Daughter, Lessa, asked for Stephen King for Christmas. When I went to our Indie bookstore to do the Christas book buying I asked for his newest and was shown to 11/22/63. I was told it was different – not like other Stephen King books, so, while I did buy it, I made a decision not to gift it to Lessa. Instead, I bought her another of his and two of Dean Koontz’s books.

The day after Christmas I settled in to start reading 11/22/63. After all, I had been alive when the Kennedy assassination had occurred. I was 13 at the time and I remember well the upset that occurred in a small catholic grade school because the first catholic president had been shot and killed. I remember even though it has been nearly 50 years since it happened.

By the way – the book is HUGE! It hurt my hands and wrists to hold it so I found myself sitting at the kitchen table to read – or resting it on the arms of my chair – or on the receptionist’s desk at work (she was out sick all week and SOMEBODY had to do her job) in order to read it comfortably.

I finished the book yesterday. Erm, yes, that is just 4.5 days. What can I say? I became engrossed in the story line(s).

While the folks at the bookstore meant well, I must disagree. This is PURE Stephen King from the get-go. The what ifs and the whys are all there. The horrific fascination with what could have been, should have been, will be’s are all there. I had weird dreams EVERY night while reading the book. It cannot help but make one stop to think.

Any more about the plot you will not hear from me. I encourage any King fan to get and read the book. I encourage any conspiracy theorist to get and read the book. Democrat? Kennedy supporter? Yup, get and read the book.

Maybe you might want to think about getting wrist braces, though.

Posted: December 31st, 2011 under Moose Nuggets.
Comments: 2

Polly’s taxi was making a run from the Ohio River to Columbus up north. She was in no big hurry; there was no need to call undue attention to the yellow Plymouth. An untimely stop for speeding or spitting or just plain meanness of the two-bit sheriffs along her route could cause some major trouble. Old BillyJoBob would want to take a look-see into the big trunk. She’d have to do some fast talking if that happened.

No need to skirt the issue: Polly had hungry mouths at home to feed and little to no money to do it. She was a fine driver and knew sources of some mighty fine likker. Prohibition and the Great Depression both served to cause people to take chances.

Luckily, Polly was a looker. Blond curls framed a round face and her pouty lips bore the latest shade of Jean Harlow red. She could bat her eyes and make promises she didn’t intend to keep to get on her way.

The one time she kept one of those promises she ended up with a nine month surprise that kept her off the prohibition trail for a time.

She could thank BillyJoBob for that little bundle.

Today was going to be her lucky day. Polly could feel it. The road was dry and the air was warm. Tilting her cap to a sexy angle, she lit up a Camel, and tuned the radio to a dance music station.

She rolled down her window and sang lustily as she passed through the little towns. About halfway Polly pulled up to a store and got a fountain coke. The soda jerk tipped his paper hat to her and gave her a leer as he topped the soda with a cherry. “Here you go, Toots. A sweet for a sweet.”

Polly’s laughter trilled. Winking saucily she climbed behind the wheel of the taxi. Columbus was a’waiting and she was ready to be on her way. “See ya next time, boys.”
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I took a little poetic license with the timing of this. My mother-in-law (Polly) was quite a woman. She did run shine when she was young. However she would have only been in her late teens in the early 30’s. At THAT time she was cooking for her father on a tugboat plying the Ohio River. She had a number of “odd” jobs when she was younger. And she had a number of children, too, but none were the progeny of an Ohio sheriff. At least, not as far as I know.

Thanks to Trifecta’s judges for naming last week’s entry as a runner-up. Thanks, too, for the challenges you throw us.

Posted: December 27th, 2011 under Moose Nuggets, trifecta.
Comments: 8

Awhile back Vintage Books & Anchor Books posted a photo of their Book-tree.

I determined that I have nearly enough books to do one as wel. Mine has been constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed more than I care to count. And, while I am not 100% happy with it, I am happy enough to stop at this point.

So, I give you the Moosie’s family tree for 2011. Merry Christmas, everyone. May we all remember the One who came because His Father loved us in more ways than we can ever count.

One of the first versions:

Final – Christmas Eve version:

Posted: December 24th, 2011 under Moose Nuggets.
Comments: 1

Today was the shortest day of the year. Alaskans may now rejoice to see a sliver more of the sun each day.

As I was buttoning up the computer for the night one of my past flickr posted pictures popped up – winter frost on late summer’s grass. It’s a shot taken some years ago. Suddenly I realized what I have not done for the last several weeks: I have NOT gone out at lunch time or before or after work just to take pictures. It really is unlike me.

I can only suppose that I have been in a doldrums of some sort – most likely caused by the lack of sunlight – and aided and abetted by a great deal of workplace stress. I need to see the SUN!!! I need for the winds to quit blowing and for the clouds to part and for the SUN to shine down on me.

Lots of Alaskans cut for warmer climes about this time of the year. I know of a number of people who are spending the winter schoolbreak in Hawaii. Sadly most Alaskans cannot afford either the time away from work – or – the money it would take to do such a thing.

Last night’s Anchorage news talked about SAD lights and vitamin B and such. I never think I need either, but looking back at the past week I might want to rethink that. My body is telling me something. For one thing, I fell coming out of the courthouse last week – on the workday so covered by workman’s comp, but that doesn’t lessen the embarrassment of falling on my keister in front of the young assistant district attorney or the equally young public defender. They were both so sweet and kind in making sure I got up and into my car okay. Nothing broken – according to the xrays – only a sprain. Of course, sprains can take longer to heal and I’m not getting any younger here.

Then I discovered that falls on keisters are often followed by colds in the head. Yeah, I have no clue how they’re connected, but there you have it. I actually missed more time from work with the cold than with the sprain.
People aren’t afraid of catching your sprains, you see.

So, maybe my body is telling me something. Maybe I need to slow down a bit and take some time for myself. Maybe I need to get the camera out and take a lunchtime cruise along some back roads to get some wintertime shots. I just need to make sure I have my cane with me and to be wary of icy spots.

Posted: December 22nd, 2011 under Moose Nuggets.
Comments: 1

With all apologies to the writers of Christmas carols world-wide, this is what popped out when I sat to write for the current Trifecta challenge. Sing along with me now:

Up on the roof-top
Dental pause
In with a wad
Of icky gauze

Working around
My cheeks and gums
Why, oh why does
The dentist hum?

Ho, ho, ho
Here we go
Ho, ho, ho
Give me more

Novocain or
Numbing gel
Good lord, just look
At my cheek swell
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All in good fun – hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

Posted: December 20th, 2011 under trifecta, words.
Comments: 5