ownership of three European cars in a row
fiction
edward w pritchard
I inherited once upon a time a beautiful red petite Volkswagen beetle by marriage. It was the kind of car whose trim and lines often won it's type vehicle a role as background glamour in a movie back in the 1960's. The car was a 1964 I believe looking back across the years and since it was then 1975 the car had a few issues.
First though before I could drive the car I had to fix it for the engine was seized up and an engineer had declared it unfix-able and a practical competent mechanic had declared the car not worth the trouble to revive. The car sat on the street and it's health and ownership being important to my new friend I decided to revive the car for her, although I also had a very nice 67 Olds Cutlass that I had already taken to let her drive as needed.
I recall from memory myself working in the freezing cold to un-seize the engine which I did by using unusual ingenuity and initiative which I have not used much since. It might have actually been early fall when I worked on that car out in the cold but I did get it running. Later after marriage we were a two car family from the start.
Next when that red VW died I bought a middling looking two tone blue automatic Volkswagen with an usual clutch-less shift on the fly feature. It was driven to death but it certainly got along well in the deep snow. That car died too.
Then came a boondoggle of a car as all passionate purchase tend to be. For a second car I bought a 1976 Triumph royal green Spitfire. Mostly I drove a new Toyota by then but sometimes the Spitfire would run but not completely through any one trip or journey across town. The Triumph had a bad habit of stalling when the wife and second new baby were going anywhere in the car.
In addition to three memorable European cars in a row I owned several very dependable cars to be proud of new Toyota's over the years.
Sometimes, around snowy Winter Holidays, I like to remissness about that first beautiful Red VW that someone gave me a part of by marriage. Why can't mechanical things last forever? Ah well, such the memories.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Friday, December 29, 2017
winter survival north of the Mason Dixon line
Winter survival north of the Mason Dixon Line
fiction
edward w pritchard
It's intimidating the first time you close with a air sucking slam the heavy green metal lid to a stationary dumpster to sleep warmly among-st the debris of American society behind an all night diner North of the Mason Dixon line in a large American City. It takes a brave man to shut out thoughts of mice and rats and claustrophobia and grab a few hours of fitful joyous sleep. Subzero temperatures and a driving wind have a way of honing adaptive behaviors. Exhaustion and cold put you to sleep fast. I sleep well cause I don't care if I wake again but my last thought before I drift off is an accusatory " do you still love me Jesus". Then I go to sleep with a smile because I know he knows I have a right to bitch.
5AM is the alarm bell. It's a running gag among city homeless " don't get flipped up into a garbage truck while sleeping in a downtown dumpster" Garbage truck workers start their day early.
A few coins will buy a hot cup of tea at a favorite breakfast nook. With lots and lots of nourishing sugar. Very Hot tea is good for the soul. If money for bread toasted is available douse it with honey, jelly and peanut butter..
The weather channel is available on over head TV at most of those places. Plan your day based on the weather. Grab a discarded newspaper or two to stuff into your shirt to make a "poor man's overcoat".
Then it's walking and walking. Look for public places like central bus stations or Universities. Carry a backpack with a few books to be welcome or at least avoid interference. Keep up on your reading.
Minus three tonight with a light wind. New years eve Sunday. Time for some more resolutions.
fiction
edward w pritchard
It's intimidating the first time you close with a air sucking slam the heavy green metal lid to a stationary dumpster to sleep warmly among-st the debris of American society behind an all night diner North of the Mason Dixon line in a large American City. It takes a brave man to shut out thoughts of mice and rats and claustrophobia and grab a few hours of fitful joyous sleep. Subzero temperatures and a driving wind have a way of honing adaptive behaviors. Exhaustion and cold put you to sleep fast. I sleep well cause I don't care if I wake again but my last thought before I drift off is an accusatory " do you still love me Jesus". Then I go to sleep with a smile because I know he knows I have a right to bitch.
5AM is the alarm bell. It's a running gag among city homeless " don't get flipped up into a garbage truck while sleeping in a downtown dumpster" Garbage truck workers start their day early.
A few coins will buy a hot cup of tea at a favorite breakfast nook. With lots and lots of nourishing sugar. Very Hot tea is good for the soul. If money for bread toasted is available douse it with honey, jelly and peanut butter..
The weather channel is available on over head TV at most of those places. Plan your day based on the weather. Grab a discarded newspaper or two to stuff into your shirt to make a "poor man's overcoat".
Then it's walking and walking. Look for public places like central bus stations or Universities. Carry a backpack with a few books to be welcome or at least avoid interference. Keep up on your reading.
Minus three tonight with a light wind. New years eve Sunday. Time for some more resolutions.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
ode to a forgotten life
ode to a forgotten life
fiction
edward w pritchard
The Lion tamer seeks excitement, the man of peace studies War and the shrew languishes to be tamed.
If one doesn't have anything to say let him remain silent and by all means not write it down.
Ode to a forgotten life.
fiction
edward w pritchard
The Lion tamer seeks excitement, the man of peace studies War and the shrew languishes to be tamed.
If one doesn't have anything to say let him remain silent and by all means not write it down.
Ode to a forgotten life.
how big the army
how big the army
fiction
edward w pritchard
Before a new wave of future patriotic military recruiting songs are written in anticipation of the largest recruiting drive of military men ever staged occurs in response to recent large gains in stocks and bonds prices permitting vast wealth creating opportunity to end under employment in our great country by vastly increasing the standing army, increasing the standing army past and above all large military's ever recruited and known to History; who will ask how big the army?
The Roman's controlled the civilized Mediterranean world with half a million men. What could a country do today with twenty million able soldiers. The supply of able men exists, the wealth is there, who will exploit them and when?
It's impolite to ask. Forget past precedents. Wait to see.
How big the army. What new songs will be heard. "Hail the Sunshine"[1]- or "Tomorrow belongs to me"[2]
[1] "Hail the Sunshine" words and music by Rado, Ragney and McDermitt for " Hair"
[2] "Tomorrow belongs to me" words and music by Kander and Ebb for "Cabaret"
fiction
edward w pritchard
Before a new wave of future patriotic military recruiting songs are written in anticipation of the largest recruiting drive of military men ever staged occurs in response to recent large gains in stocks and bonds prices permitting vast wealth creating opportunity to end under employment in our great country by vastly increasing the standing army, increasing the standing army past and above all large military's ever recruited and known to History; who will ask how big the army?
The Roman's controlled the civilized Mediterranean world with half a million men. What could a country do today with twenty million able soldiers. The supply of able men exists, the wealth is there, who will exploit them and when?
It's impolite to ask. Forget past precedents. Wait to see.
How big the army. What new songs will be heard. "Hail the Sunshine"[1]- or "Tomorrow belongs to me"[2]
[1] "Hail the Sunshine" words and music by Rado, Ragney and McDermitt for " Hair"
[2] "Tomorrow belongs to me" words and music by Kander and Ebb for "Cabaret"
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
off the grid strictly ethereally
off the grid strictly ethereally
fiction
edward w pritchard
The 2018 new year's resolution is to be off the grid strictly mentally ethereally.
Off the grid in mind and memory but still to pay the bills and live in this time and place where I am planted but to avoid the Yahoo miserable bad news de jure, America's obsession with wealth creation and unwholesome things mineral, vegetable or matter of fact.
As all my ventures I start mentally ethereally meaning, of and in the mind, but involving much walking and circumnavigation of nearby places in the continuous motion of mind and spirit.
First to Walden of the mind. Not the actual " Walden " of Thoreau where I once physically visited the auspicious Pond near Concord in a hard.driving all day Massachusetts rain and had revelation that I became resigned but glad that things in themselves as I experienced them would soon be competed.
Now my Walden of the mind is an inward journey to sit in a doorway with a dark hut behind me and a gentle wave-less pond ahead and across my gaze as I, myself in deep reveries of cheerful delightful alone-ness contemplate past, eternity and tonight's next meal.
Then mentally out into the crowd and throngs of the world as In Poe's London and " the Man of the Crowd" walking, walking choosing one to follow rapidly unobserved through the back streets of the great cities of the world all in the Mind rapidly invisibly anonymous moving flowing following selecting, watching without speech, without smile, judgment of the mind and pen.
To be deleted by the author once read following a healing breeze across the River of forgetfulness
as we "the invisible reader " sits in judgment
fiction
edward w pritchard
The 2018 new year's resolution is to be off the grid strictly mentally ethereally.
Off the grid in mind and memory but still to pay the bills and live in this time and place where I am planted but to avoid the Yahoo miserable bad news de jure, America's obsession with wealth creation and unwholesome things mineral, vegetable or matter of fact.
As all my ventures I start mentally ethereally meaning, of and in the mind, but involving much walking and circumnavigation of nearby places in the continuous motion of mind and spirit.
First to Walden of the mind. Not the actual " Walden " of Thoreau where I once physically visited the auspicious Pond near Concord in a hard.driving all day Massachusetts rain and had revelation that I became resigned but glad that things in themselves as I experienced them would soon be competed.
Now my Walden of the mind is an inward journey to sit in a doorway with a dark hut behind me and a gentle wave-less pond ahead and across my gaze as I, myself in deep reveries of cheerful delightful alone-ness contemplate past, eternity and tonight's next meal.
Then mentally out into the crowd and throngs of the world as In Poe's London and " the Man of the Crowd" walking, walking choosing one to follow rapidly unobserved through the back streets of the great cities of the world all in the Mind rapidly invisibly anonymous moving flowing following selecting, watching without speech, without smile, judgment of the mind and pen.
To be deleted by the author once read following a healing breeze across the River of forgetfulness
as we "the invisible reader " sits in judgment
the greatest attractive in the Humble State Of Ohio
the greatest attraction in the humble State of Ohio
fiction
edward w pritchard
Few attractions in the humble State of Ohio are worthy of worldwide attention and acclaim to the worldwide traveler who has the expense and inclination to go anywhere on the planet for entertainment and amazement.
Although the Home of my birth and continuous domicile the State of Ohio as a worldwide attraction of interest of man-made things or Naturally occurring locations probably rates low as a sought after world wide attraction.
Consider the plight of a pilgrim traveler from India wishing to visit himself and with an aging Parent the USA currently seeking one interesting and marvelous place and therefore searching and surveying the 50 American States, Puerto Rico, and Guam seeking to choose only one place to visit in our fine Country. For the moment we will leave Paris France, London England and Florence Italy out of the equation. Where should the traveler from India go in America if only choosing one location which therefore excludes America's greatest city New York, New York which is a multiplicity of locations in itself ?
Surveying the internet prior to his journey if the world traveler checked out touted Ohio locations for a place to visit, he might find recommended a prison for animals In Columbus the Ohio State capital [ Columbus Zoo], a war museum in Dayton, Wright Patterson Air Force base, or various small time sin locations of bourgeois society in contemporary America currently existing in the State of Ohio.
Of course the Home and birth place of Lebron James might be worthy of worldwide mention at this time in particular. Although only a dozen miles from my house I, I have never received an invite to Lebron's house although I did once work often in the Elizabeth street apartments once Lebron James' humble childhood home.
To me, a life time resident of Ohio and America if ask to choose one location or thing to visit for a short time in the good State of Ohio I would with-out equivocation recommend the Cleveland Art museum. The Cleveland Art museum is a sublime and marvelous place to be, comparable to the best Art museums in the world, such as the Louvre, Prado or Uffuzi all of which I have visited and thoroughly enjoyed.
A visit of a few hours to the Cleveland Art museum transports the visitor to a place outside of ordinary Time and circumstance. The art there, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, is remarkable, of worldwide renown.
Visit the great Cleveland Art museum and if you have the time and convenience of present circumstance take one or more of your aging Parents. The Cleveland Art museum should be around for hundreds of more years but we won't. Visit now temporary time traveler.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Few attractions in the humble State of Ohio are worthy of worldwide attention and acclaim to the worldwide traveler who has the expense and inclination to go anywhere on the planet for entertainment and amazement.
Although the Home of my birth and continuous domicile the State of Ohio as a worldwide attraction of interest of man-made things or Naturally occurring locations probably rates low as a sought after world wide attraction.
Consider the plight of a pilgrim traveler from India wishing to visit himself and with an aging Parent the USA currently seeking one interesting and marvelous place and therefore searching and surveying the 50 American States, Puerto Rico, and Guam seeking to choose only one place to visit in our fine Country. For the moment we will leave Paris France, London England and Florence Italy out of the equation. Where should the traveler from India go in America if only choosing one location which therefore excludes America's greatest city New York, New York which is a multiplicity of locations in itself ?
Surveying the internet prior to his journey if the world traveler checked out touted Ohio locations for a place to visit, he might find recommended a prison for animals In Columbus the Ohio State capital [ Columbus Zoo], a war museum in Dayton, Wright Patterson Air Force base, or various small time sin locations of bourgeois society in contemporary America currently existing in the State of Ohio.
Of course the Home and birth place of Lebron James might be worthy of worldwide mention at this time in particular. Although only a dozen miles from my house I, I have never received an invite to Lebron's house although I did once work often in the Elizabeth street apartments once Lebron James' humble childhood home.
To me, a life time resident of Ohio and America if ask to choose one location or thing to visit for a short time in the good State of Ohio I would with-out equivocation recommend the Cleveland Art museum. The Cleveland Art museum is a sublime and marvelous place to be, comparable to the best Art museums in the world, such as the Louvre, Prado or Uffuzi all of which I have visited and thoroughly enjoyed.
A visit of a few hours to the Cleveland Art museum transports the visitor to a place outside of ordinary Time and circumstance. The art there, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, is remarkable, of worldwide renown.
Visit the great Cleveland Art museum and if you have the time and convenience of present circumstance take one or more of your aging Parents. The Cleveland Art museum should be around for hundreds of more years but we won't. Visit now temporary time traveler.
sleight of hand
sleight of hand
fiction
edward w pritchard
Sitting with four children of various young ages at the SeaWorld resort in Aurora, Ohio one summer day watching the entertainment on a crowded outdoor open air stage near a large Lake I was randomly picked to be the magician's helper from a large audience at the 1PM performance .
I was crammed into and between on a bench, at a small booth, two just past teenage aspiring entertainers both independently hoping for someday better venues as they put on their act of various sleight of hand tricks which the three of us passed as props quickly below the viewing opening that kept the audience from seeing the reality of the performance. Enthusiastic shouts and whistles on cue followed each new illusion. Myself playing along getting into the rhythm of things especially since the girl sitting so close was quite pretty and I was younger then myself.
In the end I had stretched myself, thrown myself enthusiastically into my part, helping to maintain the illusion of the stage magic and receiving appropriate applause.
About an hour and a half later I was walking about the theme park rocking the baby girl to sleep and I stopped in the back of the audience of the same performance, but this one at 3PM, and watched the show for a minute. Unfortunately although I could see how realistic the tricks looked to the audience from where I stood, now that I knew the routine there was an element of bursted expectations to the show. Further looking at the balding paunchy man selected to be the magicians helper I noted a bit of advertising chicanery in the pathetic guy's selection as stereotypical bourgeois stooge. Still rather than applaud wildly at the end of the performance, for my sleeping daughter, I clapped my hands a bit as I was able holding the child tightly as I performed my part.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Sitting with four children of various young ages at the SeaWorld resort in Aurora, Ohio one summer day watching the entertainment on a crowded outdoor open air stage near a large Lake I was randomly picked to be the magician's helper from a large audience at the 1PM performance .
I was crammed into and between on a bench, at a small booth, two just past teenage aspiring entertainers both independently hoping for someday better venues as they put on their act of various sleight of hand tricks which the three of us passed as props quickly below the viewing opening that kept the audience from seeing the reality of the performance. Enthusiastic shouts and whistles on cue followed each new illusion. Myself playing along getting into the rhythm of things especially since the girl sitting so close was quite pretty and I was younger then myself.
In the end I had stretched myself, thrown myself enthusiastically into my part, helping to maintain the illusion of the stage magic and receiving appropriate applause.
About an hour and a half later I was walking about the theme park rocking the baby girl to sleep and I stopped in the back of the audience of the same performance, but this one at 3PM, and watched the show for a minute. Unfortunately although I could see how realistic the tricks looked to the audience from where I stood, now that I knew the routine there was an element of bursted expectations to the show. Further looking at the balding paunchy man selected to be the magicians helper I noted a bit of advertising chicanery in the pathetic guy's selection as stereotypical bourgeois stooge. Still rather than applaud wildly at the end of the performance, for my sleeping daughter, I clapped my hands a bit as I was able holding the child tightly as I performed my part.
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