I'm taking a couple weeks off from writing to recharge my batteries and check through all my idea notes to see what my next few manuscripts will be about. Iad an idea to write another sci-fi, using our asteroid belt that some people believe to have once been a planet as the initial scene behind the story, with two families escaping a cataclysm and arriving on ancient earth to begin their lives. A fictional tale leading to the birth of Adam and Eve...possibly. I still plan a western series for a family, a wagon train and their journey to Oregon, and two more Badge and the Cross stories. I also have an idea for a World War II/Korean War vet story, and a few others I've made notes about when the ideas hit. If you come up with an idea for a story and don't wish to write it yourself, send it on and I'll look it over.
Canaan's husband Patrick ( our grandkids), is coming home soon and his kids are really missing him. He's been working down in the Lower 48 for the last month. They hope to be leaving here this summer to go back up to Fairbanks to look over their property and cabins they have up there to get them ready for renting out. These are dry cabins, meaning no water or plumbing. But, Fairbanks has a lot of these cabins spread out over the valley. People just haul their water. We've done that before because the home we lived in did not have good drinking water. There are a lot of gold mines spread about in Fairbanks from the old days and arsenic is a real problem. Another problem can be the animals. A long time ago we had a neighbor whose water box quit working and when he went out to check on it, he found a dead moose down in it. Poor animal had wandered over the top of it, not able to read the signs and was too heavy for the roof of the box. What a mess to clean up. It is one of those things a person must watch out for when walking out on abandoned property outside the city limits: old water boxes, abandoned mine shafts and trap lines long ago left behind by people who didn't bother to collect their traps when they gave up the trade.
We had a real problem in Dillingham, where people moved out to the bush to try some rugged living and acquired dog teams. Then it got too much for them and they moved back to civilization, just letting their dogs loose to run wild in packs. In a lot of cases our animal control officer had no choice but to hunt them down as they had gone wild and became predators. When we could and had enough evidence, we would obtain warrants for the owners for animal abuse, but it was only a misdemeanor offense and if they moved out of state, no one would arrest them. The state's will not pay to transport prisoners for misdemeanor warrants, sometimes not even the low grade felony ones. But, the warrants would stay in the computer for a few years. Years later I filed animal abuse against a man in Seward, who had let his horses starve to death. The district attorney was too busy to follow up with a trial and the man walked. He eventually became a State of Alaska Correctional Officer. To say the least, I was upset with my D.A.
Between Vietnam and the years to follow, plus my 20 years as a police officer I saw a lot of people at their worst. The effect it had on me...I'm not really sure. But, being as Christian really helped and I was surprised by how few of the cops I knew, worked with or met, were not believers. But that is another story for another time. My computer went off on me again, lost it for 18 minutes. I've promised myself that if I ever become an award winning author, I'm going to buy a brand new system, with a built in cassette player to play my oldies....maybe even a turntable and a surround sound system to blow the walls down. Hire me some tech dude to wire it all in, or maybe Lisa.
We've just had an answer to prayer. One of our kids who had a growth removed and was being looked at for possible cancer, DOES NOT HAVE CANCER!!! Such good news. Growth was misdiagnosed originally, but a 2nd opinion wanted to operate and the growth was removed. The shape of the growth concerned them and they sent it in to see if it was cancerous. But Not!
Here are some headlines: "Hamas Terrorists in Israeli Prison Launch Hunger Strike After Authorities Install Electronic Device to Block Smuggled Phones From Working." - "Islamic Red Cross Reports Recent Flood in Iran Struck 300 Towns and Cities in 22 of Iran's 31 Provinces, Effecting 18.5 million People, with 1412 Rivers in Flood Stage"- "Social Security Audit Shows SSA Underpaid Over 10,000 Senior Citizens- "6.3 Earthquake Strike's Indonesia"- "Mysterious Infection Spans Globe in a Climate of Secrecy; Drug Resistant Germs" - "California's Moratorium on Executions Causes Democratic Presidential Candidates to Rethink the Death Penalty"- "Asbestos Banned in 60 Countries is Making a Comeback" - " 2 College Students Accused of Swindling Tech Giant Out of $900,000 in Major Scam"- "Iran Threatens to Retaliate if U.S. Designates Their Revolutionary Guard as Terrorists".... "U.S. Does Designate Guard as Terrorists",,,, "Suspected Rhino Poacher is Killed by an Elephant and Then Eaten by Lions".... "U.S. Pulls Forces Back From Libya Due to Security Conditions".... "Environmental Groups Sue To Restrict Salmon Fishing Off West Coast"...."Motel 6 To Pay $12 Million After Giving Out guest Lists to ICE".... "Feds Say They've Busted a $1.2 Billion Medicare Scam That Targeted Seniors"....New York Declares Measles Emergency After Outbreak in Brooklyn"...."Iran Tells U.S. Navy Warships to Keep Their Distance" ..."Iran Armed Forces Says It Will Fight U.S. Central Command"...." Turkey's Ruling Party Wants to Hold 2nd Election for Leadership of Istanbul After their Man Lost- Low Voter Turnout in Israel's Prime Minister Election; 52% Turnout by 6 P.M."...."Germany to End financing of Extreme Pro-Iran Group."
With all the flooding going on in Iran, the starvation that is resulting and the sickness, one might wonder how they expect to be concerned with the United States. We're not going to invade or attack unless they strike at Israel or NATO with a nuke. The U.S. Doesn't wish to bring about a religious war in the Middle East, where the body count could grow into the millions. As to why the President would want to name the Revolutionary Guard as terrorists, I'm not sure. This is their elite military, not their normal army and they can be seen to occassionary operate as the Muslim Brotherhood did in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood were also listed as terrorists and it was Egypt itself that imprisoned them for their acts of terror. This is one of those cases where the U.S. needs to move softly, but have that big stick ready for when it is needed. But, what do I know about politics...very little to be sure. I read the news, try to avoid the fake news as best I can and judge the news stories based on prior history and facts. Hard to do with so many politicians running for office or fighting to hold on to their current office. Working for the State I witnessed a lot of politicians who lied or made illegal deals that violated their oaths of office. Sad affair.
Internet trying to kick me off. Going to close off. Remember, I'll take those book ideas and please remember to critique the books I already have out there. This is how I improve. Thank You. Lord bless your week. BILL