July 28th, 2010

Dad and I hit the extensive breakfast bar, I had the biscuits and gravy, which was passible I must say. After going back to the room and sleeping that off, we headed to my old school in Elgin, Tx/, then another 30 miles to the old German town of Fedor, where I spent many nights of 7 years drinking with the local Germans, back when I had a ten acre paradise close by.

My old friend and storekeeper "Clarence", was still there as unchanged as the place that he had operated for the previous 30 years. Clarence is like the wise older brother that I never had. I spent thousands of hours talking to him, and still consider him one of the wisest and smartest people I've known. Never were we "running buddies", but he was more a teacher. Completely self-educated, and only a German speaker until the age 12, Clarence managed to educate himself, while making his own existence in the hot south Texas sun. For some reason, I spent 7 years going to "the School of Clarence" and I grew up considerably due to his influence, I am

lucky to have found a friend like him, and he seemed pleased with the way I have turned out, after many years of absence of contact. Clarence and I had a nice conversation, exchanged news (many of my drinking buddies were dead). After slowly drinking two beers, the conversation lapsed a bit, and there wasn't really much else to say. Dad and I then drove the 60 miles back to Austin in search of "Indian Food". I enjoyed the restaurant hunt, but my traveling companion was getting tired, so I gave up and drove to the nearby "Pappasitos", which is as lame as its ever been. Give me a tiny 6 tabled Mexican place, with a Mexican Mama as the cook, in the bad part of town, any day of the week.

After a 4:00 lunch, we went back to the palace and promptly feel asleep. Dad crashed for good it seems, but I've been kickin' back, watching, TV LAND, and surfing the net. Looks like

my $450 downtown Logan Art Studio Loft is still available! (I have to find some living space, in a few days after touching back down in Logan this Sunday). I'll probably go for the $650 town homes with garage, so I can work on my bike during the winter. I plan to try both out and make the choice next Monday, I'm excited about it!

I have had an excellent visit to Austin, but tomorrow... I must go. I could spend a month here and see a different friend everyday, and probably even meet some new ones. Many of the people in Logan, UT. are friendly, but its just not the same. The LDS in Logan are more "Church Friendly", which seems to run deep if you go to church. Most will always help you move, or build something, and most are positive on the surface, as are most Texan's. I am just more comfortable with the Texas way. Texan's are polite as a general rule. Since dueling was legal in Texas, far into this century, we tend towards politeness. We also fight when our honor is disrespected, (my last fight was only 5 years ago). The Utahns are very quick with aggressive driving (even in shopping carts), aggressive acting, they call you by your last name, even my students, but quickly get confused when you call them on it. I generally just close my tongue, and refrain from reacting to disrespect up in Utah. I feel as a visitor there, and I don't want to have to return too soon . Both places have good folks, but the Texan way is the way Im used to.

Utah, does have way nicer schools, and they spend far less money per student for this. Texas education systems would benefit by studying Utah's, I made about the same salary in both places, but Utah has better benefits, treatment and professional respect. Texas treated us like dogs by comparison. Maybe it was the particular school district I was in, but the benefits are much nicer in Utah in general.

Although, I have few good friends in Logan, I plan to give it one or two more years up there. I am tired of the long frozen winters, but since I plan to hook up a side-car to my bike, I will have a reason to get out and ride during the darkest cold days, and make the best of it. I am also going to be living totally alone for the first time since 1985 and 86, when I lived alone in Commerce, Texas, while working on my sculpture degree. It will be a challenge, but after being alone, most of the summer, I kind of liked the change. Probably be dating a bit more now, and the Mormon ladies are alright by me. Most seem to have their religion in check, and are pretty normal people. I am looking forward to this new school year, and I plan to

make the most of it.

Tomorrow morning, Dad and I will, have a final breakfast with my Daughter Athena, and her husband "Nick", who I don't know too well, but Athena is absolutely crazy about him after 6 months of marriage! Nick is soft spoken, puts off good vibes, I hope to hang around with him a bit more in the future. I like the guy!

Then we shall return to Dallas. I look forward to seeing my Sister and Brother in law, my Mom, my other sister and husband, old friends from Dominos, the Kiesers ect... I do know that my older Sis and her husband "Dave" will take me to dinner or allow me to hang out at their house, or swim in their pool. They are amazing hosts. I will be forever grateful for their kindness and class. I feel welcome in Dallas for sure...

July 27th, 2010

We arrived in Austin, Texas on July 26th, and drove around looking for a decent hotel for my dad and I. I wanted a place with a balcony so dad could read the paper and drink coffee for a few hours, and allow me to sleep. After much searching, we wound up at the "Drury Inn", although hard to pronounce, is a very nice place and a good deal. We got a suite, with separate kitchen and living room with can be closed off to the sleeping area. All this FOR 100 BUCKS A NIGHT! This does include free internet, cable, two hd tv's, free full breakfast, big cheap dinner buffet for free. And is situated next to an excellent Sports Bar in case I get tired of the free stuff.

They offer three free drinks per person as well!!!! I love this place... My only complaint is that they lack a hot tub or jacuzzi, but this room is as large as a one bedroom apartment, and perfect in every way. Usually I overlook minor things in a hotel room, but no hidden issues here.

My Daughter and her Husband stopped in an partied for a while, joined us for dinner, then left back to there townhome. My old bandmate "Ken" stopped in around 10 PM and we went to the sports bar next door and had a few laughs and drinks. We got back and drank a few more, since we had a lot to catch up on.

I woke up around 1 PM., went to find my daughters place, which turned out to take a long time. Seems the townhouses are practically under a huge highway clover leaf, but once we found it, we could see why she picked the place. It is a very well established group of townhouses, with three pools, large trees, and the sound of the nearby freeways were not really noticable. We watched "The Charge of the Light Brigade" with Errol Flynn, My daughter and hubby like cool old movies as much as I do. My dad was able to spot the actors, since he was alive during their time. We then left to get a lunch and wait for my other daughter and grandson to bring me my old paintings, which I left at my old house in Bastrop Texas.

Had another great night overall. Glad I decided to to visit my old city of Austin again, after three years. Going back to Utah, will be harder once spending time at the Capital of Texas. Utah, is not Texas. Utah, is quite A nice state, but it is "Not Texas", and Texas is my true home.

July 25th, 2010

Spent three nights in a row since July 20th with my Sister and Brother in law,  and a few of their kids.   As usual they treated me as an honored guest,  taking me to dinner each night,   and being kind in general.    My older sis and husband,  are the greatest hosts imaginable.   My parents, being excellent hosts as well,  set me up in a "catfree" room,  and I have enjoyed my stay more than usual due to this.  

I really enjoy the "Trinity Hall" restaurant in Allen, Texas,  which is a quite authentic,   Irish Pub with a fair amount of English cuisine.

Friday,  I hung out with my old friends "Charles and Melissa",  spent the night partying by their parents pool in a very large house out in the country of the North Dallas area.   Met another old friend Brian that night,  hadn't seen him for twenty years.   We all played trivia, under the north Texas Stars.  Wow!  Its nice to know people!!!!!

Saturday,  I hung out with my Persian (Iranian) friend "Reza",   and a friend of his friend,  a lovely lady in her late thirties,  whom I'll refer to as "Mal",  since I don't know her entire name.

Reza,  took me to a couple Persian restaurants on Saturday,  and our conversations,  were mainly politics,  but "Mal" a visitor,   was decent in her English,  and fun to talk to as well. Reza

is always trying to fix me up with Iranian women,  and that "Mal",  seemed a bit fluffy, but worth a second gander.   She wouldn't make a very good camping companion is my guess.

Had a good time watching "Fiddler on the Roof",  an although "the movie glorifies Jews",   (in Rezas words),   We both still enjoyed it due to the humor and choreography.     Later Reza went to bed,  and turned up the Persian radio,  in the nearby hallway before he crashed.     I didn't know why he likes a loud radio at night,  but I forgot about it,   and tried to watch another movie,  and could only hear part of what was said.      I tried to sleep and with the radio screaming in my ear,  and the ambient 82 degree temperature I layed in a pool of sweat until four oclock in the morning.  Finally,  I pulled out my own radio and shoved the earphones in my ears,  then it sounded like loud English bullshit,  with the persian loudly in the background.

Two hours later,  Reza spares no noise,  and once I informed him of my lack of sleep, graciously allowed me a couple more hours, before the banging in the kitchen woke me up for good.  He said it was my own fault for not waking him up about the noise, or the temperature...  I told him that I don't feel that a humble guest should be a "complainer".   Which is exactly what the bastard accused me of a bit later!

After a decent breakfast of cream cheese on bread,  Reza starts to talk on the phone in Farsi, for the next hour or two,  while pretending to make that evenings dinner.    So I sit from 11 AM till 2 PM in a chair,  with no TV,  one Persian newspaper,  and watch him talk on the phone and slowly prepare a meal, that might have taken me thirty minutes to cut up and put in the slow cooker.    He did notice my total boredom and asked me if I was bored?

    I said "Hell yeah!  I'm bored", but I had no way out of there,  and that "watching him talk on the phone for hours at a time in a foreign language,   was going to cause me to kill myself,  unless,  he could kindly take me home to my parents".   He said "Ok,  but let me finish getting the cooking ready right quick"....   So I remained in a chair for another hour...... then he went into his room,   I assumed it was to get his keys and to drive me away from this dungeon.   He didn't return, for the next thirty minutes. 

   By 3:30 PM,   I had enough,   by then I was relegated to sitting 4 and one half hours in the same chair with absolutely nothing to do, watch,  talk to, or anything.  This is the worst treatment I've ever experienced as a guest before,  and I had no way to leave,  since Reza is the one who brought me there.   I had asked to go several times,  but was kindly put off.

    At 3:30 I was done. Voting with my feet,  I left his house,  slid down a few alleys,   cut through a few yards,  and was on a major street in the City of Plano,  and went inside a "Starbucks", and had a cup of coffee.   I was about to call a friend or taxi for a ride, but   Reza soon called me, and picked me up,  I told him I would only enter the car if guaranteed that I would get a ride straight home.     Reza did apologize,  I did as well,  but I don't think he realized how rude he was.  I did try to explain my point of view without damning his point of view.   But Reza,  is a bit thick once ya get to know him.

   I wanted to stay a good friend,  and I know he made a dinner for me.   So  3 hours later,  I went back to his place using my dads truck, (so I would have a way outta there),  and went back to eat the dinner that he made for me.   I enter the house,  and Reza instantly talks on the phone ignoring my existince, for another 20 minutes,  again speaking in a language that I could not follow at all.     I cannot stand being ignored for that long, especially since I'm supposed to be an honored guest in his house.    I simply DO NOT DO THAT SHIT TO PEOPLE!

   Then he got off the phone for a minute and another phone call erupted at which point I went into his back yard,  where I could at least look at a few trees and the sky or something FOR THE NEXT FUCKING 25 MINUTES!!!!!!!~

Once he got off, he came out back and I tried to explain to him how I felt, without bitching or anything.  He said that he had 43 calls that day and that he would lose business if he shut of his phone.    I tried to explain again how,   as a guest, that listening to a 10 to 50 minute phone call, in a foreign language, with absolutely nothing else to do,  is no fun at all.   He really didn't get it.    I was being real,   informative,   kind,  but he could/would not grasp my point.

I ate my dinner fast,  and was going to leave ASAP,  when a couple of his friends showed up.   I really enjoyed talking "Anthropology of the Iranian Race" with his friend "Syed",  who was funny as well.    We and Syeds girl were hitting it off quiet good,  when Reza pointed out to them "What a complainer",   I was.      ( I guess he didn't want us to get along,   he must have been pissed).   But the ass,  brings it up to his friend,  Syed.    I just casually threw it back at him,  and Syed seemed to know what an old stick in the mud,  Reza really could be.  Syed,  seemed to understand my side.  Even told me "that Reza was just a politition and was running for the "Ayatollah of Dallas"!   which was funny as heck.  

  I really  didn't want a war with my old friend Reza,  so I bid, Syed and his companion (most lovely lady),  good bye,  and left before it got dark.   I don't like driving in the dark much,  but I got home  ok.

Damn,   you think you know someone and DAMN!   I guess people change.   

Tomorrow or Wednesday,  Dad and I are going down to Austin Tx. to see my daughter Athena,  and her husband "Nick".     I haven't seen them much over the years,  and am really looking forward to it.     I've had a nice visit to Dallas so far,  and have seen many of my old friends, relatives, ect...    One more week to go.   I promise to keep you posted.

July 20th, 2010

Last night I started to turn in early, when a knock at the door in my outside hotel room surprised me at 10:30.   It was my excellent son Logan who wanted to hang around a few hours before I left in the morning.   Too bad my morning was to start at 6:am.   So we sat on the balcony and drank more than a few beers,  and actually had our first real time since, he moved out back in March.   We both had a good time just talking and being real.

Went to bed around 2 AM,  and took every precaution to insure I would wake up a scant 4 hours later.   I set my phone alarm,  called the desk for a wakeup call,   tryed to set the hotel rooms alarm clock,   even set an online alarm clock so the computer would wake me.      Out of all this,   my cell phone,  and the front desk were the only precautions that woke me this morning.   This computer doesn't stay on the online wakeup notice,   so that one failed.   I couldnt figure out how to set a modern cheap alarm clock that the hotel provided for me.   But I did wake up!

Hit the excellent breakfast in the morning and they had meat!!!!  The first complimentary breakfast,  I've witnessed where one could dine on sausage, waffles, and all kinds of continental fare.   I ate like a horse,  and walked the three blocks to the shuttle pick-up sight,  so I could get to the airport,  by 10:30.    The driver allowed me to ride shotgun in his Mercedes van, which was a nice ride for a shuttle service.    I went in and out of consciousness for the long 80 mile drive to the Salt Lake City airport,  still tired from the food and the lack of sleep.

I got to the airport,  and neglected to remove a couple small swiss army penknives from my ruck sack,  and even forgot about an 18 inch sharp wire saw, which could remove a human head in a matter of seconds.   That combined with the Russian Passport cover I use,  caused the powers of homeland security,  to frisk and feel me up for 30 minutes, while asking personal questions,  and searching carefully through my entire rucksack.    I pointed out that the underwear in the rucksack might not  be clean, but they laughed and continued doing an all to thorough job, including feeling up my privates,  and butt crack,  but they did wear gloves, so it wasn't humiliating for me at all.  Then they mailed my weapons collection to my post office box back in Logan,  and I was on my way.  Nice to feel important,  like I was a national security threat or something.    Dumb-asses,   prolly let a thousand Arabs pass me without searching any of them.  I'm sorry,  I see nothing wrong with racial profiling as long as its fast, professional, non-demeaning,   then figuring out a record system so that it doesn't happen more the once.

Barely made  the flight from SLC to Denver.

I must add that "Frontier" Airlines,  actually has room for big and tall people to sit.  Unlike Delta, and American Airlines,   seating is not excruciatingly painful or uncomfortable for the person next to me!    I hear "continental" is also humane to big fat folks and their neighbors.

My excellent Brother in Law,  was most kind,  and picked me up from the airport.   He also took me out to dinner three nights in a row.  My Brother in Law and Sister "Robin" are incredible hosts.    I am very happy to be related to them.   They have 5 excellent kids as well,

since they are wonderful parents.  Trust me:   I am a good judge of what makes an "Excellent" kid.  Of course my parents were most kind also.   They have bent over backwards in order to 

make my stay comfortable.   I am allergic to their two cats,  but they created a "cat free" room for me to sleep in.  This wasn't easy I imagine.    Don't like to comment about my family life on a public forum too much.   But it sure is nice to be living among family after two years of virtual solitude.

JULY 21st and 22nd:   Nothing much to report,   nice to be at home.   Met up with my friend "Dan",   and hung around for a couple hours.  Then went back out to eat with my brother in law and parents,  and had some large Margaritas,   which got us all F' d   up to some extent.  Tried to watch some movie about the last days of "Tolstoy",   dad and I were out like lights,  but Mom watched the entire tear jerker.   The music put me out pretty fast. Looked like a decent movie, but...  it was sad.

Forgot to mention that I am bound for Austin next week in order to see my daughters,  and pick up a bunch of my old Art work,  which is too large to mail.    My younger daughter and son-in law,  are  going to be teachers!      Living in the City of Austin and starting their careers as educators makes this dad quite proud!   I can't wait to see them.

July 17th, 2010

July 17th, 2010: Thought we were going to get some rain today, big storm clouds came in from Idaho

during the second day of 99 degree temps. 99 degrees is the hottest I've ever seen it here, but its stil

l a joke when compared to Texas standards. Yes, it went up to 100 degrees for 2 hours, after starting

the day at 60 degrees, and its already in the 70's by 8:00 PM. I still love hearing the people bitch

about it, and no humidity? Hell, I find the temps perfect as can be, but would like some rain, its

quite dusty in my campsite, and the rain would keep the road dust from covering my camp site.

Had a visitor today. I wasn't here but the bastard walked off with the hot dog buns, I had stashed in

my guitar case. No trace was left. What could it be? The tree and ground squirrels would have

broke in and made a big mess, leaving a holey bread bag, and crumbs behind. A bear would have broke

into the cooler and ate the hot dogs, drink mixers, milk, beer, ect... Then I saw the bastard, I should

have known that the three foot high mound at the edge of my campsite was built by an animal. The

"Bastard" is formally called a "Marmot", which is a very large rodent, about half the size of a beaver,

that weighs about 15 pounds and looks like a giant hamster. I have witnessed Marmots at a distance

before and I absolutely love these animals. Many are afraid of them, afterall they are essencially rats that

probably kick your ass if you pissed one off. I think they are cute.

I plan to buy them (they usually come in pairs)some food before I leave, maybe go to the feed store

and buy them a bag of corn for the wintertime. I will try to get a picture of their mound, they moved 1000's of

pounds of dirt to built this thing.

One my my favorite things about moving to a new state is to check out all the new life forms, with

insects and plants to capture my notice at first. But after three years, I've seen many new types of

birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles as well. For instance we have two types of mosquitos here. One

is a small slow lame-assed mozzy, that I can usually feel and squash before getting bitten. It does carry

the West Nile Virus, but not really many cases up here. The other type annoys me the most, called the

"tree hole mosquito, they live in holes filled with water in the trees. They are fast, large, and take a bite

and move before you can slap it. They are few, and do not spread the aforementioned virus.

After Borders, I went to see Logan again, had coffee with the boy, then went to grab some lunch before

taking him to work, we wound up eating at his restaurant. I try not to bug him too much, but after a

month without my own place, lonelyness begins to creep in. I find myself talking to strangers, blabbing

all kinds of personal shit, then leaving once they have that "this guy is wierd" look on their faces! Ok,

I exaggerate but this does happen from time to time.

Stopped in my classroom to feed my lion fish

and noticed that my custodian and friend "Cathy" beat me to it. She had a few goldfish, in a bucket

and the fish was laying on the ground in "digesting" mode. So I put the other ten fish in another bucket for

the lion fish to eat, when I visit Dallas in a few days. Today is a little over a month since I been camping

and hoteling it. I think I hoteled it about 60 percent of the time, a fact that I am ashamed of, but I did

have the money, and it becomes all too convienient and easy. But I'm committed to make it till Monday out

here which will be 6 days of constant camping, which is my record in the truck camper. I am still learning

and getting my camping logistics down, there is an awful lot of preparation when trying to assess the

things you really need and the things you can do without. Adequate clothing is essential, as is water

and a way to light a fire. But I didn't need 15 sets of clothing, since it takes up a ton of room, or three

different jackets, 7 knives, three guns, ect. I will get smarter each time, because the less clutter, the easier

it is to find the necessities. And the less weight the truck has to pull. Since I'm getting 7 miles to the gallon,

losing weight would need to happen on a long trip somewhere. The mileage is so bad, I've never had the truck

out of the valley.

So I passed the "Shit Time", and made it out alive once again. I plan to rename the "Shit Time" to the

"Bastard Time", but since there is a famous "Bastard Time" quote by John Steinbeck, and the meaning

a completely different one, but "Shit Time" sounds so crass, and "Bastard" is my all time favorite word,

I think its fitting to rename "Shit Time", to "Bastard Time". Sorry John, in your treatise you referred to

"Time" itself, as a "Bastard", and called the whole thing "That bastard Time"!

John knew the time was coming, the skinny Bastard died at age 68 from

a heart attack, to the chagrin of us fat bastards, who enjoy watching the skinny not outlast us. I know this is

morbid, but would you like to constantly here the tragic news that YOU were always gonna die early? I hear

it daily, I try to work on the weight issue, and the constant prognostication of my doom, are not appreciated.

I'm aware of my medical conditions, I work at it and many times am successful. My conditions are all stress

related in the first place. My job is what causes me stress. Hopefully it will cause me less stress this year.

But, when I hear of skinny people dieing of heart attacks at age 40 or 50, I do get a rush of confidence, though

I am not glad that the individual is gone. I really wish that Steinbeck would have lived 100 years or more. I feel

cheated, that he died so young. I love every thing the guy ever wrote. It was all good. I even liked his log

report when he helped his Zoologist friend with collecting little marine animals in the tide pools in the Sea of Cortez.

His friend was the crazy Zoologist, featured in his books "Cannery Row" and "Tortilla Flat", the best of Steinbeck.

So tonight was beautiful once again. I am nearly out of kerosene, so my camp is dark tonight, with only one

lamp protecting me. So I overdid the campfire, and sparks were flying into the dry trees and grass, so I shut it

down with a few shovels of dirt, some old water, and a piss or two. I don't want to be known as : "The teacher

who burned up Green Canyon", and it is dry and windy tonight. I am a paranoid careful bastard in times like

these. Maybe I'm old enough to learn from watching other peoples past mistakes.

The dark campsite tonight is really bringing out the stars and constellations. They are bright and easy to see,

since I don't have all the lanterns keeping out the wildlife. I am unafraid after spending last night in the total

dark till morning, and nothing happened. If the lions didn't live here, it probably wouldn't be as fun. And

the large male wolf that was shot last week, in Franklin County, about 18 miles north of here makes it even

more fun. Bears, haven't been seen in this part of the mountain range in years, but they do exist within 20 miles

of here, which means an odd one can make it here in one day. I'll live. I used to swim in lakes with large alligators

and many water moccasins, and 300 pound gar fish. Most animals just want to get along for the most part. Unless

wounded or hungry, or rabid, a big guy like me will be fine. Yet I do admit my fears freely, they are just another thing

to overcome. People that refuse to admit their shortcomings, generally are liars and self-deluders. Once ya start

lying to yourself, your credible life is over. Everything, is a fantasy after you start lying to yourself. People like

that are totally lost. Be honest with yourself above all else folks: then you can work on your issues. Keep telling

yourselves falsehoods, or blaming others, and things will not change for you. WORD.

I'm listening to some really old classics on the AM radio, by the campfire with little light and I can't see beyond

the picnic table I'm sitting at. Unless I look at the stars I am surrounded by total darkness. The lovely music

destracts me enough to sit here and write at One AM. I will retire soon due to the cold, but I want to squeeze out

a few more words before I go, perhaps I like to hear the sound of my own voice, and my own stream of conscience.

I did check out a nice apartment today. It was called a "Down town Penthouse", also an art studio, it looks pretty

cool, and I do love living in an old "DownTown" Building, which is right smack on main street, of a city of 50,000, souls.

The tall ceilings and brick walls are nice. The maze of ghetto hallways and the roof one has to walk across at night

looks to be a challenge, but for $450 per month? Its a steal.

July 17th, 2010: Thought we were going to get some rain today, big storm clouds came in from Idaho during the second day of 99 degree temps. 99 degrees is the hottest I've ever seen it here, but its still a joke when compared to Texas standards. Yes, it went up to 100 degrees for 2 hours, after starting the day at 60 degrees, and its already in the 70's by 8:00 PM. I still love hearing the people bitch

about it, and no humidity? Hell, I find the temps perfect as can be, but would like some rain, its

quite dusty in my campsite, and the rain would keep the road dust from covering my camp site.

Had a visitor today. I wasn't here but the bastard walked off with the hot dog buns, I had stashed in

my guitar case. No trace was left. What could it be? The tree and ground squirrels would have

broke in and made a big mess, leaving a holey bread bag, and crumbs behind. A bear would have broke

into the cooler and ate the hot dogs, drink mixers, milk, beer, ect... Then I saw the bastard, I should

have known that the three foot high mound at the edge of my campsite was built by an animal. The

"Bastard" is also called a "Marmot", which is a very large rodent, about half the size of a beaver,

that weighs about 15 pounds and looks like a giant hamster. I have witnessed Marmots at a distance

before and I absolutely love these animals. Many are afraid of them, afterall they are essencially rats that

probably kick your ass if you pissed one off. I think they are cute. I plan to buy them (they usually come in pairs)

some food before I leave, maybe go to the feed store and buy them a bag of corn for the wintertime

I will try to get a picture of their mound, they moved 1000's of pounds of dirt to built this thing.

One my my favorite things about moving to a new state is to check out all the new life forms, with

insects and plants to capture my notice at first. But after three years, I've seen many new types of

birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles as well. For instance we have two types of mosquitos here. One

is a small slow lame-assed mozzy, that I can usually feel and squash before getting bitten. It does carry

the West Nile Virus, but not really many cases up here. The other type annoys me the most, called the "tree

hole mosquito, they live in holes filled with water in the trees. They are fast, large, and take a bite and move

before you can slap it. They are few, and do not spread the aforementioned virus.

After Borders, I went to see Logan again, had coffee with the boy, then went to grab some lunch before

taking him to work, we wound up eating at his restaurant. I try not to bug him too much, but after a

month without my own place, lonelyness begins to creep in. I find myself talking to strangers, blabbing

all kinds of personal shit, then leaving once they have that "this guy is wierd" look on their faces! Ok,

I exaggerate but this does happen from time to time.

Stopped in my classroom to feed my lion fish

and noticed that my custodian and friend "Cathy" beat me to it. She had a few goldfish, in a bucket

and the fish was laying on the ground in "digesting" mode. So I put the other ten fish in another bucket for

the lion fish to eat, when I visit Dallas in a few days. Today is a little over a month since I been camping

and hoteling it. I think I hoteled it about 60 percent of the time, a fact that I am ashamed of, but I did

have the money, and it becomes all too convienient and easy. But I'm committed to make it till Monday out

here which will be 6 days of constant camping, which is my record in the truck camper. I am still learning

and getting my camping logistics down, there is an awful lot of preparation when trying to assess the

things you really need and the things you can do without. Adequate clothing is essential, as is water

and a way to light a fire. But I didn't need 15 sets of , since it takes up a ton of room, or three

different jackets, 7 knives, three guns, ect. Every little thing also needs its own place, and you will have to

find it within a minute, this is hard to do. Perfect organization of over a hundred small and medium sized objects

, and if the object is something essential, like a "lighter" or "bug repellent", or "rain pancho", you will miss it dearly

and possibly have to break camp and find a store.. This is why I bring 5 or more lighters, and just as many flashlights

I did run out of batteries in all but one flashlight, and ran out of kerosene too, if it wasn't for a tiny keychain flashlight

last night would have been a dark son of a bitch. I will get smarter each time.

So I passed the "Shit Time", and made it out alive once again. I plan to rename the "Shit Time" to the

"Bastard Time",but since there is a famous "Bastard Time" quote by John Steinbeck, with a totally different meaning

(he was referring to "time" itself, as a Bastard). "Shit Time" sounds so crass, and "Bastard" is my

favorite word, I think its fitting to rename "Shit Time"to "Bastard Time". John knew the time was coming, the

skinny Bastard died at age 68 froma heart attack, to the chagrin of us fat bastards, who enjoy watching the

skinny not outlast us. I know this is

morbid, but would you like to constantly here the tragic news that YOU were always gonna die early? I hear

it daily, I try to work on the weight issue, and the constant prognostication of my doom, are not appreciated.

I'm aware of my medical conditions, I work at it and many times am successful. My conditions are all stress

related in the first place. My job is what causes me stress. Hopefully it will cause me less stress this year.

But, when I hear of skinny people dieing of heart attacks at age 40 or 50, I do get a rush of confidence, though

I am not glad that the individual is gone. I really wish that Steinbeck would have lived 100 years or more. I feel

cheated, that he died so young. I love every thing the guy ever wrote. It was all good.

So tonight was beautiful once again. I am nearly out of kerosene, so my camp is dark tonight, with only one

lamp protecting me. So I overdid the campfire, and sparks were flying into the dry trees and grass, so I shut it

down with a few shovels of dirt, some old water, and a piss or two. I don't want to be known as : "The teacher

who burned up Green Canyon", and it is dry and windy tonight. I am a paranoid careful bastard in times like

these. Maybe I'm old enough to learn from watching other peoples past mistakes.

The dark campsite tonight is really bringing out the stars and constellations. They are bright and easy to see,

since I don't have all the lanterns keeping out the wildlife. I am unafraid after spending last night in the total

dark till morning, and nothing happened. If the lions didn't live here, it probably wouldn't be as fun. And

the large male wolf that was shot last week, in Franklin County, about 18 miles north of here makes it even

more fun. Bears, haven't been seen in this part of the mountain range in years, but they do exist within 20 miles

of here, which means an odd one can make it here in one day. I'll live. I used to swim in lakes with large alligators

and many water moccasins, and 300 pound gar fish. Most animals just want to get along for the most part. Unless

wounded or hungry, or rabid, a big guy like me will be fine. Yet I do admit my fears freely, they are just another thing

to overcome. People that refuse to admit their shortcomings, generally are liars and self-deluders. Once ya start

lying to yourself, your credible life is over. Everything, is a fantasy after you start lying to yourself. People like

that are totally lost. Be honest with yourself above all else folks: then you can work on your issues. Keep telling

yourselves falsehoods, or blaming others, and things will not change for you. WORD.

I'm listening to some really old classics on the AM radio, by the campfire with little light and I can't see beyond

the picnic table I'm sitting at. Unless I look at the stars I am surrounded by total darkness. The lovely music

destracts me enough to sit here and write at One AM. I will retire soon due to the cold, but I want to squeeze out

a few more words before I go, perhaps I like to hear the sound of my own voice, and my own stream of conscience.

I did check out a nice apartment today. It was called a "Down town Penthouse", also an art studio, it looks pretty

cool, and I do love living in an old "DownTown" Building, which is right smack on main street, of a city of 50,000, souls.

The tall ceilings and brick walls are nice. The maze of ghetto hallways and the roof one has to walk across at night

looks to be a challenge, but for $450 per month? Its a steal. Hope I can get the place, that will leave me another

$100 to rent a heated warehouse for my motorcycle stable.

Later...

Humm: Not sure about the Marmot picture , hope you can read the text over it.

July 16th 2010

Morning: (I still have to transcribe this mornings writings from paper, since my computer's batteries were dead, pretty funny dreams and stuff, well worth coming back to.)

Afternoon:

July 16th, 2010: Not much interesting really, did get a shower at the Sports Academy, did laundry

at Logan's best, cleanest, and most expensive Laundromat, costing 8 dollars to wash and dry two loads of clothes. But they should last two weeks. At the laundry I got to check my e-mail and charge my phone and computer batteries as well. My size 44 shorts now are falling down if I put my keys in my pocket for weight. I got to walk around all day pulling up my pants, or holding my belt loop in one hand while I walk. I am very happy about this! So I lost about 2 inches of waste matter, but my weight is the same. Swimming does build lots of heavy muscle so I hope that is the case here.

I then hung out and drank coffee at my son and room-mate's house, they really are a nice group of young men. They party a lot, but the kids are alright. Then I get a call from my bike mechanic, who tells me I can get my CB 900 custom's front brake pads installed today, so I went to the school (my bikes are all in my classroom this summer), fired up the old girl and drove to Mikes house, who installed the pads in about 30 minutes. Riding the 28 year old bike, which is much smoother and better put together than the much newer Concours. I plan to sell the newer bike as soon as I return from Dallas. Those old Hondas are well made bikes. I also want to add a sidecar to the bike so I can drive her during the winter time, since three wheeled bikes don't fall over. Got the bike fixed, put her back in my classroom, drove back to Logan's house to get my charged up computer, grabbed some groceries, and headed back to the campsite. Keeping busy during the "Shit Time" keeps one sane, when spending the past three days in the mountains. Now I'm typing this while listening to the optimistic "Sean Hannity", tell us how great the country is going. I do find him entertaining, and a bit less hateful than Rush (I get busted for drugs alot) Limbaugh. The sky is falling message does get old after a while. I am having hotdogs tonite, so I better start cookin.

Wound up playing the guitar and singing by the campfire, about 10:30 a carload of young women showed up yelling "Is this the party of so and so", I pointed the flashlight at my scary face and yelled "No party here! I'm just an old man! hahaha!" The girl shouted an apology, and I just laughed and shook my head. I guess they missed out on my one man party!

Fell asleep in the chair by the campfire. Woke up at 6 in the morning, all the fires and lanterns were out by then, it was morning. Since I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, my core temperature was quite low at this point so I put on a coat. Can't believe I can sleep soundly in a chair all night long, in the pitch dark, in lion country! Funny, I didn't drink much last night, I was just tired from the hotdogs I guess. My god I am cold inside, I drank a hot cup of coffee and boiled two more dogs, in order to raise my core temp. Then I went to the camper and slept another 5 hours. At 11 AM, I was doing fine and drove down to the valley below, and have been drinking coffee and writing my blog at Borders book store. Great place to wait out the "Shit Time", today should be nearly 100 degrees here, might have to go for a swim to celebrate.

I will resume todays writing with my next blog (July 17th) and be sure to recheck when I add

July 16th's morning blog. It should be quite funny, but it rambles a bit.

The picture was one I took of Soda Springs Geyser, that I took about 9 days ago.

July 15th, 2010 (another day in paradise)

July 15th, 2010:

I woke up last night to turn down the lamps, while walking around outside I noticed that it was slightly lighter than it usually is. I could actually see in the dark to

some extent. Although there was no moon out, the trees gave off slight shadows. I thought "Thats odd for 2 or 3 AM", I checked my watch it was 5 AM. Up in

these northern climes it starts getting light at 5 AM and Darkness sets in at 10 AM. During the solstice, add another 20 minutes to both ends. The down side is

Christmas time, when its still dark at 7AM and Dark again at 5:30 PM. I noticed the changes when I first moved here, other people who came up here with me

didnt notice a thing.

I stayed up till 2 AM the previous night drinking whiskey and giving the canyon a concert with my voice and guitar. Even heard clapping from a campsite 1/2 mile

away. So I hit the sack for 6 more hours and made a huge cup of coffee around 11AM. I noticed while camping w/o a schedule makes me slow down a lot. At

I might spend 15 minutes drinking coffee, Out here I took an hour an a half. I might spend 10 minutes thinking about where the stove is, another 5 to get up and

get it, another 10 minutes to pour the water and turn the stove on, ect. Since I absolutely have no place to go or anything to do today, I find it a luxury to waste

so much time. This morning before leaving the camper, I looked out the window and saw a 4 foot long coachwhip snake (fast bastards), sprinting across my

parking lot totally losing the pissed off ground squirrel that was chasing it. I didnt notice that he had a baby squirrel in his mouth. The mama groundsquirrel,

only chased it half way across the area before running back to its nest to check on the remaining young. 5 seconds later I see a baby mouse sized ground

squirrel, retracing the snakes route, and running home to mom. The snake was so afraid of mama, that he must have dropped it. Hell, the snake was big

enough to eat the mother as well, but she put up quite a bluff. This is the most amazing thing i've ever witnessed on a camping trip.

After a breakfast of Ravioli from a can, I realized that I had about 4 hours of what I call "shit time", the hottest part of the day, where there is little shade. I spent

todays "shit time" reading, scanning the cliffs for lions and goats with binoculars, reading from of "How to Write" book, and began re-reading the book

"Comanche Moon" which I last read about 6 months ago. I also listened to a mix of music I made two years ago on my little "SanDisk" music player, which I must

admit is the best mix I've ever created, although the songs range from Rock, Jazz, Rap, Punk, alternative, and country, all the songs fit together seamlessly

and some were favorite songs I didn't know I still had, or existed,. Finding songs like that are like visits from old friends. "Shit time" is a good time for reading,

listening to music, or sleeping. The Spanish tradition of "Siesta" involves putting "shit time" to good use. Us Northern European decent folks find the time ideal

for working ones arses off. I'm sure has to do with the Northern Climate, their "shit time" is often the warmest part of the year,during the winters. In Utah, there are

only 2 months that have "Shit time", but being a Texan, I am naturally prone to observe shit time in the early afternoons. I can't wait till I move to Southern

China some day. They observe the "Siesta".

2 hours from the end of "Shit Time" I drifted off to sleep, and had several bizarre, yet fun dreams. I would wake, whenever an insect bit or stung me, then return

to sleep after rubbing the bug bite. Mainly biting flys and tiny stinging wasps, but I only got bit or stung every 15 minutes, so I had 8 different dreams, but one

actually recontinued after waking up. The bugs here are nothing compared to South Texas, but I might try some repellent tomorrow, since the wasps kindof hurt!

Around 4 PM "Shit time is coming to an end, the shadows are much longer, and I begin to set this evenings festivities in motion. Since I don't drink heavy two

nights in a row anymore, I wont need to get ice today. I do have some tonic water, v8 juice and a bottle of cheap gin, only the bottles are in 60 degree water

I used most of the ice last night with my whisky and cokes. At least I quit drinking all that beer. Beer is just too expensive and gives me gout. I had a bloody

and felt good enough to get dinner ready to start cooking, then I started writing this but my poor apple battery is down to 34 percent, which means Im going to be

shut off in about ten minutes. Tonites dinner is refried beans on tortillas, cooked in a frying pan, that covered in sour cream, and pace picante sauce. Simple

fare like this tastes like a gourmet meal when cooked outdoors. I will close now, but hopefully write somemore later tonite.

Please pardon the lines, the color Blue, and all the other issues of this blog. Seems that I can't figure

out how to use Apples word processor, nor am I good at using Blogger. I need a secretary.

July 14th, 2010 (treatise on truck camping and Henry Theroux.)).

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010: Had to leave the Super 8 after a week of living the easy life, met up with my friend Roger, who kindly let my truck/camper/trailer rig, deface his house for the past two weeks. Nice to get back in the wilderness, you youngsters can have your tents,

the truck camper is the way I like to do it. Everything needed is there, little unpacking, still trying to find a space for each thing but I'm learning, keep in mind, my idea of a truck camper is a small camper on a huge truck. Yes, I got to make a bed out of the benches each night, with no sleeper above the cab. I can shut my tailgate with the camper on as well. Small camper, but lots of interesting places to store things. I live in Bear country so cooking in the camper is really a bad idea. I use a portable butane camping stove which seems to use one small canister of butane every...... well I really don't know. Mine has lasted 20 camping trips and still has butane in it! The stove folds and fits in my front pocket (minus butane can, which is the size of a can of beans. I have one 24 oz stainless cooking pot for everything. I do keep a real glass for whiskey, and a metal coffee cup, and plastic spork, and thats the cooking kit. I have 5 or 6 pocket knives, which i eat with, including a large tactical fighting knife for protection, but i mainly dig holes in the dirt for human waste, before I started bringing the shovel. Actually, I have it timed, to where I can dirt bike it to the public "Loo", in a matter of 10 minutes, but still... For entertainment, I find my Sangean radio all I really need. I do get limited internet from the "celly", but the phone sucks unless you are in the mouth of the canyon where I don't camp. I also have books, and my "Baby Taylor", small sized (big sound) travel guitar. I love the tone and action so much, I never play my two other guitars much anymore. Food options are much better with a truck camper, as opposed to motorcycle or backpack camping. I have carry cans of stuff! I can carry an ice chest! I can carry two weeks worth of clothing and the correct clothing for any situation. I do love camping in a truck. As long as I bring a small trailer to carry luxuries like an old Honda 600 dirt bike, a shovel, a bicycle, a weeks worth of garbage. My computer was really tough to bring when motorcycle camping, because it weighs 5 pounds. I now need a 12 volt converter so the battery doesn't wear down so fast.

I also bring my two twin kerosene tin lanterns while truck camping. With camping on the bike, I can maybe bring a small flashlight and a candle, so I can lay on the forest floor, with thin walls of a tiny tent, and hope that the native bears, wolves, and lions, decide not to investigate the little bag I am sleeping in. The truck camper sits up safely high off the ground,

And wild animals are not an issue from 5 feet up past the strong metal of the truck bed walls. If anything should try to get in, I have a short, 12 gauge, riot gun, that can and would cut any intruder in half.... not to mention 7 of their friends. While camping in the tiny thin tent, all I carry is a knife and a small but loud air horn. I have camped in 0 degree weather in this camper, and had no problem staying warm all night. My small portable catalyst heater, which uses propane will keep the insides fairly warm, but one must be sure to crack your windows, so the stove doesn't use your oxygen. I plan to buy a low oxygen alarm for next winter, I don't mess around with dangers like this. I like the old 19th century chinese kerosene lanterns quite a bit. They will run off a small amount of lighter fluid, kerosene, citronella oil (keeps mosquitos away), or lamp oil. I have used these for years, before replacing them, five dollars is the cost at Walmart, apparently the rural Chinese folks make and use these modern wonders as well. I simply find them to be much easier and cheaper than modern camp lighting systems, many of which produce entirely too much light. These produce enough light to read, or see your path if walking, are wind proof, rain proof, don't need batteries ect.

So its back to camping for the next 6 nights, I really don't mind, still can get to the city and go swimming during the day, what more can one want?

The sense of personal self sufficiency is gained in putting everything you need to survive, in a small space, then spend night after night enjoying your freedom. Think of what destroys our freedom.... Bills, need of lots of cash, deadlines, forcibly having to donate all your time and wake at an insane hour, just to do something your tired of, is NOT LIVING. Before ya know it your fun days are past, your suffering from a string of stress related maladies, and you probably only have a few more years before the big heart attack hits, and your children are fighting over the ridiculously small nest-egg that you were going to try to retire on. I want to get out now, while I'm still alive. Maybe teach and save for a couple years, then buy a small piece of land somewhere. Get expenses low enough ($500), to work on the things that I want to do. But a 50 thousand dollar per year addiction is tough to break. But every time I manage to spend 5 days out in the woods, I get a little closer to breaking away. Read Henry David Theroux's "Walden" if you want to know where I get this philosophy from. The difference is that Theroux, was a young man and tryed to live the simple life. Young people need to "Take on that World", "Join the Army", "Get married and raise those kids", "Make milions of dollars before age 40", and other great things. Tired old guys like me, who already raised their kids, worked for 27 years straight, with nothing to show for it. Need to relax and do the "Walden" thing. Of course a truck camper is a freer existence than living in a cabin on a friends land near walden pond. I can change neighborhoods as often as I wish.

July 11th, 2010

Yesterday was a nice lazy Saturday, nothing happened worth mentioning except: I did get to talk to my old friend "Lynette" whom I've known since age 16, Plan to hang around her the Friday before I leave Dallas, I'm sure it will be fun, since I haven't seen her in 20 years or more. She is one of the few girls I would ever marry, but it would be like marrying my sister or something. Ewwwwwwwww! She is similar to my older sis in the maternal instinct department. She only had two kids but wanted more, so she has 5 dogs instead. She has always been a hard worker, being continuously employed in the accounting dept, for the past 25 years. I have a lot of respect for Lynette.

I woke up this morning in the painful throes of Gout in three joints at once. Took some gout medication and advil, only crippled for a half a day rather than a week. This medication "colchisine" prevents salitic acid crystals from forming in the joints. Salitic acids main causes are Beer and Red Meats. I only had one beer yesterday, but I did pack in 5 hotdogs, that I made in my hotel room. Apparently the sodium nitrites, easily convert to salitic acid, so I need to keep it to one dog every other day. I've never had a gout attack involving two legs at the same time before, i nearly had to crawl to get down the two floors of stairs this morning. Yet now... I'm nearly back to normal, and I ate cornbread for dinner, with a few chasers of Gin and Tonics.

I finished my Book "The Life of Pi", which was a delightful story about an Indian boy, who joined Islam and Christianity, in addition to his native Hindu, so he was going to services three times a week, observing all the major events and holidays of all three religions. His parents were worried, because most days he was involved in one religious thing or another. But they were wise enough to allow him to find his own direction. His father, the head Zookeeper of the Pondicherry Zoo, was constantly worried that another political party might step in and cancel subsidation for his Zoo. Finally his father decided to sell all the animals and move the family to Toronto. On the ship to Toronto, which many of the zoo's animals that were to be dropped off the cities along the way, sank during a storm in the South Pacific, and the boy found himself on a lifeboat, with a zebra, a hyena, an Orangutan, and a Bengal Tiger...

I will leave the rest of the story up to you to read, this book was well written, insightful, and amazing in its descriptive abilities, read it and you will learn lots about Zoo keeping, Animal training, Zoology in general, India in the 1970's, a brief history of Pondicherry, a former French colony, Hinduism, Islam, and more than a few poignant observations about life from the Author, who is a 47 year old Spaniard. "The Life of Pi"... I give it... Two thumbs up.

Now I only have the Upanshads to read, but books that heavy, take me an hour to go through one page. I need a companion book for entertainment.....

Might be looking for an apartment soon I hope. I want something around 500 bucks with a garage. Plenty of places in town like this. I want to have a small motorcycle shop, with lift, so I don't have to sit on the ground to work on my babies. I want to put a sidecar on my old Honda 900, so I can drive it to work during the wintertime!

I got to hit the jacuzzi, call Lynette, and go to bed, got some early things to do in the morning. In two days, I will be back in the woods for another 6 days, before going to Dallas.

Nite

July 9th, 2010

Got up and the Indian front desk lady reminded me to go to room "Tree Tert Teen" seems that the "th" is hard to pronounce if your not born using it. Room "Tree tert teen" is on the third floor and is a smoking room. When I made my deal for $45 per night with the owner, he had me agree to the condition that I would move to the smoky top of the motel on Friday, since non-smoking was booked. The smell of the room was bad until I turned the AC full up, and opened the window, then left the AC on for the rest of the day.

Found out that I could afford airline tickets after the wedding, so I booked the flight, then off to see my new rent house that I could enjoy on the first of August. Went to the house and noticed two open bibles in the main living room, that seemed poised that way some how. The new landlord was her usual neurotic self, I get the impression that she was nervous about me renting her house, while she was away getting her PHD. Earlier she mentioned one of her neighbors would be checking up on the "maintenence" but since I know his family, I really didn't mind him spying on me and reporting the house condition back to her. Today, she tells me her good friend "John" was going to be checking on me too. It is clear that this bundle of nerves doesn't trust me whatsoever. Unfortunately, I have already paid her a $980. deposit, signed a contract, and she keeps adding new conditions on me 2 months after signing the contract. She mentioned "wild parties" one to many times in a joking way, just like last time, which makes me think, She thinks I will have "wild parties" in her house. I can't deal with neurotic people with vivid imaginations, so I tried to placate, by telling her "I have no friends here", so I will be quite alone as usual. ( of course I can go to the pool hall and invite a few dozen drunks, if I ever want to become a "self fulfilling" prophecy). I left, and stewed over all this crap all afternoon. So I wrote her a letter explaining how I felt, trying to put it as delicately as possible. I did mention "that I wasn't a Sub Human and I don't need people watching me". I went on to close with "Please just refund my deposit, and find someone else to live here. I don't want to live in a house where I am not trusted.

Sincerely yours,

Allen Barnes"

People that believe that all the worlds animals actually fit on an Ark, tend to be suspicious of those that see the Ark story as parable, and didn't Christ teach in "parables". I seriously doubt that Christ would want to hang around with some of these non-Christian like people.

So now I'm waiting for her reply, I'm sure she read the letter since she checks her e-mail as often as myself, but she is probably shocked and trying to strategize, in order to get all her ducks back in a row.

After I met with her (before I wrote the letter), I high tailed it to the hot dog stand for lunch, and had a nice Chicago dog, some chips, and a coke for 4.50. Then since the day was getting hot, I went to the "Sports Academy" in order to swim some laps, and to cool off in general.

The pool was nearly empty, wonder where all the annoying kids were? Didn't miss them one bit, nice to be able to swim laps without the little intruders, nearly getting mowed down by a big fat guy with foggy googles.

After only 8 laps (shouldnt swim after one eats a spicy hotdog), I opted for the recliner that

had no neighbors, where I could get my body to be a similar shade to my arms and face.

I awoke 20 minutes later with a nice looking blonde woman two feet away working on a tan of her own. I got up and smiled in appreciation of her courage to take the chair next to the three hundred pound tattooed guy, but had to leave before the sun burnt me any further.

Went to the bookstore to buy a copy of the "Upanshads", which is the oldest Hindu book in the world, and the oldest book by any of the main religions of the world. Its writers are many and all are anomonous, as not to cheapen the work buy allowing "ego" to creep in. Much of this book is old familiar Buddhist thought, since Buddhism sprung from Hinduism 2500 years ago.

Bought some goldfish for my Lionfish, who seems to be hungry most of the time. Amazing how many fish this beast can eat in a week.

Came home and ate an MRE of Pav Bhaji, which is a type of potato based Indian food, but I had no pot to boil the MRE bag in. I didn't have a microwave proof bowl either, so I cleverly poured the stew into the coffee pot, and let the pot warm the meal up for about an hour and a first class Indian meal was created. I drank it from a coffee cup. This put me in the mood to get through a few of the Upanshads, amazed that most of this was written 6000 years ago. The authors were not stupid. The picture above is the main Hindu God "Vishnu", and many of his incarnations over time. The Hindus seem to paint pictures depicting different time periods at once.

this Author is quite tired so off to bed...