Bucky

Thinking T.C.

08.05.09

Music

Todd Servalish called from Chicago and is planning to meet me at Cathy’s for the Moon Squallor on Friday. Other old friends are planning to make it and the evening seems to be shaping up into a nice reunion.

Joe Golder

Window Work at Joe’s

Meanwhile, Joe has got me to putting in some more windows for him this week. Last year Joe bought a bunch of rectangular metal frame windows with colored glass out of a church somewhere. He had Kurt Foote install most of the across the front of his house enclosing the porch. On the end of the porch is a narrow area where a big window would not fit. The only windows left in the metal frames have some busted panes. I cut one of the big window frames in half to frame into the end of the porch. I’ll be able to make it match the work Kurt already did across the front. Joe is very carefully heating the remaining metal frames to recover the rest of the colored glass panes that haven’t been broken. Be good to have them safe somewhere in case he needs to replace on sometime.

John Rike, 2004 Melissa, TX

Travel

Middle of the month, have some friends from TX who are going to meet me in TC. John Rike and Jerry Hoag have been coming up from TX every summer for a golf outing. John has been talking about arriving in MI early, maybe next week (around the 10th). Not sure yet how much time he has. The golf outing is in Lewiston. In 2007, John and Jerry met up with me at Jann’s in T.C. John did some fishing with Ron Hines, then John and Bucky and me went for a ride with his pick up camper. We spent a few days meandering as far as Sault Saint Marie to watch the big boats locking through. John is talking about doing some like that again.

Bucky

Bucky

I’m worried about Buck. She hasn’t been feeling well and isn’t rebounding. She’ll be 12 on Christmas, which is generally considered very old for a Boxer. All I need to do to make myself very sad is start thinking that she may be coming to an end.

Writing

Joe has a morning routine that gives me plenty of time for writing even while I’m helping him with projects. It’s a nice arrangement. Am still experimenting with the style of story architecture I want to use for my writing project. I’m doing my tests with a series of short stories. The second of those has also done well in a competition. Though this effort takes time away from my main project, it feels like a necessary part of the process. You may look at the story here:

RedBubble Link

TN to MI

07.31.09

Route taken to Saylersville, Ky

Salyersville, KY

Spent my birthday in the coal hills of eastern KY. After visiting with the Dougherty clan in TN, I stopped there to surprise my friend, Kim Hoskins. Kim is good company and has a sparkling intellect.

This was my first time in that neck of the woods. Eastern Kentucky is pretty country. From there I drove north on US 23. Nice road! Think I’ll go that way again sometime.

We had an impromptu birthday celebration— just sitting on her big rap around porch and talking. I really enjoyed Kim’s new home. It’s a great place. I even got

Very nice wrap around porch

I didn’t get to enjoy any exploring on foot. My knee is still stiff, but feeling much better. Stopped taking pain meds. Most of the pain is gone and it doesn’t get worse when I sit for a few minutes. My cousin, Mark in TN said I hurt it sleeping on his couch which is too short. He said he’s done the same thing.

So I just took it easy so it would get feeling good enough to drive without pain. But I did get some good writing done which is always a plus to me.

North to MI

Route up US 23

Left Kim’s place at 0400. Drove up north on US 23. Hit rush hour in Columbus instead of Cincinnati, which was shorter and less stressful. The drive across the farmlands of OH was very picturesque. Stopped in a mid OH town for breakfast.

The roads through the farmlands were in very good condition, and I found if I wasn’t careful, I get rolling along above the speed limit. As of my birthday, my plates are officially expired. So that was even more incentive than usual not to get pulled over.

I drove behind a truck for quite a way because he wouldn’t go faster than 55, but at a light in a small town, I lost him. As I got back out in the country again, there was a woman in a car behind me that was right on my ass. I got annoyed and pulled over and let her by.

It was a beautiful sunny morning. Bucky’s head was in my lap. Had a good classical station on the radio. Looked down and had let my speed get up to 70 mph! I immediately slowed back to 55. As I decelerated around a curve, there was a State Trooper turning around! The trooper roared off ahead of me and pulled over the lady I let by.

Joe's House

Ypsilanti

Arrived in Ypsi just after 1100.

Ypsi is the loudest place I’ve been since I left Ypsi. It’s really quite amazing.

Joe is in good spirits. Had a pleasant first evening. He cooked a steak birthday dinner for me and invited a few friends like Frank and Sandy.

Getting To Knoxville

07.26.09

Route to Knoxville

Travel

Made it to Knoxville without incident. Had a good ride.

I had been concerned about my car making it. Guess now I was lucky to have had all those problems with my Escort back in Sanford last winter. Certainly was a lot easier to deal with and fix there than on the road! Hopefully my car will be good to go for a while.

Larry McNeely

Stopped and spent the afternoon in Carthage with my friends Larry and Beth McNeely. Larry is one of the best banjo player in the world. Larry has worked with scores of well known musicians, has recorded well known movie sound tracks, and might be best known for the Dukes of Hazard TV theme music.

We became friends when I got to play a couple shows with Larry: one in Carthage for the Buggy Days in 2007, and later we played a street fair in Southern Pines. Beyond his extraordinary talent, the best way to describe Larry is to say that he is an intelligent and gracious gentleman.

Road from Sanford to Carthage

Larry and his wife, Beth are both really fine people. They operate an antiques store in Carthage, NC called Granny’s— named for Beth’s mother.

Larry is also a writer working on SciFi projects. We became best acquainted talking about our mutual literary aspirations.

Bucky and I spent much of the afternoon visiting with Larry and Beth in the Old Buggy Factory where they have their store. Larry asked me when I was headed for MI. Told him I was already gone— his town just happened to be my first stop. Larry insisted that we play some music when I get NC.

Uncle John Dougherty

My uncle is doing very well at the moment. Though his condition is considered terminal, for the time being, Uncle John is improving daily. Even hospice decided to leave and wait to comeback when they are needed. I’ll bet they don’t get to do that very often.

It is good to see my uncle doing so well— especially when I expected to find the worst. New therapies are being developed everyday, so perhaps something will come of that. I respect that he is choosing his treatment based on quality of life— so no chemo, however, he has changed his mind and decided to explore some radiation treatment.

Having a gathering at my Uncle’s house today. I’ll probably head north Monday or Tuesday.

Underway

07.21.07

Travel

Taking off today. The car is packed: Clothes, Camera gear, Laptop, Dawghouse bass, a few tools, and Bucky’s stuff (bed, backpack, meds, food, dish, blanket, couple leashes).

Got packed up and then hung around Sanford for another week. Weather turned nice. Did some good writing. Everybody thought I was gone, so no one bothered me. Plus, I worked on a few things I will be glad to have done in case the place suddenly sells and I got to get back fast and decamp.

Heading for TN today. Then to Ypsi for the August Moon Squallor.

Music

Moon Squallors are a home made music party started on Oct 12, 1975 out in the Cabin at Henry Ford’s old hideout off Geddes Rd. in Superior Township, MI. They were so much fun, they just became a tradition. Later they continued when I lived back at Deep Run Farm, and when that place was razed, my friends, Kevin and Cathy Howard have continued them at their place in Willis.

House Sitting

Wasn’t planning on leaving Sanford and coming back. Figured I’d stay until the house sold, but it hasn’t sold. I need to go back to MI to renew my car licenses.

Everything is cool here. Grass is scalped. Shut most everything down. Will leave the radio and a couple lights on…

The Hill Beautiful

07.01.09

The Hill Beautiful

Hill Beautiful

In summer, I always feel drawn to the place where my early childhood summers were spent. My family had a farm high on a hill near Eastport with an astonishing view.

I was about 2 when I first went there and can still remember my first time walking in the place— the look of it, the smell, the wind— even calling out the name of the woman my parents bought it from wondering if she was still there. That was early 1957. Ten years later, my parents sold the farm to my mother’s mother and her husband.

My step-grandfather, who was Dutch, named the place for the view and put it on a sign at the head of the driveway. ”De Schoone Heuvel” Grandpa called it in Dutch: ‘The Hill Beautiful’

House Sitting

Todd is driving down for the 4th. He’s bringing Bob the Cat. Along with having a yard sale to get rid of stuff, we’ll also chill and have some fun.

Travel

I am headed to MI before the end of the month to tend to some personal business. I don’t know if the winds of fate will blow me all the way to Mass City, but I sure would love it if they did.

Another part of my mission is to visit Knoxville. I fear I may be saying good-bye to a favorite uncle afflicted with aggressive brain cancer. My itinerary may change suddenly.

Bucky & her Stuffy Bear

Bucky is still limping some, but better, though she does seem lethargic. Her regular vet is in Lake Leelanau, MI. I plan to go to TC while up north and will take Bucky in for a check up.

Bucky v. Intruder

05.27.09

Bucky v. Intruder

Caught some junkie casing the joint Tues. At first he just stood under the tree in front and I thought he was trying to get out of the rain, but then the rain ended. He kept on eye-fuckin’ the place. Finally he wondered off. Little later, I looked out front just in time to see him return and cut across the yard heading round the side.

I sent Bucky barking out the back door to thwart the intruder coming around to the back. It worked. Bucky barked. The man stopped in his tracks. Bucky looked back at me and wagged her tail. “Am I doing it right?” She barked some more, then looked back at me and wagged her tail again.

That’s my Bucky!

The man diverted his path and went toward the beauty shop. I got dressed and went over there. The girls next door said that they had an encounter with him too, but that he had left when they acted like they couldn’t understand him. Creepy.

Flatt Tyred Bluegrass Band

Flatt Tyred

I’ve been busy here for the past week. Along with my regular writing and musical obligations, a really good blue grass band in this region asked me to sit in on a performance in place of their regular bass player that is not available.

It’s tough learning a bunch of new songs even with some extra practices. The band does a lot of 3 and 4 part harmonies! I feel right at home! One thing I really like is that they burn a CD of every rehearsal.

Bennett, NC 25 miles E. of Sanford

Bennett Arts & Crafts Show

The show was a street fair on Sat the 23rd. Went pretty well, though I struggled some trying to remember all the chord changes for the new songs. Sometimes, when we were singing those rich harmonies, I would see the crowd just stop what they were doing and turn to watch us. That was a great feeling.

Prairie Schooner Brake Problem

I have determined that my schooner has a bad leak in the brake system somewhere. I will need to move the schooner onto the driveway out front where I can roll around underneath to find and fix the problem. Once I move the schooner out from under the shade where it is parked to fix it, I will keep going. So fixing the brakes will be the last thing I will do here at Todd’s.

Writing & House Sitting

Meanwhile, I’m torn. This house sitting arrangement was never supposed to last anywhere near this long. The prospect of another long hot summer in NC does not appeal to me. On the other hand, Todd needs to have someone here. If I leave before he disposes of the property, Todd will be left hanging. As for me, I am able to continue my writing work at the fastest possible pace. For 3.5 years I have been working full time on this writing project, even while traveling, and the end of the project is still some long way off.

Home Builder’s BBQ

Wednesday 04.22.09

Music

Last week, my bluegrass band played the Home Builder’s BBQ in Southern Pines. It was outside under a big tent. There was also a BBQ competition. I enjoyed that. The Home Builders passed the hat for the music and sent me home with the leftover beer!

Tonight (Wed) and Friday I do karaoke which is still going good. I keep expecting it to peter out, but new folks keep coming in and old friends keep coming back.

Bucky Better

Bucky’s leg is still hurt— an old injury from spring of 2004, but this re injury was pretty bad this time. When she re injured it in early 2005, the vet said it would get better, but that she’d never be the same. I started putting glucosamine on her food and after a few weeks she did get better and even stopped limping. This time she was really dragging ass for a couple days and couldn’t get in and out of the house or the Prairie Schooner.

Usually she rides with me everywhere I go, but I’ve had to leave her in the garage on a blanket with her big Stuffy Bear she likes to sleep with. She has hardly wanted to get up at all. I’ve been carrying her out to do her business.

Just when I thought it might be time to put her to sleep— she got up off the blanket in the garage and came waddling out to greet me when I drove up. Since then, she has slowly gotten better. Bucky is still limping, but she is negotiating steps and most importantly, she is back to being a happy dog.

Still No Car

Car? Still not running. Nothing like do-it-yourself optimism! Pretty sure I’ve tracked the problem down to the engine computer— something some of the repair books don’t even show! Imagine that? And the darn thing is nearly impossible to get at. But I have and I’ve ordered a replacement. I did a lot of testing and also consulted with whomever I could so I’m pretty sure this is the final trouble. If it is not I shall be quite discouraged.

Bucky

Tuesday 04.14.09

Weather

Mowing season has begun. Been really wet so the grass is growing great! Everything is very green. Thus far temps have been mild to cool. Not even any 80° weather yet.

Bucky Hurt

Bucky is hurt. Somehow I hurt her leg getting her out of Tim’s truck. It was the same way I’ve lifted her a thousand times, but this time she wiggled a little and loosed a short yelp. Then she just stood there. I realized she didn’t want to walk. She finally limped on 3 legs and I helped her in the car.

A couple nights later she was laying in her usual spot in the RV. Suddenly, Bucky started screaming like she’d just been hit by a car or something. She was sitting with her face on the floor and her ass in the air and she had that sore leg caught underneath and couldn’t get it loose. I jumped up and pulled her ankle loose for her. Then she just collapsed on the floor and trembled for an hour. Pretty sad. I feel bad. Her leg and ankle are swollen to about 2x normal size, but at least she is starting to put a little weight back on it. She’s also waggling her wiggly bone again, so that’s a good sign too.

New Phone

I got a new phone #: 734 757-8640. The old one will work until the 20th. I’m dumping my increasingly expensive Skype service and bought a MagicJack. The new # is $100 for 6 years. Same kind of service as Skype with a few little differences, like eMailing phone messages and the option of using a real phone. Skype started out for $12/year, but is almost $1c now.

Escort Unfixed

Still no luck fixing my car. Fed the thing about $3c worth of parts so far. I wonder how many I needed. Well, I know the coil was bad, and I tested the distributor module and it was bad. I bought a new cap, rotor, and wires just because the others were old.

About the time Rick Slate helped me narrow the issue down to a problem under the dashboard, I came down with a bad cold that’s going around. The idea of standing on my head working under the dash drowning in snot didn’t get it. Looks like it might need a brain-box (ECM electronic-control-module) which I fear will be costly and know for sure it will be a bastard to get at.

House Sitting

Meanwhile, I am still house sitting in NC. There have only been about 10 showing of the house since Labor Day. The fellow selling the house is getting desperate for some sort of disposition of the property to happen soon. This house could be a good economic opportunity for me, but it would mean giving up on the book to support the house. Everything I am worth is now invested in my book project. I must choose book first options and continue. I believe the story is worthy of that.

Travel

I long to see Michigan again. Writing and traveling do not conflict. However, before I can travel again, I think I must decamp here. I do not believe returning to this house will be an option. Though living alone here is not my first preference, it is not likely that I will find a better option for writing. And during my time off, the musical opportunities here are unparalleled. So for now, anxiety is low and life is good, and best of all, work continues.

Hitting the Wall

12.27.6 TheWall

I hit the wall just before Xmas. I expected that as it has happened before, just not lately. I get in a manic phase of rapid creativity and go until I burn out. To avoid this, I have been trying to work a little everyday and forcing myself to take breaks and do other things, which has worked well all year. However, when I finished that long disciplined phase of pre-writing, and then fell into the rush of how well it all worked, I was unwilling to put it down!

This time, I suddenly got another idea that I believe will improve my project, but it also seemed like a large undertaking that I should have considered sooner. That set off a spiral into an all to familiar sense of worthlessness as a writer. Been there before, so I just had to ride it out hoping it wouldn’t last too long. Got back into it by editing what I’d already gotten down and experimenting with the new idea on work I’ve already accomplished.

My idea is to layout another flat-file attached to each scene outline. In it, I list all 5 senses, a barometer of sexual tension (neg, neutral, pos), twists, & kickers. The main thing is before writing a scene, I sit and visualize adjectives and adverbs that help describe the scene. Then when I write, I go back and make certain that I’ve sprinkled in these *color* ideas. I tend to *see* things while I know that others favor alternate senses— especially sound. By making sure I’ve included all senses I round out the texture and ultimately the appeal. Plus, it is a great tool for writer’s block— which I don’t suffer from much.

Modern writers are competing with other very fast moving medias. I believe it is no longer possible to write any sort of long descriptive passages and hold readers’ attentions for any length of time. So my plan is to sprinkle the descriptions into the action and keep the story moving.

I’ve started Chapter 3 of 20, which is Bounty landing in Tahiti. Each element I include is part of my story plan, but I’m struggling to make certain that I’m not just retelling the tale of the Mutiny on the Bounty! Where my story does parallel what’s been done, I to introduce new and hopefully startling ideas to keep it fresh.

I worry that I will exercise all these visualizations only to discover that I’ve created a mechanical composition that doesn’t hold anyone’s interest…

My Christmas was almost quiet. I baked a ham, received calls from family and friends, then played music with folks here in town. Christmas Eve was Bucky’s 9th birthday, so I couldn’t help spoiling her some.

Back Bay to the Beaches

Thursday 02.21.02

Seeing The Old Haunts

Early light crept ashore in a rushing fog. As morning passed to noon the mist rose some. Late in the day, I took Bucky for a ride from the Back Bay to the beaches. The tops of water towers and high rise casino hotels hid themselves aloft in a fast moving haze. On the beach, Bucky charged the sands, through the sea grass, and halted at water’s edge. We both smelled the wind— salt air both crisp and sticky. Above the mist were broken cumulus clouds, above those high cirrus.

Like God’s breath, clouds just out of reach raced in from the ocean. At sunset, Bucky and I strolled a thousand feet out to the end of the public pier juxtaposing the Ocean Springs inlet. Occasionally, multi tiered strata forms opened to the sun, turning the cool on shore breeze a warm golden orange. Then as if pulling the plug, the closing sky swept aside radiant heat from the purple haze.

I drove along the inlet through the inner harbor; five years ago home to a hoard of working shrimp boats. Today there are pleasure boats. The fishermen’s’ ice house still stands, though the old office, now sporting a lovely mural and new roof serves party needs. Beyond it, a handful of old shrimp boats are backed into slips; one sunk at its dock. I wondered if there were now less shrimp in the Gulf, or just less shrimpers.

My father and I spent many winters here— he more than I. Before the casinos the coast was quiet with two lane roads and empty strip malls. There are no empty malls today. I pulled into a large lot where Pop and I often parked. When diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Pop was encouraged to walk. So we parked at the far end of the lot and walked arm in arm into the store. I faced the heavy night air gazing across Highway 90 toward Pop’s favorite old watering hole. I felt alone.

Riding again toward the Back Bay I looked in at a bar I liked; a place on the bayou with great Cajun music. Like a man thirsty in the desert I could hear accordions and guitars playing in my minds ear. The Bayou Bar had also flourished in my gone years. The old two-lane road coming from town now has five lanes with broad shoulders. The parking area over flowed with fine cars. Inside I ordered beer. About that time I noticed all the men were good looking and there was an absence of women. The bartender handed me change with a sweet ‘thank you, babe.’ The place no longer had music. On a television above the booze I watched Ohio State’s basketball team cream Michigan.

Outside, clouds collapsed in the cooling air. I followed Lamoyne Road back toward Biloxi. One New Year’s Eve in the mid 80s, I walked that dark two lane road to the next county searching out an open bar. It too is five lanes now; five lanes that now showed the tracks of the cars ahead, though not yet any moisture on my windshield. We were reaching temperature. Arriving in the Back Bay a few moments later, we had achieved dew point. A mild rain melted against my metal roof for most of the night.

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