The Cap'n's Blog

Kit of the Day

2012-01-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

Planes, ships, cars, armor, figures, monsters, animals, trains and artillery have all been subjects of plastic model kits, but not musical instruments. But for all the budding Gene Krupas out there who can't afford the real thing, there's this scale model of a drum set. I suppose a drummer who wanted it on the shelf in his office might be tempted to own this kit, but I don't think it had a large consumer pool. I don't know anything about the maker, obviously a Japanese company, but I hope they weren't banking on this item for their success.

Roof Speared

2012-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

This is the branch that speared through the roof of my garage during last week's storms. Worse, water came in and ruined some of my Marx playset boxes, and perhaps some of my collectible paperbacks. I'll be climbing up into the loft this weekend to assess the damage. The roof is being repaired as we speak.

Kit of the Day

2012-01-20T00:44:00.000-08:00

The Swamp from M*A*S*H. I bought this a few decades ago and may still have it around. There is also a kit with a truck, Radar, and Hotlips.

I've been staying home during our recent blizzard. It's not really a blizzard, but the Merchants of Doom--i.e., newscasters--would have you think so. Since I don't have to be anywhere I've just relaxed in the warm confides of Chez Cap'n. Oh, I went out to the mail box every day, and shoveled a little snow once, but mostly I've been content to work on my models and prepare OWLHOOT, the Western apa I ramrod. I love retirement.

Kit of the Day

2012-01-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Part of my cultural deprivation is that I've never heard of the New Monkees. Those who have, and want a model car to commemorate that memory, can bid on this item on eBay. Cost is in line with the average model car.

Wikipedia had this to say about them:

The 20th anniversary of The Monkees in 1986 generated enough interest that New Monkees was conceived later that year, and launched the following year. The show was produced by Columbia Pictures Television and distributed by Coca-Cola Telecommunications (both are now Sony Pictures Television). Straybert Productions, headed by Steve Blauner (a former partner of original Monkees producers Robert Rafelson and Bert Schneider), served as the project's producers.

The group's members were Jared Chandler (guitar and vocals), Dino Kovas (drums and vocals), Marty Ross (bass guitar and vocals), and Larry Saltis (lead guitar and vocals). As it had been with the original Monkees, each had to pass a grueling set of auditions. Unlike the previous series, however, musical ability was a key factor in the selection process. Ross, a multi-instrumentalist, had earlier been signed to CBS Records, with his former band The Wigs.

The band released one self-titled album, distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The synth-pop sound of the New Monkees was largely the work of producers Carol Carmichael Parks and Dean Parks, and was similar to that of contemporaries Mr. Mister and Glass Tiger. Other New Monkees producers were Steve Barri and Tony Peluso, Matt Wallace, Joe Curiale, and Mike Slamer, who co-wrote a song for the album with Larry Saltis.

On the show, the band lived in a large mansion with a butler named Manford (Gordon Oas-Heim), and numerous unexplored rooms (much like recent hit series The Young Ones), and this was the main source of their adventures. Instead of a normal kitchen and dining room, the house featured a diner with a waitress named Rita, played by former exercise instructor Bess Motta, of 20 Minute Workout fame. Also present in the mansion was a talking computer called Helen (voiced by Lynnie Godfrey), who used to work for the Defense Department but has found that she preferred rock music over world destruction.

Originally slated for a 22-episode season, the show earned ratings lower than expected, and New Monkees left the air after thirteen episodes. The album also did not catch on, and yielded no hit records. The producers hoped that the TV show would serve as promotion for their record, and vice versa, but this did not occur. A lawsuit was filed by the original Monkees for use of the name. However, the case was settled out of court.

Though a release of the series on DVD had been mentioned as a possibility by Larry Saltis in an interview several years ago, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has made no such release to date. The New Monkees album also remains out of print.

Interest in the band has continued on Internet news groups. In 2007, all four New Monkees reunited for a meet-and greet-with fans in Los Angeles, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the band's formation. The gathering featured an acoustic performance; their first since the dissolution of the show, and their first-ever live appearance. This performance was filmed and portions of the show have been released in late 2009 on YouTube. Among those in attendance that night were producers Steve Blauner, Victor Fresco and Matt Fassberg and comedian Tim Powers

Kit of the Day

2012-01-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

Polar Lights has been reissuing a lot of older kits, especially Aurora models. Aurora caught a bit of flack from watchdog groups who worried that some of their offerings were harmful to kids, like the Torture Chamber set. I imagine the guillotine also failed the sniff test, though most kids who bought it probably thought it was a hoot. I don't know if the condemned man's head pops off if you drop the blade on him, but it would be a neat touch.

What the Heck?

2012-01-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is an experiment. My text has gone astray from my old posts, and so has my formatting.

Later...looks like my background was the villain. Now you can read the posts but I've lost all the material in the margins. Ain't computers grand?

Kits of the Day

2012-01-09T23:02:00.000-08:00

The Wile. E Coyote hotrod came from MPC. The kit consisted of a car model and the figure of Wile E. you can see behind the cellophane on the box. You'd think the vehicle would say Acme on it but it's labeled a Willys. I doubt it helped him catch the speedy and elusive Road Runner, especially since the Roadrunner had some pretty spiffy wheels of his own.

Kit of the Day

2012-01-06T21:55:00.001-08:00

You say you don't want to look like an old swabby by having a ship in a bottle? Here's the solution, Monogram's Car in a Bottle. It looks like the lad on the box is holding a funny car/dragster but I don't know the scale. Obviously it will fit into a 16-ounce Pepsi bottle so it's smaller than the usual model car. I vaguely remember these from way back when. The bottle was a plastic replica of a normal Pepsi bottle with a separate bottom that was snapped in place once the model car was installed. I doubt that they were a successful product, but the one on eBay right now is going for $99.99 plus a tad over $5.00 for shipping. Not that anyone's bidding, but that's the chance you take when you overcharge for something.

By the way, ignoring these Kit of the Day posts will not stop me from presenting more. I WILL BE HEARD!

Happy Birthday Toby, Tiny, Art, and Frank

2012-01-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

Toby and Tiny, my daughters' Chihuahuas, and Art Scott, a man as noble as he is eccentric, share a birthday today. I may be wrong, but I think it's also Frank Denton's. Best wishes to all.

The pinup is to help keep all those aging male hearts pumping away.

First Car

2012-01-02T22:36:00.001-08:00

This is not the actual car, but a prototype model. A 1961 Thunderbird was the first car I bought. Not a new car, I picked it up in 1969 for $600 when I lived in San Jose, California. It had power everywhere and with the flick of a switch the trunk would open and the convertible top would fold into it. It was large, roomy, powerful, and sucked up gas like a wino with his first swig of the day. I really loved that car, and to this date it remains my all-time favorite. I traded it in for the 1972 Capri I discussed a week or so back, and at the time I thought it was on its last legs. Four years later I was cruising down the freeway and it blew past me going 80. I kick myself to this day for letting it go. My T-Bird was white with an aqua interior. I currently have a bid in for a model of one on eBay and I'm determind to win it, no doubt at a price far beyond its value.

Kit of the Day

2012-01-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

Tired of building airplane, armor, or car kits? What better change of pace than Ben Cartwright and his two remaining sons (Adam was a lawyer in San Francisco by then)? Produced by Revell in 1966, this simple kit was a greater challenge for the painter than the kit builder. Each figure came with front and back body halves, hats, boots, and a common base held the trio. I don't know the scale but I'd guess around 1/12 or 1/16. You can get one on eBay now for about $100. Hake's auctions recently realized $186 for the same kit. Frankly, I'd love to have it, but I don't want to spend that much. Maybe someone will rerelease it. Yeah, sure they will.

Holiday Greetings To All

2011-12-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas.

And Festivus for the rest of us.

Kit of the Day

2011-12-22T23:14:00.000-08:00

The oddest thing about this Bigfoot model kit from AMT is the Glow in the Dark feature. If Bigfoot really glowed in the dark those goobers on TV wouldn't have to use infrared film; they'd find him wandering around the woods at night easily. Or maybe just that little puddle glows and he doesn't.

The next oddest thing is the scale, 1/12. To know the scale of something you have to know the size of the original. Since no one has ever measured the elusive Bigfoot, we can't know if the size of the model is 1/12 the size of the original. If there is an original.

Also, note the human skull on the ground and leg bone in his fist. Maybe some of those Sasquatch hunters discovered a more formidable foe than they expected.

Unchained Melody

2011-12-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

Listen to THIS. You won't regret it. Bobby Hatfield doing his signature song.

First New Car

2011-12-21T18:48:00.001-08:00

I had a few cars before this, but this is the first one I bought new. A 1972 Mercury Capri. It looked like the one pictured only mine was yellow. I think I bought it at the end of 1971. A few months later I lost my job and sold it. Well, not so much sold it as signed it over to someone willing to take over the payments. I think I made about $76 on the deal.

Kit of the Day

2011-12-20T15:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a head scratcher. The Hogan's Heroes jeep was issued in 2003, in 1/25 scale from AMT/Ertl. This of course was long after the show was canceled and Bob Crane was murdered in a motel. The fact that there was no jeep in the TV show apparently didn't bother the makers of the kit, or that if there was Col. Klink wouldn't have allowed it to carry US national insignia. If you can't read the text on the vehicle it says, on the hood, "PRIVATE PROPERTY STALAG-13" On the side it says, "IF FOUND, RETURN TO COL. HOGAN."

Just as odd is the scale. Most WWII figures, vehicles, and accessories are made in 1/35 scale. Many car kits, however, are 1/24 or 1/25. So this kit is compatible with automobiles but not military materiel. I'm assuming someone had the mold for the jeep on hand and decided to merchandise it as a Hogan's Heroes tie in. The show was popular in reruns at the time. I believe there's also a M*A*S*H jeep kit and I know there's a M*A*S*H Swamp kit, so anything's possible.

You can purchase this kit right now on eBay for $22.50 + $8.67 S&H.

Sea of Love

2011-12-16T15:55:00.000-08:00

Look HERE

Remember Pearl Harbor

2011-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

It was 70 years ago today, a day that will live in infamy, that the forces of Imperial Japan sneak attacked our bases in Pearl Harbor and vicinity.

Happy Birthday Uncle Georgie, Somewhat Belatedly

2011-12-06T01:13:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post this before midnight but got sidetracked. Anyway, in addition to Dec 5 being my baby's birthday it's also that of Lt. Gen. (brevet) George Armstrong Custer. Born on 12-5-1839 in New Rumley, Ohio, died 6-25-1876 on the banks of the Little Big Horn River. Flamboyant, controversial, fearless, and a man who inspired strong reactions during his lifetime and right up to the present.

Happy Birthday Kristine

2011-12-05T02:08:00.000-08:00

The landmark 21st birthday has arrived for my baby girl, Kristine. What a talented, poised, lovely young woman she has become. We're very proud of her and love her dearly.

The lower photo was taken when she was 22 months old. The upper when she was 18. The guy is her fiance, Jacob.

A Year of Freedom

2011-12-04T13:10:00.001-08:00

A year ago today I started my retirement. It wouldn't become official until Dec 31, but this is the day I quit getting out of bed and going to work. I have loved every minute of retirement since.

Baby's First Birthday

2011-11-27T00:22:00.000-08:00

A few photos from the event. She was very neat with her personal cake, just poking it now and again. As you can see by the gift wrap, Dora the Explorer was featured in a number of her presents.

Two Things to Celebrate

2011-11-24T00:07:00.000-08:00

I wish all of you a happy Thanksbuddy. May you have more than enough to eat and spend the day in convivial company.

This is also the first birthday of my granddaughter, Sofia. Hard to believe she's walking already and starting to talk. May this be the first of a hundred more, baby girl.

By Popular Demand

2011-11-22T20:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, only Bill Crider asked, but he's pretty popular, isn't he? What he wanted to know was which books I bought in Tucson. Bear in mind I had very little room in my suitcase or there would have been more:

GUNS OF ARIZONA, by Charles N. Heckelmann. A Magnum Easy Eye edition. It's about cavalrymen and takes place in Arizona, so I couldn't resist.

FORT STARK, by Wade Everett. Cavalry, Apaches, and a fort. Also takes place in Arizona.

TWO PISTOLS SOUTH OF DEADWOOD, by Merle Costiner and NO MAN'S BRAND, by William Vance. An Ace Double, which I bought for the Constiner novel. I'll read the other, too.

SLOCUM AND THE LOST COMMAND (Slocum #331), by Jake Logan. More cavalry, and I may know the author of this one.

WARRIORS OF THE PLAINS, by Karl Lassiter. Historical novel based on Fort Bent and the fur trade days. I do know the author, albeit slightly.

LONGARM AND THE VANISHING VIRGINS (Longarm #245), by Tabor Evans. I do know this author and this shortens my list of his Longarms by one. There was another of his at the same store but I rejected it for a badly creased cover.

TRAGG'S CHOICE, by Clifton Adams. This has nothing to do with the police lieutenant from Perry Mason. I'm trying to amass as many Westerns by Adams as I can.

That's it. A cowboy shirt, some postcards, and two model kits found in thrift stores round out my souvenir shopping.

The pinup is here just because I like them.

Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me...

2011-11-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

...When I'm 64?

Well, we'll find out. I'm 64 today.

Back From the Desert

2011-11-17T00:37:00.000-08:00

Last night I returned from six days in Arizona. The purpose of the trip was to let my mother and granddaughter meet. I also spent a few hours with writer Steve Mertz, who's great company. We explored a brace of book and thrift stores and ate the only Mexican food I had down there. I also went to Tombstone again, despite forecasts of thundershowers. It rained all the way there and most of the way back, but we had a respite from the wetness most of the time we were in The Town Too Tough to Die. On the return leg we saw a van full of people stopped by a Border Patrol wagon and a cop car. It was dark so we couldn't see what transpired, but a good guess would be that they busted some illegals. Que lastima.

I've never had so much trouble finding my way around as I did in Marana, north of Tucson. Some highway department genius decided to mark the north-south freeway as east-west, and I was turned around the whole time I was there.

We couldn't find the motel when we arrived, tired and grouchy. The map directions from the computer were wrong and the Best Western we sought sold out to Comfort Inn a week earlier. There was no notification and no sign advising people of the change. The room wasn't bad, especially if you like train whistles throughout the night.

A family of javelinas lived by the motel and one evening they chased my daughter's fiance down the street. I wish I'd witnessed that.

Finally ate at a Golden Corral. *Gag, choke* Second worst chunk of steak I've ever had.

Finally ate at a Cracker Barrel. My advice: Avoid the chicken and dumplings. At all costs.

The weather was mild, with temps usually around the mid-70's. I went into a number of stores that had their heaters going during what was to them a cold snap.

It's good to be home.

Bambi Attacks Again

2011-11-04T22:36:00.001-07:00

At about 1:15 pm today the pair of blacktail deer pictured here wandered into my front yard. This past summer I showed a photo of a buck who was in the cul-de-sac where I live. Now, he and his mate have come onto the property. At one point the doe was right outside the kitchen window (located in the front of the house) to nibble on an evergreen. I was about 15 feet away, inside. You can't tell from the picture, but the one closest to the street is the male. He has a long spiked antler on the right and a forked antler on the left. My younger daughter took the picture on her phone/wayback machine. I also saw our local hummingbird twice this week after an absence of over a month. I love when this happens.

How to Anger a Slot Player

2011-11-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

I went to my usual haunt, The Emerald Queen Casino, today. I like to play Quick Hits, the slot game on which I've won jackpots of over $1700 and $1600 recently. I was having no luck with the machine on the right so I thought I'd move to the one on the left. To explain, there are four machines. Two on the right of the row and two on the left, with two Asian-themed games in between. So, I approach the one on the left and discovered a woman is playing both of them on that side. She asked me if I wanted to play and I said yes after a little hemming and hawing. She was down to 29 cents on one of them so she moved over and gave me that one. I had a few good spins, including one for $30 and one with five Quick Hits for a tad over $25. These are progressive machines and the pot for the Quick Hits grows as the machines are fed money. There's also a minimum amount with which each jackpot starts. For example, five Quick Hits is $15, Eight is $1500. I hit seven, which paid around $175. Not a great payout (someone else must have hit it recently for the payoff to be so low), but it was great to see the woman who'd turned the slot over to me seethe with envy. She was less than gracious when I thanked her for giving up the seat.

Caryl Linder

2011-10-29T23:41:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law died this afternoon. She's been in a full care facility suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for the last 3 1/2 years, so it wasn't a surprise and was in fact a bit of a relief. She just turned 71 a few days ago.

Molly Getting Bigger

2011-10-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

She's almost eight months old and a total delight.

Happy Birthday, Stephanie

2011-10-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

Twenty-two years ago today, a very lovely little girl was born. My Steph.

When Good Blogs Go Bad

2011-10-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

Richard Prosch's Meridian Bridge has always been a quality blog. Until now. Click here and see what I mean.

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-10-18T23:28:00.001-07:00

A simple puzzle made for kids featuring Hugh O'Brian as Wyatt Earp, from the 1950s TV show The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Maker is Whitman, piece count is 63, and final puzzle is about 18 X 14 inches.

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-10-16T22:03:00.001-07:00

A Masterpiece picture puzzle from Whitman Publishing. Titled "The Roundup," it has 204 pieces, measures 10 3/4 X 14 3/8 inches when completed, and is one of eight puzzles in this series (#102). There's a sticker on the side of the box that says "J.J.N.Co, 15 cents" It actually has the cent sign, but that's not available here, or if it is I have no idea how to create it. Anyway, the box this came in was pretty small and the colors on the box top didn't match the puzzle that well, which is not unusual. But I did have fun putting it together and the finished product displayed well. You can see by the photo that the pieces had some interesting shapes. I don't know when this puzzle was produced, but I'm guessing the 1950s. Degree of difficulty: Easy.

On another subject entirely, I'm not that happy with the contenders for the baseball World Series. They deserved to get there, but I'm in the position of rooting against one team rather than for one. So, Go Cards!

2011-10-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun with this puzzle. The shapes of the pieces were interesting, the picture was neat, and the degree of difficulty was medium. Just the facts: A Guild puzzle by Whitman, 304 pieces, finished size 18 X 14 inches, and it says proudly all over the place that it's Machine Cut. The title is Two Friends. I started with the water and the cowboy, moved to the background, and finished with the horse. Best of all is the cover price, 29 cents. I can't even get them in a thrift store of that price now.

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-10-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

All I can say about this one is that it was a killer. The pieces didn't interlock and every time I breathed too heavily they moved and separated. I started this one with the mountains, moved to the sky and smoke, then the horse in the center. The foreground came last. The maker is Milton Bradley, finished size is 16 X 20 inches, there are 500 pieces, and the title is "Forest Rangers in Action." It says there are 24 pictures in this series. What cracks me up is that is says right on the box "500 interlocking pieces." Maybe in the whole 24-piece set, but not this puzzle. Even a lot of the border pieces didn't interlock. In the early days of jigsaw puzzles it was common to have pieces abut without holding tight, and this is a classic example of that.

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-10-12T22:44:00.001-07:00

I bought this one on eBay. The shipper wrapped some packing paper around the box instead of protecting it inside of another box, so it arrived crushed on the top, bottom, and two sides. Since I like to keep the box in top shape I was bent out of shape and complained to the seller. He refunded the postage, which was nice, but I'd rather have had a box in good condition. It's the collector mentality in me.

The puzzle is called Whooping It Up, painting by John Leone. Maker is SunsOut, there are 550 pieces, and the image is 18 X 15.5 inches. Average difficulty, and a nice picture when it's finished.

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-10-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

Looks like this idiotic site cut me off for no reason yesterday, or maybe today. I'm not sure why. Something about "unusual activity," which is odd since I haven't posted in ten days.

So here's another puzzle. My technique for doing a jigsaw puzzle is probably the same as most people's. I study the picture on the box, then dump all the pieces into the box top--the part with the picture. Next I transfer the pieces to the box's bottom, sorting out the frame/edge pieces as I go. I also make sure every piece is face up. If there's a lot of sky I might put that into a freezer bag, but if it has sky plus an object on the horizon on it it goes into the box's bottom. Then I look for a good place to start building. For example, in the puzzle I'm showing here I separated out the red coat, the cooking pot's tripod, and the checkered shirt. I also set aside all of the colorful leaves on the right of the picture. Once I got all of those assemblies fairly complete I did the mountains and the heads of the men where they meet the sky. The sky followed, and lastly the forest floor in the foreground. You can also see the rug on my office floor under the edge of the table. I should have cropped this first. This puzzle is 750 pieces, made by CEACO, and measures 18 X 24 inches. The picture is titled "Sergeant Beaubien," painted by John Buxton, and is part of their Each Picture Tells a Story series. Here's what it says on the bottom of the box:

"This group of Rogers Rangers are on ground overlooking Lake George, New York, which stretches Northward behind them. Captain Robert Rogers' men scout deeply within enemy territory, supplying the latest intellegence of French activity, and their daring hit-and-run tactics not only delivered great annoyance to the enemy but also boosted English spirits.
"Experienced Ranger lieutenants are briefing several new cadets and a volunteer from the 42nd Highlanders, as to the basic rules outlined by Captain Rogers--rules still employed by Ranger forces today. Among the Ranger 'cadets' in the fall of 1756 is William Stark, brother of Ranger Captain John Stark, with his wolf/dog Sgt. Beaubien. At one point throughout their history, Stark entered the wolf/dog into the official Ranger muster roll to draw a sergeant's rations and pay. It has been said that Sgt. Beaubien dispatched his share of the enemy and was well deserving of his pay."

$1631.29

2011-09-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

So, did anyone else win $1631.29 playing the slots today, or was it just me? Yep, I hit eight Quick Hit symbols and collected the above-named sum. This is the same game (but not the same machine) on which I won $1733 about 5-6 weeks ago.
There's a bit of a back story. I was on the machine next to this one and the lady playing the winning machine was doing all right. But she said she had to leave and I took over her machine. She came back a little later and took a slot and the end of the row--four machine away. You can imagine her chagrin when I hit the big money on the machine she'd abandoned. Also, I was in dire need to hit the latrine and almost walked off, but decided to play a little longer. And, BOOM! Jackpot.

I've been away from the blog for a while, but not vegetating completely. I've been to Portland and back, read a number of books, finished a batch of jigsaw puzzles, wasted time at the casino, took Molly to obedience class, and generally did all the usual lazy retiree activities. More when I get my pix ready.

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-08-23T19:51:00.001-07:00

A puzzle that's also an ad for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. I like the action, the Western trappings, and the composition. It also shows you could get the idea for the product across without a lot of flashing lights, blaring music, and those abominable flash cuts.

Bachmann Birds of the World

2011-08-18T20:51:00.001-07:00

Another recent mania has been my attempts to buy Bachmann Birds of the World on eBay. These birds came out in kits from 1959-1960, and were a cross between plastic model kits and arts and crafts sets. The birds were created life sized and came with paints, brush, instructions, and a combination paint thinner/glue. I recall a day when my visiting cousin, Georgie, and I sat down at the dining room table and put ours together. I did a Goldfinch and he had a Scarlet Tanager. The kits were simple and straightforward. Anyone with a functioning brain could produce one, and the results were satisfying. What follows is a Wikipedia entry about them:

"During the 1960s Bachmann produced plastic models of animals (Animals of the World series, Birds of the World series, and Dogs of the World series) called Nature Craft Kits. They also produced their own Mini-planes, Slotcars, military models (with Fujimi) that include fighter planes, helicopters, and Tanks; and toy robots called "Toys of Tomorrow" (with Tomy).

Complete list of 22 Bachmann Birds of the World officially released to the public: Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch, Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager, Woodpecker, Robin, Parakeet, Cardinal, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, Canary, Painted Bunting, Hooded Warbler, Parrot, Hoopoe, Kinglet, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Screech Owl, Meadowlark, European Goldfinch. [Announced but never put into production: Evening Grosbeak, Pitta, Weaver Bird.]

Complete list of 11 Bachmann Dogs of the World officially released to the public: Collie, German Shepherd, Pointer, Wire-Haired Terrier, Poodle, Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel, St. Bernard, Boxer, Dalmatian, Mongrel.

Complete list of 9 Bachmann Animals of the World officially released to the public: Squirrel Monkey, Giant Panda, Deer, Cow and Calf, Tiger, Lion, Zebra, Morgan Horse, Leopard."

'Tis a Puzzle

2011-08-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

I've been buying jigsaw puzzles recently. I prefer Old West themes, or TV cowboys and the like. A recent acquisition was this studio shot of Buffalo Bill, Jr., and Calamity. The TV show BUFFALO BILL, JR ran from 1955-56. Here's what someone had to say about it on IMBD:

Gene Autry was in television in a major way during its early days. Not just as an actor on his own show, but his Flying A productions brought many other shows to television like Range Rider, Annie Oakley and this one Buffalo Bill, Jr.

The premise for this show involved a kinder, gentler Judge Roy Bean character, Judge Ben 'Fair and Square' Wiley played by Harry Cheshire. That moniker was always how he was addressed and referred to. Cheshire found the young adolescent Dick Jones roaming the Black Hills after an Indian massacre of a wagon train. The adolescent was carrying an infant girl who was to grow up to be Nancy Gilbert.

Wiley took them in and raised them and renamed them after those western icons Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane. Jones was most assuredly not the son of Bill Cody. But he certainly could ride and shoot.

From his earliest days Jones was a trick rider and all around western performer since his discovery by movie cowboy hero Hoot Gibson. He got into acting and kept real busy as a child actor, probably most famous as the Senate page in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Jones was in that tradition of Hollywood child stars who grew up and played callow youths until way beyond his actual years. Jones was 28 when he played Buffalo Bill, Jr. and his family name in the show was Bridger who was certainly another western icon.

As this was a kid's show young Jones had absolutely no contact with the opposite sex other than helping to raise his kid sister. The more sophisticated audience of today would not appreciate this film. Still it wasn't a bad series for the year it lasted.

My Daughter, the Psychic

2011-08-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

My older girl said she dreamed last night that I'd win a jackpot at the casino today, on the dragon slot machine. I played a couple of them and won nothing. They don't have jackpots anyway, just bonuses. I ended up at a progressive slot called Quick Hits and POW, eight Quick Hit symbols came up. I won $1733.18. It took a good half hour to deal with all the paperwork connected to this win (I'll have to pay taxes next year), but it was nice to finally hit big. The attached photo was taken on my daughter's phone. I don't know if it'll be clear enough to see the winnng symbols, but it's the best I have. The Quick Hit is the one that looks like a red ball. Middle of the first column, etc.

Still Here

2011-08-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd pop in to prove I'm still alive. I had jury duty from Aug 1 for two weeks. I reported on the first two days and was never called back. I could have been doing better things but I had to wait around each evening to call in and see if I had to go down there the next morning. Grrr. I used to love jury duty because it got me out of work, but now that I'm retired it's as much a pain for me as it is for most people.

Our Chihuahua has to get surgery Wednesday. They think a bad tooth is causing the constant leaking under his right eye. Poor little pup.

Last week we went to the zoo. This is me riding a camel named Dale. I'm not a humpback, I had to sit that way to maintain my balance. Lawrence of Suburbia.

I've been on a small eBay binge recently. I'll have more to say about that soon.

Wonderful Tonight

2011-08-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a recording I really like.

Back From Vegas

2011-07-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

I spent the 20th thru the 26th in Las Vegas, playing slots at some of the better casinos on the southern strip. A few comments:

Don't stay at Harrah's. It's not a fleabag, but the rooms lack coffee makers (not that I drink the swill, but Linda does). The climate control was a joke. The hoydens in the next room were too loud. Okay, the latter could have happened anywhere, but thicker walls would have helped. The TV in the room was of low quality, too.

If you can walk along the strip for more than ten feet without some pimp trying to press a flyer for escorts in your hand, you beat my record.

If the street pimps aren't enough, the ones waiting in all the shopping areas and hotels add to one's annoyance. These aren't selling escorts, but show tickets or some other crap I didn't want.

It was hot. In the neighborhood of 106 every day.

Everyone lies. Every deal has fine print. The hotel's alleged airport shuttle doesn't exist.

The braised pork and eggplant I had at Ming's had less meat than a can of Campbell's pork and beans. Not a bad meal, but the menu was misleading. Linda's chicken dish had no chicken meat.

The buffet at Harrah's was mediocre.

Prices were high for most things. The only deals I got were from my rewards card, which made lunch at Toby Keith's just $15 and Ming's under $7.00, for two.

I had my first encounter with an airport body scanner leaving LV. You have to remove everything from your pockets--front and back--and hold them over your head while they flash you. Okay, not so bad. But then you have to go to another TSA idiot who looks through the items you had in your hand.

The art show at the Bellagio was a dissappointment. Small, and with a lot of artists I'd never heard of. Not that I keep up with artists, but all I knew were Monet (one small painting), and one Lichtenstein (IIRC. The guy who does op art with dots)

On the up side:

The toilet at Harrah's was great. It sucked overthing away in the blink of an eye.

Some of the casinos were works of art. Caesar's Palace, The Venetian, The Bellagio, and The MGM Grand were nice to visit.

The dancing water show at the Bellagio's pool was neat.

The lions at the MGM Grand were great.

The foot-long hot dog was tasty.

I hit some nice wins on the slots.

We got Lorna Doones on the airplane.

3-D Printing

2011-07-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is incredible.

New Documentary News

2011-07-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Go here for a cause near to my heart and one that ought to interest anyone who believes in freedom. It's not political and you don't have to pony up any money despite the pitch at the end. Make sure you play the video. I am NOT trying to rope you into a cult. Just the opposite; I want to warn you about the evils of one.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-04T20:40:00.001-07:00

On the third day of action at Gettysburg, as Pickett's division attacked the federal center, confederate cavalry swept around the federal's right flank. Had they been successful they would have won the battle and we'd all be eating grits for Thanksgiving and whipping our slaves in America today. The charge was stopped by General George Armstrong Custer, although heavily outnumbered. By this day, the 4th, Marse Robert was heading back to Virginia in bitter defeat.

Molly the Cat Burglar

2011-06-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

I said I wouldn't have another Molly posting, but here's her latest trick.

Burning Question of the Day

2011-06-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

What do the following phrases have in common?

Chomping at the bit.

Congressional Medal of Honor.

Over and out.

Less calories.

I could care less.

The answer is--they're all incorrect. Horses CHAMP at the bit. The word Congressional is not part of the MoH or its citation. In radio transmissions you say either over or out, never both. It's FEWER calories. If you could care less then you might care a lot. To show ultimate contempt or disinterest you should say I COULDN'T care less.

Now that you are armed with this knowledge I want you all to spread it throughout the world.

There's one other that drives me up a wall. In a Vonage commercial some over-excited twit says, "It's the white elephant in the room." Obviously the fools who wrote that line don't know what a white elephant is. And I'll bet they were high fiving each other mercilously when they came up with it.

On a positive note, the photo of the pretty girl is Doreen of the original Mouseketeers.

Bambi Attacks

2011-06-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, my wife told me there was a deer in our cul-de-sac. I walked outside and found a buck across the court, near the entry. He saw me but showed no fear. I talked quietly to him. He ambled onto the grassy area in the center of the cul-de-sac, into the yard of the house at the 12 o'clock position, and then to the yard of the house next to that. He nibbbled a few leafs and ambled towards the backyard of that place. As he was browsing in the grass my daughter drove up and I pointed him out. She pulled out her phone/camera/Swiss Army Knife and shot the accompanying photo. Around here we have blacktail deer, smaller than whitetails and muleys. This fellow had short antlers still wrapped in summer velvet.
My house is to the left of the brown one in the photo.

June 25, 1876: Custer's Last Stand

2011-06-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, troopers, it's that day again when we pay homage to the brave men of the 7th Cavalry who fell on the field of honor on this date 135 years ago. And their foes who did them in, of course, the mainly Sioux and Cheyenne warriors who won the day but sealed their fate in doing so.

Molly Again

2011-06-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

This will be the final Molly posting until she changes color. These were taken last Sunday at her obedience class graduation.

More from 1982

2011-06-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

Another couple of pix from the post-Bouchercon gathering at Art Scott's. I see I was wearing contact lenses. Oh, to have thick hair and a thin waist as I did then, rather than the other way around.

The top photo shows (l-r): me, Steve Stilwell, Bill Crider.

The lower photo shows (l-r): Ron Harris, me, Steve Stilwell.

Goofing on Bill Crider

2011-06-11T20:05:00.001-07:00

Photo taken at Art Scott's house after the 1982 Bouchercon. That's me giving Bill the horns.

Is it just me or has the world gone insane?

2011-06-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

At the store earlier. At the egg display case. Saw a sign on one of the cartons: VEGETARIAN FED HENS.

When Monsters Attack

2011-05-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

Go here to see what my typical day looks like.

Molly Update

2011-05-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

Molly is now four months old. The bundle of fuzz we brought home looks like a miniature German shepherd these days. She's 30 pounds of playful energy and a joy to watch grow. If you wondered where I've been lately, I've been watching her. She'll chew anything in the house--including the house--if we don't watch her constantly. I had her here in my office a couple of times but had to stop that when I found her with a paperback in her mouth. Luckily, I stopped her before she damaged it. But I'll be along soon and play catch up. Hasta lumbago!

Good Golly, Miss Molly!

2011-04-04T16:00:00.001-07:00

Meet Molly, who entered our family on Friday. She's an energetic bundle of fuzz who would chew the couch into a wad of leather and padding if you give her half a chance. Toby and the cat hate her and are showing no signs of relenting, though we remain hopeful. She's a full-blooded German shepherd about 9 weeks old. I tried to find a dog through two rescue organizations and the Humane Society. The latter was helpful but bogged down in ridiculous regulations. The rescue groups are useless cookie eaters who constantly beg for donations but don't seem to have any interest in actually placing a dog into a home, in my opinion. Just as well; we love the little devil dog and wouldn't trade her for a carload of Rin Tin Tins.

This and That

2011-03-12T18:14:00.000-08:00

I had some KFC yesterday. I don't have it very often because I think it's overpriced. I also think, thanks to yesterday's sample, that the quality has tanked. I recall plump pieces of chicken so tasty I was tempted to eat the bones. Now, the scraggly road kill they offer is barely palatable. And the biscuits are garbage compared to the wonderful rolls they used to sell. The Colonel must be rotating in his grave like a chicken on a spit.

I was waylaid by some Girl Scouts outside Albertson's today and forced to buy a box of Thin Mints, easily the best cookie made. But $4.00 a box? Larceny. Are they training these kids to be good citizens when they grow up or thousand-dollar-a-night call girls?

My hot streak at the casino continues. Five straight winning visits for a total of about $750. Two progressive jackpot wins ($233 and $143). I may buy another box of Girl Scout cookies if this keeps up.

Who writes ad copy for TV commercials these days? I keep hearing "less" used when "fewer" would be correct.

Tomorrow is Daylight Savings. Spring ahead. I always thought that if I died before the Fall Back date I'd be ahead of the game. Not looking to do it any time soon, though.

Have a nice weekend.

Need a Laugh?

2011-03-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

One of my daily must-visit blogs is Ken Levine's. His varied career includes writing for hit TV shows M*A*S*H, FRASIER, MARY TYLER MOORE, CHEERS), baseball announcer, director, playwright, and bon vivant. He's published a book about his travels called WHERE THE HELL AM I? Each short chapter, and there are scores of them, recounts a trip he's taken to somewhere, either for business or pleasure. His pithy, witty observations are guaranteed to have you laughing out loud.

You can buy the Kindle version on Amazon. Other formats are also available.

Remember the Alamo

2011-03-06T10:47:00.001-08:00

On this day in 1836 the final assault on the Alamo resulted in the death of all the defending Texians. It was a costly victory for Santa Anna (estimated 800 casualties), and the 13 days he spent in the siege allowed Sam Houston to assemble an army and ultimately defeat the Mexican army at San Jacinto. The deaths at the Alamo were not in vain. Revisionists now say that Davy Crockett surrendered and was executed. I don't buy that. Right after the battle one of the non-combatant survivors, Susanna Dickinson, saw Crockett's body in the area of the chapel, surrounded by dead Mexican soldiers. He and his Tennesseans were assigned the defense of the low palisade, an open area between the chapel and high wall in which a makeshift defensive position was fashioned from wagons, boxes, sacks, etc. That's on the lower right on the accompanying map (#14), on the slant.

Sling Free

2011-03-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

I officially got permission to stop using my sling today. That's the one for my right arm. My butt will undoubtedly be in a sling forever. Unofficially, I stopped using it two days ago. Good riddance. Now, if I wanted a Singapore Sling I'd wish to share it with a vintage Anna May Wong. Speaking of her, I've seen some people spell her middle name Mae. I have a feeling both spellings were used over the years.

AMC Ticks Me Off Again

2011-03-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

It was bad enough when AMC started inserting long commercial breaks into their movies, usually at inapropriate moments, but now they've gone and sicced their PC Police on a revered John Wayne movie. Yesterday I managed to catch EL DORADO from the beginning while channel surfing so I decided to watch it. This, you may know, is a remake of RIO BRAVO, but with Robert Mitchum in the Dean Martin/drunken sheriff role, James Caan instead of Ricky Nelson, and Arthur Hunnicutt taking over for Walter Brennan. Charlene Holt in the Angie Dickinson role is no slouch, either. Anyway, in one scene Caan, Mitchum, and Hunnicutt are trying to sneak into the back door of a saloon, but find it guarded by a bad guy. What happens in the unexpurgated film is Caan disguises himself as a Chinaman, missing no stereotype, until he can get close enough to the thug to knock him out. In the AMC snipfest, Caan says, "Wait, I have an idea." The next thing you know he's slugging the owlhoot. I don't know about you, but I don't need some clown at AMC censoring my movies for me. What's this world coming to?

Baby Time

2011-02-27T02:47:00.000-08:00

Granddaughter Sofia is three months now so here's a photo of her taken a few days ago.

Birthdays

2011-02-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

I was off line most of Thursday-Friday so I didn't get a chance to mention my mother turned 88 on the 24th. Today, the 26th, my wife hits another birthday milestone. I guess I'm not supposed to mention which one. The photo is my mother about 70 years ago. Can you say Catholic Italian?

13 Days to Glory Commences

2011-02-23T21:00:00.001-08:00

On this day in 1836 the siege of the Alamo began. The vanguard of Santa Ana's forces came up from the south and invested San Antonio de Bexar. Col. William Barrett Travis and Col. Jim Bowie brought their men to the Alamo mission, determined to stop the advance of "The Napoleon of Mexico." It would take 13 days for the battle's outcome to be determined.

Dog Heavies

2011-02-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

Dog Heavies, the third and final Lucas Hallam mystery by L.J. Washburn, takes us to Texas. Lucas and some other cowboys who work in the picture business are sent to a ranch outside Fort Worth to teach a young actor, Adrian Tremaine, how to appear like an authentic westerner in an upcoming big budget movie. The ranch needs the money it's getting for hosting the group because their cattle are being rustled, but that doesn't endear them to some of the working cowboys, especially the foreman, Armstrong. Armstrong picks on Teddy White Horse, a Native American, worse than the rest. Nice guy. Other than a bit of huffing and puffing, though, things are working out fairly well. The kid is learning the ropes (including roping), and the real cowboys start to respect the intruders. But a murder changes everything. Hallan has to use his private eyes skills to help the accused and discover not only who committed the crime, but who's behind the cattle thefts. No small task when the local law is hostile to his efforts.

A nice extra touch is seeing Lucas Hallam back on the turf he roamed as a youth. He's not one for nostalgia, but being on the ground of his old home pulls at the heartstrings of his memory for a touching moment. There's also the rancher's beautiful daughter and cussed old cook on hand to add a fun touch to the proceedings.

I hope these books sell well enough in their Kindle editons to inspire Washburn to write more. Lucas Hallam is too good a character, and 1920s Hollywood too great an era, to wither away.

Turn Away, Bill Crider

2011-02-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

More great moments from Paris here.

The Final Dapa-Em

2011-02-09T23:25:00.000-08:00

In today's mail I got my final copy of Dapa-Em, #216. It will never be published again, and I'll miss it. The idea of an apa (Amateur Press Association/Alliance) is that a limited membership (35 in Dapa-Em)--usually fans of a genre--produce individual zines, print enough copies to cover the membership plus a couple of extra copies, and send these copies to a single individual, called an Official Editor, or Central Mailer, or Big Toe, etc. The OE then collates each person's zine into one large volume and mails the big volume, called a mailing, back to each member. In the next mailing people can remark or reply to what was in the previous mailing or discuss whatever they want. Dapa-Em was a mystery apa, the only one to ever exist. It started around 1974, under the leadership of Donna Balopole, but it really took off 35 years ago when Art Scott took the helm. I joined in 1979 and have missed only one of the bi-monthly mailings in all that time. But all things must pass, and Art needed a rest after so many years of remarkable service and punctuality. Kudos to him for an incredible service.

The illo shows one of the typical Dapa-Em room parties at a mystery con.

I wish.

Packers!

2011-02-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

It's not that I'm that much of a Packers fan, but I hate the Stealers and revel in their loss. That said, it was an exciting Superbowl and the officials didn't interfere with the game other than that phantom face mask call against Green Bay, which helped Pittsburgh sustain a scoring drive. Now begins the lull in my sports year. I don't follow hockey or basketball, so until baseball season starts I'll make do with other entertainments. Like staring at Natalie Wood photos. Won't you join me?

Pimpmobile, RIP

2011-02-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today I said good-bye to my wonderful 1995 Oldsmobile Regency 98. Alas, it was becoming too unreliable to continue driving. In its place is a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck (14,00 miles). I got a good deal on the truck, but it's a bare bones model and I'll miss such amenities as keyless entry and power windows and locks. I also need to replace the radio with a radio/CD player, but I have a very nice one in the garage and I'll have that installed soon.
And if that's not worth a look at Natalie Wood, I don't know what is.

Dead Stick

2011-02-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

Dead Stick, by L.J. Washburn, is the second Lucas Hallam mystery. I talked about the background of the character and setting in an earlier post. Now, Hallam is hired by a studio to discover who's sabotaging their picture, a WWI flying epic. Suspicion is on a KKK group upset that one of the actors is a former German ace. Also in the movie are four American airmen whose squadron had been betrayed during the war., They were the only survivors. The German was part of the force that set upon the Americans. There are also a couple of jealous hearts in the mix due to some Hollywood bed-hopping, a brash stunt pilot, and an ex-jockey who runs a speakeasy and has a shady reputation. Washburn cleverly works parallel plots, so smoothly you're not aware of it, and brings the story to a satisfying, action-packed climax.
Liz Fletcher, from the first book, Wild Night, reappears, too. She moved from her ghost town saloon to Hallam's apartment building and got a job as an organ player at Graumann's Egyptian Theater. But she's not sure the city life is for her and, well, the course of true love never runs smooth.
Available on Kindle.

Am I Wrong?

2011-02-03T15:49:00.001-08:00

Am I wrong or is this the anniversary of The Day the Music Died; i.e., the day Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash in an Iowa cornfield? I was sure Bill Crider would have mentioned it.

Pictured are classic rockers (l-r) me, Dave "Evan" Lewis, & Tough Jim Gaston. We strive to keep the music alive.

Wild Night

2011-02-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

Wild Night, by L.J. Washburn, takes place in Depression-era Hollywood. Lucas Hallam is a former lawman, Pinkerton, and cowboy who has also spent a little time on the owlhoot trail during his heyday. Now, in the 1920s, he works part time as a Western movie extra and also maintains a private detective business.
While scouting a ghost town as a possible movie location he gets into a shootout with a couple of thugs. The town's owner and sole inhabitant, Liz Fletcher, thinks they were after her stash of hooch. Back in Hollywood later that day, Hallam is hired by an evangelist, Rev. Forbes, to accompany him to a meeting that evening. They go, and in short order Hallam is knocked out and the two people they went to meet are dead, with the reverend standing over them with a gun in his hand. He swears he didn't do it but the cops toss him in the graybar hotel anyway.
Hallam is asked to clear the minister, and even though Hallam doesn't like the man, he agrees to help. Only he and Forbes know a fact about the night of the crime that no one else does, and they're holding it back.
As Hallam delves into the church and Forbes' past he finds himself the target of a gunman. Seems like someone doesn't want him to find the truth. Or does it?
Washburn writes a strong mystery with an extra twist in the end that I didn't see coming. Her prose is clear and eminently readable. Best of all, Hallam is a wonderful character--strong, simple, honest, brave, and nobody's fool. The early Hollywood setting--with its studios, speakeasys, and cultish temple--captivated this reader and rings true. Some of the luminaries of the day also step in for cameos. I've already started the sequel and I'm grateful that the Kindle has made these hard-to-find books available again. Check them out.

Scandal in Toy Soldier Land

2011-01-31T07:13:00.000-08:00

Director Peter Jackson (LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) is a toy soldier collector. He even had figures created just for him. Jackson also shopped at the Michigan Toy Soldier Company. Rick Berry, owner of MTSC, is now accused of using Jackson's credit card to steal $189,000. A sad moment for the hobby. Berry's excuse is that the economy has made it difficult to keep his business going, and that he intended to repay the money.

Have a Scar?

2011-01-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

Just thought you'd like to see the pretty scar on my shoulder. The one the doctor said would be a couple or three inches. Rick Robinson asked for an update, and all I can say is that the healing continues apace. Today's physical therapy was the hurtingest one yet, but I hope that means it's working. I may be able to ditch my sling in a few weeks and that will be a real benchmark.

Speaking of benchmarks, I ordered a Kindle and it arrived the day before yesterday. Yesterday I ordered my first download, WILD NIGHT, by Livia Washburn. I find it easier to read than a book right now because of my sore shoulder, and it's not too tricky to learn how to use it. Now, I love books and have no intention of abandoning them, but there are a few things better loaded into a Kindle, and some things only available in Kindle format, and for these I'm glad I have the device.

Health Update

2011-01-19T21:06:00.000-08:00

I've been sleeping better and feeling saner. Better yet, I've been able to sleep in my bed as of yesterday, to the relief of everyone in the house. Physical therapy starts tomorrow. And tomorrow is another day.

Say hi to Anna May Wong.

Another Honor

2011-01-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

Not for me, of course. I just read that my old buddy Dave "Evan" Lewis won the Robert L. Fish Award for his Skyler Hobbs short story "Skyler Hobbs and the Rabbit Man" in EQMM. Atta boy, Dave.

Pictured is Dave on the left, me in the middle, and Tough Jim Gaston on the right. Collectively we are The Moops.

A Visit to the Invalid

2011-01-17T01:15:00.000-08:00

A friend wrote and asked me how I was doing. What follows is my response. Anna May Wong appears courtesy of my fever dreams.

Kill me! Don't wait another day, just killllll meeee! This is not living. There is no quality of life here. Sleep is elusive. Concentration is minimal. Food is unpleasant or dull. Time is a snail. For all I know I'm going cold turkey from the meds, which I'm trying to eliminate. You don't even want a hint of what my digestive tract is up to. There is no succor in TV, I can't read for long, I can't do anything that requires two hands, and I stink. Tomorrow I'll shower and sign up for physical therapy. Maybe go see the baby. The rain and gloom aren't helping, either. I have to sleep on the couch and it's very noisy out there when it rains. This was not what I expected from retirement. The good news is that it will all go away eventually and I'll be my old self again, perhaps even better. But until then life sucks.

Thank you for asking.

Yes, It Hurts Just Fine.

2011-01-10T04:55:00.000-08:00

Since I got home from the hospital Friday I've slept, popped pain killers, and watched TV. Go Seahawks. That's it. I'm still wearing the same clothes I put on Friday morning, haven't shaved, and could stop a charging rhino with my offensive underarms. Not a pretty sight. Today I plan to shower, shave, and don fresh clothes. I'll also apply a new bandage to the incision.

Under the Knife

2011-01-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

In a few hours I'll go in for rotator cuff surgery. I expect to spend the next 6-8 weeks as a one-armed man and doing even less than I normally do, which isn't much. This morning I practiced putting on my socks with my left hand. It's not easy. One of the pre-op instructions tells me to write YES on the shoulder that needs the surgery. I'm thinking of writing CONTINUED ON OTHER SHOULDER under that, and on my left shoulder writing ...WE HAVE NO BANANAS. Surgeons aren't the only cut ups at the hospital.

I forgot to mention that my daughters' Chihuahuas celebrated their 8th birthdays on Jan 3. Many happy returns, Toby and Tiny.

Can't get enough of Anna May Wong, so here's a picture of her when she was very young.

Back From the Cold

2011-01-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I returned from a cabin outside Mt. Rainier Park where I spent five days doing nothing but eat, sleep, read, talk, and watch movies with four other fellows. The event is yclept Tankon. It was cold. The heaters didn't work well and the Franklin stove wannabe went out at night. When it was time to go home I found my car's doors and trunk frozen shut. It snowed a few inches. There's no running water, thus no chance to wash. We use an outhouse. One night the power went out three times, but not for long, thank ghu. And we all had a swell time. We don't have TV, radio, Internet connections, phones, or newspapers, but we have movies. We saw two movies with Anna May Wong and a documentary about her. It piqued my interest in this Chinese-American beauty and I did some web surfing about her last night. I felt very sad for her. She was an intelligent, talented, accomplished woman who never reached star status in the US because of the prevailing bias against minorities. In fact, she was forbidden by miscegenation laws to kiss any white actors on screen, even if they were appearing in yellow face as Asian characters. She died of heart failure at age 56, way too young.

Happy New Year.

Happy Christmas Day

2010-12-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

By now you've all opened your presents, eaten to surfeit, and are basking in the afterglow. I hope it was a fine day and you got what you wanted. I ended the day at the casino, where the spirit of giving was alive and well. The place was packed to the rafters.

Merry Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T00:40:00.000-08:00

Allow me to present a small token of joy in the spirit of the season. I plan a long, busy day with a house full of in-laws plus my daughters, granddaughter, and her daddy. What's not to like? Any football on?

True Grit

2010-12-22T16:25:00.000-08:00

True Grit opened today and I caught the 12:50 show. You probably know the basic plot: 14-year-old Mattie hires grizzled Deputy Marshal Rufus "Rooster" Cogburn to track down Tom Cheney, who'd killed and robbed Mattie's father. Also on Cheney's track is a Texas Ranger, LeBoeuf, who wants to return Cheney to Texas on a murder charge. This doesn't sit well with Mattie, who wants Cheney to suffer for the crime against her father. This leads to conflict on the trail as the trio set out to find their quarry, believed to have thrown in with the Ned Pepper gang.

The movie is by turns gritty, funny, touching, suspenseful, and uplifting. Mattie's sense of moral purpose and Cogburn's world-weary manner provide a fine contrast and grist for many an amusing exchange. The same goes for the one-upmanship moments between Rooster and LeBoeuf. Also, the grim experiences Mattie has along the trail transform her from a pushy kid to a more self-aware young woman. The actress who played the part is excellent, as are all the other players.

I hope this movie will be enjoyed by the great unwashed and not just Western fans, and it leads to more quality films in the genre being produced. I loved it. Even the damn fool on the other end of the aisle who felt the need to audibly react to every scene didn't sully my enjoyment of the movie. I loved it and recommend it wholeheartedly.

As you might have guessed, the illo here has nothing to do with the film.

Catching Up

2010-12-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

I've been silent lately and there are reasons. One is my right shoulder. I have a torn rotator cuff (all those years as a big league pitcher took their toll). Typing for more than a few minutes is very painful. I'll probably have surgery in January for that and it'll take about six months to be back to normal. For part of that time I'll be a vertiable left hander, and that will make typing very difficult, if not impossible. Today I talked to a doctor about prostate cancer. I don't have it, and I'm in a low risk category, numerically speaking, but just to be safe I'm going to have a biopsy, also in January. I've also been doing the usual Xmas stuff and corrupting my older girl with a couple of trips to the casino (I'm ahead $122, she won, too).

Pictured is my granddaughter, Sofia, at about three weeks, with her mother.

It seems like the latest overused phrase in advertising these days is "amazing." Seems like everything you can buy is amazing. Amazing salad, amazing service, amazing experience, amazing scarf. How easily are people amazed?

Remembering John Lennon

2010-12-08T13:12:00.001-08:00

I'm a huge fan and admirer of John Lennon. I clearly remember my sorrow the day he was murdered, and my anger when I learned his killer got life instead of death. Thirty years ago today he died, but his music is as fresh and enjoyable to me today as it was then and all the way back into the sixties. When I was 17 I was in a garage band called The Violations. This was 1965 so of course we sang a lot of Beatles songs (those we could, a lot were beyond our ranges). I usually sang the John parts in our harmonies, making me feel an extra kinship with him. I sure wish he was around today.

Remember Pearl Harbor

2010-12-07T19:12:00.001-08:00

A day that will live in infamy, or until a few generations pass and everything's forgotten. Well, the Cap'n remembers. I had an uncle who was wounded during the attack and since I grew up as a Navy brat most of the adult males I knew were veterans of the war in the Pacific. Here's to them.

Happy Birthday Kristine, Again

2010-12-05T15:39:00.001-08:00

I wanted to show a more recent photo of the baby. This is it.

Happy Birthday Uncle Georgie

2010-12-05T15:36:00.001-08:00

On this day in 1839, American hero and soldier George Armstrong Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio. He died for our sins at the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876.

Happy Birthday Kristine

2010-12-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

My baby is 20 today, and every moment has been one of pure joy.

Done and Done

2010-12-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

Retirement. As MLK said, "In the words of the old Negro spiritual, free at last, free at last, thank God A'mighty, we are free at last!" That's the editorial we, there. It was a quiet, uneventful day. I did my final processing, cleaned out the few remaining items from my locker, said adios to a couple of people, and drove away. I admit to giving vent to a rousing rebel yell as I passed through the main gate, but otherwise there was no celebration. I didn't want one.

When I was working I always hoped for jury duty. I found being on a jury interesting and I prefered being at the courthouse to being at work. Plus, I still got paid and didn't have to take leave. But I didn't get tasked for jury duty this year, until...
I got my mail this afternoon and found a jury summons therein. My reporting date is the same day as my official retirement in January. Nice timing, people.

One More Day

2010-12-02T18:41:00.000-08:00

Really, six-tenths of a day. Today I got signed out by a bunch of organizations/sections (clinic, finance, pass & ID, etc) and tomorrow I do the final two. I made sure I gave back my Restricted Area Pass and Flightline Competency Card so I can't do any work tomorrow. It'll be soooo nice to stay in bed in the morning, to avoid the freeway traffic, and to get busy on my many projects around the old homestead.

Two Days to Go

2010-12-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

I plan to spend as much of my final two days (one day, six hours to be exact--I work 10-hour days) clearing the base. That is, going hither and yon getting boxes on a sheet of paper signed off by various people in various sections.

Evan Lewis wondered what image I'd use to illustrate two. I thought about The Dynamic Duo or one of the better comedy teams, but these innocent lasses from the brush of Milton Caniff seemed more appropriate.

Lately I've seen a lot of people using "hoard" when they mean "horde." A hoard is hidden or stored fund or supply (I looked it up) and a horde is a swarm or throng, as of people, animals, or insects. If you're going to write or edit, you need to know these things.

Three Days to Go

2010-11-30T19:03:00.001-08:00

Three days. Two days, six hours, to be exact. Three is a good number. My beloved Three Stooges claimed it and I'm soitenly glad they were part of my life.

It looks like I'm leaving work just in time, too. Today we learned that we're now subject to random drug testing, and O'Bama wants to freeze our salaries. Not that I'm in much better shape financially by retiring since Barak also wants to cut Socialist Insecurity.

I don't use drugs, but I can't see any reason to implement the testing. Supposedly it's because of our sensitive positions. Like urinating into a porcelain bowl that has three mirrors and a witness isn't a sensitive position. At least none of this will take place until after I'm gone, so to hell with the lot of them. I just chalk it up to one more reason I'm glad to be out of that little Bedlam. Bitter? Me? Not really, just fed up.

Len Moffatt

2010-11-30T18:57:00.001-08:00

Since most of you read the same blogs I do, I'm sure you know by now that Len Moffatt has passed away. Len was a cornerstone science fiction and mystery fan, a Sherlockian, a John D. MacDonald expert (along with wife June), and a Marine in WWII. He wasn't very tall but he filled a lot of space with his kindness, wit, energy, and achievements. Without the Moffatts there wouldn't be a Bouchercon, period. At the recent B'con in San Francisco I shared the honor of being named the Don Sandstrom Award winner with the Moffatts, and I'm glad Len was able to receive this recognition while he was still alive. My sincere condolences to his family and large circle of friends.

Lispers

2010-11-28T16:11:00.001-08:00

I've been watching a lot of Robin Hood TV shows lately. The ones made in England starring Richard Greene. An actor named Alan Wheatley was cast as the Sheriff of Nottingham and I noticed he had a minor but unmistakable lisp. That got me to thinking of other actors who had lisps. Humphrey Bogart and Boris Karloff come to mind. Daffy Duck? That's a stretch. I once had a girlfriend with a little lisp, too. Can you think of any others?

Four Days to Go

2010-11-26T21:18:00.001-08:00

Yep, just a Fab Four days left til retirement. Next week will do it. To be exact, three days and 6 hours, or 36 hours.

I visited Baby Sofia earlier this evening. She was perfect; slept the whole time. I say this because my mother likes to read about it.

The last two days have been a football tsunami. I saw two games and part of a third yesterday and as I type this I'm watching my third game today. The first two I saw at work. We had a down day at the base and there was nothing to do but watch TV. On a regular work day there's ALMOST nothing to do but watch TV. I really enjoyed the Alabama/Auburn game, which Auburn won 28-27 after being behind 21-0. I don't know why I'm anti-Bama, but that's the way it is.

I picked up my younger girl's birthday/Xmas present today, an electric keyboard. She's very musically talented and I can hear her playing downstairs as I type this. I can also hear the Boise State-Nevada game, as alluded to earlier. The store where I picked up the keyboard is near the Tacoma Mall, and while there was a lot of traffic it moved quickly and my parking karma was in force when I needed a space. I also had a 15% off coupon, which was good for today only, so I was determined to use it no matter what the crowds were like.

Have a nice weekend.