Tuco and Blondie (Cigar Scene)

As some of you know, I'm selling the old family estate and moving to Columbus, probably for the rest of my life. I was born here and grew up in this house, and as I think about leaving for good and all, I feel a bit like Tuco at the end of this scene from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, where Tuco (Eli Wallach) has just gone through a tumultuous, emotional reunion with his older brother Pablo, who is now a priest. Tuco's brother reveals that their parents are dead, then castigates him, and rejects him. In this scene, Tuco lies about the reunion to his partner in crime, Blondie (Clint Eastwood). Blondie knows the truth about the reunion and responds by offering Tuco his cigar, which Tuco accepts with some consternation. At the end, Tuco shakes off the past and looks ahead to a future he believes will be much better than his past life.



I think that's where I'll end up - shaking the dust from my heels and moving on. It isn't like I haven't moved before, as I've lived any number of places in the U.S., mainly East of the Mississippi, and each place was better than the last.

Christmas 2015

I sent out Christmas cards this year.  I don't know how many more years I'll be able to afford to do so, what with the postage rates being as high as they are.  Back in the bad old days, my parents would send out several boxes of Christmas cards, many of which went to my father's business associates.  Out of curiosity I found a site detailing the History of Postage Rates, and the cost of a single stamp in 1958 was 4¢ (four cents).  I remember it as three, but I believe my memory is failing me.

I got several nice presents this year, but I think the cream of the crop is my new pen, given to me by Meg and Chas McBrien, both Doctors of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Meg specialty is internal medicine, and Dr. Chas is a board certified veterinary surgeon.  Dr. Meg is a vegan vegetarian, anti-gun and animal rights advocate; Dr. Chas isn't far behind.  I believe both doctors drink a little white wine once in a while.

For those that don't know me, count yourselves lucky I'm a whiskey drinking, raw meat eating, gun lover who'd sooner put lead in the air than eat breakfast.  I suppose it's safe to say that all three of us like animals, even if I like certain critters on a plate rather than running around my front yard.  So given our philosophical differences, you can understand my surprise when I got this gift from Meg and Chas. 

My Gun Pen

You'll note the clip is a ubiquitous long gun, one end cap is a shot shell (labeled 12 gauge) and the other is a brass casing from a .40 caliber.

Clip is a Long Gun

30 Caliber

Open it up and the writing end is an easily recognizable .30 caliber.  Nice, huh?  The barrel is made of authentic olive wood harvested from the stock of an AK47 that was only dropped once, hence the disclaimer about trees being damaged or destroyed.

Olive Wood

Commercial Message

I would also like to give credit to the manufacturer, Kent Conder.  The pen is very well made, comfortable to hold, and writes beautifully.  I'm very happy to have it.  Should you want to order something from Kent, you can reach him here:

Conder Creations
1836 Weisenberger Mill Rd.
Midway, KY  40347
(859) 227-4264

This is now my favorite pen.  My thanks to Meg and Chas for a generous, thoughtful gift.

Book Review: The Distracted Drummer: "Thank you, Toledo, and Good Night" by John B Meilink

File Size: 576 KB
Print Length: 188 pages
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
ASIN: B00NAD8WMM

You can find The Distracted Drummer: "Thank you, Toledo, and Good Night" by John B Meilink for the Kindle ereader on Amazon.

Ever wonder how a rock musician got started? And once started, how they manage to keep everything together - work, bills, gigs, band members that fail to show, and fiendishly jealous girlfriends? This is the story of one musician's rise from rags to respectability, or a reasonable facsimile of same. It's painfully funny, and I recommend it to everyone who is looking for an enjoyable read.

Book Review: Joyland by Steven King

Joyland, the Illustrated Edition

Published by Titan Books
Copyright © by Stephen King

Print Length: 300 pages
ISBN: 978-1-78329-532-6

Veterans Day 2015

In honor and in thanks to all the people who served in the United States Armed Forces, I've decided to publish a few pictures of my family and describe the society as it existed for them back then.

On Cats and Popcorn

This is Zeus, a tuxedo cat.  He's always dressed for dinner.  Isn't he a handsome fellow?

Zeus

Zeus originally belonged to my brother, Bob, who dropped him off with Mom when he headed out to Wisconsin.  Mom liked Zeus and wouldn't give him back.  Now I'm stuck with him.

Book Review: The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon

I can't remember where I stumbled across The Traveling Vampire Show Kindle Edition by Richard Laymon, but I'm glad I did.

File Size: 1178 KB
Print Length: 404 pages
ASIN: B0028T82EC
ISBN-10: 0843948507
ISBN-13: 978-0843948509