Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Editorial content
This was forwarded to me by a friend. There is a lot of "food for thought" in its content. I am glad we live in a country where people are free to speak, but that privilege would be all the greater if our protestors could think as well as speak! This marine seems to have it right! The protestors owe him and his buddies a great debt of gratitude. Without the servicemen who defend our freedom, protestors would not have the luxury of protest.
A Marine's poem
This poem was in a letter from a marine in Kuwait dated 9 March 2003. The marines were hearing about the anti-war protests and they were upset. That's all the letter talked about. This Marine enclosed a poem he and his buddies wrote. He wants us to get it out, please read and pass it on.
"Wish You Were Here"
For all the free people that still protest.
You're welcome. We protect you and you are protected by the best.
Your voice is strong and loud,
but who will fight for you? No one standing in your crowd.
We are your fathers, brothers, and sons,
wearing the boots and carrying guns.
We are the ones that leave all we own,
to make sure your future is carved in stone.
We are the ones who fight and die,
We might not be able to save the world, Well, at least we try.
We walked the paths to where we are at
and we want no choice other than that.
so when you rally your group to complain,
take a look in the back of your brain.
In order for that flag you love to fly
wars must be fought and young men must die.
We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear.
If that's not respected, we would rather stay here.
So please stop yelling, put down your signs,
and pray for those behind enemy lines.
When the conflict is over and all is well,
be thankful that we chose to go through hell.
Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, Kuwait
an omnious creature from the wall of the canyon!
Entrance to Painted Canyon.
Fishing at the seashore - Salton Sea 3/30/03
Two "cute"salts at the sea -- Marian and Pat
Ken prepared lunch for Marian and Pat then took our picture.. Don't faint!
We met this guy who was testing his "folda boat". Ken is interested in one similar so we had to get pictures. It has made his "want" list but its strictly a "maybe" from Pat's viewpoint. His want list ever grows!!!
We arrived back home on Monday Mrch 31, but I've been too busy to do anything more than check my e mail. We needed to finalize some paperwork for the accountant as well as catch up on our bills, mail etc etc. Finally on Friday I was able to break away for lunch at Carole's with my friends Carole and Jean and a friend of theirs, Gloria. It is always good to get home and catch up on what's happening with friends and family. I have been very surprised at how much I miss everyone when we are away for an extended period. I thought I was disinclined to "family emotionalism" but as it turns out, I am really an old homebody in many ways.
To catch you up on what we've been up to, we attended a Family Motor Coach Association convention in Pomona April 19-22 and from there, drove to Desert Hot Springs for two weeks at Desert Pools RV resort. We went to Desert Hot Springs for two reasons. First and primarily, our friends, Ken and Marian Herbert, are in a park nearby and they are always fun to spend time with. Second, for the mineral spas that are located there. We visited the mineral spas and pool almost every evening which was great relaxation and soothing to the old bones that tend to complain about almost everything these days. I think all of that soothing helped but while at the convention, a chair that I was sitting on collapsed causing me to sprawl on the floor with a thud. I was none the worse for wear other than for my embarrassmentt but my tail bone still has a great deal to say about such misbehavior. It is finally getting better but it was indeed, most uncomfortable for the entire time we were at the desert. I really must practice “push ups” i.e., pushing up from the table.
I classified the wind at Desert Hot Springs as “early typhoon” and I was deeply indignant until we came home and learned that it was also windy in the LA area. Clouds and weather in the Los Angeles area almost certainly means desert wind. Of course, how soon one forgets. It was March and everyone remembers the “ides” of March except me because I have grown old, forgetful and live a “protected” life. Ah well, perhaps the venting was good for me. Least you be misled, we had several beautiful days and the last three days were gorgeous and we enjoyed them every one.
To summarize our adventures in the desert. Of course, we engaged in a tour of Ken’s old stomping grounds for his remission into his youth and the memories that he holds so dear. Ken’s parents and Ken’s grandfather each homesteaded five acres in the early 40's and in 1951, we homesteaded five acres in our name and another five in my brother’s name. Everyone did the bare essentials for gaining full title to what Ken says was called a “jack rabbit” homestead. It is amazing to see the property today and I could hardly believe what fine homes occupy that area. We were particularly surprised to see an ad in the local paper for five acres of unimproved property at the entrance to the section where the five acre homesteads once adorned the landscape, advertised for one million dollars. – Thinking positive and hoping that such luck could have “rubbed” off on the Burns’, had we kept the bare essentials and the bare land, we would now be multi millionaires. Alas, the property was disposed of long ago at a bare pittance. As an aside, 1 acre of the property that was homesteaded in my brother’s name now greatly improved with a pool, large house and beautifully landscaped was for sale for $900,000 five years ago. Riches have often not been far from our grasp but alas, we are apparently intended to remain humble!!
A trip to Joshua Tree National Monument was disappointing. We expected the desert to be covered with carpet of blooming desert flowers but not so. Apparently that area did not receive as much of the moisture as is required to bring forth a beautiful spring on the desert. Some areas were beautiful but not Joshua. As a matter of fact, when we were last at Joshua the desert flowers were blooming and we were certain that with the additional rainfall of the current spring, it would be lush in its beauty. Ahh well. So be it. We just looked elsewhere and certainly, other parts of the desert was beautiful.
Another trip that we enjoyed was a trip up a dirt road into an area called Painted Canyon. Ken had apparently visited there in his youth with his geologist Uncle (by marriage) who thought it was worthy of showing to visiting friends and relatives who visited. Ken’s Aunt, Uncle and Uncle’s brother, owned a ranch in the Coachella Valley where they grew Thompson seedless grapes and grapefruit. They lived in Pasadena during the year and went to the “ranch” to tend the vineyards and fruit trees. They had a bungalow on the ranch that they called “Sliver Shanty” and from their comfortable home in Pasadena, they ascended to their Sliver Shanty from whence they earned the money to maintain their lifestyle of “opulence” in the big city. A reminder that our station in life comes down to “choices”. We did not have time to make the “trek” up Painted Canyon and I have no doubt that remains a “day trip” to which I can look forward. From my quick overview of the terrain and possible “path”, it appeared to be similar to the many Sunday hikes that we took up “Cat Canyon” from the Burns’ abode in Cahuilla Hills at Palm Desert. Thus, I shall not be quick to remind Ken that he wants to do the trip, and perhaps, he will forget it as he often does.
On Sunday, our last full day at the Desert, our friend Marian, Ken and I drove over to Salton Sea and circumnavigated the “sea”. That is such a beautiful place if only the “powers that be” could figure out how to clean it up and develop that beautiful sea. For those of you who have never visited the Salton Sea, it is approximately 35 miles long and nine miles wide. There is several miles of State Park which looked very inviting. We stopped to engage a fisherman in conversation and learned that he was from San Diego, has been going to the “Sea” for 40 years to fish and relax. Ken likes to fish and he was especially interested in the fishing. We learned that Croaker, corbina, taliapa and several others. However, our ears really perked up with the taliapa, which is a “farmed” fish and apparently grows like rabbits (if you will pardon my animal/mammal comparison). The man told us that the week before someone had caught over 100 taliapa. There is no limit and this fish is so plentiful at the “sea” that they are considering harvesting it for cat food. We were recently introduced to taliapa and found it to be a fish that is tastey, particularly if pan fried. Ken has set the “sea” as a destination point for fishing entertainment and I will carry with me a good book, my computer and lots of patience.
All in all, we had a wonderful visit with Ken and Marian Herbert, enjoyed two delightful evenings with Ken’s brother, Bill and his wife Diane and we highly recommend the Herbert’s for hospitality, fun and entertainment. We are off to Las Vegas on Sunday where we will rendezvous with friends that we met on our trip to Spain, Bob and Marvis Gersten and Bob and Kitty Van Horn. Las Vegas may never be the same.
Until our recap of that “adventure”, stay well, be happy and live this day as if it was your last, but plan to live forever.
This was forwarded to me by a friend. There is a lot of "food for thought" in its content. I am glad we live in a country where people are free to speak, but that privilege would be all the greater if our protestors could think as well as speak! This marine seems to have it right! The protestors owe him and his buddies a great debt of gratitude. Without the servicemen who defend our freedom, protestors would not have the luxury of protest.
A Marine's poem
This poem was in a letter from a marine in Kuwait dated 9 March 2003. The marines were hearing about the anti-war protests and they were upset. That's all the letter talked about. This Marine enclosed a poem he and his buddies wrote. He wants us to get it out, please read and pass it on.
"Wish You Were Here"
For all the free people that still protest.
You're welcome. We protect you and you are protected by the best.
Your voice is strong and loud,
but who will fight for you? No one standing in your crowd.
We are your fathers, brothers, and sons,
wearing the boots and carrying guns.
We are the ones that leave all we own,
to make sure your future is carved in stone.
We are the ones who fight and die,
We might not be able to save the world, Well, at least we try.
We walked the paths to where we are at
and we want no choice other than that.
so when you rally your group to complain,
take a look in the back of your brain.
In order for that flag you love to fly
wars must be fought and young men must die.
We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear.
If that's not respected, we would rather stay here.
So please stop yelling, put down your signs,
and pray for those behind enemy lines.
When the conflict is over and all is well,
be thankful that we chose to go through hell.
Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, Kuwait
an omnious creature from the wall of the canyon!
Entrance to Painted Canyon.
Fishing at the seashore - Salton Sea 3/30/03
Two "cute"salts at the sea -- Marian and Pat
Ken prepared lunch for Marian and Pat then took our picture.. Don't faint!
We met this guy who was testing his "folda boat". Ken is interested in one similar so we had to get pictures. It has made his "want" list but its strictly a "maybe" from Pat's viewpoint. His want list ever grows!!!
We arrived back home on Monday Mrch 31, but I've been too busy to do anything more than check my e mail. We needed to finalize some paperwork for the accountant as well as catch up on our bills, mail etc etc. Finally on Friday I was able to break away for lunch at Carole's with my friends Carole and Jean and a friend of theirs, Gloria. It is always good to get home and catch up on what's happening with friends and family. I have been very surprised at how much I miss everyone when we are away for an extended period. I thought I was disinclined to "family emotionalism" but as it turns out, I am really an old homebody in many ways.
To catch you up on what we've been up to, we attended a Family Motor Coach Association convention in Pomona April 19-22 and from there, drove to Desert Hot Springs for two weeks at Desert Pools RV resort. We went to Desert Hot Springs for two reasons. First and primarily, our friends, Ken and Marian Herbert, are in a park nearby and they are always fun to spend time with. Second, for the mineral spas that are located there. We visited the mineral spas and pool almost every evening which was great relaxation and soothing to the old bones that tend to complain about almost everything these days. I think all of that soothing helped but while at the convention, a chair that I was sitting on collapsed causing me to sprawl on the floor with a thud. I was none the worse for wear other than for my embarrassmentt but my tail bone still has a great deal to say about such misbehavior. It is finally getting better but it was indeed, most uncomfortable for the entire time we were at the desert. I really must practice “push ups” i.e., pushing up from the table.
I classified the wind at Desert Hot Springs as “early typhoon” and I was deeply indignant until we came home and learned that it was also windy in the LA area. Clouds and weather in the Los Angeles area almost certainly means desert wind. Of course, how soon one forgets. It was March and everyone remembers the “ides” of March except me because I have grown old, forgetful and live a “protected” life. Ah well, perhaps the venting was good for me. Least you be misled, we had several beautiful days and the last three days were gorgeous and we enjoyed them every one.
To summarize our adventures in the desert. Of course, we engaged in a tour of Ken’s old stomping grounds for his remission into his youth and the memories that he holds so dear. Ken’s parents and Ken’s grandfather each homesteaded five acres in the early 40's and in 1951, we homesteaded five acres in our name and another five in my brother’s name. Everyone did the bare essentials for gaining full title to what Ken says was called a “jack rabbit” homestead. It is amazing to see the property today and I could hardly believe what fine homes occupy that area. We were particularly surprised to see an ad in the local paper for five acres of unimproved property at the entrance to the section where the five acre homesteads once adorned the landscape, advertised for one million dollars. – Thinking positive and hoping that such luck could have “rubbed” off on the Burns’, had we kept the bare essentials and the bare land, we would now be multi millionaires. Alas, the property was disposed of long ago at a bare pittance. As an aside, 1 acre of the property that was homesteaded in my brother’s name now greatly improved with a pool, large house and beautifully landscaped was for sale for $900,000 five years ago. Riches have often not been far from our grasp but alas, we are apparently intended to remain humble!!
A trip to Joshua Tree National Monument was disappointing. We expected the desert to be covered with carpet of blooming desert flowers but not so. Apparently that area did not receive as much of the moisture as is required to bring forth a beautiful spring on the desert. Some areas were beautiful but not Joshua. As a matter of fact, when we were last at Joshua the desert flowers were blooming and we were certain that with the additional rainfall of the current spring, it would be lush in its beauty. Ahh well. So be it. We just looked elsewhere and certainly, other parts of the desert was beautiful.
Another trip that we enjoyed was a trip up a dirt road into an area called Painted Canyon. Ken had apparently visited there in his youth with his geologist Uncle (by marriage) who thought it was worthy of showing to visiting friends and relatives who visited. Ken’s Aunt, Uncle and Uncle’s brother, owned a ranch in the Coachella Valley where they grew Thompson seedless grapes and grapefruit. They lived in Pasadena during the year and went to the “ranch” to tend the vineyards and fruit trees. They had a bungalow on the ranch that they called “Sliver Shanty” and from their comfortable home in Pasadena, they ascended to their Sliver Shanty from whence they earned the money to maintain their lifestyle of “opulence” in the big city. A reminder that our station in life comes down to “choices”. We did not have time to make the “trek” up Painted Canyon and I have no doubt that remains a “day trip” to which I can look forward. From my quick overview of the terrain and possible “path”, it appeared to be similar to the many Sunday hikes that we took up “Cat Canyon” from the Burns’ abode in Cahuilla Hills at Palm Desert. Thus, I shall not be quick to remind Ken that he wants to do the trip, and perhaps, he will forget it as he often does.
On Sunday, our last full day at the Desert, our friend Marian, Ken and I drove over to Salton Sea and circumnavigated the “sea”. That is such a beautiful place if only the “powers that be” could figure out how to clean it up and develop that beautiful sea. For those of you who have never visited the Salton Sea, it is approximately 35 miles long and nine miles wide. There is several miles of State Park which looked very inviting. We stopped to engage a fisherman in conversation and learned that he was from San Diego, has been going to the “Sea” for 40 years to fish and relax. Ken likes to fish and he was especially interested in the fishing. We learned that Croaker, corbina, taliapa and several others. However, our ears really perked up with the taliapa, which is a “farmed” fish and apparently grows like rabbits (if you will pardon my animal/mammal comparison). The man told us that the week before someone had caught over 100 taliapa. There is no limit and this fish is so plentiful at the “sea” that they are considering harvesting it for cat food. We were recently introduced to taliapa and found it to be a fish that is tastey, particularly if pan fried. Ken has set the “sea” as a destination point for fishing entertainment and I will carry with me a good book, my computer and lots of patience.
All in all, we had a wonderful visit with Ken and Marian Herbert, enjoyed two delightful evenings with Ken’s brother, Bill and his wife Diane and we highly recommend the Herbert’s for hospitality, fun and entertainment. We are off to Las Vegas on Sunday where we will rendezvous with friends that we met on our trip to Spain, Bob and Marvis Gersten and Bob and Kitty Van Horn. Las Vegas may never be the same.
Until our recap of that “adventure”, stay well, be happy and live this day as if it was your last, but plan to live forever.
an omnious creature from the wall of the canyon!
Entrance to Painted Canyon.
Fishing at the seashore - Salton Sea 3/30/03
Two "cute"salts at the sea -- Marian and Pat
Ken prepared lunch for Marian and Pat then took our picture.. Don't faint!
We met this guy who was testing his "folda boat". Ken is interested in one similar so we had to get pictures. It has made his "want" list but its strictly a "maybe" from Pat's viewpoint. His want list ever grows!!!
We arrived back home on Monday Mrch 31, but I've been too busy to do anything more than check my e mail. We needed to finalize some paperwork for the accountant as well as catch up on our bills, mail etc etc. Finally on Friday I was able to break away for lunch at Carole's with my friends Carole and Jean and a friend of theirs, Gloria. It is always good to get home and catch up on what's happening with friends and family. I have been very surprised at how much I miss everyone when we are away for an extended period. I thought I was disinclined to "family emotionalism" but as it turns out, I am really an old homebody in many ways.
To catch you up on what we've been up to, we attended a Family Motor Coach Association convention in Pomona April 19-22 and from there, drove to Desert Hot Springs for two weeks at Desert Pools RV resort. We went to Desert Hot Springs for two reasons. First and primarily, our friends, Ken and Marian Herbert, are in a park nearby and they are always fun to spend time with. Second, for the mineral spas that are located there. We visited the mineral spas and pool almost every evening which was great relaxation and soothing to the old bones that tend to complain about almost everything these days. I think all of that soothing helped but while at the convention, a chair that I was sitting on collapsed causing me to sprawl on the floor with a thud. I was none the worse for wear other than for my embarrassmentt but my tail bone still has a great deal to say about such misbehavior. It is finally getting better but it was indeed, most uncomfortable for the entire time we were at the desert. I really must practice “push ups” i.e., pushing up from the table.
I classified the wind at Desert Hot Springs as “early typhoon” and I was deeply indignant until we came home and learned that it was also windy in the LA area. Clouds and weather in the Los Angeles area almost certainly means desert wind. Of course, how soon one forgets. It was March and everyone remembers the “ides” of March except me because I have grown old, forgetful and live a “protected” life. Ah well, perhaps the venting was good for me. Least you be misled, we had several beautiful days and the last three days were gorgeous and we enjoyed them every one.
To summarize our adventures in the desert. Of course, we engaged in a tour of Ken’s old stomping grounds for his remission into his youth and the memories that he holds so dear. Ken’s parents and Ken’s grandfather each homesteaded five acres in the early 40's and in 1951, we homesteaded five acres in our name and another five in my brother’s name. Everyone did the bare essentials for gaining full title to what Ken says was called a “jack rabbit” homestead. It is amazing to see the property today and I could hardly believe what fine homes occupy that area. We were particularly surprised to see an ad in the local paper for five acres of unimproved property at the entrance to the section where the five acre homesteads once adorned the landscape, advertised for one million dollars. – Thinking positive and hoping that such luck could have “rubbed” off on the Burns’, had we kept the bare essentials and the bare land, we would now be multi millionaires. Alas, the property was disposed of long ago at a bare pittance. As an aside, 1 acre of the property that was homesteaded in my brother’s name now greatly improved with a pool, large house and beautifully landscaped was for sale for $900,000 five years ago. Riches have often not been far from our grasp but alas, we are apparently intended to remain humble!!
A trip to Joshua Tree National Monument was disappointing. We expected the desert to be covered with carpet of blooming desert flowers but not so. Apparently that area did not receive as much of the moisture as is required to bring forth a beautiful spring on the desert. Some areas were beautiful but not Joshua. As a matter of fact, when we were last at Joshua the desert flowers were blooming and we were certain that with the additional rainfall of the current spring, it would be lush in its beauty. Ahh well. So be it. We just looked elsewhere and certainly, other parts of the desert was beautiful.
Another trip that we enjoyed was a trip up a dirt road into an area called Painted Canyon. Ken had apparently visited there in his youth with his geologist Uncle (by marriage) who thought it was worthy of showing to visiting friends and relatives who visited. Ken’s Aunt, Uncle and Uncle’s brother, owned a ranch in the Coachella Valley where they grew Thompson seedless grapes and grapefruit. They lived in Pasadena during the year and went to the “ranch” to tend the vineyards and fruit trees. They had a bungalow on the ranch that they called “Sliver Shanty” and from their comfortable home in Pasadena, they ascended to their Sliver Shanty from whence they earned the money to maintain their lifestyle of “opulence” in the big city. A reminder that our station in life comes down to “choices”. We did not have time to make the “trek” up Painted Canyon and I have no doubt that remains a “day trip” to which I can look forward. From my quick overview of the terrain and possible “path”, it appeared to be similar to the many Sunday hikes that we took up “Cat Canyon” from the Burns’ abode in Cahuilla Hills at Palm Desert. Thus, I shall not be quick to remind Ken that he wants to do the trip, and perhaps, he will forget it as he often does.
On Sunday, our last full day at the Desert, our friend Marian, Ken and I drove over to Salton Sea and circumnavigated the “sea”. That is such a beautiful place if only the “powers that be” could figure out how to clean it up and develop that beautiful sea. For those of you who have never visited the Salton Sea, it is approximately 35 miles long and nine miles wide. There is several miles of State Park which looked very inviting. We stopped to engage a fisherman in conversation and learned that he was from San Diego, has been going to the “Sea” for 40 years to fish and relax. Ken likes to fish and he was especially interested in the fishing. We learned that Croaker, corbina, taliapa and several others. However, our ears really perked up with the taliapa, which is a “farmed” fish and apparently grows like rabbits (if you will pardon my animal/mammal comparison). The man told us that the week before someone had caught over 100 taliapa. There is no limit and this fish is so plentiful at the “sea” that they are considering harvesting it for cat food. We were recently introduced to taliapa and found it to be a fish that is tastey, particularly if pan fried. Ken has set the “sea” as a destination point for fishing entertainment and I will carry with me a good book, my computer and lots of patience.
All in all, we had a wonderful visit with Ken and Marian Herbert, enjoyed two delightful evenings with Ken’s brother, Bill and his wife Diane and we highly recommend the Herbert’s for hospitality, fun and entertainment. We are off to Las Vegas on Sunday where we will rendezvous with friends that we met on our trip to Spain, Bob and Marvis Gersten and Bob and Kitty Van Horn. Las Vegas may never be the same.
Until our recap of that “adventure”, stay well, be happy and live this day as if it was your last, but plan to live forever.
To catch you up on what we've been up to, we attended a Family Motor Coach Association convention in Pomona April 19-22 and from there, drove to Desert Hot Springs for two weeks at Desert Pools RV resort. We went to Desert Hot Springs for two reasons. First and primarily, our friends, Ken and Marian Herbert, are in a park nearby and they are always fun to spend time with. Second, for the mineral spas that are located there. We visited the mineral spas and pool almost every evening which was great relaxation and soothing to the old bones that tend to complain about almost everything these days. I think all of that soothing helped but while at the convention, a chair that I was sitting on collapsed causing me to sprawl on the floor with a thud. I was none the worse for wear other than for my embarrassmentt but my tail bone still has a great deal to say about such misbehavior. It is finally getting better but it was indeed, most uncomfortable for the entire time we were at the desert. I really must practice “push ups” i.e., pushing up from the table.
I classified the wind at Desert Hot Springs as “early typhoon” and I was deeply indignant until we came home and learned that it was also windy in the LA area. Clouds and weather in the Los Angeles area almost certainly means desert wind. Of course, how soon one forgets. It was March and everyone remembers the “ides” of March except me because I have grown old, forgetful and live a “protected” life. Ah well, perhaps the venting was good for me. Least you be misled, we had several beautiful days and the last three days were gorgeous and we enjoyed them every one.
To summarize our adventures in the desert. Of course, we engaged in a tour of Ken’s old stomping grounds for his remission into his youth and the memories that he holds so dear. Ken’s parents and Ken’s grandfather each homesteaded five acres in the early 40's and in 1951, we homesteaded five acres in our name and another five in my brother’s name. Everyone did the bare essentials for gaining full title to what Ken says was called a “jack rabbit” homestead. It is amazing to see the property today and I could hardly believe what fine homes occupy that area. We were particularly surprised to see an ad in the local paper for five acres of unimproved property at the entrance to the section where the five acre homesteads once adorned the landscape, advertised for one million dollars. – Thinking positive and hoping that such luck could have “rubbed” off on the Burns’, had we kept the bare essentials and the bare land, we would now be multi millionaires. Alas, the property was disposed of long ago at a bare pittance. As an aside, 1 acre of the property that was homesteaded in my brother’s name now greatly improved with a pool, large house and beautifully landscaped was for sale for $900,000 five years ago. Riches have often not been far from our grasp but alas, we are apparently intended to remain humble!!
A trip to Joshua Tree National Monument was disappointing. We expected the desert to be covered with carpet of blooming desert flowers but not so. Apparently that area did not receive as much of the moisture as is required to bring forth a beautiful spring on the desert. Some areas were beautiful but not Joshua. As a matter of fact, when we were last at Joshua the desert flowers were blooming and we were certain that with the additional rainfall of the current spring, it would be lush in its beauty. Ahh well. So be it. We just looked elsewhere and certainly, other parts of the desert was beautiful.
Another trip that we enjoyed was a trip up a dirt road into an area called Painted Canyon. Ken had apparently visited there in his youth with his geologist Uncle (by marriage) who thought it was worthy of showing to visiting friends and relatives who visited. Ken’s Aunt, Uncle and Uncle’s brother, owned a ranch in the Coachella Valley where they grew Thompson seedless grapes and grapefruit. They lived in Pasadena during the year and went to the “ranch” to tend the vineyards and fruit trees. They had a bungalow on the ranch that they called “Sliver Shanty” and from their comfortable home in Pasadena, they ascended to their Sliver Shanty from whence they earned the money to maintain their lifestyle of “opulence” in the big city. A reminder that our station in life comes down to “choices”. We did not have time to make the “trek” up Painted Canyon and I have no doubt that remains a “day trip” to which I can look forward. From my quick overview of the terrain and possible “path”, it appeared to be similar to the many Sunday hikes that we took up “Cat Canyon” from the Burns’ abode in Cahuilla Hills at Palm Desert. Thus, I shall not be quick to remind Ken that he wants to do the trip, and perhaps, he will forget it as he often does.
On Sunday, our last full day at the Desert, our friend Marian, Ken and I drove over to Salton Sea and circumnavigated the “sea”. That is such a beautiful place if only the “powers that be” could figure out how to clean it up and develop that beautiful sea. For those of you who have never visited the Salton Sea, it is approximately 35 miles long and nine miles wide. There is several miles of State Park which looked very inviting. We stopped to engage a fisherman in conversation and learned that he was from San Diego, has been going to the “Sea” for 40 years to fish and relax. Ken likes to fish and he was especially interested in the fishing. We learned that Croaker, corbina, taliapa and several others. However, our ears really perked up with the taliapa, which is a “farmed” fish and apparently grows like rabbits (if you will pardon my animal/mammal comparison). The man told us that the week before someone had caught over 100 taliapa. There is no limit and this fish is so plentiful at the “sea” that they are considering harvesting it for cat food. We were recently introduced to taliapa and found it to be a fish that is tastey, particularly if pan fried. Ken has set the “sea” as a destination point for fishing entertainment and I will carry with me a good book, my computer and lots of patience.
All in all, we had a wonderful visit with Ken and Marian Herbert, enjoyed two delightful evenings with Ken’s brother, Bill and his wife Diane and we highly recommend the Herbert’s for hospitality, fun and entertainment. We are off to Las Vegas on Sunday where we will rendezvous with friends that we met on our trip to Spain, Bob and Marvis Gersten and Bob and Kitty Van Horn. Las Vegas may never be the same.
Until our recap of that “adventure”, stay well, be happy and live this day as if it was your last, but plan to live forever.
Saturday, April 05, 2003
Saturday was a beautiful day on the desert. The wind finally subsided and the dust began to clear. We drove up to a location called Painted Canyon where Ken once explored with his Uncles who owned a grape and grapefruit vineyard in the Coachella Valley. We didn't have time to explore the Canyon but the drive to it was through terrain that was most interesting in its geographical makeup.
Tomorrow a trip to the Salton Sea and Monday home. We have had two weeks of rest and relaxation and can hardly wait to start our next period of the same. Ahhh retirement.
Picturs of the Sea and the Canyon when we get back home and posting is a little easier to accomplish. I still need lots of work on my capacity to accomplish great graphics.l
Tomorrow a trip to the Salton Sea and Monday home. We have had two weeks of rest and relaxation and can hardly wait to start our next period of the same. Ahhh retirement.
Picturs of the Sea and the Canyon when we get back home and posting is a little easier to accomplish. I still need lots of work on my capacity to accomplish great graphics.l
Saturday was a beautiful day on the desert. The wind finally subsided and the dust began to clear. We drove up to a location called Painted Canyon where Ken once explored with his Uncles who owned a grape and grapefruit vineyard in the Coachella Valley. We didn't have time to explore the Canyon but the drive to it was through terrain that was most interesting in its geographical makeup.
Tomorrow a trip to the Salton Sea and Monday home. We have had two weeks of rest and relaxation and can hardly wait to start our next period of the same. Ahhh retirement.
Picturs of the Sea and the Canyon when we get back home and posting is a little easier to accomplish. I still need lots of work on my capacity to accomplish great graphics.l
Tomorrow a trip to the Salton Sea and Monday home. We have had two weeks of rest and relaxation and can hardly wait to start our next period of the same. Ahhh retirement.
Picturs of the Sea and the Canyon when we get back home and posting is a little easier to accomplish. I still need lots of work on my capacity to accomplish great graphics.l
Thursday, April 03, 2003
Wednesday night we were guests of our friends, Marian and Ken Herbert for dinner and a birthday celebration of Brother Bill's 70th birthday. The Herbert boys are a close knit group and Bill's birthday was cause for celebration. Jim, another sibling who lives in Orange County couldn't make the celebration but I am sure he was there in spirit for that seems to be the Herbert way. It is good to see families who share a strong family commitment. Bill and his wife, Diane, are avid RV'ers and we were treated to many of their "on the road" adventures and experiences, which are varied and vast. It was a great evening, even if one of the group was acknowledging the unwelcome event of the big 70. Alas, there is no escaping the "ticking of the clock".
During the evening we were entertained by an e mail from a friend of the Herbert's that I thought was pretty good in spite of being just a little "over the wall" in a couple of places, but then aren't we all? This is a friend of the Herberts from way back. I have never met the author, who is a retired neurosurgeon with a photographic memory and acclaimed a genius by his good friends who have known him from their childhood.
I understand that day by day, a new verse flows via the "web" and I hope that I will be permitted more postings.
Here it is -- with credit to R. A. Watts, M.D.
Some of you may want to remove the first verse as
it is a little over the top.
Reg
Ode to Saddam
Oh, what a beautiful war!
When it is over please bring us some more.
The Iraqi soldiers are on the dead run.
The next one we want is your son, Kim Il-Sung!
Chorus:
Singing Saddam, we don’t want to know you.
Saddam, we just want to show you.
Saddam, our bombs they will blow you
All the way to Kingdom Come,
Where the Devil is waiting for you.
Saddam is a tyrant who rules in Iraq.
If you go out with him you are not coming back.
He puts folks through shredders and in acid pools.
And he’s raised up his sons to be even more cruel.
Chorus.
Saddam is pure evil, there’s no doubting that.
He set fire to Kuwait, now he’s burning Iraq.
He told old Dan Rather he wouldn’t set fires,
But he’s proven to be a most consummate liar.
Chorus:
The French are adept at protecting Saddam.
They don’t want to shoot or to blast or to bomb.
They want the inspectors to run to and fro
While Saddam hides his weapons where they will not
show.
Chorus:
The Russians decided to follow the French.
Their actions have caused an incredible stench.
The UN is useless and that’s plain to see.
They bow to the French and they say “mais oui,oui!”
Chorus:
Inspections won’t work, we knew that from the start.
Saddam is quite clever, but he has no heart.
He knows where to hide things where they won’t be
found,
While his terrified scientists won’t make a sound.
Chorus:
”We don’t have those weapons.” Iraqis implore.
“Those sanctions are hurting, you must give us more.”
Saddam tries to play us for idiots and fools
While he hides them in hospitals, Mosques and in
schools.
Chorus:
Our troops bombed his palace, his compound and house.
But we don’t know for sure if we’ve gotten the louse.
The friends who surround him are possibly dead.
But we will not know that ‘till we gaze on their
heads.
Chorus:
Saddam hates Osamma, Osamma hates him.
But they have allied to commit grievous sins.
They hide in Tikrit and in Kandahar too.
But, our bombs they will send them both straight down
the loo.
Chorus:
Perfidious soldiers in civilian clothes
Come up to our troops in a welcoming pose,
Pretend to surrender and then in a flash
Pull rifles and rockets from under their sash.
Chorus:
Saddam’s Fedahyeen have his soldiers quite scared.
Their vicious atrocities now have been aired.
They kidnap the families and if troops don’t fight
Will lop off their heads in the poor soldiers’ sight.
Alternate chorus:
Singing he kills Iraqi civilians.
He’d knock them off by the millions!
Threatens their wives and their children
Just to force his troops to fight.
He has no use for human rights.
Saddam says he trusts the Republican guard.
When we get to Baghdad they’ll hit us real hard.
He said they would put up a wonderful fight,
But they ran off like rabbits when we came in sight.
Chorus:
If Iraqis will help us get rid of this ass
I’m sure that their troubles quite quickly will pass.
And once that poor country is rid of this creep
Iraqis once more will be able to sleep.
Chorus:
And to the Iraqis we’ll sing this glad song.
We’ll soon set you free and will right many wrongs
So to Alec Baldwin and B. Streisand too,
Why don’t you shut up, for you haven’t a clue!
Chorus:
You’ll join Adolph Hitler, Joe Stalin as well,
You’ll all be confined to the hottest of Hell.
Kin Jung-ill will be there and so will Old Mao
tse-Tung,
And that horrible dictator named Kim Il-Sung.
Singing Saddam we’re glad you’re departed.
Saddam just look what you started.
Saddam you’re so evil hearted
We’re pleased to see that your rule is through,
And feel Hell is just too good for you!
I have found the severity of the wind here to be a definite detriment to my prior preconceived idea that the desert was a place of clear, hot, dry and inviting air. Not so! It has been very windy, enough so that lawn chairs have been dislocated, lawn carpet rolled up and our automatic awnings (which have a mind of their own and automatically roll up whenever the wind gusts at 18 mph) rolled up. We have given up trying to have them out at all. In spite of living at the desert for several months in an "earlier" life and visiting frequently during the ensuing years, I simply do not remember enduring extended windy days such as we have experienced on our recent trips. Perhaps it is the overall weather that Southern California is being treated to at this time.
Today we started out for Joshua Tree National Monument but alas, a swing through Indio, Palm Desert and into Palm Springs left that an unfulfilled plan. We decided the day was not long enough to cover everything we wanted to do.
We will return home on Monday and will be there until Easter Sunday when we will depart on a trip to Las Vegas. We plan to return home via Death Valley. May 9 we leave for Florida and will spend a week in Key West and some time in Sarasota. One might say no grass grows under our feet.
Have a good day!
During the evening we were entertained by an e mail from a friend of the Herbert's that I thought was pretty good in spite of being just a little "over the wall" in a couple of places, but then aren't we all? This is a friend of the Herberts from way back. I have never met the author, who is a retired neurosurgeon with a photographic memory and acclaimed a genius by his good friends who have known him from their childhood.
I understand that day by day, a new verse flows via the "web" and I hope that I will be permitted more postings.
Here it is -- with credit to R. A. Watts, M.D.
Some of you may want to remove the first verse as
it is a little over the top.
Reg
Ode to Saddam
Oh, what a beautiful war!
When it is over please bring us some more.
The Iraqi soldiers are on the dead run.
The next one we want is your son, Kim Il-Sung!
Chorus:
Singing Saddam, we don’t want to know you.
Saddam, we just want to show you.
Saddam, our bombs they will blow you
All the way to Kingdom Come,
Where the Devil is waiting for you.
Saddam is a tyrant who rules in Iraq.
If you go out with him you are not coming back.
He puts folks through shredders and in acid pools.
And he’s raised up his sons to be even more cruel.
Chorus.
Saddam is pure evil, there’s no doubting that.
He set fire to Kuwait, now he’s burning Iraq.
He told old Dan Rather he wouldn’t set fires,
But he’s proven to be a most consummate liar.
Chorus:
The French are adept at protecting Saddam.
They don’t want to shoot or to blast or to bomb.
They want the inspectors to run to and fro
While Saddam hides his weapons where they will not
show.
Chorus:
The Russians decided to follow the French.
Their actions have caused an incredible stench.
The UN is useless and that’s plain to see.
They bow to the French and they say “mais oui,oui!”
Chorus:
Inspections won’t work, we knew that from the start.
Saddam is quite clever, but he has no heart.
He knows where to hide things where they won’t be
found,
While his terrified scientists won’t make a sound.
Chorus:
”We don’t have those weapons.” Iraqis implore.
“Those sanctions are hurting, you must give us more.”
Saddam tries to play us for idiots and fools
While he hides them in hospitals, Mosques and in
schools.
Chorus:
Our troops bombed his palace, his compound and house.
But we don’t know for sure if we’ve gotten the louse.
The friends who surround him are possibly dead.
But we will not know that ‘till we gaze on their
heads.
Chorus:
Saddam hates Osamma, Osamma hates him.
But they have allied to commit grievous sins.
They hide in Tikrit and in Kandahar too.
But, our bombs they will send them both straight down
the loo.
Chorus:
Perfidious soldiers in civilian clothes
Come up to our troops in a welcoming pose,
Pretend to surrender and then in a flash
Pull rifles and rockets from under their sash.
Chorus:
Saddam’s Fedahyeen have his soldiers quite scared.
Their vicious atrocities now have been aired.
They kidnap the families and if troops don’t fight
Will lop off their heads in the poor soldiers’ sight.
Alternate chorus:
Singing he kills Iraqi civilians.
He’d knock them off by the millions!
Threatens their wives and their children
Just to force his troops to fight.
He has no use for human rights.
Saddam says he trusts the Republican guard.
When we get to Baghdad they’ll hit us real hard.
He said they would put up a wonderful fight,
But they ran off like rabbits when we came in sight.
Chorus:
If Iraqis will help us get rid of this ass
I’m sure that their troubles quite quickly will pass.
And once that poor country is rid of this creep
Iraqis once more will be able to sleep.
Chorus:
And to the Iraqis we’ll sing this glad song.
We’ll soon set you free and will right many wrongs
So to Alec Baldwin and B. Streisand too,
Why don’t you shut up, for you haven’t a clue!
Chorus:
You’ll join Adolph Hitler, Joe Stalin as well,
You’ll all be confined to the hottest of Hell.
Kin Jung-ill will be there and so will Old Mao
tse-Tung,
And that horrible dictator named Kim Il-Sung.
Singing Saddam we’re glad you’re departed.
Saddam just look what you started.
Saddam you’re so evil hearted
We’re pleased to see that your rule is through,
And feel Hell is just too good for you!
I have found the severity of the wind here to be a definite detriment to my prior preconceived idea that the desert was a place of clear, hot, dry and inviting air. Not so! It has been very windy, enough so that lawn chairs have been dislocated, lawn carpet rolled up and our automatic awnings (which have a mind of their own and automatically roll up whenever the wind gusts at 18 mph) rolled up. We have given up trying to have them out at all. In spite of living at the desert for several months in an "earlier" life and visiting frequently during the ensuing years, I simply do not remember enduring extended windy days such as we have experienced on our recent trips. Perhaps it is the overall weather that Southern California is being treated to at this time.
Today we started out for Joshua Tree National Monument but alas, a swing through Indio, Palm Desert and into Palm Springs left that an unfulfilled plan. We decided the day was not long enough to cover everything we wanted to do.
We will return home on Monday and will be there until Easter Sunday when we will depart on a trip to Las Vegas. We plan to return home via Death Valley. May 9 we leave for Florida and will spend a week in Key West and some time in Sarasota. One might say no grass grows under our feet.
Have a good day!
Tuesday, April 01, 2003
4/01/03
It is Monday morning on the desert and all is as it should be. The temperature is in the 90 degree range, the birds are chirping, the park is afloat with Seniors and I am at my computer. Ken has gone into town (Cathederal City) to get the brakes on the car checked and I am enjoying silence from the tv and war.
With the exception of brief personal notes to family and friends I am going to try and use patsgazette as my primary communication tool for two reasons. The first and primary reason is to reduce the amount of download time one has to endure to get my often less than interesting observations and two - give you a choice of deciding whether you want to read my nonsense at all.
Perhaps I will do a "spam" type advisory whenever I have posted a new "blog" onto the Gazette and then it will be up to you, my faithful readers, family and friends, to decide whether or not you want to go on line and see what the "old girl" has her "britches in a bunch" about this time. Also from time to time I will be posting photos from our adventures on the road and again, they are time consuming for downloading particularly when the quality may not justify the time on line.
This is a test of my ability to create a "post" off line and upload it into the GAZETTE. If I can perfect this simple actgion, maybe I will begin to get a feel for my ability to perform "on the road". Won't that be a kick?
I think this is enough for this trial and error program. More as the days go by!
Oh yes - just because I have implemented this way of boring, entertaining or communicating with all of you, do not erroneously conclude that you have been relieved of your responsibility to respond and/or keep in touch with us either via the "email me" choice at the end of each post or by our usual e mail address. To do so will, as time goes by, remove you from my address book! No threat - just fact!
Our son is already a prime candidate for "toast" in our mail box. Daughter may be next. I think our children think we are just two "old folks" lazing around and unworthy of their response. We parents get no respect!