Spring?

Natalia and me as always like to stay at home and not go anywhere. We went out on a short hike looking for wild flowers but nothing out there yet. Still too early for nature to show its colorful self. I also got my first BBQ of the year on Saturday and hopefully get in the mode and perfect my techniques. I made ribs and always find them hard to do and definitely need tips and more practice.

This week we got a small thunderstorm with hail. As soon as it starts to rain hard I get tasked to go outside. What a way to appreciate the veteran. Why not send one of the many new young guys (can't be a female). The guys whom have done anything in life. Let them get a little wet and grow some.

Sunday I was able to go on another ride with TDW and this time RC and Mrs. Goodperson were present. Some of the regulars were missing like Linda and Charlie. Doesn't matter the destination or route, it is always great to just get out and joke and catch up. Sunday took us on the roads to Mt. Roubidoux and I must say I am impressed on the amount of people whom are in this road. There has been a huge fitness boom in Riverside and it is clearly seen on this road. I look forward to another ride next week if possible.

Finished reading Babbitt and was hoping for a different story (something like Walden) but the concept of simplifying life and not complicate it for no reason other than more money and to be liked (To keep up with others to impress). Now I have decided to go back to old science fiction, as I like to read the older stories and their predictions. I am now reading The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein.

Another deposition this week and this one only 40 minutes long. Now after the big deal to question my parents, they are no longer needed for questioning. Also another feeble attempt at claiming the abuse allegations were not made on purpose. Either way they were made. Money was spent in defending them and I lost weeks out of contact with Natalia and was treated in a bad way by my command and higher echelon became involved due to the nature of my work there while deployed due to these allegations. Also now another proposal is offered. These will never end. Do note this is as I can recall the third abuse claim my ex has made with investigations made and no findings. A great effort was made to make me look like a loser and not a successful person. Why? because I do not make lots of money. Hmmmm. So if only the parent with the money can have custody of the child, why the need for support? Why so many mothers with children whom "can't" support them? Hmmmm.

I know I am late but I just heard of the new Marvel Secret Wars event. I'm in trouble now. Broke and I want to read all of the story line.

42! The Answer To Everything.

My birthday is here again and this year Natalia is here next to me. I am 42! The number that answer all the questions in the universe, I only hope this year is one of peace, resolutions and karma!

Another drill weekend and as always just glad it is over. Sad I use to look forward to them and be motivated feeling like a real job is made. Sadly now just want them over and move on. Its become a game of managing bodies and telling people what to do, how to do it and where to stand. No more "get it done" attitude or initiative taken from personnel to get the job done.

I will describe kite flying as fishing in the sky. Windy conditions finally introduced Natalia to kite flying. It started out well until Natalia let go in a strong wind. Lucky I was able to recover it. However afterwards it never flew right again. I will say the wind was pulling  good at times. Later we took a much smaller kite by the park and that was fun. Like fishing in the sky.

"No regret, no desire to escape the toil of keeping up with the arduous merriment of the Bunch, was so great as his feeling of social inferiority when he failed to keep up."

- Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt

Reading has been very slow for me and hoping to finish Babbitt this week. Maybe get into another sci-fi story next. A short work week for me coming up and looking forward to that before going back to my normal work week.

Temperatures remain spring like with maybe a sign if rain this week. Some of my daffodils are starting to show themselves while the rest are still waiting. This week I again will be at yet another deposition and it is amazing so much hassle has been made over a lie and changing of drop off time. Seems I have been questioned more than Lance Armstrong or any other criminal.

Rant: Amazing to me after all these months there is still instability and chaos in Fergusson, MO. I will just say maybe the financial records of some of the players should be discovered and see how much money they are making and from whom. Some organization must be paying the Brown family to keep this play. Now two other police officers shot. Was the gun used to do the shooting legally owned? Hmmmm.

The Looooong Wait

"I want to be a bull rider and the sheriff of the wild west". This, Natalia tells me early this morning. Snow rapidly melting as day time temps rise with sunnier conditions. As always Natalia wanted to not go anywhere and stay at home. So from school Natalia just wanted to go home. As you can see games as usual and super heroes were the choice. Slowly playing Heroscape with the advanced rules and as you can see we need more terrain. Natalia doing better with her flu but as always wanting to stay at home.

I got through this work week feeling sick and with little sleep. Long workdays and finishing the days tired and achy and looking forward to lay on the couch watching the Twilight Zone. Made it to another few days off with Natalia and relaxing at home and having a great time.

"Don't try to comprehend with your mind. Your minds are very limited. Use your intuition."

- Madeleine L'Engle

Got to hit the trail again with my people and as always a very nice ride. Nice temperatures and trail conditions. Another drill weekend coming, my birthday and maybe a 10k run this weekend.

Also this week I had to go to the DMV for a renewal and I will say it was a looooooong wait. First time I was waiting over two hours and had to go to work. The next day early I hit it and over three hours later I was done. A quick 2 minute process and a huge wait. Funny seeing while waiting was an apartment complex going up and being advertised as "Upscale Apartments". Yes! With a great view of the DMV and all its views.

Rant: It really bothers me to see people buy tons of items and I can see cash in their pockets. Much more cash than I will ever see and yet not want to pay for their soda with it. Instead use the EBT (welfare) card to pay for it. Why should they buy their food when tax payers like myself will pay for it. A broke part time vet that I am with no benefits. Social Security systems we are told is running out of money, but never do we hear of welfare running out of money.

Don't forget to catch the No Agenda Show. It is not for everyone as so many out there are already programmed and enslaved by the mainstream media. Please snap out of it and see what is really happening. 

The Living Desert

Natalia had another field trip this week and this one took us to the Living Desert Zoo. It was a very nice place to visit with very nice presentations and gardens. On the way back home I saw the huge dinosaurs by Morongo and stopped so Natalia can see it since these giants were part of PeeWee's Big Adventure movie. A movie she has been watching much lately and she was very surprised at this.

"I love the forest. It is bad to live in cities: there, there are too many of the lustful"

- Friedrich Nietzsche

This week Natalia was again sick and I got sick as well. All our time after the Zoo was spent at home being comfortable.

Well, it was 50 books to check out for the prize and that didn't happen for us. We hit 40 books instead. I on the other hand am still reading Babbit. So far this year I am reading at a much slower pace. Apart from reading this week, House Of Cards was put up. I got through the whole season in two nights and another cliff hanger.

We got a little snow this past week after expecting at least a foot of snow from all the forecasters. Just goes to show everyone forecasting is a guessing game. One thing that happened to me this week was the day I was expecting to have to dig the berm to get in my driveway, I found a surprise. As I pulled up I noticed someone shoveled the driveway for me by hand. What a great surprise and Thanks! Pay it forward some said. True, I have in the past cleaned up neighbors driveways, so maybe this was my payback.

Marvel Legendary has hit my game table again and trying many more combinations. Hoping to have some money saved up and get a few more expansions for even more combinations. This coming week I look forward to using the Fantastic Four in their fight with the Mole Man and Galactus. I am sure Natalia will join me in the quest. This is a great solo game that keeps me going back to.

I Love My Backyard

Natalia, Yuli and me went out on a nice walk around the trails in town. Creeks are running and starting to get Yuli used to the water. It was very nice to go out with my two girls out on the trails. We are a bit behind on books this month to hit our 40 for Natalia. We missed one night as Natalia fell asleep early. This week Natalia has a field trip to see the desert life among other animals and it sounds fun.

We got about 4-6" of snow early this week and quickly warming up and melting. Maybe another small storm in a few days bringing about the same amount of snow.

Again another week of very little work and to get creative with my small income. Seems the norm these days Now currently reading Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.

Below is a great quote from Benjamin Franklin over 200 years ago and I will say it still remains true to this day.

"Five hundred thousand pounds of sterling annually laid out in defending ourselves, or annoying our enemies, would have great effects. With what face can we ask aids and subsidies from our friends, while we are wasting our own wealth in such prodigality?"

Benjamin Franklin - 1779

I have a small rant and it has been awhile. Is it just me or do other people go through the "drive thru" at fast food places and end up waiting a long time for the idiot in front whom complicates things? That way is meant for fast ordering. Not complicated orders or for you to take your long time deciding and changing your mind. Know what you want, order, pay and drive off. 

Dice Tower this weekend had two live plays. Here is the live play to Smash Up! and a surprise game. I would love to play this game.

I Cheated On My Dirty Friends

Last Sunday Anthony Zahn was in town and I got to go on a very nice pleasant road ride. In the end it was 40 miles and I thought I would have problems. Not problems at all, other than the uncomfortable seat which felt like sitting on a 2x6 but I enjoyed myself. Hoping to hit the road another time but hard to find a group these days. Got to catch up a little on his doings and sad to hear things are not going so well, but we both keep getting up and moving on. Upon my arrival back to my car I was caught by my dirt friends cheating on them for a road bike. I had to quickly make an excuse.

Back to slowly reading about the war of 1812 and decided to go with another old sci-fi book. Finished reading The Man Who Mastered Time, a book published in 1929. This is one of the books offered by Singularity & Co. of their preserved projects. I like any of the old type reads as so many have predicted things happening now and I like to see what the world was like back then. I like how this book started and was hoping for the same but it became a semi love story much the same way as the Time Machine. I wondered why they bothered to prepare for battle when they have a time machine and can alter any future. Either way an entertaining book. My next read will be Babbitt, another Sinclair Lewis novel.

Looking forward another few days with Natalia and a friends birthday party and her schools Pajama Party tomorrow. Next week a field trip I hope we can both be able to make. Hoping for some cooler temps and maybe some wet stuff this weekend.

"I've... seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those... moments... will be lost in time, like tears... in ... rain. Time... to die..."

- Roy Batty, Blade Runner

Tour of California got its official announcement and hoping to find a spot around the lake to see some riders on Friday with Natalia.

Oh The Things That Happen To Me!

Natalia had her Valentine's day party at school and came home with a bunch off real nice homemade items from her friends. Also can't forget another small stash of candy. No hikes these days as Natalia rather stay at home and play around. Still need a few more rocks for my planter in the front yard.

Our local library has another nice program, where reading 50 books by the end of the month gets us a cool bag. Wow! Natalia and me are going for it! Finished reading Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here and I can say - WOW! A book written in the 1930s and so much if what Lewis wrote can be seen happening today. A book everyone must read. What to read next?

"He continued to tell himself that his main ambition was to make all citizens healthy, in course and mind, and that if he was brutal it was only toward fools and reactionaries who wanted the old clumsy systems."

- Sinclair Lewis

Still got the touch or skills. Revived an old rapid fire shifter on a Bontrager bike I bought about a year ago. Now the front one may need some love as well. Got a set of used bars to fit my small body and got rid of the super wide riser bars and 130mm stem. Now to clean up good, get rid of those lame pedals and maybe take her on a maiden voyage soon. Hoping to find more parts from her time, especially a nicer seat. 

Another trip to court and another continuation. This will never end. Been dragged for almost a year her fake allegations and no final ruling. At least It didn't cost me hundreds of dollars to be sent home again as usual. So sad that the system drags these fake allegations. Sad that someone lies so much and doesn't even spend that much time with their daughter. It all comes down to money for lawyers and in the end a few dollars for support while the child suffers and I truly fear will have a good happy up bringing.

In the many things that only happen to me, I got a call from the Navy asking me where I am at. Just when I thought I fulfilled my 8 year contract, someone put in a 4 month extension for me. I had no idea, requested or signed any such agreement. But somehow they have paperwork that can't be produced. Someone screwed up and finger pointing I am sure was everywhere. How could such a thing happen? Really?! It's the Navy! So four more months for me. No big deal.

Please take the time to listen to the No Agenda Show and cut through all the lies and manipulation the media and government engage in. John and Adam just cut through it all for the real news. Don't live in fear but simply sit back and laugh and know what is next. 

What Do You Say?

Spring is here and looks like winter never hit us. I do not like it, but you never know up here. Work has been tough to come by this months as usual in January. Cut backs to increase bonuses for others not me. I take those days off to relax and stay home. Have a stack of books to read, and board games to learn. Got a new game for Natalia and a fun short one. She already beat me the first time playing.

A moment almost brought tears to my eyes a few days ago when I catch Natalia in a quiet place in the house talking to God telling him she is glad she is at daddy's house. WOW! What do you say or think? All this and knowing the system really doesn't care what the child wants or is best for them. I continue to spend money and fight false reports and be used by the lawyers that have no interest in the child but on acquiring more retainers.

Currently reading Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here and one book everyone must read. So many things in this book are happening now. Shocking to see what can happen with out checks and balances and our constitution.

Around the house I got a bunch more bulbs to plant around and may have too many. Hopefully they pop this year but they will be planted for next year. I will have many cut flowers soon. I will take any recommendations on flowers and plants for this area. I also hope my pumpkins come up this year as I plan on planting a few for October. Also a new board game will hit the gaming table this weekend and hope Natalia likes it as I am sure she will.

I was blessed again Sunday with another great mountain bike ride with my favorite people. The inner city trails of Riverside are bright green and in great conditions. This week Anthony Zahn brought me horrible news of the passing of Douglas Magnon. A person whom I came to know through him and cycling and shared the road with. Another great person taken from us in a rather quick matter. Enjoy the ride my friend!

Another Dice Tower live play and this time it is Small World. Enjoy!

A Little Of Everything

Still spring like temps but starting to get chilly earlier in the day. A few real windy days on the mountain and some rain this week and maybe another day this week. Nothing to brag about.

Natalia had the big birthday party for her dolls this week and it went off with no problems. I was in charge of the cookies. Another great week in town with a short hike in the quietness of the forest. Another trip collecting rocks for another planter I am working on in the front. Natalia and me are playing more an more board games and it puts a big smile on my face and hopes. She learns so much from these games and I love to spend the time around a table in a quiet house playing. We also been going through so many books lately on our daily night reading that I am starting to wonder when we will read every book on the library.

Natalia also this week introduced herself to PeeWee Herman. I know the stories but his movies and shows are somewhat classics. Now she knows what PeeWee's bike looks like and knows the dance.

Got to ride my mountain bike again this past week and it was a nice ride as usual. Long but with many long stops to share tall tales and pictures. I will say I do not like the many trails being cut all over Riverside but there has been a few descent additions. So many riders in Riverside nowadays and surprising as years back it was just mainly our group. We all knew each other. I did have fun banging away on some downhill sections and just for a few seconds riding like I like.

Work again has started to cut hours and really hurting my income, but that is always expected of it. Sadly seems this time around the many managers there do not care of peoples situations but their owns.

This week I hope to get into Sinclair Lewis' book It Can't Happen Here and get through it quick and see what it is about and keep moving through the French and Indian War.

This week another live Dice Tower play-through of Memoir '44 with Tom and Sam. I know, very geeky.

The Skies & Another Waste Of Time

Spring like temperatures again and slowly getting the urge to start planting but I know I have to wait as we will still get more snowstorms this year. I did get a great deal on tulip bulbs at work and planted them all scattered. Maybe a little too late for this spring but we will see. I love tulips but sadly they do not last too long. The big talk has been the awesome skies with their sunrises and sunsets.

A weekend at home like many the way Natalia likes them. At home in town playing games and relaxing. Some forest walking, park playing and library trip is what it's all about. Natalia tends to beat me at all the games. Even dominoes where the odds are 50-50 it is more like 100-0.

Natalia tells me she is not going to school when she is with her mom and tends to stay over at her grandparents often. I know my ex will lie to me about this as she does with everything else.So off I go again to investigate and find out the truth.

Another deposition planned to waste my time and this time my attorneys fault as he didn't call me cancelling and another wasted day. The amount of money and time being wasted to this day and will never end with the nonsense and lies. But I keep taking punches and getting up. Bigger is that I have decided to stop dumping money in an attorney and getting dragged along with postponements and false claims. I can no longer keep paying and rather use that money for Natalia. I know it will be more headaches but this will never end with the changes and false accusations.

Picked up a book about the French and Indian War at the between 1755-1763 and hope to slowly learn more about it. Also put on order Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here as a recommendation from the No Agenda Show.

Below is a geeky video of a live play through of Robinson Crusoe. A game on my game table slowly trying to learn.