Owls and Cyn

November 2005, my husband and I went to our Amatuer Radio meeting in Gardnerville, Nevada about twenty miles from our apartment. It was cold. I had wrapped my black woolen scarf around my neck and head, looking like a Muslim girl.

The meeting was in a church. Near the church was a stand of trees, bare and sullen from the late fall chill.

Who, who. We heard. I turned towards the trees and hooted back. In moments, they called. Who, who, who. There were three owls. Eventually, one of them became bored or smart. He left, zooming over our heads like a white ghost.

My husband was delighted. "They think you are a big owl," he said.

I remembered that when an owl calls you that someone dies. But, no one died in my family or around me that year. I wondered if it was just that time, that place, and that year.

A week or two ago, my husband and I were standing in the old DEM building. My husband had been spending many hours moving his radio room to the new building. The dusk had settled and we watched the old moon and stars in their trajectories.

Who. Who. I heard over our heads. The owl was there in the trees. My husband laughed. I hooted back until the owl left.

Old Friends and Old Pictures

My old friend Angie contacted me recently. We met in Panama after Noriega was captured by American forces. We worked together as electronic technicians. I repaired computers and she repaired security systems.

The marines called her "Bravo Romeo," meaning "Big Red." We had some fun. I watched her terrorize the young marines. One marine promised to take her to the club. His friends convinced him to go the club without her. Big mistake.

She marched to the club, dumped him on her shoulders, and marched back to the barracks. She climbed the stairs to her room (I think the 2nd floor) and dangled him out the window by his heels. Thus she was christened "Bravo Romeo." After that incident, she always had a date.

Funny, it has been about thirteen years since I have talked to her. She sent this picture of my husband and me in Panama. We had been married a little over six months. I had forgotten how young I looked then. I am 32.

Sunday Scribblings: Nemesis

Nemesis is more than an enemy or rival. It is one that inflicts retribution or vengeance. Merriam-Webster Dictionary

For some reason, I cannot write more about this subject without sounding pompous and preachy. So if a superhero has a nemesis, then the superhero may not be as righteous as he or she should be.

'Nuff said.

Update: Thank you for pointing out my error... ;-)

A Little Late

Sunday Scribblings: My Hero

I have two heros in my life--my husband and a dog. Herky, who started his new life with the name Hercules, is my brother's dog.

When I was first was diagnosed with my disease, we stayed with them for awhile. The first year was the worst because I was taking I.V. cytoxan once every three to four weeks. Cytoxan is a form of chemo-therapy.

Herky spent a lot of time curled up against my knees. I slept a lot. Herky would guard my dreams.

When I woke up, he would take me for a short walk to the mail box or he would take me outside. I would blow bubbles and he would kill them with his teeth. He could jump extremely high.

After a little bit of exercise I would go back to the bed and lie down. He would crawl under the blankets and his head would pop up. I would be reassured.

During this time I was also taking high dosages of prednisone. One of my greatest fears then was that I would die in my sleep. Because Herky was there, I could sleep with no fear. I knew that if I had any trouble at all that he would somehow tell my husband.

I learned an important lesson about Jack Russell terriers. They are loyal and loving to their families. Herky is in Las Vegas, taking care of his family. Good dog.

Southpark Cyn

Sarah sent this to me. I am not into Southpark, but this is cute and fits me to a T. I might change my pic for this one. ;-)

Five Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. My sister is a Down Syndrome. She is the eighth child--oops... nineth child--and is about 18 years younger than I am. I have a soft spot for all Down Syndrome children because of her.

2. I joined the US Navy when I was 27. I was an electronics technician in the cryptologic field--CTM. I went through the ranks rapidly. I left the US Navy as a CTM-2. Happily, I met my husband as he was retiring out of the Navy about the same time I was coming in. We met again in Panama. He was in the country 6 months after Noriega was taken. It was a very interesting place then.

3. I am the oldest of nine children. I raised several of my brothers. My parents started a homeschool when I was 13 years old. My parents were proud of their pioneer heritage. Most of my life in their home, we had an outhouse. I learned to cook, can, clean at an early age. Nothing I have done since has been as exhausting or time-consuming.

4. Horses come up and nicker at me. But, secretly I am afraid to ride them. Oh yes, I can ride western style. I have ridden ponies and horses. I gave up riding when I was 18. I don't mind feeding them or even leading them around. I know when a horse is getting ready to run. Sometimes their ears go straight forward. I think that I have fallen off horses too many times.

5. Sometimes I get cranky. A lot. I have dealt with migraines for many years, which also makes me cranky. This week I think I found out one of the causes of my migraines--high blood pressure. I take a lot of medication to keep my blood pressure in good order.

Thank you Nalini. This was fun.

An Alien Anthropologist

Thank you chiefbiscuit. This post cheered me up too.

If You Were Born in 2893...

Your Name Would Be: Aoi Imn And You Would Be: An Alien Anthropologist

If You Were Born in 2893

Sunday Scribblings

I Don't Want to be a Passenger in my own Life

When I had my first birth chart done, I was about 24. I was clueless about astrology and other occult sciences. I thought that I could look at my chart and know exactly what to do to make my life better. I was naive.

A few years later, I took another look at the chart. I had learned a lot more about astrology and numerology. I noticed something significant. Most of my lower houses were occupied and very few of my upper houses had any residents. It was odd.

This chart arrangement implied that my life would be heavily controlled by fate. What a shock. I rebelled. I will never be controlled again, I thought. So I forgot about the chart and went about my business.

My early life, I lived a religion that completely controlled a person's entire life. The rules were heavy handed. It reminded me of an eastern religion in Japan, where the man brings the woman into paradise. Once I realized my gender kept me in a subordinate position, I left.

Now my life is controlled by my disease. I cannot work. I stay away from most people because they are germy. I wash my hands constantly. I have to do these things to stay well. I have to be obsessive.

But, I am not a passenger in my own life. Within my limitations, I have travelled the world. I have written poetry and been published in England. I am now writing every day. My world is only limited by my imagination. Fate may have hit me many times, but I have never let it give me the knock-out punch.

Good Luck and Good Writing

National Novel Writing Month is here again.

I am cheering on the sidelines for all of you who have accepted the challenge.