 The Marathon Florida Keys Journal
City of Marathon, Florida Keys, Paradise
Volume 11 † Issue 6 † June 2005
[In The Keys] [Kitty Talk] [Guest Articles] [Internet Stuff]
[Poetry Corner] [Hockey Puck] [Twins of the Dark Star] [The Dull Stuff]
The Marathon Florida Keys Journal will contain all the old articles, but add a new focus locally in the Florida Keys. The most popular part of the magazine is Kitty Talk. The lead article will be a revamped In The Keys section that will offer some opinions and even some editorializing. Additionally, articles concerning the local political beat will be included. At times these articles were provided to other media for publication, which edit them to suit their needs. Most often The Marathon Free Press has used some of these articles. We are always looking for interesting guest articles. We will continue to explore internet stuff, as well as highlight textual and other art. It is hard to believe that thousands of folks visit our magazine monthly. And more and more visit. We sincerely appreciate your visit and patronage. Please enjoy! In The Keys
~some articles have photos, go to http://MarathonJournal.US/press/index.htm~
The City of Marathon's Ports Department runs Boot Key Harbor City Marina and
Boot Key Bridge. This department handles most of the city's marine issues as
well. While the Ports Department has come a long way, there is a lot of work
left to do.
Boot Key Harbor City Marina has a long history. The marina is run as an
enterprise. That means the facility is supposed to make a profit. Yet each
year the city must subsidize the marina. After nearly five years, one would
think that this enterprise would come close to making a profit.
Adopted budget figures show the subsidies for the last two years. 2004
fiscal year's subsidy was $211,456.00. 2005 fiscal year's subsidy out of
the taxpayer's pockets amounted to $278,007.00.
Frankly, the time is past for this enterprise to make a profit. Granted,
Harry DeLashmutt, the Ports Manager, has to compete for the limited monies
available. There is a balance to what Marathon citizens will pay versus the
level of quality services desired. DeLashmutt said that some revenue sources
have gone away. What he is counting on now is an increase in revenues from
the installation of additional mooring balls.
At one time a two-tier pay system was employed. The year-around harbor
residents paid the lowest rates, while the tourists paid the highest rates.
DeLashmutt said that the two-tier pay system produced too many complaints.
The city should have retained the two-tier pay system. Everywhere in
Marathon's tourist economy, tourists pay more for the services that attract
them to paradise. Why then should the marina take a different path?
The Ports Manager also confirmed that a big majority of anchored vessels in
Boot Key Harbor don't pump out. There are many nearby available services.
The city marina has two pump-out boats dedicated to improving the quality of
harbor waters for a small cost. There is no excuse for dumping anything in
the harbor or anywhere for that matter. The city needs to be proactive in
this regard.
The Ports Department has been very successful in removing derelict boats and
keeping new ones from showing up. Their proactive approach here worked well.
New building projects have been on the drawing boards for as long as
Marathon has been incorporated. The plans are ambitious and way overdue. A
lighted boardwalk starting at the marina and bordering the community park is
planned. The boardwalk would look out over the harbor. This is the kind of
project that would help the department increase their revenues and make
these facilities more successful.
Emergency responses need to be practiced often. A minor sewage spill several
years back stressed the standard operating procedures. Mistakes took place
and reports were not made properly. A complete review is in order.
Dinghies in and around Boot Key Bridge and in nearby right of way are
problems that need immediate attention. While the new dinghy docks are
progressing, everyone still should use the existing dockage. Anywhere else
is just not right. The environment is jeopardized, and dinghy operators
endanger themselves and others.
The slow pace of progress with the Ports Department is parts budgeting,
governmental slowness, and poor upper-management leadership. All three are
fixable. The city needs to do so without prejudice.
The City of Marathon Housing Committee met at the City Hall Conference Room
on May 5th at noon. Committee members come from all facets of Marathon,
representing a depth of local experience.
Prior to the meeting, Rich Jones handed out a listing for a property,
illustrating the many complex issues surrounding workforce affordable
housing. The property listing has a sentence in the remarks stating, "Home
must be sold under affordable housing guidelines!" The listing price is
$979,000.00.
The committee explored a number of ideas and issues, trying to brainstorm
recommendations to be made to the City Council. While some ideas might not
pan out, below are some of the interesting discussions that took place.
Single-family homeowners should come before developers for ROGO allocations.
There needs to be a discussion to define affordable housing to allow for
Marathon's unique situation. This could affect the help and monies provided
by other outside governmental agencies from county to federal levels.
One option to preserve existing affordable housing is to consider Monroe
County's proposal currently under consideration. The county's proposed
interim development ordinance would defer the acceptance of applications for
the redevelopment and conversion of five or more multi-family rental housing
and/or mobile home parks. The committee considered what impact the county's
proposal would have on owner's current property values and rights.
The committee decided to recommend to the council that an affordable housing
inventory be conducted as soon as possible. This is needed to establish a
future game plan to solve affordable housing problems.
Other ideas were considered, like designating an area in the city that only
could be the receiver site of transferable rights or granting a half ROGO
for converting transient units into affordable housing.
Another idea was deed restrictions to set a maximum sales price and square
footage. Other restrictions could be how units are taxed and consideration
of income restrictions.
The Housing Committee's job was to discuss ideas and offer recommendations.
The Marathon City Council will have to decide how best to proceed.
Facts & Figures: There are three photos at http://RunesofAo.com/press/.
I have the agenda for this meeting and the minutes from the last meeting. I
have the handout that Rich Jones provided.
The Marathon Near Shore Waters Committee met May 5th at the city marina at
6:30 PM. The possible locations of a new boat ramp were discussed.
Originally, the boat ramp was supposed to be part of the marina building
projects. Then the boat ramp was proposed for the Events Field between 98th
and 99th Streets. Now the boat ramp will most likely go back to be part of
the city marina.
The 2005 Marathon Surf & Turf event scheduled for May 12th through May 15th
will feature the first annual motorcycle show and the Marathon Offshore
Grand Prix boat races. Events are scheduled for the city marina, especially
the bike show and a display of some of the smaller race boats. May 13th will
see a pig roast at Sombrero Beach. More details can be obtained at
http://www.keysoffshore.com.
The marina siting plan public workshop will be held on May 19th at 2:30 PM
at the Sheriff's Aviation Hangar, second floor. The electronic version of
the plan will be available on the city's website soon at
http://www.marathonflorida.org/.
The proposed no wake zone for Vaca Cut down to 97th Street oceanside was
discussed. The committee moved to proceed with the zone. Permitting will be
required.
The last discussion item was about the new water taxi ordinance. An area for
embarking and disembarking has been designated. This area is currently in
use. Smorgasboat is the only user, and everything seems okay according to
staff.
The session was adjourned to comments of this meeting being the shortest one
in a long time. Facts & Figures: There are two photos of this meeting at
http://RunesofAo.com/press/. I have the layout of the proposed no wake
zone by Vaca Cut.
The City of Marathon held an Land Development Regulation public workshop May
9th at 6:30 PM at the Sheriff's Aviation Hangar on the second floor. Along
with council members and city staff, the meeting was well attended. The
city's consultants, Keith and Schnars, were also in attendance. Debbie Love
was one of the consultants, who added comment throughout the workshop.
Now that the Comprehensive Plan is in the final stage of being approved by
the Department of Community Affairs, the next stage of the process is
fleshing out the Land Development Regulations or LDRs. The Comprehensive
Plan is Marathon's goals and objections. LDRs are the details of that plan.
Mayor John Bartus suggested that the obvious first set of LDRs should
address the thorny Rate of Growth Ordinance or ROGO concerns. He took public
input, which was primarily various questions of the city's recent ROGO
issues.
Then the city's Planning Director, Gail Kenson, went item by item concerning
ROGO contained in the plan. The public took part in the give and take
between staff and council.
The results of the discussions yielded some interesting suggestions. The
primary goals of ROGO LDRs need to be easy to understand, timely, fair, and
usable.
Negative points need to be retained to mitigate environmental and habitat
concerns. Ideas were floated about reducing density. There was also general
consensus to reduce lot dedication to keep money from skewing the ROGO
process.
Positive points should favor Marathon residents. If you live in Monroe
County but work in Marathon, some points would reward that as well.
Perseverance points should reward local residents.
This meeting was just the first of many. When city staff and the consultants
work out some of the ideas discussed, another workshop will tweak those.
Then, if all goes well, actual LDRs would be presented to City Council and
formal public input. There is a lot of work yet to do, but council members,
city staff, and those in the public who attended went a long way to making a
good start. Facts & Figures: four photos at http://RunesofAo.com/press/ and no
handouts, but the Comprehensive Plan is on the city's website and the
preliminary LDRs will be. The Marathon Parks and Recreation Committee met at the public library May
12th at 6:30 PM. Parks and Recreation Supervisor Jimmy Schmidt sits on the
committee. Council members Marjie Mearns and Chris Bull were in attendance
along with several city staffers.
The chairman talked first about his report to city council last session. He
asked the council for a Request for Proposal [RFP] on a cost for a 50-meter
pool with required accessories. Once a cost to build and operate is
determined, then more public input could possibly be taken.
Chris Bull said that City Attorney John Herin suggested using the Islamorada
RFP as a model. A RFP could be ready for council consideration at the May
25th council meeting.
Marjie Mearns was concerned about trying to figure out what people really
wanted. Obtaining a cost to build and operate some kind of swimming pool is
a necessary step in making any decision.
A report on the community park phase II and the events field progress was
given. Community park phase II is on schedule according to Schmidt.
Completion is expected in mid-September. Planning for grand opening
ceremonies will take place at future committee meetings.
The events field is almost done. The committee discussed the temporary
irrigation of the events field. That led to talk about maximizing the use of
water reuse from any future wastewater systems.
The Parks and Recreation Supervisor went on to report on the status of all
the many summer programs. Girls kickball league has proven quite popular.
3-on-3 men's basketball league is organizing. A volleyball tournament on the
beach is planned. Camp Adventure has attracted a lot of early interest.
Smart soccer starts soon. Other items were listed, proving that the park
system is indeed very busy.
The committee discussed the status of Coco Plum Beach. Possible improvements
will be discussed at the next meeting. The beach would remain a nice passive
park, but something like a boardwalk could add to the quality of the beach.
Additionally, work is ongoing in providing needed upgrades like restrooms
and such.
Melody Dodamead, director of the local hockey league, presented a concern to
the committee. She has a problem with the future use of the building across
US1 from the park.
This building used to be the icehouse and now serves a bakery distribution
company. Apparently, the new tenants could be the Border Patrol. Supposedly,
the facility would be used as offices and any persons to be held would go to
the county jail.
Melody is concerned about such activity being so close to the community
park. There was some back and forth discussions of all the ramifications.
Then the sympathetic committee told her that the Marathon Planning
Commission and City Council would be more appropriate to express her
concerns.
Facts & Figures: two photos at http://RunesofAo.com/press/ The Middle Keys Community Land Trust met at the city hall conference room at
6:30 PM on May 16th. The board of directors elected three new members. The
new directors are Jill Bell, Tamara Lundstrom, and Robert Murrell.
Marathon City Manager Mike Puto made a presentation to the board for
cooperation between the two entities. The board discussed several ideas to
increase affordable housing stock from developer requirements to lot
dedications.
President Debbie Love discussed putting together a retreat. She also asked
authorization for Administrator Rick Casey to buy some tools, a digital
camera, and to borrow a belt sander.
In the administrator's report, he talked about the ongoing discussions about
partnering with Islamorada to help solve affordable housing problems there.
He also presented status on two possible properties for acquisition.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. A Marathon City Council Special Call meeting was held at the Sheriff's
Aviation Hangar, second floor, at 6:30 PM on May 17th. Council considered
the Request for Qualifications for wastewater professional services
rankings. Essentially, the City is looking for an experienced and skilled
engineering firm to be its wastewater consultant on all facets of the
wastewater and storm water issues.
Four of the original thirteen firms submitted applications. Councilmember
Jeff Pinkus thanked all the firms for their hard work in preparing their
applications.
John Bartus and Jeff Pinkus had already scored the applicants: Wieler, Calvin
and Giordano, MWH, and Boyle.
Jeff Pinkus moved that the four applicants make presentations to City
Council at the May 25th meeting, most likely at 2:00 PM at the Marathon
Government Center. Mayor John Bartus seconded the motion. After some
discussion, the motion passed 5 - 0.
City Manager Mike Puto suggested that the order of the presenters be decided
now to make the process quicker on the 25th. City Clerk Cindy Ecklund
printed the name of each firm on slips of paper. The Mayor pulled out each
folder slip of paper. The order of presenters is MWH, Boyle, Calvin and
Giordano, and then Wyler. Each presentation should be 30 minutes with 20
minutes for questions and answers.
The meeting adjourned. Everyone broke up into several small groups,
discussing the content of the meeting. Eventually, the City Manager expertly
ushered us out of the building. The meeting was productive and short. The
rest of the wastewater meetings will most likely not be so easy or short. Facts & Figures: four photos of this event are at
http://RunesofAo.com/press/
The City of Marathon's Draft Marina Siting Plan was up for another round of
public input May 19th 6:30 PM at the Sheriff's Aviation Hangar. The first
public workshop was on November 4, 2004.
A copy of the Draft Marina Siting Plan is online at
http://www.marathonflorida.org under the city marina area of the city's
website.
The Four Gates Company hired by the City of Marathon presented the plan to
the public.
Attendees were varied and cut across all sectors of the city. Some attendees
were Ports Manager Harry DeLashmutt, Deputy City Manager C. J. Geotis,
Finance Director Peter Rosasco, Dock Master Richard Tanner, Planning
Director Gail Kenson, Councilmember Robert Miller, Councilmember Jeff
Pinkus, and City Manager Mike Puto. Rick Servais, Lynn Berrigan, and a
couple of representative from D'Asign Source were among many others
representing the public.
To avoid a Development of Regional Impact for the city's mooring field, a
2002 Florida law allows for a process that is more comprehensive. The law
allows Marathon to assess needs and develop a plan to guide marina
development. The Draft Marina Siting Plan is the result, as crafted by The
Four Gates Company with the help of city staff and the public.
The benefits of such a plan improves predictability, saves time, saves
duplication, considers community input, and improves monitoring. The plan
also suits the unique needs of Marathon.
The plan will amend applicable sections in Marathon's new Comprehensive
Plan.
This second public workshop dealt with various inputs. One was whether or
not there is already over regulation. An additional point was made that some
liveaboards perceive the plan as another means to get rid of them. One
person was concerned that Marathon should adopt a no-net loss of waterfront
facilities and uses. The marina definition was discussed in detail.
Questions were asked about the development approval process for new marinas.
Talk then turned to the Marina Operating Permit requirements and all the
ramifications from that. There was also a lot of concern about the loss of
community character. That led to concerns over preserving the existing
commercial fishing facilities.
After the last of public input was taken, the public was asked how well the
Draft Marina Plan hit the target. Everyone said that the plan was very good
to good.
Once the input from this second public workshop is incorporated, then
Marathon's Planning Commission will consider the plan. After the plan is
forwarded to the City Council and presumably approved, Florida's Department
of Community Affairs weighs in. Most attendees agreed that hopefully by the
end of the year, the Marina Siting Plan would be in place.
Then the arduous task of crafting Land Development Regulations and other
applicable ordinances in support of the plan will begin in earnest.
Facts & Figures: 3 photos are at http://RunesofAo.com/press/.
Amy Kimball-Murley is in the first photo as a presenter. Pat McNeese is the
other presenter. All her photos were blurry and had to be deleted. She
wouldn't stop moving.
Would you believe that there is a naval ship named after our fair City of  Marathon? I didn't, but it is true.
The second US Navy ship to be named Marathon was the Patrol Gunboat USS Marathon PG-89. PG stands for Patrol Gunboat. This ship was named in honor of Marathon, Florida; Marathon, Ohio; Marathon, New York; Marathon, Texas; and Marathon, Wisconsin.
The USS Marathon was commissioned for service 11 May 1968 at Tacoma, Washington.
 The USS Marathon ship's crest symbolized its mission with an emblem and motto emblazoned on a shield. The crest contains elements surrounding a battle by Greek warriors on the Plain of Marathon. In 490 B.C. Greek countrymen saved Athens from Persia at the Battle of Marathon.
The USS Marathon PG-89 was a brown-water vessel designed to operate in shallow waters and rivers, primarily to address perceived Cuban threats at the time. Patrol gunboats like the Marathon were heavily armed and suited to riverine warfare. They were particularly good at drug interdiction operations as well. They featured gas turbine engines that are now predominate in today's Navy.
The USS Marathon was the first patrol gunboat to earn the Green "E" and "C". These awards were for excellence in engineering and communications respectively. They earned these awards on 5 September 1969.
Also in 1969 the ship was painted in camouflage for special upcoming  operations, the first combatant painted this way since World War II.
The USS Marathon eventually served three tours with distinction in Vietnam. Other operations were conducted off Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines. These ships and other vessels in time evolved into today's modern special warfare branches and even today's Navy SEALs. SEAL stands for Sea, Air, And Land.
The US Navy decommissioned the USS Marathon 31 January 1977 at the naval base located at Little Creek, Virginia. She was then transferred to the Reserve Fleet.
In April 1977 the USS Marathon was transferred to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. They loaned the ship to the Naval Sea Cadet unit near Cape Cod. The Marathon became the T/S Marathon. T/S stands for Training Ship. The ship was used for naval training and as testing platforms for gas turbine engines.
I could not find the date that the Marathon was scrapped, but Internet sources seem to indicate that the ship ended up at a Beaumont, Texas scrap yard. In all probability, the ship was stripped and no longer exists. The
service of the officers and the crew, though, will always live on.
The City of Marathon received several letters from a member of the Patrol Gunboat Association asking for a city flag and a proclamation of thanks. I was asked to write the proposed proclamation to save the city money. Staff
time is expensive regardless of good causes and such. I was honored to write the proposed proclamation. The officers and crew who served aboard these patrol gunboats put their lives on the line for our liberties. I personally
thank them and owe them my deep appreciation.
CWO3 L. E. Shaffer, USN, Ret.
The three small photos are used with permission. They are from http://www.gunboatriders.com. The primary resources used are as follows: http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/89_marathon/pg89.html, http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/general_spec.html, and http://brownwater-navy.com/vietnam/SeafltPG.htm.
The Marathon City Council met in work session at the Marathon Government
Center at 3:00 PM on May 25th prior to the scheduled council meeting. The
five council members and high-ranking city staff heard from three different
engineering firms seeking to be the city's wastewater consultant. The
decision on which firm would be number one and begin contract negotiations
for engineering services would be made later in the subsequent council
meeting.
First up was MWH. They made a very professional presentation with a slide
show and a grinder pump. The main emphasis of their professional engineering
services presentation was maintaining quality, cutting overall construction
and operation/maintenance costs, building public support, and delivering the
project.
MWH proposed multiple plants using grinder pumps in a low-pressure sewer
system. This would decentralize the sewage system, cutting costs. Some
treatment plants could be located near water-reuse user sites. The firm
estimated the cost could be $113,000,000. Operation and maintenance costs
were on the order of $700,000 to $1,000,000 per year. They offered a number
of ways for the city and its citizens to pay for the system.
Second up was Calvin, Giordano, and Associates. Their presentation was
lackluster in comparison. They listed options, siting, design, treatment and
disposal issues, collection system issues, major project issues, public
involvement, and keys to success as main topic points.
They compared a centralized system to a multiple sewage plants approach.
Their proposal discussed possibly four treatment plants using vacuum
collection systems. Their proposed sites were problematic. One was an
existing mobile home park, and another was a storage business. Calvin,
Giordano, and Associates didn't offer any specific figures as to costing.
Wieler was the last firm to make a presentation, which was quite good. Their
slide show was detailed and made an outside-the-box proposal.
Wieler seem to know the city intimately. Their determination was that a
combination of vacuum, gravity, and forcemain systems were appropriate. The
firm identified eight service areas. Each area would apply pertinent
treatment systems to suit that area's particular needs. Their plan maximized
reuse water systems and even proposed using decommissioned package plants
elsewhere in the city suited to that kind of system.
Construction costs in 2005 dollars totaled $69,857,882. The Wieler plan was
estimated to cost $42.63 per EDU per month in operation and maintenance
costs.
All three firms proposed a phased approach to meet the shovels-in-the-ground
by March 2006.
Near the end of the city council meeting, all council member scores were
totaled. Wieler topped the others at 840. Second was MWH at 813. Calvin,
Giordano, and Associates scored 592. Council directed the City Manager to
begin contract negotiations with Wieler to become the city's wastewater
consultant.
Facts & Figures: many photos at http://RunesofAo.com/press/
What's Happening! We live near Tropical Isle in Marathon. The other day two of our outdoor old chairs came up missing. That is no problem. The thief or thieves are welcome to them, if they are so desperate for old chairs. Being good neighbors is more important than old chairs. A little respect is preferred to some old chairs as well. Frankly, the upcoming offshore races slated for the middle of June is more interesting. The best seat on the race course is from one's boat in my opinion at least. What isn't very interesting is hurricane season starting June 1st.
Miscellany: I lost a hard drive, but Dell on-site service had me back up quickly. They replaced my fans too. Microsoft's Automated System Recovery restored my operating system, files, and setup options without too much muss and fuss. There were just a few things that needed tweaked. Thanks to Brian the Dell service tech. The last episode of Star Trek: Enterprise was on television recently. Apparently, there are no plans for any more Star Trek series. That would be a sad day for science fiction. Finally: Did you know that West Virginia's state bird is the Cardinal? The flower is the Rhododendron Maximum. The tree is the Sugar Maple. The capital is Charleston. Statehood was granted June 20, 1863. Lastly, the Joy Gallery specializes in originals such as oils and seascapes. This Key West gallery is located at 1124 Duval Street. They are open daily 10-6, sometimes later. Their telephone number is 305-296-3039. Call for more details. Their web address is as follows: http://www.joygallery.com.
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 like it when Abby and I are outside in front of the trailer. We can get tangled, meow, get untangled. Then we can climb inside Tony bean truck and sit on top of his tool box. That always make him laugh. We explore the bed of his truck full of interesting, smelly stuff. Abby likes to climb inside the under side of the truck. She gets tangled up there too. >^..^<
Abby: I got more exciting stuff to report. Ebony jumped straight up from the floor and knocked the birdcage down. Out came birds everywhere. I couldn't catch one though. That Toni bean girl captured them all and put them in their big bathroom. We got locked up on our bean's bedroom. What for I don't know. All I wanted to do was catch a bird and taste it a bit. Just to see how it taste, meow. >^..^<
Ebony: After the great bird caper, Abby and I slept with our human bean. We no longer let in Rhonda and Tony human bean room. That is very sad, because they know how to scratch ears really good, I meow. Now that I have to sleep in our human bean room, I have to put up with Abby nonsense, I do. Abby starts out grooming me really gentle like, then she bites and nips, then she attacks me for no reason. And everyone wonder why I hiss, growl, and paw slap that white cat. She awful to me. Only once is a while am I mean to her. Really. >^..^<
Abby: Now that birds in the square cage. They go on porch. I sit in the window and watch them. Then we go outside, but the leads don't reach too close to the birds on the porch. Those birds are so very interesting. What is not interesting is human beans what are too loud. Loud voices make me run and hide. I'm scaredy cat. >^..^<
Ebony: I got to sit on the little porch refrigerator and watch you watching me from the other side of the window. Then I come in for a pee in our litter house and go to the window. Then there you are on refrigerator outside looking at me looking at you from the other side of the living room window. That pretty interesting too. Then we both in the window inside looking at that square birdcage on the porch on a big pole that we couldn't possibly climb. I did the calculations and no cat can do that. The square birdcage a smidge higher than the round one. I wish we could jump higher. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, I got some exciting news. I found a small lizard in our bean bedroom. I chased it under the bed and up the wall. Ebony even woke up from a heavy catnap. That something to do, I meow. After I tired the lizard out, Ebony got up, stretched, and then chased the lizard and eat it. Yuck. I just play with them not kill them or eat them. Maybe a mouse might be something to eat. Or even a fishy. >^..^<
Ebony: Abby and I got one flea and it bother us to no end. I got a bald belly from over grooming. My human bean put out with me for doing that. Then he chased us down like he always does and puts yucky flea stuff on us. I don't like it. It feels icky, and cats don't like to feel icky at all, I meow at you for surely, we don't. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, I agree with you there, but human beans mad at me for clawing some trim and molding what they got to fix now before they move to a new place, where I can claw all that there too. It is a cat's life! >^..^<
Ebony: At least I claw the big wood block that Kitty used to own. She now in Shaffer Pet Cemetery in Ohio. Now the wood clawing block belongs to us. I used it all the time, while you only use it once in a while. >^..^<
Abby: You and bean play a game that I liked. Yes, I'm changing subject from me being bad. I watch bean scratch your belly. You growl and cry for him to stop, but he don't stop, of course, being a bad human bean. Then you bite him not bad but just to give him a proper cat warning. Me, I just love nibbles and play fight and bite. I even bite the office chair when I am really having fun and pretending to be all riled up. >^..^<
Ebony: I catnipped to get riled up. I sniff, cough, eat, and roll in the catnip bowls. You eat catnip too. Then you just go eat something and go for a long catnipped catnap. I really enjoy my catnip high. >^..^<
Abby: You got catnipped, but I got my claws clipped cause I been scratching what I not supposed to be scratching. I just can't help myself. I even chased a beer cap our human bean kept throwing on the floor for me to chase. I guess I am just a cat dog of some sort. Then I got inside an empty pillowcase for some cat reason. I just want to have fun. That is all the fun to meow about this month. >^..^<
Internet Stuff
Here are the latest DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is tragic, dark, and funny. This supposed children’s story is based on a series of children’s books. Ladder 49 was very realistic portrait of one fireman from rookie to the day that he is trapped in a fire that will take his heroic life. He flashes back over his life. This is a very powerful and moving film, well worth watching and treasuring. The score touches one’s emotions, and the cinematography is exceptional. Sideways is a convoluted film that moves a bit slowly. The two friends take off on a trek through California wine country, before a wedding. Each makes amends with life. The one friend marries after cheating incessantly, while the other finally finds someone at the end of the movie. I didn’t like the beginning due to pace, but I did like the ending. It was worthwhile seeing the movie to its completion. The acting was very good, even if the story dragged. Fat Albert turned out to be very funny and poignant as well. A Marvel Comic character comes to the screen as Elektra. This woman warrior is conflicted, until she comes face to face with her real sense of duty and honor. Without a Paddle is an action movie with comedy for good measure. Childhood friends reunite to bury a friend. They then go on an adventure to find their way in life. The Sandlot 2 was a good, fun-loving movie. It just wasn’t quite the measure of the first. The acting was a bit forced and the premise a bit campy. Still, the film was entertaining. The Aviator is an extraordinary film about a very troubled man with demons. Howard Hughes was a giant in aviation, but succumbed to his demons. Interesting websites we visited recently: http://www.acomdata.com showcases external hard drives at the right price with very nice rebate services. I went to http://www.boatus.com to get a special number for emergency use on my brand new marine radio. I had to use the excellent support services at http://www.dell.com. I always get great web host technical support from http://www.xfireweb.com. http://support.msn.com is MSN's premiere technical support website, which features the ability to chat with a service technician right online 24/7. Marathon's annual super-speedboat races ran in May. http://www.keysoffshore.com/ is the website. The June super speedboat race information is at http://www.superboat.com/events.cfm?action=details&ID=40.
Poetry Corner
"Where Will We Be"
May 27, 2005
And where will we be
When the last sun goes down
Hoary night has fallen
And the moons high
In the star-filled sky
Where indeed when
The night grows old
And foggy dew covers us
In bright bold blood
Lusting ever for more
Battle, maiming and
Killing, never to be
For the suns
Yet rise again
While the fallen
Corrupt before
Our sorrowing eyes
Where will we be
But again on
Another night
Another morn
And the battle
Won with another
On far horizon
As worlds collide
Suns supernova
Moons glow red
Where will we be © 2005 L. E. Shaffer
Guest Articles
Stuff not written by us. As always everything is copyright of the author. Group Novel
As an experiment for fun, we are writing a group novel at the world famous and so very special Area 52B forum. © 2005 L. E. Shaffer, Kim Young, Linda Hall
Hockey Puck
The NHL is now in what appears to be serious talks and hopefully next season can be salvaged in time. Jeff Gordon won the Talladega NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race. Dale Jr. crashed the last two laps but got into the top ten in points. Miami Heat swept the New Jersey Nets and the Washington Wizards. Now the team battles the Detroit Pistons for the NBA Eastern Conference Championship. The Heat have 7 more games for a championship. The Florida Marlins were in first place for a while, but fell to second after losing three games in a row. Venus Williams was upset in a recent tennis match. I haven't seen Tiger play recently, but he did miss his first cut after several years. The Miami Dolphins are gearing up for a Nick Saban season. Even Ricky might come back. How strange things have become. Fishing in the Keys has picked up. We haven't caught any yet. The Indy 500 showcased the first woman to lead laps at Indy. She is Danica Patrick. She almost won the race at the end. She finished a very respectful fourth place. The WNBA has started its season. That's all to report for now.
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, and The Book of Kalian Mysticism poetry collection are currently in final edit. Book Three Twins of the Dark Star novel in early stages, and Falling Star poetry collection are works in progress. A collaboration with K. Young on a novella called Dragon Embers is now published on the fan site known as Runes of Ao.com. Finally, in collaboration with K. Young and Linda Hall, a group novel project is in progress and currently titled Starsongs.
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/LarryShaffer/ Publication date: May 28, 2005
Author: L. E. Shaffer
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2Hannah then prayed as follows: My heart exults in Yahweh, in my God is my strength lifted up, my mouth derides my foes, for I rejoice in your deliverance.2There is no Holy One like Yahweh, (indeed, there is none but you) no Rock like our God.3Do not keep talking so proudly, let no arrogance come from your mouth, for Yahweh is a wise God, his to weigh up deeds.4The bow of the mighty has been broken but those who were tottering are now braced with strength.5The full fed are hiring themselves out for bread but the hungry need labour no more; the barren woman bears sevenfold but the mother of many is left desolate.6Yahweh gives death and life, brings down to Sheol and draws up;7Yahweh makes poor and rich, he humbles and also exalts.8He raises the poor from the dust, he lifts the needy from the dunghill to give them a place with princes, to assign them a seat of honour; for to Yahweh belong the pillars of the earth, on these he has poised the world.9He safeguards the steps of his faithful but the wicked vanish in darkness (for human strength can win no victories).10Yahweh, his enemies are shattered, the Most High thunders in the heavens. Yahweh judges the ends of the earth, he endows his king with power, he raises up the strength of his Anointed.
The New Jerusalem Bible: Reader’s Edition, (New York: Doubleday.) 1990. |
