Chapter5b

       (Chapter 4)      

 BE GRATEFUL 

  10:30    

     

                                  

                             

          Well God, three chapter down, nine to go.  After this chapter, just like yesterday; I'll take a break and visit Daisy but before then, in the second half of this chapter; I'll learn a lot about the Second World War.  Dawn's barking which reminds me of yesterday at this same time.

          I'm still thinking about that one skinny man who pushes his Wheelbarrow up and down the road in front of our house.  At times Daisy and I feel so sorry for him, especially on really hot days; but seeing him makes us feel more appreciative for our lives.  I smell old Mesquite.

         Mr. Steve thinks that skinny man is probably low on money so is out looking for some glass, plastic or aluminum to collect and "Cash In."  Daisy says at least he can then have some food for one more day.  Boy!  I'm so glad we don't really ever have to worry about getting food!

 

"HIGH" DESERT ("SAN GABRIEL" MOUNTAINS BEHIND)

        

            Our boss says at least that skinny man's not "lazy."   I've mentioned his customer back east in New York State named Phillip who's from Wales, where I guess they sometimes call the lazy people as being "Layabouts."  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye right now.  

            Mr. Steve's parents, and the Nuns at Saint Ferdinand's too; thought being lazy was bad. Daisy says that's why we have to "Pull our Weight" around here, and I totally agree with her on that.  Heathcliff just now crowed, and I can hear his Hens clucking happily over there.  

           My Spanish Dictionary says "perezoso" means lazy.   Mr. Julio, who does the embroidery on Mr. Steve's, Babette's, Susan and Karin's orders; uses the slang Spanish word "flojo."  Daisy told me Mr. Steve's mom, and that girl Miss Maria; say flojo can also mean "loose."   

         

  FANNIE AND FREDDIE

      

              Fannie and Freddie are coming back in from being out there in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Because they often talk to each other, I heard them coming before they even got here.  They're both now coasting right over the house, and moving toward the southwest.      

          Daisy and I've noticed how our boss gives our "Recyclables" to others.  He says these days there are many people finding it harder to "Make ends Meet" as they say.  I've mentioned a few times about how we had a big Recession and the economy is still not totally recovered.     

          In our garage is a wheelbarrow like the one that skinny man pushes around, and in there are other amazing things; like ropes or chains for instance.   I've noticed Mr. Steve has tools for digging in the dirt or cutting wood.   Oh!  Theodora just now ran bye in front of the Sheds.  

    

JACK, MOE, MANNY

     

                Against the back fence, between Manny the Shed and that clump of Joshua trees; are piles of chopped wood.  In the living room is a "Fireplace" Mr. Steve never uses, unlike some of our neighbors whose fires we can sur smell during the cold Winter.  Theodora ran bye.

           The first time I ever saw our boss using his wheelbarrow I couldn't believe what a simple yet ingenious thing to have thought of!  Yesterday I wrote about those Mirrors in our house.  As I've said, how could anyone have even thought of inventing such miraculous things? 

         Yesterday I wrote about how, the first time she ever saw herself in a mirror; Daisy jumped "A Mile" as they say.  She jokes she realized how ugly she is but, I like how she looks; and can't    wait to someday see what my own face looks like.  Mr. Steve thinks he's now kind of ugly.                       

DESERT SKY                                                       "PHOTONS"    

                                                                                                                                                      ARTWORK BY JFK

    

           Hey God!  Right now in seeing the Sun behind the Sheds I'm kind of having a feeling You might be hopefully looking at me working down here on the Patio.   Oh!  This is a good time to    look up those things called "Photons."  I totally missed that subject on my outline yesterday.        

          Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about that guy Albert Einstein, which talked about how, in the early 20th century; he wrote about things to do with photons.  My Encyclopedia they're "an    elementary particle of the boson type."  Mr. Steve says it's the "stuff light is made of."                   

           I've mentioned before how there are four "Fundamental Forces" of nature, "Gravity," the "Electromagnetic Field," and then "Strong" and "Weak Interactive Forces."  A photon, which is the Greek word for "light;" is in the electromagnetic area.   Andy's sniffing the air over there.                                    

MAX PLANCK (1858-1947) / ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955)  

PHOTOBY SCIENCEPHOTOLIBRARY        

         

        The tv show mentioned how Albert Einstein said he "built on" work done by that other German Scientist Max Planck.  Below a picture of them together the caption says how they're    "Theoretical Physicists."  The tv show talked about photons coming toward us from the Sun.       

          Oh!  I just noticed Helen taking a break from guarding their babies, and standing next to Andy at the entrance to their burrow.  Helen's sniffing the air and I can tell by how she's looking at me she just picked up my scent from over here working on Elvira.  Daffy's quacking.                 

          Dais told me our boss's father one time joked about how, "It's a good thing there are such smart people like Einstein around because what they study is so complex someone has to try to    understand it for everyone else."  Boy!  I'm so glad about that too.  Helen went back down.                  

 URIAH HEEP (LEFT)           CHARLES DICKINS                    URIAH HEEP       

ARTWORK  BY FREDERICK BARNARD                                                                                                                                                                                                                

      

           This morning Mr. Steve again played that URIAH HEEP song "Sunrise," and right now I'm hearing it in my mind.  Besides the singing, the part I like is what Daisy later told me was an organ.  The four Pigeons just flew over the back desert, moving toward the northeast.                   

          Dais saw a tv show on Charles Dickens.  It said, in his 1850 book "David Copperfield" a character was named Uriah Heep like the band.  My Encyclopedia uses the words "obsequious"  and "sychophant"  to describe him.  I can really smell Andy over there guarding their hole.          

           My Dictionary says obsequious means, "insincere fawning."  Mr. Steve told Miss Susan at work the Dickens character is now associated with "fake humbleness," or a "phony" person who "pretends to be a humble person;" but is actually a "total hypocrite."  Heathcliff just crowed.            

  "BEWITCHED"  

   

         Daisy says Miss Susan laughed when our boss reminded her of this  1960's tv show called "Bewitched."  I guess it's about a pretty Witch who marries a normal man, and her family does not like it at all.  They end up having a pretty little girl named "Tabatha" Dais told me.                

          In the tv show sometimes the husband's boss will tell him how bad and terrible his idea is. But, as soon as the "Client" says he likes the idea; will change his mind and sometimes even take credit for the idea himself.  That's mainly because he was afraid of losing money Daisy says.        

          Yup!  Dais was right!  According to my Dictionary a "sycophant" is, One who seeks favor by excessively flattering people of wealth, power or influence."  Miss Susan laughed when Mr.      Steve said the boss on Bewitched was an example of a person like Dickens' Uriah Heep.                 

  

   JEFFERSON AIRPLANE               JACKRABBIT              ALICE IN WONDERLAND  

PHOTO BY B. KATZUNG

         Jack the Jackrabbit flew bye out there in the field behind the Sheds and for some reason that suddenly reminds me of the "Alice in Wonderland" story.  Daisy told me about that really    good 1960's song by the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE.  It's about a white Rabbit I guess.                    

         In the Alice in Wonderland story this mean Queen yells, "Off with their head" if she gets mad at you according to Daisy.  She says the 1960's JEFFERSON AIRPLANE song is short but,  the girl singer is so good.  King Henry VIII of England used to cut people's heads off too.              

         Dais says our boss every once in a while plays that one JEFFERSON AIRPLANE song on drums and enjoys using the Snare drum in a military type "Cadence."  She, and that other Dog    Millie; thought they should use that song in a movie or something.  Jack's scent floated in.            

  

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS

PHOTO BY ED CARAEFF

          Dais has told me a few times about that good band from here called TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS.  They also have an Alice in Wonderland song too, and the Video shows a      Caterpillar on a Mushroom.  I'd wear shoes like the ones Tom Petty has in the picture.                   

        According to what Daisy says, in the Video Tom Petty plays the part of that guy from the story who used to wear a big huge hat.  But, at the very end of the Video; Alice turns into a cake  and Tom Petty eats part of her.  Ugh!  That would be so painful to be eaten like a cake.                  

         Our boss told Mr. Dave he's seen Tom Petty driving around the San Fernando Valley a few times.  One time it was in Van Nuys, and another time they were next to each other at a red light on "Ventura" Boulevard.  Mr. Steve and Tom Petty just smiled and nodded at each other.                  

"BRITELING"                    SUSAN CÒRDOVA                  "HEINZ"         

          I just glanced up to see Libby walking around in her Corral, and that makes me think about how Mr. Steve's sister Susan's Horses in Connecticut are named "Briteling" and "Heinz."  She sometimes rides them down to the "Long Island Sound."  Heathcliff just now crowed.            

            Daisy one time heard our boss and his sister in Connecticut talk on the phone about how, as a girl growing up down there in Sylmar; she had that smart little Pony "Dinky."  In book one I mentioned about how they used to enter, and often win; those "Horse Jumping" contests.           

            Oh!  Mentioning Sylmar right now suddenly makes me remember how yesterday I missed on my outline writing about a man named Luis J. Rodriguez.  He has a "Book Store" in Sylmar near to Mr. Steve's parents house.  Mr. Steve and his parents enjoy going in there sometimes.                                                      

LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ             

                 

         Mr. Steve's father described that guy Luis Rodriguez as "accomplished."  I guess, he used to be in gangs doing bad things; but now "expresses himself" by writing books, poems and other things good like that.  Hey God!  I'll bet Mr. Luis's family is so happy he does that instead.            

         Daisy says our boss's parents admire how Mr. Luis "Turned his Life Around."  He used to take drugs and drink but now doesn't, which he tells the "Inmates" when he goes to Prisons and  tries to help them be better people.  He shows them how writing can make them feel better.           

         Daisy heard our boss's father say he agrees with Mr. Luis who believes in the "redemptive power of words."  I was supposed to write about Luis Rodriguez yesterday, when I mentioned      Mr. Hussein's business in Sylmar called "Coffee & Cream."   But I missed it on my outline.          

       

            "COFFE & CREAM"                 

      

       Mr. Steve and his family like going to Coffee & Cream because they enjoy talking to Mr. Hussein.  He knows about history, especially Egypt where he's from.  Mr. Hussein is a Painter      and did good portraits of Basketball Player Kobe Bryant and that Singer Michael Jackson.          

          I guess Dais heard Mr. Steve and his father talk about how that guy Mr. Luis's Book Store in Sylmar is called "Tia Chucha's."  This Spanish Dictionary says how "Tia" means "Aunt" so,    Mr. Luis must've had an aunt named "Chucha" I guess.   Frida and Diego just flew bye.               

   According to what Daisy heard, Mr. Luis goes to prisons and teaches "Inmates" how to examine their lives.  He tells them to "Channel" any bad feelings into "Creative Writing" which might act as a "Vent."  That guy Socrates did say, "The unexamined life is not worth living."               

LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ WITH WIFE "TRINI"

              

          Luis Rodriguez's wife of almost thirty years is named "Trini," and Mr. Ralph thinks she's a "big help" to him at their Book Store and "Cultural Center."  Both are proud of being partly    the descendants of " Indigenous" cultures.  Daisy heard Mr. Ralph say they have four kids.          

        Mr. Steve's dad has talked to Mr. Luis about Socialism versus Capitalism, and I guess says Mr. Luis is "more inclined toward Socialism."  Mr. Ralph told our boss how Mr. Luis, when he    was a teenager; was in the same jail as that guy Charles Manson.  I smell Blinky over there.          

       From what Dais heard Mr. Ralph say that time, Mr. Luis and his wife are friends of Bruce Springsteen, and know the DOORS Drummer John Densmore.  They've worked on projects in    getting books to poor people all around the world.   I see Andy over there sniffing the air.                      

WM. E. GLADSTONE     QUEEN VICTORIA           BENJAMIN DISRAELI

                              (1809-1898)                              (1819-1901)                                  (1804-1881)                                                         

            

         Dais heard Mr. Luis and his wife's Book Store is on "Gladstone" Avenue in Sylmar, a mile from Mr. Steve's parent's house.  I guess Mr. Steve has a book about two 19th century British Politicians named William E. Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli.  Andy is now looking at me.         

      William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli were "Rivals" during  Queen Victoria's reign.   William Gladstone was from "Liverpool" like the BEATLES.  I've mentioned before how Queen Victoria was born on May the 24th, which is also Mr. Steve's parents wedding anniversary.            

       Oh!  I just noticed a few Flies hovering near Andy and Helen's burrow.  Boy!  I sure hope that's not a bad sign that there will be a lot of Flies hanging around here this coming Summer,      and I know for sure Daisy would say the exact same thing too.  We both really hate all Flies!         

               

THEODORA 

  

          Ah!  Theodora just flew in, landed on the ground in front of Moe; and then ran over and jumped up into her favorite Creosote bush near Jack.   Daisy says she can tell Mr. Dave knows a lot about "Creosote" plants.  I can smell Theodora and her bush from here on the Patio.               

         This "Pechanga" Indian lady told Mr. Dave "Chaparral" can mean a Creosote plant, or a "landscape" where plants and Animals live.  She told Mr. Dave how The Pechanga had a "Trade Route" to the coast.  They call themselves "Payomkawichum" or "People of the West."                

        I guess, that girl told Mr. Dave the Chaparral plant has been used by some Indian groups for "medical purposes."  Theodora jumped down to the ground, and is now running around the northeast corner of the house at the end of the patio to my left.  I can smell Creosote.                     

"BALD" EAGLES     

                                                                                                                                                                           PHOTO BY DAVE SODERSTROM

    

         A while back Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking  with Miss Susan on the phone about "Bald" Eagles.  I guess Eagles are sort of like a bigger version of all the Hawks who live around here in Piñon Hills.  Oh!  Just as I mention Hawks I see one flying bye, going toward the east.                 

         Miss Susan said there are no Eagles around here anymore but some live in other areas of California.  Eagle couples share the time sitting on their eggs, until the babies are able to break    out on their own she told Mr. Steve.  Boy!  I'd really like to smell an Eagle someday.                       

           Eagle parents, in order to avoid damaging the eggs; pull in their sharp claws when walking up there in the nest.  And Miss Susan says they roll all of the eggs around, so the developing baby Eagles inside don't stick onto the shells.  I just now looked up the word "Incubation."                    

  

PHILADELPHIA "EAGLES"

            I've mentioned a few times in these first two books how someday I want to watch sports on tv, even though Mr. Steve doesn't really watch much sports anymore.  Daisy  told me about a  Football team called the Philadelphia "Eagles."  They have Eagle wings on their helmets.              

            Daisy heard our boss and a Parts Manager talk about the Philadelphia Eagles.  Mr. Steve "Faxed" him a line drawing of the Eagles' helmet for his kids to color.  It was from a time when  the Eagles had green helmets.  In the early 1970's the Eagles wore white helmets.                            

           Not only does Mr. Steve like how the Eagles' helmets look, he also of course likes the color green like the Oakland A's.  But now, he told that Parts Manager; the Eagles and the A's have shifted from bright green to a dark "Forest" green.  Mr. Steve prefers brighter green.                        

SINGING ROBINS

            Oh!  I knew I heard Cleo and Leo the Robins singing and now see them on a branch of the Mulberry tree.  I'm so tempted to hide my materials and take my first big break now instead of    after this fourth chapter.  I can't wait to tell Daisy about Cleo and Leo being back.                          

         Cleo and Leo were so quiet this morning but now seem back to their normal selves again.  So, now we'll really know it's Springtime around here; and that makes me feel happy.  Boy!  I'm really tempted to go up front to tell Dais about Cleo and Leo but I'd better be disciplined.             

      Hey God!  Thank You, and Everyone up there too; for helping me be focused yesterday in writing book one.  I was able to go against my nature in always wanting to chase things like Rudy the Roadrunner or Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel.  But, I still have two more days to go.                          

                ROBIN EGGS            

      I've mentioned before how how girl Robins lay sky blue eggs.  Daisy and Millie one time heard Miss Susan say, Robins have short "life spans;" and can have three groups of babies each  year.  At times Cleo and Leo, with other noisy Robins; "Roost" in the Mulberry trees.                  

         In glancing over my book two outline I see how, in the second half of this chapter and much of chapter five too; I'll write about the two World Wars, especially the Second World War.  But I also have to learn and write about a lot of other things too.  Cleo and Leo just flew off.                  

        Hey God!  I know I've said it a few times but, thank You again for having Mr. Steve take me from that field my first owner dumped me into.  Last night, in looking up at the sky while going    over today's long outline; Daisy said the three of us have a lot to be grateful for.  I agree!               

  

SPEEDY GONZALEZ

PHOTO BY IAN MERRELL

          Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez is over there in the dirt, and that reminds me of how that one man who came to our house knew a lot about Squirrels.  He told our boss how there are two types of    "Ground" Squirrels who live in our area.  Speedy just zipped off, out into the back desert.            

         I guess Speedy, and Andy over there guarding the burrow; are what they call "Antelope" Squirrels.  A much less common type of Ground Squirrel is the "Mojave," which the man said      you rarely see because they stay underground most of the time.  Andy's sniffing the air.                 

       That one man told Mr. Steve there are five types of Antelope Squirrels, and some of their  burrows can be over twenty feet long.  Here in California, there are two main types of "Gray"      Squirrels who live in trees.  One is the "Western" version, the other one is the "Eastern."                    

"EASTERN FOX" SQUIRREL  

PHOTO BY CATHY LORRAINE       

       

         The man said the "Eastern Fox" Squirrel, the "largest Squirrel in North America;" have "bushier tails" as compared to the other Squirrels.  They're not originally from California, but    were brought out here in 1904.  Adapting well to our environment, they "multiplied fast."            

        Most Squirrels have only one "Litter" per year, while Fox Squirrels have two.  They can leap over fifteen feet the man said, "spend a lot of time on the ground;" and have "sharp claws    for tree climbing."  Andy's such a good guard and I'll bet that's one reason Helen likes him.          

       Boy and girl Fox Squirrels look alike, and seem to have more "Whiskers" sticking out of their faces than other Squirrels I guess.  The man told our boss they not only have them on their  cheeks, they have also have whiskers above their eyes and nose too.  Andy's looking at me.            

                       

       "EAGLE ROCK," CALIFORNIA       

                    

           Oh!  I forgot to mention this area of Los Angeles called "Eagle Rock."  I was supposed to write about it a little bit earlier but just noticed it on my outline.  Daisy says our boss has been to Eagle Rock a few times and one time "Hiked" to the top of a trail to see the city below.                  

          Dais heard our boss talking to his mom on the phone one time.  He told her Eagle Rock is town named for a fifty foot tall stone mountain where, at certain times of day when the shadows  are right; it looks like the image of an Eagle on the side.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye.                    

          Knowing she likes to bake things, Mr. Steve told his mom about a "Bakery" in Eagle Rock that made these Italian "Pastries" called "Cannoli."   He, Sandy and their friend Chris ate them. Mr. Steve's friend Rick's mom used to have a "Dachshund" Dog named "Cannoli."                       

    

"HILLSIDE STRANGLERS"                                THE "NIGHT STALKER" 

          PHOTO BY KEN HIVELY                                                                                                                        BETTMAN ARCHIVES                    

            I guess some famous "Serial" killers are "associated" with Eagle Rock.  In the 1970's two Cousins, Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Bono; both killed many girls; and then in 1985 Richard      Ramirez was called Los Angeles's "Night Stalker."  Now the other two Pigeons flew bye.                

         Daisy saw this good tv show which showed how one time that guy Richard Ramirez drew the Devil's "Pentagram" emblem on the palm of his hand.  The tv show used the word "rogue" to describe him.  My Dictionary says that means, "aberrant, dangerous or uncontrollable."          

          If someone like those stranglers or Richard Ramirez ever try to invade our two acres Dais and I would have to bite them.  And we'd do it too no doubt about it.  Sometimes I get a little too protective of Mr. Steve around strangers so then have to see how Daisy reacts to them first.                    

2014 NISSAN "ROGUE"

    

       According to what Daisy and Millie heard one time when they were laying in our boss's office, there's this Car called a "Rogue."  One of Mr. Steve's "Nissan" Parts Managers told him    they're small Sports Utility Vehicles.  I've mentioned how Nissan is a Japanese company.               

          Dais says the Parts Manager used the words "compact" and "crossover" to describe those Rogue Cars.  He said Rogue's are "assembled" in the State of "Tennessee," and have been out      since 2008.  A small group of what look like Sparrows are now flying over Libby's Corral.             

      Mr. Steve told his customer, in the 1930's and then World War II; "Fascist" Italy, "Nazi" Germany and "Imperial" Japan were sometimes called "rogue nations."  I'll write about it today and tomorrow.  In fact, I'm scheduled to learn about the Second World War in this chapter.          

             

     SUSAN, CELINA, GRANDMA CÓRDOVA           POPE JOHN PAUL II                                     TOUR GROUP                            

        MR. STEVE'S MOM, FATHER MAHAN                           JUNE, 1985                                                                                                           

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

             

            One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with his father.   And they talked about how, while they were travelling over in Italy and Israel in 1985; that guy the Night    Stalker Richard Ramirez was back here in California killing people.  A Crow cawed.                      

            Mr. Dave in New Mexico told our boss one time about how it was "Tongvan" Indians, who ate the "Acorns" from "Oak" trees in what is now the Eagle Rock area; who were "displaced"    by the Spanish back in the late 18th century.  I smell the little Cholla cactus over there.                 

          Now that Crow's fighting with another Crow out there in the desert and it sounds like they found something good to eat.  I wrote yesterday about how impressive it was the Tongvan women were able to figure out how to get rid of the poison in Acorns.  Leo and Cleo just flew bye.             

                            NEAR VICTORVILLE                            "ROUTE 66"                        "ARROYO SECO" BRIDGE       

                              

         I guess our boss told his mom about driving over this bridge.  It's a section of "Colorado" Boulevard and  goes east to west through Eagle Rock.   According to what Daisy heard Mr. Steve say on the phone, Eagle Rock is right in between the cities of Pasadena and Glendale.                    

          Mr. Steve's friend Miss Helen, who worked with he and Mr. Mark at the Forum in the mid-1980's; knew the history of the "Arroyo Seco" bridge.  She and Mr. Steve, on the way to see those U.C.L.A. Football games at the Rose Bowl, drove over it a few times.  Miss Helen died.                  

       I mentioned yesterday how Miss Helen owned this house in Glendale.  She said, from 1934 through 1940;  Colorado Boulevard was a part of that one road I wrote about in book one called "Route 66."  Some of the Ducks are now quacking about something going on over there.               

    

                   HIGH DESERT            "LOS ANGELES" AQUEDUCT               SYLMAR      

                                      

        My Encyclopedia says the Arroyo Seco bridge was built in 1912, which was the year before that man William Mulholland completed that Aqueduct I've written about.  That good diagram    shows how it goes bye near us.  And I see where it goes into Los Angeles in Sylmar.                         

        As I wrote yesterday, in Spanish the word "arroyo" means "ravine"  while "seco" is "dry." We have some of those kind of areas around us in this section of the High Desert.   So when the    wind blows really hard, which it sometimes does; the flying dust hurts if it hits you.                        

     Daisy says that lady Miss Helen who died knew about this school down there in Eagle Rock called "Occidental" College.  One time our boss had a dream where he was driving to a U.C.L.A. game with her.  I've mentioned how Miss Helen was an "Alumni" and a real "Bruin."                   

                  

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA        

              

           Mr. Steve one time told a guy from Glendale about Miss Helen.  He said it's "too bad" she  didn't live long enough to see a time when a person who went to Occidental College would be the President of the U.S., like right now.  And he's also the very first "Black" person too.                     

          Daisy saw a Huell Howser segment about Occidental College, and a "News" segment that said President Obama's family Dog is named "Bo."  Boy!  Bo's lucky to have the "White House" to guard.  Our boss was told President Obama admires that guy Reinhold Niebuhr.                      

        Another person who graduated from Occidental College, "Cum Laude" like Mr. Steve's mom; is a good Writer named Pat Morrison.  Mr. Steve says she's always kind of reminded him   of his old of his old girlfriend Harriet.  Both are intelligent according to what Dais heard.             

              

PAT MORRISON / STEPHEN HAWKING

                 

             Oh!  A picture shows that girl Pat Morrison with Stephen Hawking.  Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone one time about articles in the "Los Angels Times" Newspaper she's written over the years.  The four Pigeons are all flying toward the northeast right now.                

           Mr. Ralph says "Pinks Hot Dogs," who I wrote about earlier; named this "Vegetarian" hot dog after Pat Morrison.  Wow!  What an "Honor" it would be to have a Hot Dog named for you.  Boy!  I'd definitely wear a hat like the one Pat Morrison is wearing in the photo.                   

             Dais says Mr. Ralph told our boss how tv shows and movies have been filmed in the Eagle Rock area where Occidental College is located.  One was that tv show Mr. Steve and Harriet used to watch called "Beverly Hills 90210."  The smell of new Spring Mesquite just floated in.               

         

"BEVERLY HILS 90210"      

          

       Yesterday I wrote about how Beverly Hills 90210 filmed scenes at what used to be the "Serra" Memorial Hospital in "Lake View Terrace."  That's where Sandy's mom got her, and      Mr. Steve; their first "Real" jobs.  "L.V.T." is near Sylmar and right next to Pacoima.                   

          Daisy heard our boss and Sandy, who had to wear a white Nurses uniform; worked at a "Pharmacy."  Mr. Steve was a "Delivery Boy."  When he first moved out here from Milwaukee    Mr. Mark lived in L.V.T. for a while.  A flock of Birds is flying toward the northeast.                      

           Mr. Mark's family now lives in Hawaii, but he lived in L.V.T. before meeting our boss in 1984; when they both worked with Miss Helen for the different sports teams at the Forum.  Two  of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral and moving to the south.  Heathcliff crowed.                           

"JURRASIC PARK"      

        

           Mr. Ralph said parts of that Dinosaur movie called "Jurassic Park" were filmed in Eagle Rock.  I really want to see it someday, mainly because Dais and Millie thought it realistic in how  they showed what Dinosaurs looked like.  Now the other two Pigeons followed the first two.          

         I've mentioned before how in Earth's history there were three "Geologic" periods when Dinosaurs were living, the "Cretaceous," "Jurassic" and "Triassic."   And those millions of years were in the "Mesozoic" era.  Blinky, Dawn and Rosie's scents just came floating in right now.       

           It's too bad that huge six mile wide Asteroid, about sixty five million years ago; flew down from Outer Space and hit the "Yucatan" peninsula in Mexico.  That killed off almost all of the      "Reptile" type Dinosaurs. Boy God!  I'm so glad that some of the Bird versions survived.              

                

"JURASSIC WORLD"    

     

          Daisy and Millie also got to see another Dinosaur movie called "Jurassic World."  In that movie the Dinosaurs were those "Raptors."  Dais says Raptors are like miniature T-Rex's.  But,    unlike those giant T-Rex's; they hunted in packs like Wolves or some types of Sharks.                    

           Our boss says in real life Raptors were were not as big as the ones in the movie.  They were the size of large Turkeys he's read.  But they must've still been dangerous because of their sharp  teeth and claws.  A small flock of Birds is flying toward the east way up there in the sky.                

        According to this Encyclopedia, "Velociraptor" Dinosaurs lived in the Cretaceous period, which was even before the Jurassic era.  It says here "birds of prey," like Hawks and Eagles; are also called Raptors too.  Andy's over there sniffing the air and protecting their burrow.                  

                  

2014 FORD "RAPTOR"  ("RANGER")    

            

          Dais one time heard our boss talking with Mr. Bob the Parts Manager, who works at that Ford dealership in Missouri.  They discussed how Ford uses the name "Raptor" to describe the "High Performance" versions of their three "Pickup Trucks."  A Train just whistled faintly.         

        According to what Daisy heard,  Ford Raptors have a unique front grille.  Instead of the usual "Oval" logos the name Ford is spelled out in big letters.  Rudy the Roadrunner ran bye in  front of the Sheds and is now going around the northeast corner of the house to my left.                 

        When Mr. Steve moved up here back in 2005 he and Mr. Bob talked about it because Mr. Bob grew up over there in the Antelope Valley.  He went to the same High School as Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.  Mr. Steve's brother Sam's family also live very near that area too.                                                        

                 AVRIL LAVIGNE                      

       

           Yesterday I wrote how, in 2005; Mr. Steve took his Nieces Samantha and Cristina to that see that Canadian girl Avril Lavigne do a concert.  A short time later Mr. Steve and that guy Mr. Greg moved him up here from Sylmar.  That was in August and it was really, really hot.                

         That Avril Lavigne concert was at the "Greek Theater."  That's near the "Griffith Park Observatory," where "Laserium" used to do their laser light show.  One time our boss and Mr. Doug remembered the 1970's when Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter worked for "Laser Images."         

            Mark Ritter, among other subjects like "Reptiles" and "Astronomy;" studied "Geology."  So, he knew about "Rock Formations;" and the artwork people have created in caves or on the    side of rocks.  That lady Sister Wendy is also interested in what are called "Petroglyphs."              

                   

ROCK FORMATION      

PHOTO BY MIKE LINDERMAN            

             

        Wow!  A Rock Formation Mr. Steve would like to see is near the city of San Diego to our south.  I'm looking at a picture of it right now and it does look like an Eagle the way Daisy said.  I guess, from what Daisy heard; Mark Ritter hiked out to it and was very impressed.                     

         I've mentioned that place called "Death Valley," located to the northeast of where we live down here in Piñon Hills.  It gets even hotter there than here in the Summer which, at times; is    "Hard to Believe" as they say.  But that's obviously why it got its name Daisy says.                         

        Dais told me our boss's friend Mark Ritter went to Death Valley and got permission to see some of the ancient Indian petroglyphs made there.  I guess they were created by "Clovis" type    Indians thousands of years ago.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye right now.                

                               

       THE "ANNUNCIATION"         

                            

          Ah!  A breeze just blew in Rosemary scent and the chimes hanging from the patio roof are ringing so, I hope that's either You Blessed Mother; or maybe You Holy Spirit.  It makes me feel calm either way because I don't feel alone.  Some Ducks are quacking over there.                            

         Hey Lord!  Blessed Virgin!  As I mentioned yesterday, did You Guys know what You looked like when You were down here living over thee in Israel?  Daisy thinks most people were way too poor to own mirrors back then.  I'm suddenly really curious about what I look like.                        

        I'd say it's about ten thirty judging by how the shadows are now shorter and slowly moving away from me as the Sun goes up on the eastern horizon behind the Sheds.  I'll bet Daisy's laying in her spot at the back of the garage now.  I can't wait to see her after this chapter.                       

     

DAISY CÓRDOVA

     

         I'll bet Daisy, as usual; has licked her paws to help her arthritis this morning.  She's so grateful there's such a thing as those "Bufferin" pills our boss puts in her food, and says her feet didn't hurt very much at all yesterday.  A chirping boy Wren is chasing a girl Wren.                       

            Last night after Dinner I again told Dais about my idea for Dog shoes and how I really do think we could make money if that idea "Went Over."  She joked about making some what are    called "Orthopedic" Dog shoes.  Cher the Cat just leapt up onto Manny the Shed.                          

           Oh!  I wonder if Cats could wear shoes because that would be another huge market too.  I remember that one time Mr. Mike talked about how, many times in history; someone "stumbles" onto a market "by accident."  Cher just now noticed me over here sitting on Elvira.                                     

  SAM / YOLANDA (WITH KIDS)                                  "REX"                               

       

        After this chapter, or Part One; I'll visit Daisy.  Yesterday she laid on the cement slab in front of the Garage a lot.  Our Truck Rex is next to it because at this time of year Mr. Steve does "Spring Cleaning," especially of our graveyard; and takes loads to the Dump.                                 

          I wrote yesterday how Rex is a 1977 Chevy Half Ton Truck, with two gas tanks; and a stick shift up near the steering wheel.  That's what Dais says as, I'm too afraid to ride in Rex the way    she does when our boss goes to the Dump.  I think I'll try going with them next time.                      

       I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's brother Sam's family live in Littlerock, northeast of Piñon Hills.  Sam and his wife Yolanda, who gave us Rex; have a really nice house over there with their kids Mathew, Sammy Jr. and Raqquel.  Their two Dogs are named Tito and Ozzy.                          

                          

"MONARCH" BUTTERFLY

    

          Oh!  There's that same big Monarch Butterfly Dais and I both saw yesterday a few times.  I wonder if it's a boy or girl Butterfly?  Daisy says one time, when she was still living with her first owner; she saw this big Bird throw up and get really sick after eating a Butterfly.  

         As I mentioned yesterday, in Spring some boy Bird's become colorful to attract the girls but boy Wrens are always colorful year round.  Cher is up on top of Manny the Shed's roof and is now using her tongue to groom herself.  I see two vapor trails way up there in the sky.

         Wow!  Just when I was thinking about colorful Birds I see Finley the boy Finch over there sitting in that same clump of Joshua trees near Libby's Corral.  But still he's alone and not with a girl Finch.  Cher just laid down and will rest and take a nap in safety up on Manny.  

                                    

       FINLEY           

               PHOTO BY RON NIEBRUGGE                       

                         

        That Butterfly is flying out into the eastern desert behind the three Sheds.  As I wrote in my first book yesterday, Daisy heard Butterflies bring good luck and symbolize life's changes; and I kind of want to believe that those rumors are totally true.  Finley just flew away.  

        Seeing that Butterfly makes me remember how Miss Susan, who ran the local Newspaper; told our boss about Butterflies.  She said every year when it gets cold they "Migrate" all the way to California from up near Canada. That's about two thousand miles away! 

        This one Dictionary says migrate means; "moving from one region to another."  Miss Susan says Butterflies bright colors warn Lizards and Birds that they taste bad and may be poisonous.  She also mentioned some colorful little Frogs who live down there in South America. 

                                  

SOUTH AMERICAN FROGS

  

         Wow!  A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows some of those South American Frogs.  The caption says they're what's called "fluorescent" so "predators" know they're poisonous to eat. This English Dictionary says that fluorescent mainly means "producing light."

         Daisy and I would like to smell a Frog but no way would we lick it.  Uh! Uh! I've mentioned a few times in the last two day how Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter, who died; knew about Frogs and things like that.   He told Mr. Steve "Bull" Frogs never, ever sleep.  Wow!      

        Mark Ritter knew about how, for thousands of years; South American Indians have hunted Monkeys and other things.  And, like all people; they made war.  South American Indians rub arrowheads, darts and spears on the colorful Frog's backs; to get Frog poison on them.

                                                              BRAZILIAN INDIANS

                                                                                                                                                                            PHOTO BY FIONA WATSON

           One time Daisy and that other Dog Millie watched a tv show about South American Indians who live in the country of "Brazil."  Yesterday in book one I mentioned how, over the years; our boss Mr. Steve has known a few people from Brazil.  They speak Portuguese.

          I guess, from what Dais told me; some Native people in Brazil still live out in the "Jungle" and use bows and arrows, spears and these things called" Blow Guns."  Dais says our boss has a Blow Gun in one of the corners of his Office.  Heathcliff the Rooster just crowed.  

         As teenagers in the 1970's Mr. Steve and his girlfriend Sandy became pretty good at using bows and arrows in "Target Practice."  And Mr. Steve is pretty accurate when he uses his breath to shoot "Darts" through his Blow Gun.  Speedy Gonzalez ran bye but I won't chase him. 

                

   SOUTH AMERICA

                         

         Daisy says on that one tv show about the Indians of Brazil they talked about what are called "Tropical Rain Forests."  I guess they're really important to the whole world's "Climate" and on the show they called them the "Lungs of the World."  I still smell Speedy Gonzalez. 

        According to what that tv show said many Brazilian people are poor so want to use the land for farming.  But cutting down forests takes away where the Indians have lived for thousands of years.  A few of the Ducks next door are quacking away at something over there.

       Hey God!  Yesterday I mentioned how Mr. Dave, who plays drums and now lives over there in Taos, New Mexico; doesn't like hurting the "Environment" You gave us to live in.  He warns that people might ruin the Earth by creating "Pollution" like "Smog."  Dawn's barking.

         

                                                                              MR. DAVE PLAYING DRUMS

                     

          As I wrote yesterday, Mr. Dave is part "Hupa" Indian.  The Hupa's have been in northern California since about 1000 A.D. and call themselves ""Natinook-wa" which means "People of the place where the trails return."  A small flock of Birds is flying bye way up there.

         In book one I wrote how you can also spell Mr. Dave's tribe "Hoopa."  It's interesting how in my Encyclopedia it says the Hupa's had "almost no contact" with Europeans until the "Gold Rush" of 1849.  They're a "rare" California group not "forced off of their homeland."  

        It says here the Hupa arrived in what is now northwestern California about one thousand years ago.  They came from the north so had "Traditions" but then adopted things, like "Sweat Lodges" for example; from the Indians already living here.   I smell new Spring Sage.  

         

                                                                                    "HUPA" WITH SPEAR" (1923)

              PHOTO BY EDWARD S. CURTIS         

                                 

         I wonder what a Sweat Lodge is?  Oh!  A good black and white photograph shows a Hupa man standing on this big rock holding a fishing spear.  The caption says how the Hupa Indians have "fished" in the "Klamath" and "Trinity" rivers for about "ten centuries."

         Yesterday in book one I wrote about some of the Native "Bands" of California Indians who were living here when the Spanish came up from Mexico in the mid-18th century.  As I said, the women from many of those bands made bread from Acorns.  I love how Sage smells. 

         I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  According to what it says here in this Encyclopedia, the Hupa Indians used to draw those Petroglyphs on rocks.  Yesterday I mentioned how Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter, who died; knew a lot about Petroglyphs here in California.   

  

                               MISS JULIANNE                                                              MR. DAVE

 

         Yesterday in my first book I wrote a few times about how my boss's friend Mr. Dave used to live in California but moved to New Mexico after visiting the city of Taos.  Daisy says she can tell that our boss thinks Mr. Dave is a very talented person.  Dawn's barking at something.    

      As I wrote yesterday, Mr. Dave's girlfriend is named "Julianne" and I guess, from what Mr. Dave told Mr. Steve; she's really good at making what they call "Ceramics."  Daisy told me that means pots and plates and things made from clay.  Now little Blinky's barking too.

       One time Daisy was in our boss's Office and heard him talk to Mr. Dave on the phone.  They discussed those "Clovis" type people who, after the last "Ice Age;" crossed a "Land Bridge" and came over here to North America from Siberia to Alaska.  I wrote about it yesterday.  

 

                                                              "LING" THE DOG

      

            I just thought about how, in the Hupa language "Ling" means "Dog;" which is why Mr. Dave and Julianne Dog is named that.  Mr. Dave, like Mark Ritter who died; knows a lot about "Petroglyphs," and things like "Arrowheads."  A small group of Finch's just flew bye.

            Unlike our boss, who has only played drums in his houses; Mr. Dave's a "real" Drummer and has been in bands who played concerts.  One was called RECKLESS, just like that Korean War Horse I wrote about in book one.  Some Ducks are quacking but Daffy is way louder.

               Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just ran out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  And he used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to do it.  As I've said before a few times, it's so amazing how he can do that while running so fast without hitting his head on a pipe. 

         

                                                                   BUDDY GUY

PHOTO BY VAL WILMER             

           

          One time Daisy and Millie were in the house and heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Dave back there in New Mexico.  They discussed this really talented "Chicago Style" Blues    Guitarist Buddy Guy, who plays electric guitar.  I guess he's originally from "Louisiana."             

          Mr. Dave thinks that Buddy Guy is "more than just a Blues Musician."  His music also has "elements" of  "Soul," "Jazz" and "Rock" music too.  When Mr. Dave said Buddy Guy at times    seems to make his guitar "talk" or "cry," our boss told him about the idea of "Rhêma."              

       The New Testament Greek word Rhêma is said to be translated as meaning, "The Living Word."  Mr. Steve wants to think, besides simply speech or writing; music at times can give you    the same Rhêma type "inspirational" feeling too.  Libby's scent floated in from my right.                                  

                    JIMMY PAGE                 JEFF BECK / STEVIE RAY VAUGHN            ERIC CLAPTON

          Dais heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about how Buddy Guy, in the 1950's, began as one of those "Session" Musicians in Chicago.  He influenced later Guitarists like LED ZEPPELIN'S Jimmy Page and CREAM'S Eric Clapton.  And Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughn too.

              I've mentioned how Mr. Steve likes "Three Piece" bands of bass, drums and guitar.  Buddy Guy's band he thinks, inspired 1960's "Power Trio's" like CREAM,  THE JIMMY HENDRIX EXPERIENCE; and ZZ TOP.  That 1970's and 1980's band RUSH is a Power Trio. 

          I can't wait for tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to write about the best Guitarists Mr. Steve has seen play in person.  I'm so tempted to do it now but, I'd better just be disciplined and wait until book three.  A little boy Lizard is chasing a girl Lizard around out there in the dirt.  

                 

                                                             LARRY DAVIS (1936-1994)           

                          

           Oh what the heck!  Even though I'll mainly write about Guitarists our boss has seen in book three, I will mention now a Video Mr. Dave likes.  Daisy says it was of a Stevie Ray Vaughn  concert.  He and his three piece band played a really good Blues song called "Texas Flood."          

              My Encyclopedia says, in 1958 when Mr. Steve was three; Texas Flood was written and done by a guy named Larry Davis.  Oh!  I notice how he was born on December the 4th just like our boss's Niece Stephanie.   The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral over there.

             Dais says our boss showed the Stevie Ray Vaughn Video to that kid Jason who's learning to play guitar.  And I guess he was totally "Blown Away" at Stevie Ray Vaughn's skill.  Mr. Dave laughed when Mr. Steve told him how he's shown that Video to a few people over the years.  

           

                         T. BONE WALKER                         JIMI HENDRIX                         STEVIE RAY VAUGHN                                                                           (1910-1975)                            (1942-1970)                               (1954-1990)              

                                                                                                                                        PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ                                                  PHOTO BY DAVID PLASTIK

              Towards the end of the song Texas Flood Stevie Ray Vaughn, who's a good Singer too Daisy thinks; starts to play his guitar behind his back!  Our boss told Mr. Dave he's been told he does that as a "Tribute" to both T-Bone Walker and Jimi Hendrix.  Daffy's now quacking.

              I guess T-Bone Walker, as a "Gimmick;" also played guitar behind his back too.  Daisy said Jimi Hendrix played with his teeth like T. Bone Walker. Oh!  My Encyclopedia says T-Bone Walker died on March the 16th, which is also Mr. Steve's sister Susan's birthday too. 

              Dais says Stevie Ray Vaughn, who died shortly after our boss and Miss Harriet saw him, starts slow on Texas Flood.  He builds it up but in a middle section seems to make his guitar talk. Daisy told me our boss Mr. Steve's favorite Stevie Ray Vaughn song is called "Scuttle Buttin."

        

STEVIE RAY VAUGHN

PAINTING BY MICHELLE RAIS        

     

         On Texas Flood Stevie Ray Vaughn does a "Call and Response" between his singing and then his guitar, and Mr. Rich says he has strong hands in "bending" thick strings.  He "catches" notes, does "Hammer On," "Slide" and "Tremolo" techniques.  That means to "Tremble."          

           Dais says Mr. Dave joked seeing Stevie Ray Vaughn play would be discouraging for other  Guitarists.  To him going from lead to rhythm or rhythm to lead, like on that song Scuttle Buttin Daisy told me; is "Second Nature."  And he doesn't even have to see the guitar to play it.               

         One time Mr. Dave joked Stevie Ray Vaughn was like "Miles Davis on guitar."  Daisy says Miles Davis is a Jazz trumpet player, and I'll find out about him tomorrow in book three when I  learn about that 1970's "Fusion" music.   I'll also write more about Guitarists then too.                      

2014 BUICK "ENCORE"

        

          I remember that warm night last Summer when Dais and I were back here on Elvira and she told about concerts.  She says, if the audience likes how the band did; they won't leave after    the final song and keep on clapping.  So the band comes back out and plays some more music.      

           That last segment of the concert is called an "Encore," and from what Daisy heard there's a Car called that name too.  She and Millie one time heard our boss on the phone talking to one    of his "Buick" Parts Managers about that vehicle.  Two of the Pigeons flew bye right now.             

          Boy!  Today the air is clear again, which makes me feel really grateful to be back here on the patio learning how to read and write.  Daisy told me again how, compared to a lot of the first days of Spring in here Pinon Hills; yesterday was so warm.   Now the other Pigeons flew bye.         

                                         THE "UNIVERSE"                                             OUR "GALAXY"

                  Hey God!  As You know, last night after dinner we came back here and looked up at the amazing night sky You made for us.  Daisy and I talked about things I learned yesterday on our physical world You gave to us to live in down here.  Ah!  The air is so fresh right now.   

                Daisy and Millie saw that tv show about the Universe's "Fundamental" forces.  It said there are three "Known" forces which "Govern" how things in the world we can see operate.  I guess, as Dais understood it; some people divide the  third force into two categories. 

            This  Encyclopedia says the forces are "Gravity," "Electro Magnetism;" and "Nuclear."  But nuclear can be studied in two areas, "Weak" and "Strong."  Oh!  Gravity, which effects the motion of things like Black Holes, Galaxies, Planets and Moons; is the "weakest" force.

  

                       THE UNIVERSE                           

  

               Dais told me the tv show said gravity also effects all of those man made "Satellites" now going around and around the world.  It says here electro magnetism is what "directs the behavior of light."  It also "governs the motion" of an "electron around the atomic nucleus."   

               Well, it looks Dais was right again!  She said the tv show mentioned how light is actually  an "electromagnetic wave moving through space," and the two nuclear categories of the forces are really complicated and hard to to understand.  Libby's looking in this direction.

           Wow!  It says here "strong" nuclear is the "most potent" force in the Universe.  But, as Daisy joked; it's a good thing there are people like that guy Einstein around because some things are so hard to understand.   Some Scientists think there might be a fifth fundamental force. 

                                                       

                                                                         "FLICKER"

       

                 I knew I was hearing a "Flicker" Bird, and now see the Bird our boss named "Flinders" on a branch out in the desert.  Flicker's say "ki, ki,ki" and Dais told me our boss described their "squeaky" voice as the sound of a "rubber duck."  I wonder what a rubber Duck is?

               This is so great seeing and hearing Flinders who Dais says is a type of Woodpecker.  Miss Susan says Flickers are "unusual" in being a "migrating" Woodpecker, and when they fly go up and down like a "Roller Coaster."  Mr. Steve named Flinders after that guy Flinders Petrie.  

                 Mr. Dave says there are Flickers over there in New Mexico too.  Yesterday in my first book I mentioned how his Hupa tribe up there in Northern California "Revere" Woodpeckers.  Oh!  I just now looked down and noticed a long line of Ants marching along on the patio floor.

 

ANT HILL

 

         Daisy says Flicker Birds, who often eat on the ground; have tongues that stick out to eat Bugs and things like that.  And I guess she's seen them using it to lick up Ants from the Anthills we have around here in Summer.  That Flicker just flew away and is moving to the north.

        Miss Susan jokingly called Flickers "Groundpeckers" one time.  Dais heard her tell our boss that Flickers are the only known Woodpeckers who "feed" on the ground.  And, just like all the other Woodpeckers; they often knock on tree trunks in order to communicate things.

           I've never seen or heard it but Daisy told me some Flicker Birds seem to like to pound their beaks on metal things and not just wood.  One time she and Millie heard a Flicker drumming on one of the fifty five pound drums up there in the front yard near the Garage entrance. 

  

                      GEORGE CLINTON                                      PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH  BISHOP                                                                                                                                                                             

             A group of Finches is flying bye and going in a northeast direction.  Thinking of colorful boy Finches like Finley, and writing about those colorful South American Frogs; makes me think of a Musician Daisy told me about.  The scent of Mesquite just came floating in to me. 

            Dais saw a tv show about a "Funk" band called PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC, who were led by a guy named George Clinton.   I guess he and his band wore really, really colorful clothes.  Mr. Mark over in Hawaii knows a lot about many of George Clinton's different songs.

      According to what the tv show said, George Clinton had this Barber Shop in the State of New Jersey but closed it and went to Detroit to write songs and be in music.  Yesterday I wrote about "Motown" which is a company in that city which makes music.  I can smell Creosote.   

   

                                                          SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE

               Daisy says George Clinton's friend was this other Musician named "Sly" who's band from up in San Francisco was the FAMILY STONE.  I guess Mr. Steve used to plays drums along to their song about dancing.   George Clinton and Sly Stone were big in the 1960's and 1970's.

            One time Dais heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone to his friend Mark who now lives over in Hawaii.  As I've mentioned over the last two days, Mr. Mark is a good musician.  He knows a lot about George Clinton and PARLIAMENT'S bass player named "Bootsie" Collins.

         Mr. Mark and our boss both like much of the music George Clinton wrote for "P-FUNK." Daisy says one reason why is because George Clinton combined funky music like James Brown's with Jimi Hendrix, CREAM, and LED ZEPPELIN'S Hard Rock.  A Duck is quacking.

                                

      BABY "GROUND  SQUIRRELS"  

                                     

         Oh!  I just noticed Andy and Helen's new babies.  I can't wait to finish this last chapter of part one and go see Daisy because I have a lot to tell her.  Wow!  I've never seen this many babies so early in a year and I really, really do want to see that as a good sign God.    

        One time Mr. Steve's Nephew's Sammy Jr., Dalton and Austin visited Piñon Hills and used that Blow Gun to shoot at a "Bale" of Hay set up with a round target on the front.  I'd like to try that too someday.  Andy and Helen just took their babies back down in their den.   

        Yesterday I mentioned the Brazilian Bookkeeper "Eber" who used to work for the company Mr. Steve, Babette, Susan and Karin work for.  He once told Mr. Steve about Brazil's "Pantanal" which my Encyclopedia says is a large "Wetland."  The baby Squirrels are gone.

      

     SOUTH AMERICA

        

         I notice Portuguese is kind of like Spanish because when the ancient Romans conquered the area which is now Spain and Portugal they brought Latin.  On a map you can really see how big Brazil is.  I guess Brazil, since the 16th century; was one of Portugal's colonies.     

        That man Eber told Mr. Steve how in Portuguese "mud" is called "lodo" or "barro" but out in the Pantanal there are a few different types of mud.  I just used my Portuguese Dictionary to look up the three words, "maiadô," "lama" and "brocotó."  All mean mud too.

            Mr. Eber says "pantaño" means "big swampy place," and "cheia" is the season when rain stops and the Pantanal is "full" of water.  According to this Portuguese Dictionary the word for a pond is "baias" while a forrest is called a "capões."  I can smell some new Mesquite.

           

       "ANACONDA" SNAKE            

                                           

          Oh my God!  A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows what the caption says is a Brazilian "Anaconda" Snake.  I've mentioned "Boa Constrictors" and "Burmese Pythons" too.  Oh!  Just as I'm looking at this photo I see one of those Garter Snakes crawling under Moe. 

         Tomorrow in book three I'll write about Mark Ritter's "Gila Monster" that ended up living with Mr. Steve for a few years.  I'm so tempted to do it now but I'll just wait and do it according to schedule.  Andy and Helen the Squirrels just ducked under Manny the Shed.

    Daisy says Mr. Eber told our boss a "Fazenda" is a big Ranch in Brazil.  A "Poacher" who illegally hunts in the Pantanal is a "Coureiro" and people hate and kill them if they're caught.  I guess "poaching" just means to hunt things illegally without the right license.                                                       

     "RIO DE JANEIRO"       

                         

           I guess, from what Dais heard; Mr. Eber says at times he "misses" Brazil but it's hard to make money there.  He at times dreams of  the Pantanal's skinny Wolves and colorful Birds.  My boss told him his parents came to California from New Mexico because of money too.                    

          Wow Lord!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a giant statue of You "overlooking" the Brazilian city of "Rio de Janeiro."  Mr. Eber has been there many times and told Mr. Steve how  it has a lot of really poor people who live there.   Andy and Helen ran back to their burrow.           

      Helen ran down into the hole and, as usual; Andy will stay up on top and watch out for Goliath the Gopher Snake or Cher the Cat.  Helen will go down inside and take good care of all    their new Spring babies.  A Freight Train just now whistled faintly, over there to my left.               

                                         

2014 KIA "RIO"  

         Daisy heard our boss one time talking with a "Kia" Parts Manager  about this small Car called a "Rio.  Kia is one of the South Korean Car companies.  Mr. Steve's customer said Rio's    have come in a few different "body styles" and can be run on either gas of diesel.                           

          Mr. Steve and Mr. Eber talked about these Birds Called "Egrets."  Mr. Steve told him of a place in the San Fernando Valley called "Balboa Park," where some white Egrets  live in the Lake there for part of the year.  I guess they also have some Egrets down in Brazil.                         

        A white Egret landed in our two acres once, and Daisy and Millie smelled it before it flew away to the south.  Miss Susan thinks it might've been "on its way" down to Lake Balboa and it was just resting here in Piñon Hills.  It might've seen the water in the Bird Bath she says.                                    

                 WHITE "EGRET"             

                                         

         That Butterfly just flew past again.  I wonder if it's true that, like Daisy heard; Butterflies begin their lives as worms or what they call "Caterpillars."  I looked up the word Caterpillar in this English Dictionary because it's long and sort of a hard name to spell correctly.    

         What's even more amazing about Butterflies Daisy says, is how they "live as babies in those containers called "Cocoons."  Oh!  There goes Max the Hummingbird.  But, for the second day in a row Mr. Steve didn't fill up the Hummingbird feeders with that red liquid food.

         This is also the second day in a row that Max isn't with his girlfriend 99.  Daisy noticed it too and thinks she's probably way too busy making a nest for their new Spring babies to live in.  Boy!  It would be so great to have some babies to raise and teach a lot of things to.  

        

     HUMMINGBIRD

           PHOTO BY MICHAEL LEVINE

             

         I'll bet Max is hungry!  Miss Susan says Hummingbirds feed on flower "Nectar" but also eat Insects.  This Encyclopedia says Hummingbirds and flowers have a "mutually beneficial" or  "Symbiotic" relationship. That means; "Two parties mutually benefiting each other."

         I guess Hummingbirds get nectar from inside the flower.  As they stick their long beaks way inside this stuff called "pollen" gets stuck all over them.  So, then when Hummingbirds go to the next flower, without even knowing it; they "Fertilize" that second flower with pollen. 

        Yesterday I mentioned how flowers make new babies by getting their "Pollen" on things like Bees which drink their "Nectar" for energy.  I wish I could have a baby someday God, as You of course know already.  I smell that little baby Cholla cactus over there in the dirt.

              

                                                    CHARLES DARWIN(1809-1882)

                            

         Miss Susan thinks Hummingbirds and flowers is an example of Charles Darwin's "Natural Selection."  I guess some flowers "Evolved" to "Discourage" nectar feeders like Bees.  Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve jokes colorful flowers could be nature's "Advertising."

         Yesterday I mentioned how that guy Charles Darwin wrote about "Survival of the Fittest."  I just noticed Libby walking slowly over there in her Corral and, even though she's old like Daisy and Rosy; has survived into old age.  Andy's over there guarding the entrance to their hole.

         Daisy and Millie saw this tv show about these two 1930's era Dancers named Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.  Dais told me she thought of them one time in seeing Max and 99 dancing and playing the way they sometimes do.   A Lizard is doing pushups over there on the wall.   

    

                  DANCING HUMMINGBIRDS                                     GINGER ROGERS / FRED ASTAIRE (1930's)

                A photo of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire might be a black and white "Print" which has been "Colored" in the way Mr. Steve used to do. It says here Fred Astaire "revolutionized" and "pioneered" how "musicals" were "filmed."  Boy!  I kind of like the shoes they wore.   

               Daisy, knowing I like to dance; told me about this tv show where talented dancing couples compete to "Win the Contest."  Hey!  We should start a school to teach other Dogs to dance.  It would be a win-win situation because we could make money while doing something fun.

          For some reason I suddenly just now thought about that type of food called "Fruit."  Daisy told me about it even though she's never eaten any fruit.  I guess it's sweet and one time she and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Ralph about "Pomegranates."

      

                                                                  "POMEGRANATE"

                                               PHOTO BY RIDVAN ARDA                                                                                                                                      PHOTO BY DAVID GOMEZ                                                                       

                Dais says our boss told Mr. Ralph of a Magazine article by a Jewish girl who wrote about the "Symbolism" of that fruit Pomegranates.  Boy!  I'm lucky to have this Dictionary because I'd never have been able to spell Pomegranate.  No way!  Daisy loves the color red.

            I guess the Jewish girl wrote how the Pomegranate, "is considered by many cultures and traditions to be a fertility symbol for life and renewal."  Dais says our boss told Mr. Ralph his parents have a Pomegranate tree in their backyard in Sylmar.  I smell Andy and Helen.

           The girl wrote Pomegranates went to the "Iberian" Peninsula, where Spain and Portugal are now; from ancient "Mesopotamia."  The Prophet Mohammad "cherished" Pomegranates so they influenced Muslim "Moors."   As I've written, Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula.    

            

         HOMER (c. 8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.)              KING SOLOMON( c. 1011-928 B.C.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ENGRAVING BY GUSTAVE DORE

           Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph the Magazine article about Pomegranates was written by this girl named Debbie Wohl Isard.  She said Pomegranates were "mentioned" by that Greek writer Homer and King Solomon too.  Andy and Helen ran down into their burrow. 

       Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Ralph about how he likes drinking Pomegranate juice but only after all the seeds are already taken away.   I guess Pomegranates have a lot of seeds in them.  I    know for sure, because her favorite color is red; that Dais would just like how they look.               

           Miss Debbie compared Jewish history to a "many-seeded" Pomegranate.  As I've written about before, since ancient times Jew have had a few "Diasporas."  This Greek Dictionary says    the word "diaspeirô" would be translated as being to "scatter" or "spread around."                      

    

   QUEEN ISABELLA OF "CASTILLE" (1451-1504)

        Miss Debbie said the Pomegranate, "appears in Christian artworks and was invoked as a symbol of Queen Isabella of Spain."  I've mentioned over the last two days how Mr. Steve went    out with that girl "Debra" after Harriet broke up with him in 1995.  Dawn's barking.                    

         As I wrote in book one, the North African Muslim Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula way back in the 8th century A.D.  Then, for about the next seven hundred years; the Spanish and Portuguese fought brutal wars to kick them back out.  The scent of Juniper just floated in.           

         I've written about how the "Reconquista," or re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula; ended at the very end of the 15th century or 1400's.  That's when Queen Isabella and her husband King Ferdinand reunited what is now "Spain."  They "Once and for All" evicted the Moors.                               

       MIDDLE AGE JEWISH "EXPULSIONS"

                  

          As I've written before, once Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand "Unified" Spain; they told Jews and Muslims they either had to "Convert" to Christianity or leave.  In Portugal they made the same rule.  A map shows how many times Jews have had to move in Europe.                             

         My Dictionary says "Diaspora" means, "any movement or migration of people away from an ancestral homeland."  That's the Jews alright!   Assyrians, Babylonians and later the Romans under Titus; forcibly and violently slaughtered and then removed Jews from Israel.                       

     Ah!  I hear the faint sound of a "Chain Saw" being used by someone on the other side of our dirt road named "Primavera."  As I've said a few times over the last two days, that's to my front or to the east.  Bravo Company of Quail and their new babies are streaming bye. 

                                                                         

                                                                         MR. MIKE

            My boss has a few different types of what they call "Hand" saws but when he needs to cut a tree or something big he hires Mr. Mike to come and use his chain saw.  I like when that happens because then I can listen to them talk about things.  Mr. Mike seems so talented. 

              One morning, as they loaded Rex the Truck with things to take to the Dump; my boss told Mr. Mike about a Shark that lived millions of years ago at the time of the Dinosaurs.   It's called a "Buzz Saw" Shark because of it's teeth.  Benjamin the Cow Bird just ran bye right now. 

               Oh my God!  A painting in this Encyclopedia shows a Buzz Saw Shark and now I get why my boss told Mr. Mike the lower jaw was a "circular saw blade" to cut through hard things like Turtle Shells.  Mr. Steve read that some people think it may not have been a Shark. 

  

                                                             "BUZZ SAW" SHARK

ARTWORK BY RAY TROLL

             The Buzz Saw Shark's scientific name is "Helicoprion" and the caption under the picture says they lived about 290 million years ago in the "Permian" period.  They grew to be forty feet long.  I've mentioned how most Dinosaurs went "Extinct" about 65 million years ago. 

         Buzz Saw Shark's "spiral-toothed" lower jaws are  described here as a "cluster of teeth" called "Tooth Whorls" I guess.  Glancing over there to my right I can see good old Libby walking slowly around her Corral but her tail is swatting away Flies.  Ah!  We hate all Flies!

         I just thought of how Dais and I miss Molly the Mule who died.  Thinking of her suddenly is making me think about Donkeys.  Yesterday I wrote about that husband and wife from Barstow who knew a lot about the abandoned wild Donkeys here in the California deserts.

  

"CALIFORNIA DESERT" DONKEYS

   

         Daisy told me our boss and that man and his wife from Barstow discussed about how, some people don't like wild Donkeys because they eat up all of the food that Bighorn Sheep, Kangaroo Rats and some Lizards need.  I smell Libby.  She has such a pleasant scent.

       As I mentioned in my first book, Donkeys "Originated" in North Africa but were taken up to Europe.  My Encyclopedia says, since the 16th century when the Spanish brought "Burros" here; they've been doing "arduous labor" in the New World.  Libby's looking over here.  

       That lady from Barstow told Mr. Steve about how some people kill wild Donkeys but don't even shoot them in the head to kill them quickly.  They purposely "Wound" the poor Donkey so it dies slowly and in pain.  Dais and I think they should punish people who do that.  

        

                                                           19TH CENTURY GOLD "PROSPECTOR" WITH DONKEY

                                                                                                                                    PAINTING BY ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ

             

         A painting in my Encyclopedia shows a Gold Miner who came to California in 1849 and he has a friendly-looking Donkey with him.  The caption underneath describes Donkey's as "hardy" and "loyal."  But, back in the 1920's; Cars and Trucks made them "Obsolete." 

         I guess few people expected those "Ditched" Donkeys to be able to "Fend for Themselves" but they surprised everyone and survived.  In fact Daisy says, they "multiplied" fast by having a lot of other baby Donkeys.  Miss Susan says Donkeys "helped build America."  

        Daisy told me that the man from Barstow saw our little graveyard on the south side of the Driveway.  He said there are probably thousands of Donkey bones in the deserts and no one will ever know what hard workers they were.  Dais and I both like being "Appreciated."       

   

"MOLLY" ("LIBBY" IN BACKGROUND)

     

             Dais and I can tell our boss misses Molly the Mule.  We won't forget her strong smell.  At times Libby seems sad being all alone over there in her Corral without her friend, who at times protected her.  I remember how hard Molly could kick the fence when sending a message.     

           As I've mentioned, Mr. Steve puts out food and water for the Birds, Squirrels and Rabbits who live here.  I also mentioned yesterday how at first he hung the Hummingbird feeders outside his office window in the front of the house.  I can smell a new Spring Marigold plant. 

          Male Hummingbirds like Max , though small; can be aggressive and will fight way bigger Birds.  I wrote in book one how our boss moved the Hummingbird feeders back here to the patio. That's great for us because Daisy and I really like looking at our Hummingbirds.  

          

VIEW FROM MR. STEVE'S OFFICE WINDOW

           

        I'm thinking about the area in front of Mr. Steve's office window.  Two Bird Feeders filled with Bird seed hang from a tree.  As I mentioned yesterday, for all the Quail; Mr. Steve mixes in  that Chicken "Scratch" with the Bird Seed he spreads all over onto the ground. 

        I just glanced up from my work in time to see Fannie and Freddie the Crows flying over the top of the house after being out in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  Freddie's got something hanging out of his mouth.  I know it's food that he'll go and share it with Fannie.

       Crows sometimes will land on the Bird Bath Mr. Steve fills with water up there in the front yard.  They're smart and often dip or soak their food in the water to make it easier to eat.  Daisy and I have seen them shred to pieces dead Mice, Gophers and Lizards up on that Birdbath.

      

DEVO

               Oh!  The wind just blew a tiny tumbleweed rolling bye and for some reason that suddenly makes me think of DEVO'S good song about the snowball.  I've mentioned a few times in these first two books about how DEVO are from "Ohio."  Heathcliff just crowed over there.

           Fannie and Freddie are flying bye again but this time they're coming back in from being out in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  And as they so often do, they're talking to each other as they go along.  They just went over the top of the house moving to the southwest.       

          What the heck!  Seeing the rolling tumbleweed going bye makes me think of that one old 1950's Blues song called "Rollin' Stone."  I'm actually not really scheduled to write about it until tomorrow in my third book but, I just suddenly sort of feel like doing it now too.

                 

                                                           MUDDY WATERS( 1915-1983)

     

               I've mentioned a few times how Daisy and Millie saw that good tv show about the history of Blues music.   This Encyclopedia has a picture of a man named Muddy Waters who, the caption says; is the one who did that song Rollin' Stone.  I really like the hat he used to wear.

          From what Dais saw on the tv show, and it also says here too; Muddy Waters was originally from Mississippi.  But he's now "known" for, and is "associated with;" Blues music made up in the city of Chicago.   Theodora the Thrasher Bird ran bye with a Bug in her mouth.

          In the picture that man Muddy Waters looks like he would be a really friendly person.  The caption says he was influenced by that earlier guy Sun House who I mentioned this morning.  I know one thing for sure, his song Rollin Stone sure did influence a lot of later musicians. 

  

                 ROLLING STONES                                                              BOB DYLAN

              That band which I wrote about yesterday in book one called the ROLLING STONES were named after Muddy Waters' song.  And during the same period, the early 1960's; that guy Bob Dylan wrote a song called "Like a Rolling Stone."  A Duck is quacking over there.

            Daisy says one time she and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Ralph and they discussed Bob Dylan's song.  I guess Mr. Steve said, when he was about nine years old; for some unknown reason he decided to memorize the lyrics on that song.  I smell Mesquite.

         All of a sudden I'm remembering the time that really big tumbleweed seemed to be chasing me.  As I said yesterday, it gets very windy up here some times and on that day it was pushing the tumbleweed after me.  But fortunately for me, I'm a fast runner and can avoid things.

    

                                                                    "TUMBLEWEED"

      

               Thinking about how really cold the winds were sometimes this Winter makes me suddenly shiver.  As I've said a few times already in these first two books, at times it snows and the freezing cold wind comes down off of those San Gabriel mountains.  Heathcliff just crowed. 

                 Daisy and I feel sorry for that homeless man Mr. Mark and his Yorkie Dog Karman when it's really cold or hot around here.  But Mr. Steve told his mom on the phone one time how Mr. Mark's skin looks like leather.  That's what Daisy remembers him saying to her.

               If I were a musician I'd like to write a song which influences other musicians.  One time a man at the Sylmar Library told our boss he thinks Muddy Waters' song might be about one of those homeless "drifters."  I don't think I'd like to be a drifter.  No way!  Ugh!  Ugh!  

             

                                                                                                MR. MARK / KARMA

                  I've mentioned how Mr. Mark sometimes sings while listening to that small "Transistor" radio.  So some people think he's crazy but he's really not Dais says.  He just does that so people will feel sorry for him and maybe even give him some money for food and things.

                 One time Mr. Steve told his father on the phone about Mr. Mark and Karma.  When he and his brothers and sisters were growing up back there in Jarales there was this short, stocky little man named Severito Padilla.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye.

            "Severito" walked around Jarales but, in his case; he had a few Dogs instead of just one like Mr. Mark's Karma.  And those Dogs followed him around wherever he went.  Because he'd been very sick as a baby, people thought Severito had some "Mental Problems" Dais says.  

             

                                                                                "JARALES" (NEW MEXICO)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

 

                I guess, because everyone in Jarales knew Severito they were tolerant when he did unusual things or said weird things like, "Lo mas yo y tu savenos."  That means "Only you and I know."  He at times would even walk into people houses or places like the Church during Mass.

                 Mr. Steve's father laughs when he remembers that guy Severito.  I've mentioned how, in Spanish if you say "ito" or "ita" at the end of a word or name; that means "small."  But Daisy says, even though he was small, Mr. Steve's dad says Severito was very, very strong.

           Hey!  In some ways that guy Severito is a good example of "Comedy and Tragedy" being "Interrelated."  And, he was sort of like that ancient Greek Philosopher "Diogenes" who was a homeless "Cynic" in the City-State of "Athens."  And Dogs followed him around too.

 

                                                                                          DIOGENES (c.412-323 B.C.)

PAINTING BY JEAN-LEON GEROME                                                                                                    PAINTING BY THOMAS CHRISTIAN WINK 

                Diogenes and his Dogs lived in this big clay pot in Athens, according to the tv show Daisy saw about him.  My Encyclopedia says he "criticized the cultural social values and institutions" of Athens and was later made a slave and "exiled"to "Corinth."  I can smell Blinky.

               Daisy says the tv show said one time Alexander the Great wanted to meet Diogenes and he asked him if he could do anything for him.  Diogenes said, "Yes, stand out of my Sun."  Dais says that means he told a King to get out of the way of the sunlight he was blocking out.

          I guess Alexander the Great wasn't mad at Diogenes but, that other guy Plato was when his lectures were interrupted by Diogenes.  It says here in Corinth Diogenes' teachings, to his student named Crates; ended up later becoming "Stoicism."   Little Blinky's small but brave!

  

ALICE IN CHAINS

                 Daisy saw a Video by one of those early 1990's "Grunge" Rock bands about a man who lived in a box.  She thinks the song might be about a homeless person and the band's name could come from that girl Alice in Wonderland.  That Flicker Bird I saw earlier just flew bye.

            Mr. Steve has only heard that one song by ALICE IN CHAINS, but likes the singing and grinding music at the beginning.  He and Mr. Dave talked on the phone about how one of those "Talk Boxes" I wrote about yesterday is used.  The Video looks like "Sepia" tones he says.

             I guess, down in San Fernando and Sylmar; there's a guy named "John" who's like that guy Severito in New Mexico.  My boss told Mr. Dave about some of the funny things he's done over the years.  The community is also patient with him because he's a little "slow." 

          

                   MACLAY BOULEVARD        SAN FERNANDO              ELKS LODGE                          

                People in San Fernando have "Contrived" jobs for that guy Mr. John to do.  Given a nice badge, he was "Security" at the "Elk's Lodge," where Ritchie Valens played.  John's not dumb but, Mr. Steve said if a Southern lady says "Bless his Heart;" that means you're not smart.

            When Mr. Steve was in the "Knights of Columbus" he worked on "Bingo" nights where John was "On Duty."  John wanted to personally "Escort" each old lady, like Grandma Trujillo for instance; from their Car and into the hall.  He got very upset if someone else did it.

             One time John caught a kid stealing a pencil from a store owned by Mr. Steve's father's best friend Bill Garcia.  I mentioned yesterday how Bill Garcia died and our boss and his father went to his funeral at that Church in San Fernando called "Santa Rosa."  Dawn's barking.

   

     MIKE ANTONOVICH / MR. STEVE'S FATHER (1985)

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

              The L.A. "Supervisor" Mike Antonovich, who Mr. Garcia had worked for; said his main "Eulogy" at Santa Rosa.  That was 1995, on the same exact day O.J. Simpson was "Acquitted" in his "Criminal" trial.  Mr. Steve's father at times really misses Mr. Garcia Dais says.

             Mike Antonovich was was also the person who helped appoint Mr. Steve's father as the L.A. "Grand Jury Foreman in 1985.  Later, all that controversy happened because Mr. Steve's father recommended they reopen the Marilyn Monroe case.  Donald and Daisy are quacking.

             When that guy John caught the kid stealing Mr. Garcia patted him on the back and told him, "Good job John, so now I want you to get a rope and we'll give you the honor of hanging him.  John turned white and almost fainted.  But then Mr. Garcia said he was kidding.     

                         

                                                                                     NEW MEXICO "RETABLOS"

ARTWORK BY CATHERINE ROBLES SHAW

   

                   Ah!  I smell Rosemary Blessed Mother, and that makes me think about how back there in New Mexico; some Artists make things called "Retablos."  Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about them on the phone.  I guess Retablos usually have Christian themes and images.

                My Encyclopedia says a Retablo is a "form of religious expression" where the artist first "carves" an image on wood and then paints it.  Oh!  That sounds like it would be so much fun to do!  Speedy Gonzalez just whizzed bye in front of the Sheds so now only dust is left.   

                Since 1598, when the Spanish showed up; traditions were brought to New Mexico and one was called "Devotional" art which is what Retablos are.   I guess some people paint sculptures made from "Tin."  Blessed Virgin, I have a feeling many Retablos were made for You.

                                   

                              JIMI HENDRIX                                           ROBIN TROWER

                                                              PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ

  

               I've mentioned that guy Jimi Hendrix a few times and how someday I want to see the big framed picture of him playing at "Woodstock" hanging in Mr. Steve's bedroom.  As I said in my first book, it was given to our boss by his Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich.  Dawn's barking.

              Dais says one time on the phone our boss told Mr. Dave he thinks that, if Jimi Hendrix had not died in 1970; he might've eventually gone back to playing Hard Rock in the style of this one  English guitarist named Robin Trower.   Now Blinky's barking too.  I like his voice.

          I guess, from what Daisy told me when we were putting together my long outlines; our boss has Robin Trower's 1974 album called "Bridge of Sighs."  At times Mr. Steve tries to play along to it.  Daisy's heard that Bridge of Sighs album and thinks it's really, really good.  

  

PROCOL HARUM

             Daisy says our boss also has an old vinyl record of the band Robin Trower was in before he had his own band.  They were called PROCOL HARUM and their album was about a Dog made out of salt Dais told me.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye and moving to the east.

         From what Daisy heard our boss say, PROCOL HARUM "don't sound anything like" what Robin Trower did on Bridge of Sighs.  I guess they once played their songs with a big Classical Music Orchestra.  They had a song about a Spanish Conquistador too Dais says.

               I've never heard any songs by Robin Trower but Dais has and told me you can tell he was influenced by Jimi Hendrix.  On the Bridge of Sighs album, which came out when Mr. Steve was at Valley Junior College; there's a good song called "Too Rolling Stoned."  I smell Sage.

                                                                                                                                                       "VENICE," ITALY                                       

        

             Right now I'm actually studying my book three outline because I'm writing about things that were scheduled for tomorrow.  I'll go back to talking about the name "Rolling Stone" in a minute.  Wow!  Some good pictures of the Italian city of "Venice" are so amazing!

              One night we were looking up at the Constellation "Orion," which I've mentioned a few times.  Daisy and I discussed how Venice is unique in not having any roads but only those water "Canals."  Venice began in the 6th century A.D. when people fled Attila's "Huns."   

          Dais was right in telling me that, to get around in Venice; you hire these guys to row you around in long Boats called "Gondolas."   I guess, when Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha was in High School; she and some of her classmates got to visit Venice.   Boy!  She's so lucky!

     

                                        "PONTE DEI SOSPIRI" ("BRIDGE OF SIGHS")

              I guess that guy Robin Trower's song, and album; are about a Bridge in Venice called the "Bridge of Sighs."  Daisy was right because she told me, and I can see from the picture; it's more of an enclosed arched Hallway.  And it goes across from one side of the canal to the other.

             One time Dais heard our boss say on the phone he was told that 19th century writer Lord Byron gave that bridge in Venice it's name.  My Encyclopedia says in Italian it would be called the, "Ponte dei Sospiri."  Speedy Gonzalez just zipped bye and left some dust floating.

          At the time she went to Venice I guess Samantha didn't know about the Bridge of Sighs and doesn't remember her group seeing it.  Daisy heard her and our boss talking on the phone about Robin Trower's album which she and her boyfriend Rick now really like.  I smell Sage. 

                                                                                                                                                             ROXY MUSIC                                                                MARILLION                                                                                                                                            PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA 

                                                                           

               Daisy heard Mr. Steve tell his Niece how that band ROXY MUSIC, and this other English band called MARILLION who he and Harriet saw; "referred" to the Bridge of Sighs in songs.  I've mentioned how ROXY MUSIC'S song "Virginia Plain" is kind of my theme song.

               I guess one time Mr. Steve was told by an older lady from Italy how young married couples often kiss under the Bridge of Sighs for good luck.  And that's kind of "Ironic" because actually it was a walkway for criminals and prisoners of Venice.   A Cow Bird just flew bye.

               I've mentioned before how, in the 1980's and early 1990's; Mr. Steve made extra money as a Photographer and his brother Rock in Texas is a good Photographer now.  So they've worked at weddings and things like that.  Couples come here to take pictures on "Mormon Rocks."

                   

                     RODERICK "ROCKY" CÓRDOVA                         ROCK / JUDY 

                 I mentioned yesterday how, in the 1980's and 1990's; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock in Texas worked together at Weddings and events like that.  Mr. Steve did the "Still" photography, his brother "Videotaped."  That guy Mr. Vic at times also videotaped some events too.   

           Daisy says sometimes our boss and his brother worked separately and one time a customer "Sued" Mr. Steve's brother and they ended up going onto the "People's Court" tv show.  I guess Mr. Steve sister Susan in Connecticut was also on the People's Court too.  I smell old Sage.

          Mr. Steve's brother was the "Defendant" on People's Court, while his sister was what they call the "Plaintiff;" so was one doing the suing.  Both "easily" won their cases because they were "organized and prepared" our boss believes.  Well, it's back to the name "Rolling Stone."

                                                       

                                                        "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE

 

              Boy!  I guess Muddy Water's song was so popular that, in the 1960's; they even named this Magazine after it.  Daisy told me our boss still has a few past issues, or "Editions;" of "Rolling Stone" Magazine.  Two Crows are really yelling at each other, maybe fighting over a girl.  

              Oh!  I just thought of something.  Instead of waiting until tomorrow in my third book to write about a Writer named Hunter S. Thompson, I can do it now.  I guess he's partially famous for some of the things he wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine.  Ah!  The air's so clear right now!

              Daisy heard our boss tell his friend Rick on the phone one time about that Writer Hunter Thompson, and how his style is now called "Gonzo" journalism.  But I guess, according to what Mr. Steve heard; Hunter Thompson "partied" way too much.  Heathcliff just crowed.

         

        HUNTER S. THOMPSON (1937-2005)                              "DIRTY HARRY"

                  PHOTO BY MICHAEL OCHS                                                                                                                                                                                                  

     

            I guess Hunter Thompson was in the U.S. Air Force for a while.  This picture shows him aiming one of those big .44 caliber "Magnum" handguns just like the one Clint Eastwood used in the movie I mentioned in book one.  The caption says that gun is one of those "Revolvers."

           Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Rick how a character in the "Doonesbury" comics was based on Hunter Thompson, and a movie was even made about him I guess.  Boy!  It would be so great to actually have a movie made about you.  Frida and Diego are flying bye right now.

           My Latin Dictionary says the word "magnum" means great, so Daisy was right when she guessed it really just means big in size.  The caption below the Hunter Thompson photo says his handgun is a "Model 29" six shot "Smith and Wesson." It's "Barrel" is eight inches long. 

20214 CASE "IH MAGNUM" 200  (340 MFWD) TRACTOR 

                 Daisy says one of our boss's customers told him how there have been a lot of Cars called "Magnum."  First Chrysler and later Dodge had vehicles with that name, and so did Chevrolet and European companies like Renault too.  Heathcliff's Hens are clucking over there.

             The Parts Manager said that Japanese company Mitsubishi has used the name Magnum.  A one hundred year old company from Wisconsin, called "Case;" have built Tractors under the name of Magnum too he said.  A Train just now whistled faintly over there to my left.   

            Oh!  My Encyclopedia says in 1965 that guy Carey McWilliams, who I mentioned in book one; hired Hunter Thompson to write an article about that one Motorcycle club called the "Hells Angels."  In 1965 our boss was ten years old.  He was in the 5th Grade at St. Ferdinands.

s_angels.jpg” style=”width: 370px; height: 325px;” />             

                          "HELLS ANGELS"                                                 GRATEFUL DEAD

          

                   It says here in 1965 that guy Carey McWilliams, who himself was a good Writer too; was the "Editor" of a Magazine called the "Nation."  This is interesting.  In 1965 Hunter Thompson, while in San Francisco; lived near that one Hippie band called the GRATEFUL DEAD.   

             I guess, in 1967 Hunter Thompson wrote an actual book about the Hells Angels and Mr. Steve read it.  I'll bet he did such a good job on the Magazine article someone then hired him to do a longer book.  The scent of the two Twin Joshua's just came blowing in on a breeze.

          Oh!  This is a good place to talk about a 1930's Oklahoma Policeman "Jelly" Bryce.  I was supposed to write about him yesterday but missed him.  Dais says a tv show called him a "quick shot," or "fast draw."  That means he could pull his handgun out and shoot it really fast.   

                                               

JACOB ALDOLPHUS BRYCE (1906-1974)     

              

                  My Encyclopedia shows Jelly Bryce, who was famous for using a handgun; holding one of those "Thompson" machine guns.  I guess in those days a man who "dressed well" was called a "Jelly Bean."  Theodora just flew bye right now and is now going out into the back desert.

            Before  dying; a criminal said to Jelly Bryce "I can't believe a Jelly Bean killed me."  He, like that girl Annie Oakley; could shoot coins out of the air and like "Wild "Bill Hickock believed in that one old saying, "He who shoots first shoots last."  I wonder what a Jelly Bean is? 

            All of a sudden I just thought about those scary "Tornado's" I mentioned yesterday.  In Oklahoma, where that guy Jelly Bryce was from; they have some huge ones from what a tv show Dais saw said.  As I wrote in book one, how they "Originate" is still not totally understood.   

                 

OKLAHOMA "TORNADO" (1898)

      

                I'm looking at that one "Composite" picture I wrote about in book one.  It's actually two photos combined into one, the way people do now by using those computers.   It was made two years before the 20th century started, and the caption says it shows a tornado in Oklahoma.

           My Encyclopedia says most tornado's happen to the east of the "Rocky" mountains but, if "circumstances are right;" can happen anywhere.  The three States where most tornado's occur are Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  Mr. Steve's brother Rock and his two sons live in Texas. 

           Daisy one time heard that kid Jeffrey, who wants to be a "Meteorologist;" explain to our boss what tornado's are Dais says.  He told him, "If inside of a storm horizontal wind runs into a strong vertical updraft, it gets pushed upward into a spinning current of air."  I smell Sage.

        

TORNADO DAMAGE (OKLAHOMA / 2013)

PHOTO BY GENE BLEVINS

                 According to what Daisy heard that kid Jeffrey say, "Once the updraft starts pushing the horizontal wind upward, it funnels that wind into a fast rotating cylinder.  That cylinder starts to narrow, gets stretched out; and starts going faster and faster."  Frida and Diego flew bye.

            Last May Daisy one time watched the News with Mr. Steve, and it showed the damage a really powerful tornado did in Oklahoma.  Buildings were knocked down, Cars thrown around like they were really light and even piled up on each other.  I can smell Andy over there.  

                 Out there on Primavera Road a Motorcycle just zoomed bye.   I heard it coming from far away and now the sound is starting to fade, but I can see the cloud of dust it left floating up into the air.  Boy!  How was anyone even able to invent such an amazing thing like a Motorcycle? 

                                         

                                               DAVIE ALLAN AND THE ARROWS  

                  

               I'll write more about that Hell's Angels Motorcycle group tomorrow.  I guess, from what Dais told me; our boss likes the "Fuzz" guitar music by a band called DAVIE ALLEN AND THE ARROWS.  They played the "Soundtrack" music for some 1960's "Biker" movies. 

           When those Biker movies came out, Mr. Steve was not supposed to be allowed into certain what they called "R" rated movies.  But he and his friends, without their parents knowing; snuck in to see them anyway.  I guess, from what Dais says; R stands for the word "Restricted."

               Daisy says Hunter Thompson liked guns and used one to kill himself.  I wrote in book one how, that other writer Ernest Hemingway also committed suicide by shooting himself; and so did NIRVANA'S Kurt Cobaine and Adolph Hitler too.  I'm still kind of afraid of guns.

                

      FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT(1882-1945)                            HUNTER S. THOMPSON

               

              I notice how, in a picture of that guy Hunter Thompson; he smoked cigarettes at the end of a tube just like President Roosevelt used to do too.  Yesterday I wrote how Mr. Steve and Sandy smoked, only out of curiosity; for about a month.  They didn't think it was that great.

              My Encyclopedia has another photo of Hunter Thompson aiming this really long-barreled handgun which the caption says is a .45 caliber "Magnum."  I mentioned yesterday in book one how Mr. Steve has guns in our house, including that "Shotgun."  I smell Mesquite.

         It says here that Hunter Thompson was in the Air Force and began as a "sports writer" but over the years also covered politics.  Oh!  He was supposed to "cover" the Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman fight I wrote about yesterday, but was too drunk to write anything.

                                                            

                                                                                    BRIAN JONES (1942-1969)

        

               Oh!  I just noticed that I forgot to write about how it was Brian Jones who named that one  band the ROLLING STONES.  I missed it on my outline but in mentioning Hunter Thompson I think of Brian Jones.  Samson and Delilah the Ravens are flying bye right now.

          Mr. Steve thinks Brian Jones probably also drank and took too many drugs too.  He named the ROLLING STONES after Muddy Waters' song.  Like Hunter Thompson, toward the end of his life he was more and more "unpredictable, erratic and unreliable" Mr. Steve heard.  

          I guess Brian Jones, who started the ROLLING STONES; later drowned in his swimming pool.  "Negotiating" the ROLLING STONES first concert on the phone, the "Promoter" asked the band's name.  They didn't have one yet so Brian Jones had to "Think Fast" as they say.  

   

                    BRIAN JONES (1942-1969)                              MUDDY WATERS' ALBUM

              Daisy says our boss heard that Brian Jones had to quickly think of a name for his band.  He glanced down and saw a Muddy Waters' album and "By Chance" it was called a "Rollin' Stone" so, in the "Spur of the Moment;" the "ROLLING STONES" were born.   I smell Sage.

               Mr. Steve says Brian Jones was the original leader of the ROLLING STONES and was the one who "Recruited" the members back in 1962.  I guess he was a good Blues guitarist, especially when using one of those "Slides" I've written about.  Libby's walking around her Corral.

          According to what Dais heard our boss say, Brian Jones not only played guitar and sang on some songs; he also played keyboards, saxophone and harmonica.  And, he could play drums;  as well as the sitar which I've mentioned before.  Heathcliff is still crowing a lot again today.  

  

                                                   JIMI HENDRIXEXPERIENCE

           Someday I want to hear this one JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE song called "All Along the Watchtower," which was originally written by that guy Bob Dylan.   Daisy heard a guy on a tv show say Brian Jones played on the beginning of that song.  .

              All of a sudden writing about that guy Hunter Thompson a few minutes ago makes me now think of guns.  And that makes me think of the different Clint Eastwood movies she and Millie got to see.  I guess Clint Eastwood, like Hunter Thompson; also uses huge handguns too.

          I can't wait to someday see a "Western" movie like the ones Daisy's told me about.  In my third book she has me scheduled to learn a lot more about them but, I can mention a few things today too.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye talking to each other as they move to the east.

                                       

                                                      THE "DOLLAR" TRILOGY 

                                                                                  

              Oh what the heck!  Even though Clint Eastwood is mainly in my book three outline, I just kind of feel like mentioning those three 1960's "Spaghetti" Western movies; called his "Dollars" Trilogy.  I think both of my nostrils just smelled what might be some brand new Spring Sage. 

               One the three movies is "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly."  Daisy really likes the song in it of the same name, and also this other song called "The Ecstasy of Gold;" which Mr. Dave told our boss is played before METALLICA concerts.  Both songs use a choir and big orchestra.     

               I guess The Good, The Bad and the Ugly song also has bass, drums and guitar; and Daisy says a girl uses her voice like a musical instrument.  Not only that she told me, it has what sounds like a few flute parts in it; which I would love.   Mr. Steve likes the subtle percussion parts.

     

SERGIO LEONE (1929-1989)    

         

                 One time Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave in New Mexico talk about that Italian man named Sergio Leone.  I guess, he "Directed" the three Clint Eastwood movies; and is the reason why they're called "Spaghetti" Westerns.  Frida and Diego are flying over Libby's Corral.

            Mr. Dave knew about that guy Sergio Leone, who died at age sixty I guess.   Dais heard our boss say his two favorite "movie opening scenes" are "2001 A Space Odyssey;" and 1968's "Once Upon a Time in the West."  Sergio Leone Directed that last movie too Daisy told me.

            For the first ten minutes of Once upon a Time in the West there's almost no talking at all Dais noticed.  Mr. Steve likes how Sergio Leone uses extreme "Close Ups" of people's eyes, and the way he frames "Wide Angle" shots.  A Train whistled faintly as it went bye to my left.

    

"ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST " (1968)

        

                  Dais heard Mr. Dave say how that movie Once Upon a Time in the West first came out in 1968.   It begins when three killers, on a really hot day; are waiting for a Train to arrive so they can kill a man who plays harmonica.  Our boss has told Mr. Dave about his two Chevelle's.

            While the three mean-looking guys wait at the Train Station sweating like crazy the only sounds in the opening scene are creaking wood as the men walk around, water dripping, a wind mill blade turning.  A pesky Fly bothers one of the men too.   Daisy and I really hate all Flies! 

                When the Train finally does come in Daisy told me, the three killers at first think the man they're supposed to kill isn't on that Train after all.  But then, the Train leaves; and you see this man on the other side of the railroad tracks playing a harmonica.  Heathcliff just crowed.   

                                   

CLIMAX OF OPENING SCENE

                 Daisy says in that Sergio Leone movie the three men start to pull out their guns to shoot the man.  But, unfortunately for them; he's way too fast for them and kills all of them with three bullets.  Mr. Dave thinks Once Upon a Time in the West is sort of like a dream sometimes.

            Mr. Dave read, had he not died Sergio Leone was thinking of making a movie about the World War II "Siege" of Leningrad; which I'll find more about later.  He was also considering making "Don Quixote" into a movie.  I guess he wanted to remake "Gone With the Wind." 

            Hey Lord!  Sergio Leone worked on two of Mr. Steve's favorite movies, "Ben Hur" and "Quo Vadis."  Daisy heard that's what St. Peter asked You when he trying to escape from that Roman Emperor Nero trying to kill him.  Quo Vadis is Latin for "Where are You going?"   

                           

                                                                   "DIRTY HARRY"   

              

              Daisy told me Clint Eastwood is famous for being in Western movies but she and Millie one time saw another movie where he was a "Detective" up there in San Francisco.  And like Hunter Thompson, he used an extra big sized handgun.  Dawn's barking about something over there. 

          I sure hope Mr. Steve plays that song The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on his Boombox this year when he comes out here to do yardwork.  Dais says it's such a great song that has everything in it, like horns, strings and other musical instruments too.  Ah!  Now Blinky's now barking.

          According to Daisy, in that song The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, one of the Singers kind of sounds like a talking Coyote.  It's the most unique singing in history she thinks.  And she told me, there are sections of that song where someone actually just whistles a good singing part.  

                       

                                                                       "AWEN"

                                

              This morning I wrote about the concept of "Awen" and in both of my books I've at times referred to how, in the Bible; "Rhêma" is Greek for; "The Living Word."  Mr. Steve thinks both concepts can, at times; be applied to music.  And Dais and I now agree with that too. 

            Dais, like I did with GENESIS'S song "Musical Box;" had almost a "Spiritual" feeling in hearing the singing and music in that song The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.  The singing is so  amazing and so are the horns and musical instruments too.  I smell some Juniper.  

            I'll bet Daisy, like myself; is up there wondering when we'll get our first snack of the day.  A Train just whistled faintly over there to my left, or north.  For some reason hearing that Train is now making me think of all those Western movies Daisy is so lucky to have seen. 

   

                                                      "THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY"

               Oh what the heck!  Even though the subject of the history of "Western" movies isn't on my outline until tomorrow, I kind of feel like learning about it now too.  The very first "Movie" was that Western called "The Great Train Robbery."  Heathcliff is crowing over there.

          As I've mentioned, for about the first thirty years of making movie's there was no sound in them.  And, beginning with The Great Train Robbery" until today; there have always been some Western films and tv shows I guess.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye.

              I wrote earlier how that "Inventor" Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were "Rivals" when it came to their competing systems for generating electricity.   And, Thomas Edison was the one who first created a "Motion Picture" camera.  The scent of Mesquite just blew in. 

                                         

                THOMAS EDISON (1847-1931)                  NIKOLA TESLA (1856-1943)

                 

           Oh!  What a coincidence that, just as I mention that guy Nikola Tesla who should I see?  All four of the Pigeons just flew back in from the desert and went over top of the house moving west. I've mentioned before how Nikola Tesla liked to feed and take care of Pigeons.

              As I wrote this morning, Nikola Tesla was born on July the 10th which is the day after our boss's birthday.  Daisy and I wondered last night if Mr. Steve is going to do anything this year on July 9th.  Maybe not Dais thinks as he now prefers to just work like any other day. 

          My Encyclopedia says, even in the first "Westerns" like The Great Train Robbery; the four "elements" of the "genre" were established.  "Outdoor Settings," the "Good Guys" versus "Bad Guys," "Shootouts" and "Trains."  Ah!  A Train just whistled over there to my left.  

                                                                                                                                                  

             WILLIAM S. HART (1864-1946)                             TOM MIX (1880-1940)

              Daisy and Millie saw one of those "Documentary" movies I've written about.  She told me that one dealt with the history of "Western-themed" movies.  My Encyclopedia shows two Actors who were in some of those movies and I notice they both had really nice Horses. 

              To the north of Sylmar, where Mr. Steve and his brothers and sisters grew up; is this town called "Saugus."  A house there is where a man named William S. Hart lived, but it has now been converted into a good museum.  He was a "Silent" movie star, as was Tom Mix too.    

              I guess Mr. Rick built a two story house near the William S. Hart museum.  Daisy told me our boss said he and two of his three ex-girlfriends visited that museum and his mom took some of her Girl Scout troops on "Field Trips" there.  I really like how Cowboy hats look.  

                                          

     (1939)         

                 "STAGECOACH"                WIZARD OF OZ         GONE WITH THE WIND                        

          As I wrote yesterday, the first movie with a "Soundtrack" was in 1929; or year the "Stock Market" crashed and the "Great Depression" started.  It says here "low budget" or "cheap" and "formulaic" Western movies began to be made.  John Wayne was in many "B" movies.                

        But, in 1939 this bigger budget John Wayne movie called "Stagecoach" was made.  In that year "Gone With the Wind," which I wrote about his morning; was "released."  And so was this other really good movie called the "Wizard of Oz, which I'll learn about later today.                      

       As I wrote in book one, 1939 was the year World War II "Officially" started.  And, in that same year Mr. Steve's father was seven years old while his mom was only four.  Anyway, I'll come back to learning a lot more about the subject of Western movies over the next two days.                         

 ST. CATHERINE TEKAKWITHA (1656-1680)   

             

          For some reason, all of a sudden I just thought of that one Native-American girl named St. Catherine Tekakwitha.  She she was that 17th century "Convert" to Catholicism I wrote about in book one.  And her mom was the "Algonguin" wife of this "Mohawk" warrior Chief.                    

       I mentioned in book one how, at age fourteen back in 1949; Mr. Steve's mom's Girl Scout Troop visited Montreal up there in Canada.  They went to this Church named for St. Catherine    and from then on she was the Troop's "Patron" Saint.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.              

            On April the 8th of 1949 Mr. Steve's mom first met his father.  A year later the Korean War broke out and he "Volunteered" to fight.   I've mentioned how Miss Emily's birthday is the 9th of April.  Daisy and I both think it's so amazing how our boss's parents are still together.                                            

   "MOHAWK" INDIAN             

              

         A color photo of a modern "Mohawk" Indian, which St. Catherine's father was; shows a haircut like some "Punks" wore back in the late 1970's.   Daisy's got me scheduled to write about Punk music tomorrow in book three.  Boy!  I'm so tempted to do it now but better not.                  

            I've mentioned how, since 1492 after Christopher Columbus's first voyage; European "Disease" killed more Native-Americans than war and things like that.  It says here that, when    she was four; St. Catherine's parents died.  And it was "Smallpox" that killed them.                       

              She "survived" the smallpox which took her parents but St. Catherine "was left with" a "scarred" face and was "mostly blind."  Her original Mohawk name was "Kateri  Tekakwitha" which it says here can mean either, "Feels her Way" or; "Bumps into Things."                                                     

     SAINT FRANCIS (c.1181-1226)           

                         

           It's so interesting how, just like that guy St. Francis; St. Catherine is the "Patron" Saint of  the "Environment" and "Nature."  When we were putting together my outlines Daisy thought a girl would more correctly be called a "Patroness."  And I think she's right on that.                      

          Wow Lord!  That girl St. Catherine must've been special, because it says here when she died at the age of twenty four; a Canadian Priest saw a light come over her face.  Not only that,  the Priest said her facial scars went away and she "took on a youthful appearance."                     

          Born in what's now called "Up State" New York,  St. Catherine "fled" to "Quebec;" in part because some of the other Indians didn't like her becoming Christian.  A village she lived in was also "destroyed by war" it says here.  A Crow just cawed faintly out in the desert.                             

MONTREAL                                                "FAIRMONT" HOTEL   

                             

           Tomorrow in book three I'll learn a lot more about that Canadian "Province" of Quebec, where many people speak English; and French too.  Mr. Steve's mom has good memories from    her visit to the city of Montreal.  The scent of Mesquite floated into me over here.                           

        I mentioned yesterday how, about sixty miles to the southwest of of us up here in Piñon Hills; there's a Catholic Church in the town of "Santa Clarita."  It, like the Church in Montreal  Mr. Steve's mom visited; is named after St. Catherine.   I'm so glad to be alive God!                     

          Hey Lord!  As Daisy says, if it's true what that Priest said and the scars on St. Catherine's face smoothed out and a light came over her; then she must be a Saint alright.  "Miracles" have  happened in her name.  Some of the other Indians now really support her I guess.                           

  

                        "FLAMENCO" DANCING                         

        I'm tempted to write about "Flamenco" music because, Mr. Steve's mom performed New Mexico dancing in Montreal.  A picture shows a girl Flamenco Dancer and I know Daisy would    like it because of her pretty red dress.  I really like the red flower in that girl's hair.                        

          Dais heard our boss talking on the phone with his mom, and she was remembering how as a girl; she was good at using "Castanets" like the girl in the picture's holding.  Castanets are two  pieces of wood clicked together as a "Percussion" instrument.  Mr. Steve can't do it.                       

         As the Flamenco dancers move around Daisy says, they use the castanets to go along with the music; as well as the sound of the Dancers shoes tapping onto the ground.  Anyway, I'll come  back to Mr. Steve's mom's trip to Canada tomorrow.  Dais heard Canada's very cold.                    

       

LEAPING JACKRABBIT 

PHOTO BY B. KATZUNG

 

        Oh!  Just as I was looking at the eastern desert Jack the Jackrabbit sprang out from behind a big Creosote bush.  It's so amazing how high Jack Rabbits jump, or how fast they run.  They're even harder to catch than a Roadrunner like Rudy, and he's impossible to run down.                     

        Daisy told me our boss didn't use to spread Rabbit pellets on the ground but does now so the Rabbits and Squirrels can have food too.  He admits that he also does it for "selfish" reasons too because he always enjoys watching them from his Office.  So do Daisy and I!

           Boy!  Roadrunners, who sleep at night like us; are amazing alright!  Dais heard they'll even eat those scary Black Widow" Spiders.  Our boss says they can go twenty miles per hour.  I can always hear their "clattering" sound, even if they're way out there in the back field.  

                    

                                ROADRUNNER                                                       RATTLESNAKE

              

                It's hard to believe Roadrunners will fight, kill and then eat Rattlesnakes; but it must be true because Mr. Steve and Miss Susan talked about it.  They're so quick they get the Rattlesnake to "Strike" and miss a few times on purpose.  They tire it out; then perfectly time its death.  

                Mr. Steve jokes Roadrunners are like good Boxers.  Every time the Rattlesnake attacks, it "guages" it's speed and range.  They spread their wings wide, to intimidate and divert attention; like a Bullfighter's cape.  At just the right moment they rush in to stab the Rattlesnake head.  

            Oh!  Max the Hummingbird just suddenly showed up, and is hovering next to the empty feeders.  Dais thinks our boss Mr. Steve must be out of the red liquid food he puts in the feeders for Max and 99.  Max just zipped off and flew around the northeast corner of the house.  

    

"KRUMMLAUF" BARREL ON RIFLE

    

         Seeing Max fly around the northeast corner of the house at the end of this Patio makes me all of a sudden think about guns that can shoot around corners.  Daisy heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Cliff and they talked about that subject.  Some Ducks are quacking.

         From what Dais overheard, the Germans in World War II were the first ones to try to make a rifle that shoots around corners.  They did make one but it was too late in the war to "Make a Difference."   Besides, I guess from what Daisy says; it wasn't that reliable anyway.     

         I'm glad Dais found these Dictionaries in the garage.  "Krummlauf" is "Curved Barrel" in German, which is that gun was called.  It was a "Detachable" barrel on a "Sturmgewehr" which, as I've mentioned; was what Hitler named the world's first "Assault" rifle.  I smell Sage.  

  

         BRITISH "PERISCOPE" GUN                      GERMAN MACHINE GUN CREW     

          Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Cliff discuss how, in World War I; the soldiers down in those trenches were afraid to stick their heads above the rim.  So, in order to avoid getting shot in the head; they made these "Periscope" guns.  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye.

           A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows a British soldier in the First World War shooting a gun that is sticking up above the trench.   The caption says he's using a mirror to aim.  This other picture shows a German Machine Gun crew who want to kill him if they see him. 

           My Dictionary says a "Periscope" is defined as, "An instrument used to see over or around things."  And in war that idea often means trying to avoid being a target.  Speedy Gonzalez just used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to speed out into the back desert.

                  

                              GERMAN VII TYPE "U-BOAT" SUBMARINE (WORD WAR II)

                  

            I guess, from what Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Dave talk about on the phone one time, the Germans used "Submarines" with vertical periscopes a lot in both world wars.  A painting in my Encyclopedia shows one sinking an Allied Ship in World War II.  A Crow cawed. 

            I can see the dust Speedy Gonzalez left behind floating near the back fence but he's "Long Gone" as they say.  A few Birds are darting around over the eastern desert and I'll bet many are out looking for material to build nests.  The high blue sky is so beautiful right now. 

            This is interesting.  According to what it says here in my Encyclopedia, the first idea of using mirrors to see over or around things happened all the way back in the 17th century.  That's when this one Polish Astronomer named Johannes Hevelius thought of doing it I guess. 

                                                            

    JOHANNES HEVELIUS (1611-1687)        H. MARIÉ DAVY (1820-1893)          HOWARD GRUBB 91844-1931)

                   PAINTING BY DANIEL SCHULTZ

          I'm surprised Archimedes or Leonardo da Vinci didn't invent periscopes. Leonardo da Vinci lived a century before Johannes Hevelius and Archimedes about two thousand years even before that.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve uses his "Binoculars" to study Birds and things. 

       I guess, by the time of World War II; there was such a thing as periscope-type binoculars.  In the 19th century a man from France named Hippolyte Marié-Davy adapted a periscope for use in Submarines.  And in World War I an Irishman Howard Grubb "perfected" it.       

          Yesterday in my first book I wrote about how, during the Korean War; one thing Mr. Steve's father did was "Spot" for Artillery.  That means he had to look through binoculars to tell all of the canons where to shoot.  Max the Hummingbird just zoomed bye right now.

                           

 JUNKERS JU-87 "STUKA"        

              

         It was Dais who pointed out to me how Max sometimes "Shows Off" for 99.  He'll suddenly zip way up into the sky and then turn around and dive back down to the ground at full speed like a World War II German "Stuka" Dive Bomber Plane.  One of the Duck's is quacking.

            All of a sudden I thought of a 1970's San Fernando Valley band called the DICKIES.  Daisy says they did an album called "Stukas Over Disneyland."  Dais one time heard our boss and Mr. Doug talk on the phone about how the DICKIES had a "twisted" sense of humor.

       Daisy told me Mr. Doug, and Mark Ritter who died too; knew the DICKIES because they all went to Grant High School.  Yesterday in my first book I wrote how "Grant" is located next to "Valley" Junior College.  Both campus's are in that one city called "Van Nuys."

                      

                                                                    THE DICKIES

                        

         In book one I wrote about how, in the mid-1970's when Mr. Steve and Sandy went to Valley College; they met people who knew that band QUIET RIOT.  So they saw QUIET RIOT, when Randy Rhodes was the guitarist; play concerts. A Duck is quacking next door.

      Daisy heard our boss and Mr. Doug talk on the phone about seeing the DICKIES.  I guess Mr. Steve used to have a white vinyl DICKIES "E.P." with a good version of that BLACK SABBATH song our boss likes called "Paranoid."  E.P. is just short for the term "Extended Play."

       According to what Dais and that other Dog Millie heard Mr. Steve talk about with his friend Doug, the DICKIES wrote a funny song called "You Drive Me Ape You Big Gorilla."  They saw a DICKIES concert at the Whisky A-Go-Go Nightclub.   The singer wore an Ape mask. 

    PETER PAN                       TINKERBELL                       CAPTAIN HOOK

             Hummingbirds are so pretty.  Daisy told me about how these things called "Fairies" can buzz all around like Hummingbirds.  Someday, when I'm not afraid to go all of the way into the house; I really want to see this good cartoon with a Fairy named "Tinkerbell" in it.

                Oh!  Some good images in this one Encyclopedia shows three of the characters from that cartoon with the Fairy in it.  The caption says one is named "Peter Pan," and the other one is a Pirate called "Captain Hook."  Boy!  I'd definitely pay money to see a real life Fairy.   

            I would also wear shoes like the ones Peter Pan or Captain Hook wear, and think Daisy would look good in their hats.  If we ever do see a Fairy I'd be friendly, and even give them some food and water.  I'd even let it play with some of my valuable collection of things to chew on.  

  

                                                     MARILYN MONROE (1926-1962)

    

              Yesterday I wrote about Marilyn Monroe, and over the next two days I'll learn even more about her.  Daisy one time heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph how this rumor about Peter Pan being "modeled" on Marilyn Monroe probably aren't true.  Ah!  I smell some Rosemary. 

           According to what Dais says, that girl Fairy Tinkerbell who I notice has wings; sometimes throws magic dust around.  In the picture of her I see the magic "Wand" she uses.  If I ever had a magic want I would try to only use it in helping  our family and then some others too.

           I guess Peter Pan can also fly like Tinkerbell, and Daisy told me how he never, ever wants to "Grow Up."  The Peter Pan movie came out in 1953, two years before Mr. Steve was born.  In book one I mentioned how that band the WHO had a song about not wanting to get old.    

  

                                                                                PETE TOWNSEND (THE WHO)

               In my first book I wrote a few things about that band the WHO and how they're all of the members were from England.  As I said yesterday, Mr. Steve has been listening to their music for a long time.  Some of the Ducks are quacking at something over there next door. 

             Max the Hummingbird, who has a bad temper sometimes; just zipped bye.  Daisy and I have noticed how some Hummingbirds are shiny green like Max and 99 while others are more purple in color.  I can usually hear a Hummingbird or Dragonfly coming from far away.

                  Daisy says, on that band QUEEN'S first album; there's a really good song about a King who's a Fairy.  It comes right after that other good song about the Rat who's also a King too.  It has some really good piano and singing, along with good guitar, bass and drums I guess.  

  

    FIRST ALBUM (1973)                  QUEEN                           (1970'S)                

                  One time Mr. Steve played that kid Jason the first QUEEN album, from when he was in High School at Sylmar High.  Like many people, Jason had only heard QUEEN'S most famous songs and was surprised at how good it was.  The Monarch Butterfly just went bye.

             QUEEN'S Singer Freddie Mercury, who went to "Art" school; created QUEEN'S logo and I guess our boss tried to draw it one time.  Like one of the GRATEFUL DEAD'S emblems, it turned out to be hard to do a line drawing of it.  It took way more time than he expected. 

             Hey Lord!  As You know, someday I really want to hear that one song on QUEEN'S first album about You.  In fact, I can't wait to hear some of those "Gospel" music songs Daisy's told me about.  All four of the Pigeons are right now flying together over Libby's Corral.  

            

                                                                  BLACK SABBATH     

                           

                Daisy told me our boss played Jason a BLACK SABBATH song about some Fairy's who wear boots.  Like so many of BLACK SABBATH'S early 1970's songs, it has a catchy melody or riff.  Jason really liked how the bass and drums rhythm section have almost a "jazzy feel."

           Mr. Steve told Jason he only knows QUEEN'S first four album's, and after that he's only heard the big hits.  He's familiar with BLACK SABBATH'S albums with Ozzie Osbourne as the Singer, and the "Heaven and Hell" album.  That was when Ronnie James Dio was the Singer.      

           Miss Susan thinks Hummingbird brains must "process motion differently" than the other Birds. Most Birds fly moving forward and can't "hover" in one place.  Hummingbird brains are obviously "evolved" over thousands of years to help them "stabilize" better Miss Susan says.

   

"DRONE" AIRCRAFT   

  

            Mr. Mike jokes Scientists should study Hummingbird brains to "figure out" how to make better Robots and flying Drones.  Then they could kill more people efficiently without having to lose any of our own Soldiers.  "R.O.V." stands for "Remotely Operated Vehicles" I guess.   

           I hadn't planned on writing so much about Hummingbirds but that's okay.  In this chapter I'll learn and write about World War II and and a little bit about the First World War too.  Dais and I decided I'd focus more on the American Civil War and the Second World War today. 

          Mentioning those Drones for some reason suddenly makes me think about this man from the State of Washington named Bill Gates.  He's one of the richest Businessmen in the world and is really smart Daisy says.  He's very important in the history of  those computer machines. 

     

                                                                    BILL GATES

       

              Even though I'm not scheduled to write about that guy Bill Gates right now, I sort of feel like mentioning him now too.   Daisy heard our boss one time talking about computers with Mr. Grant.  Just like Bill Gates, Mr. Grant knows a lot about things having to do with computers.

                Oh wow!  According to what it says in this one Encyclopedia, Bill Gates was born in 1955 like Mr. Steve.  But his birthday's in October so he's three months younger.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's brother Rock, and Niece Cristina; were also born in the month of October too.

              This is interesting how, as it says here in my Encyclopedia; Bill Gates father wanted him to be a lawyer like himself.  But he dropped out of that College back east called "Harvard" to work on computers instead.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve "Flunked Out" of Law School.

                                                                        

                                                                  UNCLE MARTY      

          Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve's Uncle Marty left New Mexico to be a "Medic" in the Vietnam War.  He then used the "G.I. Bill" to go to, and earn; an "M.B.A" from Harvard.  Mr. Peabody graduated from Harvard too so must be the smartest Dog in history.  

           This is kind of interesting.  It says in my Encyclopedia that, after he dropped out of College; in 1975 Bill Gates moved from Massachusetts to New Mexico and eventually began a computer company in Albuquerque.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny the Crows are flying bye.

        The caption under the picture of Bill Gates says that in 1976 he called his company "Micro-Soft" but later changed it to be "Microsoft."  And that's a combination of "microcomputer" and "software."  Mr. Steve was twenty and going to Valley Junior College in 1976.

                                                                                                       

MR. GRANT / MIGGY

          As I said yesterday in book one, Mr. Steve met his friend Grant in Law School just like he did his old girlfriend Emily.  But Mr. Grant passed the "Bar" exam and became a lawyer.  And, just like Bill Gates, he's been interested in computers since a really young age.

           Mr. Grant did some amazing things when computers were just coming out in the mid-1970's and I guess so did Bill Gates too.  It says here, at thirteen; he wrote his first computer "software program."  The smell of Theodora's Creosote bush just came into my left nostril.

       From what this Encyclopedia says, a few years after he created his first software program, Bill Gates made another one which allowed you to play a game called "Tic-Tac-Toe" against the computer.  Daisy thinks I'd be good at playing that game.  I would like to play it.   

   

                                                        BILL GATES AND FAMILY

          Hey Lord!  As You know, Daisy says our boss's customer up there in the State of Washington said Bill Gates married a Catholic girl.  Their three kids even go to a Catholic school just like Mr. Steve and his brothers and sisters did at St. Ferdinand's.  Dawn's over there barking.   

       The Parts Manager in Washington said Bill Gates' nickname is "Trey" because his dad and Grandfather were also "Bills" so he's Bill Gates III.  Mr. Steve's father, brother and Nephew are all named "Sam."  I wonder how Bill became the same way as saying the name "William?"

       Hey God!  I guess, like us down here in Piñon Hills; Bill Gates believes in You too.  He said it "makes sense to believe in God as there's no other explanation as to how the world came about." We want to believe You used the "Big Bang" to create the Universe and life isn't "Random."    

      

 1918  "SPANISH" INFLUENZA PANDEMIC  

           

             Yesterday in my first book I wrote about "Epidemics" and "Pandemics."  The biggest one began in 1918, or last year of World War I; and then spread all over the whole world.  Almost a million Americans died from what has now come to be called the "Spanish" flu pandemic.

          I guess Bill Gates and his wife, like our boss; give money to charity and also like Mr. Steve know about epidemics and pandemics.  Daisy heard they also think there's a very good chance a pandemic is what's called "Overdue."  Andy's over there guarding he and Helen's burrow.

         As I said yesterday, some people think that, over a three year period; fifty million may have been killed by Spanish "Influenza."  It probably began here in the U.S. and then went with some "Infected" soldiers over to Europe.  Dawn's barking at something over there next door.  

 

                                                          WORLD WAR I (1914-1918)

    

        I've mentioned before how America entered the First World War in 1917, three after that huge war first began.  And when it ended in November of 1918 many of the Soldiers on both sides had been infected with sickness.  Libby the Horse's scent just floated over here.

       As I wrote in book one, after World War I was over the millions of Soldiers all went back to their different countries and, unfortunately; took the sickness back home with them.  So then a  lot of the other people caught it from them and millions died.  It was really bad!  

          Because of how many people died in such a short amount of time, some people were buried before they were dead.  That's why, even though she was only five years old when the Spanish flu hit; Mr. Steve's Grandma Trujillo feared being buried alive by accident.  I would too!

   

                                                       "BLACK DEATH" (1347-1351)

      

           I've mentioned over the last two days how at C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve did a "Research Project" on the 14th "Black Death" pandemic.   A map in this Encyclopedia shows the "pattern" it took from 1347 through 1351.  Theodora ran bye but is now flying out into the back desert.  

          It's amazing how in only about four years of the 14th century the "Bubonic Plague" may have killed about half the population of Europe.   Wow!  Every time I look at this one picture of the skeletons in a "Mass Grave" dug up from the 1300's I can't believe it.  It was bad!  

         Dais thinks our boss will be so proud of me someday when he reads my three books and boy God, I can't wait!  But, first I have to be disciplined and not get distracted by chasing things like I usually do.  Hey God!  Thank You for giving me this comfortable old couch Elvira.

 

                                         MERICAN "GREAT DEPRESSION" (1930'S)

        

           When Dais and I were putting together my three outlines, we scheduled it so I'll learn a lot about the twenty eventful years "Between the Wars;" or 1919 through 1939.  Mr. Steve knows a lot about those years Daisy says.  So that's why I now want to know more about them too.

          As I said a few times yesterday, the good economy is why the 1920's were called "Roaring." But that decade was followed by the bad economy of the 1930's "Great Depression."  That was a time when a lot of people were really, really poor and some even starved to death Dais says.

         Mr. Steve's dad  thinks someday there might be another really big "Economic Depression." And, even though that big pandemic didn't "Trigger" an economic "Downturn" in the years after World War I; a new one might be brought on by disease.  A Crow just cawed faintly.    

   

                                                                     "GET SMART"

             I knew I heard Max the Hummingbird coming from my right and there he goes zooming bye.  For the second day in a row his girlfriend 99 isn't with him.  Mr. Steve named Max and 99 after two characters from that funny 1960's tv show called "Get Smart" Daisy told me.   

          Daisy told me about that show Get Smart.  She says on it this guy named Maxwell Smart, or  "Agent 86;" is a spy and his assistant is a really smart girl named Agent "99."  They "work for good" as spies for "CONTROL," and fight against this evil agency called "KAOS." 

             Boy!  I can't wait for the time when I'm not afraid of being trapped in enclosed areas.  Then I'll be able to go all the way down the hallway into the bedrooms and bathrooms like Daisy.  One of those three bedrooms our boss uses as an office, which he spends a lot of time in every day.  

        

    MAXWELL SMART / AGENT 99

          

        According to Dais, in that tv show Get Smart Max isn't very smart but his Assistant 99, who secretly wants to be his girlfriend; always "Bails him Out" if he gets in trouble.  They have such  amazing secret agent devices on Get Smart.  Their shoes are even really telephones!                       

     From what Daisy says, on Get Smart Max and 99 sometimes have to go out and fight some Nazis.  She says that one Dog Millie, who I replaced; thought Get Smart was a really funny show. Anyway, I'll come back and write more about Get Smart over the next two days.                            

       I guess Get Smart is a comedy version, or "Spoof;" of books and movies about this one spy  this spy named "James Bond" or Agent "007."  Daisy told me the man who wrote the books the    James Bond movies are based on was named Ian Flemming.  I smell some Juniper.                         

          

                                         IAN FLEMMING (1908-1964)                                       

   

        In my Encyclopedia it says that during the Second World War Ian Flemming worked for a British Intelligence unit called "MI-6."  His father was killed by German artillery during World War I.   After the Second World War, in the 1950's; he wrote his James Bond books I guess.

        Dais says Mr. Steve doesn't like the newer James Bond movies as much as the original ones written by that man Ian Flemming.  In fact, he hasn't seen any of the James Bond movies in the last twenty or more years.  I'll write more about the original "Bond" movies tomorrow.

        Mr. Steve told Mr. Grant he read the "Fictional" character James Bond was partly based on a man named Dusko Popov.  Someday I'd like to see those first James Bond movies.  Daisy and Millie saw a few of them, and they also saw that funny tv show called "Get Smart" too.  

                                                                 

                                                               DUSKO POPOV (1910-1981) WITH FAMILY

  

         Dais says our boss told Mr. Grant Dusko Popov, like Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein's wife Maleva Marik; was from Serbia or part of what is now "Yugoslavia."  And, like Nikola Tesla; he was born July 10th.  So they're Cancers like Mr. Steve, whose birthday is on July the 9th.

         Dusko Popov, who this Encyclopedia says was a Lawyer like Mr. Grant; helped win World War II as a "Double Agent" for the British against the Nazi's.  So that means he just pretended to be a spy for the Germans Dais says.  Boy!  I really like how shoulder "Epaulettes" look. 

            It says here Dusko Popov's "disinformation" and "deception" fooled the Nazi's a few times in World War II.  It helped shorten the war.  I mentioned yesterday how the name "Nazi" is just a shortened way of saying "Nationalsozialismus," or "National Socialists" in German.  

    

ADOLPH HITLER SPEAKING AT "PARTY RALLY"

               Boy!  I'm so lucky Daisy found these Dictionaries.  In German sometimes words seem to be combined.  Yesterday in book one I wrote how "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartie" means "National Socialist German Workers Party," N.S.D.A.P.;" or "Nazi" for short.  

          Without my foreign language Dictionaries it would be totally impossible to figure out how to spell a lot of words correctly.  Oh!  Jack the Jackrabbit just zoomed out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.  And he used to wider right vertical slot on the side of the gate to do it.

         I just inhaled fully through both nostrils of my nose and the fresh air on this second day of Spring is so what they call "Invigorating."  It looks like I'll learn a lot about World War II in the next two chapters.  Daisy says our boss has a lot of books about the two World Wars.                              

                                                                            PIGPEN 

                                                                           

            Aha!  I knew I was smelling Pigpen the Gopher and, "Sure Enough" as they say; there he is over there sticking out of his burrow just to the right of the big Mulberry tree.  He's sniffing in  the air and will smell me soon.  As I've mentioned, Gophers don't have very good eyesight.            

           Whew!  Gophers don't smell so good and for some reason Pigpen's scent at times seems to be even worse than other Gophers that I've smelled.  Dais agrees with me on that and she's been around a lot more Gophers than I ever have.  Dawn and Blinky are barking over there.                 

         Yup!  When Pigpen smelled me, and realized I was sitting over here on the Patio; he right away ducked back down into his hole.  I just picked up the scent of the soft dirt he dug up and it smells pretty good to me for some reason.  But Pigpen's lingering scent isn't all that great.                          

ARTWORK BY CHARLES SCHULTZ

          

          One time Dais and Millie were in the living room and saw some really good cartoons called "Peanuts."  And, one of the characters was this really dirty boy who never even takes a bath so    wherever he goes leaves a cloud of dust.  Our Gopher Pigpen was named after him.                        

       Someday I hope to watch that cartoon Peanuts.  Dais told me how it's mainly about a nice bald-headed boy named "Charlie Brown."  His smart Dog named "Snoopy," like our boss too; is interested in the life of that World War I German "Ace" Pilot called the "Red Baron."                  

     Daisy says that our boss told Miss Susan a customer said the man who draws the Peanuts cartoon is originally from the State of "Minnesota."  He was a soldier in Europe at the end of the Second World War.  He and his wife and kids live in up there in Northern California.                     

  

 GRATEFUL DEAD ("PIGPEN" IN HAT)

 

         Pigpen's scent is so strong I can still smell him even though he's gone.  That reminds me of a member of that one band from San Francisco called the GRATEFUL DEAD.  I mentioned them in book one.  A member of the GRATEFUL DEAD is also nicknamed "Pigpen" too.                       

        I guess the GRATEFUL DEAD'S Pigpen died at age 27 and tomorrow I'll write about the "27 Club," musicians from Robert Johnson through Amy Winehouse; who died at 27.  Dais says our boss drew the GRATEFUL DEAD logo.  Pigpen the Musician collected guns.                            

          Mr. Cliff knows a lot about guns and things like that.  One time he and Mr. Steve discussed how James Bond used a German "Walther PPK."  Daisy and Millie heard them talk about how    that was the same exact handgun that Adolph Hitler used to kill himself in 1945.                             

          

    JAMES BOND'S ("WALTHER PPK")      

                

              Dais says one time, when Mr. Steve was living in Sylmar on Hagar Street; that kid Michael called him.  He said he was listening to the Radio and they asked the "Trivia" question, "Which handgun did James Bond use?"  So Mr. Steve gave him the correct or right answer. 

          That boy Michael, who I mentioned yesterday in book one; thought our boss might know the right answer and he did.  So, Michael called into the Radio Station and won this thing called a "Gift Certificate."  He gave it to his mom to be ""Redeemed" for some groceries.

          Another time Dais said, Michael asked our boss what the name "Mossad" meant.  I guess Mr. Steve knew it's the Israeli "Intelligence Agency" but didn't know exactly what it stood for in the "Hebrew" language.  But he did know of an easy way to find out right away though.   

                                           

                                                                                     RIFLE BULLET SIZES   

                                                                                                          

                     Oh!   This is a good place to write about the subject of "Weaponry," and this Mormon man named John Moses Browning.  I was supposed to learn about him yesterday but missed him on my outline.  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows all of the different sized bullets.

              The caption says the big bullet on the left is ".50 caliber," while the littlest one on the far right is only .22 caliber.  That man John Browning, who's father taught him to be a "Gunsmith;" is called the "Father of Modern Firearms."   He invented the .50 caliber bullet I guess.

             Daisy says a while back our boss met a guy who told him about a .50 caliber bullet called "Beowulf" like in that old Anglo-Saxon story I wrote about in book one.  Dais thinks the guy said an "AR-15" can be "modified" to fire .50 caliber bullets.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.

              

                                                                                        AR-15 "BEOWULF" 

                      

                  This one Encyclopedia says John Browning invented the .50 caliber "round" in the late 1910's, but it didn't "enter service" until 1921; too late for World War I.  I guess now it's used a lot by militaries all over the world.  Mark Ritter had an AR-15 back in the late 1980's.

              Big .50 caliber bullets are described as being "heavy caliber, low velocity."  It's meant to "Stop" opponents, even if they're inside the protection of heavy vehicles and things like that. It's called "Armor-Piercing" so that probably means it goes right through metal things.

             John Moses Browning's father came to Utah in the early 1850's so, a few years after that first big migration of Latter Day Saints.  Yesterday I mentioned how, in the Korean War;" Mr. Steve's dad liked "Browning Automatic Rifles."  Clyde, of Bonnie and Clyde; did too.              

                                           WITH FAMILY       JOHN MOSES BROWNING      WITH SHOTGUN          

                                                                   (1855-1926)

               

                  Daisy said a tv show about John Moses Browning said his wife was a "great help."  They lived in a town called "Ogden" Utah, and had ten kids; two of which "Died in Infancy."  Mrs. Browning, like some of the females in our family too; was very good at "Making Do."  

            One time Mr. Steve and his father talked on the phone about how that guy John Browning "Designed" and built not only "Repeating" rifles, but also those "Semi-Automatic" and "Fully Automatic" weapons too.  All four of the Pigeons are now flying toward the northwest.

            I guess the tv show said John Browning's father, who he admired a lot; died at the age of seventy four in 1879.  John Browning, who his dad was very proud of; said that his father simply died of  "weariness."  Daisy said the tv show mentioned how hard life was in those days.   

                                 

THREODORA IN CREOSOTE BUSH        

                                       

         Oh!  I just glanced up and see Theodora over there standing in her favorite Creosote bush, which I can smell in my left nostril right now.  Some small Birds are darting around out there in the desert.  I can't wait to go see what Dais is doing after I finish this fourth chapter. 

         Daisy told me this framed "Certificate" given to our boss in 1985 is hanging on a wall in the Hallway.  As a "Token" of  "appreciation" for attending a Mossad-sponsored "Banquet" over in Israel;  it was given to him.  I guess Mossad is like England's MI6 or our C.I.A.  

         That certificate says the name Mossad is just short for "ha-Mossad le-Modlin ule-Tafkidim Mayuhadim" or "Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks" in English.  Boy!  I guess Hebrew is sort of like German in having some long names.  He read it to that kid Michael. 

                

                                                        IRV RUBIN (1945-2002)

                       

         Dais says our boss told Mr. Cliff he and Mark Ritter, back in 1987; met this guy named Irv Rubin at this one "Shooting Range" in the San Gabriel Mountains.  I guess Irv Rubin was in the "Jewish Defense League;" or "J.D.L." for short.  Like Mark Ritter, he died a while back.

         Irv Rubin is buried at "Eden Memorial,"  the same Jewish cemetery where Mr. Steve's boss Steve Banks was "Laid to Rest" as they say.  As I mentioned yesterday, Eden Memorial is right across the street from the Catholic "Mission" Cemetery.  I smell the baby Cholla cactus.

        In 1990, working for "Pace;" Mr. Steve signed up Eden Memorial as business members.  As I've said, Mission Cemetery is where Mr. Steve's Grandmothers and sister Celina are buried, and his parents have Crypts ready to go.   Mr. Rick's son Gino is also buried over there too.

                                                 

                                     MEIR KAHANE (1932-1990)                                 

                      

            Dais says our boss told Irv Rubin how in 1985, he shook hands with this man named Meir Kahane; who started the J.D.L.  He was an Israeli Politician in the "Kach" party and in Hebrew that just means "Thus" I guess.  But, Meir Kahane was "Assassinated" back in 1990.

            One time at that Shooting Range Mr. Steve and Mark Ritter saw a guy using a "Walther PPK" like James Bond's.  Mark Ritter had an "AR- 15," which Irv Rubin admired; and in Texas Mr. Steve's Nephew Jacob has one of those "AK-47's."  Hitler killed himself with a PPK.

              Mr. Steve told Irv Rubin, in 1985 he and his sister Celina shared an elevator with Meir Kahane.  Daisy says, as Meir Kahane got on the elevator he and our boss's eyes met.  Oh!  Right now my right nostril just picked up the strong scent of our neighbor's Beavertail cactus.

         

CALIFORNIA DESERT "WREN"  

              

             Oh!  I see that little Wren I saw yesterday, and again it's in that clump of Cholla Cactus' behind the Sheds.  It's interesting how Wrens use the protective bubble of the Cholla's from all the predators like Cher.  Yup!  The Wren is now saying, "Hey, Hey, Hey" the way Wrens do.    

             In 1985 Mr. Steve at first hesitated about shaking Meir Kahane's hand, knowing of times when people have been killed as someone holds their hand so they can't get to their own weapon.  Boy!  I guess in 1990 Meir Kahane even had "Body Guards" but was shot anyway.

             Mr. Steve reached his hand out and Meir Kahane shook hands and nodded slightly.  To this day Dais says our boss remembers how it felt to look Meir Kahane in his eyes, and can still almost feel his firm handshake.  That Wren just flew away and is going toward the east. 

              

                                                STEVE (1958-2009) / RONNA BANKS

           

               I just thought of Steve Banks.  Yesterday I wrote about how he, through his company S & S Enterprises; in 1999 helped our boss when he was an idiot and got into financial trouble.  Hey God!  As You know, Mr. Steve has helped others and thought of Steve Banks when doing it. 

                Daisy says one time Mr. Steve and his boss Steve Banks talked about Israel's wars since becoming a country in 1948.  Like Irv Rubin and Meir Kahane, Steve Banks seemed like a Jew who'd physically fight an "Anti Semitic" person.  He definitely knew who Meir Kahane was. 

            Back in 1987 our boss and Mark Ritter talked with that guy Irv Rubin about these type of Israeli gun's called "Uzi's."  They can either be "Submachine" type, or a "Machine" Pistol" too.  Back in 1985 many of the Israeli Soldiers carried them around tucked in their armpits.    

     

UZEL GAI (1923-2002)

      

                   This Encyclopedia says the idea for making Uzi type weapons started in 1948, the same year Israel became a nation.   Oh!  Those guns got their name because the man who designed and built them was named Uzel Gai.  There's two long white vapor trails way up there in the sky.

             I guess, That guy Uzel Gai was a German Jew able to get out of Germany in the 1930's, and ended up living in one of those Israeli "Kibbutz's like the one our boss's Tour Group visited in 1985.  That in the period when England was still in "Political" control over the area.

             One time Mr. Steve and his father talked about how Mark Ritter's AR-15 was "Colt" brand weapon.  Daisy heard that, in 1977 or year our boss and his brother Rock took their trip back east; the Colt's "Patent" expired.  Since then a few other companies make "AR's." 

        

"AR-15" STYLE RIFLE 

                 This tv show Daisy saw said sometimes AR stands for "Assault Rifle," and those type of "Semi Automatic" rifles are now one of the "most popular" guns bought in America.  From 1994 through 2004 they were "Banned" but people got them anyway.  Heathcliff just crowed.   

            Our boss thinks, even though they're only meant for killing people; one reason Assault rifles are so popular is because many think another civil war might break out here.  So, "Just in Case" as they say; they want to be ready to fight a war.  Some just enjoy shooting guns.      

            It's "sad but true" Mr. Steve thinks, that in this temporal world, violence and and hate has almost always beaten non-violence and love; especially if revenge is involved.  There are a few exceptions.  Daisy says that band METALLICA has a song called "Sad But True."  

                                                    

                                            ALDOUS HUXLEY / GEORGE ORWELL  

          

         Daisy says our boss thinks in history "Might" usually equals "Right" as they say.  But, as I wrote about in book one, those British writers Aldous Huxley and George Orwell thought in the future "Mind Control" might be more important than violence.  I smell Sage.    

         As I wrote yesterday, at Steve Banks' Funeral; our boss was told how those two comedians Lenny Bruce and "Groucho" Marx were also buried at Eden Memorial.  I was supposed to write more about Lenny Bruce yesterday but somehow forgot.  So I'll do it now.   

        From what Mr. Steve was told, Lenny Bruce was originally from New York but lived in the San Fernando Valley for a long time.  He died young and I guess never made a lot of money when he was alive but influenced later comedians.  I hear two Crows cawing faintly.

                

                                             LENNY BRUCE (1925-1966) WITH FAMILY

          

        From what Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Randy, he really never liked Lenny Bruce's humor all that much because some of it was a little too what they call "crude."  But some of it was pretty funny he says.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just flew over the house moving to the west.

        Daisy says our boss thinks Lenny Bruce was "Sociologically" important.  He was arrested over fifteen times for what's called "Obscenity" which means he said bad words or talked about bad things I guess.  I can really smell that one clump of Joshua trees near Libby's Corral.   

        I guess nowadays what's called "Blue" humor is "Taken for Granted" but in the 1950's and 1960's it wasn't.  Daisy told me our boss doesn't like when people use bad words.  His father has over the years gotten into some fights when someone used bad language around his mom.    

       

                      BOB DYLAN                                                                                        FRANK ZAPPA                                                                                                                         

            One time at Valley College in Van Nuys Mr. Steve met this one guy who said Lenny Bruce "influenced" later Comedians.  But Daisy says he also believed, less obviously; that Lenny Bruce influenced a few Musicians too.  Like Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa for instance he said.

           Daisy told me our boss agreed with that man at Valley College when he used Frank Zappa as an example of how Lenny Bruce "Paved the Way" for other Entertainers.  But he didn't quite see how Bob Dylan was influenced by Lenny Bruce.  Daffy's quacking loudly over there.

           In the late-1980's, Mr. Steve took pictures of this one Comedian named Sam Kinison; who was not what's called "Politically Correct."  He purposely tried to "Offend" some people.  Daisy says one time on the phone Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph Sam Kinison was "at times" funny.

                                                                                                                                          SAM KINISON (1953-1992)       

                                                                                                                                    PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA      

                                   

     According to what Daisy says, that guy Sam Kinison was "associated" with Heavy Metal music and those kind of people often like "Raunchy" humor.  There were times when the crowd was "literally roaring" in laughter our boss told Mr. Ralph.  I can smell Libby over there.             

        Hey Lord!  Mr. Steve was told how Sam Kinison's family were "Pentecostal Preachers" and so was he when young.  Daisy says, just like Lenny Bruce; Sam Kinison died young.  I can hear a few what might be boy Finch's, chirping away out there in the desert behind the Sheds.                 

       Yesterday I mentioned how Mr. Steve, in the 1980's; took pictures at "Gazzari's" Nightclub in Hollywood.  That's where he saw Sam Kinison. I'll write a lot more about Gazzari's tomorrow when I talk about famous bands, like VAN HALEN; who've played there over the years.                                                                     

     WARRANT          

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA         

                  

        I've mentioned before how some of the bands our boss and Miss Harriet covered in the 1980's were those Heavy Metal bands called "Hair Bands."  Daisy says Sam Kinison, for a while; even had a Hard Rock band too.  Dawn and Blinky are barking at something over there.               

           That band from Van Nuys QUIET RIOT, who Mr. Steve and Miss Sandy met; also played at Gazzari's in the 1970's.   People our boss met at "Valley Junior College" knew QUIET RIOT.  Randy Rhodes was in QUIET RIOT then, before he became famous with Ozzie Osbourne.            

         Mr. Steve was told one time, by a guy who's a Highway Patrol Officer; how Sam Kinison died.   I guess he was killed on a Highway to our north; on his way to "Laughlin," Nevada; which our boss and his dad have been to before.  A small group of Sparrows just now flew bye.                                                   

                                   ADOLPH HITLER (1889-1945)                               

                             ARTIST UNKNOWN                                

                                                                                       

         Dais says Mr. Steve thinks Sam Kinison, to a certain extent; structured his comedy routine kind of like an Adolph Hitler speech.  They both started out quietly and worked their way into    what they were doing.  It's kind of interesting how Hitler was originally from "Austria."               

        I guess, from what Dais told me; Sam Kinison would start out by just walking around and talking calmly.  Then, all of a sudden; he'd explode and start yelling.  It was then our boss joked,  that he used his very best "Fire and Brimstone" preaching technique to "make a point."               

        The Highway Patrol officer said Sam Kinison, dying in the Car; looked like he was listening to something and said, "But why?"  He listened again and said, "Okay;" then died.  Hey God!  Daisy and I want to believe it was You that Sam Kinison was talking to back then.                                   

"CREATION"

      "SISTINE" CHAPEL / MICHAELANGELO      

                   

      

       Hey God!  It would be so great if You ever decided to come down here to Piñon Hills and be with Daisy and I and we'd listen and do whatever You said to do.  Oh!  And we'd listen to You too Blessed Mother if You ever came here.  We'd really like to smell all of You Guys.                             

        For some reason I just thought about how one time Dais and Millie was a tv show about that guy Adolph Hitler.  Like Sam Kinison in delivering his "Act," when Hitler "Delivered" a speech; he'd start slowly too.  But in his case he began his speech in total, complete silence.                         

       Daisy told me, arms folded, Hitler wouldn't say even one word until the audience was quiet.  Then, when you could "Hear a Pin Drop" as that old saying goes; he'd unfold his arms and start to speak in a slow, low voice.  The tv show used the word "deliberate" to describe it.                       

                                                                                                ADOLPH HITLER PREPARING TO MAKE A SPEECH                             

                                                                                                                                              

       Daisy says she and Millie noticed how, because the room is so quiet; Hitler's voice seemed to almost echo.  He even looks kind of uncomfortable I guess.  But then he gradually begins to talk   louder and use his arms more to emphasize the points he's making in the speech.                            

      Whereas Sam Kinison started slowly and suddenly exploded like a volcanic eruption; Hitler would "Evolve" into a louder and louder voice.  And, at the end of the speech; he'd finish with a  "Crescendo" like a Beethoven Symphony.  Then the audience went crazy Dais says.                      

       According to what Daisy heard the guy say on that one tv show about Hitler, few Politicians would take such a "risk" like Hitler used to do in starting off  his  speeches in total silence.  I see  a Lizard standing over there on the wall.  And now it's starting to do some pushups.                       

  

AC/DC

       Daisy says our boss told Mr. Dave he likes songs where there are "pauses" in them.  I guess one reason he likes some of AC/DC'S music, like that song "Thunderstruck" for instance;  is how there's a pause when the band stop playing for a second.  I can now smell that Lizard.                   

        Because our boss is interested in the subject, tomorrow in my third and last book Daisy has me scheduled to write about how a lot of "Popular Culture" entertainment has been influenced  by "Fascist Imagery."  The Lizard ran down the wall.  It went behind my couch Elvira.               

           I guess Mr. Steve has drawn AC/DC'S logo and Daisy noticed how the red lightning bolt on it looks like the "Lightning Runes" of Hitler's "S.S." Another logo he drew as a kid was KISS'S  emblem where the two S's look exactly like those runes.  One of the Ducks is quacking.                  

                      

                        SID VICIOUS                   MARILYN MANSON      LEMMY (MOTÖRHEAD)                                                              

          A picture in my Encyclopedia shows Sid Vicious wearing a T-Shirt with a "Swastika" on it.  In another one MOTÖRHEAD'S Lemmy has a Nazi hat, an Iron Cross medal; and "Maltese"    cross logos on his shirt.  That guy Marilyn Manson uses Nazi colors and Fascist style logos.           

      I guess when some people use the word "Chic" they mean "stylish" or, as the British say; "smart."  Mr. Steve thinks some entertainers don't even realize they're using Fascist imagery but just think it looks "Cool."  Some of the Ducks next door are quacking right now.                            

        Dais saw a show about "Thrash" Heavy Metal and noticed how SLAYER'S logo also seems influenced by Fascism.  Mr. Steve was offered over a hundred dollars for a  LED ZEPPELIN T-  shirt where guitarist Jimmy Page is wearing a black Nazi Luftwaffe hat.  I smell Juniper.                      

        "GOOSE STEPPING" NAZIS    

            

           Dais told me our boss likes the SEX PISTOLS' song "Holiday in the Sun" which starts with the sound of "Goose-Stepping" Nazi's marching.  BLÜE ÖYSTER CÜLT, who are Jewish; do a   song called "Dominance and Submission."  That's Adolph Hitler's theme I guess.                          

      In 1995 that singer Michael Jackson did a big Tour and Mr. Steve and his friends noticed a lot of Fascist imagery.  Michael Jackson started his concerts by using Hitler's silent technique.  And  like Hitler's audiences, the people attending the concert were "Mesmerized."                                  

   Even though I'll mainly write about it tomorrow, I kind of feel like writing a little bit now about how many things in "Pop"  Culture are influenced by Nazism.  Daisy saw a movie called    "Star Wars."  She says the bad guy wears a black helmet that looks just like the Nazis.                 

     

HITLER REVIEWING "BROWN SHIRTS"                           "DARTH VADER" / "STORM TROOPERS"

      

        Daisy told me one time she overheard Mr. Cliff say he thinks the name "Storm Troopers" in Star Wars was taken from Hitler's private army of "Brown Shirts."  Hitler also called them his    Storm Troopers too I guess.  I hear some of the Ducks quacking over there next door.                    

      Adolph Hitler would, little by little; built up momentum until by the end of the speech the audience was going crazy.  Mr. Steve met this girl in College whose assignment was to "Compare and Contrast" famous speakers.  Rudy the Roadrunner is jogging bye right now.                           

        Oh!  A breeze just blew Libby's scent into my right nostril from over there in her Corral.    I I see her walking around slowly near the fence and there aren't any Flies near her which is good. As I've mentioned a few times over the last two days, Dais and I really hate all Flies!                              

"PROJECTING" TO A LARGE AUDIENCE         

                    

        When Mr. Steve took pictures of singer Ronnie James Dio, who has a song about a rainbow; he noticed "Dio" used gestures similar to those of Hitler.  I guess they're meant for "Projecting" power to a large audience.  I've mentioned how "Rhêma" means "The living Word."                     

         I guess that girl in College came away from her assignment thinking Hitler was the most "Effective" 20th century speaker.  John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill were really good too she thought.  They were what's called "Close Seconds" so to speak.              

      Over the years, Mr. Steve has read about Adolph Hitler's "Rare" ability to get people to "Emote;" and stop thinking "Logically" or "Rationally."  His voice could be used almost like a musical instrument I guess.  I hear Crows fighting over food way out there in the desert.                                        JOHN F. KENNEDY                 ADOLPH HITLER            MARTIN LUTHER KING                                                                                                                                                                     Mr. Steve's dad thinks Adolph Hitler might've made a "good "motivational" sports Coach. He's read things written by President Kennedy, Hitler and Martin Luther King too.  I wrote in    book one about Hitler's book called "Mein Kampf," which means "My Struggle"                          

   I guess that girl knew only the "ranting and raving" Hitler but was "Blown Away" by his speeches, even though she couldn't understand a word he was saying.  She realized how it was      possible many Germans would willingly give him "absolute" power.  I smell Sage.                          

       Dais says our boss's father thinks one reason why people go to concerts and things like that is to "temporarily" get a "break" from their normally "uneventful" lives.  It's kind of an "escape" or "solace" you could say.  Hitler's speeches were probably just like that too I'll bet.                                                

"ADULATION" FOR ADOLPH HITLER    

           

    The caption below this 1930's photograph says "rapturous" Germans "greet" Hitler.  Mr. Steve did art for an older German lady.  She told him females back then reacted to Hitler with    the same type of "mass hysteria" the BEATLES got when they first came to America.                   

       I glanced up and can see two white vapor trails in the sky.  The Sun is now higher above the eastern  horizon and I'd say it's about eleven judging by the shadows.  Samson and Delilah the    Ravens are flying bye right now and are moving together toward the northeast.                              

    Well, I can see by my outline that I still have a little bit more to write about that guy Lenny Bruce and how he influenced today's comedians.  And then I'll go back to writing about World    War II.  I wrote a lot more about Adolph Hitler than I'd planned on but that's okay.                      

                  RICHARD PRYOR (1940-2005)                                      GEORGE CARLIN (1937-2008) 

   

      One time this guy told Mr. Steve he thought Lenny Bruce "ran interference" or "paved the way" for American comics like Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor and George Carlin.  Lenny Bruce    is  described as "groundbreaking" in my Encyclopedia.  I can smell Manzanita.                             

        Daisy says that man's sister knew Lenny Bruce and thinks he probably accidentally killed himself by "overdosing" on "Morphine."  Yesterday I wrote how, during the Korean War; Mr. Steve's father got addicted to morphine.  A black Cow Bird just flew bye.

       In my first book I mentioned how they wanted to "Amputate," or cut off; Mr. Steve's dad's feet when they were "Frostbitten."  They didn't but he took morphine to ease the extreme pain.  Later he had to quit taking morphine by going what I guess they call "Cold Turkey."   

     

"EDEN MEMORIAL PARK" ("MISSION HILLS")

  

        I'm still thinking about Eden Memorial Cemetery where Lenny Bruce and Mr. Steve's old boss Steve Bank's is buried.  As I mentioned yesterday, when Mr. Steve worked for "Pace" back in 1990; Eden Memorial was one of his his customers.  Pace is now called "Sam's Club."

        That lady who knew Lenny Bruce said when they found his dead body a kettle of water was boiling and his electric typewriter was still on.  On a piece of paper he had typed; "Conspiracy to interfere with the 4th Amendment const…"  Heathcliff just crowed over there.

        Mr. Steve was told that, on the same day he died; Lenny Bruce's house was what they call "Foreclosed."  I guess that means he didn't have enough money to pay for the house so the Bank came and took it back.  Dais told me that we don't owe any money on our house.

              

                VIVALDI (1678-1741)                                                     MOZART (1756-1791)                  

      

           I guess Lenny Bruce was sort of like those guys Vivaldi and Mozart.  In book one I wrote how they also died poor.  It says in this Encyclopedia how, at the time of his death Lenny Bruce was officially declared a "Pauper" but; at least he had a grave to be buried in. 

          As Mr. Steve used a shovel to throw dirt down on Steve Bank's coffin he thought about how at Lenny Bruce's burial a friend threw one of his microphones into the grave.  I hear two Crows out in the eastern desert.  And I can tell that they're fighting over some food.

          I guess some people think Lenny Bruce was "Persecuted" for saying "Taboo" things " out in public.  So they made it hard for him to earn a living and, in a culture which worships money; that's not good Mr. Steve says.  No wonder he ended up being one of those paupers.     

                                    

                                                                        PANTERA  

                            

        I mentioned that Texas Heavy Metal band PANTERA yesterday.  Their guitarist was killed on stage by a crazy fan who was himself shot by Police.   As I've said before, PANTERA are from Dallas near where Mr. Steve's brother Rock lives with his sons Rocky Jr. and Jacob.  

            Someday I want to hear some PANTERA songs, especially the two Daisy and Millie heard in our boss's Bedroom that one time.  He played them for that Jason and I guess one of them says to "Walk" and another one is about some Cowboys from Hell.  I smell some Mesquite.

        Dais told me our boss tried to play that PANTERA song about walking but admits he's not even close to being as good as PANTERA'S drummer.  He joked with Jason that in some ways it's like when he first tried to play RUSH'S song about Tom Sawyer.  It's pretty hard.

            

                                                                      VAN HALEN 

                                                                                                                                         PHOTO BY FABIO NOSOTTI

            Over the last two days I've mentioned the L.A. city of "Pasadena," where that stadium the "Rose Bowl" is located.  It's where the Dodger's Baseball player Jackie Robinson was from.  The Hard Rock band VAN HALEN, who Daisy really likes; is also from Pasadena too I guess. 

             I guess, when PANTERA'S guitarist was buried Eddie Van Halen gave one of his guitars to be put inside of the coffin.  Daisy saw a tv show about PANTERA which said he was also buried in a coffin with that Hard Rock band KISS'S logos on it.  Heathcliff just crowed.  

        I've never heard any VAN HALEN songs but Dais has and says they're good.  The guitarist player and drummer, Eddie and Alex Van Halen; are brothers who's parents came to the U.S. from the Netherlands.  That's where the painter Vincent van Gogh was born too.

  

                                B.B. KING                                                           BRIAN MAY

   

            Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve is interested in why some guitarists like Brian May of QUEEN and B.B. King, think of their guitars as female; while others view them as male.  Up there in the high blue sky I just noticed a long white vapor trail.  Dawn's barking. 

            Daisy heard our boss tell that kid Jason how, in 1984; he saw VAN HALEN play a concert at the Forum in Inglewood.  At that time he, and his friends Mark and Helen; were working for the company that owned the Forum and the sports teams who played in it.  I like Dawn. 

        I guess that guy Eddie Van Halen thinks of some of his guitars as male.  Dais says on the tv show about PANTERA it said he named some of his guitars after Frankenstein.  A flock of Birds is now flying bye way up there in the sky, but not nearly as high as that vapor trail.    

 

                        FRANKENSTEIN                                                 EDDIE VAN HALEN                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                PHOTO BY LARRY MARANO

    

            Daisy and Millie one time heard our boss and Mr. Dave in New Mexico talk about that guy Eddie Van Halen.  Like Brian May of QUEEN, I guess he built his own guitars and then named them "Frankenstein's;" just like the monster.   Max the Hummingbird flew bye. 

            Because Eddie Van Halen created a guitar from "easier to use" parts from a "Fender," in order to get a "Gibson" sound; he called the "end result" Frankenstein.  That's what Mr. Steve and his friend Dave talked about.  Dais says our boss drew VAN HALEN'S first logo. 

             I've mentioned a few times over the last two days how I'm scheduled to write about good guitarist's Mr. Steve has seen "In Person."  Brian May and Eddie Van Halen were two of them.  Mr. Steve sure wishes he could have seen PANTERA'S guitarist play live Daisy says.

  

                               JIMI HENDRIX                                                DICK DALE

                                                                 PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ

              I've mentioned before how guitarists like Dick Dale and that guy Jimi Hendrix used Fender "Stratocasters."  And because parts of Eddie Van Halen's guitar were from a Stratocaster he at times jokingly referred to his as "Frankenstrats."  Heathcliff just crowed over there. 

              Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave he read in a Magazine article that the guitar Eddie Van Halen put in the coffin of  PANTERA'S guitarist was a black and yellow striped Frankenstein.  I guess most of Eddie Van Halen's "Composite" guitars were red with white stripes.   

              In the Magazine article it said Eddie Van Halen used glossy "Schwinn" Bicycle paint on his guitars.  Dais says our boss, and his brothers and friends growing up in Sylmar; at times rode on Shwinn Bikes.  Anyway, I'll come back to VAN HALEN tomorrow in my third book. 

                                                

JOHN SEBASTIAN

   

            All four of the Pigeons just flew in from being out in the desert and landed on the patio roof right above sitting here on my couch Elvira.  I wrote yesterday how they're two couples who Mr. Steve named Lucy and Ricky and Fred and Ethel.  Now they're walking around. 

            As I wrote in my first book, the Actress who played "Ethel" on the "I Love Lucy" show was from New Mexico and her "Godson" was a Musician named John Sebastian. I've never heard his songs but Daisy has and says he sings and plays this thing called an "Autoharp." 

         I've mentioned how Mr. Steve has wondered why places like Germany call their country the "Fatherland," while other countries like Russia think of their nation as "Motherland."  And why guys like Eddie Van Halen think of their instruments as male or female.  Dawn's barking.

  

                                   THE McCOYS (RICK DERRINGER WITH "LUCY")

 

            Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about a 1957 red "Gibson Les Paul" electric guitar owned by George Harrison of the BEATLES.  I guess it originally belonged to that guy John Sebastian and then later to this guitarist named Rick Derringer.  That guitar was named "Lucy."

       According to Dais, when John Sebastian owned Lucy it was gold but Rick Derringer painted it red.  His band the McCOYS were from the State of "Indiana" and, in the 1960's; had this good song which I want to hear someday called "Hang on Sloopy"  The Pigeons are cooing. 

          Mr. Steve was told by a customer in Michigan that Rick Derringer was born in this town in Ohio called "Celina," just like the name of his dead sister.  Dais and I'd like to go to that Mission Cemetery.  We could help our boss clean the graves and maybe even put some flowers.

                          "DERRINGER"                                                 LINCOLN ASSASINATION                                                                                                        ("FORDS THEATRE" / APRIL 14, 1865)

            Daisy told me our boss's customer in Michigan said Rick Derringer's real name is actually "Zehringer."  But he changed it to the name of the little handgun John Wilkes Booth used to kill President Lincoln.  Mr. Steve has a replica "Derringer" gun in his Office Dais says. 

        One reason why Rick Derringer changed his name was because the McCoys "Issued" their songs on "Bang" Records.  That Michigan Parts Manager said Hang on Sloopy is the "official" Ohio State Rock song.  Teams like the Baseball Indians and Basketball Cavaliers use it.  

         I guess, over the many years; that guy Rick Derringer has played guitar for a lot of famous musicians like Edgar Winter, Bob Dylan and later Cyndy Lauper who Mr. Steve took pictures of. Speedy Gonzalez just sprinted bye right now.  All that's left is the dust he raised.    

               

                                                         "WEIRD" AL YANKOVIC

         

            Yesterday I wrote about how many famous musicians have come from the Los Angeles city of "Downey."  One is that man "Weird" Al Yankovic who Daisy told me does funny versions of other people's famous songs.  I guess Rick Derringer "Produced" some of his albums.

       Daisy says one morning when our boss and Mr. Mike were loading up Rex the Truck to go to the Dump, they talked about that guy Rick Derringer.   Mr. Mike didn't know it was him on that one Edgar Winter song called "Frankenstein."  I smell new Spring Mesquite. 

      Mr. Steve joked that they should make a movie about Rick Derringer's life because, "over the years;" he's played or  been "involved with" so many famous people.   One of them was this guy named Andy Warhol from New York City.  Actually, he was originally from Pittsburgh.    

         

"CRUCIFIXION"

     

             Hey Lord!  As You know of course, that Parts Manager in Michigan is an "Evangelical" or "Born Again" Christian.  He said Rick Derringer is too just like Alice Cooper the singer who I wrote about earlier this morning.  I think I might want to be one of those someday.

           That Parts Manager in Michigan said Rick Derringer sold his red Les Paul to one of those "Pawn" Shops I wrote about yesterday.  And it turned out the person who came in and ended up buying it was Eric Clapton who I've mentioned before.  The Pigeons are cooing up there.

            I guess a few years later Eric Clapton gave his red Les Paul to George Harrison.  He named it Lucy and played her in famous songs and concerts he did after he left the BEATLES.  But one time Lucy got stolen and he had to go through a lot of trouble in getting it back Dais says. 

                                    

                              ERIC CLAPTON                                  GEORGE HARRISON

     

            Two good color photos in this one Encyclopedia shows Eric Clapton and George Harrison playing that 1957 Les Paul guitar named Lucy.  No wonder Daisy likes how it looks because, as I've said a few times over the last two days; her favorite color is red.  I smell some Sage.

              That red guitar was made in the same year Mr. Steve's brother Rock in Texas was born.  It has such a good shape Daisy thinks and, I  guess Mr. Steve has known people, one being Mr. Rich; who've owned "Les Paul's." I'd want a royal blue Les Paul, my favorite color.  

              Mentioning Rick Derringer being in that 1960's band the MCCOYS makes me think about something Dais actually has me scheduled to write about tomorrow in my third and final book.  Back in the 19th century this saying developed, "The Real McCoy."   Heathcliff crowed.

            

ELIJAH MCCOY (1844-1929)         

             

              Daisy saw a good tv show about Inventors like Alexander Graham Bell, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.  It mentioned this black man named Elijah McCoy who, in 1871; invented this  "lubricating device for steam engines."  And that's what my Encyclopedia says here too. 

          Wow!  It says here that guy Elijah McCoy went to College in Scotland, at the age of only fifteen.  Because his invention was so good, others "counterfeited" it; but theirs wasn't as good as his so people would ask, "Is it the real McCoy?"  They only wanted Elijah McCoy's device.  

          I guess in 1837 Elijah McCoy's parents, through that "Underground Railroad" system;  escaped Slavery in the State of "Kentucky" and made it all the way up north to Canada.  There the dad joined the military services.  Eventually they acquired land and then had a family. 

       

           19TH CENTURY AMERICAN SLAVES            "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" ROUTES                                                                                                                                       

          I'm starting to be like Mr. Steve in really appreciating good maps.  One shows some of the Slave took to get out of being a Slave.  Daisy says our boss. before the recession; had a customer    in Kentucky who said Elijah McCoy invented other things besides his "oiling mechanism."           

         Oh what the heck!  I can go ahead and just write about the name "McCoy" now instead of in book three.   Mr. Steve thinks Elijah McCoy's parents must've been "strong people."  Daisy      says there were very few females on the Underground Railroad from what the tv show said.         

      Even though Canada didn't have Slavery Dais says, there was still prejudice up there too.  Elijah McCoy could only go to a "Colored" school.  But I guess he was so smart at age fifteen he went to Scotland and studied "Engineering."  Andy's over there guarding their burrow.                   

              MR. MARK / WIFE KIM                                MR. MARK / WITH SONS                

 

                  Daisy says a while back our boss was told by Mr. Mark over there in Hawaii how his wife Kim is a descendent of Elijah McCoy.  But her part of the family ended up moving out here to California I guess.  Andy just sniffed the air but is now looking over here in this direction. 

            It says here how some people think the "idiom" The Real McCoy came from this late 19th century Boxer called "Kid" McCoy.  Others say it was "derived" from a 1920's Prohibition era "smuggler" whose alcohol was not "watered down."  But Elijah McCoy was before them?

           That Parts Manager in Kentucky said he was told there's a 1990's German "Dance" band called The REAL MCCOY, and also a brand of whiskey and rum.  Daisy heard our boss and his mom recall a Sylmar family with the last name "McCoy." One was in her  Girl Scout troop.

  

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (1856-1915) WITH FAMILY

                  The tv show on Inventors mentioned what it says here too.  Elijah McCoy was admired by that other guy Booker T. Washington, who had that school in the State of "Alabama;" and knew a few U.S. Presidents.  Booker T. Washington was born a Slave but "rose above it" I guess.

            Booker T. Washington is now "associated" with the town of "Tuskegee" Alabama, just like those World War II Pilots I've mentioned before; and will learn more about tomorrow in my third book.  Samson and Delilah are flying over Libby's Corral and she's looking up them.

           Daisy says our boss had a customer in Alabama who knew about Booker T. Washington, and the Civil War.  He read Elijah McCoy died poor but a Detroit Post Office was named after him.  Mr. Steve told Mr. Randy one time he kind of misses talking to that Parts Manager.     

                                              

   WILLIAM HATFIELD    RANDALL MCCOY       

                 (1839-1921)                     (1825-1914)                       

          

                A few times our boss talked with that Parts Manger in Kentucky about the famous 19th century "Feud," between the "Hatfield" family from West Virginia; and the "McCoy clan" from Kentucky.  A little Bird just ran bye out there in the dirt.  It's carrying a twig for its nest. 

           My Encyclopedia says the "Hatfield-McCoy conflict" last for about thirty years, from the years 1863 all the way through 1891.  The leader of the Hatfield's was named William, or "Devil Anse."  The McCoy's leader was Randall, and both look kind of mean in their pictures.

           Wow!  It says her that guy Devil Anse and his wife had thirteen children, while Randall McCoy's wife had seventeen kids.  Boy!  Five of their kids got killed during that long feud.  Both of the family's were "sympathetic" to the Rebel Confederacy during the Civil War I guess.    

                

 AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

      

                    I guess, the Hatfield-McCoy feud kind of began when the Hatfield's killed one of Randall McCoy's brother; because he fought for the Union during the Civil War.  But it "escalated," and things "evolved into a cycle of violence and revenge"  Donald and Daisy are both quacking.

                   Someday I'd like to hear how an electric guitar sounds in person.  Dais told me it is sort of amazing how powerful and loud an electric guitar can be.  And drums are loud too, especially the cymbals she says.  Andy's sniffing the air just in case Goliath or Cher are around here.  

            In my third book tomorrow Dais has me scheduled to write about the good guitarists our boss has seen play.  One is that guy Brian May of QUEEN  who, with his father; built that red girl guitar.  Boy!  You have to be so smart to even know how to build a guitar Daisy thinks.

                                  

                            LUCILLE BALL                                                  "I LOVE LUCY"

      According to what Dais saw on that tv show about the red Les Paul guitar named Lucy, that guy George Harrison named his guitar after the red-headed girl who played the main character    on the I Love Lucy tv show.  I wrote about her and her husband Desi Arnez in book one.               

     Right now the four Pigeons are up there on the Patio roof cooing and just walking around.  I like when they do that because, for some strange reason as I mentioned yesterday; their voices do seem somehow to make me feel calmer.  Dawn's barking at something next door.                             

     I agree with Daisy!  Looking at the picture in this Encyclopedia of that girl Lucille Ball, her hair is more orange than red.  Daisy thinks maybe to that guy George Harrison her hair looked    red.  I wonder how Dais would look if she dyed some of her hair red or orange?                              

          

                                          MARY FORD (1924-1977) / LES PAUL 1915-2009)

                 

            Yesterday I mentioned those two guitar makers named Leo Fender and Les Paul.  But now I'll write in a little bit more detail about them.  Les Paul is the man that Gibson guitar Lucy was named after.  Les Paul was from the State of Wisconsin like Mr. Mark in Hawaii. 

        My Encyclopedia says Les Paul was not only a good guitarist but also as an "Inventor" too.  A picture shows him with his "musical partner" wife Mary Ford.  She sang and played rhythm guitar.  You can kind of tell by the photograph that they were a really good team.  

         A song Mr. Steve's mom's Girl Scout troops sang was "Vaya Con Dios."   In 1953, two years before Mr. Steve was born; Les Paul and Mary came out with that song.  My Spanish Dictionary says that means "Go With God," which I'd definitely do God; as of course You know.        

  

                                                             STEVE MILLER BAND

              Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows what it says in my Encyclopedia?  Les Paul was guitarist Steve Miller's Godfather just like Vivian Vance, or "Ethel" on I Love Lucy; was Godmother to John Sebastian.  The four Pigeons up on the Patio roof just flew into the desert.

            As I wrote yesterday, when you're a "God Parent" to a baby that means you'll take care of that baby if the parents die; which for most of history Mr. Steve told Mr. Ralph was a "distinct possibility."  In Mr. Steve's parent's families many people have died very young.     

           My Encyclopedia says Les Paul was the "father" of the "solid-body" electric guitar.  And he is now totally "associated" with making machines that allows a musician to "overdub" music in "layers."  Daisy told me how that means a band can build a song one "track" at a time.      

  

HOME STUDIO                     LES / MARY FORD                  WITH DOGS            

             

           Two pictures in my Encyclopedia shows Les Paul and Mary Ford at their house.  I guess, for a long time; they lived here in Southern California but then moved permanently to New Jersey.  I've written about how Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich grew up in New Jersey. 

            A picture of Les Paul and Mary Ford shows them holding their Dogs and one is a "Collie" while the the other is a small Chihuahua.  Yesterday I mentioned that Mr. Steve's family used to have this tiny khaki-colored Chihuaha named "Chino."  He was a good guard I hear. 

           I guess after so many years of being an entertainer Mary Ford decided to "Hang them Up" as that old saying goes.  She wanted to retire and just go raise their children.   But, her husband kept right on playing guitar to entertain people for almost the rest of his whole life. 

   

                                                     LES PAUL                  LEO FENDER

    

           As I've mentioned a few times over the last two days, two of the main company's that build electric guitars are Gibson and Fender.  I wrote yesterday how Leo Fender's company is here in California.   Frida and Diego just flew bye and are going out into the eastern desert.

         Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone one time how some people think Les Paul and Leo Fender were enemies working for "Competing" companies.  But, in a tv interview; Mr. Steve heard Les Paul tell Eddie Van Halen they were friends.  Dawn's barking.

         Hey God!  I feel so good right now because the air is clear and the high blue sky is pretty.  In both of my nostrils I can smell all of the new Spring plants that are growing around here.  One is that little baby Cholla cactus just to my right, which came up out there in the dirt.

                

                                            "MCDONALDS" RESTAURANT (DOWNEY)

     

      What the heck!  I'm not scheduled to write about the city of Downey now, but mentioning "Weird" Al makes me think of it.  As I wrote yesterday in my first book, the oldest what they call "Operational" McDonalds restaurant is located down there in the Downey area.                             

       As I said in book one, some really good musicians, like the CARPENTERS and that Heavy Metal band METALLICA; are from Downey.  Dave Alvin, who Mr. Steve took pictures of; came  from Downey too.  He and his brother were in the "Rockabilly" band the BLASTERS.                  

     Andy and Helen the Ground Squirrels just used the two vertical slots on the sides of the gate to come back in from being out in the desert behind the Sheds.  Now they're going over to their burrow.  Helen will check on their new Spring babies while Andy guards the entrance.                  

  

                                                      "APOLLO" SPACE PROGRAM

 

        Yesterday I wrote about our boss's customer in Downey.  My Encyclopedia says Downey is the "Birthplace" of the 1960's U.S. "Apollo" space program.   Andy's now sniffing the air to see  if he can smell Cher the Cat or Goliath the Gopher Snake who might be nearby.                             

       As I said in book one, the Apollo program was named after that one ancient Greek God of the Sun, light and music.  It was the program that landed men up there on the Moon and was the third American space program following "Mercury" and "Gemini."   Dawn's barking.                 

       Boy! I'm so tempted to talk about that German Scientist Werner von Braun who I wrote a about yesterday.  In World War II he built those "V-2" Rockets for Adolph Hitler's Nazi's and he later led the Apollo program.  I'll be writing more about him over the next two days.                          

JOHN G. DOWNEY (1827-1894)

    

      According to this Encyclopedia, the city of Downey was named after a man named John G. Downey.   The caption underneath his picture says that he was California's Governor during the years of the American Civil War.  Right now some Ducks are quacking over there.                          

      This is interesting.  Until Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003 John G. Downey, who was born in Ireland; was the only California Governor not to be born in the U.S.  I guess his family came to    America about the time of that huge famine where a million people may've starved.                       

    It says here that, even though he was a "Democrat," during the Civil War John G. Downey "supported" President Lincoln who was the leader of the "Republican" party.  He had originally come to California in 1849 for the "Gold Rush."  Fannie and Freddie are flying bye.                      

  

                                                                                        "PONY EXPRESS" (1860-1861)                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                         PAINTING BY FREDERICK REMINGTON

      This Encyclopedia says three things happened during the time when Governor Downey led California.  The State capitol of "Sacramento," which Mr. Steve and his father have been to; was started.  This big railroad company called the "Central Pacific" formed in the 1860's.                    

        As I said yesterday, Mr. Steve and his mom like the art of Frederick Remington.  Here in my Encyclopedia is a painting he did of the third thing that took place in John G. Downey's "term"  as Governor.  And it says here that third thing was called the "Pony Express."                                

      The caption below Frederick Remington's painting says that the Pony Express was a "short-lived mail service."   I guess Horse riders, "in relays;" took letters back and forth from Missouri all the way out here to California.  A good map shows the "route" those guys used.                         

                                   AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)                 

   

      This Encyclopedia says the Pony Express "existed" for only about a year, the months before Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860; and then for most of 1861 when the Civil War    broke out.  My right nostril smells Libby.  She's walking slowly around her Corral.                        

     One time Dais and that other Dog Millie were in our boss's Bedroom and watched a good tv show.  It was about the 19th century American railroads which ended up connecting the east and west American coasts after the Civil War.  Smelling Libby makes me feel good.                               

       After the "Trans-Continental" railroad was finished in 1869 the mail could be delivered a lot faster than men on Horses.  But, the main reason why the Pony Express was "discontinued" was the creation of the "Telegraph" system in 1861.  I'll write about telegraphs later.                                      

 CALIFORNIA INDIAN VILLAGE (PRE-SPANISH)

PAINTING BY MARY LEIGHTON THOMSON

      Yesterday I wrote about that "Tongva" Indian lady who Mr. Steve met one time over at the San Fernando "Knights of Columbus" Hall.   As I mentioned in book one, the Spanish called the native Tongvan's "Gabrieliños."  The name Tongva means, "People of the Earth."                        

       The Tongvan's were living in what is now the Downey area when the Spanish first showed up back in the second half of the 18th century.   In 1771 the "San Gabriel" Mission was built.  Two    of the Pigeons just flew in from the eastern desert and went over top of the house.                           

      As I said yesterday, the Tongvan word for us Dogs is "Woshii."  The Sun is "Taamet," Birds are " Yayaayt," and an island is a "Kavuukar."   I guess, way back then in 1771; there were three Tongan villages in the Downey area named, "Sehet," "Naxaan'nga" and "Chokishnga."               

    

                                             "SAN GABRIEL ARCÁNGEL" MISSION

   

            Daisy says one morning our boss and Mr. Randy were trimming the Arborvitae trees up in the front yard.  Mr. Steve, and Mr. Randy too; have been to the San Gabriel "Arcángel" Mission and talked about it.  San Gabriel was the 4th of 21 Alta California Missions built.

            San Gabriel Mission's "Original" location was near to what is now Downey.  But I guess just a few years after it was "Established" there was a huge flood.  So, they moved it over to where it is now.  Downey is called a "Gateway" city between L.A and Orange Counties. 

               My Encyclopedia says under Governor Downey "Subdividing" land was "pioneered" in California, and it was he who thought of growing oranges.  I guess, during the mid-19th century Mexican "Californio" period; Downey was important.  I can smell Libby over there. 

           

                                                                                         "PERCHERON" HORSE

                  Oh!  All of a sudden, I just thought of really big French Horse called a "Percheron."  Mr. Steve's father, growing up in New Mexico; used to see Percheron Horses pulling "Plows" in the fields.   Wow!  A good picture shows a Percheron Horse standing with its Trainer.

           I was actually supposed to write about Percheron Horses yesterday, when I wrote about New Mexico but; somehow missed it on my outline.  But, like with the other things I missed; I'll just try to fit those subjects in today as I go along.  Libby's now walking around.

         Daisy told me our boss has been told the "Albuquerque" Police Department use Percheron Horses for "Crowd Control."  The caption below the picture calls them "Draft" Horses, "bred" in the 17th century French "Perche" region.  Wow!  They'd be like a Tank in a war!

   

                             "THE HORSE FAIR"                                        "BRINGING UP THE GUNS"

                                                   PAINTING BY ROSA BONHEUR                                                                                                             PAINTING BY HAROLD POWERS

                 I've mentioned how there's a "Guest" Bedroom in our house.  But down in Sylmar at Mr. Steve's parents house there are now two Guest Bedrooms.  Mr. Steve's old Bedroom is now one of them and, in the other one; is a big framed print of a painting from the 19th century.

            I guess that one print is a copy of a real painting made in France by this lady named Rosa Bonheur.  Mr. Steve's mom bought it at the "Metropolitan Museum of Art" in New York City.  I just glanced up and noticed that Libby's looking in this direction from over in her Corral.  

           Rosa Bonheur's painting shows Percheron Horses being bought and sold in France.  And in this Encyclopedia is another painting showing Percheron's being used in the First World War. They're taking ammunition to the "Front" which was partly those "Trenches" in France.

                     

                                   "NAZIS"                 POLAND INVADED (1939)            "SOVIETS"                          

     

          Well, back to learning about World War II which, as I've said a few times in these first two books; "Officially" began in early September of 1939.  To the surprise of everyone, Hitler made an "Alliance of Convenience" with Stalin.  They then attacked both took Poland.

         It looks like, according to my book two outline, the next thing I'll write about is the subject of "Intelligence" gathering in the Second World War.  That means trying to figure out what an enemy is going to do.  Now little Blinky's barking too over there to my right.

        Mr. Steve's father thinks "Cryptography" was the biggest "factor" in the "Allies" beating the "Axis" countries in World War II.  He believes it may have cut two years off the war.  I'll be writing about the history of "Espionage" over the course of the next two days.

                                                                                                          "BLETCHLEY PARK"  (EXTERIOR)      

                                         

        Daisy saw a show about "Bletchley Park" where, during the Second World War; the British "Intercepted" German's Radio transmissions and translated them.  Then Winston Churchill and his Generals would know what the Germans were doing.  It was their "Ultra" secret. 

        In book three Dais has me scheduled to learn and then write about how the Allies in World War II "cracked" or "broke" the German "Enigma" Code at Bletchley Park.  I'm so tempted to do it right now.  But, I'd better wait and do it according to the outlines we prepared.

       Even though I'll wait until tomorrow to write more about Bletchley Park and the subject of Code Breaking, I can still write a few things about it now too.  I like the two pictures of Bletchley Park in this one Encyclopedia.  I see how a lot of females worked at Bletchley Park.  

           

BLETCHLEY PARK (INTERIOR)  

          

         A few years ago Mr. Steve's friend and his wife visited Bletchley Park, which is about fifty miles northwest of London.  The wife, like Mr. Steve's mom; knows a lot about Art History.  She didn't like the mix of Victorian, Gothic, Baroque and Tudor styles on the outside. 

        That guy Ian Flemming who wrote the James Bond books worked at Bletchley Park I'll bet.  I guess, besides Scientists; Chess players and people good at Crossword Puzzles also worked at Bletchley Park.  Grandma Trujillo was pretty good at doing Crossword Puzzles.

        I've mentioned Mr. Phillip a few times.  He's from England and is a Parts Manager at that "Honda" Dealership in New York State.  Daisy says he and our boss talked about how the girl who married Prince William had a Grandmother who worked at Bletchley Park. 

     

                             KATE MIDDLETON          HER AUNT                                         

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REED                                                                                           

        

           I guess the girl who married England's Prince William is a "Duchess" and Mr. Phillip said not only did her Grandma work at Bletchley Park, so did that lady's twin sister too.  Oh!  What a coincidence.  The scent of the two Twin Joshua trees just floated in from the desert.

        Mr. Phillip says some people want to tear down the Bletchley Park building to make some houses or things like that.  Mr. Steve's dad thinks it's sad the people who worked there never got any "recognition."  That's because what they did in World War II was "top secret."   

        According to what Dais says, our boss thinks Codes and Code-Breaking has been important in history.  Even in ancient Rome people like Julius Caesar used them.  Tomorrow in book three I'll write about this writer named Edgar Allen Poe who was interested in secret Codes. 

   

           CAESAR (100-44 B.C.)         E.A. POE (1809-1849)      WASHINGTON (1732-1799) 

             

        Another thing I'll learn about later is the "Spy Ring" that helped George Washington win the Revolutionary War.  Daisy and Millie one time watched a good tv show on that subject and it said the Spy Network used Codes and secret invisible ink.  Dawn's barking.      

        My Dictionary says that a "Code" is; "A secret message that replaces words or phrases with letters, numbers or other words."  And a "Cipher" replaces or rearranges the individual letters in each word of that secret message.  I can smell a Lizard somewhere around here. 

        "Cryptography" is defined in my Dictionary as, "Writing or deciphering coded messages."  And "Cryptic" means, "hidden, mysterious, baffling or obscure."  Oh!  Speedy Gonzalez just zoomed through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the desert.    

  

 HIGH DESERT LIZARD 

                

       Aha!  I just noticed the Lizard I was smelling and it's standing in the dirt over there near the big tree.  And now it's starting to do those pushups Lizards do.  It better be careful or it might be seen by something which will and want to eat it, like Cher the Cat for instance.                               

       According to this one Encyclopedia, the instructions for creating or "deciphering" a coded message is called a "Key" and the original "Uncoded" message is "Plain Text."  That Lizard is gone.  It's a good thing too because I see Cher the Cat over there near Libby's Corral. 

      It says here, in Europe during the Middle Ages; only Kings and people like that were even allowed to send messages using Codes.  Even though, back in those days; almost all of the people couldn't read or write anyway.  In my left nostril I can smell Theodora's Creosote bush.

                                                         

                                                       QUEEN ELIZABETH I (1533-1606)  

                           

       This is interesting.  In 1587, the year before the Spanish sent that big "Armada" to conquer England, Queen Elizabeth I "executed" her half sister Mary and the excuse she needed was this intercepted "deciphered" message.  I wrote about "Bloody Mary" yesterday.                      

       Daisy told me about how, a few years ago; Mr. Steve's father helped organize an event in Van Nuys where they "Honored" some elderly Navajo Indians called "Code Talkers."  In World War II they fought bravely in the "Pacific Theater."  Heathcliff just crowed over there.

       I guess those Indian Code Talkers served in the Marines against the Japanese.  They used their native language to send messages and the Japanese never did decipher those messages.  I've mentioned a few times in these first two books how our boss's dad was a Marine too.

                                                                                                         

                                                        NAVAJO "CODE TALKERS"

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA 

     

     As I said earlier, Dais says our boss thinks the breaking of the German Enigma" Code, and also the Japanese "Purple"  and Naval Codes; were huge in the Allies winning World War  II.      Mr. Steve calls it a "crucial" factor in "turning the tide" of the war.  I smell Sage.                           

    When he was in College at C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve met this guy who knew a lot about this thing called "Morse Code."  I guess Morse Code was invented in the 19th century, and was used a lot    with "Telegraphs" during the American Civil War.  I hear some Ducks quacking.                           

     My Encyclopedia says Morse Code was "created" by a man named Samuel Morse.  He was from Massachusetts, which is near Connecticut; where Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives with her two sons Dalton and Austin.  Two of the Pigeons just flew over the top of the house.                               

                                                                                                                                           SAMUEL MORSE (1791-1872)                                                                                                            

         It says here that "Telegraphs" are wooden poles with a single wire hung between them.  On one end you send a message to be "received" on the other end. That message was "transmitted"  using a series of short and long "signals" or what they call "dots" and "dashes."                            

      During World War II the Germans created Jets, Rockets and "Advanced" technology that still influences things today.  But they came too late to "Make a Difference" as they say.  If they    had been given more time who knows what might've happened Mr. Steve says.                               

       As I said before, Mr. Steve and his dad think the most important reason why the Allies won the Second World War was because they "cracked" the German and Japanese codes.  And in the next two days I'll write a lot about that subject.  Dawn and Blinky are barking right now.              

               

   "ZODIAC" KILLER     

                 

          Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm not really scheduled to write about this guy called the "Zodiac" until later, when I learn about "Serial" killers; I kind of feel like mentioning him now    too.  He killed some people up there in San Francisco back in the late 1960's I guess.                       

       One time Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Dave, who knew about how the Zodiac killer sent letters to Newspapers which were partly written in Code.  Here  in my Encyclopedia it's called "cryptograms" or "ciphers."  Fannie and Freddie flew bye.            

         Daisy heard Mr. Steve say a zodiac is a "diagram" showing a horizontal line "intersecting" a circle which represents the Sun's "path."  And I guess that guy named the Zodiac killer used it as his pesonal logo.  Libby's scent just came floating into my right nostril right now.                       

  

           DAVID BERKOWITZ               TED KACZYNSKI            JOHNWAYNE GACY                 

         I've mentioned how, in August of 1977; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock visited their Uncle Marty's family back east.  And when they were in New York City this serial killer called the "Son of Sam" was caught.  Daisy says to this day the Zodiac killer has never been caught.                       

         Pictures in my Encyclopedia show some serial killers.  The Son of Sam's real name is David Berkowitz and I guess this other guy, named Ted Kaczynski; is called the "Unabomber" because he killed people by mailing them exploding bombs.  A Crow is cawing out in the desert.                 

       Wow!  This color photo shows John Wayne Gacy, who dressed up like a "Clown" and then killed people.  I've mentioned how Dais is afraid of clowns so wait until she sees this.  There have been a few times when she's had dreams where her bad Angel Eddie looks like a clown.                           

      TALKING HEADS

            

         Mentioning that guy the Son of Sam makes me think about how, when Mr. Steve and his brother Rock were in New York City in 1977; this band Dais likes called TALKING HEADS had a song called "Psycho Killer."  I smell some new Sage.  That makes me feel kind of good.               

           Someday I'd like to hear songs by that New York band TALKING HEADS.  Daisy told me I'd like them because they're kind of "quirky" just like me.  Our boss used to play drums along    to some of their songs and once told that kid Jason he likes their girl bass player a lot.                    

        Daisy told me our boss, in 1983 at the "Pantages" Theater in Hollywood; saw a TALKING HEADS concert with that girl "Nancy" who I mentioned yesterday.  It was such a good concert I guess they made a movie out of it later.  Mark Ritter who died liked the TALKING HEADS.   

         

CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT

      

         Looking at the back half acre out there behind the Sheds, and smelling some of the Joshua trees; makes me feel so good right now.  I'm grateful for my life God and want to make sure, like Mr. Steve; that every day is as productive as possible.  I love how this new has started out.            

         Well God, it looks like this is the end of chapter four.  I'm having so much fun in learning to read and write, but actually I like even better finding out all of the new and interesting things I'm writing about.  But right now, I'll hide everything and then take my first big break of the day.      

      I can't wait to run up to the front yard to see how Dais is doing, and I know she'll want to know how things are going back here on our second book too.   Wait until she finds out how well these first four chapters went.  Heathcliff just crowed, and some of the Hens are clucking. 

                 (Chapter 5)                 

        

       Mr. Steve knows a few guys named "Dave."  I've mentioned his friend who now lives over there in Taos, New Mexico but another Dave was a soldier who fought in the first "Iraq War" of  1991; called "Operation Desert Storm" I guess.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.                           

      Later today Daisy has me scheduled to look up and write about the two "Gulf Wars."  In 1991 the U.S. used this thing called "Shock and Awe" to defeat the "Iraqi" army under Saddam  Hussein.  Mr. Steve was told Saddam Hussein read Machiavelli's book The Prince.                         

         Daisy and Millie heard Mr. Cliff say he thinks Shock and Awe is just a modern version of the Nazi's Blitzkrieg.  Three pictures in my Encyclopedia show pictures of what was called the    "Highway of Death."  Later today I'll also write about the two different President Bush's.             

  

IRAQ GAS ATTACK ON KURDS  ("HALABJA" / MARCH 16, 1988)

PHOTOS BY BEHROUZ MEHRI

          Over the next two days I'll learn about the use of "Biological" and "Chemical" weapons,  mainly because Mr. Steve and his dad think they'll most likely be used in the future.  I guess that guy Saddam Hussein used them against these people called "Kurds."  I smell Creosote.                

       "Gas" was used a lot in World War I, but not at all in the Second World War.  But many "Looked into It" so to speak.  The Japanese had a Biological and Chemical department in China called "Unit 731," which experimented on making weapons to be used against an enemy.             

     When World War II ended in late 1945 the United States "Acquired" all of the knowledge gained by Unit 731.  Even though the Japanese Doctors killed thousands of Chinese people doing "Experiments," they weren't "Prosecuted" at all I guess.  And we got all of their "Data."              

         

POLAND ATTACKED (SEPTEMBER, 1939)

                     

            World War II officially started on September 1 of 1939 when Hitler and Stalin conquered Poland.  The French and British "Declared War" on Germany and, that was it.  Poland was the    very first use of German Blitzkrieg "Lightning War" tactics using fast "Armor."                            

           A painting shows Polish soldiers fighting the Germans and I notice how one is throwing a spear at a German "Tank."  And I also notice how this poor Horse is about to be run over by that same exact huge Tank.  Boy God!  I sure do hope that I never get run over by a Tank.                     

         My right nostril just picked up the scent of those three Joshua trees to the right of Manny the Shed.  And, looking up; I see some Crows circling around over the eastern  desert behind the three Sheds.  Some of the Ducks are now quacking about something over there next door.              

      

      "BLITZKRIEG"   

                    

          In book one I wrote about how there were three parts to Blitzkrieg.  This Encyclopedia describes it as the "coordinated" use of Armor and Air Power "supported" by Infantry.  That's  after much "study" and "planning" in order to achieve the "maximum surprise."                         

            Later today I'll write about June of 1941 when Germany attacked its then ally the Soviet Union.  But before they did that, the Nazis took eight other European countries; often by using    those Blitzkrieg tactics.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny just flew out into the back desert.                 

            The Germans conquered Denmark and Norway and then took the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, and France.  And, because Hitler couldn't attack the Soviet Union without leaving    his right "Flank" exposed; he used Blitzkrieg to take Yugoslavia and Greece.  I smell Sage.           

           

WORLD WAR II ("CRETE" / 1941)

        

         In early 1941 the Nazis used "Paratroops," soldiers jumping from Planes; to take that one Greek island of "Crete."  Those "Sky Divers" were part of taking the whole country of Greece. And it worked I guess because my Encyclopedia says the British had to "evacuate."                       

         The best Blitzkrieg the Germans ever did was in conquering the Netherlands, Belgium and Holland and France.  I'll write about it in a minute.  Fannie and Freddie, talking to each other;    just flew back in from being out in the back desert and sailed over the house going west.               

         For some reason, I just thought of those underwater German "U-Boats," which are Ships that can travel below the water; and are called "Submarines."  In both 20th century world wars the German Submarines were called "U-Boats."  I wonder if I can learn how to swim?                                

WORLD WAR II GERMAN "U-BOAT"   

                 

           I'll bet Mr. Steve knows what it says here in this one Encyclopedia.  By May of 1941 the English had "repelled" the Germans in the "Battle of Britain" so Hitler decided to attack his ally Stalin.  But, he didn't know in that month the British Navy captured an Enigma machine.            

             I guess the German's tried to purposely sink a damaged  U-Boat before it went down but the British were able to "retrieve" that Enigma device.  The Germans thought it went down too.  Of course that valuable machine was immediately sent over to the people at Bletchley Park.          

         Acquiring the Enigma machine was huge, and really helped Bletchley Park to break the German code; better than they already had.  My Encyclopedia says the "U" in U-Boat is short for "Unterseeboot" or "Under Sea Boat" in English.   Ah!  I love to smell Spring Sage.                           

      "VAPOR TRAIL"

    

            I just glanced up and see one of those white vapor trails way up there in the sky above the desert behind the Sheds.  That suddenly reminds me last Summer for some reason and that now makes me feel good that I'm still alive down here.  Thank You again God for everything.               

          After conquering France Hitler, knowing the British had a really strong Navy; tried to use his "Luftwaffe" Air Force to defeat England.  I'll be learning a lot about the "Battle of Britain,"    or the "Blitz;" over the next two chapters.  I love breathing fresh air through my nose!                

     As I've said a few times, Winston Churchill was England's "Prime Minister" during the Second World War.  He wanted to "Make up For" suggesting that really disastrous World War I Allied attack on the Ottoman Turks at "Gallipoli."  I wrote about that event in book one.                      

"COVENTRY," ENGLAND  (1940)

        

             Wow!  I guess Winston Churchill, on November 15, 1940; had to let the British city of "Coventry" be bombed so the Germans wouldn't know Enigma had been partially broken.  500 people were killed.  Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha's birthday is November the 15th.                       

               Mr. Steve and his dad think, even though everyone is flawed; Winston Churchill was the perfect leader for the British during World War II.  After Hitler had conquered almost all of the countries in Europe England was alone.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just went bye.                   

              It says here Winston Churchill had "great courage" and ability to "inspire" the British in the "face of  defeat."  In a 1940 Radio speech he "growled defiance" and promised the people  only "blood, sweat and tears."  I smell that one old Joshua tree behind the Sheds.                           

       

BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS      

          

             Even though I'm not scheduled to write about this one band called BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS until later, when I write about Jazz-Rock "Fusion" music; I feel like mentioning them now too.  Daisy told me Millie liked their song about a "Spinning Wheel."  I smell Sage.                

            Dais says our boss and his friend Mr. Ralph talked about BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS.  Mr. Steve said, since they formed back in the 1960's; there has never been a single version of the band but many "forms" who played many styles of music too.  Dawn's barking.                            

            I guess Mr. Ralph jokingly described BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS as a "revolving door" of members, and said you need a "Scorecard" to "keep up."  Daisy noticed how their songs have guitars and things like that but also a lot of Horns too.  I wonder what a Scorecard is?                  

                                       

            WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874-1965)       

                                                         

        Daisy says our boss's dad has a book written by Winston Churchill, who he thinks was one of the "most important" people in the 20th century.  I'd wear a hat like the one he's wearing in    the picture in the Encyclopedia.  Two Pigeons just flew out into the eastern desert.                         

      Oh!  Now Blinky's barking and, even though he's small; you can tell he's brave.  Daisy told me Winston Churchill had a Bull Dog which looked him.  Some people say that Dogs can often     "Resemble" their owner but we don't look anything like our boss Mr. Steve I think.                       

      Tomorrow in book three, I'm scheduled to look up and then write about the years between the two world wars; 1919 through 1939.  But right now I'm going to write about World War II.    Speedy Gonzalez the Squirrel just bounded bye and left a trail of dust behind him.                        

    

"FASCIST" EUROPE (1941)     

         

        A map shows how much of Europe Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Italy controlled by mid-1941.  As I said earlier, having conquered Poland in 1939; the Germans used Blitzkrieg tactics to take the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in 1940.  I smell some Juniper.                

      By June of 1940 the English Channel was all that separated England from being conquered too.  But, before Hitler could conquer England; his Luftwaffe Air Force had to control the skies.  So, from mid-1940 through mid 1941; the "Battle of Britain" and "Blitz" took place.                     

     The reason why the Battle of Britain was necessary is because of what happened in May of 1940 when the Germans defeated the English and French armies on the "mainland" of Europe.  The word used in this Encyclopedia is "routed."  A Crow is cawing out in the desert.                     

       FLOCK OF BIRDS     

           Oh!  A flock of Birds is going bye up in the sky and for some reason that sight makes me feel pretty good right now.  Boy God!  I love learning about World War II and Dais is so right in saying I'm lucky to have this big project to work on.  Thank Everyone up there!                         

          Germany and Russia "divided up" Poland in 1939.  Then Stalin's Soviet Union attacked the country of "Finland" while Hitler "turned his attention" to the west at France and England.  A slight breeze just blew in the scent of the Twin Joshua trees out there in the back desert.            

            This one Encyclopedia says that, after "crushing" western Poland; Hitler then wanted to right away attack Holland, Belgium and France.  But, his Generals convinced him to wait until    the following year 1940.  So he conquered Denmark and Norway "In the Meantime."                             

      GERMANY TAKES NORWAY AND DENMARK (1940)

                            

           Oh!  Hitler invaded Norway on April the 9th, which is Miss Emily's birthday.  He did it to "control" the North Sea, "acquire a route" for his U-Boats to "enter" the Atlantic Ocean;" and  "secure" iron ore from Sweden.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's parents met on April 8th.            

         After the fall of Denmark and Norway in late 1939, there was no fighting in Europe until May of 1940 and it's called the "Phony War."  The French and British armies were confident and used the time to prepare for the "inevitable" German attack.  I can smell a Lizard.                        

         I guess, the French and British Generals thought the Germans would attack through the "Lowland" countries of Holland and Belgium; the way they did at the beginning of World War I in 1914.  But they were "In for a big Surprise" as they say.  I see the Lizard over there.                  

         

         WORLD WAR I                                                       WORLD WAR II            

        Daisy and Millie saw a tv show that said about nine million soldiers died in the First World War and France was the country which lost the most men.  Not only that, much of the war was    fought on or near French "Soil" so no one wanted another war.   That Lizard's gone.                     

    The tv show said in the years "Between the Wars," which I'll write about tomorrow; there weren't enough French babies born.  So people knew, if there ever was another war; they would not be capable of an "Offensive" strategy.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye in the desert.            

      I guess, after World War I; the French decided to built that "Maginot" Line I mentioned in my first book.  It would be a "Series" of concrete and steel "Fortifications" between France and  Germany.  But, then in 1940 when the Germans did attack; they simply went around it.                                                                       

       "MAGINOT" LINE         

                                  

          A picture shows the Maginot line, which was thought to be "Impregnable;" because it was made using "modern methods."  But, I guess it was originally intended to extend all the way out to the English Channel.  But the country of Belgium never built their part as promised.                 

      So, that Maginot Line only "Stood Between" France and Germany; but not the border of  Belgium and France.  The Germans did attack on May 10, 1940 and, at first; did come through    the "Low Countries of the Netherlands and Belgium as expected.  But it only a "Feint."                

        When the Germans began their attack in 1940 the French and British armies were "moved up," nearer to the border between Belgium and France.  But, Blitzkrieg tactics quickly took all of the Low Countries.  Their armies were "brushed aside" is how my Encyclopedia describes it.                 

"BLITZKRIEG" (MAY, 1940)

                      

       A map in my Encyclopedia shows the first stage of what happened in May, 1940.  When I wrote about that painter Vincent van Gogh yesterday in book one I mentioned how Holland is an area of the "Netherlands."  And the people of the Netherlands are called "Dutch."                         

       In the sport of Boxing a right-handed fighter will hold his "off" left hand forward and his more powerful right hand back.  Mr. Cliff said, in 1940's; the German's attack on Holland and    Belgium was kind of like a left "jab."  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.                         

         Dais says in Boxing a jab from a right-handed fighter is when you flick out a punch with the left hand, usually intended to "Probe" or "Gauge" the distance between you and your opponent.  You hope to "Lure" your foe into "Range." Then you hit him with a powerful right hand.                                          
                                             

 "BLITZKRIEG"  (NAZI ARMORED COLLUMNS)

                      

          As I wrote yesterday, Nazi Blitzkrieg was a brand new "Method" of modern warfare.  This Encyclopedia says it was "motorized" warfare intended to "overwhelm" an enemy through the    "devastating" use of Tanks, Planes and Infantry.  Andy and Helen just ran bye.                             

       The German attack through Holland and Belgium was intended to make the Allies pull up their armies to the border of Belgium and France.  But the real attack then came in the area just north of where the Maginot Line ended.  Some Crow are fighting out in the desert.                       

        Yesterday I wrote about that kid named Jason.  He used to bring his guitar to our house to play music with Mr. Steve.  The first time he came over he was afraid to come in our front yard    because Daisy and I would meet him at the gate and I was barking at him a lot.                              

               

  JUDAS PRIEST                                                             ROXY MUSIC           

                      

        As I wrote yesterday, that kid Jason jokingly asked our boss which songs would fit Dais and I's different personalities.  After thinking about it Mr. Steve picked songs by two 1970's British    bands.  Jason later totally agreed with those songs after he got to know Daisy and I.                       

       My song is now ROXY MUSIC'S "Virginia Plain," and Daisy's is the JUDAS PRIEST song "You Got Another Thing Coming."  I mentioned yesterday how, when Dais runs; she resembles a Panzer Tank.  Unlike me who always runs fast; she "Conserves" her energy by jogging.                

      It says in this one Encyclopedia how there was a huge, thought to be "impenetrable;" forest called the "Ardennes" north of the Maginot Line.  The Allies didn't think they needed to put a    lot of men there.  But, unfortunately for them; that turned out to be a big mistake I guess.            

                   

  "ARDENNES" FOREST (MAY, 1940)       

                                    

         Daisy says one morning, as our boss watered the big Mulberry tree up there in the front yard; he and Mr. Cliff talked about 1940.  I guess the Allied Generals didn't realize Tanks could go so easily through the Ardennes Forest.  But they did, like a "Knife through Butter."                  

         In 1916 "Tanks" were first used in World War I but, with Blitzkrieg; became "Massed" formations rather than "Infantry Support."  Blitzkrieg also used those "Stuka" dive bombers      I've mentioned to act as a "Fist" in punching a hole in the enemy lines.  I smell Sage.                     

        My Encyclopedia says the long German name for the Stuka is "Sturzkampfflugzeug" or "Drop down fighter plane."  Wow!  That name would've been hard to look up, even if I do have my German Dictionary.  All four of the Pigeons are flying right over Libby's Corral.                      

  

JUNKERS Ju-87 ("STUKA")

             I guess one of the models Mr. Steve built as a kid was a Stuka, which got destroyed in the 1971 earthquake.  It says here how it's "inverted gull wing" design was it's "most recognizable" feature.  Boy!  The high blue sky is so beautiful right now!  Thank Everyone up there!                   

         One time Daisy and Millie were in our boss's office, and heard him talking on the phone with Mr. Dave in New Mexico; who knows about Airplanes.  Mr. Steve told him the model Stuka  he built was the version with a cannon on it for destroying Tanks.   Heathcliff crowed.                    

           Dais heard our boss say the Stuka was good at the beginning of World War II but became "obsolete" quickly.  He told Mr. Dave about how his friend Mark Ritter who died knew a lot about the history of Aviation too.  I see Libby in her Corral nibbling the ground for hay.               

    

NIGHTMARE

          In the first 1939 "Blitzkrieg" of Poland "wind-driven" sirens were attached to the Stuka's to terrify people below as they heard those "shrieking" Planes coming down toward them.  The    Germans themselves called it "Jericho's Trumpet."  That's from the Bible story I'll bet.                 

       Mr. Steve had a scary dream where, in total darkness; he heard sounds coming closer and getting louder.  He thinks maybe the sounds were what he imagined a diving Stuka might sound like.  The Sirens were "abandoned" because the Stuka flew fifteen miles per hour slower.              

       A man from France named Charles de Gaulle, like Hitler and Churchill; fought in World War I. He then wrote this book "advocating" using Tanks the way the Germans did later against France.  Nostradamus, who I wrote about yesterday; made predictions about him.                                                                                    

                    CHARLES DE GAULLE (1890-1970)                  

                                                    

           My Encyclopedia says Charles de Gaulle's idea of "mobile" use of Tanks was "ignored" in France.  The French leaders preferred "fixed fortifications" like the Maginot Line.  Daisy says    that guy Nostradamus correctly predicted "De Gaulle" would lead France three times.                  

           A picture shows Charles de Gaulle and I really like the type of hat he's wearing and would definitely wear one like that.  I've mentioned before how, on top of the Entertainment Center in    the living room; Mr. Steve has a collection of "military style" hats.  A Train just whistled.              

         Daisy and Millie saw this tv show that talked about the history of the telephone and Radio.  The man on the tv show said in World War II one "advantage" the Germans had in all of those early Blitzkrieg's was having "radio communication" in their Tanks.  I smell some Creosote.             

      AMERICAN SRC-536 (W.W.II)                 "TELEPHONE"              GERMAN RADIO UNIT (W.W.II)     

("WALKIE TALKIE")                                                                                                                                           

        

       One time our boss and his dad talked about a Second World War Radio called a "Walkie Talkie."  That's just its nickname Daisy heard.  Mr. Steve joked, in a way; it was the first phone    you held in your hand and carried around with you.  The tv show said it weighed five pounds.      

         Mr. Steve told his father the Walkie Talkie was "developed" by "Motorola" in 1940, a year before the U.S. entered World War II.  He read another nickname for it was "Handie Talkie."      During the Korean War Mr. Steve's father used smaller version of the Walkie Talkie.                     

       Daisy told me she and Millie heard Mr. Cliff joke how 1940 was kind of like a Mike Tyson fight.  Yesterday in book one I wrote about how, back in 1988; Mr. Steve met and took pictures    of that guy Mike Tyson.  He was friendly but Daisy says in his fights he seems mean.                                 

MIKE TYSON      

              

        Daisy says she and Millie heard Mr. Cliff joke about how Mike Tyson often "steamrolled" over opponents.  Not only was he stronger; he was also faster and quicker too I guess.  I can hear Crows squawking faintly way out there in the northeastern desert behind the Sheds.                      

        On May 13, 1940 the German's "Bypassed" the "Massive" concrete French Maginot Line "Bunkers."  And then, before "They knew It;" the Allied forces found Germans "In their Rear."  Dais says, in Chess; that's sort of like having your opponent's Queen piece in "Check."                  

        Once they realized they had been tricked, the Allied Generals knew they were in really big trouble.  So, they ordered their soldiers to "Retreat" fast to the coast.  But, then they were totally trapped on those beach's and surrounded in a "Pocket" of what seemed like a "Kill Zone."                                        

            "BLITZKRIEG" (MAY, 1940)  

                      

          The red arrow on this map shows how, in 1940; the Germans got behind the Allied lines to split the French and British forces in two.  The Allied soldiers were trapped on the beaches of a    place called "Dunkirk."  Usually in history, in this situation; a "Bloodbath" happens.                    

        My Encyclopedia says in 1940 almost half a million French, British and Belgian soldiers were "caught between a hammer and an anvil" and "cut off." The "chaotic" attempt to escape to the "English Channel" coast took a few days.  I just noticed Libby over there.                             

           Dais says when our boss and Mr. Cliff talked about what happened back in 1940 she heard Mr. Cliff say how the giant cannons in the Maginot Line could only point in one direction.  They  were "Set in Stone" so to speak.  The Germans  avoided attacking it directly from the front.         

        

"FALL OF SINGATORE" / BRITISH SURRENDER  (1942)

     

           I'll write about 1942 later today, which is two years after what I'm writing about now.  In 1942 "Imperial" Japan was in that "Tripartite Axis" alliance with Germany and Italy.  In early    1942 they used their version of Blitzkrieg to conquer huge "Swaths" of territory.                            

         One coastal city the Japanese took in 1942 was "Singapore" in "Southeast Asia."  It was a colony of England and, like the Maginot Line; had big cannons.  Unfortunately, again just like  the Maginot Line; those giant cannons were "Set" and facing out toward the Ocean.                      

         Mr. Steve says in 1942 many British thought of the Japanese, and all "Orientals;" as being "Inferior."  They were short "In Stature," and many were near-sighted like Mr. Steve; so it was    thought they wouldn't be very good soldiers.  But everyone turned out to be so wrong.                   

      

                  "BRITAIN"                  

 

       I've written before about how, by the 18th century; the British Navy allowed an island in Europe to dominate much of the world.  And that became more true once that "Royal" navy got  to benefit from the "Industrial Revolution."  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.              

          In 1942 the British thought Singapore couldn't be attacked from the rear and that's why all the "Big Guns" in cement pointed at the Ocean.  The Japanese landed to the north of Singapore and then used Bicycles or marched southward.  They then "Hit" the city from land.                       

       Wow!  Eighty thousand Allied soldiers in Singapore had to surrender in 1942, because the Japanese cut through some really thick jungle.  Winston Churchill called it, "the worst disaster    in British military history."  Some Crows are fighting out there in the back desert.                            

                                         

  EVOLUTION OF THE "UNION JACK" FLAG

   

         Oh!  This seems like a good spot to talk about how the British "Union Jack" national flag came about.  I was supposed to write about it yesterday but it was one of the subjects I somehow missed on my book one outline.  Samson and Delilah are flying toward the northwest.                   

          I love when these Encyclopedia's have artwork or pictures to go along with the text because then it's easier to understand things.  A chart shows how the original flags of England, Scotland, and Ireland were combined together.  Since 1801 the Union Jack has been "Britain's" flag.           

      Hey Lord!  I guess the Union Jack combined England's original white and red flag with St. George's cross on it, with Scotland's blue flag with St. Andrew's cross.  Later, the Irish flag with St. Patrick's cross was added to it.   I'm suddenly thinking about metal war helmets.                             

HELMET

         PHOTO BY SHILOH STRONG                                                                                                                                                                                              

   

          Looking at the photos of Singapore's fall makes me suddenly think of a 1990's band from New York City called HELMET.   Daisy says our boss has only heard a few of their songs but can tell they're very talented Musicians.  A flock of Birds is now flying toward the northeast.               

          Daisy says our boss's customer up there in Oregon told him about that band HELMET.  I guess the singer, who writes the songs and also plays guitar; is originally from Oregon.  The Parts Manager said he's heard HELMET described as being heavy "Alternative Metal."                        

        That guy up in Oregon, who plays bass himself; likes the unusual "Time Signatures" and, what they call "Drop-D" tuning; of HELMET'S guitars.  He used the words "syncopated" and    "staccato" when talking about some of their songs.  And he also mentioned "minor key."              

  

MR. RICHIE

         Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich, who a lot of people call Richie; was in a band called DRAGPIPE.  They made an album in 2002, which was    influenced by HELMET our boss thinks.  Andy's over there guarding their burrow.                       

        According to what Daisy heard, when our boss was talking on the phone with that Parts Manager in Oregon; HELMET influenced the sound of later bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN.  And I guess KORN and even PANTERA too.  Andy's now sniffing the air over there.                      

        If Mr. Steve ever has to go fight in a war we'll naturally go with him and, I would want a good steel helmet like the ones he has in the house.  The German helmets seem like they'd give you the most protection.  Hey!  Maybe we could even invent helmets for Dogs?                                    

"LAWRENCE OF ARABIA"      

               

         I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's favorite Actors are Charlton Heston and Peter O'Toole.  I wrote about that World War I movie "Lawrence of Arabia" which, Daisy told me; has a lot of  of Camels in it.  In 1985 our boss rode that  Camel and says it's not like riding a Horse.                  

       Daisy says, in the movie; T.E. Lawrence leads some Arabs over what was thought to be an "Impassable" desert.  From behind or "rear," they take the "Turkish-garrisoned" port city of    "Aqaba;" which catches the Turkish soldiers totally by surprise I guess. I smell Sage.                   

       Aqaba's "Fixed" cannons, like at Singapore in World War II; face the Ocean which is how they thought any invasion would come.  Mr. Steve says, in "real life;" no cannons were at Aqaba  and it was "made up" for the movie.  Daisy told me he used the phrase, "creative license."                                                   

       CHARLES DE GAULLE       

                                          

         A picture shows that guy Charles de Gaulle standing in front of a World War I French Tank.  Wow!  I notice how the cannons on that Tank seem much smaller than the cannons you     sometimes see on Second World War German Panzer Tanks.  A Duck is quacking.                         

            Charles de Gaulle, after World War I; predicted "Maneuver" of "Armor" would be the "Way of the Future."  He even wrote a book about it and Mr. Steve says Hitler told Albert Speer  he read that book.  Charles de Gaulle, after World War II; became the leader of France.                

           In 1940, when the Germans trapped the Allied soldiers, those men "Fled" to the English Channel in late May.  Charles de Gaulle fought a "Delaying rearguard Action," to hold off the "Rampaging" Germans.  He "Fought for Time" like the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae.                 

          

 GERMAN MACHINE GUN UNIT (WORLD WAR I)

        Even though I'm not really scheduled to learn and write about World War I until tomorrow in my third book, I feel like looking up the "Battle of the Somme."  My Encyclopedia says it was  "one of the bloodiest battles in history."  There were over one million "Casualties."                       

       The battle near the "Somme" River was the first time Tanks were ever used but they were kind of "slow" and "undependable."  The Battle of the Somme went from July 1, 1916 through    November and three million soldiers from both sides were "involved."  A Crow cawed.                  

          1916 was the third year of the First World War.  By then, on "Mainland" Europe; modern technology like "Machine Guns" could kill more men so created a "Gridlock."  Both  sides were totally stuck in these really long "Disease-Ridden" trenches dug deep into the ground.                                      

"BATTLE OF THE SOMME" (JULY-NOVEMBER, 1916)

           A map in this one Encyclopedia shows what happened in 1916 during the four month long Battle of the Somme.  The British and French forces "Took the Offense" and tried to overrun the entrenched Germans.  Ah!  I just picked up the scent of a Lizard somewhere nearby.                      

         Oh wow!  It says here, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme; the British "sustained" about sixty thousand casualties.  As I've mentioned before, that means killed and wounded.  But their French allies and German opponents also lost a lot men too.  I now see the Lizard.                

          In 1916 another huge battle at a place called "Verdun" was also going on and in that one  battle Charles de Gaulle was stabbed in the leg by a bayonet and then captured by the Germans.  Adolph Hitler was also wounded in the Battle of the Somme River.  Dawn's barking.                                    

J.R.R. TOLKIEN (1892-1973)                          "NAZGÛLS" (RINGWRAITHS)

        

        Daisy and Millie one time heard our boss tell Mr. Cliff that writer J.R.R. Tolkien fought the Germans at the Battle of the Somme.  Yesterday I wrote about how Mr. Steve thinks World War I influenced his writing.  The Lizard is standing on the wall near our water bucket.                           

      One time Daisy and Millie watched this movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien's book "Lord of the Rings." I've mentioned how Mr. Steve read it as a teenager.  He thinks the terrifying screams of   the "Nazgûl's must've been just like the "shrieking" sound of "incoming" Artillery.                      

        When I get over my fear of being enclosed; I'll see Lord of the Rings because Dais says it's so good.  Those Nazgûls wear black robes, ride all black Horses; and are called "Ringwraiths" or "Dark    Riders."  I just noticed right now how that one little Lizard is doing some pushups.               

"LORD OF THE RINGS"

      Daisy told me, in the Lord of the Rings; the Nazgûls work for this evil "Dark Lord" named "Suaron."  They all live in a place called "Mordor" and want to conquer an area called "Middle Earth."  Sauron is the actual person that everyone calls Lord of the Ring Dais says.                       

       My Encyclopedia says how Tolkien's Lord of the Rings was a "trilogy" of three "volumes." Oh!  I wonder if Mr. Steve knows the three parts of Lord of the Rings were "published" from July of 1955 through October of 1957?   The Lizard just ran down the wall.                            

      I've mentioned a few times already in these first two books how Mr. Steve was born in July and his brother Rock's birthday is in October.  Oh!  I just glanced up from my writing and saw    Andy and Helen run under Manny the far right small Shed.  I can smell them now.                        

 

WORLD WAR I ARTILLERY "SHELL"

    

    A picture shows soldiers loading a big shell into a cannon.  The caption says "before" the Battle of the Somme, to "soften up" the German lines; the French and British fired a "million      and a half" shells at them.  Dais would say that just means to kill a lot of men.                                

     Boy God!  It would be so terrible to have such big bullets, like the one in the photo; coming towards you.  Daisy told me, if just one of those big shells landed on our house; there would be      nothing left.  That Lizard is now over there hiding behind our gray water bucket.                           

     I just thought about those "Poppy" flowers I wrote about yesterday.  I guess there's a poem called "In Flanders Field" which was written in World War I and symbolizes the "Sacrifices" all the dead soldiers made.  The poem hopes that none of them "Died in Vain" as they say.                 

     

POPPY FIELD (LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA)                        HUELL HOWSER                        

PHOTO BY MIRIAM MONTES                                                                                                                                                                                       

        Yesterday I wrote about how Huell Howser visited the Spring Poppy fields that grow to the northwest of us here in Piñon Hills.  I guess a First World War I battlefield, after being soaked in soldier's blood; grew red Poppy's.  Our California Poppy's are mainly orange I guess.                    

       My Encyclopedia says that World War I poem was written after the 1915 "Second Battle of Ypres."  It says here Flanders is an area in Belgium where the city of Ypres is located.  That guy  Adolph Hitler fought in many of the huge battles that took place in that region.                               

       I sure hope there's never a war here in Piñon Hills.  Later today I'll write about the "Battle of Stalingrad" where Daisy says the Russians "strapped" bombs onto Dogs and then blew them  up underneath the German Tanks.  Boy!  That would be so bad to have to do I think.                                                                    

       HEINZ GUDERIAN (1888-1954)                       ERWIN ROMMEL (1891-1944)          

              

             Well, back to 1940 when; Heinz Guderian and Erwin Rommel used Tanks to "Flank" the Allies.  I've mentioned before how, just like in the game of Chess; that's really bad.  If an army is able to get behind its enemy in a battle, a "Kill Zone" or pocket can better be created.                   

      I've mentioned how our family has three birthdays in "November," Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha, and his Nephew's Sammy Jr. and Rocky Jr. too.  Erwin Rommel, and that Painter      Georgia O'Keefe; have birthdays on the 15th just like Samantha.  Heathcliff crowed.                    

           My right nostril just now picked up the scent of that new baby Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.  Oh!  Bravo Company of Quail is now streaming out into the back desert, using the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to get there.  Boy!  I feel so good right now!                

        

                  MARK / WIFE KIM                   SAM'S FAMILY (SAMMY JR. ON LEFT)          ROCKY JR. / MISS AMBER                                                                                 

             As I wrote yesterday, Mr. Mark in Hawaii was also born on November the 15th just like Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha.  His Nephew's Sammy Jr. in Littlerock, and Rocky Jr. over there in  Texas; were born on the 18th and 26th "Respectively."  Heathcliff is crowing right now.               

            Even though I'm actually not scheduled to write about the subject of "Land Mines" until I write about what Erwin Rommel did in "North Africa" in 1941 and 1942, I just feel like talking a little bit about it now too.  Andy and Helen the Ground Squirrels are running bye.                       

          According to what is says in my Encyclopedia, a Land Mine is a "hidden explosive device." It's often "concealed" by being buried down in the ground.  A Land Mine is an "anti-personnel" weapon intended to "destroy" or "disable."  Anti-personnel just means kill or maim.                    

      

"LAND MINES"    

                            

          A picture in this Encyclopedia shows Land Mines just sitting on top of the ground.  If you step on them they explode.  Yesterday I mentioned how Mr. Steve's Uncle Marty was a "Medic"  during the Vietnam War where Land Mines, and "Booby Traps;" were used a lot.                         

      In early 1941 Erwin Rommel was sent down to North Africa to help the Italians fight the British.  And during that "Campaign" his "Afrika Korps," and the British; buried thousands of Land Mines in the desert sand.  Andy and Helen are looking at me from under Manny.                 

        Daisy says our boss once met a guy from England who told him his Grandfather had a foot blown off by a Land Mine near a place called "El Alamein."  Mr. Cliff said, in the Vietnam War; the enemy "Viet Cong" were really, really good at using setting up those Booby Traps.                   

      

                            WEDDING (JULY, 1981)              PRINCESS DIANA                ANGOLA (1997)                                                 PHOTO BY HULTON ROYALS COLLECTION                          (1961-1997)                                           PHOTO BY TIM GRAHAM                                                                             

        Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about Britain's "House of Windsor," which is the name of the family now ruling the U.K.  That girl Princess Diana married the Prince of Wales in a huge    and fancy wedding Dais told me one time.  Her dress was so long it was unbelievable.                     

          A picture shows Princess Diana's wedding, and I really like the shiny silver helmets the two guards on Horses are wearing; and know for sure Daisy would love their bright red uniforms.  I guess Princess Diana was an "Advocate" for getting rid of Land Mines.  I agree with her!             

      Another photo in this Encyclopedia shows that girl Princess Diana in Africa sitting with a group of people who had "Limbs" blown off by Land Mines.  They had a very bloody, twenty year long civil war in the country of "Angola."   Crows are fighting out in the desert.              

 

"BLUE-FOOTED" BOOBY ("GALÁPAGOS" ISLANDS)

    

        Even though I'm not scheduled to write about these things called "I.E.D.'S" until tomorrow in book three, I feel like mentioning here where the term Booby Trap came from.  Daisy says our boss's friend Mr. Ralph knows a lot about that subject. I can smell Andy and Helen.                      

       I guess Mr. Ralph told our boss that "bobo" means "stupid" or "foolish" in Spanish.  And, since the 16th century; these Sea Birds called "Boobies" would fly in and land on Spanish Ships.  So they were easy to catch and eat.  I.E.D. is short for "Improvised Explosive Device."                  

       Yesterday in book one I wrote about how, before he died; that guy Mark Ritter was able to visit the Galápagos Islands like Charles Darwin did back in the 19th century.  A good picture in this one Encyclopedia shows two Blue-Footed Boobies from the Galápagos Islands.                                                      

  CHARLTON HESTON       CHARLES GORDON

           

        Yesterday in book one I wrote about that movie "Khartoum."  I mentioned how Daisy and Millie saw it.  Charlton Heston played the part of that 19th century Englishman named Charles "Chinese" Gordon.  Mr. Steve really liked that one movie a lot according to Daisy.                         

         In a scene from the movie Khartoum I guess Gordon sets up a field of Land Mines like the first "known" Chinese Land Mines used back in the 13th century A.D.   They had long "Fuses" attached to them Dais said.  So Gordon had to correctly "time" when to "Detonate" them.            

       This is interesting.  It says here in this one Encyclopedia that Land Mines were first used in Europe, in what's now Italy; during the 16th century and I guess later in the American Civil War General Sherman really, really hated Land Mines.  I hear a Train whistling to the north.                                      

                    C.S.A.           WILLIAM WING LORING     POST WAR EGYPT       

(1818-1886)

 

             Yesterday I wrote about William Wing Loring, who was from St. Augustine, Florida and a Soldier for fifty years during the 19th century.  In College Mr. Steve did a "Research Project"    on his eventful life.  Mr. Steve drove on this Street named "Córdova" in St. Augustine.                   

            As I wrote yesterday, Loring lost an arm in the Mexican War and fourteen years later was a Confederate General during the American Civil War.  Then, he worked for the "Khedive" of    Egypt.  In 1876 he and Charles Gordon fought for Egypt in the "Abyssinian War."                         

          I mentioned in my first book how "Abyssinia" is now called "Ethiopia."  1876 was the same year George Armstrong Custer and his "7th Cavalry" were slaughtered by the "Lakota,"    "Cheyenne" and "Arapaho" Indians.  Well, it's back to writing about World War II.                                       

         "BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC"     

              

           When the Second World War began in 1939 the German "Kriegsmarine" Navy began to sink Ships carrying food and supplies to England.  Winston Churchill called it the, "Battle of  the Atlantic" Ocean.  Some Crows are cawing way out there in the eastern desert.                                

          Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Cliff Winston Churchill said the sinking of the supply Ships caused him "sleepless nights."  He was afraid the German Submarines would starve England to  death.  When I was living homeless out there in that field I was starving sometimes.                       

           This Encyclopedia says, once the U.S. "came into the war" in December of 1941; President Roosevelt "ordered" that thousands of what they call "cargo" Ships be quickly built.  They were called "Liberty" or "Victory" Ships it says here.  I can smell one of the Joshua trees.                     

       

"S.S. WILLIAM W. LORING" LIBERTY SHIP   

      

          A Liberty Ship that took supplies to England in World War II was named after William Wing Loring and it wasn't sunk.  That guy Huell Howser did a segment about some now "De-Commissioned" Liberty Ships are in California.  I smell Dawn and Blinky over there.                    

           My Encyclopedia says the Atlantic Ocean is really cold so, if sailors "Abandon Ship" and jump into the water they froze to death fast.  Mr. Steve's girlfriend Sandy's father had to jump    into the "Pacific" Ocean but that was in warmer water.  I like how little Blinky smells.                   

         I mentioned yesterday how Mr. Steve's first girlfriend Sandy's father was a "Gunner" on the "U.S.S. Lexington" at the "Battle of the Corral Sea."  And in 1942 he had to jump down into the water when the Lexington sank.  Oh!  I would be afraid of being eaten by Sharks.                        

        "CORVETTE" BOAT                                                HARLEY EARL (1893-1969)

   

            In book one yesterday I wrote a little bit about that man named Harley Earl.  He was a "Designer" of Cars for "General Motors," and one of them was the "Corvette;" which he made for his son who was a Race Car driver.  Cher the Cat just jumped up on Moe's roof.                      

             This one Encyclopedia says how Harley Earl named his Car after World War II "Escort" Warships which protected Liberty Ships.  Dais says the name Corvette is French, and our boss drew some Corvette logos.  He's also drawn different "Fleur de Lis" emblems too.                          

             It says here Liberty Ships now symbolize "U.S. Industrial capacity" because it only took two months to build each Liberty Ship which of course have cannons on them.  Anyway, it's back to writing about 1940 and the huge "Evacuation" from "Dunkirk."  Cher's gone now.                   
  

      FRANCE ("DUNKIRK" / 1940)

                        

             I guess, after the Germans "Outmaneuvered" the Allies in 1940 the "surviving" soldiers "gathered" at Dunkirk.  But, just when the Germans had them "At their Mercy;" those Panzer    Tanks were surprisingly "Ordered to Halt."  The Germans waited for two whole days.                  

            Hey God!  Was it You who caused the Germans to delay the way Dais thinks?  And then it rained, so the Allies had a third day to evacuate or save over 300,000 men; so maybe it was You who made that happen too.  It would've probably been a complete massacre Dais thinks.               

          Even though the Allies got those soldiers over to England, they had to "Abandon" tons of equipment in France; and many men were captured anyway.  But as Dais says, it's like that old saying goes; at least they "Lived to fight another Day."  I wonder if any Dogs were there?             

     

                    "STUKA" DIVE BOMBER                 

        

           Daisy told me Mr. Cliff called the "exposed" and "vulnerable" soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk "Sitting Ducks" for the Stuka Dive Bombers.  Boy!  That would so scary.  It says here    how that guy Winston Churchill even called Dunkirk a "colossal military disaster."                     

          Wow!  Winston Churchill became "Prime Minister" of England in May of 1940, so had no time to celebrate.  My Encyclopedia uses the words "catastrophic" and "calamitous." He right    away ordered even small Boats to sail from England and go rescue the trapped soldiers.                

         In the Revolutionary War George Washington evacuated his American army from "Long Island" to "Manhattan" in New York City.  He tricked the British who were about to slaughter    his men.  They escaped across the East River "In the Dead of Night" or "Cover of Darkness."                 

    "CROSSING THE DELAWARE"  

                PAINTING BY EMANUEL LEUTZE                  

          

            Hey God!  George Washington's saved his army in August of 1776.  Then, in December; he led his soldiers across the frozen "Delaware" River in that famous Winter sneak attack on the British and Germans in the "Battle of Trenton."  Were You helping George Washington?              

           I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this?  It says here Thomas Jefferson wrote the "Declaration of Independence" in 1776, and then George Washington read it to  his soldiers on July 9th; which just happens to be his birthday.  Boy God!  It would be so great to know my birthday.                    

          The evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940 is now called the "Miracle of Dunkirk" but it's official name was "Operation Dynamo."  But, during all that time German Planes like those Stuka Dive  Bombers "strafed" the unprotected soldiers desperately trying to escape.  I smell Sage.                  

  

2014 FORD "ESCAPE"

           Writing about escaping armies reminds me about how Daisy heard there's a Car made by "Ford" called the "Escape."  This one Encyclopedia describes it as being a "compact crossover" Sports Utility Vehicle.  All four of the Pigeons just flew over Libby's Corral over there.                  

           One of our boss's Ford customers told him one time how the Escape has been around since the year 2000.  I guess, from what Daisy heard; it has five doors on it and the motor is up in the    front end of the Car.  I can see Libby looking over here in this direction right now.                          

       Mr. Steve's customer told him that in 2005 some cities like New York City began using the "hybrid" Escape's as Taxicabs.  Daisy told me that means a Car that can be powered by either    gas or electricity.  I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve moved to Piñon Hills in late 2005.             

      

   ADOLPH HITLER (1940)

        

           This picture shows Hitler walking with Herman Göring, who I mentioned was a Pilot in World War I.  In 1940 he led the German "Luftwaffe" Air Force.  In my first book I wrote about how the husband of the lady who built our house was in the Luftwaffe.  I love Sage!                        

           Mr. Steve's father thinks, because most things are dual in nature; Blitzkrieg warfare was not perfect.  In 1940 the fast-moving German troops "Outran" their own "Supply Line."  That    could be one reason the "Wehrmacht" was ordered to stop just east of Dunkirk.                            

           Another reason Hitler might've told his soldiers to stop is because they were really tired.  It says here in this Encyclopedia Herman Göring told Hitler his  Planes could "mop up" the Allied soldiers on the beaches.  That just means they would "kill" the surviving Allied soldiers.                                   

HEINZ GUDERIAN (1888-1954)      

        

             Even though a lot of Allied Soldiers were killed or captured at Dunkirk, Mr. Steve's dad read that Heinz Guderian said years later the decision to not "annihilate" the Allied soldiers on   the beaches came back to "haunt" the Germans.  Dawn's barking.  I like Dawn.                             

            It says here a big "Advantage" German Tanks had in 1940 was they already had "Radio Communication."  Mr. Steve's father thinks it was "no accident" Heinz Guderian was a "Signals Officer."  But the Germans let the Allies "Off the Hook" as that old saying goes.                            

           Boy!  It must really hurt to have a sharp hook in your lip.  In "assuring" Hitler that his Air Force could "Take care Of" the defenseless soldiers at Dunkirk, Herman Göring turned out to be wrong.  Even small little Boats were used to "Ferry" men in that huge emergency!                

          

CAMEL 

  

             Dais told me our boss and his girlfriend Sandy, they're friend Chris and his girlfriend; saw a concert by a British band called CAMEL.  That was in the mid-1970's at the Whisky a Go Go  Nightclub in Hollywood.  Pigpen the Gopher's sticking his head out of his hole.                       

               I guess CAMEL are considered "Progressive" Rock.  Their song "White Rider" is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and they had another song about the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk.  Whew!   Sometimes Gophers like Pigpen can have pretty strong smells.                           

           Back in the mid-1980's Harriet was assigned by Music Connection Magazine to go see a band called MARILLION.  Their music was influenced by CAMEL and their name was based on a another book by Tolkien.  Dais says Harriet wrote a good review of their concert.                           

BLITZKRIEG                                                                 METALLICA  

           

          Dais and Millie heard our boss tell Mr. Dave one time about another English band called BLITZKRIEG. They had a song with that name too and METALLICA "Covered" it in the early 1980's.  Pigpen smelled me and then right away went back down into his Gopher hole.                   

         One time, in Mr. Steve's bedroom; Daisy and Millie watched a Video METALLICA made to go along with their version of the song Blitzkrieg.  It's images from World War II fit that song  really good Dais thinks.  I still have Pigpen's very distinct scent in both of my nostrils.                    

          Someday, when I get over my fear of being trapped; I'll go in the house and hear way more METALLICA songs.  I've mentioned how Daisy told me of their song about the "Sandman" and she also told me about the RAMONE'S Blitzkrieg song.  I can't wait to hear them!                         

    

 FOCUS  

   

           Daisy's lucky because she gets to hear a lot more music than I do as she's not afraid to go all the way down the Hallway.  She goes in our boss's bedroom and told me about this band she    heard from the country of "Switzerland" called FOCUS.  Fannie and Freddie flew bye.                 

         In the 1970's Mr. Steve and Sandy also saw FOCUS play at the Whisky a Go Go.  Daisy says FOCUS has a really good song called "Hokus Pokus."  Our boss thinks BLITZKRIEG and METLLICA's Blitzkrieg songs are "heavier" versions of Hokus Pokus's main "Melody."              

          Daisy knows how much I like the sound of flute so thinks I would really like that old song Hokus Pokus.  Plus she says, it has that unique "Yodeling" style of singing in it too.  Dais knows that both Dawn and I at times really like to howl as a good way to release some energy.                                         

SWITZERLAND ("ZÜRICH")

     

         Even though Dais and I decided I'd learn about the country of "Switzerland" tomorrow, I kind of feel like doing it now too.  Daisy and Millie saw this good tv show about that area.  Frida and Diego the Bluebirds just flew bye right now, and they seem so happy just being together.        

       A good map shows how Switzerland, in the color pink; is in between the countries of Italy, France, Germany and Austria too.  My Encyclopedia says the "region" now called Switzerland    at one time was "composed" of smaller "Cantons."  The scent of Mesquite just floated in.             

        I have this feeling a Canton might be kind of like one of those ancient Greek "City-States" like Athens and Sparta.  You can tell Switzerland is small and it's described here as being "land-locked."  It's in the middle of what is now the different sections of  modern "Europe."                   

              

                   RICK STEVES              

          Daisy and Millie saw one of those Rick Steves episodes where he went to Switzerland.  He said Switzerland has three primary areas; those tall "Alps" mountains, the "Plateau;" and the lower "Jura" mountain region.  A guy yodeled like FOCUS on that episode I guess.                        

       It says here Switzerland has "towering" mountains, "deep" Lakes and "grassy" valleys. Dais liked how Switzerland has some Farms and small villages in it.  Rick Steves visited some of  them and Daisy noticed, even though they have cold Winters; a lot of people have Cows.                

         Oh!  No wonder the "Nation's" flag has a white cross on a red background.   Switzerland is the "birthplace" of that group the "Red Cross."  Daisy told me in Switzerland some people play this huge musical instrument.  That guy Rick Steves called it an "Alphorn" I guess.                              

SWISS "ALPHORN"

                                   

          According to Dais, those long Alphorns are used to signal other people far away and even the Cows know what the different sounds mean too.  That's sort of like how Daisy and I know our boss's whistle which usually means food.  Food is one of our favorite things in life.                   

           My Encyclopedia says Alphorns are carved from wood, and are sometimes called "Alpine" horns.  Unlike a "Trumpet" which has "Valves" for the fingers to control the "Pitch;" Alphorns  are more like simple "Bugles."  Rick Steves, who knows about music; mentioned that.                   

          Mr. Steve thinks, like "Bagpipes;" Alphorns were most likely also used in warfare similar to how the ancient Romans used to do.  I've mentioned before how in battle flags and things like bagpipes were used to signal military maneuvers and raise morale.  A Duck is quacking.                                         

HANNIBAL CROSSING THE ALPS (2ND "PUNIC" WAR / 218 B.C.)

ARTWORK BY ENGLISH SCHOOL

           Yesterday I wrote about how ancient Rome's biggest "Rival" was "Carthage," who were originally those "Phoenician" people I've mentioned before.  The Phoenicians were like the later  Vikings in being a "Seafaring" people.  That means they built good Ships to get around in.            

          As I said back in book one, during a really cold Winter in the "Second Punic War;" that Carthaginian General named Hannibal crossed an army over the Alps in order to totally surprise attack Rome in Italy itself.  He left from Spain I guess.  And he had Elephants with him!                

         Hannibal won some huge battles, like the one at "Cannae" where his men killed over fifty thousand Roman soldiers.  But eventually, in "The long Run;" Rome completely destroyed all of  Carthage's Mediterranean Sea empire.   Rome and Carthage had three wars in total.                    

                      

          "SWISS GUARDS" ("VATICAN CITY / ROME)

         

        I guess the country of Switzerland began back in the 13th century when three of those Cantons formed a "Defensive" alliance.  Yesterday I wrote about how, even though Switzerland is known for its "Neutrality;" their soldiers guard the Pope.  I love their uniforms!                         

            It wasn't until 1648 that Switzerland became independent.  According to what it says here, today it's one of those "Confederations;" like the South was during the American Civil War.  It  would be so great to have a uniform and helmet like the ones the Swiss Guards wear.                     

         Switzerland has no official capitol but, "In Reality;" the city of "Bern" is the "Center of Government."  I've mentioned before about how, in Latin; "De Jure" means "In Law" while "De Facto" is "In Fact."  That guy Napoléon Bonaparte crossed an army over the Alps.                                         

                        "KING'S GAMBIT"                      NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE (1769-1821)        

                                                                                                                                                    "CROSSING THE ALPS"                                                                                                                                                                                         PAINTING BY JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID

                  

           Yesterday, I wrote how Daisy told me all about the "Board" games of "Chess;" and also "Checkers" too.  Mr. Steve read Napoléon was an aggressive Chess player who at times used an "Opening Strategy" in Chess called the "King's Gambit."  Heathcliff just crowed.                         

             I guess, the main "Object" of Chess is to "Capture" the "Piece" called the "King." In the King's Gambit the player using the white pieces moves first.  Each piece has different strengths    and the weakest are "Pawns" which Daisy says are kind of like an army's "Infantry."                   

        The King's Gambit is when the "White" player's first moves, "Sacrificing" a few of the Pawns; tries to control the "Center of the Board" and also to attack the "Black" player's King.   Mr. Steve thinks it's kind of like Chess's version of Blitzkrieg.  A Crow is squawking.                    

    

     AT S.F. MISSION                MR. RALPH                   WITH SON RORY

PHOTOS BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

           Daisy says our boss's dad and Nephew Dalton like to play Chess.  One time she heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with Mr. Ralph about Chess, and I guess Mr. Ralph and his son Rory  both enjoy playing Chess too.  Bravo Company of Quail are going out in the back field.                 

        I'll bet Dais is right about how that Dog Mr. Peabody most likely is a really good Chess player.  It just seems like something he'd be good at because he's so smart about things in other    areas.  Bravo Company's left behind scent just floated over here to me sitting on Elvira.                

     In 1940, when Germany beat France; they also took over and then occupied the "Low" countries of the Netherlands and Belgium too.  And, in part; they did it by using those guys who  jump out of Planes called "Paratroopers."  Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.                 

          

"EBAN-EMAEL" (MAY, 1940)

     

            In 1940 the Germans using Paratroopers jumping from "Gliders" with no motors, took this huge concrete fortress in Belgium called "Eban-Emael."  Like France's Maginot Line, it was thought to be "Impregnable."  But it wasn't and that was a big surprise to the Belgians.                

           On those Gliders, the Germans floated in and landed right on top of Eban-Emael's roof;  catching the Belgian soldiers completely "Off Balance."  They never even thought such a thing    could happen, being hit from above.  Two of Pigeons just flew over the top of the house.               

           Wow!  340,000 Allied soldiers "miraculously" escaped Dunkirk, and Charles de Gaulle later became leader of the "Free" French Government "In Exile."   Winston Churchill told him    that, "You are the man with the destiny."  Heathcliff just crowed over there next door.                 

      

GERMANS ENTERING PARIS (JUNE, 1940)  

   

           This Encyclopedia says, in 1940; the World War II German Wehrmacht "accomplished" in a few weeks what the Kaiser's First World War armies couldn't do in four years.  France had  to surrender and let the Germans "occupy" their country.  I can hear two Crows fighting.             

            In 1940 the French were "humiliated" it says here.  Wow!  This is so interesting.  After the French armies were "routed" and gave up; Hitler made their politicians "formally capitulate" in the exact same Railroad Car the German's surrendered in at the end of World War I.                    

            From 1940 through 1944 the German's "occupied" northern France, but allowed the  "Vichy" French "puppet" government to rule the south.  I guess, it was like the ancient Romans under Emperor Augustus "Lending Support" to King Herod.  A Train just whistled.                     

           

HITLER VISITS PARIS (JUNE, 1940)

            

         A photo in my Encyclopedia shows Adolph Hitler standing in front of the "Eiffel Tower" in Paris.  Daisy says our boss's sister Susan, who lives in Connecticut; has been to France and got to visit the Eiffel Tower.  I just picked up the strong scent of a Lizard somewhere nearby.                   

        The caption below the picture says that the guy on Hitler's right is Albert Speer.  He was an "Architect" who I'll be writing a lot more about over the next two days.  I guess, from what Dais heard; our boss and his father have both read this one book he wrote after the war.                        

        Aha!  Over to my right I see a Lizard standing on the wall near the Sliding Glass Door that leads into the Kitchen Dining Room.  It looks like he's staring down at the gray water bucket on  the Patio floor below so I'll bet it's thirsty.  Boy!  I wonder if we'll get any snacks today?                          

           FRENCH FLEET DESTROYED  

        (JULY, 1940 / MERS-El-KÉBIR, ALGERIA)

                     

              After France surrendered Winston Churchill's British Government demanded all of the French "Mediterranean Sea" Navy be given up to the Allies.  They were worried the Germans    would get all of those French Warships.  That one Lizard is now doing some pushups.                    

            Mr. Steve's father thinks it's "ironic" how the first "clash of battle fleets" in World War II was when the French refused to surrender their Ships in "Algeria" on North Africa's coast.  So the British Navy killed over one thousand of the French sailors.  Dawn's barking.                           

          I guess, some of the French were angry and "Retaliated" by attacking this British base at "Gibraltar," Spain.  One British Battleship that sank the French Ships in Algeria was H.M.S. "Hood."   It was later "Blown to Smithereens" by the huge German Battleship "Bismarck."        

                      

    NAPOLEON III (1808-1873) / OTTO VON BISMARCK (1815-1898)     

                      

             1940 was not the first time that Germans beat France in a war.  In 1870, five years after the American Civil War ended; this man named Otto von Bismarck led a "coalition" of German States in defeating Napoleon III's French army.  That's what my Encyclopedia says.                      

             Wow!  In the 1870-71 "Franco-Prussian War" over 300,000 French soldiers surrendered.  A picture shows "Bismarck" with Napoléon III, who was Napoléon Bonaparte's Nephew.  Oh!  I guess Napoléon III born on April the 20th, which was also Adolph Hitler's birthday too.                

           I'll learn more about the Franco-Prussian War.  Mr. Steve thinks Bismarck, like President Polk before the Mexican War; "Lured" France into a war it could never win.  Mr. Steve has this "Spiked" helmet which I'd wear, and it's kind of like the one Bismarck has in the picture.             

BENJAMIN

       

          I glanced up and see Benjamin the black Cow Bird standing on a branch of the Mulberry tree.  Its orange eyes are so unusual.  Daisy says Mr. Ramon, the Auto Mechanic who works up    there on the Highway near our house; likes orange and sometimes I sort of like orange too.           

       Well, back to writing about World War II again.  This one Encyclopedia says that, after France's "devastating" defeat in 1940; the only "unconquered" nation left in "Western" Europe  was England.  The Cow Bird is running out into the eastern desert behind the Sheds.                     

        After France was conquered, Charles de Gaulle was able to escape over to England; and became leader of the "Free French" Government in exile.  At first, Hitler had hoped the British might want to be Germany's ally.  Some of them did, but not that guy Winston Churchill.              

     

PRE-20TH CENTURY INVASIONS OF ENGLAND

       

             It's so great when a map goes along with the text in these Encyclopedias.  One map shows how, over the centuries; people like the Vikings invaded England.  In my books I'll learn about    when the "Norman" King William "The Conqueror" invaded England in 1066 A.D.                    

            When it "became obvious" to Hitler England would not "negotiate for peace," he told his military to prepare an "invasion plan."  Daisy told me our boss has this book in his Office about "Operation Sea Lion."  That was what the German's ended up calling that plan I guess.                

            In 1940 Hitler thought, based on England's history of "Anti-Semitism;" they would be his "Natural Ally."  He was even willing to let them them keep their huge Colonial Empire all over the world.  I hear some Wrens chirping out there in the eastern desert behind the Sheds.              

       WINSTON CHURCHIL "REVIEWING" TROOPS (1940)

            Pictures show that guy Winston Churchill "reviewing" British troops in 1940 and I like his hats.  He thought Germany would "inevitably" invade so, even the older men and young boys would have to fight with "Pitchforks" if necessary.  Mr. Steve uses a pitchfork sometimes.             

            One time Daisy and Millie were in the living room and saw a tv show about the German Luftwaffe in World War II.  It said one of the "best" Pilots in the war was Adolph Galland who  was what they call an "Ace."  That means he shot down a lot of Allied Planes Dais says.                

           According to what that guy Adolph Galland said on the tv show, Hitler really didn't want to keep on fighting England after beating France in 1940.  What he preferred to do was go attack his then ally Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union.  Dawn and Blinky are barking over there.                      

                                    

ADOLPH GALLAND (1912-1996)

       This picture of Adolph Galland shows him petting his Dog and it's closing its eyes like Dais does when our boss pets her.  Wow!  The caption says Adolph Galland "shot down" one hundred and four Allied Planes!  I can smell that one older Sage plant right behind the three Sheds.            

         It says here how, after Germany lost World War I in 1918; they were "forbidden" to have a "military" Air Force.  So, in the 1920's; boys like Adolph Galland flew "Glider" Planes instead.  I mentioned how the Germans used Gliders to take the Belgian Fort of Eban-Emael.                     

       Dais says our boss's friend Mark Ritter knew about "Gliders."  He said it's easy for Glider Pilots to convert to Planes with motors.  And that's exactly what they did once Hitler "Came to    Power" and "Openly Defied" the "Treaty of Versailles" which had ended World War I.                            

ROBIN OLDS JR. (1922-2007)    

       

          Oh!  Yesterday I forgot to write about a guy named Robin Olds Jr., who Dais says was a Jet Fighter Pilot during the Vietnam War; and wore one of those "Handlebar" mustaches I've talked about a few times.  He had a handlebar mustache painted on the nose of his Plane I guess.             

        Daisy says a tv show said Robin Olds Jr., like his father; became a General.  It says here in this Encyclopedia, in Vietnam he flew "F-4C Phantom II's" against those Russian "MiG-21's" I  mentioned in book one.  The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral, moving eastward.          

        Wow!  My Encyclopedia says some say Mr. Robin was the best "Wing Commander" in the Vietnam War.  His dad was also a Pilot too, and took him up with him in one of those World War I  type "Biplanes;" when he was only eight years old.   I can really smell Libby over there.                            

P-38 "LIGHTNING"                                               P-51 "MUSTANG"          

                     PAINTING BY ROY GRINNEL                                                                                                           PAINTING BY COLIN PARKER                                 

              

            I've mentioned those two Second World War American Fighter Planes the P-38 and P-51.  In 1943 the "Lightning" shot Admiral Yamamoto's Plane down, and over in Europe those black American "Tuskegee Airmen" Pilots flew "Mustangs.  The Germans called them "Red Tails."   

         Daisy says the man on the tv show said Robin Olds Jr. flew the P-38, which always looks like two Planes stuck together to me; and the P-51 too in World War II.  He was born in Hawaii    where Mr. Mark's family lives, and went to "West Point."  I guess he played Football there.          

          I wrote yesterday about that man Kelly Johnston, who's nephew was Mr. Steve's sister Susan's boyfriend for a time.  He's famous for later working on the "Lockheed U-2," and the        "SR-71 Blackbird;" but Kelly Johnson also worked on the P-38 too.   Heathcliff crowed.                           

F-4C "PHANTOM" / "MiG-21"      

         

        A good painting shows an F-4 going bye one of those Russian MiG's during the Vietnam War.   You can really tell they're both going really fast, with the flames coming out of the backs.    Oh!  I just glanced up and can see two crisscrossed vapor trails way up there in the high sky.        

          My Dictionary says one definition of "Maverick" is, "A person  who acts independently, often without the proper authority."  That's what that guy Mr. Robin was called as a nickname    during the Vietnam War.  Daisy told me the tv show also said he was called that too I guess.          

          The tv show talked about one time when Robin Olds led his men in tricking the MiG Pilots into thinking they were attacking slow Bombers.  But what they didn't know was they were being "Ambushed" by a squadron of P-4's.  So a lot of those MiG Pilots got killed Daisy says.                 

                                                     

       RUDOLPH HESS (1894-1987)      

                       

          Right now I'll write about a guy named Rudolph Hess, who for years was Hitler's "Chief Deputy; or "Right hand Man" as they say."  In 1925, with Hitler in jail; he may have typed as      Hitler "Dictated" his book "Mein Kampf."  Rudy the Roadrunner is running bye.                         

           This  Encyclopedia says, in the Spring of 1941 after the Germans failed to win the "Battle of Britain;" Rudolph Hess flew a Me-110 Plane over to England and crash-landed in Scotland.  This was a big surprise to everyone and Hitler was very upset.  I smell some Mesquite.                   

          Tomorrow I'll write about the 1945 "Nuremburg Trials" where Nazis like Herman Göring, Albert Speer and Rudolph Hess were "Put on Trial."  In 1941 Hess' flight was a shock.  He said he wanted to be a an "Envoy" or  "Broker" for peace between England and Germany.                

                                   

         RUDOLPH HESS' ME-110 (MAY / SCOTLAND)        

                                               

            A picture shows British soldiers standing around what was left of Rudolph Hess's Plane.  To his surprise, Rudolph Hess was taken prisoner in 1941; and held until the Nuremburg Trials  five years later.  I can hear two Crows fighting over something out there in the desert.                   

          Rudolph Hess thought he was helping Hitler because he knew his boss believed England and Germany should be allies.  But I guess Hitler was really angry because he was afraid Hess would "Spill the Beans" about his intention to attack his ally Russia.  I smell Creosote.                  

        Mr. Steve thinks, in Rudolph Hess's mind; it was "plausible" to think many Englishmen, like Edward VIII who'd "Abdicated" as King in 1936; would want to be Germany's ally.  Like a few people in the U.S, he and his wife were admirers of the Nazis during the 1930's.                       

              

ME-109

PAINTING BY PERUN TWOREK

    

          Yesterday in my first book I wrote about the Spanish Civil War of 1936 through 1939.  It says here how Adolph Galland, as a member of the "Condor" Legion; flew Fighter Planes like    the Me-109 to help the Spanish Right Wing Fascists win that really bloody war.                              

            I've mentioned a few times already how "Me-109" is short for "Messerschmidt" 109.  And Messerschmidt is the last name of that German Airplane designer.  In the Spanish Civil War the Germans and Italians "Field Tested" many weapons later used in World War II.                            

        Flying "Missions" in Spain gave Pilots like Adolph Galland practice so, when the Second World War started in 1939; they were "Ready to Go" and had experience.  As I wrote yesterday, Joseph Stalin helped the Left Wing side in the Spanish Civil War.  A Crow is cawing.                    

  

   "GUERNICA"  

PAINTING BY PABLO PICASSO

           

            Another thing I wrote about yesterday was how the German's Condor Legion bombed the "Basque" city of "Guernica" back in 1937.  That inspired the artist Pablo Picasso to do his now famous black and white "Anti-War" oil painting.  Heathcliff just crowed right now.                      

        Daisy and Millie one time watched a documentary about that guy Pablo Picasso, who was from Spain; but was living in France in 1937.  Mr. Steve's mom has a good book about him and studied his art when she was in College at C.S.U.N.   I smell the baby Cholla cactus.                       

         It's so weird how Spain was "Neutral" in both world wars Dais thinks.  But, when General Franco's Fascists won the civil war in 1939; they held power all the way into the 1970's when our boss and Sandy were still in High School.  The four Pigeons are flying toward the east.                   

                   GENERAL FRANCISCO FRANCO (1892-1975)

            I notice how, in a picture of General Franco; he's sitting at a desk and is about to write with one of those Bird feathers the way they did before there were such things as these pens and  pencils I've been using.  I can see Libby over there in her Corral.  I can now smell her.                   

            Boy!  Maybe someday I can try writing with a feather.  We do have Bird feathers laying all around at times.  Pictures show General Franco walking with Adolph Hitler and talking to the Italian Dictator Mussolini.  Hey!  Maybe we could sell Bird feathers to be used as pens?                

             It says here that guy Adolph Galland fought in Spain and then "took part in" World War II's opening "campaigns." In 1940 he "saw action" in the conquest of France.  Later in the war, in 1944; he  even flew that "Me-262" Jet I've mentioned a few times in these first two books.           

JUAN / EVA PERÓN

            This is kind of interesting.  It says here, after World War II; Adolph Galland went down to South America and worked for "Argentina" led then by Juan and Eva Perón.  A small Garter Snake just used the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the back field.               

             Aha!  Adolph Galland not only spoke German, but Spanish too; so that's one reason why Argentina hired him to "train" Pilots.  Dais told me, on that tv show; he also speaks pretty good  English too.  Tomorrow in book three, I'll learn more Argentina; and the Peróns too.                      

           I'm tempted to write more about South America now but, I'll wait and do it according to schedule.  I can see how, in looking at my book two outline; I still have a lot more to write about Second World War in this fifth chapter.  I see Andy over there guarding their burrow.                            

    SQUIRRELS "SHARING BODY HEAT"

       

              Seeing Andy over there, now sniffing the air; makes me think about how cold it was this Winter and how warm it is on only this second day of Spring.  I remember when it snowed a few  times this Winter.  So Andy and Helen kept each other warm by staying close to each other.           

          Because of her thick fur, Daisy was good to lay next to sometimes out here on Elvira on cold days.  But, she went in the house at night and I think next Winter I'll hopefully do the same because; it was kind of cold sometimes even though I had my blankets.  Dawn's barking.               

           Hey Lord!  Thinking of Winter makes me want to write about that guy "Santa Claus," even though I'm not scheduled to do it right now according to this book two outline.  Daisy and I kind of want to believe in Santa Claus but our boss doesn't.  I can smell some old Sage.                             

"SANTA CLAUS"

             Oh what the heck!  I can learn about Christmas now too.  One time Dais and Millie were in our boss's office and heard him talk on the phone with that girl Miss Babette.  I've mentioned a few times already how he, Babette, Susan and Karin all sell things for their company.                 

            As I wrote in book one, Miss Babette's family is originally from the country of Turkey and are "Eastern Orthodox Christians."  Mr. Steve told her how he's read that the "fictional" Santa Claus character "originated" with a real person.  Ducks are quacking over there.                           

     My Encyclopedia says the modern Santa Claus is "based" on a 4th century A.D. man named "Nicholas of Myra."  He was a Christian "Bishop" in "Asia Minor" or where Turkey is now.  In  one of those "Epidemics" that I've written about both of his Greek parents died.                            

   

NICHOLAS OF MYRA (270-343 A.D.) 

PAINTING BY JAROSLAV ÇERMÁK

        Daisy says our boss told Miss Babette just what it says here in my Encyclopedia.  During the early part of that guy Nicholas' life Christians were "persecuted" so he was put into jail for five    years.  But then that Emperor "Constantine I" came into power and became Christian.                 

       Hey Lord!  I've written about how Constantine I, or "The Great;" won that famous battle in Italy near the bridge outside the city of Rome.  He took over the Roman Empire and converted to Christianity.  He said You sent him a sign which helped his soldiers win the battle.                          

      As I said yesterday Lord, before the time of Constantine I the Romans killed Christians while after him it was possible to be killed for not believing in You.  He turned "Traditional" Roman,    or "Pagan" holidays; into Christian celebrations.  One was with Your birthday.                              

PIGEON COUPLE FLYING BYE

         I just glanced up from down here on my couch in time to see two of the Pigeons flying bye and moving toward the northeast.  I think it's Lucy and Ricky, but it's hard to tell from this far    away so; it might be Fred and Ethel.  Bird couples seem like they're best friends.                            

        Dais says our boss told Miss Babette that "Saint" Nicholas, now a symbol for "Generosity;" preferred to help people "Anonymously" or without them knowing who did it.  Children were all told to go to sleep at night or Bishop Nicholas wouldn't come.  Heathcliff crowed.                      

        Oh!  My Encyclopedia says one time Nicholas left gold coins in the hanging socks of three poor sisters who wanted to get married.  Aha!  No wonder Santa Claus leaves Daisy and I Dog  Treats in our red socks Mr. Steve hangs on the Fireplace at Christmas.  I smell Sage.                      

  

"SINTERKLAAS" 

 

        Mr. Steve told Miss Babette on the phone how, many years after the time of St. Nicholas; the "Dutch" in the "Netherlands" began calling him "Sinterklaas."  In their language that's how to  say "Sint Nicolaas."  Then, I guess; it's "evolved" into the name "Santa Claus."                             

       Hey Lord!  From what it says in this one Encyclopedia, after that guy Constantine I became a Christian he "replaced" the Roman "Winter Solstice" holiday with Your birthday.  And when St. Nicholas died on December 6th both things "merged" together.  A Train whistled.                     

       According to what Daisy overheard our boss tell Miss Babette on the phone, over the last two thousand years every area that became Christian added it's own influences to the modern Santa  Claus.  Fred, Ed and Ted the Sparrows flew over the Sheds.  Ah!  The air is so clear!                      

"ODIN"

       Well, Mr. Steve was right.  It says here about a thousand years ago the Vikings became Christians and, little by little; Santa Claus became more and more like their old "Pagan" God    "Odin."  Samson and Delilah are now flying bye, moving toward the northeast.                              

           Wow!  That God Odin does fly through the sky, and also lives near the "North Pole;" just like the real Santa Claus.  And both lived in "secret" homes.  Hey!  That guy "Superman" goes    to a "Cold Land" and talks to ancestors through "Ice Crystals" just like Odin too.                        

           Daisy heard our boss tell Miss Babette he's got a good book about this 19th century British "Cartoonist" named Thomas Nast.  Some of his "Victorian" era artwork  is of Santa Claus.  He combined St. Nicholas with the English character "Father Christmas."                             

                "FATHER CHRISTMAS"                                                  "COCA-COLA"                                    ARTWORK BY THOMAS NAST                                                                                                                                                                                       

         Yesterday in my first book I wrote about how Mr. Steve doesn't give or want Christmas gifts anymore.  Hey Lord!  Instead, he gives money to different "Charities" who help the poor as You said to do.  I just looked up and see a long white vapor trail way up there in the sky.               

        Lord!  Our boss doesn't like how Your birthday has been turned into a "Commercial" holiday by companies like "Coca-Cola."  In that way he's kind of like the lady I wrote about who started the idea of "Mother's Day."  She didn't like what that holiday evolved into either.             

         I've mentioned a few times how Mr. Steve and his father think "Overall," Capitalism is "Generally" better than Socialism.  But, at times; it can "Lend Itself" to greed.  As it said up on  the wall outside the Oracle's chamber back then in ancient Delphi, "Nothing in Excess."               

      

    STEEL FACTORY 

             I've written about how the "Industrial Revolution" began at the end of the 18th century when "Steam" power came in.  And then, in the mid-19th century; steel became more and more important.  Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye, now going right over Libby's Corral. 

          "Manufacturing" is one a big reasons why the Union beat the Confederate States in the American Civil War.  And, it was U.S. "Industrial Capacity" which ended up being the "Factor" which "Turned the Tide" in World War II.  I learned about it yesterday in my first book.              

           As I've mentioned, all the "Apparel" Mr. Steve and Miss. Babette, Susan and Karin sell is made over there in China.  From 1945 through almost recently the industry that won the Second World War was turned to "Private Industry."  I smell the baby Cholla cactus over there.              

WREN STANDING IN CHOLLA CACTUS

         Oh!  I see that little Wren Bird again sitting in the Cholla cactus patch out in the desert behind the Sheds.  I'm still thinking of how Daisy praised me on my first big break of the day.      I'm really glad that the Arthritis in her paws and hips feels pretty good today.                                 

            Well, it looks like, according to my outline; it's back to learning about World War II.  I've mentioned how, after the Germans conquered the Netherlands, Belgium and France in 1940; it    was only England left to "Stand up To" that guy Hitler.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.             

          According to what Dais heard our boss say on the phone, when he talked with his father about the Second World War; what Hitler really wanted in 1940 was to attack his "then" ally the Soviet Union.  So, he "Held out Hope" that the English would try to "Negotiate Peace."                

        

            ITALY (OCTOBER, 1922)                      GERMANY (NOVEMBER, 1923)               

    

           World War I ended in 1918 and, by the early 1920's; Hitler had taken over leadership of the Nazi Party.  In 1922, that guy Mussolini accomplished an armed "Coup d' Etat" in Italy; and Hitler tried but failed to do the same thing in Germany too.  Some Ducks are quacking.                 

           A picture in this Encyclopedia shows some of Mussolini's "Blackshirt" soldiers marching in 1922 when they took over power in Italy.  Another photo shows Hitler at the time of his failed    "Uprising."  The Police shot and killed some of the Nazis but Hitler escaped and got away.           

           It says here that Hitler, who thought about suicide; ended up being arrested and then put on trial.  It was for "Treason" so could've meant the "Death Penalty."  But, he used the trial as a "Platform" and gained a lot more people who really liked his ideas and what he said.                                   s.jpg” style=”width: 325px; height: 325px;” />       

      ADOLPH HITLER (MID-1920'S)

      

           In 1923 Hitler was "Convicted" but was "Let off Easy" so to speak.  He was even able to write his book "Mein Kampf" while in prison.  When he was in jail this lady related to that 19th century Composer Richard Wagner gave him a really modern "Typewriter" as a gift.                    

         Daisy told me this tv show said how, for a long time; most people thought Hitler had just "Dictated" his book to Rudolph Hess.  But now, some think he might've typed it himself.  Boy!    How could anyone have even invented such an amazing thing like a typewriter?                             

         I've mentioned a few times how I'm looking forward to the day when I can see our boss's computer in his office.  Dais says it's so amazing how you can learn so much all in one spot but,    the bad part is; many bad people are on the "Internet" too.  A Crow just squawked.                       

    

"MEIN KAMPF"

                           

          The caption below a good picture of Hitler  says his book Mein Kampf, "My Struggle" in English;" was mainly about three things, "Nationalism," "Anti-Semitism" and "Violence."  But, he also wrote of "Lebensraum;" or "Living Space" for Germany.  I smell Mesquite.                       

          Mr. Steve a copy of Mein Kampf and has read most of it.  So he knows that, since the mid-1920's; people knew Hitler's ideas.  Even though in 1939 he had made an agreement with Stalin's Soviet Union, his book openly talked about Germany needed to conquer the Russian area.            

        Bonnie and Clyde just flew in and have some food in their stomachs they can throw up so their babies up there can eat.  I heard those chicks waking up and starting to chirp and now that one with the louder voice is really trying to get his parents attention.  I like that chick.                    

          

      ADOLPH HITLER (WORLD WAR I)

     

           Daisy says in a tv show about Hitler it said, as a front line "Courier" during World War I in Belgium; he took messages to the different areas of the combat zones.  And, he did it in some of the bloodiest battles.  Two Crows are squawking at each other out there in the desert.                    

           Even though Hitler had trimmed his Handlebar mustache so a Gas Mask would fit tighter on his face, when the First World War ended in 1918 he was in a Hospital because gas had gotten through anyway.  He was blind.  That's when he heard Germany had lost the war.                          

           Daisy thinks that guy Hitler must've been brave because in World War I he got one of his two "Iron Cross" medals for "dragging a wounded comrade to safety" during combat.  One time a "jagged" piece of "white-hot" metal, or "shrapnel;" hit his thigh.  Dawn's barking.                    

                                    

ADOLPH HITLER WITH HIS DOG

         I like looking at that picture of Hitler's World War I boy Dog "Fuchsl."  He seems like a nice friendly Dog and if I could go back in time I'll bet we'd find out that he was really brave and courageous like little Blinky next door.  I've mentioned how Fuchsl means "Little Fox."                 

          This is interesting.  It says here that Hitler earned the second Iron Cross capturing French soldiers who were hiding in a "Crater" created by one of those giant cannon shells exploding.  I  see how Bonnie and Clyde are finished feeding their babies up there in their nest.                          

         Oh!  Just like that guy J.R.R. Tolkien, Adolph Hitler fought in that one huge "Battle of the Somme."  I wrote a little bit about that battle in the last chapter.  But Daisy has me scheduled to   write about it in a lot more detail tomorrow when I really learn about World War I.                                                  

WORLD WAR I INFLUENCED TOLKIEN   

                  

             I've mentioned a few times how Mr. Steve thinks "Tolkien" was influenced by fighting in World War I.  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows those "Ringwraiths," and below them is this image of a First World War German soldier wearing a Gas Mask.  Ah!  I smell Libby.                    

            Daisy and Millie are so lucky because they saw the movie "Lord of the Rings."  Dais told me about these really scary huge "Elephant-like" things called "Mûmakils."  In a way she says, they're sort of like slow, lumbering World War I Tanks who power over everything.                        

           In the First World War "Advanced Technology" like machine guns, barbed wire, gas and flamethrowers produced that "Stalemate" on mainland Europe.  That giant "Killing Zone" area called "No Man's Land" was created.  That's why steel Tanks had to be invented I guess.              

     

          "MARK 1" (1916)                                                   A7V "MESPHISTO" (1918)

  

            As I said in chapter four, Tanks were first "Deployed" at the 1916 Battle of the Somme in which Adolph Hitler and J.R.R. Tolkien saw combat.  My Encyclopedia says the British used the  "Mark 1." And then, in 1918; the Germans "countered" with their "A7V Mesphisto."                   

          It says here the British used the word "Tanks" to describe their new war machines.  That was so the Germans, "listening in on" their Radio broadcasts; would be "deceived" or tricked into thinking they were just talking about new "water tanks."  Heathcliff just crowed.                   

           I guess, back in 1916; some Germans who first saw the British Tanks "lumbering" in their  direction yelled, "The Devil is coming!"  Some had never even seen a Car before so seeing Tanks rolling right over sharp barbed wire and craters was scary.  Bonnie and Clyde flew away.                  

          W.W. I ("KRUPP" FIELD GUN)                                                    W.W. II (88 M.M. CANON)                                      

           It says here how "initially" the Germans saw Tanks as "monsters," but soon "adapted" their "Krupp" Field Guns to fire "horizontally."  And it worked I guess because the British came to call those first Tanks "metal coffins."  I just noticed Fannie and Freddie flying bye.                    

            About twenty years later, in World War II; the Germans again adapted a canon to be used as what they called a "Tank Killer."  Their 88 millimeter "Flack" gun was "originally" intended    to be used against Airplanes.  But it was "redesigned" to shoot horizontally at Allied Tanks.        

        I've mentioned a few times the Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca who used all those Elephants as Tanks in the "Second Punic War" against ancient Rome.  It's hard to believe he got them all of the way from Spain over the "Alps" mountains.  I'd like to smell an Elephant.                       

              SECOND "PUNIC" WAR                             LEONARDO DA VINCI TANK CONCEPT

           

          In book one I mentioned how Mr. Steve copied some of Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century "Renaissance" drawings.  One was a design for a Tank.  Way back in the  1500's; Leonardo da    Vinci was already also thinking about Machine Guns and Submarines too I guess.                          

           Boy God!  Thank You again for giving me this project to do.  I know I keep saying that but that's how I kind of just feel, especially when I glance up and see the blue sky way up there.  Oh!  I just looked up and see Andy over there guarding the entrance to he and Helen's den.                   

           I've mentioned many times how Daisy goes inside our house and someday, when I get over my irrational fear of being trapped; I'll see more tv and hear more music.  One movie I really do  want to see is called "Star Wars."  Dais told me how it's so good and knows I'd like it.                    

            

  "STAR WARS"

    

          According to Daisy, that movie Star Wars is set in the future; when you fight with laser beams and things like that.  Giant Tanks will walk like robot Elephants, and shoot cannons from their heads.  Boy!  I wonder if someday they'll even have some robot Dog warriors?                       

            Dais told me how, on that one tv show about Hitler; it said he was blinded by "Mustard" gas in 1918.  That's why he was in the Hospital when Germany surrendered.  I'm sure glad I'm not blind God, because then I wouldn't be able to finish these three really long books.                   

            Hitler was at first shocked, got depressed; and finally angry in hearing how Germany had lost the war.  So he, and other Germans; blamed the Politicians who signed the "Armistice." Dais says they didn't want to believe the German military had been beaten on the battlefield.                

       

VERSAILLES, FRANCE (1919)

    

          I've mentioned how tomorrow Daisy has me scheduled to look up and learn a lot more about World War I.  The three "Allies" who ended up being on the winning side were the U.S.,    England and France.  They blamed Germany and it's three allies for starting the war.                    

             Dais says our boss still has a book from College at C.S.U.N which "Makes the Case" that, unlike World War II; it can be argued neither side was totally responsible for starting the First World War in 1914.  All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral right now.                 

            As I've mentioned, after World War I "Representatives" for the "Victorious" Allies met in "Versailles, France.  Germany, Austria Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire lost the war so were told to pay back a lot of money.  England and France owed the U.S. money.                     

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GERMANY (EARLY 1920'S / "STREET" BATTLES)

     

           When the Kaiser's Germany surrendered in late 1918 many Germans, like Adolph Hitler  for example; didn't want to "Admit Defeat" and "Tap Out" like a beaten "Mixed Martial Arts" fighter.  For a while the "Right" and Left" killed each other.  It was "Street Fighting."                  

            It says here that, like a lot of other ex-soldiers too; Hitler came to blame the men who had "quit" the war in Germany's "humiliating" defeat.  In German it's called "Dolchstoßlegende" or "Stab in the back myth."  Some of those men just happened to be "Marxist's" and Jews.               

           For a while Hitler stayed in the Hospital even though Doctors said his eyes seemed okay.   They began to think his blindness was all "In his Head" so to speak.  I've mentioned how many combat veterans come out of war with different versions of what's called "Shell Shock."                

   

ADOLPH HITLER (1889-1945) 

            According to the tv show Daisy saw about Hitler, one Doctor told him he was "destined for greatness," so had a "duty" to "heal himself" through "will power."  And I guess it worked as he recovered.  That big Dragonfly zoomed bye and I heard it coming from far away.                  

          I guess that Doctor lit a candle, held it right in front of Hitler's face; and told him if he could "will" himself to see it he'd be healed.  Dais thinks it worked partly because Hitler decided he wanted to get better  and then somehow lead Germany back to greatness again.                         

              Boy!  I love learning new things; and practicing reading and writing.  Thank You again    God for creating all the fresh air down here on this Patio for me to breathe right now.  And also    thank You for my couch Elvira who, next to Dais and our boss; is now my best friend.                    

            

    WORLD WAR I (1914-1918)

       

          One really big reason why Germany lost World War I was, for three years; they had to fight on two "Fronts."  In the "West" they faced England, France and later the U.S.  Russia was their enemy in the "East."  But in 1917 that huge "Russian Revolution" happened.                        

           A map of First World War Europe shows the four "Central Powers" colored in light red, while their "Allied" opponents are shown as light green.  The "Neutral" countries are in yellow. I can sure see how all of the four Central Powers seem to be kind of "Surrounded."                        

             Well, I spent more time on World War I than planned but, now I'll go back to finding out about the Second World War.   In 1939, when that war started; Hitler remembered World War I so didn't want to fight again on two "Fronts."  Fannie and Freddie just flew bye.                                            

   JOACHIM VON RIBBENTROP / STALIN / VYACHESLAV MOLOTOV

       (AUGUST 23, 1939)   

    

           Over the last two days I've mentioned a few times how World War II "Officially" began on September the 1st of 1939, when Germany attacked Poland.  England and France were allies  of Poland so "Declared War" on Germany but it was too late to save Poland.  Too bad!                  

          To the surprise of everyone, because of what he'd said in his 1925 book Mein Kampf; on August the 23rd of 1939 Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia signed a "Non-Aggression Pact."  Mr. Steve's mom had just turned four three days before.  A Duck is quacking over there.                      

          In the "Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact" Hitler and Stalin "Made a Deal" to "Divide Up" the country of Poland in 1939.  For Hitler it was an "Agreement of Convenience" but Stalin thought and really hoped he and Hitler could conquer the world together.  But he was wrong.                     

        

     HERMAN GÖRING (1893-1946)

 

         In my two books I've mentioned that guy Herman Göring a few times.  He was a Pilot in World War I and head of the "Luftwaffe" Air Force in the Second World War.  In book three I'll  learn about the subject of Second World War Nazi "Advanced Aviation" technology.                      

          Having taken Poland in 1939 Hitler then "Turned his Attention" west.  In 1940 he took the Netherlands, Belgium and France.  After that evacuation from the beaches of Dunkirk many, like Winston Churchill for example; thought Hitler would then invade England itself.                           

        After that big evacuation from the beaches of France at Dunkirk many people thought the Germans would then "Invade" England.  But, because of the Royal Navy; crossing the English    Channel would not be so easy back then in 1940.  It wasn't just another very wide river.                

                       

       "FASCIST" EUROPE (1941)

           Once Hitler had most of Europe, Mussolini's Italy and the Japanese in the Far East made alliances with Germany.  My Encyclopedia says it was called the "Tripartite Pact" and the three countries called it the "Pact of Steel."  Ah! Speedy Gonzalez just ducked under Manny.                 

        I guess, after "occupying" France in June of 1940, Herman Göring convinced Hitler his Luftwaffe Air Force could "bring England to her knees" without actually having to invade.  It says here he "believed" he could bomb them "into submission."  I can smell Speedy.                      

          I wrote yesterday how our house was built in 1989 by that lady named Mrs. Gunther.  Her husband had been a Luftwaffe Pilot in World War II and was "supposedly" related to Herman    Göring.  At least that's what people have told Mr. Steve and his parents over the years.                                   

"DRAGONFLY"

          Aha!  I knew I heard that one big Dragonfly I've been seeing for the last two days and it just zipped bye right now.  Seeing him reminds me of yesterday when it flew bye.  Daisy isn't as    afraid of things that sting as much as I am but she has thick fur so afford to be braver.                   

           Dais says one time, when she was living with her first owner; this Wasp stung her right on the nose.  It really hurt but, taught her never to get too close to a Wasp Nest.  I benefit when she    tells me things like that because then I know in advance what things to do and not do.                    

           Yesterday I wrote about "Operation Paper Clip."  That was when, after the Second World War; the United States and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union competed for the "Brain Power" of the  defeated Germans.  I just now noticed a little Lizard standing over there on the wall.                                              

       WERNHER VON BRAUN (1912-1977)

                      

            In book one I mentioned that "Rocket Scientist" Wernher von Braun who developed the    German's "V-1" and V-2" Rockets in the last few years of World War II.  Mr. Steve jokes "his brain" got the U.S. to the Moon in 1969.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran out into the desert.                  

        As part of that "Operation Paperclip" program, Wernher von Braun and other German Scientists and Pilots were brought out here to work over at Edwards A.F.B.  I've mentioned a few times before how a German community lived in Wrightwood.  Heathcliff just crowed.                    

          After being convinced England would fight him, Hitler told Herman Göring it was okay to try to get the British to "Capitulate" using his Air Force.  But, what no one realized is; all along    the English eastern coastline were those "Radar" Towers.  I smell the Twin Joshua trees.                     

    "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" (LATE 1940)

        

          A map shows how the "first phase" of the "Battle of Britain" began on July the 10th of 1940.  But Radar "allowed" the British to know "in advance" if German Warplanes were flying from France to bomb them.  I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's birthday is on July the 9th.                

            Dais saw a tv show that said Radar may have saved England.  When the Battle of Britain started the Germans had three times as many Airplanes as the English, so the "Royal Air Force" could not afford to waste any of them.  Frida and Diego are flying over Libby's Corral.                  

           There's a good picture that shows one of  those Radar Tower's which were set up all along the east coast of England back in late 1940.  I guess, Radar shoots out "Sound Waves;" which are then bounced back.  You can tell a lot about any Planes that are coming toward you.                      

         

"RADAR" TOWER (ENGLAND / 1940)

 

         From July through the end of the year British and German Planes fought in the air over England.  Daisy says the tv show said it was the first time a battle was fought totally in the skies.  I just noticed Andy over there sniffing the air as he guards the entrance to their hole.                     

          Tomorrow in book three I'll write about the twenty years in between the two World Wars.  Mr. Steve thinks that period was very important Dais told me.  As I've mentioned before, in the 1920's the American economy "Roared;" but then came the huge depression of the 1930's.            

          Daisy says that one tv show talked about how, since the early 1930's there had been war in the world.  That was when "Imperial" Japan under Emperor Hirohito took "Manchuria" from    China.  And a few years later Mussolini's Fascist Italy was fighting in parts of Africa.                     

          

"RAPE OF NANKING" (1937)

    

             Ugh!  A picture shows a Japanese soldier holding the head of a Chinese man.  The caption says it's 1937 at that city "Nanking."  Japanese soldiers held "contests" to see who could "sever" the most Chinese heads "efficiently," in the "shortest amount of time."  Oh!  That's bad!              

           In the 1930's the Communist and Nationalist Chinese forces stopped fighting each other in order to concentrate on defending against the Japanese.  After World War II in 1945 they went back to killing each other and Mao Zedong's Communists won in 1949.  I smell Sage.                     

          I'm just quickly mentioning some of the things that happened in the years leading up to the Second World War before I write about the Battle of Britain.  Tomorrow I'll learn in more detail about those twenty years between the two world wars.  One of the Ducks is quacking.                         

"SHRINE" AUDITORIUM                                              GOLDEN EARING          

           Oh!  All of a sudden, mentioning Radar makes me think of that one Dutch band called GOLDEN EARING.  Daisy heard our boss tell his brother Sam on the phone about how, in the    1970's; he and his friend Chris saw them play a concert.  More Ducks are quacking.                       

           I guess that GOLDEN EARING show was at the "Shrine" Auditorium near downtown Los Angeles.  Daisy says GOLDEN EARING have a good song about radar.  The guitarist uses one of those "Wah-Wah" peddles and the drummer gets to play a lot of "Snare" drum.                 

          According to what Dais heard, this other Northern California band MONTROSE played before GOLDEN EARING.  That guy Sammy Hagar, just like the Cul-de- Sac in Sylmar; was in that band.  Well, I'd better just get back to writing about the Battle of Britain in 1940.                   

            

        BRITISH "ROYAL" NAVY  (1940)   

                                 

           Dais says the tv show said, because of England's strong Navy; the "English Channel" in 1940 was to a certain extent kind of like a "Natural Barrier."  But Winston Churchill told the people everyone had to prepare for a possible invasion.  Some Ducks are quacking.                       

            The "Battleships" and "Destroyers" in World War II had big cannons on them I notice.  So they could have violently "contested" any attempt by the Germans to "transport" troops over to England from France in Boats.  I just picked up Rudy's Roadrunner scent right now.                

          In 1940, with mainland Europe conquered; England was alone and "In big Trouble" as they say.  Winston Churchill knew it too.  Even though they had a huge Empire, with "Colonies" all over the world; the island of England itself was right across the English Channel.                      

       

    QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-1901)

            Yesterday I mentioned Queen Victoria who "Ruled" the "U.K." back in the 19th century.  England's powerful Navy dominated the world so she had Colonies in Ireland, Canada, India,      Australia and many other places too.  I've said before how U.K. means "United Kingdom."          

          Dais watched this tv show about Queen Victoria which said, because she was Queen in so many places, the "Sun never Set" on her big empire.  I've mentioned how her birthday, May 24;  is also Mr. Steve's parents wedding anniversary.  Well, back to World War II.                                  

        In mid-1940 the "Head" of the "Royal Air Force," or "R.A.F."; was Hugh Dowding.  He was what's called an "Air Marshall" according to my Encyclopedia, and knew he didn't have as  many Planes as the Germans did so couldn't "waste" any of them.  Dawn's barking.                      

              

"AIR CHIEF MARSHALL HUGH" DOWDING (1882-1970)

           

         Wow!  Even though I don't know what my face looks like, it would be so great to have my picture on a stamp like that man Hugh Dowding.   Daisy told me how you have to do something    special or important to get a stamp.  I wonder if any Dogs have had their own stamp?                    

          I guess, in late 1940; Hugh Dowding knew his Air Force was outnumbered so had to let the German Planes under Herman Göring attack Ships in the English Channel.  I've mentioned how the German Air Force was called the "Luftwaffe."  A Finch is chirping happily.                             

        As I've said, someday I won't be afraid to go with Daisy into our boss's bedroom and listen to more music than I do now.  And, a song I'd want to hear is by that one British Heavy Metal      band called IRON MAIDEN.  It's about the Battle of Britain and has a good Video.                                           

    IRON MAIDEN  

               

              I guess that man Hugh Dowding had "Critics" who didn't like him letting the Boats be attacked so easily in the English Channel.  But, he knew each "Fighter" Plane was too valuable;  and would be needed later to defend the English skies.  And he turned out to be right.                   

            Yesterday in book one I wrote about how Mr. Steve has a fear of being eaten by a Shark.  So, if he ever fought in a war; he wouldn't join the Navy like his girlfriend Sandy's father did in World War II.  His Ship, the U.S.S. "Lexington;" sank at the "Battle of the Coral Sea."                 

       In 1945 the U.S.S. "Indianapolis" was sunk by a Japanese Submarine and hundreds of Sailors ended up being eaten by open Ocean Sharks.  Mr. Steve told his mom on the phone how if he'd been in that water he would've had a heart attack.   Dawn's barking over there.                      

            

               "SAND REEF" SHARK                                             "GREAT WHITE" SHARK                               

   

            This afternoon Dais has me scheduled to write about Sharks, Whales and things like that.  Mr. Steve's interested in that subject.  Sandy's father was a "Gunner" on the Aircraft Carrier    Lexington and lost his hearing from it.  Mr. Steve says big battles are really loud.                           

           My Encyclopedia says in 1940 Hitler told Herman Göring not to bomb the cities but only "military targets" and at first they didn't.  But then one time on a really dark night, by accident; German Planes dropped some bombs on London.  I smell some Spring Manzanita.                         

           Accidentally bombing London got Winston Churchill mad so he ordered his Bombers to go bomb the city of Berlin in "Retaliation."  And from then on both sides bombed civilians in cities    and nothing after that was "Off Limits."  Everything was "Fair Game" as they say.                         

DOUGLAS BADER (1910-1982) 

            It's hard to believe that guy Douglas Bader had no legs below his knees, but was a really good Pilot in World War II.  My Encyclopedia says he and the other Pilots came to "epitomize" the "gritty determination" and "quintessential" British "Bulldog spirit."  I smell Sage.                 

          Douglas Bader was lucky in 1941 because the British government really, really needed Pilots so accepted him back into the R.A.F.   On that tv show Daisy saw on Douglas Bader it said he turned out to be "exceptional."  Some Sparrows are singing out in the desert.                           

             Dais and I admire people like Homer Lea, Douglas Bader and Doug Flutie for being able to "Overcame" disadvantages.   I want to be like them too so everyone will like me, especially our boss of course.  Frida and Diego are now flying together over Libby's Coral right now.                   

          

2014 LINCOLN "AVIATOR"

          Dais was the one who first told me another name for a Pilot is an "Aviator."  One time she heard our boss talking on the phone with a customer ordering "Lincoln" logo hats.  Ah!  I looked up and can see how there's one of those long white vapor trails way up there in the sky.                  

          The Parts Manager said the American Car company Lincoln has one of those Sports Utility Vehicles called an "Aviator."  I guess it used to be built in the State of Missouri but now they do    that in Illinois.  The scent of Theodora's Creosote bush just floated into my left nostril.                  

        According to what Daisy overheard, the Lincoln Aviator is a five door "Luxury" S.U.V. and is one of those vehicles that have three rows of seats instead of two.  The motor is in the front and you can buy them with either two or four "Wheel Drive."  A Train just whistled faintly.                              

           EDDIE SPAGHETTI

           

          All of a sudden, for some reason I just thought about that guy Eddie Spaghetti who Mr. Steve admires.  He says, if he'd been born without arms; he's not sure he could have the courage that Mr. Eddie "obviously" has.  Dais and I would like to smell Mr. Eddie some day.                      

           Mr. Eddie is kind of like that guy Douglas Bader in some ways I think.  Our boss and a lot of other people who live around here always put money in his bucket.  Oh!  This is a good time to write about a guy named Harry Perry who, from what Dais says; lives near the beach.                   

          Yesterday I totally forgot to write about Harry Perry, who plays guitar while also "Roller-Skating" around that area of L.A. called "Venice Beach."  One time Dais heard our boss and Mr. Mark talk on the phone about him.  Fred, Ed and Ted are flying over Libby's Corral.                    

          

   HARRY PERRY

      

       Daisy jokes about how Harry Perry, like Mr. Eddie; is one of those "Buskers" that I've mentioned before.  Except, he wears his bucket on his back as he skates all around.  I guess Mr.    Steve has always given him money too, and one time even bought that cassette of his songs.           

         Oh!  A picture shows Harry Perry and, because he's a "Sikh;" has long hair under one of those "Turban" hats.  I love that kind of a hat, and would definitely wear one; especially if they    had one in a bright royal blue.  Of course, Daisy might wear a red Turban but; maybe not.            

          I also really like the red and white guitar Harry Perry uses.  I guess, before the recession; Mr. Steve had a customer up there in Northern California who was a Sikh too.  I've mentioned before how a "Busker" is one of the names given to "Street" Musicians" or Artists.                                 

"VENICE," CALIFORNIA "BOARDWALK"    

           I guess, from what Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Mark on the phone; Harry Perry has been skating around Venice since the 1970's.  Mr. Steve and Sandy saw him even back then.  As    I've said before, Mr. Steve  graduated from Sylmar High in 1973, Sandy two years later.                

             Our boss told Mr. Mark, who's also a Musician too; he still has the cassette tape of Harry Perry's music.  It was bought in the mid-1980's, and I guess has a song about time traveling; so    that's why Dais thinks I'd like it just for the ideas alone.  I'll bet she's right about that.                   

            Like Mr. Mark in Hawaii, Harry Perry's guitar playing seems influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.  But he does it by carrying a small amplifier on his back.  Harry Perry is one of the first people Mr. Steve and Sandy ever saw wearing those "In Line" skates.                     

             

   THE "NATION" OF "INDIA"

 

             My Encyclopedia say the Sikh religion began back in the 15th century in the ""Punjab" area of what is now the "Country" of India.  It says here, the Sikh logo is a "combination" of      three different symbols; and is called "Khanda."  Heathcliff is crowing over there.                         

            Mr. Steve's customer Mr. Harry, who's a Parts Manager at that "Mitsubishi" dealership; has a last name of "Singh."  I guess, from what Dais heard; Singh is kind of a common last name in India.  Mr. Harry joked it's kind of like how the name "Smith" was here at one time.                 

           Daisy told me our boss and Mr. Harry talked about how a khanda is an Indian sword.  Mr. used to have one but gave it to this lady who was Sikh.  Hey God!  This Encyclopedia says Sikh's  are "Monotheistic," so that means they believe in You too just like we do around here.                           

                   FAMILY                                                                          SLADE                     

        

           Daisy says our boss played Harry Perry's cassette for that kid Jason, who said his singing voice sounded at times kind of like a "bleating Goat."   Mr. Steve also played him songs by these  two 1970's British bands.  Both had singers who also sounded like Goats too he joked.                  

           Mr. Steve told Jason he and Sandy once saw SLADE play at that place in Hollywood called the "Starwood."  Daisy told me about how our boss said he used to play drums to SLADE songs. And he also tried to play along to songs by this one other English band called FAMILY.                 

         Dais thinks I'd like FAMILY because some of their songs have flute.  Mr. Steve likes a song where they use "Vibes" and, on this one song called "In My Own Time;" I guess the singer really does sound a lot like a Goat Dais told me.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonney are flying bye.                 

         

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

      

          I guess, from what Dais heard our boss and Mr. Mark talk about; Harry Perry has been used in a few movies and things like that over the years.  He was in this Video by that band from  L.A. called the RED HOT CHILE PEPPERS.   I can smell the baby Cholla cactus.                         

         Because Sikh men don't cut their hair, Daisy thinks it would be so interesting to see what Harry Perry would look like without his turban on.  I noticed right away how, in the picture of him; he's wearing all totally white clothes too.  Theodora just ran bye right now.                             

           Someday, I want to see that one RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS Video with Harry Perry in it.  Daisy said was filmed in Venice and is called "Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie."  She jokes that could be my new theme song seeing as my name is Maggie and I like to dance too.                              

             JEFFERSON AIRPLANE               THE BEATLES                       CHILI PEPPERS           

     Dais heard our boss and Mr. Mark talk on the phone about how Harry Perry is in the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS Video.  That Video shows them doing a concert on the roof of a building  in Venice.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye and only the dust he raised is left floating.                        

      Mr. Steve thinks the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS might've gotten the idea to play up on that roof from a time the BEATLES did the same thing over there in England.  That was in 1969 and was the BEATLES very last concert.  Mr. Steve was fourteen in that year I guess.                           

    Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Mark he's at times wondered if the BEATLES got the idea for their rooftop concert from the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE.  In 1968 they did a concert on a roof of a building in New York City.  Well, it's back to writing about the Second World War again.           

              

DOUGLAS BADER WITH WIFE THELMA

PHOTO BY ALISTAIR HEAP

   

           Daisy heard our boss say he thought one reason why guys like Homer Lea, Doug Flutie and Douglas Bader overcame their disadvantages was "supportive" wives.  Douglas Bader's wife  "Thelma" believed in him when her family didn't.   I can smell a Lizard around here.                    

             According to Dais, Mr. Steve and his father once talked on the phone about World War II Pilots like Adolph Galland and Douglas Bader.  In that one tv show it said Douglas Bader could at times be "very difficult" and "unfriendly."  He just was just there to "Do his Job."                    

            Boy God!  It would be so bad to have no legs like Douglas Bader.  In 1940 he was one of the Pilots who's job it was to  "Intercept," and then try to shoot down; the German "Bombers" sent over from France.  I just noticed a little Lizard standing on the wall over there.                            

   GERMAN "HEINKEL-111" BOMBERS (1940) 

  

              This one Encyclopedia says, in late 1940; Douglas Bader "confronted" Pilots like Adolph Galland, who "provided cover protection" for the German Bombers.  The German Pilot's main job was to "fight off" guys like Douglas Bader.  That one Lizard is now doing pushups.                  

            Oh wow!  A picture shows a German Bomber flying over England in 1940, and I notice it has two engines instead of just one like a Fighter Plane.  I have a feeling this picture was taken    over the city of London and you can see the "Thames" River below.  Dawn's barking.                    

         Mr. Steve's father once met a guy from Poland who told him his Grandfather was one of about thirty thousand Polish soldiers rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk.  Dais says that guy's Grandfather was a Pilot who ended up fighting in the Battle of Britain.  The Lizard's gone.                     

"303RD FIGHTER SQUADRON" (ROYAL AIR FORCE / 1940)

          A color picture shows some Polish Pilots standing in front of one of those big "Spitfire" Planes.  The caption says they're members of one of two "Fighter Wings" established in the time after the evacuation of Dunkirk.  Both units were filled up with those Polish Pilots.                         

            I guess those Polish Pilots, like that guy's Grandfather; fought "bravely" in 1940.  There was "Prejudice" against them because, in 1939; the Luftwaffe had beaten the Polish Air Force in just three days.  So they all really, really wanted to get their revenge on the Germans.                     

         Wow!  It says here that guy Sir Hugh Dowding, who I mentioned earlier; "admired" the "courage" of the Polish Pilots who fought Herman Göring's Luftwaffe in 1940.  I notice again how the Battle of Britain started on July the 10th.  Mr. Steve's birthday is on the 9th.                               

          "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" (1940)

                              PAINTING BY NIGEL CHILVERS       

             

             That man from Poland knew about how in late 1940 the Spitfires were at a disadvantage in "Diving" because their motors had those  "Carburators" I've mentioned before.  The German Me-109's had "Fuel-Injected" engines so didn't "Stall" in "Sharp" or steep dives.                          

             A good painting shows how it looked in the skies over England in the air battles that took place during the Battle of Britain.  You can see explosions going off all over the place behind one of those Spitfires.  Samson and Delilah are flying over the top of the house moving west.                

          In Mark Ritter's book on World War II aviation it also says that, out of the one hundred and forty five Polish Pilots who "took part" in the Battle of Britain; thirty one died.  I can tell by the pictures that most Second World War Planes were huge in size.  I can smell Juniper.               

            

      "KAMIKAZE" 

       

         Wow!  According to what it says in this Encyclopedia, in 1940 those Polish Pilots fought with "fanatical; almost reckless zeal."  They "charged headlong" into all of the German Bomber  formations.  A Motocross Motorcycle just zoomed bye out there in the back desert.                         

           Towards the end of World War II, when they were losing and desperate; the Japanese used those "Kamikaze" Pilots I mentioned yesterday.  They committed "Suicide" in using their Planes as bombs to purposely crash into American Ships.  But it didn't really work I guess.                       

          Mr. Steve and his father know about this man named Feliciano Montaño, whose nickname was "Chano."  He was from the town of "Adelino," which Daisy says is near to Belén and Jarales where our boss's parents grew up.  Now the Motorcycle went bye in the other direction.                 

    

              PILOTS                            "KAMIKAZE"                         (1944)                          

                                                                                                                                                                     PAINTING BY JOHN HAMILTON

   

           In early 1945 that guy Chano was killed when a Kamikaze pilot crashed into the Aircraft Carrier he was on.  That Plane had two big five hundred pound bombs still attached to its wings when it hit Mr. Steve read.  Neither body was ever what they call "Recovered" I guess.                 

           Wow!  According to my Encyclopedia, over seven thousand Japanese Pilots died in the last two years of World War II.  Daisy told me our boss's father thinks it "Ironic" that in 1945 both    Feliciano Montano and the Pilot died for, family, culture and country.  Heathcliff crowed.             

        In New Mexico's "Hispanic" culture, before "Going to War;" parents "Bless" the boy by "Reciting" in Spanish, "La bendición, en el nombre de Dios."  That means, "The Blessing, in the  name of God."  Based on how Heathcliff sounds this new year is going to be really good.                

            

  "HAMAS" SUICIDE BOMBER (FEMALE "JIHADI" WARRIOR)

        Oh!  A picture in my Encyclopedia shows a "Palestinian" girl before, like those Japanese Kamikazes; she killed herself on purpose.  I guess, "Suicide Bombers" like that girl want to kill    Israeli's by blowing themselves up with "Explosives" tied to their bodies.  A Crow cawed.              

         In Arabic the word "Jihad" can mean either, a "Holy War" fought as a "Sacred Duty" by Muslims or; a "Crusade" for an idea of "Principle."  The caption below the photograph of that    girl suicide bomber says she worked for "Hamas."  Two of the Pigeons just flew bye.                     

     I guess Hamas, which is just a shortened form of this name meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement;" is a "Sunni Muslim "Nationalist" organization.  They want their own country and    don't want to be a part of Israel anymore.  I'll write about modern Israel later today.                     

    

U.S.S. "LEXINGTON"

         All of a sudden I just thought of Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Sandy and how her father was a "Gunner" on the U.S.S. "Lexington during World War II.  But, he fought the Japanese early in the war; so there weren't Kamikaze Pilots.  Agh!  It must hurt so much to be shot by gun.             

        Dais heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone how, in New Mexico; at times the parents "Blessed" their sons going to war by saying, "Que Dios te bendiga y te quede."  In English that    would be, " May God bless and take care of you."  Boy!  I'm glad I have my Dictionaries.            

         This one Encyclopedia says Kamikaze Pilots were in the "Kamikaze Tokubetso Kogekitae" or just "Tokko" for short.  Wow!  That's kind of like how the name "Nazi" is an abbreviation.  It means "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterparte" or "National German Workers Party."        

    "BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA"  (MAY,1942)

PAINTING BY BRIAN SANDERS                                                                                                                                                                                

    

         This black and white photo shows when Sandy's dad had to "Abandon Ship" during the Battle of the Coral Sea.  Like Mr. Steve's father, he used to joke, "Nothing makes you appreciate  life more than having metal flying all around you."   Speedy Gonzalez just ran bye.                        

          I've mentioned before how, when he was with Sandy; Mr. Steve was driving his first 1968 "Chevelle" which his father bought him from Mr. Rick.   Sandy's father, who's job was a "Body  and Fender" man; liked the body design on late 1960's Chevelle's.  And we do too!                         

           Mr. Tim worked on our boss's Chevelle's and the second one, which was royal blue; was an "S.S." with that "Big Block" motor in it.  Mr. Tim got it up to having over four hundred Horses  in power.  Oh! I can smell Libby, who's walking around slowly over there in her Coral.                                        MR. STEVE'S 1968 S.S. CHEVELLE

                                                        

         As I wrote yesterday in book one, Mr. Steve and his friends like Tim; used to go the "Street Races."  Daisy told me sometimes they drove Mr. Steve's second Chevelle as fast as one hundred and twenty "Miles per Hour."  Theodora the Thrasher Bird just flew in from the desert.               

        Daisy says our boss told Mr. Cliff he can't even imagine being in a World War II Plane that went over four hundred and fifty "M.P.H." because their motors had over one thousand "H.P."  I see Libby over there.  As usual, she's walking very slowly around in her Corral.                           

       Another R.A.F. Pilot from World War II was a Canadian named George Beurling.  He was from the "Province" of "Quebec," but when he died helping the new country of Israel fight off the Arab nations in 1948; was just buried over there.  Boy!  I like how Libby smells.                                 

             

GEORGE BEURLING (1921-1948)

          A color photo shows George Beurling sitting on the wing of a Spitfire.  Tomorrow I'll learn a lot about Quebec, where George Beurling was born.  One time Mr. Steve and his father talked about how you must have really, really sharp eyesight in order to be a good Pilot.                        

         Good eyesight, which our boss and his father have never had; is why that famous Baseball player Ted Williams was such a good hitter and Pilot too in World War II and Korean War.  The caption below the picture of George Beurling says he had "tremendous" eyesight.                           

         It says here George Beurling had the "rare ability" to shoot into the "area" his target was going to be in even before that target flew into it.  Daisy heard about this thing called "Skeet" shooting.  She thinks a Skeet might be some type of Bird that you shoot for some food.                   

                        

ARTWORK BY AH-AVIATION-ARTS PORTFOLIO 

           

            Dais says, over the years our boss Mr. Steve has met a few Pilots.  One was his friend Vic who used to work with him as a "Videographer" in the 1980's and 1990's.   Mr. Vic, like that guy Mark Ritter; knew a lot about the history of Aviation and things like that I guess.                          

           That guy George Beurling, because of his age; was rejected a few times to be a Pilot.  But after the British had successfully "Held Off" the Germans by mid-1941; they let him fly Fighter Planes in "Escorting" Bombers over "Nazi Occupied" Europe.  A Train just whistled.                    

          One time our boss and Mr. Vic talked about desert warfare in World War II.  Mussolini's Italy had been fighting in Africa since the 1930's but, by mid-1941; had to be "Bailed Out" by Hitler in North Africa.  That's when Erwin Rommel was sent "To the Rescue" as they say.                                       

   EUROPE / NORTH AFRICA

                     

            Mr. Vic knew about how that guy George Beurling was sent to the Mediterranean Sea island of "Malta."  And I can tell by this map why Malta in 1941 was so important, in protecting the British supply Ships; and attacking Rommel's "Line of Supply."  Heathcliff crowed.               

                   "Supplying" of the two sides who fought in North Africa from 1940 through 1942 turned out to be one of the biggest "Factor's in why the British eventually won.  Malta was "crucial" to getting things from Europe to North Africa my Encyclopedia says.  I smell a Joshua tree.              

         George Beurling was sent to Malta to defend the skies against German Planes trying to conquer the island.  Whoever had Malta controlled the "Supply Routes."  Wow!  It says here in 1941 the "vital" island of Malta was oftentimes the "most bombed area in the world."                                                     

  CHRISTIAN "CRUSADERS"

         

               It says here George Beurling's nicknames were the "Falcon of Malta" and the "Knight of Malta."  A painting shows two of the Christian "Military Orders" who fought the Muslims during the Middle Age's "Crusades."  The guy in black and silver is a "Malta" Knight.                 

               The caption under the painting says a "Templar" Knight in white and red is on the left.    I guess, those Malta Knights were also called "Hospitallers;" and Dais says our boss drew and colored both of the Crusaders logos as a kid.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.             

             Hey Lord!  As you know, Mr. Steve and his father have read about the Crusades.  That's when many Catholic Christians went over to Israel to try and take back the "Holy Lands" from  the Muslims.  Daisy says our boss has some replica knives and swords from the that era.                

                 

                           BRITISH "FORMATION" OF SPITFIRES             

                

            I guess, while stationed down there in Malta; George Beurling made one of the "greatest shots" of World War II.  From really, really far away Dais says; he shot down a German Me-109 and for a while his boss's didn't believe he did it.  Some of the Ducks are quacking.                         

           During World War II sometimes they put cameras on Planes to prove if a Pilot shot down an enemy Plane.  When they looked at pictures of empty air on George Beurling camera, at first thought he was lying.  I see a long white vapor trail way up there in the high blue sky.                    

           It turned out Dais told me, George Beurling was firing his machine gun into a "Kill Zone" where the Me-109 was "about" to fly into.  George Beurling was a big reason why the British in late 1942 ended up being able to control the supply lines to North Africa.  I smell Sage.                                                                                   BATTLE OF BRITAIN "LOOKOUT"

   

             Well, it's back to the Battle of Britain, which happened in late 1940 and lasted until mid-1941.  A picture, which kind of looks like it's been painted the way our boss used to do; shows a    guy in regular clothes standing on a roof in London.  Dawn's now barking over there.                    

             The caption says the photo is of a "civilian," who's wearing a helmet I notice; using those amazing "Binoculars" like the ones our boss has in his office.  Dais told me GENESIS, who are from England; have a good song called "Watcher of the Skies"  I like Dawn's voice.                       

          As I mentioned before, back in 1940 the British Air Force was outnumbered by Herman Göring's Luftwaffe.  The British had "Hurricane" and "Spitfire" Fighter Planes to meet all of  those "Me-109's" who were "escorting" the big German Bombers.  I can smell Libby.                                             

           "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" (1940-1941)     

          

            A good map shows with arrows the different "Routes" the German Planes took in 1940 when they attacked England.  I guess, at first Pilots like Douglas Bader had to fly those "Hawker Hurricanes;" which only had machine guns in them.  I smell some new Spring Creosote.               

           This one Encyclopedia says how the German "Fighter" Planes, those Me-109's; not only had machine guns but also powerful "Canons" too.  So that guy Adolph Galland and the other German Pilots had an advantage.  It was what they call "Mortal" combat Dais says.                      

         In history many soldiers, like the Japanese in World War II for example;  fight "To the Death."  And, in 1940 Pilots like Douglas Bader were willing to do just that in "Defending their    Homeland."  Dais and I would do that too if someone ever invaded our two acres.                          

                           

       QUAIL COVEY

          

           Oh! I just looked up and see Bravo Company over there with their new babies.  You can tell Laverne and Shirley are really protecting their babies by the way they're walking around in    herding the larger Spring family.  Now they're all moving underneath Manny the Shed.                

           Douglas Bader, even though in a Hurricane; was such a good Fighter Pilot he adapted to what he "had to work with" and made "Lemons into Lemonade" as they say.  He used what the Hurricanes had as "Defensive" strengths.   I now can really smell Bravo Company.                        

            Daisy told me the tv show on Douglas Bader said he and the other Allied Pilots knew they could never  "Outdive" or "Outclimb" an Me-109, but Hurricanes could dodge or "Duck and      Weave" like a good Boxer.  I'm pretty good at doing that too.  Daisy knows I am.                            

                

               GERMAN "BOMBER FORMATION"  ("HEINKEL-111'S)        

                                                 

            Dais says the tv show said how Douglas Bader believed in three "Tactics;" "approach an enemy from above, have the Sun behind you and get in close."  In 1940, the Bomber's job was to hit their targets and then escape get back over to Europe.  But a lot didn't make it.                         

           During the Second World War thousands and thousands of men in Planes were killed or wounded.  In doing their assignments and then trying to make their "Getaway" to the France a lot of Germans were "Shot Down" by guys like Douglas Bader.  Some Ducks are quacking.           

           I've mentioned a few times over the last two days how Mr. Steve, when growing up down there in Sylmar; built models.  Most were destroyed in that 1971 earthquake.  Daisy heard him say on the phone how he'd built models of most of the Planes from the World War II period.                7     

"HURRICANE" (FOREGROUND) / "SPITFIRE" (BACKGROUND)

                         

           A picture shows a Hurricane and Spitfire flying next to each other.  To me they kind of look alike but Daisy heard Mr. Cliff talking about their differences.  Ah!  This Lizard is standing  over there on the wall, near to the sliding glass door; and is now doing some pushups.                    

             Daisy told me one time our boss and Mark Ritter talked about how the Hurricanes were made out of wood and "fabric" like World War I "Biplanes."  But the Spitfires were steel so had more powerful motors in them.  Spitfires were way better what's called "Interceptors."                 

           When Mark Ritter died Mr. Steve had his book on Spitfires so he ended up with it.  Dais says it's on one of the bookshelves in our boss's office and he thinks of Mark Ritter every time he sees it.  That little Lizard just ran down the wall and ducked behind the gray water bucket.                 

           "F.7/30 SPITFIRE"     

                     

             Daisy says over the years our boss has shown people this picture of the original Spitfire. They're always so surprised to see how, back in the mid-1930's; Spitfires looked more like those    German "Stuka" Dive Bombers than the later Fighter Plane.  I still smell the Lizard.                     

             Another Lizard is standing on one of the big boulders around the bottom of the Mulberry tree.  It's sitting perfectly still absorbing the Sun's energy the way I am too sitting over here on Elvira.  Boy!  That small Lizard almost looks like it's a part of the boulder it's on top of.                

          Daisy says in Mark Ritter's book on Spitfires, it talks about Reginald Mitchell; who was the one who originally "Designed" the Spitfire.  But, this one Encyclopedia says he died in 1937; so never got to see his Plane "In Action" as they say.  Oh wow! That's too bad I think.                   

                    

            REGINALD J. MITCHELL (1895-1937)     

                   

             This photo shows that guy Reginald Mitchell holding a "miniature" of the Plane he had been so "Dead Set" on creating.  Oh!  He was born on May the 20th, which is also Mr. Steve's      Nephew Austin's birthday too.  To an English person Dead Set means to be "determined."            

             Five years after World War II ended, at eighteen Mr. Steve's father "Volunteered" to go fight in the Korean War.  He'd wanted to be a Pilot but his eyesight was not nearly good enough.  I've mentioned before how Dais says our boss inherited his dad's "Near- Sightedness."                  

             It was Dais who explained that being "Near-Sighted" like herself means you can see the things close to you but need glasses for things farther away.  But "Far-Sightedness" is the exact opposite.  Boy God!  Thank You again so much for having me be born with good eyesight.             

    

TED WILLIAMS (1918-2002)

                                  

             I've mentioned how that Baseball player Ted Williams was a Pilot like Douglas Bader in World War II, and flew Jets in the Korean War.  Dais saw a tv show that said he had such good eyesight he could "see the stitches" spinning on the baseball as it was coming toward him.             

          Oh what the heck!  Even though I'm supposed to write about this other Baseball player named Tony Gwynn tomorrow when I write about the cities of  Long Beach and San Diego, I feel like mentioning him now too.  I guess he also has really, really good eyesight too.                            

          Daisy heard that Ted Williams was not friendly but he and Tony Gwynn "Got Along" as they say.  Tony Gwynn grew up in Long Beach but is now closely "Associated" with San Diego,    while Ted Williams played in Boston but was from San Diego.  Heathcliff just crowed.                    

             

TONY GWYNN  

   

            I'll go back to World War II in a minute, but now I'll write about Tony Gwynn and the San Diego area.  Dais says our boss's customer in San Diego, and his sons; met him and said he's friendly.  I can see two of those long white vapor trails crisscrossed up there in the sky.                  

              That Parts Manager said Tony Gwynn, at "San Diego State University;" was also a good Basketball player and a team called the "Clippers" even "Drafted" him.  But he decided to play Baseball for the "Padres" instead.  Wow!  Tony Gwynn even has a statue in San Diego.                  

          All of the green Spring plants around here reminds me of Mr. Steve's favorite Baseball team the Oakland "A's." He said their 1970's Championship teams are examples of "the whole    being greater than the sum of the parts."  Each player "complemented" one another.                                                    

OAKLAND "ATHLETICS" (1970'S)

            Like San Diego, Oakland is a "Small Market."  So, it's always "Hard to Compete" with "Big Market" teams in New York or Los Angeles for the "Expensive" Players.  Even before the A's came out here to Oakland in 1968 they were from the small market of Kansas City.                 

           Mr. Steve thinks many of the current Major League Players seem kind of greedy.  So, he admires Tony Gwynne because he was "Loyal" to the San Diego "Padres" and took less money to stay when he could have easily gone to play in a big market.  I'm loyal to Piñon Hills!                

           Because their family business had Season Seats for the Dodgers from 1977 through 1989, Mr. Steve's family saw Tony Gwynn play many times.  Ted Williams was the last Player to hit      .400 in one season and Tony Gwynn almost did it a few times too.  I smell Mesquite.                       

                   

  JUAN RODRÍGUEZ CABRILLO (1497-1543)                SAN DIEGO BAY (1769)                  

         

             Yesterday, I wrote about that Portuguese guy Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo; who worked for the Spanish.  He helped Córtez conquer the Aztecs, and was the first "European" to see "Alta"    California.  In 1542, the year Coronado explored New Mexico; he sailed Ships to San Diego.         

             Daisy says our boss's customer said Tony Gwynn liked a place called "Spanish Landing" in San Diego Harbor, and Mr. Steve's been there.  It's where, back in 1769; Father Serra and the other Spanish started to "Settle" Alta California.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye.                    

            I said in book one how "Cabrillo," although he was Portuguese; was born in the Spanish "Province" of "Córdoba" and may be buried on Catalina Island.  Mr. Steve saw a wooden Ship like the one he sailed here in 1542.  Boy! It would be great to have a Stamp made of you.                                       

             TED WILLIAMS / TONY GWYNN (1999)                 STEPHEN STRASBURG                                   

           Daisy says the Parts Manager in San Diego said, at the 1999 "All Star" game; that guy Tony Gwynn held Ted Williams up as he "Threw Out" the ceremonial "First Ball." Ted Williams was totally blind and died a short time later I guess.  A Freight Train just whistled faintly.             

            When Tony Gwynne "Retired" from Baseball he "Coached" for his "Alma Mater" San Diego State.  One of his players was a Pitcher named Stephen Strasburg who's now in the Major Leagues.  I've mentioned before how Miss Emily went to San Diego State for a few years.              

          After Tony Gwynn's "Playing Days" ended, he was almost immediately elected into the Hall of Fame because he had over three thousand hits and retired with a career .300 average.  I guess that's a very hard to do.  Mr. Steve called Tony Gwynn an "intelligent" hitter.                    

              

SAN DIEGO  

   

        Looking at the bright green Arborvitae bush about ten feet away, in the dirt near this Patio; I'm suddenly thinking about the Oakland A's again.  I'd really like to see a Baseball game someday as Dais thinks I'd probably like it.  The four Pigeons are flying bye right now.                  

            Because Oakland and San Diego are small market teams, so can't "financially" compete with big market "Franchises" like the Yankees and Dodgers; they often have bad teams.  Tony Gwynn took less money in San Diego so was on few winning teams.  I smell Creosote.                     

            Mr. Steve was told Tony Gwynn has cancer and might even die soon.  I guess he himself thinks he got mouth cancer because he chewed tobacco.  As a kid, in New Mexico Mr. Steve once tried to do that but spit it right back out quickly; and has never ever wanted to do it again.           

                                                    MR. STEVE'S FATHER (ON LEFT)                                                 "OCEANSIDE"                                      

                                                                                                                         PHOTO BY CHRISTIANNA SILVA 

               

           Oh!  This seems a good time to write about the city of "Oceanside," which is to the north of San Diego; and where a place called "Camp Pendleton" is located.  I was scheduled to write    about it in book one but somehow missed it.  So I can just insert it in right here instead.                

          Daisy told me about how Camp Pendleton is where Mr. Steve's father did what they call "Basic Training" or "Boot Camp" before going to fight in the Korean War.  Over the years, he    and Mr. Steve have visited Camp Pendleton.  All four of the Pigeons are flying bye.                        

       This Encyclopedia says Camp Pendleton was "established" in 1942, and is about "200 square miles" in size.  To this day it's the biggest "Amphibious" training base.  Mr. Steve's dad    learned how to go from the Ship and then onto the solid land down at Camp Pendleton.                

   

"INCHON" LANDING                                      MACARTHUR'S PLAN

           Yesterday I learned about how, in 1950; the North Koreans invaded South Korea.  They almost got away with it but, General MacArthur's "Daring" counter attack plan caught them      totally by surprise.  He got behind the North Koreans and "Cut them Off" so to speak.                  

          As I said in book one, Mr. Steve's father was not in General MacArthur's first landing in 1950; but "Went In" a year later without enemy "Resistance."  But, it was still kind of dangerous to "Disembark," and you could get injured if not careful.  Dawn's now barking.                              

           A few years ago our boss met a lady from Oceanside who said for "a few years" the town kind of "went down."  But it's "a lot better" and Tourists even go there now because of how nice it is.  Mr. Steve and his dad ate lunch one time near the beautiful beach in Oceanside.                    

                                 CAMP "PENDLETON"    

                                                                                                                                     PHOTO BY SANDY HUFFAKER       

              

            Daisy says the lady from Oceanside told our boss a lot of people still work inside of  Camp Pendleton.  For the last sixty years it's been northern San Diego County's "biggest employer" she said.  In 1942 there were less than five thousand people living in that particular area.                     

          Anyway, right now I have to go back to writing about World War II again.  Daisy says our boss's friend Mark Ritter once met a guy whose Grandfather knew Douglas Bader and said he was very often "not a very pleasant person" to be around.  He was often "In Pain" I guess.

         That guy told Mark Ritter Douglas Bader had one advantage over Pilots with legs.  In a "Tight Turn," when going so fast blood rushes to your feet; the blood only "flowed" to Douglas   Bader's knees.  This helped him "Evade" Me-109's flown by Pilots like Adolph Galland.                                           

 CHURCHILL INSPECTS BOMB DAMAGE (LONDON /1940)

   

               As I mentioned before, in 1940 at first the Germans bombed only Air Fields and things like that.  But then, after that one German Plane accidentally bombed London by mistake; the British then went ahead and bombed Berlin bombed.  After that both sides bombed cities.             

             Mr. Steve's father thinks it's a good thing the Germans switched to bombing cities when they did because it gave the British time to repair their Air Fields.  If they had destroyed the Air Fields England might've lost and many people knew it.  Hey God!  Did You cause that?                 

               One time, when she and Millie were in our boss's office; they saw a book with the title of "Operation Sea Lion" on a bookshelf.  My Encyclopedia says Operation Sea Lion was the name given for Germany's plans for the physical invasion of England.  Heathcliff just crowed.              

OPERATION "SEA LION" (1940)

           A good map show what Nazi Germany would've done if they had actually sent troops to invade or conquer England.  Mr. Steve told his father it's pretty amazing how much "detail" is in the plans for taking and then "occupying" England.  But, it never ended up happening.                 

           For months Pilots like Douglas Bader, with the help of Radar; bravely fought the Germans in the skies over England.  Many died or were injured.  Winston Churchill said, "Never in the field of human combat have so many

        The period when Herman Göring's Luftwaffe "Changed their Focus" to bombing cities like London is called the "Blitz" according to this Encyclopedia.  It lasted for months and there was a lot of fighting in the skies over England.  Samson and Delilah are flying bye right now.                   

   

CROW COUPLE

        

            Oh!  I just glanced up and noticed Fannie and Freddie sitting on one of the branches of the big Mulberry tree.  I didn't even see them fly in, but they were probably out in the eastern desert looking for some food to eat.  Boy!  You can really tell how they're best friends.                   

             I mentioned before how, because he didn't want to "Give Away" how part of the German "Enigma" code had been "Cracked;" Winston Churchill knew civilians would be killed.  And he was right too because thousands of "Non-Combatants" did die.  I smell some Mesquite.                 

            I guess, when the British  didn't "Give Up;" Hitler decided he had to hurry up and attack the Soviet Union before they got too strong.  Wow!  It says here that, during World War II; over a million English "structures" were "destroyed."  Fannie just cawed at me over here.                               

    THE BEATLES

        

            I've mentioned that band the BEATLES a few times in my first two books.  Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Dave on the phone how he read John Lennon was born during the Blitz.  That's because all of the BEATLES families lived in the bombed "Port City" of "Liverpool."                   

                                          

       It says here in this one Encyclopedia that, throughout late 1940 and the first half of 1941; the Germans bombed English cities.  But, Pilots like Douglas Bader shot down a lot of their Planes    too.  Boy!  It would be so bad to be bombed.  I sure hope Piñon Hills is never bombed.                    

       FOCKE-WULF  "Fw 190"

     PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA

              

       Dais heard Mr. Cliff say, if the German "Focke-Wulf " Fw 190 had existed in 1940 the Battle of Britain might've ended differently.  It was one of the best World War II Fighters and this one  Encyclopedia says its nickname was "Wurger" or "Strike" in English.  I smell Sage.                     

     Mr. Cliff said it's "ironic" how the Focke-Wulf  wasn't "Operational" until August of 1941.  By then an "impatient" Hitler had "turned" from England and attacked his former ally Stalin.  Hey God!  Did You cause that to happen?  As You know, Daisy thinks You did.                               

   I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter knew about Aviation.  He said German Pilots like Adolph Galland flew both the Me-109 and Focke-Wulf 190.  And they said, except for  flying way up there at a higher altitude; they preferred the 190.  A Duck is quacking.                    

          

 

     In June of 1941, after England had withstood the Blitz; Hitler attacked Russia.  As I wrote yesterday, "Operation Barbarosa" would turn out to be the largest in scale, and bloodiest; war    in all of human history.  Two Crows are fighting out there in the eastern desert.                              

       That man Winston Churchill made a lot of good speeches I guess.  After the Battle of Britain was won, in mid-1941; he said about all of those Pilots like Douglas Bader, "Never in the field of  human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."  I smell that old Sage bush.                    

     I just looked up and noticed how beautiful the blue sky is right now.  There are some puffy clouds up there.  And two vapor trails have criss-crossed each other up there.  Boy!  As I've said  before, there's nothing better than taking in through my nose a breath of new Spring air.              

          

PEARL HARBOR (DECEMBER 7, 1941)

                                                       

      On December 7th of 1941 the Japanese surprise-attacked America over there in Hawaii at "Pearl Harbor."  I mentioned yesterday in book one how that's when the United States entered    World War II on England's side.   Heathcliff just crowed over there next door.                               

        By December of 1941 Adolph Hitler's Nazi Germany was almost conquering Joseph Stalin's Soviet Russia.  But England now had two big allies to help it fight against the three countries of    the Axis Powers.  I'll bet that guy Winston Churchill was happy, and "relieved" too.                      

        Up until the end of 1941 President Roosevelt had helped Winston Churchill's England even though most of the American people didn't want to get into the war.  He did this program called  "Lend-Lease."  In my right nostril I just picked up Libby's scent over there in her Corral.                                         

          ADMIRAL HARRY E. YARNELL (1875-1959)             

              

           In 1941 the U.S. was supposedly "Caught by Surprise" at Pearl Harbor but Dais says our boss's father thinks that should have never happened.  This one Navy Admiral named Harry E.    Yarnell from the State of "Iowa" had been warning about it.  Speedy Gonzalez ran bye.                

         It says here on February 7, 1932 Admiral Yarnell, who fought in the "Spanish-American War" of 1898; did a "combat exercise" and proved Pearl  Harbor was "Vulnerable." Mr. Steve's dad was born on February the 23rd in 1932.  A street in Sylmar is named "Yarnell" too.                

         Oh!  I notice Admiral Yarnell was born on October the 18th, and died on the 7th of July.  I've mentioned a few times over the last two days how Mr. Steve's brother Rock's birthday is on the 17th of October, while our boss was born on July the 9th.  Libbie whinnied over there.             

       

 AIRCRAFT CARRIER "U.S.S. LEXINGTON"      

    

   Mr. Steve's father read about what this Encyclopedia calls Admiral Yarnell's "empirical demonstration" in 1932.  He showed that Airplanes "launched" from the "deck" of one of those  "Aircraft Carriers" I've written about could be "effective."  I smell some mesquite.                       

      Too bad the U.S. Government "ignored" or "disregarded" Admiral Yarnell but I guess the Japanese didn't.  I'll bet that guy Admiral Yamamoto knew about those "War Games."  Oh!  In  the mid-1930's Admiral Yarnell "commanded" the U.S.S. "Lexington" or "Lady Lex."                 

       Yesterday, I wrote about how Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Sandy's dad was a "Gunner" on that Carrier Lexington; in May of 1942 at the "Battle of the Coral Sea."  When it sank he was able to escape but his hearing was "Impaired" from then on.  A Crow is cawing out in the desert.             

      

    METALLICA                                    AC/DC                                    NEIL YOUNG        

  PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ                            

     

       One time Dais heard our boss talking on the phone with Mr. Ralph and he told him about a Magazine article he read about Musicians who have lost some or all of their hearing.  I guess the Drummer from METALLICA is one of them.  And so is AC/DC'S second Singer too.                      

        Daisy says Mr. Steve read how that guy Neil Young also has bad hearing now and so does the WHO'S Guitarist.  There's a band called BLACK EYED PEAS Dais told me, and that Magazine article said one of them has bad hearing.  Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are flying bye.                   

       Yesterday I mentioned how Beethoven went "Deaf" in his twenties and that smart girl Helen Keller  was born unable to hear and see as well.  Boy God!  Thank You for my good hearing and  ability to smell.  Mr. Steve's dad also now has bad hearing from his time in the Korean War.                          

 "BOXER" REBELLION (1899-1901)                   "GREAT WHITE" FLEET (1907-1909)     

        

      Wow!  This Encyclopedia says Admiral Yarnell, as a young sailor; took part in the "Boxer Rebellion" I mentioned yesterday when I wrote about that little Hunchback Homer Lea.  That's when some Chinese revolted.  I guess those Boxers were also good "Hand to Hand" fighters.         

       Boy!  Admiral Yarnell also fought in the Philippines after the U.S. acquired them after the Spanish-American War.  And, in 1907; he served in the voyage of the "Great White Fleet" that President Roosevelt sent on "Courtesy" visits to parts of the world.  Heathcliff crowed.                  

     That fleet of white American Battleships sailed around the world.  "Teddy" Roosevelt said they were "friendly" visits but Mr. Steve thinks the real purpose was to "intimidate."   President Roosevelt used to say an old African Proverb, "Speak softly, but carry a big stick."                                

"CHIPS"

        Daisy heard our boss tell Mr. Ralph on the phone about how one of the roads down there in Sylmar is named "Yarnell" just like the Navy Admiral.  Yesterday I wrote about that mid-1970's tv show called "Chips" which Dais saw and told me about.   I'd like to see it someday.                    

      I mentioned yesterday how that tv show Chips, which is about Police Officers who ride on Motorcycles; was often "Filmed" in Sylmar.  Daisy thinks I  would really like wearing one of the  glue and gold helmets "California Highway Patrol" officers wear.  I love royal blue.                       

      A Chips "Staging" area in Sylmar was on "Yarnell" Street right next to the #210 Freeway.  Chips was made before the "#210" was finished or open to traffic.  So, sometimes Mr. Steve and  Sandy walked home from Sylmar High on the empty stretch between "Polk" and "Maclay."                             

CHIPS (SYLMAR IN THE BACKGROUND)

    

       Yesterday I wrote about one of the times when Mr. Steve, and his friend Tim the Mechanic; were driving too fast in Mr. Steve's first 1968 Chevelle.  They "Sped" right into this area where    the Chips "Film Crew" was at.  Samson and Delilah just flew over the top of the house.                 

        Daisy says at first our boss and Mr. Tim thought they were what's called "Busted" until they realized it was only Actor's wearing Highway Patrol uniforms.  That area they drove into was at the bottom of the #210 Yarnell "Off Ramp."   I smell the baby Cholla cactus over there.                

    As I said in book one, Mr. Steve was really lucky when he came down the Yarnell Off Ramp that one time.  Highway Patrol officers give "Tickets" for bad driving, and his ticket would have been very, very "Expensive."  Well, it's back to learning about World War II for me.                     

                    

CHARLES LINDBERGH (1902-1974)

      Tomorrow in book three Daisy has me scheduled to write about American "Isolationism."  That's when, during the Great Depression of the 1930's; many Americans did not want to fight    in World War II at all.  Oh!  Theodora the Thrasher Bird is running bye right now.                       

        In the years right before the Second World War there were Americans like that guy Charles Lindbergh, the famous Pilot; who wanted the U.S. to "stay out" of the war.  Joseph Kennedy Sr. was also an "Isolationist" too.  They were in an organization called "America First."                   

        From what it says in this Encyclopedia, in 1941 and 1942 there was a lot of fighting going on in North Africa.  Benito Mussolini's Italy had been there since the late 1930's.  But Hitler had to  "bail him out" because the British were doing good against the Italians.  I smell Mesquite.            

   

ERWIN ROMMEL

        It says in this one Encyclopedia that, in 1941; Hitler sent Erwin Rommel to North Africa to help the Italians.  But, I'll write in detail about it later today.  I've mentioned a few times already how that guy Erwin Rommel shares a birthday with Mr. Steve's Niece Samantha.                          

        Over the next two days I'll write about "Espionage" and "Deception" in World War II.  Ian Flemming was right "In the Thick" of things" like that.  Now, I'll look up and write about this    thing called "Operation Mincemeat."  I really like how Mesquite smells.                                          

        Once Hitler had given up on trying to conquer England and attacked Stalin in 1941, and the British and Americans finally beat Rommel in North Africa; by mid-1943 the Allies decided to    invade Italy in Sicily.  That's the island where Italian-American gangsters came from.                                                          

               

   In World War II Francisco Franco's Fascist Spain, even though Hitler and Mussolini had helped it win the civil war in the late 1930's; was what they call "Neutral."  But the Allies knew  Franco was secretly helping the Germans by giving them information.  I smell Sage.                     

    The Americans and British knew, after beating the Germans in North Africa in 1943; that  Hitler's Generals would suspect they would attack somewhere else in the Mediterranean Sea.  It might be near Greece.  Or it might be Sicily.  One of the Ducks is quacking next door.                    

   This Encyclopedia says, to deceive the Germans and Italians about the location of the next attack; a dead body was "floated" off of Spain's coast in Operation Mincemeat.  And a briefcase with fake but supposedly valuable documents was attached to one of that bodies wrists.                            

OPERATION "MINCEMEAT" (1943) 

                  

       I guess it was that British Spy Agency MI6, which Ian Flemming was an Agent of;  which did Operation Mincemeat.  The British and American Intelligence Agencies hoped Spain would  find the body and open the briefcase.  The documents said the Allies would attack Greece.            

     To Spain it just looked like a Plane had crashed off shore and killed the man.  It says here Operation Mincemeat was "successful" and some of the Axis forces were shifted over to Greece. The Germans and Italians were tricked.  Two of the Pigeons are flying bye right now.                    

       Ian Flemming is described here as being a "Lateral" thinker.  I'll bet that's what Mr. Steve means when he says "Out of the Box." This is so interesting.  I guess Ian Flemmings 007 James    Bond books were "not successful" until President Kennedy said he read and liked them.                    

JAMES BOND

                                                                              

     I looked up the word "Corpse" and it means a "dead body."  Daisy heard Mr. Cliff joke about how, in 1943; there was "no shortage" of dead bodies that MI6 could've used in Operation Mincemeat.  Samson and Delilah the Crows are flying back in from the eastern desert.                  

       My Encyclopedia says, in 1943; the British went to "great lengths" as they say to convince the Germans that the body "washed up" in Spain was real. The Plane they crashed in the Ocean was even the exact type they knew the Germans would have expected to see then.                           

        When it comes to tricking someone our boss says, it's best to get that person to believe what they "already want to believe."  And in 1943 the German "Intelligence Agency," or "Abwehr;"  already thought the Allies would attack either Sardinia or Greece from North Africa.                    

                                                                   BERNARD MONTGOMERY / GEORGE S. PATTON

                            

        I guess the Allies took Sicily in mid-1943.  I'll write it later when I write about the American General George S. Patton and that British General Bernard Montgomery.  They both did good    in North Africa and then later in Sicily.  Heathcliff just crowed over there next door.                      

      This Encyclopedia says in Operation Mincemeat the British "planted" a picture of the dead man's supposed girlfriend and receipt for a wedding ring.  Adolf Hitler and the German  High Command completely fell for" the wrong idea that the invasion would be in Greece.                      

     Yesterday when I wrote about Hang Gliding in Sylmar I mentioned a tv show from the late 1960's called "Hogan's Heroes."  It was one of our boss's favorite shows Daisy told me.  She and  Millie watched it a few times.  She says it's pretty good and Mr. Steve thinks it's funny.                         

HOGAN'S HEROES         

              

        According to what Dais says, Hogan's Heroes is about a German "Prisoner of War" camp in World War II.  She thinks the prisoners are captured Allied Pilots because it's called a "Luft    Stalag."  I smell Manzanita.  I guess "stalag" is the German word for "camp."                               

       I'm sure glad I have all of these good foreign language Dictionaries.  In that show Hogan's Heroes the prisoners are actually spies gathering Intelligence and doing sabotage from inside of  the Prison Camp.  Daisy says their leader is a smart man named "Colonel Hogan."                        

       Dais told me the prisoners in the Camp are so talented and clever in hurting the Germans.  And they do it right "under the nose" of a bumbling "Commandant" named Colonel Klink, and a guard Sergeant Schultz.  "Schultz" always says, "I know nothing.  I see nothing."                                                   

   SERGEANT SCHULTZ / COLONEL KLINK     

     

       In Hogan's Heroes some of the prisoners are American Dais says.  And one is a French cook named "Le Beau."  That guy Richard Dawson, who I mentioned yesterday Mr. Steve and Sandy met up at the Hang Gliding area in Sylmar; plays the part of a British "Safe Cracker."                 

  Daisy says the Prison Camp's "Radio Operator" is a black American.  Together, all of the different prisoners trick Colonel Klink; especially that guy Colonel Hogan who's really smart I    guess.  I'd like to be known as smart too someday.  Boy! That would be so great I think!                

      I guess "P.O.W." is an abbreviated way of saying "Prisoner of War." I wonder where they would send captured Dogs in a war.  I would try to escape.  But, as I wrote yesterday; when I was first brought here to live I found out about fences.  Now I kind of like having fences.                                     

   

       Daisy told me about the one episode of Hogan's Heroes where Hogan and two of the other P.O.W.'s wore black S.S uniforms as disguises.  The two prisoners wear shiny black helmets just like the helmet our boss has near the Fireplace in the Living Room.  I smell Sage.                           

        In every episode" that one guy Colonel Hogan does something that helps the Allies win the war Dais told me.  My Dictionary says "Sabotage" means "deliberate destruction."  Hogan and  his men blow up Trains and Bridges.  Sometimes they help other prisoners escape.                         

      One time, when Daisy and Millie were in our boss's Bedroom; they heard him try to play drums along to a song called "Sabotage" by that British band BLACK SABBATH.  It's a good    song Dais says.  I can't wait for when I'm not afraid to go all of the way into the house.                                                                                

         CHRISTINE GRANVILLE (1915-1952)       

  

      During World War II one of the best spies against the Nazi's was a Polish girl who worked for the British.  Her name was Christine Granville but, according to this Encyclopedia; her real   name was this really long Polish name.  I can smell Andy and Helen around here.                          

    This is interesting.  This Encyclopedia says Christine Granville was her "Nom de Guerre" or "War Name" in French.  I guess in the past French soldiers "adopted" war names so if Daisy was in the French Army her war name might be "Daisy Córdova "dis" Piñon Hills."                    

      Yesterday in book one I wrote about how some people from places like Spain and Italy put the word "de" in their names.  De means "from" or "of."  So I guess over in France they would   put "dis" to say the same thing.  I now see Andy and Helen over there under Manny.                         

    Wow!  In this Encyclopedia it says that Polish girl Christine Granville did like in Hogan's Heroes.  She helped "disrupt" and "sabotage" German Supply lines in "occupied" France and    her country of Poland too.  I hear some of the Ducks quacking over there next door.                      

        I guess that girl Christine Granville's "daring exploits" for the British "S.O.E. helped beat the Germans.  S.O.E. stands for "Special Operations Executive" and Christine Granville was a    member of the "French Underground."  Andy and Helen just ran out into the desert.                    

        Daisy told me about how Colonel Hogan always outsmarts Colonel Klink and that other guy Sergeant Schultz.  Speedy Gonzalez just ran out into the desert.  And he zoomed right through     the left vertical slot on the side of the gate.  It's such a miracle he never hits his head.                                

       Dais says that guy Sergeant Schultz, who's supposed to be watching the prisoners; is way to nice and friendly to be a Prison guard.  In fact, sometimes he even "Turns a Blind Eye" as they    say.  Oh!  I just picked up the strong scent of a Gopher somewhere around here.                             

       In Hogan's Heroes the prisoners could escape any time they want.  They even have a tunnel but just pretend to be prisoners so they can help to fight the Germans.  Daisy tole me about how  Colonel Klink always brags about there never having been an escape from his camp.                     

      From what Daisy told me, Colonel Klink is not very smart.  Supposedly the main reason he got his job was because his Uncle was Heinrich Himmler's barber.  As I wrote yesterday in book one, Heinrich Himmler was the feared leader of Adolph Hitler's "Dreaded" S.S. units.                  

   

HEINRICH HIMMLER (1900-1945) WITH ADOLPH HITLER

       Tomorrow in book three I'm scheduled going to write about what's called the "Holocaust."  That's when six million Jews were killed by the Nazi's during World War II.  That guy Heinrich  Himmler was one of the main people responsible for what happened to the Jews.                           

      As I've mentioned a few times already in these first two books, the Jews and Mormons have often been hated and even killed in history.  Hey Lord!  It's so terrible how the people don't like Jews just because they have never accepted You as the "Messiah."  but Dais and I do.                   

 Hogan's Heroes takes place in a Prison Camp for captured Allied Pilots.  But the Nazi's had these other "Concentration" camps for Jews where prisoners were killed by using gas.  Then all  of the bodies were burned or what's called "Cremated."  I see the Gopher over there.                    

       

  

        Dais told me that our boss likes the uniforms and "Stereotyped" images of Nazis on Hogan's Heroes.  Major "Hochstetter" is a cold-blooded "Gestapo" Agent while General "Burkhalter" is often impatient and irritated with Colonel Klink.  The smelly Gopher is looking at me.                  

       Colonel Klink, instead of glasses; wears this thing called a "Monocle." A monocle is just one glass piece.  I guess that's a stereotyped image of a high class "Prussian" German.  But Klink is  what they call a "Goofball."  That Gopher just went back down into its hole right now.                 

       Major Hochstetter and General Burkhalter often can't figure out how someone so dumb like Colonel Klink could be a Camp Commandant, or how there could have been no escapes from his Stalag.  They know something's wrong but don't know what it is. I still smell the Gopher.                      ,              

     According to Daisy Colonel Klink's Uncle also cut Kaiser Wilhelm's hair.  I've mentioned how Kaiser Wilhelm was Germany's leader during World War I.  Mr. Steve thinks the writers of Hogan's Heroes knew a lot about the two world wars.  I can smell some Mesquite.                          

      Dais says the guy who plays the part of Colonel Klink on Hogan's Heroes is named Werner Klemperer.  On the show he's a terrible violin player but in real life he was really good.  Werner   Klemperer's father was one of the most famous "Orchestra Conductors" in Europe.                      

       Mr. Steve thinks Werner Klemperer did such an incredible job of playing a "Nerdish Nazi," he got what's called "Typecast." After playing that part so well no one could ever imagine him as anything other than "Klink."  So it was kind of hard for him to get other jobs later.                        

     BEVERLY HILLBILLIES                                                          GET SMART               

    

     Mr. Steve liked the Beverly Hillbillies and Get Smart tv shows.  Two of the Actors became typecast; Max Baer Jr. as "Jethro Bodine" and Don Adams playing "Maxwell Smart."  I'll write later about how Mr. Steve and his father met Max Baer Jr. in Las Vegas a few times.                     

   Daisy is so lucky!  She and Millie got to see a few episodes of the Beverly Hillbillies and Get Smart too.  I can't wait for the time when I'm not afraid to go into our boss's Bedroom.  Then I    can watch tv and listen to a lot more music.  I've mentioned my fear of being trapped.                   

      Another reason Dais suspects Mr. Steve likes Hogan's Heroes is because of this girl who plays Colonel Klink's secretary "Helga."  It's the same with "Elly May" on the Beverly Hillbillies and Agent 99 on Get Smart too.  Our boss sometimes just likes looking at pretty girls.                                                           

"HELGA" (HOGAN'S HEROES)

           

      Whether one is "handsome" is a subjective thing.  But like Mr. Randy jokes, as long as the person you're with likes you that's all that matters.  Mr. Steve thinks he's ugly.  Daisy and I like  how he looks.  But, we'd like him "No matter What" as as that old saying goes.                              

    Dais says a few years ago Mr. Steve met someone who knew about Werner Klemperer and how his demanding father was a really famous Classical music Conductor.  So no matter what he did in life, as "a mere Actor;" he could never "Measure Up" to his dad.  A Crow cawed.               

       Yesterday in book one I mentioned how Mr. Steve's father's best friend is named "Ivan."  He was in the American "Occupying" army in Germany after World War II ended.  That's where  he met his wife.  Daisy says her name is "Helga" just like the girl on Hogan's Heroes.                       

JIMMY LENNON JR. / MIKE TYSON / JIMMY LENNON SR.                                               LENNON SISTERS                                                                    

PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

       Later this afternoon I'm scheduled to write about this one guy named Jimmy Lennon Jr.  He also had a famous father who was so hard to measure up to.  Both Jimmy Lennon Sr. and Jr. are what they call "Ring Announcers" for Boxing matches.  Jimmy Sr. died back in 1992.                   

      Daisy says one of Mr. Steve's parents favorite tv shows is called the "Lawrence Welk Show."  It was from the 1950's and 1960's I guess and has a lot of music on it.  Mr. Steve's parents used to dancing at the Hollywood Palladium when they filmed the Lawrence Welk Show there.                 

     One of the singing groups on the Lawrence Welk Show are called the "Lennon Sisters."  Dais says they're related to Jimmy Lennon Sr. and Jr.  When he went to visit Belen as a kid Mr. Steve would often watch the Lawrence Welk Show with his four Grandparents.  I smell Sage.                         

VENICE

    Daisy says, in the late 1980's; Mr. Steve and Harriet saw a concert by this "singing" band called VENICE.  Two of the members are the younger brothers of the Lennon Sisters.  Mr. Steve thinks that they're also really good "harmonizing" singers just like their sisters are.                      

       I guess VENICE took its name from a city in West Los Angeles where they've always lived.  Mr. Steve was told the Lennon Sisters are Roman Catholics like us and did their first Lawrence  Welk Show in 1955.  As I've mentioned a few times, that's the year our boss was born.                   

       That band VENICE play a mix of Folk, Rock and even Soul music.  Mr. Steve was told how they're very popular in the country of Holland and there are thirteen kids in their family.  Two    of the members of VENICE are Cousins I guess.  A Train just whistled faintly to my left.              

  

                                  MUHAMMAD ALI                         

     

        Daisy says our boss told his friend Mr. Grant how, on a "small scale;" he's kind of like those two guys Werner Klemperer and Jimmy Lennon Jr.   As I wrote yesterday in book one, back in    the 1970's and 1980's; his dad was a very important person down there in Sylmar.                         

       One time Mr. Steve was told that the Boxer Muhammad Ali said, no matter how old you are or how much you've accomplished in life; to a certain extent males are viewed by their fathers as the same dumb kid they were growing up.  Theodora just ran under Manny the Shed.                   

    Well, the next thing on my outline to write about is one of Mr. Steve's favorite movies.  It's called "The Great Escape."  Its main Actor is Steve McQueen who I mentioned yesterday.  Daisy and Millie saw The Great Escape when they were in our boss's Bedroom one time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

      From what Daisy says, that movie The Great Escape" came out in the 1964; when our boss was nine years old.  Like Hogan's Heroes, it's also about a World War II "Luft" P.O.W. camp.     Daisy says it's about the Allied prisoners digging a long tunnel in order to escape.                          

    Oh!  Just when I was thinking about long skinny tunnels who should pop its head out of its burrow?  A Gopher.  That Gopher is coming up out of the hole just to the right of the big tree.  I  kind of like the smell of soft dirt.  A Finch streaked bye and is going out to the desert.                   

       Just like that funny show Get Smart was probably inspired by the James Bond movies, Dais  thinks the idea for Hogan's Heroes came from The Great Escape.  It has a few good scenes where that guy Steve McQueen rides some Motorcycles.  The smelly Gopher is gone now.                                

STEVE MCQUEEN  

     

    In the movie The Great Escape, I guess Steve McQueen doesn't really want to wait for the prisoners tunnel to be finished.  He's impatient so steals a German uniform and a Motorcycle.      Then he tries to sneak out of the P.O.W. camp.  I can smell the Twin Joshua trees.                          

     Daisy told me our boss one time met a guy from England who knew a lot about "Triumph" Motorcycles.  He said in The Great Escape Steve McQueen rode a Triumph painted to look like a German "BMW" which the Germans used back at the time of World War II.                                 

       Mr. Steve likes movies where Cars or Motorcycles are used to do what they call "Stunts."  In a little while I'll write about that other Steve McQueen movie called "Bullit." I mentioned it in book one.  Dais says in The Great Escape Steve McQueen jumps over fences on a Motorcycle.                        

                             

    Dais says that guy from England told our boss Steve McQueen, unlike most Actors; did his own Stunts.  In fact he said, Steve McQueen also played the part of the German who was also on a Motorcycle and chasing Steve McQueen.  Ah!  I smell Goliath the Gopher Snake.                        

    That man from England also discussed this other guy named "Evel" Knievel.  He was what they call a "Daredevil."  Daisy told me he's famous for doing incredible Motorcycle jumps over    buses and things like that.  He sometimes rode Triumphs I guess.  Dawn's barking.                        

      Mr. Steve told that English man Evel Knievel and his brother Rock share the same birthday of October 17th.  You can tell by what he's wearing in this Encyclopedia photo how Evel Knievel had a lot of pride in being an American.  Goliath just crawled under Jack the big Shed.                                                                                                 "EVEL" KNIEVEL (1938-2007)         

     

    It says here in this Encyclopedia how Evel Knievel's family was German and his real first name was "Robert."  But people just called him "Bob."  I've mentioned before before that Mr.    Steve has known a few guys named Robert and Bob over the years.  I still smell Goliath.               

       I guess Evel Knievel grew up in the State of "Montana."  Daisy says our boss has had a few customers up there in Montana.  But now he only has one left after the Recession.  With a Parts  Manager in "White Fish" named "Bowen" he's talked about Evel Knievel at times.                       

    Oh! I just heard a squeak coming from underneath Jack.  Goliath must've caught a Mouse that was hiding there.  And Fannie and Freddie must've heard that squeak too because they just flew in and landed on Jack's roof.  Crows love to eat Mice and Rats and things like that.               

CAESAR'S PALACE    

         

      A picture in my Encyclopedia shows Evel Knievel jumping over a big fountain. The caption says it's 1967 at "Caesar's Palace" in Las Vegas.  But, I guess he didn't make it and crashed hard on that jump.  Fannie and Freddie are clucking.  They're probably hungry right now.                   

       I guess Caesar's Palace is one of those gambling Casinos like the round building I mentioned yesterday over there on Catalina Island.   Daisy told me about how our boss and his father went  to  Caesar's Palace a few times in the early 1990's.  Heathcliff just crowed over there.                    

   Yesterday I mentioned a few times in my first book how, back in the early 1990's; Mr. Steve and his brother Rock worked with their father in the "Gaming industry.  As I wrote before, Mr.      Steve jokes that you can't use the word "gambling."  Instead, you have to say "gaming."                   

CORNELIUS BOZA EDWARDS / BOBBY CHACON

               

   Later today I'll write about that Boxer from Pacoima named Bobby Chacon.  Yesterday I mentioned how Mr. Steve's father helped him when he was almost homeless.  Mr. Bobby, in the    1970's and 1980's; twice became "World Champion" of his "Weight Division."                               

   As I mentioned yesterday, that singer Ritchie Valens was also from Pacoima; which is right near Sylmar and San Fernando.  Bobby fought in some of the most famous fights in the history    of Caesar's Palace.  Fannie and Freddie just lifted off and are flying away right now.                     

   Mr. Steve's friends Ralph and Gary are kind of like Boxing historians.  I mentioned them in book one.  Mr. Ralph went to San Fernando High School at the same time as Bobby Chacon did.  And Mr. Gary for years had his Barber Shop over there in the city of San Fernando.                     

                                            

BOBBY CHACON / "BAZOOKA" LIMON   

          

       Mr. Gary bought some of the pictures Mr. Steve took of Boxing in the 1980's.  Then he hung them up on the walls of his Barber Shop.  Some of them were from the night in 1988 when that    one guy Mike Tyson sat right next to Mr. Steve ringside down there at the Forum.                          

   Anyway, I'll come back to Bobby Chacon.  Right now I'll write a little bit more about Evel Knievel.  It says here he tried to shoot himself over a River in "Idaho" one time.  Daisy says our   boss and a Part Manager in "Boise" have talked about Evel Knievel a few times.                           

     Oh my God!  Ouch! A picture in this Encyclopedia shows Evel Knievel crashing.  It says in the caption it's at a place in London, England called "Wembley Stadium."  Daisy heard our boss joke that Evel Knievel is actually "as famous" for his "failed stunts" as anything else.                  

   

         

        Wow! I guess Evel Knievel holds the "Guinnes Book of Records" for "having broken" the most bones in one body.  Mr. Steve knows this guy named "Bernard."  As what's called a Piano    "Technician;" he's "Tuned" Pianos over there at Wembley Stadium a few times.                            

         Mr. Steve told Miss Susan how, since moving up here to the High Desert; all of the bones he broke as a kid hurt more.  He thinks Evel Knievel must've had a lot of pain in the cold weather. Dais says Mr. Steve met a guy who saw Evel Knievel do a jump up there in Barstow.                      

      I didn't intend to write so much about that guy Evel Knievel.  But I just thought about him when I wrote about the movie The Great Escape.  But now it's back to my outline and I can see    that I still have more to write about World War II.  I hear some Crows cawing faintly.                   

  

                                              

      In November of 1942, in "Operation Torch;" the Americans invaded northwest Africa and then helped the British beat the Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps.  I'll deal with it in more detail      later when I write about that guy George S. Patton. I can smell over there Libby.                           

   After taking back North Africa from Germany and Italy, in July of 1943 the Allies had to decide what to do next.  As I mentioned earlier,  "Operation Mincemeat" fooled the Axis  leaders into thinking the next Allied attack would be in Greece.  I can see Libby over there.                       

      Instead of attacking Greece, or anywhere else in the "Mediterranean" area; the Allies under the American General Eisenhower decided to invade the Italian island of Sicily.  I've mentioned  a few times how that's where the "Mafia" originated before coming to the United States.              

           

INVASION OF SICILY (JULY, 1943)  

                                      

     A good map shows how the Allies successfully invaded Sicily in 1943.  The caption says the invasion started on July the  9th and ended on August 17.  Mr. Steve was born on July 9 and his  mom's birthday is August the 20th.  Max the Hummingbird just whizzed bye.                                 

    George S. Patton and Bernard Montgomery defeated Erwin Rommel's "Afrika Korps"  in 1942.  So, because of how good they did in North Africa; General Eisenhower put them in charge of the Allied Sicily invasion armies in 1943.  Crows are cawing out in the desert.                             

    I guess General's Patton and Montgomery didn't really like each other that much.  In fact, they kind of hated each other.  They were very "competitive" it says here.  Even though I'm not  scheduled to write about George Patton so much right now, I think I will anyway.                                                     

GEORGE S. PATTON (1885-1945)

   

        Pictures of General Patton, who grew up here in Calfornia; show him wearing a helmet with three stars on it. Daisy says that means he was really important in World War II. Mr. Steve has    helmets like that in the  Living Room.  I like how General Patton's helmet looks.                            

      Another picture shows General Patton sitting on this white "Lipizzan" Horse. Tomorrow in book three Dais has me scheduled to write about Lipizzan Horses.  Mr. Steve saw those Horses    do a show at the Forum in the 1980's I guess.  Ah!  Libby's looking at me right now.                       

       I guess "Patton" went to the "Military Academy at West Point" just like Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant did in the 19th century. And, right before the U.S. entered World War I, he was sent down to northern Mexico to fight Pancho Villa.  I'll write more about that tomorrow.            

                                          

   WORLD WAR I       

     PAINTING BY MARK BEERDOM             

   

       America entered the First World War in 1817.  My Encyclopedia says the fighting had been going on already for three "bloody" years.  A painting in my Encyclopedia shows German and    British soldiers trying to kill each other with "Bayonets."  Mr. Steve has a few bayonets.               

       As I mentioned earlier, on the "Western Front" in Europe during World War I neither side could "advance" past the "No Man's Land" or "Killing Zone" between long "Trenches."  Daisy told me in Chess they call that a "Stalemate."  I can hear two Crows fighting.                                 

       By 1917 a few million soldiers had been killed in some huge battles.  In book one I mentioned how that guy J.R.R. Tolkien fought in some of them and it influenced his writing in The Lord of  the Rings.  George Patton was sent over to Europe to fight.  Libby's looking at me again.              

   

"MARK 1"  

    "Barbed Wire" and "Machine Guns" created those Killing Zones between the trenches in World War I.  That's why "Tanks" were developed.  The British were the first ones to think of    putting "Tractor Treads" on a war vehicle.  One of their early Tanks was the "Mark 1."               

       I notice in this picture of the Mark 1 how primitive it looks compared to the modern Tanks.  George Patton, Erwin Rommel and Charles de Gaulle all fought in World War I and later came  to believe in using fast-moving "Armour" in warfare.  Dawn's barking over there.                         

      In 1942 in North Africa, and 1943 in Sicily; General Patton commanded the "7th Army" for the Americans.  In 1944 and 1945 he led the "3rd Army."  I'll write about it later.  I mentioned    how Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Emily's father was a member of that particular army.                      

                                               

GEORGE S. PATTON (WORLD WAR I)    

      A picture in this one Encyclopedia shows George Patton standing in front of a First World War Tank.  The cannon looks kind of small.  Anyway, over the next two days I'll write a lot more about the history of Tanks and things like that.  A Train just whistled faintly to my left.               

    I guess, from what it says here in this one Encyclopedia; the invasion of Sicily in 1943 was called "Operation Husky."  There was some "hard fighting" but eventually the Allies were able  to "occupy" the entire island and that guy Benito Mussolini was "forced from power."                  

      One time Daisy and Millie were in our boss's Bedroom and got to watch a really good movie about George Patton.  Mr. Steve's dad, who rarely watches movies at all; liked that movie and so does Mr. Steve.  Samson and Delilah are flying back in from the eastern desert.                              

    

PATTON

       Daisy told me, in the movie about Patton; he successfully fights the Germans and Italians in Sicily.  He then beats his rival Bernard Montgomery's British army into this Sicilian town called  "Messina."  That made Montgomery really mad I guess.  Dawn's barking next door.                     

       Well, It looks like I'm finished with chapter five.  I have to go pee so it's "Perfect Timing" as they say.  I'll come back to writing about George S. Patton later today.  Mr. Steve and his father  think he was one of the most important World War II Generals who fought for the Allies.             

    Looking at my outline, it looks like at the beginning of the next chapter I'll learn about the "Mafia."  Most of the time the governments don't like them because they do a lot of crime.  But  in the Second World War the Mafia helped the Allies defeat the Germans and Italians.