  

           I've written about that guy Andrew Jackson and his duels.  Back in those days if someone insulted your "Honor," which Aaron Burr thought Alexander Hamilton did; then you challenged them to a duel.  Daisy told me the tv show said they had not liked each other for a long time. 

          Boy!  I guess Alexander Hamilton was only forty nine when he was killed.  Under him those "Federalist Papers" were written, and he was behind the "First Bank of the U.S" being created too.   I just now picked up Charlie Company's scent from out in the desert behind the Sheds.      

    

                                 FIRST U.S. MINT                               "LADY LIBERTY" SILVER DOLLAR

                                   (PHILADELPHIA / 1973)                                                                   ("STRUCK" 1794)                       

             One time in our boss's office, Daisy and Millie heard him talking to his dad about "Silver Dollars."  It says here, under Alexander Hamilton as Treasury Secretary; the very first U.S. coins were "minted" or what they call here "struck."  The first dollar coin came out in 1794. 

          Daisy says when Grandpa Cordova died he left the family with old coins, and some were "Morgan" silver dollars.  Mr. Grant and our boss both have "Buffalo" nickels and also those "Mercury" dimes I wrote about when I discussed the "Fasces" symbol.  Daffy's quacking.

         Alexander Hamilton was anti-Slavery, admired Judaism; and supported the Haitian Slave rebellion.  Unlike Thomas Jefferson, who wanted to ship blacks to Africa; he thought free blacks and whites could "Co-Exist" with little violence.  He was an "Advisor" on the Constitution.      

                                        

                                                  REMBRANDT VAN RIJN (1606-1669)

       SELF-PORTRAIT 

 

                 Mr. Steve and his mom like the work of that Dutch Painter Rembrandt van Rijn, or just "Rembrandt" for short.  I've written before how, when they were in New York City; our boss's parents spent a full day at that big Museum there.

            Daisy and Millie saw this tv show about that guy Rembrandt.   It said he lived during the 1600's at the time of that "Golden Age of Tulips."  A little Bird with a twig in its mouth ran bye. Seeing that Bird is suddenly making me feel good about being here sitting on you Elvira.

            My Encyclopedia says how Rembrandt was not only a really great Painter, he was also one of those "Etchers" I've mentioned before.  And Dais says, you can tell by what they showed on the tv show how talented he was.  Boy!  Someday I'd like to see some of his artwork.  

    

            MR. MARK / KARMA                        DON QIOXOTE / SANCHO PANZA

                 Over the last three days I've mentioned that homeless guy Mr. Mark, and his Yorky girl Dog Karma.  Daisy heard our boss tell his mom he joked with Mr. Mark how he looks like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza when they walk quickly along together.  Dawn's barking.

           I've said before how, even though he's homeless; Mr. Mark knows a lot about different things.  He knew about that old 17th century book by Miguel de Cervantes and chuckled when our boss told him he and Karma reminds him of it.  Mr. Mark still reads whenever possible. 

          Boy!  One thing I'd like to see for myself is an actual Windmill, like the one that guy Don Quixote charged at on his Horse.  I just glanced up and see Libby walking around slowly over there near the fence in her Corral.  Oh!  Now she's looking over here in this direction.   

    

                                                                                      ROCKY JR. / ROCK / JACOB

                                                       STEPHANIE /RICH / CRISTINA

 

             I just noticed that guy Rembrandt was born in July and died in the month of October.  As I've  mentioned before, Mr. Steve's birthday is in July and his brother Rock in Texas was born on October 17th.  And Stephanie's daughter Cristina's birthday is in early October too.    

             It's sad how it says here Rembrandt, like Antonio Vivaldi who wrote La Primavera;  lived in "financial difficulty" for much of life.  In the 19th century Vincent van Gogh, who was also a "Dutchman" and poor too;" admired his work.  Some Wrens are singing right now. 

            Boy!  I've mentioned how Vivaldi, and that other guy Mozart too, were buried in those "Pauper's" graves.  In book two yesterday I also wrote about that Gospel music Guitarist named "Sister" Rosetta Tharpe.  Only since 2008 has she had a "Marker" on her grave.

    

L.A.C.M.A. 

    

               Throughout my three long books I've written about how our boss and his mom like to go to Museums and things like that.  At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where they met Sister Wendy; there are some 17th century Rembrandt's paintings.  Daffy's quacking over there.

           Mr. Steve had a customer up in Oregon whose family goes to the "Skagit" Tulip fields in Washington.  That's near a town called "Mount Vernon," just like George Washington's Virginia land Mr. Steve and some of his family visited in 2008.  I smell new Spring Juniper right now.

           I guess at Skagit they grow Tulips in big fields and that Parts Manager said his wife and kids loved going there in April.  Dais says our Chief told him about those Poppy fields that grow near his brother Sam's house.  Ah! Just as I mention flowers I can smell some Oleanders.

            

                    "POPPY" FIELDS                                                     HUELL HOWSER

                                                                                                                                                    

           As I mentioned on Thursday, Mr. Steve and his mom have seen those orange Poppy's a few times.  In good years during Spring the fields look like a "carpet" or "blanket" of orange.  Huell Howser did that one episode about it, which Daisy's told me a few times was so interesting. 

          Throughout my books I've written about how, when she was at C.S.U.N.; one topic that Mr. Steve's mother studied was 19th century French "Impressionistic" painting.  Two of the Pigeons flew in from the desert and landed up on the Patio roof right above me.  Dawn's barking.

          Writing about Tulips makes me think about Vincent van Gogh.  He was Dutch but lived in France and it's too bad he decided to kill himself.  Hey God!  It doesn't seem fair how he died so poor when now other people are making millions and millions of dollars on his paintings.  

                         

                                                 VINCENT VAN GOGH (1853-1890)

                 SELF- PORTRAIT                                 

                             

            "Van Gogh" is described as "Post-Impressionist."  He did that "Self-Portrait" of himself I like because of how he used my favorite color royal blue, and I can tell he was a serious person by how his face looks in the painting.  The Pigeons cooing makes me feel good right now.

             In her bedroom Mr. Steve's mom has many books on a bookshelf.  Some are her College "Text" books, and others are about the history of art so; when she's gone our boss will "Inherit" them as he's inherited books from others who've died, like Mark Ritter.  I smell Sage.

            Aha!  I knew I was being watched.  And I glanced up and notice Andy and Helen standing on their favorite boulder looking at me.  They're still alert and guarding their babies asleep down in the burrow so maybe this is a chance to "Stretch their Legs" as that old saying goes.  

       

"SUN FLOWERS"                                                        "THE HARVEST"

PAINTINGS BY VINCENT VAN GOGH

 

           On Thursday I mentioned how Mr. Steve's mom likes some of Van Gogh's paintings, such as his Sun Flowers.   In her mind, she associates him with the color yellow and how he used it to create sunlight.  Daisy and Millie saw that one really good tv show about Vincent van Gogh. 

                Daisy one time heard our boss talking on the phone with his mom and they discussed this Van Gogh paining called "The Harvest."  I'm looking at a picture of it right now and the caption says it shows French people "collecting" crops.  Wow!  The yellows are really pretty! 

               Hey God!  I sure hope we have Sunflowers this year because yellow is a good color alright.  Dais says our boss's customer in the city of "Wichita" told him Kansas is called the "Sun Flower State."  Andy and Helen are back over near the entrance to their underground burrow.

                         

                                              RICK STEVES ("PROVENCE," FRANCE)

                

                In my books I've talked about the "European Travel Show " that guy named Rick Steves' does, and how Dais likes it so much.  She told me one of his "Segments" was about "Provence," that area in the southern France where Van Gogh lived.  He really liked the sunlight there.

           Wow!  This picture shows a huge ancient Roman Aqueduct in Provence.  And, if you look really close; you see people on the river way down below canoeing bye.  Daisy said Rick Steves went to one of those Bull Rings and then attended Bull Fights just like the ones in Spain.

           Daisy says Mr. Steve's mom has always appreciated New Mexico's sunlight and would tell other Painters about it.  One time our boss and Mr. Dave talked about the sunlight in Taos where he and Miss Julianne now live.  Libby's over there walking slowly around in her Corral.

           

                      GEORGIA O'KEEFE (1887-1986)                                     NEW MEXICO

ARTWORK BY TONY VACARO                                                                                                                                                         

                 Daisy told me Mr. Dave said, now living in Taos; he understands why Georgia O' Keefe  moved to New Mexico for its sunlight.  Van Gogh liked the southern France's sunlight too.  I've mentioned before how Georgia O' Keefe and Samantha share November 15 as a birthday.

            Right now the afternoon sun is on the west side of the house where Dais is, so the shadows are leaning away from me sitting over here on Elvira.  There's a long and slowly extending vapor trail way up there above the eastern desert.  A Train just whistled faintly over to my left.

            Boy!  I sure do hope we have a lot of wildflowers this coming year, especially Sun flowers.  It's amazing how good bright yellow looks, which makes me think of the little yellow flowers on Creosote bushes like Theodora's bush over there near Jack.  I can smell them right now.  

                 

                                                      "BLEEDING KANSAS"

                   

            Kansas the "Sun Flower" State, in the 1850's or years leading up to the Civil War; was "Bleeding Kansas."  Some say the violence there, like  John Brown using a sword to kill people; was the real start of the Civil War.  I just thought of that first KANSAS album cover.

                I've said before how, some say Japan attacking China in 1931 was the "Actual" start of World War II, and not 1939 when Germany and Russia divided Poland to "Officially" begin it.  The bloodshed in pre-Civil War Kansas can sort of be seen as the same thing.  I smell Sage.  

          Some people believe the Second World War began in 1937 when Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy conquered "Abyssinia."   Because much of the world was still struggling in that big Great Depression, "Ethiopia" seemed too far away to care.  Samson and Delilah went flying bye. 

    

                 "DREADLOCKS" / ETHIOPIA                                 MR. MARK / SONS 

            Because he's known Mr. Mark since about 1984, our boss has seen the different ways he's worn his hair.  Now it's longer, in a "Dreadlock" style.  Daisy's the one who first told me how down there in "Jamaica" people wear the dreadlocks the way Mr. Mark in Hawaii does.

            My Encyclopedia says the term dreadlocks comes from when the Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie, in 1937; "fled" his country  when Italy conquered his country.  The guerrilla fighters in Ethiopia swore to not cut their hair until he came back from his "exile."  A Train whistled.  

            Over the years our boss and Mr. Mark have talked about the different hair styles from the different periods, like in the late early 1970's when the puffed up "Afro" came into fashion.  At times other black people have told Mr. Mark that he "looks Ethiopian."  I smell Mesquite.      

                                                                                                     BOB MARLEY (1945-1981)                     MR. MARK / WIFE KIM                               

                Daisy says Mr. Mark has read about that Jamaican religion called "Rastafarianism."  It began in the 1930's when Haile Selassie was living in Jamaica until he went back to Abyssinia after World War II ended.  The Reggae Singer Bob Marley was one of those Rastafarians. 

           Mr. Mark read that, because those guerrilla fighters didn't cut their hair it got matted and "locked."  So they dreaded when that happened because it was a lot harder to comb.  "Locked" or "Braided" hair, like American Indians; has been worn since ancient times Mr. Mark says. 

          Hey God!  I guess some Rastafarians say they wear their hair in dreadlocks style as a sign of their dread or fear of Your anger.  Oh!  I still have more to write about that Painter Vincent van Gogh.  Cher, with a small dead Mouse hanging out of her mouth; just went jogging past.    

                                                 

PAUL GAUGUIN (1848-1903)   

     

       Daisy says one time she and Millie were in the living room at night, and watched a movie about Vincent van Gogh and his friend Paul Gauguin; a Painter too.  "Gaugin" was French but    is now associated with "Polynesia."  Ah!  I can smell that one older Juniper plant.                          

         According to what it says here in this Encyclopedia, Paul Gauguin, just like Van Gogh; was not "appreciated" until after his death.  Mr. Steve's mom likes how he was influenced by Asian and African art.  Gauguin influenced later Artists, like that guy Pablo Picasso I guess.                    

         It says here Paul Gauguin's father died when he was just an "infant," his mom when he was nineteen.  He married a girl from Denmark, where some of the the Vikings came from and it says here they had two children.  I can hear some of the Finch's chirping happily nearby.                                 

VAN GOGH                       GAUGUIN       

                                         

           Mr. Steve's mom also saw that movie about Van Gogh and Paul Gaugin.  Daisy heard our Chief call their friendship a "Love-Hate" relationship and says Van Gogh killed himself when he was only thirty seven.  Oh!  That girl Marilyn Monroe was thirty six when she died too.

           Daisy says Vincent van Gogh, who shot himself; was not mentally well and even cut off a part of his own ear one time.  Too bad!  He wanted to start one of those "Art Colonies" but was kind of hard to get along with I guess.  He sure did know how to "Depict" sunlight. 

           Hey Everyone up there!  Thank You for helping me not be as sad lately, even though it's a little difficult not thinking about Heathcliff today.  Daisy says Van Gogh led a sad and lonely life, where he was always poor; and was one of those "Misfits" like I think I might be too.  

                                                                     BENJAMIN  

             

                Ah!  Benjamin the Cow Bird came running around the corner of the house, at the far end of the Patio; and then jumped up on a branch of the Mulberry tree.  I wonder if Cow Birds live over there in France?  If so I'll bet van Gogh could've made a really good painting of one. 

           I've mentioned how Daisy tells me to chew lightly and not take my teeth "For Granted."  The tv show said Van Gogh had bad teeth so ate soup.  Benjamin just now jumped down to the ground, and is now running through the right vertical gate slot to go out in the back field.

          Hey Lord!  Dais says Van Gogh tried to be a Protestant Priest like his father but his kind of "Extreme" personality wasn't suited to it.  I guess he was one of those "Fanatics" I've mentioned before.  But, no matter what bad things happened to him; he always really believed in You. 

            

                       VAN GOGH'S MOTHER                                "MEMORY OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN"

            

                Hey God!  The tv show said Van Gogh was close to his mother who I guess taught him to look for You in Nature.  In the painting he did of her "from" a photo she seems like a nice lady. I guess throughout his life she worried a lot about her "volatile" son so prayed for him. 

           The caption below another painting Van Gogh did, which I guess was influenced by Paul Gauguin; says it may be his mom and sisters in it.  His mom also had unhappiness, all four of her sons died before she did.  Her first son "Vincent" died so her second son got that name. 

           Because his idea for an Artist's Colony "Fell Through" as they say, Van Gogh got really, really depressed.   Plus, he thought he was a "Financial Burden" on his younger brother "Theo" who had been "Supporting" him.  Blackbeard and Anne are both flying bye right now. 

                                        

        ADOLPH HITLER(1889-1945)     ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899-1961)      KURT COBAINE (1967-1994)

        

             The tv show said, like that Writer Hunter S. Thompson who I wrote about, Van Gogh shot himself with a handgun.  So did Hitler who used that "Walther PPK" to "Do Away" with himself in 1945.  Ernest Hemingway and Kurt Cobaine used shotguns to commit their suicides. 

              Dais said Van Gogh's art was left to others, one guy used a painting for "Target Practice" with his gun; and this other man patched up a chicken coop with a portrait Van Gogh gave him. Boy!  It's too bad his mom ended up throwing away things he created.  If only she'd known!  

          I just now looked down at the Patio floor, and see a long column of Ants marching on the other side of the coffee table.  That reminds me of that tv show Daisy saw about this thing called an "Ant Eater."  I guess they have long skinny heads, and really long tongues she told me.  

                  

ANTEATER       

  PHOTO BY CLIFTON ROBINSON                 

                       

          Oh my God!  A picture shows how Anteaters do have skinny heads alright.   I guess they stick it way inside the Ant Hill, where their two foot long sticky tongue can lick and pull out some Ants to eat.  Boy!  I wonder if Ant Eaters have small, teeny tiny teeth to chew the Ants?  

          Daisy's probably right in saying Anteater's must have really thick skin, and tongues; as the hundreds of Ant stings would hurt way too much.  To an Ant an Anteater tongue must seem like a big huge invading monster trying to get them.  I can smell the new baby Cholla cactus.  

          As the days get really hot Ant hills get bigger, and I guess Ant "Colonies" are like the huge "Iceberg" that sank the Titanic; in that most is hidden "Below the Surface."  The area around  the entrance is called a "Berm."  Some years there are many smaller sized Ant hills I guess.   

           

"ANT COLONY"      

        

            My Dictionary says a berm is a "ledge" or "shoulder."  Ants make their berms out of the "excavated" dirt brought up from deep underground, and "deposited" around the entrance.  My Encyclopedia says Anteaters live mainly down there in Central and South America. 

            Dais says over the years our boss has taken pictures of Anteaters in Zoos.  Wow!  I'd be so afraid to meet an Anteater because I guess some can grow up to be six feet long, and I notice how they also have what looks like big claws on their feet.  Mr. Steve is about six feet tall too.

            It says here, besides Ants; Anteaters eat "Termites" by using their sticky tongues to catch the Ants.  Boy!  I wonder if maybe millions of years ago there might have been Anteaters up here in the High Desert?  I'll bet Ants were bigger then so maybe they were as big as Dinosaurs. 

               

"TERMITE MOUND"        

                   

           Oh my God!  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows two people standing in front of a huge and giant Termite "Mound."  The caption says the people are from England but they went down there to visit Australia.  Wow!  The Termite Mound they're near might be sixty years old. 

           Aha!  Anteaters have "six inch long claws" because in Central and South America the Ant and Termite mounds they have to break into are "rock hard."  I guess they use those big claws to "pry" open holes in the Ant or Termite mounds.  All four of the Pigeons just flew bye.  

           I'll bet, when the Anteater breaks in; the Ants or Termites probably panic like crazy.  All the Soldier Ants then have to be like those World War II Japanese "Kamikaze" Pilots in order to protect the group.  Daisy and I have talked about how hopefully we'll never have to do that.    

             

"MOTOCROSS" RIDER          

              

             One of those Motocross kids just zoomed bye out there in the desert, and I heard him coming up Primavera Road from far away.  Boy!  It makes me feel better seeing the dust rising up in the air.  Thank You Everyone up there if You're all helping me down here right now. 

             Oh!  Daisy will be interested in how it says here Anteaters are smart in not eating all of the Ants at one time.  That way I guess, there will be more food later when more Ants are born and then grow up.  I can hear Cleo and Leo chirping happily out there behind the Sheds.

                  Hey God!  Even if it isn't You who's causing Cleo and Leo and the other Robins to sing a lot more today, thank You anyway.  As You know, Dais sort of wants to believe it's You and I kind of want to think that too.  There are some puffy clouds hanging way up there in the sky.    

        

                ANT HILL ENTRANCE                              "FORAGER" / "SOLDIER" ANTS

          

                   I've mentioned before over the last three days how Bugs look so scary when you really look at them closely.  One of those "Macro" photos shows two Ants, a small "forager" next to a way bigger "soldier."   Now some of the other Robins have joined Leo and Cleo in singing.    

                     That column of Ants marching bye down there on the patio floor, on the other side of Miss Emily's old coffee table; are now almost gone.  A few stragglers are "Bringing up the Rear" as they say.  The scent of that one old Mesquite bush just floated in from behind the Sheds.

              Seeing those Ants behind the "Main Body" makes me of how sometimes in war men and Horses die fighting a "Rear Guard" action.  They gain time so others can "Fight another Day."  They must think like Lakota Warriors who yelled, "Hoka Hey!;" or "It's a good day to die!"  

                

"MESQUITE"        

                         

                 Oh!  Now a stronger breeze just blew in the scent of that Mesquite bush.  That reminds me of other times when I've smelled Mesquite and had this same exact feeling.  I don't know why but I just keep thinking for some reason about how totally amazing Anteater heads look.  

             Boy!  I had no idea there were so many interesting things to know about Anteaters.  This Encyclopedia says baby Anteaters ride their mother because their striped bodies "blend" in with hers, to "hide" them better from their predators.  I've written a lot about "camouflage."

            Wow!  A color painting shows this thing called a "Pangolin."   It's a type of Anteater with "plated body armor" on the outside, like a Middle Ages Knight or a Dinosaur from millions and millions of years ago.  I can't wait to see how Daisy reacts when she see's this Pangolin.                  

                                 

"PANGOLIN"          

PAINTING BY ANTHONY HARLIN                 

               

        It says here Pangolins "curl," or "roll up into a ball;" when "threatened" by something wanting to eat it.  The sharp "scales" protect it because it's really hard to even get through to the soft skin below the armor.  It's probably to much trouble trying to kill a Pangolin I'll bet.              

            Someday, when I'm not afraid to ride in Cars; it would be so interesting to someday smell an Anteater at a Zoo.  Dais is so right in saying it would be worth it as then we could smell all of the other different animals too.  Fannie and Freddie are chasing each other all around.

            Seeing Fanny and Freddy right now, and smelling Blinky, Dawn and Rosie over there; is making me remember last Spring when I was new here.  Oh!  I just noticed how up in the sky are the exact same type of wispy clouds too.  Boy!  The only thing missing is Heathcliff's voice. 

             

SALVADOR DALÍ (1904-1989)

     

                Oh wow!  The Spanish Artist Salvador Dalí, who I wrote a little bit about yesterday when I talked  about the ALICE COOPER band; had an Anteater as a pet.  A picture even shows him taking his Anteater out for a walk over there in France.  I really like how Blinky smells.

           It says here "Dalí," whose "Surrealist" art was kind of weird  at times; did a "sketch" of an Anteater and at times "incorporated" or "depicted" Ants in his art.  He was influenced in this by a poem written by a man named André Breton.  The Monarch Butterfly just went bye.  

          I guess, after the hued "psychic trauma" of World War I guys like André Breton and also Salvador Dali began to do that type of art called "Surrealism."  I mentioned yesterday how back in College at C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve's mom studied it.  Daisy saw a good tv show about it.

           

ANDRÉ BRETON (1896-1966)    

PHOTO BY RENE SAINT PAUL               

               

                  I guess, that guy André Breton was a French Writer and Poet, whose nickname became the "Anteater."  Mr. Steve's mom thinks Surrealism means combining "reality and dreams."  I notice Andre Breton was born on February the 19th just like our boss's ex-girlfriend Harriet.

             The tv show said Surrealist art can be "symbolic" in showing the "unconscious."  As a "Stretcher Bearer" in World War I, Andre Breton saw the "mental carnage;" which influenced his art.  Ernest Hemingway drove an Ambulance in that war and it influenced his work too.

             Surrealism, which influenced later "Abstract Expressionism" and "Post Modernism;" shows "surprising" things like Dalí's melting clocks.  It was influenced by that 1910's "Cultural Movement" called "Dada."  It was also "Experimental" and "Unorthodox" too I guess.         

     

ALICE COOPER BAND         

             

                 Over the last three days I've learned about the subject of "Shock Rock," and bands like ALICE COOPER.  They were very influenced by Surrealism that's for sure.  Daisy told me their amazing concerts are not just music but also a big show too.  Frida and Diego flew bye.

           I wrote in book two how Salvador Dali, Jack Benny and Mae West went to some ALICE COOPER concerts, because it reminded them of early 20th century "Vaudeville."  So for them it was "Nostalgic."  I've mentioned before how the Singer Alice Cooper is a Christian like us.

          Daisy told me the tv show on Anteaters talked about this other thing called an "Echidna."  My Encyclopedia says they're named after a "half woman half snake" from one of those ancient Greek "Myths" I written about.  Boy God!  It's so hard to believe Heathcliff is now gone.  

           

ECHIDNA                                                           AUSTRALIA     

         

                  Wow! Daisy told me how those Echidna's, one of those Animals who only live down there in "Austria; are as if a "Porcupine" had babies with an Anteater.  They also live in nearby "New Guinea."  Boy!  Their hind legs do have backward pointing claws the way Daisy noticed too.

            The caption below the picture calls Echidna's "quill-covered spiny anteaters."   Yup!  It looks like Dais also correct in saying how they're "Mammals" who "lay eggs," and then the girl Echidna "nurses" the babies with "milk."  Smelling Mesquite right now makes me feel good.

          I guess Mark Ritter, and Mr. Doug down there in Sylmar; are interested in all of the rare Animals who live only in Australia.   They both studied Charles Darwin's idea of "Evolutionary Natural Selection."  The desert horizon behind the Sheds is so beautiful and alive with life. 

                    

                                    PLATYPUS                                                          KANGAROO    

                

            I've written before about how the "Continent" of Australia, because it wasn't connected onto any of the other bigger continents; has Animals that are not found anywhere else.  "Duck-Billed Platypus's" and "Kangaroo's" are good examples.  Ah!  The air is so clear right now.   

           It says here Echidna mothers, like girl Kangaroos; have a "pouch" for carrying all of the babies around.  And, like those Platypus's; they're the "only now living mammal that lays eggs." Charlie Company and their new babies are using the gate slots to go out into the back field.

          Just like the man on the tv show mentioned, it says here how some Echidnas can live to be about "fifty years old."  Daisy says when something is trying to kill it for food, it just goes into a hole and lets its spines point outward.  So then the predator will be stabbed by the "Quills."    

          

             SHARK CHARACTERISTICS                            "GREAT WHITE" SHARK

           

               Oh!  According to what it says here, Echidna's are also the, "only known land mammal to have electroreceptive abilities."  They eat Ants so that just means, with their long skinny nose; they can sense the electricity coming out of the Ants bodies.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.  

          I've written about how in the 1960's it was proven "Sharks" and "Rays" feel a buried in sand prey's "Direct Current" electric impulses.  D.C. is near their "gills, guts and skin wounds." The Sharks have those "Ampullae of Lorenzini" sensors I've written about on their noses.

          Daisy and Millie one night were in the living room and saw a tv show about Australia, and the "Great White" Sharks who live there.  Mr. Steve worked on one of his projects and seemed interested when the man talked about the native "Aboriginal" people too.  A Train whistled.   

  

"ABORIGINAL"  AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE

                Our boss told Mr. Dave the Native Aboriginal people use that "Wind" musical instrument called a "Didgeridoo."  I guess, it's played by blowing air into it, with the Players vibrating their lips and using special breathing to making "droning" sounds.  I like the sound of Trains.

          Wow!  I like how it looks to wear a bone in your nose they way this man in the picture of a Didgeridoo is doing.  I'd definitely wear a bone in my nose like that if I had the opportunity, but Dais probably wouldn't.   But maybe other Dogs would and we could even sell nose bones?    

           Daisy says the tv show mentioned how Australian Aboriginal people were there for over a thousand years before before that English guy Captain Cook first went there in the 18th century.   I guess a Didgeridoo is called other names too, and has a few different sizes.  Dawn's barking. 

   

                                "TAOS," NEW MEXICO                            MISS JULIANNE / MR. DAVE

PHOTO BY DAVE KOZIOL                                                                                                                                                                  

   

            I just glanced up and see some clouds up there in the afternoon sky.  That reminds me of how I guess Mr. Dave took a picture of some cloud formations near where he and Miss Julianne live back there in New Mexico.  The blended scents of Blinky, Dawn and Rosie floated in.

            One time, when he was still living out here in California; our boss lent Mr. Dave one of his old books about Sharks.  Daisy says she can tell Mr. Dave is interested in things like that, and he borrowed other books from Mr. Steve too.  Someday I want to read some our boss's books.   

         Oh!  Mentioning Sharks made me think of that band the BEACH BOYS, and how over the last three days every time I've forgotten to write about these "Station Wagon" Car's Daisy told me about called "Woody's."  She said Mr. Doug; who still surfs; knows about them.  

          

                                   SURFER /SUNSET                      SURFING                "WOODY WAGON"                                                                                                 

         Our boss told Mr. Doug he met a guy who rebuilt an old 1948 "Pontiac" Woody.  It was like the one his father took he and his sister to the beach in as kids.  I guess, in the early 1960's when  the BEACH BOYS had those first Hit songs about surfing; that guy's dad was a Surfer.                 

         Daisy heard Mr. Doug say how in a way you could say those Woody Cars were kind of like the first Sports Utility Vehicles.  In the early 1960's Surfers used them because they could carry a lot of things and people for a low cost.  Finley and Fanny just flew bye and seem so happy.            

       Mr. Steve and the guy who rebuilt the Woody Car talked about them.  Woody's, built by a few different Car lines from the 1920's all the way through the 1940's; went "Out of Favor" in      the 1950's.  And one reason was because part of the bodies were made out of wood I guess.            

         

"GIDGET" (1959)   

                       

          Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Doug talk about that movie "Gidget," and how pretty the girl was.  Even though he doesn't like singing in movies that much, Mr. Steve liked that movie      about surfing.  He was four years old , his brother Rock two; when Gidget first came out.              

           I guess, because of how much work it took to maintain wood; by the early 1960's Woody's became the "Low Budget" vehicle few wanted.  But young Surfers did and guys like that man's father bought them right away.  I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie over there next to the fence.

       The man who rebuilt the Woody in his father's memory said he and his sister have "fond memories" of going to the beach.  As he worked on his Woody he "wanted to feel his parents presence."  Daisy thinks that man must have high skills just like Stephanie's Mr. Rich.                                

ED "BIG DADDAY" ROTH (1932-2001)                      MR. RICHIE                              

            

         Over the last three days I've learned about that guy "Big Daddy" Roth.  I've mentioned a few times how Mr. Rich down there in Sylmar admires his art, and his "Work Ethic" and  good    character too.  Mr. Rich used to be a Guitarist in that Heavy Metal band DRAGPIPE.                   

     Hey Lord!  It's so interesting how Big Daddy ended up converting to "Mormonism," or became a "L.D.S."  Both our boss, and Mr. Rich; like Big Daddy's rules for living a "good and      productive" life.  Big Daddy, born in 1932 like our boss's dad; already died a few years ago.          

      Oh!  Besides those Woody Cars, another subject I kept forgetting to write about in my first two books was "Porbeagle" Sharks.  Daisy and Millie saw this tv show about the Sharks who've adapted to living in colder water.  The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral over there.       

  

"PORBEAGLE" SHARK

         Daisy says one time our boss told this kid about those Porbeagle Sharks, and how in some pictures they look like they have shorter noses, but at "other angles" their heads look "long and  angular."   They're "cousins" of the "Great White" Shark.  Benjamin just now flew bye.               

         My Encyclopedia says what Mr. Steve told the kid, how another name for Porbeagle Sharks is "Mackerel" Sharks, probably because they like to eat Mackerel Fish.  They're "related" to the "Salmon" Sharks who are another cold water type Shark.  A Train just whistled faintly.                

        Oh!  It says here Porbeagle Sharks have adapted to surviving in cold water by "evolving a trait" which allows them, like White Sharks; to "maintain a higher body temperature" than the  water they live in.  They can grow to be eight feet long and weigh three hundred pounds.               

              

                                                                 PORPOISES                                                                         

                                                

           It says here what Mr. Steve told the kid, no one really knows how the Porbeagle Shark got its name.  One theory is an Englishman thought their "stout" or "blunt" body shape resembled a "Porpoise."  And their "personality" kind of reminded them of  those "Beagle" Dogs.                    

        Daisy says the man on the tv show mentioned how Porbeagle Sharks, like some Porpoises; seem to at times like to "play."   I've mentioned how our boss has noticed how couples, like his      parents; who still "kid around" and play seem happier.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.                   

    Mr. Steve thinks another way Porbeagle Sharks seem to prove Charles Darwin's idea of "Evolution" through "Natural Selection" is how they can hunt for food near shorelines where      food is "more abundant," or in deep water where it isn't.  Dawn's barking.  I like her voice.          

    

OPEN OCEAN                                                   OPEN DESERT

         I've written before how Oceans far from coastlines are kind of like big deserts in that it's way harder to find food.  In order to live in either one you have to adjust to that fact or die.  Even out in the middle of that huge "Sahara" Desert some Lizards have learned how to survive.           

        Andy's over there sniffing the air to see if Cher or Goliath are around but, I wonder if he and Helen noticed how there was no Heathcliff this morning?   I'll bet they did alright.  Some of  the Ducks are quacking over there and as usual Daffy's voice is louder than everyone else's.          

         Boy!  It's really starting to "Sink In" how tomorrow morning there will be no Heathcliff to start our day.  Hey God!  I can tell Daisy, and me too; is thinking more about "Mortality" today up there in the front yard.  Oh!  I just now picked up Rosie's unique scent from over there.           

                 

   VOLCANIC "ERUPTION"            

              

           Hey God!  As I've been learning about, there have been five times in Earth's history when life was almost totally destroyed.  Like the one time about seventy thousand years ago when that giant "Super Volcano" named "Toba" exploded.  Rudy just jogged bye and glanced at me.

            In my other books I wrote about how most Dinosaurs died about sixty five millions years ago.  That was when the six mile wide Asteroid flew in from Outer Space and slammed right into "Chicxulub," in Yucatan; Mexico.  Rudy's scent is still lingering even though he's gone.

            It says here that volcano Toba is located on "Sumatra;" which is one of the "Indonesian" islands.  Just like when the Asteroid killed the Dinosaurs, a lot of "debris" was thrown way up into the air; so blocked out the sunlight from coming through.  So most of the plants died.

                                 

                                      "CHICXULUB" IMPACT (65 MILLION B.C.)                                                                                                              PAINTING BY PHIL WILSON                                 

                                                                                        

            As I've mentioned  a few times already, Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter knew a lot about Reptiles and things like that.  He said after the Chicxulub impact things got really cold and most of the plants died.  So, of course; the Dinosaurs who ate plants soon starved to death. 

            I just noticed a Lizard over there standing on one of the big boulders around the bottom of the Mulberry tree.  But it's too late to drink water as the basin has been empty for a few hours now.  Fred, Ed and Ted the Sparrows flew in from the desert and flew over the house. 

           Boy God!  The Universe You created is such a dangerous place for life.  Mr. Steve and his father one time talked about how one incident like another Asteroid hitting Earth could possibly make Earth a dead Planet with only bacterial life surviving.  The air is so clear right now.

  

                                                                                                        OUR WORLD     

             One time Daisy and Millie were in our boss's bedroom watching a "Science Channel" show about the "Galaxy" or "Solar System" is a part of.  As Mr. Steve sat on his bed doing some work the man said how there are "billions" of Comets "flying around."  Dawn's barking.

            This one Encyclopedia says, at the far end of our Solar System; are these things called the "Oort Cloud" and "Kuiper Belt."   They have Comets called "Ice Dwarves" that are "hundreds of miles in diameter."   If one changed orbit and came in to hit Earth it would be so bad. 

           This Encyclopedia says those big giant Comets way out there sometimes get "disturbed" from their orbit, maybe by "gravitational influences" like a passing Star; and fly into our Solar System.  There also may also be Comets not attached to any Star.   Leo and Cleo flew bye.

                        

                       "HALLEY'S" COMET                           EDMUND HALLEY (1656-1742)                                                                                       

                  Wow!  It says here Comets, like "Halley's" Comet which I've talked about before; can travel at about one hundred and fifty thousand miles per hour.  The man on the tv show said even a small Comet hitting Earth has the power of a  "Hydrogen" bomb.  I smell Sage.

             The tv show said there are one hundred thousand "near Earth" Asteroids flying around.  And these things called "Strangelets," made of "Quark Matter," are out there too.  They go nine hundred thousand miles per hour.  And they're "ten million" times more dense than lead. 

             Daisy says the tv show mentioned how, about every thirty million years; Earth has had "cyclic" periods of  "bombardment" from space.  My Encyclopedia says there have been a few "extinction" periods linked to those bombardments.  I just noticed a vapor trail in the sky.    

 

   VAPOR TRAIL

         Seeing that vapor trail up there is suddenly making me think of that time last Summer when Dais and I were sitting here on Elvira and saw a vapor trail going bye in exactly that same area.  And we were smelling Libby then too just like I am now.  I wonder what Daisy's doing?      

          Daisy, Millie and our boss one time were watching that Science Channel and saw a good show about "Asteroids."  The man said, if there's ever a time when a big Asteroid is going to hit    the Earth; maybe we could shoot it with a nuclear bomb to "knock it off course."  I like Sage.      

          Mr. Grant saw that episode on Asteroids so heard, what if we hit the Asteroid and simply create many smaller dangerous pieces of Asteroid still flying toward us down here?  It might be    like "Buckshot" or "Cannister" fragments in a war I guess.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.           

   

ASTEROID  

    

          Mr. Grant talked about hearing the man on the tv show say all we want to do is "nudge" the Asteroid to "alter its course."  The main goal in hitting it with a bomb or missile would be to hopefully "move it" into a different "orbit" by "deflecting" it.  A Train whistled faintly.                

      The man on that tv show also mentioned how maybe we could send up a really gigantic Spacecraft" to "fly alongside" the Asteroid.  It's huge size, through "Gravity;" might gradually    and slowly "pull" the Asteroid from its original "trajectory?"  Mr. Grant likes that idea.               

         Looking out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds I can see a few Birds flying around, and over there near the back of her Corral Libby is walking around slowly.  Oh!  Dawn, Blinky    and Rosie's blended scents just came floating into me here on the Patio.  I feel pretty good!                                                    

HIGH DESERT SKY

           Hey God!  All of sudden I remember that time last Summer.  Daisy and I were sitting back here on Elvira and felt You in the mid-morning Sun.  Libby was walking around near the back of her Corral too that day, and there were Birds flying around behind the Sheds.   I love clouds!       

          Boy God!  Thinking about how Heathcliff was so alive yesterday, and is gone now; makes me realize just how fragile life is.  So, that's why I have to work hard today; because there's no    for sure guarantee I'll be here tomorrow.  I can't waste any time in finishing this final book.          

          Another time life almost ended was when, two hundred and fifty million years ago; a giant volcano in "Siberia" exploded.  I've mentioned that one 1908 "Meteor" which "leveled" a huge    seven hundred mile wide forest over there in "Tunguska," Siberia.  Crows are cawing.                 

           

"TUNGUSKA," SIBERIA (JUNE 30 / 1908)           

   

         Mr. Steve met this man who told him in 1991 they did a study of the trees that got knocked over in Siberia.  It showed that what exploded in 1908 above the ground without making a crater was either a Meteor or Comet "fragment."  The sound was heard two hundred miles away.           

         My Encyclopedia says it was at 7:17 a.m. in the morning when that big explosion happened in at "Tunguska."  Four thousand miles of forest was destroyed.  Wow!  It says here a herd with fifteen hundred Reindeer in it was killed.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; flew bye.     

      It says here at Tunguska a "pillar of fire" shot up twelve miles high, and was followed by a "mushroom cloud" of smoke going way up in the sky.  Daisy says the man told our boss about trees that were "snapped in half" like they were twigs.  I like seeing Fannie and Freddie.                                                                     

    CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT

                           

          As I've said a few times in my three books, Mr. Steve and his father think too many people, especially Americans; "Take for Granted" our wealthy lifestyles.  Like 4th Century Romans in Italy, they can't even imagine it ever ending.  But, look at what happened in the 1930's.  

          Daisy says one time she overheard our Chief and Mr. Randy talking about what they call a "Gamma Ray Burst."  I guess it's a giant explosion in Space and some Scientists think a "Pulse" of energy may have almost killed off life on Earth before.  Daffy's quacking by himself.

          Hey God!  I now want to believe You created the Universe we live in about fourteen billion years ago.  And Earth was "formed" about ten billion years after that I guess.  I looked up just in time to see Rudy use the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to dart out into the desert. 

                                             

       "SPUPERNOVA"                     

  ARTWORK BY VINCENT AGUILAR                              

                                          

           This painting shows a "Supernova" explosion and the caption below says a Gamma Ray Burst "releases tremendous energy." But, as Dais says God; no matter what happens down here on Earth in every extinction there are survivors.  I can smell the Twin Joshua trees.     

           From what it says here in this Encyclopedia, a Supernova is actually the "violent death of a Star."  I guess really powerful "beams" of radiation flash outward into Space and whatever is within range is hit hard.  Boy!  I sure do hope a Supernova never blows up near us.       

           Hey God!  Mr. Steve thinks, if there's ever another global catastrophe; some Insects and things like Rats will probably survive.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve, even though he feels sorry for them in having to find food; hates Rats and kills them.  Daisy and I hate all Flies!

                   

  CALIFORNIA DESERT RAT           

                    

            When Mr. Dave worked at the "Sepulveda" Veteran's Hospital, taking care of the Mice and Guinea Pigs; he learned about "Laboratory Experiments" using Rats.  Like the Crows and Coyotes, Rats adapt to almost any environment or changing situation.  They can survive!    

            Dais says our boss told Mr. Dave he read, in an experiment; it was proven "empirically" that Rats are "capable" of swimming across the twenty six miles from Long Beach Harbor all the way out to Catalina Island.  Ah!  I'm smelling those new Roses.  I really love that smell!  

             I've mentioned how "Empirical" means something is, "observable" and "measurable;" so you can "document" and "record" whatever it is you're watching.  Clouds drifting bye up in the sky have beautiful sunlight going through them.  Thank You God for all of the clouds.    

           

LOS ANGELES COASTLINE ("SOUTH BAY")

             

          Wow!  This map of the "South Bay" shows how far a Rat would have to swim to get out to Catalina Island.  Daisy and I have wondered about being able to swim.  The Ducks are quacking over there, but Donald and Daisy's voices are louder than everyone else; even Daffy too. 

             Dais says the man who told our boss about the tree examination at Tunguska also said the evidence is now that the Planet "Mars" at one time had "surface water."   That could have been "suited" for some kind of life.  The surface of Mars has no "Crust" and is "barren" he said. 

          Was Mar's crust blown off by some type of impact?  That one man told our boss it could be that before an impact "some form of life" was existing on Mars, which might even have had an "Atmosphere" way back then.  Hearing Donald and Daisy is making me feel good right now.   

   

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HYROGLIPHS   

                  One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss and Mr. Dave talking about how the ancient Egyptians seemed to know a lot about the Universe.  My Encyclopedia says they "depicted" the Sun as being a "voyager on water of an abyss."  A Train whistled faintly to the northeast.

             Mr. Dave and our boss talked about the ancient Egyptians seemed to know that all things in the Universe is "In Motion."  So, just as "Gravity" makes like Planets circle the Sun, it also is making the Sun go around the "Galactic Nucleus" of the "Milky Way."  Libby whinnied.  

             As the Sun, whose destiny we're all tied to passes through the "Spiral Arms" and these things called "Molecular Clouds;" Comets might get moved out of their orbit around the Sun. Then they'll come into the Solar System and hit things like us down here.  I smell Sage.   

     

"STONEHENGE"

("SALSBURY" PLAIN / ENGLAND)

            One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about that building over in England called "Stonehenge."  I've mentioned it a few times over the last three days.  Mr. Steve's father's friend Mr. Ivan has read a lot about the three ancient periods of Stonehenge.

            Mr. Ivan says it could be the original people who built the first Stonehenge were trying to predict things from outer space hitting the Earth.  They were called the "Windmill Hill" people.  After them came the "Beakers" and then the "Kelts."  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies.

           When the Windmill Hill people knew something big would happen, like the 1908 Tunguska event; they hid behind big round dirt "burrows" near Stonehenge.  Mr. Ivan has read some think the later Beaker and Kelt groups misinterpreted Stonehenge's original purpose.  I like Sage.

    

                                       "GREAT SALT LAKE"                                       "DEAD SEA"

                                                        (UTAH)                                                                                       (ISRAEL)

  

           All of a sudden for some reason I just thought of those two really salty bodies of water, the "Great Salt Lake" and "Dead Sea."  I've written about both of them before, and how Mr. Steve's St. Ferdinand's Tour Group visited the Dead Sea in 1985.  I like Bonnie and Clyde's babies.  

          Boy Lord!  I totally agree with Daisy in thinking how our boss and his parent's, sisters and Grandma Córdova were so lucky to have been able to stand near places You did when You were down here in Israel.  They went to the "Sea of Galilee."  Mr. Steve liked the "Jordan" river. 

          I guess the water in Utah's Great Salt Lake and "Dead Sea" in Israel, is even saltier than Ocean water; so you can even float on it without sinking.  Ah!  Goliath, through the right gate slot; is going out into the desert.  He was under Moe and Andy's watching him closely.   

 

AFTERNOON SKY 

      

             Hey God!  Thank You again for making our town down here have good clouds above it. Right now I'm looking at some of them up there in the sky and it's making me really appreciate being here working on this final book.  Finley and his new girlfriend Fanny just flew bye.

            It's so interesting how most of the water in the world is salty, and you can't even drink it like regular water.  But, through Charles Darwin's idea of "Evolution" through adapting to the particular environment you're in; so many things can live in it.  It's "Natural Selection." 

           Oh!  I just thought of how all of those American Sailors, from the "U.S.S Indianapolis;" were eaten by Sharks when a Japanese Submarine sank their Ship in 1945.  Some drank Pacific Ocean salt water so went crazy.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve is very afraid of Sharks.

           

U.S.S. "LEXINGTON                                                                  U.S.S. "INDIANAPOLIS"

                                        

           Boy!  If some Rats did swim all of the way out to Catalina Island, they'd have to be really brave because of Sharks that might eat them.  And not only that, they would also have to be able to not accidentally drink any salt water too.  Leo and Cleo are flying toward the northeast.

           I've mentioned a few times over the last three days that big May 1942 World War II naval "Battle of the Coral Sea."  As a "Gunner," Mr. Steve's old  girlfriend Sandy's dad fought on the Aircraft Carrier "Lexington."  It blew up and sank so he had to "Abandon Ship" as they say.

           All of a sudden I just thought of that Second World War  Ship the "Indianapolis."  It was sunk by that one Japanese Submarine, and so many of the surviving American Sailors ended up being eaten by packs of Sharks.  Ugh!  I think I understand why our boss is afraid of Sharks

  

                  ROWS OF TEETH                     "WHITE" SHARK                         "MEGALADON"

                I think those "White" Sharks are the scariest because of how big they are and how sharp their teeth are.  When I see the picture of that ancient "Megaladon" White Shark I understand a lot more why Mr. Steve has a subconscious fear of Sharks.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.  

           If there ever is a Gamma Ray Burst near us, it will kill all the "Satellites" orbiting Earth.  A tv show Dais saw said "in an instant" everything like computers will die.  go dead.  Daisy told me that band the B-52'S mention a Car called a Plymouth "Satellite" in one of their songs.  

           If I were in school I'd want to go on some Field Trips like the ones Mr. Steve or his mom's Girl Scouts used to go on.  In the 11th Grade, at Sylmar High; our boss visited "Jet Propulsion Laboratory" in La Canada.  "J.P.L." makes the things that go out into Outer Space.

                

        "SATELITE"                                      "IMPACT" CRATER LOCATION  

                                   

            As I've mentioned a few times over the last three days, about sixty five million years ago this six mile wide "Asteroid" flew in from Outer Space and hit the Earth in the area now a part of the country of Mexico.  Most of the Dinosaurs died then.  I hear a Raven out in the desert.

                One way Scientists figured out where the sixty five million year old "Impact Crater" hit was through the use of those orbiting Satellites.  From way up high looking down they could see more easily where the Asteroid landed in Yucatan Mexico.  Dawn's barking over there.

          Mr. Steve has customers in Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Idaho.  With some of them he's discussed "Yellowstone" National Park.  I guess, from what it says here in this one Encyclopedia; it's mainly located in Wyoming but is also in Montana and Idaho too.    

                        

                                           "YELLOWSTONE" NATIONAL PARK

                                            

                One time Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about "National Parks."  The caption below this picture of "Yellowstone" says it shows the "Teton" mountains.  Wow!  The way those mountains are reflecting off of the surface of a river makes me wish I could smell what's going on.

                Dais told me Yellowstone was named after a river like it says here too.  I guess the "Park," lakes, canyons and rivers; is over three thousand "square miles" in size.  Scientists think Indians have lived there since 9,000 B.C., or about one thousand years after the last "Ice Age." 

           I guess the tv show said Yellowstone is actually one of those huge giant "Super Volcanoes" I've written about over the last three days.  Pictures taken by a satellite up in space proved that Yellowstone is inside of a huge, gigantic "Caldera."  It's easier to see things from up high.  

                                     

                                            (CIVIL WAR)                    ULYSSUS S. GRANT         (AS PRESIDENT)

                                                                     (1822-1885)

            

                 Oh!  I guess it was that guy Ulysses S. Grant, in 1872 as the 18th President; who made Yellowstone one of those "National Parks."  In 1872 President Grant had only thirteen years left to live.  A little Lizard is over there near the sliding glass door, and is doing some pushups.

             Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just flew in from the desert and are coasting over the top of the house right now.  And the same strong breeze that allows them to just float along and save on energy in the air current also brought in the scent of the Twins.  I suddenly feel good.  

             Ulysses Grant really liked us Animals.  Daisy says he sometimes even told people, except for his wife Julia and their children; he "preferred the company" of his Horses and Dogs.  Mr. Steve joked with Miss Susan how, the "older he gets" the more he feels the same way. 

           

                                                                                              "YELLOWSTONE"    

                    

             Color photos of Yellowstone make me realize why "Tourists" like to visit Wyoming.  One is of a Buffalo and the other shows how colorful that land is.  I know for sure if Daisy were here to see these pictures, like myself; she would wonder how Yellowstone actually smells.

            I wonder if it will ever be possible to smell what it is you're looking at in a photograph?  If someone invented something to allow that you could make money I think.  Oh!  Dawn's sad howling over there, and all of a sudden that sort of makes me feel sad for Heathcliff too. 

           A flock of Birds is flying over the northern desert and moving toward the east.  There are some pretty clouds way up there in the sky, which makes me somehow feel better and appreciate being alive right now.  Hey God!  Thank You Guys up there for really helping me today.  

   

                                              L.A. COUNTY "NATURAL HISTORY" MUSEUM

(EXTERIOR)

                   Over the last three days I've talked about how Mr. Steve and his mom had that Exhibit down there at the "Natural History Museum" near the U.S.C. campus and the Coliseum.  Daisy's seen that website Mr. Grant built for seeing that art.  Someday I really want to see it too.  

             I've seen Mr. Steve's mom's big paintings in the living room and front dining room, but I look forward to seeing the other things from that Mission Art Exhibit that are in the other parts of the house.  Daisy and Millie like the big paintings in our boss's bedroom.  Dawn's barking. 

            Because over the years Mr. Steve and his mom had visited the Natural History Museum, they were flattered when asked to put their artwork there for a year.  Daisy heard that our boss's mom also took her Girl Scout troops to that museum too.  I smell Blinky, Dawn and Rosie.  

                       

L.A. COUNTYNATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

(INTERIOR)

                One time Dais heard our boss and his mom talking about a Huell Howser episode where he visited the Natural History Museum.   They wondered if maybe it then he saw their Mission Art Exhibit?  Rudy just now ran bye and he's holding a dead Garter Snake in his mouth.

            I guess, Mr. Steve's mom has always been impressed at the displays down at the Natural History Museum where "Stuffed" Animals like Elephants are in the foreground, behind them  some realistically painted backgrounds to match.  I've written those "Diorama's" before. 

           Mr. Steve's mom remembers the models of Dinosaur skeletons he built as a kid, which she thought about when they saw the real giant Dinosaur skeletons at the Natural History Museum.  They were destroyed with all his other models by that 1971 earthquake.  Dawn's barking

 

    MILLIE CÓRDOVA  (2012-2014)

     

            All of a sudden I just thought about Millie, who was with Daisy and our boss when they watched that Huell Howser segment on the Natural History Museum.  Like Mr. Steve's mom, Millie was also impressed at how realistic those diorama displays were.  I like Dawn's voice.

            Daisy told me how Huell Howser met the guy at the Natural History Museum who paints the beautiful images behind all of the stuffed Animals.  He was also shown by the "Taxidermist" who created the front of the exhibit how he does it.  Libby's scent just now came floating in. 

           I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve's Cousin Gil Aaron back there in New Mexico is a really talented Taxidermist too.  He's stuffed Mountain Lions and Bears according to what Dais has heard.  She's the one who heard Roy Roger's Horse Trigger was stuffed after he died.  

    

 BATTLE OF ATLANTA "DIORAMA"

               I just thought of that big round Diorama Mr. Steve saw in the early 1970's, when he and his father visited the city of "Atlanta."  It was a giant painting about the September 1864 "Battle of Atlanta" that happened during the Civil War.  All four of the Pigeons are flying eastward.

            Yesterday, when I learned about the Civil War, I mentioned how the humongous painting in Atlanta had those manequins dressed like Soldiers in the foreground; with the painting behind them.  The gigantic painting is on the tall walls.  And the building it's in is round in shape.  

             Daisy and Millie one time heard our boss talking with Mr. Doug, whose mom lives in the State of Idaho; next to Wyoming where Yellowstone Park is located.  Mr. Doug read that Super Volcano's hollow "Caldera" is about forty three by twenty eight miles wide.  That's huge!  

                              

POSSIBLE IMPACT ZONE IF YELLOWSTONE ERUPTS     

               

                   Oh wow!  A map shows what might happen when the  Super Volcano erupts again.  The yellow area is where the "Raining" clouds of ash would go out to and I can see it almost gets over to us out here.   That Volcano last erupted about six hundred and forty thousand years ago.

              The map shows how the giant ash cloud would cover the area in Texas where Mr. Steve's brother Rock lives with Rocky Jr. and Jacob.  But it doesn't make it all the way east to where his Sister Susan lives in Connecticut with Dalton and Austin.  A Train just whistled faintly.

              I just thought of that place near Jet Propulsion Laboratory called "Descanso Gardens."  It's where they have those beautiful Japanese Gardens and ponds with the big gold Fish called "Koi Carp."  A grayish-brown Lizard just ducked quickly under a big rock near the Sheds.    

     

                                                        "DESCANSO" GARDENS

      

          As I wrote before, "descanso" means "place of peace" in Spanish.  Mr. Steve was told that a Japanese Garden is "in part" intended to connect three things, earth, man and Heaven.  Hey God!  That's kind of also how Daisy and I both want to think of our two acres down here.

          Someday I'd like to see Ponds with Koi Carp Fish in them like those at Descanso Gardens.  Miss Susan knows about how Koi, in Japan; have been bred for centuries.  I've said before how Daisy and I really like to eat Fish whenever our boss mixes leftovers in with our Dog food. 

          I guess Koi are mainly bred for their distinctive color patterns but you can also eat Carp too Miss Susan says.  There are a few colors of Koi and Dais jokes if they came in green our boss would want one.  I'd like to raise a royal blue baby Carp, but Daisy would want a red baby. 

                                     

"KOI" CARP           

             

          This Encyclopedia says, in Japanese; Koi is short for "Nishikigoi" or "brocaded Carp."  And "brocade" means "an embroidered cloth with designs on it."  I've mentioned how that guy Mr. Julio embroiders all the apparel Babette, Susan, Karin and Mr. Steve sell.

          It says here the ancient Chinese and Romans raised Carp.  I guess, because Carp are able to survive in colder water; they live about thirty years but have been known to live for a century.  Oh wow!  Some Koi Carp, if they live long enough; can grow to be as long as four feet.  

          As a wedding Photographer Mr. Steve took pictures at Descanso Gardens.  He sometimes dreams about times he's been there with his mom.  Oh!  That one big Monarch Butterfly who's been hanging around here just fluttered bye and that kind of makes me feel better.

       

"MONARCH" BUTTERFLY

                

               Hey God!  Except for the Heathcliff situation of course, seeing that Monarch Butterfly since Thursday has brought us good luck alright.  So Dais was right about that I'd say.  The scent of a Mesquite bush just blew in on a slight breeze from out in the desert behind the Sheds.

                 Oh!  Seeing that Monarch Butterfly reminds me how I keep on forgetting to write about them and Mexico.  They're now associated with that "Dia de los Muertos," or "Day of the Dead" holiday I've written about before.  Up here our "Halloween" is held on October the 31st.     

             Mr. Esteban the Worker, as they ate lunch out there on the cement slab driveway in front of the garage; told our boss in Mexico Monarch Butterflies always arrive every year on the 2nd of November.  Dia de los Muertos celebrations are held on November the 1st and 2nd I guess. 

     

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARRIVING IN MEXICO

(NOVEMBER 2)

          

               We heard Mr. Esteban tell our boss how his family loved seeing the Monarch Butterflies show up down there in Mexico.  They wanted to believe they brought good luck and the Souls of their ancestors coming back down here to see them.  Blackbeard and Anne just flew bye.

             According to what Mr. Esteban told our boss, for Dia de los Muertos people dress up in costumes, and some even make themselves look like skeletons.  His mother and female relatives made sweets called "Calaveras."  They also made them on the Christian "All Souls Day" too.

                 Mr. Esteban said his father used to make calaveras out of clay sometimes.  He also built a good "Altar" for everyone to put things like food, drink and flowers on in honor of the relatives spirits.  A small Sparrow carrying a long twig in its mouth ran bye out there in the dirt. 

            

                            MR. RALPH / SON RORY      SAN FERNANDO MISSION             MR. RALPH

                 Dais told me you can tell Mr. Ralph knows about those Day of the Dead ceremonies.  He's read there's Aztec influences in it, and says his family in Mexico gave not only all of the deceased ancestors gifts on the alter; but also gave gifts to each other.  "Regalo" is Spanish for "Gift."

           Mr. Ralph says Mexicans "pay respects" to ancestors on the Day of the Dead, which in a few areas of Mexico is celebrated on October the 31st; like Halloween here.  Our boss told Mr. Ralph for a few years his mom made good skeleton-shaped cookies.  A Train whistled faintly.

           Some people down there in Mexico tell funny stories about their dead relatives from what Mr. Esteban said that time.  He also mentioned "pan de muerto," or "bread of the dead;" which his female relatives made when he was a kid.  A smell the baby Cholla cactus over there. 

  

                        ALTAR                         "DIA DE LOS MUERTOS"              CALAVERA 

               Dais heard Mr. Ralph tell our boss some people can't understand how death can be made into a holiday like on the Days of the Dead, especially the way some dress up like skeletons.  But in fact the main point is to be "happy thinking of your relatives spirit" he said.  I smell Sage.

            All of a sudden I just thought of the "Huntington Library."  It not only has those three really good gardens, it also has that Museum there too.  Smelling Sage makes me feel good right now but, no matter what I do; in the back of my mind I keep on thinking of Heathcliff.

            If we were ever able to go to the Huntington Library I know Daisy would want to see the painting of the pretty girl named "Pinkie."  I'd go see the "Blue Boy," who our boy Scrub Jay is named after.  I wrote about how both were painted in the 18th century by Englishmen.   

                         

                              "PINKIE"                                                    "BLUE BOY"

                                             PAINTING BY THOMAS LAWRENCE                                                              PAINTING BY THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH                                                                         

                  

             According to what Daisy and Millie heard when our boss talked to his mom, Pinkie and Blue Boy face each other in the same big room down there at the Huntington Library.  Looking up and see the blue sky to the east, I see some little puffy clouds.  Boy!  I really love blue. 

          Mr. Steve's mom likes how Lawrence and Gainsborough painted "realistic" eyes on their "Subjects."  Our boss told Miss Susan at work you can almost feel the realistic "spark of  life" in Pinkie and Blue Boy's eyes.  They seem like real people looking back at you Daisy heard.               

       In College at C.S.UN. Mr. Steve's mom studied "Rococo" art.  That was the final era of "Baroque," in the late 18th century; and I guess Lawrence and Gainsborough were part of it.     That Italian guy Antonio Vivaldi, who wrote La Primavera; was from the Baroque era too.                                          

"LEAVE IT TO BEAVER"         

                

        A lady "Docent" over at the Huntington Library told Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Sandy Pinkie and Blue Boy were once used as "Background Props" for that 1950's tv show "Leave it to Beaver."  Mr. Steve and Sandy and their parents liked that show.  Dais says it's good alright.        

         That Docent jokingly described Pinkie and Blue Boy as, "the Romeo and Juliet of the art world."  When they got back to Sylmar Sandy told her mother that joke because her mom liked Shakespeare's famous play about that boy and the girl.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye.            

         One time our boss told Mr. Rick Sandy's father was "almost deaf" from the loud noise he heard during that "Battle of the Coral Sea."  This tv show Daisy saw said some Musicians, like    AC/DC's second Singer for example; are going deaf.  Beethoven couldn't hear for a while too.                      

SISTER WENDY

        That smart Catholic Nun from England Sister Wendy, who our boss and his mother met in1999; thought Gainsborough may have made Blue Boy's background blurry on purpose.  He    was a "tremendous painter of landscapes" she said.   A Train just whistled to the north.                 

        Writing about how Pinkie, and Blue Boy; were used in that tv show Leave It To Beaver is now making me think of Mr. Steve's sister Susan being a "Set Decorator" for those two 1980's tv shows "Roseanne" and the "Bill Cosby Show."  An extending vapor trail is up in the sky.              

          Daisy says our Chief's mom, like Sister Wendy too I guess; likes to stand right in front of a painting and then "Take it In" as they say.  I mentioned how Mr. Steve's parents have been to the big "Metropolitan" Museum in New York City.  Hearing that Train makes me feel good.               

BLUE BOY 

          Oh wow!  What a coincidence that, just as I happen to be mentioning that painting called Blue Boy who should I now see?  It's Blue Boy the "Scrub" Jay who just flew in and landed on a boulder near the Mulberry tree over there.  A Train whistled faintly over there to my left.              

      I can kind of tell by the way Blue Boy is glancing around at the ground, he's looking for "Material" to take back to Linda; so they can build this year's nest.  Speedy Gonzalez was under Moe but now zoomed out into the desert.  Libby's unique scent just floated in right now.               

     Ha! Ha!  Blue Boy just noticed me sitting over here on Elvira again.  He, like everyone else around here; is probably wondering why I've been over here so much over these last three days.  He just flew away and went over the top of the Sheds in going out into the back desert.                                    

           THOMAS LAWRENCE (1769-1830)                        THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH (1727-1788)                                                                                                          

          This is interesting.  According to my Encyclopedia, Thomas Lawrence died "in debt" just like Rembrandt.  I wonder if they were buried in one of those "Pauper's Graves," like the ones    those guys Vivaldi and Mozart's bodies were put into?  Libby just whinnied over there.                 

          For some reason I just thought about that band the KINKS.  I've mentioned a few times in the last three days how Mr. Steve and his brother Rock like them, and their music is now linked to reminisces of times in their lives.   Boy!  I can't wait to hear some KINKS songs someday.          

       Daisy told me about an early 1970's KINKS album called "Muswell  Hillbillies."  I guess, over the years the KINKS have had a few logos but Mr. Steve says one of the hardest one to draw was the one used on Muswell Hillbillies.  That's what he told his mom according to Daisy.                                                                    "MUSWELL HILLBILLIES" (1971)          

                         

          One time Mr. Steve was at his Grandma and Grandpa Trujillo's house in New Mexico.  In their living room he played the KINKS Muswell Hillbillies album over and over again, on their    Stereo; and now has pleasant memories of it.  I smell that Sage bush behind the Sheds.                  

         Hey God!  Thank You for giving Daisy and I good dreams lately but, I wonder what it will be like tonight; knowing there will be no Heathcliff in the morning.  Ugh!  That's going to be so    weird.  Two of the Pigeons just flew in from the desert and landed up on the Patio roof.                  

        Daisy told me our boss has been playing drums to the song "20th Century Man" off of the Muswell Hillbillies album.  Mr. Steve was sixteen when that album came out in 1971 and was in   10th Grade at Alemany High.  Some of the Wrens are singing to each other right now.                                                                                      THE KINKS                             

                                                                                                                                                                 Dais says our boss told his mom one time how the KINKS song 20th Century Man is about the "tensions" and "frustrations" of modern life.  This Encyclopedia says it's a "lament" about   the "relentless march of technology and modernization."  Ah!  The Pigeons are cooing.                 

          I guess in the lyrics to 20th century Man Ray Davies, who wrote that song says; "You keep all of your modern writers, give me William Shakespeare.  You keep all of your smart modern    painters, I'll take Rembrandt, Da Vinci and Gainsborough."  I can smell the Twin Joshua's.         

        Because Mr. Steve thinks most things have two sides, Artificial Intelligence in Computers and Robots have the bad side of "Eliminating" jobs so it will get harder to get "Employment."  I want to see that 1968 movie "2001 A Space Odyssey" someday.  I love how Pigeons sound!                                       

 "LUDDITE" REBELLION         

                    

           I've mentioned before how, our boss has at times been jokingly called a "Luddite."  That's because of those violent early 19th century riots, by English workers; who destroyed machines      which made their jobs and "Livelihoods" obsolete.   Thank You God for making Pigeons.              

        That Writer J.R.R. Tolkien, like Ray Davies of the KINKS; seemed to prefer parts of the past to our faster-paced modern world.  Mr. Steve thinks Tolkien would probably have liked that one old KINKS song 20th Century Man.  Daisy told me how it's a pretty good song alright.           

           I've written how Mr. Steve thinks at times progress "for progress's sake" isn't that good.     Like Joe Walsh's song says, he's an "Analog" person in a "Digital" world; so still prefers music "played" on musical instruments.  Now songs are "created" or "programmed" on computers.                                                

                         SPEEDY GONZALEZ                      

                                                                                                          

       Aha!  I knew I was smelling Speedy Gonzalez and there he is, standing in the dirt; next to Mulberry tree.  It's sort of funny seeing him so still and just standing in one spot because he's almost always running fast from one place to another.  The Pigeons are cooing up there.               

         I'm still thinking about the KINKS.  Daisy says their album Muswell Hillbillies has many styles of music on it, from Rock to Country to 1920's sounding horns.  But those songs were not    "Commercial" hits like "You Really Got Me, "Sunny Afternoon" or "Lola" were.                        

          I guess "Muswell Hills," where the KINKS grew up in north London; was bombed in 1940 by the Germans during World War II.  I wrote about the Battle of Britain and the Blitz in book    two.  Speedy just zipped off and now only some dust particles remain floating in the air.                

                      

       "MUSWELL HILLBILLIES" ALBUM COVER         

                    

          Daisy says on the front of the Muswell Hillbillies album is a picture of The KINKS in what they call in England a "Pub."  Dais thinks the inside "Wide Angle" photo shows the five KINKS outside of that same Pub.  But there's a fence all around it so you can't see inside.                           

         One reason why our Chief likes Muswell Hillbillies is because it has songs about people in Ray and Dave Davies' families.  One is about their Grandmother, and another is about how bad    alcohol is.  Ah!  I can hear two Crows fighting over something out there in the desert.                     

     Mr. Steve read the title Muswell "Hillbillies" is because Ray Davies liked "The Beverly Hillbillies."  The Actress who played "Granny" was born on October 17th like his brother Rock, and "Jethro's" birthday is December 4th like his Niece Stephanie.  I smell Creosote.                                    

          "BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"                

                                             

          Someday when I get over my unrealistic fear of going all the way down the hallway in our house I'll see the Beverly Hillbillies.  Dais thinks our boss liked looking at that pretty girl named  "Elly Mae."  She had a lot of pets I guess, including their old "Hound" Dog named "Duke."         

       From what Dais described, the Beverly Hillbillies boy Dog Duke is kind of like Rosie who lives next door in that they both sleep a lot.  As I've mentioned, Rosie could be sixteen years old    and Daisy might be that old too.  Hey God!  I sure hope both of them live for a long time.              

         Oh!  I just noticed a black Beetle over there in the dirt.  I wonder if it's hungry so is taking a chance by coming out during the day?  Mr. Steve says, in an emergency; you can eat Bugs and I wondered alright about eating them when I was homeless and living out in that one field.              

                        

      DESERT BEETLE          

                               

         That Beetle looks like it knows exactly where it's going.  This is the first Beetle I've seen this year, just like this morning that Praying Mantis was the first one I've seen.  Beetles are small but, Dais and I just leave them alone; and right now that one Beetle is going under a boulder.

         According to my Encyclopedia, Beetles have wings but don't fly; which is what Dais told me a tv show said too.  Mr. Mike's mom Miss Phyllis once called Beetles "Tumble Bugs."  She said, if threatened; they can even spray you with a really bad smell; just like those Skunks do too.

        We've at times wondered why Beetles are black, and it says here black "absorbs" the heat.  That's not too good up here when the temperature gets so hot.  But usually Beetles are like Mice and Rats in only coming outside in the dark of night, and sometimes hiding down in a hole.  

                              

     "DUNG" BEETLE            

                          

           Mr. Hussein, who's from Egypt and runs that Coffee Shop in Sylmar; told our Chief about African "Dung" Beetles and a picture shows one rolling a ball of "dung" on the ground.  Some Insects and Birds use sunlight to "orient" themselves he read.  Oh!  So that's what dung is!    

           I guess, in Egypt when Animals go to the bathroom; boy Dung Beetles shape it into a ball, and then he and the girl roll what looks like a pretty good sized ball back over to their hole where they can eat it later.  Yuk!  I'd have to be starving to eat dung.  A Train is whistling faintly.   

           Oh wow!  Dung Beetles not only eat the dung themselves but, girl Beetles "lay eggs" in it so later all the new babies can "feed" on the ball.  Unbelievable!   But, like Dais says; in a way it's ingenious to be born into "ready to go" food.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's chicks up there.     

           

"SCARAB" BEETLE JEWELRY        

             

              Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Hussein and our boss talk about how in ancient Egypt those "Scarab" Beetles were considered "sacred," so were "revered."  Mr. Hussein was told Egyptian Beetles, sometimes five inches long; are the biggest in the world.  Ours are way smaller.

          A picture shows an ancient Egyptian "Amulet," and I can see why Mr. Steve's mom likes that rock called "Lapis Lazuli."  I guess, usually it's royal or navy blue; but sometimes does look like the color of New Mexico "Turquoise" alright.  Leo and Cleo flew over Libby's Corral.

          To ancient Egyptians Dung Beetles were the "incarnation" of their "Sun" God "Khepi."  They saw "magic in life emerging" from the dung ball.  To them it resembled the Sun coming out every morning, and believed Dung Beetle shaped Khepi then rolled the Sun across the sky.  

          

TUTANKHAMUN (c.1341-c.1323)    

         

                 I can't wait to someday see the big color picture of that guy King Tut's death mask on the front of the kitchen refrigerator.  Daisy says the royal blue lapis lazuli inlaid in gold is so pretty.  She knows my favorite color is royal blue, even though I sort of like all the other shades too. 

           Hey Blessed Mother!  I guess, ground up lapis lazuli rock was used to make a blue paint which Painters from the Middle Ages through the Baroque periods used.  Daisy says Mr. Steve's mom studied about the paintings of You from those times.  Blackbeard and Anne flew bye.

           As I've mentioned before, even though he never wears jewelry; Mr. Steve has some of it inside our house Dais told me.  Over the years he's bought and sold jewelry, and some of it has been New Mexico silver with turquoise in it.  I can smell Charlie Company out in the desert.

    

NEW MEXICO TURQUOISE

             One time Daisy heard our boss and his mom remembering how, when they would visit in New Mexico; Uncle "Fenny" wore some beautiful silver with turquoise.  Uncle Fenny, which I've mentioned is short for "Fernando;" married Mr. Steve's dad's sister "Lydia.  I smell Sage.

           It says here in this one Encyclopedia how, from pre-historic times to later Indian artwork; things using lapis lazuli or turquoise rock have been made.  Mr. Dave says he read about the tiny turquoise beads that have been discovered from ancient times.  Sage has such a good scent.  

          Dais told me our Chief had a metal replica of an ancient Egyptian good luck charm.  A few years ago he gave it to this little girl he was tutoring because she liked it so much.  It had this big fake stone in it that "looked" like real lapis lazuli according to what Daisy and Millie heard.     

          

EARLY AFTERNOON SKY     

       

              Ah!  Even though, in the back of my mind I'm still at times thinking about how Heathcliff is gone, I feel good right now in looking at the blue sky above the desert behind the Sheds.  I can't wait to go see Daisy after chapter eight.  Thank You Everyone for how good I feel right now.

           Daisy says Mr. Hussein and our boss talked about how the ancient Egyptians saw Dung Beetles as also symbolizing "Eternal Life."  And that's mainly because every day the Sun comes and never dies.  But like that one tv show Dais saw said, someday our Sun won't be around.  

           I just now thought about how that band the BEATLES picked their name.  Samson and Delilah flew in from being out in the back desert and are now cruising over our house in going to the west.  A Lizard is standing on the wall near the sliding glass door and is doing pushups.  

        

                       THE CRICKETS                                                            THE BEATLES

          In "Tribute" to Buddy Holly's 1950's Texas band the CRICKETS, the BEATLES at first were called the SILVER BEETLES.  But, because they then were playing "Mersey Beat" music; they shortened it down to the BEATLES and also changed the spelling.  I smell Mesquite.             

          When I was visiting with Daisy after part one, we saw that cute little Car Mr. Steve called a "Beetle" drive bye out on Oasis Road.  My German Dictionary says "Volkswagen" means "Car of the People." Cher just jumped up on the top of Moe with a dead Lizard in her mouth.             

          One time our boss and Mr. Ralph talked on the phone about Volkswagens.  I guess Hitler wanted an "Affordable" Car, so drew what he wanted in the 1930's and ordered it "Developed." Earlier this morning I mentioned that one other small "Compact" Car called the "Jetta."     

                                                  

                                                         ADOLPH HITLER"S DRAWING

                                         

            I've written before about how Adolph Hitler and Henry Ford "admired" each other and "Had in Common" a dislike of Jews.  In the early 20th century Henry Ford built that "Model T" which was also meant to be inexpensive too.  It was a Car for the "Average Person."  

           Mr. Steve was told that in 1932, the year his dad was born; Hitler was eating when the idea for the Volkswagen was "Proposed."  He liked it so quickly "Sketched" what he wanted the Car to look like.  I can hear small bones crunching as Cher eats her Lizard up there on Manny. 

          Yesterday in book two I wrote about how, when Hitler was rejected for admission into Art School in Vienna; those who turned him down recommended he become an Architect instead.  He didn't draw or paint the human body well.  Cher's now finished eating that Lizard.                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                "VIENNA," AUSTRIA

                                                                                                                                   ARTWORK BY ADOLPH HITLER

                 Daisy told me in College Mr. Steve met a Jewish guy named "Ben," who was impressed in seeing some of Hitler's art.  Boy!  Every time I look at these two painting I think he was a pretty good artist too.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the southeast over Libby's Corral. 

            I guess that guy Ben knew other Jewish people who really hated Volkswagens, and all the other German Car "Brand's too because of what happened in the "Holocaust."  Daisy says the Beetle Car's nickname is the "Bug." Cher's licking her paw and wiping her head with it.     

           According to what it says in this Encyclopedia, the 1930's German name for that original Beetle VW Car was "Kraft durch Freude;" or "KdF-Wagen" for short.  That means "Strength through Joy Car."  The scent of the baby Cholla cactus just came into my right nostril.

                                 

                                                               "HIPPIES                                       (1960'S)                     VOLKWAGEN "BEETLE"    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                PHOTO BY MICHELLE HILL   

                                                             

                Dais says that one Jewish guy Ben, back in the 1960's when he was "rebelling" against his parents; became one of those "Hippies" I've written about.  He and Mr. Steve talked about how some Hippies painted VW Beetles in bight colors.  I guess Ben is short for "Benjamin."  

           Oh!  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows one of those Hippie Volkswagens.  Boy!  I do like how it looks and, if I ever had a Car; I'd definitely want it to be painted just like that.  Cher just noticed me over here on Elvira so is frozen with her paw still on top of her head.   

           Mr. Steve and Ben wondered if the Hippies knew the VW's Nazi history and thought it was kind of amusing how Hippies believed in "Peace and Love."  I guess there were Hippies who also liked driving the VW "Bus's" too.  Cher just now went back to grooming herself.  

                                              

      "JUDAISM"           

                      

             Daisy told me our boss also talked with that guy Ben about that book "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion."  It was written in the early 20th century to make the Jews look bad but now everyone knows it was one of those "Hoaxes" I've written about.  A Crow cawed.

                  One time Mr. Steve's father was in a Mexico City Bookstore and saw a Spanish version of the "Protocols."  The book seller told him it and Hitler's book "Mein Kampf;" are "always very popular."  Mr. Steve's been told the same is true about those books in the Middle East.     

            That guy Ben was told the Protocols, about how powerful rich Jews want to take over the world; was written in 1903 by Czar Nicholas II's "Okhrana" Secret Police.  Hey Lord!  It's too bad for two thousand years many people have disliked Jews for Your sake.  Dawn barking.  

                        

                                                                                         RUSSIAN "POGROM"      

                                  

            I'm looking at the picture of the dead Jews in Russia.  The caption says a "Pogrom" is an "organized massacre."  Mr. Steve's last two girlfriends, Emily and then Harriet; are both from families who may have come to America to escape Russian pogroms.  I can smell Cher.

           Some fortunate "Ashkenazi" Jews were able to escape Russia in the early 20th century.  And they came into America through that place in New York City called "Ellis" Island.  Cher is now yawning, and now laying down and starting to fall asleep up there on Manny's roof. 

               The Protocols supposedly proved, in a "Conspiracy;" that those Jews were secretly trying to dominate the world.  Mr. Steve thinks, in the early 20th century; Czar Nicholas II was being criticized a lot.  So he probably didn't mind a "distraction" like having the Jews to blame.

                                                                  

                                                              CZAR NICHOLAS ROMANOV II (1868-1918)  

                         

           Ah!  No wonder Adolph Hitler and Henry Ford liked each other.  My Encyclopedia says, in the 1920's; Henry Ford published the Protocols in a Newspaper he owned.  I guess, that book is still popular all over the world, from the Middle East to Japan; and it's in Spanish too. 

           Mr. Steve and his dad think Henry Ford was really important in building the "Industrial" United States.  But Henry Ford was like many white people from his era who hated blacks and Jews.  As I've said, Mr. Steve thinks many people secretly like to hate if they have an excuse.   

           Our boss and those three girls Babette, Susan and Karin sell things to Auto Dealerships so some sell Ford vehicles.  Glancing up, I see Charlie Company and all of their new babies using the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the back desert behind the Sheds. 

                                                                                                                         HENRY FORD (1863-1947)

                                                            (WITH "MODEL T" AUTOMOBILE)  

                             

          I've mentioned before how Henry Ford built his "Model T" Cars on "Assembly Lines" like the ones Mr. Steve's brother Rock worked on for all of those years.   Unlike most of the other rich guys who owned business' back then; he actually paid his employees well.  Dawn's barking.

          One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss and his father talking about Henry Ford.  Mr. Steve's father said the "price you paid" for making more money than most of the other people in the sociey, Ford had a "Gestapo" type force to "keep track" of you.  I smell Blinky over there.

         A tv show Daisy, Millie and our boss saw talked about how Henry Ford really hated "Labor Unions" like what Karl Marx wrote about.  As I've said before, he called it "Collectivism" and called the Workers the "Proletariat." The people with power were his "Bourgeoisie."    

                          

ADOLPH HITLER / HENRY FORD

               Dais says the man on the tv show mentioned how Adolph Hitler "admired" Henry Ford, and even had a framed picture of him hanging on his office walls.  He told everyone, like that guy Albert Speer for example; to use Henry Ford's "Assembly Line" idea.  Both didn't like Jews.  

                  According to the tv show Henry Ford, in the mid-1930's; was awarded a high medal by Hitler's Nazi government.  During World War II Ford Corporation helped the U.S. win through its manufacturing.  But they also had factories in Europe during the Second World War.

            I guess, Henry Ford had an army of what the tv show called "Goons," who used violence and brutality against "Union Activists."  Henry Ford thought, since he was paying you so well; he had the right to tell you and your family how to live your lives.  Leo and Cleo flew bye. 

             

                                              "1984"                             GEORGE ORWELL (1903-1950)

   

         Over the last three days I've mentioned a few times how our boss's father had that school for Stockbrokers.  He read about Henry Ford, and talked with Mr. Steve about how his company secretly "Surveilled" employees.  It was like George Orwell's "Big Brother" in his book 1984.      

       Mr. Steve's father called Henry Ford a "tyrant," who was mean to everyone around him; even his own family I guess.  Dais thinks it would have probably been no fun being his Dog and    I'll bet she's right about that.  Samson and Delilah are flying together over Libby's Corral.           

       Ah!  The strong scent of our neighbor's Roses just came floating into my right nostril.  Some of Heathcliff's Hens are clucking away and for some reason that feels reassuring to me somehow. Boy!  It's going to be so weird tomorrow when there won't be anyone to announce the day.            

                      

     "PROTOCOLS OF THE LEARNED ELDERS OF ZION"         
 

         One time Daisy heard our Chief talking with one of his Ford customers.  They discussed how, back in the 1920's; copies of Henry Ford's Newspapers were sold or put in the Cars bought  at his dealerships all over the country.  They had translated chapters from "The Protocols."         

         Mr. Steve's dad thinks many late 19th and early 20th century Americans and Europeans were already "predisposed" toward anti-Semitism.  So it "wasn't really that difficult" to "fan the flames."  The K.K.K. used "anti Jewish bias" to make that 1920's "resurgence" he said.               

          Dais heard some people think the "Holocaust" never happened and it was made up.  But Mr. Steve says, besides the "physical evidence for all to see;" the Germans "being the way they    are" kept good records.   A small flock of Birds is flying in formation toward the northeast.                      

     ADOLPH EICHMANN (1906-1962)    

      

         Dais saw a tv show about Adolph Eichmann.  My Encyclopedia says he was an S.S. Officer who helped "organize" the "transportation" of Jews to the Death Camps during World War II.    He was one of those "Bureaucrats" I've written about before according to what it says here.         

         I guess, Adolph Eichmann was one of those Nazis who that guy Otto Skorzeny's "Odessa"  helped to escape down to South America after the Second World War.  He was from Austria just  like Hitler.  Two Crows are fighting over something out there in the desert behind the Sheds.        

       Oh!  In 1962 that "Mossad" group I've written about caught Adolph Eichmann, "smuggled" him to Israel; put him on trial and hung him.  This lady named Hannah Arent called what he did killing all those Jews being the "banality of evil."  Dais thinks that might mean just "routine."         

      LATE AFTERNOON SKY       

    

         Oh!  I just glanced up from down here on the Patio and see how some pretty puffy clouds have developed up there in the eastern sky.  I'd say it's getting close to five judging by how the      shadows look right now.  A Lizard near the Mulberry tree is standing in the dirt over there.          

      Another man who built Cars was that guy Ferdinand Porsche.  This Encyclopedia says he was one of the people Hitler told to make the Volkswagen back in the 1930's.  Daisy says, before  the recession our Chief  had two "Porsche" Dealerships as customers; but not anymore.                

        Ferdinand Porsche "developed" Cars, and things like those World War II Tanks I've talked about before.  As I wrote in book one on Thursday, it was his company that built the "Elephant" Tanks.  And that's the main reason why that Tank was even nicknamed the "Ferdinand."             

                       

       FERDINAND PORSCHE (1875-1951)                          "ELEPHANT" TANK

                                       

           I guess Ferdinand Porsche, being an "Engineer;" helped create not only his own Porsche Autos but also some Mercedes Benz's too.  It says here he was mostly "Apolitical" so never wore a Nazi uniform.  Mr. Steve says he still has "a few" Mercedes Benz customers left Dais heard.

                Someday, when I'm not afraid to go all the way into Mr. Steve's bedroom; I really want to see this movie called "The Love Bug."  Daisy saw it with Millie one time and says it's about this really smart VW Beetle named "Herbie."  Donald and Daisy are quacking right now.

          On my first long break after chapter four Daisy and I talked about that movie The Love Bug.  She's turned out to be so right in saying on Thursday I don't have to stick "literally" to my outlines.  And over the last three day I've "Improvised" and will keep doing it again today. 

                                                      BERTHA BENZ  (AUGUST, 1888)               2014 MERCEDES BENZ "GLK" CLASS                        

                All of a sudden I just thought of that German lady Bertha Benz, who I've mentioned a few times in these three long books.  In 1888, she and her sons made the first Automobile "Trip" in a  three-wheeled Car her husband built.  Then she recommended an extra gear and brakes too.

           Daisy one time heard our boss talking to this Mercedes Benz Parts Manager about a small "Crossover" Sports Utility Vehicle which is in the "GLK" class.  She says that guy used phrases like "solid but luxurious," or "built to last."  Another word that he used was "quality."       

                 Back in book one on Thursday I wrote about Bertha Benz.  Mr. Steve has discussed her with a few of his customers, and said she kind of reminded him of his Grandma Córdova.  That guy chuckled and said one of his Grandma's was a very "strong-minded woman" too.

                                                  

"MANZANITA"      

                         

          The scent of that Manzanita bush behind the three Sheds just came in on a breeze from the eastern desert.  I guess today hasn't turned out to be as hard as I thought it would be because of Heathcliff dying.  But, I'm still sort of sad just thinking about missing his unique voice.

          Cher's sleeping over there on top of Manny but I know she's still alert and will wake up so fast if necessary.  I'll bet she's wondering why I've been spending so much time back here in the Patio on my couch Elvira.  For some reason, seeing Cher makes me feel a little better.    

          Oh!  My Encyclopedia says the movie The Love Bug came out in 1968, the year portrayed in the tv show "Wonder Years" and of Mr. Steve's two Chevelle's.  In the Vietnam War the "Tet" Offensive" was in 1968.  Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were killed in 1968. 

                            

   "HERBIE THE LOVE BUG" (1968)       

                                    

           It says here The Love Bug movie was made by the Walt Disney Company and took place up in San Francisco.  Daisy says it's about a nice race Car driver, who sees this one British man being mean to Herbie the Car; so buys Herbie.  I smell a Lizard around here.

          From what Dais told me, that Car Herbie has a "Mind of his Own" as they say, and wants to help his new owner in gratitude.  And little does the guy know how he had bought a very smart Car so got a really good deal Dais say.  Andy's guarding the entrance to the burrow.

         Oh my God!  Cher woke up and jumped from the top of Manny to intercept a Sparrow who just happened to be flying bye.  Wow!  Every time I see her do that it's so amazing.  After she hit the ground Cher ran under Manny with the dead Sparrow still alive in her mouth.  

                 

    THE MONKEES         

                       

             As a kid our boss built a model of the "Monkeemobile," and drew their logo and also the The Love Bug logo too.  People make fun of the MONKEES, but he likes some of their songs.  He tells people Mike Nesmith "influenced" later "Country Rock" bands like the EAGLES.

           In the movie The Love Bug I guess Herbie's new boss was low on money.  So, in order to help him out; Herbie starts winning Auto Races even though Volkswagen Beetles are not usually used as Race Cars.  Donald and Daisy are quacking at something over there next door.

          According to Daisy, Herbie the Car wins races so this other mean Racer named "Peter" is mad and one of those "Sore Losers."  He even tries to cheat and does some "Dirty Tricks."  But, no matter what that guy Peter does; Herbie is just way too good and wins the races anyway. 

                         

      "HERBIE THE LOVE BUG"           

                  

           Dais told me in The Love Bug one time Herbie thought his boss didn't want him anymore so was really sad and depressed.  So he tried to purposely drive off of that giant bridge up there in San Francisco called the "Golden Gate Bridge."  I've mentioned that bridge before.

           But luckily for Herbie Daisy says, his boss was able to stop him just in the "Nick of Time" so to speak.  He told Herbie he wanted and needed him to stay and wouldn't sell him.  Daisy says she and Millie noticed how Herbie's owner has a really pretty and friendly girlfriend. 

           I guess sometimes the girl and this funny Buddhist man would be in the Car with Herbie's owner when they were racing but, in real life Mr. Steve says; that's not allowed.  That guy Peter does some mean things trying to win.   Mr. Steve has known a few guys named Peter.   

              

"HERBIE THE LOVE BUG"

         

               Daisy says one time, after a crash; they had to "Weld" Herbie back together but right in the middle of the race the two halves started to come apart.  And amazingly, it would just have to happen near the "Finish Line" too.  Stephanie's boyfriend Rich is a good Welder.

               According to Dais, to "Make matters Worse" as they say; as Herbie and that bad guy Peter raced toward the Finish Line Herbie got turned around backward!  But Herbie wouldn't give up and ended up winning the race anyway.  Herbie finished first and third too I guess!

         Mr. Steve once did artwork for this girl who grew up in Van Nuys.  I've mentioned that city a few times already in my books.  That girl Marilyn Monroe went to Van Nuys High School and I guess so did this other Actor named Robert Redford too according to what Daisy heard.

                     

         DON DRYSDALE                       MARILYN MONROE                ROBERT REDFORD 

 

             That girl from Van Nuys told Mr. Steve the reason Herbie was #53 is because the Actor who played Herbie's boss liked the Dodgers' Pitcher Don Drysdale.  In 1968, Mr. Steve and Mr. Rick; wore their "Stirrup" socks the same way as Don Drysdale did.  I smell Sage.  

            I guess Don Drysdale went to Van Nuys High School too.  He was right-handed and threw the ball really fast and Mr. Steve, his brother Rock and their friend Rick; saw Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax pitch.  Don Drysdale's wife was also a good athlete too Dais heard.   

           Wow!  According to this one Encyclopedia, that guy Don Drysdale has died already.  Boy!  And he was born the year after Mr. Steve's mom and four years after his father.  It says here that for a long time he held the record for the most "consecutive scoreless innings" pitched.

     

                          BEVERLY HILLBILLIES ( MISS JANE / MILBURN DRYSDALE)

                                                                               

           Mr. Steve thinks the Actor who played Mr. Drysdale on the Beverly Hillbillies was really funny in being the "Stereotype" of the greedy Banker.  His bank is where the Clampett family keeps their money.  I wonder if he's related to that Dodger's Pitcher Don Drysdale?                        

                I guess Mr. Drysdale is so in love with money he'll literally "Go to any Length" to keep the Clampett's from taking their money out of his Bank.  Daisy says if he ever faints, his really smart Secretary named "Miss Jane" waves money under his nose.  That then revives him.  

          Boy!  As I've said a few times over the last three days, I can't wait for the day when I'm not afraid to go in the house to watch more tv.  Daisy told me, in the Beverly Hillbillies; Mr. Drysdale enjoys running barefoot through a Bank vault full of money.  Some Ducks are quacking.

                       

                                                      KARL MARX (1818-1883)

                     

                 I've learned a lot about that German Jewish guy Karl Marx over the last three days.  I'll bet he wouldn't like a greedy person like Mr. Drysdale the Banker.  Over the last three days I've said how our boss and his father think at times our culture "worships" money too much.   

            As I've said before, Mr. Steve and his dad believe one bad thing about "Capitalism" is it "Lends Itself" to greed or "Avarice."  In fact they think, there are even times when being greedy is kind of "Encouraged."  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye, moving to the northeast.  

                 Oh!  Writing about people from Van Nuys makes me remember something I was supposed to write about on Thursday in my first book.  This girl named Natalie Wood, who Daisy says was a famous Actress; graduated from Van Nuys High School too.  She's was a famous Actress.

                      

                                                          NATALIE WOOD (1938-1981)

            

                I was scheduled to write about Natalie Wood on Thursday when I talked about "Catalina" Island but somehow missed her on my book one outline.  Natalie Wood, who "Dated" Elvis; was in famous movies like "West Side Story."  Mark in Hawaii's last name is Wood too.

          From what Dais heard our boss tell Miss Susan, that girl Natalie Wood died by drowning in the Harbor of "Avalon."  As I've said a few times in my books, Avalon is the town on the east side of Catalina and Mr. Steve has been there a few times.  Dawn's howling over there.

              Oh!  This one Encyclopedia says Natalie Wood's real first name was "Natasha."  Her "poor immigrant" parents came to the U.S. from Russia.  Wow!  It's so interesting how Natalie Wood's Grandfather was killed in 1918 during that bloody Russian civil war I've written about.   

         

                                          "AVALON" ("SANTA CATALINA" ISLAND) 

         

           I guess Natalie Wood "graduated" from Van Nuys High in 1956, which is a year after Mr. Steve was born; and the year before his brother Rock "Came into the World" as the say.  But by then she'd already been in a movie called "Rebel Without a Cause."  I smell Sage.

          It says here, Don Drysdale and Robert Redfern graduated from Van Nuys in 1954; which was the year Mr. Steve's father was "Discharged" from the Marines.  He got married; and they had our boss the following year.  Fred, Ed and Ted are flying out into the desert. 

         Oh!  I wonder if our boss knows that Natalie Wood is buried at the exact same cemetery in "Westwood" as Marilyn Monroe?  It says here how both died in "mysterious circumstances."  I just now picked up Libby's scent in my right nostril and that makes me feel so good. 

                

                                               MARILYN MONROE (1926-1962)

                

            Besides both graduating from Van Nuys High School and then becoming Actresses, another thing Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood had "In Common" was being kind of poor at one time.  I've mentioned how Marilyn Monroe, "In Effect;" was an "Orphan."  Daffy's quacking.

            As I've said on a number of occasions over the last three days, someday I really want to see the big Marilyn Monroe poster Mr. Steve has hanging on his bedroom wall.  It's in a glass frame and shows her looking out of an open window.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye right now.

        Daisy told me how Millie thought, in the poster of Marilyn Monroe; she looks like a friendly person.  I've mentioned before how she doesn't have very much "Makeup" on and is wearing a "Bath Robe."  Mr. Steve has a dark brown bath robe that he sometimes wears at night.  

   

2014 TOYOTA "AVALON"

      

                 Mentioning the town of Avalon on Catalina Island reminds me about how Daisy heard our boss talking with a "Toyota" customer about making hats one time.  They discussed a Car called an "Avalon."  Samson and Delilah, moving to the east; are flying over Libby's Corral.

             Dais says she heard the phrase "full sized sedan" used by the Parts Manager, and also how the Avalon is built over in the State of "Kentucky."  She thinks our 1993 Lincoln Town Car Theodora might be in that category too.  Libby's over there walking around really slowly.

             I guess Daisy and Millie heard the Avalon Car is named for the island in the "Arthurian" legend.  Dais heard our Chief talking with his father about how the economies of both Japan and Germany, two of our enemies in World War II; are now doing pretty good.  I smell new Sage.       

                                                                      

                                                 WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874-1965)

                              

         Some say Winston Churchill saved "Democracy" from "Totalitarianism."  Yet he joked democracy was the "worst" system of government, "except" for all of the other systems.  Most of those systems in history gave the average person no rights and almost everyone was poor.              

                If we could use Mr. Peabody's time machine Dais and I would want to go back to the late 1960's or early 1970's.  We would want to attend classes at our boss's father's Stockbroker school the way our boss used to do.  Oh!  Maybe we could even start a Stock Market for Dogs? 

            Mr. Steve and his dad think, as I've written a few times; that "Overall" Capitalism has more good things about it than the system of "Socialism" or "Communism" Marx wrote about in the 19th century.  But it's not perfect.  Like so many things, Capitalism is dual in nature.

                                     

                                                  MR. RALPH WITH SON RORY  

                              

                  I guess Mr. Ralph has read a lot about the history of Socialism versus Capitalism.  I've mentioned before how, he was born down there in Mexico City; and his birthday of March the 17th is one day later than Mr. Steve's sister Susan in Connecticut.  Dawn's barking.

                 Daisy says that, because he still visits Mexico City, Mr. Ralph tells our boss about the things going on down there.  One time they talked about how there are some people in Mexico City who like to put big motors in VW Beetles and race them.  I smell a Cholla cactus.  

                    Mr. Ralph says in Mexico people call Beetles "Vochos," and the people who customize them are "Vocheros."  He noticed how they even read a Magazine called "Vocholandia."  Mr. Steve told him his his friend Gilbert always liked how "Lowrider" Volkswagens looked.

                                     

                                                                     "DRAGSTER" VOLKSWAGON

    PHOTO BY STEFAN BAU                           

                                                        

                I guess Beetles' motors are in the rear instead of a "Trunk."  People "Modify" them for "Drag" racing in Mexico City Mr. Ralph says.  Mr. Steve told him how in the 1930's, and to this day; Volkswagen Beetle Cars use air instead of water to cool down their engines. 

     From what Dais says, Mr. Ralph knows about our boss's two 1968 Chevelle's.  Mr. Steve has explained to him some of the things about racing Cars even though he admits he's no Mechanic like his friend Tim.  Charlie Company of Quails are coming back in from the desert.   

        Now Chosin the big Quail is herding all of the new babies underneath Moe the middle Shed.  Seeing them right now makes me feel good even though in the back of my mind I'm still thinking about Heathcliff being gone.  The scent of Charlie Company just floated over here. 

                                  

      MEXICO CITY TAXI CAB           

            PHOTO BY BOB HERREMANS                          

                             

           Dais says, according to what Mr. Ralph told our Chief, since the 1970's when they were in High School; Beetles have been used as Taxi Cabs down there in Mexico City.  The picture in my Encyclopedia shows how they're painted green and white.  Boy! I like how they look.                     

          Mr. Ralph said, green and white Taxi Cabs have become just as "associated" with Mexico City as yellow Taxi Cabs are with New York City; or "Double-Decker" Buses with London over    in England.  Fannie and Freddie flew bye, flapping their wings in almost perfect unison.            

       On Thursday in book one I wrote about that Mexican War "Battle of Puebla" which took place in 1847.  I guess, from what Mr. Ralph said; the Volkswagen company has a factory in the    city of Puebla now which builds Beetles.  Some of the Ducks are quacking right now.                      

                        

                                                                                    SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY   

                         

                    I guess the last thing I want to say about The Love Bug movie is how some of the scenes were filmed at "Riverside Raceway."   Mr. Steve's friend Tim saw that girl Shirley Muldowney win Drag Races there.  It's amazing how loud Daffy's voice is compared to the other Ducks.

            A few years ago Miss Susan down there in San Fernando read the "outdoor road race" scenes in The Love Bug" were filmed near "Yosemite."  I wrote about that place up in Northern California when I talked about John Muir.  And also the Photographer Ansel Adams too.

           Our boss and Miss Susan at work one time talked about "Road Trips" they had with their parents as kids.  Both were too young to fully appreciate the scenery.  One time Mr. Steve was reading a book in the back seat and his mom asked, "Don't you want to see these colors?" 

            

DR. FRITZ TODT  (1891-1942)     

         

                  Oh!  This is a good time to find out about a very talented man named Fritz Todt, who was a "construction engineer."  Daisy saw this tv show about "Concrete" and "Bunkers" which said he was really smart.  In the 1930's he "oversaw" the building of those "Autobahn" roads.

          I was supposed to write about Fritz Todt earlier when I talked about all of  those German fortifications built along the French coast after the 1940 fall of France.  This Encyclopedia says Hitler gave his "Organisation Todt" some really big jobs.  One was to build all those forts.

         Before World War II Fritz Todt, a member of Hitler's army of "Brownshirts" since late in the 1920's; was told by Hitler to build those Autobahn highways too.  He had fought in the First Word War and Daisy says Hitler called him "innovative."  I really like how Andy smells.       

                   

     OPENING SECTION OF AUTOBAHN                           FRITZ TODT (3RD FROM LEFT)                                       (1935)                                                                                                                                  

                

                Two pictures show what the caption calls the "opening ceremonies" for a section of that Autobahn highway.  In one Fritz Todt is standing next to Hitler, and I notice he's wearing one of those red Nazi armbands.  I also notice how Hitler's the only one who's taken his hat off.   

              A few years ago our boss met an old lady who said her parents lost money trying to buy one of the original Volkswagens.  They were making payments, but in 1939 World War II broke out so they never got their money back.  Dawn's barking and I smell Blinky next to her.

           Hitler thought, besides any possible future military benefits; it would also be good if those Autobahn highways made it possible for the average person to travel too.  So, he told Ferdinand Porsche to built the Cars; and Fritz Todt to supply all the roads.  I like how Blinky smells.    

        

"ROUTE 66"

                 Daisy says the tv show about concrete bunkers mentioned how Hitler admired that guy Henry Ford.  So he liked the idea of making a Car most people could afford, and building roads like "Route 66" later here in America.  A small flock of Birds is going toward the northeast. 

             Hitler told Ferdinand Porsche he wanted him to create a smaller Car that could carry a husband and wife with three kids.  A Motorcycle went bye out there in the desert, and left some dust floating around in the air back there.  Ah!  I can smell the new Spring Rose bushes.

            Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph how Hitler knew he was "asking a lot" from the guys under Ferdinand Porsche who were given the job of creating the Beetle.  It was not easy making an "Economical" Car back then.  They had a few "Technical" issues to overcome I guess. 

                                   

                                                               "VOLKSWAGEN"                                               

                    

                The caption below two pictures says they show Hitler "overseeing" a ceremony at one of the factories which built those Beetles.  One shows him speaking, the other one riding a Beetle.  I've mentioned before how the name "Volkswagen" would be interpreted as "People's Car."  

                Oh!  This an interesting quote by Hitler on what he wanted from the Engineers who made the Volkswagen, "It should look like a Beetle.  You've only got to look at nature to find out what streamlining is."  Andy's over there sniffing the air to see if Cher or Goliath are around.

           Our boss and Mr. Doug, who works on those French "Citroen" Cars sometimes; one time talked about Volkswagen's original "Air-Cooled" motors.  Mr. Steve told him about the time the time a fire started on his friend Armando's Volkswagen.  A fuel line somehow came loose. 

                 

JOSEF GANZ (1898-1967)         

                

                   Daisy told me our Chief told Mr. Ralph this Jewish man named Josef Ganz's "May Bug" body style designs may have been the Beetle's origin.  But, he had to escape out of Germany so never got the credit.  In the picture of him I notice how he used to wear a Hitler mustache.

                  I just noticed a few Bees flying over the Sheds, and then going out into the back desert.  For some reason that kind of makes me feel appreciative to just be sitting here on Elvira.  I just picked up the scent of Bonnie and Clyde's sleeping babies up in their nest near the Patio roof.  

                 Hey You Guys up there. As You know already, Daisy reminiscing about Heathcliff on my first big break makes me feel sad but also determined to finish this third and final book in his memory.  Heathcliff, if you're mind reading me right now Dais and I will pray for you.  

                                     

         THE "WOLF'S LAIR"  ("WOLFSSCHANZE")                 

                  

                   Oh!  I just noticed I forgot to mention a few more things about that man Fritz Todt.  It says here in this Encyclopedia, in early 1942; he died in this Plane crash leaving Hitler's "Wolf's Lair," which I've said before was his Eastern Front military headquarters.  Dawn's barking.

             I've written about how the Wolf's Lair is where, on July the 20th of 1944 in "Operation Valkyrie;" all those  "Wehrmacht" officers tried to kill Hitler but failed in their "Coup d' État."  I've mentioned before how Hitler's nickname was "Wolf."   Frida and Diego just flew bye.

            Mr. Steve's father met this German man one time, a friend of Mr. Forbes; who thought it was possible Fritz Todt was killed. That guy Albert Speer, who replaced Fritz Todt; was supposed to have been on that Plane.  The tv show said in 1944 a medal was created in Fritz Todt's honor.

                         

       "ATLANTIC WALL" FORTIFICATIONS                     "CHANNEL" ISLANDS  

  

          Dais says our boss's mom met a lady her age at C.S.U.N., so they became friends.  The lady grew up on one of those "English Channel" islands between France and England.  The Germans captured and occupied her island called "Guernsey" right after France fell in mid-1940.              

       It says here the German's "fortified" Guernsey as part of building those "Atlantic Wall" forts or "defensive works" along the French Normandy coast.   Fritz Todt was given the job of      overseeing the "protection" of  Guernsey.  I can smell Blinky, which makes me feel good.              

          Every time I look at the painting of that huge German cannon set up on the French coast in World War II it totally amazes me.  Just one shot from that gigantic cannon would destroy any    Ship I'll bet.  I like the map that shows where all of the islands are in the English Channel.                                         

"GUERNSEY" COWS     

        

         The English lady told Mr. Steve's mom about "Guernsey" Cows, and how they were not "beef cattle" for eating but "bred to give milk," which she said was yellow.   She misses seeing,    hearing, touching and "even smelling" Cows she grew up around she said.  I smell Sage.               

          Daisy heard that lady was born in 1935 just like our boss's mom too.  So she was also old enough to have memories of World War II, of how the German occupation created worry in the    adults.  Mr. Steve's mom also has recollections of "stress and anxiety" in New Mexico then.          

        "At times" that one lady told our boss's mom, she "dearly misses" the Cows she and her brothers and sisters milked as kids during the Second World War.  Some Guernsey Bulls weigh    up to two thousand pounds or about nine hundred "kilograms" she said.  Libby whinnied.            

  

"NORMANDY" INVASION ("D-DAY" / JUNE 6, 1944)   

       

                 Only as a teenager did that lady from Guernsey realize or "comprehend" how lucky they were that, when "D-Day" happened; the Allies "bypassed" the Channel Islands.  So, I guess to this day the huge concrete bunkers and fortifications are still there.  A big Lizard ran bye.

            I guess, from what it says here; the English Channel islands were the only areas of the British Empire "occupied" by the Germans in World War II.  I've written about Japan taking parts of the British Empire in Asia, and Italy took areas of Africa.  Sage smells so good. 

              Mr. Steve's mom told the English lady about the Cows in New Mexico, and also the Horses and Sheep too.  She laughed when told Grandpa Trujillo told our boss's mom not to become "too attached" to Pigs intended for food.  I've mentioned how "matanza" is "slaughter" in Spanish. 

MARGARET ANN NEVE (1792-1903)

               Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve talking with his mom when they discussed that lady from Guernsey.  That lady told Mr. Steve's mom about a Margaret Ann Neve, who died at the age of one hundred and ten in Guernsey.  Wow!  She lived in three different centuries.  

            The caption below a photo of that lady Miss Margaret says it shows her in 1902 at the age of one hundred and ten.  The lady from Guernsey told Mr. Steve's mom she died one week before her one hundred and eleventh birthday.  Mr. Steve has known some girls named Margaret.

            Miss Margaret worked cooking food for her family right up until the time she died, and just before dying recited one of those "Psalms" I've learned about in my books. That's what the lady from Guernsey said.  Some thin clouds are stretching slowly across the high blue sky.  

 

           AFTERNOON SKY           

                      

               That lady Miss Margaret must've been smart because Daisy heard our boss's mom say how she not only spoke English, but also Spanish, French, Italian and even German too.  And she could read the Old Testament in Hebrew, the New Testament in Greek.  Dawn's barking.

           I guess Miss Margaret, who was born during the chaos of that French Revolution; in 1815 visited the site in Belgium where the "Battle of Waterloo" had been fought a few weeks before.  I just noticed Cher, a dead Lizard hanging from her mouth, jogged bye in front of the Sheds.

           The Battle of Waterloo was Napoleon's "Last Hoorah" as they say, as in 1821 he "died in exile" my Encyclopedia says.  1821.  The British "Duke of Wellington" and German "Prussian" General von Blücher beat him in 1815.   I can smell the baby Cholla cactus over there.  

  

                          WELLINGTON                   NAPOLÉON I                   VON BLÜCHER

PAINTING BY THOMAS LAWRENCE                                                                                                                                                                                                          

               I guess that lady Miss Margaret met "Field Marshal" Blücher once.  This Encyclopedia says General Blücher's Cavalry units "reinforced" the Duke of Wellington at that huge "world changing" battle.  Wow!  He was seventy one in 1815, and had been wounded a year before.

           Marshal Blücher is described here as having a "fiery personality," his German nickname being "Vorwärts;" or "Forward."  He sounds like that Civil War Confederate General John Bell Hood, who was "aggressive;" always wanting to attack.  Fred, Ed and Ted went flying bye.   

           This Encyclopedia says Napoleon had seventy two thousand French Soldiers at Waterloo, and about thirty three thousand were casualties.  The Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher had one hundred and eighteen thousand, twenty one thousand were casualties.  I smell Sage. 

          

"BATTLE OF WATERLOO" 

(JUNE 18, 1815 / BELGIUM) 

PAINTING BY LADY ELIZABETH BUTLER                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                    

               Daisy heard, as a kid Mr. Steve built miniature "Figurines" from the "Napoleon Wars" era.   One was a "Royal Scots Gray" Cavalryman on a white Horse, another a French Artillery Gunner; and a third of a British Infantryman.  Heathcliff's Hens are clucking over there.

           Mr. Steve's dad joked, in the 18th and early 19th century; European Soldiers "got to die in nice-looking uniforms."  Our boss told Mr. Dave if he'd ever talked to MOTÖRHEAD'S Lemmy, he thinks Lemmy would have laughed.  He liked how some military uniforms looked too.   

           I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how all of the models our boss built as a kid were destroyed in that huge 1971 "Sylmar Earthquake."  But, since then he's built more of them; and Daisy says he's working on a "Samurai" Warrior now.  Boy!  I miss Heathcliff. 

      

RUPERT NEVE                                                    "SOUND CITY"     

PHOTO BY JOSHUA THOMAS                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                       

                One time our boss and Mr. Rich talked about that Van Nuys Recording Studio I've talked about before called "Sound City."  It's out of business now but many famous albums were made there over the years.   Boy!  Hearing Heathcliff's Hens over there gives me a good feeling.

            That lady from Guernsey Miss Margaret's last name was "Neve."   It's also the name of another British person named Rupert Neve.  Before computers, when they recorded the musical instruments on tape; he made that "Mixing Board" I wrote about.  It was at Sound City.

            Some think Rupert Neve is a genius.  A guy from England told Mr. Dave he and his wife have been married for seventy years and had five kids.   At age thirteen he was repairing Radios, and during World War II when he was seventeen; he was a member of the "Signal Corps."   

                                               

    "MOTOCROSS" RIDER             

          

           Hearing the familiar sound of a Motorcycle go bye out there on Primavera Road makes me feel a little better but I'm still kind of thinking about Heathcliff being gone.  It's Saturday so there have been more kids out there on Motorcycles.  I can smell the baby Cholla cactus.

           Dais thinks no one wants to feel sad or "Melancholy," so we try to distract ourselves.  We  think think of sadness as all bad but believe it or not she says, sadness can have a few good things too; like making you appreciate things.  I can tell Daisy's thinking about things like that today.

          I do want to believe that I have a Soul so sadness might keep me in touch with parts of my Soul that normally I try to ignore.  Daisy and myself, and I'm sure our boss right now; are kind of what they call "Out of Sorts" today.  That blue and green Dragonfly just flew past.

         

     "DRAGONFLY"           

            

          Daisy says our Chief thinks nowadays it's normal for most people to see sadness as being "unhealthy," and what's called "Clinical Depression" a form of sickness.  But having or feeling a "heavy heart" has always been part of life.  I smell Libby from over there in her Corral.  

         Mr. Steve believes that feeling a "heavy Soul" is not unhealthy.  It can be an inward looking feeling of self-examination that Socrates encouraged.  You slow down, and are more likely to do what it said for everyone to do up on Delphi's wall; be moderate and also know yourself.  

         I guess, during the Middle Ages and then the Renaissance; people wanted to feel the normal sadness that is part of life.  That man Sir Thomas More, who had his head cut off by Henry VIII; spoke of "listening to the Soul."  Libby is over there looking at me sitting here on Elvira.

                          

                                                  THOMAS MORE AND FAMILY  

PAINTING BY HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER                    

                         

           One time Dais and Millie heard our boss talking with his father about Thomas More, and how he was Roman Catholic like us.  That's why King Henry VIII ordered for his head to be cut off.   I guess, in his book "Utopia" he said sadness can be just as "necessary as happiness."

           Because she's so old, I can really tell Daisy's thinking about her own life and wondering how much longer she has to live.  Hey God!  I can't wait to finish this seventh chapter so I can go up front and visit with her.  I'm tempted to do it now but I'd better just finish this chapter.  

               Daisy heard our boss joke how it makes him sad to realize he's so old now, so "can't do" a lot of  things he's always done.  One of those things is the ability to endure hot weather like he did when he was younger.  Some of the Ducks are quacking but, as usual; Daffy's much louder.

           

"WARPED TOUR"        

PHOTO BY NOEL VASQUEZ               

           

            Our Chief took his Niece Samantha and her friends to that outdoor concert in "Carson" called the "Warped" Tour.   It was held in the smaller Stadium where the "Galaxy" play their Soccer games.  Boy!  I really like how Libby's scent just floated in over here on the Patio.

           Daisy heard our boss tell Samantha how, when he was young like her he he liked being out in the Sun, and played Baseball for years in hot weather.  But not any more, and since he moved up here to the desert he's noticed he's noticed it even more.  The Butterfly just fluttered bye.

          At the Warped Tour Mr. Steve sat in that big tent and read his book about Jonathon Swift.  He had Samantha "check in" with him on her cell phone every half hour so he wouldn't have to be out in the Sun.  I'm young but don't like being out in the Sun on really hot days either.

            

"IN-N-OUT BURGER"      

           

                  Daisy heard our boss and Samantha one time talking about "In-N-Out Burger," which is a California "Drive Through" restaurant.  Mr. Steve's father once met a nice lady named Esther Snyder, who's husband started "In-N-Out."  A painted picture shows her with their family.

             In the photo Esther Snyder's sons are wearing hats like the one Mr. Steve has in the living room.  Daisy told me about a good husband and wife band called the CAPTAIN AND TENILLE, where the man who plays piano wears a hat like that too I guess.  Dawn's barking over there.

            Mr. Steve's dad was impressed with Mrs. Snyder, who ran the company with her sons after her husband died.  "Harry" started In-N-Out in 1948, three years after World War II.  Mr. Steve told Samantha how in High School he and Sandy went to "Mission Hills" In-N-Out.  

                         

                             MCDONALDS                                                     TACO BELL

              

                  In book one on Thursday I wrote about how "McDonalds" and "Taco Bell" restaurants also started here in California too.  They began down there in the city of "San Bernardino," to our south; while the first In-N-Out was in "Baldwin Park."   Dawn and Blinky are barking.

           Hey Lord!  I guess Mrs. Snyder and her family really believe in You like us.  Even though some people don't like it, Daisy heard they even print "Bible Passages" on their paper drinking cups.  Wow!  What an ingenious idea, and if I were ever to have a restaurant I'd do that too.

          Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Ralph one time talking about how In-N-Out is known for being a good employer who pay and treat their employees well.  Mr. Steve's father says you can tell that lady Mrs. Snyder is a "very competent" person.  I can now smell Blinky over there.  

    

W.A.V.E.S. (WORLD WAR II)      

        

                  Mr. Steve's father told Mrs. Snyder, whose husband Harry fought in World War II; he was in the Korean War.  She was a Navy Nurse in the "W.A.V.E.S.," or "Women Accepted For Volunteer Emergency Service."   Boy!  I love the clothes they got to wear, especially the hats.

            I've mentioned before how "W.A.S.P." were World War II female Pilots, and how that's just short for, "Women's Airforce Service Pilots."  Daisy says that band CHEAP TRICK have a song that mentions a guys mom who was in the "W.A.C.S. or "Women's Auxiliary Corps."

           Daisy says our boss and Mrs. Snyder talked about how it was President Roosevelt's wife Eleanor who convinced her husband and General Eisenhower to have women serve in the war effort.  I guess Mrs. Snyder was one of seven girls in a family that had eight kids in it.