tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266737182024-03-05T07:53:34.684-08:00singularityCap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.comBlogger733125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-25316810941247564132022-07-13T12:11:00.002-07:002022-07-13T12:35:15.838-07:00Pickleball League 7/22<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Our neighborhood pickleball club started a league for the
Summer of 2022. I signed up and coaxed Ronnie into joining a team with me. The
setup is this: Each team produces two mixed doubles pairs who play another team’s
mixed doubles pairs, each pair playing each pair twice for a total of 8 games,
4 games for each pair. First match was Monday evening, 7/11/22. It was a
really hot day but rain clouds helped alleviate the heat a little as the sun
was going down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcb4jouZqLonHb3QNea1fWzQUXMkmoGvv20-XME-YwT1EwkLV4u6WnWljYnykz3BGaEann-st9ZZAsk_r18Uivs8tUqcOH5mIlels8xa4-QWIgZm0q6rU-l0GEUjjskII34aWwaDjvmE-Awp_yZvBQjL-wx1dVWJ5iOKiy66Plg6F0dn5ecLc/s2048/71122Sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcb4jouZqLonHb3QNea1fWzQUXMkmoGvv20-XME-YwT1EwkLV4u6WnWljYnykz3BGaEann-st9ZZAsk_r18Uivs8tUqcOH5mIlels8xa4-QWIgZm0q6rU-l0GEUjjskII34aWwaDjvmE-Awp_yZvBQjL-wx1dVWJ5iOKiy66Plg6F0dn5ecLc/s320/71122Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Our A team played 2 games against their A team and split
the games 1 win each. My partner and I were the B team and we won both games
handily. Ronnie was designated scorekeeper and photographer this evening. She’ll
play next week. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKcUQHw-E5tdmLlilj0EmMlt4KeAEsk9cSQSZRV7PAV1gs3Hs-DB9577aniBAH0ascNTq7OZfdk-LDZUm8Y9IbAtckFHF8nRT5U9UoED-F6nF6xxrzj1ME9InGje3RD_uuCUsCywx-kvgaZWENlzgEiAIgh5yKWVhRxNwtum9gCHbSH7mfkU/s1280/71122Serving.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKcUQHw-E5tdmLlilj0EmMlt4KeAEsk9cSQSZRV7PAV1gs3Hs-DB9577aniBAH0ascNTq7OZfdk-LDZUm8Y9IbAtckFHF8nRT5U9UoED-F6nF6xxrzj1ME9InGje3RD_uuCUsCywx-kvgaZWENlzgEiAIgh5yKWVhRxNwtum9gCHbSH7mfkU/s320/71122Serving.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Starting the second round of games, we got a rain
shower and took a rain timeout. That didn’t last too long and we soon got back
to playing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mLOBhKm5MGZdGAkyqNnQKl66mmimS_FMMODFP0zzeUPY9ulZLhto6t-FkcaNFMu_nmtX8Vg12kr1w4ztRdfWrgLR33pEWlz7plUj9LuSNNI05SwqSQGKxRCSy5mkS0Kq7VN1UUSHoW_lEozZYdnQAIDmNohpL0KzXzRHUP5hJ9IFcYgtQuU/s1280/71122Courts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mLOBhKm5MGZdGAkyqNnQKl66mmimS_FMMODFP0zzeUPY9ulZLhto6t-FkcaNFMu_nmtX8Vg12kr1w4ztRdfWrgLR33pEWlz7plUj9LuSNNI05SwqSQGKxRCSy5mkS0Kq7VN1UUSHoW_lEozZYdnQAIDmNohpL0KzXzRHUP5hJ9IFcYgtQuU/s320/71122Courts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For the second round, our A team played their B team
and our B team played their A team. Our A team easily won both games and my
partner and I on our B team split the games with the opponent’s A team. Without
going into the complex rules for calculating match points, we earned 13 match
points for the night vs. the opponent’s 5. It was a good start and a GREAT deal
of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo6NjZmALPNNHCf8hMuFoU_lsFn_DGf04hyNJQjrJbwgQ6jwtkMGzupxvXf41Wg7NVM0z2RWs7M7e_PYicbjjtLXfHUnVPA5aX1om9zOPC22PymmYMcAy9MutW-h99ndU6ao2o5WZUskMorymPqNKC6gXgVyjkroI23EiiRyRRWxqPJCD61Y/s846/71122Ready.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo6NjZmALPNNHCf8hMuFoU_lsFn_DGf04hyNJQjrJbwgQ6jwtkMGzupxvXf41Wg7NVM0z2RWs7M7e_PYicbjjtLXfHUnVPA5aX1om9zOPC22PymmYMcAy9MutW-h99ndU6ao2o5WZUskMorymPqNKC6gXgVyjkroI23EiiRyRRWxqPJCD61Y/s320/71122Ready.jpeg" width="192" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ronnie got some great photos but I especially love
this one of me moving too fast for camera shutter speed, having just attacked a
soft floater, sending it back as a tachyon. (grin)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdI_cXuzYnjJKstJtsZKQ7ouVxFLQxYe-0A6sT-8fHMdSAGnsNu4K_NbeFStRF4YPabZtNux0xda2QMO0SLwpusvP1vEChjn2MkLftR6TlTR2bZq4H3i46S7blMFFPDigXefnTzAKOj4molcw_UWXXGKg6k-D9mqFTB8BqTKdeRPYvbnRLtgs/s598/71122Fast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdI_cXuzYnjJKstJtsZKQ7ouVxFLQxYe-0A6sT-8fHMdSAGnsNu4K_NbeFStRF4YPabZtNux0xda2QMO0SLwpusvP1vEChjn2MkLftR6TlTR2bZq4H3i46S7blMFFPDigXefnTzAKOj4molcw_UWXXGKg6k-D9mqFTB8BqTKdeRPYvbnRLtgs/s320/71122Fast.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After 4 games in the heat, both thermal and competitive,
I was definitely tired. But GOOD tired. I think I’m gonna like this league.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0ANUjABfdhS9Ibl_m6HeXgkcVDSIMk8m9pdm0n2tsXh9Vn1jwMWYcbCHabBoUrzjJHCwQlvOzQyHibFvNKbXMhoOk-I9F747qeQrQhtji97Tyujl4QpCozqrz91DXvasyk8pVKqjyTBkxy5xsQoykJMk52w4l6ScY9OWNxJTFoxwljYrA-E/s2048/71122Tired.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0ANUjABfdhS9Ibl_m6HeXgkcVDSIMk8m9pdm0n2tsXh9Vn1jwMWYcbCHabBoUrzjJHCwQlvOzQyHibFvNKbXMhoOk-I9F747qeQrQhtji97Tyujl4QpCozqrz91DXvasyk8pVKqjyTBkxy5xsQoykJMk52w4l6ScY9OWNxJTFoxwljYrA-E/s320/71122Tired.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-36633362525756899782022-06-14T11:16:00.001-07:002022-06-14T11:35:45.141-07:00June 2022<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">When we left here for a long stint in Seattle, we had
a local pet sitter take care of Rigby. She did a lovely job and Ronnie asked if
she ever needed more people to do pet things. She did. So Ronnie started doing
dog walks, cat sits, etc. Being Ronnie, she invested herself in the effort and
before long, she was working essentially fulltime, not just doing the tasks but
doing administrivia and setting up the company website, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">On Monday 6/13, Ronnie was gonna take a day completely
off from pet stuff, just some pickleball and fun. But then…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Company owner called that she hit a deer with her car
and was freaking out and not vey useful. Almost simultaneously, a sitter called
that the cat she was visiting had shit the bed, puked, and was having trouble
standing. Ronnie started scheduling other people to cover the car accident
complications and she and I went over to check on the unhappy cat. Her hindquarters
seemed dysfunctional in a significant way, so Ronnie started trying to line up emergency
vet services. There was a logistical nightmare. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Meanwhile, the deer is dead, but the car is drivable.
The driver was not so functional and was heading home with a bad case of the
shakes. Ronnie managed to find a vet who’d fit us in. We arrived, they took
Midnight into the back and we waited. Well, I waited while Ronnie still worked
her phone reassigning sitters to cover things and talking to Midnight’s owner
about the situation. Eventually, the vet came back with a diagnosis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Ever worse than we feared. Blood clot thrown and
causing blockage to both rear legs. Prognosis: even with radical medical
intervention ($$$$$) survival was 50% and even that survival was 6-18 months. Ronnie
had a long tearful call with Midnight’s owner and the decision was to put her
to sleep. Ronnie held her and we petted her while the vet made the injection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, tears flowed as Midnight faded to that
undiscovered country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Ronnie and I went home to recuperate and get something
to eat because it was now near midday and we’d started this before 7. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Pet sitting was covered for the day and Ronnie and I
decided to recuperate with a movie at the theater. Summer popcorn blockbuster,
the newest Jurassic World. We even spent the exorbitant fees for popcorn and
goodies. It was a beneficial anodyne. Bad plot, bad acting, intellectually a
trashpile, but it was a big-screen romp and fun for a couple of sad folks. On the
way home from the movie, we stopped at the vet’s for a clay pawprint of
Midnight for her mom and to get our credit card reimbursed cuz we paid up front
and, while we were at the movies, Midnight’s mom sent her credit card info. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Moving toward evening, instead of going home, we
stopped at a local wine bar, Javelina Run, and had wine and noshes for dinner.
Finally at home, we settled in together and had an early bedtime. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Tough day. Good day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-1318393405582950102022-03-04T08:27:00.000-08:002022-03-04T08:27:32.622-08:00Song for "The Lost Century: The Laughing Dead"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxrviAkE43Q5-t0A8hBW8OqJegig2-zYTHLxM-zkxj5BIRNt9zS01hGg8xSqVkmc1N29rvr4oyxrTG-TXgmom0cTfM0iOxy1Y15TLtPm2G9dMsVJmJCNyGTwmGHbiYxTchXKgAhuWziAGetwIKNlR7R2SGcRyrKAAzqBC1UT7PwtMr5cGlJLc=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxrviAkE43Q5-t0A8hBW8OqJegig2-zYTHLxM-zkxj5BIRNt9zS01hGg8xSqVkmc1N29rvr4oyxrTG-TXgmom0cTfM0iOxy1Y15TLtPm2G9dMsVJmJCNyGTwmGHbiYxTchXKgAhuWziAGetwIKNlR7R2SGcRyrKAAzqBC1UT7PwtMr5cGlJLc=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Song title: Zombie Ya-Ya! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The third novel in my legionary series features "zombies", the laughing dead, as noted in the title. I decided the song for this novel needed to have a New Orleans sound. Being the lazy little shit I am, instead of writing a brand new song I just leveraged the tune of one I'd already written. A sample of that is linked later in this post. First up is the <i>teaser </i>for that novel which is included at the end of the second novel. Thus:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(excerpt from "The Lost Century: The Laughing Dead")</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">They spotted the huge man
carrying a small figure on his back at about the same time the laughers did.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The legionaries were moving
in formation along a broad, open thoroughfare when they saw the large man and
his burden down a narrower side street and heard the manic laughter coming from
beyond the burdened giant and echoing off the buildings. It was a cool morning
and a light breeze stirred the debris along the empty street. The sun left
large pools of shadow which the legionaries scanned carefully in case there
might be </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">quiet</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> laughers hiding there.
You never knew. The city was abnormally still except for the occasionally-heard
cackling laughter echoing from random locations. Sadly for the legionaries,
this laughter was not from a random, indeterminate location; it was nearby and
coming right at them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Shit!” Flavius exclaimed.
“This way! This way!” he yelled to the figure, motioning him toward the
legionaries’ position. Then in Greek to their translator, “Tanzing, tell him to
haul ass to us!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">While Tanzing yelled in the
local singsong language and the giant ran toward the Romans, his burden
clinging to his neck and bouncing on his broad back, Flavius prepared his men
to defend their lives and that of Tanzing and the big stranger and his smaller
burden, “Wheel right. Shield wall. Swords. Do NOT let these fuckers bite you.
You get bitten, you’re done.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The big man reached the Roman
line and ducked around the end to stand behind the legionaries panting, with
the laughers only ten yards behind him. The laughers closed on them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">They were human or had been
human once. The natural yellowish color of the local people had turned a
flatter, duskier shade on them and their features were drawn, wrinkled, and hollow,
like someone who’d gone too many days without water. Or like a corpse. Flavius
disliked having his thoughts leaning in that direction and so he returned to
simply observing them. They twitched and staggered uncontrollably like badly
animated puppets but came swiftly despite that. The truly fearsome thing about
them was that their faces were distorted in what seemed to be unbearable pain
and twitched as badly as their limbs; but despite that, they laughed
continuously and horribly. The laughter added a bizarre, surreal quality to the
scene. Their horribly bloodshot eyes simply exacerbated their overall gruesome
aspect.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There were about twenty of
them and they quickly twitch-stumbled to close with the Roman line, spastically
grabbing at them and continuously trying to bite the legionaries, laughing
psychotically the entire time. The troops went about their work carefully but
professionally. They blocked the laughers with their shields and stabbed them
with their swords. Repeatedly. The laughers refused to die easily. The
legionaries discovered that a head strike put the enemy down quickly but a head
strike required that a Roman expose his own arm to a laugher’s mouth which made
him vulnerable to being bitten if his strike missed. They settled for multiple
body thrusts and cuts until a laugher slowed down from that, then maybe a head
strike to finish it off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The attackers twitchily
grabbed and clawed and bit and laughed maniacally while the legionaries
shouldered their shields into them to blunt their attacks and stabbed, stabbed,
and stabbed again, automatons endlessly performing their duty. Corpses began to
fall at the legionaries’ feet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Fuck!” Squid yelled and
jumped back a half step, thrusting his sword toward his feet. “Medusa’s fucking
snake hair! One of the ones on the ground wasn’t completely dead and tried to
bite my foot. He only got a mouthful of sandal before I finished him. Fuck!
Scared the shit out of me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“You heard him,” Flavius
warned over the sound of the manic laughter. “Make sure they’re dead. Watch
your feet. Don’t get careless.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Pluto’s rancid cum! Check
his foot when we’re done, Centurion,” River called out. “I don’t want that
fucker </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">turning</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> like them and then
biting me in my sleep or somethin’!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Gus will check everybody
when we get back. Full-body med checks on a regular basis from now on. For </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">everybody</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">,” Flavius spoke for all the legionaries
to hear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Squid moved back into
position to tighten the line before the raucous enemy could take advantage of
the opening. The legionaries continued their battle with the monstrous laughers
whose numbers dwindled as the legionaries killed them methodically. The volume
of the laughing decreased as the enemy numbers were whittled away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Well, this is just the
weirdest fuckin’ thing ever,” panted Tits between thrusts into laughers’
bodies. “I mean, we’ve seen some strange shit but, Jupiter’s erection!, this is
just fuckin’ </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">strange</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. I hate that
psychotic laughing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">No one disagreed and no one
wanted to spare a breath to add anything to Tits’ observation. Eventually, the
street became silent. The laughing ended as the last of the attackers went down
to join his fellow corpses. The legionaries’ heavy breathing betrayed the
silence that came with the end of the laughter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Let’s make sure,” Flavius
ordered. “Each body gets a thrust under the chin up into the brain. Finish it
up now. Rock, watch West. Gus, watch East.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As the legionaries went about
their business, Flavius turned his attention to the giant who’d joined them.
That one’s burden climbed down from his back and Flavius was surprised by what
he saw. He’d been expecting a child but instead saw a tiny ancient man wearing
tattered robes and smelling like a tavern at closing time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">From down the line a
startled, “Oh, nasty!” sounded in aggrieved tones from Miller. “I got a coupla
bloody teeth stuck in the edge of my shield. What the fuck are we facing this
time?” The legionaries panted, regaining their wind, and stared wonderingly at
the dead enemy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The short, ancient, wizened
man started jabbering at them in his singsong language while Flavius and his
men caught their breath. When he stopped, Tanzing said to Flavius in Greek,
“This is Master Downwind Cow, as best I can figure his name out, and he says
you must never let them bite you. Never! Or you become like them. Probably best
not get their spit on you, either. He says he’ll accept a silver piece for this
invaluable advice.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius grinned slightly at
the impertinence of the old man. “Tell him we just saved his life, what there
is left of it, and I say that pretty much makes us even since his ‘advice’ is
something we knew before we came out on the streets. And we’re armed and
armored. What’s he doing out here with just a wine jug? And a local guy as big
as Blue when they’re all so little?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius spoke to the men
cynically in Latin, “Tanzing says the old man recommends that we avoid getting
bitten and wants us to pay him for that advice.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The men were still standing
around the bodies of those they’d just killed. They laughed in nervous relief
and Tits offered, “Gee, Centurion, tell Tanzing to tell him I said thanks for
the fuckin’ advice and I’ll pay him with a swift kick in his tiny yellow ass.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Blue eyeballed the big native
menacingly, “Who’s the big fucker? I don’t like his looks.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pinhead looked from the big
native to Blue and said, “Shit, Blue, you’re just jealous that he’s as big as
you. Most of these fuckers are even smaller than me. He’s a fucking giant among
yellow men.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The rest of the men gave a
small chuckle and returned to examining the corpses they’d just created,
searching for answers that wouldn’t be forthcoming from these particular
enemies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When Tanzing shared Flavius’
comments in the local singsong language with the old man, he frowned and took a
long pull from the wine jug in his gnarled fist. His assistant and erstwhile
steed, a genuine giant among these tiny people by rivalling Blue in height and
breadth, replied to Tanzing at length. Eventually, Tanzing shared that the big
assistant, whose name was Worst Ox, was telling them how brilliant and
important the old man was, that he’d been the Emperor’s best advisor in the
past, and that he was observing and studying the laughers in order to solve the
mystery of this plague and save the city. And the kingdom. Possibly the entire
world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius shook his head at the
sheer audacity of this statement and said, “Great. Tell him to charge the </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">city</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> a silver piece for his advice, if
we get back to the government offices alive. Meanwhile, let’s clear out of here
before more of those things come and attack us now that we’re encumbered with </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">him</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When Tanzing shared that in
singsong, the smooth-faced Worst Ox nodded placidly and old Master Downwind Cow
grunted dismissively before taking another pull on his wine jug. Then Worst Ox
turned and stooped, allowing the old man to climb on his back into the riding
harness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius shook his head again
at the old man’s antics and ordered, “Protective detail around these oddballs
and Tanzing – Gus, point scout, me in the lead, Rock in trail, the rest of you
in four pairs around them. Keep your eyes peeled, call out threats, and let’s
get our Roman asses back to the Safe Zone unbitten. Protect these guys if you
can, especially Tanzing; but if things get too sporty, let the biters have them
to save yourself. Now form up and let’s move out.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">From his “saddle” on his big
riding human, the old man spoke to Tanzing who told Flavius that he was being
paid one hundred pieces of gold by the city to diagnose the plague and he was
asking Flavius to bring a body back with them so Master Cow could cut it open
and study it. Flavius snorted and shared that with his men in Latin. While they
laughed, he told Tanzing to tell old Master Cow that he should get down and
walk and have his Ox carry a body if he wanted one that badly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Master Cow sneered, pulled
greedily at his wine jug, and mumbled to the Ox as they formed up to travel
back to the Safe Zone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Gus headed up the street,
back toward the center of the city and the Safe Zone there. The men left their
position where they’d been clustered around the bodies they’d just killed and moved
into formation, shields up, swords out, eyes scanning nervously. They were all
shaken by the sheer strangeness of the attack and the attackers. They were more
than happy to return to the security of the Safe Zone and get things figured
out before they went roaming around the city again, exposing themselves to the
bizarre laughers. The twitching and staggering was strange enough but that
incessant, frantic laughter was truly disturbing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Why did they </span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">laugh<i> constantly and horribly while they
staggered at us, twitching bizarrely and trying to bite us? </i>That was the
question and concern universal to the legionaries. No one wanted to get bitten
and turn into one of those <i>things</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Time to get back to the Safe
Zone and get their own jugs of that rice wine the locals make, like the old man
was guzzling. Maybe some bedmates, too. Let the Centurion and the NCOs figure
out what to do next. The officers had gotten them this far ok, despite the
months and the miles and the </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">other</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
freaky shit they’d encountered before running into these shambling, twitching
laughers. The officers would make a plan and the legionaries would kill
whatever needed killing to fulfill the plan. It had worked out reasonably well
so far. No reason why it couldn’t continue to work all the way to the Ocean.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And back? No, that was too
much to think about. Get to the Safe Zone. Get drunk. Get laid. Deal with the
laughers. Discover the secrets of silk. Head East to find the Ocean. That’s
enough to think about for right now. More than enough. Thinking was officer’s
work. Drinking was legionaries’ work. Well, killing was mostly their work.
Killing </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">and</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> drinking. And whoring.
Definitely, whoring. They were looking forward to being back inside the Safe
Zone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> ...</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In this novel, I hope to have my legionaries meet the protagonists of Barry Hughart's "Bridge of Birds" - Master Li and his associate Number Ten Ox. I've played with them a bit by having the (inept) translator mess up their names. If I ever finish it, I'll hafta contact the author to ask permission to use these characters but I'd sure like to. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, here's the song:<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 20pt;">Zombie Ya-Ya<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">By Ken Shi<br />
Recorded by Flavius and His Famous Furies, from their album “Fuckin’ Lost!” <br />
(Featuring the Fates (Parcae) – Nona, Decuma, Morta)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Intro</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(We got a story to tell you<br />
And every word is true!)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">V1</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Oh, I hear them laughing at
me<br />
And it scares me through and through.<br />
I survived bad shit before this<br />
But now I might be due.<br />
I see those death’s-head faces<br />
And nasty teeth coated red.<br />
Don’t look like they’re alive<br />
But ya know they sure ain’t dead!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Chorus</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Come on, Fortuna! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Whatchu need?)</span><br />
Make this come out right! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(We’ll
do what we do!)</span><br />
I got a bad, bad feelin’<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(You
should!)</span><br />
We might not win this fight! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(That’s
up to you!)</span><br />
That’s right!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">V2</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ramblin’, shambin’ scarecrows<br />
Stumblin’ all over town.<br />
Seems it’s up to us Furies<br />
To put this infestation down.<br />
Ya know we got the skills.<br />
Just gotta know what to do.<br />
Gonna come up with a plan<br />
And then push on through!<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Chorus<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ride</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (verse form)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Bridge</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Fight, trooper, fight! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Uhn-huh!)</span><br />
Don’t get dragged into that dark night! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Oh no!)</span><br />
The Centurion, and the Optio too, <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Uhn-huh!)</span><br />
You know they’re there for you! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Oh
yeah!)</span><br />
No zombies can drag us down. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(That’s
right!)</span><br />
We’re gonna clear this whole damned town! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Go ahead!)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">V3</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Had some help from Master Cow<br />
And his big ol’ Ox!<br />
We got a lotta scrapes and bruises<br />
And we got some real hard knocks.<br />
But we made it to the ending<br />
With no legionaries lost.<br />
Ya gotta wait ‘til the fight is over<br />
Before you count the cost!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Chorus</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Outro</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(That’s the end of our tale.<br />
Now that guitar is gonna wail!)</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
<i>ride out (guitar)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here's the sample of how the music goes. Ignore the lyrics from the (original) tune. Also ignore my terrible singing voice and mistakes in playing my own song!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AblpJ9h4IaI">WhoDoVoodoo - YouTube</a></p><p></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-5336936877770608002022-03-03T10:12:00.000-08:002022-03-03T10:12:25.278-08:00The War on Christmas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjObw04LBjv0La56drUeUKKtPwa_qQc9M4UgKNA7CZ9wUgpcqJQu69aT08uYPZ4JcvwStoNLvKEoe0yD1X-AFWQ_YJ4B59Zny4xbKYM538wtMkLUkwGkX_ddarq6a_rEiHc_y13QYQDK3WZ_-bCX8BKIZt4z4nvr-KS8IDautg1QFJhquDMGJ4=s474" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="474" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjObw04LBjv0La56drUeUKKtPwa_qQc9M4UgKNA7CZ9wUgpcqJQu69aT08uYPZ4JcvwStoNLvKEoe0yD1X-AFWQ_YJ4B59Zny4xbKYM538wtMkLUkwGkX_ddarq6a_rEiHc_y13QYQDK3WZ_-bCX8BKIZt4z4nvr-KS8IDautg1QFJhquDMGJ4=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ok, that’s a lie. This post is about change and the
acceptance of it, even if you can’t fully embrace it. Nostalgia has a place in
the spectrum of human emotions; toxic, metastasized nostalgia does not.
Conservatism these days is, to me, indistinguishable from toxic, revisionist
nostalgia – the past through impenetrably rose-obscured glasses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s talk power. I remember a scene from the movie “Apollo
13”. The spacecraft has suffered a catastrophic failure in cislunar space. NASA
folks are meeting to try to figure out how to get them home safely. Everybody
is throwing out suggestions from their POV or expertise, many of these ideas
conflict with each other. What to do? The discussion is spinning, spiralling,
going all Charybdis-doomed, when the power guy speaks up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(approximately, cuz I don’t have the actual quote) <i>No,
no, no. It’s all about power. No matter what else needs to happen, that spacecraft
only has so much power and it’s not enough for any of those scenarios. We have
to conserve their power or they will certainly die ceteris paribus.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like on the Apollo spacecraft, power is THE critical
component of modern civilization. Power has always been an important component
of any civilization but in modern times we have apotheosized it. It is the sine
qua non, the thing without which we cannot survive, much less function well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Between two centuries and a century-and-a-half ago,
whale oil was THE thing. I mean, Hell!, it fuelled the Industrial Revolution, a
standard concept (and chapter) in every American school history book. The
whale-oil industry was an economic juggernaut, providing everything from
lighting for homes to lubricating, and making possible, the previously-mentioned
Industrial Revolution. Its sub-industries and supporting businesses were legion
and permeated every level of society. We, as a people, were <i>invested</i> in
whale oil and the largess it brought to our comfort and well-being and general
improvement in our lives. And our economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, as always, things change. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Costs went up due to over-fishing (yes, the term is
appropriate, even though they’re mammals) and reducing whale populations, making
obtention more difficult and costly. Ah, but science and innovation come to the
rescue. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Petroleum products.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(As an aside, it’s never as simple as I can state in a
brief blogpost but the essence is not incorrect.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, the juggernaut of the Whale Oil Industry began to
collapse, partly from its own internal problems and partly because there was a
new, better substitute. The seemingly-eternal superpower of Big Whale Oil faded
into insignificance and obscurity. The brash, new kid, Lil’ Petroleum, was coming
on strong. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And it kept coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And here we are now in the Third Millennium, Big Whale
long forgotten, living with the global powerhouse of Big Oil. Sure, it’s a
fossil fuel, it’s nonrenewable, obtaining it gets more and more destructive, and
it’s running out; but it’s OUR major source of POWER. Sure, there are a coupla
shirt-tail cousins - Clean Coal, Unlimited Nuclear Fission, et cie – but the
True Playah of Our Time is Big Oil primus inter pares. Should I call on
Santayana at this point or wait until a bit later?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Creeping over the horizon from <i>The Mysterious Future</i>
is a looming Terrible Threat to Big Oil – the specter of Renewable Resources.
Just as the entrenched functionaries of Big Whale fought and twisted and whined
piteously in their time, resisting to their last breath the encroachment of Lil’
Petroleum and the inevitable demise of their enterprise, Big Oil is waging a
furious campaign against That Which Will Inevitably Replace It. And its
aforementioned shirt-tail cousins. Ya know what? At this point I’m gonna
abandon the main theme (the Hero’s Journey, if you will) of this polemic for a –
da da da daaaaaaah – Side Quest!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll start this Side Quest with a parenthetical note by
stating that coal-fired plants release more radiation than nuclear fission plants,
a good bit more. That factoid sidesteps the fact that, when it’s at the end of
its service life, a nuclear fission plant has waste material to dispose of. Now
in that case, we’re talking about <i>significant</i> radioactive material
issues. So, I wanna talk about Hanford. Before I move on, I just gotta say COAL
SUCKS! Coal is horrible from start to finish. Maybe I’ll rant about that some
other time but now let’s visit Hanford and leave Clean Coal with its dirty
secrets unexposed. Pro tempore. (Oh, tempora! Oh, mores!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hanford belongs to the Dawn of the Atomic Age,
analogous to the Planck Era of the Big Bang, but unlike the Planck Era, Hanford
is still with us. We’ve been dumping, errr, <i>storing</i> nuclear waste there
from the very earliest days of working with nuclear materials and we are still
doing so. Scientists know that storing nuclear waste is a delicate matter which
requires special handling and care. Politicians, military decision makers, and
business interests have generally been more concerned with factors like ease,
speed, and cost, with safety being relegated to a distant consideration in
reality while giving it lip service in public. Bringing me to a discussion of
the concept of a “dirty bomb.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In case you were fuzzy on the specifics of just what a
dirty bomb might be, this is about as simply as I can state it. A nuclear bomb explodes
at a nuclear level and I’m sure you have a good idea of what that entails.
Conventional explosives are chemical in nature, they explode at a macro level
not an atomic one; there are lots of subtleties within that but they’re not
significant to this discussion. It’s easy to create conventional bombs; it’s
considerably more difficult to create a nuclear bomb. But it ain’t all that
difficult to get your hands on radioactive material. Light bulb moment for the entity
which is nuclear inept but generally explosives-competent. You build a nice
conventional bomb and stick a bunch of radioactive material in it. When you set
it off, this very ordinary bomb spews all that radioactive material. It’s not a
nuclear device but it spreads nuclear material by way of conventional explosives
– a dirty bomb. Genius! Sure, <i>evil</i> genius but credit where credit is
due.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s go back to the care and feeding, aka storage, of
nuclear waste. If your storage procedures are less rigorous than those
envisioned by scientists and more in line with the quick and dirty, cheap and
careless methods of bean counters, well, you’ve just described Hanford. So,
imagine a modest-sized batch of nuclear waste buried at Hanford in an unsuitable
container with ineffective methodology. As this waste decays, heat is
generated. Ultimately, you get, essentially, a dirty bomb, one not created
purposefully but accidentally, carelessly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sounds kinda unlikely to you? I respond with the
incident at WIPP (<span style="background: white; color: #666666;">Waste Isolation
Pilot Plant</span></span>) on February 14, 2014. Quote: “…<span style="background: white; color: #443d39;">a heat-generating chemical reaction -
the Department of Energy (DOE) calls it a 'deflagration' rather than an
explosion - compromised the integrity of a barrel and spread contaminants
through more than 3,000 feet of tunnels, up the exhaust shaft, into the environment,
and to an air monitoring approximately 3,000 feet north-west of the exhaust
shaft.</span><span style="background: white; color: #443d39; font-family: "Fira Sans",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #443d39; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">The accident resulted in 22 workers receiving low-level internal
radiation exposure.</span>”<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And that’s WIPP, which is a more controlled site/environment
than Hanford. BTW, Hanford is about 600 square miles near Tri-Cities, WA (and generally
upwind from Spokane) and contains about 60 million gallons of nuclear waste. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wait. I confused myself and got lost. What were we
supposed to accomplish in this Side Quest? Well, deciding what we ascertained or
learned is left as an exercise for the reader. Let’s call the Side Quest done
and go back to our main action, the Hero’s Journey. The ultimate task for Our
Hero is to face The Big Boss. Who or what might be The Big Boss in this
narrative?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nuclear war? Seems like a good contender for the title
of The Big Boss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because we’re talking about potential nuclear events,
I guess we should touch on the possible extinction of our species vs its
survival. Will Our Hero defeat The Big Boss or will The Big Boss triumph and
destroy Our Hero? There are various forms of extinction, some of which are Darwinian
and some of which are otherwise, like an asteroid impact creating an extinction
level event. In the context of Darwinian extinction, a common scenario would be
if one species were victimized below a breeding threshold by a predator or
predators. Humans (homo sapiens sapiens) are an edge case. We are clearly, on
the one hand, an apex predator… THE apex predator. On the other hand, that’s not
because of our natural condition but because we utilize <i>tools</i>. If not
for that, we might be considered a low-level predator but certainly not the
apexiest of apex predators. But the reality is that we do create and use tools
and we are, indeed, the apexiest of apex predators. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Therefore, the only predator capable of bringing about
the extinction of homo sapiens sapiens is the eponymous homo sapiens sapiens. With
the use of tools such as nuclear weapons we are quite capable of self-destruction
and we often seem to be deranged enough to do it. So, really, we are The Big
Boss and we must fight ourselves to ensure our continued existence. Nuclear
weapons and other tools ae merely that – tools – which are used by The Big Boss
(us!) against Our Hero (also us!).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In summation:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is no fucking War on motherfucking Christmas, you
soi disant Christians. Get over your persecution complex and get out of USA
polity!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-22110953822461250012022-02-28T13:44:00.000-08:002022-02-28T13:44:16.164-08:00Dragon-Huntin’ Blues<p> So, I posted the song for the first novel in my series about the lost legion. This is the song that goes with the second novel.</p><p>This is the teaser for the second novel which I have appended to the end of the first:<br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">An excerpt from the further
adventures of Flavius’ Furies, “The Lost Century: Chasing the Dragon,” coming
out <i>nnnn (whenever the fuck I finish it)</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Dragons, Sir?” Rock said skeptically.
“Are you sure he said ‘dragons’?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Neptune’s incestuous
daughters!, Rock, I dunno,” Flavius replied, frustrated and tired from his
efforts at an awkward three-way negotiation. “This guy speaks terrible Greek
and he’s translating from </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">that</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> guy’s
barbarian blabber. He probably speaks terrible barbarian, too. For all I know,
the village wants to hire us to kill a horde of beautiful virgins who’ve come
down from the nearby hills and are rampaging through their crops and absconding
with wandering villagers, male and female, old and young. Oh, and they’ve also
slaughtered some local troops who went to kill them. Sounds like they might be
some badass virgins.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Well, ask him if it’s ok if
we rape ‘em before we kill ‘em,” Rock retorted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius glowered at Rock and
Gus put a hand on Rock’s forearm, saying, “We’re all tired. Let the Centurion
get this done.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rock nodded his assent,
“Sorry, Centurion. Are we really gettin’ anywhere here?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius said something in
Greek to the translator who turned and started jabbering with the village
elder. Flavius turned to his NCOs and took a sip of the slightly bitter,
slightly alcoholic beverage they’d been served during these negotiations.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The small room was decently
lit with oil lamps and they all sat on thick, beautifully-woven rugs breathing
a heady incense as Flavius faced his NCOs and summarized. “This process is slow
and frustrating, BUT… Their village is being attacked by something nastier than
they can handle with the local forces who now refuse to face whatever it is
after losing some of their troops. They’ve heard from the caravan master that
we’re tough guys who can face anything and they wanna hire us. The important
part here is that they’ll pay us the weight of a man in gold to kill the
‘dragons’, whatever the hell they are. The weight of a man in gold just to face
some predatory animals.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We could use that kinda
payday.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rock and Gus both went quiet.
They were flinty men, used to keeping their emotions off their faces but had to
work hard to do so now. Gus spoke first, “That’s a lotta gold. Are we sure
these guys have that kinda loot?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius nodded to his Third
Officer, “This city is a crucial spot on the Silk Road; the wealth of Croesus
exists in this area. That guy’s village is essentially an exurbs where a lotta
the wealthy merchants have homes. Money is much less of a problem to them than
being eaten in their own neighborhood, no matter what exactly it is doing the
eating.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rock chimed in, “Hades!, Sir!
We’ve fought vampires. We can absolutely whip a buncha lizards no matter how
big they are. So, is that the weight of a man their size, cuz they’re smaller
than us, or more like, say, Blue’s size?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flavius grinned, the
exhaustion falling from his features. Blue was a legionary who originally came
from the Germanic areas North of Rome’s territories and he was a head taller
than most legionaries and stocky in his build. “Now you’re thinking, Optio,” he
said, citing Rock’s rank as his top sergeant. “That’s an important negotiating
consideration.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Gus smiled slyly, “Well,
‘dragons’ or ‘beautiful virgins’, it’s all Greek to me. But I sure understand
‘Blue’s weight in gold’. I understand the shit out of that, by Jupiter.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">They all considered it while
the translator and village elder chattered. Blue’s weight in gold to kill some
pesky lizards. After all they’d been through, how hard could it be?</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> ...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p>And here's the song:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Dragon-Huntin’ Blues<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By Ken Shi<a name="_Hlk554619"><br />
Recorded by Flavius and His Famous Furies, from their album “Fuckin’ Lost!” <br />
</a>(Featuring the Fates (Parcae) – Nona, Decuma, Morta)<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Key of B-motherfucking-Flat, of course)
(blues style)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Got up before dawn.<br />
Put my armor on.<br />
There’s some dragons to fight.<br />
Hope I come out alright.<br />
Muthafuckahs are big<br />
But I don’t give a fig.<br />
Load ballistae with darts.<br />
Hit them in their hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">CHORUS (walkin’ bass style)<br />
Gods!, I got dem dragon-huntin’ blues.<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: You know your fate
is set.)</span><br />
They chase me without fail.<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: But they haven’t got
you yet.)</span><br />
Trooper, have you paid your dues?<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: There ain’t no such
thing as justice.)</span><br />
Yessir, the check is in the mail.<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: You’re gonna hafta
trust us!)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RIDE (guitar)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Got my sword from Spain.<br />
Gonna stick ‘em in the brain.<br />
To make sure they’re dead,<br />
We’ll cut off the head.<br />
My necklace gets a claw;<br />
Make people jump back in awe.<br />
Add to that a tooth<br />
And they’ll know it’s the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">BRIDGE:<br />
We fought vampires in the past<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: Oh yes.)</span><br />
And they nearly did us in.<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: What a mess.)</span><br />
We defeated them at last;<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: A lotta fuss.)</span><br />
But these dragons just might win.<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Fates: You’re gonna hafta
trust us!)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Hades! The new one’s even
bigger.<br />
That’s somethin’ we didn’t figger.<br />
It’s taller than a villa<br />
And you know that it’s a killer. <br />
These ballistae ain’t enough<br />
Cuz this motherfucker’s tough.<br />
This really could be it.<br />
We’ll end up as dragon shit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">CHORUS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">RIDE outro (keyboard)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_dkKLQeFx_0rF1V4dOjVrRB-7Sjqmsm1auxU3nixtw0Vpi-aj_S7OHhHcIv_XYCGXArakX1hV-LYDuMFvpBz55W9WHEGD0zbS173C_54-li3LKnhkQfNDmhYu_eKHutBeLzdHwqBbblV2l6TVUjUCAtcI5BcxY5fbZVECRg4nHgfrZuvjWLU=s900" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="900" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_dkKLQeFx_0rF1V4dOjVrRB-7Sjqmsm1auxU3nixtw0Vpi-aj_S7OHhHcIv_XYCGXArakX1hV-LYDuMFvpBz55W9WHEGD0zbS173C_54-li3LKnhkQfNDmhYu_eKHutBeLzdHwqBbblV2l6TVUjUCAtcI5BcxY5fbZVECRg4nHgfrZuvjWLU=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-70492504643741381082022-02-25T10:16:00.000-08:002022-02-25T10:16:32.497-08:00Know your ABCs<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFvXtzYuUgvExJDxdsIaiMfALBdQT3hki_xPH9scXWEtTYWWB49HrJiu8DXxYMXnWKQaR7JhumHH7xIhh-eHfb8qRKWjbIEoZRs0hMHdlP8CsSdZ7c-4-LmlN7dvAstOiiXH3TEB_l9K5Ua-qRCFxv-FRexuG3EcGvLjtuWRLOjif6GhB-EHU=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFvXtzYuUgvExJDxdsIaiMfALBdQT3hki_xPH9scXWEtTYWWB49HrJiu8DXxYMXnWKQaR7JhumHH7xIhh-eHfb8qRKWjbIEoZRs0hMHdlP8CsSdZ7c-4-LmlN7dvAstOiiXH3TEB_l9K5Ua-qRCFxv-FRexuG3EcGvLjtuWRLOjif6GhB-EHU=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There’s a saying I wanna discuss which has been
attributed to Einstein. He probably. said something in that vein but there’s no
actual provenance of the (apocryphal) saying. That doesn’t negate its validity.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">WWIII will be fought with nuclear bombs
but WWIV will be fought with stone spears.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a 1940s postwar boomer, I grew up with duck-and-cover
in the halcyon days of ABC. Nowadays we are so much more sophisticated. We have
NBC – Nuclear Biological Chemical. CBRN – Chemical Biological Radiological
Nuclear. I dunno what else is current in the world of WMD acronyms. No doubt something
complex (and absurd). How is CBRN more useful/informative than ABC? But that’s
merely a personal aside. Let’s move on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ah, but in those simple, golden days of the 50s and
into the 60s, we just had the ABCs – Atomic Biological Chemical. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And duck-and-cover. Because, obviously, hiding under
my plywood desk next to a veritable wall of (non-safety-glass) windows, would
prove salubrious against a nearby atomic blast. In those days, there was a
great deal of discussion and experimentation of water-burst vs. ground-burst
vs. air-burst efficacy. New Orleans, being geographically New Orleans, was ripe
for any or all of those; so, it didn’t really matter to us school kids which
one, or ones, we might experience. I had my trusty plywood desk covering me and
a merciless Irish nun for a teacher who could probably hector radiation, and
even atomic-level destruction itself, into leaving us alone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As we now know through the benefit of the
Retrospectoscope, aka hindsight, we managed to somehow avoid WWIII back then,
even during the one-second-to-midnight setting of the Doomsday Clock during the
Cuban missile crisis. So here we are, more than half a century later in a new millennium,
worried about the possibility of ABC global warfare involving Russia, although
it’s no longer the CCCP, much as Putin would like to return to *those* to-him halcyon
days of yore. There are, of course, differences between THEN and NOW. In those
days, most folks, including military strategists, were not fond of engaging in
an ABC conflict. Exceptions, like Curtis E. (Bugfuck-Nuts) LeMay, were rare. These
days, I fear the zeitgeist is quite different.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here in the USofA, the percentage of citizens who
embrace a solipsistic-libertarian view that they are superior individuals who
would survive an ABC war a la Heinlein’s “Farnham’s Freehold” seems to be much
larger than the smallish lunatic fringe of the John Birch 50s-60s when those mooncalves
(mooncalfs?) believed that Dwight Eisenhower was a “dirty red commie”. Eisenhower!?!?
I used to think that approximately 20-25% of the US population was insane, perhaps
not DSM-5 clinically insane, but functionally cracked for all intents and
purposes in day-to-day reality. I greatly fear the percentage these days is
larger. Much larger.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Back in those “golden” days of my youth, once I got
old enough to actually understand the reality of ABC warfare, I emerged from
the cocoon of blissfully ignorant belief in the survivability platitudes and
pablums of my elders to a mature butterfly state of accepting that my existence
was ephemeral. Quite so. Now, at this advanced age in a decaying society of profound,
Q-level stupidity that would make the Know-Nothing Party blanch, I reaffirm my
comfort in the ephemeral nature of my existence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, bring it on. Mightn’t it be better for humanity to
end in a blaze of nuclear fire than for it to descend into the senescent madness
of flat-earth, anti-science decadent degeneracy? It would certainly be more
seemly. Dulce et decorum est.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now I know my ABCs. Next time won’t you sing with me. Well,
stone spears rather than ABCs next time, eh?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-48702688508108900992022-02-23T13:36:00.002-08:002022-02-23T15:01:00.615-08:00Quickie-of-the-Day 2/23/2022<p> Especially for Dev, mon vieux,<br /><br />Sunny and 70 but windy here today. Very windy. No pickleball 😥so I'm working on the second novel, working on some new music, and thinking about a subject for my first philippic.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6Y8339Ah2sG17enDrVLCbmXkxW8MJ7v4byjHHtBa2kUKADoTMJeVuObRfCb6Zw_5Al8Orkw27avHI25FNIoZqZgrCmJy0TeY4xudORZkus_4rE2fU0Qlt_8GVa7TRTUw7ABaEM3T55paeg9SEU4GAHiZC8aGFSoT8h0KAy_k3TSzBNnogIiE=s720" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="692" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6Y8339Ah2sG17enDrVLCbmXkxW8MJ7v4byjHHtBa2kUKADoTMJeVuObRfCb6Zw_5Al8Orkw27avHI25FNIoZqZgrCmJy0TeY4xudORZkus_4rE2fU0Qlt_8GVa7TRTUw7ABaEM3T55paeg9SEU4GAHiZC8aGFSoT8h0KAy_k3TSzBNnogIiE=s320" width="308" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Addendum:<br /><br />We made reservations at The Grill (community restaurant) for their Mardi Graas dinner on Tuesday: fried catfish with remoulade, red beans and rice, corn on the cob, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. What are the odds that it'll be at all authentic? Well, it'll be fun and a funk band is playing, so that should be entertaining.</p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-86958122127796940432022-02-21T14:35:00.000-08:002022-02-21T14:35:14.058-08:00Vampire Killah (Peace Be the Journey)<p> So, I finished the first novel in my legionary series and I'm working on the second. I have a plan for the third. I wanted to write a song for each one. This is the song that goes with the first novel:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Vampire Killah (Peace Be the Journey)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By Ken Shi<br />
Recorded by Flavius and His Famous Furies, from their album “Fuckin’ Lost!” <br />
</span><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Featuring
the Fates (Parcae) – Nona, Decuma, Morta)<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">(Key of Amin)(reggae beat)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">VERSE 1: (Amin)<br />
We’re Rome’s best legionaries. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Unn-unn-huh!)</span><br />
We’re on the road to stay. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(And
that’s the truth!) </span>(Dmin)<br />
So when you see us comin’, <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Keep
a lookout all around!) </span>(Amin)<br />
Better get out of the way. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(No
need to be uncouth!) </span><br />
Don’t imagine that we’re kiddin’. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(You ain’t no good at that!)</span><br />
How you think we got this far? <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(That
story wouldn’t bore us!) </span>(Dmin)<br />
Just listen to these hard-boiled men <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(They’ll gladly share their tale!) </span>(Amin)<br />
They’ll tell you who we are! <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(And
now here comes the chorus!)</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">CHORUS: (Dmin)<br />
We’re Flavius’ Furies <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(N:
I’ll spin out their life line.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>(Amin)<br />
We’re Flavius’ Furies <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(D:
I’ll measure it so fine.) </span>(Dmin)<br />
We’re Flavius’ Furies <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(M:
I’ll cut it when it’s time!)</span><br />
And we’re bad! (E7)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">VERSE 2:<br />
We fought for Rome in the frozen North. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Where it got pretty cold!)</span><br />
Fought Her battles in the West. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(The
weather’s better there!)</span><br />
She sends us where She needs good troops <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(It is the legion’s job!)</span><br />
Cuz She knows that we’re the best<span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">. (A brag but pretty fair!)</span><br />
But now we’re in the trackless East <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Ol’ Crassus gave the order!)</span><br />
Far from the Rome we know. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(And
down to so few men!)</span><br />
Got some hard fights to get through here, <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(The story of your lives!)</span><br />
Then farther East we’ll go. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Here
comes the chorus again!)</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">CHORUS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">RIDE (guitar) (verse form)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">VERSE 3:<br />
Four hundred mounted barbarians <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(A
single hundred of you!)</span><br />
Cut us down to just one squad. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(With
two hundred left to fight!)</span><br />
They left before their job was done <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Barbarians are strange!)</span><br />
Which was good but somewhat odd. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(They went home for the night!)</span><br />
Vampires attacked that very night <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(It was flat terrifying!)</span><br />
And the next two, kinda late. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(But
you boys did just fine!)</span><br />
We found their measure and their nest <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Destroyed them root and branch!)</span><br />
And sent them to their fate. <span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Now
the chorus one last time!)</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">CHORUS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">OUTRO (keyboard ride) (verse
form)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-9147523230406832992021-04-09T21:18:00.001-07:002021-04-09T21:18:26.570-07:00Croque Monsieur, Monte Cristo, Frank’s Fridge sandwich<p> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">Basic Croque Monsieur</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; text-transform: uppercase;">INGREDIENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">2 tablespoons butter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">2 tablespoons all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup whole milk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Pinch of ground nutmeg<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 bay leaf<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">4 slices firm white sandwich bread<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">4 ounces thinly sliced Black Forest ham<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">4 ounces sliced Gruyère cheese<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 tablespoon melted butter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; text-transform: uppercase;">PREPARATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Melt 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Add nutmeg and bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high and boil until sauce thickens, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Preheat broiler. Place 2 bread slices on work surface. Top each with half of ham and sliced Gruyère. Top with remaining bread. Heat heavy large skillet over low heat. Brush sandwiches with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Add to skillet and cook until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to small baking sheet. Spoon sauce, then grated cheese over sandwiches. Broil until cheese begins to brown, about 2 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 28.5333px;">Basic Monte Cristo<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h3 style="background: whitesmoke; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="o-ingredientsa-headlinetext"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px; padding: 0in;">Ingredients</span></b></span><b><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h3><div style="background: whitesmoke; border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(224, 224, 224); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding: 0in 0in 8pt;"><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="3 slices white bread" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">3 slices white bread</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="Mayonnaise, as needed" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">Mayonnaise, as needed</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="2 slices Gouda" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">2 slices Gouda</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="2 slices turkey" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">2 slices turkey</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="3 large eggs, beaten" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">3 large eggs, beaten</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="1/4 cup milk" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">1/4 cup milk</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="2 tablespoons vegetable oil" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">2 tablespoons vegetable oil</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="1 tablespoon unsalted butter" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">1 tablespoon unsalted butter</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="Strawberry slices, for garnish" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">Strawberry slices, for garnish</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="Orange wedges, for garnish" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">Orange wedges, for garnish</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></label></p></div><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background: whitesmoke; border-image: initial; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"><input checked="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; opacity: 0; position: absolute; z-index: -1;" type="checkbox" value="Serving suggestion: Blackberry jam" /><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block;">Serving suggestion: Blackberry jam</span></span></span></span><span class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient--checkboxlabel"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></label></p><p class="o-ingredientsa-ingredient" style="background: whitesmoke; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><h3 style="background: whitesmoke; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="o-methoda-headlinetext"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px; padding: 0in;"></span></b><button class="o-Ingredients__a-Button a-Button--AddToShoppingList" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; align-items: center; background: linear-gradient(-180deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.01) 100%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.01) 0px) rgb(255, 98, 106); border-color: initial; border-radius: 45px; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: flex; font-family: "Franklin Gothic URW Cond Medium", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; height: 49px; justify-content: center; line-height: 1; margin: 21px auto; max-width: 270px; outline: none; padding: 10px 20px 12px; position: relative; transition: background-color 0.2s ease 0s, border-color 0.2s ease 0s; user-select: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 270px;"><b><svg class="" height="23" viewbox="0 0 23 23" width="23"><symbol id="icon-add-circle" viewbox="0 0 23 23"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1.7" stroke="#FFF" transform="translate(1 1)"><circle cx="10.56" cy="10.56" r="10.56"></circle><path d="M10.56 6.276L10.56 15.14" stroke-linecap="round"></path><path d="M10.56 6.276L10.56 15.14" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 10.56 10.708)"></path></g></symbol><use xlink:href="#icon-add-circle"></use></svg><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Directions</span></b><b><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></button></span></h3><div style="background: whitesmoke; border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(224, 224, 224); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-left: 0.25in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0in 0in 15pt;"><p class="o-methodm-step" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><section class="o-Method" data-module="recipe-method" data-read-more-target="" id="mod-recipe-method-1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; contain: content; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On a work surface, lay out 2 slices of bread and spread with mayonnaise. Top each slice with the 1 slice of Gouda and 1 slice of turkey each. Put the third slice of bread on top of one stack, and flip the remaining stack on top, cheese-side down, to make a triple-decker sandwich.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="o-methodm-step" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">Using a knife, cut the crusts off the sandwich (this helps to pinch and seal the ends). Wrap the sandwich tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. (Wrapping the sandwich in plastic wrap, compacts it, and prevents the egg batter from seeping in.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="o-methodm-step" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">Combine the eggs and milk in a bowl. Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Unwrap the sandwich and dip it in the egg batter, to coat evenly. Gently place it in the skillet, and fry, turning once, until golden brown and hot, about 5 minutes total.<o:p></o:p></span></p></section></div><p class="o-methodm-step" style="background: whitesmoke; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;">Cut the Monte Cristo in 1/2, transfer it to a place, and garnish with the strawberry and orange. Spoon some jam over each 1/2 and serve immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="o-methodm-step" style="background: whitesmoke; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20pt;">Frank’s Fridge version</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h3 style="background: whitesmoke; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="o-ingredientsa-headlinetext"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px; padding: 0in;">Ingredients</span></b></span><b><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><label class="checkbox-text" style="align-items: center; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: flex; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Bacon – enough for 1 sandwich.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></label></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Turkey – coupla thin slices. I had some Cajun-spiced turkey. Perfect!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Pepper Jack cheese – it’s what I had and I like it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Orowheat Country White bread – 2 slices.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Dip – milk, Bailey’s Irish Cream, egg, vanilla, cinnamon (optional: Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or similar).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jelly, jam, preserves - I had some wild huckleberry for this creation. I like orange marmalade generally and I’d definitely add the orange liqueur to my “dip” if I were using that.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style="background: whitesmoke; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="o-methoda-headlinetext"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px; padding: 0in;">Directions</span></b></span><b><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 22.8267px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><section class="o-Method" data-module="recipe-method" data-read-more-target="" id="mod-recipe-method-1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; contain: content; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a cast iron skillet, fry the bacon.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">While you’re doing that, mix your dip in a bowl big enough to hold a slice of bread. Milk-to-Baileys ratio to your personal taste.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Drain the bacon on a paper towel.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Dip the bread in the dip and fry it in the bacon grease. When the first side is done, turn it over and do the other side. Put the turkey and bacon in the microwave long enough to get them warm. Add the turkey, bacon, and cheese to one of the slices of bread, cheese on top. When the bread is cooked, put the plain slice on top of the loaded slice as a sandwich. Serve with jelly, jam, preserves.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIhDphqdGg81o35HveB04V7Hgk4-iiEZV6WYYlRe9qMvg50-WdUzBDf4_EtI3fOCoUdRNt9UyZI-Ztu5g2uqWOtGbcwRDVwEKrNkq7Q6y8_Y3_7BlyMRYYoJqxLKBeAj0ySEXgw/s2015/MonteCristoFrank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIhDphqdGg81o35HveB04V7Hgk4-iiEZV6WYYlRe9qMvg50-WdUzBDf4_EtI3fOCoUdRNt9UyZI-Ztu5g2uqWOtGbcwRDVwEKrNkq7Q6y8_Y3_7BlyMRYYoJqxLKBeAj0ySEXgw/s320/MonteCristoFrank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p></section>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-40653355657242061122020-04-24T14:54:00.002-07:002020-04-25T15:56:00.554-07:00Gratitude Etude<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I wrote a song on the occasion of my 72nd birthday:</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gratitude Etude<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Frank
Maier - isolated near Tucson April 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i></i><br />
</span><span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<i>(moderate reggae beat)</i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse form (Verse 1)<br />
</span></i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cmaj7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dmin7<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You
feel you’re stacking time in Gethsemane.<br />
It’s not the same experience for you and me;<br />
A quick trip up to Gilead<br />
Is good for anyone cuz there’s a balm to be had.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You say you’re grateful for that herb;<br />
If you just say it, it’s just a word.<br />
You got to feel it down in your soul<br />
‘cuz doing that is what will make you whole. </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chorus form (Chorus 1)<br />
</span></i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">F/Fmaj7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emin7</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
It’s all about your attitude</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
You can choose to be content or you can choose to brood.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
Sounds like I’m preaching a beatitude<br />
…………………<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">G F Emin Dmin Cmaj7</span><br />
But I’m just talkin’ about gratitude.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 2<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Shit
happens!” is a common quote.<br />
We’re on the same ocean but not in the same boat.<br />
That really doesn’t matter cuz we’re all still afloat;<br />
So don’t let the doom crows get your goat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This damned virus is a fearsome fuck.<br />
Sometimes you might feel that you’re shit out of luck<br />
But I have unlimited faith in you.<br />
Be good to yourself and you will get through!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Chorus 2<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I
know this ain’t a real etude<br />
And I know my song is kinda crude.<br />
I’m not really pushing for plenitude<br />
…………………<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">G F Emin Dmin Cmaj7</span><br />
But I’m just talkin’ about gratitude.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 3<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
languish here in isolation.<br />
Extroverts and introverts have different sensations.<br />
Sometimes we’re sad and can’t exactly say why<br />
So it feels really good to have a heartfelt cry.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">But when your storm is done and your sun comes
out<br />
You feel so much better you just wanna shout!<br />
You talk to a friend for the joy it’ll bring<br />
‘cuz alone and lonely are not the same thing.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 107%; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 107%; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Chorus 3</i>
</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 107%; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">So
here’s another chorus interlude.<br />
I hope that you are startin’ to feel the mood.<br />
Don’t wanna sound like a platitude<br />
…………………<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">G F Emin Dmin Cmaj7</span><br />
But I’m just talkin’ about gratitude.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 4<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes
I feel guilty for feelin’ so good<br />
Livin’ large in my upscale neighborhood;<br />
But my dolors are mine and yours belong to you.<br />
We all just gotta do what we gotta do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pressures from inside and from without<br />
Often get so bad you wanna scream and shout.<br />But think about the joys that are in your life<br />
And that should minimize any threatening strife.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chorus 4<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yeah,
sometimes you just feel screwed<br />
By jerks who embody moral turpitude;<br />
And ya gotta dig down deep for your fortitude.<br />
…………………<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">G F Emin Dmin Cmaj7</span><br />
But I’m just talkin’ about gratitude.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Outro</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUtDpSrHMTY" target="_blank">SAMPLE HERE</a><i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></i>
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-41147727786288264592020-04-18T20:21:00.001-07:002020-04-20T13:58:07.183-07:00Pandemic Threnody April 2020<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pandemic Threnody April 2020</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Frank Maier (isolated near Tucson) April 2020</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 1<br />
</span></i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dmin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gmin <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
song begins <i>in media res</i> and that’s where it will stay.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">C<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dmin <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
song that tells the end of things is for a future day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hindsight’s 20-20 and then there’s déjà vu.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Foresight? I ain’t got any, but how the Hell are you?</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 2<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
year and decade started well, new life near desert Tucson.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">New Orleans jaunt for Mardi Gras? My daughter says,
“It’s on!”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brennan’s Breakfast, Commander’s martinis, fine dining
so elite,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tourist crowds and "Indian" tribes and parade krewes in
the street.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">C (transition
chord)</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chorus<br />
</span></i><span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bflat<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dmin <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pandemic,
O Pandemic, you caught us unaware</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bflat<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Led
by imPOTUS 45 with his cotton-candy hair.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pandemic, O Pandemic, you caught us willf’ly blind</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Led by imPOTUS 45 with his face like orange rind.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 3<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
early Jan, the CDC they noted their concern.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Seems a pandemic was brewing and we were due a turn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“It’s a China thing; it’s the Far East. No concern
here in the West.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">America is that Cheese Alone, the undisputed best.”</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 4<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Democrat
hoax, 19 and declining, well, maybe it’s for real.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fewer than 200k dead? Sounds like art of the deal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Isolate! For just a while, sky blue and cactus green</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In gated upscale living, an idyllic, privileged scene.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">C (transition
chord)</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chorus</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 5<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Early
bedtime yester’eve and now it’s deeply mourning.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hoping scientific minds have better plans a-borning.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The end is nigh!” he claims with glee and demands we
socialize.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those of us with any sense know it’s just more of his
lies.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verse 6<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Farewell
to the Spanish Lady; we learned some lessons there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello to the Trump Pandemic; our poor county laid
bare.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I call on Santayana and stentor his message loud!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s use our heads and build a world to make our
children proud.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4472c4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">C (transition
chord)</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chorus</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Outro</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://youtu.be/zoyW1wlMHd0" target="_blank">SAMPLE HERE</a></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-30297175786687078852020-04-10T13:21:00.000-07:002020-04-10T18:50:13.570-07:00COVID-19 Isolation Music Game<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">April 2020</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzhwpomoRsc3ZBlRju_uy2w5meW1qNKZjRDNHE-mfojYqfd8R550qXpDiBFLmqctLlW22yJhHnXE6qb3qmofCDDaZsMZOOVazw8EhMuiWFCSN5UxFsHmVY9yzw3qao_x1iBrtKw/s1600/30daySongChallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="960" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzhwpomoRsc3ZBlRju_uy2w5meW1qNKZjRDNHE-mfojYqfd8R550qXpDiBFLmqctLlW22yJhHnXE6qb3qmofCDDaZsMZOOVazw8EhMuiWFCSN5UxFsHmVY9yzw3qao_x1iBrtKw/s640/30daySongChallenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="617" src="file:///C:/Users/Frank/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="624" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 1 “color”: AC/DC “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAgnJDJN4VA" target="_blank">Back in Black</a>”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 2 “number”: Hendrix “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZuFq4CfRR8&t=20s" target="_blank">If 6 Was 9</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 3 “Summer”: <span style="color: #1c1e21;">Third
World "<a href="https://youtu.be/IC3C1qzoYa8" target="_blank">96 Degrees in the Shade</a>"</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 4 “person to forget”: Percy Sledge <span style="color: #1c1e21;">"<a href="https://youtu.be/vFxnUMdQsPw" target="_blank">Take Time to Know Her</a>" </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 5: “loud”: <span style="color: #1c1e21;">Ram Jam</span>
"<a href="https://youtu.be/I_2D8Eo15wE" target="_blank">Black Betty</a>" </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: #F2F3F5; line-height: 12.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 6 “dance“: </span><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Madonna "<a href="https://youtu.be/5Rswx2Z7SDw" target="_blank">Holiday</a>" </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 7 “driving”: <span style="color: #1c1e21;">Bob
Marley </span>"<a href="https://youtu.be/nv584jRwh0s" target="_blank">Exodus</a>" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 8 “drugs/alcohol”: <span style="color: #1c1e21;">Peter
Tosh</span> "<a href="https://youtu.be/ABc8ciT5QLs" target="_blank">Legalize It</a>" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 9 “happy”: Katrina and the Waves “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U" target="_blank">Walkin’ onSunshine</a>” </span><br />
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 10 “sad”: Lennon “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgkThdzX-8" target="_blank">Imagine</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day
11 “never tire of”: Average White Band “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki5aS5LSrQM" target="_blank">Schoolboy Crush</a>” </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 12 “preteen years”: the Cadets “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h9PbMucPXU" target="_blank">Stranded in the Jungle</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 13 “70s”: 10CC “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI2FC36lXXQ" target="_blank">Dreadlock Holiday</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 14 “at wedding”: [we had this in the dance mix for
our wedding] Was Not Was “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYKupOsaJmk" target="_blank">Walk the Dinosaur</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 15 “preferred cover”: James Taylor “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXI43zGeyu4" target="_blank">Handyman</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 16 “classic favorite”: Tchaikovsky “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBqxw6I0aoY" target="_blank">Swan Lake</a>”
(finale) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 17 “karaoke duet”: Music and Lyrics movie “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxW17c3KkY" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #000120;">W</span></u>ay Back into Love</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 18 “birth year song” [1948]: John Lee Hooker “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4pp02_GN9A" target="_blank">BoogieChillun</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 19 “song about life”: Travelling Wilburys “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PabG3nJRu3k" target="_blank">Tweeterand the Monkey Man</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 20 “many meanings”: Stark Whiteman “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNliIQzbIT0" target="_blank">Graduation Day</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 21 “name song”: Sting “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ" target="_blank">Roxanne</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 22 “moves you forward”: Osibisa “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIGD763mwL4" target="_blank">Woyaya</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 23 “everybody should hear it”: Dr. John “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L4cGO9foog" target="_blank">JunkoPartne</a>r” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 24 “band you wish still together”: Beatles “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45cYwDMibGo" target="_blank">ComeTogether</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 25 “dead artist”: Art Neville “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS0XvNpRwoc" target="_blank">Run, Joe</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 26 “fall in love”: Ernie K-Doe “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht-IVjsOTcE" target="_blank">Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 27 “breaks your heart” [on my birthday?!?!]: (given
his recent death) John Prine “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl9ZkYViEIs" target="_blank">Sam Stone</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 28 “singer whose voice I love”: Neil Young “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTGjVvQPVWg" target="_blank">Tonight’sthe Night</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 29 “from childhood”: the Clovers “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9U7x9Rvr-I" target="_blank">Devil or Angel</a>” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Day 30 “reminds me of me”: Dylan “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EKqQWPjyo" target="_blank">Things Have Changed</a>” </span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-31661856256941462602020-01-31T10:00:00.002-08:002020-01-31T10:00:17.039-08:00Music in Quail Creek
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I like many (most?) forms/styles of music
from classical to rap. If I created three buckets for my preferences, they’d be:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like<br />
Neutral (don’t actively like but don’t actively dislike)<br />
Dislike</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Dislike bucket would contain “crooners”
(Sinatra et al) and country music. Not much else. My new life in AZ in the
Quail Creek community inclines me to discuss country music. The (few, so far)
musicians I’ve run into like country, some more than others. The band I’ve
started with is pretty fond of country. I could write thousands of words about
the specifics of that band but, having made an honest attempt to play country,
I’ve distilled this reality about me regarding country music:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s the accent(s).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve heard (for the first time and learned
to play) songs like “1000 Miles from Nowhere”, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”, Much Too
Young to Feel this Damned Old”, “Fast as You”, “Tennessee Whiskey”, “Neon Moon”,
etc. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of them are good songs. I like the
song per se. But I listen to Brooks and Dunn sing “Neon Moon” and it’s nails-on-a-chalkboard.
Their voices ruin a decent song. It’s the Flying Monkeys on their way from
the castle to perform nefarious deeds singing a cha-cha tune. “Tennessee
Whiskey” is a perfect torch song but this band covers the version by Tianna
Woods and she’s just a flat, screechy emo bumpkin. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s a prejudice, my prejudice, I know;
but I hear that accent and my mind is flooded with images of misogyny, racism, and homophobia,
just to start. It goes downhill from there. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, I’m here to confess my prejudice. A
lot of modern country is pretty much old rock ‘n’ roll. Many of the songs I’ve
been introduced to are decent songs. They’d be in my Neutral bucket or even the
Like bucket if not for the country accents/styling. It hurts my ears, almost
literally. It definitely hurts my brain.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So feel free to hop in your pickup truck
and let the horses run. Just somewhere I don’t hafta listen.</span></div>
</span><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sorry (not sorry).</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-28945460331533992192018-09-29T20:06:00.001-07:002018-09-29T20:06:11.130-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 16 (9/27 Thursday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We did NOT have a good night. The evening continued
with Ronnie and Rigby both having a terrible night, trying to breathe. Long, unpleasant
night all around. They both finally got to sleep a bit coming on morning, but
damn! Ronnie is mostly better this morning. Rigby is better but still gaggy and
sneezy, although she did keep some food down coming up to noon. Me, I’m tired
but fine. Hot Ovaltine and raspberry Danish helped me face this day. I’m hoping
it’s a relax, recuperate, and recover day for my girls. Ick! I am definitely
gonna want a nap this afternoon.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Writing a bit now, not directly in the novel but
finishing a blues song I started a while back when I was starting the novel. I
was in the mood to finish it today and I’ll include it at the end of the novel.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Pork stew simmering on the stove as the sun slides behind
the peaks. Days here are so beautiful – cerulean sky, variegated green trees,
brown grasses, perfect temperatures. As we lose the sun, the temperatures cool
quickly. Some stew will be nice when it’s done. Rigby and Ronnie are both
definitely better. Phew! Yesterday afternoon and last night were terrible and
this morning was iffy but I think we’re good now.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think I’ll watch a movie while the stew
does its thing. Hmmm, over the top mindless violence? Ok, “White House Down” it
is.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-77657722598389738082018-09-29T19:48:00.002-07:002018-09-29T19:48:24.176-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 15 (9/26 Wednesday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Lovely, moonlit night. We left all our shades open
because it’s so private here. Magnificent looking out at the woods in the
moonlight from my nest of quilts on my comfortable bed. Bright sunny morning
made me want French toast, pain perdu, lost bread, you know, whatever you call
it. So that’s what we had for breakfast. Tasty, lemon-fortified PGtips tea to
wash it down, Ahhhh, now I’m kinda ready for the day. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">So we decided to take little drive up to the nearby mountain-top
ranger tower lookout for fun. Turned out to be a l-o-n-g off-road excursion in
our sturdy new truck. Damn! Some steep, narrow-ass rocky, dirt road and it
wound up being so far to the tower that it was easier to continue past it to
the next highway South which kinda paralleled the one our campground was on, rather
than going back the way we had come. The truck was great. We were not so
delighted. The scenery was beautiful, even better than the highway we finally
came to which was classified as a scenic byway. We have definitely off-roaded
Big Stinky now. Phew! Beautiful but very undelightful. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Stopped in the little town back down the highway from
our campground and replenished our butter supply. Can’t cook without butter!
Finally back to the trailer at 4pm and running the genny to repower all our
electronics. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">8pm Ronnie and Rigby went for a walk in the woods
earlier. Something in this biosphere got ‘em both big time. Ronnie used her
inhaler multiple times and Rigby gagged and puked for a couple of hours. Both
are still less than normal. Made for a rough evening. I hope we can all sleep
well tonight. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-63107404423400336852018-09-29T19:47:00.005-07:002018-09-29T19:47:54.445-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 14 (9/25 Tuesday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Chilly night but nice, sunny morning. Hot Ovaltine for
breakfast and some genny time while we get ready to move. Down Hwy. 12 to
Walla^2 then into Oregon on Oregon 11 to Pendleton, then Hwy 395 toward Mount
Vernon. The John Day Fossil Beds are a bit West of Mount Vernon off Hwy. 26 and
we’ll find and campground somewhere in that area. We should be in for some
pretty scenery going over 4 mountain passes over 4000 feet and one over 5000. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Found a lovely, quiet campground in the John Day
Wilderness off the 395. We’ll probably stay here a few days. The scenery is beautiful
and our campground has only one other rv in it. We’re nestled in the back of
the campground in a sweet spot. Made BBQ pork chops and corn on the cob for
dinner. The corn was perfect and chops and corn are a combo I like. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Close to bedtime and I just experienced a strong
flashback to my childhood. I made hot Ovaltine on the stove because we need
either shorepower or the genny to run our microwave. I’ve been using the
microwave to make Ovaltine for so many years that I’d kinda forgotten about
making it in a pot on the stove. Very evocative. Hot Ovaltine with marshmallow
crème, a great way to wind down a quiet evening.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-45620594625948421422018-09-29T19:47:00.002-07:002018-09-29T19:47:20.900-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 13 (9/24 Monday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Nice morning. We’re thinking we’ll just stay here one
more day; it’s sunny and pleasant. Maybe run some errands in the nearby town
and call it a make-and-mend day. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Listening to a lot of music today. Suits my mood.
Watched the video from our 1991 reunion gig for our ‘60s band. That was a fun
time. Easy, lazy day.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Easy, lazy dinner for a lazy day. Cubed 2 potatoes and
diced an onion Sauteed them in butter while I cut up a leftover chicken breast
When the potatoes were getting done, I added seasoning, garlic, the chicken,
and some leftover broccoli. Easy and pretty tasty. Before dinner, I watched
“London Has Fallen”, a ridiculously over-the-top action movie. It was fun. Read
a pretty good zombie novel with the movie. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Still working on the zombie novel with dessert and
settle-down time. We’re thinking about heading down to Oregon and the John Day
Fossil Beds National Monument. When we were travelling in 2015-6, we met some
people who had volunteered there and they recommended it. Ok. We’ll give it a
try.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-71230654554656801782018-09-29T19:46:00.005-07:002018-09-29T19:46:50.090-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 12 (9/23 Sunday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Woke early, said goodbye and hit the road. Got to
Walla^2 then decided to stop at the Lewis and Clark Trail State Campground.
Sunny and Warm here; it feels good. The wind this morning near Tieton was
sharp. Brrrr. Let’s see how tomorrow morning feels here. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Campground has showers so I took advantage and had a
nice, long, hot shower without using our propane for heating or filling our
greywater tank Ahhhhh! Feels good. Ronnie is off to take one now.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Caught up on Facebook a bit and listened to some music
videos. Bedtime now.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-17112046404863160662018-09-29T19:46:00.002-07:002018-09-29T19:46:16.027-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 11 (9/22 Saturday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A good day to move – started raining last night and
it’s grey and drizzy this morning. In a fit of perfect(ly bad?) timing, our
propane tank ran out when we fired up the heater this morning to take the chill
off. So, when we hit Yakima, aside from getting groceries, we’ll replace the
empty tank with our full one and trade the empty tank for another full one to have
when the replacement tank runs out. Breakfast and generator time now. We have
until noon to actually be hitched up and departing and we can’t arrive in
Tieton before 4; so it’s a casual day, no need to rush anything. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A decent run over Blewett Pass, mixed rain and sun.
Did our first dump at the free station at Indian John Rest Area on I-90. That
felt good and pretty easy, really. Makin’ groceries at the Safeway in Yakima
plus a new propane tank and we were on the road to Tieton and the Festimony! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We got the trailer parked and socialized with a buncha
Maiers and the Basement Boys. After the opening bands, Kaylee and Chris did
their wedding songs/vows, then as a surprise, the BBs, minus Steve on drums,
joined Chris on drums on stage to sing the Beatles’ Birthday for Steve’s 60<sup>th</sup>.
It was a nice surprise. BBs then did Petty’s “Mary Jane” just for fun and then
abandoned the stage to other acts. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Beautiful night, if somewhat cold. Amplified music
ended at 10 but acoustic music was free to go on all night. Me, I chose my warm
bed. See ya tomorrow.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-50122253721548539502018-09-29T19:45:00.002-07:002018-09-29T19:45:35.920-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 10 (9/21 Friday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Pretty good night last night. Read Michael Connelly’s
“The DROP” then slept pretty well, being tired from that hike. Another pretty
morning. Breakfast with Genny, generator time, that is. Charging up all our
electronics and putting some juice back in the house batteries while we put some
food and drink energy into us. Today we’ll relax and organize ourselves for
departure tomorrow to head down Hwy. 97 and Blewett Pass to catch I-82 in
Ellensburg to get to Selah-Yakima. Arrival time at Tieton is 4pm so we should
have time to make groceries, etc. in Yakima. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We’ve always joked about “Ranger miles” versus actual
miles. 8-mile Lake is nominally an 8 mile hike; but it sure feels like 8 Ranger
miles (a good percentage more than a mere 8) rather than 8 regular miles. Even
the road signs are in Ranger miles. (grin) There was one saying “1 mile to
Campground X”. It was more like 1.7 miles. On the 8-mile Lake trail, we saw a
ranger carrying a 3-gallon spray bottle full of biocide to zap invasive
species. That’s about 25 pounds or more in addition to her regular pack. Power
to ya, Ranger! She was only down about a gallon when we saw her. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I am definitely past the days when I carried a 50
pound (or more) pack uphill, backpacking to alpine lakes, etc. It’s daypacks only
these days for this old boy. But my knees did fine and I am soooooo happy about
that. All of me was tired after hiking, including my knees, but it was general
tiredness not structural pain. My feet hurt worse than my knees and that was
actually nice. (grin) Everything feels good today after a might’s sleep. Color
me grateful. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But today is R&R and prep for moving tomorrow.
Probably a short Rigby hike to get that fucking cat tired enough to sleep well.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ronnie laughed at me this morning, proclaiming, “Looks
like Andre will be making this trip with us.” I recently rewatched the movie
“Just Visiting” in which a medieval French knight and his servant (Andre) time
travel to the present. In the bathroom at a restaurant, Andre picks up the
scented urinal cake and exclaims (in a thick French accent), “Smells like the
forest!” Then he proceeds to take bites from it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We opened the windows this morning and I exclaimed, a
la Andre, “Smells like the forest!” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Well, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I</b> was
amused. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But it does smell like the forest and the river
burbles to us while the sun shines down from the heavens and the world is a
pretty swell place. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">1:30pm now. We did hike down the group campground road
then trail and it was good. Rigby seems to be a bouldering cat. Who’d’a thunk
it? Pleasantly back at the trailer now and time for some tuna salad and Cheetos
for lunch. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">5pm. Fired up the hot water heater in preparation for
having showers and Ronnie noticed a drip from near the trailer door. No
connection to anything meaningful and not coming from an actual drip vent, just
from the trailer body. Investigation determined that the hot water connection
to the sink was less than hand tight and dripping. Emptying that cabinet and
putting the pliers to it solved the leak and now we’re just drying that cabinet
area and stuff that had been in it. Learning our new (and imperfectly
constructed) trailer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We did some prep for leaving tomorrow but, compared to
the tent trailer, there really isn’t much to do to prep the trailer. Mostly,
the prep for travelling is the hitching itself and that doesn’t happen until
we’re actually ready to roll; so early departure prep is (easily and quickly)
done. Showers and dinner on the horizon.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-3976908943062969412018-09-29T19:44:00.005-07:002018-09-29T19:44:57.040-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 9 (9/20 Thursday)
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Hot Ovaltine and a lemon-poppyseed muffin to start
this lovely day. Cool but beautiful this morning. Thinking about hiking to
8-mile Lake. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">5pm. Well we did it. Hiked to 8-mile Lake. Phew! Very
tired now but it was beautiful. The last time we did that hike it was 95
degrees. It was much nicer hiking weather this time. But my feet are still
TIRED. (grin)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ready to settle in with some easy dinner and an early
bedtime now. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-60051551769512013742018-09-29T19:44:00.002-07:002018-09-29T19:44:18.558-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 8 (9/19 Wednesday)
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yawn! Still chilly at 9:30 but the sun is on its way.
A big mug of hot Ovaltine to start me up today. Maybe even some oatmeal. Ronnie
is outside, sitting in the almost-sun, dressed warmly. I’m very happy with this
pace of life on the road, especially vs. how intense the Summer was. It’s
beautiful here. Very soothing and restful. The white noise of the creek is a
natural lullaby.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Kind of a housekeeping day – changed the sheets,
organizing stuff in the trailer and truck bed. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Nice hike to the top of the massif. Perfect day for
it. Beautiful views from the top of that massif. Coupla folks had hiked up and
pitched their tents on flat slabs on its flanks. Just don’t roll too hard in
your sleep! </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Back by 1pm and some Hebrew National *big* hot dogs
with some freshly-chopped onion. Cheetos and Coke, of course! Wish we’d brought
some sweet pickle relish. Camping food! (grin) We used Hawaiian hotdog buns,
which are split lobster-roll style. Made me wanna buy some shrimp and make
Cajun shrimp rolls on those tasty buns. Next grocery trip. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Drove down the road until we got cell service.
Uploaded a coupla days’ worth of posts to the blog. Checked future weather here
and for Tieton. Touched base with my dojo folks. Quick check on Facebook. Later
in our travels, we’ll have more consistent wifi and cell but, for now, we’re
incommunicado. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Discovered some more ants this evening. Instituting
draconian anti-ant measures. They do seem localized. Hope so.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-35812963940822170012018-09-19T14:28:00.002-07:002018-09-19T14:28:15.067-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 7 (9/18 Tuesday)
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Beautiful, sunny morning. If it stays like this, or
even close, it will be a fine week. Then, on Saturday we’ll decamp and head
back to Hwy.2, head East to 97 and take Blewett Pass South to Ellensburg. From
there, it’s down to Yakima/Selah and the turn West up Hwy. 12 to Tieton and the
big wedding music fest. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But first, we have 4 full days here. We broke camp and
hitched up in less than an hour when we moved yesterday and we can’t arrive in
Tieton before 4:30 so we’ll be in no rush Saturday morning. Maybe we’ll plan a
grocery stop or a visit to the cemetery in Yakima where my grandparents (and namesake
Frank Maier), sister, and other relatives are interred. We’ll decide later.
Today, first thing, I will slowly wake up and have some breakfast.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Today, I want to get back to Flavius and da boyz and
carry the narrative forward to the evening after the day’s work - with
ballistae built and plans made for the morning to go hunt some dinosaurs, errr <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dragons</i>. Gonna see what kinda mischief
the guys can get up to this fine evening after their drunken debaucheries of
the previous one. (grin)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Meanwhile, here in the modern world, lunch in the
sunshine was lovely. The fridge in the trailer is very efficient. I had a Coke
with lunch and it was slushy. Yum! Next time we make groceries, we’re gonna get
some ice cream! It is a perfect day here: The sky is cerulean, the nearby trees
are green but there are some blobs of Fall colors on the slopes of the peaks
surrounding us. Craggy brown and grey mountains. Rushing water. It is truly
idyllic. Think I’ll enjoy it a while and give myself time to digest before I
return to the story of Flavius and his legionaries in the mysterious East of
the first century B.C. (BCE).</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">NOW with Dinosaurs/Dragons! But wait! There’s more…
(grin) </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">So, 4pm. Ronnie and Rigby went for a hike to the top
of a nearby massif. I sat in the sunshine, shirtless and in shorts, soaking up
vitamin D. Now, the sun has slipped behind the Western peaks and the chill is
on. No more basking heat. Instant cool. Thermal shirt and bottoms and a retreat
to the trailer, thinking about dinner. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Since I stopped writing a while back, I often said
that I had about 40K words in the second novel. It was actually 38.5K. Now, I
do have 40.5K and I got to the end of chapter 8. Chapter 9 is already written,
so now I start on chapter 10. Progress!</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Dinner of stir-fry carrots, new potatoes, wagyu beef
crumble, and spring onions in butter, Mmmmm! Washed down with red wine and
chased by fake Pinwheel cookies. Burp! </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’m calling this a good day. See ya tomorrow.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-55814138794160611982018-09-19T14:27:00.002-07:002018-09-19T14:27:44.863-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 6 (9/17 Monday)
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Well, a bright, sunny day today. Nice. Rigby slept
pretty well last night after our hike. I was happy about that! Breakfast and
genny time to get this day started. We’re thinking about changing campgrounds
today, mostly just for the sake of practicing maneuvering with our new
car-and-trailer, After breakfast, we’ll drive around and take a look. If we see
an attractive one, we’ll pay for it, then return to this campsite and pack and
hitch up make the move. If nothing looks more attractive, we’ll just stay here
until it’s closer to time to head to Tieton.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">1 pm Ok, on this beautiful sunny day we found a nice
site at Bridge Creek Campground and moved. Settled in now and I’m sitting in
the sun typing this. Just might be time for a turkey and pepperjack sandwich. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">5pm. Rigby seems to like this spot pretty well. Maybe
it’s the sunshine but she also found the creek fascinating. Spent a good bit of
time outside. Ahhhhh! We used the trailer’s shower for the first time.
Wonderful. Nice, hot water and we’re both clean. Feels really good and a nice
culmination to a sunny, warm day. Time to think about dinner.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">New potatoes with butter and onion, asparagus, and
wagyu hamburger steaks. That’ll do. Well, let’s not forget the pino noir to
wash it down. Deluxe camping. (grin) <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thin mints pair well with pino noir, FYI.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Beautiful spot, lovely day, full and somewhat tipsy.
I’ll call that a fine, full day. Missing my friends at the dojo who are
practicing their iaido tonight. I brought all my stuff with me but haven’t felt
ready to practice yet. I will. I definitely intend to do like last big roadtrip
and contact kendo dojos when we’ll be near one to visit and practice kendo with
them. Met a lot of nice folks and had some wonderful times with kenshi all
around the US. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The wine has me feeling <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">comfortable</i>. Time to read a novel or maybe watch a movie. We
brought a bunch of our favorites. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26673718.post-25845607893549980122018-09-19T14:26:00.002-07:002018-09-19T14:26:16.081-07:002018 Roadtrip Day 5 (9/16 Sunday)
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Still grey and chilly and Rigby is still cowering. She
may be a little better at moving around in the trailer. Ok on the trail. We’ll
take a longer walk today and see how she does. Hot tea and lemon-poppyseed
muffin to start my day. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Running the heater occasionally to take the chill off.
We’re committed to cousin Kaylee’s wedding next Saturday, 9/22, near Tieton
(just West of Yakima), so we’re gonna stay put or maybe move more toward Yakima
if the weather is better there. If not for that commitment, we’d already be
heading South to more temperate climes. We’re pretty comfortable with trailer
life in general and operating all our systems, so as a shakedown cruise, we’re
done. Call it a checkmark. But we’re a week away from the wedding, so we hafta
stay in the area. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">2 pm: Took Rigby on the Icicle Gorge Trail for about
1.5~2 miles. She did fine. Our timing was good, too, cuz we got a little
sunshine and got back to the car before the afternoon rain shower hit. Back in
the trailer now and ready for (late) lunch. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">ChiliMac (Mac’n’cheese with chili) for lunch. Yum!
Comfort food. WARM comfort food, washed down with Martinelli’s sparkling cider,
and followed by a slice of cake. Burp!</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Lazy, rainy evening, Goodnight.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cap'n Frankohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.com0