Nice Little Vacation

I took a "nice little vacation" from this here thang. Although I enjoy writing, it's necessary to just "walk away" from that activity once in awhile. Plus: I hurt my back, got good and drunk (thus lowering my resistance to any kind of viruses and what have ye')  and then got some kind of intestinal bug, all within three weeks. Perfect score.

I am, from time to time, tempted to just kill this thing off, as I have the other two blogs that preceded it. Nobody really reads it and it ends up being a simple tool for exorcising demons and self-talk-therapy. Which, probably means I ought to be in a Rubber Room somewhere and/or on certain medications. They don't work worth a fuck though. I'm simply not: The Happiest Guy In The World. The World bugs me. The older I get, the more I prefer the company of animals to humans. I suppose that's not a unique perspective.

I was describing my current surroundings to a friend in Seattle the other day. The cast of characters around my building changes but the core remains the same. People move in and out and the "break-in period" starts afresh. There are nine apartments and one house on the property. You estimate the number of souls inhabiting them. It changes like the weather. Johnny gets a Girlfriend, she moves in, they fight and he or she or both move out, yadda-yadda. New Tenant Boot Camp starts all over again. As of the middle of May, we also got a New landlord. Actually the guy has always owned the place "on paper" and was selling it to the Woman I rented from going on eight years ago, come February 2016. Unless the World ends or I die, some better opportunity presents itself or the joint gets "flipped" again and we get some New Person to give our money to, I'll stay. The setup right now is through a Property Management Company. They're mostly "invisible" and are just there to keep the dollars and cents straight. The New landlord is An Old Guy and he kind of needs somebody to GTM (GTM: Get The Money) and keep the books.

All three paragraphs begin with the word "I." Bad journalism. But, this is more of a "diary" than a Journal and I AM speaking in the First Person so, I guess it's alright. Stop! You're both right! It's a snack food AND a floor polish! Tastes great! Less filling! Washes your car while you're driving it home to work! Doesn't have that stale aftertaste!

Big weekend coming up next week. I plan to be out of town, resting quietly in some campground, far away from the Noise and Haste. I truly disdain fireworks. Haven't liked them since I was a Kid. People drive into the adjoining states and pick up illegal fireworks and then have themselves a Big Ole' Party at the neighbors' expense. It usually lasts about a week. I've heard a few 'splosions already. The BIG GUNS are still being held in reserve for next Saturday night. Like I said, I plan to be in a State Campground, where there are no fireworks allowed. It will be mostly quiet. I favor the Hiker/Biker type of Campgrounds, the ones without screaming Kids and obnoxiously drunk "Adults." Those Campgrounds a markedly "cheaper" than your average West Coast State Park as well. A Campsite in Northern California runs about $40.00 a night now, with a motor vehicle. Somebody always gets their "eye poked out" or worse, anyway. I wouldn't let myself be anywhere near a highway on that weekend either. Amatuer Hour with 1.5 tons of metal travelling at high speed. Pinball with trucks and cars. No thank you, I'll take a Shuttle Bus.

This morning's listening, the "live" version:

The album version:

I'll take Anders camping with me over the 4th. The album stuff. I have it on tape and CD. I'll take the tape so I can carry my Sony Sports "Mega Bass" Walkman with me. It has a good radio in it and the battery life is good. I've owned one of those things since the late 80's and never found anything as rugged or better sounding.

Best Fishes,
-Doc





     

A Dog In Need Of A Biscuit

Sometimes, dogs bark for no reason at all. "Anonymous Sources" excite them. A passing Human's steps find their ears/paws, whatever. I'm not real clear on "what" alerts dogs. Smells, probably. It's just a guess, though.

Yesterday, I passed a Dog. First, it was rather afraid of me. Then, as I held my hand out, to let him get a sniff of my mitt, until he became more aggressive. That doesn't really bother me. I was raised around more Dogs than Humans, I like to say. Shepherds, Dobermanns, crosses. Mostly good Dogs. The oft Baddie. "Culls."

I bought The Dog, with aggressive behavior, some biscuits. Hopefully, we will create a relationship that results in kindness and empathy. If Dogs are capable of "Empathy," that is. If Humans are, as well. I like to think of myself as capable of such emotion. That I ascribe similar emotion to an animal such as a Dog, is up for grabs.

I think that my favorite Dog, ever, was a pooch that "just showed up" one day. A "Cock-A-Poo" that I decided should be named: "Itchy Brother," after the character from "King Leonardo and His Friends." A mangy lion that had less common sense than a soft brick. Itchy proved that initial assessment false. He earned his due driving the varmints out of the vegetable garden and becoming a wonderful companion. Itchy's hugs would warm the soul over many Winter evenings. He was a good companion in the cab of my J-D 955/Cat D8H, in the coal pit @ -40 Fahrenheit. Everybody needs a Buddy to share the Grateful Dead with at 04:00, when it's freezing' ass cold.

Some things warm my soul. They may be a Dog, a cool breeze, a breath of fresh air or anything. Such is the Human Condition. Not having shit blow up in my neighborhood is at the top of my list. People NOT speaking as though they need 100Db to get their message across is another. I think a guy named Max Ehrmann wrote it, in 1952, which surprises me. It is often attributed to various other authors at a much earlier time.

The full Missive:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

I tend to avoid The Loud and prefer the quiet.

Unless, it's THIS kind of loud:

Or, a Dog named: "Itchy Brother" who keeps good company in the middle of the night and warms his side of the cabin of said machine.

-Doc, "Around The Clock"