Halloween again

Well, it's almost Halloween again. I watched IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN last nigth with the kids, so the festive mood is upon me. We'll trick-or-treat till we drop on Friday, then eat candy till our teeth rot out of our heads. Ah, 'tis the season.

The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense

I've been reading a book called THE GENTLE ART OF VERBAL SELF-DEFENSE by Suzette Haden Elgin recently. It came recommended to me by someone who shant be mentioned here regarding situations in my life that have gotten out of hand. I highly recommend the book to anyone who feels harassed or intimated by someone....it'll give you pointers on how to turn the tables and win the verbal assault, or at least take away the power they think they have. Life, my friends, is a weird thing. When I was young, I thought I'd be rich and know everything by the age of 40. Well, that didn't happen. As a matter of fact, I've come to the recent conclusion that I know very little about a great deal in life. We get up, we go to work, we come home, if we are lucky, we have loved in that time as well. I have the advantage these days of having two (nix that, THREE children who love me....my eldest has recently returned to the roost after a long hiatus...welcome home, Sarah!) and I am a truly blessed man in those regards. My children have helped me through some tough times, let me tell you! Anyway, just wanted to recommend a book to y'all. It's been out a while, so you ought to be able to find a used copy easily.

By the way, that clip art attached is the cover to a compilation by one of my favorite 70's bands, Wishbone Ash. I highly recommend them, too. I didn't get into their music until a few years back....proving yet again that I don't know everything.

Later,
Roger

Kids

Kids are driving me crazy tonight. They made their way up to their respective rooms and I have a moment of silence. I went on a field trip with my daughter Hope to Giant City State Park today. The place is less than ten miles away and I haven't hiked there in years! Damn, I need to get back to the basics of enjoying life. Today was a real eye-opener. We went to the Stone Fort (which no one seems to know why it was built) and along a scenic nature route I'd never walked in the park, either. As most people know, the glaciers from the last ice age pretty much stopped in southern Illinois. When they retreated, they left behind some dynamic rock structures. Giant City is one of them, and Garden of the Gods is another. Both are awesome sights to behold and I recommend you do so.

On the creative front, I just submitted my article on desalination of saltwater to Salem Press. We'll see how that goes. I also have a new short story coming out in Sinister Tales magazine toward the end of the month. That story, "Laugh at the Crying Man", is a short, but powerful, little piece of fiction. Not sure if it'll be online or not, but there is a hard copy version of the magazine. I recommend picking up a copy if you can.

Have a good weekend, everyone. More later, Roger

R.I.P. Sue Kelley

Death stinks. My old high school buddy Rick's mother died a couple days ago. She wasted away from cancer (leukemia, I think it actually was). We need to quit blowing each other to bits over oil and find a cure for all forms of cancer. This once vivacious woman wasted away. Rick called me last weekend and told me there was nothing they could do for her. I hope they at least made her comfortable in her final days. There are a million things people say at times like these, but none of them help. I am a richer person for having known Sue and her husband, Gib. They always treated me like their own son, and that meant a lot to me. Far more than they knew, I'm sure. I'm not an overly religious man, but I have said a prayer for Sue and Gib, who has lost his partner of fifty years. I admired them for the loved they seemed to have for each other. In truth, it was more like envy. I will always remember Sue and Gib sitting out under a tree at Wayside Station, chatting with Rick and I. I miss those old Wayside Station days. They were good times.

Rest In Peace, Sue. If there really is a Heaven, I know your at the front of the line.

Roger