 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 11 † Issue 3 † March 2005
[Internet Stuff] [Hockey Puck] [Twins of the Dark Star]
[Poetry Corner] [The Dull Stuff] [Guest Articles] [In The Keys]
Kitty Talk
These journals are dedicated to Kitty GreyCat's spirit. She is at RainBow Bridge now along with her human friends, Leo and Doris. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997. Please use our email form linked below to make suggestions or offer praise. >^..^<  Ebony: My Abby kitty cat loved on a flip flop for a very long time. I could not quite figure out what she was doing with that flip flop, rubbing all over it and smelling it all over too. Then Abby have to find me and jump on me, bite me, and wrestle me to the floor, she did. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, you must have let that big chin boo boo sap your brain. I did not do any such thing you meow of there, I didn't. I might have messed up a sheet or two, maybe even a blanket. At least we were not chased too much by our human bean to put fleas stuff on us. He caught us too easily this month. What up with that, I meow. >^..^<
Ebony: We been lazy in practicing our escape routes. I look forward if we go on a long trip. You are not going, because you get too excited and turn all pink all over. You get way too stressed out. >^..^<
Abby: I not trip ready. I not scared proof either. One night I heard a thud bump crash thud. I jumped up with eyes wide. I slowly inch through the cat door to see what was afoot. There in the dark was a big blob. I was cautious as all get out. I creep up on the scary thing. I paw tap it some. Bean turned on the light and what should the scary thing be but a stuffed animal from the young girl human bean's bed what fall on the floor in the night. >^..^<
Ebony: I like that true story, Abby. I got one even better. I was in the other bean's bedroom. I wanted to look out the big bedroom window. I jumped up high. Then the VCR and DVD player all come crashing down. I run away really fast so no one can blame me, but they are blamed me anyway. Everything still work though. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, I got mews. Ebony and my websites have been updated with new meows and great stuff like that. Now we have plenty of catnap time to spend leisurely on our backs. Ebony snores, but I purr. >^..^<
Ebony: Abby, I not snore, but I have picked up your habit of chasing and batting around paper wads. Get out of my brain. I don't like outside noises, because they scare me inside. Then you and me sit in the window looking outside for all the noises and stuff. But best of all is the countless running fits we have. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, I have to agree. Running fits for no reason is plenty of reason for running fits back and forth, up and back, this way and that. >^..^<
Ebony: I prefer catnapping and giving you a cat bath. You always want to give me one. So I gave you one. >^..^<
Abby: You full of soft cat treats that human bean just got for me and no one else. Yum. >^..^<
Ebony: I napped in the closet sometimes, but I don't like your soft treats. I like real live lizards! >^..^<
Abby: You got that right. But I did see you climb a tree really really high, chasing after a lizard. I am surprised no fire squad people have to come rescue you. I ventured out beyond the big gate to the never land on the other side of the fence. It smelled like raccoons. Yuck. Well, we cats are done pawing enough for this month. Meow. >^..^<
Internet Stuff
Here are the latest DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com: Red Green: Stuffed and Mounted 1 and 2 were compilations of episodes of this Canadian television treasure. The comedy is never ending. Johnson Family Reunion was good family fun that displayed it humor just a bit off. Troy was an excellent film with little history and a lot of action. White Chicks broke all the rules and was hilarious. Shark Tale was a well done animated movie full of fun and values. Alien versus Predator turned out to be surprisingly quite good. King Arthur was a great movie, with super action, that was based on the latest history gleaned from the recent studies of the era. Interesting websites we visited recently: We have had a number of fans email us about being unfairly listed one day at the http://www.somethingawful.com website, but we were not concerned. Abby WhiteCat wasn't worried; she's a cat. Nothing worries her much. And the link enhanced our daily ad revenues and site hit rate. Also Johnny Tray, who runs and hosts a popular Internet radio show, wanted to do an interview with our company president about the somethingawful website, but we thought it was much to do about a lot of nothing. The company president didn't do the interview. SLD Internet Services http://www.sldwebhost.com web hosting & development services are working on a special script for our online email systems. http://www.mysteryart.net features artist Mystery with futuristic logos, flyers, sketches, paintings, web sites, brochures, and photo restoration. You will find all things Christmas on http://www.christmas4all.bravehost.com.
In The Keys
 The picture shows my son's tractor-trailer rig. He's a traveling man and is rarely home. He took this picture with his cell phone and emailed it to me via the same phone. Isn't technology wonderful? I won't be able to take my vacation to visit my children and grandchildren in Nebraska. I had to let my fifth wheel travel trailer go back to the bank. I worked for the City of Marathon for almost 5 years. With the increase in seniority I expected and should have received more hours. I fought the good fight with city hall only to lose that battle. The appalling part is that it took nine months to reach that sad conclusion, when it should have taken just weeks at most. My department head and the HR department, both screwed me over and treated me very badly. So I felt compelled to resign from the job that I loved so much. I plan on reading my letter of resignation at the March 8th city council meeting. Miscellany: My Boot Key guest column was well received. Our little community, where I live, experienced some turmoil. It was over recreational fires and climbing fences. Minor things can sometimes spin out of control. I was able to go boating, but only a couple of times. I long for warmer and calmer weather. I miss my boating and snorkeling. This is the last season for Star Trek: Enterprise and the West Wing. What will I ever watch now? Finally: Did you know that Maryland's state bird is the Baltimore Oriole? The flower is the Black-eyed Susan. The tree is the White Oak. The capital is Annapolis. Statehood was granted April 28, 1788. Lastly, the Haitian Art Company features new and old Haitian art, something for everyone. This Key West business is located at 600 Frances Street. They are open daily 10-10. Their telephone number is 305-296-8932. Call for more details. Their web address is as follows: http://www.haitian-art-co.com. Poetry Corner
“Into Every Life”
May 28, 1998
Into every life
A little rain falls
Now and then
A child cries
Look into these eyes
Golden moment lost
Forever and then
Break into sad refrain
Into every life
A little rain falls
Now and then
And love fades
That song endless
In the mind
Among the land of dreams
Eyes dazzled with visions
Struggling in the waking land
Eyes fluttering
Frozen in terror
And can’t get away
Endless tears
Born of words
Song on the night
Among us all
Into every life
A little rain falls
Now and then
With life’s cruelties © 2005 L. E. Shaffer Hockey Puck
The NHL sucks. The first season in professional sport ever canceled due to a labor dispute. I blame both the owners and the players. The NBA was busy. The Miami Heat keep winning and Zo is back. After the All-Star game, the championship run begins in earnest. The NFL Super Bowl saw the Pats win again. How boring. What happened to the Eagles? Jeff Gordon won his third Daytona 500 in the beginning of the NASCAR racing season. Tiger Woods was upset in match play, but his game is getting better. The rest of the year could be really good. The MLB Florida Marlins have improved their team, and spring training is full of excitement and expectations. Guest Articles
Stuff not written by us. As always everything is copyright of the author. Jaci Rae ESPN went really well, thanks for everyone listening in and cheering me on. I have several more national shows coming up including one on Sunday. Just check my website to find out where and I hope you can tune in. http://www.jacirae.com.
I have just finished the total re-write of one of my books and that's off my shelf now. I hope everyone had a great week and Valentines Day for those who celebrate. I had an incredible Valentines Day, my boyfriend made it so special for me. I also wish everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend coming up.
There are several TV shows that have shown interest in my books, including CNN and Open Book on A&E among others, so it's been a real blessing. I have been working hard as usual and so have all of you, thanks for keeping me updated on your lives for those of you who have had a chance too.
Blessings and love to all. T. © 2005 Jaci Rae Spartacus Again  Hello-hello! I'd like to wish you and your family a wonderful Valentines Day! Best wishes and large purr-purrs from Spartacus See Scotland through my eyes! http://spartacusspecial.4t.com/photo5.html
My homepage! http://spartacus.4t.com
My "Special Occasions" Site! http://spartacusspecial.4t.com
See my "Catster" Page! www.catster.com/?110853
Are you a gorgeous kitty? Join my web ring! http://i.webring.com/hub?ring=gorgeouskitties
© 2005 Spartacus Group Novel
As an experiment for fun, we are writing a group novel at the world famous and so very special Area 52B forum. After all the meetings, Zybai sought out some solitude. He found himself in a new grove, and satisfied his curiosity. He checked the marking stones and was surprised that the grove was just planted by Zeena, his sister. So she was serious about this Star Hopper creature! He smiled at the thought.
Vaguely, he felt Zeena dreaming some distance away, as the moons rose to their zenith. The stars came out. The rains began, even though the skies were relatively clear. There was no rolling thunder or explosion of light from lightning. Zybai then knew the song of rain. His sister had been the key. How could he have not known?
Zybai wove the song into several tunes, a talent he had just developed. The stars shifted. The moons seemed to dim with shifting dark colors. The planet’s star sang back with a glee that surprised him. Zybai kept weaving an intricate and layered song. The atmosphere appeared to him, molecule by molecule. This was working!
Zeena’s dreaming seemed to be part of this song. Zybai started the finishing flourishes. Then he realized something totally out of context with this song of rain. The tune he sang was part of dreams. After finishing the song of rain, he sat on a great rock worn by wind and ages. So dreaming is part of the songs that must be sung to open the fourteen stars? This puzzle could go on forever, but he still felt thrilled at each new revelation.
Zybai called to Zeena, and she appeared, excited and refreshed. How could she do that? He always hated being disturbed from a sound sleep, especially if his dreams were really good. Zybai explained his discovery to Zeena.
Zeena said, “The song of rain? I would not have thought it was that simple. But this dreaming thing is unbelievable.”
Zybai laughed. This was why he needed Zeena. “Then, sister, let us test it.”
They both floated near the gateway to the fourteen stars. They tapped into all the dreams of their home world. The song began. There were no distraction, no Earth ships, only the complicated tune, the song of stars.
The fourteen stars connected. The song continued. A conduit opened and with their minds, they could see the end of the infinite distance. Another song returned from the other side. That song fit into the one that they sung. Zybai’s mind separated into different, discrete parts. He stood apart from himself and felt a presence.
Zybai wasn’t afraid. This presence was familiar and so very old. Somehow he knew that this presence was from the time of creation. It was when a separate entity came out of this vast presence that Zybai panicked. He missed some notes. The conduit closed.
Zeena spoke, confused, “What happened? We had just begun the song.”
Zybai took them back to her new grove. How could he explain to his sister what he felt?
Zeena asked, “Zybai? What is wrong?”
Zybai had to escape. This was all too much for him to comprehend, let alone talk about.
Zeena stood among her new grove, stunned. What had just happened? She decided to leave her brother alone for the night. The sun’s rising might bring some answers. For now, she was very tired. Thunder rolled down from the nearby mountain. The rains came again. Zeena was gone from her grove and back to her dreams. © 2005 L. E. Shaffer, Kim Young, Linda Hall Twins of the Dark Star
Book One Tears from Ao and three poetry collections, Pages of Life, Visions of Life, and Moments of Life are available electronically at http://RunesofAo.com/aobp/. The Runes of Ao project, Book Two The Mountains of Ao novel currently in final edit, Book Three Twins of the Dark Star novel in early stages, and The Book of Kalian Mysticism poetry collection are works in progress. Also a collaboration with K. Young on a novella called Dragon Embers is now published on the fan site known as Runes of Ao.com. The Dull Stuff
All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of this magazine, company, or its advertisers. Inputs, email, suggestions, and letters to this journal are subject to approval by Ebony and Abby. Submittals may be edited for content and length and become the creative property for the one-time nonexclusive publication of: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company
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www.RunesofAo.com/abby/ Publication date: February 28, 2005
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
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