With hard economic times upon us I think the time is ripe to put this "retro" stove on the market. That's right, the Hobo Stove that you loved and used during the 1930s is poised to return to it's time of greatness. A 2 gallon can of beans or hominy, a drill, a can opener, and a pair of tin snips and we are set for production. I figure we could recruit an army of out of work bankers to go dumpster diving to find the tin cans. Since the tin is even lighter that it was in the 30's, even a dull drill will work. Snip the legs and bend the section between the legs in to make the support for the bottom, which, of course, is the cut out top. Drill a few holes in the bottom and the side; zip, zip and you have a finished product. At a couple of bucks apiece, we'll be millionaires in no time if times are going to be as bad as all the newspeople seem to think. How about it?
You in? I know that is so easy to make that you might think that people would just make their own, but, hey, 70% of the newly poor don't even know how to program the clock on their VCR. Most just resort to taping something over the flashing numbers. I tell you the market is going to be big.

The Ultimate

This James. He's from Australia. He's a cross country cyclist that came by a few days ago. He stayed the night with us before pushing on to Albuquerque. We had an enjoyable encounter and he has gone. You know there was a time when I thought that the Ultimate was some kind of blissed-out state (high) that one got when he or she was able to "give up" this life. (Ahh, my misunderstood Buddhism). I'm sure that most good Christians would call me an atheist. (I'm not) but I sure as hell can't see the Ultimate as sitting around and breaking bread with God and Jesus, talking about pious stuff. I'm sorry, but I can't even make myself believe, and I've certainly tried, in an anthropomorphic god. But what I do believe in is relationships. Whether they are brief encounters like James floating through our lives or like Kamala who profoundly and deeply effects my here and now. That delicious pressing together of two or more spirits, not possessing or capturing. but simply EXPERIENCING the suchness of other sparks of life in the currents of space. Those experiences of relationships, good or bad, (And, frankly, at the risk of being out of touch with my Zen nature, I have greatly preferred the good even though I realize those assholes in my life have added luster to all the others) brief or long, deep or superficial seem to me to have a greater value than any possession, or destination, or even my very soul .(should one actually exist along with Santa and the tooth fairy) I just want to thank all of you out there who have ever shared that touching of spirits with me and, by damn, I think we ought to do it again before it's too late.

Why is Kamala hiding?

Why is Kamala hiding?

She's hiding from work! After 8 months of retirement there is still that gnawing feeling that we are supposed to be at work. Even here, on this mid-week hike in the Franklins, when all of our friends are busy at work, there is that touch of guilt that we are playing hooky or something. The other day we were over in the Northeast, near Irvin High School, where we worked (and played) for many years and we both had the urge to check around and see if anyone had spotted us so we could duck if we had to. Added to that feeling that we are enjoying ourselves while others toil away are these comments by people we know.

"Where are you working now that you have retired?"

"Are you substituting?"

"That's great Kamala, now you can use your CPA background to do taxes at Tax Time."

Just what part of RETIREMENT do they not understand? I feel sure that these "naughty" feelings that we are getting away with something (not working) will eventually fade, but for the moment, we are keeping a low profile and relishing them.

Discovery: Dragon's egg

Hi guys, I thought I'd let you in on this discovery before I go public with it. On Christmas day this year we were exploring a huge, dry arroyo just east of Presidio Texas. And then, there it was, right in front of us, a strange object that looked like a rock inside a rock. We did not realize what it was at first, neither of us having seen anything like it before, but then, bang, an eureka moment, and we realized that we had discovered a dragon's egg. It was obviously shaped like an egg and as hard as it was, what could burst out of an egg like that? Yep, it has to be a dragon. So now we are just waiting for it to hatch and I'm sure that won't be long because the rock like, outer layer is already starting to peel. We've sit up a little area in the workshop with a heat lamp on the egg. I can hardly wait. I've always wanted a pet dragon. I wonder just how long it will take before it's big enough for me to ride and it can take me flying. I'm just not sure whether I should call the National Inquirer now or wait for the hatching. I'll keep you posted.

"Dreams are real while they last, what more can be said of life."

I had number of coaches through out my adolescence, and to a person they were all idealists. "You've got to believe that you can. If you believe, then you can". I mean most of them would have loved "The Secret" , as long as they could have seen the movie and not have had to read the book. "Just believe and all things come true." In some form or another most people are attracted to the idea that we can do things with our mind. "He's going to miss the field goal, miss the field goal, miss it, miss it, miss....", "I'm going to take my last few bucks and buy a lottery ticket."
Of course, if you don't win the game or you don't mentally block the other team's free throw then it's because you didn't believe enough. Today was a consequence of my unbelief. What was actually a pretty good day, fell short of a great day because I got a speck of (%$!!UCK##) in my eye. And being, rather weak in my spirituality lately, I was unable to "think" the damn thing away. It would have been depressing as all hell, it I wasn't able to compartmentalize my own philosophical approach. I was not a victim, but merely exist in a mechanistic material world that has all kinds of minuscule specks blowing around in the environment of which I'm just another part of and that speck and my eye met up. Actually this having different reality paradigms, often quite conflicting, seems to be the norm rather than the exception, like a Christian Fundamentalist who believes in dinosaurs, or that a woman could be a preacher. As a psychological gimmick it not only relieves a lot of stress, but lets the scientific fellow enjoy the ghost stories. It is only the fanatic that seems to be able to hold only one paradigm and give service to only it. But all in all, after all these years the real truth is probably that they all equal, and all are hollow. It's that some are a little more entertaining than others. Anyway, my eye feels better now just talking about it.

Kamala and I have finally completed our project of restoring the little pop-up trailer. Kamala has done a fantastic job of sewing the canvas. I mean great. Not having sewn very much in her life and to take the old canvas, cut a pattern from it and sew the heavy material together is just amazing. I have played more of a support role, you know, giving my opinion, making Kamala a cup of coffee, putting a microwave dinner on or telling her what a wonderful job she's doing. It's been a little tough, but fun at the same time and now it's ready to roll, so we are taking off for a couple of weeks. The list has been checked, the bike and the dog packed and we'll be rolling out tomorrow morning. Actually it's just a little test run around West Texas and eastern New Mexico as we have to be back in a couple of weeks, so Kamala can do her civic duty as a juror and then I have my own jury duty the first week of January. I've been thinking of committing some minor crime, not enough to go to jail, but just enough to get convicted of a felony so I won't have to do this jury crap. I'd rather dispense soup at the homeless shelter or give free condoms to hookers... ah, but that's another rant for another time.

Why I've decided to vote Republican.

Why I've decided to vote Republican.

My wife owns a brewery and made 6 million dollars last year. No, wait that's McCain, but if we were in that tax bracket I'd sure as hell vote Republican. Even a couple of hundred thousand a year would probably financially justify being a Republican, but alas, I don't, so that's not the reason.

The war in Iraq, now there's a good war, a just war, one that we can be proud of. Don't be like those wimpy liberals and go crying that there was no WMDs or no real evidence that they had ties to Al Qaeda or 9-11. You don't have to be a genius to see they look alike and they're Muslims. for Christ's sake. I mean what a weird religion. (72 virgins and cool, flowing streams, with all kinds of fruit just for the picking; what a screwed up idea! Haven't they ever heard the true story about streets of gold and getting to sit around and talk to Jesus and God all day?)
And, like George said, "We won!" (the last 5 years have just been a little cleaning up action) And every American generation needs to kick a little ass and feel good about itself. And it's good for business, just ask Halliburton, and don't give me any of that shit about Cheney's ex-company (the world is full of coincidences) And did you realize that ammo, bombs and all that stuff will just deteriorate in storage?Just think of the training we're getting for all our troops in case a real war pops up. (Think about all those monotheistic rag heads in Iran) Now all you namby pamby liberals shedding tears over a few dead American kids make me sick. We've lost less than 5,000 total (Hell, we kill more than that in couple of months in car wreaks here at home and it doesn't even compare with 50,000 plus in Viet Nam) I know, I know, what about those brave solders who lost an arm or a leg.-- Just remember, "What does not kill me makes me stronger'. They will emerge with a stronger character - just look at all those old WWII vets. Now don't get me wrong I applaud our fighting men and women over there risking their lives. And now, with an all volunteer military, good ole capitalistic supply and demand is giving economic opportunity to lower class Americans everywhere. But, no it's not the war that will make me vote Republican (even the Democrats promise a least another year and a half of it).

Cuba, now there's a good reason to vote Republican. Damn Communists! The Democrats would even "talk" to Raul Castro. (McCarthy is turning over in his grave).
Republicans have it right when they draw the line at doing any business with communists or socialists. ( Well, except for China, India, and Europe and besides, who needs their damn cigars anyway).

In fact, by not talking to Cuba, Iran, N.Korea, Hamas, Chavez, your mother-in-law (anyone that you don't like) things will get better and Republicans recognize that. (ok, ok, I know that they still communicate with these people through 3 parties, but it's not the same and we've got to keep our respect, huh?) But, no it's not really the Republican's stand on Communist and Dictators that's going to get my vote.

Is it the high gas prices. McCain wants to drill. No I'm just not moved by this one (didn't we all know that eventually all those environmental sanctuaries would eventually be tapped when times got tight--ah come on, you knew that). And just because it will take 20 years for us to experience the financial gains from it, that's no reason not to do it, besides I don't own any beachfront property. And when was the last time you ate a caribou steak? Don't go whining about the environment being lost to future generations---Where are your kids now? With TV, the internet, video games, cell phones, and I-pods the farthest activity that 99% of them want to do is get out in nature. They don't want to go camping in Alaska!

I can't say Obama is any better on this one. Inflate your tires! Sure inflate your tires, drive 20 -30 miles BELOW the speed limit, consider your "carbon footprint", and "look for alternatives.

If either one of these guys really gave a damn about gas prices, and the environment they would give up their big houses and stop flying all across the country burning ton, after ton of jet fuel. No I'm sorry, I think this one is out of the hands of politicians, it's good ole supply and demand and demographic preferences both here and the world. So this issues is sure not going to get my vote one way or the other.

Then there's the health care issue. As usual, the Democrats want to basically socialize medicine and we all know that doesn't work, just ask Canada, Great Britain, France, Sweden, The Netherlands. The Republicans on the other hand want to leave it to the private sector and that seems great to me, but I'm a little worried that all that money the big drug companies and insurance companies are "donating" millions of dollars to our politicians (Republicans and Democrats) is not really making in a true competition among all interested parties (pure capitalism doesn't need to make laws to protect the drug and insurance companies). So, unless John calls for legislators to not take any more bribes, sorry donations, it isn't this issue that's going to get my vote.

Then there is that perennial issue of family values of which I've just go to side with the Republican's here. I mean, the Constitution is all well and good, but let's face what is more important than God, Mom, apple pie, and the flag? I don't know about you, but my life is so much more serene since they added "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.

Abortion, well I'm against it. Is there anyone out there that really has a campaign going on out there to kill more unborn babies? Quite Frankly, I'm much more concerned that we had over 3 million reports of child abuse last year, but I kind of think that it is a little easier and simplistic to march against killing unborn babies. And shouldn't we give unborn babies full rights like the right to inherit property or be counted in a census? Why don't people demonstrate for that?

Homosexuality- Now this is bound to be bad, because it is mentioned in the Bible. (slavery ok, homosexuality- bad) Oh the word isn't really in the Bible, but we have insinuations, like it's a no-no for a man to lie down with another man (didn't say anything about just bending over) Obviously, if everyone became a homosexual that humans would die out and we can't have that. But I think we ought to try to "bring them around" to a hetero-like lifestyle, you know make'm get married ( hell, they're going to diddle each other, just like heterosexuals, whether you approve of it or not), get divorced, pay alimony, pay for insurance for their partners. We should be ever alert for a major push to "homofi" the general population though, just in case; 'cause I not sure "you" could withstand the pressure.

Cloning -- I'm sure this is wrong, especially when I think that George Bush might be cloned.

Prayer in schools--Well, okay go ahead. I can remember when I played high school football, we would say a prayer before every game. More often than not we got the crap beat out of us but we always knew that God was on our side (obviously watching more than helping, but it made me the man I am today.) ***As a school teacher, I was always suspicious that the students weren't really using that "moment of silence" we had each morning to pray, if we made them pray out loud I'm sure their grades on the state test would go up. Amen!

So all these family values that Republicans believe in, I go along with (did I mention guns? I got guns too!), but that's not why I'm voting Republican.

And then there was this really convincing e-mail that I got that made fun of Obama's name (You have to admit Obama sounds more like a comic book sound than an American President). And that Osama Bin Laden's name was a little like Obama's and then the kicker----Sen. Kennedy slipped (Freudian, I do believe) and called Obama, Osama ( If that's not a sign of true evil, what is? Huh?) I was ready to vote Republican right then and there and then I realized that McCain rhymes with Hussein. Oh my, with George Washington Bush it was all so simple!

And, of course, the claim that Obama is an uppity black man (he never even had a "slave" name to change), but then couldn't that be explained by Harvard, I mean aren't all those Ivy Leaguers a bit uppity. Think of all those past Presidents that wouldn't have made it if disqualified Ivy Leaguers. Hell, G.W. went to Yale (Cs do count in college, don't they?) And doesn't anyone have to be a bit egotistical to think that they are best suited to lead the most powerful country in the free world. I would hope J.M. would be too!

This next one, almost was the clincher to vote for McCain. Obama does not wear an American Flag in his lapel! And on his airplane is a modern stylistic symbol of American "strips" and not "Old Glory". The horrors of it all. I know, in my life, symbols have always been so much more important than substance. (like I said, I used to be a teacher). In fact, I think that all good Republican women should get a cute little American flag tattoo in the small of their back so that when they're...., you know....., that doggie thing, well the guy could be.... loving old glory....

Another factor was a recent poll that showed McCain was leading in the group of white, male, uneducated workers. I mean how could all those Bubbas be wrong.

These are all good reasons, but I was still leaning toward the Democratic side until the other day, I rounded a corner and there in one of my neighbor's yard was the deciding factor in my decision to vote Republican. A yard sign that read
John McCain for President. God bless yard signs!

Early morning

I got up early, as is usually (not because more sleep wouldn't have been nice, but because this old body starts aching to lay on it too much). But I have always liked early mornings. Something fresh, new and not so cluttered with people yet. Anyway, I wander outside and see this sun rise, so I grab the camera and take this snap shot. The color is pretty true.

As a kid, I had morning paper routes and the early morning solitude was a little mystical; kind of like it all belonged to me 'cause there wasn't anyone else there to lay claim on it with their presence. Like most good things "always" doesn't fit. I can remember some cold, wet, winter mornings that were fraaking miserable. At one point I had a job in a meat packing plant, (which I don't think fit in with Buddha's 8-fold path thing of right livelihood- snuffing cows and all that) and I had to get up a 3 a.m., and walk a couple of miles to work. I loved the walk. It would probably be too much to call it enchanting, but it was nice.

Anyway, after I take the picture, I come in and put it on the computer screen and pick Dolly Parton's "Early Morning Breeze" on the media player. Perfect.
"I open up my door to greet the early morning sun, and closing it behind me away I do run, to the meadow where the meadow lark is singing in the trees......."

This retirement bit is taking some adjustment. We have always had summers off, but there was always a push to go have fun or get something done since "free time" was finite. Now there is no time limit, but we still feel very lazy if we don't get something accomplished. We're working on it though.