Goodbye Ziggy...James 29th Birthday...Ya'll Qaeda/Vanilla ISIS Update...and More

Perhaps Dean Podesta summed it up the best:

"If you're ever sad, just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie."


It was the first bit of news I read this morning, and it made me profoundly sad. Bowie's music and theatrical genius has woven throughout my life like a thread through tapestry. I (as many others did), in turn, exposed my children to his work and they love him as well. Although the Star-Man is gone...he will live forever through his music.

                                              David Bowie 1947-2016

Speaking of my children, the eldest turned 29 on Friday. Celebrating the last year of his twenties this year.

Complete with Aiden "helping" Dad blow out the candles!

Actually a parlor-trick...because the baby has learned that if you say anything is hot...he will blow on it to cool it off.

He had a wonderful birthday...and I found the vinyl Ursa Major Album he has been wanting!

And how the hell do I have an almost 30 year old son, anyway?  I did extract a promise that he will slow down a bit and take better care of himself...how "Mom" is that?

So Dayne and Donna have discovered

They are hosting a huge Cards Against Humanity Party later this month. I am invited and pretty sure I am going. My friend from Ohio, Betsy, will be up...I may have to drag her off to it as well!

The mind boggles.

Something else that boggles my mind:

These guys.

Now everywhere from Hong Kong to New York has been making great internet memes of them. Thick with ridicule and some of them actually pretty funny.

And my Personal Favorite

 "I just don't know how to QUIT you, Ammon."


One member took money that had been donated for their cause and went to town...checked into a motel and went to a bar which caused some internal dissidence. A black eye. A busted nose.


After hearing Bundy sent a list of items (including snacks) he needed to HIS MOTHER the other day...yeah...it is hard for me to take him real seriously.

"Dear Mom...send clean underwear and snacks, love your son" 

Where does he think he is...summer camp?



Then two days ago the "security force" composed of The Pacific Patriots Network showed up...some in full camo...all heavily armed.

How could THIS possibly go wrong?

So...Mr. Bundy...government officials and local law enforcement...do you see what a slippery slope you have created, and how easily the situation could all turn to shit.

To his credit, even Bundy realized it has gotten out of hand, and asked the PPN to leave. 

The local authorities did finally shut off the power. I am expecting that to have at least some effect.
I don't know why it wasn't done on day one.

In April, at the Bundy Ranch they (the Bundy's) pointed firearms at local law enforcement and US Military...and you know what the repercussions of that stand off was?  Nothing.
 Not a damned thing.

So yeah...we sort of built this.


Emboldened they have stormed a Closed Federal Refuge and Bird Sanctuary in the middle of Bumfuck, Nowhere and occupied it with weapons.

Now, I don't believe for a minute these guys are ready to die for their cause or go out in a burst of glory...not this little group of wanna be revolutionaries. Not a Che Guevara amidst them. They are grown men playing Cowboys. A Boyscout Jamboree. Summer Camp in the middle of winter.
  
Send Snacks, Mom.

Face it...even the Indians have told them to get the hell out.

What bothers me is how other groups out there view how we are handling this. Or more aptly, NOT handling this. What happens when they are emboldened by our non-action and take their weapons into somewhere much less remote. Other groups who are not playing Boyscouts.

Bottom line. They have broke and entered a Federal Building.  They have occupied that building by force and brandish weapons. They have been asked to leave repeatedly.
Did Sheriff David Ward show up with back-up and handcuffs?

 No.

 He "asked them to leave" and did the good old boy handshake and pat on the back.

To which he has been told that they "Aren't ready to leave".

 WTH?

So now leaving is a choice.
An OPTION?

I am glad it hasn't devolved into a Waco or Ruby Ridge, but we are sending an equally deadly message to other militia groups out there by our inability to take control of the situation...jail these individuals and prosecute them.  
 An open invitation to mayhem.

I am sorry they feel, as ranchers, they are getting a bum deal by the BLM. And maybe they really are...but this isn't (shouldn't be) the way to accomplish anything.
Just my two cents.

Also more Car Porn, tonight. Look what Chevrolet has dreamed up.

Exhibited in Shanghi as a new Concept Car.

OMG!
That is what I am talking about!


I may need a smoke.


Nicole turned me onto a Pioneer Woman Black Bean Burger Recipe that I modified using steak seasonings.
The burger itself only 114 calories. Absolutely meatless and you would never know. Adding bread only boosts it another 120 or so calories. So the entire sandwich is still well under 300 calories.And delicious.

 The texture and taste is exactly like good beef.

Check it out for yourself!

More anon... 

Going to explore The Prado in Madrid tomorrow!





The Unfinished Snowman    (completed)  I figure everyone does the top hat and scarf snowmen with the coal eyes...this one is just the start of a snowman in the forest. And yes "Idgy"...I believe those ARE Happy Trees...lol!

First Week of 2016...Ya'll Qaeda...Novel:The Plan (A Survivor)

Yes...this was ME yesterday.  Seriously.

Realized that I had become lax for the months of November and December...and gained back 10 pounds in two months...so it is definitely time for an adjustment.

(...but so totally worth it...)

So back to 4:3  (alternating day fast) and you know what...after spending a couple of months not even doing the 6:1 and basically...well...grazing...500 calories for the entire day doesn't seem much like food or  even eating for that matter...okay?

Finally just turned in early last night after a cup of tea thinking

Yay....in the morning I can have a proper breakfast!" 

But in a few weeks I will be back to 135-140 and can resume the 6:1. That is why the 5:2 Fast Lifestyle works for me!

So The Bundy Gang in Oregon along with a handful of other anti-government types have broken into, and are armed and occupying, a Federal Bird Refuge.

You can't make this shit up.

Seriously.

On what used to be tribal land.

And the ranchers are saying they want their land back.

And the Native Americans (...who state they are happy with the BLM...) just issued a statement that Bundy and Crew should

"Get off our land!"

And how ironic is that?

The authorities are saying...

"Fine, if they are stupid enough to hole up in a CLOSED Bird Refuge in the middle of winter in Oregon without supplies and such...we will just cut the water and power and wait them out..."

Ever seen Oregon in winter?

And when they do come out they will be facing a slew of Federal Charges.

And the Hammonds (who they purportedly were supporting when they occupied the building) voluntarily turn themselves in to jail for arson and poaching...oh...and issued a statement that they want no association with the Bundy Bunch.

Face it...if they would have been any other color than a bunch of old armed white guys...they would have already been dead as hell.

So I'm just watching the show. Pass the Popcorn, this is going to get good. Already they have issued a plea for socks and snacks...lol!  And the media is dubbing them "Ya'll Qaeda".
Going to be a long winter boys.

My friend Marti, also in Oregon, has discovered the answer for my "But I still want my tree with tiny white lights up" until I order these for my living room

She showed me examples of artificial firs left up through the winter without the Christmas decorations...instead decorated with blooms and fans and other non-Christmas items.

So...............I removed the balls and garland.  Added a bunch more of the white Poinsettia blooms...and all the small plush bears I own  (and that is a lot) with the existing tiny white lights for a decorative tree in the corner.

Don't judge me.  It makes me happy.  And I am going to add those individual bright red heart boxes of candy in February...and let the Grands take them home for Vaentine's Day when they come by.  

March 1st it will all go back in the box for another year...but at least through the cold dark winter months it will give a cozy glow to the living room.

Bringing us back to

It Makes Me Happy.

So there.


The Manuscript for my as-yet-untitled (fiction) Novel is coming along. "Idgy" is reading and critiquing page by page during our morning coffee and chat.  She is an excellent critic because she doesn't sugar-coat things. My best sounding board. If something is clumsy or doesn't work she will point it out...and often offer up what she "saw in her mind" in the scene. She is very good at it and nine times out of ten, changing it is a definite improvement. We are discussing them like they are real people now...lol!

This is one of the interviews.

 The language is strong..so if you have a tendency to become offended/unhinged by that kind of thing...you may not want to read it. The character has been through a LOT. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know, they all tell me how lucky I am. The doctors. The nurses. The Pre-Med students that come by to gawk like this is the fuckin' zoo.  They tell me that, just before they look somewhere's else. Cause they can't stomach looking at what is left any longer. I can see it even if I only have one eye. And, to tell you the truth, it don't work so good either.

Eyes don't lie. Especially when they belong to the woman you used to spoon. She left me, you know. I fought to live, and she left me after I did.

Fuck her.

By the time she managed to come up with her excuses I didn't give a shit any more.

Heard she took up with a old buddy of mine. He's raisin' my kids now. She don't bring 'em here to see me. Says it would scare em. Give em bad dreams. So he's out running bases and playing catch in the yard with my boy.

He was getting pretty good and all at ball.


[He takes a long breath...then continues.]

"Hide the Salami" with Tracy, too.
 The whole happy family crap.
 And why the hell not?
 Like I'll ever do that again, right?

(He violently jerks what is left of his right shoulder forward and lets out a choked laugh...both of his arms are gone along with his legs. He is basically a torso with a misshapen head and melted face missing most of its left side...his right eye is fixed on me, wild, angry and partially milky blue)

You know what the fuckin' ironic tragedy is? Not only did he NOT enlist, the dumb bastard tried to talk me out of it, too.  I made fun of him on account of that. Sure did.  Called him a damned coward, and worse.
Yeah, I sure as fuck showed him,  didn't I?

[There is a tear running down the ruin of his cheek from the eye that remains.]

If there is anything I have learned it is this, so listen up, my friend.

All their platitudes don't mean a piss in the wind. They can take all their "You're So Lucky" and I'll Pray for You" shit and stick it right up their sanctimonious assholes.

You know something? Here's the thing. There wasn't a man, woman or child hiding in the mosque that night that wasn't groveling to one deity or another. In English. In Arabic. God. Allah. The Fuckin' Flying Spaghetti Monster, too, for all I know.

Hell, one of the Crazies was a dyed-in-the-wool Atheist. Can't say as I blame him after what we seen over there. Just before the end he was crying and talking to God like his Mama just dragged him by the ear back to Sunday School.

So don't talk to me about God, okay?

And don't tell me there is a PLAN for all of us, either.

Cause if it was your God's Plan to SAVE me, so I could live like this the rest of my life,,well he is one sick sonofabitch, okay?

No. When they say "You're Lucky", what they are really saying is

"Damn, I'm lucky it isn't my ass laying there all blown to shit"

and they pray, too. You bet your ass, they do. They pray to who ever they believe might be listening, that them or their kids never ever end up like me.

Hell, I don't blame 'em.

You know, there's something I could still be good at. An Anti-Enlistment Poster.

Shit, I could be the Ultimate Anti-Enlistment Poster Child.

Don't let this shit happen to YOUR kid.

[His mouth is set in sarcasm and he chokes out a muffled laugh that turns into a coughing spasm. ]

[There is a long pause as he collects his breath. Then he nods to continues.]

My parents. Yeah. They're still alive. They're real active in their church. Busy all the time. Always have been.  Remember my dad sayin'

 "That's why GOD spared you, Son." 

 Last time they was here the old man said Mom just couldn't take seeing me like this any more.

"Too hard on her", he said.

They haven't been back since. Maybe a couple of years back. I dunno. Kind of lost track.

"We'll pray for you". That's the last thing he said to me, ya know.

Fuck 'em.

The VA aide returns silently to turn him on his right side. She doesn't speak or look at him as she repositions him and quickly leaves. He closes his remaining eye signifying our interview is over. As I walk out of the stark white room I think I hear him whisper

                            "...and fuck you, too."


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 I've interviews with The Survivor (Mark) The Buddy (Jerry) The Ex-Wife (Tracy) and an intro from The Psychiatrist (our narrator who is doing the interviews as yet unnamed) at this moment, with  more characters to come. I am about 13 pages into it now. I am working on a time date line for the characters before it gets any more convoluted. Thankful for Google. Have to figure out ages, tours of duty dates, surgical dates, children and such. It's complicated.  Will have the manuscript completed by the end of this year and then do the edit and re-writes next year.  And there will be plenty of both. Working out a format with a group of interviews forming a chapter. Each character will be interviewed 10 times. Through the interviews the reader will learn more and more about the situation/other characters (plot progression)...before the story concludes. The inital (The Plan) will be a Prologue and there will be an Epilogue as well...kind of a where are they now...what happened to them...conclusion.


"Idgy" and I might go through a LOT of Coffee and Biscotti before this puppy is done.

So....still no more snow. Less than 2 inches so far for the entire winter.

Took a few today and added a bit more to my "Do Ya Wanna Paint a Snowman".  It has been slow going.  Enrobed the firs with heavy snow. Now leaving it to dry overnight before any thing further.

And building texture with the gels.   Still very early on yet.

In the midst of everything enjoying the hell of out Virtual Spain!

Including making and tasting Sangria for the very first time.

And I am completely into the tapas scene now!  

Sangria is perfect with the salty, creamy snacks. Found olives stuffed with both pimento and feta (goat) cheese.

Soon to try Cava  (Spanish Sparkling Wine available in White and Rose')

And checked out the Neptune Fountain near the Plaza.

Neptune Fountain

Detail

                                                  


 More anon...

Flan and Tapas and Toros, oh my...

The best part of Flan (custard dessert) lies beneath...a rich syrupy caramel sauce from the brown sugar on the bottom before it is baked.

I have to be careful, "foodie" that I am. Virtual Spain could make me real-time fat.  All the lovely dishes and desserts, and I have a tendency to want to try them all! Some moderation may be in order.

Reading Lorca's Sontoes del Amor Obscuro  (Sonnets of Dark Love) currently.

Pre-Translated, of course, because my high school Spanish remains limited to pleasantries, ordering a table for two at a Mexican Restaurant [Una mesa por dos, por favor], and possibly ordering another Margarita [Una mas Margarita, por favor] or a beer [cerveza]. Beyond that I am screwed.  

Beautiful work. Proving that angst is angst...whether you are gay or straight. After his obsession with Dali, led wildly on (the artist loved the devotion and attention he received but was very concerned with what a gay liaison would do to his standing in Spanish society), Fredrico had at least two other affairs. The second (and the lover that this book was written about/to) discovered nearly 70 years after Lorca's death. During his lifetime very few were "out of the closet" in Spain both for their safety and professional life.

                                                  Ramirez de Lucas

Oh secret voice of dark love!
Oh bleeting without wool! Oh wound!
Oh drooping camellia, needle of gall!
Oh current without sea, city without wall!

Oh immense night in sure focus,
celestial mount rearing up in anguish!
Oh dog in the heart! The persecuted voice,
the mature lily, the boundless silence!

Get away from me, hot voice of ice,
don’t throw me into the wilds where
fruitlessly groan the flesh and sky.

Leave alone the hard ivory of my head,
have pity on me, rip my sorrow to shreds!
For I am love, for I am nature! 

                                                       Fredrico Garcia Lorca

And my personal favourite...a single line.

To see you naked is to recall the Earth.

A movie was made in 2008 about Dali and Lorca. The Little Ashes. It is quite interesting.

https://youtu.be/AP6Er0tnUjg

 Along with the poetry I have tried my hand at Tapas. Very prominent in Spanish Life a ración or small plate of various different tapas has led to the Tapeo Crawl in early evening (tapar). Going from place to place basically drinking and grazing on Tapas. They vary from seafood, fish, chorizo, cheeses and fruits. 

 This plate is basically Spiced Choriza bundled in small pastry packets and served with sour cream, lettuce, cheese and salsa...with an accompaniment of black refried beans and cheese. 

Very satisfying.

Culturally, dinner in Spain is served at 10 to 11 o'clock. Past my bedtime. Thank goodness for Tapas or I should otherwise starve in Spain. 

Sunday, I also experienced The Running of the Bulls. A favorite of Hemingway's.  And an activity I (after watching) would have never ever ever attempted to participate in (real life) even when I was at my PRIME.  

Are you guys  NUTS???

I sort of understand. The sheer adrenaline rush must make METH look like Sanka.   Running in front of a small herd of 1500-2000 pound Bulls and Steers careening wildly through the narrow streets to the bullring. 

Um..no.
Maybe "Hell no"

An auditory experience that I did not expect was the collared cow-bells on the lead steers (trained to move in a herd toward the bullring thus the bulls follow them) Imagine six steers sporting cowbells running along with the bulls. And the noise created by the jangling cow-bells.  It was amazing. I think I want to buy one used off eBay. I know I will never hear the sound again without being able to close my eyes and see the massive rush of the bulls and crowd.

https://youtu.be/Gog4RR41sV4

Experience it yourself.

And then, because I had never in my life actually watched one; I watched a BULLFIGHT from beginning to bloody end.

Here is my disclaimer:  

For years in my life I hunted, even now as a Buddhist I still eat meat and game, I haven't and will never have any affiliation with PETA. Although I detest intentional cruelty to any animal...feel that they frequently undermine their own cause by environmental terrorism, speaking out for vermin or insects, or disrupt human studies which could wipe out human deaths or diseases to save rats, dogs or monkeys, okay? I also think it is ridiculous to release captive born ermine into the wild...no matter how much the surrounding coyotes enjoy your efforts.

But this bull-fighting stuff...

OMG!

Seriously????  What the hell is WRONG with you people???
Really.

https://youtu.be/fNW48fT4CAg

 Bullfight.

Hemingway once wrote that Bullfighting wasn't "A Sport it was a Tragedy". Although he professed to enjoy it very much.

 (Hemingway Article)

 http://ehto.thestar.com/marks/bullfighting-is-not-a-sport-it-is-a-tragedy

I agree completely...except for the enjoyment part. This (even just on Youtube) was horrific....disgusting...torturing with banderillas (the sharp barbed sticks thrust into the bulls muscular hump) blood streaming down from the barbs  and teasing...taunting...then eventually killing the majestic animal.  Way before the gruesome end I was firmly rooting for the bull. Seriously.

 Matadors?
 I hope they all end up gored.

 Absolutely Traumatizing. I can't even imagine how horrible this would be as a spectator in Plaza Del Toro live. Walking out would seem like the best course of action.

Yeah, yeah...I understand it is a huge cultural thing in Spain.

I'm sad for all of you.  I swat flies...but I don't tear wings off them before I do it.

I will never watch one again....ever.

About The Novel...

King goes into great detail on giving your fictional characters a "voice of their own"  which I am working very hard to accomplish. And I finally get how that characters "take a life of their own"

Now they are "The Voices in my Head"

So how do you get them to shut up, Steve?

Actually making progress, and found a way to steer the entire fictional account to something I am more familiar/comfortable with by creating a survivor or two (one is a deserter)...moving the whole thing into a series of psychological interviews with them and those who know them, doctors, nurses,  buddies, ex-wives and psychiatrists.  Leading it all into a what comes after scenario.  

Trust me...it's better.

Will share one of the interviews soon.  

I let Chris do a look see at the first 8 pages worth, and he was completely engaged. Even offering character development suggestions and batting around psychological profiles.

Using the initial idea shared as an opening to the story.

I'm psyched!

More anon....

Paris to Madrid by Train (Virtual)...Lorca...And Sampling Chorizo (and Churros) for the first time...

The Francisco De Goya provides a 10 hour overnight train  to Madrid at an affordable 103 Euros. Conversion rate being .92 cents, the fare in USD becomes 94.76

See the journey for yourselves.

https://youtu.be/ogT4Mi8FAgA

Providing an outstanding view as the high speed train winds through the countryside, and arrives early morning, into Madrid.

I decided to sample Chorzio with this morning's breakfast since I had never tried it before. Basically A Pork Sausage affair with a great deal of seasoning- which appeared to be primarily Paprika.  Chorzio is also used in many of the Tapas (small appetizer portions of food served with drinks) we will learn to make later.

The Chorizo was surprisingly good. This was fresh and pattied much like sausage. It can also be bought smoked (cured) in casing...which can be eaten as is...or heated.

Madrid, itself, dates back to 1784 and its architecture reveals the many cultures who have resided there.  French, Arabic, Italian and Castilian reside comfortably in a misma side by side with Modern. Reflecting the many changes this city has endured throughout the centuries.

Author Fredrico Lorca, being mentioned prominently in Mayes book, was one of my initial interests.

 I have managed to procure several volumes of his poetry.  Perhaps most surprising was learning of his romantic near-obsession with artist Salvatore Dali

With whom, he spent several years in Spain.  I have just begun to scratch the surface of his work, but will be enjoying it over the weekend.

And found an amazing Churro recipe to try this afternoon with chocolate dipping sauce.  (recipe follows)

Churros are basically light as air "choux" pastry chilled and piped into hot oil. These can also be piped and baked for a healthier approach...but it does produce an inferior flavor.

Churros Recipe

1 cup water

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

A pinch of salt

Bring to a boil in medium saucepan over medium heat.

Remove from heat and beat in

1 cup flour

all at once...stirring until a dough forms and follows the spoon in a ball.

Add

3 well beaten eggs slowly.

Beat together with flour dough until it is completely mixed and is losing its glossiness.

Set pan in refrigerator with  dough to cool...use pastry bag with large star tip to pipe dough when chilled.

(to bake)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Pipe in lines or medium circles evenly spaced on non-stick baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes...then turn oven off and let sit in hot oven for an additional 5-10 minutes to crisp. Sprinkle with a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon...serve with Hot Chocolate or a small cup of dipping chocolate.

(to deep fry)

Heat oil until bubbles form evenly around a wooden spoon. Churros must cook rapidly or they will be soggy and greasy instead of light and airy.

Pipe dough into hot oil in straight sticks or more traditionally in medium sized loops.

Watch cooking carefully and work quickly. As soon as Churros begin to brown remove from hot fat with slotted spoon to drain on paper towel...then place in brown paper bag with sugar and cinnamon and shake to coat Churros completely. The star piping tip gives nice ridges for the cinnamon sugar mixture to cling.  Serve with dipping chocolate or caramel.

Extra dough freezes well.
You can also pipe and freeze dough to bag and have as a convenient snack later. Just bake or fry.

First time ever making (and eating) these. Tried them both baked and deep fried. Oil is vastly better and the Churros are lighter and crispier.

Easy and delicious!

More anon...

The New Year- 2016 Novel: The Plan (The Beginning)

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

There is something so fresh, wonderful about the New Year. It reminds me of a fresh blank sheet of paper just waiting to be written on. Painted. Folded into Origami.
My word for this year: Create.

I've long since stopped making Resolutions. Easily made and even easier  broken. Like saying "I'll love you forever" when you are 15. I started years ago setting New Year's Goals. Something to strive for...achieve.

My Goals for 2016

Continue Zen Living and Practicing Buddhism. This is the beginning of my 9th year as a Buddhist.

Continue to use the 5:2 to maintain a healthy body weight and physical therapy to remain independent, stronger and ambulatory.

Give back more than I receive and gratitude for having Enough...more than Enough...always. And be grateful for knowing what Enough really is...

Continue a Pro-Active Approach to Finances and Continue the $50. project.

Continue to Re-Use, Re-Purpose or Compost as much as possible.

Continue enjoying Virtual Travel with: A Year in The World (Frances Mayes) beginning today in Madrid! Feliz Año Nuevo :D

Cross a Few More Items off my Bucket (Life) List.

Spend more 1:1 time with Friends and Family.  Real Quality Time.

Continue to Simplify...Minimize...Sort and Donate/Re-Purpose or Toss.

Spread Happiness...Love and Light and Positivity...like Confetti!

Judge Less/Love More.

Have at least one Photo-Trek, Attend one Writing Conference and One Zen Retreat in 2016.

Working this year on my FIRST fiction novel...already have the bare bones and using the Snowflake Method to build on it. As yet untitled. Writing goal...one 300 word page a day toward it for 365 pages by 2017 before a good editing (first draft) I can do this!  And huge kudos to Sonnet and The One Minute Writer, whose prompt was a catalyst for the entire thing! And Stephen King for the "One Page a Day" suggestion!

(Prompt:The Plan)

We didn't stand a chance, you see. Their numbers were near the high end of 2,000. We wouldn't make 500 if we counted all the dogs and goats in the village. Not even the ones hanging in the meat shop nearby. Eyes still bulging and hooves dangling. Covered in flies.

By holing up here we had all pretty effectively (as my granddad who fought the Nazis and won)  would have said:

Screwed The Pooch

We came up with "The Plan" a little past midnight. They were still a good 7 hours away, per last Intel. There was a small tight group of us that had managed to stay alive for two or three tours of this hell-hole. We knew what had to be done. Then there were the "children" as we referred to them that night, although not to their faces. A few were still "gung-ho hoo-rah" and all that happy crap. But most of them were just fresh faced, wet-behind-the-ears, and had that look you see on the face of a newly gelded colt. Shocked. Stunned. That what-the-hell-have-I-gotten myself-into-here? I should be making out with what-the-hell-ever-her-name-was back home. 

Even they weren't as sad as The Goners.

These kids were so fucking scared that you might as well have put a bullet in them, crated them up and sent them, flag draped, back home as soon as they touched soil. That is where they were going to end up, anyway. It would have been more merciful.

As plans go...it was pretty flawless.

During that long night we had scrounged every bit of anything incendiary in the entire village. This included fuel oil, gasoline, clothing, papers, furniture, black powder and God-as-my-witness even Bibles and Korans tossed together on what was soon to become the bonfire they could see from the Hubble.

We pulled together every mine and mortar and live round we had left. I think that goofy kid from Ohio even tossed in some fireworks he had been lugging around from one sand strewn point to another. He was saving them, he said, for the day he went home. Tonight he would probably get his wish on both accounts.

We jerry-rigged the whole mess through each and every building until the Yadzidi village was its own WMD. We had herded what was left of the locals, mostly ancient women, toothless men and assorted grandchildren, into the small Mosque. We left them with the "Children" and The Goners, taking only the small handful of "Gung-Ho's" which a buddy of mine had started unkindly calling "The Crazies"

The Crazies were driven. You had to give them that. The amount of booby-trapping and fusing that they did in 6 hours was more than a Detonation Unit could accomplish in days. Craftily camouflaged. It looked absolutely abandoned. It was a mad brilliance. Before sunrise they had the place "wired for sound". You could tell by the gleam in their eyes and the set of their jaws they knew they had "saved us" and were going to be heroes. 

In a way, they were, I guess.

With less that an hour left we convinced The Crazies to join the pile of sleeping bodies in the sanctuary. Our little team of worn out warriors would attend to the last minute details before the onslaught arrived.

"...and when Cindy Lou Who was in bed with her Cup, we pulled out the Rest and we Rigged the Mosque Up..."

Timing was everything. As they arrived we watched and waited, until they completely filled the tiny hamlet .

Then we detonated.

It was our own little Masada...except we took them all with us.

And Ohio got his fireworks.

This is just the bare bones idea. A structure to flesh out...build on. It is going to have accounts from our side, their side, villagers, government...et al. Just a work in the very early stages at this point.  It is odd just where and when the muse appears. The morning this came forth...it just appeared...from nowhere.

 Now it seems to have taken on a life of it's own.

And the research, alone, is daunting.


So that is it...my GOALS for the New Year. 

Soon off to Madrid...and Churros dunked in chocolate.

I'll share the recipe!

More anon...

And the 2016 Car Porn was waiting this morning!

It is going to be  VERY good year, automotively!

Au Revoir 2015

Looking back an an Incredible year!

It started in Virtual Paris, France.  Does it GET any better than that?
Seriously.

And I spent 365 days (give or take) learning to make the crepes, cuisine, sauces, and sampling the tastes of France. I must admit, perfect creamy Hollandaise Sauce still eludes me. The discovery of Maison du Chocolat truffles eased the pain a bit. And I did learn how to create Apple Pastry Roses, so there's that.

I virtually explored the Louve, the Eiffel Tower, as well as the vast number of parks that France has to offer.

Even ate Oranges while exploring Le Orangeries.

Thanks to Amazon and International Online Wineries,  I was able to sample many of the cheeses (tres bon) and a few of the wines including Champagne from Champagne!

Picked up via eBay a trinket souvenir vanity dish from Limoges.

Toured the Loire Valley, River and Castles from the air, thanks to YouTube

Performed the Ritual and Sipped Absinthe. Home smelled a lot like Toulouse's breath.

Toured Giverny, wandered the water gardens, learned a LOT about the Impressionists...especially my favorite, Monet. and even managed to try my hand at Impressionism Painting and water lilies. Also bought a circulated 1888 Franc after the adventure from eBay as a souvenir. And an old postcard from the Water Gardens.

Toured the French Spas and tried my hand at creating some of the wonderful Rose Masques and Facials and Re-Created a French Spa Bath. Decadent!


And THAT was just the Virtual Adventures.

Had an amazing NYE Chili Supper with Donna, Dayne and Eric.

Managed to finish my home creations of Blush Wine and A Nice Honey Mead. Okay...it tasted more like Honey Shine. The Blush was nice, though.

Watch the BEST Superbowl I had seen for a long time between the Patriots and the Seahawks. What a game!

Have an Afternoon with Mr. Grey...lol! And a back-seat full of ropes. Thanks, Donna!

Enjoy our "Idgy and Rose..let's have a BONFIRE combined Birthday Cake" and a week with each other!

Without setting the house or cat on fire...or burning our eyebrows off! And I turned 55. And she turned 40. We're not bad for two older broads...lol!

Idgy and I (2015)

Reunited with my brothers and sisters (Jan's kids) and managed 3 Family Reunions (one with Chuck and Family) this year. Good to re-connect with everyone!

Spent Oodles and oodles of time with family and friends...and the grands!

Hosted the 2015 DS Gathering...and Loran's Memorial and Tarantula Toast. And it was AWESOME!!! Thanks for all coming out to the midst of a cornfield...really!

Read a lot..wrote a lot...and completed my Zen Living III and a small book of poems I finished just for me:  The Ashes.

Managed several Zen Retreats, Two Writer's Conferences and One Phototrek this year. Also submitted one essay in contest form. Didn't make it (win)...but it was a lot of fun anyway!

Researched all the 2016 Presidential Candidates and have watched all the debates. Both Parties. THE HORROR.

Voted in the local elections...and my guy won for Mayor! 
YAY!


Tried Rattlesnake (meat) for the very first time...and also made Rattlesnake Chili.   (highly over-rated, just sayin')

And saw Star Wars with Chris

Which was OUTSTANDING!



Also a bittersweet year, as we lost Jan (my biological Mom) and Robbin, my good friend, (Tony's wife) suddenly.  RIP.

And muddled through that first year of the loss of both Loran and Bruce. 

Making that transition from "I miss..." to "I Remember..." for them both.

FRED has expanded a bit (fat bastard)...but seems to have stabilized for now. MRI showed no spinal involvement, thankfully.  I am moving a bit slower but still ambulatory and enjoying life...so it's all good.

Getting the year end stuff caught up here, and looking forward to Ringing in the New Year (alas virtually) together this year with "Idgy" with wine, cheese and good chocolate!  And a few hours early as we ring it in...in Rio Janeiro's Time Zone tonight.  She has to leave for Mom's at Ohmigod:Hundred hours...and me...I just am going to enjoy the few hours extra sleep!   

If you ring in the New Year's (in Rio) does that make you a Brazil Nut?

See you in January!