 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 10 † Issue 6 † June 2004
[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: I meow that Abby and I mutually groom each other, but I not nose why. We don't like each other most times. We end up getting mad at each other, but that is normal. I swat at her and she waves a white paw at me. I growl and she rises on hind legs. I then want out. >^..^<
Abby: I nose that I just want outside more than you do now. I like to watch for other kitties to meow at. I tell them to get away from my spot and stay away forever. You just like to catnap on the human bean child's bed for no good reason. Do you really like that bed? >^..^<
Ebony: Yes, but I like the child bean's bed better than almost anything, especially for catnapping. When I am not catnapping, I am outside getting out of my red dog harness. Then I like it when the beans chase me all over until I let them catch me. Then they put that nasty old red harness back on me. It starts all over then again. >^..^<
Abby: I got loose and meandered around and under the mobile home. I got by the fence and there be the human bean. He picked me up and took me back to the line I got away from. And now both Ebony and I love our bean even more than usual lately. We just getting older. That has to be the reason. I'm a true lap kitty I am. >^..^<
Ebony: Well, we do have more human beans to serve us here in the mobile home. Even though I don't like that old red harness, I do nose that all the human beans love me and take care of me and worship me even. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, that Tony bean chase me out of his bedroom. That's not worshipping cats I meow. I wasn't happy about that either. Then he got a water gun and squirted Ebony. That was totally okay with me, until he starting squirting me. Bad bean, I meow. Squirt guns and human beans should never be allowed at all. >^..^<
Ebony: I growled and hissed at Tony bean what making me wet, as I ran for cover, but he chasing me. You, Ab, didn't seem to mind being squirted. That Abby is one weird kitty cat. I am a totally normal kitty cat. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, a little wet might be fine. Later, I seed that you trapped a big, juicy lizard in the big flower pot on the porch. I don't like lizards much. I just chase other kitties. You chase lizards. You got this thing about lizards, but birds are much better I meow. You still still in trouble about that bird too. Beans make you dance too. >^..^<
Ebony: I can't believe that the Tony bean danced with me and then danced with you. I thought we cured our human bean from dancing with us cats. It is just not natural for kitties to dance with human beans. >^..^<
Abby: Yes, but I smoked with Tony bean. I wasn't none too happy at that. I batted my eyes and snuffed and hooted. I meowed and wanted inside from that porch where smoke was being blown my way for no good reason at all. I just noticed, Ebony, we have been talking about so many different kinds of stuff, it is cornfusing it is. >^..^<
Ebony: I don't care if we meow about this and that and not keep track of our subjects. Meowing of which, I saw you roughhousing with the human bean the other day. A good roughhousing ends with scratches if you do it right, but you were too gentle with our human bean. How you ever going to cure him of that? >^..^<
Abby: I am alright as long as I get to sleep on my newspaper. Well, this is a short meow session, but good. >^..^<
Internet Stuff
Here are the latest DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com: The Haunted Mansion featuring Eddie Murphy was a predictable film but funny all the same. Big Fish was an unique movie about a father's outlandish stories that turn out to be true. The Last Samurai was stunning, action-packed, and about Japanese warriors who epitomize honor and tradition. The latest Peter Pan movie was fanciful and full of flying, pixies, and never getting old. Kill Bill 1 is very bloody and seems quite staged, but a lot of people seemed to like the film. Cube was a strange and unusual Science Fiction movie. Miracle is a very entertaining movie about the 1980 Olympic USA hockey team beating the USSR team. Timeline is a barely adequate movie about an accidental wormhole to 1357. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King finishes the trilogy with great acting, fantastic backgrounds, and a super story. Interesting websites we visited recently: Visit http://www.keysarts.com for news about all the arts, in all the Keys, all the time! For American Legion stuff go to http://www.legion.org. To get great photos processed go to http://www.photoworks.com. I got my cell phone filled up with minutes at http://www.tracfone.com.
In The Keys
Leigh Ann's Coffee House is a very special Keys place. Her  place is a Marathon institution dedicated to all of us. On her menu is the following: Who's Leigh Ann? When you first enter Leigh Ann's Coffee House, you instantly feel the warmth that this incredible lady radiates. A simple smile from Leigh Ann in the morning with your cup of coffee, and the rest of your day will be filled with joy. Born in New Jersey, she moved to the Keys at a very young age with her family. She left the Keys for a few years. Traveling to Alaska, Arizona, Washington State, and Northern Florida. When she returned to Marathon, she realized her dream to open a coffee shop. Its success continues with help from her daughters Christina and Michelle, as well as Mom Ceyle. You can enjoy Mom's homemade bread, try her famous Habanero Mango Jam and Sauce. You too will be coming back for more. This wonderful tiny lady with the wiggly walk and the beautiful honest smile makes everyday a better day. Try it. Pierre. Visit Marathon's Leigh Ann's Coffee House at 7537 Overseas Highway at 75th Street. Call (305) 743-2001. Right next to Leigh Ann's is the Rotary Park of Dreams, which is a children's playground filled with way too much safe fun. Nearby is the success story of the four new workforce homes managed by the Middle Keys Community Land Trust. So Leigh Ann's has everything from location to fantastic ambience, a can't miss visit. Miscellany: The Florida Keys Council of Arts, the Middle Keys Social Membership Group, met at the community theatre for discussions and a musical demonstration. Arts are important for any community, striving to encompass a healthy quality of life. Finally, the weather is cooperating for boating. We have been at Stirrup Key several times, exploring this unusual snorkeling spot so close to shore. The other great boating spots are Rachel Key, Molasses Keys, and John Sawyer Bank. My niece and brother are learning to snorkel. The old battery chargers caught fire on the boat, but nothing serious happened. A new charger is on duty now. The May boat races came to Marathon for some speed and fun in the sun. June's boat races are due as well. I am currently reading the sequel to Talisman called Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub. I got the new Eric Clapton CD called Me and Mr. Johnson, which features some classic blues tunes, of course. The Wednesday night poker games are among old friends and never stop entertaining. The fun is not the poker so much as the camaraderie. Don't you just like KFC/Taco Bell combo stores? Soft-shelled tacos and finger-licking good chicken can't be missed. At least, I like it. My favorite TV shows, West Wing and Star Trek: Enterprise, wrapped up their seasons. Mother's Day came and went. The day was a painful reminder of my mother, who passed last year. Finally: Did you know that Iowa's state bird is the Eastern Goldfinch? The flower is the Wild Rose. The tree is the Oak. The capital is Des Moines. Statehood was granted December 28, 1846. Lastly, the Archeo Gallery features ancient art. They have tribal rugs, teak furniture, and ceremonial art. This Key West gallery is located at 1208 Duval Street. They are open daily 10-6. Their telephone number is 305-294-3771. Call the gallery for more details. Their website is located at http://www.archeogallery.com. That's all there is for this month! Poetry Corner
“We Were Young” 05.01.04
by L. E. Shaffer © 2004 L. E. Shaffer
When we pretended
And we were young
Life stretching out
Beyond, ages gone
Soft leaves underfoot
Dappled sunlight
Reflect in our eyes
Laughter the play
In our minds when
We were young
And imagination
The greatest story
Said again and again
A smile with
Warm memories
Here and gone
And we were young
With life forever
A line so long
But ending
All the same
With flowers
A sweet smell
And children play
When we play
Pretend and life
Is forever until
A wise end serene © 2004 L. E. Shaffer Hockey Puck
The NHL Stanley Cup finals feature the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Calgary Flames. It should be a great series. The NBA Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers made it to the conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons. NASCAR Jeff Gordon won the California 500, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Richmond race. PGA Tiger Woods finished third in the Bryon Nelson Classic. He just doesn't seem to be able to finish strongly at the end of a tournament. The MLB Florida Marlins are in first place battling the Philadelphia Phillies. The WTA Williams sisters are doing well in the French Open so far. Guest Articles
Stuff not written by us. As always everything is copyright of the author. Group Novel
As an experiment and for fun, we are writing a group novel at our Area 52 forum. The first section is as follows: "I was Born, I think"
I don't know where I am going exactly. Or what I am meant for. Only moment to moment exists for me. There is no plan or outline, no preparation. There is for me just what happens next.
Let me see. Yes. I was born, I think. In a medium-sized industrial city, black and sooty. Of two hospitals, I arrived at the nearest one. My first memory of that first minute was the tears of the two moons reflecting in my eyes. I've never liked mirrors since. Yes, I was born. I am sure of it now.
The days are terribly hot but when the first moon descends below the horizon the cooling breezes begin to tranquilly blow inland from a vast sea. The wisps of cool air feel so good on my skin; they are enticing and quite pleasurable as they cool my six limbs.
I seem to remember that when I reach two journeys of the sun my body will then be old enough to metabolize the heat that our sun gives us. OH . . .it seems that I can remember the memories of my parent and her parent . . .I am so confused . . .I must try to sleep now . . .let my body repair itself and grow as I sleep.
There is no try. As soon as I think of sleep it comes, warm and cool, light and dark, soothing and thrilling, dreams to grow on. I float in a quicksilver lake. There is no shore. No buildings, no city, no sounds of machines, no smell of others like me. Only the silver lake, and me, and the light from the moons reflecting off the ripples. But the quicksilver fluid does not reflect me, because I am whole.
The silver fluid slides off my skin. I stretch and roll, reveling in the strength of my body, the length of my limbs. It feels so good to swim, to dive, to move.
I move through the quicksilver effortlessly. I am strong. This is the between time, between what I was and what I will be. There is no past, no pain, no sorrow, only the healing fluid, the growing strength as I move, the excitement at what is to come. I know not what that is, but I know it is right and real and full of promise. I roll on my back and stretch my mid-limbs far above me, toward the moons. I can almost reach them. I am almost ready.
Then suddenly I remember the two moons that are like languid pools. I scanned the star-dotted sky. Vaguely, then incredulously I recognize star systems. My mind engulfs the entire sky. I can imagine all sorts of planets and peoples.
I am different. All that I see and feel is different. The differences are what make us all the same though. How do I know that? I have only existed for a short period. The two moons have moved hardly at all. I take in the silvery fluid and life is in the moment.
I must change. I have a journey somehow. I must go somewhere, but how? And where? I expel a bluish fluid, and the pleasure is real. I cannot stay though.
“Zerkai come look at Zybai,” said the female, ”doesn’t it look as if the two moons have spun a spell upon Zybai?”
The female called me Zybai! With heavy-lidded eyes he quickly surveyed his immediate area for possible danger all the while trying to maintain his air of deep sleep.
“Those two surely must have spawned me”, thought Zybai. “I have been named Zybai”, he thought . . .all the while watching these two creatures with their splendid, sleek forms. “I will resemble them some day”, Zybai continued with his deep thoughts.
Zybai marveled at the form of the taller being. This one had a mane of hair flowing down its backside and covering the spinal area, which he somehow knew that in his species, one could read like a book, and it was a book showing that creatures parentage. And his skin was like the rough orange skin of the Takin fruit . . .yet it seemed not as dark.
The smaller creature had a shorter mane of hair but hers was a bright orange while the taller creatures mane was a more burnished brown color. And the shorter creature seemed more soft, her skin a much, much lighter shade of that same orange. “But what is she called”, thought Zybai?
Zybai sensed within himself that these two “were” his parents, and with this knowledge his eyes fully closed as he once more drifted off into a deep, replenishing sleep.
“Zybai will carry our family well”, said Zerkai to his mate. “His form develops fast and I can sense that he can hear me speaking these words”, “That is good”, “Zybai’ s first two moons will have past in two Arns and he will fully awaken and begin his long journey” . . .
Those were the last words Zybai remembered as he slowly drifted away . . . I was born he once again remembered.
I was born...the words echo in my mind. The moons no longer draw me. There is something else, something I need to see, something I need to know, something I need to remember. There were others here, they called me a name. Zybai. Zybai is what I am, who I am...or is Zybai what I was? If it is what I am, will it be what I will be?
There are buildings, suddenly, sooty and black, growing all around me, surrounding, suffocating...but no, that was the before time. That is not now. The buildings fade and the quicksilver embraces me again.
There were others, on a shore. I saw...are they now? I roll onto my stomach. My mid-limbs touch cool-warm smoothness. I am in the shallows, the shore just a few glebs away. The verdif--so blue! Each tiny leaf and blade so very blue, stretching away from the shore and away, so far. So very blue, but not as very blue as the blue of my eyes. This is something I know, without seeing. I don't need a mirror to see the blue very blue of my eyes. I never liked mirrors, I remember.
But that was in the Then, and this is the Now. In this Now there is no need for not like, no need for things like mirrors and buildings and soot, no black but the sky, no light but the moons and stars, no silver but the lake, no blue but the verdif and my eyes.
But there is need for orange, and orange is there, on the shore, the two, like shadows, like statues, smiling. So beautiful! This is what I will be, these creatures that spawned me. In the Then that is coming, oh! so soon, this is what I will be, the Zybai of the Then. But this is still the Now, and my limbs are so pale, so pale.
I stretch my pale limbs, reveling in the growing strength. The two fade, the shore and shallows are gone, and I stretch my pale pale limbs and swim, through the healing fluid, through the growing dream, through the Now, toward the time that will be Then. I swim, and drift, and dream...
A great feast has been prepared! It is Zybai’s day for no others in our village in the heights nor others in the villages of the land or sea have firstborn from Zybai’s “Day of Self-Awareness”. The Day of Self-Awareness being the day that Zybai took his first steps on the shore of the Silver Sea. Zybai now has 5 Arns, his first three Arns being spent in the Silver Sea. Now he must prove his worth to his family unit and to the other Anaraians present at the celebration.
It seems that Zykai’s father Zerkai is a leader of sorts. He arbitrates squabbles (when there are any) between the dwellers of the seaside, the flatland, and the heights. “There is really nothing wrong today, or so it seems,” thinks Zybai.
The female Anaraians stand tall and proud as they watch their offspring swiftly darting in and out between the much taller adult males who seem to just be standing. “Standing as if they are the trees of the heights,” thinks Zybai. “Why do not the elders move”, he thinks.
Suddenly a loud ringing appears, its source being the highest tree of the heights. Yes, I can see the ringing, it’s waves slowly moving outward and touching everything in its path. The source of the ringing is some large winged, white animal that is ringing that the time has come for all to make haste and appear before the council and to participate in the festivities.
Oh there is so much to see and so much to learn about these beings that call themselves Anaraians. But I myself was born an Anaraian so I too must choose to act like these beings, or will I choose another way of life?
And the moons move higher in the stellar sky. I am Zybai, but there is more to come. That is what I am sure of. The journeying must come. I have no wings, but I must fly. I have no age, but I must be old.
The council starts at the apex of the first moon. A blood red chill sweeps the gathering. The winged creature points at me. The life I am is the path to be. Yet I have just come from the womb of the sea. There is so much expected of me. I still don't know how I know all this, but I am not confused.
A star burst closes my third lid. I know then where I must live. I know then I must journey. I have known forever that I must journey. I must streak the path of the stars in search of others. I must find those like me. Yet I still don't know who I am. I am just me, but how can that be?
Chapter One
My name is Zybai and I am the second born and only male offspring of Zerkai and Ziha and I have 12 arns. My older female sibling, Zeena has 16 arns and will be ready for Twilight Training in another 3 years. Her 20th arn will begin by a week of ceremonies and feasting once again (I am getting so tired of these pompous ceremonies! We Anaraians seem to celebrate life itself!) spent in five months of deep sleep (or hibernation as many off-worlders call it) where she will shed her outer layer of skin and emerge with a beautiful translucent layer of skin covering the pale orange of the lower layer of skin. As my earth friend often says, “It just looks “so damned fine.”
Hmm . . .I wonder why he uses such language? The words are complete opposites and contradict each other, lol, Zybai pondered. English is a very funny language at times he gurgles to himself.
“Life is strange”, Zybai murmurs aloud to know one in particular. As he gazes down from his perch in the heights downwards to the flatlands, “those dark and sooty flatlands,” he thinks, his mind wanders as he tries to remember the strange circumstances of his live birth.
I was born down in those sooty flatlands, in a building called a hospital. How strange it seems, to need a building among the soot and smoke in which to be born! To be in such need of protection from the brightness when first spawned.
But so long ago that was, and so many changes have I been through since then. That was only my first birth, a mere forethought to what I was to become, necessary only in that it began what is now me. I can't even imagine not needing the brightness of the moons and the stars beyond. I can remember, but imagine? No, not any longer. In time I, like the elders, will not remember that first birth, or the need for soot and shelter, unless the time comes when I spawn another like myself.
I gaze up from my high perch. The tree branches caress me in the light wind, the air is sweet with the smell of growing things. Looking up, past the moons' bright light, I can just see the pale stars. They are pale only because of the moons' light. I know how bright the stars are once I fly past the moons' influence. My third eyelids close briefly as I think of the exuberant brightness of the stars.
Ah, the stars! Treasures in the blackest of blacks, with their worlds like strings of jewels circling them. Worlds so like this one, and so different. Like Earth, so many things there like things here, and yet so different. Earth, so blue as I fly near, I thought at first the blue was the land, and the white the seas. But it is Earth's seas that make it look blue, and the white mere water-vapor. The land is green, where the people let it be. Green...the word sounds so strange, as Earth words do. There is no equivalent in Anaraian, for there is no need for such a word. And need...need is all that matters here. The need for shelter when spawned, the need for quicksilver seas, the need to grow and change, and change ever more.
I am Zybai with only 12 arns behind me. Younger than Zeena, yet older, for I have grown beyond what she is and ever will be. And I have changes yet to come.
The sound of the ceremonies beginning distracts me from my thoughts and I look down, not on the sooty flatlands but on the blue of the feasting grounds. More time than I realized has passed as I have perched here on high with my thoughts alone for company. Too long, but I am loathe to leave.
I watch my people moving across the blue and sigh. Zeena has need of these pompous ceremonies, as do so many of the others, but not I. I need only the stars. I long to return to them. For this time, though, in this Now, here I must remain, for, oh hopefully, just a little while longer! Until then, the Then I long for, I am needed below. I sigh again and float from my high perch.
Useless ceremonies, tired and old, fill me with dread. That is a new emotion. I am surprised by this emotion. Suddenly, the words of ceremony make sense. I must find a star that has no light. I must journey there to find what, I don't know. I don't even know the way.
The ceremonies, though, start with the songs again. And the songs are the map. I listen intently for the first time in my young life. The songs tell the way, the how, but not the why. The ceremonies are over. I must sleep; I must dream.
© 2004 L. E. Shaffer, Kim Young, Linda Hall Photos That Won't Make the News
Please pass these on. Sometimes in our daily lives we tend to forget what's going on elsewhere in the world and that the brave men &women of the service are just like you and me. They, too, have family and friends back home who love them very much and who pray for their safe return. Click on the thumbnail for the bigger pic.
© 2004 Lady Barb Rune and Tarot Reading Site
 What the Lady Knows is a personalized Rune and Tarot reading site. Amber is a professional Rune Reader, and has a wonderful intuitive gift. She has been reading for several years now, and has studied both the Tarot and Runes. Donna McCabe is a professional Tarot Reader, and has an extensive background as a reader having read for New Age fairs, Metaphysical Stores and Entertainment Agencies. Donna has also taught both private students and group classes, and has been a guest speaker at many Connecticut festivals. Both Amber and Donna would like to invite you to visit their site at http://www.WhatTheLadyKnows.com - they would also like to extend a promotional offer to all who read this and get a Celtic or Runic Cross reading. If you order a Runic Cross enter promotional code 0505 at the end of your question, and you will get a free three Rune reading. If you order a Celtic Cross enter promotional code 0506 at the end of your question, and get a free three-card reading. We hope you enjoy your visit! Peace and Blessings, Amber and Donna McCabe
© 2004 Donna McCabe 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: May 28, 2004
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
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