January 2020

A lot of this is cut and paste because I wanted to try doing a new routine with my exercises and studies... around the 25th I kinda burned out on this but continued on until the end of the month.

January 2020

My last run of 2019 and my first run of 2020

I held the camera sideways and upside down by mistake, I was so cold all you get is me huffing and puffing and mumbling on and on trying to come up with something to say so there wouldn't be any dead air; I couldn't remember the names of my own books I spent many hours writing and editing. Even when midnight hit there weren't any fireworks to show. At least I did what I said I was going to do.
my midnight run

Wednesday 01- 52/41F sunny with evening clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie. I didn't need my jacket and gloves for this sunny day.

I did my studies; astronomy, biology, anatomy.

I went to Kjtel’s New Year's dinner. Jeff, Nancy, Pat, and Charles were there. Mostly it was leftovers from New Year’s Eve party but it was mighty yummy.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Astronomy Cast Episode 527: Ancient astronomy of the American Southwest.

Thursday 02- 62/41F and sunny, but a bit windy later in the day. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did a load of laundry, but too cold and wind to hang out to dry, I’ll try again tomorrow.

I swept the floors to the bedroom and bathroom.

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy (reading 365 Starry Nights again), reading aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I started doing afternoon exercises, we’ll see how long that lasts, I did yoga, exercised with the 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 528: Modern astronomy in America’s southwest.

I did the poop patrol. I fixed my truck’s door where the rubber came off by using silicon glue.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent an hour or so working to put all four of my Copper Mountain series into one paperback.

Friday 03- 66/38F a bit hazy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I cleaned up around the house emptying the ashes from the woodstove. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy (reading 365 Starry Nights again), reading aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I started doing afternoon exercises, we’ll see how long that lasts, I did yoga, exercised with the 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Special Episode: Star Party.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. 

I spent an hour or so working to put all four of my Copper Mountain series into one paperback.

Saturday 04- 64/38F sunny and warm. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I mopped the floors to the bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. It was all by accident. I went to only clean the shower in my 20min clean the house routine, but spilled the bowl of water containing Lysol all over the bathroom. So I grabbed the mop to soak it up. I thought while I was at it, I might as well clean the bathroom floor, which led to the bedroom and the rest of the house being mopped. Two hours later into my 20min only clean the house routine I was done

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 529: ancient astronomy of the Andes.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent 2 hours and finished editing book one of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Sunday 05- 66/40F sunny with gusts of winds up to 20mph. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 530: modern astronomy of the Andes.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Monday 06- 63/37F. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I took my guest to Yucca Valley to rent a car. I got gas and then went to Stater Bros. to pick up a few supplies. I then went to see my Friend Mack who is in a continuing care facility. We had a great chat and jawed about the community center’s problems.

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast 531: Australian Indigenous Astronomy.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Tuesday 07- 65/40F hazy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I picked up my guest in Yucca Valley when she returned her rental car. We went to Applebee's for lunch. Before going home, I stopped to get two propane tanks filled.

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 532: modern astronomy of the Andes.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent 3 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Wednesday 08- 63/38F with a cold wind with gusts up to 15mph. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 533: ancient astronomy of South Africa. 

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Thursday 09- 56/39F cold and windy with gusts over 25mph. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 534: Modern astronomy of South Africa. 

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

Practiced my guitar. I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback finishing book 3 for formating.

Friday 10- 58/34F. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised, yoga and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Episode 535: what to watch out for in the summer skies.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells.

I spent 3 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Saturday 11- 61/36 sunny and breezy at times. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer (thought I’d throw that into the afternoon exercises), yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast 536: Everyday Relativity.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Sunday 12- 59/36F sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast 537: Reusable Rocket Revolution.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I’m writing a new song and it on playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Monday 13- 61/35F mostly sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. Some bad people littered the road near my home and I went out there and cleaned it all up. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did the poop patrol. I moved stuff into storage in my trailer; I had to make some living room in the house... it was getting to confining.

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 538: Asteroids: Rubble Piles of the Solar System.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I’m still figuring out the new song on my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Tuesday 14- 64/36F. Kjtel dropped by with Bodie to say howdy. Bodie is feeling much better after having an infected tooth pulled. Cassie ran to him instead of Kjtel like she always does; my guess is she knew he was hurting. Jeff stopped by with my USDA distribution food bag; lots of canned corn...

I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 539: Weird Issues: Why We Don't Know the Age of Saturn's Rings.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Wednesday 15- 61/33F and overcast.I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I got fed up with going to haircutting shops and asking them how long until they can cut my hair, and their reply is always an hour or so. I have more important things to do than wait in a chemical-smelling place waiting, so I have an electric hair trimmer at home and I did it myself. I may have cut it too low because my head gets really cold when I go outside.

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 540: Weird Issues: How Do (or Don't) Planets Form?

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. 

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Thursday 16- 67/38F and hazy.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast episode 541. Weird issues: The expansion rate of the universe.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Friday 17- 58/35F and again hazy skies. My good friend Bob Vandenburg called to chat for a long spell. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a bike/run while listening to Ep. 543: Weird Issues: The Habitable Zone of different solar systems in our galaxy.  

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Saturday 18- 62/39F a few high clouds.

I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I called my good friend Larry Carlock and we chatted for a spell about when we took a scuba class back in the early ‘70s and went to Catalina Island on the Westerly out of San Pedro. Our class dove down to 90 feet! Larry and me dove out at the coves in Palos Verde. We must have hit every cove there. One time we heard an underwater earthquake!

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Ep. 544: Weird Issues: Biosignatures...

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Sunday 19- 67/45F cloudy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I went to the poetry reading at Space Cowboy Books in JT and read one of my poems. What a wonderful time we all had at the poetry reading today. Lots of fantastic folks reading poems with such immense feeling from the heart that makes us all remember we are together on this tiny planet and possibly unique in this vast Cosmos we call home. I met Carol who runs a boutique, I also met Supinda a very good poet and it was her first time on stage. I finally found Taira’s boutique; she had moved some time ago from her original place by the stage. She saw me and gave me a big hug and also remembered my name!

Once I got home, I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a bike/run while listening to Ep. 545: Weird Issues: Are comets asteroids or are asteroids comets?

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Monday 20- 63/43 with clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Ep. 546: Weird Issues: Planetary Migration.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Tuesday 21- I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I went to the post office to pick up a package. Then I went to Stater Bros for supplies. I met a guy called Dan sitting out front collecting signatures for petitions and I signed a few. I thought he was from around here because he knew so much about our issues here; no he’s from New Mexico and gets paid from a company that makes money collecting signatures.

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Ep. 547: Why Astronomy Still Needs Humans.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Wednesday 22- 64/44F.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

Kirk, Shawn, and Randy from the Jahowa Witnesses came by.

Kjtel and Bodie dropped by in the evening for a chat and a walk.

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 548: Stellar nucleosynthesis revisited: In stellar cores & atmospheres.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 4 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Thursday 23-  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 549: Stellar nucleosynthesis revisited: In and on and around dead stars.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. 

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Friday 24- 71/44F sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 550: Missing Epochs – Observing the Cosmic Dark Ages.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Saturday 25- 71/44F sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 552: Boyajian’s star (and other strange stars).

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Ripped off the metal part of the garage roof. 

Our Little Community’s Potluck; I feel like I have done died and went to heaven the food was so scrumptious. We celebrated Valentine’s Day early just like WalMart and the rest of them retail shops do. 

Let me tell you what y'all missed: Dyan Caroll brought in these two large pork roasts so cooked to perfection that just the aroma made this poor soul drool, and so tender the meat fell off my fork. Elizabeth West cooked up a mighty tasty spaghetti, but her garlic bread left me wanting more! Pretty Patti Huges makes a dang good meatloaf we all gobbled down along with her yummy lemon cupcakes. Mary Rider and Amiyah delighted us with their world-famous potato salad. Chris VanNortrick and her mom Mary stuffed us all with their egg, cheese, and noodle casseroles. We were all happy to see Yvonne Francis arrived with her banana pudding and sauerkraut casserole. Now I can’t tell you all what was brought in by these Masters of the Palate because I could go on and on, we tend to do this in the desert, but just to let you know we filled up two large tables and everyone took home plenty. Oh, and we hired this old man to mop the floors and paid him in food.

Sunday 26- 70/48F cloudy with high evening winds.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 553: What To Look Forward To In 2020.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. 

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Monday 27- 68/44F and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 554: Big Telescope Controversy in Hawai’i...

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 6 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Tuesday 28- 72/47 sunny and nice. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Astronomy Cast Ep. 555: Satellite Constellations and the Future of Astronomy.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 7 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Wednesday 29- 63/42F with wind to 35mph.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Ep. 556: Multi-Messenger Astronomy.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I’m playing my guitar.

I spent 6 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback. 

Thursday 30- 67/42F. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 4 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

Friday 31- 71/45F sunny.  I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies throughout the day: anatomy, biology, astronomy, read aloud out of the “Molecular & Cell Biology” book. 

I did my afternoon exercised,  core trainer, yoga, and exercised with 10lbs dumbbells, and took Cassie for a walk while listening to Ep. 557: Red Dwarfs: Friend or Foe.

I did my nightly stretches and worked out with the 20lbs dumbbells. I practiced playing my guitar.

I spent 2 hours editing book two of my Copper Mountain series in paperback.

****************** Poems for January **************

Accept your impermanence and go about life as if you’ll live forever.

~RD

Don't let naysayers drag you down into a world of self-doubt and self-pity... just stand up, laugh in their face, and go prove them wrong... that should shut the little assholes up <3 span="">

~RD

There’s nothing wrong with being right and nothing right about being wrong... Unless you are wrong about being right and right about being wrong.

~RD

                     ***************************

December 2019

December 2019

Sunday 01- still feeling sick.

Monday 02- I felt better today and did my stretches and lifted weights. Just not up to jogging yet.
I drove to the Twentynine Palms post office to pick up a package of two old Nokia 800n handheld computers. I filled up the car and two five-gallon containers with gas and then went to Staters to pick up some supplies.

Tuesday 03- bad weather...

Wednesday 04- rained all day long. I did my stretches. It was a perfect time to sit down and write, address, and stamp all my Christmas cards. I finished all twenty of them and just need to send them out.

Thursday 05- very cloudy with intermittent showers.
I did my stretches, core trainer, and jogged a mile with Cassie. I wanted to exercise on the weight bench but everything was soaked after the rains.
I did my studies: astronomy and biology and listened to Astronomy Cast Lecture # 523.


Friday 06- the Sun came out today and charged up my batteries.
I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I did my studies: astronomy and biology and listened to Astronomy Cast Lecture # 524.


Saturday 07-
I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I did my studies: astronomy and biology and listened to Astronomy Cast Lecture # 525.

Sunday 08- overcast with sprinkles. I woke up in the middle of the night with a splitting headache. It kinda scared me. I think it's due to these pills to reduce my cholesterol that I ain't going to take anymore. It still hurts right now but not as bad. I'm just going to take it easy today.

Monday 09- sunny with a few clouds here and there. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a short walk. I’m still feeling kinda weird and I guess I’ll feel this way until those cholesterol pills are washed out of my system.
I worked on and spent most of the day publishing my two books on Amazon, but ran into some problems with uploading one of the covers for the paperbacks; the Ebooks went okay though. I sent the template to Bonnie my cover artist.

Tuesday 10- sunny. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk.
I then drove Kelly down to the county office in Joshua Tree to get land she purchased registered into her name. This is the second time I had to drive her there. The last time she was told that the seller who lives in Canada has to go to the US Embassy to get it notarized. We went shopping after that. We stopped by Burger King so I could wish my friend and fellow poet Giovanni a happy birthday and Kelly and I ate burgers and fries. I finally mailed off all those Christmas Cards I had ready to send to friends and family.
Found out the other paperback cover wasn’t working but I’ll wait on this and send it to Bonnie later.

Wednesday 11- sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
Astronomy Cast Ep. 526 about The Event Horizon Telescope and imaging M87 black hole event horizon.
I went to the Community Center for a meeting to discuss disaster preparedness. Two members from the Joshua Tree Water District were there along with 15 or so from our community. We had some great discussions and also formed ideas on how to proceed in creating some sort of an organization to implement these ideas. We decided to have a meeting sometime in January.

Thursday 12- windy. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.
I worked on books.

Friday 13- very windy! I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk.
I drove my truck to Home Depot to get 16 2x4x8s to finish my patio. Stopped off at Walmart to get some supplies. I fueled up the truck and two 5 gallon gas cans. I stopped at Bar Lumber to fill up two 5 gallon propane tanks. I’m all fueled up and ready for the winter.
Still working on the books.

Saturday 14- even windier! I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk.
Worked on the books.

Sunday 15- windy and cold. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk.
I drove down to Space Cowboy Books for the poetry reading. I didn’t read but took pictures and put them online to share. It was way too cold for these old bones and I left early.

Monday 16- still cold and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog.
I attended our 2019 Morongo Basin CERT Christmas Party. I took a bunch of pictures. Elections were held, awards handed out, gifts were exchanged, and everyone got mighty stuffed on all the great food that was waiting on the serving tables for us to devour.

Tuesday 17- cold; my cement pond froze.
I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie.
Bonny and me finally got the cover right on my new book, Upon Ashen Roads: Betrayal and Resurrection” and I published it!

Wednesday 18- colder! I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Thursday 19- not as cold. I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Friday 20- warmer today. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie. Later we went on a bike/run.
I cut up a bunch of firewood.
I made rice and went to the Community Center's Christmas Potluck (not to be confused with our monthly potluck). Many people there I didn’t know who attend our First Saturday Breakfast that ends about the time I wake up.

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22- I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk... that’s all I can remember... except working on the short stories.

Monday 23- Rained all day long but it didn’t create Lake Lucille. I did some stretches and exercised with the 20lbs dumbbells.
Worked on the short stories I decided to include in “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

Tuesday 24- sunny cold. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a jog.

Wednesday 25-  cloudy cold. I knew it was going to rain tomorrow so I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and took Cassie for a jog.
Worked on the short stories.

Thursday 26- SNOW! Rained all day. Lake Lucille at the bottom of my street, cars getting stuck, Leaks in the house. I did my stretches and stayed mostly inside. Solar panels covered in snow and not charging batteries, so I had to cut down on using electrical.

Friday 27- sunny, windy, and cold. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.
I worked on the roof fixing the leak. It was where I had drilled to put in a little solar panel to run a fan during summer. I also cleaned the corrosion off my trucks battery terminals because it didn’t start. Got it started and filled up a tire that has a slow leak. I finished formatting “Azure Sea of Dreams” and loaded it up, but again the cover has to be redone because I added 30 or 50 thousand words. I really want to get back to storytelling instead of all this editing and formatting.

Saturday 28- started out sunny and then came the wind and the cold.
I cooked up my pot of rice and headed to potluck, except my truck wouldn’t start. I needed to pick up Chris because she has the keys to the center and people would be left outside waiting. I couldn’t take my little car because it wouldn’t make it past Lake Lucille that forms on Winters Rd. when it rains, making it very difficult for small vehicles to get through. So, I tapped the battery terminals with a hammer and that did the trick and I was on my way.
Earlier, Dyan Caroll sent me a text:
“I’m doing a pot roast so big I have to use 2 crockpots. Honey buttered carrots, Brussel sprouts in a cream sauce, brown and serve rolls and a strawberry shortcake trifle. Cal and Tina are coming too. My sister is making the mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese and a beautiful cookie platter. I’m hungry I haven’t ate yet today and don’t plan on it till dinner.”
There was lots of yummy food, good friends, and nice conversations with these wonderful folks who I consider Family.

Sunday 29- cloudy, windy and cold. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.
I really did a thorough cleaning job on the truck’s battery terminals. It took me an hour, but it starts up the engine every time!

Monday 30- cold and cloudy. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk. I didn’t have much time because my guest Kelly needed a ride to the car rental place in Yucca Valley so she can visit her doctor in Palm Springs. I did some shopping at WalMart. The place was crowded and so were the streets getting there.

Tuesday 31- 58/46F cloudy. I did my stretches, lifted weight, and took Cassie for a walk. My Guest needed me to pick her up from the car rental place after she drops it off. I am preparing for my run out of 2019 and run into 2020 a new decade, a new beginning, and many bright promises if we let love and tranquility into our hearts.


**************** December 2019 POEMS ************

Instead of New Year's resolutions for 2020, I'm making me a road map of detours, roadblocks, dead ends, and toll booths to hopefully avoid. <3 p="">~RD

If I was a younger man I’d shower her with chocolates, flowers, and gifts galore. I’d whisper sweet tender words into her ear to warm her loins and sway her love towards me. But alas, I am an older man, lost youth be to me, I can only gaze upon her sweet cherry lips, gypsy lace velvet hips, with raven hair so dark it’ll suck up my soul......  from across the foggy sea banks from afar on yonder shore I ponder my fate.
~RD

Push! I want to become relevant in a world gone non relevant. Or how to stay relevant in a non-relevant world... :)

If we all decided to leave Earth and left it to all the animals to evolve on their own... would they miss us?
~RD

There’s something is missing, a great loss from deep within and you can't put your finger on it.
I know, it can happen later, maybe a month or many years later those feelings I spoke comes roaring back... Sometimes I wake in the morning and there's that sense of loss; it could be from a dog, cats, or people in my life I had enjoyed their presence but have passed on and my longing for them persists into the years.
~RD

Poems are like this: We reflect our souls into them, and they shine right back at us in words of rhyme and reason to comfort us in times of despair, to enlighten us in times of doubt, and to give us joy in these times of uncertainty. Poems are our way of expressing the inexpressible…
~RD

***************************************

November 2019

November 2019

Friday 01- I did my stretches.

I help Kelly hookup her propane to her trailer.

I spent the evening editing “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

Saturday 02- I did my stretches, situps, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I listened to two more Astronomy Cast Lectures: Ep.

I dug out and removed the clothesline thingy so I can start working on phase 2 of the patio.

I took Cassie for a bike/run 

Sunday 03- I did my evening stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I did some chores around the house.

I took Cassie for a bike/run over to check on Jimmy Stonebraker’s cabin.

Later in the evening, I took Cassie for a nice walk.

I cooked up a big pot of spaghetti and stuffed myself.

I started editing and adding more poems, parables to “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

Monday 04-  I did my evening stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, yoga, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I continued to update and edit “Azure Sea of Dreams.

Took Cassie for a bike/run and later for an evening walk.

I did my evening stretches.

Tuesday 05- I did my stretches, core trainer, jogged a mile with Cassie, exercised on the weight bench.

Still working on “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

Took Cassie for a bike/run.

Cassie and I went to visit Bodie and Kjtel and watched two episodes of 

Wednesday 06- I did my stretches, core trainer, jogged a mile with Cassie. Later in the evening, I took her for a bike/run.

I did some more work on the patio expanding it.

Still adding and editing “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

FedEx delivered my new ebike a 54.19Ah Juiced City Scrambler. I quickly put it together. The WatchTower people paid me a visit and we sat around talking ebikes.

I took Cassie for an evening walk.

I did my evening stretches.

Thursday 07- I did my stretches. Cassie killed a jackrabbit and ate most of it... I’m kinda afraid of her sleeping with me. I think I’ll keep her well-fed for now on.

I went to my appointment for my physical. Had a nice chat with the Doctor there talking about everything. He is 6 months older than me and we had a lot in common.

Still adding and editing “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

I did my evening stretches.

 Friday 08- I did my stretches, core trainer, jogged a mile with Cassie, exercised on the weight bench. Later in the day, I took her for a bike run.

Worked on the patio. Still adding and editing “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

Saturday 09-  I did my stretches, core trainer, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Our little community held it annual meeting on Saturday the 9th of November to elect or re-elect a new 2020 board of directors for our Copper Mountain Mesa Association. A regular board meeting was held first to wrap up the year. I can tell you they are a talkative bunch covering all kinds of issues. One issue was the dangerous condition our roads were left in when the county decided to use Winters Road as an emergency bypass when Highway 62 was shut down for a day. Another issue was the new cell towers being trenched and erected.

The meeting had a light turnout but those of us attending were treated to beef and turkey sandwiches, refreshments, and Mary Helen’s famous yummy cookies. The General Meeting started off with the Pledge of Allegiance. There were openings to fill and we got right down to voting and we are proud to announce the new board for 2020:  President Kip Fjeld, Vice Pres Stephanie Smith, 2nd Vice Pres  Crystal Wysong, Secretary Michel Cicero, Treasurer Mary Helen Tuttle, Director Mack Dodd, Director Steve Tuttle,  and Director Chiara Giovando.

We should all be thankful for these wonderful neighbors of ours who are willing to donate their time and perform the duties that keep our little community functioning for so the rest of us can continue to enjoy our desert home.  

I went right back to work on the patio and edit “Azure Sea of Dreams”.

Sunday 10- I did my stretches.

I took Cassie for a walk over to visit Jimmy Stonebraker and his family who are up here from LA for a family reunion.

Worked on the patio and editing.

I did my evening stretches.

Monday 11- I did my stretches, core trainer, worked out on the weight bench, and jog a mile with Cassie. Later in the evening, we went for a bike/run.

Worked on the patio and editing.

I did my evening stretches.

Tuesday 12- I did my stretches and went for a mile jog with Cassie.

Worked on the patio and editing. I went to the wellness clinic in Yucca Valley for my annual physical.

Wednesday 13- I did my stretches, took Cassie for a mile jog, and exercised on the weight bench.

I did a whole lot of work on the patio extension and was pretty tired when I got done.

Thursday 14- I went to Yucca Valley to get an X-ray and complete my physical. I stopped off at the post office first to sign and pick up a registered envelope for Kelly’s property transfer documents.

Friday 15, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17- kinda got busy and forgot to write down what the hell I did in those day.

Monday 18- I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and ran a mile with cassie.

I am still editing my poem book.

Shanna arrived from Arizona with her three sons ages 4, 12, and 17. She needed a place to stay until she finds a house... tough times. I’m been a batular all my life and haven’t been around children. I guess I’ll find out how I’d do as a parent for a short while.

Tuesday 19- rained most of the day. I did my stretches.

I took Kelly down to Yucca Valley to pick up her rental car so she can drive to Palm Springs to see her doctor. I had an appointment to see my doctor so it wasn’t out of the way. My chest X-ray turned clear but my triglycerides were high and she gave me a prescription that I filled at Rockey’s.  

Wednesday 20- rained a little here and there. I did my stretches.

I picked up Kelly at the place in Yucca where she dropped off the rental car. I needed to get my vaccinations; one for pneumonia and the other for shingles. The shingles one hurts really bad and I have felt pain for many days after.

I made a big pot of spaghetti and it was all eaten up by the end of the day.

We sat around watching a movie and eating popcorn again.

Thursday 21- My arms hurt and I’m not feeling very good so I didn’t do my exercises.

Shanna’s two older sons never rode a motorcycle so I took out my scooter and gave them instructions on how to start and ride. Then I let them go. They had a whole lot of fun. I also let them ride one of my eBikes and they had fun on that too. Later once night fell I took out the telescope. We saw Saturn and a few meteors shoot across the sky. We sat around watching a movie and eating popcorn again.

Friday 22- I did my stretches, core trainer, worked out on the weight bench, and jog a mile with Cassie. 

Shanna took the two older boys to visit her ex for the weekend and didn’t come home until late. This gave me time to work on my poem book and I got a lot done on it.

I started feeling a cold coming on.

Saturday 23-  Yup I came down with a cold, bummer. I am adding and editing Azure Sea of Dreams.

Sunday 24- I am Sick. I am adding and editing Azure Sea of Dreams

Monday 25- I am still sick. I am adding and editing Azure Sea of Dreams

Tuesday 26- I’m sick but I went to the store to get a few things like cough drops. I finished adding and editing Azure Sea of Dreams... I think.

Wednesday 27- Feeling better now and was able to get around more. The past few days I tried not to give whatever I had to anyone else staying at my home.

Thursday 28- ThanksGiving! Shanna cooked up a storm. She used the BBQ to cook the turkey... it took a few hours to do but it all turned out fine. First time I ever had people at my house for Thanksgiving or anything else; it was fun. Later we watched movies, ate popcorn, and had hot chocolate with marshmallows. 

Friday 29- I woke up this morning and noticed Bon Bon wasn’t in the yard, and I thought you took him with you over to your friend's house. Then I went online and read your text and hunted down your letter. I realized right then I will really miss you guys. It was the most excellent Thanksgiving ever for this old bachelor. It made me feel like a father to the kids. Yesterday Markiss asked me to help him with his history and science homework; I felt mighty good, and I was available to help when he was ready. I couldn’t wait to get the telescope out on a clear night again with CJ, who I think is interested in astronomy as I am. I’m happy for the time you guys spent here; me getting to let the two boys ride a motor scooter for their first time, an experience I hope they never forget. I even got used to Riley’s tantrums... Well, kind of sort of ;)

Tears welled up in my eyes as I read your letter, and I felt very lonely for the first time in many years, but I quickly fell back into my perpetual bachelorship.  

Saturday 30- cold and rain in the evening.

Kelly’s puppy Lily passed on and I dug a deep hole and we buried her. She was a very strong and resilient dog.

There were about 20 denizens of the desert attending our Annual Saturday Thanksgiving Potluck. Elizabeth West rowed to shore from the Mayflower bringing us apple sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean salad, and pumpkin cheesecake. Pretty Patti Huges manned the oars rowing alongside Elizabeth with dinner rolls, cranberry salad, cookies, cream cheese and crackers. Dyan Carroll hunted through the forests of Massachusetts stalking us down a turkey, yummy pecan bars, and a corn casserole. John Jacobson arrived in the New World bearing Hawaiian buns and fruit tray. Chris VanNortrick and Mary Kobal trudged all the way from Plymouth Rock through ten feet of snow carrying veggie chili casserole, yams, and assorted cookies for everyone. Mary Rider added to our food coma with her delicious potato salad. We all had a wonderful time gobbling down the cornucopia of vittles with our pilgrim friends who donated money and went home with plenty of leftovers and a Tryptophan hangover. Happy Holidays from our little community.

******************** Poems for November 2019 **************

Poems are like this: We reflect our souls into them, and they shine right back at us in words of rhyme and reason to comfort us in times of despair, to enlighten us in times of doubt, and to give us joy in these times of uncertainty. Poems are our way of expressing the inexpressible…

~RD

Don’t let the past be your anchor, but your guide.

~RD

Basically, I’m done with all this Political Correctness nonsense and have moved on in life. Some people are too easily offended that it stifles communication. But it is, to me, more frightening to think how some would have us being ruled and our ideas sequestered and condemned if our beliefs and actions do not comply with our PC overlords.

~RD

Surround yourself with interesting people who have the courage to be different, who dare to exhibit profound creative ability, and the unpresumptuous audacity to think they can change the world for the better, for they are the ones who can.

~RD

Creativity is what follows the realization that everything is possible, and the only boundaries you will encounter are those set by others who haven’t come to that realization yet.

~RD

Paintings, sculptures, or words of description cannot render the lively soul of such a sweet girl, but only a poet’s heart or an angel’s touch could ever come near to knowing such a bonny young lass as thee.

~RD

Forever is not a place in time but a realm of colors in our minds. Shades of blue and shades of green paint this landscape of our dreams. Little we know the parts we play when we wake up to face another day, to search this realm of flesh to find, a friend so dear, not left behind.

~RD

The end of the road looks hidden and gloomy as I walk this path of my life’s final journey. I hear a cry, a shout, a wild winter’s scream, I stop to glance back and caught sight of a being, who might be following, and stalking me down, who hides in the shadows to strike me a blow, to be left to die slowly on the side of the road.

Ascending now quickly into these cold damp dreary hollows, where forsaken souls arrive quickly from dark, dismal dreams. I am now attacked on all sides by these evil swarms, covering my ears from screaming Banshees. I jump, I sprint, I windmill my arms to fight off this curse, to run away swiftly before it gets worse. I slow in my journey down a two-legged highway and come to rest on an old wooden bench. The bench seems alive but all weathered and gray, from paint that has chipped and rotted away. Across lies a field all covered in thorns, I shall not tread over there for my shoes are quite worn. This old bench which I sit catching my breath is really a trap as its limbs start to unwrap. With twigs for fingers, they pick, and they tear, shedding my clothes, my flesh, and pulling my hair. Reaching out grabbing and squeezing, the limbs are now closing, blocking my view, from all things that I love and friends that knew. Cherished loved ones whose paths I have crossed, most have gone missing, perished, or lost. I have no regrets on this wild road I’ve chosen, what lies beyond this dream of a life, nobody knows unless woken.

~RD

I hope you find a sturdy boat someday and begin your voyage far, to the fairy realm to witness the unicorn races and watch fairies sprinkled in pixy dust dance to the strum of the centaurs' harp. Indeed it is a magical place, which lies nearby in twilight’s break between a tick in time, where dreamers of dreams meet to celebrate the coming of a new dawn. I hope to see you there one day, I hope your travels are perfectly fine. I shall meet you there someday, my friend, between the tick in time.

~RD

It probably sounds crazy of me, but if I could only find the right words, to plant a seed that will grow and spread, of love and peace, in the minds of those who would bring us all down, if I could just find those words everything would be okay.

~RD

*************************

October 2019

Early October cement pond ice

October 2019

Tuesday 01- 85/59 and clear. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, hit and broke the heavybag and it fell to the floor while I was punching it, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I moved my solar panels to about where I want them on the back patio roof.
I did my evening stretches.

Wednesday 02- 90/63- I did my stretches and went for a mile jog with Cassie.
I worked on connecting the wires to the panels. It seems to me I spend most of my time looking for the tools and parts I need. It might be to my benefit to collect them all into one place.

Thursday 03- 93/65- I did my stretches. I worked on the electrical of my solar system.
I did my evening stretches.

Friday 04- 93/65- I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench and the 10 and 20 pound dumbbells, and took Cassie for a mile jog.
I needed some connectors for wires connecting the panels together, so I made a run into 29 Palms. I also got some supplies at Stater Bros. Supermarket.
I did my evening stretches.

Saturday 05- 94-/60. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a bike/run (I bike, she run).
I worked on my solar panels.
I did my evening stretches.

Sunday 06-
I did my evening stretches.

Monday 07- 96/59F. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench and the 10 and 20 pound dumbbells, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Tuesday 08- 98/62F. I did my stretches
I did my evening stretches.
I completed my book but just don’t know what to name it... I called it the Kneeling Man, but that might change. Anyways, I posted it on my FaceBook page as a PDF my friends can download. I will leave it posted there for one month only and then delete it before I publish it.

Wednesday 09- 93/59F and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I went to the post office in 29 to pick up the solar wiring I ordered. The went to do some shopping. I checked out the health club while there to see if my membership was still good; it was. I think I might start using it.

Thursday 10- 85/59F and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench and the 10 and 20-pound dumbbells, and took Cassie for a mile jog.
A guy called Jason and his girlfriend ran out of gas
I frisky and did my stretches, core trainer, did 50 setups, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Friday 11- 84/55F. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I did my evening stretches.

Saturday 12- 85/ 54. I did my stretches, core trainer, situps, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I did my evening stretches.

Sunday 13- 87/ 58. I did my stretches, core trainer, situps, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
I did my evening stretches.
Solar panels

Monday 14- 89/ 56. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and took Cassie for a mile jog.
Monday night's dinner thingy at the community center.
Solar panels
I did my evening stretches.

Tuesday 15- 90/57F. I took Kelly to Yucca to rent a car so she can see her doctor in Palm Springs. I went to get my flu shot and then went to Labcor to get my blood work done.
Jason came by to use my air-pump to inflate one of his tires.

Wednesday 16- 87/59F with clouds. I did my stretches. I followed Kelly so she can return the rental car in Yucca. We did a little shopping at a new supermarket there called Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. The store had many discounts with fair pricing. We had lunch at Carl’s Jr.
I visited Shanna and her kids at Motel 6 in 29 Palms. They drove out from Arizona to visit me and she’s thinking of moving back here.

Thursday 17- 86/52F and very windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie.
UPS delivered the 200AH gel cell battery I ordered. It weighs 127 LBS and I think I may have pulled a muscle lifting and moving into place (I gots to remember I ain’t 24 anymore). Got it all hooked up with the other 200AH gel cell battery, making a total of 400AH the inverter has to pull off of.
I had dinner with Shanna and her kids at Pizza Hut in 29 Palms. I had a very good time.

Friday 18- 89/67F.  Saturday 19- 89/67F.
I did my stretches and walked Cassie.

Sunday 20- 90/63F.
I wondered where all that traffic came from going past my house yesterday all night. The last time when Winters Rd was used as an emergency bypass was many years ago when there was a bomb scare on Hwy 62.
I wonder when the County is going to pave Winters Rd if it's going to use it as an emergency bypass in the future?

Monday 21- 92/65F.
Well, I found out why all the traffic came down our road: Hi-Desert Star “A fatal collision happened late Sunday night, Oct. 20, on Twentynine Palms Highway east of Rotary Way. A huge section of Twentynine Palms Highway remained closed to through traffic Monday morning in as investigators continued to work on the scene. At Lear Avenue, Citizen Patrol volunteers spent Sunday night sending westbound traffic north on Lear to Winters Road, but in the morning they got word that overuse of the road had made it impassible.”

Tuesday 22- 94/68F. Wednesday 23- 91/59 degrees F.  Thursday 24- 82/50F.
I did my stretches and worked editing my books.

Friday 25- 83/52F. For the first time since I hurt myself deadlifting a 127 pound battery last week, I did my stretches, core trainer, jogged a mile with Cassie, exercised lightly on the weight bench. Just a little pain, so I think I’m still healing and will probably take a few more days off from exercising.

Saturday 26- cloudy with evening sprinkles.
There were about 15 denizens of the desert attending our Halloween Potluck.
Dyan Carroll haunted us with her bloodcurdling barbecued chicken, beefy enchiladas, beets, and sweet potatoes. Elizabeth West dragged in a coffin full of white bean & ham soup, chili cheese cornbread, and peach cobbler. Pretty Patti Huges spooked us all with her cabbage salad, pear crisps, and handed out jars of homemade jams and loaves of lemon bread. Chris VanNortrick and Mary Kobal flew in on their broomsticks carrying veg mac cheese casserole, pea salad, fruit salad, and chocolate cookies. Mary Rider avoided the Zombie Apocalypse outside to bring us a delicious potato salad. We all had a Ghoulish time chowing down with our Poltergeist and other apparitional friends who donated money and haunt the halls of our little community center.

Sunday 27- I did my stretches.

Monday 28- I did my stretches and went for a mile jog with Cassie.

Tuesday 29- I did my stretches and took Cassie out for a bike/run.
I installed a 5Watt solar panel to the house fan.

Wednesday 30- 59/36F. I did my stretches, jogged a mile with Cassie, and exercised on the weight bench.
I wanted to continue with my studies since I completed most of my solar patio. I listened to three Astronomy Cast Lectures: Ep. 517: Fritz Zwicky and the Zwicky Transient Facility; Ep. 518: When the Universe tried to Declare War; Ep. 519: Transients: What They Are and Why They Matter Part 1.
I did my laundry and went on poop patrol.
I helped Shanna and her kids find a hotel in Mesa Arizona.

Thursday 31- 67/37F. I did my stretches, jogged a mile with Cassie, and did some situps.
I gathered all my tools together so I could sort them all out and have them handy without looking all over hell to find them. I still have more to do on sorting other things like nails, screws, and more tools for electrical and woodworking.
I listened to two more Astronomy Cast Lectures: Ep. 520: Transients: What They Are and Why They Matter, Part 2; and Ep. 521: The Deep Space Network.
I colored a page of the heart and its parts in my anatomy coloring book.


******************** Poems for October 2019 **************
I reflect upon my wild endeavors
of youth unburdened indiscretions
free to challenge the world
but as grains of sand
slowly fill the glass
iron turned to rust
to gather like dust
upon the vast desert
of my mind
~RD

Coffee: the lifeblood of poets who awakens thy spirits and illuminates this darkened void with the brilliant colors of poetry and purity of verse.
~RD

To me, life is like writing a book: it depends upon how you edit your story. What type of characters you want to include. The adventures and mysteries you and your characters dream up along the way to life's final chapter.
~RD


********************************

September 2019

September 2019

Sunday 01- 112 degrees F with late night rain into Monday morning. 

I went to our community center's Art and Music Festival and there were a lot of desert folks showing up. There were Belly Dancers too!

Monday 02- 102 degrees F. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, hit the heavybag, and jogged a mile.

Tuesday 03- to Tuesday 10- I had a bad case of hay-fever and there was extreme heat alerts for our area, so I decided to stay inside and focus on getting my book edited and editing my other books getting everything ready to put them all on paperback. I did do my stretches and took Cassie for her walks when possible.

Wednesday 11- 98 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, jogged a mile with Cassie, weight bench, and punched at the heavybag for a spell.

Thursday 12- 98. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Bonnie and Larry came for a visit

Friday 13- 106. I did my stretches.

UPS delivered the 12V 200AH Gel Battery. I hooked it up

Saturday 14- 108. Sunday 15- 103F. Not feeling well.

Monday 16- 101 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, hit the heavybag for a spell, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I worked on my books.

Tuesday 17- 98 degrees. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I worked on my books.

Wednesday 18-  97 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised with the 10&20 pound dumbbells, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Thursday 19- 99 degrees. I did my stretches. I helped my guest set up her solar system on her trailer. 

Friday 20- 96 degrees. I did my stretches. I continued to help my guest with her solar system. Now she has power and is ready to move onto her own property.

Saturday 21- 93 degrees. I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Sunday 22- 96 degrees with some clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised with the 10&20 pound dumbbells, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Monday 23- 98F. I did my stretches. It’s Cassie’s birthday and we were going to celebrate, but she was sick during the night and I stayed up with her until 6 AM in the morning. She started feeling better in the evening... what a relief because I was going to take her to the Vet if she wasn’t better. I wasn’t feeling all that great myself.

Tuesday 24- 94 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, punched the heavybag, and went on a mile jog with Cassie.

I drove to Stater Bros to pick up some supplies.

I did my evening stretches.

  Wednesday 25- 91F. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised with the 10&20 pound dumbbells, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

I did my evening stretches.

Thursday 26- 87 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, punched the heavybag, and went on a mile jog with Cassie.

I did my evening stretches.

Friday 27- 86F. I did my stretches.

I went to our community’s Friday nite BBQ.

I did my evening stretches.

Saturday 28- 88F.  I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, punched the heavybag, and went on a mile jog with Cassie.

There were about 20 denizens of the desert attending our little community’s potluck. Cal Mayers- fruit plate. Pretty Patti- pulled BBQ pork, Hawian rolls, cheese bread, pear dump dessert. Mary and Amuyah: potato salad. Chris VanNortrick and Mary Kobal- pork beans vegetable pasta and cornbread. Mary Rider- potato salad. Other kindly donated money. 

I’d like to include this quote from Dyan Carroll she sent me by messenger: 

“BBQ Chicken, Reuben casserole, pork in a chili Verde sauce, spinach casserole, cauliflower with cheese sauce, Spanakopita Appetizers, bacon ranch dip with crackers, and last but not least a banana cinnamon trifle. I know it sounds like a lot but, you can’t make any of these dishes for yourself and enjoy them. They all require friends.”

We all had a wonderful time with wonderful friends jawing and chowing down the yummy grub!

I did my evening stretches.

Sunday 29- 84F. I did my stretches, core trainer, jogged a mile with Cassie, situps, and punched at the heavybag for a spell.

I did my evening stretches.

Monday 30- 82F. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, punched the heavybag, and went on a mile jog with Cassie.

I went for a bike/run with Cassie.

I did my evening stretches.

******************** Poems for September 2019 **************

My successful life I'm still working on and never did care about how others measured me... and my satisfied life will probably never be satisfied; I'm forever searching, endlessly discovering, and always questioning. 　

Sometimes we can love too much and are taken for granted

Sometimes we are loved too much and take this for granted

Sometimes we live on the edge

Sometimes we fall off

Sometimes we laugh with friends

Sometimes we cry alone

Sometimes we triumph

Sometimes we fail

Sometimes we move on 

Sometime there will be no more sometimes 

~RD

I might be wise but indifferent 

I have pain from my diligence 

I love by my envy 

I hate by my sorrows

I cry for my loneliness 

I frown at my laziness

I smile for my kindness

I shout at my stupidity

I yawn at my emptiness

I fear for my jealousy 

I laugh at my incompetence

Deranged or inspired

Intrepid or loathsome

I am amused 

~RD

In this world of ours, it's difficult to find the truth...

In this world of ours, the truth may not be what it seems...

In this world of ours, it's hard to hear the voice of truth among the deafening roar of falsehoods...

In this world of ours...

It's best not to lie...  

Because that's the only truth you'll really get to know.

~RD

***************************************

August 2019

August 2019

Thursday 01- 103F with blue skies. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I did my studies.

Cassie and I were invited over to Kjtel and Bodie’s house to watch “Das Boot” (2018) the new series.

Friday 02- 107 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, hit the heavybag for a short spell, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I went to pick up some packages, one containing 100 feet of wire ordered from Amazon, from the post office. I gassed up the car and stopped off at Stater Bros to pick up a few supplies.

I went to the BBQ night at the community center.

Saturday 03- 109 degrees. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I did my studies and wrote a song.

Sunday 04- 110F. I did my stretches; rest day.

I did my studies.

Monday 05- 111 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, punched at the heavybag, and went for a mile and a half jog.

I did my studies.

I went to our movie night at the community center. We watched a very interesting kinda who done it called “Bad Times at the El Royale” (2018) starring Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman and Chris Hemsworth. I believe one of the wonderful songs from the early ‘60s was kinda out of sync with the times portrayed, “He’s a Rebel” (1962) but maybe I’m wrong, it might have been a flashback of Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo) the female singer, who is a mighty fine singer. Lots of hidden easter eggs that most of the older generation would get.

I give the movie an A!

Tuesday 06- 109 degrees humidity high. I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie early in the morning when it was cooler.

I did my studies.

Wednesday 07- 110 and very humid. did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, punched at the heavybag, and went for a mile jog.

I did my studies; too humid to do anything else.

Thursday 08- 107 degrees with a bit of humidity. I did my stretches and jogged a mile.

I took my guest Kelly to her doctor’s appointment in Cathedral City, then on to Star Pharmacy, Home Depot, and then to Applebees to celebrate my birthday.

Friday 09- 105 degrees. I did my stretches.

UPS delivered the new modem to replace the old failing one that has been giving me headaches for the past month. The old one was a workhorse for me given its 12 years of service at my house.

I went to the community BBQ...

Saturday 10- 

Sunday 11- 98F and kicking back on this beautiful sunny day.

Monday 12- 102F and not a cloud in the sky. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, punched the heavybag for a spell, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I went to Movie Night at our community center to watch “American Hangman” (2019) starring Donald Sutherland. We all seemed to like it and it was very suspenseful, well thought out, and had a surprising ending. I’ll give it a B+ 

Tuesday 13- 

Wednesday 14- 

Thursday 15- 

I took Kelly my guest with me to Stater Bros. to get some supplies, and then to Burger King for lunch.

Friday 16- 

Saturday 17- 

I took Cassie for an evening mile jog; she was very happy to go and so was I. 

Sunday 18- 

Monday 19- 

Movie night at the community center. We watched “Arctic” (2018) starring Mads Mikkelsen and María Thelma Smáradóttir. 

Tuesday 20- 112 degrees hot. I did my stretches and then Cassie and I jogged up the hill and back down.

Wednesday 21 to Tuesday 27 got kinda sick from my hayfever and there were excessive heat warnings throughout our area through this period, so I stayed inside and finished editing my new book and started editing on past books in the Copper Mountain Series and will combine them all into one or two books. I did go to the store a couple of times for supplies and I also did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk every day :)

Wednesday 28- 110 degrees. I did my stretches, lifted weights, went for a good mile jog with Cassie, core trainer, and sit-ups punched the heavybag. 

Thursday 29- 108 degrees. I did my stretches, lifted weights, went for a good mile jog with Cassie, core trainer, and sit-ups punched the heavybag. 

Friday 30- 112 degrees. I did my stretches, lifted weights, went for a good mile jog, core trainer, and sit-ups punched the heavybag. 

Saturday 31- 110 degrees. I did my stretches and went for a mile jog.

To me our last Saturday of the month potlucks are more like a monthly Family gathering around the dinner table than anything else. Over the past 20 years since we started potluck I’ve seen many a dear friend pass-on and watched others come and go. Their images I capture with pictures, but my fond memories of them are deep-seated into my soul which no camera can capture.

There were about 20 denizens of the desert attending. Dyan Carroll- cabbage rolls, yams, broccoli salad, and deviled eggs. Cal Mayers- fruit plate. Elizabeth West- chocolate strawberry banana cake, taco bolosh, and BBQ pork. Mary and Amuyah: potato salad. Jeff Dongvillo- BBQ pork. Chris VanNortrick and Mary Kobal- BBQ bean vegetable casserole and fruit salad. Yvonne Francis- banana pudding cake. Charles Lange- blueberry pie. Other kindly donated money. There was so much food we all got stuffed and made off with the rest for dinner the next day. 

******************** Poems for August 2019 **************

If I don’t receive my morning coffee, I'd be forced to cavitate my mood into a deeper darker abyssal state of apocalyptic proportions...

~RD

Life is a beautiful wondrous phenomenon. We only get one chance at it but have many chances to take different paths. Have fun on your journey :)

~RD

Some friends can't dance, don't want to cast shadows on your sunshine, and only come out during the worst of storms when you need them the most 　 

~RD

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July 2019

July 2019

Monday 01- temps in the high ‘90s with lots of haze. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, hit the heavybag, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I took Kelly to get her prescriptions filled and then stopped off at WalMart to get some supplies.

Went to movie night.

I took Cassie for a night jog up the hill and back.

Tuesday 02- temps still in the ‘90s.  I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog.

Wednesday 03- 105F. I did my stretches.

I drove to the post office in Twentynine to get my new computer, a Surface Go, and also a 2006 Britannica Concise Encyclopedia I purchased on Amazon in brand new condition for $13. I find I like real hold in your hands reference and textbooks. If I find a decent whole set of Encyclopedia Britannica I may purchase them. I remember as a kid I’d sit cross legged on the floor flipping through the set of Funk and Wagnalls dreaming of all things possible.  

Thursday 04- 104F. I did my stretches and jogged a mile.

I painted 3 coats of paint on 8 2x4s for mounting the solar panels on the patio.

Used the BBQ for the first time and invited my trailer guest Kelly over for hamburgers.

Friday 05- temps around 100. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, hit the heavybag, and took Cassie for a mile jog.

I worked on getting the solar panels ready to mount on the patio.

I rode the scooter to the community BBQ and yammered on about nothing of importance. 

The 6.4 quake hit while I was on my scooter on our bumpy road coming home from the BBQ and I didn't even feel it.

Saturday 06- temps in the lower ‘100s with light cloud cover. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog. Later in the evening we went for bike/run; lots of fun.

The 7.1 earthquake hit and I slept right through it. If it wasn't for FB I wouldn't even known there was a big quake. I really feel for those in Trona California

I mounted 4 panels onto the patio roof; no small feat doing it by myself.

I went for a cruise on my scooter just to get out and about.

Sunday 07- around 100 degrees with a bit of wind. I did my stretches.

Cleaned out the garage work table draws of pack rat nests; a nasty job.

Monday 08- nice weather today. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie, and hit at the heavy bag for a spell.

Movie night “Duel”

Cassie and I went for a night jog up the hill and back, and then I did my stretches.

Tuesday 09- high ‘90s. I did my stretches, yoga, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Kjtel and Bodie house for dinner and a movie.

Wednesday 10- 106 degrees. I did my stretches.

Thursday 11- 110 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie, and hit at the heavy bag for a spell.

Friday 12- 111 degrees. I something I ate the day before gave me stomach pains and had a hard time sleeping... no exercise today.

I did go to the bbq at the community center. I didn’t eat much but had fun yapping away at the good folks there.

Saturday 13- hot. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie, and hit at the heavy bag for a spell.

Sunday 14- hotter. I did my stretches. 

I went back to work on the patio hooking the solar panels on the roof. 20min outside, 20min inside for most of the day so I wouldn’t get too overheated.

Monday 15- hottest. I did my stretches. Took Kelly my guest to the DMV to get her licence and a few other errands she had to do. I went to the post office to pick up my whole set of Encyclopedia Britannica (1989). Though they may be old, they are in great condition and wasn’t very expensive at $200. I always wanted these. I remember sitting on the floor of the local library flipping through them when I was around ten to thirteen. The Encyclopedia Britannica sadly went out of print in 2012.

Tuesday 16- really hot. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile without Cassie, and hit the heavy bag for a spell.

I continued to work on the patio painting some rails to hold the panels to the roof.

Wednesday 17- a bit cooler. I did my stretches.

I went to work continuing installing solar panels on the patio. I will hook up the last of them tomorrow. I just need to wire them altogether.  

Thursday 18- a bit cooler still around 104 degrees. I did my stretches.

UPS delivered my new 49” television I’m hooking up in my bedroom. Watched it tonight and boy it’s really nice watching movies on a bigger screen.

I got the last bit of wire connected in but all mickey moused until the parts come in I need to do a more professional job.  

Friday 19- hot. I did my stretches, core trainer, and jogged a mile.

I went to movie night at the community center.

Saturday 20- 103F. I did my stretches and jogged a mile.

Sunday 21- 108F with a few clouds. I did my stretches.

I went to the poetry reading at Space Cowboy Books in JT to read my poem and listen to other’s read theirs. Took lots of pics I shared online with them all.

Monday 22- 103F and overcast. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, punched the heavybag for a spell, and jogged a mile.

Movie night at the community center. The movie was called “Confidence” (2003) and everyone kinda got bored of it and went outside. 

Tuesday 23- overcast. I did my stretches. 

Wednesday 24- rain. I did my stretches

I went to Home Depot and then onto Walmart to gather supplies.

Thursday 25- more rain. I did my stretches.

I went to visit Bonnie and Larry.

My car sent me an email at 10:44 telling me my left-rear tire was flat. I went to check it out and sure enough it was flat.

Friday 26- 106 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, punched the heavybag for a spell, and jogged a mile.

I spent most of the day hunting down parts to fix the flat. The cheap floor jack from WalMart didn’t work; it only worked once before. 

Had ribs at the Community BBQ and jawed with friends and some new folks who showed up.

Saturday 27- 108 degrees. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a mile jog. 

I’ll have to wing it on this potluck story folks because I had forgotten to pick up the list of people who contributed when I left for home stuffed happy as a pig in slop. 

I want to thank those who worked so hard cooking in this desert heat, taking the time to drive on our bumpy dirt roads to our little community center and carry inside container after container of homemade yummies. All the regulars showed up, some first timers living in our area, and a few more arrived I’ve never met. They were well received by us desert denizens and mighty happy to share our little part of the desert with them. The serving table was cram packed with all kinds of wonderful dishes of meats, casseroles, and yummy desserts we all pigged out on. What a wonderful bunch of folks we have living up here. I feel mighty blessed to be one among them.

Sunday 28- 110 degrees. Rest day.

The computer I picked up at Bonnie and Larry’s to work on was a complete loss. I dismantled the iMac G5 to take out the harddrive and found the graphic and processor cooling fans were so stopped up with dirt and hair that they wouldn’t spin up; the system was fried, toast, bricked. I applied power to the harddrive with my own data transferring equipment, but the drive was as dead as a fossil. I put the computer all back together and called Bonnie I wasn’t going to waste anymore time than the three hours I already wasted on a machine someone had badly neglected and had not taken the time to backup their precious pictures I was trying to recover for them.

Monday 29- 103 degrees. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, punched the heavybag for a spell, and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Tuesday 30- I did my stretches and jogged a mile with Cassie.

Wednesday 31- 102 degrees. Rest day!

******************** Poems for July 2019 **************

Remember: interesting people with their misadventures are what makes life interesting for the rest of us :)

~RD

It's the quality of friendships we hold close to our hearts and those wonderful memories of old friends that surface in our minds from time to time which create the wholeness we all share together <3 span="">

~RD

Sometimes those born out of adversity glow the brightest <3 span="">

~RD

The Dream

I was following a steep trail making my way very carefully climbing over boulders, scaling ridges, traversing gullies and cobbly streams of icy-cold glacial melt. 

Ever so slowly I climbed higher through the pass as billowing dark clouds grew towering before me. Ominous in their vast glory of turbulent foreboding warning me away. With much arduous effort I finally reached the summit of the great mountain I fought. 

I saw a man standing alone before me, immobile, right knee bent at the edge of the precipice, looking casually out at the grand expanse of snow enshrouded mountain ranges. 

Cold thin dry air forced its way down nostrils and lungs from my panic upon seeing this unholy aberration who stood before me. My nose began to bleed. I could feel its warmth as it oozed down against my numbing cheek. 

The mysterious man seemed oblivious to this extreme environment as he stood glowing brightly against the dark ambiance of the surrounding storm. Wind-blown hail pelted him as his long black cloak rippled in the winds like the sounds of a gale flapping through untrimmed sails of a mighty clipper ship rounding Cape Horn. 

Weakened by my climb, I clung to rocks and crevices as I slowly crawled to the foot of the man. Fighting the bitter icy winds, frost formed encrusting my beard, teeth chattering, and I could no longer feel my stiff icy fingers. Both hands felt heavy like cast iron claws connected to my arms. I reached out in a feeble effort to grab onto this omniscient man’s ankle. 

He finally took notice of me and bent ever so slightly to peer questionably into my face. What I saw shocked me to my core. Like a mirror, it was my own image staring back! Now I became that man standing immobile, right knee bent at the precipice, looking casually out at the wide expanse of mountain ranges. 

Stunned by what I saw of this lowly creature who dared to climb up to the precipice where I stood to grab at my pant leg, I swiftly kicked the weakling of my former self back down the mountain trail far from the raging madness where I now stood at the edge of forever. 

A blast of brilliant light so intense it seared deep into the tendrils of my soul and I awoke from this dream a different man. I felt empowered by this vision I have dreamt many times before with different endings with me always falling down that tall mountain. Now I am that man standing on the precipice at the edge of forever. I am now in control of my own destiny.

~RD

Treat everyday as if it is your birthday. Awaken to a fresh renewal of self-awareness and reflect upon life and all its wondrous diversity. Go out and find a new adventure to undertake. Dance barefoot through a field of grass. Stand in awe like a little child beneath the glistening stars and become whole again at peace with yourself and the universe.

So, Happy Birthday to you!

~RD

Her passing was to me as if a tornado ripped a deep chasm into my chest and tried to suck away at her existence, but my heart prevailed <3 span="">

~RD

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