Book 1 Chapter 6

I 

(Book 1 / Chapter 6)    

Cognito, Ergo; Sum / Why Me?

12:30

           

CALIFORNIA "HIGH" DESERT

                       

        Well, I'm back here again sitting on Elvira.  I pulled out all my materials hidden under the blankets and will now begin chapter six.   On my short break I ran over there to the northeast    corner of our two acres and went pee while looking out into the eastern desert.                               

        Glancing at my outline I see one thing I'll write about in this chapter is "Catalina Island."  As I went pee on my short break I thought about how we haven't had not even one snack so far    today.  It looks like I'm also going to learn a lot about Baseball in this sixth chapter.                       

       I'd say it's about twelve thirty judging by how the shadows look.  I'll say a quick prayer and begin the chapter six in this first book.  Boy God!  I really like learning how to read and write by using all of these different pens, pencils, Encyclopedias; and my Dictionaries too.                            

        

"SANTA CATALINA" ISLAND (AVALON HARBOR)

        

         Boy God !  I still feel the warm noonday Sun that sank into me as I went pee.  And that gets me what they call "Fired Up" as they say.  And now it's back to work for me and learning about "Santa Catalina" island which I guess is about twenty six miles from Los Angeles.                         

         As I've said before, I know what islands are.  And, as I mentioned earlier today; Mr. Steve's friend Mark who worked with him in the 1980's at the Forum lives in Hawaii.  Mr. Mark and his wife "Kim," with their sons "Taj" and "Dylan;" live on Hawaii's "Big Island."                              

     Mr. Steve has been to "Catalina" as a "Tourist."  Once, for his friend Rick's "Mechanical Contracting" Company; he went for "Business" on a "Job Walk" to "Bid" on a project.  On the way over a guy told him about a 1960's YARDBIRD'S concert at the Casino in Avalon.                                           

       LOS ANGELES         

                                                                                                                                  

          A map in my Encyclopedia shows how Catalina Island is "off" the coast of Los Angeles.  It looks like it's to the southwest of "Long Beach" Harbor which is where I heard my boss tell Mr.  Mike the Boats that go out there leave from.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.                              

       Mr. Steve went to Catalina when he and his mom, with his Nieces Cristina and Samantha; took the Boat trip over there.  They walked around in the town of "Avalon," and then tool a Bus Tour around the rest of the island.  Dais says we have a dirt road near us called "Avalon."            

       One morning last Summer, when my boss was filling up the water basin below the Mulberry tree up there in the front yard; he and Mr. Randy talked about how Catalina is such a beautiful  place to visit.  Ah!  I smell some Spring Mesquite.  That reminds me of last year on this day.                                                                           SEBASTIÁN VISCAINO (1548-1624)                        SPANISH "GALLEON"                                                                                                                                                                                

         I wrote earlier how, in 1602; Catalina Island was named by that Spanish explorer Sebastián Viscaino.  He "Sailed" his wooden "Galleons" up here to map the "Alta" or "Upper" California  coastline.  I've mentioned before how New Mexico was first "Settled" back in 1601.                        

        My Encyclopedia says, when Vizcaino's men first saw "Catalina" it was on the "Feast Day" of "Saint Catherine," or "Santa Catalina" in Spanish.  Having all these Dictionaries is so great! I just love looking up and learning how to spell so many new words in different languages.              

         Viscaino was from "Extremadura" in central Spain, fought against Portugal and then, even before coming here to California; sailed to the Philippines and Japan too.  Francisco Pizzaro the Soldier was born in "Trujillo" Estremadura.  I'll learn about the name Trujillo in my books.

     

LIBBY                                                                              BUFFALO

    

           I smell Libby the Horse over there to my right in her Corral.  Mr. Steve says that there are Horses and a few Buffaloes on Catalina.  And, also living out on that island; is this thing called a "Fox" which I guess is sort of like a small version of the local Coyotes who live around here. 

       Mr. Steve was once told it's thought that "Catalina Foxes" either swam or floated across the twenty six miles of ocean between Los Angeles and Catalina Island.  Wow! Twenty six miles is a long way to swim without being eaten by a big Shark.  Ah!  I can smell some Joshua trees.

       I guess, in Charles Darwin's idea of "Natural Selection;" those Foxes who swam to Catalina Island "adapted" to living out there in that environment.  Mr. Steve was told Catalina Foxes are gray.  Daisy told me how there's a dirt road going toward "Phelan" called "Silver Fox."    

                                                               "CATALINA" FOXES

       One night Daisy and that other Dog Millie, who I replaced; were in the living room and saw a good tv show on the subject of Foxes.  One of the things they said on that show was how they're smart and, like Crows; hide extra food for later.  Dawn's barking over there next door.  

       Hearing Dawn right now makes me suddenly remember that time last Spring when my boss Mr. Steve was out here cutting weeds with that tool called a "Scythe."  And as he was doing it he was talking to Dawn and Blinky on the other side of the fence.  Dawn barked then too.

       According to what Dais heard them say on that tv show, over there in England rich people on Horses sometimes hunt orange Foxes.  And they also said a girl Fox is called a "Vixen."  Ah!  I just picked up Libby the Horses scent in my right nostril and now can see her in her Corral.  

                                                                VIXEN                      

 

               Mr. Steve told Mr. Randy "a while back" he saw an "ad" in the "Penny Saver."  It was a girl from Llano, who had played drums in this 1980's girl band called VIXEN; selling things for  drums. He didn't end up buying anything but had a nice phone conversation with that girl.           

            Dais says Mr. Steve told the girl from VIXEN how he and Harriet used to cover bands in Los Angeles during the 1980's.  She knew all about "Music Connection" and "Bam," which were two of the magazines they worked for.  Speedy Gonzalez just whizzed bye right now.                      

            We don't have any Foxes in Piñon Hills but we do have Coyotes who, every once in a while come around; usually at night.  Sometimes I dream about when I was homeless living in that field my first owner dumped me into.  In those dreams I fight Coyotes trying to eat me.                          

        RICK FOX                                                          JIM FOX / BOB MILLER

PHOTO BY LISA BLUMENFELD                                                                                                                                                                                                

       

           Dais says some people's last name is "Fox."  In the mid-1980's Mr. Steve took pictures of a "Kings" Hockey Player named Jim Fox.  After he "Retired" he became the "Broadcaster," for "Fox Sports;" with a man named Bob Miller.  Both were very friendly my boss says.                      

      I guess, a few years ago the "Lakers" had a player named Rick Fox.  One of Mr. Steve's customers back there in the State of North Carolina told him Rick Fox was Canadian.  When the Lakers won three titles "In a Row" he was a really important factor in their "Threepeat."            

        The slight scent of that new baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt just floated into my right nostril.  That makes me feel so happy, and to think about this morning when I first saw it.  Daisy can't wait to see it but today her job is to warn me if Mr. Steve comes outside.               

"ZORRO"

   

           In my books I'll find out about a man from the time when Alta California was part of Mexico, after they had broken away from Spain in 1824.  His name was "Zorro" and Daisy saw a tv show about him and his black boy Horse.  I can see Libby over there to my right.                       

           This Spanish Dictionary says "el zorro" means "the Fox," and "la zorra" is what you would call a girl fox; or vixen I guess.  For a time this "Bookkeeper" at my boss's job, named      "Eber;" jokingly called him "Zorro."  Dais says Mr. Eber is from the country of "Brazil."            

             When Mr. Steve or Miss Babette, Susan or Karin make a sale, the actual "Embroidery" is done by Mr. Julio.  He's originally from Mexico and his wife, named "Rosario;" grew up down there in the "Central American" country called "Nicaragua."  I can now smell Libby.                   

      DAUGHTER "MABEL"                  MR. JULIO                      WIFE "ROSARIO"              

    

            Mr. Julio, who's daughter is named "Mabel;" visited us and is nice.    Mr. Steve told his father he's "smart" and he Babette Susan and Karin "depends on him" to make the things they sell.   He's "reliable," and a "fast learner" too; which our boss thinks are very important.             

            I guess, Mr. Steve and Mr. Julio help each learn Spanish and English. Mr. Julio told him zorro, besides being the name of a Fox; can also sometimes mean to "confuse, hide or pretend."  One time Mr. Steve and Mr. Julio talked about a Mexican President named Vicente Fox.               

            My Encyclopedia says in 1542, or sixty years before Vizcaino; Catalina island was actually first visited by a Portuguese man working for Spain named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo.  He called the island "San Salvador" but Vizcaino changed the name later.  I can smell some Juniper.                                                                                                                                                16TH CENTURY SPANISH "GALLEON"

       

        Hey Lord!  San Salvador, "Holy Savior" in English; is the same name given by Columbus to the place in the Caribbean where his three Ships landed back in 1492.  And that's what they call You.  My Encyclopedia says "Cabrillo" fought with Córtez against the Aztecs in 1421. 

        It says here in 1542, when Cabrillo sailed up here; in that same year Coronado was looking for the "Seven Cities of Gold" in New Mexico.  Mr. Steve says beaches and schools are named in honor of Cabrillo.  And statues of him have been put up around California too.                               

       Oh!  I guess that guy Cabrillo broke his leg in 1543.  And, because he was so far away from civilization; it ended up killing him.  But I guess, to this day; no one knows for sure where he was buried so it's a "mystery."  My left nostril just picked up the scent of a Joshua tree. 

            

                                               JUAN RODRÍGUEZ CABRILLO (1499-1543)

    

        Oh wow!  This Encyclopedia shows a "Stamp" with that guy Cabrillo's face on it.  As I just said, he was Portuguese but in the 16th century worked for Spain.  On a bookshelf in the Dining Room is a "Bust" of a conquistador wearing a helmet like the one Carbrillo wore.

       One time, as he watered the Mulberry tree up in the front yard; my boss told Mr. Mike he's been to "Cabrillo Beach."  Over the years he's also been out to Catalina Island too.  There aren't a lot of people who actually live "Full Time" out there on Catalina Island I guess. 

        Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Mike that Piñon Hills only has about two thousand more people in it than Catalina.  The one main town is called "Avalon" and from what I heard is located on the east side of the island.   Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows are flying bye right now.   

          

                                                  "AVALON" (CATALINA ISLAND)

  

           Someday, when I overcome my fear of enclosed areas; I'd like to see what it would be like to ride in one of those "Golf Carts" I heard my boss and Mr. Mike talk about.  I guess they're good for going around Catalina.  Daisy thinks it would be so fun to ride in a Golf Cart.

             Pictures in this Encyclopedia show the town of Avalon.  One is from a hill looking down on the Harbor.  In 1998 Mr. Steve did a "Job Walk" for his friend Rick's company on the west side of the island.  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just zoomed bye in front of the three Sheds.

         On the Job Walk Mr. Steve "Gathered" information on a "Pipe Job" that U.S.C.'s "Marine Biology" department needed done.  Then, based on the information; Rick's company "Drew Up" a "Bid" to try to be "Awarded" the job.  They ended up being "Underbid" I guess.  

        

CALIFORNIA "INDIGINOUS" CULTURES

       

        My Encyclopedia says for thousands of years Catalina Island was home to "Takic" speaking Indians like some of the people who lived up here in the High Desert.  "Takic speakers" also lived on the "mainland" in many areas of what is now Los Angeles.  Dawn's barking.                              

        I'll bet Mr. Steve knows that, back in the 18th century; some of the San Fernando "Mission" Indians also spoke Takic languages.  I totally agree with Daisy.  It's amazing how all of the many different types of people in the world have each developed their own languages.                              

      I guess the Spanish called the people on Catalina Island "Gabrieleño" but they themselves say their name is "Pimuvit" and their island is "Pimugna."  They traded with other people's who lived along the California coast.  But sadly, many died from European diseases.                               

  

"CHANNEL" ISLANDS

   

        This map in the Encyclopedia shows how, besides Catalina; there are seven other "Channel" islands off of the southern California coast. They're almost "uninhabited."  Because I looked it    up a while back I know that means there are few people living out on those islands.                        

      I'd like to smell an island someday.  Mr. Mark and his family now live out there on the "Big Island" of Hawaii.  I've mentioned before how he runs an "Internet" Newspaper called the "Big Island Reporter" and is a one man band called BLUE TURBAN STONE.  I smell Sage.                 

       As I wrote earlier, Mr. Dave in New Mexico is "Hupa" Indian from Northern California.  He thinks most of the original Native Alta California people were "Clovis" type who came across the "Land Bridge" from "Siberia" at the end of the last "Ice Age."  Heathcliff just crowed.                

           

           END OF LAST ICE AGE                 MIGRATION OF "CLOVIS" TYPE PEOPLES

                                                                                         

        I've mentioned before how the last Ice Age ended about 10,000 B.C.  Mr. Dave thinks some of the people who lived out on the Channel Islands may not be "Clovis" type Indians.  He thinks  some just might be "Polynesian," based on the "Canoes" and "Fish Hooks" they used.                  

            Mr. Dave thinks Polynesians must've been just as good at navigating over big oceans as the Vikings or Christopher Columbus.  They made it all the way to "Hawaii" where Mr. Mark lives  so might've then come over to California after that.  Fannie and Freddie flew bye.                         

      Some people say, because most Pacific Ocean "currents" flow mainly from east to west; it would've been too difficult for the Polynesians to have sailed all the way to California using only  sails or paddling.  But Mr. Dave disagrees.  One of the Ducks is quacking to my right.                    

        

                         "POLYNESIANS"                                                     MR. DAVE                                                

       One time Dais heard Mr. Steve talk on the phone with Mr.  Dave in New Mexico.  He told Mr. Dave, when he and his brothers and their friends were growing up in Sylmar; they rode Bikes up a "steep" road called "Gladstone."  Mr. Steve's parents still live near that road I guess.                 

     Hunnewell Ave, also a really steep road; is where that cul-de-sac Hagar Street which I wrote about this morning was "Off Of."   To climb steep roads on Bikes Mr. Steve "Tacked" back and forth from one side to the other.  This made it much easier to gradually get up to the top.               

      Mr. Dave thinks maybe Polynesians tacked their way against the currents and sailed out here to Alta California in their canoes?   Then they could just use the currents and what are called the "Prevailing Winds" to go return to Hawaii.  A little Bird with a twig in its mouth ran bye.           

                

  "POLYNESIA"                                                  "EASTER" ISLAND 

                                                                                                     

        A map in my Encyclopedia shows islands where Polynesians sailed west to and I notice how the furthest one away is "Easter island."   The caption says that the "Rapa Nui" people lived on Easter Island and carved "monumental" statues called "Moai."  Dawn's barking.                          

      Wow!  Those Moai statues are so huge!  Daisy heard our boss describe them to Mr. Dave as "Tiki Heads."  In Sylmar there was a man who used "Molds" to  make miniature Tiki Heads,      and my boss still has one.  I guess those Polynesians sailed to Easter Island about 1200 A.D.          

      It says here that Easter Island, which today is now a part of the country of "Chile;" is one of the most "remote inhabited" islands in the world.  That means people live on it.  Anyway, I'll be coming back to learning more about the history of Easter Island later in my three books.                         

"SANTA CATALINA" HARBOR ("AVALON)

    

   Mr. Steve says, to get out to Catalina Island; you take a Boat and some have glass bottoms where you can sometimes see Fish on your way over there.  Boy, I'd sure like to see that!  I guess  a lot of people from around the world come to Catalina in order to go "Fishing."                            

    In 2004 Mr. Steve and his mom and Nieces Cristina and Samantha, on their "Day Trip" to Catalina; at first walked around the town of Avalon and its Harbor.  Then, they took a good Bus  trip which showed them what it was like in the "Interior."  Some Ducks are quacking.                   

      I mentioned earlier how there are some Buffaloes on Catalina Island, and in Avalon my boss and his mom and Nieces ate Buffalo Hamburgers.  I'd like to smell a Buffalo someday.  Mr. Steve says that Buffalo, which are huge and have horns; do have a really strong smell alright.                                                                 "CATALINA" BUFFALO        

      

            A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a Catalina Buffalo.  That Shoshone man at the Phelan Library says "Plains" Indians call Buffaloes "Thunder Beasts" because of the sound big herds make as they run past.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows are flying bye.

        The Shoshone man said, in the 18th century; some Buffalo herds were so huge it took over a day for it to go bye.  Native Indians out on the "Great Northern Plain" have hunted Buffaloes for a few thousand years.  The "Coming" of the Horse in the 17th century made it a lot easier. 

        In conquering the Aztecs of Mexico in the early 16th century, that guy Hernando Córtez and his Spanish conquistadors brought sixteen War Horses.  By the 19th century, or the 1800's; those sixteen Horses had turned into thousands.  Some escaped and then went "Wild."

   

                                                                  "BUFFALO JUMP"

        The Shoshone man said, before they had Horses Indians hunted Buffaloes on foot which was really dangerous and you could die.  They sometimes "Stampeded" Buffaloes off the edge of a cliff, where they fell to the ground and died below.   It's called a "Buffalo Jump."                        

      Hunting Buffalo on foot could also get you badly injured.  One of Mr. Steve's customers is a "Blackfoot" Indian who told him about how some Indian hunters disguised themselves as Wolves in order to scare the big Buffalo herd into running off the cliff.  Heathcliff just crowed.                  

      I guess that Blackfoot man works as a Parts Manager for a "Ford" Auto Dealership and he said his ancestors believed Wolves taught them how to hunt Buffalo.  The Horse allowed them to more "efficiently" hunt Buffaloes in a "more organized" way.  I smell a Juniper plant.                  

 

                                                       BUFFALO HERD                                                    

                                                                                                                                                   

      Wow!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a huge Buffalo herd which would kill you if they ran over you.  I guess the Blackfoot tribe was the typical nomadic "Hunter-Gatherer" society in  "Following the Seasons" looking for food.  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just ran bye.                   

       That one Parts Manager said his Blackfoot ancestors became more "sophisticated" in the 9th century when the "climate changed."   It rained more so the area now in the State of "Montana" turned into a big "Grassland."  And with more grass the Buffaloes "multiplied" too.                     

      With more Buffaloes, "In Turn;" that attracted hunters and their families.  For the next few centuries the Plains Indians had enough food so stayed in that area.  After a while they even had "Accumulated" enough wealth to "Trade" things with some of the other Indian tribes.                                                       

         "BLACKFEET" INDIANS       

                    

          My Encyclopedia has a Black and White picture of Blackfoot Indians and I notice it's been painted the way Mr. Steve used to do when he had a "Dark Room" at his house on Hagar Street  down there in Sylmar.   Dawn's barking over there.  And now so is little Blinky.                               

          The Blackfeet traded Buffalo "hides" and dried meat called "Beef Jerky."  I've never eaten it but Daisy has and told me it's really good.  By the beginning of the 18th century, or 1700's; the  Indians wanted to trade their things for guns and metal tools from the Europeans.                          

       Because of the Horse, Plains Indians didn't have to "Forage" as much and could focus on just hunting Buffalo; even though you might die by being trampled or gored.  Mr. Steve thinks if his friend Dave could time travel he'd want to see a Buffalo Jump.  I smell Spring Sage.                 

   

                                              BUFFALO HUNTER                                              

                                                                                                             

        Holy Cow!  This one photo in my Encyclopedia shows a hunter posing with a huge Buffalo he shot.  The caption says a Buffalo can weigh "a few thousand pounds" yet run as fast as "forty  miles per hour!"  I notice the big giant horns that could easily stab you to death.                             

       Hey God!  As You know of course, Mr. Steve's customer the Ford Parts Manager told him the Blackfoot call you "Kutoyis" which means the "Creator."  That's the way I want to think of  You too.  In looking at the Sun right now I sense the creative life force You give us.                         

         I'm still thinking about Catalina Island.  And according to my outline I still have a lot more to write about this subject.  I guess Catalina is partially known for good what they call "Deep Sea Fishing."  Mr. Steve has been told that some famous people have gone over there to fish.                                   

ERNEST HEMINGWAY 

      One time, on a Boat trip over to Catalina; this girl told Mr. Steve she thought the Writer Ernest Hemingway fished there.  But, others have said she was probably mistaken about that.  I   guess Ernest Hemingway did like to fish and Daisy says he wrote a book about it.                          

       Wow!  A black and white picture in this Encyclopedia shows Ernest Hemingway beside a giant "Marlin" Fish he caught one time.   Daisy saw a movie based on his book about this older    man who catches a giant Fish but then the Sharks eat it.  Ugh!  I'd hate to be eaten.                        

          Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not scheduled to write about Ernest Hemingway until later, I kind of feel like mentioning some things about him.  A friend and "Contemporary" of his was this other American Writer named John Dos Passos.  Both were from the "Midwest."             

  

ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899-1961) /  JOHN DOS PASSOS (1896-1970)      

       Mr. Steve thinks Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos lived "eventful" lives that were often "interconnected."   Pictures in my Encyclopedia show them as young men when they were both "Ambulance Drivers" during World War I.   Hemingway even got wounded.                          

        Dais heard Mr. Steve tell his friend Mr. Ralph on the phone how his father has read books by Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos too.  I guess, after the First World War in the 1920's; some American Writers stayed in Europe.  Heathcliff just crowed over there next door.                  

       A tv show about Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos Daisy saw, said they lived in Paris for a while.  She heard this one man mention the "Lost Generation." That was because of all the millions and millions of soldiers who were "Killed or Maimed" during World War I.                     

             

           MISS SUSAN            

                                          

          That lady Miss Susan, who used to run the local Newspaper; knew about John Dos Passos.  She was interested in how he and Hemingway had a lot "In Common" but were, in some ways;    totally different.  Hey!  That kind of sounds like the exact way Daisy and I are too.                         

       I guess, while John Dos Passos wanted to "Change the World" and end war; Hemingway just tried to realistically "describe" things like war and violence.  He thought "Brutality" was a  normal, unavoidable part of life.  In fact, it could sometimes be an opportunity too.                        

       Mr. Steve probably knows what it says in this Encyclopedia.  Both Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos, as "Journalists" in the 1930's; went to Spain and wrote about the bloody civil    war that was going on there.  "Atrocities" were committed by both sides in that brutal war.                                          

      GEROGE ORWELL (SPANISH CIVIL WAR / THIRD FROM RIGHT)

                                                                                         

         A picture shows the British Writer George Orwell during the Spanish Civil War, and you can see how much taller he is from everyone else.  He fought for the "Left," people who wanted    Democracy and also the Socialists.  I've mentioned before how his real name was Eric Blair.         

      Usually those who want Democracy would not be allies with Socialists, but in the 1930's Spanish Civil War they had no choice. Their enemies were the "Rightist" forces led by that guy General Francisco Franco.  Eventually the Left began to fight among themselves I guess.              

         The caption below the picture of George Orwell's Spanish Civil War unit says he ended up getting shot in the neck during the Spanish civil war, but luckily for him the bullet went in and out "cleanly."  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and going to the east.

        

     "CONDOR" LEGION ("HEINKEL"  BOMBER)                

      

          Daisy told me how Mr. Steve has this book that described the 1930's Spanish Civil War as the "Sound Check," or "Dress Rehearsal;" for World War I.  Adolph Hitler's "Nazi" Germany, and Mussolini's "Fascist" Italy; tested new weapons.  And so did Stalin's "Soviet" Russia.            

        In the Spanish Civil War the German "Luftwaffe" Air Force tried out a "Bomber" called the "Heinkel he-111H."  As a kid I guess my boss built a model of one but it was destroyed in the big 1971 earthquake.  Andy's over there guarding the entrance to he and Helen's burrow.             

       It says here those Heinkel Bombers were part of Germany's "Condor" Legion.  Daisy one time heard Mr. Steve and his brother Rock talking on the phone about the time Mr. Steve took      pictures of the "Birds of Prey" at the L.A. Zoo.  Some were these Birds called "Condors."                                            

CONDOR   

         Dais says Mr. Steve's brother got him the job taking pictures at the Zoo because one of his neighbor's worked there with the Eagles, Owls, Hawks and Birds like that.  The biggest Bird was a "Condor" Vulture.  Wow!  This one Encyclopedia says some have "wingspans" of ten feet.         

         The girl who worked at the Zoo gave my boss a huge Condor feather, which he still has in a giant plastic "Baggie."  Indians like Mr. Dave in New Mexico really like Eagle feathers, which the Condor feather resembles.  So they're very impressed when they see the Condor feather.    

        As I've said a few times already today in this first book, over the next three days I'll learn a lot about the 1920's and 1930's.  Mr. Steve's dad was born in 1932, his mom three years later.  I    hope, even though we're in a "Recession" now; we never go into an economic depression.                            

HEMINGWAY ATTENDING A BULL FIGHT     

   

         I guess Ernest Hemingway came to love Spain.  A picture shows him at a Bull Fight and the caption says he "admired" the Bullfighter's courage.  Mr. Steve's parents had always wanted to    visit Spain, especially the city of "Córdoba;" but realize they're too old to do that now.                  

           Another thing Ernest Hemingway liked was what's called the "Running of the Bulls," in the city of "Pamplona."  This is when people run in the streets alongside Bulls who are on their way   to be slaughtered in the Bull Ring.  Daisy thinks this is too dangerous and I do too!                        

      I've never seen or smelled a real Bull but, Daisy has and says they have really sharp horns; and a strong smell.  Daisy, who has a strong neck; says Bulls have unbelievable strength in their    necks.  My boss thinks it's dumb to run with Bulls no matter how exciting it most likely is.            

        

            "RUNNING OF THE BULLS"                                            BULL FIGHT                                                                                                              PHOTO BY MANU FERNANDEZ

                                                              

        Ugh!  A picture shows a Bull "goring" a runner in Pamplona.  Another photo shows one of those "Matadors" avoiding this huge charging Bull.  Boy! I really do like the suits Bull Fighters    wear and if I had colorful clothes like that I'd definitely wear them all of the time too.                    

       Oh wow! This Encyclopedia says that, in 1961 when my boss was six years old; Hemingway "committed suicide."  And, he did it like that later guy Curt Kobaine of NIRVANNA by using a  "Shotgun" like the one Mr. Steve has in our house.  One of those Ducks is quacking.                      

       Some go from happy to sad and, sad to happy; quickly my boss told Mr. Mike one time.  Me and Daisy think Dogs at times do that too.  Hey God!  Thank You for giving me this project so I   have something to keep me busy and not dwelling on all of the many bad things in life.                                  

  NIGHTMARE     

                  

         Hey God!  I really like how recently I haven't had any of those bad dreams where someone is trying to get me when I'm asleep.  And I haven't felt sad lately too.  Mr. Steve says, people get    what they call "depressed;" so make decisions which they should have waited to make.                  

        Mr. Steve thinks it's normal for most people to think about the concept of killing yourself or what's called "Suicide."  But then you have to think of the other people who will be "Adversely" effected.  Someone familiar has to find you and maybe have that bad memory forever.                                                                                                                                                                                                Daisy and I heard Mr. Mike joke about how, using a shotgun to "off " yourself; is a "messy" way to go and selfish.  Someone has to "clean up the mess."  Well it looks like, according to this first book one outline; I still have to go back to talking about Catalina Island right now.                

  

CHICAGO "CUBS" 

        Daisy told me Mr. Steve has customers in the State of "Illinois" and one named "Ron" is a big Chicago "Cubs" fan.  The Cubs are a professional Baseball team.  They've talked about how, from 1921 through 1951; the Cubs held their "Spring Training" on Catalina Island.                       

        I guess, from what Dais heard; now all the "Major League" teams "Conduct" their annual Spring Training in either Arizona or Florida.  According to this English Dictionary, "Annual" is a way of saying "Once a Year."  Dawn's barking at something over there next door.                       

        For those thirty years, the "Roaring" 1920's, the 1930's "Great Depression" and then the 1940's "World War II" era; the Cubs held their Spring Training on Catalina.  That was because  this rich man named William Wrigley Jr. owned the island; and the team too back then.                  

WILLIAM WRIGLEY JR. (1861-1932)

                         

       A photo in my Encyclopedia shows William Wrigley Jr. in 1922 and the caption says he's standing next to one of his Players named Pete Alexander.  The other guy is the Cubs "Manager" Bill Killefer.  I guess William Wrigley's family got really rich selling "Chewing Gum."                   

       Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about William Wrigley Jr. and it said back in those days a piece of gum cost one cent but nothing now costs only a "Penny" Dais says.  William Wrigley Jr.  is the one who built that round Casino in the town of Avalon.  Dawn's barking over there.             

     One time my boss and his ex-girlfriend Harriet, on a trip to Catalina; saw where the Cubs Spring Training "Practice Fields" used to be.  It's a "Golf Course" now and the only part left is what was a "Clubhouse" but is now a "Gift Shop."  I guess a baby Bear is called a "Cub."                                    CHICAGO CUBS SPRING TRAINING ("CATALINA" ISLAND)   

                             

         A photo in my Encyclopedia shows William Wrigley Jr. standing with some men over there in Catalina and another picture shows their old practice field.  I notice how, back in those days;  men wore kind of high socks and and flat little hats.  I'd for sure wear a hat like those hats.           

        William Wrigley Jr. died in 1932, a year before Adolph Hitler and Franklin Roosevelt came into power.  The Great Depression was going on then so there were millions of really poor people just struggling to survive in the world.  Mr. Steve's father was born in 1932, his mom in 1935.       

         Since the Wrigley family owned the Cubs there have been other groups who led them but none have been good teams.  In fact Dais heard, the Cubs have been one of the "Worst" teams in  Major League Baseball since then.  Fannie and Freddie the Crows flew bye right now.                                     

"WRIGLEY" FIELD (CHICAGO)

               

         Daisy saw a Cubs game on tv and in a picture of two Cubs players running into each other and dropping a fly ball I see the "Ivy" on the outfield walls she described.  I see the Cubs "Home Field" back in Chicago is named for the Wrigley family.  Heathcliff just crowed.                             

       The Cubs now hold their Spring Training in the State of Arizona like a lot of other teams.  That's what Dais heard and she also heard that many Major League teams have Spring Training in Florida.  But, sadly; the Cubs have one of the longest "Losing Streaks" in history.                     

       Mr. Steve says people joke about the Cubs "Franchise" being what they call "Jinxed."  He and that guy Ron at the Car Dealership have talked about the Cubs, and other teams who've had long losing streaks.  Rudy the Roadrunner sprinted bye the three Sheds right now.                         

   

          CUBS "INFIELD"                                           1929 "WORLD SERIES"    

       (TINKER, EVERS, CHANCE)                                                               (CUBS / ATHLETICS)                  

          

          A picture in this Encyclopedia shows three "Infield" players from the Chicago Cubs best teams ever.  That was way back at the turn of the century when they won National League titles in 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1910.  And they won the "World Series in 1907 and 1908.

         The caption below the photo of the Cubs players says their names were, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance.  I guess they were great "Fielders" and really fast on what they call a "Double Play." But since those days the Cubs have mainly had bad or mediocre teams. 

         Another picture from before the 1929 World Series shows Cub players shaking hands with guys on the Philadelphia "Athletics."   That was the last time the Cubs were in the World Series.  I've said before how the "A's" are now from Oakland and were my boss's favorite team.      

  

                                        GEORGE HERMAN "BABE" RUTH (1895-1948)

          Another team that seems jinxed is the Boston "Red Sox."  In 1919, one year after the First World War ended; they sold Babe Ruth to the "Rival" New York "Yankees."  He had helped the Red Sox win five American League championships.  That big pandemic was going on in 1919.

         The photo on the left shows Babe Ruth as a Pitcher on the Red Sox and on the right he's a hitter for the Yankees.  One reason why Babe Ruth was one of the best Players ever is because he was a "Great" Pitcher and an even greater hitter.   Heathcliff just crowed again over there. 

              From 1919 through 2004 some people believe the Red Sox,  under a "Spell" or "Curse of the Bambino;" were like the Cubs in winning no championships.   My Italian Dictionary says a "bambino," Babe Ruth's nickname; is a "baby."  Boy!  I sure do hope I'm never cursed.

                                                                                                             

      AL CAPONE (1899-1947)

          Mr. Steve's father used to "Prepare" the taxes for this man who grew up in a town called "Cicero" where, in the 1920's that Italian gangster Al Capone lived.  It's one of those "Suburbs" I've written about.  I guess it's named after that ancient Roman Writer Cicero.

          The man from Cicero, which is part of  Chicago; said he one time heard a joke about how the Cubs hadn't won, "Since Moby Dick was a Minnow."  I'm going to find out about Herman Melville, who wrote the book Moby Dick in the 19th century; in my three books.

           Tomorrow in book two I'm scheduled to write a lot about the "Mafia," or "Cosa Nostra;" so will come back to that guy Al Capone.  The man from Cicero also said the Cubs were victims of what's called "Murphy's Law."  That means, "What can go wrong will go wrong."

        

CHICAGO CUBS FAN WITH GOAT (1945)                              CHICAGO                              

          

         I guess the last time the Chicago Cubs were in the "World Series" was 1945; the year World War II ended.  Sadly, I guess the Cubs are known for "choking."  In 1945 a fan brought his Goat to a game but was kicked out so he then put one of those curses on the whole team.

        Hey God!  As You know, sometimes I've wondered if there's any truth to curses.  Mr. Steve doesn't believe in them at all and Daisy isn't quite sure.  I kind of have this feeling there are such things as curses and really do hope a lot that no one ever puts one of them over me.  

        Mr. Steve took some "Logic" classes back in College.  I guess "Inductive" logic deals with  "Probabilities" of something happening; like getting a "Hand" in Poker.  Mr. Steve doesn't like playing "Card Games" or things like that but his dad does and is pretty good at them. 

   

MR. STEVE'S PARENTS

PHOTO BY RODERICK CÓRDOVA

          Mr. Steve's father jokes with Cubs fans, "Given the "Law of Averages;" the longer a losing streak goes on the higher the possibility of winning just once by accident."  So one of these years the Chicago Cubs will win a Championship.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.   

          This Dictionary says a "Hex" is defined as, "To cause to have bad luck."  And I guess back in 1945 that's exactly what the man with the Goat did to the Cubs.  Mr. Steve and his friend Rick have talked about how in 1969 the Cubs had a really good team but still lost. 

          In 1969 my boss was fourteen years old.  With only one month to go in that season the Cubs led their division.  But then, this black Cat got onto the field and from that point they "Went into the Tank" as they say.  Mr. Steve says the Cubs always seem to "come up short."  

    

                                                     BLACK CAT ON THE FIELD (1969)

         Oh!  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows that one black Cat walking on the field and the caption says the Cubs player in the "On Deck Circle" just noticed it.  I guess, in 1969; the Cubs had a "big lead" over the other teams.  But they "lost it completely by season's end."  

         I wonder why black Cats are considered to be such bad luck?  Mr. Steve thinks it might be because they're hard to see at night so can sneak up on you but, he heard in Japan seeing a black Cat is actually a sign of good luck.  Ah!  Our neighbor's Cat Cher just jogged bye.

        2003 was the closest year the Chicago Cubs have ever come to breaking the curse.  But, they didn't make it and so the curse goes on.  Mr. Steve, his father and friend Rick; would all kind of like to see see the Cubs finally break that bad curse.  Hey!  Maybe they'll do it this year!

  

                                                           FAN INTERFERANCE (2003)

      

        Dais and Millie heard Mr. Steve talk on the phone with his friend Rick one time and they were remembering the 2003 Baseball season.  The Cubs made the "Playoffs" and were a few outs away from going to the World Series.  But then the Goat curse came up I guess.                      

        Oh!  This one photo shows 2003 when, as the caption says; a "fly ball" was hit "down the left field line near the stands."  It was a "foul" ball but the Cubs' player ran over and could have easily caught the ball.  But a Cubs fan reached out and tried to catch the ball too.                           

        Neither the Cubs fan or the player caught the ball and that player and the fans were really mad at that guy.  After the ball "bounced away" people were screaming at him so much that the  Police had to protect him from being beaten up.  The Cubs ended up losing that game.                   

 

LOU BROCK

        My boss and Mr. Rick spoke about how the Chicago Cubs are also known for making "Bad Trades" too.  They "got rid of" Lou Brock, who turned out to be a "Hall of Fame" type player.    A picture shows him as a Cub and I like when a team's primary color is blue.                                  

      In another photo Lou Brock "steals" a base for his new team the St. Louis Cardinals.  Mr. Steve says teams usually don't make trades with "rivals" but the Cubs did and it came back to "haunt" them.  His Cardinals won three "Division" titles and two World Series wins.                    

     I've mentioned how Mr. Rick's family are originally from the city of "Pittsburgh."  In the photo of Lou Brock I can tell the Cardinals are playing Mr. Rick's favorite team, the "Pirates;"    because of the black and yellow uniform on the Pitcher.   Dawn's barking over there.                     

1968 "WORLD SERIES"

        A good picture in my Encyclopedia shows Lou Brock scoring a run in the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.  Daisy told me Mr. Steve has drawn the Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals and Tigers logos.  Two of the Pigeons are flying back in from being out in the eastern desert.

         I guess my boss, his brothers and Mr. Rick saw Lou Brock play at Dodger Stadium a few times.  One time he even hit a Home Run and a "Triple" in a game.  Daisy says that means the batter gets a hit and then makes it all the way to third base without being "Thrown Out."   

        Mr. Steve says over the years of the jinx the Cubs have tried different things.  One time they had the idea of using a "Rotation" of eight coaches instead of only one single manager as most teams do..  It didn't work out and in one game they scored twenty two runs yet still lost!

     

                                       GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER (1887-1950)

COLORIZED BY DON STOKES

  

         This is interesting.  The caption underneath a picture of a Pitcher named Grover Cleveland Alexander says, in 1926; the Cubs traded him to the Cardinals just like they did forty years later with Lou Brock.  And he also went into the Hall of Fame too.  Heathcliff is crowing.

              The picture of Grover Cleveland Alexander, who fought in World War I; shows him in the uniform of the Philadelphia "Phillies."  I guess in the 1920's the "Mits" or gloves were smaller in size than they are now.  Mr. Steve has a lot of mits, both right and left-handed.

          Grover Cleveland Alexander was named after that one 19th century American President. I'll write more about both in my three books.  I notice Grover Cleveland Alexander's photo has been "Colorized" in the way Mr. Steve used to do.  I'd like to have a catching mit.    

         

                                                             "BACK TO THE FUTURE"

         

             One time Daisy and Millie were in the Living Room watching tv and saw this 1980's movie about time travel called "Back to the Future."  It predicts the Cubs will break the jinx next year in 2015.  Anyway, I'll write about the "Trilogy" of Back to the Future movies tomorrow.

          Besides being unique in having ivy growing on the outfield fences, I guess Wrigley Field is known for being the last Major League stadium to install lights for night games.  So, for a long time; all of their eighty one home games were played during the day.  I smell Mesquite.

         Dais says Mr. Steve and his friend Rick have at times wondered if somehow, having to play all day games; might effect the Cubs players in getting more tired during a long one hundred and sixty two game schedule.  At times the ball gets lost in the ivy Daisy told me.                                              

  HARRY CAREY (1914-1998)

       

         Like he does now, when my boss lived down there on Hagar Street in Sylmar; for some of his jobs he worked at home.   And for some of those years the Cubs played their day games on a    tv channel called "WGN."  Their announcer was a guy named Harry Carey Dais says.                  

        Wow!  I really like the glasses Harry Carey's wore.  As he worked, Mr. Steve used to have the tv on in the background.  Mr. Steve read one time, in a Magazine; that Harry Carey died on    February the 18th which is one day before his ex-girlfriend Harriet's birthday.                                

        Judging by Harry Carey's Encyclopedia picture I can sure tell he was very what they call "Enthusiastic."  Mr. Steve says, even though the Cubs were usually a losing team; Harry Carey    called them his "Cubbies" and was a "Homer" who openly "Rooted" for them to win.                                                                                                                 ERNIE BANKS     

        

         For many years the Cubs had this player named Ernie Banks.  One time, in the 1980's at the Forum; Mr. Steve met and shook hands with him.  He was known, even though the teams he  was on were usually bad; as being "Mr. Cub" who was always a very friendly person.                    

          My boss told Mr. Rick that, after meeting Ernie Banks at that Laker's Basketball game; he could tell why he had a reputation for being a nice guy.   Mr. Steve even introduced some of his    customers to him.  Goliath the Gopher Snake just crawled out into the eastern desert.                    

      The Cubs now go to Spring Training and play their "Exhibition" games in Arizona.  Mr. Steve thinks that must be more "convenient" for the other teams than going to Catalina Island.  Another team that went a long time without having a winning team was the "Angels."                         sslide.jpg” style=”width: 380px; height: 325px;” />  

   OAKLAND "ATHLETICS"

          Since he was ten and found out the Kansas City "Athletics" wore green just like his Little League team at S.I.B.L., the "A's" have been his favorite team.  And then, in 1968; they moved    out here to Oakland so he really liked them even more.  I smell Goliath's lingering scent.               

         I wrote earlier how S.I.B.L stands for "Sylmar Independent Baseball League."  Two good pictures in this Encyclopedia shows the A's playing against the "rival" California "Angels" who  wear mainly red I notice.  No wonder Daisy said she liked the Angels' uniforms a lot.                     

        The Angels "Franchise" started in 1961 but, until winning the World Series in 2002; never won anything.  I've mentioned before how the A's primary color is green, their secondary colors  white and yellow.  The Angels now use red, Dais's favorite color; as their primary color.                

     

          Daisy and Millie saw this tv show that said over the years the Angels have had many logos and uniform changes.  In the 1960's their primary color was navy blue with red and gray as the    secondary colors.  Mr. Steve has drawn some of the various Angel logos Dais told me.                     

           At first they were called the "Los Angeles" Angels and at other times were the "Anaheim" or "California" Angels.  In the 1960's they wore navy blue hats with a silver "Halo" on top and I guess Mr. Steve has one of them.  That tv show said how their nickname is the "Halos."                 

      Even though they're the A's rivals, Mr. Steve was glad to see the Angels finally end their "Drought" in 2002.  But now he tells his friend Rick, it would be kind of nice if the Cubs would    also end their jinx too.  Fannie and Freddie the Crows are flying toward the northeast.                 

    

  PHILADELPHIA                    KANSAS CITY                          OAKLAND 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     As I've said, over the next three days I'm going to learn and write about the one hundred year history of the "Athletics" or "A's" Franchise.   As the 20th century began they were located back east in the city of Philadelphia.  Ducks are quacking over there to my right.                            

        After World War II the A's moved to "Kansas City," but in 1968 came here to Northern California; where they've been ever since.  Color drawings of the "Evolution" of their uniforms    show how, in the mid-1960's; they were the first team to wear white shoes.  I like that.                    

       My boss began "Following" the A's in 1967 when he was twelve years old and saw this color picture on the cover of a "Sports Illustrated" Magazine where an A's Player was wearing green just like his Little League team.  Mr. Steve admits that's a dumb reason to like a team.                                  

                      "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" MAGAZINE                   

                 

       From early in the 1900's the A's "Mascot" was an Elephant but, in the 1960's; the owner Charles O. Finley replaced it with a Mule.  Since the 1980's it's again an Elephant.  In American politics Elephants represent "Republican's" while "Democrats" use a Donkey Daisy says.             

        Like the Cubs and Angels now, the A's have Spring Training in Arizona.  The Cubs are in the "National" League, the A's and Angels belong to the "Western" Division of the "American"  League.  The Dodgers used to have Spring Training in Florida but now are in Arizona too.            

          Daisy is so lucky because she's seen the A's play the Angels on tv, mainly because, unlike myself; isn't afraid to go in the house at night.  She says the Angels play their "Home" games at    "Angel" Stadium in "Anaheim."  That place called "Disneyland" is near there I guess.                 

                            "ANGEL" STADIUM                                                           "DISNEYLAND"                         

        Daisy told me the city of Anaheim is in "Orange County."  Mr. Steve and his brothers, and friend Rick; have gone to games at Angel Stadium.   Disneyland, which my boss has also been to a few times; opened in 1955 which was the exact year he was born.  Heathcliff crowed.                   

         Mr. Steve, and Miss Babette, Susan and Karin; sell Baseball hats.  But since he's been a kid my boss has collected hats so has a big collection of them.  I've mentioned before how the A's are the first ever professional Baseball team to wear anything other than black "Cleats."                     

          Cleats are special shoes with "spikes" on the bottom to grip the ground as you run.  I guess now cleats come in many colors but in the 1960's that was not the case.  In 1969 Mr. Steve really  wanted white cleats and his mom looked "High and Low" to find some but it was hard.                           

JOE NAMATH

         In 1984 when he, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen worked at the Forum; my boss met a Football Player named Joe Namath at the restaurant there.  He told Joe Namath, the first Football Player to wear white cleats; about his mom getting him white "Soccer" shoes.  I smell Sage.                      

         Mr. Steve says that in 1969 there was only black Baseball cleats.  But in the next season Mr. Steve wore those white Soccer shoes on his Little League team and was the only Player not to be  wearing black.  He got really "Picked On" for doing it too from what Daisy told me.                      

         Joe Namath chuckled when my boss told him how he got in fights for wearing white cleats.  Joe Namath joked, "Yeh, it's like having a Bullseye on your back."  Mr. Steve says, during that    season a coach told him a Japanese saying, "The nail that sticks out is hammered down."             

  

     COMMON "FLY"

   

        Ah!   I just snapped at a pesky Fly but of course missed it as Flies are hard to catch.  Oh Boy!  This is only the first day of Spring and already a Fly.  Hey God!  I sure do hope, when the hotter weather comes in to replace Spring; there aren't too many Flies this year.                                             

         I see Libby the Horse in her Corral and that makes me think about this "Extinct" little Horse named "Eohippus."  It's hard to believe a Horse could be smaller than me.  But, I guess;    Eohippus was the size of our neighbor's Cat Cher which is totally amazing to me.                          

         Eohippus was so small and, to think they lived in such a dangerous world where big giant "Sloths," huge Rhinoceros's and; the largest Elephants who ever lived were around.  I'm sort of  glad I didn't live ten thousand years ago.  I wonder what a hairy Sloth would smell like?                

                  GIANT GROUND SLOTH                                          WOOLY MAMMOTH

        

         Oh!  A painting in my Encyclopedia shows how huge an ancient Sloth was in compared to a regular-sized Deer.  At the time of the last "Ice Age," there were also the biggest Elephants who    ever lived around.  The were called Mammoths" and they had thick fur like Daisy.                         

         Eohippus Horses were too small to ride but they must've been fast runners because back in those day there were giant "Dire" Wolves trying to kill and eat them.  Camels lived here in North America then too.  And Rhinos with thick fur and Elephants called "Mastodons."                          

        We have Bobcats, Coyotes and Mountain Lions who occasionally come around here but, not that often thank goodness.  Ah!  I just noticed Cher, our neighbor's black and white Cat; slinking behind Moe the small Shed.  She's not friendly, and has sharp claws so; I leave her alone.              

  

  MASTODON

  

         Dais told me about a Heavy Metal band called MASTODON, from the city of "Atlanta;" in "Georgia.  Mr. Steve heard one of their songs and liked it.  A customer of his in Florida one time described them as being what they call "Sludge" and "Stoner" type Hard Rock.                            

      That Parts Manager over there in Florida told my boss MASTODON did an album which was based on a 19th century "Novel" by Herman Melville called "Moby Dick."  I'm so tempted    to write about Herman Melville now.  But I'd better just wait until tomorrow in book two.            

       I smell Cher which makes me think about how Daisy said we're not supposed to like Cats. But, we kind of like Cher even if she's not that nice.  Mr. Steve thinks, maybe thousands of years ago; there may have been Wolves like the ones Dais and I came from here in Piñon Hills.               

 

     "EOHIPPUS"     

                                                    

        This Encyclopedia has "Diagrams" showing how small that Horse Eohippus was when it lived here in North America.   And, the caption below this painting shows; "cautious"  little boy  and girl Eohippus's in a forest.  You can sure tell how tiny they are by those diagrams.                   

        I wonder if any Eohippus Horse's are left in the world?  Supposedly, they went "Extinct" thousands of years ago and; the Horse was only "Reintroduced" in 1519 when that Spanish guy  Hernan Córtez invaded Mexico and conquered the Aztecs.  He had sixteen Horses.                         

         My right nostril picked up Libby the Horse's scent over there in her Corral.  And, looking at her walking slowly around; makes me think about how small little Eohippus must've been.  In my Encyclopedia it says Eohippus was the size of a modern "domestic" Cat like Cher!                  
                       "SABER-TOOTH" LION                                                    "DIRE" WOLF                 

                                      

          Dais saw a tv show about Horses which said Eohippus lived in the time of "Saber-Toothed" Lions who had these long sharp teeth sticking way out of their mouth.  And those big giant Dire Wolves were always looking to kill you too.  I'd kind of be afraid of  Lions and Wolves.                  

       Dire Wolves, like modern Wolves; hunted in "Packs" at night.  Boy God!  I'm sort of glad that no Saber-Toothed Lions or Dire Wolves live anymore.  As You know, like my boss; I think it would be really really terrible to be brutally killed and then eaten up by something.                       

        Mr. Steve likes going to "Zoos," where Animals are kept.  He, and his brother Rock; visited the San Diego Zoo when they stayed with their Uncle Marty and Aunt Josephine back in the mid-1970's.  Mr. Steve really appreciates how they let he and his brother stay with them.                       

                                             SAN DIEGO                                                        "SEA WORLD"                      

      

          I've mentioned how, over the years; Mr. Steve has been to San Diego and that place called "Sea World."  He and Emily, and later Harriet; spent time walking around places in San Diego    like the "Mission Bay."  Emily went to  "San Diego State" for part of her College Dais says.          

          Daisy told me how, before the economic recession; Mr. Steve sold to a "Mazda" Dealership in "Escondito" which is north of San Diego I guess.  The Parts Manger named Mark knew about the history of the San Diego area.  Two of the Pigeons just flew bye moving to the east.                   

         This Spanish Dictionary says how "escondito" means "hidden."  Mr. Steve was once told the "Luiseño" Indians called that area "Mehel-o-pom-pavo."  He thinks maybe the 18th century Spanish gave it their name because it's hidden in this little valley with a small "Creek."                           

                                             CHRISTOPHER "KIT" CARSON (1809-1868)                                                                                                                                             

        I guess, in Escondito; there's a statue of that 19th century "Scout" and "Guide" named "Kit" Carson.  I'll learn about him over the next three days.  Oh!  Kit Carson died on May the    23rd which, in looking at my list of dates; I see is Mr. Steve's brother Sam's birthday.                   

          This Encyclopedia says Escondito, in the years after the Mexicans broke away from Spain in 1821; was called "Rancho Rincon del Diablo" or "Devil's Corner Ranch."  In 1846, during the first year of the "Mexican War;" the "Battle of San Pasqual" was fought.  Dawn's barking.          

         Because America beat Mexico in the Mexican War, the U.S. "acquired" the "Southwest," which included what is now the States of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado; and California too.  I've mentioned how in Spanish "Alta" means "Upper" while "Baja" is "Lower."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    U.S. "EXPANSION" STAGES    

                                                                              

           A map in my Encyclopedia shows what the "rearranged" borders between Mexico and the U.S. were after the Mexican War was over.  The 1848 "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo" is how  California came "Into the Union" but it was at first only a "Territory."  Dawn's barking.              

        Later this afternoon is when I'll mainly learn about the Mexican War of 1846-47 but, I'll write about what happened here in Alta California now.  As I said before, by 1846 this area had    been a part of the "Country" of Mexico for over twenty years.  Now Blinky's barking too.             

      In that Battle of San Pasqual a guy named Andrés Pico led some "Californio" mounted "Lancer" units against some Americans under General Stephen Watts Kearny.  So, in addition    to using spears and guns; they also had "reatas" or "lariats" in English.  A Lance is a spear.                                                             ANDRÉS PICO (1810-1876)                             STEPHEN W. KEARNY (1794-1848)                                                                                                                                                              

            In 1846 General Kearny marched a small American army from New Mexico and was met at San Pasqual by Andres Pico's forces.  Daisy saw a tv show about Andres Pico's brother "Pio."  It said the city of "Pico Rivera," where the Castillo family live; was named after him.                    

         The tv show mentioned that, near the San Fernando Mission; is a house called the "Pico Adobe."  Built in 1834, it's one of the oldest houses in the San Fernando Valley and is named for  Andrés Pico.  It's now a "Historical Site" which is "preserved" as a good "Museum."                    

         Daisy says in 1834 the Pico Adobe was built by "Tongvan," "Tatavian" and "Chumash" Indians.  The Spanish called Tongvans and Tatavians "Fernandeños," the Chumash known to them as "Ventuanos."  "Adobe" means the "Mud Dried" bricks used to build houses.                                       

"PICO" ADOBE  

           Mr. Steve and his mom have visited the Pico Adobe in September for a celebration called "Las Posadas."  I guess, from what Dais heard; they also have some other big celebrations over at Andres Pico's house.   Boy!  I kind of feel like celebrating right now as a matter of fact.              

          That guy Kit Carson is now "Associated" with the explorer John Charles Frémont.  And some people now also associate him with the history of California and New Mexico too.   In 1846 he came to California with Frémont's men who "Liberated" the area for America.                         

          In 1846 the U.S. President was James K. Polk, who had first sent Frémont and then later General Kearney to take California.  Frémont led what's now called the "Bear Flag" revolt.   He sent Kit Carson to tell President Polk but "En Route" east he ran into General Kearney.              

    

                                            "MEXICAN" WAR (1846-47)                                          

           I really do love maps!  This one shows how, in addition to Fremont's men and the army under General Kearny; President Polk also sent "by sea" Admiral Sloat to take Alta California.  Anyway, I'll come back to the Mexican War, and California later.  Dawn's barking.                       

           Oh!  What a coincidence that, as I'm about to look up "Horse Warrior" cultures Libby's scent just floated into my right nostril.  The ancient "Scythians," and then later "Huns" under that guy "Attila;" used terror "As a Tool."  And they did it on the backs of Horses.                        

         This one Encyclopedia says, from ancient times through the Middle Ages; Horse-riding warriors have "stormed out of the Steppes."   This English Dictionary says "steppe" means, the    "Great plains of southeast Europe and Asia or "Eurasia."  America has plains too.                       

                    

 ATTILA THE HUN (406-453 A.D.)              GENGHIS KHAN (c.1158-1227)           

       

          In the 6th century A.D., when the original Rome in Italy was "falling apart;" Attila's men attacked it with "fearsome violence."  Later, in the 1200's; that other guy named Genghis Khan led "Mongolian" Horsemen in conquering a huge empire.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.         

           I guess Attila's Huns were probably from areas now called "Hungary" and "Romania."  It says here Genghis Khan's "nomadic hordes stormed out of" or "emerged" from Mongolia, and    "threatened sedentary" societies.  That means they stayed and lived in a single location.                

           When the Huns or Mongolians "Swept In" or "Descended" on an area this caused what's called a "Domino" effect of "Displacement."  At first this was terrible but, in "The long Run;" it turned out to be good because of what's called "Cultural Exchange."  I like Duck's voices.            

  

        THE "SILK" ROAD      

     

          Another map show a "trade Route" which became known as the "Silk Road."  It was set up after Genghis Khan's bloody time, and went from China to Europe.  Mr. Steve took pictures    of  a "Mongolian Pony" like the Horses the Huns and Mongols used to ride around on.                  

         Daisy says Mongolian Pony's "Stocky" build is not good looking like "Arabian" Horses. They have big heads, thick necks and short legs but; are really strong and have a lot of what they call "Endurance" or "Stamina."  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows just flew bye.                

             I guess, not only are those Mongolian Pony's physically strong but; they're also "Agile."  Daisy is still strong like a Mongolian Pony and, not wanting to brag or anything; I'm very agile too.  One time my boss Mr. Steve jokingly said he thinks I might be "part Gazelle."                                                                                           "MONGOLIAN" PONY         

     PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

    

          The Huns and Mongols are described here as being "merciless."  In the 5th century A.D., at the time of the Huns; there were two Roman Empires.  The original "Western" one located in Italy was "Latin."  In the "East, at Constantinople;" were the Greek "Byzantines."                       

          I guess Attila's Horsemen threatened both Roman Empires.  He one time tried to conquer Constantinople but failed, probably because of the thick walls.  Attila's Huns invaded Italy in 452 A.D. but, unlike the "Visigoths earlier;" were never unable to take the city of Rome itself.             

          The city of "Venice, which I'll learn about;" began when "uprooted refugees" fled into the a "Lagoon" to escape Attila.  They decided to build Venice on water, like the Aztecs did in with    their city of "Tenochtitlan."  Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha visited Venice one time.                           

ATTILA THE HUN   

  

         The caption below this picture of a coin with Attila on it says, like Alexander the Great; he died "mysteriously."  Both might have been poisoned but, my boss suspects they just drank too    much alcohol.   AC/DC's first singer and LED ZEPPELIN'S Drummer died like that.                    

        As I've mentioned, there are questions about Marilyn Monroe's death too.  If I weren't so afraid of going all the way down the Hallway I could see the big glass-framed poster of her on a    wall in Mr. Steve's Bedroom.  It shows her leaning out of window Daisy told me.                             

         I see Libby over there in her Corral, and that makes me think of that guy Genghis Khan; who lived in  late 12th  early 13th centuries.   His Mongols conquered way more area than Attila.  By the time he was finished he had a huge empire even bigger than Alexander the Great's.            

                                                          

   GENGHIS KHAN'S CONQUESTS

          Wow!  A map shows how huge Genghis Khan's empire got by even getting to India and the Middle East.  Genghis Khan lived right after the "Viking Age" but his Mongol soldiers also used  terror to  brutally "Raid" others.  But, they did it on Horses; instead of in "Longships."                

       It says here the only empire in history bigger than Genghis Khan's was Queen Victoria's 19th century  British "Colonial" Empire.  I'll write more about Queen Victoria in the next three  days.  Genghis Khan even beat China when when China was very, very powerful I guess.              

       13th century China was one of the most "advanced," and "powerful;" civilizations in the world.  The city of "Cordoba" in Spain was also pretty advanced too.  After defeating China in a war Genghis Khan "installed" his relatives in power.  I smell Libby over there to my right.           

       

                          KUBLAI KHAN (1215-1294)              MARCO POLO (1254-1324)                          

                                                                                               BADIA GALLERY

            I guess Genghis Khan's Grandson, named Kublai Khan; "Ruled" over China for many years and it was to his "Court" that Italian guy Marco Polo and his Uncles visited.  Well!  Daisy was right.  She said some people can fire a bow backwards while riding a running Horse.             

            This Encyclopedia says Genghis Khan's Mongols used three things which are "common" now, the "Saddle," "Stirrups" and "Gunpowder."   A Mongolian Pony with a saddle was a good  sturdy "Platform" for shooting arrows behind you.  And the Horse was at "Full Speed!"               

           I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's  sister Susan back east in Connecticut has Horses.  She's ridden Horses since she was a young girl and is a good rider.  As a teenager Susan had that smart boy Pony named" Dinky," who would even jump over things with Susan on his back.                     

                 

                         WITH HORSE "HEINZ"                               SUSAN            WITH SONS "AUSTIN" / "DALTON"                                              

         In the late 1970's my boss's sister rode Horses with their father in Sylmar.  His brown boy Horse was named "Poco" while Susan's female Horse was called "Shanique."   I've mentioned    before how sometimes people ride Horses past our house out there on the front road.                      

        People ride Horses on Primavera Road, and Mr. Steve sees their tracks in the dirt when he walks back there.  I wish I had a Time Machine like Mr. Peabody to see Genghis Khan's Mongols or maybe go back even further and capture a real Eohippus.  We could show it for money!           

          I'd like to go to a Zoo.  One time, through a friend of his brother Rock's; he was allowed to go "Behind the Scenes" to take pictures of some of the L.A. Zoo's "Birds of Prey."  While there, the "Trainer" held the Birds in her gloved hand.  The four Pigeons are flying to the east.                

HAWK                                          L.A. ZOO                                         OWL

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

        

           Mr. Steve took pictures of Hawks and Owls, which we have around here too.  Daisy told me about that night the baby Owl got stuck in the Garage.  Another time this mixed up Hawk got totally lost and actually flew right through the front door and into our living room.                      

             I guess, from what Daisy saw on this tv show; some Mongols raise Hawks.  They even go out and train them to hunt other Birds and then come back to their owners.  Looking now at the eastern desert, behind the three Sheds; suddenly makes me think of California's history.               

            When the Spanish first arrived in the late 18th century there were only Indians up here in Alta California.  As I've written about, since the 16th century they had sent Ships up here to see    if there was anything worthwhile but then came back and said no.   I smell Mesquite.                     

                                                                                SPANISH SEA EXPEDITIONS   (16TH / 17TH CENTURIES) 

         

           After Hernan Córtez's Conquistadore's conquered what is now Mexico back in the early 16th century, the Spanish established "New Spain" or "Nuevo España."  Then, for two hundred years; they sent Explorers Alta California.  They all came back saying nothing was there.              

            I guess, one reason why Spain finally decided to "Colonize" Upper California in 1769 was because the British and Russians were beginning to show an interest in this area.  The Russians    were moving down from what is now the State of "Alaska."  Speedy the Squirrel ran bye.             

          In the 18th century Spain sent two "Expeditions," one by land and the other by sea; to set up new "Pueblo" towns, "Presidio" military forts and "Missions" in Upper California.  Besides  farming, the Priests at the Missions "Converted" the native populations.  I smell Sage.                  

                                                                                                SEA LANDING                     SAN DIEGO (1769)         FATHER SERRA                                 

                                    

         The first place, in 1769; the Spanish settled up here was the area now called San Diego. The Mission would become the first of  twenty Missions.  When my boss was at Saint Ferdinand's one of their "Rivals" in sports was "Saint Didacus," which is another way of saying San Diego.           

         Mr. Steve's family have attended "Mass" at St. Didacus, and he and his brother Rock have and photographed and videotaped weddings there.  Two of my boss's Nephews, Rocky Jr. and      Jacob; went to school there for a time.  And Jacob and his sister were "Baptized" there.                

         In 1769 "Franciscan" Priest "Friar" Father Junípero Serra set up San Diego Mission after leading an expedition from "Baja" or "Lower" California.  They "Rendezvoused" with "Supply Ships" sent up by sea.  A picture shows Father Serra praying like Joshua raising his arms.           

    

FATHER JUNÍPERO SERRA  (1713-1784)  

           In 1769 when "Padre" Serra arrived the Indians who lived in the San Diego area were, and are still; called "Kumayaay."  They have two groups; the "Tipal" and "Lpai," both names    mean "The People."  Kumayaay means "Those who face the water from a cliff."                            

         Those Spanish called the Kumayaay "Diegueños and, because of the "Dual"  nature of things, brought modern farming and sanitation; but also disease and destruction.  Some Indians  willingly accepted Christianity Lord.  But, I guess a lot of the others did not want to.                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hey Lord!  The Indians who converted to Catholicism were called "Neophytes."  Most of the Spanish considered Native societies to be "Inferior" and "Primitive."  In 1775 the Indians in San Diego revolted against the Spanish and killed some Priests in this bloody "Uprising."                     

    "UPRISING" (SAN DIEGO / 1775)                               TOYPURINA (1760-1799)     

                        

         In 1785 "Tongva" Indians, led by this "Medicine Woman" named "Toypurina; rebelled against the "San Gabriel" Mission.  Daisy thinks she was a "spiritual" leader who was sort of like a girl Priest.  And she must've been really brave to have done what she did back then.             

          Dais thinks that one girl Toypurina must have also been smart because a tv show said she spoke many different Indian languages.  Hey Lord!  According to Daisy that Tongvan girl ended up believing in You too.  A small Lizard is standing on the wall near the sliding glass door.             

          I guess the Spanish called Tongvans "Gabrieliños and there's a big "Mural" wall painting of Toypurina in that place near Sylmar called "Pacoima."  I've mentioned before how that's the    town where Mr. Bobby the Boxer and Ritchie Valens are from.  Dawn's now barking.                                                                                                                                                             "NAKOMA"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Earlier I wrote about how our worker Mr. Mike's mom, Miss Phyllis; raises "Miniature" animals.  Her strong little Horse "Nakoma" pulls people in small wagons and "Carriages." But  Daisy says Nakoma isn't one of those Eohippus Horses I wrote about earlier.                                  

           All the real Eohippus's are extinct or dead but I wonder if any survived?  Boy!  If someone were to somehow discover an authentic little Eohippus somewhere, that person could make a lot of money I think.  Tomorrow I'll learn about this one Fish called a "Ceolocathe."                            

          An Eohippus could "Make a Fortune" for us because everyone would pay to see it I think.  But, of course; we'd have to guard it so no one would steal it.  Mr. Steve thinks Eohippus most likely "died out" in not adjusting fast enough to a "changing physical environment."                     

  

    "EOHIPPUS"          

   

            According to that Englishman Charles Darwin's "Theory of Evolution" through "Natural Selection," Eohippus was not strong enough to "Adapt" when the things changed here in what is  now called "North" and "South" America.  Heathcliff crowed.  His voice makes me feel good.      

        Daisy heard Mark Ritter who died knew about "Tadpole Shrimp," who lived even before Dinosaurs.  A tv show said many thought them extinct but some were discovered in Arizona, and were "Prehistoric Living Fossils."  Scientists were amazed when Tadpole Shrimp were found.      

         My good English Dictionary says how a "Fossil" is, "Remains of a plant or animal from a previous geological age."  Mr. Steve joked with Miss Susan at work, who's about the same age as he is; they were getting to be like fossils.  She laughed and Daisy heard she likes to laugh.                                       

"TADPOLE" SHRIMP

PHOTO BY ALICE ABELA

          Daisy told me the man on the tv show said Tadpole Shrimp, in dry Arizona; have adapted to survive by evolving to be able to lay eggs in the dirt.  The eggs lay "Dormant," often for many many years Dais says; until it finally rains and the water brings them back to life.  Wow!              

          Boy!  I wish we could discover something like a Tadpole Shrimp.  I'm tempted to look up that "Ceolocathe" Fish Daisy has me scheduled to find out about tomorrow in my second book,    but I'd better just wait.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are now flying over Libby's Corral.             

          Mr. Steve told Mr. Doug Mark Ritter explained to him how Tadpole Shrimp are also called "Triops," which my Greek Dictionary says means "three eyes."  The small "middle eye" is for      "detecting" light.  Dais says Tadpole Shrimp have been here for five hundred million years.                       

DEVO  

  

         My favorite band DEVO's name stands for "De-Evolution."  Mr. Steve says DEVO, who are from the State of "Ohio;" were "creative  and clever" but surprisingly never made it out of  "Cult" status.  Their name means Charles Darwin's idea going in "Reverse" Daisy says.               

         Daisy and Millie saw this good tv show about DEVO, which said they now live out here in California.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave he admires DEVO's "steady and consistent" Drummer Alan Myers, who died last year.   If he were a better Drummer he'd want to play like Alan Myers.         

         Mr. Steve's father paid for the family to go to Dodger Stadium for a Baseball game, and it was at that game where Mr. Steve read Alan Myers Newspaper "Obituary."  Hey God!  I guess he was only fifty eight years old.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave he still thinks of that game at times.                                                    DEVO                                                                             SISYPHUS                                        

         A Devo song Mr. Steve likes to play drums to is about a big giant snowball that keeps on rolling back down a steep hill Daisy told me.  She says Mr. Steve, who plays right-handed; likes    songs where he can use that thing called the "Hi-Hat."  I hear a lot of Birds singing.                      

           Dais says DEVO's song Snowball makes Mr. Steve think of that ancient Greek myth of the bad King "Sisyphus."  He was "Punished for Eternity" by having to roll a big boulder up a hill    only to have it roll back down.  Boy!  Eternity really just means forever and ever!                           

            DEVO, besides making good songs Daisy told me; also have "Music Videos."  Their songs sometimes talk about Science Fiction and use "Satire" to criticize parts of modern society.  In my three long books I'll learn about that man Jonathon Swift who did things like that too.                   

                            SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM

                                                                                           

         In the late 1970's Mr. Steve and his friend Mark Ritter saw a DEVO concert at the "Santa Monica Civic" Auditorium.  He told that kid Jason it was when DEVO wore their yellow "Haz-Mat" suites.  Haz-Mat is just short for the phrase "Hazardous Materials" I guess.                          

          Except for bands like RUSH or KANSAS, in many bands the drums are not supposed to be a "Lead" instrument.  Along with the "bass" player, and sometimes a guitarist; they form the      "Rhythm Section" which provides the "Bottom" or "Foundation" of a song.  I smell Sage.            

         A while back Mr. Steve, even though he doesn't really dance anymore; showed some kids how to follow the Rhythm Section in dancing to many songs.  I guess, usually the other Musicians follow the drummer so he or she has to be consistent.  Two of the Pigeons just flew bye.                  

                                                                  RONNIE JAMES DIO                                           "MALOCCHIO"                                                      

            Mr. Steve heard that Heavy Metal singer Ronnie James Dio say a band's Rhythm Section is like a big Ship's "Engine Room."  He said Football "Linemen" were like the Rhythm Section    too.  It was "Dio" who "Popularized" the "Devil's Horn" hand symbol I guess.                               

         Dio says, as a kid; he saw his Italian Grandmother make the "Malocchio" Devil's Horn hand symbol to "ward off the evil eye of others."  In many bands, if the Rhythm Section is doing their job; they're not noticed that much.  An "Umpire" in Baseball is kind of the same way.          

           Most of the time, a Drummer's main job is to consistently stay "In the Pocket;" and not to  go off "On a Tangent."  Daisy told me about hearing Mr. Steve play along to a 1980's song called "Never say Never" by ROMEO VOID.  They're from the city of San Francisco I guess.                                                                               ROMEO VOID    

                                                               

             Mr. Steve says his drumming is very "basic."  That's why he likes ROMEO VOID'S song Never say Never.  Some of his favorite bands, like the KINKS or AC/DC; use Drummers who are not that "Flashy" but are more "reliable and predictable" to all of the other Musicians.                

         Someday, when I get over my fear of being trapped; I'll hear Mr. Steve play drums.  Dais saw this tv show about a little machine called a "Metronome."  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel      just zoomed through the left vertical slot on the side of the gate to go into the desert.                      

          According to Daisy, a metronome is manually "Programmed."  This metal "Arm" is set up to make a clicking sound as it goes back and forth.  The sounds the metronome makes helps the different Musicians, often the drummer I guess; keep a steady and consistent "Beat."                                                                      

"METRONOME"

       Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve and his friend Dave in New Mexico talking on the phone about Metronomes.  I guess Mr. Steve used to have one but gave it to this kid as a birthday gift.    Some Drummers, like DEVO'S Alan Myers; are like "Human Metronomes" he says.                    

       I just glanced to my right and see Libby in her Corral and for some reason that makes me think of those cute little Eohippus Horses again.  If I had one, even if we don't make money on it; I would take good care of it and raise it.  Looking at the sky makes me feel pretty good.                 

       Boy!  An Eohippus would have all this fenced in two acres to run around!  And I would run with it any time it wanted that's for sure.  Daisy doesn't really like running that much anymore.  Oh!  I'll bet baby Eohippus's must be so tiny but, they're probably also so cute too!                        

                                                                            "CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT"                    

         

          Looking out into the back desert behind the Sheds suddenly makes me think about what that older Mormon man at the Phelan Library told my boss.  According to him, there's this local legend about a secret "Gold Mine."  Boy!  If I had some gold I'd give it to my boss.                         

          Dais told me that man said it's "rumored," in the early 1800's; Spanish Priests discovered gold in the mountains south of us.   But later, when those Priests got "Recalled" back to Spain;    they caused a landslide which hid the mine.  And now no one even knows where it is.                      

           Many people know about 1848 when gold was discovered up there in Northern California. But, they don't know the first gold found in Alta California was not at "Sutter's Mill;" but near the San Fernando Mission.  And that gold was found in 1842 just north of Sylmar.

    

"PLACERITA" CANYON

                

           Daisy heard that in 1842 a Spanish "Rancher" was resting near a big "Oak" tree and dug up with his knife some Onions.  He saw "flecks" of gold.  I guess that area is now part of this city called "Santa Clarita," but a lot of people from down there still call it "Newhall."  

           Mr. Steve and his mom once hiked to that spot in "Placerita Canyon" and I guess the Oak tree is still there to this very day.  My Spanish Dictionary says, "placer" means an "area near the surface;" where sand and gravel have gold in it.   Two of the Pigeons just flew bye. 

           As San Fernando Mission Tour Guides Mr. Steve and his parents read about that first gold discovery from 1842.  Hey!  Maybe the legend about hidden gold in our mountains might be true! We'd be "Set for Life" if we found it.  Now the other two Pigeons flew bye as well.

     

                                                    "ORDER" OF ST. FRANCIS

            My boss thinks, if the story about those Priests hiding the gold mine near us is true; they might've been either "Franciscans" or "Jesuits."  Father Serra, who founded San Diego Mission in 1769; was a Franciscan.  He went on to set up the first nine Alta California Missions.

            Father Serra's Trek" from Baja California to Southern California in 1769 was a difficult one. And for the rest of his life he was known for walking long distances.  There would eventually be twenty one Missions up here in Alta California.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.

                  From 1769 until 1821 both California's were part of Spain's empire but, after that; they were Mexican.  And then, at the end of the Mexican War in 1848; Alta California became part of the expanding United States.  I see a vapor trail up there in the high blue sky right now.  

       

                                                "FRAY" JUNIPERO SERRA (1713-1784)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                           

             In 1821, after Mexico broke away from Spain; the twenty one Missions became what they call "Secularized."  Daisy says that means taken over by the government.  I mentioned how Pope John Paul II visited the San Fernando Mission that one time back then in 1987.     

           Mr. Steve took pictures of Pope John Paul II in 1985, in Rome.  And then, in 1987; he was "Assigned" to take pictures of him over at the San Fernando Mission.  Mr. Steve was extremely    nervous because he was "Representing" English and Spanish language Newspapers.                      

          It took six months for my boss to be "Cleared" by the "Secret Service" before giving him the okay to photograph the Pope.  In 1996, before being allowed to work inside Edwards A.F.B.; he went through that other full "Background Check."  But he "Passed" both times.                        

                                     "OUR LADY QUEEN OF THE ANGELS" SEMINARY

  

           In 1987 Mr. Steve took pictures of the Pope at what is now the campus of "Alemany" High School but was then a "Seminary" called "Our Lady Queen of the Angels."  There was a Secret Service Agent with him the whole time.  It was a very "nerve-wracking" day he says. 

           Daisy says Mr. Steve told his friend Ralph how he still cringes at times just thinking about the stress of that day in 1987.  And, the truth is; the pressure of the situation did not hit him until he was around the other Photographers.  Some had come all the way from England.    

                "In part" Mr. Steve says, photography is "adapting to; or manipulating light."  There are times when you manipulate light by using this thing called a "Flash" but at other times you have to "Adjust" the camera "Settings" to the particular light in that room.  I smell Sage. 

  

                                                       "BACKLIT" PHOTOGRAPHY

                                PHOTO BY PHIL RHODES                                                        PHOTO BY DAVE KOZIOL                                                       PHOTO BY DARREN MILES

      

            Daisy says in photography a usually bad situation, called "Backlit;" is when all or most of the light in an area comes from behind a subject.   In 1987 when taking pictures of the Pope this was what Mr. Steve and the other Photographers were faced with.  They weren't happy.

            Sometimes a Photographer purposely takes "Artistic" backlit photos.  Mr. Dave over in New Mexico used that "Technique" to take a picture of some feathers hanging on wooden posts. Alpha Company of Quail are streaming around the northeast corner of the house to my left.

           As they were "Escorted" into the Hall at the Seminary, where the Pope met with Cardinals and Bishops; there was noticeable grumbling from Photographers.  They all realized the light in this big giant room was coming from long "Bay" windows facing them.  It was bad!

       

                                                     POPE JOHN PAUL II (JUNE, 1985)

                                                                                                   PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA 

           

           In 1987 Mr. Steve knew taking pictures of the Pope was going to be more difficult than in 1985 when he could concentrate more on simply "Framing" the Pope.  All of the Photographers had been "Briefed" on the rules so had to stay in a "Roped-Off" corner of that big Hall. 

           The Pope would come in and greet the Cardinals and Bishops so while he was doing that it was okay to take pictures.  I guess my boss and the other Photographers had to adapt quickly!   These things called "Light Meters" were frantically used by those who had them.

           Mr. Steve didn't have a light meter so relied on guys from big companies, like "Time" and "Life" magazines; as well as one from England.  It was dim and, "All at Once;" everyone knew this other technique called "Pushing" the film would be necessary.  Dawn's barking.

            

                                                                        DIAGRAM FOR "FLASH" PHOTOGRAPHY

     

           Boy! How could anyone have even invented such an amazing thing like a camera?  On that day in 1987 Mr. Steve could gamble and hope the Pope got within "Range" to use a Flash.  Or, he and all of the other Photographers could do push the film in some of their cameras.

          Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking with Mr. Dave about that day in 1987.  He said pushing film is when, because of a "Low Light" situation; you set your camera at a different film "Speed" the film is rated for.  You also do that if you need a higher shutter speed for "Action Shots."

          Unlike all the other Photographers, Mr. Steve only had one camera at that time.  So he just used black and white film and pushed what ended up being three "Stops."  Also unlike all of the other Photographers; his "Longest" lens was what they call "70-210" in "Length."  

      

                                                       1978 CADILLAC "EL DORADO"

            In 1987 Mr. Steve was driving his blue "Boat," as he used to jokingly called it.  The San Fernando Mission is ten minutes from where he lived on Hagar St. in Sylmar.  But, he had to go all the way downtown and park his Car there; to then take a Bus back up to the Mission.

           On the Bus going back downtown after the event Photographers complained to the Secret Service Agents.  For a time my boss thought a fight might even break out.  Already worrying if he had even gotten a "Usable" picture of the Pope, this made him get even more nervous.

           Those Photographers were mad because they ended up having only eight minutes to take pictures of the Pope.  They had been told, when he's done greeting the Cardinals and Bishops; all the Photographers had to leave.   Fannie and Freddie the Crows are flying bye up there.

        

                                                                                                      SOARING CROWS

      

           In 1987, because they were angry about having such little time to take pictures in a badly lit area; everyone defied the rules.  When the Pope sat down in his chair everyone kept on taking pictures even though the Secret Servicemen kept telling them to leave.  I smell some Sage.

           Daisy says, on the Bus going back downtown Mr. Steve was worried.  He thought, if all of those guys with the best equipment were not confident they had gotten good shots; what makes me think I got anything?   He jokes it like the MEGADETH song called "Sweating Bullets." 

           I guess my boss was thinking of "Plan B" just in case it turned out he hadn't gotten any good pictures.  He would use his pictures from 1985 in Rome and write the caption which said, "Recently Pope John Paul II, seen here in 1985; visited the San Fernando Mission."    

    

                                         CHART FOR "PUSHING" OR "PULLING" FILM

        

             Photography can be dual in nature; good with bad and bad with good.  Pushing film lets you adjust to a situation but can also make the pictures more "Grainy" when "Developed."  And with each stop the film needs to be pushed, the possibility of more grain gets bigger too. 

            Later, as he developed that film, Mr. Steve's heart was "Racing" Daisy told me.  As You know, Blessed Mother, he said a few Hail Mary's asking You for mercy.  And I guess to this day he wants to believe You did help him down here on that particular nerve-wracking day.   

            Things turned out okay because there were a few pictures that were good enough to be used.  He jokes now how he "Dodged a Bullet" as they say.  In fact, his boss Miss "Thelma" was happy with the prints he made in the "Dark Room."   I can smell Libby over there.  

                                           "CONVENTO" BUILDING ("SAN FERNANDO" MISSION)               

           DRAWING BY STELLA CÓRDOVA                                                                                                  PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                

          Obviously the San Fernando Mission has been a big part of Mr. Steve's family but, after moving up here my boss quit giving tours.  But, "on his own;" at times he shows people around    and the last time he did a Girl Scout asked good questions.  I'd like to tour the Mission!                 

             Daisy says in 1992, on the 500 year "Anniversary" of Columbus's first voyage; Mr. Steve and his mom were allowed to have an Art Exhibit at the S.F. Mission.  It's the only time that has ever happened.  In 1993 that artwork was displayed down at the "Capistrano" Mission.

            And after that, for a year; the artwork was at the Natural History Museum downtown in the area near the U.S.C. campus and Coliseum.  They wanted to make it "Permanent" but then my boss and his mom would have had to give the County the artwork.  I smell Sage.  

            

                                           MR. STEVE'S MOM / NIECE CRISTINA (U.S.C. CAMPUS)

                    

            This morning I wrote about the time Mr. Steve, his mom and Niece Cristina; saw a good "Exhibit."  It was about when that "Mount Vesuvius" volcano blew up way back in 79 A.D.   Mr. Steve took a picture of his mom and Niece below the "Tommy Trojan" statue.     

           My Encyclopedia says that famous statue at U.S.C. has been there since 1930, and it was called the "Spirit of Troy."  Later the school marching band took that name.  Wow!  Tommy the  Trojan cost ten thousand dollars and 1930 was during the Great economic Depression.    

            The rumor that Tommy Trojan was named after "Tommy's Hamburgers" isn't true Mr. Steve was told.  Whenever I go in the Living Room on Saturday mornings to watch my cartoons I always like to look at Mr. Steve's mom's paintings.  I'd like to try a hamburger someday. 

    

                                                LIVING ROOM                                             WRIGHTWOOD

 

           Above the couch in the living room is that big painting of the bells at the San Fernando Mission Chapel.   In 1997 some of Mr. Steve's mom's art was "shown" in "Wrightwood" which is about ten miles to the southeast from where we live.  People ski in Wrightwood. 

          This German lady named "Helga" had a small "Art Gallery" in Wrightwood in 1997.  I've mentioned how after World War II Germans, like the lady who built our house; came to live in this area.   I guess that lady, and Miss Helga too; both died so aren't around any more.

        The United States under President Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Russia; were allies in World War II.  But, as soon as the war ended in late 1945; America and the Soviet    Union became "Cold War" enemies.  A flock of Birds is flying bye way up in the sky.                      

      

WERNHER VON BRAUN (1912-1977)

            Right after World War II the U.S. and U.S.S.R. competed for the Nazi "Brain Power" and we got that guy Werner von Braun.  His war experience using "Rockets" helped America gut up there to the Moon in 1969.  He was brought here under "Operation Paper Clip."  

            Post war American officials brought Nazi Scientists and things like that here to America.  They were given "False Papers" and their Nazi history was "Whitewashed" or erased.  German Pilots, who worked over at Edwards A.F.B.;  settled with their families in our area.   

            A German lady, whose last name was "Gunther;" had our house built in 1989.  She was a "Widow" of a man who had been a Pilot in the "Luftwaffe;" the German Air Force during the Second World War II.  The four Pigeons flew bye and are going out into the desert.  

                                                                      HERMAN GÖRING (1893-1946)         

                                         WORLD WAR I                                                                         WORLD WAR II                                                 

    

        Mr. Steve's parents bought our house from Mrs. Gunther in 1995 and my boss bought it from them in 2005.  It was Mr. Steve's parents "Second" house though they didn't stay up here that much.  Mr. Steve and his father have read about this man named Herman Göring.                  

         One time Mr. Steve's father was told Mrs. Gunther's husband was "Related" to Herman Göring but Mr. Steve has never "Confirmed" that.  Herman Göring was a famous, and "Highly Decorated;" World War I "Fighter" Pilot.  Later he became "Head" of the Luftwaffe.                   

          Daisy says Mr. Steve built a model of a World War I era "Biplane," which has two wings rather than just one like modern Planes.  In my books I'll write about the "Red Baron," and how Herman Göring took over for him after he was killed in 1918.  Some Ducks are quacking.             

 

                                                              MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN (1892-1918)

("FOKKER Dr. I" TRIPLNE)

ARTWORK BY FRANK WOOTTONA

             Even though I'll mainly write the Red Baron tomorrow, I can say now how my boss has studied his life.  Oh wow!  My Encyclopedia calls Manfred von Richthofen the First World War's "Ace of Aces" because he shot down eighty Allied Planes.  He himself was killed in 1918.  

                   Mr. Steve and his father talked on the phone about how the Red Baron's Plane had three wings.  He led the "Flying Circus."  Their name came from either, how bright the colors of their Planes were; or because they were transferred from site to site like a circus moves around.

                  Another ex-Nazi the U.S. used after World War II was named Reinhard Gehlen.  He had a lot of knowledge about the Soviet Union, in the area of "Intelligence;" or secret things.  Mr. Steve and his father think Reinhard Gehlen was extremely "Influential" during the Cold War.  

        

      REINHARD GEHLEN (1902-1979)

                               

                I'm so tempted to write about that man Reinhard Gehlen now but I better just wait to do it in the order Daisy and I have planned out.  Mr. Steve thinks, in some ways; he was even more influential than Wernher von Braun.  Ah!  I can smell Libby over there in her Corral.                   

             My boss likes "Air Shows" and over the years has taken pictures of all different types of Planes.  Some are old but have been "Restored."   Mr. Steve also took photos of this thing called the "Space Shuttle" when it landed back down here on Earth over there at Edwards A.F.B.

              Daisy says on a "Divider" between the kitchen and dining room are some models and miniature things Mr. Steve has either built or bought.  I've seen them from out here on the patio when he opens up the sliding glass door over there to my right.  I sort of like Libby's scent. 

                                                  

"FOCKE-WULF Fw-190"

          Daisy says Mr. Steve took pictures of a Second World War German "Fighter" Plane called the "Focke-Wulf 190."  My Encyclopedia calls it the "Wurger" and my German Dictionary says that means "Striker."  Mr. Steve has a model of the Focke-Wulf 190 in the house.                           

           That German lady from Wrightwood Miss Helga, who died; did "matting" and "framing" of artwork.  Mr. Steve's mom hired her to frame, on both sides; a "two-sided scroll poster of the "Temple Mount" in Jerusalem.  Dais told me how it's hanging on a wall in the Hallway.   

          Mr. Steve also took a picture of the Temple Mount from the same angle shown on the long poster.  On the back of that poster "Text" tells you all about the history of the Temple Mount and a Muslim building called the "Dome of the Rock."  Miss Helga did an amazing job I guess.           

          

                                       "WRIGHTWOOD" ("MOUNTAIN HIGH")

                                                                                                                                                      PHOTO BY GRAHAM KING

         People ski in Wrightwood at an area called "Mountain High."  I mentioned before how my boss can "Water" ski but has never gone skiing on snow.  And now he says he's too old to risk an injury like the ones he suffered when he was a kid growing up down there in Sylmar.                     

         Mr. Steve says, since moving up here from Sylmar, when it's really cold the bones he broke sometimes hurt a little bit.  He now realizes he broke a finger on his left hand, because he feels it  on those cold days and nights.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows are flying bye.                   

        I guess, on some cold mornings that finger is "Stuck in Place," so Mr. Steve has to move it back and forth a few times; before it works right.  He broke that finger trying to catch a Football close to the ground on "One Hop."  It was a dumb thing to have tried to do he says now.                

     

                       SPORTING DOGS                  

         

         I've wondered if a Dog could learn to ski?  Daisy says she'd look ridiculous going down a hill on skis and, besides that; it costs a lot of money to ski.  She heard Mr. Steve on the phone tell his Niece Samantha he once saw this talented Dog riding a "Surf Board" at the beach.                   

           For some reason, all of a sudden I just thought about that one guy St. Francis.  Some of the Spanish Priests who came up here to Alta California in the 18th century belonged to his "Order." St. Francis was from an Italian town called "Assisi" according to my Encyclopedia.                       

          Daisy says a "Monk" is also a Priest so they definitely pray even more than we do.  It says here he's the "Patron Saint" of us animals.  Daisy and Millie heard our boss talk on the phone      with someone who's family went to Italy and visited Assisi where St. Francis was born.                                  

                                                    SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1182-1226)

     

          If you just might happen to be mind reading me St. Francis I'd like to tell you if I could time travel I'd want to go back and smell you.  And I know Daisy would want to go with me too.  But we'd have to be guaranteed we could come back here because we like the present.                    

          Oh wow!  This is a good quote of St. Francis, "If you have men who exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will find men who will deal likewise with  with their fellow men." Daisy says hopefully we'll meet you up in Heaven St. Francis.                    

           In my three what I now know will be long books I'll find out about the "General" subject of "Philosophy," mainly because my boss is interested in it.  Later today I'll look up a German    Philosopher named Friedrich Hegel.  His "Dialectic" formula influenced other "Thinkers."                    

                 

      IMMANUEL KANT (1724-1804)

          PAINTING BY ARILDO LUIZ MARCONATTO

      

                On Saturday, the day after tomorrow in book three; Dais has me scheduled to learn about this one famous German "Enlightenment" Philosopher named Immanuel Kant.  It says here he    one time wrote, "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."                              

        If I ever do go back to meet St. Francis I would want him to pet me the way my boss does now.  I didn't used to like being touched but now I do.  And it's not possible for there to ever be a  time when Daisy doesn't want to be petted and rubbed, especially on her hairy stomach.                

         I'd ask St. Francis why his Priests cut their hair that way?  If I were a Franciscan I'd make a wig in the shape of a circular patch of hair with the middle or top part cut out of it.  Mr. Steve    jokes he's going bald so may soon look like a Franciscan Priest whether he likes it or not.              

    

                                                          ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS

 

                 Over the next three days I'll find out about three ancient Greek Philosophers.  Socrates taught Plato and then Plato taught Aristotle.  And that guy Aristotle, who had twelve "Moral" virtues; ended up being Alexander the Great's tutor so really influenced history.

           In College, Mr. Steve knew a girl named "Anita;" who rescued animals and said she was following "Aristotilian Ethics."  Aristotle, like St. Francis too; said if a person is sympathetic to animals they're "more likely" to be nicer to people too.  Socrates also taught Ethics.    

              My English Dictionary says "Teleportation" means, "transfer of matter from one point to another."  This must be what Sherman and Mr. Peabody do with their Way Back Machine.  Boy, I sure wish we had our own Way Back Machine to go back and see people like St. Francis.

  

"STAR TREK" ("TRANSPORTER")

  

           When my boss and his brothers and sisters were growing up, until the mid-1960's; their father didn't think it was such a good idea to watch too much tv.  That's why their family was one of the last in the neighborhood to go out and get a "Color" tv.  Heathcliff just crowed.

          I guess Mr. Steve thinks what convinced his dad to get a color tv was when he saw how the tv shows looked, like "Batman" and "Star Trek."   Until then they only had a "Black and White" television.  Someday I really want to see more tv shows the way Daisy gets to do now.

          One time in New Mexico Mr. Steve was visiting his Uncle Casey and Aunt Ruth.  He and his Cousins "Randy" and "Shirley" were watching tv when his father came into the room and saw everyone watching "Batman."  You could tell he was impressed by the bright colors.

    

"BATMAN"

           Daisy says that show Batman is incredible in how great the acting is and, they even tell you when there's action going on by writing it out.  Boy!  That would be pretty amazing all right.  I guess Batman fights against crime in "Gothum City" and his assistant is named "Robin."             

          Batman and Robin don't have super powers like "Superman," but they have amazing tools like a special Car to cleverly defeat colorful criminals.  One is like a "Penguin" and another one likes "Riddles."  But the one Daisy says I'd like is a girl who acts just like a real Cat.                     

           Mr. Steve as a kid did line drawings of the Batman, Superman and Spiderman logos.  Dais says Star Trek is about the future where a crew of men, women and aliens traveled all around the Universe in this big giant Spaceship called the "Enterprise."  One has pointy ears I guess.

      

  "STAR TREK" CREW  

       Daisy says one Star Trek episode was about time traveling and she knows how much I'm interested in that subject.  Yup!  Daisy was right in saying the people on their "Starship" wear      great uniforms as I'm looking at a good picture of them right here.  I smell Mesquite.                     

           According to Dais the Enterprise has many amazing things and one of them is a machine called a "Transporter."  It allows you to disappear, and then reappear; in different places.  They called it "Beaming" up or down.  Boy!  I would like to see that with my own eyes. 

          It's too bad we don't have a Transporter!  If only there was a way to invent one I really do think we could make money.  There would be a never ending supply of customers and we could save money by already having Mr. Steve who could go out and sell a lot of them.  

    

                                    "LANDSLIDE" AREA BEHIND THE POST OFFICE

             I'm still thinking about the story of a secret Gold Mine near us.  On the mountain behind our "Post Office" is a landslide area, which you can see when it snows; and I wouldn't be at all  surprised to find out that's exactly where those Spanish Priests hid the Gold Mine. 

            We should try to find the Gold Mine because if we did find it we would be rich and have a lot of money.  Even though it would mainly be me and Mr. Steve digging, Daisy does like to dig.  I remember that time Mr. Steve got mad at her for digging under Moe the middle Shed.

            In my books I'll learn about the story of "El Dorado," just like the name my boss's 1978 Cadillac.  If we had Mr. Peabody's Time Machine we could find the Gold Mine.  Oh!  If we got there first, we could find all the Gold Mines in history before they were really discovered.

                     

             ALDOUS HUXLEY (1899-1963)         ROY ROGERS (1911-1998)             FRANK ZAPPA (1940-1993)                                                                                                         

              I've mentioned people who lived, or are associated with; our area, Aldous Huxley, Roy Rogers and Frank Zappa.  Aldous Huxley lived in "Llano."  Oh!  My Encyclopedia says Frank Zappa died on December the 4th, which is my boss's Niece Stephanie's birthday.

             I wrote earlier how Llano means "Plain" in Spanish.   Llano is where that girl drummer from the band VIXEN now lives.   That one early 20th century "Utopian" socialist community that used to be located there was called "Llano del Rio" or "Plains of the River."   

            Daisy says Mr. Steve and his 1985 Tour Group from St. Ferdinand's visited a "Kibbutz" when they were in Israel in 1985.  Aldous Huxley wrote "Dystopian Fiction," and in 1932 wrote "Brave New World."   Mr. Steve's father was born in 1932, his mom three years later.

                                                       JONATHON SWIFT (1667-1745)

   

            A Utopian future would be an "Idealized" world, but Aldous Huxley and his ex-student George Orwell wrote about a bad or "Dystopian" world of the future.  My boss thinks Aldous Huxley was a good "Satirist."  I'm going to learn about a man named Jonathon Swift.

            I guess a Satirist criticizes or makes fun of people or cultures, often with those people not realizing they're being ridiculed.  Aldous Huxley, and his first wife "Maria;" came to America from England. They lived in "Taos;" where Mr. Steve's friend Dave lives with his wife.

           Maria Huxley died in 1955, the year my boss was born.  She and her famous husband were living in Llano at the time.  It says here that about a year later Aldous Huxley re-married to this lady named "Laura" and she was with him until he died in 1963.  Heathcliff crowed.

              

                                   WIFE MARIA                   ALDOUS HUXLEY              WIFE LAURA

             Miss Susan, who ran the local newspaper; says Aldous Huxley once described our cold Winter winds as being "biting" or even "bone chilling."  Yup!  That's us alright!  I can definitely "Vouch" for that and, when it's that cold; I'm so grateful to have you with me Elvira.  

            Daisy is lucky to have thick fur and, she'll go in the house whereas I'm still afraid to go all the way down the Hallway.  It says here Aldous Huxley, and C.S. Lewis too, died on November 22, 1963; which was the exact same day that President Kennedy was killed in Texas.

            "Assassinated" means killed and, President Kennedy was shot in the city of "Dallas;" or near "Arlington" where Mr. Steve's brother Rock lives with Rocky Jr. and Jacob.  Because they died when they did, Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis's "Obituaries" were "buried in the news."  

               

               LEWIS / HUXLEY / KENNEDY                              J.F.K. ASSASSINATED

          For a time I guess, many people didn't even know Aldous Huxley or C.S. Lewis had died or "Expired" as they say.  Mr. Steve did artwork for a lady from Llano who grew up near Aldous Huxley and his first wife Maria.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows flew bye.  

         The lady said Aldous Huxley and his wife were nice, though at times he was "standoffish."  Daisy told me Mr. Steve "cringed" inside when she said that because he's been described as that. I don't think he's standoffish but he admits he doesn't like being around strangers.  

          I just thought of that Cowboy Roy Rogers, who married to Dale Evans and together they had a lot of kids.  They also had that really smart Horse named "Trigger" who could even count and dot tricks.  Hey God!  As You know, I want to be as smart as Trigger someday. 

     

                                ROY ROGERS (1911-1998) / TRIGGER / DALE EVANS (1912-2001)                     

           Daisy heard Roy Rogers' family lived in the San Fernando Valley where Mr. Steve grew up.  But then they moved to "Apple Valley," to the east of us; near that big city of "Victorville." I guess Victorville is about thirty miles from where we live in our little town of Piñon Hills.              

          Mr. Steve attended a "Funeral" at the Roy Rogers cemetery.  It's where Roy Rogers and his wife are buried, and is located on the side of a mountain.  Daisy says, as Mr. Steve looked at      their graves "Side by Side;" he thought of his parent's "Crypts" at the Mission Cemetery.                                                                                                                                                                                                Dais and I think it's sad how, both of Mr. Steve's Grandma's are buried here in California but their husbands are buried back there in New Mexico.  Hey God!  It's funny how sometimes life just ends up working out that way.  But at least they're together in Heaven I guess.                                                                                                      GRAVES      "ROY ROGERS" CEMETERY         TRIGGER                             

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA      

                

          Mr. Steve took pictures of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans graves.  And Daisy told me, he also took pictures of a big thirty foot tall statue of Trigger.  I guess, from what my boss and Mr. Mike talked about; there used to be a "Roy Rogers Museum" over there in Apple Valley.                        

           Daisy says Mr. Steve and his dad stopped and had lunch at the Roy Rogers Museum when they drove up to Las Vegas in the early 1990's.  One time Mr. Steve bought Emily a Cleveland      Indians Baseball cap there.  Another time he got Harriet a funny Bumper Sticker.                           

        I guess Roy Rogers' museum moved to "Branson," Missouri.  Mr. Steve's customer Bob, who's a Parts Manager in that State but grew up in the "Victor Valley" near Littlerock; knows    about the city of Branson.  Boy!  It would be so great to go to a museum some day.                               

       "APPLE VALLEY"                         MUSEUMS                                "BRANSON"          

       Oh!  Dale Evens' birthday was October 31st which is "Halloween" night and was also Grandma Trujillo's birthday too.  Oh my God!  What a coincidence that both died in 2001!  Boy, I'll bet Mr. Steve will probably be interested in knowing that if he didn't notice.                              

           In my books I'll learn about this famous American road called "Route 66," which some people near us have a "Club" dedicated to.  Daisy says Mr. Steve has discussed that "Highway"    with customers in other States.  I see a vapor trail way up there in the high blue sky.                       

        This Encyclopedia says Route 66 was built in 1926, so that was before the 1930's Great Depression.   I guess, one end is in the "Midwest" and goes through Missouri; and at the other      end here in California it went right through Victorville.  It ended near "Santa Monica."                   

           SECTION OF HIGHWAY                           "ROUTE 66"                                VICTORVILLE                                      

             I guess most of Route 66 is gone now but in 1979, when my boss and Mark Ritter took a trip through Arizona and New Mexico in Mark Ritter's Truck;  at times they drove on what's left of it.  Daisy says Mark Ritter read all about Route 66.  Dawn's barking over there.                         

          On that 1979 "Road" trip Mr. Steve and Mr. Mark talked about Route 66.  Whenever he hears about Route 66 my boss thinks of his friend and the things they did.  On that trip they had  some of those "Cassette" tapes to listen to and to this day certain songs remind him of 1979.         

           Daisy says Mark Ritter thought the Eagle's song "Hotel California" might be about Route 66 and driving toward Los Angeles coming from the east.  In the 1960's, Mr. Steve's family drove back and forth to New Mexico a few times.  And I guess it was sort of like a Route 66 trip.             

  

ROUTE 66 

                                                                                    

          Daisy says, to get attention; Route 66 Motels had these gimmicky things like rooms in the shaped of an Indian "Teepee."  Along the Highway were advertisements for things ahead.  One time, in a dream; Mr. Steve remembered all of the signs in the shape of black Rabbits.                   

          My boss liked the "Cafe" or "Diner" food on those trips.  In 1979 Mark Ritter told him of this place near Amarillo, Texas called "Cadillac Ranch."  Dais says it sounds kind of like a good    outdoor "Art Project."  Mr. Steve and his mom have seen art by that guy "Cristo."                       

          Boy!  I wonder what Daisy's doing up there in the front yard?  I already can't wait for my last big break of the day when I hide all these materials and run up front to visit with her.  And I think I'll purposely let my boss see us from his window to remind him about our snacks.                                                     

                      ROUTE 66 MUSEUM (VICTORVILLE)              

                                                                                                                                            

        The city of Victorville "Commemorates" Route 66 even though most of it is gone.  Dais says they have a Museum there dedicated to it.  From what Daisy and Millie saw on this tv show one    time, that city to the north of us called "Barstow" has things about Route 66 too.                            

          I just thought of that Musician Frank Zappa, who went to "Antelope Valley" High School. That's near Littlerock where Mr. Steve's brother Sam's family live.  Mr. Steve thinks that Frank Zappa's music was "unconventional."  I wonder if I would be considered unconventional?            

       Mr. Bob, the Parts Manager at the Ford Dealership in "Bolivar," Missouri; also went to Antelope Valley High.  Over the years they've talked about Frank Zappa and that one other guy  named Captain Beefheart too.  He was Frank Zappa's High School friend Daisy told me.               

                                                                      FRANK ZAPPA (1940-1993) / CAPTAIN BEEFHEART (1941-2010)                                                                                   

          My boss, and Mr. Bob in Missouri; have talked about how different Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart's music was.  It's okay to be different sometimes Mr. Steve says, which is good he jokes because he's fifty eight years old and has never been married.   Dawn's barking.              

             Daisy says Mr. Steve doesn't mind being different and, in fact; now has accepted it.  She told me about a song by that band the KINKS called "I'm Not Like Everybody Else."  That one 19th century Writer Henry David Thoreau "Marched to the beat of a different drum."                  

             Mr. Bob says his father, and Frank Zappa's dad too; worked in the "Defense" industry around Edwards A.F.B.  I guess Frank Zappa wrote satirical lyrics while his music was a mix of Classical, Jazz ,Rock and other things too.  Mr. used that term "Pigeonholed."                                   

             FRANK ZAPPA                     

    

            Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart moved down to Los Angeles because there wasn't any "Music Industry" up here.  Daisy told me Mr. Steve has been doing his job selling "Apparel" and "Promotional Products" since 1999.  I wonder what Pigeonholed means?                                  

              I guess my boss met Mr. Bob about ten years ago.  Since 2009 the economy has been bad and that has effected my boss, Miss Susan, Miss Babette and Miss Karin; who are the ones who    sell the different things to the Auto Dealerships.  I smell Libby over there to my right.                    

             Mr. Steve says people don't have as much "pocket money" to buy apparel or promotional products now.  I just looked up how to spell "Apparel" but I already knew it means clothes and things like that.  Mr. Bob knew who that guy Aldous Huxley was Daisy told me.                                                         

                                               ALDOUS HUXLEY / GEORGE ORWELL                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mr. Bob and my boss have discussed the High Desert over the years; especially after Mr. Steve moved up here.  So of course they've talked about Frank Zappa, Roy Rogers and Aldous Huxley.  Daisy says she heard them talking one time about that guy George Orwell.                                                                                                                                                                                                        My boss's brother Rock helped build Cars for "General Motors" at this "Plant" in Van Nuys but in 1993 moved to Texas.  In 1996 he took my boss to Dallas's "Dealey Plaza" where, in  1963; President Kennedy was killed.  "Assassinated" is just another way to say "killed."               

            I guess, four U.S. Presidents have been "Murdered in Office."  In 1996 my boss jumped up onto the short wall where that "Zapruder" film was made, stood on the "X" marked on the    street where the President was shot; and then went right into the museum.  It was hot!                  

                                     "DEALEY" PLAZA (DALLAS, TEXAS)                               

 

             The "Texas School Book Depository" building, where that guy Lee Harvey Oswald shot "J.F.K." from a window on the 6th Floor; is now the museum.   Mr. Steve stood in the window where the three shots were probably fired from in 1963.  He was eight in that year.

                   Daisy says our boss told his father, who was also a "Marine" like Lee Harvey Oswald; he thinks they both could have made the third "Kill" shot.  And both of them are "Near-Sighted" so wear glasses.  The Zapruder film shows the President Kennedy's head being blown apart. 

            The President was riding in a "Convertible" Car with no top so, from what Dais saw on a tv show; his wife "Jacqueline" crawled onto the "Trunk" area to try to get the top of his head back.  But the "Secret Service" guys pusher her back.  Some Crows are cawing faintly.  

          

                                                            LEE HARVEY OSWALD (1939-1963)

          

            I guess some people think Lee Harvey Oswald didn't really kill President Kennedy but in my Encyclopedia is a picture of him holding the exact same Italian rifle left up there on the 6th floor.  And it was later proved that three shots had been fired from it.  I smell Sage.

          Oh!  My Encyclopedia says Lee Harvey Oswald was born on October the 18th and, on my list of important dates; I see how Mr. Steve's brother Rock was born on the 17th of October.  My boss's Grandma Trujillo's birthday was the 31st.  His Niece Cristina was born on the 4th.  

             Daisy has told me about many of the different "Holidays" and, I like them all but; would really like to dress up for "Halloween" on the last day of October.  That was Grandma Trujillo's birthday so she got to "double celebrate" every year on that same date Daisy jokes.

         

                                                                      6TH FLOOR VIEW 

       

           Mr. Steve told his father how, from that 6th Floor window; a "Sniper" would have had a good clear "Field of Fire."  Just Like my boss's dad was, Oswald had been a pretty good "Rifle Range" shot in the Marines.   Neither were "Sharpshooters" but not bad shots.

           Some people say the Italian rifle found "At the Scene" was inaccurate but Mr. read that it had a "Scope" on it.  Daisy told me looking through a scope means a shooter can see, and "Line Up;" the target a lot easier.  Wow!  Who could have even invented such a thing?

             Even though he's nearsighted my boss is still pretty good at "Target Practice."  For years he had a .22 caliber rifle with a scope on it.  Someday I'd like to see those "Binoculars" which, like a scope; makes things look closer.  Daisy's told me how a .22 bullet is kind of small.

      

                                                         JACK RUBY KILLS OSWALD

     

                Boy!  It's too bad that guy Jack Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald before he cold tell the truth about killing President Kennedy.   Mr. Steve and his father think it may have been "Italian organized Crime" that organized the assassination.  The four Pigeons are flying bye.

              One time Daisy heard Mr. Steve and his friend Grant talking on the phone about how, in all "Crimes;" you look for three things in trying to figure out "Who did It."  And, those things are the "Motive," "Means" and "Opportunity" to have done it.  I feel good right now.

              Mr. Steve thinks the "Mob" had all three of those "Elements," revenge, people in Dallas; and a person who on his own wanted to do it.  Daisy told me on that one tv show it said, before he was killed; Lee Harvey Oswald even said he was a "Patsy."  I smell some Mesquite.   

                                

     CARLOS MARCELLO (1910-1993)      SAM GIANCANA (1908-1975)      SANTO TRAFFICANTE (1914-1987)

                In my books I'm going to learn about the history of American organized crime.  And three of those guys will be Carlos Marcello, Sam Giancana and Santo Trafficante.  They all hated the Kennedy family and had the "Connections" in Texas who could do things for them.

           Mr. Steve has wondered if possibly Lee Harvey Oswald took the first two shots, and then another sniper took that third fatal "Bullseye" shot?  The guy who ended up killing him before he could "Talk," Jack Ruby; had connections to Carlos Marcello.   Dawn's barking.

          At places like Disneyland and Carnivals my boss used to be able to win prizes by shooting guns at "Arcades."  He won a "Stuffed"  Pink Panther for his girlfriend Sandy because that was her favorite character.  But now both of his eyes are not nearly as good as they used to be.

      

                                          DISNEYLAND "SHOOTING ARCADE"

   

           Daisy says Mr. Steve doesn't like to kill animals ever since, as a kid in New Mexico; he shot and killed a little Bird with a "Pump" b.b. gun.  And to this very day he still feels so guilty about it.  I guess, as Dais explained it to me one time;  b.b.'s are these tiny round bullets. 

           With a pump gun, the more you pump it with air; the more power you get when you shoot it.  When he shot that Bird my boss was at his Uncle Casey and Aunt Ruth's house in Jarales and his Cousin "Randy" was with him.  Uncle Casey is Mr. Steve's father's younger brother.

           Mr. Steve's Cousin Randy's dad was a "Barber" with a successful business in the big city of "Albuquerque."  Now Randy's doing the same and my boss and his brothers visited him at his Barber Shop a few times.  I guess Albuquerque's about twenty miles north of Belen.    

           

                                                                 "BRONZE COW" BIRD

           

            A Bronze Cow Bird is over there standing on a branch of the Mulberry tree.  Daisy says, when Mr. Steve shot that Bird in New Mexico; in his "Heart of Hearts" he didn't think he would actually hit it way up in the tree.  But he did and it tumbled to the ground below.

           When it hit the ground that poor Bird was still alive but Mr. Steve tried to shoot it to put it "Out of its Misery" in a "Coup de Grace."  But, he kept on missing because it was spasming and jumping around.  He finally hit that "Innocent" Bird and it luckily died right away. 

           A "One in a Million" shot killed that New Mexico Bird and Mr. Steve had a dream about it falling in "Slow Motion" he told his dad one time.  Hey God!  Did You send my boss a message in having that shot be so accurate?  Now Dais says, Mr. Steve only does target shooting. 

 

                                                                        DESERT RAT

            I wonder if Mr. Steve would shoot a Rat because he has killed a few of them with that one "Halbred" spear.  Mr. Mike joked that, if we ever go into an economic depression; we can shoot and eat some of the Jackrabbits or Quail who live around here.  No way!  Ugh! Ugh!  

            Standing in the window where Lee Harvey Oswald shot from, my boss wondered why he didn't shoot the President when his Car was "Directly" below the window?  It would've been like shooting a "Sitting Duck" or Fish "In a Barrel."   He had a direct a "Line of Fire."

           But Lee Harvey Oswald, for some reason; waited to shoot at President Kennedy so took a more difficult "Diagonal" angle shot.  Maybe Mr. Steve is right and he did that so it would give him time, or a chance; to escape and "Get Away."  Some Crows are cawing faintly.  

       

                                                                                          JACK RUBY (1911-1967)

                  Boy God!  It's too bad that guy Jack Ruby, who was from the State of "Illinois;" killed Lee Harvey Oswald before he could "Talk."  This Encyclopedia says he was Jewish and his real name was Jacob Leon Rubenstein.  Mr. Steve's Nephew Jacob lives over there in Texas.

             I guess Jack Ruby had a temper and enjoyed violence.  He "brawled" with the American Nazi's, and acted as his own "bouncer" at the Nightclubs he operated in Dallas.  It says here he "died in prison" and never told anyone the real reason he did what he did in 1963.     

            Lee Harvey Oswald, "At First;" got away from the Police and killed one of them who had stopped him for questioning.  But he was eventually captured and beat up in one of those Movie Theaters.  He had shot that one Police Officer with a handgun he was carrying.

                                                        NIGHTCLUB              "HAVANA"(CUBA)                 DOWNTOWN

  (1950'S)

  

             It says here in this one Encyclopedia how those guys Fidel Castro and "Che" Gueverra led the revolution which "overthrew" a "corrupt" government in 1959.  At that point the leader was a man named Florencio Bautista.  The four Pigeons are flying toward the east.  

            After "Castro" took power in Cuba, he later became one of those "Socialists;" or even a "Communist."  So, because Socialists don't really like Capitalism; he took away all the "Personal Property" from people in Cuba and that meant American's too.  Heathcliff crowed. 

            The Mafia had those "Nightclub gambling Casinos" in the city of "Havana," and I guess had a pretty "Good thing Going" as they say.  But Castro kicked the Mafia out of Cuba and just took their property.  Santo Trafficante was really mad about losing all that money. 

        

   THE BAND                                  DRAGPIPE                              MR. RICHIE

    

                    I'm looking forward to someday hearing Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich's band DRAGPIPE.  They're from the State of New Jersey and Daisy says their songs are Hard Rock or Heavy Metal.   Some people from New Jersey call Mr. Rich "Richie" I guess.

            One time Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with Mr. Rich and they discussed how his parents left Cuba in 1959 when that huge revolution happened.  They ended up settling in New Jersey.  Andy's over there guarding the entrance to he and Helen's burrow.

           The year following Fidel Castro taking over as leader in Cuba that guy John F. Kennedy was elected U.S. President.  He was the first Catholic like us to be President.  Speedy Gonzalez ran through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the back field.    

                                                     

                                              PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963)

             1960, the year Kennedy became President; was the same year Mr. Steve's parents came back to California from New Mexico.  That guy Sam Giancana, the Mob "Boss" of Chicago who I mentioned in chapter three; helped Kennedy win the State of Illinois.  I smell Sage.  

             I guess John Kennedy's father "Made a Deal" with Sam Giancana without telling him.  It was a really "Close" election so Sam Giancana thought the Kennedy's would be grateful for his help in 1960.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying bye right now.

            Daisy saw this tv show which said, once President; John Kennedy appointed his younger brother "Robert" as the "Attorney General.   Daisy told me about how that means he was then the highest "Ranking" Policeman in the whole country.  Some Ducks are quacking.

        

                                          MARTIN LUTHER KING / ROBERT KENNEDY

     

                 In mid-1961 Robert Kennedy's "Justice Department" right away "Went After" American organized crime.  So I guess, "From then On;" Sam Giancana really hated the Kennedy family.  He had a "Motive" to try to get revenge on them in whatever way he could think of.

            When Fidel Castro "Came to Power," many Cuban "Refugees" escaped over to Florida; and "Vowed" revenge.  President Kennedy "Inherited" from President Eisenhower an invasion plan to "Re-Take" Cuba.  And it would be led by some of those same Cuban refugees. 

           The American Government didn't like having a Communist Government only ninety miles from the U.S.  My Encyclopedia says the invasion force landed in Cuba at the "Bay of Pigs."  But President Kennedy decided not to give them "Air Cover" so they were slaughtered. 

   

                                                   "BAY OF PIGS" INVASION (1961)

                          

             In 1959, when Fidel Castro "Confiscated" all the business's; guys like Santo Trafficante and Myer Lansky lost a lot of money.  During the 1950's Santo Trafficante, who spoke Spanish; paid the Cuban government to let him have those "Casinos" there.  Heathcliff crowed.

            I guess it's now totally known how Santo Trafficante helped the American "C.I.A." try to assassinate Fidel Castro.   Santo Trafficante also had a motive to kill President Kennedy in 1963 because he really wanted that Bay of Pigs invasion to work.  I like hearing Heathcliff.  

             So, not only did Santo Trafficante feel the government owed him for helping try to kill Castro; President Kennedy betrayed the invasion too in not sending any Planes.  Another person really "Benefitted" from J.F.K.'s assassination was Jimmy Hoffa.  I smell Creosote. 

  

                                                                                       JIMMY HOFFA (1913-1975) 

PHOTO / UNDERWOOD ARCHIVES

                  An Encyclopedia photo shows Jimmy Hoffa "Campaigning" in 1957 for the Presidency of the "Teamsters Union."  Wow!  I really love the hats the three ladies in the picture are wearing. In 1957 Mr. Steve was two years old and his brother Rock was born in that year.

            In 1963, as "Attorney General;" Robert Kennedy had been going after the Mafia and also guys like Jimmy Hoffa.  So, with his older brother was gone; he lost power too.  Daisy one saw a tv show that described what happened in 1963 as "Cutting the Head off the Snake."

            One reason Carlos Marcello hated Robert Kennedy was because, in 1961; he was what's called "Deported" from the U.S. on Robert Kennedy's orders.  They sent him down to "Central America" and took him a lot of money and effort to get back in.  He "Vowed" revenge.   

  

             JACK RUBY'S NIGHTCLUB                                     RONNIE HAWKINS BAND      

                   ("FORT WORTH," TEXAS)                                                                        ("SKYLINE" LOUNGE)

             Mr. Steve read how Jack Ruby, who shot Lee Harvey Oswald; was running a Nightclub in "Fort Worth" for Carlos Marcello in 1863.  A few months before the President was killed this band called RONNIE HAWKINS AND THE HAWKS played there.  A Duck is quacking.  

              A few years later the Musicians in the HAWKS became the BAND and were working for Bob Dylan.  I guess some people say Lee Harvey Oswald's Uncle was Carlos Marcello's "Bookie" in New Orleans.  Daisy thinks a Bookie might be a person who get you books to read. 

             Oh!  What a coincidence that, just as I'm about write about a boy Horse named "Black Jack;" my right nostril picked up Libby's scent.  This one Encyclopedia says only four Horses in American history have been given  "Military Funerals" when they died.  I smell Sage.

    

                                              "BLACK JACK" (J.F.K. FUNERAL / 1963)

            That Horse Black Jack was in President Kennedy's funeral, and also a part of the funerals for President's Hoover and Johnson too.  Oh wow!  Black Jack walked in Douglas MacArthur's funeral.  Aha!  I had a feeling he was named after General Pershing from World War I.    

            As I've mentioned, if California were a country we'd be the 6th biggest "Economy" in the whole world; but Texas would be the 12th.  In the 19th century, from 1836 through 1845; Texas was an "Independent" nation or "Republic."  Dawn and Blinky are barking over there.   

           From the 17th century Spain considered the Alta California and Texas regions a part of their "New World" empire.  Daisy says the Indians there would most likely have disagree about that idea.  But in 1821 Mexico broke away from Spain so both areas became Mexican. 

             

                                                       MODERN U.S "STATE" OF TEXAS

              

            In 1836 Texas itself revolted against Mexico to also become independent.  Daisy says Mr. Steve still has a few customers left in Texas.  One is a "Mazda" dealership in "Hurst," which is close to "Arlington; where his brother Rock lives with his sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob.

           I guess my boss has talked about the 1836 "Battle of the Alamo" with a Parts Manager at that Mazda dealership.  Daisy heard, in 1836 the white Texans were called "Texicans;" and the Mexicans referred to themselves as "Tejanos.  Both fought against the Mexicans.  

           As I've said before, Mr. Steve and his father think the "Relationship" between the United States and Mexico has been "complicated."  But back in 1836 it was Texas, before they were an American State; who didn't want to be part of Mexico.  Two Pigeons just flew bye.

                                                  

                                                    "BATTLE OF THE ALAMO" (1836)

             Daisy and Millie saw a good movie about the first battle between the rebelling Texans and the Mexican forces who had marched during the Winter up to Texas.  That was a surprise to the people in Texas, who didn't think an army would move in cold weather.  They were wrong.

            Wow!  My Encyclopedia says Texas is twice the size of modern Germany.  Ah!  The scent of the Twin Joshua trees just came in on a breeze.  As I mentioned this morning, it was Mormon settlers in the mid-19th century who first named the Joshua trees here in California.

            Hey God!  Daisy thinks if Mr. Steve could use Mr. Peabody's "Way Back" time machine,  he'd want to see the "Siege" of ancient "Jericho;" which he visited in 1985.  He would want to "Witness" if those big walls really did all fall down.  Boy!  I'd sure like to see that too!  

        

                                                         JOSHUA                                              "JOSHUA" TREES

     

             Hey God!  I would want to go back in time to smell that guy Joshua, who the Mormons named our trees after.  They said Joshua trees resembled the Old Testament Prophet who I guess used to raise up his arms in praying to You.   The four Pigeons are flying to the southeast. 

            Daisy thinks God, Joshua trees might also be reaching out to the Sun or Moon, or maybe even the Stars.  That's why Mr. Steve jokes how Daisy might be part "Druid."  You know, she is definitely fascinated by the Moon and Stars alright; especially the Constellation Orion.  

          This Encyclopedia says Druids were "Celtic" Priests and I guess, back then in the ancient world; Celts lived in Europe for many years.  Daisy says our boss once met a red-haired Irish girl at the Sylmar Library.  She knew a lot about Celtic history and other things like that.                    

                                                              

ANCIENT "EUROPE" AREA          

          Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled to learn about the Celts right now, I sort of feel like finding out about them.  A good map shows where, in what is now modern "Europe;" the different groups lived.  Two of the Pigeons are flying toward the east.                      

            I guess, in first century B.C.; the Celts in "Gaul" were conquered by Julius Caesar.  For his selfish "Political" purposes in Rome, he needed to add new territory for Rome to "dominate and exploit."  Gaul is now where the modern country of "France" is located.                                  

           This Encyclopedia says Celts believed in "Reincarnation."  That's where the "Soul" or "Spirit" transfers from one physical body into another physical body after death.  Hey God!  As of course You already know, Dais and I have both wondered about reincarnation sometimes.                

"GREENLAND" SHARK                                      "GALÁPAGOS" TORTOISE

            Daisy jokes God about how she hopes there's such a thing as Heaven but, if reincarnation turns out to be true then she wants to come back as a "Greenland" Shark or maybe even one of those huge "Galápagos" Turtles.  Both of them live really, really long lives I guess.                          

        Even though I'm not scheduled to write about things that live in water until tomorrow, I couldn't resist looking up Greenland Sharks now.  Wow!  It says here they can grow to be over      twenty feet long and live between two hundred and five hundred years.  Dawn's barking.              

          Galápagos "Tortoises" can live for over a century and weigh nine hundred pounds.  Some,   like that guy Mark Ritter for instance; thought they might live for two hundred years.  Charles Darwin also got to see them in the 19th century when he visited the Galápagos Islands too.                                   

         HARRY HOUDINI (1874-1926)

  

          Tomorrow I'm going to learn about Harry Houdini, who was an "Escape Artist."  Daisy and Millie saw a good tv show about him that said he told his mom after he died he would try to contact her.  So that would prove he thought, once and for all; if there is an "Afterlife."                 

            I guess that guy "Houdini's" mom, in the late 1920's; used to go to these meetings called "Seances."  Some think Ghosts and things like that send messages if you know the right things to do.  Boy!  Dais would go to a meeting like that, but I think it would be way too scary.                      

         Daisy says Houdini's mom never heard anything so there was no communication.  If she dies Dais jokes she'll try to give me a signal but the hard part would be me recognizing it.  But she's wrong about that because I would be on the alert and looking for even a small sign,            

    

"DRUID" PRIESTS

ARTWORK BY GEORGE RUTLEDGE AND SONS

      

       According to to this Encyclopedia, a Druid Priest could be either male or female; even though the painting shows only men with long beards.  Daisy wants to do good in this life so she doesn't come back as a Bug or something.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.                  

            Many cultures have thought most females were inferior but not in our family.  Mr. Steve and his father think women should be allowed to become Catholic Priests.  Hey God!  As You know, my boss and his father suspect sometimes You might work through us females.    

           It says here Romans like Julius Caesar thought Celts were "backward" and "primitive" and thought of them as "barbarians."  But the Celts actually had a more accurate calendar than the one the supposedly "superior" Romans developed.  That's what my boss read I guess.

        

    "STONEHENGE"

     

            Daisy heard Mr. Steve say on the phone one time how many people think Celts, who did study the sky; built that giant building called "Stonehenge."  But it now seems likely the builders were from before when the Celts got over to what is now "England."  I smell Mesquite.

           One time Mr. Steve's Nephew "Jacob" visited our house and Daisy says he and Mr. Steve watched a tv show about this girl named Queen "Boudica."  The red-haired girl who my boss met down there at the Sylmar Library knew of her.  Dawn and Blinky are barking.

           This Encyclopedia says "Celtic warrior Queen" Boudica, back in 61 A.D.; led a "bloody uprising" in "Britain" against the Romans.  This was about a century after Julius Caesar had conquered the Celtic "Gaul's" on "mainland" Europe.  Fannie and Freddie flew bye.

    

ROMANS / CELTS BATTLE (61 A.D.)

  

           It says here, when that guy "Claudius" was Emperor; Roman soldiers sailed across the English Channel and conquered England.  But, years later men under Queen Boudica even beat a few Roman armies; before finally being defeated themselves.  A Crow is squawking.

          I guess Queen Boudica's army were even able to take the Roman town of "Londinium," or what is now called "London."  Mr. Steve thinks she must've had the trust and respect of the men under her.  All four of the Pigeons are flying together over Libby's Corral to my right.

          On the tv show about Queen Boudica it said the troops she led were brave and fierce.  But "in the end the Roman's more advanced killing technology prevailed."  Speedy Gonzalez just ran back in from the desert by using the narrower left vertical slot on the side of the gate.  

           

  QUEEN BOUDICA (?-61 A.D.)

    

           It's too bad that girl Queen Boudica probably had to kill herself after being beaten by the Romans.  I guess, no one knows for sure what happened to her but it's most likely she committed suicide.  Ah!  I can smell the little baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.                       

           Sometimes in war you have to let yourself be killed protecting your people.  The Japanese soldiers in World War II preferred suicide rather than surrender and I'll bet Queen Boudica also wanted to "Fall on her Sword" as they say.  That small Cholla cactus smells good.

            It says here the Roman General who finally came in and "restored order" in 61 A.D. was named Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.  Even though his Legion of about ten thousand men were very  outnumbered seven to one, he was confident I guess.  I see a vapor trail up in the sky.

    

                                           GAIUS SUETONIUS PAULINUS  (Dates unknown)

                

           In 61 A.D. that guy General Paulinus had a lot of experience so tried to overcome being outnumbered by "positioning" his soldiers uphill on "High Ground" between two forests.  This    really tall cliff was right behind them.   Because of that it would be hard to be "Flanked."             

         The Celts could not get around, or on the sides of General Paulinus's Legion; so had no  choice but to attack the Romans "Head On" as they say.  But they were confident because they    could also see how outnumbered the Roman's were.  Samson and Delilah just flew bye.                  

           I guess the Roman's were in "Concentrated massed Formations," and their soldiers wore metal armor while the Celts had none.  Not only that, they had metal shields while the Celts had wooden shields.  Celtic swords and spears were not as good as the Roman blades either.                                                  ROMANS                           (61 A.D)                            CELTS     

PAINTING BY JASON JUTA                                                                                                                                                                 

                    

             This good painting shows how General Paulinus's Roman soldiers created a "shield wall" for protection, another painting is of the Celts ready to attack.  I notice some of the Celts aren't    wearing any clothes but, at least a few have metal helmets it looks like.  A Crow cawed.                  

       Oh!  This Encyclopedia says, in 61 A.D. the ten thousand Roman troops were all "well-trained" and "disciplined;" while Queen Boudica's army of seventy thousand was a "screaming  mob" or "horde."  The caption even uses the words "unorganized rabble" to describe them.        

         Wow!  A "human wave" charged the Roman formations but, before they could get within "range" to fight at "close quarters," the Romans "unleashed a barrage" of "Pilum" spears in      their direction.  A few thousand spears killed a lot of Celts I guess.  The Crow cawed again.           

  

   "PILUM" SPEAR     

       

              I guess a Pilum "Javelin" had a long skinny iron "shank" attached to a wooden shaft by a "socket."  The "pyramidal shaped" tip was meant to "penetrate" the enemy's shields and then maybe bend so it was impossible to pull back out.  I smell Libby over there to my right. 

              Dais saw a tv show that said the ancient Romans were willing to "adopt" better ideas or things from people they conquered.  It says here they didn't "create or develop" the "Gladius" swords, but got it from those they fought in Spain.  Mr. Steve has a replica Gladius sword. 

             In 61 A.D., because the Celts had wooden shields; the Pilum spears went right through them.  So, even if the man carrying it wasn't killed or wounded; he had to throw away his then useless shield.  Once that happened they were defenseless" "Sitting Ducks" as they say.  

COASTING CROWS

                  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye, going over the top of the house and moving toward the southwest.  They're not talking to each other as they often do.  It's so amazing how Crows and Ravens will just hold their wings out to the sides and let the wind carry them along.  

             Ugh!  It says here in 61 A.D. Roman Pilums, and thousands of arrows too; "impaled" the Celts "in droves."  I guess for a few hours "fanatical" Celts, many with their faces painted all  blue; "threw themselves" at the Roman ranks but were slaughtered.  Heathcliff crowed.

            Mr. Steve's father thinks sometimes "courage isn't enough."  After much "vicious hand-to-hand" fighting, at a certain point General Paulinus ordered his men to begin moving forward behind their wall of shields.  I can smell the Twin Joshua trees out there in the desert.

         

ROMAN LEGIONAIRES ON OFFENCE     

       It says here, in 61 A.D.; General Paulinus's Roman's "relentlessly" and "methodically" moved forward.  They became a "killing machine" in pushing those Celts backward, using their Gladius swords to stab thousands to death.  They "Mowed them Down" as they say.                       

          General Paulinus used "superior technology and troop discipline to grind the Celts down" little by little.  Afterwards, they chased down and killed the survivors and I guess the Celts never ever revolted again.  Mr. Steve would buy a Pilum if it didn't cost too much Daisy thinks.              

           Mr. Steve admits he's kind of weird.  For instance he says, he's interested in the last words people say before dying and has wondered what Queen Boudica might've said in 61 A.D.  I guess he's reading a book about that English Queen from the 16th century named Elizabeth I.

                      

                                                                QUEEN ELIZABETH I (1533-1603)                

                                                                                                                               "DARNLEY" PORTRAIT                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                   Even though I'm not scheduled to write about the first British Queen Elizabeth right now, I couldn't resist looking her up.  It says here in this one Encyclopedia how that Writer William      Shakespeare lived when she was the top leader of England.  Dawn's barking over there.                 

          Dais says on the tv show about Queen Boudica it said Shakespeare wrote a Play about her which I guess was in part "inspired" by this revolution in Spain in 1598.  I know if Daisy were to see the painting of Queen Elizabeth she'd like her dress.  Daisy's favorite color is red.                     

           Oh wow!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  It says here the last thing Queen Elizabeth said before dying was, "All my possessions for a moment of time."  Boy, I sure can't wait for my boss to some day read my three books so he can maybe learn some new things too.

 

   DESTRUCTION OF "SPANISH ARMADA" (1588)

PAINTING BY PHILIPPE-JACQUES DE LOUTHERBOURG

            Mr. Steve thinks Queen Elizabeth I was smarter than many men.  As his father would say, she's "proof positive" females can be as capable as males.  Her Protestant England even beat the big "Armada" sent by Catholic Spain to conquer England.  Heathcliff crowed.

            My Encyclopedia says Queen Elizabeth I was that guy King Henry VIII's daughter from his second of six wives.  And her half sister, Queen Mary I, was really smart too according to a tv show Dais saw one time.  I guess she was King Henry's only child from his first marriage. 

            It says her Queen Mary, a Catholic; ruled England in the five years before her Protestant half sister Elizabeth came into power.  Daisy says by age nine Queen Mary already knew how to speak not only English but also Greek, Latin and Spanish too.  Wow! That's smart alright!  

                                                                                                QUEEN MARY I (1516-1556)

       PAINTING BY ANTONIS MOR

     

           Hey Lord!  From Your time until the 16th century there were only us Roman Catholics.  But then that "Protestant Reformation" happened so each side hated and killed each other for a few centuries in Your name.  A small Garter Snake is now crawling out into the back field.            

        Oh wow!  Daisy said Queen Mary's nickname was "Bloody" Mary.  She sometimes had  Protestants burned.  Her father broke away from the Church in Italy because her mom couldn't  have a boy baby to "Inherit the Throne."  I smell the little baby Cholla cactus over there.              

           It says here, when the Pope in Rome "denied his request" to "Divorce" his first wife; King Henry just made his own "Church of England."  I guess, he then got rid of Mary's mother and    married Elizabeth's mom instead.  Smelling that baby Cholla cactus makes me feel good.              

                

     HENRY'S SIX WIVES                                           HENRY VIII (1491-1547)    

                                                                                                PAINTING BY HANS HOLEIN                   

          Daisy told me the tv show said, unfortunately; that girl Elizabeth's mother also didn't have a boy baby the way the King wanted.  So, he ended up having four wives after that, and I guess    he had Elizabeth's mom's head cut off.  Boy!  That guy King Henry sounds kind of mean.             

      According to Dais, back in 1500's most Kings and Queens had people who were on "The other Side" what's called "Done away With."  And that's just a nicer sounding way of saying how they were killed she jokes.  To this day some modern leaders "Liquidate" enemies.                 

      All of a sudden, I thought of a 16th century Russian "Tsar" named Ivan "Grozny;" which means Ivan "the Terrible."  Dais says he was really mean to those he didn't like, and had a bad    temper because he even once personally killed one of his sons.  Oh!  That's bad alright.                  

           

          IVAN "THE TERRIBLE" (1530-1584)

          

                  Yup!  In the painting of him you can tell that guy Ivan the Terrible was mean.  Boy, this is so fun looking up new words and this is the first time I've gotten to use my Russian Dictionary.  I guess that Tsar can also be spelled "Czar" and is "derived" from the name "Caesar."                    

            Tsar means "Emperor" and the German title "Kaiser" also comes from Caesar.  During World War I Kaiser Wilhelm led Germany.   My Encyclopedia says "Oprichniki" is the name of soldiers loyal to Ivan the Terrible.  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just ran bye right now.

            I guess, those Oprichniki rode black Horses and wore all black robes that made them look like Monks.  But they were definitely not nice like Monks Dais thinks.  Oh wow!  Those guys in the Oprichniki tortured or killed, their logo was a "severed" Dog's head and a broom. 

  

"LORD OF THE RING" ("NAZGUL" HORSEMEN) 

             I guess, the Oprichniki's Dog emblem symbolized "sniffing out and nipping at the heels" of Ivan's enemies; to "sweep them away."  Mr. Steve wonders if Tolkien was thinking of them in evil King "Sauron's" Horse-riding "Nazgûl" from "Lord of the Rings?"  I smell Sage.  

            Dais says Mr. Steve has also wondered if the Russian word "Aparatchik" has anything to do with Oprichniki?  For much of the 20th century, when Russia was called the "Soviet Union," an Aparatchik was a, "devoted agent of the party apparatus."  A Duck is quacking.

             A few years ago Mr. Steve met this guy who said he thought man's hand was "evolved" to make a "fist" so they could be more effectively used for fighting.  He told my boss Monkee's and Chimpanzees can't make a fist.  When they fight and kill they use their sharp teeth.

    

 WILLIAM SHAKESPERE (1564-1616)

"CHANDROS" PORTRAIT

             Daisy says Mr. Steve has a big book called "The Complete Works of Shakespeare" in his office.  Daisy saw this good tv show which said that guy Shakespeare "invented" many words, and "phrases" such as; "All's well that ends well."  And also "breaking the ice" too. 

            Wow!  This Encyclopedia says it was "characters" in Shakespeare Plays who said things like, "cold-hearted;" or "laughable."  They also used such phrases like "heart of gold" and "love is blind."  Oh!  Goliath the Gopher Snake just slithered underneath Moe the middle Shed. 

             Hey!  In a way that guy named "Chick" Hearn, who I mentioned this morning; was like the Shakespeare of Basketball.  He also "Coined" original phrases too.  He was the first to say things like "Slam Dunk," "Finger Roll;" or "Air Ball" if a shooter totally "misses the rim."

  

"ROSE" THEATRE (LATE 16TH CENTURY)

ARTWORK BY WILLIAM DUDLEY 

                   I love it when there's an image to go along with the text in all these Encyclopedia's.  One painting shows a "Cutaway" picture of a Theatre like the ones used in England at the time when Shakespeare was alive.  But you can see how it looked on the inside of the Theatre.

             Boy!  That guy Shakespeare must've been really smart.  It was his characters who first said things like "All that glitters is not gold," "Dead as a Doornail;"  and "For Goodness Sake."  Goliath is crawling out into the desert through the left vertical slot on the side of the gate.  

             Shakespeare's characters first used the terms "Shooting Star," "Watch Dog;" and "Too much of a good thing."  Daisy told me about this man on the Radio named Rush Limbaugh who jokes of having, "More fun than a human being should be allowed to have."  I smell Sage.

      

                                                                          "THE LION KING"

   

                Earlier today I mentioned that cartoon movie Dais saw about the Lion.  This Encyclopedia says it's story is "based" on Shakespeare's Play "Hamlet;" and a movie called "West Side Story" was influenced by his "Romeo and Juliet" Play. My boss's mom likes that story I guess.

          Mr. Steve usually doesn't like those "Musicals" that much according to what Daisy says.  But, she thinks I on the other hand would love them; seeing as how I kind of like to dance, howl and celebrate sometimes.  Two vapor trails are crisscrossed way up there in the sky. 

          All of a sudden I just thought about that girl from France name Joan of Arc.  Daisy saw a really good tv show about her which said she was just as brave as that other girl Queen Boudica; and was a Saint too.   If we're ever invaded we'll be the first "line of defense" Dais says.

                       BOUDICA  (?-61 A.D.)                              SAINT JOAN OF ARC (1412-1431)

                                                                                                                   PAINTING BY JEAN-JACQUES SCHERRER

  

           Hey Blessed Mother!  Sometimes I've wondered if I would be as brave as Joan of Arc when she was burned alive back then in the early 15th century.  But, like Daisy says; we'd just have to keep saying Hail Mary's over and over.  And I'd for sure say a few Our Father's too God.              

           I'll bet Queen Elizabeth I was brave and often had to be tough.  My Encyclopedia says in 1588 King Phillip of Spain sent that huge "Fleet" of one hundred and thirty Ships to conquer her Protestant England but they failed badly.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.            

          It says here in 1588 the main job of the Spanish Armada was to sail up to England and then land across the English Channel on the French coast.  There, they'd pick up a lot of soldiers and take them over to invade England.   I just noticed Libby over there looking in this direction.

  

"ROUTES" OF SPANISH ARMADA (1588)

     

            Mr. Steve one time talked with his father on the phone about how the Spanish Armada was "jinxed" just like the Chicago Cubs Baseball team.  Mr. Steve's dad mentioned "Murphy's Law" which goes, "Everything that can go wrong will go wrong."  Heathcliff crowed.

            In 1588 those Spanish Warships weren't able to "fulfill their mission" and, not only was it unable to conquer England, most of the men died.  The English "floated" burning Boats into the middle of "El Armada Invenvible" or the "Invincible Armada."  I like Heathcliff.  

          Floating all of those burning vessels into the Spanish Fleet caught the Spanish by complete surprise and "scattered" the Armada.  Many of the Spanish Boats ended up catching on fire and then burned up.  The scent of Theodora's favorite Creosote bush just floated in right now.            

    

SPANISH "GALLEON" WARSHIP

   

             16th century Ships moved by wind power so could be "at the mercy of the winds."  And it says here, unfortunately for the Spanish, right after their Ships caught on fire the winds came up and "fanned the flames" as they say.  Two Crows are fighting out there in the desert.

              Oh!  I guess, in 1588 after the battle a big storm came up and then the wind was blowing to the north.  The British blocked the English Channel so, to escape; the surviving Spanish Ships had no choice but to sail north around Scotland and Ireland.  Some Ducks are quacking.

              A good map shows the routes the Spanish Ships had to take in order to get back home to Spain.  Dais says Mr. Steve's father thinks it must've been a "nightmare" having to sail all of the way around the top of Scotland and Ireland.  Ships crashed, men drowned or burned up. 

      

"GREAT WHITE" SHARK

              Dais says Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave in New Mexico he could not be in the Navy the way he was.  One of his subconscious, he jokes "conscious" fears; is being killed and eaten by a Shark.  When Mr. Dave was in the Navy he served on the big Aircraft Carrier "Kittyhawk." 

           Hey Lord!  Daisy and I both think that, as she burned to death; that girl Joan of Arc was probably praying up to You.  I guess, over a century before the time of the Spanish Armada she led French armies against the British.  That was called the "Hundred Years War." 

           Earlier I mentioned Mr. Steve's Japanese-American family Doctor's who were a brother and sister.  I guess my boss went through a lot of pain in their San Fernando office.  But he's so grateful for how they fixed him back up a few times according to what Dais heard.

  

          DR. MARY ODA                                           DR. SAKAGUCHI / WIFE KAY

    

            I mentioned earlier how the "Routine" in the Doctor's room was for my boss to lay on his back and focus on the "Second" hand of a clock on the wall.   One time, as Dr. Sakaguchi fixed his broken arm; he "Hallucinated" about Joan of Arc.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.

           Mr. Steve told Mr. Mike he thinks that time he was thinking, if a person could be burned to death; having a bone repaired wasn't so bad.  Hey God!  My boss's family are very thankful Doctor's Oda an Sakaguchi were around.  Mr. Steve and his mom still pray for them.            

          All of a sudden, for some reason; I just thought about "Stonehenge" over there in England. Daisy saw a tv show about it which said many people now "associate" it with these modern day  "Druids."  A small group of Sparrows is flying right over Libby's Corral over there. 

   

                                                                                                    "STONEHENGE"                                                                                                                                                               

                  Well, my boss was right.  He said Stonehenge probably wasn't built by the Celts, or their Druid Priests; and that's what it says in this Encyclopedia too.  It may have been built between 3000 B.C. and 2000 B.C. and was moat likely partly used as a "sacred burial ground." 

            Stonehenge may have been used like a huge outdoor Church Mr. Steve thinks.  It says in my Encyclopedia the "prehistoric" people who built it likely used the giant "ring of stones" to "track" the movements of the Sun, Moon and Stars.  One of the Ducks is quacking.

           The giant stones at Stonehenge are called "Trilithons" because they're set up in threes, two vertical with a horizontal "lintel" stone laid on top.  Hey Blessed Mother!  I'll bet Stonehenge is like You in being able to heal sickness.  Daisy says Mr. Steve has a miniature Stonehenge.

     

                           "GIZA" PYRAMIDS                                          "TEOTIHUACAN"                                                                                                                                                                                               Daisy says Mr. Steve wonders how ancient Egyptians moved such heavy stone blocks to build things like the three Pyramids in Egypt, or the Mexican city of "Teotihuacan."  Mr. Steve's brother Sam climbed all the way to the top of a building in Teotihuacan.  I smell Creosote.

            One time my boss did artwork for an older lady from the "Central" American country of "El Salvador."  Dais says that nice lady knew about "Mayan" culture, and Mr. Steve learned a few things from her.  My Spanish Dictionary says El Salvador means "The Savior."                        

       That lady was in the living room and admired Mr. Steve's mom's painting of the Mission bells.  They discussed how the Mexican Artist Diego Rivera, known for big wall "Murals;" also made good smaller "Watercolor" paintings.  Mr. Steve's mom is also good with Watercolors.                        

                       "POPOL VUH"                        DIEGO RIVERA (1886-1957/ FRIDA KAHLO (1907-1954)    

    PAINTING BY DIEGO RIVERA                                                                                                                                                                                    

  

        That lady from El Salvador knew about Watercolors Diego Rivera made of the Mayan "Popol Vuh," which my Encyclopedia says is a "sacred text" telling Mayan stories and legends of the "Quiché Maya" people.  A Duck is quacking over there.  Now other Ducks are too.                   

            It says here Diego Rivera was from the Mexican town of "Guanajuato."  The lady went to his Museum there, so they also have information about his wife Frida Kahlo; also a very talented Painter too.  Mr. Steve named two Bluebirds who live around here Diego and Frida.                       

        That one lady liked our last name, and even said it was "un gran nombre, muy famoso;"  which means "a great name, very famous." She's also visited the Mexican city of Córdova near    the coastal city of "Veracruz;" established by Hernan Córtez in 1519.  I like my name!                  

        

      SOCRATES (470-399 B.C.)

                                                

          Dais says Mr. Steve and his father like the saying by Socrates, "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." The lady thought that was funny.  She knew a lot about "Pre-Columbian" indigenous Indian cultures, especially that place called "Teotihuacan."                       

           I guess Teotihuacan is north of Mexico City.  That lady's been to it and my boss told her his parents and brother Sam and sisters Celina and Susan went there too.  She was impressed when  she heard how Sam climbed all the way up to the top of one of the Pyramids there.              

            My Encyclopedia says Teotihuacan was "abandoned" even before the time of the Aztecs, who themselves didn't know very much about it. 

 aztec

"TEOTIHUACAN"

Boy                                                                                                                                                           airways.  It would be hard but I'd "give it a go" as Mr. Steve's British customer Phillip would say.  

     Now I know why Mr. Steve likes to learn.  I'm having fun looking things up.  I'd say it's about one in the afternoon so almost halfway done with this first book.  I wonder if we'll get a snack soon?    

     In the area in front of our house we have a few statues.  One is a Chinese warrior Monk on a little hill.  It weighs about three hundred pounds my boss says.  It took a lot of work for he and and his friend Mark to get it set up on that mound; which is only about five feet high.

      In order to get that statue of the Monk up on the hill my boss built a dirt ramp and then put a piece of what they call "plywood" on top of it.  They then rolled it up there using this thing with wheels called a "dolly. Then they took away the dirt ramp.

      Daisy and I sit next to that Monk sometimes; especially when there's a cool breeze and it's a really hot day.  We also have another smaller statue of a seated Buddha up near the front fence.  I like being near that statue too because it makes me feel kind of calm.

     I know where Britain, or England, is!  And I know where France is too.  Mr. Steve taught us that England was a powerful nation for hundreds of years but sadly, is now kind of a "shell of its former self" as they say.  France is now pretty much really weak too he says. 

      My boss thinks that even though England and France were on the winning side in the Second World War, in some ways they were the biggest losers.  In part he says, this is due to the fact that they were forced to give up most of their "Colonies" or what's called their "Empire."    

                                                     I agree with my boss that Catholics should allow females to be Priests.  Mr. Steve says he's known a number of women who could've been good Priests.  He thinks both of his Grandma's would've made pretty good what they call "spiritual advisers." 

     his mother has always "set a good example." His father says he could never have accomplished what he did without her at home doing one of the hardest of all in raising five kids.  Mr. Steve says he's known males who should never have been Priests.

     Mr. Steve thinks females can be just as good or bad as males.  I want to prove females can also be smart.  My boss says Mares decide what wild Horse herds do.  Stallions just follow.  Lions are the same.  In both cases all males do is protect the group and fight over females.

                                             I also see Joshua trees out in the desert behind our house.  It was this Mormon man named Mr. Jeremy Sr. who built three Sheds.  I like the way our Sheds look in moonlight; especially when there's what they call a "full" moon.  Daisy and I just love the Moon!

     This view makes me feel good.  Daisy thinks I have a tendency to be a bit too "excitable."  But, when I'm here I don't seem to dwell on things as much.  The desert is so calm and peaceful; 

        And, as usual, Fannie sits patiently on a lower branch and waits for her turn to eat.  She doesn't mind one bit because she knows she'll always get her share.  I'm the same way when Mr. Steve gives us our snacks.  I know Daisy goes first. 

            Daisy has taught me to watch Crows.  My boss says Crow's are smart and their actions can tell you a lot about the "rythyms,  cycles and patterns" of the desert.  Crows "adapt well" and learn quickly he says. Daisy sure wishes that she could fly like Underdog!

     Mr. Steve says Crows are "omnivores" which means they eat almost anything.  He jokes I'm our omnivore.  And up here, in a place where one mistake of judgement or timing can be fatal, Crows adjust quickly to changing situations.  

     Most Crows have short lives my boss told me and Daisy.  But I know one thing for sure.  Both  Fannie and Freddie are what they call "fixtures" around here.  And so are Blackbeard and Anne and Samson and Delilah.  It just wouldn't be the same without them. 

      Mr. Steve was told that Crows have been known to drop bones from way up high in the air onto concrete or pavement.  It's thought they're trying to crack the bone open in order to get at what's called the the "marrow" inside.  Freddie does seem smart like that.

     According to what my boss told me Crows in certain parts of the world have been seen using sticks as tools in order "fish" or "flush"out Worms and Bugs to eat.  It's only been half a day of me using this one pencil as a tool and I'm already getting pretty good at writing.

       Fanny and Freddie sure seem to play a lot.  They fly around and because we sometimes have strong winds they just spread their wings and drift up.  Daisy and I used to play a lot but; not as much lately.  Fanny and Freddie are best friends.  My boss and Daisy are my friends.    

     Like all of the other Crows in our area, Fannie and Freddie often seem to be watching us.  They even recognize our faces.  Crows have "spooky" eyes!  I agree with Daisy.  Crows seem to know what you're thinking.  Maybe they can even read our minds! 

     Hey God!  Mr. Steve told us that the Viking "Father" God is "Odin," or "Ódinn" in Norse mythology, gave human beings writing.  He lived up there in "Asgard," which sort of sounds like our Heaven or the ancient Greek's "Mount Olympus" my boss thinks.                                                                                                                                                                                                 I guess Odin had two big Ravens and two Dogs around him.  The legend says that those Dogs hunted while the Ravens went out every day to be scouts or spies.  Every night the Crows would   come back and then tell Odin everything that they had seen.                                                              

                                     My Encyclopedia says Odin's Ravens flew around and when they returned they reported to Odin on what they saw.  Mr. Steve jokes that Odin's Ravens were sort of like the Drones that are used to spy on people.  

      A friend of Mr. Steve's is named "Vic."  Until he got sick Mr. Vic made money filming things like Weddings.  He had good equipment Mr. Steve says.  At times they worked together with my boss doing the "Still" photography.  Mr. Vic even had good "Post Production" equipment. 

   NIKOLA TESLA (1856-1943)

       Tomorrow in book two I'll write about a guy named Nikola Tesla.  He was from "Serbia" and one of the things he invented was "Wireless" technology like what's used to fly Drones.  I can see that Nikola Tesla was born on July the 10th.  Mr. Steve's birthday is the 9th. 

      The other night Mr. Steve had a dream about one of the times when he and his friend Mr. Vic went to places like Griffith Park to film these small "remote control" Planes and Boats.   like the ones Nikola Tesla used to have. 

     Mr. Steve thinks the Wizard "Gandolf," Tolkien's character in The Hobbit and later Lord of the Rings, was probably based partially on Odin.  In the 1980's at Gazarri's Nightclub my boss and a friend once saw a Heavy Metal band called Odin.  

     One thing Daisy noticed is that when Fannie and Freddie are "stashing" or, hiding food for a "rainy day," they make sure no other Crows are looking.  But I see them because I have very good eyes.  I'm beginning to look more closely at things now. 

     When a Crow is mad I've noticed how they lower their heads and then what they call "glare" at you.  Daisy sometimes does that too.  That's when I just leave them alone and go somewhere else.  I hardly ever get mad at anyone; unless they're trying to steal my food.

     Dais says that when a Crow dies, the other Crows gather and mill about around the corpse and then come back to visit the spot even after the bones are gone.  This might be their "Crow Funeral" she says.  Elephants do the same thing Mr. Steve told me. 

      I learn a lot of things from Daisy and our boss.  Sometimes Mr. Steve jokingly calls Daisy my "Guidance Counselor."  I'm so lucky to have Daisy around.  Thank You Blessed Mother because I want to believe You put us together so we could guard our land.

     Daisy never totally trusts a Crow because they're so clever.  She says they could steal some of our food if we're not really careful!  She says she respects Crows but can never really totally trust them.  Deep down, I don't blame Crows for trying to steal food.

     At times I've wondered how Birds can stand up on such sharp, pointed Joshua tree leaves!  Right after I came to live here I was stabbed in the leg by that jagged little Joshua up there near the front gate.  But, I learned my lesson!  Now I "steer clear" of Joshua's.  

  There's a famous 19th century American writer named Mark Twain who my boss says.  Mr. Steve told me that his real name was Samuel Clemens but he got his "pen" name from the time    he worked as what's called a "Pilot" of a big Riverboat on the Mississippi River.                                               MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)

             Mark Twain joked; "After much deep and abiding thought, reflection and contemplation on the matter, I have come to the unequivocal and unalterable opinion that there is very little, if any, knowledge, wisdom, or educational value to be gained from the second kick of a Mule."  

      In 2001 Mr. Steve visited this city called "Saint Louis."  It's in the State of "Missouri" where Mark Twain was born.  He went to the top of this thing called the "Gateway Arch" which is on the western side of the Mississippi River; where Mark Twain was a Steamboat pilot.

         My boss says the Saint Louis arch is over six hundred feet high!  The outside is made of steel.  It's what they call a "monument" to "western expansion.   Later I'll write more about the almost religious 19th century American belief in what they call "Manifest Destiny."

     Little "Egg-Shaped" trams take you to the top of the Gateway Arch.  Mr. Steve said they kind of reminded him of a Ferris-Wheel.  When up high on a platform they have on top my boss told me he looked to the east toward the state of Illinois. 

      Looking to the east Mr. Steve says he thought about the "mound building" Indian culture which used to live over there from about the 9th to 17th centuries.  And while up high he also thought about this Spanish explorer named Hernando de Soto.         

                                                                          HERNANDO DE SOTO (1496-1542)

        From what my boss told me that man de Soto explored what is now the southeastern United States in the 16th century.  He and his men were looking for precious metals and a possible sea route to the riches of the east; which Columbus never found.  

     The place where de Soto's army landed in what is now Florida they named "Espiritu Santo" which, according to my Dictionary, means "Holy Spirit."   De Soto had soldiers from Spain and Portugal but also blacks from Africa.  And he had Horses, Cattle and Pigs too.

  One of the cultures of Native Amnericans de Soto and his men ran into was one of the last of the mound building groups called the "Mississippians."  They used to build big dirt mounds and then put temples on them or sometimes even live up on top of them.                                                         

                                                                                                  ARTWORK BY KENNETH  TOMLINSON 

           By the 19th century when Americans were migrating westward even the other Indians didn't know who had built the abandoned flat-topped platform mounds Mr. Steve told me.  Over the years many have come up with theories about who the Mound Builders were.

       My boss thinks that because a lot of people didn't really believe the Indians were capable of building such elaborate mounds, some thought the Mound Builders might have actually been descended from Vikings.  And others said their villages were Aztec colonies. 

     There was even one group who thought the Mound Builders could have been from the the lost continent of "Atlantis."  And some people, like many Mormons, have the idea they were the ten   "lost tribes" of Israel.  But Mr. Steve he thinks they were probably just Indians.

       Mr. Steve says de Soto explored what would later be called Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas.  In Georgia he encountered a mound building tribe ruled by a Queen.  And they had a few big bloody battles with some of the tribes his army met.

      Hernando de Soto was from the Spanish province of "Extremadura."  Even though both his parents were what they call "Hidalgos," which meant they were "Nobility;" they were not rich.  So de Soto was kind of greedy Mr. Steve thinks.  This made him do bad things.

     By 1539 de Soto had already fought in South America against Indians called "Incans."  As a part of that "Campaign" he killed many Inca's.  As Governor in Central America he was usually really mean to Indians and killed a lot of indigenous people; sometimes with Dogs.

              Mr. Steve told his friend Mike Fernando de Soto had some vicious Dogs.  Many were afraid of them and not just the Indians.  Sometimes, "For Fun;" the Spanish wanted their Dogs to tear apart Indians for entertainment.  Mr. Mike thinks they gambled on it.

        Even though I'm actually scheduled to do it tomorrow in book two, I feel like writing about the "Dogs of Córdoba" right now instead.  It fits in with that guy de Soto.       

      De Soto and his surviving men were the first non-Indians to actually see the west side of the Mississippi River.  But then in 1542, the same year Coronado was exploring in New Mexico and Cabrillo going up the coast of California, de Soto died of fever next to that river. 

      After he died de Soto's men then had to bury him.  And just like with Cabrillo, who died a few months later in 1543, people have "speculated" about where his grave is ever since.  Mr. Steve read that his body may have just been sunk in the Mississippi River.

     I just thought about that writer Mark Twain's old quote about the second kick of a Mule. There's another old saying our boss likes; “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!”  I'm so fortunate that neither Daisy or Mr. Steve ever try to trick me.   

      My boss told me about this 1950's musician named Chuck Berry.  He sometimes joked that a big part of life was never "letting the same Dog bite you twice."   Chuck Berry was one of the first people to turn what they call "Rhythm and Blues" into "Rock and Roll."

         My boss was born in 1955.  He told me that 1955 was important in the history of Rock and Roll.  This man named Bill Haley, with his band The Comets, did a song called "Rock Around the Clock" and Chuck Berry had his first "hit" song "Maybeline."  

     On our south side, our neighbor's have two acres "parallel" to ours.  

      Blinky's “Second in Command” is Dawn.   leader for over five years.  One of her eyes doesn't work because this mean man hit her with the buckle on his belt.  Our neighbors rescued Dawn.

      About a year ago, almost "overnight" as they say, Dawn just gave up her power and let little Blinky take over.  Blinky now tells Dawn what to do and Dawn seems perfectly happy. Dawn can seem really mean.  I think she would bite an intruder.  

                                        I kind of like Blinky!  He seems really smart.  e joke nicknames Mr. Steve has for Blinky are “Short Biggy” and "Capo di Capo;" Italian for "Boss of bosses."  I so admire Blinky because he's small but very brave.  I want to be like him.  

     As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Steve now calls Dawn “Big Shorty.”  Daisy thinks this is funny.  Dawn, just like myself, at times howls like a "Hound" Dog. 

As I wrote in chapter one, Sister Rita Joseph explained to her 6th Grade class the difference between sympathy and empathy.  can "feel sorry" for them he says. 

     But to empathize means you know how they feel because you've experienced what they're going through; or "walked in their shoes" so to speak.  Mr. Steve thinks Dawn and I empathize with each other.  When I first got here I howled more than I do now.   

    Now I howl when I'm happy and when I'm sad.  Dawn seems to only howl when she's sad.  In order to see things, just like Blackbeard the Crow who also has only one eye, Dawn has to turn her head to the side.  I wouldn't ever have to fight Dawn! 

     Mr. Steve jokes that Dawn and I could start a Dog "Blues" band.  And he says we could call ourselves "Howlin Dogs."  Sometimes I howl just for fun!  My boss told me a while back about this "Blues" musician who used the name "Howlin Wolf."  

       I like Dawn and Blinky, though they still bark at us an awful lot.  Because we're all "in the same boat” so to speak, Daisy thinks we should be nice to our neighbor's Dogs.  After all she says, they're our “natural allies” what with them living right next door.

   Mr. Steve once joked that we should play the song "Why Can't We Be Friends" by the 1970's band WAR for our neighbor's Dogs.  I've never heard that song.  Daisy says she prefers that one    song by the English band LED ZEPPELIN called "Friends."                                                                                                                                                          Mr. Steve likes that band WAR.  I guess he heard about them because their first singer came from an English band called the ANIMALS.  And the ANIMALS were one of our boss's favorite bands when he was a kid.  Daisy says he still has some of their vinyl records.

     War seems like an odd name for a band with a song about friendship.  But Mr. Steve told me there have been two bands with the name DEATH.  One was a Punk band of three brothers from Detroit and the other was a 1980's Heavy Metal band from Florida.

              My boss says what made the Detroit band called DEATH different was that not only were they playing Punk type songs before there was such a category; but they were black!  I guess the other band called DEATH, from Florida, were one of the first "Death Metal" bands.  

      band War were known for  harmonica and saxophone together.  Grandpa Córdova used to play  harmonica.  I want to hear War songs.  

       There's other band  Ireland  U2.    thinks U2's guitar player  unique.  gets unusual tones   And I guess U2 sometimes play songs called "anthems."  

         My boss says that band U2 at times do songs about "Brotherhood."  And in their later phase before they broke up so did the Beatles he told me.  Someday I want to hear more of the Beatles songs.  Daisy says they were so talented. 

     Daisy says  Steve likes many types music  one "Reggae."   Reggae started  in  "Jamaica;" which is on one of  islands  in  Caribbean Ocean.   has beautiful scenery but  people poor 

     famous Reggae musician  Bob Marley.   was mainly a singer  wrote  songs about  "fellowship."  I wonder if there's such a thing as "Doghood" or "Dogship?"  

              Wow!  In this picture of that guy Bob Marley in my Encyclopedia he has really long hair.  I've never seen anything like that on a human.  I'll bet he didn't cut his hair since he was a little baby. Oh!  Too bad he died young of cancer. 

     Daisy's right of course.  Even though Dawn and I bark at each other we should be "allies" in defending our land.  After all she says, extra eyes, ears and noses are never bad; though Dawn is blind in one eye because a man hit her eye with a belt buckle.  

     Mr. Steve jokes that Dawn  kind of like that  "Cyclops""Polythemus" from  "The Odyssey."  Oh!  Just when I'm thinking about Dawn having only one eye who should should fly bye; Blackbeard Anne 

     My neighbor Dawn is a really good guard Dog while the Cyclops from that old Greek story was sort of a mean, giant monster.  And another thing!  Polythemus had only one eye right in the middle of his forehead.  Dawn has two eyes but it's just her left eye that doesn't work. 

     Some of  Mr. Steve's favorite movies  made by  Ray Harryhausen.   was "visual effects creator" used  "technique" "Stop Motion Model Animation" to make  monsters. 

             RAY HARRYHAUSEN (1920-2013)

      Ray Harryhausen was born Los Angeles but for much of his life lived with  wife  daughter England.   Some of his movies about ancient Greece so  probably why  boss likes 

      I guess "Stop Motion," or "Dynamation,"means Ray Harryhousen made small clay models whose limbs could be moved and then filmed "one frame at a time."  My boss says this is kind of like how cartoons are made.  Boy, I'd really like to see  like that 

         in the 1940's, during World War II, Ray Harryhausen worked for the Army.  But it was in the years after the war that he became famous.  Daisy told me our boss has some of his movies on this thing called "videotape."  

     t says here that starting in the late 1950's Ray Harryhausen made three movies about a guy named "Sinbad."  Daisy says she thinks our boss has a copy of one of them; a movie called "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad."    

      Ray Harryhousen was first inspired as a boy when he saw this one "Depression era" movie called "King Kong."  The Stop Motion technique was how they made that movie.  Both Dais and I would sure like to someday see King Kong.

            "KING KONG"  (1933)

        Daisy told me heard  King Kong is about a giant Gorilla who is captured on an island and then sent back to NewYork City.  But then he escapes and they have to kill him.   And he falls in love with a pretty girl and protects her 

     Mr. Steve used to "go out to the movies" when he had girlfriends.  But now he never does.  In fact, the last movie he actually went to a Theater to see was back in 2006 when he and his Nieces Samantha and Cristina saw what they call a "re-make" of King Kong.

      It says here in this Encyclopedia that Ray Harryhausen's father helped him build his models and his mother made miniature outfits if his models needed them.  

     Two of my boss's favorite Ray Harryhausen movies are called "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Clash of the Titans."  Both stories take place back in ancient Greece.  It says here Jason and the Argonauts is about a difficult search for this thing called a "Golden Fleece."

            "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS" (1963)

          Wow!  There's an amazing picture here in this Encyclopedia that shows that guy Jason sword fighting with some skeletons!  And it looks like he's using a sword just like the one Mr. Steve has near the fireplace in the living room.  

       I'd like to go back in time to see a real Cyclops!  My boss told me Ray Harryhausen made a good Cyclops for his movies.  But I'd have to be really careful if I did go back because a Cyclops can eat you just like the way Polythemus ate some of Odysseus's Greeks in that one cave.

     Daisy says one time our boss told her about that movie called Clash of the Titans.  She said it's about this one "Demigod" named "Perseus" whose father is "Zeus."  He rides a white flying Horse called"Pegasus" and fights some scary giants called "Titans."                               "CLASH OF THE TITANS" (1981)

           This is interesting.  According to my Encyclopedia Clash of the Titans was the last movie Ray Harryhausen ever worked on.  In it that guy Perseus fights a big sea monster called a "Kraken" and later kills this girl named "Medusa;" who has Snakes for hair.  

     Wow!  It says here that Medusa's "guardian" is a two-headed Dog.  And I guess she's what they call a "Gorgon."  From what it says in this Encyclopedia if you look into Medusa's eyes you turn to stone.  But Perseus is brave and ends up killing her and cutting her head off.    

        In this Encyclopedia there's a picture of that man Ray Harryhausen.  And in it he's smiling and looks like a nice person.  But next to him is the head of the Medusa he created for Clash of the Titans.  Medusa looks like she would be so scary.  I wouldn't want to fight her.

I just heard Dawn next door barking.  Mr. Steve said the Viking God Odin had only one eye so he jokingly calls Dawn a "girl Odin."  Like Blackbeard the Crow, Dawn turns her head to the side to see.  Dawn sometimes barks at Crows I've noticed.  

     I'm sure glad our boss never hits us!  Daisy says we're lucky.  In fact, even though there are these things called "germs," he at times kisses us on top of the head.  I like when he does it but he won't let us lick his face even though Dais and I really want to do it.

     My boss has been listening to what's called "Surf" music lately.  This was a style of music from the early 1960's Daisy says.  One of his favorite Surf bands is called the BEACH BOYS; but Daisy told me he also likes this one other band called The VENTURES too. 

    The Beach Boys sing in their songs but Daisy told me the VENTURES songs are what they call "Instrumentals" with no singing.  Daisy likes this left-handed guitar player named Dick Dale who influenced later guitarists like this girl in an all girl band called The GO-GO'S.

       Mr. Doug, still surfs, even though  Mr. Steve's age.  boss once tried to surf but says it was too hard.  He plays on a "slow pitch" softball team and jokes that playing Baseball is "less risky" than surfing.  I'm afraid of deep water.

               Part of why Mr. Steve still likes Surf music like the BEACH BOYS is emotional.  It reminds him of the early and late 1960's when he was growing up.  He was born in 1955 and was starting to notice and look at things closer.  He associates moments in his life with Surf music.

     1955, the year my boss was born, was a very "eventful" year.  Rock and Roll music was just starting and the first "McDonalds" restaurant opened up back in 1955.   The boundary between Aviation and Space Flight was broken.  

      Going up in outer space is now called "Aerospace" 

      Way before they were the "Los Angeles" Dodgers Baseball team they were the "Brooklyn" Dodgers.  In 1959 the Dodgers, mainly for "financial" reasons, moved from the east coast all the way out here to the west coast.  

     The Dodgers have always been in what's called the "National" League.  Brooklyn is an area or "Burrough" of New York City.  This other team from New York called the "Yankees" were in the "American" League.  They always beat everyone in the "World Series."

       From the time World War II ended in 1945 until 1955 the Yankees always beat the Dodgers in the "World Series."  That's the biggest "Championship." But finally, in 1955, the Dodgers beat the "Rival" and "Nemesis" Yankees.  Mr. Steve was three months old when they did it.

     In my third and final book on Saturday, according to my outline, if You will it God, I plan on writing more about the year 1955.   That was the year my boss was born.  That was also the year when that place called "Disneyland" opened.  Dais and I would like to visit Disneyland! 

      "God-willing" as Grandma Trujillo used to say, someday I'd go to "Frontierland" first if I ever get "blessed" and went to Disneyland.  Daisy says she'd probably to go on that Jungle Ride before anything else.  We'd both probably like "A Small World" my boss says.                                                        In my three books one type of music I'll write about is "Rock n' Roll."  It started back in the 1950's when Mr. Steve and his brother Rock were born.  Mr. Cliff thinks Rock n' Roll's first song was a 1951 song called "Rocket 88" by the band KINGS OF RHYTHM. 

       Tomorrow in book two I'll write about this company in "Memphis," Tennessee called "Sun Records."  A lot of original Rock n' Roll songs were made there, like by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.  

         Rock n' Roll evolved and one of its versions is "Hard Rock;" which I'm going to learn more about in writing my three books.  Mr. Steve likes listening and also playing drums to all types of music.  

                                              In 1964, when he was nine years old; Mr. Steve started listening more closely to music.  He heard songs by the BEACH BOYS, BEATLES and ROLLING STONES.  I'll write about those bands in my three books.  

       To this day one of Mr. Steve's favorite band is the KINKS.  They're from England and I'll be mentioning them a few times over the course of the next three days.  The KINKS were one of my boss's first "favorite" bands.  

      Back in the 1960's two of Mr. Steve's other favorite bands were from here in Los Angeles; the DOORS and the TURTLES.  To this day he also likes the songs of this one other band from way up in northern California called CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL. 

                     In 1968 Mr. Steve's parents gave him the TURTLES first album as a Christmas gift. It was one of those vinyl records and he says he played it so much he literally "wore it out."  Daisy told me he still has a Turntable in his Bedroom even though "Records" are "obsolete."   

       Daisy says most records turn round and round at what they call thirty three "revolutions" or "rounds" per minute; or "R.P.M.'s."  A lady named Miss "Doris" died and left our boss some really old "Classical" records that turn Seventy eight rounds per minute.   

       Miss Doris lived in Sylmar when Mr. Steve lived on Hagar Street.  She knew that Mr. Steve would take good care of her old records.  Before she died Mr. Steve and his friend Grant helped that lady Miss Doris prepare her "Will" and other legal documents like that.

        Just to my left, on the other side of this old couch, are the Encyclopedia's I'm using to write my books.  But there are also those "legal research" books over there too.  I guess they're kind of obsolete because Mr. Steve looks things up using his computer on the "Internet."  

                As I've mentioned, Mr. Steve has been drawing since he was a kid.  I guess one of the first "Logos" he ever drew was "THE TURTLES" which was on the front of their first album.   Since then he's drawn many logos.  

        Mr. Steve likes Hard Rock and also what they call "Heavy Metal."  As I said this morning, Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich was in a Heavy Metal band called DRAGPIPE and they made that good album back in 2003.  I'll write more about it later.  

        Daisy says at times our boss plays drums along to KINKS songs like their 1960's  "Hard Rock" songs called "You Really Got Me" and "All the Day and All of the Night."  In my third book on Saturday I'll write about the first time he heard You Really Got Me. 

     The KINKS have had a few different logos from what Dais says.  And our boss has drawn a lot of them.  I'll talk more about the KINKS in books two and three because they've influenced my boss, and his brother Rock too.  Someday I want to hear more KINKS songs.    

                      One morning, when he was using a hose to fill up the basin around the big tree; Mr. Steve and his friend Cliff talked about the history of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.  Mr. Cliff thinks Heavy Metal started in the mid-1960's with BLUE CHEER'S song "Summertime Blues."

         I guess that band BLUE CHEER were a "Power Trio."  They only had guitar, bass and drums.  I notice in the picture of BLUE CHEER in this Encyclopedia how the drummer has two of those two big bass drums.  

        My boss discussed a band called STEPPENWOLF.   In the late 1960's they did a song called "Born to be Wild" and part of the song uses the phrase "Heavy Metal Thunder."  I want to hear their song about the Magic Carpet.  

teve used to try and play drums to Summertime Blues and still at times listens to this other British band called the WHO'S version of that song on an album called "Live at Leeds."  He likes STEPPENWOLF'S songs "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride."

      In the late 1960's when the WHO, BLUE CHEER amd STEPPENWOLF were around Mr. Steve also liked the "Punkish" Hard Rock from Detroit.  He has old albums by the MC-5, IGGY AND THE STOOGES and Ted Nugent's band the AMBOY DUKES.    

                                                                              For now the “Apex” leader of our “Pack” of two girls is Daisy!   As I said this morning in chapter one, Blinky is now the leader of our neighbor's pack of three.   It's hard to believe that Rosie over there is about the same age as Daisy.  

      Mr. Steve jokes that our Rosie who lives next door always reminds him of a song by this one band from Australia called AC/DC.  It's called "A Whole Lotta Rosie."  Dais has seen him play drums to that song.  She says the singing on that song is really good.

      Daisy told me that AC/DC song is about an overweight girl.  But our Rosie is getting skinnier and skinnier with each passing day.  Mr. Steve says at one time Rosie was probably strong but is now weak.  I know one thing, Daisy is still pretty strong.

           Wow!  Just when I was thinking about her I smell Rosie!   She must be with Blinky.  I know one thing for sure, Rosie's eyesight is a lot worse that Daisy's; even though Daisy's is also pretty bad too.  I really like old Rosie.  I'll bet she was strong when she was young!

      My boss thinks that Rosie might be part Mastiff like those Roman and Spanish Dogs of War.  She walks so slowly and carefully.  At one time Rosie must have been blacker but now has a lot of gray.  I've noticed that Daisy and Mr. Steve are also getting grayer too.

      I can tell that Rosie was bigger at one time.  I'll bet when she was young she weighed over ninety pounds; but now it's obvious she's losing weight.  Mr. Steve told me that often happens when you get old.  You shrink.  

     Mr. Steve jokes that if Rosie were a human she'd need one of those things called "Canes." He has a few canes in the house Daisy told me.  And he has this one which is secretly a sword inside she says.       When he walks out in the desert my boss carries a long pole.  Dais calls it a "Staff."  This is in case he needs to have a weapon to hit things with.  

     According to what Mr. Steve told Daisy he carries that staff because there might someday be a pack of wild Dogs living out in the desert.  But so far he's never had to use the staff.  One time when he was walking on the back dirt road he saw a Rattlesnake but just left it alone.   

      Mr. Steve likes AC/DC.  They have a lot of good songs Daisy told me.  Down there in Sylmar Mr. Steve's parents also have a Dog named Rosie.  But she's a German Shepard.  They also have a Pit Bull named "Bella."  They're good guards like Dais and myself my boss says.

      Someday I want to hear that AC/DC song.   Daisy says it's really good and I would probably like it.  In fact she told me, she thinks I would like some other AC/DC songs too. 

     Rosie next door seldom barks and has kind of a deep voice.  It's kind of hard to believe she's Daisy's age!  Even though, if you look closely at Daisy's face, she has a lot of gray too; a lot more gray than when I first got here.  Mr. Steve's beard is getting grayer too.

     Sadly, Mr. Steve says Rosie will probably die soon.  Our boss believes that  because life  so short  shouldn't waste  time.  Time  most valuable thing in life but, like most things, can be dual in nature; an "ally" or  "enemy."  

       told me that, if we work hard, there are times when it's okay to waste time and just "goof off."  But I'm not going to waste the next three days!  Boy!  It's already almost mid-day and we still haven't had a snack yet.  

     I wonder what I'll be like when I'm fourteen?  I think I'll  be like Daisy; not so impulsive or quick to react.  Mr. Steve says I tend to be what he calls "trigger happy" and can at times "jump the gun."  But, I'm working on that and feel like I'm making real progress.

                                                    Ah! I smell our neighbors green cactus.  I wrote earlier about how, all along the south fence that divides our land from our neighbors property; our neighbors grow the green cactus on their side.  Green cactus have sharp needles so I give them a “Wide Berth” so to speak.     

        Watching Mr. Steve use tweezers to pull a Cactus needle from Daisy's nose one time made me realize I prefer to learn what not to do by observing other's mistakes.  It really hurt having the needle removed but Dais was so brave.  She was sort of mad at herself. 

        I know one thing for sure, Daisy won't make the mistake of of going too close to the cactus.  As Mark Twain would say, she learns from the Mule's first kick.  Imagining Daisy's scent makes me look forward to taking a break after Part Two, or chapter eight.  I can't wait!
                                                                                           For some reason the image of Daisy licking her paws so her arthritis won't hurt as much popped into my head.  I'd say it's almost one thirty judging by the Sun and how the shadows are now leaning away from me over here on Elvira.  

        Hey God!  Daisy thought, because of her arthritis; it was kind of funny when our boss said a musician named Neil Young did a song called "Rust Never Sleeps."  She thinks gravity, like rust, also never rests.  Ultimately she says, "Mother Nature" will always win.

         My boss and Mr. Randy once talked about that guy Neil Young.  I guess he was originally from Canada but now lives with his family here in California.  I've only heard one Neil Young song called "Cinnamon Girl" but it was good.  It has good guitar in it.  

        From what Mr. Steve and his friend Randy said, Neil Young has been in some good bands.  One was a Country Rock group called CRAZY HORSE.   Tomorrow in book two I'll write about the real Lakota Indian Crazy Horse when I look up "Custer's Last Stand."

        Some time back Mr. Steve read that Neil Young collects miniature Trains as what they call a "Hobby."  He thought of a friend of his named Tim.  Earlier this morning I mentioned how Tim is a good Auto and Boat Mechanic.  

       When they were growing up on the same neighborhood in Sylmar, Tim's mother let him turn a whole Bedroom into a miniature town for Trains.  .

      What Tim did with that room was amazing my boss told me.  He had not only trains but also mountains and tunnels and many other things.  Mr. Steve says, after reading that one magazine article he thinks Neil Young would probably have been really impressed.

     I'm still thinking about Daisy.  She's my best friend and like an older sister to me now.  She's the one who encourages me to never stop learning new things.  And it was Daisy who gave me the idea to write my three books.  I'll bet she's also starting to get hungry too.                                        

     I'll bet Daisy's in the garage or laying on our cement driveway.   I wonder if she just heard what I did.  Mr. Steve is probably working in his office.  Heathcliff usually doesn't crow during the day.  I wonder when our boss will give us our first snack of the  day? 

     To impress our boss, Daisy's thinking about learning to play the game of "Chess."  I think one reason is because she found out that this man from France named Napoleon Bonaparte played Chess and knows our boss admires that guy "Napoleon."     

      Daisy knows that once our boss reads this first book he'll know she wants to learn how to play chess.  But she doesn't yet want me to let our boss know that she's thinking about learning Chess  and "swore me to silence" for "the time being" as they say. 

      I know Mr. Steve could teach Daisy how to play Chess.  His told me that his father is a good Chess player.  And so are are some of his Nephews too.  My boss has a really nice Chess set on the table which is in the den area of the house.  

      Mr. Steve jokes that if Daisy were in the military she'd probably be a good what they call "Field Commander;" both "strategically" and "tactically."  That's because Daisy is really good at seeing the overall "forest" and the particular "trees" too my boss says. 

      There's no doubt about it.  Daisy, because she's got so many years of experience behind her, is very good at "situational awareness" and "adjusting on the fly" as they say.  She' been teaching me to do that too but sometimes I still feel a bit panicky in new situations. 

      I'm working on staying calm and being around my boss and Daisy is "rubbing off" on me as they say.  Sometimes I bark and carry on; acting like I'm so brave. But I'm just masking my fear by "putting on a false front." But, I really would fight hard if I had to.

       just as  Hitler was Austrian not German,  Napoleon was Italian not French.   both ended up trying to conquer world  

       boss thinks Napoleon "exploited"  "chaos"  "upheaval"  to crown himself "Emperor"  He did well in  military so then  in position to  "take advantage" of  situation for  own political purposes. 

                                              Napoleon born  island in Mediterranean Sea  "Corsica."   for a long time Corsica belonged to  "City-State" Genoa, where  Columbus  said to have been from.  

     island of Corsica  belonged to Genoa from the 13th But then in  mid-18th  France conquered it.  So Napoleon probably spoke Italian and French.  

      Mr. Steve admires Napoleon even though he knows, like most people, at times he was good and bad.  Napoleon tried to conquer Spain early in the 19th century.  He put his own brother in charge there and the French killed many Spanish people.    

      Oh!  This is interesting.  It says here in this Encyclopedia that the term "Guerrilla War" was first "coined" in Spain during the time when Napoleon's French soldiers were fighting against the Spanish;" who used "hit and run" tactics.  In Spanish "guerra" means "war."

     Yup!  Mr. Steve was right.  Since  French Revolution which brought Napoleon into power, France's "motto"  "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité."  "Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood" 

    I feel like learning about the French Revolution.  Mr. Steve thinks  important event. 

       the French Revolution started  1789  lasted  ten years.  a time of tremendous "societal upheaval" Thousands of people died    King  kicked out of power his head  cut off.

      one of the the main reasons why  the French people rose up against their King Louis XVI was because they were starving.  the government was almost out of money because they helped us win the American Revolution.  So they raised taxes.

    LOUIS XVI (1754-1793)

                                                                                           PAINTING BY JOSEPH SIFFRED DUPLESSIS

  French people "overthrew" their "Bourbon" King.   that "they had nothing to lose."  And a few months       later  killed  wife                                                            

     one of the main leaders of the revolutionaries was this one man named Maximilien Robespierre. His group  "Jacobins" wore  red hats.  Robespierre   Lawyer "associated" with  "Reign of Terror."                                                                                                                                                                                                         MAXIMILIEN ROBESPIERRE (1758-1794)

  

   during  Reign of Terror  Robespierre used  anger of poor against e "upper class."    In  two years, 1793  1794, ten thousand "executed" or "put to death" 

     During  French Revolution  people  killed  by  machine  "Guillotine."  until then  used to hang  Guillotine  made  of wood  has sharp blade  falls  cuts off  head 

                                                                                            PAINTING BY GEORG HEINRICH SIEVEKING

         picture  shows  man "displaying"  "decapitated" head  Louis XVI to  cheering crowd.    Ironically,  King Louis  gave permission  make  Guillotine "official execution device" 

      I feel like writing about  1973, when  in 12th his friend Alex played  album  on Alex's   good Stereo.  It was by  ALICE COOPER.

                                                                            ALICE COOPER a "Shock Rock" band  came to LA  1960's from Arizona.   only  singer's name  Alice but  wasn't  real name.  gotname ALICE COOPER from  Wee Gee Board.

     ALICE COOPER album  Alex played  called "Killer" had  song "Halo of Flies"  Mr. Steve  play on drums.  

      during   concert ALICE COOPER used Guillotine  cut off head of  doll.   held up  "cut-off"  like  executioner French Revolution.

      back to  French Revolution. just  felt like writing about  ALICE COOPER.   write about them again Shock Rock.  

     French Revolution  "bloody affair" Mr. Steve would  say  many  simply like violence but need to "justify"   Dictionary says  "rationalize"  to "make an excuse" 

      in human history this pattern of people liking violence   boss says revenge "Retribution" often  used as reasons to kill . "Get even" huge

     Napoleon,  tried conquer Europe  Russia under  ideas liberty, equality  brotherhood.  Mr. Steve says many times one group tries to "impose"  it's "obviously" superior culture on obviously inferior 

      King Louis XVI's wife  not French  "Austrian"  like  Hitler  She was from  family "Hapsburgs." picture in  Encyclopedia shows how pretty she was.  

                                                              Daisy and I  have secrets, like  my books.   would never "spill the beans" or "let the Cat out of the bag" to  boss about Daisy thinking about learning to play Chess.  I wonder where those  old sayings came from?  

     someday  Steve will read my  books  then Daisy's secret  out so she'll have to decide before then about learning to play Chess. 

      I 'm  "trustworthy."  So is Dais.  Neither  would  betray  trust.   hope Daisy doesn't "Chicken out" learning Chess.  Our boss will be  proud me too  

    Napoleon being  great Chess player likely helped  in war;  strategically tactically.   was  great "Military Commander" like Alexander        Caesar.  Some think  had a photographic memory just like I do.                                                                                                NAPOLEON BONAPARTE (1769-1821)

PAINTING BY JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID

        Daisy's never "hasty"  so would probably be good Chess player like Napoleon.  thinks "in advance"   I'm  trying to learn  to think  about things before I do 

    Chess set on  table in  den nearliving room.   "Checkers"  more interesting to me   might learn to play it.  But that's not for sure   I'm  a Chicken  sometimes.

      In  same book that  read about Queen Elizabeth's dying words,  boss read   last words Napoleon before  "expired" was  name of  wife Josephine.  expired  means  died.

   1799 Napoleon conquered Egypt.   brought  Scientists  some discovered  rock with writing     found  in  "Rosetta" became known as the "Rosetta Stone."                                                                                                                         Rosetta  three sections  My  books also three parts   probably written  196 B.C.  

       areas with  "inscriptions"  chiseled in  surface.  Mr. Steve has   "chisels."  

      first section  Rosetta  Greek second "Demotic"third  "hieroglyphs."   scholars  knew Greek Demotic but no one knew  "decypher"  hieroglyphs.

              BATTLE OF THE NILE (1801)                                       LORD NELSON (1758-1805)

         1801, after Napoleon's troops had beaten  Egyptians British  Admiral Lord Nelson,   destroying  French Ships "Alexandria;"  named after Alexander  

     by catching  by surprise  sinking  Ships Napoleon  "stranded"   Naval "engagement"  "Battle of the Nile"  though  actually  off  Mediterranean coast.

     As  "spoils of war"  Lord Nelson "took possession"   Rosetta  shipped   England.  sat   few years no one could read  "enigma" 

                                                     JEAN FRANCOIS CHAMPOLLION (1790-1832)

       wasn't until 1822  Rosetta "translated."  "ironically"   from France Jean Francois Champollion  first able to read  hieroglyphs. 

     when Champollion "decyphered" Rosetta  was  "aha"  "Eureka" moment  "Egyptology."  

       Greek Dictionary  Eureka  "I've found it."    Archimedes yelled

       Champollion could read ancient Greek Demotic  each    section said  same thing;  could compare .   first  since ancient times who knew what Ankh represented.                                                                                                                      saw in cloud formation looked  like  Ankh.   reminded  of  Constantine  312 A.D

        4th century "Battle of the Milvian Bridge" outside  Rome. 

     Roman Empire  four sections 4th century   One   Italy  eastern part's  city  "Byzantium"   entrance "Black Sea." 

      four parts  fighting  312   met outsideRome.    Constantine "The Great," had  dream.

    CONSTANTINE (272-337 A.D.)  

Constantine  saw  Christian symbol .   letter "P" with  "X" through it.