Happy Mother's Day to ALL Mom's out there!

Reflections on Lent, Holy Week

With all the immense turmoil in the world today, we look back to ourselves, at what we have done, and what we will do about that. This is no game. It is spritual warfare. The clock is ticking. Do we not see what I spoke of in an earlier post? The unraveling is accelerating.

There is, of course, hope. By the glory of our Creator, the sun will rise again each day, He with us, us with Him...and we still have each other to tend to. As the journey towards the joy of Easter draws nearer, I wish all of you, whatever your affiliation, peace and love.

--Dan

Hospitals, and guns, of all things

Yeah, yeah...this picture is NOT my wife, I know.

Well, my wife has been in dire straits before, and once again, she of multiple blood transfusions in three days, and now on dialysis for kidney failure, is still cooking along, among the many other complications. She, Cruz, is an absolute trooper! God Bless her sweet, sweet heart. We are there with her every single day, you betcha. I watched the end of the LA Laker basketball game with her (they LOST!), and she is really doing so much better....though not quite "out of the woods" yet.

Before the Laker game and all...I was able, in the midst of all the turmoil, to somehow get away a bit....my wife was simply getting the "process" done (dialysis), so, I went to the shooting range on a day off (Sunday), with her sweet blessing. We encountered many things there, including my first EVER chance to shoot an M1 Garand, the main battle rifle of US infantry in WWII. We also encountered a...CANNON! It was a black powered apparatus, that fired...of all things...BILLIARD BALLS....like as in POOL TABLES!

Thus the photos and video I post.

Long live the right to bear arms, by the way.

A very surgical hole in the paper target by an extremely fast moving billiard ball at 50 yards!Then, a photo of life at home, as the family continues with the grandson and his aunts (my daughters), without his dear grandma....we trust she comes home to us soon.

And finally, a fine picture of Cruz (not current, but from the archives, She was in the French Quarter with me (New Orleans) in 1984, just outside the door where my own Dad was born in 1925!...we want to see her home, and want to see her well...

--Dan

Basketball craziness

I used to follow college basketball, but it is too much for me now. I also used to play the game a whole lot. In 1973, I was still in high school. Click to enlarge. Guess who I was.

Just about one year before the photo of team, these guys heavily inspired me.

We can all make a comeback.

--Dan

Winter in California, Summer in Australia, Lakers, guns, health, etc. etc.

This winter has brought wonderful beautiful snow to our local mountains. I wish I could wish the same for those in Australia....the pain runs deep.

We, here, know well the horrible effects of wildfires....every single year. They too, are living the hell. God, please have mercy on them, I pray.

As I ponder these things, I also live as best I can....with my sports favorites.....though nowhere as deep in trouble as the people "down under", wow.

The Lakers are doing the job quite well. I have followed them since around 1965 or earlier.

Gun sales and ammunition are OFF THE CHARTS here....thanks to our world's very incredibly and wonderfully unconditionally loved new president...ahem. Why is that, do you suppose? You folks outside the loop, in other countries, would likely not understand. I do. It's not me....go check for yourself. I did not buy all that....but people are. Yes, he is my president, I do support that. No, I do not believe in his values, and it goes way way far beyond guns. There, some of you can be angry at me.

Three, count 'em, THREE (3) surgeries are coming for my household. Not the best of things. Never are, nope.

I wish I had a great photo of the recent deep snow in our mountains....but I will make up for it with....

Our somewhat new, a couple of months now....but reluctantly wanted dog (by me, reluctant), Holly (short for little jalapeno, as suggested by my neighbor, Allen).

--Dan

Near home, about a week ago, a video

A very raw angle....from my face, at a stupid unflattering angle, ...right in my face....but I send this simple unpurified vid to my blog because it's so pure....yes, it is. It is a typical weekend visit we do, from time to time, near and in our local mountains.

Enjoy, or weep....you decide!

--Dan

The old days, on a Ferris Wheel. My two eldest, with Daddy (me). They are now well into their twenties. My memories are not so old....it was only yesterday....yes, when shorts were....short! I know, I know.

--Dan

The year is already full of itself!

Above:

First, a caricature of me and my wife about four or five years ago....too fun!

Here comes the great ramble:

We have visited the movie theater, and saw Gran Torino. We LOVED it!

The temperature around here has approached 90 degrees F. for over a week...in January! This very morning, it was 72 degrees at 6:00 AM!

We have had MANY medical fiascos. All are still walking this earth, after the very dusty dust has cleared, every single day has it's story, though...trust me.

We have a dog...I don't know why...it was not the dog we wanted, but they are dogs anyway, they know it.

We will soon be doing the unthinkable....driving a LEXUS!....a great deal was bestowed on us...albeit for only 12 months, but whoa....we will be in the "upper" world for a wackie year with a Lexus RX 400h hybrid 4WD... at less than the price of the van we drove from 2001 to 2004! Wow...and how! I got it for my sweet wife...though I will drive it for the first few months...I have very little money, but my job gave me the great connection for her. Trust me, we are eternally broke, but my job is a blessing times ten.

We visited the great and wonderful desert near us last week....WOW, as always!

Here is a photo op:


Yes, though it was quite warm, my wife is not well....see the jacket (coat), she runs "cold" a whole lot. Marion, my youngest daughter is, seated next to her.

I will try to be online more....

--Dan

This is the latest view from the ranch

LOTS of snow above the abode!

Many thanks and words of joy, to all who visit here, and all who visit here often!

Please enjoy the photo of my home with neat-o Southern California weather....near the ocean, near the desert, near the giant redwoods, near the Grand Canyon, near Death Valley, near the home of Edwards AFB (home of Shuttle landings from space), near to Catalina Island, near to Hollywood (ugh), near to....blah blah blah...

...We live in heaven!

...But my wife is not well. Heaven will wait. We live for each other, and that is what it is.

To all visitors:
May God bless all of you, and all of your families this blessed season!

--Dan

Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!!

At the range, a fine day

The day after Thanksgiving....



Allen (my neighbor) at right, with .45 caliber auto pistol. The one on the left is Rachel, one of my daughters, with .22 caliber bolt action rifle.

That was Allen shooting the .45 auto.

Below, Pete Townshend in action at his "range", The Concert for New York.

People enjoy life under God's sky in many ways, eh?

Now, we are closer to Christmas...Happy Advent!

...The thoughts turn more towards the heavens...

--Dan

Thanksgiving....a FAVORITE DAY!

Well, afterall, I WAS around during the 1950's!

How about a video from almost two years ago....it was an experiment by me, and I love it! I hope you do too.....

The Fabric is Unraveling Faster Now

A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. - MLK



Remembering something sort of like this often said by a a great role model of mine, Fr. John Corapi (not a direct quote):
When we are in the darkness, it is harder to see. If we expect to see Truth in the dark, we are kidding ourselves. The only way to see what is true, is follow the Light.

I rarely get too political on this blog. It seems that it is too easy to get folks riled up, and some of that is certainly not intended, though I guess some still is...
=========================
"Today we have a similar spiritual battle in progress; a battle between theforces of good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, life and death. If we do not soon stop the genocide of abortion in the United States, we shall run the course of all those that prove by their actions that they are enemies of God; total collapse, economic, social, and national.The moral demise of a nation results in the ultimate demise of a nation.

The more than 48,000,000 abortions since Roe v. Wade in the United States constitute genocide by definition.The group singled out for death: unwanted, unborn children. No other issue, not all other issues taken together, can constitute a proportionate reason for voting for candidates that intend to preserve and defend this holocaust of innocent human life that is abortion."

--Fr. John Corapi
=============================


Our New President, our Vice President, our Speaker of the House...all favor abortion.

Guess who does not? You don't know?

...How about "Roe" from Roe v Wade! You can bet that is not well published! Her name is Norma McCorvey, and this has been known for years. What may be little known is that she opposes abortion.

The attack on the family continues....in California the vote to keep the definition of marriage as "between a man and a woman" was won, but somehow this sits wrong with those who seem to think it is a "right", as in a civil right, to marry...regardless of gender. Now I will say this: If a fish is a fish, can we call it a dog? If a cloud is a cloud, can we simply call it what it is....a cloud? Let us please be with some reason. The issue about marriage is not about hate as much as it is about what is real, and what is not. This is not to show ill will or lack of love for any gender or gender affiliations, it simply is what it is.

I will support our new president and government as the people of our nation that they are, though I will never agree to many of their stated principles. I will also pray for them, for the nasty folks in all political parties, and for all who bother to read this. Wow....now that means I have to spend time doing that....but I will.

I need prayers too, by the way. We are all in need of each other.

--Dan

What we did not know?

Way, way, back...(early 1960's?)...was that...THAT long ago? The CIA had a thing going on. It was called the A-12. It was BEFORE the now famous SR-71 Blackbird spy plane....neither of which, by the way, flies anymore. Here is a neat-o photo of the early bunch of "super" planes...before they became black! The technology was WAY advanced, and has never, even today, been even closed to being matched. Not even close!

Planes, aircraft....they are one of my passionate interests. If you need know more....look me up! Flight is beautiful. High flight is even more so. I so, so much enjoy the story of flight in the sky above!

--Dan

India goes to the moon, and here at home, we live...on Earth

So, India is shooting for the moon! I grew up watching and waiting for something...anything...to go to the moon. Here is a photo that pertains to what is soon to be...an attempt to visit the moon....though not yet by man...

On a more somber note...and really why I have had difficulty posting lately...My wife lost her father, her Daddy, on October 6th. He was 91. She, Cruz, my wife, is in very poor health herself, but doing OK. In the photo, Cruz is shown at the casket. I so much THANK all that sent words of love to us, and THANK all that would have if they knew...

--Dan

It's been a while, for me, but...

My blog has mostly been aimed, by me, as being a timely, entertaining/imformative sort of thing. I must say, I have not been able to be much of any of that, lately. It seems that the health of my sweet wife, Cruz, as well as that of her Father (born in 1917!), have been the most recent focus of attention.

I have always been a believer in visual stuff...like photos, so I will throw some out there in this post. I love to emphasize the postive side of things, so....that is where I go!



Yet again...she comes home from the hospital!



Cruz with her Daddy, very early '60's.

That is all for now...

--Dan

Well, this is what the weekend on September 6th and 7th brought...

OK, OK, I actually did turn 51 years OLD on Saturday, Sept. 6th. I also suffered the night before by being showered with a party-BB-Q... (I BB-Q'd...me, Dan).



And now for the rest of the story...



It seems somebody knew I needed a new flag to fly (yes, a birthday gift)....and my wife, Cruz, with the grandboy, Jesse, fit in quite well with that!

Yep, it was about 100 degrees F. today, yep, it was the little boy in the little pool!



Yes, that is my front yard, that is my pleasure to share this moment on a Sunday afternoon, Sept. 7th.

--Dan L.

The College Campus of today, Southern California, and Mary, mother of Jesus

One of my daughters (all four are in college, one already with a four year degree!) sent me this fine cell phone picture message today. It is well worthy of this blog! Look carefully....Bruce Lee is in good company!

This is a painting of Mary and the child Jesus. I love it to death. I don't know who painted it, but it is a famous one. I think you will find it very different, and very touchingly close to home.

--Dan

Doings around and about...

My sister gave me a birthday gift a bit early. It is a fine framed photo of some guy in the air.

One day, my neighbor, Allen (far left), was cleaning his van at his garage. Here is my daughter, Rachel (left), his daughter, Violet (the smaller one), and a guest from Germany, Annika. it is very blurred, sorry, but still worth a laugh.

The sun was going, going, gone as this photo was taken...

It is (from left) my wife, Cruz, myself, and two old friends that I have seen only twice in about 25 years. It was very, very fun to see them again. It is a long story, but I was exceedingly uplifted.

--Dan

Wholigans and Grandpups

I received my Wholigan shirt yesterday as per membership at the website of The Who. It will fit 'till I wash it and it shrinks, even in cold water and hang dry. Oh well, they don't hand out bigger than 2X, I need 3X! I might try shrinking too.

Here is a video of the Grand boy, Jesse with my wife, Cruz, about two weeks or so ago. I am using my cell phone recorder, and it is my voice speaking to him. He is 2 1/2 yrs. old now. Time has flown, weeds are growing.

--Dan