Random Books

I mentioned in a post I've cleaned my office in an attempt to remove clutter. In the process I unearthed a pile of books. A few minutes ago I said to myself, "Boy, you need to remove this pile to a better location." Yeah, right.

Here are a few of the titles that sit around my desk, just the ones I can reach...I know, eclectic doesn't begin to describe my taste.

A Random Walk Down Wallstreet, Burton G. Malkiel - bet the loonies up there would love this one.

Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner - ditto.

Galatoire's, Biography of a Bistro, Marda Burton and Kenneth Holditch - so sue me.

Libertarianism in One Lesson, David Bergland - a gift.

Jesus Out to Sea, James Lee Burke - read it, it's good.

(I will not list the gunny books, if I did this would be a six page post)

Trophy Hunt, C. J. Box - Okay read...but light.

The Forgotten Soldier, Sajer - darn fine read but depressing as hell.

John Adams, David McCullough - big hit a few years back and a good read.

Slouching Toward Nirvana, new poems, Charles Bukowski - again, sue me, I've always been a fan of Bukowski. He was real. If you haven't read him, well, it's an acquired taste.

Saving Freedom, Jim Demint - a gift and as of now unread. Give me time.

Dead Six, Larry Correia and Mike Kupari - new and my next read.

Age of Darkness, edited by Christian Dunn - go figure.

A Feast of Crows, George R. R. Martin - it's been here a while.

Out of the Ashes, William W. Johnstone - The first of his 'Ashes' series. If you read this series, and its not bad, limit it to the first three or four and forget about it.

Fire In the Ashes, see above.

Holy Bible - do I really need to explain this one. If so, get a life.

A Land Remembered, Patrick D. Smith - Florida stuff.

A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin - not a big fan, but his writing is excellent.

The Ultimate Hitchhiikers Guide to The Galaxy, Douglas Adams - I understand this book has a few fans.

Modern World Gold Coins, standard catalog of - One can never be too careful.

Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand - my copy is a first printing dated 1957 and is about worn out. If you haven't at least tried to read this book - well my friend, I'm sorry, but when you awaken in the morning please check outside and see how many moons you're able to count...

Foreign Enemies and traitors, Matthew Bracken - a very good book written by a very nice man. He lives just a few miles south of me...give it a try.

Appetite For Life, Noel Riley Fitch, The biography of Julia Child - Hey, I like to cook and she was the master.

Enough, like I said these are but a few that clutter my desk.

What have you in your private little room?

Stephen

Bits & Pieces

Chester Raccoon has ridden with us these last few mornings. Chester is Little Bit's new friend. A few weeks back I'd ordered her the series of books in which Chester and his mother serve as the main characters. She reads me one every day on our ride to school. Chester's a cool dude.

Anyway, when we reached the half-way mark of our ride, along the marshes of the river, Little Bit looks up from her book just in time to see a flock of Canada geese wing south as an even larger flock of seven or eight Herons fly north. It was beautiful, the contrast....she said, "Oh, Papa, look, an illustration from my books."

Never underestimate the intelligence of a child.

If you get a moment and have the time, click here: Penn Jillette gets it. - Imgur. This link was sent to me by my beautiful niece, Hannah. She's a bright and extremely conservative young woman. And, as you can tell she takes after me....thanks, Hannah, and now it's blush time...are your ready....I love you.

I'm sorry for the light posts of late, aside from the fact I've been preoccupied with other matters in my life, my computers mouse is giving me fits....about ready to sling it against the wall. Rusty, my computer geek, said I need to purchase a new one. I reminded him its almost brand new...said, "They don't last forever."

It's less than six months old. Guess they just don't make them like they used to, you know, back a year or so ago.

My office is all nice and clean again. Makes me feel like a new man....I can turn and not get whacked in the knee, twist an ankle, stumble over a box. Anyone want a batch of used brass....I found four sacks and a one pound coffee can full. I have brass up to my ears.

Hey, gotta run...business awaits, and I need to jerk another cup of coffee. Take care.

Stephen

Monday Morning

Quiet here at the office, just put a pot of coffee to brew. My plans today are simple; keep the shop closed and clean and re-organize my office. I have boxes to crush, the carpet needs to kiss and make up with the vacuum cleaner. Drop a bomb of Pine-Sol into the toilet and then dust my desk.

Exciting, isn't it.

Perhaps, if the God's decree, I'll open the front door and flip the sign to, 'open.'  Not sure. We'll see. Yes, I sure could use the extra funds but when most of my regular customers know I'm closed Mondays it's probably a waste of my time and overhead....still....

Phone just rang....and I made the mistake of answering the silly thing...guess what.

Now you know I'd never do that....

See 'ya later, maybe.

Stephen

Thanks & Welcome

To Mamma Bear for hitting my follow button overnight. As always I promise to reply to all your comments as soon as possible. To my other friends if you haven't as yet read Mamma Bear's blog please run over and say hello from yours truly.

I know she's good people because she lives in North Florida....

Stephen

A Day With Little Bit

(Note: written as directed by Little Bit)

Nana went to the hair lady and so I asked if I could stay with my Papa...she pauses...Nana said yes and I had fun at Papa's place. I like to stay with Papa 'cause he lets me do what I want.

Papa let me play games on his computer

.
Papa is a good leg rest.

Tell them I won, Papa. She won.

I don't want to smile because I lost my two front upper teeth.

At the pumpkin patch. I just can't pick the perfect pumpkin.

Tell them I love my Nana, Papa...she love's her Nana. See, I do follow orders.

We had a nice day. Then I gots to spend the night, again, with Papa and Nana.

(I'm back. I know to some this is silly but like I've said so many times, this is for her. Sometimes I forget that little fact and she'll remind me.)

Have a peaceful and quiet Sunday.

Stephen

Calvin and Hobbes

I miss them...

Stephen

Radio's for Survivors

When the weather turns cold and clear I get an itch to listen to my short wave. It's addictive. I have this thing for radios, short wave sets really turn me on. I can sit for hours and listen to the chatter of the world.

I own a new (to me) rebuilt Grundig Satellite 800 from which I can finesse signals from around the earth when the atmospheric conditions allow. If help is needed I'll attach one of my 'slinky' antennas.

If I feel nostalgic I carefully carry my old Zenith over to the table and extend its antenna. She's a beautiful Trans-Oceanic M500, carefully restored by an old friend. She has tubes (remember them) which glow a sleepy orange and carry voices of Europe and Asia to my little part of the world, news from their point of view without the slant of our current media's biased lies.

I also keep around a few portables, some rest in my travel trailer, others in our get home bags. Mostly little Grundigs. They come in awful handy for camping trips. If and when that 'day' ever arrives you should have one or two. A hand crank model too for when the batteries run dry.

News, information, is important when your life is on the line. If you don't believe me just ask the poor Jews of the Warsaw ghettos.

I understand Grundig, a German company, was recently purchased by a firm out of Japan...can't for the life of me remember it's name. Doesn't matter, the quality should be as good, though I doubt better. Seek out an older model, they're out there.

Above, a file photo of a Zenith Trans-Oceanic model 500. Notice the lid houses its removable antenna. You take clips and attach to the rear of the radio and extend the antenna or by using suction cups provided, stick the little sucker to a window in your plush rail car and listen to the world.

Just for slaps and tickles run over to Ebay and do a simple search for Grundig (or other brand name) radios. Many are listed in new and rebuilt condition. I feel everyone should own at least one...in my humble opinion.

Do yourself a favor and turn off the television and broaden your horizons. Who knows, you might enjoy it.

Stephen