September 15-21 2013

 

Sunday 15- temps in the high 90s.

I did my stretches and ran a mile and a half with 1.5lbs around each wrists.

I went for my evening walk with my backpack.

I wrote a note to my “Dead” Friends telling them I would be off FaceBook for a while working on projects... of course I meant Dear Friends... a typo or was it that I was thinking of my childhood friend who I recently found out over a FaceBook post had passed away more than twenty years ago. The reason I am writing and sharing this is my friend was one of the kindest and gentlest persons I knew at the time. I want to try and pass on how a person such as he can change when circumstances fall beyond one’s ability to cope; war does this.

My friend was another casualty of the Vietnam War; a slow death of drinking rot of memories he had told me of. I wish there was something I could have done at the time when I last seen him, or should I say last heard his voice from behind a sleazy hotel bedroom door in downtown Torrance. I knew he had problems, serious drinking problems to wash away the bloody visions that he saw during an ambush of his platoon; he seen too much. He seen enough for any one person to handle and instead of finding help from his friends he found it in a bottle. I had come by to knock on that door for the past few days, I knew he was inside because I could hear movement and see shadows from the small open vent type window above the door, but he still wouldn’t answer. One day he finally answered after my persistent knocking. His last words to me were not very pleasant, but basically he screamed them out through the closed door of his hotel room for me not to bother him again in so many harsh words. This saddened me for I had tried a few times to help, to listen, to be a friend and speak of the good times we had when we were kids, but he had changed, he had hardened, the Army and the War had seen to that. After this last exchange I left him and his mean spirited voice behind that door, that door he used as a barrier, a blockade between two worlds. I never went back, never to contact him again; this upsets me now.

Monday 16- temps into the low 100s

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, ran up and down the hill carrying 5lbs in each hand, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for five minutes.

I started work on book 2 of “Rainbow at the End of Tomorrow”. I should find a subtitle instead of calling it book 2... I almost completed editing chapter one.

I did my stretches, lifted 10lb dumbbells and went for my evening walk with my backpack.

I continued working on chapter one.

I did my stretches, lifted 20lb dumbbells, and went for a night run.

I finished editing chapter one.

I watched a couple of episodes of “Fringe”.

Tuesday 17- windy with temps in the high 90s.

I did my stretches, deep knee bends and jumping jacks.

I completed editing chapters 2 through 4 on the second book of “Rainbow at the End of Tomorrow”...

I watched the last episode of season one of “Fringe”.

Wednesday 18- cooler today with temps in the high 80s.

I slept a full 8 hours again and got a late start on the day.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga and did the core trainer.

I called my friend Doug Dorney and had a nice chat with him. We talked mostly about our friend Jay.

I needed to do a little cleaning of the living room; actually need to do a lot but I only did a little.  

Jimmy called and we jawed for a spell. Seems like he bought the Spanish Rosetta Stone course about the same time I did a few weeks ago; what a coincidence!

I began editing chapter five.

I finished chapter five, began and finished chapter 6.

I watched season two episodes 1 and 2 of “Fringe” as a

Thursday 19- highs back up to the low 100s.

I did my stretches, deep knee bends and jumping jacks, and ran a mile and a half with 1.5lbs around each wrists.

I worked most of the day on chapters 7 and 8 getting them edited.

Linda S. called to say that the community cleanup scheduled for Saturday has been called off because of funding. All the work we put in to get the word out was all for not. I volunteered to stand out in front of the center on Saturday at noon to relieve Peggy and Linda to tell folks who come by with trash the cleanup is canceled. I called folks who I called before about the cleanup to tell them it was now a no go.

I updated the Copper Mountain Mesa Website and sent out the Newsletter.

Went over to Mac’s house at 11pm to help him and his son Dennis move his Harley up onto a rack so he can work on it. Then we pushed another Harley that caught fire

Friday 20- a very nice and lovely day.

I did my stretches, lifted weights, yoga, ran up and down the hill carrying 5lbs in each hand, core trainer, and punched the heavybag for five minutes.

All I did was work on book two and found out I had left chapter 9 and 10 undone with not much more than an outline and a few paragraphs to go on. I had to write the two chapters and will finish them up on Sunday.

I cooked up my rice and chili bean special for potluck. I won’t be having the time to do it in the morning.

Saturday 21- high winds started blowing in the afternoon.

I did my stretches.

I arrived at the community center to relieve Peggy and Linda who were there at 8am telling everyone who showed up for the Community Cleanup that it was canceled. I found Roger Smith there instead who came half an hour early. We sat around together yapping and I told him he might as well leave at 2pm because I had to stay here until 4pm for potluck which we rescheduled for the cleanup this weekend instead of our usual last Saturday of the month one.

At Potluck we had about fifteen folks showing up.

Dorothy Jacobsen presented us with her broccoli cheese casserole with cornbread. Dynne Carroll made this wonderful Coca Cola cake and tasty Salmon patties. Cal Mayers came by with his fruit tray. Mary and Chris Koval made up a Caesars taco salad, along with Chris’s special pasta cheese casserole, and chocolicious cake. Chris Jonas made his world famous macaroni salad. Tim brought his appetite. And I my  rice and chili bean special. Again we all got mighty stuffed on the food and took a bunch home that was leftover.    

***** Stuff I Wrote this Week******

The Autumnal Equinox is that special time of year, when day and night become equal, and all of nature’s creatures know the harsh summer’s Sun gives way to the cool lovely Autumn colors of yellow, purple and brown. Leaves that had once adorned and danced among the trees, will now gently drift and tumble to the ground where mushrooms sprout and hedgehogs play....

Aye the world is filled with wonder, and good people make it that way! Friends, alive and dead, drift across our minds, like fairy dust tossed against the breeze. Say you will remember me, say you won't forget, for we are one, and together all, be on a mystical journey, to islands in the sun.

My Dead Friends (I really meant Dear Friends)

I must take leave of FaceBook for a few weeks to finish a few projects that are wanting my full attention.

I have two books left in my Sci-Fi trilogy "Rainbow at the End of Tomorrow" to edit and finish.

I am also thinking of putting together a book of poems I have written, that many of you suggested I do.

Like before I'll be checking in once in a while making sure you're all behaving

You can leave me messages in FB Chat which I shall be checking now and again.

Please know this: you are all my friends, the old and the new, the ones from my childhood's past to the new I have met here on FaceBook.

I love you all dearly!

Bob

******