December Wrap

We had a Royal Family Christmas at our place this year. My Mom & Dad came up from Yuma (where they are thawing for the season), Jamie, Denise and John came down from Colorado. Everyone else from Phoenix and a few other loved ones too. Cathy was in Mexico with the Droll clan. We missed her here, and I hear they missed me there. Next year we're gonna put an end to this missing business. Here's what I got for December. Whenever you hear someone say "it's just a job" you might be complaining too much. Whenever you hear yourself say "it's just a job" you might want to consider looking for a new one. In my job it's best I stay focused on just the little things. Excuses are so exhausting. Make sure you know exactly where that damn baby is before you start throwing out bath water. Let your pallate off the leash. When I grabbed her breast I was able to fully return to the moment and remember my purpose. A big part of our day involves just moving our stuff around. If you're thinking someone might get something of yours, that you have something that you may be threatened by another that you should and someone should not that there is another you've earned something you have a right oh my, watch out that's how all this crap got started. And now from some real people. The act of compassion begins with full attention. Daniel Goleman. Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T.S. Eliot. All you have some day will be given; Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors. Kahlil Gibran. Samurai: The priest Keiho related that Lord Aki once said that martial valor is a matter of becoming a fanatic. I thought that this was surprisingly in accord with my own resolve and thereafter became more and more extreme in my fanaticism. A smiling face is half the meal. Latvian Proverb. That's it for this time. All my love, your bobJuan.

The Fourth Hand - Book Report

I went with Cathy to a Book Sale a couple of months ago. I found the Irving section and bought all they had I didn't. This book was one of um. It's not his best work, and you don't need to hear that from me, but it's a great read and character study, as usual. The typical crazy Irving humor and sex, oh yes. A warm finish. Recommend = True.

Picture found here.

Singleton Moms - What We Do!

A Photo Challenge

Quick poem/story challenge: Check out Corrin's response here. Anybody else wanna get in? Here's mine:

My mom had me sit while she and her classmates from her native cultures writing class presented themselves to their instructor for their final. All the other students in the class are young. My Mom only takes these crazy night classes that are filled with young freaks, like social workers, creative writers, wannabe teachers, goofballs like that. People that are not afraid to act out and get naked, just like my Mom. It was all I could do to ignore their beautiful breasts. I met the instructor earlier in the semester, he’s a freak too. The shit I do for mom. I can’t believe my sisters don’t understand why I’m her favorite.

[pic found here.]

Fantasy#318

I was sitting on the patio she went to her car started it drove off nothing since been a while now. I chuckled at the time since, I've not stopped wondering about my girl who left the day after thanksgiving, in her pj's, dirty too a clean departure squeaky. i think she only had her purse and her keys of course I couldn't have done it better myself I always knew she was better than anyone she knew it too. i'm gonna have a garage sale there's some nice stuff of hers here i'll probably take a place downtown for a while maybe get the band back together she was a damn good woman to me.

Pic found here.

Smiling Backwards @ Section 59651

The following is the final poem for the semester. It is a conglemeration of lines from my classmates poems. It's nonsense really, unless you were there, then you may find a line or two of yours mixed up!

when i say dear god i mean it the deaths of others I have loved slipping through the painted red dust i kneel at your alters and i am altered and dirty our agendas have disappeared i have grown into some awful beast the kind that cries and has red meat hanging inside its chest lapping at my shorelines she taught me how to hold a joint stretching to my grandparents front porches she follows the path by the flow of their pain to hide within the lovely things and find again a childish dance the brown bitch beat defeat within a labyrinth of mumpsimus i do not think that word means what you think it means my only friends i hope you like swimming through an eye-wall of mistrust look someone dead in the face and let another heart begin like the wind in the palm of his hands you have started a fire in me softening my heart against my will I dreamed about the poem spoon and harpoon I dreamed you had written for me speak sweet in the tongue of mystery learn to lie for a living do as you please and please do everything while forest whole in crackle heard sweat slips between my breasts that sweet machine, that strangler team until my head slipped onto your shoulder, still attached without the band-aids of our clothes we are beasts a burning box of matches tend to leave my bed sheets sandy enough to send the scorpions running especially since you lit the match that started this brush fire the hickeys on my neck on my back with my chest wide open the same scene endlessly unwinds someone has eaten the sun from the sky it's fucked up while i was at war my wife was a whore choking from the ties that bind us for life i used my hair to soak the blood Making me question every word that flows from your mouth the chance of catching you keeps me up at nite this is what it is like to be alone the backs of my teeth are desperate oil and dust from nineteen years and endless money lust try twenty i don't want to see you when I close my eyes you're coming to me in my dreams you are supposed to be off-limits i will suck the wind out of you no one can out run lava i believe that slow ache religion i found when death was around took the liberty of our tongues i will shine it military grade to match my brother's shoes they did not shave his head turning those proud lions into stumbling kittens where your lips had claimed holy land the last time before that nothing visible occurred but ruah you seem to have forgotten that I have no problem quitting you i don't care as long as it pushes off my lips and hits you in the face your beehive mouth my quicksand tongue i spin like lance-fucking armstrong i have lied to you every night this week I am a botanists daughter with a black thumb permanently resting up his rectum that slow ache a second spinal cord cold in my crack secured by a gordian knot growing in me words to make you fall in love and speak in tongues i hear the floor squeal against your eager limbs I'm physically aching for phantom appendages I slip in to your eyelids i would do it again how about you i would eat my mental tongue if my mental teeth obeyed from the heart to the hand we tumble, tumble you seem built to hold on to things i would be the greatest mistake of your life leash leading exercise in the green swimming pool dremel tools sharpen teeth we took turns playing the big dipper i wish we could've called it love making you make it hard your succubus started coming undone blaspheming and bellowing the sheets smelled a lot like fear i dream in colossus how to do this without really doing it i keep myself in the company of volcanoes an alternative to ice the desert's dusty streets miss your wandering hands we've always been each others shores two wishes at the same time for the same thing the hunger to write your life story on our bed sheets i can't seem to shake any of you my pores have turned into oceans i know where the moon is at daybreak i am outgrowing my allotted space in the universe astrology is asinine will there be some evidence of who i was when the smoke so sweet to me earlier quit the breath of my two little boys will i remember, in a year, who I was today? the me now in these nights is all that you need so instead of throwing a hand grenade plan an expedition to the tip top of my breasts we can't say no we tread on uneasy skin i still don't know what you look like naked

Aubto Wakes Up

I am home again with Neptune and Saburi. I save my tears for I realize nobody knows I was gone, it was only a dream. They wouldn’t believe it anyway. It wasn’t a nightmare for I had a family and friends. But there was no tribe to speak of, no one truly talked to each other, everyone wore funny clothes and kept themselves busy with nothing really. I fear I dreamed of the future, and I hope it’s many years away. I worry for my tribe, for my people, I hope what I saw is not our future. Maybe I dreamed of our past. The ending was sad, but it seemed like a beginning too. It’s good to be home, I am the luckiest man alive. The rains will come soon. I think I’ll make a visit with Safi tonite.

[I got the picture from one of the .PPS Amazing Pictures files that circulates our internets.]

The November Wrap

Jordyn is my favorite special guest on Thanksgiving day. Shes the first girl that made me a papa. I love that girl.

OK, here's what we got for November.

it's bed time not that it matters much we've been tired since noon of last year some time.

i was thinking that since i'm a college kid i should be smoking more pot. some other stuff too. As a flexetarian one still must make choices fortunately it's a lot easier to sneak a cheeseburger than a leather couch.

Mouth Breather in the pre-dawn moments on the hill my light illuminates all these itsybitsy flying bugs. My mouth wide open grasps for oxygen, and takes them in like plankton.

if you think about it, thinking is way overrated.

say you got killed doing what you wanted to do. or you were able to keep living, but not doing what you wanted to do?

I will not blog at work. I will not blog at work. I will not blog at work. Facebook either!

It seems to me: To be a Christian it seems one must believe that God created the heaven's and the earth, and everything in them. A Christian has so much to love.

The more importance one gives to the things of this world - the more difficult the path.

He couldn't imagine hooking up with a chick who didn't know how important it is to smoke marijuana.

From a few year ago, a friend Lisa: A train station is where a train stops. A bus station is where a bus stops. At my desk I have a work station.

And now from some real people: Enlightenment is not something you achieve. It is the absence of something. All your life you have been going forward after something, pursuing some goal. Enlightenment is dropping all that. Charlotte Joko Beck. I've been reading Brautigan. Check him out. Love Poem It's so nice to wake up in the morning all alone and not have to tell somebody you love them when you don't love them any more. The Shenevertakesherwatchoff Poem Because you always have a clock strapped to your body, it's natural that I should think of you as the correct time: with your long blonde hair at 8:03, and your pulse-lightning breasts at 11:17, and your rose-meow smile at 5:30, I know I'm right. Poker Star It's a star that looks like a poker game above the mountains of eastern Oregon. There are three men playing. They are all sheepherders. One of them has two pair, the others have nothing.

The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster

When you take your pill it's like a mine disaster. I think of all the people lost inside of you.

Boo, Forever

Spinning like a ghost on the bottom of a top, I'm haunted by all the space that I will live without you.

OK, Samurai time.

Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like. It is foolish to live within this dream of a world seeing unpleasantness and doing only things that you do not like. But it is important never to tell this to young people as it is something that would be harmful if incorrectly understood. Personally, I like to sleep. And I intend to appropriately confine myself more and more to my living quarters and pass my life away sleeping.

A faultless person is one who withdraws from affairs. This must be done with strength.

There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. If one fully understands the present moment, there will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. Live being true to the single purpose of the moment... When one understands this settling into single-mindedness well, his affairs will thin out. Loyalty is also contained within this single-mindedness.

That's it for November.

all my best, your bobJuan

Yo Creo

I am responsible for the everything
complaining is for those who have time and don't need athing
you can't have a past without a present
every belief at least one change underwent
people don't argue about the truth
playing the victim is chicken shit ruth
we're all playing god just a little bit
It's all made up, all of it, relax and take a hit
I am not my body, no way
If there's a heaven, dogs are there, yes way
If the entire planet was the United States, the end of interesting
Mexico should stay Mexico - brown girls, gloriously colored everything
Sheriff Joe give it a rest and stop the fuss
trees contribute more to the health of our planet than most of us
flu shots contain monkey brains for our ills
religions kill, no wait, religion kills
an animal shouldn't have to be killed for all my meals
sex is natural, and sex is good, so it feels
if TV was really good it would change the everything
concern w/o action is not really a thing
we have enough technology
we're all in this together, no apology
belief kills, no wait, beliefs kill
punctuation is way over rated, chill
belief is only necessary until you know
just because you can don't mean you should bro
it's selfish to think your life should be different than it is
we're all in this together, everything's our biz
it's time to start acting my age
there's no such thing as tomorrow you wannabe sage
it gets better on purpose juan moment at a time.

You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it is going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it’s always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt.
Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[Image found here.]

Has this ever happened to you?

A handyman comes to your house. You talk about a project. He gives you an estimate. You schedule a date 3 weeks out. 3 weeks later, that same Handyman shows up and does the same work you talked about on the same day he said he would for the same price he quoted? It happened to me.

[Image found here.]

October Souls

If you've ever seen anything about these [two] girls, you know about sweetness, blessedness oh my, Abagail and Brittany, you inspire me. Check them out on the internets.

OK, October wrapup. here's what I got:

In the month of October I received and did not forward 40 eMails of the spam and get-rich variety. You are welcome. We found a new mountain Home along the Blue River, and will never cease to sing it's praises. The life we live here keeps getting better and better.

you can’t have a past without a present, a future either.

of all the consequences a country could have at least not the ones from making war.

I always start to feel quite a bit better somewhere into my second beer.

He would pay his kids $100 a month just not to ask him stupid shit.

some constructive insomina is happening.

What would it be without your thoughts? Would it be?

who or what is it, that actually goes to sleep anyway?

If you want to know what you love watch what you do when you have a minute.

From the recently departed files:

We recently lost our friend Leonard O'Brien and Linda Montford. Reminders of love, kindness, grace, intelligence, beauty, friends and family. For their families, Cathy and I have a candle burning again tonite.

From some real people:

From one bathtub to another bathtub – All nonsense. Issa.

Without leaving my house

I know the whole universe. Lao-Tsu

[Picture found here.]

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (2)

Some more. He's starting to nail me now.

... The occurrence of mysteries is always by word of mouth.

Lord Naoshige said, "The Way of the Samurai is in desperateness. Ten men or more cannot kill such a man. Common sense will not accomplish great things. Simply become insane and desperate.

In the Way of the Samurai, if one uses discrimination, he will fall behind. One needs neither loyalty nor devotion, but simply to become desperate in the Way. Loyalty and devotion are of themselves within desperation.

After I took up the attitude of a retainer, I never sat sloppily whether at home or in some other place. Neither did I speak, but if there was something that could not be done properly without words. I made an effort to settle things by putting ten words into one. Yamazaki Kurando was like this.

In the words of the ancients, one should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths. Lord Takanobu said, "If discrimination is long, it will spoil." Lord Naoshige said, "When matters are done leisurely, seven out of ten will turn out badly. A warrior is a person who does things quickly."

When your mind is going hither and thither, discrimination will never be brought to a conclusion. With an intense, fresh and underlying spirit, one will make his judgments within the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break right through to the other side.

A person with a bit of wisdom is one who will criticize the times. This is the basis of disaster. A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.

A warrior should not say something fainthearted even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in trifling matters the depths of one's heart can be seen.

Until the age of forty it is best to gather strength. It is appropriate to have settled down by the age of fifty.

When discussing things with someone, it is best to speak appropriately about whatever the subject may be. No matter how good what you are saying might be, it will dampen the conversation if it is irrelevant.

When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless. If you don't he will not tell you the things that he has seen and heard about you again. It is best to both give and receive opinions in a friendly way.

When reading something aloud, it is best to read from the belly. Reading from one's mouth, one's voice will not endure. This is Nakano Shikibu's teaching.

[Image stolen from here.]

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1)

Some teachings from Yamamoto Tsunetomo.

Learning is a good thing, but more often it leads to mistakes. It is like the admonition of the priest Konan. It is worthwhile just looking at the deeds of accomplished persons for the purpose of knowing our own insufficiencies. But often this does not happen. For the most part, we admire our own opinions and become fond of arguing.

According to the situation, there are times when you must rely on a person for something or other. If this is done repeatedly, it becomes a matter of importuning that person and can be rather rude. If there is something that must be done, it is better not to rely on others.

There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.

In China there was once a man who liked pictures of dragons, and his clothing and furnishings were all designed accordingly His deep affection for dragons was brought to the attention of the dragon god, and one day a real dragon appeared before his window. It is said that he died of fright. He was probably a man who always spoke big words but acted differently when facing the real thing.

[Pic found here.]
My friend Amos gave me this book when I was in Portland. Thanks AmoJuan.

There

on the edge
here I am again
right now
is anyone over there?
on the other side?
do we just queue up?
here
pathetically staying
here?
the damn grass looks so green
over there

it only happens here?
this is where love is
love don’t wait
only selfish waits?
jesus, I’m tired of waiting
for there
is no there
is there?

Image copied from here.

A Widow For One Year - Book Report

I just finished this John Irving classic. I'll have to go to Amazon.com soon and get some more now that I've read all of the books of his I have on my shelf. In this story damn near everyone is a writer. In some ways it's like a textbook for writers. As usual, by the time you're in a chapter or two John has a cast of characters developed that you already know very well. He is the master of characters.

You know I don't like to give any of these stories away. You can find other reviews where folks divulge such information (just search the internets). It's fiction, there's some sex, pain, suffering, life, Amsterdam sex, in that order. Recommend = absolutely. Great story, superbly told.

bobJuan Irving in Training.

Blue River Mountain Retreat

Cathy and I just returned from 7 nites and the days in between at the Blue River Mountain Retreat just south of Alpine. We have found our new mountain vacation place, oh my. It's so good we hesitate to tell anyone about it, so we can keep it for ourselves. But, you know that's not the way we roll.

The retreat is located about 10 miles south of Alpine along the Blue River. It's actually in New Mexico, it figures, the Land of Enchantment. Though we drove some new roads, and of course had to go to the Beautiful Place, and the East Fork of the Black River, there's no reason to get in your car once you get there. It's peaceful and there are wonderful hikes that start just outside the cabin door.

We made some new friends, Mike and Kris. Kris was house sitting for Don and Janie who own/live at the Retreat. She is an expert in all things along the Blue, especially the trails. Mike used to work for the Forest Service back in the day a little further south in the Clifton district. He's friends with Don, Janie and Kris too. We are thankful to have the chance to meet such wonderful people along the Blue.

When we got into Phoenix last nite, I realized we hadn't been to a restaurant or seen a traffic light in 6 days. You can catch all our pic from the trip here.

Heading to the Mountains

We're heading up to the Blue River Mountain Retreat for a week. Pics and stories to come. This is my to do list!

Red Thread

I had to find out for myself
for those who merely believed
seemed only merely happy
the flame of my red thread
would not be quenched by
magical spells or doused by
hand-me-down mores or extinguished by
popular beliefs or even pete’s sake
for christ’s sake

and so i set out
to free myself from the tyranny of
virtuousness, respectability, accountability,
predictability, and all them othertabilitys
most certainly self controlability.
never again would i be detained or restrained.
free at lastability!

i did the things i wanted for a change.
and a bit of the everything too
oh my
there was no end to it,
my red thread is
an eternal blazing flame

then in february i saw you in trailz
buying some screenz and incense
you were barefoot and
your hair was longer and
your skin was tanner and
your wa was like it ever was and
i followed you home
like a puppy

after 40 years of the burn
my bones and my cells know
it's good, really good, here
with you
and your fire.

[Image found here]

Camelback Mountain

I see you around town
watching me
watching you
wanting me

everytime you come it’s dark
and hot
sometimes there’s blood
everytime there’s pain,
pleasure
and sweat

I’ve seen you with that squaw
I have others too you know
I never deny
my secrets and pleasures
even to those who consider me
a 30 minute conquest
up and down my frontness
like a piece
of equipment

but you my tender lover
start slow
and finish even slower
quietly penetrating the darkness
of my backness
your soft touch
just before sunrise
we peak

each time you withdraw
is the beginning of our next time.
I’ll be watching you.
Look, you’ve come again
and brought me another poem.

September Wrap

A couple of super nice trips this month. Climbed Mount Humphrey's with Vandy, and went to Portland to see Eli and Amber (and Amos and Rich). I don't need to tell you how much I love my boy Eli. How much I miss him. In October Cathy and I are scheduled to do a week in Alpine at a new cabin. I look forward to telling you about it later.

Here's what I got this time:

As I slide closer to the lowest common denominator
I find myself becoming part of the problem.

Pick the seasonal fruit
don't wait another moment
any thread, pick it up and weave
a lover's tale
with all your heart.

all reality is virtual

ice cream
when it's time to scream.

happiness is self inflicted.

i often hide my selfishness behind my unhappiness.

Auditor: A person who makes their living talking about you you do for a living. A good one can keep you from doing it too.

I've come to the conclusion
even though quite a few of us don't act like it,
and you know who you are
we're all in this together.

Portland: The town that cards.

If I hear tomorrow, just one more time!

and now from some real people:

art is an obligation. Terance McKenna

1. Get enough food to eat, and eat it.
2. Find a place to sleep where it is quiet, sleep there.
3. Reduce intellectual and emotional noise until you arrive at the silence of yourself, and listen to it.

Richard Brautigan.

The lady whines, then dines; is slapped and killed;
Yet it's her killer's blood that has been spilled.
A Mosquito by Brad Leithauser

There is not any memory with less satisfaction in it than the memory of some temptation we resisted. James Branch Cabell.

If we cannot see how what we are doing or not doing is contributing to things being the way that they are, then logically we have no basis a all, zero leverage, for changing the way things are -- except from the outside, by persuasion or force. Adam Kahane.

that's it for this time. All my best, your bobJuan.

True Love

Today I feel it again,

a bit stronger, like it was 1990 or something

no, better than 1990 or something

Your persuasion last nite

got me

your kiss this morning

got me

your smile and loving grace everyday

gets me

when everything else wears me down

you bring me up

it's my turn

isn't it?

you've certainly shown it can be done

true love.

[Picture stolen from here.]

This

time's up
put your pencil down
and turn in your everything
you heard the bell
go on out and play

when you come back
we won’t be so serious
we'll start from scratch
a clean fresh sheet
and no pencils either
crayons and water colors for sure though
and maybe some glitter and glue if you like
now go on and have a good time

good morning
welcome back
aren't you the lucky one
alive another day
now let's get started
after your nap we'll have some lunch
and then you can
paint something grand and splashy
anything you want

what’s that darlin?
you don't know what you want?
look over here baby
it's really quite simple
you won't believe it
all you've ever wanted is .... this.

At The Meadow's Edge

He was young handsome paralyzed
in a bed at the meadow’s edge
of life’s greens and browns and the sunshine too.
Little birds and bugs buzzing the mid blue air.
He told me it’s all mind.
I sat beside him for a moment or more
feeling the caged injustice.
Through the meshed lense of his sunglasses
I could make out his eyes
He turned again to the meadow
isn’t it beautiful?
and it was so, just as he said.
I hope to see him again
he knows things

Pic found here: http://www.richclemart.com/gallery_studio.htm

The Hug, A Poem by Tess Gallagher

A woman is reading a poem on the street
and another woman stops to listen. We stop too,
with our arms around each other. The poem
is being read and listened out here
in the open. Behind us
no one is entering our leaving the houses.

Suddenly a hug comes over me and I'm
giving it to you, like a variable star shooting light
off to make itself comfortable, then
subsiding. I finish but keep holding
you. A man walks up to us and we know he hasn't

come out of nowhere, but if he could, he
would have. He looks homeless because of how
he needs. "Can I have one of those?" he asks you,
and I feel you nod. I'm surprised,
surprised you don't tell him how
it is-- that I'm yours, only
yours, etc., exclusive as a nose to
its face. Love-- that is wheat we're talking about, love
that nabs you with "for me
only" and holds on.

So I walk over to him and put my
arms around him and try to
hug him like I mean it. He's got an overcoat on
so thick I can't feel
him past it. I'm starting the hug
and thinking, "How big a hung is this supposed to be?
How long shall I hold this hug?' Already
we could be eternal, his arms falling over my
shoulders, my hands not
meeting behind his back, he is so big!

I put my head into his chest and snuggle
in. I lean into him. I lean my blood and my wishes
into him. He stands for it. This is his
and he's starting to give it back so well I know he's
getting it. This hug. So truly, so tenderly
we stop having arms and I don't know if
my lover has walked away or what, or
if the woman is still reading the poem, or the houses--
what about them?-- the houses.

Clearly a little permission is a dangerous thing.
But when you hug someone you want it
to be a masterpiece of connection, the way the button
on his coat will leave the imprint of
a planet in my cheek
when I walk away. When I try to find some place
to go back to

[Poem copied from here.]

[Pic found here.] Click pic for video.

Questions, A Poem by Mary Oliver

Is the soul solid, like iron?
Or is it tender and breakable, like
the wings of a moth in the beak of an owl?
Who has it, and who doesn't?
I keep looking around me.
The face of the moose is as sad
as the face of Jesus.
The swan opens her white wings slowly.
In the fall, the black bear carries leaves into the darkness.
One question leads to another.
Does it have a shape? Like an iceberg?
Like the eye of a hummingbird?
Does it have one lung, like the snake and the scallop?
Why should I have it, and not the anteater
who loves her children?
Why should I have it, and not the camel?
Come to think of it, what about maple trees?
What about the blue iris?
What about all the little stones, sitting alone in the moonlight?
What about roses, and lemons, and their shining leaves?
What about the grass?

[Poem copied from here.]
[Image found here.]

The Devil in the White City (Book Review)

My boy Eli recommended this book. An entertaining read. The story of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago is fascinating, particularly given the wherewithal of the times and the scope of the project. How many pounds of this and that, Annie Oakley, the first Ferris Wheel, Walt Disney's father Elias, Frank Lloyd Wright, incandescent bulbs, alternating current and shredded wheat oh my. The story of serial killer H.H. Holmes adds just the right touch of dark to this tale in Chicago. He easily killed at least 27 people around that time, probably way more. What a creepy guy. It amazes me how many folks can be seduced by guys like that. Yikes.

Great read. Recommend: Yes for entertainment and relaxing purposes. Indeed.

Adios Augusto!

Bobby and I started the last day of August with a hike. Them smiles come from the deep....

I'm sitting on a few things here I might need to get out. Better safe than sorry.

First of all, since my last report I have received (and did not forward) 30 junk eMails from so called friends. Again, the rest of you are welcome. I've reset the counter.

I've started a poetry class at Phoenix College. So, expect some silly poems coming to this blog soon.

Everything changed as soon as I learned her business was pleasure.

Concern without action, what's the point?

I've decided to lie about everything.

He just finished his 54th year of wanting just about everything to be different.

As long as more is better, there's never enough.

There's a reason they're called followers.

She was so fine, the second thought I had was "please tell me you're not already spoken for".

I'm not interested in a deal.

I know I'm getting it right, when you're perfect.

Jeanne, mostly what I like, is what you did to me.

If it's not leading to love, never mind.

There's no doubt, it's my turn.

Don't you get it? This is as special as it gets.

It's all a daydream, all of it that's not cherished anyway.

Selfish often masquerades as unhappy. It's a pity to be so petty.

I've broken all the little rules, time for something else.

And now, from some real people:

I just may be the lunatic you're looking for. Billy Joel (Almost a quote).

I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday. Janice Joplin.

I'd sooner face the penalties of killing a man than a hawk. Robinson Jeffers. Wow!

We must do what we conceive to be right and not bother our heads or burden our souls with whether we'll be successful. Because if we don't do the right thing, we'll do the wrong thing and we'll be part of the disease and not part of the cure. E.F. Schumacher

Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. George Bernard Shaw.

That's all I got for this time. my best, your bobJuan.

The Shadow of the Wind (Book Review)

Oh my. I am thinking about changing my name to Carlos again. A page turner. I was joking with Rick (my friend who turned me onto the book) that it should come with one of those rubber finger-page-turning thingys. You can find lots of folks singing the praises of this book and its author, including his greatness Stephen King. You don't need me to tell you how wonderful it is.

I will say every chance I get that a brave author with an imagination and compassion for life once again inspires. Rick says the Angels Game is a great read too, I'll let you know what I think. What a wonderful mind and heart this guy has. Love, mystery, and story telling on 11. The plot/subplot and mixing mystery fired me up. Hated for it to end.

Recommendation: Must Read.

The 158-Pound Marriage, A Book Review

Finished this short one (154 pages) last nite. Saucy, sinful, painful. Ahh, the menage a quatre, couple swapping is hot. Then it's not. Too bad we imagine things could or even should stay hot. And when they cool we get all stupid about it, or wonder what went wrong. There's no such thing as hot without cold. There's no such thing as ON without OFF. Irving whips um up here as usual, you can see um naked. And he got me. The two quotes in the front of the book were more telling after the read.

There were four of us then, not merely two, and in our quaternion the vintage sap flowed and bled and boiled as it may never again. John Hawkes, The Blood Oranges.

It was a most amazing business, and I think that it would have been better in the eyes of God if they had all attempted to gouge out each other's eyes with carving knives. But they were "good people". Ford Madox Ford, The Good Soldier.

Irving is my writing professor. Book recommended. Review done.

Adios Julio

I bet somewhere there's a statistic that says this July was one of, maybe the, hottest on record in Phoenix. It's been a scorcher. Made up for that sweet June we had for sure, back when we thought maybe global warming was a scam again. Anyway it was a great month around here. For one, baby Aaryn came into all of our lives. Just in time.

Here's some of what I'm sitting on.

First, you're welcome. In the month of July I received and did not forward 58 eMails, some of which promised me fantastic sums of wealth depending upon how many people I forwarded them to believe me. I just reset my counter for August.

Looks like we're not going to be happy until we reach the tipping point.

If the entire world turned off their TV right now

I predict World Peace by Christmas.

After I became amused, everything started falling in place.

In the evolution of humans, why did we stop having fur?

As long as there's a them

we're all in trouble.

Sometimes I wish I could control/z my way back a few days.

You have to realize there are others

Before you can appreciate the one without another

name your limitations.

If you're not gonna do "this"

what are you gonna do?

Why do you care where you're going, when you don't even know where you are?

And now, from some real people.

He who knows how to shave the razor,

will know how to erase the eraser. Henri Michaux.

Everything leads us to believe that there exists a certain point of intelligence at which life and death, the real and the imaginary, the past and the future... cease to be perceived as opposites. Andre Breton.

Until next time.. your bobJuan.

Cider House Rules - Book Review

Just finished this today. My oh my, Mr. Irving the Story Guru. I'm in the middle of a story myself, and if I could find the last sentence to mine like John Irving does to his, I'd stop. This is another example of a great movie that doesn't even get close the the greatness of it's inspiration. John did not drift once too far off the fun stuff here, quite a feat for 587 pages.

Once he gets you hooked on the players, he plays them all like the conductor of an orchestra. I can only dream of myself finding a way to weave tales like this. Fearless love. Fearless craziness. Irving is the bravest man I know. You want to have a great book in your hands? pick this one up.

bobJuan.

Caption That Photo II

Eli is the winner again today.

Margaret was always able to force a smile, even though she secretly lamented having a younger more beautiful sister Jane.

[Pic found here.]

Caption That Photo 1

My kids and I are playing "caption that photo". the winner gets a macaroni and cheese dinner at Bobby's on Monday. Today's winner was from Eli.

This is the lesser known "cover your penis no evil"

If you'd like to join us, send me your eMail and I'll include you in the daily contest while it runs.

[Photo found here.]

Birthday Hike

I've been back on the mountain lately. Redemption, lung busting, knee and ankle wrenching redemption. Yesterday Damian, Bobby and I had a little birthday cheer on top. Bobby and Andy turned 34 yesterday. Last nite we did some serious bowling extended family style. I love my life. Here's some of what I'm sitting on.

I can always tell when I forget that life is short.
Cranky and Petty.

If it aint making your marriage way better, your religion isn’t working.

We do this over and over and over again.

How much reality do you really need?

You are either happening, or happened.

Drinking wine is moderation.

As long as "more" is better, look out.

I don't know that I can fully trust someone who doesn't own a pair of jeans.

Every generation has its good ole days.

And now from some real people:

I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me. Dave Barry.

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. Paul Valery.

Coming and going, life and death:
A thousand hamlets, a million houses.
Don't you get the point?
Moon in the water, blossom in the sky.<br> Gizan, Death Poem.

Until next time, your bobJuan.

Packaging Fiasco

I just received my order of Inflameric, thank you. As a Planetary Commissioner, you can imagine how disappointed I was in how much packaging is involved. I will not be ordering from you again. This is ridiculous. I thought maybe I ordered 10 bottles or something when I saw the size of the box. Come on you guys can do better than this. Bob Royal Order # 901922 (via Amazon)

June Catchup Time

I have so many other pictures I need to post here, but it's not their turn. I got this "Red Neck Fire Alarm" pic from a friend a while back.

I've got a few things waiting to get here tonite. Here we go. First some bobJuan.

Where do you draw the line on what you care deeply about?
How can anything annoy you? Where does annoyance come from anyway?
Unliking is the source of all my problems. Unliking causes problems.
Unwanting is the place for me.
One good reason to do anything at all is because it makes you happy.
I knew my guru would end up being a clown.
Once I saw absolute love, the game changed to play time.
It's very scarey business, this taking responsibility for my own happiness

From some real people now:

Lo I am with you always means when you look for God,
God is in the look of your eyes,
in the thought of looking, nearer to you than your self,
or things that have happened to you
There’s no need to go outside. Rumi Be Melting Snow p. 13

Try and be a sheet of paper with nothing on it.
Be a spot of ground where nothing is growing,
where something might be planted,
a seed, possibly, from the Absolute. Rumi Be Melting Snow

You can only believe what you do not know. Merton. NSC p. 126

Finally I know the freedom of madness (Rumi No Flag. p 29)

The Time Traveler's Wife

My best friend Ken Moore turned me on to this book. Yes, you are all my best friends, get over it. I started reading it and Cider House Rules on the same day right after I finished Reading The Broom Of The System. Ken's son Daniel recommended Broom. I won't. The author, David Wallace could have played more with some of his deeper themes for me, particularly the part about being told. He does some side stories and play that pleases my story loving self. Anyway, we'll leave that one alone, we're talking about a different book today. I ended up leaving House sit next to my power spot while I finished the Wife. I'm ready to get back to Wilbur and Homer at the orphanage.

Time Travel. Yum. My last such themed read was Replay. I loved that one too. The Time Traveler's Wife is another love story with a super fine twist. Henry travels forwards and backwards. He meets Clare his wife when she is a little girl in a meadow. She believes in him right away, and waits ever so patiently and powerfully for the day when she meets him in real time. She waits for him forever really. He shows up from their future naked and hungry. She always has food and clothes for him. She always has everything for him forever. She meets him in the real world when she is a woman. She sees him in her future from his past too. The ending is amazing, a subtle twist in time and blessedness.

Her love for him is the real juice in this story, made straight from the fruit of his love for her. Audrey gets us close inside both of these two, which is one of my favorite forms of bravery and style. She tells a damn good tale here. Anyone from Chicago will probably recognize much of the scenes for she doesn't hesitate to vividly cast her story where she lives. Street names. I bet you could Google Earth most of the books locales. The book jacket says this is her first novel, and Google says she has others. Would love to hear from anyone who's read anymore of her work. I heartily recommend the book. Like I said, there's a bit too much Chicago for me, and some of the details of making paper art are more than I want, but the story telling is brave and warm and hot where it needs to be.

Aaryn Michelle McCandless

Another reason to remember
be kind and love each other, everyone
a new sister was born to this world today
There is no such thing as enough love.

Aaryn made it to our world around 1:00 this morning. I'm sure you'll get to see some way better pics here soon. I didn't see her first, but she's mine! I hear her, Andy and dad (Ryan1) and sister (Ryan2) are all doing just fine. Andy told me a couple days ago that baby Ryan had pretty much given up believing there was a baby coming. Well believe it darlin.

I'll have more later.

Catch Up

Here's some of the latest. Cathy and I made another trip down to Rocky Point last weekend. Absolutely wonderful. Perfect weather, food, people, relax. Yum.

Here's some of the latest from your bobJuan.

If you don't see God everywhere, you won't see Him anywhere.

Still waiting for happiness? How vain.

The undisciplined calories of boredom, they're the worst.

It was wrong for her to stay with him for all the right reasons.

It wasn't until Friday that I believed you could be high on life.

Sober, it's just like drinking, only not as fun.

you are always creating everything

put the pen down

put the book down

lay your burden down

create from the emptiness.

And now from some real people.

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. Rumi

Love in which there is no sense of restraint cannot be born of a conviction which is based upon things accessible to the mind. Meher Baba.

More important than learning how to recall things is finding ways to forget things that are cluttering the mind. Eric butterworth.

We have a huge barrel of wine, but no cups.

That's fine with us. Every morning

we glow and in the evening we glow again.

They say there's no future for us. They're right.

Which is fine with us. Rumi.

Our minds are like crows. They pick up everything that glitters, no matter how uncomfortable our nests get with all that metal in them. Thomas Merton.

Until next time.

my best, your bobJuan.

Oh Little Jeanne

Today is Jeanne's memorial service. Here's what I got.

Jeanne
June 1st, 2009

[breathe]

The last time I was in this place, I was on a date with Jeanne We did dinner and a Monk. This Tibetan robed bald guy drinking a star bucks with a Rolex on his wrist entertained us from a grand chair on the stage. A lovely nite with our Angel and a Dahlia Lama protégé.

To the Labine family, thanks for including us, and blessing us with your kindness.

I’m certain we all have our own special connection with Jeanne. Didn’t we all order the Jeanne Special? I’d like to share a bit of my version.

I’m famous in my own mind for one-liners. Here’s some for our girl.

I’ve lost a big chunk of my sunshine.
My world was so much bigger with you in it.
I am so much better because of you.
I’ve never lost anything so precious to me
The planet must feel this loss too, for
you don’t get souls like this walking around every day.
Anything ever touched by this precious feels the loss.
We are the lucky ones, to have known our girl.

That laugh. The alpha and omega of laughs.
Storyteller (ok exaggerator, embellisher)
Language Slayer. You know what she did to English…..
you should have seen what she did to conversational Spanish at Phoenix College
gusto
generous
wise

sensuous, she could give a clinic on sensuous
She got every ounce of pleasure out of every situation
If need be, out of thin air.
human, woman, friend, mother, lover, she did it all the way
loved animals, food, art, earth, family and friends … all things about a man.
In short, she loved living her life.

She ferociously loved her daughter
It’s hard to find a picture of her w/o a dog in it!
Sidney, we’ll watch over you darlin.
It’s hard to find a picture of her w/o Carrie in it.
Carrie, we’ll watch over you darlin.
It’s impossible to find a picture of her w/o a big smile in it.
bravest of all
to be able to let go of so much love

house fire,
cabin flood,
carrie’s h.s. parties
and we all know about so much more she endured
no, she thrived and inspired
over and over again

Did you ever get a chance to grill a steak and watch the stars at the Prescott Cabin?
You remember the one she paid for with credit cards? or so she said.

The Office:
She loved that job
And she loved Mr. Todd.
And everybody there
if you think about it, for most of us, the last really nice raise we got was when Jeanne was there.
I had the fortune to be with her off the clock and hear her love stories about the office and you.

From Eric Able: Thanks bobjuan for letting us know. Jeanne was one of the good people in the world. this is a sad moment for me as it is for you. As much craziness as there was at the County back in the day, Jeanne was always a bright spot. I'll never forget her laugh.

From Mr. Todd: Thank you Bob, I’ve been going back into my office a lot today and I just close the door and cry some more. It was late in the morning when I had a little break and opened up the ol’computer and read Carrie’s e-mail first thing and I just went to the bottom of the world and everything just fell in on top of me. I looked at the letter over and over and just said I don’t want it to be true. My heart just broke into pieces and then I put some back together and re-lived that last big hug from Jeanne when we said ‘good bye’ at the restaurant. I’ll never forget her. Doug

If only the animals could write this
how many dogs and cats are we talking about anyway?
I thought I heard Buford singing in doggy heaven last nite.
They know what I’m trying to say.
We were loved by the consummate lover
We dined with The Connoisseur of Life
We laughed until we cried
We cried until we laughed.
We celebrated everything, every time.
We tasted only the best of it all, and it always tasted the best with Jeanne.

Thanks again my friend, for every single year of friendship.
For the calls, the trips, the meals, the walks, the talks, the drinks, the hugs, the laughs and the tears.
For filling my life with sweet sweet love memories.
And from now on, if I ever need a smile, all I have to do is close my eyes, and think of you.

A Best Friend

My best friend Jeanne died last nite.
Here's what I got right now.

Very best friends
I've got a few
lost one just last nite
They're the ones, when gone
you got nothing but honey
not one single regret that sticks
of course i wish this and that
one more time for sure i do
one more hug, kiss, dinner, weekend
yes i do baby
like nobody's business i do
but when i reach inside with tears on my cheeks
i find nothing but honey
you sweet, sweet memory of mine
my best so far.

Customer Service Training

We had two mornings of mandatory training on Customer Service this week at the office. It's difficult when you work for the government, all the customers are forced to pay. Lord help us. Anyway, my notes are above. As with all my doodles, these are best viewed from all four angles.

Lonesome Traveler

I just finished this book today and I must say many of his sentences were a bit much, particularly since some things in life should not run on over several pages in my opinion except maybe once or twice, but really, where’s the damn period, it’s just a city street scene for goodness sakes and so all in all I did not enjoy as much of this one as much as On The Road, but in both I like Jack the most when he’s alone, in Washington State watching for fire, top of a remote mountain praying to God, or his trip to Africa and Europe seeing God everywhere he can spin together thoughts and words and sounds and sights and prayers and songs bravely sweet and kind, like a poet and you know how poets are, wanting so much all the damn time.

Of course I want to travel alone, and be free.

From the last chapter, page 173.

There's nothing nobler than to put up with a few inconveniences like snakes and dust for the sake of absolute freedom.

I myself was a hobo only of sorts, as you see, because I knew someday my literary efforts would be rewarded by social protection - I was not a real hobo with no hope ever except that secret eternal hope you get sleeping in empty boxcars flying up the Salinas Valley in hot January sunshine full of Golden Eternity toward San Jose where mean-looking old bo's 'll look at you from surly lips and offer you something to eat and a drink too - down by the tracks or in the Guadaloupe Creekbottom.

The original hobo dream was best expressed in a lovely little poem mentioned by Dwight Goddard on his Buddhist Bible:

Oh for this one rare occurrence
Gladly would I give ten thousand pieces of gold!
A hat is on my head, a bundle on my back,
And my staff, the refreshing breeze and the full moon.

[Picture of Jack found here.]

Walmart Take 2

I dared my favorite poet to write a poem about Walmart. She did. Now, my response. I'm really not all that mad about Walmart. It is a friggin Zoo though for sure.

I grab my cart and a wipe
it's clean now and ready to knock
up and down the aisles, with its own
navigational system in that one front
wheel with the black plastic cover and
2 pounds of grocery store grime.

the beginning of my lesson today, breath.
I've come for stuff on the cheap,
lord knows I don't need to
I've come for something else too

Like an anthroplogist and a zen monk
i come to observe
us in a sea of stuff we want
I've come to give up certain parts of myself
the unskillful ways,
I've come to practice being us, nothing else.

the check-out line is the clencher,
the master has given me a pop-quiz.
What's wrong with right now?

Not Bad

I've been wanting to make (well eat, actually) this quiche since the magazine showed up last month. Got around to it last nite, nailed it pretty close the first time. I got 12 sheets of phyllo dough left, come on over for some pie!

Here's the latest stuff from your bobJuan.

one of the things I like most about fiction
often, there's sex.

the cat just walked in the house carrying half the yard in her tail.

If my bank closed, it's not like I'm out that much cash.

I'm here to tie your kangaroo down, Sport.

rules are for suckers
and I mean that in
the kindest of ways
we're only around for a few minutes
straighten up and fly right
off the map into the
madness of love
you're only one change away
from everything you really want
wantlessness
no, really
the hardest easiest thing
in the world
complete acceptance.

Now that I figured out I'm not gonna have a different life,
this one's it
there's no more waiting
what a relief
I'm all over this
all hell is breaking loose.

Damn this new PC.
I'm gonna have to teach Microsoft Office my language again. Custom.dic is up for a big lesson. I forgot to tell Cathy about Microsoft Office 2007 when we got this thing. I hope to not be around the first time she sees those ribbons!

Until next time.

Metsito & More

La Curva. The only place for breakfast in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point). We had a wonderful 2 days in Rocky Point. We haven't been going down much these past few years, last time was Eli & Amber's Wedding for me. It turns into an orgy of tortillas, salsa, frijoles, margaritas, burritos, naps, and all manners of hedonisms when I don't goes often enoughs. One big scrambling yeeehawww. Here's some Jack Kerouac on Mexico.

p. 21 - Lonesome Traveller. ... -- but the moment you cross the little wire gate and you're in Mexico, you feel like you just sneaked out of school when you told the teacher you were sick and she told you you could go home, 2 o'clock in the afternoon. -- You feel as though you just come home from Sunday morning church and you take off your suit and slip into your soft worn smooth cool overalls, to play -- .. It's a great feeling of entering the Pure Land, especially because it's so close to dry faced Arizona and Texas and all over the Southwest - but you can find it, this feeling, this fellaheen feeling about life, that timeless gayety of people not involved in great cultural and civilization issues .. Mexico is generally gentle and fine, even when you travel among the dangerous characters as I did -- "dangerous" in the sense we mean in America -- in fact the further you go away from the border, and deeper down, the finer it is, as though the influence of civilizations hung over the border like a cloud.

Now some bobJuan stuff:

From the dearly departed files: My friend Martha lost her husband Michael recently. All my precious thoughts and love for you and your family babes.

You have to read, as it turns out, to be well read.

From the news recently: Doctors said one man was bitten on the hand after trying to pet a snake. They said the man had been drinking prior to the incident. (I wish I had a dime for everytime...)

Quit resisting resistancelessness.

Why are matters of life and death always taken so seriously?

I've decided to put all my eggs in one basket.

How come there's so much bad information in my blood?
Makes me glad I declined the piss test.

Were the pandemics before television?

I am another bit of living proof, you can live totally happy on less than $100,000 a year.

And from some real people:

Self is realized through selflessness. Lao-Tsu.

Outside of poetry there is no Zen, outside of Zen there is no poetry. Ten'in Ryutaku.

That's it for this time.

Back from Mexico

We're back, stories to come.   Beautiful beautiful beautiful.  Stories to come.  We didn't have any trouble with the flu or drug warfare..  Or so far, no other bugs from eating all local, all the time.

Pilgrim At Tinker Creek - Book Report

Ahhhh, I've finished another classic. I've got about 10 more waiting. I am so lucky I didn't go to college when I was young for I probably would have just rushed through this stuff! Just finished with Annie this morning. This is no page-turner, it' more like 15 magical mushroom trips. I needed breaks between hits. My friend YuYu turned me on to this book. I asked him if he remembered the part where Annie tells the story of folks who went through operations and gained their eyesight for the first time. This whole thing begins on page 27. He couldn't remember since it was probably back in the 70s when he started this thing. We all know he's slow, but this book demands slow. She cites work done by Marius von Senden in a book called Space and Sight. Amazon doesn't have it, it is old I guess. I'd love to read it. Anyway, it's the way Annie does it over and over again, exploring details and sharing them with us. Mind boggling enthralling detalia.

Annie was in her 20s when she wrote this book. Makes me wish I hadn't given my Thoreau to the Singleton Moms Rummage Sale. The comparison to Thoreau is cheap and already rudely common, a guy at a pond instead of a girl at a creek. I apologize Annie, I like yours better. I'm not sure Thoreau even talked about insects as parasites.

Annie didn't spend much time wondering about things, she found out. Then she put up her pallet and canvas and showed us what she learned and saw in graceful awe; close by the water over by the hill, down in the valley, covered in admiration and scars and dirt and blood and snow.

I'm no critic, who don't know that. I will say that Annie is the bravest writer I've read so far. To get this far in love with anything, and bold about it, makes me want to sharpen my pencil. She describes these bugs called striders (pp 191-192) and how they tear it up. She ends the piece by saying: Next time I will know what is happening, and if they want to play the last bloody act offstage, I will just part the curtain of grasses and hope I sleep through the night. Striders are brutal. Annie is questfully respectful.

Or, on p. 258: In another book I read the geologists think that Lake Superior marks the site of the highest mountain that ever existed on this continent. I don't know. I'd like to see it. Or I'd like to be it, to feel when to turn.

On Monarchs (p. 259..) This honeysuckle was an odor already only half-remembered, a breath of the summer past, the Lucas cliffs and overgrown fence by Tinker Creek, a drugged sweetness that had almost cloyed on those moisture-laden nights, scarcely known and mostly lost, and heading south. [what the hell is cloyed?] I walked him across the gas station lot and lowered him into a field. He took to the air, pulsing and gliding; he lighted on sassafras, and I lost him.

Some more love: I smelled silt on the wind, turkey, laundry, leaves . . . my God what a world. There is no accounting for one second of it.

One more: This is how you spend this afternoon, and tomorrow morning, and tomorrow afternoon. Spend the afternoon. You can't take it.

One very popular quote from this book she says was inspired by Thomas Merton, who is my guy on the Catholic Monk scene day-to-day. Thomas said There is always a temptation to diddle around in the contemplative life, making itsy-bitsy statutes. Annie says famously: There is always an enormous temptation in all of life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for itsy-bitsy years on end. ..... I won't have it. The world is wilder than that in all directions, more dangerous and bitter, more extravagant and bright. We are making hay when we should be making whoopee; we are raising tomatoes when we should be raising Cain, or Lazarus. There's even more in this quote (...) that you can find for yourself on page 274.

Her language is almost too much for the bobJuan. The subject matter and her love allowed me to keep up. She herself says in the Afterword: I'm afraid I suffered youth's drawback, too: a love for grand sentences, and fancied a grand sentence was not quite done until it was overdone. I'll allow her that for sure, on account of love.

I imagine if she had written this book a long time ago, it may have been included in the Holy Bible, a book on the absolute love and admiration and thankfulness for all God has created. The holiest of things. Maybe it would have been placed just after the Book of Psalms.

I will let the book rest for a while, but imagine it will come around again, on occasion, when I need another trip into the details from the creek.

The Flu Take 2 (We're going to Mexico)

As it turns out, there are cases of the flu here in Phoenix, but not Rocky Point. It's gotta be safer down there. Also, check out these stats.

Killed by Car Accidents
Highway fatalities account for more than 94% of all transportation deaths. There were an estimated 6,289,000 car accidents in the US in 1999. There were about 3.4 million injuries and 41,611 people killed in auto accidents in 1999. The total number of people killed in highway crashes in 2001 was 42,116, compared to 41,945 in 2000. An average of 114 people die each day in car crashes in the U.S. more... and 1999 pdf... [PDF Document - 2.5M] 

Killed by the Common Flu
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 35 to 50 million Americans come down with the flu during each flu season.The CDC estimates that in the US more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year.

We'll probably go by train, or shuttle. Car's are dangerous.