Book 1 Chapter 7

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               I                                                             

                                       COGNITO, ERGO; SUM /  WHY ME?                                                                                                   (Book 1 / Chapter 7)                                                 

                                                                     12:30                                                                       

 

           

                                                                                                       HIGH SKY                                                                                  

                

               Wow!  This is chapter seven already so the saying "Time goes fast when you're having fun" is true.  Mr. Steve's mom was amused when she heard, "Yard by yard life can be hard, inch by inch and life is a cinch."  Boy!  The clouds up there in the sky are so pretty right now.

              Because she's my lookout today, Daisy's laying below Mr. Steve's office window; or on the driveway in front of our garage.  She won't rest in her area near the utility room, so won't get to be with her favorite Barney the Dinosaur blanket.  Mr. Steve hasn't come out yet.   

              On my first big break Daisy told me the Arthritis in her paws feels really good today, which she takes as a good sign.  As usual, she sat in the Sun and licked them this morning; as she listens and smells things to see what's going on.  She's slowly going blind little by little.

                

     DAISY / MAGGIE CÓRDOVA      

                                         

           Boy!  It's so unbelievable how people figured out how to make blankets and clothes.  I've wondered if someone's ever thought about making clothes for us Dogs, because I know I'd sure wear them.  Oh!  If not, we could be the first ones to do it; and maybe even make money.     

           I love my blankets Barry, Robin and Maurice that Mr. Chris got for me, and would hate to pick a favorite.  Once a month Mr. Steve takes them into that utility room, to wash and dry them in those two astounding machines.  Daffy's now quacking over there next door.

           Andy the Squirrel just came back in from the back field by using the right vertical slot on the side of the gate.  Now he's running over to the entrance of he and Helen's burrow, to take up position as guard.  Now Helen can go back down in there with their new Spring babies.  

                                                                            

                                                                    WATER SKIING SQUIRREL "TWIGGY"

PHOTO BY LOU ANN BEST

   

       Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with one of his Parts Manager customers in Georgia.  That guy told him about a really talented girl Squirrel from Florida who  can "Water Ski."  He said his wife and three daughters really do think Twiggy is so cute.              

            The Parts Manager said Twiggy the Squirrel even has a little "Life Vest."  Boy!  It would be so great to be as skillful as her in doing such a scary thing.  Hey!  Maybe, I could even learn to either snow or water ski; so I could make some money by charging everyone to see me do it?        

                   Boy!  I'm "Getting the Hang" of holding and using pencils to write in all these notebooks, and can tell I'm getting pretty good at writing; because of how much work I've done in only six hours.  I'll go up front to again visit Dais after finishing this seventh chapter.  I can't wait!

ROBIN

                Oh!  I see a Robin, which Daisy says are often the first Birds you see at Winter's end so that's a good sign.  Robins sound so cheerful when they sing but Daisy says they're actually just warning other Birds to stay out of their area.  I haven't seen "Cleo" and "Leo" this year.

                Earlier I wrote about how my boss chooses to think of the Greek word "Rhêma," which is used in the New Testament to mean "The Living Word;" as being associated with music.  I kind of think of Bird's singing, or Heathcliff's crowing too; as making me feel pretty good too. 

              Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone some think of the word Rhêma as having to do with any "spiritual interaction through sound."  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel ran out into the back desert.  And He zoomed right through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate.

        

                                                           MR. RALPH / SON RORY

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

 

                Hey God!  I guess my boss and Mr. Ralph talked about how some think Rhêma is any way, like through dreams or visions; You use to reveal Your will.  Daisy one time heard Mr. Steve use the phrase "divine illumination."   That Robin just flew away and went out into the desert. 

              Boy!  I'm so tempted to hide all of my materials and run up to the front yard to tell Daisy about seeing the Robin.  But, I'd better just wait and do it after I finish this chapter; or the end of Part Two of this first book.  Daisy would want me to be disciplined and I will be.

               I've noticed Robins are often the last Birds you hear singing just before the Sun goes down at night during Summer.  Seeing that first Robin of the year makes me wonder when I'll see Cleo and Leo.  Boy Robins like Leo have darker colored heads compared to all the girl Robins.

           

                                               ROBIN / BATMAN (TV SERIES / 1960'S)      

      

              Someday, when I overcome my fear of enclosed places; I can see an amazing tv show about a man who has the powers of a Bat.  Daisy's seen it a few times and says "Batman" is a really good fighter against all of the different bad guys.  And so is his Assistant named "Robin." 

         Daisy heard Miss Susan tell Mr. Steve one time she read Batman's "Sidekick" was named after Robin Hood, who I'll find out about when I write about the Christian "Crusades" of the Middle Ages.  Over the years Mr. Steve did line drawings of many "Superhero" logos.

         I guess, in the Magazine article Miss Susan read about Batman; it said other people say Robin's mom named him after Robin Birds because he was born on the first day of Spring. Miss Susan's so smart.  I can really tell she knows a lot about Birds and other things like that. 

          

                         CHER                                  CATWOMAN (TV SERIES / 1960'S)  

   

                   Ah!  Our neighbor's Cat Cher, with Andy watching her closely; just jogged bye with a little Mouse hanging out of her mouth.  That reminds me of how Daisy told me about this girl called "Catwoman," who has the reflexes of a Cat in the Batman stories.  I smell Andy.

             Daisy says that girl Catwoman is one of those "Burglers" in the city where they live  called "Gotham City."  So, Batman tries to catch her and make her go to jail; but sometimes he kind of likes her in what Mr. Dave called a "Love-Hate" relationship.  Dawn's barking.   

             I guess, Catwoman has long Cat-type claw fingernails, and is really good at using one of those bullwhips like the one Dais tells me Mr. Steve has in his office.  With the senses and speed of a Cat, she even sometimes purrs and growls just like Cher.   Boy!  I'd like to see that.   

                                                                

                                    CATWOMAN             KATHY LONG                CATWOMAN   

(1992)   

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA       

   

                One time my boss and Mr. Gary the Barber over in San Fernando talked about a girl "Kickboxer" named Kathy Long.  Daisy heard how, in the movie they made about Batman she coached; and did stunts for the girl who played the Catwoman.  Andy's sniffing the air.

             In the early 1990's, down at the "Hollywood Palladium;" I guess Mr. Steve took pictures of Kathy Long.  His friend Mr. Blinky was doing the tv "Color Commentary" for the fights that night.  Kathy Long eventually became a "Champion" five times during her career.

            Mr. Ralph one time told my boss Kathy Long was mainly a Kickboxer but, "had it been necessary;" was also "pretty good" at what they call "Grappling;" or wrestling too.  Mr. Steve says she threw "powerful" punches and kicks.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.

      

                SELENA QUINTENILLA (1971-1995)           CELINA CÓRDOVA (1962-2004)   

       

              I remember that beautiful morning when, as he watered the Mulberry trees; Mr. Steve and his parents talked about a "Tejano" Singer named "Selena."  I guess, in the 1992 Batman movie; Catwoman's real first name was also Selena too.  Speedy Gonzalez ran past.

             Mr. Steve told his parents he's at times had dreams where he and his sister "Celina," who liked Selena's songs; hug.  Many people called Grandma Córdova "Sally," but her actual first name was "Escelina."   Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; flew bye.    

             One of Mr. Dave's old Motorcycle Shop customers in Texas told him some people "at first didn't approve" of Selena doing Tejano style music.  It's seen as music mainly for the men.  Miss Susan said on that one morning how "loves the sound" of Robin Birds singing.   

                       

ROBIN'S NEST  

     

                  Miss Susan said Robins often have three blue eggs, which I'd like to see because blue is my all time favorite color.  Miss Susan says some people eat Robins.  I just glanced up and see Libby over there walking around very slowly near the far back east fence of her Corral.       

                Dais saw a boy Robin giving a girl Robin a worm right out of his mouth.  Mr. Phillip from Wales said Robins are England's "National" Bird, and they're the "State" Bird of Connecticut; where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with her sons Dalton and Austin.  Heathcliff crowed.

            Last night, as we went over my outlines; Daisy and I saw the clear night sky and thought about what Dais heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph on the phone that time.  He said "some Solar Systems have more than just one Sun" the way we do.  I smell Theodora's Creosote bush.

       

                     OUR "UNIVERSE"                                              OUR "GALAXY"                            

  

                Hey God!  Last night the sky seemed brighter than usual, maybe because it's Spring; and Daisy and I feel like a tiny part of the giant world You created.  I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy "it's thought" the Universe is "about" fourteen billion years old.  I smell some Mesquite.

           I just used my Encyclopedia to look up what are called "Binary Star Systems."  And that's when a Solar System has not just one but two Stars that "Revolve" or circle around each other.  Wow!  I'd sure like to see what that would look like on the morning and evening horizons.         

             Looking to the east at the desert behind Manny, Moe and Jack the Sheds makes me think of how weird it would be to see two Suns up there in the sky.  Boy!  I can't imagine it getting even hotter than it gets up here in Summer.  That's when you would need even more water.

  

                                                         "BINARY" STAR SYSTEM

ARTWORK BY TOD STROHMAYER         

       

               Well,  Mr. Steve was right because my Encyclopedia says what he told Mr. Randy.  There are a few different types of Binary Star Systems.  Sometimes, over "millions" of years; the two Suns even end up running right into each other.  Max the Hummingbird just whizzed bye.

           It says here, when one of the two Sun's in a Binary System is "brighter" it's called the "primary" Star; the "dimmer" Sun is "secondary."  Hey!  Sports teams "Color Schemes" are also described in that way too.  I can smell that clump of Joshua trees near Libby's Corral.     

          Dais heard, we may be in a Binary Star System but can't tell from Earth.  If you could see the Solar System from far away, through a "detached perspective;" then we'd know.  Mr. Grant told my boss some people say that giant gas Planet "Jupiter" could've been a Star once.   

  

                                                    GALILEO GALILEI (1564-1642)

    PAINTING BY JUSTUS SUSTERMANS

               Throughout my three books I'll learn about science and things like that.  So one person who's important was that Italian man from "Pisa," Italy Galileo Galilei; or just "Galileo" for short.  He lived during the second half of the 16th century, and then the early 1600's too.

            My Encyclopedia calls Galileo the "Father of observable astronomy, modern physics and scientific method;" his name "associated" with the "Laws of Motion."  Daisy saw this tv show about him.   Two of the Pigeons flew over top of the house and are going into the back desert.

            I guess that guy Galileo made "Telescopes," and in 1617; was the first person to actually see a Binary Star System.  Daisy says Mr. Steve and his father read a good book about Galileo, and I guess it's also about his daughter who was a Nun in a Convent.  She helped him a lot.

      

    "ORION"                             "GIZA" PLATEAU                      "ORION'S BELT"

          

                Wow!  My Encyclopedia says some Solar Systems have three Suns.  All of a sudden I just thought of how the Constellation "Orion" has three Stars in it's "Belt."  Mr. Steve told his mom some think the three pyramids in "Giza" Egypt were built "in the pattern of" Orion's belt.  

               It says here how Galileo "laid the foundations" for the Scientists who came later. With his telescope he could see or "observe" how, all the Planets in our Solar System "Revolve" around the Sun; rather than the other way around.  A Train just whistled faintly over to my left.

               Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled right now to write about a Star called "Nemesis" until later, I can mention it now too.  I guess some Scientists think, beyond even "Pluto" in our "Solar System;" there just might be a second Sun way, way, way out there.
                  

          "BINARY" STAR SYSTEM                          MASS EXTINCTION (65 MILLION B.C.)

          

               Daisy heard Mr. Steve say some think that second, or "Companion" Star called Nemesis; might be out there.  And, the gravity of both Sun's pulling on each other may be effecting us on the Earth.  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just zoomed bye right in front of the three Sheds.

           Mr. Steve read how some Scientists think, about every 27 million years or so; a big giant "Asteroid" or "Meteor" might fly in and hit Earth.  Daisy says a man on this tv show said there have been at least five "Extinction Events" in Earth's history.  I smell some Mesquite.      

            I guess an Asteroid is kind of like a really small Planet that spins around our Sun here in this Solar System.  And a Meteor is an even smaller piece of rock.  65 million years ago a meteor flew down and slammed into "Chicxulub," located on the Mexican "Yucatán" peninsula.  

                      

        "TUNGUSKA"         

       ("SIBERIA," RUSSIA / 1908)      

              

           Wow!  This photo in my Encyclopedia shows how, in 1908; that meteor flew in and blew up over "Tunguska" in Siberia.  The caption says, even though it wasn't an extinction event; the gigantic explosion "flattened 80 million Russian trees."  A Crow cawed out in the desert.               

            That six mile wide meteor hit the Earth 65 million years ago, which killed off most of the Dinosaurs except some Birds.  I guess, some think that Sun Nemesis "may be" what's called a      "Secondary Dwarf Star."  I smell the new baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.        

          Even though I'm not scheduled to write about "Quasars" right now, I feel like learning about them.  My Encyclopedia says what my boss told Mr. Randy that one morning.  Quasars so far are the "brightest," most what they call "luminous;" things in the whole entire Universe.       

                     

                                                                        "QUASAR" 

                                                                                                                                         ARTWORK BY MARENFELD    

              

              It says here a Quasar is a "contraction" of a "quasi-stellar."  Wow!  The caption below this painting of a Quasar says, they're "super massive black holes surrounded by gas;" some even a "billion" times bigger than our Sun.  I'll learn about those "Black Holes" in my books.   

               The "Radio Sources" of Quasars are powerful, but were only discovered in 1963.  I guess, as gas "falls" into the Black Hole; "tremendous amounts of energy is released as radiation."  In the night sky a Star much closer to us down here looks equal in size to a far away Quasar.

          One time Daisy and that other Dog Millie were in Mr. Steve's bedroom, and saw a tv show about that man from England Stephen Hawking; who I've mentioned before.  According to that show he knows a lot about things like Quasars.  A flock of Birds is flying bye right now.

                   

                                               STEPEHN HAWKING WITH FAMILY

                                                                                              PHOTO BY JONATHAN HORDLE   

         

        I guess Stephen Hawking thinks people are really "destructive," and worries man might destroy itself through "Nuclear War," a "Genetically Engineered Virus;" or possibly a future      "Superhuman able to Design its own Evolution."  He also expects another possible Asteroid.        

          Dais told me how Stephen Hawking, who has that unique voice because of his disease; also mentioned "Global Warming" and "Artificial Intelligence" too.  Like Martin Luther King, the    Civil Rights leader, he doesn't trust "Capitalism" to help the poor.  I can smell Libby.                   

       Mr. Steve told his father Mr. Dave in New Mexico agrees with Stephen Hawking.  He also thinks it may turn out mankind is "it's worst enemy," destroying Earth by not "treating it as a    sacred thing;" but something to be "exploited for money."  Mr. Dave is a "Hupa" Indian.             

   

"BLACK HOLE"

            I'm not scheduled to learn about those Black Holes now, but can just quickly mention a few things about them now too.  Daisy heard Stephen Hawking has studied Black Holes.  Ah!  I    heard Crows yelling and it turns out it's Blackbeard and Anne Bonny chasing another Crow.       

            My Encyclopedia calls Black Holes, "regions of spacetime where gravity is so strong not even light can escape its irresistible pull."  Dais heard anything that gets too close to it is sucked  in, and after that no one knows what happens to the thing.  Hey!  Maybe you time travel?           

           Some Black Holes are tiny, the size of a grain of sand; others so gigantic a few Scientists joke our entire Galaxy "may be inside a giant Black Hole and we'd never know it."  Anyway, I'll come back to this subject over the next three days.  And I'll learn about "Spacetime" too.             

"VAPOR" TRAIL   

   

           There's a slowly extending vapor trail up there in the now high blue early afternoon sky.  Seeing it from way down here on the Patio for some reason makes me feel good and appreciate    how lucky I am.  Boy!  Thank you so much for being such a good comfortable couch Elvira.         

          I'd say it's about one thirty in the afternoon judging by where the Sun is now, just above and on the other side of the house; and how the shadows have begun to lean away from me over  here.  Andy's sniffing the air in guarding he and Helen's burrow and their new Spring babies.      

            Oh!  I smell Libby, which makes me think of Molly the Mule who died.  I guess a "Mule" is when a boy "Donkey" makes a baby with a girl Horse like Libby over there.   Miss Susan told my boss, when a girl Donkey has a baby through a boy Horse; then it's called a "Hinney."                                               

"MOLLY" ("LIBBY" BEHIND)       

              

        Boy God, too bad we have to die like Molly did!  Mollie and Libby got along and were best friends like Daisy and I are.  The other night I had a dream about how, on really hot days; they    would often lay right next to each other in the shade to "Conserve" some of their energy.              

       Mollie and Libby, who at times "Groomed" each other with their teeth; laid totally still on their sides but occasionally an ear would twitch to shoo away a Fly.  Looking to my right I can't  see any pesky Flies yet over there in Libby's Corral.  Daisy and I both really hate all Flies.            

           I just thought of when Molly kicked the Corral fence really hard when that one Mountain Lion went bye out there on Primavera Road.  It was a dark night.  Mr. Steve was told of a funny quote  "Supposedly" made by that one 19th century American Writer named Mark Twain.                                                                            

   MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)     

                                                    

       That supposed quote is, "After much deep thought, contemplation and reflection on the matter, I have come to absolute, 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."         

         I agree with that saying and want to learn from all my mistakes.  Dais in her old age also believes making mistakes is normal, as long as you admit them; and then learning from them in changing things for the better.  Boy!  I sure wish I could smell Molly at least one more time.          

         Writing about Mark Twain makes me think of an American Writer who I heard Mr. Steve discuss with Mr. Randy.  His name is Charles Portis, and he's from the State of "Arkansas where Mr. Randy lived for a while.  Mr. Mark in Hawaii's parents are also from Arkansas too.                                            

     CHARLES PORTIS

         Daisy told me about a good movie based on a Charles Portis' book called "True Grit."  In that movie a girl wants to get revenge on a man who killed her father, and  I guess the guy who    helps her wears one of those black "Eye Patch's."  Samson and Delilah just flew bye.                 

      In my three what I now know will be long books; I'll find out about "Western" themed things.  I noticed how Mr. Randy said, "as good as the True Grit movie was;" the Charles Portis book "was even better."  Boy!  Blinky has a really appealing way that he smells sometimes.          

        My boss told Mr. Randy his customer in "Little Rock" Arkansas told him Charles Portis, like his dad; was in the Marines too.  And, for a few years; Charles Portis lived in what they call  a "Fishing Shack."  The Parts Manager said he doesn't ever like to travel "out of state."                                           

            "TRUE GRIT"               

        

       Someday, when I get over my fear of enclosed areas; I really want to see that movie True Grit.  Dais says it's good, and the Actor who played the part of the man who helped the girl hunt down her dad's murderer was John Wayne.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just flew bye.               

         Daisy says there was a second True Grit movie which she's never seen, but in a picture she saw the man who helps the girl kind of resembles how Mr. Steve looks now.  Except of course he  doesn't need to have a black eyepatch.  I could see Blackbeard's empty white eye socket.               

        Mr. Steve also has a gray goatee too, and his hair is currently about as long as the man in the second True Grit movie Dais told me.  Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Randy, the way he's losing     hair on top of his head; "pretty soon" he'll look like a Franciscan Monk.  Heathcliff crowed.                                 

"HEATHCLIFF II"

  

         Oh!  What a coincidence that, as I heard Heathcliff; I remember how Dais said the man who helps the girl in True Grit is named "Rooster."  My left nostril just picked up the scent of      Theodora's Creosote bush over there near Jack the big Shed.  I feel really good right now.            

       Mr. Steve's Arkansas customer said Charles Portis is now "unknown."  My boss's mom thinks often an Artist; like that Painter Vincent van Gogh for example; isn't "appreciated" until after they're "dead and gone."  I'm still thinking about Donkeys, and Mules like Molly.               

          I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's brother Sam, his wife Yolanda and their three kids; live in "Littlerock" which is about twenty seven miles to the west of us here in Piñon Hills.  I notice that their town is spelled as one word unlike the city in Arkansas which is two separate words.                                                               

      "THE OLD PROSPECTOR"

        PAINTING BY ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ

        

            One time this couple from "Barstow," who knew about Donkeys and Mules; came over to our house.  The wife seemed smart and used the word "resilience" to describe California's wild Donkey's.  Barstow used to be named "Jacob," just like Mr. Steve's Nephew back in Texas.          

        Thinking of Mark Twain's long quote makes me remember when Daisy told me to never ever go behind a Donkey or Mule.  Molly had a hard back kick.  She kicked the fence to warn        the Mountain Lion on Primavera Road it better not try to kill her and Libby for food.                 

         My Dictionary says a "nuisance" is, "An act, thing or person causing trouble" or "being annoying."  That's what some people call Donkeys and I call Flies.  Boy!  There's no way I could ever have been able to spell nuisance without this really helpful good English Dictionary.                                                

      GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732-1799)

                      

         I guess George Washington the first American President "Bred" Mules, and in 2008 Mr. Steve's family visited his "Virginia" Farm "Mount Vernon."  Daisy, who says "chew lightly and never bite down too hard;" says a tv show said he had bad teeth.  Heathcliff just crowed.             

         My Encyclopedia says, in 1784 Spain's King Charles III gave George Washington two boy Donkeys called "Jacks."  One died in the Ship on the way over here to America, but the other one survived and later "fathered" some baby Mules.  Mules can't have any babies I guess.            

         Oh!  George Washington was born on February 22nd, and my list of dates says Mr. Steve's father's birthday is on the 23rd.  Mr. Steve's Nephew Dalton and his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Mr. Rich, who was in that band DRAGPIPE; were also born in February too.   I smell Sage.                    

  GRANDPA / GRANDMA CÓRDOVA           STEPHANIE / RICH                     AUSTIN/ SUSAN /DALTON                   

                       

         Hey God!  As You know, Mr. Steve's Grandma Córdova was born on February the 24th so people sometimes joked how You sent her a birthday present when she had my boss's father.  He was her first child of what would be five kids total.  I just picked up Libby's scent right now.        

     I guess Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Miss Harriet was born on February 19th, and his sister Susan in Connecticut's birthday is March 16th.  So, in "Astrology" that makes them and his dad and Grandmother "Pisces."  Boy! Sometimes I sure do wish I knew what "Sign" I am.                 

       Mr. Steve saw the Mountain Lion's big tracks out there in the dirt on Primavera Road the next morning.  Molly kicking the fence worked because the Mountain Lion "Took the Hint" and kept on going.  Daisy one time told me about this good PANTERA song called "Walk."                                           

  MOUNTAIN LION

                          

       You never see a Mountain Lion in daytime but Miss Susan thinks, because we're in a big drought; Coyotes and Mountain Lions "take chances."  The man and his wife from Barstow told my boss about "Fort Irwin," up there near where they live.  Dawn's barking over there.              

           Daisy heard how, every Spring this man from Fort Irwin comes down here to Phelan to do a "Presentation" about Insects, Reptiles and Birds who live in the "Mohave" Desert.  Mr. Steve  and Mr. Randy have gone to some of them.  Cher the Cat slinked bye and went under Moe.          

           The man from Fort Irwin brings with him actual Insects and things like that.  He even has a Hawk and an Owl who sit calmly on wooden perches.  He shows everyone Snakes who live in    our area, such as "Rattle" Snakes, "Garter" Snakes and "Gopher" Snakes just like Goliath.             

                OWL                                      SCORPION                                            HAWK            

     

          I heard my boss tell Miss Susan how the man from Fort Irwin says the Scorpions who live in our area are big, but "not as aggressive" like the ones who live near the "Colorado River."      I'm  sort of afraid of Scorpions.  I'm glad that you hardly ever see them except at night.              

        The man from Barstow's wife said it was the Spanish, after Christopher Columbus's four "voyages of discovery;" who first brought Donkeys here to the "New World" in the late 1400's.    Cher came out from under Moe.  She's now jogging around the northeast corner of the house.     

         After doing all the hard work for about four centuries, Donkeys and Mules were replaced by Trucks and Cars in the 20th century.  So, many of them were just simply abandoned to "Fend for Themselves" like I was by my first owner too.  That's what the lady from Barstow said.                                         

2014 LINCOLN "NAVIGATOR"

    

         Mentioning Columbus makes me remember how that couple from Barstow came to our house in a Car called a "Navigator."  Later, Dais told me those Cars are called "Sports Utility      Vehicles;" or just "S.U.V." for short.  Of course, Daisy really liked its shiny red color.                   

           My Encyclopedia says those Navigators are made by "Lincoln," which is a "brand" of the "Ford Motor Corporation." The man from Barstow told my boss how Navigator's are at times    "converted into Limousines."  I notice how he used the word "stretch" to describe them.              

         Daisy says she and Millie one time saw a good tv show Mr. Steve likes, about a man in Las Vegas whose business "Customizes" Cars and Motorcycles.  On that episode his workers totally    rebuilt and repainted a Motorcycle.  She's not really sure why it was called a "Chopper."                       

HENRY "THE NAVIGATOR" (1394-1460)

PHOTO BY C. ROZAY

 

          My Encyclopedia says, before he convinced Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to sponsor his idea of reaching the "Far East" by sailing west; Columbus proposed it to the country of Portugal.  But they said no I guess.  So Spain got most of the benefit from Columbus' trip.        

         It says here a Portuguese man named Prince Henry "the Navigator," who lived just before Columbus; was the "main initiator" of the "Age of Discovery."  He was the "central figure" in      the "early days" of the Portuguese Empire's "maritime expansion."  I can small Mesquite.        

      Daisy and Millie overheard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with a customer who told him about this Race Horse named after that guy Prince Henry.  Ah!  What a coincidence that, just as  I'm mentioning that Race Horse; I can smell Libby.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye.                                                      

     "BLACK PANTHER" (LEOPARD)       

                                

        My boss told the couple from Barstow he and Mr. Randy went to an "Animal Sanctuary" near us called "Forever Wild."  They have an all black Leopard named "Zorro" there, and also  Tigers, Bears and even a Lion too Dais heard.  Donald and Daisy are quacking over there.            

          When I get over my fear of riding in Cars I'd like to go see Forever Wild.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his mom "Black Panthers" are much bigger than a regular Cat like Cher.  Daisy told    me, except for being all black; she heard they're about the same size as a Mountain Lion.            

        That lady from Barstow said "Panthers" are three types of "Big Cat."   The "Cougar" is just another name for Mountain Lion, and the other types are "Jaguars" and "Leopards."  One of the Trainers at Forever Wild told Mr. Randy Zorro the Black Panther "can leap twenty feet."                

MR. RANDY  

        

        I've mentioned how Mr. Randy, like Mr. Mark in Hawaii's parents before moving up to Wisconsin; lived in the State of Arkansas.  Over the next three days I'll write about the States of  Arkansas, and "Oklahoma" too.  All four of the Pigeons are flying bye over Libby's Corral.         

        My boss Mr. Steve, and Miss Babette, Susan and Karin; have been selling things to Auto Dealerships for over ten years.  And, all have or have had some customers in Arkansas; and also  Oklahoma too.  But, since the recession started in 2009; everyone's lost a few customers.               

          Daisy told me Mr. Steve gives "Socks" to poor people like Mr. Mark, who I've mentioned lives homeless in the desert near Phelan with his little "Yorky" Dog "Karma."  I guess, one time Mr. Mark told my boss his family used to live in Oklahoma.  A Train just whistled faintly.             

      

"MONARCH" BUTTERFLY      

    

        That "Monarch" Butterfly fluttered bye, going north in front of Manny, Moe and Jack the three Sheds.  I remember that morning when, as he watered the Mulberry trees; Miss Susan told my boss about Monarch Butterflies.  Because the Sun is above me the shadows are small.             

        Miss Susan said there are two "populations" of Monarch Butterflies.  The "Western" ones like ours live on the west side of those "Sierra Nevada" mountains, while those who stay to the    east of those giant mountains are "Eastern" Monarch Butterflies.  They all eat "Milkweed."        

        I guess, every "October" Eastern Monarchs "Migrate" south from up in "Canada;" all the way down to "Northern Mexico."  Over the next three days I'll find out about the Mexican "Dia  de los Muertos" holiday.  My good Spanish Dictionary says that means "Day of the Dead."                                       "TRANSITION HABITA CONSRVANCY"                             HIGH DESERT                                                                                                                                                                       PHOTO BY TONE HELENA TORGERSEN

                

          Miss Susan told my boss about that one organization in our area, called the "Transition Habitat Conservancy;" who are trying to "preserve" the desert.  They started in 2005, the same year Mr. Steve moved up here to Piñon Hills.   I like how midday sunlight makes things look.      

           The Transition Habitat Conservancy is made up of people who help things around here, like those Desert Tortoises I mentioned earlier.  They also help Monarch Butterflies too, because  there aren't as many of them now I guess.  Two Wrens are sitting on Moe the middle Shed.           

           According to what Miss Susan said that time, since the 1980's the Western populations of  Monarch Butterflies have "declined."  Where milkweed grows has been covered up by Farms      and things like that.  And other parts are "polluted" by chemicals from those same Farms.                                      

FRED, ED AND TED    

                 

        Oh my God!  I just glanced up from doing my work over here on the Patio and noticed our three Sparrows named "Fred," "Ed" and "Ted."   They're all sitting on one of the branch's of      the Mulberry tree.  Boy!  I'm so glad to see that they all made it through the cold Winter.              

        I can't wait to take my second big break of the day after I finish chapter eight, or Part One of this first book.  Then I can tell Daisy that I've seen Fred, Ed and Ted.  We've never figured out why Mr. Steve gave those Sparrows their name but, it seems to fit them for some reason.               

       Right now I can easily see Fred, Ed and Ted over there but there are times Sparrows blend right in with the background.  Sometimes, like Lizards; only their movements will "Give them    Away" as  that old saying goes.  I wrote earlier today about what they call "Camouflage."                    

"ZORRO"     

        

         I just thought of how that "Bookkeeper "Eber" jokingly called my boss "Zorro."  Daisy says then, Miss Susan at work began to do it too; so for a while it was his nickname.  I mentioned how Daisy saw that tv show about Zorro, which my Spanish Dictionary says means "Fox."           

          Dais told me how the real Zorro wore black, rode a black Horse like the one Alexander the Great used to ride; and lived here in the early 19th century.  That was when "Alta" California    was part of Mexico after they broke away from Spain.  Daisy thinks I'd like Zorro's mask.           

        That one man from Barstow said Donkeys were originally taken from North Africa up to Europe.  His wife thought the abandoned California Donkeys were "not expected to survive" but surprised everyone.  I still sometimes think about being dumped out in that awful field.                                     

CALIFORNIA "WILD" DONKEYS      

          

      The lady from Barstow said Donkeys and Mules are "hardy" and "sure-footed" so, before Trucks; carried the heavy loads; "even in bad or hot weather."  Later today I'll write about the  1850's, when the U.S. Army brought Camels out here.  The scent of Mesquite just came in.          

       That one man from Barstow said boy Donkeys fight over girl Donkeys by trying to bite each other on their ears or necks.  If they do bite their rival they can swing around to rip out a hole or "tear off an ear."  There's a Crow clucking faintly way out there in the back eastern desert.          

      I guess Donkeys, who have big stomachs but can run fast; are smaller than Mules who may be four feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 400 pounds.  Daisy's smelled a Donkey and says their   scent is way different from a Mule.  Boy!  I'd really like to smell a Donkey someday.                               

BUCK OWENS / JOHNNY CASH / ROY CLARK ("HEE HAW") 

          

      That couple from Barstow talked about a "Variety" country music tv show called "Hee Haw."  Mr. Steve joked he liked the music and, also looking at the pretty girls.  Daisy saw Hee      Haw one time and says it had a "Hall of Fame" guitar player named Buck Owens on it.                

         The man from Barstow has this Buck Owens red, white and blue "Acoustic" guitar, and a "Banjo."  Daisy thinks hearing a banjo would make me happy howl and do my Irish jig dance.    Mr. Steve told the man he once bought and resold a Buck Owens red, white and blue guitar.         

         Buck Owens' style of "Western" country music is part of the "Bakersfield Sound" because he's from that city here in California Dais says.  My boss and his father have been to Bakersfield and Barstow a few times.  Daisy told me about this other band from Bakersfield called KORN.                         

KORN

               

           I'm not scheduled to write about KORN right now, but I just feel like mentioning them.  I guess they're music is called "Nu Metal," and Daisy told me about their song called "Freak on a Leash;" which has some really good singing in it I guess.   Daffy's now quacking over there.         

      Freak on a Leash is the only KORN song he's heard, but Daisy says Mr. Steve likes the singing and musicianship.  He was impressed by the bass player's "Percussive" or "Slapping"      style.  The guitar playing and drums in that song are also really good from what Dais says.           

   Daisy told me Mr. Steve and Mr. Dave talked on the phone about a bass player whose nickname is "Flea," from the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.  I guess, he also sometimes uses a      slapping technique in a more "funky" way.  Oh!  I wonder if that guy looks like a Flea?                    

  KORN    

("FREAK ON A LEASH")

                         

       The Video cartoon KORN did for Freak on a Leash shows a Policeman's gun shooting by accident.  The bullet might be the freak because it just keeps on going and going; barely missing  everyone Daisy says.  My English Dictionary says "freak" means "unusual" or "abnormal."        

         Dais says Freak on a Leash goes through a few "Tempo" changes, which Mr. Steve likes in songs.  Even though I haven't heard much music, I think I might like that in songs too.  In one of my all time favorite songs, "Musical Box;" GENESIS has a lot of soft and loud sections.               

         Mr. Dave says KORN have a song about "Clowns."  Daisy told me what they are and says she's really afraid of clowns.   One time she had a bad dream where her bad Angel Eddie was in it, and a friendly clown turned out to be Mr. Steve; with his face painted like a clown!                                                                  JOHN WAYNE GACY (1942-1994)        "TOYS R US"                       DEAD KENNEDYS                   

         Daisy noticed how that band KORN spell their name with the "R" facing backwards.   A lady from Bakersfield told Mr. Steve some members of KORN worked at this store called "Toys   R Us."  A little Lizard just ran down the wall and went behind the water bucket over there.         

          One time Dais heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Doug about a 1970's "Punk" Rock band from Northern California called the DEAD KENNEDYS.  They did an album where  a big poster was inside.  Mr. Doug saw the DEAD KENNEDYS play in a concert one time.          

          In the "Collage" of all black and white pictures on the DEAD KENNEDY poster was one that showed a clown named John Wayne Gacy who I guess killed some people.   Mr. Steve says to this  day he still kind of likes going to Toys R Us stores.  Daisy says our boss makes collages.                                     

      "MEGALODON"            

           PAINTING BY ARNOLD DAWSON                     

                     

        I'll come back to KORN and also write about "Kern" County later.  I guess millions of years ago that area of California was a big Ocean where giant "Megalodon" Sharks lived.  Mr.    Steve told Mr. Randy one time Megalodon "looked" just like a "much larger White Shark."        

           Wow!  A painting in my Encyclopedia shows how big a Megalodon would have been next to a human.  One time in Bakersfield, in the 1990's; Mr. Steve did a "Job Walk" for Mr. Rick's Mechanical Contracting company.  Max the Hummingbird just went zooming bye right now.       

         Tomorrow I'll write about things that live in water, like Sharks.  I want to see the Shark jaw with sharp teeth Dais told me our boss has in the dining room near the kitchen.  I suddenly smell the clump of Joshua trees above Andy and Helen's burrow, to the right of Moe the Shed.                                                       

  NIRVANA      

(KURT COBAINE / 1993 / "UNPLUGGED")   

 PHOTO BY FRANK MICELOTTA       

                      

         In my books I'll write about 1990's "Grunge" Rock, and a band from Washington State called NIRVANA.  Mr. Steve, and that man from Barstow; discussed their "Unplugged" concert where their rhythm Guitarist played a Buck Owens' guitar.  I can smell a Lizard nearby.              

         Dais says NIRVANA is one of those three piece bands Mr. Steve likes and the main guitar player, like that guy Jimi Hendrix; was left-handed.  Also like Jimi Hendrix; Kurt Cobaine sang and wrote NIRVANA'S songs.  Jimi Hendrix was from Washington State too I guess.                     

         Mr. Steve thinks, on Unplugged; NIRVANA had a "funeral theme" and the songs were kind of "sad-sounding."  Kurt Cobaine killed himself later, and finished that Unplugged concert by    playing a Blues song by a man named LEAD BELLY.  Some Crows are cawing nearby.                                              

                                  JUDAS ISCARIOT                                         

                                                                                                          

          I guess, another song NIRVANA played on the Unplugged concert was "Man Who Sold The World" by David Bowie.  Hey Lord!  On Saturday, in book three; I'll learn about Your one  Apostle "Judas" who most people say betrayed You.  And I'll look up Benedict Arnold too.           

           Mr. Steve thinks David Bowie's song Man Who Sold The World "might" be about Judas.  Like Kurt Cobaine, Judas also ended up committing suicide but, instead of shooting himself like Kurt Cobaine did; hung himself.  Aha!  A little Lizard is standing over there on the wall.               

         According to what Daisy told me, NIRVANA have a really good album that shows a little baby swimming under the water of a pool.  She says it's mainly Hard Rock but noticed how Mr.  Steve  used the word "mournful" to describe it.  The Lizard is now doing some pushups.                                      

               COURTNEY LOVE / KURT COBAINE (1967-1994)  

                                                             

       Daisy says Kurt Cobaine, like the Writer Ernest Hemingway; committed suicide with a "Shotgun."  His wife, who was born on July the 9th just like my boss; is also in a band where she sings and plays guitar.  Daisy told me about how Mr. Steve has a shotgun in the house.                

          On Saturday I'll learn about the "27 Club," some Musicians who died at the age of twenty seven.  And I'll also write about people, like O.J. Simpson for instance; who were born on July      the 9th like Mr. Steve.  Kurt Cobaine was also twenty seven when he died Daisy noticed.               

        Blackbeard and Anne the Crows flew bye.  I saw the hole where Blackbeard's eye used to be.  Mr. Steve almost named him after the Viking God "Odin" who only has one eye too but, in    that he's so "Jet Black;" just named him after that guy Blackbeard the Pirate instead.                                                                        EDWARD TEACH (1680-1718)                            ANNE BONNY( 1697?-1782?)   

 

                I'll learn about "Pirates" in my books, from the ancient world to today.  Our girl Crow Anne was named for a girl Pirate named Anne Bonny, who was married to a "Buccaneer," which Daisy says is another name for a Pirate.  Mr. Steve jokingly calls Blackbeard "Blackbird."

            Blackbeard, or Edward Teach; in real life had both eyes.  Daisy says Mr. Steve's customer in North Carolina told him about "Ocracoke" Island, where Blackbeard was killed and his head cut off.  Dais says he was thrown in the water but his headless body swam around the Ship.  

           Oh well, even though I'm not really scheduled to write about her right now, I suddenly just kind of feel like looking up this other Chinese girl Pirate "leader" named Ching Shih.  It says in this Encyclopedia she lived in the early 19th century.  That Lizard is now gone.  

       

                                                         CHING SHIH (1775-1844)

            This is interesting.  According to what it says in the caption below the painting of that girl Ching Shih, at one time she led over twenty thousand men on three hundred Ships.  And she not only fought the Chinese, her men also "raided" some British and Portuguese Ships too. 

           It says here, like Anne Bonny, Ching Shih married a Pirate; but "took over" when he was killed.  Ugh! I guess she cut off prisoner's ears, then threw them in the water with a cannonball attached; or cut them into four pieces.  Hey!  William Wallace from Scotland died that way.    

          Ah!  A Cricket chirped.  That's a big surprise because you usually never  hear them during the day.  Dais thinks, the warmer the weather is; the more Crickets chirp.  So maybe me hearing this Cricket right now is a good sign that the next three days will turn out to be be warm.

              

           CRICKET           

                        

                I've mentioned that older Shoshone Indian man Mr. Steve met over there at the Phelan Library.  He said you can eat Crickets and that they're actually good for you.  There were a few times, when I was living homeless out in that field; when I was tempted to eat some Bugs. 

            Later I'm scheduled to write about a friend of Mr. Steve's dad from New Mexico named Mr. Espinoza.  In World War II he was captured by the Japanese and then survived the "Baatan Death March." One thing he did to survive was force himself to eat all the different Bugs.

           Mr. Steve told that Shoshone man at the Phelan Library about how a "Navajo" lady said in her language one "type" of Cricket is called "Wó ts' inii."  And that means "Skull Insect" I guess.  Miss Susan says around here in Piñon Hills some people call them "Potato" Bugs.     

   

                                    POTATOE BUG                                                                  "PREDATOR"         

      

             The man from Fort Irwin said Potato Bugs are harmless.  But they sure do look really scary that's for sure and the man used some "Slides" to show how the face of the monster in the movie "Predator" may have been modeled on them.  Ah!  The sun's warmth makes me feel good. 

         I guess that man also told his audience how in Asia Crickets in cages are kept and used like Watch Dogs, if someone comes to the front door they stop chirping.  Birds at times do the same thing if they sense danger.  Mr. Dave in New Mexico has also noticed that about Birds too.  

            The Cricket just chirped again but it better be careful because Birds, Lizards or Cher the Cat might hear it and come and eat it.  That Navajo lady told Mr. Steve she thinks it's "magical" in the morning when Crickets stop chirping and Birds begin to sing.  I agree with her on that!

            

                                                          NAVAJO "CODE TALKERS"     

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

        During World War II, against the Japanese out in the Pacific Ocean; the U.S. military used Navajo Indians as "Radio Operators."  They spoke in their Navajo language which the Japanese couldn't understand.  My right nostril just now picked up Libby's totally unique scent. 

        I guess Mr. Steve told that Navajo lady, who he met at the Sylmar Library; about a time his father helped organize an event where some of those Second World War Navajo "Code Talkers" were "Honored."  That was back in 1999 which was a really bad year for my boss I guess. 

        Later I'll write about that event for the Code Talkers, and will also learn about the history of the Navajo's and other "Pueblo" Indians too.  I can't wait!  From what I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy one time, the Navajo "Reservations" are located in Arizona and New Mexico.         

       

         BUDDY HOLLY (CRICKETS)                                                   THE BEATLES

            

             The Navajo lady knew that one English band the BEATLES admired the 1950's music of Buddy Holly and his band the CRICKETS; who were from Texas.  I'll write more about those bands in all of my books.  I guess the BEATLES were originally the SILVER BEATLES.

         I'm not scheduled to write about "Beatniks" now, but feel like finding out about them.  I guess some think the BEATLES took the spelling of their name from them.  Both represented the "Zeitgeist," or "Spirit of the Times" in their two era's, the 1950's and 1960's my boss thinks. 

        According to what Daisy heard our boss tell Miss Susan on the phone, the Beatniks name comes from the phrase "Beat Generation."  And those were young American people in the 1950's who this one Encyclopedia calls "non-conformists."  Boy!  Libby has such a nice scent.

     

                                                                "BEATNIKS" (1950'S)

                      

             From what Dais heard our boss discuss with Miss Susan, the "Stereotype" 1950's Beatnik male wore black clothes and sunglasses, had a goatee, and played "Bongo" drums.  And I guess the females wore hats called "Berets."  There's a picture of Beatniks in my Encyclopedia.  

         Mr. Steve has two berets in the living room, on top of a big "Entertainment Center" where the tv's in.  One is green, the other brown; and they're with his military hats.  I think I'd wear a beret, and sunglasses too; especially if it were royal blue which is my very favorite color.

         Dais says our boss has Bongo drums, and other "Hand" drums.  One is African, another from Cuba; a third is like the ones some American Indians play in ceremonial dances.  He told Mr. Dave about an Irish drum which is played with a smaller wooden "Two-Sided" stick.

                                                                     

                                                    MR. STEVE / MAGGIE / DAISY

               Mr. Steve now has a goatee like the ones the Beatniks used to wear back in the 1950's.  But his is mostly gray and not all black like the guy in the Encyclopedia picture.  Daisy told me that, when he was younger; at times Mr. Steve let his beard grow way longer than it is right now.  

            I've mentioned a few times already today how Mr. Steve, and his brother Rock who lives in Texas; were both born in the mid-1950's when those Beatniks were around.  I'm scheduled in my books to learn a lot more about both the 1950's and 1960's.  Heathcliff just crowed.     

            According to what it says in this Encyclopedia, many of the Beatniks were what they call "anti-materialists."  I guess in that way they were sort of like "Socialists."  Some people back in those days accused them of probably being "Anti-Capitalist Reds" or even "Communists.

                            

                                                    JACK KÉROUAC (1922-1969)      

                                        

               The Beat Generation was "influenced" by a book called "On the Road," written by a guy from "Massachusetts" named Jack Kérouac."  I guess that's near Connecticut, where my boss's sister Susan lives with her son's Dalton and Austin.  Fred, Ed and Ted just now flew bye.

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve say On the Road is about these two guys who travel all across the United States.  They go between New York City on the east coast, and San Francisco on the west coast.  The city of "Denver," where Mr. Steve's family lived for a year; is also in that book.    

                According to this one Encyclopedia, Jack Kérouac used what's called an "experimental and spontaneous" writing style in On the Road.  His book also influenced other "subcultures" too, like those "Hippies" from the 1960's for instance.  Some of the Ducks are quacking. 

  

                THE DOORS                            LED ZEPPELIN                       PATTI SMITH

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               PHOTO BY ANTON CORBIJN

               Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Miss Susan how Jack Kérouac's book On the Road influenced not just later Writers but also some Musicians too.  That band the DOORS liked On the Road, and so did Jimmy Page; LED ZEPPELIN'S guitar player.  Now more Ducks are quacking.  

              Mr. Steve told Miss Susan about a Singer named Patti Smith, who's from New Jersey just like his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich.  Patti Smith liked Jack Kérouac's writing.  Daisy one time was in our boss's bedroom and heard him play her really good song about the nighttime.

              A few years ago my boss was told Patti Smith first played her song "Because the Night" in December of 1977 at a New York City Nightclub called "CBGB's."  He and his brother Rock had visited New York City in August.  I'll write about that 1977 trip in all of my three long books.

     

                                         CHARLIE PARKER /"DIZZY" GILLESPIE

PHOTO BY TED WILLIIAMS      

     

                Those Beatniks listened to "Jazz" music, like "Bebop" songs these guys named Charlie Parker and "Dizzy" Gillespie used to play.  It says here Charlie Parker played saxophone and Dizzy Gellespie was really good on the trumpet.  Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel ran bye.

            Oh!  My Encyclopedia says Charlie Parker died in March of 1955, four months before Mr. Steve was born.  His nicknames were "Bird," and "Yardbird;" which is the name of a band I'll find out about.  Mr. Steve and Harriet saw a sad movie about Charlie Parker Dais says.  

                Wow!  It says here the "Coroner" who performed the "autopsy" on Charlie Parker said he was "Sixty" years old even though he was only "Thirty Five" when he died.  I guess, just like Jack Kérouac; he "Drank" way too much.  Jack Kerouac died young from alcohol too.

CHARLIE COMPANY

     

             Oh!  Just when I happen to be writing about that guy Charlie Parker, who do I see out there in the eastern desert behind the fence?   It's Charlie Company of Quail scratching around in the dirt, to hopefully dig up some hidden food.  They don't have any babies yet this year.

         I can tell it's Charlie Company because of the big boy Quail my boss named Chosin.  Hey!  I wonder if that saxophone player Charlie Parker was named after a Quail because of his two nicknames?  Daisy thinks that a Yardbird could be what a Chicken is called sometimes.

         It's interesting how, according to what it says in this one Encyclopedia; some people think the word "beat" in Beatnik refers to being "beaten down" or "tired."  Hey Lord!  Mr. Steve read that guy Jack Kérouac was Roman Catholic like us.  I can now smell Charlie Company.  

           

                 "SERMON ON THE MOUNT"                                                   "CRUCIFIXION"

                                PAINTING BY CARL BLOCH                                                                               

                                                                                                                  

              Hey Lord!  Dais heard Mr. Steve and Miss Susan at work talk about how Jack Kérouac told people his writing was influenced by the blessings You talked about, the "Beatitudes;" when You gave the "Sermon on the Mount."  Heathcliff just crowed.  I like how his voice sounds.  

                If I could borrow Mr. Peabody's Time Machine Lord I'd definitely go back to hear You talk to the people on that day You miraculously multiplied a few loaves of bread and some Fish to feed the big crowd.  Daisy would want to go with me.  Then we could even smell You!

               Lord!  I guess, on that 1985 trip to Israel; one place the Tour Group from St. Ferdinand's went to was where You might've delivered Your sermon.  There's a 4th century A.D. Church on it from the time of that one guy Emperor Constantine the Great.  I can smell Andy over there. 

        

MID DAY DESERT SKY   

                 

                  Hey Lord!  As You know, Daisy heard Jack Kerouac, like Emperor Constantine; said he saw Your symbol up in the sky.  God!  I think I sense You in how the sunlight is making me feel right now.  There are some spreading clouds hanging over the desert behind the Sheds.

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve chuckle when he and Miss Susan talked about how Beatniks even created their own slang language.  They remembered a Beverly Hillbillies episode about Beatniks where a guy called people "Momio and Dadio."  And he played Bongo drums too Dais said.

           This Encyclopedia says Jack Kérouac's "stream of consciousness use of language," like in using "dashes" instead of periods to end sentences; gave it a "musical rhythm."  Mr. Steve read Jack Kérouac liked a book called "Ulysses."  It was written by a man named James Joyce.  

         

                                                         JAMES JOYCE (1882-1941)

       

               I'm tempted to write about James Joyce but, I'll do it when I write about Homer's book the "Odyssey;" or Ulysses trying to go home after that "Trojan" War.  I still have a little bit to write about Buddy Holly and his band the CRICKETS.  Boy!  I like James Joyce's hat. 

           Daisy says Mr. Ralph told Mr. Steve in some places Potato Bugs are called "Jerusalem" Crickets or "Niños de la Tierra."  And my Spanish Dictionary says how that means "Children of the Earth."  I can't wait to find out more about the city of Jerusalem in my three books. 

           Last Summer, when my boss doing yard work; we heard this song called "Buddy Holly" on his Boombox.  It's by a band called WEEZER and Dais told me they played that song on a tv show called "Happy Days."  Looking at clouds often makes me feel calm and more relaxed.

                       

                                                                      WEEZER

                                                                                    ( ON "HAPPY DAYS" EPISODE)

                                                                                                               

              I noticed on WEEZER'S song Buddy Holly they mention the Actress Mary Tyler Moore, who's tv character reminds my boss of his mom.  She "ran the house" in the same organized way the girl on the old tv show ran an office.  I remember right now how Mr. Steve's mom smells.

          Besides the BEATLES, I guess other 1960's English bands were also influenced by Buddy Holly's CRICKETS; in fact one is even called the HOLLIES.  I've never heard any HOLLIES      songs but Daisy has and thinks they have three really good Singers.  I love how clouds look!         

        Daisy heard our boss tell that kid Jason who plays guitar many of the early 1960's bands from England, like the BEATLES and HOLLIES for instance; were influenced by this one style  of music called "Skiffle."  I smell Sage.  Boy God!  This has been such a good day so far.                  

                                                                    THE HOLLIES

                 

               Mr. Steve told Jason the HOLLIES may not be named for Buddy Holly.  They might have been named for a Christmas plant.  Daisy's told me abut how one of the HOLLIES was later in another really famous singing band called CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG.

               I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve and his brothers and sisters used to go visit all their relatives who live in New Mexico.  As kids, a few times their Aunt "Lydia" told my boss one of the ROLLING STONES was from Belén.  Ah!  I can now smell some familiar  Mesquite.

            Mr. Steve knew for sure his Aunt wouldn't make up a story but thought it couldn't be true that one of the ROLLING STONES was from Belén.  Then, many years later; he heard about a saxophone player named Bobby Keys.  A flock of Birds flew bye up in the high blue sky. 

       

                                     ROLLING STONES (BOBBY KEYS / SAXOPHHONE)

         

                Mr. Steve says one morning in Sylmar, as he swept his Patio and listened to that guy Bill Handel; it "dawned" on him who his Aunt Lydia had been talking about.   Bobby Keys, as did Buddy Holly; grew up in "Lubbock" Texas.  Dawn and Blinky are barking over there.

           Bobby Keys was not an "Official" member of the ROLLING STONES but, at times was called the "sixth" ROLLING  STONE.   I guess he played saxophone on many of their songs and "Toured" with them.  Dais told me about a ROLLING STONES' song about brown sugar.

          It turns out Bobby Keys' father got a job in Belén with the Santa Fe Railroad.  But Bobby Keys and his brother were left in Lubbock Texas to be "Raised" by their Grandparents.  I wrote earlier today how Grandpa Trujillo also worked for that Santa Fe Railroad company too.     

  

"NEW MEXICO"

   

             I guess Mr. Steve's Aunt Lydia was friends with a lady named "Lucy" Keys who was Bobby Keys mom.  She was later a State Politician in New Mexico.  Aunt Lydia is Mr. Steve's father's younger sister.  Her husband is named "Fernando" but people call him "Fenny" for short.

         Aunt Lydia and Uncle Fenny have four kids, girls named "Navora" and "Macrena;" and boys named "Michael" and "Fernando Jr."   Over the next three days I'll write more about Mr. Steve's relatives who were born in or still live back in New Mexico.  I smell a Cholla cactus.  

        One morning I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy, when Bobby Keys was sixteen; he played in Buddy Holly's band for a short time.  Boy!  It's too bad Buddy Holly was killed in the same 1959 Plane crash where Ritchie Valens died.  Heathcliff crowed, and his Hens sound happy.

  

                                                  BOBBY KEYS / KEITH RICHARDS

     

                  Mr. Steve told Mr. Randy, "before the recession;" he had a customer in "Clovis," New Mexico.  That Parts Manager told him Bobby Keys met the ROLLING STONES in the mid-1960's, and Buddy Holly's first recordings were made in Clovis.  I like hearing Heathcliff.

            Boy!  What a coincidence that Bobby Keys and the ROLLING STONES Guitarist Keith Richards were born on the same exact day.  The Parts Manager in Clovis said that made them friends "from then on."   Cher the Cat, with Andy watching her; just went slinking bye.

             I guess Bobby Keys not only played saxophone for the ROLLING STONES, he also played with John Lennon and that other guy Eric Clapton too.  So he must be good!  Ah!  Alpha Company is using the two vertical slots on the side of the gate to go out into the back desert. 

   

"CLOVIS" INDIAN CULTURE

               Daisy says Mr. Steve and that Parts Manager talked about the "Clovis" Indian culture.  In about 10,000 B.C. the last Ice Age ended, and those Siberian people came across that land bridge up there in the Alaska region.  Then they migrated southward down into our areas.

               My Encyclopedia says those first people are called "Clovis" because of "artifacts" found near Clovis in 1932, the year my boss's father was born.  Dais told me Mr. Dave in Taos knows about "fluted" arrowheads and spear points.  Buddy Holly spent a lot of time in Clovis.

               It says here those original "prehistoric" Clovis people are also known as "Paleo-Indian" cultures.  Back then they only had stone blades to kill huge Animals like Elephants for food to survive.  Now we have steel, like all of the knives, swords and spears in my boss's office.   

                    

                                           (1923)                                  "HOLLYWOOD" SIGN                   NOW

    

                I just thought about the "Hollywood" Sign, which my boss, Miss Sandy and his brother Rock one time hiked up to.  The town of Hollywood is named for a "Holly" plant that grows wild in that area Daisy heard.  The original sign put up in 1923 actually said, "Hollywoodland." 

                 My Encyclopedia says in 1923 that "temporary" sign was advertising for land but people liked it so they just left it up.  It's near an area of Los Angeles called "Griffith Park."  Mr. Steve heard Aldous Huxley, who moved from Llano; died in a house below the Hollywood Sign. 

           Daisy heard Mr. Steve's brother Rock, and friends Dave and Armando; worked at "Boy's Summer Camp" at Griffith Park in the 1980's.  In all my three books I'll learn about that park.  In  triangle formation Fred, Ed and Ted the Sparrows are now flying over Libby's Corral.   

                 

                                                          MR. STEVE'S BROTHER ROCK ("GRIFFITH PARK")

               The Boy's Camp my boss's brother worked at, like the Hollywood Sign too; is located in a part of the "Santa Monica" mountains.  Dais heard Mr. Steve tell his sister Susan on the phone how you aren't allowed to hike up to the Hollywood Sign anymore.  A Train whistled faintly.       

                  I'm so tempted to write about that "Observatory" near the Hollywood Sign but will wait.  Oh! It says here in this Encyclopedia the Hollywood Sign is near the road named after William Mulholland who, as I've mentioned; in 1913 brought water to Los Angeles.  I smell Sage.      

                Wow!  I guess that Hollywood Sign is huge!   It says here each letter is forty five feet tall and all nine letters, "End to End;" are three hundred and fifty feet long.  Speedy the Squirrel just zoomed through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the desert. 

                                          

                                                             MARY TYLER MOORE

    

           For some reason I just thought of Mr. Steve's mom, who my boss thinks was sort of like the character played by Mary Tyler Moore. Mr. Steve told Mr. Mike, who's met his parents; his dad will be unable to drive soon.  Just like Dais, his eyesight is getting worse and worse.                

             Back in chapter four, when I wrote about the city of "Solvang;" I mentioned that band from Minnesota called HÜSKER DÜ.  Daisy told me how they have a whole song about that girl Mary Tyler Moore.  Two of the Pigeons just flew in and landed up on the Patio roof above me.  

           Dais says our boss's customer in Minnesota, who I mentioned back in chapter four; liked HÜSKER DÜ.  He said people think WEEZER is from Wisconsin because of their Buddy Holly Video but they're actually from here in Los Angeles.  I can now see the Pigeon's shadows.       

      

                                                                           TOTO

 

            On Saturday, in book three; Daisy has me scheduled to write about the subject of what they call "Session" Musicians.  I guess WEEZER did a version of a 1980's song called "Africa." It was written by the Los Angeles band TOTO, who had been good "Studio" Musicians.    

                 Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph on the phone one time how Jimmy Page, before he played guitar in the YARDBIRDS and LED ZEPPELIN; was a Session Musician back there in England.  That was in the early 1960' I guess.  The Pigeons are cooing right above me.   

           According to what Dais heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph, for years there was a "rumor" Jimmy Page played the "Lead" guitar solo on the KINKS' song "You Really Got Me."  But Mr. Steve says, "even if he did I saw the KINKS' Dave Davies do it in concert.  I smell Mesquite. 

               

    ULYSSES S. GRANT (1822-1885)      

                       

                 My boss and Mr. Ralph talked about how that band TOTO went to "Grant" High School in Van Nuys, as did did Miss Harriet, and Mr. Steve's friends Mr. Doug and Mark Ritter.  In my books I'll find out a lot more about Ulysses S. Grant.  Pigeon voices make me feel calm.    

           I guess, the "Grant" campus is located right next door to "Valley" Junior College.  That's where Mr. Steve, his girlfriend Sandy; and their friends Chris and David went after graduating from Sylmar High.  Boy!  Thank You so much God up there for inventing the Pigeons.

          Daisy says Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha's boyfriend "Rick," who's a talented Carpenter; also went to Grant High School too.  Like Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich, he's a "Handyman." Mr. Steve, and his dad; say they're "fortunate" our family has them around.

                                

"ULYSSES S. GRANT" HIGH SCHOOL (VAN NUYS)

     

               One morning, as my boss watered Mulberry tree in the front yard; he and Mr. Randy talked about Grant High.  Daisy says the "Lancers" school Newspaper is called the "Odyssey" after the Greek story of Ulysses.  Their primary color is brown, the secondary color orange.

               When my boss's brother Sam played Baseball at Sylmar High, Grant was in their league.  Mr. Steve watched his brother play against them one time at Grant.  That Dragonfly just zoomed bye the Sheds and I heard it coming from way over there to my right near Libby's Corral.  

           Tomorrow I'll write about how, in 1977; my boss's brother Sam's team played "Granada Hills" High.  The winner would play at Dodger Stadium for the city championship, but Sylmar lost "by one run."  This guy named John Elway was a member of that Granada Hills team. 

                                            

                                 TOM SELLECK                                   GILBERT ARENAS

       

             I guess, from what I heard my boss say; some famous people have gone to Grant.  One is an Actor named Tom Selleck, who Daisy and Millie saw in this movie about playing Baseball in Japan.  Mr. Steve heard Tom Selleck, like he and Miss Sandy; went to "Valley College" too.

         This guy named Gilbert Arenas, who played Basketball in the "N.B.A.;" went to Grant.  I've mentioned how, back in the 1980's; my boss and Mr. Mark in Hawaii were Salesmen for the "Lakers" Basketball team.  N.BA. just stands for the "National Basketball Association."

         One time my boss and Mr. Ralph walked around the campus' of Grant and Valley College. Mr. Steve said it brought back "fond memories" of times he and Sandy spent in Van Nuys, but he sure wishes he had "appreciated those times" more.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.   

        

                  MONKEES                               QUIET RIOT                      SYSTEM OF A DOWN

                  

              My boss was told the Drummer's for the MONKEES and SYSTEM OF A DOWN went to Grant.  I'll learn about those two bands over the next three days.  I guess "S.O.D.'S" Singer also went to College over at "Cal State Northridge;" just like Mr. Steve and his family did too.   

            At Valley College my boss and Miss Sandy met friends of that band QUIET RIOT.  Their Singer Kevin Dubrow, who died; was born in 1955 like my boss and went to Grant.  Mr. Steve and Sandy saw QUIET RIOT, with Randy Rhoads; play on Valley College's grass cuad.  

               Boy!  It's too bad Randy Rhoads, like Ritchie Valens and Bubby Holly; died in an early 1980's Plane crash.  He had become really famous by then, and my boss, Miss Sandy and their friends saw him play a few times back in the 1970's with QUIET RIOT.  Heathcliff crowed.

   

                                                      BENNY "THE JET" URQUIDEZ

   

             Dais told me when Mr. Steve and Mr. Ralph walked around at Grant High School, they talked about a guy they've both met named Benny Urquidez; who went to Grant.  In the 1970's he was world famous in what's called the "Martial Arts."  I can smell some Mesquite.

          Benny Urquidez's nickname was "The Jet" because of powerful "Spinning Round Kicks" he used to do in becoming a world champion "Kick Boxer."  He and Mr. Doug went to Grant in the same exact years I guess.  Mr. Steve and Sandy were at Sylmar High during that time. 

          Mr. Steve once told his father Mr. Ralph is a "walking encyclopedia" when it comes to Boxing history.  Just like Dais jokes about me, Mr. Steve thinks that Mr. Ralph "must have a photographic memory."  Thank You so much God for giving me my really good memory. 

         

                  GUNS N' ROSES                        VANHALEN                            MEGADETH

       

                Besides being a world champion fighter himself, Benny Urquidez also trains people too.  He's coached a few Musicians, like the bass player for that one band GUNS N' ROSES; and the main Guitarist for MEGADETH.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there next door.

               In 1984 Mr. Steve saw VAN HALEN, from Pasadena; do their pre-concert "Sound Check" at the Forum in Inglewood.  In concert, during the song "Jump;"  the Singer David Lee Roth did spinning round kicks Mr. Benny taught him.  I kind of like Daffy's very unique loud voice.

         That "Cul de Sac" named "Hagar" Street down there in Sylmar has been so important to my boss's family.  Mr. Steve likes Musician Sammy Hagar, VAN HALEN'S second Singer.  In the 1970's Mr. Steve, Miss Sandy and their friends saw him play when he was in MONTROSE .  

      

                                                                    SAMMY HAGAR   

                     

           One time Dais and Millie were in our boss's bedroom, and watched a tv show where that guy Sammy Hagar visited "Duff" McKagan; GUNS N'ROSES Bassist. They played and sang a song together.  Two of the Pigeons just flew over Libby's Corral, going toward the northeast.

               Dais noticed how, on the tv show; Sammy Hagar played a red, white and blue Buck Owens acoustic guitar like the one I mentioned earlier in this chapter.  I heard my boss tell that couple from Barstow he once bought and then resold a Buck Owens guitar.  A Train whistled faintly.

              I guess my boss and his brothers took "Karate" lessons for a few years from a guy named Bill Parent.  They learned a system called "Tang Soo Do."  According to what I heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Randy on that one morning, Benny Uquidez's own fighting style is called "Ukidokan." 

                                                                                        

            LILLY / "BLINKY" RODRIQUEZ                      BLINKY / CHUCK NORRIS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

            Benny Urquidez's "Brother in Law" is "Blinky" Rodriguez, who Mr. Steve took pictures for in the 1980's.  Blinky is married to Benny's sister "Lilly," they have five kids; and were both really good Martial Artists too.  Daisy heard that Mr. Blinky's real first name is "William."  

          Mr. Steve one time heard Mr. Benny tell someone he was part "Blackfoot" Indian, his wife "Sara" is "Apache;" related to "Geronimo."  Mr. Dave read that Geronimo was a "Mescalero" Apache.  I heard Mr. Randy say that morning there's a dirt road near us called Mescalero.   

           What a coincidence that, just as I happen to be mentioning Blinky Rodriguez; I hear little Blinky barking over there to my right.  Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez just run at full speed through the wider right vertical slot on the side of this back gate.  Boy!  It's amazing how he does that.

  

 RIKI RACHTMAN     

    

                 Dais says Mr. Steve met a guy who went to Grant High School.  When there he knew Riki Rachtman from Van Nuys who, in the 1980's; had an "MTV" show "Heavy Metal" show called "Headbanger's Ball."  Miss Harriet went to Grant at the same time as Riki Rachtman.

            According to what Dais heard, that guy told Mr. Steve Riki Rachtman has been on a few other tv shows and things like that since the mid-1990's.  I guess Headbanger's Ball was a show about Heavy Metal, but focused on here in Los Angeles.  Ah!  I feel so good right now.   

           Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled to write about Studio Musicians right now, I just feel like mentioning the FUNK BROTHERS.  Dais says Mr. Mark in Hawaii is familiar with the music they made at "Motown."  Mr. Steve likes their 1960's songs a lot too. 

                              

                                                                  THE FUNK BROTHERS

                                         

         I guess the city of "Detroit" is in the State of "Michigan," and is where that company Motown was from.   Those FUNK BROTHERS were Motown's Session Musicians, and Daisy      heard Mr. Mark say Motown is "short for motor town."  They make Cars in Detroit she says.      

              That lady Carol Kaye, who played guitar on Ritchie Valens' song "La Bamba;" was a "Studio" Musician in the 1960's.  As a member of the WRECKING CREW, she played on many famous songs "Anonymously;" like the BEACH BOYS "Pet Sounds album .  I smell Sage.

                 Writing about Session Musicians reminds of that 1980's song "Funky Town," which I really liked when my boss played it on the Boombox.  Daisy told me it's made in a "Disco" style and Mr. Steve years ago tried to play it on his drums.  Mr. Dave has played along to it too.   

  

                                                                      LIPPS INC.

      

              I guess Funky Town was done by some "Minneapolis" Session Musicians under the name of LIPPS INC.  It has good girl singing and guitar but Dais says Mr. Steve likes to play it because of the bass.  Also, he told Mr. Dave; it gives him a chance to practice playing the High-Hat. 

            That band HÜSKER DÜ, from "St. Paul;" also came from the State of Minnesota too.  St. Paul and Minneapolis are called the "Twin Cities" Dais heard.  One time, as a kid; she says Mr. Steve did one of those line drawings he does of the Baseball Minnesota Twins "T/C" logo.   

          Ah!  A slight breeze coming in from the east just brought in the Twin Joshua trees blended scents.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Dave one time, before the economic recession he had Ford dealerships in Minnesota, one in Minneapolis; the other in St. Paul.  Heathcliff crowed.  

             

                               PRINCE                                                                    MR. MARK

                                                                                                                                                                 

            Mr. Mark, who now lives over there in Hawaii with his wife Kim and their boys Taj and Dylan; was influenced in his music by that guy PRINCE Dais heard.  PRINCE is originally from "Minnesota," Mr. Mark grew up in nearby "Wisconsin."  Heathcliff has a strong voice.

            Daisy says a Parts Manager in St. Paul told our boss about this Minneapolis Recording Studio called "Sound 80."  That's where LIPPS INC. recorded that song Funky Town.  Mr. Steve danced with girls when he was young but doesn't really like dancing anymore Dais heard.  

          One time Mr. Steve told Mr. Mark about an old British "Guitar Tutorial" book he bought and sold years ago.  It was by this one man named Bert Weedon and English Guitarists, like Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Brian May; read it to learn guitar.  Ah!  The air is so clear.  

           

                               BERT WEEDON (1920-2012)                       "ORDER OT THE BRITISH EMPIRE"

      

            One time Mr. Steve mentioned that old tutorial book to Mr. Phillip because he's originally from back there in "Wales."   Daisy says Mr. Phillip had heard of that book even though he does not play guitar.  Looking out into the back desert behind the three Sheds makes me feel good.

          Daisy heard Bert Weeden not only wrote books, in 1959 he was the first British Guitarist to have a hit in the "U.K. Singles Charts."  He was even made an official "Knight," so got a good medal from what Dais told me.  Boy!  If I had a medal I would want to wear it all the time.     

         Below me up here on Elvira, a line of Grease Ants is marching bye down there on the Patio floor.  They're going from my right to left, or south to north; in front of Miss Emily's old Coffee Table.  Alpha Company of Quail are going underneath Moe the middle Shed right now. 

                      

                                                "CAESAREA MARITIMA"

                                                                (ISRAEL / JUNE, 1985)

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA         

            

         Seeing those Ants down there walking across the Patio makes me think of "Concrete."  I guess, according to Dais; Mr. Steve's father thinks its invention by the ancient Romans was one    of the "most important things to ever happen."  It totally changed how things could be built.       

       In 1985 my boss saw the coastal city of "Caesarea" in Israel.  King Herod used Roman engineering to built a "Man-Made" Harbor, an "Amphitheater" and even a  water "Aqueduct" made of "Cement" or "Mortar" hardened into concrete.  St. Paul was in in jail in Caesarea.        

         Mr. Mike is good at using cement.  Mr. Steve told him how the ancient Romans invented cement, but it wasn't until the early 20th century that it's use became "widespread;" but now it's used in almost every building or "Structure."  Two of the Pigeons flew over Libby's Corral.                                     

                        KING HEROD (74-4 B.C.)                      

          

            I'll learn about that guy King Herod in my books.  My Encyclopedia says he's known for "colossal building projects" like Caesarea, and this other place I'll learn out in a few minutes        called "Masada;" which Mr. Steve's Tour Group also visited in 1985.  Daffy's quacking.              

           Ah!  King Herod was actually an "Edomite" who was "raised as a Jew."  Hey Lord!  In Your days the region Caesarea is located in was called "Judea."  I can see Libby walking around slowly and carefully over there in her Corral, and smelling her now makes me feel good.               

            King Herod's "political rival" was that Egyptian Queen "Cleopatra."  They lived during the same period as those Romans Julius Caesar, Augustus and Mark Antony.  My Encyclopedia says King Herod built Caesarea "to honor" Augustus, who's original name was "Octavian."                              

   BATTLE OF "ACTIUM" (SEPTEMBER 2, 31 B.C.)      

                                                                                                  

          At the "Battle of Actium," after Julius Caesar was killed and civil war broke out between Octavian and Mark Antony; Cleopatra and "Antony" were beaten in a naval engagement.  Oh!  It took place on September 2.  That's Miss Maria from Mexico's birthday too I notice.                   

        It says here Cleopatra had a son with Julius Caesar but, after his death; she went over to Mark Antony.  King Herod "sided" with them but, after Octavian's victory; "switched sides."    Caesarea was built in part so "Emperor" Augustus "wouldn't kill him too" Daisy thinks.             

         Over the next three days I'll learn about Will and Ariel Durant, who as a team wrote good books about history.  Daisy told me Mr. Steve and his dad like them, so I want to find out about    them too now.  They wrote about some of the famous ancient people from what Dais heard.                                                  

  ARIEL (1898-1981) / WILL (1885-1981) DURANT               MR. STEVEE'S PARENTS                          

         

           Mr. Steve and his dad talked about Will Durant "willing himself to die" within a month of his wife dying.  They'd "collaborated" for fifty years and Mr. Steve knows of other couples who  willed themselves to die.  Mr. Steve "wouldn't be surprised" if his parents did it he says.               

       Daisy heard Will and Ariel Durant met when he was her School Teacher, he being from Canada; she was an "Ashkenazi" Jew from the "Ukraine" area of Russia.  From 1935 through    1975 they wrote twelve long books called "The Story of Civilization."  A Lizard ran bye.               

         Will and Ariel Durant write about history from an "Overall" perspective from what my boss told Mr. Ralph.  My Encyclopedia says they were "influenced" by the Philosopher Baruch    Spinoza's view of "Sub Specie Totius" or "From the perspective of the whole."  I smell Sage.                       

 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)             BARUCH SPINOZA (1632-1677)            

PAINTING BY JOHN TAYLOR ("CHANDROS" PORTRAIT)                                                                                                                                                        

        

           Ariel Durant's real name was Chaya Kaufman, Will's nickname for her "Ariel" taken from this character in Shakespeare's play "The Tempest."  I guess, because Will Durant was a "Philosopher;" that often influenced their views on history.  Heathcliff crowed over there.            

             I'm so tempted to learn about that Philosopher "Spinoza,"  but I'll wait until book two.  He, who was influenced by René Descartes; was a Portuguese "Sephardic" Jew who lived in the Netherlands.  Hey God!  Albert Einstein was very influenced by Spinoza's ideas about You.          

           Hey Lord!  As You know, iIf I had a Time Machine like Mr. Peabody I'd for sure go back to smell You and Your family.  Is it true King Herod tried to kill You when You were just a baby  so Saint Joseph took Your family to Egypt?  And did he kill all of the other little babies?                                 

           MODEL OF "HEROD'S TEMPLE" (JERUSALEM)          

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA        

      

         This one Encyclopedia says King Herod was called "The Great," just like Alexander from "Macedon;" and Constantine I.  In 1985 the Tour Guide Haim said Augustus "installed" Herod  in power as "just a client-king puppet."  Cleopatra was "Ptolemaic" Greek, not Egyptian.            

        Hey Lord!  In 1985 Mr. Steve was so amazed at the miniature Temple modeled on the one King Herod had built and You walked around.  King Herod is called a "paranoid tyrant" in my  Encyclopedia.  You correctly predicted that Second Temple would be destroyed I guess.                 

         Mr. Steve says it's "plausible" Lord, because he was so afraid of assassination; King Herod killed all of the babies in Jerusalem.  The Historian Josephus said he killed members of his own    family.  Dais told me  that band BLACK SABBATH have a good song called "Paranoid."                

"SWORD OF DAMOCLES"

ETCHING BY WENCESLAUS HOLLAR        

      

      What the heck!  Even though I'm not scheduled to write about a story called the "Sword of Damocles" now, thinking about King Herod makes me want to do it here instead.  It's an ancient Greek story about the fear many leaders live with.  Crows are fighting out in the desert.                

       Dais and Millie heard Mr. Steve talk on the phone with Mr. Ralph about that Greek Story.  This one Encyclopedia says it's about a "Courtier" named "Damocles" who worked for a King    he really "Envied."  So that King offered to "Trade Places" with him for a little while.                  

       Unfortunately for that guy Damocles Daisy says, the King told him a "Condition" of letting him be King was he had to have a sharp sword hang above him.  And it was held up only by a thin string. So, if "Gravity" pulled the sword; it would fall down and maybe kill Damocles.                       

   MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO (106-43 B.C.)

        

             It says here in this Encyclopedia how that Roman Writer "Cicero" wrote about the old Greek Damocles story, which was originally written in the 4th century B.C.  Boy!  It's too bad      Cicero ended up getting his head chopped off.  Heathcliff crowed over there to my right.               

         This Encyclopedia says "since ancient times" that Damocles story has symbolized the "never ending sense of fear and danger powerful people feel at all times."  And it sure sounds      like King Herod was one of those types.  Hearing Heathcliff reminds me of last Summer.               

              Mr. Steve's father said in "today's modern society" that Greek Damocles story now also represents, "a general sense of foreboding and dread experienced by anyone in a bad situation."  Ah!  I smell some Sage.  That now also reminds me of that really hot day from last August.                        

GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1340?-1400)                  WM. SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)  

                                                                                                                                                       PAINTING BY JOHN TAYLOR

          

           It says here, the Sword of Damocles story has influenced other Writers; like those two guys from England Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare.  "Chaucer" referred to it in his "Canterbury Tales," Shakespeare had the idea in one of his Plays too I guess.   I like Sage.            

        Oh wow!  I just now suddenly realized, it now occurs to me; what that one old saying "Hanging by a Thread" means.  It's got to somehow be talking about that one old ancient Greek  story about that guy Damocles.  Some Crows are fighting over something out in the desert.           

        Mr. Steve's father thinks the Federal Government being in so much debt, by "printing money out of thin air;" might be a "disaster waiting to happen."  It's "like a sword hanging over our heads" he thinks.  I'll learn about the dollar being the world's "Reserve" currency later.                            

    JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963)           NIKITA KRUSHCHEV (1894-1971)

   

          Tomorrow in book two I'll find out about "Nuclear" weapons, which have been around since World War II.  To end that war, the U.S dropped two "Atomic" bombs on those Japanese    cities of "Hiroshima" and "Nagasaki;" in August of 1945.  A Crow just cawed faintly.                   

         My Encyclopedia says, back in the early 1960's; President Kennedy called the threat of "Nuclear Annihilation" a "Sword of Damocles situation."  Since 1945, the U.S. and Soviet Union both have had the "Means" to totally destroy the entire planet Earth.  Wow!  That's bad!             

         When President Kennedy was in power his what they call "Counterpart" over in Russia was named Nikita Krushchev.   In 1961, his Soviet Union created a "Hydrogen" bomb; the most    powerful bomb ever.  Dais says it was even bigger than all of the other nuclear bombs.                   

"ATOMIC" BOMBS DESTRUCTION

(JAPAN / AUGUST 1945)

          I'm tempted to write about nuclear energy but I'd better just wait and do it according to the outlines we made.  Boy!  It says here Hiroshima and Nagasaki were, "reduced to heaps of        rubble" and "twisted steel and concrete" by a "single" bomb.  A Train whistled faintly.                

         Wow!  No wonder the Japanese Emperor decided to surrender once he heard about what happened in those two cities.  Thousands and thousands of people were killed or injured.  Daisy    says Mr. Steve one time met a man who flew a B-29 like the ones used on those missions.               

          Even though I'll mainly learn about nuclear energy tomorrow, I felt like looking up the dropping of the Atomic bombs on Japan in 1945.  I've mentioned how the three "Fundamental    Forces" in the Universe are "Gravity," "Electro Magnetism" and "Nuclear."  I smell Sage.                                         

         DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES   

                                                                                    

          Looking down at the Patio floor makes me think about how so many things are made of concrete.  I guess, most buildings are now made of it.  Boy!  How did the ancient Romans even      think of how to invent something that is so soft, but then gets to be so hard when it dries?             

           I guess cement is made by mixing sand with gravel.  In the 1990's when my boss worked for Mr. Rick's "Mechanical Contracting" company many jobs, like the one they did inside of        Edwards Air Force Base for instance; had cement work.  Ah!  The sky is so blue right now.           

      Another job Mr. Rick's company did back in the 1990's was to replace pipes at a huge "Retirement Center" in "Santa Fe Springs" called "El Encanto."  That job required cement.      According to this Spanish Dictionary the name El Encanto just means "The Enchanted."                                                                                                                GRANDPA / GRANDMA TRUJILLO           

                              

          Mr. Steve told his mom when Grandma Trujillo died her mind was "sound but her body gave out."  She was living at a Sylmar "Assisted Living" Center, and the day before dying ate      chocolate; but couldn't swallow it.  Mr. Steve and his Niece Samantha cleaned out her room.        

        Grandma Trujillo's "Wheel Chair" is up in the garage, and Mr. Steve kept her book of "Cross Word Puzzles."  Grandma Córdova, who Miss Maria took care of; was living with his parents when she died, her body good; her mind back to being a baby.  Heathcliff crowed.            

        In cleaning out Grandma Trujillo's "Nursing Home" room her Nurse said, "Mr. Steve, you'll be happy to know your Grandma Lupe watched her favorite shows Jeopardy and Wheel    of Fortune the night before she died."  I smell old Sage.  That reminds me of last year.                                  

     BERTHA BENZ WITH DAUGHTERS (IN FIRST "CAR")

        

           I wrote earlier about that 19th century German lady Bertha Benz whose husband invented the first Car.  In 1886 she and her sons "drove" the three-wheeled Car on the first "Road Trip." Like Mr. Steve's two Grandma's, Bertha Benz was a good "Help Mate" to her husband.               

        One time Mr. Steve got a Jeopardy question right when they asked, what "tool" did Bertha Benz use to "unclog" a "fuel line" on her famous first drive.  It was a "Hat Pin."  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's mom still watches both Jeopardy and "Wheel of Fortune" on tv every night.       

       Wow!  Karl Benz said of his wife, "Only one person remained with me in the small ship of life when it seemed destined to sink and that was my wife."  I'll find out about the "Mercedes-      Benz" company in my books.   I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there in their nest.                                                                             "CAESAREA MARITIMA" (FIRST CENTURY A.D.)          

                PAINTING BY STEPHEN BORNSTEIN                            

                                               

         I'm still thinking about concrete.  In 1985 the Tour Guide Haim said the use of cement to build Caesarea's "artificial" Harbor was "one of the greatest engineering accomplishments in    all of ancient history."  But these days only "Ruins" of Caesarea's Harbor are left I guess.            

          At Caesarea the eastern Mediterranean Sea has "strong currents" so the Romans built big walls or "Water Breaks."  In book two, I'll write about World War II's 1944 "D-Day" invasion    when a "Temporary" concrete harbor was created on France's west coast.   I smell Sage.              

       My boss told Mr. Rick, to create the Water Breakers; the Romans floated gigantic wooden "Forms" into position.  Then,  like a "Mold;" filled and sank them using wet concrete.  I guess    Mr. Steve's parents were impressed, especially his mom who's made things with molds.                 

                 

        "MONARCH" BUTTERFLY           

                        

        That big Monarch Butterfly just flew bye.  Daisy's noticed how there are fewer and fewer Butterflies each year.  Miss Susan told my boss the most common type of Butterflies who live up  here in in our area, which are different from Monarch's; are called the "Painted Ladies."             

          Mr. Steve's dad, who thinks the world has too many people; read 65 million people move to cities each year.  One time, as my boss watered the Mulberry tree; Mr. Mike said he thinks the      "right kind" of sand needed to make cement "may run out" someday.  I smell Creosote.               

         Concrete isn't "permanent" like stone I guess.  I just thought of the concrete "Riverbed" where the L.A. River flows through, and the picture of that Chevy "Impala" like one my boss's    friend Mr. Gilbert used to have sitting in that big concrete riverbed.  It was empty then.                                    

                    1962 CHEVROLET "IMPALA"                              "LOS ANGELES" RIVER                                                             

                                                                                                                           

          My Encyclopedia has a map of the L.A. River's "Route," which starts near a place called "Simi Valley," and ends down near "Long Beach Harbor."  Before William Mulholland built his 1913 Aqueduct that goes bye near us, that River supplied L.A.'s water.  It wasn't enough.              

         From what it says in this Encyclopedia, those "Tongvan" Indians lived near what is now the L.A. River.  That Tongvan lady my boss met at the San Fernando "Knights of  Columbus"      Hall lived in "Moorepark, which is near Simi Valley I guess.  A little Lizard just ran bye.              

           I just thought about those "Lowrider" Cars, like Mr. Gilbert's 1962 Impala.  Daisy says he and Mr. Steve talked on the phone about people in New Mexico who also lower Cars, using      "Hydraulic Lifts" to do it.  Libby's very pleasant scent just floated into to my right nostril.                                                         

        "ESPAÑOLA," (NEW MEXICO)             

                                       

         When Mr. Steve talked to Mr. Gilbert Dais was laying on the floor of his office.  She heard him tell Gilbert he did art for a guy from "Española" New Mexico, and that guy said as a kid he and his brothers built Lowriders.  A Train whistled faintly out there in the northern desert.          

       The guy from Española was a "Santa Clara" Pueblo Indian, and was surprised when Mr. Steve told him there's Santa Clara blood in our family.  That guy "misses the Rio Grande River,  cottonwood trees, Jemez Mountains, red chili and oven bread" he said.  I smell Juniper.               

         I guess, when my boss told him his parents were from Belén; that guy knew exactly where that was.  Belén is thirty miles south of Albuquerque, Española seventy miles.  It was "San Juan de los Caballeros," or "St. John of the Cowboys" as "Nuevo Mejico's" first capital in 1598.         

                   

                         AFRICAN IMPALA                                                   2014 CHEVROLET "IMPALA"              PHOTO BY CAMERON HANES                                                                                                                                               

        

        Daisy told me a tv show said "Impalas" are a type of big Deer-like African Animal called "Antelopes."  Wow!  Dais was right because, a picture in my Encyclopedia shows a Hunter near a dead Impala.  I've mentioned how Impala Cars are made by that "Chevrolet" company.            

        Boy!  You can tell Impala's have big horns that could stab like a spear, so might even kill you if that happened!  Daisy says boy Impala's use their horns to fight other males, if they win      they "Have the Right" be with girl Impala's.  I'd feel flattered if someone fought over me.           

          The tv show said African Impala's live in three groups, males, young males; and a "Herd" of females.  Daisy told me Mr. Steve and that guy Mr. Gilbert talked about how, over the years    since way back in 1958; Impala Cars came in either "full" or "mid-size."  Heathcliff crowed.             

  NEW MEXICO 

                           

          On the map of New Mexico I notice the States of Arizona and Texas are on either side.  Española is located in el "Rio Arriba," while Belén is in el "Rio Abajo."  That means the River    "above" or River "below."  There's a long and extending vapor trail way up there in the sky.       

            I just thought about how, way back in the early 17th century; the Spanish "Colonized" the New Mexico area.  But, in 1680 the Native Indians revolted and kicked out the Spanish; who retook the region about thirteen years later.  Seeing the vapor trail makes me feel good.                

            To control water in California we have "Aqueduct's" while in New Mexico, even before the Spanish arrived in the early 1600's; dug "Ditches" called "Acequias."  Mr. Steve's mom had a pleasant dream about them.  They're called "Venas de Oro," or "Veins of Gold" in English.        

                     L.A. AQUEDUCT                                                   "ACEQUIA" DITCH                         (SYLMAR)                                                                                                (JARALES)         

           I'll mainly write about New Mexico's Ditch system tomorrow.  But, I will say now how in New Mexico ditches bring water from the "Rio Grande" River; which runs north, south in the    "Rio Grande Valley" where Belén and Jarales are located.  Daffy's quacking over there.               

         Mr. Steve and his dad both think water is really important, people having fought over it; but "Salt" has at times been as important they believe.  Mr. Steve's father suspects the day may  come where people kill for "water rights" again.  Boy!  I'm so glad we have enough water.            

        Oh what the heck!  Even though Daisy and I decided that I'd mainly write about a "War Heroes Memorial" in New Mexico tomorrow, I kind of feel like mentioning it now too.  One time Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with his mom about when it was built.         

"WAR HEROES" MEMORIAL ("JARALES," NEW MEXICO)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA      

          

           From what Dais heard, in 1988 Mr. Steve's parents helped in the organizing and building of that War Heroes Memorial.  It's in Jarales, and was "Dedicated" to twenty eight guys from      New Mexico I guess.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other, are now flapping bye.                   

         Many of those twenty eight guys from New Mexico died during World War II.   I'll write about it over the next three days.   Mr. Steve and his mom were remembering how much "time    and energy" went into the creation of that memorial.  Andy's sniffing the air over there.                

          Dais says Mr. Steve's mom picked the marble for the memorial from a "Quarry" in New Mexico.  Mr. Steve, who researched other memorials; helped her design how it would look when  it was finished.  Oh!  I just glanced up and notice a long white vapor trail up there in the sky.       

       

T-33 "SHOOTING STAR" 

       

            I just looked up the "T-33" Jet Plane, whose nickname I guess was "Shooting Star;" and also "T-Bird."   One of them was mounted on a "pedestal," and is set up on the west side of that War Heroes Memorial in Jarales.   Ah!  The air is so clear on this very first day of Spring.            

        The T-33 was a "Trainer" and "first appeared" in 1948, or three years after the end of World War II; the same year "Israel" became a country and a year before that guy Mao Zedong took over in China.   Boy!  Thank You God for providing fresh air for me here on Elvira.             

            Dais heard Mr. Steve's dad say on the phone he was "grateful" for all of the help others gave them back then.  They went to "Tucson" in Arizona, where Mr. Steve's mom picked the old T-33 out of a Junkyard; so it could be "Restored" to how it looks now.   Daffy's quacking.            

                      

           CLARENCE "KELLY" JOHNSON (1910-1990)                

          

         It says here "Kelly" Johnson "designed and oversaw" creation of the T-33, which was based on the "P-80" he also worked on.  At "Lockheed" in "Burbank," his area was named for a Skunk.  Mr. Steve's sister Susan's College boyfriend for a time was Kelly Johnson's Nephew.        

          Dais told me one time Mr. Steve and Mr. Doug remembered how Mark Ritter who died knew a lot about the subject of "Aviation."  He and Mr. Steve talked about the T-33 during that  time when the memorial was being done.  Alpha Company is coming in from the desert.               

            My Encyclopedia says the T-33 has had many "variants" over the years, and was used in "many capacities;" even by other nations like Germany and Japan.  It's interesting how those countries were our enemies during World War II.  I see a vapor trail up there in the sky.                                                              

"VAPOR TRAIL"        

           

          It says in this Encyclopedia how, the T-33 was the first "U.S. Air Force" Jet to "exceed" five hundred "miles per hour" in "level flight;" and "used in combat."  I mentioned earlier how the German "Me-262" was the first "Operational" Jet aircraft.  It came out in 1944.              

         Before the economic recession Mr. Steve had a customer in the State of "Michigan" who said his dad flew T-33's for the country of "Canada."  Mr. Steve told that Parts Manager about    the War Heroes Memorial Dais says.  Alpha Company went under Moe the middle Shed.              

         Mr. Steve's father's friend since graduating from Belén High School in 1949 is named Leo Marquez, the one who got the T-33 for use in the memorial.  Like Mr. Steve's father, he was born in 1932; and is an Air Force "Lieutenant General."  Alpha Company's scent floated in.                 

               

LT. GENERAL LEO MARQUEZ (1932-2012)

           

          According to what Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Dave on the phone one time, that guy Leo Marquez have been friends for most of their lives.  They thought it amusing that      both ended up marrying girls from Belén named "Stella."  Libby just neighed over there.             

     Daisy heard General Marquez went to College at "New Mexico State," and he studied "Zoology;" which my Dictionary says is, "The study of animal life."  Another thing he and Mr.    Steve's dad had in common was having five kids.  Wow!  That is a coincidence alright!                  

        My boss has told Mr. Dave how General Marquez's field was what's called "Maintenance and Logistics."  Logistics is getting the "Food and Equipment" to people in the military, so, it was really easy for him to get that old T-33 out of the Junkyard it was in.  Libby smells good.                                        

NAPOLÉON BONA PARTE (1769-1821)         

                                                                                                                                          PAINTING BY JEAN LOUIS ERNEST MEISSONIER                     

                       

        Daisy and Millie one time heard Mr. Steve and his mom talk on the phone about a time when General Marquez and his wife visited Mr. Steve's parents, at their house down there in        Sylmar.  General Marquez's wife is really nice I guess.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.                     

         In my books I'll learn how armies, whether "In the Field" or not; "Sustains" itself.  Mr. Steve and General Marquez talked about how Napoléon I supposedly said, "An army marches    on its stomach."  General Marquez said that's really a "Frederick the Great" quote.                      

        Well, back to talking about things having to do with New Mexico.  After Columbus' 1492 first voyage to the New World, the Spanish explored North and South America for the next three centuries.  They "Colonized" what was called "Nuevo Mejico" in the early 17th century.             

                                                                                       

NEW MEXICO "ZIA"       

            

          Even though I'm not scheduled to write about the "Zia" Sun logo until tomorrow, I feel like doing it now.  I guess it originated in New Mexico Zia Pueblo Indian artwork put on pottery and symbolizes "Father Sun."  Mr. Dave in Taos also talks about Father Sun too Dais says.          

            I guess the guy from the Santa Clara Pueblo asked my boss how long the Zia has been the New Mexico logo.   He told him since 1925, thirteen years after New Mexico became a State.  My right nostril just picked up Libby, Dawn, Blinky and Rosie's strong scent from next door.             

          Dais heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph on the phone he's drawn the Zia "so many times" he does it "from memory" now.  He puts it on the New Mexico sales orders he "Fax's" to the office.  Fax is short for "facsimile" or "exact duplicate copy."  There's no x in the word I notice.                                                                       

     OAKLAND "ATHLETICS"        "FLEUR DE LIS"              ST. LOUIS "BLUES"                   

                            

         I guess, besides logos like the Zia; Mr. Steve has drawn certain "Letters" so many times    he also does them from memory.  Some are "Old English" capital letters, like the "A" on the        Oakland A's uniforms.  He knows "S" and "C" because of his own first and last names.                

      Mr. Steve has drawn the French "Fleur de Lis" flower emblem, and the St. Louis "Blues" Hockey team musical note logo a lot.  Dais says, since he's been a kid; he's done line drawings of  many sports team logos.  Two of the Pigeons are flying together right over Libby's Corral.            

        Daisy thinks Mr. Steve inherited his ability to draw and do artwork from his mom.  I guess  because she's old now, and can't paint or draw anymore; she colors pictures.  Mr. Steve then        makes them better by trimming, putting them on colored backgrounds; and framing them.                    

ROCKY JR. / AMBER     

         

         I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve's Nephew Rocky Jr. back there in Texas is a really talented "Tattoo Artist."  And his girlfriend Amber is a good "Beautician."  According to what    Daisy and Millie heard one time, they share an office building in the city of "Arlington."              

         Daisy says she can tell Mr. Steve's brothers and sisters are really proud of all their kids.  One time on the phone Mr. Steve talked with his sister Susan about how her son Dalton, because his father has a Pilot's License; wants to become a Pilot someday.  A little Lizard ran bye.             

       Mr. Dave back there in Taos, when he worked as a Salesman for the company Mr. Steve, Babette, Susan and Karin work for; noticed Mr. Steve's neat handwriting.  Since living in New    Mexico he's read about "Pueblo" Indian tribes like the "Zia's."  I smell some Creosote.                                                                                    

                          "ZIA" PUEBLO INDIANS                                

                                                                                

          My Encyclopedia says the Zia Pueblo Indians arrived in what is now New Mexico about 1200 A.D., settling in "Mesa Verde;" about thirty miles northeast of modern "Albuquerque."      My Spanish Dictionary says Mesa Verde means "Green Table."  I see a lot of green now.               

           Dais says Mr. Dave likes New Mexico's "Mesa's," which I guess are big mountains except that they're flat on top.   I remember that morning when Mr. Steve's mom said she's had dreams about the "beautiful places" in New Mexico she saw growing up.  A Train whistled faintly.           

        Ah!  The four Pigeons all just flew in from the back field and landed up on the Patio roof directly above me.  I can smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies sleeping in their nest.  Boy!  The way I feel so good right now makes me really appreciate more having you as my friend Elvira.                  

           "ACOMA"                     MR. ARMANDO / WIFE PAT                        "ACOMA"         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

            

         My boss told Mr. Dave about the time in the 1980's when he and his friend "Armando" visited "Acoma."   Daisy says that's a Native Indian village built right on the top of a tall Mesa.  Theodora the Thrasher Bird just went running bye but now lifted off and is flying away.               

         Dais says Mr. Ralph knows a lot about the history of New Mexico, and read at one time there were about fifteen thousand Zia Indians living in New Mexico; but now only one thousand  are left.  The Pigeons are walking around up there.  I see their shadows moving in the dirt.          

          Before the Spanish arrived "for good" in the 17th century, Mr. Ralph read "inter-tribal" fighting was taking place in New Mexico.  And then, to add onto that; the Spanish brought more warfare and European diseases too.  Crows are fighting over something out there in the field.                                                            

          "CORONADO" EXPEDITION               

 (NEW MEXICO / 1540)          

                                          

           That guy Coronado explored New Mexico, looking for the "Seven Cities of Gold;" fifty years after Columbus's first voyage in 1492.  In 1542 Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed up here to "Alta" California too.  The Pigeons are cooing and that makes me feel so good right now.             

          Arriving in 1601, the Spanish for eighty years at times fought the Pueblo peoples in New Mexico; including the Zia's.  In 1680 the Indians revolted but, thirteen years later; the Spanish    took the area back.  That's when the first known or "Documented" Córdova went there.               

          Mr. Ralph read the original Zia symbol had only three rays coming from the Sun circle in the middle, but sometimes has four.  That circle "represents" the idea of something that "never    begins or ends" he said.  So that might just be You God, Father Sun; they're talking about.                                                                  

     "3"            

                       

         Daisy says Mr. Dave read Zia's believe Father Sun "greeted people when they emerged from the three lower levels of Mother Earth."  Father Sun and Mother Earth "in balance" help people survive, providing food, water and shelter.  Mr. Dave also thinks "3" is important.             

        My boss has been told the three sunrays in that original Zia logo all pointed in the four "Cardinal" directions.  They carry "Life Lessons" on "tribal origins," a "family's strength" and "interconnectedness of all things" down here on Earth.  Ah!  I can smell some old Sage.                

          Because the Sun has gone over top of the house, moving to the west; I can see the Pigeon's shadows moving around out there in the dirt near the Patio.  The sound of their cooing is still making me feel calmer.  Hey!  Maybe ""Rhêma" can also mean the way I feel right now!                                     

  "TAOS" (NEW MEXICO)       

                 PHOTO BY DAVE KOZIOL                                 

                                         

             Mr. Dave and Miss Julianne now live back there in New Mexico, and at times it snowed in Taos.  Daisy told me Mr. Dave took a good picture of it and, like here in Piñon Hills; it was at  times a cold Winter.  But now it's Spring and the weather will get warmer and warmer!                

            I just thought of how because Mr. Dave is a "Hupa" Indian from Northern California, one of he and Miss Julianne's Dogs is named "Ling;" Hupa for "Dog."  Ah!  The Pigeons are      now flying back out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Thank You God for Pigeons.         

            Dais heard Mr. Dave say he "always looks forward" to Spring and, just like Mr. Steve; thinks it's a "special" time of year.  To him the "promise of Spring" gives "hope" of a better life down here in this temporal world.   I really like the way the fluttering of Pigeon wings sound.              

                      MISS JULIANNE                                                 "DRUMMER DAVE"                               

   

          Daisy heard Mr. Dave tell Mr. Steve how "talented" his wife Miss Julianne is when it comes to making "Ceramics" and things like that.  Mr. Steve told his mom, from what he's seen on her "Facebook" website; he can tell Miss Julianne is "creative."  She's a "good partner."        

           This morning I mentioned how Mr. Dave says "Mitakuye Oyasin," which in Hupa can mean, either "Blessings to All" or "All of our Relations."  It might mean all people down here on Earth are "related" Dais thinks.  But she readily admits that's "just a guess" on her part.             

            I just thought of how my boss's mom, after first raising her five kids; then went back to College at C.S.U.N. and got a "Bachelor's Degree" in "Art History."   So, of course over the next three days I'm going to learn a lot more about the history of art too.  Boy!  I can't wait!                                                   GEORGIA O'KEEFE         SAMANTHA / MISS PEGGY           ERWIN ROMMEL           

        (1887-1986)                                                                                          (1891-1944)                           

PAINTING BY TONY VACCARO                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

         

           Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha was born on November 15th, like that lady Georgia O'Keefe in New Mexico, Mr. Mark in Hawaii; and Erwin Rommel from World War II.  In "Astrology"    they're "Scorpio's."  After "going blind" Georgia O'Keefe did pottery Mr. Dave says.                   

       Daisy, Mr. Grant's Dog Miggie and Mr. Steve's father are losing their eyesight.  In Mr. Steve's dad's case it might partly be due his getting snowblind from his time in the Koran War.    Someday I want to hear that BLACK ABBATH song Dais told me about called "Snowblind."      

          Inside our house are clay things Mr. Steve's mom has made.  Someday, I want to see her "Assyrian Winged Lion" bookend in my boss's office; which Daisy says looks just like a smaller  version of the big statue near the front entrance to our house.  I just imagined Miggie's scent.                             

   "WINGED BULL" STATUE                                         "ASSYRIAN" STELAE             

 (NEAR FRONT ENTRANCE)                                                                        ("MESOPOTAMIA")              

               

           I just thought of the cement statues and stelae's on our land, which represent the four areas "Civilization" began.  One was "Mesopotamia," which Dais has me scheduled to find out    about in my books.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying over Libby's Corral.     

             Ah!  I just love breathing in fresh air through my nose.  Based on how this day has gone so far, I can tell these three books will be a long longer than Dais and I thought.  But I promise    God to work hard and accept if things don't go as smoothly as Dais and I had planned on.            

             Someday I want to see Daisy and I's "Facebook" page on the "Internet."  Mr. Steve has an empty one but Mr. Dave's wife Julianne's shows the "Ceramics" she's made Daisy says.  You can tell Dais says, that Mr. Dave is proud of Miss Julianne and has trust and respect for her.                                                                               MR. STEVE'S BROTHER ROCK                           WITH MISS JUDY                                                                 

            Daisy says Mr. Steve's brother Rock's Facebook Web Site shows his photography, like sports or weddings he's taken pictures of in Texas.  I've mentioned before how his girlfriend Miss Judy is originally from "Las Cruces," in New Mexico.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.              

           Mr. Steve's brother has a lot of really good photography equipment according to what Dais heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Randy on the phone.  He gave Mr. Steve a "Digital" camera.  Daisy says Mr.  Steve has a lot of old "Film" camera equipment "Stored" in the two Hallway closets.    

              Boy!  Someday, when I get over my fear of being trapped in an enclosed area; I'll do like Dais and go all the way down the hallway.  I want to go in my boss's office to see our Facebook    page. Unlike Daisy, who's seen herself in a mirror; I don't really know what my face looks like.                                     

SAM /YOLANDA                                    WITH KIDS         

     

          I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve's brother Sam and his family live over there to the northwest of Piñon Hills in the town of "Littlerock."   That's about twenty seven miles away, just over the distance of one of those "Marathon" races.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.               

          Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Miss Babette at work his brother Sam and wife Yolanda have three kids.  Mathew is the oldest, and then comes Sammy Jr. in age; the youngest the girl named Raqquel, who I've mentioned before spells her name with two "q's."   I can smell Andy.                

          A little Lizard is standing on the wall doing pushups.  Boy! The sunlight is making things so beautiful out in the eastern desert right now, both of my nostrils picking up the scent of that clump of Joshua trees next to Manny the Shed.  That's right above Andy and Helen's hole.                    

"APOLLO"    

     

             The sunlight is lighting up the three Sheds.  Because my boss Mr. Steve is interested in the history of the ancient world, I'm planning on learning about Greek and Roman culture over the next three days.  The Greek's God of the "sun, light and music" was named "Apollo."                  

        Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just landed on top of Moe the middle Shed, and Anne has a squirming Lizard hanging out of her mouth.  Oh!  She just killed it with one swipe of a a claw on her left foot.  Now she and Blackbeard are flying away to find somewhere to eat it in peace.          

        My Encyclopedia says one of the U.S. "Space Programs" was named for that Greek God Apollo.  Back in the late 1960's, and early 1970's; they used giant Rockets to shoot people all the way up to then land the Moon I guess.  Theodora the Thrasher Bird just flew bye right now.                     

                   "APOLLO" ROCKET                  ABRAHAM SILVERSTEIN          WERNHER VON BRAUN                                                                                               WERNHER VON BRAUN          "SATURN" S1-B  ROCKET                    

                                              

           This morning I wrote a little bit about "Operation Paperclip" where, after World War II; the U.S. brought Nazi Scientists over here to America to help beat Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union    in the "Cold War."  One was that guy Wernher von Braun.  He knew a lot about "Rockets."        

           Mr. Steve's father read how, during the Cold War; some Jewish Scientists worked with ex-Nazi's like Wernher von Braun.  One was a man named Abraham "Abe" Silverstein, who also    knew about Rockets.  Andy's over there sniffing the air to see if there's any danger around.          

       Abe Silverstein and Wernher von Braun "cooperated" because of the Soviet Union, even though the Nazi's had killed about six million Jews during the "Holocaust."  Daisy thinks that just shows you how much people feared the Soviet Union back in those days.  I like Andy.                           

  VAPOR TRAIL        

        

         I just glanced up from working here on my couch Elvira and see one of those long white vapor trails up there in the sky above the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.  There are a few Birds flying around out there.  Boy!  Looking at the sky makes me really love the color blue.        

         Mr. Steve's father thinks Jews and ex-Nazi's were "probably" able to cooperate because they had "respect for each other's intelligence and patriotism."  And "maybe,"  in the case of the Germans; they wanted a "measure of redemption" Dais heard him say.  Dawn's barking.             

           During the Second World War the U.S. and Soviet Union were "Allies," but after the war right away became big "Adversaries."  In the late 1950's the U.S. was afraid of the Soviet Union, who like us had Nuclear weapons.  Also, a lot of people really hated "Communism" then.              

              

   "MOON LANDING"           

("APOLLO 15" / JULY 20, 1971)       

         

           According to what it says here in my Encyclopedia, from 1969 through 1972; six times  Astronauts in the Apollo program landed on the Moon.  I guess Apollo was the third American    "spaceflight" program.  I just now noticed another vapor trail developing up in the sky.                

           I've mentioned before how "N.A.S.A." is the "overall" U.S. organization created to go  into outer space.  And N.A.S.A. stands for the "National Aeronautics Space Administration."  Helen is taking a break from being with their babies and standing next to Andy over there.           

         Oh wow!  A picture in this Encyclopedia shows a Russian girl Dog named "Laika," who flew up into space.  The caption says, in 1957; Laika was the "first animal to orbit the Earth."      Boy!  That Dog Laika must've been really really brave to have done such an amazing thing.                    

LAIKA (1954-1957)

         

           Oh!  Too bad that Dog Laika died in her one space flight in what my Encyclopedia says was called the Soviet Union's "Sputnik 2" space program.  Boy!  Wait until Dais sees this picture of Laika.  Helen just went back down into their burrow and Andy's looking in this direction.        

            Wow!  According to what it says here, not just one but two "Monuments" or statues were put up in Laika's "honor;" both "erected" in that Russian city of  "Moscow."  I'd definitely like that part of being a world famous Space Dog.  I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie over there.             

       In looking at this book one outline I see I have more to write about California and Los Angeles.  And I'll also learn more about the subject of building materials like stone, bricks and    cement too.  Benjamin the black Cow Bird just now ran bye in front of the three Sheds.                

                

JUAN RODRÍGUEZ CABRILLO (1497-1543)

             

           Córtez "Colonized" Mexico in the 1520's.  Then, for three centuries some Spanish Ships  explored the "Alta" California coastline; but didn't think anything "valuable" was up here.  I've mentioned the 1542 voyage of Cabrillo, who now has a beach named after him Daisy heard.         

        When Mr. Steve and his parents were "Tour Guides" at the San Fernando Mission they learned that, in the 18th century; the final area "Settled" by the  Spanish was Alta California.      That's when the twenty one Missions were established.  Max the Hummingbird zoomed bye.        

        Ah!  I smell Rosemary which makes me think of You Blessed Mother.  My Encyclopedia says, because they "feared" the Russians or British getting Alta California; the Spanish came up here. The "Portolà Expedition" came in 1769 to "colonize" and block them like in Chess.                            

GASPAR DE PORTOLÀ ( 1716-1786)               FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA (1713-1784)

                            

           Hey Blessed Mother!  In 1769 the "Portolá Land Expedition" sent from Baja, or down there in Mexico; "Linked Up" with this "Naval" sea expedition sent at the same time.  Many in both groups died.  But Father Serra, who was with Gaspar de Portolà; survived I guess.                

       After setting up a "Primitive" colony in the area now called "San Diego," the Spanish looked up to the north.  "Portolà's" main job was to set up a "series of settlements" to block the Russians and British from taking California from them.  I smell the twin Joshua trees.                  

          It says here in 1769 Portolà had maps Sebastian Vizcaino made in 1601 when he sailed up here from Mexico.  The problem was I guess, those old maps weren't exactly very "Accurate."  I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy about it and that's what is says here in this Encyclopedia too.                                           

"DISCOVERY" OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY (NOV. 4, 1769)

  PAINTING BY A.B. DODGE            

                 

           The caption under a painting in my Encyclopedia says, after leaving San Diego; Portolà led some of his men northward by land.  They explored up here in Alta California, and for the      rest of 1769 mapped areas which had "never been seen by Europeans."  I smell Juniper.               

          In the painting Portolà is "discovering" the San Francisco Bay.  The Franciscan Priests have those unique haircuts I notice, and a Soldier is holding one of those "Arquebus" guns that I mentioned earlier.  I guess the "Ohlone" Indians were living around the "Bay Area" in 1769.       

          When that guy Portolà first looked down on the San Francisco Bay he thought, based on Vizcaino's maps; he was seeing what is now called the "Monterey" Bay.  I wonder if he thought  about when Córtez looked down on the Aztec city of  "Tenochtitlan" way back in 1519?                            

    FATHER JUAN CRESPI (1721-1782)

           

           One Priest traveling with Portolà in 1769 was named Father Crespi.  As San Fernando Mission Tour Guides Mr. Steve and his parents read things from his "Diary."  In this painting of    him I notice he's not wearing a Franciscan haircut.  Speedy Gonzalez went running bye.             

          My boss, as they loaded our Truck Rex with things for the dump; told Mr. Randy he's known people who went to "Crespi" High School which is located in the San Fernando Valley.  It's in the city of "Encino" where his dad had his school for Stock Brokers.   I smell Speedy.         

         Blessed Mother!  In 1769, when "camping" on the "banks" of  the L.A. River; Father Crespi named it "El Rio de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula."  And that means,  "The River of Our Lady Queen of the Angels from Porciúncula."  Dawn's barking.                   

"ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT"                                         "GREASE"                               

    

       This is interesting.  My Encyclopedia says the L.A. River riverbed was used to film movie's like "Grease," and a World War I movie called "All Quiet On the Western Front."  I want to see that DEVO Video Dais told me about which uses parts of All Quiet on the Western Front.             

      I guess when the L.A. River was dry and empty, a Drag Race from that movie Grease; and Arnold Schwarzenegger's  Motorcycle ride in "Terminator" were filmed there.  Mr. Steve took    pictures of "Arnold" with then California Governor Pete Wilson.   I do like Dawn's voice.            

       Dais told me you can make houses out of rocks.  Tomorrow I'll write about "Llano del Rio," that failed early 20th century "Socialist Utopian" community I mentioned earlier.  It's ruins are near where that British writer Aldous Huxley, who wrote "Brave New World;" later lived.                          

       RUINS OF "LLANO DEL RIO"                                         THE "PANTHEON"                        PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA          

                   

      In Italy in 1985, Mr. Steve visited a concrete Roman building called the "Pantheon;" which means "Temple of the  Gods."  It's now a really huge Catholic Church.  In 2008 my boss and his family visited the "Rotunda" back in Washington D.C., which is modeled on the Pantheon.          

       Hey Blessed Mother!  It says here that Pantheon Church in Rome is "dedicated" to You now and has the world's "largest unreinforced concrete dome."  I mentioned earlier how on that 1985 trip Mr. Steve's Tour Group also went to see Saint Peter's gigantic "Basilica."   I smell Sage.        

      Daisy and I decided I'd write about Frank Lloyd Wright, who used concrete to build houses; in book three when I learn about "Architecture."  But I can mention him now too.   Mr. Steve's    sister Susan studied "Interior Design" in College so also knows about Frank Lloyd Wright.                    

   FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT (1867-1959) WITH WIFE         

          

         It says here Frank Lloyd Wright, like Mr. Mark; was from "Wisconsin" but he's now "associated" with Los Angeles.  Oh!  He died on April the 9th and in looking at my list of dates I see how that's Mr. Steve's old girlfriend Emily's birthday too.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.       

           Mr. Steve's parents met on April 8, 1950.  The caption below this picture of Frank Lloyd Wright says how his wife "Olgivanna," sitting to his left; was the "counter balance" to his "very often chaotic temperament."  I'd definitely wear a crown like the one she has on in the photo.      

           Tomorrow in book two I'll learn a lot about the American Civil War and World War II.  And one thing Dais has me scheduled to find out about is the subject of "Fortifications," and the use of cement in "Bunkers."  Mr. Steve's dad and his friend Mr. Ivan know about bunkers.                                             

                  "MAGINOT" LINE                                                "BLITZKRIEG"                                               

        I just thought of the "Maginot Line," which my Encyclopedia calls a "series of fortified bunkers" built by the French after World War I.  The problem was, when the Germans invaded in 1940 their speedy Tanks just went around or "bypassed" it.  Heathcliff crowed over there.       

       The Germans became known for their steel and concrete World War II bunkers.  But, in conquering France in 1940; their "Wehrmacht" army used "Blitzkrieg" tactics to "route" the    French and British forces.  Tomorrow I'll learn about the Belgian fort called "Eben-Emael." 

         Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about the Germans building the biggest cannons.  In 1940 they "circumvented" the Maginot Line but, if they had attacked it; were going to use this giant    cannon called the  "Schwerer Gustav."  It was designed to even destroy concrete bunkers.                                                

"SCHWERER GUSTAV" ("DORA")   

                

          Wow!  A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows that gigantic German cannon and it's  huge alright!  The caption below it says "Dora" was used to bomb the city of  Sevastopol "into    submission."  Cher the Cat is slinking bye with a dead Mouse hanging from her mouth.                

         I'll learn about World War I in all my books.  It says here in 1918, from "sixty miles" away; the Germans "shelled" Paris with a gigantic "Howitzer" cannon the French called "Big    Bertha."  They had to "compensate the trajectory by figuring in the Earth's rotation."                 

             Littlerock, where Mr. Steve's brother Sam lives with his family; is about twenty seven or so miles west of Piñon Hills."  So, the German Cannons could hit Littlerock from way over here! Ah!  A nice mid-afternoon breeze just brought in the blended scent of the Twin Joshua trees.                     

     105 MM "HOWITZER"                 THREE "ARTILLERY TRAJECTORIES" 

                      

         There are three types of "Artillery" used in warfare, the "Gun," the "Howitzer" and the "Mortar."  A diagram shows the difference in the "Trajectories" each sends the shells towards a target.  Mr. Steve's dad "directed fire" as an artillery "Spotter" during the Korean War.             

          Birds are darting around in the back desert behind the Sheds, and the high beautiful blue sky is making me feel so good.  I smell Alpha Company and their new Spring babies out there.    Hey Barry, Robin and Maurice, thank all you guys for being such good blankets for me.               

          Thank You God for this turning out be a really good day.  Because so many things are dual in nature, I just thought of how cement and concrete can be used for bad purposes too.  In book  two tomorrow Dais has me scheduled to learn a lot about what's called the American "Mafia."                        

"DUTCH" SCHULTZ (1901-1935)     

             

            People think the Mafia is all Italian but some "Gangsters" were Irish and Jewish too.  In my books I'll learn about "Dutch" Schultz, Meyer Lansky and "Bugsy" Siegel; all Jewish Mafia-era gangsters who lived in New York City.  Benjamin the black Cow Bird just now ran bye.          

           I guess Dutch Schultz drowned a guy by putting his feet in concrete and throwing him in the water.  He wore "cement shoes," and in the movie "The Godfather;" they called it "Sleeping  with  the Fishes."  The girl Pirate Ching Shih who I mentioned earlier did things like that too.     

           All of a sudden I just thought about how things like those three pyramids in Egypt were made out of giant "Stone Blocks."  I guess, since ancient times; smaller "Bricks" have also been  used to build big "Structures."  And the Old Testament "Tower of Babel" was one of them.                                

     "TOWER OF BABEL"         

                                       

            Hey God!  As You know, if I could use Mr. Peabody's time traveling machine; I'd go back to the time of the "Book of Genesis."  Boy!  I'd really like to see that Tower of Babel and know    for sure Daisy would want to see it too.  Was it You God who caused it to be destroyed?                 

            I guess the ancient Jews, after "Noah's Flood;" tried to build a brick tower all the way to You up there God.  Mr. Steve read, in ancient "Mesopotamia;" there's a "similar" story.  Daisy    says for a while one on the renters in Sylmar was also named Noah too just like in the Bible.         

        Mr. Steve told his mom the Historian Josephus, who I mentioned this morning; said the Tower of Babel was built as an "act of defiance" to You God.  So did You cause all the workers    all speak different languages so they got too mixed up to finish?  I'll bet it was You alright.                                                                               

         "ADOBE" ("SAN FERNANDO" MISSION)           

            PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                     

                                     

        I've mentioned how my boss Mr. Steve and his parents were Tour Guides over there at the San Fernando Mission.  In the 18th century Spanish Franciscan Priests, like Father Serra; built  the twenty one Alta Californian Missions using "Adobe" bricks.  I smell some old Sage.                

        Dais heard adobe bricks are made by mixing mud with straw.  That straw is what they call the "Binding Agent" that holds the bricks together so they won't just dry up and then fall apart.  Back in New Mexico Mr. Steve's Grandparents lived in houses made out of adobe bricks.              

        My boss and his mom one time talked on the phone about how dried adobe bricks are used to build walls; which are covered with mud "Plaster" that's then painted white.  "Whitewashed" is the word Daisy heard Mr. Steve used.  A long white vapor trail is up there in the sky.                                          

          "PHOENIX" TOWER               

(BALTIMORE, MARYLAND)        

               PHOTO BY KIM HAIRSTON                     

                                                    

         Mr. Steve's customer in the city of "Baltimore," in "Maryland;" told him about this tall brick building called the "Phoenix Tower."  A picture shows how it's now surrounded by the city. I guess, at the time of the American Civil War it was the "tallest building in America."                  

          It says here Phoenix Tower was built to make "Round Shot" bullets by dropping hot lead from up high into cool water way down below.  It's in downtown near "Little Italy" Dais heard.  The N.B.A. Baltimore "Bullets" Basketball team were even named for the Phoenix Tower.            

          A "Planter" named Charles Carroll in 1828 "laid the cornerstone" for Phoenix Tower, at the time he was the "richest man in America;" the "only surviving signer" of the Declaration of Independence."  Oh!  And he was Roman Catholic just like us.  A Train whistled faintly.                                                       

    CHARLES CARROLL (1737-1832)         

           PAINTING BU JOHN WOLLASTON                                         

                                               

         I really like the wigs people wore back in the late 18th century, and would wear one like what that man Charles Carroll is wearing in this painting of him.  I think Dais would probably look pretty good in a wig too if Mr. Steve were ever to buy us some.  A little Lizard ran bye.          

           A few years ago my boss did some artwork for a black lady who was originally from back there in Maryland.  Daisy told me they talked about American history and Mr. Steve explained    the difference between "De Jure" and "De Facto" segregation.  I smell Andy over there.               

        My Latin Dictionary says "de jure" means "by law," while "de facto" is "by fact."  For a long time it was de jure illegal, government sanctioned segregation; for a white person to marry a black person.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying over Libby's Corral.                                               

        UNITED STATES                

  ("CIVIL WAR: PERIOD / 1861-1865)         

                                        

           De Facto segregation, which still exists a lot; is when individual people's attitudes toward black people "creates separateness" Mr. Steve thinks.  A map shows how, four American "Slave" States, Maryland, Delaware, Missouri and Kentucky; "never left the Union."  I smell Sage.          

       Mr. Steve's customer in Maryland said their State flag "uses designs" representing slave owners, and also the people who were against Slavery.  Mr. Steve told him how his mom, back in    College; once painted the Maryland State flag.  Two of the Pigeons are flying to the east.             

        No!  I can smell a "Coyote."   They seldom come out during the day unless they're hungry so it's probably just left over scent from last night.  Miss Susan called Coyotes "omnivores" and that means they'll eat almost anything so, I guess that definition would also apply to me.                                                     

        COYOTE         

                                       

            Mr. Dave jokes Coyotes are "as clever as Crows."  Sometimes they trot bye at night out there on Primavera Road, so Mr. Steve sees their "Tracks" in the dirt the next morning.   Daisy    and I have both noticed how Coyotes are often a boy and girl team who hunt together.                   

        Coyotes are "admired by many Native tribes" in North America Mr. Dave says.  This Dictionary says "Avatar" can mean, "A substitute for  human beings in the imagination;" and that's what some Indian groups do with Coyotes.  Heathcliff crowed, his Hens sound happy.         

           The Shoshone man at the Phelan Library said "my people" noticed the Coyote's "right away" when they migrated down here in about 10,000 B.C.  Mr. Steve met a smart girl one time who told him "Jackals" are Coyote's "African Cousins."  I really like Heathcliff's voice.                            

MIGRATION "ROUTES" INTO NORTH AMERICA

(c. 10,000 B.C.)         

                 

          Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter who died knew a lot about the different "Ice Ages" and how people "Migrated" down into North America from Siberia at the end of the last Ice Age.  I really like the map that shows the routes they took in doing it.  Theodora went running bye.         

          I mentioned earlier today how most Scientists think the "original inhabitants" of North and South America came from Siberia by land and went past huge "Ice Glaciers" that, for a long time; blocked the way south.  Oh!  Little Blinky's barking.  I'm starting to like his voice.               

           Daisy says Mr. Dave thinks maybe some of those original Siberian people "might've come by sea."   In canoes, they "might've skirted the coast" way before the Glaciers melted.  My boss and his girlfriend Sandy rowed around in canoes a few times and had a lot of fun doing it.                                

LAST "ICE AGE" PERIOD

      

           Another map in my Encyclopedia shows, in white; how much of Earth was covered by those huge Glaciers, or "Ice Sheets;" during the "final" Ice Age.  But in about 10,000 B.C., the    weather "warmed;" so the Glaciers slowly melted and "receded" northward.  I smell Sage.          

            In book three on Saturday I'll write about the "Great Lakes."   Those five Great Lakes were carved out of the ground when the giant Glaciers first moved southward during the last Ice Age, and then moved back to the north at the end of it.  A little Wren just now flew bye.                

           Mr. Steve had a customer in Wyoming from the Canadian "Province" of "Alberta."  He was a "Blackfoot" or "Siska" Indian just like the Kick Boxer Benny Urquidez.  I guess, one time that Parts Manager told my boss about this thing in Alberta called the "Badlands Guardian."                                 

"BADLANDS GUARDIAN"     

("ALBERTA," CANADA)         

           

           Wow!  I just looked up the Badlands Guardian, the "natural feature" that Parts Manager told my boss about.  A picture from way up high in the air shows how it looks like the "profile" of an Indian's head.  Mr. Dave in New Mexico knows about the Badlands Guardian Dais says.     

         From up in the sky the badlands Guardian looks like it was created by people and it can only be seen from really high because it's so huge in size.  I guess, after the last Ice Age ended; it was  created over thousands of years by rain and "wind erosion."  I smell older Mesquite.            

        Daisy says Mr. Steve's customer told him, because a road was built out to an "Oil Well" near the Indian's ear; it looks like he's wearing "Head Phones."  That Parts Manager and Mr.      Steve also discussed a thing called the "Face of Mars."  Benjamin the Cow Bird flew bye.                                                              

"FACE OF MARS"    

("CYDONIA" REGION ON MARS)     

                         

            Oh my God!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows the Face of Mars.  It does look just like a person's face with two eyes, a nose and even a mouth too.  But Mr. Steve says, just like with the Badlands Guardian; it's probably nothing more than what's called an "Optical Illusion."             

            I've mentioned how my boss is interested in "Astronomy" and that's why I want to learn about it too.  He told the guy in Wyoming about the "Jet Propulsion Laboratory" near Sylmar.    And they discussed the "Viking 1" and "Viking 2" Spacecraft sent to Mars Daisy told me.            

          The caption below the picture says the Face of Mars is in an area called "Cydonia," a region named after an ancient Greek city on the island of "Crete."   According to what it says in my Greek Dictionary, the word "Polis" would be translated to be "City."   Libby whinnied.                                                                    

"NAZCA LINES"    

(NAZCA DESERT, PERU)     

                          

         Even though I'm not scheduled to learn about the "Nazca Lines" right now, I can still  mention them now too; seeing as how I wrote about the Badlands Guardian and Face of Mars.    The Nazca Lines are in what is now the country of "Peru."  Mark Ritter knew about them.          

           A good "Bird's Eye" picture in my Encyclopedia shows one of the "Geoglyphs" Indians down there in South America "scraped" or dug out of the dirt.  From way up high in the sky you can tell they made it in the shape of a huge Spider.  Two of the Pigeons just went flying bye.          

           It says here all the giant-sized geoglyphs were "created" by the "Nazca" people between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D.  The Spanish first saw them in the mid-16th century and Planes flew over them in the late-1920's.  That big Spider is "just one of them" according to what Dais says.                                                                    

            CONSTELLATION "ORION"            

                       

            I wonder if my boss knows this?  I guess some people think the Nazca Spider was meant to represent "Orion," which I know he might be interested in knowing.  Over the next three days I'll be learning a lot more about that "Constellation" and also some of the other ones too.             

         Mr. Dave said the biggest geoglyph at Nazca is about twelve hundred feet long.  And the lines dug into the ground, to draw the many giant geoglyphs; are anywhere from six inches to six feet  across.  Wow!  There are about "eight hundred miles worth of drawings at Nazca."               

           Hey God!  I just thought about that book "Chariot of the Gods," where they say "Aliens" from Outer Space came down to Earth in ancient times.  The book says the Nazca geoglyphs may have been meant for Aliens to see.  But I'll bet it was so You who they wanted to see them!                   

        "STONEHENGE"                                                     MR. PHILLIP              

("SALISBURY PLAIN," ENGLAND)

               

               I just thought of that building in England "Stonehenge."   My Encyclopedia calls it a "prehistoric monument" built over a thousand years "beginning in 3,000 B.C."  Wow!  Each giant carved stone weighs about twenty five tons!  Mr. Phillip knows about Stonehenge.                

           As I've said a few times already, "Civilization" began back in "about" 4,000 B.C. in China, India, India, Mesopotamia and Egypt.  That's when some nomadic "Hunter-Gatherer"  societies "Settled" in one area rather than "follow seasonal food sources."  Dawn's barking.         

              Mr. Phillip said "some think" Stonehenge was used as an "Astrological Observatory" for "Marking" where the Sun, Stars or Moon rise and set on the horizon.  That told the people    when to plant, harvest and other important things like that.  Now little Blinky's barking too.                                                                                     "NAZCA LINES"                                     MAX THE HUMMINGBIRD                                                (HUMMINGBIRD)                                                                        PHOTO BY TOM GREY                                                                      

                     

           Oh my God!  Who do I see just as I'm looking at this picture of a Nazca geoglyph in the shape of a Hummingbird?  Max  whizzed bye, and is now zooming out into the desert behind the three Sheds.  Boy!  I wonder why his girlfriend 99 still isn't with him this late in the day?              

      Daisy says Mark Ritter who died knew a lot about geoglyphs, and these other types of drawings called "Petroglyphs."  He thought both were "often connected to religious ceremonies somehow."  I'll learn and write more about things like petroglyphs over the next three days.         

         Seeing all of the "Bird's Eye" view photographs in my Encyclopedia's makes me realize why it would be so weird to be able to fly.  I think I'd rather just stay down here on the ground. .  Ah!  I think I just smelled a Coyote but maybe it's just me "imagining things" as Dais says.          

                                              

COYOTE     

                                              

           Mr. Ralph told my boss Spanish Explorers "first wrote about" Coyotes in the mid-17th century.  I guess, Coyotes original "Nahautl" Aztec name was "Coyotl." But "in New Mexico it    got "hispanicized" into three different syllables; by pronouncing it as "Coh-Yoh-Tay."                 

             The older Shoshone man at the Phelan Library knows a lot about Coyotes.  He chuckled when Mr. Steve said it's amazing how, even if you see a Coyote; they seem to "magically vanish" and "disappear" in the "blink of an eye."   I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie over there.                  

           I'll look up and write about the Lewis and Clark Expedition tomorrow.  So I'll find out more about that Shoshone Indian girl "Sacagawea.  Dais heard Mr. Ralph say Lewis and Clark    thought Coyotes might be "Fox's," or maybe even "Prairie Wolves."  Dawn's barking.                  

                   

"LEWIS AND CLARK" EXPEDITION  

                                                                                                                                                                PAINTING BY N.C. WYETH

             

           It's interesting how females have helped Explorers make history.  That girl Sacagawea translated for Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition, carrying a baby on her back while traveling with them.  A small group of what look like Pigeons is flying bye way up there.               

           Daisy heard Mr. Ralph talk with Mr. Steve about Doña Marina, who in 1519 translated for Hernán Córtez when he and his Spanish Conquistadores conquered the Aztec Empire.  The    Mexicans don't like her.  They call her "La Malinche" and "mal" means "bad" in Spanish.          

             All of a sudden, writing about those South American Nazca lines; makes me think about a big, giant eighty ton boulder in New Mexico.  I'm supposed to write about it on Saturday in my third book but can mention it now too.  A Freight Train whistled faintly way out in the desert.                                 

80 TON BOULDER       

("LOS LUNAS," NEW MEXICO)       

                       PHOTO BY DAN RABER                              

                

          Near "Belen" and "Jarales," where my boss's parents grew up; is this giant boulder on which someone scratched the "Ten Commandments."   I guess it's located in an area called "Los Lunas," which my Spanish Dictionary says means "The Moons."  Andy's looking at me.               

      Hey God!  People wonder how a rock here in America could have a carving written in ancient Hebrew and Greek on it?  It's a "Mystery" how it got there, because it's in a "Remote" area.  As a teenager Mr. Steve's father hiked all the way up to see it with some of his friends.        

          Dais says Mark Ritter, who died; knew about that big boulder in New Mexico.  He'd read about this Archaeologist named Frank Hibben, who saw those "Engravings" all the way back in 1933.  Mr. Steve's father was only one year old in that year, his mom born two years later.                                                

FRAY TOMÁS DE TORQUEMADA (1420-1498)

   

            I just thought about that Spanish Franciscan Priest named Tomás de Torquemada who, in the late 15th century; led this thing called the "Inquisition."  Daisy and Millie saw a tv show    about him and it sounds like he was kind of a mean person.  Samson and Delilah flew bye.            

         Muslim "Moors" came across from Northern Africa in the 8th century A.D. to conquer most of the Iberian Peninsula.  That included what is now Spain and Portugal.  Then, for about    seven centuries, during the "Reconquista;" they were slowly pushed back down into Africa.         

           The Reconquista ended in 1492, the year Columbus finally convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to sponsor his idea of sailing west to reach "The East."  It would turn out to be    one of the most important events in history and change the world.  Heathcliff just crowed.            

             

   COLUMBUS / ISABELLA / FERDINAND                         JEWISH "EXPULSIONS"                      

          

           My Encyclopedia says, once the reconquest of Spain was "complete," it was "made law" by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that Jews and Muslims had to convert to Catholicism or leave Spain.  A map shows it.  Jews have been "Expelled" from places many times in history.       

           Later today I'll learn about the "Mexican War" of 1846-1847; when a military unit called the "Mormon Battalion" came out here to Southern California.   I'll come back to that big giant boulder in New Mexico then too.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying bye.          

         Daisy says the tv show about that guy Tomás de Torquemada said it was his job to make sure Jews and Muslims really were converting to Christianity.  Mr. Steve's dad thinks there's "a good chance there's Jewish or Muslim blood in the Cordova line."   Two Crows are fighting.        

     

         ALBERT ANASTASIA(1902-1957)                                OCTOBER 25, 1957                   

                                      

        This Encyclopedia says that guy "Torquemada" was called the "Grand Inquisitor."  In book two tomorrow I'll write about this Italian-American gangster named Albert Anastasia who, just  like Torquemada, "eliminated" people.  That's a nice way of saying they killed them.            

           I guess Albert Anastasia, for the Mafia "Gambino" crime family; ran "Murder Inc."  His nickname, like Torquemada; was "Lord High Executioner."   But, when my boss's brother Rock was only eight days old; he himself was killed in a Barber Shop while "Getting a Shave."              

          Mr. Steve's dad thinks whoever chiseled the rock in Los Lunas might've been "Converso" Jew who, after Columbus' 1492 voyage; came to the "New World."  A Converso was a Jew who became Christian, a "Morrisco" is a Muslim who did.  Maybe they pretended to convert?           

           

MR. IVAN        

          

           One time, when he mentioned that giant boulder in New Mexico, Mr. Steve's dad's friend Mr. Ivan joked about the "Ten Lost Tribes" of ancient  Israel.  Daisy think Mr. Ivan is smart and he knows a lot about "Bible Archaeology" I guess.  Two of the Pigeons are now flying bye.            

         In my books I'll learn about "Judaism" so, one of the things under that category are the different Jewish "Diasporas."  This Greek Dictionary says "diaspora" means, "to scatter."  And in English it would be, "Forcible dispersion of a population from one area to another."                  

            This one Encyclopedia says, in the "8th century B.C.;" those Mesopotamian "Assyrians"  conquered Israel and took the survivors  into "Exile."  Later, only two Jewish tribes returned and it's a mystery where the other ten went.  Mr. Mark in Hawaii read of "Ethiopian" Jews.                       

"PURITANS"  

  ("MASSACHUSETTS BAY" COLONY)

  

          Mr. Steve and Mr. Mark talked about how his father thinks it's possible his family is part Jewish or Moorish Northern African.   Some Christians, like Mormons or those "Puritans" who came to America in 1607; thought Indians were the ten lost Jewish tribes.  I smell old Sage.          

          Ah!  I suddenly smell the Twin Joshua trees and it's just when I'm looking at a painting in this Encyclopedia that shows some of those Puritans.  Hey God!  In this painting I notice how the caption says a man is raising up his arms thanking You.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.           

         Hey Mr. Joshua!  If you just happen to be up there mind-reading me right now I want to tell you I agree with those 19th century Mormons who thought some Joshua trees looked like the way I guess you used to pray to God.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; flew bye.                                                          JOSHUA                         "SPARK OF LIFE"                     THE  "TWINS"                                                                                                                        

          For some reason God, smelling the Twins again right now, in both nostrils; makes me feel so good and want to pray.  Daisy is so right when she says praying is relaxing, which I definitely  need to do but; I'm getting better about not worrying nearly as much.  Thank You God!                

         Mentioning Puritans reminds me of how the first "Permanent" American British Colony "Jamestown;" was established in 1607 in what is now the State of "Virginia." It was named for King James I.  I guess Virginia just refers to that last "Tudor" monarch Queen Elizabeth I.          

          In 1630 the Puritans, "Protestant" Christians; started their colony near where Mr. Steve's sister now Susan lives with her son's Dalton and Austin.  I've mentioned before how they live in    "Connecticut."  I guess the State of "Massachusetts" is to the north east of Connecticut."                  

                 ELIZABETH I                COLONY OF "VIRGINIA"                    JAMES I                          (1558-1603)                                                 (1607-1776)                                                      (1566-1625)       

     THE "DARNLEY" PORTRAIT  (1575)                                                                                                                                           PAINTING BY PAUL VAN SOMER  (1620)   

    

          I'd definitely wear shoes with bows on them, like the ones King James I is wearing in the painting of him.  And I'll bet Daisy. seeing as how her favorite color is red; would like the dress Queen Elizabeth I has on in her painting.  Two of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral.       

         This Encyclopedia says in the year 1565, seventy three after Columbus's first voyage; the Spanish "established" the "Colony" of "St. Augustine" in what is now the State of "Florida."  In 1598 "Santa Fe" and New Mexico was created.  Now the other two Pigeons are flying bye.            

           Boy!  It's a good thing I have all of these Encyclopedias because there's no way I'd be able to spell many names.   It says here Jamestown was created in an area of the east coast then home to the "Powahatan" Native Indian tribes.  I guess they called their region "Tsenacommacah."      

                                                                                          POCAHONTAS (1595-1617)                   

                  

        I feel like writing about this Indian girl named "Pocahontas" but I'll just wait and do it according to my outlines.  Mr. Steve read she lived a "short and sad" life.  Daisy says he one time told Miss Susan in some pictures he's seen Pocahontas "sort of looks like his sister Celina."          

         Mr. Steve told that Shoshone man at the Library about the Tongva lady he met at the San Fernando Knights of Columbus.  She called Coyotes "tricksters" and said that's why the 1950's "Beatniks" really admired them.  They're "like Crows" she said, "smart and able to adapt."       

        The lady told my boss in Tongvan "Iitar" means Coyote, and in "native portrayals" they "resemble the Viking God "Loki" or  the ancient Greek "Titan" Prometheus.  The Spanish came to California  in the 18th century and called the Tongvans "Fernandeños" or "Gabrieleños."                                           

        CALIFORNIA INDIAN GROUPS                                CALIFORNIA INDIAN VILLAGE                                                                                                                                                                   PAINTING BY MARY LEIGHTON THOMSON

               

          Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Dave on the phone one time how that Tongvan lady said in California there have been many names for Coyotes.  But they way many people now pronounce Coyote is from a 19th century Mark Twain book.  I smell Juniper, which makes me feel good.      

        Mark Twain "Anglicized" Coyote to be "Ki-YOH-Tee."  That's how Mr. Steve's customer in "Missouri" pronounced it Dais says.  Wilt, the Auto Mechanic from Texas who I wrote about earlier; used  to say "Ki-Yote."  Rudy the Roadrunner just jogged bye in front of the Sheds.         

       A customer told Mr. Steve at times Coyotes and these things called "Badgers" help each other.  The Badger digs up the prey from the hole, the Coyote runs it down and kills it; then they share.  In Spanish "Tejón" means Badger, like a place called "Fort Tejón" near Bakersfield.                                        COOPERATION  BETWEEN BADGER AND COYOTE           

                         

           Mr. Phillip from Wales said that Badgers and Coyotes have a "mutually beneficial" or "Symbiotic" relationships like Bees and Flowers.  Daisy says Mr. Phillip told Mr. Steve he's been told QUEEN'S Guitarist Brian May protects Badgers over there in England.  I smell Sage.           

         Coyotes are "opportunistic eaters" Mr. Phillip joked.  They prefer Mice, Rabbits and things like that but if hungry will eat Bugs and Lizards too; they'll even eat berries and plants "if necessary" Miss Susan said.  Boy and girl Coyote's often work as a good team too.                   

           Boy!  It would be so terrible to be eaten by something like a Coyote or Mountain Lion.  Ah!  A nice cool breeze just blew in Rudy the Roadrunner's scent from the eastern desert behind the Sheds, which reminds me of last Summer.  Boy God!  I sure hope it's not as hot this year.                                                           BONNIE FEEDING HER BABIES                 

                                                                              

             Bonnie flew in and is now throwing up food in her stomach to feed their babies.  Those baby Birds sound really hungry and, now that I think of it; I'm getting kind of hungry too.  Boy!  I wonder why Mr. Steve hasn't come outside to give us not even one snack so far today?                

         Daisy was so right.  She thought it would be a warmer than usual Spring when we saw Bonnie and Clyde building their nest earlier than usual this year.  Hey God!  Thank You for such sucha nice day for me to learn how to read and write and find out so many brand new things.      

          Thank You God for sending me here to live.  Oh!  Andy and Helen the Squirrels are both standing near the entrance to their burrow, so Helen is taking a break from being with their new babies down there.  I notice Squirrels have feet that can endure walking on even snow or ice.                                         

  ANDY AND HELEN PLAYING

  

            Andy and Helen are wrestling a little bit, but still alert for any danger to their new babies down there.  They're in a  good mood, and I'll bet one reason is because of those babies already being here on this first day of Spring.  Oh!  Helen ran and ducked down into their hole.  

            I wonder what Daisy's doing right now?  I'll bet she's laying down and resting, either out on the cement slab driveway or near the front door in case Mr. Steve comes outside.  She really loves her comfortable green Barny the Dinosaur blanket Mr. Chris got for her a while back.

           Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez just used the right vertical slot on the side of the back gate to come in from being out in the eastern desert.  I've noticed most Squirrels move in short spurts, but Speedy runs a lot more and is usually in "Constant Motion" so to speak.  I can smell Andy.

  

SPEEDY GONZALEZ

             We think Speedy Gonzalez is a boy but don't know for sure, he just seems like a boy.    He's running around the northeast corner of the house, to my left at the far end of the Patio.  My boss puts out Bird Seed below his office window; and also Pellets for Rabbits and Squirrels.    

             Boy!  I've already learned new things today and I'm getting better and better at reading and writing and practicing both things.  I'm surprised Mr. Steve hasn't given Daisy and I any snacks yet today.  I can't wait to visit Dais after this seventh chapter, which is almost finished. 

            Mr. Steve says Squirrels are smart, but got mad when they stole Bird seed from the two Bird Feeders hanging on the tree branches.  I heard Mr. Randy say that time how some people don't like Squirrels or Gophers around.  But Mr. Steve enjoys looking at them so we do too.  

      

ANDY AND HELEN SINGING 

     

             Dais told me Squirrels trick or fool Crows by pretending to bury "Nuts" but drop rocks in the hole instead while keeping the nuts in their mouths.  Daisy and I both really like it when Andy and Helen sing together.  I remember that afternoon last Summer when they sang. 

             I know one thing.  Momma Squirrels are mean and try to bite you if you get too close to their babies.  Helen had three babies last year but none are around here anymore.  Daisy thinks that they either died somehow or found their own territories to go start their own families.

            Sitting back here on Elvira, and looking to my front; I see a few Birds zipping about out there in the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.  I hear a few of them chirping too.  Andy is now sniffing the mid-afternoon air, in case Cher the Cat or Goliath the Snake are nearby.  

             

"CREATION"      

"SISTINE" CHAPEL (MICHAELANGELO BUONAROTTI)

      

             Hey God!  My boss met a lady who thought there was "sacredness" in how You made it so two parents are needed to make a third life.   When I see Andy and Helen it kind of makes me want to have some babies of my own to raise and teach.  Boy! That would be so great I think!  

            Daisy, who's had babies; thinks I'd be a good mother.  All of her babies were given away but if I had some babies I'd want to keep all of them.  Hey God!  As You know already, I sort of want to believe that You at times reach down here and cause some things good to happen.  

            Like Daisy and Mr. Steve's mom God, besides feeling You in the Sun's warmth; I kind of see You in flowers.  Boy!  I sure do hope that You send us a lot of flowers this coming year, like some of those big pretty yellow "Sun" flowers for instance.  A Train just whistled faintly.

                      

      "SUNFLOWERS"       

                              

              Last night Dais and I remembered how, last Summer; three Sun Flowers grew up near the back fence.  That Tongvan lady Mr. Steve met at the San Fernando Knights of Columbus Hall said in her language "Paaxar" is their word for Sun Flower.  I smell some Juniper.

            I love to smell and look at flowers; whether the wild flowers that grow around here or the "Roses" and "Oleanders" our neighbors grow.  I can't wait to smell our neighbors flowers when they come out for the first time this new year.  And hopefully God, that will be pretty soon. 

           Mr. Steve jokes flowers are the world's "first form of advertising."  Because most flowers can't move, they attract Animals or Insects to come and drink their "Nectar;" which gives them energy.  In return the flower "Pollen" stuck to their bodies is then taken to another flower. 

       

                             "ORCHIDS"                                                           "ROSES"

                                                                                                                                                              PHOTO BYS STEVE CÓRDOVA

                                                                                                                                

               Dais told me pollen stuck to the Animals or Insects is taken to another flower, and when it rubs off on the second flower that's how baby flowers are made.  Mr. Steve's mom's Girl Scout troops used to make good-smelling soap with flowers I guess.  She liked "Orchid" flowers. 

           Mr. Steve jokes flowers advertise to people too, because they look pretty and smell good; which made people want to plant gardens.  A lady once joked with my boss "You can tell which flowers use the wind to carry pollen as they don't "bother to look as good."  I smell Juniper.  

              A long white vapor trail up there in the sky right now is making me of an Airplane Pilot named Cal Rodgers.  I'm scheduled to write about him in my third book on Saturday but I sort of feel like looking him up now too.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying toward the east.  

        

                    WRIGHT BROTHERS                                               CAL RODGERS (1879-1912)   

         

                When Mark Ritter died Mr. Steve one of his books on the history of early Aviation.  Mr. Randy borrowed it one time and, as my boss watered the Mulberry tree up there in the front yard; they talked about a Pilot named Cal Rodgers.  Ah!  I smell a Lizard around here.

           I guess that guy Cal Rodgers is a "Trivia" question.  Many know of Charles Lindbergh or Amelia Earhart, but "few" know about him my boss says.  In 1911, eight years after those two Wright Brothers flew their very first Airplane; he flew from "Coast-to Coast" in America.

           This Encyclopedia says that, as a kid; Cal Rodgers got "Scarlet Fever" and "went deaf" like that girl Helen Keller.  So, he was not allowed to go into the Military; but instead became an Airplane Pilot instead.  That kind of reminds me of that little hunchback guy Homer Lea. 

           

                                                           COMMODORE MATHEW PERRY (1794-1858)

         

              Wow!  It says here Cal Rodgers' Great Grandfather was Commodore Perry, who fought in the Mexican War; and I'll write about later today.  In 1853 Commodore Perry "opened up" Japan to U.S. trade.  A Lizard is standing over there on the wall near the sliding glass door.

             I guess that guy Cal Rodgers was originally from the city of "Pittsburgh," just like Mr. Rick's family.  Mark Ritter thought what Cal Rodgers did was "impressive" because he used a "primitive" Plane and there "were no Airports" back in 1911.  Dawn's barking over there.

             My Encyclopedia says Cal Rodgers was "injured" a few times on the first coast-to-coast flight in 1911, which was two years before William Mulholland built our Aqueduct.  Oh!  He died in a Plane crash the next year.  A flock of Birds flying bye way up there in the light blue sky.  

                    

                                                      "BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS"

                                                                      (WAR OF 1812)

                       

             In my books I'll write about the wars the U.S. has been in.  One, about thirty years after the "American Revolution;" was the "War of 1812" which Cal Rodgers' relative fought in.  The British burned the President's "White House" in Washington D.C. during that war I guess.          

            Andrew Jackson, who I'll learn about over the next three days; won this 1815 battle near New Orleans in the War of 1812.  Dais told me Mr. Steve likes a song called the "Battle of New    Orleans."  That one Indian Chief Tecumseh fought with British against the U.S. back then.          

           Mentioning Commodore Perry Daisy makes me feel like writing about Japan.  For much of Mr. Steve's life the family Doctor's were "Japanese-Americans."  They were a brother and a    sister who's Office was located in the city of San Fernando.  Libby just whinnied over there.                                       

                                                                      "SAMURAI"

        

                  Someday I'll see my boss's "Samurai" swords, which he keeps in his office.   Daisy's told me about Samurai Warriors.  On Saturday, day after tomorrow in book three; I'm scheduled to learn a lot more about these other Japanese guys Daisy told me about called "Yakuza." 

           I would wear a helmet like the one the Samurai Warrior is wearing in a painting.  Wow!  I notice how even his mean-looking Horse is also wearing armor too.  Glancing to my right, I can see Libby over there walking around near the back of her Corral near Primavera Road. 

          "From from 1185 through 1868" it says here, an "elite samurai warrior class" helped the "Shoguns" to rule Japan.  Samurai's would "rather die than lose," and in the 20th century that idea influenced many Japanese and German Soldiers.  A Shogun is a "military dictator."

           

2014 SUZUKI "JIMMY / "SAMURAI"      

   

        Dais and Millie one time were in Mr. Steve's office on a hot Summer day when they heard him talking to one of Honda customers.  They discussed this other Japanese Car maker called      "Suzuki, " who made a vehicle called "Samurai" I guess.  Andy's over there sniffing the air.         

     The Parts Manager told our boss, before they were called Samurai's Suzuki called those vehicles "Jimmy;" and it was "again renamed Jimmy" a few years  later.  Fannie and Freddie,    talking to each other; are flying together toward the northeast.   They sound so happy.                  

       Samurai Cars were a "series of four-wheel drive off road mini S.U.V's" the Parts Manager said.  They were the "very first Car that Suzuki sold in the U.S.," and "down in Australia" were called "Sierra."   A Train just whistled faintly over there to my left at the end of the Patio.            

              

                                               DR. MARY ODA (PACOIMA / 2011)       

                                  

             Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled to write about them until the day after tomorrow in book three, I just kind of feel like writing about Mr. Steve's two family Doctors in this first book too.  They were a brother and sister Japanese-American "Nisei." 

             A picture shows Dr. Mary Oda in front of a "Mural" in Pacoima.  Behind her the images of she and her older brother Dr. Sakaguchi are painted on the wall.  Mr. Steve told his mom he had a dream where he "thanked both" for all they did for his family over the many years.  

            That man Dr. Sakaguchi "Set" Mr. Steve's broken bones, and "stitched him up" a few times I guess.  In the early 1960's Dr. Oda "Delivered" his brother Sam and sisters Celina and Susan too.  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there to my right but Daffy's much louder.

         

   "THE WONDER YEARS"      

                     

                I look forward to someday seeing that tv show "The Wonder Years."  This morning I wrote how it's about kids in 1968 who live in this American "Suburb," the "Main" character being that one thirteen year old boy named "Kevin."  Mr. Steve was also thirteen in 1968.

             Dais told me about that episode of The Wonder Years where Kevin tries to "Show Off" for a girl he likes named "Winnie."  But, he ends up being really "Embarrassed" by a dropped Football thrown by his mean older brother.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.   

              Mr. Steve was thirteen when my boss tried to show off for that girl "Sheri" when he was thirteen he cut his face.  I wrote about it this morning.  It was Dr. Sakaguchi who sewed up the long cut that went all the way from the corner of his mouth almost to the bottom of his ear. 

               

                                                 DR. SAKAGUSHI WITH WIFE KAY      

                      

        Dais one time heard Mr. Steve and Mr. Ralph talking on the phone about Dr.'s Oda and Sakaguchi.  They were both married and had kids, and were always involved in things having to do with the northeast San Fernando Valley area.  I like smelling Bonnie and Clyde's babies.         

                Mr. Steve's mom said Dr. Oda and Sakaguchi opened an office in San Fernando in 1955, the year my boss was born.  As I've mentioned, Mr. Steve's parents moved from New Mexico out here to California "for good" in 1960 he says.  A flock of Birds is flying bye way up there.

            In 1960 Mr. Steve's parents bought that first house on Hagar Street in Sylmar,  and "soon after that" began going to go see Dr. Oda and Sakaguchi for their family.  In 1960, my boss was five years old; his brother Rock only three.   Oh!  Both Dawn and Blinky are barking now.   

                                  

                                            "TUNA"                                                            "SWORDFISH"                                                         

             "Over the years" my boss says, he and family "got to know" Dr. Oda and Sakaguchi's offices "well."  Mr. Steve had dreams where he sees the photos on Dr. Sakaguchi's office wall of big Fish he caught.  One was of a big "Tuna" and another one showed a "Swordfish."  

             Daisy and Millie one time heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with his brother Rock, who also likes to Fish; about Dr. Sakaguchi.  "It's a good thing for me" my boss jokes, that he was "good at fixing broken bones."  He had a "calming presence" and a "firm handshake."  

           My boss and his brothers and sisters mainly went to Catholic schools like St. Ferdinands. For 9th and 10th Grades Mr. Steve went to "Alemany" High School where, for many years Dr. Sakaguchi was what they call the "Team Doctor" for sports.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.                        

                             MISS EMILY                                                    U.C.L.A. CAMPUS

     

                 Miss Emily, my boss's ex-girlfriend; works for U.C.L.A.  I guess both Dr. Sakaguchi and Oda; and that lady Miss Helen too; went to College there so are "Alumnus."  Mr. Steve, brother Rock, sister Susan, and their mom; went to C.S.U.N.  His Nephew Mathew went there too.

                 I just thought about how my boss Mr. Steve enjoys the atmosphere of College campus's and cemeteries.  That's what Daisy heard him and Miss Susan at work talk about, she also liking to walk around campus's and cemeteries too.    Ah!  This mid-afternoon air is so clear.   

              Later this afternoon I'm scheduled to write about the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which Mr. Steve's family was involved in.  And so was Dr. Sakaguchi as a "Medical Advisor."  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Ralph he's been told Dr. Sakaguchi was pretty good at "Judo." 

                            

BENJAMIN

       

                Benjamin the Bronze Cow Bird just ran underneath Moe the middle Shed.  It's weird how Cow Birds, and Thrasher Birds like Theodora; run so much on the ground even though it's easy for them to fly at any time.  I wonder why they're not called "Black Cow Birds?"

              One time our boss met a nice Japanese-American lady Dais says.  Before World War II her family lived in West Los Angeles near where Miss Emily lives.  In 1942, the U.S. Government thought her father might be a "Spy "so beat him up to make him confess; but he didn't.

              That lady said Nisei are children of Japanese immigrants, her parents were "Issei;" and together they're "Nikkei."  Mr. Grant and his wife Laurie, besides the house in Rosamond; have a "Condo" in an area of L.A. called "Little Tokyo."  Condo is short for "Condominium."   

               

                   FORMER "SERRA MEMORIAL" HOSPITAL ("LAKE VIEW TERRACE") 

                     

               I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve's first girlfriend was named Sandy and her mom was a Nurse.  The Hospital Sandy's mom worked at was called "Serra Memorial" and was in an area near Pacoima called "Lake View Terrace."   I smell Alpha Company out there in the field. 

          Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Sandy's first jobs were working at a "Pharmacy" in the Serra Memorial Hospital.  Sandy wore a white uniform, and worked "Behind the Counter;" while he was the "Delivery Boy."  It was Sandy's mom who got them those jobs from what Dais heard. 

            During the mid-1980's Mr. Steve, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen sold things for the company that owned the Forum and sports teams.  For a time Mr. Mark, who grew up in Milwaukee and now lives in Hawaii with his family; lived in Lake View Terrace.  That's what Daisy told me. 

       

                                                         "BEVERLY HILLS 90210"    

                       

                  I guess some tv shows and movies have been filmed at Serra Memorial Hospital.  One tv show was called "Beverly Hills 90210" and, in the late 1980's; Mr. Steve watched it a few times with his then girlfriend Miss Harriet.  Scenes from the "Terminator" movie were shot there.

            From what I heard Mr. Steve tell Miss Susan, who used to run our Newspaper; Serra Memorial Hospital was closed a few years ago.  It's now a place where people addicted to drugs go to try to get better.  That orange Monarch Butterfly is going bye in front of the Sheds.

           Serra Memorial Hospital, where Mr. Steve had his tonsils taken out by Dr. Sakaguchi; was named after that 18th century Franciscan Priest Father Serra.  As I wrote about earlier today, he established the first nine "Alta" California Missions.  I smell Theodora's Creosote bush.  

            

                                                    "RODNEY KING BEATING" (1991)    

                           

               The day after tomorrow in book three I'll learn about the two trials of the Football player O.J. Simpson.  His trials happened a few years after a black guy named Rodney King was beaten in Lake View Terrace by Police Dais says.  O.J. Simpson, like my boss; was born on July 9th.

          Daisy heard, when the Police Officers who beat Rodney King were "Acquitted," or found to be "Not Guilty;" some violent riots broke out in Los Angeles.  For about a week, angry black people burned and destroyed things; people were even killed I guess.  Heathcliff crowed.

          Also in my third book on Saturday I plan on writing about an Actor from Texas named Patrick Swayze.  He died a few years ago and Daisy heard Mr. Steve visited him at his Arabian Horse Ranch in Lake View Terrace.  Daisy says there's a dirt road called "Rancho" near us.   

                 

    BOBBY CHACON / "BAZOOKA" LIMON               BOZA EDWARDS / BOBBY CHACON                                                                                                                                                           

             Mr. Steve and his brother Sam one time talked on the phone about Mr. Bobby the Boxer. I guess, Mr. bobby is "Associated" with the city of "Pacoima," but his mom and stepdad's house was actually in Lake View Terrace.   Donald and Daisy are quacking over there next door.

             Blinky Rodriguez, who I wrote a little bit about earlier; like Mr. Bobby; went to "San Fernando" High School.  He says Mr. Bobby was also  "really good" at playing Baseball.  And my boss "Played Catch" with him in the Hagar Street cul-de-sac so knows it's true alright. 

             I can tell my boss knows how good a player you are just by playing catch with you, so he knew within a few throws Mr. Bobby, and also his brother Danny too; were good.  Mr. Steve is mainly right-handed in most things, but can throw with either hand; so is "Ambidextrous."

                        

                              MR. RALPH                                               MR. GARY

                        (AT "SAN FERNANDO MISSION")                                     (AT HIS BARBER SHOP)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA         

                  

                 I guess, Mr. Ralph met Mr. Bobby and Mr. Blinky at San Fernando High School.  Mr. Steve's dad thinks Mr. Ralph, and Mr. Gary the Barber in San Fernando; are "historians on the subject of Boxing.   In Mr. Gary's Barber Shop are pictures my boss took Daisy told me. 

             At one time Mr. Ralph was what's called a "Sparring Partner" for other Boxers, but he quit because he was "smart enough to realize he wasn't very good at it so could get badly hurt."  That's what my boss and his father think.  Mr. Gary's wife was San Fernando's "Mayor."

             Right now, based on the way the shadows look; I'd have to say it's almost two thirty in the afternoon.  Boy Elvira, you're such a great couch; and I'm so glad I have you to be with me.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving toward the northeast.  

     

                       CHACON / DANNY LOPEZ                                    CHACON / LIMON

                      

            According to what Daisy's heard, Mr. Bobby was World Champion in the 1970's as what they call a "Featherweight," in the 1980's as a "Super Featherweight."   I guess that means he weighed about one hundred and twenty five pounds.  He was known for his "Courage."

             One time Daisy and Millie were laying in Mr. Steve's office and heard him talking on the phone with his dad.  They remembered Mr. Bobby's "Step" brothers "Johnny" and "Danny." They also talked about the old "Recreational Vehicle" Mr. Steve gave them all to live in.  

            In that 1990's book Mr. Steve described Mr. Bobby face being "sewn up like a piece of torn upholstery" after fight, and Mr. Bobby said in surprise, "How did you know?"  He knew because Dr. Sakaguchi had sewed his face up that time.   Mr. Bobby knows Dr. Sakaguchi. 

             

                                        "MANZANAR" INTERNMENT CAMP (1943)

                                                                                                                                     PHOTO BY ANSEL ADAMS 

                             

          In the next chapter I'll write about how, at the beginning of World War II in 1942; over one hundred and twenty thousand Japanese-Americans were put in jail.  Dr. Sakaguchi and Dr. Oda at that time were teenagers.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other; are flying bye.

       The "Relocation" or "Internment" camp Dr. Sakaguchi and his sister were sent to with their family was here in California and was called "Manzanar."  A photograph by that one guy Ansel Adams, who I'll write about in my three books; is in this Encyclopedia.  Dawn's barking.

       In Manzanar Dr. Oda and her brother's father and brother died.  Mr. Steve's dad is grateful that, when he was low on money; Dr. Sakaguchi and Dr. Oda let him pay them by what they call "Installments."  Mr. Steve sometimes loans people money and does the same thing.  

              

                                             PRESIDENT KENNEDY ASSASSINATED

                                                                 (NOVEMBER 22, 1963)

      

               Earlier I wrote about how, in 1963 when my boss was eight; President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.  That's near "Arlington" where his brother Rock and sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob live.  It's so weird how Aldous Huxley also died on that day.  A Raven is clucking.

            On the Saturday morning that President Kennedy was shot to death Mr. Steve's mom had an appointment with Dr. Oda.  Mr. Steve was in the "Waiting Room" reading a Magazine when he heard a Nurse named Mary say "The President's been shot."  I smell some Mesquite.

            Mr. Steve, and his father too; think the Mafia might've had "something to do" with what happened back in 1963.  They had all three things you look for in a crime, "Motive," "Means" and  "Opportunity;" too.  And, as they ask in Latin, "Cui Bono?;" or "Who Benefits?"   

                              

        "CHERRY BLOSSOM" FESTIVAL       

                                             

            I'm still thinking of Japan  and my Encyclopedia shows Japanese people under "Cherry Blossom" trees.  Mr. Steve's family visited Washington D.C.  Tomorrow in book two I'm going to write about a British band called the MOVE who had a song about Cherry Blossoms.

           Japan gave Cherry Blossom trees to Washington D.C.  Samurai Warriors "identified" with Cherry Blossom flowers that don't "wither" before falling off, but die in their "prime;" as they hoped to do in battle.  Hey!  Those Viking Warriors thought kind of like that too.

                Oh!  I glanced up in time to see Cher the Cat, behind the Sheds; streak across from behind Moe over to Manny.  Mr. Steve sometimes jokingly calls her the "Ninja" Cat, because there are times when you don't even know she's around.  Heathcliff crowed and his Hens sound happy.

 

                                                            "NINJA" WARRIORS

                I'm not scheduled to write about those Ninja Warriors until tomorrow but kind of just feel like learning about them now too.  This Encyclopedia says they're Soldiers trained in the use of "unorthodox" and "non-conventional" methods.  I just picked up Cher's unique scent.

               Mr. Steve told Mr. Dave, who also went to C.S.U.N.; in the late 1970's a Professor from Japan once used the words "irregular" and "guerrilla" to describe how "Ninja's" are supposed to fight.  He said how "Shinobi" means "Those who act in stealth."  Andy's sniffing the air.  

              One thing a Ninja trained to do is to "infiltrate" behind enemy lines to "sabotage" and "assassinate" people.  They wear all black at night.  Daisy told me about that time she and Millie watched Mr. Steve play drums to a really good BLACK SABBATH song called "Sabotage."

                                   

              SUN TZU (544-496 B.C?)                      CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ (1780-1831)      

     

          Mr. Steve's Teacher said Ninja's "studied" the book "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, who was Chinese.  I'll refer to Sun Tzu's book and a 19th century book called "Vom Krieg" over the  next three days.  Mr. Steve has copies of both of those books Daisy according to Daisy.                   

          This German Dictionary says vom krieg means "On War."  That book was written by an early 19th century "Prussian" General who fought Napoléon I and, like The Art of War; is now "required reading" at Military Schools like "West Point" my boss says.  Heathcliff crowed.          

          Dais heard the Japanese College Professor said another book Ninjas read was a "training manual" called "Bansenshukai."  My Encyclopedia describes it as teaching all of the different ways to "make war against a stronger enemy."  It's  like their "Bible" the Professor said.                                  

  "SAMURAI" WEAPONS

                    

                     Mr. Steve has some interesting things on the living room Coffee Table, like a "Kunai" knife and these "Throwing Stars" Ninja's used to kill people.  Those "Caltrops" I mentioned back in chapter four are on the Coffee Table too.  I smell the new baby Cholla cactus.

              According to what it says in this Encyclopedia, the Japanese name for those throwing stars is "Shuriken;" or "hidden hand blade."  Daisy says Mr. Steve, throwing either forehand or backhand;  is pretty accurate most of the time.  He sometimes uses a bale of hay as a target. 

                What the heck!  Even though it's not on my outline to write about her right now, I feel like looking up Tomoe Gozen; who was a brave 12th century A.D. girl Samurai Warrior who fought in the war where the very first ever Shogun came to power.  Heathcliff just crowed. 

 

                                                        TOMOE GOZEN (1157-1247)

      

              A picture shows a girl playing the part of "Tomoe" riding a Horse, and the caption says she's carrying a "Naginata" like the one in our boss's office.  I guess in Japan she's called "onna-bugeisha."  Daisy's told me about some of the other long spears Mr. Steve has in the office.   

            It says here Samurai "lived for three things;" to "serve," to "slaughter" and "die well."  They took opponents heads as "trophies" and committed "ritual suicide," or "Seppuku;" rather than "Die in Dishonor."  It's also called "Harakiri," which means "cutting of the belly." 

           Looking at the eastern desert behind the Sheds makes me think of the wild flowers that will start growing around here.   Some are white, others yellow or even purple.  Near Littlerock, where my boss's brother Sam's family lives; bright orange flowers called "Poppy's" grow.

                              

  "POPPEYS"       

       PHOTO BY MIRIAM MONTES                 

                      

            Mr. Steve and his mother drove up from Sylmar a few times to see "Poppy Fields," which are in a city called "Lancaster."   I guess Poppy fields only come out in certain "Wetter" years and then go away quickly.  A Lizard is doing pushups over there on the wall to my right.

           I'll mainly write about World War II in books two and three, but I felt like looking up the British "Lancaster" Bomber now.  It had four "Rolls Royce" engines and .30 caliber machine guns.  Boy!  It made over 150,000 "sorties" over Europe from mid-1942 through 1945.

          Wow!  155,000 men "manned" those Lancaster Bombers in the Second World War, over 55,000 killed by the Germans.  It says here how 3,700 Lancaster's were "lost" but "delivered" 600,000 tons of bombs, some of which weighed 12,000 pounds each.  A Crow is cawing.    

                                       

                                                       "LANCASTER" BOMBER    

                           

           Daisy says Mr. Steve built a model of a Lancaster Bomber as a kid but it, like most of his models; was destroyed in the 1971 earthquake.  I'll write more about Bombers in my books.  Mr. Steve, before the economic recession; had a "G.M." customer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

          Oh what the heck!  I'll mention this man named Arthur "Bomber" Harris right now even if Daisy and I actually put him on my book two outline.  During the Second World War he was the guy mainly in charge of bombing Germany.  That one Lizard just ran down the wall.

          According to what it says here in this one Encyclopedia, that guy Arthur Harris grew up in England's African colony of "Rhodesia."   During World War I he fought there but then went to England.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve talk with Mr. Phillip from Wales about Bomber Harris.

                     

                                        ARTHUR "BOMBER" HARRIS (1892-1984)  

                                               

               I remember that one morning when my boss was watering the Mulberry tree up there in the front yard.  He and Mr. Randy talked about that guy "Bomber" Harris.  Oh!  It says here he was called a "Butcher" or "War Criminal" for what his Bombers did in World War II. 

            Wow!  The Lancaster Bombers Arthur Harris sent to bomb Germany killed "hundreds of thousands" of civilians.  In 1945 the Allies bombed the city of "Dresden," which burned up over "twenty five thousand" people in the "Firestorm" it caused.  A Crow is cawing faintly.

           Mr. Steve read a book called "Slaughterhouse Five," which was written in the late 1960's by an American Writer named Kurt Vonnegut.  He was a "Prisoner of War" in Dresden when the city was bombed, thinking it "unnecessary indiscriminate" bombing.  I smell Sage. 

       

                     PINK FLOYD                                                                   IRON MAIDEN

              

               I heard my boss tell Mr. Randy that time how those British bands PINK FLOYD and IRON MAIDEN both have songs about the bombing of Dresden.  Anyway, I'll come back to the subject of World War II tomorrow.  I'm still thinking about our wildflowers right now.

            Boy! Dais is so right!  Until I get over my fear of riding in a Car our boss can't take us to see and smell those Poppy fields in Lancaster, so I've just got to force myself to be brave and ride in our vehicles the way she does.  Dawn's barking about something over there to my right. 

            Someday I'll go into Mr. Steve's bedroom and watch a tv show Daisy likes where this guy named Huell Howser visits places in California.  He did a "Segment" in Bakersfield to see the teeth of that giant "Megaladon" Shark I guess.  And he visited the "Hollywood Sign" too.

    

                                                        HUELL HOWSER (1945-2013)

    

           Daisy heard Huell Howser died, was from "Tennessee," a Marine like Mr. Steve's dad and; was born on October the 18th.  Mr. Steve's brother Rock's birthday is October 17th.  Mr.      Steve's parents really like watching Huell Howser's travel show and so did Millie I guess.              

         In 1993 Mr. Steve and his mom almost gave Huell Howser a tour of the San Fernando Mission for one of his "Segments," but it got canceled.  But, at least Huell Howser was nice to      call and tell Mr. Steve he was sorry but something else "came up."  I can smell old Sage.               

          Mr. Steve's mom was kind of disappointed that they had been what's called "Bumped" from Huell Howser's show but, soon "Got over It" as they say.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Randy his      parents are "not ones to dwell on life's normal disappointments."  Heathcliff just crowed.                                                         

JOHN WESLEY (1703-1791)

PAINTING BY GEORGE ROMNEY  

            

                  Mr. Steve was once told Huell Howser was a Protestant Christian "Methodist" like the CARPENTERS who I wrote about earlier.  This Encyclopedia says a man from England named John Wesley started the Methodists way back in the 18th century.  Andy's looking at me.

              Hey Lord!  I guess Methodists began as part of the Church of England but don't believe in the idea of the "preordained salvation" the way some other Protestants do.  Mr. Steve believes more in "Free Will" so I want to as well.  Smelling Andy right now is making me feel good.

             From what my Encyclopedia says Lord, Methodists help the poor the way You said to do.  If I ever have some money I'll share it with other Dogs who are poor and need the help, and I know for sure Daisy would definitely agree with me on that too.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.

    

                                                              MR. MARK / KARMA

             Hey God!  As You know, besides socks and money, Mr. Steve gave that homeless man Mr. Mark a hat with the "Peace Symbol" on it.  Mark was raised a Methodist.   Ah!  We should sell socks for us Dogs and Cats because we could maybe make money because we have four feet.   

         You know, even though I'm not scheduled to talk about him now, I suddenly just kind of feel like looking up a 19th century "Outlaw" named John Wesley Hardin.  Dais saw a tv show on him and says he sounded kind of mean.   The show said His dad was a Methodist Preacher.           

           It says here John Wesley Hardin was named after that guy who started the Methodists in the 18th century.   Oh wow!  As a kid in Texas he "killed his first man" at age fifteen, and one time even shot a guy for "snoring too loud" Dais heard.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.                                                           

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN (1853-1895) 

  

           Oh!  It's interesting how John Wesley Hardin, who at nine volunteered to fight for the South in the Civil War; was born on May 26th and ended up getting shot to death on August the 19th.  Max the Hummingbird zoomed bye and I heard him coming.  Heathcliff just crowed.         

             According to my list of dates Mr. Steve's Nephew Jacob in Texas was born on the 26th of May too and his mom's birthday is August 20.  The caption below John Wesley Hardin's picture calls him a "Gunfighter."  And it says here he "may have killed as many as thirty people."           

           Dais says Mr. Steve has a vinyl record by that guy Bob Dylan and it's named after John Wesley Hardin.  But they accidentally misspelled his last name on that album I guess.  Mr. Steve  told his Niece Samantha on the phone one time how it's more of an "acoustic Folk" album.         

                 

                                              (1971)                        JUDAS PRIEST      K.K. DOWNING / GLENN TIPTON                           

         

          Daisy's "Theme" song is that English Heavy Metal band JUDAS PRIEST'S "You've Got Another Thing Coming."  Mr. Steve read how JUDAS PRIEST began in 1969, but the guys now  "associated" with the band's name just "inherited" it from the original group.  I smell Sage.        

         JUDAS PRIEST, like BLACK SABBATH; grew up in the "Steel Town" of "Birmingham. Dais heard how they took their band name from the title of a song on Bob Dylan's John Wesley    Hardin album.  Heathcliff's Hens are cackling and they sound happy today is now Spring.            

     I've mentioned how Mr. Rick's Italian immigrant family moved out here from the city of "Pittsburgh" when my boss was six years old and Mr. Rick was seven.  "Sheffield," where that    other British band DEF LEPPARD are from; is also an "Industrial" town.  I feel so good!                                                             

                                                "WILD" BILL HICKOCK (1837-1876)

                   Daisy says on the tv show about John Wesley Hardin it said he killed someone and then got a job as a Cowboy to hide from "The Law" as they say.  On the way taking this herd of Cows from Texas up north to Kansas he killed some Indians too I guess.  A Crow is cawing faintly.

                  On the tv show, when they got those Cows to "Abilene" in Kansas, someone there asked John Wesley Hardin to kill the town's "Sheriff" named "Wild" Bill Hickock.  But he didn't want to do it and used to say, "I never killed anyone who didn't need killing."  I smell Mesquite.       

               I guess, Abilene's law said no one could carry a gun, which almost everyone did back in those days.  Wild Bill Hickock tried to "Confiscate" John Wesley Hardin's "Revolvers."  Daisy heard "Wild Bill" carried two guns under a waist sash, to get them out fast with either hand. 

                                         

                                                              TEXAS "LONGHORN"

         

             Wow!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows how huge the horns are on the Cows like ones John Wesley Hardin "Drove" up to Kansas.  I wrote earlier about Bullfighting in Spain and, just like I've never smelled a Bull; I've never smelled a Cow either.  Daisy's smelled a few Cows. 

              Daisy says on the tv show Wild Bill Hickock tried to take John Wesley Hardin's guns.  But, just as John Wesley Hardin was about to hand them over "Butt End" first; he suddenly flipped them around to aim at Wild Bill.  The butt is the "Handle" or back of the gun I guess.  

         John Wesley Hardin spun his two handguns around so fast he caught Wild Bill, who was surprised to suddenly see two guns pointed at him; "Off Guard."  Mr. Steve, when young; was pretty good at "Gun Twirling" or "Rolling."  Wild Bill let John Wesley Hardin keep his guns. 

                             

                                                       "THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES"

           PAINTING BY DALE LEWIS                   

                          

             Two of my boss's favorite Actors are Charlton Heston and Clint Eastwood.  Daisy saw this Clint Eastwood movie called the "Outlaw Josey Wales," about this ex-Confederate Soldier who can shoot a gun so fast he's called "Greased Lightning."  Boy! I'd like to see that movie.

              Dais says in the movie Clint Eastwood does what John Wesley Hardin did.  As he hands his guns over backwards, he spins them around lightning fast to "Get the Drop" on two guys who he shoots and kills.  A man told Mr. Steve that "technique" is called a "Road Agent Spin."

           A few years ago Mr. Steve was allowed to hold a real 19th century "Colt Walker Revolver" just like the ones Clint Eastwood used in that movie Josey Wales.  Daisy told me about this really good song called "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly."  The singing is so unique she says. 

    

                                      BOBBY CHACON / "BAZOOKA" LIMON (1982)

          Daisy says Mr. Steve's friend Bobby Chacon the Boxer was known in part for the courage he showed in his famous 1980's fights.  By then he'd lost the "Foot Speed" he'd had in the 1970's when he was described as a "Boxer/Puncher."  Heathcliff crowed over there to my right.              

      Because he was older in the 1980's Mr. Bobby said he had to adapt to being what's call a "Counter-Punching Brawler."  But, this meant he fought more "Flat-Footed;" so took a lot more punishment.  Boy!  Mr. Bobby was "World Champion" in the 1970's and 1980's too.                      

        That tv show on John Wesley Hardin said, because he was so famous for gunfighting; a lot of guys wanted to beat Wild Bill Hickock.  I guess sometimes Mr. Bobby, after he wasn't a Boxer anymore; also had that exact problem.  So he always used "Humor" to avoid dumb fights.                                 

                                                                "DEAD MAN'S HAND"

                 

                I guess Mr. Bobby gets out of "Street Fighting" by laughing, to "Diffuse" the situation.   Daisy says Wild Bill Hickock never turned his back on a door.   But he was addicted to gambling so, in a "Fatal" mistake; sat down to play cards at an "Open Chair" in a "Poker" game. 

             The chair Wild Bill sat at faced away from the door and this guy came in, saw him; and then came up behind to shoot and kill him.  The cards Wild Bill was "Holding" when he died, "Aces" and "Eights;" has come to be called the "Dead Man's Hand."  A Crow is cawing.  

          Because they were involved in the "Gaming" industry for a few years back in the early 1990's, Mr. Steve and his father advise against gambling.  They say gamble "only" what you can "afford to lose."  They understand how some people can see gambling as "Therapeutic."                     

MOTÖRHEAD

            One time Daisy and Millie were in Mr. Steve's bedroom at night and saw this good Video by that band from England called MOTÖRHEAD.  The song was called "Ace of Spades," and    might be about Wild Bill Hickock's last poker hand.  Dawn's barking over there next door.         

          Mr. Steve, and Mr. Dave in New Mexico; over the years have tried to play drums along to MOTÖRHEAD'S  Ace of Spades.  One time at the "Rainbow Club" in Hollywood, Mr. Steve      shook hands with "Lemmy;" MOTÖRHEAD'S Singer and Bassist.  He was friendly.                   

       Daisy told me MOTÖRHEAD is one of those Three-Piece" bands Mr. Steve likes, of bass, drums and guitar.  My boss and Mr. Dave talked about how their Drummer is good at using two feet to play fast on two bass drums.  Dais told me about MOTÖRHEAD'S song "Overkill."                                             

                                                       JOHN BONHAM (1948-1980)    

                

              Oh!  It says here John Wesley Hardin was from "Bonham," Texas.  Dais says that band LED ZEPPELIN'S Drummer John Bonham had a fast bass foot too; but only using one foot.  He died back in 1980, when Mr. Steve was twenty five and had just starting in Law School.

           Mr. Steve used to have this "Honda" customer in a city called "McKinney," about forty miles from Bonham; where John Wesley Hardin was born.  Before the "Recession" of 2008 my boss had a lot more Honda Dealerships according to what Daisy heard.  I like Dawn's voice.   

          That man Mr. Phillip from Wales is a Parts Manager for that Honda dealership in a town to the north of New York City.  Dais says the Parts Manager at the Dealership in McKinney had a famous Grandfather who fought in World War II.   I smell Dawn, Blinky and Rosie.

               

              P-40 "WAR HAWK"                    CLAIRE CHENNAULT (1893-1958)  

            

                I looked up Claire Chennault, that Parts Manager in Texas's Grandfather; a Pilot who helped China during the Second World War.  Before the U.S. entered the war he led a group of American "mercenary" Pilots in fighting "Imperial" Japan.  They were the "Flying Tigers."   

              Mr. Cliff knows about Airplanes.  Mr. Steve lent him the book he inherited from Mark Ritter about World War II Planes.  This painting shows a "P-40 War Hawk" shooting down the Japanese Plane.  The P-40's had the mean face of a "Tiger Shark" painted on their noses.

           As he watered the Mulberry tree that morning my boss told Mr. Cliff how he once built a model of the "Curtiss" P-40 "War Hawk" Fighter Plane, which the Flying Tigers flew.  Anyway, I'll come back to Claire Chennault; when I learn about Chiang Kai-shek.   I smell Mesquite.  

                                    

                                                  SPRING IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO

PHOTO BY DAVE KOZIOL                     

               

                  Just as Mr. Mark in Hawaii sometimes sends my boss pictures he takes, so does Mr. Dave from Taos.  They do it on the "Internet," and Mr. Dave took this good picture of a Bee on purple flowers I guess.  Someday I'll see that "Facebook" web site Mr. Eddie made for Daisy and I. 

           Fannie and Freddie just came in from being out in the eastern desert behind the Sheds, and are now flying over top of the house above me down here on Elvira.  They're going toward the west behind me, so the Sun is already over on the other side of the house.  I smell Sage.   

           Mr. Dave in New Mexico and Mr. Mark in Hawaii are good Musicians.   Already today, and in all of my three books; I'm scheduled to learn a lot about music and things like that.  For some reason I just now suddenly thought about those bands the BEATLES and EAGLES.  

                       

     RINGO STARR / SANTA CRUZ                        JOE WALSH / S.F. MISSION CHAPEL        

                 

              "Monsignor" Weber "Runs" the San Fernando Mission, and Mr. Steve jokes he's "kind of like a King."  He's a "respected Archivist" or Historian for the Catholic "Archdiocese." Cher is over there licking her paws and then rubbing the top of her head, so must've just eaten.     

               Daisy heard that Monsignor Weber works to "preserve Sant Cruz Island," one of those "Channel islands" off the California coast.  The BEATLES Drummer Ringo has helped him.  I guess Joe Walsh of the EAGLES visited the San Fernando Mission.  I smell Creosote.     

             That Tongvan lady at the San Fernando Knights of Columbus hall, who knows about  Coyotes; also knows a lot about the Channel islands Daisy says.  My boss told Mr. Dave about that smart lady.  Cher just noticed me over here and froze with her paw on top of her head.  

    

               "WHALE" SHARK                                                         "BASKING" SHARK

      

              Daisy says that Tongvan lady said "Basking" Sharks swim near" the  Channel Islands. Only "Whale" Sharks, which can be forty feet long; are bigger than a Basking Shark.  In the Tongvan language "Kyoot" means Whale and "Kavuukar" is how you'd say "Island." 

           Tomorrow I'll write about Sharks but I'll mention now how Basking Sharks are harmless because, like Whale Sharks; they're "Filter" feeders who only eat "Krill" or "Plankton."  I can't believe that ancient Megalodon White Shark was bigger than a Whale Shark.  Cher yawned.

           Mr. Steve says that "very little is known" about Basking Sharks, except they "Follow the Currents;" either near the surface of the water or down deep at the bottom of the Ocean.  I think I totally understand why my boss has a fear of Sharks.  Ugh!  It would be so bad to be eaten.       

                      

                                                   "SAN FERNANDO" MISSION

                                       DRAWING BY STELLA CÓRDOVA                                                                                                            PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

                

            In 1992, the 500th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage; Monsignor Weber let Mr. Steve and his mom have an Art Exhibit at the S.F. Mission.  Later the artwork was at the L.A. Natural History Museum.  Cher just jumped up on Moe so will now rest and take a nap.              

             That guy Huell Howser, in the late 1990's; on his tv show visited all twenty one "Alta" California Missions.  But Monsignor Weber gave him the tour of the S.F. Mission.  Huell Howser saw and liked Mr. Steve and his  mom's artwork at the Natural History Museum Dais says.          

            Mr. Steve, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen worked for the professional sports teams.  At the King's Hockey games a "Zamboni" machine is driven around to "Resurface" the ice between the three periods Daisy told me.  Yup!  Cher is now laying down on top of Moe to go to sleep.          

               FRANK ZAMBONI(1901-1988)                                       "ZAMBONI"                                         

        

         Daisy says on one of his episodes Huell Howser visited this company in Los Angeles, in "Paramount;" which makes Zamboni's.  In 1949 Frank Zamboni built the first one, shown in      this Encyclopedia; and now his son runs the business.  Zamboni sounds really Italian.                   

          Mr. Steve and his brothers and friends went to some Kings' games in the late 1960's. So they've watched when the Zamboni machine is driven around to pick up the "shaved" ice and "redeposit" a new smooth layer of clean ice.  Ducks are quacking but Daffy's way louder.             

           As a kid, Mr. Steve thought it would be "coolest" job in the world to be the "Ball Boy" at Dodger Stadium who got to "Play Catch" or "Warm Up" the visiting team's Right Fielder.  And the "second best" job would be to drive a Zamboni he jokes.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.                         

 MURRAY BANNERMAN  (CHICAGO "BLACK HAWKS")

 PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA             

                                      

              It says here "one of the first Zamboni's "sold" was to the Chicago "Black Hawks," one of the six "original" National Hockey League teams.   A nice cool breeze just brought in Cher's    scent from over there, and that makes me feel good.  A little Lizard just went running bye.            

              Dais says Mr. Steve still likes to draw and do artwork, in that way he "Takes After" his mom.  Over the years he's done many line drawings of sports team logos, and told his mom one    of the "hardest" for him to "get right" was the Black Hawks Indian head.   I smell Sage.              

             Mr. Steve, Mr. Mark and Miss Helen first worked for the sports teams in Santa Monica at an office on "Wilshire" Boulevard.  Then they moved to a building across the street from the    Forum.  Mr. Steve and Harriet covered bands at the Sant Monica Nightclub "My Place."                 

GEAR DADDIES     

       

           This morning I wrote about Mr. Steve and that girl from Minnesota "Denise" driving up to the town of "Solvang."  She really liked those two Minnesota bands, HÜSKER DÜ and the      REPLACEMENTS.  Another Minnesota band she liked is called the GEAR DADDIES.                

       Mr. Steve has been told of a GEAR DADDY'S song about wanting to drive a Zamboni machine.  Before it was invented by Frank Zamboni in 1949, it took "four or five" guys over an hour to; "scrape," "wash" and "squeege" to resurface an ice "Rink."  Heathcliff crowed.             

           Oh!  A Bee just flew bye.  That makes me think of "Symbiotic" or "Mutually Beneficial" relationships.  Bees, Hummingbirds or Butterflies land on flowers to drink nectar, then "Pollen" sticks to them and is "deposited" on the next flower they go to; which makes baby flowers.                                                                 

      "TULIPS"            

                          

            Mentioning flowers makes me think about "Tulips," and how back in the 17th century  they were treated like money in the "Netherlands."  Mr. Steve's dad studied about it.  His mom likes "Flower Gardens," like one in Santa Barbara called "Lotusland;" which has tulips.       

            In my books I'll write about my boss and his mom's visits to "Descanso Gardens" and "Huntington Library," which both have gardens.  I guess the Huntington Library also has this good Museum too.  Cher woke up a few minutes ago, and is now going out to the desert.  

           Daisy says Mr. Steve and Miss Susan, who ran the local Newspaper; give each other things to read or watch.  She lent him this book about desert wild flowers, she's borrowed his "Time Life" books on famous world "Cities."  In 1985 he took the one on Rome to Italy with him.    

    

                                                        "DESCANSO" GARDENS   

            

              Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not scheduled to write about "Descanso Gardens" right now, I can mention its Japanese Gardens now too.  Dais says our boss has taken pictures at Descanso Gardens a few times over the years.  Two of the Pigeons are flying toward the east.

            Mr. Steve and his mom really like walking around Descanso Gardens.  Daisy heard she and Mr. Steve talking on the phone one time about what she called their "beautiful" Japanese garden there.  My Spanish Dictionary says "descanso"  means "place of rest or peace."

            A few years ago a "Carpenter" from the State of "North Carolina" rented an area from Mr. Steve's father.  He made really good custom chairs and tables.  Hey God!  As You know, he said he saw "sacredness in nature" so Dais say Mr. Steve told him about Japanese Gardens.                                 

                                                                "STONEHENGE"

                

               All of a sudden I just thought of "Stonehenge," where those people called "Neo-Druids" sometimes have religious ceremonies; even though Mr. Phillip from Wales read Stonehenge was "most likely" not built by ancient Celts.  Heathcliff crowed and his Hens sound so happy.

            My Encyclopedia says the name "Druids" comes from the Latin "Druidês," what Julius Caesar called people he killed in "Gaul;" where France is now.  I heard Miss Susan say she read Druids are "Associated" with "Oak" trees.  A little Bird carrying a twig just now ran bye. 

            It says here the original Druids were the Celtic "Doctors, Judges and Religious leaders."  Daisy says Mr. Steve told that Carpenter from North Carolina Druids also had "reverence" for the "spirit in trees" like he did.  Mr. Dave also sees "harmony and connection" in nature. 

                   

                                                          "TAIKO" DRUMMING

                                                                                                                                    PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

       

             One time Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Dave about the time he and his mom saw these traditional Japanese "Taiko" Drummers perform at Descanso Gardens.  They play on big in size drums.  I just looked up and see two vapor trails extending slowly up in the sky.

            Mr. Steve liked it when those Japanese Drummers invited the audience to come up and play their huge drums.  Mr. Steve used wooden mallets to play a diagonal drum, and Mr. Dave joked about how he was "jealous"" of my boss.  A Train whistled faintly to the northeast. 

            I wonder when I'll first start smelling our neighbor's flowers and all the wild flowers that grow around here.  When I was living homeless out in that field the one good thing was smelling flowers.  Mr. Steve's mom really loves the sight and smell of flowers from what Dais says.  

                                     

                                                                                       ROSES

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

                                                                                                                                  PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA   

      

             Dais heard Mr. Steve tell his mom that guy Huell Howser complimented her paintings, and his flower photos.  Huell Howser asked him how he got each petal to be "so evenly lit."  Mr. Steve told him through "a tiny flash in daylight from dead center of the three flowers."   

             Last year Dais took the arrival of three "Sun" Flowers as a "Good Luck Sign" so I did too.  My Spanish Dictionary says "Girasol" and "Tornasol" are words for Sun Flowers,  "Sol" is Sun, "Gira" means turning; and "Torna" is the word for changing.  Heathcliff crowed.    

             I remember last Summer when Dais pointed out to me how young Sunflowers will move to face the Sun.  Young Sunflowers start the day facing east but, by the end of the day; will be facing westward.  I just noticed some really pretty puffy white clouds up there in the sky.

               

"SUN" FLOWERS    

        

             Hey God!  You know how Dais thinks Sunflowers "Track" the Sun's movement because of wanting to face and absorb You, and now I want to think that too.  Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell Mr. Dave that Tongan lady told him "Paaxar" is their word for Sunflower.  I smell Sage.

             Sunflowers seem smart Holy Spirit as, by the next morning they face east again and old Sunflowers always face east.  Mr. Dave thinks it's You Holy Spirit who's the "Life Force" that makes Sunflowers want to face what Indians call the "Creator Spirit."  Daffy's quacking. 

             I just noticed a Lizard standing on the wall over there near the sliding glass door going into the dining room.  It's so amazing how, even when they're vertical instead of horizontal; the  Lizards can still do those pushups they do.  Samson and Delilah the Ravens are flying bye.    

          

          VINCENT VAN GOGH (1853-1890)                             "SUNFLOWERS"                               

                 SELF PORTRAIT                                                                                                          PAINTINGS BY VINCENT VAN GOGH    

                     

             Mentioning flowers makes me think of that 19th century "Post Impressionistic" Dutch Painter "Van Gogh."  I love that "Self-Portrait" he did.  Mr. Steve's mom studied him back in College and thinks he led "sad and lonely" life.  If I could time travel I'd be his friend.  

             Van Gogh is now more "associated" with France than the Netherlands.  At C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve's mom met this French girl who knew about "Impressionism" and "Post Impressionism." They both ended up learning a lot from each other over the coarse of that one semester.

             I guess "Holland" is a "Province" of the Netherlands in the same way that California is an American State.  It says here the Netherlands was "founded" in 1579 because its people did not want to be ruled by the Spanish "Hapsburg" Empire.  A little Lizard went running bye. 

             

"TULIPS" IN "HOLLAND"      

                                     

               Boy!  I love this color picture in my Encyclopedia that shows a big field of those "Tulip" flowers, which are so beautiful in the different nice, neat rows.  Samson and Delilah the Ravens are flying bye right now.   Seeing them suddenly reminds me of a late afternoon last Summer.

                Looking at the "Windmills" in the photo I see why Dais says they're "buildings with big  Airplane propellers on them."  When wind spins them around that creates energy used to water things like those Tulip flower fields.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral. 

             I guess, before there was such a thing as electricity to power the different things like the two tv's in our house; people used flowing water or the wind to move things.  Big heavy carved stone wheels have been used to grind wheat to make bread.  I can smell Alpha Company.   

            

       "MODERN" EUROPE                                     THE "NETHERLANDS"          

                                                                  

            Daisy says that guy Rick Steve's visited the Netherlands on one o his travel episodes.  I guess much of the Netherlands is "Below Sea Level," or "taken from the sea" Rick Steves said.  A customer in "Miami," Florida one time told my boss about the idea of "Global Warming." 

           Big walls called "Dikes," like those in Israel at Caesarea; block the water from flooding in from the Atlantic Ocean.  My Encyclopedia says the Dutch call their country "Koninkrijk der Nederlanden," which just means "Kingdom of the Netherlands."  I smell some Creosote.

           Oh!  It's interesting how one use for a Dutch Windmill is to "pump out" water from land.  In book three on Saturday I'll write about an ancient Greek Scientist and Mathematician named "Archimedes."  Heathcliff crowed and now Dawn and Blinky are barking too over there.  

                                            

             ARCHIMEDES (287-212 B.C.)                           ARCHIMEDES "SCREW"

                           

              Even though I'll mainly write about Archimedes on Saturday, I feel like mentioning him now too.  Mr. Steve told his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Mr. Rich some think he invented that  "Screw" device Windmills used to "drain" or "move" water.  Blinky sounds so brave.

          According to what it says in my Encyclopedia, those big propellers on Windmills are called "blades" or "sails;" and are connected to a "screw."  When the wind makes them "rotate," that energy turns an Archimedes Screw inside the Windmill.  A little Lizard went running bye.

          It says here power "generated" from a spinning Windmill has been used to do other things too.  Since ancient times the Chinese, Persians and Romans had them "saw" and "grind" things down.  A tv show Daisy saw said California is using wind more and more to create energy.  

       

             GRANDPA AND GRANDMA TRUJILLO                      GRANDPA / GRANDMA CORDOVA

                                                                                             

                As a kid Mr. Steve went with his Grandpa Trujillo to the Belén junkyard, for parts to make little Weather "Vanes."  They were used in Grandpa Trujillo's vegetable garden to tell the wind's direction.  Two of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the east. 

                  I wish I could borrow Mr. Peabody's "Way Back" time machine go back and meet my boss's four Grandparents.  You can tell he misses them and still thinks of them.  Like Mr. Steve's Nephews Rocky Jr. and Jacob in Texas, Grandma Cordova had a "good head for business."   

               Mr. Steve told Miss Susan at work Grandpa Trujillo, partly because of living through the 1930's "Great Depression;" was very "Handy."   He fixed things and, like Grandma Trujillo in cooking; knew how to get the "Maximum out of the Minimum" as they say.  I smell Sage.

                   

                          STEPHANIE / MR. RICH                                     DRAGPIPE

          

            Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich, who was in that band DRAGPIPE; is also very "Good with his Hands" as they say.  Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha's boyfriend Rick is a good "Carpenter."  Max the Hummingbird zoomed bye and I heard him coming from far away.

            Hearing a Freight Train whistle faintly way out there in the desert to my left, makes me think of that morning last Summer when my boss and Mr. Mike were loading Rex the Truck to go to the dump.  The dump is near Phelan and the property taxes pay for it Daisy heard.

            One thing Mr. Steve had to adapt to in moving from Sylmar to a small town is how there is no weekly trash pickup.  There is no Mailman delivering things right to our house so my boss has one of those "Post Office Boxes."   Andy's over there sniffing the air and being alert.    

                      

                                                       "TAOS," NEW MEXICO

                                                                                                                                       PHOTO BY DAVE KOZIOL

          

                 I just thought of how Daisy heard Mr. Dave one time describe this picture he took back in New Mexico as reminding him of a "van Gogh painting."   I guess, the photo he sent Mr. Steve was of some dark "navy" blue clouds  Mr. Dave was in the Navy so likes that shade of blue.

             Ah!  A Motorcycle just zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road, and left behind dust floating in the air.  I heard it clearly coming from the south and can still hear it moving to the north.  I'll bet it's a kid who got out early from school practicing his "Motocross" riding.

                  Seeing the dust lingering in the air out there in the desert suddenly makes me remember how Mr. Steve's Nephew Mathew, Sam and Yolanda's oldest son; used to be a good Motocross rider.  He also rode bicycles in Motocross type racing too Dais told me.  I smell Mesquite.

                                         

                               MR. STEVE'S PARENTS / GRANDMA CÓRDOVA

("CÓRDOVA" FOUNTAIN / EAST GARDEN)        

           

               I just thought about Grandma Córdova, who used to enjoy going to the San Fernando Mission when my boss or his parents gave a tour.  Daisy says Mr. Steve told Miss Babette how she really liked how the fountain was called the "Córdova" fountain.  Dawn's barking. 

               One time as a kid Dais says Mr. Steve heard a man in Belén describe Grandma Córdova as "driving a hard bargain."  Another man said she didn't seem like a person who "suffered fools easily" and they both kind of chuckled.  Fred, Ed and Ted the Sparrows just flew bye.        

              This is interesting.  My Encyclopedia says that guy Archimedes, before being stabbed to death said, "Do not disturb my circles;" which I guess was something he was working on.  Mr. Steve is interested in the last words people say before dying and now so am I.  I like Dawn.

             

"ANTIKYTHERA" MECHANISM     

        

                Oh what the heck!  I feel like writing about Archimedes.  Daisy saw a tv show about this thing they found called the "Antikythera Mechanism," which some think Archimedes invented. My Encyclopedia says in 1901 Greek Divers found it inside a sunken ancient Roman Ship.

             I remember when Mr. Grant and Miggie visited us.  I heard Mr. Grant say how that Antikythera device, found near the island of "Antikythera;" was an "analog" computer used to predict "Astronomical" patterns.   Antikythera is near that big island of "Crete" I guess.

            For years no one knew what the thirty "Gears" in the Antikythera device did, and it was a surprise when they figured it.  I just thought of how blue is important to Jews.  Daisy says an old Israeli lady once told Mr. Steve's mom blue is "mentioned forty nine times" in the Bible.  

                

FLOCK OF BIRDS     

                                     

            A group of Birds is moving toward the north.  That lady told my boss's mom the ancient Jews,  and other cultures; "associated" blue with "sacred divinity" and "worldly nobility."  The dye that was used back then to make or color blue cloth came from "Sea Snail ink" she said. 

           This Hebrew Dictionary says "tekhelet" is the word for blue, and Daisy heard the Jewish lady say in parts of the Middle East blue is "considered lucky."  Blue sometimes makes me think of You Blessed Mother, and You too God.   Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye. 

           Daisy noticed how ancient Egyptians like King Tut combined blue and gold together.  Mr. Steve told the lady in 1985 he and his sister Celina noticed royal blue rooftops and shutters on houses over there in Israel.  Heathcliff crowed, which is giving me that happy Rhéma feeling. 

        

                                                        MOSES BEN MAIMONIDES (1135?-1204)

              

               In my three books I'll learn about that Spanish city of Córdoba which I wrote a little about this morning.  A famous person born in Córdoba was this Jewish man named Moses ben Maimon, or just "Maimonides."  Two Pigeons just flew in and landed on the Patio roof.

            That Jewish lady said Maimonides wrote tekhelet was the color of the "clear noonday sky," and "historically" what they call "Textile Dyeing" was a "Jewish job."  So, for centuries; Jewish merchants sold a purple-blue plant called "Indigo."   I smell the baby Cholla cactus. 

             I guess the "Prayer Shawls" Mr. Steve's Tour Group saw people wearing in 1985 are called "Tallit."  Daisy says a blue and white Israeli flag Mr. Steve bought in 1985 is hanging in the hallway.  Israel became a "Country" in 1949, only four years after the "Holocaust." 

              

                                                                   "UNITED NATIONS" TROOPS                                                                                

                                                                                                

               After the Second World War the "U.N."  and "N.A.T.O." were created, in the early 1990's the "E.U." was formed; hoping to "end wars."  Mr. Steve thinks that day will never happen.  I    guess U.N. stands for "United Nations," N.A.T.O "North Atlantic Treaty Organization."               

        E.U. is short for "European Union."  My boss's mom noticed how the U.N. and E.U. both use blue as their primary color, the U.N. "sky" blue; and the E.U. "royal."  A picture here in my  Encyclopedia shows U.N. "peace-keeping" Soldiers wearing light blue helmets and vests.              

           Mr. Steve, with his other military helmets; has a blue U.N. helmet near the fireplace in the living room I notice.  During 1968's Vietnam War "Tet Offensive" Mr. Cliff jokingly called his helmet, which saved him; a "St. Joseph lid."  The Pigeons are cooing up there on the roof. 

       

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN GOD'S ISIS, OSIRIS, HORUS

     

         Blessed Mother!  Are You also the ancient Egyptian Goddess "Isis?"   My Encyclopedia says she was the "divine" mother of the Pharaoh and "guide" to mothers and wives.  Oh!  The    Pigeons just took off and are now flying back out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.           

         Hey Saint Joseph!  I guess, in Egypt "Horus" was the "guardian;" which is kind of how Dais and I think of You and our Guardian Angels Stanley and Ramona.  Some early Christians    in Egypt likely "Venerated" You and Blessed Virgin in the way they had Horus and Isis.              

       Daisy says that Jewish lady told our boss about these blue and red "Gem Stones" called "Sapphire's" and "Ruby's."  Sapphires are "usually" blue she said, but can be other colors too.  And some sapphires, "depending on the light;" are even "two colors at once" she said.                                      

"SAPPHIRE"   

       

            Oh!  A picture shows a sapphire and I want one!  Dais heard the lady tell Mr. Steve how Sapphire's are believed to "ward off sadness" and "protect from eye problems."  According to her the "earliest known synthetic blue pigment" was used in some ancient Egyptian paint. 

            This is interesting.  My Encyclopedia says, because they're "hard," sapphires are "used for other things besides decoration."  That Israeli lady told Mr. Steve how, in India; they're worn "for good luck" and associated with the Planet "Saturn."  Two boy Finch's are fighting.   

            Sapphires are the "birthstones" of September, and Mr. Steve's parent's Helper Maria was born on September 2.  Mr. Steve's brother Sam and wife Yolanda's Wedding Anniversary is on the 3rd.  Wow!  I can't believe how shiny and totally beautiful the sapphire in the picture is.    

THE "ILIAD" 

("HELEN OF TROY" KIDNAPPED)  

        

                 Over the next three days I'll learn about those two ancient Greek stories, the "Iliad" and "Odyssey."  The "Trojan War" started after that "Spartan" Greek girl "Helen," who had a big Sapphire; was kidnapped by "Paris" and taken back to "Troy."  Libby just whinnied.  

              Mr. Steve told the Jewish lady how "Catholic Bishops" wear gold rings with Sapphires.  She said the ancient "Persians" also thought Sapphires represented "sacredness" too.  Ah!  I see Theodora the Thrasher Bird sitting in her favorite Creosote bush near Jack the big Shed.

             Hey God!  I guess some people say those "Tablets" You gave to Mr. Moses, with the "Ten Commandments" on them; were made out of Sapphire.  Wow!  That means they must be worth millions of dollars.  I wonder if they disappeared when the "Ark of the Covenant" was lost? 

                               

   MOSES       

                                                                                                                                 PAINTING BY GUSTAV DORÉ

        

       Daisy told me in the bathroom at the far end of the hallway Mr. Steve has two miniature tablets with the Ten Commandments on them.  Hey God!  I do want to believe in those ten good rules and would never, ever steal something for instance.  No way!  Uh! Uh!  Forget it!                  

          The Israeli lady said some think it "brings good luck" if a girl wears something blue when she gets married.  That "ward's off" what they call the "Evil Eye," which might cause her not to be able to have babies.  My bad Angel Lilith also has two evil eyes when she tries to tempt me.     

          Well, the last thing to write about in this seventh chapter is that Singer Ronnie James Dio, who my boss took pictures of.  As BLACK SABBATH'S second Singer; he "Popularized" that      "Devil's Horns" hand gesture now associated with "Heavy Metal" music.  Heathcliff crowed.                                                                                                                             

RONNIE JAMES DIO (1942-2010)       

                                                                                                                                                                   PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA  

                                                     

         I remember my boss telling Mr. Randy that morning how "Dio" said he "got" the hand gesture from his Italian Grandmother.  It's called a "Malocchio" and is "meant to keep the evil    eye away or give it out to others" he said.  Theodora is flying out into the back desert.                   

           BLACK SABBATH'S first Singer Ozzy Osbourne at times made the "Peace" hand sign to the audience Daisy heard Mr. Dave say.  I guess some people call it the "Victory Sign" because in World War II that man Winston Churchill did it.  I'll write a lot about him in these books.           

         Daisy heard Mr. Steve and Mr. Dave talk about Ronnie James Dio, and how he died four years ago of stomach cancer.  My boss said, in reading the obituary he noticed Dio was born on    July 10th; his birthday being on July the 9th.  I smell Bonnie and Clyde's babies up there.            

               

TEXAS "LONGHORN"                                          COLLEGE STUDENTS        

           

          One time Daisy and Millie were in Mr. Steve's office when he was talking on the phone with Miss Babette at work.  Miss Babette had this customer in Texas who's son was then going to a College called the "University of Texas."  The sports teams are the "Longhorns" Dais says.       

           Boy!   A picture shows a big "Texas Longhorn" Cow, and you can see why they got their name; the horns could stab you like spears.  The University of Texas's sports teams wear orange and use the malocchio to mean long horns.  Mr. Ramon the Auto Mechanic likes orange.             

        Mr. Dave read Ronnie James Dio, who was short; was "not a trained" Singer but used "breathing techniques" he learned as a kid in playing the Trumpet.  A girl he sold things to one time told my boss in "Wicca" the malocchio is called the "Horned God."  I can smell Andy.                 

RONNIE JAMES DIO IN BLACK SABBATH

                                                  

            Mr. Dave read Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer in the month of May.  There are a lot of family birthdays on my list of dates.  Steve's parents wedding anniversary is on May the  24th.   Two Crows are fighting over something out there in the desert behind the Sheds.                

         Anyway, I'll find out more about Ronnie James Dio over the next three days.  But now I need to hide everything, take a quick pee break; and "Stretch my Legs" as they say.  I'd say it's about two thirty based on how the shadows look right now.  I still have five chapters to go.           

          Boy!  I'm so glad I have you around Elvira!  Barry, Robin and Maurice are such great blankets, which I'll use right now to hide everything.  Ah!  I just noticed how there are a few        puffy little clouds up in the high blue mid-afternoon sky, and the air is so fresh and clear.